Chapter 7

Calm Before the Storm

"Ah! My lovely one returns. You were successful, I trust?"

"Well. Master… not entirely."

"Not entirely? Explain yourself."

"Your spell entranced the Hero completely, just as you intended. I had him in the palm of my hand. And then… she came."

"To the point. Did you seal the spell?"

"I could not, Master. She was there, and I-"

"You failed me?"

"Please, Master, I tried. I did all I could. It was only bad fortune that-"

"It was ineptitude! The princess… what did she want with you?"

"She… she asked if… if you had been leaving the palace."

"She questioned you about my movements?"

"Yes. But I revealed nothing."

"I cannot trust your account. Come here."

"Master, please, I've told you everything."

"Come here! This is all too delicate. I must see for myself."

"Please, you need not – Aiieee! Ah! Stop! Stop!"

"Silence! Yes. She is more informed than I thought – Stand still! – Yes… what's this? 'It is he you should confront!' Fool!"

"Master… Ah!"

"Get up! I've seen all I require. Get up, stupid girl! You planted the seed of suspicion in her mind!"

"She tricked me into saying what I did not want to!"

"It was your own idiocy and nothing more. Get up! The princess accompanies the envoy to the realm of Light in two days' time. You have until then to seal the spell, and you are forbidden – absolutely forbidden! – to answer any further questions from anyone regarding my activities. Do not fail me again."

"I will not, Master, I promise you. Please forgive me."

"I will expect you tonight, as usual. We may discuss your forgiveness then. Now get out."

"Yes, Master. I am sorry; I will be-"

"Out!"

Midna lay on her bed in the darkness of her room. It was still day and she had much to do, but she needed desperately to think. The headaches had been with her for several days, each from the moment she woke until she could eventually sleep; waxing and waning with the stresses each hour brought. Never before had she suffered from ailments like this, but still she had passed it off as too much strain and not enough sleep. Even as she realized the use of magic agitated it, and as Kiri advised her to seek a healer's care, she had pressed on and ignored it. At least she had until this morning, a little while after her meeting with the governors, when the pain had suddenly increased until her sense of connection to shadow magic wavered. Impossible to fully describe to someone not born with magical power, the symptom was like a blurring of the vision, a ringing in the ears, or creeping numbness that left one feeling clumsy or half-crippled. Midna had considered that a curse of some sort had been placed on her as well, but even at the height of her power she had known of no way to suppress the magic of another. This phenomenon, then, could only signal one horrible truth: she was losing the ordainment.

Her fears had been confirmed just hours ago, though the stubbornness in her heart still clung to a shred of hope that she was wrong. At lunch, Link had seemed off, as if distracted by some thought he would not share. He had left so soon; they'd barely been able to talk. She'd tried to sense any spell or curse that could explain his and Areanna's strange behavior, and had felt nothing. More than that, she'd barely been able to feel nothing. It had been a terrible hollowness, and it was coming to bear at the worst possible time. She had more and more reason to believe a plot was being hatched against Link, or against her, or both.

Lying so still with such volatile thoughts made her want to scream. She slid out of bed and crossed the room to the ancient harmonoda. The instrument had been in her family for generations. Her mother had played it, and her mother before, and hers before. All had been exceptional musicians. One of Midna's most cherished childhood memories was sitting and listening to the sound, adding her own untrained fingers to the keyboard much to the amusement of anyone present. After her mother's death, Midna had it moved permanently into her private room and forbade anyone else to play it until her grief had become manageable and she was old enough to teach herself. Proficiency in the arts was expected of nobility, but the notable musical talent in Midna's heritage seemed to have skipped her generation. By her own admission she was mediocre, but the melodies she could play were her favorites. They kindled memories and calmed her in moments like these.

Her feet settled on the pedals and she lifted the lid. The body of the harmonoda was wooden and ebony black, the keys worn smooth from so many years of use. They were like silk under her touch. The room filled with rich, hauntingly beautiful sound as her fingers fell on a familiar chord. A nostalgic smile graced her lips as she started to play. The piece was called Wehleh – "Water" – and it flowed through diverse, colorful harmonies like a river over rocks. There was no one around to hear when her fingers slipped, so she buried herself blessedly in the music.

When the last notes faded into silence, she released the keys and was brought slowly back to reality by the muffled clicks of the plectra returning to their positions. She closed the keyboard lid and stood, taking a deep breath and making herself a center of calm the way Sareth, ironically enough, had taught her in her childhood training. Usually it was not so easy for her to clear her mind, but she found herself now in a rare moment of serenity. The sick feeling inside vanished like morning mists. All the pieces fell blissfully into place; she knew what she had to do. The realization was terrible and frightening, but she denied herself to acknowledge that fact and focused instead on putting the plan into action. And right now, she needed to find Link.

