Greetings from chapter four! Finally, a little fun with the switch again. Enjoy!
Reminder: Link and Zelda have again switched bodies, so his mind controls hers, and her mind controls his.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series, in whole or in part.
Zelda lazily dragged Link's body out of bed, combing his unruly brown hair. Link watched through her peripheral vision as he dug through the wardrobe, picking out a dress to wear. The two finished readying themselves and followed Impa to the ballroom. The three sat at the table, just in time to eat breakfast.
As everyone dined, Agahnim continued to stare at Link in Zelda's body. Link made faces at him, while Zelda admired him from Link's eyes. Noticing the glazed-over look in his own eyes, Link pondered why his wife seemed so...infatuated with the sorcerer.
Then it clicked. Oh, of course. It may be my body, but it is still her mind. She's still under Agahnim's spell. Just great. Not only do I have to flirt with him, but I have to prevent Zelda from doing so, from my body.
Agahnim noticed the young man's eyes on him, completely unaware that it was actually due to Princess Zelda, still under the control of his love spell.
"You know, Agahnim, red looks rather flattering on you," Zelda said in Link's voice.
Agahnim nearly choked as forks clattered to plates. "Thank you, Link," the sorcerer mumbled, as everyone stared in shock.
Zelda put a happy smile onto her husband's face, leaning back in the chair. Link just gaped at his wife, brushing crumbs off her dress, then standing up suddenly from the table. "Forgive me, but I just remembered something very important that I forgot to do. Come along, Link; I need your help."
Before Zelda could object in his voice, Link grabbed his own hand, yanking his body from the chair and hurrying out of the room, causing Zelda's heels to click-clack on the hard floor at an ever-increasing pace.
"What are you doing?" he hissed in her voice. "You are married to me now, remember?"
"But I love him so," she sighed in his voice.
"Zelda, listen to me. You are married to me. You love me, and not Agahnim. You carried my child. Agahnim cast a spell over you that caused you to fall for him."
"But how could I carry a child, if I'm a man?"
"Because you are really a woman. You are trapped in my body, and I in yours."
"Surely you jest."
Link reached up with Zelda's arm, smacking her forehead. He didn't know what had happened that made her seem to suffer some sort of short-term amnesia. But he knew he'd better counteract it quick.
"Now, I know this doesn't make a lot of sense, but just listen to me. You and I have been married for almost six months now. The sorcerer you're suddenly obsessing over is evil, and cast a spell over you, so that you'd fall in love with him. You are in my body, so you are thinking like a woman, but look like a man."
"Fine, fine," Zelda said, waving Link's hand in a dismissive manner. "But where is this child you speak of? You said I carried it, which means it must be here somewhere."
Link swallowed hard. "Yes, the child is no longer inside here," he said, using Zelda's hand to gesture at her stomach area. "But it's not because of birth. It's because you miscarried."
At that moment, Zelda's memories suddenly came flooding back to her. Creating the child. Marrying Link. Carrying a life inside of her, feeling it grow, and move. Losing that life several days previous, for a reason still unknown.
Link watched his body collapse into a heap on the floor. A moment later, Zelda awoke from the faint. Looking about, clearly bewildered, she saw her own face as Link hovered it over her.
Zelda moved Link's body in a weakened effort to sit up. He reached out to help her, and once she reached her desired position, she quickly curled his body up into a ball and began to cry.
"Zelda, my love, it's okay. Please don't cry," Link begged in her voice.
"The baby... how could I have lost the baby... it's all my fault."
Link helped Zelda to his feet, and both of them sat on the bed, Link holding his own body to hers with her arms. She continued to weep, with most of the tears catching on the bodice of her dress, while some of them missed and splattered on the bed, or on his tunic.
Even as his own body stopped shaking with tears, he could still feel Zelda's heart pounding in her chest, the result of him finally having to acknowledge the miscarriage. He had disguised his pain for so long, but now that his mind commanded her body, he lost it. This time, it was Zelda comforting him from his body.
When both of them at last calmed down enough, they arose and went to the bathroom to wash their faces, waiting a few minutes for the redness to go away before returning to the breakfast table.
"Father, everyone, please forgive us for our extended absence. We just started thinking about the baby and got a little emotional," Link explained in Zelda's voice.
"Of course you two are forgiven, dearest," King Harkinian answered as the couple settled back into their seats. "Now, let us finish this delicious meal."
Later that morning, Link and Zelda returned to their room to talk a little bit.
