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Chapter 2:

"What?" Zelda could only stare blankly at him as he prowled further into the room. She took a step back for every step he took forward. Quickly she rounded the desk, putting more space in between them. She was honestly concerned about his state of mind.

"Link, you can't be serious!"

He grinned, lips pulled back to reveal startling white teeth. "Call me Dark Link."

She pursed her lips. "Link," she pressed, "Now is really not a good time. Your…" she waved her hand in a circular motion, searching for the word, "shenanigans will just have to wait."

His smile never wavered, but Zelda could see that the glint in his eyes dulled a fraction. "That's the thing," he replied darkly, "I no longer care. You, my lovely little queen, are coming with me whether you like it or not."

Was he seriously being serious? Seriously?!

Looking at him it was clear that he was not going to budge an inch. At that moment Zelda should have blasted him clear across the room, let him hit the wall and knock him out. Should have…but didn't. Some part of her thought she could still make Link see reason, and another part of her agonized over hurting Link in any way. With those two reasons combined she resorted to do the only thing she could…guilt him back to normal.

She took another step back at his movement forward. The back of her knees bumped against the sofa and she let herself fall onto it. She made her eyes go as wide as possible then hitched her shoulder, placing her hands above her chest. "Link…please, you're frightening me."

His grin broadened. "You're not frightened. It takes far more than this to scare you," he rumbled, drawing ever closer. It took all Zelda had not to cringe away from him. "And it's Dark Link, remember."

Zelda huffed and thrust her hands on her hips. "I'm warning you. If you don't stop this right now-"

Her breath caught as he leaned over her, arms situated on either side of her head, snaring her against the sofa. He brought his face close to hers, noses touching. "You'll what?" he whispered suavely.

Zelda swallowed, all thoughts fleeing from her mind.

Where had this come from? He was being so brazen, so forward with her… She loved it!

Her eyes unconsciously settled on his lips, inches away from her, and longed to nibble on them.

The shouts resonating down the corridors brought her back to focus and she shoved against his shoulders, whining when he would not budge. "Liiiiink!"

If only he wasn't so heavy then this would be easier. Curse him and his delayed growth spurt!

Zelda missed his hand ducking into the folds of his cloak but caught sight of it as it withdrew, holding something enclosed in his fingers.

"Clearly you're having trouble with your memory," he said, raising the curled appendage up. "It's Dark Link."

He threw his hand down, releasing the object in his grasp and covering his mouth with his sleeve. Instantly a cloud of white smoke shot up and Zelda inhaled it with a gasp. She was rendered into a fit of coughing as the smoke invaded her lungs. All at once her vision blurred, her muscles weakened, and her thinking became hazy and slow.

From far away she felt something grab her wrists and then her body suddenly turned over. She was turned back around and then the floor disappeared and she found herself floating in midair.

The cloud thinned and she breathed in the clean air, her senses slowly returning to her. Windows and doors passed in a flash, everything else was a blur of grey. It took a few more seconds than normal for her mind to process that Link was running through the castle with her slumped in his arms.

She shifted and tried to smash her fist against his chest, only she couldn't find it. It took a bit more weak squirming and wriggling to discovers both her arms folded behind her back, attached at the wrists. He'd bound her. He'd bound her!

Of all the impudent-

She lost track of where she was going with that thought, but it would come to her… eventually.

Link abruptly spun around after he'd turned down a corridor and almost ran into a pack of soldiers. "Whoops, wrong way," he remarked.

The cries of the soldiers followed him as he pelted down the hall.

"There he is!"

"He's got the queen!"

"Stop him!"

Link laughed as he flew down a set of stairs. He sounded as if he was having the time of his life, as if this was the most fun he'd had in ages. It must have brought him back to the good old days when running for his life had been a daily occurrence. Typical, only Link would find amusement in that. Well, maybe it was amusing because he outclassed them by far.

Goddesses, but he did make a shame of her soldiers.

Indignant on their behalf, Zelda resorted to making things as difficult for him as she could by wriggling in his grasp. Anything to give her poor soldiers a bit of an edge.

He tightened his grip as he growled at her, "Stop that, you're going to make me drop you."

"Good," she murmured and wriggled some more.

Link groaned and ducked inside an alcove. The guards who had been chasing them shot right past without seeing them. Link looked both ways to make sure there were no lurkers then looked down at her. "It's either you stop, or I throw you over my shoulder and carry you that way."

Zelda stiffened and shot him a weak glare. "You…wouldn't..."

His grin was one of promise. "Try me."

With a huff of dismay, Zelda settled compliantly into his arms. Link adjusted his hold on her so that her head lay in the crook of his neck, then dove out of hiding, heading once more for the exit.

