"I really should go, you know," Zelda moaned faintly, trying unsuccessfully to fend off Link's kisses. "The senator will be wondering what happened to his daughter."
"He can wait," Link said, waving away her fears. "What's another fifteen minutes?"
"You've been saying that for the past half an hour," she replied, running her hands lovingly through his unruly blond hair.
"Time flies when you're in love, or something like that." He kissed her again, causing wild thrills of ecstasy to run up her spine.
"I'm glad you came tonight, Link," she murmured, reciprocating his kiss.
"So am I. Especially now that it turned out like this."
"You were planning this all along, weren't you?"
He grinned and tenderly nibbled her ear. "For a long time. Happy Goddess Day."
"The best in my life," she whispered, leaning into him and reveling in their closeness. "Thank you."
"I love you, Zellie," he responded, softly stroking her hair. "Do you still mind when I call you that?"
"Not really."
"Good." His lips claimed hers once more and he gently held her by the waist. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around him, enjoying his warmth and passion. All too soon, he broke away, leaving her panting for air. His face was slightly flushed as he smiled at her.
"You'll be alright?"
"Yes. Thanks, Link."
"Thank you, Zellie." He kissed her again. Goddesses, how could anyone be so perfect?
"Stop, or I'll never be able to leave you…"
"That's the whole point, right?" He muttered coyly, planting hot kisses on her neck.
With the greatest exertion of willpower in her life, she gently pushed him away, gasping for air. It was nearly two in the morning: she really had to get back, lest her father send out search parties.
"Good night, hero." Zelda risked one more kiss, leaving him with a slightly unfocused expression on his face. She giggled.
"'Night, Zellie. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"My flight's at ten."
"Perfect." He stroked her jaw line softly, wearing a loving expression that absolutely made her melt. "Take care of yourself, alright?"
She smiled. "I love you."
"The very same to you, Zellie. Now, get going." He stepped away and she felt his warmth replaced by the chill of winter.
With a regretful heart, she vanished in a blaze of green, Farore's Wind carrying her back inside her father's mansion.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Her father roared, pacing back and forth in front of her like a wild beast. As soon as she had returned to the party, he had found her and practically dragged her into a secluded room, where he could concentrate his full fury on her without arousing the attention of others.
"Your dress is in an appalling state, your skin is completely flushed, and you're out of breath! Good Goddesses girl, did you just decide to go on a midnight jog?!"
Zelda couldn't help but smile to herself. You have no idea… Unfortunately, her father seemed to notice as well.
"What is so GODDESSES-DAMNED funny?" He snarled, face hideously contorted with rage. "You think this is a joke? My reputation is on the line! I'll not have anyone whispering that my daughter is some sort of… tramp!"
"I'm sorry, father," she said in a mock-sweet voice. "Why don't I go out there and apologize to everyone?"
"You'll do no such thing!" He roared. "If anyone sees you in this state, they'll begin to think that I can't even keep my daughter under control! How could I manage the country then, tell me!"
"So you are set on becoming our next ruler?"
"Don't play with me, girl," he growled. "It's too late for me to find you a suitor: no one in their right mind would desire a woman like you."
She feigned disappointment. In all honesty, she could care less. Link loved her! The very thought of his tender kisses and touch suddenly made her hot all over again, and she desperately wished she had stayed another few minutes with him…
"Are you listening to me?!"
Zelda snapped out of her wistful thoughts for Link, focusing on the raging dad before her. Right. As if she could forget. "What is it, father?"
"I asked when you were leaving! Goddesses, you have the attention span of a Lon-Lon cow!"
"Tomorrow, early in the morning," she replied icily. There were a few things that she would like to call him that were much more insulting than a cow…
"That's good. I can barely stand another second of you. Out of my good will, I'll allow you to sleep under my roof one more night. Goddesses know that a child like you deserves it," he sneered.
She almost broke out laughing. Obviously, her father's idea of "good will" was much different than her own. "I'd be willing to leave tonight, if it so pleases your highness."
His eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't test my patience with your ungrateful behavior!"
"May I take leave then, father?" She responded angrily.
"Go!" He spluttered, pointing out the door. "And don't you dare let anyone else see you in this state! Stay in your room until tomorrow morning!"
Zelda was more than happy to comply with this order. With any luck, she could leave the following morning without even seeing her dad. She swiftly turned and left the room, her quivering father glaring at her the entire time.
As she walked through the halls, she reflected that she had gotten off remarkably easy, considering the magnitude of her 'crime.' Of course, her father didn't know the full extent of her escapade, which probably accounted for his laxity.
She reached her room's door, grasping the golden handle and turning the knob. Her father must have assumed that she had been taking a nightly stroll in the gardens, rather than having a steamy romance session with-
"LINK!"
He was casually sitting on her bed in a pair of jeans, his dirty tuxedo lying crumpled on the floor. Her eyes were automatically glued to his well-developed chest, which he had yet to cover up decently. Not that she really minded.
"I left my clothes in your room," he explained. "I'm just putting them on, I'll be off soon."
Zelda gaped, still staring at his chest. "… What are you talking about?"
"Come on, I don't have the cash to get a tuxedo like that," he laughed, pointing at the crumpled suit on the floor. "I… erm… had to 'liberate' it from your dad's personal wardrobe when I snuck into the estate."
She broke out into laughter. "You stole one of my dad's suits…?"
"Well, I would have stuck out if I had simply worn jeans and a shirt to the party," he replied. "So I just snuck into his room and took it. He's got so many of them, I'm sure he wouldn't mind losing one for the night."
