Chapter 26 - Hidden Agenda

Within two hours, Link had answers to questions he'd been asking for nearly twenty years—not that Lyonel answered all of them.

Instead, his father thought Myriad should have the chance to tell some stories if only because, in his opinion, she told them better. Link could appreciate giving her the opportunity as well, so he didn't push, and even then, he discovered things he'd never dreamed could be true.

He had extended family in the form of a paternal grandmother and aunt who lived to the far northwest of Hyrule and, according to Lyonel's most recent letters, were presently out of harm's way. Sadly, neither knew of Link's existence thanks to the threat Dragmire posed, and Link agreed with his father that it was best to keep them in the dark over the matter for now.

As for Myriad, her parents had passed away before Link was born, but she had an older brother named Renald who'd left Hyrule long ago to travel the world.

Lyonel hadn't received word from his brother-in-law in several years now. But evidently, Renald was known to go quiet for long stints of time before sending correspondence several pages long detailing a particularly interesting trip he'd taken.

Finding himself engrossed in the conversation, Link asked question after question until the talk of his ancestry reminded him of Lyonel's flute—and he was surprised by the truth. After hearing the story Queen Majalyn told, he'd assumed the flute had been passed down from Lyonel's parents, but the man in her story was actually Myriad's grandfather, and she'd given the flute to Lyonel as a wedding gift to remind him miracles actually did happen.

Additionally, because the flute was a family heirloom, it wasn't simply on loan—it was Link's to keep.

Their discussion carried on just that way until Link realized he was so absorbed in their talk that he had no idea when his leg ceased aching. But he was feeling well enough to allow Lyonel to take him to see Zelda, and the thought drew a surge of both eagerness and reluctance through him.

Zelda had spent a good deal of time by his side during his recovery, and yet they'd only been alone twice. Otherwise, the shaman was present, or Lyonel, or a number of people wanting to wish him well would drop by—and by the time they departed, Zelda was usually being called off to handle some official affair.

As Lyonel led him out of the conference chamber, he mentioned it.

"Is it just me, or is Zelda being kept busy?"

"She does have a lot to handle here," Lyonel related. "With Ganondorf's minions spreading out and making travel nearly impossible, we've been looking for an easier means of reaching our strongholds outside of River Town without being spotted. We're simply fortunate his Jackals have yet to come this way."

At his mention of the Jackals, Link scoffed, though he didn't immediately respond. Instead, he was distracted as they arrived on one of the bridges stretching over the waterway so far below.

Because he was unconscious when first traveling to River Town, he hadn't known such structures existed, making it impossible not to take a moment to admire the scenery. It was also the first time he'd been outside in nearly two weeks, squinting against the light of day as a cold breeze blew by.

The temperature had taken a nosedive since his encounter in Engleton, a fact proven by the thin dusting of snow covering the bridge. The sight of it reminded him of the people he'd overheard talking about how more was likely to come as well.

Still, the fresh air was invigorating, and Link enjoyed it while he could. Sadly, his injuries wouldn't do well in such cold weather for long, and as they stopped at the center of the bridge, it seemed like a good idea to limit his time spent outdoors for now.

As he took in the scenery, Lyonel asked, "Why do you scoff?"

Link nearly had to inquire what they'd been discussing before, but soon recalled his father's mention of the Jackals and replied, "I was just recalling my fight with them in Engleton. They were almost swarming the place, and it was tedious, but I managed to overcome them without too much trouble."

Nodding, Lyonel gazed out over the Zora River in thought before admitting, "That's good to hear, and yet you wield the Master Sword, Link, which is the bane of evil. As for someone like me, I could take down perhaps three of them, but many more than that, and I'd be facing a problem."

"I know," Link qualified, explaining, "but there's also a trick you can exploit."

With a curious look, Lyonel inquired, "What would that be?"

"They might be fast, and they might be strong, but they're also dumb," Link remarked. "It's not hard to get creative, and if you can do that, then you can overcome them."

Smirking, he stood straight to continue on their way and concluded, "So pass it on."

