Chapter 34

I shouldn't have trusted you

I gulped. Could I do it?

My hands are shaking. Just do it already! He'll be back any time soon!

I gripped the bottle tighter and poured a decent amount of the potion in the drink. It said four drops to send someone asleep for an hour without waking, so I put in eight just in case. I just hoped there wasn't an overdose warning.

I heard rustling in the bathroom. Putting the cork back on the bottle and stashing it away out of sight, I returned to the two drinks, and picked them both up.

Today had been such a drag. Fighting the zora townsfolk was just work, and Vaati wasn't particularly letting me do much, as he didn't need me there at all. Although, it was better than sitting in a prison/bedroom all day like a grounded little kid.

I jumped a little when Vaati opened the door, and walked back over to me seeing the two drinks in my hands. I gave him a sickly sweet smile, and passed him the drugged cup. "A victory glass for the king of hyrule."

He took my offered drink and clinked it with mine. Sighing with a smile on his face, he said, "How satisfying that sounds! King of hyrule..." He took a swig of his drink, and as did I with mine. "That brings me to the question of our relationship, Violet. Soon you shall be my queen, and when that happens- well I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."

I raised an eye brow. "You haven't even proposed to me yet."

Vaati finished off his drink, and placed the empty cup on the desk. "Ah, but I will do soon. I could get you..." He then wrapped his arms around me. "...At any time of day or night!" He whispered in my ear, forcing me to laugh as his breath tickled.

"Oh please, you're hardly the surprising type." I batted his hands off, and turned when I felt him slump a little. "Vaati, are you okay?" He nodded hazily, and I guided him over to his bed. Did it really work that fast? It was magic after all.

"I just...feel tired...is all." He replied whilst I pushed him down to sit on the bed.

"Really? Then you should rest then. After such a long day, you need it." He gave a little yawn, and then flopped back, asleep. I sighed. "Oh Vaati, you make this too easy." I tutted, and then walked over to Vaati's desk and took out his set of keys for the castle. I gripped them in a fist, and left the chambers with a stride. I would get this over and done with, and then Vaati and I would be happy. Or at least I would, anyway.

It took me half an hour to reach the dungeons because I had to dodge all the security, find my way and replace the potion in Vaati's study. In the end though I found the tapestry which hid the dungeons, and unlocked the door behind it. The same familiar musty smell surrounded me as I walked down the stairs in darkness.

God, I hope nothing jumps out at me. I could hardly see anything, and I was suspicious that the floor would suddenly give way underneath me. I was relieved when I felt the walls open out, and then moonlight shone in through the slits in the walls of the prison.

"Jasmine? Raven? You there?" I asked, nervous that something else might reply.

A sudden movement cased shackles to clink. "Violet! You came back!" That was Raven. I ran over to their cell and quickly tried out all the keys until the door imprisoning them opened. I gripped them both in a tight hug, then started too unlock their shackles with the same key, and then put them in my pocket.

"Guys I haven't got long. Vaati's sleeping so you're gonna have to be quick." I then stepped out of the cell and moved up the stairs, the others following. I stopped when I didn't hear their footsteps, and then I turned around to face them.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I saw the worried looks on their faces and started walking back down the stairs.

Jasmine moved forward a step. "You are coming with us, right?" She raised an eyebrow and I gulped and shuffled back a step.

I couldn't meet their eyes. What I hadn't anticipated through all my planning was letting my friends walk away. Vaati didn't go down to the dungeons enough to immediately realise that they'd gone, but if I went missing even for an hour he'd send out a search party. I was too dangerous to be with my friends.

"I'm sorry…" I turned away, hiding behind my face behind my hair. Who knew this would be that hard?

Suddenly Raven ran up the stairs and before I knew it her arms were wrapped around me in a tight hug, and I had to hold onto the rail to stop me from falling. Raven buried her head in my shoulder.

"We can't leave you here, Violet. Not when we just got back together."

I smiled. "Now don't do that, or you'll make me cry. Come on, I'll catch up with you in the end, it's just that I've got to smooth this over with time." I then pushed her back a little so I could look her square in the eyes. "Don't think that I want to leave you, but I don't want to leave Vaati either. If I go, then he'll follow me and catch us. That's why he gave me the tattoo." I pulled back my hair to show them. "Please understand, and take this chance to escape, as there won't be another." Raven then let go, and took a step back.

