~Author’s Note~ Yeah, it’s me, the Link Worshiper again. Same deal as before. Any music I ripped from somewhere else isn’t mine yadda, yadda, yadda. Anyways, I hope you like Part II... and don’t be stupid. Read Part I before you begin this one or else nothing will make sense to you. Let me hear your thoughts/gripes etc. 

 

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When dreamin’ I’m guided through another world,
Time and time again
At sunrise I fight to stay asleep
Cause I don’t wanna leave the comfort of this place,
Cause there’s a hunger, a longing to escape,
From the life I live when I’m awake

So let’s go there
Let’s make our escape
Come on, let’s go there,
Let’s ask can we stay?

Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me higher?
To a place with golden streets

Although I would like the world to change
It helps me to appreciate
Those nights and those dreams
But, my friend, I’d sacrifice all those nights
If I could make the earth and my dreams the same
The only difference is
To let love replace all our hate

So let’s go there
Let’s make our escape
Come on, let’s go there
Let’s ask can we stay?

Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me higher?
To a place with golden streets

So let’s go there
So let’s go there
Come on let’s go there
Let’s ask can we stay?

Up high I feel like I’m alive for the very first time
Up high I’m strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine

Said up high I’m strong enough to take these dreams
And make them mine

Can you take me higher?
To a place where blind men see
Can you take me higher?
To a place with golden streets

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                “Owyn!!!” Zelda called her son’s name from the gardens, “Owyn! I’m not calling you again! Come here!”

                Owyn sat high up in the uppermost branches and foliage of a tall Hylian elm. On his shoulder sat his pet falcon, Strife. Owyn was a tall seven-year-old boy with golden blond hair and deep blue eyes. He wore a blue shirt underneath a white tunic and tall knee-high leather boots. Strapped to his back, was a golden harp.

                “Owyn, perhaps you should abide by your mother’s wishes and go to her,” Strife squawked into Owyn’s pointed ear. Strife was no ordinary bird. She had a sleek blue body and a creamy white breast. Her beak was sharp and golden and her eyes were mysterious black pools of intrigue. The bird could speak, and Owyn and she were the best of friends.

                “No, no,” Owyn hissed back, “Not yet. I wanna see if she can find us here.”

                “Why do you insist on tormenting your poor mother like that?” Strife protested.

                “Shut up, Strife!” Owyn clamped the bird’s beak together with his thumb and forefinger, “You’ll blow our cover if you keep carrying on like that!”

                “OWYN!!!” Zelda called his name again, “If you don’t come out now, I shall have to give your lunch to Safter! And you know it won’t last long if I do!”

                “Aw, I’m coming Mother,” Owyn gave in as he began to climb down the branches of the sturdy elm. Strife fluttered off Owyn’s shoulder and glided down to where Zelda stood at the bottom. His mother knew well that food was one of her son’s weaknesses. He wouldn’t forsake his lunch for the world, and Zelda knew it.

                Zelda was now the Queen of Hyrule. She had grown more beautiful and strong of heart since she had been crowned with the honor. Her father had her married to Dimitri, who was now Hyrule’s King, for her father had died about six years before. But Zelda had never loved Dimitri. Not after what he had done to her friends… her lover…. All the years she had been stuck with the man, Zelda still loved Link with all her heart.

                 “I am here Mother,” Owyn said as he stood before Zelda, his face dirty and his hands scratched from the bark of the tree.

                “Oh, look at you, sweetheart,” Zelda knelt down and dusted Owyn off with her sleeve, “There, now. You go run along inside and eat lunch. Kossin and Safter are waiting for you.”

                “Alright, Mother,” Owyn said, his stomach growling as he ran toward the tall glass doors that led into the castle.

                “Oh and Owyn,” Zelda called after the young prince.

                “Yeah?” Owyn called back as Strife settled on Owyn’s head. Owyn swatted at her and the falcon moved down to his shoulder.

                Zelda came over and knelt at his side, whispering in his ear, “If you play your cards right, you might get Kossin and Safter to take you to The Dragon’s Chalice to see Arutho and the boys. That means no monkey business, got it?”

                “Got it!” Owyn shook his head vigorously, wanting with all his heart to go out with Safter and Kossin. To Owyn, it was a privilege to be allowed outside the castle, especially to go with Kossin and Safter to the pub.

                Zelda couldn’t help but think of Link as Owyn turned around again to scamper into the castle. So much like his father when he was a boy….

 

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                 “So, Owyn, what were you doin’ to get yourself so darn messy?” Safter asked as he refilled Owyn’s bowl for the eighth time.

                “Tree climbing,” Owyn said as he started to shovel his creamy soup down his throat greedily. He, Safter, and Kossin were sitting around a long oblong table in the kitchen, taking their lunch and waiting for Zelda to join them. It was quite necessary for them to eat in the kitchen, for Safter and Owyn could together eat as much as a small group of soldiers.

                “Whoa Owyn!” Kossin chuckled, “Save some for me and your Mother!”

                “Well, I just can’t stop,” he said as he poured another spoonful of soup into his mouth. He took a prophetic pose and said, “As they say, ‘You can’t put a door on someone’s mouth!’”

                “I don’t believe that’s what they meant,” Kossin said with a smile as he put his head in his hands.

 “Knowing the boy, you should have asked for a larger serving,” Strife said as she lapped up some soup Safter had poured into a saucer for her.

                “Yes, well…” Kossin began.

                “Hello, boys,” Zelda said as she entered the kitchen and sat down on one of the oak benches next to her son, “Save anything for me?”

                “We tried our best,” Kossin said apologetically.

                “Yeah… but certain people had to go and hog it all,” Strife crowed with a glint of sarcasm as she eyed Safter and Owyn.

                “You looking at me?” Safter said innocently as he reached to pour himself another helping. Kossin slapped his hand and Safter dropped the spoon and howled in pain.

                “No need to be rude, Strife,” Owyn said as he gave the bird a playful kick under the table.

                “Who’s being rude, hog?” Strife nipped Owyn’s bare foot.

                Zelda laughed, “Now what were we talking about before, Owyn?”

                “Oh, right,” Owyn immediately snapped into a straight position, his hands folded neatly in his lap, “See how perfectly still and well mannered I sit here, Mother?”

                “What an entertaining fellow he is,” Kossin said to Zelda, “He will make a fine king someday.”

                “Yes, I agree,” Zelda said as she put an arm around Owyn’s shoulders, “A wonderful king!”

                “Aw man, Mother, do I have to be King?” Owyn groaned.

                “I used to say the same when my Father told me that I had to be Queen,” Zelda said as she reached for a helping of soup, “But it is an honor and a responsibility.”

                “I don’t like responsibilities,” Owyn complained.

                “That is only because you don’t have enough of them,” Zelda said bluntly.

                “So harsh Mother,” Owyn grumbled.

                Zelda smiled at her son proudly and went back to her lunch, Kossin, Safter and herself making idle chit chat here and there. Meanwhile, Owyn sat staring at his hands, which were neatly folded in his lap. He had no idea how long he had been sitting there when Karmi came to clear the table. All he knew was that as nice as his life was, there always seemed to be complications, such as why his parents did not seem to get along… or why he of all people had to be the next ruler… why everything that was done was either an honor or a responsibility…. The list just seemed to go on and on. It bothered him a bit sometimes, and he wished that he could have a more carefree and less hassle life.

                He was just beginning to ponder these thoughts to their deepest when Kossin interrupted his daydreams, “Owyn, let’s go! I thought you were going to come along!”

                “Don’t worry, Kossin,” he said as he slid off the bench, “I’m coming as fast as I can.”

                Zelda smiled as she watched the trio go, and then went to help Karmi with the dishes; an act that had never been heard of from a queen until Zelda.

                “Zelda,” Karmi said as she brought another heaping pile of dishes from the table, “Where is your husband?”

                “I do not know,” Zelda frowned a bit, “Nor do I care.”

                “Yes, but don’t you find it odd that he never seems to be around during the day?” Karmi had a perplexed look on her face as she lowered some plates into the basin of sudsy water.

                “Yes, that is a bit awkward,” Zelda, agreed, “but don’t you find it better for the rest of us that he has such habits?”

                Karmi nodded sheepishly, “Not to offend anyone, but yes, I do. He is frightening to me.”

                “Don’t be ashamed to say it. Everyone, including myself, is terrified of the man… if you could call him one.”

