Beautiful Blades

Chapter 36: Confession

Sometimes, it doesn't take long to realize you are royally screwed. This was one of those times as Dark stared deeply into the eyes of the enraged Princess Zelda, who was royalty with an impressive pedigree, was going to really royally screw anyone who dared to threaten Link.

She already hasn't liked the boy since she first saw him many weeks ago at the meeting. He was supposed to be a diplomate (to a degree), but he had acted like a spoiled brat, uninterested in the meeting and lost in thought instead of engaging in the negotiations. And over the weeks this dislike only grew more, for the most part, although perhaps she had started to begrudgingly accept him as a human being.

But any respect she may have started to have for him instantly vanished when he dared to mention Link's name. Her protective instinct instantly overruled her curiosity as to how he knew about her doppelganger. This was not the horror she had planned to witness for the evening. Terrible dancing, horrible conversations, and perhaps getting recognized by her father and getting yelled at were on her expected agenda. All she did was dress up for the ball, sneak past the king so they wouldn't announce her arrival (and subject herself to possibly getting caught for sneaking out of the tower in Link's place) and had only started to enjoy herself a bit when this idiot approached her.

Now, sensing a new threat that she would never have guessed (and she had guessed many things), she went right into protective mode. Dark had almost no time to react as the princess gripped his elbow and dragged the boy out into the hall and ducked into an empty room across the hall.

Dark staggered forward, trying not to trip on his dress, as Zelda threw him deeper into the room. He turned around in time to see Zelda carefully close the door, so she would not attract attention by the noise. The room would have been dim if it wasn't for the candles that had already been lit previously.

Dark was still processing what had happened as the princess was soon standing directly in front of his, cracking her knuckles. "Alright, Frosting Boy, speak. How do you know about Link?"

When Dark didn't answer right away (as he reeled by a bit by that atrocious nickname which he had hoped would be buried into history) Zelda marched forward and grabbed the front of his dress to pull his face down to hers (even though she was barely shorter). "Answer me!"

He was honestly trying, but frankly he couldn't believe that he was actually face to face with the real Princess of Hyrule, and that she was a tough, aggressive girl. Dark didn't really know what to expect when considering the real princess, but it wasn't a personality like this. And that she was here and not Link. That was the biggest shock of them all, really. Why was she at the party and not Link?!

Now normally, Dark tried to show his best behavior in front of royalty, even if he had a quiet distain for them in general. But suddenly being thrown into an empty room and threatened like this eventually turned on his primal instincts to protect himself, and he momentarily forgot his manners. Once he regained his composure, he grabbed the princess's hands and shot her a nasty look. "Let go of me and back off this instant."

Big mistake, no one spoke to Zelda that way. "Excuse me?" she asked, her words harsh and vicious. She gritted her teeth as Dark instantly realized what he did and he paled a bit. He may be a strong swordsman but she had political power. Shit. "I-I mean…" he fumbled with his speech as he glanced her up and down. "I'm sorry, your majesty, please let me go."

Zelda shot him another look before slowly releasing his dress and taking a step back. Once free, Dark smoothed down the fabric as he regarded the princess. Even in this dim light, there was no denying it: the princess… was gorgeous. Deep blue eyes, perfectly golden, silky hair, full pink lips… frankly, after getting to know Link for so long, it was a wonder than anyone fell for this trick the king had come up with all these years. They look different enough. Link looked beautiful as Zelda, sure, but Zelda had raw, feminine appeal that Link truly didn't have.

A small spark of happiness shot through his body at that thought, sort of glad for that. But embarrassed that he even thought that, he instantly pushed it down and focused on the task at hand. He cleared his throat.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Zelda asked, not even trying to be delicate with her words. "Why are you dressed like that? How did you get out of prison? And finally, how do you know about Link?" She pointed at him, her finger dangerously close to his face. "If you don't answer quickly, I will call the guards on you, I swear."

"Then why didn't you?" Dark asked stupidly. The moment those words escaped his lips he instantly regretted it but it was too late, they were out there, so he just rode with it. He crossed his arms, trying to look cool (but also instinctively protecting himself).

