Chapter 9:
Castle Waiting
_____________
The beds were too damn comfortable.
After all this, after running a marathon through the castle with the kid, after leaping out the tower, after nearly getting killed twice within the space of the night...Link found he just couldn't sleep.
The beds were too soft. His own bed, at his house, was perfect. Firm, thick mattress, a thin comforter, sheets, and then his blanket. Never failed to fall asleep on that.
Here...he sank. Nobles. Never know the meaning of the word 'enough'.
So he sneaks into the royal library. Second time this week, actually...
And he starts browsing, hoping he'd find something to lull him to sleep. Too late to go home, and the Princess would be offended...and, since they're an item now, he doesn't want to offend her.
He walks along the eastern wall of the library, tracing his finger along the history and folk books, sighing to himself, dressed in a set of oversized pajamas and an ankle-length, fuzzy grey robe. He doesn't know who they belong to, and he doesn't plan on keeping them. They were just there.
"Now, let's see...," he mutters, as he reaches the end of that section, "What can bore me to sleep...ah ha!"
He yanks out one of the books, a thick, hard-bound volume.
"Hyrulian economics," he says, "Bored me to tears. Might bore me to sleep."
"You make no friends amongst the treasurers with that attitude."
He turns, seeing Zelda standing by one of the side entrances, tightening the off-white nightrobe over her nightgown.
"You're up late," he says.
"So are you."
"I couldn't sleep," he responds, shrugging, "I'm not used to the castle opulence."
She smirks, walking over to him, looking at the book.
"Nina's having no problem sleeping," she says.
"I'd bet. If I were in that situation-"
"No, Link. At all," she responds, "When Jacob died...she'd wake up in the middle of the night. Crying. Much like me...and she couldn't sleep. But tonight she's sleeping soundly."
"And why do you think that is?"
She smiles, slightly, placing her hand on his arm.
"Because she has a father, again."
He sighs, turning her around, wrapping his arms around her waist as he rests his head on her shoulder.
"I'm not her father, Zelda," he says, "I'd love to raise her, I'd love to play the part...but she has to understand I'm not the one who fathered her."
"She knows," Zelda says, sighing, "But she feels safe with you. That's all that matters to me."
She sighs, louder, resting her head on his shoulder.
"I never had a mother," she says, "She died when I was young. I want my baby to have both her parents for as long as she can."
"I'm afraid I can't give parenting tips. The guy who raised me was a giant tree."
She laughs, turning around in his arms, smiling as she slowly kisses him, again, and again, the book dropping to the floor as he grips the back of her head, his hands running through her hair as they passionately, longingly kiss.
He feels her relaxing in his arms as her hands roam under his robe, the material of her robe ruffling as he runs his hands down her back, his tongue exploring the cool contours of her mouth, her body pressing against his.
They slowly release, breathlessly, staring for a long moment into each other's eyes.
"If my daughter wasn't sleeping in the bedroom next to mine," she says, "I'd be sorely tempted to take you there with me."
He smiles, knowingly, tightening his arms around her.
"Zelda," he says, "I'm thirty three years old. I've gone nearly twenty years since reaching puberty, and I've never had sex. I can wait."
She gives off a wide smile, kissing him softly on the lips.
"I wish I knew more people as determined as you," she says, "I...need to get back to bed, Link."
He nods, pulling back his arms.
She smiles, sighing, and walks out the door she came through. He watches her go, shaking his head, and replaces the book on the shelf. He looks over the library for a long moment, before walking out, whistling to himself the entire way...
The greying-haired horse trots into the small clearing, Malon looking about as she climbs off Epona.
It's early morning, the sun freshly risen in the sky...and for some reason, Epona's been insisting she come here.
Just neighing and whining, sloping her head in such a way that you know she wants you to get on her. Just kept on insisting until Malon finally saddled the horse and climbed on her...and then she just took off.
And now she's in the woods, near where the Temple of Time is supposed to be, from what she remembers...and now there's just a pedestal with a sword embedded in it.
"Hello?" she asks, walking from Epona, looking about, "Is anyone here?"
Something...appears, from the sword. A glowing sphere of yellow energy. Like a miniature sun, floating above the sword.
"Greetings.", a soft, feminine voice says, "You will do."
Before Malon can even voice a question, a bolt of lightning strikes from the sphere, hitting Malon in the chest.
She shakes as pulses of energy run from the sphere into her body, her eyes glowing bright yellow-white, Malon giving out a soft cry of shock...before collapsing to the ground, the sphere disappearing.
