Chapter Four
Zelda closed her eyes...
There came a sharp clang, like steel sliding against steel and her eyes flashed open.
The man stood over her...
His Dark Mastersword was drawn, catching the light from the sun as he leveled the deadly looking blade at her attacker. The assassin hissed, drawing away from him and Zelda saw hatred enter his eyes.
And something else...
Fear...
"A surprise to see you here," the man murmured as he tilted his head, "aren't you supposed to be at the end of his strings, puppet?" He mocked as an evil grin touched his lips, "Or should I address you properly, Zant?" He sneered and the assassin shivered.
"You will not dare stop me," Zant hissed as he eyed the dagger that lay a few feet from him.
"Oh?" He asked his voice light and airy, suggesting that his demeanor was calm when in reality Zelda could see the cold furry lurking his crimson gaze. Zant shook his head, edging closer to the blade.
"It was his command that I—"
"Like hell it was," the man hissed as his fingers tightened around the pummel of his sword, "just like it was to ambush Link," he took a threatening step forward and Zant's orange eyes widened, "but no matter. I'll deal with him later," he lifted the evil blade, "that is," a dark grin touched his lips, "after I've dealt with you, puppet." His icy words hung in the air and Zelda watched, transfixed as they looked at one another.
Then the air tensed...
Without a word Zant raised his palms and a fiery orange light shot from them. The man dodged it easily, swinging around and bringing his sword up. Zant yelped and ducked, turning to try and flee but the man reached out and grasped him by the collar.
He brought the assassin in close to his face...
Zelda strained to hear what he said but before he could he tossed Zant aside. Zant glared at him and raised his palms, a sneer on his face.
His palms glowed...
And light shot from them...
The man didn't flinch, simply raising the Dark Mastersword and blocking the light. It bounced off of the blade, streaking towards the outer wall and as it touched it the wall exploded.
Marble and quarry rained down on her and she turned onto her side, covering her head while doing her best to protect Impa's unconscious body.
Once the explosion ended Zelda looked up. The stranger stood there, glaring at the empty cloak that lay before him. After a moment he turned back and their eyes met.
Held...
A shiver raced up her spine...
"Seize him!" Shouted one of the guards and Zelda jolted as they suddenly charged him. The man narrowed his eyes and raised his sword, easily deflecting their blows.
"Wait!" Zelda shouted as she pushed herself to her feet. "Do not touch him!" Her voice was firm and cracked through the air, halting the guards. She placed herself in between them, her eyes shimmering as she glared at her trusted men. "Lower your swords," she hissed.
"But Princess—"
"Now," Zelda growled and their faces paled but slowly, they lowered their blades.
She heard a soft chuckle behind her...
"Come to save me, Princess?" The man murmured while stepping closer to her, "How sweet of you," she felt his breath touch her neck and her spine stiffened as tingles raced up it.
"Be quiet," she growled and raised her chin when she saw her father appear at the top of the steps. His eyes widened when he saw her standing there.
"Zelda!" He shouted, his voice loud and angry as he stormed down the steps.
"It appears that Daddy isn't happy with you," he whispered behind her and she clamped her jaw while looking over her shoulder at him.
"Don't think I'm doing this for you," she growled and he lifted a mocking brow at her, "I'm doing this for Link." She returned her eyes back to her father's angry form as he strode towards her, weaving through the debris.
"Get away from him this instant!" Her father shouted but she inhaled a steadying breath.
"No! I won't!" She replied and leveled an icy glare at him. He halted in front of her, his gaze shooting daggers into the man behind her.
"He's a monster! Guards!" He father raised her hand and Zelda's hands tightened into fists.
"If he is such a monster then why did he just save my life?" She hissed and her father halted, but she could tell by the look on his face that he was not convinced. She ignored him and steeling herself turned around to look up into the man's face.
He wore a bemused smirk on his lips...
