Chapter 28: Unchained
Waking slowly, Link came to his senses once more. His head was throbbing in pain. The normally gentle sunlight was a far too bright now. He rolled to his side as the sun warmed his back pleasantly.
He lay still for a while. He had slept for a long time and still felt like he wanted to sleep more.
He had spent a long time explaining what he could, but reliving the details drained him far more than he thought they would.
The story of the afflicted Zora would have to wait, though he wouldn't keep anything from the people who had been so kind to him. Later in the week, he assured himself.
Even as he had continued the story, he kept a lot of the changing atmosphere between himself and Zelda private. Somehow, he didn't quite feel like sharing that with anyone just yet. He barely knew how to handle it himself. He could always ask someone later, he realised.
As the sun started to get uncomfortable on his back, he got up slowly and dressed, drinking water to try and clear his head.
Heading downstairs, he saw Telma cleaning the tables, ready for the day ahead. Everyone else had gone home after Link had spoken the night before.
"Oh! Good morning sweetie. Did you sleep well?" she asked warmly.
"Yeah" he said simply. "Still tired though. I think last night completely drained me."
"I'm honestly surprised you've any focus at all, considering all that you've done. I would retire if I was you"
"You know what? That sounds lovely" he remarked.
The thought of being able to take things at his own pace, a plot of land somewhere, friends and family nearby and no world ending threats. All of them sounded wonderful. Still, he knew from experience he would grow restless.
He went to one of the tables and sat, eager to get something to help shift his headache.
"My head is killing me… Do you happen to have anything to help with that?" he asked
"Oh, sure! Give me a minute and I'll fix you right up" she beamed.
Link sat back and closed his eyes, relieving some of the pain in his head. He thought of Zelda again, how she had always kept her sweets with her. That they helped her when spell casting wasn't in doubt. Still, he recalled how she always looked happy after eating some, a personal indulgence. She had shared it with him plenty of times up to now as well. The thought made him feel fortunate.
Telma came back a moment later and placed a cup of ginger tea in front of him, with a bowl of nuts.
"I had one of the researchers from the royal library in here some time ago. We ended up talking about headaches and he assured me that ginger tea helps reduce swelling and nuts have something that helps soothe headaches too" she explained. "Whether it's true or not, I have no idea though."
"Happy to be a test subject right now." he said through mouthfuls of the tea.
As soon as the liquid warmed his throat, it seemed to help shift some of the discomfort. Maybe it was just the drink he needed, he thought.
"So...you've had a hell of a time haven't you honey?" she said softly.
Of all people who were bombarding him with questions, she had asked none. She was the kind of person who preferred talking to someone one on one.
"I don't get people. All of these fairy tales and stories of the hero killing the dragon for instance. What's so appealing about them? The reality of doing things like that is horrifying" he said, at a loss.
"Remember when I told you about what happened to Princess Zelda's hand? I didn't tell anyone that I have recurring nightmares about it. Seeing her hand get sliced apart by Ghirahim? I picture it happening in my mind randomly and I feel sick each time." he lamented.
"Oh Link…"
Before he could let his mind wander further, Telma pulled him in to a firm hug as she rubbed his back, taking him off guard.
"I'm so sorry honey, that you had to face things like this. No person should have to." she explained.
"As for what you said about people finding stories like that fascinating? Well, most peoples lives are predictable and they haven't experienced anything like this. So, they imagine that it must surely be better than the same thing every day. So they make it seem so romantic, so wonderful!"
"Romantic… if only" he sulked.
Telma raised an eyebrow at that.
"Hmm. I take it you've had some concerns with romance, perhaps?"
He didn't even tense up. Normally, he kept those thoughts to himself when it was around other people. Telma was different though.
"I...guess?" he thought aloud. "I've been driving myself mad trying to find a way back to seeing Midna again. But Zelda told me that if I did, it would be disrespecting her wishes. That the sacrifice she made would be worthless if I just went and did what I wanted. I hated that at the time, but now? I think she was absolutely right."
He sat quietly for a moment, thinking about Midna again. The kiss they had shared, the journey across all of Hyrule, then of her leaving. He didn't feel sadness any more, but a numb acceptance.
Telma sat patiently as he worked through his own thoughts, still hugging him.
"I...think I don't want to chase after her any more. Doing that has cost me a year of my life…"
Telma sat next to him, wearing her wise smile.
"I had no idea just how much this had been playing on your mind, Link." she said calmly. "But that you've come to a conclusion like this by yourself? That shows growth, honey."
"That's sweet of you Telma, thanks. But a while ago, when I told you about Midna, you were all for me chasing after her." he remarked.
"True, I did. But I also saw you hurting. Considering just how much you've done for us all, I wanted you to be able to aim for something that you wanted." she said quietly.
"The world asked a great deal from you during the Twilight crisis and you delivered without question. You deserved to be able to pursue what you wanted. If I knew the full story, maybe my advice would have been different"
As wise as always, Telma didn't hesitate in explaining herself. Link realised that she didn't cling to old beliefs she had. That she could comfortably change her mind when presented with new information. She may have been the most adaptable person he knew.
"Damn. Do a lot of people open up to you like this? There's something about you that just makes it easy to share"
"Quite a few people, yes. Though I consider it a pleasure to listen and help if I can"
She absolutely did. Link realised he felt better most times he had spoken to her.
"Well, please don't lose that magic." he remarked as he finished his tea and nuts.
They sat and chatted for a little while longer about things of no consequence. She was considering bringing in a selection of new wines that were ready for the autumn season. She also promised him that he could be the first to try them if he wanted.
