Chapter Nine

In Lucem
"Into the Light"

The two of them tumbled into the world of Light, but this time around the Princess desperately clung to the body of the ailing Hero as they rolled across cold, damp stone. Midna immediately looked up once she came to a stop. The portal was shaking, geometric Twili markings seemed to squirm like snakes, bending and snapping from the instability of the still weakened magic that had just barely managed to form the gateway. A flash of light blinded Midna for a moment and once her vision became stable again, she looked to where the portal had resided.

It was gone, exactly as she feared. They would have to find another way back, or else wait until the magic of her ancestors returned, and she didn't know just how long that would be.

The Princess of Twilight took this moment to assess her surroundings. They were in the dungeons of Hyrule Castle. How fitting. The first place they had met in face-to-face was where they arrived after abandoning the kingdom a year past. That's when she noticed the Hero was no longer in her grip.

"Link!" Midna shouted, untangling herself from the large sheet she hid beneath. Somehow he had managed to slip from her grasp during their fall. The Princess looked around frantically, fearing he hadn't made it but relieved when her eyes settled on Link's tired and panting form. It too was tangled in a cloak just as she had been mere moments ago. Midna rushed to the Hero's side, ignoring the fact that their destination wasn't exactly as she had planned and pulling the fabric away from the face of the Hero in his bestial form. She drew the Shadow Crystal from his body without hesitation, transforming him back into the one wearing the familiar green tunic from their journey. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, looking over his form for any wounds. Luckily none seemed to be present, but the darkened lines along his skin had crawled further on his body. Now they snaked their way over his cheeks and across his face, eyes still closed. The Hero's expression was now somewhat pained and his muscles tense.

The Twilight ruler swore under her breath. She knew using magic as dark as that would have adverse affects, speeding up the process of his blood fighting the magic of the Twilight. This is exactly why she didn't want to resort to using that foul sorcery, but it's not like they had a choice.

Link's eyes popped open, looking to the Twili nervously hovering above him. The irises of the Hero were redder than they had been before. Now streaks shot towards the pupil at sharp jagged angles. A weak smile curved at the edges of his lips as his breathing evened.

"I'm… okay…"

Midna knew that wasn't true. Link had been weakened by the travel and was trying to hide it, just as he initially did with the illness that plagued him. She pulled the fabric he had arrived in tightly around his form, lifting the now cocooned Hero once she had done so.

"Link, we've arrived in the dungeons. Did you do this?" she asked, looking down to the bundle in her arms. She was incredibly relieved they had ended up in Hyrule, but at the same time fearful about the fact they were in such a forebodingly familiar place. "By trying to anchor to Zelda's soul I hoped we would end up where we first met her, or directly in her current location, not the dungeons…" she drifted, eyes wandering over their surroundings. This was the exact same room she had first introduced herself to the Hero.

"I'm sorry Midna, but I couldn't focus…" he drifted, out of breath for the meantime. Traveling through that portal was nothing like the ones dispersed through Hyrule. Instead of simply being in one place at one moment and another the next, this journey was almost like a fight against the will of the Goddesses themselves. The feeling of nothingness was exactly like something he had encountered before, but Link was unable to place when and where he had previously experienced it, and the Hero could have sworn he heard a sinister yet frighteningly familiar laugh just a moment before tumbling out of the darkness.

During the travel, he couldn't seem to feel Midna's presence whatsoever. Link wanted to tell her that he tried his best, but was only able to hold on through the struggle by thinking of her, and the two of them had met in this room for what seemed like ages ago. That must be the reason they arrived in this location. She glanced back at him.

"I'm getting us out of here. Link, I'm going to keep you in this form for now just in case…" she didn't finish, not wanting to admit the other option. If they were captured a beast would immediately be killed. At least he had a chance if he resembled a Hylian, although a slim one at that from his unique physical appearance. He could be branded a demon – or worse.

