Zelda, Aziz, Nabooru, and I made our way around the Fortress, helping others that needed it. At around 6:00, Aziz had to leave in order to help with dinner preparation back within the main Fortress building, where Ganondorf, Nabs, and I resided, as well as Zelda, for now, at least.

An hour and thirty minutes after Aziz's departure, at 7:30, Nabooru had to leave as well in order to make her rounds, checking on the guards on duty that shift.

And so there were two, me and Zelda.

"Miss Zelda!" a childish voice exclaimed. Scratch that – and then there were three, sigh. "Miss Zelda!"

"Yes?" Zelda turned around to face Nabila, the little girl she had been helping in archery for at least a good month. "What's wrong, Nabila?" her blue eyes flashed with concern as they caught sight of two skinned knees. "Oh, my goodness! Nabila – What happened?" she knelt down to look the girl in the eye.

"Miss Zelda, it hurts!" Nabila declared, whimpering slightly. It must have hurt a lot; Gerudo, especially females, have an extremely high tolerance for pain, although you could take into consideration the fact that she was only eleven-years-old.

"OK, Nabila, sh," Zelda crooned soothingly. "We have to clean this out – How did this happen?" she asked caringly, taking Nabila into her arms.

I stepped away slightly, unsure of what to do in this situation.

Nabila sniffled, and tears began to course down her face. "Rab pushed me onto the floor, and I landed on the gravel part of the walkway."

My blood began to boil – Again? I just had to deal with Ren; I couldn't deal with both of them now… But he hurt Nabila, and he shouldn't go unpunished. No little girl deserves to be pushed into a gravely path by an older, teenage guy. How could he do that without his conscience stopping him first? – Oh, wait – He doesn't have one…

I would deal with him later, but first, I had to be there for Nabila and Zelda. "Is there anything that I can do, Zelda?"

Nabila looked at me with her wide, amber eyes. "Can you hold my hand?" she asked, her voice wavering.

I looked at Zelda questioningly, and she nodded. "OK," I agreed, accepting the little girl's proffered hand.

"C'mon, you two. We should go inside, clean this out, and get some type of dressing for this wound. Then we can go get some dinner. How does that sound, Nabila?" Zelda asked, gazing into Nabila's eyes.

Nabila's eyes widened. "With you and Prince Link?" she asked excitedly.

Zelda nodded, a giggle escaping her lips. "Absolutely."

The little girl tugged on my hand. "C'mon, you two," she commanded, copying Zelda's previous words.

I chuckled a bit as we began walking to the main Fortress building. I noticed a shadowy figure standing near the entrance after we entered but neglected to mention anything. I mean, it couldn't be anything serious, right?

Zelda led us to the infirmary and motioned for Nabila to sit on top of a large bed. Nabila complied, and Zelda beckoned me over to where she had begun preparing the bandages necessary. "She's an orphan, so she gets lonely sometimes," she explained to me aside, speaking below a whisper.

I nodded in understanding, and things became slightly clearer for me in regards to why Nabila behaved the way she did. "Ah," was all I uttered, and we walked back to Nabila's bed.

I watched in interest as Zelda began cleaning out the wound with warm water. Nabila winced slightly, but she didn't cry, remaining completely stoic.

Seeing this side of Zelda was also interesting. She spoke in softer tones and knew a lot about medicine, as seen from my encounter with Ren, as well as Nabila's skinned knees. She was a very caring person in general, but an injured or sick person took her concern to the next level.

"Prince Link?" Nabila said my name, almost uncertainly.

I turned to face her directly, focusing my full attention on the little girl. "Call me Link, Nabila," I answered, smiling.

"Link?" Nabila whispered timidly, trying it out for the first time. "Thank you. You too, Miss Zelda," she gazed down at her folded hands in her lap.

"You're very welcome," I answered, grinning at the shy girl.

"It's no problem, Nabila," Zelda smiled, bandaging the wound. "I told you last session that you can consider me to be your big sister. I remember always wanting an older sister when I was growing up, and I want to be yours."

"Thanks, Miss Zelda," Nabila stated once more as Zelda finished binding Nabila's wound.

"Aw, none of the whole 'Miss' thing. Call me Zelda just like how you call him Link," Zelda gestured at me comically.

"OK, Miss – I mean, Zelda," Nabila giggled slightly then wrapped Zelda in a tight hug.

"That's better," Zelda poked Nabila's nose, and the little girl giggled once more from within Zelda's embrace.

"Zelda?" Nabila's expression then turned serious. "Will you go back to the Castle soon? I know you're the Princess. You don't need to hide it from me; everyone knows who you really are."

Zelda stopped in surprise and glanced down at the little eleven-year-old girl. She was a lot more perceptive than I suppose we all had thought. "I – I don't know," Zelda stammered, trying to come up with an answer.

Although I didn't want anyone to know it, my heart had stopped in shock, and the answer was a deep blow to me, even though I knew Zelda would have to leave eventually. I suppose I had thought, deep down in my heart, that perhaps she might stay – that she might not have to go back to the Castle to her abusive family, and she could stay here – with me.

