A/N:
Aargh, the delays keep getting longer, aren't they? Sorry. :( But I have been busy and I actually did start this chapter a few days back but I scrapped it b/c it sucked. O.o Hope it is to your liking, as always. o.o
Disclaimer: (sigh) I don't own LOZ. But I did just eat a huge bowl of ice cream /w a brownie…oops….. o.O
Chapter III
It was when the sun set and the moon rose and the stars twinkled so obliviously that the dreams came. When the nightmares haunted his thoughts and would not allow for sleep. Standing on his balcony, his hands gripping the banister as if it were his lifeline, Link closed his eyes and attempted to will away the images.
But they wouldn't leave him. They would never leave him. Images of blood, of infinite darkness, of screams that ended so abruptly it was inevitable as to why. Bodies desecrated beyond recognition. Monsters with their fetid breath and wickedly sharp talons that raked scores upon scores of incisions upon his body.
Link's knuckles were white with strain. A bead of perspiration slowly traveled down the length of his forehead and nose. He shivered.
The night always brought to light his nightmares. His memories of a time, although gone, that would never truly depart. And this place, this place brought them back so swiftly and surely that it completely overwhelmed his psyche. His breathing increased until it came out in gasps.
He had to get out of here. Out of this castle that screamed of death.
Without more than that fleeting thought, Link hurriedly strapped his sword upon his back, for he never went anywhere without it and literally ran from his chambers, his footsteps inaudible. Weaving through the maze of corridors and hallways, he eventually came to the stable yard outside, where he saddled his mare Epona himself, despite protests from the stable boys, and galloped away, gripping the reins tightly as the wind tangled itself through his hair.
He reached the portcullis and gate and was quickly allowed through a smaller door, without question, for he was well-known by the guards. It wasn't the first time he had taken such a late ride into the night. The soldiers on duty had come to expect it. Every night, an hour after the clock had struck midnight, came Link, the Hero of Time, riding off as if a demon nipped at his heels. A demon that he could never truly escape.
Out into the green fields of Hyrule he rode, the sliver of moon illuminating the land with a pale, silvery glow. The night was silent, except for the occasional hoot of an owl or a chirp of a cricket. Link had Epona continue at a gallop until he was at least a mile from the castle's vicinity, when he could only see the top of the highest tower on the horizon. It was there that he stopped Epona and dismounted from the chestnut mare. Patting her with thanks and rubbing her snout affectionately, Link sent her off to a nearby patch of clover where she grazed happily, whickering with delight.
The grass was covered with dew, but Link lay upon the ground without hesitation of getting his clothes damp. Placing his head upon his folded arms, he gazed up at the open sky, filled to the brim with stars and an occasional smoky cloud that floated lazily across the velvety expanse. He attempted to find some constellations, but it was of no use. His mind was still occupied by other thoughts.
It is, really, all Zelda's fault, he thought wryly as he simultaneously sighed. She had most certainly made it clear that she desired absolutely nothing to do with her new spouse, and Link had complied with open arms. Merely gazing at her face brought back such deep, emotional memories that he could barely look her in the eye most of the time. Because every time he saw Zelda, he saw blood, he saw darkness, and he saw monsters. That was what she had come to represent: his nightmares.
Once, long, long ago, he had fancied himself in love with her, the beautiful Princess of Hyrule. The way she smiled had captivated him from the very beginning, and her sweet voice had melted away any other possible thought. He had fought for her, for her sake; when he wept, alone, by a dimming fire at the darkest hours of the night, he reminded himself that it was Zelda he fought for. Her existence had consoled him; her existence had preserved him.
But then, she had sent him back. Sent him back to a world he had never belonged to in the first place, with the memories of a time that had never truly happened in the minds of every other being. And it was then that his heart had closed; it was then that he had blindly traveled and fought in so many different lands and across oceans and over mountaintops.
But somehow, for whatever reason, he came back. Came back, ironically enough, to be her husband. To be the spouse of the girl who had used him for her own doings and then abandoned him to the winds.
Link knew he had been rather harsh with Zelda on their so-called wedding night, but for some odd reason, she irked him severely, more so than anyone else ever had. Perhaps it was her haughty demeanor or superiority complex. Overlooking the fact that her mere presence reminded him of his nightmares, Link found the princess to be, overall, quite annoying.
Link closed his eyes for a moment before glancing once more at the sky above, desiring to sleep but not allowing himself to. He simply lay in the grass for a time, thinking, before eventually rising and riding back to Hyrule castle, his mind less muddled and his nerves somewhat calmed.
After unsaddling Epona and placing her in the stable with fresh hay and water, Link traversed the hallways of the castle once more, his footsteps echoing minutely off the walls and marble floor. Guards nodded at him when he passed, and he would, at times, nod back curtly. Turning the corner to what he believed to be the corridor leading to his own chambers, Link heard another's footsteps, one's that couldn't possibly be a guard's, for they were almost those of a child. Or a woman.
Looking around the corner, he noticed a woman walking the hallway slowly as she clutched her night robe closely to her body, her head bent towards the ground. Link recognized the woman instantly, despite the soft light of the torches that hung on the walls. It was Zelda.
Link had a great desire to go the long way to his chambers, but he barely knew his way around; he was certain that he would become lost within minutes. With an internal sigh, he turned the corner and walked towards Zelda, praying that she would disregard the presence of another human being in the hallway. Unfortunately, his prayer went unanswered.
