Chapter 21: Doubt

It had been three days since Link's beating, and Zelda couldn't take the guilt she felt for not doing anything yet. She had to tell her father, the king.

Honestly, she didn't know how he would react. She had heard the rumors of abuse in the Royal Guard, but her father had said they were nothing more than rumors.

...So what would he say when Zelda told him that she'd witnessed it?

Well, I'm about to find out. She mused as she knocked on the door to her father's study. The public one, mind you, not the one hidden in the library.

"Enter."

Zelda nodded at each of the guards beside the door before entering the study.

The king was sitting in his armchair behind his desk, practically buried in papers.

He looked up. "Zelda."

"Father, I have something of importance to discuss." Zelda said, standing tall. She was not going to mince words. "Sir Fuer has been abusing the knights of the Royal Guard."

"Those rumors again?" The king sighed and looked back down to his papers. "Who told you about this 'abuse'?"

"I was not told." Zelda said firmly. "I witnessed the results of it."

At that, the king sat up straighter and looked her in the eye. Something in his eyes said that he believed her, but Zelda couldn't be sure. "And these results?"

"My appointed knight had to use potions to rid his face of the bruises." Zelda said through narrowed eyes. "And, if Lady Impa's words are correct, then this has been going on for years without any sort of intervention."

The king paused a moment. "I'll look into it. Are you positive that Sir Link didn't fall off of his horse, or maybe received an unintentional injury during training?"

If it was humanly possible, then Zelda was sure that she would have been emitting some sort of steam. "I am." Zelda tried to speak calmly, but it came out in a hiss. "Why don't you believe me?"

"I never said that I didn't believe you." The king said, though his eyes said otherwise. "However, I find it highly unlikely that Sir Fuer would abuse his good friend's only son."

Zelda narrowed her eyes. "Fine then. Thank you for your time." Zelda half bowed her head and stomped out of the room.

That didn't work. But how else could she help Link? Despite not seeing him too much over the past few days, they had had another meal together yesterday.

"Sir Link," Zelda said, biting her lip. "What do you think of the captain?"

Link looked up at her with his piercing eyes. "I know that you know, Princess. There is no need for you to hear it from me."

Zelda's eyes grew wide with surprise. "I-"

"He blames me." Link said emotionlessly, though his eyes were softened with an unknown emotion. "He has had his heart wrenched out of his chest, beaten and torn each time one of his dear friends died. But when his truest and greatest friend finally passed… he snapped. I am sure that I would do the same, if not worse, in those circumstances."

After that response, there had been a long silence before Zelda managed changed the subject. She was glad that he hadn't gone back to his silence. It seemed Link was fine with talking about horses or food, though he didn't talk for very long on either subject. Still, he seemed quite the expert on both subjects, but remained quite humble about it. In fact, it almost seemed as if he thought that he really wasn't good at anything.

Zelda stopped in her tracks.

"I am sure that I would do the same, if not worse, in those circumstances."

There really was something deeper here, wasn't there? Link really was hiding something, but if the look in his eyes said anything about it, it was tearing him apart from the inside.

"He had his heart wrenched out of his chest, beaten and torn each time one of his dear friends died."

Perhaps the reason her knight was so indifferent about the captain's treatment of him was because he could relate?

"I am merely needed as a weapon."

As the memory of those words came to mind, Zelda winced. She had forgotten all about his words at the Ancient Columns. Yes, there was certainly something far deeper than she had first imagined that was amiss. And that something had forced Link into silence and isolation.

...But what?

"Link, this is getting out of hand." Liari huffed at him. "Tell me what's wrong."

"There is nothing wrong." Link said firmly, putting up a shield around his thoughts.

"Being abused by a captain is a completely ordinary occurrence, then?" Liari asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Actually…"

"You're insufferable!" Liari exclaimed with a roll of her eyes.

They were in Liari's branch of Purah's lab. It was a small room with a window looking over Hyrule Field, books and books of research lining the walls. And, of course, no study could be complete without a desk stacked with papers and a comfortable chair.

Link turned away and began walking towards the door. "Anyway, I've got a meeting with the kitchen. I'm going to borrow some ingredients and cook something up."

"Oh no, you don't!" Liari growled and latched onto Link's right forearm, causing him to let out a weird squeaky sound.

