This chapter will be good (if I don't say so myself) due to the fact I just read one damn good inspiring book by Meg Cabot. Read the mediator series! It's so worth it! :)

Chapter 25

The Game of Do or Die

"We have captured him, your highness.", said a low voice.

Marth, a tall, well built man with dark bluish hair, grinned, sitting back in a large throne-like seat. The morning sun shown through the window at an odd angle, making him look eerie.

Without a word, he snapped his fingers, making his servant leave the room.

Zelda woke up with the sun glittering down upon her face. It took her a few seconds to realize that she was still in the dungeon, waiting for some kind of help.

She groaned out of irritation, having to wake up from her wonderful dream, about her husband of course, and end up in such a dump.

But something had changed since she fell asleep. What could that possibly be? Maybe it was the fact that she was chained to the wall…

Again!

"You coward.", Zelda chided out loud , referring to Marth. So… big, strong Marth, could only handle Zelda when she was asleep?

Typical…

Speak of the devil. Just then, in walked the demon of the man himself.

"Morning.", he said happily, kissing her on the cheek, causing the princess to scowl.

Ignoring Zelda's disgust, he said, "How is our princess doing this lovely day?"

"Gee… I don't know Marth.", Zelda said through gritted teeth. "What do you think?"

"Well,", said Marth, tapping his feet. "I think I have something that will make you feel much better." He sat down next to her, stroking her hair gently.

"Oh? And what's that?", Zelda spat. She stared in front of her at the door of the dungeon, trying to ignore Marth's caressing touch.

"Your boyfriend.", he whispered in her ear.

Zelda gasped upon hearing this, but did her best not to show him her weak spot. Hoping he didn't sense her fear, she said, "For your information, Marth, Link is my husband. Not my boyfriend." She made sure to say Marth's name with all hate as possible.

She looked over to him, very pleased to see that his grin had faltered to a frown. "Maybe so.", he said flatly. "The point is, that now I have him. Would you like to see?"

Zelda didn't even need to answer that question. Of course she wanted to see him!

Of course, with Marth, things could not go the way she would like to see Link.

Marth stood up and walked to the door, putting five fingers up before him. "Five minutes alone.", he said grinning, and walking out.

Without another word, Link was thrown into the dungeon, landing right next to Zelda. He looked beaten up and badly bruised, but it didn't seem to matter to him. All he could pay attention to was her.

"Zelda.", Link said, concerned. "Are you alright? Did he touch you?" He looked ready to kill, seeing her chained to the rocky wall. He inspected her, making sure she had not one scratch.

"I'm fine.", said Zelda, wishing she didn't have these chains to her wrists so she could just hold him. "What about you. What did they do to you!" Tears formed, welling up her eyes at the poor sight of him.

"Don't worry about me.", he insisted. "Just a little scratched up is all." He sat close to her, looking at her in the eyes. Immediately, he embraced her. "I'm so sorry."

Zelda let her tears flow freely down her cheeks. "No, I'm sorry.", she choked out. "I didn't tell you what I should have. Link I-"

"Shhh.", Link hushed her. "I know. I know about everything. Cremia gave me the potion."

She looked up at him, vision blurry from her tears. "Your…your not mad?", she stammered. "That I didn't tell you?"

Link smiled weakly. "Of course not.", he said, wrapping his arms around her. "It doesn't matter. All that matters is that I'm with you." He kissed her cheek, wiping the tears from her face gently, and embracing her once more.

Zelda welcomed the warmth from him. Even though it had only been a day or two, she had missed him holding her. Missed it so much.

If only she could return the hug.

"No matter what happens Zel,", started Link. "I will always love you."

"Kiss me.", she whispered. She wanted to be close to him now. The only thing she wanted to do was be with him.

"Times up!", said Marth, walking into the room and grabbing Link by the neck before he could defend himself.

"Let go of him!", Zelda screamed as two of Marth's guards came into the room, taking Link from Marth, and chaining him to the opposite side of the room.

