As much as Revali didn't like the hero.
Even he had to admit that what Link was going through at the moment.
Was rough.
Even he had to admit that humiliating the poor teenager to such a degree in front of his peers was almost cruel. And he didn't even like the kid.
And to think that he was getting scolded to his degree, by someone who 'liked' him.
Urbosa met his eyes, and ever so slightly shook her head. She didn't want him to interfere. And to be honest, he didn't want to interfere either.
None of them did.
"My expectations were high for you Link. I could lower my expectations to the underworld, and I would still be disappointed." The glare was fierce on the king's face," I fail to understand how you could fail to meet my expectations for even my lowest cottars." He had to resist his flinch at that.
It would be an insult to anyone to be called lower than a peasant. Forget the fact that Link risked his life to protect Zelda, it was downright cruel to tell that to anyone who was dedicated to their lifestyle. Revali may have had a mild hatred for the teenager, but if there was one thing he could admire about Link, was his dedication to his role.
Every time Revali came to the castle, he would either find Link standing dutifully behind the princess, or he would be training to the point of collapsing. He was more dedicated than anyone else he had ever met, and he admired that.
Which was why he disagreed with what was happening in front of him.
Link was kneeling in front of the king, and if you looked closely enough, you could see that he was holding on tightly to his stomach and was trembling with a pale face. Even from his position by the wall, he could tell that he had sweat dripping down his face.
Poor kid wasn't even allowed to heal from his injuries before he was being scolded like this.
Daruk was shifting on his feet, muttering something under his breathe that was surely disapproval of what was happening. Even Mipha was clenching her fists discreetly, her face blank as she tucked away her emotions as a princess should.
The worst part is that Zelda was practically unharmed.
They had gotten ambushed while on the way back to the castle by the Yiga clan, and although they had managed to protect Zelda, Link had become a human shield in order to do that.
Zelda walked away with a cut on her face, while Link had been carried back to the castle with a cleaver from a Yiga Blade master sticking out of his stomach. He had writhed in pain almost the entire way, only for him to suddenly pass out in Daruk's large hands.
It was terrifying for all of them, to see the ever so silent warrior gasping and groaning in pain, only for him to mutter an apology like he was at fault before passing out.
Yet, despite the fact that both Mipha and the royal doctors had to fight to bring Link back into the world of the living, the King was livid that Zelda was going to have a scar on her face.
Forget that fact that the Hero nearly died protecting his daughter.
The problem was that she was going to have a scar on her face.
Hylians and their cursed traditions.
"What do you have to say for yourself? It is fortunate that you are the chosen one." The kings' words were calm but were painful to listen to.
Link flinched at his words, grimacing at the way it tugged at his wound. Then ever so quietly, they heard his rare voice," I-I have n-no excuses my Ki-ng." He stuttered out his words and his voice cracked out of pain at the end of his sentence.
And that was another point that made all of their blood boil in their respective bodies. Apparently, just as they believed in keeping the princess's body pure, they also believed in keeping Links body pure from all things.
Including pain killers.
It was downright cruel to make the young man be conscious, let alone move.
The King had no compassion for his injured soldier," Speak properly!" The king snapped at him," Must you talk as if you are slow minded!"
Revali glanced over at the princess. Where she was standing next to her father, a white bandage taped onto her cheek with a bright red face. She was fuming and was shaking from anger. Not that Revali blamed her, but she didn't dare go against her father.
At the moment, none of them wanted to interfere.
Link turned paper white, and shakily clearing his throat, he repeated his sentence. Somehow making his voice steady, but weak.
His weakened response angered the king further, and the king stood up in huff. Ordering his daughter to follow him out of the room, he left some departing words," You will be training with your captain for the rest of the month. You will be starting tomorrow."
Even the princess couldn't help but protest at that," But father! H-"
"Silence!" He roared that out, they all silenced their protests. Link curled in further on himself," You have no say in this child! You will not leave this castle until you awaken your powers!"
None of them didn't get a chance to defend either child.
The king promptly wrapped his arm around the princess's arm and dragged her out of the room. They could hear her being scolded as they walked away.