As their conversation wound down, Link felt a sense of calm settle in. Telma's kindness had worked like a balm over his frayed nerves and the weight on his shoulders seemed a little lighter. He didn't have everything figured out, but perhaps that was okay.
Eventually, several people came in on their day off, ready to relax. She winked to him and went about serving them. He thanked her quietly and made his way outside. He had things to do.
As he stepped out in to the main streets, the sun warmed him as a gentle breeze blew through the streets. The slight chill helped clear the last of his headache as he stepped forwards.
He didn't feel hungry or like he wanted to relax, so he started to make his way towards the castle. He had put on his plain cream outfit, anticipating his duel with Ashei. He knew Telma would look after his regular gear, so he had left it in the closet in his room.
As he made his way through the streets, a lot more of the guards recognised him than they had before. They waved happily to him. Some of them even remarked they appreciated him taking the fall for telling the sentries to leave their posts back at Lake Hylia. And for punching Williams.
He smiled at the thought, but felt stupid at the same time. He pressed on, trying to prevent himself from thinking too much.
Eventually, he arrived in the Castle grounds and made his way to the barracks. The teenager who had tried to rob him yesterday would likely be around there. As he made his way through, he caught sight of Ashei once more. She was reading over some papers.
"Morning, Ashei. Did you manage to get some rest?" he asked
She turned quickly, having not noticed him approach.
"Oh! Morning, Link. Sorry, I was a world away just then. I'm alright, just catching up on morning reports. Apparently we're expecting a smaller shipments of iron for a blacksmiths for a while, so that should be fun." she said mirthlessly.
Link raised an eyebrow. As far as he could remember, the one place that produced iron was in the mines that the Goron's operated at the top of Death Mountain.
"Howcome?" he asked.
Ashei shrugged. It was as new to her as him.
"No idea. I'll worry about it when it becomes a problem. What brings you here so early anyway? We're set to have our duel after lunch." she remarked.
"I've not forgotten. But yesterday, a teenager got arrested because he tried to rob me. I asked that he be kept here overnight, just wanted to talk to him."
"Oh, that was you? I was wondering what happened. Come with me, I'll take you to him" she said as she stood.
She took him through the barracks to some private holding cells. She explained that some new recruits occasionally had personality issues, and would work them out in here.
Opening one of the doors, she led Link inside. The room was plain. It had a single bed in it and little else. The teenager sat back on the bed as soon as he saw Link.
"Normally, punishment for theft is served as time in cells or in a workforce. For young ones though, we'd send them to work in mines for a while." she said loud enough for the teenager to hear.
He tensed a little. Ashei seemed to enjoy this part of her job.
"Since you're involved though, I'd like to know how you deal with him."
Link looked over the boy. His hair was matted and greasy, coming down over his face. His skin looked patchy and like it hadn't been cleaned in a long time. His eyes told the most. They were almost sunken in to his head and dark circles surrounded them. The boy was underfed and irritable as a result.
"Has he had any food?" Link asked.
"Yeah, bread and water. Food of criminals" she said flatly.
This time, the boy went defensive.
"You're an ugly bitch, you know. Get back to the sewers and rot" he said, his voice full of malice.
Ashei raised an eyebrow.
"Boy, I have seen mangled corpses that looked more attractive then you. You could cook an entire cuccoo with half of the grease from your hair. You wouldn't be able to get a pretty girl, even if you paid for one"
Link blinked at Ashei's devastating counter. The boy went quiet.
"He's all yours. Call if you need anything, alright?"
She left the room, the door closing dramatically behind her.
Taking a breath, Link stepped forward and took a seat beside the bed. The boy was likely scared, locked in a castle cell overnight after having been caught.
He remained quiet, seething at Ashei's words and burying his hatred deep. Link knew he had to intervene before it started to poison him.
"Besides Ashei there, how have they been treating you?" he asked gently.
The boy looked to him, wounded and feeling backed in to a corner.
"What do you care?" he almost snarled.
"Simple. I wanted to make sure you were alright. Can't be fun being in a cell like this for a night"
"Leave me alone" he bit back.
"No. You tried to steal from me. That's not something that can just be ignored" Link replied, wondering how he could soothe the bitterness. The boy pursed his lips and didn't respond. He had no idea what was going through his mind.
"So, why try to steal in the first place? I take it you've done it a few times already? Or was that your first time?" he inquired
"No, I've robbed six people until now" the boy said defiantly. Link however saw his expression falter. He was trying to brag.
"Six?" he asked, as calmly as he could.
The boy looked him in the eyes, Link looked straight back at him.
"...Two" he replied, defiant but quieter this time.
Link felt relieved. Finally, an honest answer out of him. He wondered about what to do next, having never tried an interrogation before.
"Ok, two. You don't need to lie to me you know, I'm not here to judge you."
The boy narrowed his eyes.
"You're not here to judge...even though I'm in a castle cell and kept from home overnight?"
"No. The whole reason I'm here is to try and figure out why you did this in the first place."
"I don't get it. Why? What makes this worth your time? Shouldn't you be saving the princess or something?"
"I already did. Now, I have free time. Besides, I've never had the chance to speak to someone who felt stealing was their best option" Link replied.
The boy stared at him for a moment. Trying to see if Link was someone trustworthy. But the more he thought, the more defensive he seemed to become.
"You don't care about any of this. I'm just some curiosity to you. Get out of here. Come back when you know my life"
Link clenched his teeth as frustration took root in him. Though he calmed himself, realising that the boy was right. He had no idea about the boys past, but he did care to try and help if he could.
"Alright, you've got a point. I am curious about you. Because I've never seen this side of life before. But so what? Do you think that just because I'm curious, I shouldn't be trying to help?"
