XXXV: Lockup

Before the Calamity

"How could you?" King Rhoam spat in Link's face while snatching his sword off the ground. "You betray me, the King! You violate my own daughter, Princess Zelda! What a disgrace you are, to all of Hyrule!"

Link leaned forward, bound to the wall by chains clamped to his wrists. He was bruised and bleeding.

"Quite a shame, too," the King said. "You had such potential. The son of one of the knights with the highest of valor in my guard! Quite a shame it is, Link. But fear not, I will pass your job onto a different knight. Someone else will protect Zelda. That is how I see it fit."

This is bad, Link thought, while pondering ways to escape from Lockup. Zelda will refuse another knight, I just know it! She will not be safe.

"Your Highness, please-"

"That is enough, you scoundrel!" the King shouted. "Your punishment will be followed through with in here."

King Rhoam left with the Sword that Seals the Darkness in his hand. However, he did not know that none other than Link could wield it.

Link was left in lockup alone, too far away from any other prisoners to be able to talk to anyone. He dropped to his knees with his arms hanging over his head. He was desperate to get out- Zelda would be in danger and so would Hyrule.

The clamps around his wrist were tight. Anytime he moved them, he winced in pain from the deep bruises they had caused in his wrists. Link threw his arms forward, writhing in the chains and shouting for someone to let him out. He tried to rip the bolts from the wall and escape, but it was no use. He collapsed on the ground in pain.

So this is how it all ends, he thought. The Hero of Hyrule. In prison. 

Link never wanted a fancy title. Being left alone in lockup, he pondered his fate and why he was chosen for this. A 17 year old boy, thrown in prison by the same man who expected Link to save his kingdom. What had he done to deserve this? Why me? he thought.

A knight came through every once in a while to make sure that everyone was behaving. Link could hear the clank of weapons as they came through the hall, looking through every cell. He could hear them mutter things such as "coward" as they passed him.

Link stayed chained to the wall all night. He knew night had fallen because a guard hadn't come through in a while. His wrists were nearly numb to the pain and he had run out of ideas to escape.

Link gave up on getting out of there. His only hope at that point was that Jean would be capable enough to keep Zelda safe. If anything happened to her, Link would surely break those chains and beat Jean senseless.

Link drooped his head in defeat, unable to fall asleep because of the position his body was in and the worry that lingered in his stomach. He wouldn't forgive himself if Zelda didn't come back safe.

Suddenly, he heard a crash down the hall. Link looked up, expecting Jean or some other knight. Then, he recognized the person coming down the hall. It was Bradburn.

"Link!" He whispered loudly. "What are you doing in here?"

"Shhh!" Link whispered, surprised to see his old friend. "They'll hear you!"

"Don't worry friend, I'm getting you out," Bradburn said as he pulled a rings of keys from his pocket.

"How did you-" Link said, completely shocked.

"Don't worry about it," Bradburn whispered as he fiddled with the keys. "I heard you were down here and I knew I needed to get you out. Something about the princess?"

"Never mind that," Link said as he reached out his wrists, pleading for Bradburn to release him from his shackles. Bradburn opened the cell door and moved to Link, looking for the other key.

Link was surprised and beaming with joy, knowing that he was going to get to see Zelda again.

"I can't believe that you came for me," Link said, letting out a breath of relief.

"Hey, if this is how I help out with the Calamity, then I'd say that's pretty cool! What business does the King have, throwing you down here?" Bradburn asked rhetorically. He unlocked both of Link's shackles and Link moved his liberated wrists in circles.

"Say," Bradburn whispered, "what is going on with you and Princess Zelda?"

Link smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know," he said, grinning from ear to ear. Link punched Bradburn lightly in the chest and turned to run away. He left his cell, but grabbed a side before he escaped.

"Oh, and-" Link said, turning around. "Thank you."

"You're talking again," Bradburn whispered, smiling to himself.

As Link escaped from lockup, other prisoners saw him leave and began banging against their bars. Link knew he needed to act fast.