Chapter Thirteen

Dark eyed the small stone bridge, his ruby colored eyes narrowed in concentration. The ride here had been long and hard but they still had a ways to go. Since coming to the bridge, the traffic had dwindled greatly now that night had fallen but Dark still felt uneasy. Why he did not know the answer but he knew to trust his instincts.

Well…

At least some of the time…

As if on cue he felt more than heard Zelda come up behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see her kneeling down beside him, a cloak wrapped tight about her shoulders. He watched the pain in her eyes flare when she moved her arm but she said little, simply sitting beside him. Her pale face caught the moonlight and even despite the dirt that stained her cheek she was beautiful.

Radiant…

"Is it safe to cross yet?" Her words were barely above a whisper and Dark swallowed, his previous thought being forced from his head so that he could concentrate.

"Perhaps," he tilted his head, "it's best to wait when the moon is lower." His eyes rose to the sky and looked to the moon. Zelda did the same and as she lifted her face to the light he saw the lines that were beginning to form.

She was exhausted…

"Get some sleep," his tone was firm and she swiveled her eyes back to his, "you'll need it." He stood and meant to leave but Zelda stayed where she was. He paused, something telling him to stay but before he could ponder what it was he heard a noise.

It was soft, like a leaf falling but his eyes went to Stryder who had lifted his head from grazing. The stallion looked into the fading blackness and Dark saw the muscles tense. A moment later figures leapt from the blackness and Stryder screamed a warning. Richard drew his sword, Thomas doing the same with his small daggers. Dark went for his own sword but Zelda was already beside him.

"Stay here," he ordered but he knew the look that entered her eyes.

Defiance…

"No, they need help." She drew her own dagger, feet spread in a defensive stance but Dark gave a derisive snort.

"You're in no condition to fight Princess," he barked and gave her one last scathing look but she ignored him, intent on moving down the hill but she didn't have to.

Four of the seven figures turned and charged them. Dark swore and stepped in front of her, eyes glittering bright with anger and the lust for battle. He dimly heard Zelda mutter something about men before they were upon them.

The four spread out, their intention to flank him and take Zelda but he backed up, fending them off with quick parries and thrusts. He managed to catch one along the ribs and the assassin stumbled back and away. The rest paused, their swords in constant motion but their bodies still.

The other three had made their assault upon the old knight and Thomas. They were doing their best to fend the assassins off but Dark knew it wouldn't take them long. The assassins knew this as well and so would take their time. Gritting his teeth Dark then did something that they didn't expect.

He lunged…

He rammed his shoulder into two of them while hooking the others with his body. They rolled down the hill, limbs and bodies crashing against one another. Dark managed to come up on his feet and so did two of the assassins. They struck at him, daggers flashing faster than he could follow with his eyes but he recognized the moves and instinct took over. He blocked the blows and took ground, forcing them to retreat.

The other two scampered back, eyes glittering with rage as they looked for openings in Dark's defense. Dark for the moment ignored them, focusing on the two assailants in front of him. Behind however he heard Zelda coming down the hill after them. He mentally cursed her for acting so rashly. She was injured, weak, she'd be an easy target for them.

Fear spiked through his chest and as he parried another blow sent at his chest he side stepped and swung. The Dark Mastersword cut cleanly through the flesh and the man screamed, toppling to the ground. The sound of pain seemed to draw the assassins' rage out and their attacks became more ferocious. Dark withdrew, losing ground so that he could retreat to the incline of the hill so that he'd have the high ground. The fact didn't seem to faze the three men before him.

Each took turns lunging at him, blades flashing with deadly speed but Dark blocked the blows and instead inflicted his own. They were minor but would take their tolls in time.

He saw them begin to tire, saw the hatred in their eyes and he grinned at them. He wanted these men dead for what they had tried to do to him, to Zelda. Then as if on cue he heard it.

She screamed, not in pain but in anger, and Dark snapped his eyes up from the three men he battled. She stood over an injured Thomas, her dagger bloody as she fended off one of the assassins. Richard was dealing with the other but the assassin he was dealing with had separated Richard from Zelda so the old knight was of little use.

Something cold grasped his heart and Dark reacted without thinking. He moved forward, ducking underneath the swing of one of the men and rolling in behind them. Before they could react he used the momentum from his roll to spring up onto his feet. They tried to turn to block his blow but it was too late. He twisted so that he spun and sliced them cleanly across their chests. It was an underhanded move but Dark didn't care. Leaving them there he spun, sprinting forward and towards Zelda. It felt as if he were moving in slow motion, his legs like lead as he watched Zelda fight for her life and Thomas's.