The boy stayed quiet as he looked away from him.
"You're also right that I don't know your life. So, would you tell me? I want to know, so I can help"
The boys eyes narrowed.
"Help? You want to help me? Get me out of here so I can go home"
Something was wrong about the way he had said home. As if he both wanted to go back but didn't. Link decided to try a new idea.
"Home. That'd be nice. Cosy fire, warm bed, parents to cook a meal for you..." he fished.
Then he saw it, the one reaction that gave him the information he needed. The second he had mentioned 'parents', the boy's face screwed up in to a furious snarl.
"...or not?" he added.
The boy looked sullen at his question. He seemed to be wrestling with something. He looked to Link. Unsure, through his sour face.
"Or...would you prefer I go and rot in the sewer?" Link said with a smile.
Another moment passed.
"No..." the boy said sheepishly, the defence cracking just enough.
Link felt his instinct kick in. He still had a couple of pastries left. He had handed some out when he had met the villagers the night before, holding on to two that he liked. He took one out of his light pack and handed one to the boy.
"I bet bread and water gets real boring in a short amount of time. Try this instead"
The boy looked at it, eyebrows raise as if he wasn't sure if it was a trick or not. But, hunger won. He quickly took the pastry and starting chewing on it. As he worked through it, his disposition changed. The light sweetness of the fruits in it refreshed him. Link ate the other one, knowing exactly how the boy would be enjoying it.
"I don't get you. Why are you doing this for me? I tried rob you!"
"Well, you didn't manage to. I still have my rupees. Plus, I've been really hungry before with nothing good to eat. When I finally got to, after that? I ate so much that it hurt for an entire day" he recalled.
One time he had visited Telma, she had cooked him a colossal breakfast, which he had refused to waste. It had been difficult to even walk after trying to eat it all.
After they both finished, Link felt like he wanted to push for more.
"So. The second I mentioned parents, you didn't look too happy" he said gently.
"No..." the boy said quietly.
"Any reason why?"
The boy stared at him again. But this time, a little more relaxed. He opened up and slowly started telling Link about his parents.
He explained that his parents had divorced a long time ago. His own mother had left and his father was broken by it. Before that, they had spent years arguing, even when he was younger.
Link sat, horrified. It was something he couldn't have conceived of on his own. To hear the boy explain it so clearly was so jarring, that two people who had married had broken apart. He had no idea how something like that could affect a young child.
"I'm sorry..." he said, unable to string a better response together.
"Oh come on... I don't want your damn pity. You've got it perfect. Wealth, fame, seeing the princess whenever you like and all these accomplishments? You think a simple apology is going to fix anything?" he snapped back.
"I didn't mean..." Link tried to reply, but was cut off.
"Everyone bows before you, everyone gives you stuff and you don't have to worry about getting food. You have it so easy!"
Link held his breath as he nearly snapped in an instant.
"Then you come here and ask about my family as if you've got an easy fix for it? You've never had to suffer that. You've not struggled like I have. Get of your high horse!"
Link stared furiously at the boy.
"What, now you're angry? Doesn't mean I'm wrong."
With enormous amounts of restraint, Link barely managed to keep his temper in check. He stood and lifted his shirt up to his chest as he revealed his heavily scarred torso to the boy.
"You see this?" he said sharply, pointing to one of the scars. "I got shot with an arrow. It got stuck in me. I didn't have a doctor nearby so I had to have a friend push it through my torso and out the other side."
He turned and showed his other side, pointing to a different scar.
"Here, I had a metal ball thrown at me that's as big as my chest and weighs as much as a full suit of plate armour. It snapped my arm in half and crushed my ribs"
He let his shirt fall and rolled up a sleeve, pointing at scars near his shoulder.
"Here, I got shot by four arrows at four different times. One of which gave me an infection that nearly killed me"
He sat back down, his momentum unstoppable.
"Just over a week ago, I nearly beat someone to death in front of the mother of my child, now she never wants to be around me again" he said, an inch from shouting. "So yes, I haven't had your childhood. But don't you dare sit there and tell me I have it easy!"
The boy stared at Link, his mouth slightly agape, the bravado and defiance draining from his eyes as the weight of Link's words settled in. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He closed it again, glancing away, unable to meet Link's gaze.
For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable. The boy shifted on the bed, unsure how to respond. He tried to hold onto his earlier anger, the feeling that had always been his shield. It was slipping through his fingers now.
"Okay, maybe... maybe I don't know everything you've been through," he mumbled, his voice almost too soft to hear. He still avoided looking at Link directly, his eyes darting to the floor. "But that doesn't change anything for me. I... I just don't know how else to get by."
Link watched the boy, noting the slight crack in his defences. It wasn't much, but it was something. The anger that had burned so brightly in the boy seemed to have dimmed, replaced by confusion and uncertainty.
Link took a breath, his voice softer now.
"I get it. I really do. It's so easy to think there's no other way. But there's more than just this. Stealing from people or letting that anger eat away at you? It won't get you anywhere, and I know that from experience."
The boy clenched his jaw, but he didn't argue back this time. The tension in the room began to ease, replaced by something more hopeful
"I'm sorry I got angry. I am honestly just trying to find a way to help you. But you've got to ease up, or things will just remain the same as ever"
The anger between the two of them was fading quickly.
"So what do I do? It isn't just me. I have a brother and a sister. If I don't bring rupees home, we can't eat. Our dad just spends money on beer as he sits around feeling sorry for himself."
Link tried to calm himself more, still fraught from his outburst. The boy was finally opening up to him and soon enough he might be able to do something.
"What things do you like doing, when you're not out robbing people?" he asked bluntly.
