If the Boot Fits

Hints

"Please?"

Groose blushed. "Well, uh. . . My real parents died when I was still a baby. Ghirahim found me and took me in. . . At least that's what he ever told me when I asked. Zant always mocks me about it, but sometimes he hints that it's not true. . . . That I'm not even born in their kingdom, but in Hyrule. I'm not really sure what to belive."

There. More information that provides evidence for Zelda's theory. He doesn't know who his parents are, which she sympathizes for, but a comforting trill ran through her body upon hearing this. He may even be from Hyrule. A faint smile leaked over her face. The only thing that doesn't make sense is why would a despicable man like Ghirahim take a child in? Was he a good person back then? If so, when did he change?

"How did Link come into the family?" This was still a mystery to Zelda. She knew very little of his past. It was a marvel how he could be related by blood to Ghirahim.

Groose pursed his lips, debating what to share and what not to. Hopefully, he would still grant Zelda answers.

"His dad died in the war a while ago. Ghirahim. . . married his mom, then she died a year later."

Relief flooded through her. She was glad Link was not Ghirahim's biological son, though she did pity how he came to be in their family. But that left another question - Why would his mother marry a man like him? Zelda decided to keep this one to herself.

"Ghirahim isn't the nicest to him and his sister," Groose went on without promting. "He sold almost everything belonging to their parents, but refused to get rid of one measly sword."

Sword? Zelda's heart beat faster. "What sword?"

Groose glanced at the crowd, didn't continue. Zelda placed a hand on his elbow, gaining his attention again. She forced herself to keep her hand still, disliking evey second of it.

"It didn't look special," Groose said. "But Ghirahim wouldn't sell it for a million rupees. It was old and dirty. The purple hilt was rusting, and the gold gem was cracked. And something about the light making the blade look blue was creepy."

Zelda sighed in awe at what he was describing. The Sword that Seals the Darkness. Ghirahim had it stored somewhere. He knew who Link was. That man was full of secrets and trickery. He may even be keeping the identity of Groose's real parents behind a door. What was he up to?

Zelda's hand slipped to her side in her dazed state. She barely caught yet another glance thrown by Groose into the ball room. Why was he so skittish?

"Shoot," he breathed.

Zelda snapped out of it, searching for whatever Groose was angry about. Through the swaying bodies and twirling dresses, she caught site of a small girl with blond braids. She was rushing around the circular room with another girl and a boy, heading for the stairs leading up to the King.

"Aryll," Zelda and Groose said at the same time.

Zelda hastily excused herself. "Thank you," she had the sense to say over her shoulder. Groose was still looking past her, not moving.

Leaving him in the shadows, Zelda scurried up the long flight of stairs. Aryll, with the other girl by her side, was saying something to Rhoam, who looked annoyed and sympathetic at the same time, if that was even possible for him. The boy stood by the railing, leaning against it and watching the people below. Impa gave a questioning look at Zelda. Urbosa and Daruk were both gone.

"Please!" Aryll begged Rhoam. Zelda fell into her throne, gaining the attention of the crying girl. "Princess, you know Link did nothing wrong! You admitted to it this morning! Please let him go!"

This is what it was about. Aryll was trying her chances at setting Link free. Zelda's shoulders dropped. She had no power over matters like this. It was all up to the King. She wished there were some way she could help Link and Aryll. Instead, Zelda dipped her head in shame.

"Please, Your Majesty," the other girl cut in. "Ghirahim is abusive and cruel. He wanted Link to go to prison, so he framed him."

Zelda squeezed her eyes tight as anger rolled up her body. This aligned with what Groose said about Ghirahim not being the nicest. Oh, but how she wished she could say Ganondorf stole the money. Ghirahim probably took his chance, and it worked the way Ganondorf wanted. This whole thing was twisted and didn't make any sense.

"Yes!" Aryll cried. "Just look at the scars on his back or on his arms. There are too many to count. The only reason he doesn't punish me is because it is punishment enough to watch my big brother get beaten for no other reason than Ghirahim enjoys his torment." She gasped for air after her rant. What shocked Zelda the most were the reference to scars on his arms. She recalled seeing scars running up and down Link's left arm. At that ttime. she assumed it had been from Ganondorf, but now she wasn't so sure. Maybe they were from Ghirahim.

"You might want to keep it down," the boy warned. "A lot of people are looking up here."

"I don't care!" Aryll slammed her fists against her sides. "They need to hear this! Link is falsely imprisoned!"

"Calm down, dear," Rhoam tried to sooth, only to gain more tears from Aryll. "You may have a hard home life, however, that does not excuse Link-"

"Why won't you believe me!" Aryll screamed.

Rhoam lifted his finger so subtly, Zelda nearly missed the call for guards. Her heart sank as Impa left her side, going to gather a few knights to drag Aryll and her friends away.

"Does nothing I say sound the slightest bit true?" Aryll's body was shaking with the effort to get her point across.

"Everyone's looking," the boy muttered, turning his back from the crowd.

Aryll went on, the other girl rubbing her back in support. Zelda glanced down at the prying crowd, finding Ghirahim, Groose, and Zant in the midst of them all. Ghirahim seemed to be struggling with something, Zant whispering in his ear. Ghirahim turned his head. Zelda shifted her gaze to follow his, watching as five knights marched up the stairs. She wanted to puke.

"Uh, Aryll, Mipha, we have to go," the boy said through his teeth, noticing the guards as well.

Aryll pretended not to hear him, or maybe she really didn't over her loud voice.

The boy groaned. "I am not going to prison, too. I'm leaving." He started for the opposite set of stairs.

"We must go," the girl - Mipha - said gently to Aryll, pulling on her arm.

"No!" Aryll shoved Mipha off, falling to her knees to beg before Rhoam.

The knights made it to the top of the stairs, marching towards Aryll. Mipha called to the boy, and, with a groan, he helped pull Aryll away and down the stairs before the guards took her. The entire way, she sobbed, clinging to Mipha. Impa directed the knights to escort them completely out of the castle. The crowd rudely watched and spread rumors.

Before the small group left her sight, Zelda turned to face her father. He lifted his chin, and only then did she realize she was crying, too.