Chapter Eight:
Once again, in Nightview Castle one person resided in the place. No longer two. Dark Link rested his cheek on his open palm and stared past the open doors to the snowy outside. The sunlight breaking through gaps of the gray blanketed sky. His breath made frosty mist in the air before merging with it. Everything fit together in harmony. His white skin tone was like the snow drifting inside the building. The black tunic resembling the shadows, like in the corners. The gray from the stones, throne seat, and the pillars merging into the walls as a backdrop. The faded purple banners going unnoticed.
He lowered his eyes to study the cracks on the stone floor.
Dark Link had returned her to her home. It was what she had wanted from the beginning. But he couldn't help but miss her presence next to him. It was a fun, short journey he took with her despite taking her captive at the beginning. He waited years for her after dulling the pain of the loss of his love. Even when she wasn't the one, he still loved her before he discovered Zelda.
The image of a woman resting in a bed at night flashed into mind. Her eyes carried pain and fear in them. A dagger was plunged deep into her abdomen. A baby coughing before crying as it was taken away by a maid. A man cursing and taking out a sword to attack the intruder. The woman taking her last breath to say, 'Run' to him. So he jumped out the window to flee.
He closed his eyes and rubbed the petals of the Bloody Rose in his other hand. He hated remembering that scene. That last scene of her. So he focused on the touch of the rose.
The Hero's shadow had went to his room that he had shared with the princess without thinking after coming back alone. He had wanted to sleep and hope that the rest would stop the ache in his slow beating heart, but his eyes rested on the Bloody Rose. The thin vase half filled with water. The petals radiating with life from the drink. He never seen those roses glow like that before. The patches of the Bloody Roses always lived through the snow and nights without glowing. A strange sight to be seen.
However, it didn't glow now away from the filled vase. It rested dully in his hand on his kneecap.
Opening his eyes, Dark Link wondered how Zelda was doing back at her home once more. She was probably glad and telling her fiancée and father all about her days away from home. As if it was an adventure for her. He scoffed and tossed that idea aside. If he knew her good and well, she won't be all excited to recall her abduction days with an air of storytelling. She would be happy to be home that's all. But, was she missing him? That's the question he wanted to have answered so badly.
His thoughts then went straight to her fiancé.
Dark Link wordlessly told himself that if this man was not being a wonderful husband to Zelda, he would personally deal with him. Zelda needed the best husband to stay by her side. Not one that would abuse or ignore her. That man should be lucky to have Zelda as his wife.
The wind blew inside the fortress that sounded more like a soft laugh to his ears. He ignored it. It was the wind that decided to play tricks with him. Or his tired mind and saddened heart that wanted to hear something that sounded similar to her voice.
Standing up, he pondered if he should really see her once more. Maybe tonight?
No, he told himself, I should let her enjoy her night alone in her room.
Deciding that tomorrow night would do, he left to go sleep the rest of the day away.
~1~1~1~1~1~
Princess Zelda glanced around the table in the middle of the Royal library. Everyone was staring at her, waiting for her to speak.
She had brushed off their worries and questions back at the front entrance gate.
Instead, she asked her own question, "What is everyone doing here?"
Link had stared at her with bright eyes, Ashei and Shad stood back from the group, and Auru took a step forward to answer her question, "We're coming to meet your father and Prince Vaati, your young highness. Then we were going to start looking for you."
Her younger sister filled her in on what was going on inside the castle quickly after that. She frowned, but never interrupted her on the story. Her head pounding from the information, Auru told them to go to the library before the guards saw the oldest princess outside the castle. There was no need to let anyone else know that she was here already.
Thinking it best, they left with her walking beside Link in the middle and Impa on her other side, holding her hand. Zelda stayed silent, despite the urge of wanting to look at the man she had a crush on. The feeling of Dark Link's lips against hers reminded her of her feelings for him. Her eyes shifted to see the gray paint on the walls, their shadows flickering by the small candles.
She really started to miss him…
If she paid attention, she could faintly smell his scent in her clothes mixed with hers. It made her hands tingle of wanting to touch him again or play with his hair some more. It didn't help the fact that she was walking along with the opposite form of him. The 'lighter' and taken Link. Feeling guilty, she couldn't help but wonder how his lips felt like. The same or different from Dark Link?
To amuse herself, she compared her tunic to Link's. Not for the fact to ignore the feeling of missing Dark Link and still having a crush on Link. Or to stop her rampaging mind from going down that road. She mentally chuckled. They were wearing nearly the same type of tunic. Hers was suited for females, while his suited males.
