Chapter 10: Like Mother Like Daughter?...
Disclaimer: Don't own Zelda.
A.N: Yikes! Having completed French Orals and Textiles exams, I have Classical Studies on Tuesday and Friday! Eep! I really thought I had to get this chapter up, but I know you guys'll understand if there's not much for a while. Also, the next chapter will pretty much be the BIG FIGHT SCENE that you've been waiting for, so be patient and it'll arrive. I promise!
Cordelia could scarcely believe her eyes as the first great love of her life stared at her in a shocked horror. The hair on his beard and head was paled by the myriad of grey hairs that streaked the sandy gold, and his face had become more weathered and tired. Much to her disappointment, his eyes had lost the sparkle that had enthralled her, and she was intelligent enough to know what had removed it.
"The years have been kinder to you than to me." He remarked, as he saw her immense grey eyes searching his face. "You remain unchanged."
There was stiffness in his words that did not come from insincerity, as she still looked more or less the same as she had done the day he had last seen her. The only changes were creases upon her brow and around her eyes, and her golden curls were untouched by the silver of age, save for a few threads by her brow. But in spite of the civil nature of his words, Cordelia could not fail to sense the discomfort in the general's manner, nor the familiar look of disdain in his eyes. She couldn't stand that.
"Please don't hate me, Ola." She said softly, looking away.
Olaran's brow furrowed. After so many years of playing over this scenario in his mind, it still surprised him that she would choose to open their reunion with such words. The least he'd expected was that she'd apologise, but over the years he'd forgotten what Cordelia was really like.
"Why should I not hate you?" He snapped, holding his fury. "You played with my heart like it was nothing but another ornament for you, and when I'd finally accepted that I'd never get you back, you choose to torment me when I was happier than I'd ever been for years."
"Olaran..."
"Why did you do it Cordelia? Why? For the sake of the Gods woman, we had everything that either of us could ever want and you blew it! Why did you do it to Ariala..."
Cordelia snapped at the mention of her old rival.
"Oh yes, Ariala, your child bride." Cordelia hissed. "The girl who enchanted everyone because she was so different from everyone else at court. What was it about her that had you so enthralled, Olaran? Why did you marry her? She was nothing but a little girl playing in a man's world, but in the world of women she couldn't quite cut it..."
Olaran's scowl deepened at the contempt Cordelia showed for Ariala and felt his anger rise.
"I loved her because she was nothing like you." He replied coolly. "And as for failing at being a woman, I think the only failure in that department was you."
Cordelia's mouth opened in horror.
"How dare you!"
"I'll tell you how I dare," Olaran snapped. "Ariala showed more love for me than you ever did. She was a better friend, a better mother and above all that, Ariala was the only woman who ever truly satisfied me."
That had been a low blow and he knew it, but right now all he wanted to do was hurt her the way she had hurt him, time and again. But Cordelia de la Lune was not a woman who took an insult lightly.
"Oh yes, I suppose she must have been quite a one in the sack, otherwise you would have never married her. She had nothing else going for her. Tell me, was Aidyn on the way before you were married or did you wed her purely because of love?"
She practically spat the last word and Olaran felt his normally placid temper rise to a rage he'd never thought he'd feel. He was unable to contain himself as he lunged out and grabbed her wrist with such a vice grip that she cried out.
"I never ever thought I'd ever hate anyone as much as I hate you at this moment." He growled.
"Olaran, you're hurting me..." Cordelia yelped.
"Good! Maybe that way I'll get through to you!" The general snapped. "Because of you, I have lived the past seventeen years in misery, my grandson will never know his grandmother and my son hates me because of you."
Cordelia was speechless.
"I'm glad you have nothing to say to that." Olaran said angrily. "I have more to say and your voice is sickening me. You remember Ranlink don't you? You always doted on him, giving him presents and cuddling him..."
"I killed him." Cordelia whispered.
"No, you did worse than that." Olaran replied. "He's alive."
"He is?"
The woman's voice was elated and happy.
"No thanks to you. And don't think that he will ever show you any favour, because the one good thing that has come out of this whole mess is that he hates you as much as he hates me."
Cordelia stared into Olaran's eyes and saw the spark of anger in them that she had seen the day he had saved her from Moreth, only this time the anger was directed at her. Once those eyes had stared at her with a look so warm and tender that even the thought of it still warmed her heart, so many years after it had ceased to be directed at her.
