Hey again! This is finally over in what I hope to be a good end for this three-shot. I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did. It's late now, so do take care.
Love,
CM
(Je ne me doutais pas qu'un jour
Même si pourtant je l'attendais
Que j'allais rencontrer l'amour
Que l'amour lui ressemblerait. ―Je pense à lui -Maria (Don Juan))
(Translation:
I never thought that one day
Even though I waited for him
That I'd one day meet love
And that love would look like him. ―I'm ThinkingofHim - Maria (Don Juan))
Nothing New
Part 3
By CM
"I've got a major problem, here."
"You tell me. Zelda, you have to concentrate!"
Zelda paced back and forth between the sinks and the stalls, stopping at the sinks once in a while and opening and closing the taps. Malon was anxiously kneading her hands together, trying to calm her nervous breathing, but to no avail. Zelda barely realized what she was doing, until Malon gripped her shoulders and shook her.
"Stop washing your hands. It's not going to get you out of this one."
Zelda took in a deep breath, wanting to tear up the document that Malon was holding. Her eyes burned through it. She looked up at Malon, who was gazing at her, every bit as stressed as she was. The young red-haired secretary was anxious for her boss and friend. Her big blue eyes were wide with tension.
The fair-haired young woman grabbed the paper from Malon and re-read it for what seemed the thousandth time. Her eyes skimmed over every letter without actually reading them. She knew the document by heart. She felt the nerves at the end of her fingertips going cold, as though she was holding ice instead of paper.
She did not want to do this. Only two weeks ago, it would have been just another formality, but today, after coming back from there, it was a matter of personal happiness. She could endanger a whole landmark, and everything she'd learned to hold dear in the past week would fall into nothingness. She feared it more than anything.
Just down the hall, in that goddamn conference room, her last belongings were being taken. Her last lands were taken from her family, and her stomach churned at the mere thought of it. The members of the consulate could strip her of every last bit of money she had.
Were status and political strength worth losing Hyrule Castle? Were they worth losing the village at its base? Were they worth losing all the little restaurants that lived of tourism?
Were they worth losing . . . him?
Malon put a comforting hand to her shoulder. "Zelda, it's alright. It's just one tiny bit of land. And small estate with a few rocks on it. Zelda, that's what you told me two weeks ago. What happened? Zelda?"
Of course, Malon knew nothing of him. She knew nothing of how her heart had been taken in the past week. How it had, or so she hoped, been taken and preserved. Malon didn't know how wonderful that estate was. She didn't know all the marvels it hid, nor the people it had housed. She didn't know how important to her family's history Hyrule Castle was. A few rocks on a bit of land, they were, indeed.
But they were the most beautiful and important historical rocks on the most impressive and secretive and wonderful land she had ever had.
And now, she was to sign it away without reserve? Where would she find the courage to sign her estate away? To sign him and Rauru and the rest of the archaeological team away?
She feared that her courage had stayed at his side when they shared that kiss. That atrocious, traitorous, mind-blowing kiss. She wasn't sure whether he understood how much of her he'd stolen, that evening, a week or so ago.
Though she couldn't help but thinking about him ever since. Link Forester, the most endearing, kind, interesting, understanding man she'd ever been given the chance to meet. And he was handsome, and a good kisser, and goodness, he haunted her every waking moment.
But she would not see him again if she signed the document between her fingers. The thought alone was enough to make her blood run cold.
She had not been warm since the day she left that hotel in the valley below the castle ruins. She had gotten progressively colder as the miles flew by and stayed behind her. Her heart had gone numb with hurt and guilt. She was about to betray him and everyone back there, and Link, the only one she could not bear to lose, was the only one who knew.
And still, he'd kissed her at the end of the evening, shaking her to the core.
Malon peered at her over the lenses of her reading glasses. "Zelda? Zelda, are you listening to me?"
The fair-haired woman shook herself out of her melancholy and gazed at her secretary. "Malon, I have a question." At her companion's hesitant nod, she asked, "If you had to choose between love and reputation, which would you choose?"
Malon, surprised, answered, her response heartfelt, "I'd go for love, of course."
