-Kanyou, Country of Qin-

Hands.

Feminine hands.

Beautiful feminine hands.

Grasping, beautiful feminine hands.

Choking, grasping, beautiful feminine hands.

A voice cried out in the darkness even as the hands grasped at her, "What is wrong with you!? Can you feel no pain?! Stop looking at me with those eyes! Stop it! You have his eyes! I hate those eyes!"

Zelda released a blood curling scream. Frantically, she reached for her throat to release the hands, but her hands were tied down. Her body was tied down and held down by so many hands.

"Princess, stop!" A high pitched voice yelled.

Zelda blinked to find herself wrapped tightly in blankets. Some of the blankets had reached her neck, choking her, and her hands were tight at her side within the quilts. Her Fae servant flew into the bed and threw Zelda around the bed while unraveling her from her cocoon. The moment Zelda was freed she leaped from the bed and stood on her own. Even her clothes felt confining with sweat binding it to her skin. She quickly changed into clothes that were not soaked in sweat.

The Fae flew into her clothing. "Princess! Are you well?! You were hollering and-"

"I'm fine, Tetsu," Zelda cut her off. She had inquired for the Fae's name, but it gave her something that was impossible to say with a human tongue. She dubbed the Fae 'Tetsu'.

"No, you're not!"

"Then settle for 'I don't want to talk about it'," Zelda whispered harshly. "Now drop it. I'm awake. I'm done sleeping."

Even as she said that she swayed a bit. Zelda knew she was being stubborn, but what else could she be? This had been going on every night. Every night a beautiful woman is either waiting for her in her room or is presented to her after Zelda has retired to her room. Every night Zelda has nightmares and remembers things she would prefer forgetting.

The only option was to endure the nightmares and figure out who was sending her the girls every night!

Thankfully, Zelda's initiative the days following her return to the throne had spurred the ministers into action. Most things were taken care of or in the process of. Reida had been sent home yesterday. Zelda wished to engage her in further conversation and get to know the girl more, but this was a delicate time between them. Ketsu had been publicly executed, torn into pieces, and his carcass was thrown to the wasteland. It was a short event Zelda had to preside over and witness. Thankfully, she did not have to speak. The sooner he was dealt with, the better.

All of his possessions passed into Zelda's hands, save for a portion Qin gave over to Majora. Overall, she was pleased with this. She gained a great deal of land, rid herself of an enemy, restored security to Qin, and established positive relations with a small neighboring nation. She had yet to appoint governors over the land she had gained, but she had time before it would be necessary. It was a win for everyone and she finally had room to breathe.

Zelda entered the throne room, and the highest-ranking minister present approached the throne. In Ryo's absence, and Ketsu's death, they were short on Chancellors.

"What do you have to report this morning?" Zelda asked.

"My highness, there is much good news!" The man bowed. "The ministers and governors across Qin have begun to send tribute to your royal highness as a show of loyalty."

The tribute was a political card and was considered tradition. Ahbdan had said to receive tribute regularly would help them know who was loyal. It was a form of tax where cities sought to impress her and gain her attention by giving.

Cities that did not give any tribute, or gave practically nothing when she knew they could offer a great deal were troubling. It was a glimpse into their mindsets. Politically it was a slap in the face.

Meanwhile, cities that gave more than they could afford were also troubling, as Ahbdan taught her it could be a sign of fear. And such unnecessary fear or choking tributes and taxes on an otherwise poor holding would only damage them and weaken Qin. Impa taught her that only her enemies and the unlawful need fear her, not her subjects.

Tribute excited Zelda because it was imaginative. It was not strict as to be only wealth but could be more subjects sent to work for her, or things of an unusual nature. One tribute, when Zelda first came home, had been a fine horse and though it startled Zelda at first, she was fascinated by the creature. She had been given birds of beautiful colors, poems and scrolls, plants for her garden, herbs, and all manner of things. She welcomed the rupee, but rupee did not excite the mind as other things did.

Zelda smiled, "Then we must thank them for their loyalty and quick acceptance of my return. I am glad Qin is taking this in stride." Even though it was most likely Ryo helping smooth the transition.

Her ministers agreed. The man continued, "We have also received reports from the stonemason guilds that they will be able to begin work on repairs immediately."

"Good. Have servants prepare us all rooms on the other side of the palace so we can sleep without excessive noise when they near our rooms." Zelda replied.

The men chuckled. He continued, "Next our scouts have confirmed that Jouto is safe and is in the process of rebuilding."

"Jouto?" Zelda asked. "Which city is that? It sounds familiar."

"Your highness, if you may recall, Jouto is the one you requested?"

