The King appeared to lay asleep on the royal bed, breathing deeply. He had allegedly fallen asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. Claire, on the other hand, kept tossing around. She lighted a candle to look at the clock, it read 11:45 am.
"You could have turned the light on you know" Derrick told her without opening his eyes.
Claire gasped surprised "I thought you were asleep; I didn't wanted to bother you"
"I was meditating… I think I would not be able to sleep until he gets here, it surprises me that neither can you" Derrick smiles.
The Queen scoffs "Raziel is not my son, but you adopted him. He is important to you, which makes him important to me too… And since I am a very empathic woman, I must be feeling your anxiety that is why I can't sleep"
"That must be the reason" Derrick says grinning.
"I need to get out of this room, to rid myself of these anxious vibes, maybe then I will be able to fall asleep"
The King sits up and was about to leave the bed but Claire stops him with her hands.
"I said… I need to get out, I don't want you to leave the room, I just need to walk this out a little and I will be back shortly"
Claire kisses him in the forehead, and walks out of the royal chamber. She descended the north tower's stairs feeling the need to head out into the garden. As she was about to head out, she saw the silhouette of a man standing at the entrance. The discovery made her gasp in shock and tears started to fill her eyes.
ZELDA POV
Gosh, he did say he will be arriving late, but come on… should I text him to see where he is at?
The Princess reached for her cellphone and started texting Link, but before sending it, she thought better about it and ended up erasing the text.
I really don't want to give him the idea that I am hyped with his arrival. I mean, I AM, but he doesn't need to know that. Its better if I act indifferent and keep my composure. I still can't remain in my room, it's too unnerving.
That is how the Princess decided to take a stroll around the castle, she was about to put on her shoes, but decided against it. Wearing her heels meant that anyone would notice that she was walking around at night, that would cause her to feel ashamed for feeling anxious because HE WAS COMMING. She just checked her lilac nightgown and headed out of her room barefooted. She was planning on going to the library, but then heard a loud wail coming from the castle's entrance, so she jumped down the remaining steps and sprinted there.
As she got closer, she kept hearing wails, but now they were being muffled. She got inside Ivanna's kitchen and pulled out a knife, then hurried to the entrance. Once Zelda got there, she saw the back of a man that appeared to be deep squatting while he struggled with someone who, upon closer look, happened to be her mother... she was being gaged by the man.
Zelda saw red and ran towards the man raising the knife above her head; the blade gleamed with the light provided by the moon through the open front door. With a sudden violent motion, she swung it down towards the man.
The thing is, he completely avoided the attack… not by moving away from it, but by countering. He had heard someone approaching and, in a quick fluid movement, he knelt down leaning on one hand while he swung his leg around, aiming to hit the attacker's calf and throw him/her off balance.
Zelda fell forward on her knees, but still managed to keep hold of the knife. She silently stared as the man continued the impulse of the technique used to throw her, which allowed him to seamlessly arrive to a standing position. He then adopted a defensive stance shielding the Queen with his body.
The Queen silently weeping stood up to hit the man on his back a few times, then approached Zelda, took the knife out of her hand and threw it away. Claire did all this while sobbing.
The man approached quickly and hugged the Queen from behind.
"I am sorry mom; I thought you were being attacked… Hello there Princess"
Fucking Din, Nayru, and Farore… ITS LINK, HE IS FINALLY HERE. What happened to him? I was expecting him to have grown a little taller but damn, he seems to be around 1.70cm… or maybe even a little taller. His face changed too, I mean it lost a little of roundness. Not that he looks bad at all… it's just that it's not fair.
Zelda answers back "NO, you don't get to say that. I was the one who thought mom was being attacked… hello, and welcome back"
Link chuckles and nods at the Princess.
The Queen giggles "Raziel was hugging me, and trying to help me muffle my cries, since we didn't wanted people waking up…" Claire adopts a serious tone and approaches the Princess "You, were actually going to kill him?"
------Both speaking at the same time-----------
"Of course, I thought he was attacking you" Zelda said
"Of course she was, Es ist nicht das erste Mal, dass sie es versucht hat" Link said
-----------------------------------------
Zelda glared at Link, she didn't know what he just said, but was sure that it was against her.
Claire dismisses Link's rambling and speaks directly to her daughter "But Zelda… why where you willing to kill? you shouldn't -"
Zelda interrupts the Queen "Mom… I am preparing to be Hyrule's Queen, I want to be a just and coherent ruler. That means, I can't ask my people to do something I am not willing to do myself" the Princess looks at Link "I bet even the Prince agrees with me on this"
LINK POV
I definitely do, gosh… did she learned that form me? or where did it come from?