"Oh Olaran, what happened to us?" She said sadly. "There was a time when you would have taken the stars from the sky if I so desired them."
"For the sake of the Gods Cordelia, don't you dare try to pull that shit on me!" He growled. "I'm not a starstruck teenager anymore, you can't manipulate me anymore with your mind games. If I remember, you said that you'd love me until the stars burnt out, but they're still there aren't they?"
Once again, Cordelia was rendered speechless.
"I wonder whether you spouted the same lies to Harkinian?" Olaran mused. "No matter what you think of or thought of me, he didn't deserve to be treated the way you treated him."
"I never meant to hurt him."
"So you meant only to hurt me. Why is it that whatever you put your mind to always ends in you hurting someone grievously?"
The arguing pair were unaware that their discussion was being overheard by a silent watcher. Impatient and bored of waiting for Cordelia to bring Zelda to be sacrificed, Serpius had slunk out from his quarters and had come in search of the queen, only to discover this angry exchange of words between the general and his former lover. In the darkness of the shadows, Serpius' eyes narrowed at the sight of the general who had caused him such trouble, although a sadistic smirk played upon his lips in delight of hearing such secrets, and by having Olaran at his mercy.
******
Aidyn charged up the stairs to the top floor, keeping his eyes open for any enemy that might cross his path. He wondered whether or not his father or brother had had any luck finding Zelda. He spotted two girls dressed in plain grey robes standing by a door, talking quietly to one another, and pinned himself against the wall in the shadows.
"Lady Griselda has been gone quite some time, do you think she will return soon?" The smaller of the girls said.
"Oh undoubtedly." The taller agreed. "She said that she would, and so she will. It is not everyday that such an important visitor comes here."
Ah ha. Aidyn thought. Princesses were important visitors.
Suddenly, a firm hand gripped his shoulder and he spun around to face his brother. He smirked.
"You're late baby brother." He said.
Link didn't know how to answer his comment, completely taken aback by his brother's use of the word 'brother'.
"I got held up, I met Griselda de la Lune." He said quietly. "She told me where to find Zelda."
"Really? Where?" Aidyn asked in surprise.
"Where do you think she is? She's in there." Link replied.
"Right. So how do we get past the guards?" Aidyn asked.
Link peered around the corner and cursed.
"Damn it. Serpents I can handle, but unarmed priestesses are completely new to me." He muttered.
Aidyn grinned.
"Link, you appear to be forgetting one thing."
"What?" Link asked, looking clueless.
"Are priestesses supposed to be pure and chaste?"
"Yes."
"And are we or are we not young men?"
"Yes but..."
Link smiled and finally understood what his brother was saying.
"You want us to flirt with them to get rid of them?"
Aidyn grinned and nodded.
"Yeah, that's about it. But if you tell Catrine then you're dead." He warned.
Link smiled.
"I may just have to save this story to tell my nephew though."
Aidyn glared at him and pushed him into the corridor before he could react. There he stood, stock still and staring at the two women with blatant discomfort. The priestesses, having heard his footsteps, gasped and stared at him in horror, with their eyes wide open.
"Who... who...?" They stammered simultaneously.
"Um..." Link began. "Hi?"
Aidyn slapped his forehead and stifled his laughter.
"Alright, who are you and what are you doing here?" The taller priestess began angrily.
Link didn't much like the tone of her voice and decided to act.
"I... um... like your... robes?"
The priestesses' jaws dropped and Aidyn was unable to control the snort of laughter that escaped him. Clearly, his little brother had very little experience in sweet talking the fairer sex.
"What my brother means to say," he said, stepping in to help out. "Is that your beauty makes the garments you wear seem as though they are made from the finest silks in Hyrule."
The two priestesses stared at him aghast, and then blushed prettily and giggled. Link stared at his elder brother with an appalled expression on his face.
"Yet even the finest silk in Hyrule would pale in comparison to your beauty, ladies." He said, taking Aidyn's lead and bowing.
Again, the priestesses giggled.
"Good sirs, you flatter us." The taller said while the shorter giggled uncontrollably.
"No flattery is needed when..." Link was stuck.
"...All we speak is the truth." Aidyn continued. "Such rare apparitions of beauty have not been seen since the Golden Goddesses came to this land."
Link was uncertain whether to vomit or roll on the floor laughing.
"But please ladies, do not think us brash." Aidyn continued, aware that his brother was about to gag. "All we desire is but one kiss from your fair lips."
