A/N: Was at work actually working, I know I was suprised, too, when I thought of an interesting thing to say. Kind of like a quote thing, excpet I can't quote myself so I'll make someone's else name up. I hope you either find it thought provoking or silly.

"People are anomalies. People are nomalies. People are normalies. And they all end in lies. But, its the abnormalties that tie them together."

--William Sam Fooks

Yeah, I know I used my first name, but the rest sounds better than my full name. Two last things. One, thank you very much to Between Heaven and Hell's in depth study and response to my psychology ponderings. They have helped much. Two, read and enjoy. Please.

--byl, out.

The Eternal Legend

Chapter Twenty-four: Hints of the Shadow

Her dreams haunted her as of recent. Echoes of her past clamoring for her conscious mind. Her father's stares. Her shadow's words. Fitfully they claimed Zelda in her supposed respite, demons from a past she had stripped away. Quiri's lifeless form rising in the night. A dagger pointed at her breast. She cried, but none could stop him from coming forward and stabbing her, then his laughing face became the face of Bleys. As Bleys withdrew the bloody dagger from her she saw her life's liquid turn instantly black and began to soak her pristine dress. Horror filled her as she tried to stop it with her powers and senses, but she found them gone from her. In desperation she sought aid. Link was first but there was no reply to her call. Shawn next and instantly a bridge was spanned for her to cross.

She found herself floating in a darkened room, with flashes of light spilling across the floor and walls. It seemed to her that she was an apparition, a ghost only there to observe. All objects around her had a blurry quality, as if in a memory. Then it struck her. She was no longer asleep, but deep within Shawn's mind. The bridge she had built with her power had let her escape her nightmares and lead her into her servant's mind. She idly looked around and wondered at which memory this was. She sought the sources of the lights and gasped.

Shawn was leaping from shadow to shadow, his staff a blur between each leap easily rebounding the spells cast upon him by the massive figure of the gerudo male. He stood at eight foot and bound with mountains of muscles. Their was a horrible snarl plastered on his sweating face. He was garbed only in loose trousers and there laying before his feet were two dead gerudo females. One looked half dressed. Zelda smirked. It would seem Shawn had chosen a good time to attack. It was obvious now that Shawn was waiting for the giant to tire, and it seemed he was close. His spells were becoming slower and slower.

Zelda shook her head. Ganorim was a fool, thinking magic was more a physical strength. Magic and spells were about cunning, wit, and calculations. Shawn was vulnerable to attacks in the shadows, but the stupid oaf was just firing at Shawn as he was out of the shadows. Shawn was now leaping closer to him, a passive look on his face. Ganorim cried out in frustration as he turned to flee, finally making his way towards the door.

His pride had obviously stopped him from calling for help at the start. That was a mistake he would not live to correct. He reached the door but found the piece of wood barred. Panic entered his features and he glanced back. He then began to pound on the door crying for help and cursing his mongrel women. Shawn chuckled. "They're already dead."

Ganorim froze, a look of horror etched on his face. He cried out and tried to raise his now glowing hands at the apparition of death. Shawn reacted instantly, his staff thrashing the gerudo king across the face. Zelda heard two bones crack. The way his head whipped to the side, spraying spittle and blood, made Zelda think one was his jaw. As the body fell to the ground lifeless, the glow leaving his hands, she realized the other had been his neck. She watched then as Shawn walked over to the bed and grabbed a clay bottle. He dumped the contents liberally around the astrewn covers.

Ganorim's bulk was dragged onto the alcohol laden sheets along with the two gerudo females. Shawn placed his hand over the corpses and watched as a spray of fire ignited the bed. He dallied a moment to ensure the bed had caught fire properly before leaping out the window and into another shadow. That was where the memory ended and Zelda found herself looking at the canopy above her own bed.

For long minutes she laid there letting the images of her visit to Shawn's memory fade away and trying to summon the images from the nightmare. A nightmare so vivid and real it had caused feel fear. A feeling she had not known herself possible of for some months now. However, Quiri's leering face followed by Bleys' manic one was not something she wished to dwell on. With a calming sigh she tried to bring peace to her warring mind and for a moment there was a respite. Then in an upheaval of images and thoughts her mind was once more a warring battlescape.

