Chapter 7
"Rauru! What has happened?" Zelda leapt off the bed and ran toward him, under the window.
"It's your father, Zelda." Rauru didn't seem to notice the young man sitting in the chair, either that or he didn't care. Zelda's face was panic stricken.
"What has happened to my father!?" Zelda latched on to Rauru's garment and looked into his eyes.
"He has been taken captive. At least, that is what I have concluded." Zelda looked at him with questioning eyes. "I found over half of his caravan, slain.." Zelda's eyes widened. "But, I have not found your father. I have come to the conclusion that he has been taken."
Zelda let go of Rauru and turned away from him.
"There is more my lady," Rauru glanced briefly at Link, acknowledging him finally. He did not say anything to him though. "There is another caravan at the boundaries of Hyrule, I am sure of it. But they do not carry the Imperial Flag, no, I believe they may be the ones who were responsible for your father's capture. They may be here within a matter of hours."
"Where do they come from, do you know?" Link spoke to Rauru directly, though he could feel Dark Link stirring, inwardly growling at the sage. Rauru met Link's gaze and saw a flicker of red in his eyes for a brief moment.
"They come from Ormistad." Link sucked in air.
"What part of Ormistad?"
"Erryl, I believe. That is where I saw the caravan departing." Link stood up abruptly and went to Zelda.
"Zelda, you must wait in the throne room. If what Rauru says is true, and if my suspicions are correct, I may have a way of saving your father." Zelda looked at Link.
"If you do, Link, then I will set you free," she said, "I give you my word." Link followed Zelda out of her bed chambers with Rauru in tow, and he realized that Dark Link didn't try to interfere. In fact, he hadn't had much trouble from him lately. Link wondered if there were any possible way..
....don't get your hopes up, Hero....
Link growled at the evil elf's mocking tone. He should have known it wouldn't be so easy.
As they walked down the corridors of the castle, Zelda stared at every passer-by who saw Link with her, letting them know that he was not to be harmed, touched, or talked to. She also made it clear that she was not to be questioned. When they got into the throne room, Zelda sat upon her father's throne, as she had done for the past four years, and motioned for Rauru to take the seat to her left. Link stayed standing at her right.
Zelda told two of her guards what was going on, and directed them to meet up with the caravan to inform their leader that the princess would like a word with them.
"Tell me what you know about Ormistad," Zelda said to Link as the guards went trotting down to the doorway.
"I went to Termina about five years ago, and three years after that I traveled to Ormistad. I ran into a warlord in Erryl named Eiraki, who took me captive because I had trespassed into his territory. I battled him for my freedom. If it is he who has captured your father, then I know what to do with him." Link purposely left out the part about Eiraki being a distant cousin of Ganondorf. He did not want to cause any commotion, or start a war that would be needless anyhow.
Dark Link stirred at the idea, but Link refused to succumb to that particular itching need of Dark Link's. While Link's darker self gave him desires to do wicked, evil, sadistic things, for some reason war was out of the question. That certainly would be what Eiraki got if Zelda found out about his relation to her most despised enemy.
Zelda said nothing and looked to the doors of the throne room with a determined look of confidence. Link had to hand it to her, she was indeed a good princess. It then appeared as if she remembered something, and leaned over to Link.
"My father will not know of what transpired between the two of us, I ask only this of you." Link smiled at her and stood tall, awaiting the pain-in- the-ass warlord Eiraki.
Not two hours had passed when a girl that looked much older than Zelda in tattered and torn robes came running up the walkway with the two guards at her heels. She halted in front of Zelda and fell to her knees, gasping for breath. One of the guards approached Zelda.
"She is unarmed, Milady, sent in by Eiraki of Erryl to give you word." Zelda flicked her wrist and sent the guards to stand at their posts.
"Your Royal Highness," the girl panted, "I have been sent ahead to give word that my lord will be arriving shortly within the hour, and that he would also like a word with you." Still on her knees, the girl bowed her head with her arms outstretched as was the custom in Ormistad.
"Rise, maiden, and tell me your status among your lord's people." The girl looked up quizzically at the princess.
