The Family Secret
Time has passed since her discovery, the wedding is approaching rapidly, and Zelda has become noticeably more depressed. She stays indoors more often, and her movements are almost mechanical, her merely going through the motions. When people ask, "What's wrong?" she smiles and says, "Everything's fine," when it clearly isn't. Mostly, she tries not to talk to anyone without reason. She's even stopped making conversation with Holly at work.
Day and night, behind closed doors, when she's certain no one's in the house but herself, she will kneel before the goddess idol Link had given her and send a prayer for a way out of her predicament. A means to end this unhappy marriage, a marriage she realizes had been a mistake from the start. This she prays for over and over, until she comes to tears.
Link is the only one who knows the truth, and the only one to whom she still talks regularly. Zelda enjoys their conversations, finding it a lovely distraction from her unfortunate circumstances. The princess has even laughed a few times at some of his dumb jokes.
And Link—goddesses bless him—proves to be a steadfast friend. He has promised Zelda that he will find a way out for her, one where she doesn't have to marry Merari. She is grateful but dares not get her hopes up. He has even been covering for her, making excuses for her less-than-joyful attitude, saying: "She has cold feet," or "She's only anxious," and so on and so on.
But time is running out. The wedding date grows closer with each day, and still Link has not found a solution. Zelda wishes they could just take Merari's infidelity to court, but without any real evidence, there's nothing they can do. So, she waits, and prays for a miracle.
With all this stress in her life now, taking walks has become a favourite pastime for her. They offer her peace and plenty of time to think and sort out her thoughts. Today is one of those days.
Coming out of her thoughts, she is surprised to see her walk has taken her to the chapel. She hadn't planned on coming here. Yet, she gets the feeling she should be here. Perhaps the goddesses are trying to tell me something, she ponders. So, she makes her way to the chapel doors, planning on offering a prayer before returning home.
But her prayer will have to wait, for someone else is already at the altar. They are kneeling in a strange position. Judging by their size, Zelda assumes they are a man. His body leans against the altar, and his head rests on the surface with one hand turned upward, and the other limply resting at his side. His hood is pulled over, so she can't see his face.
Deciding to wait her turn, she sits on one of the pews. Moments later though, she hears a peculiar sound.
Is that... snoring? she wonders. It is, and she realizes that the man at the altar must have fallen asleep.
An unique place for a nap, she reflects. Might as well wake him up.
So she approaches him to do just that. She kneels beside him to gently shake his shoulder. But she sees his face and freezes. Her hand hovers right above his shoulder. Worry enters her eyes as she takes in his features. It's the crusty remains of his tears that fill her with dread, tears shed from desperation and worry until the man was drained and had collapsed from exhaustion, completely spent.
"Link," she whimpers, choking on her own voice.
She lowers him into her arms, careful not to disturb his slumber. Slowly, she lays him on the thatch-covered floor, using his cloak as a blanket.
"I see you've found our resident napper," a froggy voice croaks behind her.
She jumps a little but keeps herself from screaming. Looking behind her, she smiles in relief upon seeing the familiar face of Father Brun.
But then the meaning of his words sink in, and her smile fades. "Father, you mean this has happened before?"
The old priest gets a forlorn look in his eyes as he takes a seat beside Zelda.
"Yes," he answers. "For over a week now." He turns his eyes back to Link. "Every morning, I will come in from my morning prayers and find him in the same position: passed out against the altar, the remains of many tears staining his face, contorted in pain."
"Why?" Zelda gasps as she struggles with unbidden tears of her own.
Father Brun nods somberly, placing his hand on her shaking form. "That is the question, isn't it. I have asked him that myself, but all he'll tell me is that he's praying for a friend."
Zelda looks away, unable to meet the priest's eyes. It's all my fault. I'm doing this to him.
"Is there anyway we can help him?" she pleads.
The priest sits in silence, his eyebrows knit together as he thinks long and hard, his eyes never leaving the boy. "Yes, he needs our help," he says at last. "And our help we will give him, whether he wants it or not." Facing Zelda he smiles softly. "I will talk to him again when he wakes up. Maybe he will tell me more this time. As for you," and he gives her a secretive smile, "show the lad how thankful you are for him."
The princess gaps openly at the priest, lost for words and stumped by how he could have possibly know that Link was praying for her.
Father Brun chuckles at her surprise. "Go on now. You'll know what to do."
Thanking father Brun, she rises and makes haste out the chapel to home.
The door swings open with a creak, and the heavy stomps of tired feet fill the house. A hunched-over figure drags himself across the floor, a trail of melting slush left in his wake. Disheveled blond hair sticks up at odd ends, and mirthless eyes peer from behind his bangs.
