Thank you to pikatwins234, God, Machina per Dei, a guest, Hylia, Takanuva, and MegSkoomaPirate for their reviews
Takanuva: An Inheritence Cycle/Zelda crossover has crossed my mind multiple times, but alas I have not yet been able to think of a way to fit Link or his friends into Alagaesia or Eragon and his into Hyrule (plus I'd have to reread the book and those are long, but good), but if you want a new story with Link and dragons, I am working on a Zelda/Dragon Age: Origins/Awakening story
Machina per Dei: I'm happy you noticed my little foreshadowing… I mean reference!
God: Only one person other than Link and Zelda knew about Zelda sneaking out of the castle to meet with Link in the market and it wasn't Quan, and, though it would be an interesting way for the story to go, Zelda's secrets are not going to be the main focus in this story overall, Link and is family take the limelight in that department, not to say Zelda doesn't play a key role in uncovering them, however
I have been getting a lot of reviews asking me to update soon that I would like to address: you don't have to worry about this ending or stopping suddenly on a cliff hanger for months or years because Part I in its entirety is completed and edited and all four parts are planned and entering their first or final drafts, there may be a couple months between each part, but the story will always be updated on time unless the site is acting up (once a week when a part is active and anywhere from 1-6 months between parts, but six would be an extreme example. I'm posting the story staggered like this because then it's at the top of the page more often and active longer instead of one quick burst and then nothing because this way more people will have a chance of finding it)
Part I
A Hero's Second Chance
Years 504-505 FH
Chapter IX
Kidnapped
Link didn't know at what point in the day his sobbing had lulled him to sleep, but he did know that it was the chilling breeze on his face that woke him in the dead night. The window looking over the west gardens was wide open. It was usually latched shut and Link hadn't unlatched it. In fact, he'd never seen the window open before. The curtains, yes. But the window? Never.
He propped himself on his elbows to get a better look, but instead of his empty room, it was a long, gaunt face that met his gaze first. He would have grabbed his sword from under his pillow, but it had been a long time since he'd had a sword. He was defenseless against this intruder in his room. Instead of fighting, Link opened his mouth to scream in alarm, but a knife pommel collided with the side of his head before so much as a peep escaped him.
Link's world turned fuzzy, but not quite black. He couldn't think, he couldn't move, all he could prominently register was the sharp, blinding headache and warm blood trickling down the side of his head. He could vaguely feel a clammy but steady hand tying his hands behind his back and gagging him with a bitter cloth. His kidnapper slung him over one shoulder and left with Link out the window just as Link truly lost consciousness.
(1)
When Link woke next, everything hurt except his arms. His head throbbed where the knife pommel had collided with his skull, his chest hurt when he tried to breath, his legs were sore as if they'd been holding all his weight for a while. His arms were numb and tingly, pins and needles shivering up them. Link didn't know how long it had been since the man had knocked him out and spirited away out the window with Link over his shoulder, but if he had to guess, he'd say about ten hours.
Link shifted his weight, his wrists meeting resistance, which confirmed that he was strung up by his arms. His feet, however, reached the ground. It felt like his back was leaned against a poll. Link blinked his eyes open. Everything was blurry at first, like he was underwater. He blinked a few more times, scrunching his eyes shut and then opening them again.
When everything came back into focus, he nearly screamed in fear, but the gag was still in place, muffling his noises of distress.
Strung up in a similar fashion across from him, was the remains of what Link guessed used to be a woman. All that was left to indicate that the bloody skeleton had been a woman and not a man was the long hair tied with ribbons and the tattered dress hanging off of the shoulder bones. Some flesh still clung to the skeleton, but it was clear that she had been picked clean for her meat. Link felt himself throw up, but he had to swallow it so he wouldn't choke because it was blocked from getting all the way out by the gag.
Link heard humming somewhere else in the mine, for it was a mine he was being held captive in, though he hadn't noticed earlier because of the body. The humming was light and singsong and it sent chills up Link's spine. He looked to where the humming was coming from and saw the same, gaunt faced man who had kidnapped him, sharpening a knife on a whetting stone. Link hadn't expected someone else since a fellow prisoner would never hum so casually while there was a murdered woman in there with them.
Link was distracted by the man from a strange feeling on his leg. He looked down and saw a huge dragon lizard, direct descendants of the ancient dodongo, but thankfully, this breed couldn't breath fire. The lizard was flicking its tongue at him curiously, blood still caked on its lips. Link had a horrid feeling the blood belonged to the body across from him.
"Is the naughty little boy is awake, Dodo?" The man said in a voice as equally singsong as his humming.
The lizard let out a guttural growl and hissed, losing interest in Link and waddling over to his master.
"What a naughty little boy!" The man sprung to his feet, flipping the knife in his hands like it was a pen and he was taking a written test. "Do you know, Dodo, what we do with naughty little boys?"
The lizard hissed once more.
"That's right, Dodo! We make them scream!" He approached Link with a wild grin on his face. Link's eyes widened with fear and he started to struggle against the ropes binding his hands to the post behind him, but he couldn't get free.
"Look, little boy!" The man pointed to the woman. "She was mean to her husband. Bad, bad lady. So I fed her to Dodo, my little dodongo friend. Now she's not bad anymore." The man walked right up to Link so that there was no space between them at all, they might as well have been embracing. The man cradled Link's face with his knife and his hand. "Are you a bad little boy?" With one quick motion, the man sliced the gag from Link's mouth, leaving a cut on his left cheek deep enough that Link knew it would leave a scar.