The comment put a grin on Lyonel's face as he patted his son's back and crossed the bridge at his side.

Once they'd entered the adjoining corridor, Link admitted, "Still, I'm a little worried about how Zelda is handling everything. She's smart, but we're in new territory, and she hasn't talked to me about any of it. Though, if she's actually having trouble, she probably hasn't wanted to mention it while I've been recovering."

"With as much as she loves you, that sounds like a feasible possibility," Lyonel qualified.

In the conference chamber, Link learned that Lyonel was aware of his feelings for Zelda, and was surprised to find out he had his father's blessing. In fact, he wasn't the only one aware of their relationship—Impa also knew, and she didn't have a problem with the two being romantically involved either.

Instead, she'd said to let things flow naturally because every angle had a purpose—and her relationship with Arden served as the perfect example. Evidently, she'd fallen in love with him long ago, and continued to love him even after he'd turned his back on his friends.

She couldn't help it. He'd meant the world to her and she truly believed things happened for a reason. Now, they were mending their wounds, and the revolt had gained a soldier who could provide better insight into the way their enemy worked.

Link still hadn't encountered Arden since coming to River Town, and could only imagine their first meeting was going to be a bit awkward despite knowing he was trying to turn over a new leaf. Yet he truly hoped things worked out between Arden and Impa, just as he wondered how things might progress between himself and Zelda.

Particularly considering recent events.

Still, his foremost concern was finding out how Zelda was dealing with everything. She'd never embraced her role as Princess in an official capacity before, and though he'd seen her everyday, she'd yet to tell him how things were, nor had she elaborated on the revolt's activities.

It made Link wonder precisely what was going on, and also worry that too much was being placed on Zelda's shoulders too soon. If she was overburdened, he wanted to help—not to mention it would mean now definitely wasn't the time to relate the news of her parents' survival.

Not that he'd made up his mind whether telling her was a good idea from the start.

Regardless, he pushed the thoughts from his mind when Lyonel stopped at a door with the words, "This is it."

Nodding, Link knocked and only a moment later, Zelda called, "Come in, but beware, there's a huge mess in here."

Casting a curious look at Lyonel, his father shrugged unknowingly. So Link opened the door to find out what she meant, asking on the way in, "What kind of mess?"

If she answered, it went over his head as Link was too busy staring in surprise at the sight awaiting him to focus—and it had nothing to do with the mess of fabrics and sewing tools strewn about the floor.

Instead, Zelda was standing upon a stool while Bessa worked to pin the hem of her gown evenly around her feet. With the exception of the skirt, the outfit was essentially complete, and though Link had never met a princess before, she was the picture of what he imagined one must look like.

The gown's white material had a mild shimmer with a pale pink bodice and golden pauldrons gracing each of her shoulders attached by a small chain across her upper chest. The white gloves covering her hands traveled all the way up her arms with a delicate golden pattern dyed across the fabric, and around her head was a circlet of gold etched in the shape of leaves decorated by a few diamonds and a large sapphire inlaid at the center.

The components combined to create an image Link had no words to describe. Lovely? Elegant? Regal? All worked, and as he stared in a stupor, Zelda gazed at him with wide eyes, obviously surprised to see him in her room.

"Link! You didn't have to come all the way here!" Smiling brightly, she added, "But I'm glad you felt good enough to walk so far."

Did she say something? He could've sworn she was talking to him, but all he heard was incoherent muttering while staring at the true Princess of Hyrule. Link had always known she was royalty, but actually seeing her dressed this way was putting it all into perspective. Suddenly, it felt as if she was miles out of his reach, as if he never had any business proclaiming his love for her from the start, much less hoping for hers in return.

As the thought struck, Link let a soft grunt when his father covertly elbowed his arm in passing. The movement broke him out of his stupor, reality crashing down like a ton of bricks.

Realizing he'd been staring, Link cleared his throat and quickly replied, "Oh, well uh … I was told you were looking for me so … wait, didn't Kiama and Alia let you know I was coming?"