His eyes meet hers.
Zelda stands before Link wearing a warm, welcoming smile. She glides across the floor and greets him with a gentle hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. A half-hearted chuckle rumbles in response, and he smiles back with some effort. Taking his arm, she guides him over to the table and helps him into a chair. She takes his cloak—the one she made for him—off him and hangs it by the fire to dry. A bowl of steaming hot stew is in her arms when she returns.
It is a simple, hearty stew consisting of mushed beans, fried onions, with salt for seasoning, and beer for liquid and flavour.
He smiles at her when the bowl is set before him. It is a thankful smile. He takes a bite, and immediately his eyes light up. He takes another and another and soon is shoveling the rest down his throat. A happy moan leaves him when he's done. The bowl, Zelda sees, has been scraped clean of all food.
"Thank you for the meal," he tells her.
She beams at him. "You're welcome."
"Did you make it?"
Zelda adverts her gaze, feeling the heat rise in her face. "Yes," she squeaks. "How was it?" she asks, for she has never cooked before—not on her own anyways. Yes, she has assisted Arlette and Helga in the kitchen before, but this had been her first time cooking on her own.
Link flashes a toothy grin her way before saying, "When I get married, I hope my wife is half as good a cook as you are."
As soon as the words leave his mouth, the young woman turns on her heel, bashfully hiding her face from his eyes. And yet, she can't stop the smile that his words bring to her lips.
Feeling a little playful, she responds, "Keep dropping compliments like that and you're sure to sweep a girl off her feet." Then she winks at him.
Fruity laughter escapes him for the first time in a while. It's like rich music to her ears, and her spirit rises with it, but she finds it ends all too soon.
"In all seriousness," he begins. "Thank you, Zelda."
"You're welcome, Link." She leans towards him and plants a kiss on his forehead. "Now go get some rest."
"What will you be doing?" He asks, reluctantly rising from his seat.
"I have a shift in half an hour. I'll be there."
"Would you like me to wait for you outside by the door when you finish?
"Yes," she says in the end. "Yes, I would like that."
They lean into each other and wrap their arms around for another hug. This display of physical intimacy has become almost instinctual as of late, not that either of them are complaining. They both loved these hugs. Zelda felt safe in Link's strong arms, secure, and protected, as if her troubles were a lifetime away. As for Link, she is sure they make him feel as if he is her keeper; her protector. As if he could be her saviour and hero and that he alone could keep her safe from the woes of the world.
Alas, these moments always come to an end, and each time they feel too short-lived. But as they pull away—like they've done so many times before—their eyes lock together, and they dare to look deeper than they've ever have before. It's as if a spell has fallen upon them. Something that wasn't there before springs up inside them. He reaches and brushes aside loose strands of her hair. He cups her face, and she leans into his touch, securing his hand with her own. Her eyes lower to his lips, and without thinking she nibbles on her own. What distance was between them disappears as they meet together in a passionate kiss.
It ends abruptly when they pull apart, staring at the other in surprise.
"I... I have to go now," she says stiffly.
"I'll see you later," he replies in a neutral tone.
Zelda nods once before slowly heading for the door. When the door closes behind her, she lets out a deep sigh. Today is going to be a long day.
All she could think of is the kiss. It's constantly occupying her mind and proves to be a tiresome distraction during her shift. She makes more than her fare share of mistakes and actually completes very little work. People noticed, including Arlette, so when she tells Zelda to end her shift early, Zelda gratefully accepts the offer. Now she waits outside for Link; a meeting she expects will not go smoothly. If the kiss had even a half the effect on him as it did on her then the next few days are bound to be awkward.
The crunch of snow alerts her to someone approaching. She steels herself expecting Link and all the discomfort that will surely follow. But it's not so. Cold fingers of dread seize her, and the warmth leaves her blood. Before her is none other than her treacherous fiancé Merari.
"Good afternoon, dearest." He kisses her hand in greeting, and it's cold to the touch. He flashes his signature smile, but she no longer finds it charming. Rather it now appears slimy and devilish.
"Merari," she manages to say, trying to appear calm and collected. "What brings you here?"
Cooly he answers, "I simply wanted to pay you a visit. It has been a while since we've seen each other."
"Right. I'm sorry but I haven't been feeling well lately," she lies.
She cannot tell if Merari believes her or not, but he doesn't press her for details so she hopes that's a good sign.
"That's too bad. Hopefully you feel better soon. Our wedding is only two weeks away."
"Oh! So soon?" She works her face into what she prays looks like pleasant surprise, but on the inside she sings a different tone.
