You guys are angels. You left the nicest reviews and I just want to hug you all. I'm always crazy relieved to find no one hated my chapter.
I may keep up with the two chapters a week schedule (Tues/Thurs), as I'm currently quite a few ahead, starting to get to the big war/conflict portion of the story, and I'm excited to share it all with you. So, we'll see how life goes and I'll aim for 2 a week.
Lastly, this chapter is a large one at 3400 words. I try to average about 2,000 a chapter, but let me know if you prefer the longer ones. This one hops around a bit, and I'm not too sure I am feelin' the breaks. Thanks again!
Link had left early the next morning, and Zelda had refused to get out of bed to see him off. Instead, she opted to sit in their chamber and pout, seething over his words the night before.
At the moment, she hated his calm, sure demeanor. Even when angry it was nearly impossible to crack him, but his words, and the look in his eyes hurt more than she would dare to say. She despised how he thought he knew everything; how he thought she was so dimwitted.
She was glaring at the corner of the room when Liana walked in a little too casually.
"I hear you're angry."
Zelda's eyes snapped to hers, but she said nothing.
"The guards heard, and they talk. The quiet little Qu'vaiisa can yell! And at our dear desert prince!" Liana was smirking as she sat herself across from Zelda.
A pang of embarrassment hit her then, and Zelda averted her eyes. She knew the maids in the castle at home would often gossip, but the confirmation of it never got back to her, and it was never presented so casually.
"I don't think I've ever argued with anyone before. Not like that."
"I don't think you've ever voiced your opinion before, or stood up for yourself, but who is counting." She paused, gauging Zelda's reaction. "Do you know how upset he was?"
The inquiry made Zelda want to shrink into her chair even more. She was dimwitted. "No…" She tried to keep from groaning out of sheer humiliation.
Liana smirked, playful. "I think it upsets him that you were upset, or that you fought. He was at the courtyard an hour and a half before the party left this morning. They said he all but decimated one of the sparring dummies. Not that that is your problem. His issues are his own, but perhaps you could take a lesson from him?"
"How so?"
"Well, at least he accomplished something with his anger. You're just sitting in a room pouting to no end. I suppose you could be getting better at that, but no one thinks pouting is a skill, really."
Zelda crossed her arms, annoyed that Liana was right. Everyone here was always right, and it always seemed to cement the fact that she was only a 17 year old girl who knew nothing. "And what would you like me to do instead? I can't read books, since that is what got me into this mess."
Liana laughed. "That matter is for you and Qu'vosa to sort out, if you dare speak again. In the meantime, I could teach you to fight. It does a person good to get their anger out, and you could learn while you're doing it."
Zelda shook her head. "I cannot fight. I have no skill, and it would be laughable to see." She was nearly mortified by the thought of it. She would look like an inept oaf next to the skill of a Gerudo warrior.
Liana shook her head, leaning forward and resting her forearms on her thighs. "I saw the Yiga. I know you fought back. You are quick thinking, and I think you would be better than you know."
Zelda's eyes met hers, and she wondered if Liana could see the fear. The remembrance of the attack made her body rigid. She felt her chest tighten, and the all-consuming need to escape return. She felt the woman on top of her, felt the back of her hand across her face. She felt her need to live take over, and the blade in her hand plunge into the woman's thigh.
"You saw her."
Liana's expression was serious now, and she gave a curt nod. "Yes. I saw that you stabbed her. It is my guess that you were not wielding a knife when she attacked you. You were quick enough to think of a way to defend yourself and you lived because of it. There are many dangers in the desert, and knowing how to fight back will serve you far better than pouting like a pretty little blonde princess."
It seemed that was all the seriousness the woman had in her, because she was smirking by the end. Zelda couldn't help but smile a little, and the tightness in her chest lessened. She could breathe easier.
"As much as I hate to say it, you are right. Not about my imagined skill. I am only agreeing that me sitting in this room isn't serving me in any way."
"I can appreciate how hard that must be, coming from a princess. Have you ever been wrong?"
"Probably as many times as you have been lacking confidence."
Liana laughed, leaning her head back. "I can't say I know the feeling."
Zelda had poured herself into practicing with Liana over the next three days, working furiously to get the thought of Link and their argument out of her head. To her surprise, she wasn't as terrible as she had thought. Her small size was a bit of an asset, and she found that she was quicker on her feet than she gave herself credit for. Her muscles, on the other hand, did not seem to appreciate the effort. The pain must have been visible on her face, as Saula looked up in surprise from the dinner table when Zelda entered.
"Are you alright? You look like you can barely walk."
Zelda had been avoiding Saula the last few days. She had no idea how she would react to hearing of her argument with Link, and she didn't feel brave enough to face her until now. Rather, until she was forced to. Saula had specifically sent a guard to seek out Zelda and bring her to dinner that night.
"I'm fine, thank you." Zelda managed a smile as she took her seat across from the woman.
