Chapter Fifty-Four

"Give me that report from Holodrum." Zelda held out her hand without taking her eyes from the pages in front of her, wiggling her fingers until she felt the soft scrape of paper against her callouses.

"The Lizalfos haven't been active, but neither have they been exterminated."

"What's taking so long?"

"The battalion has to cross the Waker Sea to get down there," Zelda called, breaking up the discussion. "Holodrum has no standing army--it's all farmland and a few settlements."

"Which makes me wonder how the Lizalfos got there in the first place," Tetra said, coming to stand at Zelda's shoulder. "You'd think a ship would notice a bunch of six-foot monsters climbing aboard."

"Not if the monsters were the ones steering," Link added, coming up on Tetra's other side. He tossed a few papers down onto the mess. Tetra raised a brow. "Can they do that?"

"Lizalfos are one of the more intelligent monsters," Ilayen commented, on Zelda's left. He was poring over his own pile of reports. Zelda squinted at something and made a notation as Ilayen continued. "Not only are they smart enough to hijack a ship, they can also swim great distances."

"Surely not the expanse of the Waker Sea, though?" asked a Sheikah Shadow--the very same boy Zelda had assigned to stalk Ganondorf. The four at the table exchanged glances and shrugged. "No one really knows the extent of their stamina--" Link began.

"But the color of their scales helps a bit," Ilayen continued.

The shadow looked lost. While Link and Ilayen explained, Tetra leaned close to Zelda. "This all helps a lot, don't get me wrong, but I think we're taking this in the wrong direction."

Zelda didn't answer, though her pencil stopped scraping. Tetra took that as a cue to continue, as Zelda knew she would. "You're up to your eyeballs in work. I get that. We all do. But none of this work is helping to understand who we're dealing with. We need information on him, not his minions."

Zelda agreed--she really did. That didn't mean she couldn't put it off for as long as possible. Even after all this time . . .

Tetra took a deep breath. "We have to go in, Zelda. They were the closest people to Ganondorf. If anyone can give some insight, it would be them."

Zelda took a step back and closed her eyes. "I can't go in there," she said, very quietly. "Not yet."

Around her, the work didn't stop, but she noticed a change all the same. The atmosphere quieted, the buzz of shared information fading to a murmur. They all knew what she meant. Their next step wasn't a secret. The preparations were made, the appointments ready to be announced. Everyone was in position.

The only thing stopping them was Zelda herself.

She knew she was putting off the inevitable. They needed that information--it was a veritable treasure trove of dirt on Ganondorf, and it was the only place they hadn't searched yet. They'd gotten everything they could out of Ghirahim, now locked in a cell deep in the Sheikah wing of the castle. They had the journals from Ganondorf's hidden study. They had the reports of every monster activity in the last sixty years--more than any of them had expected, and it worried them. They had the testimonies of Link and Zelda both.

Zelda took a deep breath, recalling that day. Even though it had been her idea, she'd laid in bed the night before, unable to sleep. Link, in his wolf form, had warmed her from head to toe, his head in her arms as she stroked his fur. Partly a blessing, to escape her nightmares, but . . .

Telling--showing--Link had been one thing. But for everyone in this room, those who had no idea what she'd gone through . . . facing Ilayen, trying not to break under her guilt . . . she'd almost felt like it would crush her.

But as much as it had taken to let it go, now that it was in the open, she felt weightless. She didn't have to hide it anymore. She'd never known how much it had held her down until it was no longer there.

But that was just her.

When Link had come forward, right here in Impa's study, and begun his own story . . . it had been an effort not to let her mask crack. Especially when he stripped off his tunic, exposing the mottled skin of his back. Even Impa had turned her face away for a moment.

It was necessary, Zelda had told herself, watching Link clothe himself again. It was necessary. They needed to know exactly what these monsters were capable of.

And now they knew. There was only one thing they had no intel on.

Zelda sighed.

"I'll announce the appointments tonight at the state dinner," she said. This time, the work did stop. "Tomorrow we will begin."

/

Zelda stood in front of the double doors, staring at the intricate engravings in the wood. The hall behind was silent. Like the rest of the North Wing.

Silent. Undisturbed. At peace.

As it had been for the last decade.

Zelda closed her eyes. How many times have I wondered what lay behind these doors? How many times have I told myself it didn't matter?

