Previously...
With fall in full swing, Link has been struggling with not only the change in weather, but with himself. Aggression gets the best of him in even the smallest amounts, emotionally and physically.
Yet with the arrival of a forgotten request, a book that aids in recovering a part of his childhood, of his happy family. The memories of his eight year old self are not all good. Remembering the guilt he felt from being responsible for the death of not only his closest friend, but his dear older sister as well. The memory was so much, the surge of emotions causes Link physical pain, breaking down the last of his walls.
Bokoblins have suddenly flooded the castle grounds and there isn't a person left in sight. Link readies for the fight, a good outlet for this anger as the Master Sword bursts into blue flames in his hand.
-Only obvious key points will be summarized. There are likely moments of an Unreliable Narrator or Sneaky Foreshadowing.-
CHAPTER WARNINGS: A little bit of "Traditional A/B/O" where an Alpha pins down an Omega (nothing bad happens and the situation is handled), Force Feeding Medication
...My Master...
...status is unstable...
...My Master...
A voice seems to hang in the air, familiar yet strange, like a voice carried through a canyon. Echoing with no clear direction of origin. Yet it was faint enough to be a memory popping up unexpectedly. And it was ignored as such.
Zelda strolled across the walkway with Sidon at her side. "So you're no longer talking either." She said out of concern rather than as a rude remark. Not that she wasn't annoyed with being left in the dark again by another friend. But the circumstances were a little different right now so she didn't become angry with the prince. If anything, she was more angry with Link.
The young woman had refused to believe the burst of rumours until Sidon confirmed the fact, that the hero of Hyrule had struck the Zora prince. With a training weapon no less.
"Well..." Sidon hesitantly began, unable to keep eye contact while he tried to cover the bruising below his ribs. There was a faint blue discolouring settling in a fuzzy line, almost reaching either end of his red sides. "I wish to speak to Link before I say more on the matter."
...Listen...
Zelda came to a stop and gave a quick look around. There was no one in particular along the walkway, just the usual guard at both ends, but it didn't look as though anyone was having a conversation.
Sidon only made it a few steps ahead before realizing that she was no longer at his side. "Zelda?"
"Do you hear someone whispering?"
He was a little surprised that she wanted him to try and eavesdrop, but despite the randomness, he gave an answer after a moment. "No. I don't hear anything."
...My Master...
"That! Did you not hear that just now?"
"... Perhaps it is a Korok? I know there are a few beings that only Link and you-" Sidon cut himself short the moment Zelda gave a sharp gasp and wore an expression of pure horror.
"N-no. Not again." Frantic, she brought her hands together as if offering a prayer. The young woman tried to reach out to the voice. While she was normally very hesitant with using her powers as she had very little magic left. It did not help matters either that with her emotional state, it was harder to control. As a faint gold glow came from her hands, Where are you, she asked, begged, over and over, Where are you!?
"Zelda." Sidon called carefully and reached out to her, he was unsure if she was having a flashback or possibly trapped within her mind. The prince had experienced this sort of thing before with knights, traumatized from battle, even Bazz's father Seggin had moments like these.
...The barracks...
She flinched, almost surprised to have received a reply and spun on her heel. "Come on, we must hurry!" Zelda shouted as she ran. "Link is in mortal danger!"
The Zora did not hesitate to hurry after her, yet he held some doubt in her claim. "What brings you to believe this?"
"It was so faint I almost didn't recognize it. It's the Master Sword, its their voice!"
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
Perhaps it had been minutes, it could have been seconds, but all at the same time, it was as though the world had become motionless. The scene bore into the masses very eyes, the knights that had come to retire for the evening, those that were preparing for duty, servants simply doing their rounds. All stood as witness, while thoughts of fear and panic began to fester.
Bodies of men and women lay in the crisp brown grass, some still writhe, some still cry, some lie still. Pools and strokes of vibrant red glisten orange in the fleeting light of an autumn sunset. The attack had been swift as the wind itself, the blade would have been silent if not for the roaring of its blue flames. One might have called it beautiful if it was not apart of this nightmare.
For the pain it brought was executed by none other than Link. The man that had trained them, that protected them, and without warning he had suddenly turned his blade against them. Cutting them down without hesitation, leaving them to fall at his feet.
Many flinched when their captain, their hero, turned his menacing gaze on them. Warm, lively blue eyes were instead cold and dead. Link's exposed left side was a patchwork of bruises with veins pulsing and wriggling. Thick, dark like ooze coiled and whipped across his body like tentacles. Wrapping and clinging tightly around his chest and inching up his neck.
Much of the surrounding grass was ablaze. The Master Sword's blue flames encompassed his right arm, licking at his exposed torso. Unlike true fire, it hardly left a mark on his scarred skin. It was like a demon had been summoned before them.
"He's completely infected!" Someone yelled, breaking the crowd free of their shock. In a chain reaction, weapons were being drawn rapidly one after another. Nothing more needed to be said, either they were to be captured and contained or slain on the spot. An infection this severe, no one had ever seen a case of Ganon's Blight this bad. It had to be stopped, it could not be allowed to spread, no matter the cost.
Those that could not fight escaped to the back of the ranks, and those that could, made a mad dash to the barracks for equipment. All the while, more than twenty fully armed knights rushed their captain. Link did not react at all like any other combat practice or a fight on a mission. He stood there as he thrust the sword towards the sky. Yet what they failed to notice was the the Master Sword glowing brighter and brighter. In the moment that the gap between them was closed and weapons would be within reach to hit their marks, Link brought the sword down upon them.
A large blade of light came from the Master Sword and with it came a symphony of destruction. The sound of weapons shattering was like fireworks, broken rings of chain mail rang like coins, padding and cloth sizzled with embers. The sheer force sent many of them flying, bodies slammed into one another and toppled to the ground. Yet the blade did not stop till it smashed into the castle wall, carving into the stone and sending pieces scattering to the ground.
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
"Get back!" Zelda cried out just before Link's full power beam attack was released. She made a dive back the way she came just before the stone wall burst and thankfully Sidon got out of the way in time.
Sidon lent a hand in getting Zelda back on her feet. "Well that saves us time from using the main entrance." Glancing out the fresh opening, the Zora could see a wake of terror wash over many, yet it did not deter others from their objective. They could all see the strain that it left on Link, while that attack was powerful, it took time to prepare and recover. Their captain was panting and readjusting his stance for the next assault.
For Zelda, she now understood why the voice had been so faint before, it wasn't just because she had been far away from the sword. The sword hadn't originally been calling out to her, it had been screaming at Link. Even now the Master Sword was still screaming, but it was growing weak, like its voice was becoming hoarse.
Yet, now it seemed to realize just how close Zelda was and called out to her. A barrier on my Master's conscious prevents accurate communication. An... attempt from you; by my calculation, would have a forty-three percent chance of success. If no action is taken, permanent damage... will only continue to rise. Current estimate is twelve percent.
"Come, we must stop the fighting!" She climbed over the rubble through the makeshift doorway. Rushing up to the knights, Zelda began to shout. "Stop this! All of you, you must stop!"
"S-stay back, its not safe!" An injured knight grabbed hold of her before she could push her way into the crowd.
"Please, let me go." She pleaded and tried to pull away from the knight's strong grip.
"You mustn't, he's been infected by the blight, there's nothing you can do!"
"Let me go!" And the knight refused again at first, but when Sidon caught up, he grabbed and twisted their wrist. With a yipe she was freed immediately.
