Chapter 38

Demon returned shortly after midnight, slipping back into the room so quietly that Zelda did not notice until he touched her lightly on the shoulder. Then she jumped and spun around so fast it took her reddened eyes a second to adjust, to focus on the ice-blue gaze of the warrior before her. Neither spoke for a moment, though the princess desperately wanted to, she could force nothing past the sudden lump in her throat.

Behind the rigid contours of his face, Demon's mind was in turmoil. He could see the faint lines left by tears upon Zelda's face, knew they had been caused by his departure, but years of rage and solitude froze him solid. Her liquid blue eyes looked up at him with a tentative hope, begging him to console her, but he couldn't. His princess was hurting and he didn't know how to respond.

The silence stretched longer, an eternity of doubt and anguish that was, indeed seemed certain to never end. Every muscle in Demon's body tensed, but this time he could not escape. He had to tell her why he could not protect her, could not be the chosen one she needed him to be.

"I am not the man you need, princess," he rasped, clenching his hands into gauntleted fists at his side. "I am not the man you want. I am not a hero." He raised an armoured fist and showed it too her, letting her study the telltale stains which marked it. "The blood of your people flows from my daggers, and there can be no forgiveness for that. Do not try to change what I am."

"It was a coat." Zelda whispered, a single, unruly knot of golden blonde hair falling across her left eye. "I thought that maybe," She paused, wondering why she had. "Because you only have to rags to wear and it's so cold-"

"I wear rags because I want to, princess," Demon snarled suddenly, anger sparking in his eyes. "Because that is all I deserve. Pretty clothes cannot hide me after what I have done. Nothing can."

Fear was apparent in Zelda's eyes for a moment, as she saw Demon fighting for control, but then determination replaced it. "But you do deserve more," she whispered, looking right back into his eyes. "You are no longer that murderer Demon. You can't hide behind that title any longer." There was no longer fear in her gaze, only pity for a tormented soul. "Deep down, you are a good man, I've seen it in you. That is why…my gift"

Demon hissed between his teeth, frustration knotting his features. "This is not about the shirt princess, it is beyond that. I should never have come here." He whirled away, fighting desperately for control, and then turned back just as quickly. "Can you hear them princess? They're always there…whispering in the background." He laughed at the princess's shocked expression. "Voices princess. And when they get to strong…" His eyes blazed red for a moment as he grinned menacingly. But only for a moment, before he slumped despairingly. "Can't you see? I am no hero, I'm not even sane."

"Then fight them!" Zelda pleaded, leaning forward slightly in her urge to convince him. "You are the Hero of Time, the Goddesses are never mistaken. This is your destiny! Don't abandon it." Her eyes glistened, as more liquid pooled in them. "Please don't leave."

Growling, Demon ripped off his gauntlets and hurled them across the room, where the embedded themselves quivering into the wood-panelled wall. "It would be for your sake, princess," he snarled, staring hard at the golden symbol on the back of his hand. But there was a note of indecision in his voice that had not been there before, and Zelda could tell he was weakening.

"I need you, Demon," she whispered. "Without you, I would have died several times already. It does not matter that you think yourself unworthy. You have been chosen, and the Goddesses do not pick those they don't believe in."

Demon's eyes widened slightly, the only change Zelda could detect on his unresponsive face. "They did not choose me for this. I was never supposed to have been a part of your quest. I know this, princess."

The princess almost smiled, seeing her companion's resolve slipping. But at the back of her mind something whispered a warning, there was something he was hiding from her, something buried deep. "But you were. How else could you have appeared when you did?"

"I tried to murder you, princess. That hardly counts." Demon hissed, never-the-less seeing the logic in her argument.

"But you didn't." This time Zelda did smile. "Instead you exposed Gabriel as a traitor and gave me the chance to escape. How can you say that was not destiny?"

