Chapter Ten

Inter Spem et Metum
"Between Hope and Fear"

The Princess of Hyrule sat on her throne, waiting for the arrival of all the members of her court. She oversaw as a table and chairs were being brought to the center of the grand room. Zelda was early to the assembly by a good quarter hour, but she didn't wish to keep any of them waiting in the off chance she would have gotten distracted by other immediate matters on her way to the meeting. She organized her thoughts in her head, making sure the marauding group of thieves she had heard of from the Eldin Province representative was at the top of her list of priorities to be addressed.

A soldier entered the throne room and the Princess perked up at his presence. It was still far too early for the announcements of court officials.

"Your Highness, a young man with the mark of the Goddesses insists on seeing you. Another mysterious figure is with him and they dare refer to you by name with no formalities."

Zelda inhaled sharply, glancing at the symbol of the Triforce on the back of her own hand as she felt her pulse quicken the slightest from the unexpected news. A year had passed and no one in Hyrule had been born that possessed the divine crest. She was the only one in the kingdom that still had that mark. One other living soul held the blessing, but… Could it really be…? It had to, yet…

"Bring them to me."

"Right away, Your Highness," the soldier said, backing out of her gaze. Zelda's mind raced. She hadn't thought much of the other world since a few months after the seemingly permanent separation of the realms. Midna had shattered the Mirror of Twilight and Link and accompanied her to the other dimension. There was no way they could return, unless… her mind wandered, not letting one idea complete before the next crept its way to her attention. Zelda snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of footsteps echoing in the great hall.

A hooded figure entered the chamber; making the Princess recall the moment she had met the Hero in his bestial form, her own body hidden beneath a shroud similar to the veil that plagued her kingdom. The figure stopped, wobbling slightly. Behind it a taller, also cloaked figure followed, bracing the one in front.

"Leave us," the Princess commanded with a wave of her hand to the men who stood nearby as she rose from her throne, and to those who had just finished preparing for the council.

"Your Highness, they still may pose a threat," the captain of the guard spoke. Zelda turned, reluctantly drawing her gaze from the cloaked forms.

"Do you question the wisdom and authority I hold?" she said seriously but not unkindly. Without a word the soldier bowed, beckoning to the men with him to leave. After they had, Zelda faced the ones before her again, stepping towards them. The pace of the ruler increased as she made her way down the stairs and along the blue carpet that paved the way over the intricately tiled floor. She stopped in front of the two figures, nodding for them to remove their hoods.

Midna pulled hers back first, eyes meeting that of the Princess of Hyrule.

"Link, Midna," the Hylian greeted as the Twilight Princess reached for the hood of the one with her. "I have my suspicions, but would you care to explain how you have managed to return to my kingdom?" The wise ruler asked, searching for an answer to put a rest to her troubled thoughts.

"I'm afraid we don't have time for that discussion at the moment," Midna said sorrowfully, pulling the veil away from Link's face. Zelda was in shock at the appearance of the Hero. He was almost unrecognizable. A weak smile crossed his face, contorting the black veins on his skin.

"It's been too long, Zelda," he spoke, the effort in his words obvious. The Princess of Hyrule looked to the Hero wide-eyed as she held her breath.

"Tell me, what has happened to Link," she commanded a moment later, glancing at Midna then back to the one she thought she knew, altered eyes almost glowing as they looked into her own pure blue gaze.

"Link can't survive in the Twiilght Realm as he is. He's not just the Hylian Hero you know… he's of Sheikah blood," Midna briefly explained as Link stayed silent during the short exchange.

Zelda inhaled sharply at the name of the ancient tribe. "I know of the legends, but then…"

"The Interlopers, yes. They were able to survive in the Twilight thanks to their magic. Link on the other hand…" The Princess of Twilight drifted, looking to the one she spoke of. The gaze of the Hylian ruler followed hers. "His mixed blood is fighting that of the Twilight Realm magic. In a sense he's being torn apart from the inside."

"I see…" Zelda drifted, letting everything come together. Once her thoughts had coalesced, her mind was brought back to more immediate matters. The Light ruler had almost forgotten that her court would be held shortly. "I apologize, but now we must part for a time. I will join the two of you later, for we have many preparations to make before setting out." Zelda still had much to discuss with them. The Hylian felt bad leaving the two in the dark at this time, but she had little choice. Time was running short, yet her mind sprinted.

"But Zelda—" Link began. The Princess of Light cut him off, knowing what he was about to speak.

"I will accompany you, for you have yet another journey ahead, Hero of Twilight."

He bit his lip and she continued less strictly than before. "Link, you and Midna have sacrificed much for the safety of our realms. The least I could do is ensure your success in what is to come. I cannot rest soundly until I know that your suffering has been put to an end."

Link nodded, confused as to what exactly she meant, but staying silent.

"I will discuss the matter of my absence with the court. I fear that such short notice as this may not go over well with them, in addition to the fact that there are currently diplomats residing here, my departure may not be met kindly, but we have little choice. They will understand that I would not do this unless it was of great importance."

Midna looked at the Princess concerned. As if reading her thoughts, Zelda continued.

"Worry not Midna. I will expose nothing of you or Link."

"So you'd lie to your trusted advisors?" The Twili spoke with a half smile, only to remember she had essentially done the same in a way, not explaining the full truth to her own council.

"Midna, this is no time for levity," the Hylian replied. The Twilight Princess took on a more serious demeanor once more, understanding her attempt to lighten the mood was of poor taste.

