Ch 9: A Vote for Zelda
I sauntered into school the next day with a bag loaded with heavy grammar books. I'd been up late studying, which naturally meant this morning had been hell, which was a good enough excuse for my uncombed hair and unbuttoned blazer. It was a wonder I'd remembered pants.
Anyway, as soon as the wooden entry doors slammed behind me, I knew something was different. Students were running around in a total frenzy, and it only took a trudge down the hall and around the corner to figure out why. A crowd of students was pressed together in a circle, whooping loudly as if cheering someone on. I pushed through to the front of the crowd, and when I broke free I realized exactly what was going on.
Everyone was surrounding Link and some other kid. This kid was just massive, far too large for his uniform, and his hair, which was even more vibrantly orange than mine, swooped up towards the ceiling and ended in a point.
Zelda was teetering on the edge of the circle. I caught her eye and she sighed visibly. She was a few paces behind Link, who looked as militaristic as he always did in school, and who was glaring up at the other boy like a mouse in front of a lion.
"Pretty ballsy of you to step forward like that," the boy scoffed, and Link rolled his eyes.
"Oh, give it a rest, Groose! Stop trying to flirt with my sister when she's clearly not interested in the likes of you."
'Groose' raised an eyebrow. "You think you're some great hero, huh? Always coming to Zelda's rescue. Where's your girlfriend?" he teased. "Every good hero needs a damsel in distress."
Link narrowed his eyes. "Listen here, shithead-"
"Now that I think about it, you've never had a girlfriend! Why is that, Harkinian?! Huh?!"
I glanced at Zelda again. She was staring at the ceiling in clear disgust. Her expression implied that this wasn't the first time this had happened. With a melodramatic sigh, I stepped forward.
"Hey, dumbasses!" I called, waltzing forward. Link and Groose both turned to me in a stupor. "That's right, both of you."
"Who the hell are you?" Groose demanded, and I just smirked.
"Never mind who I am. What I'm wondering is, who the hell are you?"
Zelda glared at me from her spot on the edge of the circle. "What are you doing?" she hissed. I ignored her and turned back to Groose.
"You think you're all hot shit, don't you?" I accused. "The HCA bad boy. Oh yeah, you're real bad... you know how we funded field trips at my old school? We sold marijuana in the parking lot! Yeah, that's right," I added, amused by Groose's alarmed expression. "So stop acting like such a dickwad. At my old school, your head would've been inside a toilet within... oh... five minutes of walking through the doors."
He was totally thrown off his mark. "What gives you the right to say any of that?!" he cried.
"I was just wondering the same thing about you," I remarked, and we stood face-to-face. I didn't match Groose in height, but I was a lot closer than either Link or Zelda, and for a second I was dumb enough to think he might actually consider me a threat.
And then he just sneered. "You think that just because you're not from around here, you're suddenly a match for me. Well, newsflash, dope, I'm a legacy here at HCA. For Gods' sakes, I practically own the place! My dad, my dad's dad- we go way back. You can't just waltz in here and usurp the throne, pal." And with that, he gave me a dutiful shove into a locker.
My shoulders and head collided with the cold metal and for a second, I saw stars. I winced against the pain and got to my feet with a groan.
"The school operates under my eye," Groose finished, and at that moment, the bell rang. The crowd of students mumbled in disappointment and drew away to their homerooms, leaving only a few of us.
Groose scowled at the bell and made to leave, playing with a strand of Zelda's hair before making his final departure. He turned the corner, and was gone.
"Megalomaniac," Link scoffed, rolling his eyes. Zelda took a step forward and brushed the stray hair from my face.
"You really should comb your hair," she muttered.
I sighed. "Really, Zelda? I just got punched in the face, and you're... whatever. Where has that guy been for the past two weeks?"
"He's old money," she explained, taking a step back and clutching her books to her chest. "His family was on a cruise of the Termanian Gulf."
"As he loudly decreed before he left," Link added.
"He thinks he's in control of the school, but he's not. He's in your class."
"And has delusions of power he'll never come close to harboring," Link continued. Zelda turned to him.