Shortly after, the guards left, leaving Marth to do his evil deeds. He grinned, seeing the hate held in Link's eyes.

"Linky, boy…", he exclaimed tauntingly. "Nice to see you so soon. I'm sure you noticed my change in attire. You were right. That cloak was awfully hot."

Link glared at Marth, wanting to make him wish he were never born. If looks could kill, Marth would be sent to the depths of the underworld before you could say lickety-split.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case…

"So, it's true. There was no such person as Toby.", growled Link. "And you were the nightly stalker."

Marth smiled evilly. "Yes, that's right.", he said, smiling even wider at the thought. "Toby was made up, and I was, in fact, the night attacker." He glanced over at Zelda, grinning.

She looked away, feeling ashamed of herself. Of course, he had to bring that up. There was no way to forget that night. Why did she have to be so stupid and walk by herself?

Marth swooped down to Zelda, lifting up her chin, looking over to Link. "She's very good, Link… But I suppose you knew that already. Don't you?"

Link clenched his fists, struggling to get out of his restraints.

Zelda couldn't bare to hear this. She was beginning to relive it all over again.

"Exceptional.", whispered Marth.

"Don't listen to him Zelda.", Link urged. "Not one word."

"And it wasn't just once you know.", he said. "That time in the woods? When you got 'attacked' by the wolfos. Yeah, I enjoyed that too."

This was news to Zelda and Link… Well, not so much for Link. He was always suspicious of "Toby". Still, this had much effected the two. His words did everything that Marth wanted them to do. They dug down right to the bone.

"You bastard!", Link yelled , ready to explode from the wall. If there had been no chains, Marth would have been ripped to shreds.

"Well.", said Marth, mildly amused. "Is your blood boiling Link? Is it the fact that I hurt dear Zelda here, or is maybe because I got to her before you could."

If Link's blood hadn't been boiling already, it was defiantly now. He was trying so hard to get out of those chains that the nails on the wall, holding the bases, were having a hard time keeping intact.

Zelda was another story. All she wanted to do was disappear. Go into her little, dark world and cower there forever. She couldn't even look at Link.

"That's right Zelda.", said Marth, going at it again. "The one thing you ran away to protect was still taken away beneath your nose. Funny how fate catches up with you."

"Why are you doing this?", Zelda asked weakly, eyes streaming with tears. "Why are you so determined to ruin me?"

Marth swooped down to her again. This time a few inches from her face. "You want to know why Zelda?", he asked with a rage that hadn't been seen before. "Because I get my way. All the time."

"I was promised the King's daughter before I was able to read. To have you is my birthright.", he said angrily. "And when things don't go my way I take care of it. I teach them a lesson not to mess with me."

Marth ran a finger along Zelda's neck, swirling in little circles, and around her shoulder. "But you… you seem to not get the picture right away. No, you have to be so stubborn don't you?"

Marth made sure that his voice was loud enough for Link to hear also. "I do this not for the pure satisfaction of seeing you in pain. I do this to teach you a thing or two. One of them being that men come first. I will not be tested by a woman, of any authority."

He spoke his words with such force that Zelda flinched at times. Marth stood back up, leaning against the wall. "Another of them being that nothing is fair in life. No one gets what they want unless fighting for it. The bad always overcomes good. And the most important lesson of all is…"

He kneeled down, looking Link directly in the eyes. "This is not a fairytale. Fairytales don't exist outside the story book. Here… love doesn't always end happily ever after."

Marth broke eye contact with Link, turning his attention back to Zelda. "Don't you agree, princess?"

He took a strand of her hair, twirling it around with his finger. "After all. It was your mother who died, leaving your father a pitiful, old man."

Seeing Zelda's expression go from numb to broken, Marth seized the advantage. "And you know what Zellie? You mother didn't die because of birth problems. She was murdered…right…in front…of you. While you were in sleeping in your crib."

That was it. She couldn't take it anymore. She didn't understand how she did it and how she could do it with so much force, but she did.

