AN: It's amazing how the combination of no schoolwork and summer makes me write faster…God, I love it. I seem to write more clearly in the morning, and with school I was never able to do that. Anyway, the chapter…the title says it all…I will say I might get burned for this one…that's all I'll say for now…
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Sacrifices of a Queen
King Stephen and his grown children arrived the day after the Celebration, just as afternoon was fading to evening. Many miles lay between Inis Morgen and Hyrule, and though they had missed the Celebration, Zelda was pleased to hear they had finally come. She greeted them with a minor ceremony in the throne room, kissed each of her kindred lightly on the cheek, then marveled at how much older they all were, herself included. Had so much time gone since their last meeting as children?
Stephen was her father's only cousin and did not resemble him much. He was shorter and stockier than her father, and all of his hair had gone gray compared to Erich's, which was still brown upon his death. Zelda held onto a memory of Stephen from long ago, where he had taken her, Carthia and young Élan out to ride on the pastures around his estate. She remembered his long, intense conversations with her father, but remembered more his bellowing, merry laugh. That was all she really remembered of him, for they had only met a handful of times in her youth.
Ryan was the eldest son and next in line to rule after his father. He was tall and broad of shoulder, with dark sandy hair that he wore slightly longer at the neck, and hazel eyes that were a little wide-set, barely noticeable. He had brought his wife, Illian, and their two young sons (six year old twins and in remarkable likeness to Ryan), with him and he looked every bit like the strong, handsome heroes of legends. Really, Zelda thought, he resembled her father Erich more than he did Stephen.
Douglass was the next, only a few years older than Zelda, and he was the tallest of them all. He and his sister Vivian were the dark ones, with loosely curling, nearly black hair, and kind brown eyes. He was not a 'man-among-men', like his brother Ryan, but he was lean and obviously could hold his own. Douglass, Zelda had heard, was still unwed and his father was relentlessly on the prowl for a suitable wife for his second son. Zelda had hopes that perhaps one of her courtiers might strike his fancy. It would be wonderfully convenient.
Carthia, Élan, and Vivian were the last of Stephen's children, though at nineteen, seventeen, and fourteen, Zelda could not really call them children anymore. Carthia and Élan were the golden children, like Zelda herself, with long fair hair and sun-kissed skin that gave them a radiant glow. Carthia was engaged to the only son of the King of Leos, a small country, and would be married in just a few months. Élan was already arranged to wed the youngest son of a very prestigious trading family, and she seemed quite content with that. They knew they were being married off so their father could strengthen his own power, but that was the way of things.
Carthia and Élan were giddy to see their cousin again, and embraced Zelda lovingly like a sister. Zelda immediately noticed how good that felt. Vivian, the last and youngest, had a warm smile and small features. She had been born too soon, and her size reflected that since she was the frailest of them all, and her sisters, much to Vivian's chagrin, doted on her too much at times.
"It is good to see you well, Zelda." Stephen placed a heavy hand on either of Zelda's shoulders and looked down at her with pity. "I am sorry I could not come sooner, but it could not be helped. Crossing the boarders now a days is becoming more and more dangerous."
"Did you have troubles, Uncle?" Zelda asked in concern, but the aging man brushed the question aside to be discussed later. The party retired to their rooms, the women eager for rest. Ryan's sons, Neithen and Conec, had already fallen asleep and been taken to bed upstairs. Zelda, likewise, retired to her study, alone.
The view out the windows was spectacular and Zelda sat herself down in the large windowsill to admire it. The evening was young, and its skies faded softly from blues to lavenders, and oranges and gold at the horizon. She could see the stables from up here, and watched as the stable hands tended to King Stephen's horses and brought them inside. She could tell one was Link by the way he walked, and she found herself smirking at this. She really did know him too well; he might as well have been her brother.