"No," Zelda returned. "I haven't seen them since I asked if they'd look for you because I needed to see Bessa for a fitting. But maybe they thought your coming here would be a nice surprise."

"Yeah … ," Link drew out, once again unsure of what she'd said as he endeavored not to stare, or at least, not do it so obviously.

Yet Lyonel was fully aware of his son's distraction, and was trying not to smirk in amusement as he announced his intentions of patrolling outside to give them time alone.

Just as the door shut on his departing visage, Bessa stated, "Alright, it's pinned, so you can step off of the stool and test the length."

Link watched as Zelda stepped down and Bessa removed the material of her gown from the footstool so she could take the item to get it out of her path. In turn, Zelda took a few steps and nodded, informing the seamstress, "That's a good length. I don't think I'll step on the skirt now."

With that said, she turned to Link and smiled, explaining, "This gown is a design my mother made for me with Bessa's help. Naturally, she couldn't make it until I was old enough to be fitted for it, but we've been working on it for the past two weeks with Jada and Kiama's help. What do you think?"

Link parted his lips, but nothing came out, and upon spying his dumbfounded expression, Bessa grinned and started gathering her supplies with a single thought in mind. That's a job well done.

Not that Link really noticed the seamstress, and when he remained silent, Zelda approached him with concern in her eyes and asked, "Are you feeling alright?"

"What? Oh, yes," he started, shaking his head as if to clear the fog from his mind. "Sorry, I just … I really don't know what word to settle on. I mean you're beautiful but … it's more than that."

Zelda blushed at his praise, though her smile possessed a hint of sadness as she related, "I just wish my mother could see it. Oh! She even made this circlet for me. Do you remember what Queen Majalyn told us?"

Looking the circlet over, Link inquired, "That's the one with the Zora sapphire?"

"Yes," Zelda answered, unable to keep the emotion out of her voice. "Bessa had it in her possession all this time."

As she spoke, Bessa finished loading her supplies into her sewing basket and lifted it from the bed, relating, "I'm going to put these things away, and I'll send Jada with a cart for these fabrics and your gown."

"Alright," Zelda acknowledged as Bessa departed, thanking the seamstress just before the door shut, then glanced back up at Link to find another dazed look on his face.

Yet this time, it wasn't quite so charmingly confused as he wasn't focused on Zelda's beauty. Instead, he was considering her parents and the secret he'd learned two weeks ago, wishing desperately that he could tell her everything Ganondorf revealed. She'd simply sounded so sad mentioning her desire for Queen Nissandra to see her gown, and it wasn't the first time she'd lamented such missed opportunities.

He also recalled the night they'd fled the Temple of Time, and how she'd reacted to the fact that being Princess Zelda meant never getting to meet them. But though she'd rejoice to learn the chance actually existed, finding out they were being held in a magically induced slumber so Ganondorf could use them as leverage would only cause her grief.

The thought had a dour expression on his face, prompting Zelda to ask, "What's wrong, Link? Do you need to sit down?"

"Not specifically," he replied softly, explaining, "I was just wishing your parents could see this too."

Thankfully, it wasn't a lie—he truly wished they were present to see how well their daughter had grown up, and know just how beautiful she was both inside and out.

It also wasn't a lie when he added, "I'm feeling guilty, as well."

"Why?" Zelda asked, confused by his solemn, brooding demeanor. The notion of it propelled her to step in closer and reach for his hand.

Doing so, she noticed the blood staining the bandage covering it and gasped.

"You're bleeding, Link. You really should sit down."

Glancing at his hand, he shook his head and explained, "No, that's not from walking around too much. I did it on purpose."

Realizing his comment had only caused further confusion when Zelda cast a worried set of violet blues eyes up at him, Link waved his hand and added, "I swore a blood oath to … ."

Trailing upon realizing she didn't know he was now aware of his parents' identities, he continued more gently, "I swore to return my mother from the Sacred Realm when the time was right."

The words had Zelda's eyes going wide with understanding, her smile filled with a staggering amount of emotion. At the same time, she slipped her arms around his sides for a hug—and he returned the embrace without question.