The blade was knocked from her hand and the assassin lifted his own high, the victory evident in his eyes. Instead of ramming the dagger into her chest the assassin lifted her up and dragged her to the bank's edge. She swore and kicked, landing blow upon blow but the assassin ignored her. Then they reached the edge of the bank and in one simple movement she was dropped into the swift current.

Dark felt rather than heard the strangled cry of anger and despair leave his throat before he threw himself forward. He crashed into the assassin and he felt his blade drive in through the man's chest, heard the small breath of air leave his lungs before they toppled into the water after Zelda.

VVVV

The water was cold…

So cold…

The current dragged her down as if she were a mere pebble being played with. She fought to swim to the surface, to get air back into her lungs but she felt the water pulling her down into its black depths.

Then he was there…

She felt him grasp her shoulder, felt him haul her in close to his body and then there was air, there was light. Her lips parted in a sputtering gasp as sweet air filled them and she coughed, her arms wrapping tightly around Dark's neck. The current continued to carry them but as they rounded a bend Dark pushed them towards what appeared to be a bank.

He managed to get them out of the water and laid her gently down on the ground. His hands were on her then, touching her shoulders, her face, everywhere as she continued to cough and shake.

"Are you alright?" His voice wavered and Zelda, blinking the water out of her eyes looked up at him. He was completely soaked, as was she, but what startled her was his eyes and what they held.

Fear…

"Yes," her teeth chattered as she tried rubbing warmth into her arms, "and you?" She asked but Dark shook his head.

"You're going to catch something if you don't get warm," he picked her up and she yelped from surprise but wrapped her arms around his neck once more. He carried her farther in and they could dimly make out two stone pillars. A lone tree was in the distance and Dark set her beneath it, shredding the cloak he wore to lay on the ground. She was stunned into silence as he then set her upon it but as he reached for her he stilled.

"Wh-What is it?" She asked, her whole body shaking now. She couldn't see his eyes but she could dimly make out the lines of his shoulders and face.

"I can't build a fire to warm you Princess," he whispered and he lifted his face to hers, "I'm going to have to do it another way." He finished and the seriousness with which he said it confused her.

"Wh-What do y-you mean?" Her words must have irritated him for he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"You can't stay in your wet clothes and I can't build a fire otherwise the surviving assassins will know where we are. We can't keep moving because if we do you'll most likely become ill and with your state…" he trailed off and Zelda at first still did not understand but slowly she did.

"Very well," her teeth still continued to chatter and she closed her eyes, drawing in a calming breath. Dark said nothing to her response, simply remaining still. Zelda then thought that perhaps she'd misunderstood, that he'd meant something else but then he leaned in.

His body came within inches of hers and her breath hitched in her throat. Slowly he reached up, fingers brushing aside her soaked cloak to reveal her shirt beneath. She saw the fire enter his eyes and her body warmed in response. He reached down and lightly grasped the bottom of her shirt. She closed her eyes, tilting her head back as she lifted her arms. He came closer, his face only inches from hers as he pulled the shirt up and over her head. She was left in only her pants and chemise now and thanked the goddess that it was so dark out now.

It still did little to ease her racing mind and heart. It throbbed and pulsed, beating rapidly against her ribs and it felt so loud in her ears. She could feel his blood red eyes on her, scorching her skin with only his fiery gaze but she couldn't meet his eyes. Her blood was racing through her veins now. He was so close to her. Wanting to see his skin she reached up, her fingers undoing the strings on his shirt. Dark kept himself still, let her fumble with the strings before reaching up and pulling the shirt up and over his head. Zelda's breath seemed to stop all together as she looked at him.

He was beautiful…

The fuzzy thought drifted out of her head as he came closer, gently laying her down onto the surprisingly warm ground. She watched as he hovered over her, his hands gently sliding down to where her pants where. Her eyes drifted close and she felt the fabric loosen, then slide down her legs.

