Chapter 18: Confusion

They rode on for several days before finally reaching the castle. Zelda remained silent the whole way.

When they got back, Sir Link disappeared to wherever he goes, while Zelda immediately headed for Purah's lab. The sheikah scientist had returned not long ago from her investigations on one of the mysterious structures, as well as the guardians that were vital to the destruction of Calamity Ganon.

"Zellie, you're back!" Zelda smiled at the eccentric researcher. "When Urbosa sent word that you'd been attacked, I was so worried! It's a good thing that Linky got to you in time."

Urbosa had sent word? She must have had scouts following me. Zelda smiled slightly. Urbosa had always been so good at guessing Zelda's not-so-smart plans. I mean, who would run off into the desert on their own?

"So, what happened?" Purah asked, dragging Zelda to a chair. "I know the gist, but more info would be spectacular."

"Well…"

"And I thought you would grab a snack before coming in here. But clearly I was wrong." Link looked at Liari as she entered the room, slowly hiding his arm behind his back to prevent suspicion.

Apparently she noticed. She plopped down beside him and immediately asked, "How's your arm doing?"

"Fine." Link said emotionlessly. "How about yours?"

"Ha, ha." Liari huffed. "Don't you remember that I'm working on mind reading?"

Well, crap.

"'Well crap' indeed." Liari said with a snort. "For you, at least."

Well, if you can read minds, then I will never have to talk ever ever again. The thoughts flew through his head like an arrow whipping through the air, Because talking really sucks, and it's hard not to say something stupid, and-

"Uh… slow down your thought process!" Liari said quickly. "If you think that fast, I can't understand-"

Like this? YAHOO! Explody beams of death! Cats! Fish! Cats! Dogs! Cats! Yippee! Lalalalalala LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

"Ouch! You're giving me a headache!" Liari laughed.

"Serves you right, for reading my mind." Link said emotionlessly. "But now I can talk like this all the time, and you can just read my mind for all of my nonsense."

"Huh, good idea." Liari said. "And now I can hear the truth about your 'non-existent crush.'"

I don't have one. Link thought with a frown. It was completely true.

"That's disappointing." Liari sighed. "Anyway, you're trying to get me off topic, aren't you? Arm, please."

Link sighed. "Not happening."

"It's that bad, huh?" Liari dived for his arm and he winced as she pulled it close and examined it.

She gasped. "It's infected!"

Link shrugged. "I ran out of the elixir for it."

"Then why didn't you get more?"

Link shrugged again.

Liari narrowed her eyes at him, as if trying to read his mind. Well, she probably was, considering. Don't think it, don't think it, don't think it-

Liari's eyes softened. "You can ask me to get you some next time, you know."

"Next time I won't be so stupid as to get myself injured." Link said with a roll of his eyes.

"Hah!" Liari barked out, reminiscent to Impa's laugh. "You've always been way too reckless not to get injured. What makes you think that will change?"

Hmm… I suppose she's got a point.

Wait, don't think, don't think, don't-

"Heck yes, I've got a point." Liari said triumphantly. "And there's no way you can say other-"

Liari quickly loosened her grip on Link's arm as he winced. It seemed she hadn't realized she had tightened it. "Sorry." She mumbled apologetically like the little girl she had once been.

"It's fine, Liari." Link said with a slight upward curve to his lips. "It's not as bad as scraping it against a table-"

"What?!" Liari shouted, squeezing his arm tightly and causing him to hiss.

"Oh, uh…"

"...So you've learned that Link isn't a complete idiot!" Purah said with a grin. "That's good. I thought he would fail miserably, but clearly that isn't so."

Zelda bit her lip. "Speaking of Sir Link...I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about him. I really don't know a single thing."

Purah's normally cheerful face turned slightly somber, which was pretty extreme for Purah. "Well… it depends on what you want to know."

"Maybe you can start with his family?" Zelda asked hopefully.

Purah looked as if she was contemplating something, before she seemed to give in. "Well, his father was a low ranked member of the Royal Guard." Low ranked? "His mother was a good seamstress, but she was also quite good with horses and… Hylia, her food was good."

Wait a second… "Was?" Zelda asked softly.

Purah's eyes grew wide. "Er… is! Yes, I meant to say that."

"Purah…" Zelda said sternly.

Purah sighed. "Okay, fine, I did mean to say that. Link's parents are…" Purah paused. "Why don't you ask Liari about it? She knows all about-"

A knock at the door. It creaked open. "Purah?"

"Liari! We were just talking about you!" Purah said with a sigh of relief. "Where have you been?"

Liari walked beside Purah. "Well, I was talking to Link, but he had a meeting or something. Do you have any extra healing elixir? A certain someone got himself beat up again."

"Sure thin- wait… meeting with who?" Purah asked.

"Oh the Cap-" Liari stopped suddenly. "Oh no…"

"What is it?" Zelda asked, genuinely confused.

"Not good, that's what." Purah said firmly, standing up. "Where was it?"

"The Royal Guard's training room?" Liari mused worriedly.

"Ah." Purah said, nodding her head. "It's sound proof, because the nobles don't like hearing the loud training, so it would be the perfect place, especially while the other guards are out."

"The perfect place for what?" Zelda huffed. Why aren't they telling me?

"Princess…" Liari looked at her worriedly. "Please promise me not to run off again, because I am positive that has made things far worse."

"Made what worse?" Zelda demanded.

Liari and Purah exchanged glances.

"I suppose we'll have to show you, then." Liari said quietly.

Cliffhanger! MUAHAHA! We finally have a few hints about Link's family (other than Liari)! I'm sorry that it's short, but I didn't write at all yesterday after publishing the last chapter. Did I even publish a chapter yesterday? I'm honestly not sure anymore. I wanted to get this out as soon as possible! And somehow the chapter is exactly 1,000 words(without Author's Note)! That's actually pretty hilarious! Or maybe it isn't. Well, it is to me!

Enough of that. REPLIES!

MeaninglessMayhem: I'm not allowed to read stuff while I have homework that needs to be done! Or write. I'm really just not allowed to use electronics for anything but the dreaded homeworks until I'm finished. I'm glad you enjoy my writing style, because sometimes it confuses me! More synonyms? I try to do that already, but I'll see what I can do. TO THE INTERNET!

SmokeyMirrors: Yeah, I'm not sure about the eating disorder. I still haven't really looked into it, so... oh well. I think that the nice dinners and opening up will have to wait a few chapters because... well, just look at the end to this one! However, there will be some revelations! We've already got a few this chapter, but they are kind of inferred based on previous chapters. But maybe they aren't? And the Captain... *HMMMs significantly* And yeah, the wound is causing trouble. We got a bit more about why in here. Yeah, Link needs some hugs. Zelda being suspicious? Oh boy! She's getting really suspicious right now! I'm glad you like it! We'll see how it goes...

SmokeyMirrors (2.0): Indeed she is!

Secret Word/Phrase: 2+2=Fish

Enjoy!

-Ari