Link laughs softly at that and nods. Zelda continues.
"But why do you only question my actions? I wasn't the only one who reacted to your cries" The Princess point at Raziel accusatorily.
Claire looks at Link with regret about having to scold him too "Well… she is right. Link you should not have-"
Link squares his shoulders "I should not have what? She was coming at me with a knife, and I wasn't going to evade the attack… if I did, I would have left you open. I needed to stay where I was, to function as your meat shield" sighs "And I could not stay idle either, I still needed to protect my integrity. The longer I sustain optimal conditions, the longer I would be able to shield my Queen from harm"
Claire looks at both of them and a smile slowly decorates her beautiful face.
"Both of you had my safety in mind, and both acted as best as you could with the limited information you had… I am not angry; I am proud of you both. So, STOP FIGHTING like cats and dogs, and go to bed… I will inform the King of Ziel's arrival tomorrow"
Link asks puzzled "Tomorrow?"
"Yes, he is asleep right now I am sure… since I left the room"
"What do you mean by that mom?" Zelda asked.
"Daphnes is a splendid King because he is empathic with the people he governs over, and he is like that with his family too… I am sure he remained awake so far into the night because of me. that is why I left the room. I can assure you, he is snoring right now"
"And we should let him rest, got it. Have a pleasant night on my behalf my Queen" Link says giving a small bow.
Zelda hugs her mother, Claire whispers something on her ear and the Princess nods. Then heads to the east tower, followed by Link.
Half way up the stairs, Ziel clears his throat and ask "If it's not personal or indecent, could you tell me what the Queen said to you?"
Zelda answered without stopping "She told me not to bite you head off, not that I would… I really have nothing against you. What just happened was an accident"
I know… if I had been in her place, I would have done the same thing. I don't hold it against her. In fact, I kind of applaud that she took action.
"I know it was; I am not angry. I know I may be a little difficult to recognize in the dark after years of not seeing me."
The Princess stops by her bedroom's door and turns around "By the way, what happened to you? you grew very tall" Zelda waits for Link to finish going up the stairs and starts measuring herself against him, the top of her head reached up to his clavicle.
I don't know Princess, I am amazed myself. I don't remember being this tall.
*The difference is that this time around, you were properly fed and physically trained, that enabled you to grow… do you remember the stalfos version of you? He was around 1.83 meters tall; I believe that is how tall you should have been able to grow under normal circumstances*
6 feet, THAT TALL? FARORE…
"I grew up, boys do that you know… I need to talk to you about something"
"Actually… so do I. You start"
Link clears his throat "Years have passed; we both grew… I don't think it would be appropriate to continue sleeping together, I am sure you have reached the same conclusion. I will still call you and lull you to sleep if you need"
"I have thought about it… but I don't reach the same conclusion. Would it present a problem for you to continue our sleeping arrangement?"
YES
"Wouldn't it be a problem for you?" Link asks.
"I don't think so… it's not like you are going to rape me, is it?" she giggles a little "A few months ago, it was time to change the mattress; I requested queen size for you and me… so we could both fit comfortably. And also bought an extra blanket so we can tuck it and create a physical separation between our nether regions, so you don't have to worry about accidentally poking me with your you know what"
Raziel growls threateningly at her, Zelda just giggles.
She is talking about my penis touching her… and she talks about it with a calmness that is almost frightening.
"That means, you are not a stranger to male morning erection, right?"
She shakes her head smiling "I am not, learned about it a year ago, and did an intensive search about it on my cellphone, believe me… I already took all the necessary precautions; all I want right now is to FINALLY be able to get a full night sleep"
And I was looking forward to being able to sleep naked again… but seems like I am asking for too much.
"I am not hyped about the idea; I was counting on you wanting to go back on this"
"I was counting on that too. I have periodically been trying to sleep without your help, but…" Zelda starts shaking a little at the memory of the nightmares she has had.
"I get it, it is on Hyrule's best interest that the Princess gets enough rest. Let's make a deal" Link outstretches his hand in front of Zelda "I will continue to guard your sleep, but I will be wearing only my boxers. I produce too much heat, sleeping in boxers will allow me to prevent overheating and get the rest I need. Accept?"
