Chapter Eleven - Back From The Dead

Author's Note: Fun fact. Well it wasn't fun for me but it can be for you. I totally thought I was being original with the whole 'Shad and Ashei' thing was clever on my part. But then today, I did a random search for stories with Shad. Turns out the concept as already been used. DAMNIT. Haha. Also, at the end of this chapter, there's a sex scene. So if you aren't comfortable with that, skip it.

&

Nabooru sat with Link in the watchtower at the gate leading into the desert wasteland. They both looked out into the distance and could see the glowing lanterns of Poes wandering the wasteland. The sand whirled and spiraled like a tornado out there. That was why the gate remained closed during the night.

After Link had come out of the training ground, he and Shaera had gone to find Nabooru. They had found her lying on one of the hard benches inside one of the large cages. It wasn't unusual to find her there.

Shaera had left Nabooru and Link alone to talk, and Nabooru had led Link to the watchtower. There, she had relieved the very surprised woman of her duty that night. They had then climbed the ladder and been sitting up in the tower ever since.

"Was there a certain reason you brought me up here?" Link asked, still looking out into the wasteland. He couldn't take his eyes off of the lanterns that eerily floated around in the dark.

"Yes. Two." Nabooru stared into the distance for a few more moments before taking her eyes from the sandstorms and lost souls. She could tell that Link felt the same way that she did sitting there. "The first is that I wanted this conversation to be private. The stories I am about to tell you are…"

Nabooru's gaze drifted back to the wasteland. She could see flashes in her mind of the one night she had made the mistake of being in the wasteland at night. After what she had experienced, she had promised herself that she would never do it again.

"Are what?" Link asked impatiently.

"Dark. Very dark…and we try not to speak of them."

"And the second?" Link asked, though he did feel the darkness that Nabooru was referring to. He had been in the wasteland once, before he had defeated the temple, when things had been weird. He remembered the Poe that had led him to the Desert Colossus…

"The stories that I'm about to tell you, they have a connection with the wasteland. I just figured that this was an appropriate setting."

Nabooru leaned her head against one of the posts. She moved a hand to the band holding her hair up and loosened it slightly. A few shorter wisps of her red hair became free and blew against her face with the wind.

"There are stories passed down among the Gerudo about a prison. In that prison, many of our people were kept and tortured. Many dark and depraved things happened there, things that you could not even imagine.

The prison, called Arbiter's Grounds, however, is told to be in another dimension." Nabooru looked out into the wasteland at that moment, remembering the horrid cries and echoes of beatings she had heard that night. She remembered seeing faces…

"Not only was Arbiter's Grounds a prison, but there, it was said, a mirror was held in a chamber. The mirror was called the Mirror of Twilight." She saw Link's ears perk up when he heard the last word. He slowly leaned forward.

"The Mirror of Twilight was a portal. It was used to banish the most cruel and most evil of prisoners to the world of twilight, a world of shadows. Those who were sent through the mirror were never seen again." Nabooru reached out and took Link's hand, rubbing her thumb over his skin.

"The Goddesses left behind more than just the Triforce. In that dimension, they left behind the Mirror of Twilight."

Link looked down at his hand. The only time that the symbol of the Triforce glowed was when he was near another person holding a piece. His wife…

"It is said, that, in that dimension, Ganondorf also managed to persuade the free Gerudo women and ultimately became their leader." Nabooru looked ashamed, her eyes cast down. "And he was the same evil, manipulative man in that dimension as he was in this dimension.

Well when the Ancient Sages of that dimension finally captured Ganondorf, and were ready to execute him, somehow, the power from his piece of the Triforce in this dimension transferred to his form in that dimension. He was able to slay one of the Sages before the others were able to send him through the Mirror of Twilight."

"At least he was defeated in that dimension too." Link said.

"Not quite. After Ganondorf was banished through the Mirror of Twilight, he entrusted some of his great power to one of the Twili, called Zant. Zant overthrew the true ruler of the Twilight Realm. With his powers, the Twili became terrible shadow beasts.

However, a young man was able to team up with Midna, the Princess of the Twilight Realm. Together, they were able to destroy Zant and, eventually, Ganondorf himself. Everything returned to normal."