Zelda blinked slowly. Her mind felt blank. She knew she wasn't the smartest out there, but she had been able to memorize all 400 cities and villages in Qin at some point. Zelda did not want to blame exhaustion or a lack of sleep or use it as an excuse, but she couldn't deny the feeling that her brain was oozing out of her ears as the days went on.

"It is west? Near Joket? The city you gave the Majora?"

"Oh, yes!" Zelda realized.

Jouto was the city Midna and Link were from, and it was an extension of Joket. Joket was Ketsu's capital. Qin had given the Majora the city of Joket, and a stretch of land between the city and the mountains. It did not make Jouto or the surrounding cities part of Majora now, but relations with them would be necessary.

"Very good. Very good that they have settled down. Sounds like some measure of peace is returning from Kyou's rebellion," Zelda sighed. "Is there anything else?"

"Now comes the bad news," The man took a breath. "During Kyou's rebellion, the surrounding nations noticed the instability. Our border is riddled with small skirmishes from small armies that have been repelled, and one larger army of one-hundred thousand Gerudo made it deep into Qin. Our generals forced them back and restored peace and security, but the damage is done."

"How bad?" Zelda dreaded the answer.

"The Matsubi were prepared. The villages in the invasion's path had ample warning and fled. Kyou's rebellion and Ryo's counter did not involve the border armies, so most of Qin's strength was at the ready. There are no civilian casualties. Thousands of soldiers died in the conflict, but the Matsubi paid them back threefold and they fled across the border."

"They saw the instability as more than what it was and were unprepared to be repelled when they were. If Kyou's rebellion had forced the border armies to turn their attention inward, then only Naryu knows how much damage would have been done," Zelda pondered darkly. "Send compensation to the villages to help spur repairs and growth, and have the ministers of war resupply the armies from our reserves. Also, look into who deserves commendation for the strong defense of Qin."

"Anything else?" Zelda asked. It had only been a few topics, but already she felt tired and wanted to rest in peace.

"Yes. We have received messages from the governor of Joket. He expresses concern with, well-" He hesitated. "Being a Majora now. In his own words: he wonders if he should be welcoming the savages openly or barricading his house. He is highly concerned."

"If he wishes to step down from being governor of Joket, then he can take that up with Dragmire. As you may remember, we held a meeting and the Majora was open to many agreements in diplomacy and how the people of Joket shall be treated. Was the agreement not sent to him?"

"It was, your highness."

"Then as per the agreements, he is free to leave Joket and immigrate into any other part of Qin, as is any citizen of Joket, without penalty for the next three years. After three years he will have to go through the due process if he tarries. Reply to him as such." Zelda waved it off.

"Surely you can understand why it would be understandable for him to be concerned when his nationality is being shifted." One man said. "He is a nobleman. He has value. He isn't just some peasant."

Something about those words stirred Zelda up inside, but she kept herself appearing neutral. "Of course. His loyalty and work have value, but if he wishes to call into question whether he has to follow the rules or not then have him reminded that he served the former Chancellor. By all rights, I should have called for all of Ketsu's subjects to be executed as well if we were to go by norms. Isn't that right? Wouldn't any other king have done so?"

The men looked at each other nervously. The head minister said, "Yes, Princess. Any other king would have had them all executed."

"Then the man should be grateful instead of concerned," Zelda replied.

From their silence, Zelda saw the issue was resolved. They did not agree about something, most likely Zelda's statement that he did not receive special obligation just because they said he was a noble.

"One last thing." The man said, "And this is large... General Ouki has requested an audience with you."

The men in the room gasped. Zelda felt herself still and her breathing hitched briefly.

Great General Ouki Mitagi wanted to meet with her.

She was new to being a monarch, but she had observed and learned much in her time. She read on the past kings and their daily lives, their journals, their opinions. If there was anything in the king's library she had read it. She had even found scrolls written by scribes of the king's sex lives since such things were considered sacred for reasons completely beyond her. She had also observed her subjects and figured out a few things.

Ouki held an audience with no one. He never called for them to meet with him at his estate, and he never came when called. When given orders, he ignored them unless it suited him. He could not be bargained with. He held no opinion on any political matter. He could declare his land an independent state if he wanted to, no one could stop him. Ouki was the pillar on which Qin's latest expansion was founded, and single-handedly insured Qin's security and prosperity along the border.

General Ouki Mitagi answered to no one since King Shorlin and for the first time in twenty-something years he wanted an audience.

"When!?" Some asked.

"What does he want?!" Others exclaimed.

"Does he hope to gain something from the heir?"

The men yelled and asked questions too many for Zelda to focus on, questions she wanted to voice as well, but the head minister in session kept his attention on her, waiting for her question over theirs. Rather than ask for information the man did not have, Zelda opted for what information he did.

"What did his message say?" She asked.

