Inspiration: Kismet, coincidence, and coming to terms with one's life.

Original Shout Outs: Lysanagi, Sepharitic, LauParisi, and Itaweasel-hime, DivaMoon, ChaygraceDaya, and Pro Assassin.

Author's Note: These chapters will make sense later, I promise. This particular chapter takes place simultaneously during the battle of Hyrule.

Word Count: 12,681

Chapter 36

To the Peoples of Hyrule:

Hear me good Hylians, this is your queen, Zelda Nohanseen of Hyrule. Please regard this message with the utmost importance. There have been many stories circulating regarding my whereabouts over these last few months. Such stories have a basis for fact and fiction. Please note that the difference is not important at this time. What is important is that my whereabouts pertained to your safety, my people. To that end, I regret to inform you that a great terror has been released upon our land. This is not a creature of folklore, but a creature of reality. This creature is from the ancient world and he wishes to destroy us. His name is Ghirahim.

I warn you that we cannot take this foe lightly. This directive is being sent out to have all of you to come to Hyrule Castle immediately. There, you will be routed to the underground city built by my forefathers for siege protocols. There is plenty of food and water for your families and little ones. I know this is a great deal to ask of you, but I beseech you all to trust me. To aide in these efforts, the Hero of Twilight and Light is lending Hyrule his strength to eradicate this foe. Hyrule already owes him so much… the country will reward him greatly once again when he is victorious.

However, if your dwelling place is too far from the castle, if you live in a remote locale where you would not be able to travel within a few hours of Hyrule, please seek assistance in one of the isolated refuges as deemed necessary. If you are not familiar with such refuges, please remain where you are and pray for the blessing of the goddess. It will no doubt find itself shining upon you. Please do not take drastic measures, as I will state again that this could mean your lives. Be of good heart my people, and may the goddesses be with you all.

~Zelda, Queen of Hyrule~

~SSS~

The fringes of a cold forest in Lanayru, Daphnie

I stared at the marquee nailed to the tree and realized the latter part of the letter applied to me. There was no possible way I was going to make it to Hyrule Castle within a day. A foe of great power? This certainly sounded serious. After the brief reign of Zant and Ganondorf, I took nothing for granted. It was a dark time for everyone. No one wanted to go back to that. I needed to find a remote refuge and quickly. Though, quite frankly, my options were few.

I couldn't cross the desert to a remote locale I knew of because it was too dangerous and would take four days. It would also take far too long to scavenge. I had no idea where this monster was coming from, and roaming in open spaces wasn't a viable option. I was going to have to head north where the roads led into the snowy mountains. There was a bunker at the base of Mount Lanayru only twenty miles from my current destination. There was food and provisions stored there for emergencies. I passed it several times in the past on my travels. I thought nothing of it at the time. However, I realized it was possibly another safety deposit bunker built from the Great War, much like the one I lived in now. The difference was it was built underground as a possible artillery passageway. The inlet was carved into the mountain. My best option was to head there.

I also thought at one point in heading back to the Red Lantern District, but realized that would be equally improbable. The district was also days from where I currently was. Even so, I hoped the girls still living there were properly warned and seeking refuge as well. Many unfortunate women were often left in a lurch when it came to protection from the kingdom. Many of the same guards who were supposed to be protecting them, sought pleasure and abused them. I hoped the girls were safe. I worried about them constantly. It was hard to separate myself from that life, when for six long years that was who I was. That was how I lived. After escaping, it took me a year to readjust my thinking. I had to constantly remind myself I was free. I had to repeatedly tell myself I wasn't a brothel girl anymore.

When the hero came and liberated the district, I was relieved, but I also felt fear. The girls and I no longer had that tyrant, Lady Rue Morgue, overseeing us, but what then? What were we supposed to do with our lives afterwards? My hope was that I still had a place to go back to with my family. However, at the time, I wasn't sure if that was even possible anymore. The district was an underground labyrinth, built to prevent women from running away. If anyone did runaway, they often got lost, or were severely punished by the madam. I would never forget the fate of one girl who was desperate. She wanted so badly to get back to her husband, she dared leaving the confines of her brothel house and ventured into the labyrinth. Unfortunately, Lady Rue Morgue sent her blood hounds after her. The poor girl was found two days later lost in an alcove with her throat ripped out.

That kind of terror prevented me from ever leaving. However, when freedom was finally at my fingertips, I hesitated to embrace it. The labyrinth wasn't the issue anymore. The hero could show me the way out. The problem was in my mind. The district had been my home for so long. It was a world I became comfortable with, not the sex work, but I did have a certain kind of freedom and power there. I acted as the decoy madam and so I made changes. I made sure to protect the girls. I wasn't sure the girls would be protected if I left. I had friends there. What if another tyrant came in and took over?

Even so, I was encouraged by the hero to leave. He warned me that servitude was servitude, no matter how it was dressed up. Encouraging people to stay and work as sex slaves was wrong, no matter how 'right' I tried to make it. I understood his points all too well. But even if we had a misunderstanding, Link would help me make sure the overall district was safe. The abuses suffered before were done away with. The hero was a powerful ally in abating that. However, everyone was also aware that he was primarily visiting to see me. Link and I had become good friends at that point, but admittedly we had become a bit more. We developed a casual, but very intense sexual relationship for a little while. It lasted for a few months. It was more physical than emotional for me, and I think it was the same with Link. We just needed someone without the judgment, but we also needed someone to understand how damaged we both emotionally were. He was hurting in his own way at the time. He informed me he was recently released from prison.

Even so, Link was always kind. He never treated me like one of those brutes in the past. In a great deal of ways, he reminded me of Elbourne. Of course, I never told him that. I knew how Link felt about the dragon prince, even though I didn't understand it. In any such case, I knew where my heart was and so did he. I knew he was in love with someone else, but his tenderness and affection were very similar. Link never talked about it, but I could tell when he was looking at me he was seeing her too… I was certain I knew who she was. Eventually, it became a bit too complicated and we had to put an end to it. Link informed me that he was starting to have feelings for me for the wrong reasons. The wrong reasons… I knew exactly what those reasons were. Even so, he never told me himself.

Unfortunately, Link was also how I found out about what happened to my brother and my mother. They had both died. I was devastated by the news, but oddly enough, it was the push I needed to finally leave the district. I didn't want my life to end as a brothel girl who lost everything. That story had been told too many times over. When I set out, I still stubbornly went looking for my mother. I was aware what the hero told me, but I needed to know for myself. I was still clinging to the hope that maybe Link was wrong, that maybe it was the wrong woman he got information on. Maybe my mother was still alive out there… somewhere. However, I was not successful, and when I returned to my village, I got the confirmation she had died. I was told she spent the rest of her life looking for me. I was grateful to know my brother had taken care of her when he was alive, but even after his death, the villagers stated she never stopped looking for me. It broke my heart to know she died alone. The hero unfortunately was right… he was right about everything.

