Zelda kept her eyes to the door as she sat on her soft bed. The magnificent burgundy gown was torn and tattered, mirroring her outer appearance and feelings. She didn't even know how it had happened. It was all so fast.

She had been introduced to Ganondorf's Court which caused a huge uproar. The Court had been crazed – Princess Zelda of Hyrule was within their grasp – and so they tried to take her. Zelda didn't know why Ganondorf would have people like that in his court, but there were still many things about the Otherworld that she didn't understand.

After the first attacker had tried at Zelda, grabbing hold of her gown – causing the first tear, Ganondorf had taken up a protective stance before her. A few more tried, some succeeding in grabbing hold of her, before Ganondorf locked eyes with Ghirahim. To her disgust and utter horror, he then told Ghirahim to get her to safety. In the next second, Ghirahim's hand was grasping Zelda's wrist and he began running with her to a passageway that had been well-hidden. Up steps, down corridors, and through doors he took her, until they reached the staircase that led to her tower. Though he looked her over with lust in his eyes, he instructed her to go up to her chambers, and then he left.

And now Zelda sat, waiting, for what she did not know, but hoping that someone would walk through her doors. Being on her own was driving her crazy. She wanted answers.

Zelda quickly stood up and began pacing. What she really wanted was to see Link walk through those doors. She wanted be with him above any other. Despite the stab wound, she knew that he wasn't dead. After all he had been chosen by the goddess herself! She would not have made his fate so awful. Link was alive, and Zelda knew that he was searching for her.

"My Princess," Beth's voice sounded as the door opened. Zelda felt relief as her young handmaiden entered her chambers. "I came as quickly as I could," she said, rushing over to Zelda's side. "Are you all right?" She asked, stroking Zelda's disheveled hair.

Zelda nodded, "I'm fine, this whole mess was just unexpected."

"Well of course-"

"Beth what would these people of the Otherworld do with me if they had succeeded in their attempts to capture me?" Zelda asked seriously, though she felt bad interrupting the young girl.

"Your guess is as good as mine, Princess-"

"Zelda. My name is Zelda so please call me by it," Zelda politely instructed. "So tell me, Beth, what would your guess be?" Zelda asked. Beth looked at her, her eyes wide – as though she couldn't believe Zelda actually valued her opinion. Zelda arched an eyebrow, "Well?" She prompted.

Beth cleared her throat, "Well, I would think that perhaps they would use you as a bribe to our King – your father – to have a Portal permanently opened between the Otherworld and Hyrule. Working in their service all these years has allowed me to overhear that their endgame is Hyrule. Perhaps that's why Ganondorf wants you to be wed so soon; he would have his ticket connecting him to Hyrule. And not only that, but there are very few here who have the ability to safely open a Portal to any of the connecting worlds. Anyone can rip open a Portal, but that causes much destruction – at least from what I've overheard. From my understanding, Ghirahim is the only person who wields the ability to safely open a Portal. If there are others, their abilities have not yet reached my ears," Beth finished.

Zelda nodded, taking in everything Beth had just said. She was right about so many things. These people of the Otherworld were wicked and cruel. She would never allow herself to be bartered or used as a wager to allow them into her beloved Hyrule. She would die protecting her Kingdom before they could overrun it by using her.

A thought stuck Zelda, "Beth…just how many Hylians live here?" She asked. Beth's eyes widened and then she lowered her eyes.

"There are many, more than you can imagine. I don't even know specific numbers."

"But why? Why take Hylians only to bring them here?"

"Because they need us; not only can they use us as cheap slaves, but they literally cannot survive in this world without us," Beth hesitantly began.

"Why's that?"

"Whether we have magical abilities and know how to tap into that magic or not, every Hylian possesses some sort of magic within them. It is taken from us, constantly being drained," Beth sadly informed.

"They drain you as well?" Zelda asked, her eyes frightful.

Beth nodded, "They need our magic to fuel their own mages and magic-wielders."

"Are they so weak they cannot rely on themselves?" Zelda asked, frustrated. Beth nodded. "I will save you all," Zelda whispered, her voice sad but her eyes fierce; determined to save her fellow Hylians one way or another.

"Princess," a voice said from the door as it opened. Beth and Zelda quickly stood, fearful that their conversation had been overhead.

"Yes?" Zelda asked sweetly. Ganondorf's form entered her chambers.

"Beth, you may take your leave," he instructed. Beth nodded and scurried away, giving Zelda one last glance before leaving.

"My King," Zelda curtsied.

"No need for formalities," he instructed, his low voice booming. "Were you hurt at all?" He asked, looking her over with his eyes.

"No, I got out unscathed. Though, I cannot say the same for this lovely gown," Zelda said, fake sadness creeping into her voice as she lowered her eyes to the torn garments she wore.

"You have plenty more where that one came from," Ganondorf said with a smile. Zelda looked up and met his orange eyes. What were his true intentions? What thoughts went through his mind when he looked at her?

"Uh, Ganondorf?" Zelda said, his name seeming so foreign to her.

"Yes?"

"If you don't mind me asking, where do you come from? What race are you?" Zelda asked.

"I am of Hyrule, though never saw its skies as I grew up within this realm. I am a Gerudo, if you really must know," Ganondorf said. Zelda nodded. That told her nothing. But she couldn't pry, not if she wanted him to believe Ghirahim had her broke.

"And – Ghirahim?" She asked, giving herself the extra pause as an added effect.

