Chapter 23 has arrived! Enjoy~

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It was early morning when they reached the coast.

During their short absence, it seemed her council had turned the empire upside-down to find them. Every soldier was combing the land, every boat searching the seas. It had been one of those boats, as they neared the coastline, that had lassoed their craft and pulled them in to land. As they'd sat in the empire-issued craft, Zelda had noticed a sign abandoned on a bench, depicting hers and Link's faces and a sum of rupees at the bottom. A search notice.

Zelda was glad for it, though in their state, she doubted the soldiers knew it really was the empress they'd saved. Even so, she accepted the hand that pulled her out of the military boat with a tired "thank you" and stepped onto dry land. Link followed swiftly.

Her mouth was parched, her stomach empty, and her skin burned, but she headed straight for the military checkpoint lining a large part of the dock. The doors were open, admitting the loud noises and sounds of rushing people.

As they walked, dodging shoppers and passerby, Zelda spotted a sign proclaiming the words, "Persons with missing family from Fire Mountain tragedy, line up here".

A fresh pang of pain struck Zelda, and she took several deep breaths as images of their panicked flight from the eruption flared in her mind. The meaning behind the sign sank in: not only one tragedy, but two--those who had gone to the memorial. She had no idea if anyone had died that time, the island had been deserted when she and Link made their escape. But as they'd paddled for the shore, they'd seen the mountain was still erupting. That second night, it had given an enormous explosion, and Zelda had known then that the entire island had been obliterated. It was not a loss of life so much as a loss of memory.

She stopped just beyond the checkpoint and stared in the direction of the mountain. If she squinted hard enough, she could see the flames still spewing into the clear sky, even now, in daylight.

A flash of remembrance had her whipping around to look toward Windfall. Before they'd gone to memorial, the huge island-city had been in the midst of a violent storm.

But when she looked now, the sky was as clear over Windfall as it was over them. No sign of the storm lingered--not even a cloud. She remained staring, drawing attention from passerby as she tried to puzzle it out, until Link grasped her arm and pulled her to the checkpoint.

Inside it was cool, a breathtaking break from the intense heat that had scalded their skin the past two days. Zelda closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she realized something else.

It was also packed.

Zelda quirked a brow. It wasn't . . . unusual for a military establishment to be this busy, but still . . . it appeared a tad too busy. Then again, she supposed their absence might have sparked a change.

As she watched the hub of activity, she quickly realized this might not be true. Not all those present were military personnel. In fact, most of them seemed to be normal civilians, if dressed in a myriad of . . . interesting clothing. Some even had fake weapons and shields strapped to their backs.

Well, that explains why some of them are in here, Zelda thought, snorting as she and Link strode up to the counter. A tired-looking clerk sat there. A badge on his uniform read 'Sergeant Gonzo'.

"We need a military transport to Hyrule Castle immediately," Link began, all business. "And get a messenger to the Royal Advisor Tetra--"

"All right all right, cool yer heels there, sir," Gonzo interrupted in a bored voice. Link stopped abruptly, taken aback. "You can't just come in here and demand a military escort," Gonzo went on. "Much less a missive to Miss Tetra."

Link stared at Gonzo for a long second before he understood. Zelda grimaced. They hardly looked better than some of the vagrants on the streets, let alone the Empress and the Captain of the Royal Guard. They were filthy, their clothes ragged, and Zelda didn't even want to consider how they might smell. No wonder Gonzo wouldn't listen.

Link blinked, then cleared his throat. "Sergeant. This is the Empress Zelda herself. She's been missing for three days now. We--"

Gonzo cut them off with a howl of laughter. Zelda felt anger rising in her and tried to push it down, but it became harder the longer Gonzo kept on. Beside her, she could feel Link trembling, his fists clenching.

When Gonzo finally quieted, he slapped the desk and grinned, exposing a gold filling. "That's a good one," he winked. "Now you can go ahead and wait with all the other Empresses. Off you go. Next!" he bellowed, spittle flying.

Link spluttered. "Excuse me?"

