The rest of the trip continued in much the same way, with Liesl deep in her mind and Rowan occasionally glancing over with that concerned look on his face. Oh well, at least it only took two or three attempts of him trying to get her attention for the old man to finally get the message that she didn’t want to talk. Not to him, anyway. Which, while possibly being a little rude, also allowed her to calm some of her anger. Some, not all. And just so he understood, she pushed her horse a little harder in that final stretch, reaching the stable before him so there was not a final attempt before she disappeared.

Liesl knew that she should stay behind and tend to the horse that had delivered her to safety, but just this once, she would use the perks of her station. So, after the lady-in-waiting came to a stop, Liesl didn’t waste any time swinging her leg over the saddle and dropping to the gravel floor just outside the stable that housed the horses for the royal family.

“Here,” she said before tossing the reins at the stableboy that came to greet her. She turned to go thereafter and even took another step before turning suddenly and reaching up to stroke the horse’s muzzle instead. “Thank you, friend.” It was the least she could do for now and perhaps in the future, she could come back and give it a proper brushing.

“That one is Epona,” the boy offered as he stepped up and ran a hand along its flank.

“Epona,” Liesl repeated the name and nodded to herself. “She did me a great service so make sure she’s well taken care of, please.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the boy replied, but Liesl didn’t stay. The hour was late, and she was singularly focused on her intended goal. Finding Zelda.

“Liesl!” Rowan tried one more time as he rode up and came to a stop with some of the remaining soldiers, but she held up her hand once more. So much for avoiding that final entreaty. This time though, she would give him the courtesy of an explanation.

“It’s late, Rowan. I’m going to find the Princess.” The sun had set hours ago, but Zelda should’ve made it back well before Liesl did. Long enough to be safely tucked in her room by now.

“Alright,” he said with a sigh of resignation. “Have a good night, but I want to talk tomorrow.”

With a nod, Liesl turned and marched into the castle. Yes, she figured there would be a lot of talking in her future and none of it would be pleasant. Once inside, she didn’t stop moving until she was opening Zelda’s door. From her own room, of course. Her eyes frantically searched the interior until she found her friend sitting on the edge of the big bed, biting at her nails.

“Liesl!” Ah, now that was what Liesl wanted to hear. Her name in that soft, dulcet tone. Okay, so maybe Zelda’s voice was full of exasperation at this moment, but who could blame her? However, before Liesl could say anything in response, the Princess slammed into her, wrapping her arms around her neck and pulling Liesl in close. Naturally, she responded by wrapping her arms around Zelda’s back and squeezing just as hard. Goddesses that felt good, to feel those arms wrapped around her.

However, after a few seconds of the embrace, Liesl remembered she was dirty from the road (and the temple) and Zelda was already dressed in her nightclothes…

“Zelda,” Liesl whispered as if she were afraid to shatter the moment.

“Hmm?”

“…I’m gross.”

“What?” Zelda pulled back slightly and then ran her eyes over her friend. Liesl’s blonde hair was a complete mess as numerous strands had pulled free from her braid in the ride and were whipped about by the wind. Splatters of mud clung about her person and every so often on her skin. Her eyes were red from tears that had silently fallen, and then there was the blood. It splattered across her dress and seeped into the edges where the fabric had dragged across the ground. She probably had more on her backside but didn’t dare to check lest she have to deal with that unpleasant answer.

After completing her inspection, the Princess brought one hand around to ghost a few fingers over her cheek. They were so soft, and it was so gentle a gesture and it melted Liesl’s heart in a way that only Zelda’s touch could. So much so it threatened to bring those tears back because she felt safe. “A real mess, honestly,” Zelda noted. “What I am going to do with you?” A smile followed and then she dropped her hands to scoop up Liesl’s and began tugging her off toward the bathroom. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

The quip brought a weak smile to Liesl’s lips, and she was much too tired to argue or do anything other than let herself be pulled along, across the room and into Zelda’s large bathroom. There, she noticed faint wisps of steam rising from still water in the tub and food prepared on a platter off to the side. When Zelda saw the confusion on her face, she simply shrugged and that smile grew wider. “I wanted to be ready when you arrived. I figured at least you’d want a hot bath and something to eat.”

