I wanted to just start over (feat. Link)

[poisesidon]

[It had been a few days. Sidon's injuries had healed up nicely and he was back in full strength. Though he stood behind to be a good patient, knowing fighting treatment would anger his father and his senior council, he was too eager to get back to normal and not depend on the care of his loyal subjects. Sidon wanted to BE dependable, not be dependent on the hard work of people who deserve all the rest and care too for dealing with such a sensitive task.

Taking care of Link's injuries too. Sidon sought to it that Link receive top notch care as well.

As promised, he visited often for the sole purpose of being around his friend who did so much for him. But he tried to be respectful and not coddle him, that would be disrespectful as a warrior to another. Kindness was one thing, pampering like a child was another.

But today was a particular day, Sidon made arrangements to venture out...for what reason may have not reached many people's ears. Though perhaps, the rumors would start that Sidon was on the move to leave the city, and the King was holding back until he got full reasons from his son. Because many people were obviously against the idea, as they nearly lost their beacon of hope in the clutches of the Yiga.]

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[hyahro]

[Link's own recovery had been progressing along smoothly. Sidon had recovered a bit faster than the Hylian, possibly due to just being a sort of species that were naturally hardier and much longer lived than Hylians were. His skin and scales were tougher as well, where Link's was very soft and easy to slip a blade into if he wasn't paying attention. No matter how strong Link becomes, he'll never be able to change that part of himself. It is a little scary at times, knowing he could die at any moment...just like that.

Technically, he should have died a hundred years ago.

But he didn't, and as of yet still hasn't. He'd relented under Sidon's gentle urging and remained bedbound for a few days prior to waking up, not just to satisfy those caring for him, but also to give himself time to think. He thought about what happened, and about how it went wrong so quickly. How he could, perhaps, prevent something like this from happening in the future. It wasn't preventable unfortunately, seeing as how Sidon was just naturally a kind, trusting individual. Link would never want to change that about him, despite how close of a shave their encounter with the Yiga had been.

What was done, was done. And by now, Link had recovered to the point where he was allowed to actively move about the domain on his own. Technically he could probably just leave if he wanted, but he'd been doing his best to respect the Zora's wishes and remain until being "officially" discharged as well enough to do so. It was the least he could do after the scare they'd had. The opportunity to leave the sickbay had been the only reason Link happened to overhear a conversation happening near the entrance to the Seabed Inn. He hadn't meant to evesdrop, truly, but the two that were speaking were fellows clad with armor...two undoubtedly responsible for guarding the Prince and advising him to some degree. They sounded concerned, which was the only reason Link had pricked his ears, making sure to listen.

His eyes widen a little when he finally catches it- Sidon is leaving. The reason was still beyond them, but the fact remained that he was going to go at some point soon. Link had to wonder why himself...Sidon wasn't a child anymore, so keeping him imprisoned in his own home would be a unique sort of cruelty, but Link at least felt like he could understand the concern right now. It hadn't been long since the kidnapping occurred. Was Sidon himself not worried about venturing away from the Domain so soon?

And...why hadn't he mentioned it to him?

Link decides to seek out the Prince after that, still wearing the clothing provided to him by the Zora since he hadn't planned on leaving yet himself. Admittedly he's not sure where to start to look, but the Domain is only so big...and Sidon is hard to miss.]

[poisesidon]

[Sidon had tried to keep it low on the radar as much as possible. As he was healing and trying to recover the near loss his people had, the last thing he wanted was to feel anyone had to be his shield. He was his people's shield, not the other way. He had to protect them and having others come to his defense would make him a dreadful Prince. He felt that so firmly that he really discussed his plans with no outside influence.

Yes, not even Link's.

He would hate to see any uneasiness in his friend's eyes.

It was bad enough having extra guards around him. Though they never said anything to him, he knew there were more. And he knew who issued them. It was demeaning, it hurt the Prince right to the core. Whenever he felt himself get angry, he would have remembered the nightmares he had since the event. In them they always had him chained to the ground, like before. Made to not move, or speak. Many of his loyal soldiers' bodies laid strewn around him, one by one falling to the sickles and broadswords of the Yiga. Sidon wouldn't be able to scream as tears fell down his face, hearing the laughter of the Yiga as they soon swarmed around Link and-

He would wake up, splashing ferociously in his sleeping pool.

