Zelda had woke that morning in a better mood than the previous days. Ganondorf still lay at her side, sleeping soundly and she curled up to him, resting her cheek on his chiseled chest. He stirred beneath her and just as she was going to apologize for disturbing him, he simply sighed and rested his arm about her waist. And she smiled.
The day wore on, lazy and quiet. And for the most part, uneventful. Zelda joined her father that afternoon outside in the gardens, enjoying his company and laughing with him for the first time in what felt like months. "I must say, Child, it feels as though an eternity has come and gone since you last smiled. What has you in such spirits?"
Zelda chuckled behind her hand, "I am just in a good mood, I suppose."
He rested his hand on his daughter's, "I am happy you can smile with me again. I see your mother in it."
Her smile grew and her father looked as though he was going to say something more.
"Your Highness!" Within moments, their pleasant atmosphere was broken by the long, purposeful strides of a councilman. Zelda straightened her posture and hid her contentment with her father's company behind a stoic mask. The councilman bowed respectively to them both before rising and addressing the king. "It's Lord Marius, Sire." He paused, hesitant.
"Yes?"
"He's...he was...He was found dead this morning."
The king rose from his seat, his robes fluttering about him as they were caught by the breeze of his sudden movements. "What? How did this happen?" he demanded.
"The doctor surmises that he died from a broken neck. It looks as though he was thrown from his horse." The councilman looked as though he was going to say more but fell silent when the king raised his hand and glanced back at his daughter. This was certainly not meant for her ears.
Zelda had looked down at the patterns carved into the stone table. He was...gone? How was that possible? Her hands dropped into her lap and she looked up when she heard her father call her name. "Are you all right, dear?"
She nodded her head and tried to keep her calm demeanor. Never mind that a few tears had managed slip down her cheeks. She wiped them away and rose from her seat gracefully. "I think I'll go inside now."
Her father silently agreed. This kind of talk was clearly not appropriate for her ears. She had not taken two steps when her father was approached by another councilman. She stopped mid-step when her father called her name. She turned to watch him approach her and take her hand in her own. "There are matters that need my attention. But I must ask you something first."
"Yes Father?"
"The diplomats from Labrynna have arrived. And I intend to carry on the dinner party for them. I trust you are able to find a suitable escort for tonight then?"
She blinked then nodded her head. "Of course." His hand brushed her cheek before he swept after their guests to prepare for that night's festivities. It took several moments before Zelda had even realized she remained frozen in the spot her father had left her. So, she had been left to find her own escort for the evening. There was only one person she would even consider 'suitable' and she found him in the rose gardens, sitting at one of the stone tables with old parchments scattered about. He was so absorbed in his reading, he did not acknowledge Zelda's presence until she seated herself across from him.
He lowered the scroll and quirked an eyebrow. "Bold move, Princess."
"He's dead," she said softly.
"Who is?"
"Marius?"
"I see." He snapped the scroll and returned his reading.
"You could be a little sympathetic."
"I certainly wont pretend the boy was my friend."
"I did not care much for him either. But that does not mean I wanted him to die!" She sighed and rubbed her forehead with her hand, "I'm sorry. I did not mean to sound so cross. I am just...upset."
Ganondorf sighed and finally set the scrolls aside to give the princess his full attention. "It was unfortunate he had to die," he said.
She looked at him curiously as he returned to his reading. "There's another reason you are here," he said after a moment's silence.
"How could you tell?"
"You are easy to read. What is it?"
"The diplomats from Labrynna have arrived."
"So I have been told."
"Father is hosting a dinner party in their honor." She traced a pattern in her skirt, "Would you be my escort?"
He looked visibly surprised by her request. "Princess, you know I am not fond of gatherings."
"I know," she replied, "We would not have to stay for the party's entirety."
"I will have to decline my love."
"Father has trusted me to find someone and there is no one else I would rather go with. Do not make me beg."
He smirked and snaked his hand across the table to rest on hers. "You know I find the thought of you begging attractive."
She blushed. "Is that so?" Looking up at him with a coy grin, she continued, "If you will be my escort, I promise to give you something good."
"Are you bribing me?"
"Is it working?"
"Mmm. Yes."
"Then yes, I am."
He chuckled and brushed his fingers along her wrist. "I will go. For you."
She beamed and raised his hand to her lips and pressing a kiss against it. "Until tonight then."
The guests of the king's dinner party fell silent when the Princess of Hyrule entered the dining hall on the arm of a man who looked nothing short of dangerous. It took all the strength the king possessed to keep from losing his temper. She greeted her Father then took her seat with Ganondorf sitting to her right. There were no problems as the evening wore on and the king thanked the Goddesses. Guests found Zelda's escort to be absolutely charming. Her father was pleased and yet angered, as he watched Ganondorf guide his daughter onto the dance floor and sweep her into his arms and hold her uncomfortably close.
He seething by the time he finally caught the Gerudo without his daughter in tow. "Enjoying yourself, I presume?"
"To a degree. I am only here because Zelda asked me to be her escort," he replied, answering the king's unasked question.
"Oh did she?" The question was clearly rhetorical as he eyed his daughter. "We must speak at length about matters that should have been addressed months ago."
"Very well."
"Not tonight. Tomorrow. Meet with me in my private study. Enjoy your evening." He nodded to Ganondorf before leaving him to glare holes into the back of his head. Zelda approached him and touched his arm to alert him to her presence. "Are you all right?"
"I'm afraid I must retire earlier than expected."
Her face fell and she sighed. "Very well."
"I will see you tonight my love." He bowed to her and press a chaste kiss to the back of her hand, then took his leave.
And Ganondorf made love to the king's daughter that night, branding her, leaving her with visible marks, so the king would know just to whom his precious child belonged. He left her the following morning, sleeping soundly in his bed and the sight of her blonde hair tousled about her head and the peaceful smile on her lips made him reluctant to leave her. But he did so and met with her father in his private study as they had arranged.
The old man looked up and smiled rather amicably at Ganondorf. "Good morning, Ganondorf. I trust you slept well."
"I did." And he held back a smirk.
"The party? Did you enjoy yourself?"
"It was not unpleasant, if that is what you mean."
He nodded and did not look at all displeased. But Ganondorf could easily tell that it was a facade. "How do the soldiers look?"
Ganondorf's brow furrowed for a moment. He really wanted the king to state his purpose for this meeting. "Some are not worth the time I've wasted on them. But others show true promise."
"Good, good. I will have observe them."
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, I would like to know the point of this...meeting."
The king paused, and looked as though he was carefully wording his response, "Ganondorf, I believe you are a terribly brilliant man. An asset to my council, my army, and most certainly to Hyrule and her safety. This much I cannot deny. But..." He stopped and sighed.
"But?"
"My daughter, too, is essential to Hyrule. I do not have substantial proof of any wrong doing. But your conduct certainly toes the line."
"Your Highness, I can assure you-" But he fell silent when the king raised his hand.
"As brilliant as you are, you are not a suitable match for my daughter." Any friendliness the king once held quickly dissipated and he gave Ganondorf a pointed glare, which was met by an indifferent mask. "Distance yourself from her. I will not warn you again. And should I hear anymore rumors, be they true or not, you will be removed from the castle and barred access to the castle town. Understood?"
He clasped his hands behind his back and nodded once. "Good. Dismissed." The king waved his hand, as if to shoo Ganondorf out of the room and the Dark Lord left, his eyes narrowed and something sinister brewing in the back of his mind.