Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/4292679.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Skyward_Sword, The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Hyrule_Warriors
  Relationship:
      Ghirahim/Link_(Legend_of_Zelda)
  Character:
      Link_(Legend_of_Zelda), Ghirahim_(Legend_of_Zelda), Zelda_(Legend_of
      Zelda), Impa_(Legend_of_Zelda), Fi_(Legend_of_Zelda), Groose_(Legend_of
      Zelda)
  Additional Tags:
      Angst, Ignoring_Some_Plot, Mind-Fucking, poor_Link, Bipolar_Ghirahim
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-07-07 Completed: 2017-04-13 Chapters: 7/7 Words: 46907
****** Encounters ******
by Midna149
Summary
     I wasn't alone. ... "Look who it is." ... He sounded hungry. ... "I
     want you for myself." ... Zelda isn't here. ... "Wrong answer, sky
     child. So be it." ... He had restrained me. ... "Let me have my way
     with you and you will not be hurt." ... I hollered out, panicked. ...
     "I've only just begun." (Rated M. Yaoi -boyXboy. Don't like, don't
     read. R&R please.)
     EDIT/UPDATE: Chapters three onto the end are finally up. Please re-
     read if you enjoyed chapters one and two. I really hope you all enjoy
     it and find that it was worth the hellish wait.
***** Skyview Temple *****
The key slid into its slot on the door. With a loud crack, the portal split
open to reveal an impossibly black void beyond. With a gulp, I braced myself
and went inside.
Adjusting to the lighting, I looked around the large round chamber. Little blue
pots littered the perimeter, the bricks of the floor colorfully arranged in an
ornate circle. The domed ceiling rose impossibly high. My heart skipped a beat
upon settling my eyes in front of me.
I wasn't alone.
A figure in a crimson cloak stood facing the door at the far end of the room,
legs apart and arms raised. A sword was drawn back behind the person's white
head, preparing to attack. The mystery person's grip on the blade relaxed and
it dematerialized in a flash of vermillion and silver diamonds.
"Look who it is…"
The person – a man – relaxed his stance and turned to face me. He wore tight
white clothes with diamonds of fabric cut out along his torso and legs. A gold
belt inlaid with rubies wrapped around his hips and his crimson cloak draped
over his chest stylishly. His hair was as pure white as his clothes, exposing
one sharp sapphire dangling from a pale ear. The other half of his pallid face
was covered by the equally colorless locks. His apparent taste for diamonds
continued onto his matching elbow-length gloves. The man looked ridiculous, but
if I were honest with myself, he was able to pull it off nicely.
Deep chocolate eyes bore into mine. His mouth opened to speak, and his sultry
drawl continued. "I thought that tornado I stirred up would have tossed and
torn you apart, yet here you are. Not in pieces," he smirked, though not in
humor. He added, "Not that your life or death has any consequence."
This man… he was dripping with a sort of confidence I could not pin down. It
had to do with the way he spoke to me. But his words… they gave me a whole
different feeling. One that ran down my spine with every syllable that left his
silver lips.
He seemed to become distracted as he turned his attention to the door once
more. "It's just the girl that matters now, and I can sense her here… just
beyond this door. Yes, we plucked Her Majesty from her perch in the clouds, and
now she's ours."
He spun around and looked back at me for a moment. I wasn't really sure what he
was talking about or what was even going on. "Oh, but listen to me. I'm being
positively uncivil. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Demon Lord who
presides over this land you look down upon, this world you call the surface.
You may call me Ghirahim." He paused, looking the other way. "In truth, I very
much prefer to be indulged with my full title: Lord Ghirahim. But I'm not
fussy." He held his head high and I could all but visualize the man as a gaudy
white Loftwing, ruffling his feathers at his own flattery.
What in the name of the goddess was this man supposed to be…? Every word he
spoke made my hair stand on end, made my fingers twitch in defense, made me
wish I could escape. Out of a dormant instinct that rose up like a volcano, I
drew my sword. The metallic sound of the blade sliding out of her scabbard rang
in circles around the two of us. I heard a small exhalation from the Demon
Lord.
"Did you really just draw your sword? Foolish boy…" The Demon Lord faced me,
his exasperation evident. "By all rights the girl should have fallen into our
hands already. She was nearly ours when that loathsome servant of the goddess
snatched her away." His fists clenched and he hunched over. "Do you have any
idea how that made me feel inside…?"
The room began to darken into muted shades of purple and grey. The man across
the room clutched at his white head and shook with rage. The air became thick
and my arms felt heavy. I found it hard to breathe. He convulsed as his fury
exploded from him.
"Furious! Outraged! Sick with anger!" At his last syllable his back arched and
he vanished in a flurry of gold and red. I jumped in fear, sword poised in
front of me. I looked around the still dim chamber, my heart sinking lower with
every passing moment. His deep voice rang out all around me. "This… turn of
events has left me with a strong appetite for bloodshed. Still… it hardly seems
fair, being of my position," suddenly his voice was very close, "to take all of
my anger out on you."
I froze as the man appeared behind me, head over my shoulder. I couldn't move.
I'm sure my eyes were wide as Medallions and my hands felt clammy, shaking in
their gauntlets. Why was he saying these things? What did they mean? He
sounded… hungry.
"Which is why I promise up front not to murder you…" His mouth was so close to
my ear that I felt his breath go down my collar. "No… I'll just beat you within
an inch of your life…" His tongue traced the shell of my ear, hot and wet. I
shuddered, I… I staggered away from the man garbed in white, gasping for
breath. All he did in response was laugh devilishly.
I tightened my grip on the blade in my trembling hand and pulled myself
together. He sauntered over to me and I found myself stepping back. I readied
myself to attack, placing my weight on my dominant foot and the other ahead of
me. I swung my sword in a vertical strike, but Ghirahim caught the sharp metal
between his fingers with surprising strength. I couldn't even wrench it out of
his grip before he yanked it from my own. He examined the sacred weapon with a
bemused look on his face.
"Hah. Quite the sword you have here… But being the novice you are, you'll never
land a blow. In fact…" he trailed off. Ghirahim twisted his body and flung my
blade across the room. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't run. I couldn't
fight.
He looked back at me and cooed. "Now, isn't that better? I've got you all to
myself without that pesky knife in my way. Why don't we get rid of your little
shield, too?" He strolled up to me and seized my left arm above the elbow,
pulling me up so that our eyes met. I cried out in pain, barely able to touch
the ground. My weak wooden shield was tugged from my arm and thrown in the
general direction of my blade.
Still gripping my arm, he brought me closer, our faces too close. With his free
hand he clutched my chin and held it still, staring intently. I wished I could
glare back, shoot daggers at him from my eyes, but I could only look back in
pitiful, wide-eyed fear. Finally, he spoke, bringing his hand to his lips.
"You're so pure, sky child. I can tell by your face… Barely at the cusp of
manhood. So… what's the word…" He thought for a moment, stroking my cheek so
softly, almost absentmindedly. "Ah, yes… untainted. Beautiful, even. Golden
hair… eyes like sapphires… skin unblemished… So beautiful." A finger pushed a
stray hair behind my pointed ear. "I want you for myself… I think I may need to
change my plans for you… sky child."
I couldn't help it; I shivered, my eyes wide. Why was he talking to me like
this…? Beautiful? This… Ghirahim's index finger lingered on my earlobe before
trailing down my chin to my neck. But he didn't stop there. His piercing stare
never faltered as he continued down the middle of my chest until he finally
stopped at the brown belt around my waist. With a flick of his wrist the Demon
Lord unfastened the buckle and withdrew it from around my body. It joined my
sword and shield, along with the contents in the pouches attached to the strip
of leather. My scabbard strap was tossed aside as well. Without my armaments I
was little more than a boy. That was what he wanted.
My forearm was beginning to feel numb. I clenched my fist open and closed to
retain any remaining sensation. I needed to fight back, to keep him from doing…
whatever he was thinking of. Only the tips of my boots touched the stone floor,
so I wiggled my legs in a feeble attempt to shake myself free. Ghirahim adopted
a look of false empathy and tutted.
"Child… do you really want to struggle? I think you'll realize that this will
be easier if you surrender yourself to me. Otherwise–"
I didn't let him finish; I spit in his face. Slowly, Ghirahim dabbed at his
face with a delicate finger and sighed. "My, you're a pest. Still, I can't say
I wasn't hoping to take you the hard way. So be it…" He was so calm, so
composed, that nothing could have prepared me for the next moment. His eyes
filled with a white rage, and without warning, he hurled me across the room
with impossible force. I tumbled and slammed into the far wall with a grunt. My
left arm tingled achingly, regaining circulation from its place under my
abdomen. I held myself up with my right palm, gasping and sputtering for
breath.
I tilted my head just enough to see Ghirahim strolling over to me, fists
clenched. His cloak was dissipating from his shoulders in scarlet diamonds. He
kneeled beside me and clutched a fistful of my hair – apparently my cap had
fallen off as I was thrown – and yanked my head up to meet his face. I cried
out and grit my teeth.
"I am a Demon Lord! You are nothing! What makes you think you have even the
slightest chance of overpowering me?! You fight back again and… I don't think I
need to elaborate. You'll regret it." He threw my head back down, to which I
groaned. For several moments Ghirahim must have knelt there watching me control
my ragged breathing, for he didn't touch me or say a word. After a long while
he placed his hand on the back of my head, causing me to flinch. His fingers
idly stroked my hair, and I had half a mind to feel comforted. If I closed my
eyes, they could be Zelda's fingers, soothing me after an intense training
session. If I imagined it, this floor could be in her bedroom, with her little
blue pillows strewn about. Once I had relaxed from the swordplay, she and I
would go ride on our Loftwings around the Isle of the Goddess, having lunch on
a patch of land under Skyloft. Then she would mend my shirt where it had been
nicked by Pipit, because I had been careless and not seen the strike coming.
Groose may have antagonized me at some point, but Zelda would be there to put
him in his place. Yes… Zelda would always be there…
I had to jerk my head up to pull out of the fantasy. That's right...
Zelda isn't here.
Ghirahim pulled my head up by the scalp once more, although much gentler.
Perhaps his temper had subsided. Fear still shone through my half-lidded eyes;
I felt much more tired than I did only moments ago, and the Demon Lord must
have picked up on it. I didn't know what he was going to do next. He once again
clutched my chin with his free hand, expertly balancing on his heels.
"Are you going to cooperate now?" Despite my fatigued body, I growled and
squirmed in protest, baring my teeth and furrowing my brow. The same rage from
earlier appeared in his eyes. I could tell he was suppressing it, but he
tightened his grip on my scalp, causing a whine to escape my chapped lips. He
spoke slowly and meticulously. "I really wouldn't put up a fight if I were you,
Sky Child. I don't know why you're so opposed to this… it will be quite
enjoyable for you, as well. If only you… behave."
Something took over me then. My right hand bolted up, gripped his forearm, and
yanked it away from my face. With that same hand he immediately backhanded me
in the cheek. Searing hot pain filled the left half of my face. The warm,
metallic taste of liquid copper filled my mouth. With a cough, the stone
beneath me was splattered with crimson.
"Wrong answer, Sky Child. So be it."
Ghirahim clasped his gloved hand around my throat and I panicked. In one fluid
motion, he pushed off his heels and brought me to my feet. I kicked and clawed
at his grip, gasping for air. My head hit the stone wall and stars flashed in
my vision for a moment. Once I was released my lungs filled with sweet oxygen.
He snapped his fingers and three small black daggers with rubies at the hilt
appeared in his other hand. I willed my body to run, to do anything, but my
mind ran blank with fear. The Demon Lord held the daggers in his mouth by the
rounded handle and took my wrists, pulling them up above my head. Once again I
could hardly touch the floor. He wrapped one hand around my wrists and held a
dagger at them. He thrust it forward and I winced, expecting the worst, but he
had missed. He took a second blade, stabbing it on the opposite side. The third
went between my wrists.
He hadn't missed at all. He had restrained me. I couldn't move from this spot.
The man grasped the two daggers on either side of my hands and leaned toward my
face. Our noses were nearly touching. "There. Snug, are we? Good. Now we can
have some fun." His eyes flashed with an intensity I couldn't place. I merely
blinked, too terrified to do anything. The toes of my boots scraped at the
stone beneath me. My shoulder blades ground together uncomfortably, but I
didn't dare move.
Ghirahim nudged his hands down only a little so they were around my wrists. He
examined my face carefully, then looked down at my body, before staring back up
into my eyes. A deep, guttural noise sounded in Ghirahim's throat, and all the
color drained from my face. His tongue darted out and moistened his lips.
"What a privilege… a one-time opportunity… I get you all to myself. I can see
no one else has had you." He paused, a smirk tugging at the corners of his
mouth. "I'm going to destroy you."
He took half a step closer, our bodies close enough that I could smell him. His
eyes became half-lidded, his demeanor softening somewhat. "I must admit my mind
has been clouded. Yes, I've been distracted. You see, since I have… changed my
mind about you, as it were, curiosities have been pervading my thoughts."
Despite what I felt in the pit of my stomach I felt my eyebrows twitch in
interest. "I have been curious as to what you look like. I have been wondering
what you smell like. Longing to know what you taste like. Aching to know what
you feel like. Imagining what you must sound like." I felt his hands squeeze my
wrists; a whimper came from my lips. "I think it's about time I found out."
The Demon Lord's large hands slunk down my arms and up my neck, resting on my
cheeks. He shook his head and frowned.
"It's a shame, child." He dragged a pointed finger along the angry red welt
forming on my left cheek, causing me to hiss in pain. "If you hadn't angered me
you wouldn't have that ugly mar on that flawless face of yours. It must be so
painful, and I feel just awful for disfiguring your lovely features. But you
gave me no choice. What is there to do…?" Ghirahim heaved a sigh, tapping at
his lips. "I know what I could do… but, no. You would never accept."
I tipped my head to the side in curiosity. I was sure I had walked right into
his plan, whatever it was, but I couldn't help that I was intrigued. "Well… I
could take it away for you. Make it all better. It would benefit us both, I
think. What do you say?" He looked at me for a moment, regarding my expression,
before continuing. "Of course, there's a matter of, well, payment. No, no, I
have no need of money. No, what I want is… rather innocent." He placed his
index finger over my lips delicately.
"A kiss."
A kiss? Was that it? Was he letting me decide? I… I couldn't think of a
downside. I would rather not wait for the welt to become a grotesque yellow-
purple bruise covering half my face. I swallowed the lump in my throat, my
terror subsiding fractionally. Ghirahim knew my answer and grinned wider than
ever. I had just made a deal with a Demon.
Ghirahim placed a hand at the back of my head, fingers buried in my hair. The
other was placed gently under my chin. He dropped his gaze from my eyes to my
mouth as he wet his lips again. He leaned in slowly. Our lips touched softly
and tenderly. His lower lip was surprisingly supple between my own presumably
rough ones. I could feel my eyelashes fluttering against his cheekbones like
the wings of a Blessed Butterfly. He tilted my head back just a little, making
the kiss deeper. My right leg slid up the stone wall of its own accord. An
audible sigh left my throat. The fingers at my chin snuck to the back of my
neck and I was intertwined in the feeling of the moment. My shoulders slumped
and I pressed my chest forward. Then the Demon Lord pulled away. I was left
feeling no contact, eyes closed and mouth open.
My… My first kiss…
"Goodness, Sky Child… I can't say that wasn't… well, as I promised, you're
looking as beautiful as ever. You're welcome." He stroked my cheek again, and
the area was painless. "Back to the matter at hand. Where were we…?" He looked
me up and down again, dark irises flashing. "Looks like yours are simply
divine. I can't get enough of you. Especially the way I've got you now." His
eyes darted up to my restrained wrists. Not only was I completely exposed, but
I felt naked without so much as a belt around my waist. My breathing was so
heavy. The back of my head was tilted against the wall; I was watching him
through half-closed eyes. "And that look you have on your face. So… vulnerable.
I don't think I'll be able to control myself."
Ghirahim brought himself closer to me, hands placed at my collar bones. His
thumbs lazily stroked the fabric of my tunic back and forth. His hands were hot
and his gaze was intense. I struggled against the daggers at my wrists,
grunting. He only gave soft hushing noises, enjoying the upper hand all too
much. I brought up a foot and kicked it toward the Demon Lord's abdomen. The
man effortlessly dodged the blow, grabbing my leg and holding it uncomfortably
high in the air. I cried out at the strain. He looked almost bored with my
attempt at resistance.
"You're so predictable… This is the last time I will tell you, Sky Child. Stop
fighting. You will fail. The next time you do so, I will have no choice but to
break you." He threw my leg back down; I suppressed a grunt of pain. "Let me
have my way with you and you will not be hurt." I only glared back at him,
hoping the anger in my eyes was more evident than the fear.
Ghirahim replaced his hands and caressed my chest in slow circles. Pressing
harder into the skin, he cupped and massaged the muscles. I exhaled through my
nose, fighting a strange feeling deep in my chest. Ghirahim's hands crept
south, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, and slinking lower still to
rest on my bottom. A moment later, he squeezed the cheeks with fervor. I
couldn't contain the yelp in my throat, and I jumped at the harsh action. In
the corner of my eye I could see the Demon Lord's grin deepen.
He slid his hands under my tunic, gripping my rear end through the fabric of my
pants, but did not keep his hands still. Far from it. He kneaded at the skin
underneath the fabric like persistent bread dough. I couldn't help the noises
emanating from my mouth; it felt so strange, it was confusing. I leaned my head
against the stone wall, brows knitted in embarrassment. It was hard to breathe
and there was a tight sensation in my gut.
The hands on my buttocks slipped away, sliding around my hips. For a while he
rubbed there, almost like he was apologizing for his previously rough behavior.
I had a hunch, though, that it was hardly such a gesture. Soft groans leaked
past my lips. I shut my eyes tight.
I realized he was bringing his hands closer and closer to my front with every
movement. Too soon, they were at the middle of my lower abdomen, and sinking
lower. I jerked my head up, letting out a yell. Ghirahim only raised an
eyebrow.
"No, no," he cooed, shaking a finger back and forth. "I don't think you want to
argue with me." He snapped his fingers, and his white gloves vanished from his
arms. "I told you not to worry." He was simply thrilled. His eyes were
saturated with a dark delight.
He gently placed his hands back on my abdomen, continuing his soft assault. His
cold thumbs grazed over my flesh and shivers went down my back. Without
skipping a beat, Ghirahim slid his hands up my bare back, relishing the
feeling. Back down and around my waist they went, fondling my chest once more
without anything blocking it. I hissed through clenched teeth as an unknown
urge swept over my body. Ghirahim's skilled fingers pinched and tugged and
scratched at my skin and I reflexively pushed into the contact.
Lower and lower his hands sunk, working busily at touching every piece of me.
Apart from being slightly disheveled, my tunic never left its place on my body.
At my hips once more, Ghirahim smoothly hooked his thumbs inside my waist band.
I hardly noticed what was happening before his icy hands forced their way
inside my pants. I hollered out, panicked. My boots slipped and slid against
the stone behind me as I thrashed about.
Ghirahim gripped me by the hips and held me against the wall with a rough
shove. He leaned forward, our shoulders and torsos touching. He held me still
there with his own body, waiting for me to cease. After several moments of
fighting in vain, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in, unclenched
my restrained fists, and stopped fussing. The Demon Lord caressed my hips with
his thumbs in encouragement, smiling into my neck.
"You see? It wasn't so hard to behave. Keep it up… I've only just begun," he
advised. Then he placed his open mouth at the curve of my neck, softly nipping
at the flesh. I moaned. Such a sound had never left my lips before, it didn't
sound like me. But I wasn't embarrassed by it. Not at all, really. In fact, I
wanted to feel it again. I wasn't myself anymore, a fact to which I found
myself apathetic. I unconsciously tilted my head to the side, allowing him to
continue. A noise of approval sounded from Ghirahim, and he obliged with added
intensity.
His mouth latched onto my neck and began raking his teeth against the sensitive
skin, testing how much I could take. My mouth hung open, sounds spilling from
it like a waterfall. I couldn't fight the feeling growing in the pit of my
stomach if I tried. I couldn't tell if it hurt or… or something else. Ghirahim
began moving his hands against my hips, massaging the skin. I didn't know, nor
did I really care, why his hands were so… soft.
Breath was escaping my mouth in sharp, jagged gasps. Ghirahim decreased the
movement of his hands until they were still. Then, with agonizing slowness, he
slid his hands out of my pants. I groaned at the loss of contact, brows knitted
in frustration. A chuckle left his lips, sending warm vibrations into my neck.
One of Ghirahim's hands planted itself on the side of my abdomen, holding me
down gently. Like I was going to start struggling again. His other hand found
its way much further south, aggressively cupping my groin. A moan crossed with
a shocked gasp erupted from my throat. My back was no longer touching the stone
wall as I involuntarily pushed into him.
He tensed his fingers and gyrated against me. The feeling in my gut grew
stronger, more concentrated, toward the area. My head was hot and fuzzy, and it
was impossible to focus on anything except his touch. My sore arms felt only
slightly uncomfortable in the midst of this… unknown feeling. I couldn't tell
what it felt like. I only knew that I wanted as much of it as I could get.
Carnal noises bounced off the walls of the large room, and at the back of my
mind I vaguely recognized them as my own voice.
My loose-fitting pants were so constricting, my thick tunic suffocating me with
its warmth. I writhed against my makeshift shackles, whining weakly. Ghirahim
silently noted my behavior and slid his hands to my hips again. With
unparalleled confidence, he grabbed the waist band and drove my pants down to
my knees. I gasped at the sudden chill of the room, clenching my teeth so tight
I swore they were cracking. I could feel my face heating up with mortification.
I was exposed.
"Very nice…" Ghirahim muttered with a tone of what I assumed was approval. His
fingers delicately traced along the toned lines of my pelvis. It was a whisper
of a touch, my nerves tingling in anticipation. The Demon Lord took his own
sweet time, creeping lower and lower. He watched me closely, gauging my
reaction. I felt the need to maintain my composure. I didn't want him to see
that I was… I was enjoying myself.
One of his hands snaked its way around my waist. The other made its way closer
and closer to its destination. I was holding my breath. Waiting. Ghirahim was
doing everything he could to drive me wild. The suspense of his torment was
killing me. I trembled from head to foot. The lack of contact made my body
ache. Why couldn't he just…
The Demon Lord was still hovering over me, still grinning into my neck. I was
reacting exactly the way he wanted me to, but his assault felt so overwhelming
that I couldn't care less. My hips twitched forward, hoping, begging for it to
happen already. I whined shamelessly. Ghirahim only continued, no doubt
containing a chuckle.
The torturous man made his way to my member, raking a finger along the length.
I breathed thickly through my nose at the touch. Then, as if abandoning all
pretense of restraint, Ghirahim gripped it in his hand tightly. My eyes shot
open and a loud gasp left my mouth. My chest was heaving.
Only now did I realize that the feeling in my gut caused me to become… hard.
Almost painfully so. I felt Ghirahim's hand wrapped around me. Even in his firm
grip I was harder than steel. And it was worsening… My breath hitched in my
throat. This feeling was too much. I couldn't even think straight, it filled my
entire body.
"Shall I continue, Sky Child?" Ghirahim whispered in my ear. His voice was
husky, filled with his own desire. I twitched in his palm. My self-control had
vanished; I nodded my head furiously, whimpers of affirmation spilling free.
Faster than I could register, he obliged.
With the hand around my waist, the Demon Lord held me against his own body. His
heat mixed with my sweaty body created an intoxicating feeling that made my
head even fuzzier. Ghirahim's head was bowed slightly in deep concentration,
his eyes fixed below. Slowly, he stroked my member, keeping his grip tight and
hot all the while. Time began to stretch across eternity as he teased me with
his leisurely pace. My breath caught in my chest, unable to release itself, as
my very blood tingled right to my groin, the source of this pleasure.
But it wasn't enough. Ghirahim was going too slowly. I needed more. I needed it
all.
My fists clenched, the leather of my gauntlets creaking under the stress. The
air in my lungs forced its way up my throat and out of my mouth in a pained,
impatient cry. My hips bucked forward, pushing myself farther, faster into the
man's hand. Needy whines were spewing from my mouth as I physically begged for
more.
Needing little more encouragement, Ghirahim pulled me even closer to him,
cupping my rear end tightly. He steadily quickened his pace. His very touch was
intoxicating and I could barely keep track of it all. I had never experienced
anything like this. The feeling in my gut was intense and unbearable, but what
made it worse was the fact that I couldn't get enough of it. I greedily pushed
myself into Ghirahim, hungrily thrust myself against his skilled hand.
I moaned wantonly into the open air. The insatiable feeling was spreading
throughout my body; it felt so good I could scream. It was building inside me,
threatening to burst. I arched my back inward, letting my head fall onto
Ghirahim's shoulder. The smell and heat of his skin was inebriating. I was
hardly breathing, and I couldn't think.
Ghirahim pumped me harder, moving even faster. My voice rose even louder. The
sensation continued to escalate, and began to concentrate around my groin, to
where Ghirahim was so pleasurably assaulting me. I felt a white hot spark in my
gut… I was close.
I squeezed my eyes so tight I could see flashes of color behind my lids.
Planting my feet against the wall behind me, I pushed myself completely into
Ghirahim's body, freely and harshly thrusting myself into him. What felt like
lava boiling up in my gut began to rise up, wanting to make its way out.
My voice rose impossibly louder, higher, more frantic, as the feeling
crescendoed into something that could only be described as an eruption. Every
nerve ending zapped from my groin to my finger tips, tremors rippling through
my body. My head flung back against the wall, screaming out into the empty
room. Hot liquid shot from my member, twitching, quivering, aching.
I trembled from the aftershock, my flesh hypersensitive to every sensation. My
chest felt tight, and I couldn't seem to get enough air into my lungs. I could
hardly keep my eyes half open. My legs fell back down the wall, hanging limply.
The dull pain in my shoulders made itself known to me once more, returning with
a vengeance. I lifted my head up and saw Ghirahim several paces away, sucking
the tips of his fingers, dark eyes boring into my own.
"My, my, my… I must say that I did not expect the goddess' sky child to behave
as such," he teased. His expression was one of cruelty and amusement. I could
only stare back at him, panting and exhausted. "Someonelikes it rough... I
shall remember that."
Ghirahim looked to the door, still sealed shut, for several moments before
cursing under his breath. He strolled closer to me and ran his forefinger under
my chin. "Though you deserve some credit, sky child. You put up more of a fight
than I would have thought possible out of such a soft boy. But I could tell you
very much enjoyed yourself, and for that I am very… pleased," he purred.
He stepped back once more. "That being said, I fear I spent far too long
teasing and toying with you. The girl's presence has all but faded from this
place, which means there's no reason to linger here." He snapped his fingers
and the knives restraining me to the stone wall disappeared. Being unprepared,
and still recovering from my climax, I fell to the ground in a heap, pants
still gathered around my knees. My mind was still in a bit of a haze.
"Good bye, sky child," Ghirahim said to me, his smirk only grew. "Run and play
this time. Get in my way again, though and, well… we'll see, shall we?" He
chuckled, before snapping his fingers once more and vanishing in a cloud of
scarlet and silver diamonds.
***** Earth Temple *****
I looked at the ornate key in my hand. It looked like a serpent twisted into
the shape of a cube. The last time I had seen a key like this was back in
Skyview Temple a few days ago. I would have preferred not being reminded of
the… events that had occurred there. I suppressed a shiver, despite the intense
and unbearable heat of the temple. My whole body tingled just thinking about
it, making my hair stand up on end.
