Zelda, what's wrong?" Link asked, the concern in his voice quite evident. Zelda was strong, it was not often he saw her like this, after all these ages, he was quite surprised.

"Promise me you'll be more careful...promise me!" she shouted, an almost demanding tone to her voice as Link held her in his arms.

"My love, what is it you speak of?" Link asked softly, wondering what Audrik had said.

"Audrik told me about the Golem...how it came so close to ending your life." she replied, still hiding her face.

Link was confused more so now than ever, near death experiences were common occurrences among his many lives, with Zelda usually warning him not to be reckless as he made is way to rid a far away temple of some sort of evil. "Zelda, I have found myself on the verge of death before, surely this is nothing new, find your strength, my love." Link said, resting his head against hers.

"You've never come this close before...Audrik told me that your Triforce of Courage breathed life back into you when he, Oren, and Impa were sure you had fallen...this is the first time that's happened...the first time circumstances have been that grave." she replied, her voice beginning to shake.

It was true, the Triforce had never independently drawn on it's own power to revive him, and neither had he ever had a near death experience in which he saw faces from the past, as if they were standing right in front of him, he had actually spoken to them, Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Groose, Kafei, Anju...his father...it seemed so real...so frightening. "I promise I won't come that close again, I'll be more careful, for you, for us." Link said, placing a hand on her cheek reassuringly.

"Don't leave me alone again, Link...I couldn't bare it..." she said, a tear falling from her eye.

The memory she spoke of struck Link like an arrow, the sharp twinge of pain bringing back something he tried to hard to suppress. "Zelda...talking about that...it won't help us forget it..." he said, a solemn tone in his voice.

"I don't want to forget..." Zelda replied, looking into his eyes, their two shades of blue meeting.

Link felt a wave of internal pain wash over him as he recalled it, eight lifetimes ago it had been, the fact that they could even remember was a testament to the strength of their powerful memories, Link didn't want to remember, but for her he did so, searching his memories and finding it, like a book in a library.

oOo

Link spun, narrowly missing a barrage of red spikes, shot from one of Ganondorf's tusks. It was his desperation move, using his Triforce of Power to twist himself into this mutant abomination, hulking and grotesque, it's face boar like, with tusks sharper than a Knight's sword. Link once again dodged one of Ganon's attacks, the ball of fire exploding nearby, sending a wave of heat over him. Zelda pelted Ganon with light arrows, every now and then bringing him down to one knee before he forced her to dodge another attack. Link slashed at Ganon's tail while he was distracted, finding pleasure in the evil King's roar of pain, Ganon spun around, striking Link, with Link fighting hard to hold on to the Master Sword.

As Ganon raised a claw to crush him, his movement was intercepted by a lightning bolt, courtesy of the Princess, his motor functions temporarily impaired, Ganon fell to the ground, struggling to stand, Link took advantage of this, grabbing onto Ganon's red mane, he climbed swiftly, Master Sword at the ready. Ganon arose, swinging violently, attempting to shake Link off, but Link's grip on his mane proved strong. Ganon swung forward, giving Link enough momentum to swing forward at a breakneck speed. Master Sword at the ready he came down hard on Ganon's head, not letting the impact disrupt him, Link drove the sword through his skull, Ganon thrashed violently for a few moments before falling to the ground dead...or so they thought.

Link climbed down, a warm smile finding it's way onto his face, even through the thoughts of the violent battle he had just finished. He walked to Zelda, her sweet smile catching him. Their loving gazes interlocked, when suddenly Zelda screamed, a look of horror on her face; with one last push Ganon used up what life force he had left, piercing Link's chest with a massive tusk. Link could only open his eyes wide with pain and shock as he felt it tear through his flesh, smashing through his spinal column, breaking through his ribs, and tearing it's way out the other side, he fell to the ground, knowing that his lungs and heart had been destroyed completely, his chances of survival nonexistent.

Zelda ran to him, failing to hold back her sobs as a glassy look spread across his eyes, blood beginning to flow from his mouth, the only words he managed to say being "Zelda..I..." before he fell silent, all motion ceasing. Zelda looked up, she noted with pleasure that Ganon was dead, but that pleasure was easily overcome by the intense grief and sadness she immediately felt, cradling her hero and eternal lover's broken body in her arms. He was laid to rest with great fanfare, being the Hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for the land, Zelda holding back her tears then, saving them for when she was alone.

oOo

Link looked down, his hatred for Ganondorf had attained a high level before that, but this happening is what drove his anger from a hate formed from his acts against others, to a hate that bloomed from a personal vendetta he and Zelda both carried. The pain was still fresh in his mind, as unimaginable as it was. "I remember..." he said, "But I also remember the next life, the sheer joy you showed when we met again, I'd never felt so loved by you." he said, nuzzling his forehead against the top of her head.

"When Ganondorf took you from me...that was the weakest I ever felt, the most vulnerable..." she said, her voice shaking, "My existence was nothing without you..." she added, eyes full of tears as she looked at Link.

Link could feel tears welling up in his also, he had never seen Zelda this upset before, except for that moment before his life ceased, one desperate last act from Ganon being the cause. "I won't go out like that again!, You know that!" he said, trying with all the conviction he had to reassure her.

"You know...I abdicated my throne to my cousin in that life, I couldn't take sitting on that throne...without you beside me." she said, her embrace tightening.

Link was stunned, in the seven lifetimes since, she had never told him this, to think she'd do such a thing was something he'd never imagined. "I'm here now, and I will fight as hard as I can to make sure that's always the case." he said softly, cupping her chin. He and Zelda had lived six full lives since then, with Link planning to do the same in this life.

