“You don’t need to worry,” Link finally assured him, which wasn’t an answer. “Link?” Milo looked worried his brow knotted deeply. If Link had to follow anyone who wasn’t Zelda, he wanted it to be Ganondorf. He did not love the iron fist the king ruled with.
Now, however, that answer didn’t come so easily. He might not want to serve Hyrule as its protector, but he remained loyal to the land. Once, Link would have protested the very notion without thought. “That’s exactly what he thinks,” Milo said, a strange look forming on his face. “What does he think we’re going to do? Run straight back to the desert?” “The princess has already spoken to her father, but the king is not to be swayed.” “It does seem a little excessive,” his friend agreed. “This is ridiculous,” he told Milo when the commander knocked on his door. Guards were posted at Link’s door, and he assumed, Nabooru’s too. He and Nabooru were escorted to their rooms without the chance for conversation. If Link had hoped for any sense of freedom upon their arrival at the castle, he was sorely mistaken.
There was little doubt Nabooru would be captured should she try to run. He hoped she wouldn’t take it-not for anybody’s sake but her own. By the time they passed through Market Town on the fifth day, Nabooru was antsy, and Link knew she was mentally planning her escape. Where Ganondorf had been happy to travel for hours on horseback, the king had demanded multiple rests from his travels in the carriage. It took five days to travel back to Hyrule castle-almost a full day longer than it had taken Link, Ganondorf and Nabooru to make the journey in the first place. She held her head high and spent the remainder of the journey teasing Link. If she were worried, though, she didn’t show it. Nabooru snorted and rolled her eyes at Link’s promise. Hopefully, she could prevent him from taking things too far. The king wasn’t a good man, but his daughter held a slight sway over him. At least once they were back in the castle, he would have Zelda to help back him up. Link would have to keep a sharp eye on things. Just because she wasn’t in chains yet, it didn’t mean they weren’t coming. She wasn’t a guest so much as a prisoner, after all. He suspected Nabooru would be under constant supervision for fear of her making a break for it.
“Once we get back to the castle, things’ll calm down,” Link said, but he couldn’t be sure it wasn’t a lie. Out of his current ‘enemies’, only Impa would give him trouble in a fight. Maybe he was? As much as he hated it, Link was certainly dangerous when he wanted to be. Now they watched him as if he were a dangerous traitor. The guards accompanying them were, maybe not friends, but friendly with Link. Even he was used to more freedom than they were currently being allowed. I’m used to doing the watching, not this.” She gesticulated wildly at the guards shamelessly staring from horseback. “I’m gonna kill them all,” she grumbled, mostly in jest. Link was used to such chains weighing him down. It was clear that, while they hadn’t been restrained, they were prisoners, their right to freedom forfeit in favour of whatever the king desired of them. He could feel eyes watching at all times, making sure they didn’t try anything, no doubt. Stats: Published: Completed: Words: 56,869 Chapters: 28/28 Comments: 131 Kudos: 463 Bookmarks: 89 Hits: 10,464ĭuring the journey back to Hyrule, Link stuck to Nabooru, avoiding the king, Impa and the small but highly trained royal guard that accompanied them.