How many times have I wondered what they kept of her things, and what they threw away?

Her gloved hands shook; she clenched them into fists to keep them still.

It needs to be done.

Her eyes opened. It needed to be done, yes. But she wanted to do it, this first time. Alone.

Swallowing, she pushed the door open and stepped into the room beyond.

The first thing she noticed was the dust.

It was everywhere, every flat surface covered in a thick layer of gray. Clouds rose up with each of Zelda's footfalls, swirling in the dark air, illuminated like miniscule will o' the wisps by the moonlight streaming in through floor to ceiling windows.

Zelda turned in a slow circle. Everything was as it had been left, just like the last time she'd been in there. When she'd walked in from a nightmare, and seen a body wrapped in white being carried out.

Her father, standing to the side, watching. Quietly ordering the guards to escort Zelda back to her room and place a guard. His whispered words, at odds with the tears in his eyes.

The Queen is just tired, sweetheart. She'll be awake soon.

Zelda strode to the wall, eyes fixed on the portrait that hung there. That was the first lie she'd ever been told--she'll be awake soon. They'd carried her body beneath that portrait. And hours later, they'd told her a second lie.

The Queen is dead, darling. She fell from her balcony.

Tears scalded her eyes. She stared up at her mother's face, smiling as serenely here as she had in life. Golden hair like wheat, blue eyes brighter than the sapphires in her ears. Her hands on Zelda's shoulders.

It hadn't been until she'd made it to Nol that she'd realized she'd been lied to again. Until she'd listened in on a pair of gossiping women and had to clench her hands around her drink.

It hadn't been until fourteen years later that she'd learned the Queen hadn't fallen from her balcony at all.

The Queen was assassinated.

Zelda's gaze drifted to the curtains to her right--the only pair that were drawn. If her mother had really fallen, then surely there would be cracks in the stone? Even after all this time?

Her feet moved of their own accord, but a knock on the door stopped her before she'd taken a step. Zelda took a deep breath and turned away, heading for the doors, forcing herself not to look at her mother's smiling face as she passed. Part of her wished she could ignore the knock, that she could have made it to the curtains and stepped out onto the balcony. But the rest of her knew--what good would it do? How many times did she need to prove to herself that looking, knowing, would only break her further?

Sighing through her nose, she exited the room and waited for Link to shut the door. "How did you know I was in there?"

Link closed the doors with a soft click before glancing at her. "Because I know you," he said quietly.

It was such a simple answer--so simple and honest and true--that she had nothing to say in return. So she set off for the dinner, Link's words rattling around her skull like loose stones.

It was such a Link thing to say . . . Because I know you. They made thinking about what she had to do nearly impossible, but then, that was a blessing in itself. By the time she'd reached the hallway, lit with golden bright torches--a stark contrast with the hall just upstairs--she'd distracted herself sufficiently enough that when they announced her arrival, she simply inclined her head and took her seat.

Zelda allowed herself a smile.

Tetra had truly pulled out all the stops. She'd chosen the main receiving room for the dinner, a wide room made smaller by the statues of past rulers lining the walls. The table occupied the center, and tall golden lamps cast their light everywhere. And the dinner itself had been timed so that no one had an excuse to miss it. Remembering the last time she'd given him an assignment, Zelda imagined that beneath his cool, bored facade, Ganondorf was steaming at the ears.

No estate to run to this time.

The thought brought back to mind her goal for the dinner, and she ran through it all in her head while exchanging pleasantries. She'd invited all the rulers as a gesture of respect, but she'd hardly expected many of them to actually come. For at least half, they had to cross the Waker Sea, a journey that remained treacherous even without the storms. In the end, only Valoo and Midna had arrived. The rest had sent letters of apology, letters that now sat on a silver platter in Zelda's room.

But there was one unexpected arrival, and she was currently spilling more than flattery onto the mahogany table.

Zelda tried hard not to gag at that ridiculous gown Countess Cia wore. Honestly, she couldn't have shown more skin if she'd tried. And it certainly didn't come as a surprise that she sat beside Ganondorf himself.

Well well, Zelda thought, watching Cia bat her lashes at Ganondorf. He rumbled a laugh and leaned in to whisper in the woman's ear. A master of monsters and whores alike.

