Chapter 34: Out of the Bag

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You've all probably heard this many times by now, but please - stay safe, wash your hands, stay calm, stay healthy! Let's hope that this coronavirus problem comes to an end as soon as possible!

On another note, I'd just like to remind you once again that if you're expecting this story to be a perfect retelling of BotW, you probably shouldn't be reading this story. Especially in coming chapters, I've written things that I believe would be realistic in a medieval society given these circumstances, but that did not explicitly occur in the game. If you're expecting an exact retelling of BotW, you might be angry about those changes; please remember that you are not obligated to read this story. I've tried to give you as fair a warning as I could.

For those of you willing to accept creative liberties taken with the official storyline, please enjoy what I've cooked up for you! And stay safe! ( :

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"Goddess Hylia… hear my plea. This land is in danger; the threat of the Calamity looms. We are making every effort to prepare ourselves; we have found lost technology, weapons that will protect us and spare the lives of our soldiers on the field of battle, and we have nearly returned them to operation. We have selected four Champions to aid us in this battle, and I thank thee, Goddess, for each of them - for their bravery, loyalty, and kindness.

"And a knight has proven worthy of the Master Sword; I thank thee for him as well, and particularly for his kindness and friendship offered to me, though… I am not worthy of it.

"I ask thee now, Goddess Hylia, to bless us with the last component we know to be necessary in defeating the Calamity. Please… help me unlock the powers that thou hast blessed me with. Help me find a way to fulfill my own role in this fight…"

The Princess fell silent, as she usually did when she reached this part of her prayers. She was waiting, Link had realized. Waiting for some sort of indication, some sort of confirmation or sign…

He held his breath, his back turned to the pool. But, as always, nothing happened. The cathedral remained stubbornly still and quiet. The Princess' tenth prayer this morning had gone unanswered.

"I wish only to serve thee and this kingdom," Zelda murmured sadly. "I… I will continue to wait for thy blessing."

Link heard the water splashing and rippling around her as she made her way out of the pool. Quickly turning from his post, he snatched a thick white blanket from its place on the ground and shook it, out, wrapping it securely around the Princess' bare shoulders as she walked onto dry ground, her prayer gown sopping wet. Gently, his arms around her holding the blanket in place, he guided her out of the room, away from the heavy atmosphere of disappointment that had descended.

King Rhoam could barely contain his anger, so it had seemed, when he and Zelda returned from the Royal Ancient Lab. He scolded her over dinner, shaming her for her 'childish pursuits,' and Link had fought with himself to keep his rising anger in check. He has no right to speak to her that way!

"I wish I knew what to say," he murmured into her hair, leading her to one of the pews. The chapel was empty this early in the morning; no one would intrude.

"There's nothing that would help, I think," Zelda sighed with a slight shiver, huddling into him, curling her hand around his holding the blanket over her. "But… sitting here is nice."

His heart felt soft; he let his head rest against hers. I love you, Princess.

"How are you feeling about… tomorrow?" she asked softly.

Link swallowed thickly, a lump forming in his throat. Even after their return from the Royal Ancient Lab, he had heard nothing from Captain Janin. Truthfully he hadn't actively sought him out, either, and avoided the Royal Guard Chambers and Janin's office every way he could think of. He dreaded finding out what the Captain had thought of his report - what he would think if he knew that Link was currently holding the Princess in his arms, much too informally.

"I'm terrified," he admitted softly. He swallowed again, wetting his lips uncertainly. I'm running out of time to tell her. But I must tell her - I'd never forgive myself otherwise. It needs to happen soon.

And that, in and of itself, was almost just as terrifying a prospect as his impending sentence.

"I'll defend you against them," Zelda reminded him, gently giving his hand a squeeze. "I don't want to imagine going forward without you by my side. Truly you are my greatest friend."

"And you are mine," Link whispered huskily. "Do you think there's any hope we'll… that they… I'll get to stay as your guard?"