Gonzo grinned and jerked his chin at the milling crowd. "They've been flowing in for two days now. Looks like everybody wants a turn at being queen--at least until the real one comes back, that is."

It was then, as she turned, that Zelda realized they were all men and women roughly around her and Link's age, and dressed in a collection of outfits--and with that realization came no small amount of rage. They were imposters! Using her disappearance to take advantage of the empire. As she looked closer, more and more absurdities came to the forefront.

Most of the ladies were dressed in fancy gowns, though none were even close to what Zelda herself had been wearing at the memorial. One even wore the outfit that the Zelda from the Era of the Wild had been depicted wearing, and another absurdly wore clothes from the archaic Era of Time.

They turned back to Gonzo, who was looking far too satisfied with himself. "Dare I ask whether all those 'Empresses' have armed guards escorting them?" Link asked sarcastically. Gonzo's grin widened, and he cocked an eyebrow, jerking his chin once again.

Zelda could have throttled him, but she turned to look anyway, focusing on the men this time. Most wore simple travelers' garb, but some had attempted to recreate the Royal Guard's uniform. Link snarled at the sight of it. Some men even bore the traditional green tunic of old Heroes past. Zelda felt the rage rise in her again, and this time let it fill her.

Link snarled and whipped the sword that was still, somehow, strapped to his back out of its scabbard and slammed it onto the clerk's desk. "Is this proof enough?" he demanded. Gonzo stared at it for several seconds, his grin fading, his eyes flicking between the sword and the plastic imitations adorning the fakes' backs.

Link's blade, unlike the others in the room, was a royal broadsword--weapons usually only members of the Royal Family used. They'd been gifted to Link as a full set, upon his promotion to her personal guard.

Gonzo dismissed it with a flick of his wrist. "A copy. Or maybe you stole it?" He leaned forward.

They were starting to attract a crowd now, and several of them jumped as Link growled and seized Gonzo's shirtfront, bringing his face an inch from Gonzo's. "How the bloody hell would I have stolen it, you buffoon?" he hissed.

Gonzo struggled, blowing a whistle around his neck. Several guards came--guards Link would have commanded himself--and dragged him away. Link let them, glaring poison at Gonzo.

This is absolutely ridiculous, Zelda fumed. As she stepped forward, all the anger and humiliation and pain of the last two days fueled the words she snapped out like she was a commander on a battlefield. She ripped off the necklace she'd been wearing, depicting the Triforce and Hylian Crest in gold, and slammed it down on the desk as Gonzo turned baleful eyes on her.

It was a piece of jewelry only an Empress could afford. "This is a farce," Zelda snarled, her voice dripping venom. "I am the Empress, and this man is my personal guard--your captain. We have been missing for three days, stranded at sea after Fire Mountain erupted for the second time. If you do not take us to an immediate transport to Hyrule Castle this instant, I will have you thrown in the dungeons for insubordination of your Captain and refusal to assist the Empress of the Empire. Get a move on, Sergeant. NOW."

The room was dead silent. Zelda's chest heaved; she'd never spoken like that to anyone, never had the gall. But she was fed up--with everything. She'd been through hell, and she was not going to let this fool of a sergeant stand in her way.

Gonzo himself gaped at her, attention split between her and the necklace. At a twitch of her brow, he snapped to action, casting several fearful glances at her. She turned to the guards who had released Link and ordered them to send messages to Tetra, Rauru, and Impa. They bowed, offered hasty apologies to her and Link, and rushed from the room.

Immediately after, Zelda was swamped with those who had tried to impersonate her, their apologies falling on deaf ears. She was sure her anger translated to her expression, because several of the young ladies took one look at her and fell to their knees.

With a deep sigh and a massive mental effort, Zelda fixed her face and plastered a benevolent smile on it. And besides, she thought, raising a tearful lady to her feet, can I honestly say I wouldn't have tried the same? Everybody wants to be a queen.

Though, given the past few days, she'd have run the other way had she been offered the chance. As she raised the last lady from the ground and soothed her frayed nerves, Gonzo returned. "The transport is ready for you, Your Majesty," he mumbled. Zelda nodded, extricating herself from the tangle of women, and laid a hand on his shoulder as she passed through the door.