Up went her knee, jamming it to Marth's nose, making him cry out in pain, staggering back into the middle of the dungeon. She was sure that the crunch she had heard was an indication she had broken it. She grinned, seeing it was his turn to feel pain.

Letting go of his nose to see blood pouring into his hand, he turned to her, glaring like there was no tomorrow. He raised his hand back, coming towards her , saying, "You little b-"

Luckily, he was quite distracted when, not Zelda, but Link used his feet to interfere. This time, making Marth fall flat on his face.

"That's it!", he roared, face red with anger. "It stops here. Now that you two are done playing your little games, I think its time for mine."

After gaining back his composure, Marth sat back beside Zelda, holding up her chin towards Link. "Zelda.", he said soothingly. "I told you the rules of this game. Why don't you enlighten Link for me?"

"Never.", Zelda spat.

"Oh but Zelda.", Marth said, making his way over to Link, and pulling out a nice, shiny dagger from his boot. Marth placed the dagger right along Link's neck, close enough to cut. Link made sure not to flinch. "We're already playing."

Zelda sucked in her breath, ready as ever to play along with his sick game. As long as it kept Link safe. "I have to do…anything.", Zelda chocked. A lump rose in her throat. "that this monster says or…" Zelda's voice trailed off. She couldn't handle this.

"Or what?", Marth urged, bringing the blade closer to Link's jugular.

"Or he dies.", Zelda cried out, shutting her eyes tightly. "He dies alright! I said it."

Marth pocketed the dagger with a victorious smile. "Very good!", he exclaimed, as if talking to a three year old. "Now that you all know the rules…"

He took his place next to Zelda again, placing a hand on her hip. "I think it's time to play."

He grinned widely to see that Link's look of hatred had deepened. "Don't do anything Zelda. I'd rather die than to watch you go through this."

But Zelda wouldn't have it. If anyone was supposed to walk out of this alive, it was Link. He had done nothing to get himself into this situation.

And he should have to do nothing to get himself out.

Marth bent Zelda's neck slightly, causing her hair to slide over, exposing her porcelain white neck to him. Marth slowly kissed her neck, trailing down to her shoulder, making sure to glance over at Link with every other kiss.

It was torture for both Link and Zelda.

Link because he couldn't bare to see this sorry excuse of a man, handling her like this.

And Zelda because Link, her only security in life, was forced to watch this, knowing that eventually, Marth would do the inevitable right in front of him.

Which scared her to death.

His hands, Zelda found, were way too curious and friendly for what should be expected. And he had just began to shove his mouth onto hers, to her utmost discomfort.

But if it was to save Link, the only thing she had, it was nothing but a small task. She had to suck it up. For his sake. All she could do was try to tune out on what was happening. And, of course, not dare look over at Link.

For she might not be able to handle seeing his heart shatter into a million pieces.

But just as Marth had slipped his filthy paws into Zelda's top, a loud rapping on the dungeon door was heard. Marth looked up with annoyance that he had been interrupted.

But when Marth answered the door to find that no one was there, he scratched his stupid head in bewilderment.

He turned back, closing the door, only to be made a fool again seconds later.

"Who's there?!", he yelled, swinging his head in all directions.

"Me!", yelled a feminine voice, jumping down from a ledge above the door, knocking Marth unconscious with a plank.

To Zelda and Link's surprise, it wasn't just Cremia who showed up to the rescue, but also Jesamay. She grinned at the lump of Marth.

"Hope we weren't too late.", said Cremia, running up to the chains and unlocking them.

"How-…how did you get in here?", Zelda asked, dumbfounded.

Of course, she should've realized already that the guards had not changed since her runaway. They were still, in fact, idiots.

"Did you actually think I returned the keys?", Jesamay said with a sly smile.

Once free, Zelda immediately ran to Link, embracing him tightly, resting her head against his chest. It felt wonderful just to hear his heart beating.

"Um…", Cremia cut in. "Sorry to break up the mushy moment…but" She pointed down towards Marth. "He won't be out forever."