"There's always hope," Zelda responded, so quickly that it seemed to be an automatic response. "But… we don't know what your Captain will say, and… and it looks like it'll only be Daruk and I on your side. I don't know how likely it is that we'll succeed."

His heart felt cold; his stomach twistd with nausea. "Zelda, I…" I'm running out of time. His heart hammered violently. Surely she would feel how his pulse was throbbing in his wrist. Now or never. "Zelda, there's something I need to... I love you." His voice went nearly silent at the last word and he held his breath, anxious and vulnerable and afraid.

She pulled away from him, just the slightest bit, to look him in the eye. He didn't know what to make of her expression - she looked stunned. Shocked. His cheeks burned under her gaze but he didn't look away, firm and unashamed of his feelings.

"I love you," he whispered again, feeling a strange lightness in his chest - it felt gratifying to give voice to his innermost convictions.

"Link, I…" Her brow creased, and his heart dropped for a crushing moment. Slowly she reached up, as if to touch his face, her eyes wide. And then she smiled. "I knew it!"

"You… you did?" He blinked rapidly, taken aback.

She raised an eyebrow at him, smirking. "Would you be holding me like this if you didn't? And what about that necklace? And everything after my nightmares?" She shook her head ruefully. "You do a terrible job of keeping your feelings a secret - at least from me. And… and I'm glad of that." Her voice grew soft, and she looked away from him for a moment, letting her hand fall on his chest. "Because… I feel… the same."

He forgot how to breathe for a moment. "You do?" he managed to croak. "You… really?"

She nodded fervently, biting her lip, gazing solemnly up at him. Slowly she got to her feet, lightly guiding him up with the hand that still clasped his. "I know I treated you horribly at first, but now… now I want nothing more than to spend as much time with you as I can." She blinked several times, a tear sliding down her cheek. "It… it feels so wrong that the whole reason they don't want you with me in the first place is because of this."

Link grimaced. "Well, as you said… I didn't do a particularly good job of hiding what I felt - and that's the reason they want me… gone." He rubbed the back of his head bashfully. "Maybe… if I'd done better…"

She shook her head. "If you'd done any better at hiding this I doubt I would have realized what you felt. I… like you said before, I… I don't regret anything, either. I just wish that… that they would leave you alone and let us be." Zelda took his other hand, her gaze mournful. "I just wish we had more than just one more day before… well, you know."

Link sighed, relishing the feel of her hands in his. A sudden idea struck his mind and his heart clenched as he wondered if he had the courage to follow through with it. His heart hammered, and he licked his lips nervously. "Well… seeing as there is just one day… we might as well make the most of it, right?"

Inhaling deeply, he leaned forward; at the last moment he lost his nerve and his lips landed lightly on her cheek. Zelda blushed and stared at him, her eyes wide and round as her lips slowly curled into a tender smile. "Of course," she murmured, bashfully tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Then a mischievous gleam entered her eyes, and she raised an eyebrow at him. "Is… was that what you consider -"

He cut her off closing his lips over hers before he convinced himself to back down again; gently he cupped her cheek in his hand as she leaned into him, slowly sliding her hands up to his shoulders. She seemed to be melting into him, and that caught him off guard; although he had held her before, quite close, this was something different - she was pressed right up against him, and the way her hands were drifting across his shoulders…

They parted for just a moment, breaths mingling together, before he met her lips with his once again. He allowed himself to relax, running one hand through her long, silky golden hair while gently stroking her cheek with the other. Her scent seemed intoxicating - or at least, what he assumed intoxication would feel like - flowers and sweetness and fruitcake, so close, surrounding him. His mind swam; he felt weak and shaky, liable to collapse at any moment, barely able to breathe when they withdrew for another brief instant; Zelda's hands slithered up his neck and tangled in his hair, pulling him once more closer, closer, closer to her -

"Well, well."

Link gave a start, his heart leaping painfully into his throat, and released the Princess and whirled around.

His mouth went dry.

Groose and Garmish stood by the doors leading to the pool with the statue of Hylia, and the small antechamber where the Princess had left her usual daily clothes and supplies to change into her prayer grown. In Groose's hands was the Sheikah Slate, pointed directly at them, held in the exact same way Zelda held it when capturing images of Sheikah technology or wildlife.