"I- gr, that's none of your concern," the princess growled. She pulled her hand back, but she was still pissed. "Answer my questions, stop wasting my time! How. Do. You. Know. Link?!"

"I… That's not my place to tell," Dark told her, remembering that Link's arena days were a complete secret to everyone. As the princess looked even more furious, Dark thought about his situation. Ok, at first glance, this was probably bad but… perhaps this was going to be useful. He had, right here, Princess Zelda, one of the few people who knows who Link truly is. Maybe he could explain the danger Link is in and she can help him. After all, having the real princess on your side could be an asset. She's been in the background most of this time, sort of a mysterious figure that you hear about but never see, but now Dark felt that she may actually be important.

"But, I do have something to tell you," Dark said before the princess could speak again. He took a quick pause before he continued. He needed to get on her good side, where he is not right now. So he better word his next sentences carefully, and try to show her the respect she deserves. "I know you don't know me very well, and I don't know you very well, but frankly we need each other."

Zelda's eyebrows furrowed together. "Oh, is that so?"

Dark nodded, giving her a small bow. "Please forgive my rudeness earlier. I know it's all shocking, and I can't explain everything right now, but this is completely true. Link is in danger, and I have come to save him."

There was a moment of silence after Dark said this. Dark stayed in his bow for a moment, before he dared to look up when he didn't hear a response. Zelda was just looking at him. She didn't look angry anymore, but she also didn't look surprised… or like she believed him. Perhaps she wasn't processing what he said.

"… What?" she finally asked.

He stood up straight and gave a sigh. "Look, this is serious. This may be hard to hear, but I overheard your father talking to that boyish-looking knight, the one with the freckles, about killing Link because he's too old to be you now. But before I could tell Link somehow my nights on the town got found out and I was thrown into that disgusting cell. And they are planning to do it tomorrow, so I have to get him out now before it's too late." He said all of this quickly. Hearing it out loud made him cringe; it all sounded like a bunch of lies, even to him.

And now he just told the princess of this country that her dad was planning on murdering someone close to her. To her face. He sort of pulled his head back and away from her, expecting a slap or something to follow soon. He wouldn't blame her if she did, but she would have to eventually know this, wouldn't she?

But she didn't. Instead, she suddenly looked towards the floor in thought, her eyes shifting back and forth rapidly as if she was sorting out information in her head. Dark watched as her lips moved slightly, but he couldn't make anything sensible out. After a few, terrifying moments, Zelda finally looked up.

"That… answers none of my questions… but now those aren't important," she said. Dark simply stared at her in shock. She frowned at this. "What?"

"You believe me?"

"Of course I do. I mean, you clearly have messed up ideas of respect and let your emotions run your life," while that hurt Dark couldn't deny it either, "but my father is even more so."

Dark snapped his fingers in anger. "Don't compare me to that man," he growled.

"Like that," Zelda said, "Later, I'll get to the bottom of all of this, but for now I do believe you." She glanced away. "I figured a day like this would come, but I was so caught up in other things I got… distracted. I should have seen the signs sooner." She looked back at him. "Even if you were lying, I wouldn't care. I wanted Link out of this castle for years." She suddenly cocked her hip out as her hand slid up to her chin, regarding him. "And looks like you came along at a perfect time."

"No kidding," Dark said sarcastically, his anger lingering. Her words were disgusting to his ears as he interpreted them. "All these years? And you never once did anything?"

Zelda blinked at his response. "Huh?"

"You heard me. You wanted him to live a different life, or so you claim. Yet, you never did anything, not even once." He folded his arms, his anger controlling his mouth now. He forgot about winning her over. "It took a stranger to come save him. You let him suffer for years, and only now, when he is in danger, you-"

He didn't get to finish as Zelda cold-cocked him in the face.

When he came to, Zelda was standing over him, looking at her knuckles. "Now," she stopped inspecting her hand and clenched it into a fist again. "Once you get up, 'girl,' we are going to go get Link and get him out of this castle."