"If you're going to keep grumbling like that-"
"Zelda!" Link cried. "I hate that guy! He deliberately singles me out over everyone else to pick on. And why...?"
"'Because we're the headmaster's kids,' yeah, I know, Link. You've said it a million times."
I couldn't help but smirk. I'd never actually heard the Harkinian kids banter before, and it was nice to be reminded that they might actually be human.
"He hates that there are people with more power than him!" Link cried, narrowing his eyes. "Hates to think that he has to look up to anyone. Especially someone like me."
"Oh, stop that!" Zelda cried. "He doesn't know anything about you except what you've told him yourself. Groose is just a meathead with nothing better to do than act upon his insecurities. He acts tough to mitigate his weaknesses..." she gave me a curious glance before disappearing around the corner. "Kind of like you, Ganon."
And then I was in homeroom, and she was off to monitor the halls.
…
"I've taken the lead!"
"Not you again," I groaned as Nabooru cornered me in a crowded corridor. I had free period next; why did she have to bother me now?
"I don't want to lose it," she continued.
"Lose what?"
"The polls, stupid!" Nabs cried, rolling her eyes. "I'm in the lead! I need to keep campaigning if I hope to win. Can't back off now!"
My stomach churned as I was reminded of the mixed feelings I had on the poll. Nabooru winning was good, right? Good for the family. Good because she could get to a good school. Good because she wouldn't go spreading the truth about me to everyone she knew and would finally leave me alone.
But Zelda winning was good, too. Good because her father would leave her alone. Good because she'd have more confidence in herself. Good because she was smart, and needed to realize that.
"I want you to hang posters," Nabooru now said. "Campaign posters, wherever there's room. Here." She thrust a bundle of rolled up posters into my arms and I frowned.
"Really? Why can't you do this yourself?"
"Because," Nabooru answered simply, "you're my slave. Actually, if you think about it, you're more like an indentured servant. Think of this like your first step to freedom." She patted me on the head. "Start in the library!" And then she grabbed my by the shoulders and set me off on my way.
She's in a good mood, I thought as I ducked through the massive doors leading into the school library. The library was a massive stone chamber with levels of books and ladders and swirling staircases that led into the upper reaches of the room. There was an enormous arched window and underneath that window was a fireplace, where a few students were curled up with books in walloping armchairs. I hadn't been in here before and it almost felt like stepping back in time. Much of the room probably hadn't changed from when the castle was still the seat of an active monarchy.
A psst from overhead caught my attention. I whirled my head around and caught sight of Malon, who was perched on one of the winding staircases. She was beckoning me over.
"What's up?" I asked. "Where were you this morning?"
"This is the weirdest book," she declared, which answered neither of my questions. "I just finished reading it," she continued. "Here."
She tossed it and my legs buckled beneath me as the colossal book landed in my arms. It was thick; really thick, textbook thick.
"Where'd you get this?" I asked skeptically.
"I sto- borrowed it from Ezlo's room awhile ago. Finally started reading it last night. Finished this morning."
"You did not," I declared in incredulously. Malon ignored me.
"You have to read it, Ganon. You have to."
I glanced down at the cover.
"Hyrule Historia," I recited, and suddenly recalled where I'd first seen the volume- in a pile of books that Ezlo used as a stool. The memory of Malon swiping it emerged suddenly. "I remember this now. Uh, no offense, but I hate history."
"No, you don't understand, this one's different than most history books." She stood up and began to descend down the staircase, stopping when she was only a few feet from me. She prodded the book with her index finger. "This book is about a Gerudo conqueror who was famous for warring over the throne of Hyrule. The throne was repeatedly tossed back and forth between the king and a line of princesses, but the names have all vanished over the course of history."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
"Because," Malon sighed in exasperation, "you look just like the Gerudo warlord! Look!" She flipped to a page that she had marked with a post-it. Sure enough, there was an illustration of an armored man who highly resembled me.
"Big deal," I said, trying to ignore the squirming sensation in the pit of my stomach. It was uncanny.
"Well?" Malon pressed, leaning forward. "Are you related?"