Link groans as the sunlight once again stabs him right in the eyes, turning in bed...and unintentionally falling, groaning as he hits the carpetted floor.
He slowly picks himself off the ground, shaking his head, looking around as he realizes this isn't his house...and relaxing when he remembers the details of the night before.
The very, very pleasant details of the night before.
He may not be the Hero to their knowledge...but last night sure helped.
"So, let me see," he mutters, cracking his neck, sitting on the bed as he grabs his tunic from the chair by the bed, "Well, Link, you've done pretty good. You've got the respect of the castle guard, Nina sees you as a father figure, and Zelda....well, Zelda and you are in pretty good shape."
He smiles to himself, unbuttoning his pajama top, sliding it off and pulling on his tunic.
"It seems you may not be fated to die a virgin," he continues, "But, quite frankly, doesn't matter to me either way. Sure wondering how she's explaining me being in the castle..."
He grabs his slacks from the chair...and sees something out of the corner of his eye at the far side of the room.
He walks over, into a small, curtain-covered alcove of the bedroom...and sees a small fixture hanging from the wall, over a bathtub, a glass, sliding wall surrounding it.
He reaches out, touching the nozzle and turning it...and a spray of water comes out.
"Well," he says, loosening the tunic and tossing it off, "I've made bathing a habit anyway..."
Zelda walks down the hall, seeing the cracks in the stone wall where the monster chased her daughter, last night. Repair people are already starting to repair the cracks, and replace the furniture destroyed.
She doesn't care. She only cares that her daughter is safe...although she remembers other people died, as well. Some saving her baby.
She nods, biting her lip as she approaches the guest quarters, silently looking up as she reaches out for the doorknob.
A small cloud of steam escapes into the hall as she opens the door, Zelda's eyes following it for a moment as she walks in...and sees a cloud of steam slowly flowing out the faintly open window at the end of the room...and Link singing on the other end.
She closes the door, listening to him whistling some obscure tune.
He's many things. A singer is not one of them.
She watches as he stops, the fountain of steam from behind the curtain stopping, Zelda listening to him grunt and mutter to himself as some activity happens behind the curtain.
The curtain opens, and Link walks out, a towel around his waist as he carries out his tunic...and stops, seeing her there.
"Good morning," she says, "I take it you've discovered our plumbing system."
"Yeah. When'd you have this installed?"
"When I rewrote time, of course," she responds, smiling, "You don't seem surprised."
"I have something similar at my house," he responds, "Pressurized system for the water that I use every now and then. Otherwise I just use the lake nearby."
She nods, turning about as he walks to the bed, hearing him grunt, softly, as he puts back on his clothes.
"Are you leaving?" she asks.
"Yeah. I've got a farm to take care of."
"Could you wait a few hours?"
"Um...why?"
"My father wants to meet the man who saved his granddaughter," she responds, "I think you should meet him. It won't take long, and you'll be on your way by noon."
She turns, seeing him dressed in the clothes he wore the night before, pulling back his hair and tying it into a tail.
"So...the King wants to meet me?"
"I believe so."
He sighs, sitting there...and nods, smiling faintly.
"Alright," he says, "Sure. I've got time to spare."
"Good. I'll get you some fresh clothes and we'll meet him in a few minutes," she says, opening the door and backing out, "Stay there."
She closes the door behind her, smiling, satisfied, to herself before walking down the hall.
It takes her a little bit to come to her senses.
She knows she's in the woods, in the clearing that Epon had her ride to. She knows that this is where the Temple of Time was supposed to be...and that there was something here.
A flash of light....and now just the massive headache that Malon feels throbbing in the back of her head.
She moans as Epona nudges her, waving off the horse as she climbs to her feet.
"Alright, alright....," she moans, "Satisfied, girl?"
The horse shakes her head up and down, neighing softly. Malon sighs, holding her head, feeling the throbbing starting to die down.
"What the hell was that thing...?" she asks herself, moaning, "Well...alright. Let's get you back home, girl."
She climbs up onto Epona's saddle, the horse rearing slightly before turning and running back into the woods.
And at the pedestal, the sword begins to glow...and the vines that encrust it begin to whither and fall off.
Link straightens the collar of his black, pressed tunic, pulling at the pockets of the dark-blue slacks that Zelda scrounged up for him. Whoever owned these didn't have the same size as him, he realizes. But, they fit. And it's not like he's keeping them.
He considers what to do while standing at the double doors to the room he knows awaits beyond. He can't turn tail and run. The person inside is waiting for him. And this is a person you don't want to offend, so...