He couldn't, and wouldn't, let that happen. Or let himself be a captive again. He loved his people...and Link way too much to have them fight and fall for him. That wasn't the Prince he wanted to be.

So if Link actively searched, he would be in the armory. Sidon was looking at the various spears and tridents that were forged and in keeping for his shoulders. His back was turned and he was focused.]

[hyahro]

[Link has been searching, though he's been careful not to actively ask around after the Prince. He doesn't want the rest of the Domain alerted to his plans any more than he's sure Sidon wants them to know. He feels this is better investigated on more personal terms. Getting everyone else involved would complicate things, and he knows things are already a bit strained between the King and his son at present...

So when Link does finally catch that striking flash of red out of the corner of his eye, the first thing he does is sag a little with relief. The goddess smiled upon him today, granting him the opportunity to head Sidon off before he was able to slip away unannounced. And while Link could march right up to him and demand an explanation now...that's not what he does.

Still clad in his garments from the infirmary, Link approaches quietly from behind. Without a word, as is his wont, he reaches out and retrieves a particularly impressive looking Zora spear from its holder, making sure to take one that was within Sidon's line of sight. He weighs it in both hands for a moment before offering it to Sidon for approval, as if to say: "If you're going to go, you may as well take a proper weapon with you".]

[poisesidon]

[He heard a noise. Sidon turned around at the sudden movement he felt in the room, only to look down to his hip level. A weapon he was just looking at was moved, and was being handed to him.

Link was there, and he was giving him a look Sidon found himself trying to analyze. He gently accepted the weapon but he wondered why Link was here. He couldn't help it, thinking about it. Being suspicious. Did he know he was leaving? Had his father told him? Sidon's words with his father were...dicey. Putting it lightly.

He couldn't hide anything from Link, but being vulnerable wasn't an option.]

Oh-! Link! What brings you here then? You are feeling well? I heard the doctor's were going to release you today. Congratulations on your recovery, Link!

[hyahro]

[He nods, at that. He's feeling much better, pretty much right as rain at this point. He has a few new scars to show for their encounter, but they're not the first- and certainly far from the last- that he'll ever receive. It was a small price to pay to get Sidon back, so it's already water under the bridge at this point.

No, it's the here and now that matters more. He draws his hands back after Sidon accepts the spear, his eyes shifting from the weapon to travel slowly up until they meet Sidon's gaze directly. He nods towards the Prince, his brows raising a little.

He'd come to check on you, Sidon. Mainly because he hasn't seen you lately...and for other reasons, too, that he hasn't deigned to point out just yet. He wants to see if Sidon will choose to keep it to himself or not.]

[poisesidon]

[Sidon winced his eyes and made a smile, doing his best to appear normal. Even though he knew he wasn’t. Try as he might, you don’t recover mentally from a kidnapping this fast. But he had to show confidence. It was what he had to do in his role. If he shown weakness, then he might as well-]

Fear not, my friend! I know that look, you do not need to worry!

See, I’m quite alright here like this. I’m all of me right before you.

[hyahro]

[Well, see...the main problem here is that as much as Link is concerned for Sidon's wellbeing, it's not as if he can force him to stay here. He's not his keeper, just his protector on a good day. What he actively does with himself and his time are his perogative, between himself and his father and the rest of his people. Link...does his best not to interfere too directly with the affairs of the other communities throughout Hyrule unless their very ways of life are in peril.

He's concerned the Yiga will strike again. He doubts they will so soon after being defeated the first time, especially knowing that Link is now wise to their schemes. He perhaps won't be so merciful if he discovers they've targeted the Zora a second time. It's Link they truly want to destroy, not Sidon.

The hero sighs, his expression softening somewhat. He has to take Sidon at his word, because that's all he really has. And he does appear to be doing well, at the very least...he seems to have made just as full of a recovery as Link himself had.

Yet...he'll cast his gaze towards the rest of the city, out in the direction of the long bridges that connect the water-based structures to the rest of the land. Then, he looks back towards Sidon, questioningly.]

[poisesidon]

[Sidon couldn't help but twinge inside as Link looked at him again, then to his city, then back to him. He bit his lower lip as he tried to keep his smile up, but it was futile. No matter what, he told himself that Link deserved his honesty. Not his idiotic blanket statements that mean to hide his insecurities.

He gripped on the weapon in his hands before his eyes went sullen.]

