DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess or any of it's characters.

If you have read this Story before I HIGHLY suggest re-reading this chapter because it has, in fact, been re-written and thus is almost entirely new material!

Takes place 3 years after the game's end

This chapter USED to be called "Deception," but in light of it being re-written I have changed it...

Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy :)

Where Loyalty Lies

Loyalty...

Three men, hidden by the darkness of the unlit corridor, quickly scurried into a corner, pulling their dark cloaks tighter around themselves to help stave off the death like cold that had filled the castle that night.

Is a funny thing...

"Were any of you followed?" One asked as he rubbed his hands together in a half-assed attempt to regain some feeling in them.

Those who swear to have it...

The hands of an unseen clock struck midnight and happily declared the fact, not caring who or what it disturbed in the process. The men jumped in surprise before falling into muffled laughter, bemused by their reaction.

Often lose it...

"Of course not," A second declared, his voice a bit louder than he'd intended. All those years of raising his voice to be heard over his fellow councilmen was proving to be a bad habit this night. It had almost resulted in him blowing his cover as he sneaked out to attend their secret meeting.

When the odds no longer prove to be in their favor...

"Do you want to be caught?" The third man demanded as he clamped a hand over his acquaintance's mouth, he himself straining to keep his voice low. "What we're doing here tonight counts as high treason. If we're caught our heads will roll and our bodies will be strung up and used as training dummies for the queen's personal guard."

The first man cleared his throat to regain the other two's attention. He stroked his beard, something he only did while nervous, and cleared his throat one more. "We must make haste, friends. Explaining why we've rendezvoused in a place such as this at this hour will prove difficult should anyone walk up on us and we'll not receive another opportunity to meet up like this again any time soon."

The other men nodded in understanding before stepping closer to better hear the soft spoken man. He glanced around as if to confirm none of them had been followed before he began.

"As we all know, her majesty has flat out refused to wed any of the suitors we the council have suggested over the past couple years. It was... understandable at first, seeing as all she'd gone through, but now... Now there is absolutely no excuse to prolong her getting married and presenting us with a proper king and heir. If I didn't know better I'd say she's doing it in spite of us." He paused, casting his acquaintances an irritated look. "I, for one, am sick and tired of be ruled over by a woman."

"I second that. Women lack the traits we men have as natural leaders. She'll run our beautiful country into the ground if left to her own devices, but... What can we do about it?"

"We could always... You know..." The second man cocked his lip up as he used his finger to make a slicing motion against his throat. The glint in his eyes was nothing short of disturbing.

The third man inhaled sharply, ignoring the ache caused by the sudden rush of cold air into his lungs. "Have you gone mad?! If we get caught trying to-"

"If, my friend. If."

They fell into a momentary silence as the contemplated the idea. Smirks filled with malice played across their aged lips as the second man elaborated on what exactly he had in store for the queen, not even vaguely aware that someone was listening in on them. The eavesdropper made herself known just as he'd finished suggesting that they receive help from the queen's cousin, the Sunscorgian prince who'd had his birth right ripped from him by his own father.

"How dare you even suggest such things!" Impa roared as she charged towards them, as swift and lethal as a lioness on a hunt.

The men, with barely a moment of hesitation, darted out of a window that had been conveniently left open. The warrior made to follow, but stopped upon realizing on the other side was a sheer drop. She immediately looked down, her ancestry allowing her to see fairly well in the pitch dark, and then to the left and then to the right. She frowned in confusion. There was absolutely no where they could've gone but down after jumping, so where the hell had they gone?

She swore loudly as she lowered herself back into the abandoned corridor and made to leave, pausing just long enough to close and lock the window to prevent an easy way back into the castle. She ran a hand through her hair as she ran towards the queens chambers. She didn't so much as knock as she entered. She shouted the queens name to rouse her, her tone accidentally coming out as questioning as she noticed someone else in her majesty's bed.

Zelda sat up slowly, a groan reverberating from deep within her as she shot the nursemaid gone bodyguard a look. The hero sleeping beside her, on the other hand, didn't so much as budge at the woman's intrusion. "The moon had better be falling out of the sky," she grumbled as she rubbed her eye with the heel of her hand.

"Your life may very well be in danger" Impa informed her, casting yet another look at Link, resisting the urge to ask about his presence in the queens bed.

"What makes you so sure this time," the groggy queen drawled, tracing the sheikah's gaze and blushing. "Oh! Uh... It's... It's not how it looks. I swear it isn't. It's just that..." She paused, breathing slowly to calm herself. Her blush faded a little. "After the kingdom was purged of the twilight I had such horrible nightmares and he... His presence calms me."

Her gaze shot upwards as she heard Impa sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're a grown woman, Zelda. What you do behind closed doors is your business." Zelda made an indigent noise at the implication. "Even if it's nothing. Don't feel so obligated to explain your personal life to others."

Zelda's blush returned full force, but she nodded in agreement.

"Now then, as I was saying," Impa started, regaining Zelda's attention. "This is no false alarm. I happened to stumble across a group of men in the west wing who where discussing possible ways of replacing you with Prince Alfred."

"Your kidding," Zelda said, suddenly feeling wide awake.

"I wish I was."

There was a pregnant pause before Zelda stated matter-of-factly, "They got away."

Impa's face flushed with shame at her failure to apprehend the men. "They jumped out of a window and just... Vanished. My guess is that they're spell casters."

"I see," Zelda muttered as she folded her hands neatly on her lap. She attempted to swallow the lump forming in her throat, nearly choking on it as she glanced at Link. She had no doubts that he'd throw himself between her the oncoming threat should the situation call for it, which was the last thing she wanted.

As if sensing her thoughts, Impa smiled solemnly at the queen before dismissing herself. "I'll be right outside should you need me. Get some sleep." And with that, they were alone.

Zelda pulled Link's sleeping form closer to her as she slid back under the thick covers, cradling his head against her chest. She released a shaky breath as she buried her face into his golden locks, wishing- No. Begging the goddesses not to let any harm come to him. Sleep did not come easy and when it did come it was filled with nightmares of her beloved hero dying in her arms.

A/N: Sorry for not updating this story in literally forever and that my first update is a we-write ^^;

Anyhoo, Feel free to review!

Reviews = Motivation

Motivation = Faster updates

IMPA: * emerges from the shadows * Review...