"Your Highness, I..I am but a serving maid. I occasionally act as caretaker to the younger-" Zelda held up her hand and looked over to one of her own maids standing at the side of the steps leading to the throne, and bade her bring the girl some suitable clothing. The maid left immediately and Zelda spoke again to the young girl.
"Tell me your name, servant."
"Tirkka, your Highness."
"Tirkka, you will remain here with me and my people."
"But, your-"
"I will not discuss the matter with you. Go find the maid I sent in the serving room. Go out the door, to the left and down the hall. It is the fourteenth door on the right." The girl was about to protest, but Zelda would not have it.
"Go." The girl rose and quickly left the throne room. She was overwhelmed with delight.
Link leaned over to Zelda and whispered, "I will need a sword, Zelda." Zelda started and looked at him.
"Why?"
"If I am to duel with Eiraki, I will need a weapon." Link said with a small grin on his face.
"..Link, I had no intention for you to put your life-"
"Zelda, trust me. Just this once. If you want your father free, you will bring me the sword." Zelda leaned over to Rauru, not willing to trust anyone but him with such a matter.
"Rauru, bring me the Master Sword. It's-"
"I know, Zelda." Rauru smiled at her and left immediately. Not more than two minutes after that, a man in dark purple and black cloth and leather came strolling into the throne room. His hair was a dark brown and his facial features were very sharp. There were only two men who followed him, and as he approached Zelda stood. There was something about his looks that stirred something within Zelda, but she could not put her finger on it.
"Your Highness, a very pleasant face you have. I am Eiraki of Erryl, at your service," he said with a grin and a quick bow.
"Where is my father?" Zelda asked sternly. Eiraki grinned again and folded his hands together.
"Well, my darling princess, he is right outside as a matter of fact." Eiraki didn't even seem to notice the blonde Hylian standing next to Zelda.
"You will release him at once."
"On the contrary, Highness. You will pay me first, and then I will release him." At that instant, Rauru returned with the sword concealed in his robes. Zelda was thankful he was so smart as to do that. She did not want to alarm or upset the warlord before she had discussed every matter with him. Eiraki didn't seem to give Rauru a second glance.
"Exactly how much are you demanding?"
"Princess, I will gladly give you your king for no less than five hundred- million rupees." Zelda staggered but composed herself again almost immediately.
"That is utterly ridiculous."
"That is my demand. Take it or leave it, Highness. I do not like trespassers, and I like king trespassers even less."
"I have an alternate proposition," Link said, stepping down in front of Zelda.
"Who are you, boy?" Link smirked. Had he forgotten already?
"Have you forgotten so easily? Well, I would not have expected it from a man as proud as you, Eiraki." A look of recognition crossed Eiraki's features and his face contorted into that of pure rage.
"It's you! You little demon!" He reached for his sword, and as he did so the two men behind him reached for theirs as well.
"Do not draw your weapons! I challenge you, Eiraki, to a duel for the freedom of the King of Hyrule. Do you accept?" The rage on Eiraki's face slowly dissipated as he realized he would have the vengeance on the young boy who humiliated him.
"Yes, I accept!" Then, turning to Zelda, "but what do I receive if I win, Highness?"
"You make take me prisoner instead," Link said. Eiraki turned to Link, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"You have yourself a deal, young fool." Eiraki then drew his sword, and Link went to Rauru, his eyes never leaving Eiraki, and held out his hand expectantly. Rauru withdrew the Master Sword, scabbard and all, and placed it in Link's hand. Link drew it and immediately felt an incredible power running through his veins, an opposite power to that of the evil being inside him. This was a familiar power, and one that made him feel invincible.
Turning to Zelda, Link whispered softly, "I will not fail. You will have your father back in no time." Zelda smiled sadly and took her seat. She immediately forgave him for what he did to her, she felt the real Link again and it overwhelmed her with emotion. ((He's come back to me,)) she thought silently. Oh how wrong she was.
Link slowly stepped down the stairs to the ground and faced Eiraki, sword gleaming.