"And no one caught you…?"
"Hey, I learned the art of stealth from Impa, the last of the Sheikah. It doesn't get much more intense than that."
Smiling broadly, she sat down next to Link on her bed, trying to avoid ogling his half-naked body too much. She found his shirt and offered it to him.
"Put it on, please."
"Why? You clearly like me better without it," he teased, taking it from her hands.
"I know," she said through gritted teeth. "But if you don't cover yourself up in ten seconds then I'd lose all self-control and attack you."
"That'd be nice," he said, dressing himself anyways. "Is that better?"
"Much," she replied, kissing him lightly.
"By the way, how was your dad?" He asked, as she pulled away. "The party's still going on. Did he let you off that easy?"
"Apparently," she replied, glancing at the door anxiously. "Said he didn't want others seeing me in this 'disgraceful' state."
"That's a bit rough," he said, hugging her sympathetically.
"I know, but I can't do much about it, right? He's my dad."
"I suppose. How do you feel about it?"
"A little bitter," she admitted, "But I've come to realize that there are more important things to worry about. I have a feeling that after I leave tomorrow, I won't be seeing him for a long time anyways."
"When's your flight, again?"
"Link, you're terrible with details," she laughed, causing him to grin sheepishly. "My flight's at ten."
"But you're leaving earlier?"
"Because I want to avoid an encounter with my dad, if possible."
He gazed at her, seemingly confused. "You really don't like him that much?"
"It's- well- what I mean is…," she waved her hands in the air agitatedly, trying to come up with a satisfying answer. "He's a difficult man. And not very pleasant company. It's hard to explain, really."
Link still looked unsure, but he nodded his head. "It's not really my business, anyways. I was just curious."
She hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry. I know that you've never known your real parents…"
"You shouldn't be sorry. It's hard to miss something you've never had," he muttered, stroking her hair softly. "Although I've often wondered what they were like. I don't even have a picture of them, or anything."
"If only they know what a fine young hero you'd turn out to be," she grinned, attempting to lift his spirits.
"You know, I like it when you flatter me," he laughed. "Do it more often."
"I don't think your ego needs much more of a boost," she replied, poking him on the chest mirthfully. He grinned and fell back onto her bed covers, letting out a groan of contentment.
"I think I'll stay here tonight. This bed is very comfortable."
"And where would I sleep? The floor?"
"We could share the bed," he suggested teasingly.
"Tonight has made you quite a bit more daring, hero," she said smartly, rolling him off her bed. "But my house, my rules."
Link recovered nimbly from his crash on the floor. "I wasn't planning on staying the night anyways," he replied gallantly, pulling the Ocarina of Time from his jeans pocket. "Just came back to leave your dad's suit. If you see your father tomorrow, tell him I said thanks."
"I'm not planning on seeing him, remember?"
"Going to leave at the crack of dawn, are you?"
"More or less."
He paused for a moment. "You could come with me."
"Excuse me?"
"I can take us both back to Castle Town with the ocarina. Save you some trouble."
"And how do you think he would react when he finds out that I left in the middle of the night?"
"It would be funny."
"It would," she admitted, "Until he hunts me down and flays me alive."
"Why would he do that? Just leave him a note and explain that you decided to leave early."
"I'm sure he'd take it well," she replied sarcastically. Link shrugged, still grinning mischievously.
"He might. How can you know if you don't try it?"
"Link," she sighed, "Why are you so intent on spiriting me away from my father's house tonight?"
He replied with a completely straight face. "Because, just a few hours ago, I admitted my undying love for you. And since we all might be dead by tomorrow, I want to make you as happy as possible with the time remaining."
"Isn't that rather morbid thinking?" Zelda asked, despite breaking into a smile. "Although I won't deny, it's very sweet of you."
"Take a chance," he said. "What's the worst your dad can do? Aside from flaying you alive, I mean."
"That's not bad enough?"
"Well, compared to what the Dark King can do, not really."
He spoke so casually, and yet, even as the words left his mouth, she suddenly saw Link tied to a torture rack, screaming in agony as the sickening stench of blood filled her senses. It was only a brief image, but his cries of pain continued to resonate throughout her mind even as the horrid memory faded. And she suddenly remembered- it was from her dream, nearly a week ago. That dream… she had almost forgotten about it, until now. Suddenly a full sense of foreboding overwhelmed her completely.
"Zellie?" He waved a hand in front of her glazed eyes, suddenly looking concerned. "Zelda? What's wrong? Zelda?"
She reached out and cradled his face in her hands, scanning him in a sort of worried frenzy. There were no wounds, no blood, no sign of pain on his fair features. He was safe, perfectly safe. She let out a small whimper of relief and sank back onto her bed, still feeling slightly sick in the stomach.
"Zelda, what's wrong?" He sat down next to her, encircling her protectively in his arms. She felt so safe in his presence- and yet, she was not the one in danger. "Zelda?"
"It was a dream I had," she whispered miserably. Even mentioning it brought back unwanted images from that horrid nightmare. It had seemed so real, the horror and the agony and the blood. Everything about it made her want to cry out in anguish.
"You had another of those dreams?" Link asked, startled. "When?"
"About a week ago. I… I tried to forget about it, but…" She drew a rattling breath and tried to hold her shaking body still. "Link, please don't fight the Dark King tomorrow. Please!"
"Don't… don't fight?" He asked uncertainly. "Zelda, what are you talking about…?"
