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Tells

Part 21 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - best to read in order, also on ao3). Warning for strong language.

'He who wields the sacred blade.'

Sheik?

'Hph. Most of the time.'

'It's just us, Sheik. Why don't you take your mask off?' Those red eyes. Always so serious. Always just out of reach.

"It won't do, Link."

'Look harder.'

"Mm." What…?

"We cannot allow all of Hyrule to believe we have perished."

Cold. Where did he go? Someone. So tired. But she's "much better."

"W- what is?"

"You. Food helped?"

"Well. Yes, my energy level is improved. The stew was delicious. But that's beside the point, Link. The populace shall panic."

Heavy eyelids. Stay open. "Margil, Beraya… Daile… won't tell anyone who shouldn't know." Neck cold, blanket up. "Hphhhhh. The others shouldn't either, if they follow protocol."

Zelda?

Wow. I haven't had seriously-stern royal-eyebrow turned on me since the day the Slate went nuts. At least now I know it doesn't mean she detests me.

"Link. I'm pleased you feel well enough to smile, but even ifkhHh. Khh-kh- khHHHhh. Mgh. Hhh. Even if every soldier refrained from the gossip which typically runs rampant through the barracks, we were seen by a myriad of people, and Purah knew where we were headed."

"Ugh." Yeah, Purah and the entire Royal Lab. She's right, but "I still think we can't risk a message." Because we weren't enough for this. He could be waiting for us, or his monsters could, anywhere between here and the castle. Which means he could intercept a messsenger, too. Those fricking fireballs would also roast a homing pigeon right out of the sky, and frankly that's better than the possibility of him getting hold of one that ISN'T burnt to a crisp and actually reading whatever message we send. Fi? Do you think so, too?

"KhhHhh-h-kh."

Fi?

"Fi?"

"Link?"

"I- she- she didn't answer me."

Sideways Zelda-worried-face? Maybe I should sit up.

"I'd noticed earlier—her absence on the Slate."

Oooh- ooh, no that takes way too much energy better to stay- but there she goes wasting HER energy getting the Slate, or maybe not a total waste because if somehow we've lost Fi that is not at all good and might mean the sword's not with us anymore, did they leave it somewhere? Zelda said it was too heavy-

"I don't see her recently, either."

Not good

"It seems she hasn't spoken at all since we were rescued."

"She goes quiet sometimes…" but not like this and you both know that. "What was the last thing she said?"

She's looking and looking, it must have been on the cliff if there was nothing after OH S$*(% "STOP!" PAIN my back, holy-

"Why?!"

don't be yellingYELLING?! I just yelled at Zelda! "I'm sorry!" The way she's clutching the slate to her chest, I am SUCH AN ASS

"M-khHh-khh. KhhHH-h."

get up and apologize to your Princess, the throbbing in your back can pack itself off to hell! "I'm sorry, I'm so-OhOOh-"

"Link!"

Yeah okay so I'm dizzy, that's to be expected and it's really, really fricking cold "Fff-f-f-f-f."

"Link, please rest! I'd interrupted your sleep with my- my brooding to begin with. I ought to be the one apologizing."

But I see the way your eyes look. I scared and confused you and "f-f-h-f" take her hands, Link. Put the Slate aside.

"Oh- Link, you are much too warm-"

"I know, I'll-" NOT shiver, NOT "f-h-f-" damn, don't be weak, don't worry her on top of it. "I'll go back down in a minute. I just- need you to know- I didn't mean to raise my voice like that. I'm so sorry. It's because…"

How do I say this without giving away anything? "…Fi told me something."

"…And?"

"She said I couldn't tell you."

She's looking between both my eyes, looking for some clue in either one of them. Must be. She looks…

"Khh-hh. "

…hurt.

"What in all the land could your sword wish you to keep from me?"

Her face in your hands, Link. Ignore the wound-blood-throbbing. "I don't really understand it, myself. I love you- so much. I don't want to have to keep secrets. Fi- Fi thinks I'm so bad at it that she wouldn't really explain, anyway, but… you're a lot smarter than me. If you read it, maybe it would make sense to you, and then…"

"Then what, Link?"

"I- don't know. Except that Fi said it was very important for you not to know- whatever it is." Something about her power not being done cooking yet, but what fully-cooked means, I have no idea. Other than it's how my brain feels.

"…It is… supremely difficult to keep secrets from one with access to your very thoughts."

"Yeah. Yeah, it is." Kiss her forehead. She really needs reassurance, now, you dumbass. Am I ever going to be able to think BEFORE I open my mouth? WoOoah- no swerving either, Link, and try not to breathe on her too much, pretty sure even my breath is too hot.

"So… the urgency in your voice was meant to stop me from reading whatever Fi said as we climbed?"

"Yeah, I- there's no excuse."

"Link, I khH-mg-ghm… quite understand that people's emotions, particularly sudden flares of them, can produce disproportionate reactions."

