In the Hand of the Goddess
Disclaimer: No own.
A/N: Yikes! Jeez, I haven't updated for such a long time! &smacks self in head& Deepest apologies! I appreciate all the reviews I have gotten, and I hope you'll continue to read! Thanks very much!
Part Five: Confrontations
Ganondorf's fist was clenched, the only sign that something was bothering him. Otherwise, he was perfectly composed and relaxed, the ideal gentleman. He had been furious to see that the Princess Zelda had returned late last night, but unharmed. The Gerudo king frowned; he should have known that the assassins would not have been enough to get rid of that wretched royal brat.
"The Princess is late this morning," he remarked casually, glancing at the King.
The King chuckled softly, taking a sip of his orange juice. "She arrived rather late last night Lord Ganondorf. Impa sent word that she'll be down soon."
He nodded his head agreeably, but inwardly was growing impatient. She seems to enjoy making a grand entrance, he though grumpily. I must be more careful though; she seems to be the only one who suspects anything.
&&&&&&
"Your Highness, I must protest," Impa said heatedly, following closely behind Zelda. "You know absolutely nothing about this boy, nor anything about his intentions. I refuse to place you in his care."
Zelda heaved a sigh; she should have expected this. "Impa, I can assure you that he is not here to hurt me."
"And how can you be certain?" she demanded. "I will not allow this boy to be a body guard for you Princess!"
She whirled, her golden hair whipping her pink cheeks. "When the Goddess sends me a hero, I trust her judgment!" she snapped, eyes flashing. "And I am tired of having to justify my decisions!"
That remark caught Impa off guard. "A Goddess?" she murmured in surprise. "Milady, are you telling me that one of the golden Goddesses spoke with you?"
Zelda barely nodded, knowing that spies could be anywhere. "Now, will you trust me Impa?"
"Yes, Princess," the Sheikah woman replied with a sigh. "Now come, I expect Link is growing impatient. He doesn't seem used to waiting."
Zelda managed a smile, remembering his impatient nature from their talk the night before. "Then lets not keep him waiting."
"I explained to him what he is expected to do," Impa informed her as they walked down the stairs towards the great hall. "He seems to be a competent enough fighter, but still just a boy."
The 'boy' was waiting for them at the foot of the stairs, looking irritable and uncomfortable with his surroundings. Link still wore his forest clothing, but no longer the long sword, no visible weapons in sight. No sooner had the two women descended the stairs did he approach, bowing on one knee as elegantly as any courtier. Zelda was momentarily startled when he took her right hand and kissed it, murmuring "Your Highness."
"Rise please, Link," she requested, feeling awkward with this proud young man at her feet. She glanced at Impa helplessly, uncertain as to the change in Link's behavior.
"I took the liberty of giving him a few instructions early this morning," she murmured in Zelda's ear.
The Princess nodded uncomfortably. It bothered her to see Link acting like this with her, but she knew it was necessary for her to stay alive. "Let us go to breakfast," she announced, to keep the tone light.
Both Impa and Link bowed formally to her, following a close distance behind her. It took all of Zelda's training to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary as she swept into the dining hall, two bodyguards in tow. Both her father and the man seated at his side rose to greet her, and she curtsied in response.
"Good morning Zelda," the King said cheerfully, returning to his seat almost immediately.
"Good morning Father," she returned with a smile.
The Gerudo man with flaming red hair however, approached the young woman, kneeling and taking her hand as Link had done not long before. However, unlike Link, his touch made her feel ill. Zelda fought back the urge to cringe and yank her hand away as he kissed it, rising again.
"Good morning Princess. You look lovely this morning," he said smoothly, no sign of emotions on his face.
She nearly bit her tongue, forcing herself to remain sweet and pleasant. "Lord Ganondorf, you are too kind."
With as much grace as she could muster, Zelda drew her hand from his grip, moving quickly but elegantly to her place at her Father's side, her shadows positioning themselves behind her, Link on her right and Impa on the left.
There was an odd silence, and she could almost feel the eyes of her father and Ganondorf on her, glancing back at the two people who stood as silently as statues. Zelda pretended not to see the stares, picking up a cinnamon bun and setting it on her plate.
"How are you both today?" she asked cheerfully, giving a quick word of thanks to the serving girl who poured her a goblet of juice.
"Quite well dear," the King replied, still staring at Link who was gazing straight ahead, as if nothing were out of the ordinary, as if he followed a woman around everyday of his life.
Ganondorf had narrowed his golden eyes slightly, gazing at the young man. "Your Highness seems to have more than one guard this day."
The young woman glanced over at Link who gave her a wry look before his face became perfectly expressionless once more. And so it begins, she thought wearily, keeping her face pleasant. "Why yes. Allow me to present Link, Impa's apprentice."
