Royal Rebel 4 ~ The Return

Chapter 63: Consolation

I yawned as I opened my eyes, and the first thing I could see was the sky above me, dark and filled with glowing stars. The moon was near the center, so I figured it must've been the middle of the night. I glanced over at my husband, who was still fast asleep beside me. A small smile came to my lips as I reached over and caressed his cheek, and I could see him smile a bit.

I sighed as I looked back at the sky, tired enough to want to sleep but not tired enough to actually fall back asleep. I tried to close my eyes and relax, but I was distracted when I heard quiet whispers.

I glanced over at where Idalia and Ellet were sleeping, and I saw them both sitting up, and Ellet had his arms wrapped around her. He was whispering things to her, and she was quiet as she listened.

"Idalia?" I said, and she pulled a bit away from Ellet to look at me, and all I could see were eyes worry and exhaustion staring back at me. I got up from my spot, careful to not wake Link, and I walked over to her and kneeled down. "What's wrong?"

"She hasn't been able to sleep," Ellet told me, and I reached out for her. She moved so she was closer to me, and she fell into me and let me hug her.

"I saw dad die," She managed, and I tilted my head, looking between her and Ellet. "Sooga, he... he changed forms and pretended to be dad so the clan would let their guard down." I felt her shivering, and I couldn't tell if it was because she was anxious or because she was cold. Maybe it was both. "But I still had to watch it and believe it was him. Is this... is this the trauma Sooga had to go through?"

"Sweetheart, it's going to be alright. Everyone is safe, and your father's alive. I know it was probably upsetting, watching someone you love die in front of you." I held her tighter, wishing there was a way I could make her forget the experience. I wish there was a way I could forget my experience.

"Dalia." We all looked over to where Link was, and he was now sitting, just staring empathetically at our daughter. She quickly pulled away from me and rushed to his side, and he quickly wrapped his arms around her and did his best to console her. "I'm here, Dali, everything's okay. You don't have to worry. I won't let anything like that happen to you again."

"It all just feels like a bad dream." She breathed, squeezing his arm tighter. "I even fell asleep and I had a dream that it was really you, and... I'm not going back to sleep." She curled closer to him, and he rubbed small circles around her back.

"You have to sleep for a bit. We have to leave tomorrow." He rested his head on hers, and she continued to protest. "If you don't sleep, I won't be able to sleep. And then we'll both be exhausted all day."

"But you have to sleep."

"So do you."

She looked away from him, and he sighed and scooted back so he could lean against the palm tree trunk behind him. He opened his arms for her, and without hesitance she moved over to sit with him again. He hugged her, continuing to rub up and down her arm, quiet as she tried to take deep breaths.

"I'll go get some water." I said as I stood up, and then I turned and walked towards the Bazaar. I stepped inside, and it was loud and thriving inside in contrast to the peace and quiet outside. The Champions were still helping to care for the wounded, and Mipha and Sidon were using their healing to bring the warriors back to health.

"Zelda!" Riju noticed me when I walked in, and she rose from her kneeled position beside the bed her wife and daughter were laying in. "What are you doing up at this hour?"

"I'm getting some water for Idalia. Why are you all still awake?"

"We wanted to help as much as we could here tonight. There's a lot that has to be done." One of the nurses walked over to her and handed her a bowl of hearty soup, and she handed it to Merona.