'He'd make a fine husband, Zelda,' she remembered her father saying once of Link, a long time ago, and the sound of his voice filled her head. 'I will not be here forever, and I want to see you happy. He is a good man…'
Zelda shook her head to clear her thoughts. She remembered that conversation, so long ago, and remembered how she'd stiffly refused such an idea. Her heart yearned for Ciaràn, her Sheik, with a terrible sorrow, but she had realized, painfully, that it was time to let him go. If she was going to become the queen she knew she had to be, she could not dwell on the past. She took the ragged, dirty scarf that was hidden under her dress from around her neck and walked toward the fireplace.
He did not come back for me. She looked down at the scarf clenched in her hand, then at the crackling flames of the fire. This was a dream. This was his good-bye.
She stood in front of the fire for what seemed a long time holding the once white cloth and trying to throw in into the flames to be consumed…but she could not do it. Zelda blinked back tears and then turned away, knees trembling, then buried the scarf at the bottom of a chest. She would have to face it another day.
***
The following days came and went quickly for Zelda, as for the first time in a long while she felt a peacefulness she had missed. The chatter of women, the shamelessness of little children…having family with her, despite how far removed they were. In the mornings Zelda had become fond of Viviane's company while she was attending to monotonous, queenly duties. In the late afternoons she, Illian, and Carthia would sit in the gardens talking about nothing. And in the evening, after supper, Élan would sit on Zelda's bed and regale Zelda with frivolous, romantic fantasies she created, each one more extravagant than the next, each one more unbelievable. Élan, Zelda laughed to herself, seemed to have no modesty whatsoever, and that was what made her so endearing.
Zelda did not see much of her uncle, Ryan, and Douglass. The first two days they busied themselves learning about the functions of the castle and the Market, then went out on tour of the surrounding lands. Link, who led these tours on Zelda's personal request, said that he was not particularly fond of King Stephen; he did not entirely trust him.
"It seems like he's surveying everything," he had said once when he and Zelda were alone. "I like Ryan and Douglass alright, but I can't really explain it, and I'm sorry, but I just don't like your uncle."
Zelda had other issues (besides Link's dislikes) to worry about; she had her own hands full dealing with two countries to the north, Minos and Tamesis. A few weeks ago they had decided to start pressing Zelda for the use of Hyrule land, the Altieras Mountains, which were a precious recourse to Hyrule, not only because they were filled with iron ore, but because they also held the Altamont Pass, the most established trade route in the north. King Abram of Minos and King Holos of Tamesis were greedy men, and she had watched her father keep them at bay for many years. It infuriated her that they thought she would give into them. She would show them that she was just as strong as her father was and she would not recede any of Hyrule's power, especially to men like them. A message was sent back to both Abram and Holos stating that their request was denied.
A reply letter had been sent back to Zelda a few days before the Celebration from King Abram. He urged her to reconsider and even made shadowed threats, none of which concerned Zelda's council much. For good measure though, she sent a host of men to the northern boarder to back-up Hyrule's determination.
***
A week had gone by since Stephen and his family's arrival, and everyone had met down in the Dining Hall for a late meal. Link was late, as usual, and as he entered to join them, laughter filled the room. Ryan had just finished recounting some humorous story, and tears were practically rolling down King Stephen's face. Link came in quietly and took his place in an empty chair at the farther end of the table. Carthia, who he could see held onto Zelda's hand like they were sisters, had taken up his usual place next to Zelda. Zelda saw him and smiled down the table at him.
"Good of you to join us, Link," she said and the others turned as well.
"Why Link! I didn't even see you come in!" Élan exclaimed, "Where have you been hiding yourself, Love?"
Zelda smiled at Link, and then at Élan. She didn't think she'd ever grow tired of her cousin's flirtatious ways, and the look on Link's face was priceless. Apparently Élan had been quite taken with him as she constantly mentioned him in her evening discussions. She might be getting married, she said, but that didn't mean she couldn't look until then.
"I apologize for being late, I didn't realize dinner was still on, I thought I had already missed it," Link said as he sat.