She cried out in annoyance and heaved herself from the bed, realizing once more that tonight she would get no more sleep than she had in the many nights prior. With bare feet treading across the soft woven rugs the small framed queen made her way to her vanity mirror. A small ball of light came into being over her left shoulder illuminating her visage. Her faced looked pale and there were deep bags beneath her once shining eyes, now appearing dulled. She tsked at her reflection. Though, it showed a person who hadn't had proper rest in awhile, physically and mentally she felt fine.

Physically at least. She still noted that a part of her mind was working feverishly on useless imaginings. For now she did not feel like putting forth the energy to harness it. It was too early. Or was it late? She cast a glance to the clock and sighed. Two hours after midnight. Well, there was still plenty to be take care of. Especially, with her move coming-up in a month. She pulled on a nearby cord three times.

In the distance she heard a bell ring. In less than a minute a storm maids had entered her bedroom all laden with dresses, gloves, shoes, and food. A few went about the edges of her abode lighting the candelabrums lining the walls.

Zelda made her way from the mirror to the maids as they arrayed her pieces of clothing. Today she would choose lavender. It would accentuate the eyeshadow she would wear today. As for the bags beneath her eyes, a little extra concealer will take care of that.

One hour and several tired maids later Zelda descended the grand stairway, her nightmare no longer dominating her thoughts. All around she could see the various states of construction the palace was going under. From refurbished hallways to hallways in the process of being moved. It would seem the shift to her new home would happen on time. The palace itself would be turned into the headquarters for her Mage's Guild. An actual arcane academy. At first they would only train mages for war. Until Arcadia fell to her. Then she would open it for the public research and training.

Her mind once more drifted towards Shawn and why she had sought him in her dreams. She vaguely recalled calling Link for help. A fact that proved she was not over him emotionally. If only her emotions were like her mind, so easily controlled and maintained. Then a sadness came upon her as she realized that part of her mind was still in chaos. With a shake of her head she vented her frustrations. And with that shake of her head the air around her rippled and spasmed outward.

For a moment reality seemed to shift and distort until the effects of the ripple were gone. Zelda glanced around, her eyes going to her flanking bodyguards. With their bodies swathed in black they seemed almost shadows. Two looked ready to fall over and the other four seemed dizzy. She brushed her concern for them aside. They were only mindless puppets. Still, she would have to maintain better control of her magics.

Finally, mustering the power of her will she forced her mind to bend to her active thoughts. She wrestled the abhorrent train of thought with her mental hands until she had full control of her mind's faculties. A calm serenity passed over her as she now focused her entire mind on the dream and Shawn. Obviously, she still felt for Link, he had been a close companion for a long time to be forgotten too easily. Shawn of course had filled Link's role so her call to him also made sense. The question now was how had she bridged the distance between their minds.

She could read and control other's minds with ease. Yet, she had always assumed that distance played a large factor in her restraints. Now, though it seemed it wasn't and only her idea of distance had been holding her back. A wicked smile bloomed across her pale features. She inhaled a small breath and relaxed the grip her body had on her conscious. In the span of a second her mental senses replaced her physical ones as her spirit floated above the matter of her body.

Freed from her own limitations she sent her probes as far as they could go, searching for Shawn's familiar presence. In a matter of moments she'd found him. Like a falling star across the night sky she flew on the ethereal currents. In a minute she was at his campsite, his mind visible to her mental eyes, as well another mind though smaller. With her hands she slowly reached out and gently took hold of his vulnerable conscious.

She could sense his surprise and confusion.

"Be at ease, my loyal subject."

Realization flared in his mind and she imagined him probably standing and kneeling. The act itself she could not see in this state, but she still expected no less from him.

"I take it you are wondering how my presence is here, so far from my home?"

She saw his mind working the words and then he spoke them onto deaf ears. Feeling impatient she reprimanded him. "I can't hear your words, Shawn. You must speak with your mind."

"I am sorry, you Highness. I had forgotten."

"I forgive you." She put what warmth she could into her mental voice. "As to your wondering thoughts, I have it would seem not realized the depth of my own mind. Earlier this night I had a dream and in this dream I somehow reached out to those close to me. One of them was you."

"I see, your highness."

Then did Zelda realize the time of night. "Shawn, tell me, why are you up at this early hour?"

Amusement shined through his mind. "Because children have yet to learn how to keep manageable sleep hours."

She smiled at his joke.

"I take it you're up this early yourself because of your dream? The one where you connected with my mind?"

"Yes. I saw you defeat Ganorim. I was pleased he was not too much of a threat for you."

