The Serpent's Egg
By Nicolle
Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda belongs to Shigeru Miyamoto and Nintendo. Thank you for letting your fans borrow them.
Chapter Seven
Bot poured the antidote into bottles while Annie put lids on them. He heard the front door open and turned just in time to get a knife in the side. A knock to the back of the head had him on the floor. The man grabbed a kicking and screaming Annie.
"Is this the one?"
A woman grabbed Annie's hair and pulled her head back. "This is the girl Ganon described. Take her to the palace."
The man kicked Bot. "What about him?"
"The poison will kill him and if he should wake up in time for a potion, it will kill him faster."
They dragged Annie out of the house and back to the palace, tossing her in a room with Elana. The girls hugged.
"Are you all right?" Elana asked.
Annie nodded. "Mr. Bot needs help."
Elana looked at the door. "So do we. There aren't any secret passages from this room."
Annie put her face against Elana's chest and cried. The princess held the child close and petted her hair. The door opened and Ganon strode in.
"What a happy little reunion!" He knelt in front of Elana. "Do you know why you're not dead yet?"
"You can't get the Egg. Only a blood member of the royal line can get it and Droz, being the widower of my late aunt, is not a blood relation."
"Correct. You will retrieve the Egg."
"I was going to do that anyway, Pig-face," the princess spat.
Ganon smiled. "And then you will give it to me."
"Bite me."
Ganon frowned and snapped his fingers. A member of the royal guard came forward and grabbed Annie.
Elana jumped at him. "No!"
Ganon grabbed her by the back of her tunic. "You will retrieve the Egg and give it to me, or I kill your little friend."
Elana went still, eyes cold. "If you hurt a hair on Annie's head..."
"Retrieve the Egg and she'll be safe and sound." Ganon jerked his head toward the door and the guardsman left. "I'll be back shortly to escort you to the shrine." He turned to the man and woman who brought Annie. "Keep an eye on her royal highness."
Ganon left the room and the door shut. Elana sank to the floor and put her head in her hands. The door swung open, knocking the woman to the floor. Before the man could draw a weapon a sword was sticking out of his chest.
"If you're going to kill someone, make sure they're dead," Bot said. He pulled his sword out of the man's chest and with a quick swing, cut off his head. The woman screamed and jumped at him. Bot threw the sword and it caught her in the chest. She sunk to her knees, coughing blood. The knight put a foot on the woman's chest and pulled his sword free. She fell face first to the floor.
"Bot!" Elana hugged him before pulling him to the door. "We have to get Annie."
Bot grabbed her shoulders. "Hold on, princess. Annie's right outside. I ran into her first."
Elana sagged, heavy with relief. "Then we have to go the garden. There's a way to the shrine under the fountain."
Bot nodded. "Stay close and quiet. There are way too many people here for me to fight my way through."
Elana nodded and hugged him again. Outside the door, Elana picked up Annie and followed Bot through the serving passages to the garden. The fountain was hidden in a small grove of trees, out of sight. Elana walked around it, but couldn't figure out how to move it.
"What happened to L and Z?"
"We ran into my Uncle Droz and some guards on the way to the shrine. Link stayed to distract them while Zelda and I ran for the passage entrance. When I opened the door, I was transported back to the palace."
"A trap."
"When I figure out how to get this open, head back to find the queen."
Bot shook his head. "Z can take care of herself. You and Annie are my priority."
"You sound like Link."
Bot smiled. "That's only because I hang out with him all the time. But seriously, Z will be all right."
Sheik was left in a prison cell to await Ganon, who was sure to be interested in the sudden appearance of the last of the Sheikah. A shadow separated itself from the wall.
"I love you like this. Your eyes like blood and your mind like death." The other's hand wrapped around the back of Sheik's neck and pulled him into a rough kiss. Sheik shoved the other away.
"I hate you like this."
He trapped Sheik against the wall. "That's lie and you know it." He leaned in, forehead against forehead. "Long ago, when I was still one, you lost me in the final battle. I didn't come back and you were ready to die in your despair. I died never knowing you loved me. You never told me and it broke you. In your wisdom you denied me and then spent the rest of your long life wondering if I'd have made the effort to survive if I knew your kiss awaited me."
"You were a pompous, arrogant fool," Sheik gritted out.
"And pure in my devotion. It's still pure."
"And it's willing to burn the world."
The other smiled. "That is not a willingness unique to only one half."
Sheik's face fell. He pushed the other way and slid down the wall to sit on the floor. "Is there anything else you want to defeat me with today?"
The other knelt in front of Sheik and turned his face up, revealing tears. He looked away, self-satisfaction gone. "Rivers from your eyes," he muttered. "Come with me."
"No."
The other folded his arms across his chest. "I don't have time to argue."
"Get Elana to the shrine. I will keep Ganon busy."
The other looked toward the shadows. "That will be cutting it close."
Sheik stood. "Get Elana to the shrine." He grabbed the other's hair and pulled their lips together in a quick kiss. "That's an order."
"As My Queen wishes." The other stepped into the shadows and out of a shadow in the garden. Elana stepped away from him, moving back toward Bot. The other said nothing, but pushed the release on the fountain, revealing the tunnel.
Elana picked up Annie and went to the entrance. She looked back at the other. "Is the queen all right?"
"Yes."
Elana nodded. Bot followed her into the tunnel, trying not to think about the other Link and what that meant.