He wraps his knuckles on the door, quickly pulling them back and burying them in his pockets...and smiles as Zelda opens the door, smiling back to him as she steps aside.
And waiting in a chair across the room, a cup of tea in his hand, is the King of all Hyrule.
"Father," Zelda says, "This is Link Alrik."
Link bows, deeply, remembering many of the skills her learned abroad. Especially on dealing with people far more important than you.
"Greetings," the King responds, "I've been expecting you."
He gestures to the couch across from him.
"Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?"
"Just some water, Your Majesty.", Link responds, walking to the couch and sitting in it, folding his hands in his lap.
He sees the king nodding to Zelda, who disappears into another room.
"I understand you saved the life of my granddaughter," he says, "And that you and my daughter are close."
Link quickly nods, swallows down his dry throat.
"Yes, Your Majesty," he responds, "She and I have been friends for sometime."
"Which is why she named you Nina's godfather, no doubt. How do you see your role in this?"
"My...role?"
"Your place in Nina's life?" the King asks, "Zelda has expressed her desire to have two parents raise her daughter. She has no experience as a mother and no mother to take after, so she believes that she needs the support of another person to raise her."
Link says nothing, his mouth open for a moment. If there's anything he knows about Zelda it's that she does not need help. She's always been the type that could do anything, when she set her mind to it.
Hell, he was the one who usually needed her help. Given, there's those 'rescue to princess' moments, but in those she was often the one to save his ass.
"I think she could do it if she set her mind to it," Link responds, "But I'd love to help her raise the girl."
The door to the side opens, Zelda walking out with a clear cup of ice water, walking around the couch and sitting next to Link, handing him the cup.
"Tell me about yourself, Mr. Alrik," the King says, absently watching as Zelda places her hand on Link's, "I undertstand you were raised by the Kokiri."
Link nods, clearing his throat, taking a sip of the water.
"Well," he says, "I was raised by them. My mother left me with them for some reason. I left them after I grew up, and I simply started travelling. I've studied farming, I spent sometime in the seminary and was going to be ordaned as a minister. I left that place early, though. I didn't think I'd be that good a priest, if only because I have a habit of trying to convince people not to put their faith in God. I'm one of those people who tells people to believe in themselves, not some higher up being who has better things to do."
He smiles, slightly, seeing the king lowly chuckle at that last statement.
"Well," he continues, "After that I decided to become a farmer. So I used my saved up earnings and my inheritance to buy myself a cabin near the woods, and I've lived there ever since. It's a quiet life. Living with the Kokiri for that long has given me an aversion to populated places."
He smiles, quickly wrapping his fingers around Zelda's. While this could normally be considered a colossal blunder when dealing with a notoriously over-protective father...well, he doesn't really feel uneasy about this.
"You two do make a very nice couple," the king says, smiling, "I should most definitely tell the suitors to simply go away."
"Father, please...," Zelda says, blushing brightly.
"It's not as if I'd object, my daughter," the king says, "After all...I could never think of a better father and role model for my granddaughter than the Hero of Time."
Chapter 10:
Mistakes and Rewrites
____________________
It takes Link a moment to pick his jaw off the floor, absently hearing the King of all Hyrule...chuckling.
From the stiffness of Zelda's hand in his, he knows that this was unexpected for her, to. He knows that her reaction to shock is to become stock still and stiff. His is to completely lose control of his jaw.
And this most certainly counts as a shock.
Maybe a bit beyond shock.
The King just referred to Link as the Hero of Time. A title no one save Zelda, Epona, and Gannondorf Dragmire would know of. Because history was rewritten to make people forget of his deeds.
"Come now, Daughter," the king says, sipping at his tea, "I was not made king because of a weak will. And do you honestly think you would so easily erase the memory of your own father?"
Zelda relaxes, slighlty, swallowing hard.
"You...you knew?"
"Of course I did. Given, many of the memories were repressed for a long time. But they came back when you named Link as Nina's godfather."
Zelda pulls back her hand, folding her hands in her lap as she bites her lip.
"I remember most of the events," the king continues, "And I was impressed. Very impressed with your deeds indeed, Link."
"But...you objected to my choosing Link, Father..."
"Because I would think it would cause a split between you and Jacob. Jacob was a good man. And Link, I remember, was a noble man, and I would hope that has carried over to this day and age."
"I...hope so, Your Majesty," Link numbly responds, slowly gripping the water glass, shakily sipping it.
The king smiles, sipping his tea and placing the cup on the table between them.