"You can't fight him!" She cried, eyes glistening with moisture. "You'll die, Link! He'll kill you!"
He had a slightly disturbed look on his face as he tried to soothe her. "It was only a nightmare, Zelda. It wasn't real- I'll be alright."
"You can't promise that," she whispered, burying her face in his shoulder. She knew that her dream was true: after all, the Princess of legend was said to have prophetic dreams. And now the very same curse was manifesting itself in her, foreshadowing Link's gruesome death at the hands of the enemy he would fight at midnight.
He stroked her hair pensively, muttering words of comfort into her ear. "It'll be alright, Zelda… I'll be fine…"
"It was horrible," she murmured, keeping her eyes shut as memories of the gruesome dream assaulted her once more. "He tortured you, Link…" A sob wracked her frame, causing him to hold her even more tightly to his chest.
"We will defeat the Dark King tomorrow," he said firmly, gently cupping her chin in his hand and forcing her to look at him. Determination blazed in his eyes. "I know it. The Goddesses are behind us. Five of the Sages stand with us. We can't lose."
She stifled a small sob. He continued confidently, heartily believing every word. "Zelda, nothing can take me away from you. Tomorrow, the Dark King will be banished forever to the Sacred Realm. It was only a dream, nothing more."
Zelda wanted to believe what he said. She tried to, attempted to convince herself that everything would be alright. But it wouldn't. They were up against the Dark King. Everything would go horribly wrong, she could feel it in her heart. And then Link… The image of his bloodied and mangled body forced itself into her mind once more, and she fought down the urge to cry out in terror.
Link gazed at her carefully, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. "It is our duty, is it not? As bearers of the Triforce, we must defeat anything that threatens this land. And I swore an oath that I would fulfill that promise, even if it would cost my life."
She nodded her head numbly, realizing that she too was bound to this promise. As the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, she could accept her own sacrifice. But not his. "Link…"
He silenced her with a deep kiss, pressing himself firmly against her. Her hands roved unashamedly over his back as she tried to sense him, touch him, before he was torn away from her forever. She drank him in like an intoxicating beverage, tears still sliding down her cheeks as she fell onto him, kissing him ever more passionately.
"Remember what I've always said," he said, gazing at her with those beautiful sapphire eyes. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what. I promise that."
"It's not myself I'm worried about," she whimpered, caressing his cheek softly. "It's you."
"It was only a dream," he replied. "Why are you so convinced that it foretells my fate?"
Although she could come up with no logical answer, Zelda knew that it was real. She knew that, no matter what she did, the man she loved above all else would be taken away forever.
And it was not enough to simply kill him and leave his body in peace! No, cruel fate determined that his fair form was to be mutilated in torment before his spirit could finally find rest! She cried to the Goddesses in a desperate plea, begging them to spare Link if only she could take his place, but there was no reply. It made her feel all the more hopeless, and utterly useless, that she could do nothing to save him from his death.
He seemed to sense her inner turmoil, her conflicting emotions. Kissing her lovingly, he smiled in his best attempt to relieve her troubles. "Whatever happens, Zelda, remember that I had a choice. I knew what I was getting into. I accept that."
She tried to return his smile, only managing a quavering frown. "You've said that to me before."
"Please, don't worry about me," he begged. "I hate seeing you so miserable. It is nothing you can control, and after all, the dreams you see may never happen."
"The Princess had the gift of prophesy."
"The Princess lived thousands of years ago. You are Zelda. Always remember that: this is your destiny."
She nodded, still unsure, holding him protectively. She never wanted to let go… she needed him here, beside her.
He kissed her brow, wiping the tears from her face. "Remember that, Zelda."
"I will."
"I'll always be here for you."
"I know."
"I love you."
Her breath caught, and a small sob escaped from her chest. He still had hope, still believed in his destiny. But she knew that it was hopeless, that their short love had been doomed since its beginning. Why did the Goddesses torture her with the knowledge of his impending death? It was much too cruel to leave a man oblivious to his fate, whilst anguishing those close to him!
She loved him dearly, loved him more than anything she had ever known. And she resolved to herself: damn her prophesy, damn destiny, and damn fate! She swore to the Goddesses that she would change it. That she would save Link, even if the cost would leave her broken and bloodied and forever imprisoned in the Sacred Realm. It would be worth it, if only she could protect him.
"Zelda?" He lifted her chin up, gazing at her with passion.
"I love you too," she murmured, and kissed him deeply.
The next day, Zelda woke at the crack of dawn, even before her alarm clock went off. It was nearly six in the morning- the last guests had finally departed- and she was hoping that her father was sound asleep.
Tip-toeing through the house like a thief, she located Shiro's room without too much trouble. Rapping curtly on his door, she heard him mumble and groan as he slipped out of bed. He had a rather annoyed look on his face as he opened the door, his mustache quivering comically as he yawned.
"Good morning, Shiro," she said cheerfully.
"… Miss Zelda, do you know what time it is?"
"Almost six," she said indifferently. Normally, she would have felt bad for waking him so early, but her own desperation to get away overpowered any feelings of guilt. Besides, he was paid to do this stuff. "Could you drive me to Lake Hylia's airport, please?"
He glared at her rather sourly. "Couldn't this wait…?"
"If you hand me the car keys, I can drive there myself…"
"Alright," he grumbled. "I'll be ready in a few minutes." He closed the door rather abruptly in her face, indicating his mood.