As nice a city as Nol was, it was still a city. And like all cities, it had a red-light district. Pure curiosity had attracted Zelda in her second week in Nol, much to Aryll and Saria's amusement, and the short experience had been enough to keep her as far away as possible since.

In the ten minutes she'd spent in that cesspit, she'd seen prostitutes with twice as much self-respect as Cia--which was saying something.

Her already suffering opinion of Cia only worsened during the dinner. Her laugh was loud and crass, she clung to every word from Ganondorf's mouth, and had entirely too much to say about matters she had no knowledge of. By the time the first course rolled in, vegetable beef soup, Zelda's patience had sunk so low that from her right, Link laid a hand on her knee below the table.

It was such a shame that Cia turned to her at that moment.

"Empress Zelda," she crowed, her heavy black makeup making her look as such, "I don't believe we've been introduced."

From down the table, Zelda caught Valoo roll his eyes. The sight gave her the strength to say, "No, I don't believe we have. Countess Cia, correct?"

Cia's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She hadn't missed the slight, as Zelda knew she wouldn't. "I simply must congratulate you on a successful Summit. It is a bit late, but as you know, I was not aware that such an important event was underway."

Zelda bit down on her tongue before answering. "Yes, well, as you know, only the rulers of each nation were invited. Such important matters can be shared only so freely, if we are to maintain stability."

Midna's eyes flicked between the two women, her wine glass hiding the amusement on her face. They didn't miss the way conversation around the table slowed ever so slightly, as if the other guests wanted to hear what would happen next.

Cia shifted in her seat, not missing a beat. "You're right, of course. We wouldn't want another conflict to put our beloved Empress in danger. By the way," she leaned forward, red-violet eyes wide, "if I may ask, how are you faring, Empress? This past month has been positively awful, I've heard."

Zelda tried hard not to look at Ganondorf's smug face. I'm sure you have, she thought, clenching her fist beneath the table. She took a bite of soup before answering. "Quite well, all things considered," she said, keeping her voice light.

As if she would ever give Ganondorf the satisfaction of knowing just how much the attacks had ruined her state of mind. She was only just getting used to the nightmares every night, and yet, it had become an unspoken agreement to have Link sleep in her room.

He had yet to tell her how he'd acquired the power to transform into a wolf--and he knew her patience was running thin on that front, as well. As it was, she wasn't sure if she quite believed him about Colin, either. But she'd give him time. As much as he needed.

Cia fanned herself, prompting Midna to roll her eyes along with Valoo. Zelda held back a snort. "First Waker, then the horror of Snowpeak! I simply cannot imagine how you must be handling it all. The nightmares alone . . ."

She shook her head. Zelda took a breath. "It was . . . an experience, certainly. But like all experiences, I've learned many important things from them. I'm quite sure they will help me become a better leader. Given time, of course," she added slowly. She glanced at Ganondorf as she raised her glass to her lips.

He was staring at her the way he had the night of her coronation, when she'd taunted him during their dance. The murderous look in his eyes was reflected there now, and Zelda forced herself to meet it.

Everything was there; he may as well have shouted it from the rooftops. Every intent, every inclination, every veiled threat lay in his golden eyes, and time seemed to slow around them, as if the world itself was waiting to see what would happen. Would he attack her right there--would he prove all her suspicions correct? Or would he simply wait and watch for the right time to strike?

His gaze flicked away as Cia reattached herself to him, and time returned to its course.

/

"If I may be so bold, why have we been recalled, pray tell?" Midna drawled.

"Only you would have to gall to question the Empress before she is ready, Your Majesty," Cia snapped. Midna simply lounged in her seat, tipping her wine glass at the Countess and winking.

Zelda held back a smile and finished the last bite of her dessert. "Only one who knows she has nothing to fear would be so bold," she answered, raising her own glass to Midna. The Queen of Twilight's smile was simply wicked, a stark contrast to the coldness in Cia's eyes.

Zelda's face was warm. Okay, so maybe I've had a touch too much wine, she thought, judging by the brightness of the room. She made an effort to control herself; it wasn't as if she needed to give anyone the idea that she favored one ruler over another. Even if she did.