The boy sat for a moment as he thought, not daring to fight back.
"Uh...well that knife you took off me? I liked carving toys out of bits of wood I found..." he replied quietly.
"Perfect" Link said, eager to put the situation behind him. He stood and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"To help you" he explained briefly. Before he left, he realised he had forgotten something basic. "Hey, what's your name?"
"...I'm Janus" he replied quietly.
"Thanks for talking with me, Janus. I'll be back to check on you again"
"Wait!"
Link turned, wondering what Janus had to say.
"...Sorry"
At this, the last of the tension left the room. He smiled to him, then turned to leave.
As soon as he closed the door, he saw Ashei was still there listening by the door. Some soldiers walked off in random directions.
"What, wanted to make sure I didn't kill him or something?" he said dryly.
"Hah! No. I just wanted to see how you'd deal with that. So did they" she said, pointing to the soldiers who were hurrying to get away.
"Lets get lunch, my treat" she said as she set off at a brisk pace.
Shrugging, he followed along. His appetite had come back at least.
As they walked through the castle corridors, Link glanced at Ashei, catching the flicker of curiosity in her eyes as they moved. He knew she had been listening, and it wasn't like her to pry without good reason. This might be as good a time as any to share what he had in mind.
"Hey, Ashei," Link started, "I know you heard what I talked about with Janus in there."
Ashei looked at him, her brow arching. "Yeah, I did. That was... quite the talk. I wasn't sure how you'd handle him, but I didn't expect all that. You think the kid's worth the effort?"
Link nodded, his expression serious. "I do. He's just a kid who's been put in a bad situation. He's got some fight in him, but it's coming from all the wrong places right now. I think he needs a chance, a real one."
Ashei kept walking, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "So, what's the plan then? You didn't just talk to make him feel better, did you?"
"No," Link shook his head. "I was thinking... Janus needs a purpose. Something to get him away from the streets, something that'll keep him busy and give him some hope. I saw his eyes light up when he talked about carving toys. I want him to work as an apprentice carpenter here in the castle."
Ashei blinked, clearly caught off guard. "An apprentice carpenter? Under supervision, I assume?"
"Of course," Link replied. "He'd need to be watched at first, especially with his background. But I think giving him a proper role, some work to do, and a wage? Something he can take pride in could make a real difference."
She studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. "You know, I'm surprised, but it's not a bad idea. The castle could always use more hands, and having someone learn a skill like that might be just what the boy needs. But... what about his father? From what I heard, it doesn't sound like things are any better at home."
Link exhaled, his gaze turning ahead, his expression hardening. "You're right. His father's part of the problem, and I don't think just helping Janus will solve everything. I was thinking about giving the father a work order—a forced labor assignment. Something that demands effort, something that gets him out of his self-pity and drinking."
Ashei let out a low whistle. "You really think that'll help him?"
"They both need something to do. The dad's been stuck in his own misery for too long, but Janus is the one paying for it. If his father is working, it might straighten him out enough to start acting like a parent again. If not, at least he won't be dragging Janus down any further. Or as much."
She stopped for a moment, considering his words. Link paused alongside her, watching her expression. Finally, Ashei gave a small nod.
"You might be right. It's bold, but it just might work. I'll bring it up with Commander Williams, see if we can get that work order issued for the father. As for Janus, I'll speak to the castle's carpenter and see if he'd be willing to take on an apprentice under supervision."
Link let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thanks, Ashei. I appreciate it. He deserves that chance. It might be worth doing the same with those friends of his. No idea what their situation is like, but they were all stealing together."
Ashei gave him a sidelong glance, her lips shifting into a faint smile. "You've got a soft spot for the underdog, huh?"
Link smirked. "Maybe I do. But after everything we've seen, I think it's worth trying to help someone before they're too far gone."
She nodded, her expression softening. "Alright then. Let's get lunch, and after that, we'll make sure this gets put into motion. You've got my word."
Link smiled, a weight lifting off his shoulders.
As they walked the corridors to the soldiers mess hall, he saw Ashei looking sullen.
"You alright?" he asked, wondering what was bothering her.
"No, it's nothing" she said, a little too quickly.
They walked in silence a little longer until she spoke again.
"Am I ugly?" she asked, sounding worried.
"What?"
He hadn't expected to hear that. But then, she was no more immune to insults than he was. She looked to him, a little hopeful.
"No, not even slightly. Shad is a lucky man and he knows it"
Then, for the first time Link could remember, Ashei smiled so warmly that she looked like a different person entirely.
"Thank you"
Link smiled too. They both walked a little longer. The mess hall was far further than he had realised. His thoughts drifted back to Zelda again. She had always kept herself guarded and professional at all times, but of course she had thoughts and feelings independent of her position. He had seen her laugh hysterically a few times and also seen her bare her heart to him. Each time she did, she looked natural and relaxed. It was as if that's all she wanted to be able to do, express herself.
Then, the argument replayed in his mind. How he sworn at her in a burst of anger. His gut wrenched itself in shame. In an instant, he hated himself.
"We're here!" Ashei said cheerfully, breaking his self inflicted misery.
The mess hall was plain but large. The walls stretch far as a great many tables lined up next to one another. She led him to a seat as she got both of their lunches. All soldiers ate the same meals. Officers usually had private rooms and meals in exchange for more demanding work. Link saw a plate of potatoes, thinly sliced meat and onion. It looked basic, but he didn't care. His hunger didn't make him picky.
"So, want to duel after lunch then, get it over with?" Ashei asked between mouthfuls of food.
"Yeah" he replied, trying to breathe between each bite.