"I'll wait in the courtyard," she called. On the other side of the door, she heard a grunt of acknowledgement.
After gathering her bags and dumping them off on the front door steps, Zelda hastily composed a letter to her father. It was short and impersonal, but she doubted that he would mind. In fact, he would probably like the fact that she had left so promptly. She left the note on his work desk, deciding that it was only polite that she did so.
Returning to the main doors, she saw Shiro already waiting in the courtyard as she had instructed, her father's prized black luxury car idling in the driveway. She had to appreciate the efficiency of Shiro, especially since it was rather short notice.
"I've already packed everything in the trunk, Miss Zelda," he called, as she walked over to him. "Also, some guests from last night's party have left messages for you. Would you like to take them?"
"I'd rather not," she said, smiling sweetly as she stepped into the car. She had no particular desire to stay in contact with people like Sakon. He gave her a confused look, before nodding his head and limping into the driver's seat.
"Very well, Miss Zelda. To the airport?"
"Thank you, Shiro."
Lake Hylia didn't have an international airport, although it did possess a smaller one for flights across Hyrule. Still, because of its small size, not many flights came into Lake Hylia on a regular schedule, which meant longer delays.
"Your flight to Castle Town is at ten, Miss Zelda," Shiro said, consulting the flight terminal. "Are you sure you want to wait here?"
"Quite sure," she said firmly, holding onto her bags. He cast an anxious look at his watch.
"Miss Zelda, it's only six-thirty…"
"I'll be fine, Shiro."
"I'm sure you will be, Miss Zelda, but I don't think your father would approve of me leaving you alone-,"
"Go back to the mansion, Shiro, you need sleep," she commanded. "If my father asks, tell him that I took an early flight back to Castle Town."
"But it's a three and a half hour wait-,"
"Father doesn't know that," she said. "Shiro, please just go back to the mansion and get some rest. I won't tell my father, so don't worry about the repercussions."
He hesitated. She could tell that he desperately wanted to return to his bed, although his duty to her father was putting up a fight. Obviously, he was being paid well.
"Are you sure, Miss Zelda…?"
"Yes," she said exasperatedly. "I'll be perfectly alright."
He cast her an anxious glance, before giving an appreciative smile. She privately grinned to herself.
"Thank you, Miss Zelda," he said, bowing low. "I hope you'll come back to see us soon?"
"Of course," she replied, making a mental note that she would never return to Lake Hylia willingly. "Good-bye, Shiro."
Zelda watched him leave the area, making sure that he was quite gone, before setting her bags down and taking a seat next to a young man in a floppy green hat.
"I was afraid that he wasn't going to leave you."
She turned to face the man, smiling tiredly. "For a few moments, I was too. But he's gone now, so you can take off your disguise."
Link grinned and yanked off his hat, his blond hair falling loosely over his face. "It's not a disguise, it's my hat!"
"You looked a bit silly with it on," she giggled, taking the hat from his hands and playfully putting it on top of her own head.
"Laugh all you want, but that thing was in style a few centuries ago," he retorted, crossing his arms. "The Hero of Time himself wore it."
"This hat makes me look like an elf," she exclaimed, looking at herself through the airport windows.
"You look good," he assured her, snatching the hat back and returning it to his head. "But I think the hat looks better on me."
"If you say so," she laughed. She had to admit: Link looked good in everything. Even that silly green hat didn't detract from his appearance.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, standing up from his chair and stretching.
"A little. I didn't stop to have breakfast."
"You were in that big of a rush?"
"I didn't want to keep you waiting. And, you know, the whole issue with my father."
"It's alright," he said, picking up one of her bags. "We can get something in Castle Town to eat, if you want."
"We're going by Ocarina, I assume?"
"Of course," he said, patting his pocket where the ocarina lay. "Unless you'd rather wait for a plane flight?"
"I like your method better," she chuckled, getting up from her seat and following him away from the terminal.
After teleporting back to the Temple of Time, Zelda deposited her luggage at her dormitory, all the while in Link's company. The two of them had decided to make the best use of their remaining time as possible, since after midnight, their lives were no longer guaranteed. Despite his consolations, she still found herself worrying over her visions of his death, but she tried to push these morbid thoughts aside. It might be her last day alive, after all: she needed to make it count.
So naturally, her first order of business was to crash onto the couch and fervently kiss every part of Link that she could reach.
"Goddesses, Zelda, a bit eager today?" He gasped, nonetheless sounding extremely pleased as her lips roamed over his mouth.
"Hey, I might never get another chance to do this," she said unashamedly, pausing in her attack to regard him with smoldering eyes. "Surely you aren't complaining?"
"Of course not. You speak wisely," he grinned, pulling her back on top of him and resuming their session with ardor.
It took nearly half an hour before she was left breathless and exerted, yet happily content at the same time. She was now resting on the floor (at some point, they had fallen off of the couch, although she couldn't remember when) with Link's arms wrapped around her. As she lay there, she was reminded of their first kiss on the beach of Lake Hylia, and found it incredible to believe that it was less than a day ago.
"You really are amazing," she murmured, lovingly stroking his face. "And I'm not just saying that to boost your ego."
He smiled, although a certain seriousness underlay his grin. "You're still afraid of that nightmare, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. It felt so real…"
"But it will never happen. I'll be alright, Zelda."
"I can't lose you," she whispered. "How can you be so confident that he won't... kill you?"
Link paused for a second, trying to think of a reply to soothe her nerves. His fingers delicately toyed with her hair, in a comfortable gesture that she might never feel again.