What… is that face? It's like a little of a smile but now a pout and no no no no she's going to cry! "Hey- hey- I- I really, really didn't mean to yell at you- I'm so sorry!"

"Phh. Hh."

"How can I make it up to you?"

"Ph-hh. It's not that, Link. Ph-h-hh. Not at all. Truly, hehe-ph, what you consider to be unacceptable vocalization is quite phh- tempered compared to- others. I just- I rather thought-ph-h… phh-h-hh- that you were ph-hh angry with me. Ph. Phh."

"What? Why would I be?"

"For- ph. Ph. Reading through the Slate- while you were unconscious. Phh-hhhh. I- I must have, to have known Fi hadn't spoken since our rescue. But I am quite-phh- sincere, Link, I did not intrude upon your thoughts. I was seeking Fi. When I found her, I stopped."

"No, no- no, you have my voice." Her hands to my heart. Press them there.

"Phh-hhh-h."

She has to feel how much I mean this. "It's my gift to you."

"Phh- hh-h-h. Phh. Khh-hh. And my gift to you- phh… my extraordinary knight- phh-hh… is trust."

Guess my hand knew to find her cheek again all by itself. Glad it did, because I'm feeling pretty slow. My fingers aren't the best handkerchief

"Heh-phh."

but I'll be damned if I don't wipe her tears away anyway.

"Hphm."

She's leaning in so hard. Nuzzling. Eyes shutting.

"I trust you, Link. I- hhh-h- trust what you do and do not choose to say. I do not need to see your omissions."

"I love that you can see them."

"Heh." Look at her looking at you, Link. Her smile. Peeking out. Slowly. There and then not, like she's not sure what she heard. Is it weird that I'm kind of petting her? I hope not.

"…You do?"

"I do. I, uh… didn't at first."

"HehekhHhhh-kh-hh. Quite evidently."

"Hehe-hh." Yeaaah I gave that game away fast, didn't I? 'Oooh look, bunnies!' Damn, I haven't seen Bazz yet, I have to remember the bun knees thing and LINK, now is not the time! "I-eheh. I'm pretty sure I don't remember half the things I think about. And a lot of them are about you. Why wouldn't I want you to know when I think things like- like-" oh come on Link, you think nice things ALL THE TIME about Zelda, what are they?

"Like… phh-hh. My smile is like the Sun?"

"…Exactly like that." It's not quite the first time she'd really smiled at me, but it was the first time after I pulled the sword, and how could I forget? "See? I wish I'd told you that out loud." Her hair's like threads of gold under my hands, right now, too. Might as well be liquid sunshine.

"I oughtn't scour your thoughts for such things at length, regardless of how sweet they are."

Hmm not at length, huh? "But for a short time, maybe?" Ooooh blushy-blushy Zelda, smiling? YES, good, she's feeling better aww "You don't have to hide!"

"I truly oughtn't even be tempted."

"Wehhhll… let's not forget how incredibly useful it's been, too. It's a great reason to still look. It lets us have silent conversations."

"…Well. Half-silent."

"Pff- yeah, true. Two thirds silent if you count Fi."

"Indeed! Hhh. I shall- I shall not cease to take advantage of its utility. Hh. I simply will not obsess over it as I had been."

"Oh?"

"Goodness, yes. I hardly slept."

"Ha- hahahaha really?!" Throbbing, Link, don't laugh-

"Well, initially I believed you would reveal your disdhh-khh- disdain for me if I watched carefully enough."

"Nooo."

"And then I was patently- shocked- and- forced to reconsider my errant perspective."

"For which I'll be eternally grateful."

"And then… well. You know."

I DO know, and there goes the left corner of my mouth again. It just can't contain itself.

"Kh-kh."

She sees, but it's making her smile change into something else. This face on her- this is one I want to have memorized down to the tiniest details. That cute little crease between her eyebrows, I always loved that, but there's more to it and there's so much I can't figure it all out at once. She lifts her face up. Bares more of her neck. Something changes with her shoulders, too, and her nose, and lips. She gets- gets pink. Her lips part.

I know what it means, even thoughOh- two Zeldas, that's not right- cut it out, head! Guess I need to lay back down soon, but the back of her head isn't hurt. I can stroke her hair there- cradle her. She likes when I move in slow. It makes her shake. In a good way. And slow is my speed right now.

Every time my nose brushes her skin, her breath shivers on mine and then I shiver too, and it took very, very little for this to start happening to me. Just… stay light. My lips. Hers. I'm so sorry they're so chapped. Maybe we're not really up for this, but I can show her how much I love her, even though my back's full of pounding blood and the room just started to spin a little.

"Hh-h."

I love those little gasps so much. Little breaths. They shoot straight downohOH but which way's up? Eyes shut, eyes SHUT before you fall down, guess I need all that blood for my actual head, swallow- swallow, control yourself, stay up.

"…Link?"

Breathing good, lots of breath.

"Khhhh-hh."

Her hands. My cheeks. Her forehead to mine.

