A Hero's Ballad

by ArtemisPrince006

A Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild story. This will be a trilogy. The first book takes place 100 years before the start of Breath of the Wild. There will be lots of action and adventure and things will get pretty dark, however ultimately it's a story of how two unlikely people come together to overcome incomparable odds, terrible loses, and find love.

43. A Thin Line

Revali flew towards the stone gray castle, scanning the land below him. The air lifted him along, allowing him to glide most of the way. He watched below him, the trees whizzing by and guards walking lazily about as their shifts came to an end.

Revali had never seen Zelda in such a state... He wasn't sure what to call it, but it did scare him. Whatever had happened to her must have been serious. She wasn't one to make a fuss over little things. And although he was sure he could offer her some condolences, he thought Link more adept at handling this type of situation. Revali didn't know what to do beyond offer her some tea and listen to what she had to say. And it honestly didn't seem like she needed that now. She would rather smash and destroy things.

Revali lowered himself as he neared the training grounds, searching for a knight with sandy-blonde hair and a light blue tunic. Surely he would stand out as the other soldiers were in armor or dark blue shirts. Yet as he scoured the grounds, he couldn't find the knight. Sighing he landed in the training grounds, drawing many pairs of eyes to him.

In response, Revali glared at the nearest soldier and asked, "Where is the knight, Link?"

The soldier shrugged and then pointed behind him, "The Captain might know."

Revali haughtily walked past the soldier, annoyed with Link. Approaching the Captain, who was clad in full armor, his helmet held by his side, revealing brown hair, a stubbled chin, and hardened face. The Captain noticed the Rito and arched an eyebrow, "What brings the Rito Champion to my training session?"

"Where is Link?" Revali got right to it.

"Ah yes, Link. He was called into the castle by the Royal Guards. Seemed like something serious happened."

Revali frowned, "Lovely." With that he lunged into the air and flew towards the castle, loathing having to navigate the giant stone labyrinth. It was remarkable in terms of architecture, but Revali found it stifling and gloomy. Most of the corridors were dark and it made him feel like he was trapped underground, since there was such little exposure to the sky. A Rito's worse nightmare was to be trapped underground.

However as Revali lowered himself down to land on the bridge to the castle, he spotted Link run out, his face serious and taunt. Revali landed in front of the knight, making him stop, his eyes wide and not expecting Revali to appear out of the blue.

"Link-" Revali started.

"Not now, Zelda is missing." Link cut him off, his voice urgent. Revali wasn't sure what shocked him more, the fact that Link had interrupted him or that Zelda was missing...

Revali frowned, now wishing he had probed Zelda more for what had happened. She certainly had some explaining to do. Lowering his voice, Revali said, "She's not missing."

"What?" Link said, stopping in his tracks.

"I was trying to explain, before I was so rudely interrupted," Revali gave a pointed look at Link, "That Zelda is at our place... She seems rather... Distressed." Link furrowed his brows, contemplating. "What is going on?" Revali asked, wondering what Link knew.

Link merely shrugged, "I don't know. I think it best to talk to Zelda first. I'll meet you back at the house."

Revali nodded, "You better not dilly dally. Otherwise she'll start chopping the house down." Taking flight, Revali soared away, leaving Link to ponder what he meant by that.

As another log splint in two, I took a deep breath, my body straining from the constant work. I panted and wiped my brow of sweat, then rolled another log into place, appreciating the distraction. Lifting the ax, I felt my arms and thighs tense, then I crashed the tool downwards, where it hit the center of the log with a deft thud. The blade of the ax barely penetrated through the log, getting caught on several knots in the gnarly wood. Lifting the ax again, I began to hack away at it, until it finally cracked with a satisfying ripping sound.

"Zelda?" A voice called, making me jump. Suddenly Link was next to me, his expression a mixture of relief and confusion.

"Link!" I exclaimed.

"What's going on?" Link asked, motioning from me to the split logs. Tthe Royal Guards told me you had gone missing."

I bit my lip, impressed that they had already discovered my absence. "Well that was fast."

Link arched an eyebrow, "What happened?"

I sighed and set the ax down, feeling a little less angry. "The King and I got into a bit of an argument last night." I answered dismissively.

"About your powers?" Link asked, knowing it was a constant sore spot between my father and I.

I kneaded my forehead, "Partially."

Taking a step closer to me, he grasped me gently by the shoulders. "Zelda, please just tell me what happened." His eyes had a pleading look to them, making me look away.

I felt tears welling up in my eyes as the anger and frustration flared up again. "You remember how I told you something had happened yesterday before I came to your place?"

Link nodded.

"I ran into Cobain after training yesterday. We talked. He may not know for certain, but I think he does have an inkling about us." I shook my head, "Anyways, one of the King's advisors saw Cobain and I together and mistook it for something... more. When I got back to the castle my father accused me of being a failure and a whore." I swallowed, the words flat and empty as I spoke them. Link squeezed my shoulders, his brows furrowing. "I told him if that's what he really thought, then I was done. I left and returned to my room, where the King promptly stationed guards outside my room, effectively imprisoning me. So I escaped."

"Zelda..." Link said, his face softening.

"I'm alright." I reassured, "I'm just... So angry." I shook my head, blinking back tears as I tried to reign in my emotions.

"We'll figure this out." Link assured, his arms wrapping around me. I brought my hands up around his back, resting my head on his shoulder. For some reason, everything seemed better when Link was around, as if things were more manageable and not as overwhelming.

"I don't know what to do." I confided, "I don't want to talk to him. Or see him. Yet I know this isn't the time for a petty spat with the King. We need to present a united front if we have any chance of defeating Calamity Ganon."

Link rubbed my back, "I wouldn't say this is a petty. Not what he accused you of. He really has no idea who you are."

I sighed, "He hasn't for a long time. But then again, I have no idea who he is either. Neither of us have tried to mend our relationship."

"Zelda, you were a kid." Link said, "How was it your responsibility to try and reach out to your father? Do kids even understand that kind of stuff? He was the one that should have been there for you. He might have had a lot to deal with as well, but he could have told you that."

I squeezed Link, his words taking some of the burden off of me. "I just always blame myself. I always think I'm the one at fault."

"I know you do." Link replied. "And you need to stop that. Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is you keep going and learn from those mistakes."

"I try." I mumbled.

"You do!" Link reassured me. "So don't blame yourself for this."

I pulled back slightly to look at Link. "What should I do? I don't want to go back to the castle. I don't want to talk to him. But we need to come to some... Resolution. There isn't much time." By this point, we only had weeks.

"If you explain the situation, will he understand?" Link asked.

I gave an empty laugh, "I tried that, but he never listens."

"Then maybe have someone there to talk to him with you. Someone who knows you both and perhaps can mediate between the two of you." I nodded, certain both of us had the same person in mind.

"Urbosa." I said and Link nodded. I placed my forehead on Link's shoulder, feeling the tension in my body beginning to ease. Although I wasn't looking forward to talking to the King, having Urbosa with me would certainly help. "Thanks Link."

"Any time." He replied. "Although maybe I should be thanking you for splitting all this wood." He chuckled, making me smile.

"I was really angry."

"I think you made Revali nervous."

I lifted my head and looked around, "Where is Revali?" I felt bad as I hadn't explained anything to Revali. "I should probably tell him what happened."

Link released me and the two of us walked back into the house, our fingers weaving together. Revali was waiting inside, sorting through his arrows ad he restocked his quiver. He glanced up at us as we approached, "Is someone finally going to explain to me what's going on?"

"Yes. Thanks for being patient, Revali." I said, my eyes sympathetic.

The three of us sat down at the table and I began to tell them both what happened, from my talk with Cobain, to the fight with my father and escaping from my study. The two listened intently, and as I finished, I relayed the solution Link and I had devised.

Revali scoffed, "Some king, ostracizing his own daughter. It's probably a wise idea to have a voice of reason with you." Revali narrowed his eyes, "But it will take a few days for Urbosa to receive your request and travel here. What do you plan to do until then?

I swallowed not having thought that part out. I glanced between Link and Revali, wondering if they'd let me stay with them. Revali pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you really have any other options?" Revali replied, deducing what I was thinking. "Unless you want to travel to Rito Village or Goron City, but then you'd chance being seen."

"You don't mind?" I asked.

