Chapter Two

Zelda

The bells had rang all day, low and solemn, mourning the loss of the Hero along with the peace of Hyrule. Ganondorf had insisted they be played, to set his tone of authority over the realm. Only they knew that Link had lived, and she was certain the man would want to keep it that way. Clad in black, Zelda stood at the window of her tower, looking out at the grounds below. She had begged the Demon King for mercy for the Hero, and he had obliged, though she wondered if Link would have been better off dead. She watched the rain fall from the sky, thinking it fitting. It was as if the Goddesses themselves were weeping for the destruction of all they had worked so hard to create.

She had promised to ally herself with the Gerudo, something she hated herself for. She hoped, though, that she would be able to keep some resemblance of stability in her kingdom. The man was cruel, she knew that to be true, but she doubted he was after total destruction. He had gotten his revenge, though centuries later than anticipated, He had defeated the descendant of the Forgotten Hero, who had been responsible for the sages sealing him away in the Twilight Realm. Still, she had heard stories, legends of the man's ruthlessness, of the lengths he was willing to go to get what he desired. And not knowing what he was after terrified her more than anything else in the world could.

She jumped and turned to her door when she heard it click open. It had only been hours since Link had fallen, and yet everyone in the castle had already submitted to their new roles, to serving the King of Thieves. How fitting, she thought, that he had stolen the Crown. "His Grace has requested your presence," the guard said.

Zelda shut her eyes and took a deep breath, wondering why he would be calling upon her so early. Hearing the guard refer to Ganondorf as 'His Grace' had unnerved her more than she would ever admit to. The man had done nothing to earn the grace of the Goddesses. She held a hand up to stop the guard from escorting her. "I know my way around," she snapped, glad that he, though reluctantly, backed off.

She made her way through the corridors leading to the throne room, a journey that had once been peaceful, and that now filled her with nothing short of dread. She hoped Link was all right, though she sincerely doubted it. Ganondorf had promised to spare his life, nothing more. She doubted he would let his centuries-old foe get away easily, if at all, even if the foe was a mere descendant, not the one directly responsible for sealing him away. She was lost in her thoughts as she walked, wishing more than anything she had not surrendered Hyrule to Zant. How foolish she had been to think she would save the lives of her people through that action. How could she have known she would cost thousands more?

A shudder went down the Princess's back when she saw Ganondorf sitting on the throne, as though it had been made for him and him alone. The smirk on his face did nothing to quiet her nerves. "How nice of you to join me," Ganondorf said, his voice full of pride. Zelda kept her eyes on the floor, not wanting to anger him by daring assume to make eye contact. "Now, now," the Usurper tutted. "There's no need to be upset. You have your life. And if they bend the knee, you'll have your kingdom as well. Though, of course you will not be ruling it."

She did not speak, largely out of fear of the unknown of how he would react. Hesitating, she glanced up at the man, who was waiting expectantly. "Of course, Your Grace," she said softly, hating herself for using the title, the title that by birthright should have belonged to her. She did not dare do anything but play his game, though, especially not when Link was being held at his mercy. As long as Link lived, there was still hope of defeating the Demon King, of regaining the throne, of saving Hyrule and her people.

"I have invited the Zora monarch and Goron patriarch to the castle," Ganondorf said, the smirk still not leaving his face. "Their choice is simple. They will come and bend the knee, or they will watch their people die." He was silent a moment and glanced over at her. "I extend the same invitation to you."

"I have already promised to stand beside you," Zelda said, keeping her voice as even and calm as she could manage, despite the hatred and terror she felt building inside her.

"Yes," Ganondorf agreed. "But the people of your precious kingdom need to know for sure, need to see you pledge your loyalty to your king." He leaned back in the throne, studying the Princess carefully. "You will join the others," he continued. "Or you will watch your people suffer." She bowed her head slightly, hoping that if she went along with the plan that lives would be spared. She just needed enough time to free Link, to find the others, to organize a strike... But it had only been hours since the battle, and already the Gerudo was keeping close watch on everyone, had sent out scouts to eliminate any adversaries he had had in the past.

She lifted a silent prayer to the Goddesses, to any gods who would listen, that she had not handed a death sentence to her kingdom when she surrendered to Zant.