"Tell me, Link," Eiraki said as he moved to strike. Knocking him to the floor, he tried to bring his sword down upon Link's face but Link brought up the Master Sword and blocked the attack.
"Has my little friend been keeping you company these long years?" Growling, Link pushed Eiraki off of him and sprang to his feet.
"I knew it was you!" Link charged him and simultaneously felt the darkness within him stir, rising to the surface. Eiraki met each blow with a counter, and once again sent Link sprawling back to the ground. Link was at first planning to enjoy himself, but he found himself growing angry at the lord's admission.
"Yes, I am a bit of a sorcerer. I suppose it runs in the family," Eiraki said as he circled Link. He stood stock still, glaring at Eiraki with burning red eyes.
With an unnatural raspy and low voice that shocked even Zelda sitting on her throne, Link asked, "How could you have possibly known about Navi?" Eiraki continued to circle Link, sword half-way raised in his right hand.
"Hmmm? Oh, it was just a simple spell. One meant to annoy and drive mad, if anything." So he hadn't known about Navi, he just randomly cast a spell that made Link perceive the magic in a form he would recognize. This made him even angrier. How he had known it was Eiraki was unfathomable to Link, but the knowledge made him tremble with a desire for more power.
Focusing on the task at hand, Link called up his darkest fear to full power, and for the first time, he willingly let the darkness engulf him completely. Now, he was unstoppable. Dark Link cried out in victory as he took complete control. The cry rang through Link's head and escaped his lips. It was the most sinister laugh Zelda had ever heard. She glanced briefly at the Master Sword in Link's hand, then shook her head. ((No, it's not possible...))
The grin on Eiraki's face disappeared swiftly and he stood still as he gazed upon the dark creature before him. Link still appeared the same, but everyone in the room trembled at the absolute power that was emanating from him, even Eiraki. Link walked forward with raging fury and in three strikes had Eiraki's sword flying through the air, his hand no longer attached to his body, and one long scar down his thin cheek. Eiraki cried out in bitter pain and grasped at his stumpy wrist, looking at Link with pure fear on his face.
"I...don't understand....a wisp of a boy like you...twice..." The look on Link's face was far from amused. Pure evil stared into the eyes of the frazzled warlord, and he gasped when he looked back into those burning, red eyes.
"I win," Link said flatly. He turned around and both Zelda and Eiraki sighed with relief as they realized he wasn't going to kill him, but Link swung around to his left and brought the Master Sword in shimmering arc to Eiraki's neck.
Zelda screamed and Rauru hid her face in his chest as she heard the thumping of a decapitated head rolling across her royal floor, followed by the 'plop' of Eiraki's falling, dead body. Guards from every corner of the room went rushing to the body, lifting it and removing it from the chamber. Others went to go get cleaning servants. The two men that had accompanied Eiraki stared at Link in shocked silence, not moving an inch. Link snarled at them and walked toward Zelda.
Dark Link receded slightly and Link felt himself regaining control a little once more. Link still held the bloody Master Sword in his hand with a death- like grip. Zelda removed her head from Rauru's robed chest and looked at Link with a little apprehension. He had killed that man even when he had clearly won. Zelda was afraid, but she composed herself and stood up straight, not wanting to be intimidated by the man who had just saved her father's life.
"The deed is done Zelda, I have won." Zelda swallowed almost painfully.
"Yes, Link." She stepped forward and stopped at the last so she was only a head higher than him, and looked down into his eyes. They were returning to normal, but Zelda noticed the red that shone just behind the white. "What happened just now?" she whispered softly, so that only he may hear. Link only shook his head, keeping his gaze locked on hers. Zelda looked at the Master Sword held tightly in Link's hand and gulped. She wouldn't believe. She refused to. ((No. Not possible.))
Link then started to fall backwards and Zelda shrieked before catching him in her arms. Propping him on herself unsteadily, she raised his head with one hand. He had fallen unconscious. Rauru rushed to her side and helped her lay him down on the stairs, sword still gripped in his hand. As Zelda leaned over him, she failed to notice the man standing behind her.