Dark groaned as he pulled himself up, holding the stinging spot where Zelda punched him. He rubbed it a bit as Zelda gave a smile, satisfied smile. "Remember, 'stranger,' you came all this way to save him. So get up, because in a small way you are right." The smile vanished as she looked distant for a bit.

She only stayed that way for a moment, though, as she suddenly turned on her heel and walked briskly to the door. She opened it and peered out to check if the coast was clear. When she noticed that Dark wasn't getting up yet, she waved for him to follow. "Come on," she whispered loudly. "I know where he is. Let's go."

He stood up, pressing his lips tightly together. Well, he got his wish, she's helping him. Hopefully next time, she'll just slap him instead.

Carefully, the two of them slipped past the party and silently but swiftly made their way towards wherever Link was. Zelda claimed to know his location but failed to share the information, although Dark suspected Link was in his room. And even though Dark has been wandering these halls for a few weeks now, he had nothing on Zelda's knowledge on the castle; in fact, if anything, it was startlingly just how many alternate routes she knew.

It would be hard to disclose just where they went, but to fully understand their complicated path there was one point where they ran through three consecutive rooms and never entered the hallway to do so, as Zelda would pull back a curtain to reveal a hidden doorway or in one case move through a secondary hallway embedded in the wall, between the real hallway and a room. This narrow hallway made Dark uncomfortable as he slid slowly down between the wood, hoping his dress wouldn't snare and catch him.

There was a small part of him that grew curious, though, about this castle. He knew castles often had secret pathways for royalty to use, but it was often kept between the royal members only. Now knowing some of this castle's paths, he wished he could go and find them now. He wondered how extensive it was.

Thinking of Zelda, he was still a little puzzled as to why she was helping them. The two of them have barely seen each other since Dark's been here, so she shouldn't know him too well. Yet, she was willing to believe him right of the bat. But maybe it wasn't that she trusted him, but rather she knew her father well enough to know that his information wasn't completely ludicrous. That made a lot more sense in his mind. He watched her back, still feeling a bit weird being so close to the real princess.

Thanks to Zelda's choice of route, though, they avoided much traffic and prying eyes, and before long the two of them found themselves in a familiar corridor. As Dark slipped into the darkened area Zelda closed up the door behind him and let out a relieved sigh. She hid it well, but she had been a bit concerned that they would have been detected. Now, a small bit of a hallway and a staircase stands between them and Link.

"There shouldn't be a lot of people down here," Zelda said, peering around the corner.

"Good," Dark breathed, pulling on his itchy sleeve. "Now let's hurry up, I don't want to waste time." He decided to not ask about that weird way they took . For now.

"Agreed." Zelda waved for him to follow, and the two of them quickly rushed to the stairs and made their way up. The closer they got to the top, the more Dark's heart pounded in his chest. He wasn't sure why, but he was suddenly nervous. He was about to rescue Link, after all this time… It suddenly felt more real than it ever has before. So by the time they reached the top to a small hall with two wooden doors on either side, Dark was beginning to feel a bit freaked out.

It only now really occurred to him that he had to somehow sneak Link out of the castle, and he really hadn't thought that far ahead. Granted, he now had the listed help of Zelda to get him out, and that will certainly prove useful. But to tell someone to their face that everything they knew was about to change in an instant… That is not the type of news Dark wants to deliver, especially to someone he so greatly cares about.

But Zelda didn't give him a lot of time to dwell on this as she gently rapped her knuckles on Link's door, then leaned in closer to listen for any signs of movement or a response.

While they waited, Dark leaned in closer as well, so he could whisper Zelda a question. "So, just to ask… why were you down at the party instead of Link?"

Zelda gave him a face of amusement. "Really? You're choosing this moment to ask me this?" Then the two of them heard shuffling and Zelda gave a small sigh. "Link?" she called out, still keeping her voice low. "It's me, I'm coming in."