"Are you going to kill me and then feed me to your lizard, or feed me to your lizard and let me die from blood loss?" Link hissed, ignoring the pain in his cheek. "There's no point in threatening my uncle with my death for money, you know, so you might as well just kill me now and get it over with."
"I'm not going to kill you yet and your uncle will be paying me," the man chuckled. "What a naughty boy."
"Why would he pay you? He hates me? He disowned me just yesterday."
"Yes, that's me!" The man laughed, patting Link harshly on his right cheek. It wasn't quite a pat, but Link'd been hit enough times in the last month not to call it a slap. "That's my work, you see. I get paid to dispose of people."
"Uncle Quan paid you to kill me?" Link tried to keep his voice calm and level, more to keep himself calm and level than to intimidate his captor.
"Half now and half when they fish what's left of you out of the city moat a week from now. Though I am to write a ransom note so it doesn't look like a job. Quite a clever way to punish naughty children, and Dodo and I get a week of you to ourselves. They'll never suspect us, I get paid, and Dodo gets entertainment."
"You'd torture and murder a child for money and amusement?"
"Dodo loves children. So soft and tender, like little treats, you are."
"You're disgusting," Link glared at him.
"And I'll bet Dodo here'd think you're delicious! But since you're so young and tender, I won't cut you apart until after I've killed you. Poor Dodo, he loves eating the live ones."
If he was going to die a horrible and painful death, he'd rather die wearing his Hero of Time face than his little orphan Link face. The Hero of Time mask would protect the little orphan underneath and make the whole thing a bit more bearable. That was all Link asked at this point, for he couldn't see a way out without assistance. He was just too small and he didn't have anyone to go for help, like Navi or Tatl. This was the end, but he wasn't going down without a fight.
"Screw you!" Link spat at him. "And screw your lizard too!"
(2)(2)
Zelda woke Hyday morning almost like she did every morning, but with one minor difference. She felt like something was off, but she couldn't quite decide what it was, so she took her morning deep breath and smelled the perfume in her room that made it smell like a wild flower garden with scents from all over Hyrule, a gift from her father. She lay there, smiling contently in her wild flower sheets and waited for Impa to wake her for breakfast.
She decided to wear one of her blue dresses today, after a few moments of thought. Or maybe the brown and green one, since it was the least fancy and she was going to see Link again today. Skipping Cenday and with the meetings down to only an hour was making her feel trapped in the huge castle. Yes, her father always made sure she had things to do and people to talk to if he himself wasn't available, but that did little to quench her thirst for excitement and adventure.
And now Link, her biggest source of excitement, was starting to get hurt because of her. She didn't know what to do about it. She wanted to go to her father and have him lock Quan away in the dungeons for hitting Link like he did, but she knew that was impossible. Quan was free to raise Link how he saw fit, and as long as he wasn't threatening Link's life, even though he did hurt him and sometimes starve him, he was still within his rights.
"Oh, this just makes me so mad!" Zelda pushed her covers off and jumped out of her bed, heading for the balcony. "Maybe Father can adopt Link!" Zelda brainstormed out loud. "No, no, then Link'd know I lied to him and he'd never forgive me, I'm sure. He's always been so honest with me and tells me everything. He's even confided how Quan treats him and that's very private. How can I tell him I'm the princess without him getting mad‽"
Zelda stamped her foot on the ground and pushed through the door to her balcony, taking in the cold fresh air just as contently as she had the scent of flowers back in her room. The cold air was chilling, however, with it already mid winter, but she could last a bit longer outside in her sleeping gown.
"Link could have the room next to mine and I can climb over the balconies to wake him up in the morning. Maybe I could even get frogs from the garden and put them in his bed!" Zelda smiled and the thought of Link shouting in shock, finding something slimy under his covers. "His face'd be priceless."
She listened to the exotic song birds kept in pens around the private courtyard for her and her father to listen to and look at. The more tropical ones were brought inside the green house this time of year, but the ones more suitable to cold climates were singing the morning's praise just as enthusiastically as always.
"Princess Zelda!" Impa's voice drifted out from the room. "Highness." Impa opened the balcony doors and Zelda turned around to smile at her. "Come inside, highness. You could catch cold from the chill."
"Oh, I've only been out for a few minutes, Impa," Zelda skipped back inside past Impa. "You don't have to worry about me so much. I can take care of myself you know. I am thirteen!"
"Yes, highness," Impa smiled. "Let's get you ready for breakfast. Your father wishes to speak with you."
"He always wishes to speak with me," Zelda complained. "Not that I mind, it's just that it's always the same thing! 'I love you, stay safe'. And now it's all about that Hylexia boy, Impa. I think he expects me to fall in love with him! That'd be silly!" Zelda almost said something about Link being like her brother, but she stopped herself. Impa didn't know she already knew Link and if she found out there was no way she'd let her keep sneaking out to see him. Impa could be even more strict than her father.
"The King loves you more than he loves his country, Princess," Impa said as she brushed Zelda's hair to an acceptable level of management. "The only reason why he does not abandon the kingdom for you is because he is an honorable man."
"I know, Impa," Zelda sighed. "It's just that I want to become a knight and I'm old enough to start training, but Father won't let me! He says I have to be an heir to the throne above all else and not risk my safety like that, as if he didn't start training as a knight when he was thirteen. He's just a worry wart."