Link could scarcely believe how thickly Aidyn was laying it on. The priestesses gasped and then Link realised that perhaps even with all of Aidyn's nauseating sweet talk the girls were still going to say no.
"Dear me, we do work quickly." The taller girl said.
The smaller carried on giggling.
"Meet us outside in ten minutes." The taller continued.
The priestesses hurried off giggling while Link looked at his brother in bemused surprise.
"I don't even want to ask where you learned that from." He laughed.
"Catrine is fond of romance novels."
Link shook his head and laughed.
"Well, I guess Zelda's waiting."
"I guess."
They headed to the door and looked through the chink to see a blonde haired maiden seated on the bed.
"Right." Link announced, taking his sword from its scabbard and bringing it down upon the hinges of the door with all his strength.
"That's not going to work..." Aidyn began, but ate his words as the sword sliced through the metal with ease. "Yea Gods, that is some sword you have."
The door thudded on the floor and much to Link and Aidyn's surprise, Zelda was standing there with her hands on her hips with a smirk on her lips.
"'Such rare apparitions of beauty have not been seen since the Golden Goddesses came to this land?' What the hell was that?" She scoffed.
"You're welcome princess, it was no trouble at all rescuing you." Link replied dryly.
Aidyn could only blush.
"We'd better split before those guards realise that we're not coming to dirty their habits." Link remarked. "C'mon Zel, let's get out of here."
Zelda moved to join them but then paused. The thought of her mother stayed firmly in her mind an
"I can't." She said quietly.
"What?" Aidyn asked. "Zelda, you're in danger."
"I know." She sighed. "But I can't go, not yet."
Link looked at her quizzically and tried to read the expression on her face unsuccessfully.
"Zel, come on." He said quietly, taking hold of her hand. "If you stay here then you're going to get yourself killed. Come on..."
"No Link!" Zelda replied, wrenching her hand from his grasp. "I have to see her, I have to find out why she did it! You don't understand!"
It was at that moment Link knew what she meant. He also felt as though something cold had just gripped hold of his chest and had rendered him immobile, because he knew that if Zelda saw Cordelia then it would mean that he would too, and he didn't want to confront the woman who was partly responsible for his mother's death.
"She's the one who wants you dead Zelda." He said quietly.
His words cut at her like a knife and she felt confused and shocked by them. Deep down she knew that her mother had no intention of seeing her again, but somehow the realisation of the truth in his words shook her senses.
"You don't know that..." She began.
"Yes I do." Link said softly. "Griselda told me herself. We have to go. Now."
"Who is trying to kill her?" Aidyn asked.
Zelda hung her head and nodded.
"Alright." She said quietly. "I'll leave."
Link looked at her sympathetically.
"Believe me Zel, it's for the best."
"I know." She whispered. "But... but wouldn't you give anything to see your mother?"
Aidyn looked shocked.
"Mother?"
He turned and stared at Link.
"She's alive? Mother? Our mother's alive?"
It was Zelda's turn to be shocked.
He knows?
Link read Zelda's thoughts and nodded.
"No Aidyn, I wish to Farore she was but..."
"My mother is." Zelda replied. "And she's here. In this sisterhood."
Aidyn opened his mouth in shock.
"Queen Cordelia is alive? But she died years ago..."
Then he cast a sideways look at his brother and shook his head.
"Today is the day that the dead live again, I shouldn't be surprised."
He saw her pained look and then looked at his brother again.
"Link, she's right. I'd give anything to see Mom again. If we look for Dad then maybe we'll find her."
Link sighed reluctantly and turned to Zelda. He knew what this would mean, but at that moment he wanted more than anything to make Zelda happy again.
"OK, but we as soon as we find Olaran then we're out of here, whether we find your mother or not."
A happy smile brightened her face and she flung her arms around his neck to hug him.
"Thank you for understanding how much this means to me." She whispered.
Link opened his eyes wide in surprise and then hugged her back. Aidyn smiled knowingly and then cleared his throat.
"Well, are we going?" He asked.
Zelda ended the embrace and nodded.
"Besides, one of the priestesses has my tiara."
******
"Please Olaran..." Cordelia begged.
Olaran looked over his shoulder at her witheringly as he walked away from her.
"You can't say anything to me that hasn't already been said." He said coldly. "I'm surprised that those lies don't leave a bad taste in your mouth."
