Chapter Eleven Morning After

Zelda awoke in the morning surprisingly clear headed and with no trace of a hangover. At first she was a bit confused; as she was sure that Link had come to her and she turned to reach for him, when the truth crashed down on her and she remembered. The full horror was in danger of overwhelming her at first and she got up quickly to jump into the bath that was already for her; but no amount of hot water or scrubbing could get rid of the feeling of another man who was not her husband, touching her body.

Impa as always was not far away and came in to help and see how the Princess was feeling that morning; knowing that the girl had overindulged the night before. She could hear her quiet sobbing as she bathed and entered the bathroom with towels and fresh clothes. Impa did not press Zelda into telling her the problem, she did not have to; the Princess trusted Impa like a mother and told her all that had happened, not just of the previous evening but of all the feelings and things she'd overheard that had led up to it.

To say that Impa was disappointed was an understatement and she agreed with Zelda that it would be best if Link were told. Hearing it from her, would be better than if she tried to keep the indiscretion a secret for the rest of her life. And of course Link would be angry and hurt; Zelda only had to think of how she would feel, if the incident had happened in reverse. How could she have been so stupid, she berated herself; there would never be any other man for her than Link, no one even came close. Impa agreed that she should tell him as soon as it was possible.

She breakfasted alone, as yet unable to face Tarin because she did not know what to say and so she missed the couriers for the morning. One had come with orders for Tarin and the Princesses to leave earlier than anticipated. They would now be leaving that afternoon and their belongings would be sent on after them; the other was from Sir Gron, the negotiations were carrying on for a bit longer than first thought, but they were going well.

It was Impa who told her the gist of the messages and Zelda was thankful, Tarin would be gone before Link returned. She got herself dressed and decided to face everyone as normal, including the Prince. Hopefully she could convince him that she had been so intoxicated the evening before, that she had no memory of anything that had happened between them. It would probably be better for him as well; as she was sure he must be just as embarrassed as she and just as mortified. It was a good plan and she left her rooms to go and see her cousins and bid them farewell.

The two Princesses were sad that they had to leave so soon and pulled Zelda over to where they had been sitting; telling her how much they were going to miss her. Things were likely to change for the pair when they reached home and they were quite nervous. Tarin said nothing but he watched Zelda with a solemn expression, his eyes dark and serious. She pretended not to notice that he was staring at her or understanding the look he couldn't keep from his face.

Aloud, she claimed a headache; brought on by the foolish overindulgence of the evening, which brought on a lot of giggles from the other girls; who agreed that they couldn't remember much either, after they helped each other to bed. At least Zelda was not the only one with a blush covering her cheeks; as she giggled along with Sarah and Julia and tried to avoid the intense gaze of the Prince, making the girls giggle again when she said that all she remembered was having a 'wonderful' dream about Link.

Zelda was a good actress when she wanted to be and Tarin was almost convinced by her behaviour towards them all, as she kept them company on their last few hours in Hyrule. However, she had taken a bit too long to include him and he was sure she blushed further, when she finally spoke with him during the conversation. His ardour had not abated and the feel of her under his hands had only increased his desire to have her fully to himself permanantly. But for now he pretended that he had believed her ruse; besides, there was nothing he could do about it now.

Link was excited; the new colony was all set to thrive and so far none of the Moblins who had been found, had refused to join the colony and settle for a peaceful alliegance with Hyrule. His work was done for now; there were now enough males who could be trusted to guard their females and children and others like Sir Gron, who could liasse if need be. No more groups had been heard of for a while and if any more did turn up, they could be contacted then by the moblins of the new colony themselves. Link was more than ready to return home to his wife.

Being apart was hard, he could not even feel her in his link and hadn't done for a couple of days; it made him feel so terribly lonely that it seemed to be an actual physical pain and he couldn't wait to see Zelda to fold her in his arms. Finally he would be able to be with her properly in their intimacy as the year's wait was now over, he was looking forward to being in a position to no longer disappoint his beloved Zelda. Therefore he was on his way home that lovely morning and because he hoped to surprise her, he didn't try to seek her out through their link; leaving it inert.

As he reached Hyrule Market Town, he rode through with no ceremony and left Epona in the stables after seeing that she was groomed, fed and watered. Then he sneaked in around the back so that he could reach the gardens without being formally announced. He just wanted to surprise his wife and have some time with her alone; before the duties of court swallowed them both up for the rest of the day. Soon he was under the balcony of their suite and he took no time at all to hookshot himself up to the landing outside; hidden by the curtains.

Link had dozed in the warm sunshine as he sat on the balcony waiting for his wife to come back to their rooms; he knew she would come to freshen up and change for the afternoon as she always did, and he was content to just sit and wait for her. He awoke to the sound of the door opening and he stood silently; deciding that it would not be a good idea to frighten her to death by suddenly appearing, he thought he would wait until she went to the bathroom and then make a slight noise before revealing himself. What he heard however, made him stay hidden; although he could see well enough through the crack in the curtains.

Tarin had followed Zelda into the room; he had insisted that he needed to speak with her and rather than cause an embarrassing scene, she agreed. Now he was kneeling at her feet trapping her against the wall with his hands.

"Come with me Zelda, come back with us all this afternoon please...I need you."

