Warnings: Violence, Disturbing Material, HEAVY Innuendos
When Link reached his bed chambers, the door was still locked as it had been previously (he knew this because he had tried to apologize earlier, but to no avail). But with a new determination, Link rammed himself into the door, his shoulder forcefully denting the wood. He repeated the action a second and third time until the wood finally split with a loud snapping noise, and Link tumbled into the empty room. The remnants of the curtains flapped in the wind, and there was no trace of Zelda. Link's hands shook as the reality of the situation swept over him, and he turned, cupping his trembling fingers around his mouth, and shouted down the corridor, "The princess has been kidnapped!"
Zelda awoke in a large room with stone floors and stone walls. She was slightly perturbed at not recollecting falling asleep, and she found herself lying on a stone table-which would probably serve as her bed for the duration of her stay. The only source of light were two torches on either side of the only door of the room. Apart from the door, there were no means of entering or leaving the room. There were no windows and no openings in the floor or ceiling, such as a drain or ventilation shaft.
Zelda stood from the table, her back aching from the undoubtedly uncomfortable position she had been in for who knew how long. Stretching her tense muscles, she approached the door. She had no idea where she was, and she could not sense any hints as to her location. She put her fingers to the door, trying to focus and perhaps learn something about her surroundings. Her brow furrowed with confusion at what she sensed. Almost immediately she had felt as if…but surely that couldn't be true. To assure herself, Zelda reached for the knob, turning it. To her utter shock, she had been correct in her initial suspicions. The door was unlocked.
It was obscure and a bit unsettling—it did not seem like her captor, based on what little Zelda knew of her, to be so careless. But perhaps one of the Gerudo had made a mistake when closing the door? Zelda dared not linger to question fate while opportunity tempted her. She opened the door, pleased to find it almost silent as she did, and hurried down a long hallway, which, like her room, was poorly lit and lined with stone walls.
Zelda grasped how foolhardy her actions were as she ran—she had not yet sensed an exit, and she was utterly unprepared should she meet her strange captor again. To be so impulsive was quite out of character for her, but then again, she had never been in such a situation before.
She rounded a corner to come face to face with two Gerudo. Both cried out with surprise and alarm and directed their spears towards her. With a quick blast of electrical energy, Zelda sent both of them crashing into the wall. Leaving their sprawled, unconscious bodies behind her, Zelda surged on, now fueled by adrenaline and motivated by her stuttering heart.
The princess rounded another corner and another, coming across not a single door as she hastened through the passageways. She began to grow uneasy as it seemed that she was running in an endless circle, and she was quickly becoming tired due to the baby inside her. But then—hope! Her eyes distinguished a great, stone door nearly hidden within its exterior. Not daring to grow too excited, Zelda pressed her hand to the stone. She sensed…green grass fresh with dew, mighty trees and their pleasant pine scent, sunlight. Perhaps she was in some cave in the mountainside?
With a shove, Zelda forced the door open, eagerly fleeing her prison and marveling at how simple escape had been. But then, just as she was still taking in the welcome warmth of the sun, her foot caught on something—a root? a stone?—and she felt herself falling, falling, falling. And everything quickly transitioned into a sinister black as Zelda's eyes shut.
"Assemble the most able soldiers," Link commanded his page, the boy struggling to keep up with Link's long strides through the castle corridor, "Inform them that they are to bring only what is necessary; we leave within the hour."
The boy nodded anxiously and darted off to do his master's will. Link apprehended that he had wandered into his study which he shared with Zelda, the room only reminding him of his most recent misfortunes. Wearily, Link slumped into the chair at his desk, resting his head on his folded arms. There was a knock at the door which Link did not bother to answer. He lifted his head just as Impa entered the room. Despite the lateness of the hour, the woman seemed to be wholly vigilant as always. Link cast his gaze down once again, expecting to be chastised. He and Impa had never…established a friendship, so to speak. While Link would never dream of dismissing the princess' attendant for fear of how Zelda might react, he could shamefully admit that the former nursemaid intimidated him with her lack of visible emotion. In Link's mind, Impa always looked upon him with nothing but disapproval of his behavior and his union with Zelda.
