"I know what you have done."
Zelda's gaze lifted from her plate to settle on Ganondorf, who was sitting across from her. He had requested breakfast with her, which was rather unusual for him, and even though she had never doubted he would realize her disobedience sooner or later, she had hoped to have a little more time to prepare her defense. She was still shaken from her experience the previous night, but she knew he expected an answer. His fingers rapped against the table in a rapid rhythm and his glare made chills run up her spine. She nonetheless kept her composure, breathing deeply before replying. She had to be brave. For herself and for the little one growing inside of her.
"I have no doubt you do," she answered simply, and she was pleased to hear her voice was not shaking.
"Give me a good reason for that thing to still be alive," the Dark King hissed, his blood boiling with rage at the look of defiance in the princess' eyes.
"I have no reason to give you," the princess retorted calmly. "Just because you want something dead doesn't mean it should die."
A low growl rolled off the Dark King's throat, and a dangerous gleam began to shine in his eyes, making Zelda's skin crawl with apprehension. She resisted recoiling in her seat when he leaned forward toward her, his fists balling into fists on the arms of his chair.
"You better watch your back, Zelda," he hissed, spitting her name out as if it had been a poisonous fruit. "You may never know who will be there to hurt this child of yours."
As he stood brusquely, almost toppling his chair over, the words blurted out of her mouth, so fast she couldn't hold them back.
"It's also yours!" She shouted.
Ganondorf, who had started to walk away, stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing her words. He did not face her, but she saw his shoulders shaking with contained furor as he spoke coldly.
"I still need you alive, Zelda," he said. "But don't try my patience."
He quickly left the dining room before his temper could get the better of him. The Dark King stomped through the castle, barking orders at any servant unfortunate enough to cross his path, red sparks flickering wildly at the end of his fingers. He finally found himself entering his chambers, only to find a report sitting at his desks. Picking up the sheet of parchment, Ganondorf frowned at the incomprehensible scribbling of one of his monstrous servant. After a rather laborious reading, the Dark King slammed the report back down upon his desk.
Closing his eyes and sighing deeply, he rubbed his temples. Of course it had gone wrong. Everything always went wrong.
Opening his eyes, he padded to his window. From there, he could see the desert, his home, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. To think that the boy would soon walk the holy lands of the Gerudo made his blood boil with rage. But there was no time to think about this now. It was time to prepare for the boy's arrival. Closing his eyes, he vanished, leaving the room empty and eerily silent.
Ganondorf sighed in bliss as the searing wind of the desert caressed his weathered face. He wanted to kneel and pray for his ancestors, if only for a minute, but he knew there was no time to lose. The boy was already well on his way, and even though the bulblins already patrolled the outer grounds, the hardest part still remained. His eyes ran over the cracked stones of the large structure before him, his gaze hardening as his hand unconsciously grasped his chest. Painful memories flashed across his mind as he climbed the stairs leading to the main entrance. His eyes looked the derelict structure over once again. He could destroy the wretched place with a wave of his hand, but he knew better. This place was his best chance to see the hero's true powers. If he was nothing but an overzealous brat, he would die here. And if truly he was the chosen one…
His lips curled into a ferocious smirk at the thought.
Reaching the top of the stairs, he peered into the darkness ahead, not seeing much but a long, age-old corridor leading down into the unknown. Summoning a small flame into his hand, the Dark King squared his shoulders and entered the Arbiter's Grounds.
The flickering flame sent menacing shadows dancing on the cracked walls of the ancient prison. Ganondorf stalked down the abandoned corridors, recalling his carefully laid out plan. Once he was done, this place would be crawling with unnamed monstrosities. As he pushed open a large, dusty door, he finally reached his destination. His eyes scanned the large room for any potential danger, but, as expected, the place was empty and lifeless. Four braziers burned in the center of the room, their unnatural flames coloring the air with an ghostly blue glow. When Ganondorf stepped forward, the four flames flickered dangerously, as if about to be blown out by his mere presence. They eventually settled as Ganondorf approached them, malicious spirits basking in the dark power rolling off of the man in waves. The Dark King's steps came to a halt as he reached the waist-high braziers.
