(Updated: 31/03/17)

Hi everyone!

Here you go, your Tuesday chapter! I don't have much to say this week, so just enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Nine

Karane woke up with a start, breathing heavily. She put a hand up to her forehead, and dragged away the sweat that covered it. She had had a nightmare, taking her back to the time she had given birth to Lee early. She remembered all the blood, the pain, and how scared she had been. She remembered how she had been alone, and how her baby had very nearly died. She knew if Horii hadn't have come than he would've.

Suddenly, a sense of dread washed over her. Was he still in his crib? Had anything happened to him in the night? Worried, Karane threw herself out of bed and went to check on her son. She stumbled through the darkness, towards the where he baby boy lay, still sound asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. Choking back a relieved sob when she saw her son, Karane stroked Lee's head gently. The boy screwed up his face, and pulled away from the touch, annoyed at being disturbed from his sleep. Karane smiled, sighing gently. She put her hand over her belly, feeling the gentle bulge. She wasn't exactly sure how far gone she was, but judging by the fact that Groose had been away for three months now, she based it on that.

Karane was nervous to let people know she was pregnant again. She had told Zelda, but they lived together so it was different. She was worried how people would view her, especially since Groose was still off on his adventures. Remembering her dream, she hoped it wasn't a premonition to her being alone again.

Karane eventually went back to bed, and slept soundly until Lee began to cry for his breakfast. She took him through to the kitchen, and began to make breakfast. She noticed then that Zelda hadn't woken up yet since the breakfast bowls on the sink were still clean. Karane heard Eric start to cry out for Zelda in her room, and when he didn't stop, she felt concerned.

"Zelda?" Karane asked, knocking on the door gently. When there was no answer, she let herself. Karane felt her stomach drop when she saw the empty bed. She picked up Eric to soothe him, and noticed then a note on the bedside table, addressed to her. Karane picked it up, and decided she'd read it after seeing to the toddlers.

She sat the three in their highchairs and fed them. Sitting down at the table, she opened the letter.

'Karane,' It read, 'I'm sorry I've gone without saying anything. I did come back, but you were asleep. I've gone to find Link. I think I know how to save him and bring him home. I'm sorry for dumping Aria and Eric on you. I miss them so much already, but this journey is just too dangerous for them to come along on. If they become too much, please take them to my Father. He'll look after them. I should be back soon. Zelda.'

Karane thought about her dream, and tears pricked at her eyes. She was alone again.

Zelda made her way down the path, walking towards the second settlement. The journey was long, and her legs were beginning to hurt. She didn't want to stop long in the settlement, in case people got suspicious; but she knew that exhausting herself was not a good idea. She also wanted to see Horii; It had been ages since they two had been able to see each other.

Zelda felt so very guilty for leaving Karane. And she felt so very sad at leaving her twins alone. She missed them so much already. Zelda had gone back to the house before she left, to pack her bag. She had filled it with snacks for her journey, bottles of water and some other items she thought would come in handy. She'd written a note for Karane, and kissed Aria and Eric goodbye. Then, she'd slipped out just as soon as she'd arrived.

She'd then headed back to the house that she and Link used to live in. It was extremely dusty inside, as no one had been in in over a year. After looking for a bit, Zelda found the items she was searching for: Link's old training sword and a shield. She fixed the shield to her back along with the scabbard of the sword, and then slipped the sword into the scabbard. After that, she left the village.

Zelda felt bad at not saying goodbye in person, but she knew Karane would try and stop her. Zelda was the one who would be able to get Link back, just like he had done for her when it was her missing on the Surface.

Zelda made it to the settlement by nightfall, and quickly located Pipit and Horii's house. She knocked on the door, and Pipit's mother answered.

"Zelda!" she exclaimed happily. Zelda smiled at her.

"Mallara, hello," Zelda greeted her. "Is Horii here?"

"She is! Would you like to come in?"

Zelda nodded, and Mallara stood back, letting her in.

"I'm sorry the house is a mess…" Mallara ducked her head "Horii cleans for me sometimes, but I'm just not very good with a duster…"

"It's alright," Zelda replied politely. Horii must've heard her voice, because she came into the entryway.

