Tainted Wisdom Chapter 4: Part Four: Time Stood Still, a legend of zelda fanfic

Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda is property of Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto, all rights reserved. I am in no way affiliated with these companies, or any legal proceedings concerning The Legend of Zelda. This story has been written purely out of enjoyment, and is not intended to make a profit, steal ideas, or offend anybody, though all original characters are my own property. Any similarities between my work and anyone else's is purely coincidental. "Time Stood Still" lyrics are property of Madonna, all rights reserved.

"Tainted Wisdom" - Part Four: Time Stood Still

By The Last Princess of Hyrule

Despair, regret, and tenderness,
Is what I feel for you . . .

For as long as I live, I do not think I will ever forget what happened to me. I was raped. Nothing anyone can say will make it hurt less, nor quell the memories that often return to haunt me. I learned many things about myself from this ordeal—things I will always cherish and things I wish I had not uncovered.

Taekorra was right that the Triforce is its own being. The great relic seems to have a mind of its own, as I have discovered. It will not be controlled without its consent, it does not answer to anyone it does not like, and it certainly will not grant any mortal use of its power anymore. Not that I ever want to try that again.

Link and Malon have returned to Lon Lon Ranch. This comes as no surprise to Taekorra, but I had hoped Link would admit to some feelings for me. I finally built up the courage to tell him of my love the day after Ganondorf was vanquished. Link's response was one of disgust followed by his prompt exit from the room, collection his little wife, and return to his home. I have never made move to meet with him since.

Ganondorf, for lack of a better word, has been utterly destroyed. His physical body, at least, was reduced to complete ashes by the blast from the Triforce of Courage. His spirit, if he had one, has disappeared from existence. However, I doubt he is truly gone. Ganondorf's life pursuit was to create as much chaos and suffering as he possibly could. After all the pain I felt at his hands, it is too much to hope that he will simply leave me alone.

Taekorra has not changed much over the past years. He is still a cynical, ruthless bastard whenever things are not going his way and a smug fool when they are. His power, on the other hand, has greatly increased—he has become a very powerful sorcerer, one I am both honored and obligated to have in my court. I would have to be a very stupid ruler not to grant him whatever he wishes. A man like Taekorra could make a terrible enemy.

I myself have stayed in the town of Hyrule. Taekorra and I were somehow able to reverse most of the magical damage Ganondorf had done to the city, including bringing his spiraling fortress to rest and revert it to its original state. The rest of the damage has been slowly rectified by physical labor and the help of common people brave—or stupid—enough to return to the capital.

Hyrule will never be completely clean of Ganondorf's evil. His ideals twisted many people to the core, and we are left with many criminals. Plenty of the people we caught were conspiring to seek out Ganondorf's wandering spirit and bring it to life. These people were sold into slavery, leaders put to death. My chief advisor said that if I showed these people any mercy, others would take that as a weakness and rise to challenge me.

After my falling out with Link, I decided I would never feel so for a man again, becoming the only monarch of Hyrule ever to rule without a king or consort. I am considered a shame to my country, as word quickly spread of my deflowering. I have my suspicions of who leaked my secret, but I do not bother act on it. The little farm girl is too busy raising a family to be a threat to me. Malon and Link had seven children. Their third boy is a spitting image of his father as a young child. I can't help tearing up whenever I see him.

As the years passed, I became much closer to Taekorra. When he wants to be, Taekorra can be very charming. Several times, he asked me to marry him. However, I had sworn never to marry and I was not about to dishonor myself more by breaking my word. Though I would not wed him, I found myself many times seeking his company for more private reasons than one usually has with one's High Imperial Sorcerer. My word quickly became the last relic of me left with honor when I found myself pregnant.

I loved you from the very start,
What else could I do . . . ?

I was twenty-five at the time, and it was obvious who was the father. I confronted Taekorra with this knowledge one day in the middle of winter.

"Your Majesty, are you absolutely sure?" he asks.

"Of course!" I counter. "I have all the symptoms! I'd think you'd have noticed at least one by now." I glare pointedly at him. Taekorra turns scarlet.

"I meant about me," he says in a small voice. "Are you sure I'm the father?"

I cross my arms. "Tell me, Taekorra, how many men have you see hoping to court me? Better yet, how many men do you notice catching my fancy? I know you pay attention to that; don't try to deny it!"

Taekorra's blush deepens. "But, what if it's . . .?"

I know exactly who he is talking about. "That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard! How could Ganondorf be the father? That wasten years ago! If I were to have been impregnated by him, I would have known very soon after. My body wouldn't have waitedten years before showing signs!"

"But I can't be the father!" Taekorra's shock is quickly wearing off and being replaced by rage. "I've already got a family, Your Highness!"

Taekorra had wed one of my attendants, a comely girl with sleek silvery hair and dark eyes. They had three children already.

My blood boils. "So you deny it? You deny everything about us? We've never slept together, have we, Taekorra?"

Taekorra's blush returns.

"Damn it, Taekorra, I didn't do this to myself!" I rave on. "Goddesses, take some responsibility and admit your feelings! You have never once loved Myani, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself of it! Even after having three children with her, you have never committed yourself to her!"

"And you wonder why?" Taekorra snaps back, finally defending himself. "I told you a long time ago exactly how I feel about you! Why do you think I still hang around Hyrule? I hate this country like you could never understand! And this castle! No matter how much your servants clean it, it will always reek of Ganondorf!"

"Don't you think I know that!" I retort shrewishly. "Every time I go up to the tower to look out at the city, those fucking memories come back. You don't have those memories to torture your every turn, Taekorra! You were never raped! You lost your innocence exactly when you wanted to!"