"You're right, Zelda: I can't promise you that I'll survive," he muttered gently, coming out of his reverie and kissing her on the cheek. "But I was raised my entire life by the Sages for this single purpose. There's no room for hesitation or compromise: one of us has to win and the other has to go. You just have to trust in the Goddesses that everything will turn out alright."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Well, I try not to think about that. You shouldn't either. Nothing bad will happen."
"I can't help but worry for you," she replied, sitting up and gazing at him passionately. "You're the only one fighting. The Sages and I- we sit behind magical shields and try to imprison the monster while you distract it!"
"Zelda, you play an even more important role than I do," he said, taking her hands in his. "You and the Sages will determine the outcome of this battle, not me."
"But I want to help you," she cried bitterly. "Not hide away while you risk your life!"
"This is the best way you can help me," he consoled. "I can't kill the Dark King. The Master Sword was lost long ago. Finishing the imprisonment spell is the only way to defeat him."
He hushed her retort by gently placing his fingers against her lips. "Please, Zelda. Don't worry about this now. You cannot control fate. Just have trust in the Goddesses. They'll see us through."
"But what if…"
"No more questions," he said, pulling her back to the ground and kissing her deeply. "I want you to be happy. Just let it go, until tonight. All that matters right now is the present."
She gave in, trying to listen to his advice, trying to push aside the dark thoughts that clouded her mind. He was right. She needed to have faith that the Goddesses, and their own abilities, would see them through.
"There's no point in worrying over something you can't change," he said, smiling at her. "So don't worry."
"I know," she muttered. "It's just that-,"
He silenced her with another passionate kiss, successfully erasing any worrying thoughts from her mind.
Around noon they finally left her dormitory, determined to enjoy the rest of the day as much as possible. The sun's rays were obscured by thick clouds of snow, and Zelda's eyes were temporarily blinded from the pure white that enveloped the landscape. She and Link seemed to be the only people in the entire campus- most likely, everyone else was huddled in their rooms, exchanging Goddess Day presents.
"So, what shall we do now, princess?" Link hummed, his breath crystallizing in the frigid air as he smiled at her.
"I can do anything, really," she replied, linking arms with him and staying close to the warmth of his body. "I'll leave the decision with you, hero."
"How about a walk through the city?" He suggested, brushing some snowflakes from her golden hair. "Not many places will be open, but we could look at some of the Goddess Day decorations."
They strode through the deserted campus pathways together, leaving footprints in the freshly fallen snow. The air was fresh and crisp, and only the twitters of birds and their talk interrupted the otherwise silent world. It was a unique feeling for Zelda as she suddenly realized the full complexity and beauty of the world for the first time in her life.
"It's so quiet and peaceful," she breathed, hanging onto Link's arm. "I've always taken for granted how wonderful our world is, up until now."
"It truly is an amazing place," he said, stopping to pick up a handful of powdery snow. He blew it playfully in her face, smile widening as she squirmed and laughed. "But I wouldn't have figured it out on my own: I needed you to show me that."
She laughed, her lips breaking into a playful smile as she kissed him lovingly. "I needed you too," she whispered. "I still do."
He grinned mischievously. "That works out perfectly fine for me." And he wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her down shrieking into a pile of snow. With a muffled thud, they both landed in the clump, their clothes covered in white.
"You are such a joker!" She exclaimed indignantly, sitting up and wiping snow from the front of her jacket. "Of all the moments for you to do that…!"
"It's just a little fun," he whined playfully. "You know that I'm rather insensitive to those tender moments…"
"Apparently," she giggled, scooping a ball of snow covertly behind her back. As Link moved closer, she unleashed it full into his face. After spending so much time practicing Din's Fire, there was no way she could miss at that range.
"Ah, that was a dirty trick!" He howled dramatically, falling back and deliberately stirring up as much snow as possible. She laughed and covered her face from the spray of slush that emanated from his thrashing.
"You'll have to pay for that," he said cheerfully, crawling on all fours to where she lay.
"Link! Get away from me!" She shrieked mirthfully as he snatched one of her legs. "Link! Go aw- ah! Ah! That tickles! Stop, stop it!" Her frantic pleas only made him grin all the wider.
"Link-! As… as your princess, I command you to stop at once!" She spluttered, chest heaving with laughter.
"But it's so fun-,"
"Link!"
"Alright, you're the boss," he grinned, halting his assault and falling down next to her. She was panting for breath, all the while glaring at Link. He raised her eyebrows innocently at her.
"Is there something you want, princess?"
She only continued to glare, until a small giggle escaped her lips. He smiled in triumph as she broke into outright laughter.
"You're impossible," she sighed, shaking her head theatrically.
"That's why you love me," he murmured, rolling over and grazing her cheeks with his lips. She couldn't help but return his affections wholeheartedly, cheeks tinted red all the while.
"You know, at this rate, we'll never get downtown to see the Goddess Day decorations," she said, as his hot breath pleasantly tingled her face.
He waved it away, his kisses slowly trailing down her neck. "That's alright, this is much better." He looked up into her eyes, his blond hair caked with powdery snow. "Isn't love grand?"
"Yes," she breathed, stroking his cheek softly. "It truly is."
"I hope you had a restful break, Zelda," Rauru said, glancing between herself and Link with a knowing look. They both looked down at the floor, embarrassed, but the old sage merely smiled and beckoned them into the Inner Sanctum.