Jasmine walked up the stairs, and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I think you're making a mistake, but it's your choice, I guess."

I shrugged, and gave them a confident smile. "Since when did I ever make the right choice?"

We all gave a small laugh, a slightly awkward silence following after. "Well," Jasmine concluded, "We'd better go then." We all walked up the stairs in silence, and lead them to a window that overlooked the roof.

"Here." I passed each of them my fans, and they looked up at me, surprised. "You'll need this to escape."

"But, Vaati gave you these..." Raven muttered.

"Don't worry, she has her own magic she can use." Jasmine reassured, patting Raven on the back.

I hesitated. "Not anymore. See this necklace?" I lifted the red jem from my neck. "Vaati tricked me into wearing it, and now I can't use my magic, which means I can't escape. That's also another reason why I can't come with you, because I won't be able to protect you."

I saw the anger well up ion Jasmine, and I took a step back when she threw her arms around me, almost knocking me over. "That bastard!" She hissed in my ear. "You shouldn't let him get away with that!" Before I could reply, she let go and jumped out the window, onto the roof. "Come on Raven, we can't waste time." Raven gave me an apologetic smile, and followed her. They both looked up at me through the window, and waved goodbye before they ran off.

I watched them go, not sure weather to be happy or sad. When would I see them again? Sighing, I closed the window and made it back up to Vaati's chambers.

I quietly crept back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me with a low thud. I looked over at the sleeping Vaati, and relaxed. All was going to plan.

I walked over to his desk and opened the draw where I had got the dungeon keys from. But as I reached into my pocket to retrieve the keys, I froze. There was nothing in there.

"What?" I hissed, turning my both my pockets inside out but finding no keys. I barely heard Vaati shift in his sleep over the sound of my hammering heart. I slowly shut the draw, and walked out onto the balcony as quietly as possible. Did I drop them? No, I would have noticed. Leave them in the prison? No way, I definitely remember putting them in my pocket.

I halted.

"Perhaps..." I thought out loud. I gasped. Did Raven and Jasmine take it? But at what point could they get close enough to do so? I then remembered both Raven and Jasmine hugging me. Would they dare?

I tried to control my rage, not wanting to be quick to judge. There was always a chance that I dropped the keys, and if Vaati comes to nag me about it, I can always blame him for dropping them.

I walked to the balcony's edge, and looked out over all of hyrule. I didn't want to make the trek all the way back to the prisons, and anyways, if a guard found out the prisoners were gone and also happened to find me wandering about...

I would just have to watch how things unravel. I moved back into the room, and sat down beside him. Soon he would wake up, as ignorant as he could be. I don't know how long I sat there, looking at him, but before I knew it he was opening his eyes.

"Hey, hey Vaati" For a few seconds there was no response, but then his eyes slowly shifted to me, and I watched how it took him a while to take in his surroundings. "Nice to see that you're awake." At that he sat up and put a hand to his head.

"What time is it?" He asked.

I turned round to look at the old clock in the room. "Five past nine." Wow, I really did watch him for a while.

"What?" He asked suddenly wide awake. "I was asleep for that long? Are you sure?"

"Positive. I watched you the whole time you know, and you looked so cute in your sleep!" I laughed, trying to ease the situation under control. I was just about to continue when there was a sudden knock on the door. We both looked over, hearing the person on the other side proclaim he had urgent news.

"Who the hell-" Vaati muttered, and made to get up. I pushed him back down, saying that I would get the door.

I walked over and opened it, knowing what was about to happen. It was Shadow Link on the other side, and he seemed out of breath, like he had run here.

"Violet!" he gasped. "The prisoners-they've escaped!"

I gasped, and turned to Vaati. "Did you hear that?" He took a while to walk over to me, still tired, and demanded more information form Shadow when he got to the door.

"All of them- the heroes and the maidens have escaped! I was running a check up on them when I found the dungeons empty."

What? How did the Heroes...could this have to do with the missing keys?

"But how..." Vaati muttered, then shook his head. "It does not matter. Alert the guards, and retrieve them at all costs. I want them back alive, you hear me? Now go!"

"Yes master!" and with that, Shadow went running down the stairs.

"Come Violet," Vaati said after he retrieved his cloak from inside. "We have to find them immediately. I could use your help. Have you got your fans?"

"No..." I answered. If Raven and Jasmine did take the keys, could they have freed the heroes? Or did I just drop them in the dungeon and the Links were able to pick them up?