"Link, you have warmed further, and so quickly. Return to your reclining position. I shall assure you fully tucked in. Consider that a royal-"

"SIR-"

HOLYKNOCKINGspinning

"Hh!"

"MA'AM-"

"KhhH-hkh-kh-hhh-khh-hh."

oOOoh too much spinning could they be any louder?!

"UNBOLT THE DOOR, PLEASE."

"Oh…"

Poor Zelda she didn't need that scare could their TIMING be worse?! Actually, yeah it could've been. If Zelda and I had actually gotten going and then they knocked, that would be way worse.

"Sir FinnkhHH-h… is perhaps unused to either entertaining guests or kh-h- keeping prisoners."

At least we were un-getting-going anyway. "Guess we should open it."

"I-hh- should open it, Sir Knight. You need to rest."

"Sorry, Princess. Door duty is knight-duty, just in case." Though I might not be much use in a fight right this second. "They want me resting, so I bet they'll let me soon."

Gather yourself, Link. At least a little. Take a few deep breaAH

"SIR! MA'AM! OPEN THIS DOOR, PLEASE!"

"We heard you the first time, holy crap- fricking-" okay, no deep breaths managed, just open it woOah. Slowly. One foot in front of the other. At least the shock calmed anything that might've been socially problematic down fast.

Unbolt and ready, just in-

Oh my Goddess.

Holy Mother Hylia.

My- Holy Goddess. "Dad?" Too many things going on in my chest way too many my eyes too what's wrong with me nothing's changed, Reida, Huiru and Not-Erl are still out there with Goddess-knows-what on the plain between us and the castle, I'm not a kid and I'm not safe just because my father's here and am I seeing things? Why is he- he looks absolutely furious, what the hell?

"Back up. Now."

"What?"

"Back up into the room."

This- no, no this seems wrong why is he looking at me like that, no Link don't stumble and DON'T look at his face, stay sharp, look at his stance holy s$&%, what the f#$&*?! S$&%, s$&%, S$&% the way his spine's curved he's curled in just a little it's his only tell holy F$&$ he's ready to ATTACK Zelda Zelda Zelda Zelda Zelda watch my hands I'm reaching for you your forearms, your wrists behind me, all behind every inch of you behind me he is deadly and he knows me, it's not like other people he knows the s%*$ I pull and he knows my tells and I'm feeling more messed up by the second the room isn't spinning, no it's not and why the f#$& would he be looking at me like that?!! Something's wrong with his eyes-

"S- Sir Lyle?"

All she gets is a quick glance?! I thought he was formal as s#$&-

OH.

"Khh- khh- hh-h."

Link, don't- don't be stupid again, not when you and your Princess are trapped in a small space. He IS formal as s#$&, and he never looks you right in the eye, that's why it looks wrong.

His eyes boring directly into mine. Looking like he wants me dead. Looking half-CRAZED, not just ordinary angry. Doesn't make much sense, does it? I drive him insane, but he doesn't want to kill me. Not for REAL.

Be suspicious, Link.

"I received a message."

Watch his whole body, what is that voice? That's not his angry voice, it's not calm enough, even angry father's always calm, it's shaking like he's just barely holding back it's off it's WAY off, no NO Link! Don't look weak do NOT, you do NOT have a fever right now, you're not allowed to be sick, don't waver

"Apparently, Princess Zelda and her Appointed Knight had arrived, seriously injured, at the Tabantha Overlook Garrison."

don't shiver

"Hh-khhHhh-kh-khhh-h."

don't look like you have to breathe faster than normal, is this Yiga magic? But the person doesn't know how to act? Fi? Fi, please for the love of Hylia, now is the time to speak up, is there one of those repression fields?!

"I had little choice but to see for myself."

The emphasis on SELF was that a clue? Not-his-self?

"So."

Zelda, no, arms behind, everything behind me, nothing for him to grab, corral her forearms (so cold!), please understand, please stay

"Tell me one thing only you and I know."

…What? "…What?"

"Anything."

"Why?" Death-glare DEATH-glare back off more, back off!

"You know why."

"No I don't." NoOo, Link you're not allowed to be dizzy

"Link- Link, he-"

The glare he just gave her would melt Death Mountain itself, what the F*%(, that is not him and she actually went SILENT I've never seen anyone do that to her before, not even her father, she must be very scared

"M-khh-h."

I'm so sorry Zelda, I'm thinking, I promise, she's right to be scared, though, I'm standing but woozier by the second and we're stuck in a room with a single, small, barred window, and no weapons-

Except there is one.

They didn't know about my pouch. It's right there, and that means my old sword is, too. The wrap's somewhere in Zelda's chamber or maybe mine, but who cares. And for f$*#'s sake, Link, your stance changed, just a little but your father KNOWS you and oh f#$^, he sure picked up on it REAL FAST his is changing too it's the spread fingers, a FRACTION, he's so good at hiding it but wait wait wait is it him or not?! He DOES move like that and he knew my tell but why be so angry at me and the EYE-LOOKING is wrong

"One. Thing."