"Don't be ridiculous Tarin; I cannot leave my husband and Hyrule for you, you don't know what you're saying."

"Yes I do. I have loved you since you used to come to us as a child; I was to have asked for your hand in marriage that summer when the news came that you had married Link. My heart broke to know that I was too late."

"I'm sorry, but Link has only ever been the one for me."

"You deceive yourself Zelda, your body didn't lie to me last night did it? I am not so easily fooled as your husband obviously is..."

"How dare you speak to me like this? Get out."

"I'm sorry Zel, please listen,please." With this plea, Tarin got up and held her arms. "I know you felt that you had to marry Link, that you were...obligated in some way because he had saved Hyrule but, Zel...I love you as a man does; not some peasant brat who can't even make your bed look used."

"You have said more than enough Tarin, you must leave now." Zelda tried to pull away but she was held firmly although gently.

"No Zelda. You deserve more than he can offer you. Why do you not have another child in your belly? Other women have by now after a sad loss. He is still a boy, scared of fatherhood, scared of treating you like a real woman. He has a true peasant's mindset and thinks of you as a porcelain doll, precious and fragile; to be put on a pedestal and worshipped, instead of hot flesh and blood that needs a man's love."

"You know nothing of Link or how he feels for me."

"Huh! He is a child who brings you weeds from the hedgerows instead of the exotic blooms that suit you; he gives you trinkets, better suited to a shepherdess than a Princess, who should be decked with rare jewels. He leaves you unguarded and surrounded by the lowliest of your nation; taking you on picnics instead of balls and to fine dinners. He cannot make you feel the way that I did last night, or do what my touch did for your beautiful body."

"If you were a gentleman, you would say nothing further..."

"I love you Zelda, more than anyone else can, I need you and want you to come home with me."

"You speak as though I were not married and only courting; your 'love' would cause war Tarin; does it not affect your conscience at all, to even suggest such a thing?"

My 'love' would get rid of any opposition or arguement." Tarin moved once again but this time to take her chin hin his hand to kiss her. Zelda did not move, she gave no reaction at all. "Please Zelda, I love you." Before he could go any further a new voice was heard:

"Unhand My Lady, or die by my sword." Link stood in the room with the Master Sword drawn and ready. Tarin turned and looked aghast; where was the cheerful boy that ran around playing games or shed tears if disciplined? He could not be this hard faced man with the glinting sapphire eyes that held the promise of death in their icy depths. There was no hint of mercy in this face.

Tarin turned to Link with a sneer;

"You will fight a duel for her?"

"No, I said I will kill you; if you do not leave Hyrule this instant. I would not compromise the Princess's honour by fighting."

"It is already compromised." Tarin said as he swept from the room; leaving Zelda pale and speechless, standing forlorn in the room. Link sheathed the Master Sword and looked across at his wife, but he made no move to touch her and she could not look him in the face yet. Zelda did not want to see the cold and ruthless expression directed at her, as it had been at Tarin; she knew that it was not just a veneer, plenty had died when Link looked like that. But she looked up when he made to move towards the door himself.

"I will send Impa to you Madam."

"Link please don't go; let me explain..."

"I heard everything My Lady, quite clearly. There is nothing to explain. You must excuse me." He bowed to her and walked out of the door and straight into Impa who took one glance at his bleached face with a questioning look of her own. "Your Lady has need of you Impa; you must excuse me, I have some rubbish to see off the premises. Good day." He strode away, tall and straight and with a face devoid of expression; to supervise the leaving of Tarin and his sisters. None who saw him that day, dared to cross their Prince; it reminded them of the days when he fought Ganondorf too much.

Zelda was distraught as she explained all to Impa, not only had Link heard about her foolish behaviour in totally the wrong way; but Tarin had said such horrid things about him, even casting doubt on her reason for marriage. How was she to convince Link about the truth of her love for him, when he was now obviously very hurt?" Impa was not sure herself what to do. Link was not a proud man or self assuming; he would believe Tarin's words because he would not see the lie, being a truthful person himself. She would see him for herself later and try to talk to him then.

Impa put Zelda back to bed and gave her something to help her sleep; staying with her until she was certain that the girl was comfortable and then she left in search of her other 'child'. He was found eventually in the library and Impa ordered a mulled wine for them both as she could see that the boy was in some form of shock and a slight tremour through his body indicated his temperature had dropped. At first she said nothing, just kept him company as he seemed lost in thought and then pressed the wine into his hand and told him to drink.

"She has not been unfaithful to you Link, you must know this." There was no answer to her declaration; only coldness in the set of his face. She stayed with him saying nothing until he turned to face her.

"I must leave Impa; I cannot stay. It is clear that her Highness felt pressured into our marriage; she should have had the free choice to marry whom she liked. I will go and do what I do best, travel and see if there are more former enemies to set to right." Link had felt that his world had fallen apart as he had listened behind the curtain; his heart was crushed beneath the harsh words of the Prince, that Zelda had not denied. He could have curled up and died right there and then, but he was not some weak child and Zelda needed to be rescued from the overly assertive Tarin. So he had stepped in as the Hero once again, brooking no nonsense and hardening his heart against the sight of his childhood sweetheart.

In the early evening Link rode away from Hyrule Castle after giving the sleeping Zelda a farewell kiss.