                And it was true. Not a soul in Hyrule was able to look Dimitri in the eyes. He was a strange individual, never really seeming to be around save a few times. He seemed to just melt from the shadows, scaring the weaker of heart to near death. Zelda found his odd schedule rather convenient though, and she didn’t mind that he never seemed to be nearby.

                “But you don’t seem to fear him as everyone else does, Zelda,” Karmi had been saying.

                “Because when I see him I have no room in my heart for fear. All that lives there is the fire of revenge and a burning hate so strong it could destroy a more fragile soul. That man I am wedded to is naught more than a man. I will one day destroy him and get revenge for what he did to all that was dear to me.”

                And Karmi knew Zelda meant every word she said.

 

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                “Dat’s ‘im?” a young man sitting at the bar whispered as he threw a glance at Owyn who was sitting down at a table with Kossin and Safter, taking his harp off his back and beginning to play as he did. Gono, who was serving drinks, began to listen in on the conversation.

                “Yeah,” said the black haired man to the right, “That un’s the prince.”

                “You know what I ‘eard?” another hissed. The other two looked his way with questioning eyes.

                The third, pleased he had a crowd to pass rumors to, went on in a quiet shady manner, “I ‘eard me sister’s ‘usband talkin’ ‘bout it. ‘Ee sez that the prince ain’t really the prince an’ that kin’ o’ ours ‘as been tryin’ wi’ our queen fer years ta get a proper ‘eir to da throne.”

                “An’ alls this times I wuz on th’ ‘pression that ‘ee was a good ‘n’ prop’r loik lil’ prince,” the first man said with amazement.

                “’Ow d’we know you ain’t makin’ that all up?” the black haired man doubted.

                “I ‘ent making up a word! I swears it! Me sister’s ‘usband is a soldier. ’Ee’s got a father who’s been servin’ the army fer years now an’ ‘ee waz ‘round yon castle when it all ‘appened.”

                “An’ what’s dat?” the first queried, a hint of disbelieving still on his tongue. 

                The man dropped his voice so low, it was barely there at all, “When Zelda ‘ad a rouge loik feller fer a lover. Ya kinda git my jest? So’s ya two knuckle ‘eads see it now? That boy ‘ent the blood of the kin’ even thoughs dat’s what theys tryin’ to git ev’ry un ta believe… but there’s just some o’ us who knows better.”

                “An’ the likkle bastard’s gonna be our nex’ monarch? Tch,” the black haired one frowned darkly in Owyn’s direction.

                Suddenly, Gono pounded his fist brutally on the countertop so hard, there was the sound of splintering wood, and the whole pub grew silent, “You all shut up now! ‘Ow could I let such ‘orrible thing be let said ‘bout uns that is dear to me ‘eart!?”

                “So’s it’s true?”

                Gono pounded his fist again, the wood cracking this time, “Mayhaps it is, an’ then again, mayhaps it ‘ent. But I ‘ent gonna let you three dumb shits speak that way ‘bout friends, be it true or not. So’s go on an’ git yer sorry asses outta me tavern. What you waitin’ for? Go!”

                The three men didn’t need to be told twice. They were out the door before another word could be spoken.

                “Tol’ you dat ‘twas true,” the third man said as they walked off in search of another pub, “Tol’ you.”

 

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                “Oh dear, this will take some fixing,” Malon said as she examined the large crack that ran across the bar-top from Gono’s strong fist.

                “Yeah, but if you coulda ‘eard what those hoodlums were sayin’ ‘bout poor Link, youda thrown a hissy fit ye’self,” Gono snapped back, his mood still rotten due to earlier events. Malon let out a sigh and sat down next to him. She and Gono had been married for a few years and had a set of twins, crazy as their father. They were great friends with Owyn, and they three could be a boatload of trouble.

                “Don’t wanna start worrying the boy,” Arutho hissed in a hushed voice as he threw a look at Owyn, who was spinning himself silly on a nearby stool.

                “Miss Zelda isn’t going to tell him, is she?” Malon said, looking over at Owyn as well.

                “He seems so happy,” Arutho said, “She told me she doesn’t want him to worry. He’s fine believing Dimitri to be his father.”

                “He’ll find out someday,” Kossin said as he leaned on a large keg behind the bar.

                “With you guys whisperin’ so loud, I bet you he will,” Malon snapped.

                “Find out what?” Owyn asked as he slid off the stool and walked dizzily over to where the adults were huddled.

                “Nothing dear,” Malon crooned softly as she shoved Owyn toward the stairs, “Maybe you should go look for Avery and Gabriel. I think they’re upstairs.”

                Avery and Gabriel were the two twin children who were Owyn’s best friends. Avery had blond hair with streaks of red running through, and her brother, Gabriel, had curly blond hair too, a red forelock hanging over his eyes.

                Owyn sighed, a bit upset that the grownups wouldn’t share their gossip with him and went up the wood stairs to find his friends. As soon as Owyn had gone, the group of adults went on reminiscing about younger days when Link was alive.

                Meanwhile, Owyn had found Avery and Gabriel playing in the loft room of the tavern. It was an interesting place, with slanted ceilings and large windows that flung open unto the town, lit by sunny rays of light. Swords and shields hung from the walls and ceilings and the whole placed smelled of spices and adventure.

                “Hi Owyn,” Gabriel said as he saw Owyn emerge from the small attic staircase.

                “Hey guys,” Owyn said as he plopped down on the floor next to Avery, who was playing with a small wooden dove.

                “Owyn,” Avery looked up from her toy and said to him in a perplexed voice, “Is there something wrong? I can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re thinking of something.”

                “Well, it’s nothing really,” Owyn began, “but the adults shooed me out of the room when I started listening to their conversation. I get the feeling they are trying to hid something.”

                “Everyone has secrets,” Avery said with a smile, “Everyone has something to hid. So don’t worry! I’m sure there’s something you hide from them!”

                “But my mother tells me everything,” Owyn said as he rested his head in his hand, “She says there’s nothing that she could hide from me.”

                “Maybe not,” Gabriel said as he took his toy wolf and attacked Avery’s dove.

                “Did you just notice this?” Avery went on.

                “Actually, no, now that I think of it,” Owyn said as he took Avery’s dove and knocked over the wolf with it, which Gabriel had left standing in the middle of the floor, “they seem to like to get rid of me whenever the subject of some guy called Link comes up.”

                “That’s just weird,” said Gabriel as he picked up his wolf and pocketed it.

                “Yes well, I want to find out what they can tell each other but can’t tell me,” Owyn frowned.

                “If that’s what you want, we’ll help ya out!” Gabriel said happily as he lay down on the floor.

                “Alright,” Owyn nodded, “It’s good to have friends like you…. I’ll ask my mother about Link when I get home!”

 

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                The sun was setting fast as Zelda made her way down a lonely corridor, her only companion a single glowing candlestick. Empty iron sconces and forlorn statues of angels lined the walls, interrupted by an occasional window or door, tall and arched. Zelda had never been fond of this corridor, but in the past years, it had become more of a haven for strange happenings then ever. The statues seemed to watch with a sad agony, as though they were begging for help from the gods. Once, Zelda could have sworn she remembered these statues giving off a happy and peaceful aura, quite unlike the terrorized grimaces that their hardened faces carried now. Light seemed to avoid the hall at all costs, and Zelda was surprised that her own candle hadn’t snuffed yet. Perhaps it had something to do with Dimitri; his quarters were along this way, but many people were just too afraid to look into it too much and generally avoided the place.

                Zelda wasn’t exactly sure why she had chosen to come down this way in the first place. She usually tried to avoid any chance of getting caught up with Dimitri but she had just felt the urge to come and gaze at the statues. There was something about them, for all their sorrow, that Zelda loved. Lately, she had taken to examining each one, as though they had a soul, as though a person lived beneath the stone exterior.

                As she was tracing a long granite wing, she felt a cool chill behind her, and she turned. With a jump, her eyes fell upon Dimitri, standing there with a darkly voluptuous look on his face. Her candle cast weird shadows on his sallow skull like face and it seemed as though he was avoiding its dancing light.

                “Well, what is it?” she snapped as she jerked the candle away from him, throwing him back into the dark shadows.

                “How convenient it is to see you along this way, my dear Princess,” he said silkily. He seemed as though he was glad to be away from the glowing candlelight, his red eyes glowing from the darkness.

                “For what?” she growled, “Hurry up, dammit. I have things to do.”

                “You shouldn’t treat your king that way,” he almost purred, his smile springing into a sneer.

                “You are not my superior, but my equal,” Zelda barked back irritably, “You will treat me as such.”

                “You are mine to do with as I please,” he muttered darkly, “I thought you would have learned that years ago.”

