Chapter Six
Impa glanced nervously at her young ward...
Zelda was looking out the window, unaware of her eyes on her face...
She looked so tired...
"Princess?" Impa murmured as she reached out and gently touched her arm. Zelda jolted, surprised before her eyes met Impa's.
"Impa! You're awake!" Zelda cried cheerfully and her eyes fixed upon the bandages that wrapped around her temple. "How are you feeling?" She asked and Impa bit the inside of her cheek as nausea threatened to have her hurling.
The simple blow to her head had left her weaker than she could have ever imagined...
"Alright, Princess, but what about you?" Her eyes ran over Zelda's form and they filled with concern. It looked as if she wasn't sleeping.
"I'm fine, Impa," Zelda replied but Impa knew better.
"Zelda—" Her words were cut off when the door opened. A servant bowed her head and Zelda stiffened.
"I am sorry to interrupt you, Princess, but it is time." The servant murmured and Zelda nodded. She stood and gave Impa one last smile.
"I will be fine, rest until your strength is returned. Look after Link while I am gone," Zelda called out and quickly exited.
Impa watched her go...
"But who will look after you?" She murmured to the stillness.
VVVV
Dark threw the shield over his back, wincing as his side rubbed against the linen. He ignored the fearful onlookers and placed the long cloak over himself. He pulled the hood up but left his face bare. The doors opened and Dark turned, expecting to see Zelda there but the faces that greeted him caused him to inwardly scowl.
The Council Members descended the steps, their robes glittering from the sun and Dark rolled his eyes at their expensive clothes. Lord Rendel glared at him but Dark wasn't afraid of the puny little man. By his expression it showed it, angering the Lord further but Dark ignored him. Lord Varon saw the exchanged looks but Dark was slightly amused when he strode up to him. Though the man was older Dark dwarfed him in height and certainly outdid him in muscle.
The man wasn't even armed...
"Sir Dark," Lord Varon said his voice tight, but civil and Dark inwardly laughed. He could get use to this.
"If you came over to try and have me keep my word by using either your money, position, or strength then I assure you, Lord Varon," Dark's voice was civil, but held a deadly calmness that had the older man stepping back slightly, "that you are wasting your time." Lord Varon frowned at him, blinking and Lord Rendel sneered at him.
"Impudent dog," he spat and Dark rose one cool, elegant brow.
"Careful, leech, I don't have to have a blade to kill you." His words had not lost their calmness and Lord Rendel's face paled but he narrowed his eyes.
"You would not dare try such a thing here," he growled and Dark stared at him a moment, his gaze piercing through the fat man.
Then he grinned...
"Would you care to make a wager on it?" His words were a low, icy purr that had the hair standing up on the pudgy man's neck and Dark chuckled. Evil mirth settling over him as undeniable pleasure surged through him as he made the man squirm. "I thought not." He leaned forward so that his face was inches in front of Lord Rendel's, "Do not tempt me again or next time I won't be able to resist sinking my blade into your greedy gut," He stepped away as Lord Rendel's body visibly shook.
His blood red eyes found Lord Varon's, who was watching him cautiously and Dark dipped his head mockingly, loving how the Lord's eyes flared with anger and was amused to see that Lady Helena was also watching the scene with interest. Striding over to her he grinned, flashing white teeth as his eyes shimmered with mirth.
"Coming to see us off, Lady Helena?" His voice was polite, but held a sharp cold ring to it. The elderly woman did not appear affected as she looked up at him, for he easily towered over anyone in the square.
"Not particularly, but I came to inform you that you will meet with a traveling companion besides the Princess." He arched a curious brow at her but she continued on, "He'll be Town Square. He's a well trained warrior with a man servant of his own." Dark snorted.
"An escort for whom?" He asked and the elderly woman grinned, her eyes as hard as his.
"That depends on you, Sir Dark." She replied and he dipped his head, his eyes shimmering.
"A worthy opponent indeed," he murmured and this time he placed his fist over his heart and bowed. "I look forward to our next encounter, Lady Helena." Despite her age she was still captivating and he watched as her cheeks flushed slightly.