"I'm so glad Lyonel finally told you," she rasped. "He told me before you arrived here and asked me not to say anything because he felt it was his responsibility as your father to tell you the truth. So I hope you're not upset that I didn't say anything."

"No, I'm actually glad you let him do it," Link admitted, allowing her to pull away before she took his hands to lead him to her bed where he could sit and be more comfortable. In turn, she opted to settle on the chair across from it as he explained everything that had happened, from Lyonel's confession to their talk with Myriad followed by the long discussion they'd had in the conference chamber.

Unsurprisingly, the story had her eyes misty, and once he concluded the tale, Zelda asked, "Is that why you feel guilty? Because you found your parents and I don't have that chance?"

"Maybe," he drew out, realizing that even if he were inclined to tell her what Ganondorf said, he still wasn't sure how well she was coping with things in the revolt. So instead of taking a risk and potentially adding to her burdens, he steered the topic away from their parents by relating, "I also feel guilty because of how much I love you, and … it doesn't seem as if I have the right to."

Somehow, the way he spoke those words left her feeling like a horse had just kicked her in the gut. The wind nearly sailed from her lungs as she shook her head, glancing down at the regal gown she wore with the question, "Why? Because of this?"

She watched as Link stretched his right leg out, probably to keep the muscle from knotting up as it sometimes did, and once he was comfortable, he answered, "Not precisely. I mean I've always thought of you as a princess, but now … I don't know, maybe I'm just seeing it more clearly now that we're in a place where everyone knows the truth of your identity, and it's harder to ignore."

Though his response made sense, she canted her head in consideration. Was he intimidated? It was hard to imagine him feeling such a way, but perhaps it was just a sign of his respect and unwillingness to do anything that could be considered … improper.

Or was he feeling unable to move forward with her now that so much had changed over the past two weeks? He was right, after all. Her status was much harder to ignore here, and yet she felt no differently than before—she was still the same woman, and still loved Link with all her heart.

So the thought of him pulling away was stifling, prompting her to remark, "I don't want you to feel guilty, Link. I'm happy that you love me, so please don't change your mind."

"Change my mind?" he asked, shaking his head. "I couldn't change my mind, even if I wanted to. Besides, I made a promise, remember?"

Zelda wasn't certain she knew which promise he was referring to, but he distracted her from the matter by reaching over to take her hands into his. Her heart fluttered as she regarded them latching together, the way he soothingly stroked his thumbs across the backs calming her concerns in what seemed like record time.

Not that her pulse steadied when she looked into his eyes as he related, "I told you I didn't care if you were Mira or Zelda or anyone else, and that hasn't changed. It won't ever change."

Finally, a smile slowly curved her lips, the confidence and affection in his eyes reminding her of precisely who she was talking to, and she apologized.

"I'm sorry, Link. I know it doesn't matter to you, but I guess these past two weeks have been … well, different. Everyone here treats me as the princess and truth be told, it's gotten a little lonely I suppose. So I guess you just scared me because you sounded so serious, and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

Lonely, Link thought, the word reminding him of Queen Majalyn's warning. She'd told him that during her rise to royalty, Zelda would need a friend who didn't treat her as if her sole place was up on a pedestal, and now, he was starting to see precisely what she meant.

So he gave Zelda's hands a tug, urging her to sit on the bed next to him. Thankfully, she didn't resist, and as soon as she was settled, he latched an arm around her back and promised, "I'm not uncomfortable."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he glanced at the odd angle of his right leg and amended, "Well, I am, but not because of you." At the sound of her snickers, he smirked and continued, "I just feel out of my element seeing you like this. You're … ," he trailed, looking her over again before supplying the only word that came to mind, "gorgeous."

His praise had her cheeks turning pink as she worried her bottom lip with her teeth before remarking, "I wish you wouldn't say things like that."

"Why not?"

"It makes me like you," she grumbled playfully, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

"Aw," Link drew out, teasing, "you know you like it."

Simultaneously, they snickered, and Link parted his lips to throw out a few more compliments if only to deepen her blush. But without warning, a yawn cut him off, and as he covered his mouth and shook his head, Zelda suggested, "You really should go lie down for a little while."