"When will you leave?" Impa inquired.
"Before the hour has ended," Link answered dismally.
Impa nodded, "I take it…you wish me to remain here?"
Link shrugged, sitting upright, "I lack the power to keep you here if you do not wish it."
"You're my prince," Impa raised her eyebrows with confusion.
"And a fine prince I'm turning out to be, allowing the future queen of Hyrule to be kidnapped right out from under my nose," Link spat, clenching his fists with frustration.
Impa simply stared at him, her expression unreadable. Link exhaled slowly, "I-I'm sorry. I just can't help but feel that I'll be a horrible king."
He waited for Impa's obvious agreement, but instead she responded, "Nobody holds you accountable for this, Master Link. This was out of everyone's control. And as my prince, I'm expected to honor your desires, even if they conflict with my own."
"I would feel better knowing the castle was under your eye while I was away," Link said slowly. He felt awkward making a request of Impa, but he knew few others would manage the castle as well as the Sheikah could.
Impa nodded, "It will be as you say, my lord."
Link expected her to leave, but she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at her with surprise. "Anxiety does not suit you," she said, "You will make a fine king when the time comes."
With that, she was gone.
Zelda had had several memories that she knew she could never forget. The day she first met Link was one such memory that consistently haunted her. She saw it so vividly every time she thought back to that day.
"Wave, little princess," Impa coaxed from their carriage, "All those people are waving to you."
Little ten year-old Zelda peeped over the wall of the carriage at the gathered people flooding the streets of Castle Town. To please her nursemaid, she managed a shy wave as she was paraded through the streets. Various shouts and cheers all merged together to create the roar of the city, and bouquets and coins littered the pavement from the celebration. Zelda strained her ears to differentiate the different cries. "The conflict is over!" "May peace forever reign!" "Long live his majesty, King Xenocrates and her ladyship, Queen Zelda!"
"What's the matter, princess?" Impa asked, straightening Zelda's elaborate braids.
"Just thinking," Zelda responded absentmindedly. The two rode in silence as the carriage made its way back to the castle. Suddenly, as the carriage was beginning to pass through the castle gates, Zelda spun to face Impa, her braided hair whipping through the wind and a look of fear in her bright, blue eyes, "Impa, what if the war's not over? What if it's about to get worse?"
Impa smiled, shaking her head, "There's no need to worry about that, your highness. It was hardly a "war," you know. It was simply a conflict between the Gorons and some Moblins, and your father straightened it right out with just a few of his troops. I highly doubt anything more will come of the matter."
"I just can't shake the feeling that things will become really terrible again," Zelda murmured, slightly ashamed of her outlandish ideas, "Like they were back in the days of Hylia and Demise."
Impa's smile faded, but she still said assuredly to the princess, "Nonsense. You know that the Hero of Old conquered—"
The horses spontaneously reared up, whinnying madly as the carriage overturned. Zelda screamed as Impa quickly wrapped her own body around the princess protectively, rolling both of them out of the way of the falling carriage. The entire procession had halted, with the King and Queen's carriage also overturned. "Impa," Zelda whimpered, clutching her nursemaid desperately.
"Hush," Impa soothed, yet Zelda did not miss the quick motion of the Sheikah drawing her dagger from beneath the folds of her clothes.
Zelda's head spun, her senses overwhelming her. Even at her young age, she was exceptionally perceptive, and she did not miss the shriek of her mother from the carriage ahead. "Mother!" Zelda squirmed free of Impa's grasp and sped to her mother's carriage.
"Zelda! Zelda!" Impa yelled after her, her voice frantic, but Zelda ignored the implicit order to return.