It occurred to her that she was clever, she should have been able to come up with some sort of argument against him, or tricked him into letting her go… but as was considerably more apparent as time lapsed there was something wrong with her cognitive functions at the moment. Her logic and reasoning had been affected somehow and she'd bet her rupees on that infernal smoke cloud. A suppressant of some sort.

It made her frustrated to think that he had gotten the better of her, that he had tricked her so easily.

"Link…I'll…throw you in...dungeons…so help me…"

He chuckled lowly as he reached a set of ornate doors. "I don't think you're in any position to be making threats," he said lightly. "Besides, you can't even pick me up, how will you be able to throw me in the dungeons?"

Darn it, he was right. He was far too heavy for her.

…Wait a minute. She had meant that as a figure of speech, hadn't she?

Before she could announce this, Link shifted her so that he could free his hand and shove open the door. They were in the ballroom. Link had only to cut across then make his way down one last set of stairs before they were out of the castle.

Now, if he'd trained her soldiers properly the alarm would have sounded and they would have barred all exits, efficiently trapping him within the castle grounds. He was going to be caught no matter what, and she'd enjoy coming up with a good punishment for him once her mental faculties returned to normal.

Link was halfway across the room when a frigid voice roared at him.

"Sir Link! What in all of Hyrule is the meaning of this!"

Zelda inwardly winced, recognizing the voice as belonging to Lord Raleigh. Instantly she felt a pang of pity for Link…wait, no! He was being an idiot, and doing idiotic things; he deserved to be put in his place. She was on Lord Raleigh's side!

She tried to convince herself of this as Link narrowed an irritated glare at the minister. He gave a light shrug. "You can take this as a rescue or a kidnap. In any case, I'm taking the queen out of the castle to breathe a little," he said snidely and smirked. "Didn't you know? She was suffocating in that office of hers. Too bad some sour-faced old tyrant wouldn't allow me to check on her."

Lord Raleigh's face was fast turning red, until even the tips of his pointed ears were flushed. "The audacity! I command you to release her majesty this instant!"

Link flashed a smirk and flung out his arm. "Command this!"

There was a small clash as something hit the ground at the minister's feet then a blast of familiar white smoke filled the area. Lord Raleigh fell to his knees, thrown into a fit of coughs and trembling to support his weight on his arms. Zelda sympathized with him. She knew the feeling.

Link took this opportunity to make his escape. In two minutes flat he broke out of the castle only to encounter a whole new problem.

The soldiers must have just finished their training for the day for they were all geared up and looking to have come directly from the training yard, blood flowing and energized. A knight stood at the head, Sir Ryan of Vallice. He was a large man, headstrong and cocky, and had always been somewhat jealous of Link's prowess.

He waved his sword in front of him, a cunning smile adorning his face. "Hah, I knew it! When I heard you had gone mad and broken into the castle I knew that you were finally showing your true colours."

Zelda looked over the large knight then looked up at Link. The soldiers stood between him and the castle gate. She wondered what Link would do now. As much as she wanted him to be caught, Sir Ryan was the last person she wanted doing the capturing. This small chance at besting Link would make him unbearable for weeks, not to mention Link's pride would be mortally wounded. They shared a mutual dislike of one another. Link had been reluctant initially choosing Ryan as one of the knights, but even he had to admit that Ryan was brilliant with a sword and knew his battle stratagems. Not picking him would have been a show of bias, and a foolish action.

Zelda felt herself moved upright, toes lightly touching the ground as Link wound an arm tightly around her waist. He reached for something at his belt with his free hand, and spoke lowly, "I prefer to call it a different side of me."

Sir Ryan smirked. "Nevertheless, you've shown your true self. I have no choice but to stop you. 'Tis the dungeons for you!"

Link let out a loud "Hah!" then aimed his arm upward and pressed the trigger of his clawshot. It clanged as it gripped onto a point above the ramparts and retracted. Zelda felt herself leave the ground and zip through the air, releasing a squeal that was half fearful and half delighted.

The soldiers gaped as they whooshed over their heads and landed on the wall.

From below, Sir Ryan snarled with rage. "Well what are you fools waiting for? After him! Don't let him get away!"

There was a thundering as dozens of boots pounded up the stairs on either side of them. Link swooped his arm beneath her legs and returned to cradling her. He then stepped onto the ledge.

He cast her a wry grin. "Don't scream now."

Then he catapulted over the side. Zelda's breath left her - almost joined by her lunch - as they lurched downward and slammed sharply onto one of the town's rooftops. He ran then jumped to another lower roof, then another before eventually he alighted on a balcony beside a hefty Goron.

"Oi, Link. You here for a visit?"

