How many nights did she dream of Hyrule, of Impa and Mila and her days there? The days at sea simply waiting to go home had blurred her evenings together, and it was easy lost count of the several sleepless nights she had now, tossing and turning in fits whenever her mind wandered in her sleep.

She'd dream of her memories in Hyrule, remembering a time she pulled Mila along with her to watch the ships in the harbor, fantasizing about which ones were going to see their parents on Windfall. Did they know the Governor or Mila's mother and father? Were they carrying silk? Wood to make homes? Were there passengers that they'd one day get to know? Zelda could still remember feeling the sea breeze tickle her face and the salt air settle on her tongue after hours of sitting on stone walls with her legs swinging in the air.

But no matter how much joy there had been in those simple days, Impa's shrieking voice ringing loud in her ears. She wasn't supposed to be at the harbor, and what's worse, she'd dragged Mila there. Zelda had felt flushed and warm with the memory of every eye in the harbor turning to her: from Impa's brown ones that burned red with rage over being disobeyed, to Mila's wide, frightened ones as they both watched the pious governess storm towards them. But worse were the eyes of the sailors as they watched the scene unfolding before them, the public display of righteous correction to her reckless behavior.

Zelda had tried to protest, but the painful clap of Impa's hand on her cheek silenced the rest of her sentence. Biting her lip to keep the tears from falling down her cheeks, Zelda's head had hung in shameful embarrassment as Impa called her a 'spoiled, ungrateful little girl under the corrupt influence of Demise' for her daily disobedience.

It stung harder the second time. Gingerly touching her throbbing lip, her finger came back tinged slightly red. Zelda had glanced at the workers, straightened her dress, stood up straight, trying to stave off tears that she couldn't hide, and to project a pride she didn't feel.

"Sometimes, I wonder if the Goddess' true test on my life is that she gave me you to raise for your father. And Goddess, how horribly we have failed."

And Zelda had tried to protest once again. "But—"

Crack!

Zelda shot forward, struggling to breathe as the sound of an open palm became the wretched whoosh of a whip on flesh. Link's flesh. And it had her shuddering.

She was no longer in the Hyrule of her mind, but Urbosa's cabin, in one of the hammocks, and sunlight cracked through the door, a bright orange glow that began to light up the room. Days at sea hadn't lowered the intensity of that dream. Even her neglect of Link's presence on the ship had done nothing.

It was a struggle to steady her breathing, needing to clutch her chest just to breathe easier. Goddess, that sound…

Needing to stand, to move, to anything, Zelda started to pace. Urbosa was asleep, as was Paya, and Zelda set her feet carefully against the wooden planks, trying to avoid the creakiest floorboards. It took longer to get ready than expected with the added caution and her shaking hands as she did up her bodice. She was suffocating, and the bodice was just about the only thing keeping her lungs in check.

She hurried down below deck to where Mipha worked. It was early enough that she'd be preparing the meals for when the rest of the crew awoke, but still dark enough in the rising dawn that most of the crew would still be asleep, leaving Mipha free enough for conversation.

Tables that were suspended from the ceiling or bolted straight into the floor were scattered around, though the area was still mostly empty with the majority of the crew sleeping. The tables that hung swayed with the rocking ship, keeping them almost steady, in a way, and Zelda took a moment to admire the ingenuity of it. Like the hammocks, she'd almost taken something so simple for granted.

Zelda neared the mess area where Mipha was busily preparing some food. Three others were in the area, two sitting at a table, their voices hushed in a private conversation, but the third person caught her eye. Against the wall at one of the tables, Link, head bowed against his knuckles, mouth slightly open, was nodding off. He looked so normal. It was the same way she acted on mornings where waking up early was required, and her mind was yet to start functioning. It made him almost… approachable. And much to her surprise, that's exactly what she did, standing beside him until he sensed her presence.

He jumped slightly when he saw her, then groggily wiped his eyes. "Miss Nohansen? We're almost there, if that's what you're going to ask me."

"It's not," she said, sitting down in front of him, much to his surprise. "Why did you do that? I want an answer. A real answer."

"Good morning to you, too. Yes, I slept quite well, thank you for asking." He yawned. They'd barely interacted since, so there was no other possible topic. He shrugged, as if the answer were so simple. "Welcome to piracy."

"Stop saying that. That whole thing was horrific."

He smiled and leaned forward against crossed arms. "Are you feeling sorry for me, Miss Nohansen? Some sympathy, perhaps? Tender affection for a man so deprived?"