"Spirits of this place, hear me," he called out to the darkness.
His voice echoed indefinitely across the room, repeating the plea a thousand times. He waited for a little while before speaking again as the room filled with the spirits haunting the place that came to listen to the intruder's declaration.
"I can grant you protection over one who comes to destroy you," he said. Defeat him, and I shall grant you the freedom you have sought for so long. "Fail, and you will be either destroyed or imprisoned here for another thousand years."
This time, dark whispers emanating from the shadows answered him, each and every one asking questions he wouldn't –and couldn't- answer.
"SILENCE!" He barked.
The whispers immediately stopped.
"Aid me, or this boy will rob you of your only chance of salvation!" Ganondorf bellowed. "Only I can save you from an eternity of roaming this wretched place! Only I can grant you vengeance over those who imprisoned you here so many years ago, for I can torment them even in death, as I can torment you if you do not obey me!"
The whispers rose once again, louder this time. He started to see small forms stepping out of the shadows, dragging their feet as if they were too heavy for them. They stopped at a few meters from him, watching the Dark King with empty eyesockets.
"Will you help me?" Ganondorf asked.
After a second of silence, grunts and wails of approval were heard, coming from everywhere at once. The Dark King's eyes swept over the room one last time before uttering a final phrase.
"The boy in green will be here shortly. Remember my words, and make your choice."
Turning away, he quickly exited the prison as its inhabitants woke from their slumber. Limbs slowly reattached themselves as skulls made their way out of the sand. Ancient creatures once again slithered in the darkness, their watchful eyes looking out for any intruder. Sands shifted and moved as bony feet dragged themselves toward the entrance of the prison. A low growl echoed from the depths of the structure as horrifying fiends came back to life.
Anything to be free.
Back at the castle, Ganondorf paced back and forth in front of his desk. Surely there was a way to make Zelda change her mind. He didn't need her to hate him more than she already did, which would undoubtedly be the case if he got rid of the child himself. Unless…
His head snapped up as the thought crossed his mind. A grin slowly crept its way to his lips as he sat at his desk. Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing she had decided to keep the child alive after all. They were bound by soul. If he died, she died, and the child with her. Judging by what he had seen, women became she-wolves when it came to their child. Protecting them from any harm, giving them everything they could, and even sacrificing their lives for them.
He couldn't help a dark chuckle as the plan formed in his head. If the well being of her -their- child was on the line, maybe she didn't have to be an enemy.
A book in her lap, Zelda sat reading in her study when she heard a knock upon her door.
"Come in," she said, slamming the tome shut and standing.
Enia entered the small room and, after a short bow, took the princess' hands in hers, a grin plastered upon her face.
"Princess!" She cried. "I have the most wonderful news!"
"Do tell," the princess said, her lips quirking upwards at the sight of the cheerful woman.
"I heard rumors of a hero rising to the south!" The maid chirped. "They say he has already slain many of Ganondorf's servants. He may even slay the Dark King himself!"
Zelda smiled fully this time. So it had finally come to pass. Courage had woken to stop Power in its lust. However, her face fell when she realized what that implied. Ganondorf had to die. And if he died…
"Princess? Are you okay?" Enia asked, her smile fading upon seeing the princess' distraught expression.
Zelda unconsciously put her hand over her stomach as she fell back on the couch where she had been sitting, her brain still trying to process the harsh truth. If he died, she died, and their child with them. And if the hero took too long, the newborn would be orphaned, growing up in a world where it would be blamed for all the wrongs of its father.
"Leave me," she murmured as tears welled in her eyes.
"But, princess…" Enia stuttered.
"LEAVE ME!" Zelda snarled.
The maid froze before bowing and stiffly leaving the room. The princess sat motionless for a while, holding back her tears as her options flew across her mind. Unfortunately for her, they were very few, and only one of them could allow her and child to survive.
Help Ganondorf.