                Zelda was too appalled to retort. She seethed with anger that he dared to consider himself above her, especially because of what he had done to Link.

                “Why don’t you forget it then,” he said softly, his voice melted back into the unreal murmur he had been using before, “Come back to my room with me, hmmm?”

                “I know what you want,” Zelda snarled, “And my answer shall remain as it has for the past seven years.”

                “Still saving a place in your bed for the rogue?” Dimitri licked his long pearl canines, “Give it up. You know he will not return to you. Get over it and come with me.”

                “Never,” Zelda hated having this argument with him. It was one that occurred rather often, “I will wait for him until the day I die and find him in the arms of the angels.”

                “That day might come sooner then you think,” Dimitri purred back at her indignantly.

                Zelda fingered Link’s ring gingerly as she replied, her ire growing to its peek, “Don’t make idle threats. It won’t go unnoticed.”

                Dimitri saw her fingers playing across the silver band and he snarled ferociously, “And how is it that you wear that ring on your hand instead of the one I gave you on our wedding day? You belong to me. When will you understand that?”

                “I value my bond with him over that which I have with you,” she rejoined.

                Dimitri’s face twisted into a gruesome contusion as he smacked Zelda hard across the face, “Are you stupid, woman? I said you belong to me! Learn it… and abide by it.”

                And with those haunting words, he melted back into the shadows, leaving Zelda alone in the darkness.

 

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                It was very late. Past midnight Owyn had supposed as he crept out of his bedroom. Stealthily as he could, he tiptoed down the candlelit hallway to his mother’s room, his footsteps muffled by the loud winds outside. He had wanted to see if she had anything about the man called Link amongst her things. Owyn was used to doing this kind of thing. He tended to creep out at night to explore the castle or look for things that had aroused his curiosity.

                Silently, he opened her bedroom door and slid in. The moonlight played happily across the lush carpets. Zelda’s sleeping form was illuminated by the dim glow of a dying fire in the hearth nearby. She slept with her arms wrapped around a fat pillow, her legs curled up against her breast.

                Owyn went about hunting for something that might lend a clue to who Link was. He had absolutely no idea why he felt that it was absolutely necessary for him to look for information on the man; his intuition simply told him that he should… and his intuition was something that he never ignored.

                A sudden harsh gale of wind blew in and the tall glass balcony doors swung open, the wind rustling the light translucent curtains. Owyn jumped at this, but then calmed down when he realized it was only nature at work. He went over to close the doors and as he was pushing them together, he noticed Strife, who strutted right between his legs and into the room before Owyn could breath a word.

                As soon as he had shut and latched the doors, the young prince went about looking through every drawer, trunk and cupboard he could lay his hands on. Strife just looked on in a bemused sort of wonder until Owyn emerged from a chest with a small leather-bound book in his hands.

                “Think this might help out a bit,” Owyn mused as he turned the diary over in his hands.

                Strife nipped his foot angrily, “Why are you going through your mother’s personal things? That is none of your business to read.”

                “I’ll make it my business,” Owyn said airily as he pocketed the little book in the large white shirt he used as pajamas.

                “Your poor mother’s got her whole life in there,” Strife went on, “And trust me, it’s not something nosey little boys need to worry themselves with.”

                “So you know some stuff about mom yourself, don’t you, Strife?” Owyn deduced after a moment of pondering, “Tell me, just how old are you again?”

                “Why should I say?” Strife said haughtily as she preened herself, “You’d probably figure it out yourself, you nosey little prat.”

            “Bet I will,” Owyn grumbled, “Ya hooting old bag of worry.”

                Strife pretended not to hear as she tossed her head about, ruffling her deep blue feathers. Zelda let out a groan in her sleep and she muttered something that sounded like ‘ink’ as she rolled over, the fat pillow still in her arms.

                “Let’s go,” Owyn said as he started for the door.

                “You nosey little prat!!!” Strife complained as they left, Zelda all the while smiling in her sleep, dreaming of heroes and swords.

                Just as the shinning oak door eased closed with a faint ‘click’ behind Owyn and his falcon as they crept out of the large master bedroom, the silvery lucent curtains began to flutter once more, though all the windows and the tall glass balcony doors were firmly latched. The drapes swirled about for a few moments more and then a hooded figure stepped out from amid the whirling material. He looked to be some kind of divinity. His body was draped with long flowing white robes and great, long, white, feathered wings that nearly brushed the floor adorned his muscular back. His hood shadowed his chiseled face and his bare feet were just visible from beneath the hems of his silken garments. A silver dagger, sheathed in a black leather case, hung at his waist from a thin cord that was wrapped about his waist like a belt.

                The figure looked about him, and let out a small sigh of contentment. Soon his soft gaze found its way to the bed where Zelda lay, still sleeping innocently on, like a small child. He made his way to her bedside and sat down, leaning over the sleeping form of Hyrule’s queen. He supported himself up with his sinewy arms, which rested on either side of Zelda’s body, his wings falling over both their bodies, and then smiled at her from under his hood.

                “Are you sleeping this well every night, my princess?” the angel murmured, “… Without me?”

                And Zelda’s sleeping form murmured back to him, her voice sweet and dreamy, “Hmmm? No, never. The night no longer holds the same zeal without… you.”

                She wasn’t awake. As far as the princess knew, it was simply a magnificent dream, her words mumbled from her subconscious as the angel whispered to her through the moonlit shadows. And much to the mysterious visitor’s dismay, this was all she would remember it as, a dream.

                “Would you still snatch me into your arms as you had so long ago?” the god whispered as he lowered his head closer to Zelda, his lips grazing her cheek as her mouth sprouted a contented smile in her deep, peaceful slumber.

                “Uh huh,” she murmured back, “You know I would.”

                “God, how I miss the way   you used to whisper to me like that,” the angel said softly as he buried his face into the silky tangle of Zelda’s hair that streamed across the pillows.

                “Let me whisper to you throughout the whole night,” she sounded so enticing, even in her sleep, “Stay with me, for I missed having you, here in bed with me. I have saved this place for only you.”

                The angel sighed again, but this time it was a sigh of regret, “I wish I could, but I can only be with you so long….”

                “It doesn’t matter, please, stay,” she whispered back. The seraph collapsed, unable to hold himself above her any longer, his mere craving to hold her becoming to great.

                “I wish to stay with you,” he muttered into her ear, “I will stay as long as the gods will allow.”

                He said no more, and he wrapped his arms around the princess, pulling her close to his warm body and letting his long wings fall around them both. Zelda let go of the pillow and, all in her subconscious, let her arms meander around the angel’s waist.

                The few moments they had together were like magic, just sleeping in each other’s arms before another hooded angel, a tall muscular female, materialized from the moonlight and gently pulled the queen from the other angel’s arms. She motioned for the male angel to arise from the comfort of the large bed, and with a bit of reluctance, he did.

                “Must I?” he said ruefully as he flexed his wings out and let his eyes fall on Zelda once more.

                “Yes,” the female nodded, “But do not worry, warrior, your time for vengeance and reunion draws ever nearer. You shall return to her side soon… I promise you.”

                He nodded, and slowly followed the female as she returned to the sacred realm from which they came. The warrior lingered for one last moment on the princess, and as he was about to leave, he heard Zelda whisper into the cool night air as she curled the hand she wore her ring on, “Come back to me soon… you promised you’d always be at my side….”

                “I am… I always have been,” he promised as he left, his last few words lingering in the moonlight, “I swear it.”

 

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                “Mother,” Owyn called as he entered the largest armory, “Mother, you here?”

                Last night, Owyn had begun to read the diary. It started off by beginning to recount the rein of terror in which Ganondorf plagued the peaceful kingdom of Hyrule. It was mostly history, things Owyn had already learned from Kossin, his tutor. There were also rundowns of the people of Hyrule… but Karmi had told him most everything about the Sheikans as well as other races like the Gerudo and the Kokiri. Owyn had decided to just ask Zelda herself, but at the time, she was nowhere to be found.

                “Oh, god, ouch,” Owyn cursed under his breath as he tripped over a stray battle-axe and onto a large pile of longbows and quivers. The pile of weapons came crashing down under his weight, with a few sounds of splintering wood and snapping bowstrings.

                “Need some help there?” a voice from behind him said softly.

                Owyn didn’t even look up as he scrambled to lean all the bows against the wall as they had been before, “Lord, I’m really sorry Safter. I really didn’t mean to make a mess of your nice and neat armory….”

