Zelda's hands shook as she gripped the cup of water. They had been shaking constantly for days. She went to take a sip, but caught sight of her own reflection – it still took her by surprise, even after nearly a week of excellent care – and looked up instead, meeting the steady eyes of King Eilon. She had just finished telling him the full story, from Ganon's first invitation to the palace, through his betrayal and her escape right up until the moment she had burst into Eilon's dining hall. She had omitted only a few things – her possibly prophetic dreams, the Triforce burned into her hand (something she had been careful not to let anyone else see), the extent of her anger. She had tried to remain calm and detached throughout the whole account. At least her voice had recovered.
"I'm so sorry for your suffering," Eilon whispered. Zelda nodded silently. "I want to help you, princess." She bit back a sigh of relief. "Unfortunately there isn't much I can do." She bit back a growl of anger.
"You have an army, your majesty," she said quietly. "An army which your father swore to my grandfather was at the disposal of Hyrule if ever we needed it, in the aftermath of the pirates' attempted invasion of Termina. The invasion your father could not have beaten back without the aid of my family. I ask you to honour that promise, and come to my aid now."
"Princess, you must understand that we were being attacked from a single direction. Your kingdom is infested from the borders to the castle itself. It's not as simple as holding back an army."
"I never thought it would be simple," Zelda said flatly. "But I did think you would respect the memories of the Hylian soldiers who died defending your coasts, and protect their homeland as they protected yours."
"I do. Princess, I do, but I also care for the lives of my people and I won't throw them away in an unwinnable war."
"Unwinnable?"
"Yes, Zelda, unwinnable. Even if I could lure the Gerudo out into the open field against my men, I would be out-numbered and out-matched. We have not seen war for generations. The Gerudo are a warrior race. I doubt your own armies are still standing. Forgive me. I have no doubt you would be willing to throw your life away for the kingdom but I would not, and neither would I ask that of my men."
She opened her mouth to speak, then stopped, sat back and took control of her temper. "Will you not try?" She asked eventually, already knowing the answer. He shook his head, and she realised why it had taken so long to get to speak to him. Cowardice, she realised. He hadn't wanted to face her and say he would not keep his vows.
To her surprise he reached across the table and took her trembling hand in his wrinkled old grip. "I said I would help you, Zelda," he said softly. "I intend to. Only, not like this."
"Then how?"
"I have many years behind me. I can offer you wisdom and counsel."
She met his eyes, and found herself suddenly struck with the ridiculous urge to cry. She forced it aside. "What do you suggest?"
He looked at her for a long time, as if unsure of whether or not to speak, but eventually he said in a voice so quiet it could barely be heard over the crackling of the fire, "go home."
She snatched her hand out of his grip. "Home?"
"Back to Hyrule. Give yourself up to Ganon. He's already made it known that he wants you back alive. He intends to honour your betrothal." Zelda was on her feet before he had finished speaking, and halfway to the door when he called after her, "Think of the lives you could save!"
She stopped.
"Think, Zelda. You would be his queen, as you were already meant to be. Your kingdom will be loyal to you as it was to your father. With you at his side Ganon would not need to bloody the kingdom into submission." When she remained still he added, in a softer tone, "how many of your people have died for you already?"
Zelda's mind was racing. If I had stayed in bed that night, she thought, Impa would be dead. But the rest of them? Soldiers, servants, the guard who lowered the gate… if I had ordered them to surrender… And then her mind hit a wall. She turned slowly to meet the eyes of her fellow monarch.
"Go home?" She asked quietly.
"Yes, Zelda."
"Marry Ganon to reclaim the throne that is mine by right?"
"It may be hard, but in time you will-"
"Get into bed with the man who murdered my father?" She turned on her heel and marched out of the room, resisting the urge to slam the door behind her. Impa immediately materialised out of the shadows and fell into step with her.
"He won't help us," she said without a trace of emotion as she tracked the way to their rooms. "He wants me to-"
"I was listening."
"We can't stay here. He stopped calling me princess as soon as he realised I wouldn't bend. A man like Eilon always has something planned… I don't think we're safe."
"I know we're not." Impa glanced about the deserted corridor, then leaned down to her princess. "He's sent a message to Ganon. He means to either sell you or ransom you if he can't persuade you to go home of your own accord."
"Damn." Zelda kicked a decorative stand of spears and sent them all clattering to the floor. With a gasp Impa pulled her away from the antiquated but well-maintained metal. "How do you know these things?" She asked eventually.
"Sheikah tricks," Impa replied. "Harder to explain than most. Come. We'll have to leave quickly."