"We've got about two hours before midnight, and of course, the arrival of the Dark King," Rauru said, leading them down the darkened hall. At the end of the passage, Zelda could see strange flickering lights illuminating the Inner Sanctum, as well as hear the chanting of multiple voices in ancient Hylian.
"What's happening over there?"
"Darunia, Saria, and Nabooru are all preparing a barrier of containment for the Dark King's impending arrival," Rauru explained, as they stepped through the entrance of the sanctum.
The Sages were all turned away from the exit, focusing their powers on the pedestal located in the center of the room. Arcane magics hung heavily in the air, gilded patterns weaving in and out of the Sages' spells, and Zelda felt a thrill of anticipation run up her spine. It was almost time.
"As soon as the enchantment is complete, it will create a temporary barrier between us and the Dark King," Rauru explained to Zelda. "We must begin the banishment spell immediately, in order to have the best chance of sealing the evil away."
"What about Link…?"
"Link will be inside the barrier, battling the Dark King," Rauru began carefully.
"But he would be trapped in there!" Zelda cried. She felt Link's hand gently squeeze her shoulder, trying to calm her.
"I'll keep the Dark King occupied as long as I can," he said. "So that you can complete the spell in safety."
"Otherwise, the monster would be free to destroy the barrier separating us," Rauru explained. "And everything we have worked for would be for naught."
"Isn't there another way?" She asked desperately, appealing to Link. The fact that he would be fighting alone, in a fairly enclosed space, suddenly made his death appear even more certain than her nightmares.
"This is the only way," he said calmly, his face betraying no sign of fear. "Don't worry about me- concentrate on completing the enchantment."
Rauru spoke before Zelda could, effectively cutting off her protest. "I will join the other Sages soon, in order to add my powers to theirs. Link?"
"Yes, Rauru?"
The old man stepped forward and embraced Link in a hug. "Take care of yourself. Focus on distracting the Dark King and staying alive- that's all that matters."
"I will. Thank you, Rauru."
The sage smiled and stepped away. "You know what to do. Get going."
Link nodded and began to dash away, before hesitating and turning back to face Zelda. His face betrayed no emotion, but his blue eyes sparkled with his passion as he slowly walked back to her. In a sudden burst of energy he ran forward and lifted her into his arms, kissing her fiercely.
She squeezed him tightly and returned his love, feeling a sense of heartache welling up inside of her. She deepened the kiss, trying to give him as much of herself as possible before he left, hoping that it would be enough to carry him through the battle.
"I love you," he whispered, eyes shining brightly. "I'll be alright."
"I know you will," she said, feeling tears well up in her eyes. No matter how many times she told herself otherwise, the horrible feeling that Link's death was fast approaching continued to haunt her. She kissed him feverishly again, trying to feel his lingering touch one last time. "And I love you too."
He squeezed her hand and turned away, a determined look flashing in his eyes. He was no longer Link: he was the Hero, ready to do battle once more. Zelda watched him go with mixed feelings: pride, love, terror, sadness, and despair all filled her heart in equal measure. Reluctantly, she forced him out of her mind and concentrated on her own task. His life depended on it.
Rauru had his back turned to her, rocking on the balls of his feet and whistling rather loudly, obviously not wanting to impose on her good-bye with Link. She smiled slightly, a burst of affection for this grandfatherly figure suddenly overtaking her. He had done so much for her- and even though he was a harsh taskmaster, it had only been for her good.
"I'm ready, Rauru," she said, touching his shoulder lightly. He turned around, nodding his head approvingly as he looked at her.
"You've grown much in the past two months," he finally said. "Time to put your abilities to good use, eh?"
She hugged him tightly, hearing the old man let out a surprised gasp for air before he chuckled and returned the embrace. "Thanks for everything you've done for me, Rauru. All the things you've taught me, the training we've done… thank you."
His ancient face seemed slightly younger as he grinned toothily at her. "You remind me so much of the Princess," he said, smile fading slightly. "Talented, clever, beautiful… and much too young to face a horror such as the Dark King."
She bit her lip and tried to smile confidently. "The Goddesses will protect us tonight, I'm sure of it."
"I hope so," Rauru replied, his face taking on a somber look. "We will most certainly need it."
"What can I do to help?" She asked, watching as the Sages continued chanting the complex ritual. A slightly transparent dome had formed over the pedestal, separating the center of the Inner Sanctum from everything else.
"I must go and help them," Rauru said. "You, however, must go see Impa."
Zelda was slightly taken aback: she suddenly realized that Impa wasn't in the room. "Where is she?"
"In one of the smaller chambers, near the Inner Sanctum's entrance. The second door from the left is where you'll find her."
"Alright," she said uncertainly, vaguely wondering why she needed to see Impa. Still, she walked forward towards the door Rauru had directed her to, as the Sages began their final preparations.
The door was made of ancient, roughly carved stone, and was flanked by two flickering torches. She hesitantly raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open suddenly with a rough grinding, revealing a glaring Impa.
"Come," she said imperiously, her Sheikah battle scars seeming even more intimidating in the firelight. Zelda followed her silently into the room, a faint sense of curiosity overcoming her unease.
The room was fairly well-lighted, with hundreds of small candles burning in various alcoves placed in the walls. It was completely bare but for a dusty mirror and a small desk, upon which a lumped package lay. Impa stooped and gathered the item in her arms, handing it to Zelda without a word.
She felt the material, taken by surprise at its soft, silky texture, before realizing it was a dress. Impa smiled faintly.
