Hello! Nothing TOO important will happen in this chapter, besides the contents of Link's letter to Reena, that's fairly important. No yeah, really, you don't want to miss that. And Ella's briefly back again. Finally I wrote a short little blurb here for once!

Chapter Twenty Three: Promises and Letters

Nabooru leaned back in her chair, scowling with each clap of thunder. She hated these storms. Most of the guards had to stay inside, enhancing the vulnerability of the fortress.

The fortress shock as thunder ruptured again, sending the solid gold horse on her desk to the ground. Nabooru jumped from her chair and paced the room. Reena had stolen that.

Where was Reena? It had been so long since she had seen the girl. She was probably married to some prince by now.

And Link! Where was he? How had he taken the princess news? Had he figured it out yet? She could only imagine his face when he found out.

"Imagine, looking for the princess and having her next to you the whole time," Nabooru smirked.

Pound! Pound! Pound! Nabooru nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Come in!"

A guard walked through the door, sopping wet. She bowed, breathing hard.

"Yes?" Nabooru snapped.

"Captain Reena is here," she answered. "And-"

"Reena?" Nabooru interrupted. "Tell her to come to my quarters immediately!"

"She's unconscious," the guard said, shifting nervously. "And hot with fever."

Nabooru put a hand to her forehead with a moan. "What have you down now Reena? Have Gerudo start a fire in her room and draw a hot bath! Bring extra blankets to her room! Now!"

Nabooru cursed as the guard closed the door. She grabbed the potion Reena had given to her for fever and hurried to the girl's room. Her orders were being tended to as she walked in. A moment later the door burst open and four guards laid Reena on her bed of pillows. Nabooru swallowed at the sight of her pale face.

"Take her cloak off," Nabooru ordered, kneeling down next to her.

As the dripping cloak was peeled off, Reena's Gerudo garb looked back at her. Numerous, faded scars wrapped around her torso and down her bare arms. Nabooru had the guards flip Reena carefully over and whip lashes glared up at the ceiling. One long scar ran down the length of her back.

"What have you been doing?" Nabooru whispered.

Reena began to cough and shake horribly. She was turned on her back and wrapped tightly in a blanket with more being added. Nabooru touched her cheek, answered with an ice touch. Reena's eyes fluttered opened and a weak smirk crossed her blue lips.

"I thought I wouldn't make it," she croaked.

"You nearly didn't," Nabooru answered. "What possessed you to ride to death?"

"Castle was attacked by assassins," Reena mumbled, her eyes beginning to close. "Link told me… to… leave."

"The kid did something right for once," Nabooru muttered. "Reena?"

The twenty two year old had passed out. Nabooru sighed as she touched Reena's cheek and was answered with the same cold. It was sweltering in the room and there was no difference.

Nabooru froze, seeing something poke out of her shirt. She pulled it out to reveal a letter. Reena was all that was written on it. Curiosity flowed through her as she felt the envelope. Something besides a letter was inside. Nabooru pocketed it and stood, turning to the guards.

"I want guards stationed inside, switching every two hours," Nabooru commanded. "If anything changes, wake me!"

They nodded and after Nabooru was satisfied with the conditions, left. Though she lay down, it was hours till she allowed sleep to take her.

The moment she woke up the following morning, Nabooru was at Reena's room. Silently the door opened to reveal Reena fast asleep. She let out a sigh, closing the door and leaving. Hopefully Reena hadn't arrived too late.

*astrix astrix astrix*

"Well, glad to see you're not dead," Nabooru commented, sitting down in front of Reena. It was four days later and Reena was sitting in the center of her room. "You really pulled one over me."

"Sorry," Reena said. "I wasn't expecting to ride non-stop in the snow and the come here freezing cold into the rain."

"From the castle?" Nabooru demanded. "Reena, you're smarter than that!"

"I was being chased."

"Why'd you leave in the first place? You and Link can take anything! But… what happened to you? Do I have to kill Link? He has not been-"

"Are you talking about the scars?"

"Yes! I'm talking about the scars!" Nabooru cried angrily. "What is Link-"

"Link made me leave because of these," Reena said, running her hands over them. "He has them too."

"…Both of you?" Nabooru demanded. "What have I all missed? Reena?"

"We were tortured."

Nabooru froze, staring at Reena. She wasn't prepared for that answer.

"What has all happened since the destruction of Ganondorf?" Nabooru asked quietly.

"…You'll be here a while."

