The portal led us back to the throne room in Hyrule Castle, with at least a dozen guards staring at us with dropped jaws.
„Well that was interesting", Ganondorf stated dryly while carefully putting Cia down and ignoring the guards' horrified stares. „Was that Demise?", I asked breathlessly, before inspecting the frozen sorceress for any damage. There was none, luckily.
„An aspect of him, at least", Ganondorf confirmed. „So he is manifesting at the Temple of Souls?", I asked further.
„Not necessarily; he'd hardly make it that easy for us. He isn't confined to one place. He can move. The temple was only convenient for him as long as the Sorceress was under his control." He stepped over to Cia and lightly tapped against her forehead. „That was a nice trick, Rebecca. You've made a lot of progress lately."
„Huh?" I turned to him. „What did you just say?"
Ganondorf raised an eyebrow at me. „What?"
„I think this was the first time you actually called me Rebecca."
„So? That's your name, isn't it?"
„It is but… nevermind. So what's the next step?"
Zelda stepped closer again. „I'd say back to our preparations."
„And Cia?", Lana asked.
Zelda looked over to the frozen Sorceress. Then to me. „Can you free her, Becca?"
I hesitated. „I'm not sure. I know I can produce ice, but I don't think thawing it is really my specialty. And I'm also not sure if freeing her would be a good idea."
„I'll take care of her", Lana said. „Are you sure?"
„She's… she's basically my sister. I can't just..." She looked over to Cia with watery eyes. I put my hand on her shoulder. „We'll leave her to you then."
„I'd still like to know what happened", Link reminded us of his presence, and my face flushed. „Oh, I'm so sorry, my love." I hurried over to him, cupping his face. „How are you feeling?"
„Still got a terrible headache", he replied. „This… Sorceress.. did she really take me again?"
„Maybe you should consider keeping your guard up, little hero", Ganondorf teased. „Not very heroic of you to need all of us to come save you."
„Shush!", I said. „Everyone needs help with something at some point in their lives." I shook my head and turned to Link again. „Maybe we should go home. I'm worried about how Volga is doing with Gareth."
„You left our son with the DRAGON?!"
We arrived at home, and despite still being a bit shaky on his feet, Link rushed straight to the door, only to stop, slack jawed, at the sight before him. Volga, kneeling on the floor, one of Gareth's horse figurines in hand… our son sitting in front of him, another figurine in his hand. Peacefully playing.
„You're back." Volga put the small wooden horse aside and got up. „That was quick. Then again, with your wife's combat capabilities, I expected no less."
„Daddy!", Gareth squealed and waddled over to Link, who took a deep breath and picked him up, examining him for any injuries.
Volga approached me. „How did it go?"
„I was the one who landed the final blow on her", I replied. „Though she is not dead."
„It still counts", he informed me. „Thank you. I did not expect such kindness from a former enemy."
„What are you going to do now? Will you return home?"
He let out a deep, thoughtful „Hmmm..." before replying:„If that is your wish, I will leave. But I have a final request for you, if you don't mind: During our conversation, you told me that I should save my anger for the root of my problems. And the root of my problems is your current enemy, if I am not mistaken. So my request is this: Let me fight by your side and avenge my fallen brethren. As soon as the one you call Demise is slain, I will return to my volcano."
„Happily." I smiled. „We have an unused room here; it'll eventually become our new child's nursery, but for now, we could turn it into a guestroom for you." Then I scratched the back of my head. „A bedroll with have to do for tonight, but come morning, Link and I will get a bed for you."
„You are too kind." Volga smiled, and it seemed sincere.
Once Volga had retreated into ‚his' room, I sat down on the couch with Link. „I'm sorry about the whole thing, darling. But I am fully certain that he just wants to help."
„I trust your judgement, Rebecca", Link said wearily. „It's just… a lot right now."
„I know that", I said gently. „Anything I can do for you?"
„You, specifically? No. Right now, I actually just want to sleep."
I hugged him tight. „That's fine, sweetheart. You had a long day."
The next day, it was all back to business as usual. Which meant that, despite our collective late-night-escapade, I had to be at the castle at the crack of dawn, for my daily training, while Link took the day off to recover and arrange the promised bed for Volga.
„You look terrible", Ganondorf commented when I dragged myself up to him, pale from morning sickness, dark circles under my eyes and with a very cranky Gareth in my arms.
„Thank you", I replied dryly. „How do you manage to stay up for most of the night and still look so put together, anyway?"
He shrugged. „I'm used to short nights. Don't you know the old saying? ‚Evil never rests'." The last part was accompanied by a smirk.
„Well. At least you can joke about it."
While I got into position for my training, Ganondorf casually asked:„How's Link doing?"
I paused. „You did it again."
„Did what?", he replied with a hint of annoyance.
„Before now, you always called Link ‚the little hero' or something to that effect. You never used his name before."
„You are making mountains out of molehills. Now get back in position."
As stressful as the preparations for the fight against Demise were, I was still grateful that they could all be done here, close to home. That way, after a long, rough day of training, strategy meetings and research, Link and I could return to our bed and also briefly enjoy the comforts of our own home.
Link hugged and kissed me once I walked through the door. We cooked together while Volga played with Gareth. The big, tough dragon seemed to have developed a soft spot for our little boy, and seeing the two string together stories and act them out with the little wooden figurines was oddly charming. But soon, fatigue caught up to all of us.
„I hope that Gareth won't remember any of this chaos when he is older", Link mumbled into his pillow. „I don't want his earliest memories to be… this."
„He seems quite happy", I replied. „I tried to explain to him that he'll be getting a little brother or sister the other day. I'm not sure if he understood exactly what I was telling him, but he looked excited. And he adores Volga."
„He sure does." He didn't sound happy about it.
I put aside my knitting needles and the half-finished baby blanket and turned to him. „Are you afraid that Volga is trying to replace you?"
„Maybe not consciously trying", Link said drowsily. „But he has more time and energy to spend with you and Gareth than I have currently, and I don't like that."
„Sweetie...", I sighed. „Nobody could ever replace you. Not as a husband, and not as a father either." I ran my fingers through his soft blonde hair. „I will release Volga from his bonds to me as soon as this conflict is over. And then you won't have to worry about that anymore."
He let out a soft humm to show that he heard me, then his eyes closed and he dozed off.
I watched him sleep for a while. In a way, I could understand his concern. But unfortunately, times like there hardly left time to consider feelings.