The Hero's Mercy

BoTW; Post Calamity. While traveling through Hyrule, Zelda notices Link grow troubled. He tells her of his encounter with a dangerous foe and an offer of mercy. Rated M for language, violence and sexual content.

Author's Note:

Not intended for commercial purposes. The Legend of Zelda and all its characters belong to Nintendo.

Tell me what you think! Reviews welcome!

Chapter 2

For nearly an hour they sat in silence. Link had probed a few times while coaxing the fire to life. Her name, the Yiga base, Kohga. Nothing but steely silence.

Staring at her, at the fire light dancing in her eyes. He had enough.

"I want to know where your base is. I want to know where Kohga is. Tell me, I'll let you go. Is that clear?"

"Do you plan on torturing me?" She asked, gazing into the fire. Link frowned. Her tone was indifferent, as though she could care less.

"What do you think?"

"I think, you know nothing of the Yiga."

Link rolled his eyes, "really? What tipped you off? Was it me asking questions about the Yiga? Why don't we change that fact? Where is your base? How many of you are there?"

"You offer me only death."

"Look, I don't kill my prisoners. But that won't stop me from delivering you to the Zora or Sheikah. You can spend the rest of your life in prison if you'd rather not answer my questions."

She snorted with contempt and despair. "It is not your cowardly vengeance I fear. But the Yiga. My failure will be my death."

"All the more reason you should help me."

"Do you think the Yiga fools?"

"What do you mean?"

"Idiot! Do you think my punishment will be limited to my death? My family will also suffer for my failure!" Her voice rose to a shout. As she did, she winced in pain and jerked to the side.

Link ignored the outburst at first, "it's your hand, isn't it?" he got up and turned her so he could take a closer look. She hissed like an frightened cat but offered no resistance. Link frowned. "Well, looks like you've got a few broken fingers. Here." He loosened the ropes and lifted her arms up over her head before retying the bonds with her hands before her.

"Risky." She muttered.

"Not really, honestly." Link replied. He was confident. But he was right. They both knew it.

She stared into the fire.

"You have a family?" He asked. She gave a brief nod. "And the Yiga clan has them? Or…no, they know where they are. That's it, isn't it?"

"Some of us are born into the Yiga, like the Sheikah. Some are former Sheikah from different parts of Hyrule, and others are just people who join."

"Which are you?"

"Doesn't matter."

Link frowned. The fire crackled, and they sat in silence.

"I can help. I can protect your family." Her snort of derision made him flinch.

"The fuck you can. You couldn't even protect Princess Zelda and you had an army of guardians and the divine beasts." Link felt his anger rise. But she was right. That's what made him angry.

"At least I'm trying to right my wrongs. I'm not fucking serving the calamity!" He shouted back.

"You can't win." She said softly. "You just can't."

The silence between them hung in the air, so thick, Link could cut with his sword.

"If you tell me where Kohga is, I can get him. I can leave tonight and get him within a day or two. I can save your family."

She shook her head with a sadness that made Link hurt. "They are already on their way."

"What do you mean?"

"Our mission was to kill you. When we failed to check in, they'll send Yiga to investigate. By morning they'll find his body and then us."

"Then I'll kill them."

"Maybe. You might get away. But I won't. Not in this shape. They'll find me alive and know that I failed. They'll kill me or take me. They'll kill my family. You can't stop it, they already have spies everywhere."

"Listen! I know this seems hopeless, but it's not! Tell me what I want to know and I'll give you the orb back. Go back, say you fought me and had to flee. Lots of Yiga have fled from me before. I can take out Kohga, they won't even know you were involved!"

"Haven't you been listening? You should up right after I conveniently escape your clutches? What conclusion would you draw from that? There's nothing I can do now! Even if I went into hiding, if you show up at our base and meanwhile my body is missing… they'll know. And they will take vengeance."

Link wanted to argue, but she was right. Of course, that was what the Yiga would assume.

"There has to be a way…"

"There is."

Link looked up at her. She had her eyes locked on his. "You kill me."

"What?" He exclaimed.

"I die in battle with you. Hell, die after being tortured by you… I won't be a traitor. I'll be a loyal Yiga to the end and – and, my family… my family will be safe."

Link stared at her. The sheer honesty in her eyes was soul crushing. She wanted this. Here I am fighting to save Hyrule, and this is what I have to do? Kill people in cold blood…

"No…no I can't. I spent my whole life training with a code… I mean, I don't remember most of it, but I know what's right and what's wrong, damnit!"

