I know you guys don't particularly care about WHY I'm late in posting, only that I am, but I swear I have a legitimate reason: I stayed until 20:00 at work last night, because the server response was so slow it sometimes took up to a full minute to approve each new segment and I had, like, 5000 to look over, and none of this makes sense if you don't know what I do, but I swear it was very uncool. And then I meant to post as soon as I got home, but after my shower, preparing today's lunch and calling the fiancé, I ultimately collapsed onto my bed and passed out.

So, you know, sorry 'bout that. I AM NOW POSTING ON MY EMPLOYER'S DIME. Everyone's okay with it.

Also, I know this is a short chapter and everything, but the next chapter absolutely makes up for it, being pivotal and all. Incidentally, by the time the next chapter is posted, I will have officially surpassed Only in Hyrule's word count, which is a big deal to me. By the time the story is finished, I'll have overshot that word count by several thousand (total count is somewhere over 180,000 words).

So, you know, there's that.

Love,
CM

PART 3: FIGHTING GRAVITY

CHAPTER 2: THE JUDGE

31st of Quintember, Year 3378, Third Age
Waker, Windfall
Windmill Hill

Zelda rubbed her eyes. The last day and a half had been exhausting to say the least. She felt drained in every way. She had imagined that the battle would be quickly over. She had thought that, by now, they'd have either prevailed or been defeated. It was frustrating to be told over and over that the enemy wasn't committing to a full-blown attack. It wasn't the good news they were telling the people. While they were retaliating with force for now, in the end, they would be weakened to the breaking point.

Rutela and Ashei and Darunia, along with so many other leaders, were busier than she was now.

At the beginning, she had refused to enter the bunker she had been assigned to, helping the Resistance in what small, safe ways she could. Waking up from her night with Link had infused her with a desperate need to do something. Sitting around in the bunker would have forced her to imagine all the worse possible battle scenarios for him. It would have driven her mad.

But then, something terrible had happened. She had heard from Darunia when Link's Flit dragged the enemy down. It had filled her with such helpless rage and terror that for a moment she feared she would forget that he hadn't made any promises.

Still, she had spent most of the following hours waiting outside the emergency room, next to Sheik and Colin and Malon, walking out occasionally to walk Wulf, if only to do something. They had stabilized him, blaming the collision for most of the physical trauma he'd suffered. It was a mess, but hearing he would pull through had made her want to sob with relief. By then, she'd been up 20 hours and was pushing the limits of her daily endurance.

In those moments of silence, sitting by Link's bed, Zelda had come to appreciate the poetry of being at his bedside the way he had been for her. She wondered how it would be to have this certainty of companionship all the time.

And his hand in hers was so warm even through the bandages. She wondered how it would feel to rely on him, and to be relied on.

Eventually, Sheik had convinced her to catch a few hours of sleep. Morning would soon come, and the battle was still going on. So she had forced herself to lie in her guest bed, eyes awake in the darkness, watching the night's shadows creep across the room then eventually turn into the dull gray of morning light.

But sleep hadn't come. A new thought had come to her in the night. The prisoner they'd captured thanks to Link could be persuaded to return to his superiors and feed them lies. Or better yet, organize a meeting with her. Maybe she could stop the war in Waker. Maybe Link wouldn't have to fight again.

Of course, when she'd presented her thoughts to Rutela, Tetra and Ashei, they had looked doubtful. By then, Zelda felt she understood them. Who was the sleepless waif of a princess to think she could sway Komali of Waker and his assigned Guardian troops, when Rutela herself had been unable to do so? Rutela had been gracious, but dismissive. Tetra, however, had glanced at Ashei, who had shrugged and said it wouldn't hurt to try.

So Zelda had let Ashei see to it, and she hurried off to help Malon and Groose with the railed cannons. Overhead, the battle was loud, but little else. There was little fire, and few shots exchanged. Every member of the Resistance wondered at that, but there was enough work to go 'round that they didn't ponder it extensively.

When Sheik had returned to tell them that Link was awake and sane, the relief had been like a crushing wave. Malon had shot her a smile that made her think she ought to be more discrete.

Rather than dignify the curiosity with a confirmation, it seemed wiser to bury herself in work. Link would see her in the Resistance headquarters when he was ready. If he wanted to see the prisoner first, that was fine.

Still, Zelda thought, it wasn't so strange for her to wish to see him again, and soon. They'd shared something, she was sure of it.