My current contemplation was starting to make me forlorn. I knew I couldn't get fixated on any of that right now. In the present, this was about survival. I needed to keep my feelings in check. To that end, I did think about going to Dragon Roost for a second. I thought about what Elbourne told me. I thought about his promise of help, but that journey too would take weeks. I did not have weeks. Perhaps when this was all over, I would consider going to Dragon Roost then. Maybe I could start anew with Elbourne's help. It certainly wouldn't hurt to ask, especially since now he knew I was in love with him. Even so, I wasn't a fool. I knew our lives were miles apart. I was aware there wasn't a real future with him. He was a prince. There was no way a prince would marry a former whore. However, I would love to still have his friendship. He looked like he needed a friend. He looked terrified from whatever realization he came to. I wanted him to have solace one day. Perhaps that would be possible, even with him being the future king. If I wanted that outcome, I would just have to live through this and see.

Elbourne... I could do that. I could be your friend…

Like everything else, matters of the heart would have to wait, especially when a threat of evil was upon the world. I had to think about the twenty miles of snow I needed to trek up a steep mountain for shelter. That was going to be a task. I went to gather what little things I had, and made sure to dress in a warm snow garment with hunting gear underneath, and insulated boots. Afterwards, I looked around my tiny living space one last time. I was sufficient for now, but my eyes then rested on the old pictograph of me, my mother, and my brother when we were adolescents. My brother and I were sixteen. It was taken right before I was kidnapped. It was a happy time. I stared at it for a long moment. It conjured a bit of feeling from me. I decided then I was going to take it with me. I didn't want to leave it to chance if I didn't get to come back here when this whole situation was over. There was no guarantee it would be here if I returned, and it was all I had left of them. I walked over and took the picture off the wall and placed it into my satchel. However, before I closed the flap, I stared at the pictograph once more.

I ran my fingers over the paper.

"I wish you were here," I whispered.

I willed myself not to cry at my mother and my brother's forever smiling faces. I just wished I could have told them how much they meant to me before they died. I realized it was wishful thinking. They were gone, but it would have been nice. Even so, I knew I couldn't stay and weep either. I had to go. I had to move on. With that I headed for the exit. There was no lock, but I attempted to seclude the entrance as much as possible. Afterwards, I headed north towards the snowy embanks of the mountains. I headed towards Snowpeak impasse.

~SSS~

The outskirts of Snowpeak, Ashei

"Please do not take drastic measures, as I will state again that this could mean your lives. Be of good heart my people, and may the goddesses be with you all. Zelda, Queen of Hyrule."

I sighed when I finished the letter.

The decree was much of what I suspected was going on with Zelda and Link when they came and stayed with me weeks ago. I knew it was odd for the queen to be out and about with the hero regarding some trivial matter about a ring. They were tracking something bigger, more dangerous. And, it seems this bigger, more dangerous thing was this creature Ghirahim. I had no idea who, or what this creature was, but it was potent enough for the queen to send out an alert to the kingdom.

It was hard to believe the country was once again being evacuated on a mass scale. If it turned out to be another Zant-like situation, then the past seven years would have been for naught. The people were just getting back to a sense of normalcy. It was unnerving to contemplate how quickly a threat of this magnitude could disrupt the country. If these were the old days, I would have put on my armor and rode out for duty, no questions asked. I understood her majesty's need for discretion, but I wish she had trusted me. I could have been a tremendous help to her in forging an evacuation plan, especially for the remote locales. I knew of all the isolated provinces. I could have taught the people how to irrigate water, find flints in barren deserts, and how to start fires in the wild. I could have also helped with the supply rationing and emergency medical care training. I could have been so much more useful to Zelda if she had just let me know what was truly going on.

However, I couldn't ponder over the 'would bes' and 'what ifs' now. What was done was done. I had little ones to think about. I needed to focus on protecting them. One thing I would always realize was that a mother's duty was never finished. The queen's service was admirable, but I would use my skills in my children's preservation instead. I understood one thing right away, there was no way my family was going to make it to Hyrule Castle. We were going to have to tough it out in one of the shelters stationed nearby from the Great War. I used them several times in the past with my father Auru when we were scouting Snowpeak Mansion. That would have to be our place of refuge until this crisis blew over. Of course, that meant my network of spies would be out of commission until the threat was eradicated as well. That was a problem, but it was manageable. My current issue was not exciting my children into a fit of panic. I did not want my babies to be terrified with everything that was going on. However, my children were well adjusted to harsh environments, and, from time to time, were used to dealing without. Perseverance gave them character. I was just going to have to rely on their resilience to get us through this situation.

I folded the piece of paper in my hand.

"This is grave," I whispered to myself.

However, my little Aura nearby saw the strained look on my face.

"Mama, are you okay?"

I paused for a moment before turning to stare at my little girl. I was always in awe with how much she looked like her father… those big blue eyes and that beautiful black hair. I forced a smile and knelt down to console her. I touched her shoulder gently.

"Mama's fine honey. We're just going to have to go on a little trip and stay at another place for a little while."

Aura stared at me surprised.

"Really?"

I nodded, then looked beyond her to her brothers. I gestured for my boys to come over to me as well. My sons were playing jacks by the hearth, but soon they stopped and followed my command. They too saw my worried expression.

"What's wrong mother?" my eldest asked.

I didn't want to alarm him.

"We're going to have to leave for a little while. So I want you all to pack one outfit along with some necessary toiletries. Mommy will give you more instructions and more information once we get going, alright?"

My children didn't disperse right away. I sensed they were alerted to the stress in my voice. It seemed my disguising it didn't work. I then attempted to reassure them by smiling.

"Come on you guys, I need for you to act like a team. Everything will be alright if we stay together and look out for each other. Will you all be mommy's team?"

They all nodded, but my words still didn't seem to be enough.

"When we get to where we need to go, I'll make you all some custard," I promised. "However, you have to do as mommy asked as quickly as possible. We need to be out of here in half an hour."

When I mentioned the custard they all perked, especially Aura.

"Can I help you make the custard mommy?" she asked.

I grinned.

"Of course you can, but that's only if you pack in a hurry."

No sooner after I said my words, Aura, along with one of her older brothers, hurried up the stairs. My oldest, however, stayed behind to chat with me. He had too much of his father in him to be so easily swayed. That's why he was named after him. I gave him my undivided attention.