And Reena began to tell the long tale: Link leaving, Sarid's and Kasten's arrival, the engagement, the framing, finding out the truth, going to Salderin, their torture, deaths, rescues, and denial.

"A little less than two weeks ago Link and I finally found each other… and learned the truth," Reena finished. "And now… I'm here, Hyrule Castle's under attack, and the last thing I saw was Link being surrounded."

Nabooru was silent. Reena sighed, massaging her temples in frustration.

"He wouldn't let me stay because Sarid was there for me," Reena continued.

"The kid still has some sense," Nabooru approved. "Now, we need to discuss Sarid's execution. I've been thinking of a few ways myself. However, you and Link probably have your own ideas."

Reena gave her a flicker of a smile. Naturally she had kept the love issue to herself. If the King and Queen weren't ready to hear it, Nabooru definitely wasn't. Nabooru never would be.

"You got well fast," Nabooru observed.

Reena smirked, holding up an empty vial. "You forget who you talk to."

"Ah," Nabooru said with a nod. "Oh, and this is yours."

Nabooru pulled out the letter addressed to Reena. She watched as relief flooded to the young woman's face.

"Who's it from?" Nabooru asked, handing it to her. She saw Reena's gaze and rolled her eyes. "I didn't read it. It's still sealed."

"It's… from Link. I think," Reena answered, hiding the letter from view. "Thanks."

Nabooru only shrugged. She stood, knowing that Reena was desperate to read the letter no matter how she tried to hide it.

"Take it easy," Nabooru warned. "I have a feeling you'll be staying here for a bit."

"Yes," Reena answered with a nod. "Don't worry. I didn't bring anyone with me. I lost my trackers before coming here."

"I was going to say, I would've had to kill you," Nabooru smirked, closing the door behind her when she left.

Reena waited a few moments before going back to her bed. She pulled the letter out and slowly opened the envelope. Before she pulled out the small object inside, she pulled the letter out. The handwriting matched the handwriting on the envelope. The letter read:

Dear Reena,

I'm quite sure you're wondering what this is. This letter will either shock you…well it will definitely shock you, or… well, I guess I really don't know what your reaction will be. You'll probably think me faint-hearted, but that's not the reason I've written this letter. It's not because I'm afraid. In a sense, I guess I am, but for a different reason.

Have I lost you completely yet? Don't worry, you'll catch on quickly. You always did. No matter how hard I try to sneak around you, you've always been able to know what's on my mind. You always know the truth about me, no matter how hard I try to hide it. It's one of the many reasons of why I've fallen in love with you.

Yes, Reena. I case I never was able to tell you, I do love you. Ever since I saw you for the second time in my life at Fairy's Fountain I loved you. I pray by now I've told you. And if I haven't, well, then go and throw this letter away because I don't deserve an answer to what I'm about to ask.

I wrote this letter in case something happened and I wasn't able to ask you in person, not because I was afraid. If we were to be separated with little hope of ever seeing each other again, I was to give this to you. If I were to be killed, hopefully someone, someday would find this and give this to you. I can only hope that the second circumstance has not come to pass. I can only pray that there's still hope that I'll get to see you smile once again, to hear you laugh once again. But I have no control over the events that have occurred for you to read this letter.

I know you're views on this matter, but that still hasn't discouraged me. You know by now how stubborn I am. Maybe not as stubborn as you. No, your stubbornness is so strong nothing can break it… and thank the goddesses too. I can hardly count how many times it's saved my life. But on this issue I'll be more stubborn than you'll ever be because your rantings on it haven't disheartened me.

Reena, if you haven't already found it, look in the envelope again. Yes, it's what you think it is. Yes, I'm asking the unthinkable question:

Reena, will you marry me?

I'd give my life to see your face right now. It makes me laugh really. Are you staring at this letter in utter disbelief? In disgust? Shock? Hope? Joy? Are you wondering what's wrong with me? Do you think I've lost my mind completely?

I wonder if you've even continued reading this. I'll continue writing because in case I'm not there anymore… you'll have some questions answered.

To set a time frame on this letter, I got the ring in Salderin… during our 'holiday'. That's why I couldn't get the bow. This is so much more important than a piece of wood.

Right now I'm writing this as I wait in agony for you to return to Hyrule from Gerudo Fortress. It's been two weeks since you went from Salderin to Gerudo Fortress. How long has it been since I wrote this letter? How much time's passed? Has it been weeks? Months? Even years? I hope not years…but knowing how things can get with me, it's possible.