Cautiously encircling the remains of the carriage, Zelda gasped at the sight before her. Her parents both lay unconscious, and two masked strangers stood over their bodies, one of them wielding a knife while the other chanted something in a language that was foreign to Zelda. "Stop!" Zelda cried, surging forward on impulse.
The figure with the knife snapped to attention and sprinted towards Zelda, aiming the dagger at her. Zelda prepared herself for the impact, remembering what she'd learned from her few beginner lessons in magic, hoping she'd be able to create a force field in time. The air shook with the sound of a sudden war cry, and Impa had leaped between Zelda and her attacker before the princess could even recognize what was happening. Zelda's eyes widened as Impa and the hooded stranger engaged in fierce combat, the clash of metal against metal constant as the two leapt around each other. "Zelda, get out of here now!" Impa shouted.
Zelda knew that when Impa used her name rather than "princess" or some other title that the matter was serious. Zelda fled the scene, hiking up her skirts and running back in the direction of Castle Town. "Don't look back," the girl told herself, "Impa will handle it. Don't look back."
Impa's outcry of pain halted her, her heart stopping in her chest. Zelda turned back around, a hand flying to her lips at the sight of Impa crumpled on the ground, clutching her chest with reddened hands. "Impa!" Zelda dashed back to her nursemaid, forgetting her orders.
There was a great cloud of smoke, and before Zelda could even inhale, the figure with the knife flashed before her, the dagger looming over her head. "No!" Impa screeched, and Zelda watched as the knife came hurtling down towards her, unable to make herself move.
With a jerk, Zelda collapsed to the side, having been pushed. She blearily opened her eyes, seeing only a foggy vision of green dueling her opponent. Impa rushed to her side, blood still staining her hands and clothes. "Your highness, you must leave," Impa hissed, her breathing pained.
Zelda nodded numbly, standing on wobbly legs. "Go now—go!" Impa gave the princess a shove, and Zelda stumbled forward, slowly beginning to run again.
The masked stranger exclaimed something in its foreign tongue and leapt over the vision of green, making a dash for the princess. Zelda ran as fast as she could, but she could sense her chaser growing closer and closer and closer. Zelda swallowed firmly, her lungs burning as she forced herself on, and she nearly tripped and fell to the ground as a sudden howl of pain sounded behind her. She risked one glance over her shoulder to see the outsider slump to the ground, a boy in green removing his sword from the being's back. So THAT was who had been helping her…a boy.
To Zelda's horror, she realized her troubles were far from over. The second figure, the one who had been reciting strange incantations previously, was also now bolting for her. Zelda kept running, finding herself in the castle hedge maze. Her heartbeat thumping violently in her chest, she ran and ran, taking turns at random through the maze until she was hopelessly lost. The sound of rustling leaves nearly made her jump out of her skin, and she screamed as a hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Shh!" the boy whispered hurriedly, yanking Zelda closer to him. He motioned to a small indention in the wall of the maze, "In here—hurry!"
Zelda allowed herself to be pulled into the wall with the boy, their tiny bodies pressed tightly together in the small space. Zelda was slightly relieved to hear the boy's heartbeat match her own—racing and jumping within his chest. The boy held a finger to his lips, and Zelda bit her lip to contain her shriek as the stranger rounded the corner, unaware of the hiding children within the leaves of the hedges.
With a great shout, the boy leapt out of the wall, his sword high above his head. He brought it down forcefully upon the stranger's head, the figure moaning with pain as the blade sliced through him. The boy stumbled back, panting, as the creature sank to the ground.
Zelda hesitantly approached the boy, looking upon the fallen stranger curiously. The boy knelt beside his foe, hesitantly reaching out to pull back the hood and reveal the figure's identity. Yet as soon as the boy's hand touched the fabric, the creature vanished instantly, scattered particles of dust being its only remains. Zelda gasped, the cold hands of terror clawing at her.
The boy looked up at the princess fearfully, "Wuh-what was that?"
