IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!

Well, as you may have noticed, I am turning this into a Quartet, instead of one whole story. For those of you who don't know what a quartet is, it's a story consisting of four parts. I have changed the title and summary, as you may have noticed.

Sadly, this is the last posting I shall be making under this title. The next posting will be under the name of "A Strange Reuniting - Part Two: A Mother's Curse"

It won't be out for a while, but it will come! Please, if you want the whole story, read that one. After that one, there will be "A Strange Reuniting - Part Three: The Lover's Reunion", and then "A Strange Reuniting - Part Four: The Interference of the Gods".

I hope you will take the time to read and review those other three, as well. If not, you won't find out what happens after this chapter... :D

Chapter Twelve

Trinity's Mother

Link's blindfold was removed at sunrise, when they reached the village. It was more of a town. It was little more than a few two story houses, and a few stalls here and there. The houses all had tidy gardens, with shutters on the windows. It was quiet place, with people going about their business as usual. Link eyed some of the people in the streets.

It was a minority of the small population that had ridden out into the field. They were also some of the more 'normal' looking people in the town. There were a few people that could have been Sheikah... if it weren't for their fins. There were a few Hylians with gills thrown in, and a few Gerudos that looked to be half Sheikah. There were also some people who had all four races, Hylian, Gerudu, Sheikah, and Zora, in the mix.

Link eyed a small pond in the centre of the village. He cautiously made his way toward it, and looked in. There were Zoras in the water. They, too, could have been normal... if it weren't for the fiery red hair or blonde hair atop their heads, instead of their large fin. Needless to say, Link was a little shocked.

"These people depend on each other to survive." Sheik said matter-of-factly, coming up behind him.

"I can see that." Link nodded, surveying his surroundings, but then he noticed something quite unfamilliar, "This is not Hyrule, is it?" Sheik shook her head.

"We needed to find a place where the King would not be able to find us."

"We?" Link looked at her. She looked at him nervously.

"You cannot tell the King." She pleaded, and Link nodded.

"I promise."

"Well, it's like this... My mother's father, my grandfather, was a Sheikah. Impa is not just my nursemaid. She is also my second cousin. She and my mother were half-sisters." Sheik looked at the floor, and transformed into Zelda.

"You never..." Link was lost for words, "I can't believe... Such unions are illegal! Why didn't you tell me?" He blurted out.

"I was afraid of your reaction." Zelda admitted, smiling up at him sadly, "You could have easily told the King, and he would have me murdered."

"I would never do that!" Link yelled, astonished.

"It's always a possibility." Zelda said, looking at him strongly.

"Does Starger know?"

"No." She looked at Link, "And he wont. Ever."

LATER

Link sat on a rock on the edge of town, playing his fairy ocarina. He was deep in thought about the day's discoveries. He never would ahve dreamed that Princess Zelda was not a full-blooded Hylian. He had heard rumours in his adventures of horrible mutants that roamed their lands at times. He did not believe them. Until now.

His ears perked up when he heard a baby's squalling cry. What he was most interested in, though, was that the sound was getting closer. He turned around, and saw Zelda making her way towards him, with Trinity in her arms.

"We found her mother." Zelda said softly, standing next to him, and rocking the child, "She lives in this village."

"Who is she?" Link asked with interest, "Trinity does not seem to have the blood of multiple races."

"She is very ill." Zelda sighed, "She hoped for someone like you to find her child, and raise her in a loving home. She says she wants to meet you." Link nodded, and stood up after he finished his song. The baby seemed to respond to his music, and was sleeping in Zelda's arms.

Zelda led Link through the village, and to a dark alleyway. They made their way to a door made of curtains, and Zelda motioned for him to wait outside. After a few moments, she emerged and ushered him inside. Link went inside, not exactly sure what to expect.

"So you are the one who found my daughter." The dark haired woman rasped. Link nodded, and took of his hat as he bowed in respect. Their seemed to be an air of authority about this woman that he couldn't ignore.

"Come over here." The woman sat up with a great deal of effort. Link made his way to the chair that she had indicated in the dingy light.

"I want to ask you something." She clasped his hand. Link gulped. It was suddenly very hot in here.

"What is it?" Link asked her softly, afraid of disturbing the quiet atmosphere.

"Would you raise my daughter in the name of Hyrule's King?" She asked severely, "Would you deny her the knowledge of her ancestry? Would you not tell her of the Sheikan and Zoran blood that accompanies the Hylian blood flowing in her veins?" Link looked at the dying woman levelly.