"He is afraid of losing you, highness," Impa explained. "You are the only one in line for the throne and with your mother gone, rest her soul, there is no chance of another heir unless he remarries and he would never do that."
"Everything's about responsibility. No one's asked me if this is what I want."
"With these things, it is not something that should be asked."
Zelda waltzed into the small dining room in her green and brown dress, an elegant smile on her face and a spring in her step. She was going to sneak out of the castle today and be with Link and that always made her a little bit happier. When she arrived, her father was already there, but he hadn't sat down yet. Instead, he was looking out the window, admiring the one of the castle's many gardens.
"Ah, Zelda, sweetheart!" Daphnes turned to see her and his face lit up with joy. "You're certainly happy today? Something I should know about?"
"No, Father," Zelda smiled. It wasn't a lie if he didn't need to know about Link. "It's just a lovely day, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," Daphnes chuckled, walking up to her. "And the sun's come out."
"Daddy, it's still cloudy!" Zelda giggled.
"The sun's always out when I'm with you, little one," Daphnes picked her up in his arms and snuggled her close to his face. They both embraced and Zelda couldn't have been happier. "What a ray of sunshine my little daughter is!"
"Daddy!" Zelda hugged his neck. "I love you!"
"I love you, too," Daphnes kissed her cheek, tickling her face with his well trimmed beard.
Daphnes placed her down right into her chair and then sat down himself. They ate breakfast together, like always, and talked about things. More, Zelda talked and Daphnes listened with his blissful smile that was always on his face. It was always there was Zelda saw him, but she suspected he could be mean if he wanted. He just never wanted to be mean around her.
That made Zelda pause for a moment and think about Link down in the Upper District. He was probably eating a much different breakfast with his uncle. He wasn't even allowed to speak at the table and here she was, blabbing her father to an early grave for sure. It made her sad that Link's uncle couldn't see how Link's smile could brighten a room so much more than Zelda's ever could. Not even Link could see that, but that didn't excuse Quan.
"You know, little one," Daphnes started in the momentary pause of Zelda's rant about one of the knight's daughters who took some lessons with her. "I've wanted to go see the Hylexia boy for some time now, but since you two are so close in age I've been waiting for you to want to go. I'm sure you two'd get along, you know. His father and I were very, very close."
"Yes, Father, you've said," Zelda nodded knowingly.
"Now, now," Daphnes sighed. "You're being formal with me again. I've said something wrong, haven't I?"
"No! No, not at all, Father," Zelda sidestepped. She hadn't noticed she called him father to his face whenever he got to close to her secret friendship outside the confining safety of the castle walls. "Why would you think that?"
"See, Zelda, you've done it again," Daphnes ruffled her hair. He flinched when Impa glared at him from where she stood guard. He knew perfectly well how Impa treated his little daughter's sun gold hair. "You don't think I'm trying to force this boy on you, do you? Because I assure you, pumpkin, that is not the case."
"I know, you simply believe we'll get along," Zelda nodded. "But really, I don't think I'm up for it today. Maybe some other time?"
"You know, at this rate, I might just have to go without you," Daphnes chuckled. "Chris was much too good of a friend for me to put off meeting his long lost son for much more. You know, I should have been that boy's patron father. You two should have known each other since birth and he should call me Uncle Daph."
"You miss his parents?" Zelda asked. She could feel the sadness and grief coming off her father in waves. The only time his grief was more intense was when he was talking to her about her mother.
"Chris, Nan, your mother, and I were an unstoppable team. Or, at least, it felt that way. Losing Chris and Nan in the same day, after such a heavy, hard won battle… Zelda, looking back I just don't know how I managed after Chris was gone. He was my right hand and my left hand for seven years and we'd seen more danger together than I think any other did in the entire war. That man was my brother in more ways than in arms. All I ask is that you come with me and meet his son just this once. I feel a friendly face like yours might make him less intimidated by me."
"He won't be intimidated by you, Daddy," Zelda smiled. "You're a big puppy."
"A big puppy, I may be," Daphnes laughed. "But I am still the King and he was on the streets in rags just a month or two ago. I have no doubt he'd be intimidated by the power I hold. He's not had time to adjust being nobility. I'm sure he still has the awe of the average citizen in that matter. A King is not something a commoner expects to knock at their door."
"You'd announce yourself before hand, right?" Zelda asked. It was polite.
"Now, I'm afraid this visit might have to be a surprise. His uncle's not my biggest fan and he never has been. I think he might have been jealous of the attention Chris gave me when it was him who was the real brother. He's been avoiding me for years and I doubt he'd stop now. If I request an invitation, he'd pack bags and move back to Ordon and take the boy with him. I can't just up an follow if he does. That'd be even more improper than an unannounced visit."
"I suppose if Lord Quan does dislike you that much," Zelda nodded. That sounded just like the Quan Link had described. "His name's Link, right? Like the old heroes of legend. That sounds exciting."
"I knew you'd like him," Daphnes smiled. "How about after lunch today? Quan won't be able to flee with the boy then."
"You know, I have a funny feeling that time won't work," Zelda said, quickly returning to her food before her face gave anything away. "Perhaps a few hours after that? I'm sure that'd be a good time for him."
"One of your intuitions, is it?" Daphnes laughed.
"I'm not silly, father," Zelda all but snarled.