If I am gone, please know that I will never truly be gone. I'll always be next to you, helping you. Whenever things become unbearable, go to our place in Kokiri Forest. I'll help you swim away from your trials. I promise with my heart.

I love you and look to the day when we'll see each other again.

Link

The letter fell to her lap. She shouldn't be here. She should be with him, fighting next to him and protecting him. This letter… it brought to her the reality of everything. He had nearly died once… he wasn't invincible.

"What are you trying to do to me, Link?" Reena whispered, rubbing her eyes furiously to keep tears away. She wasn't going to cry. "Are you trying to kill me?"

With trembling fingers, she reached inside the envelope. She pulled out the object that had been digging into her breastbone the whole ride to Gerudo Fortress.

The gold ring was illuminated by the fire across the room. A delicately cut diamond was set in the center. The stone caught in the light, reflecting it onto the walls. It was beautiful… not only because of the craftsman work of it, but because he had given it to her.

Reena slid the ring onto her left hand. It seemed as though it had always been apart of her. She lay down, gazing at the ring. She grabbed the letter, re-reading it again. A small smile came to her lips. He was going to kill her, but she didn't care. There was nothing that was going to keep her in Gerudo Valley.

*astrix astrix astrix*

The sun was setting as Link and Lera rode into Termina.

"You're sure we'll be able to gather an army?" Lera asked.

Link smiled at Lera. "Trust me. First, I've got to see an old friend."

Link dismounted Epona, giving her a loving pat as his feet crunched in the snow. He took hold of Lera's horse, leading them through Clock Town. They neared a one story house with a small girl in front wearing a heavy winter cloak… and a green hat.

"I was wondering where my hat's been these past years!" Link called out.

"Link!"

He smiled, picking up the girl who ran towards him.

"Hi, Ella," he said. "How have you been? By the goddesses you've gotten big!"

"I'm mad at you!" she pouted, crossing her arms.

"Mad at me?" Link asked in a worried voice. "Why?"

"You never came back!" she cried, hugging him tightly.

Link smiled guiltily. "Sorry, I've been really busy."

"That's alright, um… I forgot his name," Ella said, putting her finger on her chin, "but someone said that you were busy."

Link eyed her, but decided not to question the six year old. She was very imaginative.

"Where's Reena?" Ella asked, looking for her.

"She… couldn't make it," Link said. "But she promises that she'll visit soon."

"Humph! I know what that means," she said. "Come on! Mom's inside with Caris! Daddy's at work, but he'll be home soon!"

"How's Caris?" Link asked as he put Ella down.

"He's talking a lot and… who's that?" Ella asked, seeing Lera. Her eyes grew big at the sight of the simple tiara on Lera's head. She pulled on Link's tunic in shock. "She's a princess! From Hyrule!"

"Yes, and-"

"Mom! Mom! There's a princess here! A princess from Hyrule!" Ella cried, running into her house.

"A princess? Really? Well, ask her to come in! It's cold outside!" floated Anita's answer.

"Mom says to come in!" Ella said, taking Lera's hand who had dismounted. "Oh, and you can come in too, Link!"

Lera looked back at Link as she nearly burst out laughing. He only shrugged and smiled.

"This is our house!" Ella said excitedly. She dropped her voice to a whisper. "What's your name, princess?"

"Just call me Lera," Lera answered with a smile. She looked over at Link who was quite entertained.

"Are you cold, Princess Lera and Link? Do you want some hot chocolate?" Ella asked. "Because I am and you've been traveling a long time!"

"Is Link here too?" Anita called from the kitchen. "Ask him to close the door!"

Confusion came to Link. Anita sounded… different. Like she was trying hard to hide a sudden wave of sorrow.

The family room was still as it had always been. To the right was a large window with a couch under it. Two chairs looked back at it and a small table sat in the middle of the sitting area. On the far left wall was a fire that spread warmth to all the rooms of the home.

"Yep! He and the princess are cold! Can we have some hot chocolate?" Ella asked.

"She doesn't believe Ella," Lera whispered to Link.

"I bet Ella has said I'm here many times. She fantasizes a lot," he explained, hanging his cloak on one of the pegs next to the door. He took Lera's, doing the same. The two slid out of their boots, and Link picked up the small boy who was staggering towards him with a huge smile.

"Well, tell them-"

Anita's voice trailed off as she walked into the family room carrying a tray with three steaming mugs. A small gasp escaped her lips and her eyes grew wide. Link didn't feel comfortable as her skin turned pale.

"Hello, Anita," he said, giving her a small smile.

"Link… she's going to drop that," Lera said.

