I'm Falling
V. Prayer
Link and Zelda stood in front of the entrance to the Spring of Power. It brought back memories of Link's knighthood days, where he stood post at the front while Zelda prayed for her powers to come to her. Now they had returned over a century later to pray for something far more personal than they ever had before. Zelda held Rhoam in her arms as he slept. His fever was still high, but they had kept it at bay with cooling elixirs. Link turned to take post at the entrance just as he'd done a century prior. He turned his back to the Spring, the Master Sword held in his grasp as it touched the ground. He watched Zelda out of the corner of his eye edge towards the water. She stopped.
"No, Link," she said with a sigh. "You should come in the water with me."
Link turned around. He stared at her. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. You're his father. We should pray as a family."
"You're right." Link nodded and joined her at the edge of the water. He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her free hand to keep her steady as they waded deeper in the Spring. They stopped once they were thigh deep. Zelda wet her hand and rubbed some of the water onto Rhoam's forehead. They put their heads down and Zelda began a prayer in front of the grand Goddess statue before them.
"Goddess Hylia, we've come to this spring today to pray for our son. We pray, as his mother and father, that you will bless him with the strength and power to overcome his ailments. We are humbled by your presence in our kingdom and are grateful…" Zelda faltered. Link glanced over at her. She cleared her throat and continued.
"We are grateful for the chance to p-pray at this s-pring t-to-"
Zelda threw her fist into the water, the splash hitting Link's hair and neckline. Tears fell from her cheeks and hit the spring below. He stared at her hurt form.
"He's just a child!" she shouted. "He's innocent! We've done nothing but fight for this kingdom and this is the reward we get? We get blessed with a son only to have him suffer! Our family doesn't deserve this. I did your bidding for a century. I was trapped in hell for a century. My husband fought to cleanse this land and seal the evil away after losing himself. We had to wait a century to get married and have a family. We've done everything for you! Sacrificed so much of ourselves for you! And this is what we get? If you have a problem with me, take me on. Don't touch my son!"
Zelda pushed Rhoam into Link's arms and waded out of the spring as a sob left her lips. Link cradled the boy in his arms and stared up at the statue. He was speechless. He buried his nose into Rhoam's hair, teardrops falling down his cheeks. He had never seen Zelda in so much pain. She was angry, but it was hurt that was laced in her shouts and curses. His family was suffering and he didn't know how to make it better.
Link felt a light squeeze on the fabric of his blue Champion's tunic. He leaned his head back and watched Rhoam open his eyes. He sniffled.
"Daddy?" he mumbled.
"Yes, Rhoam?" Link whispered.
"Where are we?"
"We're at the Spring of Power." Link swallowed his upset. "Mommy and I brought you here to pray for you."
"Are we on an adventure?"
"Sure, you could call it that."
"When we get back home, can you teach me to use a sword?"
"Of course. I love you."
"I love you, daddy."
Rhoam fell back asleep. Link wet his forehead with the spring's water again. He sighed and looked back up at the statue towering above them. It was a blessing to have him wake at the spring, even if it was just for short while. It was a good sign, though Link thought it was cruel. Zelda had held him in her arms and she prayed, as she ached as a suffering mother. She felt her son's pain in full force, and yet, she wasn't the one to have him wake in her arms. The blessing should have put her mind at ease, not Link's. After all, he had only stood and listened passively. He didn't understand the ways of the Goddess, but a blessing was a blessing. He whispered a thank you and waded out of the water.
Link walked to the entrance of the spring, where Zelda sat with her back against the wall. She cried into her knees, her white dress and brown sandals dripping water onto the grass underneath. He sat beside her.
"He woke for just a moment," Link whispered. Zelda looked up.
"He did?" she asked.
"Yes. He asked where we were before falling asleep again."
Zelda brushed her fingers through Rhoam's hair. "That's a good sign."
"It is. Let's head to Tarrey Town so we can rest for a day."
The arrived to Tarrey Town and were greeted by Hudson. Tarrey Town hadn't heard the news of Rhoam's illness, but offered to help. They prepared a dinner to welcome the royal family to the town and to welcome back good friends. Link and Zelda took Rhoam into the inn and laid him down on an empty bed.
"Your Majesty," Kapson greeted Link. He bowed his head.
"You don't need to use formalities with me, Kapson." Link smiled. "We've known each other a long time."
The Zora priest smiled back. "Link, take your wife and have dinner with Hudson and Rhondson. I'll watch over Rhoam and pray for him."
"Okay." Link nodded. "Thank you."
"It's my pleasure to help."
They shared dinner with Hudson and Rhondson. Zelda went back to the inn to check on Rhoam and get ready for bed. Link stayed behind. He sat at the edge of the cliff overlooking the water below. He studied the Akkala waterfalls in the distance.
"Your Majesty."
Link turned around to see Hudson. "You too?"
