I know that some of you feel that by fleeing Hyrule, I have broken the oaths my father made," she began, raising her voice and maintaining her strong composure. "I know there are many among you who believe I abandoned Hyrule to its fate. That I abandoned you, her people. As I stand here before you now, I ask you to stay your judgment," she paused, surveying the attentive crowd. "Rest assured that since the day I was exiled when Castletown fell, the people of Hyrule have not left my thoughts. Long has it been my desire to return and seek the same justice that we all desire. We have all suffered in this conflict. There isn't a family in Hyrule who hasn't lost someone in this war. Many of you still grieve for what has been done. We have all suffered, we have all known loss, and I share this sorrow with you." It was an effort to keep her voice from cracking on those words, and more of an effort not to yield to the burning sensation behind her eyes. Link watched her with a look of concern, and she pressed on. "I know that you're angry, and you have every right to be. Though we stand amidst the ruins of a broken kingdom, we stand as a people united. We stand as an alliance of unified kingdoms, of unified races, a unity the likes of which has not been witnessed in living memory. Together, we will end Ganondorf's tyranny, and bring to rest the bitter sorrows of our fallen, Together we will reforge Hyrule, just as we have always done, no matter the calamity we have faced. The banner of Hyrule's kings and Queens, the phoenix stands as a testament to this, despite the trials we face, Hyrule will rise again from the ashes. Tomorrow, we will end this war, and the phoenix will fly again!

He pushed past Zelda's attendant, nearly knocking her over. The woman stared at him for a moment, flabbergasted. Toru, who was known to most within the Hylian camp, was not normally so rude.

"Lord General, is something wrong?" Zelda asked, taken aback by his lack of courtesy.

Toru looked at her, water dripping from his cloak and helm. There was no warmth in his eyes.

What Zelda saw, or rather felt, was impossible. Lingering at the corners of her senses, which were numb with fatigue, she detected shadow magic. It was coming right from the Lord General. She stepped back, crashing into the bed behind her and nearly falling onto it.

Assassin. Zelda's shock and anger turned to icy fear. She'd been prepared for this eventuality. Often at night, she'd feared this moment, sometimes to the point she hadn't' been able to sleep. It was the reason she always slept with a knife under her pillow.

It wasn't Toru at all. It was a phantom.

Impossible. Zelda thought. Surely he would have been seen.

"Guards, to me!" she screamed.

"You are the only good thing I have given this kingdom, Zelda," Nohansen said, his voice quiet and almost pained. "Please. I know I was not much of a father, and I was a terrible king, but can you forgive an old man his sins?"

"You weren't a terrible king," Zelda whispered. She felt as though something was slowly crushing her windpipe. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Struggling against her bonds, she raised her head. Zelda met her father's sorrowful gaze, struggling to hold back her own tears. "I'm sorry, papa. I'm sorry I was so unkind."