                The person behind him chuckled. Owyn didn’t see what was so funny to him, and turned around a bit sheepishly, and then realized that the person wasn’t Safter at all. Far from him, actually. The man that stood there couldn’t be less then a god. He was the same mysterious angel who had visited Zelda’s bedside the night before.

                “I didn’t think I resembled Safter too much,” the angel chuckled as he put his hands on his hips.

                “N-no, you most certainly don’t,” Owyn managed to choke out. He was completely taken with awe at this splendid creature before him.

                “Pretty nice harp you got there,” the angel pointed to the golden instrument strapped to Owyn’s back.

                “Y-yeah. It belonged to my friend Jalk,” Owyn stammered, “He’s teachin’ me how to play it.”

                “You a talented little musician?” the angel knelt down to meet Owyn’s eyes better.

                Owyn nodded his head vigorously.

                “I would love to hear you play sometime,” he cocked his head, “We’ll have a little music lesson together, hmmm?”

                Owyn couldn’t think of a reason to say no, so he nodded again. He was still overcome with awe and a bit of fear. Why me? Why would the gods send a messenger to me of all people? What makes me so special? Above my Mother even?

                When Owyn looked up after brooding these thoughts, he saw to his dismay that the angel had already disappeared.

 “The heck is going on around here? Why are such weird things always happening to me? Better add it to my list of stuff to ask mom….” Owyn mused, “How… strange… though. How very strange….” 

 

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                “Ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a” Owyn screamed up the marble staircase, the orange sunset bathing the white stone in an unreal topaz color, “Ma, I need you!!!”

                The voice that returned his calls were not his mother’s, but Karmi’s… which was close enough to his mom to suit him, “Owyn, what do you need? Stop hollering all over the place. The echoes are simply dreadful. It’s enough to break windows, dear!”

                  “Karmi, could you come down here,” Owyn called up one last time, “Please?”

                “Hold on a second. I’m coming dear,” Karmi called back from the halls above. Karmi had served as a sort of nursemaid for Owyn. She had helped Zelda raise him since he was born, and had actually been the midwife who helped with his birth as well. Besides his mother, Owyn felt closest to Karmi above all other castle inhabitants. She played with him often enough, and took care of him when Zelda was not available to her son.

                “It’s okay, I’m here Owyn. What is it?” Karmi asked as she came down the large marble staircase. She had grown in to a beautiful young woman, her purple hair darker and longer then ever. She still wore it in that loose working braid when she was doing chores, just as she had for so many years. When she let it out though, it her long waves of violet hair would tumble down past her waist in ripples of amethyst splendor.

                “Karmi… I saw a ghost,” Owyn said as-a-matter-of-factly to his nursemaid as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Karmi went a bit pale and then sat down, tightening the knot of the yellow scarf about her shoulders in a bit of nervous habit.

                “A-are you sure about that?” Karmi asked as she toyed with the hem of her red dress, “This isn’t something to joke about.”

                “Isn’t a joke,” Owyn wailed, “I really saw him. He had wings and wore a hooded robe and, and….”

                “I really don’t doubt this old castle is haunted Owyn,” Karmi took his hand, “But I don’t think what you saw was a ghost. Are you sure it wasn’t a figment of your imagination?”

                “I didn’t make it up! He was there! I spoke to him!” Owyn said quietly as he crawled into Karmi’s lap.

                “Owyn, a ghost can’t find rest. They are troubled sprits that walk the earth in search of peace,” Karmi said as she gave Owyn a squeeze, “From what you say… if it was anything, it was… an… angel… I daresay.”            

                “A what? You think an angel would visit me?” Owyn asked.

                Kossin came up from the castle cellars just in time to hear those last few words. He came over and sat next to Karmi, his face vexed at the thought of archangels wandering the palace grounds as well as flushed from the site of Karmi. It was common knowledge that Kossin was smitten with Karmi. For the past few years, Kossin had been trying to win Karmi over, but she just didn’t seemed to be interested. It hurt Kossin to think all his efforts were in vain, but he never lost hope. It took more then mere heartbreak to break Kossin’s spirit. 

                “It could be,” Zelda’s strong, regal voice echoed down the grand staircase, “I had a dream about one. My dreams never lie.”

                “Really?” Kossin asked, his face suddenly bright with interest and curiosity.

                “Yes… but,” she stopped, eyeing Owyn, “I… I’ll tell you about it later.” 

                “Why not now?” Owyn said impatiently.  

                Zelda simply ignored him, and went on her way down the halls that led towards the kitchens.

                “Mother, wait!” Owyn leapt from Karmi’s lap and dashed after his mother down the hallway, “I need to ask you a question!”

                She had gone though, and soon, Owyn wasn’t really sure where she had disappeared  to. He began to just wander around aimlessly, hoping he might offhandedly find her. She seems to be avoiding me for some reason…. Well, Strife did say she had a lot on her mind but…. Is that enough to take her mind off her only son? She’s always been a bit distant about things that might remotely involve me learning about her past but now she just seems ridiculously jumpy about it. I think it’s about darn time I figure my poor mum out.                                             

                He had been so deep in thought that he hadn’t realized that he had wandered down the dark corridor that led to his father’s rooms. That was another thing that mystified Owyn; why his parents didn’t share a room. When he suddenly realized where he was, he became anxious. Like just about everyone else, Owyn wasn’t fond of this passage. He had explored it one time before at midnight, and the things he saw had scarred his out of his wits. All the angel statues had looked as though they were crying blood and the place had smelled strangely foul, like rotting flesh. A thick mist had also seemed to follow his throughout the whole time and the moon had glowed an odd reddish color. He didn’t see any of these things this time, much to his relief, and Owyn found it much easier to travel the hall without the feeling of impending danger at his heels the whole way.

                Even though the sun still hadn’t set completely, and there was still much light in the sky, the hallway was still pitch black. He knew his father had a thing for darkness, but it was so strange how light seemed to frighten the man off. The simple flickering tongue of fire that would dance upon the top of a candle was like an evil hex that warded his father away.

           Owyn was actually quite jealous of Gabrielle and Avery. They had a father who loved them both very much and spent countless hours with them both. His father, on the other hand, was a cold man who kept to himself, never indulging in family gatherings. In fact, Owyn had hardly seen him at all. Much as Owyn loved his mother too, she just wasn’t the patriarchal figure that Owyn so desperately wanted to look up to.

                Just as Owyn was pondering these thoughts, a cool chill behind him made him spin about on his heel, but all that he saw was a heavy mist hanging in the dark shadows of the hall. The statue directly opposite Owyn, barely visible through the thick misty shadows, looked as though it were screaming in immense pain and agony, and soon Owyn noticed tiny pools of blood well up in the angel’s stone eyes, trickling down in a red stream of pain. This statue portrayed the angel trampling the crumpled form of a devil, and Owyn could have sworn for a moment that the devil’s eyes had flickered red.

                What am I saying? I am just letting simple things scare me. Father will be around somewhere and he’ll be able to find Mother for me.

                Just as Owyn played this thought through his head, his father’s thin figure materialized out of the murky shadows. He didn’t look as pale and sickly as he usually did. His skin was pinker and his hair retained a dark healthy chocolate color, not a pale ashen brown tone as it usually did.

                “Father,” Owyn smiled and grabbed the king about the middle in a tight embrace. Dimitri grimaced and slowly pulled Owyn from him.

                “Yes boy? What is it you want?’ Dimitri said in as sweet a voice as he could muster to the child.

                “Mother. Where is she?” Owyn asked.

Dimitri’s eyes flashed in a fashion Owyn found shockingly like that of the devil, “I haven’t seen her all day. I do not know. Leave me, boy. I have things I must do.”

And with that he disappeared, leaving Owyn grimacing right after him.

 

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                Owyn sat outside on a big green-checkered blanket with his tutor, Kossin. Kossin was giving Owyn his lessons for the day. He had Owyn drawing a picture of a human skeleton as he lectured about anatomy, science and evolution.

                “Kossin, I have a question,” Owyn put down his drawing charcoal and held up his sketch, “What are shoulder blades for?”

                “I am really not sure, but,” Kossin smiled and went on, “My mother used to tell Safter and I that the shoulder blade was where your wings were when you were an angel.”

                “Is that true?” Owyn asked as he eyed the picture again, “Sure it isn’t a silly fairy tale for children?”

                “Who knows? It’s just a story my mother told me. Maybe it is, maybe no,” Kossin shrugged, “Keep drawing.”

                Owyn shrugged as well and took up his charcoal again.

                “Kossin?” he said after a while.