"I can't believe I made you flirt with Agahnim," Zelda giggled from Link's body. "Oh, Agahnim, kiss me!" she squealed jokingly, causing both of them to fall over in laughter.
"I don't know if I'm woman enough for you, Zelda," Link teased, making her voice high-pitched. "Maybe I should go find that maiden that tried to seduce you, and see if I can get some tips from her."
"Link, you're horrible!" Zelda proclaimed, pushing her own body playfully.
"Yeah, but you know you love me anyway."
"No, I love Agahnim, remember?"
Link nearly doubled over in laughter. Zelda watched her own body shake with his laughing, and began to chuckle herself. The two continued joking around until it was time to get ready for lunch.
Zelda helped Link dress her bodyin a simple blue dress, her favorite color. He in turn helped her into hisusual green tunic. The two would have a busy afternoon, as they, along with Agahnim and the king, were to meet with many of Hyrule's residents on the castle grounds to discuss future rebuilding plans. Both were still wary of Agahnim, but all they could do was continue to remain in each other's bodies so they could further investigate their suspicions.
At any rate, the two were happy to have broken the wizard's love spell. It required the sad reminder of their lost child, along with some affection, before Zelda was able to fully remember the events of the morning. Recalling the king's reaction to Zelda's vision, the couple resolved to keep everything a secret until they had solid proof of Agahnim having ulterior motives for helping the kingdom rebuild.
Link and Zelda made their way to the courtyard, where they would have an outdoor meal before the meetings. They started to hold hands before remembering that Agahnim still thought that Zelda was in love with him. Letting go, they continued on their way.
"Impa, why aren't they holding hands?" the king whispered, observing them.
"I believe our young couple has had a fight. I fear our fair princess is having trouble letting go of the loss. It is still very soon afterwards, but perhaps she relies too much on Sir Link," Impa lied. She knew about their plans already, having been filled in by Link. She could tell the two had broken the spell, but did not wish to let on to the king that it had even existed in the first place.
"Oh, dear," the king fretted. "I must speak with Link later, and give him some encouragement. If I want an heir before I die, we cannot allow them to carry on like this. Please, Impa, talk to my daughter for me."
"Yes, Your Highness," the kindly woman agreed. I'd better warn Sir Link and the princess, she thought. I don't think Princess Zelda will want to hear the kind of talk that the king wants to give to "Link."
King Harkinian pulled Link aside after the evening meal, still oblivious that it was actually his daughter in the young knight's body. "Come, Link, let's have a talk, man to man."
Here it comes, Zelda thought. I hope it's not too humiliating.
The two arose from the table, both excusing themselves. The king led "Link" to a private meeting room in his quarters, motioning for him to take a seat, then sitting down opposite him.
"You wish to speak with me about something, Your Highness?" Zelda asked in Link's voice.
"Yes, young man. Forgive me for being so direct, but have you and my daughter, uh...been intimate since you lost the child?"
Zelda could feel Link's face turn bright red. "I mean you no disrespect, Your Highness, but I fear that is a very private matter."
"Please, Link, just answer my question. It is with good reason that I wish to know."
"No, we have not."
"Well, then, I beg of you, please find a way. I know it has not been long since the miscarriage, but I am getting old. You must understand that I long to have grandchildren, not just for my own personal reason to boast, but for the sake of the kingdom. I wish to die happy, not with the shadow of worry over me due to wondering if my daughter will produce an heir to the throne."
"Fear not, Your Highness. I know your daughter is aware of your wishes, and I am sure that in a couple weeks' time, she will be ready to try again. But please understand that this has been a significant strain on her, physically, mentally, and emotionally."
"And that is a fair point to make, one to which even I must concede. All that I ask is that you come to me if you think of anything I can do to assist you in the matter, such as a different room, or a specialist, or anything else. I am the king after all, and when it comes to such things, I will do everything in my power to see to it that you and my daughter have the utmost care and privacy."
How ironic- you mention privacy, yet you sent people to spy on Link and myself on our wedding night, and here you are, asking if we've made love since losing the baby, Zelda mused. I cannot imagine the kinds of things you spoke to Link about in the past in regards to this subject. I'll have to thank him for taking it in stride.
Zelda arose, extending Link's hand to shake her father's. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will be sure to alert you if there is anything with which I need assistance," she said in Link's voice, bowing to her father before excusing herself from the room. As she closed the door behind her, she resisted the urge to laugh out loud. Oh, father, the fits you would have if you were to learn that you just spoke to your daughter about such a subject!
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