-Qin Royal Palace-

Zelda rose early. Sarah's warmth was comforting despite the snoring and clinging, and sleep called to her, but she had pressing matters to attend to. It was work she did not need to oversee, yet still oversight was one she wanted. She had made promises to her allies, and wanted to see it through personally. With multiple scenarios already making room in her mind, she washed her face, dressed, and left her room. The guard closed the door behind her.

Zelda stopped. The guards adjusted themselves nervously. Link sat in the crook of her door, with his head leaning back against the post, his spear on his shoulder, his eyes closed, and his chest rising. He snored.

Zelda stared. An eye twitched in annoyance. Had he not slept in his room at all last night? He belonged in his room! What was he doing sleeping outside her room like some lover with no sense and all heart and yearning! What was he, a lost puppy?!

Zelda stomped. Link mumbled and turned his head, only to return to slumber.

Zelda swatted at his shoulder. Link swatted back, fighting her off, and mumbled, "**** off!" The guards snickered quietly.

Zelda breathed in and out, prayed for patience, and slapped him. Not hard enough to hurt, but definietely got his attention. Link snapped his eyes open, recoiled away, and after a moment realized who he was seeing. "Oh! H-hey!"

"What. Are. You. Doing?!" Zelda hissed.

"Sleeping."

"In my hall?!"

"Yeah."

"Why are you sleeping in my hall? Why aren't you in your bed!?"

"I gave it to Soli."

Zelda sighed. She rubbed his temples. Already the day had just started and people were testing her patience. "It is honorable that you give up your bed for her, but you could have just asked for another. Did you go to sleep here right after talking with me?!"

"Well, yeah." Link rose. He patted himself down. "Zelda, sleeping in a bed is as good as not for me. I am used to sleeping in the field just fine. I slept against your door... because that to me is as good as any bed."

Zelda looked back at him, and for a moment felt foolish. He was a soldier in her army. He spent all of his time outdoors or in tents. As a slave he slept in the dirt. When they went to the Majora he slept in hay. When they went to see the Mitagi he slept on the cold stone floor. He was not one who looked for beds. He was one who slept wherever he was when he got the urge to sleep.

Then she remembered he had slept against the frame of her door.

"You are in my palace!" Zelda exclaimed. "Go find a bed!"

"-but-"

"Go!" Zelda stomped. Grabbed his arm, turned him around, shoved him, and stomped directly behind his feet. "If you insist on sleeping wherever, I will decide for you, and send you there myself!"

"I don't need a princess-sitter!" Link argued, trying not to get stomped on as he hurried.

"Clearly you do!" She barked.

"But I'm not tired anymore!"

As soon as they turned the corner, the guards looked between each other, and released guffaws they had been holding.

Zelda marched Link to his room, with his guidance towards its direction, shoved the door open, and dragged him in by his long ears. She motioned to the bed, "There! It is empty! Use it!"

"Empty?" Link wondered outloud. He rubbed his soar ears and looked at the bed in concern. The last he had seen Solitare was here. "Where'd she go?"

"Most likely is around the palace somewhere. Sheikah are typically early risers. Never heard of one that sleeps in half the day." Her eyes slid towards him. "Like you."

"Hey!" He snapped. Now he was starting to get aggravated. He had never been one to sleep in, though he slept hard. "You're mean in the mornings..."

She raised an eyebrow. "Perfectly justified when you sleep against my door. Do you have any idea how rumors fly? I'm going to have to hear whispers for the next month of how you desire me, yet I supposedly keep you at arms length because I'm a ice witch at heart."

"Or they could say that I am just that loyal of a guard!"

"I already have guards outside my door at all times..."

Link stared at her a moment, trying to think of a counter. Yet despite his hurt feelings, he couldn't deny her words. He looked away from her, "Right... you do. Sorry. Could have chosen a better place to sleep. Still, I'm not going to be sleeping anymore, so I think I'll track down Solitare."

Zelda nodded. She accepted his apology and deflated. Truth be told, she wouldn't be near as aggravated with him if he had slept anywhere else but her door. Unfortunately pressure was mounting and whispers were starting about her relationship status, or rather her lack of. As much of a beneficial move Ryo had done in kidnapping the entire harem of Zhao, it also reminded her ministers, and herself, of how fragile Qin's royal line was. She was older now than her father and grandfather had been when they started producing heirs, and she had produced none. Unfortunately Link's action may only inflame it. He didn't know of the whispers or the political climate, so she didn't want to hold it against him, but it still annoyed her.

Zelda predicted if she didn't appease them in some way, she would start losing status and favor. One of the responsibilities of the royal family was to produce... family.