She felt a tad guilty about snapping at him; he'd just been doing his job, after all. If he didn't stop every hopeful trying to pass themselves off as herself, who knew what madwoman they'd have on her way to Hyrule right now. She shuddered just thinking about it.

I suppose we look the part, Zelda thought, catching a glimpse of herself and Link in a storefront window. Her dress was filthy, covered in saltwater stains, shredded at the thighs, and ripped and cut in a dozen different places. Her hair was a mess, dried blood and water making it stiff. She'd tied it into a knot at the top of her head, but it did nothing to distract from the dirt and grime covering every inch of open skin.

How did I even get this dirty? She thought sourly, turning to get a look behind. Link was no better, frowning at his own reflection.

As they climbed into the waiting carriage, Zelda noticed a pair of purebred stallions waiting in the stables, in a smaller building on the side of the checkpoint. She hesitated on the carriage step; they were beautiful things, tossing their sleek manes and snorting. One was chestnut, the other dappled gray-and-white. She could tell they hadn't been taken out for a ride in a while.

Biting her lip, she glanced into the carriage and caught Link's gaze. His eyes flicked past her, and a hint of a smile appeared. He nodded.

Zelda's own hesitant smile broke out into a grin and she leapt off the step and raced toward the horses. A slam of boots behind her told her Link was in pursuit. She slid to a stop, ignoring Gonzo's calls, and looked into the eyes of the dappled stallion. She slowly reached up and stroked his nose, and he closed his dark eyes after a moment. Zelda grinned.

She led him around the courtyard a few times before mounting him. He was a military horse, so he wouldn't spook easily, but she still wanted him calm. She walked him in circles so he could get used to her weight, listening to Link's voice approaching. Soon he joined her, leaping onto the chestnut horse with practiced ease. "Just because you're the Empress doesn't mean you don't have to pay," he winked. Zelda's surprise at seeing him so at ease lasted only a moment. She grinned, walking her stallion in circles around Link. "I thought that's what it's all about," she teased.

Link's grin was ferocious, and he spurred his horse into a trot, which turned quickly to a gallop. Soon they were on the road racing out of town, dirt and pebbles flying farther the faster they went. They hurtled down the road as the town faded behind them, replaced by rolling green fields. Far on their left, the border mountains between Hyrule and Twilight stretched northward, running parallel to the road.

Zelda spread her arms, closing her eyes and letting out a scream of pure joy. She hadn't felt this free in so long . . . It was a different sort of freedom than being Sheik, or even during her moment with Link in their boat. When she rode like this, with possibilities as endless as the green fields surrounding them . . . nothing compared.

She grasped the reins again as her stallion tossed his head emphatically. She laughed, pure and clean--even her horse felt the same.

Beside her, Link stood up in the stirrups, his face free of the fear, anxiety and pain of the last weeks. He grinned, wild and fierce and free, and Zelda thought she could never love him more. He shone out here, unbound by responsibility, surrounded by possibility. By opportunity.

It was late afternoon by the time they returned to the castle. The moment they galloped into Hyrule Field, swarms of guards--who knew her face, which came as an immeasurable relief to her-- corralled them, spears and swords bristling until they got a look at her.

As they lowered their weapons, Zelda's horse circled restlessly, still full of adrenaline from the hard ride. He was frothing at the mouth, his body glistening with sweat--just like his rider.

Zelda wiped her brow, patting her horse fondly. He was a thoroughbred for sure. She wondered absently if he was a royal stallion--few could have managed such a hard ride.

They entered Castle Town amid an enormous crowd. Word had been sent ahead that she was returning, it seemed, because the people let out a roar that reminded Zelda of the squid upon seeing her. She shivered.

They made their way through the town at a snail's pace, causing Zelda to shift constantly in her saddle. Every minute away from the castle and her awaiting council made her feet itch to spur her stallion ahead. She made herself endure it, though. And, if she were being honest, she enjoyed the cheering. At least my people like me, she thought, accepting a bouquet of wildflowers from a little girl as she passed. That's more than many rulers can say.

