A/N: So today is also going to be a bit calmer of a chapter. There is some further excitement that I have planned, but there were a few things I needed to take care of first. I hope you guys enjoy it all the same! Thank you all for reading, reviewing, following and favorite-ing, you are masters at providing inspiration and motivation to keep going! Know that you are awesome!
ArianandXaia: Wow, a blizzard, definitely a snow day then XP Jade is an official moment spoiler, and is probably proud of it. Blast these cruel ironies D: Thanks for the compliment and the correction, I was seriously out of it when I wrote that XP Thanks again!
CupcakePride101: I am so very glad to hear that! I love snow days :D Well it should last about another chapter and there might be more at the end. I would not want an ewish kiss either XP maybe she will hoard them like a typical dragon, who knows XP Thank you for the review!
Storm Dragon Wolf Princess: I don't especially want it to end either but we all know what happens to stories that go on to long XP Thanks for the well wishing, and compliment. I am feeling much better thanks :3
Arison Nakaru: Well she is still a baby dragon, but yes she is XP Actually, I was planning to make this a trilogy. I will put more about that and my upcoming plans in the author's note either next week or the week after. Thanks for the review and compliment :D It made me pretty happy to read!
Yami no Nokutan: Yes it does, I hope you feel better soon :) you shall just have to wait and see [:{ Well that may happen this chapter, Rhydd is not blind you know XP Thank you for the review, it gave me many Ghirahim rainbows!
QuoVeridis: I am, thank you for asking :) I love being lazy when I am sick, I am glad to hear that you liked it despite its calmer pace. Well you have to wait no longer! Thank you so much for the review!
Scarlet Curls: That is an epic theory, I am hoping on the conspiracy train right now. They already have a huge network of evil riddled thought the entire kingdom I bet XP Those great fairies are most likely the generals (the horror XP) Yes I am sure there were, my head was totally out of it. Thanks for telling me. No I did not which is why it did not happen. Yup, Aveil's got some serious stubbornness issues :P Thanks for the review, it was as awesome and entertaining as always XD you are pretty Awesome!
LovelyKiridia: I hate being that busy, it really stinks, especial when there is things you'd much rather be doing. :D I am glad you like that idea! It pleases me to hear, like extremely. My inspiration? Well that is a tad tough of a question. I get it from many places; from my beliefs, personal experiences, history, (total nerd there) things I have learned myself, observations, and personal interpretations. I get it from other authors, nature, from music, and even dreams. I have actually done many of the things I have forced Link to do in my tales (I am a very outdoorsy person and have the unhealthy tendency to be a bit of an adrenaline junky). You are totally right about Link he is a very awesome guy when you think about it. (giant spiders and scorpions would most likely leave me cowering in some corner XP) I would have done more than blush, probably vomit in revolution also XP he is an epic villain though. Thank you!
Aso a special thanks to: silverhawk88, Naruto Sakura Uzumaki, silverheartlugia2000 staticblast1, cirque du butt and xXx skytale xXx. Your support and reviews mean a lot to me!
Reflection
Link sat in the growing dark of twilight, wrapped in a cloak borrowed from Aveil. His thieving friend had also somehow managed to find him a clean change of clothes as well and, for that, he was thankful. He loved his forest green tunic given to him by Ordona, spirit of the spring, but there was no denying the fact that it needed to be washed. He sat in the small hollow that Zelda had chosen for a campsite, a bit to the side of the army's camp, and a good deal quieter. He was warmed by the small fire that blazed in the center of the hollow, which drove out the chill of autumn.
For the first time in little more than two weeks, he had enjoyed warm fresh food, and had been able to have as much as he wanted; which had been quite a lot, he thought rather sheepishly, looking at his empty plate. Zelda had brought him a large trencher full from the feast and they had eaten alone together in the quite of the night, with the sound of celebration drifting towards them from the feast in the valley. He had been dreading the thought of joining the merrymakers because of his exhaustion and Zelda had noticed. He still felt lightheaded and sore every time he stood.