"Not at all Master Hero! Glad to have you, these women are outnumbering us," laughed the seemingly good-natured King Stephen, slapping his hand hard on the table, making the silverware jump.
"We still do," giggled Élan, winking at Link over her shoulder.
Zelda took another sip of her wine as the laughter died down, and suddenly determined that perhaps she had had too much because her head went slightly dizzy. Apparently some of the color in her face had drained too and Stephen noticed.
"You look a bit flushed, Zelda dear, perhaps you should get some air." Stephen said and looked concerned, something he learned to feign very well. "Why don't you go outside? Douglass, go with her lad and make sure she's all right. She's such a frail thing."
Zelda was going to object, first to the frail comment and then to the going outside, but Douglass was already at her arm gently pulling her away. Link also looked after her, concerned, but Élan and Illian had boxed him between them and there was no escape.
"Come on Zelda, I'd like to see the gardens, if you would show me," Douglass said softly just loud enough for the others to hear, and Zelda, seeing no way to get out of it, or a real reason to, agreed.
It was true that the night air did her well. The cool splash of the windless night clung in her skirts and in her hair as summer crickets were singing among the sleeping flowers, and a lone nightingale serenaded them in a tree not far off. The water fountains burbled happily and softly, blending their music into the symphony of night sounds. Zelda somehow felt as if their presence was disturbing this natural magic, but Douglass pressed on, wandering farther and farther away from where family and servant's ears could listen. He finally halted underneath the tree the nightingale sang in, and because of this the bird's song had ceased. The cousins sat and listened to the stillness of the garden, reveling in its solitude.
"The gardens here are much prettier than back home," Douglass attempted to break the silence, a silence Zelda had been content with. She turned and smiled however.
"My father was very fond of them, mostly I think because my mother was. They are beautiful, this time of year though," she replied softly, resigned to the fact that the spell had been broken.
"Well, they are that," sighed Douglass simply. "It's amazing what difference a woman can do to a place."
Zelda was not quite sure what her cousin meant by this, so she let it go.
"Then lets hope the woman you marry has a love for gardening," Zelda laughed quietly, a failing attempt to wipe the vacant look of Douglass's face. He hadn't been paying attention to her, she noted, by the way his head quickly snapped to attention when he found her staring at him.
"Oh, hm, right. Marriage," he muttered, clasping his hands. "I do not think my marriage is at the forefront of my father's mind right now." He searched her eyes for a moment, and then looked away again out into the garden. He looked somewhat out of place on the small bench given his height and how he leaned over his knees. In the shadows his hair was black, and the hood of his sloping brow darkened his eyes.
"Well, if not on his mind, then on yours, no doubt? You are perfectly capable of the decision. You should be the one to make it in the first place." She said. Douglass didn't look at her, but a faint sign of a grin graced his lips, the kind that adults give to children who are citing idealistic nonsense.
"Why did your father never arrange a husband for you?" He asked with genuine curiosity. Zelda didn't think it was an appropriate question to ask her, but since he was her cousin, she obliged.
"He knew I was capable of making the decision on my own, as any woman is," said Zelda briskly. "He knew I would not marry someone I did not love."
"When you are royalty, marriage and love rarely have anything to do with one another," Douglass's tone was matter-of-fact and Zelda also knew this to be true. And with Ciaràn gone forever, she had already resigned herself to a life without love.
Her cousin looked at her humbly, almost ashamed, and let out a long, drawn out sigh of (what Zelda took to be) regret.
"My father thinks it no good that a woman is ruling alone," he said suddenly. "He'll try to find you a husband before long. I don't doubt that he's already started."
Zelda stared at him, shocked and appalled. Her uncle wouldn't do such a thing, would he? How dare he even think of it!
"Well," she spoke crisply, trying to recover from the furry that had suddenly boiled up within her, "I have no desire to wed now, not so soon after my father's death, so you may tell him he may forget about it. I will not give up the throne Father gave me to someone else."
