Chapter 19: Secrets

Link was glad that the training room was empty other than himself and the captain, because it would be far worse if anyone saw or heard any of this.

"You idiot!" Captain Fuer growled, pacing back and forth in front of Link. Link stood emotionless and tall. He's just getting it out of his system. Besides, I already knew I'm an idiot.

"First, you vanish on the princess's orders without a word!"

"I apologize, Sir."

"Then you let her take a stroll around the desert without a single escort!" The captain fumed. "And let her be attacked by the Yiga!"

"I apologize, Sir." Link repeated emotionlessly.

"It's a good thing that an idiot like you somehow managed to save it just in time!" The captain growled. Then he stopped in his pacing and turned sharply towards Link.

He smacked Link soundly. "What is your excuse for this behavior?"

"There is no excuse for it." Link said in an emotionless drone. "I apologize, Sir."

Well, Link wasn't lying. He really didn't have any excuse. He should have been there earlier…

The captain looked at him through narrowed eyes. The captain didn't like not receiving an angry response, but Link would not give in. He was to be the cool and calm Hylian Champion, was he not?

The captain smacked him again, about the fifth time since this meeting had started. Or was it the sixth? Link wasn't sure, but he could feel a bruise forming on his face, and that last hit would probably give him a bloody nose. He would have to see if he could get some cloaking elixir or something to hide it.

And dang, it hurt.

Usually the captain went for the back or chest in order to hide the bruises, so that no one would get suspicious, but it seemed that it wouldn't matter anyway. Link knew that many of the knights that had gone through the Royal Guard had reported to the king, but the king hadn't bothered to investigate. He had assumed it all to be rumors, but Link didn't blame him.

And it wasn't like they could be considered beatings. It was rare that the captain whipped Link, or hit him repeatedly. It was usually one or two simple, but firm, hard smacks in the shoulder.

Link remembered how the captain had once been, when Link had been young. He had been kind to Link, always complimenting the little boy he had been.

Sometimes Link wondered what had changed that kind soul. But then he remembered what had happened to the captain's best friend.

Link's father.

"Stop staring off into space!" The captain barked. Link turned his blank gaze back to the captain. "It's a wonder you took a moment out of the clouds to save the princess! You may be skilled with a sword, but your brain still needs some work!"

"Yes, Sir." Link said, lacking emotion as always.

The captain snarled at him. "You're dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." Link dipped his head.

The captain hissed, not unlike a snake, and stomped off to his headquarters.

As the captain's door slammed shut, Link let out the breath he had been holding. He had expected far worse, but being calm and impassive frustrated the captain more than anything, causing him to lose interest more quickly.

Link let his shoulders relax and let out a sigh. He stretched slightly. Sometimes he wondered what would happen if he stood up to the captain, but he knew that that would only make things far worse.

Link touched his face slightly and winced. It was swollen. This would not be easily hidden. Why had the captain been so careless as to strike his face instead of his back, arms, or shoulders?

Link huffed slightly before turning to the exit…

Only for the door to burst open right in front of him, slamming into the side of his face.

Zelda watched as Liari threw open the door with such great force that Zelda could not have possibly seen it coming.

Zelda saw a blue blur as the door was thrown open, and it slammed right into said blur.

"Link!" Liari gasped. She glanced at Zelda and Purah, gave a quick gesture for them to stay put, and entered.

Liari stepped behind the door and came out with Sir Link on her shoulder, unconscious. Zelda winced at the sight.

The knight's face was slightly bruised, and his nose was bleeding slightly. However, in his unconsciousness, the knight's face was blank.

"...What happened?" Zelda asked in a whisper.

Unlike what Zelda had expected, Liari and Purah did not look shocked. Not in the slightest. They merely seemed solemnly saddened and worried. Even the usually enthusiastic Purah.

"We should take him back to the lab." Purah said quietly. "We can explain when we get in there."

"It's never been noticeable before…" Liari mumbled.

Zelda pestered Purah and Liari the whole way back. They took the less used passages of the castle, and passed no one. Liari and Purah seemed to prefer it that way, for some reason.

They made it, plopping Sir Link into one of Purah's armchairs.

"Can someone please explain to me why my knight has bruises all over his face?" Zelda asked.

Purah sighed. "You know Captain Feur?"

Zelda nodded slowly.

"He beats his knights." Purah said with a shrug.

A pause.

"What?!" Zelda blurted. Has he always beaten his knights?

"No." Liari said with a shake of her head. Why was it that Sheikah seemed to be able to read minds? "I only found out about it recently, but Purah has known for longer." Liari looked at Purah expectantly.

Purah sighed. "Throwing me under the stampede, are we?"

"Purah, please." Zelda said with a slight plead to her voice.

"Fine, fine." Purah huffed. "Well, the captain has been beating his knights since Sir Koruma died."

"Sir…?" Liari cut herself off and her eyes lit up in recognition.

"Who?" Zelda asked, confused.

"Link's father." Liari said quietly.

Zelda's jaw dropped. "How…?" Her voice failed her.

"-Did he die?" Liari guessed.

Zelda nodded.

