Author's babbling: Well, somehow this has taken an altogether different turn than I thought it would. I thought that this would be the last chapter, and then I would wrap it up with a nice, happy epilogue. Oh well. I was up late, thinking (always a dangerous thing) and I think I have developed a new story twist and am going to run with it and see where it takes me. Thanks to all who have read, and especially to those who have reviewd. Enjoy.
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Present
The corridors were barely lit, and Zelda would have sworn it was night out except that she knew it was midday. At the end of the hall was a chamber, and she did not recognize it from any of her previous explorations around the castle. She had always avoided this area of the castle precisely because it was so dark and unfriendly feeling. At her side, Link looked calm and relaxed, but she knew that it was deceiving. His sword was steady and would strike out at a moments notice if Irank looked like he would do anything other than lead them to Ahenous.
Irank presently was walking in front of them at a slow, almost reluctant pace. When faced with Link's sword he had no choice but to lead them to his master, and hope that somehow Ahenous would able to save him from the wrath of the warrior following him.
Link never wavered his gaze from the man in front of him. He was always looking for subtle signs that the man was going to flee, or even worst to turn around in hopes of surprising him and wresting the sword away. A sudden call from a room they passed nearly drew his attention away, as did Zelda's sharply indrawn breath, but he retained his glare on Irank.
"Zelda, who is that?"
"It is Taryn." She hissed in a whisper.
Link grabbed Irank and threw him up against the wall near the door so that he could look in the small window on the door. Inside was a sight that surprised him. The former cocky King of Hyrule was chained to the wall, his clothing in disarray and several days' worth of beard growth on his face.
"Whose there. I demand you release me this instant, you pigs. Do you have any idea of who I am?"
"Irank, give me your keys." Link's sword point never left its aim on Irank's throat. Irank managed to keep his head still as he dug around on his belt, eventually producing a set of keys.
"Toss them to Zelda."
He did so, and Zelda scooped them up, looking at Link questioningly as if to ask what to do next. "Unlock the door."
Zelda unlocked the door as Taryn's yells were now mingled with curses and further threats.
"I will have you all executed when I get out of here. My troops will be coming any minute you sons of…Zelda?" His voice had changed dramatically from an angry yell to a soft, almost pleading whisper.
"Taryn, good to see you, I guess."
"What are you doing here. Where have you been. Do you have any idea how much I was embarrassed when you disappeared like that. How dare you do that to me." His voice had lost the pleading and was back to an angry, demanding tone.
"We can discuss that later. Right now I need to help Link concentrate on regaining your throne."
"Link? He is here. When I get my hands on him he will wish he were dead."
"That is why you will never get your hands on him. You want me to release you. Here are the conditions. One. You call off your current marriage arrangement for me and agree never to make another one in the future. I will decide when and who I will be married to. Two. Link will have no retribution for any imagined wrongs he has done to you, because in fact he has done nothing but help you. And he will have whatever position he desires in the castle."
"Zelda, what is going on in there?" Link's voice called out from the corridor where he was watching Irank and had not heard the conversation between brother and sister.
"Agreed." Taryn spat at Zelda and she began to unlock the chains that held him to the wall.
"Link, Taryn is free. What now?"
"We leave this scum here and go find Ahenous. Hold your bow to him. If he makes any move to escape, shoot him."
He pushed Irank down, seating him on the bench. "Don't move. She will shoot, and I warn you, she has the best aim in the country." He fixed the manacles on the other man's hands and legs as Irnak glared warily at Zelda, who was holding the bow in steady, unwavering hands. Link stood back up after ensuring that the manacles were secure and that the prisoner had no chance of escape. Taryn wavered his gaze between his sister and her friend. He had to quickly rethink his prior opinions of her as a delicate, spoiled Princess. How was he to know that she had a spine of steel inside her? And this man, whom he always thought of as a stupid, country peasant, was proving himself to be a capable commander and leader, able to quickly take charge and direct people.
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Past
Pain seared every inch of my flesh as I fought to open my eyes. I finally won the battle and light pierced through my eyelids. It wasn't the bright light of sunlight I had expected, but more of a dull flickering. Shapes began to distinguish themselves and I could tell I was in my room, and the presence of candles indicated it was night. I moved my head to see Zelda, slumped in the chair next to our bed, her head down and shoulders quivering as she sobbed. I wondered what could possibly be causing her so much pain, and I tried to get up to hold her. The effort explained why I was currently in bed, as a huge sharp pain stabbed through my abdomen and I gasped with shock. Her head came up at the sound.
"Link! You are awake." Her lips dipped to meet my forehead as she gently sat on the bed next to me.
My tongue felt like lead and my mouth tasted like the desert sand as I tried to talk. "What happened?"
"We did it, love. We have saved Hyrule." Her hand caressed my cheek. "You were wounded while killing the enemy Prince, do you remember?"
Unfortunately I did. I also remember who it was that I killed. "Zelda, that was no random Prince. Do you remember the King that the ministers had arranged for you to marry?"
"Yes…but what has that"
"It was him. Somehow he found out that I was gone, and he decided to take advantage of it."
"But how in the world would he know? The only people to know that you had disappeared were in this castle, and only those that had to know. Like my father, Impa, and …" Her face grew gray all of the sudden as she turned to me, "and my father's ministers. The same ones who wanted me to marry King Bern in the first place. The same ministers who have been pushing me all along to declare you dead and remarry the invader. Oh Link."
Her eyes met mine; worry filled looking to me to somehow disagree with her and provide a logical reason why her theory could not be true. But I could not. So I did the only think I could. "Shhh." I opened my arms and she lay down next to me as I gathered her as close as I could and stroked her hair. "Don't worry. We are together now. We will survive this."