Revali knew that he was an asshole, but he wasn't a cruel man.
He barely made it in time for his feathered hand to cushions Links head, barely protecting his head from being banged against the floor of the throne room.
He knew that Link was out of it when the teenager didn't twitch at the contact, knowing full well that Link wasn't one for physical contact.
Link was shivering under his hand, and even when Revali swiped his hand across his forehead, he didn't move, or push him away. His eyes were scrunched up tightly, his hair plastered to his paper white skin as he wheezed out his short and quick breathes. He looked horrible.
"He's burning up," He didn't bother trying to keep the worry out of his voice. Urbosa cursed under her breath and paced in the room nervously. Daruk was hovering nearby as Mipha healed Link as much as she could.
"It's the pain," Her voice was almost scornful," Its too much, its elevating his heart rate. His body can't handle any more."
"What can we do?" Daruk's kind voice had a tone of anger in it," The castle doctors won't give him anything! They won't let us give him anything, the princess already tried!"
"What if we take him out of the Hyrule Domain?"
Urbosa was quick to shut down Revali's suggestion. It was their best chance, but they couldn't," We can't. You heard the King; he has training tomorrow. Who knows what will happen if he doesn't attend?"
He cursed under his breath. He hated how she was right.
The gerudo queen nearly jumped out of her skin when a small hand grabbed onto her clothes as she walked by. They all looked at Link with surprise.
He was barely conscious, his hand trembling as he held on weakly to Urbosa's skirt. His skin was the same color, and his eyes were barely open," Young one?" Urbosa was quick to grab onto his hand, his hand was painfully clammy in hers.
They watched in anticipation as Link clumsily signed out something in her hand, using one of the languages he knew where he signed something in the persons palm
Her eyes widened," I- "She looked between the teenager, his trembling hand, and the other champions.
Daruk's voice was loud and full of concern," What? What did he say?"
"He…" She swallowed deeply," He wants to leave. He asked if he could leave with one of us."
They all rose their eyebrows.
Revali looked down at Link, and for the first time, Link acted like he was his age.
Like he was just a teenager who had far too much responsibility on his shoulders. Like he was just a mere child that was being forced to work through excruciating pain.
Squeezing her hand tightly, tears came out from behind his tightly scrunched eyelids. His voice trembled as he pitifully whispered, "Please…Anywhere but here…"
That's when they knew he was just done. When he was all types of tired.
Because even when the princess ordered him to, he never spoke to them verbally.
They all looked at each other.
Mipha's domain was far too damp, chances were high that he would get an infection there.
Daruk's domain was out of the question, he would burn to death there.
Urbosa's domain didn't even like the idea of men.
Revali's domain was freezing, and there weren't any human villages that had the buildings that were appropriate for a human.
In fact, none of their villages had buildings that were appropriate for a sick human.
"What about his parents?" He asked hopefully.
Daruk grimaced," Can't. Kid's an orphan."
Well shit.
"Kakariko Village," Urbosa's voice was firm. She squeezed the teenager's hand and looked at each of her fellow champions as she said," Kakariko village. They'll give him the medicine he needs."
He wasn't going to argue with that.
They quickly left the castle, all of them wanting to leave before the king could return and see what they were doing with his daughter's personal guard and the hero of hyrule. Revali shamelessly stole a luxurious blanket from a linen closet to wrap the teenager in. If they could cause his pain, they could at least make his transportation more comfortable.
Revali couldn't help but feel bad for the teenager continued to cry silently, tears running down his face as he struggled with the prolonged pain.
Link gasped out with each bump that came along in the road, with each position change. And it was a damn near relief when he had finally passed out from the pain.
Mipha was almost crying as she watched over her dear friend.
"He never wanted this…" Her words confused them, but they didn't have to ask her to elaborate. Dabbing as her eyes, she swept his hair back and quietly said," He was so upset when he was chosen as hero."
Revali rose his eyebrows high up. As did the others.
They definitely didn't expect that from the ever so dedicated warrior that they all knew.
A tear finally escaped her eye as she repeated.
"He never wanted this."