"Pardon me." He said politely, nodding to the knight and then to Zelda. Then he lifted her up and she gave a small squeak of surprise as she was placed upon his shoulder. Zelda was panicking a bit as this was both completely unexpected and she had no idea where to hold on. Sidon reassured her unease by bracing her by the hip in much of the same polite fashion one would a dance partner. "I may not run as fast as you, but I can get through a crowd in a hurry."
Grateful, Zelda placed a hand on his wrist to help with balance. It was easy for the giant of a man to make his way through the masses. As they made it to the other side; where knights were engaged in combat, a halberd's point set at the prince's neck brought him to a stop.
"I cannot let you continue any further." A kind voice came from the wielder. "Please stand down, Prince Sidon and High Councillor Zelda, it is not safe."
Irritated, Sidon brashly snatch the weapon by the shaft and easily overpowered the Hylian. He tossed the knight to the side while stealing the weapon to then turn it upon them. "Threatening me, I would hope that you have a good reason."
"Sidon!" Zelda objected.
The knights hands quickly shot up in surrender. "I-I didn't mean to threaten you, you're- you're just so big I couldn't simply block you off. That is the only reason I held the halberd so high."
"Well pardon us, your royal highness! Shad's just doin' what he's been told." The gruff platoon leader Madas stormed up with his other two members right behind him. "Now, if ya would kindly return to the safety of the castle, we'd like to get back to handling the situation without havin' to worry about the two of ya!"
Zelda quickly spoke up before some other fight broke out. "We're here to help, the Master Sword says that there is something affecting Link's mind."
"Master Sword?" Glancing back to the fight, the knights where keeping enough pressure on Link that he could not make solid blows or charge the blade. "Look, I get it, I don't want to do this either, but an infected person-" He is cut off by Zelda's sharp squeak as she was dropped into Madas's arms as Sidon refuses to stand by any longer. "O-oi!"
"Sidon, wait!" Zelda shoved herself free from Madas' hold and went to chase after her friend, but two sets of hands grabbed her before she could get more than two steps.
As much as he hated it, the prince reluctantly complied. "Then what!? I can't just stand here!" Sidon shouted in frustration, turning from the fighting to face her. "I have to do something! Protect him! Or pin him down, something! No one else here even has close enough strength to restrain him, caging or tying Link up won't stop him from harming himself to get free. If this continues, Link will either die from Ganon's Blight or by the hands of his own knights."
A shrill shriek pierced the air, like a banshee screaming for the first time, it brought everyone to cover their ears, some even fell to their knees. All eyes locked on to the source, the Hylian captain. Crooked, pale fragments cut through the inflamed flesh of Link's ribs, merging with the dark ooze and forming a artificial mouth. A tooth-grinding, broken, rage filled voice spoke from the monstrosity. "I aM... a wEApoNnn..."
It brought a skin crawling, nausea inducing chill through everyone, freezing them to the bone. Like every part of their being was screaming as though death had arrived. Much to further horror, the dark mass clawed its way onto Link's face, leaving stitch like threads across his mouth. The afflicted skin of his neck swelled and split open revealing a jet-black sclera with a glowing yellow iris. "I am A... ssSshieLd."
A few more smaller ones popped up nearby as faint light came from his skin; from the parasite, it was a hue of pink and purple. And Zelda seemed to be the only one that found her voice during this monstrous transformation of their hero. Her voice wavered, fearful and small. "That's-that's not Ganon's Blight. That's Malice. "
The demonic eye shot in her direction and slowly Link turned to face the same way. But when the eyes laid upon Sidon, the prince knew that he was being targeted, he recognized the way Link's eyes ran over him. He was being sized up, looking for an opportunity to strike.
Sidon prepared to defend himself with the halberd he had taken from the knight, it was shorter than he was use to, but it would have to do. Quietly, as if he was going to give away his strategy to his possessed friend. "If you know what it is, Zelda, I take it there is a way to deal with it?"
"The eye, destroying the main eye should-"
Zelda was cut off from a loud clash of metal as Link lunged at Sidon. The Zora managed to block the incoming strike, but he could feel the haft would not be able to take another blow like that. He twisted the halberd blade upward, guiding the Master Sword away and then used the pommel to hit Link in the gut. It forced the Hylian back enough for there to be a safe distance from Zelda and for Sidon to go on the offensive.
Panic was rekindled amongst the knight and with it chaos ensued. "Shoot it!" Many of them shouted. "Kill it!" Others screamed.
"No, stop!" But no one listened, fearful, Zelda turned to Madas and begged. "Please! Stop them! Link doesn't need to die, we can still save him! Please, you must believe me!"
Knowing full well that it will ruin the weapon, Sidon is mindful of the blade as he uses it to bat any knight charging towards his dear friend. He does his best to keep up his defence and cut down some arrows; they weren't even aiming, just firing off randomly.
Madas looked just about as frightened as any of the other knights as he tore his eyes away from Link. "You're sure?" He dared to have hope.
"On my life!"
With a bit of determination returning to his face, Madas nodded. "We'll do what we can to get this mess under control, besta' luck to ya." Then Zelda was released. "Senza, walls up. Boi's, cut the cords. I'll take care of the stragglers."
The woman drew her rod and sent a wave of ice over the ground, setting up a few short walls, enough to stop anyone from running into the fight. While Shad and Ingo ran around with their knives to cut bow strings. Madas targeted those closest to his captain, freezing them solid with ice arrows.
While grateful for their aid and she looked back toward her friends and hoped that Sidon would be able to succeed quickly. It would not take long for other knights to turn on one single platoon.
Hissing, the voice came up again and the imitation mouth snapped its nasty teeth together like a rabid dog. "i am tHe DIvinE BeAst of HyRuuuule!"
What. Sidon was shocked to hear that phrase, that was something Link said. Then these words... they were Link's words? Were these his thoughts?
But the distraction ended up costing Sidon his weapon, it snapped under the power of Link's slash as he was unable to parry properly in time. Now the advantage of distance was lost and Sidon drop the remains, as using a makeshift weapon to attack or defend was more dangerous than being barehanded. But Link didn't give him any room to recover and pounced, closing the gap, aiming his next swing at Sidon's head.
Unwise, yet left with no other option, Sidon rushed into the attack. Reaching through the flames and grasping Link's arm before he carry through with the swing. Slamming Link down onto his back, Sidon pinned him to the ground and set his weight on the Hylian's legs for good measure. His hand burned worse than any fire related injury the prince had received, but regardless, he held Link's sword arm above his head. And swiftly grabbed hold of the eye of Malice at Link's neck, crushing it in his clawed grip.
It popped rather easily, but the fluid burned and stung Sidon's hand as the Malice gave a deafening screech as it died. Then suddenly, Link became lifeless beneath him.
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
"Going after Zelda was a better idea. Killing the prince would have been a bad move, you shouldn't have made Link target him like that... All we needed was the test results. So was that satisfactory, Master..?" They trailed off, realizing that they were alone on the roof of the barracks. They huffed and turned back towards the scene below. "After all that hard work, I watched him for weeks waiting for him to become unstable so that seed would take. I even got the crowd stirred up so they wouldn't think straight. A fucking good job would be nice!"
Bitterly, they played with a half full bottle of wine and gave a heavy sigh. "Guess I'll hand this back over to the docs, one dose was all we needed." And like that, they vanished into the night like a puff of smoke.
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
"Sidon, please." Zelda begged. "You must put him down!"
"I've already told you, my answer is no!" To further state this he held Link up higher, resting the blonde's head on his shoulder now rather than his chest. The dark ooze was still trickling out Link's wounds and continued to add to Sidon's own suffering.