"No," he denied vehemently, adding while rubbing his eyes, "not yet. I'm sick of that room, and I want to stay away from it for as long as possible."

"Fine," Zelda conceded, folding her arms over her chest with the words, "but if you push yourself too hard, I'll just tell your father."

Link cringed—that certainly wasn't something he heard everyday—and his reaction had Zelda snickering despite the fact that she'd meant every word.

Still, she couldn't focus on the matter when Link turned a smile in her direction, the expression filled with a type of playfulness she could only have described as roguish as he inquired, "You wouldn't tell anyone if I kissed you, would you?"

Her heart fluttered, head shaking in the negative before she could even think of how to respond.

Seeing the dazed look in her eyes, Link's own heart skipped a beat, her expression mirroring his eagerness to enjoy their time alone while they still had the chance. So he leaned in to capitalize—and a knock came to the door.

"Your Highness, it's Jada. Lady Bessa sent me for the fabrics and your gown. May I enter?"

Simultaneously, Link and Zelda's heads drooped forward, the latter exhaling low before answering, "Of course, just give me a moment to change. I've been so busy speaking with Link that I forgot."

Pushing the door open at her invitation, Jada stepped into the room quietly. At the same time, Zelda stood and walked over to a small partition and pointed out the folded fabrics Bessa had left upon the footstool. Wasting no time, Jada grabbed them to carry out to her cart, then returned to the door to wait for the gown Zelda was wearing.

That's when she noticed Link still sitting on the bed, and shyness had her gaze hitting the floor, though it didn't stop her from saying, "Hello, Link. How are you feeling?"

It was the first time Link ever heard her speaking aloud—that was to say, the first time while he was fully conscious. He also recalled a few soothing words spoken while he was still tangled in the barbs, and pushed himself up from the bed to approach her with a smile.

"I'm much better," he replied on the way, coming to a stop with the words, "Still on the mend, but well thanks to your help."

Finally, Jada looked up, her eyes wide as she shook her head and related, "I didn't get you down. That was Impa and Arden. I tried, but I couldn't find anything to cut through the vines."

"You did more than that," Link countered. "Impa told me you and Nissa waited all night to help me, and I remember hearing someone telling me I wasn't alone, and that I'd be seeing Zelda soon. I can't recall much more than that, except the way you touched my cheek, and it helped more than you know."

Realizing Jada had suffered her own traumas, he refrained from hugging her in gratitude, and instead, settled on placing a gentle hand upon her shoulder with the words, "Thank you."

The comment had Jada wringing her hands together with a deep blush staining her cheeks. Yet she was also smiling and related, "You still don't need to thank me, not when you saved me first. But … I'm glad I could help, and I'm glad you're feeling better."

With that said, she hesitated, but forced herself to overcome her shyness and stepped in to give him a hug. Link couldn't say the embrace wasn't a surprise, but he certainly didn't refuse it, placing his arms around her as she remarked, "So thank you, too."

Having heard everything, Zelda smiled as she finished removing her dress and hung it over the partition with the words, "Jada, here's the gown when you're ready to take it to Bessa."

"Oh!" Jada started as if she'd forgotten the reason she'd come to Zelda's quarters. Gently parting from her embrace with Link, she walked over to the partition and gathered the accessories before taking the dress down, then carried everything to the cart still sitting outside the door.

Once she was finished loading everything up, she cast a hesitant but curious look in Link's direction. Strangely, she then bit her lip and finally waved a hand in silent gesture for him to come closer.

Despite his uncertainty, Link didn't deny her, stepping closer to the door where she related softly, "I heard everything the false king said, and … do you think it's true? I mean about the real King and Queen."

Link didn't immediately respond. He hadn't known she'd heard Ganondorf's claims, and glanced over at the partition Zelda stood behind to see that she was still changing into a new outfit and probably wouldn't hear them. So he spoke as softly as possible.

"It could've been a lie, Jada, but … I don't think it is, and I don't want anyone to know about it just yet."