"Nabooru, what does this have to do with me?" Link asked curiously.

"Link…you were the young man. You were the one that, with Midna's help, defeated Ganondorf in that dimension." Nabooru explained slowly. "It seems as though the Goddesses had many destinies for you to fulfill, in this time and in others."

"But…I just…" Link scratched the back of his neck. He had been used to hearing outlandish things. He had been hearing them since he was twelve. "I just didn't think that there could be more."

"Do you understand what I've just told you Link? I suppose not, I got caught up in the history of my people. But listen to me.

It is also said that at twilight, it is the only time that our world intersects with others. I didn't think of this until I started thinking about it this evening while you were in the training ground…but I have a feeling…"

"What kind of feeling?" Link asked cautiously, beginning to piece things together himself.

"Link, I have a feeling that, if you were in the right place…perhaps somewhere in the new land…at the right time, twilight, then perhaps you could travel between dimensions, between worlds."

"New land?" Link asked. He caught the look on Nabooru's face.

"I guess I have more explaining to do…"

&

Link left Epona in Malon's hands after he had ridden from the hideout that morning. He had then proceeded towards the castle, hurrying through the town while it was early enough to where hardly anybody was awake yet. He kicked up dust and debris as he hastened his pace up the dirt trail.

The guards let him through the gate without another thought. Link practically ran the rest of the way to the castle. When he got to the drawbridge, he crossed and slammed into the big doors leading into the castle. He seemed to have surprised a middle aged man whom Link had never seen before.

He was dressed very strangely. He wore an olive green shirt with a blue and white tie around his waist. Beneath his shirt there appeared to be some sort of wrap, colored dark orange with another cream colored cloth on top. His tights were thicker than Link's and looked like they had used to be white. His sandals and sheath were both crafted of brown leather.

His light blonde hair was longer than Link's. He thought that maybe the man had been injured because he had a piece of white cloth wrapped around his head, but he didn't appear to be hurt. His blue eyes held recognition.

"Link?" The man asked, taking a step towards him.

"Yes. Who are you?" Link asked warily, taking a step forward himself. He moved his hand to the hilt of his sword and clasped it tightly. The man saw this and laughed.

"If I was an intruder, I wouldn't even be standing here."

Link stopped to consider that, and let go of his sword. He had spent too much time with Shaera at the hideout.

"You still haven't answered my question."

"My name is Rusl. My companions and I came from Ordon-"

"Ordon?" Link's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. There was no way that it was a coincidence. He could hear Nabooru's tales in his head as he went closer to Rusl, clearly interested. "Ordon?"

"Yes. We came from Ordon…to ask for your help."

Before Link could ask anymore questions, or Rusl could give anymore answers, somebody else entered the room.

Zelda had recognized his voice from the hall upstairs. She had crept down the stairs to catch a glimpse of her husband. What she had seen shocked her into silence. In her trance, she had begun to walk down the stairs and had make her presence known. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was agape.

In that moment, she felt as though Link had been gone for years. The way he was standing in the foyer, it reminded her of how he had used to be. Her eyes searched him, reacquainting herself with the husband she had thought she lost to grief. She was vaguely aware of warm tears spilling down her cheeks.

Even in the green tunic she had seen him in ever since she knew him, he seemed so differently familiar. He could have been naked this past year. His messy, dark blonde hair was matted and tangled. He was clad in his weapons, the ones he had always used to carry with him. She spied the sheath at his waist that she had had made for him as one of her wedding presents to him.

She didn't speak. She walked towards him slowly, her eyes always appraising him. She was waiting to spot something he was wearing, a look her gave her, that would ruin the image in front of her. She couldn't believe it. Could her husband truly be the man she had fallen in love with?

Memories of their earlier lives together flitted through her mind. She could see him kissing her for the first time in the alleyway in town. She could see him asking her father for permission to court her at the knighting ceremony. She watched as Link helped her into Epona's saddle for a secret night ride. She watched their love grow and grow through catastrophes and happiness. She remembered their short engagement, their breathtaking wedding.