Understanding her mistake internally, Zelda sighed. Malon was eternally wishing for a knight in shining armour and firmly believed in romance novels. Of course she'd opt for love over reputation.
"Even if you risked not having love in return?"
At that, Malon had to think. She pulled the reading glasses off her nose, folding them and tucking them into her breast pocket with a pen, frowning in thought. Finally, she looked up at Zelda and said, "Instead of asking me cryptic questions, why don't you tell me the whole story instead?"
A knock at the bathroom door resounded, and they both turned to face the closed panel. An embarrassed male voice boomed from the other side. "Miss Harkinian, Miss Lon, are you alright? Mister Dragmire and company are wondering if you are well . . ."
Malon cleared her throat and answered, voice steadier than Zelda's ever would be, "We're well, give us a minute. We apologize for the wait."
There was no answer, and they waited a few seconds before Zelda turned back at Malon and went, pale and breathless, "It's too late now anyway. I'm sorry I couldn't explain."
Malon pulled on Zelda's sleeve to make her face back. "You don't apologize. I can guess what happened: you met a guy while you were out in the country, and now you fear that he'll be betrayed if you sell this estate. And you don't want to sell anymore because, after a night of passion, you are pregnant with his child and want him to be there when you give birth."
Zelda blinked, amazed at Malon's overactive imagination. "Until the part with the night of passion, you were right," she admitted.
"Oh, so you didn't even spend a night with him?" Malon asked, snide. Zelda motioned for her to be quiet as they walked out of the bathroom.
"I don't feel like discussing what happened and what didn't right now, Malon."
Sobering up, her secretary apologized quietly. She motioned to the document that Zelda still held in her hands. "So, you'll be selling after all?"
Zelda could only nod, unable to speak. A ball of anguish was building up in her throat, and her stomach was turning over as they got closer and closer to the end of the hallway. She could see the consulate members behind the thick glass pane, discussing trivial matters.
To think they would destroy her history to make God-knows-what, a golf course perhaps, made her want to run back to the bathroom and scream in agony.
The lower consul's greeting was sickening in its sweetness. She wondered if they'd go so far as offer her a pen or a golf ball with their name on it. A quick glance around the table told her they expected this matter to be over with soon. They seemed impatient to get down to planning their resort.
Zelda slipped the paper back on the table, and she saw all the consuls take a look at the bottom of it, and then sit back in disappointment. Malon took a place near the door, hugging a notepad to herself. Zelda took in a deep, shuddering breath. Across the table, Ganondorf Dragmire, leader of the consulate and billionaire, shot her a victorious, snide smirk. It made her feel ill. He knew what her actions meant to her, and he enjoyed, revelled, in her discomfort.
And suddenly, she met his gaze, and found, with a slight tinge of surprise, that it did not hurt. Of course, a look could not hurt. And his eyes did not burn hers, like she seemed to have thought.
And, encouragingly, she did not feel fear as she found she could meet his gaze evenly. All she discovered in his gaze was a supreme confidence and disgusting self-satisfaction. She would have given anything to have him rid of it.
The urge to wipe that smirk right off that tanned face of his became surprisingly alluring.
And, in a fraction of a second, all the confidence he'd been exuding transferred to her, and he was left feeling doubt and anxiety. Her anger took over, but she didn't let it show. Instead, her numb fingers picked the paper again, and she borrowed a pen from one of the eager consuls. She smiled at him, revealing all her white teeth.
"Gentlemen," she began, and she knew Malon was tensing, feeling nervous when she was not, ―astonishing as it sounded, "I have just now taken a decision. I am quite sure, in my current knowledge of the situation, that you have all eagerly awaited the transfer of my estate into your covetous hands." She smiled, seeing that they hadn't seen the word insertion. Only Ganondorf, who had enough brains to know what covetous meant, was wise enough to look ashen. "In fact, I have just had a short discussion about the matter with my secretary and advisor, Miss Lon, and I have now come to a very simple conclusion."
She smiled sweetly, circling the table, coming to Ganondorf's side and giving him the paper. "I do understand your signature is needed, Mister Dragmire." And she handed him the pen. He hesitantly signed, trembling. She grabbed the pen out of his hands as he barely finished forming his last letter, and grabbed the document again. She came back to the other side of the table. "Before you, gentlemen, I now announce . . ."
