Chapter 6

Zelda

Zelda's father was not happy once he learned of the assassination attempt. He actually forbid her and her twin siblings, Sheik and Tetra, from leaving the house for the rest of the week. Which was COMPLETLEY unfair! It was the second to last week of school, AND she still needed to talk to Link about that crazy time warp thing that had happened!

She sighed. At least maybe I can convince him to bring Link to our trip to the Woodland cabin. I don't want to spend most of summer without him, and he needs to be away from the city and all this craziness.

Over the past week, ever since the Yiga symbol in the gym first appeared, many others had been popping up all over the city, even a few on the Alliance Building and its memorial. And each had that same chilling phrase with it: He is coming. She of course didn't see any of the graffiti in person, but instead on the news. She was quite worried about Link. They had used FaceTime a bit, and each call he looked even more haunted and tired.

A knock at the door snapped Zelda out of her thoughts. "Miss Hyrule? Your father would like to speak with you."

Zelda bit her lip, stood, and walked out of her room to her father's study, the woman at her door following close behind. She paused at the door of the study, eyes tracing over the ornate pattern before knocking. A "Come in" signaled that she was allowed to enter. She slipped inside and walked to her father's desk.

Councilman Daphnes Rhoam Hyrule was an imposing man with a large build and tall figure. Even with his blond hair and beard turning white, he still looked young. "Father? What did you wish to speak to me about?"

He looked at her tiredly. Hateful symbols and words were far from the only problems in Hyrule right now. Refugees from all over were fleeing to the city, and it was reaching its maximum capacity. Gang violence had increased exponentially, and natural disasters, illness, and famine were becoming all too prevalent, especially in outer regions and settlements.

"First, I wanted to remind you that you must come home if Yiga paraphernalia or symbols appear, once you're out again. Your school is far from safe, as was recently proven. You also need to actually keep a bodyguard with you at school. I need you to try to make your own safety a priority for once."

Zelda frowned. "I don't always need protection, father. I've been able to hold my own with every encounter so far." More than a few Yiga had attacked her, and even the more competent of them tended to be child's play.

"You may be capable, but the Yiga are highly trained, and seem to be out for you specifically. Not to mention what happened those years ago with Link and... before that, your mother." She had barely heard what he said after 'You may be capable'. It sounded as though he doubted her ability, and that frustrated her. He may have seen the glint of anger in her eyes, though, because he quickly changed the subject.

"I also wanted to know how you are right now. I'm sure you're stressed and tired, as well as worried for your friend." She nodded.

"Link isn't doing well. Over the past few days, he has looked more grim and sad than I've seen him in a while. And..." she paused. Daphnes gestured for her to go on. "And I'm afraid. The world is absolutely spiraling, father." The man sighed.

"I know, Zel-bell. Things are not going well. This Saturday the Council meets. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out something to truly help and protect people." He gave her a small smile. "Speaking of protection... you certainly seem to have a knight in shining armor in Link. He is very dedicated to you."

She nodded with a smile on her face. She thought of how willing he was to stick with her, listen to her stresses, and protect her when needed... And her face flushed when she remembered the small kiss she had given him the night of the tournament.

Her father, unfortunately, noticed this. "Oh? And it also seems that someone has a bit of a crush on him as well," he said with a mischievous sparkle in his eye.

Zelda cleared her throat. "Um. Speaking of Link, I wanted to ask you if... if he could come with us to the cabin this summer. He... really needs a break from all of the stuff in the city right now, and he loves being in the wild."

"Of course he can come. Link is a brilliant and kind young man, and we all enjoy his company. But you will have to ask his grandmother if he can come. Also, I'll assume that Aryll is coming too; she can hardly bear to part with him for school hours, and Sheik and Tetra adore her company."

"Also father... I want to meet with Link in person before we go on this trip. I... have a couple of things I want to talk with him about besides this trip. Do you think Saturday while you're at the meeting will be all right?"

"Zelda... I know you wish to see him, but it is dangerous right now, and I cannot trust in your safety. Cado proved incapable of protecting you, Dorian is now mourning the death of his wife, and most other specialized guards I have are all stationed to protect people due to the chaos right now."

"Perhaps he could come here? Please, I really want to talk to him, and-"

"Enough. I can't guarantee Link's safety, and I don't want to be responsible for it while things are this heated here. You may call him, but until Dorian returns next Wednesday, I will not allow you outside this house. It is far too dangerous."

Zelda bit her lip to refrain from any comments. She loved her father, she really did, but his overprotectiveness and lack of trust, especially in her abilities, could be infuriating. "Yes, father. I'll... see you later." She turned and left the study without another word.

_/|||\_

She began her defense training again. Even if he doesn't trust in my ability to keep myself safe, I still must learn. Cado was a much better instructor of the art of defense than actually using the skills himself, at least. After she finished that, she went to their small archery range. It was something to take her mind off things, especially her anger.

