Inspiration: Jezebel.
Author's Note: What we often see is our own conjecture. ~ZR~
Word Count: 14,628
Chapter 7
Zora's Domain, Link
As my men and I walked up the escalator, the hall leading to the throne room and its surrounding apertures were surprisingly quiet and clear. I paused and took a moment to gather my surroundings. However, the scene was undeniable. There wasn't a Zora in sight. This was vexing, especially when security measures were taken into consideration. I contemplated this due to the Zoras being particularly protective of their king. After what happened to their deity, Jabu Jabu, I couldn't say I blamed them. Years ago, the fish god came under Ganondorf's control and succumbed to an almost useless existence. At the time, Jabu Jabu was a relic of the guardian he should have been. The power he was known for in protecting the Zoras was gone. I remember those events distinctly, because it was my eventuality to go into his innards and free him. There were sights and sounds in him that I would never forget. A rather strange circumstance to say the least, but impervious adventures was the destiny of my youth. Though, there were stranger things I encountered back then besides the plight of Jabu Jabu.
Cremia's ranch in Termina comes to mind...
Notwithstanding the past, at this present time, I was visually taken aback.
What's going on here?
My men and I continued cautiously up the escalator, still finding no one to greet us. However, the hallowed nature of the empty walkways was soon short lived. Coming up quickly from behind us was the pitter patter of little fins, then suddenly an excited voice accompanying it.
"Oh my Jabu!" the little voice exclaimed. "More Hylians!"
At the sound of the voice, my men and I turned immediately. We were surprised to find a pre-adolescent male Zora. The young fishling looked to be no older than ten. We all halted, but two of my generals acted as my guard by stepping forward. I did find it interesting that the Zora said 'more Hylians' as opposed to just 'Hylians'. Something to note. When the young Zora looked between the four of us, he smiled. I had to admit, he was a cute fishling. And, when he caught sight of me in particular, he covered his mouth in excitement.
"Master Link!" he exclaimed.
I didn't budge, a little perplexed with how he addressed me. I was certain I didn't know this young one. However, I shouldn't have been surprised by his reaction, considering my past dealings with the Zora people. I could discern his excitement was genuine and without need for caution. Even so, I, nor none of my men, answered him right away.
The little Zora then took a step forward.
"Master Link is that really you?" he asked.
I still hesitated, not wanting to cause any fear within this child. So, I boded for my men to stand down. Really, what harm was this innocent Zora going to cause? I felt a little ridiculous even entertaining such an idea. Even still, at my command, my men were hesitant.
"Are you certain sire?" Fyrus asked anyway.
I gave him an obvious look.
"Of course I am. He's only a mere child."
Fyrus then nodded respectfully and stepped aside.
"I just wanted to be sure my lord."
There was no danger in the present.
"I am."
Afterwards, I gestured for the young Zora to come to me. He hurried at my request. I smiled at how eager the youngster was when he scuttled to greet me.
"I can't believe it's really you Master Link!" the young Zora went on. "My father was just telling me your story about how you saved Zora's Domain with Lady Ruto the other day."
My smile widened at his enthusiasm. I knelt down on one knee to be more approachable. I found it interesting that he was still referring to me as 'Master Link' and not 'sire' like my men. Perhaps he wasn't aware that I was Hyrule's king. It was actually quite refreshing. After all, titles and lordships weren't of great significance to a child.
"Your poor father is boring you with such tales?" I joked. "He should put his time to better use."
The little Zora immediately got indignant.
"They are not boring stories," he insisted, "and I can't think of a better way to go to bed!"
Osfala chuckled behind me.
"You won't win against that will my lord."
I nodded in agreement.
"Indeed," I replied, then looked around for a moment before focusing my attention back on the Zora. "Tell me young one, where is everybody?
The young Zora was all too eager to tell me.
"The entire kingdom is down by the pool. His majesty announced a swimming contest after the ceremony! The winner gets a new trident made of rare coral! I was about to enter, but then I saw you!"
His enthusiasm made me chuckle, but I did note his unintended revelation.
A ceremony?
I wanted to stay inconspicuous and kept my inquiries private.
"Well, don't let us keep you. With your gusto I'm sure you'll win. We're here to see the king anyway."
The Zora looked at me surprised just then.
"You're here to see King Zora?"
I nodded, then perceived he knew of his exact whereabouts.
"Is... he not in his throne room?" I asked anyway.
The Zora shook his head.
"No."
I paused for a moment.
"Do you know where we can find him?"
The Zora nodded and immediately pointed in the opposing direction.
"He's down by the pool with the rest of us."
I looked at the little Zora slightly taken aback, but tried to keep it subtle. That was odd, King Zora rarely maneuvered from his throne room. In fact, he rarely maneuvered at all.
Why is he down by the pool? That hardly seems safe.
"Really?" I verbalized.
The Zora nodded again, then walked past Ravio and Fyrus straight up to me to take hold of my hand. This Zora had spirit. I stood up as he tugged on my arm to guide me towards the area in question. He prompted my men to follow us.
"Come on, you all can come too," the Zora insisted.
The three of them just grinned and obediently followed suit, as did I. We honestly had no choice in the matter. The fishling was now our unsolicited guide. This was probably a good fortune due to the unintended surprise of our arrival. If we showed up with the young Zora in tow, perhaps the others wouldn't be quite so taken aback. The Zoras were a proud people and they usually took their privacy very seriously. These empty halls were completely out of character for them. Even so, the little fishling led us back to the main entrance and took us to the opposite side of the long hall where the pool resided. Once we arrived at our destination, we were hardly noticed as there was quite a spectacle going on. This was the ceremony no doubt, and I was immediately at a loss for words.
What in the world...?
There, residing in the middle of the pool was King Zora, with many other Zoras surrounding him just as the young one stated. They were bouyancing undertow, while the massive monarch flapped his fins in an orchestral manner. The Zoras at the perimeter were swimming around and around, creating a vortex, but the underwater lights provided a vibrant illumination of a soft aquatic blue. Stationed on a small raised amphitheater near the pool, was an orchestra of Zoras playing instruments. From the looks of things, they seemed to have been performing a sacred ritual. Perhaps it was some historical ceremony to Lord Jabu Jabu.
The varying cultures of Hyrule had a rich and diverse heritage. My men and I stepped back to remain inconspicuous and continued to watch. The vortex that was once submerged suddenly cascaded upward, with the king being lifted at its center. There was huge applause at the feat on the shoreline, and admittedly it was impressive. I was nearly tempted to clap myself, but resisted considering the circumstances. Suddenly, as the king was still prostrated highly on the waters, he held up his coral white trident. With his action, the winds abruptly picked up, and the Zoras below him swam faster. I had never witnessed anything like this.
I don't remember the Zoras ever being this ritualistic in all my years of dealing with them... This is a first...
From the corner of my eye, I saw Ravio glancing over at me. The concern was all over his face. I just glanced back and gestured for him to stay calm for now. I was still amazed that the four of us were here and only the young Zora was conscious enough to take note of us. If an enemy wanted to attack, tonight would have been the perfect opportunity to do so. This was an abhorrent disregard for the safety of the kingdom. No celebration should allow a nation to keep its security so recklessly haphazard. Even so, my concerns regarding their defense suddenly subsided when someone caught my eye I was not expecting to see. I was visibly stirred because Fyrus took note of my facial expression.
He then leaned in to speak to me.
"What's the matter?" he whispered.
I shook my head, not wanting to speak in front of the child.
"I'll let you know in a moment," I whispered back.
I glanced across the pool, taking note of the individual again. She was not a mirage. She was definitely real. What the hell was she doing here? Things just got more interesting. Sensing I needed to make a move now, I knelt down to speak with the little Zora once more. I kept my voice low.
"You better get back to your family," I whispered to him, "and make sure you don't let anyone know you saw us, okay?"
After my utterance, the young Zora looked at me surprised, but seemed privileged and happy.
"Is this like one of your adventures?" he whispered back, but didn't wait for my answer. "Alright! Your secret is safe with me! Are you going to watch me in the swimming competition?"
