Zelda sat on one of the wooden ledges at the plaza, admiring the view. Beams of light emanated from the cloud barrier below. Zelda thought of Link using them to travel back and forth from Skyloft to the surface. Everything that the people of Skyloft had previously thought about the surface had become obsolete in the past few weeks. Before, travel to and from the surface was unthinkable. Now Link could come and go as he pleased.
Out of the corner of her eye, Zelda noticed Link's Crimson Loftwing heading towards Skyloft. When he saw her there, he jumped from his Loftwing and brought out his sailcloth.
Zelda stood up to greet him, dusting off her clothes.
"Whats new?" she asked.
"Actually, that's just what I came to talk to you about. The old lady at the Sealed Grounds tells me it's imperative that you return to the surface. She says that the seal binding the Imprisoned is so weak it could break at any moment."
"I guess I have no choice... I have to go back," Zelda hesitated, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach.
"Let's go, then," Link motioned for her to follow him on her Loftwing, pointing to the green beam of light over the clouds.
"Wait, Link...Do you think we could leave tomorrow morning?"
"But why?"
"I want to be more prepared, and I have some people to say goodbye to. I didn't get to last time. I hope you understand."
Link sighed and then finally managed the words, "Alright, we'll meet here in the morning."
Zelda had been dreading this the most. She dreaded meeting the old lady again, who had told her to avoid capture at all costs. What would Zelda tell her? Would the old priestess be disappointed in her the same way that Impa had been? Zelda wanted life to go on as it was now, but she didn't want Hylia's sacrifice to be in vain. She blamed and scolded herself for not doing the right thing. She had spared her enemy's life and brought him back to Skyloft, where he could have been a threat. She knew it wasn't right, but she couldn't bear to take any of it back. She had conflicting thoughts and feelings, and it was eating away at her inside. There was no one who could understand this inner conflict. Not Link, not her father. It had to be one of the most lonely feelings in the world.
The dread continued to build up all day. Zelda waited until nightfall in her room going over what she would say. She opened the cabinet to find the outfit Ghirahim had given her. Oddly it was now one of her most precious possessions, but she hadn't worn it since the failed ritual. She quickly changed into it for tonight's meeting. Feeling self conscious, she cracked the door and looked out into the hallway, making sure that no one was watching. It seems everyone has gone to bed. Perfect. She sneaked out the back doors and went to look for Ghirahim.
He was sitting on a narrow ledge, looking down at the dark clouds below. He sat posed as if for a portrait, with one leg dangling over the edge, the other leg bent against his chest. He looked quite comfortable and serene, despite that any human would have been terrified of heights.
"My whole existence I've thought about Skyloft, knowing you'd be reborn here...," Ghirahim said, still looking down. Despite losing his powers, he still had a knack for sensing her presence. He could always tell when she came near, by her footsteps. He finally stood up and turned to face her, looking pleased to see her in the outfit he had made for her.
"Well, don't you look gorgeous tonight, my love."
"Ghirahim, come to the goddess statue with me. We'll talk there."
They walked together, Ghirahim's hand on her shoulder as if protecting her. Zelda silently listened as he went on a diatribe about life in general on Skyloft.
"...and those fluffy creatures with the big ears have become quite a nuisance! What do you call those things? Remlits?"
Zelda tried her best not to laugh. "I don't know, Ghirahim. I think they like you."
"Ah, excuse me, I got carried away once again. It's just like me to almost loose my temper over trivial matters such as these."
"Almost...," Zelda teased.
This was her first time back at the isle of the goddess since the day of the Wing Ceremony. It was such a surreal moment to be here with Ghirahim. Ghirahim tapped his long, slender fingers against his hip as if bored and waiting for her to speak.
"Well?" Ghirahim asked, growing slightly impatient.
"As you know, our lives have been turned upside down due to...circumstances. Now I have to fulfill my original mission that I...I mean Hylia set out to accomplish... I don't know what this entails completely, but I want you there with me. I know you'll be happier going back."
She'd never seen Ghirahim look this elated in quite a while. His white lips curled into a big grin as he squeezed her to him in an over-exaggerated fashion.
"This is such good news...why, it just fills my heart with rainbows! I can finally go back to my station as demon lord of the surface, but if I don't have you, I have nothing. I will make you my queen. Don't forget that you belong to me now. You didn't think you could get away from me that easily did you?"
Zelda stood in stunned silence for a few seconds still locked in his embrace. "Queen?" she stammered.
"Once Demise is defeated there will be no one more powerful than me and I can truly be called the demon lord. I require a queen who is worthy of me."
"I do not know what to say. I've always dreamed about the surface, but I never imagined something like this."
"You'll make a fabulous queen, beloved. Don't be so modest. I want to see a smile on my beautiful golden haired girl's face."
Zeld blushed and forced a smile.
"You are far too valuable to me to let Demise have you now," he whispered into her ear.
"What do you mean, Ghirahim?"
"Soon, you will know."