                “Yes, what is it now?”

                “Was I an angel?” he asked, his big blue eyes wandering up to the lazily drifting clouds above.

                “Of course you were,” Kossin smiled, “A boy like you must have been. Just have to take one look!”

                “And Mother?”

                “Yes,” Kossin smiled and also let his eyes wander up to the blue heavens, “the most radiant of all.”

                Owyn paused a moment before going on, “…. Father too?”

                “Now that…” Kossin fumbled the scroll he was holding, “… that is a story for another day.”

                They sat in silence for a while, until Karmi came happily across the gardens, her purple mane billowing in the breeze.

                “You boys are working so hard, I brought you lunch to eat outside,” Karmi’s voice echoed across the courtyard. She was holding a large tray, covered with a vast array of foods. There were damson cream covered cakes, and honeyed fruits. A huge loaf of bread and three large wedges of cheese stood amid it all, flanked by two tall flasks of cider. She set the tray between the two boys and sat down.

                “Where’s mother?” Owyn asked as he reached for a slice of the cake.

                “She went out for a walk,” Karmi said as she buttered herself a large hunk of soft white bread.

                “Oh,” Owyn said as he began to devour the cake, “Well can she join us?”

                “She seemed as though she could’ve really used the time alone, dear,” Karmi said as she sipped from one of the flasks, “She has a lot on her mind lately, and I think she just wants some time alone to think.”

                “Mother seems so sad,” Owyn mused, “Is it something I did?”

                “No, dear. She’s just… just… lost a lot in life,” Karmi hung her head, and she worried she might have even said too much.

                Strife, who had been perched in a nearby tree, glided down to where they all gathered, and waddled over to where Owyn sat, with his cake. The sleek blue falcon grabbed the cake in her golden beak and scuttled off with it.

                “Get back here with my cake!” Owyn cried as he shook an angry fist at the bird as he got to his knees.

                Strife swallowed the cake morsel and clicked her tongue as she gobbled down the rest of the stolen pastry, reprimanding Owyn all the while, “You’ll get fat as a real hog if you keep up your current eating habits, Owyn.”

                “I know, hush, hush,” Owyn waved her off as he reached for more food. Kossin shook his head. It just seemed no matter how much the boy inhaled, he was still lank and thin as a rail. Safter was like that too.

                “I think it’s nice how you and Strife have such a tight bond,” Karmi suddenly said with a smile, “I always thought birds were magical… like they understood people for who they were.”

                “This old squawking ball of feathers?” Owyn pointed at Strife, crumbs of cake falling onto his clean white tunic, as he spoke, “She doesn’t get me at all. Can’t even let a poor boy have a decent meal.”

                “Just don’t want another fat king,” Strife grumbled.

                “Yes, but, she still loves you, and is your friend, just as you love her, and are a friend to her,” Karmi smiled, “I think that’s really beautiful. It’s a special thing you won’t get anywhere else, a friend. Treasure every one you make, for one can’t have too many.”

                She smiled, but then she doubled over, dropping her bread. Kossin reached out to grab her as she slumped over, and he pulled her back up into sitting position. She looked considerably paler then before, in a rather sickly and unhealthy way.

                “Better get her inside and lay her down,” Strife said, pecking Kossin’s foot.

                “Yeah,” Owyn nodded as he stood to help Kossin carry the suddenly weak girl inside.

 

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                Zelda was riding her horse along the seashore. It was the same place she and Link had spent one of their last intimate moments together. And it was also the place where Dimitri had destroyed her life by taking Link away from her.

                She dismounted the horse and tied it to a nearby tree. Then, hiking up her skirts and petticoats, she walked through the tall wheat shoots toward the water’s edge. She took off her shoes and let the cool water splash on her feet as it gently rolled in and out with the waves. And she smiled, for the first time that day.

                A voice suddenly floated up behind her, as though on wings. Only one person can sing as beautifully as that….  Zelda spun around, digging her heal in the soft wet sand, anxious as to whom she might see. It wasn’t the one she had expected at all though. Sitting on the large rock that sat in the exact place all of those memories Link generated form, was a singing minstrel. He wore nothing but a short white tunic embroidered with tiny swirling patterns. On his head was a floppy white hat that covered his eyes and shadowed his face.

                When he caught sight of Zelda, he stopped singing, and looked her up and down. Hopping off the boulder, he strode through the wheat fields to the beach, where the queen stood, wondering what to make of the stranger.

                He bowed slightly, and said with a laugh, “Good day, fair lady. You enjoy my singing?”

                Zelda just nodded. His voice sounds just like… no… it can’t be….

                “I am called Pan,” the minstrel went on, “And what’s your name, fair lady?”

                “Z-Zelda,” she choked out. He was so… familiar. But she knew the person she associated with him was dead. No, there’s no way this could be… my Link.

                Pan was still smiling at her, “Zelda. Lovely name. Why the long face? Chin up now! What’s wrong, fair lady?”

                “Just thinking,” Zelda said quickly. It wasn’t a lie; she just hoped he wouldn’t ask just what was troubling her. She didn’t want to tell anyone her life story, and bring back so many sorrowful and angry memories.

                “Ah,” Pan put his hands on his hips and said with another hearty laugh, “I get it. You’re thinking about someone, aren’t you?”

                Zelda went pale, “Yeah, you guessed it,” she said in a quiet voice.

                “Hmmm,” Pan crossed one foot over the other and put his hands behind his head, “Let me guess. You’re some kind of girl whose father is some bloke high in social status and you’re the type of lass who likes to run off with your friends who happen to all be chaps of lesser class, and of course your father won’t take it. Next thing you know, you’ve fallen in love with one of your poorer friends and your dad wants you marry some jolly spiffin’ prince from who knows where. So whatta ya do? Well…” he trailed off.

                “Damn, you’re good,” Zelda said with an awkward smile.

                “Wow, you mean I’m right?” Pan jumped at least a foot into the air, “Whoo-hooo! My genius strikes again!”

                Zelda laughed, “You’re funny, I like you. You remind me of….”

                Pan cocked his head to the side, “Of…?”

                “Of…of no one important,” Zelda shook her head and looked off at the sea, “Never mind.”

                “Well it’s gotta be someone who means something to you,” Pan said, crossing his arms over his chest now.

                Zelda smiled at the thought of Link, “Maybe…”

                “…And I reckon he’s someone special?” Pan cocked his head more, so it was nearly upside down, “After all, he’s like me.”

                That sarcasm… oh god, the likeness in personality is… uncanny….

                “You don’t wanna hear my stories about my…”

                “Lover?” Pan interrupted.

                “Yeah,” Zelda nodded sheepishly, “It’d bore you to death. Guys don’t care about girl problems.”

                “Wow, I guessed right again?” Pan looked proud of himself. Then he dropped his cynical attitude, and said in a soft voice, “But Zelda…”

                “No… it would just bring back unhappy memories,” she mused, “I don’t want to burden myself anymore then I have to.”

                “But… I’m sure there are happy memories too. It can’t be all bad!” Pan smiled again and offered his hand. As she took it, he sat down, wrenching her down on the sandy beach too, “Now you have to talk. You aren’t gonna leave ‘till you do!”

                Zelda laughed, blushing a little, “Maybe another day….”

                “No, now!” Pan seemed like a little boy; he seemed like… Link.

                “Oh, all right,” Zelda said. She looked out at the sea, “Well, a long time ago… ‘bout seven years or so, I had a friend. And he was my best friend; just the most wonderful person anyone could hope to spend time with…”

                “Why’s that?” Pan asked. He was reclining on his elbows, quite ready for a good long story indeed.

                “He was funny, and courageous. His heart was pure. No evil could penetrate him. I don’t think he’s ever done a single thing wrong. He was just, amazing…. And one day… I-I fell in love with him.”

                “O-oh,” Pan said with a big grin, “Getting go-o-od.”

                “Do you wanna hear or not,” Zelda said in a abrasive voice, “Hush up!”

                Pan nodded vigorously, an innocent smile once again on his shadowed face.

                “A-and it seemed that the moment I found him, I lost him, just like that,” Zelda snapped her fingers for effect, “He meant everything to me… a friend, lover, everything I ever needed in a person… and even though it was… so long ago… he still does... mean the world to me.”

                “So your all married with kids now?” Pan said casually.

                “Married, yes, to an evil son of a bitch, evil and vile. He treats my son with such cruelty… me too. I hate it. I wish the boy’s real father were here. He’d know what to do.”

                “Your lover-friend,” Pan cut in again.

