Author´s notes:

1 – If everything goes right, I´ll update every Friday. But since I am writing fast I decided to post this chapter a bit earlier because next week is my precious week off.

2 – I think this chapter might have a trigger for anxiety. At least that´s how I felt writing it.

3 – Disclaimer: I don't own LoZ, but I am the proud owner of a Master Cycle Zero :D

Answers to reviews:

Kersplunk: Thank you! And OMG, I laughed so hard at 4 in the morning! I was too eager to post this chapter, I guess, because I didn´t see the innuendo there, but hey, it just adds to Lucast´s charming personality hahaha

Dunga: Thank you for your review :) You will find your answer on this chapter

Edit 18/01/18: text and grammar improvements


Prologue – Part 2

Zelda was walking the corridors of Hyrule Castle towards her private chambers, the exhausting day finally coming to an end. The only thing she could think about was a hot and relaxing bath, the nauseating taste that the recent events had left her with still too vivid in her mind.

The Beast followed her every step, as usual, and she could see on every guards' face how his presence made them all nervous, even after all these years. They refused to even look at the wolf´s direction. She tried reasoning with them time and time again that this creature had the kindest heart in all Hyrule, only becoming violent when her safety was in question, but it was to no avail. She could only laugh at the ruckus he had caused when he first arrived at the Castle. Over thirty archers, ready to strike at him without a second thought. Nobles, servants, guards, all running away from the creature, who stood by the main entrance, confused and somewhat scared. Of course, she was expecting such reception and managed to shout orders for them to stand down in time to safe the beautiful wolf.

Soon enough, half of the castle´s populace was calling him "The Beast" and the name stuck, regardless of Zelda´s opinion on the matter.

Zelda made a last turn towards her chambers, already smelling the sweet scent coming from her private bath. She would thank her chambermaids later. But apparently her day wasn´t over yet. Her husband was waiting for her by her chamber´s door and she needed a lot of willpower not to roll her eyes.

"I'm afraid you´ll have to wait until tomorrow, Raye. I had a terrible day and just want some rest". She said without stopping to look at him, opening her chamber´s doors and going inside. For a second she thought it had worked, until she heard steps behind her.

"I'm sorry, Zelda, but you have been postponing this for ages. I just need a yes or no, why is it so hard?" Raye said pleadingly, taking a seat at the edge of her bed, watching as she started to remove her crown, gloves and dress and vaguely aware of the Beast dashing slightly to drink some water from a basin on his corner of the room.

"Do you remember that today was Lucast´s trial? He was sentenced to exile. I´ll need to appoint another council member, decide if I´ll redistribute his possessions or appoint a new Lord of Alanova, see to Lord Cyril´s family, continue working on the reconstruction of Castle Town and welcome emissaries from the Lanayru provinces who will not be happy with the outcome of the trial. Do you really think this is the best time for a whole week vacation? If you are patient I´ll think about the best moment for it, but if you will keep pushing me at every chance, then the answer is no." She said while removing her dress, her grace never faltering. She stood up in her underdress and turned to him, hoping that her tired eyes would be enough for making him give up on this pointless discussion.

Raye sighed. "I understand the time is not right, but please think about it." He also stood up and walked the distance between them, placing a tentative hand on her now bare arm. With a small chuckle he continued "I knew…the moment you said yes to me during our wedding…I knew that you would never love me, but I decided that it wouldn´t stop me from doing everything I could to see you happy. Please give me this one chance. One week at my winter palace is all I ask. I´ll show you that I can be a good man for you and if not be the one you love, at least be a good friend. The Goddesses know how much you need a good friend, Zelda."

His hand now stroking her arm gently, he took a step further and briefly kissed her lips, the unresponsiveness from her being all he needed to stop. He wasn´t an unattractive man, quite the contrary. He had light-purple hair, forever bound in a ponytail and red eyes, he was slightly taller than her, but considering she herself wasn´t tall at all, he would be considered a short man, even for hylian standards. His body wasn´t ripped, but also not thin. Somewhen when she was younger she would giggle with her maids and ladies in waiting every time he visited her castle. He was always caring and sweet to her, and it had always been her father´s wish to see them, or better, their kingdoms, together. But now, she couldn´t bring herself to feel anything towards him, aside from a distant fondness.