Finally they made it through the gates, and there followed a mad rush through the candlelit halls, leaving the youngest members of the escort with the horses. As she flew down the council hall and slammed through the doors, her council members whirled away from a brewing argument: Impa, Ilayen and Tetra on one side of the table, Rauru and Mipha on the other--and in the center of it all was Ganondorf.

/

Upon seeing him, Zelda's first instinct was to set the guards upon him and lock him away. But she couldn't do that--not until she had proof. There's no precedent, she reminded herself fiercely.

So instead she crossed her arms. There was a bigger problem ahead of her now, anyway. It seemed her council hadn't wanted to wait for her arrival. She crooked a brow at Ganondorf, who had just managed to conceal his snarl as she entered. "How wonderful to see everyone so eager. If only I could get you all like this on a regular basis."

Rauru let out a short breath at the sight of her, and casting a warning glance at Ganondorf, who rolled his eyes, rushed forward and clasped Zelda's hands. "Your Majesty. We are so glad you are all right."

I mean, I'm not, but okay, Zelda thought, forcing a smile forward and the memories of her ordeal back. She squeezed the old man's hands. He certainly looked worried--his face was lined with deep furrows, and his eyes were red at the corners. Zelda felt an unreasonable pang of guilt. She pushed it down as she took her seat.

Ganondorf made to speak again, but Zelda rolled her eyes this time. "Sit down, Advisor. You've made your point, I'm sure, whatever it was."

His face grew red, but he did as he was told. Rauru and the others seated themselves as well. The old priest folded his hands on the table. "So. Shall we begin with you telling us how the memorial went?"

"It was fabulous."

Zelda pursed her lips to keep from laughing. Link, who had just entered and taken his place behind Zelda's chair, had muttered his comment so quietly that no one but Zelda could have heard. She tried to ignore Ganondorf's eyes narrowing. "Is something funny, Empress?" he snapped.

Zelda leveled a look at him, all amusement gone. "Not at all, Advisor. In fact, it was anything but funny."

She launched into the tale, sometimes having to raise her voice above the gasps and murmurs that arose. She hated the way Tetra's face clouded over with guilt at the mention of the boats already being gone, and she hurried along with the story. When she spoke of the battle with the squid, Impa spoke for the first time.

"That was you?" she asked, eyes wide. Zelda nodded.

Impa looked starstruck. "We saw flashes and heard the bombs going off, but . . . we had no idea it was you two. And we couldn't get boats near enough because of the mountain. By the time it was safe . . . there was no sign of the squid, or you two."

The memory of the battle flashed in Zelda's mind, and with it, the crest she'd seen on the squid's head. "It was rough, but here we are," she said lamely, distracted. In the corner of her eye, Ganondorf was silent, his golden eyes staring into her head. Could he tell? Was this a sign that he was responsible?

She wrung her hands in her lap then wiped them on her tattered dress. She decided to ignore for it now--she certainly wasn't going to bring it up here. As she finished the story, Impa sat back, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Has anyone ever heard of this kind of thing? After all, Giant Squids haven't been sighted for ages--since monsters were around, in fact."

Zelda saw Ilayen's eyes flick to her and away, quick as a blink. She kept her expression blank even as her mind raced. Oh? Since monsters? How convenient.

She tilted her head. "Have there ever been other sightings of monsters?" Her escapade in the abandoned garrison ruins excluded, of course. Along with Link's.

Impa gave her nephew a nod, and Ilayen stepped forward with a sheet of paper. "One lone bokoblin was seen wandering Termina Field. It was quickly put down. In Talus Peaks, rock octoroks have been sprouting up in the higher ridges. They've prevented the GMC from mining in the highest peaks, which produce most of the coal ore for the trains, but Queen Ambi has dispatched a team to put them down. Most worrying is . . ." He squinted at the paper and visibly swallowed.

"Well?" Ganondorf drawled. Zelda narrowed her eyes.