"Or what?!" Oh that surprised him a little maybe it was the weird tone that totally gave away that I feel like absolute s#$&.

"Sir Lyle!"

Zelda, stay-!

"It is plain you suspect we are not who we say we are."

…Oh s#$&.

That makes sense, Link, of course he does- and s#$&, it makes sense whether it's him or not, because if I was a Yiga and I had a chance to convince everyone who already thought we might be Yiga that we actually were, it would be a great excuse to turn the whole garrison against us and if it IS father- if it's him- he'd be pissed beyond belief at anyone pretending to be his kid. Or the Princess, for that matter.

So which- which is it?

Lungs, please stop asking for so much more air, I can't let him see I need it.

He's just staring at her.

"You need confirmation from both of us. Correct?"

Livid.

"When- when I was six."

Why'd his whole face pinch?

"Ykhhyou- khh- found me asleep in my study. The pages of the book open beneath my head were wet, for I'd been crying in my sleekhh-p. Hh."

And now- he's gone totally still.

"You awakened me, and- and handed me a handkerchief. When I looked up at you, moonlight caught on a tear. It was on your left cheek."

If he's a Yiga, he's faking it really well, now. His mouth opened a little and I know that face especially with the beard growing back in (is that a clue, would a Yiga know when he did and didn't have a beard?!), it's him when he's shocked.

Is it? Is it him?

Don't relax too much Link, Holy Hylia, you just swerved a little don't do that keep the adrenaline just in case and of course he noticed and he's eyeing you again.

"And now, Sir, if you please. After frightening the life half out of us, we quite deserve equal assurance. I insist you describe the handkerchief."

That was royal-eyebrow-voice.

…Your Princess is very smart. And extremely tricky. If he gets this wrong, she'll let me know.

…Does he not know? Careful. No tells. No tells. No tells. You're totally calm and confident he's going to answer and in no way visualizing how to get to that pouch while keeping Zelda safe. I'll have to pull her into a roll with me and it'll really hurt both of us but I'll pull her out of it with me too and it'll be within reach, I'll keep her back-

"It… was white, with… thin, scalloped edges, and embroidery… in pale gold and sky blue… set in a square nested evenly from the outside. Most of the embroidery was feathers. The direction they pointed alternated. One corner depicted a bird in flight. The opposite bore lettering."

"Hhh."

That… was so a sigh of relief, is- is it him?

"Thank you, Sir Lyle."

And that's a nod-

"Princess."

-and the eyes are boring into me again and ohhh no, no, he just assessed how easily he could get her away from me.

…I… know that because I know him.

It's him!

No, NO, Link, don't relax and don't let your chest start all those things again

"Khh-khkh-hh."

HE hasn't relaxed because he thinks I'm a Yiga, Holy Hylia my own father thinks I'm a Yiga, I have to think of something- think, think, think thinkthink

"I'm still waiting."

There has to be something, something only Link would know, not some Yiga impersonator but if he believes her, why not believe me too?! Reading to Chee! "When you came home, when you were-" nono Link, you're not too hot, you're fine- "I mean- I was- ten. You tried to read Chee's favorite book to her. The one- heh- hehe-"

"Link?"

Sorry Zelda, get ahold of yourself, Link, yeah it sounds STUPID but it's the book she liked. "The one with old hero legends in it. She liked the one with the egg on the mountaintop best. But she kept complaining that you were reading it wrong." What is his face, that's like nothing ever ever what is even happening which way's up? "You weren't doing the voices, and you weren't singing the song, and when she got you to sing you weren't making the instrument sounds. She got up to get me so I'd show you how to read it, but I wasn't in the house. I was listening outside the little bedroom window. Because she'd wanted you all to herself, but I wanted to hear you read it, too."

Hahhahahaa yeah he didn't even know that part

"…Chee knows this story."

WhatwhatWHAT why more pissed?!!

"It doesn't qualify as something only Link and I know."

Oh COME ON. "The part where you take me fishing at Lake Sumac the next day so I can teach you how to make my instrument noises does."

"That's not why I took- Link."

"Horses#$&." And I have never said anything like that to my father and I feel like I just committed way more sacrilege than at the Ceremonial Ground. He seems to think so, too NOO, STUPID LINK, this isn't the time for suspiciously new things!

"My wife knows that part of the story."

"So that doesn't count either?"

"No."

Spinningspinning "Oh for-hh-h-" have to end this fast "what do you want from me?" I'll go down, what if I drop before he's convinced? Ooh and now with the looming.

"M-khhkh-kh."

Zelda for Hylia's sake, she's trying to support me isn't she but her hands on my shoulders hurt. We're lucky it IS him, I'd have to take him on and trust Zelda to run, to get past the guys at the door watching the show, but she so wouldn't, she'd help me-

"Link."

"Z-" Oh f#$& Link, this is NOT the time to say it wrong- "Yes, Princess?"

