A Royal Desperation

Impa held Zelda tightly, trying to calm her down as the princess's screams and wails filled the room. But Zelda was beyond consolation, her mind racing with horrific images of Link's confinement. "They'll tie him up, won't they?" Zelda cried, her voice muffled against Impa's shoulder. "They'll use those cold, dark chains and lock him in the deepest dungeon. Oh, Goddesses, what if they're using those iron bars? What if they're chaining him to the wall? What if... what if they're using rope? Rope that's too tight, too rough, too... too..." Impa stroked Zelda's hair, trying to soothe her. "Zelda, please, don't think about this. We'll do everything we can to make sure Link is comfortable." But Zelda was too far gone, her imagination running wild with visions of Link's suffering. "Comfortable? Comfortable?! They'll probably use those nasty, rusty manacles and hang him from the ceiling. Or maybe they'll put him in a cell with no light, no air, no... no... nothing! Oh, Impa, what if they're starving him? What if they're not giving him enough water? What if... what if... what if..." Impa's voice was soft but firm. "Zelda, stop this. You're not thinking clearly. We need to focus on finding a way to help Link, not imagining worst-case scenarios." But Zelda's tirade only grew more frantic. "You're just standing there, aren't you? You're just going to let them do this to him. You're my advisor, Impa, and you're supposed to protect me, to help me. But instead, you're just going to stand there and let them lock Link away like a common criminal." Impa's grip on Zelda tightened. "Zelda, I am trying to help you. I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to ensure Link's confinement is as comfortable as possible. But you need to calm down, for your own sake and for the sake of the kingdom." Zelda's screams grew louder, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Comfortable? Comfortable?! You're not listening to me, Impa. You're not listening. They're going to hurt him, I'm sure of it. They're going to hurt Link and it's all because of that stupid council and their stupid decree. Oh, Goddesses, why did it have to be the letter L? Why did it have to be Link?" As Zelda's rant continued, Impa's expression grew more and more worried. She knew she had to find a way to calm the princess down, and fast, before Zelda's emotions consumed her completely. But for now, she could only hold her, and try to reassure her, as the princess's desperation and despair seemed to grow with every passing moment.