(Zelink) The Legend of Zelda and the Last knight- Swords and Roses

Why we failed pt. 39 Chains and Promises

Why we failed pt. 39

Chains and Promises

The flap sighed and shifted; Link slipped inside like a shadow been let loose. Zelda blinked once, twice, thinking the shape was some wish grown flesh. Then the thin lamp-light found his face — there he was, all bone and breath and fierce, familiar eyes. Her eyes widened, disbelief spilling into relief. "Link...?" The muffled cry broke through the gag, soft and trembling.

"Shh," he whispered, crouching low. His eyes darted over her—her arms bound to the stake, the bruises, the rope strung with tiny brass bells. His jaw clenched.
Zelda tugged at the cords, frustration sparking. "What are you waiting for? Untie me!" Her muffled voice said.

Link moved closer, hand reaching for the knot around her mouth and loosened.
Zelda blinked hard, her voice muffled beneath the cloth. "How did you...?" she whispered once the gag slackened, disbelief trembling through her words.

"Not alone," he murmured back, eyes flicking toward the tent's shadowed seams. "It seems our young friend—Jun—decided to help me one last time. He made a choice. Whether it was guilt or something else, I can't say. That, or he didn't want to taste my blade. But he is helping me with all this. So long as we hurry."

For a moment, Zelda forgot the ache in her arms, the ropes biting her skin. Her thoughts flashed to the boy's quiet eyes and nervous hands, his strange, burdened air. So he had a heart left to save after all. The realization pierced through her fear, sharp and soft all at once.

"I should untie—"

"—Yes, you should!" she hissed, wriggling her wrists to draw attention to them. The bells gave a faint jingle. Both of them froze.
Link shot her a glare. "Careful."

Her brows arched in defiance. "Oh forgive me, I forgot I was supposed to be a quiet prisoner."

He almost smirked despite himself. "I bet you probably haven't been quiet a day in your life."

She huffed through her nose, cheeks flushed. "And apparently you haven't been quick a day in yours." She knew that wasn't true; after all, she saw him during the tournament—she'd never seen such a blurring display of speed before—but decided to poke him at his pride anyway.

Link could only sigh nervously. It was then she glared, demanding to know more. "What of my father? Of the others? Are they alright? And what took you so long!?" A half dozen questions came tumbling from her frightened lips one after the other.

Link had to raise a finger to his own for her to hush down, but she was having none of it. "Well excuse me, Princess, but I got a little held up at the moment—or can't you see that I'm working alone here? And I'm sure your father and the rest of your court are fine; they were never the target—"

"—I know," she breathed, softer now, the truth landing. Stealth was their only shield; no help was coming.

Her voice dropped to the marrow of the matter. "Link, I know what they're after. The Queen's... the Nayreilian Diadem of Hylia—my mother's crown. Also known as the Queen's Ark. We have to get it back. We can't let them use it for their sorcery or I fear Hyrule will—"

"Sorcery? Diadem?" His eyes sharpened confused by what she was saying. It was all too much to grasp. "Zelda, what are you talking about?"

"Listen to me—we can't leave without it. I don't know exactly what they mean to do with my mother's tiara, but it's ancient—tied to the Holy One herself. Link, you must. We have to stop them. I can't—"