Liesl didn’t know how long she and Zelda sat on the floor in a tight embrace. Not nearly long enough, of course. Because their reunion abruptly ended a moment later with the arrival of too many people to count. The King, Impa, Rowan. Soldiers and nobles. Anyone that thought to come help. The King pulled Zelda away immediately and up to her feet so he could look her over while Rowan did the same to Liesl. To the protest of both women. Liesl even tried to shove the big soldier back, but her arms were weak from everything that happened. Her legs shook as her adrenaline faded and though she loathed to admit it, she needed the support from Rowan to help her stand.

“Are you hurt?” He asked while checking her person, even pulling up her hands for an inspection, but Liesl only shook her head and pulled them back. Zelda, she had to get back to Zelda. They were okay, for Goddesses’ sake!

“I’m fine!” Zelda huffed from a few feet away before trying to push her father aside. “Let me go!” 

“Guards!” The King ignored Zelda’s protests and shoved her into the arms of the nearest armor-clad soldier who stepped up. Whereupon he pointed to the entrance to where their carriages were presumably waiting (if they had been destroyed already). “Get her back to the castle at once!”

“Your Majesty,” Rowan started before turning. “We don’t know if the roads are safe. Sending the Princess without a proper escort may be ill-advised.” Out of the frying pan and into the fire. And nothing short of the entire army sounded like a “proper escort” to Liesl…

The King knew he was right, but the rage on his face only deepened after being corrected. He bit his lip for a moment but then threw up his hands. “Fine, you deal with it, then.”

Rowan nodded and then looked at the same soldier the King had addressed. “Send riders to the castle to bring more troops. And I want a guard on every door while the rest check the wounded. Ours first, but the attackers too. If we can find one and keep them alive , we may be able to find out who is responsible.”

That last assertion caused a noticeable twitch in the normally stoic features of Impa. It was small, as she had excellent control of her emotions, but perhaps she was frazzled enough to let it slip through. She remained quiet, however, and before the soldier could turn and take a step, Rowan reached up and caught his shoulder. “Oh, and watch the fucking windows, too.” 

Rowan turned to Liesl then, but the King stepped up and interrupted whatever he was about to say. His gaze fell to the Master Sword where it lay for a moment, and then back up to Liesl. He shook his head with displeasure and then narrowed his eyes slightly. “And you, ” he started, vitriol dripping from his voice. “What have you done?”

Liesl had been expecting any number of different thoughts from the King but that question caught her completely off guard. So, her expression turned to surprise before she looked over at Zelda. Who honestly appeared just as confused as Liesl. “I did what you told me,” she finally answered as she turned back. Which was more polite than what immediately came to mind.

“I told you to get my daughter away, not lead her into the center of this mess. Worse yet, you used the Master Sword when you fucked it up.”

Alright, now she was downright perplexed. Was he upset she pulled the sword? Had used it to save Zelda’s life? And where else were they meant to go? By this point, Liesl was in such a daze that no suitable answer came. Luckily, Rowan cleared his throat before bringing up a hand and indicating Liesl where she stood.

“Your majesty, she drove the attackers away. You know what this means, right? She’s the hero we’ve been looking for, just like the prophecy foretold.” 

Prophecy? What prophecy? What was he talking about?

The King rolled his eyes before bringing up a hand and waving it as if he were brushing away an absurd notion. “We know no such thing. I mean, really… a woman can’t be the hero. Especially the daughter of a slain house.”

“Father!” Zelda spat before turning and grabbing Liesl’s hand. “Stop it! She pulled the sword.”

“We knew this day could come, Your Majesty. And we’ve lost valuable time,” Rowan started again. “She needs to start training–”

“I will not entertain these fantasies!” The King cut in. “Just because she can wield the sword does not make her the hero!” But before Rowan had a chance to respond, Impa stepped forward and put her hands up between them. “Gentleman, this is neither the time nor the place. There are too many ears…”

That realization caused some of the rage to drain from both men’s faces before they turned to look at the guards doing the various tasks. Some had stopped to look at the commotion, while others looked like they were doing their very best to pretend they didn’t have ears.

The King grunted before nodding his head. “We will continue this discussion once we’ve returned to the castle, and I’ve had time to think. In the meantime,” he paused, and then his eyes focused on Liesl. “You are to remain confined to your room. Do you understand?”

“Father–”

“I’m not talking to you, Zelda,” he hissed. “You are the Crown Princess of this kingdom and I am your king. Act like it!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. ”

Oh, Liesl had only heard that tone in Zelda’s voice a few times and it was never good. However, the King chose to ignore it and instead turned back to Liesl.

“Do you understand?”

No, Liesl did not understand. She didn’t understand why she was suddenly being treated like the enemy after doing everything she could to save her friend. The very thing the King had wanted her to do!