"What- no! Definitely not. I don't have any warlords in my family. Just sisters. And dead parents. But they're gone, now, no way either one's descended from a king- uh... sorry. 'Scuse me." I drew away, afraid I'd said too much. Malon was hot on my trail.
"I think you should read the book, anyway," she insisted. "At least hold onto it."
"Yeah, okay," I said, shoving the book into my bag and scooping up the bundle of posters from where I'd left them on the ground. "Listen, I have to hang these campaign posters up for my sister, or she'll bite my head off."
I could sense Malon's confusion. "You mean you don't want Zelda to win?"
"Doesn't matter whether I want Zelda to win," I answered. "If I want to live, I do as my sister says." I scrutinized the room, trying to find a good spot to hang a poster. Malon started talking, but I wasn't paying any attention. Once I'd decided on a blank spot on the opposite wall, I made my way over there. Malon followed me, still chatting. It wasn't until she said something that caught my attention that I bothered to pay any attention.
"...It's Legacy only..."
I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "What does that mean? Legacy?"
Malon raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You don't know? Huh." She smirked. "If you're a legacy, then you had ancestors come through HCA. Usually parents, or grandparents. The Academy has an annual Winter Ball but only legacies can get in. But since your date doesn't have to be a legacy, pretty much every student goes."
"Is Zelda going?" I asked before I could stop myself.
"Yeah. Her father's headmaster so she gets in for free. I usually go with Link."
"Maybe Zelda will take me," I mused, and Malon gave me an odd look.
"Why would Zelda take you?" she asked. "More than likely her father will choose a date for her, anyway. I mean... you can try," she added, watching my face fall. But I knew there was a 0/10 chance that Headmaster Harkinian would choose someone like me for someone like her.
Besides, I reminded myself, you're not in love with her. Stop acting like you are!
"Help me hang this poster," I finally suggested. "Here, hold the tape..." I handed Malon a roll of tape and unscrolled a poster for the first time, holding it up against the wall. My jaw dropped at the image it displayed.
The poster wasn't promoting Nabooru at all. On the contrary, it was just slander against Zelda. The image was thoroughly thought out, bearing Zelda's silhouette, strings attached to her shoulders and controlled by what appeared to be the outline of a professor marionette-style.
The poster read, ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT JUST ELECTING A PUPPET? A VOTE FOR ZELDA IS A VOTE FOR THE HEADMASTER. VOTE NABOORU DRAGMIRE FOR SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT 2013-14, followed by a slogan about class independence.
Bullshit. All of it, bullshit.
I could feel rage boiling in the pit of my stomach. Nabooru's smart. She knew this would hit home for Zelda. It was all part of her plan, all part of her scheme to allay Zelda and "break" her.
I faced Malon, who didn't even look slightly upset. Instead, her expression was vague. Unsurprised. She kept her eyes on the poster as she spoke.
"She really likes you. Zelda, I mean. I don't know why. Link and I agree it doesn't make much sense. But she does. And I think I've just realized something about you, Ganon." Now she turned to me. "You like her, too. For awhile I thought you were just pretending, but you're not pretending anymore. Because if you had been pretending, these posters wouldn't have made you angry."
"I'm not angry," I lied.
"Yes you are," Malon confirmed. "Look at you. Face red, fists clenched, eyes just slightly narrowed- yup, you're pissed off, Ganondorf Dragmire. Probably a little disgusted, and trying to be passive-aggressive about it, but in point three seconds you're going to-"
I interrupted her by tearing the poster down and crumpling it up. I turned away from her so that she couldn't see the fury in my expression. I jumped in shock as her small, cold hand landed on my own. She wheeled me around and looked me dead in the eye.
"When I say I'm your friend," Malon explained, "I'm not pretending, either." She gave me a pat on the shoulder and another smile, and only then did she begin to walk away.
When I was sure that she was gone, I crumpled up the rest of the posters and threw them all into the fire, fully aware that Nabooru would not be pleased.
…
Voices.
That was what they were.
Voices.
I stopped short at the sound of two people arguing around the corner of the school. I was on my way home, passing under an archway that led out to the parking lot, and pressed myself up against the wall to better hear the conversation.