"I don't know," Zelda whispered back. She suddenly recalled what had happened earlier, "Impa! My parents!"
Zelda rushed back through the maze, crying tears of aggravation as she made turn after turn, each looking the same as the last. She sensed the boy's presence behind her. "I think I remember the way," he offered quietly, extending his hand.
Zelda reluctantly accepted the boy's hand, allowing him to lead her back through the maze. In her relief at finally reaching the end and catching sight of Impa up ahead, she forgot to thank him. "Impa!" Zelda flung herself into the arms of her nursemaid, the boy trailing behind her.
"Princess, thank the goddesses you're alright," Impa held the young girl close, shutting her eyes peacefully.
"My parents?" Zelda pulled back, looking up into Impa's eyes, "Where are they?"
Impa gazed upwards, not meeting the innocent eyes of the princess. "Impa?" Zelda ventured again.
"I can't explain it, your highness," Impa murmured slowly, "I've never seen anything like it."
Zelda broke free of Impa's hug, hurrying around her parents' carriage once more. She could feel her breath catch in her throat at the sight that met her eyes. There lay her parents—their faces contorted into expressions of severe pain, their complexions ghastly pale, their bodies limp. Trembling, Zelda knelt beside her mother, placing a small hand on the majestic woman's throat. "She's—she's not breathing! Impa, she's not breathing!" Zelda felt her tears dampen her cheeks as she cried out.
"What's wrong with her?" Zelda demanded, Impa standing beside her, "What did they do to them?"
"I don't know, your highness," Impa stated sorrowfully, "There's not a scratch on their bodies, yet they seem to no longer…live."
"No!" Zelda screamed, "They've got to be alive; they've got to."
Zelda stood up quickly, catching sight of the boy standing awkwardly beside Impa. "You!" Zelda pointed an accusatory finger at the poor boy, "Why didn't you save them? Why'd you leave them here and come after m-me?"
Zelda's resolve broke as violent sobs racked through her body, falling back to her knees. The boy swiftly caught her, softening her fall. He held her, allowing her to bury her face into his shoulder as she wept, her fingernails digging into his arms. But he didn't complain.
"What a charming memory," the princess' captor chuckled. Zelda suddenly became aware of the woman standing opposite her. Zelda lunged for the woman but was jolted back by thick chains binding her to a pole in the center of the room.
The woman clucked her tongue, "I wouldn't waste my energy if I were you, your majesty—those chains are enchanted."
"How did you know my thoughts?" Zelda demanded, her tone sharp.
The woman smiled devilishly, "I know a secret or two, dear princess, and I can't say I'm fully prepared to share them with you just yet. But be patient, and perhaps I'll give in one day."
Zelda felt a revolting sensation as she fully acknowledged her current circumstances. Had she not escaped? Had she been caught as she tripped? While averse to giving the woman the triumph of knowing she had foiled the princess' plans, Zelda's curiosity eventually prevailed. "Did you find me outside your fortress?" Zelda inquired, striving to keep her expression impassive, "After I fell?"
The woman gave a laugh that made Zelda's skin crawl. "Yes, you're very bold, I'll admit to that," she replied, overlooking the question.
Zelda attempted to mask her bewilderment as she pressed, "Surely you don't think you can keep my whereabouts hidden from me for long. Answer my question; I'm not afraid of you."
The woman's back was to Zelda as she strode across the room, locking the door, "All I will say on the matter is that your responses to capture grow more fascinating by the moment, and I would caution you against leaping to any kind of conclusions. But for now, I have business to attend to."
Zelda mulled over the woman's words. Her reactions to capture? Meaning her attempts to escape? Surely that did not insinuate that…Zelda suppressed shivering with fear at the thought. Were her emotions truly so easy to toy with? Had the whole escape actually been planned by her captor—as some kind of pitiless mind trick?
Zelda shrank back against the post as the woman drew nearer to her. "Don't make things difficult, your highness," the woman warned, "You won't like the results if you do."
