All rights go to Nintendo, and all rights on the plot go to me.

This is inspired by Zelink Week's 3rd day prompt: Scars. Once I started writing, I couldn't stop, so this will be a multi-chapter story. All rights go to Nintendo; however, the plot is mine. Hope you enjoy, and if you feel so inclined, please drop a review down below! And just FYI, I'd appreciate it if there were no flames... Thanks! :)

"Link! Get over here!" my dad, king of the Gerudo, commanded gruffly. His arms were crossed, and he stood near his large throne in a commanding stance.

I hurried to the front and stood next to my father. "Yes, Father?" I asked. I was confused as my father motioned ahead of us. A girl that seemed to be around my age struggled as she was brought into the room. She was thrown to the ground and stubbornly refused to look at either me or my father.

"I think it's about time that you've gotten a lesson in deciding a criminal's fate," my father stated, motioning at the girl on the ground. His gaze hardened at the girl.

"But, Father – She's a girl!" I exclaimed. "She can't be even older than me!" My heart was moved, oddly enough, and I felt a wave of compassion wash over me.

"A dangerous one," my father added. "She's the Princess of Hyrule and is trained in the art of warfare. She could be a very great threat to our people if left alive. She must die."

The girl kept her gaze on the ground, but I could have sworn that she had muttered something.

"Did you say something, prisoner?" my father asked, his voice bordering what I liked to call "the point of no return". Once my father reached this point, there was no stopping him – He would go off on you if you didn't apologize ASAP. And even then, he would still go off on you…

The girl finally raised her eyes and looked at us levelly. She intrigued me. Her eyes were a bright blue – like mine. I had never before seen someone like me – someone with blue eyes and blonde hair. She lifted a chained hand to tuck a strand of dirty blonde hair behind her ear. Her dress was tattered and torn, but she still looked the part of a princess. "You will never get away with this, Ganondorf," she stated softly, glaring at my father.

Her arms were covered with bruises, and scratches painted her face. Her lips were set in a determined line, and she held her head high. "You will never get away with this treason, Ganondorf," she repeated. Her voice never wavered, and her steady gaze at my father never broke.

"What do you think, son? Worthy of the death penalty for her insolence, isn't she?" my father asked, directing his glare at the Princess.

"You will never get away with this, Ganondorf – You have betrayed Hyrule for the darkness of your own heart," the Princess declared. "You have committed every possible crime, including the fact that you lie to this Hylian. He has grown up thinking that he is your son with simply a Hylian mother – But he is not. You kidnapped him from his parents! How is that honest? How is that right?"

The Princess's words rang throughout my mind, and I thought about what she had actually said – Was she talking about me? And if she was talking about me, was I really not my father's son? Had he really been lying to me all these years? But – no. Why would I listen to this girl I had just met – the prisoner – the accuser of my father – But something deep inside of me cautioned me to listen to her. That somehow she was right… But she couldn't be. She was the prisoner!

"How about it, son? She's accusing me of lying to you for all these years!" my father exclaimed. "You are in charge of her fate, Link. Decide."

My breath hitched in my throat – To be the decider of someone's fate – a girl's fate – the Princess's, no less! That was unthinkable. I couldn't let her die, even if it meant risking, my father, the Gerudo king's wrath.

"Father," I began. I felt both the gazes of my father and the Princess on me. Her blue eyes bore into mine. "Let her live. I will be held personally responsible for her."

"What?!" my father exclaimed. "No, son! You need to sentence her to her death!"

"I – I can't," I stated simply. I extended my hand toward the Princess, however she didn't accept. She stayed on the floor, but her gaze remained on me.

"You – You – cucco," my father growled. His amber eyes were flaming with rage, and I was taken slightly aback. I hadn't expected for him to be this mad. "Do you expect me to let her get away with her audacious words toward me?!"

"Father," I began, my voice calm. "Please – I will keep her under my care until she is returned to Hyrule Castle." My father glowered in my direction, but I instead directed my attention to the girl. "Please, come with me," I requested.

She wordlessly stood with her head held high, obeying my command. I motioned to her, and she followed me, away from my frightening father. We walked down the halls of Gerudo Fortress. These halls were like connected balconies, and you could see the Desert.

