Disclaimer: I do not own The legend of Zelda


He found that not long after she had left him the last time he succumbed to sleep, though the dry, itchy feeling of his skin nearly had kept him awake.

When he did awaken it was to the sound of the door, which sent throbbing shots of pain through his head. It took him several seconds to regain his bearings. To remember he was in a cell, far, far from home.
He squeezed his eyes shut again. He was still so tired and what else was there to do but sleep?

When he heard her let out a loud gasp he cracked his eyes open enough to see her hastily set down the new tray and peer through the cell bars.
She looked over at the untouched tray from the day before and shook her head with a quiet "Oh no..." She looked over at him, face surprisingly etched with worry. "Why wouldn't you... Why would not at least drink the water? One cannot go long without it, surely you know that..." She jumped to her feet. "I will...I will go fetch help. Please, drink the water."
He made no move to do so, however, causing her small mouth to drop into a deeper frown.

She mumbled another please as she dashed out of the room, leaving the door open behind her. She dashed down the halls until she came upon on a pair of the guards who were tasked with holding a set of keys to the cells of the city.

She tugged on one of the woman's arm with urgency.
"Zaannah, Nibiru, come quickly I need your keys."
The woman whose arm she held pulled away. "What is the matter, little blue bird? Why are you in such a rush."
"It is the voe. He is considerably ill. I must get to him."
"And you are sure this is not some trick? I would not put it past one of his ilk to feign illness in order to take a hostage in escape."

She nodded. "Zaannah, We both well know the signs of one who is this ill. He has not been drinking and is severely dehydrated, I'm afraid. Take a look at him if you need proof."
"Alright, alright, little bird, we're coming."

She lead them back to his cell, the jingling of their keys irritating his nerves with every step they took inside the chamber.
"See? He is ill." The girl said.
One of the guards clicked her tongue. "Yeah, there ain't no faking that. Look at him, Nibiru."
"Aye, doesn't look too good."
The one named Nibiru pulled a set of keys from some hidden pocket and flipped through them. "Ah... Here we go." She shoved the key into the lock and opened the door.
The girl rushed to his side once the door was open enough to squeeze through. She forced him from his curled spot on the floor and into a sitting position.

"Zaannah, give me one of those cups of water." The woman in question nodded and picked up on of the little wood cups and handed it to her.
She turned his head, making him look up at her. "Why would you let yourself get to this state?" She shook her head and pressed the rim of the cup against his lips. "Drink." She commanded.

He pulled his head from her grasp. "Why?" He muttered. "Why bother? I'll never see them again..."

She paused, lowering the cup slightly. She understood now. He was like a caged animal that had given up.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The woman named Nibiru shook her head. "There's nothing you can do, Zanora. He's letting himself get like this. He won't last much longer like this. I'll go tell the chief the news."

Please, I know this must be so hard for you.He tensed as a soft voice echoed through his mind.

He looked up to the girl in shock.

It must be very emotionally painful for you, but please, do not let yourself whither away. Is this what they would want?

"How are you...how are you in my head?" He croaked quietly. She looked down at him, but said nothing.

It is a talent of mine. We may speak freely like this so long as I choose to maintain this link.
Please, I may know naught of who you spoke of, but if you die, then it is certain that you shall never see them again.

He ventured to try it. "I...I don't want to die... But I don't want this... I don't want to be a prisoner my whole life."

It is not certain you will spend you're life in this cell. However small, there may one day be a chance you may see who you spoke of again. I am sure they wouldn't want you to give up. So please, let me help you.

The woman named Zaannah placed her hand on the girls shoulder and he felt as if some sort of string inside him had snapped as the girl turned her attention to the older woman.
"Little bird, anyone home in that head of yours?"

He made himself drone them out as they spoke and He pursed his dry lips thoughtfully. She was right, they wouldn't want him to let himself whither away. They wouldn't want him to die. But... how would he ever see them again?
Her soft voice felt reassuring, though. Life was not set in stone. Maybe one day...Maybe one day he might see them again.

The older woman huffed and strode out of the cell and leaned against the opposite wall.

He nodded slowly. "...Okay..." He whispered. "You're right, they wouldn't want me to just give up." He rasped.
Zaannah muttered something about delirium but the girl handed him the cup.
He tried to raise it to his mouth, though his hand shook enough that the girl gently took the cup from him and raised it to his lips for him.

He knew he severely needed water, after having only a glass' worth since he arrived, but he surprised himself with the voracity with which he drank.
He sputtered as a small bit of water went down particularly fast.
"Not so fast." She chided, motioning for the older woman to bring her another cup.
"Slowly. Last thing you need is to choke yourself and end up asphyxiated."
"Asphyxiated?" He questioned.
"Dying from lack of air." she said simply, wiping a stray bead of water that started rolling down his chin with her thumb.

She stood when the woman named Nibiru and the woman named Nabri entered the room.
"Nibiru tells me the whelp is letting himself waste away. I suppose you'd rather we just give him a quick death instead of letting him a long painful one."

"Actually," Zaannah pushed herself from the wall, arms crossed. "Somehow, she just got him to drink two cups worth of water. Seems kinda delirious though, was talkin to himself."

"He will drink and eat for us." The girl said. "I've persuaded him."
"Will he now?" The Nabri woman raised a slim brow. "I suppose you do have your ways of getting what you want."
"I would like to have him moved once he is well again. There is a small storage room that has sat empty for many years now near my quarters, as I'm sure you know, Nabri. I would like to move him there. And...Perhaps be my personal servant? I would keep him out of everyone elses hair then."

He made of small noise of protest and she shot him a quick look.

We belive actions like yours are cowardly. And cowards are not worth our time. There is a strong chance that they will let you die if I don't take ownership like this. Her voice wobbled in his head.

"You think you can handle a him own your own? What if he were to pull something against you."
She looked offended. "You wound my pride, sister. I know well I may be delicate, but I am not weak. You know I can handle myself."
Nabri stroked her chin. "True..." She mused. "Well...I suppose you always have wanted a pet. Fine, you may have him moved and keep him. Though you will not take care of him completely on your own. We will all keep eyes on him for suspicious movements, as I'm sure you assumed. And I will have some of the others fix up some sort of leash or something to keep him on." She said. "But, I stand by what I said before that the head priestesses shall decided his final fate."
"Oh, I know, Nabri. They would be quite furious if something like this went by without their inspection."
Nabri put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm just trying to say, don't name something you might have to kill later, okay?" She whispered, though she was just loud enough he could hear her.
"Right..." She murmured. "I'm sorry that this took up all of your time. If you wish to go back to your duties I will tend to him and then go make the proper arrangements."

The older three woman agreed, though the one named Zaannah stayed behind.
The girl brought the two cups of broth into the cell. "I will leave these here for you." She said setting them against the wall. "I will send someone to bring you more water soon." She exited the cell and Zaannah pulled the door shut again, the key making a soft clunk as she turned it.

The girl gave him one last look before she left. Trust me.

A small while after they were gone another woman came in and left him a larger cup of water, though she seemed anything but pleased. He finally gave in to the growling in his stomach and reached for one of the cups of broth left for him.

It certainly wasn't the most pleasant taste, and it was about as cold as the stone around him but he drained the cup nonetheless.

He'd decided. He would not force himself to waste away. He would live and bide his time and hope that one day he could make an escape from this place and make it back home.