                Zelda sighed, a smile on her face, “Yeah…”

                “Don’t worry, Zel. You will see him again,” Pan said in a hushed voice as he suddenly stood.

                “What? Are you mad? He is dead,” Zelda let her eyes wander to the ground.

                “But you are wrong! He lives!” Pan said in a prophetic voiced.

                Zelda turned to look up at him, bewildered, but he was gone.

                “Is it… true?” she whispered to herself, “Does Link walk the earth?”

 

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                Karmi lay on her bed, swaddled in warm blankets, coughing and breathing harshly, the Hylian sky painted orange and purple. She was rapidly growing paler and weaker by the second, and even Kossin couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the ailing girl.

                “Karmi, what happened?” he asked for what seemed to be the thousandth time.

                “D-dunno,” Karmi sputtered out, “Just became really, really weak all of a sudden. Just like that… dunno… why….”

                Kossin shook his head sadly and held her hand, not knowing what to do. Owyn sat in a chair off in the corner, Strife settled in his lap as he stroked her affectionately.

                “Damn! I hate this!” Kossin buried his head in his hands, “I-I just don’t know what to do! It came so quickly. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with her, but now…. Oh what kind of evil is this?!”

                “Kossin?” Karmi whispered, “Am I gonna die?”

                Kossin looked over at her, his eyes filled with tears, “I don’t know, Karmi, dear. Please just hold on ‘till I figure out the problem. Please.”

                “Okay,” Karmi smiled, “I’ll wait for you. I will stay alive for you… so you can figure it out and heal me.”

                Kossin nodded his head, “Yes, yes, do that. For me, live, Karmi.”

 

                Zelda came to see Karmi a little later. Kossin still sat by her bedside, holding her hand, and watching her labored breathing.

                “What is it? What’s wrong with her?” Zelda cried as she flung herself at Karmi’s side.

                “We don’t know,” Kossin said, trying to choke back his tears, “She seemed so healthy… until she just toppled over a few hours ago. Been like this ever since.”

                “Don’t worry, Karmi,” Zelda consoled her soothingly, “It’ll be okay. Kossin’ll make it better. He’s the best physician I know. He will make you better, I swear.”

                “But what if he can’t?” Karmi choked out softly, “Will I die?”

                Zelda averted Karmi’s large questioning eyes, and then said quietly, “He has to be able to. He just has to.”

                The door creaked open as another visitor entered the tiny room. But Zelda was none too glad to see the man who had arrived. It was her godforsaken husband, Dimitri, his face rosy and his lips gleaming red.

                “What are you doing here?” Zelda snapped.

                “I wish to see the girl. To give her my hopes for… for the best,” he said in a sugared voice.

                “Since when did you care about those inferior to you?” Zelda frowned, “Leave the poor girl be.”

                “Actually, it is in her best interests I see her. I am her only hope,” Dimitri retorted coldly, “Her life is in my hands… as is all of yours. I control the fate of every puny soul in the world.”

                “Awfully self-centered,” Zelda said with a snigger.

                “Get out,” he shouted suddenly at Zelda, “All of you. Leave me with her.”

                Zelda looked at Karmi with forgiving eyes and she and Kossin hurried out of the room before Dimitri’s awful temper blew out of proportion.

                “Tell me, Zelda,” Kossin mused, sitting down in a high-backed mahogany chair outside of the room, “What is this dream of an angel you say you’ve been having? Owyn think he saw one.”

                “It is quite… strange,” she muttered, “He would materialize out of the moonlight and stay with me through the night, and whisper to me. It’s peaceful… almost like… it were Link….”

                “Link, eh?” Kossin smiled, “There is a good chance it might be. Do you see his face?”

                “He is hooded,” Zelda replied.

                “Oh. Well, if you pray, he might appear to you. Zelda, both you and I know that Link is the Chosen Hero because he has a pure heart. He must be an angel. I know it.”

                “Do you… think so?”

                “Honestly, Zelda, I believe it,” Kossin said as he let his eyes wander out the window.

                “I don’t like to leave her alone with him,” Zelda said angrily with a nod towards the door, as she changed the subject to Karmi.

                “Nor do I,” muttered Kossin.

                “Do you still think…?” Zelda fingered the door handle.

                “Hmm?”

                “Remember what you told me a really long time ago?” Zelda stared at the floor now, “It was quite some time ago. About that wretched husband?”

                “Oh, yes. What about it?” he looked puzzled.

                “Perhaps…” Zelda began, but then she stopped, tears welling up in her eyes, “No… no, it can’t be. I refuse to believe he could’ve gotten to her… that he could truly be… a Vampire. I-I refuse to believe it.”

                “But it’s a good point, Zelda,” Kossin said, trying to meet her gaze, “Maybe he did. Oh, but there is almost no hope if it is so. I pray it is not true but… there is a good chance… it is.”

                “No…” Zelda still refused to listen to the logic of he own reason. She began to cry and slowly turned to leave, “No…”

                She took off down the hall, tripping on her petticoats as she went, and fraying the fabric on her heals as she stumbled over the floor. Tears streamed form her eyes as she ran off to a place where she could be alone. Bursting through the oak door of the servant’s entrance, she dashed down a stone pathway to the foot of a huge tree.

                Oh, how she loved this place, longed for this place. So many memories were here… memories of Link. She could almost hear their voices as the memories came flooding back to her.

 

 “Zel, don’t worry, I’ll come back here!”

 

“Huh? Link what do you mean?”

 

“If you ever need me, come here, to this place, and I’ll be here, waiting for you so…”

 

“For what? Link, you can’t be there for me all the time.”

 

“Trust me. If you come here, you’ll find me. I shall find a way to come to you.”

 

“Link…?”

“I promise….”

 

                Zelda remembered that day. He had promised that he’d always be there for her. Can he find a way even in death? Could Pan have been telling the truth? Does Link really live again? I don’t want to lose yet another person dear to me. Why must it be I who loses those most precious to me? Will I lose…Owyn too?

                The wind blew, rustling her hair and the yellowing autumn leaves of the tree. It became still, so quiet, one could hear the very breath of the angels in his ear.

 

“And I’d give up forever to touch you,

‘Cause I know that you feel me somehow,

You’re the closest heaven that I’ll ever be,

And I don’t wanna go home right now.”

 

                A beautiful male voice floated on the breeze. Hearing it, Zelda became wide eyed with amazement and looked around for the source of the beautiful song.

                A figure emerged form behind the tree, none other then Pan, the strange minstrel she had met earlier that day.

                “What are you doing here?” Zelda said, her eyes wide with wonder. She felt herself frozen to the spot, her eyes unable to leave him. He said nothing, but walked forward, still singing.

 

“And all I can taste is this moment,

And all I can breathe is your love,

And sooner or later, it’s over,

I just don’t wanna miss you tonight.”

 

                She could feel his eyes on her, watching her with lust. As he approached, his short white tunic, as though by divine magic, grew longer, becoming a long hooded white garment with long baggy sleeves and flowing robe that fell over his sandaled feet. His face was still shadowed, although now by the hood of his robe instead of the floppy cap. And then, the most phenomenal thing Zelda had ever seen happened; from Pan’s back, sprouted huge white feathered wings, unfurling behind him with a soft glow of light. There he was, the figure from her dreams.

                “Who are you?” Zelda asked, her voice quiet with awe.

 

And I don’t want the whole world to see me,

‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand,

When everything’s made to be broken,

I just want you to know who I am.”

 

                “Who… what are you?” Zelda choked out.

                He came closer, winding his arms around her waist. Zelda broke from his grasp in fright. She didn’t want to betray Link. She had sworn she would let no man touch her unless he was Link.

                “Why do you fear me, Zelda?” he whispered, his voice was soft, like the low sensual growls of a cat, “Have you forgotten me?”

                “Pan? What did you do to Pan? You can’t be him! What do you want from me?” Zelda didn’t care if the being before her was indeed a creature of good or evil; she would not let him have her! She backed closer to the tree, soon, her back pressed against the hard bark of the tree’s strong trunk.

                “You are right, I am not Pan,” the angel glided closer to her, pressing his body against hers, and pinning her to the tree, “Pan is but a figment of your imagination. I am the true embodiment of the one called Pan.”

                “DO NOT TOUCH ME!” she cried out in her strongest voice, “I shall let only one man hold me and he is dead!”

                “As am I, yet I live,” the angel whispered, “I come to be with you. So why do you shun me?”

                “Prove to me you are one I can trust,” Zelda commanded.