I grinned at the little fellow.
"I will try," I replied.
The Zora then smiled and hurried down the shoreline away from us to his family. When the little fishling was safely away, I gestured for my men to draw in.
When I had them in earshot, I whispered. "Things just got a little more complicated. I want you all to wait for me here. I'm going to proceed on alone."
However, I was naturally met with some resistance.
"What?" Fyrus whispered back. "You can't be serious."
I was dead serious.
"I am, I want you all to stand down in the preceding hall. I just realized this is going to be a more covert operation than I anticipated."
They still weren't budging.
"My lord, what you're suggesting is ludicrous!" Ravio countered. "You can't go off by yourself when something like this is going on. What if something were to happen to you?"
Osfala chimed in too.
"Ravio is right, it's too dangerous. You should at least let one of us go with you."
However, I shook my head.
"We'll draw more attention to ourselves if we're together," I explained, then decided to reveal what they obviously did not see. "Besides, did you see who's residing across the pool?"
My men stared at me perplexed for a moment. However, when they looked beyond the splendor of the ceremony to the other side of the water, they finally saw her. They finally understood my caution.
"Dear goddesses..." Fyrus whispered in recognition.
Waiting near the edge of the pool was Lady Bathory. She was dressed in a long dark blue robe and her platinum black hair was flowing down her back like waves of water. Admittedly, she looked hauntingly beautiful with the reflection of the iridescent pool casting onto her crystal violet eyes. However, there was something about this that was very unsettling. What was her part in all this? She looked like she was about to take part in the ritual in some way. My men turned back to me.
Ravio groaned softly.
"Wherever there's trouble she isn't too far behind it seems."
I didn't want it to go any farther than that.
"Exactly, and now you see the added need for discretion. We can't just storm the grounds like a pigheaded posse. I want you all to stay here and wait. I will initiate the engagement."
I was still met with resistance.
"Sire…" Osfala trailed, "I don't think this is a good idea."
I understood his concern.
"I wouldn't expect you to. However, this is how I am officiating it. You all wait here, I'll signal for you if I need you."
Though they didn't care for my instructions, I was met with no more rebuttals. My men reluctantly followed my order to stand down. Afterwards, I slipped away and headed over. I was careful to stay at the perimeter as I advanced, staying amongst the crowd, not away from it. There were thousands of Zoras present, I would only stand out if I allowed myself to. If Bathory caught sight of me prematurely, she might try to leave. Meanwhile, the ceremony was still underway, with the Zora king still mounted on the top of the water pillar in the middle of the pool. He was waving his trident to and fro over the people. The Zoras were mesmerized... they almost looked like they were under a spell. Even so, I continued my approach undetected. However, suddenly I had to halt, because Bathory gestured her hands in the air just then. This must have been her cue. A moment later, Bathory disrobed and dove into the water. I had a feeling she wasn't merely spectating. I narrowed my eyes as I continued to watch. In the water, a Zora guiding Lady Bathory was at her feet, making her swim extraordinarily fast. Soon, the Zora guided her up the cascade to where King Zora was at the top. However, she didn't simply stand beside the king. No, she met him, climbed up the king's trident, prostrated herself acrobatically in a hand stand, and suddenly spoke out to the heavens.
"Goddess of the moon I beseech you!" she cried out. "Give me a gift of your glory!"
There was definitely no subtlety in those words.
Goddess of the moon?
I knew from that moment onward, this ritual was completely devised by Bathory and her cohorts. This was an old pagan ceremony of some kind... and something told me it wasn't to venerate Hylia. Lady Bathory then showed an extraordinary display of strength by extending her legs out into an aerial split. Her efforts garnered her applause. Admittedly it was impressive. After her display, she brought her legs back together and began contorting her body in such a way that allowed her to stand up on top of the trident. More applause was allotted her. Afterwards, she did a slow ceremonial dance on the top of the trident, with her hands extending towards the heavens, like she was willing the moon to come to her. Near the end of her dance, she suddenly pulled, of all things, a mask from the bustier of her bathing suit and placed it on her face. I was focusing on the engraving so I could determine what type of etching was on the covering. It was a strange arcane visage painted purple, with lines stretching across it vertically. The eyes were cutout for her to see through of course, but were painted a subtle red. It was a mask unrelated to the Zoras that was for sure. However, the question boded: what was this all about?
At the conclusion of her dance, Lady Bathory dove back into the pool from atop the trident. Her entry was elegant and without deviation, which told me she had done this ritual before. She soon surfaced, and was once again being carried on the back of a Zora. There was more applause at her emergence. It was in this time I continued on my way to where she was initially standing. Afterwards, she was released and she dove under water again. When she resurfaced, she was now making her way back to the edge of the pool. There were Zoras wanting to speak with her, but no one approached her as the ceremony was still going on. I kept myself hooded and walked over to the pool's edge. This was my opportunity. When she reached up to get out of the pool, I adroitly offered her my hand. Slightly startled by the gesture, she looked up surprised. However, she was even more stunned when she got a good look at my face from beneath my hood.
"Sire!" she whispered shocked.
I grinned at her discomfited expression, but being the even keeled noble she was, she took my hand graciously and allowed me to help her out of the water without making a scene.
"Good evening my lady," I whispered back.
She lifted the mask from her face to stare directly into my eyes. The bathing suit she was wearing left very little to the imagination. It defined the silhouette of her slender, but curvaceous physique. The belly to the suit was sheer, making her appear to wear a two piece when it was just one. To show I respected her dignity, I went and retrieved her cloak only a few feet away and offered it to her indiscriminately. Lady Bathory was a little surprised at my gesture of goodwill, but allowed me to cloak her without prejudice.
"Thank you your majesty, you're so chivalrous."
I gave her a knowing look and said nothing to her in reply. Chivalry had nothing to do with this. Lady Bathory then turned and watched the rest of the ceremony with me. In that moment, King Zora shot a beam of water into the heavens. I assumed he was aiming for the moon, since apparently this was a moon goddess ritual. Afterwards, the cascade where he was residing atop disbanded. He dove into the water below. His entrance created a huge splash. His prodigious girth, sent tons of water to the perimeter. I attempted to stoop for cover, but admittedly got soaked, even with my cloak on.
"Damn," I muttered.
Lady Bathory giggled at my plight.
"Not a fan of water?" she asked softly.
I removed my hood and stroked my hand through my now sodden hair.
"On the contrary, you ask these Zoras who the diving champion of nine years ago was and you might be surprised my lady."
Bathory looked at me impressed.
"Really?"
I nodded.
"You're not the only one with connections to the Zoras."
She smirked.
"Hmph, you're certainly correct, and perhaps if you had the right mask you could have taken part in the ceremony sire," she half joked. "You would have been most appropriate. After all, you do look like the sun prince."
I had no idea what she was talking about, and only gave her a look of warning.
"I wouldn't dream of it, because then I wouldn't have been able to find you here so unexpectedly. I'm sure you're ecstatic to see me now, even with my resembling your so called sun prince."
There was no denial on her end.
"You could say that."
I rung out my sleeve. Fortunately, most of the materials were water proof.
"I could say a lot of things my lady."
Afterwards, there was thunderous applause. It wasn't often king Zora was so mobile. When the monarch surfaced, he bowed and relished in the all the jubilation. I, too, clapped as did Lady Bathory. The ceremony was over no doubt. I apparently missed the entirety of it, but I got the gist. My men and I obviously arrived towards the end. Even so, it only left me with more questions than answers. What was this moon ritual? Who was this moon goddess?
I hoped to soon find out.
Speaking of my men, they immediately left their places of hiding when the ceremony ended. They didn't come directly to me in the interim, but they were closing in, especially as more Zoras vacated the pool. As the shoreline became more crowded, the fishfolk began to recognize me.
"Master Link?" a Zora inquired nearby.
His question prompted another.
"What?" another asked in reply. "Where?"
The Zora next to him pointed my way.
"Over there."
Several more Zoras looked my way just then.
"Wait a minute that is Master Link!" a couple said more excitedly.