Ignoring that, she pressed further. "How are you even still moving? You were bleeding."

Link rolled his shoulders, as if she'd reminded him of some discomfort. "Six is nothing. When I was new, I think I got twenty lashes. Most I ever got. I nearly got several people killed on top of a few… other things when I was young and stupid, so it was highly deserved, and honestly, a light sentence for what I did. Did I pass out? I don't think I did… I did when I got back to my hammock, I remember that. And I drank a lot right after, so I don't really remember." Zelda opened her mouth, but Link apparently wasn't done speaking. "Now you have me wondering. I'll ask Daruk; he was there. I think he carried me back."

Zelda could see Link when she closed her eyes. Could see him clearly when she opened them. He was consuming her thoughts, and she hated it. All because she'd asked for his help. But if she hadn't, then Paya…

No.

A tortured mind was far worth Paya's safety. She hoped.

Link watched her scrunched up expression before tapping the table to get her attention. She must have hidden her warring emotions poorly, because when her eyes shot to him, he was almost… amused. "I'd hate to see you at my execution, Miss Nohansen. When they charge me for your kidnapping, it'll be a hell of a lot uglier than a couple of lashes."

Zelda's lips pressed together. Of course he'd face the wrath of her father one day, and she knew he deserved it for kidnapping her, for killing, for being a pirate. But regardless of his role in all this, a chill rippled through her spine as images of Link's limp body at the end of a rope flooded her mind. To see someone she knew dangling over the gallows? To hear the drop of the floor, the snap of the rope, and to know that a person she'd spoken to would never speak again? It didn't fill her with the same indifference it once did.

"We all must face the consequences of our actions. Punishment is unavoidable." Her voice was monotone, a reciting of an old lesson that had been ingrained in her rather than words spoken from the heart.

Link's lips tipped up for a moment as if he were going to make another comment, but they fell back into a hard line almost as quickly. Instead, he stared at her intently, watching. He let out a heavy sigh and ran his hands along his eyes. "What pretty hell are we sending you back to?"

"At least the fires of Demise don't burn there, Mr. Woods," she said dismissively, standing up. Link mimicked her, and Zelda almost mistook the gesture as something gentlemanly. "It was my fault," she whispered.

The table creaked, and Zelda turned to see him leaning against it towards her, a smirk plastered wide across his face. "Regrettably, you were not the one holding the whip, Miss Nohansen. If you had, I'd imagine that would have been a far different experience. Both preferable, and pleasurable. But since it was Revali, it was not your fault. I make my own decisions, choose my own actions, and face my own repercussions. They're not yours—"

He stopped himself, letting a long, exasperated sigh spill out instead of more words. "It's not your fault. We'll be there soon… you should keep up your strength and eat."

Zelda didn't respond. Instead, she stayed as long as she could stand to look at the sincerity in his eyes before spinning on her heel and heading away.

"You know it's a trap," Link said, hours later as he sat with Urbosa, Zelda, Sidon, Revali, and Paya in Urbosa's cabin. It was dark, lit by the lanterns scattered around the table, lighting up the parchments and maps that they were all huddled around. "What are we thinking to counteract it?"

Urbosa rubbed her eye tiredly and pointed to the stretch of land that they'd be heading towards. "If we arrive first, we can scout the land and search for anything that might be set up to spring on us. If her father left a soldier there, we'll find them. They may try to block us in against the island." Then, she turned to Sidon. "I want us prepared to sail at all times. Keep us angled and ready to run. Revali, have everyone prepared on cannons as well. Let's hope it doesn't come to that, but don't hesitate if they act. I'm taking Link to shore, so you will take charge. I want eyes out on the sea the entire time. No one looks away."

Link stared at the map. "If they arrive before us, we can expect a land assault. The question is how much danger are they willing to put Miss Nohansen in?"

Urbosa glanced at Zelda, but it was Paya who answered for her. "None. The Governor is a respectable man, and he will not put his daughter in any danger."

"Lovely," Link muttered sarcastically, apparently unconvinced by Paya's loyalty. Bouncing his leg up and down, he vaguely gestured outside. "But in case he does, we need to take a few of the vanguard with us. Maybe half on the ship, and half with me?"

"Half…" Urbosa tsked, "That's too many. The ship is more likely to need to run than we are to encounter a fight. From what reports we've had, he's likely to put up some fight. He doesn't leave many encounters with pirates without engaging in some way. He's notorious for always leaving with a prize of some sort, I'll give him that much."

