Chapter Three
Zelda felt as if her head were about to split open...
She groaned and glared out the window, hating how her mind kept flashing back to last night. She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes as they fell over the landscape. The morning light bathed it in beautiful gold and she let its warmth soak into her.
It was relaxing...
Calming...
She turned and gazed at the patient that lay in the giant bed. Link lay there, his head bandaged and she quietly crossed over to the bedside. Reaching out she lightly touched his brow but found it cool.
It should have comforted her...
But it did not...
She straightened as the door opened to reveal Impa. Her gaurdian lifted a brow at Zelda's appearance but she ignored her and looked back down at Link's sleeping form.
"Any news?" She asked while keeping her eyes on his sleeping face.
He was so handsome...
"No, I am afraid not, Princess," Impa stepped up to the other side of the bed, her arms resting easily behind her back. Her eyes studied Zelda's face, taking in the circles underneath her eyes and the swelling along her lips.
"Does Brunard not know what is wrong with him?" Zelda asked while reaching out and lightly touching Link's wrist. Impa tilted her head slightly.
"No, he does not." Impa replied before asking, "Did you not sleep well last night, Princess?" Her words made Zelda stiffen and a flush stole along her cheeks.
"I was simply worried for Link," Zelda answered quicky before turning and heading for the door. "I'm going to go see my father in the throne room, I'll see you later." With that Zelda left the room. Impa watched her go before her eyes returned to Link's sleeping form.
Hyrule was going to need its hero...
And soon...
She was so lost in thought that she did not feel the presence in the room until it was too late. A dagger pressed into her back and Impa stiffened.
"Don't move," rasped a low, throaty voice and Impa slowly tried to curl her fingers around a Deku Nut but before she could the dagger drove deeper into her back.
"What do you want?" She thundered and could feel the cold smile of the being behind her.
For she knew that it was not human...
"Bait." It replied.
VVVV
Zelda noticed that the halls were surprisingly empty...
There were no servants and the guards seemed to have dissappeared. It was odd and slightly unnerving. She ignored it and continued on, her steps light and queit against the stones underneath her feet. As she approached the large oak doors she halted and waited as the the guards announced her.
She nodded to them as she passsed and looked up to see her father standing beside his throne. His eyes were trained through the large stained glass windows and the look on his face was umistakable.
He was worried...
Extremey...
"Father?" Zelda asked and he blinked before turning to face her. When his eyes met hers he smiled while descending the steps. As he drew closer his smile faded.
"Zelda, are you feeling well?" He asked while coming to halt in front of her and she blushed, remembering last night and shook her head.
"I'm fine," she replied, her words short and he frowned at her but slowly nodded. She studied him before reaching out and touching his arm. "Are you alright?" She asked him and after a moment he nodded again.
"Yes," he turned around to look out over the horizon and Zelda followed his gaze. They fixed upon the dark, boiling clouds in the distance.
"Another storm is coming," Zelda murmured and her father sighed.
"Let us hope that Hyrule can face it," he whispered underneath his breath. Zelda turned to look at him squarely.
"What do you mean?" She asked and he glanced at her, realizing that he'd spoken louder than he'd intended to. "Father?" Zelda's voice was firmer and she raised her chin, "Who exactly is that man down in the dungeons?" Her question made her father's face pale and he turned from her. She frowned, silently following him as she ascended the steps to the throne. He lowered his frame into it and kept his eyes on the windows.
Then slowly...
He began...
"He's not someone to be triffled with," he murmured as his eyes darkened, "he's a demon, a dark spawn molded from the evils from this world." His tone dropped till it sent chills up her spine, "His presense will cause only pain and suffering," he raised his eyes to his daughter's, "I want you no where near him, am I understood?" He questioned and she blinked at him before sheepishly looking away.
"I went to visit him last night in the dungeons," she murmured and her father jolted on the throne.
"You did what?" He thundered and she leveled her eyes at him.
"He didn't harm me," The lie slipped from her lips but she couldn't go back now, "I questioned him but he only laughed at me, especially when I asked why everyone either wants him dead or imprisoned." She narrowed her eyes. "Why? Who is he?" She repeated and her father glared at her.
"He's evil and cares for nothing besides himself," he retorted and Zelda's eyes flashed in anger.