At her words, the young man took a step forward and inclined his head respectfully to both the King and Ganondorf before resuming his proper stance; both hands behind his back, his right hand clenching his left wrist, shoulders back, head up, eyes staring straight ahead.
"Ah, how nice," the King said slowly, a small frown furrowing his brow.
Ganondorf stared at them with his unwavering golden gaze, which both Zelda and Link met. "Another body guard, Your Highness? Certainly one is enough."
Zelda pretended to consider the matter, putting on her naïve Princess act. She cocked her head to the side, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Do you think so Lord Ganondorf? But I thought that after the attack on my carriage last night that more security would be best. Don't you agree?"
Link was carefully observing the Gerudo man's face during this, noting everything. He remembered what his friend Saria had told him, that a person's body never lies. Though for the most part, the expression on his face never faltered, Link watched other reactions, such as the way Ganondorf's left hand was slightly clenched, how his pulse in his neck raced, how his eyes had flashed momentarily with a deep hatred that caused the youth to shiver. It was not mere dislike that this foreigner felt for Zelda; what burned in his golden eyes was pure hatred.
"Of course, Milady," he answered smoothly, returning his attention to his own meal. "After all, nothing is more important than the safety of Hyrule's future ruler."
A shiver twisted its way up her spine, the young Princess feeling a sense of foreboding. She found that her appetite had diminished severely, and she merely picked at her meal. All the while, Zelda could feel the eyes of the silent young man on her, watching everything.
She was extremely relieved when she was able to excuse herself from the table. Zelda had to force herself to walk normally as she left the hall, Link and Impa following closely behind her. Once they were safely away from the chamber, she seemed to crumple, slender shoulders drooping.
"I'm afraid Impa," she whispered, placing a hand wearily to her brow. "He frightens me."
"He won't harm you whilst I live," the Sheikah woman stated in her gruff voice, stepping nearer to the girl. "If you wish Princess, we shall leave now and go into hiding."
"It would be the best thing to do," Link put in quietly. "Milady, one does not need magic to feel the evil intentions radiating from him. You are in danger here."
Zelda bit her lip, closing her eyes as she battled with her conflicting emotions. "I cannot," she whispered. Ignoring their protests, the Princess continued speaking in a low voice. "Fleeing would only instigate a chase, giving him a reason to pursue me. Besides, I cannot abandon my duties as Princess and my Father unless it becomes necessary."
Becoming intensely frustrated, Link stepped closer, ignoring the look Impa cast at him. "Are your duties more important than your life?" he demanded heatedly. "You are of no use to anyone dead!"
She whirled on him, eyes blazing with a fire that he found surprising. "At least I have a sense of responsibility!" Zelda glared at him, not noticing the restraining hand that Impa had placed on her shoulder. "I don't understand why you find it necessary to question everything I do! You may not respect me, but I am sick of having to justify myself to you in every conversation we have!"
"That is enough!" Impa broke in sharply, grabbing each young Hylian by their arms to get their attention. "Keep this up and soon the entire Castle will hear you both, revealing how much you are aware of!"
Zelda looked away, properly chagrined. She knew it was not right to engage in verbal sparring matches with this young man, but he irritated her to no end. "Forgive my foolishness Impa," she murmured, still avoiding meeting Link's eyes. "I fear I shall never be as wise as you."
Link remained furious and silent, and yanked his arm from Impa's grip. Free of her grasp, he folded his arms across his chest, ignoring the Princess as she spoke softly in apology. Always the 'perfect' ruler, he thought in disgust. She is too sweet; no one can possibly be this genuinely kind hearted. Her fake act sickens me! He was suddenly aware of Impa speaking, and glanced over at her. Zelda was gazing off into the distance, ignoring him as he was her.
"Aren't you going to apologize to her Highness?" The Sheikah's expression said that he had better, or else he would regret it, crimson eyes blazing as she stared at him. "As her protector," she continued, stressing the word, "you cannot allow personal feelings to get between you and your job. Apologize now."
He glared at Impa fiercely, cursing her under his breath as he glanced at Zelda. "My apologies, Your Highness," he managed to spit out, almost choking on the words.
Before the Princess could answer, her attendant cut in. "Thank you. Now young man, since I have agreed to allow you to protect the Princess, I would like to know exactly what you're capable of." A faint smile crept over Impa's usually stern features. "Princess, would you like to accompany us to the training grounds?"
&&&&&
Ganondorf drummed his finger on the window ceil as stared broodingly out at the land of Hyrule. Soon you will be mine, he vowed silently, a smirk flickering briefly over his lips. His golden eyes narrowed as he watched the Princess and her two bodyguards walking through the main courtyard of the Castle where all the soldiers and guards were practicing their swordsmanship.