"Any suggestions?" Urbosa asked to Zelda, a teasing tone clear in her voice. Zelda huffed and rolled her eyes, remaining silent.

In truth, Zelda did have one, not that she'd share, of course. She knew Hylians and their instilled fear of piracy. And a remote execution on a remote beach would not stir support for their cause. It was too quiet, and her father was too loud. Any crew members would be brought back to Hyrule as captives and hung in the square to remind everyone that The Goddess is just, righteous, and powerful. So, they didn't need to worry about a deadly ambush nearly as much as they thought. They needed to worry about being trapped and caught.

Of course, if any of the pirates made the wrong move against her father, there would be no waiting, and no regrets.

Urbosa gestured to Sidon. "Go get back to your post. Relieve whoever is there now. I want them rested just in case they're needed later."

"Captain," Sidon nodded, heading out of the room.

"Revali, get up to the crow's nest for now. All eyes looking out for ships that might be following us, or ready to intercept us, you hear me?"

"I do." He stood up and grinned at Zelda. "It's been interesting, Miss Zelda. We had some thrilling times during your stay here."

Zelda scoffed, keeping her eyes distinctly off Link, and away from Paya, lest she ask what 'thrilling' times he meant.

When it was just the four of them again, Link took out a knife from his belt so he had something to absently fiddle with, digging it into his skin, though not enough pressure to break the surface, and twirling the hilt. Goddess, he was always fidgeting. Zelda wanted to clamp her hands over his just to stop him.

"Miss Nohansen, you'll stay with me. Miss Paya, you'll be with Teba. Don't leave our sides. We'll make sure you're out of harm's way if things go south, and we'll get you to your Governor if things go to plan."

"If things go to plan, which they never do," Urbosa laughed, though it wasn't exactly amused.

Nervous, Zelda realized. These ruthless, bloodthirsty pirates she'd been told (and witnessed) were always ready for a fight were anxious to enter into one.

It didn't track with what she knew of them, but at the same time, it almost made sense. Urbosa had a family, Sidon had his sister, Link had… well, Link seemed like the kind to run straight through gunfire so he was an exception. Revali had too much sense to get himself involved in a situation he could back out of. Mipha didn't even enjoy fighting, though she could if needed. Hesitation made sense, but at the same time, it didn't.

They didn't want to die, and her father was a known pirate killer. Yet, here were pirates who wanted nothing more than to kill her father and stop his hunt. It was difficult to reconcile with that while she listened to the rest of the plan, where to go, how to avoid being shot if things went sour. She didn't care. If there was a fight, her plan involved grabbing Paya and sprinting toward her father.

That was that. They could plan all they wanted; she didn't care.

That night, the sea salt brought a now-familiar taste to her mouth coupled with the chill of the wind and the spray. The deck was lit only by lanterns and starlight, but according to Sidon, they were nearly there.

In her back corner of the ship, leaning against the rail for air, Zelda could still hear the music being played in the front of the ship. There was an accordion, a harmonica, some strings maybe? Definitely stomping, clapping, and singing. It was actually intriguing, and she wanted to move closer, but the conscious part of her mind made her refuse to indulge in such frivolity.

"Excited to be rid of us?"

"Goddess above!" she hissed, turning away from the performance and towards the shadow behind her.

"No. Just me."

"Mr. Woods! Why are you everywhere?"

His small smile was charming as he made his way around her. "It's a small ship. And admittedly, I saw you back here. You're usually on the verge of throwing up, I wanted to make sure you didn't fall overboard just days before your safe return home."

"Your honor is impeccable," she scoffed. "Your money can't fall into the ocean, right?"

He glanced at the waves, watching them for a long moment before his brows quickly rose and fell. His only response was a nonchalant shrug.

Zelda sighed. "What am I buying you?"

Link kept a respectable distance from her, but joined her in leaning on the side of the ship, relaxing contentedly against his arms, his eyes far off inside his mind. "It's not just about the money."

That was not quite what she'd expected to hear. "It's about what, then?"

But Link simply chuckled, shaking his head, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. "Just because I believe you're attractive doesn't mean I trust you with that kind of information, Miss Nohansen."

Zelda shifted uncomfortably under his all-too-easy gaze. Goddess, he was bold. To say such a thing to someone in Hyrule proper was unfathomable!

