The Wolf and his Princess
The second chapter in my fanfic, a big shout out to everyone who has so far reviewed I did not expect anywhere near as many as i have received for my first chapter. I am happy to know my work is being read.
Equinoxwolf: As my first reviewer for this fanfic I can only hope you shall enjoy the rest as it comes along.
Sparxthehdgehog: There are many implications and I can only hope you enjoy what I have decided to go forward with.
Stairhopper: I'm glad you enjoy my style, :), and I can only hope you enjoy how I take their relationships forward.
Epilogue Warrior: I invite you to stick around and find out, in return I shall try my hardest not to disappoint you.
FinalKingdomHearts: I shall with this next installment, I hope you enjoy it.
starwars05: Why thank you, I do try.
david davidson: Thank you for the advice which I have taken on board. Don't worry, without spoiling anything I already have plans for Link and his new powers, and without giving anything away there is no need to fear the "GOD LINK" that I have read some people putting him as.
I do not own Legend of Zelda or any of its characters, ideas or related products, I am not benefitting from this story.
Chapter 2
Hyrule castle had once been the jewel of the land, people would travel from the furthest reaches of the land, either to visit castle tow for its wares, or for a chance at seeing the beautiful princess of light. Regardless of the reason all races, Goron, Zora or Hylian would come to visit the castle. Now it stood as a symbol to the destruction done by the Zant and his ilk, the top floors were decimated, the throne room having been badly damaged in the last battle between Link and Ganondorf while other areas of the castle had been destroyed when the invasion first began. The once proud and ancient walls were crumbled, reduced to simple bricks and rubble, the banners of Hyrule had been either burned, or cast aside amongst the rubble. However, it seemed it was just the top half of the castle that had suffered as much damage, the servants quarters, kitchen, washrooms and store room were all mostly intact, there were still signs of battle in some places, but mostly the necessary facilities were still usable.
Both princesses were currently in the kitchens, attempting to cook something with what little food remained. Well, Zelda was attempting to cook something while the Twilight Princess was leaning against a bench making the kind of observations one would come to expect from her;
"And here was me thinking that a pampered princess like yourself wouldn't know how to cook, don't you have servants for this kind of thing?"
The reply came as if prepared; "My father always believed that you should understand what the people did for you before you can rule them. When I was little he used to send me down to assist in different aspects of the castle."
Midna was quiet for a moment after that, so Zelda thought it fair to pose a question of her own;
"Life in the twilight realm, is it anything like here?"
A pause, and then she replied softly;
"It's harder, the twilight realm is a place of constant balance between day and knight. When my ancestors were first banished there was no sense of time, not knowing how much time had passed or how long was left drove many people mad."
Zelda opened her mouth to say something, perhaps apologize for something beyond her control but was cut off as the voice continued, growing firmer as it went; "For a time there was complete chaos, the Twili turned on each other, and a for time, it seemed as though we were destined to die by our own swords." Midna was angry now, at the actions of her people; "It would have all been lost, but then the Timekeeper discovered a way to track time. He used an ancient magic that was once lost and created the first twilight clock. Eventually, with this machine being duplicated many times over, we managed to stabilize the Twili, the madness they had fallen into waned as the chance at a normal life was possible once again."
The princess of light was at a loss for words at the story. She had never guessed what a bloody history the twilight realm might have, and she then realized how much her people take time for granted, how they never wondered what would happen if it was to just suddenly stop. Turning she once again attempted to apologize for what had happened to the Twili, only to find Midna standing not a foot from her holding a cooking book;
"Why don't we see if there's anything we have all the ingredients for in here?" She spoke with a small smile on her face, offering the small book to Zelda. The princess herself returned the smile with one of her own, reaching over and taking the book from her hands, then starting to flip through the pages;
"There's a simple chicken dinner here, why don't we see if there's any poultry left in the stores? It can be a surprise for Link when he returns."
A light laugh was heard from the Twili; "Only he could be so lucky as to have two princesses cook him something, I suppose he has earned it after everything that's happened."
A sly smirk appeared on Zelda's face as she leaned forward; "I think you'll no doubt find other ways to repay him later as well." Leaning back with a quick wink had the Twilight in a state of shock, and as the comment registered, her grey skin turned a very interesting cherry red as she started to bluster, looking anywhere but at Zelda. As quick as she panicked a sly grin of her own appeared, leaning forward and mimicking Zelda she whispered; "I'd recommend finding us a sound proof room for tonight."
Now it was the princess of light's turn to blush and stutter, not having any comeback ready for the lewd statement and not realising she was merely being teased. The two of them took a moment to look at each others still flushed faces, then burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.
Still laughing, the two of them began searching for the necessary ingredients, with Zelda deciding to cheat and use a bit of magic to light the oven while they prepared.
They carried on that way for some time, cooking laughing and joking until the sound of a latch opening, followed by the creak of the wooden door into the kitchen indicating Links return to the castle. Turning from chopping up vegetables Midna ran at him, throwing her arms around his neck, on instinct his own closed around her waist, holding her tightly against him in a hug. Stepping back they shared a chaste kiss until Midna noticed Links face, the confusion in his eyes;
"What is it?"