"That's for sure.", said Link, frowning at the man. Quickly he got back up, grabbing the plank from Cremia's hands.

"No!", cried Jesamay, taking hold of the raised plank. "If you do that now, the king will think you were behind this all. He wouldn't believe anyone. Not even Zelda."

There was silence among the room. She had made a point. For all the king knew, he could think that Zelda just fell in love with her kidnapper and was trying to protect him.

"So what do you suppose we do?", asked Link, angrily throwing the plank against the wall.

"He doesn't deserve to live!", argued Cremia. "He's committed various crimes!"

Yes, he had. But beating him to death, in Zelda's view, was too forgiving. He needed to suffer.

"Leave him.", she ordered. "I need to speak to someone."

Zelda turned, walking towards the stairs. The group followed her closely. She knew exactly what she had to do, even thought it was the last thing she wanted to do.

..And that was to confront her father. About everything.

There was mixed emotions going through her right now. Excitement, guilt, anger, anxiousness… The list went on.

They quietly made their way up to the throne room unnoticed. She could already hear her father speaking to someone.

"Wait here.", Zelda told the group. "I need to do this alone."

She looked Link in the eyes. It would possibly be a while till she could reunite with him again. There was a lot of explaining to do.

He looked at her closely. His eyes were gentle upon her.

Quickly, Zelda kissed him shortly. "Wait outside for me.", she whispered. "I'll see you soon."

With that, she walked in to the throne room, carefully making sure she would not be seen until the right time, sneaking behind a statue.

She saw that he was alone with Impa before him. He looked weary, like he hadn't had sleep for awhile now.

"How is the preparation going?", he mumbled, not looking Impa straight in the eye.

"The statue is being made as we speak, your highness.", she said tonelessly.

"Please.", said the king, holding up his hand. "She wouldn't want you to call me that. She never liked titles."

Zelda found herself smiling weakly. He remembered that.

I guess he paid more attention than she thought.

"I don't understand, Impa.", he said, sighing. "I tried so hard just to make her happy. Why did the goddesses do this to her?"

Sniffs echoed through the large cathedral room. Zelda downcast her eyes to the floor.

If only he knew how much better it would have been if she had handled the situation for herself.

But she didn't seem to be mad at her father, after all the things he had done, he only meant well.

Too bad he was so blind to see what was happening beneath his nose.

"The goddesses work in mysterious ways.", choked Impa. "If only we could understand."

"I should've done things differently.", he said to himself. "That boy… You know, that was the only time I could recall her being happy."

Zelda was now tearing up as well.

"I never got to really tell her, Impa.", he started. "That I loved her. I really did."

Zelda looked upward, wiping the tears from her eyes. Goddesses, she'd been waiting all her life to hear that.

Gathering up all her courage, she quietly walked out from her hiding place and up to the throne.

"Father."

Alright… I know. Another cliffy.

(gets pushed off the edge by random reader and crashes at the bottom)

Ouch…

Now know… I'm only doing this cause, sadly, it is coming to an end and I don't want you to think its rushed.

Black Emerald Dawn: oh hey! haven;t seen ya in a while! :D ...thanx for reviewing!

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ArizonaGoddess89: yeas, you r right. But hey, i had a good run, im very happy at the responce it got so far. i enjoyed writnig this, thats all that matters :) ...haha... yeah, i've even considered revising the sucky chapters so it'll be better. as you can see, i've really changed since i started. thanx!

Linkygurl88 : haha..yes, i am :)...and it''ll stay that way till the end. thanx!

LadyAkki45: thanx! im glad u caught that! i went back and changed it.

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Bvv: haha...picking the horse over the human...lol

Ria the Shiekah: Woo hoo! ....that reminds me...i neeed to get my permit...

Zelda: oh so you wanna play hard? (points her finger with sparks flying out) Lets's go!

Hyrule Master: thankyou! glad u understand. :)

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Eva-Freak015: hmmm...u must be the one who pushed me of the cliff. lol

Hikashi Suzuki: thanx!

hope i didn't miss anyone..sry im rushing...