The violet tint of coming into contact with this Malice had spread across almost every part of Link's body. Sidon's arms and chest were also afflicted, now spreading to his right shoulder and neck. It hurt worse initially, burning and stinging, but after it was just the feeling of paper cuts whenever the infected area moved.
He understood that he was being ridiculous, but after he killed that parasite, seeing what the ooze did to his hand. The prince couldn't let anyone else become infected. It might have been above his standing, but Sidon ordered that the ground Link fell upon be burned, demanded a thick blanket and that he be escorted to the nearest medical wing, one that could be quarantined. The knights amongst the chaos of the situation, were more willing to listen with Link no longer on a rampage.
Zelda had called for doctors once Sidon had carried Link to the private room, but Sidon refused to set Link down on the bed. They were still arguing about it.
"You don't understand, it will continued to spread to everything, look at this!" While still holding the bundled Hylian with one arm, he stuck out the other. Showing the infected area of his arm, his decorative bracer. "Do you see this? Silver and gems, it is just as affected!"
While that was only thing normal about the Malice, it was still confusing. "It should have all dissipated after the eye was destroyed. So it must be something else, let the doctors investigate or at the very least tend to his wounds! He's bleeding out, Sidon! He'll die like this!"
The fight was cut off from the loud sound of metal hitting the stone floor. The Master Sword had finally fallen from Link's grasp. It was shocking, because even when Link became unconscious, he held on tightly to the burning blade. The blue flames that came off it now was little more than a flickering candle light.
I... must stay... My Master...
Zelda could barely hear its voice, it sounded so tired. "Then you will stay with him." She said softly, but as she touched the pommel her hand felt as though it had been splashed with hot oil. "Ow!"
"Did the Master Sword do that?" Sidon ask, quite surprised the Zelda wasn't able to grab it.
"I don't think so, they have never stung me before." Upon turning over her hand to check the injury, she was shocked to find a spot on her finger, one that was purple just like her friends skin. "Oh no. It was just a drop, I-I didn't see it, I didn't think-"
But before she could finish or fully freak out, the spot began to glow bright purple, then fade into gold before floating off her skin, braking off into tiny and tinier pieces till it was no more.
"How did you do that?" Sidon asked, completely bewildered by what just happened.
"I didn't do anything." Zelda was just as dumbfounded and in flipping her hand over, they both had an idea. There on the back of her hand was the Triforce. Looking back up at Sidon, she had a plan to cure them, a blessing of Hylia. "Stand still, I don't have much power right now, but I'll use what I can."
"Please be very careful."
"I know, I understand the dangers of magic." She then lifted her right hand towards Sidon and took a deep breath, focusing just on the infection. Zelda tried for a slow flow of magic, but she also knew with her experience it was all or nothing in most cases. The light that came off her magic flooded the small room with blinding brilliance. Quickly she closed her hand and hugged it close to her chest, stopping her powers.
As Sidon blinked away spots in his vision, he noticed Link's infliction, as well as his own, glow and brake off into particles of light. It was slightly painful, but it only lasted a moment. Then it was gone. "Thank goodness." He said in great relief and placed a kiss on Link's forehead.
While Zelda stumbled, she caught herself on one of the chairs next to the bed. "Now... will you put him down?"
The prince flinched, so relieved that he forgot that he had company, he hoped that he hadn't been caught or was blushing. "Yes, right, sorry."
But as he set Link down on the bed, he realized Zelda had not been careful. She was trembling, trying to stay on her feet and her skin was turning very pale. "Zelda, you didn't-"
"I'm fine, I'll be fine. See?" She pulled up her sleeve to show her forearm. "No veins showing."
However Sidon had to reach out an arm to catch her as she was no longer bracing herself on the chair and fell. "Zelda!"
Just in time, the doctors opened the door. Surprised and confused, but before they could say anything, Zelda spoke up. "As High Councillor, I leave Prince Sidon to oversee any final decisions concerning anything to do with Link, in my stead. Is that understood?"
The two doctors as well as the two guards standing outside the door answered with a simple. "Yes, Ma'am."
"Good... you're all witnesses..." Losing all the strength in her voice, Zelda became limp leaving Sidon to hold her up until one of the doctors could take her.
"I believe it might just be magic exhaustion, she used some just a moment ago." Sidon explained to the doctor.
"Well let's hope so, I'll bring her to see a specialist on the matter, thank you for the information."
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
The dawn light feels blinding even with his eyes closed. Link wants to roll over, but his body aches and it's not worth the further discomfort it would bring. With his right arm feeling wobbly, like it was asleep and just waiting for the pins and needles to show up. Link rubbed his eyes with his left, but it felt weird, like he had fallen asleep with his gloves on. Blinking his eyes a few times, squinting at the sunrise coming through the window.
A moment later he took notice of something red nearby.
The Zora's scales had a dull, almost dusky shimmer as the light bounced off. His head resting on the edge of the bed with his eyes shut. Sidon's head. Link's heart began thundering, the image of jumping to decapitate that Moblin burns into his mind, only it wasn't a Moblin anymore, it was Sidon. The Bokoblins he fought with, hadn't been anything of the like either, they had been his knights. He shot up with frighten eyes, pain surged through his body from the movement and forces out a scream.
Sidon woke with a start and reached for his weapon before realizing that it was only the Hylian. "You're awake, thank Hylia."
But Link didn't look at him, he couldn't take his eyes off the bandages covering his torso, his arms, his right rested in a sling with his hand in the shape of a mitt. He tosses the covers and discovers that his left leg is bandaged all the way down to his ankle. The only modesty he is left with is loose fitting shorts.
"Link?" Sidon softly called and sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you in any pain, do you want me to call for the doctor?"
This time Link at least responded with a small shake of his head, but Sidon could see his hands trembling.
"Do you... remember anything?"
A choked sob comes from Link and he clasps his left hand over his mouth to silence himself, but it is too late.
"How much..." Sidon trailed off as Link lifted his head up. He looks utterly broken, tears are already rushing down and soaking his bandages. Link removes his hand from his mouth, his jaw quivering as he moved his hands to sign.
[I remember-] Is all he gets out before horrible pain shoots up his right arm from trying to lift it. Frustrated, Link raise his left in a fist as if he wants to punch the wounded arm, holds the trembling fist for a second before hitting the bed next to him. He hits it a second time, harder and there's a snap heard of a board breaking underneath. Link bites back another sob and covers his mouth once more.
"It's alright, try just spelling it out for now if you can."
Using his left like this was very irritating to Link, adding fuel to his fire of frustration. But Sidon was reassuring and patient while his friend explained what happened to him. There were mistakes, from Link spelling things wrong and there were times that Sidon misread the words.
But yet, Link did his best to explain the incident in as few words as possible. That it began with someone dropping a bottle on him, it was the only thing Link could recall that would have brought him into contact with the Malice. The camp escapee was a month ago and Link had bathed in the spring to get rid of it, something that Sidon didn't need to know for this.
During the fight with the knights, Link was certain that he was seeing monsters, not people. And in remembering what happened, he knew that there was no mistake they were his knights. But the part that scared him the most was he had no control over his body. 'Attack' rang around in his head and he did, but he didn't move the way he wanted. He didn't dodge at all and hardly retreated, he just was bouncing from enemy to enemy. There was no watching his targets movements or plan of attack, he just... attacked.
What came after, was the worst part. Attack had suddenly changed to 'Kill the Zora Prince'. Still he believed what he was seeing was a monster, not Sidon. But with attack changed to kill, everything changed. He would focus, he would think, yet he was still unaware of the spell. Like a sense of false freedom. It was as though with more direct orders, Link's body would respond better.