"Even if you were to rule equally? Would that be so terrible?" Asked Douglass and Zelda realized he was being serious.
"You should know as well as I do that no kingdom is ruled equally. A man will always rule ahead of his wife. It was so with my father and mother, and the same with yours."
Her cousin was unable to respond and sighed again in defeat. He stood and Zelda heard his back crack, which after Douglass grinned sheepishly and Zelda laughed with him. All the tenseness between them had vanished and he held out his arm, meaning to walk her back to the Dining Hall. Zelda smiled and gave his arm a gentle squeeze, like they were seven again, and she put the whole conversation behind her.
They had just made it back to the dinner table when Odo, one of her most trusted knights, walked briskly in from the direction of the Main Hall. He was supposed to be at the northern boarder with the rest of the dispatched knights and soldiers and his sudden appearance and look on his face worried Zelda. When he came closer she could smell him, the sharp, musky smell of men, and found him breathless and weary from travel.
"Milady," he said, controlling his breathing with some effort, "my apologies for my appearance, but this news could not wait." He handed her a folded paper from the inside of his jerkin and Link watched with growing anxiety.
"Queen, there has been an attack on the northern boarder," Odo said out loud what must have been explained in the document, and Zelda's eyes shot up to his in alarm. Both Carthia and Élan gasped, and Illian and Viviane remained in quiet composure, while Ryan and his father both nodded to one another.
"Assemble my council," Zelda sharply ordered, nearly springing back from the table. "Have them meet in my study in half an hour's time. Uncle, if you would join them. Link, come with me now."
She hurriedly took off and Link followed, quickly falling into pace beside her. They went to her chambers and he closed the door behind them just as she turned to him, reading aloud from the note.
"Forty-seven men out of our company of one-hundred were wounded in the attack. Twenty-nine have been taken captive…Eleven are dead…" she was trembling and nearly shouting. "The banners of King Holos and King Abram fly against Hyrule. Their armies are massing along the Altamont Pass…they will outnumber Hyrule forces three to one within a week…"
She was panting so heavily now that her breath would only come as short, quick gasps. Link went to her side and held her steady in his arms, trying to calm her, and she slumped into his shoulder. She did not cry, she did not think she could, and she regained herself quickly.
"I do not understand, in all my father's years of dealing with them, Abram and Holos have never come anywhere close to this! How could they dare to this?" Her eyes were fixed on the paper again, rereading in disbelief.
"They do it because you are not your father, and power and land make men do ruthless things." Stephen and Ryan appeared in the doorway, taking care to keep their distance and their calm, collected composure.
Link spun around, angry that any man would dare to barge into Zelda's personal chambers, King or not, but Stephen ignored the hero's seething look and continued on.
"I did not want to send this word ahead, I thought it better to tell you myself, but it appears that is too late…" Stephen had halted a few feet into the room with Ryan standing silently behind him. "We knew about this some time ago, right after word of your father's death came to us. I did not think it was a serious threat…it appears Abram and Holos are more ambitious than I took them for."
"I'd say pressing to extend their territories through the Altieras Mountains is pretty ambitious!" Retorted Zelda, reading further from the note. "The lands north of the Arroyo River will be immediately surrendered to Holos forces…fifty bags of gold must be delivered at tribute!?" Zelda had now gone to her desk, to analyze the document further.
"Abram was always one to strike unexpectedly. And the Altieras Mountains make it easy to hide large numbers of men." Ryan spoke up.
"Only now they don't simply want the rights to use the land, they mean to push us out entirely!"
"Zelda," her uncle went to her and spoke calmly, "you are still a young queen, and inexperienced. There is no shame in accepting help for this problem. I have seen the power of these two armies before, and Hyrule's troops will be outnumbered and out powered when this all comes to a head. I personally offer my services to you; my experience, troops, supplies…"
"And what will you be getting in return?" Link snapped irritably, not believing for a second that this man would give anything out for free. Stephen looked at him coldly, but said nothing to him.