It was Groose again. I recognized his voice and his tone. "Where's your girl? Huh, Harkinian? Tell me where she is!"
…Dindammit.
"Y'know, Harkinian, they're starting to spread funny rumors about you. Want to hear what they say about you?"
"Shut up, Groose, like you've got the wits to even- ow!" I could hear Link swear loudly, and that was it. I whirled around the corner, books and bag in tow.
"Hey!" I called, and Groose glanced up like a frightened puppy. His face fell when he realized it was me.
"Oh, for Gods' sake," groaned Groose in acknowledgement of my approach. "You again. The city kid."
He'd been holding Link by the collar, and now he dropped him, choosing to pick on me instead.
"I'm still having trouble believing they let another Gerudo into this place," he said. "When they let in your sister, I was surprised. Then they let in her friends. That was just ridiculous. But now you're in here, and it's like this school doesn't even have standards anymore. You don't even have any famous ancestors!" he continued.
In a moment of spontaneous inspiration, I addressed the contrary. "Actually," I began, "I do. More famous than any of yours." I lugged out Hyrule Historia and opened to the page bearing the Gerudo warlord. "See this guy?" I said. "He's my great-great-...uh... great-grandfather."
My jaw tightened in apprehension. Groose was dumb as rocks, but the question was as to whether he would fall for it.
Groose just grinned stupidly. "I knew there was something weird about you."
"No you- what-" I protested as Groose swaggered forward and grabbed my shoulders, backing me into a wall. My head rattled. To be honest, I hadn't been expecting that.
"Word is that you've been hanging around Zelda a lot lately."
"Who tells you that?" I asked nervously. Okay. Did not plan this. How to escape, how to escape?
"Oh, everyone. You've been the subject of some maaajor gossip lately," he declared much to my surprise, and smirked. "Guess you've been keeping her faggot brother out of the limelight, huh?"
It took all of two seconds for Link to throw himself forward and take hold of Groose, throwing him into the wall with a snarl.
"Who told you?!" he demanded, and Groose grinned sinisterly. I winced.
Link, you idiot.
"You did," he answered smoothly. "Just now."
Link tried to punch him, but missed, so Groose plowed forward and smashed Link in the face. He went reeling face-first into the pavement, and my stomach lurched at the sight of splattering blood. His work done, Groose started walking away.
"Oh no you don't," I said quickly, throwing an arm in front of Groose to prevent his departure. "I can't just let you walk away. Not after that."
Groose rolled his eyes. "Why? Because I got him to talk? Because I got him to admit he takes it-"
His words stopped suddenly as my fist collided with his face and he went stumbling backwards. He glared at me, a gleam of madness and disbelief in his eyes.
"You don't actually think I'm going to go telling people about him, do you?!" he finally cried. My hand froze in midair and he staggered to his feet, spitting a wad of blood onto the pavement. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Aren't you?" Link finally asked, his voice full of spite. He heaved his weight into a sitting position and gave a dark laugh. "Believe me, I don't care. If it was about me, it wouldn't mean a thing. But it's not about me." He looked Groose dead in the eye. "It's about Zelda. About her campaign. If you want to ruin her chances of winning by outing me, go for it, but you won't be worth a damn to her if you do."
"What makes you think I really care about her?" Groose challenged.
"If you didn't care, you would've stopped trying a long time ago." Link turned suddenly to me. "Same goes for you, Dragmire."
"Whatever," said Groose. "Listen, I'm being a real generous guy, here, and you ought to appreciate it. You owe me one."
"Yeah, right," I mumbled sardonically. Groose's eyes narrowed.
"You know what? It's dopes like the two of you that are dragging our precious academy through the mud. It's my father's castle as much as it's yours; what will it take to get that through your thick skull, Harkinian?"
"I'd rather it be nobody's castle," Link answered quietly, and I couldn't help but agree with him.
"Whatever you say, Harkinian. Listen, I'm gonna keep my trap shut about you, but only because I know how much it must suck to be you. Really humiliating, that is. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
"Your sympathy is overwhelming," Link droned.