                “You have not changed, my princess,” the angel suddenly scooped her up into his arms and took flight, flying up to the sturdy limbs of the old tree.

                “Let me go!” Zelda slapped the angel across the face as he set her down on a branch. He faltered and reached up to touch his cheek, where she had smacked him.

                “Violent still,” the angel chuckled as he straddled the branch so he was sitting opposite Zelda, “You always were a feisty one.”

                “I will ask you again,” Zelda sucked in her breath and said calmly, “What do you want from me? Why are you trying to hold me? If you knew me, you would know I would allow only one to touch me, and he is called Link.”

                The angel slowly reached for his hood, drawing it back with a flick of his wrist, and the sight Zelda beheld left her speechless. Thick blonde locks tumbled over the chiseled features of a beautiful youth. His calm blue eyes glimmered with a spark Zelda had seen in only one man. Here he was, before her, an angel, her lover, Link.  

                “I… I cannot believe my eyes!” Zelda gasped and reached out with curious fingers, exploring his hard face, “Is it really… you?”

                A single tear fell down Link’s cheek as he took her hand and pressed it against his face, “Yeah… it’s me. I’ve wanted to hold you for so long!”

                “I just can’t believe it. It was you who protected me in the night. All this time, you were at my side… just like you promised…”

                “Have I ever lied to you?” he asked her as he took her hand in his and stroked her knuckles, just as he had done in the wine cellar, years ago.

                She shook her head ‘no,’ and then she flung her arms around his neck, burying her face in the folds of his collar.

                Then he said with a smile, “You still wear my ring. You always liked that thing.”

                She pulled sat up and said with a grin, “Of course I kept it. It’s the only thing I have that reminds me of you, you inane hero.”

                “You’re saying that you would have forgotten me otherwise?” he pretended to look hurt, “How is that possible? I’m your oldest friend!”

                “No!” she laughed, pulling herself closer against his neck, “I could never forget you. Never. How could I forget my… lover?”

                He smiled, “I figured as much.”

                Zelda nodded, her eyes beginning to water as well. She nearly fell out of the tree as she flung herself onto Link’s muscular body again. He slid his arms around her tiny waist and whispered, “I have come to avenge everyone dear to me. You, Owyn, Kossin and Safter, Karmi, Arutho and the others… all of them have suffered so much because of one man. And I shall kill him.”

                Zelda’s eyes grew wide as she heard his mission, “We shall help you with your quest. We shall protect you, love.”

                “Mmmm, will you now?” he muttered as he pulled her closer.

                “Yeah,” she whispered.

                They held each other in mutual embrace for a while, savoring each other in silence, when Link felt her crying. Her tears were so many in number, they soaked through his robes and wet his skin, “What is it, Zel? Why are you crying?”

                “I was just thinking of Karmi, Link,” she said softly, “She’s really ill and Kossin doesn’t know what to do. He’s tearing himself to shreds over it and I’m afraid… I’m afraid Karmi might die.”

                “You are aware she has become victim of the Vampire?” Link said solemnly.

                “So it’s true, then?” Zelda sat up.

                Link nodded gravely, “That evil creature will destroy so much by taking her life. It not only destroys the life of that lovely girl, but the lives of all those who hold her dear and those dear to her. And he won’t stop until he has plagued all the people of Hyrule in the same manner. It has truly begun, and it is beginning with, you, love.”

                “What do we do?” Zelda shook Link franticly, “I can’t bear to lose any more people who I love!”

                “I don’t know yet, Zelda,” Link looked down past his dangling feet at the ground far below, “I’ll think of something, don’t worry. I always seem to figure these things out somehow.”

                “I believe in you, Link,” Zelda smiled at him, “I trust you’ll find a way to defeat this Evil. You always do.”

                “Yeah,” he said quietly. Then he looked up at her and said, “Zelda….”

                “Hmm?”

                “Go to her. Console her. Her as well as my son and my friends,” Link held her chin in his hand, “Her time runs short. Comfort her while I think of a way to save her soul.”

                Zelda nodded, “Will I see you again?”

                “No doubt,” he smiled, “You will be mine once more.”

                And with those words, he brought her back to the garden soil and then took flight once more on his beautiful white wings, leaving Zelda to fight the evils consuming the world around her with a new Hope.

 

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                Owyn stealthily followed behind his mother as she made her way to Karmi’s room. Kossin had forbidden him to see Karmi, for fear that the prince might fall ill too. Owyn, quite distraught over Karmi’s condition, wanted to hear if there had been any progress in her recovery at all. He had reasoned that his mother might say something that would lift his spirits and soothe his raging heart.

                As the door closed behind his mother, Owyn crept up and pressed his eye against the keyhole. Peering through, he beheld his mother taking a seat next to Karmi’s bed. She took her hand and held it. Then she began to speak to her in a voice so hushed and gentle, Owyn had to strain his ears to hear her properly.

                “Feeling better, dear?” Zelda said quietly as she ran her fingers through Karmi’s thick tresses of hair. The purple color was beginning to wan, as was the rosy hue in her skin.

                  “I suppose so,” Karmi replied quietly, averting Zelda’s eyes and letting her eyes wander out the window to the deep blue night sky. A great harvest moon hung in the sky, a cloud floating in front of it.

                “Oh,” Zelda let her gaze wander out the window as well.

                “Princess?” Karmi said suddenly.

                “Yes?” Zelda looked back down at her.

                “I was watching out the window today. Outside, it was beautiful today,” Karmi began.

                “Yes, yes it was,” Zelda held the poor girl’s hand tighter. Is she going mad? Rambling?

                “And I watched the leaves fall off the trees, and the wind play with the flowers,” she went on, “And I saw the city light up when the sun went down, and I heard the happy people enjoying the beautiful day…”

                “It sounds lovely,” Zelda said in a comforting voice, “I’m sure you want to get better so you can laugh with all those people too.”

                “Yes, and I will make Kossin a big meal, so he could eat with me, and enjoy the many beautiful days in this land.”

                “I think Kossin would like that very much,” Zelda said with a smile, “He likes to spend time with you alone, did you know?”

                “No, it wouldn’t be only us. Owyn and Safter could come, because we couldn’t eat it all by ourselves,” Karmi blathered on, her blank eyes glimmering a bit, giving her complexion her happy glow back for a brief time.

                Outside the door, Owyn licked his lips at the thought of Karmi’s exquisite cooking.

                “… And you would come. And you would bring Link with you,” Karmi looked Zelda straight in the eye for the first time since she had began speaking.

                “…Would I?” Zelda said shakily.

                Owyn suddenly stopped thinking about his stomach and listened more intently. Here was another chance to learn about Link. He would then have to go and read more of his mother’s diary. All that he knew so far from his mother’s writings was that Link was a hero who had saved Hyrule countless times over, as well as a dear close friend.

                “Yeah,” Karmi smiled weakly, “And we would all be as happy as you were today, when you saw him again.”

                Zelda’s eyes grew wide, “How did you know…. He did come. He’s an angel, now.”

                Owyn’s eyes grew wide, his jaw hanging open. He made a mental note to ask Kossin about angels too. Then he remembered the angel that had visited him that once a few days ago. Was he Link? He had an ocarina. Maybe he was. What if he was? So many questions flooded Owyn’s mind as he continued to listen on.

                Karmi nodded slightly, “I know, princess. I saw him too. He held you close. I smiled too. I was happy to see him. He’ll know what to do to save me.”

                “He said he would. He swore it,” Zelda smiled as she ran her hand through Karmi’s hair again.

                “Uh huh,” Karmi smiled, then paused for moment before speaking again, “I’m tired now. Can I sleep now?”

                “Yes, yes,” Zelda nodded, “You should get some rest. Close your eyes, and we’ll see you in the morning.”

                “Bring Owyn?” Karmi asked.

                “Yes, I’ll… I’ll bring Owyn,” Zelda said as she stood. She headed for the door. Owyn quickly stood up and ran down the hall, making a sharp right and streaking into his room before his mother could see he had been spying.

Now to answer some of those questions…. he thought as he sat down at his writing table, yanking out his mother’s diary and leafed through till he got to the part where he left off last.