"M-My…" She breathed carefully. Her feet stopped her many steps away from Link. He had been watching her too, with the same wandering eyes. He had been rediscovering her too. "My Link."

Rusl had excused himself quietly when he had seen the princess coming. He had seen the look on her face, and had been surprised to see the same one on Link's face. From the way Zelda had described him, he didn't think that Link would be so in awe of her.

He had also gone to let the others know that although Link's arrival was very timely, their audience with him could wait another day. He thought that he and his wife deserved time alone together.

Link took a step towards her, nodding slowly. He could feel tears welling in his own eyes. He watched more of them escape his wife's.

Zelda felt her knees go weak. She hadn't realized until then that they had been shaking very noticeably. In fact, her whole body was trembling. She was trembling out of extreme joy, but also out of fright that he was an illusion.

But Link was there. He was there with his strong arms around his wife's tiny waist. He held her loosely, but he held her in a way that he hadn't in so long. He could feel her quiver beneath him, and knew that he was shaking too.

Zelda looked up slowly into her husband's eyes. She moved a hand up to his face, gently pushing aside the hair that hung in his face. The same hand she had used snapped back to her mouth when she gasped.

His eyes. They were no longer carved out of ice. No longer were there blizzards and storms swirling and stabbing violently. They no longer frightened her. His eyes were as they were before. They were blue and gentle, like the sea on a calm and sunny day. Tears began to fall from them.

Zelda couldn't help herself. She began to sob loudly, pressing her face into his tunic. His hold on her tightened. He moved one hand to the back of her head, gently cradling it as she cried into his chest. He could feel more tears filling his own eyes and his lip began to quake. He could feel all of her release as she held him and cried. He could feel all of the hurt he had caused her being let go of.

"My Zelda." He said quietly, his voice weak with emotion. He buried his face into the top of her head. His tears wet her hair but she didn't mind. She didn't even notice. All she knew was that her husband was home. The man that she had married was back, and not just from the desert. He was back from the dead.

&

After many hours of just talking about the past, Zelda and Link had parted ways for a time. They were both emotionally drained after seeing each other again after so long. Zelda had decided to leave Marie out of their talk of the past. She hadn't wanted to completely wring Link dry of his tears.

She sat at her vanity, brushing through her hair. Her eyes had been swollen and puffy after all the crying she had done. But now that she had had some time to rest, they looked better. The pink rims beneath her eyes made her sea green irises stand out in the most depressingly beautiful way.

She just couldn't seem to believe that Link was himself. Whatever had happened in the desert had really helped him. She couldn't help but feel like an unworthy wife because it was not her that brought him out of his spiral. But she was very grateful to Nabooru for what she had done.

"Zelda." Link's voice came from behind her. She whirled around, startled. Her hair swung over her face before settling down behind her back. Her short, quick breaths were the only sound in the shadows.

"Link." She dropped the brush onto the vanity and stood, not knowing what to do with her hands. She chose to smooth down her blue nightgown. She could feel his eyes on her through the darkness and felt a blush begin to consume her cheeks. "It's been a long time since you've looked at me that way."

He didn't even take the time to notice which room he was in. He hadn't seen that bedroom in over a year. But all he could see was his wife. She looked so beautiful. And he wanted to make up for their lost time. He felt a burning desire inside of him to love her. And he did love her.

Link didn't say a word. He just went to his wife, and took her hands into his to stop them from touching her nightgown. He then released one of them to free his hand. He moved it to her breast and held it gently. He felt it rise and fall heavily beneath his hand. He sighed contently.

"You asked me that day at the oasis…if I felt something when I touched you." Link ran his thumb over the outline of her nipple, which was hardening at his touch. "I think that you deserve an answer."

But her answer wasn't a word from his lips. He took the hand that he still held and pressed it to the center of his chest. Beneath her hand was his heart. He knew that she could feel its hard thump. He could feel it in his chest.

She looked up into his eyes.

"I love you too." She whispered, standing on her tiptoes. He leaned down and kissed her. Their lips met and all of their tension and all of the love that they felt for each other came out.

