Zant's War – Part 1


-Kanyou Palace, Zelda-

Zelda awoke to find herself on the throne. The sky was still dark and from the uproar outside, the celebration was ongoing. Her neck ached horribly and felt stiff. Her muscles felt like iron rods had been shoved into them. Stiffly, she straightened, stood, and stretched. She felt a pop in her spine ripple through her body, and she sighed in relief.

The throne room was empty and dormant and dark. The candles were reduced to thin smoke and the moon had shut its eye. While Zelda did not relish companionship, she felt a sudden need to leave. The room was too dark.

She left the palace and walked the walls lining it. Down below the factions that celebrated victory, or merely surviving, had died down greatly. Most had fallen asleep, but remnants still drank what little was left, ate, and talked. The stores of food and drink were from her coffers, but she did not mind. It was a small price to pay and they deserved it.

To her surprise she found Link sitting on the edge. At first, she considered walking by and ignoring him, but she changed her mind. Despite her name-calling, he wasn't as bad as she thought. He was loyal to a fault. And there was something about his simplicity that made her feel safe with him. Or perhaps it wasn't so much simplicity so much as it was honesty. She knew exactly where she stood with him and didn't have to fear him being double-tongued.

"Hey, Princess." Link greeted. "Care to join me?" He patted the stone next to him.

And of course, he didn't treat her any differently from anyone else. A part of her felt reviled and insulted by it, but she knew this side was merely one of pride. The rest of her appreciated it. He saw her as something no one else did: a person.

"I'm content. The stone looks uncomfortable." She replied.

"Suit yourself. I'm surprised you woke so soon. It was only a few hours."

"Don't be deceived, I'm still exhausted. I plan to sleep in my bed. I only awoke so early because..." she grimaced. "A throne isn't designed for sitting."

"I knew you were like an old lady! Want me to get you some cushions?" He jabbed.

"Shut up, monkey."

Link laughed, and Zelda allowed herself to smirk in amusement as well.

"How long do you plan on staying?" Zelda wondered.

"Only until I know the old village has returned home." He answered. "I'll talk with someone about my reward, you don't have to deal with it. I imagine you have enough on your plate right now."

"How courteous of you..." She looked at him sideways. "Almost too courteous. What's your angle?"

"No angle. I think you could just say you're not quite what I believed." He smiled and leaned his head back to look up at her. "You're not as much an Ice Witch as rumor said, nor are you as pampered as I thought royalty was. You are stronger inside than anyone thought. You consider so many angles and things I would never think of, and you balance decisions I hope I never have to. Decisions that apparently can oftentimes go wrong no matter which one you choose. And what's more, you care about the consequences of them. You care about the people."

Link shrugged. "I hated you, and a part of me still does. But it isn't you I who hate anymore, it's the choice you made. Midna died because of it... but what would have been the end of the other choice? Midna might still be alive, but Qin would be destroyed as we know it. I got my revenge. Kyou is defeated. That's enough for me."

Zelda could only stare at him as he talked. Try as she might, she was moved by the open honesty of his words. "It is... comforting to hear that." She said honestly. She quickly added, "perspective is always good to receive. Even if it comes from such a lowly slave."

"Hey..." He muttered.

She chuckled, "Sorry, but I can't let that slide. Not yet. It won't last much longer so I have to keep you remembering it until you are free. Then you will be a free man, and..." She turned her head to the side curiously. "Actually what do you plan to do with your freedom? With your accomplishment of helping to defeat Kyou, you could ask to be a palace guard or a guard for a noble."

"Nah, that's not for me." Link pulled out Midna's sword and looked at it. "My dream was always to enter the army and become a general. It's not as glamorous as I thought, but it's still my dream. Perhaps it's more horror and filthy and disgusting than shiny and noble, but it's a horror I would save others from. And now that Midna has shown me up by being a queen for a day, I can't just let her win. I'm going to be the greatest general in Qin, and I'm taking her sword with me."

"Technically it's my sword," Zelda replied.

Link felt an irritation vein pulse in his forehead.

"But she would be honored." Zelda finished. "Keep it. It's not even a reward, it just... belongs with you, I think. She was your family. I will gently lower Midna's body from the gate and have it cared for. I won't bury her here, but... she deserves a proper burial befitting of a queen. If only I could allow it."

"What do you mean?" Link wondered.

