-Two days later-

Zelda collapsed in a chair. The birds chirped happily and the lake at her feet was still. The only movement was small fish that tickled her feet and probed her for crumbs, only to be disappointed. A servant brought her some food and Zelda looked at it hungrily, but there was too much on her mind for her to feel like touching it yet.

"A princess should eat." A voice said.

The water came alive under her feet and rose. At the core of it was a Fae. Mysteriously the water stood as a man, walked as a man, sat with her as a man, and was entirely solid as ice, yet was water. Zelda recognized the voice.

"I was wondering where you were," Zelda mumbled tiredly.

"I was here, enjoying your lake. Its beauty is a wonderful attempt to mimic my grove, but lacked... harmony." Elder said. "I have also been keeping an eye on our friends. Ganondorf and the Majora set up camp outside the capital, and Link spends his days exploring the city."

"They are not my friends." Zelda refuted. "They were useful. They are allies at best. Thank you for keeping tabs on them, but I did not ask you to. You are an ally, just like them."

"I am sure you will find they share more in common with you than you think, princess." He smiled knowingly. "Especially as you all are tied by destiny."

"Hmmm." She hummed. "Is this related to my mark? I saw how you used that to convince Dragmire. Do not think me a fool as to not notice. The slave and I both have it, and the way you used it against him implies he does too. His use of fire and shadow is perhaps another link, but could also be a magic of the Majora rather than of a mark."

"You are right. When all of you are ready I will explain more, but as I can see... you have pressing matters."

"You have no idea." Zelda groaned.

"I do, actually. I am a leader as well among my people."

"Right... You are. My apologies, I misspoke."

"No harm is done." He shrugged. "But you should eat. Remember what I said two days ago. Just as you need to sleep, you also should eat."

"Two days!?" Zelda stammered.

"Yes. You have been in assembly for two days straight." He chuckled. "You haven't left the room all this time. Did you not notice?"

"No. No wonder I am weary. And hungry."

"Then do not let me stop you. Eat."

"I will wait. There is a matter I wanted to discuss with you."

He stared at her. It made Zelda a bit uncomfortable being under his sudden scrutiny. Finally, he said, "Do you value yourself so little?"

"Never mind how much value I place in myself." She refuted, a bit aggravated.

"Then let us make a deal. I will gladly discuss whatever topic you wish with you, though it means you pushing yourself unnecessarily, but only if you eat while doing so."

Zelda sighed. It grated at her a bit that he wouldn't just cooperate completely, but she understood he was doing it for her well being so she took it well. And the food was tempting. "Fine. I wanted to discuss-"

"Mouthful, then start."

She glared at him. Now she was aggravated. He was treating her like a child. She started to openly eat. She only meant to take a bite to get it over with and begin, but once it met her tongue she found she could hardly stop till half her plate was gone. He nodded in approval when she paused.

"A thought I have, Elder, is to allow the palace lake to be given to the Fae as a reward in return for assisting in my return to the throne." She said plainly.

"This one here." Elder looked to the lake they sat by. She nodded. "It is a rather small bit of land, is it not? I would have thought the reward would have been greater than a lake that is the size of a house."

Zelda smiled knowingly. "And the Fae do not value land in the same way mortals do. You do not need width when you can go for depth."

"Ah... so you imagine I would turn it into a Fae Grove. A Fae Grove within your palace walls."

"Precisely."

Elder leaned back. "What are you not telling me, princess? Should I guess?"

"Feel free to. I imagine you have already figured out some of where my thoughts go on this."

"By having a Fae grove within the palace, it would offer untold benefits. It would strengthen your stance by having public support from a mystical race few have even heard of, and it would either make you look like some sort of religious figure of spirit-like creatures... or a tamer. It would mean that we would defend the palace just as much as your Royal Guard because by defending your palace, we would be defending our grove since your palace itself would be one of our lines of defense. It would mean closer ties and perhaps even turning some of us into your workers, as allies are prone to help each other. It would mean I can be in a position to teach you regularly about matters of the Goddesses and your gifts. It would mean I would have easy access to information and communication with Qin, perhaps even protection since few kidnappers would dare sneak into the innermost palace grounds to steal away my people." Elder cocked his watery head to the side. "Have I missed anything?"

Zelda replied, "You guessed most of it, but another benefit I believe it would offer is allowing you to decide how the people come to learn of you and your people, in a way that is more controlled and on your terms. The scenario I spoke of in the past was one of sudden misunderstanding and ignorance. In this way now we can control how the people learn the Fae exist and make it peaceful."

Elder nodded. "A fine benefit. Well done, princess. The idea bears great merit. It is similar to that of an ambassador but on a different scale. I imagine there are also possible repercussions. Such as you scaring your ministers. First, you invade and take the throne leading an army of people and races no one has heard of, or are believed to be extinct, and then as soon as you claim the throne you give a piece of the palace itself to the creatures that took it. I'm sure you can see how they would be spooked by these turn of events and even come to question your sanity."

Zelda nodded. "I have considered it, but you put it into a better perspective. It is all the more reason to make sure they warm up to your people in a controlled way. I am not saying I want you to bring thousands of Fae overnight, but say... leave a few behind. Let them meet a few, warm up to them. Show you want peace."

"Of course." Elder replied. "Though it does make me wonder if you have already presented this idea to your counsel, or if you intend to drop it on them without notice."