"Yes Bastion?"

My son paused for a moment.

"Mother, are you sure there's nothing bothering you? You look troubled."

I was glad he was so astute, but it made me feel guilty he had to act in such a role when he was just a child. I remembered when I was six years old. The last thing I worried about were things related to adults. My father was very good at letting me be a child, even when my mother died. I wanted that for my children too. I didn't want them chafing about like little adults. I wanted them to have their carefree innocence as long as life would allow them. Admittedly though, my late husband was much better at reassurances than I was. Bastion... how I missed him.

"I'm okay honey," I said anyway. "I just need for you to go upstairs and get ready so we can go. We need to be out of here very soon."

My son still hesitated.

"I was just concerned with your tone. You hadn't used it before."

He was definitely his father's son.

"I'm just tired sweetie."

"Then should we even be traveling now? Wouldn't that be foolish?"

I grinned.

"Unfortunately, now is the best time to travel, but we can't fret. That's why I need you to hurry."

Bastion wasn't completely convinced, but he finally nodded anyway.

"Alright then mother, but I hope you share your thoughts with me soon if you need to."

That was very considerate of him, but I winced a little at him saying that. I didn't want him having such a burden.

I will not do that to you… you are my son. You need to be a child…

I reached over and caressed his cheek.

"Just go pack honey. Don't worry about me."

With that, Bastion nodded and he hurried upstairs to join his brother and sister. I stared after him and contemplated the gravity of this situation.

"Let this be over quickly," I whispered to myself.

In that moment, I looked over at a painting of my late husband and me. It was right above the hearth. We had it painted right after we got married. I felt a minor stirring in my soul.

"I wish a part of you were here right now," I whispered. "Your children could certainly use a bit of your humor in this moment."

My husband's eternal smile said nothing back to me, as I knew it wouldn't. I felt myself getting emotional and I had to blink those tears away.

I can't… I can't…

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. I had to be strong for my children. I couldn't lose my emotions in front of them. I broke my gaze from the painting and headed upstairs to pack for myself. I never kidded myself about the state of my dead husband. I knew Bastion was gone, I just wish I could have said goodbye first.

Rest in peace my love…

~SSS~

One hour later

My children and I left our home one hour later. Fortunately, the wind was not howling today, but the snow was still about a foot deep. I owned one horse and took him out only when I went to buy goods for my family. My children were latched along by a wagon with an oxen tarp. We were heading north towards the Snowpeak Mansion. The shelter we were heading to was near the base of a large mountain one mountain over. It housed a tunnel that eventually led to the Snowpeak manor. It was probably how the military was able to sneak in artillery to the Snowpeak Mansion during the Great War. Snowpeak Mansion used to be a military base. I studied it for years, knowing many of its assets and artifacts. When my father was alive, he told me we might have to use Snowpeak as a military base again in the event of another strike from Ganondorf. However, that was quite impossible now with the yetis living there. It would essentially mean murdering them and taking their home away to repatriate the base. There was no way that would go over well in the court of public opinion. Although, there was also the scenario of just speaking with the yetis. It was quite possible to negotiate with them since they were peaceful creatures. There were rumors about the female yeti being violent, but I wasn't certain that was true. Link seemed to reestablish a connection with them, and he would have notified me if the yetis were violent.

In any such case, now was the perfect time to utilize the bungalow. I just hoped all in Hyrule could find places of refuge. It was quite possible we might run into some individuals on our way. However, I wasn't certain how many would find their way all the way up here. If there were any stragglers, my children and I could assist them, if they had no harmful intentions. People often lost their rational thoughts in times of crisis. I had no problem helping, but my first priority was the safety of my children. In many ways, I was a great deal like my father. He never hesitated in protecting me when I was a child, and he made it quite clear that his family was his priority. I appreciated my father's sense of duty, but he always kept it in lockstep with his love. He must have really loved my mother. Now, all I had was a memory of both of them. Although father was a dutiful man, he wasn't without his secrets. My father held many secrets, many of which went with him to the grave. I want to believe that what he had to hide was for the benefit of the kingdom, but I was not naïve. I knew some of things he harbored were of his own volition. I was told by some of his friends that he was a very complicated man. I never saw him that way as his daughter, but then again, I wasn't looking at him through the lens of a comrade. I just hoped his dealings were for the greater good. However, even if they were not, he was still my father, and I loved him greatly.

Father... I knew you did your duty to the utmost…

My thoughts left me gazing at the white snow and the bobbing of my horse's head. Now wasn't the time for me to be forlorn. Now was the time for me to muster up the courage my family was known for. My father had to do what he had to do, whatever that may have been. The four of us trudged up the mountain, slowly making progress. I didn't want to overwork my horse, tire him out, and have my children stranded. However, in the distance I did see something, or someone rather. There looked to be a young woman heading in the same general direction as us. She must have known about the shelter too. The elements were harsh and I was surprised to see her walking without too much of a hitch. I wasn't sure if she had a rope or proper boots. If not, she was fortunate to still be trotting along. I decided that since she was alone there was no harm in seeing if she wanted some assistance. However, before I went on ahead, I turned to see if my children would be alright with the idea. I didn't want to make an irresponsible decision. They all looked back at me wide eyed.

"What do you guys think about making room for a straggler?" I asked. "There looks like a person is in need of some help up ahead."

"I think we should help them," Aura replied.

"Yeah," Auru, my second born, agreed, "it's cold out here."

However, my eldest was the most cautious.

"Is it safe to do that mommy? I mean what if they're dangerous or something?"

I grinned at him.

"You know it isn't in us to just walk by a person in need. What if we needed help and no one came to our aide? That wouldn't be very kind, would it? However, I do appreciate your concern for your family first."

Bastion was still hesitant.

"Daddy always said family first."

I wasn't expecting him to utter that.

He did, didn't he?

"And I don't want you to change that premise, but you'll learn to discern when it's safe to help someone and when you should walk away."

Bastion wasn't completely convinced.

"If you say so mother."

I appreciated my son's candor and would keep it in mind. However, I turned back around and giddied our wagon to go a little faster. The trotting actually made the person walking in front of us move more to the side of the roadway. Once we got closer, I noticed the woman's step receded, as if she was expecting us to go past her without stopping. However, when she saw we halted near her, she froze in her tracks. It was then I realized my son might have been right. Even so, I did not want to become hyperbolic without at least giving this lady a chance. Admittedly, I would be cautious too if a wagon suddenly just stopped next to me with no announcement, and it was dangerous for a woman to travel alone anyway.

"Hello there," I called to her.