"At long last daughter, I have returned." Zelda snapped her head around and looked at the large man. She leapt to her feet and ran toward him.
"Papa!" She yelled as she embraced him in a fierce hug. He returned the embrace. Pulling back, the King of Hyrule looked at his daughter's face and a tear fell from his eye.
"I have missed you so, daughter."
"And I you, father." The king looked to the fallen boy on the stairs.
"Is that my rescuer?" Zelda looked at Link and nodded her head. She then noticed that the two men who had accompanied Eiraki were nowhere to be found. She realized that they must've gone to free the king and told him what happened.
Without their leader, the people of Erryl did not know what to do but head back home. They were, in a sense, relieved that they no longer had to follow under another's ruling. They made their way back to Ormistad without disruption to any of the habitants of Hyrule.
The king looked at the young boy and told Zelda to get the medical assistants to help him and put him in bed. Zelda did as her father asked and afterward, they spent the entire evening listening to each other's tales.
***************************
~ "Are you going to kill me? When will it stop?! Don't do it Link, don't do it! It's not happening again... Please........No, I cannot go further. You weak, pathetic excuse for a man, get up and FIGHT ME! Just do it, just put me out of my misery."~
Link
~ "Nooooo! Mother! Father! You will pay for this. Who dare wakes me from my slumber? You silly thing, you honestly think you can defeat me?"~
Link
~ "Just this once, please, make it stop. No, you must go back.......Heheheh, what will you give me? Anything, I'd give my soul, just, don't make me go on."~
....Link!......
Link opened his eyes in the darkness of the bed chamber. The memories came flooding back to him in an overwhelming intensity that made his whole body tighten. He was angry at himself for letting Dark Link take over him completely. He was angry that he hadn't found a way to rid himself of this evil.
"Why'd you make me kill him?" Link asked as he fell back against the bed.
....I didn't make you do anything....
"Bullshit. You were the one in control."
....it felt so good....
Link felt the dark one within him waiting for a reply, but Link was too drained to continue. Link stared at the ceiling as he thought of tomorrow.
Tomorrow would be a very, very long day.
"Rauru! What has happened?" Zelda leapt off the bed and ran toward him, under the window.
"It's your father, Zelda." Rauru didn't seem to notice the young man sitting in the chair, either that or he didn't care. Zelda's face was panic stricken.
"What has happened to my father!?" Zelda latched on to Rauru's garment and looked into his eyes.
"He has been taken captive. At least, that is what I have concluded." Zelda looked at him with questioning eyes. "I found over half of his caravan, slain.." Zelda's eyes widened. "But, I have not found your father. I have come to the conclusion that he has been taken."
Zelda let go of Rauru and turned away from him.
"There is more my lady," Rauru glanced briefly at Link, acknowledging him finally. He did not say anything to him though. "There is another caravan at the boundaries of Hyrule, I am sure of it. But they do not carry the Imperial Flag, no, I believe they may be the ones who were responsible for your father's capture. They may be here within a matter of hours."
"Where do they come from, do you know?" Link spoke to Rauru directly, though he could feel Dark Link stirring, inwardly growling at the sage. Rauru met Link's gaze and saw a flicker of red in his eyes for a brief moment.
"They come from Ormistad." Link sucked in air.
"What part of Ormistad?"
"Erryl, I believe. That is where I saw the caravan departing." Link stood up abruptly and went to Zelda.
"Zelda, you must wait in the throne room. If what Rauru says is true, and if my suspicions are correct, I may have a way of saving your father." Zelda looked at Link.
"If you do, Link, then I will set you free," she said, "I give you my word." Link followed Zelda out of her bed chambers with Rauru in tow, and he realized that Dark Link didn't try to interfere. In fact, he hadn't had much trouble from him lately. Link wondered if there were any possible way..
....don't get your hopes up, Hero....
Link growled at the evil elf's mocking tone. He should have known it wouldn't be so easy.
As they walked down the corridors of the castle, Zelda stared at every passer-by who saw Link with her, letting them know that he was not to be harmed, touched, or talked to. She also made it clear that she was not to be questioned. When they got into the throne room, Zelda sat upon her father's throne, as she had done for the past four years, and motioned for Rauru to take the seat to her left. Link stayed standing at her right.
