Well, I really don't have much to say, except thank you so much for reading this story! I received my 300th review after posting chapter 19, and received my 10,000 hit today. :) I finished this chapter earlier today, but decided to hold off to give more people a chance to read the last chapter before updating. But I'm so happy, I don't want to make you wait any longer. :) So, without further ado, the next chapter. Of course, it comes with thanks to my reviewers- Hylian Princess; Ygfi; Omega87; adrian-air-fire; AmarraHarstone; shinsei101; Infernal Flame Zero; Gir Crazy.
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Legend of Zelda series.
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I opened my eyes and found myself in a dark room. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized I was in some sort of chamber, surrounded by thick, block walls on all sides, one of which contained a large wooden door.
I ran to the door and pushed on it, but it wouldn't budge. Unaware if it was locked or just stuck, I threw my weight against it, to no avail. Weary from my attempt, I sank to the floor.
Hearing a loud noise, I turned to the northwest corner of the room and saw a glowing ball of energy. The noise got louder as the ball expanded. Suddenly it began to take on a very familiar shape. Link... Link!
"Oh, Link, you're here! What happened?" I shrieked, getting up and hurrying over to hug him.
When I was just a couple feet away, his form began to change. Now a tall, husky figure stood before me, clad in a black cloak. Underneath the hood, I could see bright red hair peeking out.
I gasped in horror and turned to run, but he reached out to me, and grabbed my arm. I winced from the pain as he yanked hard, forcing me to turn back towards him.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he laughed.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
"You're not going anywhere, Princess. At least, not until we're married. You know, it was awfully foolish of you to marry Link yesterday. You know the rules- royalty must marry royalty."
"It was not foolish! Even my father approved of it, and he's the one with the power to change the laws! Besides, I love Link, and he loves me!"
"No matter. The two of you have yet to consummate your marriage, and you'll never get your chance now. Which is perfect, because I've always dreamt of having a chaste bride. As the King of the Gerudos, I deserve the finest, and I can't get much better than a beautiful, virgin princess."
"I'll never marry you, you sorry excuse for a Hylian! You're nothing more than a cruel thief and murderer."
"Why, Zelda," his grin widened. "I believe that that's the nicest compliment anyone's ever paid me. You will make a fine wife. How well can you cook?"
As he laughed maniacally, fury arose within me. Thinking quickly, I bit his arm.
He squealed in pain and let go, and I dashed to the door. As he sent an energy blast at me, I ducked, and it blew an opening right into the door. I hurriedly went through it and ran up the staircase to the first floor. I found Link in the main corridor, battered, bruised, and bleeding.
"LINK!" I screamed, running over to him.
"Zelda," he murmured weakly. He looked up at me, his eyes glassy. "I... I..."
With that, his eyes rolled back and closed, and he slipped away from me.
"Link, no!" I woke up screaming.
"Zel, what happened?" Link mumbled sleepily.
"Oh, Link, I had an awful dream," I explained, beginning to cry.
"Come here," he told me, sitting up carefully and patting the bed. I got up from the sofa and went to lay down next to him. He pulled the covers over me and stretched his left arm across my waist. "Why don't you tell me all about it."
"I...I was trapped in Ganon's Tower, in some basement chamber. He was trying to force me to marry him, but I somehow managed to escape. And when I got upstairs, I found you on the floor. I ran to help you, but you died in my arms," I told him shakily, my tears still flowing.
"Shh, calm down my love, it was just a dream."
"But what if it happens? You know I've had premonitions in the past."
"Yeah, exactly, in the past. But this won't happen, I promise."
"How can you?" I asked Link, wiping my eyes.
"Because we're going to get rid of Ganondorf for good. And hopefully before he even has a chance to morph into Ganon," Link reassured me. "Now, come on, you need your sleep, as do I. Is there anything else I can do for you before we go back to sleep?"
"There is one thing," I said. I leaned towards his ear and whispered to him.
His eyes widened, and he grinned. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I am, Link. I mean, we'll be married soon, so why does it matter if we do this now, or wait until then?"
"Well, it matters to me. I mean, don't get me wrong- I want you. Very much. But right now..."
"Would be perfect, while everyone else is asleep," I finished.
"I was going to say that right now... just isn't the right time, Zelda. You and I both know it."
"But why not? We love each other."
"But we need to be married first."
"How come? It's not like we're going to die from becoming one before marriage."
"Zel, you just don't get it. You know exactly what I mean by 'need.' I think it would be in the best interest of both of us if we wait until our wedding night."
"Okay," I finally conceded.
"Why are you suddenly so...eager, anyway?"
"Because of my dream," I confessed. "There's a part I neglected to mention, one in which Ganondorf told me that you and I never consummated our marriage. He was going to rob me of my purity."
"Oh, Zelda," Link hugged me close. "Don't you worry about that. As you said yourself, we'll be married soon. And we'll have plenty of time to... get close. Now, go to sleep."
"Yes, Your Highness," I joked.
"Ha ha, very funny. Good night, my love."
"Good night. I love you."
"I love you, too, Zel."
Feeling relaxed, I returned to the sofa and easily went back to sleep.
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Link and I slept a little late, prompting Impa to come in and wake us.
"Princess, Link, time to wake up," she said, nudging us.
"Okay, okay, I'm up," I sighed. Link mumbled something unintelligible as he rolled onto his back and stretched.
I excused myself to a room down the hall to dress, while Impa attending to Link, checking him and placing a fresh dressing on his wound. After he, too, was dressed, the three of us went down to breakfast.
Some time later, Link and I were preparing for our trip out to the farms to investigate. As Link readied Epona, I gathered enough food for the day, as well as some extra clothing, should we get caught in another storm. Soon, we were on our way.
We reached the farm where we were attacked by the Moblins and put Epona in the stable. We decided that the first step would be to further explore the farmhouse, which was our original intention prior to Link's injury.
Once inside, Link and I quickly realized that the house appeared to have been cleaned up, as if nothing had happened. Puzzled, we made a thorough search.
I went into a small room that had nothing more than a table, a few chairs, a cupboard, and a rug in the center of the room. Crossing the room to look in the cupboard, my foot grazed the side of the rug, pushing it back. Seeing something suspicious on the floor, I kneeled to examine it closer.
"Link, come here!" I shouted to my fiancé. "There's something you need to see!"
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