Link went about the room picking up belongings. He and Solitare had traveled light, so there wasn't much to put in a bag. She changed topic, not wishing to dwell on troubling thoughts, "Do you intend to return to the front?"

"Not yet. Our horses are exhausted from being pushed to their limit for a full day and night. If it is well with you, I would like to stay another day."

"It sits well with me. I would very much like it," Zelda smiled. "Despite the annoyance you give on occassion, your presence is comforting. May I offer a suggestion?"

"Sure?" Link replied skeptically. She was the princess. She didn't have to ask. He apprecitaed it though. It showed their relationship was more than just formality. They trusted each other, not just with their lives, but with what mattered to them in their lives.

"There are many generals and commanders staying in the capital today. Some will be leaving soon if they haven't already, some will not. Take the time to meet a few and let them hear your name and see your face. You never know how mere rembrance will help you in the future. You have started to build up a reputation enough that they have heard your name, but think nothing of you. Put a face to the name."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I..." Link blinked in surprise. It was good advice. He had not thought of it that way at all. "I will. Thank you, Zelda."

Zelda nodded and walked out to attend to the matters of the day. Link threw his bag over his shoulder and walked out as well. He stumbled as just outside the door was Commander Matsubi. Matsubi had a confused look on his face and looked down at Link. "Was that the princess... coming out of your room?"

"Yes, why?"

The expression of confusion morphed into shock, leaving Link with only one conclusion as to where Matsubi's mind was going.

"It's not like that!"

-Qin Palace, Impa-

Chancellor Impa stopped.

The taste in the wind was bitter. The shadows deepened. Light of the candles became dim. The rising sun darkened. All around her a dark mist enveloped her and a chill entered the air. Impa touched the hilt of her knife and looked around carefully in so far as she could. "Twilight..." she whispered to herself.

Had a few followers of Zant escaped? Was this a rebel Sheikah? There was no telling. She tried to blend into the shadows, but found it inadequate. Impa had fallen out of practice in her time as Chancellor. All she could do was wait, be cautious, and hope others would come down this hall and see it. Or hear it. She was starting to hear tapping sounds.

Like someone was running their finger across the wall, someone approached in the darkness. The mist buffeted with the person, and out of the darkness a pair of glowing eyes pierced through. Two Twilight snakes entered Impa's vision. They rested on the shoulders of a person, and Impa's eyes widened on seeing who it was.

-Qin Palace, Link-

"Young lad!" A loud voice boomed through the room.

Link flinched, almost hiding by instinct from the intensity of the voice alone. The officer he was talking to put his hands over his ears to keep from going deaf. Link turned and nearly fled as a massive man in red hair and with a jaw filled with razor sharp teeth stomped his way towards them.

"It is good I have met you here." Duke Hyou smiled cheerily. "I wish for you to join me!"

Link put his hands over his long ears as the man spoke. They were standing only a few feet apart. So why was he yelling?! "Sir, you don't have to yell! I'm right here!"

The Duke looked at him in mild confusion. "I'm not yelling... Whatever, I wish for you to join me! Be proud and stand tall lad!" He emphasised his words with patting Link on the back hard enough to cause him to stumble and hit the wall.

"Thank you..." He muttered quietly. He didn't really feel proud or appreciative, not with the man barking at him so loud everyone around was going deaf. Then, more loudly, he said, "Join you for what, my lord?"

"Odds are it will be to drinking..." The third man muttered.

Link blanked in horror. "I hope not."

"It is not drinking. Though, if you are up for it, you can join me for a drink later as celebration! I have my own special liquor that is sure to test your mettle! Even the great Ouki had to shove his fist through a wall to get it down. Doesn't that sound fun?"

"Sounds like it would kill me..." Link whispered to himself.

"You underestimate yourself, lad, but if you wish we shall drink another day!..." The Duke looked at them blankly before whispering, still loudly enough to be heard across the room, "Where was I?"

"You wished for me to join you in... something." Link inserted.

"Oh, yes!" The man barked. Link flinched in pain and heard his ears ringing. "I have been given the reins to a campaign in Termina and I wish for your unit to join my army."

Link stared at him a moment, stunned. He had been thinking already of approaching the Duke to talk and get to know him better, in following Zelda's advice, but had decided against it out of a desire to keep his hearing. Yet, somehow, despite that, the Duke had been the one to approach him, and with the lead toward the first major campaign since the Qin-Zhao alliance.

"Do you accept, lad!?" The Duke suddenly barked, impatient with his lack of an answer.

"Yes!" Link yelled back, still covering his ears. "I accept!"

"Good! Then meet me in the east in two weeks time." The Duke looked between Link and the officer he had been talking to already. "Good day!" The Duke left.