The minister said. "He says, 'High Princess Zelda, I request an audience.' that would be the extent of the message."

"A simple message," Zelda observed.

"Indeed..." One man stroked his beard. "It makes me wonder what is being left out."

Another said, "It is a short message, perhaps he has interest more in establishing dialogue then having a meeting immediately?"

"Or he is leaving a great deal left unsaid to test us."

Zelda sighed as the men bickered. They didn't argue in the form that they had a conflict, but what could they say in response? Should they arrange a meeting immediately? Later? Should they reach out and see if he could meet with them at the palace?

Zelda felt herself sway a bit, her vision blurred, but she stopped herself, closed her eyes, and focused.

Zelda said, "Let us take a day to consider this. While I recognize what you are saying, the thing to consider is that this man is not a normal politician. He is a soldier, and if anyone here has experience with soldiers speak up. Would you say soldiers are complex or simple?"

"Simple, princess."

"Then let us remember that." Zelda continued. "Now, let us end other matters for the day unless something big comes up. And by that, I mean 'bigger than Ouki'. I want you all to put on hold what you are already working on and figuring out a response for Ouki. Ask him when he wishes to meet and we can figure out more from there."

"You would give him the power to choose when to meet you? Are you not the monarch?"

"And has he not ignored every attempt to force him into submission? Rather than attempt to beat the horse into submission, let us see what his angle is."

Zelda wanted Ouki. He was the strongest piece on the board she could ever possess. She wanted his power, but more than that she wanted the one thing no one had ever claimed: his loyalty.

With her part in the meeting over, Zelda left. She would leave them to work out the finer details. For the first time in what felt like forever she had time for herself. So she spent a nice meal in the comfort of the Fae Grove and afterward hunted down the man responsible for all the woman showing up in her bedroom.

Her first instinct was to take the man by the throat and demand what in the realms he was doing shoving whores in her room. It took a lot of self-control to only demand his presence and wait patiently for him.

The man entered in with a smile. The smile vanished when he saw the look on her face. Her eyes were piercing. "Princess?"

"You have been sending whores into my room every night."

"Ye-yes?" The man swallowed. The usage of the word 'whores' made him realize she did not approve. "I take it you are not pleased?"

Zelda laughed condescendingly, "Why in the nine realms would I be pleased with whores and prostitutes in my room? It's not like I have anywhere else with true privacy or self-respect."

"P-princess, I am sorry! A thousand apologies! I thought it was what you wanted!"

Zelda hissed, "And what gave you that impression?"

"Impa brought the first of the royal harem girls into your room some nights ago and she told me you were pleased!"

Zelda blinked in surprise and felt some of her anger pass. The man acted on false information but believed he was doing what was right.

"When was this?" Zelda queried. For the life of her, she couldn't remember a time this happened.

"Just before Kyou's coup. Impa brought a girl in for you and I figured it went well because immediately after you were more... open. I supposed you had a good night with her and... some pent up 'needs' were met."

Zelda felt her throat clench as he spoke. If it was just before Kyou's coup, then the only person Impa had ever brought into her room was Midna.

Midna had been dressed in very revealing clothing, but when the face was revealed Zelda had been too shocked to notice the rest of her body or what she was wearing. Midna had been snuck in as a whore to bypass normal security measures and to get direct access to Zelda. The body double worked, but an unfortunate consequence was that Midna was brought in as a prostitute and people were not blind.

"That is true," Zelda said neutrally. She couldn't tell him it was all based on a lie. Very few knew Midna was her body double. The rest either speculated there was a faked body or Zelda had risen from the dead to exact vengeance. In the moment Zelda could no longer remember why she wanted to keep the truth a secret and let people think what they wanted. She wanted to say the truth and make him stop.

She still could, but she would need a different reason behind it.

"Well, once was enough," Zelda decided. "I no longer need whores. Send them all away."

"My lady," The man bowed. "I think you misunderstand. They are not whores. They are from the royal harem. When a monarch reaches a certain age then their body demands certain needs and being royalty, you have women devoted to meeting those needs so you can focus on your work. True, it can be sexual, but it also does not have to be. The girls are trained to sing, to recite poetry, to play an instrument, to dance, to please the senses, to relax you with a massage or any service you require. What's more, they are not whores because many of them are from noble families across Qin. These are the highborn woman. Just as you have men guard you, you have women to service you. Both come from noble families and refusing their services would only be political suicide."

"How is that? It is fair enough that the girls can do more than a romp in a bed, but why should I feel threatened by refusing the services of the royal harem?"

"Because with so many daughters of the nobles of Qin in the royal harem hoping to gain recognition from you the only way they can, how do you think they would feel if you told them their daughters amounted to nothing? How would they react if they had no chance to gain anything?"