"I hear you have been busy. And most likely avoiding me." Though she appeared serious, Zelda could see the jest in her eyes. Saula was certainly never one to mince words.
Zelda looked at her hands. "I am terribly sorry. You are right, and I should never have done it. It was childish and, more than anything, disrespectful."
Saula shook her head. "Sometimes space is needed. It gives people time to clear their heads and approach the situation differently. Talking about our digressions is a hard thing to do."
She did not miss the double meaning.
"Well done on the training you have accomplished. I've heard from a few people that you are doing quite well. Better than most expected given your usually quiet demeanor."
Zelda looked up to meet Saula's eyes, but did not find them harsh. Instead, she was met with the warmth of her smile. She seemed genuinely proud of her, and she relaxed a little.
"Thank you."
"Would you like to discuss the other matter?"
There was silence then, and Zelda nodded despite the shame she visibly bore.
"It is probably appropriate. He will be returning tonight, or early tomorrow." A pit of anxiety had steadily been growing in Zelda's stomach over the last three days. Link's return hovered over her like a terrible black cloud.
"Then we can be frank about the matter." Saula sipped her wine before smiling a little. "We know that your father arranged this marriage so that the Royal Family would have an ally in the desert to watch over Link. I understand where he is coming from. The Gerudo men of the past…" she paused, careful not to include Link in the group "they do not have the best history. That's probably an understatement. Ganondorf is a scar upon my people, and we never forget that he had his beginnings in the desert. If I were in the King's position, I would be concerned too. Any sign of trouble could be fatal to his people."
Zelda was left utterly confused, yet again. "I'm sorry…this is why Link and I argued. I…I don't seem to know what you're referring to. He thought I was lying, but I don't understand any of what you're talking about."
Saula was suddenly rigid, the shock plain on her face. "Excuse me?"
"I don't know anything about the men from the Gerudo tribe, really. I have heard of Ganondorf, and seen his name in a few books, but it has only been said that he was a thief or some type of criminal. I don't understand why he is such a sensitive subject. I also don't understand what you mean when you say I was sent here to watch over Link." Zelda shook her head. "I have only ever been told that I must marry him."
Saula put her goblet down, but her eyes never left Zelda's. "For the first time in my life, I think I am left without words. No one has taught you about the Demon King Ganondorf? The Imprisoning War? None of the atrocities he committed?"
Zelda shook her head. "The book I was reading referred to him as the Demon King, but Link and I fought over the book. I never finished it. Before that…" she shrugged a little, almost embarrassed. Princesses weren't supposed to be uneducated. "I've never heard of Ganondorf's involvement in the Imprisoning War. I know of the war itself, but his involvement..."
Saula eyes filled with pity then, and she seemed to connect the pieces. "I'm so sorry. It seems that many things have been hidden from you, princess. Many things about our history within Hyrule, and why your father sent you here to begin with."
Zelda sat on the edge of the trough, watching the water snake past. She hadn't been up to the waterways since the Yiga attack, and she had barely convinced the guards stationed on the balcony to let her up that night. Somehow, she had gotten lucky.
She admired the way the water sparkled under the moon as it weaved its way through the city. She had cried earlier, and her tears had sparkled the same way before drying. She tried not to remember that part.
She knew she had been up there for hours. The city had faded into silence long ago, so the sound of approaching footsteps caused her heart to quicken. She held her breath.
"Zelda."
His voice caused a different sort of dread to rise up in her chest.
She exhaled, taking in another deep breath and gathering the courage to look up at him.
He seemed tired. His hands were placed casually in the pockets of his pants, and his shoulders relaxed. It was a stark contrast to the last time she had seen him.
"I've known you were coming up here for a while. I thought it best to give you space, but…" he hesitated, his voice caught in his throat, and he must have noted she was having a hard time keeping the tears at bay.
"I'm so sorry." Zelda said, looking away, desperate to hide the emotion that threatened to spill over. She swore she wouldn't cry in front of him. She didn't want to let him see how lost and so so foolish she felt.
He moved closer, sitting across from her. The water ran between them. If she weren't so close to tears Zelda would have laughed at the metaphor.
"I spoke with my mother." There seemed to be a sadness in his voice, and his pity for her only reminded her of how embarrassed she was. How gullible and naïve and blind she had been her whole life.
"I told you that you were paranoid, and had no idea what you were talking about, but I was the one who was oblivious to the truth. You had every right to be angry with me. You had every right not to trust me." The words came spilling out before she could stop herself, and she was left feeling empty after they had gone. She had been building up what she would say to him for hours, and now that it was out there, it seemed like it wasn't enough.
"I'm sorry. I really am. I had no idea that anyone kept anything from you. I shouldn't have gotten angry, or called you a liar. It never occurred to me that the King would have kept anything a secret from you."
The truth of it stung, and Zelda swallowed a hard lump in her throat. Hearing it out loud made it that much more real.