I would be able to protect her, and we could be happy here in the Fortress. She had already established so many bonds with the people here, and it would be a shame for them to go to waste if she left. I doubted that she wanted that, but another part of me knew that she missed the Castle and her protective, older brother.

I could tell that she loved and admired him immensely whenever he would come up in a conversation. But she wouldn't leave, would she?

She had already become a favorite with the kids here in the Fortress, especially Nabila, and Nabila had become a favorite of hers. Zelda would take some of her spare time to help Nabila with her archery, helping to develop the natural talent in archery Nabila already possessed.

It was wonderful to watch their small relationship grow; Nabila loved Zelda so much, and Zelda took Nabila under her wing. They were helping each other with their grief, I could see.

Nabila latched on to Zelda. "I don't want you to go!" she exclaimed, tears threatening to stream down her face.

Zelda hugged her tighter. "I don't think I want to go back either…" her voice trailed off, and my heart leaped with hope. Did that mean that she wanted to stay?

Or was she just saying that to make an eleven-year-old girl feel better. Zelda didn't strike me as the type of person to give someone false hope; although she was sweet and kind, she wouldn't sugarcoat things.

I surprised even myself with what I said next, "Stay with us."

Zelda looked at me in surprise. "What?"

"Yes – Stay with us, Zelda!" Nabila exclaimed quickly, her eyes lighting up instantly. "You can be my big sister, and Link can be my big brother! We can all be happy together!"

"I don't know, Nabila. I'm not sure whether I'll be going back or not. I love it here, but my family needs me," Zelda responded, most likely only thinking about her brother.

"But, Zelda –" Nabila began in a voice that could make you melt. "I need you too – And so does Link."

Zelda kept her gaze on Nabila, but she did glance at me through her peripherals. "You need me?" she questioned the little girl.

"Yes," Nabila's head bobbed up and down. "You're the only one that has ever loved me, Zelda. No one else around here does. They only feel sorry for me 'cause I lost my parents," her voice sounded so serious and resigned, that even I felt my heart break at her heartfelt words.

"Oh, Nabila!" Zelda exclaimed, tears beginning to streak down her perfect porcelain skin. "If I had to leave, I would take you with me!"

Nabila's amber eyes lit up. "Really?"

Zelda nodded. "Really."

"Really and truly?" Nabila questioned once more.

Zelda laughed. "Really and truly, Nabila, really and truly…"

I watched the scene, not really involved anymore, but I chose not to leave because I felt something strange. I had never witnessed a scene like this before – A scene that felt so – warm and – so – so real… It was nice and calmed my heart considerably. Was this what it meant to be a part of a family?

I had never really known a family before. I had Nabs, who treated me like a younger brother, and there was Aziz, who was like another father figure in my life, but would now be a brother to me. I did have them, but I had never truly had a family.

If this is what it felt like to have a family, then I wanted one, not that Nabs and Aziz weren't amazing; they were. I just wanted to feel this warming feeling of being surrounded by love. It sounds odd, but I could feel the love and care practically radiating from Zelda and Nabila, and I wanted that.

"Are you really planning on leaving?" I questioned, my heart wrenching at the thought. Zelda had become so much more to me in the past few months. I had watched her slowly acclimate to her surroundings, and she was beginning to thrive. I wanted her to stay here at the Desert – to be able to watch her grow and learn to sing, like the caged bird.

Why would she go? Why would she leave Nabila? Why would she leave her new home? Why would she leave me?

Zelda's azure eyes flickered toward mine. "I don't know, Link. I don't know. I love it here, but, technically, I'm still a hostage under you custody. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I want to be free, Link – Can you understand that?"

"Was being at the Castle freedom?" I asked, lashing out at her. "Was being beaten by your father freedom? Was being hurt repeatedly by Arvid and Katrin freedom? Was being weak freedom?" I hissed, feeling hurt. How could she not see that everyone here at the Desert – We needed her. We needed her more than ever.

She brought change and hope to our society – hope that things could change – hope that things would continue to change – hope that maybe, just maybe, Ganondorf might not rule anymore. She had given us the gift of hope – How could she take that gift away from us now – the time we needed it the most?

Zelda's lips parted slightly, and her eyes flashed with hurt. It was only then that I registered what I had said to her, but there was no going back now. "Zelda – You can't go back!" I exclaimed, talking to both her – and me. "You can't go back to the way things used to be! Things have changed, and things will never be the same again! How can you not understand that?!"

"Link – I –" she began, but I cut her off.

"No, Zelda! You've changed everything – You've changed our society – the way we look at the world – the way we view Hylians and Hyrule – You've changed everything. There is no going back now," I finished, my voice scarcely above a whisper.

Zelda looked at me in shock, and I didn't know what to say after that – I suppose I had lost all my words… "Link –" she began again, but I couldn't hear her voice, being too emotionally shaken. So, I did the only thing I knew to do – I ran…

"Link!" Nabila exclaimed, but I paid her no heed.

My heart raced, and temporary adrenaline pumped throughout my body in my haste to get away. I ran and ran, not caring where I was going, not caring whether my life was so cliché. Did I have to care? I suppose not, though, surprisingly, I wanted to care.