Midna removed the circlet and jewel from her head and exchanged her dress for a peasant's tunic and skirt. A brush helped her hair straighten itself out of its usual waves. Pulling an indistinct, gray traveling cloak over her shoulders, she warped to the second of the palace's four basement levels. Gliding silently through the dark and empty corridors, she came to a forgotten servants' entrance she had known of since childhood. It was still perfect for slipping in and out of the palace undetected. Face obscured by the hood of the cloak, Midna opened the iron door and mounted a final set of steps to emerge from a concealed trapdoor. From there, it was only a short walk down the hill to the deserted alley below.

No one recognized her as she made her way through the city. The forum, though not as crowded as usual, hummed with debate over the decree she had made just hours before, already spread across the city by messengers, magic, and rumors. From the observations she could make discreetly, opinions were generally in her favor; though those taking her stance seemed to do so hesitantly while those in opposition stood vehemently by their claims that the Light dwellers were not to be trusted. And of course, history sides with them, she thought as she entered one of the many marketplaces. Commerce was trying to recover, but still far less people filled the streets, stalls, and cafes than before. Many of those who were out went about their business quickly, anxiously, hollowly. Looking down and focused on her thoughts, Midna nearly collided with a jewelry vendor.

"Oh! Excuse me…"

"Ah, miss, 'tis fate led you here!" He was obviously either unaffected by recent events, or was such a practiced salesman that he could put on a face for any potential customer. "I've every sort of finery you can imagine. Times are dark, and a girl needs something to put the light back in her eyes. Pearls from the distant sea, sapphires all the way from Chu-Goba! You will be the envy of every maid in the land!"

She laughed politely. "Thank you, but I've no money with me…"

"No matter! My credit is the most generous you'll ever find."

"Er… I'm sure it is. But really, I must be going…" She ducked under his arm and vanished into the shadows, appearing several streets away outside the market. It was rude to escape a conversation by magic, but the overenthusiastic jeweler would never see her again. At least, not this version of me.

Taking the market road had been stupid anyway; someone was bound to stop her for a pitch. She walked slowly down an alley to collect her thoughts. Link's presence did not call out to her as it once had. Maybe I am simply no longer receptive. One of his scarce statements that afternoon had been to say he'd found a secluded spot that afforded a glorious view of the sky and landscape. From the descriptions she'd pried from him, she thought she knew the place he was talking about. It was as good a starting point as any.

Midna warped to the eastern side of the city. Here were the oldest structures; it was sparsely populated and had a tranquil, abandoned atmosphere. His sort of retreat. Bypassing the few small clusters of houses, she walked through a ruined shrine and descended the first of a series of stone steps built directly into the side of the land mass on which floated the palace and city. Her cloak made her little more than a shadow against the dark gray, weather-beaten flagstones beneath her feet. She knew this place well and could easily have warped to the bottom, but chose to walk instead, gliding down two more flights until the little veranda came into view. True to her predictions, Link was there with his back to her, facing out at the sky. Pulling her hood further over her face, she stepped silently off the walkway and crept toward him.

When she was halfway across, he stiffened and spun around. "Who are you?"

"No one of consequence." She revealed her face.

He relaxed a fraction but still seemed distant as he had before. "Why the disguise?"

"I do not want anyone's attention but yours."

He seemed not to have heard her at all. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same." She moved to stand beside him. "I came looking for you. You seemed strange today. Is everything all right?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Earlier, you seemed guarded, as if you had something to hide."

"What would I have to hide?"

"You tell me." She touched his shoulder. "I know I've been hard to reach, and I am sorry."

"It is all right, Princess."

Princess? "No, it is not all right. It was unavoidable. There is a difference." She turned his face toward her. "But I am here to make it up to you."

Link pulled away from her, and it was as though he'd slapped her. Midna could no longer doubt that something was affecting him. He was never cold towards her, but still she could feel no magic acting on him. The frustration compounded the fear she was already swallowing, and her throat tightened as she tried to contain tears. She had to act now, and if she could not get the truth from him with words, she would get it with actions.

"Kiss me."
"Someone will see."

"I do not care." She pushed him against the balcony wall, wrapped her arms and hair around him, and sealed his lips with hers. For the first moment she thought he was going to try and shove her away. Gradually he relaxed and she soon felt him return the kiss, his hands finding their places on her hips. Her mind emptied of everything but the feelings he aroused in her, and the agony it caused her to know something was eating away at him and she could do nothing to combat it.

At the height of her turmoil something passed between them, something she had not consciously done. Magic flowed from her into him, locking them together and taking the strength from his legs so he had to cling to her to keep from falling. She did not let the kiss break until the electric feeling within her faded and vanished. Whatever had happened was complete.

He blinked up at her as her hair slid from his shoulders. "What… did you do?"

"I kissed you." Midna was breathless. "Beyond that, I do not know. Do you feel different?"

"As if I've just woken from a dream. A dream about someone."

"Who?"

"I don't know. The memory is already gone. All I know is… well… it was not you."

"Who, then? Someone worked magic on you."

He shook his head in frustration. "I came back to the palace this afternoon. Went up to your corridor. We had lunch on your balcony…"

"During which time you barely spoke, and showed not the slightest affection for me. Whatever was done had already been done." The only other person she knew to have had contact with Link earlier was Areanna, whose special privileges as one of Sareth's pampered attendants had exempted her from much of her schooling. She could perform little beyond basic magic. Though she was known for being seductive and manipulative, it was impossible that she could have been the one to so quickly and completely rewire Link's thoughts.