There had to have been someone that was controlling him, someone that was telling him what to do. He still couldn't believe what had happened to him, Link the hero and protector had been reduced to a simple, deadly puppet. Some madman's plaything. Link had attacked innocent people, he had tried to kill Sidon. As he glared down at his hands, tears overflowed and he couldn't fight them back, no matter how hard he tried.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Link. I can't imagine what that must have felt like. For someone to take control of your body like that, that they made you try to kill me." Sidon moved in closer and well hesitant, he reached out to touch Link's cheek. It was a gentle touch with the back of his fingers, but the Hylian still flinched. Sidon frowned at this, but when Link did not move away he began to brush away the tears. "I'm so grateful that you made it out alive. I was so scared that you were going to die."
Link's expression then fell as something dreadful dawned on him. With his eyes quickly fixed on Sidon, he asked. [Did I kill?]
Sidon shook his head quickly and withdrew his hand. "You didn't kill anyone, the wounded are said to make a full recovery. Your injuries were the only the ones that were potentially fatal."
A few more tears escaped and he gave a weak, yet relieved smile. [I'm glad it was only me.]
Yet this brought something else up, something that both enraged and frightened the tall man.
"I am a weapon." Link jumped at those words, expression falling into shock as he stared up at Sidon with wide eyes. "I am a shield. I am the Divine Beast of Hyrule. Those... those are your words are they not?"
Link gave a slow nod. But how...?
"I heard them from the Malice that was possessing you." Sidon then gave Link a serious look. "Those words are not for motivation, are they?" Link looked away from the prince, but they weren't having any of it. "Link, are they."
[What does it matter.] Link said as he gave in and looked at Sidon with an annoyed scowl. [It's the truth.]
Sidon didn't know which he should feel first, anger or grief. Yet it was anger that made him grab Link roughly by the shoulders. "It is not! You're not just some weapon, Link! Who did this to you, who treated you like this!?"
With his left hand, Link tried to shove him away, he wasn't able to answer so much with such limitations. However Sidon only released his shoulders to cradle Link's face and tilt it back so he would look up at him. Sidon's almost on the brink of tears himself.
"I don't know if I made this clear, but I'll do whatever it takes to make you understand. You matter, Link! Not as a hero, not as a warrior, not as a weapon. You matter as a person. You matter to me, to your friends and to the people that care for you! So stop closing yourself off or carrying the burden alone or rushing into a fight without care." Sidon wanted to embrace Link, to shower him with all the tenderness and love he so needed and deserved. He could see those blue eyes wavering; the doubt, the rejection, the fear, like the time Sidon expressed his feelings. "It's all true, Link. Please, don't doubt my words when I say we can't lose you. That we want you to be safe. We are here for you and we want to help you."
This time when Link tried to break free, Sidon let him go without a fuss, waiting and watching. The blond raised his trembling hand once, twice, each time he dropped it. He was fighting for what words to say, to argue, to be thankful, something. But in the end, all he could do was lean into the man and cry, while Sidon held him close for as long as he needed.
"I love you, Link."
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
The awkward tension over the doctor's morning examination was expected. But much to Link's confusion, when it came time to change his bandages, Sidon looked only at his own hands as he held them in tight fists. Though after seeing the state of his body, perhaps he understood.
The left side of Link's body was pelted with a multitude of colours, from bruising settled deep in his muscles. A great number of stitches covering his upper left half; Link is informed that his back is in much of the same state, and it was where the blight had settled in the thickest. Where the mouth, eyes and the source had been, he believed as the healers wouldn't say. Though he knew which wounds were caused by a weapon, not because he was familiar, but because he remembered the fight that clearly.
His left leg isn't broken, but they believe the bones might still be under a lot of stress and the bandages are there for support. Link must take it easy or it may break after all. So light walking, with a crutch for good measure or bed ridden till they give him the all clear.
This all seems rather simple and straightforward. However, Link is annoyed to no end that he isn't allowed to have any potions for the duration of his recovery. But they do not know the extent of how the blight affected him so they can't risk it. A whole month like this, I don't think so.
Link's sword arm on the other hand, left him with much confusion. The burns worsened as they went down to his palm, but they are not deep. Inflamed and glossy skin ran in almost twisted like strokes towards his shoulder. The surface is completely raw around his hand, a mix of red and pink marring. Link understood that they were caused by the Master Sword, but not why it had happened.
He remembers how painful it was to hold the blade, but was unable to release it. The flames hadn't been hot, but they burned with such ferocity that Link believed his arm would be turned into charcoal. How did the sword create fire and why?
When they began to clean and reapply salve to his wounds, they informed him on how he should care for himself for the time being. It was also when Link learns that he had been unconscious for three days.
Had Sidon been at his side the whole time? It gave a strange, yet happy feeling from the thought alone, but he also worried if it had caused the prince any trouble.
However, when he asked about Zelda, knowing that she would have come to check on him daily. It is with a tidal wave of guilt that Link learns that do to her using magic, she is bedridden. But is on the road to recovery and should be back on her feet in a few week's time.
After they are finished, they leave to hand in their report and to submit the request to the kitchen for two today.
With the doctors gone, Sidon is quick to return to sit on Link's bed. "I know after all the prodding and questions you just underwent, you probably don't want to hear another one."
Link sighed heavily, but couldn't help rolling his eyes with a small grin. Leaning against the headboard, he took his pillow and tossed it at Sidon. Hit me.
Despite the playful feeling still lingering, for this Sidon couldn't bring himself to partake. Setting the pillow in his lap, he gladly used it to rest his arms as he spoke. "It's about before and given the last reaction you gave me, I waited till the company was gone."
The Hylian rowed his hand for him to get on with it.
"I am worried that you might be with child." He whispered as he looked to Link's bandage covered belly. Which Link reacted immediately by covering with the blanket. When Sidon met Link's gaze, the poor Hylian was so red and vigorously shaking his head no. "A-are you sure? You may not be showing much yet, but in a week it will most certainly be noticeable. You cannot be doing anything to rough or the egg may-"
Link couldn't take any more and slapped his hand over Sidon's mouth to stop him. Sidon could really worry over the silliest things. They weren't even the same species and-and Hylian's don't lay eggs! Still very much flushed from the sheer embarrassment of the topic, Link leaned back against the headboard and signed. [I don't lay eggs.]
"Oh." Then it seemed to all click into place and now Sidon was just as embarrassed, if not more so than Link. "Forgive me, I got myself so worked up and worried, that I forgot that Hylian's have live birth."
Link swore that his face was getting redder by the second. He nodded his head before pointing back n forth between them. [Not possible.] he said and as humiliating as it was, Link placed a hand on his stomach.
"You're right, I remember that now. Sorry, I don't even know why I was so fixed on the idea in the first place. There have also been no records of Zora having children with any other race. But," Sidon paused, fidgeting with his fins for a moment before bravely placing his hand upon Link's so that they were both holding his belly. "perhaps, some part of me hoped that there was a chance."
Link didn't know if he could take much more of this, it felt like his head would explode at any moment and his own heart was racing. His body was built for the opportunity, however compared to before, the thought didn't feel as scary. But that may have changed due to Sidon, and despite the facts and the embarrassment of it all, Link didn't really hate the idea. Not that he was going to admit it or anything.