The little Zora I befriended earlier then chimed in.
"You see!" he said to his father. "I told you I wasn't lying papa! There he is! That's the hero!"
I just grinned.
So much for keeping a secret.
I waved at the little fishling anyway.
Lady Bathory just groaned at all the excitement.
"You certainly are popular… Master Link," she teased.
I gave her another knowing look, though I still didn't understand why I was being referred to as 'Master Link' either. Why were they not calling me sire? Did they not see me as the king of Hyrule?
"Apparently not as popular as you," I replied anyway, "but we'll discuss that later."
She merely grinned.
"Indeed."
With my identity fully known, several Zoras then came up to me asking for favors.
"Master Link may I have your autograph? My daughter thinks you're the greatest."
I gave her a wayward look, slightly caught off guard by the request.
"Uh… I don't have anything to write with," I attempted to deflect.
The Zora quickly held up a quill pen.
"No need to worry about that, I've got you covered."
This certainly wasn't the reception I wanted, but I shouldn't have been surprised. A hero's reputation was a hero's reputation.
"Um… well… okay," I replied.
I signed the coral the Zora had designated for me, while several more got their desired implements ready for signature as well. While my attention was diverted, I saw Lady Bathory slowly attempt to back away. This was the perfect opportunity for it. And, she would have been successful had not one of my generals been there to greet her when she attempted to turn and escape.
"Going somewhere my lady?" Fyrus asked.
The noblewoman looked frustrated and turned her attention back to me when she saw her efforts were for naught.
"Apparently not."
Once I was finished, I had to inform the other Zoras I could no longer sign any other memorabilia. I was here to speak with the king. I then looked around and gestured for my men to head my way. In all this crowd pushing, Lady Bathory was being guided back my direction by General Fyrus. I signified for Fyrus to fall back with the others when I once again took hold of Lady Bathory. My grip on her palm tightened when she attempted to free herself once more. It was then I gave her a look of warning.
"I'm only going to tell you this once," I whispered, "stop trying to get away. You're only going to make this worse for yourself."
She looked at me surprised, but there was still a hint of defiance in her eyes.
"We'll see about that... sire," she whispered back.
This time I looked at her surprised, but said nothing in rebuttal. She was trying my patience, and this course of conduct was only going to lead to her making a scene. She was the only female Hylian here and I was sure she would try to make that work in her favor. I did not want this getting back to Hyrule Castle in a salacious way. As my men stayed close, I guided Lady Bathory to the edge of the pool to make my delayed presence known to King Zora. The noblewoman was noticeably more hesitant and lingering back the closer we got. I even had to yank on her arm slightly to make her take a few steps forward when she tried to pull back. It was then she stopped resisting and kept in step with me, realizing she didn't have a choice.
When King Zora finally caught sight of me he looked beyond astonished.
"Master Link!" he exclaimed. "I thought I heard your name being called."
Again, there was that disconnect, but now I suddenly understood why all the other Zoras were still referring to me as 'Master Link'. His majesty was still doing so as well. The question was, why? Had he not heard about Zelda and I marrying? I couldn't dream of that being the case. Though, no Zoras were at my wedding. Even still, invitations had been sent out to every province including Zoras Domain.
"Your majesty," I greeted, not bothering to correct him.
The large Zora lumbered out of the water and onto the shoreline, but he was quickly attended to by his servants. They hoisted the large Zora onto his throne and helped him sit up so he appeared upright. It was quite the contrast from the aquatic setting where he had so much more elegance. The king almost seemed like two different personages when he was on land. Even so, it didn't take away from the beauty of his kingdom or the intelligence of his mind. He was a brilliant tactician, but I had to wonder why he was so complicit with the nobility of Hyrule. Why was he allowing them to have free reign of his land? Why was he allowing his sacred grounds to be decimated with exploratory machinery?
Lady Bathory was calm next to me, but I saw the subtle worry creeping into her eyes. She knew she wasn't going to be able to manipulate the situation the way she no doubt had in the past. It didn't take a genius to know this was all her idea, and she used her whiles to get it. This woman was on a whole different level when it came to deceit. Even so, I bowed when we neared the monarch, as did the lady. However, the royal Zora seemed too excited to care about formalities. He even looked at Lady Bathory for a moment showing his excitement.
"Is he the surprise guest you were speaking of my lady?" the king divulged suddenly.
My ears perked at his utterance. I looked over at the noble in that moment. I didn't need to say a word, my expression said it all.
"Surprise guest?" I repeated softly.
Bathory avoided my eyes as her cool exterior waned a little.
"Uh… well…" she hesitated, "I… can't say it was supposed to be him."
I directed my attention back to the king.
"Let's just say I was the last person my lady was expecting to see your majesty."
The king looked slightly bewildered, but then quickly brushed it off.
"Oh Master Link, I'm so glad to see you. It has really been too long."
I nodded.
"I agree, that's why I came to visit."
The king seemed pleased at my utterance.
"Well, that is wonderful news. We have so much to catch up on. Come along, we'll go up to the throne room to talk." He then added to his people. "You all can commence with the swimming competition. I will watch the festivities after my audience with the great hero."
"Yes sire!" the crowd of Zoras said in unison.
The little Zora that took a liking to me then called out to me.
"Are you going to watch me swim Master Link?"
I turned to where he was calling for a second and shook my head.
"I'm afraid I can't young one," I called back. "Perhaps in the future, but swim hard, I'm certain you will do well."
Bathory next to me found the interaction amusing.
"Making promises you had no intention of keeping? That's not very kind."
I cut my glance to her.
"I would be careful with what I uttered if I were you," I whispered.
The noblewoman didn't flinch, but some of her arrogance waned.
"So it would seem."
The Zora king was staring at me.
"Let's go Master Link."
I nodded again, when the Zoras attending to him hoisted him up on the throne he was sitting on and scuttled in unison up the perimeter of rock. In step after them, I guided Lady Bathory towards the escalator as well.
"Shall we?" I asked quietly.
She just stared me in the eyes.
"It looks like I have no choice."
She was certainly right about that.
"Your insight serves you well," I replied with a hint of sarcasm.
Afterwards, we followed the entourage to the throne room. When the king was placed back on his throne at the center of the room, he sent his servants away so that the three of us could be alone. My men weren't even allowed in the room. When we were assured our privacy, King Zora directed his attention to Lady Bathory. His opening conversation piece was actually quite insightful.
"Was the simulation to your liking my lady?" the royal asked suddenly.
I glanced over at the noble.
What's this?
She hesitated again, but then nodded.
"Yes sire," she said quickly, but added nothing further.
I gave her a obvious look when she kept silent, knowing she was hiding more. She wasn't going to get off the hook that easily. That was when I decided to interject.
"Simulation? I was meaning to ask you, what was going on here?"
The noblewoman stayed silent, but the king was all too eager to answer.
"Awww, don't you know?" he replied. "It's part of our initiative in 'becoming Hylian'."
There was that silly saying again. I gave him a puzzled looked.
"I'm not sure what that even means sire. Why would you want to become Hylian? You're a magnificent Zora."
The king laughed.
"You're quite the jester Master Link."
I smiled, about to get to the bottom of this.
"Not at all. I have no idea what this 'becoming Hylian' nonsense is all about."
It was the king's turn to give me a puzzled look.
"I'm sorry? Now I'm afraid I don't know what you mean. I don't follow you."
I raised a brow, realizing there was an obvious miscommunication here somewhere, and it was at this point Lady Bathory attempted to interceded.
"My lord, I-" she tried.
However, I wasn't going to allow her to intervene misleadingly. She had obviously done that enough.
"Ah, ah, ah silence," I said swiftly. "The king was about to speak."
The Zora king looked at me surprised by my reply, almost as if I were speaking out of rank or something. That was when I realized the confusion here was stemming much deeper. The king was still perplexed, and looked over at Lady Bathory, thinking he was going to get some needed insight. However, she offered him none and his puzzlement only tunneled. It seemed the sins of this lady were about to be revealed.
"Was not the 'becoming Hylian' initiative from… you Master Link?" he disclosed. "I was under the impression that it was something mandated by you as the hero."