"I had no idea of her ancestry before today." Link said, "If you wish for me to raise her in ignorance, I shall do so. If you wish for me to raise her knowing what she is, I shall do so." The woman hacked and coughed for a few minutes before she spoke again.

"Thank you, Hero." She choked out, "I do wish for her to know. Please protect my baby... or I will meet you in the Realm of the Dead, ready to chastise you." Link bowed his head somberly.

"If that is what you wish for your daughter, then that is what your daughter shall have."

HYRULE CASTLE, (throne room)

"Where are those men I sent out?" The King demanded. The soldiers in the Throne Room looked at each other blankly.

"May I suggest," Starger said from the King's side, "That they do not know?"

"Yes, yes, you are right." The King sighed, "Send out more riders-" He was cut off by a commotion behind the doors, as if someone were trying to open them.

HYRULE CASTLE (outside the throne room)

Zelda warped into the castle, alone. Link was remaining in the village to help with the woman's burial preparations. Zelda wouldn't be staying for long, either. She wrestled with the doors for the Throne Room, desperate to get inside. In the end, she was so frustrated, that she used magic to unlock it.

"Zelda!" Her father called out, surprised.

"Father." Zelda stated simply.

"Sweet heart?" Starger looked just as astonished as her father. Zelda scoffed inwardly. She saw, now. She saw who Starger is. Who he always was. She saw, from the look in his eyes, that he cared nothign for her. There, hidden in the fake surprise, was anger. He had not wanted her to return. It stung Zelda's heart. Badly.

"Leave me alone." Zelda threw him an icy glare. Starger feighned a look of hurt.

"Zelda Thank goodness you are alright!" The King called, and embraced her in a hug. Zelda hugged him back.

"I'm afraid I have bad news." She muttered into her father's ear. He held her at arm's lenght.

"What?" He thundered, "What has that vile man done to you?"

"Nothing." Zelda said simply, "It's not what was done to me. It's somethig I must do."

"What is it?" The King pressed. Zelda looked him square in the eye, trying not to cry. This was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

"I'm afriad that I must abandon my crown." She choked out. The King looked at her for a moment, and then he burst out laughing.

"My daughter! What a joke to make!" He stopped laughing when he saw her face, "You are not joking?"

"No, Father, I'm not."

The King's world came crashing down around him as his only child teleported out of his arms.

VILLAGE

Zelda teleported a far bit away from the edges of her small town, with tears streaming down her face. She ahd just endured the worst experience of her life. She did not think that she could face anyone at the moment.

As if reflecting her mood, the skies were lit up with with lightning. She looked up as the first raindrop hit her head. It rolled down her cheek, mingling with her tears. She simply cried harder.

"Zelda?" Link spoke up soflty from behind her. Without warning, she threw her arms around him, and bawled her eyes out. He simply stood there for a few moments, shell shocked, before he realised what was happening. He slowly put his arms around her, and comforted her.

"What happened?" He asked softly. Zelda drew a shaky breath, and told him what she just did.

LINK

"...and I just teleported out..." Zelda sobbed. Link heaved a sigh, and pulled her away, so that he could look her in the eyes.

"It will be alright." he said soothingly, stroking her hair, "Everything will work out for you. Don't worry."

He did not know why, but he was kind of glad that she had done what she had done. He looked into her eyes, and saw a thousand emotions.

ZELDA

"It will be alright." Link said softy, stroking her hair, "Everything will work out for you. Don't worry."

For some reason, Zelda believed that what he said was truth. He had always had a way of making her feel good.

Zelda tilted her head up, and closed her eyes. Neither of them knew what was going on, until their lips met in a passionate kiss. Zelda was amazed that Link did not recoil in disgust, and throw her to the ground. He was just amazed that Zelda was kissing him.

They spent the night in each other's arms, never letting go for anything. They threw caution to the wind, as they expressed their newfound love. The love that had been growing in each of their hearts, but had remained hidded, even from themselves, for so many years. When they were done, they fell asleep in each other's arms, in the rocks in the middle of nowhere. They both slept soundly until the sun touched their faces with the gentle caress of a lover's morning...

Um... Yes... You may interpret that last paragraph as you wish... The truemeaning will be explained in Part Two... If you bother to read it.

As I mentioned, there will be NO MORE postings under this title. Keep a lookout for the next Part within the next two weeks, please.

And I would appreciate a review. The more I get, the faster I post!