"No? Did you lose them?" He asked.

"Something like that..." This is not good. If the Heroes are found...they would tell that I freed Raven and Jasmine! And if they found Raven and Jasmine, they would see them with my fans! Oh shit oh shit oh shit-

I was then suddenly snapped out it when Vaati grabbed my shoulders and kissed me. He then withdrew, and looked me straight in the eyes. "Don't panic. I'll get the Heroes back. And then you and I can rule in peace, okay?"

I gave a weak smile and nodded, realizing my senses at last. He then took my hand and we teleported into the main hall. There were already a few guards in there, barking orders at each other. They looked up when they saw Vaati, and rushed up to us.

"Lord Vaati, the prisoners were reported to be in the west hall making towards the courtyard, sir!" He confirmed.

"Then why the fuck aren't YOU THERE THEN?!" Vaati thundered at the guard. Before it could even reply he had grabbed me again and teleported to the courtyard.

It was raining heavily now, the water giving everything a gray sheen outside. And there, right in the middle, were the three Heroes, Jasmine and Raven. They were currently fighting darknuts, until Vaati obliterated them. They all then looked up, and saw Vaati and I.

Who could you?

A turmoil of rage and sadness swirled within me. I looked upon Raven and Jasmine with new eyes. I tried to help them, and what did they do? Stab me in the back and do the one thing which they shouldn't have.

Blue Link then stepped out, and pointed his sword at Vaati. "Your tyranny ends here, demon. And now karma is going to bite your head off."

Vio then stood by his side, the same look of determination in his eyes. "And the irony is that your downfall wasn't because you hated everyone, but because you loved someone."

Jasmine made to step forward, but red held her back. "In the end, friends are always there for each other. No matter what."

What should I do? Vaati's smart enough to know what they're hinting at.

"Don't try to lecture me, idiots. I should have killed you when I had the chance, but not i'm not so merciful. You're all going to die here, including you maidens." The wind started raging around him, the raindrops attacking into my side.

"But wait Vaati," I put my hand on his arm to try and calm him. "If you kill all of them, the Shadow Link will also die. A shadow cannot live if there is no body to cast it."

"Like I would care either way! I created him, so I have to destroy him too." Vaati sneered.

"Did you hear that?" Blue asked aloud, and the heroes turned around to show Shadow Link standing behind them. "He would kill you without even thinking about it. So why do you follow that monstrosity?"

Shadow link walked forwards and stood beside the Heroes. "Not anymore I don't." He said simply, starting at his former master in anger. I then saw the mark Vaati had made on Shadow Link's forehead lift off in a trail of black dust, his spell locking away his memories broken.

"What? How dare you! I created you! You can't turn against me!" Vaati raged, but Shadow only replied with drawing out his sword towards him. Vaati stood up straight, reforming his composure. "I see. If that's how it is, then so be it. You were going to die anyways." I took a step back when Vaati started transforming, his familiar demon form appearing where he stood a moment before. "But first, I'll take back what's mine!" With that two tentacles wrapped around Raven and Jasmine, lifting them into the air and moving them over to his side.

"Get off me you demon!" shouted Jasmine, and then in a blur she and Raven fell down to the ground with a painful thump, their former bonds being cut off.

"How-" Vaati began, but then he froze when he saw what they were in possession of, when had freed them from their short imprisonment.

Of course, they had used my fans.

Which I gave them.

It didn't take him long to realize what I had done. He turned to me with shock in his eyes, and asked "Violet? Did you... give them my gift to you?"

"I- uh..." I couldn't reply. How could I explain it to him? Not like it would improve the situation in any way, because what I did was blatant, and unforgivable.

"You betrayed me? After all we've been through?" The shouted at me, and I saw his eyes glisten with small, angry tears.

I swallowed, and gave it to him straight. "Vaati, I love you. But I love my friends too. And what you're doing is wrong." I then walked over to Jasmine and Raven, and stood beside them.

"...I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" And with that he lashed out, a swirl of wind catching me and my friends and tossing us aside into the wall. Pain shot through me and I collapsed to the floor in a pathetic heap. I lifted my gaze to see Shadow Link battling Vaati with the three remaining heroes.

See? Men are vulgar, disgusting and corrupted.

Who said that? I whipped my head around causing myself more pain.

Join me, and we can purge the land from people like him!

