Chapter 11.
Zelda sat contently at her mother's side, studying her tired eyes as the surveyed the room. The queen smiled as she watched the young Hylian girl and the Gerudo woman talk. The king, however, scowled in distaste. Zelda noted that too. It was strange that her mother and father were so different and even stranger she hadn't noticed it until now.
"What has gotten you so concentrated into a fit?" The queen asked softly, slowly placing a shaky hand on his. He shifted his head to the side and barely opened his mouth to respond.
"It seems that...girl, has interest in the Gerudo, especially Lord Ganondorf." He mumbled, hoping it to escape the young princesses ears. This caught little Zelda's attention immediately. Her father was normally open in front of her. It was an innocent accusation and the response puzzled the young princess' mind even more.
"Come, darling, there was a time when you were the same…" The queen whispered.
This confused the princess. Her father and the Gerudo had never been friendly to each other, even in this era of peace they would bicker. Her father saw the Gerudo as scum and in her little mind rightfully so. It would be years of endless pondering and reliving the moment before she would come to the true conclusion of their secret meaning.
"Zelda, why don't you go dance?" The queen smiled as she motioned wearily toward the crowd. The princess nodded, hopping down from her seat and scurrying into the crowd, satisfied for now to be entertained by her guests. As she hurried through the crowd she watched with curiosity as two men approached her father.
Ganondorf carefully turned over his shoulder as he opened the large door to the odd tower room. Papers were everywhere. The floor covered in objects and parchment. He quickly began to sift through them, careful to keep things in their place as much as possible. It had been embedded in him since he was young that a thief should never be caught nor take what they didn't need. Furthermore, to lessen suspicion things should always remain in their place.
"They keep everything in piles. Magic musical studies! Their primary research in obtaining the songs from the sacred realm!"
He growled quietly, beginning to frantically search the room. Magical studies of everything except what he needed seemed to be free knowledge.
"Ganondorf?"
He placed his hands on the table, frozen for the moment.
"You aren't supposed to be here…" The soft, feminine voice approached him. He turned to meet her concerned gaze.
"I needed to breathe. Too many people…" He muttered the lie so easily, almost ashamed he had lied to her again. Grace smiled a small smile before walking over to the stool in the corner.
"It's an odd place to find you. Still,Flat and Sharp always let me come here and talk when I'm upset." She stated as she hopped on the stool, kicking her legs a bit while she studied his face. He smirked at her childishness.
"Would you like to take a moment and talk?" She offered hushedly, beaming as he leaned in the doorway. He sighed as he looked at the ceiling.
"Miss Grace, words can't explain what bothers me…" He chuckled darkly at his statement. Grace slowly pulled away from the stool, creeping towards him until they were inches apart.
"You frighten me." She whispered before taking his hand. He gazed down at her, eyes wide as she curiously studied his hands. It was as if the world stood still as she gently rubbed her fingers across his palm, her delicate grin widening as she noted each scar and callus.
"You're a strange man." She said finally, carefully letting go of his hands. He frowned, cupping her cheek.
"You're an even stranger vai." He replied, studying her face in the moment. Her crease in her cheeks as she smiled, the small rosy tint in her cheeks, how he could see the trust and adoration in her sparkling eyes. He was enthralled and dismayed by it all at once. It wasn't what he had expected. He wanted to forget her. After tonight there would be no logical use for her in his plan. Yet, her comforting touch…
It was too much for him to bear as she slowly leaned into his embrace. He had no intentions of this starting again. He had determined to end it with Nabooru all those years ago. There was no use in taking something so precious and pure and ruining it again. He couldn't take what wasn't his. Even as a thief he knew some things were not to be stolen and if he were to steal her heart he knew there would be no redemption. But her warm words and inviting arms made his human inside cry out for recognition. In his mind, however, he knew that something so fragile would break so easily in time. Demise would come again and her simple mind couldn't fathom that...
"You should return to the party. They'll be missing you." He muttered coarsely before brushing her away.
"Odd… I thought it would be you they would be looking for. After all, very few trust you as I do. " Her statement was so innocent it pricked his head with unruly disgust. His conscience was weak against her pure, sheltered words. She had no sense of fear or worry. She knew nothing of the pain and heartache, of Demise…
"I will escort you then." He growled, guilty holding out his hand, not daring to turn and look into her trusting glance. It had been years since he had seen someone with so much trust in their eyes.