Pushing back the thoughts – the memories – that threatened to flood my mind, I
put the strange key in my pouch and made my way back down the incline, thinking
about how to staunch the flow of lava blocking the important-looking door
behind it. But before I could come up with anything substantial, I heard a
crunching noise from behind me. I looked back just in time to see the large
dragon sculpture open its mouth, a large boulder spilling out and rolling
toward me.
Instinct took hold of my legs and propelled me forward as fast as I could go. I
had to jump off the incline once I reached the end of it, but the boulder
continued on past me and into the other dragon's mouth. Effectively blocking
the flow of lava and allowing me access. I chalked it up to a blessing in
disguise and thanked the goddess that I had managed to survive. Nonetheless I
fit the key into its place and the door jerked open. I took a deep breath and
entered the stifling room.
The room was much different from its counterpart in Faron Woods. Rather than
round and vacant, the room was long and winding. In a clearing with bomb
flowers sprouting through cracks in the floor, I stood in uneasy anticipation.
I felt like I could wait here and I would be safe. But it felt like being on a
stray island with a thunderstorm approaching. I was far from danger… for now. A
metallic sound rang from behind me and Fi materialized before me.
"Master, I detect Zelda's aura in the surrounding area." Her mechanical voice
echoed and multiplied in the strangely shaped hall. My brow spiked into my hair
line. She's here? I looked all around me while Fi continued. "I detect an
especially strong reaction from this chain." She gestured to my left, and I
rushed over to the chain bolted to the floor. Of course she was no longer
attached to it. Panic filled my body and I looked to Fi for more information.
"I calculate the probability Zelda was bound by it recently at 95%. I surmise
Zelda was somehow able to escape and proceed along this path. I suggest we
continue with all possible speed." With that she spun in a circle and was
inside my blade once more.
Fi thought she escaped… that definitely sounded like her. She would do
everything she could to resist the evil that wanted to ensnare her. I couldn't
believe she had been imprisoned. A hot wave of anger washed over me. Thinking
about Zelda, pretty, innocent, fair Zelda being chained up like an animal… and
for what? What had she done to deserve such despicable treatment? I needed to
find her, rescue her… bring her home.
I set down the chain and explored the infernal room further, trusting Fi's
intuition. An incline similar to the one outside rose to the end of the
chamber, where Hylia's emblem shone like a beacon. I was less than half way to
the top when I heard a cold, sinister laugh.
"Oh, it's you."
I didn't need to think twice; I knew the voice. Unfortunately I knew it all too
well. My body ran cold with sweat and I couldn't stop myself from trembling. I
looked up and there he was. Perched atop the dragon's head, almost a speck in
the distance. His crimson robe was draped over his pale chest and his gloved
hands were at his hips. Though I couldn't see it I knew he was smirking.
"Let me see…" he mumbled. The acoustics of the room carried his voice as if he
were right in front of me. "No, that's not it. This is so very embarrassing,
but I seem to be at a loss for your name. Not that it matters, really," he
added.
My mind and my body were reacting so strongly to Ghirahim's presence. My fists
were clenching tighter by the moment, my ears strained for any change in sound.
I held my breath. Waiting. There was a dull ache in the pit of my stomach. I
felt sick and… I didn't know what else.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and I heard him sigh. My brow furrowed,
wondering what was going through his mind. "To tell you the truth, I'm feeling
a bit… frustrated. It's actually quite fortunate that you could make it, sky
child." Upon hearing that title, a splash of electricity ran up and down my
back. "My day has been nothing short of… well, needless to say, I don't deal
well with complications to plans I've laid out so carefully."
Ghirahim clapped his hands together, letting out another breath. "But I
digress. Something good can still come from this day, thanks to you. I've had
all this bottled-up anger smoldering inside me and now I can release it," he
hummed. My eyes widened at that statement. My hand reached for my blade, but
Ghirahim clucked before I could touch the hilt.
"Ah, ah, sky child. I don't think that's a good idea. Put your hand down." I
kept my hand where it was, weighing my options. If I drew my sword, what would
he do…? On the other hand what would happen if I obeyed? I thought back to the
last time he and I were together… I drew my sword, and moments later, I was
defenseless. But if I were to leave it in its scabbard, it would still be on my
back if I needed it… right? I couldn't say for sure… the Demon Lord was hard to
predict. I would feel much more comfortable – and capable – with the blade in
my hand, the cool metal under my fingers, ready to strike at my command. But I
doubted Ghirahim shared that sentiment. His last words from our previous
encounter rang through my ears: "Get in my way again, though, and, well… we'll
see, shall we?" I shivered at the implications. Hylia only knows how little I
desired a recurrence like that. I wondered… if I could just listen to his whims
and keep myself from getting on his bad side, his dangerous side, then perhaps
he would let me move along.
I let my hand fall back to my side.
"What a good boy you are, sky child. I'm so glad you could see it my way."
Ghirahim's vicious laughter rang throughout the chamber, bouncing from wall to
wall. My hands were shaking so severely that if I had drawn my sword I probably
would have dropped it. "I couldn't have asked for a better situation, really,"
he said. I heard a snap of his fingers and the red around his shoulders
disappeared.
"Given the state of things, I need to vent all this unhealthy anger. And your
agony is such a great stress reliever." He placed his hands at his hips. I
found myself taking a step back from him, the downward slope of the floor
almost causing me to fall back; I briefly noted the sudden absence of my cap.
"Don't be shy, sky child. It won't take more than a few moments…" With that, he
vanished from atop the dragon's massive head.
My heart stopped beating as I staggered back. My wide eyes scanned the room
frantically, searching for any trace of white in the red and brown room. I kept
inching my way down the incline, fingers reflexively curling into tight fists.
Then I backed into something. I was too far into the room for it to be the
door. It was strong, unyielding… warm.
Arms snaked their way around my waist and stopped on my chest and lower
abdomen. Any and all air escaped my lungs and refused to return. I stood
absolutely still, beyond petrified.
"You're so well-behaved this time. How lovely. It's too bad I'm not feeling
very generous today." I stiffened. His hands slid to the strap in the middle of
my chest, unbuckled it, and withdrew it from my body. Once again I was unarmed.
He moved down to my waist and removed my belt as well. His lips grazed my ear
and I shuddered.
"You're much more responsive than before. Is someone enjoying himself?" he
teased. Through clenched teeth I made a noise of denial at the accusation. His
hold tightened, he pushed me into his firm body even closer. A whimper left my
mouth. "Don't lie to me, sky child," he threatened, his voice dropping several
tones.
My eyes began to sting; I squeezed them shut. Why…? Why was he doing this to
me?
He slowly roamed about my torso and abdomen for a few moments, caressing the
skin beneath the layers of clothes, drawing unwilling noises from my mouth. I
wanted to throw him off of me, pick up my sword, and slice his filthy white
neck. But I couldn't bring myself to even twitch in protest. His hands were
touching all the right places in all the right ways. My body was responding in
ways that I couldn't prevent. Mentally, I wanted to escape this torture. But
physically…
I had already submitted.
He craned his neck forward so his lips brushed the shell of my ear. A shudder
ran through my body. "Your tunic is thick canvas, is it not? Under that… chain
mail. And still more fabric beneath that. So many thick layers… in such a
stifling place. It must be miserable," he cooed in my ear. Despite his
thoroughly sound reasoning, I had been faring relatively well in this
blistering place. Especially since I was used to chillier climates. No. The
sweat beading down my neck and temples was certainly not from the heat.
Ghirahim ran his hands up and down my arms. I grunted and mumbled in protest,
knowing his thoughts but hoping they weren't true. The heat was fogging up my
head… I thought.
His hand wrapped around my wrist and yanked it backward, twisting my arm behind
my back at an uncomfortable angle. I let out a soft groan as he removed my
gauntlet. I jerked my arm away, but Ghirahim would have none of that. He yanked
back my other arm twice as roughly, pulling off that gauntlet as well, earning
a sharp cry out of my mouth. Through clenched teeth and wet eyes, I silently
marveled at how strange it felt to not be wearing those particular pieces of
armor.
Ghirahim wove an arm between mine, pulling them behind me and anchoring them
between our bodies. With his free hand he grabbed a fistful of my hair and
tugged my head back to rest on his chest.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?" I couldn't tell if he was actually asking me or
just teasing. Trying to maintain my breathing, the only response I could muster
was a loud gulp. His tone then became sympathetic. "I think you know how this
goes, sky child. I don't need to remind you of the consequences should you…
misbehave, now do I?" Assuming that he expected an answer this time, I shook my
head.
He removed his talon-like grip from my scalp and ran his hand along my cheek,
tilting my head up to face his glare. "That's a good boy. I love your
obedience." Only his forefinger held my chin high. All I could do was look into
his flashing ebony eyes in fear. His expression softened slightly after a
moment. "I'd forgotten how beautiful you were…" He said it more to himself.
With painful slowness, Ghirahim traced over my features with a delicate finger.
Along my cheekbones. Across my jawline. Over my brow. Down the bridge of my
nose. Around my lips.
"Ah, yes…" he spoke again, halting his finger on my bottom lip. "I remember. I
remember quite well." He didn't elaborate, but instead dragged my lips apart,
causing my face to turn red with embarrassment. Holding his gaze on my mouth,
he continued. "I'll never forget the sounds that spilled from these perfect
lips. How I have craved to hear them again. To cause them." My stomach knotted
up and jumped into my throat. This couldn't be happening. I must have fallen
into some twisted nightmare… My eyes began to sting with the threat of tears.
But I refused to let them fall. Refused to let this monster see that he had
won.
That he had broken through.
"Sky child…" Ghirahim whispered. The sound was so delicate, so soft. I shifted
my eyes to meet his, hoping that I looked defiant, not defeated. When he opened
his mouth again, his voice was louder. "Don't cry, sky child." He reached up to
dab at the corners of my eyes. "The worst is yet to come." Terror ran through
me faster than a bolt of lightning.
Ghirahim suddenly released my arms and I let out a breath I didn't know I was
keeping in. Letting my shoulders relax only slightly, I remained on high alert.
It felt like the calm before the storm. I remained silent and still, but could
only savor the freedom for a fleeting moment. The Demon Lord spun me around by
the waist and immediately crashed his lips onto my own. A whimper sounded in my
throat. My knees buckled and my head swam, but Ghirahim gripped me too tightly
for me to fall. A slender arm was wrapped around my waist, and his other hand
was clutching the back of my head. He pressed my body into his so hard. I felt
my lips bruising at the assault.
There was an urgency to this kiss. One that wasn't there in Faron Woods.
Just as quickly as it had started, he pulled away, keeping his grip on my body.
He breathed through his mouth, but didn't seem short of breath in the
slightest. I, on the other hand, was panting frantically. He regarded me
through half-lidded eyes, due to the height difference, a smirk pulling at the
corners of his mouth. He then licked his lips and raked his teeth along them
slowly. A low groan made its way from his throat and into the open air.
Clenching his fists in both my hair and clothes, Ghirahim leaned forward and
captured my lips once more. Only after my eyes snapped closed did I realize
that it had happened. Another noise came out of my mouth, but it wasn't a
surprised or scared one. I reached up and clutched at his hips as if my life
depended on it. For all I knew it did. His lips separated from my mouth just
enough to utter a threat.
"Don't tempt me, sky child."
The hunger in his voice was terrifying. I twitched in fear, reflexively
gripping his hips tighter. Ghirahim must not have liked that. Everything about
him suddenly intensified. He bit at my lower lip. Dug his nails into my skin.
Pulled my hair. I cried out into his mouth. He only kissed me harder. Pushed me
into his body more. His hand slid up my back, my tunic sliding with it.
With absolutely no warning he detached his mouth from mine and relented his
hold on me. But the relief didn't come; instead he gripped my tunic and all but
ripped it off of my body. In spite of the volcanic temperature I shivered at
the sudden exposure. My face was as red as the lava surrounding us.
My blood ran cold upon meeting Ghirahim's gaze. He looked… primal. A wild smirk
played on his face, pupils blown wide with lust. I couldn't breathe properly. I
couldn't even think properly. Time was dragging on so slowly compared to a
moment ago. I could feel my body heating up under his stare. The way he was
looking at me… I couldn't stop a shudder from rippling through my body, making
even my fingertips tingle. I saw his eyes trail down my body, down my chest,
below my navel… then they stopped. His eyes flashed with a dark desire before
meeting my eyes once more with added intensity. My stomach dropped. I didn't
need to question. I didn't need to wonder. He and I both saw right through me.
As much as I tried to fight it, as hard as I tried to stop it, as strong as I
would try to deny it...
I wanted more.
Ghirahim smirked at me, seemingly reading my thoughts. He extended his hand
toward me, palm up. When he spoke next, the tone of his voice chilled my bones
and nearly drove me over the edge, half in fear. I chose not to name the other
half.
"Come to me, sky child."
Still panting and shaking somewhat, I looked at his outstretched hand. It was
no less than a command. He expected me to comply. I had given him enough proof
that I would. I looked into his eyes for a moment. It seemed he was running out
of patience. His expression shifted slightly, and my very nerves jolted. The
hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I suppressed the feelings bubbling
inside me. We both knew it. He was getting his way. He was going to get me. And
it seemed that I was going to let him.
With bated breath I placed my hand on top of his. Ghirahim immediately took the
opportunity to yank me forward, causing me to yelp. Instinctively I tried to
catch myself, planting a hand on Ghirahim's chest. Expertly wrapping his hand
around my waist once more, he had me yet again. A small shudder ran through my
heated body at the sensation of his cool skin. He brushed my bangs out of my
eyes with his free hand, tracing them behind my ear, then finally cupping my
cheek. My face felt hot from his scrutinizing gaze.
"You're all mine now," he said. After a pause, he continued. "The goddess'
sacred hero is mine. How did she possibly think she could keep you from me?"
His hand wove into my hair, pulling, scratching, massaging. The assault was
intoxicating. I felt my eyelids wavering. The thick atmosphere was making my
ears ring.
"You are surely her finest masterpiece," Ghirahim continued. "I've yet to find
a single flaw in you, sky child. You are nothing short of perfect, dare I say."
My face reddened at his words. He pulled his hand from my hair, trailed it down
my neck and chest, around my waist, pulling me closer still.
"Answer a question for me, won't you?" I looked into his dark eyes, confused. A
question? What could possibly come out of small talk at a time like this?
Nonetheless I held my breath, waiting for his question. "Will you resist me?"
I opened my mouth just to close it again. What kind of a question was that? I…
couldn't answer right away. I furrowed my brow and quickly became lost in
thought. Will I resist you? Will I fight back, does he mean? Will I push and
shove and kick and bite – to keep him away from me? It seemed like the answer
should be simple. But it wasn't. I didn't know if it was a matter of whether I
would or not anymore. I wanted to escape. Run away. Get far, far away from this
man, this place, and fly. Just fly. Call my Loftwing and be away from living
for a while. This was too much for me. Being with him in Faron Woods was too
much for me. I should have killed him when I had the chance. I should have
screamed and struggled and made sure he knew all too well that I would "resist"
– that I would resist until my dying breath. But… I couldn't bring myself to do
it. Ghirahim, this Demon Lord, he… I had fallen right into his trap, and he
knew it. The way he touched me, kissed me, talked to me, looked at me, it all
felt so… good. By the goddess, it was so good. And I begged for her
forgiveness. I was weak.
I shook my head.
Ghirahim's lips widened into a malicious grin and he looked straight into my
eyes. His stare was so intense. Deep, strong emotions flashed across his eyes.
I got the sudden feeling that he was restraining himself from acting on them.
It froze me over and melted me all at once. I felt like fire and ice.
"Good boy."
The Demon Lord tilted his head forward, running his tongue along the whole
shell of my ear. A long, wanton moan fell from my mouth. The sound seemed
foreign to my ears. Ghirahim placed his lips on the tip of my ear and spoke.
"You've been so obedient, sky child," he purred. The vibrations of his voice
resonated through my entire body, his breath sent shivers down my spine. He
paused for a moment, just breathing. Driving me wild. "I think you deserve a
reward. I'll give you a treat for being so good… if you wish." Ghirahim
chuckled into my ear when I gasped. "What do you want, child?"
I worried my bottom lip. I actually had to give an answer? Anything I want? I
thought about what I could possibly ask for… After a moment my mind flashed
back to Faron Woods. To something that had lasted entirely too short. That made
me lose my mind. But how could I request such a thing? My face heated up at the
mere thought. Ghirahim flicked his tongue over the tip of my ear, as if in
impatient encouragement. I clenched my teeth at the feeling, but took it as my
cue.
I tilted my head to one side, exposing my neck to Ghirahim. A noise of intrigue
came from the Demon Lord. He slunk a hand from my back up to the opposite side
of my neck, and placed his mouth right under the side of my jaw. I felt razor-
sharp teeth scrape against sensitive skin and my whole body twitched into his.
He paused for a brief moment. That must have been just a test.
Pulling me closer, Ghirahim all but attacked my neck with his mouth. I
struggled and squirmed in his arms, clutching at his body frantically. He bit
at the tender skin along my neck, harder each time. His lips sucked at the
flesh, his tongue traced over the marks he left, while I writhed in some sort
of carnal bliss. I hissed in wonderful pain as my skin was punctured. Ghirahim
withdrew his mouth to lap hungrily at the blood trickling down my neck, from my
collarbone to my ear. The wound didn't cause me any alarm. I only moaned
louder.
With a pop, Ghirahim detached himself from my skin at last, licking his lips.
He rubbed along my jaw with his thumb but remained silent. My eyes flew open
when he took my lips in a sloppy kiss. It was nothing like his usual
calculated, methodic actions. Somehow it was better. It was a delicious mess of
lips and teeth and tongues. I couldn't get enough of it. Of him. And something
told me he felt the same.
He ripped himself away from my lips, a crazed, lustful look flooding his eyes.
His breathing was heavy and his fists were gripping me so tightly they were
likely to leave bruises. His voice came out as a heated growl, equally
terrifying and thrilling me.
"No more games."
In one fluid motion, Ghirahim's hands made their way to my chest and pushed me
backward. Before I could shout in protest I slammed onto the tilted ground,
arms splayed above my head and knees pointed to the ceiling. All the air in my
lungs was forced out upon impact with a grunt. For a moment I stared up at the
white clad man above me through my bangs. Finally time returned to its usual
speed and my chest began to heave, as if it were catching up.
I glanced over to my side, where a dull glint was catching my attention. I
suppressed a gasp at what I saw to my left. There it was… my blade. Less than
an arm's length away. The hilt was even sloped in my direction. I could almost
hear it humming. Calling to me. My fingers twitched in response, in reaction to
what could be, if I could only reach for that ethereal blue metal. I looked at
Ghirahim under the shroud of my own hair. Should I do it? Could I...?
I turned my head back to face the Demon Lord.
Ghirahim grinned suddenly, licking his lips. Faster than I could blink, he fell
on top of me, catching himself on his elbows. His speed was alarming; I didn't
even have time to flinch. I glanced down to see him supporting the rest of his
weight on his knees. His arms went down on either side of my head, all but
pinning me down. I felt his hands entwine with mine. He remained absolutely
still above me, breathing through his nose. His hair tickled my cheek. I became
acutely aware of the fact that there was no physical contact between the two of
us.
What was he waiting for? I looked into his dark eyes. Down to his lips. Back
into his eyes. I don't think I had been able to get a decent look at him before
this moment. His skin was so pale. And he had surprisingly full lips. No wonder
they felt so good… The curve of his neck down to his collar bones was sharp and
defined, leading the way to the equally toned features of his chest and arms.
Ghirahim was, by all accounts, beautiful. I didn't know why he thought I was so
desirable with looks like his.
I looked at this lips again. Suddenly my mouth began to water at the prospect
of feeling them again. And they were so close. I made eye contact with
Ghirahim, wanting him to just lean down into me. All he did was raise an
eyebrow. Curse him. Curse you, Ghirahim. That's what he was waiting for.
I whined in frustration, struggling in his grip. The urge to meet his lips –
feel him – was overwhelming. Please, Ghirahim. Please. Touch me… Touch me! But
all he did was watch my suffering, a wicked grin plastered to his face. I
wished he hadn't restrained my hands, I could have used them. I tilted my head
up, but that wasn't enough leverage. I groaned in impatience, craving the Demon
Lord as if his lips were the antidote to a deadly poison. He was savoring my
displeasure, silently urging me to continue.
I looked at his lips. A needy groan fell out of my mouth. I had run out of
patience. Now. Using Ghirahim's hands as an anchor, I craned my neck up and
smashed my lips into his. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. I moaned,
loud and shameless, into his mouth.
Apparently I had made the right move, for his body sunk down to make contact
with me. I pushed into his strong form, hungry for anything I could touch. Too
soon, his lips strayed from my mouth, making a wet trail up to my ear. He took
my earring in his mouth and sucked at the lobe. I moaned through clenched
teeth, unconsciously tilting my head for him.
Pulling my ear between his teeth, he grazed ever lower, leaving dark, painful
blotches down my neck. He lowered his hands to place one on either side of my
torso. He speckled my chest with wet kisses, sinking down to one of my nipples.
Lips wrapped around the bud, teeth nipping at the hypersensitive flesh there. I
cried out at the sensation, pushing my chest higher into his mouth. Ghirahim
sucked and licked and bit at the tender area. His attack was frenzied and
furious, I wasn't sure I could take much more, but a shiver ran through me when
he spoke.
"I've only just begun, sky child."
He slid his hands down to rest on my hip bones, all the while tasting every bit
of me before him. He licked along my rib cage, bent down kiss my abdomen,
flicked his tongue in and out of my navel. I tried in vain to mentally follow
his assault down my body. Memorize his delicious mouth on my skin.
Ghirahim went further still, dipping his tongue under the waistband of my
pants. I shuddered at the action. Our eyes met and his expression gave me
chills. Without breaking contact, he slipped his long tongue under the fabric a
little deeper than before. I audibly gasped, clenching my teeth. He continued
teasing me like this, running his tongue in and out of my pants, farther and
farther each time. Eyes never leaving mine. I writhed and whined. I had little
pride left to stop myself from begging him to continue on from this torture. He
raised an eyebrow in response to my impatient cries. Asking. Mouth agape in a
near constant moan, I nodded my head.
Ghirahim sat up on his knees and grasped fistfuls of my pants in his hands, and
tore them down to meet my boots. I gasped at the roughness. I blushed furiously
at what the Demon Lord was sure to be seeing. My member was standing at full
attention, weeping for contact.
Ghirahim ran his hands all the way down my now fully exposed body, all the way
from my neck to my thighs. The expression that spread across his face was…
insatiable lust. I twitched.
"You… are truly… irresistible." His voice was husky and filled with passion. He
massaged my inner thighs, getting closer and dangerously closer with each
caress. He kneaded my legs apart, and they fell to either side. He ran his
thumbs along the crease of my thighs. So close. But impossibly far away.
Teasing. Needy whines escaped my clenched teeth. I jerked my hips forward,
aching for his touch. But he kept me down on the floor. He hummed thoughtfully.
What was he going to do…?
Too slowly, Ghirahim bent his head down to my member. His hands were planted on
either side of my thighs. I only watched him in painful anticipation. He
smirked up at me and my blood ran cold. He opened his mouth and ran his long,
hot tongue all along the underside of my length.
A low groan sounded in my throat. That was not what I expected. But I loved it.
Do it again.
He toyed with me then. His tongue only lapped at the tip, but it still sent
shivers through my body. Somehow the Demon Lord knew exactly how to drive me
over the edge. He placed his lips on the slit, giving it a wet kiss. I squirmed
from beneath him, digging my nails into the stone floor. I needed more. I
needed him to give me more.
A small exhalation left Ghirahim's lips in a quiet chuckle. Then he curled his
cold fingers around my shaft. I sucked in my breath at the contact. I willed my
body to stay still. With little warning the Demon Lord engulfed my member in
his mouth. I arched my body forward, moaning out in surprise. My eyes slid
closed as he went down on me.
Ghirahim swirled his tongue around the head, sending me to the moon. He raked
his teeth against the sensitive skin lightly. I hissed, hardly able to breathe.
He lowered himself, taking more of me into his mouth. He began to move up and
down along my shaft slowly. My chest heaved, my eyes squeezed impossibly
tighter, my mouth hung open as I moaned into the air.
His hand moved in time with his mouth, creating the perfect amount of friction.
It was slick and cool against my overheated skin. Slow and tedious at first,
Ghirahim quickened the pace, gradually removing his hand from my shaft and
burying it deeper and deeper into his mouth. I felt so hot. A fire had ignited
in my gut, and I knew I wasn't going to hold out much longer.
He sucked and slurped and licked, drawing cries from my mouth and spasms from
my sweating body. I propped myself up onto my elbows so I could arch my back
into the intense feeling. The tip of my member brushed against what I assumed
was the roof of Ghirahim's mouth and I nearly lost it. The stimulation was too
much – almost painful.
A hand flew to the Demon Lord's hair as my hips bucked, sending my shaft to the
back of his throat. A low groan from the man's throat sent strong vibrations
through my entire body. I gripped at his hair tighter, thrusting into
Ghirahim's mouth erratically. My own moans and cries echoed around us. I
couldn't possibly imagine a feeling more intense than Ghirahim's mouth on me.
The fire in my gut began to twist and churn into a knot. I felt myself harden
between his lips, and I tried to shout out, to warn him. He squeezed the sides
of my hips in what I hoped was acknowledgement. With little other warning I
felt myself snap. Like a string that had been pulled too tight. I screamed out
– louder than ever – and pulsated in Ghirahim's mouth. I twitched and trembled.
The white hot liquid spewing from my length slid right down his throat. I
gasped for air, tired groans leaving my mouth in shallow bursts. The Demon Lord
kept moving his mouth up and down – albeit much more slowly – until I had been
milked completely dry.
Hypersensitive and exhausted, I allowed my weight to fall back against the
ground, my arms flopping uselessly to my sides. Ghirahim pulled his mouth off
of me with a pop and crawled up my naked body. Planting a hand on either side
of my face, he met my gaze, licking his pale lips.
"You taste so good, sky child," he teased. I cringed at the scent of my own
essence on his breath. "I can't get enough of you. But it seems I have dawdled
here quite long enough. I'll let you run off to your little… mistress." He bent
down low, our lips barely touching. He puckered his lips for only a moment. A
half-kiss. He dropped his voice to a near whisper.
"Until next time. I'll be waiting."
I winced at the sound of his fingers snapping by my ear and when I had opened
my eyes once more, Ghirahim had vanished.
***** Temple of Time *****
I all but collapsed on the floor of the long, empty room, letting my feet hang
over the edge. My arms burned from overexertion. I rubbed my burning eyes and
gave a long, frustrated sigh. It turns out that I hated everything about sand.
I hated the way it shifted under my feet. I couldn't walk properly on it, and
even though I was finally on solid ground, I still wobbled awkwardly from side
to side.
I hated how little creatures could burrow into it and attack me when I least
expected it. Those little eight-legged reptiles never ceased to cling to some
part of me at any opportunity. I swore I spent more energy shaking those
horrible demons off of me than I did trying to survive.
I hated how the stupid grains of sand got into every orifice, pocket, and layer
on my body. It was in my boots. It was in my hair. It was in my scabbard!
