LINK'S POV

We had finally reached the castle and I pulled Zelda off Epona's back. A stable boy led her back to her box and we headed into the castle. We were drenched and shivering from the rain and some maids ran off to get us some towels. While they were gone, Zelda surprised me with a kiss on the cheek. I smiled and wrapped myself with a towel that the maid had just brought. I headed to my room to change out of my wet clothes and relax for a while. I thought that was what Zelda was going to do too, but instead she secretly went to the library, still drenched, to work on more paperwork.

GANONDORF'S POV

I watched the funeral from my window and noticed how close Link had gotten to Zelda. That boy was getting in my way and I needed to do something about it. I heard the door creak and my attention turned to the man who entered. "Ah, Prince Dark have you had the pleasure of meeting your step-brother yet?"

He shook his head and replied, "No, seeing how he is no longer my problem I choose to avoid him at all cost." Dark was a very tall man that closely resembled Link. The main difference between the two, was that Dark had black hair and red eyes. And Link had blonde hair blue eyes.

"I assume you realize why you are here?" I asked Dark.

He nodded and replied, "I owe you a favor getting my rid of my younger brother."

Ganondorf bobbed his head and said, "Now if you recall, I kidnapped your little brother right after he was born and gave him to a soldier's family. When the family died he was brought to an orphanage. I waited for him to grow to the 14th summer and then took him. Do you know why I took him?"

He answered, "You took him to train him as a slave for your future bride."

"Yes," I replied, "But that plan seems to have blown up in my face."

He looked stunned and asked, "What do you mean?"

I directed him towards the window and answered, "She has fallen in love with the little brat."

His eyebrows had officially hit the ceiling and he screamed, "Do you mean to tell me that bastard my mother conceived out of wedlock, might manage to still regain his status!"

"Yes, and if he does, how long do you think it will take for your people to question your mother's faithfulness." I replied.

I then heard him say, "The affair must remain a secret; I will not have that illegitimate half-blood taint my family's blood line. What is it that you want from me Ganondorf?"

Ganondorf smiled and said, "First thing that will need to be done is you will half to die your hair…" (DUN DUN DUN DUN!)

ZELDA'S POV

I sat down at my desk in the Library, since we were in the middle of December it was ice cold. However, I felt so numb from the funeral that I had hardly noticed. There were still several stacks of paperwork lying on my desk that needed to be tended to. I didn't want to work, but I really didn't want to think of the funeral. Emma's face which once brought me so much joy now haunts me every time I close my eyes. Deciding to distract myself, I immersed myself into the piles of paperwork.

About 2 hours later, I stood up to stretch my legs. I turned around from my desk when I heard a book fall. My mother was standing there with contemptuous eyes. She said, "I told you she would die if you took her in."

"Her death had nothing to do with me," I countered.

She scoffed and said, "Oh it has everything to do with you, you might as well have murdered her yourself."

I started to choke on my words, "I… not…a…. . Saying those words though didn't make me feel like I wasn't one. Tears filled my eyes and I turned back to my desk to hide away my heart in more work. I would just have nightmares, if I went to sleep so why bother. I chose not to eat dinner that night because it felt like there was a huge knot in my stomach. I stayed awake past breakfast early the next morning, before I finally decided to lay on the couch to rest. I felt funny, my body was shivering and dizziness was beginning to set in. I literally passed out on the couch and fell into a deep slumber.

ZELDA DREAMING

I was standing in front of Ganondorf in a wedding gown. Link was slumped over and chained to the wall behind me. A preacher stood infront of us and said, "Do you Princess Zelda, take Lord Ganondorf to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." I said. Tears of hatred were flowing down my face.

The priest then recited, "If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

Suddenly, a wolf barged into the door growling fiercely and ganondorf pulled out my heart…"

LINK'S POV

I woke up late the next morning running through my room trying to get dressed. I knew Zelda had a meeting with her council today and I didn't want to be late. I slipped into my chainmail and threw on a shirt, shoes, and pants. Then I was out of here, I didn't even bother to grab my hat or gloves. I ran down the stairs and slid into the council's meeting room. They all turned to me irritably and I asked, "What are yall staring at?"