"Whoa, now, don't bit my head off," Daphnes held his hands up in defeat. "You're not still mad about Ganondorf, are you? That was over three years ago. The man's gone now and I'm still here."
"If it wasn't for the Hero Keaton, you wouldn't be," Zelda reminded him curtly. "And I might not either. Or any of us. He was going to destroy the kingdom, right under your nose, if it wasn't for the Hero Keaton. But we wouldn't have needed a hero at all if you'd listened to my warning in the first place."
"I know, Zelda," Daphnes sighed deeply. "I know. I just didn't want to believe you'd inherited your mother's special gifts. They burdened her and I don't want that for you. I was just trying to protect you, in my way."
"I don't need your protection!" Zelda almost shouted. "I can handle myself on my own, thank you very much."
"I know," Daphnes looked hurt. "I'm just a foolish old man stuck in foolish old ways. You're my little baby, Zelda. Give me at least that, will you?"
"I'll have to think about it," Zelda said formally. "Overprotectiveness is not a good quality, you know. And it's annoying."
"Ouch," Daphnes smiled sheepishly. "Well," he finished his meal and stood to leave. "Though posses some ill qualities I do, I am still King and that comes with a rigorous schedule. I'll see you this afternoon, alright? We'll meet the boy then."
"I can't wait," Zelda smiled at her father. "Maybe Link and I might get what you and Christofen had."
"An old man can hope," Daphnes kissed her on the top of her head and ruffled her hair again, Impa be damned. "Love you, baby."
"I love you too, Daddy!"
(3)(3)(3)
Zelda snuck out of the castle after lunch like she always did when going to see Link, and she did an expert job. Her usual route was from her garden and then scaling the kitchen wall so she could climb over the roof, where she landed on the other side of the castle walls. She wasn't free yet, however, she still needed to get past the guards on the road leading up to the castle. To get past the guards unnoticed, she climbed up the side of a cliff, part of the mountains that acted as a natural wall to both Castle Town and Hyrule Castle. She always ran this part, since it was especially long.
When she reached the gate, she slipped into Castle Town by taking a side path for a few blocks before reaching the Market Square. Link wasn't there yet, but she was expecting that. He was never on time anymore, and sometimes he had bruises on his face that he tried to hide with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. He used to be so happy before he found his family. He had been happier at first, but then his aunt left and his uncle all but turned on him.
Zelda felt like it was her fault Link was so miserable now. If she had listened to her father, if she hadn't wanted to seek adventure and run into Link begging in the Market Square and befriended him, he wouldn't feel the need to visit her all the time and anger his uncle. Or if she hadn't lied about who she was, he would know that meeting in the Market Square wasn't even remotely necessary anymore.
"I can't keep lying," Zelda sighed, sitting on a step that lead up to the window looking in to the throne room. "It was fun while it lasted, but it's actually, physically hurting him."
Zelda sat on the fountain and looked into the slushy water while she waited. He had promised to come and he'd never broken a promise, even if it'd get him in trouble, so she knew he'd be there eventually, even if it was only to apologize for not arriving on time and they only had a minute before they'd have to go back home. Even just that one minute was enough to make Zelda happy and give her that rush of doing something in secret. Something her father didn't know, or anyone else, not even Impa.
Zelda sat there the entire hour, waiting for Link so she could tell him her secret and that she and her father were going to be visiting him in a few hours so he'd better act surprised because she didn't want her father suspecting her of sneaking around.
As it got later and later into their scheduled meeting, Zelda started looking and the shopping crowds with increased fervor, the foreboding feeling that something was wrong hit her again, as well as a small pain in the back of her mind that she couldn't explain.
"Where is he‽" Zelda whined nervously, her eyes darting around the Square. "He'd come, even if Quan locked him in his room. I know he would. He'd climb out the window or pick the lock. He wouldn't miss this!"
Zelda waited for twenty minutes after the hour was up, and she wanted to wait longer, but her gut feeling fought with her heart, screaming that Link wasn't going to show. He hadn't made it. He'd missed before, but never when he promised.
"I'm not paranoid," Zelda reassured herself. "I'm just a good friend who cares about Link's safety and I know he's in danger every day, but nothing too bad could happen. Maybe he was talking to Quan and he couldn't get away. I'll ask him when Father and I go to visit."
Zelda made her way back to the castle, walking fast, like she was pacing, but she was actually going somewhere. Worry thoughts spun around her mind, the tiny pain in the back of her head, not really a headache, persisted. It didn't feel like it was her pain, but like she was sensing someone else in pain. Someone not nearby. But she'd never been able to feel pain from a distance before, and she couldn't tell who's pain it was or why she was feeling it. Maybe she'd ask Impa about her special abilities or read about it in a book while she waited to see Link in his home.
(4)(4)(4)(4)
Zelda made a B-line for the library, knowing that she wouldn't find Impa by looking for her, that would be impossible. She was a Sheikah, after all, and her stealth skills were the best of the best. That was why she was assigned to Zelda. She was also the only public operative of the Sheikah and claimed to be the last one, that the others died in the Civil War, so that they could operate more covertly.
Zelda thought that sounded even more exciting than being a Knight, but she didn't think she could ever get to be a Sheikah, since that was a race and not a profession and appropriating a culture and race and pretending it to be your own was unbelievably rude unless in the most dire of circumstances.
