Alvar had just finished training with his soldiers and was starting his walk to the stables so he could ride Shadow home. He was always cautious because if anyone ever messed with him or pushed him around, it was at this time of the day. He approached the stalls and saw Shadow's head sticking over his wooden stall door. The stalls were looking rather dark due to the lack of all the lanterns being lighted. He grabbed his saddle off the rack and felt his sore arms ache as he lifted the heavy saddle onto the tall horse's back. He continued to bridle Shadow, and when he finished preparing the horse for the ride home, he decided to check Milkshake's stall. If she was gone, then he knew Zarya was probably home already, but if Milkshake was still there, he would wait for Zarya and ride home with her. He walked over to Milshake's stall and peeked through the door. It was completely empty.

"Huh, she must have gone home already," he remarked to himself, "Probably giving Link his schooling for the day, or making dinner."

 He stretched his sore arms and legs, for he could feel them beginning to cramp up a bit. 

"Training really takes a toll on me," he sighed to himself.

"Who would've guessed that Captain Alvar talks to himself?"

Alvar spun around in surprise, but it was too late. He staggered backward due to the punch that landed right on the left side of his face. He fell right into an apple barrel and felt the wood splinters pierce his lower legs. He groaned and jumped up despite his pain. He got in a defensive position and stared back at the three soldiers standing in front of him. It was too dark to see who they were. And whoever they were, they were laughing at him.

"Who the hell are you?!" Alvar demanded.

The man standing in the middle, who seemed to be the leader of the small group, stepped forward. "Well, we blew most of the lanterns out so you couldn't find that one out," he sneered.

"What do you want from me?"

"Your pain, peasant."

The tall man lunged forward to strike Alvar again, but this time Alvar was prepared and he dodged the blow with ease. He jumped to his attacker's right side and swung at his ribs with his fist, then punched his left jaw with all his might. The assailant didn't see it coming and went sailing against the left stable wall. His two friends, whoever they were, looked at Alvar with fear shining in their eyes. They both turned around and booked it out of the stables.

Alvar smiled and chuckled as he turned around to the leader of the group, who was shaking as he struggled to stand back up.

"You want to try again? Cause I haven't left a dent on the right side of the wall to match the one of the left yet," Alvar challenged. He grabbed his broadsword from his sheath and in one quick movement, it was against the quivering man's neck. The man shook his head quickly.

"Good. Lucky for you, because if those lanterns were lit I would personally ban you from the force of Hyrule. I don't know what rank you carry, or how it was given for that matter. But whatever it might be, and however you got it, a coward such as yourself doesn't deserve it. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind about letting you go so easily."

Alvar glared at the man as he staggered as fast as he could out of the stable. As soon as he left, Alvar sank to the floor. He could hardly walk due to the wood embedded in his legs, and could hardly see through his left eye. He put his hand to his mouth and saw with help from the moonlight filtering through the stable opening that there was blood on it. Despite it all, he knew he had to get home to Zarya, who made for an excellent nurse. Well, being married to Alvar, she had had a lot of practice. He rose and staggered to Shadow.

"We showed them what for, didn't we pal? You know, if you ever want to lend a hoove, I would really appreciate it," Alvar teased as he mounted his loyal steed, trying to distract himself from the searing pain in his legs and lower jaw. He then rode as fast as he could back to his home.

Back at home, Zarya and Link were just finishing up his lessons for the day. Link went to find the piece of wood he was working on carving into another sparring sword. It was a hobby of his. He loved wood carving and carving swords were his favorite. Zarya started to prepare dinner, but with the extended absence of Alvar, she grew nervous and restless. When she did all the dinner preparation she could before Alvar got home, she grew even more anxious. She started to pace the living room, constantly glancing through the windows hoping to see Alvar riding home.

"What's wrong mom? Are you ok?" Link asked, concerned, as he watched his mother walk across the floor.

"I don't know. It's just that your father is taking a long time to get home," Zarya anxiously replied.

"I'm sure he's fine mom. Dad is the toughest, coolest soldier ever. He can handle himself better than anyone," Link proclaimed encouragingly and got up to give his mother a hug of reassurance.

"Awww, aren't you sweet? Thanks, Link. And your right... Though he still makes me worry," Zarya smiled as she ruffled Links' short, light brown hair.