"Ella, go change into some dry clothes," Link said. "You've been in the snow in that and will catch cold."

"But Link!" Ella pleaded.

"Ella," Link said, looking down on her. "Do you want to get sick? Come on, you."

"Alright," she murmured, stalking past her mother who was shaking from head to foot. "Don't you leave!"

"I won't," Link answered, slowly approaching Anita. He took the tray from Anita's trembling hands. "Anita-"

"They said you were dead!" she gasped.

"Dead?" Link asked. He flushed, the past year coming to mind. Anita's eyes rolled into the back of her head and Link leapt forward, catching Anita in his arms. "Anita?"

"What happened?" Lera cried, walking up next to him.

"She fainted," Link said, picking Anita up and laying her on the couch. "That's why I sent Ella out. I saw it coming. Get a cloth and soak it in warm water."

"Mama?" Caris cooed, tugging on Link's tunic.

"She's sleeping, Caris," Link said, taking the toddler and placing him on his knee as he sat down in the chair across the way.

Lera came back in, holding the cloth. She laid it across Anita's forehead, swallowing hard

"Will she be okay?" Lera asked.

"I should have known better than just walking in," Link said, smiling as Caris reached for Link's bangs that hung in his face.

"Mom?" Ella asked, walking in.

"Mom's taking a nap," Link said, looking over at her. He met Lera's smile as Ella sat on his other knee. She took Link's hat from her head, placing it on his. "Thank you. I've really missed that!"

"Well, it is your fault," Ella said. "You stayed away!"

"Yeah, Link." Lera said, shaking her head. "He and Reena are very bad at keeping promises."

"I know," Ella said, narrowing her eyes at him.

"What, now you're all against me?" Link demanded, leaning towards Ella. She giggled, her hand shooting for his sword strap. She attempted to unbuckle it, but Link got there first. "I don't think so. Not the sword."

"Awww!" Ella complained. "Reena would have let me."

"Yes, well, Reena's not here," Link said.

"I know," Ella sighed. "She'd better come soon!"

"She will as soon as she can," Link said, tousling her hair. "But Reena's really busy right now."

Staying alive, Link thought. Please, just let her get into hiding! The familiar prayer was interrupted as Caris grabbed the Triforce of Courage from under his white shirt.

"Hey, that's not yours, you thief," Link laughed. Caris smiled back, showing the teeth that had appeared.

"What's that?" Ella asked, taking it from Caris. His eyes welled up and his bottom lip began to quiver.

"Ella, let Caris have it," Link said, taking it from her and giving it back to him. Instantly Caris' signs of an outburst disappeared. "That is something that was given to me by the Royal Family of Hyrule."

"…So, Princess Lera gave it to you?" Ella asked, looking at her. "That was really nice of you!"

"Maybe not," Lera murmured. Link smirked, catching her remark.

"Ella, when your dad gets home, I need to talk to him okay?" Link said. "It's very important."

"Can I listen too?" Ella pleaded.

"I dunno, it's going to be really boring stuff," Link explained. "Trust me, you wouldn't like it."

"How do you know?" Ella challenged. "What are you gonna talk about?"

"Grown up things," Link said. "Really boring."

"Like what?"

"You're way too curious!" Link accused as he laughed.

"Dadda! Dadda!" Caris suddenly shouted.

"Daddy!" Ella cried, running to the ground. She opened the door, wrapping her arms around Tarin. "Daddy! Link's here!"

"He is? Real…ly…" Tarin trailed off as he stepped inside. He glanced at Anita and back at Link again. "L-Link?"

"Hi, Tarin," Link said, standing with Caris in his arms who was trying desperately to get to Tarin. "Yes, it's me. No, we're not dead. Before you faint, sit down."

"They told us you had been killed!" Tarin said as Link helped him to a chair. "One of the Royal Family's messengers told us that!"

"I can see where that would be assumed," Link nodded. "There's a long story. But first, let me start with saying Anita will be fine. She… wasn't expecting me I don't think and fainted"

"You think?" Tarin asked, massaging his temples. "So… you're both alive? Or…"

"Both alive," Link assured. "For how long, we'll soon find out."

"What do you mean?" Tarin demanded, looking up at him.

Link glanced at Ella who was playing with Caris. "It's best if we talk later. I don't want Ella over hearing anything of what needs to be said."

"Of course," Tarin said, relaxing in the chair slightly. His eyes fell on Lera and he got to his feet.