He did not answer her question verbally, instead he simply looked at Zelda, and raised his left hand, showing the still glowing Triforce of courage, and the addition of the Triforce of power. Zelda's grip slipped on the glass she had been holding, the hard floor meeting it shattering it into pieces but no-one paid any mind to the shards of glass, too fixated were they on the two gifts from the goddesses now on the back of Links hand. Raising her own hand as if in a trance, Zelda noted that her own Triforce of wisdom was glowing in sync with the two brands on his hand. Taking a step back from him Midna looked straight into Links eyes, the confusion in his eyes was mirrored in hers, neither of them sure what this development would mean for them.
Stepping closer to the couple, Zelda spoke; "Link, how did you receive it? The Triforce of power was Ganondorf's, what happened?"
Sighing, Link began; "It started when I went to retrieve the Master sword..." He told his tale as Midna stepped to his side, intertwining her fingers with the hand that was currently not glowing. Eventually he finished the explanation; "Once I realized what had happened I rode Epona here as fast as I could. Zelda, why have I been granted this relic?"
The princess, even with all her knowledge of the Triforce, of the Goddesses and their relics, could not find an answer;
"Link, I do not know. None of the tales, none of the legends, nothing tells of an event like this, the Triforce of power has always belonged to Ganondorf, its what made him so hard to kill, its also why the sages could only seal him in the Twilight Realm."
Midna's grasp on Link's hand tightened at these words, although her face continued to remain passive as the news seemed to settle in, although it seemed the princess of light was not quite finished yet;
"However, I feel that there is no need to worry just yet. So come, we have vanquished a dangerous enemy, made peace with a realm neighboring ours, and can now begin to rebuild our world. I believe this is a cause to celebrate, we can sort things out tomorrow." She spoke with a soft smile, the smile increasing as the couple opposite her started to smile as well.
With a chiming laugh, Midna stepped forward, twirling so she could back up to the table, tugging on links hand with both of hers as she went; "Agreed, so come on already, oh mighty hero of the light, lets eat, I have not yet had the opportunity to eat with my body returned to me. Care to feed me?" The twilight princess finished with another laugh, followed by a flirty wink which caused the young man she had a hold of to blush profusely at the implication. However the argument won Link over swiftly and he followed gratefully, intrigued at what meal the two women with him had managed to cook up.
As they ate, they laughed and joked, Midna and Link regaling Zelda with tales of their adventures, discussing all the people they had met, the lives they had managed to change for the better and the misadventures they had gotten into.
Eventually they settled to eat, enjoying the, surprisingly, delicious meal that Zelda and Midna had managed to cook, the young hero and his companion however, could not help but steal glances at each other throughout the meal, with the princess of light watching them with a small smile on her face.
A pang struck her heart though as she watch Midna once again demand to be fed by the green clothed man, using puppy dog eyes to convince him as he once again complied. Zelda was happy for them, after everything they had been through they deserved this happiness, but she was also jealous, Link had not only saved everyone, he had saved her from a fate worse than death. He had saved her from having to watch as her kingdom and her people were reduced to nothing more than spirits in the ruins of a once great city. He had saved them all, while she had sat in the castle, praying to the goddesses that he would be successful.
Link, having once again fed the beautiful young woman sitting beside him, noticed the discontented look on the Hyrule monarchs face. However, she noticed him looking and quickly a smile spread out on her face again, so quickly he was not even sure he had seen the sad expression. Passing it off as a trick of his mind, Link turned back to Midna, who he noticed had a confused expression on her expression watching Zelda as well. Exchanging a confused the glance the two of them both put down their cutlery and turned to face the Light princess;
"Oi, Zelda, you okay there?" Midna, in her usual way, posed the question to the young woman; "I've seen cursed Twili looking happier." Let it never be said that Midna was one to dance around a subject, however she had a point, the sorrow from the princess had her two companions deeply concerned.
"Zelda..." Link began, moving leaning forward from the stool he was purchased on, but before he could say his piece she stood from her own seat, her food only half eaten and stretched; "I am simply tired after the battle, as I am sure you are as well. I say we all retire and get some well deserved rest."
And with that the princess strode to the door leading to her room and shut the door, not even giving Link or Midna a chance to talk to her or stop her.
Turning to look at each other, no words needed to be spoken, that was more than simple fatigue from the battle, she was hiding something, something personal. However, as Zelda clearly had no intention of opening up to either of them tonight, they continued to eat their meal, seeing to problem with wasting the food, a light conversation started up again but neither of them could get rid of their edginess over the erratic behavior they had witnessed.
On the other side of the door, Zelda leaned against it, a light sheen of sweat over the body and both hands clasped tightly over the spot just over her rapidly beating heart.
Her eyes were shadowed thanks to the high torches however, looking closely, you would be able to see a flush to her face, and single tear rolling down her cheek.
Okay, I am going to leave you on that note. Hopefully you have enjoyed this chapter even more than the previous one, as I have tried to involve the characters a bit more in depth. (In my opinion if a man is going to risk everything he has just to rescue your kingdom, how could you develop some form of feelings for him? I'm just saying), Chapter 3 is already in progress so the next installment will hopefully be soon as I have a weekend to complete it.
Please continue to read and review, any advice is welcome as always as long as it is useful advice.
Ciao
Ship