"Yes, I remember!" Taekorra yells. "You'll remember too, I'll warrant! It was our first night together!"

"Of course I remember!" I shout back. "Now look where our most recent night has taken us! What am I supposed to say when I start to show! What am I supposed to tell everyone when the child is born! Would you like me to tell them the truth!"

"And then have us go though life with the constant whisper of 'it was the High Imperial Sorcerer who knocked up the Queen'! Would you like that, Zelda?"

"It couldn't possibly be worse than 'the Queen is so fickle, she let herself be deflowered before she was married'!" I retort. "Show some responsibility for once in your life! This is all your fault!"

"They say it takes two to tango, Your Majesty," he quips sadistically.

"Damn you," I say. "Goddesses damn you."

"It seems more like it's you they've been damning, Zelda," Taekorra replies, turning away from me. "Just look at this mess."

"Yes, look at it," I go on, my temper rising again. "What are we going to do about it?"

"I don't know," Taekorra says noncommittally. "I don't know."

You read my mind,
You made me cry,
Time stood still . . .

In the end, we did not do anything. I made no moves to announce my pregnancy to the court, simply letting them discover as it progressed. Taekorra soon became my only comfort. I took solace in his embrace more and more through my first trimester. Eventually Taekorra's wife, Myani, learned what was happening. Thanks to her overly large mouth, word that 'the High Imperial Sorcerer knocked up the Queen' came out.

Not that I really cared anymore. I went about my duties in a kind of trance through the rest of my pregnancy. I paid little attention to the foreign dignitaries who came to call, administered my seal to whatever official-looking document was handed to me, and stayed away from my court as often as I could.

Nine months passed, leaving me with a healthy girl child whom I named Fayona. She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, with Taekorra's ruby eyes, my elegant ears, and my mother's delicate build. Where she got her hair will be a mystery to me forever. It is a radiant green, more vibrant than the color of the tunic Link used to wear.

Once it grew in, I found it lavishly thick and impossible to keep under control. Out of frustration, I had it cropped at her shoulders. This turned out to be a terrible mistake, for it nearly hid her entire face, save for the eyes, from view. She looked so much like a Holly bush, she ended up with the nickname. Foreigners are always awed by the little crown princess with her red Sheikah eyes, epitomized Hylian frame, and enigmatic hair.

All in all, life went rather well for me and my daughter until one day, when Fayona was two years old, and I received a visit from one of the last people I would ever expect.

I have been occupying myself in the playroom with Fayona today. We have a big book in front of us with many gorgeous hand-painted pictures on each page, along with large printed calligraphy. I am reading the book slowly to my daughter. I have decided it is time for her to learn to read.

"Queen Marie lives in this pretty castle," I read slowly. "Marie Regina lveis en hest pyittre actsil." As long as she was learning, I figure I might as well teach her Ancient Hylian too. "Now you read."

Fayona smiles at me and paws the book with her tiny hands. "Qween Mawee wivs in dis pwetty cassle. Mawee Wegeena vees en hest yeetray akseel."

Someday she'll read without the lisp. "Very good," I assure her. "Point to the castle for me." Fayona sticks her finger on the image of a set of granite walls and turrets. "That's it," I say with a smile, hugging her around her tiny waist.

"Dat's what we wiv in, wight Mama?" Fayona gapes up at me with an innocent grin covering her features.

"We certainly do," I tell her. "Who else lives here?"

"Taekowa!"

The smile freezes on my face, but only for a moment. Taekorra had not left residence at the castle when Fayona was born, as I expected he would. Instead, he remained loyal to me, despite Myani. Six months ago, they had another fight. Apparently Myani left, taking her three children with, for I have seen hide or hair of her since then.

Taekorra and I still have not wed. I know he loves me and it is this love that drove he and Myani apart, but I can never forgive him for the things he said when I told him about becoming pregnant. He has never told Fayona he is her father, and I doubt he ever will.

"Who else?" I ask Fayona, picking her up. "Lots of people live here in the castle, don't they?"

"Lossa peepo," Fayona echoes.

There is a loud knock on the door. I stand and turn around. "Enter!"

A guard in shining armor steps in and bows. "Queen Zelda, there is a man here to see you."

I try to think of who I could to be meeting with today. An ambassador from Calatia is supposed to arrive tomorrow, but no one I can think of should be here today.

"I'll receive him in the throne room," I reply. "Please show him there."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard bows and leaves the room. I follow, Fayona still in my arms, and make my way to the throne room.

"Who's heew, Mama?" Fayona asks me.

"I don't know, dear," I say. "Shall we go see?"

"Yeah!"

Such enthusiasm. I wish I could be like that.

And now I know the reasons why,
Time stood still . . .

I enter the throne room and seat myself on a high backed, gilt-framed chair remaining from generation after generation of Hylian kings. Queens never sat in this chair. To my left was a smaller, less ostentatious version of my throne, where, had I ever wed, I would be sitting this day, stood. Today it is empty, and probably will continue to be so for the rest of my reign. Fayona settles herself comfortably in my lap.

Several loud raps on the door and it opens to reveal three guards escorting in my visitor. I recognize him instant, though it has been many years since we last saw each other. Uncontrollably, my heart leaps as none other than Link walks into the room. Link's hair has grown out, and apparently he hasn't cut it for quite a long time, for it's nearly as long as mine was when I was seventeen, drawn back with a leather band. He is wearing dark trousers, a pale blue shirt with a smooth leather vest, and a thick, dark green cloak and hood draped over his shoulders.