Her eyes met Ganondorf's, who had been slightly reassured, as she'd asked for his signature, and she grinned. This time, there was no mistake. He was about to speak, but she cut him.
"I now announce, with all my heart, that I do not intend to follow through with these procedures."
A roar of disbelief came from the table, and she waited for them to calm down. When they did, somewhat, she explained herself, "I have scoured the estate once again, and have found out about my personal history. You may be disappointed to hear that I have begun procedures to put my estate and its archaeological sites under the protection of the government, to be made an official historical landmark." She ripped the document in two, then in four. "And therefore, it cannot be sold, or be used in private affairs. I apologize most sincerely."
Although, of course, the whole room saw that her apologies where not sincere at all, her heart was light, soaring. She didn't know how the idea had come. How could she not have thought of using governmental protection onto her estate? It was so simple. It seemed the power that standing up to Ganondorf had given her also had made her think quicker than she'd had in the past month.
And now, her estate was safe.
She left the consulate to gawp uselessly in their ridiculously big conference room, and strided down the hallway towards the elevator. Malon, trying to keep up without stumbling over her heels, slipped into the elevator at the same time. She saw Zelda's elated smile and had to smile as well.
"So, you are pregnant?" She teased.
Zelda laughed. "No, but I do have a suggestion, Malon."
The doors slid open, and off she was again, with her secretary jogging in heels to keep up.
"What's that, Zelda?"
"Would you like to be out of this business and come work with me at Hyrule Valley? I'd give you a raise, of course."
Malon smiled, honoured. "It would be a pleasure. So, you're checking whether he still loves you or not?"
Zelda paused, stopping just before the glass doors that opened onto the busy avenue. She turned back to Malon and asked, "Do you think he will understand?"
Malon snorted, pushing her into the doors and outside. "Earth to Zelda. Why in the world would he not? You just chose to give hell to the consulate; you chose to keep the estate. Why in the world, Zelda, would he not love you?"
"I almost did. Maybe Link doesn't want a woman who tends to give in without a fight . . ."
"So Link is the chap's name, uh? But Zelda, you didn't give in, in the end. And that's all that counts."
Zelda looked back at her secretary as she neared her car, and stopped, looking for her keys. She opened the door, and then paused. Turning back to Malon, she squealed and pulled her secretary in for a hug that nearly crushed the other woman's bones.
"Thank you! I'll be calling you on Monday, I'll be scouting the area for a few locations of apartments, I'll have a few prices if you want, I'll be taking care of everything, all right? Take care, dear! See you in Hyrule Valley!"
And, without another word, she entered her car and started off, down the avenue and out of sight. Malon sighed, smiling in satisfaction.
A few hours later, Zelda stopped in front of the main building of her estate, a converted medieval house. The motor stopped revving, and she sat back in her car seat, looking out the window. Nervousness took her again. She carefully stepped out, looking for a familiar face. It was late after noon; the team was most likely inside, working still.
She pushed the front door, then the door behind the counter open and entered the busy cleansing room. A few workers welcomed her warmly, but she couldn't seem to focus on any of them. Her eyes sought one of them only.
And he wasn't there.
Without even looking up from the old book he was reading, a plump old man with snow-white hair spoke, the corner of his eyes crinkling into deep ridges ―he was smiling ―, "Finally, you're back. We were hoping someone could get him to stop working or sulking. He's out on the hill. Do cheer him up before he comes back to civilized people."
She breathed a thank you and hurried back out. She didn't wonder how Rauru had known, and she couldn't remind herself to care. All her thoughts were on the hill, and him. She was in heels and it hurt, but the pain didn't register either. Her breathing was erratic, but it wasn't because of the effort.
She was up to the observation ruins in a record time. She did not spot him there, but she knew he had to be around. And the only other spot she suspected was just a little downwards, on the hillside opposite. The side facing the valley and the most beautiful, breathtaking view she had ever been given the opportunity to see.
