Chapter 12 Court of the Queen
"Daddy that just happened at least let him finish eating!" Malon scolded as Talon frowned. They ate in silence as Link squeezed Malon's hand. Link left the beef and a piece of bread last. He smiled as he quickly wolfed down the food. He sighed as he patted his stomach and looked at Talon. This was one of the few times Talon had a serious look on his face.
"Link what happened?" Talon asked as Malon looked up at him.
"Well I fought off the army. Well to be entirely true I killed them all," Link said sadly as Malon looked up at him.
"Hey you saved hundreds of lives why are you sad?" Malon asked as he sighed and bowed his head.
"I got lost in the fight. I gave in to the beast inside me," Link said as he clenched his fist.
"Link my boy what would've happened if you hadn't killed those Moblins?" Talon asked as Link sighed.
"They would've killed a lot of people," Link said as he nodded.
"Exactly, you saved all of our lives! Don't be angry for stopping those monsters. I'm sure they deserved it," Talon said as he stood up. He smiled at Malon and thanked her for dinner. He walked up the stairs and into his room.
"Link, I know you don't like taking lives. What are you really thinking?" she asked as she held his hand in between hers. He sat there for a few minutes trying to decide on if he should tell Malon. "Link, it's ok. I won't leave you," she said as he smiled down at her.
"I…I'm worried about what I did," Link said as she frowned.
"You stopped us from getting hurt," she said as he looked down.
"I got lost inside the bloodlust. All I wanted to do was kill. I'm so sorry Malon. I want to change. I'm so worried about hurting you," Link said as he put his head on her shoulder.
"Link, I know you won't hurt me," she said as she tried to look into his eyes but he hid his face in her neck. "Link do you want to know how I know?" she asked as he nodded. "You care about others Link. You may fight but I know you do not enjoy it. You feel horrible for killing Moblins! Link I am sure that you are a good person.
And I trust you with all my heart," Malon said as she held him and rubbed his back.
"What did I do to deserve someone like you Malon?" Link asked as she smiled.
"Link you have saved the world. I'm sure hundreds of times. You are the nicest person I know. You always try to help out. You of all people deserve to be happy," she said as he smiled. He wrapped his arms tight around her and smiled when she rested her head against his chest.
"Thank you Malon," Link said as she smiled. They pulled away but Link didn't want to let go. "I have to go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow Link," Malon said as she walked away her hands slowly leaving Links. Link slowly walked over to his bed of hay and went to sleep instantly.
Link woke up to the sound of horse hoofs pounding across the ground. He quickly grabbed his sword and looked out the window. He saw Impa on a horse next to a few guards. Link quickly ran upstairs and opened Malon's door. He tapped her shoulder till she woke up. "Link what are you doing in my room?" she asked as he sighed.
"It seems the princess has come after me. Malon I need you to take this," Link said as he pulled the necklace holding the key off his neck.
"What is it?" she asked as he smiled.
"It is the key to my chest buried under the stable. I think I'm going to be thrown out of Hyrule," Link said as Malon held his head.
"Wait you have a chest hidden under the stable?" she asked as he smiled.
"It's in the back corner furthest from the door. But I have to leave soon," he said as she frowned.
"Link no, why can't you just train the soldiers?" Malon asked as Link sighed.
"I think it has escalated far higher than that. I think I am a threat to her. Please keep this safe for me," Link said as he handed her the key.
"What about your sword?" Malon asked as he smiled.
"I'm sure that she will let me keep it. Malon please don't do anything. I just want you to be safe," Link said as he gently held her face.
"Link you can't leave," Malon said as he sighed.
"I'll send you a letter when I arrive in Termina. Malon just keep my chest safe," Link asked as she started to cry.
"But we had just started to get together. Link please don't leave," Malon said as he kissed her forehead.
"I have to. I'm sorry Malon," Link said as he put the chain around her neck. She touched the key and hugged him vigorously.
"I'll be waiting for your letter. I…" Malon started but they both heard the pounding on the door.
"Who is it?" Talon asked as link sighed.
"We're the queen's guard. We are here for Link," Impa said as Talon looked over at Link.
"Malon, when I'm in Termina I'll mail you. Just stay here," Link said as he stood.
"Link what if they put you in jail?" Malon asked as he sighed. He kneeled down next to her as the banging on the door became more persistent. Talon slowly began walking down the stairs. Link sighed in frustration as he looked down.
"Malon just give me a second," Link said as he left the room.
"Link, Link where are you going?" Malon asked as the hall was silent. Link came back wearing his green tunic.
"Hey fairy boy, haven't seen you in a while," Malon said with a sad smile as Link smiled back. He kneeled down next to her and held her face in his hands. "Link what happens if they throw you in jail?" Malon asked as he sighed.
"Then I'll break out and go to Termina anyway. Malon I will send you word. I promise," Link said as she nodded. He kissed her lips quickly and then left the room.