Link's eyes had closed once more and Midna began to make her way through the maze of suffocating dark halls. She was surprised at how much she remembered of this place from the times he carried her on his back in the form of the legendary wolf. The Princess was glad they were each wrapped in a cloak, for it not only served as a way to hide their otherworldly features, but it also kept them warm in the wet and dank dungeons.

The Princess arrived at the same door they had used that lead to the battlements, stopping in front of it before stepping out into the light of Hyrule once more. She never thought the brightness of the sun in this world would again grace her with beauty that was foreign to the Twili. Midna looked to Link in her arms, the cloak covering his body entirely; face just barely visible through the folds of the fabric from her view above.

"How are you Link? I hope this isn't too uncomfortable for you. It's only a little ways to Zelda, I promise." Though the ruler had no backing to her words and with every step she feared they would be caught and, in the worse case, separated. Never again to see another and dying in these dungeons they had come to know so well.

"I'm… better n-now," he put on a smile. It was the truth. The affects of their travel had begun to wear off. Link was only stuttering because of the cold, his cloak wet, as was hers, from their landing. "I'll be able to… walk soon."

"I'll carry you. I don't mind. Anyway, you had to carry me when you were a wolf. The least I could do is repay the favor, and unlike you, I'm doing this voluntarily," she smiled, trying to lighten the mood. During their time in Hyrule before, she had never really showed that she cared for him like this. It felt a bit odd, but at the same time right, especially considering how fearful she was regarding Link's current state.

The edges of his lips curved up in response to her words and she shifted the Hero in her grasp. "It'll probably be bright out. I'm going to cover your face, okay?" Midna asked, reaching for the edge of the fabric around his head. Link nodded subtly. The Princess followed through with the action she spoke of, pulling the cloth over his eyes and across his face after shifting him once more. She reached for her own mantle, making sure it covered her features and any exposed skin. Midna didn't just fear the gaze of the sun, as going out into the open of Hyrule had more risks than simply sunburn.

Once she had completed the task of hiding herself and the Hero in the depths of the fabric, she reached for the door, slowly turning the knob and gently pushing the gate back. A small creak followed the action, causing the Princess to cringe. She peeked her head into the sunlight, quickly looking around to make sure no one was watching. Now that they were out in the open they ran a higher risk of being captured. At least the dungeons hadn't been guarded. It's not like they needed to be, with no prisoners. Midna would thank Zelda for that later; knowing the Princess was not one to keep the company of criminals deep within the bowels of her castle.

Midna stepped into the open, leaving the door ajar as she walked away from the darkness and into the light of Hyrule. She wondered where Zelda could possibly be in this mammoth feat of architecture. Her first thought was the room she had introduced the Hero and Princess in, but Midna realized that was merely Zelda's own dungeon during the invasion of the Twilight. She had more formal chambers somewhere in the palace. The next best bet would be the throne room, and Midna knew exactly how to get there.

She set off, strides long and quick, eyes darting about for any dangers. She prayed to the Goddesses of Hyrule that they wouldn't be caught.

"Halt!"

The Princess of Twilight froze at the voice that called from behind her. Should she run? If she didn't have Link the Twili would easily be able to outpace any Hylian, as her longer legs enabled her to traverse great distances in a matter of moments. Midna realized running wasn't an option with her burden, and it would only make it harder for her to weasel their way out with an excuse once the two did get captured. Her mind raced for a reason to explain their presence. She slowly turned to face the one who spoke, her body and expression still hidden beneath the mantle.

A group of soldiers approached from the defensive way they held themselves, Midna knew this wasn't going to end well. Before they could interject as to why two cloaked strangers were atop the castle battlements, the Princess spoke.

"We come in peace, bringing a message of the state of affairs in Gerudo Province. It seems we have gotten lost on the way to find medical attention for my companion's leg that was injured in our last stretch of the journey. We must hurry back soon to discuss matters with Zelda, as we do not have much time before we need to return home," Midna explained formally, lying through her teeth in hopes the soldiers would permit them audience with the Princess. She'd gotten good at bending the truth over time, thanks to her having to hide the fact that she was a royal of another world.