"Your Majesty, may I present master Link," says one of the guards. I nod.

"Thank you," I tell them. "You may go."

Looking slightly confused, the guards do as I ask, bowing as they go. The door closes with a soft thud, leaving the room in silence.

Link makes no move to speak. Neither do it, but I have no obligation to say anything. It was he who came to the castle and sought to meet with me. He should have to start the conversation. However, before Link can say anything, Fayona pipes up.

"Mama, who's dis?" she asks innocently.

I hesitate. Who is Link, anyway? Certainly not a member of my court, nor a knight of my realm. He's neither family nor friend.

"He's an old acquaintance. . . ." I finally decide on, though I know the word will confuse Fayona.

"What's a 'aqwaintes'?" she asks, looking up at me.

I, however, have my sights on Link, glaring down at him with my cold sapphire eyes. "Just someone I used to know a long time ago."

"Oh." Fayona knows by my tone of voice that now is not a good time to ask questions.

Link opens his mouth to speak, then closes it on second thought. Again he opens it and tries to say something, but chokes on the words. They come out something like a cough.

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"You have a beautiful daughter," he tries again. He's mumbling and I can barely hear him.

"Thank you."

Fayona does not do anything. Normally, she would be bouncing all over the room, exerting energy from her seemingly tireless source, but right now, she just sits quietly on my lap, unsure. She does not seem to know what to think of this stranger. I have made no moves to show her that he is a person I like, yet Fayona's innocent nature has not taught her to hate. All this leaves her to do is sit, watch, and be confused.

"She's . . . what? . . . three . . .?"

"Two."

"Ah . . ." Link shuffles his feet nervously.

I glare.

Minutes pass.

No one speaks.

Finally, I can take it no longer.

"What are you here for, Link?" I demand. "Have you come here to ask me something or just stand there and look like a fool?"

Link's head snaps up from its examination of the red carpet leading to the throne. "As a matter of fact, I have something to discuss with you."

"Really?" I ask sarcastically. "Things not going well at home, or is everything just peachy? Let me guess, you want me to give you more land, or maybe I owe you some gold?" I offer him these suggestions with my face turned down in a frown. "Well? What do you want?"

"For your information," Link retorts quickly. "Life at home is perfect. Malon is wonderful, my children are angels, and I have everything I could ever need." He examines me for a moment. "Though I can think of a few things you could do to have. How about some honor? Or dignity? Either of those entice you?"

I make a move to stand, but think better of it. "You didn't come all the way to the castle just to insult me, did you? Because I can ruin that perfect little life of yours with a snap of my fingers. In fact, I don't know why I haven't done it before."

Link purses his lips, but keeps silent.

"Now, what's going on?"

Maybe I'm the next best thing to happen,
All the things we might have been . . .

"There is news in the northwest concerning some kind of curse," he informs me, trying to keep his temper in check. "People are turning up dead. Entire cities are destroyed overnight. Everyone is living in total fear of the next day."

"I've already heard rumor of this," I tell Link in a bored tone. "An escort from Calatia is on their way here to discuss it tomorrow. Besides," I add, "I don't see how this is my problem."

Link's eyes narrow. "The suspicions are that this is Ganondorf's doing."

My body seizes up in fright at the sound of the name. Damn automatic reaction, I think to myself. I shouldn't be getting so worked up like this every time I hear mention of that name. Link gives me an odd look, apparently noticing my movement. I hurriedly compose myself.

"And?"

Link scowls. "And what? Zelda, don't—"

"Your Majesty," I correct in a cold voice.

"Your Majesty," Link echoes reluctantly. "Don't you realize what this means? Ganondorf is on his way to a return."

I sigh. "Link, you obviously pay no attention to what goes on in the world outside your farm. The threat of Ganondorf returning comes up almost once a month. This is no different than during harvest time when some fool farmers near Lake Hylia could swear Ganondorf was making their crops shrivel into black nothings. It tookmy smartest vassals ages to realize that this was all result of poisons in the soil. These dying Calatians are no different. It's quite possibly the outbreak of some noxious plague or something."

There is a knock on my door. "Enter," I call in a tired voice.

Who other than the masterful Taekorra enters the throne room?

"Taekowa!" Fayona squeals in delight, leaps off my lap, and races into the sorcerer's arms.

"Oof!" exclaims Taekorra as he catches her, wrapping his arms around her tiny frame. "Goodness, Holly bush, you're getting big!"

Fayona smiles a gap-toothed grin at him. "Guess who's heew, Taekowa?" Fayona grabs his hand and drags him to the center of the room, to Link. "Dis is Mommy's owd aqwaintes, Wink!" she exclaims, pointing up at him.

Taekorra lifts his daughter into his arms. "Really?" he asks her with feigned interest. "And what's he doing here?"

Fayona shrugs. "I dunno. Someting abowt Cawatia and some body named Ganondworf," she tries to explain lightly, smiling in her innocent way.

Taekorra stiffens, then sets her back on the ground. Fayona runs back to me and leaps into my lap. Taekorra walks nearer to the throne, giving himself a good view of me and Link. Link and the sorcerer exchange heated glances, but say nothing to each other.

"Your Majesty," Taekorra says with a bow. "I was told to come straight to you. There has been a problem concerning the escort from Calatia."

I gather Fayona into my arms and stand. "What happened?"

Taekorra looks shiftily at Link, but goes on. "They were attacked just outside our borders. Luckily, a group of traveling merchants spotted them and brought them to the castle."

"Show me to them," I say. "I must speak to them as soon as possible."