Most of all, I absolutely despised a certain goddess-forsaken scorpion whose
only purpose was to squish me into oblivion. Fi called it Moldrach. Now I
called it dead.
Pulling myself upright again, I pulled off my boot, careful not to drop it over
the very deep drop I sat over, and tipped it upside down. Way too much sand
fell out and into the darkness below. I did the same with my other boot. Then I
removed my cap – as well as the sand inside it – and shook the grains out of my
hair. I thought some came out of my ears.
I could have easily spent the rest of the afternoon trying to rid myself of all
the sand. But I was actually in a hurry. I had only stopped for what I did
because of Zelda. According to Fi, the chances of her being at the Temple of
Time were very good. I stood up from the drop and stepped into the mine cart.
It hummed to life and started transporting me to the opposite side of the hall.
I patted and pulled the wrinkles out of my clothes.
Truth be told, I missed Zelda terribly. For a while I wasn't sure what to do
without her presence. She had always been there by my side. To wake me up. To
walk with me to the sparring hall. To mend my clothes. To fly with me when I
grew tired of solid ground. But when all that disappeared… I was lost. I had
nearly succumbed to the hopelessness in my heart. But I needed to be strong. If
not for myself, if not for everyone, then for her. For Zelda. I couldn't wait
any longer to see her bright, beautiful face. I wanted to show her that I was
strong. That I had grown into myself as a knight. As a hero.
I hoped that she would be proud of me.
Finally the mine cart crawled to a halt and I climbed out. The door was right
before me, Hylia's golden emblem glowing and humming. I took a deep breath to
calm my nerves, exhaling through my nose. Zelda was just beyond that door. I
didn't need to worry anymore. Everything would be alright. I stepped through
and went up the stairs leading outside.
Dry desert air greeted me, along with piercing early evening sunlight. I
winced, shielding my eyes from the brightness. I heard a beautiful noise. A
song. The crisp plucking of harp strings and a voice sounded to my right. I
shifted in that direction knowingly. My heart swelled at the sight of her. She
was dressed in a clean, white gown that flowed all the way down to the ground.
Her hair was adorned with lavender ribbons that matched the jewelry on her
delicate wrists. The tall woman from Eldin Volcano stood at her side, head
bowed. Her long, wheat colored braid swayed in the slight desert breeze. I
couldn't help a smile from tugging at my lips as I began to run over to them.
But a violent explosion knocked me off my feet. I heard a high pitched scream
come from Zelda. The stones blocking the main entrance to the temple had burst
apart, deadly, heavy debris raining down. I crashed to the ground on my side
with a shout. My ears rang and I coughed up the smoke and dust that had lodged
itself in my lungs. I tried to push myself up off the hard ground, but my limbs
ached. I tried to shake the dizziness away.
A cold laugh rang through the destroyed temple. I froze, locked in place,
petrified by an overwhelming fear. I couldn't even blink. I only stared
endlessly at the ground beneath me, not really looking. I trembled.
No…Not here…Not now…
"Link!" shrieked Zelda.
"Your Grace, there's no time!" The shout came from the woman. "Go to the Gate,
quickly!"
"But Impa –"
"Go! Now!"
A strange metallic noise echoed around the area, followed by another shriek.
Then, a voice. Neither Zelda's nor the woman named Impa's.
"I think you'll stay right where you are, ladies," it sneered. Footsteps.
Growing louder. Closer. "What have we here?" Cold metal touched my chin. The
pewter blade of a rapier angled my head upward. I met Ghirahim's obsidian eyes
and quivered. "Sky child… somehow I knew I would meet you here. Now I don't
have to go looking for you." His voice felt like ice down my spine.
My eyes flickered to Zelda. A wall of diamonds separated her and Impa from the
Gate of Time. Another kept them from making any advance toward the Demon Lord.
From interfering. Suddenly a sharp pain under my chin brought my eyes back to
the man before me.
"You will look at me when I speak to you, child," he hissed. He then removed
his sword, letting his arm rest at his side. "Stand." Forcing myself to ignore
the pain in my arms and chest, I brought myself to my feet. He grinned, baring
his razor sharp teeth. "Good boy. Now come to me."
"No, Link!" screamed Zelda from her magical prison. I looked over to her; Impa
was holding her by her shoulders as she struggled. "Don't do it! Don't listen
to that monster! Link!"
Ghirahim spun on his heel to face her. "Silence, you silly girl! This does not
concern you, so still your wretched tongue," he spat at her. "Or else your hero
shall receive your punishment for you." She whimpered at that and became
silent. Zelda's terrified, tearstained expression ran through me like a hot
knife.
The Demon Lord turned to me once more. "There. It's much more pleasant without
the girl's incessant buzzing in our ears, wouldn't you say?" I let out a shaky,
uneven breath in an attempt to control the whirlwind of emotions jumbling
through my head. I didn't look away from Ghirahim's eyes.
He tilted his head to one side, raising an eyebrow. "What's the matter, sky
child? You were so good during our last meeting. Are you worried about your
little friend?" I didn't respond. "Don't worry. No harm will come to her. I'll
even allow her and her dog to escape through that Gate unscathed, no strings
attached… so long as you behave." He extended his hand to me again, daring me
to challenge him. "Will you behave?"
His open palm taunted me. Ghirahim knew my answer. He knew I wouldn't hesitate.
And I wouldn't have… if it weren't for Zelda. My fingers twitched. It was easy
to let Ghirahim have his way. Tempting, even. But what would Zelda think if
I... if I allowed myself to be weak? If I gave into the temptation, the pulling
urge in my gut?
I took a step forward, allowing my hand to fall into Ghirahim's. Zelda
whimpered. He raised my hand to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on it. I
winced. "That's the good boy I know," he whispered. He gestured in the
direction of Zelda and Impa. "Go to her," he said.
I looked at him in confusion, but complied all the same. I walked up to Zelda,
placing a hand on the nearly translucent wall between us. She lifted her sad,
yellow head and met my hand with hers. I tried to show her that this was not
what I had wanted. I had no control over this. The Demon Lord opened his mouth
to speak again, this time to Zelda.
"This is not the first time your hero and I have crossed paths, spirit maiden."
Ghirahim had his hands behind his back. They both looked at me while he spoke.
I chose to look down, where red and gold diamonds were binding the barrier to
the ground. "He's such a good boy, you know. You would be proud of his
obedience." He came to my side and brushed loose strands of hair from my face.
I remained still, but my eyes snapped closed.
"Yes… a true knight of the goddess, indeed. But enough of this prattle. There
is something I would like you to see, if you don't mind. Sky child." He
clutched my face in his hand, forcing me to look into his cold eyes. "Show her
what I've done to you."
For a lingering moment, I stared into those black orbs. He couldn't do this.
This was too much… Stop this… He released my chin and I looked down once more,
hair shrouding my face. I tilted my head up to meet Zelda's gaze. I reached up
to my neck, pulling down the right side of the white collar under my tunic. I
craned my neck to the opposite side, deciding I couldn't look into her eyes
anymore.
Several red and purple blotches trailed down my neck and past my collarbone,
tainting the once pure flesh. Near the top, by my ear, was a recovering
puncture wound. Several discolored marks were the reminder for where sharp
teeth had bitten down there. Zelda gasped, and in my peripheral vision I saw
her cover her mouth with her hand.
"Link," she choked. "Did he… do that to you…?" She was in disbelief. I didn't
blame her. "How… How could you?! You monster!" she cried out at the Demon Lord
behind me.
Ghirahim only chuckled, a sound that resonated through to my very bones. "You
misunderstand, spirit maiden. Your hero asked me for those."
Zelda was taken aback. She even staggered away from me. I cringed. "No," she
murmured. "No… You're lying!"
"You insult my integrity," the Demon Lord sighed, placing a hand over his
heart. "I do not lie, little girl. He wanted it. I simply gave it to him."
Zelda continued to protest. "You don't believe me? That's quite alright. I'll
change your mind."
Ghirahim tore me away from the wall, away from Zelda. His hands were at either
side of my face, holding my gaze up to his. His fingers made my skin tingle,
and sent strange sensations through my body. "You wanted it, sky child. You
wanted it all so badly. You begged for more. You couldn't get enough of me. I
remember. I could never forget. How could I forget all those delicious pleas,
cries, moans of pleasure! How could I forget the way you writhed under my
touch, the way you squirmed against my mouth, the way you –"
"Enough!" Zelda shrieked. Her hands were balled up into fists on either side of
her head, eyes squeezed shut. "I… I don't want to hear any more…" she muttered.
She fell to her knees, sliding down to the ground. "Link," she whispered, "is
all that… true?"
I looked into Zelda's beautiful blue eyes. The eyes that made everything
alright. It would have been so easy to tell her that it was all a lie. No,
Zelda. He's wrong. You know me, I would never do something like that. But maybe
I didn't even know me. Because I did do something like that. I would probably
do it again… I couldn't say I was proud of it, but somehow I wasn't ashamed
either. But I did know for completely sure that I had let Zelda down. I dropped
my gaze to the ground, nodding once. A sob left her lips.
Ghirahim rubbed my shoulders, directing me away from the barrier. He leant down
to whisper in my ear. "You're such a good boy, sky child. You know that, don't
you?" I shivered. His tone, although hushed, was sweet, seductive. My eyelids
fluttered at the sound. "I have a favor I would like to ask of you, if that's
okay." After a small hesitation, I made a small sound of affirmation in my
throat and he continued. "I need you to obey my orders. Listen to me without
question. Can you do that?"
I turned my head to regard the Demon Lord. I wasn't quite sure what his orders
might entail, but a part of me felt that if I declined, his kindness would
grind to a violent halt. I could only hope that I was right. I nodded.
Ghirahim spun me in a half circle, his hands now resting on my neck. I could
see Zelda watching all of this from the corner of my eye. The Demon Lord jerked
my head forward with a finger, demanding all my attention with his gaze.
"No. Don't look at her. It will not work if you're distracted," he said. I bit
my bottom lip, furrowing my brow. After a moment I nodded again, to which he
grinned. "Good. Now do as I say." He let his arms fall to his sides, standing
at his full height. "Kiss me, sky child."
I looked up at him. I'd never really taken note of how much taller than me he
was. I'd never needed to before. The very top of my head reached his collar
bone… maybe. His lips were just too far away to reach. I tentatively stood on
the tips of my feet, pushing myself up to him as best I could. No good. I had
to be creative. If couldn't get up to him, I needed to bring him down to me.
I quickly devised a plan. I clutched a handful of fabric on his chest and
draped an arm around his neck. I stood as tall as possible and dragged him down
onto my lips. Almost immediately, Ghirahim snaked his arms around my waist. In
one fluid motion, he lifted me into the air with little difficulty. I gasped
into his mouth at the sudden action, wrapping my legs around him tightly. The
Demon Lord placed a hand on the back of my head and deepened the kiss. My face
grew hot as the feeling of his lips overwhelmed my senses. The rest of the
world didn't really exist anymore.
Ghirahim dug his fingers into my side and my back arched into his rigid body. A
squeak escaped my lips. The Demon Lord quickly claimed me with his mouth, and I
couldn't help melting into his embrace. All too soon, Ghirahim tore himself off
of me and touched his forehead to mine. I kept my eyes closed and gasped for
air while he spoke to me.
"Very good, child," he panted. My ears twitched at the praise. I hoped he
hadn't noticed. "I'm not finished with you yet, though. I still have one
demand."I opened my eyes at that, genuinely curious. He tilted his head to the
side and whispered into my ear. "Do you remember what I did to you at the
volcano?" was all he said. He looked into my eyes again, a smirk spreading
across his pale face.
I thought for a moment. I remembered. Very vividly… but which part? Ghirahim
raised his brow at me. Oh. I glanced down between our bodies for a moment,
guessing. His smirk widened.
That.
The very idea sent waves of electricity to every corner and crevice of my body.
Whether or not it was a pleasurable feeling was unknown to me. I made a noise
in the back of my throat. Ghirahim grabbed me by the thighs and set me on my
feet once more. I pined for his warmth almost immediately. He pried my hands
off of his clothes by the wrists, and then placed them on his hips. I blushed.
The Demon Lord put a finger under my chin and lifted it up. His expression was
fierce, lustful, impatient.
"Don't keep me waiting, sky child."
A shudder ran through me. I felt my face growing redder as I clutched at the
golden sash wrapped around his hips. I fumbled with the buckle, but soon
finally withdrew the strip of silk from his body, letting it cascade to the
ground. My fingers slid under the waistband of his skin tight pants.
I looked up at Ghirahim. He placed his hands on my shoulders and applied
pressure. I shifted my weight forward, carefully lowering myself onto my knees.
I took a deep breath, gripped the fabric tight in my hands, and pulled it down.
I gasped as his member sprang free, standing tall and proud. Its impressive
size and length surprised me. My own groin jolted at the mere sight of it. I
shifted my legs slightly in an attempt to hide my shame. My face was no doubt
an impossibly dark shade of crimson by now.
I tried to recall the events at Eldin Volcano. Hesitating only slightly, I
wrapped my fingers around the base. I opened my mouth and brought it closer to
his length, offering an uncertain lick over the slit. Ghirahim hummed at the
contact. I suddenly felt more confident, and I gave another along the entire
head. Feeling daring, I closed my eyes and slid his member into my mouth.
Ghirahim groaned, low and deep. I felt the head of his length with my tongue.
The skin was warm and smooth, and it tasted… good. I didn't know how. I relaxed
my jaw to allow more of him in my mouth. He could barely fit, but I found
myself wanting as much as I could take. Only half sheathed, I used my hand to
cover the base, the other planted on his thigh. I moved my head and hand back
and forth, as he had done, squeezing slightly.
I massaged the underside of his member with my tongue. He began twitching in my
mouth. I sucked in my cheeks and tried to hold him tight with my lips. I pulled
back, only the head of his member in my mouth, and lapped at the tip slowly.
Then I took him again, trying to pull him in as far as he would go. The very
tip of his length brushed against the roof of my mouth. Ghirahim bucked his
hips forward. His member shoved itself to the back of my throat.
I gagged. I jerked away from the Demon Lord, coughing and sputtering, tears
pricking at the corners of my eyes. I had little time to recover before
Ghirahim placed his hand on the back of my head and forced his length into my
mouth again, a little too deep for my comfort. But I couldn't protest. His grip
on my head was firm, urging me to move at his desired pace. I tried to let my
jaw just hang down, allowing more of him inside me.
Ghirahim began to thrust into my mouth, bobbing my head so fast it nearly made
me dizzy. I slurped shamelessly at his member, saliva dribbling down my chin. I
relaxed my tongue as his thrusts became erratic, plunging himself deeper and
deeper into my mouth. I whimpered and whined into each movement. Loving every
moment of his length between my lips, around my tongue, down my throat.
"Brace yourself, child," he grunted out. I wasn't sure what I needed to do, so
I laced my fingers around his member as he assaulted my face with even more
intensity. His fingers dug into my scalp, causing me to wince.
Just then Ghirahim fully sheathed himself inside my mouth, his long length
sliding down my throat. I couldn't breathe. He remained absolutely still,
quivering against my lips. Hot, slick seed coated my tongue. I savored the
thick liquid, swallowing it graciously. It slid down my throat easily.
I felt the absence of his hand behind my head. A moment later his arms went on
either side of my torso, pulling me up to him. I stood on shaky legs, panting
heavily. I met his intense gaze. But I didn't have time to catch my breath as
he crashed his lips onto mine. My fingers curled up into needy fists and I
whined. He pulled away before I was ready.
"Good job, sky child," he uttered. "May we meet again." With a snap of his
fingers Ghirahim disappeared, leaving me to stagger back and regain my balance.
I stared dumbly at the place he had been, mouth open, lips tingling with the
memory of his kiss.
A strange sound to my right snapped me back to the real world. The barriers had
vanished. Suddenly reality dawned on me once more… Zelda had witnessed that. I…
I had honestly forgotten she was there. My face flushed at the sight of her.
She was walking toward me. Her dress fluttered around her ankles at each step.
Once she was within arm's reach she slowed to a stop, eyes trained on the
ground. Would she never look at me again…?
Her yellow hair shrouded her face, her shoulders were slumped, and her breath
was coming out in short, sad puffs. I couldn't stand to see my Zelda this way.
But I stood rooted to the spot, waiting for her to break the silence.
Without warning she brought her hand up and struck me in the cheek. I clenched
my eyes shut at the sharp and intense pain, but forced myself to remain silent.
She lifted her head and looked me in the eyes. The pain I felt skyrocketed, but
not in my cheek. Tears were glistening in her eyes, ready to follow innumerable
others down her stained cheeks.
"I can't believe you, Link…" Her voice was barely audible, but it sliced
through me just the same. She wasn't angry… She wasn't even sad. She was
heartbroken. Completely numb and utterly devastated from the inside out. "I
can't believe how you could… how you could do something like that…" When she
blinked, more tears fell.
I wished she could somehow know that she didn't understand. That she didn't
know the full extent of Ghirahim's and my… relationship. I wished she could see
that I wasn't in the wrong for committing such actions. That it wasn't my
fault. But… there was nothing to understand. And I was in the wrong. I didn't
do it to keep her safe. I didn't do it against my will. I did it because…
because I'd wanted to. There was no deeper, valiant, heroic motive for my
actions. I simply enjoyed it. I could have fought back. I could have drawn my
blade and sliced the Demon Lord into ribbons. But I didn't. Instead I eagerly
obeyed like some wanton slave. But she did need to know that I was still
fighting. I was still Hylia's hero. I was still Zelda's hero.
I just didn't know if she believed me.
Zelda's head had fallen again. She must not have been able to bear looking at
me anymore. Her slender shoulders shook with the force of her silent sobbing.
The sight tore me apart. I ached for her smile. I reached a hand up to caress
her cheek... comfort her, maybe.
She jerked away from my touch, traces of anger flashing across her beautiful
face. "D-Don't touch me!" she cried out. "Don't touch me after you've touched
him." I flinched, pulling my hand away.
My heart shattered. The shrapnel lodged itself in my lungs and throat. My eyes
began to sting and my limbs felt heavy. I couldn't breathe and my mind went
blank. But the dull beating in my chest continued.
She soon softened, running her hands through her hair. Zelda looked exhausted.
I got the feeling that she was done crying. There were no tears left. "I… I'm
sorry… Link…" she said. "But I just… I can't look at you right now…" I bowed my
head in understanding. I get it. I'm disgusting. "I just…" she sighed, "I don't
know, Link. I don't know what to think right now. But I… I have to go." But she
didn't move.
I looked over to Impa, who had been silent the entire time. The woman stood
near the Gate of Time, arms crossed over her chest. She met my gaze with a
brazen intensity. It ripped through me as if I were made of paper. She didn't
need to speak. I could read her mind.
I simply looked at her, not knowing what to do with myself. I couldn't
apologize. I couldn't ask for forgiveness. I couldn't take it back. I could
only stare at this woman, whose life was devoted to protecting Zelda, while I
neglected my duty as the world's only salvation.
I couldn't look at Impa anymore. It was too much for me.
Zelda had turned away from me and was walking to the Gate of Time. I followed
after her, reached out for her, but careful not to touch her. A desperate sound
left my mouth. Don't go. She paused for a moment, turning her head in my
direction. "No, Link. Not right now. I need to go. See the old woman at the
Sealed Temple, she will help you." She was so curt. Please, Zelda…
"Take this. You'll need this where you're going," she said, handing me the
golden harp in her hands. She made sure our fingers didn't touch. I stared at
it for a moment. The sunlight caught on the strings, giving off a sacred glow.
The instrument was as pure as she was. I was unfit to carry it.
I couldn't just watch her leave. But I had no choice. She met my eyes for only
a moment. My heart broke all over again.
"I'm disappointed in you, Link."
She turned around and made her way to the Gate, Impa following close behind
her. Without another word or glance, the two of them stepped into the Gate.
Impa angled her hand behind her, dropping a glowing orb from her palm. As the
orb touched the ground it detonated, leaving the once beautiful Gate of Time a
pile of decrepit rubble.
She wasn't proud of me at all, it turned out.
***** Ancient Cistern *****
The lotus-shaped door twisted open, finally revealing the way to the sacred
flame. I pressed my fingers into my forehead with a sigh. I was more than ready
to be done with this soggy, undead bathtub. Not that I didn't admire the
architecture of the place. The flowers and colors were quite charming. But I
quickly grew tired of being here. I hated getting snagged and stabbed by
prickly lily pad thorns. And I could have gone without being constantly soaked
to the bone, shivering and freezing, from having to swim everywhere.
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
Normally I didn't hate swimming. Treading water actually came fairly naturally
to me. But the excess of it all in this place just put me in a sour mood. I was
in no mood to even be out here in the first place. Not that I had the ability
to be fussy about the situation.
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
I pulled on the wind-up keys at the top of the statue and it rumbled to life,
rising through a gap in the ceiling. I sent my prayers to the goddess at the
bird statue, requesting a safe passage to the flame. I lowered my head in
reverence. I hoped she was still listening to me.
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
I went up the stairs, stopping at the door before me. I touched the cool stone
with barely dry fingers. My shoulders relaxed for the first time since… who
knows when. Did I really have to be in such a hurry all the time? I was so…
tired. Just completely exhausted down to my very core.
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
I clenched my fingers into a fist, squeezing my eyes shut. I couldn't ignore
the nagging in my heart any longer. Those words… They spun in endless circles
around my head. Never ceasing to remind me. Never allowing me to forget. The
memory, the sound, the image of it all gnawed away at me, and I was beginning
to give.
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
I banged my fist against the closed door, begging the pain to stop, and it
opened. I had no choice. Fate had decided what I could and couldn't do long
before I had any say in the matter. I stepped inside the room, distantly noting
the mauve and gold palette of the walls and floor. I was alone in the thick
silence of the empty room. Not even the sound of rushing water permeated the
door behind me. Ahead was the emblem I saw no matter where I went. The proud
insignia of Hylia. Mocking me with its purity.
Standing just steps away from the entrance, I didn't make to move any closer to
the door opposite me. Instead I just stared blankly ahead, listening to the
loop of words in my mind. I'm disappointed in you, Link. I'm disappointed in
you, Link. I'm disappointed in you, Link. Her voice gave me no rest. It was all
I thought about. It infected me, filling me to the brim with a sick, black
hatred. I couldn't bear to exist. I felt vile, repulsive, like the very air
turned to poison upon entering my lungs.
My legs gave out and I fell to my knees. I couldn't do this anymore. I couldn't
be strong anymore. It was too much. I wanted to stop. I wanted to get away.
Tears fell from my eyes as I clenched my teeth. I shook my head to force them
away. But as soon the first drops trickled down my cheeks, the floodgates
burst. I hung my head, finally allowing myself to be weak in the seclusion of
this chamber. Finally letting go.
Violent sobs racked my body. Weak cries and pathetic whimpers left my mouth. I
couldn't believe I was acting this way. I wasn't supposed to be this fragile. I
needed to be courageous, fearless, unfaltering… There was so much I had to be.
And I didn't used to mind. I had a reason to fight. A reason to keep going. A
reason to risk my life. A reason to stay strong, no matter what.
And I had let her down.
I didn't know how long I cried. But I didn't care. I knew I didn't really
deserve it, but I needed to have this time for myself. Just a little bit. I let
the tears fall freely, head hung low and hands limp in my lap. A faint metallic
sound rang in front of me. My ears didn't even perk up in acknowledgement. I
expected as much…
Maybe this time he would finally kill me.
"I just keep running into you, sky child," came his chill voice. "What am I
going to do with y–?" he stopped. I ignored his presence, the tears only now
beginning to subside.
"Sky child?" I almost looked up at him when he spoke again. His tone was… off.
Something about his voice was so different than his usual silky drawl. The way
it was soft and turned up at the end… No. He couldn't be doing this. He was
trying to trap me, and I was too close to the edge to remain sane. I didn't
want to be subjected to his mind games. But I didn't think I had the strength
to stop him right now, if he wished to try.
Fresh tears spilled free, an audible shudder escaping and echoing around me. A
flood of hopelessness washed over me. I would never be free of this torture.
The goddess had misplaced her trust in a disgraceful boy like me.
Ghirahim's legs came into view. I could only just make out his white calves
through wet eyes and dangling hair. He knelt down to crouch before me. I closed
my eyes, not wanting to look at him. Cold, gloved fingers touched my chin and
gently tilted it upward. Others brushed my hair to the side, then traced down
my cheek, no doubt where tears had stained the skin pink.
"Child…" he whispered again. His voice was so gentle. Pathetic little snivels
leaked out of my mouth at the sound. "My sky child, what's wrong?" His…What?
"Why are you crying, child?" I still made no indication that I could even hear
him. I refused.
"… Link."
My breathed hitched. He had never addressed me by my name before. I slowly
opened my eyes to see Ghirahim's face so close to mine. I melted at the sight
of his expression. Head tilted to the side. Brows knitted together. Lips locked
into a tight frown. They parted slightly.
"Link, are you okay?" he asked.
My lips quivered. My vision became fuzzy as more tears threatened to fall. I
looked down for only a moment before meeting his gaze once more.
I shook my head.
Ghirahim's eyes shifted somewhat, becoming almost thoughtful. He then removed
his hand from under my chin. I didn't let it fall. He put his hand over the
strap on my chest, smoothly sliding the leather out from under the buckle. A
faint sense of fear flashed through my mind, but he rested his other palm
against my cheek, softly shushing and cooing, reassuring me. He reached behind
me and took my shield in his hands, taking it and my blade and setting them on
the stone floor to the side.
He changed his position, sitting back with his legs beneath him. Placing his
hands on each of my shoulders, Ghirahim pulled me forward gently and lay me
against his chest. He wrapped one arm securely around my waist. The other went
over my shoulder, easily removing my cap and letting it join my weapons, and
buried his hand in my hair, stroking slowly. I didn't question the gesture.
I squirmed slightly against him, bringing my hands under my chin and shifting
my head to the other direction. I tried in vain to control my wretched sobbing.
Instead I relaxed into his embrace, crying harder and louder than ever before.
A part of me could hardly recall the reason I was so frail at the moment.
Another part of me knew all too well, but chose to leave it at that. I just let
myself wail into Ghirahim's warm, solid chest.
He smelled so good. He smelled like spices and steel and even blood. All mixed
together. It was such a comforting aroma. It suited him perfectly.
I wasn't aware that I had this much sadness inside me. I didn't know that I
could cry for such a long time. I budged one of my hands and clutched at
Ghirahim's clothes desperately. Just clinging onto something, someone real – it
kept me from tipping over. His fingers tightened at my waist and in my hair.
Slowly his hands slid from my body, to my chest and shoulder, and pushed me
upright. I looked up at him through my hair, which he brushed away and tucked
behind my ear again. Both hands at my neck now. He looked distressed and I
didn't know why. He looked into my eyes for a moment.
Suddenly he stole my lips in a fiercely tender kiss. Our eyes fluttered closed
and I moaned softly against his mouth. Ghirahim pushed into my body and I
pushed back. He held me closer and closer with each moment, tangling his
fingers into my hair, pulling my head back to meet his soft lips better. My
arms found their way around his neck and locked together. The need for each
other was so intense. Mixed tears trickled down my cheeks. The feeling of his
lips wedged between mine. The feeling of his strong body against my own. The
feeling of his fingers laced through my hair. The kiss became my salvation, my
rescue… It caught me before I could even fall.