"By the time the council finishes it will be too late to set out," the Hylian spoke, knowingly neglecting to mention where they must head. She would address that later when they had time to discuss it in more depth. "I will make the necessary preparations for my leave tonight and by morn we shall venture forth. I will relay more information to you after the events of the council. The members should be arriving at any moment." She glanced about then quickly turned back to the others. "Please, cloak yourselves once more," the Princess instructed. The two nodded, complying with her directions. Zelda summoned the captain from earlier once the two were shrouded again.

"Give them a guest chamber in the west wing. Treat them as you would I," she instructed, referring to Link and Midna. "They are of the utmost importance, and dear to me. No harm shall befall them."

"Yes, Your Highness," the guard replied with a bow. "Follow me."

Link and Midna met the eyes of the Hylian Princess for a final time. She nodded, knowing that this was only the beginning for them. Zelda watched as they went, waiting until she heard the sturdy wooden doors close before letting out a breath that this time she wasn't aware of holding.

The Princess of Hyrule was left alone in the throne room once more, but it was not long before the members of court joined her.

"I apologize for the treatment that you received earlier. We didn't know that you were close to the Princess. Medical aid will be brought to your room immediately for your companion," their guide explained as he led Midna and Link through the castle.

"That won't be necessary. It isn't as sever as we had initially thought. I will see to his wound myself and make sure he feels well once more," the Twilight Princess said, once more lying through her teeth as she carried Link in her arms again. The pace of the soldier was faster than the Hero could keep up with in his current state. They walked down the halls for a ways, entering a portion of the palace that the two hadn't explored previously. They eventually came to the rooms Zelda spoke of.

"These will be your chambers for the night," the guard explained.

"Thank you," Link said before the Twili had a chance to speak. She set the Hero's feet on the floor once more and said something herself.

"Do not interrupt us under any circumstances. And in the off change you do indeed hear anything, you must ignore and forget it," Midna ordered, her arm wrapped around Link's waist to brace the Hero, his figure leaning against hers for support. She wanted a moment to relax, letting Link reside in his wolf form as to not pain him. The Princess also feared what would happen if anyone overheard their conversations or – Goddesses forbid – saw what they looked like hidden beneath their robes.

"Ah, I understand," the soldier said with a smile. Midna realized her words just might have had a different meaning than intended to the ears of the one who listened. She felt her face redden beneath her veil and she pulled her arm from around Link, instead setting her hand on his shoulder. The Princess hoped the Hero didn't notice the unintended double meaning of what she spoke. "As for a meal, do you request anything at this moment?"

"Not at this time. I will ask when I deem it necessary."

Link tiredly listened to the exchange, lost in part thanks to his exhaustion, but also amazed at how well Midna had handled everything so far. Her royal presence was lax around him, but when necessary she could take on an entirely new manner.

"Of course. Guards will be stationed at the end of the hall. If you require anything, discuss the matter with them."

"Yes, thank you."

The escort did a short bow, leaving the two in front of the door to their room. After he had disappeared around the corner of the hallway, Midna placed her hand on the doorknob, opening it and beckoning for Link to enter. As soon as the Twili closed the door behind herself, she tore her still damp cloak off, tossing it on the bed. Midna wasn't used to wearing a shroud after roughly a year of not doing so.

The Hero made his way to where the cloak had been thrown, flopping face first onto the mattress next to it and letting out a muffled groan.

"Are you okay Link?" the Twili asked with concern. He turned his head to the side so he could breath and Midna would better be able to understand his words.

"Yeah."

"Do you want to talk?"

"No."

"Would you like me to transform you into a wolf?"

"Uh-huh."

Midna summoned the Shadow Crystal, gently touching the object to him and watching as the magic consumed the tired Hero, changing the form of the one before her to that of his familiar bestial appearance. Link shook the cloak loose and Midna took it along with her own from the bed, tossing them over a chair that stood before a desk. She hoped they would dry by the time morning rolled around.

The Hero lay curled up on the bed, flicking his right ear, blue earring glinting in the light that drifted through the window. The Princess of Twilight quickly rushed to the opening, drawing the curtains across to keep out any prying eyes. Maybe she was being paranoid, but the world of Light had always given her an uneasy feeling, especially now since not a single particle of familiar twilight was present in the realm. She knew it was Link's homeland though, and understood that nothing here could hurt them now that all threats were gone. All except the most personal ones that is.

After she was sure that no one could see through the drapes, Midna let out a sigh and lay down near to the already sleeping beast, resting her hand on his head and slowly stroking it along his back. Either he woke up from the action, or he was dreaming happily because his tail twitched.

The Princess knew they needed rest after what they had gone through, yet her mind was frantic over the closing of the portal, Zelda's cryptic words, and Link's worsening condition.

She feared that maybe staying in the Twilight Realm and finding another solution would have been a better option; even with the great risk it ran and the impossibility of a cure to be found in her world.

A knocking on the door awoke Midna. She turned to Link. He was already alert, the heightened hearing of his alternate form enabled him to sense the presence of one outside their chambers long before she did.

The Twili gritted her teeth. After her explicit directions they would dare… The nerve of—

"Midna, Link. It is I." The familiar voice of Zelda spoke. The Twilight Princess slid off the bed and stood.

"Yes, come in," she replied, glancing at Link who had risen and now pushed his paws out in front of himself, raising his rear into the air as he stretched, jaws wide while he yawned. As soon as the door clicked open, the Hero tried to position himself in a formal matter. An ordeal a little more difficult than he anticipated in the shape he currently possessed.

Zelda stepped in, royal robes swaying as she came to a stop a few feet before them, looking at the two. She wore an expression of satisfied exhaustion on her regal face.

"Now, I believe it is time we discuss something."

A/N: There is much to be done in the world of Light, as their journey is only just beginning! I'm so glad I got to bring Zelda back into my story. I feel as if she didn't get enough screen time in TP. She still did quite a lot behind the scenes though!