"As I said, I´ll think about it if you are patient" The sad smile he gave her made her take his head in her hands and forced his red eyes to her. "I do want to be your friend, Raye and I am willing to go to your winter palace with you. Just let me settle things down for now. I have very stressful days ahead of me".

"Okay, I´ll wait for you." He said, defeated. She had been avoiding him for days and she could tell he didn´t want to let this opportunity go to waste, he wanted to talk to her some more. His other hand finding its way to her waist when he asked, "Do you already have any ideas for who´ll be replacing Lord Lucast´s post in the council?"

"I have some names, yes. I want someone new, who still wasn´t marred by politics and self-interest".

"You mean someone naïve, that you can tame?"

"Is that what you think of me, husband? A manipulative ruler?"

"I think of you as someone who is doing what is needed. You have been getting fire from these old rags since forever. These are your father´s people, not yours. You are doing the right thing changing the game a little."

"What do you mean by that? It was only unfortunate the situation with Lord Lucast, he needs to be replaced now and I get to point out some names…it´s all practicality." She didn´t want it to sound defensive, but that´s how it came out either way.

"Zelda, dear….you don´t need to justify your deeds to me". He pulled her in closer. "Whatever brings you some piece of mind is already justified in my eyes."

She didn´t want to talk about this. She still wasn´t sure how she felt about all of this. Lord Lucast was innocent, but he was far from being a good man. He needed to go, for more reasons than one.

Zelda bent his head a little and kissed his forehead. "Good night, husband.", ending the conversation once and for all.

For a second he looked confused, but relented to her wish. "Good night, Zelda." He answered moving for her door and leaving for his quarters.

Zelda sighed and finally released the tension she´d been holding all day.

The moonlight shone brightly on the darkened room, the only other light coming from her fireplace. She removed her underdress and stood in front of her large mirror attached to the wall closer to her wardrobe.

Seeing her naked body under the moonlight had become a ritual for her and the only reason she could think for that was that it brought her a slight sense of atonement, that might or might not help her find sleep during the night. She would trace her cold fingers on the large scar running down her belly and, for another night, try to convince herself that she too had paid for her mistakes, if only a little. The woman in her would hold on to that scar for dear life, in a desperate attempt to show her that she could still do good for her kingdom. But there was also the girl…that weak girl that couldn´t stop remembering and regretting.

"Let me guess what you´re thinking, Beast." His blue eyes had a menacing glint in the moonlight when he approached her, with slow and calculated steps." You´re thinking that I am becoming my father, that I am becoming everything I once said I despised. And you might be right." She turned to him and met his eyes." The things I did today….I´d probably never have done them if my life had followed the course planned by my father and I would be lying if I said it doesn´t hurt. But I have seen these people in a new light these past years. For so long I tried to hold on to my beliefs, to my values…too long" Her face fell and she finally allowed herself to feel. A long time….how long has it been? Ten, twelve years?

He wouldn´t respond to her, of course. He could, but wouldn´t. His silence was another proof that she was right about how he felt about all this. But she didn´t want to fight him….not again. He was the closest one to her now, for better or for worst.

She moved past him towards the bathroom and entered her bathtub, the water already getting cold after so long.

After a not so relaxing bath she went back to her bedroom, put on her thick winter nightdress and went straight to bed. There was no point in trying to delay that moment for another night. It would always be the same. Regardless of how tired she were, the second her head touched her pillows, every single mistake she had ever made would fight a fierce battle for her attention, from a different, better answer she could had given during an important discussion to the moment she tainted her hands with the blood of so many innocent people. Everything she regretted, and the remorse was too much to bear. She wouldn´t cry, the last time she cried was when she got that scar, but the squeeze in her heart and the incapacity of breathing properly would keep her awake for hours to come.

In the morning, she would find her strength back and would be able to occupy her mind with another busy day with all the problems a kingdom has to offer, but at those moments, the problems were her own, the enemy was inside her and she didn´t know how to fight back.

She did the only thing that would distract her, if even a little….She locked her eyes with her Beast, who was now laying on the floor by the side of her bed. For over ten years he had always been at an arm´s length from her and the certainty that she would meet his piercing blue eyes every time she looked for them would always ground her for a while. He was always there, but she knew, like every other thing in her life, he wouldn´t be there forever.


Dunga: I must admit that I considered going that way, but I chose not to in the end. What do you think?