Zelda told two of her guards what was going on, and directed them to meet up with the caravan to inform their leader that the princess would like a word with them.
"Tell me what you know about Ormistad," Zelda said to Link as the guards went trotting down to the doorway.
"I went to Termina about five years ago, and three years after that I traveled to Ormistad. I ran into a warlord in Erryl named Eiraki, who took me captive because I had trespassed into his territory. I battled him for my freedom. If it is he who has captured your father, then I know what to do with him." Link purposely left out the part about Eiraki being a distant cousin of Ganondorf. He did not want to cause any commotion, or start a war that would be needless anyhow.
Dark Link stirred at the idea, but Link refused to succumb to that particular itching need of Dark Link's. While Link's darker self gave him desires to do wicked, evil, sadistic things, for some reason war was out of the question. That certainly would be what Eiraki got if Zelda found out about his relation to her most despised enemy.
Zelda said nothing and looked to the doors of the throne room with a determined look of confidence. Link had to hand it to her, she was indeed a good princess. It then appeared as if she remembered something, and leaned over to Link.
"My father will not know of what transpired between the two of us, I ask only this of you." Link smiled at her and stood tall, awaiting the pain-in- the-ass warlord Eiraki.
Not two hours had passed when a girl that looked much older than Zelda in tattered and torn robes came running up the walkway with the two guards at her heels. She halted in front of Zelda and fell to her knees, gasping for breath. One of the guards approached Zelda.
"She is unarmed, Milady, sent in by Eiraki of Erryl to give you word." Zelda flicked her wrist and sent the guards to stand at their posts.
"Your Royal Highness," the girl panted, "I have been sent ahead to give word that my lord will be arriving shortly within the hour, and that he would also like a word with you." Still on her knees, the girl bowed her head with her arms outstretched as was the custom in Ormistad.
"Rise, maiden, and tell me your status among your lord's people." The girl looked up quizzically at the princess.
"Your Highness, I..I am but a serving maid. I occasionally act as caretaker to the younger-" Zelda held up her hand and looked over to one of her own maids standing at the side of the steps leading to the throne, and bade her bring the girl some suitable clothing. The maid left immediately and Zelda spoke again to the young girl.
"Tell me your name, servant."
"Tirkka, your Highness."
"Tirkka, you will remain here with me and my people."
"But, your-"
"I will not discuss the matter with you. Go find the maid I sent in the serving room. Go out the door, to the left and down the hall. It is the fourteenth door on the right." The girl was about to protest, but Zelda would not have it.
"Go." The girl rose and quickly left the throne room. She was overwhelmed with delight.
Link leaned over to Zelda and whispered, "I will need a sword, Zelda." Zelda started and looked at him.
"Why?"
"If I am to duel with Eiraki, I will need a weapon." Link said with a small grin on his face.
"..Link, I had no intention for you to put your life-"
"Zelda, trust me. Just this once. If you want your father free, you will bring me the sword." Zelda leaned over to Rauru, not willing to trust anyone but him with such a matter.
"Rauru, bring me the Master Sword. It's-"
"I know, Zelda." Rauru smiled at her and left immediately. Not more than two minutes after that, a man in dark purple and black cloth and leather came strolling into the throne room. His hair was a dark brown and his facial features were very sharp. There were only two men who followed him, and as he approached Zelda stood. There was something about his looks that stirred something within Zelda, but she could not put her finger on it.
"Your Highness, a very pleasant face you have. I am Eiraki of Erryl, at your service," he said with a grin and a quick bow.
"Where is my father?" Zelda asked sternly. Eiraki grinned again and folded his hands together.
"Well, my darling princess, he is right outside as a matter of fact." Eiraki didn't even seem to notice the blonde Hylian standing next to Zelda.
"You will release him at once."
"On the contrary, Highness. You will pay me first, and then I will release him." At that instant, Rauru returned with the sword concealed in his robes. Zelda was thankful he was so smart as to do that. She did not want to alarm or upset the warlord before she had discussed every matter with him. Eiraki didn't seem to give Rauru a second glance.
