Chapter 19: Mistaken Identity

Lying on his back in the sand just beside Lake Hylia, Link pulled out the sharp bits of his tunic from his neck. Sheik sat beside him, wincing as her back still bled, her suit ruined with stained blood. It bled over a small harp that he hadn't noticed was hidden underneath her hair.

"Do you want me to take a look at that?" Link offered, holding his arm. He was sure it had broken from the impact of the tentacle on his shield.

Sheik shook her head. "No, no it's fine. I have to leave you now, anyway. There is a Great Fairy Fountain hidden just behind the waterfall. She will likely aid you and soothe your wounds. I must continue my own journey, though we will meet again, Hero."

"Sheik?" Link called as she stood up.

She looked back at him and he could see her lips curled up into a grin behind her mask. "Still can't figure out who I am?"

Link shook his head and Sheik threw down a Deku Nut, disappearing with a snap and leaving no trace.

He shot up, regretting the fast motion, and looked around for Sheik, but she was gone. He threw his head back and continued to lay in the sand, needing a moment's rest, when he heard the ground rumble.

Despite the pain, Link stood up and saw at least twenty soldiers on horseback racing toward him. He watched, confused, as they circled him.

"This is him! Arrest him!"

"What?" Link asked, but not before one of the soldiers hopped off his horse and punched Link in the stomach, while another locked his hands into manacles. A third dragged him to his feet, ignoring Link's hisses of pain from his arm, and dragged him onto a horse, securing him with rope.

"What did I do?" Link asked again.

"Gag him!" another soldier called. A knotted cloth was shoved into Link's mouth and tied behind his head.

"Ravio, you are under arrest for thievery of the highest order. Crimes committed against His Highness are punishable by death, if the King so sees."

"Ravio?" Link muttered unintelligibly. He looked around, beyond confused, when he saw someone hiding behind the pillar off to his right. He tried to gesture to the guards, but they wouldn't look, instead taking off toward the palace with haste.

The soldiers rode into Market Town very quickly. Link was still wet from the temple as they made their slow approach toward the castle. All eyes were on him, and he sighed, wondering when he'd stop being someone's prisoner.

They made haste toward the castle once they were out of the public's eye, no longer interested in the show of parading around a prisoner, and waited in a line that went outside the castle. One man allowed them to move forward, closer to the door that only opened to let one or two people through at a time.

"They're late today. Princess Zelda was not inside on time. The King was furious. I feel bad for those being sentenced today," someone said off to the side of him.

Link rolled his eyes and struggled against the manacles that held him. Of course he'd have to face the Princess like this.

He was still soaked, though no longer dripping onto the floor, when it was his turn to go through the door.

King Harkinian was sitting in his throne, visible from the moment he entered the room. His red robes demanded the attention he received, and everyone else was off to his side.

One of the soldiers who had nabbed Link dragged him forward, and Link's eyes stayed tightly shut, desperately struggling not to cry out in pain. He only opened them again when he was forced to his knees in front of King Harkinian.

Despite the overbearing presence of the king, Link's eyes drifted to the left, where Princess Zelda sat, stunned, in her own throne.

"What is this man's crime?" King Harkinian asked in a voice that was deep and booming.

"Sire, this is Ravio, thief and con artist who stole several priceless artefacts from the palace itself to sell on the black market."

Zelda's shocked face turned into one of confusion as she stared at Link. He tried to shake his head, knowing that her father never knew about him. She sat in her throne, discomfort written all over her features, her eyes never leaving Link.

"Why is this man gagged? Does the law not allow a man to defend himself? Remove that gag!"

The soldier untied the gag from Link's mouth and he started to cough, wishing he could clutch his throbbing side. His hands, however, were still shackled.

"Confess now, or defend yourself," King Harkinian commanded.

Link took a steadying breath, though he felt ready to pass out.

"Father," Zelda called out, unable to watch. "This man is unwell. Look at him! Leave him to be well and question him another day!"

King Harkinian turned his head sharply to his daughter. "Do not dishonor yourself by speaking out for a prisoner. Be silent and watch. This will be your duty one day."

Link bowed his head. "I'm not Ravio. My name is Link. I was mistaken for your thief."

"As all other thieves will say as well. Have you proof? Is there someone who can vouch for you?"