Link smiled back then wiggled his way out of his mother's strong embrace. He went back to his chair at the kitchen table to continue his wood carving. Zarya went straight back to pacing the floor though. She felt a bit calmer after Link's reassurance, but could still feel her nervous heartbeat through her chest.

"I need to get a grip. He's fine. He's fine. He's fine. He's fine," Zarya murmured to herself.

"Mom, you should calm down. Now you're talking to yourself, again."

"Sorry."

Finally as Zarya passed the door for easily the hundredth time, she heard the doorknob begin to shake and turn. The door slowly opened to reveal Alvar. Now before he even got two steps into the house, Zarya, unaware of his condition, practically jumped into his arms in her short-lived relief and excitement. With his badly injured legs and overall sore body, Alvar fell completely over backwards with Zarya landing right on top of him.

"Ow ow ow ow, get off of me please," Alvar groaned. Zarya immediately stood up and offered her hand to him.

"I'm so sorry, I was a bit worried about you."

 They both could hear Link laughing his head off.

Zarya noticed that Alvar was standing very strange, and instead of being talkative, he hardly spoke, and was avoiding eye contact. He stared at the floor, silent. She grabbed him by his arm and positioned him in front of a light so she could see him better. As soon as she saw him clearly she gasped.

"Oh Alvar!"

"It's not as bad as it looks!"

"Have you even seen yourself?"

"Well, not yet."

"The left side of your face, your eye, your limping! Oh Alvar, you look awful! Sit down now," Zarya said as she grabbed a chair. Alvar sat down, well, more like fell down on the chair. Zarya walked quickly away to find her supplies. 

"Those cursed, cowardly, wretched, good for nothing..." Zarya's ranting about whoever attacked Alvar faded out of earshot as she searched for her first aid kit, which honestly was probably best for Link's six-year-old ears.

Link walked over to his father's chair, his mouth hanging open in shock. Alvar managed a small smile for him.

"Do I really look that bad?" Alvar asked softly. Link nodded his head.

"I haven't even seen my legs yet," Alvar moaned. Zarya shortly returned with bandages, hot water, towels, rubbing alcohol, and anything else she needed. Alvar winced when he saw the rubbing alcohol.

"Oh come on, not that alcohol stuff. It stings!" Alvar complained.

"Don't. Even. Start," Zarya warned.

She looked at his face, then wet her small towel with water and started to clean his face. She softly rubbed the dirt and blood off of it, and rubbed some healing ointment around his left eye. After a few more minutes she finished with his head.

"Well, your eye is black and purple, and the left side of your face looks bruised, but better. Does it feel any better?" Zarya asked.

"Yes it does, thanks to you. It is still sore, but it doesn't hurt nearly as bad now. But you should probably look at my lower legs now."

"Alright, good. I'm glad you at least feel a bit better. While I start on your legs, could you tell me exactly what happened?"

As Zarya took off his boots and rolled up his pant legs, Alvar told her about the stable incident. By the time Alvar finished his story, Zarya was finally able to get a good look at his legs. They were bleeding and swollen. There were at least 3 wooden splinters in each. She put her hand over her gaping mouth.

"I have to pull those splinters out. And it won't exactly tickle. Could you hold something for me?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"My hand."

Alvar smiled a goofy smile, "Awwww, but why are you being so roma-"

Zarya couldn't help but giggle and roll her eyes, "Not like that silly. I'm saying, hold my hand while I pull these splinters so you have something to squeeze when it starts to really hurt."

"Oh."

 Alvar's face turned red, and the red wasn't from his injury. He slouched in his chair.

Zarya laughed, "I can't believe that's where your mind is at such a time. Anyway, grit your teeth." 

Zarya yanked out the first splinter. Alvar squeezed her hand and bit his tongue. Six splinters later and the worst was over. Zarya had to clean the wounds out to prevent infection. And that meant rubbing alcohol. She did her best to slowly and discreetly grab the bottle while maintaining eye contact with Alvar, who caught on quickly.

"No no no. Not that stinging stuff! It really hurts!" Alvar complained once again.

"Oh, so now you complain? It will go by fast, I promise."

As Zarya started to pour the clear liquid, Alvar suddenly shifted his legs. Zarya gave him a glare after she spilled it on the floor. 

"I hope you know you're cleaning that," she said.

