AN: Yay! Mocks are over and I now bring you the next chapter :D

Chapter 8:
'Indecent' had been the first word that came to Zelda's mind everyday since the day of her new life as a Gerudo. Everyday she looked at herself in a pail of water and grew nauseous of the reflection she saw. Zelda wrapped her arms around her bare midriff, something that had become almost a ritual, ashamed at the amount of skin that was on show. She felt as though her entire body was on show, and before now, she had never quite realised how pale she was. But no matter how much time she spent in the sun, she would always be considered pale compared to her new friends.

Zelda had been surprised how friendly and welcoming the Gerudo had been. Full of compassion toward her situation, everyone had done all they could to help her. To say that she was embarrassed of the names she had called them in the past was an understatement. Never had she been so wrong in her judgement. Zelda soon learned to slowly forgive herself though, as her days became infinitely more pleasurable.

Today had been one that she had been looking forward to for a while. Even though there was still no word from her father, Nabooru had been making it her primary concern that she was at home amongst her people. Today she had promised that they would go riding in the desert and visit the Colossus. Zelda remembered an afternoon long ago when Link used to tell her of his great adventures. They had been sitting in the gardens overlooking the Market, looking out across at the vast field into the setting sun. He had often told her of the Colossus, and when Nabooru proposed to take her there, there had barely been a second between the question and the answer.

There was a knock at the door and Zelda knew it was Nabooru. The door was opened and together they made their way down to the stables, picked their horses and walked to the gates. The Gerudo horse were a strong breed of beast, and it had taken a few weeks for Zelda to become accustomed to their somewhat volatile nature. Though a familiar sight to her, for they were the prime breed in her father's army, her white mare had always been a preference to the war-horses. It had also taken a while to ride properly with one leg either side of the saddle. For Zelda of Hyrule it would be considered crude not to ride side-saddle, but Zelda of the Gerudo could do anything she pleased.

"Are you ready?" Nabooru asked.

"More than ever," Zelda replied, and the two nudged their horses and galloped away into the desert.

The sheer power of the beast was exhilarating and at once a cold wind came in torrents across Zelda's face. She almost felt as though she were flying, the rhythmic pounding of hooves becoming lost in the sands. Freedom had never felt so invigorating and she snapped the reigns, going faster and faster. Every constraint that had been brutally forged in her mind was broken in an instant, and Zelda laughed inwardly at the dignified trot that had been the limit in her youth. The canter and the gallop had been very foreign thing until now, and she imagined herself almost thanking her father for sending her here.

Zelda came up to Nabooru's side, and the Gerudo was hollering the same feelings loud and proudly. Nabooru too had had her doubts and judgements at the beginning. She hadn't ever imagined the princess could be so passionate and daring. She knew that even some of the Hylian soldiers had problems with the horses they had once delivered them, but Zelda had learned to ride like a true Gerudo. The princess had had her ups and downs, being thrown to the floor numerous times, and every time she would get back up and try again. She was a hard worker and she earned her keep, never snotty or bratty about her orders.

The Gerudo looked across at her companion, expecting to see only Zelda in the saddle, laughing and smiling. But her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open and her lips trembled. She yanked the reigns back, and her horse reared, startled at the sudden movement.

"Good Goddesses!" Nabooru cried, frozen where she sat.

Zelda slowed down and came back to her quickly, puzzled and slightly worried. Nabooru's eyes watched her every movement as she rode back.

"What ever is the matter, Nabooru? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

Nabooru took a long, hard stare at Zelda, and she sighed in relief. There was nothing there. "Maybe I did. I'm sorry. Let's keep going."

They started together again, but there was still something suspicious growing in the back of Nabooru's mind. Nabooru thought it best to keep what she had seen a secret, for there was no telling what Zelda would do if she knew that she had the image of her dead lover riding behind her. The sands might have been playing tricks on her, for this had once been the renowned Desert of Illusion, but it had been too real to be merely a mirage. Link had been sitting there, calm and composed with a vague transparency about him, she was sure of it. But Nabooru began to doubt whether she had seen him or not.

Zelda seemed to be none the wiser, and for the time being dismissed the idea. The rest of their journey was silent though, with uneasiness settling between them. Nabooru's sudden shock had surprised Zelda, and she began to grow worried about her friend. It wasn't only her that had acted strangely about her recently. Impa had said something very obscure to her the morning she had been summoned to her father's chamber.

"He does not wish to see you cry," she had said. Those words had been bothering her ever since and she still had not figured out who Impa had been referring too. It couldn't possibly have been her father; he did not care about such matters. And that had been where her list of male acquaintances had ended, save Link, but Impa couldn't have speaking of him…

Link had followed Zelda all the way to the Gerudo Valley, and since her capture had kept a close eye on her. No harm had come to her, but he had watched her grow into a completely different woman. The constrained princess was long forgotten and something new and beautiful had come to life in its place. But he had smiled, for he knew that this was the person she had always wanted to be; freedom had been a gift long forgotten in the minds of all the royalty and all were bound to the castle, but none more so than Zelda.