The woman paused, but then turned slowly when she realized we weren't hostile. She was probably surprised it was another female calling to her. I noticed right away she had the most incredible sky blue eyes I had ever seen. However, the rest of her face was covered with a headdress. I could tell she was quite beautiful. Perhaps that was why she was so wary of strangers. However, at my call she gave me a subtle nod.

"What can I do for you madam?" she called back to me.

I pulled my reigns in and steadied my horse.

"I was thinking of what I might be able to do for you. I have room in my wagon for one more and we're heading to a shelter at the base of the next mountain. We received an edict from her majesty. I imagine you must be doing the same."

She paused for a moment, but then nodded.

"I am."

I then pointed to the wagon.

"If you don't mind little ones gawking at you for a while, you're welcome to ride with us," I offered. "We'll be to our destination in a few hours and you look like you could use some rest."

Again, the woman hesitated. She was cautious as any stranger naturally would be. However, after a few moments, she finally nodded and took up the offer.

"Actually, that sounds heavenly miss, and don't worry about your little ones, I adore children."

That was a reassuring reply.

I smiled at her.

"Well then, come along. It's only going to get colder out here."

She nodded.

"Indeed," she said and headed for the wagon. "Thank you once again."

I watched her for a moment as she took her small bag of belongings and hitched herself into the back of the wagon. My children stared at her wide eyed as she got herself comfortable. There was a hint of open suspicion from my oldest, but the two younger ones were all smiles. The woman returned their smiles and even had one for my Bastion. I could tell even with her face still covered.

"Hello," she said quietly to them all.

The only ones to reply were my two smallest, my eldest remained silent.

"Hi there," Auru said.

"Hello," replied Aura.

Afterwards, I turned back around and giddied my horse once more. The steed took a moment to get going, but we eventually headed back up the mountains. Even so, from that moment onward I had no idea how complicated the day was going to become.

~SSS~

Several hours later, arrival at the bungalow

Several hours had passed before we got to the shelter at the base of the second mountain. In that time, the children had warmed up to the beautiful stranger and were talking her ears off. Aura was telling her all about how she was going to be a queen someday like her good friend 'Zelda'. The young woman just smiled at Aura's chatter. Auru was talking about the time he played jacks with his 'uncle Link' and won. It was one of his favorite stories to recall, because it was the only time he won Link at anything. Bastion was still more reserved, but he opened up a little by discussing his desire to be a horse breeder since he enjoyed the animals so much. The young woman seemed fascinated by all the talk. She even asked very politely if the children meant Link the hero. When they confirmed it, she seemed even more intrigued. Her questions were brief, but there was a hint of knowing in them. I found that interesting, though I did find it odd that she still had her face covered when she spoke. Perhaps she was keeping the chill from her cheeks. It was still quite cold. However, in a way she seemed guarded too. It was evident there was something about her identity that she was uncomfortable with. I couldn't imagine what. Maybe she had a scar, or was disfigured in some way. In any such case, she was trying to conceal something.

I rode the horse directly into the stable nearby before disembarking and tying my steed up. There was a feeding trough for the horse and a bin, but the water was frozen. I would remedy that later when I got a fire started. Afterwards, I helped my children out of the wagon. The young woman jumped down with ease and we all headed into the shelter. The door took some pushing, but once it was opened, we were greeted by a cloud of cold air. The shelter was a long underground bunker, dug out and reinforced with wood beams and stone apertures. A tunnel from the main foyer led to the mansion miles away, but it was accessed through a complicated network of junctions. It was very easy to get lost if one didn't know the way.

In the main foyer, there were several large closets that held supplies like pickled foods, clothes, dried wood for fire starting, and blankets. There were enough supplies for the five of us to last for several weeks, which was promising. Though, I hoped the conflict would last only a few days. Even so, it was important that we got settled with our new surroundings. They weren't ideal, but they would make due. There were no windows, the quarters were cramped, and the hearth was going to need to be cleaned before it could be used. These were the times I really missed Bastion and my father. They could make any negative into a positive. However, I was about to be surprised by the young woman accompanying us. As soon as she came inside, the first thing she did was offer to make supper.

"If you like," she started softly, "I have an excellent recipe for a vegetable stew and flat bread."

I looked at her genuinely surprised, having already promised my babies some custard. However, I was always open for suggestions, and before I could reply, Aura was all for it.

"That sounds amazing!"

Auru agreed.

"Yeah! Can we help?"

The young woman nodded.

"If it's okay with your mother, of course. After we get cleaned up, I'll have you two gather the vegetables from the pantry, while I start the fire."

Bastion was put at ease. He wanted to help too.

"I'll start the fire for you," he offered. "If we all help, we'll get to eat faster."

The young woman chuckled.

"Such pragmatic and logical thinking, very true. Thank you ahead of time."

I was grateful the children were enthusiastic, but I still had to make sure they understood cooking was not mere child's play. Cooking was a serious vocation.

"I'm glad you all want to help our new friend, but that happens only after you put your things away and get organized, understood?"

I received no arguments.

"Yes mommy!" they all said in unison.

Afterwards, my children went to put their things away and get settled. I watched as the young woman watched them. She looked to be smiling, but she was still keeping that wrap firmly fixed around her face. Now… now she was beginning to make me a little suspicious as to what she was hiding. The initial chill in the air was gone due to the insulation. Why was she still wearing that headdress? I then walked over to her without her really noticing me. She had her eyes fixed on my children. I stood next to her. I decided to ease in on the subject without trying to be too intrusive.

"You know, you can get comfortable yourself. You look very austere in those wears, and from your nature you don't seem to be that type. I don't even know your name."

She looked over at me surprised by my statement. Her blue eyes were even more magnificent up close. She seemed a little discomfited by my suggestion. However, she did seem more at ease when she saw me grin.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized. "How rude of me. My name is... is Mystere."

If that didn't add more to the mystery I didn't know what would.

"I beg your pardon?"

She didn't hesitate to repeat herself.

"My name is Mystere."

My eyes searched hers with a hint of distrust. I didn't mean to, but that seemed a bit too esoteric even for the situation we were in.

"Mystere?" I repeated with a hint of cynicism.

She nodded anyway.

"Yes, I should have said so from the onset."

I always trusted my instincts, and something seemed off about this. Who named their child Mystere? That seemed a more appropriate pseudonym for a person with a sketchy past. However, I didn't want to assume anything about her. She seemed like a nice enough person. I did not want to go judging her prematurely.

"That's a very unique name," I commented. "Well Miss Mystere, will you permit us the honor of seeing your lovely face?"

Mystere's eyes widened at the request.

"Uhh..."