"Yeah, yeah. You can pay me back later. I'm out of here." And with this, Groose took off and turned the corner.
"Well, that sucked," I concluded.
"Way to soften the blow," Link scorned, his face falling into his palms. "I hope he drowns in a puddle of his own sweat."
I reached out a hand and hauled Link to his feet. His upper lip was coated with blood and his eye was swelling up.
"I'm sorry-" I began, but Link cut me off.
"It's nothing. It's fine. Forget about it." Bitter at the afternoon's occurrence, Link picked up his canvas bag and hoisted it over his shoulder. "I should have socked him in the face. Should have fought harder." And with this final declaration, Link started to limp away. Each step caused him to wince in pain, and I found myself trailing after him.
"Here," I said. "Let me help."
He threw his arm around my shoulders and I supported his weight for the limp down the next few blocks. We came upon his house, and I helped him up the porch and through the door.
I guess I never really told you what the Harkinans' house looks like. It starts with an iron gate bordering the street, and one you enter that you pass down the long gravel drive. Cherry trees border the drive, and lush maples and oaks stretch up towards the sky on either end of the perfectly manicured lawn.
When you reach the end of the drive, there's a porch that juts out in a semicircle with massive concrete pillars for support. The rest of the mansion is white stone, with vines crawling up as far as a third story. The immaculate landscaping frames an architectural beauty that gives off the image of perfection.
But no matter what image of perfection the estate gave off at that time, it still wasn't enough to completely hide the imperfections underneath. Two weeks with the Harkinians, and I already knew secrets about them that would curdle the blood of people that had known them for years. There was something about that that scared me, like I held a certain amount of responsibility towards the Harkinians, and I was bothered by that.
Link and I stumbled through the doors of the mansion. It was my first time being in the main part of the house, and it was slightly unnerving. There was something cold about the presentation. The foyer had an elaborate arched ceiling with silver wallpaper and a marble staircase. It was remarkably unwelcoming. Link directed me to a side room, just as elaborate as the first, and I deposited him on a black velvet loveseat. He leaned back and closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh for the first time that day.
"Is there anything else I can-"
"Nope," Link said quickly.
"Are you-"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"I guess I'll just-"
"That would be great. Thanks for the help."
I rocked back and forth on my heels awkwardly. "Um. Yeah. Okay, then. See you around."
"Goodbye."
He's so bitter, I thought. Not that that's surprising. I'd feel the same way if I'd been outed and then punched in the face.
As I was crossing the foyer, something faint caught my attention. Music. It was quiet, yes, and it was coming from another room. I followed the sound to a closed wooden door and pressed my ear up against it. Someone was playing the harp on the other side, and it was absolutely beautiful.
I opened the door without bothering to knock. Zelda sat on a stool, running her fingers delicately across the strings. She realized after a moment she was being watched, and halted; she turned around, and her eyes widened in alarm.
"Ganon- how did you-"
"That was phenomenal," I interrupted. "You play the harp?"
The hint of a smile crossed her face. "Well, yes. Ever since I was a little girl. Patriarchal mandate," she added hastily. "My father makes me practice daily. That's the only reason I'm any good."
"You're good because you're good," I insisted, and then shook my head. "Listen, bad news."
"What? Is everything all right?"
I shook my head. "Groose beat Link up behind the school and he can barely function."
Zelda stood up very suddenly. "What- oh, for the love of Nayru- where is he?"
"In the drawing room-"
"Let me through! Is he okay?!" I followed her across the foyer into the sitting room. Link was still on the couch, his face contorted with pain.
"Link!" Zelda cried, and she plopped down on the cushions, folding her legs underneath her. "Oh, no... Link..." she combed the hair out of his eyes gently. "I can't believe you let this happen. You have to tell someone."
"No," Link protested quickly. "Can't. If we get him in trouble he'll out me in retaliation..."
"He knows?" Zelda said quietly, and gulped when Link nodded. "Oh, Link... that's not right, nobody deserves that... how terrible of him."
"Life's not fair, Zel."
"Well you don't need to be rash!" Zelda scoffed suddenly.
"Shut up, Zelda."
"Link!"