That smirk of his was solidly painted on his face as he watched her. Turning to face the sea was all Zelda could do to hide the red creeping up her neck to settle firmly across her cheeks. But Link wasn't unobservant, and he chuckled, more comfortable than he had any right to be. "Come now, we're both adults. We can be frank with each other. I catch you staring at me often enough to know you think the same of me."

"I do not—"

"And you catch me staring right back. We're even."

"What? I'm looking at you with disgust!"

"Oh, I'm not counting all those times too."

Biting her lip was the only way to keep herself from barking out another response, a fight that he was intentionally leading her into, and one that she had no intention of indulging him in. "So, you're not going to tell me, then?"

"Curiosity is a vice. Are you sure you want to indulge in that knowledge?" he asked, his head rolling towards her, using the Goddess' words of guidance against her. It as a challenge as much as a warning reminder. He didn't want to answer her initial question, it was clear in his hesitance, but it was almost as if he would bare all his secrets to her, if she would only just say yes to his question right now.

She was ready to bite back with a retort, but there was an alarming amount of sincerity in the depth of his question. His hesitance to immediately indulge her in a moment of weak curiosity was almost… charitable. He knew the rules of Hyrule as well as she did. It gave her pause and found her head shaking. "No. I suppose I'll salvage whatever is left of my relationship with the Goddess."

"You've hardly done anything in need of forgiving, by any standards other than Hyrule's, of course." He tapped the railing, pushing himself away before she had a chance to respond. "Good night, Miss Nohansen. I'm off to bed, so don't fall overboard; they'll come to wake me, and then I'll have to be the one to dive in after you. And if you're not breathing, I'll have to do that for you, too."

Zelda rolled her eyes once again. His comments made her blush, still warm from his earlier remarks, but expected nothing less from him by now, so she simply shot him an exasperated look in return.

He chuckled, watching her as he walked away. "Good night."

Dinraal's 34th would be a day that Zelda would celebrate for all her years as the day her father came to her rescue like the Goddess did for her people. After days of waiting, pacing, and praying, it arrived like a thunderstorm in the desert; a ship literally parting the seas just to get to her.

Governor Rhoam Nohansen: notorious amongst pirates, but second to a god in Zelda's mind.

Well, that was a bit blasphemous, but Zelda was bursting, overflowing with an energy that couldn't be contained. At this point, she didn't care what she cursed, or who she raised up too far; this was the chance to finally go home.

They'd arrived at the coordinates the day before: a small island, few trees. Very open, no settlements. Entirely neutral. A perfect place to make the trade.

That wild energy of hers nearly tipped the longboat they rode in to shore. She landed too hard, swung her body around like she was watching a show while staring unblinkingly at the horizon, and leaned on the edge until Link had to chastise her for nearly drowning them all when freedom was so close.

The next thing she knew, she found herself standing on the beach beside Paya and Link. Zelda felt all the anxious energy boiling up inside her, steeping frantically with a desperate need to see her father. More so than even when she'd first been kidnapped.

Zelda grabbed Paya's sleeve. "We're going home."

Home; back to civilization, carriages, and tall buildings with fireplaces and canopy beds rather than bedrolls in tents or hammocks. Back to corsets and fine silks rather than rags.

Back to her father.

Goddess, it was so close, and it smelled so sweet, Zelda watched the sails grow larger, more intimidating. She noticed Link's leg bouncing, and Urbosa's hushed commands began to stop as they all waited. The cocking of guns happened all at once as soon as the rowboats were full of the crew who'd come to take her and Paya to safety.

To Mila. To her fiancée. It was really happening.

The pirates had an entire battle plan that Zelda was unaware of, and she couldn't care less because her father's ship was there, and the longboats were getting closer to shore.

When the rowboats landed in the sand, and she took an unintentional step forward. Link's hand was suddenly on her arm, making her flinch away from his touch. But he just shook his head, reminding her not to move.

It became particularly difficult when the familiar colors of the Hylian Navy started pouring out. Guns were drawn on both sides, but she felt oddly safe.

Especially when a man covered in peppered grey hair and a very distinct higher rank that dazzled in the sun with every medal pinned to his lapel stepped onto shore. There was someone behind him, but she didn't care and nearly collapsed with utter relief.

"He came," she whispered aloud, though it wasn't to Link.

Governor Rhoam Nohansen adjusted the button on his pristine blue jacket, thumbed the fine gold embroidery on his cuffs, and rolled his padded shoulders before placing a military grade hat on his head, triangular like some of the pirates wore, but large: a status symbol.