The Gerudo man frowned, his attention focused on the young man. Though he couldn't place his finger on it, there was something about the Hylian boy dressed in forest green that made him uneasy. The boy was young, the Princess's age; was he a lover of hers? Ganondorf dismissed the thought almost instantaneously. In the entire time he was at court, he had never seen the Princess give a hint that she was involved with anyone, nor shown any interest in any man. No, this boy was certainly a genuine bodyguard, that much was certain.
He turned from the window and retreated into his chambers. Why was he worried? No matter how good a swordsman the youth proved to be, he was no match for the magic that Ganondorf wielded. He is not a threat, he decided at last as he sat down at his writing desk. But that infuriating Princess Zelda certainly is. She does not fool me with her act; she suspects me of something, though she could not possibly have guessed my plan. There's no need to wait any longer.
Riffling through the pieces of parchment for a blank sheet and groping for a quill, Ganondorf grinned widely. Soon all will be over and I shall have the power that should be rightfully mine. He began to write on the paper, so deep in thought that he did not notice the flickering golden light that filled the room until a low voice behind him.
"Busy creating chaos Ganondorf?"
Startled, Ganondorf whirled with anger to see a familiar red haired woman standing behind him, this time clad all in crimson silk, as brilliant as fire. "You!" he spat contemptuously.
Din stared at him coldly, arms folded. "Me. You act surprised Ganondorf, surely you should have expected to see me again."
It was only common sense that kept him from attacking her, knowing that he would be dead before he could even move. "I had planned on it when I throw you and your sisters from your high seats," he growled, fists clenching.
His threatening words had little effect; the Goddess only raised a delicately arched eyebrow, appearing almost amused. "Bold words mortal," Din replied, her tone slightly mocking.
Her golden eyes flickered to the desk where the unfinished letter lay, and made a gesture with her fingers. The paper trembled, rising into the air and floating towards her. Ganondorf made a gesture of his own, and the parchment stopped in mid air, quivering.
"I beg your pardon, milady," he said sarcastically, "but that is my personal correspondence." Beckoning sharply, the paper began to move back to him.
Din snapped her fingers commandingly, and the paper vanished before the Gerudo's fingers could brush it. The parchment reappeared in the Goddesses hands and she smoothed it out, her eyes boring into his with an icy light. "I'm afraid little Ganondorf that you have much more to learn about the rules of magic," she taunted condescendingly. "Learn them before you try to play in the real world."
Trembling with suppressed fury, Ganondorf could only watch as the slender woman seated herself on his bed, beginning to read the paper. Just you wait; I'll get you first! He thought in his rage. Right after I destroy that pathetic girl you Goddesses chose to be Princess!
"My, you have been busy," Din commented scathingly as she waved the paper at him. "What nasty plans you have. I admire your imagination, but I cannot allow this." Ignoring his cry of rage, Din dropped the parchment to the floor where it burst into flames, consumed to nothing more than mere ashes.
She rose, stepping towards him, her celestial presence so intimidating that he cringed in spite of himself. "I will not allow you to bring your people into your evil plans. The Gerudo are innocent, and I won't allow them to be hurt."
Ganondorf threw back his head, laughing in disbelief. "You won't allow me? They are my people Din. You were the one who gave them to me to govern. I am their King, their lives are mine to do with as I please!"
A cold smile curled Din's lips as she stared back at him. "Very well then. You are no longer their King."
For a moment, Ganondorf stared at her, unable to comprehend what she had meant. But before long, her words sank in and he exploded. "You cannot do that! The Gerudo pay homage to me! That is the law, the law that you yourself laid down! The lone male Gerudo is the King of the Gerudos!"
She did not flinch under his blazing gaze, as calm as ever. "Yes, but you will find that there is more to the law. In any circumstance, whether by his own people or by the Goddesses, if he is found unworthy of the position of King, he shall be removed and replaced with one more worthy." Din chuckled softly, seeming to enjoy every moment of taunting him. "Nabooru is far more worthy than you to lead them, though she is not my new Chosen. I have already spoken with her and placed her as the leader of the Gerudos. You have no more power there, Ganondorf Dragmire."
He was only able to gape at her wordlessly as the Goddess crossed the room to the balcony. Din's golden eyes scanned the courtyard and gave a slight smile of what he thought was triumph and satisfaction, but it was gone before he could really categorize it. She spun about, her crimson hair streaming through the air like a trail of liquid fire, her eyes shining mockingly.
"Have fun concocting more evil plans little Ganonforf," Din called disdainfully with a laugh before vanishing in a shimmer of air.
He screamed in rage before he could think, his fury exploding like a volcano as he cursed the Goddesses in his tantrum, ranting as he shrieked to the heavens. After a moment, Ganondorf managed to gain control of himself again, breathing heavily. All was not lost, though his plans had taken a small step back. Moving to the window, he gazed down, suddenly seized by a surge of inspiration that he should go down for a walk. After all, he did need some fresh air.