Warnings: HEAVY Violence, HEAVILY Disturbing Material
Zelda's eyes flashed open, her mind panicking as she looked about her. She was bound to a post in the center of a large, dark room—a place Zelda had never seen before. Her wrists were chained behind the pole, preventing her from moving. Her breaths were short and quick. Link. Where was Link? Link!
Zelda shut her eyes, compelling herself to focus, "Link? Are you alright? Please answer!"
No reply came. Zelda could feel tears of alarm forming in her eyes as she struggled uselessly against the beam to which she was tied. She had to get free! Link needed her!
A source of light suddenly appeared, a thick smoke filling the room as several candelabras were magically lit. When Zelda blinked, she saw Takoume standing before her. "Where's Link? What've you done to him?" Zelda demanded, infuriated.
Takoume chuckled, "My, my. You've really worked yourself up now, haven't you?"
Zelda felt she could scream with exasperation, "Answer me, you witch! Where's Link?"
Takoume frowned sourly, "I see you're in no mood for games. Very well; I'll show you your precious Link. Although I could've sworn that from our last Exchange that you hated him…curious how swiftly you've changed with a little time."
Takoume clapped, and a door flung open. Two Gerudo entered the room, dragging a figure in between them. The guards threw the body onto the floor with disgust, the being hardly reacting to the treatment. With another clap of Takoume's hands, Zelda felt her chains fall. She immediately rushed to the tortured figure, her tears leaking from her eyes. "Link?"
It was him; Zelda recognized the scruffy, golden head of hair and the broad, muscled back. The Hero's shirt had been ripped from his form, his only clothing consisting of his now ragged trousers hanging from his legs. Link lifted his head at Zelda's voice, and Zelda nearly sobbed at the sight of the long scars decorating his face. His bruised cheeks. His bloodied lips. "Zelda?" he croaked.
Zelda instantly scooped Link into her arms, allowing him to lean into her for support. "Oh, Link!" Zelda whispered, "Link, I'm so sorry! L-Link—"
Zelda tried to stifle her cries into Link's neck, but Link's arms weakly squeezed around her in response. "Zelda, none of this is your fault," Link reassured her. Though his voice was dry and weak, his tone was as calm as ever.
"I can't let them do this, Link," Zelda whimpered into his shoulder, "We've got to escape—what can we do?"
Link's hands traced patterns across her back, trying to soothe her. "Actually, I have thought of something," Link mumbled, the tiniest trace of a smile on his face, "If you're willing to try it."
"Yes, anything!" Zelda whispered back, hope—like a withered flower, beginning to blossom in her once again, "What can I do?"
"They stripped me of my belongings," Link began, "but—"
"That's enough," Takoume's voice pierced the conversation, and before Zelda could grip him more tightly, Link was yanked from her arms by the two Gerudo.
"No!" Zelda shouted through her tears, grappling for Link helplessly. She fell to her knees, unable to stand with her large stomach and previous injuries.
"I hope you said your goodbyes," Takoume continued, motioning the guards to bring Link to her, "Because I'm not taking any chances on a single flaw occurring during this."
Takoume snatched Link's wrist, tugging him forward as the guards swiftly exited the room. A candelabra, larger than the others, was set aglow, outlining the shape of—
"The Master Sword!" Zelda breathed, her words barely audible through her shock.
There the sword sat, still buried into its pedestal from the days of old when Hylia's Chosen Hero himself had driven it there. That meant that they had to be in one of the innermost rooms of the Sealed Temple! Zelda was overwhelmed with awe, but it soon gave way to horror as Takoume threw Link onto the ground beside the blade, the hero not even flinching in response. Takoume smirked down at the lifeless man, eying Zelda, "And to think, a man as easily broken as this has stolen your heart."
"My bow and quiver," Link's voice invaded Zelda's thoughts, "It should be along the wall in this room somewhere—use your archery!"
Zelda made an effort to stand, but she found she couldn't move—Takoume's dark magic holding her in place. "No, no, princess," Takoume scolded, "This is no time for an intermission. You will watch this happen. You will watch your country fall, and then you will die."
Zelda stubbornly fought her invisible bonds once more, watching through her tears as Takoume lifted Link to his feet, drawing a knife from her inner robes. "Finally," Takoume muttered, focusing as she lifted the dagger.
"No! Stop, no!" Zelda begged, her voice hitching with her sobs.
Just as Takoume prepared to lower the blade, Link jerked to the side, breaking free of Takoume's hold. Takoume gave a shriek of surprise as Link quickly swiped the dagger from her hands. "Now, Zelda!" came Link's silent order.