"I thought as much," she returned, adding, "and I promise I won't tell. But in a way, I hope it's true."

"Why is that?" he asked curiously.

Without hesitation, she pinned his gaze with confident eyes and stated, "Because it would mean you can save them."

With those words, Jada provided a smile that bordered on sadness as she took her cart in order to leave—and her vote of confidence meant more than he could say. For as badly as he desired to free his mother from the Sacred Realm, Zelda's parents were integral to both the kingdom's stability, and his friend's welfare.

So helping them was definitely on his list of priorities.

"Were you two whispering?"

Zelda's question came as Link shut the door, and he turned to find her approaching in a sky blue dress while buttoning the cuffs of one sleeve around her wrist. It was a much more common outfit, something he was used to seeing her in, and yet she was just as beautiful now as when she was dressed in an exquisite gown.

The only thing she continued to wear denoting her royal status was her mother's circlet, and somehow, it suited her well.

Yet he barely had the time to focus on her beauty with her question still hanging in the air, and answered with the first thing that came to mind.

"We were. She wanted to know what I thought of the dress."

Finishing with the last button on her cuff, Zelda gave him a curious look and asked, "Oh? I thought I heard her mention the King and Queen."

"Oh … ," he drew out, adding as casually as possible, "she was telling me she wished they could see you in it. I think that's why she whispered. She was probably afraid the idea would upset you."

With each word spoken, Link's guilt grew stronger. He hated lying to her, hated feeling as if lying was necessary, but her ignorance of the facts was the only thing he knew would protect her for certain.

Not that he believed Zelda would go running off in the middle of the night to save her parents, nor did he believe their bonds would be broken if he kept the secret. Ganondorf knew nothing of his friend or just how clever and rational she truly was, and at the very least, she'd understand his decision not to inform her until he felt the time was right.

It was just a matter of determining when that might be.

At present, she was dealing with several matters he knew had to weigh heavily, and he didn't want to add to it until he knew the full extent of her burdens. Now was the perfect time to learn more as well, so as he moved back to the bed to sit down, he got started by asking, "So, what's been going on anyway? I've heard the fields have become dangerous for travelers."

Though Zelda nodded in confirmation, she found herself distracted by his answer to her previous question. In truth, she'd overheard just a little more than Jada's mention of the King and Queen, and though it wasn't much, none of it related to the topic of her dress. In fact, what she heard had her immensely anxious to know exactly what was said, yet Link seemed to be lying to cover it up.

Still, she decided not to question him over it for now if only because her imagination could've been running wild. She also trusted him, and if he was unwilling to talk about it, he likely had a good reason.

So she walked over and sat next to him, responding to his question with the words, "Yes, the fields have been overrun by Ganondorf's minions, and from what we've learned, all of the villages in close proximity to the fields that weren't destroyed in his attacks are now deserted. I would've told you about this before, but I was afraid it would make you feel helpless after everything you've been through."

Realizing his suspicions were accurate, Link nodded with a low sigh. She hadn't spoken of things because she wanted him focused on his recovery and not frustrated over being bedridden and unable to fight—and she was right to worry.

Yet before he could comment on the matter, or even ask how she was handling things, another knock came to the door followed by the words, "Your Majesty, are you free?"

Proving she recognized the voice, Zelda related, "Oh, give me a moment, Link. I forgot I'd asked Dorrel to come by for a consultation as soon as he had news."

With that said, she stood and went to the door, stepping out into the hall with the portal shutting almost completely behind her.

Link waited patiently, watching the cracked door as muffled chattering slipped through it. Most of the talk was unintelligible, but the word problem soon hit his ears followed closely by we'll have to be careful not to let him find out.

Canting his head, Link stared in curiosity. Are they talking about me? It was hard to say as the rest of the conversation was muted, yet he still managed to pick up a few tidbits about postponing … something before Zelda returned with a pleasant smile and related, "Sorry about that."

Unable to help himself, Link inquired, "What was that about?"