A shadow fell over the room as a figure appeared in the doorway. "What is going on here?"
Our eyes turned upwards on the figure. She was tall, broad-shouldered, and middle aged, although her hair was snowy in color.
"Impa," said Zelda meekly. The woman marched forward and scrutinized the boy on the couch. Her eyes widened. "Not again..."
Not again?
"What happened?"
"Bullies," Zelda said quietly. Impa's face fell.
"Oh, my poor lad..." she cood.
"I'm not poor. Don't pity me."
"Good gods!" Zelda cried. "Would you stop snapping at us? We're just trying to look out for you!"
"Never mind," Link grumbled, and he turned on his side in irritation. Zelda rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"Well, if that's how you're going to be," Impa said snippily. Her attitude vanished as Link winced in pain again. She turned to Zelda urgently. "We need to take him to the hospital."
"No you don't," Link protested.
"Yes," Impa pressed, "we do. For gods' sakes... Zelda, help him up, get him into the car, and- oh!" she turned suddenly to me. "My apologies. Oh, I am so sorry, what's your name, lad?"
"Ganon," I answered, feeling suddenly sheepish in front of the woman.
"Ganon," she repeated. "Did you help Link home?"
"Well- yes-"
"You absolute dear, I am so sorry for ignoring you... I'm Impa, housekeeper of the Harkinian estate and caretaker of the Harkinian children."
"We're not children," Link mumbled.
"The Harkinian children can be a real pain," Impa continued, lending an arm and helping Link up. He went terribly white in the face.
"Lightheaded..."
"Shh," Zelda said. "Don't speak. We'll get you to the doctor."
"...Don't need a doctor..."
"Sure you don't," Zelda said, her behavior toward Link having softened. "C'mon, let's get you into the car..."
We went outside and approached the shiny black Rolls Royce in the driveway. Impa unlocked the doors with the press of a button and we stowed Link in the backseat. Zelda had wet a washcloth and she held it over Link's forehead as she and I sat in the back seat with him. Impa revved up the engine in front and put the car in reverse.
Glancing behind her, she frowned. "That Groose really knows how to throw a punch," she mused. I expected her to be condescending about it, but I would have sworn I heard her say, "Your father would be jealous."
…
I guess having a name like Harkinian is useful in several situations, since Link was only in the waiting room of the hospital for about thirty seconds. As soon as we were admitted into a hospital room Link collapsed back on the bed and didn't stir for several minutes. Zelda kept the moist washcloth on his forehead, and everything was quiet until Link's phone rang.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath. Zelda helped him to sit up, and he accepted the call, putting it on speaker. "Hello?" he greeted and paused for a second. "...Hi, Malon. Listen, don't freak out, but I'm in the hospital- hey- I said don't freak out! Wait- Malon-"
He stared blankly at the phone for a second before hanging up. "She's on her way," he said weakly, and flopped back on the pillows.
The doctor entered shortly after, his verdict being that Link would be all right, but would need to get a lot of rest. He recommended painkillers and a few days off from school, and we might have gotten away there, if not for Malon, who burst in at that moment.
"Link! Oh, Link! Are you okay?!" she raced forward and grasped Link's hand fiercely. "Oh my goodness, what on earth did you do this time, I swear, Link Harkinian..."
"I'm fine, Malon."
"Oh, sure!" She almost seemed angry. "I was worried sick, Link. I thought for sure it was like last time; I was scared out of my mind!"
...Like last time... but what did that mean? Everyone in this room seemed to be in on something that I didn't understand. My confusion clearly stood out.
"Could you all leave the patient and I for just a moment?" the doctor finally asked, a curious expression on his face. "Oh, except for you, Miss Harkinian. You stay here with us." Link and Zelda groaned simultaneously, as if they knew what was coming next.
"Come on, Malon," I said, prying her from Link's bedside. Impa, Malon, and I all departed from the room. Impa was quick to leave us alone, and as soon as she had disappeared around the corner, Malon pressed her ear up to the door. She gave me a strange look that clearly said, what are you waiting for? I pressed my ear up next to hers and tried to make out the conversation that was happening inside.