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
It was not surprising in the least that the Master Sword remained where it fell. Link almost laughed when Sidon explained that he tried picking it up. It was the same for everyone if they were not Zelda or himself. Unless the Master Sword allowed it, lifting, let alone moving the blade was impossible. One would have better luck moving a mountain.
So it was not until Link got up to return the sword back to its scabbard at his hip, did the blade finally get off the floor. It still stung in his hold, but it was not as sharp as before and it didn't set on fire. Now that he was fully dressed, a servant informed him that he was summoned to a council meeting in an hours time.
The trip there had certainly been an unpleasant one and much to his further embarrassment, Sidon ended up carrying him up three flights of stairs. Though the prince seemed to enjoy carrying him around. And when they reached the hall, Link insisted that he walk in himself.
It didn't matter if his leg was killing him, Link refused any help to keep him on his feet. He believed it was enough that he took the crutch. So, this is how he stands before the council members, all sitting at the long table facing the injured captain and each with numerous papers in front of them. No doubtably they've been at this awhile and it's unlikely to be the usual reports.
"So with the matter thoroughly investigated and with the addition of your medical report, the council has come to an agreement." Thaagit; the minister of law, began, her smile sweet and present as always. Though at this time, it gave Link an unsettling feeling. "There are to be no charges placed against you, Captain Link."
Link was honestly a little surprised, nothing at all? But he was grateful, most knights got a few days suspension just for getting into fights. With this, Link could return to duty as early as tomorrow, he just needed to visit the fairies.
"If I may," Marillo spoke up as he picked up one of the documents in front of him. "with all traces of the unknown blight burned to prevent another incident and though, well cured; with the aid of High Councillor Zelda, I can't help but be concerned for you, Captain Link."
A few shared a sympathetic look as they couldn't help but glance over Link's current state. The captain himself however didn't quite follow.
Marillo spoke again, continuing on with his statement. "I have gone over your reports and work efforts with Councillor Thaagit earlier and from what we have found, it is clear to me that you are extremely overworked."
"Ah, that is right. Thank you for the reminder." She smiled brightly before readdressing Link. "Though know I do uphold the highest respect and attentiveness to our Goddess' Chosen. But I believe that the sheer magnitude of stress from amount of constant work you have done right from the defeat of Calamity Ganon, is the only possible reason you were susceptible to the blight in the first place."
"As the Minister of Health," The elderly Hylian woman added softly, "I not only agree, I can confirm the probability. Captain Link reports weekly and even from his new training regimen that allows him a short break once a month, his health has been ultimately on the decline."
Link couldn't hold back his state and expression of shock as he looked towards the older councillor. I haven't submitted any such reports. I don't even go to the healer's ward for injuries!
"Come now, Captain Link." Thaagit drew back his attention with her kind, but firm voice. "With the situation that occurred, we had to discuss all points, work, health and personal. Everything was brought forward for your sake."
Oh how his nerves surged with alertness, Link had to remind himself that he had been careful and made sure not to leave any sort of a trail. But it did not change the fact that someone was submitting personal reports without him knowing, in other words, someone was watching him.
"While we are on the matter of personal." Mayor Kafei piped up and nudged the minister of Treasury next to her. "We need a record of your possessions."
Link paled a little as he looked her way and while difficult to balance on the crutch while trying to sign with his only capable hand, she was at least patient. [Why?]
"As stated earlier, with all traces burned, we have been taking records from all the knights. You are the last knight we have yet to compensate." She answered simply and began to rummage through her small fancy bag that sat on the table next to her. Kafei then procured a letter with a silver key moulded into the wax seal, she set it out in front of her. "This will be the key to your new quarters, there are directions and such stated with the letter. With this is out of the way, we can all focus our resources to rebuilding."
That is when it hit him, they had burned the barracks to the ground. The book that he promised to look after for Ingo, Sidon's newest letters and the only picture of his family. All of it, it was gone. Link collapsed to his knees, the crutch skittering across the marble floor.
"Captain Link!" Many exclaimed out of surprise or fright, one of them even hopped out of their chair.
"We should wrap things up for today. He needs rest, more than just for his injuries to recover." Marillo sighed with a frown and looked to all of his party members.
With an expression so serious it bordered on anger, Thaagit stood up and declared. "We should reconsider our original leave of absence for Captain Link, for our dear Hero. I decree that he not only have any length of time to properly recover from injuries, but grant an additional two months of suspended leave. A long deserved vacation if you will."
No, Link shook his head, no. I don't want that.
"That's a grand idea!"
He tried to snap his fingers, but he wasn't able to do so with the bandages or with his hand trembling.
"I'll personally see to it that platoon fifty finishes their training," Thaagit smiled with glee and then gave a hearty laugh, speaking to herself about her grand plan. "They'll be ready for knighting by the time he gets back!"
Link was now looking to find someone who could see him speak, so he could tell them it wasn't needed. That he didn't want this.
"Then, we all agree." Marillo stood and straighten his coat. "Now that this is officially sorted, I have other duties to attend to."
Link is left with this horrible feeling of isolation and betrayal. He's about ready to whip his crutch at someone as they begin to leave, when he takes note of a certain knight standing in the doorway. A burn scar from the edge of his eye to his nose and a halberd at his side, it was the leader of platoon twelve. A knight that gave him a lot of trouble when he was trying to escape the camp. He cast his eyes on Link once and very briefly, before following after the council members.
It was a bitter reminder that he didn't have time to pick fights with council members, he had more pressing matters. As he sat there, waiting for his friend to return, Link had to seriously rethink things. People were keeping an eye on him, enough that they were forging reports in his name, a power move if he ever saw one. They have been watching him, likely longer than just when he began sneaking around, so they knew he was up to something when Link had changed his routine and now, they had him in a tight situation. Link couldn't risk using the slate to visit the fairies, suddenly healing to get back to his duty would only give them what they wanted.
They wanted him to lose focus and rush into things, they wanted him to give away how much he knew about the camp. The Malice they infected him with that night, they likely hadn't been expecting Zelda to cleanse it and either wanted to find out if he knew how to cure it or to kill him off. Link got lucky and it was as simple as that, lucky. Now he had to be extra cautious.
After he recovered, he would check on the progress with R and M, then maybe he would be ready to call upon the Sheikah's aid.
"I apologize for taking so long, a few of the council members caught me in the hall." Sidon informed as he approached. "Did everything go alright?"
As Link looked up, he gave a small smile and a nod. [I'm tired.]
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
This new living situation was beyond overkill. The room was huge, so much so that not only was there a king four-poster bed, there was a small lounge and dining area. There was no doubt that the bedding was high class fur and silks. He even had a private bathroom. Everything from the rugs to the drapery was finely embroidered, elegant carved wood and stone was everywhere.
Sidon hummed with satisfaction and smiled down at Link. "Well this is very nice, it almost looks the same as the room given to me for the gathering."
Of course it does. This room is meant for royalty and high honoured guests, not for knights! Link wanted to scream, this whole room was so overwhelming it was uncomfortable. Sharing a hall with the other knights would have been enough. This was likely another way of keeping a closer eye on him.
So he would have to deal with it.
Carefully walking over to one of the couches, Link took a seat and tossed the annoying crutch on a chair nearby. Looking to Sidon, he patted the spot next to him and then said. [We need to talk.]
He carefully explained to Sidon that should anyone ask, Link remembers nothing of what happened during the Malice incident. But Sidon didn't understand why he had to lie about it, that is until Link told him of the conspiracy happening amongst the council. The months that he has spent trying to find the culprit and those he has it narrowed down to. That who ever it is, they are using the camp as a way to perform tests with the Malice.