"He very much must have assurance. Quite reasonably so. We discussed this. You remember?"

Discussed? My father? When? "F-f-h" noLink, no shivering you can't- can't look- weakCOLD "F-F-H!" her hands are SO COLD my forehead is an ice block now maybe that's why it can't fit through anything, Chee was right, I'm square-

"Sir Lyle, please. Give him a moment. The fever..."

The sword! Right "The sword."

"Link- hh- we discussed that, too. Your sword is not here, in any case-"

"No, no. The other one." Swallow, Link, stay steady, hold up your hands, nice and wide and high (and cold). "F-h-m. That pouch on the table. Princess, can I-" NOT shiver- "please ask you to take my old sword out of it? The one- we took the wrap from to secure the Slate."

"Out of that?!" "He's delirious."

"Certainly."

Ohhh yeah they all think we're both crazy now and who the hell knows what my father would do if I suddenly had a sword in my hand but he believes that's Zelda so it's okay, it's okay- she- yeah.

"Wha?!" "Holy…"

There it is. "My- old sword. Minus the wrap."

"…You cannot possibly believe magically producing a familiar-looking blade would suffice."

"I don't. Here's- what will." Okay, Link, you can do this, see straight long enough to get through at least a few of them. "The sheathe. If- ah- the Princess turns it around, just under the hilt there are letters tooled into it. They're hard to read because when it was your sword- mgh-" focus, Link- "you used to run your thumb along them over and over, and I know that because when you gave it to me, you caught me doing the exact same thing that very day. It's in the perfect thumb-spot if the sheathe's at your hip. You told me not to, not because you cared about the letters so much as it's bad to have the habit. It would become a tell, you said-"

"KhhHHh-khh-hh."

"-because I'd stop when about to draw. I asked you why the leather was all worn in that spot, then, and you said it's because no one warned you and that's also why you have a scar on the inside of your left bicep."

Oh Goddess he's just staring, it's not enough. "You seemed surprised when I listened to you and didn't play with it." What else what else "There's a nick- Princess, could you please draw it?" Good good there are lots of nicks, one of these has to meet his conditions. "There's a nick along the right-hand edge about three quarters of the way down- ah- right, as in the Princess's right. That happened when I was clearing out a couple bokoblins and a moblin that had gotten way too close to the village entrance. The moblin got a hold of a real heavy pitchfork, and it was smart enough to try and grab my sword with it. I realized and got the sword free before it twisted it, but one of the prongs left that mark. When you came home a few months later, we sparred as usual and you asked me about it. The next day, you brought a hefty pitchfork to spar with instead."

Is that enough? "F-h-f" NO, Link, focus, you can be sick when he believes you.

"Khh-hh."

He's not saying anything. I guess- I guess wherever he got the pitchfork from, maybe he borrowed it or bought it or whatever so technically that person knows part of the story so it doesn't count? "On the hilt- there are a ton of little scratches—if the Princess turns it that way—yeah. All those scratches, most of them running the same way. That happened in Zora's Domain. I was fourteen. I'd been with Mipha, Bazz, Rivan, Kodah, and Gaddison at Mikau Lake, climbing up and then diving into the deep part. It was a lot easier for them because they could swim right up the waterfall, so they got more dives in than I did-" Link for f$&#'s sake, he doesn't care, get to the part no one but him saw! "My overclothes and belt and sword, all that, were on the little plateau next to the waterfall when you and Seggin arrived to bring us back," which is when I realized I was an idiot.

Swallow, Link, don't pant and oOh- stand up straight. "So… Seggin took the Zora home while you waited for me to grab my stuff. I got dressed and started climbing down. I wasn't going to dive and soak my clothes and I didn't want to dive with the sword attached or toss it down, either. The rocks were wet, though, and when I got close to the bottom my right hand and foot slipped."

"M-kh-h- khh."

"I did this weird pivot-thing where I still had a grip with my left hand for a second, but then slid the rest of the way down the rockface. The sword's hilt got scraped up and I got banged up. The underside of my left forearm was scratched pretty bad and my left ribs, side, hip, and thigh had nasty bruises from the sword getting bashed into them. You got me cleaned up, and you didn't seem angry exactly, but you drilled me on how I could've avoided it. You kept me away from Mipha for a couple days because you didn't want me to get used to having injuries just fixed by magic. You said the best thing to do is not have the accident in the first place."

Does that not count either? Do enough people know some of that story? I didn't think he told anyone about the parts that happened when we were alone, but- he's just staring at me.

Staring- not at my eyes, though. He's doing the thing where he looks everywhere else. It's still AT you, it's just not in-the-eye. And his eyes STILL look wrong, what's the matter with him, did he take a few hits to the face earlier or something?

Believe me?

Please?

"Khh-h-kh."

…He needs more? "You… bought me a paraglider. Not long after that. I used it, heheh- heh. We did. To get away from the fire. I thought it was funny."

"Funny?"