"There is one other thing that could be done to strengthen the alliance of Hyrule and Inis Morgen," he said, sounding very convincing.
"Do we not already have an alliance? Does blood mean nothing, Uncle?" Zelda spoke firmly, her voice calm and resonant.
"It does, Zelda, it does, but in this case blood is not enough. You are my cousin's daughter; Abram and Holos will not recognize that as proper reason for my protection. Which is why I strongly suggest that Douglass remain here, with you."
"Of course Douglass is welcome to stay, but how would that help?" Zelda unintentionally snapped.
"I could assure Hyrule's safety better if there were a stronger family tie here…With Douglass here they'll think twice about pressing further. My army is powerful, they will not want to anger me by attacking my son and his wife."
Zelda froze momentarily, unsure if she understood her uncle correctly. She looked at Ryan, who turned his eyes away from her.
"What wife?"
"Why you, of course, Zelda."
At this Link about erupted and if it wasn't for Zelda's gentle, but quick hand, he might have gone and beat Stephen for even mentioning such a thing.
"Hyrule can protect her own!" Link shouted angrily. "We don't need you. I suggest you leave!"
"Hyrule's army is weak, you have not yet recovered from Ganondorf's Occupation." Stephen ignored him and spoke only to Zelda. "You can try to stand on your own, but you will lose many good men before this is all over. With my backing you, Holos and Abram will be too afraid to press further, I promise you that."
The room had gone completely silent. Zelda stood behind her desk, hands balled into fists upon the surface, eyes downcast in thought, and mind reeling. There were too many things to think about at once and she felt trapped again and hopelessly lost. She was aware that her uncle stood before her, awaiting an answer, but she did not care and took a long time to speak.
"Allow me to think on it." She said finally and Stephen nodded.
"Of course." He said and he and his son quickly left the room, leaving only Link and Zelda. Link was about to say something to her, but she cut him off, not even looking at him, and asked him to go too.
"The hell I will," he exclaimed and stepped toward her, but she held out a hand.
"No Link, go," she commanded and stopped him in his tracks. "I want to be alone."
Reluctantly Link listened to her and left, and only after he had shut the door behind him did Zelda let herself go. Papers and objects crashed to the ground as she lashed out against the desk and the crystal drinking glass, still half full, went clattering to the stone floor, shattering into a million pieces.
***
As the days wore on and more men were sent to protect the northern boarder, more casualty reports were sent back to Zelda, and her spirits lowered and lowered. Holos forces now outnumbered them two to one, and it had been reported that Abram was mustering more men to join them soon. Zelda despaired and her Council urged her to take Stephen's offer, and do it quickly. Hyrule was too weak to fight this war. Even the other races, the Gorons, the Zora, and the Gerudo, could offer little help. The Goron's still suffered from the eruption of Death Mountain and could not spare even a small force of fighters. The Zora could not battle in the mountainous regions of the north, the cold climate and terrain would be impossible for Zora troops Ruto had said when Zelda consulted the other Sages. The Gerudo were the only ones capable and willing to go, but their numbers were already small, and only a small band of women warriors left for the boarder, though it was known they could do little to help.
This war would not be won without help; Zelda came to the final conclusion, and told Impa. Impa had returned from the Sacred Realm to aid Zelda with her decision, though she only listened, and let Zelda come to the decision herself. She was Queen; it was up to her to do what she thought was best. Zelda's decision lay heavily on Impa's heart however, but she did not say this.
It was Link who had the problem. He was furious with the idea, and still raged that Hyrule didn't need help from men like her uncle. He never even considered Stephen's proposal, and busied himself with Captain Viscen and the Generals preparing troops and supplies for the north.
Zelda had sent for Link five days after Stephen had made his initial proposal, and when he came into her chamber, he found her staring into the fire, watching something burn to ashes on top of the logs. It didn't look like she noticed he had come in, but suddenly she spoke, and her voice was low and heavy.