"Ooohh I would, but I'm too injured." Alvar smiled. Zarya smiled back and offered him her hand again. He took it and didn't move again and let her apply the cleaning liquid to his leg wounds. She then finished rubbing on healing ointment and bandaging his legs.

"Well, I have done all that I can do for now. How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thanks," Alvar struggled to stand up, then leaned on Zarya for support.

"Maybe things could have been better if I had waited for you. Oh, I feel like this is my fault! I could have just waited for you and maybe my presence would ward off those bullies. I'm sor-"

"Don't even apologize. This isn't even remotely your fault," Alvar said sternly. "You had things to do here, you're way too busy to wait around. I don't think you would necessarily scare them away. They would most likely hurt you too. And let's be honest, I love you, but you wouldn't be much help fighting them off either" Alvar couldn't help but smile.

"Well excuse me, it was either muscles or muffins........And I chose muffins," Zarya laughed, trying to ease the whole situation. 

Link started to laugh again, "Dad, you should have seen how worried mom was! She probably paced two miles in the kitchen! She even started talking to herself!" Alvar joined Link in laughing.

"Nice to know I'm missed soooo much," Alvar teased. Zarya's face turned red as she did her best to avoid eye contact with Alvar, which was hard considering she was helping him stand up. She was failing in hiding her bashful smile.

"What? Don't look at me like that. You make me worry, and I have a good reason too. Just look at yourself," Zarya mumbled, but she was still fighting her smile. That was a battle she lost.

"You're blushing," Alvar continued to tease her.

"I am not!" Zarya protested. But she clearly was, and she knew it. She did her best to shake Alvar off her, but remembered he could hardly stand. She did her best to reach for a nearby chair and placed it in the kitchen. She motioned to it, and Alvar reluctantly sat down in it.

"Well while you rest, I'm going to finish making dinner," She said. Link went back to carving his sword since all the excitement had died down. Alvar waited and watched her.

"So how was your day?"

"Great. I got to sneak the princess into the music room so I could put her to sleep," Zarya giggled. Alvar looked at her confused.

"Ok hear me out."

 Then Zarya told Alvar of the princess' 'plan' and her putting her to bed.

"Who knew piano would be the key to putting Zelda to sleep?" Alvar chuckled.

"You are too injured for this nonsense."

"I'm only trying to put this dangerous evening on a higher note."

"Alvar, please stop."

"Are my jokes giving you too much treble?"

"Yes they are. Dinner is ready, so that should keep you quiet for twenty minutes."

Dinner went by fast, and soon after Link was put to bed by Zarya, while Alvar patiently waited on the couch for her to join him. After a few minutes she plopped on the couch right next to him.

"How are you going to work tomorrow?'

"I'm sure everyone will be understanding."

"What if it goes too far one day. You look bad enough now, what if it gets you hurt even worse, or even worse than that?"

"If you think I look bad, you should have seen what I did to the other guy."

"I'm being serious."

"So am I, he probably won't breathe right for a month."

Zarya sighed, "And we still have to help escort the royal family to Zora's Domain this weekend. I haven't even started to pack yet."

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot. Well maybe it will go by uneventfully."

"Right, cause these types of events are always uneventful," Zarya sarcastically replied, but the great concern in her voice showed through. Alvar tried to give her a hug to help comfort her, but his sore bruised arms hurt him to move. So when he wrapped his arms around her, it was very awkward, and his face looked in great pain. Zarya laughed softly at his attempt.

"Is it that painful to give me a hug?" she teased.

"Interesting how you find my sore arms humerus. But hey, who knows, it would hoove been an easier fight if Shadow had helped me fight them off," Alvar laughed.

Zarya groaned, "Oh Farore, why me?"

"I don't know why you're complaining to Farore. You're the one who accepted my proposal, not Farore."

"No kidding. We are both hopeless aren't we?"

"Yes."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Zarya smiled, "As much as I love you, I love my bed more. I'm going to sleep," She stated as she  got up and started to walk away.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Alvar questioned from the couch.

"No."

"I can't walk without help, and I want to go to sleep too."

"Sounds like you have a you problem."

"Zarya please," Alvar begged. Zarya started to laugh.

"I'm just teasing. Mostly. Come on."

She helped him limp to bed, where they both fell dead asleep in a matter of seconds.