"Don't leave me!" Cordelia wailed.
Olaran closed his eyes to blot out her voice.
"Goodbye Cordelia."
He started to walk along the corridor, ignoring her voice.
"Not so fast, General." A sinister voice hissed.
Serpius emerged from his hiding place with a sadistic smile on his face.
"I believe you issued me a challenge that has yet to be upheld." The serpent lord said smugly. "And I had heard that you were a man of your word."
"Serpius." Olaran growled, drawing his sword. "Why am I not surprised? I suppose rats and parasites travel arm in arm."
Cordelia looked away with hurt in her eyes at Olaran's scorn.
"You see these skulls?" Serpius said, gesturing to his belt. "Each one of them was once an unbeaten leader of men. But for many years, your fame has travelled far and wide and I have left a space here for you."
"How thoughtful." Olaran said dryly. "It's a pity that you won't get it."
Serpius drew his twisted black iron blade from his scabbard.
"Time will tell." He hissed.
"No!" Cordelia cried, flinging herself at Serpius' free arm. "Serpius, you will not harm him!"
"Silence woman!" Serpius snapped, casting her aside like a rag doll.
She landed on the ground in a crumpled heap with a cry of alarm.
"You hold no influence over me, Your Majesty." He mocked. "I've waited too long for this and I will not allow some woman to take away what I want."
Cordelia stared at him in alarm and then looked at Olaran, whose face had become impassive as his brown eyes glared at the serpent.
"This ends now." He said coldly. "With your death I shall see to it that no harm will ever come to Princess Zelda, and you shall pay dearly for the lives of those men you have killed."
Serpius laughed emptily.
"Strange how those were the last words of all those men who now adorn my belt."
Olaran let out a choked cry of rage and charged at Serpius, his blade poised and ready for blood. Serpius' blade met his and the two swords sparked upon impact. Cordelia recoiled in fright and pressed herself against the wall, horrified and overcome with shock.
The two swordsmen circled, each man's eyes maintaining contact with the other. Serpius lunged out at Olaran, only to have his blade parried by that of the general. In retaliation, Olaran's sword sang out as it clashed upon the iron shoulder guard of his opponent, the brute force of the blow bruising the flesh beneath. Serpius hissed angrily and retaliated with a vicious horizontal swipe that narrowly missed hewing the general's head from his shoulders. Olaran leapt back so as to buy more time before he thrust his sword at Serpius' belly, missing its target by a narrow margin as the serpent moved to avoid it, although the razor sharp edge of the iron blade cut into the flesh of his arm, creating a well that oozed with green blood.
Serpius roared in anger and slammed his elbow into the general's stomach. Winded and shocked, Olaran doubled over only to have a fierce uppercut hammered into his jaw. He hit the floor awkwardly, his sword clattering to the ground as he fell onto his wrist. Cordelia screamed in horror as Serpius loomed over the fallen general and grinned maliciously, preparing his sword to deliver the final blow.
"No!"
Link, Aidyn and Zelda had sprinted into the corridor just in time to see Olaran fall, having heard the sounds of swordplay from far off. Fate had decreed that they arrived in time to save the stricken soldier. Aidyn had called out in alarm.
Serpius looked up in surprise, though it was two seconds too late as Link hurled himself at the serpent's stomach, knocking him backwards so that he hit his head on the stone floor. The serpent lay unconscious while Link stood over him, wearing an expression of grim resentment. Aidyn had gone to his father's side, checking for a pulse and breathing a sigh of relief when he found it. Cordelia remained backed against the wall, though her eyes were not upon Olaran, they were on the girl who was staring at her.
Zelda's stomach tied itself into knots as she at long last beheld her mother. She knew it was her, there was no mistaking the similarity in their features, and the shocked look on the older woman's face did nothing but strengthen her assumption.
"Princess..." Cordelia began.
Even their voices had similarities. Zelda had difficulty reading her mother's emotions through the woman's eyes and facial expressions, it was a riddle too complex for her to solve. But she noticed that even through the mixture of sentiments painted on her mother's face, not one of them was apologetic or joyful, as she had hoped to see.
"You wished to see me dead." Zelda said quietly. "Do you hate me so much?"
Cordelia was surprised at how quickly her daughter had got the measure of her, but at the same time she had been expecting it. She was her daughter after all. Inside her a small amount of maternal pride swelled, pride at the girl's beauty, her wisdom and in her attitude. However, she had to remind herself that this girl was Zelda, the same Zelda for whom she'd been brewing a bitter hatred for seventeen years. It was strange, but at that moment she could not see why.