Again, the kindness threatened to overwhelm her, and all Liesl could do was nod softly and hang her head. Really, what she wanted was to crawl into bed and not emerge for a week. However, these were both necessary prerequisites because she knew her friend would not let her hide away until both were done.

“Alright, out of that dress.” With Zelda’s help, Liesl managed to undo the various laces and ties to rid her of the dirty garment. However, she paused in her slip and turned her head to find Zelda’s eyes.

“I can manage from here,” she admitted a little sheepishly.

“Oh!” Zelda’s eyes went wide, and she nodded before clearing her throat. “Of course. Let me give you some privacy.” Which apparently only meant turning around.

“Are you…going to stay?”

“Well, I figured I would help you wash.”  

Now that was even more unexpected than the bath and the food, and the prospect was at least doing a good job of distracting Liesl from her other worries. Well, supplant them with new ones, anyway. “You don’t have to; I’m used to it by now.”

She saw Zelda nod softly to herself but then her shoulders shrugged. “Well, at least let me help with your hair. If anything, it will go quicker.”

It was hard to argue with that assertion and the quicker she was washed, the quicker she could get to her aforementioned cocoon of soft blankets and pillows. “Alright, just give me a moment.”

With her slip removed, Liesl hastily moved to the tub and sank silently into the water thereafter. Honestly, the warmth did feel pleasant seeping into her bones, and she let her head drop back and eyes close for a moment to take it in. “It feels weird being the one in here,” she mused by way of announcing that she was ready.

Though she was now in the bath, Liesl didn’t fully let her limbs stretch out before her, preferring to keep her knees drawn to her chest in an attempt at modesty for when Zelda turned around. Which took a little longer than she might’ve expected. When she did, the Princess offered her friend a shaky smile and laugh. “Yes, talk about a reversal.”

Of course, when they were kids, it didn’t matter and the two often bathed under the supervision of Impa. But somewhere along the line, duty had overtaken fun and it was Liesl that played the part of loyal aide, helping her Princess wash and get ready for bed.

To help with her task, Zelda brought a chair to the head of the tub so she could sit. Liesl felt those hands start undoing the ties in her hair a moment later and furiously tried to still the beating of her heart. It was just a bath, so why was she getting so worked up? In the end, she chalked it up to the stress of the day and did her best to make herself relax under the circumstances. Which would be easier with a distraction.

“How was the ride with your father?” Liesl asked in an attempt to stir up just such a thing. She felt the hands in her hair pause for a moment, and then a breathy sigh blew across her shoulders.

“Painful.” That much was clear just by the tone of Zelda’s voice and Liesl winced inwardly as her mind tried to imagine what it must have been like. “After he lectured me for what felt like an hour, he went silent and refused to speak the rest of the way. He just stared at the Master Sword lying on the other bench.” Ah, so what Liesl had done to Rowan? No, that was different! She had been lied to for all these years not only by the old soldier but by the King as well.

“I’m sorry,” Liesl whispered.

“It’s alright, while I admit it’s a new topic, the admonishment was nothing I haven’t heard before. I just wish he would’ve told me more about what was going on.

In the silence, one question in particular bloomed in her mind, and Liesl couldn’t help but ask it. “So, where is the sword now?”

“He had me put it in his study for safekeeping.”

“He can’t even touch it, no one can but us,” Liesl noted. How was he going to keep it safe? Did it need to be kept safe? Could someone throw it in a box and move it around? Or did the King just not want to let it out of his sight?

Zelda sighed as she tossed the hair tie onto the dirtied dress to be disposed of later. “I told him that, but he once again brushed it aside. Really, I don’t understand why he won’t let you have it. The fabled hero has been in the castle this whole time. He knows you! This should be a cause for relief.”

