Happy new year, everyone!

Also, to the guest that found adorable that Link hid behind the beams in the ceiling *High five*, because yes. Keep in mind he did that for a while, eating, and staring, probably with a lazy demeanor and a bored look.

Zelda didn't let go of Link's hand. He had come to sit beside her, and after a while of himself questioning the world he gathered enough courage to change hands and put one on Zelda's back. He didn't dare move.

Zelda felt Link's arm sneaking around her back, tentative in his actions, slow. He kept on looking at her, as if asking permission, and Zelda wanted nothing more than- than-

Eventually Zelda calmed herself enough to talk. "Sir Keen," started Zelda, and Link felt the way her body tensed, "Sir Keen father," she clarified, "he has disowned his son, Robert Keen." Zelda remembered the faces in the council, all somber, smirking, "I am deeply sorry for what my son has caused, he said. He has disgraced Her Majesty's image by fighting with her distinguished guest, and in front of all the populace, no less, he said." Sir Keen father had feigned shame, he had looked apologetic, "and then he said that he found fitting enough for his son to be disowned as punishment. The greatest punishment he could muster."

Link was close to Zelda, he could see the disgust in the lines of her mouth, could see the anger in her eyes. Link was trying to understand what she was trying to tell him, but the only thing he could think of was, "That's harsh."

Zelda forgot for a second her anger, her powerlessness, and remembered that this, this was what she wanted to protect. And it was still intact. "Yes, it is a harsh punishment, is it not?"

"Is it common?"

Zelda shook her head, she could lay her head on Link's shoulder if she so wanted, "No. It is not unheard of, but it is a really hard thing to undo."

Link knew there was something more, something else in that action. If he could not tell by the story, Zelda's distress was enough to tip him on it. But he needn't ask, because Zelda whispered, "By giving his son such a punishment, he left the councilpeople no choice but to give you the same treatment."

"Ah."

"Robert Keen is," she cut herself, "he was a noble. For him to face a greater punishment than a peasant would raise suspicion and anger, it would bring shame to every noble family, and... They are powerful enough to harm the kingdom if they wish to."

Link nodded, of course he wouldn't shy away from whatever punishment he would have to face, but, "So... I'm to be disowned?" Link was confused from what he was to be disowned, he had no official family.

"Remember all I gave you as a reward for saving me?"

"Ah," Link shrugged, "I don't care about that, take it back, it doesn't matter."

Zelda couldn't help but smile. She was beginning to understand Link, what moved him, his reactions. She felt her heart skip a beat. She squeezed his hand as she felt the guilt eating at her, "They won't have me make a public announcement, nobody else will know. Just you, me and them." To protect her figure, they had said, "They told me that since I was the one that had decided that, I should be the one to tell you that- well- I had to come here and tell you 'oops, well, I can't go through with what I promised' and I- I-" Zelda pouted her lips in an attempt to keep her tears from falling.

Link felt her pain, her shame. He moved his hand to her shoulder, brought her to him, "Hey, I really appreciate what you wanted to do, but it doesn't change anything between us, all right? It doesn't matter to me, I won't think less of you."

"I know," Zelda croaked, "I know," in some way it made her feel worse. "It's just-"

"I know. A power play. They are just telling you that they are in control in the end. It's fine." But it wasn't really fine, even Link could tell that.

"There's also... It's a dumb old tradition. And, well, at first they wanted to give you time in prison, but Lady Tela and Mikau fought that since you were still my guest, and they were doing all this to protect my authority figure, to have you face time in prison wouldn't do. So they called forth an old tradition instead, one that befell nobles who couldn't supress their fits to fight and disgraced their families in the process."

Link moved his hand up and down her arm, "Okay," and also, "I'm sorry."

By the tone of Zelda's speech Link was half expecting her to say 'a death match' or 'to fight King Bulblin', but she turned to him, "You and Robert are to go to a monster-infested place selected by the council and clean it."

Link felt a smirk blossoming on his face, he grimaced, trying to not let it show - he still wasn't sure if Zelda found this as funny as he did - "Oh," he managed, "that's doable."

Zelda held Link's gaze for a while, serious and seemingly sad, a stare contest. She had thought it a slight, for them to still doubt Link. But they didn't know. They didn't know. Not like she did. And she had been furious, she had felt angry, but now Link was trying to supress a smile - his eyebrows were scrunched with force and his mouth was a line that trembled - and even though she was still worried and disgusted at how they were treating him, Zelda couldn't help but laugh.

Link bit his lip and Zelda slapped his chest. "This isn't a laughing matter," she chastised him, but she couldn't control her breathing and though her eyes were still watery Link was glad he could see some mirth in them.

"I know," Link breathed, "I know it's about them making you do this, I know, but sorry- It's just-"

Zelda had a smile in place but she had to tell Link, she had to make him realize, "Link this is horrible, they are just making us play along-"

Link felt a tug, a tug that made him turn to look at Zelda instead of hiding his laugh.

"- to their whims, and I know it's funny for you," and Zelda had to admit, "and to, well, me too. But don't forget-"

"I won't," Link put on a serious face, and Zelda stopped in her tracks, "I won't, but right now, with this cleansing they'll have us do, we can manage."

Zelda felt her eyes searching for any type of doubt in Link's statement, as if his resolve was a carefully made pretense and not what she was beginning to expect of him. Unabashed honesty.

"We'll get over this." And Zelda believed that. "I mean, we've faced worse," Link smiled again, "You think they'll get surprised when they see me going in there?"

"A hundred percent sure."

Link tried to let this pass. There was nothing else to discuss, if anything he should ask Zelda to clean a slot in her schedule so they could go relax somewhere, if anything he had to tell Zelda not to feel like she was alone in this. Those type of things. Link tried. But he could still see the desperation in Sir Keen's eyes, and the way his sword tried and tried to smack Link down. The way Sir Keen's hands were doing anything but the proper stances, the way Sir Keen's feet where stiff and how Sir Keen's knees cracked under one of Link's downward hits.

After a bout of silence of Link looking at their hands, "Sir Keen will have to go to a different place?"

"Yes," Zelda's lips were a line.

"Do you know where they'll send us?"

"Not for sure, but there are only a handful of places that fit their criteria."

Link's eyes were clear and guarded, "Dangerous?"

"Not for you." Zelda controlled her breathing, controled her heartbeat. Nothing would show.

"Do you think..." Link waited a second, he had to be sure. "Do you think you could make it so Sir Keen goes with me?"

Zelda was sure she was crying again. Zelda was sure she had never felt so relieved before in her life, too. She knew for a fact she had never thought something to be as beautiful as she thought Link right now.

Zelda felt the muscles tighten around her cheeks, felt her eyes crinkle and her nose wrinkle in the way her father had called adorable years ago, and she breathed, "Of course."

Link is TOO GOOD. and I love him for it.