"Yes, several people."

"Are they here?"

Link looked away from the King. "No."

Zelda sat forward. "Father…"

"Silence, Zelda! You do not defend those who wrong us."

"No, Father, I—"

King Harkinian stood up, his voice echoing throughout the hall. "You will not shirk your duties, arrive late, and then proceed to interrupt multiple hearings. If you cannot be silent, then you must leave."

Link felt ready to pass out still, but he rose to his feet, only to be knocked back down. "Your Majesty," Link tried. "I can call for someone who can vouch for me."

King Harkinian gestured to the door. "Do you see how many are out there? I must judge them all today. I do not have time to let everyone call a fake witness to their aid. Because of that, I must judge you to be guilty. You will lose a hand. Commence with the sentencing."

"No! Father, I know him! I can vouch for him!"

The king turned to two soldiers. "Restrain my daughter." He looked at Zelda as she fought the guards who held her back. "You must learn. You will cast the sentence, or I will, and it will be his life."

"But I know him! Link is my friend! Call Impa! She knows him, too!"

"I trust your attendant to be loyal to you, agreeing with anything you'd say. She will not be called."

Link began to scream out in pain as they unshackled him and wrenched his arm, holding it firmly on a log. He was sweating, the pain so intense it threatened to turn his stomach.

"Princess," Link called. "It's all right. Just do it."

"No!" She was on the verge of tears as she screamed at her father. "You cannot take an innocent man's hand! I've known Link since I was a child! He witnessed the ceremony with Impa. He saved me from Lizalfos. He's the Chosen Hero! Let him go!"

King Harkinian turned to Zelda in a hot rage. "The Ceremony? Impa was not there."

Princess Zelda ripped her arms from the soldiers and stumbled, suddenly dizzy, before straightening up. "She was. She and Link watched from the hidden chamber!"

Looking around the room, King Harkinian suddenly let out a loud cry. "Out! Everyone out!" He looked at the men holding Link, and the ones who'd been holding Zelda. "You stay."

The room cleared out quickly and King Harkinian strode over to Link. "The Ceremony is forbidden. If you truly were there, Link or Ravio, you will be able to describe it. I can then have you sentenced to death. So, a hand, or your life?"

Link shook his head. "Your daughter has a large heart. She's just trying to protect me. I am Ravio."

The king leaned in closer to Link. "Good answer."

The soldiers held Link down again, eliciting another pained shout from Link and one held up his sword. Suddenly, the soldier's entire hand caught fire.

Everyone turned to Zelda, and her body seemed to glow with a golden aura. "In the name of the Goddesses, who granted to me the wisdom of Nayru, the Courage of Farore, and the Power of Din, I command you to release him." She turned to her father. "Or will you defy the will of the Goddesses that you demanded I bear?"

King Harkinian looked at his daughter, awestruck. His eyes seemed to lighten from the place of darkness they'd been in, and he nodded, motioning for the guards to release Link.

The king turned to the soldiers. "The prisoners must be kept here overnight. I cannot continue today. Extend my apologies." He turned to his daughter, glancing for a moment at Link. "Zelda… I'm…" He couldn't finish and turned, rushing through the back door and out of the throne room.

Zelda dropped to her knees beside Link and placed her hand on his cheek. He was warm, and his eyes were unfocused. "Stop trying to sacrifice yourself for me. You're not immortal."

The words swam in Link's head, familiar, but he could not place them. Black spots took up most of his vision and his arm hung loosely by his side. It wasn't long after that he could faintly hear Zelda calling for help, and the world finally turned black entirely.

A gentle tune, elegant and regal, filled his ears. It wasn't the one he'd heard in the past, but a new one. The notes were plucked off a string.

He sat up and could see Zelda sitting on a couch, harp in hand. Her eyes were closed, and she looked like she was deep in thought.

Link rubbed his eyes. His gloves were off, and so was his shirt, a large bandage wrapped around him. He sat in the most comfortable surface he'd ever had the honor of sitting on. Princess Zelda's bed was airy and fluffy, as if he were in a cloud. The pillows had to have been made by the Goddesses themselves.

Zelda finished her song and looked over at Link. She smiled but didn't move. "Are you feeling better?"