With that, Zelda pushed open the door and walked in. Dark took a moment to peek around the corner first, though. He was surprised at how… simple it was. Link wasn't the real princess but Dark had always imagined his room to be still rather decorative, but with the exception of the large, comfy looking bed there was not much else. No curtains on the window, a small powder table and a wardrobe, and one side table where snack laid untouched on its tray. It was a room designed with purpose, not comfort, in mind.

He supposed that the king didn't feel the need to give Link much comforts in his room. It probably encouraged Link to get out more, rather than want to hide away from the world. Regardless, it was still a bit sad to see. But once he got his peek Dark entered the room and followed Zelda over to the fluffy-looking bed, where a lump could be seen in the blankets. Sensing that Zelda had drawn closer, the lump began to move over, inching its way over to the end posts. When it finally reached the end, the lump rose slightly as Link peered out from under his covers. Of course, what he first saw wasn't Zelda, but Dark. Dark watched as Link froze, his body went to stone.

There was an awkward silence in the room, but it luckily did not last as Link found his voice. "Zelda… who the heck is this?" A valid question considering that no one else has ever been up here besides Zelda, the king, and Pipit since Link's tutor died.

Ah, right, the veil. Link couldn't see his face, especially in this dim lighting. Dark raised his fist to his lips and coughed slightly, trying to psych himself up to what he was about to do. It was a bit embarrassing to have to confront Link like this, but Link did this nearly 24-7 with others, so what the heck? "It's Dark," he told Link as he lifted his veil. Link's eyes went wide as Dark gave him a pathetic smile. "I know it's a bit weird, but I'm sure you heard what happened to me, so you can understand why I'm in disguise."

When Link didn't say anything, Dark glanced a second at Zelda. Zelda gave a small shrug, just as confused to Link's reaction as Dark was. Still, Dark had no reason to stop, so he kept going. He completely removed the veil as he continued. "Listen, Link, we don't really have a lot of time. I know you have a lot of questions, but look I-"

Now, Dark never saw Link's fist come flying at him, because if he did he would have tried to dodge. Instead, all he felt was something hit him hard under the chin, then found himself looking up at the ceiling. As he laid there, blinking in shock and pain over what just happened, Link threw his blankets off his back and stood on his bed, his eyes burning with murderous intent. "YOU!" he growled, pointing at him. "How dare you show your face to me!"

As Dark attempted to get up, leaning back on his hand while he rubbed his chin with his free one, Link jumped off the bed, but was unable to reach Dark as Zelda stepped between them. "Enough! Link, what the hell?" she exclaimed, her arm across his chest with her hand firmly on his other shoulder. At contact Link stopped, but the rage was still there.

"Zelda, why did you bring that monster here?" he asked, his hand still in a fist, ready for round two. "That lying, two-faced freak shouldn't be up here…. Now he knows our secret!" Link was mad but not stupid enough to forget that Dark wasn't supposed to know who he was.

"It doesn't matter, he already knew. And that's why he's here, Link. We need his help," Zelda said as calmly as possible. Dark finally found his feet again as she spoke, but was still holding his aching jaw. My poor face, Dark moaned internally, but for only a small moment, considering now the bruising skin was the least of his worried after hearing Link's words.

What the heck was going on? Just yesterday the two of them were getting along swimmingly. And now, Link completely upper cut his jaw and is calling him terrible names. Was it for Zelda's benefit? Was it because she was here? If that was the case, Dark didn't have time to play along. They would need her, even if Link knew the way out as well. The more help he could get, the better chance they had to escape.

While he thought these things, he missed the rest of Link and Zelda's argument. Seeing that things were heating up quickly, Dark sighed deeply, and decided at this moment it was complete truth time. They were going to get nowhere with Link pretending that Dark didn't know about him the whole time, and Link needed to know he was in danger now.

"Hey-" he started to say, but their voices were loud.

"Get him out of here and throw him back into his cell where he belongs," Link growled, pointing towards the door without looking at it.

"Link, sometimes you just don't listen! Arg, can't you be mute like you are with everyone else?!" Zelda spat back, her concern for Link's safety growing.