Ilayen took a deep breath that shuddered only slightly. "Most worrying is a report from Holodrum. Several groups of what are reported by historians to be Lizalfos have been spotted in the Samasa Desert. They have yet to be put down." He lowered the sheet, meeting Impa's gaze levelly. "Mayor Ruul lacks the soldiers needed."

Impa nodded, and Ilayen took his seat. Zelda gestured for the sheet. A few rampant groups of Lizalfos wasn't enough to have Ilayen so worried, she thought, pushing her memories aside. Was he simply concerned they would find their way here? Was he afraid she would have an episode, like she'd almost done in Ganondorf's lab?

As her fingers clasped the sheet, her eyes scanned the neat, crisp handwriting of her Army Commander and stopped at the final line.

'Several Frost Taluses have been sighted on Snowpeak. They seem to be congregating in the Naydra Snowfield in Northern Hyrule. Scouts have yet to confirm a purpose.'

Zelda tapped her fingers on the table, thinking. There really wasn't much to be done about any of it, but she wanted a watch on all monster activity. They seemed to be centered in the most remote parts of the empire: a desert, open fields, frigid snowfields, high mountain peaks. She could spare some soldiers for Mayor Ruul's situation, as a sign of good faith.

The mention of the small mayor reminded her of all the things she needed to get back on top of. She wanted reports on all the projects from the Summit, and she told Impa as much.

The problem with monsters invaded her mind again. She'd have to keep the monster watch private, of course. The last person she needed to know about this was the man breeding them in her castle.

That was another obstacle. She ignored her council, rubbing her face. When would Ganondorf make his move? The chaos of the last few days had driven it from her mind, but now it was front-and-center.

Worrying about it won't help, said a voice in her head that sounded annoyingly like Link. Holding back a sigh, she decided he was right. She'd just have to keep a keen eye on Ganondorf.

Though, she supposed, a guard might not be a bad idea.

She took a deep breath. "If anything, this just proves that protection is key. I don't like to prioritize one life over another, but if the people in this room fall, who will lead the empire?"

Her council was silent, and Zelda knew they didn't like what she was getting at. She didn't have much choice if she wanted to keep tabs on Ganon. It was the only way to do so without singling him out. That would be an instant giveaway.

"In light of the recent attacks upon myself and the incident at the memorial," she continued, bracing herself, "I propose that an armed guard accompany every member of this council. I cannot risk any of you being assassinated." She raised her voice over their complaints. "I will not risk your lives."

She sat back, cracking her neck as the complaints rose. As they stood to argue over the table, Zelda spotted Rauru. Still among the waving arms. His eyes were closed, but as she watched, they opened and he stood.

Rauru came around the table and clasped her hands, gazing into her eyes. "As long as you are as well, Empress."

His voice was soft, but it carried over the table like a wave. The arguing voices quieted, and chairs scraped as they took their seats.

Zelda felt her eyes burn and squeezed the old priest's hands. He was as much a part of the castle as the pillars and tapestries, and he held so much respect among everyone, even Ganondorf. His support meant everything.

It had damn near guaranteed the others' cooperation, though they were nowhere near happy. As the table quieted, Mipha spoke up for the first time. Her brows furrowed deeply between her warm gold eyes as she folded her hands.

"Princess, most of us here--yourself included--are warriors. We're trained to protect ourselves. Why add a guard?"

Zelda raised a brow. "Trained to defend myself I am, yet in the time I've been back, I've been attacked and nearly killed four separate times. These people who want to hurt us will not wait for an even fight. If someone wants to kill me, they will use the cheapest ways they can."

"A guard is the only way to secure safety, at least for now," Zelda added, spreading her arms. She hoped that would suffice.

Around the table, no one looked happy. Mipha had sat back, her face no less frustrated than before. Raura had accepted Zelda's order, but his face was worried. Impa and Ilayen didn't look surprised, but not satisfied, either. And Ganondorf, obviously, was enraged. But even as angry as he was, he dared not question Zelda further.

Zelda considered it a blessing.