There had been many times when he had told her of his adventures, and the sparkle in her eyes, her eager smile and her wild re-enactments had been shown only to him. She forced him to be relieved of his sword so she could pretend to be the hero, slaying the imaginary beasts that he'd told her about. Sometimes Zelda had swung the blade so hard that she would lose her balance, but he had always caught her before she hit the ground. He had promised to take Zelda riding once as well, but nothing ever came of it. The war had begun, and his life with her was cut short.

But when Nabooru almost screamed when she looked across, Link felt as if his heart stopped. He jumped off of Zelda's horse as she rode back to her frightened friend, and waited for them to ride past before he followed them again. Until now, no one had seen him as he followed Zelda around the fortress. But now two of the sages had seen him, and Link was beginning to wonder whether they were connected in some way as to his remaining in Hyrule.

But no sooner had he begun to think about it, than another Gerudo came galloping from the Fortress. It had not been two minutes since Zelda and Nabooru had set off. Link watched the horse fly past, thinking it wiser to see what the commotion was. He returned to the Fortress, seeing upon his arrival the building deserted. A cloud of purple and magenta crowded anxiously around the cave-in. Link moved closer and stopped to listen to the chattering of voices.

"I demand to see the Princess. I carry a message from her father."

"The princess Zelda is not here, my lady. Nabooru has taken her to the Colossus, but we have sent someone to bring them back," one answered.

"How did you cross the valley?" another said, but there was no reply.

"Where can I wait to see the princess?"

"I shall take you to her room," someone else replied.

The centre of the throng opened. A woman with grey-streaked hair and a blue uniform emerged and was quickly led inside the fortress. There was no doubt in Link's eyes as to the new arrival could be. Only one person in Hyrule still wore those ancient clothes of the Sheikah. He followed the small party of Gerudo guards, and unknown to anyone, walked into the room along with them. They soon left him and the woman alone and Link looked uncertainly at her averted expression.

"I was beginning to wonder where you had disappeared to. I haven't seen you about the castle for a while now," Impa said without turning her face toward him.

Link stood there mutely with a bashful smile on his face. Before now he had not tried to speak, and he attempted to reply. But no sound was audible at all.

"I'm sure you haven't been in the dark about Hyrule's current state, commander. The land is in peril and will be subject to even greater distress if you do not aid us, Link." Impa rose from her chair and knelt at his feet. "As a servant of Hyrule, of the King, I beg you to help us, my lord."

Link wasn't sure of what Impa was talking about. Her plea made no sense. How could he possibly help Hyrule in this state? But out of compassion he lowered himself to her level and tried to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. It passed straight through her but she looked up, shivering ever so slightly. Link smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, my lord."

For a long time he had been taught to obey and not to question, and the instinct still hadn't left him even in death. His soldier's determination would not die, and neither would his love for Zelda or for Hyrule. In his eyes, all were eternal.

There was a click of the door opening, and Impa rose from the floor. Zelda stood in the doorway; the brims of her eyes wet with unshed tears. She rushed toward Impa and threw her arms fiercely around her. Nothing could have made the princess more happy. All disappointment of not being able to go to the Colossus was completely forgotten.

"Impa! What news do you bring from my father?"

Impa smiled. "He says that he loves you and he does not want to be the object of your hatred any longer."

"Stupid man," Zelda said affectionately. "He need not worry. I do not hate him any longer. Please tell him I apologise for what I said."

"I will. But look at how you've changed, Zelda," she said drawing her out of her arms. "If I didn't know you so well, I don't think I would have been able to recognise you."

They talked quite happily for some time, and Link watched them. It was almost as if nothing had changed from when he was alive, and with a sad sorrow in his heart, he felt his throat tightening. To be a part of that life once more would be heaven itself. To be able to laugh, talk and love again would be a blessing that he would always pray for, even though it was ultimately beyond anyone's reach.

But their conversation took a cold turn, and Zelda's happy eyes stood still, staring at Impa's serious, indifferent face. All was silent and a wind blew into the room, drowning the sound of their breathing. Time seemed to have stopped, and for a moment, all seemed frozen in place.

"I'm going to be married?"

It was barely a whisper. Link's mouth dropped slightly, and his fingers trembled.

"Your father was meant to tell you that day in his tower, but he couldn't bring himself to make you unhappy. It was wrong, Zelda, but he had no choice but to agree. And because he agreed, he had you sent here for your protection from this marriage. There's something that isn't right about this Lord Dragmire, we both sensed it, and even the Great Sage Rauru has his suspicions, Zelda. You must believe what I've told you, for what I tell you now will decide your own fate."