She saw more amuse shine through his mind. "He was a brute the way he treated magic. Though, I find myself torn. I cannot say who is more challenging, this child or Ganorim."

Zelda laughed aloud, the feeling filling her with happiness as it dispelled what felt like a shadow from her mind. For an instance she felt light and free, but soon the feeling faded and she was herself again. Not wanting to dwell on the shifts in her head she quickly changed subjects. "How far out are you from Hyrule City? It is hard to gauge distances in this state."

She saw his mind beginning to work and bring various thoughts together. "I'd saw no more than four days time, my lady. Give or take a day depending on the child." There was more humor in his mental words.

"Understood. I shall await your return. I shall also summon Sahoori to my side and tell her of my plans. If all goes well the lies I tell her will be believed and the gerudo will be brought directly under my banner. Fare you well, Shawn."

"Yes, your Highness." He then imagined himself bowing to her.

She appreciated the gesture and made a note to expect all of her subjects to do the same when she contacted them this way. Speaking of which, there was no time like the present. With far-flung probes she searched for her other subjects' minds that she was familiar with.

For hours she worked contacting individuals as quickly and briefly as possible. For the most part she had to awaken many of them only at first. From her subjects amongst the waterfalls of the zora to the her citizens inhabiting the volcano of Death Mountain. It was several hours after dawn that she was finally finished with informing her various personnel. In particular the many leaders of the sheikah and her generals. Dashiva, Sable, and Cory were the last informed.

With a slightly fatigued mind she returned to her physical body. As she opened her eyes a dizzy spell caught her by surprise and she found herself leaning against the nearest tapestried wall for support. She sent a mental call out for the nearest servant. Two immediately responded and within a minute were by her side helping to steady her. Another came into view and she barked at him to bring her some food.

Leaning on one of the men helping her she directed him to the nearest room where she sat waiting for the food. A little time later it appeared in the form of a nervous servant with a loaf of bread and fresh fruit. She devoured them hastily wishing to dispel this weakness. She hated feeling powerless. With an irritable command she sent the servants scurrying from her presence.

She leaned back in the chair and rubbed her temples as the dizzy effects slowly faded. With a soft sigh Zelda stood and made her way from the room. She needed fresh air. Without having to look behind she knew her Black Guard were still following her wordlessly. "Summon Nash, I would find his presence today a comfort."

She sensed one of her Black Guard walk silently away. It was a summer-time and she would need her giant goron guard to provide her with shade.

After a time Zelda found herself outside, walking around the open grounds. Most of the damage from her attack on the palace had been repaired and the many hidden passage ways sealed by bombs. It would not do to have a any secret ways past her defenses. She glanced over to the eastern gates, noticing they looked newer than the walls they were attached to. Then her gaze swept to the far corner of the grounds, where she saw many of the guard locked in drills.

A melancholy settled over her as she recalled a younger self gazing out towards those same men. A younger and more foolish self watching with baited breath as her loyal shadow battled an ambitious guard. Her gaze tore away from the many practicing men. Much had changed since that time. Her and those around her had passed through the crucible, and not all had come out the other side. Link, Chan, Quiri, and her father. All had not survived the tests of destiny. Then she wondered, was the crucible still happening? If so, how many more would fail to pass through it?

Shouts from the northern gate captured her attention. "Be on your guard." She snapped. She sent her mental probes outward, her hands gripping parts of the earth underneath. There was a struggle then the gate opened and a party of five men walked through. Between them was a struggling form, bound by leather straps. "Keep him still!" She heard a captain shout. The prisoner was still fighting with every ounce he could manage. Zelda released her mental grips on the ground and poised them over the apparent criminal.

It was odd for the guards to present anyone to her, so either someone made a mistake or this prisoner was important. She waited until he was hauled before her.

The captain released his hands from the prisoner and bowed to her.

"Speak, Captain Krout." She recalled his name easily.

"We've brought you the Oathbreaker, your Highness." He sounded winded.

For an instance a dark elation filled her. Then it deflated as she realized not even five men could contain Link. Let alone capture him. Then the elation returned as she realized who the prisoner really was. It would seem fate was still on her side. She laughed abruptly, confusing the various guards. "You're wrong, Captain. But I won't hold it against you. Show me his face."

A hand gripped his hair and pulled a bruised and gagged face into view. The resemblance was perfect. Zelda leaned in closer and placed a gloved hand against his cheek. His body stiffened at the contact. "I've been waiting for you." She purred.