Garmish grinned devilishly. "Perfect, runt. Really, you couldn't have done it any better. The instant the king sees this…" He laughed darkly.

Terror and fury jolted through his veins. His hands curled into fists and he wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come.

"Give that back to me," Zelda said, her voice trembling slightly as she reached out. "As your Princess, I command it."

Groose tsk-tsked. "Sorry. Unlike your knight, we obey the King, not you. And I'm certain that if the King were here now, he wouldn't want us to give this back to you. You'd destroy the evidence."

"Seeing as he is not here, you will obey me," Zelda insisted, her voice tense. "What happened here is not any of your business!"

"Yeah, well, we have a score to settle against your runty knight there," Garmish growled. "We don't have anything against you, Princess. We wouldn't hesitate to obey you under normal circumstances. But this…" He tapped the Sheikah Slate in his brother's hands with a sly grin. "We can't let such a perfect opportunity go to waste."

Groose sauntered past them, sneering, heading for the doors leading out of the chapel. "Good luck tomorrow, runt," he laughed. "Might as well start packing. This'll finish you - get you out of our hair for good."

"Our apologies, Princess," Garmish added, and he sounded almost sincere as he hurried after his brother, letting the massive oaken chapel doors clank shut behind them.

Link could only stare after them, his heart pounding angrily, helplessly, his hands still curled into fists. He felt numb - how had this happened? How long had they been watching? Why would they do something like that?

He closed his eyes, head bowed, muscles rigid. Same reason they chained and beat me all those months ago. Same reason for everything they've ever done to me.

"I can't believe it," he whispered softly, his voice raw. "I… I just…"

They think I wanted this. They think I wanted the nightmares and the pressure and the pain and the isolation and the fear and the attention and… and… and…

His mind was growing dim, overwhelmed by anguish and helplessness and grief. His breaths, ragged and uneven, echoed almost painfully in his ears. His knees trembled; his vision smeared, and before he knew it Zelda was there in front of him and her arms curled around him and his head dropped to her shoulder, tears burning from his eyes. Tears that he had never dared to shed in front of her. Weakness that he never wanted to show, not to her, but the pain of it all, the brutal reminder of the forces against him, was too much to bear.

She held him close, lightly rubbing his shoulder, running her fingers comfortingly through his hair as he leaned against her desperately, feeling a pit of despair and hopelessness yawning beneath him, threatening to swallow him whole.

"It's just as you said," she whispered, her breath hitching with tears of her own. "We have only one day left - we might as well make the most of it."

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After the Princess changed from her prayer gown back into her daily attire, with the absence of the Sheikah Slate they left the cathedral behind and made their way across Castle Town to Wheaton and Pita's Bakery. Zelda's prayers had begun early in the morning, and as winter had fallen the sun arose late anyway, so the streets were practically empty. Link was stiff and uncertain at first, afraid that Groose and Garmish were still watching, waiting to catch him doing anything untoward, but as the Princess' fingers repeatedly bumped against his, over and over again, he gave in and curled his hand around hers.

Pita beamed when she saw them walking in and ushered them hurriedly towards a table near the cozy, roaring fire. "Oh, you just wait!" she exclaimed. "Wheaton's done it - made the most wonderful thing with those beans from Faron! It's a sort of warm, creamy drink, perfect for frosty days like this - oh, you'll just love it! On the house, dears; on the house!"

And she brought out for them two steaming mugs of 'hot cocoa,' a dark, earthy brown liquid that Link was hesitant to try at first. It looked like dirt, after all.

"After you," Zelda grinned teasingly, holding her mug close.

"You're the experimental one," he reminded her with a small smile, before taking a small sip. It wasn't like anything he had ever tasted before - sweet but with just a hint of bitterness, thick and rich, wonderfully warm and cozy…

"What do you think?" Zelda asked eagerly.