Ghirahim pulled away eventually, gently and carefully. As if I would shatter.
My tears had ceased. Our foreheads touched for a moment before he made me meet
his eyes. His gaze was soft but demanding.
"I'm sorry, sky child," he said. I slowly blinked at him. "I'm sorry you're
hurting. I'm sorry you're in pain. I'm sorry you're… broken right now." He
paused for a moment. "But… I have a secret. Would you like to hear it?" After
hesitating slightly, I nodded. Ghirahim took a deep breath. "Sky child… In all
my years, I have never seen anything even remotely as flawless as what I see
before me now. You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life."
He rubbed away the excess tears resting under my eyes with his thumbs. "Even in
tears, you are just… impossibly breathtaking. I can't get enough of your
astounding beauty. I would never stop looking at you, if I could."
Ghirahim's words tingled in my ears for a while before they sunk in. Then a
warmth spread through my body, right down to my fingertips. The corners of my
mouth tugged upwards in gratitude. In happiness.
The Demon Lord touched his forefinger to my lips, presumably engrossed in his
own thoughts. His eyes shone with an unknown emotion.
"You never cease to surprise me, child," he whispered. "This is the first time
I have ever seen you smile. And I'm afraid I have to amend my previous
statement. Even a Demon Lord must admit when he has been proven wrong."
He ran his thumbs over my lips, drawing another shy smile out of me. "This is
the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
I exhaled though my nose. I withdrew from his touch, my face feeling warm. My
arms had since slid from around Ghirahim's shoulders and were at my sides once
more. But the Demon Lord snuck a finger under my chin and angled my face in his
direction once more.
"Promise me something?" he said. It wasn't a demand. It was a question. A
request. "I want to see that smile of yours again. Make sure I do."
I put a hand to my mouth and thought. Ghirahim wanted me to smile… Ghirahim
wanted me to be happy. He didn't want me to cry. Did that mean I was… good? Did
that mean I was somehow, against all odds… valuable?
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
Was there still hope that Zelda would forgive me? Was it still possible to
atone for my wrongdoings? Maybe… Maybe I wasn't some repugnant mistake of a
boy. I still wanted to be the pure hero that Hylia had destined me to be. I
wanted it so dearly. But it had been so trying on my spirit as of late.
I'm disappointed in you, Link.
Her words still stung in my chest. But they sounded different. They sounded
more like whispers. A faint reminder to make her proud. I'd lost sight of that,
when I should have been striving harder. I wouldn't keep her waiting any
longer.
I'll make you proud, Zelda.
I looked into his eyes and nodded. He grinned and removed his finger from my
chin.
"Regrettably, I've been here as long as was necessary, and now I must depart."
He placed his hands at the back of my head, and pressed his lips to my forehead
in a chaste, protective kiss. "I'll see you again, though, sky child. You know
I'll make sure of it." And with an almost undetectable wink and a snap of his
fingers, he was gone.
***** Fire Sanctuary *****
I couldn't help hesitating when I approached the large door. My heart began to
race as I thought about what might lay behind it. Or rather… who. It felt like
Blessed Butterflies were trapped in my gut. I was reacting so severely to just
a hunch. Although I was fairly certain it was more than that. I didn't ever
know what to expect whenever I was faced with one of these doors. But I knew
that I should expect something.
I reached for the lock, struggling to fit the key inside. I was barely tall
enough for the imposing door. Nonetheless the key slid into its place and
unblocked the way ahead. The chamber was round, like Skyview Temple, but
decorated with earthen tones. The temperature was significantly lower in here
than outside or in the rest of the sanctuary. Mosaic art lined the walls and
ceiling. I looked straight ahead of me and exhaled slowly through my mouth,
trying to ease my anxiety.
There he was.
Ghirahim was facing the door at the far end of the chamber. We rarely met face
to face, it seemed. His crimson cloak hung low to his calves, hiding the rest
of his frame from my view. His head was tilted to the side, exposing his
pointed to ear, but I couldn't define the rest of his features. What was he
hiding…?
"I told you, didn't I?" he purred. His voice was silky and smooth and it rang
throughout the room like a bell. I could practically hear the sly smirk on his
face. I dropped my head slightly, feeling a smile tug at the corners of my lips
of their own accord. I looked up at him through my bangs as he slowly turned to
face me.
"Ah…" he hummed. He stepped closer to me and pulled my chin up to meet his
eyes. "You're such a good boy, child. You always do as I say." His thumb grazed
over my lips. I felt my face grow warm as my skin tingled at his touch. "I love
that you've submitted." My stomach churned at his last comment, leaving me with
a strange, nameless feeling.
The Demon Lord turned away from me then, but he continued to speak, strolling
away from me slowly. "You've actually caught me in quite a good mood, sky
child. I've been doing some snooping about, searching endlessly for a way to
find the spirit maiden, since her guard dog destroyed the only means that I
knew of. That's my reward for sparing their lives, I suppose. Anyway, I
couldn't for the life of me dig up any clues… but then I stumbled upon those."
Ghirahim extended his arm and pointed to the far wall, high above the exit. "Do
you see them? Those paintings? Take a good look at them, sky child. What do you
see?"
The two small murals stood out among the rest of the art along the walls. They
each depicted similar scenes: a cog-like structure at the center, surrounded by
people praying before it. I recognized the structures as Gates of Time. The
first mural I instantly knew as the Temple of Time by its sandy colors and
dessert setting. The second Gate was enclosed by trees and painted with rich
green tones. It must have been the Sealed Temple in Faron Woods. The precise
Gate of Time I was trying to restore. I looked back to Ghirahim.
"It's quite obvious, sky child," he said. His voice had become cold,
calculated, controlled. He met my eyes, and his expression startled me. "It
appears that there is a second Gate of Time in the forest." I swallowed. "Were
you aware of this?" he asked me. His gaze was intense. I looked down, away, in
any direction that wasn't in front of me.
He stepped closer to me again, forcing my chin up with his hand. His cruelty
was alarming. I tried to yank myself away, pull him off of me. But he only
tightened his grip, causing a small whimper to leave my lips. "You know," he
sneered. "It's no use trying to hide it from me. I can read you so easily, and
you know. I know you do." I was terrified. I didn't know what I should do. I
immediately went for my sword, hand shooting up to grasp the hilt. But Ghirahim
was faster, clutching the metal before I could even blink. His eyes became
furious slits.
"You so much as touch this toy and I'll shred you to pieces." It came out as a
low growl, chilling me to the core. I didn't know what was going on. Was
Ghirahim going to kill me?
He started backing me up against the far wall, slamming me into the stone. I
grunted out, clawing at his arm with all my might. He continued to glare deep
into my eyes, into my soul, clutching my chin too tight. His other hand had let
go of my blade.
"I hate to do this, sky child," he said. "But you leave me no choice. I'll have
to teach you a lesson about hiding things from a Demon Lord."
He snapped his fingers, conjuring a black dagger. He held it upright and angled
it at my neck. I looked up at him in wide-eyed horror, the blade digging into
my skin. I winced at the stinging pain. A few tears trickled down my cheek.
Ghirahim's eyes followed their trail intently. After several long, aching
moments, Ghirahim relaxed his gaze only slightly. He pulled the dagger away
from my throat, allowing it to disappear. He cursed under his breath.
"… It seems I have developed a soft spot for you, child." There was a mild
tenderness in his tone. "Perhaps corporal punishment is a touch harsh, anyway."
His voice was softer, and it had regained its usual smooth timbre, but it still
didn't allow me to relax. He unclenched his hand from around my chin. My very
jaw bones felt bruised.
"Still," he continued. He stood at his full height, looking down at me with
disdainful eyes. "I can't let this slide. You must pay the price for your
misbehavior. I have been nothing but kind to you. And you do this to me. I dare
say that I am insulted – hurt, even – by your actions. Have I done something
treacherous to deserve such treatment from you, sky child?"
I cowered under his gaze. I thought about the question for a while. Has he?
Looking back through our encounters… Skyview Temple… the Earth Temple… the
Temple of Time… the Ancient Cistern… And here…? I shook my head.
"Precisely, my child. And that is why you must be punished. I hope you
understand that a mischievous boy like you needs to be dealt with firmly." I
looked into his dark eyes with a frown. Ghirahim placed a finger under my chin.
"No, no. There will be no sadness. I won't allow it. You have placed yourself
in this situation, sky child, and you must make amends. But I will forgive you
only if you agree to my commands." I nodded, biting my lip. He smirked.
"Excellent."
Ghirahim tapped his lips with a finger. "Now I've got to think of a punishment
befitting your naughty deeds…" After a moment, his eyebrows spiked up and he
bent forward to level his gaze with mine. "I've got just the thing, sky child.
You'lllove it." I shivered as my imagination ran wild with worst-case
scenarios. "Come," he said.
He took my hand and let me to the center of the room. He stood several paces
from me and looked me up and down. I felt so vulnerable being showcased in
front of him like this.
"Where to start…?" he muttered. His hands rested on his hips. His weight was
shifted onto one foot, almost lazily. "Oh, I can't decide… Well, the first step
would be to remove your weapons, I would think," he said.
I hesitated for a moment, having no clue what he had in mind. I reached up to
the strap around my chest, undoing the buckle, and gently placed my shield and
sword on the ground. I tried to break my eye contact with Ghirahim as little as
possible. Then I went for my belt, removing it from around my waist and letting
it fall to the ground as well.
"Perfect," he said. "I know exactly what to do with you now." He grinned wide
enough to reveal his pointed teeth. "Strip for me."
I was slightly taken aback by this statement. I remained still, not sure if he
was serious. He spoke again, harshly. "I don't think you heard me, sky child. I
want you to strip down. And I think you would be wise to do as I say."
I paused long enough to shudder at the threat. I looked at my hands, thinking
about what to do, where to start. I reached up to my cap and pulled it off. I
ran my fingers through my hair for a moment, unsticking it from my scalp. Then
I tugged off my gauntlets, one at a time, each adding to the soon-to-be pile of
my own clothes. Hesitating only slightly, I stepped back, wiggling out of my
leather boots clumsily. I nudged them to the side.
"Keep it up, child," he purred with a smirk. His arms were now crossed over his
chest. I grabbed the hem of my tunic and pulled it, and my chainmail, up and
over my head. It landed in a heap by the boots. The next article to come off
was my white undershirt. The sudden air on my exposed torso gave me chills. My
chest felt tight.
I grabbed the waistband of my pants in both hands. I didn't want to do this. I
looked at Ghirahim, pleading for it all to be over. He only raised his
eyebrows, flicked his gaze down to my hands, and nodded once with a smirk.
I let out a shaky breath and squeezed my eyes shut. I pushed my pants down and
off, letting them pool at my feet. I stepped out of them and they joined the
pile on the ground. My hands found their way in front of my groin
automatically. I was blushing so hard I was sure my face was radiating its own
heat.
"Ah, ah, sky child," chided Ghirahim. "Remove your hands. Let me see all of
you, won't you?" I slowly dragged my hands away and held them still at my
sides, curling them into tight fists. "Good boy," he praised. I opened my eyes
slowly to see the Demon Lord eying me very carefully, memorizing every piece of
me. A long, low, growl sounded in his throat and his eyes flashed.
"I truly can't believe how beautiful you are," he said. My stomach fluttered at
the flattery. "After all this time I stand by my words: you are flawless in
every way." I watched him trail his eyes down my body. I began to shake with
mortification. His words, his gaze, this entire situation… it was too much for
me to handle. But I had a pulling feeling that it was about to get a lot worse.
"What's the matter, child?" Ghirahim's eyes met mine. I couldn't tell if he was
concerned or teasing. "Is someone feeling… exposed?" An unsteady breath left my
lungs. He took a few steps closer to me. I could feel his warmth from this
distance. I hadn't realized how cold I was. His heat was almost intoxicating. I
brought myself closer to him without thinking.
"Perhaps I am a bit… overdressed. Wouldn't you agree, sky child?" His voice was
clouded, hiding some deeper dark motive. He held up my chin with a finger, the
way he always did when he had something important to say. "Why don't you have
me join you?" he said. Even though it was a question, I knew he was issuing a
command for me to follow. I gave a small, shy nod.
I stared at his collarbones, gathering up the nerve to carry out his order. I
unclenched my fists and brought them up to unhook the clip that kept his cloak
draped over his body. My arms slunk over his shoulders, as I stood tall on the
tips of my feet, to push the heavy fabric off and let it cascade to the floor.
His eyes were locked with mine the entire time.
Then I looked down at the sash around his hips and took hold of the buckle on
the side. I made quick work of removing it from his body and let it fall behind
him. My fingers slid under the hem of his skintight shirt and yanked it off his
torso. I stood staring blankly at his chest for a moment. I took a deep breath,
wishing he would change his mind. That he would let me stop. No such wish came
true. I hooked my thumbs into his pants and tugged them off, not even letting
myself think about it. He climbed out of them easily and gracefully.
Despite having a face hotter and redder than fire itself, I couldn't help
staring in awe at the sight of Ghirahim's body. His chest was toned, his legs
were strong, and the lines of his pelvis were beautifully defined. His lithe
muscles took my breath away. He looked like he had been chiseled from stone. I
rested a hand on his abdomen softly. He felt so smooth, but still unyielding.
Ghirahim wrapped his delicate fingers around my wrist and removed my hand from
his body. "That's not allowed, sky child," he purred. "I've got much more
planned before you can touch me," he teased. Then he gently nudged me back to
my original spot in the center of the chamber. He stood before me, proudly
naked. "Now that your clothes are out of the way, I can have you carry out your
punishment."
My stomach dropped. My punishment still hasn't been executed…? He wanted to
drag out my humiliation for as long as possible, it seemed. There was nothing I
could do. He was making me punish myself… I was carrying out my punishment for
him.
He opened his mouth to speak, and the bluntness of his words shocked me. "Touch
yourself for me," he said.
My face felt impossibly hotter. I wouldn't do that… I couldn't! I didn't, not
even on my own. It wasn't something that ever crossed my mind. I knew how to,
sure, but… I just didn't. I shook my head, pleading for some sort of
understanding. He just looked back at me, one eyebrow raised. Waiting.
I flexed my fingers, gathering up any trace of courage I had left. With a deep
breath I brought my hand closer to my groin, timidly wrapping it around the
shaft. A small gasp left my mouth at the contact and I closed my eyes. A hum of
praise sounded from Ghirahim. I began to stroke myself slowly. My mouth hung
open as I quickly became aroused under my own touch. I widened my stance
slightly, my balance waning.
I quickened my pace, losing myself in the feeling. I tilted my head back. But
it wasn't enough… Too much of my attention was focused on staying upright.
Needy whines and whimpers spilled from my mouth. I opened my eyes to see
Ghirahim licking his lips at the sight of me and I blushed.
He stepped behind me, slinking his hands around my waist. He pulled me into
him, our bodies crushed together. I moaned at the contact of his warm body. He
ran his hands down my body, covering my hand with his, speeding up the pace. I
bucked into his hand at the harsh spike.
He pressed me closer into his body. I suddenly became acutely aware of his hard
member prodding at my backside. An overpowering urge swept over me and I pushed
into his hips. Ghirahim growled quietly, while I let out a near cry. His free
hand slid up to my chest and he placed his open mouth on the curve of my neck.
He raked his sharp teeth against the skin. I groaned, pushing harder into his
body.
The sensation of it all was pushing me over the edge. I moaned through gritted
teeth. Ghirahim seemed to sense my approaching climax and tore his and my hand
off my member. I whined at the loss of his touch. Then he spun me around to
face him and stole my lips in a heated kiss. I automatically wrapped my arms
around his shoulders. He cupped my rear end, causing me to whimper. The
entirety of his naked body against mine.
Ghirahim lowered us onto our knees, and then without hesitation he lay me on my
back. The action was hurried, but gentle. The stone was so cold against my bare
skin. The Demon Lord hovered over me on his elbows and knees, one of his hands
buried in my hair, and crashed his lips into mine.
Ghirahim ran his hand down my side and gripped my thigh. I shifted from under
him, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and lifted both legs up and over his
hips, pulling him down on top of me. He didn't protest. He moved against me,
and we both groaned at the friction.
He snuck an arm under my back, pulling me closer. His fingers pulled at my
hair. My head tilted back and the kiss deepened. Tongues danced together
between our mouths. His skin was intoxicating. He ground his hips against me,
driving me into the cold ground.
I was hardly breathing. Air left my lungs in rapid puffs as Ghirahim rocked
against me. He pulled me impossibly closer. His actions were quickly becoming
erratic. His body jerked back and forth. I could feel his muscles trembling. He
was tipping over the edge. And so was I.
Suddenly, without warning, Ghirahim stopped. He tore his lips away from mine,
he removed his hands from my body, and he held himself up by his elbows above
me. I slowly looked up at him through lidded eyes, arms still locked around his
shoulders, legs still wrapped around his hips, panting furiously. It took me a
few moments to realize he was no longer touching me.
I felt cold without Ghirahim's body on top of mine. My lower gut throbbed from
the harsh lack of stimulation. He was trying to control his heavy breathing.
His muscles were locked tight, as if restraining himself.
"I nearly lost myself…" he murmured. He met my gaze. "But now is not the time
for that." His lips twisted into a smirk. "I'm afraid we'll have to cut this
short, sky child. I can't have you just yet." He met my lips for a fleeting
moment. "Until next time," he whispered. He snapped his fingers and disappeared
right before my eyes, leaving my arms and legs to flop to the stone ground, my
mind to run blank with confusion, and my body to ache in frustration.
***** Temple of Hylia *****
I stared at the door before me, hardly breathing. Zelda was behind it. I turned
to see Groose and the Old Woman standing at the bottom of the stairs. They just
looked back up at me, waiting for me to go and get her. I exhaled through my
nose and pried open the door.
The amber crystal at the far end of the room was glowing faintly, slowly
pulsating with a shimmering light. Brighter, louder, sharper… until the smooth
surface of the gem split right down the center. It cracked and fractured and
suddenly burst open, showering gold and orange shards every which way. The
blinding light dimmed down, and there she was.
Her gossamer dress looked as if it were floating around her ankles and wrists.
Her perfect yellow head was bowed, and I could somehow tell her eyes were
closed. Her body was nearly limp, just existing there before me. She slowly
raised her head, sleepy eyes opening and focusing on the sight before her. The
corners of her lips tilted upwards when her gaze met mine. I just stared at her
in awe. My Zelda…
She tried to take a step forward, but her hardly conscious legs couldn't
remember how to carry her weight. Almost in slow motion, she began to fall. I
jolted forward and caught her before her knees had time to buckle. I lowered
her to the floor and sat with her against my chest. Having my arms around her
slim waist, holding her so close, it felt… right. She was meant to be here.
With me.
I didn't move. I didn't stroke her hair. I didn't even breathe. I just waited.
She breathed so softly. After a few silent moments, she began to finally stir.
Her hands touched my arms. She nudged her head a little and spoke.
"Good morning… sleepyhead."
My chest felt like I had taken a large gulp of fresh pumpkin soup. She pulled
away and sat up to face me. But I didn't miss the feeling of her body. I
watched her play idly with her hands, not looking up to face me. I didn't make
to touch her.
"Thank you for waking me up," she said. Her voice was so small and sweet. If it
was from lack of use I didn't know. "I'm sorry I had to go… for so long. I knew
you could manage without me, though…" She paused and looked into my eyes.
"You're a strong man, Link. And…" But she trailed off. I just sat before her,
trying to be patient.
She looked down again, a blush crossing her cheeks. "About what happened at the
Temple of Time," she began. My stomach dropped. She sensed my unease and shook
her head slightly. She spoke slowly. "I… I shouldn't have said what I said to
you, Link. I wish I hadn't. I wish I could take it back. And I wanted to
apologize before when you opened the Gate of Time, I promise I did. But there
wasn't time.
"It was just… shocking," she whispered. "To see you and him – the way he…" She
trailed off to look at me. "I thought he had stolen you from me, Link. I didn't
want to believe it. But I know that you would never stray. You would never
stray from the goddess. You're so good, Link. And I shouldn't have doubted
you," she said.
I looked at Zelda, warmth spreading through my veins like boiling water. She
continued to speak. "I'm so sorry, Link. I hope you can forgive me… I could
never hate you. I couldn't be more proud of you. You've done so much, made it
so far, and all on your own. I barely recognize you. I mean, look at you… I
have to remind myself that you're the same sleepy boy I knew in Skyloft." We
shared a small laugh at that. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I had been
riding lazily through the clouds without a single care in the world.
Suddenly Zelda's smile faded, and she dropped her head down again. "I won't ask
why you did… what you did. I can put the pieces together, I think. I've had a
lot of time to think about it and I think I know how you and him… go together."
She was choosing her words very carefully. This was a tricky subject for the
both of us, and neither of us were sure how to approach it. "Can I ask about
you two…?" she asked timidly. My face flushed, but I nodded. This was Zelda.
She deserved to know. She took a deep breath and dove right in.
"He said you'd crossed paths before… and you proved that he was telling the
truth. Were those… marks… from your first encounter?"
I shook my head.
"Have you seen him since the Temple of Time?"
I nodded.
"Has each meeting been… like the Temple of Time?"
I shrugged, not quite knowing how to give a straight answer.
"Does he force you?"
I shook my head after a moment.
"Did he at first?"
I was taken aback by the question, but I nodded.
"Does he make you feel… good?"
My face felt hot. It was hard to look her in the eyes. I nodded.
It took her a long time to think of the next question.
"Do you love him, Link?"
I didn't know how to respond to that. No answer seemed correct. What did love
even feel like? I thought about him. My gut felt fluttery and sick. My lips
tingled and my heart raced. I looked at Zelda. The faintest smile graced her
lips. Apparently my silence was all the answer she needed.
"Does he love you back?"
I didn't know that either. Sometimes, if I let myself wonder, I hoped that
maybe… But I could never sense his thoughts or motives. He shifted back and
forth so sharply, so randomly. I tried to remain realistic. I was just his toy.
But sometimes…
I shrugged wistfully.
Zelda nodded. It seemed that she was out of questions. I looked behind me, past
the entrance. I'd almost forgotten… Groose and the Old Woman were waiting for
us. I could sit here with Zelda forever if I could. Nonetheless I stood,
brushing the dust from my pants. I held out my hand to Zelda and she pulled
herself up quickly and easily. Her dress swayed around her ankles as we stepped
out of the room.
The Old Woman tilted her head up to us but said nothing. Groose, on the other
hand, was beside himself with joy. It seemed like he didn't know whether to run
up the stairs or stand still or have his arms up in the air or down at his
sides. He was grinning, though. He was grinning so wide.
Zelda looked surprised to see Groose – she'd never known he had found his way
down here, after all. But when he knelt down to her height and wrapped his arms
around her, she didn't hesitate to embrace him back, one arm around his broad
shoulders.
Groose pulled away sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head and looking down.
His eyebrows tilted downward and he frowned. He began to tear up, not even
trying to hide it. "Z-Zelda… I can't… I was so… I'm just… You…" he blubbered,
throwing an arm over his eyes. After taking a few calming breaths, he tried to
speak again. "I'm… I'm glad you're back, Zelda," was what he settled for. She
beamed up at him.
Groose turned to me, clapping a hand on my back. My knees almost buckled at the
force. "You did it!" he wouldn't stop shouting. His smile was so infectious.
Everything was safe now. Peace would return to the surface world. Skyloft could
sleep soundly from now on. And that was wonderful. But that didn't matter to me
nearly as much as having Zelda back. Having her by my side, smiling, laughing,
being beautiful. Her hand never left mine.
I stood by her, watching the three of them exchange pleasantries and news. The
Old Woman held Zelda's free hand with both of hers, murmuring soft words.
Groose was reenacting his descent to the surface. Zelda listened and watched
with a smile. I was hardly paying attention, though. I just observed, happy to
stand here with them. This was all I needed.
Suddenly the air felt off. My ears perked up at the change. I couldn't quite
place the feeling in my gut. It was foreign and familiar, cold and welcoming,
all at once. My fingers twitched against Zelda's palm. She immediately stopped
speaking and looked at me.
"Link, what's wrong?" she asked. I looked ahead of me, trying to ascertain the
feeling. What was it? The atmosphere shifted so severely, yet it seemed I was
the only one that had noticed. The air had become thicker, like… I deadpanned.
There was a presence. We were not alone.
I took a few steps to the left, Zelda having little choice but to follow
closely behind me. I made my way near the Gate of Time, checking the entrance
of the Temple. The door was still sealed securely shut, but that only
intensified the feeling in my stomach. I ventured further forward, slowly
walking around the Gate, focusing my attention on the front of the structure.
Sure enough.
I thought that seeing him would surprise me, but it didn't.
There he was. Leaning lazily against the Gate of Time. His arms were crossed
over his chest, with one leg lifted against the metal structure. The hem of his
crimson cloak was just barely swaying, suggesting he had been there only a few
moments. Zelda saw him just after I did and gasped. His piercing gaze shot
right through me.
"Hello there, sky child."
His silky voice rang through the Temple, echoed in my mind. From the corner of
my eye I saw Groose and the Old Woman come to stand behind me. I held Zelda's
hand tighter. He continued to speak, giving his attention to only me.
"Did I cut your little moment short? That's too bad, I was even trying to be
patient. But it seems that even when I do not call… You always come to me."
Shivers ran down my spine. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if I could
go through with any of his games here, now. I didn't break my eye contact with
him.
"Link…?" Groose croaked out. "Who is this? What's going on?"
Zelda looked back at the knight-in-training, but said nothing. Normally Groose
would have pushed the subject, demanded answers out of her, out of someone. But
he must have sensed the fear in her expression, because he said nothing else.
Ghirahim pushed himself off of the Gate of Time and took a few steps toward me.
I stood in front of Zelda, scowling at the Demon Lord. His lips twisted into a
smirk.
"Is that any way to greet me, sky child? How rude… Especially when the last
thing I want to do is quarrel." A small chuckle left his lips. "No, child. I've
come to strike a deal with you."
I allowed my stance to relax, both shocked at his uncharacteristic pacifism and
willing to hear him out. His grin grew wider and he launched into his
ultimatum.
"Well, as you know, it has been my life's work to revive my master. The demon
king's resurrection is my sole purpose for existing. And although you," his
gaze flickered to Zelda for a brief moment, "have done a fine job of spoiling
my plans, dear goddess, there is still, shall we say, time? On the other side
of this Gate my master lives yet. All I need is the girl's divine soul, and the
demon king shall be revived."
Zelda gasped. Her grip on my hand tightened, and I squeezed back. No matter
what, I would protect her with my life. I took another step in front of her,
toward Ghirahim, scowling. He did not budge from his spot, but continued
speaking.
"Stand down, sky child," he urged, impatience evident. "I haven't finished yet.
Will you let me continue?" I looked up at him, feeling too many things at once,
but backed off and nodded. "Good boy," he said. My ears drooped. "Now, I'll
just get right down to it. There is something I want much more than the revival
of my master. Something that I've wanted – needed – for far too long… Would you
hear my desire?" I made no response, but allowed him to answer.
"You."
I stepped back a little.
"You, sky child. I want you. I want you to offer yourself to me, willingly, so
I can take you. So I can finally have you." I looked away from Ghirahim, at the
floor by my feet. I heard him walk up to me, less than an arm's length away. He
wasn't going to lift my chin up the way he always did. He didn't need to. I
looked up at him. His eyes were only for me. "You know, child, you've really
pushed me too far," he whispered. His eyes traveled to Zelda again. "I will not
harm her," he added. My eyes trailed to his mouth. Dead serious. I didn't know
if I could trust him, but I knew he wasn't lying.
