Duty

"Wait!" Link warned as Zelda reached for the door handle. "Let me check first." Reluctantly, Zelda took a step back and allowed him to open the door slowly. He scanned her chambers intently, watching out for anything that seemed even slightly out of place since his visit that morning. He stepped in, taking slow, deliberate steps while looking left and right. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword. If anything jumped out at him, he was all set draw it and cut them down in an instant. Link gripped the bed covers and threw them back, drawing his sword at the same time. There was nothing and no one. Nodding to himself in satisfaction, he looked up at the rafters.
"Well, it seems clear." As Zelda spoke, Link jumped back in surprise. He sighed in relief as he sheathed his sword. The princess was already in the room, trying to supress a laugh.
"You should have waited for me to say if it was safe." Link stated in mild annoyance.
"It is safe though." Zelda commented.
"It may not have been."
"But it was." There was a pause as the two stared at each other, then laughed. "I see I'm in very safe hands." Zelda spoke as her composure returned.
"I was only making sure." Link explained, shrugging. "Couldn't risk anything happening to you."
"I suppose it would reflect poorly if you failed in your duty as my protector." Zelda joked. Link's expression quickly turned to something resembling shock.
"It's not that!" He blurted out. "I care about you, and with everything going on now…" He stopped, taking a moment to calm down. "I just…I just couldn't forgive myself if something happened." Zelda observed him for a moment. Her gaze drifted to his left arm, the one that once came between her and the jaws of-
"I didn't mean…I know." She said quietly, sitting on the bed and looking down. "You've always been like that." Link said nothing but knew what she was talking about. Since his father's passing, he had nobody. No family, no friend in the world. Then everything changed when he met her. This smart and bossy scholar of a royal who bought him into her home, who indirectly inspired his path, who taught him to read and write whenever he made the climb to her-
"Don't move!" He almost yelled as he ran to the window. He threw it open peered downwards. He saw no sign of anyone climbing the tower, and no alarm among the patrolling guards. He looked upwards, searching for anyone who could have perhaps climbed around the window and waited for someone to peer outside.
"Link, really?" Zelda asked in exasperation, standing up again. Link closed the window and turned back, surprised by this reaction. "Nobody's coming after me, nobody's broken into the castle grounds and there's no cause to coddle me like this!"
"I'm your protector. It's my…"
"I don't want a protector!" Zelda almost shouted before he could respond. "I want my friend back!" There was another moment of silence as they stared at one another. Zelda's anger quickly faded once more, replaced with shame. She had completely forgotten about the last eight years; about what Link had been doing. He had given up his childhood for knighthood, exchanged his youth for a life of service. Yet here she was, complaining that this fully trained and professional warrior, one who had sworn his life to preserving hers, was not the same boy she had once grown so close to. Almost as if in response, Link reached up and removed his helmet. His face now visible, Zelda instinctively averted her gaze. That look of regret he had about him was almost identical to the one he had the last night she saw him.
"I'm sorry." She almost whispered, forcing herself to look at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't…" She could not finish her sentence, but only screw her eyes shut and bring her hand over her mouth. She felt tears welling up in her eyes but choked them back. She gasped and when she felt something wrap around her, pulling her into him. Something firm, but cold and metallic. Armour. Link's arms. She hugged him back, burying her face in his shoulder.
"I can still be that friend if you want." Link told her quietly. When he softened his grip, Zelda pulled away to look at him. Neither of them let go. A tear was running down her face. Without thinking, Link put his hand to her cheek and gently brushed it off with his thumb. He froze and quickly withdrew his hand as though realising what he was doing. He turned a slight shade of red and looked away, stepping back in embarrassment. Zelda remained unmoving, looking as though she were lost in thought. Her eyes lit up as an idea occurred to her.
"Give me a second." She went to her dresser, kneeling to reach the bottom drawer. She opened it and withdrew what Link initially assumed was a small green back. As he realised what it was, he stepped back, eyes widened. Zelda smiled as she held it towards him.