The muscular warrior sighed, his hands dropping to his sides in defeat and the anger fading from his eyes. "I…cannot." He whispered, barely loud enough for the princess to hear him.

"Then you are here for a purpose." Zelda pressed, reaching out to gently touch him on the arm. This time he did not shy away. "And you are the Hero of Time."

Demon did not move for a moment, staring at the princess. Then he shrugged off the princess's hand and moved to the wall to retrieve his gauntlets. He was muttering under his breath, seeming not to hear himself as he slipped back into the armoured gloves.

"Two pieces given, two Destined

The Chosen, stalked by shadowkind.

One a princess, one to find.

Lost in darkness, darkness to bind."

He turned back to the princesses, and Zelda realized that he was saying it purposefully, speaking the rhyme as one might pronounce their own death sentence, but saying it nonetheless. It might have been a piece from the Prophecies, the slim royal wasn't sure, but the words sent chills down her spine.

And somewhere in the back of the black-cloaked warrior's mind, a voice resonated with what the princess had said, pulling back from the darkness beyond and restoring the first pieces of Demon's shattered soul. It was the voice of a young man, long dead, who had traveled out from the Great Forest long ago, in search of an adventure which would eventually decide the fate of the world. And it was the first steps towards healing what had once been broken beyond repair.

"There was… an oath." Demon began, taking long pauses between the words. "That I mentioned before. In the forest." He sighed, flexing his fingers in the retrieved gauntlets. "I will swear the same to you…if you wish it."

Zelda started at the abrupt switch. There was something she was missing here, something important. If the first oath had not been sworn to her, that what Princess of Destiny had received it? But this tentative offer of friendship was still too fragile for her to strain by asking questions.

Silently, she nodded, forcing herself to stand stiff and straight as he approached and kneeled before her. His cap hung down behind his bent form, tattered and rent in places, but more fitting on him than any lordling's silk. And as he looked up to meet her eyes, Zelda saw the faint revival of something she could have only classified as hope, had she put a name to it.

He swore in the old way, calling upon the names of the Goddesses and the Triforce to hold his oath. To have those cold eyes locked on hers, while hearing the formal words required of the vow, was an extremely disconcerting experience for Zelda, but she forced herself to keep calm. For some reason, Demon was placing his trust, indeed his very life into her hands, and it was a responsibility she could only try to be worthy of.

The next two days dragged along like honey oozing slowly from a jar, reluctantly passing by to be replaced by tomorrow. Rumors were gathered, rupees were spent, but Zelda could not shake the feeling that they were wasting time. That even as they sat at the rough-hewn tables of The Warrior, the Great Evil was watching, slowly weaving a trap from which there would be no escape. The princess even found herself glancing over her shoulders at times, expecting to see the minions of Ganondorf stalking her, like bloated spiders would the fly.

Nothing more was said between Demon and herself about that night, but it weighed heavily in both their minds. Despite mulling over it for hours, Zelda could still not decide what had changed his mind, if it was even her words that had done so. What she had said had been nothing she had not already told him, or even anything that had been dramatically rephrased for his benefit. It seemed that the muscular warrior had just needed someone to fit together the pieces, and show him the completed picture. But even then, Zelda was still not completely sure what had caused him to become so agitated in the first place; the gift of a coat could not have born such a reaction. He must have discovered some other meaning in it that even the princess herself could hardly fathom.

When she had woken, the package, along with its contents, had disappeared, and she could think of no way to question Demon about it without risking another argument like the one they'd had the night before. Some things were better left silent, and besides, it seemed the issue had already been resolved, so why bring it up again? Even the amazing events the night before could not make her push him about something that so obviously caused him pain; her nature would not allow it.

The oath had changed their relationship and Zelda knew it. She had thought the blue-eyed man protective before, now it seemed that he never left her side at all. He had acquired four throwing knives at the nearby armory and had belted the weapons at his wrists and calves to complement the pair of long daggers he already wore, and had taken to cleaning them whenever the princess tried to drag information from a particularly belligerent merchant. More often than not, the men and women had become most eager to volunteer everything they knew after a single glance at the naked blades.

