Hello hello! Long time, no see! I apologize for the long delay in updating this story, but I've been focusing on so many others, and I wasn't even sure whether I was going to delete this or not. Obviously, I went for the latter option. Thank you to my chapter two reviewers- Sakurelle, inuchick22, Ericketiting, DeadlyDragon12, Otakurec.37, ME, and Leigh.
Leigh- this story is based loosely on ALttP. In addition, if you want to read a complete Zelda story by me, please read An Unlikely Hero.
inuchick22- you will find out in this chapter whether Zelda was bluffing or not.
Ericketiting- I chuckled at the little dialogue you had in your review. :)
Other reviewers- thank you for your feedback.
Thank you so much for returning to this story despite a lack of updates for nearly a month. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Legend of Zelda series.
Zelda started awake to a knocking at her bedroom door. "Princess, it's me," Impa hissed from the hallway. "I know you and Link are in there. I've come to tell you that your father has dispatched the soldiers to look for Link."
Zelda untangled herself from Link's body. Nudging him awake, she told him to get dressed. Pulling on a dressing gown, she flew to the door and opened it, to find Impa standing there with Quinlan. They greeted her quickly. Noticing that Link's breeches were on, she ushered the two inside, closing and locking the door behind them.
"Pardon the interruption, Your Highness," Quinlan said, "But I fear that if Link does not escape now, he will be hung for high treason. He must get out now. The soldiers have nearly torn the castle apart, searching for him. Now is the time for him to make his getaway, for they have moved to the grounds along the outskirts of the castle. He can go through the secret passages."
Link went to the wall and pressed on a spot, causing a panel to slide open. As he was about to step into the doorway, Zelda reached out and stopped him.
"Wait, I won't let you go without me," Zelda insisted.
"But Princess, you must stay. If you are caught with Link, then surely he will be in even more trouble," Impa spoke up.
"She's right," Link whispered, unable to look Zelda in the eyes. It was too painful. "I promise you, my love, I will be back for you." Link entered the secret passage, blowing his lover a kiss and nodding a thank you at Impa and Quinlan. And then he was gone.
Zelda rushed the panel, only to have it slide shut. Impa saw her go for the button to open it and held her back. Zelda struggled against Impa, but the elderly woman was quite strong.
At last Zelda gave up, so Impa let her go. Zelda slid onto the floor and burst out crying. Her lover and protector was gone. They had done such a wonderful job of keeping their torrid affair hidden. But her stupid mistake in the heat of an argument had not only cost them their relationship, but may cost him his life as well. Now the father of her child had to go into hiding, and she had no idea when she would see him again.
So many questions ran through Zelda's mind as she poured her heart out through her tears. What if she never saw Link again? What if she had to raise the child on her own? What if her father made her give up the baby?
As she dried her tears, a look of resolve crossed her face, prompting Impa and Quinlan to look at each other, concerned. They knew the princess was trying to determine a way out, whether it meant finding a loophole to prevent her from marrying Carden, or a way of escaping the castle to be with Link. Whatever it was, both knew that they wouldn't let her go off on her own.
As Zelda looked at them, she knew this, too. They had already helped Link escape, and they would help her as well. They would be in it for the long haul. Impa and Quinlan were two of the king's closest friends and most loyal subjects, but both were closer to Zelda and Link. Neither of them wanted to see Zelda marry some stranger. Nor did they want to see her try to find Link on her own.
As if in need of confirmation, Zelda stood up and brushed the wrinkles out of her dress, then dabbed at her face with a handkerchief. "Impa, Quinlan, you are two of my dearest friends. Please promise me that you will help me to find Link. I know I ask a lot, as your lives can be in jeopardy if my father finds out. But I cannot go out on my own. Not in my condition."
Zelda saw them exchanging glances and realized she'd best explain everything. "As you both are aware, Link and I have been carrying on for some time. Well, Impa, you already know this, as you are the one that performed the examination. But Quinlan, I'll tell you, too, as I know you are Link's best friend. I am with child."