"I cannot answer that." She said quietly.
Zelda nodded.
"I understand. You've been a coward for so long it shouldn't be a surprise to me now that I finally get a chance to talk to you." She said harshly.
Cordelia stared back, with anger in her eyes.
"A coward? You dare to speak to your own mother in such a way?"
"Mother?" Zelda said, with scorn in her voice. "What kind of mother abandons her daughter? You're no more a mother to me than..."
Cordelia's hand flew towards Zelda's face, although it was a movement the girl had foreseen so her hand came up to block it.
"I understand you." Zelda said, her voice quaking in anger. "You don't like to hear the truth do you? It spoils your illusions of a perfect world where everyone worships the ground you walk upon. It sickens me to think that you're the woman who gave birth to me."
In her mother's right hand, Zelda caught a glimpse of gold and realised that her tiara was in her hand. She quickly snatched it back, not once taking her eyes from her mother.
"I'm not going to let you do what you want with me." She said quietly. "You can't touch me and neither will Serpius."
Aidyn looked up from his father who was slowly coming round again.
"Aidyn, how is he?" Link asked, not looking away from Serpius.
"I can't be sure until he's come round fully. We should get back to camp."
Link nodded.
"Zelda, we gotta go." He said, aware that he sounded brash, although he knew she'd understand it and probably thank him. The atmosphere was getting way to tense and any moment one of the women would have an emotional outbreak.
"Yes." Zelda replied.
She walked to Aidyn who had slung Olaran's arm over his shoulder and was helping him up. Link joined him and after a moment's hesitation placed the general's other arm over his shoulder to support him. Cordelia looked at the proceedings almost as though she were in a daze. Finally she snapped out of it and turned her attention to her daughter, trapping her gaze with her own.
"You're walking away from me?" She asked with an accusative tone to her voice.
Zelda's eyes held an angry glare as summoned Farore's Wind. Before she unleashed the spell, she faced her mother and spoke coldly.
"I suppose that I inherit that quality from you."
With that, she let the bright green light engulf herself and the three men and they disappeared.
******
The return of the princess was received with great joy although it was short-lived as the realisation spread that Olaran was injured. He had broken his wrist as he had fallen, and because Sheik had disappeared there was nothing the surgeons could do except strap it up and give him a red potion. Zelda had offered her services but Olaran had declined.
"No offence Zelda, but I'm not so keen on magic with wounds. I'd prefer to heal naturally. Besides, you should be heading back to my grandson."
Aidyn, having been reminded of his son by his father's words, had remembered his anxieties when Zelda had first appeared and demanded to know why she had left Catrine and Ranlink alone. The princess spent the next hour and a half trying to persuade him that both were fine.
Throughout this time, Link had gone to retrieve the horses. Aidyn was too busy worrying about his family and Olaran was in no shape to ride, so Link had undergone the task himself, albeit with the aid of Nabooru's horse that the Gerudo leader had insisted he take. He had accepted, and now rode back to the Sisterhood as the moon began to sink in the sky, glad to be allowed some time alone to think over the events of the day. He had experienced so many violent emotions that he was confused, particularly where Olaran was concerned. The moment he saw the Serpent Lord prepare to put an end to his father's life, something had snapped and caused his to charge into him, putting his own life at risk in the process. Even now he had no idea why he had done it.
The sound of hoof beats brought him back to earth and he turned in the saddle to see a fleeting white shape advance upon him. He knew who it was immediately and drew his horse to a halt. Demeter quickly joined him and he was filled with happiness to see Zelda's face again.
"I figured I give you some company, leading three horses could be too much of a task, even for you."
Link smiled and nudged Nabooru's horse on to a walk.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
For a while the pair rode on in silence until Zelda asked the question that had been plaguing her mind since they had come back to the campsite.
"Why did you let him go?" She asked softly.
Link looked at her in surprise.
"Let who go?"
"Serpius. Why didn't you kill him when you had the chance to?"
Link glanced across at her and saw that she was looking at him expectantly for an answer.
"Killing a defenceless enemy is cowardice and goes against everything I believe in. If I killed Serpius back there then I would be not better than him." He said, keeping his eyes ahead.
"I understand." Zelda replied. "It takes courage to show mercy."