"Did you really think that you would be fighting in your current attire?"
"Wouldn't a dress be even more uncomfortable during a battle…?" Zelda asked, straightening the cloth out to get a better look. It was richly decorated, a creamy pink-and-white dress with golden trimming. Most notably, the front of the dress was adorned with the crest of the Royal Family of Hyrule.
"This dress was worn by the Princess herself, long ago," Impa explained. "Many magical enchantments have been woven into it, making it much more durable and lightweight than normally possible. In addition, the dress has a powerful aura around it that will help channel your magical abilities better."
"I see," Zelda murmured, looking at the dress without much interest. It still seemed like an ordinary piece of clothing.
"It's traditional," Impa said exasperatedly, seeing her hesitation. "Put it on."
Not wanting to disobey the Sheikah's orders, Zelda reluctantly stripped off her clothing and changed into the dress, feeling slightly awkward as she did so. At least Impa had the decency to look away while she dressed.
When she was done, Zelda moved in front of the mirror, getting a look at herself. Despite her normal dislike for dresses, she decided that this one wasn't so bad. At least it wasn't uncomfortable or too ornamented, like the clothing her father normally chose.
"Put these on," Impa said, coming out of nowhere and brandishing a pair of shoulder length. Zelda nearly jumped in shock: she hadn't heard the Sheikah move at all. As she rolled the white gloves onto her arms, she watched Impa's reflection in the mirror: the sage's eyes seemed to glow red, which did little to ease Zelda's nerves.
"I frighten you?" Impa noted amusedly, correctly interpreting Zelda's body language. "That's alright, we all feel fear. Overcoming it is what makes true courage."
"That's what Link told me," Zelda replied, trying to keep eye contact with Impa. It was hard: staring into those merciless red eyes filled her with the urge to look away.
"And who taught Link for his entire life?" Impa laughed. "Nonetheless, neither of you have known true fear until you have fought the Dark King. Moblins or Stalfos are mere insects compared to the monster himself."
Zelda didn't respond. Was Impa trying to intimidate her or prep her for the coming battle? It was hard to tell. Regardless, it wasn't helping.
"I told the Princess the very same thing, hundreds of years ago. She was the most strong-willed woman I have known in my life, and yet, the last battle nearly broke her." Impa gazed at her curiously. "I wonder how well you will be able to resist the Dark King."
"I am not the Princess," she replied, almost defiantly, "But Zelda Harkinian."
Impa looked at her with- was it possibly approval, perhaps respect?- glittering in her eyes. The Sheikah woman slowly nodded, strands of her steel-gray hair falling into her eyes. "You may not be the Princess, but you bear much in common with her, Zelda Harkinian."
And with those enigmatic words, Impa stepped backwards and melded into the shadows, leaving Zelda alone in the room.
The Inner Sanctum was quiet now, the room cloaked almost entirely in shadows. This did little to assuage Zelda's nerves: in fact, the hushed silence and eerie darkness only heightened her anxiety. The only source of light came from the completed magical barrier that separated the center pedestal from the rest of the room: the candles lining the walls had long since died away.
As she walked forwards, she realized that the Sages were already waiting at dispersed intervals around the dome, making no noise or movement. They stood grimly on top of their corresponding elemental seals, the ancient sentinels of Hyrule.
Each of the Sages was dressed in traditional garb, much like she was now wearing the Princess' own dress. Darunia was completely stripped of clothing, his tough and rock-like skin completely covered with fierce red war paint. His hands were balled into fists and his chest heaved with barely-contained eagerness: he was a born warrior, and Zelda knew that he probably did not relish the idea of staying separate from the battle.
Nabooru was dressed in traditional Gerudo attire, and it made her seem all the more stunning. Hundreds of gleaming jewels were woven into her clothing and ornaments, like some veritable desert Goddess reincarnated. Just like Darunia, she was a warrior- as the twin scimitars hanging at her belt showed- but her duty was with the Sages.
Saria was garbed in all green, much like her normal attire, and she seemed out of place amongst the assembled Sages, who all towered over her. Nonetheless, the look in her eyes displayed a grim resolution and fiery passion that took Zelda by surprise: Saria was definitely not the simple young woman she appeared to be.
Impa was the farthest away, on the opposite side of the dome, and almost entirely cloaked in shadow, forcing Zelda to strain her eyes to see her. As if sensing her presence, Impa looked up, her red eyes cutting through the darkness with ease. Although Zelda could barely see the Sheikah, she felt a brief connection between them as their eyes met, before Impa stiffly nodded and looked away.
And finally, Rauru, her mentor, stood unmoving directly in front of Zelda. He alone of the Sages seemed entirely at ease, as if completely unafraid of the looming threat before them. And yet, this wizened old man gave off the most palpable sense of power amongst those assembled, and once again, Zelda was awed by how old he was. How old all of the Sages were. She was standing in the company of people who had known her ancient ancestors.
Rauru wordlessly beckoned Zelda towards the seal next to him: it was a circular blue tile, engraved with a single droplet of water. She cautiously approached it, noting its significance.
"But this is the Sage of Water's…"
"I know," Rauru said quietly, giving her a small smile. "But we must keep each other linked around the dome, for our spell to have the utmost effect."
An odd sense of reverence overcame Zelda as she stepped onto the blue seal, knowing the enormous responsibility now burdened on her shoulders. She recalled that the Sage of Water had been called Ruto, and Zelda vaguely wondered what she had been like. Her loss must have affected the Sages greatly: all the more reason why they had to defeat the Dark King, tonight.