Why so unhappy about that?! "Yeah, it- seemed more dangerous than climbing, to me. I was surprised you didn't think so. Not that I minded. It was fun to use."

Maybe I'm just too messed up, everything seems strange.

"Sir Lyle? Has Linkhh-h- eased your doubt?"

Her voice sounds strange, too.

He does believe me, doesn't he?? I don't understand. He's not so keyed onto how I'm standing anymore, which is "hh-" barely. Legs, I promise- down soon.

"…What were the letters?"

Letters?

"On the sheathe."

Zelda's whole stance just deflated and couldn't I just read the letters if I looked closely enough? I guess they're turned the other way right now. "They're the mark of the smithy at Fort Hateno, your initial, and the letters of your byname. F-H-S-L-O-H" And if he's going to be pissy about it, so am I. "What about your letters?"

"Mine?"

"The letters in the Princess' story. On the handkerchief. If I have to tell you mine, you should have to tell yours, too."

Well, that hung him up. Zelda?

She doesn't look like lack of letter-knowledge seems suspicious to her. She looks like she feels bad. And maybe a little confused.

"Z-L-O-H."

Zelda?

She's hesitating a little.

"I must admit, I don't recall the lettering itself clearly."

Is that a problem?

No?

Why just me?

"…Tell me…"

Cold sweat, that was sudden.

"…About the first time I trained you in swordsmanship."

We're getting specific now? "D-" no. No, what am I doing? Don't argue, it's not like you don't remember, it'll be faster. "We were in Zora's domain. It was a while into our first stay, I'm not really sure how long, but looking back I think you were trying to get me to behave instead of randomly launch myself at the soldiers like I did with Jeralt."

"Heh-khHHHh-hh. Khh-hh."

Zelda's relaxed a bit if she can laugh, and his breathing changed a little. Another win for me, I think, but hurry before your knees give out. "I was annoyed because you kept making me switch to holding the sword in my right hand. I told you it didn't feel right. You said I should learn it that way because the stairways in towers spiral in the direction that makes it easier to defend them with your right hand. I said that means if you're going up the stairs, it's easier with your left. You said that's true, but if you're going up you're the attacker, and you hoped I'd never be assaulting any of the castles in this realm." I've got him, that look on his face, there is nobody else he ever told this to for SURE I've got it this time, keep giving him more! "When I said most of the time, I probably wouldn't be on a staircase anyway, you pointed out that if I seem right-handed, I'll be able to surprise enemies by switching to my dominant hand. Pretty sure my eyes lit up when you said that, but either way I stopped arguing. And I stopped tackling your men. Asked them for lessons instead. Constantly- well, not constantly. Just constantly whenever they were around and didn't seem too busy. Which, to like a four-year old, was still way too often."

Come on. Say something.

I know I got it right and I KNOW he believes me. What's the issue?

"How…"

…'How can I continue not to even say hello to my own son?' would be a valid question but somehow I doubt that's what he's going to ask.

"Khh-hh- mh."

Zelda's resheathing the sword, that's probably a good idea, and she's coming back over here and oh no no no Zelda oh s$&%, he totally sees now, before he didn't think it was me so he didn't bat an eye when I corralled her or when she touched my arms or my forehead, but now that he DOES he's looking more and more freaked out by the second just by her fingertips touching my shoulder and we're both half naked, he's eyeing her hand so hard, though the bandages give away at least some of how bad this was, concern is totally warranted, and is he in pain?? He looks like-

"You're alive."

…Oh my Goddess. "D-hh. Father-"

"Commander?"

"Sir Finn."

No, no, SHUT UP Sir Finn!!

"This… is your son?"

Zelda knew, didn't she? She tried to say.

"He is Link."

He thought I was dead.

"My Goddess."

"It's really…" "Hoooly mother." "We locked up the Princess." "Are you s#$^^ing me?"

"Shh!"

And here comes Finn, of course, because now that I'm not a Yiga he's going to-

"Excuse me, sir."

"FffFff!" do THATcold hand in armpit, really?!

"Back under that fur—right now. You too, Princess."

"I amkhHhh- well enough."

"Let's keep it that way."

He went real pale "FFff-f-f-f." Under the fur, there you go legs. Ho"OH-ly-fff." Even the weight of the fricking blanket hurts and now father's looking at the couches and the fact she's getting on the other one and they're literally pushed right up against each other and there are so many things going on on his face right now he's thinking about ALL of it, isn't he, just trying to decide what to ask or do first, and he hasn't even said he's glad I'm not dead, keep it- keep it together, Link- "Father-"

"Is it the wounds?"

"Yes, commander."

Oh, that's better than I expected, actually, I thought it would be 'Get the Princess her own room immediately' but hello? "Fa-"

"Ewiter."

What the f#$(.

"Yes, sir?"

Back to business-as-usual already?

"Tell Captain Bherlan to send an urgent request for medical aid to the Sheikah down in the village."

"Yes, sir!"