Link continued to kiss Zelda as he moved his hands to her shoulders. She felt as her own hands went into his hair. Their kisses deepened as Link released the straps of her nightgown. It was easy for him to get it off of her. She was so thin that it merely slipped down her body and collected at her feet.

"Wait, wait." He managed to murmur as she continued kissing him hard. He gently pushed her back. She looked confused and hungry at the same time. "I want to see you."

He took a step back and looked at his naked wife. Her breasts were small but perky, her round nipples hard and pink against her pale skin. His eyes traveled lower. He could see the outlines of her ribs as his gaze drifted to her flat stomach. He looked at her for what seemed like ages before he began to touch her again.

Link put his hands on Zelda's waist and maneuvered her backward. She pressed her backside against the vanity, using one hand behind her to lean against it. Link kissed her again, his tongue remembering how her mouth always tasted like peppermint. She had always chewed mint leaves in the morning and before bed.

He moved one hand to her breast and moved his thumb slowly over her nipple. She moaned softly against his lips. With her free hand she took hold of the front of her husband's tunic. She clutched it for dear life as his hand moved lower.

Link rubbed his fingers over her mound. It was warm and wet. He carefully leaned down and moved his lips to her breast while moving one finger inside of her. He could tell that, because it had been so long since they had made love, that it was slightly painful. But the sounds she emitted suggested more pleasure than pain.

He suckled her nipple gently at first. When she moaned and writhed against him, he suckled harder. All the while he was moving his finger in and out of her. He could feel himself becoming more excited as he did this.

Zelda tugged on Link's tunic. He looked up to see her motioning for him to stand. He removed his finger and his mouth from her and stood. Zelda had him out of his tunic and shirt in seconds while he stepped out of his tights.

"Oh Link." Zelda half moaned upon seeing her naked husband. She reveled in the sight of his muscular arms and legs. Those she had known. But she also took great pleasure in running her eyes over his suddenly muscular chest and stomach. She was just itching to touch them. She also wanted to get her hands on his massive erection.

She went to him and pressed her lower half to his. He groaned in response. She then moved her hands over the planes of his chest. She massaged them for a moment before continuing to his stomach.

Her hand eventually found his throbbing erection. She moved her hand up and down while holding it firmly. His groans became more and more animalistic as her pace quickened. He held onto Zelda tight while her hand worked. His intake of breath became sharper and quicker.

"Link?" She finally whispered in his ear.

"Mmm?" Link managed to answer. He buried his face into her neck, his mouth open and breathing hot breath onto her neck.

"I want you to be inside of me. I want us to be one person again."

Link pulled away so that he could look into her eyes. He cupped her face in his hands and lovingly kissed her forehead. He then gave her a chaste kiss before responding to what she had said. It was easier to talk without her hand touching him.

"Me too my love." He picked her up in his arms. He smiled to himself when he did so. She felt lighter in his arms. He carried her with ease to the bed and laid her down on top of the blankets.

Link lowered himself on top of his wife. He parted her legs, lying between them. They began kissing as he used one hand to guide himself into her. At first, just as he had thought, Zelda let out a small gasp of pain. But he was gentle and patient, kissing her softly all the while. He moved slowly in and out of her until she suddenly began to moan.

He began to thrust harder and faster, his body shaking whenever his beautiful wife moaned his name or made any kind of sound. Her sounds became louder and quicker. He could feel his breath doing the same.

Link felt a wave of pure happiness and pleasure roll down his shoulders as he released into his wife. She bucked her hips as he did so. For a few moments they just rocked together, looking deep into each other's eyes. They both wore nothing but sweet smiles.

After a short time, Link carefully rolled onto his back. He brought his wife to him, pulling the blanket out from under them to cover the both of them with. They shivered against one another.

"Zelda, I love you." Link said to her after awhile. He kissed her forehead and brushed some of her wet hair away from her face. He then kissed the tip of her nose and her lips.

"I love you too Link." She whispered back. She yawned quietly, snuggling her head further into her husband's chest.

Zelda looked around the room from where she laid with Link. Everywhere she looked she saw nothing. She smiled to herself. The ghosts were gone. They had faded.

Her husband was truly home.