She straightened her gloves as the table's occupants turned to her. "The reason is simply this: the anniversary of the Hylian Alliance's last battle of the war is tomorrow. As you all know, the recent excursions--to Waker and Snowpeak, specifically--have ended in violence, caused by monsters thought to have been extinct. My council and I have decided that in light of these recent monster attacks," she nodded her head to Link, "a ball will be held in honor of all those who sacrificed themselves to keep our world safe. It is our wish that this event also helps raise awareness of the dangers these creatures pose to us."

She paused. "We wouldn't want another incident like Snowpeak, would we?" she asked, turning to Cia. The Countess just managed to turn her expression from one of narrowed suspicion to wide-eyed agreement. Zelda pretended she didn't notice and smiled demurely. "I hope you will support us."

There was a short silence, during which Zelda prayed they would buy it, and then the soft scrape of chairs on carpet sounded. Valoo stood, wine glass raised, and met her eyes.

"When you disappeared from Fire Mountain, Your Majesty," he said, voice grave, "I felt as though my own daughter had been left behind. And when you reappeared, and spoke of what happened . . . I have never felt quite so afraid. That you were attacked on my land, that I could not help you, I felt as though I had let your father down. It has since been my hope, and that of all of Waker, that you never face such danger again."

Zelda watched the king's throat bob. She knew the difference between an act and real emotion, and this was anything but an act. This was genuine.

"You have yet to lead us astray, Your Majesty," Valoo said. "If this will keep our people safe, then you have Waker's full support."

He bowed low--deeper than he needed to, deeper than court propriety demanded--and retook his seat. Zelda had to fight the emotion climbing up her throat as she raised her glass to him.

Midna closed her eyes before standing. Her black gown sparkled in the chandelier light, the candles reflecting off the crystal shards in her long black gloves, in her amber eyes. "You came to me when you had nothing."

Her voice was quiet, solemn like Zelda had never heard it. "You had given up your title, your name. You had no army, no weapons beyond your sword and your wit. And yet when I called, you came. Not out of obligation--no, you came because you wanted to. You came to help because that's who you are."

Zelda stared at Midna. The Queen of Twilight, at one point or another, had grown to be one of Zelda's most precious friends. To hear her speak like this . . .

Then Midna smiled, and the solemnity was gone, replaced with her usual smoldering attitude. She raised her hands. "You can dress her in rags and call her a princess of the people, but a princess she remains. And I'm damn glad she's the one we have now. Twilight is with you."

This time Zelda had to make a real effort to push down the tears that sprang to her eyes. She closed them for a long moment, swallowing several times before facing the table again. Before she could speak, however, Cia was quick to intercede.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, what will a ball do? As you've said, there have been multiple attacks; I'm quite certain a party will not do much to--"

"Perhaps if you let the Empress finish," Ganondorf cut in smoothly. Cia shot him a quick glance, but fell silent.

Letting your woman speak your thoughts and then disregarding her to avoid suspicion, Zelda thought. She almost snorted; the move was so transparent, it was laughable. Even a blind man could have seen the Countess was nothing more than a puppet in fancy dress.

Even so, Zelda shrugged. "Indeed, it won't do anything to stop the attacks directly. Such things cannot be stopped overnight. The point of the ball isn't to stop the attacks in the first place, merely to raise awareness of them. The people will do the rest."

And it will begin tonight, she thought.

Opposition ended soon after, and with an hour to midnight, the room had cleared out. Zelda ordered Link to wait outside despite his protests, wanting a few moments to herself.

Once the door closed, she took a deep breath. "I know you're there."

A dark laugh echoed from behind her and Ganondorf stepped out from the shadow of a statue, his smile somehow more menacing the monsters floating in his study. Zelda watched him straighten his black and red robes. "It seems we had similar ideas, Your Majesty. Peace and quiet is rather hard to come by these days."

Zelda met his golden gaze with hers. "Extraordinarily so."

Ganondorf came around the table. Zelda's hand twitched.

"Still. Mightn't it be presumptuous to announce the return of monsters based on a few . . . incidents, shall we call them? After all, the only testimony we have is from a less than stable source."

Zelda's eyes narrowed. Less than stable? "Explain, won't you?"

Ganondorf smiled. "Come now, Empress. Even you must have noticed." He circled her slowly, like a shark in open water. Her hand itched beneath her glove. "The way the people look at you. How they speak of you behind their saccharine smiles."

He crept behind her and Zelda whirled, digging her nails into the back of her hand. "I said explain, not spout cryptic nonsense."