I looked at him slightly taken aback.
Lie number one.
"I'm sorry?" I replied.
This was getting more and more interesting.
The Zora king seemed more confused by my reply.
"Well… yes, I was told it was your idea by my lady here, as well as her friends."
I nearly scoffed.
Filgore and Rue Morgue no doubt... Those bastards...
I grinned, but decided not to expose Lady Bathory completely just yet. I needed to draw out more information first.
"No sire, I'm afraid that is not true," I disclosed. "This whole 'becoming Hylian' initiative wasn't my idea at all. In fact, I had no idea whatsoever what was going on here. However, I was informed from the nobles that this was your idea."
The Zora king did scoff.
"Well that's just simply preposterous, why would we initiate something like 'becoming Hylian'? We were told it was partitioned from you, the hero, on behalf of the princess as part of the rites of the goddess observance. We were only acting in good faith."
Princess?
Lie number two.
I gave him a wayward look.
"They spoke of the princess as well?" I inquired.
The king nodded.
"Yes, why do you think we had the mock goddess ceremony? We were doing it in accordance to what we thought Princess Zelda wanted."
That explained a great many things, except one very important thing: the nobles' true intentions. That still wasn't made clear. I looked over at Lady Bathory, who was now looking away.
"And, I'm assuming you learned all this from my lady here?" I guessed.
The Zora king paused for a moment, sensing there was more going on than the inquiry in question. He was probably very fond of the beautiful noble. Who knows what other lies she told him to keep him in the dark about what was truly going on in Hyrule. He must have felt he needed to defend her honor. It was quite possible he had no idea how deceitful she really was. She had the face of an angel and the soul of a harpy. I was finding that out first hand myself.
"Yes… but Lady Bathory has been nothing but gracious to us here in Zora's Domain," he replied. "Her business prowess has been uncanny. Her knowledge in arcane texts has expanded the cultural minds of many Zoras, and her explanation of the practiced ritual was most insightful. It even made us appreciate the goddess more."
I wasn't surprised she presented herself in such a fashion. She was very charming when she wanted to be. I cut my eyes back to her.
"You're just a regular saint, aren't you?" I said to her with open sarcasm.
Bathory finally looked back at me.
"We all have our gifts my lord."
I said nothing in return, but King Zora was looking between the two of us with a hint of disapproval. I assumed he didn't agree with my tone. He even went to defend the lady again, but this time I cut it short.
"Now see here Master Link, my lady is-" he tried.
"I don't mean to be rude your majesty," I interrupted calmly, "but do you have a place where I can speak with Lady Bathory alone?"
The royal looked at me stunned and hesitated, still not completely understanding the gravity of what was going on. I went to quell his concerns, but not without reassurances.
"Look," I started, "please don't worry about the noble, she will be fine. I just need to ask her a few questions related to this matter in private before I speak with you again. Unfortunately, I don't believe she will disclose them to me publicly here. It will only take a moment."
Again, the Zora king looked between me and his favored noble, but I believe he was also beginning to realize he was completely out of the loop with what was truly going on. So begrudgingly, he gave in to my request and directed us to one of his private chambers by proxy.
"You can use my antechamber to speak in there," he said. "However, please don't keep me in suspense too long. I have questions."
I nodded.
"Of course not, and thank you."
Without waiting for another rebuttal, I took Lady Bathory by the hand and guided her to the anteroom. In this instance, I was surprised I received very little push back from her. In fact, she even clutched my hand a little tighter and drew in closer to me. However, when we got to the private room, I was less gracious about rushing her in and closing the door behind us. After locking the door, I gave the lady my undivided attention. I gave her a quick once over before shaking my head.
"Well?" was all I started with.
Lady Bathory stared into my eyes and gave me a long once over of her own before she spoke.
"Well what?"
Her arrogance was well established.
"You think you're in a position to act with such conceit?"
She turned and walked towards the center of the room.
"What do you want me to say? Bravo, I'm glad you caught me?"
I crossed my arms over my chest.
"A little humility would be nice."
She smirked as she turned back around.
"You're speaking to a woman of noble blood. Pride is our foremost virtue, not humility."
I stared at her with a hint of disbelief.
"Is that all you have to say?"
She shrugged.
"Is there anything else that needs to be said?"
I gave her an obvious stare.
"You could start with an apology."
Bathory raised a brow.
"But that would mean I would need to be sorry about something, and I'm not."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"You act in treachery, then you pretend like it's no big deal. Is that how you nobles operate?"
She grinned at my supposition.
"We're just used to getting what we want."
She had no remorse at all.
"So, you're an entitled thief?" I said bluntly.
She chuckled at the disgust in my voice.
"I wouldn't put it exactly that way."
I knew I was going to regret my next question.
"Then how would you put it?"
She gave me another long once over.
"I like to think of myself as an opportunist. I saw an opportunity so I went for it."
I rolled my eyes.
"Isn't it a little cliché for you to be so beautiful yet so deceptive?"
Her smile widened.
"You think I'm beautiful sire?" she asked suddenly.
I quickly negated this.
"Don't flatter yourself," I warned. "Your looks aren't going to save you."
Bathory exaggeratedly put her hand over her heart.
"Well, I do declare," she said sarcastically, "the King of Hyrule just gave me butterflies."
I got the conversation back on track.
"Why not play the role of the good girl who helps the people for once? Why act like this?"
She shrugged again.
"Because good girls don't have any fun," she whispered. "Besides, being naughty is so much better."
I shook my head.
"You couldn't be more wrong."
She scoffed slightly.
"Oh really? And how would you know?"
I answered her challenge.
"I just know. Go ask my wife."
She looked at me impressed.
"Is that right?"
I nodded.
"Indeed it is."
She then walked back over to me and stood right in front of me. She gave me another long once over with a seductive look in her eyes.
"We definitely underestimated you," she said quietly, more to herself then to me. "I had no idea you were so resourceful."
I stared right back in her eyes.
"There's a great many things you don't know about me my lady. Resourceful is only part of who I am."
She nodded.
"I'm beginning to see that, and I'm wishing terribly that that wasn't the case. You seem to be quite the extraordinary person, and I have an affinity for extraordinary people."
I took in a deep sigh and gave her an obvious look.
"Stop avoiding the questioning here," I replied and redirected. "Seriously, why are you doing this? Why the treachery?"
Bathory paused for a moment.
"Who says I'm treacherous?" she countered.
I wasn't going to play this game.
"I do. Your king."
Her small smile returned.
"My king?" she repeated. "I like the sound of that."
"Stop avoiding the questions here."
Bathory giggled and stared into my eyes.
"You're so confoundingly serious, it almost makes you a killjoy. However, if you want me to answer, I will. Yes, my friends and I did act treacherously, but that was only because you wouldn't approve of what we wanted."
I shook my head.
"So you think the end justifies the means?"
She acted as if it didn't matter.
"There are a great many things that are considered unfair that are necessary: war, death, love, politics, slavery, et cetera."
I stared at her incredulously.
"This is your reply?" I demanded.
She nodded.
"I'm afraid so, yes."
It was then I decided to give her a little taste of reality. It truly seemed she was lacking the gravitas of her crimes.
"You do realize you are going to be charged with treason for conspiring against the throne and lying on the queen, right? Do you really think you have the right to be so cavalier?"
Lady Bathory paused for a moment and took another step forward.
"You're going to charge me with treason?" she asked quietly.
I nodded.
"Yes, I am."
However, she just stared into my eyes for a long time, before she slowly shook her head.
"No you won't... not if you don't want to go to war with Baalam. Have you forgotten that I'm to be the future queen of that country?
I looked at her slightly taken aback. This was exactly what Zelda warned me about. This was the cover she was going to use for her crimes. It was sickening. Even so, I wasn't too keen to threats, especially from arrogant people.
"Excuse me?"
She stared at me boldly
"I don't have a speech impediment your majesty," she whispered. "You heard what I said."
Unfortunately, I did allow her taunts to get under my skin a little. I was feeling a little presumptuous in that moment.