"No one can know... I hate it. I want to honor Midna publicly, but to admit there was a second could throw into dispute my rule from the beginning. Who is to say I am not Midna? Who is to say I am Zelda? To say she was a body double could destroy everything she sacrificed herself for. I won't make up lies and say I died only to return from the dead... but if things are kept quiet, people will forget she ever hung there, to begin with."

Link's first instinct was anger, but he quickly squashed it. Zelda spoke rationally, and he sensed she hated the decision as much as he did. She was right. Midna's sacrifice had to be complete.

"Yes, well... She wouldn't have gone for a big fuss or nothin' anyway." Link sighed. "She wanted to have a nice husband, a dozen kids, and to be buried beside him."

"Then let her have that. She may not have a family like that, but let her be buried at home. I'll send along with oils and burial cloth worthy of a noble... but it is little any can do about Kyou's desecration."

"Yeah... well... What about you?" Link changed the subject. "You got the throne back and all. Still going to aim for all of Hyrule?"

"Yes. I am, but I am afraid I can't begin for many years. You see... Ketsu and Kyou may have been defeated, and Qin will recover quickly. But most of the power in court still belongs to Chancellor Ryo, and if I am judging the air right, then his power has only grown in the chaos. Ryo no longer needs to support me against anyone, now that Ketsu and Kyou are no longer opposing him or me. Now it's just Ryo and me. By law when I reach the age of twenty-two I will become Queen and Ryo's assumed power will become, by extension, mine. But before that... I know Ryo will not sit idly by and let it happen without a fight. Only once Qin is united truly, and I have a proper answer on how to destroy the borders of Hyrule without committing genocide... then I will conquer all of it."

Zelda looked out at the distant moon. "Link, in that time, rise to my level as a general. I will need your strength."

Link stared at her agape. Zelda looked back curiously. "What?"

"Y-you called me by name. You've never done that before."

Zelda turned and walked away. "I think you were hearing things."

"No! You did! Admit it!"

"Sorry, monkey say what?"

-Next Morning, Zelda-

Zelda slept little, as her custom, and set to work before her servants arrived to tidy. There was so much to do, so much was in chaos she could barely grasp it all, so her first order of business was to write down a list of everything she could. So she spent the morning writing, and writing, and on into the second meal of the day.

Finally when she had decided her list for the day was done, she breathed a sigh of dread and forced herself into it. It would be a long day.

The first order of business was to call and assemble all of her available heralds and ministers.

It was a short list. Most of her supporters were killed or fled in Kyou's coup. She very well couldn't trust Kyou's supporters at face value. That left... very few, but she felt those that assembled were more trustworthy. Not only had those present proven too stubborn or brave to flee far, but they had seen Zelda's return and were waiting and ready for the call to assemble.

Chancellor Ryo was absent, thankfully. It was a weight off her mind. While it was true that with Ryo's presence the work done would be smooth, if not done perfectly; it would also be a weight on her mind she did not want. Simply she didn't feel ready to have him around. If she made mistakes, then fair enough. She needed to learn and Ryo was an odd teacher. He taught at moments, but also removed her capacity to fail by simply being too good in his way and stepping in.

Impa was also absent. Zelda hoped that in her return that Impa would step out of the shadows, but she did not. Zelda wanted to have words with the Sheikah, words that would not be pleasant. But she also dearly missed her only true friend and wanted to reconcile after giving her a piece of her mind.

Zelda sat on her throne and presented a scroll. "Heralds, ministers, public servants of Qin. I thank you for assembling on short notice, and I apologize for the inconvenience... Let me begin by saying I admonish you for your bravery. Some of you stayed and did not flee Kyou, and were cunning enough to avoid his notice. Others did flee, but stayed nearby and were watchful and ready. I wish I could offer you gifts and rewards worthy of how I feel, but right now is a difficult time. What resources we have are better used to fixing the damage and strengthening the kingdom once more, than filling our coffers. Can we agree?"

Most of those assembled agreed vehemently. She saw they were disappointed in not being given rewards, and she shared in it. They had risked death and all she could do was thank them. "With that said, one matter I do have on my list to go over in the future is rewards for you all that are less... tangible than rupee and land. I am sure there are other ways of doing it, ways worth considering, so do not think you will not be justly rewarded. You will. But it is a matter to be looked at after stability is returned."

That restored their moral a good bit, it also focused them on working now with the reward later. A basic trick to be used. Not that she wasn't being truthful about it.