Fight urge to say 'I'll be alright.' I've beat things like this before, like that time with the moblin snot.

"Lynd."

But that doesn't mean I should take the chance.

"Yes, Commander?"

Especially since so much rides on me not dying pointlessly.

"Now that it's clear who our guests are, their accommodations are inappropriate. Have the opposite room prepared."

OOH I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT!!

"Ye-"

"Not happening." S$#(.

"Indeed not."

I am so not up for this argument- a BIG blink at the ground, that's new, what does that mean-

"…Excuse me?"

He totally wanted to say something else, didn't he

"KhhHHh-kh-kh."

but he couldn't because the Princess said no, too, so he had to be polite.

"Hh- m. KhhhHHh."

Instead of looking crazed, he looks like he thinks I'M crazy, which at least is an improvement, and isn't that unusual though he usually thinks I'm an absurd kind of crazy

"Ahh... Temda, let's tell Wilmina to get up here soon and tend to the fire."

not keesesh$%-crazy.

"Y-yes, Sir Finn."

His face says I'm keesesh$%-crazy.

"Forgive me, Sir Lyle. I know it is unusual, but Link and I must not be separated."

"…Princess. We are at the heart of this fortification. We will assure your safety."

"My own safety is not my only concern, though I must admit, I feel far safer with Link at my side."

Ohhh his head is listing to the side, that's totally what he does when he can't believe what he's hearing. No, can't even TAKE IN what he's hearing.

"He… is… unwell."

"Indeed."

"His usefulness as your guard is therefore minimal."

…That was less pissy than I thought it'd be, is he trying to make sure I rest? "I won't be standing guard duty. But the Princess and I should stay together."

"Being her Appointed Knight does not mean you belong in her room."

But I get stern-voice? Even though you should be happy, or at least relieved? "It does if we're being hunted." …And I just screwed that up, the things that tried to kill us aren't really the point-

"I beg to differ, my extraordinary knight."

Wow, she said that in public-

"Only I have the right to decide who may and may not remain in my chamber."

Ohhhhhh s#$( am I in trouble now, too?

"And I say Link and I both remain here."

Oh. Oh no, father was in trouble.

Good.

He totally just tried to look out the window, but it's shut. Actually, maybe it's that he can't quite look at me. Or her, at the moment.

"That is highly irregular, Your Highness."

"How carefully have you read correspondence from my father, Sir?"

That… came out of nowhere, I don't even know what to make of that. "F-f-f-f-h." He's shaking his head, too.

"I… must assume the last letter I received was false, Princess."

"KhhHhkh-hh-hh- khHHh."

"Did it say I got shot at a festival?"

"…It did."

"It was real."

Wow, he- looks like he feels the arrow himself.

"…Then how… how are you here?"

"Mipha was there. She healed me." Why's he shaking his head? She's done that loads of times.

"The King wrote that both your lungs were pierced."

"…Yeah." Don't touch the spot, Link.

"No man lives an hour with such an injury. He said Mipha's gift had been spent. You'd have to wait a full day."

"I did."

"…Your son is the strongest man I've ever met, Sir."

I'm not that strong, Zelda. Not when I have to fight so hard to keep it together because my father doesn't even seem happy I'm not dead. No smile. No nothing. "F-"

"And your presence here, specifically?"

Seriously?

"We were beset on Irch Plain, Sir. We'd been on route to the Royal Laboratory."

That's the third time.

"This is quite far from that course."

Just… let yourself be sick, Link.

"Bokoblin riders were waiting just beyond the southwestern ridge of Elma Knolls."

Close your eyes.

"They had stolen horses."

Three interruptions.

"We investigated."

He doesn't want to talk to me. For whatever the f#$% reason.

"…You…"

Just let Zelda do the talking.

…Why does this feel like a very, very heavy silence?

Guess I have to open my eyes back up ohhhh ohhh he's glaring at me, and it's different this time because he knows it IS me.

"You… brought the Princess into an unsecure situation?"

Oh s#$#, Link, the answer is 'It was her choice' but then it sounds like I'm blaming her.

"The decision was mine, Sir."

Double-s#$%. His livid-face is coming back.

"With respect, Princess… Sir Link."

Ohhh ohh okay, NOW he wants to talk to 'Sir Link' now that I've done something wrong-

"Your first duty is to the life of your charge."

"My first duty is to follow the Princess' orders."

"Not if they endanger her."

"It's her choice."

"Not if it endangers her."

WHAT?

"Sir Lyle, I must disagree."

"It is your right to disagree, Princess. It is our duty to ensure your safety regardless."

Holy F$@&, the King said 'often at odds with his charge'

"KhH… khHHHh."

and THIS IS TOTALLY WHY, ISN'T IT?!

"The correct course of action-"

"No, no no no." Ohhh that surprised him, too, he's not used to me disobeying him even in THEORY. "The lab got attacked, too. They were- SO after us, father. They-"

"Knew you were coming?"

