When I Was Your Age- a Breath of the Wild prequel

Concequences

Zelda woke up to a firm knock on her door. She bolted upright, covering herself with her bedsheets.

"Zelda. I'm coming in now." The voice of Zelda's father rang against the stone walls of the chamber, Zelda had no idea how long her father had been calling her- she'd been sound asleep. Now that she thought about it, her sleeping well was a rare occurrence.

The king, her father, stepped into the room, his robe billowing in the slight draft. A golden crown sat upon his brow, and his beard accentuated his stern jawline and demeanour. His brow was furrowed and his lips were pursed as he ran over to his daughter.

"I'm so sorry, dad," Zelda hung her head and hugged her father as he sat down on the feathery mattress, cradling his child.

He drew in a deep breath, then practically bellowed: "I was so worried! Don't you ever do that again, you hear me?"

Suddenly, Zelda erupted into tears. "Oh, father, how I missed you. I am so, so sorry..." soba racked her body as she gripped her father ever tighter, pressing her face into his long greying beard.

He held her for a while as all the pent up homesickness from the last few days spilled out of her in the form of water, her tears soaking his royal robe.

After Zelda had finished, the King patted her back. "There, there, child. You are forgiven. But... Why would you run away? Was it something I said?"

Zelda sighed. "No, father. It was my own doing. I was terrified of the terrible dreams I'd been having..."

"What dreams, child?" The King inquired, holding her tenderly.

"About..." Zelda hesitated before bringing up her late mother, as it was a sensitive subject. "About mother."

A cloud came over the King's face. His relationship with his wife had not ended well. "What was she doing to you?"

Zelda fidgeted. "She wasn't doing anything. There was this beast, tearing her apart and..." Zelda began to sob once more, the mere thought of the nightmare too much for her to bear.

Her father held her again. "I understand. Was this beast trying to hurt you too?"

"Yes," peeped Zelda curling her legs up so he was cradling her.

"Then I will vanquish the beast. How about that, Zelda? You won't have to run away anymore."

Zelda sighed, wiping her running nose. "I actually ran away because I wanted someone to relate..."

"What do you mean? Like someone who had lost their mother as well?"

"Yes, that exactly. Aaliah told me of-"

"AALIAH." Boomed his highness, "AALIAH IS YOUR KIDNAPPER?"

"No, father, let me explain, I-"

The king heard none of it, fuming and red-faced. "THIS MERE MAID KIDNAPPED MY DAUGHTER?"

"Father! Please!"

"SHE SHALL BE BEHEADED!" The king declared, standing up and almost dropping Zelda. She squealed as he laid her down in her bed and stormed out the door, cursing.

——————>

The next few days were long and difficult as Zelda tried to explain her side of the story further to no avail. The King had simply needed one more reason to get Aaliah fired, and here it was.

Aaliah was no longer allowed near Zelda by the guards, and soon she was transported to the stock. There she sat, one hour after another, contemplating her decisions, until a hooded woman came over.