A/N:
Another day, another chapter. And I definitely owe you guys a huge thanks for all of the reviews! I think I got exactly thirty. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! THANK YOU!!!! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda. :P
Interlude: The Witch
With a talon-like finger, she beckoned her companion into her presence, its body sleek with pitch colored feathers. It cawed softly as it landed gently onto her outstretched fingers and gripped the digits with its curled claws. Stroking the guay, the woman pursed her lips in thought. Her guay nudged her with its pointed beak when she became so absorbed as to not continue her administrations upon his back.
"Patience, my feathered companion," she cooed as she ran a nail lightly up its spine. "All in due time, all in due time."
The light of the full moon shone through the windows of the castle discretely, as if fearing it would disrupt its occupants with its presence. It illuminated the woman and her animal companion ever so slightly and displayed what she truly was: a witch.
Her appearance fluctuated with her moods and desires; she had worn the semblance of many a person: golden haired maidens, old women with crinkled skin, middle aged women of indomitable features – none were beyond her power. Her true form was unknown to those around her. The ones possessing the idiocy as to speculate on the subject quickly found themselves speculating no more.
She had once been known as Farthnelda, the most powerful fairy in the lush land of Hyrule, but that name was hardly spoken as of now. It had been forgotten by her servants, destroyed by the sands of time. Most referred to her as the Witch. Grimacing at the thought of her given name, the Witch unconsciously scratched the delicate skin of her guay. With a perturbed caw, it flew away from her hand after punishing its mistress with a hard peck on the thumb.
The Witch scowled ferociously, her patience running its course. Removing herself from her chambers, she began to walk the length of her cold, stone hallways, which were as inhospitable as ever. No plush carpets lined the length of the floors, nor did lovely flowers decorate finely made tables. No portraits or tapestries hung on the walls. The castle was visibly bare of any accoutrement.
Despite the tranquility of the castle at the moment, the Witch's mind was abrasive and vociferous. Thoughts clamored for her attention, like dogs scrambling for their master's approval and subsequent pat on the head. She gripped her staff as a result until her already pale knuckles turned white with tension; the orb atop the staff swirled with the colors of midnight and darkness and evil.
The Witch followed a path that would lead her to her own receiving chambers. Once there, she placed herself on the throne which sat on a raised dais overlooking her servants. With a deafening crack of her staff hitting the stone floor, the Witch called for silence without speaking a word. Everyone became still as stone, fearing the Witch's great and fiery wrath.
"Be swift and do not squander my time. I will not hesitate to punish those who do so," the Witch snapped fiercely, her ebony eyes narrowing. Her orb continued to swirl with blackness, yet now it held a tint of crimson: the color of spilled blood.
A moblin hesitantly came before his mistress, his snout pointing towards the floor in obeisance. Lifting his head toward the Witch, he spoke, his voice a rumble, like rocks tumbling down a mountain. "There be no sign of the princess, My Lady Witch. We be looking so long, but we not be finding her –."
The crack of her staff resounded about the walls once again. "Silence!" the Witch snarled, her anger erupting. "It has been over ten years that you have been searching for her, yet still you find no trace?" The Witch spat. "She could not have disappeared into thin air!"
The moblin fumbled for an appropriate reply. "Oh, we've looked in all the villages and country-sides, towns and cities. And at every house we checked every cradle."
"Cradle?" the Witch asked softly. The moblin nodded in agreement, snorting in pride at his obvious brilliance. "Cradle?" she asked again, this time louder. She chuckled. "All this time," she mused, "you've been looking for a baby. Haven't you?"
Everyone in the vicinity nodded, glad to witness their mistress's change in humor.
The Witch laughed, louder and with a note of hysteria. She bent over upon her staff as she cackled; the orb was now a bright yellow. As she collected herself, the Witch stood upright once again and aimed her staff at her servants. "You FOOLS!" she screeched as strands of power erupted from the now black orb and struck down the moblins and other such creatures. The smell of burning flesh and hair filled the room. "ALL THIS TIME! YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A BABY! IMBECILES! IDIOTS! YOU ARE ONLY THORNS IN MY SIDE! BEGONE FROM MY PRESENCE!"
The few that were actually still alive scrambled to their feet and ran from the Witch, their faces and eyes filled with terror. When all was quiet and only silent carcasses lay before her, the Witch slumped onto her throne, her guay coming to her side once again. It cawed softly to her in the bird's form of comfort.
"Oh, my faithful companion, they are fools. The whole lot of them," she murmured as she stroked the guay. "Looking for an infant for ten years. And I am no closer to finding the girl then I was then." The Witch's eyes narrowed in fury. "While they were looking in cradles, the princess could have received her power already!" she snarled. "My plans will have been ruined."
She stroked the bird's wings. "And we mustn't let that happen, can we?" she whispered. "My friend, I bid you to find this girl for me. I should have given you the task long ago. Look for a girl of great beauty, with hair that is golden and lips that would shame the red, red rose."
The guay pecked her thumb lightly in acknowledgement.