"Just remember I live here too." Revali said, giving both of us a pointed look, which made me blush. Ignoring my discomfort, Revali continued, "Write your letter. I'll deliver it to Urbosa. I'll reach her faster than any horseman. Plush I'll be spared from any displays of affection."

"You'd do that?" I said, grateful to Revali.

"We don't have a lot of time." Revali replied, "If we don't hurry, you'll be found out, Zelda. And seeing how much sense you Hylians have, they'll probably charge me with kidnapping you."

I gave Revali a disdainful look, feeling his deductions were a little dramatic. "I'll send word to the king that I am safe and request an audience with him. I won't return to the castle until then."

"Will he listen?" Link asked.

"I won't give him another option." I replied, stubbornly folding my arms over my chest . Grabbing a pencil and some paper, I began to write two letters, one to Urbosa and the other to the King.

Revali left for Gerudo Town as soon as I was done writing the letter, assuring me he would reach Urbosa by the end of the day. Then all that was left was delivering my letter to the King. However, since it was too risky for me to venture out of the house, I instructed Link to deliver it. I attached the letter to an arrow, which Link would fire from the woods before the castle gates, landing in front of the guards. By the time they read the letter and understood who it was from, Link would be gone.

Once Link had left to deliver the letter, all I could do was wait. I paced the house, feeling on edge. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do in the next few days, the anxiety from waiting would probably kill me. I didn't want to speak with the King. His words still stung, but having Urbosa with me gave me courage. I knew she would be able to stand up for me and my father had much respect for the Gerudo Chief, so he would listen to her. I wasn't sure my father and I could ever be on good terms again, but perhaps we could find a compromise. At least until the war was over. Then there would be a whole new issue to overcome... Link and I being together.

I knew he would never approve, so I had no idea what would happen. As the last of the bloodline of the Hyrule family, he couldn't displace me from the throne. The throne was mine once I was of age. Theoretically I could claim my title as Queen once I turned seventeen. But I had no intention of enacting such claims until the war was over. And then there was sorting out the politics of it all... there was a proper way to pass on the title of ruler. Ideally it would be handed to me under amicable terms, however I feared the King would see me unfit to rule and as such I would have to usurp the throne from him... which would cause a division. Worse case scenario it would lead to a civil war. Which I wanted to avoid since the kingdom would be recovering from the war with Calamity Ganon.

I kicked out my foot, frustration flooding my system. Had I done the right thing? I had said some harsh things, stormed off, then ran away. It was indeed a very childish thing to do. But had there been any other option? My father... the King... was there any reasoning with him?

Sitting down on the couch, I kneaded my forehead. I was walking on a thin line, and I wasn't sure what the best way to handle any of this was. Perhaps in the end, it would be best to just run away with Link. We could travel across Hyrule, exploring everything this rich land had to offer.

It was a wonderful dream.

Rising, I decided to make some tea. Filling the kettle, I placed it over the fire and waited for it to boil. As I waited, the door opened up and I turned to see Link walk in, his bow grasped in one hand.

"How did it go?" I asked.

"Letter was successfully delivered." He nodded, then placed his bow against the wall and joined me on the couch. "Tea?" He asked, seeing the kettle on the fire. I nodded, causing Link to smile.

Seconds later the water was boiling and I poured us each a hot mug of tea. I grabbed mine, the warmth from the mug heating my hands. Link scouted closer to me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders, "What's the plan while we wait?" He grinned.

Link and I decided it would be best if we both avoided going out as much as possible for the next few days. Some would probably suspect Link knew where I was, thus question him or follow him. Granted someone could always show up at this house, but we hoped no one would until Revali returned. Then he could simply say we'd both disappeared.

Leaning against Link, I shrugged, "I haven't really thought that part out." I replied, then blew on my mug of tea.

"Yeah, we don't really have much here for entertainment." Link mused.

"No games?" I teased.

Link shook his head. "Afraid not. You're just going to have to settle for my company."

"Well, it's only for a few days. I think I can handle that after traveling with you for months." I replied playfully, his presence already lightening my mood.

"Besides the occasional monster attack and near death experience, I think you enjoyed our adventure." He teased back, nudging me.

He wasn't wrong. "I did." There were parts to it that had definitely been grim and unpleasant, like my visions and the looming presence of Calamity Ganon, but there had been fun and exciting times as well, like camping on Satori Mountain, or shield surfing on the snowy peaks in the Hebra region. And all the while, I learned more about Link, growing closer to him.

"I'm glad you were assigned as my knight." I finally said, chancing a sip of my tea. The scalding liquid instantly made me regret that, burning my tongue. I set the beverage down to let it cool.

"When we first started our journey, I never thought I'd hear you say that."

"And I never thought I'd be sitting here with you like we are now." I countered. I thought back to the beginning of our journey, how obstinate and difficult I had been with Link. "I can imagine you probably didn't like me much back then."

Link furrowed his brows. "I wouldn't say that..." He thought for a moment. "Granted you didn't make things easy for me, but I also kind of understood why. Everyone doubted you. And you wanted to prove them all wrong. I'm glad we found an understanding though." Link grinned, "Remember our day at the beach?"

I nodded, "How could I forget? You let me borrow your shirt because I fell in the water while chasing a crab."

Link laughed recalling it. "I thought for sure you were going to be mad; yet then you started laughing. It was then I realized you were just an ordinary person like everyone else."

We paused, recalling that day on the beach. I tilted my head up to look at Link, biting my lip in the process. I had wanted to talk to Link alone about what happened between Cobain and I, but when I had explained, Revali was present as well. Link didn't give much away as I had told them about my encounter with Cobain, his face neutral. I pulled my knees to me, wrapping my arms around them. "Did you want to talk? About Cobain?" I asked hesitantly.

The small smile on Link's face faded and his eyes met mine. He shrugged, "I think initially I was a little upset about what he said to you. But you seem to be firm in your decision, and that's all I need."

Link's eyes grew intense as he looked at me, and I felt my heart melt. I looked down at my knees, "He did make me doubt myself. Doubt us." I said honestly. "The path he proposed, it is the traditional path, the safe path. And a part of me feels obligated to follow that path. And yet..." I looked back up at Link, his intense cerulean eyes focused on me, "It's not the path I want. I want this." I reached for him, my hand cupping his cheek. Link's hand ensnared mine. "I want you." I whispered. Before I knew it our heads leaned closer, our lips touching. His arms encircled me, pulling me close to him until my chest was pressed against his. I wrapped my arms around his next, weaving my fingers into his hair, the fibers soft underneath my skin.

My heart beat frantically against my chest, so hard I was sure Link could feel it. Our lips pressed together greedily as if we only had this short moment to truly be together. I felt my body tingle at his touch, leaving me breathless. My hold on him tightened, as if I was afraid that he would slip through my fingers. In response, Link grabbed me around my waist, lifting me up onto his lap, never breaking our kiss in the process. As our lips twisted past each other, I wanted nothing more than to be with Link for the rest of my life. A burning emotion sizzled in my chest, ready to spill forth, and as Link and I finally broke apart, panting, I almost uttered those words.

Yet I clamped my mouth shut, uncertainty rippling inside of me. Instead I leaned in again and kissed Link, his lips curving into a smile underneath mine. I too broke out into a smile and leaned back to stare at him.

His hand came up to place a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His eyes searched mine, and his hand gently traced my cheek, so light it made me shiver. "You're beautiful." He whispered. "You're like the moon: elegant, wise, stunning."

I blinked, a blush rising to my cheeks at his words. "Really?" I said softly, giggling. "To me, you've always been like the sun; a ray of light in the darkness. Strong and fierce, yet kind and gentle. And so handsome." I reached a hand towards him, tracing his face, trying to burn every feature into my mind; his sharp cheekbones, his caring smile, his deep blue eyes, his wild hair... everything.

Link grinned and wrapped his hands around me, pulling my back towards him. I leaned down, resting my forehead upon his. I had never felt this way with anyone before. Never been this close to someone before. I wasn't entirely sure what to do or how to act, which definitely made me nervous, but Link's presence always calmed me. This felt like a small moment for us to be together. A small blip in time before chaos was unleashed all throughout Hyrule. Once Calamity Ganon surfaced, when would we have alone time like this again? When would we be free to act like a couple instead of just Princess and knight?