Hudson smiled. "I'm being respectful towards my king."
"I'm just Link, your friend."
"I know. I'm only teasing." Hudson sat down beside him. "What's on your mind?"
Link sighed. He hugged his knee with he flattened the other. "I've got a lot on my mind."
"Being king must be tough."
"It is."
"You're strong. You beat the Calamity, after all. You'll handle this too," Hudson encouraged.
Link shrugged. "I'm not as strong when it comes to my family."
"I think it's just the opposite."
"What?"
"You're stronger when it comes to your family, because it's your family."
"I'm so angry I can't see straight. I don't know what to do." Link sighed. He looked up at the stars above.
"I can't say I know what to tell a king. I'm just a builder." Hudson shrugged. "But I do know it's not like you to be angry. What is it?"
"We're being targeted because we're the royal family," Link admitted. "Rhoam was poisoned by the Yiga. Someone within the castle walls is working with them, or is one of them."
Hudson nodded. "Keep Rhoam and Zelda here. Even after over five years, many don't know Tarrey Town exists."
"Are-Are you sure?"
"Of course. Return to the castle and find out who isn't what they seem. What you do after that I can't tell you, I'm not a king."
Link nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Hudson."
"Anything for a friend."
Link returned to the castle after a few days of travel. The fact that he had left Zelda and Rhoam in Tarrey Town made him nervous. Then again, it put him at ease. He knew everyone there well. They were all his friends. He knew they'd be taken care of, and he wouldn't have to worry about them getting what they needed. Kapson was also there praying over Rhoam, as he promised to pray over Rhoam's sleeping form every day. Something wasn't right within the walls of the castle. It was up to him to find out what was underneath.
The halls were dimly lit. The guards bowed their heads as Link walked by. He was hungry after a long day of travel and decided to prepare his own meal in the kitchen. He walked to the doorway of the kitchen, right across from the dining hall and put his hand on the knob. He stopped when he heard muffled whispering. He listened. It was coming from the dining hall. It's far too late for anyone to be in there, he thought. He noticed one the doors was cracked. He crouched and moved beside it, keeping himself hidden from view. The conversation became clearer.
"Where are they?"
"I don't know. I followed them, but lost them during heavy rains at the fork in the road between Akkala and Zora's Domain."
"They went one of those two ways."
"I checked Zora's Domain but they weren't there, and hadn't visited in the past few days."
"They must've went to Akkala, then."
"Sir, that couldn't be. There are no towns in the Akkala region."
"They went somewhere in that area! They could've even went to Goron City on Death Mountain. Keep looking!"
"They'll surely come back here at some point."
"Perhaps. They're preoccupied with their little brat currently. For all we know they could travel every corner of this land to try and heal him."
"Do you have some more of the extract?"
"Yes. I prepared it tonight. I even brushed some on the fruit should they come back."
"I'll take this. Should I see them, I'll put it to good use."
Link swallowed. His wrath bubbled over. He stood and unsheathed the Master Sword, kicking the dining hall door open fully. He was met with the head chef and a guard at a table against the far wall. Link took out his bow and shot the first arrow he grabbed from his quiver, an ice arrow. It hit the chef's shoulder and pinned him to the wall, frost covering his arm and neck. He screamed in agony. The guard stood and reached for his weapon. Before he could do so Link had him pinned onto the floor. The force of the guard slamming against the ground caused glasses on the dining table to topple over and crash onto the floor. Link held the tip of the Master Sword to the guard's chest.
"Who are you?" Link yelled. "Answer me!"
"I-I'm the guard stationed at the-"
"Don't give me that. Did you poison my son?" Link pressed the of his sword into the other man's chest. "Tell me!"
The guard narrowed his eyes. "You can kill me, but it's too late. I snuck the poison into the brat's water glass one night he slept alone in his room. You and your whore are next."
Link gripped his sword so hard his head throbbed. "Tell me who your leader is."
"Like I'm going to do that."
The tip of the sword pushed on him a little harder. He gasped. "M-Master Kohga's son!"
Link pushed the sword in fully, then pulled it back. He collapsed on the floor and struggled for breath. He glanced over at the chef, who had frozen over completely. Two guards burst into the room. They were men he knew from before the end of the Calamity, but at the moment he was cautious of everyone.
"Your Majesty!" one said. "We heard the commotion. Are you alright?"
"T-traitors…" Link mumbled. His head hit the back of a large dining chair.
"Pardon, Your Majesty?"
"They w-were traitors." Link swallowed. "They were Yiga."
"We'll order the soldiers to comb the entire castle grounds, my King. Please let us escort you to a safe place."
Link stood. He pointed with the tip of his sword to the Yiga guard. "He-He poisoned my son!" he shouted. His yells echoed off the walls. He was dizzy and seeing a rainbow of colors in his vision. He stared at the ceiling, then collapsed.