He grinned at her. "It's much better than a frog." He took another, longer drink; it warmed him soothingly from the inside out, from his hands all the way to the tips of his toes, as if he was huddled in the softest, most comfortable blanket in the world.

Once they had drained every last drop of cocoa from their mugs, they returned to the castle, this time keeping a healthy distance between each other. More people were out and about, meaning more people that could spot something they felt was untoward and report it to the nearest guard.

"I've been avoiding my father as much as I can," Zelda admitted once they were safely inside, walking down a lonely corridor. "I - he just frightens me, so much, and I… I hate his disappointment. It would almost be better if he shouted."

Link nodded slowly. It was practically the same reason that he had been trying so hard to stay out of Captain Janin's sight. "He doesn't have any reason to be disappointed in you," he sighed, resentment curdling in his gut, his eyes rolling upwards to study the intercrossing beams supporting the ceiling, characteristic of the hallways used by knights and servants. "You work harder than anyone else I've met - harder than him, for sure…"

"You shouldn't say things like that," Zelda said with a nervous laugh. "He's a powerful man and he doesn't like to be told he's doing something wrong. He does work hard; he has an entire kingdom to run, and that kingdom just so happens to be on the brink of Calamity."

"You're so quick to defend him," Link protested heatedly, his soul burning with the injustice of it all. "I… I just don't understand. Does being a ruler mean that you must shove everything else in your heart aside? Things like family?" He shook his head, his brow creasing. "I don't understand. You know they say that you don't know what you have until it's gone…" An ache was growing in his soul, building pressure behind his eyes. "I didn't - don't truly remember my parents, but I see them die, over and over and over again, in my nightmares." And more recently, I've seen everyone else I love die, too. "So maybe I never had a family to begin with, but knowing they're gone, feeling that pain every time… I know that I would sacrifice anything to bring them back. I don't know what it is to be a King, but I do know what it is to lose loved ones."

He turned to Zelda, reaching out to take both of her hands in his, desperation and echoes of fear twisting around his heart. "And I know that if I had any loved ones left, I would do anything to see them safe and happy. I wouldn't push them away; I wouldn't force them to dwell on something out of their control. I would cherish every second I had with them."

Zelda blinked rapidly, her eyes glistening with tears. Slowly she curled her arms up around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder and letting a few tears escape into his tunic. "I hate wishing someone would change - it feels wrong," she whispered shakily. "And yet… more than anything, I wish… I wish he would change. Just a bit. Just to be a bit more like… like a father."

Link held her protectively close, determination and tenderness burning in his soul as he gently stroked her hair. And I wish I could protect you from him.

Painfully aware that the hallways were not exactly safe from the eyes and ears of others, they continued on their way. "The whole reason I brought him up in the first place is because he's realized what I'm doing and has required my presence for the midday meal," Zelda explained with a heavy frown, leading the way towards the spiral staircase up to her quarters. "We never dine with other nobility during the day - only evenings and mornings. So it'll be private, and I… I'm inclined to expect a scolding."

Link grimaced sympathetically, a cold finger of fear curling around his heart as he wondered if Captain Janin was privy to his own efforts to avoid a confrontation.

"Regardless, today is not meant to be a travelling day, or a study day, or anything of the sort," she sighed. "So I'm to be arrayed in the usual nonsensical finery. He… he is quite insistent that I take the appearance of a princess whenever I can. Another reason he despises my travels and studies."

Link nodded slowly, struggling to suppress the nauseating distaste for the King rising in his gut. His cheeks warmed as he thought of one way to change the subject. "Well, you… you look beautiful in all that," he offered. He cringed. "I - I mean, you look beautiful in anything. Nothing could make you look beautiful. Th-that is, I mean, because you're beautiful, so clothing doesn't matter. Wait, no - it does matter, of course it does; it's just that -"

Zelda interrupted with a giggle, shaking her head at him with a wide grin. "It's alright; I know what you mean," she snickered, sliding her hand into his once again. "And… thank you."