Perhaps it was because he knew her that it wasn’t? But Liesl had never been anything other than a devoted servant to his daughter. She’d never given him a reason to dislike her, right? “I don’t think your father is going to let me, no matter what you say.”

“I’m not sure these times care what the King thinks. Either way, we’ll find out his thoughts tomorrow. He wants to speak with us first thing in the morning.” 

Great, that was sure to be a calm and measured conversation! Also, Zelda had a point, didn’t she? Did their enemies care if Liesl was allowed to have the sword by the King? Or would they want to deal with the threat before that point he became desperate enough to recognize the truth? Ugh, but what was the truth? Was she really destined to be the hero or had the sword simply chosen for a short time because she was the closest person who could save the Princess? 

“Wonderful,” Liesl sighed sarcastically. “But if it’s more information you want, I think I can help with that.”

“Oh? Did you talk with Rowan?”

Liesl almost nodded but caught herself in time. Instead, she lifted a hand from her knees and pointed off into nothing. “Bingo.” Then it was time for her own sigh before her hand returned to her legs and squeezed them a little tighter as she prepared to relay what she’d learned. “As it turns out, they knew the whole time.”

Again the hands stilled and even dropped to Liesl’s shoulder as if in shock. “Who knew? Knew what?”

“Everything,” Liesl replied. Of course, she spent the next few minutes telling Zelda every scrap of information. Each bit about her, her family, and who had known. Which was still woefully inadequate in her opinion.

Zelda remained quiet throughout and could only shake her head after processing all that Liesl reported. At least until that anger burned through the disbelief. “I can’t believe it! They knew! They knew this whole time and didn’t tell us. Didn’t tell you.”

“Yes, and I can’t make sense of it. Hopefully, they’ll tell us why tomorrow…”

“Right,” Zelda agreed, and the two fell silent thereafter. Which was partially due to the pouring of warm water over the newly freed hair, soaking it through so that the soap could follow. Satisfied it was prepared, Zelda lathered her hands with soap and worked it in, eliciting a small, satisfied groan from her friend.

“That good?” She asked, following an amused snort.

“So good.”

“Oh, I know. Honestly, my favorite part of the day is when you wash my hair. Well, one of them.”

Liesl could certainly understand why. This felt fantastic and was doing a number on that lingering bitterness and frustration. “Hmm, you’ve been holding out on me,” she mused with a hint of sarcasm.

“You know, you could’ve asked me to help before now…”

“Ask the Crown Princess of the Kingdom to wash my hair? Really?” What a convenient excuse Liesl could hide behind! Because that was totally the basis for her trepidation. It was bad enough having her heart race whenever she helped Zelda bathe. Honestly, if Liesl hadn’t already been exhausted, this would’ve been almost unbearable. However, that relaxation was briefly interrupted once Zelda removed a hand and pinched her shoulder!

“Ow!” Liesl jumped slightly from the pain and frowned before turning her head and eyeing her friend. “What? Why!?”

“The Princess? Really!? I’m your friend first, you stinky woman!”

Another pinch followed, and Liesl shifted enough in the water that it sloshed in the tub. “Okay! Okay!” Liesl shrieked while doing her best to protect herself (both her skin and her modesty). “I’ve learned my lesson!”

“Good,” Zelda huffed. “Or else you would face punishment…from your Princess.”

“That’s not fair…”

“Well, maybe I’m my father’s daughter, after all.”

Oof, that joke may have hit a little too close to home and the humor from the moment slowly bled away. Soon, Zelda’s fingers were back hard at work until no strand of hair was left untouched by suds. At which point she helped rinse it all free. “There we are, all done,” she finally announced after setting the bathing vessel down.

Liesl actually had to open her eyes after she’d gotten so relaxed again. Once she did, she let her head fall back until she found Zelda’s eyes. “Thanks again,” she whispered.

“My pleasure,” Zelda said before bringing up a hand and caressing her face once more. “But I suppose I should let you wash up…”

“Yeah, this stinky girl has to get clean, apparently.”