"So what do you say?"
I looked back at Zelda, who hadn't said a word. It was easy enough for me to
make up my mind. But Zelda… what about her? Would she be alright? Would she
manage, knowing…? Her expression was soft and sweet, just like everything else
about her. A small smile played on her lips, and I could sense everything she
felt about me. She knew my choice. She knew I had already made my choice. But
she didn't mind. She knew I was still her Link. She knew I wouldn't let her
down. She knew how I felt, even though I didn't. She loved me. And I loved her.
I would always love Zelda. Whether she wanted me to or not, I loved her with
all my heart. I would do anything in the world to make her happy. But I knew
that she wanted me to be happy. If only just this once. I smiled back at her.
I let go of her hand.
Ghirahim extended his hand to me and I took it. He laced his fingers through
mine, face unreadable. I expected Groose to shout out, protest, march up to the
Demon Lord. But he didn't. I didn't know what I would have expected the Old
Woman to do. But she remained still as well. Without another word, he pulled me
up the steps leading to the Gate of Time and led me through it.
The Temple of Hylia was dim, cold, and empty. I shivered. Ghirahim stopped at
the landing just beyond the Gate and turned to face me. The way he carried
himself had changed drastically from a moment ago; his previously haughty
disposition had been replaced with a sort of gentle longing. He looked into my
eyes in a way that made me want to cry.
"Thank you, Link," he said. Tingles went down my spine at the way my name
sounded from his lips. "You don't understand how much I have wanted you. But I
couldn't just… take you. I…" he trailed off as he looked away for a moment,
chuckling. "I don't know how it happened, but I couldn't force you into it. I
had to be sure that you wanted it, too. Does that make sense?" I looked up into
his dark eyes. He was exposing himself to me, fully and completely. I could
read him like a book, which had never before been possible. I felt his emotions
wash over me. Although a little confused, and a few other things, I nodded.
"Very good," he sighed. "Come with me." He took my hand in his again and led me
out of the Temple. "Don't worry," he said, turning his head in my direction,
"we will not be bothered here." He pushed open the door with one hand and took
me to the right. My hand tingled in his. The touch was strangely intimate.
We stopped on the little incline leading up to the outer rim of the grounds.
Near where the Groosenator was – or rather, near where it would be. The sky was
dark, purple and brown clouds shrouding the evening sun. It was like it was
about to rain. But somehow I knew it wouldn't.
Ghirahim brought me closer, positioned me on the higher ground, so our
differences in height were less drastic. He looked a little preoccupied, but
still generally composed. He brushed some loose strands of hair behind my ear.
"Do you know what's going to happen, child?" he asked quietly. I swallowed. I
had a hunch or two. But I wasn't exactly sure what we were going to do… or how.
I couldn't help the blush that covered my cheeks as I shook my head.
He cupped my cheek, smiling softly. "I expected as much. That's alright." His
other hand came up to my face. "I'll help you through it. If you want me to."
His voice pitched upward at the end, as if he were asking my permission. I
reached up and placed a hand on his forearm, leaning into his touch. I had made
my choice. I trusted him.
He caressed my skin with his thumb. "My sky child," he whispered slowly. It was
more than words. More than his name for me. It was a contract. A catalyst.
Pausing only long enough to glance down at my mouth, Ghirahim closed the space
between us. I hadn't really known how badly I missed the feeling of his lips on
my own until now. I didn't need any persuading; I leaned into him and let him
kiss me.
My arms were wedged between our bodies. He slid his hands into my hair, cap
falling to the ground. He didn't rush. He didn't hurry. He just kissed me, so
tenderly. Slowly, one arm wrapped itself around my waist and pulled me closer.
For almost too long, we just stood there, mouths locked together, with no aim
in mind.
He pulled away and looked deep into my eyes, hands remaining in their places on
my body. "May I undress you?" he asked, hesitating slightly. A timid blush
crossed my cheeks. In such an open area? Even with no one around… "You can
undress me," he offered. "Please. I want to see you."
I was somewhat thrown off. I hadn't been able to decide these kinds of things
before. But despite my slight unease, I knew that I wanted this just as much as
he did. And when I thought about it, I couldn't care less about the
surroundings. This was only about Ghirahim and me. I nodded.
Instead of reaching for my clothes, he just kissed me again, deeper this time.
Our tongues danced. My head swam. I vaguely noted his hands beginning to roam
about my body. Sliding up my hips and around my waist. Down my back and finally
at the front. Ghirahim unbuckled the strap on my chest and gently laid the
weapons to the side without breaking the kiss. My belt joined them only a
moment later.
I wanted to reach up and remove his cloak. But I didn't think I had it in me. I
half opened my eyes, looking up at the man before me. His gaze startled me. His
expression was so soft, so encouraging. It gave me the nerve to fumble with the
snap at his collar bone, and once it was unfastened I let it fall behind him. I
draped my arms over his shoulders, pulling myself up to his height a little
more. From behind his head I tugged off my gauntlets.
Ghirahim gripped the hem of my tunic, chainmail and all. I broke myself from
his lips and glanced down at his hands. He waited until I looked into his eyes
and nodded before pulling everything off in one fluid, graceful motion. My
breathing was beginning to pick up and my face was red. I shook my hair out of
my eyes.
I didn't know what to do with my hands then. I let them hover awkwardly between
us. Ghirahim took my wrists in his large hands and placed them on his hips. He
then cupped my face and lifted it upward to meet his warm, dark eyes.
I felt so small, suddenly. The way my head was tilted upward almost completely.
The way I could feel his soft breathing against mine. I tightened my grip,
feeling like I would fall without him holding me. I flushed under his
scrutinizing gaze. Like he was trying to memorize me. I wanted to cry.
"Kiss me," he whispered. I stood on the tips of my feet to touch his lips,
eyelids fluttering closed at the contact. A small, needy sound bubbled in my
throat. I wanted him to let me feel his skin. I didn't like being denied his
warmth. I needed to just touch him. I tugged at his tight shirt, nearly
forgetting all pretense of civility. He helped me pull it off of him, breaking
the kiss while I marveled at his toned muscles.
He planted his hands on the small of my back. Ghirahim's hands were cold on my
bare skin and I arched into him at the touch with a gasp. I felt his firm chest
under my palms, face growing hot at the contact. He looked down at me, eyes so
full of unguarded emotions. He rubbed little circles into my skin.
The Demon Lord leaned forward and placed his lips on my neck, under my right
ear. I shivered, eyes snapping shut. He brushed my hair out of the way before
continuing to cover my neck with wet, open-mouthed kisses. He buried one of his
hands in my hair. I was completely limp in his arms.
My head fell back as I lost myself in the feeling of his lips on my jaw, neck,
and chest. Air left my lungs in thick, ragged pants. Ghirahim mumbled into my
collarbone and I slowly registered his words. I shifted against him, angling my
arms behind me. One at a time, I lifted my feet up and tugged off my boots.
They tumbled away.
Ghirahim's assault drove me wild. He tasted every crevice of my body he could
reach, drawing helpless whimpers and groans from my mouth. I felt his fingers
clutch at my scalp and pull back. I hissed at the sensation. Using the angle to
his advantage, Ghirahim planted his teeth directly over my jugular, sucking and
lapping at the flesh hungrily. It was hard to breathe. I clenched my fists
against his body.
Before long, he removed his mouth from my neck with a pop. All at once air
forced itself down my throat and into my lungs. Ghirahim brought my head up and
forward, pressing our foreheads together. Our breath mingled in the space
between us. He wasn't looking at me, instead down, at I didn't know what. The
silence was long, yet comfortable, only our jagged breaths permeating the air.
His chest rose and fell steadily under my touch. Finally his lidded gaze met
mine. The intensity, the fire in his eyes… I was weak to that fire. His voice
was heavy and husky when he spoke.
"Sky child… I can't wait any longer." The words had barely left his mouth
before he reached down to remove my pants, then quickly slithered out of his
own. He cupped my rear with both hands and picked me up easily, cradling me
against his body. I gasped at the roughness, automatically wrapping my legs
around his hips. I tightened my grip around his shoulders.
Ghirahim's lips crashed onto mine. I pushed into him right back, flooding with
confidence. I buried my hands in his scalp, cursing myself for not feeling his
impossibly silky locks before now.
The Demon Lord took a few slow, distracted steps in a half circle, and then
smoothly lowered us to the ground. His back was against the stone wall of the
Temple. I whined at the feeling of his hard length brushing my thigh.
"Come here," he whispered. He pressed me into his chest and massaged my back in
long, slow strokes. His breath tickled my ear. "Listen to me, Link." There was
my name again. "What we're about to do… It is the most sacred and intimate of
actions between two people. It can only be shared once… but unfortunately it
comes at a price." He paused for a moment. I leaned back and looked into his
eyes. "It will hurt… I'm sorry. But only at first. I won't let anything bad
happen to you. I will make sure you enjoy this. I promise you." He brushed my
lips with his thumb. "Do you trust me?"
I had never considered the fact that what he wanted to do with me might hurt…
But Ghirahim wouldn't have told me if it weren't true. I bit my lip. I knew he
would protect me. I knew he would make me feel good. I didn't have to worry
about anything while in his embrace. I barely hesitated. I nodded my head
without blinking.
Gripping me by the hips, Ghirahim repositioned me over him. I complied. I felt
the tip of his member prod against my backside. My mouth dropped open as more
and more pressure was applied to the virgin hole. Realization hit and I
shivered, but remained resolute.
Ghirahim slowly, steadily pushed himself deeper, penetrating the tight barrier,
plunging into me. I squeezed my eyes so tight I could see stars. Sad little
whimpers left my mouth, but I refused to cry out. Tears threatened to fall, but
the pain was just bearable enough. Once time had stopped crawling, he was fully
sheathed inside me.
I felt filled to the brim, breathless, clammy. I didn't know what else to do
but keep absolutely still in Ghirahim's grip and try to relax. Once I had
regained my breathing and composure, I finally unclenched my fists – crescent-
shaped dents in my palms – and opened my eyes.
He was looking straight at me. His gaze spoke volumes that his tongue would not
have been able to convey. Insatiable lust was clouding his vision. I could feel
the tension in his muscles from under my hands. His iron resolve was the only
thing holding him back from… I could only guess. His brow slanted downward,
asking a silent question. I braced myself in response.
Strong, protective arms wrapped themselves around me, and with painful
slowness, he rocked his hips back and forth, stretching me, tearing me. High-
pitched groans boiled in my throat, and I tried my best to suppress them. But
Ghirahim wouldn't allow any of that. He craned his neck forward and captured my
lips. These kisses were sweet, absentminded. Sometimes he would roam from my
mouth, as if he couldn't focus on hitting the mark every time. But it helped.
Ghirahim was precise, patient, slowly gaining speed for my sake. But before
long, the dull stinging ebbed away, and was gradually replaced with a distant
sense of pleasure. Soft, light sighs left my mouth, all my attention turned to
his ministrations. I felt myself go limp in his embrace, freely twitching and
trembling against him. The pain had disappeared, a realization that Ghirahim
quickly used to his advantage.
His fingers dug into my hips. My only warning. I barely had time to gasp before
he slammed himself forward, grinding into my body with near painful force.
Something tore through me then – an indescribable, unbearable, unbelievably
powerful electrocution. I didn't have the self-control to stifle the splitting
cry of raw, unfiltered pleasure that burst forth. My back arched. My thighs
clenched. I saw stars. The only thought I could string together was an intense,
desperate obsession with feeling him do that to me again.
Ghirahim continued his assault, roughly pounding into me. Never failing to hit
that exact spot every time. We had both lost our senses. My mouth was an
endless waterfall of lewd, carnal noises, accompanied by the percussive slap of
skin, harmonized by the steady, greedy sound of the Demon Lord's grunts.
We were no longer two people. Ghirahim was no longer a Demon Lord, and I, no
longer a Hylian boy. I could no longer tell my body apart from his. He and I
had become one – one body, one entity, intertwined by flesh and sweat and lust.
Ghirahim's harshness was beginning to take its toll. My chest ached from the
lack of oxygen. But the dull burn paled in comparison to the tension in my
lower gut, building, coiling, straining for release. I arched inward, toes
curling, at the overwhelming feeling. My nails dug into the Demon Lord's broad
shoulders, arms wrapped too tight around his hot neck.
I felt his half-distracted hands reach up to my scalp and pull me into his lips
with crashing force. Sloppy, moist kisses, teeth gnashing, tongues lapping,
lips barely meeting with the momentum of his body against mine. The assault
sent burning waves to my groin. This was all too much. I wouldn't last much
longer.
Somehow sensing my impending climax, he wrenched himself away from my mouth and
continued to impale me repeatedly, all his attention on the task. Incoherent,
rhythmic cries, growing in pitch with every thrust, forced their way out of my
mouth as if they were being chased. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and
I clenched my teeth in vain. It was right there. Right there.
Ghirahim's breathing, groaning, was the only sound that reached my ears. It was
so close. I felt his lips graze my shell of my ear as he spoke gruffly yet
bluntly, the vibrations of his voice sending violent tremors through my body.
"Now, sky child."
With one final, deepest thrust, I unhinged, Ghirahim following suit. Everything
happened all at once. My release splattered obscenely across our sweaty chests
as I felt his member twitch and tense inside me, no doubt emptying itself of
the same hot liquid. I slumped into his warm, unyielding body, and closed my
eyes, arms tucked between us, cheek pressed against his collarbone, trying to
calm my erratic heart rate.
A quiet, threatening ache emerged – in my chest, my legs, my arms, my lower
back… But it was a beautiful, very welcomed pain. It was a gift from this man,
this Demon Lord before me, who already had his breathing under control, who was
running his cool hands up and down my spine, who had his nose buried in my
hair, who didn't mind that were quite literally sticking together… Yes…
My Ghirahim.
I opened my eyes again with a start. I brought my hand up and rubbed the sleep
away. Apparently I had fallen into a deep, dreamless slumber without realizing
it. How long I didn't know. I slowly registered the feeling of a warm body
pressing into mine.
He hadn't vanished this time.
Ghirahim was holding me close, one arm around my waist. The way it seemed to
nestle into the crook of my side seemed so natural. His free hand rested
delicately on his stomach. He had lain me half on top of him, and whether my
right leg was draped over his due to his preference or my fitful, fidgety
sleeping was unclear. My left arm tingled from being squished under my own
weight and I clenched my fist open and closed, trying to ease the discomfort.
The Demon Lord stirred at my small movements, bringing his hand up to my cheek
so gently. I let him raise my head up to meet his deep chocolate-colored gaze.
He craned down to my lips, and I closed the distance between us in the softest
kiss. Running his thumb along my cheek, he opened his mouth to speak.
"You're a very heavy sleeper, sky child," he said. A blush came to my cheeks as
I suppressed an embarrassed grin. What a weird thing to say. He responded with
a single affectionate chuckle. His hand traveled down to my shoulder. "Come. I
think it's about time we get dressed, wouldn't you say?" At last realizing that
we were both still very naked, I nodded in agreement.
I had to rise to my feet slowly, a dull ache in my backside. Ghirahim
instructed me to wait for his assistance, quickly dressing himself before
turning to me. I felt like a small child, balancing myself on his shoulders as
I stepped into my pants, holding my arms up as he pulled my tunic over my head,
lifting my feet up for him to push my boots on. But I welcomed the feeling. It
was sweet. Nice to have someone… taking care of me.
Finally, with my belt around my waist and my armaments strapped on, he picked
up my green cap – the article of clothing I had grown most fond of throughout
my journey – and delicately placed it on my head. Taking great care to keep my
hair in place. He held my head between his hands and placed a chaste, slow kiss
on my crown.
He ran the back of his hand over my cheek, the fingers of his other hand under
my ear. He roamed across my shoulders and down my arms, lifted my hands up in
his, taking in their appearance, before letting them drop gently.
He was acting strange. The softness in his touch, like I was made of eggshells,
was unsettling. I placed a gauntlet-covered hand on his chest and looked up at
him, concern evident. It seemed like he was forcing himself to meet my eyes.
After a long while he let out a sigh.
"I think… We need to talk," he said slowly. "There is much you need to know."
It certainly didn't help my unease, but I allowed him to take me a few steps
away, on level ground, where he motioned me to sit. He lowered himself in front
me, sitting straight-backed on his knees, while I crossed my legs in front of
me, hands in my lap. He wouldn't look at me at first.
"Sky child… I don't know where to start with you." It almost sounded like he
was musing out loud. A faint smile graced his lips. But I listened all the
same. "You are so complicated to me. Never in my existence have I known anyone
quite like you. When you first confronted me, I thought you were little more
than a gadfly. A nuisance that I would be able to swat away. But no. You did
not back down. Even after I…" He paused, the words catching in his throat.
"I know what I did to you that day, Link. I stole your innocence from you. I
used your naiveté to my advantage, used it to take you for my own. I broke you.
But that is why you don't make sense to me… Because you still kept your
innocence. Your glowing, divine innocence. It radiates from you, you know. It
angered me to see your resolution still completely intact when you crossed my
path the second time. I wanted to toy with you. Confuse you at least. Destroy
you, if I could, at best. But I didn't realize at the time that it was I who
was confused.
"I felt no remorse for my actions because… I became addicted to you. Everything
about you sparks this insatiable urge in me. Finding the goddess reborn had
fallen low on my list of priorities. I obsessed over finding you again, making
you mine.
"You quickly began to show less and less resistance toward me. You let me touch
you, and you let me kiss you. But it wasn't enough. I wanted you to want me.
Just as much I wanted you. Running into you at the Temple of Time gave me the
perfect opportunity. And it worked; you showed me exactly what I wanted to see
from you.
"But the damage I had caused had finally broken through. And I got my wish
after all." Ghirahim's troubled features were interrupted by his hands rubbing
his eyes and mouth. "When I saw you… I expected to turn around to your defiant
face, your firm stance. But what I saw instead shook me to my core. There was
this shattered, defeated boy in front of me. Hopeful for death.
"My resolve crumbled. I needed to help you. I just had to make sure I wouldn't
cause you any more pain, but maybe… just maybe… be the cause of your happiness
for once. And then I saw that smile… and I knew that seeing your smile was the
reason I was put into existence."
He paused for a while then, toiling over his past actions, over what to say
next. "As for my actions following that… I have no excuse. And I'm sorry. My
anger got the better of me, and when you arrived I had a suitable outlet for
it. You did not deserve my treatment of you then." The silence grew between us
as he merely looked at me, eyes nearly overflowing with emotion. He looked
distracted at the sight of me, as if he were only just seeing me for the very
first time.
"You don't know just how beautiful you are," he said absentmindedly. I couldn't
help looking away from him, face growing warm at the compliment. "I mean it,
sky child. Do you really not see it?" He sounded incredulous. I wasn't sure if
he expected an answer, but I shook my head. I didn't have anything
extraordinary to offer; I was just a boy, nothing more. It also didn't help
that I was of rather short stature for my age, and that probably would never
change.
Ghirahim scowled, but in good nature. "Listen to me, child. You are beautiful.
You are so beautiful. I've seen all of you. I've memorized everything about
you. And I know for a fact that every last piece of you is godlike." I let my
hair fall forward at his words. I didn't want him to see my lava colored face.
Nonetheless he bent his head down to look at me. "Shall I elaborate?" A sort of
wicked grin crossed his face. While I was curious, I made no response.
"Let's see," he began. He leaned forward and cupped my face in his hands. "I'll
begin at the top. Your hair… The way it shines, as if it were created out of
the purest gold. And so delightfully soft." He let his fingers fiddle with the
loose strands hanging here and there.
"Your lips are soft as well," he added, brushing over them with his thumb. My
eyelids fluttered just slightly. "You don't know how tempting your mouth is to
me, sky child. What you make me feel with this mouth of yours. So plump and
pink… just flawless.
"And your skin," he continued, "I could go on about it for eons. Your skin is
like a sweet cream, so fair and delicious and smooth." He took me in for a
moment, like he wanted to etch my features into his memory.
"Though I do believe my favorite part of you has to be your eyes," he said.
"Above everything else, your eyes are what I love most. They're just… there are
no words for them. To compare them to sapphires would not do them justice in
the slightest. But it isn't just their breathtaking color. You show me so much
of yourself with your eyes. You've shown me everything, even though I don't
think you've meant to. You've shown me your fear and your courage; your doubt
and your certainty; your lust and your confidence. I can see everything in
these eyes. I can always tell exactly what you're thinking, what you're
feeling, by just looking into them. They fill me with so many things, some of
which I'll never know. But they give me a sense of assurance." He swallowed,
trying to form his next thought carefully.
"If I may confess one last thing to you, sky child… I worry that your affection
– your willingness to be here with me, to keep your sword sheathed in my
presence – I worry that I have manufactured that in you. That it is false and
misplaced. But then… then I look into your eyes – your beautiful, beautiful,
impossibly blue eyes – and I don't worry anymore."
Ghirahim didn't speak for a while after that, deeming that he had explained
himself enough. All I could do was sit before him and absorb everything I'd
just heard. My chest felt hot and tight, and there was a dull stinging at the
back of my throat.
After waiting too long for the gears in my mind to start turning, I uncrossed
my legs and closed the small distance between us. I timidly wrapped my arms
around his waist, pressing myself into his chest. I had to turn my head to one
side. I felt the tension in his muscles at my action, but soon he embraced me
right back, fingers running between my shoulder blades and along my exposed
cheek.
"You're so good, Link," he murmured. I tilted my head all the way back to look
into his sad eyes. Why sad? "You have such a good heart. Filled with strength
and kindness and love. You never falter to do the right thing. Your goddess is
proud to have you as her hero, I am sure." He took a sharp intake of breath, as
if his words were bitter in his mouth. His gaze became clouded, wouldn't meet
mine.
"And that is why you have to kill me."
His words struck me like a violent explosion. I immediately withdrew from his
body, staring blankly, fists squeezed into tight fists. My breathing had
halted, and I felt sick to my stomach. That wasn't what he had just said. I
didn't know what he had said.
No…
"Sky child," he whispered. I winced; suddenly the title didn't sound so sweet.
"Sky child, listen to me. It has to be done. There is no other way." His voice
was thick and slow, like honey oozing down a cold spoon. "It is my purpose to
serve the Demon King. Demise created me as his slave to do his bidding. I… I
have no choice in the matter. It is simply in my design."
No…
"I can't force you into this, child. But you need to know that if you do not,
there is nothing that can stop me from going back on my word, from reviving my
master, from destroying everything you hold dear." After a short pause, he
added, "I am merely stating the truth. It is not a threat. This is something
over which I have no control."
No.
"The only weapon that can harm me is your blade. I would offer to spare you the
torment, and simply… borrow it for a moment. But I cannot touch it. It has been
purified by the goddess herself. And, unless I am mistaken, it will not obey
anyone else. It has to be you."
No!
At this point I was shaking my head furiously. My vision was blurry and my
cheeks were wet. But I refused to acknowledge it. I looked at the Demon Lord,
who seemed so far away now, hoping for anything in his eyes that would tell me
it was all just a ruse. Wanting him to take it back, or think of something
different. Begging for it not to be true.
But there was no such indication.
I hung my head, silent sobs soaking me down to my soul. I couldn't do it. I
wouldn't. I just wouldn't! There was no way. I didn't have it in me. Ghirahim
was… I… I still didn't know how to articulate what he was to me, or how I felt.
But I knew this was too much. If I had to go through with it… there would be
nothing left. It would destroy me.
"Link," he sighed, "Look at me." I didn't. "Please, sky child, I need you to
look at me." He reached for my chin, aiming to lift it up like he always did. I
wanted to jerk away from him. I wanted to hate him. But I couldn't. Instead I
let him have me meet his eyes.
"You have to do this," he said. I shook my head, fresh tears spilling free. He
held my chin firmly between his fingers, forcing me to remain still. "No, Link.
You have to do this. There is no room to argue." I hiccupped and sniveled
pitifully, squeezing my eyes shut in a pathetic attempt to flee from this
anguish.
"Do it for Skyloft," he said. The words ran right through me. It was like I
hadn't even heard them. They meant nothing to me.
"Do it for Zelda," he said. My Zelda… I pictured her smile. Though it was a
smile that I no longer derived joy from.
It took the Demon Lord a long time to speak again.
"Do it for me."
I opened my eyes. His expression was wide open for me to see. Something in me
sparked then. I knew he was right. There was no use trying to fight it. I had a
duty. An obligation. A burden to carry. And this was it.
I nodded.
Ghirahim responded with a single tilt of his head. He cupped my face in his
hands and looked at me with intent. He rubbed little trails on my cheeks. For
the last time, it seemed.
"Everything will be okay," he said. "I promise."
I found myself wanting to believe him.
He told me to stand up, and I rose to my feet, feeling heavier than when I last
stood. He did not do the same; instead he positioned himself to lay on his
back, arms raised to either side. I stood over him. Over his heart.
I reached behind me, pulling the Master Sword from its sheath with an echoing,
metallic ring. Its usual hum felt savage in my grip. It felt like a psychotic
thirst for blood. It felt all wrong.
I twisted the hilt in my hand, with too much expertise, too much finesse, to
face downward, and I gripped it with both hands before me. I focused on the
violet metal in my grasp, watching as tears fell and trailed down the side,
eventually landing on the grass below.
I thought about this demon beneath me. I thought about the way he made me feel.
The way my heart ached without him. The way my gut felt like anxious
butterflies at the sight of him. The way my fingertips grew cold when he
touched me, and the way my lips tingled when he kissed me. The way I barely
reached his collarbone, but still felt completely whole in his embrace.
Tears trickled down my cheeks in a steady stream. It was too late now. I
wouldn't get another chance. I didn't have any more time. It didn't make sense.
It wasn't fair. I looked deep into Ghirahim's dark eyes. I finally understood.
He smiled softly, the expression not spreading any farther than his lips.
"I know, sky child," he whispered. "As do I."
I thrust downward. The blade of evil's bane pierced through his body so easily.
***** Epilogue: Sealed Temple *****
Chapter Notes
     I don't usually add author's notes to my AO3 stories (see my
     fanfiction.net accounts for those atrocities), but this one needs a
     bit of a trigger warning I suppose? The whole epilogue is a bit of an
     emotional journey, but there is particularly heavy content near the
     end, and I don't know what people are dealing with in their lives, so
     I wanted to make sure everyone was made aware of that to a spoiler-
     free extent. If it feels a little too close to home, please don't
     feel obligated to read it. If you need to stop reading, I won't be
     offended (or even know about it). Put yourself first if it's too hard
     for you to continue. That being said, please enjoy the epilogue; it
     was a hell of a long time coming.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"Lieutenant Link," I heard from outside the tent. I was just finishing lacing
up my boots and gestured that I was decent enough for them to enter. I stood at
the sight of Captain Hoshino, bringing my right hand to my temple. My shoulder
stung at the sudden tension and I winced.
"At ease, Lieutenant. Do not strain yourself just because you've recovered," he
advised. I let down my hand and allowed myself to sit only when he took his
place on the cot that had been my sickbed for the past fortnight. I may not
have been one to agree with authority, but I knew when manners were necessary.