"I am. Much. What happened?"

"I had some of my men bottle up a potion made by the Great Fairy so you would not need to leave." She put down her instrument and finally moved beside Link.

He ran a hand through his hair, his arm no longer aching with every movement.

"What happened to my shirt?" he jested. "Was that you?"

Zelda laughed. "You wish. Impa has been seeing to your wounds."

"Even better," Link said with a playful grin. Zelda rolled her eyes and stood up again.

She wore a long white dress, covering her front, bit open in the back. Her long hair was loose and draped down her back. She picked something up off the floor and turned around, catching Link staring at her.

"Your head still hurting, or can you blink?"

Link cleared his throat and ran a hand over his eyes again. "Must be the eyes."

"Right," she said with a chuckle. She handed Link the paper she'd picked up. "Unusual activity on Death Mountain. I thought you'd want to know."

"Great. Maybe I won't immediately be arrested this time? You know, I always pictured your father to be more… kind?"

Zelda sighed and sat on the couch, picking up her instrument again. "He used to be. Recently, he's been having these intense swings. I can't help but feel that Ganondorf is responsible. He's even asked that I stay away from him for a few days while he recovers."

Link bowed his head. "My hand and my life thank you, Princess."

Zelda walked back over to him, unable to sit still. She bent in front of his face. "Zelda. One day, you'll call me Zelda, not Princess."

"Unlikely, after all these years."

Zelda rolled her eyes and walked over to a stand by the door, leaning against it. Link watched her, and noticed a small white bandage was visible just beside the opening of her dress.

"Princess? What's that on your back?" he asked suspiciously.

Zelda chuckled. "Skin, I should hope. Why? Are you looking at my back again, Link?"

Link's face suddenly turned red. "No, I… that's not… no." He looked away from her, his eyes landing on the harp. It was more than familiar. He looked back at Zelda and noticed where her hair fell, and then looked back at the harp before standing up and striding over to her.

"Princess?"

She turned around and looked up at Link. She would have pushed him away, but her hand stopped short of his bare chest. "Remember the days when I was taller than you? I miss those days."

"I grew up," he said, blocking her escape around him. "Was it you?"

She finally nudged past his arm and quickly made for the couch, covering the harp and pulling the back of her dress together. "I don't know what you mean."

He stared at her eyes, imagining them red. "It is. You're Sheik."

"Who's that?" she asked, making for the window. She leaned against the sill, staring out into the sky.

"That's where you were hit from the spikes in the wall."

"I don't have spiked walls."

Link moved closer to her, but still kept his distance, sensing her anxiety. "When did you learn to fight?"

Zelda sighed and turned around to face Link. "After Ganondorf took you. Impa trained me."

She moved away from the window and stood in front of a closet, one that Link would guess had her Sheik outfit inside. "How did you get captured? I left you for two seconds."

"How did you find Ruto?" Link asked in return, knowing her question was just a frustrated deflection.

"A dream."

The door opened just then, and Impa stepped inside, looking between the two of them. She nodded awkwardly. "I take it you two have spoken."

"Thank you for helping me, Impa," Link said.

Impa stood there, unsure of what to do. She looked at Zelda's red face, then back to Link. "Well," she said with a smile between the two of them. "If I were younger, I'd be frazzled speaking with you too like that, Link. Put a shirt on; she's still your Princess." She tossed him one from a pile on the arm of the couch.

"Sorry," Link muttered, like a child. He pulled the comfortable shirt on over his head.

"I took your Zora Armor and hid it, for safe keeping." Impa said to Link. She turned to Zelda. "And I can dispose of yours now that your new one is ready."

Impa pushed past Zelda and took the ripped, cut up and bloodstained bodysuit from the closet.

"New one?" Link asked. "You were almost killed."

Zelda scoffed. "So were you."

"I'm not the future ruler of an entire kingdom."

"I've been doing this for years, and I'm not going to stop just because the Hero has returned."

Link sighed and leaned back. "Have you found the Triforce of Wisdom?"

Zelda shook her head. "I've been looking."

"There's still one Sage who is certainly dead. I'm going to Death Mountain."

Nodding, Zelda looked away. "Good."

Link was going to say more, but looked between her and Impa, and headed out through the secret tunnel near her room.