"Not too quickly," came a male voice from behind them. Impa had her hand to her knife as she spun around to face Raley, but there was no malice in the old soldier's eyes. "You already know," he said sadly. "I saw the messenger out of the city. I was just coming to warn you."
"Why would you warn us?" Asked Zelda, staying behind Impa's protective arms.
Raley shook his head, meeting her eyes with what she believed to be an honestly sympathetic gaze. "My daughter's your age, your highness," he said slowly. "She worries about boys and chores and her lessons, while you carry a kingdom on your shoulders. And you're thinner than she is. I'll not see you sold."
Zelda blinked. "Instead?"
"Instead, your highness, you and your guard go upstairs and get some rest. At midnight I'll have two horses packed and ready for you at the North gate with food, blankets, tents… well, you'll have a much easier journey than the last, wherever you're going. Do you know where you'll be going?"
"Are you sure you won't be found out?"
"Don't worry yourself about me, highness. I'll call in a few favours. Just… remember me when you've got your throne back, alright?"
Zelda touched Impa's arm lightly; Impa sheathed her half-drawn knife and stood at ease. Zelda took a few steps towards Raley. "What's your full name, soldier?" She asked softly.
"Raley Krellbourne, son of Alby, your highness. Why?"
"Because, Raley Krellbourne, son of Alby, you are a knight of Hyrule by order of its queen. When I have power again, come to me for whatever you may need. I will provide."
Zelda and Impa slept from mid-afternoon to sunset, then sat and considered for the few hours they had to wait. Impa stole some boys' clothes from the servants' washer-room; Zelda had long since let go of her uncomfortable feelings about both Impa's thieving and her skill at doing so. The clothes were plain and simple but of a good quality, not patched or frayed like her last set. She changed out of her gown but kept the well-made boots, and bound her hair at the base of her neck tucked into the back of the tunic to disguise the length of it. Checking a mirror, she sighed at how easily she passed for a boy.
"You're thin, that's all," Impa said as if reading her mind. "At your age it's only clothes and hair that point out the difference anyway."
"I don't look like a queen of anything."
"Wait, child." A wry smile came to Impa's lips. "Enjoy it while it lasts. All too soon you'll have a woman's body and all the problems that go with it. Best you pretend to be a boy for as long as you can. It makes you easier to hide."
Zelda sighed, swinging the long cloak around herself. At least these clothes were clean and soft on her skin, and they did fit her, albeit a little loosely. "I was thinking about where to go next," she said, pulling up the hood and adjusting it to hide most of her face. "I don't think we should go to Ascali, or any of the other ally kingdoms."
"No?"
"They'll all say the same thing. Impa, is there any such thing as an honourable man?"
"I've known a few. Your father, for one. But I'll admit, they're rarer than kings."
"So for now I'll give up on men."
"What do you mean?"
"The Zora are still struggling to hold their coastal settlements, but the Gorons and the Deku have their own cities within Termina. Goron have always honoured friendships and alliances. I've never dealt with the Deku before, but… I'll just have to take the risk. The Deku swamp is closer. We'll go there first."
"As you wish."
Something in Impa's tone made Zelda turn, sit beside her and take both her hands. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for everything. I'm sorry for what I put you through. I'm sorry for the road ahead of us, and for what you've suffered for-"
Impa's fingers wrapped around hers. "Don't be," she said firmly. "I am a warrior of the Sheikah, sworn to your protection. I will always guard you, child. You don't need to thank me or apologize for my duties. I was born to them."
In the end it was easy – nothing at all compared to the last time they had fled a castle. Already disguised and well-rested, Zelda and Impa slipped out of a servants' passage and left the castle unseen from a door near to the kitchens, then dodged and wove their way through the city, avoiding all other humans, to reach the North Gate. There they found that Raley had kept his word; not only were there two good horses saddled and packed for a long journey, but the young soldier who had been guarding with Raley the day they met, the only one in attendance at the gate. "Good luck to you both," he whispered as he closed the heavy oaken door behind them. Zelda thanked him, and gave a silent prayer of thanks for everyone in Termina who had helped them so far – all save the king. She thanked the young soldier for his wish of luck too, certain that they would need it before the end.
Eilon, King of Termina, looked sadly down at the crumpled, empty bed, the small items of loaned jewellery sitting on the table, the pink gown neatly folded on a chair. He had half-expected her to try to run, but never to actually manage it. Every gate out of the city was guarded, and at any rate he'd judged her still far too weak to even attempt to travel for a long time yet. His mind wandered to the message he had already dispatched to Ganon, the famously ruthless new king of his neighbouring kingdom, and with a sigh of resignation he turned to the chamberlain stood in silent attendance behind him. "See that our young informant is appropriately rewarded," he said. "And contact the Sheikah settlement at Gharan. I have work for them."