"Go," she commanded and threw the bird into the air. As it flew away, the Witch watched the orb atop her staff cool to its usual dark shades. Taking it up, she stood and watched her guay fly away into the moonlight. She stroked the orb and smiled.
The Witch would have the Triforce, no matter the cost.
Ok, I know many of you would like to come to my house and throw your computer chairs at me for the lack of fluff. And I'm sorry for the shortness. (ducks) But I promise that the next chapter is when the fluff will begin! I SWEAR!!! So don't hurt me!!! OO
Thank you for all of the reviews on Chapter 4, not to mention everyone letting me know what BTW means. (feels dumb)
babowonsuni: Well, I think I know who (or what) is going to guard the princess in the climatic ending! Or something like that. XD
Cmdr. Defiance Nighthawk: Thanks, I'm glad you like it! :D
kat-SageOfWisdom-princessZel: I love cats too (as you can tell). And I'm glad you're on the edge of your seat b/c that means you'll be coming back to read the next chapters! =D
Perfect Soldier 01: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!! Hope you had a great one! And I also hope I continue to be inspired /w this fic. I hate writer's block. :P
ZeldaChik63: Yeah, I think you've pretty much got the basic idea of where I'm going with this. Lol I don't think Farthnelda is a very funny name, though. Maybe I'm just boring. OO
Bvv: Well, I'm glad I'm not alone in Idiot-dom. XD My common sense is lacking at times….
A.Mills: Yeah, I didn't want this to be an exact replica of the Disney movie b/c that would be totally uncreative. And kinda boring. So I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out at the moment. Thanks for the review! :)
Hikari no Purinsesu: I'm glad you liked the chapter! (And for being the thousandth person telling me what BTW means….. XD)
nightwanderer: I don't know how I came up with the name Farthnelda, it just came to me while I was writing that first chapter. OO I really don't think it's funny, though. I guess I'm just a total bump. (haha)
PIRO the unforgiven one: Was it cheesy? (sigh) I really don't like a whole lot of cheese, in both fics and on food. Oo Oh well…..XD
lucibell: I'm glad you like it! I hope your own fic turns out the way you want it. =D
Azure Raelin: I couldn't have too much fluff b/c Zelda was only 10. OO And you're a very cruel girl. And I'd get very angry if I was tied down, but I think you'd have a hard time accomplishing it. I'm almost 6 feet tall. (heeheehee) XD
jade04: I'm turning 16 in August. Way to go August birthday people! I have two cats at the moment. I used to have a fat cat named Lily, but we had to put her down. (cries) Sad times, sad times….. :(
Jewel of the Wolves: Actually, you're right; I did misspell that word. (goes and hides in shame) THE HORROR! WHAT HAVE I DONE? I SHOULD HAVE HEEDED SPELL CHECK!! But I'm not offended. Lol I'm glad you told me. And thanks for the cookies. (eats cookies) XD
Story Weaver1: I'm glad you liked the cat part. Some people just don't like cats for some reason. (sadsadsad) Thanks for reviewing! :D
ayachan21: I've read some of the OOT manga. It's really beautiful. I always go back and read the part where Link finds out Sheik is Zelda. XD I was also thinking of buying it for myself even though it's in Japanese. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the chapter and I'm sorry for making you cry! XD
link-fan: Thanks, I will! =)
aslan-chic: I think reviews don't impact the plot or anything, but they do impact my motivation to keep writing the fic. B/c if no one's reading, then I don't see much point in continuing. That's my opinion, at least. XD
Greki: I'm glad you were able to review this time! I'm never busy. XD And thanks for the compliment! I hope to become a novelist when I'm older. :)
Zeron999: Thanks, I will! =D
CrazygurlMadness: I'm moving, I'm moving. Lol First threats, now demands? I guess I'll take both as implied compliments. XD
funky-squirrel: I'm glad you like it so far! And you're not delusional, I thought the fight was cute too (that's why I wrote it). Thanks for the review! :D
Babydoll72489: You've never seen the movie?!! (gasp) YOU HAVE TO SEE IT, NOW! IT'S A CLASSIC!!!! Lol But I'm glad you reviewed. BUT YOU MUST SEE THE MOVIE! I COMMAND YOU! XD
magnum326: I'm always up for a good Zelda fic. They're kinda hard to find around ff.net. (sigh) I'll be keeping my eyes open for it! :D
Tri: Well, I'm glad you didn't think it was stupid, and yes, I have heard that expression many times. I guess it really applies this time, yes? And I can't lie very well so I wouldn't have tried to, anyway. Lol Thanks for the review! :)
Nagem: I agree, I don't think Farthnelda is very funny. Oh well. To answer your questions: only Triana and Saria (and Navi) know that Zelda is a princess. Everyone (including Link) won't find out until later. (maniacal laughter) Drama awaits! Mwahahaha! XD
Midnight Starfire: No, I agree with you: there's a whole lot of crap to sift through on ff.net. And I don't mean that in a pompous way, either. XD Anyway, thanks so much for reviewing. I was getting a little worried, especially since some other people who have been faithful didn't review. (cries) I'll just tell myself that they're on vacation…:(