"I don't suppose you're going to tell me where all of these bruises are coming from..." the doctor was saying. "Is everything all right at home?"
"Yes, Doctor, everything's in order," Link confirmed, and Malon snorted against the door.
"Let me remind you that anything you two choose to disclose will be confidential..."
"I'm telling the truth, Doctor," Link continued. "It was just a few jocks, that's all. Beat me up behind the school. These bruises aren't like last time."
I shot Malon a look. "What was last time?!" I asked, but Malon just shook her head and kept listening.
"You know, Link, you can press charges for this sort of thing," the doctor said, but Link was already disagreeing.
"No, Doctor. It was my fault. I started the fight."
"Is he telling the truth?" the doctor asked Zelda, and I could hear her lie fluently and easily. If Zelda Harkinian was one thing, she was a liar.
I could hear the doctor sigh. "Very well... but if there's anything you need, feel free to say so..."
The subject of the conversation turned to medicine, and Malon and I pulled away from the door. I turned to her and raised an eyebrow.
"Care to explain?"
Malon sighed and glanced up and down the hall to make sure we were alone. Without a soul in sight, she said, "Are you privy to the exact nature of Link's relationship with his father?" I shook my head, and she continued speaking in a hushed tone. "Well, a few months ago, Link and his father got into a really bad fight, and Link ended up in the hospital. Ever since then, Link's been trying to rebel against his father."
"I thought so," I remarked.
"Yeah," Malon confirmed. "Well, Link pretty much does whatever he can to make his father angry. I don't know why he does it. It might be because he wants some attention. When Mr. Harkinian's not busy hitting Link, he's usually busy ignoring him."
My jaw dropped. "Because of-"
"-Yeah," Malon answered. "Because of that. The headmaster hates that Link's gay. I think," she now said, "that Link does what he does as a sign that his father isn't in control of him. Link likes to know that he is in control of his own fate. Ganon, I've just realized something."
"And that is?"
Malon smiled. "Link has the courage to defy his father, and Zelda has the wisdom not to." Then she looked me directly in the eye. "But you, Ganon, you're the only one with the power to do anything about it."
I laughed mockingly without meaning to. "Why do you say that?"
"Haven't you read the book?!"
"Malon, you gave me the book this morning!" I cried. Malon rolled her eyes.
"And you still haven't read it? Gods. Well anyway, the great Gerudo warlord you obviously are related to always started his conquest by dethroning the King of Hyrule. Obviously, the king must be Headmaster Harkinian, since he's in charge of Hyrule Castle. And you must be the one who's going to conquer him!"
I smirked. "I did not know any of that," I mused, hoping I didn't sound patronizing.
"Just read the book," Malon finally ordered. "It will explain everything."
I couldn't find a polite way to decline, so I just agreed to the task.
Zelda and Link emerged from the room seconds later. Their expressions were drawn and dark, and they seemed incredibly distressed. Malon widened her eyes at me.
We missed something important, I realized.
"We're going home, now," Zelda said, and she and Link began to slink down the hallway, probably looking for Impa. I watched them go, balancing their weight on each other, and thought suddenly about how heavy their secrets must have seemed to them. I thought about the burden of fear, which afflicted them heavily, and I thought about the house they were returning to- cold and desolate, like their lives.
The only word that came to mind in that moment was 'pitiful.' They were pitiful, the whole lot of them. Afraid of their own shadows, I think. And for some reason, that had never occurred to me until now.
All right, friends, here is a super post.
This is also where I hit hiatus about a year ago- I stopped writing KZH to focus totally on MRMR, so the next chapter will have been written months after this one was. :/ Don't ask me when the update will be. Starting at this point I have to type up every single chapter because I totally hand-wrote everything past this chapter.
Sorry for the confusion last week. I posted the first half of this chapter, decided it wasn't worth it, and chose to re-upload it with the second half included. So, a longer wait for a longer chapter.
Thank you kindly for your continued support. :) I've been having a lot of trouble writing lately- don't know why, I feel like I've sort of been drained of motivation, so if I seem abnormally quiet, that's why.
-Ctj