Chapter Nineteen
When he entered into the Twilight Realm, he was suddenly pressed on all sides by Twili, gaping at him with interest. Link looked around uncertainly: the Twilight Realm looked basically the same from the last time he had visited, except that several denizens of the twilight were standing around him, peering at him with concern and confusion.
"Midna," he said loudly. "I'm looking for Midna."
"The Princess? She's coming now," replied one. "When we saw that weird portal thing happen, we called for her. Who are you? How did you get here? You're not a Twili."
"I'm – Midna!" gasped Link, forgetting about the other Twili as the orangey-red hair bobbed above the rest. The crowd parted, and he saw her, looking shocked.
"Link…?" she whispered. The Twili were silent; Link ran forward, joy swelling his heart, but a better look at her made him stop in his tracks.
Midna's pointed features were exactly the same, except she looked a bit more tired and thinner than before. Her long, orangey-red hair was styled exactly the same, and she still wore that long cloak. She was also wearing a long skirt with a slit up one leg, with a blouse that exposed her stomach, slightly swollen with pregnancy. A feeling of dread and disbelief sent cold numbness throughout his body.
"I – you…I didn't know," he bumbled lamely, shocked and confused. "Wh-when's it due?" he asked softly.
Midna looked down, her slim hands slowly caressing her stomach. "Perhaps we should talk in private," she suggested quietly.
OoO
Midna brought Link into her castle, and was led to her very spacious bedroom. She closed the door and turned to Link, looking sheepish. The glow of twilight filtered through the large windows. The door opened; a tall Twili entered, looking at Link and Midna.
"Nettwa, this is Link," Midna quickly explained, gesturing to her companion. She turned to Link. "Link, this is Nettwa. My husband. We've been married for eleven months now."
"I've heard about you," Nettwa said, nodding as though to confirm his words. "I heard about all the great things you did for the two realms. You and Midna are old friends, yes?" Link could only nod to this statement. "That's wonderful. Have you met Leila yet?"
"Not yet," interrupted Midna, in a loud and impatient voice. "Nettwa, Link and I have some things to discuss. Would you mind giving us a moment?"
Nettwa smiled at his wife. He seemed to genuinely love her. "No, no, not at all! I'll come back later, shall I?" He exited, closing the door behind him.
"Who's Leila?" asked Link, feeling foolish. Of course Midna would probably get married, settle down, have children…she would not pine for him. Link didn't even know if she loved him.
"This is Leila," whispered Midna, striding across the room. Link followed her, and saw a wicker-woven, standing cradle. In it was a young baby, with reddish hair and bright blue eyes. She looked at Link and smiled. Even though Link was feeling so mixed up and confused right now, he managed a smile and a surge of love filled him. He delicately put out his hand and the baby gripped his finger. "Leila's my eldest daughter. She's almost four months old. Right here – " she gestured towards her stomach – "this is my second baby. I'm two months pregnant."
"Congratulations," forced out Link, still gazing at Leila. "She's beautiful."
"I know." Midna's voice was choked; this was definitely not the reunion Link had planned.
"Midna…" he began with some difficulty. "Midna…why didn't the Mirror of Twilight break completely? What happened? I thought, if you're the true ruler, that it would…" He looked up at her, and their eyes connected. Her red ones seemed to both burn and melt his heart, and she began to talk.
"Only the true ruler can destroy it; that is true. I am the true ruler. However, she must want it, fully and wholeheartedly. Which I did not. If I did, I would never…" She paused and looked away, as though these words were difficult to say, "I would never…be able to see you again, Link." A red flush slowly crept up her face. "I wanted to see you again, so I used an illusion to make it appear as though I had destroyed the Mirror completely. I wanted you to one day be able to find it."
"Why didn't you just tell me?" he asked, frustrated although delighted. "You could have told me about…about you wanting to stay."
"I didn't know," she replied, sounding angry at herself. "I didn't know what you felt, or what I felt…I was confused, and I was…pregnant at the time."
Link stared at her, unsure of what Midna was saying. His heart beat faster at the wonderful possibilities. "What do you mean?"
Midna pointed at Leila, who was still clutching Link's hand. "Don't you get it, Link? Nobody in my family has blue eyes. Nobody in my husband's family has them, either. I lied to my husband and said that my ancestors did, but of course they couldn't have. She's yours, Link. She's your baby, Link – yours and mine."
Link gazed down at Leila, who was looking up at Link with purest trust. He felt overwhelmed with such an array of emotions – Leila was his daughter, his and Midna's, and it was validation of their love.
"Midna…" he began, feeling choked. "Midna, why don't you come back with me to the Light Realm? We can live there."
"No, we can't," she said quietly. "I would never be happy there. This baby – this baby is indeed Nettwa's. And he thinks Leila's his, too."
"But why can't you come to the Light Realm with me?" exclaimed Link.
"Because this is my home, Link!" she cried. "My life is here, and this is where I rule. I cannot simply abandon my subjects, and my husband – if I ever dared to return, I would be an outcast. There would be riots, and I would be overthrown. To leave for simply my own personal pleasure – that would be wrong."
Link knew she had a valid point, and hated it. He wanted her to come to the Light Realm with him, so they could enjoy their life together and raise Leila. He wanted to be with her.
He looked away from her, unable to continue the conversation anymore. Midna placed a hand on his arm; he did not flinch away. They stood there for a while, until Link remembered the words of his father. "Midna…" He cleared his throat. "Have you ever heard of Donelronla before?"
Midna looked up at him, surprised. "Of course I have. But…where have you heard about it?"
"Because this—this Donelronla has been doing bad things," he said. "Donelronla has been controlling these creatures, and they've been terrorizing the Light Realm…"
"No I haven't," came a soft, female voice, and the two immediately whipped about. The sight that fell upon their eyes was breathtaking.
A young woman, seemingly made of molten gold, was floating above the ground in front of them, looking solemn. She had a bright yellow aura around her, and her beauty was stunning. She looked at Link with piercing eyes.
"I am Donelronla," she said seriously. "I am the Goddess of Sequences."
4