But she couldn't care about the view. Right now, her heart in her throat, she wanted to see him, and be sure whether he still cared somewhat about her.
She saw him as he walked back up, wanting to discover who was running around. He paused as he saw her, still in city wear, in heels and skirt. She had to pause as well. He looked particularly handsome. She didn't know what it was. Maybe it was how he wore the usual white tank stretched across his shoulders and abs, his tanned, muscled arms carrying a pack of thick plastic wrapped around something she could not discern. His dirty blonde hair was matted with sweat, and his breath was short, and his blue eyes stared her through.
After a short moment, he seemed to snap out of it, and he greeted her with a curt nod, averting his eyes and was about to walk past her, to her shock. Instead, however, of brushing past her without a word, he said, "Oh, you're back," in such a blank, expressionless voice that she felt her heart shattering.
She turned to face his back as he was about to walk down the trail that led back to the main area. She finally found her voice and asked softly, uncertainly, "Yes, I was hoping . . ." She hesitated.
What was she hoping? She'd betrayed him. He had been hurt, right? And anyway, how could one kiss determine whether he loved her or not the way she cared for him? What on Earth was she doing here in the first place?
Link had stopped walking, apparently waiting for her to speak. He turned back, still carrying the plastic package. His deep blue eyes pierced her, and within them, she discerned something akin to anxiety. She forgot her whole thought train.
"You were hoping . . .?" Link helpfully reminded her. He sounded slightly expectant. Her mouth was still slightly opened as she searched for her words.
"I . . . I thought . . . I wanted . . . I hoped . . . to see you again."
He did not react, as though this revelation barely affected him, if at all. He didn't seem to care at all. "Oh, really?" He questioned, conversationally, still as polite and blank.
Her heart had not disappeared. It was there, shrivelling up and going cold, in her chest. "I . . . I just came back."
"From the city? So you're done with your little transaction?" He asked, voice rising. He had to pause, take a breath, then level his voice again. "Well, good for you."
He turned around and she cried his name, tears prickling at her eyes. "I . . . Don't you . . ." Want to see me? She wanted to finish, but couldn't find the strength to.
Link looked back over his shoulder, exasperated. "Miss Harkinian, I don't mean to sound pressing, but this is heavy," he declared, indicating the package in his arms, "and if what you have to say can't wait and is all that important, then either follow me or keep it for yourself."
She bit back a gasp. He stung so sharply, it was incredible. Had he truly been that hurt? She felt tears forming in her eyes, but wiped them before running back down to catch up with him.
She followed him as well as she could in high heels while on a forest trail. He didn't slow down to allow her to keep up. So, seeing as he was slowly distancing her, she stopped stumbling and cried at him, anger and pain obvious in her voice, "I drove miles on end for the past three hours, I end up here, walk up a hill in high heels to find you and have you spit venom at me! I'll have you know that I didn't sell after all, and that I lost all my work back at the city because of it, and I'll have you know that I'm SORRY!" A sob tore her throat. "And I'll have you know I came back because this is where people care for me, or at least used to, and I'll have you know I went through all that hell to tell you how much I LOVE YOU, OKAY? So now, you can happily go back down this godforsaken hill, Hero of Time! I can take care of myself, you JERK!"
Then, unable to keep speaking, she turned swiftly on her heel and stalked back up to the observation point and over the hillside to her ancestor's tomb. There, she let herself fall, leaned against the slab of stone, brought her knees up, hugged them, and cried.
How could something so frivolous possibly pain her so? How could she have done such a stupid mistake? She sobbed against her arms, setting her watery gaze on the village down in the valley. It was so perfect. They explored it together, and now, she was alone.
And it hurt, like it never had hurt before.
She was seated there for only a few seconds before a heavy, fast paced set of footfalls sounded behind her. She didn't look up. What kind of retort could he possibly have anyway, if not another biting comment on how stupid she was?
He was standing over her, and he sounded breathless.
"You what?" He blurted, voice hoarse.
She was about to snap back at him, but instead, a sob shook her. She was balled up against her forefather's tomb, and she had dirtied this skirt and shirt probably to the point of no return. And he was asking her to repeat what she'd barely found the strength to say in the first place?
