"Have you seen the General anywhere?" Zelda asked one of the construction workers after her inspection of the citadel.

"No, ma'am, haven't seen him." The worker replied bluntly, before resuming his task.

"He's just disappeared." Zelda sighed.

She walked out to where they both had stood before she left, hoping to see him there still, but no one was there. She then glanced over to where they had left there horses, and Epona was still there. So he can't have gone far?

Suddenly, a sound like a tree being uprooted roared in the air. Then, another bang, and said tree sounded as though it was being flung.

"Hinox!" One of the workers shouted.

Zelda hurried over to the edge to see a colossal blue titan lumbering across the plains, focusing on something which she couldn't see. Soon, more construction workers had joined her to spectate the beast.

"Oh Hylia!" One of them gasped, "The General's trapped under that tree!"

Upon closer inspection, the Hinox seemed to be storming towards a small figure laying helplessly on the ground his arm trapped under the thrown tree.

"Link!" Zelda screamed, "We have to help him!"

"I'm not going near that thing..." The construction workers stated.

Zelda stared down in horror. Something had to be done, she couldn't just leave him like that. He would've come racing to save her, now it was time for her to repay him.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?"

"I can't leave him!" She cried, rushing over to Link's horse.

She riffled through the bag, then pulled out a royal bow and broadsword, then hesitated before taking out a royal shield. Zelda then ran across the bridge, and jumped off the edge, pulling out the shield to surf down the hill. She could now see the scene of the fight, and the beast was very close to the tree now.

"Hey you!" Zelda called out as she knocked an arrow and loosened it in the direction of the Hinox, "Stay away from him!"

She jumped off of the shield and strapped it to her arm. The hinox turned around to see the small Queen staring at it menacingly.

"What!" Link exclaimed, "Zelda, no! Get out of here!"

He tried to pull his arm out free, but winced with pain when he tried. The hinox began to lumber towards Zelda, who knocked another arrow and fired it in its eye. When the hinox recoiled with pain and clutched its eye, Zelda put away the bow and ran up to it, unsheathing her sword, and began slicing at its feet repeatedly. When the hinox began to come back to its senses, the Queen nimbly climbed onto its head and tried to keep her balance as the monster stood up. The blue titan looked around wildly, and knocked the tree trunk off of Link in the process. Link clutched his arm, and tried to reach for the Master Sword, which caused him a lot of pain.

"Hang on Zelda!" He called out as she was clinging onto the hinox's head for dear life.

Link tried to move his arm, but even the slightest movement was agony. He stared up at the hinox, his eyes full of terror.

"I've... Got it perfectly under control..." Zelda mumbled breathlessly, "Ok, lets do this..."

She took a deep breath. Then, she jumped from the hinox's head and thrusted the sword deep into its eye.

"Zelda!" Link screamed as he dived forward to catch her, ignoring all of the pain in his arm.

The Queen tumbled through the air and landed on top of Link, who cried out in pain. The ground rumbled underneath them as the hinox landed on the ground with a thud, and then burst into a cloud of purple smoke.

"Z-Zelda..." Link mumbled, "Are you ok?"

She got off of Link and kneeled down next to him as he propped himself up with his good arm. His face was scratched, but otherwise unharmed, but it was his arm which had sustained the most damage. It hurt like hell.

"I'm fine." She said hastily, "But look at you! We need to get you some help!"

She moved her arm behind her back as she used the other to cup his face gently. He seemed... Irritated. Perhaps even angry. He couldn't even look into her eyes, and refused to accept comfort from her.

"Link, let me see your arm." Zelda said softly.

"You're not a doctor!" He snapped, "And you're not my saviour, either!"

A medic was rushing towards the pair. She had a look at Link, and decided that he wasn't in a life threatening condition.

"Can you stand up?" She asked, "It'll make my job easier if we can get you up to the medical room."

Zelda tried to help Link up, but he subtly shrugged her off and stood up, wincing a lot.

"I can walk, its just my arm." He grumbled.

The medic turned to Zelda.

"Are you hurt, Your Majesty?" She asked.

"N-no, I'm fine, you go take Link up to the medical room, I'll be up there." Zelda replied.

She could feel Link's intense stare on her. She dared to look at him, and could see that his gaze was directed to her arm. It sometimes annoyed her that she couldn't hide anything from him...

"I'm fine." She repeated.