"Oh," she started, waving a dismissive hand. "Your father put Dorrel in charge of defense and he's been studying maps of the outpost to look for potential escape routes in case we're attacked here. He just found another possibility and asked if I'd evaluate it later."

Though her explanation was feasible, it didn't go in line with everything he'd heard. So as she walked over, he shook his head. "Is that all? You aren't hiding more because you don't think I can handle it, are you?"

Instantly, Zelda frowned and related, "Of course not, I'm just going to go talk with Dorrel about it later, that's all."

Nodding, Link qualified, "I'll come with you then."

"No," she quickly retorted, realizing she'd spoken a bit too forcefully to be believable when he gave her a questioning look. So she cleared her throat and added more casually, "That really won't be necessary. I'll just be examining a map, and you'd be bored to tears with how Dorrel talks on and on."

Link held her gaze, unable to say she'd truly need his help for the task she'd just described. But the way she was speaking combined with how she'd gathered two fistfuls of her skirt into her hands spoke volumes of the fact that she was definitely hiding something.

So he pushed a little harder. "Don't worry. After spending two weeks in one room, I'm sure anyone's rambling would seem riveting."

Though she could see his point—he was probably anxious to do anything besides lie in bed—Zelda had to wonder why he was picking now, of all times, to get so pushy. After all, Dorrel's visit concerned the one thing she had no intentions of telling him about.

His surprise birthday party.

For two weeks now, she'd been planning it out, and because Dorrel was traveling into River Town for provisions that day, she'd asked if he could stop by a bakery to inquire about ordering a cake. So he'd agreed and returned to give her the information acquired, and she wasn't about to tell Link she was actually going to see him to find out what flavors of cake and frosting were available.

But what could she tell him that would make him drop the subject?

After a brief moment of consideration, she decided to go with the truth. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you."

The single phrase told Link all he needed to know. Something was definitely going on, and he slowly pushed himself up from the bed and waved a hand, asking plainly, "Why not?"

"Because it's a delicate matter that needs to be handled properly," she asserted with confidence, and when he proceeded to stare at her as if unsure what to believe, she went on the offensive by asking, "Why are you acting so suspicious all of the sudden?"

Pointing at the door, he remarked, "Because I heard you and Dorrel saying something about me being a problem and that I should be kept out of … whatever you were discussing."

Hearing this, Zelda exhaled a sigh of relief. Finally, she understood the source of his concern—and was grateful he hadn't heard even more than that. It was bad enough that he thought she was trying to keep him out of the revolt's affairs, but she'd much rather he think so than have the surprise she'd been planning for such a significant occasion ruined.

So she played along and related, "You only heard that because Dorrel and the others don't wish to worry you with anything too soon, so please believe me, there's nothing going on that warrants your immediate concern."

Instantly, Link shook his head and related, "I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about you."

"Me?"

"Yes," he started, taking a deep breath before adding more gently, "You haven't told me how all of this is affecting you, and I'd like to know. For two weeks I've been bedridden while everyone's addressing you as Your Highness and calling you off to plan strategies and defenses before I can get a chance to ask how you're doing."

Zelda didn't have an immediate response if only because she'd just realized he was right. She'd been so worried over his recovery that she hadn't considered her own welfare, and now that he mentioned it, she had to admit, it wasn't easy.

Casting her gaze down at the floor, she turned to sit on the bed with a soft sigh of breath. Link didn't hesitate to join her either, waiting patiently for her response.

Finally, she related, "Honestly, it's so hard to get used to, and I'm sorry I haven't spoken of it before, but you're right, and now that I think of it, I do need to talk about it."

Looking up into his eyes, she added, "I'm just worried about the people that can't defend themselves. They're supposed to be my people, and I can't stop wondering if I'm actually helping them at all. Lyonel and Impa say I'm doing fine, but then I have to reassure those who are hiding here because they've lost everything, and it feels like I'm lying because even as I try to lift their spirits, I'm not sure if everything will get better."

Groaning, she concluded, "I realize how bad that sounds, but if I can't always believe it, then how can I be certain I'm making the right decisions when we gather to discuss our plans in the conference chamber?"