Liari looked at Sir Link. "I'm not sure Link would appreciate it if I told you. If you want to know…" Liari looked back at Zelda with a sad smile. "You're going to have to ask him yourself."

After that, Liari and Purah sent Zelda back to her quarters, where Zelda dropped onto her bed after putting on her nightgown. She sighed as she tossed and turned. She was supposed to be going to sleep, but she couldn't. Had they really only returned that day?

Zelda sat up. Wasn't getting down her thoughts what her diary was for?

She dug the notebook and quill from her bag and went to her desk.

And so she wrote.

"We just returned to the castle this morning, but it feels like a few days have passed. When I got back, the first thing I did was go to Purah's lab. She told me that Urbosa had sent word about my...misadventures while I was out. Purah, being Purah, demanded details.

"When I had finished I asked her about my knight. I asked her about his parents. Apparently his father was a low ranked member of the Royal Guard, while his mother worked as a seamstress. Purah's use of language implied that they are no longer living.

"I questioned her further, but Purah became too flustered to answer. Liari entered not a moment later, and dragged Purah and I to the Royal Guard's training room within the castle.

"When we entered Liari found the knight bruised and beaten. She had also knocked him unconscious with a door, but I am sure that that was not purposeful.

"Purah and Liari took him back to Purah's lab. As I write this, they are tending to him. Apparently the Royal Guard's captain, Sir Fuer, has been abusing the knights.

"It fills me with anger. I had heard rumors, but my father had thought not to question them. However, it is clear that most rumors hold a bit of truth.

"I feel terrible for all the things that I have said to the Hylian Champion. I had assumed so much about him without a bit of proof to my words.

"Tomorrow, I shall apologize for all that has transpired between us."

Zelda paused in her writing. She had never written so much in any of her other entries, but getting her thoughts out was really quite satisfying.

She put the quill back to the parchment to finish her entry.

"And then… I will try talking to him. To Link.

"It's worth a shot."

I hope that I haven't paced this too fast. If I have, do tell me! It's important to me to have coherent writing! See? I even used a fancy word in the Author's Note! So yeah, do tell me if there is anything you would like me to add or fix.

Poor Link. Today's secret review phrase will be "*Gives Link hugs*" or something like that.

REPLIES!

The-Fallen-Spirit: Yeah. I know that I gave the captain this tragic story in here, but it's still no excuse for the things he does! I think that Fi would find his blood quite delicious. Now that that's over with, I'm glad you liked it! I hope you liked this chapter too!

MeaninglessMayhem: Ah, cliffhangers. I love 'em and I hate 'em at the same time. I love writing, but sometimes I suck at it. So I hope I didn't suck at it here! Well, I hope you did well on your essay! And yeah, 2+2=Fish. Some people think it equals four for some reason!

MeaninglessMayhem (2.0): Oh, it's totally fine! I actually didn't know about it until you pointed it out, so thanks! I won't be putting more of those symbols in the secret review phrases.

mehwhatever: Well, despite being all knightly and such, Link also doesn't care about his well being at all. He would gladly injure himself for another's sake, and he'd hide any injuries so that he still appears strong. He thinks that the people want a hero that seems invincible. I hope that seems like it makes sense.

thedarkesthorcrux: Binge reading is the best! Or at least, in my opinion. And my opinion isn't always the most credible source, so... yup. Everyone gets busy! Like me! I have stuff I need to get done all the time. Yet somehow I find time to do stuff like this? I'm so glad you enjoy this! Here's your next chapter!

SmokeyMirrors: Ouch. I've slept on my shoulder weird more times than I can count, so I feel for you! ...I might be procrastinating math homework as I'm doing this. But maybe I'm not. The world may never know. Revelations! I'm going to title a chapter that, now. But maybe his parents aren't dead...! Nah, just kidding. They're dead. Probably. People did report the abuse, but because the captain used to be a much better person, the king isn't really going to believe the rumors that the captain's off his rocker. I hope that makes sense. And Zelda seems pretty (Excuse my language) pissed off. And with visible bruises all over Link's face, I don't think the captain can make any excuses anymore. OH! My bad. Apologies. "A Wonderful Grilled Hearty Salmon, complete with native Hyrulean Herbs and Endura Carrots on the side " must be the correct answer! But you forgot 222 to the exponential power of 2,000 equals a glass of milk, soooo... yeah. Hah! The nonsense is never over! MUAHAHAHAHA! I'm glad you like it so much! I'm not sure if turning Link into a teddy bear would be the best idea, because if a very violent young child or a doggo got a hold of it... uh oh. But if you're cuddling him for all eternity, I guess he'd be fine. But Zelda would want some Link cuddles, too. I think. Riding Epona backwards... have you been watching Zelda hacking videos? It's fine. Everybody says something nonsensical every once in a while. Or every time during human interaction (me). WAIT, IS THAT EPONA?! Oh wait, it's anopE. Gold star if you can figure out where I got anopE.

Phew! That's a lot of words! I'm done now, though.

Thank you, Readers!

-Ari

Edit: Go read Beyond the Horizon! It's seriously underrated, and I am alone in the review section. Being alone in the review section is very lonely, I'll have you know!