"Exactly how much are you demanding?"
"Princess, I will gladly give you your king for no less than five hundred- million rupees." Zelda staggered but composed herself again almost immediately.
"That is utterly ridiculous."
"That is my demand. Take it or leave it, Highness. I do not like trespassers, and I like king trespassers even less."
"I have an alternate proposition," Link said, stepping down in front of Zelda.
"Who are you, boy?" Link smirked. Had he forgotten already?
"Have you forgotten so easily? Well, I would not have expected it from a man as proud as you, Eiraki." A look of recognition crossed Eiraki's features and his face contorted into that of pure rage.
"It's you! You little demon!" He reached for his sword, and as he did so the two men behind him reached for theirs as well.
"Do not draw your weapons! I challenge you, Eiraki, to a duel for the freedom of the King of Hyrule. Do you accept?" The rage on Eiraki's face slowly dissipated as he realized he would have the vengeance on the young boy who humiliated him.
"Yes, I accept!" Then, turning to Zelda, "but what do I receive if I win, Highness?"
"You make take me prisoner instead," Link said. Eiraki turned to Link, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"You have yourself a deal, young fool." Eiraki then drew his sword, and Link went to Rauru, his eyes never leaving Eiraki, and held out his hand expectantly. Rauru withdrew the Master Sword, scabbard and all, and placed it in Link's hand. Link drew it and immediately felt an incredible power running through his veins, an opposite power to that of the evil being inside him. This was a familiar power, and one that made him feel invincible.
Turning to Zelda, Link whispered softly, "I will not fail. You will have your father back in no time." Zelda smiled sadly and took her seat. She immediately forgave him for what he did to her, she felt the real Link again and it overwhelmed her with emotion. ((He's come back to me,)) she thought silently. Oh how wrong she was.
Link slowly stepped down the stairs to the ground and faced Eiraki, sword gleaming.
"Tell me, Link," Eiraki said as he moved to strike. Knocking him to the floor, he tried to bring his sword down upon Link's face but Link brought up the Master Sword and blocked the attack.
"Has my little friend been keeping you company these long years?" Growling, Link pushed Eiraki off of him and sprang to his feet.
"I knew it was you!" Link charged him and simultaneously felt the darkness within him stir, rising to the surface. Eiraki met each blow with a counter, and once again sent Link sprawling back to the ground. Link was at first planning to enjoy himself, but he found himself growing angry at the lord's admission.
"Yes, I am a bit of a sorcerer. I suppose it runs in the family," Eiraki said as he circled Link. He stood stock still, glaring at Eiraki with burning red eyes.
With an unnatural raspy and low voice that shocked even Zelda sitting on her throne, Link asked, "How could you have possibly known about Navi?" Eiraki continued to circle Link, sword half-way raised in his right hand.
"Hmmm? Oh, it was just a simple spell. One meant to annoy and drive mad, if anything." So he hadn't known about Navi, he just randomly cast a spell that made Link perceive the magic in a form he would recognize. This made him even angrier. How he had known it was Eiraki was unfathomable to Link, but the knowledge made him tremble with a desire for more power.
Focusing on the task at hand, Link called up his darkest fear to full power, and for the first time, he willingly let the darkness engulf him completely. Now, he was unstoppable. Dark Link cried out in victory as he took complete control. The cry rang through Link's head and escaped his lips. It was the most sinister laugh Zelda had ever heard. She glanced briefly at the Master Sword in Link's hand, then shook her head. ((No, it's not possible...))
The grin on Eiraki's face disappeared swiftly and he stood still as he gazed upon the dark creature before him. Link still appeared the same, but everyone in the room trembled at the absolute power that was emanating from him, even Eiraki. Link walked forward with raging fury and in three strikes had Eiraki's sword flying through the air, his hand no longer attached to his body, and one long scar down his thin cheek. Eiraki cried out in bitter pain and grasped at his stumpy wrist, looking at Link with pure fear on his face.
