Heels clicked on the cold marble floor as Zelda came down the large hallway. The sun was just rising above the horizon, flooding the castle with the grey light of dawn. She looked around her as she slowly came to a halt. She was alone. Sighing, she leaned against the wall, resting a hand on her stomach and breathing deeply. She had been feeling sick for a couple of days, but today seemed to be even worse. She had once again spent the night in Ganondorf's chambers, and for a second she wondered if he hadn't finally decided to dispose of her by poisoning her tea. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to keep the world from spiraling out of control like it seemed to do too often lately.
"Princess Zelda?"
Her eyes snapped open upon hearing her name. She saw a young servant staring at her with wide brown eyes, a worried look on his face.
"Princess, is everything alright?" He asked.
She managed a small smile and nodded, standing back straight. However, the hallway suddenly started to spin violently in front of her eyes, and she stumbled. Her hands grabbed at nothing, looking for support. As her knees gave out below her, she felt a hand grab hers and an arm surrounded her waist.
"Princess! Princess!" She heard next to her ear.
She didn't even try to answer as she leaned against the young man, her free hand shielding her eyes from the ever-increasing daylight. The arm tightened its hold on her waist, ushering her forward.
"I will bring you back to your chambers," princess, he said. "Or would you prefer your husband's?"
The seemingly innocent question made her head snap up and she stared at the young man. His eyes shone with genuine concern, and his voice was exempt of any kind of accusation, but panic still rushed through her mind.
'They know. They all know. I betrayed them.'
Gathering her strength, she stepped away, relieved as she felt his arm leaving her waist. She staggered before once again leaning against the wall.
"Go," she breathed. "I am fine."
"Princess, I really believe that you should-"
"I said go!" She snarled.
The young man hesitated, staring at the princess with wide eyes. Finally, he turned away and left, footfalls echoing in the silent hallway. When the servant disappeared from her view, Zelda slid against the wall and sat on the cold floor, squeezing her eyes shut once more. She felt disgusted with herself. She had been spending most of her nights with Ganondorf for almost three weeks, and even though she had been careful to slip out of his rooms unnoticed before sunrise, it seemed she hadn't been careful enough. Surely, a stray servant had seen her tiptoeing out of his chambers at night and had spread the rumors. She opened her eyes and slowly stood. She was in no mood to confront Ganondorf in the throne room today. He was probably cackling maniacally right now, relishing at the thought of the snide comments he could throw her way when she's finally show up. Well, she would not give him that pleasure. Standing, she slowly made her way back to her bedroom, hiding her panic behind a calm smile. The hallways were becoming more and more crowded, and every servant bowed before her. Where she usually would have answered each and every greeting, a single thought crossed her mind every time someone addressed her.
'They know.'
When the princess finally reached her chambers, she couldn't help but sigh in relief. Closing the door behind her, she locked it. She just wanted to be alone for a couple of hours. As she stepped forward into her room, she felt her stomach churn furiously. Covering her mouth with her hand, she rushed to her bathroom. She grabbed the bucket the maids usually used to fill her bath and emptied her stomach of all its content, coughing and clutching her abdomen for several minutes. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she finally rose to her feet and, with unsteady steps, crossed back into her bedroom. Collapsing onto her bed, she brought her knees to her chin and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop the world from spiraling out of control. She took a few deep breaths and was finally able to open her eyes without wanting to throw up again. She laid motionless for what seemed like an eternity to her before she dared to sit. The sun was high in the sky now, and it was almost noon by now. As this thought crossed her mind, she heard a knock on her door. Swinging her legs over the edge of her bed, she stood and, ignoring her shaking knees, wobbled to the door, her stomach churning once again. She swung it open, coming face to face with Enia, who wore a worried look on her face.
"Princess!" She said. "I was concerned. I didn't see you all morning!"
Zelda smiled weakly, leaning against the threshold for support.
"I am sorry for worrying you," she answered. "To be honest, I do not feel well."
"Would you like me to go fetch the doctor?" The maid asked sweetly.
Zelda frowned. She didn't like the old, rude man. But when her stomach churned dangerously once more, she nodded.
"I think it would be best," she said. "Please come back as soon as you can."
With a slight bow, Enia turned away and hurried down the corridor. Closing her door, the princess went back to her bed, curling up on her side and squeezing her eyes shut. Enia soon came back, doctor in tow, entering the room after a soft knock. Zelda sat and watched as the physician took a few steps toward her.
"What can I do for you today, Princess?" The old man asked dryly.
The sound of armor clanking echoed through the vast hallways as heavy footfalls were muffled by the sumptuous red carpet. Ganondorf entered the library, barking for the two maids cleaning the tables to leave the place. As the two women scampered out the door, slamming the door shut behind their backs, the Dark King sank in one of the comfortable armchairs that lined the walls. Pinching the bridge of his nose in an annoyed gesture, he sighed heavily. It was a wonder Hyrule had stayed whole all this time with such idiotic soldiers.