So, since Impa was nowhere to be seen, as it should be, Zelda decided the library was the place to go. Zelda visited the library enough times to not need to talk to the castle bookkeeper to find what she was looking for. She knew all there was to know about how the books were arranged, and she had leafed through the books about the prophesiers and their prophecies, but never really paid attention before.
She grabbed the first book she saw about her interested subject and sat down on a lounge to search for her ailments. A feeling of foreboding, empathy over a distance, and, quite possibly, a missing friend. She hadn't had any dreams, not like with Ganondorf and the Kokiri boy, three years ago, so it was more of an intuition than an actual warning.
"Oh, how I wish Mother were here to help me with all this," Zelda groaned, the numb grief she was usually able to suppress surfaced for a few moments, and then sunk back into the depths of her mind.
The book she had grabbed was thick and in Ancient Hylian, an alphabet she was as proficient in reading as she was Modern Hylian, but that didn't mean she always understood the meaning of the words or the structure of the grammar. But all the good books on empathy and telepathy and all the things related to Zelda's gifts were in Ancient Hylian, so she didn't see the point in putting the book away to getting another, less challenging read.
To help, she read the book aloud to herself. "Table of Contents." Zelda ran her finger does the list searching each chapter title. "Aha! There it is! Long distance empathy, chapter IX, page one hundred and twenty five." She flipped to the page and was startled to find a picture of an ancient princess and a hero on the chapter card. The princess's name was most likely Zelda, because of how common that name was in the royal line, but there was a chance she'd had a different name, though historians usually just assumed they were all named Zelda. The hero was depicted next to her, but with a different background, implying that they were close, yet far away from each other.
"Okay, first paragraph," Zelda took her attention off the illustration and turned it to the worded page. "As we have covered in previous chapters, empathy is most common in the women of the Royal Family of Hyrule. Yes, that's what mother told me. She and father were cousins, so she's just as much royal blood as Father. Okay, continuing. Many of the Maidens were at least empathic, and as I have said, this could be because of the connection between empathy, the Royal Family, and the Maidens often being a part of that family.
Uh," Zelda groaned again. "This is just a reiteration of previous chapters. Okay, next paragraph, this one's getting boring. Empathy over a distance is only possible if the empath shares a close bond with the subject, like a family member, lover, or close friend. So… I could be feeling Link in pain!" Zelda gasped. "He is a close friend and the only person who's far away right now. What if Quan's beating him‽ I've got to fine out what this foreboding feeling means! And then Father and I will get Link away from Quan, once and for all. Father should pass a law that forbids guardians from hitting their children and if he doesn't, I will!"
Zelda grabbed as many books as she could this time to investigate the foreboding feeling. It was much more vague, so she'd need more information. She poured over the books for as long as she could stand, flipping to ever chapter or section on intuition and gut feelings and vague prophecies. She searched and searched, but there was nothing in her books that felt quite right. She was just about to read the books again and try to read in between the lines, when she was pulled from her focus.
"Ah, there you are, Zelda," Daphnes's voice came from above her. "Zelda, darling, it's time to go now. I'm sure that is a… fascinating… book, but I think we've waited long enough for this."
"My powers aren't dangerous, Father," Zelda snapped, closing the book and placing it back on the pile. She knew her father didn't like her reading those books, but he wasn't so controlling that he'd remove them from the castle. "They're perfectly safe and actually quite useful if I can understand them. You can't protect me from myself, nor should you need to. I'm stronger than you let yourself believe, and much wiser too."
"I do not think you're weak, Zelda. Or fragile or a fool or whatever it is you think I think. You're just so young and I want…"
"To protect me, I know. And you forget I'm empathic, so I do know you're scared of my abilities, I can feel it. I don't see why, Father. It's not like I set things on fire with my mind or flying around the ballroom. My powers aren't harmful or dangerous."
"Let's hope it stays that way," Daphnes sighed. "Come, let's meet this Link, shall we?" Daphnes smiled and held his arm out of Zelda to escort her out of the library. Instead of taking it, Zelda gave him a hug and wrapped her arms and legs around his torso. "Zelda, pumpkin," Daphnes laughed, holding her up, but still struggling under her weight. "You're getting a bit to big for this, and I am getting a bit too old."
"Oh, poopy," Zelda complained lightheartedly, letting go of her father and smiling up at him. He may be a bit overprotective at times, but he loved her so much. "I'll race you to the gates!" Zelda hopped in place excitedly.
"Now, Zelda, I don't think…"
"ReadysetGO," Zelda shouted, bolting for the door, a loud, shrieking laugh filling the room. The foreboding and the pain was all but pushed to the far back of her mind.
"Zelda, wait!" Daphnes chuckled, taking off after her, once he had registered what she was doing.
Zelda slowed a bit to let her father catch up. And the halls were lined with armor and vases she didn't want to knock over. She glanced behind her to see how close her father was behind her. His legs were longer than hers, but she was much younger and more agile, and she had been getting a lot of practice playing with Link. Plus, he was getting older, though he wasn't quite an old man yet, so she still had a safe lead.
"I'll get there first!" Zelda called back to him.
"I'm sure you will, pumpkin," Daphnes answered. He did practice with a sword and he wore armor, but Zelda was quick as a rabbit and as nimble as a cat. She could tell the he felt like a big Battle Charger racing with a lean Scouts' Breed.
When Zelda reached the gate first, she turned to smile at him, she practiced a bit more of her empathy on her father and felt almost overwhelmed with the warm, fuzzy feeling of love and pride. Whenever she proved herself to her father, that feeling was always the only reward she needed and the only one she ever sought.