"S-sorry," Link said with a sheepish smile, his cheeks aflame as he scratched the back of his head with his free hand in embarrassment. Now, that is a moment I would love to forget. Or do over. Or something.

He waited outside as the Princess changed in her room with the aid of her handmaidens, who they had found waiting outside the doors to her chamber; it was far too ornate a gown for her to put it on herself. Link hadn't paid much attention in the past, but now he realized - and was astonished - at how long it took. He shifted uncomfortably by the door, wincing. Can't even imagine wearing something so complicated.

She emerged wearing a heavy frown, looking stiff and uncomfortable in the long, elegant dark blue dress reserved for more formal days at the castle. Upon catching his eye she offered a sad smile, and his heart squeezed. "We still have a few hours," he reminded her encouragingly.

She chuckled halfheartedly. "Of course. And brooding over the inevitable won't do either of us any good, would it?" Her gaze flitted upward, and she tilted her head slightly. "There's… there's actually something I've been meaning to show you. I've been keeping it in my study; shall we…?"

His heart lurched. "Of course," he assured her, following her quickly down the corridor a short distance until they came to a small staircase leading upwards. Gathering her skirts in one hand Zelda walked carefully upwards, and Link hovered at her side, biting his lip at the thought of how difficult it would be to climb stairs in such a long dress without tripping over it.

At the top of the stairs was an empty, circular chamber with a door leading out on end; Link hurried to pull it open for her, letting in a thin stream of cold, feeble winter light. There was a bridge just beyond, leading out to a tall, narrow watchtower - the Princess' study.

"I've always felt safe here," she smiled, walking quickly across the bridge. An icy breeze drifted over them, lifting Zelda's hair from her shoulders and pinching her cheeks pink. Link shivered; the material of his tunic and undershirt felt much too flimsy to deal with this sort of weather.

Zelda slipped through the simple wooden door opening into her lab, and Link hurried in after her, into the small, cylindrical room he had visited several times before guarding her. One window was open, sending a beam of sunlight - and icy air - down into a small tray filled with dirt and several wilty green plants that she had planted earlier in the fall. "I should really move those into my room," she said, and Link looked up to see that she had noticed him studying the little plants. She smiled. "They'll need both sunlight and warmth in order to last the winter, and I'm afraid they aren't getting much of either in here."

The room didn't have a fireplace, so it was indeed one of the coldest rooms in the castle during the winter months. Looking around, Link realized ruefully that it was a good thing there wasn't any sort of fire inside; the walls and desk were nearly entirely obscured by detailed diagrams and scattered notes. The desk in particular was nearly buried beneath notebooks, tools, pieces of ancient technology, and a few dusty books. The only hint of organization anywhere in the room was a tidy bookshelf, clearly labelled and full of old, leather-bound tomes; nonetheless, the room was a fire hazard if there ever was one.

The Princess was still staring intently at her plants. "I'll definitely bring these inside when we leave," she decided, tapping her chin with a finger. "They won't last long like this. They might be too far gone already - I've neglected them quite a bit this past week."

"Has the window been open all that time?" Link asked, somewhat shocked. The last time the Princess had visited her study was well over a week prior.

She laughed. "Oh no, of course not! I've had one of my handmaidens close it at dusk and pen it back up at dawn. I do feel rather guilty, making them do it, but… I can't always spare the time. As you well know." She turned to the desk, sweeping up the thinnest of the books lying there, and hurried closer to him, clutching it to her chest. "I… I don't know if you'll be interested at all, but… I've done some digging about the Zonai. This book contains all that we know about them, as well as a few theories. The writers… well, they died in Thyphlo Ruins."

Link felt a shard of ice pierce his heart, slowly spreading cold through his soul. "Like my parents."

Zelda nodded sadly. "That's why I thought… well, that you might be interested in learning more about them, about the Zonai…"

He swallowed thickly. "It's the only place connected to my origins…" To who I am. Where I come from. Who my… my family was.

"It's a terrible place, but I thought that perhaps learning about the people who created it might… might help somehow. I don't know." She sat down on a small divan haphazardly shoved against the wall and opened the book; Link sat next to her, a strange sense of curiosity settling over him.