"I don't know you, but I know what you are." She raised her chin, "That's why I'm offering you a pardon." She heard her father give out a surprised gasp, "I have the authority to do it, but only if you do something in return." He lifted one elegant brow while stepping closer to her.
"Don't you think you should be doing something for me? Considering I just saved your life?" He reminded her smoothly and her cheeks flushed as his eyes smoldered. She blinked, clearing her head.
"I am, I'm not setting the guards loose on you," she knew that it was a feeble threat, considering she knew that he could easily handle them and he snorted, knowing it as well.
"Pray tell as to why you're not then," his eyes never left hers and she swallowed, her stomach slowly melting.
"You're connected to Link, are you not?" She asked and her question must have momentarily caught him off guard.
A smirk touched her lips...
She'd done her homework...
His eyes narrowed...
"Yes," he answered and the small smirk that adorned her lips grew.
"You know as well as I that he's fading, and if he dies then so do you." She lifted her chin in the air as his smoldering eyes turned icy.
"You're point then, Princess?" He purred and she swallowed.
"My point is, that we both need to work together," she quirked a brow at him, feeling suddenly bold. "So?" She asked and he straightened.
They stared at one another...
Then slowly...
He smiled...
"How can I refuse," he reached out and took her hand, lifting it to his lips he kissed it, his eyes boring into hers, "I am yours." His voice was low and sensual and heat shot up from deep inside her.
Her mind went blank...
"Oh," Zelda breathed and his smile darkened.
Oh Goddess...
What had she just gotten herself into?
VVVV
Link looked out the window, his head resting comfortably against the headboard...
It'd been two days...
He hadn't been able to leave the room, despite how comfortable it was, due to the lack of strength in his body. He didn't understand it and when the creature who called herself Midna would visit him she would dance around his questions.
He sighed...
He had to return to Hyrule...
A pair of blue eyes filled his vision and he blinked...
He missed her...
He wondered what had happened to him. After being knocked from Epona and the explosion that had seemed to go off inside his head, he'd felt himself being carried.
To where...
He hadn't known...
He rested his head against the headboard again and closed his eyes. He didn't know when it was night or when it was day. Time simply seemed to blur. Something pricked his senses but before he could open his eyes a cool hand touched his cheek.
His eyes flashed open to look into fiery orange ones...
"You're always sleeping," she teased and plucked something from his head, lint, "but don't worry. In another few days you'll be ready." She stood from the bed, seeming to dance over to the window and he watched her a moment, dazed.
"Ready?" He asked while forcing himself to move closer to the wide bed's edge, "Ready, for what?" He frowned when she turned back towards him, a slight smirk upon her lips.
Though he knew it was to mock him...
It didn't...
"Perhaps I should tell you a story," she replied while turning fully around and skipping back over to him. She halted beside his bed, peering down at him and he clamped his jaw.
"A story?" He questioned and she nodded. Dropping down onto the bed beside him he inhaled sharply, scooting away from her but she didn't seem to notice.
"Once, a long time ago when the Twili People were banished a hero appeared before them," her words were soft, "he could walk both in shadow and light, though his soul was pure. When the Twili People were threatened by a foe far greater than evil itself, he appeared," she turned to face him, "and banished that evil." She took in a small breath. "I know for a few days you've asked me what you're doing here and I've avoided it, but now," she smiled at him, "I'm sure that you're the right one."
"The right one?" Link questioned as he looked at her.
This was an all too familiar speech...
"Yes," she reached forward and grasped his wrist, turning it over so that the Triforce was visible, "you see our hero is marked by the Goddess," her eyes came back to his, "and you bear that mark."
His heart tightened...
He pulled his wrist from her fingers and sat up, turning away from her. He'd heard this speech, done this already. He bowed his head and rested it in his hands.
"So that's what you want of me? To fight off this evil that has corrupted your land?" He asked while looking over his shoulder at her.
She nodded...
