DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF ZELDA TWILIGHT PRINCESS OR ANY OF IT'S BELOVED CHARCTERS, BUT I DO OWN ALFRED AND AND THE PLOT.
Arrival of Evil
A week had passed since Impa had heard the men's plan to overthrow Zelda, but due to her and Link's inability to gather more information on the subject, they were unable to do much more than double their guard on the queen and come up with a escape plan. In Zelda's opinion the sheikah woman went a little too far with having someone taste her food before she herself could eat.
"It's probably just talk. Dangerous talk, but just talk none the less," Link said as he trailed behind the queen, his scarf lifting from the sudden gust of wind. He was overly fond of that scarf. Uli had made it for him a few years past and he wore it every chance he got.
"I agree, but Impa seems convinced. I dunno, maybe she's right," she replied before crumpling her eyebrows in distaste. "Did you know she follows me into the bathroom? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to use the toiletries with someone staring you down?"
"No and no, but I do find it funny," Link said, chuckling.
"Not for me it isn't."
"Poor Queen Zelda. She can't even poop in peace."
"Link!" Zelda hissed, her face red from embarrassment.
"Hey, you're the one who brought it up."
Zelda didn't say anything, she just stood there and pouted.
"Okay, I apologize, so stop making that face at me," Link pleaded before flashing her one of his heart attack inducing smiles.
"I hate to interrupt this love fest, but Prince Alfred just waltzed in and is waiting for you in the throne room, my lady," Impa informed them, her eyes downcast to hide her worry.
"Why couldn't it have just been words," Zelda whispered too low for anyone to hear as she made her way out of the garden. "Listen, you two, I don't care what he does, you absolutely can not attack nor accuse him of anything. The last thing we need is him to run home screaming about how he was assaulted for no good reason. Are we clear?"
"Of course," Impa answered, bowing slightly.
Link remained silent knowing good and well that he wouldn't hesitate to lop Alfred's head off should he try anything.
"Link?"
"I heard you."
Zelda let out a small sigh of worry and hoped her twisted cousin wouldn't do anything to provoke the blond haired man. She quickly covered her nerves with a mask of stone as they entered the massive throne room. She repressed the urge to grimace as she remembered being held here against her will and being forced to fight Link.
"Ah, Zel-da," Alfred greeted, enjoying the way her name rolled off his tongue. "It's been far too long since our last meeting. We were both children then."
"Yes, we were. My father had just died and I was given the burden of ruling the kingdom despite me being only fourteen," She replied stoically as she sat in the throne, resisting the urge to squirm under his exploring gaze, which she was sure was the complete opposite of how one should look at their cousin.
The two discussed this and that, but their exchange was pretty much the same each and every time. Alfred would say something in a desperate attempt to start a conversation, all the while staring her down, and she would reply impassively.
"Dearest cousin, why are acting so cold towards me?" He asked feigning hurt. If one didn't know any better they would thing he was genuinely upset.
"I didn't mean for it to seem so, dear cousin," She lied, shifting uncomfortably in her seat before giving him a soft smile that appeared to be truly genuine despite it not being so.
Neither of the royals were buying the act the other was putting on. Zelda could see past his friendly talk and Alfred could see past her protective mask, but for appearance's sake they both pretended they didn't.
"I wonder how long the bastard is going to keep up this sorry charade," Ashei grumbled, making Link jump.
"Goddesses, Ashei, when did you get here?" Link hastily asked.
"You honestly didn't see me follow you guys in?"
Link shook his head.
"Seriously? Anyways, I take it that he's the guy that wants to steal the throne from her highness, yeah?"
"How did you know that? Zelda, Link and Telma are the only ones I told," Impa said in disbelief.
"I hang around Shad a lot and Shad-"
"Knows everything," Link said, cutting her off. "Of this I'm well aware."
"What bit you on the ass?" Ashei asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"Ah, uh... Sorry... I guess I'm a little on edge. I don't like the idea of him being so close to her while I'm all the way over here," Link replied, rubbing the back of his head. His gauntlet got caught on his hair tie resulting in it and some of his ponytail getting caught. "Gah!"
"Be still," Impa demanded as she helped free his hair. "This is why I keep telling you to stick to the leather ones. Metal gets caught on everything."
"Are you sure you want to stay here? The guest rooms are dreadfully drafty," Zelda said in a last second attempt to ward Alfred off.
"Where else would I stay. I'd have to have lost my mind to stay at a common inn," He said incredulously.
"Oh, of course. I wasn't thinking clearly. Corqs, would you please ready a room for Prince Alfred?"
"Right away, your majesty," the humble servant replied before guiding Alfred to his sleeping chambers .
Link stared after the two and didn't waste a second dashing to his beloved queen once they were out of sight.
"You okay?" He tentatively asked.
"Mmm? Uh, yeah. I just have a minor headache. Nothing a quick nap won't help," she answered, pausing after taking a good look at him. He was missing his right gauntlet and his hair was messy and loose. "Your hair got caught again, didn't it? You really should switch back to the leather ones."
"So I've been told."
"Anyways, would you be so kind as to escort me to my room, Link?"
"Of course, my lady."
"Don't do that. You know I hate it when you treat me formally."
"Come on," Link said, holding his arm out for her to take, "Let's get you to your room."
Once they reached Zelda's room the two started to remove everything that would make sleep uncomfortable. Link removed his remaining gauntlet, chain mail , boots and socks and ran his fingers through his hair to get rid of the knots he acquired while trying to free himself from the demon gauntlet earlier. Zelda removed her crown and unbraided her hair before switching into a sleep gown. It was a simple white gown with long puffy sleeves that hung over her hands.
Zelda all but flopped on her bed, letting out a small sigh. It had been a long day. She saw Link morph into a wolf in her peripheral vision and she stoked him behind the ears when he hopped on the bed and lay his head on her lap.
"It's been some time since you last changed your form. I've been wondering when you'd get to itchy to resist," she murmured, scratching the sweet spot behind his left ear. Link made a satisfied noise and started wagging his tail.
Before they knew it they had fallen into a deep sleep.
"You sure this will work?" A hooded figure asked, his hands twitching in a nervous excitement.
"Of course it'll work. The Queen's chamber doors open outwards, so all we have to do is throw itin and bar them from the outside. Simple as that," A second chuckled.
"But what if she escapes?"
"The only other way out is through the window. The fall will kill her."
"But what if it doesn't?!"
"It'll still be fine. Apparently Alfred brought some skilled killers with him. They got rid of all the guards by either killing them or locking them up, so even if she does escape and live she won't be able to get back in the castle without being exterminated."
"Then tonight is the night we free ourselves of that bitch. When the deed is done we should drink til we can't feel our own faces," a third cackled.
The men all smiled evilly as they lit the torch and tossed it into Zelda's room, barring the doors closed. In a few minutes the angry flames had almost completely devoured the room.
Dan, dan DANNNNN!
Oh no's! Poor Zelda and Link! However will they escape!
Hehe. Don't worry, I'm so mean as to kill them off XD
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