Easing the buckles apart on his gauntlets, Captain Hoshino took on a more
casual tone, and addressed me without any rank. "Tell me, Link. How are you
feeling?" I thought for a moment. That day in the sky flashed through my memory
as if it were moments ago. Skyloft was an unusual place to say the least. It
was unsettling to walk on ground so high in the air. It didn't feel solid, like
I could fall through at any moment.
The opposing army had already made itself quite comfortable in the abandoned
city. The entire northern half had even been reduced to ashes. I remember my
stomach churning at the possibility that some of the citizens had not made it
out of their homes in time. But I couldn't dwell on that. We had to make our
advance on the enemy base – and quickly.
Feeling as if I was supposed to head there, I made my way to the impressive
goddess statue. Once inside the large building, a woman was waiting for me. Or
maybe she wasn't a woman… I knew for sure that she wasn't human at least. She
called herself Fi, and she addressed me as Master. I reminded her of her old
master. It sent strange waves of nostalgia coursing through my body.
Remembering events that hadn't happened to me.
Accepting her help, I pushed onward to the scorched half of Skyloft. But the
enemy general was just as eager to fight me as I was him. Familiar green eyes
locked with mine, filled with a furious rage. His breath came out in crackling
embers.
"Hero," Volga spat out. I merely shifted my weight onto my left foot, holding
my shield in front of me. The man scoffed. "How about you fight a real warrior
for a change?" he asked, spinning and flourishing his dragon bone pike. I swung
my sword threateningly. I couldn't argue that he was a challenging adversary. I
only hoped the feeling would be mutual. With a smirk, I nodded in response.
He thrust his spear toward me, but I was able to deflect it with my shield
easily. The force of his blow, however, made my entire arm tingle. So he was
stronger this time… no problem. I just had to stay alert. I flexed my fingers
and took a deep breath.
I observed his every move with excruciating detail. He twirled his spear behind
him, taking an offensive step back. He held the weapon with all his weight,
ready to send it crashing down on top of me. I braced myself, and just before
the tip of the spear could graze my hair I dodged out of the way. But as I
rolled behind him, Volga kicked his leg out, colliding violently with my chest.
All the air was expelled from my lungs as I flopped onto the sooty ground.
It burned to breathe. Volga turned on his heel to face me. I couldn't think
about pain now. I dragged my left arm up, ready to run it through the dragon
warrior's heart. But a piercing pain shot through my shoulder as he impaled his
spear right through it, pinning me down. Every layer of fabric, armor, skin,
and muscle was torn and ripped apart. I let out a horrible, bloodcurdling
scream. Shouts of my name could be heard in the distance.
I clutched at the weapon stuck in my body, shield still attached to my arm.
Volga grinned in sick satisfaction at the sight below him, revealing razor
sharp canines. Gripping his spear with both gloved hands, he harshly jerked it
sideways, twisting the sharp metal inside my shoulder. Grotesque squelching
sounds came from the wound, dark, hot blood spewing from the area like a
geyser. The scraping noise of metal meeting bone. My body felt cold, but my
shoulder felt like it was submerged in lava.
The pain was beyond unbearable… I couldn't scream. I could only sputter and
gasp for air, still clutching at the spear. Volga planted his foot on my chest,
making it even harder to breathe. Just then, he ripped the weapon out of my
shoulder with such force that it pulled me half upright.
Before I could fall unceremoniously back into the soot, Volga grabbed a fistful
of the front of my tunic and pulled me up to his height. I dropped my sword,
which fell with a muffled clang. My feet barely grazed the ash covered ground.
Before I could even flinch, he smashed his fist into my jaw. The taste of
copper filled my mouth, and crimson liquid sprayed out into the open air.
"Pathetic," he sneered. I scowled at that. He caught me off guard; I could
swallow my pride and admit that. But I wouldn't go down without a fight. "You
call yourself a hero?" he continued. I felt a growl vibrate in my throat. He
needed to stop insulting me. I needed to do something… but with one arm – my
good arm – useless, and my resolve quickly giving way to shock, I had to be
creative.
"You're little more than a boy. The gods should be ashamed to have put their
faith in something like you." I stared daggers into his eyes. That was too far.
I spit in his face, staining it with red. With him distracted, I swung my right
arm up, bashing the side of his head with my shield. He let go of my tunic in
surprise. I landed at his feet in a heap.
With a furious shout, Volga kicked me once more, this time in the stomach. I
fell to my side. In a flash Volga pinned me down by the shoulders. He dug his
thumb into the spear wound, baring his teeth. A strangled cry bubbled past my
lips. The pain was making me nauseous.
"You wretched brat!" he roared into my face. The heat of his breath made my
head spin. I tried to kick my legs up, but it seemed that Volga was keeping me
down with his knees. "Death will not come easily to you."
I began to panic as he slowly inhaled. I struggled under his weight, but every
time I moved only slightly from side to side, my shoulder jolted the wrong way,
flooding more pain through my body. Time was running out. He was going to burn
me alive. Sparks were going off in the back of his throat. I had to make a
choice. Which would I sacrifice for the other?
My arm? Or my life?
Without thinking, I jerked to the left, instinctively wanting to block with my
shield. The shoulder throbbed in agony. But if I had wavered even a moment
longer, I would have been done for. I sobbed through clenched teeth. But Volga
hadn't missed me.
White hot flames blanketed my right shoulder and neck, easily eating through
the fabric of my tunic. I could feel it licking at my ear, singeing my hair in
the process. Heating up the now exposed chain mail, the fire burned deep into
my skin, spreading down to my elbow and onto my chest. I screamed so loud my
ears rang. And I didn't stop until my voice gave out. The pain was…
indescribable. Being ripped apart by rabid dogs felt more pleasurable, I was
sure.
The flames slowly subsided, but not without charring my shoulder to the bone. I
began to shake, shiver, convulse, eyes wide and unblinking. My skin felt more
like scales and I couldn't stop sweating. Volga had since stood from my near
lifeless form.
"An insect like you is not worth my time," he hissed. He stomped on my chest,
turned around, and walked away. I coughed up more blood, but gave little other
evidence that I was even coherent. I lay there in that spot, completely unable
to move, crimson dribbling down my chin. The edges of my vision were fading,
growing fuzzy. I faintly heard the voices of my comrades. They sounded so much
farther away than they were.
"Lieutenant! Lieutenant Link!" One of the voices cried out to my right. I
tilted my head in the direction of the voice, slowly registering the shape of
my battalion's captain. My eyes widened and my mouth slowly fell open in a
silent cry for help. Captain Hoshino stumbled back at the gruesome sight of me,
screaming my name incessantly.
"Link! Link, it's me, Hoshino! It's me, stay with me! Stay with me, Link!
Link!" As the sound of his voice reached my ears I nodded slowly. I couldn't
control the trembling. My left shoulder felt impossibly cold. No doubt I had
lost a lot of blood. I didn't have much time left…
Captain Hoshino tore his eyes away from mine for a moment. "Captain! Captain
Shiroji, I found him! I found Link!" Suddenly another face came into my field
of vision. I vaguely regarded him, blankly staring into his calm but concerned
eyes.
"He's hurt pretty badly, Captain. Are you sure he's worth it?" Captain Shiroji
asked his comrade.
"With all due respect, Captain, Link is worth everything. He is our salvation,"
Captain Hoshino stated. "And if we don't hurry, Hyrule is sure to fall."
Captain Shiroji thought for only a moment before looking me straight in the
eyes. "Lieutenant Link, can you hear me?" he asked. I nodded thickly. My
fingertips were suddenly cold and tingling. "Don't worry, Lieutenant, you're
safe now. Captain Hoshino and I are going to take you to base. Do you
understand?" Despite the tremors that rocked my entire body, I nodded again.
"Good. We're going to pick you up now, Lieutenant." He looked to Captain
Hoshino. "Try to grab his shoulders, Captain. And be careful."
As gingerly as possible, Captain Hoshino lifted me up off the ground and into
his arms while Captain Shiroji carried me by the feet. Even though I was hardly
conscious I screamed out at the pain. Captain Hoshino muttered something about
things being okay, but I found little solace in his words.
At this point I remembered very little. I slipped in and out of consciousness,
and even days later, only morsels of memories remained… Peeling the chain mail
off my scorched shoulder… Picking bits of fabric out of my spear wound…
Stinging, searing potions… Screaming, sobbing, struggling… But the gods had
been watching over me. Within a week, the skin and sinew had replenished
itself. Within twelve days, I had nearly full use of my arms once more. And
fourteen days later, the only thing that remained was a dull ache in my left
shoulder and stiff, tight skin on my right.
"Link? Lieutenant," Captain Hoshino called. I snapped out of my horrid
reveries, looking to my superior once more. "Are you feeling any better, Link?"
he repeated. I absentmindedly massaged my left shoulder, quickly finding the
scar under the layers. After a moment's hesitation, I shrugged, while a small
smile graced my lips. Captain Hoshino smiled back at me and seemed to relax
slightly.
"Good to hear. You know I was worried about you back there." I softened my gaze
and gave a playful sigh. He didn't need to worry about me. But he became stern
at that. "I mean it, Link. We could have lost you." I dropped my gaze downward
and nodded sadly.
Captain Hoshino carefully placed a hand on my right shoulder. "Don't worry
yourself about it, Link. No one is angry with you. We're all just so relieved
that you're alive. Myself especially." I tilted my head up to my captain,
looking at him through the hair that fell into my field of vision. "Let me tell
you something, Link. Since you've joined my battalion, I've… grown to care for
you deeply. And, yes, I know, as your captain, that's not necessarily…
recommended, but Link, you're like a son to me. I've seen you grow, and I like
to think I've helped you mature into the strong young man I see before me now.
And I'm very proud of who you've become."
The back of my throat stung. I looked up to this man. I held an immense amount
of respect for him. He was like the father I never knew. He'd saved my life
back in Skyloft. And I was eternally in his debt. I could only hope he knew how
much I truly appreciated him.
I got up off the cot to face him, standing tall and proud. I clicked my heels
together, offering my captain the most honorable salute I could muster. My arm
stung at the angle, but I ignored it for Captain Hoshino.
He stood after a moment, gently easing my arm back down. "Thank you," he said.
"It's really an honor to know you, Link." After a moment of silence Captain
Hoshino continued, clearing his throat. "Can I see how they're healing up?"
With a nod, I made to remove my belt. It was no trouble, even though I had just
finished dressing. Carefully pulling the tunic, chain mail, and undershirt over
my head, I just held it all on my arms, not completely undressing myself. He
first inspected the remains of the burn trailing from my elbow to my neck. What
was two weeks ago misshapen, angry blisters was now simply a shiny, pink mass
on my skin. It would pinch and squeeze up uncomfortably as I moved. Far from
permanent, but somewhat unpleasant to say the least.
"Looks good, Lieutenant," Captain Hoshino stated with a smile. "It's not even a
burn anymore, really. It'll be fine in no time flat." I nodded in
acknowledgement.
With that, he looked at the scar on the opposite shoulder. He reached up
tentatively. "If I may," he muttered, to which I nodded again. He touched the
upraised, distorted flesh, around it, checking its twin on my back.
"Does it hurt at all?" he asked. Every day. I nodded. He frowned. "Well, don't
worry, Link. Keep applying that salve the healer prescribed you, and it should
vanish within a week," he advised.
I worried my bottom lip at that. The thing was that I didn't want it to vanish.
I wanted to keep this scar on my shoulder as part of my body forever. I had
embraced it as a part of me, my skin. It was a sign of my strength, and a
reminder to keep my arrogance in check. But mostly, I just liked it for some
reason. The gods only know, really.
After taking in the entirety of my so-called battle wounds, Captain Hoshino
allowed me to put my clothes back on. Once everything was in its place, he
spoke once more.
"I came in to tell you one other thing. We've been here for a few days, trying
to find the Gate of Souls. Well, we did it, Link. We're setting up a base in
the southern corner of a place called the Sealed Grounds. It's not too far from
our current camp, actually. The Gate is in the northwest. We have reason to
believe there's some sort of sorcerer guarding it. We need to take the Sealed
Grounds, find the sorcerer, and bring him and the Gate down. I've elected you
to take on the sorcerer. I trust you're healed up and eager to get back on the
battlefield?"
I nodded at the influx of information, as well as his assumption. Truth be
told, I was getting more than antsy waiting for my wounds to heal. I was made
by the gods to fight. It was just what I did best, and I enjoyed doing so.
"Good," he said. "Then you won't mind accompanying me to base to form our plan
of attack?" I shook my head, pulling up my gauntlets. I turned to pick up my
scarf, draped it over my neck, adjusting it only slightly. I strapped my sword
and shield to my back and followed Captain Hoshino out of the tent and into the
fresh forest air.
I found myself taking a deep breath of the woody musk. I loved being in this
forest. Especially compared to unstable Skyloft. I loved how the trees
surrounded me like a verdant shroud of security. I loved the way the sun shone
through the leaves just right, the golden rays lighting every corner in a warm
glow. I loved the din of birds and insects and wind. I felt like I was meant to
live in a forest. It felt like home.
Captain Hoshino and I wove through the thick tree trunks, eventually finding a
hidden alcove in which our army had taken cover. Upon our arrival, many of the
soldiers welcomed me with warm regards. I had been absent for two weeks. Most
of them were sure I would die that day in Skyloft.
Private Nojinji, who had been in basic training with me, shook my hand,
congratulating me on my survival.
"I almost gave up on you, Link. Glad you're okay."
A Skyloftian soldier garbed in yellow – Sergeant Pipit, if I wasn't mistaken –
clapped me on the back graciously.
"You truly are our world's salvation. Don't give up!"
A private of the Omega battalion by the name of Kenji, barely old enough for
the army, came up to me, nearly trembling.
"L-Lieutenant Link… I-I've thanked the gods every day that you s-survived your
injuries. Without you, w-we would all be lost. You've g-given me the courage to
k-keep fighting. Th-thank you."
This young man warmed my heart the most. I couldn't help myself. Despite the
lack of formality in the action, I bent down to the boy's height and wrapped my
arms around him. I heard him gasp, but soon he hugged me right back.
Even Captain Shiroji, usually cold and calculated, approached me.
"It was a dark day for us all, Lieutenant Link. I didn't think you would pull
through. But the gods chose you as their hero for a reason. You are a strong
man, and I have no doubt in my heart of hearts that you will bring an end to
the evil times that lay ahead. From all of us, you have our faith and
confidence." He finished with a firm salute. I brought my hand up to my temple
in return.
Once everyone had taken their turn and welcomed me back, all the soldiers
gathered around the makeshift table in the center of the alcove. Captain Mojoto
went over the plan.
"There are five locations, save ours, that need to be taken as ally keeps.
Alpha battalion, you are going to the east. Beta, we are to be stationed in the
southeast. Delta battalion goes to the north. Omega will head for the west.
Sigma battalion will take the southwest. Our scout has marked the locations
with a single arrow near the entrances. They will be hard to spot, for the sake
of maintaining our cover, but you should all be able to distinguish ammunition
from our side over theirs.
"Special instructions have been laid out for Mistress Fi and Lieutenant Link.
Mistress Fi." The blue and violet woman, having been silent the entire time,
turned to face Captain Mojoto, face blank. "You will make your way to the
center of the area, also marked with an arrow. Wait there to give the signal: a
skyward strike. This will be given once five arrows reach you, indicating that
each keep has been taken." Fi nodded once in the affirmative.
"That's when Lieutenant Link will strike." He turned to me. I regarded the
captain formally as he spoke. "You go with your battalion. But break off to
locate the Gate of Souls after the signal is given. We believe it is in the
northwest. If our information is correct, a sorcerer will be guarding the Gate.
Execute him, if necessary, and destroy the Gate of Souls." I nodded, knowing I
had the most important, but most difficult task among these one hundred and
five men.
If only I had known…
"We leave once the scout returns to us." Captain Mojoto dismissed everyone and
we separated into five groups of twenty-one. The Alpha battalion was in the
back east corner of the alcove, Captain Ryoki huddled with his men, no doubt
giving them a pep talk. Captain Mojoto spoke in hushed, stern tones to the Beta
battalion, his soldiers standing resolute and silent. In the west Captain
Shiroji had his Omega battalion form a line in six rows of three, the remaining
two taking the front and back. Farthest away, each of Sigma battalion's weapons
were inspected by Captain Tihino. Delta battalion stood nearest the table,
Captain Hoshino discussing the most efficient means of traveling to the far
destination in the north.
"Link."
I stood in the center of it all. Captain Hoshino's voice was distant in my
ears. I watched each exchange between soldiers, each salute and nod of the
head, each word that came from the men's lips.
"Lieutenant."
I didn't know every soldier's name. I knew all my superiors, as I had been
expected to. But only a dozen or so men stuck out in my mind. The thought made
me sad. If only there were time to shake one hundred hands, memorize one
hundred names, learn one hundred stories. These men were more than faceless
privates. They were heroes. And I wished I'd taken more time to know them.
"Lieutenant Link."
I snapped back to reality at the harsh tone. Captain Hoshino was before me,
little expression on his face. I bowed to him in apology.
"Stay with us, Lieutenant. Without you, this will all be for naught," he said.
"Be sure you understand your orders." I nodded; they were crystal clear. "Good.
Now, Link, this won't be a stroll through the woods. You need to be careful.
You may be Lieutenant in rank, but we all know what to do should your life be
at risk. You are our top priority. Don't abuse that." I saluted.
These soldiers would kill themselves – one another – if it meant my survival. I
hated the thought of that. I was too valuable for the army to keep track of me.
I decided then that I was going to keep track of myself. Let them worry about
the task at hand.
Each battalion waited silently for the scout. The nearly inaudible sound of
rustling leaves reached my ears. I looked to the northwest, up in the trees.
Sure enough, a figure was leaping through the foliage. Only I had detected him.
The lilt of a bird's chirp rang out from above. Except the sound was not
indigenous to this forest. A moment later a man dropped from the trees into our
base, landing silently on his feet. Our scout. Gorin, I think was his name.
Without a word, each captain motioned for his soldiers to move out. I stood by
Captain Hoshino's side. We left via the alcove's east entrance and I got my
first look at the Sealed Grounds. It was a winding trail, eventually declining
down to a halt in the center. That's where Fi would go. I looked over my
shoulder; she was already making her way to the spot, observing the environment
intently. Our base was near the top, as was the northern keep. Captain Hoshino
pointed to where we would go. It was highlighted by a blue Hylian arrow stuck
in the ground by its entrance. Farther past that was a large temple. Perhaps a
sanctuary of sorts, or a shrine. The Gate of Souls was there.
Only a few outposts were stationed between keeps, but the enemy detected us
quickly. Battle had officially begun. I drew my sword and ran into the throng.
I didn't even hesitate. Captain Hoshino let me advance beyond him. He knew I
wouldn't go too far ahead. He would always let me fight independently of his
other subordinates.
It felt so good to be fighting again. My blade was like an extension of my arm.
It obeyed my every command, from the slightest twitch to the widest sweep. The
sharp, silver metal sliced through flesh as if it were simply air. The weight
of the hilt in my palm felt natural, innate, like there was simply no other way
it could be but clutched in my grip. Adrenaline and exhilaration tingled from
my fingertips and through my body with every swing. The pain in my shoulders
was minimal compared to the thrill of the fight.
I easily cut a path for the soldiers to progress, quickly making my way to the
northern keep. Captain Hoshino led his men to the front of the enclosure
moments later. He looked to me, a meaningful expression on his face. Don't get
cocky, it told me. I nodded, fixing my stance to block with my shield. He
flicked his head in the direction of the keep, and we invaded. I launched
myself into the very center, focusing my attention on a commanding Stalmaster,
while the rest of the soldiers dispatched the lesser enemy troops.
The opposing Stalmaster was proving to be quite the adversary, fiercely keeping
its guard up. Its golden shield was locked in place, preventing any blows that
came its way. The Stalmaster then raised its rusty hatchet high above its head.
I predicted the timing of its downswing, dodging away effortlessly. It lost its
balance, and tumbled forward with the weight of its own weapon. I took the
opportunity to slash at its exposed ribcage mercilessly. With the shock of my
attack, the Stalmaster was unable to retaliate, and I finally slew the vicious
monster. The leader had been brought down and the keep was ours.
I continued fighting with my battalion, as there were still enemy soldiers
occupying the space. Suddenly I heard a noise that pierced through my very
bones. Laughter. Cold, venomous laughter. The sound resonated throughout the
entire area, saturating every corner of the Sealed Grounds. I shivered, almost
automatically. The few enemy soldiers left ceased their fighting immediately
and stood silently around us all.
"Nngh…" came a groan to my left. My head snapped over to see Captain Hoshino
clutching at his head, trembling slightly. I stepped over to him. Every soldier
was standing in similar stances. I walked through them to address my captain.
His head was twitching back and forth, fists clenching tighter and tighter.
I crouched down to meet Captain Hoshino's eyes. His expression was pained,
terrified. "Lieu… tenant… I can't – Please… g-get away… Link…" He spoke in
short puffs of forced breath. I took a single defensive step back, but
otherwise remained by my captain's side. "I'm s… sorry, Link…" he whispered,
before going completely limp in that position.
Every Hylian soldier had followed suit, it seemed. I stood among twenty-one
men, all still. After several long moments of confusion, they stirred,
twitching back to life. They all stood in unison, as if controlled by
marionette strings. Each soldier stood to face me, eyes vacant and unblinking.
As a single mass, they all charged toward me. I barely had enough time to raise
my shield before twenty swords and spears came crashing down with an intense
ferocity.
I was cornered. I couldn't even bring up my sword. Suddenly a metallic voice
filled my head. "Master Link," it said. It was Fi. She was contacting me
through a mental bond she and I shared. "It appears that the Hylian forces have
turned traitorous, and I detect no means of reversing the curse. They are
currently advancing to your location. I calculate your chances of survival at
less than five percent if you do not take action against the traitors."
My heart stopped at the implications of her words. Every soldier had been
cursed to become enemies of Hyrule. I had been spared somehow… Perhaps the
Triforce of Courage had protected me from the evil magic. But I couldn't be
thinking about that. There were one hundred and five men advancing toward me.
And I had do something about them.
Thinking fast, I bashed my shield into the faces of the soldiers closest to me.
I was able to dodge away from the men and escape the north keep from its
eastern entrance. I ran for my life, frantically thinking of a better option.
My task wasn't a solution… it was a massacre.
Soldiers followed close behind me. Soldiers were approaching from the south. I
halted to a stop. My fingers clenched tighter around my sword. I gasped for
air. My mind was blank. I looked around me at the men closing me in from all
angles. I had no escape. I had no way out but through.
A private caught me off guard to my left, grazing the crook of my elbow. The
blade had barely left the surface of my skin before I automatically spun around
and struck back, slicing horizontally through the soldier's chest. In the
corner of my eye I saw a spear aiming right for my chest. I twisted sideways
and thrust my sword right into the assailant's stomach. I pulled the blade out
of the flesh easily. Crimson stained the pure silver.
I unhinged. Everything became a blur of motions, a flurry of blood, a race for
survival. Even though time had sped up beyond its natural limit, I felt it
stretch out for me, making me acutely aware of every last movement. My blood
ran hot as instinct took a violent hold over my limbs. Some basic drive in me
refused to die and it was overwhelming. I became an animal. I had no thoughts.
Only movement.
I jumped back. I spun in a wide circle. I blocked a spear. I stabbed into
flesh. I sliced through armor. I bashed. I dodged. I ran. I kicked. I cut.
Bones cracking. Muscles tearing. Weapons falling. Blood spilling. Soldiers
dying. Metal on metal. Metal on skin. Metal on bone. Screams. Shouts. Cries.
Gurgles. Footsteps. Silence.
I inhaled sharply, as if I had been submerged under water for too long. The
berserk need to survive had passed. My limbs ached and my shoulders stung.
Exhaustion hit me so hard I nearly toppled over. But the sight before me hit
even harder.
Bodies. An endless ocean of bodies. All of them wearing Hylian armor. Their
arms and legs were twisted in grotesque angles. Blood and viscera sullied the
skin, clothes, and dirt in every possible direction. Nothing was left untouched
by the crimson. No one had survived.
One hundred and five brave Hylian soldiers had been here today. One hundred and
five men with parents, siblings, children, lives outside of this war. One
hundred and five soldiers devoted to driving evil away and bringing peace back
to Hyrule.
Now it was just me.
And their blood was on my hands.
I fell to my knees. The pain in my chest was debilitating. My throat stung, and
I wanted to cry, but no tears came. Not a single tear fell. I screamed. I
screamed and screamed until my voice was hoarse. I dropped my head in my hands
and pulled at my hair. I resisted the urge to tear out my own heart. I sensed a
benevolent force approach from behind me, but I did not acknowledge it.
"Master Link," Fi said. I couldn't deal with her right now. She was too
calculated to understand this. "There is no time to mourn. Your chances of
success are dropping significantly." I growled. Shut up. "Please stand up. I
suggest that you advance to the Gate of Souls." In one fluid motion, I stood
up, drew my sword, spun around, and sliced right through the sword spirit. The
blade passed through her body without so much as a sound. "That is not wise,
Master," she said, completely unfazed. I ignored her. She didn't push the
subject and floated off to who knew where. I certainly didn't care.
These men deserved to be honored… And the task was mine alone to carry. The
Gate of Souls could wait. I scanned the mass of soldiers, searching for the red
plumes atop the captains' heads. One… two, three… four… five. I carried them,
one at a time, up to the nearby keep, laying them in a vertical line on the
cold ground. I knelt by each captain, positioning their arms over their chests,
closing their eyes, smoothing out their armor. I paid my respects to each man,
praying, apologizing, crying.
I never once heard Captain Ryoki speak ill of anyone. He was about to retire
once the war was over. His only daughter had recently married, and was
expecting her first child. He had promised to be by her side as she gave birth.
I focused my gaze on the lines under his eyes. A sign of kindness, they say… I
prayed his daughter would not bear a son.
Captain Mojoto, on the other hand, had never desired children. His passion lay
in the military. I didn't even know if he had a wife waiting for him back home,
or if he would have returned to an empty house. He would never meet my gaze. I
wasn't well-liked by Captain Mojoto, it seemed. I was too defiant for his
taste. But he was a good soldier. A good man.
I would always be grateful to Captain Shiroji. Without him I wouldn't be alive.
Although that wasn't such a good thing now… But Captain Shiroji was Hyrule's
best. A no-nonsense captain in every sense of the word. Only vital information,
no more, no less. His men held a great deal of respect for him and obeyed his
commands without question.
Captain Tihino was a man of few words. I didn't know if I could even recall the
sound of his voice. He believed in the solidarity of actions over flimsy,
fragile words. He did have a booming singing voice, though. On more calm nights
in camp the soldiers would sing, and Captain Tihino's voice thundered over them
all. That much I could remember.
Captain Hoshino… I almost broke at the sight of him. I put off seeing him
because I didn't think I could handle it. And I couldn't. He meant more to me
than my own father, had I known him. This man… he was my father, if I had any
say in the matter. He had accepted me as his son. Brought me up from nothing.
Taken me in like a wounded bird. And I… I killed him.
He had always dreamed of a wife and children. He knew exactly what she would
look like, knew their exact names and futures. I would listen to his stories of
the future at night when only he and I were awake to stoke the campfire. He had
so many plans figured out for his life after the war. There was so much
potential for Captain Hoshino… but all of it had been ripped away.