He stared at her face in the flickering firelight. Her brunette hair was shining in the dancing light and shadows of the flames. Her light blue eyes were as keen and lively as ever. He still could not wrap his head around the fact that she had come for him. He had hardly ever seen her leave the castle before, and yet she had risked her life for him. Out of all the people he had thought might come after him, the princess had not been one of them. She was always one for putting her people as a whole over any single person. Did she honestly think that highly of him or was the world's safety her main concern? But the way she had… it had to be a fair mix of the two, he decided finally. Still, as he gazed at her face, he could not help but smile. He settled back into the rise of soft soil that made up the wall of their small hollow.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously at him, "exactly what do you find so funny this time?"
"Serhild, the mercenary from Hyrule," he said musingly, "whatever would the good people do if they found out about you? Where did you come up with such an alias? Was it a spur of the moment thing or have you often imagined yourself as a mercenary?" he queried in a teasing manner.
When they had first met, he would never have dared to tease a princess or any member of the royal family for that matter. However, after they had grown to know each other better, especially since their last uncomfortable adventure with the Empress, he had slipped out of the required formality and she seemed to like that. She always insisted he call her by her first name instead of, 'your highness.' Just because he felt at ease to speak freely around her though, did not mean he would ignore any of the respect she deserved because of her standing. It certainly did not mean he would flaunt the respect she derived as a person, friend, or woman either, for he held her in high honor.
"I don't see what's funny about me saving your hide," she said humorously, her face taking on a rather haughty look.
"Fair enough," he replied with a smile.
The only way he could describe how he felt at the moment was contented. He was no longer a prisoner and the world seemed brighter, even though it was night. His senses were no longer abuzz with an overwhelming sense of evil and foreboding. Darkness had been turned aside, for now at least, and Zelda had assured him that his village family was safe and Rusl was on the mend last she saw.
"Speaking of hides, I think I should give this back to you," she said, reaching for her pack. "Ouch! You evil little munchy don't ever do that again!" she exclaimed, scolding her dragon after the little creature had nipped her because she disturbed its sleep in her satchel.
He chuckled at her outburst and the fact that the princess of Hyrule had a pet dragon. He would never have guessed. He wondered idly if it would stay that small always or if it would grow to be as large as the one he faced in the kingdom in the sky.
As he watched her fondle the little creature's back-plates, he found himself missing his own animals terribly. How he longed to stroke Epona's soft mussel, look into her intelligent eyes and feel her powerful stride beneath him. He longed to hold his hawk on his wrist and listen to its wild hunting cry. But, most of all, he longed to see his family again and, because of Zelda, he knew he did not have long to wait. He could never thank her enough.
"Here," she said finally, tossing him a cloth with something inside it. He could tell, by the feel, that it was the twilight shard as he caught it deftly.
"I had quite an experience with that," she said, holding her head high in her graceful manner.
He found his attention completely held by that small characteristic motion, and he shook his head to clear it.
"It turned me into a mountain lion," she said.
He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Really?" he asked intrigued. "Do you… I mean, are you any different because of it," he asked finally.
She gave him a puzzled look, "I don't think so," she replied.
"Oh," he replied fingering the crystal through the cloth.
He had only asked because becoming a wolf had heighted his senses so they lingered over in his human form. He had been changed into a wolf by two different sources of magic though and perhaps that was why. The first time he had changed by fate almost, or rather, just by being exposed to twilight. Almost nothing before or since had been as scary or painful as that. When Zant made the shard the magic was slightly different than the first time he had changed forms. It did not hurt more than feeling weird and a pinch to touch the stone, whereas the effects of twilight felt like he was being torn apart. Perhaps it was the times he had transformed without the shard that had changed him.
"Thank you," he said finally, smiling at her. Her beautiful face was lit with a smile as well.
"I met your swords-master," Zelda suddenly admitted in a quiet voice. "The hero's shade, I mean."
"You did?" He asked awed.
"Yes, he helped me quite a lot through this quest of mine, with advice and information. He even helped guide my thoughts, during that fight with Ganondorf, to use the shard of twilight against him."
"That's funny," Link mused aloud, "I thought I felt him or heard him urging me to my feet when Ganondorf was choking you. It was almost as if he was giving me a hand up."
"I thought I could see a golden glow then, so I wouldn't doubt it," Zelda added.
For a long moment neither of them spoke, their thoughts directed towards the shade. Link eventually sighed, knowing that it would be near impossible for him to stay awake any longer. If he had been standing he would have collapsed he was so weary and sore. He lay back, using a sack for a pillow.