One of the younger council members asked, "Where is Zelda? We assumed she was with you."

I shook my head, "No, she isn't with me, I am sure she will be here soon." I said, trying to cover for her tardiness.

15 minutes later, she still had not shown and the council started to get antsy. I decided to get up and go find her, before the council started throwing a hissy fit. I checked in the gardens and training room; she wasn't there. I then knocked on her bedroom door, which was also empty.

Finally I entered into the library. She was fast asleep on the couch. However, it didn't look like a peaceful sleep. Her face was sweaty, which caused her hair to stick. She was also paler than usual. Her cheeks showed a reddish hue and her breathing wasn't smooth.

I stuck my bare hand to her forehead. As I had expected, she was burning up. I looked over to the desk and noticed several of the piles were gone. I scratched the back of my head grumpily and thought to myself, 'this job is going to be the death of her.'

I lifted up her off the couch; her body fell limply in my arms. She barely even stirred in her sleep. I sighed and asked, "Zelda, why do you work yourself so hard?" Of course, she didn't answer in her current condition. As I exited the room, I informed the guard, "let the councilors know the meeting has been canceled due to the princess being ill. It will be rescheduled as soon as she is well. Also, please send for a doctor."

The guard made his way to the meeting and I carried Zelda to her bedroom. I carefully pushed the door open with my foot and laid her on the bed. She was shivering violently, so I pulled a comforter over her trembling body. There was a face bowl on her vanity. I filled it with water and soaked a rag to cool her head.

It was then, that my eyes lit up with fear. She began to cough, and blood rolled down the side of her help. I rolled her on her side so she wouldn't choke on her own blood. I paced nervously around the room desperate for a doctor to arrive. "You're going to wear a hole in the floor, if you keep doing that Link," I heard coming from the bed. I walked up to see Zelda looking quite pale but awake.

"What were you thinking, sleeping in wet clothes?" I asked a little louder than I should.

She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I didn't feel cold."

"Didn't feel cold," I shouted exasperated, "It's the middle of December, and there is snow on the ground. What do you mean you didn't feel cold?!"

Zelda's face scrunched up and tears started to come down her face. 'Shit' I thought to myself. "Why are you yelling at me?" she asked miserably.

I hugged her and whispered, "I am sorry Zelda."

She nodded and said, "Link, I didn't feel the cold because I can't feel anything. As I said the first time you asked me, how I was feeling, I feel numb. I can't believe what I have done to that child. I was selfish."

I was about to ask her what she meant by that, until once again she started coughing. I pulled out a handkerchief for her to use. As she had last time, she coughed up blood.

Fear striking my heart again, I went to the guard outside and asked, "Where is that damn doctor?"

He looked grimly at me and said, "The doctor stated he will be here as soon as possible. He is trying to deliver a baby right now."

"Are there not anymore doctors in town?" I retorted.

He shook his head and replied, "No sir, the others are trying to help battle a plague in Clock town."

The word plague sent a shiver down my spine. I silently prayed that Zelda had not caught the plague.

I went back into the room and told Zelda about the doctor situation. She rolled her eyes and said, "You worry too much Link."

I then remembered what I had wanted to ask her, "Zelda, what did you mean when you said, you couldn't believe what you have done to Emma? Surely you don't blame yourself for her untimely demise."

She nodded and whispered, "If I hadn't been so selfish, Emma would still be alive. I should have known that the curse would come after Emma, despite the fact she was not my own."

I firmly replied, "Zelda, Emma's death was NOT your fault. That curse only causes you to be barren. It does not prevent you from loving another child. I know you loved that child and only wanted the best for her. Why else would you have been reading a parenting book?"

She smirked slightly and said, "You saw that huh?"

I nodded and chuckled slightly since she looked like a child with her hand caught in a cookie jar.

A knock sounded on the door and the doctor came in.

"Hello there, I am Doctor Robins. Let's have a look at what's going on, shall we." I exited the room in order to give her privacy. There was also something else on my mind though. I ran downstairs and too the stables so I could saddle up my horse. I heard a rumor around the castle, that there was a witch doctor in town. I decided to go see her to find out if there were any ways to break Zelda's curses.