"Where is the outlaw Link?" Impa's voice rang through the house as Link stood at the top of the stairs.
"I'm here," he answered as he walked down the stairs.
"Guards shackle him," Impa said as two guards came into the room and shackled his wrists and ankles together. They quickly shoved him from the house and into a prisoner transport behind a horse.
"Link!" Malon shouted as she ran down the stairs and to the door. They moved quickly in the early morning light towards the castle. Link looked around and took a deep breath.
Ok either I get out of this or I get thrown in jail. Not many options here Link thought as he looked over at Impa. She never looked back at him during the whole ride to the castle. They arrived a few hours later going through the portcullis walls. He heard the cheers for the guards and the immediate booing of him. He felt the fruits and vegetables hit his face as they made their way through the town and towards the castle.
Link saw the giant castle appear on the horizon as the wagon wound its way along the path. The white columns rose high above the castle. It looked the same as it had when he was here as a boy. He watched as the guards passed them through into the stable. The guards opened the gated cell and threw him out onto the ground. Link glared up at the guards as they laughed.
They picked him up and drug his body towards the main throne room. His chains clinked across the floor as they made their way across the castle. "The princess will make short work of you traitor," one of the guards said as he spit in Links face. Link struggled to hit the man in the face but the chains prohibited him. They knocked on the door and heard Zelda tell them to enter. Link looked up at her face with a glare, a glare that scared her.
She sat regally on her throne as Link the once great hero of time was brought into the castle on his knees in chains. Link was drug across the room and landed on his knees in front of the princess. "Bow scum," one of the guards said as Link bowed lower to the ground.
"Link you are a very dangerous man. I do not wish to do any of this to you. You are a great knight. All I need is for you to train my men. In the vision I saw I saw hundreds of our men dying to a black darkness. You were the light Link.
I know if you train my soldiers we will thrive. I do not want you leading my armies. I just want you to teach them to fight. Why will you not do this one thing for me?" Zelda asked as she stood.
"I will not be in another war. I will not cause the death of another man!" Link shouted as one of the guards slammed him in the side.
"You do know that as a Queen I have the right to punish you any way I see fit. I could throw you in jail. What has made you so arrogant and prideful? Link we need your help if you don't hundreds will die!" Zelda shouted as Link kept his head low.
"In my life I've done things that I've been ashamed of, I've seen things that would make most men die of fright, I've fought evils you cannot even comprehend. The beings that come to fight us cannot be any worse," Link said as Zelda scowled.
"You liar! You know who the men are that are going to come against us," Zelda said as Link glared.
"No I do not! You never explained them to me!" Link yelled as she frowned. One of the guards hit him again and laughed.
"The men coming to attack us have black armor and the hawk imbedded in their shields. I know you've fought them. You've fought them for years," Zelda said as Link growled.
"I killed them. I know I did because I attacked their fortress. They were all dead," Link said as she laughed.
"Well it seems that you missed a few. They will be coming soon to attack us. And they will destroy us. Link you are our only hope. Doesn't that make you happy? I have to bow down to you to get you to help," Zelda said as she got down on eye level with him. Link looked up at her and smirked.
"You know what I want princess?" Link asked as she glared at him.
"What?" she asked as he laughed.
"I want you to leave me alone. I want to live in peace. War has destroyed my life," Link said as she sighed.
"How could you hate me so much that you would destroy Hyrule to see me fall? How could you insult the Goddesses the very beings that gave you your life? They are the ones that have helped you defeat all of your foes. Link what is it that has made you like this?" she asked as Link clenched his fists.
"The past," Link said as he glared down at the ground.
"Fine Link, but I can't have you here in Hyrule. You are a threat to everyone. I would put you in the dungeon, but I know you well enough that you would just escape. With a heavy heart I must banish you from Hyrule. Never return here we do not need you," she said as Link stood.
"As you command princess," Link said with a slight bow as one of the guards knocked him out.
Link woke up with a slight pain in his head. He put his hand up to his head and hissed as he felt a sharp pain on his head. He withdrew his hand and saw the blood there. Link sighed as he looked up at the sky. So the guards dumped me at the edge of the Kokiri forest. That's convenient, I'll be able to get to Termina quicker Link thought as he walked off into the woods.
He adjusted his sword putting it on his back as he walked through the lost woods. Nothing but trees surrounded him. He could see the magic floating around in the air in the form of little glowing orbs. He smiled as he remembered Navi. Spunky little fairy Link thought to himself as his feet crunched along the ground. He finally found the bridge to the Kokiri's town.
He walked inside as they stared at him. They always stared up at him in awe like he was some kind of giant. "Hey who are you Mr.?" Mido asked as Link looked down.
"My name is Link. I'm just going into the lost woods," Link said as Mido's eyes widened.