"Zelda," Shad said, snapping her out of her thoughts. She turned to look at him, standing awkwardly in the doorframe. He'd been busy too, in his own way, helping librarians and curators to put the precious books and art pieces safely away in case the battle became heated. Still, she suspected he looked in better shape than she did. He was still groomed like an aristocrat, his hair well combed, his collar pristine and sharply turned. For a moment she wondered why she had never fallen for Shad, despite all the nobles had done to shove them together. It filled her with sadness that his purpose at court had ultimately turned into disappointment for his lineage.

"Shad."

"Ashei came by." He shuffled awkwardly at skipping honorifics, and his voice wavered on Ashei's name. It was charming, but Zelda found herself acutely aware of how little he looked like Link. She forced herself to pay attention to what he was saying. "She says the urchin ―Kidd― wants to speak to you. I'll tell them you need rest." He added the last bit with a concerned and mildly disgruntled look at the circles under her eyes and the disgrace of her unkempt clothes.

Zelda smiled tiredly. "No, Shad, I can see them."

Shad hesitated. "Are you sure? Maybe you'd like a minute―"

"Shad." This time her stern look brokered no chance to argue.

"Very well," he sighed, and walked back out into the hallway.

Zelda wondered why Kidd wanted to see her. She had trouble sorting out what kind of boy he was. In a way, she felt a kinship to him. He was quiet, and reserved, and had trouble expressing how he felt. It was such a spitting image of her own childhood, despite all the things that separated them.

"Your highness," Ashei said as she stepped into the room, pushing Kidd in front of her. He had been hastily groomed, his hair combed unnaturally, his face scrubbed clean. The fact that she hadn't done the same for him was unfortunate. "The boy wants to talk to you."

"Sit down, all of you," she said, as graciously as she could. At least for now, she would stop thinking too hard, and focus on someone she could help for real.

Excited to see his familiar visitors, Wulf padded over, tongue lolling, and found a comfortable place at Kidd's feet, looking up at the boy patiently.

Both Shad and Ashei found seats, next to one another. Kidd stayed on his feet. Something about him was different. He wasn't avoiding her gaze. He wasn't dodging Ashei's mild glare. As he stood there, she saw he was taller than he made himself look, and prouder, and handsome in his way. And he looked like a young Link when she looked at him just so.

"Princess, I want you to free Damon Fierce. His real name is Damon Woods. He's my brother."

Shad had been sipping on tea, and nearly spat it right back out. Ashei's eyebrows rose high on her forehead, which meant that she hadn't expected this turn of events either.

Zelda couldn't help but be impressed. Kidd hadn't wavered this time. He hadn't mumbled. And he was asking for the moon.

"Kidd…" She started, but his eyes steeled and she trailed off.

"I know what that looks like. I know he hurt Link, and killed some pilots. He was doing his job. Link killed people too, during battles. Damon wanted money to get me out of the street. He'll help us if we give him a pardon."

"We don't know for sure," Ashei corrected him. "Yeah?"

"I'll make him help us." There was no shaking Kidd. "Spare him."

"What can he give us that will be worth the lives he's taken?" Shad asked, and not very kindly. He had resumed drinking his tea, but he looked displeased.

Kidd's anger flared, but Zelda saw him contain himself. It was admirable from a boy who had only just recently taken pleasure at mocking Shad every occasion he got. "He can't bring them back to life, but he can at least tell us why the enemy isn't attacking properly."

Ashei nodded begrudgingly when Shad and Zelda shot her an inquiring look. "Yeah, we have good reason to think he's a higher up in the chain of command. If there's something to know, captain Fierce knows it."

"And you think this will help in moving forward with this war?" Zelda asked.

"It certainly can't slow it even more," Ashei said, her frustration with recent events obvious.

"What's one prisoner freed, in the grand scheme?" Kidd insisted. "If he helps us, then he's a traitor to his cause, and he'll be an ally to us. Why wouldn't we help him?"

"Because it could be a ploy to spy on us and betray us in the long run."

"So send him away. I'll go with him. I'll make sure he doesn't spy on you."

Zelda sighed. It burned to think that the man who had nearly killed Link would go free, but then, it would press her conscience that Kidd's brother be condemned to a lifetime in prison, or worse.

And she had promised Kidd she would do him one favour.

"If he goes free, Kidd, it'll be in exchange for all the information he knows. Then, I expect you and your brother to head off somewhere far away until the end of the war. We can discuss peacetime pardons when peace is achieved. If we don't win," she added, to drive the point home, "you understand that will never happen."

"I'll make sure Damon understands that," Kidd said, his blue eyes as unsettlingly bright and steely as his older brother's.

Zelda shot Shad and Ashei a look. They seemed unsure, but they didn't openly protest. She stood. "Well. Let's go then. We have to draw up the papers."