“Yes,” Liesl said in a much more even tone. “I understand.”

“Good, it’s about time someone does around here.” Apparently satisfied with her answer, the King turned and dropped his eyes to the Master Sword where it lay on the ground. “And this will need to be brought back to the castle for safekeeping…” As he muttered to himself, the King stepped forward, bent at the waist, and tried to grab it. However, as soon as his fingers touched the hilt, they shot back in a yelp of pain. After the brief shout, he stood upright and began rubbing at the invisible wound. “I don’t…but it’s out now.”

Huh, now that was interesting. And judging by the looks on everyone’s faces, Liesl wasn’t the only one intensely curious. “Your majesty, allow me.” Rowan made a gesture to the sword and received a nod of permission from the King thereafter. The old soldier stepped up then but cast a glance at Liesl before doing much the same. Did he know what was about to happen, or was he genuinely as stumped as she was? 

Of course, he was met with the same outcome, apparent by the quick inhale and even faster retraction of his hand. Though no exclamation accompanied his reaction. “Liesl, can you–”

“No,” the King said. “Surely, someone can pick the damn thing up.”

Before anyone else could try, Zelda sighed and rolled her eyes while taking a few steps to the sword, bending over, and reaching for the hilt. Her fingers curled around it a moment later and she managed to lift it from the ground without a grimace. 

“I don’t understand,” the King mused before looking down at the weapon thoughtfully. 

“Perhaps it is Zelda’s connection to the Goddesses that allows her to handle the blade?” Impa finally spoke again and her suggestion did make sense. The Princess was the other half of the duo that was meant to seal away any darkness. 

“Does that mean she could wield it?” Rowan asked. Another good question and one that Liesl didn’t like. She much preferred her friend far away from any violence. 

“I don’t think so,” Zelda answered. “It doesn’t feel…right. It’s hard to explain, no pain…just an unease. Like it doesn’t belong to me.” She turned to Liesl then, as did the others. “It is quite heavy, though.”

Liesl could certainly appreciate that, and it was probably due to the adrenaline surging through her body that she even managed to fight with it for as short a time as she did. “Fighting” being a generous description of what occurred. 

“If it’s heavy, set it down on a pew,” the King said dryly. “In fact, you sit as well. I don’t want you getting into any more trouble.”

Zelda looked like she was about to protest, but instead, she nodded once, grabbed Liesl’s hand, and strode off to find a place as far away from her father (and any windows) as she could. 

Liesl’s mind was still far too much of a mess to do anything other than let herself be pulled along. Not that she would’ve protested Zelda taking her somewhere. However, with everything that was happening, it was hard to even enjoy that fact. When they were far enough away for the Princess’s liking, she finally set the sword down and then herself. She didn’t let go of Liesl’s hand though and didn’t stop tugging until her friend was sitting so close their legs touched. 

Both of them sat silently for a few moments that stretched into minutes. Apparently, their minds needed some time to digest everything that happened this afternoon. At least partially because Goddesses, it was going to take longer to get over that whole thing. Eventually though, Zelda sat upright from where she hunched and shook her head as if realizing something. “Oh my, I never properly thanked you for saving me.” 

“Hmm?” Liesl hummed as she came from her mind and the maelstrom of thoughts contained there. “Oh, you don’t need to thank me for that. Really, what kind of friend would I be if I just let them take you away?”

“Not a very good one, I suppose,” Zelda replied with a weak laugh. But then she settled and squeezed Liesl’s hand fiercely, and it felt as though she might never let go. “A friend,” Zelda mused. “You’re a good friend, Liesl.” 

“Yeah, you too.” A friend . Friends would do anything for one another, even die if need be. Which was perfectly normal, right?

The Princess leaned over and placed her head on Liesl’s shoulders thereafter and then closed her eyes. No doubt this whole ordeal was exhausting and Liesl was more than happy to play Royal Pillow once more. She kept her eyes open though and continuously scanned the inside of the temple as if the attackers were going to come back at any moment. However, her eyes found the King when he was similarly glancing. And there was that look again. Seriously, what was his problem? 

This time, she only started back until the vigorous conversation between Rowan and Impa brought his attention back. She watched thereafter, and it looked like the old soldier wasn’t holding back. His words were low and only a faint grumbling reached Liesl’s ears. However, judging by how animated his hands were and how displeased he looked, there was no doubt in Liesl’s mind that he was arguing with the King. Again. Impa appeared to be doing her best to moderate, but she looked troubled in a way that Liesl hadn’t seen before. Which, the issue of the Master Sword aside, that was a completely normal reaction. 

The conversation looked like it ended when Rowan threw his hands up and turned away. The only thing she heard next was him shouting a soldier’s name before loudly asking “Where is that damn priest!?”