I couldn't look at him anymore… I placed my lips on his forehead and stood. I
let the tears fall freely. I straightened my posture and gave my most patriotic
salute. Then I clenched my fists and brought them horizontally over my chest,
bowing deeply for the captains. I wished them each safe passage into the Sacred
Realm, praying for the gods to give them a peaceful afterlife, free of worldly
regrets.
Turning my back on the captains, I returned to the rest of the soldiers. I
picked out twenty yellow arm bands, and slowly carried twenty Alpha battalion
soldiers up to the keep to lay by Captain Ryoki. One man stood out among the
rest, his yellow tunic stained with too much blood. I fixed his cap back into
place, sweeping the matted auburn locks from his eyes. Sergeant Pipit… the only
soldier from Skyloft. He had put his faith in our cause. But that hadn't been
enough.
The bright red hair of Private Menge caught my eye off to the side. I knew
almost nothing about him, as he preferred to keep to his quiet self. I'd liked
that about him. He was one of our strongest warriors, though. The strongest in
Alpha at least. He was fast, efficient, fierce, and would always emerge from
battle completely unscathed. Not this time.
I looked next for the red bands of Beta battalion, taking twenty trips for
Captain Mojoto's soldiers. Corporal Gorin had a wide gash across his chest. His
armor was lighter, closer to his body, to allow for easy movement through the
trees. On the ground, however, he wasn't meant for frontline combat. He
attacked from the rear, usually with arrows or a spear. He didn't stand a
chance…
The only other boy I knew in Beta battalion was Private Roma. I barely knew
him, but he was almost the spitting image of his older brother… a man in my own
battalion that I had been very close to. He was killed in action in the Valley
of Seers, and Roma was recruited to take his place. We never once spoke. My
heart ached for their now childless mother.
I counted twenty men wearing orange Omega bands, and brought them to the keep
to lay next to Captain Shiroji. There was only one soldier I knew by name. His
mousy straw-colored hair stuck to his youthful face. If he were standing, he
would have barely reached my chin. Maybe. Private Kenji… he was still so young.
Not even stubble on his cheeks. I imagined his mother weeping after him,
begging him to get inside the house, to hurry before the rain came, to wait
until his father came home. He was not fit to be a part of this war. Not fit
for the fate he had been given.
Two other faces grabbed my attention next. Two brothers, with identical brown
hair, blue eyes, and freckles. Not a single feature separated one from the
other. I'd never learned their names, but I had been very fond of them. They
brought laughter to the tents. I lay them side by side, arms interlaced
together, at the end of the Omega line.
I took each of the blue banded Sigma soldiers and lay them in Captain Tihino's
line. I couldn't remember any of the men's names. Syllables and initials popped
up here and there, but no conclusive titles. I'd never had much of a chance to
learn the names of the Sigma battalion. They always fought so far away from
Delta, and usually set up their tents on the opposite side of camp. But that
was no excuse… I stood before each one, and offered my silent prayers.
Only green arm bands remained… Delta. I personally knew almost half of the
soldiers in my battalion. Not enough, in my opinion. I carefully gathered my
comrades into the keep and lay them by Captain Hoshino. I stopped to look at
Private Nojinji. He had probably been my dearest friend… We shared the same
tent as trainees, and even into battle. He would always smuggle extra rolls
into our tent for me after dinner. I pushed messy black hair out of his face.
He was lucky to have been assigned under Captain Hoshino; anyone else would
have ordered to have it chopped off on his first night of duty.
Privates Isumi and Akira had been nearly inseparable since childhood. They
vowed to join the military together. They demanded to be assigned to the same
battalion. They even died side by side. It was only logical that I lay them
together. Private Sokinda had only joined the army to make his father proud.
His mother died when he was a child, and his father raised him with an iron
fist. Private Rin had hopes of opening a bakery after retirement. He
volunteered as one of our army's cooks, and had been the one who baked the
rolls I loved so much. Private Hongo was a large, burly man. That was really
the only thing I knew about him. Captain Hoshino usually had him march at the
front of the battalion due to his size and strength. He could take down Moblins
with impressive ease. Private Hige's platinum blond hair was what always
intrigued me about him. It was the brightest color I had ever seen on another
person. Almost white. Usually my yellow hair was the lightest. I found his
beautiful.
I stood to look at all the men, neatly arranged by battalion. One hundred and
five brave Hylian soldiers… I didn't think of them as traitors. I wouldn't and
I couldn't. It wasn't their fault. And I would carry the guilt of their deaths
for the rest of my life. I did not deserve my life if they were forced to lose
theirs. I dearly hoped they could somehow know how deeply, truly sorry I was.
How I would gladly join them, if not for the task at hand. How I would
resurrect them all, if I could. But not even the blackest magic could do that.
My tears had since run dry.
I drew my sword and raised it skyward. A sacred gesture, taught to me by
Sergeant Pipit. The people of Skyloft had a legend that told of a brave hero,
whose sword was connected to the heavens, and when he pointed it to the sky,
good fortune would come. Prayers would be answered. The action felt
instinctual, and I decided it was a fitting farewell for the soldiers.
For too long I stood before the soldiers, my mind running wild with empty
thoughts. The sadness had passed, replaced by a hollow void in my chest.
Neither was really better over the other. I knew that none of them would want
me to feel remorse – soldiers die. But the gravity of their lives bore down on
me. No matter how I felt about them today, tomorrow, years from now, there
would always be a corner of my mind reserved for these men.
I finally tore myself away from them, eyes traveling up the incline and landing
on the sanctuary in the northwest. A pulling in my gut reminded me of what I
needed to do. What I had come here to do. There was no more time to spend
standing here idly. Feeling as if my boots were made of iron, I began the trek
up to the Gate of Souls.
The silence of the forest was crushing. Only the sound of my breathing and
footsteps permeated the dense air. All other remaining enemy troops had either
been killed or retreated. It was just me and the trees.
I could only recall the tiniest of memories of the slaughter. It had all
happened so fast, so instinctually. It hadn't been my eyes that had guided me
through the throng. One image alone stood out: their eyes. That look in their
eyes. Wide open, but unfocused. They didn't see me. They saw right through me.
The eyes of drones. Of puppets. Controlled by a most vile form of magic. Cast
by a most evil sorcerer. Embers of rage sparked to life in my chest. That
wicked sorcerer was to blame. He caused this. He was the reason why over a
hundred lives were forced to come to a violent, abrupt halt. Why hundreds more
would be ruined, and had no choice in the matter. Why I had suddenly become a
murderer, with no hope to redeem myself. The sparks ignited, burst into an
uncontrollable, roaring flame. A wicked grin spread across my features.
I could certainly try.
The sanctuary came into full view, the white stone of its north-facing visage
standing tall and proud. I overlooked its reverent beauty, focused on revenge.
I stepped through the arched doorway, past sacred trees and shrines. I stepped
slowly in an attempt to muffle the click of my soles against the hard floor. To
my right was an opening that led to a large chamber and there it was. The Gate
of Souls. It stood before a large gear-like structure. The outer edge of the
Gate was inscribed with strange markings, no doubt magical incantations. The
very center was the blackest vortex, an echo of the evil it had caused.
Standing before it, in the center of the area, was the sorcerer.
All I could see of his frame were lithe, pale legs from under a large crimson
cloak. He stood away from me, muttering intelligible words to himself. A growl,
not unlike a wolf's, emerged from my throat. At the noise, the man perked his
white head to the side, at last aware of my presence, but did not turn to me.
"Ah. The lone survivor," he said. The chill of his voice was dripping with
arrogance. "I knew you would come, hero." The title sounded like a joke from
his mouth. "I was beginning to worry, though. You were keeping me waiting. I'd
assumed the worst. But fortunately, here you are."
He still would not face me. He sauntered toward the Gate of Souls, farther and
farther away. He ran a gloved hand along its perimeter. "Tell me. How did you
like my little spell? It was very successful, wouldn't you say?" It took all my
willpower not to lunge at the man and skewer him. No. A good soldier never
kills a man with his back turned.
The sorcerer dropped his hand, shifted his weight to one side, a pointed ear
tilted in my direction. "Man of few words, are you? You know it's rude not to
respond to a superior." I couldn't suppress a scoff at that. "No, I know your
type," he spat out the last word. "Thoughtless at best – brainless at worst.
And painfully mute. But never hesitating to throw yourself into the throng of
battle. Kill now, ask questions later; the hero's mantra."
If he was trying to anger me, it was working. I could barely string my thoughts
together. The short silence was interrupted by the sharp snap of his fingers. I
watched his vermillion cloak disappear from his body. "But enough of this
nonsense." He spun on his heel to face me. "Let me see who the gods have–"
He stopped speaking immediately, eyes wide with shock. His hand was clutched in
front of his chest. I could finally get a decent look at the sorcerer. His
white hair fell in a sheet over the left half of his face. Clothes of the same
color, with patches of diamonds cut out, fitted his slender frame, interrupted
by a thick golden sash. It all looked rather ridiculous, but also somehow…
familiar. His lips closed and opened slowly.
"S-sky child…?"
I didn't realize that I had taken a single, pining step forward at the sound of
his voice. My anger had been forgotten, if only for a moment. An unknown
sensation triggered in my gut. My head ached. I was pulled back to an ancient
memory, the blood of divine ancestry bringing it to the forefront…
"Look who it is." Deep chocolate eyes bore into mine. "I thought that tornado I
stirred up would have tossed and torn you apart, yet here you are. Not in
pieces," he smirked, though not in humor. He added,"Not that your life or death
has any consequence."
He was dripping with a sort of confidence I could not pin down. But his words…
they gave me a whole different feeling. One that ran down my spine with every
syllable that left his silver lips. "Oh, but listen to me. I'm being positively
uncivil. Allow me to introduce myself."
How was it possible that his name was forcing its way out of my mind, even
though I had never heard it? How was possible that I sensed the curves of his
body, the tone of his muscles, even though I had never seen them?
Every word he spoke made my hair stand on end, made my fingers twitch in
defense, made me wish I could escape. "Which is why I promise up front not
murder you…" His tongue traced the shell of my ear, hot and wet. I shuddered. "
I think I may need to change my plans for you… sky child. "
My entire body felt tense. Like a giant fist had clutched me in its grasp. The
hair on the back of my neck stood on end. My fingers felt cold and numb. There
was a burning ache in my abdomen. My lips tingled. My chest and throat felt
tight.
I knew this sorcerer. I had known him in another life. As another man. Another
hero.
Ghirahim.
In my peculiar reveries, I hadn't noticed the self-proclaimed Demon Lord step
closer. It wasn't until his outstretched arm had entered my field of vision
that I reacted.
With animalistic speed, I drew my sword, rotated in a sharp circle, and brought
it down on the sorcerer's head. Before the metal could slice through his neck,
however, Ghirahim caught it between his fingers with impressive ease and
strength, not breaking eye contact, not even to blink. A gasp left my mouth.
Weakness.
Still holding my blade, he spoke in a meltingly hushed tone. "Is it really you,
child?" The words fell on deaf ears. I struggled to wrench the sword from his
grip, but he quickly relinquished his hold, causing me to stagger back. Upon
landing my gaze back on his face, I noticed his expression had hardened, brow
furrowed.
"No," he sighed. "Of course not. You're something entirely different." The
expression in his eyes sent small jolts of empathy through me, against my
better judgment. "Let me get a good look at you," he said, magically removing
his gloves. I took a defensive step back, sword angled in front of me. I
wouldn't play that game.
Another sigh left his mouth. A tired sigh. "Sheathe your weapon, boy. I am many
things, but I am not dishonest. Allow me this one request." It was more of an
impatient demand, but I chose to ignore the feeling in my stomach and comply.
He and I both knew I did not trust him. But I was a fair man; as long as I
could have the upper hand I would listen to his whims.
Ghirahim only paused for a moment before cautiously raising his hand up, the
other held at his chest hesitantly. He moved forward, less than an arm's length
away, and I looked up at him. It was then that I realized that the Demon Lord
was taller than me – I would be lucky to touch the bow of his lips at my full
height.
The distance between him and me was too small. I could practically smell him;
freshly forged steel, dried blood, and… cinnamon? The combination was a hot,
overwhelming aroma that I found myself seeking solace in. I breathed it in
deeply.
He placed his hands on either side of my jaw. I didn't shy away at the touch.
But it wasn't in defiance. He looked straight into my eyes, scrutinizing,
studying every detail. I silently watched him worry his bottom lip.
"The resemblance is striking," he said, more to himself. "Same skin, same hair,
same eyes. But it's all wrong. You're so different." I tilted my eyebrows in
confusion. He dropped his gaze to look up and down my body briefly.
"You are taller, for one. By quite a bit, if my memory serves. And older.
You've come of age." Longing crossed his features at that statement.
I flinched as he suddenly raked his fingers through my hair gently, pulling it
behind my ear and resting his hand at my neck. "Soft as ever," he muttered.
"More yellow than I remember… but equally stunning. Brighter than the sun."
He absently brushed my earlobe with his thumb, making contact with the earring
there. "You even have pierced ears," he mused. "A rich tradition, I'm sure." A
dull smile graced his lips. I fought the urge to pull away from him, feeling it
would not be wise to do so.
"Your eyes are the most different," he whispered, almost taken aback, as if he
hadn't really seen them until now. "I remember these eyes vividly. They were so
blue. So breathtaking. They were the reason I…" He trailed off. "But yours…
yours couldn't be more different. They are ten times more beautiful than I
remember. But I don't… I can't read them. I don't know what you are thinking,
and I can't stand not knowing." He paused for a moment, wetting his lips with a
dart of his tongue. "There is one thing I can see: you've been tainted. There
is no innocence in your eyes. I can't tell if it was taken from you, or if you
gave it willingly, but… it breaks my heart." I broke my gaze at that, finding
it suddenly hard to breathe.
For a long time Ghirahim stood there, holding my head up between his hands,
just looking at me. I squirmed from under his stare, strange feelings building
in the pit of my stomach. I felt trapped, like a caged animal. Wavering, alien
memories flashed through my mind…
He removed his talon-like grip from my scalp and ran his hand along my cheek,
tilting my head up to face his glare. "That's a good boy. I love your
obedience." Only his forefinger held my chin high. All I could do was look into
his flashing ebony eyes in fear.
My body heated up at the reminiscence, as if I were surrounded by lava. I
worried I wouldn't be able to escape if I lingered in his hold any longer.
My stomach knotted up and jumped into my throat. This couldn't be happening. I
must have fallen into some twisted nightmare… My eyes began to sting with the
threat of tears.
The churning in my gut was unbearable. I hardly knew what he was talking about,
let alone what was even going on. What would he do to me? Was he going to kill
me? Torture me? Or worse…? My heart raced in fear. My fingers twitched as the
urge to break free took over.
I began to panic. I wouldn't fall into his trap.
Of its own accord, my left hand shot up to the metal behind my back, and in the
blink of eye, I thrust the Demon Lord into the nearest wall, free hand
clutching his throat, the tip of my blade poised to strike. My breathing was
suddenly ragged and heavy, and I felt a stinging pain in my shoulders from the
exertion. I had nearly forgotten the injuries there.
Ghirahim's eyes were wide, but not entirely surprised. I glowered up at him,
silently daring him to speak, which he did.
"Are you going to kill me, boy?" The glint in his eyes was like a smirk, but
his lips were set in a thin line. "Are you going to kill me like you killed the
others?" I bared my teeth. It was all I could do not to snap his neck. But I
wouldn't lose my temper any more than I already had.
My shoulders – the right one, specifically – screamed at the tense angle I was
keeping them locked in. I tried to suppress the most minute wince of pain, but
it was no use.
"You're in pain," he said. It wasn't a question. He was trying to shift my
focus. Gain control. I squeezed my fist tighter around his throat to silence
him. He grasped my forearm, though not in desperation. His expression was soft.
Almost pleading. "You're in pain," he repeated, slowly. "Stop this. You're
hurting yourself." I glared at the Demon Lord, tortured by his mind games…
Ghirahim rubbed my shoulders, directing me away from the barrier. He leant down
to whisper in my ear. "You're such a good boy, sky child. You know that, don't
you?" I shivered. His tone, although hushed, was sweet, seductive. My eyelids
fluttered at the sound. "I have a favor I would like to ask of you, if that's
okay." After a small hesitation, I made a small sound of affirmation in my
throat and he continued. "I need you to obey my orders. Listen to me without
question. Can you do that?"
I shook the memory away, barely able to suppress a shudder. The way Ghirahim
was looking at me was intense. Silently pleading with me to let him go – but
not for his own sake. But I swore I wouldn't let my guard down again.
Inevitably, the tight pinching in my right shoulder, and the pulling ache in my
left, made the decision for me. I unclasped my hand from the Demon Lord's neck
and slowly brought down my arms, hissing at the harsh sensation.
Ghirahim gave me a sidelong glance, reading my face. "Well?" he asked simply. I
looked up at him for a moment, gnawing at my bottom lip. I didn't know what
sort of expression to give him. "You've been injured – something I would have
never thought possible from the gods' invulnerable hero." I let out a brief,
humorless exhalation at that. Hardly. "What happened, then? Where were you
hurt?"
I hesitated, unable to hide my skepticism. I wondered if he was trying to trick
me, and I tried to pull some form of evidence of that out of him. A devious
gleam in his eyes. A splintering crack in his grin. A crooked tilt in his
stance. Anything. But I could find no such proof. Only curiosity. Whether or
not it was innocent curiosity I could not tell.
I considered what it would mean to show him the injuries. I would not be able
to defend myself in an instant, something I took great pride and comfort in. I
wasn't sure there were any alternatives, though. I gave a resigned sigh.
I made to remove the scarf around my neck. It had become my most beloved piece
of clothing over time. It cascaded to the ground like a delicate turquoise
waterfall. Next I moved my fingers to the buckle in the center of my chest,
quickly unclasped it, and held my sword in shield in hand. I made very
deliberate eye contact with the Demon Lord then. After a brief moment of
unspoken agreement, he nodded his head once in understanding. I followed suit,
then lowered the weapons to the floor as well. The belt around my waist joined
them soon after, along with my leather gauntlets. I clenched my fists opened
and closed experimentally at their absence.
With one hand I pulled the cap off my head, letting it fall behind me. Finally,
deciding against removing the rest one by one, I clutched at the hem of my
tunic, chainmail, and cotton undershirt all at once and tugged them off. I let
them collapse in a heap at my feet, not really sure what I should have done
with them. I almost shivered at the sudden chill of the air, completely exposed
to the elements without all those warm layers.
I didn't need to indicate the location of the injuries on my upper body; not
only were they were more than visible for the sorcerer, but he had already
latched his attention onto them, stepping closer, eyes wide.
He leaned down to inspect the spear wound first, occasionally running his cold,
slim fingers along or around the raised, jagged flesh. I suddenly felt that it
was grotesque on my skin, having him examine it so closely. Cupping my
shoulder, Ghirahim made rough contact with its counterpart on my back,
eliciting a small but sharp gasp out of me. He quickly removed his hand but
otherwise gave no reaction.
"Is there a lot of pain?" he asked, bringing his eyes up to mine. I shrugged.
To be honest it came and went. "I can assume it never truly goes away," he
mused. "But somehow I can tell that you don't mind." After a moment of
contemplation, I nodded. He made an intrigued noise, seemed curious about it,
but decided to move on to the opposite side.
The pink, scabby skin went as far north as my earlobe, as far south as my
elbow, and as far inward as the dip between my collar bones, with similar
dimensions on my back. His fingers felt like freshly spun silk against the
tight, overly-cured leather of the area. He spent more time studying the area
than the healer had. It made me feel warm all over.
I didn't know what I was supposed to do, if anything. I let my hands dangle at
my sides and held my breath without realizing it, just waiting for him to
finish. Ghirahim brought a hand to his chin, apparently deep in thought.
"I'd recognize it anywhere," he muttered. "These were inflicted by Volga, am I
correct?" Somewhat surprised at the accuracy, I nodded my head. He simmered at
the response, pacing back and forth like an irritated bird ruffling its
feathers. "That insolent dragon," he sighed, lips pursed tight.
The Demon Lord pinched the bridge of his nose, and before long, spoke once
more. "I am sure this was clear, but… That hot-headed General has a particular,
shall we say, taste for your blood. As of late, he had been trusted under my
command. He demanded that I allow him to hunt down the chosen hero, whose head
he wished to run through a stake. Naturally I refused to let him act on the
boiling vengeance in his heart. Such unstable behavior on the battlefield is
unacceptable. But it appears that he had not obeyed my orders."
I was merely silent, standing, watching, listening. His agitation suddenly gave
way to a more thoughtful expression, and he had stopped and turned his head in
my direction. "That means you were there that day. In the sky. I sensed you,"
he said softly. "I thought I had heard screaming. Horrible, desperate, hopeless
screaming. The sound of one doomed to die. That had been you."
He regarded my shoulders once more. "These injuries nearly killed you, did they
not?" I didn't give any answer. I didn't think he expected one. "I must give
credit to your gods; you are truly a marvel for managing to endure such
suffering." I looked away at his last comment, instead down.
"It's a shame," I heard him say, causing me to meet his eyes, confusion likely
evident in mine. "To have such perfect skin spoiled so badly…" There was a
mischievous sort of grin plastered to his face, and his arms were crossed over
his chest. It seemed like he was talking to himself, but didn't mind if
overheard. "It's really quite lovely, you know. Your body." The slightest jolt.
That was for my ears. "Though I'm sure you're well aware of that," he added. I
felt myself frown, face heating slightly.
He shifted his stance to face me head-on. "I can take it away. If you want." He
gestured to my shoulders. I cast a suspicious look his way, down at the
injuries, back at him. He just shrugged. "No catch," he said, "your choice." I
found myself deciding quickly.
I guess I couldn't really see why not.
The sorcerer stepped closer to me. He placed his left hand around my upper arm,
the cool of his palm stinging the still hot skin there. His other arm went
around my shoulders, bringing me into his torso. I instinctively brought my
hands up to push him away, feeling trapped, but he was patient.
"Trust me," he murmured. I didn't let down my hands, but I allowed him to close
the distance between us, right hand resting at the curve of my neck. I felt the
heat radiate off his form, nearly suffocating in his scent. I winced as a cool
sensation filled my shoulder. Almost as if the heat was being drawn out of it,
not unlike a spider bite. With my left ear pressed against his collar, I could
just make out the beating of his heart. Slow. Solid. Steady.
My eyes closed. It had been too long since I'd been embraced like this…
Ghirahim's eyes shifted somewhat, becoming almost thoughtful. He then removed
his hand from under my chin. I didn't let it fall. Placing his hands on each of
my shoulders, Ghirahim pulled me forward gently and lay me against his chest.
He wrapped one arm securely around my waist. The other went over my shoulder,
easily removing my cap and letting it join my weapons, and buried his hand in
my hair, stroking slowly. I didn't question the gesture.
I snapped out of the dream-like vision when arms pulled away from my body. I
craned my neck upward to look at Ghirahim, sneaking a peek under his near-
silver hair; a black diamond was etched into his cheek.
"Take a look," he said. I gasped at the sight of my right shoulder, touching
the area with my opposite hand – the skin was just a clear and fair as it had
been before I had gone to Skyloft. And entirely painless. I'd almost forgotten
what it was like not to feel pain there.
Without a word Ghirahim reached for my left shoulder, aiming to fix it next.
But before he could touch it I stopped him, clutching his forearm
automatically. I looked at him, almost confused. "You don't want this one
gone?" he asked.
I furrowed my brow and peered at the raised, slightly discolored area. It
stretched from my collarbone nearly to the crook of my underarm. I… I guess I
didn't. Once again I realized that this mark had somehow become so significant
to me. I almost liked the way it looked, and had grown accustomed to the pain.
A large part of me didn't want to ever look at my shoulder and not see what I
should never forget. I was more than blessed not to have lost my arm – or
worse. It served as a reminder that I am very much a mortal man, even with the
divine power coursing through my veins. I finally gave a small and slow shake
of my head in response.
"Suit yourself, boy," he said. "Though it does seem to compliment you." I
tilted my head to one side, bangs spilling across my eyes. "How can I say
this…" After a moment of contemplative hesitation, he continued. "There's
something… untamed about you. Like a wild animal. A fierce beast, born and
raised in the throes of war. And this," he motioned to the scar, "somehow adds
to that." I contemplated that. I'd been called many things, directly or…
otherwise. Not all of them good. A wild animal was a first. But I didn't need
any elaboration. Somehow it made sense, so I simply nodded in understanding. He
paused for a moment, making a very strange sort of eye contact. "I don't
understand it, though. You're quite the enigma to me."
I realized I was still gripping his forearm tightly. But I didn't let go. He
didn't seem to mind. I felt his muscles under my fingers. Strong and
unyielding. I looked up at the Demon Lord. There was this… pull between us. I
couldn't put my finger on what it was, or what I could have called it. But I
realized that it didn't feel strange to be in his presence, to be unarmed and
unthreatened by him, even to be willingly half naked.
My stomach felt like a ball of hot iron that had been submerged in icy water,
sending angry bubbles and steam to the surface. I felt his eyes roam about my
face and chest, burning a trail down my body. The air felt thick, like at any
moment it would spark into an electrical storm. I could only breathe out,
slowly suffocating, yearning for oxygen. It was all so… intense… Why…?
An overpowering urge swept over me. I groaned, pushing harder into his body. I
whined at the loss of his touch. He snuck an arm under my back, pulling me
closer. His fingers pulled at my hair. His skin was intoxicating. I could feel
his muscles trembling. He was tipping over the edge. And so was I.
I let go of his arm with a start, face hot at the images in my mind, shaking my
head to keep them at bay. I looked up at the Demon Lord through my hair, a
little short of breath. His expression threw me off. Did he know what I'd been
thinking…? His eyes lingered somewhere around my abdomen.
He cleared his throat. "Get dressed, boy," he said curtly. What was going
through his mind? I stared at him, trying to find out. His dark eyes were
carefully guarded against any interrogation. I turned back, keeping my gaze for
a moment too long, before reaching for my clothes.
Being on the pickier side about wrinkles, I pulled the layers apart, replacing
them one at a time. I'd gotten into the habit of being tender with my right
shoulder, and it was bizarre not needing to.
I tried not to notice, but I was acutely aware that Ghirahim was intently
studying every move I made. I didn't know what I was supposed to think about
it; he was just standing there, only a few paces away, arms crossed. Blatantly,
shamelessly watching. Trying to bore into my very soul, it seemed.
I risked a glance as I was strapping my gauntlets on. His expression was
unreadable, but it seemed like he could have been smirking if his lips weren't
drawn together so tightly. He brought to mind the image of a bowstring
stretched to its limits. When would it snap…?
I reached for my cap and scarf. I felt a little more than vulnerable with my
back turned to the Demon Lord. Fixing the soft fleece around my neck, my ears
perked at a sudden shift in the atmosphere. But for once I was too slow; before
I could even register what was happening, I was slammed into the stone wall,
Ghirahim towering over me, his palms planted on either side of my head. I was
too stunned to fight back or resist. All the air had been forced from my lungs.
I looked up at the sorcerer above me…
I felt so small, suddenly. The way my head was tilted upward almost completely.
The way I could feel his soft breathing against mine. I tightened my grip,
feeling like I would fall without him holding me. I flushed under his
scrutinizing gaze. Like he was trying to memorize me. I wanted to cry.