"The first matter is the repairs to the palace and the capital, as the former two have suffered great damages. The former far more than the latter." Zelda said. The men were astonished. "Yes, I know. It is unusual for the monarch to be presenting the topics for you, but I hope you can see I am not your usual monarch. Most would sit silent as Kyou and let you do all the work. I am not that way. I was at the forefront of the battle to retake the throne, and I want to be on the front lines of this battle now. I have no doubt you all have topics to present and discuss, and we will get to them. But for the moment let us go over briefly what I have meditated on."

-Two days later-

Zelda collapsed in a chair. The birds chirped happily and the lake at her feet was still. The only movement was small fish that tickled her feet and probed her for crumbs, only to be disappointed. A servant brought her some food and Zelda looked at it hungrily, but there was too much on her mind for her to feel like touching it yet.

"A princess should eat." A voice said.

The water came alive under her feet and rose. At the core of it was a Fae. Mysteriously the water stood as a man, walked as a man, sat with her as a man, and was entirely solid as ice, yet was water. Zelda recognized the voice.

"I was wondering where you were," Zelda mumbled tiredly.

"I was here, enjoying your lake. Its beauty is a wonderful attempt to mimic my grove, but lacked... harmony." Elder said. "I have also been keeping an eye on our friends. Ganondorf and the Majora set up camp outside the capital, and Link spends his days exploring the city."

"They are not my friends." Zelda refuted. "They were useful. They are allies at best. Thank you for keeping tabs on them, but I did not ask you to. You are an ally, just like them."

"I am sure you will find they share more in common with you than you think, princess." He smiled knowingly. "Especially as you all are tied by destiny."

"Hmmm." She hummed. "Is this related to my mark? I saw how you used that to convince Dragmire. Do not think me a fool as to not notice. The slave and I both have it, and the way you used it against him implies he does too. His use of fire and shadow is perhaps another link, but could also be a magic of the Majora rather than of a mark."

"You are right. When all of you are ready I will explain more, but as I can see... you have pressing matters."

"You have no idea." Zelda groaned.

"I do, actually. I am a leader as well among my people."

"Right... You are. My apologies, I misspoke."

"No harm is done." He shrugged. "But you should eat. Remember what I said two days ago. Just as you need to sleep, you also should eat."

"Two days!?" Zelda stammered.

"Yes. You have been in assembly for two days straight." He chuckled. "You haven't left the room all this time. Did you not notice?"

"No. No wonder I am weary. And hungry."

"Then do not let me stop you. Eat."

"I will wait. There is a matter I wanted to discuss with you."

He stared at her. It made Zelda a bit uncomfortable being under his sudden scrutiny. Finally, he said, "Do you value yourself so little?"

"Never mind how much value I place in myself." She refuted, a bit aggravated.

"Then let us make a deal. I will gladly discuss whatever topic you wish with you, though it means you pushing yourself unnecessarily, but only if you eat while doing so."

Zelda sighed. It grated at her a bit that he wouldn't just cooperate completely, but she understood he was doing it for her well being so she took it well. And the food was tempting. "Fine. I wanted to discuss-"

"Mouthful, then start."

She glared at him. Now she was aggravated. He was treating her like a child. She started to openly eat. She only meant to take a bite to get it over with and begin, but once it met her tongue she found she could hardly stop till half her plate was gone. He nodded in approval when she paused.

"A thought I have, Elder, is to allow the palace lake to be given to the Fae as a reward in return for assisting in my return to the throne." She said plainly.

"This one here." Elder looked to the lake they sat by. She nodded. "It is a rather small bit of land, is it not? I would have thought the reward would have been greater than a lake that is the size of a house."

Zelda smiled knowingly. "And the Fae do not value land in the same way mortals do. You do not need width when you can go for depth."

"Ah... so you imagine I would turn it into a Fae Grove. A Fae Grove within your palace walls."

"Precisely."

Elder leaned back. "What are you not telling me, princess? Should I guess?"

"Feel free to. I imagine you have already figured out some of where my thoughts go on this."

"By having a Fae grove within the palace, it would offer untold benefits. It would strengthen your stance by having public support from a mystical race few have even heard of, and it would either make you look like some sort of religious figure of spirit-like creatures... or a tamer. It would mean that we would defend the palace just as much as your Royal Guard because by defending your palace, we would be defending our grove since your palace itself would be one of our lines of defense. It would mean closer ties and perhaps even turning some of us into your workers, as allies are prone to help each other. It would mean I can be in a position to teach you regularly about matters of the Goddesses and your gifts. It would mean I would have easy access to information and communication with Qin, perhaps even protection since few kidnappers would dare sneak into the innermost palace grounds to steal away my people." Elder cocked his watery head to the side. "Have I missed anything?"