"Another time," Link replied, without breaking stride. "I'm a tad occupied here."

Link barged into the building and descended a flight of wooden stairs then burst out the doors at the bottom. They had arrived to the town square. A stunning red mare waited for them on the cobbles. Link didn't hesitate to swing them both up and onto her back, slipping his feet in the stirrups. He gripped the Epona's flanks with his knees, and, reaching around Zelda, snapped the reigns.

Epona neighed and soared down the streets on a direct route to Hyrule Field. People jumped out the way as they came charging through.

Zelda buried her face in Link's cloak, hoping that no one would recognize her. Knowing her luck, they were bound to. Who else would Link be carting off in such a ridiculous manner? Certainly not Ashei, nor that Ilia girl, she had more sense than to fall for one of Link's stupid tricks. Sense that Zelda apparently lacked.

They were moments away from escaping Castle Town. Word mustn't have reached the outer battlements yet for the gates were wide open, the guards unsuspecting. Link kicked Epona's flanks, spurring her faster.

Zelda blinked in astonishment. He was actually going to make it… He was actually going to succeed in this kidnapping heist. It was inconceivable, she was the most protected person in all of Hyrule, it shouldn't have been possible. But it was happening…

She gazed up at Link, wonderingly. He had a huge smile on his face, his eyes gleaming with profound delight. He caught her stare and winked at her.

Her heart hammered erratically in her chest.

Movement flickered in the corner of her eye. Zelda looked over his shoulder to see a group of mounted knights chasing after them. Shouts were delivered and the streets cleared rapidly before them.

"Link…"

"I know," he said, a note of laughter in his voice. "Once we reach the field they'll not stand a chance."

This she knew positively well. Epona had to be one of the fastest and most courageous horses she'd ever had the privilege of knowing. Even burdened with two people on her back she'd been able to keep up with Ganondorf's black stallion as they had chased across the field.

Zelda once again looked back at the knights, noting that some of them were equipped with bows and arrows. They wouldn't dare fire them, though. They couldn't risk injuring her so they were probably reserved for the foul beasts that still roamed the fields.

She heard the voice of Sir Ryan calling out from behind them. "Close the gates!"

Link leaned forward and, as if sensing the urgency in the motion, Epona drew on a spurt of speed and they flew past the gates, hoofs pounding on stone. She leapt down two short stairwells before reaching the green turf at the Southern Hyrule Field.

Link whooped and Epona neighed loudly, thrilled by the run. Zelda smiled despite herself.

However, they were not yet free. The clopping of hooves announced the quick approach of their pursuers.

"To Faron woods!" shouted Link, bracing her tightly against him. "We'll lose them in the trees."

It took an hour of straight running to breach the outskirts of the forest, another hour and the knights that pursued them were effectively thwarted and Zelda was severely lost. She'd been to the woods on many occasions whether out riding or on the hunt, however she'd never been able to memorize it as well as Link. He had a special knack for direction. He could pass a grove for the first time and be able to find it again weeks later without any assistance but for a keen mental map.

Link slowed Epona to a canter, patting her neck and whispering words of endearment to her, promising a pile of apples for her good work. He had thrown back his hood, revealing golden-brown locks of hair, which contrasted brightly against his dark attire.

He must have put a lot of thought into planning this. She wondered where he'd ever gotten the idea in the first place. He certainly couldn't have come up with it on his own, could he?

It was difficult to imagine Link as a villainous figure. The trepidation she'd felt for him as he had cornered her in her office hadn't been the same horrifying feeling that Ganondorf instilled in her, nor the repulsive one from Zant. Her fear for Link had been more excitement. He had been full of promise and adventure; it was thrilling.

By this time Zelda's mind had totally cleared of the effects of the smoke and she was able to speak without stammering.

"Where are we going?" She surveyed the woods, looking for a path or any break in the trees. She didn't recognize anything around her and that unsettled her.

Link braced her as Epona hopped over a log. "To my evil lair, of course."

She rolled her eyes. "Really, Link. Are you still going on about that?"

"Ah ah ah, it's Dark Link."

She smiled, batting her lashes, and pressed up against him. Her cheek rested on his chest as she gazed up at him, eyelids lowered enticingly. She spoke, breath ghosting across his face, "You'll always be Link to me."

Link fought to keep his composure but inevitably failed. His cheeks took on a rosy tint and he tore his eyes away to veer off into the woods. "Fine."

Zelda grinned widely, and trailed her lips teasingly along his neck. "Good."

He sighed and smiled at the sensation. "You make me into a poor villain."

"Oh silly. It doesn't matter to me how wealthy you are."

Link smirked and squeezed her around the middle. "You devious little thing."