"Oh, sorry, Lera!" Link said, walking over to her. "This is Princess Lera of Hyrule."

"Just Lera," she said quickly.

"I thought you were Reena for a moment," Tarin admitted, taking his cloak off and hanging it up.

"We're sisters," Lera shrugged. "It's understandable with the blonde hair."

"…Sisters?" Tarin asked, turning to face them.

"That's… the other thing," Link said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Reena's Princess Zelda."

"Reena's a princess?" Ella cried, jumping up and down.

"Yes," Link said, laughing at her wide eyes.

"Just where is Reena?" Tarin asked.

"She's…" Link's eyes flickered to Ella. "Everything will be explained later."

"Tarin?"

Tarin hurried to Anita's side as Link faded father away. He wasn't about to have her faint again.

"I had the strangest dream," she murmured, slowly sitting up with Tarin's help. "I saw Link and… it wasn't a dream!"

"Anita, don't pass out again," Link said, slowly stepping forward. "I'm alive. Reena's alive. I…er… can't say we tried to stop the rumor that we weren't but… there's a lot that needs to be explained!"

Anita only gaped at him. Her eyes fell on Lera and then back at him. Tarin couldn't help but chuckle.

"Anita, this is Princess Lera," Link introduced.

"And Reena's sister," Tarin added as a side note.

"I can't take this much in one day!" Anita gasped, sitting back against the couch. "Please tell me Ella and Caris are my children!"

"You would know that of all people," Link said. "I know it's a lot. And there's much more. However, we'll wait until tomorrow. Lera and I will return tomorrow whenever it's best for the-"

"You're staying here," Anita interrupted. "There's a guest bedroom and Tarin and I will-"

"I refuse to kick you out of your own room," Link said at once. "The couch is more than enough. I'm used to sleeping on the ground."

Anita nodded with a sigh. "At least you're staying here."

*astrix astrix astrix*

"Are you all ready for bed?" Link asked as Ella ran into her room. She jumped on her bed, nodding furiously. He sat down next to her, pulling the covers over her. A smile came to his face as she hid a yawn.

"What's this story going to be about?" she asked.

"Does it have to involve spiders?" Link asked.

"Alright, no," she sighed, snuggling up him. "You pick this time."

"Me? Alright," Link said. "Hmm… okay, this one's about a princess who didn't know she was one."

"How could she not know she was a princess?" Ella asked, looking up at him.

"Well, when she was little, she was kidnapped and left in the desert," Link explained. "A band of thieves found her and decided to take her under their care."

"Did she become a thief?" Ella yawned.

"Yes, she became one of the best thieves! She even stole from the castle, not knowing she was there,' Link told. "On her sixteenth birthday, she was going to steal. On her way, she met a boy. Well, being from a band of all woman thieves, she didn't like boys."

"Was she mean to him?" Ella mumbled, her eyes drooping closed.

"She was curious," Link said. "But she came to know him and they became best friends. They soon…"

Link trailed off, looking down on the girl. Fast asleep. Slowly he stood up, laying her head on the pillow. Ella stirred slightly before rolling over. Link smiled, closing the door behind him. Everyone else was waiting in the family room. Link took a seat next to Lera on the couch.

"She's out like a candle," he assured.

"You're stories are fairly boring," Lera admitted.

"Quiet you," Link said, narrowing his eyes at her. He turned to Tarin and Anita sitting across the way. "Just… what do you want to hear?"

"We've been hearing so many things…" Tarin explained. "What the messenger told us was… unsettling."

"The tale is not a happy one," Lera said quietly. "What you heard was probably true."

And so the task of revealing the story began, starting with Reena's real identity being discovered.

"…The castle was attacked a week ago and Reena fled," Link said, his voice starting to become hoarse from talking. "But it's not over. Sarid is moving to attack Hyrule. He's already at our borders. We -Lera and I- are gathering as many as we can who will help us. He's trying to take Reena again and… destroy everything."

Silence hung in the room as the tale sunk in. Anita's hands trembled slightly and Tarin was lost for words.

"We're in your debt, Link," Tarin said finally. "Termina is in your debt. You'll have your army."

DUN DUN DUN. Next chapter will be the big war where important things will happen. And I'm sure you can guess who will be making a surprise apearance, Reena. Take that Link! Ke-CHA! Egad! Link and Reena are engaged now! But of course, nobody knows, or even knows they're in love for that matter. Soon my friends, soon. But yeah, as I said before, my story's almost over and this will be the final battle. It all went by so quickly! Eek! Ah well, see ya next chapter!