"ENOUGH!" Dark roared. When the two of them fell silent, glaring at him simultaneously, he folded his arms and tapped his foot. "Stop this nonsense! For heavens sake, Link, there's no point in hiding it anymore."

Zelda glanced between them. "Hiding what?" she asked slowly, as Link stared Dark down, instantly realizing what he was about to do.

He was about to break a promise.

He had to. Link wasn't going to drop the act if he did, or so Dark thought.

"Don't you-" Link began.

"Princess, I've known about Link for a long time, and Link knew that I knew," Dark told her.

Zelda instantly turned to face Link. "You've… been lying to me?" she asked. To Dark's surprise, she didn't really sound… mad. Rather, she sounded a bit… betrayed.

Link opened his mouth for a moment, then shut it. After a moment of trying to come up with an answer, Link bowed his head a bit. "Yes… I'm-I'm sorry, Zelda, I trust you completely, it's just-"

"Just what?" she asked. "Just something I wasn't allowed to know?" Dark wouldn't get it, but Link did. The two of them were comrades in this life. They suffered together, so they had to thrive together by sticking by each other. And now, Zelda was learning she was left out. If Dark continued to tell her about the secret fighting, then it would be even worse. It would tell her that while she was trapped in this castle, Link had an outlet all these years, and never once let her in on it.

"It's complicated," Link said softly, looking ashamed for a moment before taking in a sharp breath and turning back to Dark. "You…." His voice was sharp and dripping with venom.

"I know you aren't happy with me about that, but you can't pretend to hate me right now," Dark said. "We need her help to get you-"

"Pretend?" Link spat. "I'm not pretending. You betrayed me. You are a traitor, and I know what you tried to do to me last night."

"Um…." Dark tilted his head to one side at that statement. "What? Last night, to you?"

"Ok, I don't know what things you are hiding from me, you two," Zelda said softly, and very dangerously, "But I think I want some more answers now. Like, Dark, when and where did you find out about Link?" She seemed to have forgotten the real reason why she brought Dark up here.

"It's doesn't matter," Link said before Dark could open his mouth. "Whatever he is telling you, you can bet it is a bald-face lie. He ruined everything."

"Me? What did-" Then he really thought about it. "Look, I know I sort of stalked you and almost beat you in the arena and gave you that big bruise…"

"What?" Zelda asked, eyebrows up and staring at Link now.

"But I didn't think that ruined your life. I'm sorry if it did, and you can be mad at me later about it, but right now I need to get you out of here."

"Get me out of here… huh…." Link's fists were shaking as his side with rage, each word that Dark spoke only fueling the fire. Link couldn't believe it. Not only did this boy almost have him killed then had the gale to come back to finish the job, he then goes and spills Link's secret to Zelda. If Link even remotely trusted Dark before, it was completely shattered now.

Then Link suddenly let out a small chuckle and pushed his hair back. "Well, since you decided to talk about that, no point in dancing around it anymore." Link stepped between Dark and Zelda, as if to shield Zelda from Dark, in case the stupidly dressed boy decided to attack. "I don't know why, but you told that man about me, and set me up to be killed."

Dark literally could not believe what he was hearing. "What- What are you talking about, Link?" he asked, staring at him in horror.

It was a feeling that cannot be described. It was…. world-ending. To be called a killer by the one you loved, right to your face. And to see that they truly believe it as well… Well, to put it bluntly, heart stopping. Never before had Dark seen Link look at him this way before. Even when Link didn't like Dark, he didn't give him the same death-wish expression he gave Dark now, and it only now occurred to him that Link really did want him to suffer.

Link didn't know it yet, but just by talking right now he was doing a pretty good job of doing that.

"Don't act. I'm done with your games. You knew that place would be empty last night and that I was walking right into a trap," Link growled. "I just don't know why you would want to kill me. What, you work for the king?"

"The king!" Dark exclaimed, waving his arms franticly. Of course! "That's why I'm here, Link! The king wants you dead, and I'm trying to save you!"