Quinlan gulped. This certainly complicated things! Link had often spoke of his relationship with Zelda, and he knew the two were very intimate on a frequent basis. But a baby?
Zelda wiped her eyes again and continued. "I was going to tell Link, but I never had a chance. I knew tonight may very well be our last night together, and I didn't want to tell him about the baby and end up making him feel even worse about having to leave me."
Quinlan often saw the princess as a bit impulsive, but that certainly made sense. He had to give her credit for not rushing to Link and spilling the beans, only to make things more complicated for the young warrior. And this made him want to to help the young couple all the more. He wasn't going to let the king's pride get in the way of the love of two people and the child they created as a result of that love.
Quinlan had once had a family. Not many people knew, but there was a time when he too had to leave his family, like Link, except to fight in a devastating war. He managed to survive, only to return to his village to find it burnt to the ground and the remaining villagers slaughtered like animals. Including his wife and their young son.
Quinlan shook off the painful memories as he and Impa helped a still-shaky Zelda to her bed. She sat down, and they sat with her, one on each side. They spoke in low voices, working out a plan. Once they came to a mutual decision, the three shook on it, and then Impa and Quinlan left to put the first phase in action.
The first part of the plan was to approach the king and inform him that they had seen Link sneaking out of the castle, in hopes he would dispatch the soldiers in the wrong direction, giving the young warrior time to escape. They also hoped to calm the king, so that he would realize that there was no need to hang Link when the kingdom's residents could instead be convinced that after a quick wedding, Zelda and Carden had already conceived a child. Eventually, Impa, Quinlan, and Zelda would try to find a way to reunite Zelda and her lover.
Impa and Quinlan went to King Harkinian's quarters, knowing he would most likely be up already, if he'd even slept at all. They knocked at the doors, entering upon the king's command.
His haggard appearance surprised both of them. He had been pacing back and forth nervously in his room, his face red and his gray hair, usually combed neatly into place, hanging down in his eyes. He brushed the hair out of his face and motioned for them to sit at a small table. They displayed their respect, then took their seats.
"Your Highness, pardon the visit, but we have very serious matters to discuss with you," Impa spoke up.
"Does this have to do with that criminal Link?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Quinlan answered. "We came to inform you that he has escaped the castle. He appears headed in the direction of Kakariko," he explained, referring to the nearest village.
"I will alert the soldiers immediately. How is my daughter?"
"That's what we came to discuss," Impa said. "You see, the princess is quite regretful of her relationship with Link. When she caught wind of your order to arrest him, she came to her senses. She says she will marry Prince Carden immediately, and claim the baby as his. Any indication of her relationship with Link will therefore be completely obliterated."
"Ah, I knew she would smarten up," the king commented, a satisfied smile crossing his face. "I will arrange the wedding for today, so that the two might be married as soon as possible in case Link attempts to interfere. I will also make sure that the gallows are prepared to welcome him upon his return."
"But Your Majesty, is that really the best solution?" Quinlan inquired. "Perhaps Link does not need to die. After all, he has protected the princess and the kingdom on many occasions."
"Then what do you suggest for that traitor, young man?"
"Send him away. Tell everyone that you dispatched him to investigate conspiracies against the kingdom, and make sure he ends up far from here. Then all can move on with their lives, and he will never even be able to see his child."
"You mean Prince Carden's," the king grinned, rubbing his beard to indicate he was pleased with the suggestion. "That is a brilliant idea. I can use Link's skill as a warrior to still protect Hyrule, while ensuring that he gets nowhere near my daughter and her husband. Then Zelda will have no choice but to forget him and anything they ever had together. Now, if you two will excuse me, I have a wedding to arrange."
Impa and Quinlan bid a respectful good-bye to the king. Once back in the corridor, they smiled at each other. The first part of their plan had worked. Knowing Link, he had found a secluded place in the forest, nowhere near town, and entirely too dangerous for many of the soldiers to even dare seek him out there. With the soldiers searching the wrong place and the king and other castle residents distracted, they would escape with Zelda as soon as they made a few arrangements.
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