Dark blue clashing against green. As if she and Link were partners visiting the Castle together. Though she lacked the hat that the Hero wore. A smile crept onto her face and she snuck a quick glance at him. …Only to find him gazing at her.
She ignored the need to blush and calmly started a topic, "So how have you been, Link?"
He replied with a soft smile that made her heart skip a beat.
"Before today? I've been doing well. Ilia of course got on me for hurting Epona—remember the horse riding battle against Ganondorf?—but she forgave me since I was still alive and well. Everything else in the Ordon Village is going well too the past months."
She kept her smile up, but knew it didn't reach her eyes anymore. Half her heart crumbled into dust from hearing his words.
"That's good that she forgave you, Link."
Without thinking, she glanced down and found that she wanted to hold his hand, her own accidently brushing against his few times. Feeling awkward and a little hurt, she pat his shoulder and started walking faster. Her younger sister glanced at her with confused eyes as her smaller feet tried to catch up.
Once they reached the library, Ashei was assigned guard to make sure no one else was allowed inside. Shad went in first to make sure that the room was empty. They all then gathered around the center table, putting away scrolls and items on the other tables.
Zelda cleared her throat, "Okay, now explain to me what was going on after I disappeared?"
Rusl answered her, "Auru believes something is up with Nyx Kingdom. We had come to believe that someone from the region had taken you hostage since that person had used dark magic. Auru, care to explain some more for her?"
Auru cleared his throat and her eyes shifted to him.
"I believe something is happening for Nyx Kingdom wanting to marry their prince to you. It's never been done before and should never be done at all. Nyx and Hyrule had a deep bitterness between them and nearly anything can spark a war within seconds. It's the reason why we must always have a treaty every hundred-and-fifty years. All because of what happened deep down in history. Only the Nyx Kingdom would have most of the records while we barely have anything in the library. Princess Zelda, can you tell us what happened during your absence? Anything about the person of what he wanted from you, to where he took you, and how you managed to return here?"
They all stared at her, but she controlled her nervousness and spoke, "He wasn't from Nyx Kingdom if that's what you all are wondering about. He took me somewhere where it snowed. A Castle that looked ruined but still standing tall. He took me back to the Castle town this afternoon because I slowly convinced him to return me."
She said nothing more than that.
What he only wanted was my love to grow for him and to stay with him, she sadly thought to herself.
Of course, she couldn't say that out loud. It would be too embarrassing and awkward if they knew that.
Her eyes scanned the room instead of meeting their eyes at the end of her answer. A stack of books in order filled the bookcases from the floor to almost touching the ceiling. Stands that carried pots filled with arranged flowers in-between gaps of the bookcases. The gaps showed the peach-colored walls that had small maroon birds flying in a pattern. The birds were the ancient loftwings. Great beings that were guardians to a tribe in the sky from one of the goddesses.
Zelda placed both of her hands on the table's surface. She needed to focus on the matters at hand. Not on seeing the decorations of the library that she had seen millions of times before.
"Why do you assume something is wrong with the King?"
Her young sister answered out loud, "He's sick and sometimes delusional. He won't notice me at times either. Prince Vaati seems to control him. Father has told the council of stepping down once you two marry."
She stopped, yet Zelda knew that she had something else to say. But she didn't press her. All she knew was that she needed to check up on her father at that moment.
"Where is he, Impa?"
"In his bed, resting."
She nodded and addressed everyone, "You'll be provided rooms to stay in. If there is a new threat then I request you be here to aid me and Hyrule. Impa will take you." She sighed, "I need to see my father."
Rusl agreed with her, "We can talk some more tonight or the next morning if you like, your highness."
"Tonight," she said in a hurry, her feet tapping against the rug.
But her eyes shifted to Auru again.
"I would like to read all the information of Nyx Kingdom after tonight's meeting, Auru."
Maybe I can learn something about that mysterious person who can summon dragons.
Because she knew that no one in Hyrule had that type of magic.
He made no objection to her.
The brunette grabbed Impa's hand and gave it a light squeeze.
"Show them where they will be staying at, Impa."
She started to leave when Impa tugged her hand back.
Impa then whispered, getting her attention, "He has red eyes. Prince Vaati, I mean. It's odd for father to want you to marry someone like that."
Zelda's mouth was ajar to say something, but she closed it. It was odd for her father to do. Have her marry a person with red eyes when he once told her stories of how people with red eyes were evil monsters in human disguise. Her father would tell her in disgust at mentioning the monsters with red eyes. However, meeting Dark Link made her want to change her opinion on If she should continue believing in her father's words or not.