"You know, if we put our cloaks together, it might actually make a warm enough blanket," she said concerned, inching towards his side. "And you know perfectly well what I mean by that so I don't want to hear any silly japes," she warned darkly as she lay down about a foot to his side.
"Wouldn't dream of it," he yawned as he started slipping off to sleep. He was too tired to joke anyway. For a moment he worried that it might be improper or rude for him to accept her gracious offer. He did not want to be seen by her as an un-chivalrous man who lacked all forms of honor, who would use a woman for the sake of extra warmth and company. He had almost made himself seem so already, earlier that day, and he still wanted to kick himself for it. To think he had actually thought of kissing her.
In the end however, selfishness and a desire to not appear ungrateful won out in his mind. He was glad of the extra warmth and, admittedly, glad of the company, thankful for the presence of a friend beside him after so many days of solitude and darkness. He would have even dared to scoot closer to her if it would not come off as being improper or rude or totally uncalled for, he groaned to himself silently, almost wishing he had the strength to slap himself in the face.
Zelda lay staring at the stars through the lightly waving tree top canopy above her and listened to the light whisper of the wind through the pine needles. Link had long since fallen asleep and even the sounds of the feast were wearing down to be replaced by the sound of people settling in for the night. She was extremely tired but she couldn't seem to fall asleep. Admittedly, she had felt a little awkward sleeping so close to Link at first, for she had almost never slept in the presence of another person let alone a person of the opposite gender, but they both needed the warmth. After all he had just been through, she was almost positive he would need someone.
She felt a little awkward but she was not worried about it, she trusted him completely. In fact, though she did not exactly like to admit it, she felt safe with him beside her. She felt almost safer than she felt in her own chambers back in Hyrule castle with guards pacing the halls. Even though she knew he could hardly be of much use in a fight in his current state, the fact still remained.
"Room for one more?" Aveil's voice sounded softly at her side. "I didn't want to sleep with the warriors and it's pretty cramped in the women's section of the camp. It's quiet here, comparatively speaking." She explained.
"Sure," Zelda said, scooting over a little to make room for her wild friend. Aveil had somehow managed to steel herself a warm blanket and she settled next to Zelda's side.
Zelda blinked as a familiar manly figure appeared on the lip of their small embankment. It was Rhydd.
"Excuse me," he apologized rather sheepishly, "I uh, never mind," he said quietly as he saw Aveil. "I heard, or rather saw, you had no place to sleep and was going to offer you my tent. But, seeing as you seem to be settled in, I'll just…." He trailed off.
"Looks like someone has completely fallen for you," Zelda teased softly, "he is even willing to loan you his tent."
"I would only accept that offer if he weren't anywhere near the tent," Aveil snapped back, loud enough for Rhydd to hear.
In the dim light of the embers of her dying fire, Zelda could see Rhydd look indignant.
"Oh really? And how come he is so lucky?" he asked, gesturing furiously at the sleeping Link. "How come he gets both of you?"
"Because we trust him," Zelda and Aveil said in unison.
"Unlike you and most men, he is actually pretty good at behaving himself," Aveil added.
"Oh very funny," Rhydd grinned and shook his head as he started to walk away. He turned suddenly around. "Serhild, I would like to offer my services in accompanying you back to the border of your kingdom. it is the least I can do for you, for both of you actually, we owe you a lot."
"We would be glad of your company," Zelda said, sitting up.
"I'm coming too," Aveil said lithely
"I never thought you wouldn't," Zelda said with a small smile. "It would not be the same without you." She frowned suddenly. "There is only one problem, I have no idea how to get back to Hyrule; the path I took to get here is impassable."
"Why not ask Malver, that worm, how to get back. After all, all of the traitors that I saw obviously knew a way back to Hyrule, so I am sure Malver would be privy to it," Aveil suggested mildly.
Zelda smiled companionably at her in thanks, lying back down again when Rhydd left. Finally she felt her mind at ease enough to sleep and she settled down. She was looking forward to the journey back, and looking forward to finally returning home. However she knew, because of the threat the traitors brought of a coup, that things were about to get tricky.
