Chapter Nineteen

Link

Despite the horrors he had faced the past several weeks, or perhaps months, nothing had filled Link with more dread than Ralis being brought to the dungeons. He could handle being tortured. He could handle the harassment and the constant fear. He did not think he could bear to see it happen to someone else.

The Zora prince was terrified. Link could tell, even if the boy said nothing. He could not blame the boy, though. He had not seen his reflection in weeks, but he still had an idea of how terrible he must have looked, half-starved and covered in dirt and blood, among other things. The Gerudo had at least been kind enough not to torture him in front of their extra prisoner, though, something Link was grateful for. Ralis had been through enough in his young life. He did not need the extra stress on top of everything.

"My people are dead or dying," Link heard Ralis say in a quiet, broken voice. "All because of me." He watched as the young prince shook his head. "I thought I was protecting them. But all I did was sentence them to die."

"You did what you thought was right at the time," Link argued. He may have been miserable, but he was going to do everything in his power to keep Ralis calm, to keep the boy feeling safe. He had sworn an oath to Queen Rutela to protect her son at all costs, and he was not going to go back on his word, even under the current circumstances. "You couldn't have known what would happen."

"I should have, though," Ralis spoke, staring up at the ceiling.

Link sighed, but said nothing. He knew it was not the same situation, but he had been struggling with his own feelings of guilt and remorse. Hyrule had fallen. His friends were dead, and he had no doubts people were suffering by the masses, all because he had been too cocky to fight Ganondorf properly, all because he had failed.

Despite his restraints, Link jumped when he heard footsteps approaching, knowing all too well who was about to appear. He had memorized the various patterns, the various steps. These could not have belonged to one of the women. No, they were too heavy, and the clink of the armor always gave the Demon King away. "I see you've made a friend," Link felt hatred swell within him when he saw the Usurper's face, arrogant as ever. He continued to glare at Ganondorf as he watched the man unlock and step into the cell, two Gerudo guards close behind him. "I suppose I'll make this quick then."

Link waited for the guards to unshackle him once more, to restrain him themselves, but it never came. Rather, they had gone to Ralis, one guard restraining him, another holding a blade to his throat. The noise of distress the Zora prince made chilled Link to the bone, and filled him with nothing short of dread. The boy was going to die, and Link would be unable to do anything to stop them...

"You have a choice to make, Hero," Ganondorf spat. Link flinched, but said nothing, keeping his guard up to prevent the king from the satisfaction of seeing his fear, his dread. "You will help us track down and kill this little Resistance," the man continued. "Or you will watch this boy die."

"Link," Ralis spoke, his voice full of sheer terror, though it still kept elements of the dignity Link had found all nobility seemed to posses. "Don't do it."

The Hero shook his head, glancing between the Zora prince and the Demon King, wondering if the man was bluffing, though Link doubted he was. If anything, Ganondorf was a man of his word. He had had yet to break one of his twisted promises. Still, he could not betray the Resistance, they were the only hope Hyrule had of survival, however small that hope was.

"Oh and it won't be an easy death either," Ganondorf smirked. Link had never hated someone more in his life. "We'll be sure to prolong his suffering while you sit here and watch, helpless to stop it, and knowing that you caused it."

He had sworn an oath to Ralis's mother, but he had a duty to his friends. But if he stopped them, he thought maybe, just maybe, he could lead the Gerudo astray, give them false information, anything that would protect his friends and protect the young boy.

Hatred coursed through his veins, though now Link was unsure if it was directed toward Ganondorf, toward the situation, or toward himself. He only had one option that would maybe, maybe, buy time for all parties involved. "Okay," he said, his voice barely audible. He shut his eyes tightly, refusing to look the man in the eye. "I'll help you."

"Good," the Demon King smirked, and nodded at the guards, who released Ralis. "Unchain the Hero." Link fell forward when the guards removed his shackles, what little strength that remained in him preventing him from keeping himself upright. "I do warn you, boy," Ganondorf continued. "Any funny business at all, and you will watch as we destroy everything and everyone you've ever loved."

Link nodded and allowed the Gerudo guards to help him to his feet, hoping beyond hope that he had not made the worst mistake of his life.