A flame becomes a fading light,
That burns inside my heart . . .

The road to Calatia is a long, hard one. I have never been one to favor long journeys. For some reason, I can't get used to riding. It sounds stupid, I know, considering how many riding lessons I had as a child. I don't remember if I liked it then or not, but now, I simply detest it.

As we trot along the hard-packed earth, I try to focus on what had happened earlier in the castle. I arrived in the Great Hall, the only place big enough at the moment to fit the entire Calatian escort, to find it full of pain. Men were screaming, clawing at themselves like beasts. Some were covered in blood or dirt, others coughing it up from punctured lungs.

"My goddesses," I murmured to myself as I wove my way past the bodies to the front of the Hall. It was there that lay the ambassador and the king of Calatia himself.

I knelt beside him. "Your Highness," I said, "how are you feeling?"

"Better," he somehow managed to reply weakly. "But my men . . . what about them?" He started to sit up, but I pushed him down.

"They'll be all right," I said in a soothing voice, "but I need to know what happened to you."

The king closed his eyes. "We were on the border, only a few miles outside the town of Rikern . . ." I remembered Rikern, a quaint little Calatian town some ten miles north of Hyrule. "Rikern, it seems . . . was overrun with monsters . . . they're saying . . . they're saying . . ." the king coughed and blood splattered across my chest. I took no notice. "They're saying it's a mad spirit . . . spirit of Ganondorf . . . so say the farmers . . ."

I nodded. "I've heard. Do you think it really is?"

The king of Calatia looked at me sternly. "I am certain it is he . . . We were attacked by monsters . . . from beyond death . . . No mortal could have done this . . ."

I had feared as much.

Coming back to reality, I roll my shoulders and feel my back pop. Riding horseback has never agreed with me; I always find myself completely stiff after only a mile or two.

My company is small, setting out for Rikern. We are led by Link on a chocolate colored stallion with a black mane. The horse is still very young and loves to show off whenever possible. I have not had a chance to ask what happened to Epona, Link's favorite horse, but I guess she must have died by now. She was getting pretty old.

I follow Link on a white palomino, one arm holding the reins, the other around Fayona's waist, holding her in front of me. I hadn't originally planned to take Fayona, but the night before we left, I dreamt a terrible vision in which I was holding her out in the sunlight, but Fayona turned into a black demon and turned on me. I doubt Fayona is really a demon, but the symbolism of the dream was that Fayona had something to do with my task.

Taekorra rides on my right on a jet black mare. His face is turned down in a frown and he hasn't spoken since me set out. We argued for a good hour this morning on the subject of bringing Fayona along. I finally ended it by saying it was up to the parents and parents only to decide what's best for Fayona. As Fayona was in the room at the time, Taekorra did not argue his paternal rights, but accepted my decision with a bow and murmured, "Your Majesty."

"We'll be to Rikern very soon, Your Highness," Link shouts back. On the horizon I can see a cluster of little buildings slowly drawing near.

I have not figured out yet why Link chose to come. He hates me more than any one thing in Hyrule, he detests Taekorra just about as much, and would never leave his wife alone unless he had very good reason. However, I don't question him on the point.

The sun is about to set when we reach the town. I look around, fear beginning to solidify in the pit of my stomach. The clusters of buildings are washed in the beginnings of sunset, creating a picturesque vision of the city. However, while normally at this time, people would be bustling about the market with last minute errands, today the streets are empty. There are no people hurrying home, not merchants packing away wares for another day, no signs of life whatsoever.

I shudder and look around. "Where is everybody?"

Taekorra shrugs.

Link scans the area warily. I notice his hand lingering near his back, where an elegant sword has been strapped. I squint my eyes to get a better look at it. The sword he's carrying is the Master Sword. Then it hits me and I realize something must be terribly wrong. Link would not draw the Master Sword from the Temple of Time if he did not expect the fight of his life.

"Is there an inn somewhere?" Taekorra asks. "We should find a place to stay for the night and continue on in the morning."

Link nods. He nudges his stallion in the stomach and makes his way down the street. Taekorra and I follow, all of us moving without a word.

And like a castle in the sand,
It had to fall apart . . .

Indeed there is an inn. It is a rather large building with two stories and made from logs and white plaster. The structure, known as the White Corn Inn, doesn't look very sturdy to me, but there is no where else to stay in Rikern. Reluctantly, I dismount and lead my horse to the stables. As I expected, there is no groom on duty, but half a dozen horses hear me come in and nicker softly as I lead my palomino to a stall and tie her.

Taekorra meets me back outside. "How are you?" he asks. There is an odd look on his face. I think it is worry, but I have never seen Taekorra worried, so the expression is new.

"I'm all right," I answer, walking back to the front of the inn. "Is something wrong?"

"Huh?" Taekorra''s attention returns to me, as if it had been wandering. I frown. "Oh." He looks at Fayona, who yawns. "Nothing."

I don't believe him, but say nothing. He pushes open the door and we enter. Inside the inn are a crowd of noisy people. Their calls and drunken laughter seep from the tavern to the reception desk. I am slightly surprised to see them. After the deserted streets, I had expected to find the inn just as empty. However, it appears that the townsfolk come inside after the sun begins to set.

Link is already at the desk, waiting. Behind it stands a woman with white-blonde hair, almost the color of mine, and golden brown eyes. She smiles. "Can I help you?"

"We three rooms for the night," answers Link.

"I'm sorry, we only have two left," she replies.

Link looks back at Taekorra and me. We stare at him pointedly, waiting. Link sighs. "We'll take them," he says.