Ganondorf laughed softly. He knew the effect he was having--knew full well, and was exploiting the hell out of it. Zelda fought the rising fear in her, shouted down the voice in her head that said this was the man breeding monsters, and that she needed to escape. She would not run from him.

He kept circling her, and she turned with him. Don't let him get behind you. "They worry for your health. Stories of your . . . episodes have spread--how you scream in the night, with nought but a wild beast to guard you. How you attack those that get too close. They have heard of the accidents in Waker and Snowpeak, and question the stability of the empire."

Zelda forced her limbs to stiffen, her spine to straighten. "I am not unstable," she hissed. "I am not insane."

Ganondorf raised a brow, stopping, and too late Zelda realized she'd fallen into his trap. She cursed silently, wishing she could just have it all out in the open, right there. Her hand burned, like hot knives were cutting through her skin.

"No one said you were," Ganondorf said, the timbre of his voice seeming to grow deeper. "Though I myself cannot deny that very thought has crossed my mind. For what ruler," he asked now, leaning close, "would seek to antagonize those who oppose her?"

Zelda's gaze snapped up to meet his, and she felt her lip curl. "One who has nothing to fear."

An outright lie, and he knew it. He laughed. "Brave words from a girl who can't stop shaking. I suggest you get your fear under control, Empress, before it consumes you."

His golden eyes flashed.

For he heralds a new age of darkness

Zelda summoned every last vestige of strength in her; she felt as though his proximity had sucked it all out of her, leaving her mouth bone dry and her knees weak. "Then I shall offer the same advice to you, my lord."

Ganondorf laughed, but Zelda thought she saw a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "I am not afraid."

Zelda looked him dead in the eyes, blue meeting gold, and once again, time slowed around them for just a moment--just long enough for Zelda to see the flash of silver in the folds of Ganondorf's robes. "No . . . but you will be."

Time returned to normal and the flash was gone, leaving the two staring at each other, hatred burning in their gazes like the knives in Zelda's skin. Ganondorf opened his mouth, but he froze, his eyes falling to Zelda's hand. They widened almost imperceptibly, and for the first time, Zelda noticed a faint glow from within the sleeves of Ganondorf's robes. Her hand burned like it was on fire.

The door burst open. Shadows of green and black were all that Zelda saw before she realized it was Link, standing between the her and Ganondorf. Beside her, Midna took her arms, half shielding her.

Ganondorf quickly got himself together. "No need for that, Sir," he said, half-mocking, half cavalier. His hate from seconds ago was gone, evaporated.

No, she thought suddenly. Not evaporated. Just buried. Hidden. He grinned at Zelda. "The Empress and I were just having a little chat."

/

"Just a chat, huh?"

Zelda pinched her lips shut and kept flipping through the tome. Maybe if she ignored him long enough . . .

"Just a chat. Well, Empress, if it's just a chat, then perhaps you could tell us what, exactly, you were chatting about?"

To hell with ignoring. Zelda slammed the book shut and glared at Link. "We were chatting about nothing in particular, Link, so if you could be quiet and let me focus, we might get somewhere with this research before tomorrow," she snapped.

Link snorted derisively, inflaming Zelda even further. She clenched the edges of the book as her personal guard muttered to himself, under the amused gaze of Midna, who lounged in the corner, half-obscured behind her own forest of books.

Personal guard, HA! More like personal nuisance, Zelda thought, hunching over her book. Link's blue eyes narrowed in her direction. Zelda raised her shoulders further and squinted at the tiny words etched onto the paper.

'The Triforce is an ancient power, bestowed upon the land of Hyrule by the three Golden Goddesses. It has the power to grant the wish of the first person to touch it--but only if that person's heart is balanced. Should one whose heart is impure lay a hand on the Triforce, it will split, and the piece that most represents the bearer will become theirs.'

Zelda narrowed her eyes, her pulse picking up.

'In ancient times, the Triforce has been known to split into three pieces on many occasions, one for each of the three Goddesses. Nayru's Wisdom, Farore's Courage, and Din's Power. Throughout history, these pieces have sought out and laid within those who most represent their values. These figures have remained mostly the same every time. A y--

The rest of the page was torn away, eaten by moths or just worn by time, she couldn't tell. Zelda groaned and shoved the book away. A moment later she tsked, staring blankly at the yellowed pages.