"Please, my name is Petre. I even have my grandchild calling me 'Your Highness', so I don't need you to do the same," he says, "Now...I have business to take care of, as do you. Zelda, could you escort him out?"
She quickly stands, taking a deep breath.
"Of course, Father.", she says, and walks out, slamming the doors shut behind her.
Link slowly rises, bowing.
"It was a pleasure, Your Maj-...Petre," he says, and extends his hand, the sitting king shaking it with a firm grip.
"The pleasure was mine, Link. I hope to see you again."
Link nods, backing away, and quickly walks out.
Zelda waits outside the door as he walks out, uneasily looking about, biting her lip.
She turns to him as he walks out, his face haggard and tired, his eyes boring into hers.
"Link..."
"I know the way out," he responds, "I have a farm to take care of."
She says nothing, extending her hand to him, placing it on his shoulder as her breath rattles in her throat.
"Link...I'm sorry. I truly am. I never knew that he had his memories."
He says nothing...and smiles, slightly, placing his hand on hers.
"I'm not petty, Zelda. It wouldn't have changed anything, anyway...and the past is the past."
He leans over, softly pressing his lips to hers. She relaxes at the touch of his lips, not moving until he ends the short kiss.
"I...still have to get going."
"Link, you could have said something to my father. You could have just showed up here and he would have remembered, and you would have had what you wanted. Don't you have anything to say about that?"
He shrugs, sighing.
"It's the past. I think whatever happened, happened. I just focus on the present and the future."
He takes her hand off his shoulder, and begins to walk past her.
"Have a good day, Zelda," he says, "I'll see you around."
And with that, he walks through the door to the stairs, and disappears.
Epona trots back into the ranch, Malon, still slightly shaky, riding on her back.
She climbs off the mare as she comes to a stop, leading her to the stables by the straps on her muzzle.
"I know, I know," she says, "But let's get you brushed first, then I'll get your feedbag..."
And she stops at the sound of the pathetic whine, sighing to herself.
She walks across the field, Epona following her as she walks to the horse lying on the ground, his feet tucked underneath her.
"Hello, Nipper," Malon says, kneeling, "How do you feel?"
The horse says nothing, continuing its whine.
While the other two horses died nearly instantly, Nipper had the ill luck of just being scratched by the monsters. So she's taking the full brunt of the poison, taking days to die.
Malon sighs, stroking the suffering horse's snout with her hand...when her fingers begin to glow with a soft gold light.
The light spreads from her fingers to the snouth, slowly enveloping the horse, the green, pulsing cuts on her legs beginning to fade...until they are gone...
And the horse rises to her feet, Epona trotting over to her and leading them both to the stables.
Malon looks from the horses to her fingers, and then back again...and rolls her eyes back, fainting and collapsing on her side to the ground.
That night.
Nina squirms in her mother's lap as Zelda reads her a story. One of the stories she has no doubt told Nina before, of her adventures in the past. That, for some reason, has Nina's less than enraptured attention, this time.
"...and so the monster fell to earth, and...Nina?"
Nina looks up at her mother's voice, smiling sweetly.
"Yes, Momma?"
"Is something wrong? Do you want me to read you something else?"
Nina shakes her head, still looking up at her mother.
"Then...what is it?"
"Where's Unca Link?"
Zelda smiles, shifting her hold on her daughter.
"Uncle Link has his own farm to take care of, child," she responds, "He'll probably be back tomorrow, and he's sorry he didn't get to say goodbye today, but you were still asleep."
"I was?"
"Yes. You nearly slept through lunchtime, baby," she says, and smiles, widely, "Which I perfectly understand. There were days after Link saved my life where they'd wonder if I'd ever wake up."
"So...Unca Link'll come back?"
Zelda nods, smiling.
"I hope...and your grandfather likes him, to."
"Grandpa does?"
"Yes, and he'd appreciate it if you called him Grandpa while he was around, every now and then."
Zelda stands up, carrying Nina with her as she walks to the smaller of the two bedrooms in their quarters.
"And now it's your bedtime, child," she says, "Do you want me to read you anything before you go to sleep?"
"No, Momma. I'll go to sleep."
Zelda smiles, laying the girl on the bed, pulling the covers over her and kissing her on the forehead.
"Alright, Nina," she says, "Good night."
She walks out, softly closing the door and turning off the lamp in the room, sighing to herself as she walks to her mirror. She stands there, in her loose robe and nightgown, pursing her lips.
She sighs, rolling her head back...and walks to her closet, pulling a dress out as she tries to remember the words...
Link sits on his couch, flipping through the book he 'borrowed' from the Royal Library. The mythology book...which he keeps forgetting to give back to Zelda whenever she's over.