She grimaced. "Actually... I did. They did not take well to it. I may have lost the respect of one or two men, but the long term benefits should win them back and make them see you aren't what they thought."

"Do not neglect your servants in the immediate for the long term, it may have repercussions you do not plan. One pebble can be the cause of a landslide. A principle I'm sure you recognize. What is to say those two do not become more, and then your kingdom is taken out from under you?"

Zelda nodded. "I will keep your words to heart. It is a wise saying. I do know of it, but a reminder is always helpful."

He stood and bowed. "Let us end the discussion here, as I am sure your time is short. It is a very well thought out idea, Princess. I gladly accept the gift. I will leave a few Fae behind in my newfound grove to begin shaping it. May I make a suggestion, princess?"

Zelda stood and patted herself off. She hadn't even noticed herself finishing the meal, and in her hunger, she had dirtied herself. It was the most uncomely.

"Of course."

"Take one of my Fae as one of your servants. Let them see one Fae as a constant around you, and around them. As you know we can harden your clothing to protect you, and we can hide so we are not in your way. So let us begin this understanding between our peoples to be with one."

"I accept." Zelda bowed slightly. Not enough to show inferiority, but politeness. He returned the gesture.

Elder stepped into the water and collapsed his form into it. Soon after a Fae, of a different shining color than him, flew out and into Zelda's dress. Zelda raised an eyebrow at her dress. In a way, she could almost feel the Fae inside it, as the dress became stiffer and resistant to wind flow.

"So long as you do not make everyone think my clothes are haunted, then you can stay there. Otherwise, find another home."

Zelda returned to her throne.

Her ministers would not be in attendance, as they were doing their work. They were not just here to talk. They were here to send messages, to pass on her will, to organize men and set them at work across the nation. To be scribes and catalog information and plan projects. While Zelda could say she wanted something done, it was these men that planned it out to the finest detail and left to organize men to personally oversee the work done.

-Later-

Another matter settled. Zelda felt pretty good about it but now there was another matter... a much darker one. One that hardened her heart and set the darkness in her mind to form around her almost to the point of dimming the torches around her.

Zelda entered the dungeons. In one cage was the former Chancellor Ketsu. Prince Kyou would not be in the dungeons. He was a special case Zelda would need to handle delicately. For both his medical needs since she pierced his arm and beat him severely and the fact that he is, unfortunately, her blood.

In the second cage was a surprise. Reida, Prince Kyou's fiancé, of all people. Elder had found her in the same carriage as Ketsu when he returned with him. Zelda did not mind her. If anything she respected the young woman, perhaps even envied her. To Zelda, Reida was everything she wanted to be. Merciful, loved, yet tough and with strong judgment and self-respect and dignity, with both sides tempered by wisdom beyond her years. All things fashioned by a loving, powerful family based on trust. The very things Zelda could not understand. Reida was not plagued by nightmares and demons clawing at her soul.

Reida was, however, foolish enough to be in Ketsu's company. A situation not at all good for her.

As Zelda entered, Ketsu begged for mercy and threw himself on the ground, but Zelda did not spare him a glance. He had been the core of it all. He had made Kyou believe he was the little god on earth, he had whispered words of foolishness in Kyou's ears all his life, he had turned Kyou into nothing more than a puppet... then he thought he could avoid Zelda's notice when he finally exploited the puppet? Zelda would cut him into pieces before forgiving him. If only she could give mercy to her brother and heal him of Ketsu's influence so he could no longer hate her and be a good person, but Zelda was not optimistic in the slightest.

She would have to punish Kyou as well when the time came.

Zelda passed the cages until she reached Reida and looked down on the young woman. Reida had seen better days, yet she seemed to take it well in stride. "Why do you look like you have been in a cage much longer than merely three days?" Zelda asked.

"Princess! I beseech thee!" Ketsu cried.

"If you do not quiet your fat tongue I will have it cut off right here and now!" Zelda glared at the large man, having grown tired of his screaming. The man quieted fearfully and whimpered pathetically. Zelda returned her attention to Reida.

"Because I have been, high princess Zelda," Reida answered. She smacked her dry lips from where she sat. "I was captured by the Sheikah and held against my will to be used in a plot against Prince Kyou."

"And yet you escaped capture and entered his company?" Zelda asked.

"It is a story that will take time to tell properly, princess."

"Is there anyone who can stand as witness to it?"

Reida hesitated to answer, "The Sheikah, but I expect they will be hidden for some time."

"Then I take it you also know of it and why?"

Reida nodded.

Reida could be lying, Zelda knew, and Zelda didn't truly know Reida beyond the brief exposures she had. While she respected Reida greatly, there was animosity between them because of Zelda's placement on the throne knocking Kyou down a step, and Reida with it. Reida was being taught and prepared for the position of Queen. Now that was gone. Reida would easily see her as an enemy.

"Sounds like quite a tale." Zelda mused.

"It is... and one of great importance to you, princess, as you are not safe. I tried telling the guards, but they laughed at me and seem to have not warned you."

Zelda furrowed her brows. "Warned me of what?"

For a brief moment, Reida looked at the shadows around the room in real fear. She hesitated to answer, but after a moment, she whispered, "The Sheikah have turned against you."

(Edited 3/1/2020)