It was as if Link sensed my thoughts, and leaned up to kiss me once more. I wrapped my arms around his neck again, starting to enjoy the feel of his lips on mine. Leaning backwards, I pulled us down onto the couch. Link readjusted his body, so he was leaning against the side of the couch, while I curled against him, our legs tangled together. We broke apart, the both of us smiling. I nestled against Link, his warmth comforting me, lulling me into a state of peace. I hadn't slept at all the night before, and now that the anger had passed, a deep wariness was filling me.

"Tired?" Link asked, his voice muffled against my head.

"Yeah." I answered, my eyes closing, my body feeling heavy.

"Rest." He whispered, then sat up, much to my dismay. I gave a muffled noise of protest, my arms ensnaring Link around the torso. Link laughed, "I'm just grabbing a blanket."

"Oh." I said, feeling sheepish.

Link merely chuckled and threw the blanket over us, making sure it covered all the way to our feet. As he laid back down, I reclaimed my position of curling next to him. His arm lazily wrapped around my back, his touch delicate. "I don't think it's as lavish as your pile of blankets in your room, but it should be warm enough."

"It's perfect." I mumbled, feeling sleep pull at me. It didn't take long, in the comfort of Link's arms, to fall into the pits of sleep.

Slowly, consciousness returned to me. Rubbing my eyes, I rolled from my side to my back to look up at the thick, wooden rafters. Pulling at the blanket, I buried myself underneath it, only the top of my head sticking out. Nestling against the couch, I closed my eyes.

It was then I realized Link was gone. I sat up, the blanket falling off me, releasing all the warm air I had accumulated. I swiveled my head, searching for Link.

"You're up." Link's voice echoed out, and I turned to see him in the kitchen, cooking. "Perfect timing. Dinner is almost ready."

Wrapping the blanket around my body, I walked into the kitchen. "How long was I sleeping?" I asked, glancing outside the window. It was dark out.

Link shrugged. "Not sure. I only woke up a little bit ago and it was dusk."

I walked next to Link, my hands grasping his forearm. I leaned my head against his shoulder, making Link pause. "Still tired?" I nodded against his shoulder. "You can go back to sleep if you want." I shook my head and Link let out a chuckle. "How about you set the table?"

I pulled back and nodded. Link grinned, leaned in briefly, and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. I felt heat go to my cheeks at the sudden gesture. Spinning on my heels, I grabbed several plates, and hurriedly went to set the table.

Once finished, I poured a glass of water for each of us, then took a seat, wrapping the blanket around my legs and feet. Link arrived minutes latter, placing several dishes of food on the table. The aroma hit my olfactory lobes and I realized how hungry I was. Piling the food on my plate, I asked, "When do you think Revali will be back?"

"Morning." Link answered.

I bit into my food enjoying the explosion of flavor upon my tongue. I wasn't sure how Link managed to create such masterpieces in the kitchen. It was like magic to me. The concept of cooking didn't seem hard at all, yet anytime I tried to cook, it was hardly palatable.

"And Urbosa should be here tomorrow evening." I said. I was looking forward to seeing her, but I wished the circumstances were more favorable.

"You'll work things out." Link assured, knowing I was going to start thinking about my inevitable talk with the King.

I sighed, "Yes. And then back to focusing on Calamity Ganon. I still haven't made any progress with my powers."

"Maybe it really is waiting for you at the Spring of Wisdom." Link offered, "You've tried everything else."

"Right. I'll need to start planning for that. My birthday is only a few weeks away." I said dully.

"Speaking of which, maybe we should do something for your birthday." Link suggested. "I know you have to go to the Spring of Wisdom, but we could do something before?" Link asked hopefully.

I shrugged, not sure if I really felt like celebrating. "That could work..." I replied hesitantly.

"It doesn't have to be anything big." Link assured, seeing the doubt in my expression.

I bit my lip then nodded, "Alright."

Link grinned. The two of us continued to chat while we ate our meal, and once finished, we quickly cleaned the dishes and kitchen. When everything was tidy, we returned to the couch. Unraveling the blanket from around me, I offered one end to Link, who snuggled underneath it, his body pressed against mine. Resting my head against Link's shoulder, I closed my eyes, enjoying the peace and tranquility. Inhaling, I said, "This is nice."

"Yeah." Link agreed, nudging my slightly with his shoulder, "Still tired?"

"A little." I replied, "But I'm content more than anything."

"Alright, but if you start nodding off, you can head upstairs." Link said. I merely nodded my head in response. Link briefly leaned to the side, grabbing something from the side table. I cracked my eyes open to see him holding a book.

"What are you reading?" I asked.

"It's a storybook about the legendary adventurer, Gin. Each chapter tells a different one of his stories." Link explained.

"Gin, the Sheikah monster hunter?" I inquired, recalling the stories Vorel would tell when reading Impa and I bedtime stories as kids. Gin's adventures were told to every child in Kakariko Village. But his adventures were so popular that I wasn't surprised Link knew about them.

"Yep." Link replied, "In the story I'm about to start, he's tracking an Igneous Talus. Want me to read it to you?" I nodded, and a few seconds later, Link began reading. Bringing my legs up onto the couch, I readjusted the blanket, then closed my eyes as Link read the story. I listened intently as Link spoke, his voice low and smooth. When finished with this chapter he continued to the next one, which involved Gin raiding a bokoblin nest. As Link read, I found myself drifting off, only catching pieces of the story.

"Zelda?" Link finally said, and I blinked my eyes, waking up. "Let's call it a night." I nodded and sat up, yawning. "You can use my room."

I blinked at Link as he got up and tended to the fire. I wasn't entirely sure if that meant he was going to sleep down here or if he would join me. Clarifying, I asked, "Where are you going to sleep?"

"I'm fine on the couch." Link replied as he put out the fire.

Feeling chagrined, I mumbled, "I'm fine if you want to join me." I was sure my face instantly turned multiple shades of red as the words left my mouth. Link looked back at me and I pulled the blanket up, hidding the lower part of my face, which only made me feel even more silly. Looking down, I muttered, "If you want."

Link broke out into a laugh, which only made me feel more embarrassed. Trying to save my dignity, I stood up and began to walk towards the stairs. "It's fine. I just thought I'd ask."

"Zelda, wait." Link chuckled, "I didn't want to overstep my bounds. But if you're ok with it, then so am I."

I stopped to look back at Link, feeling relieved. Clearing my throat I gave a stiff nod and said, "Ok." Then I hurried upstairs, feeling very awkward, which was a feeling I wasn't accustomed to.

As I walked into Link's room, it was then I recalled I hadn't brought much with me for clothes. I walked back out of his room and partially down the stairs. "Can I borrow some of your clothes?" I asked sheepishly, still not fully recovered from my previous interaction with Link.

"Sure." Link answered, grinning. I scurried back to his room and grabbed the familiar red shirt he had lent to me back at Hateno Beach. I changed into that as well as a pair of shorts I had packed.

Once I was finished, I made my way to Link's bed, sliding all the way under the covers. Minutes later Link walked in, chuckling as he saw the lump in his bed. "You in there, Zelda?"

I poked my head out and gave him a stern look, not appreciating his teasing. Link simply laughed, causing me to roll over so I wasn't facing him. Once Link was ready for bed, he blew out the candles, then climbed into bed. I felt the bed shift as he moved and the next second, his body was next to mine, his arms wrapping around mine. I immediately relaxed against him. Twisting around so I was facing Link, I looked up at him, his face barely visible in the darkness of the room. Once more I felt this bubbling emotion rising in my chest. I swallowed, and whispered, "Goodnight Link."

"Goodnight Zee." Link returned. Lifting my head, I pressed my lips to his, Link instantly returning my kiss. Smiling, I pulled away, then wrapped an arm around Link, nestling against his chest. Closing my eyes, I breathed in deeply. Although the day hadn't had the best start and my circumstances for staying with Link were not ideal, I couldn't help but be grateful for this time we had together.

I awoke to soft rays of light shining through the only window in Link's room. Rubbing my eyes, I found I was lying next to Link, my back pressed against his stomach, one of his arms lazily wrapped around my frame. I tried to roll to my back quietly, so as not to disturb Link as it appeared he was still sleeping. However as I shifted, Link spoke, his voice soft and mellow. "You're awake." His eyes slowly opened, as if he had been patiently waiting for me to wake up this whole time.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked.

"Since dawn. But I've been dozing off and on until now." Link answered, leaning his head down until his forehead rested against the top of my skull.

"You didn't have to wait for me." I replied, poking him playfully.