His hand rested on the gun at his belt, and he walked towards them slow, intimidating steps, taking his time… taking them all in. The procession was so slow, droplets of sweat began to drip down Zelda's forehead from the heat and anticipation.

He was flanked, of course, by his soldiers. The one directly beside him was inhumanly tall and of a higher rank than the others. Lieutenant, from what Zelda could see of the patches sewn into his coat, highly decorated from the unnecessary medals both he and the Governor sported.

"Pompous ass," Urbosa muttered to Link, and he snorted.

Rhoam stopped, and his soldiers came to an abrupt halt, raising their guns.

Zelda turned, expecting the worst. But several of the hidden crew members stepped out: a warning. Link simply shifted, revealing that his pistol was already in his hand by his hip, and his smirk was a seemingly endless taunt.

"Zelda!" her father called, voice like the warmth of honey soothing a sore throat. "Are you harmed in any way?"

She shook her head, her throat suddenly too dry for words.

"You'd tell me? I know you don't own that dress. They didn't do anything to you, did they?"

"I'd tell…" her words stuck heavily to her tongue, unwilling to come out. She cleared her throat. "I'd tell you, Father. They didn't harm us."

"They were horrid," Paya blurted, her head sharply turning to Zelda, "They threatened to kill us both!"

Rhoam's eyes locked on Zelda's. Goddess, they looked fierce enough to cut straight through her. She shuddered under the scrutiny of both Hylians.

"Enough talk," Urbosa said, stepping forward. "Let's trade, Rhoam."

"Governor."

"Then you may call me Captain."

"Pirate."

She smiled, and Rhoam's lip twitched, but he lowered his gun, and Urbosa followed suit. Link's hand balled into a fist away from his pistol, knuckles white, hand shaking. He looked desperate to be holding a weapon.

Urbosa laughed, a hearty, almost genuine thing, though there was a tenseness that Zelda could hear, a piece of her voice that was unusually strained.

Looking around, Zelda could still see everyone hidden in the trees, both naval and pirate, guns still trained on their respective enemy. She took an instinctive step towards Link, suddenly feeling more exposed than ever before.

Rhoam looked from Zelda to Urbosa. "I looked into you, pirate. You are a ghost. Before piracy claimed your name, it's like you didn't even exist."

"Perhaps I wanted it that way."

The Governor gestured to Link as if Urbosa hadn't spoken. "But I know you. You've caused a stir over the years. Your family has such a tragic story, don't they?"

Link tensed beside Zelda. She stole a quick glance to see his clenched jaw as he listened. In an attempt to remain unaffected, Link shrugged nonchalantly, but from where Zelda stood, she could see every taut, strained muscle in his body.

Rhoam was far taller than both Link and Zelda, giving him an almost natural intimidation level. But despite their height difference, Link had the ruggedness that none of the Hylians possessed, giving him a feral edge that they each stayed cautious of. They were both dangerous, in their own unique ways. And neither of them underestimated that fact.

Zelda didn't miss the curiously concerned look Urbosa shot him before stepping forward, her eyes set a bit firmer than before. "Do you want your daughter, or not? Despite what you may think, we are rather busy and would love to get back to our lives. Make the trade."

Rhoam looked almost bored; entirely unaffected. "I don't pay for what's already mine."

Zelda's fist closed tightly over the fabric of her skirt. There was no breath in her lungs, and she turned to Paya, wide eyed and suddenly, very afraid.

Urbosa went to speak, but she didn't have time.

A young girl, about eighteen or so, stepped beside Rhoam, one of the soldier's grip's tight on her arm as he held a sword at her throat. Her golden hair was curled in natural rivulets, and her dress was simple, but definitely of Hylian make.

Link let go of Zelda and ran ahead a few feet, skidding to a halt when every gun trained on him.

"Link?" the girl called out, her tone disbelieving. Then her wide, blue eyes shimmered with recognition. "Link!"

"Aryll?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

Goddess, she was his splitting image. If Link were younger, she could mistake the girl for a twin, but there was an age gap.

Rhoam's eyes were alarmingly calm. "Such a bittersweet reunion. Release my daughter, or your sister dies."

"Let her go!" Link growled, his fingers twitching towards his pistol.

Rhoam picked at his nail absently. "I suggest you not test my resolve, pirate."