Zelda wrenched her head to one side as the woman reached for her face, but she felt the cold press of the woman's bony fingers to her skin as the woman yanked her back, making sure they were facing one another. "Hold still," the woman hissed.
Suddenly, Zelda felt her breath flee her lungs with a gasp as an unbearable pain ravaged her. Her head—her mind—in particular ached as if it were being torn in two. Her body whipped from side to side desperately, trying to break free of her kidnapper's hold, but the woman did not release her. Zelda tried to plead for the end to her torture, but she found she could not speak.
The woman's eyes were shut as she firmly clasped Zelda's face, concentrating on her actions. Zelda felt dizzy from lack of oxygen, and her head ached as if it was shattering. She could no longer move at all as she tried to wrench free again, her entire body limp. Her body implored for a release, feeling as if she was being internally consumed by fire. Her infant kicked at her desperately, it also apparently feeling her pain.
Finally, the woman let her hands fall to her sides, and Zelda sagged down against the pole lifelessly, whimpering as tears streamed down her face. "Very interesting," the woman muttered before leaving the room.
Link stroked Epona's, his beloved mare, muzzle, feeling a slight peace as he met the eyes of his horse. That peace, however, was disturbed as one of the many butlers of the castle scurried up to him, panting and gasping for breath, "Master Link! Master Link, the castle is in an uproar!"
Link sighed, "I'm certain you speak the truth. But did they find anything in the princess' chambers? Any leads as to her kidnappers or her location?"
"Nothing, sir," the butler bowed respectfully, "Not a footprint on the floor nor even so much as a dropped pin. Only the torn curtains at her window, sir."
Link nodded, "I trust you are all informed that Mistress Impa will act in my stead as I'm gone?"
"Yes, sir. She announced it only a few minutes ago."
"Good," Link led his steed out of her stall, the mare nickering fondly at the prospect of going for a run.
"Oh, Master Link, forgive me," the butler exclaimed suddenly as Link mounted Epona, "but what will you do? What are we to think as you and the princess are away? Have you any idea who might've done this or where you ought to look for her?"
Link sighed again, "I will rely on my instincts for the time being, as they are the only clue I have at the moment. However, do not despair so quickly. Princess Zelda is a very wise woman, and I'm sure she will be able to defend herself until we reach her. I am certain she'll be alright and that we will find her soon."
The butler nodded mutely, seeming to not take much comfort in Link's empty promises. With a "hyah!," Link urged Epona into a canter, and the two rode out to meet the troops fit for the journey.
Link had requested a small, searching party—a large assembly would only hinder their travel and cost them precious time. Thus, only his most trusted and most adequate, as proven in combat, men awaited him, a group of approximately fifteen soldiers. The dawn was just beginning to break, the morning sun outlining the troops regally. The current general of Hyrule's army and one of Link's closer friends, Thorolf, rode to meet him. "Master Link," Thorolf bowed briefly from his steed, "We await your direction."
Link nodded, hoping his apprehension did not show through his façade of confidence, "For now, we ride for the Kokiri Forest. I seek the advice of one who lives close by, one who had been in contact with the princess prior to her disappearance and might possess information regarding such."
Thorolf nodded, signaling his men. He turned to Link once more as the thunder of hooves began to accumulate, the men riding for an area known as Hyrule Field. "Are you well enough to ride, old friend?" Thorolf asked softly, "If the expedition will be too hard, we could—"
"Enough! I'm fine," Link responded through gritted teeth. He gave Epona's reins a jerk, and he joined the blur of soldiers. Because Thorolf was well-acquainted with Link, he, unlike all the other soldiers, was aware of Link and Zelda's lack of affections for each other. Yet he knew Link well enough to know that he would still be wrought with worry for his wife and especially for his unborn child, and Link did appreciate the empathy. But for now, Link did not need to be reminded of his current loss, and he especially did not desire the pity of others. He wanted only to focus on his duty at hand and put his tracking skills to use.