~x~X~x~
The next morning, she immediately set about locating Malver. She found him sitting on a tree stump, peacefully eating breakfast. He grimaced when her shadow fell upon him and looked mistrustfully upwards at her.
"I need to know the details of Ganondorf's coop. The traitors have no knowledge that he was defeated and so I assume that whatever they had planned is still in danger of happening. I would prevent that." Zelda wasted no breath on formalities, she had no need for such nuances in her disguise and, also, she felt that Malver deserved no courtesies.
He nodded slowly and began in his usual flourishing way, "Ganondorf had, in fact, several schemes in mind to try before he settled upon the one he deemed the most satisfactory. It was actually the one I deemed the most satisfactory as well. It was a two pronged plan that was met with…"
"I have no time for your heavy handed words, sir. Speak plainly and to the point," Zelda cut the man short with an angry gesture, whishing she could have acted the same several times in the past when entertaining nobles.
Malver jumped and went on quickly, "The traitors were to go ahead and create an opening and, after that happened, a force of about two score of Ganondorf's marauders were to follow a day behind and take control of the capital. Then, Ganondorf himself had ambitions to take all of Hyrule from there with the rest of his army. If everything ran as Ganondorf planned, the small darknut and bulblin army left only two days ago, just before the rebel attack, and the traitors a day before that. You'll be hard pressed to catch them before they make their move."
Zelda was too shocked for a moment to be angry at Malver for neglecting to tell her this earlier, but in all fairness to him, he knew as well as she that there would have been no point in that.
"How do you get from this land to Hyrule without using the portal?" she asked suddenly, her mind already beginning to think ahead.
Malver sneered at her, as if pleased to have more knowledge than she in a seemingly trivial subject. It was as if he were pleased to hold the opportunity to lord that small sense of superiority over her. She recognized the power game he was attempting to play instantly and irritation welled up inside her. She had no time for this. However, she managed to keep her annoyance in check. She kept her expression completely blank and simply held his gaze cooly until he finally looked away, flustered.
"The portal can only be used to get into this land," he explained stumblingly. "It is too damaged on this side to go back."
"I am aware of that," Zelda said, dangerously calm, "but logically, since Ganondorf sent the traitors to Hyrule, there is another path somewhere. What I want to know is, where?"
Malver swallowed obviously, "Ganondorf discovered a tunnel that ran under the mountain at is narrowest point. It takes almost a full two days journey to get through and, unless you have ambitions to scale those mountains, it is the only way."
Zelda inclined her head slightly to the man in thanks, after he gave her a map indicating the tunnels location. All this information had not really improved her mood. They were extraordinarily pressed for time if they were to catch or overtake both groups of enemies on the road. She turned sharply on her heel and stalked gracefully away from the miserable business owner turned traitor, only to walk straight into the path of a smirking Link who was casually leaning against a nearby tree. Judging by the amused expression on his face, she knew that he had witness her entire discussion with Malver.
"I hope you did not terrify the poor man too much with your utter majesty your highness. Commoners can find it very unsettling to say the least."
There was no one within earshot to hear him call her princess, but she wished he would be more careful anyways. She shot Link an icy withering glare that seemed to only brighten his grin. On top of that, he remained annoyingly un-withered. Even more annoying still, his grin was as infectious as ever. He had an almost innocent look that belied his cheek and eyes that almost seemed alight with something she could hardly name. He always seemed to be getting bolder with her, and she liked that. He was pretty much the closest friend she had ever known. Thinking back to his nervous overformal shyness around her, after the first defeat of Ganondorf, almost made her want to laugh.
"Well I needed the information, and if I know of an advantage to get it, why not use it?" she said in answer to his jibe. "Also, I did not see you doing anything."
"I just came to tell you that Aveil, Rhydd and I have gathered all the supplies and have even secured some horses."
As he spoke, she saw the aforementioned two Gerudo heading towards them through the trees, holding a horse's bridle in each hand as four steeds followed placidly in their wake.
"Did you figure out what direction we are traveling?" Aveil called brightly.
~x~X~x~
It took them a day and a half's nearly non-stop journey to get to the foothills of the mountains of Snowpeak and the rest of the day to find the pass. Zelda, Rhydd, Aveil and Link dismounted near the yawning mouth of the cave-like tunnel that led through the mountain. There were numerous, and fairly fresh, tracks leading inside, which confirmed that Malver had at least spoken true.
