A Link Without Zelda [COMPLETE]

10. A New Plan

CHAPTER 10: A New Plan

"It's ok, Ellemy. You can tell him that your brother assaulted you," he says so casually as if he told this lie a hundred times before.

He continues, "Ellemy's brother has gotten out of control over the years since his mother died. Don't know what we are going to do with him." He shrugs, standing a little closer. Link notices Ellemy tense.

"Come on, Ellemy. Xavier is gone for the night until he sobers up. He won't hurt you, now that I am home," he says putting his hand on Ellemy's shoulder. She gasps. Link can smell the alcohol from him.

"Actually, there is a reason that I'm here," says Link, stepping closer to her father. "Ellemy was going to help me with something, it has to do with getting back to my own home. She had some information to pass on to me," he says looking down at the disheveled book suspiciously and then back to him. "Besides, I can imagine that whatever happened at home must have her startled. It's probably the last place she wants to be. She is safe with me and I will return her home... whenever she decides she is comfortable."

Link watches as he grits his teeth. Link looks down at the hand her father has on Ellemy's shoulder. He is gripping hard but he loosens it when he is aware that Link has noticed.

"I'm watching you boy," he says snarling at Link. He gives Ellemy's shoulder one last squeeze, making her flinch, before he lets go and walks away. When he is no longer in sight, Ellemy allows her body to melt, letting go of the rigidity that the adrenaline caused.

"Ellemy," says Link softly. "What happened?"

She is quiet for a moment before she speaks. "You shouldn't have said anything, Link. Not only does that make things more difficult for me but now he's going to have a personal agenda against you and you're the last person that I want to see--"

Before Ellemy can say her last words, Link picks her up, one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.

"Wh-what are you doing?" she says, her face red.

"You're not wearing any shoes," he says looking down at her dirty and bleeding feet. "So I'll carry you back to my house. Where you're safe."

"Link, I--"

"I don't doubt that you can handle it... but you shouldn't have to," he says.

"I'm sorry. Your book. I couldn't stop him," she says sobbing in her hands.

Link just smiles and let's her cry. The damage to the book so insignificant in comparison to the damage done to her.

***

Ellemy is in Link's bathroom where she can wash up. Link runs the bath water and excuses himself to find a first aid kit.

"Can I come in?" he says knocking on the bathroom door.

"Yes."

Link opens the door and finds Ellemy sitting on the edge of the tub, soaking her feet in the water, the once clear water is already brown and grainy. Link sits next to her and places a wet cloth on her eye.

"It's going to sting."

When he places the alcohol soaked cloth on the open wound, she does not flinch. Carefully, he continues to clean the wound. After its bandaged, she holds ice to her eye and steers into the bath water.

"Did anyone see?" she says.

"What do you mean?"

"The state that I was in. Do you think anyone saw?"

"You mean you haven't told anyone at all?"

She shakes her head. "I hardly believe it. After all these years, I still can't accept it."