Zelda replied, "You guessed most of it, but another benefit I believe it would offer is allowing you to decide how the people come to learn of you and your people, in a way that is more controlled and on your terms. The scenario I spoke of in the past was one of sudden misunderstanding and ignorance. In this way now we can control how the people learn the Fae exist and make it peaceful."

Elder nodded. "A fine benefit. Well done, princess. The idea bears great merit. It is similar to that of an ambassador but on a different scale. I imagine there are also possible repercussions. Such as you scaring your ministers. First, you invade and take the throne leading an army of people and races no one has heard of, or are believed to be extinct, and then as soon as you claim the throne you give a piece of the palace itself to the creatures that took it. I'm sure you can see how they would be spooked by these turn of events and even come to question your sanity."

Zelda nodded. "I have considered it, but you put it into a better perspective. It is all the more reason to make sure they warm up to your people in a controlled way. I am not saying I want you to bring thousands of Fae overnight, but say... leave a few behind. Let them meet a few, warm up to them. Show you want peace."

"Of course." Elder replied. "Though it does make me wonder if you have already presented this idea to your counsel, or if you intend to drop it on them without notice."

She grimaced. "Actually... I did. They did not take well to it. I may have lost the respect of one or two men, but the long term benefits should win them back and make them see you aren't what they thought."

"Do not neglect your servants in the immediate for the long term, it may have repercussions you do not plan. One pebble can be the cause of a landslide. A principle I'm sure you recognize. What is to say those two do not become more, and then your kingdom is taken out from under you?"

Zelda nodded. "I will keep your words to heart. It is a wise saying. I do know of it, but a reminder is always helpful."

He stood and bowed. "Let us end the discussion here, as I am sure your time is short. It is a very well thought out idea, Princess. I gladly accept the gift. I will leave a few Fae behind in my newfound grove to begin shaping it. May I make a suggestion, princess?"

Zelda stood and patted herself off. She hadn't even noticed herself finishing the meal, and in her hunger, she had dirtied herself. It was the most uncomely.

"Of course."

"Take one of my Fae as one of your servants. Let them see one Fae as a constant around you, and around them. As you know we can harden your clothing to protect you, and we can hide so we are not in your way. So let us begin this understanding between our peoples to be with one."

"I accept." Zelda bowed slightly. Not enough to show inferiority, but politeness. He returned the gesture.

Elder stepped into the water and collapsed his form into it. Soon after a Fae, of a different shining color than him, flew out and into Zelda's dress. Zelda raised an eyebrow at her dress. In a way, she could almost feel the Fae inside it, as the dress became stiffer and resistant to wind flow.

"So long as you do not make everyone think my clothes are haunted, then you can stay there. Otherwise, find another home."

Zelda returned to her throne.

Her ministers would not be in attendance, as they were doing their work. They were not just here to talk. They were here to send messages, to pass on her will, to organize men and set them at work across the nation. To be scribes and catalog information and plan projects. While Zelda could say she wanted something done, it was these men that planned it out to the finest detail and left to organize men to personally oversee the work done.

There were a few ministers left, but they were men she withheld purposefully for their counsel. Once more, Zelda wished Impa would come out of the shadows as she always did. But no one had heard a peep from the Sheikah since their mansion went up in flames. Zelda dearly wanted Impa's counsel and her presence at the very least for the silent reassurance it offered.

"Bring them in," Zelda ordered.

The first was Matsubi, the man who had led a group of Qin soldiers in Zelda's name. The second was the Qin commander of the Royal Guard. His name was Kagura. Kagura was in chains, but he was treated well. He was allowed to go where he wanted, eat as he wished, see people as he desired, but always under guard and with the chains on his hands. For the sake of his honor, he was given long robes to hide the chains.

The two men were presented to her, and they bowed. Zelda smiled a bit at Matsubi's shyness under such formality, while Kagura went through the motions with practiced grace.

"First, I will speak to Kagura." Zelda declared.

"You honor your servant, high princess," Kagura said.