Link shrugged, pulling back to look at me, his blue eyes sparkling in the soft dawn light. "I did promise you that we would sleep in." It was then I recalled our talk at his parent's place, how I had protested getting up, and in return Link had made me this promise.

"I guess you held up your end of the bargain." I laughed. "But we can get up now."

Link arched an eyebrow, his eyes inspecting me. "You sure?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It's already pretty late and we probably want to be up and about before Revali comes back."

"Fair enough." Link said as he rolled out of bed, an instant wave of cold taking his place as his warmth faded. Resolutely I followed Link, leaving the sanctity of the covers. Grabbing my neating folded pile of clothes, I made for the bathroom, however came to a stop as I opened the bedroom door.

From downstairs, I heard the door knock, a wave of fear and adrenaline suddenly spiking through me. Were the guards here? Had they found me? But that terror disappeared as quickly as it had come as the door swung open and a smug voice announced, "I have returned! In record time I might add."

I stumbled from Link's room and ran down the hallway, stopping mid staircase as I spotted Revali. "You're back!" I uttered.

Revali rolled his eyes. "Obviously." His eyes narrowed, resting on something behind me. I turned to see Link directly behind me, his hand going to scratch the back of his neck. Revali sighed and waved his hand dismissively. "I don't even want to know."

"Revali!" I exclaimed, blushing profusely.

Revali turned to look at me, his eyes serious. "Urbosa is here. We traveled late into the evening and early this morning to get here as fast as possible."

My forehead creased at his words, "Where is she?"

Revali met my gaze with keen eyes, "She's with your father."

Urbosa walked through the castle gates, her skirt swaying behind her as she went. Her long red hair and bright colored clothes and armor made her stand out amongst all the dull and plain uniforms of the Hylian forces. Even the nobles wore muted, undertone colors. Thus all eyes were on the exotic presence that was the Gerudo Chief.

"I'm here to see King Rhoam." Urbosa said sternly, leaving no room for debate. "And please see to my steed. He has had a hard journey."

The soldiers saluted Urbosa. One instantly began to bark orders to a few lower ranking guards to deal with the horse, while the other beckoned Urbosa to follow him. They wove their way through the castle, Urbosa being handed off to a servant once she entered the castle, who politely dipped her head in respect to Urbosa, then led her to Rhoam's private study.

Once there, Urbosa knocked loudly. Footsteps sounded behind the door as well as some indistinct grumbling, and then the door was thrust open to reveal Rhoam Hyrule. He looked rather compromised, his hair was scraggly, rather than its normal finally combed appearance, and he wore less formal attire, forgoing his regal jacket for a deep blue button-up shirt. But most apparent were his tired, sleepless eyes, which appeared gaunt and bloodshot.

"Urbosa." Rhoam said, his voice a mixture of surprise and confusion. "I was not expecting you."

Urbosa gave Rhoam a soft smile. She didn't necessarily agree with Rhoam's parental approach, or lack thereof, but he was still a dear friend to her, and she could see that Rhoam was just as upset by this situation as Zelda was. Urbosa knew Zelda thought her father didn't care, and as far as Urbosa could see, Rhoam put up that front, allowing Zelda to believe it. He pushed her mercilessly, forgoing any healthy father-daughter relationship with her in the hopes that it would push her to train more. His methods were brutal, but Urbosa understood what drove him to do it.

Long ago there had been a prophecy, around Zelda's birth, that Calamity Ganon would return and lay siege to the land of Hyrule. The only ones who could defeat this entity were the Hero who possessed the legendary Sword that seals the Darkness, and the Princess with the power of a sage. It was obvious the legend was referring to Zelda. Zelda's mother had been preparing for years how to properly train Zelda to awaken and use her powers, but none of that came to fruition as Winfree had died before she could provide any tutelage to her daughter.

Beyond that, she had left the kingdom ruler-less until her husband, Rhoam took up the mantle as King. However, although Rhoam was noble-born, he hadn't been trained since childhood in the ways of the monarchy, thus he was thrust into a position he had to quickly adapt to. It was a heavy and harsh undertaking, as well as coping with the death of the Queen. And with all these added responsibilities and the emotional drain, he hardly had any capacity left for his daughter, who was drowning in her own sorrow.

How could one broken person fix another?

Thus Urbosa stepped in, taking Zelda under her wing. Urbosa could never replace Lady Winfree as Zelda's mother, but perhaps she could offer some stability to the poor, grieving child, since Rhoam simply couldn't. Urbosa never held that against him, however she hoped one day they would grow to at least understand each other. But clearly the rift had only widened, climaxing in one big fight where Zelda had run away from the castle.

Urbosa sighed, knowing if she was going to help mend the relationship between Rhoam and Zelda, she would have to mentally prepare herself. Perhaps physically too. Back in her youth, Zelda had a tendency to throw punches and kicks in her anger. Thanks to her training with Daruk, they weren't faint blows either - they stung. Zelda thankfully had outgrown that, however Urbosa knew how violent Zelda's temper could get.

"Zelda wrote to me." Urbosa said, motioning to the room behind Rhoam, "Can I come in? Can we talk?"

Rhoam stepped aside, letting Urbosa enter. He shut the door deftly behind Urbosa and said, "Is she alright?"

Urbosa gave Rhoam a sympathetic look and patted him on the shoulder. Despite his gruffness and harshness with Zelda, he did care about her. "She is safe. Although, from what I gathered, quite upset." Urbosa recalled Revali mentioning something about Zelda with an ax, which probably wasn't a good combo. "And rightfully so. I hear you accused her of some pretty drastic things." Urbosa arched an eyebrow.

Rhoam looked away, almost looking as if he had been scolded. "Please, sit Urbosa." He motioned to a chair and Urbosa pulled the chair to her, crossing her leg neatly over the other. Rhoam took a seat as well, fiddling with his fingers, uncertain what to say.

Urbosa decided to step in, knowing she would have to push things along, with both Rhoam and Zelda. Perhaps they were more similar than either cared to admit. "We both know Zelda is doing the best she can. She has spent her entire life dedicated to her studies and training. Do you really think Zelda would act in such a way? That she would mess around? That she's a failure?"

Rhoam looked down at his hands, his fingers still moving nervously as he contemplated her words. Sighing, he shook his head, "We're running out of time,Urbosa!" He reasoned, a desperate note in his voice.

"That wasn't my question." Urbosa persisted, her dazzling verdant eyes piercing his like daggers. When Rhoam still didn't say anything, Urbosa shook her head, "Do you even know your own daughter?"

Rhoam frowned. "Not well." He admitted, which Urbosa was pleased with. At least it showed he was willing to talk.

"She's a good kid, Rhoam. And she's more persistent than anyone I know. She's tried so hard to awaken her powers and get the approval she so desperately craves from you, her father. She jumped off one of the castle towers, for Hylia's sake!"

"Exactly." Rhoam said, his eyes becoming stern. "She did go through an exceedingly rebellious phase. Picking fights. Putting herself in precarious situations. I figured this was another one of those phases - shirking her responsibilities. Fooling around with knights."

Urbosa sighed, "She had a very hard time after the Queen died and you practically abandoned her. Do you know how hard that was on her? I know you had your own struggles to get through, but she needed you. And despite your absence, she has grown and matured over the years. She still has some issues to overcome, but not for a second would I believe she was shirking her duties and fooling around. Especially at a time like this. She knows what's at stake. Do you even have an evidence to back up your claims?"

Rhoam sighed, his eyes wary. Urbosa had never been afraid to confront Rhoam and challenge him. It was something he respected about her, but it was also something he found very frustrating because it made him analyze his actions and methods. Was he truly certain his way of handling Zelda had been correct? He could never be certain but he thought it was his best option. "My advisor, Astor, saw her with one of the knights. He made it seem like they were quite involved. And we found his jacket in her room. Not to mention a very suggestive mark on her neck."

Urbosa laughed at the absurdity, "A love bite? Zelda would never. I'm assuming it was an injury from training."

Rhoam folded his arms, a cross look passing over his face. "That is what she claimed."

"And you didn't believe her." Urbosa surmised, her eyes carefully analyzing the King. "Did you confront the night she was with?"

Rhoam pressed his lips together. "His name is Cobain Bryld. His father is a respectable noble. I did reach out to the young man and he confirmed Zelda's story; they had just been talking. He had given Zelda his jacket since it was a chilly evening."