"Yes but who is he?" She demanded and he continued to glare at her.
"No one really knows his name," her father's voice was soft, "but we all know where he comes from and who he works for." He looked away from her and Zelda pushed her tongue into her cheek.
"And where does he come from and who does he work for?" She asked and it was a moment before he replied.
"The Shadow Realm," the words were quiet, he looked back at her, "And his master is Ganondorf." Zelda stared at him, her stomach suddenly gone.
That man...
Or demon...
Worked for Ganondorf...
"He...He does what? But why does he look exactly like Link?" Zelda demanded and her father's chest heaved as he released a pained breath.
"Because, he and Link are different sides to the same coin. One light," his eyes clouded over, "the other dark." Zelda frowned and after a moment nodded.
"So...Link's other half just deposits him on our threshold with a serious headwound because Ganondorf wanted him to?" Zelda asked but shook her head again. "But that's proposterous, Link and I defeated Ganondorf before his plans could even begin and if he really was out there, don't you think he would have wanted Link dead?"
Her questions were voiced out loud but in reality they were pointed at herself than her father. She turned from him, scowling in fustration as she glared at the wall.
Her stomach churned...
That man had kissed her...
She tossed the thought from her head and focused on the information her father had given her.
"Whatever Ganondorf's plans are they're dire, I'm sure. He'll use this to his advantage." Her father said behind her and Zelda nodded. She knew how that vile man thought.
"Yes, but what I still don't understand is why this evil Link is so feared," Zelda turned back to face her father, "is he really that bad?" She asked and watched as he narrowed her eyes at her.
"Yes, he single handily destroyed an entire village and brought chaos along the borders. Do you not remember?" He asked and after a moment Zelda nodded. For years they'd had trouble maintaining a peace between themselves and the people that inhabited the wild and uncharted lands that surrounded them.
"I remember," her mind drifted.
It couldn't have possibly been him...
Despite what had happened in the dungeons she'd never really felt threatened...
Perhaps she should have...
She inwardly shuddered and raised her eyes to her father's. "What do you intend to do with him then?" She asked and he turned back to face the window.
"I plan on getting information from him, by any means necessary," he replied and Zelda stared at him.
Torture...
"That's barbaric!" Zelda shouted and her father jumped at her harsh tone but anger washed over his face at her outburst.
"That may be so, Zelda, but it will get the job done." His tone was firm but Zelda did not yield to it.
"That still—"
"Enough, I am the king and will make these decisions. We shall not discuss this further," he growled and Zelda clamped her jaw.
Whirling she left the room...
Missing the remorseful look on her father's suddenly aged face...
He felt his body shudder and raising his hand muffled the cough that racked his body. It continued to do so until he could no longer stand and he lowered down onto the throne steps, clasping his hand over his mouth.
"Sire?" Came a concerned voice behind him and his trusted servant, Richard, knelt down beside him.
"It's nothing, just a mere cough." The king replied but he knew that it wasn't as his lungs ached. Richard's knowing eyes saw straight through the lie but he remained mute as he handed him a silk handkerchief. The king took it, wiping at his lips and stared at the scarlet that marked the starch white lace. Wordlessly he handed it back to his servant.
"Help me to my feet," he ordered and Richard nodded, clasping him by the arms to haul him to his feet. Once he was on them he tried to straighten but was racked with coughs once more. He doubled over and Richard nodded to a maid that had entered the throne room. She rushed from it to fetch water and when she returned the king's coughs had lessened but scarlet still marked his lips. Richard, his face unreadable bade his king to drink and after a moment he did.
Silence...
"Richard," he rasped and Richard dipped his head as he listened, "what am I to do?" He asked softly while staring up at the high arched ceiling. Richard followed his gaze before it rested on the painting that hung on the far wall.
"You are my king, sire, you will find the right way to tell her." He replied softly and the king closed his eyes.
"But when?" He asked and Richard clasped him on the shoulder.
"You will know, in time." He replied and gingerly helped him to a sitting position.
"Time," the king answered while raising his eyes to the painting as well, "is something that I do not have."
VVVV
His arms were on fire...
He moved his shoulders and looked up through the window...
Daylight...
He hated it...
He returned his eyes to the iron door and tensed his muscles when he saw it moving. A guard appeared at the threshold and eyed him warily. He smirked and raised his brows.