"Kagura, you have served the palace for years faithfully. You have put life and limb against the blade to protect your charges, and under your attention attempts to take my life, or the life of my brother, have always failed. Except regrettably twice, and in the most recent days, it would seem. When Kyou sent his assassins to murder my servants and take my head, you did not stop him. Again when I returned to capture Kyou and retake my throne, you failed to stop me. For these two events to occur so close to one another leaves some whispering. Some wonder if your age has caught up with you, or if perhaps your honor is not as incorruptible as we would believe."

The man opened his mouth to defend himself, as his honor was put in question, but Zelda cut him off.

"Your life and the lives of your men have been spared. I will not see more bloodshed over this matter, but that does not mean repeated failure does not have a cost. Also, we must face the reality that you have been placed in a very difficult position. When forced to be in the middle of a fight between two people who you are sworn to protect, then what is a man to do? In truth, I believe you did the best course of action possible. You protected the one before you, the one that sat on the throne. First, it was me, and then it was Kyou. A fight that should have been between siblings involved so much more. In consideration for your record of service, and the difficult position the conflict put you in: all dispute of dishonor will be waved without further consideration."

The man sighed in relief.

"However the matter is you are getting old. You served me, my brother, and even my father and his father before him in one capacity or another."

"If I may princess, are you telling me to retire?" Kagura asked.

"I am," Zelda answered.

"I recognize that my failure must be punished, and the mercy and honor you have given me are more than my failures deserve, but I am not yet ready to retire! Allow me a test of my youthfulness!"

Zelda considered his request. The fact was that in this unforgiving world she needed a sacrifice. She needed a message that failure couldn't just be ignored. She wasn't considering to execute them, despite their fears. She recognized the man's honor and loyalty and how well he was received by the people. She wanted him to retire to a gentle life as a message that even in punishment she could have mercy.

Zelda probed, "And if you pass this test... what would you request? Because I cannot have you continue as commander of my Royal Guard. Even if I were to fully forgive and forget two failures, it would imply there are cracks in my protection that anyone could exploit were they to recognize it. By trying so desperately to succeed in the Royal Guard you could be the very instrument of its failure."

"I would request that I serve with my sword and my ability to lead men of battle to secure a prize in whatever capacity you require," The man answered.

Zelda nodded. "Then I accept the request. This is highly unusual and not what I had in mind, but Matsubi."

"Yes, princess!" Matsubi exclaimed.

"Duel him."

The two men looked at each other in shock.

"Do not use the sword, but wrestle," Zelda explained. "Someone take off Kagura's chains. When the two of you feel ready, bow, wrestle, and the one to tap twice loses. Do not kill, that isn't the point. And Matsubi, do not go easy on him."

It was highly impromptu so far as requests go, but they were quick to set it up. The ministers in attendance, as well as the guard, lead them outside to a garden clearing and removed Kagura's shackles. Stones and rocks were removed just in case and after a short bow, the two men reached each other and struggled to force the other man down.

It did not take long for the ministers and guards to cheer one man or another on. Zelda was content to stand on the stairs and see how it went. She had an idea of what to do regardless and watched out of nothing more than mild curiosity and a moment of entertainment. Matsubi looked reluctant to hurt the man but excited all the same in a spar. Mostly he just seemed like the request had taken him off guard. Kagura was focused and desperate to prove something.

The duel lasted for a great deal of time. Matsubi was more youthful and quick, but Kagura was experienced and stronger. It was like a ferret trying to overcome a bear. In the end, Matsubi managed to win by getting on his back and pinning him down, but it was a close win. The two looked equally exhausted. Zelda smiled a bit. The two looked like they had fun, even though Kagura was disappointed he lost the request.

"No need to return to the throne room, I can talk here. You two look like you are going to collapse on me right here." Zelda said from the stairs. The ministers chuckled as the two men collapsed on the ground, too sweaty and exhausted to stand properly. "While you may have lost the duel, Kagura, I will say you won the war. You wanted to prove something, and in my eyes you did. You kept up with a man half your age so I will grant the request all the same. Kagura. You will take the Royal Guard and create a battle battalion a thousand men strong. Matsubi, I am promoting you to one thousand man commander and giving them to you as your initial troop."

The men were shocked beyond words. Basically, Matsubi was being promoted from ten-man squad leader to one-thousand man commander, with Kagura and the Royal Guard as his thousand men. It was also highly unusual for a man to be promoted in such a way as to skip multiple ranks.

Zelda continued, "This failure to protect Kyou and I is shared amongst all of the Royal Guard, so they will share in the punishment. They will serve as before, but not in the royal palace."