Despite his dislike of hearing how difficult she sometimes found her role as Princess, Link was relieved to finally know the truth. He was also glad to finally feel up to offering assistance, placing a hand on her shoulder with the words, "Then let me go with you when you take a look at those escape routes with Dorrel. I'm not an advisor, but I'm a familiar face, and you've said I have a way of cheering you up when no one else can."

Not this again, she thought, having hoped he'd forgotten about pushing to join her when she went to see Dorrel. So though she hated to put him on the spot, it was the only way she could keep him from finding out about his surprise, and she wasted no time inquiring about his own whispered conversation with Jada.

"Link, that's not precisely a meeting, and I can easily relay Dorrel's information to you later. Besides, I get the feeling there's something you're hiding, too. Something you haven't told me about."

The comment caught Link off guard, his brows narrowing over his eyes as he asked, "Why do you think that?"

"Well, when you were speaking with Jada, I heard a little more than I admitted before. She said I promise not to tell and then I hope so because you can save them. But you said you were talking about the dress."

Shrugging, she inquired, "So what did she really say?"

Link held her gaze quietly, his mood growing somber. After learning a little more of the way Zelda was feeling, he still wasn't convinced now was the right time to tell her the truth. Though she didn't seem completely overburdened, and he trusted in her better judgment, who was to say whether she'd put herself in danger trying to save her parents for certain?

There was always a chance, and the thought had Ganondorf's last words echoing in his mind. You will survive to bring to me that which I need to conquer the realms of this world and beyond it—and I will be waiting for you to fulfill that destiny for me, Hero of Legend.

The notion had his expression growing stern. No matter how much faith he had in Zelda, he couldn't ignore the fact that making a mistake could play right into Ganondorf's hands. So he simply needed more time to consider it, and related on a clipped tone, "I don't want to talk about it."

Standing, he turned to go if only to prevent her from asking more questions. But Zelda didn't let him get far, swiftly reaching for his wrist with the words, "Link, please don't go. Just tell me what you were talking about."

More hesitantly, she added, "Was it my parents? Did it have to do with them?"

"No," Link retorted, the word dropping into the room like a stone as he tugged his wrist from her hand and walked to the door, stating on the way, "I'm going back to my room to rest."

Yet he couldn't leave without looking back, stopping the moment he'd clutched the doorknob to cast his gaze over his shoulder. Sadly, he couldn't fully mask the anger on his face despite knowing she'd believe it was directed at her. But he was only angry with himself and Ganondorf, though the look on her face softened it a bit.

Now standing next to her bed, she seemed so confused, worried, and even upset that he could barely resist going to her and explaining everything. The notion that he was the cause of her troubled gaze only made it worse, and he clutched the knob tight with the softly whispered words, "I'm sorry, Zelda."

At that, he opened the door and left the room.

As the door shut on his apology, Zelda found herself staring in both surprise and confusion—but his reaction was also revealing. He was going back to the one room he'd just professed to have no interest in seeing again, meaning his secret was significant indeed. Additionally, Jada had witnessed the fight between Link and Ganondorf, meaning she also would've heard everything they'd said.

So if Jada told Link she knew he could save them, it had to mean her parents were still alive to be saved.

How, she had no clue, but the notion of it brought her dreams to mind—and the moment she recalled the way they'd asked her to save them, she knew their meaning for certain.

"Oh Goddesses … ," she rasped, the thought so overwhelming she found herself sinking onto the mattress instead of chasing Link down for answers. After all, his unwillingness to speak of it must have been with good reason. Perhaps Ganondorf was using her parents as leverage?

Whatever the case, she was obviously missing a piece of the puzzle, but despite her anxiousness to know for certain, it was difficult enough to process the mere possibility of her parents' survival, let alone figure out how to convince Link to talk.

Jada and Nissa would also have answers, but if her assumption was true, she'd much rather hear the news from her dearest friend. So she had no intentions of plying them with questions, and instead, it seemed like the best idea to make good on her earlier promise.

She was going to tell Link's father.