Their steps echoed against the empty halls as they wandered back to the ball silently. Neither one of them daring to say a word.
The ball continued on and though he was unable to steal the work of the Composer Brothers he found that he would soon be returning to Hyrule. His design worked out perfectly for another attempt, but now he had to figure out what to do with the young woman. He knew he couldn't break her heart in fear of her saying something, but he couldn't keep her either. His mind began to spin and a voice he had hoped would remain silent for the night quietly crept in his head. It wasn't until a drowsy head fell into his chest that the voice disappeared. An unusual and frightening thought occurred to him at that moment, one he would later regret.
"Lets get you home."
Grace walked tiredly along the stone path, her heart racing wildly in fear and pride. Fear of her family but pride that Ganondorf had not let go of her hand, a feat she thought rare and impossible. As they arrived to her doorstep she eagerly opened the door.
"Sav'saaba, Grace." He mused, placing an arm in the doorway.
"Stay here! I have something for you! I made them this morning, but they should be fine!" She said hurriedly before disappearing to the dark house. He gave a muffled chuckle as she returned with a carefully wrapped package in hand. She had already returned to that immature little girl...
"They're meat pies. For your journey home. In case I didn't see you tomorrow..." She explained softly, fumbling with the string. He raised a brow. A gift? They barely knew each other, they were simply allies in an ever waging war. After tonight they would be likely never to meet again. Simple Hylian modesty, it had to be.
"What's wrong? If you would like something for Nabooru I can-"
"No! No...it's fine. I'm just-confused." He mumbled as he took the package from her. Grace looked down at her feet, swaying back and forth on her toes, a nervous habit she hadn't realized she possessed until now.
"I wanted to thank you. For what you've done for me. You're right. Women can do anything, and I will do exactly what I want to do. Not only that, we are partners in this strange game for peace. I thought I was alone, but now I know. You're just as human as anyone! Maybe even more so than others." Her eyes met his, making him recoil. She was so infatuated with him, she believed him and trusted him, and her warm gaze had pricked his pride, something he didn't like at all. What further disturbed him is she had convinced herself he was entirely human, something he hadn't realized he wasn't fully until she came along.
"You don't know what you're talking about. We are allies. Nothing more." Ganondorf hissed, turning his back to leave.
"Wait, if we are allies, then you will find me again, won't you?" Her voice was so urgent, ernest in the most sincere way. How was he supposed to answer when he had only needed her for one night?
"If I return, I will try to make time to see you. Though, it's highly unlikely." He growled, taking a step away. Just as he was about to take another stride, two soft hands were wrapped around his, attempting with no triumph to pull him back.
"What do you want?" He barked, shaking her off. She blinked, swallowing hard. She took a breath, reminding herself that he was cold in demeanor before she opened her mouth to speak.
"I want to write to you." She said quickly, meeting his cold glance with a persistent gaze. He tilted his head, a smirk of amusement gracing his lips.
"What would you write me about? The tunnels? The gossip from the maids?" He laughed coldly, giving a gentle tug on her ear. "I understand that Hylian's supposedly can hear the gods, but there is nothing of value that you could write to me about."
Grace crossed her arms, a reluctant smile spreading across her face.
"I could be your spy. I know my way around the castle, I can listen to conversations, I can inform you of what the Kings intentions are." She replied, watching the cruel glee fade from his face.
"That's illegal. It would make you a traitor and if they eve found out the would kill you." He barked, surprised by her willingness to betray her country.
"It's for the greater good, Ganondorf. I am prepared to fight for my beliefs. In this short time we've known each other, I know I can do. You said I can do anything, so I will."
He was taken aback by her determination. But he couldn't refuse her. Not after he had lost once…
Sharp opened the door to their laboratory of sorts with a chuckle as Flat continued to mock some event that occured. He glanced down at the floor, noticing some stray papers.
"Odd…" He mumbled as he put them back on the table.
"What?" Flat asked, his merriment fading.
"It's nothing. Nothing at all." Sharp replied, but Flat knew that something was wrong. Something had changed and he knew that somehow things wouldn't be the same.