"They have all but disappeared in every way," Zelda began sadly. "Only their ruins are left, but this book… it's quite amazing, really, what these two researchers were able to find. Funnily enough some of their information came from ancient Sheikah records. They existed at the same time, but were vastly different. While the Sheikah prided themselves on their intellectual discoveries and technological advancements, spreading their creations throughout the land, the Zonai kept mainly to themselves, in the Faron region. The Sheikah described them as hopelessly backwards - barbaric, even, and warlike.

"Yet somehow they collaborated. And the Zonai were not as unintelligent as the Sheikah thought; records speak of incredible labyrinths hidden across the land. Some Zonai structures apparently hide Sheikah shrines.

"It can also be theorized that the Zonai were intertwined with the Royal Family as well, albeit in a roundabout way. Much of their architecture depicts creatures like boars, owls, and dragons, representing the three pieces of the Triforce - power, wisdom, and courage. However… a dragon motif is much more present in their creations, and they lived in Faron, a region bursting with natural life and home to the Spring of Courage; this associates them more closely with Farore."

Link's nose wrinkled in confusion. "Farore? They worshipped the golden goddesses?"

"We believe so," Zelda explained. "The Sheikah believed them to be lawless and savage, but they were very pious when it came to worshipping the old goddesses. What I find intriguing is that the Zonai seemed to favor Farore, the goddess of life and courage, over the other two sisters."

Link looked at her blankly, not understanding. "And…?"

A small smile crept across her lips. "Farore is also the goddess most closely associated with the Chosen Heroes of old," she reminded him. "With the previous bearers of the Master Sword - your predecessors. I find it interesting that you, the Chosen Hero of this age, were found in a Zonai ruin. And what's even more interesting to me is the fact that… well, look."

She thumbed through the pages of the book until she came to a detailed illustration of what could have been a tapestry. Unlike the lively, organic designs of the Zonai, these were more geometric. Link recognized the four divine beasts and a horde of guardians.

"There is something like this hanging in Kakariko Village," Zelda murmured. "What strikes me now, and what the writers of this book noticed, is that the hero depicted here is a bit… strange." She gestured to the center of the drawing, where two people confronted a massive boar-like demon. One seemed to be a goddess; she looked to Link like Zelda in her prayer gown.

The other was a man garbed in green and blue, wielding what could only be the Master Sword.

"Look at his hand," Zelda said, lightly brushing her fingers over the image. "It's glowing - not the same color as the rest of his skin. It's as if he's using some sort of magic, and the Zonai of course were said to have been powerful mages. And he does not appear fully clothed or garbed in armor, which is characteristic of Zonai battle gear."

"So… you think this hero was a member of the Zonai tribe," Link breathed, staring hard at the image.

"I do - as did the writers," Zelda nodded. "I… I don't know if it helps at all, Link. I… I just thought.. Perhaps you could think of yourself as associated with a good, courageous tribe, and a hero - your predecessor - rather than with… with what the ruins at Thyphlo have devolved into."

"I… I like that," he whispered, his breath catching in his throat. It was such a sweet thing for her to do, giving him a new past, as it were. If I can think about it that way - that I hail from a land of courageous mage-warriors rather than a dead, evil ruin…

It brought peace to his soul, replacing the fear and turmoil that usually accompanied thoughts of his past.

He blinked several times. "Who wrote this book again? I thought you said that no one knew anything about the Zonai - that no one researched them."

"It's what I thought until I found this," Zelda explained quietly. "After you told me about Thyphlo Ruins, I was curious - I didn't think I would find anything, but I wanted to try, just in case. And I found this book in the library - the only one that had anything on the Zonai. It was written by a married couple, Cleun and Rylla of Fural. They died years ago, as I said, in Thyphlo Ruins - probably around the time we were born, maybe a little later. It was actually Captain Janin who found their ruins while on patrol and decided to take their notes back to the caste and publish them in this book; there's a note about it on the title page."