Zelda took the bridle of her and Link's horses and passed them to the two Gerudo whilst Link separated their provisions.
"I suppose this is farewell then," she said carefully.
Rhydd frowned but inclined his head in agreement, "unless of course, you wish for us to accompany you further. Trying to catch a small army and group of traitors is a dangerous task for only two warriors, even two as skilled as you."
"We need speed more than brawn now, I think. Two will move faster than four," Zelda said solemnly.
She halted for a startled moment as Aveil wrapped her arms around her in a quick embrace of farewell before doing the same to Link.
"I will miss you both until I see you next. I think I speak for our entire kingdom when I say you will always be welcome in these lands. It was a blessing that our paths crossed and a pleasure to meet you both."
"Likewise," Link grinned and was promptly talked by Aveil for a second time.
"I still hold by what I said earlier, you're not bad for a man, Link."
"I think that is the nicest compliment I have ever been paid," he laughed softly.
"Are you positive you wish to go it alone?" Rhydd asked her again.
She nodded, "It will probably be for the best. Also, I think your people need their king."
"I suppose it is true that rulers can't just go traipsing off into the blue and leave their lands unannounced and unguarded."
He gave her a bit of an odd look and one of the smallest yet self-pleased smiles she had ever seen.
"Unless of course the situation is dire enough, such as returning warlords and missing heroes that threaten the safety of all lands concerned. A ruler could leave their own kingdom then I should say."
"I suppose they could," she stammered, her eyes asking his a silent question, wondering what he was getting at, and if he had guessed.
"The game of observation can be played both ways I think, milady."
Zelda gave a sidelong glance at Link and Areya, who were in the middle of their own conversation, then back to Rhydd. She had not told anyone, not even him or the generals, simply because they had no need to know. Anonymity had served her purposes well. Knowing who and what she was would not have helped her situation at all. If she had made a claim to nobility upon their first meeting it would have only fed the enemy information that was best concealed. It would also have sounded tactless and arrogant at first. Also, if she had tried to tell anyone later she would have come off as deceptive. Rhydd was highly clever and observant and it appeared he recognized in her the same things she had seen in him that night on the battlements.
"I do not know how high ranking of a lady you are, but I guess you are either a princess or some other influential noble."
"And you would be right in your guess," Zelda confirmed softly.
"If you are the princess or hold influence, since there is now an actual pass between our two countries, I do not think I would object to political peace talks in order to form an alliance or, at the very least, a peace treaty, between our two countries like in the days of old, before my people fled Hyrule."
"If we are successful and make it back, I will make sure that it is done."
"And if you are not successful, simply send me word, fair maiden, and I would try to aid you as best I can."
He held out his hand and she placed her smaller one inside his grasp, assuming he wished shake hands. She was mildly startled, but not surprised really, when he instead brushed her fingers against his lips in a bow in the manner of a high-class courtier.
When Link had finished his conversation with Aveil, Rhydd shook his hand, companionably. After saying their farewells, Aviel and Rhydd turned to ride back the way they came, and Link and Zelda headed into the cave's opening. Upon inspecting the inside, she found that it was very similar to the secrete tunnel that had led into Ganondorf former fortress, except this one was dryer and it was carved securely out of the stone. It appeared to have been a naturally formed string of single room caves that someone had improved upon. She was slightly relieved that it was a little less dubious of a path for, by this time, she was already quite sick of tunnels.
She knew they needed speed above all else and knew that running through on foot would hardly gain them any ground. An idea presented itself to her but, before she opened her mouth to speak, she saw that Link was already holding the twilight shard in its cloth.
"What do you say to cutting down our time in this tunnel?"
She only smiled in answer.
Shortly after, a large grey wolf and slender golden mountain lion ran lightly side by side through the tunnel's gloom with a small dragon leading the way by air, periodically lighting their path with her short puffs of flame.
Thanks for reading! Feedback is always appreciated. Next week I promise there shall be a bit of action, and a bit of a catch up with all the residents of Hyrule. I hope you all have a blessed week.
Question: Zelda is often portrayed as a wise princess, but has there ever been a time you thought her foolish or at least made a decision that was not so very wise?