"I would stop while I was ahead if I were you," I warned.
She reached over and started playing with the tassels of my cloak tie.
"Or you'll do what your majesty?"
I gave her another offhanded look.
Is she serious right now?
I didn't answer and she proceeded to go further.
"I know the law my lord," she whispered, "and there's nothing you can do if you don't want a war."
It was then I started to losing my composure.
"Have you forgotten to whom you are speaking?" I demanded.
She twirled the tassel around her finger.
"Not at all. I'm just giving you some much needed perspective."
My breathing quickened a little bit.
"Perspective?" I repeated with a hint of disgust. "Are you kidding me?"
She ran her other free hand over her dark hair, as her violet eyes sparkled from the blue hue of the room.
"No."
It was then I grabbed hold of her hand playing with the tassel and pulled her to me. The force of my grip was strong and caught her off guard. She looked at me stunned for a moment.
"You treacherous little snake," I said against my better judgment. "You commit high treason and have the nerve to threaten me?"
The surprise soon left her expression and was replaced with a confident smile. She seemed to be relishing in my aggravation as her eyes search my face.
"I had heard rumors from the court you were passionate about your beliefs, but I had no idea you had this much conviction," she whispered, not minding my words. "It's very admirable. I wish I had known you were this clever before, perhaps I would have pursued you instead of Prince Leonhart. What a noble you would make."
I feigned at her words.
"Stop with your false flattery. You would have to assume I would even be interested for one, and your lying tongue makes you nowhere near a woman I would ever consider for marriage. Your shifts aren't letting you off the hook with me either."
She stared at me for a long time again, and actually drew herself closer to me. She used her free hand to untie the cloak she was wearing, and while she did that, she unabashedly got into my personal space. Bathory had no qualms about her behavior, and even reached up and stroked her fingers through my damp hair.
"You have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen," she whispered to me suddenly. "I never noticed it until now. I've read that when men get angry they are especially passionate when they make love. Is that true of you?"
I drew back at her boldness.
"Excuse me?" I asked incredulously.
She didn't flinch.
"Perhaps… perhaps I could do something for you to make it up to you," she went on, "a favor for you for a favor for me."
It seemed she had no shame.
"I can't be bribed that way. I told you, you aren't my type."
She stroked her hand down over my cheek now.
"Why don't you close your eyes and let my mouth do the talking for you?" she whispered. "I guarantee you've never had anything close to a woman like me, not even your precious little queen."
I wanted to say I was shocked, but honestly at this point I wasn't. Even so, I still looked at her in mild disbelief.
"No," I said simply.
She now rested her hand on my chest.
"Why not? I'll let you do whatever you want. You saw yourself, I'm quite flexible."
I looked her straight in her eyes.
"Because I'm married. I don't need pleasure from another woman. I have a beautiful wife."
She stared into my eyes defiantly.
"If that's true, why haven't you pushed me away yet?" she whispered. "Why are you letting me this close to you?"
For all of my words, she did have a point.
"Because naturally you assume your whiles will get you what you want," I said anyway.
Bathory then ran her hand up my chest.
"Is it going to get me what I want?" she taunted.
I shook my head.
"No."
Bathory came in a little closer.
"You say that, but I don't think you mean it. We all have a weakness sire, all of us."
I groaned.
"You cajole yourself too much. If you don't stop with your goading you'll find yourself at the other end of a jail cell tonight," I threatened.
She grinned.
"Even at the risk of a war?"
Admittedly, she was grating me with that… that goddamn law. It was then Bathory paused. She stared into my eyes almost triumphantly and said nothing after her inquiry for a long time. During that moment she stepped back, and as frustrated as I was, I allowed her to free herself from my grip. She took a few more steps back, but her boldness didn't end there. She reached her arms behind her swim suit and carefully unhinged the corset keeping it in place. Soon, the corset was completely undone, and she slid it down her body so that there wasn't a stitch now on her. I looked at her stunned. Her ivory skin was flawless, with her large supple breasts and plump pink nipples just puckering from the cold air circulating throughout the room. The black satin line between her legs was the only stark contrast from her otherwise ivory complexion. It was unintentional, but I had a subtle reaction to seeing her beautiful naked body. I was only Hylian after all, but I immediately looked away.
"Put your clothes back on," I ordered.
Bathory didn't even flinch.
"Why?" she whispered. "Afraid you won't be so in control?"
I turned back to looking at her, but concentrated my gaze on her face.
"You think you're clever don't you?" I replied ignoring her. "You think I won't put you in jail for your acts of sedition, don't you?"
She smirked.
"I think you would because you're a man of your word, but you love your people too much. You wouldn't want to run the risk of poverty and starvation for your poor, precious peasants would you? We all know how much you love them."
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Why are you so heartless?"
Bathory ignored my question and walked back up to me.
"If you want a prisoner so badly, make me your prisoner right now," she whispered, "I'm ready for it."
I looked at her like she was insane.
"I told you no."
This time she used both hands to run up over my chest, but I quickly took hold of them and pulled her to me. I was tired of her cavalier attitude. She was startled for a moment, but didn't let my superior strength sway her.
"Well, well, well, now this is more like it," she whispered.
"You underhanded witch!" I snapped, which I wish I hadn't. "Are you completely devoid of human compassion? Do you really not care about the suffering of others? What kind of person are you?!"
Lady Bathory just stared into my eyes and breathed against my lips. She was only inches from my face now. She never answered my questions.
"You're remarkable, do you know that?" she whispered.
I was trying to find some redeeming quality in this woman. I wasn't sure there was any.
"Answer me!" I demanded.
However, she never did.
I shook my head and went on anyway.
"Have you ever seen fatherless children and widows starving?" I demanded, trying to reach her on some level. "Do you fully understand the psychological and social costs of war?"
She clutched the front of my tunic while I still had her hands apprehended. She attempted to stand on her tiptoes.
"Yes, and that's why you won't have me jailed," she whispered with full on desire in her voice, "and besides that... I simply don't care."
Then without waiting for another rebuttal from me, she reached up and kissed me on the lips. She was aggressive in that she intended to take as full advantage of this situation as she could. She opened her mouth and forced mine open with her tongue and kissed me deeply. She was successful for a few moments, even freeing her hands and wrapping them around my neck for a tight grip. However, I immediately pulled away from her impropriety. I stared at her with open frustration as I pushed her away, but she didn't seem to be concerned with my objection. I controlled my strength so as not to hurt her, but I wanted her to know she was not going to get a second chance at such an action.
"Don't try that again," I warned.
She wasn't dissuaded.
"Why?" she whispered. "You didn't seem to be minding it much."
I was dumbstruck for a moment. I didn't know women like Bathory could actually exist.
"You're nothing but a heartless sociopath! Have you lost your senses?"
She didn't seem to care.
"It's good that you finally see things for what they are your majesty, but stop kidding yourself, I know you want to fuck me. I see it in your eyes. Your wife doesn't have to know, just let it happen. It doesn't even have to be a long time. All I need is a few minutes of fellatio on you for you to orgasm, especially since you're so robust. You don't even have to fully undress."
This woman was unbelievable.
"You're repulsive," was all I could think to say.
She shook her head.
"No… I'm Hylian," she whispered, "and I think you would like it. I've been told I'm a tigris in bed."
I was going to put a stop to this nonsense once and for all.
"You have one week to get your apparatuses out of here before I haul you to jail," I warned. "War or not, you don't dictate anything here."
After all that, Bathory just stared at me and licked her lips. There wasn't a hint of remorse in her eyes.
"Is that how you really feel?" she whispered. "Fine, one week it is, and just know my offer is in perpetuity for you. You can call for me whenever you want to your majesty. I would consider it a privilege to be your lover."
I stared at her not knowing what to say, so I didn't say anything. However, I could tell she was dead serious. She was a cold callous woman and she would do anything to get what she wanted, I knew that now. I wasn't going to give her the opportunity to try and tempt me again. Prince Leonhart had no idea who he was about to get himself involved with. Heaven help him if he truly went through marrying this woman. I cut my eyes from her and left the room, not being able to stand being in her presence any longer. At my departure, I hurried back to where the Zora king was residing and decided not to hold the truth from him any longer. This 'becoming Hylian' initiative was dragon shit and he needed to know he had been duped.