Urbosa arched an eyebrow, "So you believe him but not your own daughter? You believed your advisor without sufficient evidence and didn't even hear Zelda out?" Urbosa spoke in a calm, even tone, however Rhoam couldn't help but flinch at them.

"Astor is a respectable advisor." Rhoam defended. "He is a knowledgeable man and I wouldn't think he would make presumptions on little evidence. He was a scholar prior to being appointed my advisor."

"From my recollection, almost everyone at Hyrule Castle has a rather... Sour opinion of Zelda. It wouldn't be out of question for everyone to assume the worse of her. There are plenty of rumors going around about her, rumors that you have done nothing to quell."

Rhoam creased his forehead, his anger flashing forward briefly. "They are supposed to push her to excel! That is the reason I am so harsh with her. To push her to awaken her powers! That desperation to prove everyone wrong will help her awaken that which is locked inside."

"It's been almost 12 years of that mentality and it hasn't worked. Do you really think it will now?" Urbosa asked. Her eyes softened. "Maybe what she needed instead of you pushing her to extremes was someone who supported her."

Rhoam let out a distressed noise, "This is the path I have chosen. And I will see it through." Rhoam shook his head, the anger fading from his eyes as a look of regret passed through them, "Besides, back then I wasn't able to be what she needed. I couldn't be her father."

Urbosa closed her eyes, grief sweeping through her. The Queen's death had been a hard loss for Hyrule, but it had torn the royal family apart completely. Urbosa had lost her best friend, and while she had tried to help Rhoam and Zelda as best she could, there was only so much she could offer. Still, she wished she could have done more back then. "That's understandable, Rhoam. When Winfree passed, you were left alone in a pit of sharks and had to figure out how to navigate those treacherous waters. Not to mention I know her death hit you hard. It is little wonder you didn't have the emotional capacity to be there for Zelda too. But sometimes I feel we don't give children enough credit. They can understand more than we think. If you had just talked to her, if you had allowed yourself to be vulnerable with her, I think you two could have overcome the Queen's passing, together. Instead, you both pulled away." Urbosa sighed, "I'm not trying to pass blame on anyone. I know the two of you did the best you could under the circumstances. And despite the deep rift between you two, I still think it can be mended."

Rhoam lowered his head, the white strands hanging low, obscuring his expression. His hands had stopped twitching and now rested on his thighs. "She had to become a stoic and strong successor to the throne. I do not think my way was incorrect. However I do wish there could have been another way, where we could have grown together and had some type of relationship. But I made my decision long ago; that if it meant she would be able to awaken her power and save Hyrule, then I would sacrifice that father-daughter relationship. That was the decision I made, even if it pained me to do so. And now, I do not think there is any way to salvage anything between Zelda and me. She doesn't even view me as her father. And after the rage-filled words I said to her, I do not blame her."

Urbosa rose from her chair, walking over to Rhoam as her red hair bounced from side to side. She knelt next to the broken man and rested a hand on his thick bicep. "We all say things we don't mean in the heat of our anger." Urbosa gave a knowing smile, "Especially you and Zelda. She certainly inherited her temper from you. While Winfree's anger was cool and hostile like ice, yours and Zelda's is like a scorching wildfire - you both tend to get lost in it and lash out at anything and everything around you. I think Zelda may also regret some of the words she spoke in her anger too."

Rhoam looked at Urbosa, his eyes watery and for once filled with emotion. "You think so?" Rhoam whispered, his voice horse.

Urbosa nodded, "As a child, Zelda lost her temper with me on occasion. She said some pretty cruel things. But once her anger had passed, she apologized and said she hadn't meant them."

Rhoam sighed, some of the anxiety in his face disappearing. "I know she requested an audience with me tomorrow afternoon. I assume she asked you to attend?"

"Yes. She wanted me to be a mediator." Urbosa answered.

Rhoam nodded, a contemplative look on his face, "That was probably a wise decision. The two of us hardly ever have an amicable discussion. Our emotions always get in the way."

Urbosa gave the King a soft smile, "See the two of you are more alike than you realize." Rising, Urbosa continued, "I am going to go talk to Zelda next. If everything goes well, I had hoped to bring her here afterwards. The sooner we settle this dispute between the two of you, the better. Is that alright with you?"

Rhoam nodded, "Yes, I think that is for the best as well. I will be waiting in the sanctum."

Urbosa thought for a moment, a thin finger going to her tanned chin. "Actually, I think discussions like this may be best suited over a nice meal. Let's meet for dinner tonight, a casual dinner at that. How does that sound? Besides, when was the last time you had a family meal?"

Rhoam frowned, his eyebrows knitting together. "Years." He muttered, a sad note in his voice.

Urbosa patted his broad shoulders, "It's never too late to make amends. We can't undo the damage of the past, but we can vow to do better in the future."

The corner's of Rhoam's lips turned upwards, "Winfree always said you were a constant voice of reason for her. She used to say if she was ever uncertain about something, you'd always set her straight. I can see why."

Urbosa chuckled, pushing an unruly lock of her red hair behind her shoulder, "Is that so? And yet I always saw her as the intuitive one, always knowing what had to be done." Urbosa looked down at Rhoam, who was still sitting in his chair, his hands folded together. "I know the two of you married for political reasons, but she did come to care for you deeply."

Rhoam let out a shaky breath, "So did I." He whispered, and Urbosa swore she saw a faint droplet fall from his eye.

Revali had told Urbosa that Zelda was staying with him and Link at one of the guest houses near Hyrule Castle. Urbosa, familiar with the layout, hurriedly made her way to the guest houses, coming to a stop when she found the correct one. Revali had said it was the last one, closest to the river.

Knocking loudly, she waited for only a few seconds until the door opened, revealing a feathered face and yellow beak. "Come in." Revali stepped out of the way to let the Gerudo in. "She's been pacing all morning." Revali warned, then pointed to a Hylian girl whose hair was tied back into a braid and wore black pants and a dark green shirt that was slightly big on her. Like Revali had stated, she was pacing back and forth between the living room and kitchen, a worried scowl on her face.

Coming to a stop, the girl turned to look who had knocked at the door, her face instantly brightening as she saw the Gerudo chieftain. "Urbosa!" She exclaimed and ran to the tall woman, hugging her in a death grip. Urbosa wrapped her arms around the Princess, her frame slightly thinner than she remembered. Urbosa knew Zelda must have been under a lot of stress, which was clearly getting to her.

"I came as fast as I could, Little Bird." Urbosa said, squeezing her adoptive daughter in a death grip.

"I didn't expect you until this evening." Zelda muttered, the air being driven from her lungs at Urbosa's tight grip.

"Based on your letter and the information Revali provided, this couldn't wait. We need to sort these matters out immediately." Urbosa released the Hylian before she accidentally suffocated her. "Now is not the best time for a family feud, although, in all honesty, I did see this coming."

Zelda arched an eyebrow, her arms crossing over her chest, "That my father would blatantly call me a failure and a whore to my face, completely disregarding anything I said?" There was a flare of anger in her eyes as Zelda recalled the confrontation.

"Perhaps not the exact scenario, but I did predict one day there would be a... monstrous fight between the two of you. One that would completely tear you two apart... or one that would be able to bring you back together." Urbosa met Zelda's gaze..

Zelda in return, huffed, "I can't see how this would bring us back together. I want nothing to do with him. He's never listened to me. He's never once been there for me. He left me when I needed him the most!" Urbosa could see the anger and sorrow reflected in Zelda's eyes. And she felt such deep sympathy for the young girl. Unable to contain herself, Urbosa wrapped Zelda in her arms once more, although this was a much gentler hug.

"I know, Little Bird. He hasn't been much of a father. I do not expect you to forgive him, but I do hope you can at least try to understand where he is coming from. I hope you both can. Maybe then you both can start to heal."

Urbosa released the girl, who stepped back, blinking back tears. Her eyes hardened as she said, "He's never cared for me. I'm just a tool he can shape and mold as he pleases."

Urbosa frowned. She could understand where that mentality came from. Rhoam had poured resources into Zelda for her entire life, in the hopes she would grow up to be a wise and responsible Queen that was well respected throughout Hyrule. Yet he had never made those intentions clear, simply pushing her and pushing her until she began to crack and splinter.

Urbosa had hoped she would be able to help mend their fragile relationship, however the damage ran deep. And Zelda had her own insecurities and self-doubt that only intensified the issue, filling in the blanks with negativity. Urbosa wasn't sure of the extent that depression had on Zelda, but a dark cloud had taken hold of her, spiraling the girl into her own nightmare of despair.