 

 

                “Last night, oh, how could I begin to describe it? It was the most magnificent night of my life. I shall not forget the night nor the way Link loved me for the rest of the days I walk this earth. It was the night of my engagement to that damn prince, Dimitri. Father had thrown an extravagant ball, and I could swear, just about every noble and lady was there. There was a huge feast with the finest of foods and a marvelous dance in the ballroom afterwards. I am sure this is how just about everyone who was there described it as. But that is not why it was wonderful for me. Actually, for most of the celebration, I was miserable. I hated what the festivities stood for, and I hated the votes of good luck and such that I got form nearly every person I walked by. During the dancing, I took a breath of fresh air, and stood out on the balcony. I heard his voice before I saw him. And when I did, I was elated. I knew that he’d make the night worthwhile, because he was always the entertaining type, funny and kind. He had come dressed in waistcoat and a bunch of lace at his neck. I had never seen him dressed so nicely, though he still looked ‘roughish,’ as my father would have put it. He climbed the vines up the balcony and hopped over the fence, and we danced for a while until we became bored of the party and we left. Soon, we found ourselves in my room, me sitting on my bed, and he, stretched out on a wood chair. He looked adorable. He sang to me and soon I fell asleep in his arms. I dreamt a dream, and its meanings are still unclear to me, but when I awoke, I was in my bed, and he was sleeping next to me his arms encircling me warmly. And he told me, that he loved me. I guess it was then I realized it for sure. I loved him too. And that night, we made love until our bodies were too weak to love each other anymore. I pray I shall have him on his back like that again, because it is that way I feel I can express my feelings best.”

 

                “Oh my dear Faore,” Owyn slowly closed the book, “I had no idea this thing was so scandalous! I guess that’s why mother never speaks of Link. Maybe when I’m older, she will. I hope she does, because I want my mother to be happy, and not to have any trouble. She doesn’t deserve that.”

                “I told you to keep your nose out of your mother’s life!” Strife snapped as she pecked Owyn sharply on the foot.

                “Shut up Strife!” Owyn put the book down, “So he was her lover, huh?”

                “Yeah,” Strife whispered, “And that’s as far as you’ll learn, Owyn.”

 

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                Zelda closed the door of her room with a heavy sigh. She was quite worried about Karmi. But the ailing child had been correct about one thing, that Link would know how to save her. Zelda believed it with all her heart.

                She stood before her full-length mirror and began to slowly undress, contemplating Karmi’s health all the while as well as the other events of the day. As she pulled the dark green velvet off of her shoulders, she noticed something in her mirror. The bodice of the dress fell from her hands and the garment hung from her waist, as she looked deeper into the mirror. Beyond her own refection, was that of the huge bed. And lying in the bed was the form of a person. Zelda turned around, and sure enough, he was really there. She let the dress fall completely off her, and she slowly made her way to the bedside. The sleeping form was none other then Link who rested on his side, his head cradled in one arm. His hand was curled slightly, resting on the pillow and his other arm fell lazily over his side. One of his soft white feathered wings was draped over his body, the other trailing out behind him over the rest of the bed. He was naked, the sheets thrown over his beautiful body, although they didn’t cover much, and left most of him exposed.

                “Hello there, cutie,” she murmured as she sat down, tracing his muscled arm. She leaned over and kissed his neck, and he stirred slightly under her lips. As she sat back up, his eyes fluttered open, and he smiled up at her.

                “How is she?” he murmured as he rolled onto his back, the sheets falling completely off his divine body, reveling all of him at last. She had almost forgotten just how beautiful he truly was. After all these years, her eyes were finally able to gaze upon his glorious body.

                “She says she feels the same, but I think she looks even worse. She’s lost all her coloring. It’s almost like she were Death,” Zelda said sadly as she lay down on his hard muscular chest.

                He pulled her down next to him on the bed, “Remember, the Vampire is like Death. He brings it with ease.”

                “Yeah,” she sighed as she looped her arms around his torso.

                “But, princess,” he went on.

                “Hmm? What is it baby,” she said, her mind finding serenity.

                “I want you to try not to think about it right now,” he said softly, “Tonight I want you to only think of me.”

                “Naughty boy,” she crawled on top of him, “That’s what you’re after, huh? Well I suppose if that’s what makes you happy, we’ll just have to abide by your wish.”

                “Shhh, darling,” he touched her lips to silence her, “That’s better.”

                She held his fingers on her mouth, pressing them against her lips, kissing the tips gently, “You know, it’s hard to imagine that these hands that are loving me now, are the very same that destroyed Ganondorf, and are the very same that shall smite the Evils roaming Hyrule now.”

                He said nothing, but let his mouth crack into a pleased smile, and allowed her to love his hands more. She kissed his palms and then let her tongue fly between each of his fingers, taking each one into her mouth and sucking each one with gentle love.

                “God, how I missed having you like this,” he purred as she slowly laid his hand back on the pillow and then take the other, loving it as she had the first, “I’d watch you every night and I’d have to restrain myself from waking you so I could have you once more.”

                She laced her own fingers through his when she was done kissing his hand and pinned it down to the bed, letting her lips find his and whispered before she laid a passionate kiss upon his mouth, “Did you, now? But you at least crawled into bed with me and slept here, did you not?”

                “Uh huh,” he admitted, “But I would always wish I could do more then simply sleep at your side. I wanted to kiss you and love you… but I couldn’t. The Three Goddesses forbade it until I would come to seek revenge for my death. I had tow wait seven long years for it, and now…” he trailed off and pulled her closer to him.

                “Yes… now?” she urged him to continue.

                “Now I have returned to avenge all those dear to me, though tonight… I shall not let my mind worry about anyone but you,” he smiled devilishly.

                “Is that so, Hero?”

                “Yes, ‘tis so,” he closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of being with his love once again, “Now I can love you with the body of a god.”

                “You always had a godly body, Link,” she grinned at him, her smile just as devilish as his.

                He let his fingers creep around her, and he pinned her down against him, holding her as close as he could get her and whispered lovingly into her ears.

                “Mmmm, now that I am here, let me have you,” he said.

                “Do your worst, love,” she replied in a teasing voice.

                “Oh, I shall. You can be assured of that,” and as he said those words, he rolled her on her back and pinned her at the shoulders, just as he had done so long ago, the first time they had made love.

                They kissed again and again, rolling all over the bed, becoming entwined with the sheets. Link wrapped his soft wings around them both, and pressed her against him with his powerful strength. Pretty soon, Link and his princess found themselves exchanging their most intimate love with each other. Throughout the night, they groaned, crying out each other’s names into the cool night, until the day broke.

 

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                Dimitri closed the door to Karmi’s room behind him. It was midnight, and the castle had fallen asleep. It was during these hours of darkness that Dimitri felt most alive. He roamed through the palace during the dead of the night, feasting on whatever he had missed during the day. As he gazed upon Karmi’s pale and weak body spread out on the bed, he licked his lips. He would have her again, and she wouldn’t live for long. Soon she would take her place among the others who had fallen victim to his nightly visits.              

                Over the years, there had been a great deal of mysterious deaths in the kingdom. Corpses with slashed throats turned up all over the kingdom with no trace of any killer. And now, he would soon have completed yet another murder, “I think it is amusing to see the way that damn Zelda frets over her like this. It causes much pain to her and everyone around her. I hope they are all miserable.”

                “A delicious meal,” he sighed as he approached the bed. He sat on the mattress and ran his cold white fingers through Karmi’s violet locks. He smiled, baring his shinning dagger-like fangs between deep red lips. Leaning over her, he brushed her hair from her neck, and then pressed his sharp canines against her snowy flesh. Sinking into her, he found himself enjoying the taste of her warm blood. When he had taken his fill, he drew back, pulling her hair back over her neck to cover the two tiny wounds on her neck. He smiled as he chuckled to himself, “Yet another worthless soul soon to be under my command.”

                He continued to chuckle as he raised his wrist to his mouth. Then with one swift movement, he slashed his flesh open with his sharp fangs. The blood poured out over his palm in hot rivulets of crimson as he raised Karmi up into a sitting position. “Drink,” he hissed as he shoved his wrist to her lips.

                Barely awake, Karmi’s mouth sought the blood. She latched her hands onto his arm and pressed the wound against her lips, her tongue lapping back up the blood that had moments ago flowed through her own body. Dimitri had a cold smile as she drank the tainted blood greedily.

                He wrenched his hand away. Karmi reached out for it, trying in vain to take more blood from him. He smiled, “Not yet, fledgling. When you rise again, you shall drink again. Enjoy your last night alive. By tomorrow, you’ll have died.”

 

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                Zelda awoke the next morning, kissed Link’s brow as he slept on, and crawled out of bed. She threw on a dressing gown and went to ready herself for the day in her bathroom. She hadn’t wished to disturb Link as he slumbered. He looked so innocent and beautiful sleeping there, surrounded by pillows and blank