Link could hear the steady, continuous drip of water as it fell from the ceiling every minute or so. It was so rhythmic, so soft...it could have lulled him to sleep. A deep, throbbing pain in his leg and a soreness that burned throughout his entire body like wildfire were the only factors keeping him conscious. Yet he was so weak he didn't have the strength to open his eyes. He simply lay there on the cold, grimy floors.
"Link?" Immediately the sound of a familiar voice filled him with dull surprise, and he weakly lifted his head, and he forced his eyes open.
"Whosthere?" He breathed, trying to use as little energy as possible.
"Me. Sheik." The woman in blue whispered as she emerged from the shadowy corners of the dungeon cell, much like Midna had done when she and Link first met, under similar circumstances. Midna...Link vaguely wondered how she was doing, and he felt a pang of concern run through him. He didn't have much time to think, though.
"Listen, Link, we've got to hurry. I'm going to send you back to the light. Midna will be able to help you much more then I can."
"Mmm." Link answered back absentmindedly...all he wanted to do was to be free of this pain, this burden on weighing down on his soul...
He'd usually never allow so much of his fate into the hands of someone he hardly knew...but something about Sheik was so... familiar. In the short time they had known from their meeting in the Palace of Twilight, and then now...Sheik had proven something. Link didn't know exactly what, except that it was there, and now he had to focus his energy on escaping. Questions could come later.
Sheik tentatively kneeled down and attempted to pick him up, sliding her arms under his, but the at the slightest movement Link cried out in pain.
"I'm sorry, Link, I'm trying to be as gentle as I can..." Sheik whispered apologetically. Suddenly there was a loud clang as the dungeon doors flew open, squeaking on their hinges. Sheik gave a gasp, dropped him on the rock hard floor and was gone. Link gave out a cry of agony. The dull fire that had been burning throughout his entire body exploded into a colossal mass of pain. Link felt as if he were dying. No, he wanted to die. Death would be better than this torment, this nightmare. Through his ragged breathing he could hear steady footsteps approaching. Though his vision was blurry, he could make out Ghalasat's faint form as the ruler kneeled down by the steel bars in Link's cell.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" He said softly. "Twili magic...My people and I are nearly immune to it, but I imagine it must hurt a great deal to a Light-Dweller. I am sorry."
Link steadied his breath, sure he could not have heard right.
"Hmm...?" He mumbled, feeling his energy steadily draining.
"Yes. My guards were not thinking ahead when they attacked you so brutally. You...did not commit such a horrible crime to deserve such treatment. But then again, I cannot blame them."
"You must see the situation from out side...Midna, the former Ruler of the Twili had vanished after the long and painful ordeal concerning Zant. The Light Dweller Ganondorf brought so much pain and misery to our realm. We have a right to be wary of those foreign to our lands, especially when they manage to make it so far into the palace undetected."
"And then, rather abruptly, I might add...I had to ascend to the throne, being highest in the Royal government. Midna was the last in the Royal Family, you see...her family was killed in a number of tragic accidents long ago. I had no choice in the matter, it was simply assumed that I would want this responsibility." Link could here Ghalasat's voice rising in anger.
"They know nothing of the burden this puts on me! All they have to do is sit and watch as I make every decision regarding their futures and lives. I am under pressure that I cannot handle! I can't deal with it, it is not fair!"
Link, his breathing still heavy, listened silently. A surprising pang of sorrow ran through him. Was...was he actually feeling sorry for Ghalasat? He did not choose his way of life, he did not necessarily want to make these decisions, but he felt it was his duty...what a familiar feeling to Link.
"But," The Ruler continued, his voice steady now that he had calmed down. "There is still unfinished business to attend to. Our ex-ruler stole a very important artifact from us. When you appeared you had the Harp of the Twilight with you, which leads me to my next question...Where is Midna?"
Link drew in a sharp breath, he had not expected this.
After a few moments of silence Ghalasat spoke again.
"Come now...tell me. Do not worry, she will not be harmed. She is only needed for official de-crowning and ceremonial reasons. After that she will stay imprisoned for treason to her country. Maybe after awhile she would become a servant or even a mere commoner." He saw the look on Link's face and frowned.
"These are not my rules, they are simply the ways of the Twili...."
Link's anger bubbled over and he spoke, loud and clear.
"Then change them. You have the power, and you said so yourself, you do not agree with all of the ways of your people. This is your chance to revolutionize the Twilight Realm, the hate and bitterness between the two realms would dissolve. We could start over."
Link knew the chance of that happening was slim, but possible. Ghalasat stared at him with a shocked and incredulous expression on his face. He stood and bowed his head, a sad smile painted across his angular face.
"If...if only I had that kind of courage..." He stood up and walked out of the dungeons, his long cloak swishing behind him.
Link watched him leave, sore from his outburst, but satisfied. He had made his point, and felt that, maybe, Ghalasat would take his words to heart...
Sheik waited until the doors were closed, then came out of the shadows.
"That...was really great, Link." She said, picking him up with one arm and holding the harp in the other.
"Don't worry, I've stolen back the Harp from the palace guards. Mind you, it wasn't easy. Link, I'm going to send you back to the Light now...Link...? Link?
Link couldn't answer, he was losing conciousness. Sheik's voice sounded distant and everything else went foggy as he felt himself go limp and black out.