A/N: Thanks to all who continue to stick with this story and review! It's much appreciated!

Disclaimer: I own nothing...though hope to soon own a Link shirt!

Chapter 15: Fate Does Not Discriminate

Rays of light filtered through the open windows down upon the covers of Princess Zelda's bed, bringing out the warm colours of the quilt that lay ceremoniously over her battered body. Servants and healers flitted around the Princess like busy bumblebees, ever searching for a way to help. News of Princess Zelda having been wounded spread through Hyrule more quickly than fire in a dry field. Everyone listened to one another with eager faces and open ears, awaiting news on the Princess' condition. After all, it was not every day that a member of the Royal Family was attacked and mortally wounded.

Link studied the face of the sleeping Princess with a guilty expression. Despite the fact that this was in no way his fault, Link felt guilty having not been able to defend Zelda from Ganondorf. After all, was it not his duty to Hyrule to keep everyone safe? Had it not been his job to defeat Ganondorf and make sure he remained defeated?

Sighing to himself, Link continued to let his mind drift, not aware that the Princess was waking up. Zelda's eyelids flitted open as the bitter pain of conciousness came back to her. However, a gentle smile was on her lips; she was alive, thanks to Link once again. Not only that, but the darkness that Ganondorf had placed on her had disappeared completely, and she felt herself returning to normal.

"Link?" she asked, a hint of wonder in her voice.

Called out of his stupor, Link nearly sprang to her bedside...eager for some answers, and genuinely concerned for his long-time friend. "Your highness."

"No need for the formalities, Link," Zelda said, her voice reminding him of the young girl he once knew. "Titles really have no meaning to me these days."

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. All thanks to you...and Malon," she added hesitantly, as if tasting the name on her tongue to make sure it was safe. "Speaking of which, I do believe I owe an apology to the both of you."

Link nodded. "You do...but it can wait. I have some questions that need answers first."

Zelda quirked a single blonde eyebrow at him. "I know that tone: something is wrong, is it not?"

"Ganondorf is missing," Link stated simply.

"Ah, well, then...that is quite the dilemma, isn't it?" Zelda said lightly, trying to push the frightening memories of the past away. "But didn't you fight him--?"

"He escaped."

"I see..."

Link leaned closer to her. "Zelda, I need to know where to find him. I need to finish this."

The Princess of Destiny closed her eyes, inhaled slowly, and laid back. "You want to fight him, Link, but you cannot. Not this time. He has...changed. And not for the better."

"He is mortal, and that means he can die," Link persisted.

Zelda opened her eyes, blue orbs of light focused on Link's solemn face. "The Godesses ignore him, Link. They seem blind to what he does, helpless to stop his evil exploits. Never have I known such a terrible power as the one Ganondorf possesses."

"Zelda--"

"I know more than you think, Link," Zelda said quietly, continuing before Link had a chance to speak, "And yes, I owe you some answers. However, I fear my answers will not satisfy you, Hero of Time. My answers are frought with worry and remorse, and I doubt they will do any good to help you. For you, Link, fight a physical war every day...while Ganondorf has reached a level where the physical realm no longer touches him. He is almost as strong as a God now, and it may be too late to do anything..."

"I don't understand..." Link began, confused by Zelda's cryptic words.

The Princess of Destiny rested a slender hand on Link's arm. "Let me start from the beginning. As you know, the Triforce was split into three seperate pieces, to keep the power of the Godesses from falling into the hands of an evil heart. However, by some cruel prank of the Gods, Ganondorf managed to get ahold of the Triforce of Power. Due to this, he was able to seize Hyrule. Fortunately, you were able to beat him back, and the sages and I locked him inside the Sacred Realm...where we hoped and prayed that the Godesses would keep him. However, the Godesses were not strong enough to keep him there."

"So he escaped from the Sacred Realm," Link concluded. "That doesn't explain how he grew more powerful."

"His power is a strange, tainted thing. It comes from a mix of his Gerudo heritage, and his lust for power, for complete control. Such a man, a beast of power, slave to his own desires...could still be controlled by the Godesses," Zelda explained, lowering her voice a bit more, "But joined by others, others who strove for such power as well, who manipulated the darkness using black magic...Ganondorf is nearly immortal. Unbeatable."

"Who are these others?"

Zelda shook her head sadly. "I don't know. All I know is that he is binded to others. I suspect they, too, are Gerudo in heritage. My suspicions haven't had the time nor the power to be confirmed, unfortunately."

While Link tried to process what he'd heard, he suddenly remembered his other questions. "How did Ganondorf get into the castle?"

Zelda chuckled coldly. "There was no one powerful enough to stop him. That, and the castle security has always been a bit...lacking. You remember how easy it was for you to sneak in as a child to meet with me."

Link nodded. "True enough. But wait--you must have sensed that he was in Hyrule again..."

"This is also true, and much to my secret shame," Zelda whispered guiltily. "The Godesses gifted me with a vision; one where Ganondorf ruled Hyrule with brutality. I saw a world devoid of life and happiness...my home. Villages were in ruin, fields were burning, water dried up. It was, suffice to say, a very dreadful vision. One I intended to stop no matter what."