"Next time I see him he won't get away so lightly." Link responded. "Not when he has his beady eye on you and your... child."
Zelda felt a lump rise in her throat at the mention of the inevitable, and Link interpreted her silence to be melancholy reflection.
"I made a promise to Rauru that I'd do whatever is in my power to protect both of you when the time comes." He continued. "Rauru told me that we might be able to teach him or her how to control their power so they'll make the right choice."
Zelda remained silent, staring straight ahead towards the horizon.
"So, I guess that means you have someone back home that you're planning to marry." Link said quietly.
Zelda shook her head.
"No, there is no-one waiting for me at home."
"There isn't?" Link asked in surprise.
Zelda laughed softly at his tone and shook her head.
"No. You sound surprised."
"Well yeah!" Link said. "I mean a beautiful girl like you should have men killing each other to get to you."
Zelda sighed and idly braided a few strands of Demeter's mane, though inwardly her heart was racing having heard Link use one small word.
Beautiful.
He thought she was beautiful and for some reason that made her feel special.
"Oh sure, there've been men, and each one has always astounded me by their level of arrogance and stupidity." She said bitterly. "Not one of them has ever treated me as an equal or even a real person. They just come because they want something pretty on their arm and a kingdom to try and rule."
"I see." Link said quietly. "Man, I had no idea we could be like that."
"We?"
"Yeah, I mean men. Gods no wonder the Gerudo hate us!"
Zelda laughed.
"Link, the Gerudo are total feminists! Besides, not all men are like that. You're not."
There was an awkward silence while Link thought things through.
"Zel?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about your mother." He said softly.
"So am I." She said sadly. "She was unrepentant for everything that she'd done and that horrified me. I'm sorry that she hurt you so badly."
Link shook his head and stopped his horse, reaching out to take Zelda's hand.
"The fact that she didn't apologise to you is what shocked me. Forgive me for saying this, but she's..."
"There are no words that can do justice to what she is." Zelda replied sadly. "And the thing that hurts me the most is that despite what she's done, my father still loves her."
Link squeezed her hand softly.
"But he loves you more. At the end of the day you are nothing like her. You are the most amazing person I know, nothing will ever change that. Not even your mother."
He smiled at her and she smiled back. Before either of them knew what was happening, Link leant slowly towards her, which was a move she repeated. Their faces grew to be centimetres apart, and as Zelda closed her eyes in expectation, a piercing whinny split the air. Startled, the pair jumped back as Epona cantered towards them, with Aidyn and Olaran's horses following her. Link laughed softly.
"I forgot that I own the only homing horse in the world." He smiled, getting off Nabooru's horse. "How's my girl?"
Epona butted her nose in his stomach so that he almost fell over. In spite of her disappointment, Zelda laughed.
"I guess we better head back to camp then." Link said, mounting Epona.
The sound of raised voices made them jump, and Link was forced to grab the bridles of the other horses and drag them into cover. Zelda and Demeter followed, leading Nabooru's mare.
"They're coming this way." Zelda whispered.
Two serpent men became visible, talking angrily between themselves. Link reached for his bow and notched an arrow, but Zelda stopped him by putting her hand on his arm.
"Wait, maybe we can learn something."
The two serpents wore dark purple cloaks emblazoned with Serpius' emblem, and the Princess could tell that they were captains by their size.
"Serpiusss is right to ambussssh now when Olaran issssss hurt." One of them said. "Thisssss invincssssssible General isssssn't ssssso great."
The other nodded.
"Yessssss. Hyrule belongssss to the serpentsssssss."
Zelda released her grip on Link's arm and he let fly with two arrows that swiftly pierced the throats of the serpents. They fell to the ground, stone dead.
"We have to get back to the camp and warn Olaran." Zelda said urgently.
"There's no need." Link replied stoically.
Zelda turned on him.
"I have had just about enough of this! When are you going to stop with this childish behaviour and start acting like a man? Olaran is one of kindest, most decent men I have ever met in my life and since you found out that he is your father you have not once shown him the slightest warmth or anything! For the sake of the Gods Link, the man's your father and he's in danger! How could you not..."
Link held up his hand to quiet her.
"He doesn't need to be told because I'm not letting Serpius get within two steps of my father. I'll make him suffer for what he did."
Zelda looked at him in surprise, partly because of his words and partly because the Triforce of Courage was burning in correspondence with his anger.