Chapter 7, A Way Out
Ganondorf stalked closer towards the fragile form of the princess. The firelight made his olive-brown skin glow with health and vitality. He looked so much stronger and healthier than the men she had grown up with and known to be the standard. His tall muscular form had to stoop slightly so that he could be on the same plane of height as her, even though she was sitting on an extremely high stone. Zelda's eyes quickly averted their gaze from his defined, exotic face, but not without noticing the perfectly shaped jaw and sculpted aquiline nose. He was, indeed, a very handsome man in the flickering firelight that only made him seem more mysterious.
"You've given the castle quite a fright with the stunt you've pulled." he stated, interrupting her thoughts with his gentlest tone.
Zelda shook her head slightly, clearing her mind of distracting thoughts. Her heart was beating so loud that her confused head imagined that everyone could hear it. How could this man, the one whom all the stories recounted as a vicious monster, have such a gentle voice and appearance? Surely all evil ones were the ugly hags and vicious old wizards that decorated other stories. She took at deep breath, collecting her thoughts and calming her pulse enough to speak. "I am not going back." she stated, trying to sound strong. She knew that she could not fool them; her voice trembled like an autumn leaf in the wind.
"Really?" Ganondorf said, eyebrows rising in amusement as the Vaati and Link laughed behind him.
Zelda's lower lip curled in resentment at his mocking tone. She rose to her feet on her mother's raised coffin, only then coming to Ganondorf's full height. She could feel her cheeks burning in embarrassment at their obvious amusement. "I will not go back to the life that awaits me there." she said, making an effort to sound menacing.
Ganondorf looked at Link out of the corner of his eye and nodded almost unnoticeably. "We have been ordered to bring you back to your home, Zelda."
Link grinned broadly and slinked towards the closest wall, using his innate powers to melt into the wall and glide towards a convenient ambush place.
Zelda pivoted her torso forward and stuck her face into Ganondorf's. "Not even the most trusted soldiers in the army would touch me to bring me back. You can't make me come with you, and my father would be very displeased if I was forced through violent means."
Ganondorf's arms crossed indifferently. "Why don't you want to go back, dear?"
Zelda's quick response caught on the tip of her tongue as she heard a slight, annoying buzzing in her ear. She hesitated, trying to recall the words over the tingling she began to feel in her farthest extremities. "I… can't go back to… that man, Logan." she said, her tongue was beginning to feel heavy.
"Unfortunately, you're father wants you back home for exactly that reason. Not only that, but he's willing to let us do just about anything to get you there…" Ganondorf said with a smug smile while glancing over at Vaati.
Zelda followed his gaze and saw Vaati directing his hands towards her, his hands were glowing slightly. She gasped and tried to step backwards, but her limbs were paralyzed and her eyesight was becoming clouded. Was this the kind of power that Ganondorf and Vaati had over
their victims? She saw Ganondorf's hands reaching forward to snatch her up and she screamed loudly.
The scream seemed to distract Vaati enough to shatter the bond of magic for a split second. Zelda jumped back out of Ganondorf's reach and tottered on the opposite edge of the coffin. Her arms rotated, trying fruitlessly to keep her upright. She fell over the edge, and straight into the arms of Link. She flailed around, beating her tiny fists into his muscled chest. Her mouth opened in a scream of fury, but his hand painfully muffled her.
The rain viciously pounded the already snow-soaked ground in the royal cemetery. Lighting lit up the roiling purple sky that wept over Hyrule. Mist rose from the ground, clinging to the earth like an uninvited guest. Wind wailed and howled like a wounded animal as it ran through the crowded village in shambles. Zelda gazed out of one of the few glowing, upstairs windows of the local Inn. She rested her fingers upon the glass, savoring the cold as it crept into them. Bringing her cold fingers to her arms, she traced the faint bruises from Ganondorf's strong grip. She turned around to look at the filthy Inn room and her three captors who earnestly discussed the sleeping situation.
After the discussion was settled, the Prince of the desert turned around to face the terrified princess. She averted her gaze and shuffled her feet slightly.
He walked towards her casually, holding a glistening metal object in his hand. "This, my dear, is the only key to this room. I'm going downstairs to the tavern, I'll send someone up to serve you food later." he pointed towards a rickety looking door. "The washroom's through there. It has been stocked full of anything that you might want."
"Why are you treating me so well?" Zelda asked; her voice barely audible in fear of the man before her.