Ghirahim looked at me with an intense fire in his eyes, but said nothing. I
grazed my nails against the stone behind me, swallowing thickly, almost
forgetting to blink. The sudden sharp tap of Ghirahim's fingers against the
wall startled me. I focused on the muscles in his jaw clenching, tensing, as he
opened his mouth to speak.
"You feel it, too."
The sound was deliberate and heavy, filled to the brim with everything he
didn't need to say. There was no tone, no inflection. Only meaning. I didn't
know how, but I understood. He was both telling me and asking me.
I felt it… the pull. It was an attraction. A magnetic tugging in the pit of my
stomach. A physical desire… no, a need. A craving. Jolts and sparks rippled
through my body at the very sight of him. He was so close I could feel the heat
radiating from him in waves. His very aura was overpowering, dominating, like
thick tendrils invading my very existence, forcing its way inside through every
orifice. It was all I could do not to collapse into him. The urge for him
bubbled to the surface. I at last allowed it to consume me. Shamelessly.
Freely. Forbidding myself from breaking eye contact, I gave a single nearly
undetectable nod.
Then everything happened at once.
Clutching a fistful of the turquoise fabric at my neck, Ghirahim pulled me off
the stone wall and crashed his lips into mine, free hand flying to the base of
my neck. I gripped at his upper arms, half in defense, half in a sort of needy
desperation. A low, guttural sound resonated deep in his throat, sending
tremors to the farthest reaches of my body.
He unclenched his grip from my scarf and slunk his hand into my scalp, tilting
my head back just the slightest. Giving him the advantage. He forced his way
into my mouth, and assaulted me with his tongue. I moaned into him, which
seemed only to egg him on. The Demon Lord tore his hands away from my hair and
neck to reach for the garments I had replaced only moments ago. His sharp
fingernails scraped against the skin on my sides, and I shuddered into him. Our
lips, teeth, tongues barely parted as he stripped my upper half bare, but he
did not hesitate to stop there. I clumsily attempted to help him remove what
remained before clawing at his own garb. The instant I felt the unrestrained
heat of his skin pressing against mine it took all my will power to pull away
just so I could look at him in his entirety.
Ghirahim's godlike body could have been chiseled out of marble. And for all I
knew it was a real possibility. A distant part of my mind wondered how
perfection like him could find a figure such as mine desirable. But such
thoughts could not travel far, for Ghirahim impatiently lunged at me once more.
Pursuing his prey. The sensation of his smooth, carefully carved muscles
suffocated me. I cried out at the feel of his enveloping heat. He pressed me
into the stone wall harder and harder, crashing our teeth together, bruising my
slick skin with his powerful fingers. Everything about him burned, marking me
with his entire presence.
The Demon Lord groaned into my mouth, a deprived, wanton sound. He was
relentless, taking all of me at once, as I simply craved every moment. It
overwhelmed me and had me begging for more all at once. I felt the sudden
absence of one of his hands only when he tangled it in my hair and pulled
sharply. I hissed at the delicious pain as he assaulted my neck with doubled
ferocity.
I felt him pressing into my abdomen, hard as diamond. My mind was so hazy,
mouth hung open, eyes shut tight. The hand gripping my waist began to roam
around my body, caressing along my hip, grazing across my shoulder blade,
scraping down my chest. When confronted with the spear wound, his touch became
that of a ghost's, ever so gently hovering over it with the tips of his
fingers, without losing a hint of momentum.
Downward his lips went, onto my chest, demanding to touch and claim every piece
of me. He pressed his hands into the small of my back, and I arched into his
practiced mouth, tilting my head back. Too soon he crawled his way back up to
my collarbones, sucking and nipping at the cool flesh there.
I felt the vibration of his voice against my skin rather than heard it, and
opened my eyes at the sound. For the briefest of moments, we locked eyes, and
his expression… I both thanked and cursed the gods at that look in his obsidian
eyes. So clouded, so unguarded, so lustful, so greedy… I couldn't have been
prepared for any of what was to happen next.
But I welcomed it.
With unsurprising roughness, Ghirahim pushed me around and into the wall, my
chest and right cheek pressed into the cold stone. I shivered at the sudden
vulnerability, my instinct to resist, but I somehow knew that he demanded my
obedience. I stood as still as my quivering legs would allow.
The Demon Lord slowly, agonizingly pressed into me, not quite fulfilling my
silent pleas. His hands covered my own against the wall. So close… so close! It
was all I could do not to whine, cry out, press into him, give him what I so
desperately needed him to take.
Soft, wet, composed kisses lined the shell of my ear, around the hoop in my
earlobe, gradually making their way to the dip where my neck and shoulder met.
All the while his hands ran up the length of my arms, reached around to slide
down my chest, abdomen, hips…
Closer… and closer… and closer…
With a final sloppy press of his lips against my ear once more, Ghirahim became
still. His ragged breathing filled me to the brim, sending chills down my
spine. I couldn't have stopped the coarse, needy whine from leaving my lips if
I wanted to. His hands were on my chest and one of my hips, clutching so tight,
but unmoving. Our chests rose and fell in rapid, uneven unison.
Being sure to graze the flesh of my ear with his teeth, he opened his mouth to
utter what was nothing short of a command.
"Now."
Lithe fingers clinched around my hips and tore my lower abdomen away from the
wall, eliciting a surprised but exhilarated gasp out of me. My spine curved at
a harsh angle. I dug my forearms into the stone wall for stability and craned
my head to one side. I watched the Demon Lord through lidded eyes as he ran
circles in my back side with this long thumbs, spreading me farther and farther
apart. Lining himself with my entrance. Finally, with no warning or hesitation,
he forced himself inside me with a single sharp thrust.
I cried out at the splitting, tearing pain, moisture briefly pricking at the
corners of my eyes. But there was no time to adjust. Ghirahim groaned huskily
as he thrust forward a second time, muttering what sounded like an ancient
swear or curse out of the side of his mouth.
With every violent jerk of his hips, the dull ache gave way to a sweet sense of
bliss pooling in the pit of my stomach. My poorly stifled grunts of pain
gradually became soft, uninhibited moans of pleasure. And then, Ghirahim
slumped forward, leaned into me, pressing his hands into my chest. The new
angle drove me nearly over the edge. It felt like lightning striking from
within me, causing me to cry out in raw pleasure, with every thrust.
And the Demon Lord took all too much pleasure in making me squirm. He reveled
in my blissful torture. He brought a hand to my jaw and forced my mouth open,
to savor each noise that spilled from between my lips. And I eagerly,
lustfully, gave them all to him.
Eventually, but all too soon, my whimpers no longer seemed to satisfy him. His
free hand abruptly wrapped itself around my aching, weeping member. I gasped in
surprise, practically sobbing for release. His jagged breathing pitched upwards
for a fleeting moment, asking a wordless question. I clutched at one of his
rigid forearms, almost for balance, and nodded frantically. If I possessed any
civility before, it was certainly long gone now.
Not needing any further encouragement, Ghirahim began to stroke back and forth…
but too slow! I growled at the sharp dissonance between his hand and his
thrusts, pushing myself into him in either direction. A dark, sinful chuckle
vibrated from deep in his throat and into my chest. But he obliged nonetheless.
Almost too quickly, Ghirahim's hand matched the pace of his thrusts. I spasmed
uncontrollably at all the sensations, violent tremors running through my body
like earthquakes. The sounds leaking from my mouth were now continuous and
unending, growing in pitch and volume. That sharp tugging in my gut. I couldn't
take much more…
I hung my head, sweat-soaked hair hanging in my closed eyes. I clenched my
teeth and let out short bursts air. My chest felt tight; I was coiling in on
myself. It was almost painful, but I didn't dare let it stop.
I grunted and groaned nonstop, hoping to convey my impending climax. Ghirahim
made hurried, breathless noises of acknowledgement and agreement, thrusting and
stroking impossibly faster. I pushed into his unyielding body as the tugging
spread like molten iron to my legs, arms, fingers, up my chest and into my
throat, ready to drown me. I begged for it, prayed for it, needed it more than
the blood running through my veins, and then I erupted like a geyser.
Every muscle snapped at once. Every nerve ending jolted in unison. My entire
body convulsed and shook as I rode out the intense orgasm. I spilled out across
the stone wall, finally relieved of all tension. Meanwhile Ghirahim pounded
into me harder and more intense than ever, rocking my hypersensitive body to
the core, pulsing and contracting from within me. Shudders and gasps and
breathy moans fell out of my mouth like a sluggish river of lava. I clutched
his arms so tightly, digging my nails into his smooth flesh, as wave after wave
of aftershock flowed through me and the Demon Lord slowly came to a stop,
having spent all his energy as well.
It took a long while for our breathing to slow to a quiet, even stop, and only
then did Ghirahim gently pull himself away from me. I groaned, but kept my
stance, using the wall for balance.
I thought he was going to walk away from me. I thought he might leave me here
naked and exhausted in the middle of the sanctuary. I even thought he was
contemplating killing me. I wondered if he would take my sword, or snap his
fingers, or call upon the power of the Gate of Souls, and I would simply fall
where I stood.
But he didn't do any of those things.
He stood beside me, back against the wall, and looked in my direction, at
nothing in particular. His head hung listlessly, looking deeper in thought than
I could have thought possible. It caught me off guard. I put my weight into the
wall, carrying my head on my arms as I regained my energy. I was more than
curious about what could be running through his head, but I wasn't sure the
silence was meant to be broken this time. I just looked at him, the way his
arms hung at his sides, the way his chest neither rose nor fell as he breathed,
and how, aside from a gentle breeze swaying his silver hair slightly, he might
as well have been a statue. I wasn't sure what to do.
The strange silence stretched across time and after a while I wondered if he
had fallen asleep somehow. But finally, with a sharp intake of breath that
pulled me out of my own dreamlike state, the Demon Lord opened his mouth to
speak.
But no words came out.
A strangled croak emerged, but nothing more. Was he… Was he speechless? Knowing
Ghirahim, it was surely a rare occurrence, but I just turned to face in his
direction, one elbow still perched against the wall, head tilted to one side.
He gave a nearly imperceptible sigh and turned away, seeming to wave it off. My
fingers twitched, almost wanting to call after him. Head tilted toward me, but
making sure to avoid my eyes, he made a gesture to the pool of green fabric on
the cold floor.
"I… You…" he started. "Dress yourself. We're…" He took a deep, heaving breath,
steeling himself for his own words. "We're not quite finished here." He snapped
his head away and made to retrieve his own clothing.
I followed suit and did as he said, stepping into my pants and boots, layering
the undershirt, chainmail, and tunic over one another, buckling my gauntlets
tightly. For some reason, I avoided glancing over my shoulder at Ghirahim as he
readjusted himself. I perched my cap on disheveled hair and held my scarf in
one hand when I felt eyes glaring through me. I silently turned to face the
Demon Lord, his colorless garments once again clinging to his frame. He had
that same expression on his face, the same dullness in his eyes. I had half a
mind to step forward, to try to change that look, but he beat me do it.
"I'm sorry, child," he said softly. His fingers curled to make fists. "I'm
sorry for everything I've done. To you. Your ancestors. Your… your soldiers." A
pang of grief stung the back of my throat, but I pushed it away. The outer
corners of his eyes crinkled like paper as he squeezed them shut, and he ground
his teeth together in frustration. "I just…" He ran a hand roughly through his
hair, wiped sweat off his brow. For once, it seemed, he was at a loss for
words. He reopened his eyes, straight into my own, and what I saw, what I felt
from deep within those eyes, nearly broke me. The fleece between my fingers
cascaded to the floor, forgotten.
"I just wanted to see him again," he said.
Him…His hero. The boy who wasn't me. But I looked just like he did. I could
piece together, at this point, what he had been to Ghirahim. An obstacle, at
first… a play toy. But then an addiction, and then…
But what did that make me?
"I was promised my sky child," he continued. "Cia told me I could see him
again, if I cooperated…" He sounded so hopeful. "I still do not know if she was
lying." He adopted a sort of sad half-smile then, looking into my eyes with
what I could only describe as longing. "I didn't know… I had no idea that… that
his blood lived on. But you…" One of his hands hovered in front of his face and
he shook his head slightly, letting out a breathless chuckle.
"You look just like him. I mean…" He looked above me, past me, around me, at
anything but me. "Looking at you… It's like seeing him again, and I want to
hope… but you're all wrong. It… hurts." His eyes settled on the floor, his
voice growing less and less steady with every passing moment. "You are not my
sky child. Nor will you ever be. Your presence is entirely foreign to me,
worlds apart from his.
"And yet," he looked up, eyes tinted pink, "my hearts aches for you."
It felt tight and heavy somewhere deep in my chest. Ghirahim took slow, loud,
even breaths to steady himself, but it didn't seem to work. Praying that it
wouldn't backfire, I stepped forward and placed a hesitant hand in the center
of his chest. I let the distance between us remain, however small.
An uncharacteristic gasp left Ghirahim's mouth, but he stilled all the same.
Slowly, carefully, he enclosed my hand in one of his own, a tender smile just
barely gracing his lips. But it wouldn't reach his eyes.
"My sky child…" he whispered. "All I wanted… was my sky child. Nothing else
mattered in my life, once he came to me. I didn't even understand it until it
was too late… I was too far gone to reverse the spell he put on me." A small
sigh. "He was oblivious to his own magic. He did not know what he was doing to
me. The damage he had done…
"But I was deluded to think that- that I was entitled to him. No one owed him
to me. Certainly not his goddess," he said, bitterness dripping from his words.
"Our fates had been woven together, but in such a way that left no room for
negotiation." He paused for a moment there, and a cold, empty laugh echoed
through the large chamber. I flinched. "How poetic," he mused cruelly, but did
not elaborate.
"What's more, I would be blind to think that I deserved any less than what I
was given. But my sky child… he did not deserve it. I would have given him the
moon, if circumstances had been different." He swallowed. "If I… had been
different.
"But instead…" He stood there in silence for a long time, just shaking his
silver head back and forth gently, mulling over the words in his mind. When
they finally came to him his voice was a little more than a whisper. "The last
time I saw him… it was here. In this forest, a thousand lifetimes ago. I wanted
to steal him away one last time. My final act of selfishness. But I knew… I
knew what I was meant to do. Our fate was locked into place and I could not
change that."
He wet his lips, pausing to gather his fraying composure. "He wouldn't do it,
did you know?" I remained silent, looking away. "He refused. And I swore to
myself I would never make him cry again… But it had to be done. The thread of
fate binding us together was meant to be severed by his blade. Nothing more,
nothing less. We were never meant to be anything to each other…"
Ghirahim let go of my hand at that. I let it drop to my side.
"I'm sorry, child," he said again. "I must face what I have done, and accept
the consequences. I have no place in this war. Nor do I wish to be a part of it
any longer. I am tired…" The Demon Lord held his arms together, cupping each
elbow in the opposite palm. He stared into my eyes for what felt like a long
while. Finally, he stepped toward me, pulled me into his chest and embraced me,
one hand on the back of my head, the other around my back. I awkwardly
maneuvered my arms to wrap around his waist, holding my arms together tightly
behind him. He buried his nose in the mess of my hair, breathing a little
uneasily, and when he spoke, the words were muffled and warm.
"Thank you, my child."
I looked up at him, disturbing his place on the top of my head. Our foreheads
touched and his eyes opened slowly. Small crystalline trails leaked from under
his eyelids. I could feel small puffs of air coming from his parted lips.
"I got to see you… one last time," he said. More tears made tracks down his
cheeks. "You, the beautiful, tainted, wild animal, were just what I needed to…
to heal this pitifully broken heart. No, you are not mine, but that is alright.
It allows me to separate the pain from the pleasure. It allows me to choose to
look back only on the latter, and forsake the former. It allows the torment… to
end. And for that, I thank you."
Ghirahim then cupped my cheeks in both hands then, and pressed his lips to my
forehead. He sighed, a great, heavy sound of relief, and slid his hands down to
my shoulders, resting his head on top of mine once more.
"I think," he began slowly, "it is time for me to leave now. I think I have
found the means to be at peace at last." I grasped at his forearms. He gave a
short exhalation, almost a chuckle. "Do not worry for me, boy. I will simply
just… go away. There is nothing for me here. I know that. The Gate will take me
where I am meant to go."
He bent down to meet my eye level, giving me a meaningful look. "And my magic
will follow me, you know. Every trace of my influence will be wiped away by the
Gate. You know what that means, don't you?" His jet black eyes sparkled as he
waited for me to respond. I simply stood there silently, slowly working it out
in my head. Suddenly I inhaled sharply, wide eyes filling with tears. I brought
a hand to my mouth and nearly doubled over, turning in the other direction, in
the direction of the sanctuary's exit. I looked back at him with hopeful
caution. What I saw was the first genuine smile on Ghirahim's face that I had
ever seen, but he quickly turned more serious, crossing his arms in front of
his chest.
"They will not remember any of what happened at this place," he said. "You can
tell them that destroying the Gate caused them to lose their memories. But more
importantly, they will certainly not hold any ill will toward you. So you do
would do well not to hold any to yourself. You did nothing wrong. They will all
surely live long and fruitful lives."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, hesitating to nod before realizing he was
right and that I would do my best to comply. I reached out to him, overwhelmed
with a thousand different feelings, but he held up his hand.
"Consider it the least I could do. You do not owe me anything. I have received
far more than I deserve from you," he said. I exhaled, choosing not to push the
subject. "In fact," he added, "take one last thing from me, would you?" He
tilted his head to one side, his hands fumbling around his earlobe, before
taking my hand and placing something within it. When he removed his hand, it
was a small, perfectly carved sapphire. His earring. "It feels right to give it
to you," was his only explanation. I closed my fingers around it and accepted
it without a sound.
"Well, child," Ghirahim said, "I do believe I have overstayed my welcome. I
must go. Forget me, if you can. I have lived long enough. I no longer wish to
leave a mark upon this world."
He turned to the Gate of Souls. I chose to inspect the gem in my hand, rather
than watch him walk away. But by the sound of his feet on the stone floor, he
made it several steps before stopping. I lifted my head up to see the Demon
Lord hesitating before the Gate, an arm's length away. He slowly turned on his
heel, his eyes pleading with me. His voice was barely audible, echoing off the
stone walls.
"I need to know… Was he happy? In the end."
I opened my mouth, only to close it again. Without warning, my mind flooded
with strange images, alien thoughts, unknown feelings… The sky child's
memories. But I was not reliving them through his eyes; it was as though I was
outside of them, observing from right beside him, in front of him, behind him.
Like I was being allowed access to a locked collection of memoirs… in order to
know how he felt…
How Link had fallen to his knees, fingers still clinging limply to the hilt of
the Master Sword… How the sacred metal had wedged itself into the soft earth
where Ghirahim's lifeless form had laid moments earlier, before dissipating
like smoke… How the young hero had screamed, screamed out into the dense forest
air until his voice gave out… How it felt like he couldn't scream loud enough,
couldn't push the anguish in his heart out of his chest hard enough…
Link didn't know how long he had been hanging from his blade like that. Nor did
he care. The clouds – those purple-brown clouds that would never empty – never
let up to tell him how much time had passed anyway. Eventually Link stood from
his uncomfortable position, robotically, as if strings were pulling at him to
move. He ambled his way into the Temple and through the Gate of Time, where
Zelda, Groose, and the Old Woman had been restlessly awaiting the boy's return.
Once Link stepped through the lavender gear-shaped structure, it slowed to a
stop, becoming immobile, having served its purpose once and for all. He stood
directly in front of the Gate, not moving, not looking up, not wanting to
breathe anymore.
Zelda came to his side almost immediately, no doubt sensing his presence only a
moment after his arrival. Her ever-perfect hair and dress swayed around her as
if she were under water. She stood in front of her dear friend, not attempting
– or daring – to break the silence.
She slowly, hesitantly reached out a small hand to touch Link's cheek,
shoulder, chest. But she immediately recoiled as Link let out a miserable wail
and threw himself at the unmoving Gate.
Over and over again he flung himself into the hard, glass-like material,
grunting and crying and screaming with every impact. Hoping he would crack it…
Wishing he could break himself across it…
Zelda shouted his name over and over, unable to tear the boy away from his
self-inflicted torture. Ultimately it was Groose that had to restrain him,
enduring blows from Link's hands, feet, elbows. Groose didn't try to say
anything to him. He only held the blond hero tightly until he finally went limp
in his arms, weeping inconsolably, quietly. The Old Woman was silent during the
entire ordeal. She simply went to Zelda's side and held her hands as the girl
shed tears for her friend.
Groose and Zelda took Link home to Skyloft. Zelda held his hand as she guided
him to his bedroom at the Knight Academy, but his fingers were limp against
hers. She had no choice but to leave him sitting on his bed alone, to reunite
with her father, as tears streamed down his cheeks silently.
That first night… That first night was the hardest.
Link dreamt of horrible things. Bound by a thick pewter chain. Imprisoned by
the Demon Lord himself. The metal around his neck, wrists, ankles, cut into his
flesh, pierced his skin, made everything ache. Ghirahim yanked at the chains,
suffocating the boy, drawing blood, bringing him closer.
Link was forced to kneel at Ghirahim's feet, naked, terrified. His voice was
sickly sweet, but his hands burned like acid, electricity. He could not put up
a fight as the Demon Lord did unspeakable things to the blond… To his mind, to
his body, to his very soul… Things that cannot be forgotten upon waking…
He woke up screaming, crying, sweating… By the time Zelda had crashed into his
bedroom, Groose and her father close behind, he was convulsing on the floor,
bedsheets tangled around his feet, around his neck, and he was clawing at his
chest. The young priestess came to Link and held him as tightly as possible,
tears falling from her own eyes.
Once the hysteria died down and the students had been instructed to return to
bed, Link was sobbing into Zelda's chest, grabbing at her thin nightgown for
support. Zelda only knew to stroke her poor friend's hair, cooing into his ear,
rocking back and forth until he finally fell back into another fitful sleep.
Days, weeks, months passed…
Link would not eat unless someone was there to supervise him. He would not wash
himself unless Groose stood at the bathroom door as he did so. Sometimes he
would slip under the bath water for dangerously long amounts of time. And
nearly every restless night was filled with unending horrors.
Eventually, everyone stopped trying to interact with him. Pipit would turn in
another direction when Link would stumble outdoors to escape the dreams. Fledge
rearranged his schedule so he never crossed paths with him. Even Groose would
give half-hearted excuses whenever Zelda tried to rally their friends together
for Link's sake. But nobody wanted to anymore. They were drained. Even Zelda
was losing energy; she only had the energy to rub circles in Link's back from
the edge of his bed when he cried into her shoulder in the middle of the night.
And in the back of Link's mind, the miniscule part of him that had still
managed to remain sane, he didn't blame any of them. He knew he was a burden in
everyone's lives. He knew that he was no good anymore. That he was irreparably
damaged. He knew…
He was broken.
He wanted the pain to go away… He wanted the nightmares to stop…
He wanted Ghirahim back.
But he knew none of it would ever be possible.
Nothing Link did could ease the constant, heavy ache in his heart, in his head,
right down to his very soul. More than anything, though, Link was tired. He was
so tired. He just wanted it all to be over already… Link had lost control of
everything in his life. He wanted to regain control. To take back his life and
end the pain once and for all. And above everything else, he didn't want to
make Zelda worry anymore. He didn't want her to hurt anymore. Not because of
him.
So he made his choice.
Link didn't want to drag it out… for his sake, or anyone else's. That same
evening, with the moon lighting his way, he quietly, slowly snuck into the
Bazaar apothecary. When he returned to his bedroom, he decided to lay down and
wait for Zelda to check on him. One last time…
Before long, she knocked softly on his door and entered. Her nightgown swayed
around her calves as she gently closed the door behind her. It reminded Link of
the dress she wore all those months ago. How beautiful she was. As Link looked
at her fatigued face, she was certainly no less lovely, but the divine spark in
her eyes had dulled. That was his fault…
Link slowly sat up as she perched herself at the edge of his bed. His hair had
grown long and unkempt, and easily hung in his eyes. She gently brushed it away
and looked at him. Link felt a wave of emotion wash over him. His throat
suddenly stung as tears came to his eyes. Zelda said nothing, and simply
wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
At that moment… Link felt at peace. He had made his choice, and that was good.
But he hoped Zelda would be alright. He hoped she knew everything he wanted her
to know. That he loved her, would always love her, and had always cherished her
deeply. That he was beyond grateful to her for her immense patience, kindness,
and devotion. That he was sorry for everything he had put her through, for not
being there for her when she needed him, for failing her on more than one
occasion.
He hoped she would understand this last selfish act of his.
Zelda stayed with him, rubbing his back, giving him comforting words, holding
him close. She told Link that she loved him, and that she would always be there
for him. More tears trailed down Link's cheeks. He slowly embraced her around
her slim waist, sobbing quietly into her shoulder. Zelda was a strong young
woman. Far stronger than he. She was going to be okay, he was sure.
But Link was really going to miss her.
Once his tears had finally run dry, Zelda left, placing a soft kiss on his
forehead on her way out. After he was sure she was safely in her own bedroom,
he gathered what he had taken from the apothecary.
Sleeping potions.
He wasn't sure how many he would need, but he took the entire stock. A couple
dozen at least. He set them down at the foot of his bed. With a deep breath, he
looked at the plum-navy colored liquid in each of the glass containers. This
was what he wanted. What he needed. He took a bottle, uncorked it, and
swallowed the contents in one large gulp. With a shudder at the taste, he
picked up another one. And another one. And another one.
He continued until his entire body felt like it was made of anvils. He used the
last of his energy to push the remaining potions under his bed before lying
down on his back. For the first time in what felt like forever, he had no tears
to shed. His eyelids drooped closed. The pain would go away now. He welcomed
it.
I was jolted back to reality just as suddenly as I left it. I blinked several
times and looked around to gain my bearings, my mouth set in a thin, tight
line. Only a few moments had passed.
Ghirahim was staring right at me, right through me, begging me for an answer.
The Gate of Time spiraled ever onward, possessing all the patience in the
world, in contrast to the Demon Lord before it.
"Was he happy?" he repeated. "Please…" His voice broke. I took just a moment
longer to process everything I had seen. That was his sky child. Someone who
had grown to mean everything to the sorcerer in front of me. I understood it
all now. Somehow, everything made sense. I looked into Ghirahim's pleading
eyes.
I couldn't do it.
I nodded once.
His expression softened somewhat, the corners of his lips threatening to curl
upward. His eyes darted around my features for a moment, before bringing a
clenched fist to his chest and nodding his head. With that, he took a step
backward into the Gate of Souls and vanished, the evil portal immediately
following suit.
Chapter End Notes
     I hope all of you enjoyed this story. I'm sorry it took so long for
     me to post it to AO3. It turns out there wasn't even a problem; I
     just had an old version of Chrome or something and it sort of solved
     itself, so I'm sorry for making everyone wait for nothing. I hope it
     was worth it. Please don't be strangers and tell me your thoughts if
     you like. Check out my fanfiction.net accounts if the urge strikes
     you (Midnax and MidnaXXX if anyone cares). Thank you for everything,
     lovelies. Until next time.
     P.S. If you have thoughts that mirror those of our dear sky child,
     please know that you are not alone. There are hotlines, websites,
     chat rooms, facebook groups, not to mention friends, family members,
     and even devoted fanfiction writers that love you and know how
     special you are. This was just a story; this does not have to happen
     to you. You are loved, probably more than you can fathom, and there
     is always hope. Don't forget. You are loved.
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