Yet, Urbosa couldn't help but notice that dark cloud was lifting. She had begun to see it when she had first come to Gerudo Town so many months ago to recruit her as the Gerudo Champion. It had been a slight change, but Urbosa had noticed it nonetheless. And she couldn't help but wonder if a certain knight had anything to do with it.

"I know it may seem like that Zelda, but deep down he does care." Urbosa sighed, not sure how she was going to explain to Zelda. Still, perhaps she didn't need to, perhaps this was something Rhoam and Zelda needed to discuss over dinner. "I do not expect you to believe me or your father for that matter, but please, will you join your father and I tonight for dinner? I'm hoping we can reach some kind of compromise. And maybe the two of you can gain some understanding of the other."

Zelda bit her lip, a habit of hers. She looked rather conflicted, knowing she needed to talk with her father, yet she had no desire to see that man again. Swallowing, she finally answered, "Very well."

Urbosa reached a hand out to Zelda, placing itupon her shoulder, "Thank you, Little Bird. I know this isn't easy."

Zelda gave a stiff nod, her lips trembling, "I just... his words... they hurt." She whispered, finally admitting how much her father's accusations pained her. For behind her anger was a deep resounding anguish. Yet anger had always been an easier emotion for Zelda to handle than sadness, and so when something hurt her, she got angry.

Urbosa lifted her hand to cradle Zelda's face, "I know, Little Bird. I know. Cruel words can cut deep. But I'm sure you know all too well sometimes we say things we do not mean or fully believe when constricted by our anger. And stranger still, sometimes cruel words are spoken with ultimately good intentions."

Zelda looked down, "What good could come out of this?"

Urbosa shrugged, "I'm not sure. But I do have hope that something positive can."

Zelda let out a long exhale, her eyes wary and her shoulders slouching. "I just wanted him to be my father."

Urbosa felt her heart tighten in her chest. The look of sorrow in Zelda's eyes tore at Urbosa's heart and she wanted nothing more than to hold the girl and tell her everything would be alright, like she had when she was a small child. "I know. And deep down, I think Rhoam did too. However circumstances pushed him along a different path. He made some decisions that he thought were the best given what information he had. Were they right? Were they wrong? I don't know. But he did what he thought was best and I cannot fault him for that."

Zelda looked up at the Gerudo woman, her lean body a starch contrast to the softness shimmering in her eyes. "I suppose I can understand that as well." Zelda replied hollowly.

Urbosa gave a soft smile. Zelda always was willing to look at things with an open mind. "Just remember that tonight. This isn't going to be easy, for either you or your father. But it's necessary, and I truly do believe it can get better. As long as you both are willing."

Zelda sighed, feeling very uncertain but determination flowed through her. If she had to do this, then she would. And with Urbosa by her side, it gave her strength to confront her father. "Ok." She said simply, "I am willing."

I let out a long breath as Urbosa finally stood up from the table, her eyes falling on me. The sun was growing low in the western sky, thin rays shining orange light upon the land. It was time to meet my father, and my stomach was twisting with nerves.

Scooting my chair back, I rose to my feet, Urbosa giving me a reassuring smile. I glanced at Revali and Link, who were also positioned around the table, both of their eyes fixed on me. Clenching my fists, I walked over to Urbosa, bracing myself for the dinner before me.

"It will be fine." Urbosa reassured, patting me on the back.

"I hope so." I said feebly, not sure what to expect. Glancing back at Link and Revali, I said, "I'm not sure if I'll be back tonight, but I'll stop by in the morning to retrieve my belongings." Assuming things went as well as Urbosa hoped and I'd be staying at the castle again.

Revali folded his winged arms over his chest, "I wasn't going to wait up either way."

Link gave me a soft smile, his eyes gazing into mine. I wasn't sure why, but I felt more confident suddenly. Turning to face Urbosa, I gave a firm nod, and the two of us exited out the door. Urbosa and I walked down the dirt path, the ground crunching underneath our feet. Darkness was settling in over Hyrule, along with a chill. As the winter months neared, the temperatures continued to drop. I glanced at Urbosa, wondering how she wasn't cold. She must have had fire in her blood.

While we had waited for tonight's dinner, Urbosa and I had caught up. I filled her in on the battle at Kakariko, the attack on Akkala, the malice that was infesting the lands, and the progress on the guardians, which were finally set up around castle. In return she had informed me about the developments in Gerudo: they had finally finished recovering from the battle with the Yiga, and so far there had been no sightings. It was as if the Yiga Clan had completely vanished. And so far, no more Molduga's had surfaced, which was a relief.

Lastly, I had told Urbosa that Link and I had decided to pursue a relationship. She hadn't even blinked, she just smiled and gave us a knowing gaze, as if she had been expecting it for a long time.

As we continued to make our way to the caslte, Urbosa suddenly leaned close to me, her eyes focusing on me. She chuckled then, making me give her an inquisitive look. "So that's the infamous love-bite." Urbosa pointed to the faded bruise on my neck and I widened my eyes in shock. I had virtually forgotten about the injury, which had fueled the King's allegations against me.

"You talked about that?" I hissed.

Urbosa laughed, her voice clear and light. "I asked Rhoam what evidence he had and he mentioned the mark on your neck. Although..." Urbosa eyes narrowed, inspecting my neck, "Its rectangular shape and size definitely make it look like you got wacked pretty good with the blade of a sword."

I pressed my lips together. "Link and I were sparring."

"I take it Link won?"

"He is the better fighter. In ever aspect but archery." I answered.

Urbosa's eyes twinkled. "Perhaps I need to challenge him to a dual then."

"He'd probably like that. You'd be more of a challenge than me." I replied. By now Urbosa and I had made out way to the front gates of the castle. The guards, expecting us, quickly saluted as we entered. Only a faint glimmer of sunlight remained in the western sky, plunging most of the castle grounds into shadows. Old, leaking lanterns hung from the walls and at the top of the towers, faintly lighting the area. In each corner of the castle, there was a faint blue glow: a guardian.

For a moment I recalled my most recent vision, the odd figure I couldn't make out flashing in my mind. The shape, although undefined was very much like a guardian, the spindly legs gliding across the land like a Guardians. But instead of blue, the glow was bright red. What could it mean? And then the blinding red light... was that it's laser? Perhaps I'd have to stop by Purah and Robbie's lab in the next few days.

"It's strange seeing them here." Urbosa remarked, seeing my eyes glued to a guardian. "Not sure how I feel about relying on such odd technology, but if it helps, I guess I can't complain."

"The ancient Sheikah technology will be an asset to our efforts against Calamity Ganon." I said almost automatically. However there was a listless in my voice, as if I didn't fully believe it. Clearing my throat, I added, this time in a more positive voice, "Purah and Robbie have put a lot of work into making sure the Guardians are ready to be implemented throughout Hyrule."

"Then I suppose we'll have them in Gerudo soon." Urbosa said as we entered the castle, our shoes clacking against the cobblestone floor. It was quiet except for the two of us, the staff either busy or in their chambers.

"A week?." I offered, a pit growing inside my stomach. I really didn't want to do this.

Urbosa didn't say anything for a few moments, leaving the soft pattering of our footsteps to fill the void. As we turned down the hallway that led to the dining room, my pace slowed. Sensing my unease, Urbosa prodded me, "It will be alright. He's not a bad man, Zelda. Just remember, at the end of the day, he's only Hylian."

I nodded, my voice too tight to speak right now. Yet her words made me feel slightly better, reminding me that my father, the King, despite his status, was just as Hylian as anyone else, capable of making mistakes and doubting oneself. It was then I wondered, for the first time in my life, that perhaps my father had a reason for why he was so distant with me. Maybe he too wished for change, but like me he didn't know where to even begin.

Urbosa led me into the dining hall, pushing the doors open. An instant later, our noses were assaulted by a heavenly aroma, as if we were about to feast upon ambrosia. I hadn't eaten much that day, the stress getting to me. Therefore, now that so many plates of delectable dishes were splayed out in front of me, my stomach couldn't help but let out a hungry growl and remind me that it required sustenance.

My eyes fell to one dish, the bright orange color catching my eye. It was pumpkin soup, one of my favorite dishes. I stopped to stare at it for a moment, and then my eyes went to the tray of freshly baked rolls, a small jar of honeyed butter next to them. Both were things I had loved since I was a child, and the fact that my father remembered that, softened the hard exterior I had constructed before coming here.