From the battlements, Pippit oversaw the knights assuming defensive position outside the walls of Hyrule town. Groose was down there, his greatsword drawn. Although the others did a better job of hiding it, they were all impatient for whatever was coming, anxious to meet whatever dared challenge the sovereignty of this kingdom. He couldn't blame them.
"Archers report nothing out of the ordinary." He turned to the source of this voice and was met by Karane. A ginger-haired young woman, Karane was another new addition to the Knights of Hyrule. "The sages, on the other hand…" She paused, considering how to explain this information.
"Yes?" Pippit asked as softly as he could. Karane found the words she was looking for, grateful for her commander's patience.
"The sages say that something is definitely coming. Shadows riding the wind from the distant desolation." She quickly read the confusion on his face. "Their words, not mine."
"Right." Pippit nodded as he looked back to the defensive formation. "I assume that means we should watch for enemies in the air then."
"Perhaps they're riding Loftwings." Karane suggested jokingly. She thought it could have been her imagination, but she was sure Pippit's mouth almost twitched. "Maybe the myths about Skyloft are true and they mean to take us back by force.
"Whatever the case, the archers should be informed." Said Pippit, ignoring the joke. "They should watch the sky as well as the horizon. What news of the queen?"
"She's on her way to Owlan's laboratory, if not there already." Karane answered. "The Sheikah should have recovered by now and have a testimony ready."
"Hopefully, we'll know exactly what's going on." Pippit stated, to which Karane said nothing. "You seem nervous."
"I am." She replied, not looking at him. "I've never seen actual battle outside of training, sir. I'm…afraid, sir."
"So am I." He admitted, patting her shoulder in encouragement. "We all are. Any knight who isn't afraid now is a fool. But we all vowed to defend Hyrule to the last, and we must steel ourselves to hold back the coming darkness."
"Yes sir." Karane nodded with a smile. "I will tell the archers to…" She stopped abruptly as she noticed something in the distance. Pippit turned to see it and froze.
"What in the name of…?" His voice trailed off as the approaching objects drew closer. Against the setting sun, they appeared to be a swarm of black clouds flying towards the city. Streaks of dark vapor jetting through the sky faster than any bird should.
"To arms!" Pippit bellowed to the knights below. They drew their swords and readied their stances. Groose tensed as he gripped the handle of his sword in both hands. This is what he was waiting for. The smoking objects quickly closed the distance to the walls, then flew over them and into the city. Some of them landed on the battlements. The sounds of screaming already erupted from the citizens behind them.
"We're under attack!" Karane shouted as she drew her sword. As the two knights watched, the black cloud before them quickly dissipated. Standing there, in the centre of the fading cloud, was a tall figure adorned in black armour, its sword in hand. The Phantom took a step towards them.
"Halt!" Pippit commanded, only for the Phantom to ignore him. More jets of black smoke flew past and the sounds of combat erupted at the front gates. Pippit glanced down, against his better judgement, and paled at what he saw. The Phantoms had spilled out through the gates, ambushing the knights from behind. As he watched, they fought desperately but fell one by one, cut down by the Phantom's blades or frozen in some sort of dark purple material.
"Pippit!" Karane shouted as she ran forward. Pippit barely had time to see the Phantom swinging its sword down towards him. Karane shoved him out of the way and raised her sword to block the strike. With a metallic snap, her sword broke on impact with the black blade and she fell backwards, blood spurting from her torso. Pippit caught her as she fell, going limp in his arms. Shaking, he gently lowered her to the ground. Whether he would find help for her wounds or mourn her, neither could be done now. Not while this monster stood in the way. Pippit drew his sword and dashed towards the Phantom. It did nothing as he drove his blade through its stomach yet gave no reaction. As Pippit tried to pull his sword out again, the Phantom grabbed his wrist, and the purple substance began to form from its grip and over his arm. He tried pushing against the Phantom with his free arm, only for it to grab that one. He could only struggle in vain as the substance quickly spread across his whole body. His vision went dark as his head was coated. He did not scream, even as his entire form froze solid.

Link held the hat in both hands, staring at it for longer than he noticed. He thought of the last time he saw it, given to his dearest friend to cement his promise to return. The only thing his father left him after his passing. He looked up towards Zelda, beaming at him eagerly. Not needing any prompt, he immediately put it over his head.
"Suits you, sir." Zelda commented. Link glanced towards her mirror, barely containing his excitement. Where it once sank around his head and hung from it, the hat now sat neatly on his ears, a perfect fit. He removed it again, still overwhelmed.
"I honestly forgot about this." He said quietly, his voice cracking. "I always meant to come back, but…" His arms dropped as he looked back towards Zelda. "Thank you."
"I promised to give it back once you returned." She told him. There was something about seeing him this excited. Something that made her feel some internal warmth and held the smile on her face. There was a knock on the door, bringing them both back to reality. Link hastily tucked the hat into his belt and went to answer it, motioning for Zelda to back away. He opened the door slightly and peaked through it, only to see the queen. Before he could register the sight, she threw the door open, sending him reeling. Link almost went for his sword without thinking but stopped before he could draw it.
"Where is she?" The queen asked in clear terror. From her breathing and breathlessness, Link realised she had been running.
"Mother?" Zelda stepped forward, holding her shoulder to support her. "Are you alright? What happened?"
"We're under attack." She gasped, holding her daughter's shoulders. "They're here!"
"Who?" As Zelda asked, Link heard something outside. The sounds of screams, horses neighing in terror, swords clashing and ringing. How long had this been happening? How could he not have noticed?
"We must go! Now!" The queen ordered. She grabbed Zelda's arm and almost dragged her out of the room. Link noticed and hurried after them.
"Where are we going?" Zelda asked, trying to hide her fear.
"The Vaults." The queen answered. "There is only one thing that can fight them." Before she could elaborate further, the window of Zelda's chambers shattered as a black cloud shot into the room. Link drew his sword and readied himself for combat.
"Go!" he shouted to the two women. "I'll hold it off!" Before Zelda could protest, the cloud faded and revealed a Phantom, sword drawn and looking directly at him.
"You can't fight it!" The queen warned him. Whether he ignored her or was too stunned by the sight to answer, Link did not move. Without another word, the queen turned and ran, dragging Zelda with her.
"Link!" the princess cried as she struggled against her mother. Link took an involuntary step back as the Phantom approached him, sword raised.