He grinned and turned from her, taking his place at the end of the farewell line. His eyes traveled along the wall of stone that surrounded the inner courtyard and he caught movement above him. He raised his head and watched as a lone falcon soured through the air.
What it must be to be free...
The thought drifted through his head as he heard the trumpets sound but didn't look up or turn to face her. The crowd, made mostly up of servants and guards, all knelt to one knee but he only turned. She stood atop the steps, dressed in black trousers and a dark blue tunic embroidered with gold. She must have been wearing a light gray shirt underneath that covered her arms to her wrists, not giving any sign to her ailment. Her sunlight hair was braided down her back, held simply with a violet colored ribbon and her feet were covered with hard brown boots that reached the middle of her shins.
She'd never looked more breathtaking...
She was staring back at him, her eyes locked with his and he couldn't help the mocking, almost seductive smirk that touched his lips. He bowed his head but when he glanced up he saw the flush stealing along her cheeks.
His body reacted...
His hands tightened at his sides as she descended the steps, her father and his servant flanking him. As she became closer she halted in front of the Council, smiling up at Lord Varon. The elderly man returned it and Dark felt his gut coil and tighten unpleasantly. He narrowed his eyes as the sudden urge to take her into his arms and snarl at the elderly lord filled him.
Knowing that these were Link's emotions and not his own had him gnashing his teeth and fixing his features so that he looked cool and calm. When in reality he was far from it.
Far indeed...
Zelda spoke a few words with the Lords and Lady Helena, pausing to wrap the older woman in a hug. Dark noticed that when she reached Lord Rendel she stiffened uncomfortably. He watched, his eyes narrowing to slits as the man's gaze grew fiery, nearly hungry as he gazed at her. Dark curled his lip into a snarl and curled his hand into an even tighter fist.
The pig!
He felt his body ready to spring upon the Lord when her father stepped up beside her and looked dismissively at Lord Rendel. The man flashed a heated, but well concealed glare at the King before bowing his head respectively and stepping away. Zelda turned, her eyes finding his once more, and descended the steps to halt before him. The King followed, stopping behind her and Dark raised his eyes to the aging King's.
"Sire," he whispered and bowed, when he tipped his head up he found the King's eyes were filled with caution and something else.
Fear...
Something deep inside him darkened and blackened until he felt it choking him. He knew that they would not trust him, would rather see her thrown into a pit of vipers than have her with him so he was not surprised.
No...
But what did surprise him was the anger he felt...
Usually he relished in people's fear of him, loved basking in it and knowing that he was superior to them in every way, but this...
It was different...
He hated it...
"I trust that you will look after her?" The King asked and Dark looked at him with eyes colder than ice.
"No, I trust the bodyguard that awaits in Town Square to, sire." Zelda jolted at his words and glanced at her father.
"Bodyguard?" Zelda asked and Dark grinned.
"Oh, did he leave that bit of information out?" Dark shook his head, making a disapproving noise in the back of his throat, "Wrong move Daddy, especially with this one." Zelda's eyes narrowed at his words but she ignored him and looked at her father again. The King was glaring at him and Dark secretly wished that he would throw him back in the dungeon but he knew that he wouldn't.
So he decided that he was going to enjoy torturing the King that had made his life more than once a living hell...
"Keeping secrets?" He asked mockingly, "What else do you keep from her? Say something to do with your health?" At his words the King's eyes widened in shock before they narrowed in a warning but Dark only grinned wider.
"What does he mean?" Zelda demanded as she glanced between the two and the King raised his hand to halt her questions but it only seemed to urge her on.
"This is not the time, nor the place," he said sternly but Zelda wasn't intimidated by it.
"It is," she raised her chin and Dark's grin widened. He secretly loved how she would do that. It made him want to nibble the creamy flesh that blurred from her jaw to her throat. He inwardly jolted and turned slightly away.
"Zelda—" The King started but was cut off when Zelda shook her head.