Link grimaced, his heart tugging at the thought of what those poor people had gone through. "It would be an awful place to die," he murmured. His breath hitched as Zelda's hand curled around his.

"You won't die there," she promised. A soft smile graced her lips. "You won't die in battle, Link - I can feel it. When all of this is over, you'll live out the rest of your days in peace."

He laughed shakily, turning to face her. "You'd better be there with me," he said, gently squeezing her fingers. He was only half joking.

"I'll do my utmost," she assured him, leaning forward and meeting his lips with hers for the second time that day. His heart skipped a beat and he glanced fearfully in the direction of the door, relief coursing through him at the realization that it was firmly closed. We're safe this time.

Relaxing, he leaned into her kiss, curling his arms around her and holding her close until they could no longer ignore the need for air.

"I could get used to that," Zelda smiled shyly, letting her head rest against his shoulder.

Link grinned down at her, feeling light. So could I.

\-==/\==-/

They spent the morning poring over the book on the Zonai, Zelda translating the passages written in the ancient Sheikah tongue. Link was fascinated by the sketches and descriptions of the Zonai ruins found across the kingdom, and the authors' theories about what the structures could have been used for were equally thrilling. He was stunned to find himself wondering what he would find if he returned to Thyphlo Ruins now, with the skills he had gained over the past years. Would I survive? Could I possibly add more to this book?

It was frightening to him - frightening that after a lifetime of nightmares and terror, he would even consider returning. All because of one book, written by two people he had never heard of before.

Presented to him by his Princess.

A muffled explosion drew them from their studies; Zelda shot up from the divan with a startled gasp. Link went rigid, his heart pounding hard. "That was a guardian," he realized, remembering the day he had shielded her with a pot lid.

"It was," she whispered, darting for the door and pushing it open, emerging into the bright noonday sun. Her eyes widened with delight as she noticed the Sheikah scientists in the courtyard below working with an active guardian glowing blue and orange.

One man - Robbie, perhaps, although it was difficult to tell from this height - gestured towards a target, and the guardian fired again, nailing its center with a small explosion. Robbie jotted something down in his notebook and the Princess hurried to the edge of the bridge, smiling widely.

"Incredible…" she breathed as Link approached. "We're at a point now where we can actually control them. At the current rate, we'll soon know all we need to know about the Guardians and the Divine Beasts! And should Ganon ever show himself again, we'll be well positioned to defend ourselves."

Link grinned at her enthusiasm, although he couldn't help but feel cold at the sight of the guardian's madly whirling eye. It disturbed him deeply, for reasons he could not name.

"What are you doing out here, Zelda?"

Link's blood ran cold. The Princess whirled around as he sank quickly to his knees, his heart hammering at King Rhoam's approach.

Zelda gulped. "I… I was… assessing the results of the experiment with the Guardians," she answered timidly. "These pieces of ancient technology could be quite useful against the -"

"I know that," Rhoam interrupted, an edge of frustration growling in his voice. "They are essential to Hyrule's future, and our research demands that we keep a close eye on them. However, as the princess, you currently have a crucial unfulfilled responsibility to your kingdom. Let me ask you once more… When will you stop treating this as some sort of childish game?"

Link could feel his blood boiling. He clenched his teeth tightly together, hands curled into fists, inhaling deeply through his nose. Calm yourself.

"I'm doing everything I can," Zelda assured her father. "I'll have you know that I just recently returned from the Castle Town cathedral, where I offered every ounce of my prayers to the Goddess -"

"And now you are here wasting your time!" Rhoam protested. "You need to be dedicating every moment you have to your training. You must be single-minded in unlocking the power that will seal Calamity Ganon away."

"I already am," Zelda insisted quietly, her voice desolate, tearing furrows in Link's heart. "Don't you see - there's nothing more I can do! My hope is… My hope is that you - that you'll allow me to contribute here in whatever way I can."

Rhoam shook his head, running a hand through his beard in exasperation. "No more excuses, Zelda!" he demanded, his voice rising. "Stop running away from your duty! As the king, I forbid you to have anything to do with these machines from this moment on and command you to focus on your training."

