I'm Falling
II. Unexpected
The weather was cool and welcoming on one of the early days of spring. Zelda had a meeting with her advisor for the Gerudo region, which was none other than her best friend, Gerudo Chief Riju. They had become friends after Link and Zelda's wedding, and their bond had only grown throughout the restoration period. Now, during the early days of the new throne, she was around often. Not only did she hold valuable information in regards to her region, she made Zelda comfortable. That's what mattered to Link most. He may have been king, but he always put Zelda and Rhoam first. He couldn't seem to break himself of it no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps he would never be able to.
Link had Rhoam in his arms as they walked around the castle courtyard. Once it had been filled with Guardians and malice. Now it was a peaceful place with blooming flowers and rustling bushes, a chapter in a new life. Link set Rhoam down once they reached the circular path in the courtyard. In the middle was a simple fountain, the engraving at the edge stating, "In Honor of King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, valiant King against the Calamity". Rhoam wandered up to the fountain and peered down. Link walked up to him.
"How about I teach you how to handle a sword today?" Link suggested. It was going to be his first lesson in using a sword. Link was determined to teach his son everything he knew. Zelda was the same. After Rhoam was taught lessons from both of them, he would be a real-rounded leader in physical skill and mental prowess.
Rhoam glanced up at him. His small, blue eyes widened. "Really, daddy?"
"Yes, I'll teach you what I know. Does that sound fun to you?"
"Yes! I want to be just like you!"
Link smiled. "I had a wooden one made for you. You wait here."
"Okay."
Link ran over to the far side of the courtyard where a small storage room was built into the stone wall. He opened it and grabbed the child sized sword and a flour-filled rucksack. He returned to his son and placed the rucksack down in the grass. He shoved the dull tip of the child's sword into the soft soil. Before he'd let his son handle a sword, he would first learn to respect it. That was the first lesson Link had planned.
Rhoam watched intently from the fountain. Link walked back to him with a smile.
"Before you can touch the sword, you must respect it," he said. He pulled the Master Sword from the sheath on his back. "Do you see this? This is the Master Sword. I was chosen as its wielder, but before I could use it I had to prove my strength."
"Is that the sword you used to help mommy fight the monsters?"
"It is."
"Wow!" Rhoam looked at the sword in awe. Link studied his small, excited face. Zelda told him Rhoam was his spitting image, but he had always shyly denied it. In this moment, looking down at his shining eyes, he saw a reflection of himself. Link paled. He had never recovered any of his memories from before becoming Zelda's knight. Is this how I was when I was a child? he thought. Did I look like this?
Before Link could continue his lesson, voices came from the courtyard's entrance.
"Your Majesty!" A group of four Sheikah researchers walked up to them. They stood a good five paces from Link and Rhoam. Link stiffened and put the Master Sword away. Three of the Sheikah kneeled and bowed while the other stood in front.
"Yes? How may I be of assistance?" Link stared at them. He felt plain in his Champion's tunic and tan trousers. He couldn't get used to being addressed like a King.
"We've come as requested by Queen Zelda to conduct further research on Guardian's and ancient technology. We have come to you for further orders on what areas we should begin with."
Link tensed and narrowed his eyes. Something wasn't right. He could see in their stance, their articulation, and the stiffness of the other group members. Link went to doubt himself, but quickly reaffirmed his feelings when he felt Rhoam squeeze at the back of his shirt.
"Oh, I see. My wife did not inform me of your arrival." Link responded. He gently pushed Rhoam behind his back.
"We were contacted by her last week. We're happy to begin work as soon as possible."
Link wanted to unsheathe his Master Sword, but refrained. I can't be so brash, he thought. I'm King now.
"We don't currently have any Guardians or ancient technology here at the castle for you to research," Link said, his voice stiff. "So I have to ask you to return to the front gallery until Queen Zelda can speak with you herself."
The other members of the group stood. Link squeezed Rhoam's shoulder out his own anxiousness. The leader furrowed his brows.