Not that he minds. It's a good read.
And an engrossing one. Which is why he probably doesn't notice the slight flash of light out the corner of his window.
He flips another page, looking over a passage on the origin of magicks, scratching an itch on the back of his neck and sipping at a cup of fruit juice...and looks up as a hand knocks on the door.
He stands up, walking to the door and opening it...and sees Zelda standing there, her dark blue dress almost absorbed by the night sky behind her, her unbound hair spilling over her shoulders, her hands folded in front of her.
"Hi," he says, smiling.
She smiles back, softly, her eyes glinting slightly as lines of silver retract.
"You've...changed your clothes," he says.
"I was about to go to bed."
"You sleep in that?"
She smiles, chuckling.
"No. Can I come in?"
He nods, stepping back, Zelda closing the door behind her. He walks to the book, closing it, absently looking over her as she walks over.
"You keep forgetting the book," he says, "Since I don't want to be charged with theft, I think you should take it with you, when you leave."
"Of course. Link...I want to talk."
He nods, sitting down on the couch, Zelda sitting next to him as she bites her lip.
"Link...I am sorry for what happened. About my father's memories."
"Zelda, it's not your fault. Besides, I told you. What's done is done. I stopped living in the past a while ago."
She nods, folding her hands, lying her head on his shoulder as he wraps an arm around her waist.
"I wish I knew more people like you," she moans.
"Why?"
"You have an idea of who you are."
He glances down at her, raising an eyebrow.
"And what does that mean, Princess?"
"You don't let other people affect you who you. You have enough confidence about yourself that you don't base your personality on everything else around you."
"Well...of course I do. Everyone does. I just always keep the same outlook on life."
"And what outlook is that?"
"That of a man who believes that God finds him very, very funny."
She chuckles, smiling, sitting back on the couch as he stands up.
"I've got a question," he says as he walks to his icebox, taking a cup and a bottle of juice, "Why'd you pick me as Nina's godfather? You couldn't have known how I'd turn out. We hadn't seen each other in years, at that point."
"Well...I knew how you were. I simply thought you'd continue being a good man. At least, I hoped."
She climbs off the couch, walking over to him.
"I could just always imagine you as a father.", she says, "And I knew Nina could use all the help she could get."
"You're a great mother, Zelda. Don't doubt yourself."
"Link, I have ten years more experience than I should. Most of which is horrible. I just thought...maybe I could use some help. Every now and then."
"Because...I understood what you went through, right?"
She nods, her smile fading slightly.
He sighs, softly kissing her on the lips, placing the bottle on the counter as their arms wrap around each other. She releases from the kiss, placing her head on his shoulder, sighing as his hand runs through her loose hair.
"We may have changed, Zelda," he whispers, "But you are still by far the most beautiful woman I have ever known."
She smiles, lifting her head from his shoulder and softly kissing him.
"Could you pour me a glass?" she asks, "I have something I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"It's...it's why I'm here. Just give me a second."
She slides out of his embrace, walking from his kitchen.
He takes the glass, grabbing some cubes from the icebox and tossing them in, pouring the juice.
"I was just going to turn in, myself," he says, taking the glass and walking after her, "It's been a bit of a long day, and I've got some crops to take care of early, tomorrow-"
He looks up...and freezes.
She undoes the fasteners, her dress falling to the floor with one flowing motion, leaving her only in her buttoned white blouse.
His mouth slowly opens, as he looks over her, slowly.
No one pinch me.
"Link?" she asks, smiling softly.
"I...I...um...Princess?"
She walks over to him, taking the glass from his hand, sipping it and resting it on his nighttable.
She kisses him, softly, his hands running down her back, feeling her soft skin through the smooth, thin material.
"Zelda...," he whispers, as they break the kiss, "This...I don't know..."
"This is what you've wanted for years, Link," she whispers, "And...now, this is what I want."
She unbuckles the belt on his tunic, lifting it up, over his head, revealing his strong arms, his well-defined chest.
"Um...just one thing," he says, "Well...I've never done this before. And any misconceptions about me being the strong, strapping hero...well, that's mainly legend and the whole 'most powerful knight there was' is a status and a prophecy, not necessarily a physical fac-"
"Link..."
"Hm?"
She smiles, widely.
"Just shut up and kiss me," she says, and presses her lips to his.
He smiles, kissing her back, nearly crushing her against him as they stumble to the bed, her blouse joining his tunic on the floor as they fall onto the matress, and the lights flickers out moments after....