"Link," Urbosa warned. "That's not why we're here. If you go over there, you die. We can do this a better way. Smarter."

The soldiers shook his sister around a bit. "Link!" she called.

Link's eyes squeezed shut at the piercing sound of his name, and Zelda could see his body rippling with tension.

Goddess above, he was actually considering this.

His hesitation seemed to have irked someone, because Aryll jerked forward, the skin at her throat bent from the pressure of the blade, though it didn't nick her. But the threat of steel was enough to send her into a panic.

"Link!" his sister cried again, her body shaking as her voice cracked over a sob.

The soldier used his other hand to pull her hair backwards, exposing her neck even more.

There was a sharp wheeze, and Zelda turned from the girl to Link. He looked ready to throw up, or cry, or both. Face contorted in what Zelda could only call a pained expression, there was regret in his eyes. Zelda could see him breaking, each call of his name speeding up his breathing, his cheek pinched as he seemed to bite it. Heat was practically radiating off of him as he shook beside her.

"Please don't make me do this," Urbosa warned, turning her gun to face Zelda. "I'll kill this girl. I'll sacrifice our reward to save you, Link."

He stepped in front of Zelda, unflinchingly raising his own pistol at Urbosa. The Captain took in a breath of air as she worked to school her features. She didn't look surprised, but resolve settled quickly over her. She had to stay the course, Zelda knew, or it would look weak to her father.

Though Zelda couldn't see Link's face, one hand was raised with the pistol, and the other seemed to be reaching for her behind his back, though he never made contact with her. "You touch his daughter; he kills my sister. I can't let you do that."

Eyes widening, Zelda took a step forward, and was met by the sharp turn of Link's head so he could address her.

"Miss Nohansen, stay behind me."

Suddenly, Link had gone from her ransomer, to her protector, and she was not hesitant to let him be a shield against a bullet. She moved directly behind his back, grateful that her life was apparently more valuable to him than the money was.

Link's hands stopped shaking, and his posture straightened out when he stared down the gun just across from him. "You'll have to shoot Miss Nohansen over my dead body."

Zelda's eyes widened. She'd seen them clash, but right now, there was a very real threat passing between the three of them.

Urbosa narrowed her eyes, "You don't even know your sister anymore."

Link looked across the sand to meet Aryll's frightened expression. "Every fucked-up thing that I've done in this world was for this. She's right there, Urbosa."

"I need to keep my daughter safe. I can't do that alone. I need you."

"Your daughter is safe," he hissed. "Your wife protects her with her life! My sister is beside the enemy with a fucking sword at her throat. She's not safe. I need to protect her now."

"It'll just get you killed! Why aren't you understanding?"

Rhoam laughed in the distance, looking far too pleased with the turmoil he'd caused. Despite the large stretch of sand between them, there was a self-satisfied smirk clearly settling on his features, as if he'd been the one to cause the fighting. As if he'd known Link wouldn't be able to resist once his sister was involved. Zelda could see him watching like he was at the theater, and these were his puppets.

She could remember the stories passed around by privateers at dinner parties. Well respected captains like Captain Cole and Captain Dragmire were renown in Hyrule for perusing the pirates with the same relentless vigor that her father shared. And when they'd sip tea in the sitting rooms by a warm hearth, they'd tell tales of their successes.

Captain Cole had said that capturing pirates was simple: that they were always after a bigger prize, and it was far too easy to fish in the sea for the brigands when that became obvious.

Captain Dragmire had once said that the thrill was in breaking them. That he felt the Goddess' presence most strongly when they were on their knees at his feet, and their ship was burning to the fires of Demise where it belonged. He would talk of the power of such an act.

But now, Zelda could see it. Link was like a starving animal grasping for scraps of food, taking what he could get just to satiate the pain in his gut. He didn't seem to want to make this decision at all, but there was a dread of resolve that was already settling over him.

"Link," Urbosa said, lowering her arm. She must have seen it too. "I know she's your family, but so are we."

Link's eyes were steeled, and he dropped his pistol to his side. Halfheartedly shrugging, the smallest of smiles teased his lips, but it was laced with a heavy sadness that seeped through his whole body. "Then you should know I'm more than willing to die for my family."

Zelda turned to her father. He was watching carefully, his hand twitching near his weapon, ready in case Link made a move, but waiting for the moment between Link and Urbosa to pass.

Aryll was beside him, watching with interest. Curiosity? Perhaps apprehension? Zelda couldn't tell, but it didn't look quite like fear, as if she'd become far too distracted watching Link to remember her own situation.