The princess had felt herself slipping back into the rhythms of society, even telling jokes with some of the friendlier citizenry. Their were times when she even wished that maybe, just maybe, they could stay for a while, without having the constant danger of the Great Evil over their heads. But fate had other plans.

Snow was falling heavily outside the somber walls of The Warrior, creating phantom shapes with its transforming patterns. Already, the streets were well nigh impassable, and the continuing storm only threatened worse. It would be a long night for those caught out of doors, but inside the inn, life continued as normal.

The snows had cleared out most of the usual costumers, who did not fancy having to deal out the required rupees to stay the night. Instead, the bar was filled with the lowest echelons of Kokariko Village, men and women who had no shelter from which to ride out the fury of the blizzard and were seeking warmth inside the inn. It was a mark for Kashi, Zelda could only admit, that he had not kicked them out, despite the uproar they caused.

And indeed it was an uproar, beggars, thieves, and others even worse, were everywhere in the common room. Some were dancing on the tables, others leering at the serving maids, who had to be quick to avoid their hands, and still others singing the most ribald songs Zelda had ever heard. Overall, it was not a place for a young woman, and the princess was beginning to feel very uncomfortable, even scared. Several leering scoundrels had already tried to approach her, and she was sure it was only Demon's threatening stare, which had made them end their undesired advances.

The only reason she was still enduring their glances, indeed, the only reason she had not yet retreated to her room, was a chance of meeting with a man who claimed to have been in Castle Town when it fell. He had contacted her earlier in the day, saying that he had information about the Aratians, and had offered to meet her, for a price, of course. Nobody did anything for free these days.

Zelda did not mind, she sympathized with anybody who witnessed the destruction which had been the Aratian Siege and would gladly have given rupees to the man for nothing in return. The man, he claimed his name was Gaiden, had had his whole livelihood destroyed, nothing remained except ash, dust, and Aratian swords. If the princess could help the least bit as the former merchant struggled to regain a place in the world, then she would.

Which did not stop Zelda disliking him on sight, as the diminutive man approached the table and looked pitifully at Demon for permission to sit. Straggly black hair adorned a narrow skull, which seemed to taper forward into a nose that protruded far beyond what could even be grudgingly called handsome. And his eyes were little better, beady and fearful with a habit of looking away from the gaze of others.

With a slight motion of his head, Demon motioned him to approach, but the muscular warrior never took his eyes off the smaller man, and his gaze foreboded dark things for the merchant he was watching. Obviously, Zelda mused, he doesn't like Gaiden either. Of course, she didn't think she could name anybody Demon did like, even if she tried. The thought brought a grim smile to her lips, making the merchant wring his hands nervously.

"You are Ariana?" Gaiden asked, his ready voice permeated by a reedy note of apprehension. "The noblewoman who wishes to know about the tragedy of Castle-Town." He looked up at Zelda with beady eyes and a pallid cast to his face that suggested a lack of bathing.

Swallowing her revulsion, the princess smiled briefly at Gaiden, but the gesture did little to ease the man's blatant unease. He edged himself into the seat opposite Zelda, and ordered a malt beer from a nearby serving maid, never once letting his gaze drift near to her eyes. To the princess, he gave every impression of a man about to tell a lie, but she was desperate, and the man did claim to have been in Castle Town.

Zelda opened her mouth to speak, but Demon got there first. "What do you know of the siege?" he rasped, glaring at the fidgeting man. "Speak quickly."

"You said I would get forty rupees." The man whined, darting a glance up to meet Demon's eyes. "I want them first." His drink arrived and he began to sip it nervously.

"We will pay you after." The black-cloaked warrior hissed, crossing his arms above the table. "After we know your information is worth something."