The woman hands him two keys. Link tosses one to Taekorra. We silently decide who will sleep where. I will take a room with Fayona and Taekorra, Link will be by himself. He obviously wants to be as far away from me as possible.

I shift Fayona's weight in my arms and follow the two men up the stairs. Our room is seven. Taekorra unlocks the door and pushes it. It creaks open to reveal a modestly furnished interior. There are two beds, a small wardrobe with a chest of drawers, several chairs, and a dirty window. The room smells musty, like it hasn't been used in quite some time.

I set Fayona on the bed nearest the door and sit down next to her. Taekorra throws his haversack and staff onto a chair and collapses into the other bed. Neither of us is hungry and Fayona is nodding off on my shoulder. I turn down the blankets, lay Fayona within them, and make my way to the other side.

Taekorra props himself up on his elbows and looks over at me. "How are you?" he asks again.

"No different from the last time you asked me," I reply.

Taekorra looks away, out the smudged window. "Have you thought about what you are going to do tomorrow?"

I remain silent. I have been thinking about it the entire day, but I still have no solution. The last time I faced Ganondorf, I had the power of the Triforce aiding me. Now, I have nothing. Once I commanded very powerful magic, the way Taekorra does now. But, over the years, it has dwindled into nothing.

"Yes," I lie. "I have a plan."

"What is it?"

There is a wry smile on Taekorra's face. Damn. He knows me too well.

"I'm going to . . . bind him . . ." I say, thinking fast and hoping he will buy it. "Using an old spell I know . . ."

He doesn't. "Bind him to what?"

I look hurriedly around me. There is a small bedside table between mine and Taekorra's beds. It's covered in dust and little else, but on the surface is an old crystal hand mirror. I grab it.

"This." I hold it up and blow the dust off it. It gleams and winks at me with reflected lamplight.

"A mirror," Taekorra says skeptically. "You think that little mirror will hold Ganondorf?"

"It's worth a try," I reply. "Besides,"I add on afterthought, "what else can we do?"

You made me laugh,
You gave me hope . . .

This time it's Taekorra who's on the spot. "I don't know . . ." He turns away from the window and looks down at the musty comforter atop his bed. "I don't know . . . I hardly understand why we're here."

"Link seemed to have reason to believe something wrong was happening," I say.

"Speaking of Link," Taekorra suddenly begins, "why did he come? This doesn't directly affect him or his family—and it isn't like he's suddenly become the honorable hero you think of him."

"I—what?" I demand. "You think I see him as that?"

"Perhaps."

My eyes narrow. He's hit my soft spot and he knows it. "For your information, I haven't thought that since I was young. I was very naïve when that happened and I know better now."

He sits up on his bed, facing me, and props his chin on his hands. "Your mind might tell you that but your heart says otherwise."

"And how would you know?" I retort sharply. "How in seven ages could you possibly know what my heart desires?"

"Zelda, you're far to obvious. I saw the way you watched him as we rode today. It's the same way you've looked at him since I brought you back, and probably before as well." Taekorra studies me. "Even after everything he's put you through, you still love him."

I say nothing. How dare he presume to know anything about my love? How can he even think I still feel that way about Link? But then . . . no matter how many times I tell myself I don't love him, every time I see his face, every time the thought of him crosses my mind, I can feel my heart swoon uncontrollably. I can't admit I don't love Link because, much as I tell myself I don't, I do. But I won't give Taekorra the satisfaction of knowing he is right.

"Why do you even care?" I ask. "You never have before."

"I have,"he replies, "but it's you who does not care. Do you ever wonder why my marriage to Myani never worked out? Successful marriage cannot exist if one person is in love with someone else. I've never loved Myani and never will. She knows this as well as I do. And so do you."

"You had your chance once though," I bring up, "when I was first pregnant with Fayona. I offered you a place with me, but you didn't take it. You're a stubborn ass, Taekorra. It isn't that you love me, it's that you have never met someone you couldn't control. You just think of me as an obstacle—once I succumb to you and admit my love, you'll lose interest. I've seen your type before."

"That is a complete lie and you know it," Taekorra snaps. "I am not—I never will be—anything like that! Goddesses, you are so afraid of being happy you don't allow yourself feel so. I swear, Ganondorf took the best of you with him."

I leap to my feet and slap him, striking sharply with the back of my hand across his right cheek. "How dare you even say that!"

I try to hit him again, but he grabs both of my wrists. I squirm against his tight grasp, trying in desperation to free myself. "Because I'm right," he answers.

I continue to struggle and he pulls my arms, dragging me from my perch on my bed down on top of him. My legs flail and I try to get up, only to be held in place by my wrists.

"Let me go!" I hiss. "Let me go!"

His grip never loosens.

"Damn it, Zelda, you are going to listen to me and listen good," he says in such a commanding voice that I cannot argue. "If this is the only way to get you to do so, then so be it. I have never, ever loved anyone in my entire life, until I met you. For nearly thirteen years, I have waited, hoping and praying you would let me into your life, but not for one second did you ever, in your longing for that Link, notice me. I thought, perhaps, if I got away from you and married another, my feelings would disappear and I would be free of you, but I was wrong. You can't ignore true love, Zelda, you can't. I truly love you and if I must wait forever for you to return my feelings, then goddesses damn me to an eternal wait."

By now I've stopped moving. Hot tears fill my eyes and I relax, dropping pitifully onto him and weeping quietly into his chest. He frees my wrists and I can feel his hands, comforting not restraining, touch my back. No words are necessary, not even to apologize. He knows.