Some of the other soldiers nearby overheard and excitedly starting whispering amongst themselves. Before long, the whole room was full of chatter about the duel.
"Who are we doing this in front of?" he asked, wondering if the whole castle would be watching.
"Just the junior knights you saw yesterday. They're young and impressionable, so I'd like to give them a good impression" Ashe replied, wiping her mouth.
"Basically, I want us to fight as if we were trying to kill each other. I want them to walk away from this realising that they need to mentally be ready to fight"
Link understood. It wasn't about beating each other, but having a clear mindset and showing the intent to kill. Still, the idea of trying to kill Ashei just felt strange to him. He shrugged as he put the thought aside and finished his meal.
Ashei finished hers and stood. Rolling her shoulders and then her head, she looked to him.
"There's an area in the middle of the castle we use for duels, should be good for anyone who wants to watch. You ready?"
"Sure. Let's get it done. Any rules I should know about?" he asked, getting to his own feet.
"Not really, standard duel rules. Either say you forfeit or be rendered unable to respond."
He nodded. They both made their way through the castle grounds and every soldier they came across was excited. Some of them even wishing them both luck. Link saw several rupees being handed over, without an idea if people were betting on him or Ashei.
They eventually came to a wide courtyard surrounded by the castle walls, somewhere in the middle of it all. Windows lined the walls as high as they went. Onlookers stood by them, the windows wide open as they eagerly awaited the fight. He wondered if Zelda would be watching. She had never seemed to be particularly interested. Still, she had eagerly duelled with him before and been a dangerous opponent. Perhaps she would want to duel again at some point, he hoped.
As Link stopped in the middle of the courtyard, he found his attention drifting, barely hearing Ashei as she organized her junior knights. His thoughts were elsewhere. Zelda.
She'd been on his mind more and more lately, whenever he had a spare moment. He thought of her laughing, smiling and how she'd stayed by his side through everything. It wasn't just gratitude or admiration he felt. It felt like it was deeper and warmer.
A flutter rose in his chest, and the realization hit him hard.
He loved her.
His eyes widened, his heart pounding as the truth settled in. It was so simple, but still overwhelming.
The thought made him feel exposed, vulnerable, and yet a warmth spread through him. He loved Zelda and there was no hiding from it now.
"Look alive, Link!" Ashei shouted as she threw a wooden sword to him.
It clattered to the floor, snapping him out of his realisation. He felt vulnerable and nervous at what he had realised. His heart started racing. After a year of feeling numb and hurt over Midna, he had finally managed to accept she was gone. The feeling was raw and untamed. As soon as he had realised, every fibre of his being urged him to see her again.
He bent over to pick up the sword, his mind buzzing with confusing information. She had said she loved him, they had both laughed and cried together. He looked forward to any moment he could have spent with her.
Ashei. He was supposed to be duelling Ashei. He looked around the area, seeing all the assembled soldiers and nobles peering in to the area.
He slapped his cheeks to try and refocus himself, but to no avail. In his mind, he saw Zelda as she had first tried his coffee back in Snowpeak.
"Alright! Everyone, I'm sure you're excited to see this, but that's not what this is about. One of us is going to forfeit or be unable to continue. I need you all to see how seriously you need to be able to fight. Because when that day comes, a half hearted attitude will be your death. Link?" Ashei asked.
"Hm?" he asked, snapped out of his distraction.
"Give me everything you have, because I'll be doing the same to you" she said as she bowed, holding her sword straight up in front of her face. She looked in to his eyes, steeled and ready.
"As you wish" he replied, holding his sword in a return gesture.
The entire area went quiet, save for the breeze.
Link and Ashei circled each other slowly, the courtyard seemingly shrinking as all eyes rested on them. She made the first move, lunging forward as her wooden sword swung for a quick strike. Link deflected it effortlessly, reading her movements as if they were a familiar story. Her attacks were relentless, each slash and jab demanding his focus. Link defended with ease, remaining calm and calculating. Ashei was skilled, but predictable.
She took a step back, her brow furrowing as she studied Link's stance. She decided to switch tactics, moving faster, her strikes becoming more unpredictable. Despite her efforts, Link's defences remained impenetrable, his wooden sword intercepting each blow with minimal effort.
They clashed repeatedly. Link tested her with a low sweep aimed for her feet, she jumped over it quickly as she brought the sword down over his head. Stepping aside, it bit the hardened dirt. He lunged with a stab for her throat, but she hopped backwards to evade the dangerous blow.
She tried distracting him with several flourishes as she swung hard for his shoulder, but she was easy to read.
Zelda had similar tells. If she had leaned to one side, she would feint with that one and attack on the other. An old trick. Then, Link realised his mistake. He allowed himself to get distracted.
Suddenly, Ashei shifted her weight, feinting left before bringing her sword sharply down on Link's knee. He wasn't prepared for the sudden change, and pain shot through his leg as the wood made contact with a solid thud. He winced, his knee buckling slightly.
"Come on, Link! Some hero you are to fall for such a basic feint!" Ashei taunted, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Or are you daydreaming about some pretty girl?"
The stinging pain in his knee was nothing compared to the pang that shot through his chest at her words. It wasn't the comment about the feint, he could have handled that, but the mention of a "pretty girl" hit far too close to home. He had just realized that he loved Zelda and he hadn't even had time to process it. The feeling was raw and overwhelming and it made him feel exposed in a way he had never experienced. How could Ashei know? How could anyone know?
His heart began to pound and he felt his control slipping, not from rage but from a desperate need to defend himself from the vulnerability her words had struck in him. The swirl of confusion, longing, and fear was more than he could handle.