Shit, shit, shit! I'm running out of time!
Then she has an idea. A purely desperate idea. Maybe she can convince Merari to call off the wedding. Perhaps she can make him see reason. She has come to realise that them getting married is actually a horrifyingly sinful idea. He seems like a reasonable enough man, so hopefully he can meet her halfway and at least realise it's a bad idea. It is worth a try nonetheless, and she doubts she'll get as good a chance to try it later.
"Merari, about the wedding. I... I think we should call it off."
She watches closely, trying to read his face. It's hard to gauge his reaction. He keeps his composure surprisingly well, but there was a flash of something in his eyes. She's sure of it. What exactly that something was, she's not certain.
"Why?" he asks in a neutral tone.
Not even trying to keep up niceties, she remarks mentally. "Listen. I'm sorry, Merari, but I can't follow through with this. Not if you can't be faithful to me."
"W-what are you talking about?" There it was! A reaction. He may play the fool but Zelda heard the tremor in his voice, and she had seen how he twitched.
Furious that he dares try to play innocent, Zelda takes an imposing step forward. Her brow is furrowed, and her hands are balled into fists. Her fear dissipates as anger takes over.
"I saw you," she begins in an icy tone. "I saw you between the skirts of that whore!"
Merari flounders where he stands like a fish out of water. He works his jaw but no sound comes out.
Taking another step forward, she jabs him with a finger and says, "How. Dare. You." With each word she jabs him again for emphasis. "How dare you cheat on me after I promise you my love! You inconsiderate son of a Moblin!"
As soon as it came, her anger subsides and she is left drained. With a heavy sigh she adds, "This was a mistake, Merari. I realise that now. You are not ready to settle down—not if you can so easily fall for the whims of a floozy. And I... I don't love you. I'm sorry, but I don't." She takes his hand, and places a small object in it. And in the palm of his hand is the very ring he had proposed.
In a solemn voice she says. "Maybe someday we can be friends again. I hope you can understand."
Merari is quiet for several moments. Or maybe it had been several seconds; she couldn't tell. His face is like stone, and his body is tense like a drawn bowstring. The stone of his face cracks, and slowly it deforms into a hideous, monstrous snarl.
Before she can react, Merari strikes Zelda with powerful blow that sends her sprawling into the muddied snow on the street. All the bravado and confidence she had moments ago vanishes. In the shadow of his looming figure, she feels small and childlike.
Then the shadow disappears, and Merari is sent falling to the ground some feet away. Standing between the two of them is Link. He glares down at Merari, a low growl rising in his throat.
Merari fumes where he lies in the snow. His hand flies to the inside of his cloak from which he pulls out a hidden dagger. It's cold metal shines pale and deadly in the light of the moon. But a crowd has started to gather as people exit their homes to see what the ruckus is about.
Seeing this is no longer a private matter, Merari returns the dagger to its hiding place and begrudgingly pulls himself out of the muck. Pushing past the crowd, he leaves with what dignity he has left.
Once he was gone, Zelda breathes a sigh of relief. Link helps her to her feet before pulling her into a tight hug. She returns it, not minding the crowd even though she knows people will be talking.
Suddenly, Link pulls away from her. He is shaking violently, and he grunts in pain.
"Link," Zelda softly says as she lays a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
He shakes his head. "I need to get out of here. Now!"
He bolts away from her, racing down the street as if the hounds of hell are after him.
"Link!" Zelda shouts after him. Lifting up her skirts, she runs after him. She cares not for the crowd who will surely be spreading rumours before the dawn has come. She shouts his name as she goes.
She races down the street, following the clear trail of footprints he left in the snow. They lead her into the forest and to an all-too familiar clearing.
She finds him kneeling in the snow, hunched over on all fours. His condition has only worsened. He convulses as pain spasms through his body. Sweat has matted his hair to his brow, and even though it's cold out, he has stripped naked.
"Link!" She rushes to him and wraps his discarded cloak around him.
He looks up at her. Their eyes lock, and she sees an unspoken apology behind his pain. Then his body arches backwards as the largest wave of pain yet shoots through him. What follows next is something Zelda will never forget as long as she lives.
His hair changes from gold to black, thick fur covers his entire body, a tail sprouts from base of his spine, and the sickening sound of resetting bones fill the air as his skeleton reshapes itself. As quickly as it had started, it ends.
Zelda lowers her hand from her mouth, staring in fear and wonder at the sight before her. In only a second, Link had turned from man... to wolf.
Chapter done! Finally! Read freely whenever you want and feel free to criticize.