She didn't trust herself to speak so instead remained silent. After her pants were removed she was left in only her chemise and the night air whispered across her exposed skin. She shivered and opened her eyes to see that Dark had already removed most of his clothing, leaving him in his breeches. Red stained her cheeks as she beheld him. Zelda had seen his naked chest before but it somehow looked different in this lighting. Without thinking she reached up, her fingers running over his collarbone, down his chest, lingering on the scar that marked the smooth flesh there, over to his arm and then to the top of his shoulder. Her fingers softly touched the black tresses of his hair and she suddenly never wanted to know a day without Dark in it.

The thought made her swallow and her blue eyes lifted to his ruby ones. They were surprisingly cool, almost feral and the look stunned her. Before she could react he reached up and lightly grasped her fingers. Her breath hitched and the hopeful thought that he'd kiss her invaded her mind.

Sadly…

He did not…

Instead he shifted, lowering his body down behind hers and pulled her in close. As soon as his skin touched her she could feel the heat radiating from him. Hers however, felt ice cold. He curled in behind her, his breath soft by her ear. It tickled but sent tingles coursing down her spine. She took in a sharp breath, shutting her eyes and tried to focus on anything to relieve her mind from the tantalizing man behind her.

Silence…

Then softly…

He spoke…

"Are you warming, Princess?" His low voice, like silk, fanned her ear and cheek and she bit her bottom lip.

"Yes," the word was barely a breath and Dark shifted, coming in closer and she felt his hard thighs press against hers. Her throat ran dry and she swallowed, squeezing her eyes shut.

How was she supposed to resist this?

VVVV

This was killing him…

Dark could feel her soft body, all of it, against him and he could feel how hard his heart was pounding.

He wanted her…

He could feel the animal inside him straining against the chain he'd put it on but it wasn't going to happen like this only to have him leave her.

The thought saddened him and his arms tightened around her unexpectedly. Zelda took in a sharp breath and he blinked, fearful that perhaps he'd hurt her. Then she angled her head back at him and her blue eyes were so dark, filled with something that mirrored in his eyes as well.

Desire…

He felt the chain snap…

He leaned forward and claimed her lips in a hungry demanding kiss. She answered, her body curving back towards his as she shifted so that they faced one another. He hauled her in close, his mouth still plundering hers as his tongue darted in to taste the darkest, sweetest parts of her mouth. She let him, her head tilting back so that he'd have better access.

He could hear her little whimpers of pleasure as he kissed her, his whole body burned with it, with the need of wanting her. Dark felt her hands on his shoulders, in his hair and on his back. Her palms seemed to scorch him, send fires racing over his body and suddenly he was on top of her. His mouth still plundered hers as his hands roamed her body. He wanted to touch her skin, claim it as his own, make her belong to him and him alone.

He pulled his lips from hers to leave a trail down her neck to her collarbone. There he feasted on the silky flesh there. Her soft moan and the arching of her back was driving him wild, urging him on. The blood now pounded in his head, pushing all coherent and rational thoughts from his mind to leave only one.

He was going to make her his…

VVVV

Zelda clung to him for dear life…

Her body felt as if it were being melted by his touch while something built low within her stomach. She didn't know what it was but she knew that he held the answers to her release. She needed him to touch her, to hold her, to kiss her. She wanted Dark, wanted this. She didn't care for the consequences of what may come of it, all she knew was that this felt right, so very right, and she wasn't going to back down.

"Dark," she sighed his name, clarity settling over her hazy mind for a moment. She felt him still and he raised his head to look at her. His once cold eyes now held such fire and warmth that she felt her body shiver once more just like it always did and she knew it always would. No one else would be able to look at her like that.

No one…

Not even Link…

She cupped his face with her good arm, her intention to pull him in when suddenly he resisted, pulling away from her. The change made her frown, confusion washing over her.

What was wrong?

She would've asked him but he turned from her to stare at the bank. His elbows were on his knees and he almost looked angry.

Why would he be angry?

Didn't he want this?

Didn't he want her?

She sat up, not even realizing or caring that her chemise strap had fallen so that her shoulder was bare. She went to reach for him, to try and comfort him but she was met with an icy wall of cold indifference.

"Dark?" Zelda could hear the pain in her voice and mentally clamped her jaw at his lack of reaction.

They remained on the bank for a few moments until finally Dark turned back to her. His blood red eyes fixed on her so intently that she felt like they were going to burn holes straight through her.

"We can't." The two words sliced cleanly through her and cold shock covered her. Then hurt, so raw and powerful, tore through her chest. Her hands fumbled for her cloak despite it still being damp. She felt exposed, vulnerable now and most of all she felt like a fool.