Perhaps she didn't need the book. She knew her history--knew those who'd claimed the Triforces had been people of prominence. Never mind that most of the oldest stories had given way to legend; the tale of the Hero of Time was one of the most well known stories in the Hyrule Empire. An evil lord, corrupt and hell-bent on destroying the world, only to be stopped by a hero in green and a princess, aided with the power of the Triforce. So it had happened many other times.

Zelda chewed on her lip, flicking the pages up and down. I wonder . . .

A stack of books stood to her right, another to her left. Beyond her desk, three more waited. Zelda sighed. Nothing's ever easy.

/

Two hours later, her search yielded results.

The Triforces had indeed always gone to the same figures: every era throughout history--from the Era of Time to the Era of the Wild--had produced circumstances leading to the same end result. The Triforce of Courage went to a young hero, the Triforce of Wisdom to the princess of Hyrule, and the Triforce of Power . . .

Power had always gone to the antagonist--and despite the name, it had always failed against the other two. Wisdom and Courage trumped Power, every time.

But they hadn't been alone. If this book was to be believed, during the Era of Time, there had been others. Individuals with incredible sealing power who, after the King of Evil had been defeated, had sealed him away.

Unbidden, the words of Ruto's dream came rising to the front of her mind.

The Six must awaken.

They say it was a young hero, from nothing, and a princess . . .

Zelda's mind whirled. Six individuals--Sages--and a hero, and princess . . . She remembered Ruto's expression when she'd looked at Zelda. She believed Zelda was the princess. And from what Zelda had just witnessed at the state dinner . . .

Her eyes hadn't failed her--she knew what she'd seen, in the folds of Ganondorf's robes. She could guess why Ganondorf had stared at her own hand, as well. But that meant . . .

Zelda pressed the heels of her hands into her temples. According to the book, the Triforce had always appeared as a golden Triangle on the back of the hand of its bearer. Whenever each piece was near another, they resonated. But if that was the case, she wondered, then why . . . ?

She shook her head. She was getting ahead of herself. The idea that the Triforce had reappeared was bad enough; if the books and history were anything to go by, then it was just proof that hell was on its way, and closing in fast. Any time the Triforce chose its three bearers, Hyrule went through a period of such darkness--

Zelda froze.

He heralds a new age of darkness.

That bloody prophecy . . . it wasn't just a prophecy, it was a damned warning. As had been everything that followed: Zant trying to take over Twilight, the increasing monster attacks, the chaos of Fire Mountain, Snowpeak . . .

Swearing, Zelda rifled through the books around her, searching for something, anything, to prove her wrong. Even if she already knew the answer.

She'd had more than enough warning. The history itself told the story over and over again: the rise of monsters, the fracturing of the Triforce, the age-old battle between light and darkness. She couldn't have been any more blind if she'd tried.

And if Ganondorf had the Triforce of Power like she suspected, then that left her with the Triforce of Wisdom. So much help that's been, she thought mutinously. Which left the Triforce of Courage . . .

Zelda snuck a glance at Link from the corner of her eye and allowed herself a smirk. I wonder if he knows how uncanny he is, she thought, watching him leaf through a tome thicker than his arm, squinting at the page. His hair was wild, freed from the cap of his Royal Guard's Uniform. He's even wearing green.

She returned to her own book, amusement fading. She didn't have proof that Link had the Triforce of Courage, but she didn't want to take any chances. Not when everything lined up so well. There was just one problem.

Ruto's dream had spoken of "the Six". With what Zelda knew--and suspected--now, she figured the Six meant figures like the ancient Sages from the Era of Time. Those original six had sealed the King of Evil away. The issue now was finding them--for Zelda was convinced they would be necessary in the fight against Ganondorf.

She stood from her chair and went to stand on her balcony, staring out over Hyrule Field. Castle Town spread out below her, surrounded by the wall that had protected it for decades. Beyond the wall, the green grass of the Fields stretched away into the distance. Dark lumps marked where villages stood; though she couldn't see it, she imagined Ordon, far to the south, buried in a quiet forest. The Twilight Mountains stood to her right, and Death Mountain loomed far to the east.

Zelda chewed on her lip, watching a cloud of birds flutter high above. All of this . . . Hyrule . . . it was hers to protect. She'd known that from the beginning.