As soon as I walked up to his throne I spoke.
"Sire you have been hoodwinked."
He looked at me surprised by my bluntness.
"I beg your pardon."
I was less patient the second time around with my disclosure.
"You've been deceived," I said point blank, "Lady Bathory, Lord Filgore and Lord Rue Morgue have all been feeding you lies. There is no 'becoming Hylian' initiative for the Zoras. It was all a ploy to get to your natural resources. What they are really after, I don't know, but they are willing to do anything to get it. The mon currency too, which we haven't even discussed, is nothing but a scam. I suggest you keep these lecherous vipers away from your kingdom before you find it in disarray."
The Zora king was looking at me dumbstruck. He was at a loss for words.
"I… I…" he trailed.
I decided to go further.
"I understand this is very untoward my lord, but if you want evidence of these facts I can have her majesty, Queen Zelda, correspond with you directly. After all, she is my wife."
In that moment the Zora king looked at me even more astounded.
"You're already married to the princess?" he asked with a hint of disbelief.
I knew there was something strange going on here, I just didn't know what. Now it was official, the king obviously had no idea Zelda and I had gotten married, which, if I were to be completely honest, made no sense. I understood the Zoras were more of an isolated people, and could not come to Hyrule due to their natural biology, but the news of our marriage had been industriously circulated to every province since the ceremony. It had been written about in every news paper and almanac available, not knowing was not a viable option. The Zora king's ignorance seemed more of an exercise in stupidity than anything else. I wasn't meaning to be harsh, but there was only so much leeway I could give an individual before they needed to use some common sense. How could the Zora king be this out of the loop?
I was silent for a long time.
"Yes," I answered finally.
The king looked at me stunned.
"My good man, I was told you were her consort in trust until the day Prince Leonhart from Baalam came to grant his blessing, then the two of you would be married."
All I could do was stare.
Lie number three.
"Did Lady Bathory tell you this sire?" I asked.
The Zora hesitated, but then nodded.
"Yes."
I would definitely need to take counsel with Zelda and see if there was any way past that egregious law protecting the nobles. Lady Bathory had gone too far with her deceit.
She will not get away with this...
"I'm afraid you were misinformed your majesty," I disclosed. "Her majesty Queen Zelda and I have been married for over three months now. As it stands, I am Hyrule's king, but I could understand how all of this information comes as a great shock to you considering the trickery you've encountered."
The Zora king was at a loss.
"I am a deeply confused and troubled by what you just revealed to me. I never would have approached you in such a disrespectful fashion had I known you were indeed Hyrule's rightful monarch. Now, I'm not sure what to believe."
I decided to help him in that regard.
"Believe nothing, especially where Bathory is concerned," I said point blank, "I have reason to deduce the nobles only want to circumvent your rule for their own dishonest gain. The mon, the so called 'becoming Hylian' initiative, the misinformation regarding me -everything they brought to you is a lie. It would be in your best interest to cut all ties with them immediately."
The Zora monarch was looking at me shocked.
"My word," he whispered, "this is grave."
I took a step forward.
"This is beyond grave and I hate to be the bearer of bad news your majesty, but the only way I could help you was with the element of surprise. You do what you must, but I've already mandated for Lady Bathory and her cohorts to evacuate your kingdom immediately. If they are not gone within the week, I need for you to inform me instantly."
The monarch was still taken aback.
"I… I understand everything you are saying my good man, but I still need to conduct my own full investigation to look into these matters you have presented. If what you are saying is true, this is not merely a matter with the nobles, this is a grievance with Hyrule as well."
I paused at his conjecture and understood his thought process, but who told him to give full access of his domain to a few greedy nobles without first consulting the guidance of the royal family? This had all the hallmarks of a coup, and unfortunately the nobles fed the Zora king all the lies he wanted to hear. I wasn't going to make this crucial situation any more serious, but he needed to understand that ignorance didn't beget clemency. Why was he so eager to institute a currency that was outside the backing of the rupee anyway? Did he have his own ulterior motives? I would have to find that out when tensions weren't so high, but this definitely wasn't the end of this matter. However, threatening a grievance on his end wasn't exactly prudent either.
"I understand sire," I replied anyway. "You can take as long as you need for your investigation, but the nobles have one week to depart from your domain, and that means everything in its entirety."
The monarch groaned.
"I don't know if that is wise right now considering some of the businesses with the Zoras are intertwined with the mining initiatives of the nobles. That could create unnecessary tension."
I had very little regard for that right now.
"I mean this with no disrespect, but you already have unnecessary tension... with me. The nobles are the last persons you need to be concerned with right now."
The Zora king was less than enthused by my rebuttal.
"That's an economic issue. It more than bevies a concern."
This conversation was becoming circular.
"Then I'm afraid you're going to have to do it without the aide of the nobles. Like I said before sire, you have one week before their presence is gone."
"I'm going to have to-" he tried.
"One week sire," I interrupted. "I'm sorry this is non-negotiable."
The Zora king didn't have much to say to me after that and it was just as well because I needed to take my leave. I bowed, and hurried in the opposite direction. But, found myself thinking about Lady Bathory when she reemerged from the anteroom dressed back in her swimsuit and covered with her robe. She locked eyes on me as I was leaving. All she did was smile. That was when I realized I truly felt sorry for Prince Leonhart. He was going to marry a genuinely heartless woman. Leonhart had his ways, but his soon to be wife was too much for any man. I had to try to warn him somehow, but would he even listen to me?
Hylia help him if he doesn't...
I left the throne room in frustration. The look on my face must have said it all, because it beckoned a concern from one of my generals.
"All is well my lord?" Osfala asked.
I shook my head.
"No," I said, mounting my horse, "in fact, I think our troubles are only beginning."
It was a very sobering comment.
"What do you mean?" Ravio asked.
I glanced back over at Zora's Domain entrance, then at him once more.
"I mean Lady Bathory," I said simply, "Lady… Bathory."
Nothing further needed to be said as we took off. Next month was going to be here before I knew it, and I hoped I could talk some sense into the prince.
~SSS~
One week later, Ordon Village, Saria
After finding out the news of my pregnancy, I was still trying to think of the perfect opportunity to tell Ralph. It was hard finding the right time when he was so busy. It was then I decided the first day of the weekend would work out best. That day was conveniently today. Ralph would be rested, the cares of the week would be behind him, and he could relish in the news without having to worry about work the next day. It seemed perfect. Besides, I knew he wanted to talk about the results of the tests performed by Dr. Seaside. He had been worried about me ever since our little tiff at the spring. Looking back, I felt terrible in how I treated him. He was only being considerate towards me and I was so impatient with him. That made me more eager to tell him. I really was excited about being pregnant. However, I couldn't deny that there was a bit of trepidation on my part as well.
More than anything in the world, I wanted to be a mother. It was a dream I always had. I remember a time when Link and I were talking about having a family. It was when we thought we had a real chance of being together. Link joked about us having ten children, then lowered the number down to five... five little Links and Sarias running around the forest. That seemed like a lifetime ago, but what a thought: Link and I being married and living happily ever after. However, that wasn't reality. That was a tale for storybooks, and my life was hardly a fairy tale. Even so, I contemplated that life from time to time. It would have been wonderful, but as wonderful as it would have been, it wasn't what destiny had in store for me. Besides that, it was a cruel thought against my husband. Ralph was where my loyalty should have been now, not thoughts of a 'would be' life with Link. I was already dealing with my guilt from before. However, that did not mean that I was not thrilled that Ralph was going to be a father. He was going to be an excellent father. He had so many gifts and talents to share. I was going to need to play catch up to be as affective in child rearing. I wanted to understand all the important aspects of Hylian parenthood. So, I decided to do some research on the subject.
