The golden hand on the timepiece crawled by. The slender, curled filigree design patterning the metal before the round, white face, matching the exquisitely carved numerals. Navi watched it, twisting the hem of her shift between her fingers. Hours had passed since Zelda had left for the courtyard, leaving Navi alone in her luxurious chambers to fret.

She had wrestled with the idea of going down there too, despite Zelda's caution. She should be there to support Link in his time of need, to be there when he was lashed so that she could soothe him with her words, to hold his hand, to distract him from the pain. She shivered. She had seen what happened to those who were whipped. Those that survived were left with a mass of messy, ropey scars. That is, if they didn't get infected. She shivered as she envisioned the yellowy, puckered wounds, weeping pus and stinking of rot.

Restless, Navi began to pace on the mantelpiece. She should have been there. It was her duty as Link's partner. But leaden guilt sat in her stomach, stopping her from flying out of the window. No matter how she tried to tell herself that it was his own silly fault for rescuing the stranger, his foolish action leading him to this turn of events, she still felt somewhat responsible. And she could not face him.

So, she waited. And waited. And waited some more. Her anxiety began to bleed away as the hours crawled by, and was replaced, inch by creeping inch, by irritation.

Why hadn't he come to collect her? Why hadn't Zelda returned to tell her that all was fine? She must know that Navi would be worrying, stuck here with no word. She fluttered her wings and grumbled to herself. The timepiece showed two hours past midnight. In another three, the sun would be appearing over the horizon, washing the darkness away with gold. Three hours would not be enough sleep for her. She must rest, but she could not until she knew Link was alright!

She clenched her tiny fists. Guilt or no guilt, she had to know.

Navi flew to the grand door and concentrated. Using her magic to sink invisible tendrils into the wood, she heaved open the heavy door just far enough to slip through. Shaking off the wave of tiredness that seeped under her skin, she flew along the corridor and down the narrow stairs, beating her silken wings as hard as she could.

No one walked the corridors she flew down. The castle was as still and silent as a gravestone.

Exhausted by her flight and extensive magic, Navi reached the ground floor, sweeping to the left. The doctor's quarters were there. Link must be there as well. A light was shining underneath the door, broken only by the shadows of footsteps. As she approached, the door opened.

Navi had just time to glimpse a figure swathed in bandages on the examining bed before Zelda appeared, obscuring her view.

"Navi?" Zelda said, closing the door behind her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see him!" she squeaked. "Is he alright?"

As always, Zelda maintained her elegant composure, but her eyes betrayed her thoughts.

"He will be fine," she said. "He needs to rest now." She began to walk back towards the stairs, beckoning the fairy. Navi hesitated, staring at the door. Zelda coughed, delicately, and Navi reluctantly flew to her shoulder, settling down and grasping the princess's braid for support. She let out a small breath as she stilled her wings.

"Tell me," Navi said, as Zelda began to climb.

"He was… very brave," Zelda said, as if she thought Link could have been anything else. "He barely made a sound, even though…"

"What? Is something wrong?"

"The… judiciary was a little overzealous on the last strike," Zelda said, her voice low. "Link has lost a fair amount of blood."

Navi covered her mouth. "Will he be alright?"

"I believe so."

"That man should be punished!" Navi stated. "He could have seriously hurt Link!"

"He did hurt him," Zelda said, her voice soft. "That was the point of the punishment. Though I agree it was too much, there is little I can do to compensate." Her mouth formed a hard line. "I had to fight with my father in order for the doctor to administer a healing potion. Usually such things are not allowed following corporal punishment. But the damage was… excessive."

Zelda passed by a torch bracket, and Navi saw the bags under her eyes, thrown into sharp relief. Her eyes themselves were red, as though she had been crying. Navi shuddered. If Link was not allowed to have extra healing measures, he would scar terribly. She could not imagine what that would be like, for his beautiful back to be so marred by the ugly blemishes she had seen on prisoners before. And if the damage was as bad as Zelda seemed to be suggesting… would he even be crippled?

"Thankfully, Father relented," Zelda said, and Navi almost sobbed with relief. "He has been administered enough to mostly heal, though he will still be tender for a time. You must make sure he does not do anything strenuous."

"Of course I will," Navi said. "I'll make sure he keeps to his bed, I'll bring him food and drink and whatever else he wants!"

Zelda's smile was tight. "He must resume his duties in the morning," she said. "He will continue guarding Thoria by my father's command. As much as I wish he could be allowed to rest, I do not think it wise to test the king's patience any more than I have tonight."

"Well, he doesn't know how special Link is," Navi said, hotly. "Or how lucky he is to have him."

"Hush," Zelda said, glancing over her shoulder. "My father is well aware of how valuable our Hero is. However, he will not allow anyone, not even I, to disobey him so wantonly."

Navi bit back her next words. How it wasn't really Link's fault. Not completely. But what sort of punishment would she endure if it came out that… no. She wouldn't even entertain the idea.

Zelda climbed the narrow staircase, leaning heavily on the bannister.

"Are you well, princess?" Navi asked.

"I am just tired," she replied. "It has been a long and troubling day."

"Yes," Navi agreed. "I was going out of my mind in there. Just waiting. No one ever tells you that waiting is the worst thing in the world."

"How very true," Zelda said. "Nobody ever tells you, but I would wager that everybody would agree with you, if you said it."

"Of course they would, I know what I'm talking about," Navi said, allowing herself a smile. They reached the princess's chambers. "Zelda, can I sleep in here with you tonight? I don't want to disturb Link's rest, and it's lonely in his room without him."

"Of course," Zelda said. "I would be glad of your company tonight. I am meeting with one of my suitors tomorrow, and I would feel better if I slept with a friend by my side."

Inside, Zelda lit the lamps herself whilst Navi fluttered off her shoulder and towards the bedroom. She settled on one of the numerous pillows as Zelda followed her in, carrying herself gingerly. Navi watched as she kicked off her flat shoes and unlaced her own dress, the material falling from her shoulders to crumple on the floor. In her underskirt, Zelda sat at her vanity and placed her tiara on its stand, before she undid her two braids, brushing out her honey coloured hair with long, deft strokes. Rising, she shed her underskirt as well and padded naked to the bed.

Navi pretended to be asleep, curled on the pillow, but she watched the princess carefully through her lashes. Zelda had a slender figure, almost bordering on thin, with small, delicate breasts and narrow, elegant hips. There was a birthmark on the inside of her left hip, just above where her hair began to grow. Her figure was almost fae-like, slim and graceful. If anyone were to be a partner for her Hero, Zelda would be the best choice, Navi thought, as sleep began to blanket her. He deserved the very best, after all.

Though really, if she could find the right magics, the absolute best choice in all of Hyrule would be his everlasting companion, his unwavering friend, his true soulmate who had been with him for longer than any mortal in the world.