"Save me? As if," Link scoffed.

"No, really," Dark said, taking a step closer to Link, his hand up to reach for him. Seeing him move, Link put his fists up.

"Take another step and I knock you out."

So Dark halted. He could see he was serious. But still, he had to convince him. "Link," he said slowly, "Listen, I don't know what happened last night, but it's a huge misunderstanding. I would never have you killed, ever. And I don't work for the king. I work only for my prince, but I may have even given that up to save you. Please believe me, the king wants you dead, and the longer we delay here the less likely I can get you out."

"Unfortunately, I believe him," Zelda added, laying a hand on Link's shoulder. "Although I would love to hear more about how attacked you and frankly I'm not too happy with you right now, but I know my father. He won't just let you go."

"How can you believe him?" Link asked. "I know what I heard last night, and Dark was at fault!"

"Link, look at yourself! You are fifteen! You cannot pretend to me forever!" Zelda said harshly. "You think my father is just going to let you skip away when your beard starts going in? Your voice already is starting to deepen. It won't be long before we won't be fooling anyone anymore."

"I didn't believe I could live this life forever, but I'm certainly not going to believe this bastard," Link shot back. "Besides, kill me? The king won't do it himself, he's too much of a coward and you know it."

"Um… " Dark said, raising his hand slightly to get their attention. "Not to get to specific here, but the king ordered your death… and he's making that knight, Pipit, do it."

"Heh, now I know it's a lie," Link snorted. "Pipit would never try to kill me. He practically helped raise me."

"Ok, ok, whether it's true or not," Zelda said quickly, looking a bit doubtful herself now (and trying to come to terms that Pipit is the one to execute Link), "I still think you need to leave tonight. I'll take the heat of things here, but tonight is your best night to get out. The king is distracted, and no one would miss your presence until tomorrow. That gives you plenty of time to escape the city and…"

"Leave the city?" Link asked, eyes wide. "I don't know the countryside! Where will I go?" Then he shook his head and turned his back to the two of them. "I'm not going, on the merit that Dark wants me to. There's bound to be a trap waiting for me. Even if I escape, I'll just get attacked."

Sucking in his breath, Dark ripped off his wig and stopped over so that he was in Link's view. Upon seeing him Link quickly got into a defensive position, ready for anything. Dark threw his arms outwards, showing he was unarmed and unaggressive. "Listen to me," he said, sounding desperate. "I don't know what happened to you like I said, but I would never to that to you! I gave up everything to help you, and I'm bloody here in front of you with a dress on!" Link slowly looked him up and down as he said this. "I don't want you dead, and I would certainly never call for your death."

"Hmph, right," Link chuckled coldly. "Because everything you've done suggests you are so pure of heart. Blackmailing me, stalking me, fighting me just for your own enjoyment."

Dark faltered a bit. "I mean, that was true before, but not anymore! You have to believe me! You are in danger!"

"Only from you!"

"No, not from me! I'm the least of your worries!"

"Why should I believe you when all the evidence points to otherwise?!" Link yelled, no longer interested in keeping a low profile.

"Because!" Dark yelled back.

"Because you are a traitor who never liked me?! You wanted me dead?!"

"No, I don't want you dead!"

"WHY?!"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, OK!?" Dark roared.

There was silence in the room as Link literally froze at his words, and in turn Dark also found himself frigid at what he just confessed. The two of them just stood there, both unable to move as those words lingered in the air. After about thirty seconds, Dark found himself covered his mouth with his lips, shaking with embarrassment at his actions, while Link put his arm out to seek for a seat to sit on, found his bed, and sat down, keeping his eyes trained on Dark in utter shock.

It was Zelda who broke the quiet. "…. Oh," she said out loud, as if she suddenly put the final piece into a complicated puzzle.

Thank you for all the support in all the small ways! It continues to put a smile on my face!

For news concerning Beautiful Blades, such as update times and whether it's on hiatus or not, check out my page for information.

Look forward to Chapter 37: The Great Escape