*Did you suggested that to make her decline the offer? *
Not really, if she back tracks because of this, GREAT. If she does not, that is ok too. What I really want is to make it as comfortable as possible for me, I do heat a lot.
Zelda closes her eyes pondering on the offer the Prince just made… she then takes his hand.
"Deal" she shakes it smiling "let's go then, I want you to see the new mattress"
"What did you do to my old one?" Link asks raising an eyebrow.
"It was thrown away of course"
Ziel stops and complains to the Princess "WHAT? I LOVED THAT MATTRESS"
*Did you now? *
No, I am just making a fuss about something stupid. Just to shake the uneasy feeling I am getting for agreeing to all this.
Zelda sighs and rolls her eyes "Link, it was 20 years old, and had previously been stained by me remember?"
"It was a fighter that stood inert through the passage of time, and continued to guard our sleep with pride, not minding the betrayal you submitted it to" Link says with indignation, but the shadow of a smile reveals that he is just playing.
"Oh Nayru, we are discussing a mattress upgrade? Really? If you need me too, I could bathe this one in blood too you know" The Princess tells him feigning being pissed, but deep down, she missed fighting with him for stupid things like this.
Link frowns "No. Mat needs to face his own battles, forged under the extenuating weight of our sins, and tempered in the flames of hell… only THEN can Mat stand where Tress stood"
*Ha ha ha… Mat-Tress, and your speech was dramatic as fuck, thumbs up*
Link opened the door to his dorm, and waited for the Princess to enter first, but she just stood at the entrance staring at him with curiosity. Ziel tilted his head at her.
"You are different, not just taller… I am not complaining in any way… it's just that I have not had the pleasure of meeting this side of you"
Link chuckles "Its new to me too… in a way. I was left alone with a convalescent sociopath for 2 and ½ years, I developed knacks like this one to entertain myself and keep my sanity. Wolf says it's a coping mechanism" he sighs "said mechanism involves me talking to myself a lot. I am not delirious or anything, I am just grabbing a common event and narrating it as if it were a legendary story… or the script of a dramatic war movie. I do that to take the seriousness out of a situation, or just for fun. I swear it won't happen often."
Zelda smiles and enters hell giggling "I was puzzled and a little scared at first, but now that I know it's just you playing, I don't mind at all. Besides, having a crazy brother, sounds fun"
Link rolls his eyes "Just wanted you to get a full scope of what you will be dealing with" He finally looks at the bed and whistles "Damn, its big. I won't be secluded to a corner anymore; I will be able to toss around a little"
Zelda smiles "I will take that comment as you approving of it"
Link doesn't answer, he just unbuckles his jeans and sits on the bed to take off his boots, he then pulls his t-shirt over his head. Zelda could not take her eyes off him, the contrast between his toned and well-defined torso, and the ghastly scars left by the the wolfos attack he suffered years ago.
And despite all that… or maybe because of it, Zelda found him stunning. So she quickly turned around before Link saw her ogling him.
"When you are done undressing, tell me"
"Why? It's not like you can't look; we are sleeping together after all" Link says taking his pants off.
Zelda cursed under her breath.
"I am just being polite and giving you privacy to undress" Zelda claims folding her arms.
"Ha, so I am allowed privacy to undress, I am just not allowed to sleep by myself… don't you think thi-"
Zelda turns to glare at Link exasperated "I REALIZE it was stupid of me… There is no room for modesty in our arrangement"
The Princess angrily walks to the side of the bed Ziel is not currently using, pulls out a sheet from the bed drawer and tries to bulk it up.
Link stares and sighs "That is not going to work, I was hoping it would be something bigger, like a heavy blanket, not a very thin sheet"
"I didn't want to use a blanket; because that may cause you to overheat… we can use more than one of these if needed"
"OR… we can use my pillow. I don't need a pillow to sleep" Ziel casually informs.
"LINK" Zelda yells in desperation.
"Zelda" Link answers back calmly.
That is how Link broke the Princess will to fight; she had missed his voice terribly.
Zelda sighs "Tomorrow I will use this sheet to fill it and make it a pillow, so you get back yours… fair?"
Link nods as Zelda enters the bed, he places his pillow between them effectively separating their nether regions and finally closes his eyes.
It was a little chaotic, but its good to be back.
*Dude, set an alarm or don't sleep, you need to get out of here early in the morning. Daphnes wakes up at 5 am. Once he is informed by Claire of your arrival, he will send for you or come himself. YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN*