The Battered Princess

If These Scars Could Speak

A few hours after Zelda first became responsive, Mipha returned with Revali and Daruk at her side. 

"So this is Gerudo Town. I must admit, you hide a jewel of a city, Urbosa." 

Urbosa stood. "Revali. Have you come to snark or aid?" 

"I'm here, aren't I?" 

"Be nice, you two, we're all here for the same reason." Daruk intervened. "So little guy," He called out to Link. "How's the tiny princess doin?" 

"Responsive." Link replied laconically, voice low and soft to prevent the sleeping princess in his arms from waking up. "Sleeping." He added, looking up from her. 

"Well, that's an improvement. Either of you need anything?" 

Link shook his head. 

"I doubt you're getting anything else out of him." Revali told Daruk, then approached Zelda. 

"I'm curious to see how she is." He peered into Link's arms. "She doesn't seem as bad as described, but I can only imagine Mipha's spent the whole afternoon trying to heal her." 

Mipha nodded. "I fear I lack the strength to heal her any more today." 

Urbosa stroked Zelda's head, watching the expression on her face. "The wounds on her body will heal in time, but the wounds in her mind may never. This apparently isn't the first time she's been beaten... she's been abused, no way to sugarcoat it... but now she's nothing but traumatized." 

"To think..." Revali began. "This has been going on for quite some time... but no one paid attention..." 

"It's been going on for longer than we think." Link suddenly added. "...Back before we learned to get along... she had run off to investigate this shrine, I of course followed... but she became so angry when she saw me... and when I didn't leave as quickly as she wanted to, she yelled without restraint... and then she..." Link tapered off, looking at his audience and then at Zelda as if he wanted to protect her from what he was about to admit. 

"She did what?" 

"She... hit me... Zelda struck me." 

Mipha gasped, eyes shooting between Princess and Knight.  

"Oh, Link..." Urbosa cooed painfully. 

"It didn't hurt... and I knew it wasn't of her character... even back then... which is why it just surprised me more than anything..." 

Mipha's eyes widened, still stunned. "This means Rhoam has beaten her many times over several years... otherwise how would such a sweet woman instantly resort to assault once she became angry? Her personality, her character, she had to have learned that behavior from someone, and it seems like her father was the only one around."