The sun sets and twilight fills the room, but still we stay in our embrace. The sky outside is utterly black, starless, and our room seems even more so, but neither I nor Taekorra make any move. The night passes and I stay, clutched in his warm, loving, loyal arms, feeling something I had never felt before. Can this be love? Or is it a repercussion of longings I have always felt? Even after what he said to me, I am still confused. Do I love Taekorra . . . ? I think I do, but there still something in my heart that screams I love Link.

It's over now . . .

Dawn washes over our room, lulling me out of my pleasant rest. I lift my head and look around. Taekorra and Fayona—to my surprise—are still sleeping. I shift his arms and writhe out of his embrace. A place on my cheek is imprinted with the coarse fabric of his tunic. I rub it off-handedly as I yawn and look for my slippers.

After attempting to make myself look less bedraggled, I quietly open the creaking door and sneak downstairs, hoping there might be some breakfast at this derelict inn. The tavern is empty, save for a scruffy old man passed out beneath one of the tables, and the entire place smells of stale liquor and sweat. I refrain from holding my nose as I spot Link sitting at a table in the corner. Feeling my heart begin to pound, I walk over to him and sit down.

For a moment, he looks up and a slightly surprised look crosses his face. But it's gone in a split second and he turns back to staring at the wall.

"Is there anything to eat here?" I ask him, trying to make conversation. I feel so awkward being alone around Link, but for some reason, I really feel like I should talk to him.

Link shrugs.

I shift uncomfortably. "So, how long have you been up?"

He shrugs again.

I can feel my patience begin to drain. Here I am trying to be polite to him and all he does is ignore me. There is only so much of that I can take, especially from Link.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, somewhat sharply.

Guess what he does.

"You can't just keep ignoring me," I said, bristling.

Wonder upon wonders, he responds. "Watch me."

Great. Just what I wanted to hear.

I fold my arms. "You have to have some reason for coming all the way to Calatia. You wouldn't leave your precious Malon without a good reason. Especially to go anywhere with me."

"Leave her out of this," he retorts simply.

He's holding his temper a lot better than I am mine. "Explain," I demand in my most regal voice.

It, however, makes no difference. "You'll find out later."

I sigh and give up, slumping back in my chair. You just can't talk to Link. Fortunately, I don't have to be alone in his company very long, as Taekorra, carrying Fayona, enters the tavern and sits down with us. No words are exchanged between he and myself and I doubt Link even noticed he's here. Most of the breakfast—which consisted of what I think was porridge, but am still doubtful—conversation was an energetic monologue from Fayona about this "weawy stinky pwace".

At the end of the meal, I hold my daughter on my lap, listening to her complain about a rather large cockroach she saw on the floor when she woke up, Link stands and speaks to us at last.

"We should get ready," he says.

No one has to ask what he's talking about. Even Fayona has gone quiet. She seems to be able to sense that something big is happening. I still don't like having to have brought her, but my visions are rarely wrong. Yet, as I return to my room, a lump of worry lodges itself snugly in my throat.

Our happiness went up in smoke,
It's over now . . .

Outside, the streets of Rikern are still abandoned. Only Link, Taekorra, Fayona, and I are out. The sun is high in the sky and we have just left the inn. Link has drawn his Master Sword and holds it out defensively. Taekorra has his staff and I can hear him muttering spells under his breath. I hold Fayona tightly in my arms. The crystal mirror from the room is in my left pocket. The more I thought about it, the more the idea of imprisoning Ganondorf within it sounded probable.

"How are we going to find him?" I ask. No one answers. Apparently no one has thought up to this part yet.

As if on cue, dark clouds begin to cluster and the sun is blocked from view. A shrill wind gusts past, tossing my skirt torrentially. Link and Taekorra suddenly look more alert.

"I don't think we'll have to," says Link.

Somewhere very close to me, I hear a cold whisper. "Oh, Zelda . . ."

Oh dear goddesses, how I know that voice! I look around wildly, but I can see neither Ganondorf nor an outlet from where his voice could have come.

That horrible, rumbling laugh that sends chills down my spine no matter how many times I hear it, echoes all around me, emanating from just to my left. I look, but it isn't a vision of my tormentor that I find, but Fayona, her eyes, normally wide and innocent, narrowed and filled with coldness. Frozen fire burns in her eyes, driving into the back of my skull with a haunting look I have not seen for many long years.

I scream and cannot help dropping Fayona to the ground. Any other two-year-old would have burst into tears and hysteric screams, as I was doing now, but not a child possessed by the essence of evil. Fayona merely sits up and turns to face me, that haunting look on her face gleaming in a flash of lightning.

"Well, well, well . . ." Fayona's voice sounds so unfamiliar. "Queen Zelda." She laughs. "Hmmm, I think perhaps I should bow. That would be the proper thing to do when meeting the queen, wouldn't it?"

I back away, bumping into Taekorra. He wraps one free arm around my waist, holding his silvery staff out in front of us defensively. Fayona laughs Ganondorf's low laugh. "Ah, Taekorra. Still hanging around Her Royal Highness, I see. Have the years been good to the two of you?"

We don't answer.

Fayona looks down at herself, examining every angle as if only seeing it for the first time. In a way, I suppose this is true. "If I didn't know better, I'd say so."

Taekorra is the only one with enough courage to speak. "That has nothing to do with you."

Fayona laughs again. "Of course it does, you fool. I have everything to do with everything." Fayona leers at us. Taekorra glowers. Her grin widens at the sight of his reaction. I turn and bury my head in the fabric of his vest. How can he stand to see our beautiful daughter looking like that? The image of her burns in my mind.