"No, tell me. Father, are you ill?" She asked and he frowned, a defeated sigh leaving his lips as he shifted his eyes to glare at Dark. He merely ignored him but noticed the tension that filled his body.
"It's only a minor cough, nothing more. Brunard says that it'll go away on its own." His words were not convincing to Dark, and apparently the same applied to Zelda. She looked up at her father, her blue eyes penetrating his form but after a moment she nodded.
"Alright," she whispered and turned to look at Dark, "but you should have told me about our escort." The King sighed at her words.
"I did not think that it would matter," his words were meant for her but Dark still felt his eyes on him.
"It wouldn't matter? We're endangering another life in the search for this cure." She shook her head in irritation and turned away. "No matter, I shouldn't have expected anything less," she looked over her shoulder at her father and gave him a small smile. "Just make sure that you don't push yourself while I'm gone," her father dipped his head at her words, his eyes softening with warmth.
"I won't, you just focus on returning home to me," he answered and she smiled, nodding her head. She turned towards him and he saw her take in a breath and her blue eyes sharpened as they filled with determination.
"Are you ready, then?" She asked and his only reply was dipping his head.
"And you, Princess?" He murmured and she surprised him when she grinned. She didn't reply and dipped her head to the stable boy who held the reins to a breathtakingly white mare.
"Hello, Storm," she whispered and stroked the mare's soft nose. She whinnied a reply and Zelda glanced at him. "Do you have a mount?" She asked and Dark grinned at her.
"Raise your gates," he gestured with his head and Zelda hesitantly looked over her shoulder to her father. The King was still watching him but Dark looked back, his gaze cold and unemotional, revealing nothing. The King's gaze however, was not. In the aged depths Dark saw something, something that struck him to the core.
The silent plea was there...
He wanted Dark to look after her...
Ever so slightly Dark dipped his head and the King did as well, an understanding passing between them that could never be said with words.
He raised his hand...
Dark heard the clatter of the guards overhead as they grabbed onto the wheel that would draw the heavy chains. The wheel groaned and the chains tightened from the weight of the gate. Slowly the iron bars began to ascend. Dark watched it and felt the slight breeze caress his cheeks.
It felt like a mother's caress, soft and welcoming. He grinned at the feeling that raced through his body. Descending the steps, he reached up and gave out a shrill whistle. It echoed out throughout the clearing as all eyes fell to him.
Silence...
VVVV
Zelda watched, doubt whelming up inside her. Would his mount really come to him? After all she'd seen loyal horses such as Epona always come when Link called and Storm did the same, but she knew that not all horses were the same.
Storm bumped her slightly with her nose and Zelda stroked it, murmuring soft words to as she gazed at Dark's back. His form was relaxed, but his feet were wide and she could feel the tightness in his muscles.
Was he always so alert?
Always so guarded?
Her thoughts were interrupted when Dark tilted his head, listening intently and Zelda did as well.
A distant whiney sounded in the distance...
Then softly...
Hoof beats...
Zelda watched as a giant of a horse, his hide darker than night itself came streaming through the gate, his mane flying out behind him. He screamed a greeting, his high pitched call piercing the silence as his sharp hooves dug into the stones. Every muscle gleamed as he galloped up to Dark and Zelda was transfixed.
The horse was so majestic...
So beautiful and dark...
Like his owner...
Zelda blinked at her thoughts and watched as the horse halted before his owner, tossing his head and gnawing at the silver bit between his teeth. Dark grinned and reaching up touched the horse's forehead.
"Hello, old friend," he murmured and lightly trailing his fingers across the horse's neck stepped into the stirrup, easily pulling himself up to sit atop the massive beast's back. The horse tossed his head, pawing at the ground and snorting but Dark was not affected by his behavior.
He simply sat there, his manner cool and collected as he grasped the reins between his fingers. He looked at Zelda, his blood red eyes shimmering from the sun and she stiffened.
She hadn't meant to stare at him...
But they looked magnificent together...