"Fine! If you're so self righteous. Let me do it. I'll walk off Temto Hill. It'll look like I fell to my death while fighting you."

"I can't… I'm sorry."

"Hero… Link - please. I beg of you. Give me this mercy. Please." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Please. Mercy!"

Link couldn't meet her gaze.

"What do you want from me?" She shouted. "You wanted to see me humbled? You wanted to see me beg? I tried to kill you! This is justice you claim to uphold!"

"There's no justice in this. Just the sick, twisted, logic of the Yiga." Link snarled back.

"You lack the courage of your convictions, hero." She rasped. "Do you think I don't deserve death?"

"Maybe! I don't know. Perhaps you do. But…but you should have a trial, we… I don't just execute people!"

"You – "

"No!" Link bellowed.

For several long minutes, neither spoke. Only the occasional snap of the fire and the gust of wind broke the silence.

"You view this as a blight on your honor. You view me as a blight." She started softly, gently almost. "But that is because of my sex and age. You don't know who I am or what I've done. I am Yiga, Link. I am an assassin. A murderer. You say that I deserve a trial. And that you don't 'execute' people. But there are no courts for what I have done. There haven't been any for a hundred years. Like it or not, you are the sole remaining representative of the law in Hyrule. You are de facto, judge, jury and executioner."

Link said nothing. He stared into the fire.

"I am not a good person." She breathed. "You should not be concerned with protecting me."

"I know what you're trying to do." He paused, his expression strained as though he could make her see reason. "You want me to kill you to save others."

"My family. Mine. I would kill to save them. I would kill you. I would kill a mother or father if it meant mine could live. Don't you see? I'm begging for your mercy on their behalf. Don't take pity on me. Take pity on them. Please."

"I should just leave you here." Link rasped, his anger and frustration drained him.

"They would find me. They would torture me." She waited until he looked her in the eyes. "They would make me an example to other Yiga. They might… they might even keep me alive to watch them kill my family."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop. No! You have to stop feeling sorry for me! I have killed defenseless people. I have cut the throats of sleeping women. I don't deserve your pity!" She paused and leaned back against the wall of the cave. The firelight cast wicked shadows in her eyes. "You seem to think I'm a good person who got caught up in a bad thing. You are wrong."

He gazed over at her, the muscles in his face tightening.

"I didn't do what I've done because I had to. I did it because I enjoyed it. I've hurt people," she leaned forward and lowered her voice, a smile crept across her face, "because I enjoyed it. I feel good when I hurt people. I'm good at killing because I like it. When someone is in my power… I make them feel it."

She licked her lips as her eyes bore into his.

"You shouldn't kill me because 'it's the right thing to do,' you should do it for vengeance. For the people who I've killed. For the lives I've destroyed. And for the lives that other Yiga have destroyed. I don't think you appreciate the gravity of this situation. I'm in your power, I'm defenseless, no one will know what you do to me. We shouldn't be talking right now… you should be hurting me. Heating up those knives and using them on me."

She reached up and undid the hood, her hair tumbled down the sides of her face as the shadows danced on the wall behind her. Link could only glare at her.

"Admit it, it felt good fighting me. It felt good beating me. Imagine how good it will feel hurting me more? I should know, I've done it countless times to others."

"I'm. Not. Like. You." Link hissed.

"No, but for tonight, you can be." She cocked her head to one side. "Perhaps you're not thinking about all the possibilities here." She slowly reached up and grasped the clasps on her armor.

Link reached for his blade but her gaze, slowed him. With a dark smile, she let the leather guard fall. She undid the bindings and slipped her shoulders out of the red and black cloths. Silently they fell to her hips, she leaned back. The firelight flickered against her pale skin. Her breasts, small and supple, her stomach and navel exposed to him.

"I won't resist. I can't." She said with a smirk. "Look, I'll even make it clear." She pushed herself further along the wall, putting more distance between herself and the weapons and the exit. She sat with her hands crossed before, highlighting the fact that they were bound.

"Stop this." Link growled. He didn't want to feel it. He didn't want to admit that part of him… part of him knew he could. He could do what he will with her. Alone here. No one would know.

"Make me pay for my sins." She urged. "Hurt me. Use me. I don't deserve your restraint. And when you're finished, when you've shown me what happens to filth like me… you'll do what justice demands. You rid the world of one more monster."