"Do I have something on my face?" He mocked and the guard narrowed his eyes. He didn't reply and shuffled closer, though kept out of his reach.
He narrowed his eyes...
"No, I was wrong, you do." He tilted his head, frowning, "Wait," a sneer touched his lips, "that's just your face." The guard glared at him.
"Bastard," he growled but didn't move closer. He soon saw why. Two more guards appeared behind him but the third one made him lift his brows. A huge, muscular man stood there, his face covered with a black hood but bitter eyes looked out at him.
Ah...
Torture...
Wonderful...
"So I see the good king has decided to torture me," he sighed and shook his head, his hands tightening on the chain as the huge man came closer to him, "too bad that I disagree." With that he yanked himself up as the huge man went to grab him. Wrapping his legs around the man's neck he twisted, snapping it and the huge man fell to the ground with a thud.
The other guards started to curse and lunged at him. He dodged the first one, swinging around and using the momentum to knock out the second one. The first one stumbled into the wall but he didn't concern himself with the stupid guard. The one that had first shown himself was the one that had the keys on him.
He lunged at the guard, kicking him in the chest and flipping backwards to land on the shoulders of the other guard. Pulling him and the guard up he dropped and drove his elbow into the man's skull. He heard it crack and the man cried out in pain as he fell to the stones. The guard that had the keys straightened, desperately trying to draw air into his lungs but before could make his escape he already had his legs wrapped around the guard's neck.
He squeezed...
Slowly, the man coughing and sputtering, passed out. He lowered himself down and using the toe of his boot picked up the keys. He narrowed his scarlet eyes and concentrating he flicked them up. Lurching forward he caught them with his teeth and closed his eyes with a sigh of relief.
Opening his palms he dropped them into his awaiting fingers. Shifting them he quickly undid the irons that bound his wrists. They fell to the floor. Not bothering to spare the bodies a glance he left the cell door and looked around. He'd made sure that when they'd dragged him down here to recognize the route.
Especially where they kept his armor...
Turning, his boots silent upon the stones he headed down the narrow and twisting hall, noticing that the cells had no inhabitants.
How ironic...
He kept walking until he reached the end of the hall. Climbing the narrow stairs he turned and seeing a door kicked it open. It fell aside in splinters and he sauntered inside. Before him on a small wooden table lay his chain mail, cloak and shield. Buttoning up his ruined shirt, making sure not to disturb the wound along his ribs, he donned the chain mail. Once that was done he turned and picked up his ruined tunic. He shrugged and put it on as well. Picking up the cloak he threw it around his shoulders and lay the dark Hylian shield on his back.
He looked around and spied his sword. It lay against the cold wall, the black hilt catching the faint light. He reached for it, his long fingers wrapping around the pummel and immediately felt whole once more. Tightening the belt over his chest he sheathed it and turned from the room, for the rest of his gear was still on Stryder.
Wherever he was...
He left the room, glancing casually up through the halls and reaching up, pulled the hood over his face. He didn't bother with the scarf that would hide his unnatural pale skin and face.
Keeping to the shadows he strode boldly forward, knowing exactly where to turn. He didn't meet any of the guards, knowing that they'd be on the opposite side of the castle. Coming to the end of the hallway he opened up the door that would lead him outside and along the wall.
He opened it and stepped outside...
Crashing into one...
No...
Not one...
Twelve...
His eyes looked over their faces and a smirk touched his lips.
How trivial...
"Wha-what...you..." they all stuttered at once and his smirk darkened. He kneed one in the ribs and he doubled over. Using his back he launched into the air and over the rest of the guards. He laughed at their stupidity and gave them a mocking one finger solute.
"See you later," he cried over his shoulder and took off down the wall. They stared after him, dumbfounded, before scrambling after him. He laughed, exhileration racing through his veins.
The chase had begun...
VVVV
Zelda strode angrily through the outer courtyard...
Why should it make a difference to her what they did to him? He was arrogant and from what her father had said, utterly evil.
Yet...
Why hadn't she felt threatened?
She tossed the thought from her head...
She had felt insecure, underminded and not in control of the situation and for a moment it had in fact frightened her, but not in the way she was forcing herself to think. She snorted and kept walking, her mind wandering over the past events of the day when a noise startled her.