"My father must have had all the books regarding Ganondorf's wars removed from the library. He must have forbidden my tutors from teaching it to me. He knew I spent most of my time reading. In honesty, I read about this place more than anything else. I wanted to know what it would be like and…" she took a breath, trying to stay calm. "I think he knew that I would be devastated to hear the real reason why I was the only princess arranged to be married. He knew that telling me I was married off to be a spy, and his pawn, wouldn't help him. He probably thought that if I didn't know I would answer his questions more easily. I'd probably think them less intrusive, or feel less like I was betraying the person who was my husband. Maybe he thought I would be scared to come here if I knew the history of your kings, and that it was my job to warn him if you would be like the others."
Zelda almost laughed. No matter how long she had gone over the facts in her head, she was not able to rationalize what her father was thinking. It was some big joke, and she was the punchline.
Link seemed unable to meet her gaze, and he was busy staring at the water trickling between them.
"I understand it." He said after a while. "Ganondorf was dangerous. He murdered thousands of people and nearly destroyed Hyrule. I understand that your father needed to protect it. I'm sorry that he used you to do that and, even more so that you were left out of that knowledge. I'm sorry that I treated you poorly because I made the assumption that you knew, and were somehow plotting against me."
Zelda rest her chin in her hand, looking at the sand sprawling over Link's shoulder. "At the very least, the King can rest easy knowing you aren't some bloodthirsty dictator in the making. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for you growing up." She looked to him, but he was still focused elsewhere. "You knew that everyone had these terrible, preconceived notions about you, and you were just a child. What a terribly unfair fate."
Link smiled a little. "My mother did a good job of sheltering me from it, and most of the women here treated me well. I think it became clear to them at some point that I was not going to end up a murderer or force them to do my bidding. It is why I never left the desert much though. Ganondorf existed tens of thousands of years ago, but the people of Hyrule never forgot the fear associated with his name, or the bad omen a male Gerudo usually was."
"Link," his name rolled off her tongue, and she found the liked the way it sounded said out loud "I will not betray you or your people to the King. There is no reason for me to tell him anything that happens here. There's nothing to tell. You aren't like the man who came before you."
"I appreciate that." He paused, looking at his hands briefly before meeting her eyes for the first time. "I'm sorry I have been so terrible to you. It's my fault that our friendship had been tense. I was torn between protecting my people and my duty to be a good match for you. I wanted to be respectful, and courteous, but I did not want you to be too familiar, or know anything intimate for fear that you would be relaying it to your father. I thought that you would read into things, thinking I was evil. A part of me even thought it was true and that I just couldn't see it. I doubt Ganondorf thought that what he was doing was wrong.
"I was scared for myself, and my people. I didn't want to be what everyone thought I was. I wanted to make my mother and the other Gerudo proud. I should have spoken to you about it." He smiled his usual, crooked grin. "I am told that's what good partners do. I don't really come from a place where partnership, in that sense, is present. It's a bit of a learning curve."
Zelda laughed a little. "Well, if there is anything good that came from this, it is that, hopefully, you and I can actually get to know one another now. Perhaps you can learn to trust that I'm not out to get you."
He smiled a little. "Yes. I can do that." he paused, watching her before deciding to ask the question he was considering. "And your father?"
Zelda faltered. The thought of him, and the secrets he kept from her, enraged her more than anything right now. He had humiliated her and had used underhanded tactics to get her to go along with his plan. There was no doubt in her mind that after her own wedding, Zelda's father would begin writing to her, asking questions and quietly seeking information. Zelda wouldn't have given it a second thought, and she would never suspect he was looking for signs of past trends, since she would have had no knowledge of the past itself. She would have remained oblivious while her father used her.
Zelda hadn't realized she was clenching her fists until Link reached out, taking one of her hands in his own. He turned her hand over, gently opening her fingers to lay flat in his palm.
"You have a right to be upset with him." He said, placing her hand back in her lap.
"Your mother said that sometimes space is a good thing, so perhaps I will be less livid when I see him at Mira's wedding. I would like to speak with him about it. I want to hear the truth from him. I still don't fully understand his plan, and I would like to see how he rationalized it to himself."
She felt the anger rise up in her again, and Zelda wondered if all of her sisters knew. The realization that Anna may have known hurt the most. There's no way that her father kept such large portions of Hyrule's history from all of his children, especially the one who was a general in his army.
"I want to hear the truth from everyone. Did everyone know I was a fool?"
Link had cut her off though. "You weren't a fool. Your father deceived you. You so often blame yourself for things that aren't your fault. This is his to answer to, and you are entitled to the truth."
Zelda smiled at him. He and his mother had been so forgiving of her, and she could barely contain her gratitude.
"I know it must be hard to find out that your father intended to use you, and that you were sent off to live with strangers for that purpose, but you should know that we are all very happy you are here." His voice seemed to trail off at the end, and Zelda tried to hide a laugh. She had never seen him so nervous, and the sight was almost a bit endearing.
"Despite the original purpose, I am happy to be here." She wrapped her arms around her knees and met his eyes.