Page 38 of These Violent Delights

Goodnight Sweetheart

The battle would betomorrow.The Beast Queen was camped out at the edge of the valley.She studied the scene with her Uncle Tank, her stomach tight with nerves.They had so little time.

“I'm going to marry him,” she told him.He should know before...well, before he fought tomorrow.She wouldn’t have time to tell him later.

“Good.He’s a good Goblin.You could do worse.”

Her uncle’s approval meant everything, but...“I feel like I'm giving up.He will run the castle.”

“You were never going to be able to do it all.Why is that a problem?”Her uncle was relentlessly practical.A little thing like division of labor didn’t bother him.

He was right.These concerns were piddly stuff.She and Ozzy would work them out.That’s why she chose him in the first place.

They stood there in silence for a while, just taking in the sight before them, watching the enemy fires.She took his hand like she did when she was a little girl.She didn’t say anything.He’d been there her whole life.He knew it all.

Finally, he squeezed her hand.“Good night, sweetheart.It's been good.I enjoyed raising you.Your mother would be so proud.I know I am.”

His words brought tears to Zelda's eyes, and she couldn't speak.She simply nodded and hugged him tightly before he went to bed.

He cupped her cheek affectionately and walked away with a skip in his step.

Zelda remained on the wall, looking out into the darkness, eyes streaming.She had the best uncle.She was so proud of him.

Battle

The next morning, theair was thick with tension as the Beast Queen's army formed ranks just out of the castle's range.Zelda stood on the wall, watching as her army formed outside the castle.

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