He sighed once again as Zelda's thoughts invaded his mind. She was sick, and he groaned. As if he needed a sick wife on top of everything. Suddenly, her mind went blank, and the single thought that managed to make its way into the Dark King's mind made his eyes widen and his jaw drop.
'I'm pregnant.'
However, the next thought that crossed her mind didn't give him time to dwell on the shocking news. Jumping out of his seat, he ran out of the room as fast as he could and quickly made his way to the princess' chambers, ignoring the bewildered looks servants and soldiers shot his way. Finally reaching his wife's quarters, he found the door locked. Taking a few steps back, he hurriedly kicked the door in, just in time to see Zelda climbing on the railing of her balcony. He sprung forward, surrounding her waist with his arm just as she was going to jump. She squirmed and struggled, tears streaking her cheeks as Ganondorf brought her back into the room.
"Let me go!" She shrieked. "I'd rather die than bear such a monster's child!"
Ignoring her harsh words, Ganondorf closed the double doors leading to the balcony and placed a magical lock upon it. With a flick of his wrist the main door repaired itself and slammed closed, hiding the scene from the curious eyes of a few servants. Roughly, the Dark King put Zelda down on the bed, holding her legs so that she'd stay where she was.
Her tears-filled eyes met his, and she saw the feral gold bubbling with wrath. Had she been in her normal state, surely she would have been scared. Only, adrenaline coursed through her veins like an insidious venom, obliterating her senses and her inhibitions.
"Fix it," she hissed through gritted teeth as she sat. "Fix it!"
He snorted.
"I am not a nurse," he spat. "I am a dark wizard. I would have to kill you to… 'fix it'."
"Then do it!" The princess screamed. "I don't care!"
She suddenly found herself pinned against the mattress. Ganondorf's face was merely inches from hers, his exotic ember eyes darkening with rage.
"Listen to me, your foolish girl," he hissed, his voice dangerously low. "Get rid of it yourself. Whatever the cost, I want this… thinggone by the end of the week. Ask your maid to go in town. Surely there is a midwife somewhere who has a solution for this kind of thing. I still need you alive, so you will stay here until all this is over."
With a snap of his fingers, Zelda felt something closing in around her right ankle. The princess heard the clanking of chains, and when Ganondorf stood she saw a dark chain running from her ankle to her bed post. The shackle seemed long enough to allow her to move freely around the room, but would surely prevent her from reaching the balcony's door. Ganondorf's voice made her head snap up, and she saw him put a small bag down on her bedside table. The clanking sound that echoed through the silent room told her the pouch was full of rupees.
"Remember," Ganondorf said, turning his menacing gaze back to her. "You have one week."
"Do you have it, Enia?" Zelda asked.
The maid held out a small vial filled with a reddish liquid. The princess eagerly took it from her, nearly dropping it in her haste. She had sent Enia out the very next morning, and it had taken her quite a while to finally find what she had been looking for. Now that she was back, the moon was high, the silvery glow somewhat dulled by the clouds wandering the skies.
"Are you sure you want to do this, princess?" The maid asked as she sat next to the young woman.
Zelda glared daggers at her, and the maid shrunk, averting her eyes. The princess truly had changed since her wedding. The cheerful and gracious princess she had known was now a cold, brooding woman. Even though she wasn't as harsh as her husband, she was becoming more and more like him, barking orders at the servants and sneering if a demand was judged unworthy. The sound of the princess' voice drew the maid from her thoughts.
"Please leave me, Enia," Zelda said icily. "I wish to be alone for this."
Nodding, the maid left with a slight curtsy, quietly closing the door behind her and locking it, like Ganondorf had ordered.
'It's for her own good', the maid tried to persuade herself for the hundredth time that day.
Once she was alone, Zelda took a deep breath and uncorked the vial, frowning as the sickly sweet scent of the brew filled the room. The princess stared down at the potion for a while before bringing it to her lips. Her hands were trembling, and she squeezed her eyes shut, lowering the small vial back down.
She couldn't do it. She was about to consciously kill the small human being growing inside herself.
Shaking her head, she once more brought the vial to her lips. This child, Ganondorf's child, would only, like its father, bring death and despair upon the world and would ruin her life.
But was this child, this small thing, to blame for the wrongs of its father? It was innocent and pure, and she knew now that Ganondorf had only ended up like he was because he had been misguided and foolish. Yes, it was Ganondorf's, but it was also hers, the bearer of wisdom, the fair and generous princess Zelda.
She felt disgusted with herself now. She threw the vial of the floor in an abrupt, sudden gesture, and as the glass shattered into thousands of fragments, splattering the blood-like potion all over the floor, she immediately felt relieved. Whatever Ganondorf did to her, she wouldn't let him kill this little, beautiful thing. She smiled weakly to herself, resting a hand on her still flat stomach.
"This is the biggest mistake of my life."
I am now in foreign territory: pregnancy and motherhood. Although we won't be with Zelda for most of her later pregnancy (because, honestly, I don't think I could write that without it being a total piece of ****), please, no flame on my limited knowledge of these two subjects. Thanks.