Death By Princess {Complete}

CH 35

Zelda and Eli have been riding for sometime. She acts like she knows where they're going but to be honest, she really isn't sure. She just knew she had to take Eli and escape. Another thing she knows is that she needs to get Eli somewhere safe. Somewhere where Gannondorf cannot get his blood lust hands. Then she has to ensure Link's safety and then...

I think that we can only ensure our safety if Gannondorf isn't in the picture, though I'm not sure how that's possible.

"Missus!" says Eli. "Someone is up ahead."

Zelda gasps and and conceals Eli's face under her cloak. "Listen to me, Eli. Be as still and silent as you can. Your life literally depends on it."

"What?" he says with fright, poking his head from the cloak.

"You'll be fine, just so what I say and don't move an inch. Hold your breath if you have to."

Eyes still fearful, he puts his head back, doing exactly what he's asked.

As the oncoming horse and carriage draws closer, Zelda softens her gaze and murmurs a prayer to the goddesses. Something she hasn't done in a while.

"Ouch!" says Eli. "You shocked me."

"Shhh."

"Queen Zelda! What on Earth are you doing on your own? Are you alright? You look awful!" says the guard.

"We can't find Elule anywhere! Please tell me she's with you?"

The guard's eyes widen and it's obvious he is wracking his brain to ensure he didn't miss any orders.

"No. No, my Queen. I was told that she was with you and her father."

Zelda bursts into tears. She wishes she was acting but the pain of what she witnessed only hours ago is still fresh.

"Please! You must check the carriage at once! I need to know she isn't hiding again."

"Of- of course. At once!" He hops off the horse and opens the carriage door which reveals Link's concern and Lillian's annoyance. When the guard turns his back, Zelda jumps off the horse.

"Did you traitors see a girl hiding back there? If you're lying, you can bet on a death sentence."

Link and Lillian look at one another, unsure what they're supposed to say and then shake their heads.

"I'm sorry, my Queen, she isn't back here. Are you sure that...huh?"

He stops mid sentence startled to see a child on the horse and Zelda directly behind him, a vendetta surging in her eyes.

Zelda quickly puts her hand to his throat and with that releases all her energy into the palm of her hand which extends to his own flesh. His body begins to convulse and he falls to the ground.

"What the--" says Eli.

Link jumps out of the carriage. Zelda notices his shackles and takes the keys from the guard's pocket and unshackles Link and Lillian.

"What's going on?" says Link.

"Eli and I escaped Gannondorf. And so have you... for now."

"Dad!" Eli says jumping off the horse and runs into his father's arms. "It turns out that your friend Zelda is really my mom. Can you believe it?"

Link hugs him back, relieved that he has finally been reunited with his son. Lillian smiles wearily and waits for him to greet her. She frowns when he stands by his father's side and smiles gleefully at Zelda, totally oblivious to Lillian's presence.

"Link. I have to ask a favor of you. Something I should have asked of you when you were the castle's knight." Tears spill from her eyes and she takes a moment to collect herself.

"You were our only hope then and you still are. Will you... help me end Gannondorf and bring normalcy to the lands?"

Link is caught off guard and then he smiles. "Finally," he says covering his eyes with his hand.

"We are all going to have to ride together. Link, are you comfortable riding the horse?"

"Seriously?" says Lillian. "Can't at least I fly solo?"

"No," says Zelda looking at the body on the ground. "I didn't kill him and I don't want him to be left out here indefinitely. I'll leave him the horse."

"What did you do to him, exactly?" says Link looking at the near lifeless body.

Zelda looks at her hands. "It's been a while since I have harnessed my divine powers. Perhaps they have returned with a vengeance." The feeling of pent up electricity wasn't something she had ever experienced before. She wonders if age has allowed her to unleash other abilities...

"Anyways, Link. Will you ride?" she asks again.

He hesitates. He feels awkward for the women to be alone in the carriage but he knows those details are irrelevant and petty at this time.

He nods. "You three get in the carriage, But Zelda... ius Elule really missing?"

She looks away quickly and Link knows something is wrong. She motions to get in the carriage but Link grabs her arm.

"What happened??" says Link.

When Zelda turns her face to him, he is taken aback by the grief that is plastered over her face. Real and recent.

"Not now, Link," she says. He lets her go and watches her as she boards the carriage.

He mounts the horse and gives the others a few moments to settle inside before he whips the horse's reins and canters on, but the only thing he can think about is that little girl and what might have happened to her.

Lillian and Zelda are sitting across from one another and Eli looks from one woman to the other. He feels more comfortable around Lillian but... will he ever see his birth mother again? He settles to sit with Zelda, though he wouldn't snuggle up to her like he would Lillian.

Zelda looks out the window closest to her while Lillian looks at the opposite window. It's awkward for her, to say the least.  Slowly her eyes moves from Eli to Zelda. It's obvious that she had endured a lot of pain throughout her life. Then again, so did Lillian but she made an effort not to hurt those she loved because of it. She isn't about to develop a soft spot for the woman who can take her phantom family at any moment she wants.

Lillian sighs. "Whatever happened out there... can we help fix it?"

"This is something that cannot be fixed," says Zelda without turning her head nor showing any expression.

Lillian's blood begins to boil in the moments of silence. "Listen, I don't know how long we are going to have to be in each other's company but let's not make it harder by--"

"Shhh," says Eli who points at the sleeping Zelda.  Her mouth is hanging open and she looks like she aged in the matter of moments. Lillian wonders what in the world she might be dreaming about. But to Zelda's pleasant surprise, she enters a dreamless sleep.