"Poor little Zelda," Fayona taunts. "It hurts you so much. Perhaps this is what our daughter could have looked like."

My eyebrows draw together and tears stream down my cheeks as I clutch Taekorra more tightly.

"You don't like that thought, do you, Zelda dear?"

"What do you want?" Taekorra demands, gritting his teeth and glaring down at Fayona.

"I would think you'd know by now." She is still smiling.

"Zelda banished you from this world," Taekorra states. "There is no way you can take control of the Triforce without a body in this world."

"I don't think that will be much of a problem," Fayona replies. To emphasize her point, she pushes herself to her feet. "As you see, the Dark Void has very few limits on my power."

Maybe I'm the next best thing to happen,
All the things we might have been . . .

"So what's stopping you," Taekorra asks, "from just possessing someone and taking the Triforce for yourself? If you have so much power, I doubt this would be very difficult to accomplish."

"Oh, you know," Fayona says, feigning a tired voice and waving a hand idly. "It doesn't work very well when I try to take it." Her eyes shift to me. I turn and meet them, somehow feeling strong. "But if someone with a heart in balance were to get it for me . . ."

"Why not use Fayona, then?" Taekorra queries almost casually. What in Hyrule is he doing? He's acting as if he were still sided with Ganondorf . . . And then it hits me. Perhaps he never actually became good. Perhaps he was always a loyal supporter of the Evil King, biding his time feigning loyalty to me in wait for Ganondorf to return to power. Suddenly, I'm not sure of anything anymore.

"Your daughter certainly is an ideal individual to gain the whole Triforce, but if I tried to use her, my own qualities would show through when I tried to touch it. You know what happens from there."

"What do you want with us then?"

Fayona grins again. "Zelda will get the Triforce for me, won't you, dear?"

I look at her, feeling slightly confused. What is he talking about? "What?" My mind was other places while Taekorra and Ganondorf conversed, wondering about everything that has happened between Taekorra and I.

Fayona frowns. Ganondorf doesn't like to be ignored. His passion is being the center of everything, thus his desire to rule the world. Just one more ego to crush. Between he and Link, I've had as muchnarcissism as I can handle. Thank the goddesses Taekorra is not full of himself. But, maybe he actually is and that is just another lie. Great, now I'm really confused. I don't have much time to think about it when Fayona answers.

"I want you to bring me the Triforce," she repeats impatiently.

"Why," I ask, feeling very brave all of a sudden—or maybe just very stupid, "would I want to do that?"

Her twisted smile returns. "Do you love your daughter?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't want anything to happen to her?"

"No."

"Then you should cooperate." Fayona is no longer smiling. Her round face is turned down in a serious frown. "I can easily leave her body and suck her soul out with me."

Maybe I'm the next best thing to happen,
All the things we might have been . . .

"Are you sure you want to do this, Zelda?" Taekorra asks me for the hundredth time.

We—Taekorra, Link, and I—are standing several meters from Fayona, who has her arms crossed looking very impatient.

"Yes." I answer impatiently. All my fear has drained away and all that's left is an angry, throbbing rage. Must be motherly instincts, for the thought of Fayona in trouble makes my fears of Ganondorf look humorous.

I had told Ganondorf I needed to talk to the others before I made any decision. He did not seem to happy about this, but he tolerated it. I don't think he had much a choice. This is probably his last shot at the Triforce.

"I want to fight him," I say again. "I must fight him. I'll never be over what happened to me if I don't get some kind of closure."

"What if he kills you?" Taekorra asks concernedly.

"Then it will beover at last." My eyes narrow. "It was your meddling that brought me back to hell last time. This time, if I die, I want to stay dead!"

Taekorra doesn't appreciate the accusatory humor.

"Link . . ." I turn to him, the Hero of Time, my torment and true love, feeling none of these things anymore. "I need your help."

He nods.

"Ganondorf is in the Dark Void. That was where I banished him last. I cannot fight him here—I must be there." My voice is calm and grave. "Can you send me there?"

"Yes."

"Then that's it," I decide. "I'll go, find Ganondorf, and get rid of him for good."

"How, may I ask, do you plan to accomplish that?" Taekorra asks sadistically. I can tell he's worried—he always turns cynical when he is most concerned.

I pull the mirror from my pocket. "I told you, I can seal him in this. And if he proves to strong for me, I know a spell that send us both to the farthest regions of oblivion."

"I'm coming too," he says in a no-argument tone.

I cross my arms and counter, "No, you aren't."

"Why not?" he demands, facing me.

"What help could you possibly be? This is between me and Ganondorf—it has nothing to do with you. I need to settle this on my own."

His eyes narrow. "I could probably do more good than you."

"I doubt it, and even if I did believe it, I still wouldn't let you. This is my fight and my fight alone," I say, ending the conversation. I turn back to Link. "Help me."

There's no argument on his part. If I want to die, what reason does he have to stop me? He closes his eyes and holds out the Master Sword, both hands gripped tightly at the hilt, the razor point just touching the dusty ground. Slowly, a pale blue glow spreads from the end of the blade to the tip. I can hear the power of Time resonating within it. Without opening his eyes, Link raises the sword and points the tip directly at my heart. He murmurs a few words in Ancient Hylian and everything goes black.

Maybe I'm the next best thing to happen,
All the things we might have been . . .

I spin dizzyingly in wild, tight circles, spiraling out of control from Hyrule to the Dark Void. I can do nothing except pray and try to keep my stomach down. Finally, after what seems like eternity, I feel my feet tip out from under me and hit something solid.