All she wanted was to make her empire strong, keep her people safe and happy. She'd never wanted to fight a war. She wanted to scream about the unfairness of it all.

Damn Ganondorf, she thought, staring up at the sky. Is this really necessary? Can't we just live in peace--for once?

She snorted softly at herself. That was just wishful thinking. If history was anything to go by, Ganondorf wanted for only one thing.

Wrapped up in her thoughts as she was, she didn't hear the quiet words exchanged behind her, or the door closing softly. A hand on her shoulder was the only warning she had before coming face to face with Link. He took her hand. "Come here," he said softly.

She let him pull her to the bed; she sat on the coverlet and leaned back against the footboard, watching him from hooded eyes. Link sat beside her, unusually stiff. His eyes were shifty, and he wrung his hands. "So, I know I promised to tell you . . . about me," he said.

Zelda cocked her head, waiting. She knew he'd tell her eventually, but . . . "You don't have to if you're not ready," she offered, but he shook his head. "No. I've kept you in the dark long enough. After everything that's happened, you deserve to know."

His voice was resolute, so Zelda nodded. She wouldn't insult him further. Link took a deep breath. "It's . . . it's not much of a story, really. While I was helping Midna, I found out I could change into a wolf. I don't know why, or how. We thought it might be something to do with the air in Twilight, or perhaps it was a result of . . ."

He shrugged helplessly. "All I know is that sometimes I can change into a wolf. It's not an exact science, but . . . Zelda?"

Zelda jerked. "Sorry. No, I was listening. It's just that . . . well, does Impa know?"

Link blinked at her. "I-Impa? I . . . I don't know. It never came up."

Never came up, huh, Zelda thought. I can see that happening.

Which reminded her. Should she tell Link what she'd learned? The first answer that came to mind was yes, but something held her back. The nagging thought that they didn't truly have any proof that the situation would develop the way history predicted felt like a chain around Zelda's ankle, preventing her from moving forward. Sure, it had happened that way dozens of times. But what proof--real, solid, concrete proof did they have that Ganondorf was poised to destroy the world with monsters and the Triforce of Power?

None. They had none. They had nothing.

So Zelda kept quiet. She took Link's hand and cradled it between her own, feeling like the world sat upon her shoulders. She couldn't tell Link--couldn't saddle him with the responsibility of beating Ganondorf, like all other Heroes had before him, when she didn't even know if that was necessary or not.

What she did know was that it would be him. If things turned out the way history and the prophecy predicted, it would be him against Ganondorf. The Triforces of Power and Courage, forever locked in battle.

Zelda closed her eyes, Link's hand warm in hers. This time, she'd make sure it was different. This time, she'd make sure he wasn't fighting alone.

A hand tilted her chin up, and she opened her eyes to find Link watching her, blue gaze concerned. Without thinking, Zelda leaned forward and captured his mouth, sliding her hand into his hair to hold him to her.

He made a noise of surprise but answered quickly enough. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her close. He tilted his head for better access, and Zelda wondered giddily why she hadn't done this sooner.

No time, a voice answered in her head. Zelda wrapped her arms around Link's neck, but he broke away. "You're going to be late," he murmured.

With a curse, Zelda realized he was right. She had somewhere to be.

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Drama, Ganondorf being douchey as usual, and ZELINK! Yayyy. And featuring links wolf explanation. I hope you guys enjoy it!

REVIEW REPLIES.

Guest: sorry to offend you, I'm personally a devoted Zelink shipper myself, but I also respect other people's opinions. I'd like the review section to remain insult free, but that's up to my reviewers. That being said, I respect your opinion on the matter. Thank you for reviewing! I hope you enjoy the story despite this.

To Generala: I do indeed. Have I delivered? *raises eyebrows suggestively*

And This is leading up to some big stuff, but I'll say no more than that! Enjoy the ride, and thanks for reviewing :)

To Ultimate blazer: HAHAHA yeahhh, I put my characters through it XD. You're welcome!

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I quite like it. Introducing new characters is always fun ;)))). See you Monday!

ALSO: It's come to my attention that I have no disclaimer, so in order to avoid getting sued, here it is. All Nintendo characters, names, and places are Nintendo's only. I do not own Legend of Zelda. Satisfied, Nintendo?