"We'll take one of the carriages," He said, leading Zelda over to the castle stables. "It's safer, easier to bring an escort, and much warmer." He was trying to convince her, she could tell. He always did that when suggesting something he knew she wouldn't like.
"Absolutely not, Father!" Zelda protested. "I like the fresh air and it's Castle Town and a time of peace and you can hold your own in a fight, but that won't be necessary because there are guards everywhere in Castle Town and we're not going to be leaving the Upper District, the safest place in Castle Town. A carriage is completely redundant when the place you are going to is within walking distance."
"How did I know you were going to say that?" Daphnes chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Of course, you're right. And there's no harm in a stretch of the legs. And a walk among the people would do us both some good."
(5)(5)(5)(5)(5)
Zelda had never been to the Hylexia Mansion before. She and Link had always parted ways before she could walk all the way to his home with him. It wasn't nearly as grand as the Castle, but then, it was a city home and city homes were rarely as grand as things like castles and manors. And it was probably the second nicest home in all of Castle Town, right after the Castle itself.
"You know, Zelda," Daphnes said as the castle came into view. "The Hylexia Family is as old as our own, if not older. It's certainly older than Hyrule itself."
"Really?" Zelda asked. She had always thought their family was the oldest, which was why they led the country. Everything was about how much legacy someone had.
"Yes, well you see…" Daphnes paused. "No, I should wait until the boy is here as well. Then I can tell you both."
"Oh, alright, we're here anyway. And if it involves both of our families then the next generation should hear it at the same time, especially since… well, he can't hear it from his father."
"Let's be glad we got Link back, yes?" Daphnes patted her shoulder comfortingly. He knew that part of being an empath, and one of the main reasons he worried for her, was it made her more sensitive to things and she felt emotions much, much more intensely and passionately. Negative emotions could destroy her. He had to protect her from those at all costs.
Daphnes knocked on the door and the butler answered.
"Hello again, Boggs," Daphnes greeted cheerfully. "It's been too long since I've paid a visit to this house."
"Yes, indeed, your majesty," Boggs bowed his head in respect, though he had known Daphnes for as long as Daphnes had known Christofen and they had met long, long ago. "I take it you and the young princess are here to see young Master Link, yes?"
"We are, yes," Daphnes nodded. "I need to meet the boy."
"I'm afraid Link is not home, majesty," Boggs answered solemnly.
"Ah," Daphnes faltered. He hadn't expected that. Zelda hadn't either and it worried her. Ermin would have told her if Link had been sent away. "What horrible timing I have! When will he be back? Soon, I hope. I can wait for him."
"I'm afraid he'll be gone for a few more days yet, majesty," Boggs answered.
"Days?" Zelda gasped, trying desperately to hide her growing fear. "Where has he gone?"
"I…" Boggs faltered. He was lying, or hiding something, Zelda didn't need to be an empath to read his expression. But the tell was gone as soon as it had appeared. "I was not told where the young master was headed."
"Well, then we'll just have to ask Quan," Zelda said. "Surely he would know where his nephew has gone."
"He's in his study," Boggs said. "I'll take you to the sitting room to see him."
"That would be best," Daphnes said. He had seen the tell as well.
When they walked into the halls, Zelda sensed that her father was feeling nostalgic, but not at ease. This mansion had been like a second home to him, even before the war. His childhood friend's home. Zelda never had that, because he kept her locked away in the castle and she was jealous for a moment, before she pushed the feeling down. His friend was dead and now Daphnes had become a stranger in this house where he had spent much of his own youth. The scars left by the Civil War hadn't healed yet, only scabbed over.
Neither of them sat down on their chairs. Despite trying to hide her worry, she could tell her father saw right through it. She was all but pacing on the carpet. She needed to see Link. She needed to know he was alright. He should be in this house somewhere, but she still felt like the pain was coming from far away and the butler had said Link had gone but he didn't know where.
"Father, what if he's in danger?" Zelda whispered, not able to hold it in anymore.
"I'm sure it's nothing," Daphnes reassured her. He mostly believed those words, but he had his own doubts.
"Your majesty," Quan entered the room quietly. They almost didn't see him come in. "To what may I owe this surprise?" He sounded so cold. Zelda could barely read him, but he didn't feel very good. He was annoyed, first and foremost, with anger under that. And then a thick layer of ice she couldn't feel through. Maybe there was nothing there and he was devoid of emotion.
"Quan, it's been a long time," Daphnes didn't even bother fake smiling with him. Whatever was between them, it smelled of an old quarrel or rivalry that was never resolved. "I heard about the return of your nephew. Quite the wonderful news."
"Yes," Quan answered. "I'm afraid he's not here right now."
"Oh? And where has he gone off to?"
"That is my business, seeing as he is my nephew, not yours," Quan either hadn't found a need to acknowledge Zelda, or he just didn't want to. He was so unreadable it threw her off. "If you only came here to see him, I'm afraid you'll have to leave disappointed."
"Surely, you can tell me where he's gone. You may be his uncle, but his parents were planning on making me his patron father."
"Sadly, they didn't live long enough to make that official so it has no baring. Or will you order me to divulge private information, you majesty?"
"No," Daphnes sighed. "No, I will not. If he's not here, we'll leave. I'd appreciate it if you'd notify me when he gets back. Come, Zelda. We'll see ourselves out." They left the room before Quan and didn't linger long in the mansion.