She slid down to her side, propping herself up by her elbow and stared deeply into his eyes. "This isn't some Yiga trick. This isn't seduction." She leaned forward causing Link to momentarily recoil, but she kept her hands open and away from the blades. "This is justice…" she purred, as she gently ran her fingertips over Link's thigh.

His pulse began to race. Instinctively he took in a deep sharp breath of air. Her finger traced the inside seem of his trousers. She ran one finger up his manhood. He was hard. She took her own deep breath.

"I've never been used before. But I wonder if I'll feel the same as the ones I've used."

Link tore his attention from her hand and looked her in the eyes.

"Yes, I've brought women to our base for this purpose. I've made them endure…much to get information out of them. I've even done it to men too. We Yiga have taken the dignity of so many. We've had an hundred years. It's time you took some of that dignity back."

Link grabbed her wrist. He felt his face flush and he gave a low growl as he squeezed, producing a genuine whimper of pain from her.

"You're not worth it." He hissed. And with that, he tossed her back where she landed with an ungraceful grunt.

Sucking in air, she seemed to resign herself from this, but he watched as the tension returned to her. She managed to push herself up and glared back at him.

"What does that say about you then? Because we beat you. The Yiga were the ones who made sure the Guardians were susceptible to Ganon's control. We were the ones who made sure the defenses of Hyrule Castle failed." She paused as his anger played out on his face. "We made sure Hyrule's army failed. Did you not know that? You had a family, once. Lots, actually. It's well known among the Yiga. Because of us, your cousins never had a fighting chance. Their deaths, meaningless as they were, are celebrated as victories over you." A low chuckle escaped her lips. "And look at you now, you can't even avenge their deaths against a proud Yiga, how path-"

With a harrowing howl of anger, he was upon her. He gripped her throat in one hand and shook her like a wolf shaking it's prey. He gripped her hair and tossed her on to her side before he grabbed the back of her robes and tore them, exposing her backside. Her hands clawed at his, but she didn't fight back.

"Are you going to show me what you're made of? A bit too late for that." She mocked. A savage snarl was his only answer. He tossed her forward and undid his trousers. Letting them fall around his ankles he dragged her back against him and spread her legs with his knee.

"The great hero- ahh…" Her mocking tone turned to a moan as Link thrust himself inside of her. She arched her back and gasped as he filled her.

"By the goddesses…" she moaned as her head rolled. Her words were cut off as Link wrapped his hands around her hair and yanked her head back. A stream of mumbled curses and half moans erupted from her as Link began to thrust inside. One hand gripping her hip, the other, pulling her hair back.

Her wrists ached from the weight she was putting on them, but she didn't want it to stop. She shoved her ass against him again, helping his thrusts. Her pulse throbbed in her ears, her face flushed and her eyes rolled back in her head. He was rough. It felt good.

Link shoved himself deeper with each thrust, pulling on her hair as if to drag her closer. He dug his fingers into her hip and he when he looked down at her round curves, her supple and inviting body, every part of him yearned to have her. He discarded his hold on her hair and gripped her hips with both hands.

"Fuck... oh goddess, oh goddess…" He slapped her ass as hard as he could.

Her own moans answered his. The pain was good. She wanted more. She needed more. "Hit me again…" barely more than a whisper as she left herself droop down. Laying her cheek on the cold stone of the cave floor. She managed to snake her still bound hands underneath her and moved her fingers over her womanhood, sliding along the folds. She didn't care if he was referring to her or not with his proclamations, she was losing any coherent thought at all as the buzzing sensation building inside her from where he thrust were overtaking her.

Suddenly it came upon her, her body shook, she let loose a primal cry as ecstasy at her domination filled her. With as much will-power as she could, she humped herself against him with the rhythm of her climax, whirling her hips, his hands guiding her movements as she lost herself in pleasure.

She didn't have long to recover. He pulled out, the act alone sending shockwaves through her core.
"Link… Link…." She moaned, as he rolled her on to her back. She let him guide her and move her like a doll. Without realizing it, she was under a bed roll, the soft fabric replacing the cold stone. The fire casting it warmth over her, drawing beads of sweat across her skin, between her breasts, down her legs.

She looked up at him. He shed his tunic and trousers. He was still hard. His cock pulsing with anticipation. She would not have him wait long. She raised her bound hands over her head and spread her legs. He was conquering her. She needed that. She needed to feel that.

Link slid inside her, but with deliberate steadiness. A slow pace that drew her eyes to his. They didn't break contact as he fully entered her.