"Zelda!" Horii exclaimed, running up and grabbing her best friend into a hug. "How are you? What brings you here?" She looked around quickly. "Where are the twins?"

"It's a long story," Zelda told her, and Horii nodded in understanding.

They sat and chatted for a little while about other things, avoiding the topic. Horii started to make dinner for everyone, and when Pipit came home they all sat down to eat. Pipit was surprised to see Zelda, but didn't question it after Horii shot him a look.

After eating, Pipit went to his study, Mallara went into the living room and Zelda stayed to help Horii clean up. This was when she asked again about why Zelda was here.

"It's nice to see you and all," Horii began. "But I'm curious; why are you here?"

Zelda sighed, and put down the plate she had been drying.

"Promise you can keep a secret?" Zelda asked. Horii's eyes went wide and she nodded. Horii LOVED knowing other people's secrets.

"I promise."

"Link's been captured." Zelda told her. Horii's mouth dropped open.

"He's been CAPT-" she started to yell, and Zelda clapped her hand over her friend's mouth.

"Shh!" Zelda hushed her. "SECRET, remember?"

"Is everything okay, girls?" A concerned Mallara popped her head around the door, and Horii and Zelda both nodded furiously.

Giving them a funny look, she left. Horii turned back to Zelda.

"Spill all." She said "Now."

"Oh Horii," Zelda took a deep breath "First of all, Link was captured. I only found out when the other knights came back and told me. I could feel something was wrong, but I always do when Link is away. Then, I went back up to Skyloft to visit my mother's grave. You know it calms me down when I'm worried. But, this time I must've fallen asleep because I had a dream in which she came to me and told me that I could find Link, that I knew how to. I just needed to listen to my heart. So, then I left. I feel so bad, leaving Aria and Eric. I miss them so much."

"That's pretty crazy," she nodded when Zelda was finished. "I honestly don't know what to say. I know I can't stop you, so I won't even try, but damn."

"You can't stop me," Zelda nodded in agreement. "If I can get Link back, I have to try. I mean, even though I should know how to get him back, I'm not sure I do. I'm worried, but if Link was able to find me before, I can at least try now."

"I believe you can do it," Horii encouraged "You two have always had a weird connection thing going on. It's like you could sense what he was doing before he did it. Used to freak the crap out of me. Remember when we were little, and he knew you had fallen over before anyone had even called an adult?"

"I remember," Zelda laughed, reminiscing in events long passed.

"You have to at least stay the night, though," Horii pleaded "It's getting dark already, and it would be nice to be able to sit and gossip for a bit."

"Of course I will," Zelda smiled at her friend "I missed you."

"Headmaster Gaepora!" Karane rushed into his office, waving the letter in her hand, "Zelda's gone!"

Gaepora looked up, confused and surprised. Karane's words finally sunk in, and his eyes went wide.

"Zelda's gone?" He repeated, standing up, "What do you mean, gone?"

"She left this morning, I don't know when. She left me this letter, she's gone after Link!"

Karane handed the letter to him, and Headmaster Gaepora started to read. When he got to the end, he sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"I should've known she would so something like this," he said. "I should've gotten someone to keep an eye on her."

"I'm so sorry," Karane's eyes filled with tears again "I should've thought harder. I should've made sure she wasn't going to do anything like this. This is all my fault."

Headmaster Gaepora walked around his desk to the sobbing girl, and pulled Karane into a hug.

"Hush, Child," he soothed. "It was not anyone's fault. There's no point wondering about the should-haves, could-haves. What's done is done, and right now we need to worry about Aria and Eric, and then about sending a team after her." He let go of Karane, and looked around "Where are the little ones, anyway?"

"I left them with the knight on the door," she told him, sniffling. "They were playing up, refusing to come in. I think Aria and Eric know something is wrong."

"They are very smart children. I worry for them. I fear that history will repeat itself with the offspring of the Goddess and her chosen Hero."

Karane nodded in agreement, although she didn't really understand.. Headmaster Gaepora suddenly furrowed his brow, and looked Karane up and down.

"Karane, my dear child," He started.