Perhaps... he did... care?

I swallowed then walked over to the table, where Urbosa and the King sat. My father was at the head of the table and Urbosa sat directly next to him. Quickly I sat on the other side of the King, directly across from Urbosa. I dared not look at my father, but I could feel his eyes on me. Instead I stared at the white plate in front of me, suddenly mesmerized by the navy and gold floral design on it.

When I didn't return my father's gaze, he cleared his throat and said, "I am glad you both could join me for dinner tonight. Thank you for suggesting this Urbosa. As thanks I made sure to have a variety of dishes we all enjoy prepared for this evening."

My eyes fell on the table; indeed there were an array of dishes, all piled with food. I spotted some fried cactus which was one of Urbosa's favorites, as well as braised turkey and wildberry sauce, two of my father's favorites.

"Thank you Rhoam. We both appreciate that." Urbosa shot me a pointed look across the table, trying to coax me into talking.

I grabbed the crystal glass in front of me, taking a small sip of water, trying to prolong not speaking. Setting the class down with a tiny clink, I finally uttered, "Yes. Thank you." I made sure to keep my voice neutral and my eyes were fixed ahead, focusing on Urbosa.

Urbosa sighed, and shook her head, her red hair cascading around her face in waves. "Little Bird, you can't ignore your father for the entire night if you want to ever come to a compromise."

I folded my arms, the mere presence of my father inciting my wrath. I turned a livid glare to my father. "Fine. Let's discuss what happened." I bit out, the years of rejection and abandonment seeping forth.

The King narrowed his eyes, deep lines forming creases around his face. "That is no way to speak to your father!" He exclaimed, his voice commanding.

"My father? Ha. When's the last time you ever acted like a father?" I spat, my blood on fire, my eyes sparking.

"Enough." Urbosa's sharp, reprimanding voice cut through, silencing use. She fixed us each with a stern look, "Zelda. Rhoam. I know there is a lot of pent up anger and emotion, but could we please remain diplomatic and civil?" Both my father and I shut our lips, feeling abashed by Urbosa's catechizing, as if we were both little children. "Now then," Urbosa continued, "Why don't each of you take turns speaking in a calm manner and explain your side of the story. Does that sound fair?"

Both the King and I gave a brief nod. I glanced over at my father, wondering if I should speak first. He must have been thinking the same things as he gave a swift look in my direction as well. "Rhoam, why don't you go first." Urbosa instructed, seeing both of our hesitancy.

Rhoam inhaled, then stroked his snow-white beard, the ends perfectly trimmed. The thick rings on his fingers glinted in the candlelight. "Very well." He started, then cleared his throat. "I realize now that perhaps I jumped to conclusions when my advisor Aster came to me that night, reporting that he had seen you in a compromising situation with a knight. I spoke to the knight in question and he backed up your story, Zelda. The two of you were indeed just talking. Perhaps in very close proximity, but he assured me nothing was going on between the two of you."

I blinked in surprise, not expecting Cobain to come to my aid. Then again, if he had said there was something going on between us, it would have hurt his image too. And his reputation was likely the most important thing to him. "I apologize for my harsh words and unfounded accusations. It appears we both have strong tempers." My father finished, making me look up at him. He was apologizing? To me? I couldn't recall if he had ever done that before.

Silence fell over us as I digested my father's words. Realizing it was my turn to speak, I took another sip of water, trying to organize my thoughts. "I may have overreacted as well." I swallowed, "And said some things I didn't entirely mean. But your words did sting. You called me a failure and a whore." My father winced at the words, "And refused to listen to anything I said, as if I was already guilty. I know you don't think much of me. I know you think I'm dismissing my duties to focus on other tasks that seem trivial. But I promise you I'm not. I've been trying so hard to awaken these powers inside me. I've tried everything I can think of, but nothing has worked. So in my frustration, I tried to find other ways to be useful. Such as learning to fight so I can be of use in battle and protect myself. And teaching myself science so I can use that knowledge to create impactful inventions. I've been trying so hard for years, and you've never noticed that, let alone acknowledged that. I've been nothing but a failure in your eyes." My voice swelled with emotion as I finally told him how I really felt - all the bottled up feelings finally put into words.

I met my father's gaze, and for a moment I thought I saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes, but then he blinked and they were gone. "I see." My father spoke, his voice heavy. "I know I've been hard on you, Zelda. I am aware I haven't been much of a father. However I believed it was for your own benefit. Perhaps I was wrong." He sighed, shaking his head, conflict in his eyes.

For the first time, I felt like my father was understandable. I didn't know what his intentions were, but he had never meant to be malicious, like I had so often thought. He didn't hate me. He was simply trying to do what he thought was best. I couldn't blame him for that, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to forgive him for it. At least not for a while.

Yet, in that moment I felt as if we had made a huge leap. Whatever was left of our relationship could be salvaged, if we both tried. I doubted we would ever have a loving, caring relationship, like Damek and Aryll or that which I had with Daruk. But maybe we could start to act more like a family instead of strangers.

My father continued, "I know I haven't made my thoughts clear, and I've put a tremendous amount of pressure on you. But I can see you are trying. I never saw the benefit in some of your other activities, but maybe I need to be more open-minded in that regard. And I do want you to know, I don't think of you as a failure, Zelda."

His words shot through me like ice, quelling what remained of my anger. For so long I had wanted, no needed, to hear those words. I had craved those words. And finally they were here. I closed my eyes, trying to control the swell of emotions in my chest. I still felt some resentment, but it was mixed with understanding and joy. "I do still regard you as my father." I spoke, taking back my rage-filled words from our fight. "I was just so angry. So upset. I just couldn't take it anymore. I was at the point where I never wanted to see or speak to you again."

My father sighed, his eyes sad, "That is understandable. I jumped to conclusions. And because of that it has shown me that I don't even really know my daughter. If you are willing, I'd like to remedy that."

I met my father's gaze, hope reflecting in them. For the first time since mother passed away we had reached neutral ground. It was a thin line, but I was willing to try if he was. "I would like that." I replied softly.

We fell quiet as we reveled in this newfound peace between us. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it." Urbosa's voice range out. I had almost forgotten she was there. "Let's start eating before the food gets cold!" She advised, grabbing the plate of fried cactus. "I'm not sure how you got cactus here on such short notice." Urbosa said, taking several nopales, the fried breading crumbling underneath her fingers.

My father chuckled, "I do have my resources, Urbosa."

Now that the initial discussion was over and ended in an appeasing manner, everyone was in a much better mood. There was still distance and an awkwardness between my father and I, but at least we were talking and could smile and laugh while in the same room.

I scooped several cups of pumpkin soup into my bowl. The hot meal sent tantalizing flavors throughout my tongue, the smooth liquid sliding easily down my throat and warming me up. I grabbed two rolls, making sure to keep the tray of buns next to me.

"Why not do this more often?" Urbosa suddenly remarked, "Have family dinner. It might be a good way to start learning more about each other." I found the idea agreeable, however I wasn't sure how being alone with my father over dinner would go. Although this dinner had taken a positive turn, if Urbosa hadn't been here, it likely would have turned into another fight. Seeing my hesitancy, Urbosa added, "Maybe supervised dinners to start off with. I would be happy to join, although I can't promise I'd make all of them. But I'm sure Daruk and even Falnore would be happy to accommodate."

I thought it over for a minute, however it was my father that replied first. "I think that would be doable. And practical for us." My father's eyes shifted to me, searching my face.

"Yes." I answered, "I think that's a good idea."

"Excellent." Urbosa said, snatching the tray of turkey and then some roasted vegetables. "If memory serves," Urbosa started as we continued to pass the food around, trying to start a conversation, "You were once quite proficient with a claymore, Rhoam."

I raised my eyebrows, curious. Rhoam rubbed his chin, "Yes, I suppose at one time I was."

"You were?" I inquired, surprise in my voice.

Rhoam met my gaze, a flicker of happiness in his eyes at my interest in learning more about him, "You know all nobles are required to undergo some combat training. It is imperative that everyone have a basic knowledge of self-defense. Never know when a monster may suddenly appear. Well during those classes I ended up finding I had a knack with claymores." My father chuckled, clearing fond of those memories, "I also wasn't too shabby with an ax, mind you."