Her legs coiled around his hips. He ran his hands over her breasts. His hot breath against her ear made her put her arms around his back, still bound, to rake her fingernails into his flesh.

"Link…" she gasped, "use me…I deserve it, I want it, please, use…" her pleading was suddenly cut off as his mouth came down on hers.

He tasted her sweat on her lips, her desperation. He probed her with his tongue, felt her return the experience. She tightened around him again.

"Please. Mercy. Please" She whispered in his ears, "oh gooooodesssssssssss"

Her second climax set upon her body in waves and if it weren't for his strong grip, she might of tore herself apart. Her arms flailed about, bumping into their garments and items. Her fingers brushed against something sharp.

As Link's hand closed around her breast, her pounding heartbeat matching his, he felt his pulse – loud as a thunderstorm in his ears, match the throbbing in his member and he felt the world give out as his thrust became primal bursts as he filled her with his seed.

A long unsteady gasp escaped his lungs as he lowered down upon her. He opened his eyes to find hers, tear filled, staring deeply into his. Her lip trembled as he saw what was in her hands. He wanted to push away, but he couldn't.

Her mouth moved and no words came out. She sucked in a trembling breath and with a broken voice spoke.

"Please… mercy."

She pushed the dagger towards him. When he only stared at her. She reached up and clasped his hand, still over her heart. She squeezed it. She slipped the blade into his hand.

"Please… Hero… I beg for your mercy."

How could he? How could he withhold it? He could see it as clear as day. The bravado stripped away. The anger scoured clear, only the fear remained.

"Now?" He whispered. He nearly choked on tears as she nodded. "You're so brave…" He gasped in a combination of a laugh and sob. She nodded against his chest.

"It has to be over the heart…" she tried to say but his firm grip told her that he already knew. "Link…"

"I know…" He gripped her like and an iron vice and she leaned into him.

"Link?"

He hesitated, he closed his eyes, he nodded.

"Please."

He pushed the blade in.

Her whole body tensed and she thrust her face into his neck. Her lips brushed his ear.

"My name is Malon…"

She went still in his arms.

When he set her down, there was a smile on her face. Not of joy, but relief. And a gentleness had come to her form; that if Link were to compare to, he would say divine peace. She may have been on the side of evil, but she had taught him that even so, with mercy, it can burn away the corruption of evil.

Before the morning came, Link returned her to the Yiga robes. He marred the armor to match her wound. The rips and tears he left, those would be indistinguishable from the rest of the damage her body would have when the Yiga found her. He took some of arrows and put them in her quiver and attached it to her belt.

The mask, he held for a long moment before smashing against a rock. It broke in two pieces. He bundled up her up, along with the pieces, the remaining sickle and carried her out into the last hours of the night.

He took her to the edge of Tuft Mountain, as she had said.

There were no words he could say, so he did what promised to do. "If I find your family, I will protect them."

He dropped her there.

The body fell from the mountain cliff. It was dreamlike. It seemed to glide, before smashing to the ground.

When the Yiga find her, they'll see a broken body. A body with a fatal blade wound, administered before plunging over the side. They'll see the body of a Yiga who fought the Hero to the bitter end. And failed. In duty and service. A testament and example to Yiga everywhere.

Zelda brushed a tear from her cheek. And looked at Link across the fire as he gave her a hapless shrug and sad smile.

"Oh Link…" She scurried to his side and hugged him. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, sorry."

"It's okay. I just, when I saw the mountain… it made me remember…"

"No, don't worry Link. Of course, it would. I understand completely. I'm so sorry, if I had known…"

"I know." He smiled. That sad smile.

"Link… you did a very heroic thing." Zelda pressed. He glanced into the fire and nodded like a man who didn't believe. "Link! You did. You must believe me. It… wasn't your fault. You… showed mercy to a dangerous enemy. That's what makes you a hero."

"I guess, I just wish it had worked out differently."

"I know. And I can't imagine what that must have been like… watching her choose to jump, instead of accepting your help." She glanced up at him and touched his cheek. "You were right to offer mercy. Even to the Yiga. You did a very good thing. I'm sorry you carry pain for it. And I'm sorry she didn't see the hope in the world that you did."

Link sighed. Zelda couldn't help but feel herself flush as she rested her head against his chest, hearing his heart beat, feeling close to him.

"Thank you, Princess. I'm glad you think of me as a hero."

End.