"Yes, Headmaster?" Karane suddenly felt extremely self-conscious.

"I don't mean to be curt," He continued, "But are you expecting a baby?"

Karane froze. She didn't know whether to lie, or just come out with it. She thought about the dream again, and realized she didn't want to be alone this time, and if she kept denying it to everyone she would be. She sighed, and looked down, feeling ashamed of herself.

"I am," she admitted finally, and then started to cry again. "I'm sorry. I know I've already got Lee to look after, and now Aria and Eric. I didn't plan it, it just happened. And I know I'm on my own at the moment, what with Groose gone, and- and- I'm so sorry."

"Sorry?" Headmaster Gaepora echoed, raising his brow in surprise. "Karane, we have changed the outdated rules on mothers. Everyone deserves the same amount of care and consideration, regardless of their plight. I just wish I had had my eyes open to it before. In that case, it should be me apologizing to you, for turning a blind eye when it came to Lee and allowing you to be treated how you were."

"It's alright," she shook her head. "I just don't want to be alone this time," she sighed deeply. "I wish Groose would come back."

"I'm sure he will, my dear," Gaepora put a hand on Karane's shoulder. "He's a good man, under all that bravado. And he loves you and his son, anyone can see that. He's still a young man, and young men tend to get confused, and go on adventures. He'll come back."

Karane thanked the old Headmaster for his kind words, and Gaepora started to make preparations for what to do next. Karane decided she would take care of the twins, since they were already used to her, and Gaepora agreed he was too busy to be able to look after them. The healer was informed of her pregnancy, and Karane was to see her the next day. Gaepora offered to babysit for any appointments she had. Harley had been called up to the office, and filled in on what had happened. He told Gaepora that he would get the troops together immediately, and they would set off in the morning.

"Thank you so much," Karane said to Gaepora. Gaepora chuckled.

"Think nothing of it, Karane. It's my job to keep everyone save and happy."

Later on that night, the two girls were curled up on Horii and Pipit's bed, hot chocolate in hands, discussing and of course, gossiping about the things that they had to catch each other up on.

"Karane's pregnant again?" Horii exclaimed. Zelda nodded, and held a finger up to her lips.

"It's secret though, okay? She didn't want to tell anyone yet."

"I'm so happy for her! Groose must be so pleased!"

"Groose… isn't exactly there." Zelda said slowly.

"Really?" Horii replied, surprised. "But they were so happy together! Why did he leave?"

"Oh, it's nothing to do with that. He wanted to go and explore."

"Ahh," Horii nodded, understanding. "Yeah. Pipit gets like that sometimes. He goes out for a few days, and then comes back. It's a man thing, I think."

"I wish it wasn't," Zelda laughed bitterly. "Look at what my man went and did. He went out exploring, and got himself captured."

"Oh, I wasn't thinking," Horii cringed. "Sorry."

"No, I wasn't trying to," Zelda tried to diffuse the awkward air that had curled around them. "Never mind. So… are you and Pipit going to have a baby soon?"

The next morning, Zelda set off with her water bottles freshly filled, and her mind clear and ready. She had felt a little bad for stopping overnight, but Zelda knew she needed it. There was really no point making herself exhausted.

She could think clearer, she could listen to her heart better without the clouds of doubt taking over. Her heart was drawing her deeper into the forest, telling Zelda that this was the right way to go. She walked onwards, stopping every few hours to have a rest and drink some water. Zelda also ate some of the provisions she had packed, and made sure to pick up whatever edible foods she could find on the way.

As Zelda came round a corner, she found herself on a ledge looking out across the forest for miles. Wondering if she would be able to spot any camps that might hold her beloved, she stepped to the edge.

She only noticed how weak the edge it was when it was too late. The ground crumbled, and Zelda lost her footing. Screaming, she fell down off the ledge, and down into the forest below.

I mentioned there about Horii having a baby... Will she ever have one? Back in UC when Karane had Lee, Horii was certain she would like a family, but it's been three years now... so who knows?

Thank you all for reading! Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed, like if you, well, liked it or leave a follow if you want to read more!

See you all next week!

Meiko x