Zelda didn't let her continue. "Dear Goddesses!" she cried quietly, trembling uncontrollably. Zelda sank to the floor, her hands covering her face. "Why, Impa, why? Why does all this happen to me! I wish I had never been born a princess!"

"There are many people would think differently, Zelda," Impa said softly, cradling the princess in her arms, exactly as she had done when Zelda was a child.

"I don't care what they want. What about what I want? I don't want other people deciding things for me anymore."

There was a brief silence. "What do you want, Zelda?"

"I…I want… to stay here." Her voice grew with more spirit in every word. "I don't want to go back to the castle. I don't care if I die because of it, but I'm free here and I can do as I please. Do you know how wonderful it is to just ride through the desert with no one looking down upon you for riding like a man? Do you how good it is to feel your hands become greasy when you eat? We all eat with our hands and no one is ashamed of it, and they shouldn't be either. I don't ever want to go back to the castle. Never!"

"You know I only want what is best for you Zelda, and if you want to stay here, that is completely your choice. But you must listen to what I have to say."

Zelda's eyes brightened for a moment. "Thank you, Impa. Please, go on."

"Zelda, are you not forgetting something?" Zelda looked at her, puzzled at her question. "Did you not forget something in what you want?"

"W-What are you saying, Impa?"

The Sheikah sighed and swallowed deeply, knowing she may very well regret what she was about to say. "I have not heard you mention his name since I arrived."

"Impa, you're confusing me. Who do you speak of?"

"Link."

Zelda was silent. "How could you?" she whispered.

"Didn't you want to spend your life with him? Have you forgotten that so quickly- "

"Stop it, Impa! Stop it!" Zelda shouted angrily, her eyes sparkling with fury. "What insanity has possessed you to such horrible things- I thought that you, of all people, would have understood, but I guess I placed my trust too high. - How could you be so insensitive- I love Link! Of course I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him- But life has changed since then, Impa. I would have followed him to the ends of the earth, but now he's gone somewhere where I cannot follow. Link is dead! And there's nothing I can do about that!"

Impa turned her head toward the ghost, unfazed by her outrage. "He wouldn't think so."

"Why do you talk in such riddles? You speak as though he is alive, but I saw his dead body! I held him in my arms and I felt how cold he was. How could you possibly say 'He doesn't think so'?"

"Because he is standing right there," she said, pointing to where Link stood.

Zelda's eyes grew wide, and nervously she turned her head. "T-There's nothing there, Impa." Her voice shook with fear.

"Zelda, you must listen. This is not the first time I have seen him. When I came to wake you that morning, he was standing over your bedside, and ever since you came here he has followed you, watching over you. You have the power to see him, Zelda. Concentrate and open your eyes as a sage."

Zelda didn't know what to think, but she did as she was told. She could feel the tears run down her cheeks as she closed her eyes, her high light from crying. It had been a long time since she had used her powers, but she gathered them inside her heart, feeling her pain alleviated a little. She began to open her eyes again slowly; afraid of what she was going to see. She both wanted to believe and not believe what Impa had said. A part of her wanted so desperately to see him, while the other warned her loudly that it would only cause her more pain.

The two sides of her conscience fought and each clash of thought prolonging the inevitable. She couldn't take it any longer. The decision was made, and she opened her eyes.

AN: Bwa ha. Aren't I mean >:D Thanks to all yousix people who reviewed again. As much as I wish I had more, your reviews are so greatly appreciated. I love you guys :D Until next time...

Hououza: I sure hope so, for the whole interest plot of the storyis hinged on this! Thanks for reviewing too!

Forlorn Rain: No problem. If you took the time to read this, then it's only polite to do the same :D I'm glad that everything is making sense now. I have a habit of wanting to slowly leak out information rather than telling it all at the beginning XD, and then also leaving the ends of my chapters on horrible cliff-hangers X3

Some say the world will end: Well, it won't bered forever. It's meant to work like any die, so gradually she'll be blonde again. I wouldn't be so cruel as to take her blonde hair away.

Niamh nic Raghnall: I suppose it wouldn't be too bad if it were hot, and if everyone else was wearing the same thing... But I'm still not sure whether I'd like to wear their clothes. I probably wouldn't have apologised tothe Kingeither. XD And yes, I'm definately looking forward to writing that scene X3

serenitythefaierikin: Thank you! I'm glad it makes sense. laughs As I said to Forlorn Rain, I have a horrible habit for cliff-hangers XD

Vampiress24: Thanks! I wanted something different to my other LOZ fics, so I thought, 'Let's go with the whole undead-thing!'. Originally, Link wasn't a ghost though, but I think this works better.