The medic escorted Link up to the medical room as Zelda stayed behind to pick up her discarded weapons.

"And you're not my saviour, either!"

Those words had hurt her more than she cared to admit. What was wrong with him? He had suddenly become so angry at her, but for what?

********

"Well, your arm is badly bruised." The medic stated, "So no sword swinging for a while."

"What!" Link exclaimed, "I can't do that!"

"By all means go ahead." The medic snapped, "But it'll hurt you a lot and you'll never heal."

Link murmured something under his breath, which received a deadly look from the medic.

"Look, I'm just trying to help you out." The medic said.

She went over to a table and began making a drink. Link sighed and gazed around the room, swinging his legs on the counter he was sat on. It was a typical medical room, with cabinets full of medicine, and boxes loaded with medical kit.

"Can't I just swing my sword gently?" He asked.

"No."

"I'll be extra careful."

"No."

"I'll literally just hold it and touch the enemy gently, it wouldn't even hurt!"

"No!"

The medic turned around and handed him a cup full of a dark, gloopy liquid.

"What is this?" Link demanded.

"It'll stop the pain." The medic replied.

"I'm not drinking it!" The General cried, "It looks disgusting!"

"It'll help you fight monsters!" The medic said in the same tone she'd use for her younger patients.

Link downed the drink, and wiped his mouth, and pulled a disgusted face and gagged.

"Yuck! Its revolting!" He exclaimed, "What the hell is this?"

"It doesn't matter, it'll stop the pain." The medic repeated.

"Ok, so now can I fight?"

The medic rolled her eyes and chuckled to herself.

"Your damn annoying sometimes, Link." She said warmly.

"Ari, please! I promise I won't hurt myself!"

"Yeah, and I promise that I'll join a war." Ari scoffed, "my final answer is no."

"My final answer is no..." Link mimicked as he crossed his arms and stared at the medic maliciously.

She was young, and had good looks, though they weren't anything outstanding. She had an amiable face and a set jaw with a very determined expression. She was likely a person who could be caring and harsh at the same time.

"Do that one more time and I'll turn my head if you come rushing to me back at the castle." She warned.

"There are better medics out there." Link mumbled, "I don't need you."

"Ok, let's see who'd be willing to take on the annoying General of Hyrule when he comes crying after practise because he got a boo boo." Ari laughed.

Link looked rather annoyed, and just rolled his eyes. Suddenly, the door burst open, and Zelda's eyes scanned the room, and finally rested on Link.

"Are you ok?" She asked.

"I'm fine." Link replied bluntly.

"His arm is badly bruised." Ari said, glaring at Link, "and so I advise that he avoids using it for a while."

The room was silent. Zelda could see Link staring at her again. She knew he wasn't going to let it go.

"What happened to your arm?" He questioned after a while.

"My arm is perfectly fine!" Zelda replied.

She was close enough for him to grab hold of her, and soon enough, Link could see the red stain on her sleeve.

"I-it's just a scratch!" Zelda exclaimed, "it's nothing. Really, Link, it doesn't hurt at all!"

"You shouldn't have done that!" He said angrily, "you shouldn't have come to save me! What if something worse had happened to you? What if you were killed?"

"You were about to be killed!" She snapped in an equal tone of anger, "do you think that I was just going to stand and watch?"

"It's not your job to save me!" Link retaliated, "I can take care of myself. It doesn't matter if I get hurt, but you-"

"You just don't think I'm capable of looking after myself, do you?" Zelda whimpered, "a simple thank you could've done. I saved your life-"

"And I'd rather you didn't."

Zelda pursed her lips and glared at the General. He was being difficult, and she couldn't put up with that right now.

"I'm waiting for you to say sorry." She said finally.

"Sorry, but you're going to be waiting a long time. I'm not going to apologise for you acting recklessly."

"Ugh, you're such a pain!"

She stormed out of the room. Link instantly regretted that, and tried to get off the counter.

"No." Ari said, "give her a moment. You can go apologise later."

Link groaned with anger as he punched his fist into the counter with his bad arm. His eyes watered with pain as he took a deep breath.

"Well, what's the plan?" Ari asked after a while.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, come on! You're going to need a master plan to impress her and win her back." The medic said, "oh, but whatever you do, make sure it doesn't hurt your arm, ok?"

A small grin spread on Link's face as a multitude of ideas whizzed around in his head.

He had a plan, a very stupid plan, but a plan nonetheless.

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