"I...don't understand....a wisp of a boy like you...twice..." The look on Link's face was far from amused. Pure evil stared into the eyes of the frazzled warlord, and he gasped when he looked back into those burning, red eyes.
"I win," Link said flatly. He turned around and both Zelda and Eiraki sighed with relief as they realized he wasn't going to kill him, but Link swung around to his left and brought the Master Sword in shimmering arc to Eiraki's neck.
Zelda screamed and Rauru hid her face in his chest as she heard the thumping of a decapitated head rolling across her royal floor, followed by the 'plop' of Eiraki's falling, dead body. Guards from every corner of the room went rushing to the body, lifting it and removing it from the chamber. Others went to go get cleaning servants. The two men that had accompanied Eiraki stared at Link in shocked silence, not moving an inch. Link snarled at them and walked toward Zelda.
Dark Link receded slightly and Link felt himself regaining control a little once more. Link still held the bloody Master Sword in his hand with a death- like grip. Zelda removed her head from Rauru's robed chest and looked at Link with a little apprehension. He had killed that man even when he had clearly won. Zelda was afraid, but she composed herself and stood up straight, not wanting to be intimidated by the man who had just saved her father's life.
"The deed is done Zelda, I have won." Zelda swallowed almost painfully.
"Yes, Link." She stepped forward and stopped at the last so she was only a head higher than him, and looked down into his eyes. They were returning to normal, but Zelda noticed the red that shone just behind the white. "What happened just now?" she whispered softly, so that only he may hear. Link only shook his head, keeping his gaze locked on hers. Zelda looked at the Master Sword held tightly in Link's hand and gulped. She wouldn't believe. She refused to. ((No. Not possible.))
Link then started to fall backwards and Zelda shrieked before catching him in her arms. Propping him on herself unsteadily, she raised his head with one hand. He had fallen unconscious. Rauru rushed to her side and helped her lay him down on the stairs, sword still gripped in his hand. As Zelda leaned over him, she failed to notice the man standing behind her.
"At long last daughter, I have returned." Zelda snapped her head around and looked at the large man. She leapt to her feet and ran toward him.
"Papa!" She yelled as she embraced him in a fierce hug. He returned the embrace. Pulling back, the King of Hyrule looked at his daughter's face and a tear fell from his eye.
"I have missed you so, daughter."
"And I you, father." The king looked to the fallen boy on the stairs.
"Is that my rescuer?" Zelda looked at Link and nodded her head. She then noticed that the two men who had accompanied Eiraki were nowhere to be found. She realized that they must've gone to free the king and told him what happened.
Without their leader, the people of Erryl did not know what to do but head back home. They were, in a sense, relieved that they no longer had to follow under another's ruling. They made their way back to Ormistad without disruption to any of the habitants of Hyrule.
The king looked at the young boy and told Zelda to get the medical assistants to help him and put him in bed. Zelda did as her father asked and afterward, they spent the entire evening listening to each other's tales.
***************************
~ "Are you going to kill me? When will it stop?! Don't do it Link, don't do it! It's not happening again... Please........No, I cannot go further. You weak, pathetic excuse for a man, get up and FIGHT ME! Just do it, just put me out of my misery."~
Link
~ "Nooooo! Mother! Father! You will pay for this. Who dare wakes me from my slumber? You silly thing, you honestly think you can defeat me?"~
Link
~ "Just this once, please, make it stop. No, you must go back.......Heheheh, what will you give me? Anything, I'd give my soul, just, don't make me go on."~
....Link!......
Link opened his eyes in the darkness of the bed chamber. The memories came flooding back to him in an overwhelming intensity that made his whole body tighten. He was angry at himself for letting Dark Link take over him completely. He was angry that he hadn't found a way to rid himself of this evil.
"Why'd you make me kill him?" Link asked as he fell back against the bed.
....I didn't make you do anything....
"Bullshit. You were the one in control."
....it felt so good....
Link felt the dark one within him waiting for a reply, but Link was too drained to continue. Link stared at the ceiling as he thought of tomorrow.
Tomorrow would be a very, very long day.