"I've accepted Stephen's proposal," she said and then fell silent. Link stopped, too shocked to move, and it felt as if someone had driven a hammer into his stomach and heart, just slammed it with all their might.
"You…you've what?!" He gasped for breath and felt his knees go weak.
"I'm going to be married to Douglass within a week's time," she deadpanned, her back still turned from him. He saw her back shudder as she let out a breath, and slowly she came away from the fireplace. Whatever had been tossed into the flames was burnt to cinders now.
There were no traces of tears on Zelda's cheeks, but Link could see that she had fallen into despair, and her once brilliant and striking beauty had shrunken so much she was barely the same person. Her eyes seemed smaller, and there were dark circles under them. All laughter had gone from them. She stood, waiting for Link to say something, and he only stared at her for a very long time.
"Zelda, you can't," he finally said weakly, hands unclenching and his features softening. Zelda closed her eyes and gulped hard, trying desperately to remain strong.
"I can and I am," she replied steadily. "Hyrule cannot win this war alone. I am ready to do what needs to be done. I've been selfish long enough. It is my duty."
"No Zelda! Don't do it!" Link exploded, grabbing her arms tightly and forcing her to look at him. "Hyrule can hold its own, I'll take the entire Tamesis and Minos armies on myself! You don't have to do this."
He was shaking, Zelda noticed, and she knew this hurt him almost as much as it hurt her. She wanted to cry, but she had no more tears to shed.
"Link, Link, don't do this…" She pleaded, gently holding either side of his face to steady him. His eyes had filled with tears, which he shamelessly shed onto her hands.
"No! I won't let this happen to you. I'm supposed to protect you from all wrong, and I've failed miserably…so miserably…" Link's voice shook from anger and grief so violently that he choked on his words. Suddenly a light filled his eyes and he dropped to one knee at Zelda's feet and clasped her hand.
"Marry me, Zelda. I'll make you happy…Stephen won't be able to do a thing then…Zelda, I want you to marry me."
Zelda's heart truly broke for the second time in her life. Link pleaded so desperately…oh how badly she wanted to cry!
"Link, this is absurd, you don't want to marry me." She spoke softly, running her fingers through his growing hair.
"Do you want to marry Douglass?" He retorted, looking up at her, the tears finally giving completely away to anger. Zelda would not answer him.
"Link, I've already made my decision and I didn't ask you hear to argue about it," she motioned for him to stand by pulling on his hands, and he stood and looked down at her. "Link, I won't lie and say this is the way I would have chosen, but what Hyrule needs, I must give it. Please."
Link composed himself only on account that he had gone completely numb. He knew Zelda was holding his hand, but he didn't feel it.
"Link," Zelda said calmly and clearly, "It would mean the world to me if you would walk me down the aisle."
At this Link could only stare in disbelief at her. She looked back at him, hopeful but at the same time utterly defeated. Link shook his head.
"You can't marry him," he repeated again, "it's not right. It's not fair."
"Things are rarely fair anymore, Link," Zelda replied. "But will you do it? Since my father has died I always planned for you to give me away…."
Don't make me go through this alone, was what she wanted to say, but she held her tongue.
"No!" Link shouted angrily. "You can't do this and I won't do anything to help it! Go! Marry Douglass! Become Stephen's pawn, I'll not be a part of this!"
He tore away from Zelda and stalked out the door, raging, and left her all alone. Zelda's heart was racing, as well as being shattered into a million, unrecognizable pieces. It was then that a single tear slid down her cheek and onto the floor.
Behind her in the fireplace were the last remains of a love she had, and lost.
A different love she might have had if fate had been kind had just walked out the door, and perhaps away from her forever.
And before her, a marriage she had been forced into, to someone she did not know if she could love, or would love her…
Zelda felt that death must have been better than this.
AN: I warned you all that I had plans! But the next chapter…oh, the next chapter will be so sweet to write…I can't wait. And Cassidy, I think you might be happy with that one…You'll just have to wait and see…