Ghirahim froze, going rigid in Demise's arms, his mind blank with terror. The….the goddess! The horrible demon-slaying monster his parents had told him about, standing right in front of him! His father had said that she was the only being more wicked than their tyrant king. (Although, at the moment Demise was hardly a concern, seeing as how through most of the journey to the castle Ghirahim had gotten his way without much trouble.) He also remembered his mother's rants on how "that wretched Hylia has the king wrapped around her finger! He's bad enough by himself; we won't stand a chance as long as she's still around! She's the real ruler around here, you mark my words, and he's her loyal dog, practically bowing to her every whim!"
Sorting it all out in his head (hey, there's a lot of hard words there for a toddler!) he deduced that this was certainly not good. What if Hylia told Demise she didn't want him to have another servant? What then? Would he go back on his word? Would he….kill him after all?
With wide eyes, Ghirahim watched as the goddess ran forward, seemingly to embrace the king, but she stopped short when she saw the small figure huddled in his monstrous arms, looking shocked. However, she quickly recovered, and, forcing herself to keep a smile on her face, stepped up to the king, locking eyes with him. She gestured vaguely in Ghirahim's direction.
"Who is this?" Her voice was beautiful, but with an icy edge to it that suggested she was mere seconds away from losing her temper.
"This? Ah…." It seemed that Demise had already forgotten his new possession. "Yes dear, this." She now grabbed the quivering boy's arm, causing him to let out a small, terrified squeak. "Oh! You mean the boy!" Demise shook his head as if to clear it, shifting Ghirahim in his arms so that he was facing her. "Well, I just….I believe that we could use another servant, you know, and….well….I believe he has potential….I….just….well, I…." It was clear that, when confronted by his lover, Demise's capabilities were reduced to that of an oozing ChuChu. Hylia, taking advantage of his apparent weakness stepped forward until they were nearly nose to nose, with Ghirahim being slightly crushed between them.
"Well I was told that you were simply going to take care of a rebel threat, taking no prisoners. Yet, here you are, cradling a mere child, and one that is clearly incapable of coherent speech. And you, sweetheart, say he shows 'potential' and want to take him as a servant?"
"I….yes." Demise cowered slightly under Hylia's smoldering gaze. Hylia sighed, stepping back a bit to examine the terrified child, who by now was shaking like a leaf. She took in his overall appearance with an air of superiority. She knew she was the final word on this pitiful creature's life or death.
"I don't know dear, it is quite puny," she said, lips quirked upwards in a condescending smirk. "I doubt it'd even be worth keeping around to do the laundry." Ghirahim, suddenly angered by her mockery, spoke up. "I AM NOT AN IT!" he shouted, furious, "And I'm not puny either! I'm big and strong- my mommy said so! So there!" He stuck his tongue out at her, suddenly unafraid of any consequences. Nobody could insult him like that and get away with it! (His daddy had told him that.) His bravado was forgotten, however, when, Hylia, eyes flashing, suddenly snatched him from Demise and held him aloft, thankfully not by his still sore throat. She took him by his shoulders and held him at eye level, practically growling out her next words, but speaking quietly so only Ghirahim could hear her: "I don't think you realize who exactly you are dealing with, you insignificant little wretch. I should have you thrown to the dogs, like the insolent piece of trash that you are. But I'd hate to upset my dear Demise, and he seems to like you. So, for the time being, I'll allow you to live. But if you ever speak to me in that tone again, or disrespect me in any way, you will sorely regret it. Understand?"
Ghirahim nodded frantically, mind blank with terror once more after hearing Hylia's threat. With a satisfied smirk, she set him down on the ground where he stayed, frozen, not sure if he was allowed to move. Demise, clearing his throat awkwardly, attempted to speak again. "Um….so…what do you think, I mean….Can we…." He stopped there, his brain seemingly working enough to realize how stupid he'd sound if he said-"Can we keep him?"
Hylia smiled, embracing him, the emotion not reaching her still cold eyes. "Dear, I think he'll make a wonderful servant….compliant, loyal, obedient….right, boy?" She didn't even look his way, but the threat in her voice was obvious. Ghirahim managed a squeaky "Yes ma'am" in response, standing shakily to his feet.
Together, the trio walked into the great castle before them, the smallest of which didn't know how he was going to survive a night, much less the rest of his life, living with a bipolar king and a Goddess out to get him.