"He is of this realm. He is not called The Demon Lord for no reason, after all," Ganondorf said. Zelda allowed herself to look fearful upon hearing this news. "I am sorry for what he did to you," Ganondorf added, apologizing on Ghirahim's behalf. Zelda nodded. Sorry would never be enough; and the creep himself would never be sorry for what he did and tried to do. When she gave him exactly what he deserved, then he would be sorry. "I will meet with the two of you this evening. Don't be afraid of him," Ganondorf encouraged. He turned on his heel and left her chambers.

Zelda took a deep breath and lowered herself to her bed, feeling quite faint. Ghirahim truly was powerful. She would not leave this realm without dealing with him first. But how was she supposed to finish him off when she could hardly protect herself? A few minutes with Zelda lost in her thoughts went by, before Beth rushed in.

"My King –" she tried to begin before Zelda cut her off.

"He is not your king, Beth!" Zelda snapped, fury raging behind her blue eyes.

"You're right," Beth agreed with a smile, "The King has instructed me to prepare you for dinner and some sort of meeting."

Zelda nodded and allowed Beth to help her up from the bed. Every day she seemed weaker, hardly able to stand on her own. She had to leave the Otherworld soon, or she would perish, she was sure of it.

"Beth?" Zelda asked.

"Yes, my Princess?"

"Is there any way the gown I instructed to have made could be ready for this meeting?" Zelda asked. She watched Beth's face show doubt, but then a smile appeared on her freckled cheeks.

"If I help, then yes. That means you will need to get yourself ready. Be careful, Princess –"

"Zelda, not Princess," she corrected. Beth smiled.

"Be careful, Zelda, you are very weak," Beth started again, a worry crease presenting itself on her otherwise smooth forehead. "It happens when they drain more magic than what you have to offer. It happens to me too sometimes, but I do not wield magic, so it is not too hard on me. But you, I can tell you are quite powerful with your magic, even if you haven't fully discovered your potential. What that means is that they are essentially draining your essence, since you are so linked with your magical abilities. So please be careful; I don't want to come back to find you couldn't even hold yourself up in the bath and drowned," Beth said seriously.

"I will not die in such a fruitful manner," Zelda scowled. "Now off you go, I need that gown," Zelda smiled. Beth nodded and left her chambers. Zelda hoped the gown would be complete.

Zelda had just finished tying off her hair when Beth barged in, "Princess – I mean Zelda!" She said excitedly. "Look!" She instructed.

Zelda turned her head and nearly gasped. It was her gown. The one she had always worn to Royal ceremonies in Hyrule. With widened eyes she reached out to touch the magnificent gown.

"Oh Beth, it is perfect," she praised as she took the gown from Beth's hands. "You did wonderful."

"Thank you," Beth said with a bow of her head, a smile on her face, "Now come on! Let's get you into it!" She encouraged.

Zelda looked at her reflection. If she didn't know better, she would have thought she never left Hyrule. It was her signature look. The gown itself was an off-white colour, snug along her upper body before flaring out towards the ground from her waist. The hem was embroidered with golden patterns of Hyrule. She wore a purple corset bodice over the gown that opened in an upside-down V below her bosom. Along her arms were gold-embroidered gloves, the material the same colour as the gown, that went up past her elbows. She wore a jewelled, golden belt that had a miniature banner attached with Hyrule's Royal Family's Crest stitched expertly into it. Had she been in Hyrule, she also would have been wearing her ceremonial shoulder-plate armour as well as her jewelled crown.

"Beth, it is absolutely perfect!" Zelda smiled, "But didn't the seamstress realize what Crest this is?" Zelda asked, motioning to the Crest she wore.

"Of course, and that's why she was able to do the major rush job! She is also of Hyrule, and she said she would do anything to help our Princess," Beth informed.

"I want you to thank her for me," Zelda said.

"I will," Beth nodded.

"Now, I can't have any citizen of the Otherworld see me in this, so I need parchment and a quill," Zelda instructed.

Beth moved to fetch the items, "Why?"

"I am going to request that you be my escort to the throne room for this meeting," Zelda informed. Beth nodded, handing over the items. "You can look through that closet and choose anything you like, and bathe too, of course," Zelda said, nodding towards the closet.

"No, no, I couldn't –"

"But you will," Zelda instructed, "After you deliver my instructions."

Silence greeted Zelda, surprising her. Beth always had something to say. She turned her head and her eyes widened as she saw Beth with tears running down her cheeks.

"Beth?" Zelda gently asked, afraid she had done something wrong.

"No one has ever been so kind to me," Beth said, "Your generosity is astounding," she continued, wiping a sleeve over her face to dry the tears. "Thank you," she finished with a smile.

"You're welcome, Beth. If I can't even help one of my people, how could I possibly hope to help all of Hyrule?" Zelda asked.

"With our help," Beth smiled. "Your friends will help you because you're not alone, and you never will be," she said. Zelda turned back to the parchment and stared at it blankly. Link was her friend. No, he was more than that. Zelda had fallen in love with him during the short time they had spent together. And like Beth had said, he had helped her. But it was because of her that he had been injured. She hated to think where he was now, all the hardships she was still putting him through.

With a deep breath, shaking those thoughts from her mind, Zelda began writing. She quickly finished, neatly folded the parchment, and handed it to Beth.

"Give that to whoever serves Ganondorf," Zelda instructed. Beth nodded and quickly left her chambers. Zelda would not waste another day in the Otherworld. She didn't know how, but she would leave tonight.

A/N: Okay people, things are finally heating up! So my question to you is do you want Link or Zelda for chapter 31?