For a minute, I think I'm standing upside down. Didn't I just flip over? I open one eye and find everything is right-side up. I open the other and take a good look at my surroundings. The Dark Void doesn't look like anything. All I can see is blackness, dusted with tiny stars, like I'm in space. I look down at my feet and find I'm not standing on solid ground like I thought, but nothing.

"Zelda . . ."

Ganondorf's voice comes from everywhere and nowhere, echoing around me as if I were in a tiny room. Suddenly, he appears before me, looking just the way I remember him.

He folds his arms thoughtfully, shifting his weight to one leg. "I never thought you of all people would come willingly to my humble abode."

I put my hands on my hips and glower. "Certainly didn't expect it, did you?"

"Now that you mention it, I didn't."He shrugs. "But that's life for you—full of unexpected little twists."

I pick up on the hidden message without trouble. Link, Taekorra, Fayona, all strange twists of Fate thrown into my life. Link—who turned out to be the traitor I never thought he could be, Taekorra—whose true intentions still seem unclear to me, and Fayona—the only real pleasure in my life, brought into it by a mistake.

"Like this."

"Yes . . ." Ganondorf rubs his chin. "Speaking of this, what are you doing here?" I can't tell if he's sincere or not.

"You have something that belongs to me."

He smiles. "Oh, that's right, I do." He snaps his fingers and Fayona appears, dangling in midair like a limp doll.

"Fayona!" I shout. I lunge for her, but just before my fingers can touch her pale skin, she disappears, and I fall into Ganondorf.

He snickers twistedly, looking down at me. I push myself off and back away slowly. "Zelda, I didn't know you still felt that way," he jeers with a wry smile. "Why, I'd have done this ages ago if I had."

"Damn you," I mutter under my breath. "I wish you would just fucking die."

"Die?"He can hear me. "Dear, that's harsh."

I fold my arms impatiently. "Harsh? Ha! That has to be the most foolish thing I've ever heard."

"I suspect you came here to kill me then," Ganondorf says idly. We could be having tea for how he's taking this.

"No, I haven't."

Ganondorf raises an eyebrow. I can see my statement has taken him by surprise. Now's my chance—I have him off guard.

"Have you ever heard of a fate worse than death?" I ask casually. My left hand discreetly moves toward my pocket and the mirror.

"Fate worse than death?" Ganondorf looks slightly amused. "Such as?"

In that moment, we both act. I whip the mirror out of my pocket and thrust it outward, the reflective surface aimed at Ganondorf. The King of Evil raises his hands above his head and yells a few strange words, gathering black lightning between his palms.

"Epmreusmnitn lautt!" I scream.

"Phyráes fu Ruiwpe!" Ganondorf cries simultaneously. What happened next will amaze me forever.

Ganondorf's sparking curse crackles and rockets from his hands. I close my eyes and shrink away somewhat, but keep the mirror erect. The blast crashes, not into me, but the smooth surface of the mirror, creating a shock that reverberates throughout my entire body down to the bone. Instead of just disappearing like I expect, it ricochets off, and shoots straight back at its creator.

Ganondorf, taken completely by surprise, is struck with full force at the center of his chest. The power rushes through his body and he freezes, paralyzed from the shock waves. It's my moment.

I straighten and scream, "Epmreusmnitn lautt! Epmreusmnitn lautt!"

A bolt of white light erupts from the mirror's surface, shooting directly to my stunned adversary. Ganondorf can't even move to scream as the light hits him. The bolt becomes a beam, shooting from the mirror, then changing and becoming black, reversing on itself and coming back to me. The black light filters into the mirror with a whistle and is gone, Ganondorf with it.

I stand, shocked for a moment, then lower the mirror and stare at it. It looks just the same as it did the first time I picked it up, crystal clear and chipped in one corner. But when I tilt it to a certain angle, I see not my reflection staring out at me, but the image of Ganondorf, trapped inside.

The swirling whirls of Time's power pull me from the Dark Void and I find myself back in Rikern, standing in the road as if I'd never left, between Taekorra and Link. Over Link's shoulder, I see Fayona collapse in a heap. I shove the hero aside and dive for my daughter.

"Fayona . . .?" I ask softly. "Faye . . .?"

Her ruby eyes slowly flutter open and I see they are filled with Ganondorf's evil no longer. "Mama?"

"Oh, Faye!" I hug her to my chest tightly. Tears flow freely down my cheeks. "Oh, Faye!"

Behind me I hear footsteps and turn to see Taekorra coming slowly to me. "You did it . . .?"

His words are sincere. They say everything I need to know. Taekorra never has been, never was, and never will be, loyal to Ganondorf. He truly loves me. I look behind him and see Link, but nothing happens. No fluttering of my heart, no sudden fleeting images of him, no sighs of longing.

I turn back to Taekorra and draw in a sharp breath. In his sparkling eyes I can see the things I always wanted from Link. Love, loyalty, and undying desire. For me. I feel myself swoon and I pull him with one arm into a passionate kiss. "I love you," I whisper in his ear.

Taekorra leans back with mixed feelings of shock, relief, and supreme joy spreading across his face. "What did you do?" he manages to ask. Clearly, my sudden change has taken him as much by surprise as it did me.

"I imprisoned him," I reply, pulling the crystal mirror from my pocket. Dusty light catches it and I can see Ganondorf. For the first time in my life, his image inspires no fear in me. I have fought and beaten him. He has no hold over me anymore.

"He'll be in there for all of time, leering out at me," I say, mostly to myself, "but this time, I have the last laugh."

Maybe I'm the next best thing to happen,
All the things we might have been . . .

THE END.