Link also explained that this was why he was trying so hard to keep things from Zelda, that she would be in grave danger surrounded by an unknown enemy already watching her every move and that he was trying to protect her.
"So, this is what you meant when you didn't want to drag anyone in unless absolutely necessary. It's not an assignment, it's because you're going behind the council's back." Sidon whispered, fearing that they were being watched at this moment. "I don't like leaving Zelda in the dark about this, but you are right, it is safer for her this way."
He didn't respond, yet was grateful that Sidon understood why he chose not to tell Zelda anything. Though he would have preferred to keep the man out of this too, but given what happened to him and knowing what Link had experienced, Sidon wasn't going to just keep silent without good reason.
"But that leaves you as a constant target." Sidon looked Link over, if this was their idea of a warning, he truly feared for the battle to come.
Regrettably, Link nodded his head. But with all the lives at stake, he couldn't blindly rush and have any of the councillors prosecuted. If they got the wrong one or their allies got word of it, who knows how bad the damage would be. Or how many of the knights were involved.
"I understand, but that doesn't mean I like it. For now, can you at least promise me that you will come to me if you need help?"
Link held out his hand and Sidon was mindful when they shook hands. When the time comes Link may need all the help he can get.
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
"Uh... Madas. We have a tail." Ingo spoke up as he watched Senza step into the light of the campfire with someone unexpected.
"What are-" His jaw dropped as the person Senza had brought back to camp was none other than Link. "W-what are you doing here!? Are you even allowed out of the castle?"
[I am, it's been a month.] Link answered simply as Madas looked him over. He was dressed in Snowquill clothing, something that would be better suited for deep, snow covered mountains then their light snowfall, but it gave away his intention of sleeping without a fire. He was hiding and he just happened to slip up for Senza to find him only recently.
The platoon was already past Hylia River and decided to camp the night at the base of the Hills of Baumer, a full day's ride on a good day. How long had they been followed?
"Why are you following us?"
[I am, because I have a job to do, I've recovered enough and I'm not, because there was something...] Link looked up the high hillside. Deya was just beyond that hill top, village ruins submerged in a shallow pond. It was not his original goal to come here, but to shake a tail he became a tail. So here he was with platoon forty-eight on a beginner level assignment.
Before Madas could even think about ordering Link to go back, in his current standing he could and something about that felt a little like sweet revenge. But again, before he could, Ingo and Shad rushed him into a huddle and brought him quite a few feet away from Link.
"Let him stay, Madas." Ingo asked, while Shad agrees by nodding his head in great enthusiasm.
"Come on, this is goin' too far." Madas groaned at his platoon members, these boys are going to get them in so much shit.
"Please, Madas." Shad begged with his hands held together at his chin.
"Agh, stop that, your daughter is rubbing off on ya again."
"What's the harm? It's been about a month and he's got no problem doing training regimens... well, doing them alone." Ingo informed.
"Ya." Shad piped up again, dropping his hands. "Even though it wasn't his fault, almost everyone is keeping a distance like he's a mad dog. It's not fair, we know him and it's not something he would ever do willingly."
Madas was silent now, resting his head in his hands as he thought of how hard he worked to get to this point. These two wanted to risk their positions as knights by bringing a civilian out on a mission. This wasn't a field trip! "You're actn' like this is a huntn' trip with the bois."
Ingo shrugged and didn't see anything wrong with that. "It sorta is?"
"We're dealn' with monsters."
"And?" The pair said at the same time and it made Madas want to pull his hair out.
"And!? And!? Do you muffin heads understand that we could be suspended or demoted for taking someone who is, well, is suspended!?"
"Ana loves muffins." Shad couldn't help but daydream about his little girl when he heard it, his little angel's favourite snack.
"That's probably why she's got you wrapped around her little finger."
"Oi! Are ya listenin' to me?!"
"Yes, but I don't understand why you are so against this." Ingo rolled his eyes. "The mission is like, one Bokoblin? It's hardly an errand." He then added under his breath. "I could do this in my sleep."
"He doesn't even have to engage in combat, he can just come on the ride. Something to mix up his routine, it would be good for him." Shad glanced to his younger teammate. "Right?"
"Fine! On the condition that since I am the only one with any physician experience, if I deem anything too strenuous, he backs off. And same suspended rules still apply for potions an' the like."
~~~~~~ ҉ ~~~~~~
Passing the Dueling Peaks just shortly after dawn, the dry grass and leaves were frosted and crisp, a light dusting of snow covered the ground. The five of them ride leisurely towards Bubinga Forest, where the monster had been sighted. It was not long after they crossed the bridge that they dismounted and split into three groups. Senza was on her own, Shad was with Madas, and Link was with Ingo.
Trekking through the woods together was far too noisy, every step crunched and thin branches snapped from the lightest snag. Top it all off that a slumbering forest echoed, this hunt was anything but stealthy.
Ingo chuckled and looked back at Link. "I bet Senza will find the target before we do."
While he didn't doubt that, Link had something a month overdue. [I'm sorry.]
"Eh?" It brought the younger to stop. "What for?"
[For your book, it burned up in the barracks.]
He laughed again and had this delightful grin on his face. "Nah, it didn't. I also grabbed everything important in your room."
Link felt as though someone pulled his feet from under him, Ingo had done what? [How would you know?]
"The stuff next to my master's book was obvious. The rest smelled strongly of you, the letters and some of your strange armour."
It was Link's turn to bust a gut, of all the things, for his precious things to have been rescued by a wild child's old habits. [Who would have thought your weird way of recognizing and tracking creatures would be a blessing.] He gave the young man a strong pat on the back. [Thank you so much, you don't understand how much that means to me.]
"Ah, tell me something about what you remembered over some good food, we'll call it even. Your treat of course."
[Deal.] But before they could shake on it, a familiar squeal is heard not that far off.
[Let's check it out.] Ingo quickly changed to speaking with hands and tried to step as softly as possible as he moved forward. Following the sounds and Ingo's direction, they moved up and up, till they reached a small ledge that hung over a clearing. About a seven foot drop under them, but the brush gave them plenty of coverage and clear sight of their target.
The Bokoblin looked strange however. It was completely covered in fur and its horn had grown long enough to form a slight curve. It was far heftier than normal and their bright eyes were almost black, looking more animal than demon. Standing there on all fours with its head held high, scenting the air.
Regardless Link began to ready his bow, yet Ingo hesitated, he was trying to understand why this Bokoblin was so different. The knight then reached out and touched Link's shoulder for his attention. [We shouldn't kill it.]
Puzzled and a little annoyed that Ingo's thirst for monster research was spiking up now of all times. Link set his weapon down. [What, why?]
[It's just a thought, but I think that it is clean of Calamity's corruption.]
[And what, you believe that this is what they are supposed to look like?]
A high pitch squeal drew both of their attention back to the clearing, a tiny, fluffy Bokoblin ran out from under the other. A Bokoblin... piglet? The little one ran around the clearing chasing after nothing in particular, tossing up snow and leaves to bite at. Like a puppy going crazy over their first snowfall.
With renewed determination, Ingo whispered. "I do now. When has anyone seen a baby monster?"
It was an interesting discovery, Link would admit that, but a monster is still a threat to villagers. Link picked his bow back up as there was no way Ingo was going to take the shot now.
The young knight wasn't paying attention as he was too focused on the pair below. "They're more like a bear now than a-"
As the arrow was drawn, the light that bounced off the arrowhead alerted Ingo of what Link's intentions were.