Zelda looked into his eyes, unable to resist it, she locked her lips with his, the both of them seeing this as a promise that they weren't going to lose each other again.

oOo

Audrik carried himself quickly through the hall, swinging himself behind a pillar, while his Sheikah Guardian, Oren, hid himself in the shadows nearby. Audrik held his breath, hoping he had not been spotted, he was relieved when he heard Minister Ryos's relaxed humming coming from down the corridor. Audrik had been suspicious of Ryos for a while, he fidgeted when he was nervous, and he seemed to only fidget when he had good news, this was of course, not true all of the time, but happened with such alarming frequency that Audrik had grown suspicious.

The Minister passed by, Audrik eyeing him from the periphery of his vision, as Oren watched, unnoticed from the shadows. After being presented with the evidence, Oren had come to share the Prince's suspicions, taking note of Ryos's strange behavior.

Ryos was only slightly taller than the average Hylian male, but much slimmer, surprisingly so actually, his body was gaunt as that of a redead, he kept his brown hair long, with it easily reaching his bony shoulders.

Continuing his humming he stopped at the end of the hall, with Audrik noting he showed no interest in, nor did he have a reason to enter any of the rooms. The Minister looked around, craning his neck around the pillars, causing Audrik to scramble behind the pillar he rested on the side of. Soon he got what he wanted, Minister Ryos pulled a seer's stone from his pocket, muttering an incantation in old Hylian, then uttering a word the Prince had't heard before.

With Oren and Audrik listening intently, the seer's stone levitated until it was eye level with Ryos.

"Ryos, why do you bother me?" they heard a voice say, emanating from the seer's stone.

"My lord..I was able to sabotage the Golem, it went as planned, with Minister Tonbridge taking the blame." Minister Ryos said enthusiastically.

"That VERMIN!" the Prince thought, moving to reveal himself, until he spotted Oren, waving at him to stay hidden.

"Do continue." the voice on the other end said, a pleased tone to it.

"It managed to destroy a third of East Castle Town...but didn't make it close to the Castle..." he said, trailing off nervously.

"How was it stopped?!" the other voice asked, sounding impatient.

"The Hero, my lord, with the help of the brat Prince and his wretched Sheikah they were able to bring it down." Ryos answered, anger pushing away his fear.

Audrik looked to Oren, and imploring expression on his face, wanting at that moment to dispatch the Minister permanently.

Oren took up a stern look, signaling Audrik to remain concealed.

"Are you telling me the Hero revealed himself...and even with a magically powered stone giant, you were unable to kill him?" the voice asked incredulously.

"Ye...yes my Lord, I beg your forgiveness for my failure." Ryos said, a frightened tone to his voice again.

"Meet me at once, the Hero's presence means that the Princess Zelda is taking the Throne, we must deal with this at once!" the voice demanded, the seer's stone going inactive before the Minister could answer.

Minister Ryos turned and began to walk toward the exit, his from slumped.

The Prince darted out from behind the pillar, rapier at Ryos's throat, the Minister yelped in fright, his fidgeting beginning.

"My...my...My Lord...what is the meaning of this?" He asked, not at all aware the Prince had been listening to the entire conversation.

"Who were you talking to, I might lessen your sentence if you tell me, planning to kill the Hero, now that's bad, and then plotting to do away with my sister, that makes it so much worse." Audrik said, putting his rapier to the Minister's throat.

"I don't know as to what you're referring my lord, please release me!" begged Minister Ryos as he twitched uncontrollably.

Suddenly a deep voice came from behind the Minister, "Do what he says." Oren said as he looked down at the stick thin man before them.

Minister Ryos suddenly took out his sword, clashing with the Prince momentarily, then turning around to slash at Oren, who effortlessly dodged the strike.

The Prince ran up, slashing downwards, with Ryos catching the strike, suddenly a great sword smashed down next to Ryos, with Oren shouting, "Now's your time to surrender!" the look on his face serious. The Minister quickly reached into his pack, withdrawing a bomb, Oren grabbed the Prince, pulling him to safety as the bomb went off, leaving a massive dust cloud.

Oren and Audrik looked up to see Ryos dashing down the halls, every now and then letting out a curse. Audrik and Oren gave chase, swords drawn.

oOo

Link and Zelda smiled at each other, their tears fading, the warmth they felt when they were with one another welling up in their hearts. Suddenly the calm was broken by the alarm sounding, Link drew his sword, noting it's light feel, while Zelda's hands began to glow, charging her magic in preparation for what this threat might be.

"Keep watch for Minister Ryos!" a guard called as he ran by.

Link grabbed the nearest Guard, Zelda right behind him. "Guard, what's happening?" Link asked urgently, a look of concern on his face.

The Guard looked at Link, and suddenly spying the Princess behind him spilled all he knew, "Prince Audrik and Sir Oren caught Minister Ryos conspiring with an outside force through a seer's stone, the Prince has put out a warrant for his arrest on the grounds of high treason!" the Guard exclaimed, "He's fleeing as we speak!" he added, sounding quite alarmed.

"Shall we?" Link asked Zelda.

A smile flashed across her delicate features, "We must find him at once." she said, locking eyes with Link.

The two tore off down the hall together, Zelda keeping pace, even with her large dress.

oOo

Chapter 11 is done, I hoped you enjoyed the read, even if it is a bit short!

Elf Warrior Knight: I'm glad you liked the dream Link had of his former life, I wanted to get some of the back story out there, I always find flashbacks to other lives intriguing, so this won't be the last one! I'm really glad you liked my rupee and sword concepts, I was worried it was a bit heavy handed. Thank you for your reviews, it was awesome to see them pop up like that, I'm glad I had such good timing posting the next installment haha! I hope you enjoyed the reads! =]

And thank you to ravegrl96 for the follow, it means a lot!

Almost 1000 views! Thank you so much for reading!

Best regards,

-Prometheus17