Impa spoke up. "What would comprise these guards?" she asked, leaning forward.

Zelda already had her answer. "A mix. There will be Royal Guards, the very best we have, and Sheikah warriors. A Sheikah Shadow will also be present, but will remain out of sight in order to give us a small edge in an attack."

"Apologies, Empress," Ganondorf interrupted, not sounding sorry at all, "But to my knowledge, the Sheikah forces cannot support such guards while also keeping themselves protected. I am afraid this plan will not work."

He sounded far too smug for his own good. Zelda retained her composure, preparing her response, but it crumbled when Impa spoke again.

"I'm afraid Ganondorf is right, Your Majesty," she said, though she glared at the man. "Our forces would be rather spread thin--not that we cannot protect ourselves. Do not presume, Ganondorf," she added, sending Ganon a warning look.

Zelda listened silently. The beginnings of a headache was knocking at her mind. She rubbed her forehead. "It is late," she said abruptly, an outright lie. Evening was just getting underway. "Mipha, Ganondorf, Rauru, you are dismissed."

The three trooped out of the council room, no more satisfied than when they'd entered.

When Zelda could no longer hear their footsteps in the hall, she sat back with a sigh that everyone echoed. She felt Link slump over and he collapsed into Ganondorf's empty chair. His blue eyes met hers, and Zelda felt a pang in her chest. Even in his exhausted and bloodied state, he was absurdly, achingly handsome.

She wanted so badly to kiss him. She silently reprimanded herself for that line of thought even as her cheeks flushed slightly. This is really not the time, she hissed mentally. For Goddesses' sakes, could she please stay on track?

She straightened and faced the other three. "Was he right?"

Clearly the question caught Impa off guard. She stared at Zelda, broken out of her deep thought. "Sadly, yes. Though I don't know how he knew that."

Zelda chewed her lip. "Have there ever been monsters small enough to act as a spy of sorts?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Ilayen answered. "And I've not heard of a monster small enough to transmit information--at least not on the same level as bokoblins or Lizalfos. Though I'm no expert." He offered a small smile.

"But we have one in the castle," Zelda murmured, locking eyes with Tetra. She nodded. "We need to get back into Ganondorf's room. There's more to be found in there--and listen to this."

She spoke quickly of the crest on the squid's head. By the end of it, Impa swore savagely under her breath. Link had sat forward. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

Zelda ignored his hurt, angry tone. "As for the guard, it's because of this squid attack. We already know Ganondorf has a lab in his rooms, and we know he's been experimenting with monsters. By his journal, he even awakened one--where he got it, I have no idea, but still. Now, with the squid attacking and what I saw, it's clear to me things will only escalate."

Impa gestured for Link to be quiet as he opened his mouth, presumably to pester her. "Escalate meaning the attacks will not be just on you."

Zelda nodded grimly. "I've no solid proof that it was Ganondorf behind my attacks. Honestly, I thought it was Zant, that day I first returned. But I don't want to take chances--and if Ganondorf thinks any of you are against him, I don't think he'll stop to question it."

Cold silence met her words. Zelda knew she was dramatizing it a bit, but what she'd seen in that lab . . . No. She refused to risk the people in this room. "The guard is also to be a watch on his movements. Don't worry," she added as Tetra's brows went up. "These guards will be under no uncertainty what their priorities are--I will make sure of it. But I need to know what Ganondorf is doing. What he does when he's alone, who he talks to and when. The guard--the Sheikah member, specifically--will keep track of that and report back."

"No offense meant, your Majesty, but won't Ganondorf simply keep sensitive information to himself? If he has any inkling of your true intentions, wouldn't he suspect the guards might report back to you?"

Zelda shook her head, but it was Link who answered, his voice hard. "Not likely. Ganondorf doesn't see the Royal Guard as intelligent in any way. He despises them, actually. He considers the guard a group of mindless soldiers who can't think for themselves. He'll pay them no mind, the Sheikahs even less so." He smiled grimly. "It's caused many brawls between the guard and Ganon's hero-worshippers. But his arrogance will work to our advantage."