"Yes, as Princess of the Twili People I ask for your aide," she stood and clasped her hands in front of her, "though I think that you do not have much choice in the matter, considering that you cannot return until it's done." Her words were quiet but firm.
"How did I even get here?" Link asked while turning towards her.
She looked away...
"I originally sent one of my servants to find you and bring you through the void that separates our worlds but..." She bit her bottom lip.
"But?" He prompted and she sheepishly looked back towards him.
"Something went wrong and instead of trying to bring you to us, he tried to kill you." She crossed the few feet that separated them and touched his brow where a thin mark ran from the corner of his temple to nearly his hairline. "When he struck you he poisoned you, that's why it has taken you so long to recover." Her finger trailed the scar and he swallowed, his fingers curling into the sheets as heat shot up his spine, "My Priests were able to halt the poisoning, but only in this realm, a part of you is still in Hyrule." Pain entered her fiery eyes, "We cannot heal you while you're there," he turned away from her and glared at the wall.
"So I am dying then," he murmured and sighed, "well," he turned back and faced her, "then we should get started."
Midna blinked at him...
Then smiled...
Leaning forward she kissed his cheek and his gut tightened unexpectedly as her cool lips touched his flesh...
"Good," she straightened and giggled, "I did after all, tell you it was going to be interesting."
VVVV
He sat reclined in the chair, his booted feet resting atop the table and his hands clasped behind his head as he smirked up at the king...
Oh this was going to be quite worth it...
That worm called Zant had pushed his limits after poisoning Link, for Zelda had not been wrong.
If Link died...
Then he would as well...
He mentally frowned, for that had not been the plan at all. Of course he'd allowed the evil lord Ganondorf to believe that he was really going to go along with his plan with resurrecting himself and take over Hyrule but in all reality he would have gladly left Ganondorf to rot.
It would have been amusing enough to see the anger wash over his gruesome face...
He worked for no one...
Only himself...
The thought pleased him as he watched Zelda argue with her father. She was quite the creature, though he could easily crush her, she seemed to hold more strength than what she portrayed.
It was amusing...
Suddenly she turned and her fiery blue eyes connected with his...
They were radiant...
He jolted and frowned, silently cursing underneath his breath at the emotions that flooded through him. His attention was taken away from them when she descended the steps, her shoes slapping against the stones as she approached him, though he noticed that she favored her left arm, making sure to slightly conceal it behind her body.
"What is it now, Princess?" He mocked and she halted in front of him, her blue eyes glittering.
"You killed one of our guards," she retorted and he lifted a brow at her.
"Is that why you're giving me that look?" He smirked at her and she clamped her jaw.
"It's not funny," she growled and he tilted his head.
"I'm not laughing," he replied and he watched, amused, as the anger washed over her face.
"You're unbelievable," she hissed and he chuckled while standing. He towered over her and he saw her angry eyes falter.
"Quite," he murmured and relished the feeling of having her blush. She stepped away, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Promise me you won't do anything like that again," she demanded and he quirked a brow at her.
"You're quite amusing," he murmured but nodded, his crimson eyes shimmering, "I shall try and behave myself, Princess."
She was not convinced...
"I'll take your word for it then," she replied and turned back towards her father. "At dawn the council will meet," she tossed a glare over her shoulder, "I trust you'll be there?"
He stared at her...
Did she really not know anything about him?
"Of course," the dark smirk pulled at his lips and he saw her cheeks flush slightly.
"Don't wander off," she replied in a hushed tone and his smirk turned into a smile of dark delight as he watched her walk away.
She halted beside her father but he noticed that she winced when he touched her arm. She gently pulled it from his grasp but he watched as they left together.
Odd...
VVVV
Zelda sat in the chair, looking at Link's sleeping face...
The sun had long ago set and she sat in the dark, the candles flickering and casting the room in half light and shadow. She'd spent the rest of the day tending to Impa despite her gaurdian's wishes. She hadn't been particularly happy with Zelda's decision, but neither had her father or the rest of Hyrule it seemed.