But, more importantly, I wanted Zelda to care. I don't know why, but the thought of her fueled me forward, whether by rage or the adrenaline, I wasn't sure. All I knew was that I had to get away to clear my head.

I ran to another Fortress wall top and stared at the Desert scene ahead of me, sighing. I stood, with my hands on my hips, and watched as the blazing sun set, causing the sky to turn a hazy dark blue. It was now 8:00, and the night seemed so comforting, yet so mysterious.

I loved the night with a passion because it helped me to – forget. I was able to get lost in the night's beauty, becoming entranced with the night's alluring magnificence. My thoughts then turned to the Hylian Princess, the reason I had come here in the first place.

Zelda didn't necessarily cloud my thoughts, or anything, but she simply fascinated me. Watching her grow here at the Fortress helped me or something. She helped me see a totally different perspective of the world and the way things work. She helped me see the beauty of the things around me, things that I had taken for granted for so long.

She helped me see that even the sand was beautiful. Everything around us is beautiful; we just need to look deeper, beyond the hurt and pain this life and world has to offer. She made me realize that something as boring and unsatisfied as sand could bring satisfaction to the person looking at it.

She helped me appreciate life, and I was grateful for her.

I then thought of the caged bird. Zelda had grown to adjust here at the Desert, as I had mentioned before. Did she want to leave? Did she want to go before she had found her voice? – the way she could sing and bring light to the world?

She had brought light to my world and had so much more to offer to those around us. The Gerudo had grown to love her. She had become a part of our daily lives. She taught younger children archery and helped the busy women keep house. She was always there to lend a hand to someone in need, even if that person wasn't necessarily someone she liked.

She had made an impact on so many people's lives, including my own. She was a role model to the young girls at the Fortress, an example of whom was Nabila. Zelda had taken Nabila under her wing, offering the younger girl care, support, and love through the younger girl's life without parents or older siblings.

From what I could gather about Nabila, she was living in the Fortress orphanage, where they placed children that had lost their parents during a fight, mission, etc. I made an inference and assumed that they had developed a bond due to the fact that they suffered in very similar situation and had provided comfort for each other.

But then, that brought me to my next thought. Would Zelda go back and face all the pain she had experienced? If she did, then she was very brave – with more courage than I could ever have. I didn't want her to go back to her abusive family, though I wanted to meet her brother. I wondered briefly whether or not her brother would come to retrieve her eventually; I mean, he was a Prince of Hyrule. He had soldiers, troops, and an army to back him up – What was stopping him?

Of course, I didn't want him to come get Zelda. I wanted her to stay. Was there something wrong with the way I was thinking? I had never felt this way before and wasn't sure how to react.

I then thought of Aziz and Nabs. They would definitely make an interesting couple – I was so excited to have a brother, even if we were never truly related. I wanted a family; in fact, I craved a family. Where was my family?

I smiled. My family was right here: Nabooru, Aziz, Zelda, and Nabila. We were together, and we were a family – They were my family, and I couldn't ask for anything more – Or could I?

Thoughts of the parents I had never met before flooded my brain – Reneer and Kirstin Adema. From what Zelda had told me, my father was a brave warrior, and my mother was a kind and beautiful woman. Would I ever get the chance to meet them?

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to face a breathless Nabooru. "Link – You have to come with me – Dad is looking for you!" she exclaimed, panting. "I tried to calm him down, but he's mad for some reason! I don't know why. What did you say?"

"Nothing! Nabs, I swear I haven't even spoken to Dad in ages!" I answered, suddenly becoming alarmed at my adoptive sister's words. What could Ganondorf possibly want?

"Maybe that's the problem," Nabs responded. "But I would be careful when talking with him – He was really mad when I left, so don't do anything foolish, OK, Link?"

"Me? Foolish?" I made a weak attempt at a joke.

Nabooru gave a pathetic smile, not her usual cheeky grin. "Link – Please be careful, will you? I'll be there to back you up, but I can't promise anything. You know what Dad's like when he's mad."

I sighed before nodding reluctantly. "I'll be careful."

"Please do. I'll be right behind you the whole time, OK?" Nabooru assured me resignedly.

I repeat – What could Ganondorf, my so-called father, possibly want?

Hey peeps! So, that was the fifth chapter of Scars of the Caged Bird. I'm sorry if Link's thoughts get kinda redundant, but I'm attempting to show his thoughts more because there will come a time when we won't be able to see his thoughts as much - when all the action kicks in *spoilers* Lalala!

Thanks to anyone that has read this story, and if you haven't already, please "subscribe!" (Subscribe is Elsie lingo for please favorite and follow.) Every time I see that someone else has favorited/followed, I get the reaction I would have had if the Mets had won the World Series… *tear* :( Anyways… Please do subscribe and give me that satisfaction. :) Then I won't feel sad…

Also, thanks to anyone that has reviewed. I have the same reaction as stated above, so please do – just no flames, please. Soooo… Let me say my signature phrase… And if you feel so inclined, please drop a review down below…

See you Sunday! (At least Sunday in NYC)*smiles* :D and 3

~Zelda (Elsie)

Total Word Count (excluding Author's Notes):

3,028