There was movement at the corner of her eye, and it instantly drew her attention, since everything else was still. Link was restlessly pacing back and forth inside the dome, alone and effectively trapped, waiting to meet his destiny. She was surprised to see that he was wearing a green tunic and white leggings, along with the floppy hat he had worn at the airport. A faint gleam of silver shone from inside his clothing, and Zelda realized that beneath his tunic, Link wore a small shirt of chain mail for extra protection.
He had already drawn his weapon, the Gilded sword: it shone with a magical light that seemed to chase away the darkness around him. His shield, highly polished metallic blue and emblazoned with the Royal Family's crest, was still slung over his back, shifting with each movement he made. Zelda realized that he had made the transition to the Hero, just as she had become the Princess, and that tonight, they were to determine the outcome of a battle that had been fought for a thousand years…
Link paused in his rounds to look up and find her: he smiled encouragingly, momentarily relaxing himself. She flashed him a quavering grin, feeling fear beginning to gnaw at her heart once more. Her nightmarish visions of his death had returned in full to haunt her, only moments before the final battle. All she could do was pray to the Goddesses that they would deliver him safely back to her.
He tensed and continued to patrol the perimeter of the dome like a prowling wolf, gazing incessantly at the pedestal in the center. The pedestal where the legendary Master Sword, long since lost, had stood vigil for countless centuries, guarding the primary connection between the Sacred Realm and Hyrule. It was there that the Dark King would emerge from, when the temple's clock struck midnight. It was there that the fate of Hyrule would be decided for good.
Zelda breathed slowly, trying to take in deep gasps of air. The tension in the Inner Sanctum was slowly becoming unbearable: she could see that the Sages were now restlessly shifting at their positions, eyeing each other with reassuring glances. Even Rauru had lost his omnipotent air, and his bald head was slicked in perspiration. It must have been even worse for Link: completely alone and unaided, soon to be enclosed in a fairly small space with the Dark King. Yet, the hero betrayed no sign of fear, although his steely-blue eyes were locked in determination and resolve.
The darkness crept ever closer, and Zelda felt that a certain unnatural aura had already begun to pervade the air. A strange buzzing sound had filled her ears: she tried to shake it off, but found that she was unable to concentrate. All she could see was that pedestal in the center, that stone gateway to the Sacred Realm… and the Dark King's prison.
Her body tensed as she heard the first bell toll, a loud clanging sound that reverberated throughout the room like an earthquake. And then, a second later, another loud ringing, as the countdown began…
"Prepare yourself!" Rauru cried, flinging the folds of his robes back and brandishing his arms in a casting stance. She tried to follow his orders, raising her own gloved arms upwards. They were shaking violently.
Ten…
The rest of the Sages followed suit, lifting their arms up in preparation for the magical spell. They had no idea how long it would take to complete the Imprisonment enchantment, which made Link's role as the distraction seem even more dangerous to Zelda.
Nine…
She tried to ease her wildly beating heart, tried to focus on completing her job… the faster they could complete the banishment spell, the better chance Link had…
Eight…
The light from the magical barrier seemed to dim even more, as a chill aura claimed her bones. She shuddered from the unnatural feeling, as if her soul had been frozen to its core.
Seven…
Nabooru was cursing viciously, Rauru yelling something over the echoing booms from the temple bells. Darunia leaned forward, his black eyes burning with anticipation.
Six…
An angry black and purple rift had begun to form over the pedestal, pulsating with a nauseous energy. It strained her eyes to even look at it.
Five…
The rift continued to grow in size, forcing Link to retreat to the furthest edges of the dome to escape its malignant energies. Inside the enlarged hole, Zelda could see a mix of obscene colors swirling and raging like a storm. Acrid smoke had begun to spill from the rift, creeping onto the floor like an insidious plague.
Four…
She gasped in surprise as the Triforce on her hand came to life by itself. It burned like a red hot fire, infusing her body with a wild burst of energy. Looking up, she saw that Link's Triforce was also glowing hotly through his gauntlets, and she realized that their two pieces were resonating with the impending arrival of the third.
Three…
A burst of lightning flashed from within the rift's confines, and she felt the presence of an incredibly ancient evil looming over the area…
Two…
Link turned to face Zelda one last time, his eyes softening as they fell upon her. He reached his hand out towards her from within the barrier.
One…
She smiled at him, trying to hold back the fear that threatened to overcome her.
"I love you," she cried, although she knew that he wouldn't hear her.
Boom. It was now midnight. Zelda grit her teeth as a loud howling reached her ears, and her hair began to stream wildly in an unnatural wind. The Sages around her struggled to hold their positions, as they were violently assaulted by the shock from the monster's arrival. Inside the dome, Link had turned to face the glowing black-and-purple rift, raising his sword in defiance as he glared fearlessly into the gate to hell itself.
And from within the rift, something evil cackled hideously. The Dark King was here.
There's Chapter 14! It was pretty dark, with much ominous foreshadowing, but I hope you liked it! Pretty big cliffhanger at the end! What will happen? What will happen…
Also, Link and Zelda's romance so far has been limited to (very passionate) make-out sessions. So they haven't been doing anything dirty, in case some of the romance scenes were a bit vague in description!
I'm trying to aim for a new chapter every week, although my schedule is hard to predict, so this can change. This coming weekend is going to be very busy for me, so I'll probably finish Chapter 15 in a week or two.