I led her to an empty guest room that was just down the hall from my own room. I figured I would be able to make sure that she was well-cared for until she returned to the Castle. "This will be your room," I stated.

The girl simply sat on the bed, eyeing the chains that held her bound. I took this opportunity to fully examine her. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled into a messy braid, and her blue eyes flickered with anger, though I could tell there was a bit of sadness present. She looked as though she had been through a lot, and I guess she had if she had been in the dungeon.

"You want those off, don't you?" I questioned.

She nodded slowly and held her hands out to me trustingly. It was incredible as to how quickly I was able to earn her trust. She kept her eyes downcast. "Yes," she said. Her voice was soft and sweet. She didn't deserve this – She didn't deserve my father's wrath – She didn't deserve to be here – She didn't deserve any of this.

"I'm sorry," I stated as I used a key to open and remove her chains. I took her hands in my own, examining them. The chains had cut into her skin and drawn blood. I winced. It must have been painful. I then saw her arms. I took one look and could tell what they had done to her – They had whipped her.

There were many open wounds that covered her arms from the whiplashes, and I felt my heart wrench in two. She didn't deserve this. She didn't. Why was this happening? I then vowed to myself that I would make things up to her by taking her back home.

"Here, let me wash them," I offered, doing my best to keep my voice calm. Truth be told, I hated seeing anyone hurt, and the Princess of Hyrule was no exception. I wet piece of cloth with warm water and gently pressed it to her wounds. I then used several pieces of gauze to bandage her up, though I knew that there was close to no chance that those wounds wouldn't scar.

"Thank you," she stated. Her eyes remained dull, void of any emotion. She crossed her arms protectively and refused to look at me.

"Hey, I sure hope that you feel better. My dad can be kinda insensitive sometimes; he also enjoys executing anyone he believes to be a threat to the Gerudo," I answered.

She nodded wordlessly, before uncrossing her arms and beginning to fiddle with her hands. She seemed uncomfortable, and I wanted her to know that my father and I were two totally separate people. She remained silent for some time, and I had begun to think that I should just leave her alone. "I've dealt with him before," she replied, her voice so soft that I could barely hear her.

"What do you mean?" I questioned. She had dealt with my father before? What was she talking about? Then, her words to my father drifted back to my mind. "And what did you mean when you said that my father had been lying to me for all these years? My mother was a Hylian, yet she died before I was old enough to comprehend anything."

"No," the Princess responded. Her voice was so low that I had to strain in order to hear her. "My father once knew a man by the name of Reneer Adema. His wife, Kirstin, was expecting a child around the time my mother was also pregnant. Kirstin gave birth to a young baby boy – Link. Shortly after, my mother passed away during child birth, yet I was somehow saved. Kirstin and Reneer's son disappeared somewhere, and no one heard anything about him ever again.

"Reneer searched and searched for his missing son with a band of warriors from Hyrule Castle but could never find him. Years later, imagine my surprise when I get kidnapped by a group of Gerudo warriors, and I find out that the Gerudo prince's name is Link. Then I discover that he has blonde hair and blue eyes, which is highly unusual for a Gerudo – In fact, it's impossible. Then, the moment I laid eyes on you, I saw your father – Reneer Adema's blue eyes and your mother – Kirstin Adema's blonde hair. I then knew that you were my godparents' long lost son, living here in the Desert.

"Ganondorf has been lying to you for all these years," the Princess finished. That was the most she had said since she had gone off on my dad.

My eyes had clouded over with tears – I couldn't believe her – This was too far-fetched for me to believe. I wasn't my father's son? My father was a lying cheat that hadn't felt bad about hurting the Princess? My real parents were out there somewhere, waiting for me? This was too much…

"He's been lying to me?" I questioned, still trying to process what she had said. No – Not my dad.

"He has – I am not lying to you. I would never lie to you, Link," the Princess stated, calling me by name for the first time.

I knew that she wasn't lying to me; I could feel deep down that she was right. I now knew why I never fit in with the Gerudo – I wasn't a Gerudo. I was a full-blood Hylian. I was pleased with this news, but I did feel some anger and resentment toward my "father." I was also confused and saddened. I let my head drop into my hands.

This was truth – And it crushed me. I knew that this encounter with the Princess of Hyrule had left her with physical scars and me with emotional scars. What were we going to do?

Total Word Count (Not including A/N):

1,816