It sounded like shouts...
Her footsteps quickened until she reached the inner courtyard and her eyes widened when she saw him. He was racing along the top of the wall, his cloak flapping behind him as his long, muscular legs carried him easily away from the guards that scrambled after him. His hood had flown back, revealing his face and her breath hitched. Even from this distance he held such beauty, such dark magnificence that drew her in, commanding her attention and keeping it.
She watched, transfixed as a cluster of guards gathered in front of him but he did not slow down. Instead he flashed a grin, reaching up and behind him to grasp his cloak.
She frowned...
What was he going to do with that?
Her question was answered when he tossed it over the guard's heads and using their confusion, shoved them aside. She sighed, though she was slighlty horrified to find a smile playing about her lips.
For though he was the enemy...
He was breathtaking...
A sudden noise behind her startled her. She looked over her shoulder and froze.
Impa...
Her gaurdian's jaw was clamped as her arms were tied behind her back. Her mouth was set in an angry line but what frightened Zelda the most were her eyes.
They were frightened...
"Impa!" Zelda shouted, picking up her gown as she went to race across the courtyard but Impa gave out a low hiss.
"Don't Princess! Run! You must run!" Impa shouted but she stiffened, her mouth opened in a nameless cry of pain.
"Impa!" Zelda shouted again but halted at the figure that appeared behind her beloved gaurdian.
The figure was shrouded in black, only a pale blue arm visible as it held a dagger to Impa's throat. It lifted its head, the face hidded and Zelda felt her heart freeze inside her chest.
"Princess," it rasped and Zelda swallowed, "it is my pleasure to meet you." It lifted Impa's chin up.
"What do you want?" She demanded as the figure pushed Impa forward. It unnerved her that Impa suddenly looked so helpless next to the stranger.
"It's simple," it croaked, "I want your life, or your gaurdian's, either will please my lord." It growled and Zelda raised her chin, opening her mouth. "Do not cry out, Princess, or I shall have to slit her throat." It warned and she slowly closed it.
A low purring sound came from its throat and Zelda's hands fisted at her sides. "Very good," it pushed Impa towards them. "Now slowly walk over here," it commanded and after a moment Zelda did.
Impa flashed her a warning with her eyes but she ignored it. She stopped within a few feet of them and felt the air around them grow colder.
"Release her," Zelda ordered and the being snickered.
"As you wish," it growled and brough the hilt of the dagger down on Impa's head. She slumped to the ground and Zelda gasped, jumping forward to try and catch her but the man grasped her about her waist.
"Unhand me!" She screamed and lurched back, striking out at his face. He yelped in pain as her closed hands connected with his face, knocking the hood back.
Zelda gasped...
Its eyes were orange, lined with black that came down to a half mooned shaped mouth that was lined with fangs. Its head was peaked, shaped like a tear and reminded her of a fish.
"What are you?" She asked breathlessly and it snarled at her.
"You filthy—" It started but was interrupted when Zelda slammed her fist into its exposed face once more. It howled in pain and fustration and released her. She tumbled to the ground and grasped the dagger.
She screamed in pain as the dagger burnt her skin...
She dropped it and stood but as she did the man knocked her feet out from underneath her. The breath left her lungs and she looked up at his alien face. It glared down at her.
"My master will not be pleased if I kill you now, but so be it!" Ihe man shouted and picked up the dagger and lifted it.
Zelda's eyes widened and she tried to roll clear but the man held her down with his foot. She struggled, pummeled his foot with her fists, screamed and writhed but it was no use.
The man smirked at her...
Then brought the dagger down...
VVVV
AUTHOR NOTE: Alright chapter three has a little more action in it and I hope you all enjoyed the twist at the end. Points to whoever can guess who Zelda's assassin is! As for where exactly the timeline is and who all will be appearing I'm just going to say it's a time between Ocarina and Twilight Princess. Please bear with me on it! Sorry that there was no Link and Midna in this chapter but they'll be more in the next! I thank EquinoxWolf for the review, it made me think as well of how I'm going to write this particular fanfiction, just hope you like how it turns out! Please review and tell me what you all think! Critisicm IS accepted, just don't blow me out of the water, hehe. Thanks to all my viewers and followers!