Snow lightly fell on Hyrule castle, painting the landscape in white. The sun was covered by a few black clouds, and a cold wind blew. Heavy silence veiled the castle's garden, soon to be broken by two feminine voices arguing vividly. Despite the weather being quite inappropriate for a walk, Zelda and Enia, her maid and closest friend, were braving the cold gale and walking in the darkened alleys of the castle's garden.
"But, Zelda, I don't understand," Enia said. "Don't you want to run away?"
The princess sat next to a fountain, sighing. How could she make her understand she couldn't? That she didn't want to imagine the consequences her people would suffer if she ran away?
"It is not about what I want, Enia," she answered, dipping her fingers in the crystal clear water which, despite the coming winter, was not yet frozen. "It never was. It is only about what my people need. I always do what's better for them, and not for me. This is my duty, and I cannot escape it, nor would I if I had the chance"
The water was ice cold and she shivered, while Enia shook her head.
"I'm sure they would understand, Zelda," she said, sitting next to the princess and gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
The young woman addressed her a sad smile, shaking her head.
"I do not think they would if they all suffered a slow and painful death," she answered quietly, averting her eyes when she crossed her reflection's gaze in the water.
She couldn't look at herself ever since she had kissed Ganondorf. Giving in to her enemy in such a way… was she weak? Was she sinful? Was she worthy of the godesses' trust? Every time she thought about him now, the hatred and anger were still there, but something else had started to grow… something that made her body squirm and her thoughts go wild…
"I guess they would not understand, indeed," a deep voice retorted, interrupting Zelda's thoughts and making the two women jump in surprise.
They both stood, and Enia immediately bowed and averted her gaze when she recognized the one who had interrupted their conversation in such manner, while Zelda rolled her eyes and sighed. Ganondorf walked directly up to the princess, looking disdainfully at the maid. He brushed the snow off his shoulders before talking again.
"Leave us," he said dryly.
"Of course, my Lord," the maid whispered.
"I'd rather you remain," Zelda snapped, touching her friend's arm and ignoring Ganondorf's mocking look.
Enia faltered, hesitating between her desire to stay at the princess' side and her fear of the Dark Lord.
"Why should she stay?" Ganondorf asked, his voice dangerously low.
"Why should she leave?" Zelda retorted, lifting her chin up in defiance.
"Princess, I think I should leave now," the maid whispered, slowly stepping back.
"Indeed," Ganondorf snarled, starting to lose his temper.
"No, stay," Zelda said firmly.
Despite her confident façade, her heart and mind were racing. She didn't want to stay alone with Ganondorf. Not after -
Her thoughts were interrupted by the Dark Lord stomping forward toward her. For a second she was afraid of what he would do, but she only had time to yelp before feeling him grab her waist, pull her against him and put his lips on hers. As her eyes widened at the unexpected gesture, she put her hands on his chest with the firm intention to push him away. However, she found herself not resisting his kiss, and, despite herself, her eyes slowly drifted shut, her hands curling into fists against the Dark King's chest. She could feel Ganondorf's touch on her waist and she could swear his other hand was trying to find its way underneath her coat. Or was it just her imagination? After what seemed like an eternity, she snapped back to her senses and broke the kiss, escaping his embrace. Her let her go without resisting, a satisfied smile on his lips. Zelda's cheeks threatened to burn before she mastered herself and smoothed her dress to hide her embarrassment. Enia was nowhere to be seen, and so she was alone with Ganondorf.
"May I ask the reason for this – rather surprising – display?" she asked in calm voice, trying to prevent her voice from shaking.
She didn't succeed, and a smug smile appeared on Ganondorf's face. He did not answer and sat next to the fountain, patting the cold stone bench next to him.
"Sit, my dear, sit," he said.
"I'd rather not," the princess snapped. "Pray tell the reason behind this rude interruption."
Ganondorf straightened before leaning forward toward her, his elbows resting on his thighs, a spark of spite appearing in his amber eyes.
"Your thoughts called for me," he answered, his voice barely audible in the howling of the wind.
She snorted in a rather unladylike manner before she covered her mouth with a gloved hand, glaring daggers at him.
"This is highly unlikely," she snapped when she had regained her composure.
"Unlikely, you say?" the Dark King said, quirking a brow at her words.
He stood and slowly walked toward her. She wanted to step back, but mastered herself. He reached for her waist and she forced herself not to flinch. She kept staring right into his eyes, putting all the hate and anger she could muster in her gaze.
"Then why is it that, every time my name crosses your mind, your thoughts go wild?" he breathed, their faces mere inches from each other. "Your knees shake? Your cheeks burn and your fists clench? Tell me, fair princess, why is that?"
She tried to answer, but could only gawk as he tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her closer to his body. She expected his armor to be as cold as ice, but it was surprisingly warm. The intensity of his gaze made her shiver, and a delicious, new sensation made her muscles strain in expectation. In expectation of what? She couldn't tell.
"And why is it that your body quivers?" He asked again, this time whispering against her ear." Your back arches?"
"I don't – I am not - ," she protested.
"Then answer me," he breathed ruthlessly. "Why is it - "
"Shut up!" She screamed.
She couldn't hold it in anymore. She tangled her fingers in his hair and silenced him with her lips, her eyes squeezing shut. Something took hold of her, something that made her press her body greedily against his, something that made her tremble as she felt him kiss back and press his hand to the small of her back, the other smoothing her thigh. She pressed so hard against him that she could feel the edges of his armor digging into her skin. She wanted more. She couldn't tell what she wanted, but she wanted it. She wanted him. Him.
As this thought crossed her mind, her eyes swung open and she stumbled away from him. He did not speak. He only smiled, licked his lips and turned away.
With a last look at the blushing princess, he slowly made his way back to the castle.
It wouldn't be long now, and Zelda would be his.
Entirely, completely, utterly his.