After a few minutes of somber silence during which Zelda tried to decipher the dark look that had taken over Link's face, she stood, every muscle in her body screaming for a hot bath and bed. Oh, to sleep with sheets and a pillow, she fantasized. But first--

"I'll make my way to your wing tomorrow night, Impa. make sure you have your Sheikahs picked out by then. I want the very best. Same goes for you, Link. get the guards together--tell only who you choose what the real objective is. I'll expect you, Ilayen and Tetra with me tomorrow night. This council is dismissed."

/

Zelda barged into Impa's chambers, not bothering to hide her yawn. The rest of her team was there already; Zelda stood with hands on hips and surveyed them.

Impa had been rifling through reports; she collected them into a neat pile and stood from her desk. From where they studied the maps and weapons arrayed on the otherwise sparse walls, the others drifted over to the large mahogany desk.

The first thing Zelda noticed was how exhausted everyone was, herself included. Twelve hours of sleep was not enough, she thought grumpily, yawning again. Impa, of course, was the best at hiding it, but even she couldn't conceal the purple shadows sitting beneath her red eyes. Formidable as she was--a full six feet with silver hair and sharp, brown features--even the Army Commander needed sleep.

Link looked the worst of all of them. Zelda had had the rare luxury to sleep the day away, but she knew her captain had been up half the night and most of that day getting the Guard organized and selecting his men. He was running on a few hours of sleep, rubbing his eyes and yawning every few seconds.

Her eyes drifted to his back. He'd forgone his uniform, opting for a simple white shirt and black pants. She imagined if she looked long enough she could see the long, criss-crossing scars she knew were beneath, carved savagely into the golden skin of his back.

Her own scars itched as if in answer. Zelda tore her eyes away. Lingering on it wasn't good for either of them, even if she wished she could have him. Even if she wished she didn't have to hide it from him--from Link, of all people.

She shook her head at herself, rubbing the back of her neck. Now wasn't the time.

It never is, she thought bitterly.

On the other side of the table, Ilayen looked much the same as Link. As her other personal guard and Tetra's fiancé, his time was constantly split between the two of them.

Tetra herself caught Zelda's eye. She'd been with her the few hours before she'd passed out, planning what they would set out to do in an hour--the moment Ganondorf left.

Zelda had announced it that day during the council meeting, minutes before she'd collapsed into her bed. If the light filtering in through her room's windows meant anything, Ganondorf would be leaving within the next ten minutes. She imagined she could hear the carriage's wheels on the cobblestones.

Impa broke her out of her train of thought and she just caught the end of her commander's question. ". . . everything prepared, Zelda?"

"Yes," Zelda answered, striding over to the desk. "I want to give the convoy enough time to get a good distance from the castle. The last thing we need is Ganondorf surprising us because he forgot his umbrella."

As she spoke, a crack of thunder struck outside. The storm had begun. Zelda clutched the thick sleeves of her cream sweater--her favorite--and hoped it wasn't the same sort of storm that had hovered over Windfall all that time.

She picked up the documents Impa had been looking through. "In the meantime, I want to talk about the other subjects I couldn't bring up at the last two council meetings. Impa, how is the search for our warrior going?"

At that, Link sat up, blue eyes bright. It was hard to believe it was already several months since Link had asked her to find Zant's warrior. In a stark flash of clarity she recalled how relieved he'd been when she'd said yes, and how he'd kissed her cheek.

Looking at him now, silent and cold and very obviously avoiding her eyes, Zelda wished it could be that simple again.

Gah, she thought. I sound like a lovestruck sap.

Impa saved her. "We found signs he's entered Hyrule, though they're old, Your Majesty. Some dried blood on the border with Twilight, found around the time he would have crossed."

"How do you know he was heading that way? I thought we didn't know where he was."

"Our trackers are experts, Zelda," Ilayen reminded her. "You know that best of all. And it was only a few miles from the old palace of Twilight, if you must know."