When they left the grounds through the big metal gates and started down the road, headed back to the castle, Zelda spun on her father, a look of determination on her face.
"Zelda, I will not make an investigation of this," Daphnes said before she could even open her mouth.
"Something's wrong, Father!" Zelda protested. "Link could be in danger! What if Quan hurt him or locked him up somewhere!"
"Zelda, you can't jump to conclusions like that about someone you don't know."
Zelda groaned loudly. She did know Quan beat Link when he was angry with him, but she couldn't say that because then her father'd know she'd been sneaking out of the castle to play with Link. "I just know, okay."
"Zelda, dear…"
"You could tell too! He was hiding something, I know it!"
"I've known him since he was a little boy. He's always been like that, this isn't something new. He's not very social and has always kept to himself."
"I think Link's in danger, we have to find him!"
"I think you're overreacting, pumpkin."
"I am not!" Zelda shouted. "Quan's not a nice man! He was really angry and he didn't have any reason to be. The butler doesn't even know where Link is!"
"If it's a private matter he doesn't have the right to tell Quan's secrets. There is this thing called privacy, you know."
"You don't have to be sarcastic," Zelda grumbled. She could already tell this was going to go down like Ganondorf had. She'd tell her father something was wrong, he wouldn't believe her, and then something bad would happen. "Why don't you ever believe me?"
"Ganondorf was one thing, but Quan is different. If he has sent Link somewhere private for whatever reason, I cannot stage an investigation or send the guard after him. It isn't a national emergency or catastrophe and it certainly isn't a Great Cataclysm in the making. It would be an abuse of my power."
"But he's a little boy and he could be in danger! He's my age, Dad."
"Zelda, I know you mean well, and I am a little concerned myself…"
"So you admit something's wrong!"
"A personal feeling for Quan does not permit an investigation of the whereabouts of his ward."
"I know, but…"
"No, Zelda," Daphnes scolded.
"But he hits him!"
"You don't know that. You're just assuming based on your first meeting. And, though I agree, it's an awful way to raise a child and it pains me to think of that happening to Christofen's child, there's nothing illegal about hitting your own child or a child you are legally responsible for. I disapprove greatly if he is, but I cannot interfere with his methods."
"Then make it so you can!" Zelda all but shouted. "You can pass laws. Make it illegal to hit any child regardless of relation. It's awful to trust someone to love and protect you only for them to turn out to be the danger. Even if Quan doesn't hit Link it doesn't mean it doesn't happen to other children. It would help a lot of children."
"I know," Daphnes sighed. "Though I would love to make that a law…"
"Why can't you?"
"It's too invasive in people's lives. I can't interfere with people's homes. Yes, I am King and I run the entire country and my duties are expansive, but so are my responsibilities. And one of those responsibilities is to not micromanage my citizens."
"If you won't, then I will. Protecting children is not micromanaging. It's illegal to assault people in general, why should that not extend to domestic settings. People aren't allowed to hit each other at all unless it's self defense. But even then, someone is breaking that law. Just extend that law to encompass a parent or guardian hitting a child or spouse. I don't see why it doesn't already imply that any violence against a fellow person is wrong."
"You will make an excellent queen," Daphnes smiled at her. "And you've just won this argument."
"So you'll look for Link?"
"No, Zelda. I don't have proof or reasonable claim that Quan is committing a crime. And we'd need a confession or to catch him in the act to take measures. And if he's missing or has run away, it's up to Quan to report him so. But I will talk to my advisors about extending illegal assault to encompass domestic violence."
"But what if he doesn't turn up? We don't know how long he's been gone! What if he's been kidnapped or murdered or…"
"Zelda, enough. I will not talk about this any longer!"
"You never listen to me!" Zelda shouted at him. In the time it had taken for them to finish the conversation, or end it abruptly as it were, they had reached the front gates of the castle. Zelda stamped through the gates, headed towards her section of the castle so she wouldn't have to stay with her father any longer.
When she reached her room, she slammed the door behind her and slumped onto her bed, scowling angrily at the curtains hanging from the canopy, as if her glare alone could set it ablaze. She tried not to think of Link, alone and afraid, headed up the mountain passes in the dead of winter on his way to some boy's school in Snowpeak.
The longer she thought of what awful things Quan could have done, the worse the images became. She started imagining him half dead at the hands of bandits who were holding him hostage for a sum of rupees that Quan didn't think he was worth. What if they killed him?
"No, no, no, no, no," Zelda smacked her head to fight the mental picture of Link being held captive or even murdered.
"Zelda, highness," Impa appeared out of nowhere. She approached Zelda's bed to offer her comfort. "What is wrong?"
"I'm afraid for my fri… someone's safety. I can sense he's in danger but Father won't believe me and send someone to look for him."
"I can find him," Impa offered without a second thought. She always believed Zelda, not matter what. It made Zelda feel bad about keeping Link from her. "What is his name and what does he look like?"
"His name's Link and he's got blond, sort of orange colored hair but he's not quite a redhead, he's lean, blue eyes, really dark blue. And he's my age. He usually wears green or other earth colors. He's only a few inches shorter than me."
"This is the boy you meet at the fountains, yes?"
"What?" Zelda's eyes widened with shock. "How'd you know?"
"It is my business to make sure you are always safe, Princess. Don't worry, I won't interfere with anything you do unless you may come to harm. And I report to no one but you, highness. That is my duty."