I had already gone to Castle Town and bought two books: one on what to expect during pregnancy, and another on how to be an affective Hylian mother. I had only been Hylian for six years and there was still so much I didn't know. I knew things in nature, like trees and agriculture. However, when subjects got more complicated, I was admittedly more of a simpleton. I didn't think I was incapable of learning, I just knew what my limitations were. So, to remedy that issue, I decided to read more, and read a lot. I read any book I could get my hands on. I started with Ralph's medical journals, which were admittedly a trial. Then, I moved on to things like mathematics and alchemy. I found the information fascinating, but I didn't completely grasp the complexities of things spoken of. To help allay that, a few days ago I decided to go to Kokiri Forest and inquire the Great Deku. The guardian helped clarify a great deal of the concepts for me. The Deku Tree was gracious and kind, even when my questions that seemed trivial. Though, I was starting to realize my Kokiri heritage was slowly fading into a Hylian one.
That same day, I asked about the true concepts of life and death. A very sobering subject. The Deku Tree explained that life and death were symbiotic cycles, and eventually the cycles cancelled each other out. I asked him if I would die one day since I was no longer a Kokiri child. He informed me yes I would. I then asked him about Link, and he told me that one day he too would die. It was a difficult discussion, but it was one that I needed to have. I didn't want to have these misconceptions about life. Afterwards, I informed the Deku Tree that I was pregnant. The great guardian congratulated me and told me the Kokiri would honor me for so great an occasion. It made me happy that he was so pleased. However, surprisingly he also informed me that after the birth of my child I could no longer visit him. I was stunned hearing this news. He stated it was because it would be too dangerous for my child. Knowing how curious I was, the Deku Tree told me he sensed that my child would be just as curious. That curiosity was both a gift and a curse, something he could not protect my child from. I naturally felt displeased with this news, because, well, the Deku Tree was my father. I was supposed to raise my child without ever seeing my father again? It seemed cruel and unfair. I wasn't sure I could adhere to that promise. I needed the Deku Tree. I couldn't let fear quell me from seeking his guidance if I needed so in the future. Perhaps his words were merely lip service because of the sanctity of the forest. I hoped that was the case.
Anyway, presently I wanted everything to be perfect. I had supper prepared, the house was clean, Ralph's favorite book was out by his chair, and I made sure to mend the slacks he asked me to. Everything was perfect. I looked out the window and saw him coming up the road after traveling to market town. As he walked up, I waved to him. He smiled when he saw me and waved back. There was something about him that was so kind and wonderful. I went to open the door when he arrived, to which he greeted me with a big hug and kiss.
He sniffed the air in anticipation of what I was cooking.
"Something smells good," he complimented.
I went to the hearth and removed the lid from the cauldron cooking our dinner.
"I made you your favorite," I said, "cuckoo stew."
Ralph immediately rubbed his belly and I laughed.
"Perfect," he replied, "that sounds incredible."
When he came inside the house, I helped him get comfortable. Once he was washed up and seated at the table, I served him a heaping bowl of stew and some bread. Afterwards, I sat down next to him and had none for myself.
"You're not hungry?" he asked.
I shook my head, but then took his hand in mine.
"Not really."
He looked at me thoughtfully just then.
"Is everything okay?"
I was quiet for a long moment and caressed his thumb. I was hardly subtle.
"I have something I want to tell you."
He gave me his undivided attention after hearing that.
"Okay."
I took in a deep sigh.
"First off, I wanted to apologize for my behavior a little while ago. It wasn't considerate of me to make you worry the way I did."
Ralph took my hand in his and squeezed it affectionately.
"That's alright."
I shook my head.
"No it isn't. You deserve better than that. I made you worry for no reason at all."
He grinned at me.
"I'm just glad it hasn't happened again. You seem to be doing so much better."
I looked down and blushed suddenly. That's when he moved the conversation along.
"Was there something else you wanted to tell me honey?"
I stroked my hair behind my ears nervously.
"Well, I went to see Dr. Seaside a week ago, and… and he gave me some exciting news."
Ralph suddenly stared at me alerted, probably already guessing what I was going to say, but he waited for me anyway.
"Which is?" he pressed.
I paused and covered his hand with mine.
"I'm… I'm going to have a baby," I whispered.
Ralph looked at me stunned, but then not so stunned if that made sense. His eyes widened and he suddenly started breathing fast.
"Really?" he said excited.
I nodded.
"Really and truly."
Afterwards, Ralph got up from the table and took me in his arms. He lifted me in the air like a feather and all I could do was laugh at his excitement.
"Oh my goddess!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to be a father! I can't believe it! I'm going to be a father!"
I continued to laugh, even when he put me down on the ground and tried to get a hold of himself. He was beyond ecstatic.
"This is incredible news Sar!" he went on. "Do you realize you are going to be a father and I am going to be a mother? This is incredible!"
I couldn't stop laughing at his reaction.
"I think you have those backwards honey, but I understood what you mean."
He fanned that off.
"Do my parents know?" he redirected the conversation. "Did you tell Gertrude yet?"
I shook my head.
"I wanted to tell you first. No one else knows."
Ralph then rubbed his hands together and a huge smile came across his face. I didn't think a person could look more happy.
"Goodness, I wonder what we're going to have. A little boy would be great, but a little girl would be wonderful as well."
I sat back down and watched him now pace about the room. I couldn't stop grinning.
"We're going to need to get a bigger house," he went on. "I'm going to have to get a bigger practice going. We're going to need to feed for three."
I chuckled at his pacing.
"If we do have a girl, no man is ever going to be good enough for her, ever," he continued. "Except maybe a prince, and that's a big maybe."
I raised my brows and looked at the stew in the bowl that was still uneaten.
"Your dinner is getting cold," I said quietly.
He blew me a raspberry.
"Who cares about eating when you're pregnant Sar!" he said excited. "We need to plan!"
I giggled more, then got up and went to the kitchen to clean up the few dishes in the basin. When I was nearly done, Ralph came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"I'm so happy right now," he whispered against my hair.
I was pleased as well.
"Me too," I whispered back.
He held me tighter.
"You have never been more beautiful in all your life than you are right now," he whispered. "Thank you so much for being the mother of my baby."
His words caught me off guard. I stopped cleaning for a moment to turn around in his arms. I stared into his eyes and reached up to caress his cheek. His words were so sincere.
"You really mean that?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Of course I do."
I got a little misty eyed, but blinked my tears away.
"I should be thanking you," I whispered back. "I never thought I was going to be a mother until you came and changed all that."
Ralph reached up and caressed my cheek this time.
"I knew from the moment I met you Saria that I wanted you to be my wife," he whispered. "I know that even more so now after living with you. You've made all my dreams come true."
I teared up more after hearing that, and before I could reply, he kissed me. I felt an overwhelming happiness coupled with an overwhelming guilt just then. I knew how much he loved me and I knew how unfair my heart was being to him when I thought about Link. I wasn't supposed to be divided anymore. I wasn't supposed to have these longings for a man who was clearly out of my reach now. However, I was determined to not have that be my struggle any longer. I wasn't going to love Ralph with only half a heart when he deserved my everything. After next month, I would tell Link I could no longer see him secretly anymore. Seeing Link only made it harder for me to love Ralph, and Ralph was a good man. He deserved my all.
My husband held me tighter as he kissed me deeper just then.
The next time will be the last time... No more secret rendezvouses, no more secret meetings, no more intimate moments... It's time I gave my all to my marriage... It's time I gave my all to Ralph...
It was time. I was going to be a mother, and a mother needed to be one hundred percent... with everything.
I will not let you down Ralph... I swear...
~SSS~
Three days later
Ralph was still ecstatic about the news of my pregnancy. This morning before work, he was a regular chatterbox about all the things we needed to do in order to get ready for the baby. I was so pleased that he was so happy. He didn't even want to leave for work, stating he should probably miss a day to make sure I was okay. I told him I was fine and that I would continue to be fine with him going to save other people's lives. I knew those words would do the trick, because soon thereafter, he left.
Go save the world Ralph...