"I am sorry for my behavior," he said, clearly sincere. "I swear I did not know what I was doing."

"I know you didn't, and that is what frightens me. Something is wrong. I am afraid someone is plotting against me."

Recalling his odd meeting earlier that very day, Link suggested, "Could it be Sareth?"

"There are several people I would not rule out, and I have no proof against anyone. For all I know, it could be all of them working together. But… I suspect Sareth is involved somehow, yes." It hurt to finally admit aloud that her mentor and teacher might have turned on her. Not only did it hurt her personally; it was frightening. Zant had been overconfident and a poor strategist on his own, and even Ganondorf had the glaring weakness of not fully understanding the shadow magic he stole for himself. Sareth had none of these exploitable flaws.

Link brought her back from her thoughts. "What do we do?"

She explained the conclusion she had come to prior. "We must try to predict when a move will be made. I believe it will come while you and I are accompanying the envoy to your realm. And Link… when we do, I want you to remain with them in Hyrule."

"What? Are you mad?" His eyes hardened.

"I must draw my enemies into the open; entice them to make a move while I appear to be alone. Do not fear, I will be ready. Besides. I know you have wanted a chance to visit Ordon."

"Visit Ordon, while you return here with conspirators organizing against you? Never!"

"Please understand. This is a battle you cannot fight with me. It is a game of politics and magic."

"But you want me to be king!" he cried. "How can I be if I flee from the first challenge that confronts us?"

"I cannot afford to worry about that now. Someone proved today that they could reach you easily without my knowledge and use you as a weapon. I cannot allow that."

"I'll be more vigilant. It will not happen again."

"It was not from lack of vigilance," she said. "This is power to which you have no resistance. If I am to deal effectively with this threat, I must know you are where no one can harm you."

Irate, he argued, "I will not leave you alone! You ask too much of me."

"Shh." She placed her finger gently on his lips. "Not now. Please."

"Midna-!"

"Please. Come back to the palace with me." She kissed him again, and in the midst of it, as his arms slipped around her, she took them directly to her room. She did not break the kiss until long after they had materialized.

When he opened his eyes, Link fully appreciated how beautiful Midna was in her peasant disguise. Though others may have mistaken her, he would recognize anywhere those burning crimson eyes; the way her hair framed her face; the way she held herself. She shrugged her shoulders and her cloak fluttered down around her feet; the suspended moment ended suddenly as she attached herself to him once again and they fell onto the bed. He held her close against him as he kicked his boots to the floor. Her fingers flickered across the buckles of his belts and he felt their weight slide from his shoulders to be replaced by her arms around his neck.

Piece by piece, their clothing littered the bed until nothing at all separated them. Both were transported back to the night at the inn, not two weeks ago, but still somehow in another lifetime. The mood was of similar desperation in the face of an uncertain future; only there was no need to be silent now, and neither held back their passion. Midna felt every inch of her body charged with love, fear, anticipation, need, and ecstasy until one was indistinguishable from any other. Her breath came in gasps, heart pounding, clutching him against her with everything she had until both of them were spent in a moment of otherworldly release.

When it was at last over, she lay with him under the silk sheets, her head on his chest, feeling the pleasant sensation of his fingers tracing the patterns on her skin. Through the walls, muted thunder could be heard; a storm was gathering outside. It made her glad to be here safe and warm, though she knew she could not cling to the feeling much longer. With each low rumble, she could feel the familiar, dark undercurrents of fear creeping back into her heart. The rush of mysterious magic that had freed Link of the curse upon him was long gone, and Midna imagined she could feel power slipping away from her.

This was the key piece of the plan she would not – could not – tell Link. She felt shameful for hiding the truth from him yet again, but if he knew what she really anticipated, he would never be convinced to leave her side; and it was crucial he be safe in Hyrule when the storm broke here. For if I am to be deposed, the process will not be favorable for him or his people. Appearing to be alone and weak would indeed spur Sareth into making his move (Sareth, for she had to accept that all the evidence of the last weeks pointed to him). What he would not know was that there was more to her weakness than an act. She surmised that he would demand she step down on the basis of treason, possibly revealing to the public her plans to marry Link, with or without additional fabricated details. She could fight him, of course; attempt to rally her supporters and the military if necessary. Yet she could not hide her dwindling powers much longer. When it was obvious she had lost the Spirits' ordainment, the great ancestral magic, what argument could she or anyone make for her to remain on the throne? If a coup did rise, she did not know if she would be able to quell it or not, but she needed to plan with the worst case scenario in mind. The next few days would decide if she remained Princess or not. She needed to know Link would be safe and waiting for her, for if things ended badly, she would make her retreat through the Mirror for asylum in Hyrule.

As she drifted to sleep she took some small comfort in knowing that even in that entirely likely case – at least, once Link forgave her for her final deception – they would still be able to find happiness.