Ganondorf knelt down and grabbed her shoulders gently. His fingers pressed slightly against her shoulder blades, forcing her to stand straight and look him in the eye. He leaned forward and brought his lips menacingly close to her ear. "You may think I'm treating you well, Princess, but I'm only doing this because of your father. The moment you try to escape or sabotage any of my plans, you won't be treated so kindly." he hissed.
The door clicked shut quietly as Zelda let out a huge sigh of relief. She had not realized she had been holding in her breath. She stumbled to the edge of the bed and clung to the metal frame, trying to steady herself. Her silver eyes strayed to the open bathroom door; it looked relatively clean and relaxing. She began walking towards the inviting bath when the sound of the door opening made her turn quickly around. A young woman with short, red hair wearing a rough-looking dress stood in the doorway.
The woman smiled pityingly at Zelda and placed the tray of steaming food on the rickety table. "I brought you some food, princess." She said with a deep bow. Her brilliant blue eyes flicked up and saw the open bathroom door. "Oh, I'm sorry. Were you planning on bathing? Do you want me to wash your clothes?"
Zelda smiled at her kindness. "Yes, please." she answered sweetly.
"You will be riding back home I believe, your personal horse was brought here. I have some old riding clothes; they might be your size. I can bring them up if you like."
"Only if it's not too much trouble." Zelda replied as she ran to the bathroom and handed the attendant her dress from behind the door.
The attendant scurried to gather the dress and walked out quickly. "If you need anything, just ask for Anju, I can fix you up with anything."
"Thank you, Anju."
Later on in the night, deciding not to have too much alcohol, Ganondorf walked back to his room and carefully let himself in. He poked his head into the room and saw Zelda curled up like a cat, asleep, next to a half-eaten meal on his bed. Her golden hair shone in the dim candlelight and her face looked like that of a cherub. He quietly snuck into the room, glancing at the cot that was supposed to be her bed. He carefully put his hands underneath the curled body and lifted her up. She stirred slightly, but her sleep was so deep that the movement didn't wake her. She was lighter than air, and he savored the fragility of her body in his large arms. He carried her to the cot and gently let her down, covering her with the only blanket he had on hand, his cape. The moment she felt the warm velvet she snuggled deeper into the comfort of sleep.
He smiled and gazed at her innocent, fearless face. "What was such a princess like you doing in a dusty crypt?" he mumbled as he backed away from her to his own bed.
Ganondorf took off his shirt and crawled into bed, but instead of going to sleep, he began to read the old manuscripts he always carried with him. His reading was peaceful and he had already filled a torn piece of paper with countless neat, concise notes when he was interrupted by the sound of moaning from Zelda's cot. He glanced up to see Zelda writhing in her sleep, her face screwed into a look of anguish and anxiety. Her golden strands of hair covering her flickering eyes and reaching into her now open mouth. He pitied her, strange dreams and nightmares always plagued people with a mind that sees more than others. He reconsidered her vision that he had prompted, and wondered if he had started this fit of nightmares as well.
Suddenly, she heaved herself out of the nightmare and sat up in bed. Her long-fingered hand reached for a piece of exposed skin on her neck. Tears welled up in her frightened eyes while they flicked across the room as her chest heaved with exertion. Finally, her gaze settled on the powerful, peaceful presence in the room. His face looked pleasant and inviting enough, but she dared not stir from her cot, no matter how scary the dream was.
Ganondorf gazed back down at his manuscripts. He smiled and tossed them onto the floor. He signaled for Zelda to come towards him.
She shook her head and made a motion to go back to sleep.
"Zelda, who are you more afraid of? The demons in your dream, or a man who can take away those dreams for a time?"
She snapped into attention and stared at him incredulously. "How do you know?"
He waved his fingers slightly as if to brush off the question. "That is not important, the important thing is that I can heal you."
Author's Notes:
Can I just say that I am SO SORRY for not updating sooner. I have been at a camp and visiting friends in a foreign country. I'm still there actually! I just barely have had enough time to finish anything. But, thankfully, this chapter is a little bit longer so, you can see that I've been hard at work.
Also, Cherryblossom518, I swear, I'll get that scene to you soon. TT You can take as LONG as you want to draw it, I am ashamed at how much time it has taken me to get this stuff out. I have never had a busier summer.
Anyway, I have all my inspiration back, a nice break has been good. I'm eager to continue the story, but this chapter is a slight transition. I hope you stay tuned for the next chapter, It's going to be very fun to write, and hopefully to read as well. Also, thanks for reading so far, I really appreciate it.