A stupid…

Naïve fool…

She turned from him to stand but he reached out to take her wrist. Perhaps he wanted to stop her but she yanked herself away from him.

"Don't touch me." The broken words left her throat before she half ran, half stumbled into the dark.

What a little fool she'd been…

The blackness engulfed her but she saw the dim outline of the stone pillar. She leaned against it but before she realized what was happening she was sobbing.

Her legs weakened and she slid to the ground, her whole body shaking with the force of how broken she felt.

She should have known…

Zelda was the Princess of Hyrule…

She didn't have the luxury of loving Dark but she scoffed at herself, for that's what this cold reality was made of.

She loved him…

She loved Dark…

Not Link...

VVVV

The forest was dark…

Link guided Ripper as best he could through the scattered brush. The Shadow Beasts had left him quite a trail to follow but he was beginning to notice that the creatures had slowed and in turn their tracks were not nearly so obvious.

In fact the trail split…

He pulled Ripper to a stop and narrowed his eyes. A soft curse left his lips and he dismounted, moving to the fork. Kneeling he tried to have his eyes adjust but it was of little use. His head had been swimming constantly and causing him to lose his focus. Helplessness overtook him and he swore once more, kicking at a broken twig. It went flying into the brush and he absentmindedly followed it with his eyes. He nearly jumped out of his skin when another pair looked back at him from the blackness.

They were a soft orange, the lighting in them betraying to nothing but curiosity. Link, his heart still recovering from the shock, managed to collect himself.

This must've been one of the Lost Children of the forest. Though he could only see the eyes he felt surprisingly calm despite what had happened earlier when he first noticed the Lost Child there. The stranger simply continued to stare at him from the brush and after a moment Link cleared his throat.

"Hello." He called and Ripper snorted, shifting beside him. The Lost Child's eyes darted to the shadow horse before coming to rest on Link once more and he could see the figure shift, as if it were bouncing on its heels. With a swift jerk it leapt from the brush and onto to Ripper's back. The animal whinnied in alarm, rearing in response and Link jumped, stepping in close to grasp the reins and help soothe the startled beast.

The Lost Child laughed, leaping from Ripper's back to Link's shoulder and then from there to a nearby tree branch. The sudden movements were unexpected, considering Link wasn't used to seeing such swift movements from a child but at last he could finally see what the Lost Children looked like.

The first thought that came to him was that it looked similar to the Skull Kid he'd befriended so long ago in the Lost Woods. They were perhaps identical, though this Lost Child wore wispy robes instead of the leaves of the forest. It clicked at him, a grin spreading across its face before laughing. The sound caused goose flesh to rise on Link's arms but he managed to return the smile.

"Very funny," he called while patting Ripper, "So you like to play games do you?" Link wasn't entirely sure if the Lost Child would understand him but at the word play it clicked its head to the side, eyes fixing upon him intently.

"Do you like games?" An idea formed in his head as the Lost Child gave a quick jerk of a nod, "Could you show me where they took Princess Midna?" At Midna's name the Lost Child suddenly changed. The playful expression vanished and instead it narrowed its eyes at Link. It hissed and leapt up higher into the trees.

"No!" It cried and Link blinked. "Harm her. She safe now." It cackled at him and a frown creased his forehead.

Safe?

She was safe?

As the Lost Child went to disappear into the shadows Link waved to it, trying to get its attention.

"Wait! Please wait!" He called but it was no use and he watched helplessly as the Lost Child vanished into the trees. An exasperated sigh left him and his shoulders slumped.

What now?

He didn't know which path to take and if what the Lost Child said was true she was safe but how was she safe? Did she manage to get away and was at the temple? He doubted it but what was he supposed to do now? He gritted his teeth and pinched the bridge of his nose with his first finger and thumb. A soft scuffle sounded above him but he remained still.

Was the Lost Child still there?

If it was then there was a chance he could earn its trust but how could he do that?

Then it came to him…

Lowering his hand he kept his eyes closed and took in a soft breath. A series of notes, a chorus of high and low sounded and though the rhythm was lacking slightly due to his lack of an Ocarina the spirit of the Lost Woods flowed forth. The melody echoed throughout the clearing and memories of Saria played in his mind. The dancing notes seemed to even alight the trees with life and a giggle sounded above him.