He could go to damned hell.
Link slipped down the steep hillside, making rocks ricochet down into oblivion. He stopped his slide with one hand, crawling over to her, and he grabbed her arms and pulled them away from her teary face, and he repeated his question: "Zelda, you what?"
"What do you want me to say?" She asked, furious. "I think I made myself clear."
"You didn't sell," he breathed, awed. "You chose to keep the estate!"
"I'm not sure whom I should thank for it," she muttered angrily.
Link took her chin between two fingers. "Zelda."
And then, it occurred to her that he'd called her by her name.
"I love you too, you fool."
The words barely had time to register in her mind before he dived in for a breathtaking, bruising kiss. His lips were slanted over hers, and she didn't even have time to react that already, he was pulling back, hair falling into his eyes. "And next time you choose to tell me, don't give me the run-around." He punctuated his sentence with another, less passionate but just as tender kiss.
This one, she returned whole-heartedly. It was as his tongue was about to invade her mouth that she pushed him away weakly. He stared at her, eyes darkened by god-knows-what, and breath shallow. "Zelda?"
"Had I sold the estate . . ." She began, but he cut her by bringing a hand up to her lips.
"I'd have tried to forget how much I love you," he admitted, eyes boring into hers. She saw honesty in them. "And I'd have tried to forget how you haunt me every waking moment. Though," he said, embarrassed, "I doubt I'd have succeeded."
Suspicious, she tried pulling away. He let her move back, but kept her at arm's length. "I was hurt, Zelda. You have to forgive me."
"And me?" She asked. "You know Miss Harkinian was hurt, don't you?"
"And if there is anyway I can make it up to you, Miss, just say the word."
She sighed, running a hand up and down his arm, the only thing that kept his whole body supported as he half-lay on the ground beside her. His other hand was around her waist. She saw the hairs on it prickle. He held his breath carefully, as though he were afraid she'd blow away if he dared catch some air.
"Kiss me."
He complied very willingly. She laughed against his lips as he desperately held her close. Her hands were on his shoulders and she pushed lightly against him. He pulled back, half-irritated, half-amused that she'd interrupt them again. "What?" He barked, hiding his amusement.
"You forgot that plastic pack somewhere."
Link blinked, glancing from side to side as though he were trying to recall what she was talking about, then his eyes went wide as saucers. "Oh! Shit! You're right!"
"Can it wait? What is it?"
She wanted to humour him by talking of archaeology, but his response told her what he thought of it: "Zel', could we not discuss the past for now, and concentrate on the present?"
She felt her heart swelling. "Be my guest."
He smirked, dipping back to brush his lips on hers. She remembered something.
"Link," she voiced against his mouth, "I think I need someplace to stay at, and it's getting late."
He peered at her, looking thoroughly annoyed by her constant interruptions, and her wicked smile told him she wasn't completely innocent about it all. "God, you'll stay over at my place tonight! We'll worry about hotels when we elope! Now can we proceed to a cheerful reunion?"
Her laughter was muffled by his lips.
Night fell over Hyrule Castle Town.
I can show you the world, shining, shimmering, splendid.
Tell me princess, now when did you last let your heart decide?
I can open your eyes, take you wonder by wonder,
Over sideways and under, on a magic carpet ride.
A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no, or where to go, or say we're only dreaming.
A whole new world,
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you.
Unbelievable sights, indescribable feeling
Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling through an endless diamond sky.
A whole new world/ Don't you dare close your eyes,
A hundred thousand things to see. / Hold your breath it gets better.
I'm like a shooting star, I've come so far,
I can't go back to where I used to be / A whole new world,
With new horizons to pursue
I'll chase them anywhere, there's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you.
A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view
No one to tell us no, or where to go, or say we're only dreaming.
A whole new world,
Every turn a surprise,
With new horizons to pursue / every moment red-letter.
I'll chase them anywhere, there's time to spare
anywhere, there's time to spare
Let me share this whole new world with you.
A whole new world / A whole new world
That's where we'll be / Where we will be
A thrilling chase
A wondrous place
For you and me.
(Whole New World- Peabo Bryson, Regina Belle)