Chapter 49

Trusting my dreams

The next day, after my training with Ganondorf was complete, I returned home to get some housework done. The more I trained, the less exhausted I was at the end of the session, and the more I felt I could get done at home. Link had, yet again, remained at the castle to attend a meeting with Zelda and the Sages. And after that, he had told me he would train for a while.

The dream from the previous night did not scare me anymore, but it did make me think. It was almost like a vision, but a twisted one that completely changed the context of what was happening.

While I was pondering the implications of everything, I heard someone loudly banging on the front door.

I quickly put the plate I had been cleaning aside and dried off my hands before going to answer the door.

And there, face purple with anger, and with tears in her eyes, stood Princess Ruto.

„Princess Ruto? Is there any way I can help you?", I asked, taken aback by her sudden appearance at my doorstep.

„There is no helping either of us, Rebecca", she said with clenched teeth. Then her face softened. „I'm so sorry."

„Sorry… for… what?"

She flinched. „You don't know yet."

„Don't know what?", I asked impatiently.

„Link", she said. „And the Queen. I saw them… together and… Oh Rebecca I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. I was so focused on blaming you for everything wrong in my life that I never once stopped to consider that maybe Link isn't the person I thought he was." She shook her head. „I never thought he could be capable of being so openly unfaithful! But there he was, a married man, kissing the Queen while his wife is at home running the household and raising his child while pregnant with another."

„Uh-"

„No, you don't have to say anything. I know that this must be terrible news for you. Believe me, I know what it feels like."

„Ruto-"

„And to think that all of the things I blamed on you were really his fault!", she spat, completely unmoved by my desperate attempts to clear up the misunderstanding. „The other future, what happened to the Zora there, all of the tears and loneliness and suffering I went through, it all happened because he thought that being the Hero of Time gives him the right to play with our hearts!"

„Ru-"

„And then he had the gall to act like he actually cared about you!" Then she gasped. „Oh no. The Queen's unborn child. Could it be… Link's?"

And while Princess Ruto was still ranting away, I saw Link and Zelda walk towards the house; holding hands and talking to each other. Then they saw Ruto and I helplessly met their gazes and vaguely gestured to her. Which Ruto noticed, causing her to turn around. Her amethyst eyes immediately sharpened. „YOU!" She stomped over to Link. „You have quite the nerve to show up here with your… your… with the Queen!" Then she turned to Zelda. „And you, Your Majesty? How could you ever agree to this? I always considered you a morally upstanding woman!"

„Princess Ruto!", I finally interjected. „You have completely misunderstood what is happening, I'm afraid."

„What is there to misunderstand?", Ruto asked angrily. „I saw them kissing!"

„And at another time you might have found me kissing Zelda", I replied calmly.

„What." Princess Ruto stared at me.

Zelda approached me and took my hand in hers. „I suppose you could say that I joined their family."

Ruto stood there with her mouth gaping open for a few more seconds before regaining here composure. „I… see." Her face turned purple once more, though this time probably from embarrassment rather than rage. „Please excuse me." Then she awkwardly stalked off.

Link slightly shook his head and then turned to Zelda and me again. „Well that's a thing that just happened."

„Give her time to process what she just learned", Zelda said soothingly. „It must have been quite a shock for her." Then she embraced both of us and kissed us.

„By the way, Becca, I invited Zelda to join us for dinner tonight. As a Thank You for inviting us to dinner in the castle yesterday. I hope you don't mind", Link said.

„Not at all!", I replied cheerfully. „Though the meals I prepare will hardly compare to palace cuisine, I fear."

„That's alright." Zelda kissed my mouth. „Whatever you make, I'm sure I'll love it."

During my short time working in the castle kitchen during my first stay at Hyrule castle, I had heard through the grapevine that Zelda loved fresh fruit and any dishes prepared from them, so I decided to make baked apples.

Zelda peered over my shoulder and I could practically hear the grin on her face when she said:„Oooh! Baked apples? I love baked apples!"

It was weird hearing Zelda talk in such an informal manner. But then again, she did love Link and me, so she probably felt like she could let her guard down around us at least a little bit.

While I hollowed out the apples and filled them with nuts, raisins and honey, Link and Zelda sat down in the living area, with Gareth sitting on Zelda's lap and playing with the tassels on her dress.

I liked what I saw. My beloved family sitting peacefully together like that gave me a sense of stability, even in these uncertain times.

Zelda bid us goodbye right after dinner; her royal duties were calling, after all. Link and I were still also tired from our daily schedule, so we decided to turn in early that night.

Princess Ruto sat at the edge of one of the ponds in the palace garden and glared at her own reflection. „So, Link can have two lovers, but doesn't want me to be one of them?" She hissed like an enraged viper, her purple eyes now appearing more red than their usual shade of amethyst. „Oh I will show them. If Link only has space for two women in his life… I will just have to create a vacancy, now, won't I?"

I woke with a start, breathing heavily and immediately grabbing the bucket next to my bed to throw up.

Damn these dreams, I thought, rubbing my slightly bulging belly.

Link was sleeping next to me; his face was calm and relaxed. Completely unaware of my turmoil.

I leaned over and slightly shook him to wake him up. „Link. Love. I had another dream."

He rubbed his eyes and let out a protesting groan. „Another one?"

„This time it was about Princess Ruto wanting to kill me… or maybe kill Zelda."

Now he was immediately fully awake. „Ruto wouldn't do that."

I sighed. „I know that. But still. These dreams have me worried. It's almost like my own head wants to turn me against the people around me."

He closed his eyes… and then they shot open widely. „Your own head… or Demise."

„What?"

„Think about it. We already know that Demise can… show you things. And he would undoubtedly benefit from you isolating yourself."

„That's how it is", said another male voice, causing both Link and me to jump out of bed.

„Who's there?", I yelled, grabbing my naginata from the rack and pointing it at the door to the roof terrace, from which I had heard the voice.

No answer.

Link and I exchanged a look and nodded at each other before carefully approaching the door and opening it. And there, leaning against the wall of our bedroom, stood Volga as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be there.

He looked around. „A place like this is pretty impractical. It only gives approaching enemies more space for an attack. Then again, your combat abilities justify this kind of carelessness, I suppose."

„What the hell are you doing here?", I asked, gripping my naginata tighter.

„I've been guarding your abode for the past few nights; ever since I arrived here from the Great Lebian Coast."

„What? Why?", Link asked warily.

Volga gave him an annoyed look. „Us Dracoknights follow the law of the strongest. Not too long ago, I was the leader of my kind because I was the strongest. Then I was beaten by the sorceress, and by the ancient law that binds me, I was to follow her until the day I could best her in battle and regain my freedom. Then you came, Glaces, and defeated me. Meaning that now I am also bound to you."

„So you want a rematch, to free yourself of that bond to me?", I asked, confused.

„No. If I tried to right you now, it would only end in another humiliating defeat for me. However, there is a huge battle approaching, one that will change the course of history. And as you probably already guessed, us Dracoknights thrive in times of conflict." Then he gave me a once over, and again, there was the barest hint of a smirk on his face, in a way that almost seemed… appreciative? „Besides, you are way more interesting to me than the sorceress."

„Watch what you're saying", Link warned.

„So insecure that you cannot stand another man appreciating your wife, hero?", Volga mocked. „Are you afraid that she will choose the path of dragons and choose a stronger mate, instead?"

„I would appreciate it if you stopped provoking my husband like this", I interjected. „But apart from that, we will gladly accept your help."

„We will?", Link asked incredulously.

„We cannot afford rejecting potential allies out of hurt pride right now, Link", I replied.

Link bit his lip and then sighed. „I guess you're right."