Gaiden paled slightly as he noticed the reddish stains on Demon's gauntlets, but in matters of money at least, he showed some backbone. "Now." He persisted, his voice taking on a wheedling tone. "Or else how do I know you'll hold the bargain. There are plenty of vagabonds and rascals in Hyrule these days. Maybe you do not want what I have?" The words were vague, but by his tone, Zelda knew that he was about to leave, rupees or not. Grudgingly, she admitted that with a companion like Demon, she didn't really blame him for doubting her intentions.

Turning to the muscular warrior, Zelda put on a rather unconvincing smile and leaned over to whisper to him. "Go upstairs and wait for me." She mouthed, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes. "I'll come when I'm finished."

Demon growled, ready to argue. "It's not safe mistress!" he hissed. "I will not leave you to the mercy of these…" He gestured to the continuing chaos which still engulfed the rest of the common room.

"You will go upstairs." Zelda sighed, bitterly regretting having to remind him of his vow. "Remember your oath, Demon." She would get nothing from the man while the warrior was with her. It might be a risk to forego his protection for even a moment, but the rewards were worth it. If Gaiden had actually seen the King of Aratia as he had claimed in his note…

Demon's blue eyes flashed as he glared at the princess, but he rose stiffly to his feet and stalked from the common room. A path widened before him as he went, showing that at least some of the patrons were not as stupid as they appeared. Danger and betrayal were radiating from the black-cloaked warrior with every step, emanating like a dark cloud around him.

Just as he reached the stair, he turned and glanced back at the princess, but this time it was not a glare. Zelda thought she could actually detect fear in his gaze, not for himself, but for her. A faint stirring of unease ran down her spine as she wondered whether his unease was as well founded as he seemed to believe, but she quickly pushed it down. This was one of many hazards that had faced her so far, and there would be more to come if she was to reclaim her kingdom. She could not falter in any of them.

Turning back to Gaiden, she leaned forward across the table in an attempt to ignore a man gesturing for her attention from across the room. She slid two red rupees forward into his reach, where they quickly disappeared. "What do you know of the night Aratia attacked?" she asked, softening her tone so she would not frighten her timid informant.

Now that the man had got his rupees he seemed almost ready to run, but maybe the thought of Demon tracking him down kept him in his seat. "I do not remember much," he said. "There was fire everywhere and people fighting and I was just thinking of helping myself and my family escape." He sat upright, trying to look like a man who would have sacrificed his own life for his family. Zelda seriously doubted it.

"Just tell me what happened." Zelda soothed, "Where were you during the attack?"

"They put all of us townsfolk inside the castle, in the upper chambers. Mostly, you didn't know what was happening, but I was beside a window and I saw when-" Abruptly he cut off and pressed his lips together in a thin, white line, glancing to either side as if he believed the Aratians might be listening.

"They cannot reach you here." Zelda reassured him, her palms suddenly moist as she clasped her hands together. There was some dark fear inspired on that night, that even now held sway over the man before her, and she was loath to find out what it was. "The Aratians are still far away, and they cannot travel in a blizzard like this."

Gaiden paled, then leaned still closer to the princess, to the point where she could feel beer-tinged breath hitting her full in the face. "It weren't the Aratians who took the castle." He whispered. "They brought... others."

Zelda remembered the rumors of dark beasts and monsters and nodded her head slowly. She started to speak, but was cut off as Gaiden continued. He was trembling and there was a far-away look in his fearful eyes.

"They burned Castle-Town first, and then marched through the flames to the Castle. Millions and millions of them." He breathed, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Just swarming over the wall like it wasn't there. The wall-guard was swept away, and then they unlocked the gates so the others could get in."

"Where was King Gabriel during all this?" Zelda asked, trying to force her imagination off the horrible scene Gaiden was creating in her head. Her former love had probably been hiding in the castle lavatory, quivering in fear like the coward he was. The princess had to work hard to keep herself from scowling as she remembered the new monarch.