"I'll keep that in mind." Urbosa smirked, "Seems all of you Hyrule's have a different taste in weaponry. Winfree, after training with the Zora for so long, was proficient with long range weapons. Her weapon of choice was the naginata. And her mother was probably more versed in hand-to-hand combat than anyone I've ever known. That's probably where you get it from, Zelda. Winfree was never fond of martial arts but kept with it as part of her training." I listened intently to Urbosa's words. Normally the talk of my mother was like a sharp dagger to the heart, and although I did feel an intense longing, I didn't feel the normal heartache. Instead I found myself wanting to hear more about her, to remember what my mother was like.

"Very true." My father nodded, taking a bite of his sliced turkey, which was drenched in gravy. "Queen Adelaide was a terrifying woman. She kind of reminds me of you, Urbosa."

Urbosa laughed, "I'm honored. Queen Adelaide was a proud and honorable woman. Although I always looked up to Queen Sheik, the Wind Scourge. My mother would tell my sister and I tales of Queen Sheik when we were little. Ever since, I wanted to grow into a leader like her."

I looked at Urbosa in fascination, never having known that about her. I always admired Queen Sheik as well. "That is fitting." My father nodded, "I heard tales of her in my youth too. Although my favorites were those of Gin the adventurer and occasional monster hunter. We used to read those to Zelda when she was very young." My father glanced at me, his eyes reminiscent.

"Really? I asked, not remembering. I only recalled Vorel reading me stories of Gin. Then again if it had been when mother was still alive, I had likely been only a few years old.

"Gin is a classic, known all throughout Hyrule." Urbosa stated, "I don't think anyone hasn't heard of his adventures." Urbosa's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes turning serious. "Speaking of legends and old stories, have either of you heard of Ganondorf?"

"Ganondorf?" I repeated, the name sounding familiar.

"You mean the ancient Gerudo King?" My father supplied, instantly making me remember where I had heard that name before. He was the last Gerudo King, having reigned hundreds, if not thousands of years ago.

"I'm sure you both are familiar with Gerudo traditions. Normally all Gerudo are women. When a male is born, they are destined for greatness and immediately trained to become the next Gerudo ruler. We haven't had any boys born in many, many years. In fact Ganondorf was our last King, so long ago many have forgotten his name." Urbosa pursed her lips. "Ganondorf turned out to be a corrupt leader, plunging the world into chaos. It was said he had an evil power at his command, and with that he almost took control of all Hyrule. It was only thanks to a Hero that possessed the Sword that seals the Darkness and a Princess with the Blood of the Goddess that he didn't prevail."

I stared at Urbosa, her head tilted down, creating dark shadows on her face. I had recalled hearing about Ganandorf when learning about Gerudo customs, but I had not known he was an evil king. "I did not know." I answered, unsure what else to say.

Urbosa leaned back in her chair, her face taunt. "I'm not sure if it means anything, but when I was fighting the Yiga leader, he brought up Ganondorf. I don't know why, but it's bothered me ever since."

My father stroked his beard, his forehead creasing, "This Ganondorf is long dead, isn't he?"

Urbosa exhaled, "Yes. Still I can not help but think that the evil power Ganondorf possessed was somehow related to Calamity Ganon."

I put my spoon down, recalling what the Deku Tree had told me when I visited Korok Forest. "I think it might be." I said softly. Both Urbosa and my father turned questioning eyes on me, prompting me to continue. "During my travels, I visited Korok Forest to consult the Deku Tree. I thought perhaps such a wise and astute being may help me discover how to unlock my powers." I gave a quick glance at my father, who was watching me intently, "He told me that long ago the entity that has morphed into Calamity Ganon appeared. It was only thanks to the original Hero and Princess that the evil was defeated, but it wasn't destroyed. It has persisted throughout all these years, surfacing from time to time. And each time a Hero and a Princess would rise up and defeat the evil entity. I think, based on what you've said Urbosa, that Ganondorf must have been able to access that power."

As I finished my explanation, the dining hall grew quiet, all of us processing this, not sure what to make of it. The candles along the table softly simmered, beads of hot wax trickling down the sides. Our shadows danced along the walls.

"If indeed all of this is true," My father started, "Is there really any point to it? How does it help us? Ganondorf is dead. The evil we now face is Calamity Ganon."

"It tells us that this monster we are about to face is far more ancient than we may have thought." Urbosa frowned, "If only there was a way to vanquish it completely."

"The Deku Tree - he made it seem that Link and I could possibly vanquish this entity forever. If I can access my powers." I looked down on the table, however quickly jumped as my father's fists slammed onto the table, making the soup in my bowl slosh about.

"If there is a way to kill it, then you must find it, Zelda." He spoke, his voice hard and his firm eyes locked on me, piercing me. "I want you to focus on nothing else but awakening your powers. It is all dependent on that!"

I could see the fear and desperation in his eyes. I swallowed and nodded, my shoulders feeling incomparable heavy. "I will." I answered resolutely, "I am making plans to visit the Spring of Wisdom. I believe the answer lies there." Did I though? I had to. It was the only option left. "I just fear we may not have much time left."

"We'll have to make time." Urbosa said matter of factly, her arms folding across her chest, the bangles on her wrists jingling. "You focus on your powers. The rest of us will hold out until then."

"Indeed." My father added, his face stone-like, "You must try harder than you ever have before, Zelda. We are all depending on you. You and that knight."

Both Urbosa and my father's eyes were on me. I could feel the weight of their words sinking in. It was something I had known for weeks now: time was running out. And despite everything I had been through, I still felt as if I was no closer to awakening my powers. But surely that wasn't true. After all, there had been a glimpse of them in Akkala during the Lynel attack.

Clenching my fists, I gave a firm nod. I opened my mouth to reply, however I never got the chance as the doors to the dining hall suddenly flung open, a guard bursting through, panting heavily. "Your majesty! There is an army of monsters attacking the castle! You need to evacuate the castle now!"

I have mixed feelings on Rhoam. When I first started BOTW I didn't particularly care for him. But then I found his diary... and while that helped me understand him, I'm not sure if I like him or not, even now. I think I'm more neutral on Rhoam. He does care for Zelda and is doing what he thinks is best, which I can't really be mad at him for... I just don't think it was the best approach. So throughout this story Rhoam has kind of been a "bad guy" or at least a bad father. And to Zelda, he is. Since this story is mainly told from Zelda's perspective, that's kind of the vibe I was trying to give off from him. Finally their relationship escalated to the big fight in the previous chapter, and in this chapter, Zelda finally started to understand her father... somewhat. And we finally got to see Rhoam's perspective on things and that he really does care for Zelda, but doing what is best for Hyrule (in his mind) is what comes first.

In this story I was trying to make Rhoam out as a bad guy initially, but then towards the end show that he does have good intentions. In a way I was trying to recreate my experience with Rhoam, as for most of BOTW, I didn't like him, but towards the end I started to understand him. Furthermore, I also wanted to create a climax in Zelda and Rhoam's relationship, which ultimately (thanks to Urbosa) led them to reconciling. I like to believe something like that happened between Rhoam and Zelda canonically but before they could truly get to know each other and progress in their relationship, Calamity Ganon struck... and all of that was torn away. Which is something that will be addressed later in the next book.

Overall, I wanted to show that Rhoam isn't a bad guy. A bad father, yes. But not a bad guy. His intentions are good, but his methods not so much. I'm not necessarily trying to get you to like him, just understand what his motives are. Not to mention, I also can't help but relate Rhoam and Zelda's relationship to mine and my parents (to an extent). My parents always expected a lot of me and couldn't meet all my needs emotionally. It took me a few years to be on good terms with my parents again, but ultimately I realized that my parents are only human. They make mistakes and at the end of the day the did their best. So in a way I was trying to reflect that on Zelda's end.

Not sure if I was able to convey all that in the best manner, but this is what I was trying to do. Also, sorry if I got a little sappy with Link and Zelda. I really can be a softy when it comes to that stuff, so I had to indulge. Besides, I honestly don't know when they're going to have another scene like that again since shit is about to hit the fan and in the next book they are going to be separated for a large chunk... and it looks like they are separated again in Tears of the Kingdom... so they'll probably be apart in the third book as well. These two really can't catch a break!

Again, thank you all so much for reading this story up to this point. I love reading your comments; they make my day :) So thank you all so so so so much for all the support. It means so much to me!