Liari released it quickly. "You have a lot to tell me about. Your emotions may not be easy to read, but with aura reading it's a lot simpler!" Then Liari paused and pulled her hair back behind her neck. "What was that about a fruitcake in there?"

"Uh…" Link froze in place. "That's what I wanted to make." To apologize.

Liari sighed. "Fine then. Go make your stupid fruitcake. But on one… no, two conditions!"

Link turned back to her, amused. "And those would be?"

"First, you have to tell me what's up with you later." Liari huffed.

"And?"

Liari blushed. "Give me all your leftovers. Your cooking is way better than the castle cooks' cooking will ever be."

"Hmm…" Link hummed vaguely. "I'll guarantee one of those." And at that, he waltzed out the door and slammed it shut.

"AGH! LIIIIIIINK!"

Liari drew in a deep breath as Link disappeared out the door. He could always find a way to worm his way out of anything. The coward.

Liari sighed. I thought that I had established that I wasn't supposed to joke like that about Link anymore. It's not helping his self esteem in the slightest.

Liari walked to her desk and pulled out an old drawing. It was herself, when she was little. Only about six or seven. And it was quite accurate, if she remembered right. She fingered Link's messy signature in the corner.

Link… please. Liari pleaded silently. Just look a bit deeper. Look inside. You're not worthless.

If only she could work up the courage to tell that to her big brother.

He has great courage. An voice whispered softly in Liari's mind. But he also has great strength and wisdom. He will succeed in his path.

Yes. Liari thought back. But will he find peace?

The voice did not respond.

Will he ever find himself?

I am so, so, so, so, SOOOO sorry! It took me so long to get this out, and it isn't even that long! Once again, sorry!

Huh. Liari's hearing voices in her head. Should I be concerned? It's probably just herself speculating.

OR IS IT?! MWAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

The REAL Me: Um... don't mind that person. That's actually my cat! Well, not the apologizing part. I really am sorry! It took me like, three days!

Any-who, REPLIES!

MeaninglessMayhem: Actually, I think that the Silent Princess memory comes before that. Joy! THEN we get to the murdering an army of bokoblins, moblins, and like, two lynels.

The-Fallen-Spirit: Yeah, seriously, Zelda. It's RIGHT THERE! Look, see? Waldo has it. GO FIND HIM!

SmokeyMirrors: That was the previous chapter, and the previous chapter was posted like, maybe two hours before you reviewed? Three? I'm not sure, actually. Aw, I wants a horse! I love horses! If I get something wrong with the horses (Because, even though I've ridden one like five times, I'm still not an expert on them), you're my go to horse expert! COME ON, PEOPLE! SAFETY FIRST! I think that maybe being hit in the face with a door might have helped? But maybe it was something else, and I'm just saying that so that you forget about it until I give you the great reveal. Hmm... maybe! Maybe probably! Maybe probably maybe? Link's impressions... I think that he was only using Impa's tone and body language, but I think it's hilarious that I've only had him impersonating girls so far. In the Resentment memory I wrote, when he quoted what the captain had said, I actually almost wrote that it sounded like the captain's voice. But I didn't, because I don't think he's close enough to Zelda right now, let alone then, to show her his impressions. Hasn't he technically already had a spy mission where he had to dress up as a girl (XD)? Oh, yes. I certainly have started planning the Silent Princess memory. I think that Link still thinks Zelda doesn't really like him, and he still blames himself for the Yiga attacking her. He's probably not going to tell her anything very interesting yet. Yeah, not much of Zelda's rage in this chapter. I might do some of that in later chapters, though. OH, YES! SMACK THAT CAPTAIN! SMACK HIM HARD, GIRL! *Clears throat* Well, I actually have some plans for the captain! Now that I'm dragging this out, he's going to have a much more interesting back story. I like to think that Zelda would take lots of pictures of Link behind his back, when he least expects it and he isn't all stiff and knightly. I'm glad Link got a break! Oh, so you like gold stars? Then tell me what the square root of fish is, and I'll give you another one! Yup, Link's way too nice. I think that in Hyrule our money is like meaningless pieces of paper, but I'm sure Link appreciates the thought. I'm glad you like this! Sorry about this really long reply, and the longer wait!

Thanks, y'all. Secret word of the day is... cows. Yup. COWS!

Bye!

-Ari