She sighed and rested her head in her hands...
Was she doing the right thing?
The thought ran over and over inside her head and she ignored the constant dull ache from her arm. She glanced down at it. It was a light pale and it burned but it didn't look serious.
Link shifted, his lips parted as he breathed...
She stood and reaching out gently removed the bandage that surrounded his head. A jagged cut ran from the farthest edge of his temple to his hairline. It didn't bleed, but along the edges it had started to turn black.
Fear sprung up inside her...
They'd received reports that along the border there were monsters raiding villages, taking people prisoner. She frowned.
Why were they taking prisoners?
Did they plan on creating an army from villagers and then attacking Hyrule with it? That was preposterous but stranger things had happened, especially in Hyrule.
The candles flickered and Zelda stiffened...
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and her fingers curled around the hilt of her dagger as she stood and whirled, pressing the dagger against her assailant's throat.
She froze...
The man smirked at her, his crimson eyes flashing from the candlelight and she gaped at him.
"Edgy, aren't we?" He teased and she blinked.
"What are you doing in here?" She demanded and he glowered at her before his eyes fell on Link's resting form. She stiffened, raising her chin and his eyes came back to hers.
"Relax, Princess, remember that despite how I despise him I need him alive." He whispered while moving past her. He stopped by the bed, his eyes running over Link's form and Zelda watched, transfixed.
They looked so alike...
Yet they were completely different...
He reached out and his long pale fingers touched Link's brow. His eyes narrowed in concentration as he focused on the wound and it shimmered, the blackness nearly fading.
Then he hissed in a breath and yanked his fingers back...
Link cried out in pain, thrashing in the bed and Zelda leapt forward, shoving the Link's look alike aside.
"What have you done?" She shouted in panic as she touched Link's suddenly feverish brow and his face contorted into pain.
"He...He," the man stuttered and she looked over her shoulder at him, frowning when she saw his stunned expression. Then his fiery eyes narrowed and he cursed.
"What's wrong with him?" Zelda asked while trying to soothe Link, gently touching his face with her hands but it wasn't working.
"That bastard poisoned with him Dark Venom," he growled and Zelda cast him another glance.
"Dark Venom?" She asked and slowly, Link began to calm though she noticed that his body was racked with shivers. Her mouth suddenly dry she lifted the blankets to his chin and did her best to tuck him in.
"Yes," the man sighed, "I should have seen it." He cursed under his breath once more.
"What does it mean?" Zelda asked as she straightened, her eyes filled with worry.
"It means," he narrowed his eyes while lowering his hand, "that unless we find out the cure for his poison, he's going to die."
Zelda felt the air leave her lungs...
Slowly she sank down into a chair, her legs suddenly weak...
Link's face became blurry...
The ache in her arm intensified...
Then the world tipped...
VVVV
He cursed, lurching forward and catching her in his arms as she fainted. He grunted, inhaling her lavender and vanilla scent and his gut tightened in response.
Ignoring it he stood, cradling her limp body in his arms. He looked down at her peaceful face, the moonlight and candlelight flickering over it and something tugged deep inside him.
Ironic...
He cast Link's unconscious figure a glance and narrowed his eyes...
Bastard...
He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. He didn't particularly know what he was doing but he didn't dwell on it as he walked through the silent halls.
She barely weighed a thing in his arms...
His eyes found her face once more and they traveled over the pale, smooth skin, across the full, tempting lips.
Beautiful...
He snorted and kicked open her door with his boot. Striding into her dark quarters he placed her upon the bed. As he did so he felt her stir and halted when she sighed, her arms coming around his neck.
His gut tightened once more, a fire heating low in his belly...
Then her eyes opened...
They widened when she saw his face from the overhead moon and she screamed, shoving him backwards. He growled low in his throat and covered her mouth with his hand.