My premonition deepened, but I wanted to put her at ease. It was then I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Look if you're in some kind of trouble, I don't care because it's none of my business," I reassured. "But my children have taken a liking to you, and I would appreciate it if they could communicate with you face to face instead of behind a mask. Besides, how are you going to eat with your mouth constantly covered?"

Mystere seemed genuinely uncomfortable at my request and question. She hesitated, but then she reluctantly nodded.

"I'm… I'm not in any trouble," she whispered. "My face just…."

She didn't finish.

"Trust me when I say my children have been raised to respect all people, no matter what they look like. Please, it's alright."

Mystere paused again, but then looked my way before eventually giving in to my reasoning.

"Alright," she said finally, "but will you promise me no questions if I do?"

That was an odd request. I stared at her taken aback. I had to be honest, I was a little uneasy with the inquiry.

"Why would your face bode questions?" I countered.

Mystere stared me straight in the eyes.

"Because it always has, that's why I keep it covered."

My unease deepened. We were silent for a moment. However, Mystere broke it finally when it became too uncomfortable.

"Will you promise?" she asked again.

I didn't like this. I took in a deep sigh and hesitated. What was truly going on here? Who was this woman that she needed such a request? Even so, I finally nodded. Mystere turned from facing me before she slowly started undoing her headdress. When she was completely unveiled I stared at her stunned. I even involuntarily covered my mouth at her disclosure. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I now completely understood why she was trying so hard to keep a low profile.

"My goddess!" I whispered shocked.

Mystere closed her eyes at my utterance, but then looked my way again. I even took a step back in disbelief. There was no denying her remarkable resemblance to the Queen of Hyrule. Mystere looked exactly like Zelda, but with darker skin and lighter blue eyes. I couldn't believe what I was beholding. How did such a look-a-like exist? The implications of this were astounding. When my children came back into the main living area, they all stared at Mystere surprised. However, soon their surprise turned into happiness, especially my Aura.

"Wow! You look just like Miss Zelda!" she said excitedly. "Are you her sister?!"

What a question. I stared at Mystere dumbstruck. Mystere never answered the inquiry, which no doubt was a relevant one. Instead, she simply smiled at my daughter.

"I have no place being anywhere near royalty Aura my dear."

That deflection was deliberate, and I was beginning to think my family and I stumbled upon a bigger mystery than we bargained for in picking up this stranger.

Aura giggled at her reply.

"You're silly."

Mystere's smile broadened and I could swear I was looking at the Queen of Hyrule.

"I've been told that too, but enough about me. Let's prepare supper."

Bastion was all for it. He actually seemed more at ease with Mystere's face being so familiar.

"I'll go start the fire now," he said.

"And we'll go get the vegetables!" Aura said in unison with Auru.

My children all hurried to get their work done. However, I couldn't move. I was still staring at this woman mesmerized. She knew what her appearance implicated and that was why she was so protective of it. This was beyond astounding, and possibly, the biggest geopolitical finding in thirty years. Could it be possible that she is a long lost Nohanseen? Was she related to Zelda in some way? If so, how? And where had she been all this time? Mystere looked my way once more when she saw my astonishment. She must have been used to such. However, she did as she stated, she did not want to speak on it. Instead, she complimented me on my children.

"You're very fortunate. Your children are amazing."

She then went to join Bastion in helping him start the fire. I had no words. What was happening? How was this possible? I knew the answers of course, but were they the answers? Was she merely a look-a-like? Or was she more… so much more? I watched as she laughed with Bastion as he dropped the flint. I couldn't get over my shock at her unveiling.

Who is this woman? Who is she?

~SSS~

Two hours later

I watched as my children surrounded Mystere, and she happily cut onions. She was speaking to them about the importance of anti-inflammatory properties. The stew she was cooking smelled wonderful and my children were all too eager to help her finish it. If there was one consolation in all this, I was glad they were comfortable, because admittedly I wasn't. I couldn't get over her unveiling. I couldn't get over what it possibly meant. I didn't want to naturally be suspicious of her because I didn't know her story, but I couldn't help myself. Mystere seemed nice enough, but she requested no questions. Considering the implications, I couldn't say I blamed her.

"So you have to remember that the holy trinity of cooking is: onions, carrots and..." Mystere was saying.

"Celery!" my children said excitedly in unison.

The pretty stranger nodded.

"Very good. Always think about the basics when you're cooking. That helps you build to higher forms of flavor."

My children were clinging on every word.

"What do you mean 'higher' forms of flavor?" Aura asked.

Mystere grinned.

"Well, all things start off with a basic premise, even cooking. When you make a stew, or a meat pie, or anything for that matter, you should always remember to start with a base. I used to do so for my friends when I cooked for them all the time."

My ears perked when I heard her say that. It was the first semi specific thing she said without seeming guarded. The children relished it.

"Do you have a lot of friends Miss Mystere?" Auru asked.

The stranger paused for a moment.

"I... I used to. I live pretty much by myself these days."

Auru seemed perplexed.

"But why? You're so pretty and nice. Plus you know how to cook!"

Mystere smiled again, and my goodness, she looked just like Zelda.

"If only life were that simple," she stated.

Aura then stood up and put her hands on her hips.

"Why don't you live with us then? That way you'll never have to be alone again!"

I raised a brow at my daughter's proposition, but understood she was just doing what she thought was best.

"Aura... will you stop badgering Miss Mystere? You can't just demand that people come and live with us."

My daughter looked at me indignantly just then.

"But mommy you always told us to help those in need just like uncle Link does. If Miss Mystere needs friends then she should stay with us!"

I just shook my head at my daughter. Her nonchalant look at the world was what I missed about being a child. However, it was interesting to note the reaction of Mystere. She looked at Aura surprised by the unconventional mentioning of the hero once more. She reacted the same way earlier when we were traveling in the wagon. That signaled to me that she either knew the hero, or was just surprised that we were contacts of the hero. Before I had an opportunity to reprimand my child, the pretty stranger inquired further.

"Uncle Link? That's the second time you mentioned that name. Are you speaking of the great hero little one?"

Aura nodded.

"Mmmm hmmm. He comes to visit us from time to time. He's friends with my mommy!"

I knew children were unfiltered, but this was getting a bit out of hand. Mystere looked over at me eagerly just then.

"You know the great hero madam?"

I cut my eyes to my daughter, not necessarily upset she spoke so openly, but that her innocence and trust made her guilty of one thing: being a child. I then shifted my gaze back to Mystere. It was time I turned the tables on this situation. I didn't answer her directly.

"Do you?"

Mystere stared at me surprised, but then got quiet. She hesitated at my question. That hesitation was probably all the answer I needed. It was obvious she knew him in some capacity.