"Oh, okay," Zelda frowned. She should have known that. It was the Sheikah's divine duty to protect the Royal Family. They weren't very specific about why, but they had always been there. Zelda could use this to find Link. "What do you know about him?"
"Link Hylexia, born the Twenty-third of Awakening, year 492 FH, Force Era, currently aged twelve. He is the son of Sir General Christofen Hylexia, firstborn, born the Fifth of Blessing, year 465 FH, Force Era, presumed to have died on the Twenty-third of Awakening, year 492 FH, Force Era, aged twenty-six, and Lieutenant Linandra Smithston, secondborn, born the Twenty-fifth of Heart, year 468 FH, Force Era, died on the Twenty-fourth of Awakening, year 492 FH, Era of Peace, aged twenty-three.
He is the nephew of Quan Hylexia, secondborn, born on the Thirty-first of Last Storm, year 470 FH, Force Era, currently aged thirty-three. Quan was considered Duke Ordona of Ordon when his older brother was presumed dead, but the title was revoked when Link was discovered to have survived the attack on Castle Town. He is now the Regent Duke of Ordon and will be required by law to step down when Link comes of age in the year 508, roughly three years from now.
I do not know where Link lived until age nine, when he left a home of unknown location somewhere in the east or southeast of Castle Town, possibly in either the Faron, Eldin, or Hyliana Provinces. He wandered mostly around the Faron, Hyliana, and Lanayru Provinces, though there are a few weeks suspiciously unaccounted for before his return to Castle Town to search for his parents.
While in Castle Town, he frequented the Rupee Rupee Pawn Shop, owned by one Mr. Pandora, a fence with strong connections to the black market, though Link never stole anything or utilized Mr. Pandora's under the counter options. Mr. Pandora also owns a very temperamental cat, if I may add.
I'm sure you know the rest, highness."
"Wait, that's really all you have? There are nine years we don't know about at all?"
"That is what both I and other Sheikah operatives could find. He has covered his tracks unusually well, or he was hidden extremely well by the people or person who found him. And as far as I know, he has not talked about his early childhood with anyone so he, and those who raised him, are the only ones who know about his first nine years. All we do know is he was expelled from his lodgings by his guardian, whom he had trusted up to that point."
"I never noticed that he was so secretive."
"He is also at least fairly skilled in most weaponry, favoring the sword, shield, and bow, which he used to support himself when he wandered the country. He is also in the possession, or companionship as he calls it, with a four-year-old Battle Charger bred by Lon Lon Ranch named Epona. He has been traveling with Epona for two years. He let's her wander the fields when he has no need for her. He hasn't left Castle Town's walls in over a year, so I assume he hasn't seen her at all in that time."
"He's definitely never mentioned a horse," Zelda frowned. How had there been so little she knew about him? She thought she could read him like a book. "Do you think Quan could be responsible for Link's disappearance?"
"It is possible. Quan has threatened him before. He has also hit him a number of times. His violence only reached drastic levels once, when he raised a fire poker to him, but it was not hot nor did he draw blood. He has also refused Link food on multiple occasions. His behavior is abhorrent and his motives are questionable. I will conduct an investigation on his whereabouts and see if Quan has been in contact with anyone who would handle kidnappings or assassinations."
"You think Quan would have Link assassinated‽" Zelda gasped.
"There is no solid evidence, however, I have reason to believe that this would not be the first time Quan has disposed of a relative to maintain his duties and privileges as Duke of Ordon."
"He could be responsible for his brother's death?"
"I am not sure, but their mother was assassinated by a fourth, unknown party at the beginning of the war and if it were not for the war itself, the Sheikah would have investigated further. But we were stretched too thin to spare any operatives to do anything and we did not inform Christofen because we believed he would act irrationally to avenge his mother. Some of the evidence we did uncover pointed towards another party that could have lead to either Quan or Christofen, but based on character analysis, it is unlikely that it was Christofen involved, if it was one of the brothers, which it very well could not have been."
"So Quan might not be the man he says he is. What if he's an imposter or a spy or…"
"I caution getting lost in fantasy, highness," Impa interrupted. "Quan is, without a doubt, the secondborn to Runnella and Thenton Hylexia. And if he ever was a spy, he was not feeding information to any known enemy of the crown. After Dead Fang broke into the Upper District, the Sheikah investigated all who could have potentially leaked the information and Quan came up negative. We assume it was Ganondorf who enlisted the help of the bandits, though we are not sure. They could easily have been working on their own in the attack."
"So this could be really serious if Quan is doing under the table things. Do you think Link found out so Quan… please, Impa. How likely is it Link's alive."
"I cannot say, but I am doubtful he has met with an ill fate. It is not very probable, but at this stage, we do not have all of the information."
The dinner gong sounded through the castle, pulling Zelda's attention away from the more serious matters she was discussing with her bodyguard and former nursemaid. "I should go to dinner before Father grows worried. He refuses to believe Link is in danger, but he might not believe me because he doesn't know that I already know about Link and how Quan treats him."
"You go to dinner and I shall start my investigations."
"I wish Link wasn't in trouble because otherwise this kind of thing would be so much fun. I'm afraid for Link."
"I will find him before any harm comes to him. I will see you tomorrow morning. I will tell you what I have uncovered then."
"I hope you find something," Zelda worried. "He's my closest friend."
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