Zelda gasped softly, and Link bit his lip hard to keep from speaking out. His fingernails dug into his palm.

King Rhoam walked closer, to the edge of the bridge. "Do you know how the gossip mongers refer to you?" he murmured. "They are out there at this moment, whispering amongst themselves… that you are heir to a throne of nothing… nothing but failure. It is woven into your destiny that you prove them wrong. Do you understand?"

Link's blood pounded in his ears. Every muscle was rigid as steel, as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. How dare you. How dare you!

Zelda's heartbroken, hopeless voice broke the dam. "Yes. I understand."

Rhoam nodded and turned as if to walk away, but Link couldn't contain himself a second longer. He surged to his feet, his heartbeat raging, courage singing through his veins. "You cannot speak to her like that," he growled, his voice nearly unrecognizable even to himself, transformed by fury.

Rhoam stopped, his shoulders stiffening. He faced the two of them again, tall and foreboding, his green eyes glinting dangerously. "What was that, boy?"

Link's eyes narrowed. "You can't speak to her like that," he repeated angrily. "She's your daughter! Does that mean nothing to you?"

"As my daughter, I have the right to speak to her as I see fit," the King responded through gritted teeth.

"Link, what are you doing?" Zelda asked quietly, reaching out as if to pull him back. He ignored her.

"Then 'as you see fit' is wrong," he protested firmly. "I lost my family! If I had just one of them still, I would cherish them, knowing how painful it is to lose them! One would think that you would do the same after losing someone you love! It is your right, and responsibility, to love her!" His hands trembled, curled into fists, and he wondered for a brief moment if he was angry enough to actually strike his King. "How can you be so blind? How can you fail to see the good that she does? She's not a failure, and never has been! Ask any one of the Sheikah - she's one of the best minds they have, and without her they wouldn't succeed! You can't take her away from this!"

"Link, please -"

"And you refuse to acknowledge how hard she tries," he continued, unconsciously taking half a step forward. "She works harder than anyone else I know! Harder than you! You think she sees her studies as a game - well, she doesn't!"

"Link - !"

"She knows all about how she hasn't unlocked her powers, no thanks to you, and she's desperate to find another way to help her people! It's not a game to her!"

"Young man, I suggest you -"

Link didn't let Rhoam finish. "And even if she didn't try so hard, even if she hadn't had so much success with the ancient technology, she's still your daughter! Your family! Does that mean nothing to you? You doubt her -"

"Please, Link, don't do this -"

" - scorn her, mock her, belittle her efforts, patronize her, anything but love her!" He was breathing hard, trembling slightly. "If you can't even care for your own daughter, how could you care for an entire kingdom?"

Burly white-gloved hands closed around his upper arms. Link gave a start, his eyes widening as he found two of the Royal Guards that had accompanied the King standing on either side of him, holding him still.

Rhoam leaned in close, his features stern, his eyes burning like a dragon's. "Is that what you think, boy?" he growled, his lips curling in a sneer.

Fear struck his heart and he sucked in a shaky breath. I've crossed a line. He gulped, summoning his courage. "Yes, Sire." His voice cracked. "That's what I think."

Eyes narrowed, Rhoam turned his attention to his guards and jerked his chin to the side, dismissing them. Zelda gasped sharply.

"Father, no, don't do this, please," she begged, her voice ragged with the promise of unshed tears.

Link craned his neck to look desperately over his shoulder as the Royal Guards marched him away.

"You would side with him?" Rhoam asked incredulously, his voice rising in anger. "I am your father and your King!"

"I - I - yes, I s-suppose I -"

She was cut off by a harsh smack, her face snapping to the side in the wake of her father's enraged hand. Something feral broke loose in Link's soul and he strained against the guards, his heart throbbing. "Don't you touch her!" he roared, struggling wildly, his eyes meeting Zelda's teary ones for an instant before a gloved fist struck his temple, rocking his head back on his shoulders before the world around him splintered into painful darkness.