"Um… I... I met him a few times in the past. He was always very kind."

I was slightly taken aback she disclosed that so readily. But at least she was opening up a little. Even so, my oldest son then decided to disclose more than he rightfully should have, which was surprising, considering he was generally more cautious around strangers than even me.

"Uncle Link was also best friends with my late father. They fought and traveled together."

That I wasn't going to let slide.

"Bastion that's enough!" I scolded.

My six year old son looked at me astonished. However, I couldn't worry about that. He didn't understand what he had done, or what he was doing.

"But mother... it's true."

In any such case, it was Mystere's reaction that was the most telling of all. For some odd reason, she was now staring very intently at my eldest son. My son was too enamored with the stranger's quiet charm to be suspicious of her gaze, but I recognized that familiar look on her face from a mile away. I had seen too many spies give it away when something paramount had just been revealed. The fact this woman was unable to conceal her small emotive reaction, told me she wasn't a covert agent. Whatever it was was personal. However, it didn't give me any other insight as to why she found the information so compelling either. She was still staring at my son intently.

"Your name is Bastion?"

My son nodded.

"After my father."

Her eyes widened a little more.

"Really?"

It was time I interceded.

"Yes really. Why is that such a surprise?"

My children all then stared at me stunned regarding my tone. However, I was starting to lose a little of my patience as to why she found all of this so interesting. What did the name of my son have anything to do with her? How did she know Link? And if implications were any indicator, how did she know Bastion? She was all but inferring that to be the case with her behavior.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, "I didn't mean to pry."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I think it's too late for that answer my dear Mystere," I said with a slightly authoritative voice. "I think now would be a good time for you to start talking. Who are you?"

My children suddenly got nervous when they saw me this way, but I couldn't worry about that right now. I was doing this to protect them. All they saw was a pretty face and a soft voice. They didn't realize that their innocence made them ignorant to the cruelty of the real world. This woman was extracting information from my children, but was giving very little in return about herself. I was no longer going to sit here and be a party to it.

"Who are you?" I asked again. "Start talking."

~SSS~

Daphnie

I should have been more cautious, but when this little angel said Link and Bastion's names, I couldn't help myself. This was beyond a miracle right now. This was beyond coincidence and happenstance. I believe this woman was my brother's wife. She fit the description, but he never showed me a pictograph of her or his children. I didn't want to assume or jump to conclusions, which, perhaps was exactly what I was doing, but this was incredible. I never thought in a million years I would actually meet my brother's family. Her name was Ashei. I remember Bastion and I having a discussion about how it would happen sometime back, but I never thought it would come to fruition. He told me he wanted to surprise them because he never told them he had a sister. It was a year before I lost all contact with him. At the time, it was just his wife and the two boys. Ashei was still pregnant with her daughter. I remember that conversation like it was yesterday.

"Do you think this is a good idea just springing this on her?" I asked.

My brother gave me an offhanded look.

"Yes, why ever not?"

I thought my misgivings were obvious.

"This is going to be shocking, even for a secret procurer like herself."

My brother grinned.

"Trust me, nothing surprises her anymore. It gets desensitized from you when enter the spy business."

I giggled.

"I suppose it does."

He went to reassure me.

"Remember, there is no need to be nervous. Ashei doesn't bite."

It was easy for him to say, but I trusted what he was telling me. She must have been extraordinary to capture my brother's heart. He couldn't have a trivial woman for a wife.

"I believe you. I hope everything goes well. You seem to glow when you talk about her."

Daphnes smiled.

"I can't help it. She's the love of my life. No one compares to her. No one."

I returned his grin and felt happiness for my brother. I hoped one day to have a man talk about me the way my brother talked about his wife. Our situation was complicated in that moment. Our lives were very different at that point. My brother and I lost contact for years after I was kidnapped. He joined the military to advance his life, but he had also done so because he wanted to know more about our father.

My mother told us our father was a very important Hylian. When we were children, he would come and visit us once a week, but I never remembered his face. He kept himself hooded and did not speak too often. When the two of them were alone, he apologized constantly to my mother, saying he did not mean to complicate her life. From his tone, it seemed like he was never really in love with her, but perhaps their encounter was a mistake. An affair. The result of that mistake was me and my twin brother.

When my brother and I were about six, the visits from my father stopped, and my mother was sworn to secrecy to never reveal who he was. I knew that hurt her more than anything, because she wanted us to be close to him. However, he would not permit it. He told her it would be too dangerous for all of us. That always left me intrigued. Who were we really? Why would knowing our father be dangerous? These were sobering questions, but the inverse of her silence was we never went without. There was always a care package for us. It was sent every week, rain or shine, for years. In them was food, books, and educational materials. We had garnered quite a collection of texts by the time we were adolescents. We had books on every subject possible. It was why we knew how to read and write so well.

However, my brother was not satisfied with care packages and books. He wanted to know who our father truly was. I remember him confronting my mother about our father's true identity in a tense discussion at supper one night. However, my mother never yielded. She knew we were displaced not knowing who we really were, but she never told us. Even so, she did divulge that everything we needed to know was in our names. It seemed like kismet, but it wasn't that simple. At the time, my mother hid from us our real names… the names penned on our birth certificates. She called us Bastion and Brin our whole lives up to that point. However, she then showed us our birth certificates, which had our real names of Daphnes and Daphnie. I was stunned, but didn't realize the significance at the time. However, my brother did. My brother had an inkling right away. So, at sixteen he left home in search of answers. That was when he joined the military. He made sure to keep in contact with my mother and me. I remember in one of his letters he said he found out something interesting, a rumor that had been plaguing the royal family for years. He wanted to share it with me in person. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Before my brother could come home with his news, a chance encounter changed my life forever. I walked to Trilby Valley alone looking for goddess ore. I wanted to make some jewelry for my mother and she loved goddess ore. Along the way, a strange dark purple carriage rode up next to me. I remember it being very ornate. It had to belong to a noble, and I was right, it did. As the carriage trotted along, a very beautiful red headed woman stared out the window at me. She stared at me for a long time before she engaged in conversation with me. She asked me what I was doing. I told her, and then she offered me a ride home. I was hesitant at first, but she seemed friendly and obliging. Her smile was radiant. So, I accepted the ride, and got into her carriage. The inside was surprisingly pure white. From the outside I never would have guessed white upholstery. Even so, she then offered me some chocolates. They looked expensive, as everything about this woman looked and smelled expensive. I accepted the chocolate too. I had four pieces to be exact. However, about fifteen minutes after ingesting them, I felt groggy. And soon, I passed out. I remember the woman just smirking at me as I lost consciousness.