"Master Link." The men had stopped at a small stream in the field to water the horses, having been riding for the past several hours. Link looked up at his name, his hand absently stroking Epona's mane. Thorolf stood before him, "May I have a word with you?"
Link stepped apart from the soldiers, joining Thorolf a short distance away, "Yes?"
"I've had a handful of men ask me as to whether or not we will be stopping to rest tonight," Thorolf elaborated, Link taking note of the sun sinking gradually in the background. Had they already been riding for an entire day?
Thorolf continued, "I have no doubts that they are capable of travelling without, but I think it best to rest now, in the beginning of our journey, so they will not be exhausted when the hour becomes direr. And," Thorolf added more quietly, "I am suspicious that you've had little to no rest for the past day. We can't afford to lose you to fatigue in times like these, Master Link."
Link exhaled slowly, pondering his options, "I suppose it cannot be helped, can it? Very well, there is an inn nearby for travelers. I suppose we will be making use of it tonight."
"We could set up a camp if you preferred it," Thorolf offered.
"No, there will be fresh food and drink at the inn," Link clarified, "It would be wise to save our own supplies for later and take advantage of such an opportunity while it is still present.
Thorolf bobbed his head in understanding, leaving to alert the soldiers.
The inn was owned by a young woman named Iola, who seemed rather excited to have royal soldiers as guests. "Stay as long as you like," she babbled, leading the men upstairs to her rooms, "And if you find anything to be amiss, you just let me know right away."
"Actually, we were wondering, if it's convenient, if you were still serving dinner at this hour?" Thorolf ventured politely.
"But of course! You boys just go wait downstairs, and I'll alert the kitchen right away!" Iola smiled, scurrying back down the stairs enthusiastically.
As the soldiers all seated themselves, Thorolf and Link claimed a more secluded table in a corner. Trying to distract the prince with conversation, Thorolf mentioned, "A friendly girl, don't you think?"
Link nodded, neither hungry nor in the mood for talk. Within a few short minutes, Iola and a few servants who presumably worked in the kitchen emerged, carrying plates of steaming meat and crisp loaves of bread. Though he was not hungry, Link courteously picked at his food in the comfortable silence Thorolf had allowed him. He refrained from jumping with surprise as Iola's delicate hand came to rest on his shoulder, having not realized she was behind him. "Are you well, my lord?" she asked with concern, her dancing green eyes worried, "Surely the food is not so terrible that you cannot eat it?"
Recovering from being caught off guard, Link replied civilly, "No, the food is delicious. I merely have a lot on my mind at the moment."
Iola nodded her understanding, the auburn bun atop her head bouncing with her movements, "I'm sure; as the prince of Hyrule, you must never have a spare moment to yourself!"
Link shook his head, "I have my free time to hunt and to travel, of course. I merely have a more weighted duty to uphold, but I don't at all mind fulfilling it."
"You're so very brave," Iola sighed, and Link noticed she had not removed her hand from his shoulder, "It's wonderful to know that Hyrule is in the hands of such a man."
Link shrugged modestly, unsure of how to respond, "Princess Zelda is of great assistance. She truly cares for this country, and it shows through her efforts to improve it and its conditions for its people."
Iola smiled, but it seemed unauthentic-perhaps even resentful, "Ah, yes, your wife. She is not with you, I take it?"
Of course nobody had heard of Zelda's disappearance yet; not enough time had elapsed for the gossip to brew. "No," Link replied simply, suddenly desperate for the conversation to end. The air about him seemed to be growing heavier, thicker, and Thorolf was watching him with a look of—perplexity? Amusement? Link could not identify which.
"Well, if you need to relax a little before you continue on your journey, just call for me," Iola gave his shoulder a squeeze as she left, giving him a quick wink, "I'm told I'm fantastic company."
Thorolf burst into laughter as soon as the girl was out of earshot. Link's face was a deep shade of scarlet, and he flung his napkin at the general angrily, "Shut up! It isn't funny!"