She laughed lightly and nuzzled his collar as his hand moved up to hug her around her shoulders. All this activity had sufficiently worn her out. It felt like years since she'd had a good rest. All she wanted to do was sleep.

"Tell me when we get there."

"I will."

At last she let her eyes close and drifted off into blissful slumber.


Zelda awoke to the feeling of being laid down on something soft. The rope tying her hands was cut off and fingers massaged lightly into the faint bruises on her wrists. She sighed and fluttered her eyes open.

"Sorry for waking you." Link leaned over, pressing a kiss to her lips.

She would have liked it to last longer, but he quickly pulled away. Lazily she propped herself up on her elbows, eyeing him as he leaned a shoulder on the bedpost, crossing his arms.

Zelda sat up and rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Where are we?"

"We're at Ivy Manor, in Faron province."

"Ivy Manor?" she said curiously. "Isn't that the estate you were granted upon your knighthood?"

"Yes," replied Link. "And thanks to my staff it has been kept clean and proper for me while I've been staying in the castle. I don't normally come out to visit, but there are occasions when the forests beckon to me. Don't worry. They all know about the situation and have taken an oath of silence. If your nuisance knights do discover our hiding spot they'll have not learned it from the servants."

She scoffed, "Of course not, they'll learn about it from the records. It's written under your name, after all."

"Ah, but not many know that I even have my own estate so they'll not think to look through the records. Chances are they'll go to Ordon and search there. It's what I'm counting on."

Zelda smiled. "Touché, good sir." She swept her gaze around the room, taking in the grandeur of it. The walls were painted a soft viridian, coupled with wood brown borders, which matched the furniture scattered about the room. The bed was a large four-poster, spread with a grass green blanket with deeper green swirling designs. It was warm and it was homey, perfectly suited for Hyrule's gallant hero turned villain.

"So now what do we do?"

Link pushed off the bedpost and thrust out a pointed digit at her. "Now, you sleep."

From her place on the bed, Zelda looked up at him incredulously.

"What?" he asked.

Zelda peered at him queerly as if he'd magically transformed into a new subspecies of dodongo. "Go to sleep? You kidnap me, take me from my castle and bring me all the way out here just so that I could sleep?"

He snorted, "Well you weren't doing it there."

"I have been sleeping, as a matter of fact."

Link frowned. "Not properly, and definitely not as long as you should be."

Zelda wrinkled her nose up and sniffed, "Fine, if it will please you."

Link nodded. "It will."

"I'll take a short nap."

He threw his hands up. "No. Zelda I want you to get a fitful rest. I banish you to this chamber until you are energized and fully functional again. And stable."

She gaped at him, moving toward the edge of the bed. "Excuse me! Are you saying I've been in a foul mood lately?"

Link snorted in amusement. "The crabbiest queen in the country."

"Argh! You are the most insufferable, ignoble brute that I've ever met."

He only smiled at her. "I do make a good villain, don't I? I've always felt that there was some darkness inside of me."

Her anger abruptly flushed away as cool amusement took its place. "Ah, of course. That is why you were given the title 'hero' after all."

He laughed. "You think that every little decision I made on my quest to free Hyrule was done with good ethics in mind? Let me see, countless occasions of breaking and entering, there's thievery, I terrorized but that only worked in wolf form, I burned down a house once – but in my defense I don't think anyone was living in it - a whole slew of killing. I'm a mass murderer you know."

"You've defeated monsters who were liable to lay waste to Hyrule itself. That is a deed of valor," she defended. "And besides, it was in battle, or self defense I hope?" She quirked an inquisitive brow at him.

He shrugged offhandedly. "Some of them." Before she could open her mouth to rebuke him, he cut her off. "And vandalism. I've lost count of how many pots I've smashed to pieces."

Zelda nodded sagely, tapping a pondering finger to her chin. "Ah, the greatest of criminal offenses. My council would have you tossed in the dungeons for that one crime alone. Perhaps even go so far as to see you hanged? The world would be free from fear of you smashing their pots. Your list of criminal activities do know no bounds."

Link grinned down at her wickedly. "And now I can add abduction to that increasingly growing list."

"Beast," she said, hiding a smile.

He laughed. "Don't you know it. Now seriously, get some sleep. I'll have a servant wake you for dinner."

Zelda lay back on the mattress, flinging her arms above her. "Very well, if it will appease you." She shuffled under the covers and allowed Link to tuck her in very motherly-like.

He kissed her softly on the cheek before leaving. "Rest well."

She snuggled into her pillow, clutching her blankets tight around her. Maybe this was what she needed. A break from everything; some time for herself without having to worry about the countless meetings she had to attend and her endless supply of paperwork.

Zelda had nodded off before he even crossed the threshold.