Later, I woke up and found myself placed in a cage. But not only that, I was in an underground city of some kind. There was very little sunlight, with buildings lining a mountain side, and a roadway leading up and also deeper into a cavern. It was at the bottom of a gorge somewhere. Whoever had this place built wanted to keep it secret. I then learned it was a place called the Red Lantern District. I had never heard of it, but I was going to learn quickly what it was all about.

I was terrified when I was suddenly stripped naked and put on display to be gawked at. I wasn't procured for sex yet, but I was being groomed for such. I was given an outfit and told how I was supposed to speak and act. I was dumbfounded because my life had taken such a drastic turn and I had no idea why. That woman offered me a ride home only to bring me here? Finally, I saw my perpetrator and I thought nothing of it to implore her. Some other girls with me warned me not to approach her or she would punish me. I didn't listen, hoping she would understand I needed to get back to my family. My brother had some important news to share with me. I had to be there. When I begged the madam to listen to me, she was indifferent to my story. Callous, like she heard the same song and dance a hundred times over. She just stared at me with those cold green eyes of hers, and as punishment for disrupting the milieu of her customers, she had me whipped. The ten lashes I received was the worst kind of pain I ever felt in my life. She warned me that if I ever spoke out again she would whip my face next time. I never did. I never spoke out again.

It was only with the unexpected help of Prince Elbourne that I was able to survive and adjust with some degree of my dignity intact. However, after four years of living in the district, I was beginning to lose hope. I had no way of contacting my mother or brother, sex was a mere commodity, morality was grey, and the norm was no longer the norm. My worldview had shifted. I was still an idealist, but my ideals had become more realistic. However, my new found cynicism was challenged when a chance encounter happened out of the blue.

One day a contingent of soldiers came asking for some company for the night. One soldier in particular kept staring at me like he had seen a ghost. He was wearing a mask at the time, like me, so I had no way of knowing who he was. However, he was compelled to speak with me. I told him my fee for sex was one hundred thousand rupees. Almost no one could pay that, let alone a soldier. However, he stated he did not want sex. He merely wanted conversation. I normally didn't entertain such things, due to ulterior motives, but I told him he could speak with me later when business was not in the way of us conversing. Little did I realize that when I met up with him that night, that I would be looking at one of the two people who truly loved me, my dear brother. I burst into tears when I saw it was him. We embraced for a very long time.

When he asked about how I got there, I told him everything. I told him about the madam, the ride home, the chocolates, everything. Daphnes was patient and I saw the empathy in his eyes, but he knew I wasn't the same girl he left back home. He saw I was changed. He told me about how when he returned to our village he went looking for me. He received a letter from mother saying I disappeared. He told me he searched for me high and low for years, but never thought to look for me here. It was an honest overlook. I was just glad we were finally able to see each other again. Ironically, Daphnes informed me that the safest place for me was probably right where I was. The reason… he soon revealed. He disclosed to me that he found out who our real father was. He told me our father was the late King of Hyrule, Daphnes Nohanseen. I was stunned. I couldn't believe my ears. Daphnes Nohanseen II was our father? I was under the impression that mother only named Daphnes Daphnes because he was a popular king. There were a great deal of young boys of that generation named Daphnes. However, this turned out to be so much more. My brother told me to tell no one, not even a close friend. He said he was finding out more, and when the time was right, he was going to get me out of that goddess forsaken district. I understood, but life wasn't as bad for me as it once was.

Unfortunately, none of our plans went through. Link came months later and liberated the district, but my brother suddenly had to go into hiding. He apparently got involved in some secrets he wasn't supposed to be privy to. He managed to see me that one last time where we talked about his family, but I had a feeling that would be the last, and it was. He looked tired, and he was always looking over his shoulder. I couldn't imagine his mental stress. I received more letters from him over the years, but soon that stopped too. Then the inevitable came. Four years ago, I got another visit from Link. At this point, we weren't intimate anymore, but he kept me up to date on the things going on in Hyrule. Even so, he was the one who told me of my brother and my mother's deaths. The hero knew about my mother because he went looking for her after Daphnes died. He knew about my brother because he had witnessed his demise. I never felt such devastation in my life. Our plans were cut short. We never had the family reunion I wanted us to have.

However, here we were now. Here was Daphnes's family. Here was the long awaited reunion. To that end, I could understand Ashei's response. She probably thought I knew her husband in the worst way possible. The worst way. But, that couldn't be farther from the truth. I believe without a shadow of a doubt now that this is my brother's family. These are his children. This is his wife. This is his family. This is my family. These are the people he wanted me to meet. I was trying to keep my emotions in check. I was trying to make it seem like this revelation was simple news to me, when this was probably more than I ever could have hoped for. Even so, I needed to rectify this. Right now, I made the situation uncomfortable. Right now, I was making her distrust me. Right now, she probably thought I was the most disgusting woman in the world. She probably thought I was an old flame from his past. She couldn't have been more wrong. I needed to make her understand that. I needed to make this situation right without terrifying everyone here.

Give me a chance to explain myself… please…

~SSS~

Ashei

Unfortunately, there was tension in the air. However, it couldn't be helped considering the circumstances. This young woman was garnering information from my children and seemed to know about my late husband. I wanted to know what was going on for her to have an interest in him, or her connections with Link. I wasn't going to pretend that this was at all what I was expecting, but now it was a situation I needed to deal with. What if this woman was a former spy? What if her good nature was a front and she was willing to turn on us at the slightest provocation? It was true I didn't innately feel any of those things from her because she did seem like a nice lady, but looks could be deceiving. Perhaps she was recruited into a spy network because she looked so much like the queen. It was definitely a way to throw a person off. Even so, I wasn't still completely convinced I didn't trust her either. I was on the fence and it was confusing me more because my children had taken a quick liking to her. Now, I was confronting her, expecting some kind of explanation for her mysterious behavior.

"Are you going to start talking?" I asked.

Mystere was hesitant and looked around the room at my children. All eyes were on her.

"Mommy…" Aura trailed, "I don't like it when you're upset."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Mommy would be less inclined to be upset if your new friend here answered some questions." I did not take my eyes off the young woman.

Mystere still remained quiet, but she was incredibly cautious now. She stood up slowly and hesitated. My guard was still up, but the look on her face was inadvertently softening my heart. There was something about this woman that seemed so familiar, but I couldn't understand why. I could see a sadness in her eyes when she looked at my children. Like there was a history there that she wouldn't reveal.

"Perhaps…" she started finally, "perhaps it would be better if I left."