"Your Majesty, you must've been preparing for us. That's why you're in the courtyard, yes? You were waiting for our arrival," The leader said.
"No, I wasn't expecting you."
"So I presume your wife doesn't tell you much, does she?"
Link grit his teeth. He couldn't hold back anymore. "That's none of your concern. Who are you really?"
The leader narrowed his eyes. "We've been waiting, training for this day. Ganon has blessed us."
Link unsheathed the Master Sword. He swallowed. His heart was pounding in his head. He stared at the group. For the first time, he was afraid. If he were alone it wouldn't matter. But, his son was right behind him, clutching his clothing. He was only one man against four, how could he keep him safe? There were guards at the courtyard entrance. Once they heard the noise, then perhaps they'd come to help.
"Face us, destroyer of the Calamity, the King of Hyrule." The leader said. He pulled a sword from his back. The others followed. "Face the wrath of the Yiga!"
Link's breath was heavy. "Rhoam," he whispered. "Run."
Rhoam was too terrified to move. Link rushed forward and the altercation began. Link fought alone against them until two guards came rushing to his aid. Despite their best efforts, they were taken down in seconds. Link was able to defeat two of them. He scanned the courtyard for Rhoam, and didn't see him. He panicked, his defense faltering for a moment. In that faltered moment, a Yiga found an opening and nicked Link's shoulder with a double-arrow shot. Link grunted. His shoulder felt sticky and cool, yet burning at the same time. He took down another. The leader remained.
Link was ready to finish him off when he heard Rhoam crying. His defenses faltered again. The Yiga was able to take an arrow shot, this time lodging one at the left edge of his thigh. Link grunted again. Pain seared his body. He landed a blow to the Yiga, and he collapsed. Link fell onto his knees. He touched his thigh, and blood stained his fingertips. He coughed. Guards came rushing into the courtyard.
"Your Majesty!" one yelled.
"They're taken care of," Link sputtered. "Please find my son."
Two guards began to to comb the courtyard while two remained at Link's side. Link collapsed on his bottom, his back slamming against the fountain. He couldn't seem to catch his breath. Link watched as a guard grabbed Rhoam from a bush and wrapped him in his arms. Rhoam screamed and kicked as the guard came back to him. He was placed at Link's side. The guard stood, awaiting orders.
"He'll go to the infirmary with me." Link nodded. "The healers need to make sure he isn't hurt."
A group of assistants and healers rushed in with a stretcher. They helped Link lie down on it and rushed him away.
Link woke from the sensation of falling. His eyes opened wide with the sharp cut of a jagged breath. He tried to get up, but Zelda pushed him back.
"Don't move around too much," she whispered. "You need to let your wounds heal."
"R-Rhoam…" he stammered.
"He's fine." Zelda sat beside him on his bed. Her eyes were bloodshot. "He's with Riju."
"It was the Yiga."
"I know."
"I-I should've been stronger than that." Link sighed. He let his head roll to the side.
"You were strong. They were powerful. Two of our honorable men fell in that battle." Zelda brushed back loose strands of hair from his eyes.
"That-That shouldn't have happened!"
"It's not your fault, Link. We're lucky it wasn't worse."
Link furrowed his brows. "I-I don't know how they got in."
"We're investigating it." Zelda sighed. She kissed his forehead. "I need you to rest, Link. You did what you could. You were hurt, too."
"I-I…" Link tried to find something else to say, but Zelda put her finger on his lip to quiet him.
"Enough," she said. "I can tell you're in a lot of pain. I'm going to get a healer to bring you more pain-relieving elixirs."
Link laid back in bed. He saw his body draped with bandages and light blankets. He was angry, but didn't have enough energy to seethe. His son was hurt. He was physically fine, but he was now terrified. He would be plagued with nightmares of seeing his father bleeding with arrow wounds for years. His wife had been sobbing, he could see it in her bloodshot stare. He felt as if he was falling. He was falling into an abyss, but he didn't know if or when he'd crash. This was only the beginning of something he didn't know he was falling into, but knew was coming.
