The security was unsettlingly lacklustre.

Link had managed to sneak into the dungeon with relative ease, only occasionally needing to hide in the shadows as the guards patrolled the cold hallways. Link, in spite of himself, was amused by how simple it was to sneak around the castle. The guards didn't seem to notice him as long as he wasn't in front of them.

Ridiculous.

Link snuck further and further into the depths of the castle, with the candlelight becoming more and more sparse, until he reached the deepest part of the castle. Link didn't know how far under the castle he was, but it was far beyond the reach of any natural light.

Deeper, deeper, until he could do no further.

Link found himself facing cell, the only thing separating them was as narrow hallway. He took a deep breath before striding towards the cell.

The heavy doorway was forced open with an echoing creak. Behind the iron bars, the prisoner lifted his head. It was a young boy, and he was alone. Curious.

Link closed the cell and stood by the bars, gazing into the shadows. His eyes hadn't adjusted yet, but he knew what he would see.

The prisoner let out a quite soft chuckle. "I did not realise that they were allowing visitors." He spoke quietly, but each word passed through Link and bounced off the walls. "If you would be so kind, I would like to see my mothers." Link caught a flash of teeth in the darkness. "I imagine they would be quite… concerned."

"I'm no visitor." Link said in a dull voice.

"Ah." The prisoner rumbled. "Then you snuck in? Impressive."

"Hardly." Link scoffed. "Even if it was, your words are hollow."

The prisoner laughed. "No no, my words are honeyed. Isn't that much sweeter?"

Link remained silent, so the prisoner continued. "Why did you go to all this effort? To see if the stories are true?"

"To make sure of it." Link responded.

Chains rattled within behind the bars. "Well, here I am. The mighty King of the Gerudo, chained like a common criminal. Do you feel fear? Pity? Or perhaps superiority?"

The shadows no longer concealed the prisoner from Link. Behind the bars, the prisoner was lounging against the wall, each of his limbs in shackles. The only thing he wore over his olive skin was a rag like shirt and pants, as if made from a sack. His fiery hair had grown long after months of imprisonment. His face was cruel, amber eyes narrowed, mouth twisted in a sneer. The only thing that indicated his former grander was a topaz in a nest of iron embedded into his forehead, just above his raven like nose.

He was right. Pitiful.

The prisoner interrupted his thoughts. "I was expecting more bravado." He mused. "Or fear. But you show… nothing." He raised his head, as if to look down at the boy. "Little more than a blank slate."

Link gave him a thin smile. "Oh, don't worry." He said. "On the inside, I've got thousands of scratches and scars and fingerprints."

The prisoner laughed. "You fascinate me to no end, boy."

Links smile fell. "Glad I could entertain." He turned and went to open the door, and stopped. Time, he thought, to end this pointless banter.

"Leaving so soon boy?" The prisoner called.

"No." Link responded. "I have a question."

The chains rattled in the cell. "Hmm. Very well. You may ask."

Link looked over his shoulder and glared. "You do you really expect to get out?"

Silence. Then, a chuckle. "My, my. You continue to surprise." The chuckle evolved into a roar of laughter that shook Link to the core. As the laughter died down, the prisoner leaned forward. "Of course I expect to be free. I will not rot here like a pathetic swine."

Link dropped his head and let a small chuckle escape him. "No. You will never get free."

The prisoner craned forwards more, his muscles straining against his shackles. "You know so little, boy." He growled. "I rule over a people who have survived the desert through theft, trickery and murder. Magic flows throughout the veins of us all. Even without them, there are hundreds of ways for me to get free. You are smart, boy, but far too naive to comprehend the power I possess." His teeth flashed once more. "You are a skull in a pile of bones. Nothing more. I hold all the cards, and have mastered the game."

Link turn and pressed his face against the bars and glared at the prisoner. "You may hold the cards, but I know move you will make."

The prisoner returned to lounging against the wall. "A boast not convincing from a child."

"The witches are your first option."

The prisoner blinked, stunned by these words.

"They will do anything to free you, and their magic is reliable, isn't it?"

Silence.

"If that doesn't work, perhaps an attack? Distract the knights long enough for you to get free? Or perhaps take a hostage? Like you said, your people are master thieves. Just steal a royal." Link sneered. "That is, if they will even follow you."

"I am their king." The prisoner growled.

"And you almost brought them into war."

"Everything I'd did was for them."

"Don't lie to me." Link spat. "I've proved that I am no fool." He stepped away from the bars. "No matter what you do, what you plan, I will stop you. Remember this face, for you will curse it a thousand times. I will gladly die if it meant you would meet a fitting end."

The prisoner's voice was quiet, each word laced with rage. "I have no qualms with killing you, boy. I would relish in it. Perhaps I'd even give you a sword so you can die with dignity."

Link's smile turned hostile. "If that time comes, I wish you luck." He opened the cell door and exited. "Because it's a lot easier to win when you can cheat."

Link locked the cell and headed up the stairway. Upon climbing a single flight of stairs, he froze. The was someone watching him for above. He couldn't make out who it was until they spoke.

"Impa sent me to check on you." Nelo said matter of factly.

Links silent as his heart raced. No, no one was suppose to know about this. He began to panic. She'll ask question. No one but Zelda can know about the future I changed.

Nelo tilted her head. "You shouldn't have come down here." She turned and ascended the stairway. "Come on."

Link obliged, head downcast.

Nelo looked back. "Why would you go there?"

Link shook his head. He wasn't ready to trust her, not yet.

Nelo sighed. "Don't worry, no one will hear us." Before Link could ask, she followed up with "Sheikah can move unnoticed, but helps if people stay away."

Link's jaw we set firm. He could spin a tale. "I needed to make sure."

Nelo raised an eyebrow. "You helped with stopping Ganondorf. So why would you feel you had to 'make sure' then?"

Link shrugged. "Fear. Maybe to put my mind at ease. Who knows?"

"You do."

Link stopped. "Why did Impa tell you to check on me? You're King Robins attendant, right?"

Nelo turned to him, and Link assumed she was smiling behind her cowl. "Yes, right now I serve the king. But he has ordered that, when Zelda takes the throne, I will become her attendant." She resumed her climb. "Besides, Impa is almost twice as old as me. Respect your elders, I suppose"

Link frowned. "Wait… Impa isn't that old."

Nelo laughed. "No, she isn't!" She turned and shook her head. "How old do you think I am?"

Blushing slightly, Link muttered "Um… maybe twenty?" Nelo brought her right hand up to her mouth and giggled.

"Not quite. Only seventeen."

"Oh." Link looked at his feet. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Now get to bed before someone sees you."

Link made a face. "That's it? You're not going to tell anyone?"

Nelo shrugged. "We sheikah value secrecy. I'm sure it won't hurt to let this one slide."

After a moments hesitation, Link trudged up the stairs and called back softly "Thank you."