After his departure, I cleaned the house, and went about my duties for the day. I decided to work on some new dress designs I had in mind. However, a couple hours into my vocation, there was a brief knock on the door. Thinking it Gertrude, I called out.
"Come in!"
However, there was no immediate answer and no one came in. I didn't stop what I was doing right away, so I continued until I was finished. Soon after, I wiped my hands on my apron and went to answer the door. I looked out the window to find no one there. When I opened the door, the only thing waiting for me was a stylish, white stationery. Puzzled, I picked the letter up. My eyes widened when I saw who it was addressed to. It read: To the Girl with the Green Hair. I felt a strange sense of foreboding by that title, and quickly placed the stationery into the front pocket of my dress. I looked around once more to see if there was anyone nearby, but saw no one.
Afterwards, I went back inside, closed the door, but then proceeded to lock it and closed the curtains. I was suddenly nervous about this correspondence. I wasn't sure I wanted to read it. However, when my hands stopped shaking, I took the letter from my pocket and read who it was addressed to again: To the Girl with the Green Hair. My nervousness deepened. That wasn't just a reference to my hair, that was a reference to my past life. It made me retrace my life. All my old comrades who referred to me in that particular way were gone. I didn't live in an area where anyone knew of me since the clean up of Ordon. I had been very careful not to make a scene in Castle Town, and that was only if I had to go. So… who left this letter? Who was reaching out to me in this way? Who still knew me simply as: the girl with the green hair?
I stared at the stationery for a long time before I finally had the courage to open it. As I unfolded the letter, I thought about Ralph. Ralph had nothing to do with my past. Ralph was innocent. The last thing I wanted was any harm to come to him. His life was so precious. We were starting anew, especially now since we were having a baby. I would leave and never return before I let anyone hurt him. I braced myself as skimmed through the contents. I realized then my hopes were for naught. My premonition soon turned to full on fear. This was worse than I thought.
It read:
Dear Maiden,
There once was a time when the mulled trees
Sang a song on the forest breeze
The songstress was a girl without care
A green haired maiden, so young and fair
"Oh favored girl, the emeralds cast!
Sing us a song before our lives pass!"
What is this emerald?
What is this doubt?
What happened to that emerald maiden who used to skip about?
Did she tarry?
Did she fail?
No, but lo! A baby she is to hail!
Your secret is safe
Your life is now a shrew
Except for the king who is still deeply in love with you
Does your husband fret?
Does your husband fear?
Does your husband know that the black maiden lies near?
An hour of reckoning is indeed upon you
Let the words of preponderance soon consume you
What do I speak?
What do I say?
Nary wisdom or courage can keep it at bay…
Keep these words in mind…
~An Old Friend~
P.S. Congratulations on your soon-to-be bundle of joy.
At the message's end, I covered my mouth and swallowed hard. Whoever sent this letter knew exactly who I was, and had some very intimate details about my life. From the looks of this writing, it seemed to serve as a warning, but from what? From whom? How? This message was clearly delivered to harass me. It made me think back to other strange events recently. For instance, that carriage riding off the path on Hyrule Field. That carriage was coming directly at me and Gertrude. Was that a warning too? But that rider didn't appear to know me. That woman was a noble. She couldn't have sent this. Why did they sign it with 'an old friend'? Was this a former associate of mine? Was this... Zant?
That's impossible... he's been sealed away...
This was very perplexing.
I folded up the letter and placed it back in my pocket. My hands were shaking again. I was showing I was visibly upset. There was no way I was going to be able to go about my day like this. I had to calm down. I had to focus. I had to remember I needed to keep my composure. I closed my eyes just then and took in a deep breath.
"That's better," I whispered.
However, I couldn't lie, I was scared. Someone wanted something from me and they were bold enough to come to my doorstep to ask for it. I just hoped I could figure out who this was before they came calling again.
~SSS~
One week later, Hebra Manor, Lady Bathory
It is hard being rich and beautiful. It is even harder being rich, beautiful, and ambitious. The latter is me, and trust me when I say it takes a certain kind of person to truly appreciate my struggle. Perhaps the only other woman who could truly understand my plight was queen Zelda.
Such is life.
Even so, being a Bathory was no small thing. My family had great power and influence in Hyrule. The Hebra Mountains, once thought to be uninhabitable, was excavated by my family many many years ago. My ancestors made our fortune from the illustrious diamonds, rubies, and sapphires found therein. They understood the meaning of perseverance, and that was something I lived by even to this day. My father and mother were both dead, but they taught me well. My father said: "Being a Bathory is one step removed from being royalty. Master the court and you will master your destiny." It was fate, or bad luck, that took my parents from me at a young age. I was sixteen when they died in an avalanche coming home. I missed them, but I knew my father would never want me to appear weak. I grieved in private, but I kept my grief short lived because the expectations of me were exponential. My father had laid the ground work for greatness. Eight years later, I intended to live up to it.
As such, I didn't pretend to care much for common folk, nor did I have a gumption for the poor and needy. I did my due diligence in terms of philanthropy so my family name would be in good standings with the dregs. But as for association, I found nothing more laughable. I found such leeches irritating. However, I did have a penchant for extraordinary people. When it came to extraordinary people, I did not care where their life standing stemmed from. It was the greatness I was attracted to. Such was my dilemma now with the king of Hyrule. I never expected him to leave such an imbued impression on me. He had a high quotient of intellect, ambition, courage, and tenacity. He was brave, handsome, and bold. He was everything a man should be. He was so intriguing, I couldn't get him off my mind. Since that evening he caught me in Zoras Domain, I found myself thinking of him constantly. I wanted to know more about him.
I knew the king came from peasantry. I was aware that the queen married him for political reasons. However, he was turning out to be so much more. Perhaps he was the surprise guest as spoken of in the story of legend... the sun prince. He did look like the sun prince... was he the sun prince? Was he the missing part of my puzzle? I spent this last week researching him and his past. He came from the forest, defeated Ganondorf, became a knight, married the princess, and now he was king. What an extraordinary tale. But that wasn't all, he traveled to different lands, met different people, even saved another country from the moon. The more I learned about him, the more he fit into a mold I could not deny. I partly wished now I sought after him myself. Prince Leonhart was a catch to be sure, with his wealth and connections being the only benefactor preceding the hero. Everything else, the hero seemed to excel in. This was a surprising turn of events.
A primal surge of lust went through me just then. I wonder what the king is like in bed. He was probably a feral animal who loved being in control. I was certain her majesty was intensely satisfied with his bed offerings. There were already whispers from the ladies of the court, stating there were nights they could hear the king pleasuring the queen immensely. Her moans were amplified by the acoustics of their vaulted chamber. I initially thought they were grandstanding simply because the king was the hero. But, now I see why so many women were enamored with him. He had the stride of a warrior, the diligence of scholar, and the heart of a saint. His majesty caught me red handed, and yet, I still wasn't in a jail cell. There wasn't a thing I could do about an arrest if he clearly wanted to, but I was still free. Perhaps he had a soft spot for a woman like me. Normally, I would consider that a weakness. Yet, all I could think about was how much I admired him.
My heart fluttered at the thought.
The sun prince...
My whole life and existence seemed to revolve around that tale. It wasn't just a bedtime story for me or my family, we lived that existence. I wouldn't recall it now, but it was something constantly on my thoughts. Still, I wish he had taken me up on my offer and treated me like the naughty girl I was… next time perhaps. I was going to find an opportunity where there would be a next time. Only a man with a special kind of gumption can pull that off with me. Those aquatic blue eyes of his, that impeccable mind… he really was one of a kind.
"Your majesty," I whispered, "you certainly are something."
But…
But…
But...
Like any man, he has a weakness.
It may be harder to find.
It may be less readily manifested.
However… it was there.
He had a weakness.
I will find it.
I will exploit it.
And I will utilize it.
I sat down and looked at the portrait of the king I secretly had made by one of the street artists who knew his resemblance well.
He's so beautiful…
I reached out and touched it.
"What are you hiding sire?" I whispered, staring at the picture. "What could possibly be the weakness of such a virtuous soul?"
This promised to be fun to find out.
The next chapter will be up soon!