She turned sharply and grasping the saddle horn pulled herself up. She thanked the Goddess that she wasn't wearing a dress and she relaxed her form into the simple saddle Storm wore. Dark turned his black charger, giving a silent command as they cantered towards the gates and Zelda clucked to Storm.
They followed but as they passed the wall she looked over her shoulder towards the entrance to the castle. Her father stood atop the steps and he raised his hand in farewell. She raised her own and couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to be the last time she'd be seeing him.
They passed underneath the gates and Zelda clucked to Storm, urging her up beside the stallion Dark rode. They turned down the winding road and down towards the next set of gates. They opened with a groan and Zelda dipped her head to the guard beside them. He saluted her with his spear and but jumped at the appearance of Dark. Before anymore could be done on the matter they were through and riding towards Castle Town.
Before they turned, Dark pulled on the reins and Zelda yelped when he reached over and grasped her own. Storm gave an irritated whiney and danced nervously beside the massive stallion.
"First things first, princess," his voice held a cold mocking lilt to it and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"What?" She demanded and he reached over and hooked an arm around her waist. Zelda yelped as he lifted her up off of the horse and against him.
"Dark what are you—" She yelped again when he threw a leg over his horse and dismounted. Before she could protest about that he grasped her tunic and pulled it up over her head. She gasped in shock, her cheeks flaming as she was left in a barely concealable gray shirt. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, though her knees grew weak at the heated look that entered his eyes.
"I'll scream," she whispered and was surprised at how her voice quivered. Dark snorted and turned back, digging in his saddle bags.
"Don't flatter yourself, Princess," he replied and turned around, throwing a dirty dark brown tunic at her. She caught it in her arms, the smell of sweat and an odd spice filling her nostrils.
"Am I supposed to wear this?" She asked and he smirked at her.
"How observant of you," He racked his eyes over her, glimpsing the creamy flesh underneath it.
How easy it would be...
He stiffened when she snorted, turning her back to him. As she stretched to pull the tunic over her head the thin shirt drifted over her skin, exposing her back. The creamy skin stretched, arched and before he realized what he was doing he was behind her and lowering his head.
He halted...
Blinked...
And immediately pulled back...
She turned back towards him, the strings already done up and eyed him. Stretching her arms out she twirled.
"There, now would you mind telling me why you just did that?" She asked and he snorted while bending down and picking up dirt. Her eyes widened but before she could protest he smeared her face with it. She coughed and stepped back, glaring at him. "What are you doing?" She hissed and he smirked at her.
"If we ride into town everyone will know that you are the princess and not everyone will seek to aide you." He ran his eyes over her and nodded, satisfied. "Now instead of looking like a stuck up royal you look like a measly beggar, though," he looked over his eyes at Storm and the saddle, "we'll have to trade in your tack for something more plain."
"Do I really look like a beggar?" Zelda asked as she looked down at her appearance and Dark's eyes lingered over her.
Despite the dirt and ratty tunic she was still beautiful...
He shook his head and turned around, grasping Stryder's reins and hoisting himself up. He looked down at her, his gaze cold as he kept the prancing stallion in check.
"No, you look much worse," with that he turned trotted off. Zelda stared after him and narrowed her eyes at his retreating back. Striding over to Storm she mounted up and quickly followed.
Desperately wishing that she had a club to beam him over the head with...
VVVV
Link strapped on the shield and tossed the cloak over his shoulders. He left the hood down, his finger gently touching the silver line that adorned his brow. He ignored the daunting fact that he was running out of time and looked about the room.
Hopefully this would be the last time he would see it...
Turning he left it, closing the door behind him and entering the halls. They were surprisingly empty but he ignored that face and kept his footsteps light as he made his way to the main hall. Steeling his nerves he entered and wasn't surprised to find Midna waiting for him. She was dressed in long, black leggings with a cloak thrown around her. Her fiery hair was hidden and she was pulling on gloves when she looked over her shoulder, her breathtaking eyes meeting his.
He halted...
She smiled at him and winked, pulling on the last glove.
