I know she couldn't help it, but it doesn't help me from being mad at her. As soon as she had heard the explosion, Kierana had screamed. The look of terror in my eyes made her silent, but it was too late. Link had heard her.
"Malon? I'm going to find you!" I hope against all odds that Link won't open the cabinet in the corner and find the hidden stairwell, but its no use. I hear the door open and a small light filled the large basement. The two of us crawl to the far end, and I listen in horror as Link tells his soldiers to let him go alone.
"You. Come with me." I see his silhouette beckon to someone, and a tall, slender woman joins him at the top. They come down the stairs with a lantern and the door at the top slams shut. Link sees me and smiles, an evil smile that I wouldn't have ever imagined him having. But there seems to be something in his eyes, a compassion of some sorts.
"Malon… pleasure to see you again. Take the child," he directs, and the woman that had accompanied him looks at him in horror. "Do it, Aires." She looks upset, but walks over to where I'm crouched on the floor and puts her hand on my shoulder. She leans down and I hear her promise,
"It's going to be okay. I'll take care of her." I look at her and she nods ever so slightly, but I don't loosen my grip on Kierana.
"Mommy? Mommy don't let her take me!" she screams, and my heart breaks as Aires grabs her and pulls her away from me.
"No!" I yell, and I lunge at her, but it's no use. She's a good five inches taller than I am, and she easily dodged my jump. Link walks over to me purposefully and grabs my shoulders. He nods his head towards the back of the room and Aires takes my daughter, who's head is buried into her shoulder, to a place where she can't see me.
"Now, Malon," he yells, almost deafening, "You are going to pay for keeping her from me." He tightens the grip on my shoulders and thrusts them back, knocking me on my back. He brings his six foot five frame down on me and pins me to the ground with his knees.
"Please, Link," I beg, tears streaming down my face, "Don't hurt me like this. You aren't like this! I know it was wrong that I didn't tell you about Kierana, but is that really a reason to do this?" He looks at me and brings one hand to my neck and the other to the back of my head. It startled me; almost a romantic gesture.
"Malon," he says quietly, "I'm not going to hurt you anymore. But I am taking my daughter and leaving you here. Zelda's baby will need an older sister. And, sorry to rain on your parade, but she looks nothing like you. Anyone who doesn't know us will think she's Zel's and mine. Stay away from us, Malon. I don't want you near her." He stands up.
"Link…" Aires came out from the corner, Kierana still sobbing. "She needs her mother. Zelda won't be able to take care of a fussy four year old and a new baby." Link stares at her as if she had just smacked him.
"What? Are you defying me?" I expect Aires to back away, but she stands up to him.
"Yes," She says, looking at him in the eyes. "Leave her here with her mother." Link just looks at her and walks forward. She stays where she is, but I can see the panic in her eyes.
"Aires!" He grabs Kierana and holds her tightly. Then he puts her down and she runs to me, hugging me tightly. But I'm watching Link and Aires. He plants his feet and shoves her to the ground. She hits her head, rendering her unconscious, and Link storms over to us.
"Link, please," I beg, holding Kierana even tighter, "Don't do this…" but I know that there is no stopping him. Link slams me into the wall and I cry out in pain.
"I told you to leave her alone," he snarled, pinning me to the wall with his body, "But did you listen to me? No. So now, you have to face the consequences." Link pulls a knife out of his belt and I whimper like a child.
"Link…" I cry, tears flowing freely now, "Please!" I notice Kierana watching with wide eyes and suddenly, she frowns and glares at him.
"Daddy! Leave Mommy alone!" She throws herself towards him and sinks her teeth into his leg. I can't help but laugh as Link drops his dagger, but I scream when it pierces Kierana in the arm. She instantly quiets but doesn't shed a tear. She runs toward me and I scoop her up, reaching down to grab the knife as I run. I tear up the steps as Link watches, a slight smile on his face. The guards that I run into let me pass for some strange reason, and I don't stop running until we are safely locked up at Romani's.
Author's Notes:
Well, I don't know what to say. That chapter was hard to write, and I know a lot of you will want to give me grief for making Link so mean. But as I told you, there IS a reason. So please review, and don't be really mean!