A heat rose within him, his mind suddenly consumed by a need to push it all away, to block out the thoughts that were making him feel so defenceless. It was too much. He needed to focus on anything else. Then anger took hold, giving him something to latch onto.
With a snarl, he leapt forward, powered by his uninjured leg. The sudden ferocity took Ashei by surprise, her confident smirk vanishing in an instant as panic flickered in her eyes. She tried to bring up her sword, but Link was already upon her. His wooden blade came down with a vicious force, knocking her defence aside and crashing into her arm.
A yelp escaped her as she staggered back, her arm throbbing, but Link didn't relent. He closed the distance between them in an instant, swinging his sword with relentless brutality. Each strike was faster, filled with an unchecked anger that pushed all thoughts aside. The loud clack of wood meeting bone echoed, his blows pushing Ashei back.
She tried to recover, but he was merciless. Battering through her guard until her sword flew from her grasp. His wooden blade jabbed into her stomach, the force of it knocking the wind from her. She doubled over, gasping for air, eyes wide in shock and pain.
He wasn't finished. He brought the sword down again, this time smashing against her ribs. She cried out, stumbling backward, her eyes widening in shock. Each strike that landed made the crowd flinch, the power behind his blows apparent to everyone watching.
Link's eyes were blazing, the anger driving his attacks faster, harder. He lunged again, swinging downward and catching her across her thigh. She tried to bring up her defence again, her face twisted in pain, but Link easily battered her wooden sword aside once more, closing the distance in a blur.
His next strike came down heavily, smashing into her shoulder. Ashei fell to one knee, her eyes filled with fear. It was that look that finally broke through his haze of fury. He paused, breathing heavily. The entire courtyard seemed to hold its breath as silence fell over the area.
Link blinked, suddenly aware of what he was doing, and to whom. Ashei's laboured breaths and the trembling of her hands as she clutched at her wounded arm broke through his anger. Her fear cut through his rage, leaving only a hollow ache.
He dropped his sword arm, the wooden blade hanging uselessly at his side. His chest was heaving as if he'd just fought an entire battle.
"Link?" Ashei's voice was strained, her eyes still wary as she looked up at him.
He exhaled, then threw his sword to the side. All of the anger gone, he now felt deflated and small. He walked slowly to her as she tensed.
"I'm... sorry," he murmured, his voice cracking slightly. The words felt inadequate, but they were all he had.
He offered her his hand, the very least he felt like he could offer. How could he have done this to her?
Shakily, she took his hand, without taking her eyes off him. Gently, he helped her stand up and let her support herself on him as she put her good arm over his shoulder.
"Link...say something to them..." she whispered through gritted teeth as each breath caused her pain.
As he supported her, he looked to the assembled junior knights. Every single one of them looked horrified. As did the people watching behind them. Along with those peeking from the windows above.
They hadn't been expecting anything this brutal.
Link exhaled. He couldn't leave like this. He had an idea what Ashei would have wanted them to understand.
"I see your faces, you know. The look of horror. That I could act like this?" he said loudly, wanting everyone to hear.
"Remember that. If you end up in a fight with someone who wants to kill you, this is how intense it's going to be. Now stop standing around, help me get her to a doctor!"
Some of the assembled junior knights were the first to move. They hurried over after fetching a stretcher. Ashei winced with every movement as she lay down on it. Every single strike Link had landed was powerful and each grimace made him feel horrible.
He refused to not be involved in helping her, his own stubbornness refusing to back down. He lifted the stretcher from one side as one of the junior knights held the other.
"I don't know the castle. Lead the way" he said to him.
The junior nodded quickly and started walking backwards as he kept checking over his shoulder, tilting the stretcher as he did.
"Keep her steady!"
The junior twitched as he adjusted his grip. They carried her a short distance to a medical room. Training injuries were common amongst new recruits, but not senior staff.
As soon as they entered, a doctor on duty stood immediately and looked over Ashei once.
"Put her on this table" he said quickly, pointing to and open bed near him.
Link and the junior gently laid her down and stepped away.
"What happened?" the doctor asked, appearing suddenly behind them. He had a board and a pencil ready to go.
Link explained that he and Ashei had a duel.
"Where was she struck?" the doctor asked bluntly.
"Right arm, stomach, ribs, left thigh and then the left shoulder" Link replied, exactly as bluntly. He knew from experience doctors didn't want to waste any time when it came to treating patients, especially those embedded in the army.
"Ashei, anything feel broken?"
"My rib…" she said weakly as she pointed a shaky finger to her chest.
"Alright. You two, get out. I've got work to do" the doctor said as he focused. "Nurses, get to bed five."
"Ashei, as soon as your better, I owe you a crate of your most favourite drink. I'm sorry." Link said quickly
Through the haze of pain, she managed a weak smile and a shaky thumbs up, putting her arm straight back on the bed within a second. Then, Link and the junior stepped outside as the doctor quickly drew a privacy curtain around the bed. He heard Ashei moan in pain as the doctor began his examinations. Link couldn't bear the guilt. He walked out of the room, the junior followed along with him.
Link rubbed his temples. He had lost control, exactly like he had when Ghirahim had destroyed Zelda's hand. Was he so easy to turn in to a dangerous fighter? The thought pervaded his mind, making him feel worse.
"Sir?" came the quiet voice of the junior.
He looked to the young man, barely the same age as him.
"Yes?" he asked flatly.
"Are fights that intense? Real ones I mean…"
He thought back over his own. From Bulbins to Ghirahim, he replayed several choice encounters in his mind. Each one had felt exactly the same, a rush of adrenaline as the mind seemed to sharpen and notice details far more. The absence of sense and thought seemed to be present in each one.