Link.

[This was said with a serious enough tone to hopefully make sure Link knows this was important. Incredibly important.]

I am leaving the Domain. I am going back to Gerudo Desert.

[hyahro]

[Of all places.

Link actually wasn't expecting that answer from Sidon, and it shows in the way his eyes widen and his posture changes almost imperceptibly. If he was a more vocal person, he would already be questioning the reasoning, his motives, above all just...why? Why could Sidon possibly think returning to the desert would be wise, especially after all that had happened? It might be different if it were anywhere else, but the desert was the Yiga's domain.

He simply can't understand it, just as much as he can't quite keep that off his expression as his brows furrow and the look in his eyes becomes a touch harder. After a moment, Link shakes his head no. Less a gesture telling him not to do it, and more...

"This is a very, very bad idea".]

[poisesidon]

You are giving me the same look my father did earlier.

[His tone was exasperated. Did he expect to have Link react this way? Well, he didn’t NOT expect it. But coming from Link like this was just adding more pressure to his cause. Sidon’s heart was soft…but not weak. He hardly wavered, only wincing at the idea of Link standing against him for any reason. He respected his opinion, like his father, but he felt too strongly about this.

And if Link were to understand, sooner than later, hopefully when Sidon took his role just as seriously.]

So I will tell you what I told him. I have reached out to the Gerudo about what transpired, considering we made a scene outside their gates. I received correspondence from the chief, Lady Riju.

[He had the note tucked in his belt. Sidon held it out, folded neatly in a particular envelope. The meeting with his father fresh, he had to be prepared for this. Not just with Link.

If Link were to take and look at what was offered, the letter was actually genuine.

The handwriting was Riju’s.

Prince Sidon of the Zora,

It does me well that you and Link are in good hands and finding better health. The Yiga have posed a great threat for many in these trying times. I must say it does not surprise me that they were desperate for hostages as Link had to rescue some of our own from their base. They must be trying to be far more direct if they were willing to find the Zora Prince so close to his kingdom. I will be sure to consider your proposal. Should the Yiga still act as they are, you might be correct in assuming that allowing us to hide and wait for any potential future strike could make it be too soon to act.

But I want you to read these words and consider your own stance on the matter from the perspective of an outsider. The Gerudo and Zora making an alliance would surely benefit Hyrule. From what I have heard of you, you are a noble sort. But men are not allowed inside our home. We make no exceptions of this. Not even for royalty. Should we speak further, we should be in person. I await on any terms you may have.

Chief Riju]

I sent my proposal last night. I plan to enter an outside bazaar by an oasis.

[hyahro]

[Link takes the letter as it's offered to him, reading it over carefully. It's not surprising that Riju would send a missive like this, especially with their current state of affairs. And honestly? As much as Link does have a certain amount of sway just for being who he is...he really has no actual authority here to be asserting himself in the matters of the Zora and Gerudo. However, it's not in his nature to just sit back and not help when help can be offered...

So he's left at a bit of an impasse, struggling to decide the best course of action here. It's why he finds himself looking back up at Sidon, this time much less hard than he had been before as he passes the note back to him.

He puts a hand on his own chest, keeping it there but a moment before gesturing towards Sidon. Then he nods to that letter, keeping his expression soft as he does so.

The offer to accompany him is there. If not as a guardian, but as his friend who is just as concerned about his peoples' wellbeing. If Sidon were to object- or reject it outright- Link wouldn't press or make any attempts to follow or dissuade him.

At least...not when he knows trying to do so wouldn't bear fruit anyway.]

[poisesidon]

[As usual, Sidon continued to watch his movements. Especially his face. It softened a little which helped Sidon settle down too. His eyes were keenly looking onward, as Link handed over the note and made sympathetic motions with his hands.

No, that's not what that was. And it wouldn't be Link to just idly pass something on that concerned him so much before.

Self.

Himself, then toward the letter. Sidon was trying to read his movements and seemed to try to make extra effort to read them. Due to this being so dire and important.

Heart. Himself. Letter.

Offer himself.]

Link...do you...want to accompany me?

[hyahro]

[To that, Link's answer is to simply nod once, emphatically. He doesn't want Sidon to feel pressured; like he has to bring him along, or else he'll be unhappy or disappointed in some way.

It's simply an offer, not as a protector, but as his friend.]