"Oh, an audacious little thing, isn't she?" Thorolf was still lost in a fit of chuckles, "I cannot believe she just offered herself to you so publically like that! Poor dense, little girl—does she not realize she'd have the future queen of Hyrule to deal with?"
Link glared irately at his friend, trying to will his blush away. Unfortunately, Thorolf's behavior had attracted the attention of the other, previously oblivious soldiers. "What's going on?" one of the soldiers questioned, a small crowd forming around the table.
"Nothing!" Link hissed, silently praying that Thorolf would remain silent.
Link had always been cursed with horribly bad luck. "The inn keeper was just making a little, shall we say, personal offer to the prince here," Thorolf snickered, dabbing at his eyes with his napkin.
One soldier raised his eyebrows with interest, catching Thorolf's meaning, "That true, eh? You can see in her eyes that she's a feisty one; I'll bet she'd be amazing in the bedroom."
Link's eyes widened, becoming more mortified by the minute. Another soldier concurred, "Aye, and did you see those hips of hers? That dress certainly does her favors. So what'd you say, Link? Are you having some fun tonight?"
Link was aghast, hardly knowing a proper response. He knew that simply because the men were good soldiers did not necessarily mean that their character was of the best quality, but he still had not expected such a reaction from them. "I-I am married!" was all he could manage to utter, his face still uncomfortably warm.
"Aw, the princess'd never know," a soldier nudged Link with his elbow, "Your secret'd be safe with us. You deserve a good time before we leave—who knows how long we'll be gone!"
Link had to strain himself to keep from gaping. He was on a mission to save his lawfully wedded wife, and his men were proposing he lie with another in the midst of it? "I couldn't," Link stammered, noticing that Thorolf was now eying him more seriously. He knew the general would leave the decision entirely to Link, and he didn't doubt that Thorolf was now contemplating the hero's less than romantic feelings for his wife.
"C'mon," another soldier urged, "She's a pretty little thing, you have to admit."
Link shook his head adamantly, "It wouldn't be right—no, I couldn't, I won't."
A soldier shrugged, "Your decision, I suppose. D'ya think she'd consider giving me a chance?"
Another laughed as they returned to their tables, "I doubt it; she didn't strike me as blind!"
Link felt some of the heat finally fading from his cheeks as the men settled back into their previous conversations, but his shame was still heavy upon his shoulders. "Link," Thorolf ventured carefully, "If you were to—still want to spend time with Iola, in a more private sense, I can see to it that the men never know."
Link gawked at the general, "Is that the man you think me to be, Thorolf? One who does not uphold the promises made in marriage? What kind of king do you expect me to be if I cannot honor my union with my wife?"
Thorolf shrugged defensively, "I was merely thinking of you personally, Link. I know of your relationship with Princess Zelda, and I was only suggesting that you fulfill your personal desires while you still have the freedom to. Honestly, what is the harm if you cannot even bring yourself to love the princess?"
Link mulled over the speculation, but only briefly. He had been raised to be honorable, and he intended to be so. "Even if I don't love her, I still have an obligation to my wife," Link muttered, studying his glass rather than the face of his friend, "I intend to respect that duty, whether or not Zelda knows of it."
Thorolf nodded, the conversation giving way to silence once more. Link struggled sleeping that night, his thoughts tormented with images of a miserable Zelda running away from dinner, a stern Impa looking upon him stoically in the study, and even of Iola, smiling sweetly at him with the temptation to forget his responsibilities still present even in his dreams.
I shamefully am admitting that yes, I am, technically speaking, two hours late posting this. I fell into a spell of procrastination, which I thankfully overcame. Hopefully it will not return to imprison me again! And I have a slight excuse for my tardiness, because look, it's the longest chapter yet! Hopefully you're enjoying this story as much as I am. Happy reading, and I look forward to seeing you all again next Saturday!