"Well, yes. I meant what I said earlier. Your mind either slows down to focus on surviving or gives you the instinct to just run. If you end up in a fight for your life, pay attention to those instincts. They're how you survive" he explained
The junior looked thoughtful for a minute as he processed something mentally.
"I...don't think I'm cut out for this… it was the scariest thing I've seen in my life. To think that you had to fight like that more than once...I pity those who stood against you, sir" he said quietly.
"How long have you been in training for?" Link asked him.
"Been a regular soldier for two years, sir. Knight training has been a week long so far. It's a different skill set entirely…"
"Look, it's your life and I wouldn't dare tell you how to live it. But, from experience? The hard things are always worth doing. I'm not even technically a knight, but everything I've experienced...from the Twilight Crisis up until now? It's been hard. Really hard…" he said honestly.
He had pushed himself harder than he ever thought he could and suffered greatly along the way. But, through all the difficulty, he had met amazing people and gone to wonderful places. For every point he had wanted to give up, he had instead carried on.
"But I would likely do it all again. Because it feels good when you come through the other side. That you can really be proud of yourself. I think if you gave up now, then you'd regret having not tried it" he finished with a shrug.
"...Yes, sir" the junior replied, not entirely convinced. But not enough to want to leave either.
"Please don't call me 'sir', just Link is fine. Remember, I'm not part of the army or knights"
The junior knight looked surprised, but managed a small smile.
"Well...okay. Thanks, Link" he said, looking awkward. Link guessed he was too used to military rank to deviate from it.
"I better head back, we've still got training to do. Forgive me if I don't want to watch any of your duels for the time being though. See you again, perhaps."
Link watched as the junior knight walked away, blending back into the group of trainees. For a moment, he stood there, taking in the bustling castle around him. The castle's grandeur now felt strangely empty and isolating, the guilt of what he had done pressing down on him.
He clenched his jaw, a sense of hollowness growing in him. Standing here and doing nothing would only make things worse. It would let the guilt fester and give his mind too much room to dwell on his failures. He needed something to focus on. And then it hit him.
Zelda.
He was closer to her now than he had been since they had argued at Lake Hylia. The realization that loved her was still so new that it both terrified and thrilled him.
But the thought of what he had said to her before, the harsh words he'd thrown in the heat of an argument gave him pause. If he loved her, he needed to make it right. He needed to apologize, properly. It was the only thing that made sense to him.
Link took a deep breath, determination setting in. He had to find her and tell her everything. Even if he couldn't, he at least had to say he was sorry. It had hit her just as hard.
He began walking through the castle halls, his eyes scanning the faces around him as he searched for someone who might know where she was.
He wandered aimlessly for a while, the motion of walking helping to focus his mind. He came across two servants in fine clothing. They carried some trays and a decanter.
"I hope she's alright. Haven't seen her like this before now" the older one of them said quietly.
"Who knows?" shrugged the younger one. "I bet she's just sick of royal duties. Must be pretty tedious dealing with old men all day, especially if they've got a bad attitude."
"Be quiet! If anyone overheard you, you'd be thrown out of the castle head first!"
"Oh relax, half of the people here would agree with me"
"Whilst the other half would see you in stockades for a week, at best. Come on…" the older one said, willpower rapidly deteriorating.
Their trays were empty, so they must have just delivered food to Zelda. So he hoped. That no doors had any signs over them made it more frustrating to navigate. Though that may have been an intentional design to slow invading forces.
Still, the room she was in would likely be the only one with guards outside. He walked the corridors but found only one door with guards outside it.
They were armed with halberds and dressed in full plate armour. He doubted they would let anyone through. Zelda preferred privacy when she could take it. It didn't help that he had left all of his equipment back at Telma's bar.
He didn't see any opening above the door. Though it was a private dining room. Perhaps a servant could help.
He quickly shot the idea down though. He didn't want to cause anyone more problems. He'd already risked three mens jobs and badly hurt Ashei already. He told himself he had to be smarter.
The corridor where the guards were was a small one, but there were other doors closer to him and out of their line of sight.
Looking around carefully, he opened one and found a store room, filled to the brim with crates and boxes. He closed the door behind him and examined the room more thoroughly. As quietly as he could, he started shifting boxes around, hoping to find anything that could help.
As he moved a box away from the wall adjoining the next room, the dining room he hoped, he saw marks on the floor. They were perfectly circular and ended in the featureless wall.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. It looked as if something pivoted or span here. He supposed that the castle would have countless secrets or hidden mechanisms that only the royal family would know, for their own safety.
Still, he couldn't see anything remotely helpful. He stood with his back to the wall, resting his head against a mounted candelabra.
"What now?" he said, frustrated. He knocked his head back on the candelabra. Then, in an instant, a section of the wall moved. The brickwork span on an axis and pushed him backwards through a new gap as he took a sharp breath out of shock.
The wall pushed him around in a neat circle, nearly tripping him over his own tangled and panicked feet. As the wall came to a stop, he regained his balance after stumbling.
He stood in the dining room, completely disoriented.
"What?!" he blurted aloud as he looked back over his shoulder at the section of wall. He wondered if he had incredible luck or if the castle had far more glaring security flaws than anyone realised.
"Link?!" came a startled voice at the end of the room.
Looking to his left, he saw her. Zelda sat alone at the head of a large dining table. The look of shock on her face mirrored his exactly.
"Hello..." he said meekly, waving to her.
They both looked at each other wordlessly for a moment, until a knock at the door snapped them both back to their senses. Through the door came a deep voice.
"Princess? We heard a noise. Is everything alright?"
She looked to the door, then to Link.
"I am fine. I merely moved my chair. Remain on guard." she said clearly.