"The King?" Gaiden replied, puzzlement breaking through his dreamy look for a moment, as he considered the question. "I didn't see him at all. Maybe he was fighting alongside the guards." The man shrugged his soldiers and continued with his narration.

"It was like the whole army was cloaked in shadow, even with the light from the flames. The whole castle was in an uproar, the guards deserting their posts everywhere. And when the monsters entered the Castle they killed everyone they found." He broke off again and shuddered. "I still can't say how I escaped." Gaiden set his now empty mug down on the table, and seemed to shrink into the bench behind him. "That's all… I can remember."

"It's okay." Zelda soothed, "You have given me all I need. Thank-you." In face, the diminutive man had given her more questions than answers, but she could see that there would be no more from him. The experience had clearly unnerved Gaiden, and even days later he could still hardly talk about the event. It was starting to surprise her that he had even offered to tell his story in the first place, rupees aside.

Gaiden didn't stop shivering, but he did seem to calm some. "I'm sorry mistress." He said. "I just…can't."

The princess nodded understandingly, giving him another smile, this one more genuine than the last.

Tentatively, Gaiden tried to smile back, but his eyes, flashing nervously around the room, turned it into a grimace. Then he brightened. "I have a companion." He paused, fidgeting slightly. "He was in a room lower down than me and he says he heard King Gabriel and the Aratian King talking after they breached the wall. Says, they almost sounded friendly."

Zelda stiffened, gazing intently at the man before her. "What did he hear?" she asked, her voice deceptively quiet for the amount of interest she was displaying.

"He never told me." Gaiden whined. "Said he didn't want to remember it. But maybe," he cast a pointed glance at Zelda's rupee pouch. "You could convince him?"

"Ten more rupees if you lead me to him." The princess offered, half-rising from her seat, and grabbing the coat that had lain beside her during the entire meeting. "Just give me a moment to alert my…" she looked towards the stairs where Demon had vanished. "Companion."

"You're can't bring him." Gaiden squeaked, tensing as if to escape. "He'll murder me!"

"I won't let him." Zelda promised. "Please, he is my bodyguard."

"No." Gaiden shook his head firmly, "He looks to much like-." He lowered his voice, "Their King."

Zelda started, wondering what the man meant by that, but she could not waste time pondering it. Without Demon it would be extremely dangerous to venture into the streets, especially in the deep drifts which now blocked most of the streets. But if what Gaiden claimed his friend had heard was true, than she needed to talk to the man. Badly enough to leave Demon behind if the situation demanded it. Something in the back of her mind urged her to run back upstairs and find him, but she pushed it down. And followed Gaiden out of the inn.

It was like walking into a wall. The blasting snow bombarded them with ice-flecked pellets as Zelda staggered after Gaiden into the street. Winds howled and shrieked in the freezing night air with an intensity that reminded Zelda of wounded animals. Immediately, the princess regretted leaving the relative warmth of the inn, but she had little time for thought before her guide hurried off into the billowing white. Wrapping the think coat around her shoulders, the princes sped off after him, feeling a distinct feeling of unease even as she did so.

Hurrying to catch up, she passed both the Butcher's Yard and the local forge, before coming to a stop at the man's shoulder as he paused just in front of the entrance to the square. A massive drift had cut right through the narrow street, blocking it off completely. There was no way, Zelda knew, that she could ever make it over such an obstacle.

But Gaiden, it seemed, had already found another route. Beckoning with his hand he turned to the right and disappeared into a narrow alley. Squeezed between two ponderously-large shops, it almost appeared to be disappearing as the roof gutters leaned together two stories over-head, blocking almost all light from entering the alley. Tentatively Zelda followed him, in hindsight, bitterly regretting not bringing Demon along, despite Gaiden's threats. She was beginning to sense something hidden about the man's intentions, making her wary.

She sensed a trap, but the realization of the betrayal came all to late.