When Zelda turned back to Link and Urbosa, there was a deathly calm that had settled over the group, waiting for that final decision to be made.

Link nodded once. "Give me Paya and get out of here before they can fire on you. Run to open water and get home."

The calm was shattered by Urbosa's anger. "You're a fucking idiot, Link. Your death will be a victory for them. You're another notch in their belt! But not to us!"

His smirk was clear in his voice. "Don't come after me, Urbosa. I won't have you dying beside me."

Urbosa gestured at Teba, and he begrudgingly let Paya go. Paya ran for Zelda, taking shelter behind Link as well.

With a deep sigh, Link nodded once more. "I love you, Urbosa. I love all of you more than I can say. Even Revali. This will be my last chance to say it."

"This is not over."

Link laughed. "I hope I don't see you again before I hang." He turned to Zelda and nodded down the beach. "Stay in front of me. I'd rather not get shot."

Everything was happening too quickly for her to adequately process. She was going home. Link was going to be arrested or killed in just a few seconds, and he was doing it willingly for his sister. That was all she was able to digest for now. Letting the information sit in her mind in small, manageable bits, it allowed time for her to process everything.

The images of every naval officer in front of her blurred, and only one face stayed sharp: her father's. He looked down the beach across the sand with a superior expression. Odd, Zelda thought for a moment. But then she realized his eyes weren't on her. They were just over her shoulder. On Link.

The sand beneath her feet kept her grounded as she waited for his expression to turn to her and soften in relief, but it didn't. So, she listened to the crunch, kept her balance, and tried to push down the disappointment at her father's stoic expression as she neared.

Link, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice Rhoam at all. His attention remained on his sister each time Zelda stole a glance. And when they were close enough, he froze in his tracks. "You're real. It's really you?"

"Yes," she breathed out shakily. Nervous. The girl was trembling.

Gasping out half a laugh, Link sounded like he was coughing, but when he spoke, his voice cracked. "You're really here."

Zelda turned to him to see tears welled up in Link's eyes, spilling over as his lips tipped up into a disbelieving smile, like he was witnessing a miracle right before him.

Aryll seemed to control herself better, but she was anxious at the reunion. Zelda didn't blame the girl. Link didn't look Hylian anymore. From his scars, to his tattoos, to his piercings, jewelry, hair, and clothes, he was intimidating to anyone who was seeing him for the first time. In terms of appearance, he was the definition of a pirate.

But when Zelda saw the tears trailing down his cheeks, some of that hard shell cracked, and he was suddenly just someone whose heart was bursting.

Regardless of those consequences.

"Goddess, you got so tall, Arry. Taller than me, I'd say."

Aryll smiled, half a chuckle, and half too nervous to be any real sound. "Yes, that does tend to happen to one after several years."

Link laughed, but it was laced with sadness. This was it, Zelda realized. That was what he'd given his freedom for: a single conversation. Link gently pushed against Zelda's back, urging her to go the rest of the way without him.

She ran to her father, trying to ignore the soldiers converging on Link behind her, and skidded to a stop in front of Rhoam when his arms didn't open for her so she didn't crash. Instead, his head snapped in her direction. "You're alright, yes?"

Waiting for him to react, Zelda felt her heart skip, palpitating at a speed so fast she thought she was going to go into shock. There were times in her life when she'd simply needed the comforting touch of another, something she was deprived of in Hyrule, and this was one of those times.

Her lip twitched, feeling her own tears starting to bubble up, and her face started to burn as she held it all in. And endless moments passed without Rhoam moving. Just… waiting. Waiting for her answer.

The sound of clinking metal shackles clasping together drew her attention behind her, then a grunt, an impact, the shift of sands. Another thud.

"Yes, Father," she breathed, refusing to turn around.

"Good. Yes. That's good."

But his words were drowned out by the jingle of chains and the labored breathing behind her, the low chuckles of Rhoam's crew, and the continued thudding of bone on flesh.

No matter what she heard, she wouldn't turn around. She couldn't.

A/N: Ha... it's been a while, hasn't it!? Sorry!

Reviews: Guest: I did love that chapter! Zeedry: I did buy Black Flag again! I haven't gotten to play it much, but it's bringing back them goooood times! I love that game hahaha! Alice-Ann Wonderland- Yes! Zelda is definitely affected by what happened! She didn't realize it would come back to haunt her a bit!