With Takoume distracted, Zelda felt the magic around her dissipate. She scrambled to her feet, hurrying to the walls of the room. She used her magic, trying to sense the object she was looking for. No, it wasn't near here, it wasn't over—ah! There it was!
Ignoring the way her body ached from the exertion, Zelda hastened to one of the darker corners of the room, triumphantly locating Link's bow, quiver, sword, shield, and satchel. Obviously the Gerudo had intended to barter them later. Zelda strung an arrow quickly, trying to steady her hands as she centered her aim.
Takoume had snatched the knife back from Link, using her sorcery to suspend him above the Master Sword. Zelda blinked back her tears, thankful Takoume had not yet noticed her as she drew the string taut. Three…two…
Takoume's dagger plunged into Link's chest, Link gasping loudly with pain, and Zelda froze. The arrow flew, puncturing the wall. She had missed; she had failed. Zelda could feel her knees shake as her vision swayed.
"It is done," Takoume murmured happily, oblivious to the arrow as she drove the dagger deeper into Link. Link cried out, writhing with agony as Takoume practically sliced him open. Then, Link's movements ceased, and Takoume allowed his body to collapse to the ground.
Zelda couldn't breathe; her heart stopped in her chest. Takoume smeared her hands in Link's crimson blood, preparing to seize the sword. "No, no, no!" Zelda screamed, stringing one last arrow. She infused the arrow with magic, and it flew through the air.
Takoume's outcry nearly shook the ground as the arrow sank into her chest. "You-you little beast! I'll kill you!" Takoume screeched as she ripped away the arrow, blood spurting from her wound.
Takoume leapt for Zelda from the pedestal, but as her hands reached for Zelda's neck, Takoume stopped, dropping to the ground, her body convulsing. "Wha—what have you done? You cur!" Takoume clutched her chest, her face twisting with anguish, "That arrow! Your magic's not strong enough to—it's impossible!"
Takoume fell face forward. She scowled up at Zelda, a glare of pure hatred and malice. "I die knowing I have honored my surrogate parents," she whispered before rolling to one side.
Trembling, Zelda realized that Takoume was dead. It was over; the Master Sword was safe. Hyrule was safe. With eerie resemblance to that day so long ago, Takoume's body faded to dust, in the very manner of King Xenocrates and Queen Zelda's assassins. But at the moment, Zelda had more prominent concerns than the body of her captor.
"Link!" Zelda crawled up the altar, her body betraying her with exhaustion, "Link, I've done it! She's dead!"
Link's face was pale, his eyes fluttering open and shut lazily. Zelda, fighting her fatigue, cradled his body close to hers again, his head resting comfortably in her arms. "Link, quickly! Tell me what to do! What do you need me to do to help? Just speak it, and I'll do it!" Zelda said fiercely.
"Nothing, dearest," came Link's wordless, strained response, "Zelda, I love you."
Zelda's heart gave a leap in her chest. "I love you too," she whispered earnestly, meaning every word.
Link's eyes shut with a sigh, and his head lolled back. With terror, Zelda noted how Link limply sagged against her, his blood seeping into her clothes. "Link," Zelda tried again, her voice beginning to shake and her tears beginning to return, "Link…Link, no. You don't have to pretend again like earlier! Takoume's gone now!"
His reply never reached her. Zelda's tears began running without restraint down her cheeks, "You-you promised you wouldn't do this; you promised not to leave me alone!"
The merciless reality of the situation sunk its fangs into Zelda, poisoning her very soul with misery and despair. "Link, no! You can't!" Zelda sobbed, her voice tight and high, "I can't lose you! I love you! Don't leave me, Link! No! No, come back, please! Try, Link, y-you've got to try! Link! Link!"
Shortest chapter yet. And on time too (…just barely)! I can't make any definite predictions yet, but the next two or three chapters will probably be shorter than usual, but a lot will happen in them. After that—guess what guys? This story will be done! I can barely believe it. But I'll talk more about that when the time comes. In the mean time, sorry about the ending to this chapter. I never guaranteed a happy ending or anything but I still feel kind of guilty about throwing this at you. But if it's of any reassurance, I've known how I wanted this story to end since I posted the first chapter, so this was all planned. Hopefully you guys won't be too disappointed with me. And if you have any unanswered questions—as I'm sure you do and as you are meant to—fear not! They will be answered in the concluding chapters! See you next week!