"Yes, your majesty" the deep voice replied. Then silence again.
Link mouthed a silent 'Thank you' to her. She shook her head, trying to dismiss his sudden appearance as just another event in her day. Looking up to him, she gestured for him to come over to her.
Taking a deep breath he walked over. With the sudden shock still in him and the weight on his mind, each step felt as if it took twice the amount of effort.
He stood near the head of the table, suddenly unable to think of anything to say.
Zelda looked tense, her confusion still showing too. She broke the silence first, seeming as awkward as he felt.
"So...how did you get in here?" she asked quietly.
"I wish I knew. I was in the other room, hoping to find a way in here without going through your guards. I leaned on a candelabra and it triggered a switch I think." Link said quickly, eager to have something to talk about. Why was it so awkward to talk to her now?
"Ah. One of my father's designs no doubt" she sighed.
Link was surprised. He hadn't heard her mention her family before. The king had died some ten years ago in his sleep.
"He made those things himself?"
"Well, he ordered them made. 'So we have an escape route if we need it'" she explained.
They stood in silence again. There was tension now, an urging to say anything. But no ideas came to him.
"For the first time in my life, I have no idea what to say…"
She looked to him, a small flicker of a smile playing on her lips.
"Nor do I" she admitted, sighing too.
Link let a single laugh out. That they both felt awkward was somehow a relief to him.
"Alright. Let's try basics then. How are you?" he asked, spurred on after his realisation.
She looked at him and smirked. She seemed to be as relieved to finally be able to talk with him.
"It has been a hard couple of days. You go away for a week and somehow nobody ends up being able to do anything without you approving or denying anything. When we got back, I did not get to sleep until midnight" she explained.
"Midnight? Did nobody think to ask if you could carry on the next day?" he asked, stunned.
"If only. Everyone swore that their issue was more important than the other persons" she sighed.
Unable to think of anything to follow up with, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
Zelda looked at him for a moment, looking hesitant.
"How are you?" she asked, Link smirking in response.
"Busy. When we got back, I managed to get straight to sleep thankfully. Managed to speak to the villagers of Ordon about what we both got up to this past week. Got too worn out to explain everything with the Zora"
She sat and listened patiently. But she still had that look of apprehension, something she was keeping close. It was making him feel anxious now.
He stopped before carrying on his story any more. He couldn't ignore it, the short two days they had been apart had felt like months to him.
"Look...I can't ignore this any more." he said, closing his eyes. He could swear he heard her take a sharp breath. Opening his eyes, he saw her look even more apprehensive, as if scared of what was coming next.
"When we argued at the Lakebed Temple entrance...I said something really stupid to you." he almost whispered.
"The second the words left my mouth, I felt regret like I've never felt in my life before. After everything you've done for me, going along with my harebrained plans, saving my life and...everything too."
He looked up from his lap, he had to tell her directly. His instinct wouldn't allow him to be half hearted here.
"I'm so sorry, Zelda" he said quietly, looking straight in to her eyes.
Her breath shook and her shoulders trembled. Remaining in place, a tear rolled down her cheek without crying. She rested a hand over her heart as she shivered. Another tear formed as she slowly lost her composure.
For a moment, he sat there helplessly. Zelda's raw and bottled emotions were coming undone in front of him. He had never seen her so emotionally honest. She tried to steady her breathing.
"I...I thought that you hated me…" she said weakly.
Sniffing, she wiped her tears away as she gained enough composure to talk more. Link felt a sting in his chest. To know exactly how much he had hurt her was cutting him.
"I was so scared… after everything we have done together, to think that you didn't want me around or… or just out of your life…" she cried softly.
Her strength came back slowly, as if voicing her fears had rendered them impossible.
"Oh Link…" she said with one more shaky breath. "I cannot tell you the amount of relief I feel at this moment."
Though she looked away, he saw her smile widely through her tears. One of a colossal weight taken from her shoulders. It looked as if she could finally relax for the first time in her life.
"I believe I owe you an apology too. At the Temple entrance, I let stress get the better of me and I took it out on you...the one man who has been nothing but a wonderful companion to me. You didn't deserve that."
Now, Link felt every single fibre of his body was lighter. Weight lifted from his heart and it made him feel warm.
"Thank you…" he said with a whisper, unable to think clearly. All he had left was instinct. It urged him to do something.
He stood from his chair, more certain than he had ever been before. Zelda stood too, driven by instinct as much as he was. As he approached her, it was as if the world faded. All he saw clearly was her. She was everything to him.
They wrapped their arms around each other as they held each other tightly. His hand over the back of her neck, hers both wrapped around his waist. He let his head rest on her shoulder and she rested hers on his other side.
This time, every bottled feeling she had been keeping to herself came undone as she cried in to his shoulder. Every single emotion of his own melted together and overwhelmed him. His own tears flowed, marking her dress. They stood together in a beautiful moment of raw tranquillity. With his last shred of instinct, he finally whispered in to her ear.
"I love you"
Somewhere on his shoulder, he heard a small whimper and felt a tremble.
They leaned back a little from one another, a scant inch between them. They saw each other reflected in each others eyes as they wondered if they had both heard the funny sounding words. He couldn't think straight. Maybe he hadn't said it. He kept one hand at the back of her head and brought the other to touch her cheek.
"I love you" he murmured. They could only hear each other now. It still didn't sound real.
Her eyes grew ever so slightly larger as her mouth opened, taking one last shaky breath. She heard him and understood exactly what the funny words had meant.
Zelda leaned forward and pressed her lips softly to his own. She tightened her arms around him as he did to her.
The whole world outside, suddenly, was completely insignificant.