Zelda shot a couple of wayward arrows, and was about to shoot at the target again before noticing that the fletching was was broken. She let out a puff of breath and lowered the bow. It only had a 26 pound draw weight, but she could go up to about 35. Maybe this isn't the best time to do archery... I'm not especially focused. I could call Link, see if he likes my plan... yeah, I'll do that. She put the arrows and bow away and went towards her bedroom.

"Zellie!" two twelve-year-old voices yelled in unison. It seemed as though her plans were to be postponed.

"Yeah, Tetra? Sheik?"

"You talked to dad! Did he say when we're going to leave the house? It's bo-o-oring," Tetra said.

"We have stuff here," Zelda replied.

"That's all good," said Sheik, "but we both have things left at school. Our lockers still have things in them. Plus, we haven't even had a chance to say goodbye to our friends."

"Yeah! And I still haven't gotten Mido back for breaking ma's necklace! I just wanna rip his-"

Zelda interrupted before Tetra could go on a rant; she could be highly emotional. "Father said I can go back on Wednesday. Your guards are presumably coming the same day. Now, I have to go call Link. I'll see you..." she trailed off. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

The twins smirked. "Oh, sister dear, whatever could you be talking about?" said Sheik, his occasional dramatic flair coming out.

"Yes, we have no idea what you're saying," Tetra said. "There's no reason for us to be acting weird at all. After all..." she paused. "...You're just calling your boyfriend!"

Zelda blushed. "He's not my boyfriend."

"Well that doesn't mean much. Every time you look at or talk about him, you get that 'I'm in love' look in your eyes," said Tetra.

"Is... is it that obvious? Does he know?"

"Oh, it's pretty clear... for everyone but him. Unless you tell him, nothin's gonna happen between you two," said Sheik.

"You better hurry to your phone call. Let us know when you set up a date!" The two then ran off, giggling to themselves.

"Great," she muttered. "First Arista, then father and the twins. Will this never end?"

She finally reached her room, and just as she was about to call Link, the ringtone she had set for him started. It was an upbeat tune, one that came from ancient times. She liked how heroic and free it sounded; it reminded her of him. At least when he wasn't overcome with haunted memories. Zelda answered the call.

"Hi Link, how are you?"

"I'm al-lright." His voice sounded raspy and sad.

"Are you sure? You don't sound well. Can we FaceTime?"

"...M-kay." Zelda pressed the circle on her phone that started a video call. His picture popped up, and her breath caught.

"Link... What happened?" Link's face was bruised, scraped, and his bottom lip was split and had dry blood around it. His throat had hand shaped bruises as well, clearly from someone's attempt to strangle him.

"..."

"Link."

She watched him bite his lip and his ears twitch in nervousness. "... Some g-guys - Yi-yiga-a - after sch-school. It w-was a sur-rprise attack. I... was able to es-scape and knock th-them uncon-conscious, b-but..." Zelda watched him in concern; he was stuttering more than usual. He took a deep breath. "Zel, they're getting b-bolder, and... I'm afraid. They ask-asked about y-you again. They... really seem to want someth-thing with you, and they kn-know I m-might be able to g-get to you for 'em. I don't w-want for me to be t-too weak and you to get hu-urt. I... I-"

"Link."

He stopped talking. "You're NOT weak. And I'm sure that I'll be safe, especially with you."

Link glanced away, apparently not believing her words. She sighed. So stubborn, and that's not helping. How to help him feel better... Oh, right. "Link, um... what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" He looked back at the camera.

"I... um... I wanted to know when you're coming back to school. I want to really see you again. Th-that's all." She saw him flush, embarrassed, before turning out of sight. She smiled. Cute.

"Father says next Wednesday. Dorian is the guard he trusts the most with my safety, and with him currently out, he doesn't trust me to be on my own. He's kind of making me frustrated, but it is dangerous right now. I suppose, logically, I can't be that upset."

She continued, "Also, I was actually about to call you, but you got to it first. I was wondering... well, we're going to the cabin in the Minshi woods this summer, but we always stay longer than I want to, and I don't get to see you most of the summer. It would be great if you could come. Also Aryll, I know she hates being away from you at all."

Link's beaten face brightened considerably. "Oh, YES! I'll go ask gramma right now!" The video shook as he raced out to find her. Zelda chuckled quietly. YES. I knew he would be happy about this. Shoulder pats, Zelda.

Link, Aryll, and their grandmother chatted excitedly for a few minutes before he remembered Zelda on the other end of the call. "Uh... so in c-case you didn't get that, it's a ye-es," Link mumbled, embarrassed that he had left her hanging.

"Awesome! I'll see you Wednesday!"

"Bye Zel."

She ended the call and punched the air. "YES!"

A/N: In archery, the draw weight is how "heavy" the pulling back of the string is. Beginners tend to use a smaller draw weight due to not having a build up of muscles. Zelda has been practicing for many years, so she can use a bow with a heavier weight. Also, if anyone's confused by how I wrote Link's stutters, the dash in the middle of the word means the letter/sound is being drawn out, since he can't think how to finish the word (I myself have this trait, especially when reading aloud). If a letter repeats in a word, like (th-this) then he had to restart the word to finish saying it. The (...) means a longer pause in speech.