"No! Don't do it!" Ingo made a lunge for the arrow, but in doing so he fell into Link and caused him to release prematurely. While the pair fell from the ledge, the arrow missed its mark and faintly clipped the Bokoblin parent's shoulder. They howled out in fright and took off into the bush, the young one coming up right behind.
"O-ow, that could have gone better." Ingo winced and then he chuckled at Link's current placement on top of the younger knight, head just above Ingo's belly. "Well, at least you had a nice landing, Captain."
The only thing nice bout this was that the boy's utterly, filthy tunic had a pleasant smell. Though, truly glad in this moment that the knight uniform did not have a breastplate. Link gave a groan out of annoyance as he lifted his head up. However in moving, a sharp jolt of pain came from his collar bone and made him hiss.
"Oh shit, sorry. Injuries first, jokes later." Being careful now, the two separated and sat up. Ingo then reached for the clasps on Link's tunic. "Here let me have a look."
Bitter about it, Link still let him check. This sort of thing wouldn't be a problem if I had a tonic. As Ingo began, he held the collar open wide and gingerly he felt around for anything out of place. Link only winced once when Ingo found the injury. "Looks good, might just end up as a bruise, but we'll get Madas to double check when he..."
Link hadn't really noticed when the younger man trailed off, lost in his thoughts, he just relaxed and left Ingo to do as he pleases. With the target gone, there was not much else to do, but regroup. Heck, Link was getting hungry, thirsty, both..? He was craving something.
"Huh, what's..." Ingo mumbled, as he leaned in closer to his captain, startling them in the progress. "What's this fragrance?"
Fragrance? Link reflexively scented the air, trying to figure out what his subordinate was going on about. While faint, there was something nice floating around in the air. It was almost savoury, maybe a little salty, like meat and onions roasting over an open flame. But also, nothing like that at all. It made his head spin trying to compare it.
"It smells really good."
Link nodded in agreeance, it did smell good and it seemed to be getting stronger. Suddenly the young knight grasped his captain's tunic, pulled him in close and set his nose at the crook of Link's neck. He inhaled deeply, sending a shiver up Link's spine. "No... that's not it."
Something clicked, Link became hyper aware of how he was reacting and shoved Ingo away from him. He began recalling all the little things that Ingo had done around him, the little, really strange things. Almost all of them had been just before or after Link's fever, even before Link knew what it was. Which would mean-
"You smell really good."
-Ingo is on the other spectrum. Like the Gerudo woman, like M. While Link recalled that M's kin can trigger a premature fever around a week before the usual time. He didn't realize how fast it would set in. A natural fever slowly sets in, small pains and discomfort can show up as early as a day before. The heat and dizziness normally begins an hour before the mind starts to get muddled and physical cravings take over.
This, it was like Link skipped right to stage two. His head was already swaying, he could already feel his body temperature rising, pulse racing.
Link was brought back from his thoughts as Ingo wasn't so gentle the next time, as they grabbed Link's collar once again, they pushed Link to the ground. Looking up at the younger man, Link could tell Ingo was losing himself to his instincts just as fast if not faster. His face was flushed, more than from the simple chill of the air, eyes coming in and out of focus, panting as though he just about drowned. And his scent, it only seemed to become stronger.
He hadn't experienced interaction quite like this one with another of his kin before, where he could smell them so easily, unlike with Sidon. There he could really understand the difference and it really mattered if someone had a soul bond. M's scent had been pleasant, but nothing like this. Every breath Link took, it wasn't enough, he needed more, more, more. He could almost taste them and it brought a hunger that Link had never felt before.
The desperation that was setting in, the fear, it felt like this was becoming life or death. Yet it was being without them, Link was scared to be without them close, to protect him. As though Link would die without him. Link needed him to be here, with him, he needed him to stay. He was scared, why wasn't he here, Link needs him to be here. Need, I need. Please. Please hurry.
Unable to comprehend anything else, only of them together, it almost felt real. The feeling of his scales, the warmth of his body. The pressure of being filled, but Link knew it wasn't real, for there was no pain, only satisfaction. The promise of gratification, of pleasure. Sidon. A familiar ache and heat blooms in Link's gut so quickly it makes him wince and grab his stomach. Sidon, I need you.
"Link." A hushed voice calls out to him, but it is not Sidon's voice. And it was like his nerves were poked with an electric weapon, with that jolt Link's able to see reality once more. Seeing Ingo still above him, leaning in for him. Link growls, trying to be threatening as possible, his body feels so heavy he knows that he won't have much strength.
Ingo growls back, now glaring, angry and bearing his teeth. Despite the tingling sensation appearing and the horrible reflex to bear an offering, Link claps both hands around his neck. No. You're not Sidon.
Yet as Link resisted, focusing hard to keep his wits about him, Ingo seemed to fall further and further away from himself. The younger Hylian starts trying to pry the other's hands free, yanking at their arms. Link attempts to escape and get out from under Ingo, but with his strength fading rapidly, sitting up or rolling was futile.
"Oi! Are one of you guys dead or some-... The hell!?" Madas exclaimed as he came upon the scene. He did not get much time to do much else before Ingo snarls and lashes out with a closed fist. With a hard blow to the cheek, Madas is sent stumbling back into a tree. "I don' know what got into ya, but I'm going to kick your ass!" Confused and pissed off, Madas retaliates, engaging in a full-on brawl just as the other two arrive.
"Hey, hey, don't fight!" Shad instantly rushes in to break them apart, but ends up getting attacked by Ingo as well and inadvertently gets dragged into the mess.
Struggling, Link sits up with his hands still tightly wrapped around his neck, but his whole world sways like he's on a boat. It is Senza that keeps him from collapsing, holding him up by his shoulders. "Captain, are you alright?"
Releasing and freeing his hands, Link hastily signs. [Horse. Bag.] And thank Hylia, she didn't question him and after making sure he wouldn't fall over, Senza ran off.
His gaze turned on the fight, Link can't hear much over the sound of his heart pounding in his ears. But there is a lot of yelling, Madas is mad and Shad is... scared. He is panicking as the two of them manage to pin Ingo down and begin quite the endeavour with binding his hands. Ingo is snarling, kicking, biting, he seems completely out of his mind.
When Link gave a soft cry of pain, his insides having gave a rather sharp twist, Madas' attention was quickly shifted. After making sure Shad would be able to hold onto their shackled comrade, he hurried over to Link's side. "Looks like Ingo has the real deal. Where are you injured, did he bite ya?"
The moment Madas carefully touched him; likely just looking for wounds, Link couldn't hold back the whimper. It made a shiver run over his skin and reflexively, Link leaned forward, lazily rubbing his jaw along Madas' arm.
"Back!" Ingo barked, fuming with rage, it made everyone jump and look his way. The blond looked as though he was trying to kill his platoon leader with his gaze alone. Panting, he struggled harder to get out of Shad's hold, the larger man had to throw his body weight on him just to keep the younger man from bolting. Ingo was practically foaming at the mouth, spitting and snarling. "Back! Get back! Not yours! Mine! Not yours!"
Madas huffed, turning away and did his best to ignore his subordinate's continuous senseless shouting. "So Cap...?"
Again, Link couldn't really hear anything, he knew that the other man was speaking to him and there were sounds. But in the mix of his senses, he wasn't able to focus, he was slowly losing out to the fever. I need... Sidon I...
All of a sudden, Link had a bag in his lap. He blinked once, twice, and then he recognized it. It was his saddle bag. With remembering what was in it, Link was able to snap out of it enough to begin digging for the apothecary case. It wasn't big, just a small leather one to protect the vials. Link fumbled a bit with the clasp, but eventually got it open and took one of the purple.