Well. Yeah, I guess-

"Meaning the proper course was to do as I was about to say—to return to the castle without delay."

Oh.

"Hf."

That was I-can't-believe-Link's-behavior huff, I've heard it way too many times.

"Sir Lyle, I cannot allow you to place the blame for this on Link's shoulders."

Wow, ZELDA even gets an I-can't-believe-your-behavior-face in her general direction-

"I woukHHhld- not have agreed to retreat."

"That would be a marked change of behavior."

WOAH?! HELLO??

"I have experienced quite a few changes as of late."

ZELDA PISSED

"One of which is the understanding that I am not some helpless child to be coddled."

WITH GOOD REASON

"I meant nothing of the sort, Princess. You are, however, irreplaceable."

Does he not even realize?!

"If you mean, Sir, that I must live long enough to seal the Calamity-"

"I mean, Princess-"

Should I be telling him off for interrupting her?!?!

"-that you are our late Queen's only daughter. We would be gravely remiss to risk your life in any capacity, Calamity or otherwise."

"It shkhH-hh- khHhkhhhkhh-"

And he's suddenly watching her like an islander hawk.

"-hhHh. Hhh. It- shall be unavoidable, in the Calamity's case."

Freaked out again.

"…I hope not, Princess."

"Hh." Don't laugh, don't laugh "h-hh." It's just so unrealistic. I understand, though.

'I'd have run anywhere, had it meant saving my beloved wife.'

Hello, King Rhoam. Didn't realize you were right there.

"Over the past days, Hylia has quite clearly revealed her plan for me is not one of prayer and seclusion. Despite this, and despite his encouragement and support in regard to exercising my newfound power-"

His FACE, he didn't know!

"-my Appointed Knight repeatedly requested my retreat. I refused—repeatedly. I am the one who ordered the investigation of Irch Plain—and I ordered our company into Serenne."

He kind of looks like he doesn't believe her.

"Into Serenne?"

"Yes."

"Was this in response to the fire?"

"Yes."

Oh f$%& now that livid-face is fully turned on ME, not just hypothetical Yiga version of me, he's looking me over, all over, up and down like he can see past this blanket I'm shaking under.

"…If you were more experienced… and were you not… the chosen of the sword…"

Yeah nothing, no smile for that either, of course not

"…I would relieve you of your duty to our Princess."

Of course you would.

"Sir Lyle, I cannot allow that."

Just a quick, disapproving glance for her.

"I don't intend to, Princess. Though I would be within my rights to do so."

"No you wouldn't." That sounded real spiteful. Good going, Link, you just lost the moral high-ground.

"Hphhh."

…Kind of surprised he didn't say something. It's always infuriating, whatever it is. Curt. One or two words. Something like 'I would.' Or 'Not so.' Ish.

It would give me an excuse to break the news that I outrank him. He actually can't relieve me, and he can't order me out of this room, and if he hasn't heard about her power yet, he hasn't heard about that, either. Guess he only got the urgent letter. They probably sent out a runner. "F-h-f-f-f." Everything else is sitting on a desk somewhere or something.

…Why isn't he saying anything? Oh look at that, my eyes closed all by themselves. Real heavy to open them.

He looks like he's in pain again. DID he get hurt? Maybe he took an ice lizalfos blast to the face after all, a lot of his skin is kind of red.

"I have arrangements to make. Particularly with regard to doubly securing this garrison. I will need every detail of your- detour."

Tactful, for him.

"You shall have it."

Oh she gets an expressionless little nod, that's annoying.

…Link. You really were an idiot for doing EXACTLY THAT to her for months.

"I will return for that after you've rested."

Keep your mouth shut, Link.

"KhhHHh-kh-khh. Hh."

Hyla knows what'll come out if you don't.

And there he goes, not even- oh?

"Rest."

Side-eye. That's all. And he's gone.

Just forget it, Link.

Why didn't he write to you, you wondered?

Maybe the answer's really simple. He just plain-old doesn't like you. Glad to get rid of you. Didn't even stay at the castle long enough to help you get your bearings. Just told people s%#@ about you and left. (I thought he loved me, though) he does. He does. He wouldn't care how many mistakes I make if he didn't.

Remember smiles?

When I buried him in the sand.

When I played with baby-Chee.

When I disarmed him for the first time. Like REALLY disarmed him, not just him letting me get away with it.

He's… a superb swordsman.

"Link?"

"Yeah?" Get… your voice together, Link.

"Can- can you rest?"

"Yeah." Her hand. Under my blanket. Trying to make sure I stay warm. There's no confusion there at all, just bandage-muffling keeping all of mine from feeling hers.

"Please do. It's alright. Pay- try to pay it no mind."

I'll try.

It just won't work.

…That was her humiliated voice.

I've never been so mad at him. Too tired, though. Too tired to slam the door back open and tell him all the ways he just behaved like a total asshole. He's probably not in the hall, anyway. Long gone.

------

Part 22 (hopefully) coming soon!

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