A moment later the Lost Child dropped down in front of him and he jumped, taking a step back. The face was now washed in laughter and happiness. The Lost Child grinned at him and taking his hand pulled him off into the brush. Link heard Ripper give a startled whinny before crashing in after them but all Link could do was stumble after the Lost Child as it pulled him deeper and deeper into the woods.

Time seemed to slip from him as they ran through the dark and winding paths but what felt like days later they finally halted. Ripper nearly ran them over but the Lost Child seemed pleased with himself, hopping from foot to foot eagerly.

"She in there," he gestured to a tight nit of trees but Link frowned when he saw that one of the giant timbers had been torn apart. The Lost Child seemed shocked at this too and bounded over. Its little head bowed as it surveyed the damage but Link could already see the marks in the wood and what they meant.

Shadow Beasts…

The Lost Child hissed, drawing back as if it'd been burnt and cast Link a dark look.

"Black beasts, they find her." The child leapt to the tops of the trees, "Entrance to left, I go to find friends." The little voice chirped before bounding into the shadows once more.

Link shook his head and looked at Ripper over his shoulder.

"Fine little guy, isn't he?" He mused while crossing to Ripper and mounting up. The shadow horse snorted in irritation and Link felt the tension ease in his body at the humor.

They skirted the knitted trees and passed by the fallen tree. It looked like it'd nearly been blasted to pieces and Link felt his muscles coil for the fight he knew was ahead of them. He found the entrance that the Lost Child had talked about. No one would have been able to find it if that tree was still standing so the Shadow Beasts must have known where to look. The thought was unsettling to Link, for he didn't think that they were that smart.

Someone must've been leading them…

It was a small, winding path that disappeared down towards a cliff that wrapped down around the forest. The trees seemed to cover the path, the branches a low overhang that seemed to grab at him. He shrugged the feeling aside and kept riding.

Perhaps ten minutes went by as they picked along the path to try and find good footing when a sound pierced the trees.

It was a scream…

Fear spiked up through his stomach and into his heart and without another thought he kicked Ripper. The shadow horse responded and bolted forward, his hooves shockingly finding good footing despite the gnarled roots and loose rocks. The path slowly started to widen and the trees grew less thick here. They topped the rise into what appeared to be a grove with silent slabs of giant rocks surrounding them. His brows furrowed in confusion, for the place seemed eerily familiar to him.

Another scream brought him out of his thoughts and he glanced around, his ears straining to find where the sound had come from. The echo made it hard to place but Ripper started moving forward and at first Link made to stop him but the shadow horse gnawed at the bit, straining and Link realized that the beast was trying to point him in the right direction.

Quickly he dismounted, for he'd need stealth on his side and gave Ripper a soft pat of thanks. Turning he raced among the thick trees, his footsteps light upon the soft earth. He kept his eyes trained for any movement, his ears tuned for any sound. The sound of a scuffle emitted in front of him but it was very close, perhaps on the other side of the line of trees that lay ahead of him.

He paused, looking up the thick trunks to the canopy of branches. Biting his cheek he made up his mind and started to climb. It was nervous work, for Link was never fond of heights but he pushed the thought from his head and breathed a soft sigh of relief when he reached the top. Slipping between the branches until he was on the other side he grew still, his eyes fixed on the figures before him.

The Shadow Beasts had made what looked like a nest. They'd knocked trees down and gathered brush so that they formed a circle around the clearing they'd made. Link momentarily frowned, his heart flying to his throat as he didn't see what he'd been searching for but another scream echoed and Link's eyes snapped to the far corner. Two figures lay bound there and Link recognized the fiery hair instantly.

Midna…

Her eyes were wild with hate and fury but she looked whole, unharmed. The relief washed over him and he silently thanked the Goddess for his good fortune. He could see that they'd gagged her and confusion again caused his brows to furrow. If she was gagged then who was screaming? Link looked to the little figure beside her and blinked in shock when he recognized another Lost Child. This one was smaller than the one he'd met earlier, with slightly redder eyes. The face looked feminine and when it opened its mouth a scream sounded. He wasn't sure exactly what was going on but the Shadow Beasts seemed like they were preparing for something.

What he didn't know…

But he did know something…

He'd found her…

He'd found his Midna…

Now all that was left was to rescue her…

VVVV

AUTHOR NOTE: Sorry that there wasn't a lot of Link and Midna in this chapter and that these chapters are not as long as they used to be but my hands are getting stronger every day! Thank you all for your support!