Before the Wild

Reconciliation

Days later, Hyrule Castle, Link

"...And that is the end of my report, Your Majesty. The four Champions and their Divine Beasts are getting along well with the adjustments tailored to their needs. Mastery of the beasts should be very soon..."

Someone is lying. Tired from travel and really wanting to get out as quick as possible (while being respectful, of course), Link kept his mouth and face silent as the princess reported on their two-week long journey across Hyrule in the king's study. It was filled with truth about the Divine Beasts and their pilots, but Zelda avoided a lot of events that happened. She didn't speak of her excursion in Hebra (Link and Zelda's first argument), the monsters upon Death Mountain (Link almost intervened, but Zelda spun a different story to tell for the rise of stronger monsters), and she definitely avoided the clash with the Yiga (Link wasn't going to protest against that). However, keeping his eyes on the king was troubling as Zelda continued to talk. Link had an inkling King Rhoam knew his daughter well enough that he could tell she was leaving things out. Once he looked at Impa, but her face was as blank as his. Zelda definitely told her everything. He caught a break in the elder Sheikah's countenance when Zelda started on the report of Gerudo after Zelda emphasized that "everything went smoothly" in the desert realm. The only person who Link wasn't sure about was his own father, who stood beside Link with his arms folded.

The elder Hyrule nodded as his daughter finished, standing out of his chair. "Well, we still have work to do, and if what you say about the monsters is true, time is ticking. It is even more imperative that you continue your training, understood?"

Link watched as Zelda's shoulders slumped and her head fell. Sympathy filled him, and a weird desire to reach out for her banged in his heart. He squashed it quickly. There was no room for his hormones to act up here. "Yes... I understand."

"Good. You are dismissed. Impa." Zelda turned on her heel, slowly making her way out of the study. As she opened the door, she looked up to Link, a sadness in her eyes that she wanted him to see. Once more, Link fought his struggling emotions but allowed the right side of his mouth to stretch slightly.

"I know it is late, and we are both tired from traveling, but... When my father is done drilling you...come to my quarters."

This telepathy thing was still new to Link (this is the first time since Gerudo she hadn't spoken to him verbally) but for some reason it felt...easy and reliable to Link. He nodded, and Zelda left the study with Impa, leaving father, son, and liege alone. Link uncomfortably shifted his gaze to the now-seated king and the latter's appointed knight, unprepared for what the king could ask of him. King Rhoam just stared at the boy, an action Link was familiar with but with the king, it felt like his life was in danger. That was funny, considering his life is in danger just by being the instrument the king needs to save the world. "Well... You did your job well. My Zelda has returned safely. I will have to thank you for that." Link almost questioned how Rhoam didn't notice her wounds but remembered Zelda had more than one of her blue shirt. Thank Nayru for that.

"You're welcome, sir."

"However, as smart she is, and no matter how well trained in deception she can be, I know she hid something from me. Some events happened at different locations across Hyrule, and I know this because Impa cracked her stoicism when Zelda mentioned the Eldin and Gerudo regions. So, Link, you are an honest man, are you not?"

Link bit his lip. "Sire, I am as you describe, but..."

"But?"

"Am I...sworn to Princess Zelda? So if she decides not to tell some events, am I sworn to uphold her decision as her appointed knight?"