Zelda couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a few fingers as she laughed. “Right, I suppose I did call you that. Well, don’t let me keep you from washing.”

After another moment of hesitation, Zelda stood from her chair and went to the door. Whereupon she opened it, paused, and looked back toward Liesl. She looked uncertain but then must have decided to say what she was thinking. “Just…don’t take too long, okay? I don’t want to be alone.”

Well, Liesl could appreciate that and honestly, she didn’t want to be alone right now either. “I won’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “Promise.”

With a nod, Zelda finally disappeared through the door and left Liesl to her bath and her food. Liesl subsequently let her legs stretch out before her so she could finally get comfortable in the water. It took another few moments for the flutter in her heart to subside. When it finally did, she wasted no further time washing the remaining dirt from her skin. 

After getting out, she did snack on a few things while drying and getting ready for bed. As usual, she wore the same kind of night dress as Zelda. Albeit one a little longer to make up for the few inches of height she had on her friend. When she was finally ready, she opened the door and headed back into the Princess’s room too tired to care about the mess left behind. That was a problem for tomorrow. She found her friend sitting on the bed once more and the pat to come sit beside her followed as soon as Zelda laid eyes on her. But there was one problem…

“If I get in that bed, I’m not getting up.”

“Why would you get up?” Zelda asked as if she were genuinely confused.

“Your father said I have to be in my room. I know it’s late, but I don’t think now is the time to disobey him.” She’d already potentially done so to even get the bath, as ridiculous as it sounded. However, logic and cool minds didn’t seem to be prevailing here.

“That man,” the words said under Zelda’s breath as she turned, grabbed her favorite pillow, and stood. “Alright, lead the way.”

“What?” Okay, Liesl was now confused. Lead the way to where?

“I told you, I don’t want to be alone. If you’re going to sleep in your bed, then so am I.” 

Oh…

“But it’s not as nice as this,” Liesl protested. While true, the real problem was how small it was compared to Zelda’s. A bed very much meant for one aide, not the Princess of the kingdom.

“I see. You think my royal back is so fragile I can’t handle it, hmm?”

“No, that’s not it.” Liesl searched her mind for any other argument, but none came. Especially when she desperately didn’t want to be in her room by herself. “Fine, come on.”

A smile kicked up on Zelda’s lips once Liesl gave in, and she followed her friend to the door and into her room. They’d never slept in Liesl’s bed before because…well, why would you when you had the big one a few steps away? Liesl set about blowing out the candles save for the one on her nightstand while Zelda got busy making herself comfortable. When Liesl returned to the side of the bed, she could only stare down at Zelda for a few moments, under her blankets with eyes already heavy.

Ah, there was that flutter again. 

In order not to seem to be hesitating, she snapped out of her trance and hastily joined the Princess beneath the blankets. Goddesses, they were so close! Face to face, knees almost touching. They just stared at each other in the dim light before Zelda suddenly turned in bed away from her. Well, that was a small relief, not having to look directly into her eyes. Still, Liesl could smell the soap in her hair she was so close.

After a few moments, Zelda turned back and wordlessly grabbed her hand. That in and of itself wasn’t too odd since they’d held hands plenty of times before, even while sleeping. However, Zelda didn’t stop there and used it to pull Liesl closer.

“Zelda–”

“Hold me, please.”

What a simple request and yet it completely stole Liesl’s words. The best she could do was let herself be pulled across the bed until her arm draped over Zelda’s waist. Even in position, Liesl’s fingers simply rested on the sheets, unwilling to move the few inches to fully grab her. And since her hand trembled, she balled it into a fist and moved to complete the hug, pulling her friend a little closer.

“Relax…” Zelda whispered the single word and reached up with her hand once more, finding the fist and then using her fingers to gently coax it open. Whereupon she interlaced them and held them to her. “See? That’s not so bad.”

“No, not at all,” Liesl whispered back. It was actually quite lovely…which was the problem.