Crossing her arms, cheeks flushed, she stuck her tongue out at Ilayen, who returned it, and nodded for Impa to continue. "Three weeks ago," Impa began again, sending a warning look at Zelda, "a shackle was found in an abandoned shed, somewhere between the last clue and Hateno Village."

"What's most recent?" Zelda asked, praying it wasn't the recovered shackle. Even with Impa's trackers, it was too imprecise--he could be headed anywhere from Hateno.

"A young man with serious injuries was apprehended at Nol three days past," Impa said slowly, as if not wanting to get Zelda's hopes up. "The guard thought he might have been Link." She nodded at the captain. "Apparently the two bear a striking resemblance. He was aggressive, however, trying to fight off the guards. We would have had him if his friends hadn't arrived to help."

Zelda's mind reeled. "Wait, wait. Three days past? In Nol? And what friends?"

Impa looked like she didn't want to say this, but she said anyway, "It looked as if he'd hitched a ride with some bandits. Why they allowed him to stay instead of just killing him then and there, I can't say." She shook her head in disgust. "It explains why he was able to travel between Hateno and Nol so quickly. On foot it might have taken him twice as long."

Link spoke up for the first time. "Bandits aren't like that. Not always, at least. They most likely saw his injuries and assumed he was a fighter, especially when he resisted arrest in his state. They could also have bonded while they traveled together. That also explains why they helped him escape. It's not unheard of." He shrugged, shoulders stiff.

Zelda fixed him with a crooked brow, but he wouldn't look at her, so she let it go. "Where are they now?" she demanded, leaning forward on the desk, though she already knew the answer.

Impa looked at her steadily. "We don't know."

Zelda forced herself to calm down. It wasn't easy. It was imperative to find the warrior as soon as possible, especially since Ganondorf was searching for him too--though the fact that he was seen, with bandits no less, was a good sign. Ganondorf didn't have him yet.

Zelda wrung her hands. The warrior could tell them who murdered everyone at the old Palace of Twilight, how he escaped, more about the "deal" Ganondorf had struck with Zant. If they found evidence to incriminate him in an attempted insurrection, together with the evidence they already had, they could put Ganondorf away for good.

At the very least, get him out of Hyrule, Zelda thought. Though she got the feeling he was one to cause trouble no matter where he went.

She took a deep breath. "That's just another reason to get into the hidden room. He mentioned the warrior in one of his journal entries. Maybe he's found something we haven't."

Link finally looked at her. His blue eyes were bright. "Are you sure you want to go back in there?" he asked quietly.

All eyes turned to her. The memory of last time was fresh in their minds. They knew what was in that room, they knew the risks. If Zelda froze again, if one of those monsters was awake, and broke out of its case . . .

Zelda took a long, deep breath, letting her eyes flutter shut. "Yes."

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A lot going on in this chap, more romantic tension and another mission! How will it go??!?

Anyway.

REVIEW REPLIES.

To Oracle of Hylia: The dynamic duo baby! What the fans have always wanted: a link-Zelda co-op XD. Breath of the Wild 2??? @ you, Nintendo.

I mean, she's thinking long term, you know? If they did something then, they both know it wouldn't be enough to satisfy them, and it would hurt more. And Ilayen and tetra would DEF know at least something went down. Besides, link and Zelda themselves would know, and that would suck enough because what comes next? Also, link is thinking rank—he's a guard, therefore not good enough, by the courts standards.

To Ultimate blazer: you actually gave me a really good idea??? O.o thanks :) and your welcome!

To Generala: HAHAHHAHAHAA THE TORTURE

Sorry, but you know I had to! Lmaooo. Also, HA, Ganondorf is insignificant in the face of loOooOOve XD.

Also, fun fact— that bit where Zelda's like "wild and fierce and free"??? About link?????? And remember when I said I have no restraint when it comes to Easter eggs and references??? Guess it. Come on. You know it. You've connected the dots.

Thank you for reviewing everyone! I love the love 3 also, Happy Valentines Day if you got one; if you don't, fuck it, Amirite? #allthesingleladies #beyoncemygirl #knowswhatsup

Later!~ enjoy ;)