Zelda looked up quickly, her eyes widening with recognition. Link wanted to leave her there without even a polite salutation, but he restrained himself from the temptation. She already thought him an uncouth barbarian; no need to give her more reason to believe it.
"Why are you here?" Zelda asked quietly, her hand gripping her robe even tighter. She looked Link over a moment before adding, "And you look as if you were traversing the fields this night. What kind of person goes for a walk at this late hour?"
"I do," Link answered shortly, his mood not particularly hospitable at seeing the woman he disliked so. "And for future reference, I did not walk. I rode."
Zelda frowned, her eyebrows furrowing. In the faint light of the candles, Link could barely make out her features, but there was no doubt that she was beautiful. Her hair was like spun copper and her eyes large and a deep violet-blue in color. Long ebony lashes, high cheekbones, pale, milky skin—Zelda was truly the epitome of loveliness. But for some reason, that irked Link even more, as if she were trying to manipulate him with her features.
"No need to be so rude," she responded, her hand now on her hip in a pose of indignation.
"I was not rude. I was merely clarifying."
Zelda sniffed. "You are most vexing, Link. Has no one told you that?"
"Everyday, Your Highness," he replied with such mock reverence, while bowing derisively, that he saw Zelda stiffen in offense.
Rising, he noticed that her eyes had narrowed to slits and her knuckles were white with strain. "Leave me," she demanded, her finger pointing down the hallway. "Now," she added fiercely.
Link snorted. "As you wish, dear wife," he replied sarcastically as he walked in the direction of her ivory finger, the digit so slim that he was certain he could snap it in two without a thought otherwise. Even if he were thrown in the dungeon for such an assault, it would be worth it to see her in pain. Maybe then he would receive his retribution.
Turning his head, Link saw Zelda glaring at him. Smirking, he said lightly, "Good night, Princess," before turning back around. It was then that he was convinced that he had never truly hated anyone as much as he hated Zelda right at that moment.
Ok, ok, REALLY short chapter. SORRY! (vegetables are thrown) But I just can't think of anything else for this stupid chapter and and and I'M SORRY! Bleh. But I know what I'm doing from here on out, so……. Hope you enjoyed a peek into Link's psyche. Ah, the tortured hero. How we heart him. o.O
Blue Taboo: Oh, wow, longer chapters, you say? Lol, that second chapter was probably the longest one I've done. O.o But I'll try! :D
babowonsuni: Link was being a bit of a butthead. But hopefully this chapter helped to shed some light on what he's thinking. .
SmileBeHappy: I believe you. Why wouldn't I? I'm glad that you're actually reading before reviewing. Lol My mom doesn't even know what Fruits Basket is. She just calls them my "videos." O.o (that sounds so wrong…too bad they're DVDs! T.T)
ZeldaChik63: I'm glad you liked it. And, yes, Annika is evil. Too bad I noticed that I had done the cliché "evil stepmother" thing after I posted the chapter. o.o
Faceless Serenity: Oh, wow, thank you! Am I really famous? o.O Lol, what a thought. xD
sawyerzelda: Yes, what is a princess to do? Princesses don't have it as good as most people think. (although it's not like I'd know from experience…) Lol, I'll keep trying to update ASAP, k? :D
aslan-chic: I guess she is someone that you just like to hate, huh? I actually kinda like bad people that you can kinda feel sorry for too… Makes them seem more human (and I especially love flawed heroes/heroines). ;)
nightwanderer: Thank you! And I know, who would really be crying if they were marrying Link! Lol I don't think anyone would be sad. (I wouldn't be!) xD
seb: I'm glad you read it. That's why I wrote it! Lol
Greki: You're right, being royalty is hard work. I really like tortured royalty. Lol And I think Zelda fits perfectly within that role.
Nagem: Thanx for reminding me that it's cliché. (poke poke) J/k. :D Glad you like it. I think it's probably one of my favorites.
Arcia: Glad you like it!
Story Weaver1: Yeah, Link was being uh, can we say, an a-hole (O.o) but I hope this chapter enlightened everyone. Actually, I really wanted to do a fic where Link wasn't the nicest guy, b/c all of the conflict and trauma in his life wouldn't leave him as the ultimate in kindness, you know? D
magnum326: Thank you! I hope I continue to write well too. Lol xD
CrazygurlMadness: I wouldn't be sad marrying Link either, but still… Feel free to be as loud as you want. Lol, I always am. xD
trekken46: I'm glad you like it thus far! :D
potter29vo: Thanks so much for reviewing my own fic! And for mentioning it in your profile. I feel special. And I agree, I hate stories where the couple falls in love after like, a week. It's just so……far-fetched. And it's so much more fun to read about how they grow to love each other. Hehehe ;D
Cat of Darkness: Ah, you're back! Glad to see you around again. : ) And don't worry, I'll never write a lemon, but this fic is a bit more mature, so that's why it's PG-13 instead of my usual PG. I really am kinda testing the waters a bit, you know? (am I making sense? O.o) Oh, btw, what didn't make sense? B/c if I'm confusing people, then that's bad and I should try to correct it. O.O
Sakurelle: Thank you, I'm glad you like it! And that story kinda reminds me of one in the Bible. Lol, I would know, what with going to a private Christian school for 6 years…. o.O
SoulessCalibur: You're back too! Hola. :D Glad you like it. :D:D:D
LizX19: Thank you! :)
DemonHunter47: Don't worry, I won't rush it. I don't think I could make myself rush, anyway. xD
sella: Of course I will! Lol :D
Mina-chan: Thank you! :D :D