The officer looked at Link and said, "You really should look more grateful. A great general requested you by name."

"I don't feel grateful!" Link yelled. "I will be deaf by the time its over! My ears are ringing! Am I bleeding?!"

Link finished his talk shortly therafter with the officer he was already engaged with, and went on his way. He rubbed his ears. His long ears were still ringing from the Duke's treatment. Despite how painful it was, he was still grateful. He knew the Duke to a small degree. They had both positioned themselves at the Xianyiang fortress for a time. The Duke had moved to the Qin-Gerudo border, but he still had enough of a presence that Link had a little bit of an idea of the kind of general he was.

A kind of general where a day without drinking, women, bloodshed, and being excessively loud wasn't a day worth having.

Rumor was the Duke was born on the battlefield, raised on the battlefield, and to this day lived on it. Rumor also was he was born and raised in a Gerudo gladiator colliseum. Rumor was the man had never slept a day in a normal city on a normal bed, but rather slept in tents or under the stars. Rumor was he never slept at all. Rumor was a hint of his blood was that of the Dragmire, due to his flaming red hair. Rumor was King Shorlin promoted seven generals to 'grand general', including Ouki, but the Duke never showed up and so turned down the promotion because he just wanted to have fun and stay off any leash. Rumor was his home-grown alchohol cocktail had killed as many as his axe. Rumor was he never needed to relieve himself and he bathed in tubs filled with the blood of his kills. Rumor was he shaved with rocks, ate meat raw, and drank boiling water to wash it down.

There were many rumors of the man, and Link looked forward to seeing how true they were.

His thoughts were interrupted by Impa rounding the corner in a hurry and having a crazed look in her eye. Link skidded to a halt and his first instinct was 'RUN!', as her impressions with him were not good. Last time she had knocked him out. She was also a Sheikah, and after what Ouki told Link, he had begun to suspect it was Impa who had ordered the hit on his life. She was, after all, in a position close to Zelda, knew Link and how friendly he was with her, and Ouki had said the Sheikah did it out of a wish to protect Zelda. Not to mention the first time he had met her, she had dragged his best friend and sister away to die.

But Link didn't run. What he saw next stayed his feet. She looked mildly hurt, like she had just been in a small scuffle. She held an arm closely and blood fell from it. One eye was swollen shut and a few cuts had been made in her clothes. She didn't walk so much as stumble.

"Link?" Impa gasped.

"Chancellor." Link replied, politely. "What happened to you?" He put a hand on his spear and glanced around. This area was oddly... quiet. A faint mist in the direction she had come from dissipated. Link narrowed his eyes, the mist looked somewhat familiar.

"Nothing." The woman lied. Link stared down at her, as if to say 'seriously?' She sighed, "Your presence scared her off. I am alright now."

"Is she an assassin?" Link questioned. His tension rose quickly and his thoughts raced. Where was Zelda right now?

"Yes, but she came for me." Impa replied. "You don't need to worry..." The woman deflated. She sat at the corner and seemed to sag and age by decades. Dare Link even think, perhaps the woman looked guilty?

"You can't tell me not to worry when an assassin is around!" Link exclaimed. He ran around Impa and down the hall from which he faintly saw mist earlier, but Impa's voice brought him to a halt.

"Stop! Thats an order!"

Link turned to look at her. "Give me one good reason to not disobey it. Give me one reason to think the assassin won't go after Zelda!"

"Because I'm the target!" Impa yelled back. "She is... she is just my sins coming back for me."

Link stared at her a moment. While he tried not to show it, Impa was pretty high on his shit-list and he treated her with respect solely and only because the respect he gave the Chancellor was an extension of his respect for Zelda. The only reason he didn't ignore her completely and run off after the enemy was that he had no idea where to start. The person had long since disappeared. If it was true that Impa was the target, then he would be better off here anyway. Was he using her as bait by doing so? Yes. Was he protecting her with his life? Also yes.

Link didn't think she was lieing. He didn't like Impa, but he could easily tell she cared for Zelda deeply and would do everything in her power to protect their mutual friend.

Link sighed and flexed his hands. He felt his Gift hum silently in his hand. If the assassin popped so much as a pinky-toe out, he was using it and jumping the assassin. He walked slowly back to Impa and looked down at her. Typically he considered himself a compassionate man and an empathetic person, but this was Impa. She probably saw a hint of his hidden contempt for her in his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Link asked.

Impa didn't reply. Link rolled his eyes, ran his hands through his hair in frustration, and sat across from her.

At last Impa breathed and asked, "Link, what happened to Solitare's scars?"