"Shush!" He hissed and she stilled, though her eyes were wide. "Do you want to wake the whole entire castle? You fainted," he murmured and removed his hand. She looked at him before sitting up and looking about the dark room.
"Oh, sorry," she murmured and he lifted a mocking brow at her.
"You should be, you weigh a ton," he replied and she flashed him a heated glare.
"I do not," she retorted and he snorted while crossing his arms over his chest.
"You're not the one who carried you," he looked over his shoulder and spying a candle lighted it. She glared at him but bit her bottom lip and looked out the window.
He took advantage of her distraction and reaching out touched her arm. She jumped, prepared to lash out at him but he leveled a glare at her.
"Stop moving or you'll make it worse," he ordered and lifted it to the candlelight.
"What are you doing?" She asked and he ignored her. Running his thumbs up over her blackened veins he felt her shiver but he didn't press his advantage.
Not yet...
"The dagger must have been poisoned, though not as severe as the venom that was used on Link," he murmured and looked up to see her eyes widen.
"What is going to happen to me?" She asked and he snorted while dropping her arm.
"It'll slowly eat away at your senses, attacking your nervous system until you can't function." He replied, his voice emotionless and she stared at him. He saw the fear in her eyes but he watched with interest as she clamped down on it, hiding it behind a wall.
Interesting...
"How fast will it spread?" She asked while looking down at her arm. He shrugged.
"It could take weeks or days," his voice was cold and he saw her shoulders shake.
Well what did she expect?
He didn't care about her...
"Is there a cure?" She asked but he shook his head.
"None that I know of," he replied and she clamped her jaw.
"Thank you for the information," she whispered quietly while raising her eyes to his, "now I know."
He stared at her...
She was obviously scared out of her wits but she was desperately trying to hide it.
How stupid of her...
She cleared her throat, looking away from him and he saw her flush slightly. A grin touched his lips, after all it was late at night and he was alone with her.
"You're naïve," he whispered and she turned sharply to look at him.
"Excuse me?" She demanded and he chuckled. Leaning down he touched her cheek, moving his face closer to hers and her eyes widened. She tried pulling away from him but the headboard prevented her from doing so.
"So innocent, so pure," he murmured while leaning in closer to her.
He heard her breath hitch in her throat...
"St-stop it," she stammered and his lips spread in a dark grin.
He leaned in even closer...
"I don't even know your name," she whispered while looking into his eyes.
He halted...
"It's Dark," he whispered and he felt her shiver at his low voice.
"Dark," she murmured, testing the name he'd given himself upon her lips and his gut tightened.
He yanked her forward and claimed her lips...
He stole her gasps of shock that soon turned into pleasure as he kissed her, his teeth and tongue exploring her soft and sweet mouth.
He could lose himself in such a place...
Then as quickly as the kiss had begun he ended it and stood, not liking how his heart beat fiercely inside his chest. She stared at him with dark and dazed eyes and he curled his hands into fists at his sides.
Goddesses...
It'd be so easy to climb on top of her and take and take until she had nothing more to give...
Then maybe he'd be satisfied...
But these weren't his emotions...
His feelings...
They were Link's...
He turned and strode from the room, slamming the door behind him and left her there...
Missing the pained and confused expression that covered her face...
AUTHOR NOTE: If you all are wondering why I changed it from Shadow Link to Dark Link it's because I was thinking about how I want to write this and in order for things to make sense I had to have it be Dark Link, not Shadow Link (THOUGH I LOVE HIM JUST AS MUCH!) so yeah. GreenFantasy64 takes the cake in guessing who Zelda's assassin is, I guess I didn't really make it all that hard hehe, but he/she also made me realize the little mishap of using Shadow Link instead of Dark Link. So thank you for pointing that out in the review! Again, thank you to all my viewers and readers, I appreciate your support so please keep reviewing and telling me what you think! I would really like to know! As for what Dark Link is feeling I'll explain that more in the next chapter! Until then!