"And what of your Royal Guard, princess? Will you no longer have any?" Kagura asked.

"I will remake my Royal Guard, naturally. My ministers are already hard at work finding men of the loyalty, strength, mind, and experience necessary for the position. I intended to retire the current guard, but you have proven your wish to serve in another capacity. But do you accept it? You have not answered."

"I do." Matsubi bowed. Kagura did as well.

"Good. Consider it your reward for serving me so faithfully when the country itself turned against me. Take the five with you that survived to the end. Treat them well as your officers. They earned it. I will pass on the money and land I promised them."

-Later-

Another matter settled, Zelda felt pretty good about it. She had initially discussed the affair with a bad taste in her mouth. She wanted to force them all to retire, and she didn't know what to do with Kagura, but after discussing it with her counsel they advised her that their use was still there. To execute them or force them into early retirement would only further hurt her. Tools are not there to be retired before their time, not when they can be put to other uses. Nor are they to be broken and used beyond ability, but men take a certain satisfaction from their work. It was not bad to let them continue a while longer in service until they were satisfied or would be forced to retire by fate.

But now there was another matter... a much darker one. One that hardened her heart and set the darkness in her mind to form around her almost to the point of dimming the torches around her.

Zelda entered the dungeons. In one cage was the former Chancellor Ketsu. Prince Kyou would not be in the dungeons. He was a special case Zelda would need to handle delicately. For both his medical needs since she pierced his arm and beat him severely and the fact that he is, unfortunately, her blood.

In the second cage was a surprise. Reida, Prince Kyou's fiancé, of all people. Elder had found her in the same carriage as Ketsu when he returned with him. Zelda did not mind her. If anything she respected the young woman, perhaps even envied her. To Zelda, Reida was everything she wanted to be. Merciful, loved, yet tough and with strong judgment and self-respect and dignity, with both sides tempered by wisdom beyond her years. All things fashioned by a loving, powerful family based on trust. The very things Zelda could not understand. Reida was not plagued by nightmares and demons clawing at her soul.

Reida was, however, foolish enough to be in Ketsu's company. A situation not at all good for her.

As Zelda entered, Ketsu begged for mercy and threw himself on the ground, but Zelda did not spare him a glance. He had been the core of it all. He had made Kyou believe he was the little god on earth, he had whispered words of foolishness in Kyou's ears all his life, he had turned Kyou into nothing more than a puppet... then he thought he could avoid Zelda's notice when he finally exploited the puppet? Zelda would cut him into pieces before forgiving him. If only she could give mercy to her brother and heal him of Ketsu's influence so he could no longer hate her and be a good person, but Zelda was not optimistic in the slightest.

She would have to punish Kyou as well when the time came.

Zelda passed the cages until she reached Reida and looked down on the young woman. Reida had seen better days, yet she seemed to take it well in stride. "Why do you look like you have been in a cage much longer than merely three days?" Zelda asked.

"Princess! I beseech thee!" Ketsu cried.

"If you do not quiet your fat tongue I will have it cut off right here and now!" Zelda glared at the large man, having grown tired of his screaming. The man quieted fearfully and whimpered pathetically. Zelda returned her attention to Reida.

"Because I have been, high princess Zelda," Reida answered. She smacked her dry lips from where she sat. "I was captured by the Sheikah and held against my will to be used in a plot against Prince Kyou."

"And yet you escaped capture and entered his company?" Zelda asked.

"It is a story that will take time to tell properly, princess."

"Is there anyone who can stand as witness to it?"

Reida hesitated to answer, "The Sheikah, but I expect they will be hidden for some time."

"Then I take it you also know of it and why?"

Reida nodded.

Reida could be lying, Zelda knew, and Zelda didn't truly know Reida beyond the brief exposures she had. While she respected Reida greatly, there was animosity between them because of Zelda's placement on the throne knocking Kyou down a step, and Reida with it. Reida was being taught and prepared for the position of Queen. Now that was gone. Reida would easily see her as an enemy.

"Sounds like quite a tale." Zelda mused.

"It is... and one of great importance to you, princess, as you are not safe. I tried telling the guards, but they laughed at me and seem to have not warned you."

Zelda furrowed her brows. "Warned me of what?"

For a brief moment, Reida looked at the shadows around the room in real fear. She hesitated to answer, but after a moment, she whispered, "The Sheikah have turned against you."

(Edited 3/1/2020)