The soldiers scrutinized the group for a moment, expressions dour.

"I've heard nothing of messengers from Gerudo. Your presence here only reinforces your suspiciousness. You will come with us, but not to the Princess," the leader spoke in response to her words. The other soldiers stood ready, spears poised if the two made any sudden moves. Midna regretted not taking her chances and running with the Hero in her arms. Unexpectedly, Link shifted in her grasp.

"…Plea… Please…" he breathed, moving beneath the mantle that was draped around his form. He seemed weaker than he had not long ago. The Twili wondered if it was an act to back her story, or he really had been this unwell all along. Nonetheless, Midna looked to him worried as the soldiers tensed at the Hero's words. "Z-Zelda…" Link managed to free his hand from the cloth; careful to only show the back where the symbol of the Goddesses adorned and nothing of his unnatural markings that threatened to infect the pure power. Midna was glad that Link hadn't bothered to wear the gauntlets or heavy chainmail. They would only be a burden on him and the blessing he held would be hidden beneath the leather gloves. As he was now, it was visible once freed from the cloth he had been wrapped in. The lead solider gasped in shock once his eyes lay to the divine crest. After a moment he spoke.

"T-This way," the man stuttered, waving them forward. Midna nodded gratefully, head still hidden beneath the veil. She would have to thank Link later. Without his quick thinking, she didn't want to contemplate what might have happened to them. Midna followed, entering the castle once more and leaving behind the outdoors. The soldiers guided them through winding passages for what seemed like eternity. These were parts of the palace she vaguely remembered from their travels to the throne room in which Ganondorf waited one year ago. At that time she was far too preoccupied about thinking of vanquishing the Demon King and returning to her true form. Eventually the group stopped in a hallway that she recalled was close to where the final battle began.

"Wait here," the lead soldier spoke. "The doors will be guarded from the outside." He gestured to the men that had escorted them. They nodded and followed the orders given, stepping outside of the room. Midna heard the great wood panels shut tight, sealing them in with the leader. "I will at least give you some privacy to think over your actions in my absence. Why your companion bears that crest… If he isn't who he seems, punishment will be sure to follow," the leader spoke, glancing at Link's bundled form in the arms of the Twili. Midna feared it was some sort of trap, they Hylians waiting for the two of them to expose their true intentions, then striking. Midna followed the gaze of the leader, looking at the shrouded Hero in her arms.

It really would have been best to run.

The Princess snapped her head up at the sound of a door closing. The lead soldier had left. Midna wondered if he would really tell the ruler of the Light kingdom that the Chosen was in her castle, but at this moment it didn't matter.

The two were left alone.

"Midna… I can walk," Link spoke after a few seconds of silence.

"Link, you're too weak. I'm still going to carry you."

"No, please… I'm doing better. Honest," he mumbled. She looked to him, face barely visible from beneath the fabric that had shifted the slightest from his movements in her arms. Color had returned to his skin since their arrival and a small smile crept up the edges of his mouth. "I can't look weak in front of her. I don't want to disrespect Zelda." Midna nodded, complying with his wish. She figured it was a guy thing, not wanting to look weak. Then again, she didn't want him to know how fearful she was for his wellbeing. The Twili realized that he didn't want Zelda to fear for him, knowing the Hero had already put so much on the line to save the Hylian and her kingdom. To save that of Midna's as well.

The Twilight Princess gently set Link's feet on the ground, stabilizing him as he wobbled from his new position. He looked up to her, his altered eyes meeting the gaze of the tense royal.

All they could do was wait for their fate.

A/N: I wanted to write something suspenseful-ish. Sorry if it really isn't that interesting. The next chapter will have much more content and from here on out, more characters will be coming into the story!