She left them with a short goodbye and walked down the hallway on the left. Ashei, who had leaned against the doorway didn't stop her, but went inside the library. The princess was halfway down the hallway when a male's voice called out to her.
"Princess Zelda!"
She stopped, her heart jumping up to be squeezed in her throat. She turned around and faced Link.
"Yes?"
Link pulled her aside by the arm.
"I actually have a meeting with your father and Vaati this evening, during dinner."
He showed her a letter from his pouch that showed the Royal seal split in half.
She rose an eyebrow at that.
"Oh," she said to him.
She had forgotten that he received a letter from the postman.
He let go of her arm.
"That's all I wanted to tell you, so that you won't be shocked to see me at the dinner table."
She smiled and replied, "Thank you, Link. I guess I will see you later today before the next meeting."
Zelda said nothing more. She walked down the hallway again and felt proud of controlling her voice and emotions when speaking to him.
~1~1~1~1~1~
"Father?"
Zelda opened the door some more before letting herself in her father's room. She had given three knocks on the door, but allowed herself in when she didn't hear her father responding to her knocks.
A large room with open space in the middle a king-size bed rested in the middle in front of her. On each side on top of the two windows, clouds were shown floating across. Her father lied on the bed with his eyes closed. A violet blanket reaching up to his chin, brought out his pale skin. His hair was growing more white strands between the faded brown.
She inhaled sharply at seeing him look so different from the last few days she seen him.
The princess whispered as she came closer to him, "Father? It's me, Zelda. I came back home."
Goddesses, she sounded like a little girl-scared and worried.
He stirred and finally opened his eyes.
"Zelda? My beloved Zelda?" He wheezed out.
She stared at him, confused. He never called her 'beloved' before. Without thinking, she looked on her right side to see a picture of her father and mother smiling together. Was he mistaking her as his late wife?
"It's your daughter, father," she answered him calmly.
He smiled in a dream state.
"Oh, yes we have a wonderful young daughter."
The king stopped and frowned in sudden deep thought. She shifted her footing and leaned closer. Her hands were ready to shake him if need to. But, she didn't expect him to sit up abruptly and slap her.
She cried out and fell on the floor. Her hand immediately cupped her warm cheek that stung. It would appear as a red mark shortly. She looked up to see her father staring at her with stormy eyes.
"You unfaithful wife!" He shouted, his finger pointing down at her.
"W-what?" she stuttered out in shock.
Her eyes widened at his loud voice and words.
"Going for that monster's charms and having a monster brat with him behind my back! A disgraceful Queen and wife to have," he snarled out.
"What are you talking about, father?! I don't understand you at all!"
Was this what Impa was saying when he was delusional? Not being himself?
Shaken by the turn of events, she stood up and took a step back.
"Oh dear, oh dear," A silky voice said behind them.
She turned around to see a man with long, flowing lavender hair hanging past his shoulders. Light red eyes stared with amusement at her with a playful smile to match. His tunic shirt and long cloak a shade darker than his hair had pink designs at the edges.
Zelda took a sharp intake of breath. He did have red eyes. She admitted that the prince was handsome in a way, but she wondered how the prince managed to have her father marry her off to him. Her father wouldn't fall for his charms if he had those eyes either way. Her thoughts strayed to how the Hero's shadow had red eyes.
Maybe Nigel is from Nyx Kingdom without knowing himself, she pondered to herself.
"I'm afraid you, fine adventurer, are not allowed here," he told her before snapping his fingers with a light sound.
Two guards appeared behind him before making their way to take her out of the Castle.
She narrowed her eyes and stood her ground.
"Who are you?"
She knew who he was, but she still wanted him to give her his name before revealing herself.
He chuckled in reply, "I am Prince Vaati the sixth of Nyx Kingdom."
He bowed his head at her.
The princess would have given a curtsy if she was wearing a dress, but she wasn't, so she gave a small bow of her head in turn.
"I am Princess Zelda the ninth. It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Vaati." Her voice had no warmth in it.
He looked taken aback, before recollecting himself. He then twirled his hand, looking past her.
Seeing this was odd to her, she glanced behind her to see her father's eyes looking clearly at her.
"Zelda? Zelda! You found her, Prince Vaati!"
Her lips twitched, however she lightly said, "I'm back, father."