Oh goddesses. Could it be my grandmother?

Just as the dread started to sink in, she appeared in front of me like a ghost. I shrunk in on myself out of fear, mesmerized by her pitch black eyes.

The time has come for you and I to ruin this land, child. Come! Do not be afraid. I will put an end to the man who harms you, and you will not know pain anymore!

"Don't get any closer! I don't want you to kill Vaati! I never wanted any of this to happen!"

Foolish child! Anger seething through her, she began to grow and grow, scales penetrating her pure white skin as she began to transform into a ghostly white dragon.

I stared up in horror. "Are you kidding me?" I retorted in anger. "A Dragon?!"

She simply growled at me, and with her one massive claw picked me up. I'll eat you and consume all the power that you possess! then no-one will be able to stop me! Her sharp voice boomed in my head, and she began to open her massive jaws.

I can't do anything! I desperately thought. I looked over to Jasmine and Raven to help, but I saw that they were unconscious from Vaati's blow to them. Vaati! I turned to look at him, only to be rewarded with a flash of bright light. The Heroes were preparing their final blow to him, the four sword shining in their grasp. Vaati was my only hope!

"Vaati!"

He looked up sharply at me, and saw the distress I was in. But the heroes were coming in fast, and he was preparing his final attack also. I saw him look between me and the heroes, frustration contaminating his delicate features. I turned to see that Evesham's fangs were startlingly close.

Then suddenly they weren't. The dragon roared in pain as Vaati's attack struck upon her chest, falling to the ground with one immense rumble. As I fell to the ground, I saw Vaati looking at me.

His smile wasn't evil, it was pure. And his eyes looked upon me with a sad farewell.

"I love you too."

And with that, the four sword's light consumed him.

Three years later

I walked up the stone steps with a heavy heart. Three years ago today, I betrayed Vaati. Three years ago today, Vaati sacrificed everything for me.

The scene around me was pristine, the flutter of the bluebird's wing accompanying the strain of the cricket's song. Usually I would be happy that the woods around me were so full of life, but not today.

The temple was old, the stones crumbling around the gleaming sword that held my beloved prisoner. I hated this place. The carvings on the wall show him as a monster, not a person. They don't mention the ultimate sacrifice he made for me. They don't mention my Raven of Jasmine either.

Slowly, I stepped towards the sword. How dare it shine so proudly in the sunlight bleeding through the crumbling roof?

"Don't try anything funny, you're still a prisoner." The guard called out from behind me. That's right, I'm a convict of hyrule. I'm only here because Link gave me permission. I've been here only twice before. And he always says the same thing.

Ever since that day, my life has been spiraling downwards. Every day, I miss him more and more. I can't remember me smiling once in the past three years.

I know he can sense me here. I know he can hear me. Deep in his prison, he must be feeling the same. In a cold place, with no one to even keep him company, I can only cry for him.

Tears welled in my eyes like they always do, and I collapsed before the sword, my head leaning against the hilt.

"Vaati..." I whispered to him. "I never meant for this to happen...You and I were meant to be together. Not like this. I only I could hold you once more, and feel you there. If only..."

"Oh goddesses, why have you forsaken me?! Why did you set me along this tragic path? Why is he the only one to be punished? Please, just give him back to me..." I folded my arms around the cold blade, and hoping Vaati could feel my warmth.

"Alright, that's enough. You're not allowed to touch the blade and you know it." The guard informed me, but i took no notice of him.

"Vaati, I love you so much. Please, return to me..." I whispered.

"Wha- n-no way... Prisoner, get away from the four sword at once!" The guard ordered.

I looked over at him. "Please, leave me be." I turned back to the sword, but then froze. The sword was glowing, and getting brighter by the second. Soon the light was too bright to look at, so i curled myself around it again and shut my eyes.

I felt the sword dissapear, instead a pair of cold arms wrapping themselves around me. I lifted my head to see the one who I had been waiting for.

"Vaati." I said with a weak smile. He too looked up, and smiled back at me.

"Violet." He then reached in, and our lips touched in a gentle embrace. I put my hand up to wipe away his falling tears, my happiness brimming inside me. Vaati was here, in my arms. Nothing else mattered. After a while, he broke away, and hugged me gain. I buried my head into his neck, and sighed in content.

Thank you, goddesses.

THE END

Thank you everyone for reading this story, and I hope you enjoyed it.

~Roseanna~