She paused for a moment, as if recollecting exactly what happened. "Ganondorf came to me, you see. He threatened to usurp my throne, to cast Hyrule into eternal darkness and death. At first, I resisted. But his power was even too much for me...after all, I am but one sage...and the sages altogether could not stop him. In my desperation, I made a pact with him. He demanded one thing: your life. He wanted you dead, if only for revenge. You dealt a great blow to his ego, you know."

Link smiled faintly, though the smile disappeared almost as soon as it had come. "Continue," he ordered.

"He promised--and I knew he would not keep to this promise, but my last hope for Hyrule remained in this deception--that once he had your head, he would depart to distant lands, seeking control there, and would not turn another thought to Hyrule," Zelda said, her voice holding a great sadness in its tone. "I knew not at the time, but he was also manipulating me with some of that black magic I spoke of previously. Together, with his dark cohorts, the magic was so strong and well-hidden that I did not even realize that it was affecting me."

She took a breath, trying to keep her composure as she spoke of that which gave her and the Royal family great shame. "He used my love for you, Link, against me. You are important to me, extremely so...and Ganondorf knew this. He also knew of Malon--unbeknowst to me--and manipulated my emotions into great jealously, into such dark and vehement emotions that, at that point, I too wanted you dead. The fact of the matter was I never wished either you or Malon ill, but the fallacy for which I was trapped in kept me binded to the pact I made with Ganondorf."

"So you used Malon to get to me," Link surmised. "To kill me."

"Yes," she admitted weakly. "Know that it was never my intention to harm you, Link, but it was my last chance to protect Hyrule."

"Didn't it even occur to you that there would be no one to fight Ganondorf if I was dead?"

"Yes, it did...but too late, I'm afraid," mumbled the Princess of Destiny regretfully.

"When did you change your mind?" Link asked, his tone hard. She may have been manipulated, but to agree to a pact to kill him did not sit well with Link. Not at all.

Zelda's expression softened considerably. "When I saw how much you loved each other, it lifted and broke the spell Ganondorf had cast on me. You and Malon have something that even the owner of the Triforce of Wisdom cannot completely grasp."

Link narrowed his eyes. "And if Malon had stayed silent?"

"I do not think we would be having this conversation."

"I see."

"I cannot ask you for forgiveness, Link, for I do not deserve any. I do ask that, despite how I have wronged you, that you continue to protect Hyrule," Zelda said, adding in a low, almost inaudible, whisper, "Even when I am gone."

"It is my job," Link said lightly, smiling faintly to reassure her. "Wait--what was that last thing you said--?"

"It's not important right now," Zelda brushed it off. "Right now, you must go spend time with Malon who is no doubt waiting for you right outside this door." Zelda smiled softly.

"Zel," Link began.

Zelda grasped his hand, power flowing between them for a brief moment. "I have failed to do what was required of me. I cannot protect Hyrule. You can; you are Hyrule's last hope. Ganondorf and my own jealousy were my bane from the Godesses. Do not fall into a similar trap. The Godesses have gifted you with something special, Link. Do not waste or lose it."

She spoke with such vehemence that Link could only nod.

"I leave Hyrule now in your care, Link," Zelda said, her voice barely a measurable whisper. "Do what you can to save the peoples of our land, Link. That is my last request of you. Oh, and Link?"

"Yes?"

"Tell Malon I'm sorry. About everything." Link nodded and Zelda smiled, satisfied.

When Zelda released Link's hand, he noticed that his Triforce now had another part attached to it: the Triforce of Wisdom. He glanced at it, in curiousity and shock, before looking back at Zelda. The Princess smiled, nodding once to him, before she slowly faded away before his eyes. Link reached towards her, but was met only with empty air. His eyes widened as he sat there, mute as stone.

Princess Zelda of Hyrule was gone.

The land of Hyrule was now under his protection, willed by Zelda and the Godesses. The Hero of Time was confused and unsure exactly what to do, but knew he had to start by finding Ganondorf. The King of Evil and the Hero of Time were slowly, but surely, being pushed towards a second confrontation...one where only one would escape alive, and would determined the fate of all.

There was a gentle knock on the door. Link turned towards it as Malon peeked her head through.

"Where's Princess Zelda?" she queried.

"Gone."

"Isn't she supposed to be resting--?"

"She's gone, Malon," Link said, feeling an unsettling sadness fall upon him. "She left Hyrule in my care."

"Oh, Link, I'm sorry," Malon said, resting her hand on his arm reasuringly.

"Don't be," Link said, albeit a bit gruffly. "Zelda wanted it this way. She had faith that we can protect Hyrule."

"Can we, Link?"

"Honestly? I don't know."

"I have faith that you can," Malon said suddenly, vehemence in her voice. "And if you need help, I offer my assistance."

Link chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow. "Do you now?"

"After all, who else is going to look after someone as reckless as you?" Malon pointed out.

Link glanced out the open window now, towards Kokiri Forest. "I think I know just the person..."

A/N: Please review or I will be forced to chain you to Navi for all eternity...and you know THAT wouldn't be pleasant. +wink+