The King struggled to get off the bed, but was stopped by Prince Vaati who laid him back down with words of needing to rest. Next, he ordered both the guards to bring a nurse and maid at once. Left alone, Zelda took a seat by the window to see four black birds flying past. She had took note of his change of voice that sounded strong and healthy. Not weak and wheezy. Very strange to her.
"Zelda, what on Hyrule are your wearing?!" Her father cried out.
She straightened up. Clearing her throat, she imagined her old mask being placed back on. A cracked mask that still fit on her face.
"Some clothes that I picked up since my dress got filthy," she casually replied.
Vaati cut in, "Yes, I purchased her the clothes to help blend her in, so the crowd can have announcement of her safe return tomorrow afternoon. Poor Zelda had a long day after all, your highness."
Zelda rose an eyebrow. She had given a small lie to her father yet her fiancé gave him a bigger one. Dark Link had given her these clothes and returned her. Not the prince. She held her tongue nonetheless. Let Prince Vaati have his glory for a little while. If Auru, Impa, and everyone else suspected him than she should too until proven otherwise.
The King coughed into his hand while fanning the air with the other.
"Then you should take a warm bath so that afterwards we can celebrate your return with a great feast!"
A knock sounded at the door that opened to reveal the maid and nurse. The two guards were stationed outside on each side of the doorway. The nurse took the temperature before the King grew furious and tried shooing her away.
"I am perfectly healthy! It's just a foolish little cold."
Prince Vaati stretched out his hand to help Zelda up from her seat.
"I think it's best if you do what your father said. The maid will get rid of those clothes for you."
Knowing that she was dismissed, the princess's lips thinned into a straight line. She gave a short nod and left the room, followed by a maid. She was in no mood to argue about wanting to stay. She wanted to figure out what her father had said to her in his delusional state. What did he mean that her mother wasn't faithful to him? Even going as far as to give birth for another man?
Zelda tried to think back to the memories of her mother. Her mother reading in the library, holding her father's hand with a forced smile as her younger version placed her head on the large bump of her stomach. Her mother standing in the Royal graveyard looking up at the dusk sky.
Yes, she remembered that one clearly.
She had went outside with a gut feeling to see her mother wearing a shawl on her head. Checking each corner and her back occasionally before proceeding ahead. So she followed, curious of where her mother was going at night. Always making sure not to get too close or get spotted, until they reached the Royal graveyard. At first, she had thought this was a spot her mother loved to hang out at during the night and think, while watching the sky. That is, until she walked into a blanket of shadows where the wall was. Surprised at this, Zelda had went after her mother. Touching the hard surface of the wall, she found it solid. It was no trick or foul play.
Her mother had disappeared.
Scared, she made to run and tell her father before seeing red eyes peeking out of the shadows. It gave her a fright that made her run inside the castle to her bed and hide under the covers. She had assumed it to be a bad dream at seeing her mother at the table the following morning, eating a light breakfast. A bad dream that loved to stay in her memories at times.
But now…
A light smack on her face brought her back to reality as Zelda rubbed her forehead. She had bumped into her bedroom door! The maid was holding onto her arm half a second too late. Worried, the maid pestered about the princess being all right or needing a towel of ice for her head. The brunette declined and allowed the woman to open the door.
She glanced around her room to find the same. The bed made, her vanity close to the balcony, her desk on the opposite side, and the doorway to her bathroom closed. A large wardrobe rested next to the left side of the vanity. A large oval rug rested in the floor between her bed and the bathroom door and her standing in the doorway. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The smell of faint lavenders and vanilla in the air.
Opening her eyes she took off the pink dress hanging in the belt and placed it on the bed. The belt next with the dagger. A small pouch fell afterwards—another small gift from Dark Link to hold her bow and arrows before her return.
Zelda heard the maid move behind her to go open the wardrobe to reveal many dresses of different colors. The maid chose the purple dress with thin straps. It was her dress that she wore during the twilight time six months ago, she recalled. The maid settled the dress on the bed before readying the tub of hot water.
She sat down on her bed and listened to the sounds of the water running.
When the maid appeared in the doorway she moved out of the way to allow the princess to enter. But Zelda stopped.
"Vaati ordered you to get rid of the clothes, correct?"
The maid nodded. "Yes, he did. Don't worry madam once the clothes are rid of it will be like nothing ever happened."
She growled unexpectedly, "No, leave them alone. Vaati doesn't tell you what to do. My father, Impa, or I do. And I'm telling you not to get rid of these clothes. Understand?"