I stared at her taken aback. I wasn't expecting her to take flight.

"Mystere, you know that's silly. The next outpost is a day from here by foot. You won't survive the freezing temperatures with just your goods. No one is turning you away, I just want some answers."

She looked to the ground and pursed her lips together.

"I'm afraid I have none to give you my lady," she whispered.

My eyes narrowed slightly.

That phrasing was very definite.

"Mystere… please, why are you so terrified? Is someone after you or something?"

Even my children went to comfort her.

"It's okay Mystere," Bastion stated. "Mommy is good about keeping secrets."

"Yeah, she won't tell anybody," Auru added.

At our suggestions, she closed her eyes and shook her head.

"It's nothing like that. I just…"

Her trail was leading to something specific.

"You just what?" I continued for her.

She remained quiet for a long time. She was apparently thinking about something and may have come to a resolve. Her eyes then suddenly widened and she seemed very nervous just then.

"Please… if you knew my past, you would never have me in the presence of your dear sweet children. I'm… I'm a mired person."

That put me on guard. That could mean anything.

"So, why don't you tell me?" I asked anyway.

She looked away and that was when I saw fit to dismiss my children from the room. I needed to get to the bottom of this.

"I want you guys to go to the other room. Give me and Mystere a few moments to talk, okay?"

My children were completely against the request.

"But mommy-" they all tried in unison.

I wasn't having objections right now.

"No 'buts'. Now go."

They all sighed and looked disappointed. However, if it was something serious, I did not want them to be exposed to whatever she was going to divulge. They were reluctant, but eventually all three of them followed my mandate. When Mystere and I were alone, my guard didn't fall. However, she did seem more relaxed now that the children weren't in our presence. Her secret very well may have been something that she thought was going to sully their impression of her.

"Well?" I asked when the silence prolonged.

Mystere sat back down when we were alone.

"I guess there's no other way to say it other than to say it. The reason I'm so cautious is because… because I escaped from working at a brothel house some time ago."

My throat tightened, but more so because of the implications.

"A brothel house?"

She nodded and didn't reply. There was a brief silence between us, but I wanted to reassure her that I didn't think lowly of her because she once did such work. Many women were often forced into that life because they had no other choices. And with how extraordinarily beautiful she was, and possibly with no family support, I could see how evil people would want to come and exploit her.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of," I said quietly. "I imagine life must have been very hard for you."

Her eyes filled with tears involuntarily just then.

"Thank you for saying that," she whispered.

I felt for her, but even so, my heart raced. This could mean so many things with how she knew certain people, especially a certain hero and my late husband.

"Is… is that how you know Master Link?" I asked softly.

She didn't reply right away. In fact, she just swallowed hard and nodded.

My eyes widened slightly.

"Were… were you two lovers?"

She hesitated.

"Only… only for a time. He was always a kind man looking to help free as many women as he could. He was the one who put a stop to the former madam there and helped me get free. She was a horrible vicious monster, who did terrible things to the girls she was jealous of. Life has been hard since my leaving, but I was grateful to be free. When I lost contact with the hero, I carved a life out for myself in the forest. It took me years to forgive myself for being the person I was, but I was always grateful to him for being a decent, kind person willing to help."

That definitely sounded like Link. He was always thinking about others. Even after Bastion died, he would come and check on me and the children.

"You don't have to continually beat yourself up because of your past. That's over, and what's done is done. You seem like a very kind person who's just had it hard. Have you thought of going to the refugee program at Hyrule Castle? They have rehabilitation services and work programs for unfortunate women."

Mystere looked to the ground when I mentioned the castle.

"It's absolutely impossible for me to go to Hyrule," she whispered without giving much else.

I studied her for a moment.

"Why?"

She shook her head.

"I just can't go, but I do have some options once this crisis blows over. A… a friend of mine told me to come to him if I needed anything. I might just take him up on that."

I raised a brow and finally sat down next to her. She wouldn't look at me, but I sensed her unease of the subject, so I went to allay it.

"Look, you're welcome to accompany me and my children back to Hyrule Castle once this is all over if you need someone to help you get started. I have some contacts there, and I even know the queen herself. I'm sure I could put in a good word for you if you need it."

When she heard about my contact with Zelda, she seemed even more anxious.

"That-that won't be necessary. I could never meet the queen. I'd be considered trash in her presence."

I shook my head.

"You couldn't be more wrong about her. I too thought at one time that she would be stuffy and callous, but she's actually very kind and empathetic. I think if you spoke with her, you'd be surprised at what you might find out about her."

She was quiet at my words and said cryptically to herself, "She would be surprised too."

That was telling, but I didn't press the subject. She seemed adamant.

"So what do you say?" I asked anyway.

Mystere was quiet.

"I'll… I'll think about it. I can't promise you anything. You have your own little ones to look after."

"Please do. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't."

She just nodded.

There was another silence that followed, but I was a bit weary of one point she touched on but didn't expand upon: her knowing my husband in some way. I just hoped it wasn't in the obvious way. I wanted to approach that as delicately as possible. If they had known each other in such a way, what could I do? He was dead now.

"Do you mind if I ask you a rather personal question besides what you've revealed to me already?"

Mystere finally looked over at me, and again, I couldn't get over how much she looked like the queen. It was truly uncanny.

"I suppose so."

I took in a deep sigh and just hoped for the best.

"Did you know a man by the name of Bastion when you worked in the Red Lantern District? If you did, and you had some kind of relationship with him, please know that I'm not angry. I understood that he had a past before me."

She didn't flinch.

"No, I've never had an inappropriate relationship with a man named Bastion. In fact, I never entertained anyone intimately by that name."

I was surprised with how forthcoming she was, but it could have been a saving grace.

"I assure you that I wouldn't be upset," I promised.

"And I assure you that never such an occurrence happened, ever."

It was in that moment, I couldn't shake the feeling. Why did she react the way she did when she heard Bastion's name? What was that about?

"Then you must explain this to me, why were you so surprised when you found out my son was named after a man named Bastion? You seemed genuinely taken aback."

Mystere hesitated with her answer.

"I was."

I wanted her to go on.

"Why?"

She sighed.

"It made me think… it made me think of my own late brother."

That was quite the revelation.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Was his name Bastion also?"

Mystere turned from looking at me just then and shook her head.

"No," she whispered with a slight break in her voice, "no his name wasn't Bastion."

Her tone was making me a bit emotional. It was obvious he was someone she was close to. I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"If you don't mind my asking, what was your brother's name?"

She paused for a very long time. She seemed lost in her thoughts now. She then glanced over at me.

"My brother's name was… was Daphnes."

The next chapter will be up soon.