Zelda knew the answer. They would be furious. Everyone who submitted to the throne of Qin would turn on it, and she would be back to being powerless and back where she started. Zelda breathed in and out slowly, struggling to contain the spiraling emotions. "They would be angry. Thank you for the advice, especially as it seems I am ignorant of some things."

"Not at all, Princess. I live to serve."

Zelda didn't know how to answer that.

"What's more, Princess. It is crucial to being in the royal family because it is the responsibility of a prince, or in your case a princess, to be able to produce children."

Zelda didn't know how many more heart attacks she could take. She was closer and closer to having a full panic attack. She stared at him with wide eyes, "You expect me to..."

"King Shorlin was about your age when he started, and he produced many children. King Aou was a little older and did the same. Your father was the same age and he produced a child later in his years, but he did." Seeing Zelda start to hyperventilate and become ghostly pale, he quickly changed his tune. "B-but it would require a man and you need not do that until you feel ready! It is a responsibility, but you have time! Plenty of it."

"No men," Zelda said. Her hands shook and she clenched them together.

"No men." He agreed.

"No men."

"Right. No men."

"No men." Zelda continued her mantra.

He nodded.

Not sure what else to say or do, Zelda left.

She was trapped. She was trapped in a world that revolved around politics, greed, war, and now sex. She had chosen this for her home, but had she reached a better place than in Zhao? Was this not the world that had trapped her mother and transformed the woman into a lowly prostitute?

"No!" Zelda exclaimed suddenly. She ignored the startled looks of others around her. "I am not her! I will not fail. I-it's just some girls. I am still the one in control."

Zelda returned to her room and slept. It was only midday, but she had enough.

-That Night-

As always, the harem minister returned to the royal harem to choose. The best girls were presented before him, and he saw such beauty that made his mouth water and his trousers tight. He saw sensuality that awakened the senses.

But he also remembered what Zelda said and how she reacted. Before he had brought girls that were of a different variety to ascertain her tastes. Young and mature, virgins and experienced, all were beautiful and sensual and incredibly pleasing, but he was also a man and saw things differently if her screaming and anger were any indications.

Though it left him confused about why she found that first girl acceptable and not any others.

"Do you have anyone else?" He asked.

-Later-

Zelda often woke for periods at night. When she had these nights she would pull out a scroll from the king's library and read by candlelight.

There was a gentle knock on the door. Raising an eyebrow, Zelda said, "Come in."

The guards opened the door and Zelda felt her hackles rise at the sight of a girl behind the door. The girl was ushered in, and the door was shut.

'Breathe.' Zelda told herself. This wasn't anything more than a kind of entertainment servant. Zelda wouldn't mind a poem or instrumental music, and if she was extremely outgoing she could see how a massage would be nice, but it didn't need to get further than that.

She did not move, only watched. She couldn't. The girl ushered in did not move either. It was for the longest moment, merely a staring contest. The moment lasted ages. The concubine, whore, prostitute, service girl, whatever she was, stared at Zelda with almost as much fear as Zelda felt inside.

Slowly Zelda felt her nerves ease. The girl was wearing modest clothing and wasn't beautiful. The girl was imperfect in every way. She had freckles and her face wasn't structured like a goddess. Her clothing was clean but was tarnished with dirt from ages past. She looked normal. Not a girl straight off the street like a cheap whore, but a girl taken into the harem from a normal family somewhere in the middle caste of society.

Zelda returned her eyes to what she was reading, but her attention was really on the girl. Would she dance? Strip? Sing? She didn't bring an instrument, so she wouldn't be playing anything.

Amazingly the girl did none of that. She trembled, she cleared her throat, she shook in a bundle of nerves, and she slowly climbed onto the bed... and laid next to Zelda. All the while checking how Zelda would react.

After a while, the girl finally worked up the nerve to ask, "Is there anything you desire from me, Princess?"

"What is your name?" Zelda asked.

"S-S-S-Sarah, princess."

"Well, Sarah, on nights like this I want to read and sleep. So what I desire most is silence."

Wasn't hard. Before Zelda knew it, the girl was asleep. Zelda raised an eyebrow. This was far beneath everything provided thus far, and yet for some reason, it did more than anything any other girl had done for her. Although the girl's nervousness was annoying, the girl didn't trigger her or bring back flashes of memory. Zelda could settle for annoying. She blew out the candle and laid down herself. She saw her Fae servant disappear into the bed for the night as well.

When morning arose, Zelda did not rise. An unusual occurrence for her, so the guards briefly checked in to find, to their amazement, she was in a deep sleep. The girl attendant was a nervous bundle of nerves afraid to move lest she disturb the princess, but the princess herself was completely dead to the world.