The maid widened her eyes and shakily replied, "Understood, madam!"
Zelda waved her hand. "You are dismissed then."
Shortly after the woman left, Zelda rubbed her temples.
I can't believe that I did that! Ordering the maid around like that. I have never done that before.
The princess treated all servants and maids with respect and kindness. She was not like her father, who would expect them to do their job perfectly, without slacking one bit. A punishment would be given to them if they didn't.
Thinking of how the bath will relax her mind and body, Zelda stepped inside her bathroom to strip off her clothes and boots. Her fingers broke the surface of the water to feel the hot water barely lowering its temperature. She sank inside the tub. She washed her body and dipped her head for a few seconds underwater. Going up, she smoothed her hair and wiped her face. A happy sigh escaped her lips. The warm bath melted away the worries and the tensed muscles. Feeling at ease now, she stayed in the tub until the warm water turned cool.
Getting out of the tub, she wrapped herself in a long white towel, dried her hair, and went to her room. Needing no help to put on a simple dress, she brushed her hair next, leaving it flowing freely down her back.
Out of her balcony doors she saw the stream leading to the Zora's domain and the snowy mountains. Out there in the snow region, Dark Link was probably back at the Nightview Castle, alone. She wondered how he was doing. Was he feeling miserable? Angry? Or nothing at all? No, the last question wasn't like him. He had feelings. She was sure of that.
The princess wanted to be with him. Only he could break her mask that held her emotions in check so successfully. The mask that she worked so hard to maintain after her mother's death and her father's wish to not let emotions cloud the mind, so she could be a better ruler for Hyrule. She wanted to be with him more than Link. Yes, she still had a crush on Link, but she had developed more feelings for his opposite self.
She sat down at her desk and pulled out paper and a feather with a small jar of fine ink. Popping out the cork and dipping the quill's tip in the dark liquid she smoothed out the paper with her left hand. She began to write a letter, addressed to Anju in the beginning. She can't forget about the innkeeper.
Dear Anju,
I wish to thank you for being so kind and sweet to me and Nigel. You did not tell the guards of our whereabouts and I am grateful for that. I do look forward to our next meeting in the future. For I know which inn to stay at the next time I visit Kakariko's Village as Zelda rather than 'Hilda'.
Please accept these 100 rupees as my thank-you.
I wish you and Kafei a good life.
—From Princess Zelda
Satisfied on how the letter turned out, she pulled out a bag of rupees from the top drawer. Tucking it in an envelope with the letter she turned it over. Lighting up a wax candle, she waited until it dropped down the hot liquid. Making a round shape she took out a signet ring and pressed hard on the wax. She blew out the candle and put it away. The signet ring taken out, she placed it on the side and admired the sealing. The seal of the Triforce symbol pressed into the golden wax.
A knock sounded at her door and opened to reveal the maid.
"Prince Vaati would like to have a word with you, Princess Zelda," the maid told her quietly.
Her eyes were cast down towards the floor.
Holding the letter in her hands, Zelda stood up.
"Very well, where is he?"
She needed to have a messenger boy send the letter before meeting with the young Nyx ruler.
"I apologize, but I am to bring you to him."
Zelda sighed and said, "Fine, I just needed to have a messenger boy send this letter at once."
The maid held out her hand.
"I can do it for you, Princess Zelda."
She nodded and said, "Tell the boy also that I will give him a reward once he returns."
"Of course."
The maid stepped outside and waited for her.
Zelda started to walk until she stopped in the doorway and thought, how can I walk around with my mask threating to break forever any minute?
She imagined her little cell with a tiny window on the high wall with flowing light coming through. The mask was so cold, that bathing her face in the light made her feel the warmth. But it was breaking. A black cat with red eyes was visiting and allowing itself to be pet by her so when it finally left, cracks grew and spread from the window. The thin streams of light increased. She had pushed the animal out of the window with such force, that the little feline probably won't come back anymore.
Zelda was alone in the cell. She didn't know if she should be happy or scared of the celling threating to collapse and reveal the outside. And she had a feeling that moment was coming soon.
~64~64~64~64~64~
A/N: Hmmmm... thinking of what to say in this author's note, but I'm coming up empty. ^^'
Oh, right first thing first... My thanks to SweetestChick for editing this chapter. : )
And a reminder to everyone, but remember that my goal to ending this story is 12-14 chapters. I'm very close to ending this story. In fact, if I update every Tuesday I'll be finish by near or on October. ^^
Guess that's it.
Until next time...
~GreenFantasy64