"Late as always, Hero of Time," her angelic voice was teasing and always sounded so pleasant to him. He strode into the hall, his hand falling to the hilt of the sword when he saw the angry and cautious glances of the Elders.
After his oath to Midna they still didn't trust him...
No matter...
He ignored them and halted beside Midna. She turned towards him, her lips still spread in a teasing smile as she adjusted the belt around her hips.
"Just ignore them, Link, they just woke up on the wrong side of the bed." He grinned slightly at her words but forced himself to remain focused.
"No matter, but are we ready yet?" He questioned and she nodded.
"They're readying the horses as we speak." She fiddled with her hood before winking at him once more.
"I'll meet you at the entrance, I have to talk with them a moment." She turned away from him and crossed towards the Elders and he watched her go, his eyes following her graceful movements.
He blinked...
Turning he abruptly strode towards the door, nodding to the servants that opened it. He looked outside, his gaze running over the eerie, yet beautiful land.
It was unnerving and magnificent all at once...
He'd never seen anything like it...
He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear Midna halt beside him. It was only when she touched his arm did he realize that he'd been standing there, gawking at the landscape. Her angelic laugh filled his ears as she grinned up at him, showing the tips of her fangs.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" She asked and he nodded. She pulled him down the steps towards a group of Twili people. "You'll get used to it, especially with all the traveling we will be doing." He nodded and was about to reply to her words when high pitched whinnies split the air.
He turned his head and his eyes fixed upon the prancing, smoky figures that danced towards them. He gasped, his eyes widening when figures of horses, their forms like smoke came prancing towards them. Their eyes were like embers, glowing brightly against their dark hide. Their hooves were sharp and surprisingly bright against their bodies as they dug them into the cobblestones of the courtyard.
"Wha-what..." Link stuttered and Midna laughed again.
"Speechless again?" She teased and shook her head. "I could get used to you being like that," she walked confidently up to one of the massive beasts and touched its vaporous mane. Surprisingly her fingers touched long, silky tresses and she flashed another grin at him. "This is Arwin, and that," she nodded her head towards the other prancing horse, "Is Ripper."
Link eyed the massive horse and the horse eyed him. Its eyes were a brighter orange than Arwin's and Link suddenly felt self-conscious as he felt the penetrating glare of the horse. Straightening his spine he took a cautious step forward.
"Easy boy, I'm not going to hurt you," he offered him his hand and the horse snorted, ash spewing out of his nostrils and the groom that held his rains hesitantly stepped away. The horse swiveled its ears forward and stomped the ground.
It was a warning...
Link lowered his hand and stared at the horse, their eyes locking.
"Alright, I get it," he murmured to the horse and offered his hand once more. Ripper narrowed his eyes and raised his head as Link took a step forward, but Link's eyes never left the horse's. Ripper shifted but did not move, shaking his head as Link continued to walk slowly, but confidently towards the horse.
When he was within reach the stallion whinnied and tried to bite him but Link sidestepped, coming up beside the horse's head and grasping the bridal. The stallion whinnied, trying to yank his head back but Link reached up and stroked his noise.
He pursed his lips...
And three notes left his mouth...
They floated over the clearing, soothing and calming and he felt the stallion slowly relax underneath his touch. He smiled and patted his cheek, amazed at the muscles he felt underneath him.
Turning he mounted up and smiled triumphiantly down at Midna who was staring at him with wide eyes. Then she grinned and mounted up as well.
"Well done, Hero, no one can usually tame Ripper so easily," she turned Arwin, "but don't let that go to your head. He's still stubborn." She clucked to her mount and they turned and headed down the path. Link grinned and stroked the stallion's neck.
"Just like someone else I know," he murmured to the stallion, who snorted and gave an answering whiney. Link chuckled and turned Ripper to follow and the sharp sounds of his hooves against the stones echoed in his ears.
And their journey began...
VVVV
AUTHOR NOTE: Sorry it took so long to post and that there wasn't much of Link and Midna in this chapter. Please review!