Link coughed a little from the bitter and sour taste, but with the chill rushing through his body, he was able to catch the end of Senza and Madas' argument.
"-'Captain's orders' my ass." Madas grumbled and turned away from his team member. "He's been suspended! No potions, that's one rule I said I wouldn't break, I'll turn myself in for punishment if I have ta."
Though, just as Link was about to give a sigh of relief, at the close call of nearly falling into a full on fever. He's practically punched in the face by Ingo's scent. The suppressant is still in effect, but does not stop Link's mouth from being dry as a desert nor immense hunger in his belly that's definitely not his stomach.
Irritated, he pulls up the skirt of his tunic and draws the small dagger from his belt, then he starts cutting off a long strip of fabric. It's sloppy as his coordination seems to still be recovering, but it will do.
"Oi, what are you doin', ya punch drunk fool?" Madas kneeled and went to take away Link's things. Which earned him a rather quick slap on the hand.
Link glared a small warning and paused what he was doing to sign. [Don't touch, I don't need you messing anything up.]
That came to quite a bit of surprise to them. "Wait... a moment ago, you were- I thought-"
He nodded his head as he worked, a moment ago yes, he was out of it, losing it... Might still be kinda losing it, because the thought of Sidon's smooth, scaled skin trailing along the inside of his thigh right now was a very, very delightful idea. Link bit his lip a little, to try and keep himself focused on the task at hand.
With the long piece of fabric cut, Link grabbed one of the vials of mint and poured a generous amount in the centre. He then proceeded to tie the fabric around his mouth and nose as a makeshift mask. With the scent of mint flooding his sense of smell, Link's mind and hunger was easier to put at ease. Now he was able to think without the distraction of Ingo's powerful pheromones.
Looking up at both Madas and Senza, from their confused expressions, he knew that they wanted answers. But right now, there was something far more important. His own tunic would be a bad idea for this so Link quickly grabbed Madas' tabard that was within reach and sliced off the bottom part.
"Hey!" Madas jumped back, but he was too slow, Link had taken what he wanted. Ignoring the man's shouting, Link made quick work of making another mask, grabbed another purple vial and got to his feet.
Ingo was still very much out of control, but he seemed to be running out of stamina and only struggled a little bit every few moments. As Link approached, however, it seemed to rile him up once again.
"I think that's enough." Madas said as he grabbed the shorter man by the shoulder. "You're in no condition to be dealing with an infected right now."
Link twisted out of the hold with ease and took a step back, glancing to make sure the whole platoon had their eyes on him. [Sit him up,] Gesturing to Ingo, whom was back to huffing and snarling, a typical 'blight' behaviour. [I can help him.] Or at least I hope.
While Madas and Senza hesitated, looking to each other with uncertainty, Shad however didn't. As quickly as he could, Shad managed to get Ingo to his knees, but he did have to sit on his legs to stop him from charging at Link. "I believe you Captain, please, help Ingo."
Stepping forward, Link grabbed Ingo's jaw and struggled to keep him still as he popped the cork off the vial with his teeth. Getting the contents in his mouth was the easy part, with him constantly gasping for air, the hard part was getting him to swallow. Because the moment the horrible liquid touched Ingo's tongue, his face twisted into disgust and Link knew he was going to try and spit. While not the best idea, Link clamped his mouth shut before he could and hoped that they didn't bite their tongue. Link held his mouth shut, while Shad did his best to hold them still.
After a few moments of fighting back and trying to breathe through his nose, it wasn't enough for Ingo. His body wasn't getting the air he needs. And Link was grateful that he didn't have to pinch his nose to force this on Ingo any more than he had to, because at that moment, Link felt him swallow.
Quickly, Link let go as they gasped and coughed. After Ingo's coughing stopped, Link tied the other patchwork mask around Ingo's face. [Untie him.]
"Are you sure, shouldn't we wait?" Shad worried and glanced at his swaying companion.
[Untie him, now.] Link repeated himself and this time threw in a small scowl. The last thing Link wants is for Ingo to break free of his fever and find himself tied up, especially depending on what he remembers, whether reality or fantasy.
"N-no! Don't!" Ingo suddenly screamed, head shooting up, eyes wide and fixed on Link. "Don't do it! Don't do it!"
[Now!] Link glared and Shad cut the ropes.
Ingo remained frozen on the spot, even when Shad stood up to free his legs. Tears welled up in his eyes as panic was rapidly setting in. "P-please." He begged with a sob. "Stay back, stay away from me! I don't- I don't want to hurt you."
Link's gaze softened, he understood very well what the young man was speaking of, why he was scared. I was too.
The young man flinched when Link dropped down in front of him and pulled Ingo into an embrace. Link hugged him close and gently ruffled the back of his head. Ingo let out a shuddering breath. "Link, p-please-"
Link softly hushed him, glad that he could somewhat vocalize comfort for this moment. It was small, but it was enough as Ingo's arms came up to return the hug. Then the young man cried and sobbed into Link's shoulder. "Please forgive me! I didn't- I would have never. B-but my body wanted to, I-I wanted to! I didn't, but I did! My mind was filled with things I wanted to do to you, b-but I can't remember everything, d-did I-?"
Link shook his head and gave him a good squeeze to help reassure him. Ingo seemed to cry harder from sheer relief. "T-thank Hylia... I could have done something horrible to you. I don't understand, w-why aren't you mad, why don't you hate me, w-what the hell is wrong with me?"
With a gentle pat on the back Link pulled away from Ingo, brushed his tears away and then signed. [Everything is going to be alright and nothing bad happened. It wasn't your fault, there is nothing wrong with you.]
Ingo didn't seem convinced and shook his head furiously. "B-but I attacked you, I pinned you down! I was unable to control myself, I must be insane, I-I should be locked away o-or..."
He stopped Ingo from continuing down that path of self annihilation by hugging him again. It was a little frustrating that Link couldn't comfort him and talk to him at the same time. After a few moments, calming him and thinking of what to say next, Link pulled back again. [I wanted it as well.]
"W-what!?" Ingo flinched back in shock. "Y-you can't mean that."
[It was the same for me as it was for you. You wanted to do things to me, but you didn't want to. I wanted you to do things to me, but I didn't want you to. That desire of want and need that takes over your mind, that powerful instinct, it is the same for either of us. I felt the same as you did.]
He seemed to relax or at least give in to that information, and rubbed his eyes before looking back at his superior. "I-if that's the case, then why did we lose ourselves?"
Why indeed. Link thought over this incident. There were things that weren't adding up. Link has been training Ingo for a few years now and it's not as though this is the first time that they have been close. It isn't simply a matter of scent, the training the knights go through on the daily is more than enough to work up enough body odour. Nor is it a matter of proximity, shared bathing is a thing and the barracks bathhouse wasn't exactly spacious with a bunch of rowdy young men fighting and horsing around.
But something else was bothering Link as well. Why wasn't Ingo able to say that he felt off or that something was wrong? It was like he was completely unaware to the burning in his blood or the raw desire messing with his senses. Link could tell, even though it had been new for him to experience a triggered fever, he could tell he was slipping. Even with Sidon, they talked before they did anything. So why?
Is it because this was his first exposure? No... Ingo picked up on my scent long before I even had my first fever.
There are more questions that have come to light and Link will answer all he can, but there is someone else that he will have to get a few answers from. [I have a lot to tell you.]
Link looked up at Madas, Senza and Shad, worry and confusion all over their faces. [All of you.]
