Link had been up at dawn that morning, like every morning. He didn't need to be. They were safe in Kakariko Village, he reminded himself. All the same, it eased his mind to sleep with a sword in his hand, and to stand in the balcony door, having triple-checked that the door to the bedroom was locked.

The wind picked up strands of hair beside his ears, tickling his face. His eyes scanned over the mountains, and the valley below as the farmers began to wake up and tend to their crops and cuccos. The sunlight tinted the sky lighter and lighter blue, until the cloud shadows glowed pink, and the sun finally peeked over the treetops to bathe the world in yellow. The wind brought the scent of distant rains, and he was grateful that they didn't have plans to travel that day. Nothing ruined a travel day more than rain.

"Link?" He heard from behind him, drawing his attention away from the morning air. Zelda rubbed her eyes, stifling a yawn. Her hair hung in two messy braids, one of his shirts was wrinkled and hanging sloppily over her shoulders, and she had pushed the heavier blanket off sometime during the night. He couldn't imagine a more beautiful sight.

"Yes, your highness?" He responded briskly, his eyes locked on her while his ears still listened for any approaching steps from below. He didn't expect an unfriendly appearance, but he had also come to always expect it.

"You're awake rather early. I thought that peace would soothe your mind." She observed. She stretched her arms above her head, then rolled her shoulders. "I suppose that doesn't matter very much. Have we got anything for breakfast?"

"Baked apples." He replied, thinking back to what he had made last night when he couldn't sleep. He guessed they would be cold by this point, but sweet all the same.

Zelda untied her braids, meticulously combing through it with her fingers. "I might have one in a moment." When her hair hung loose, she carefully tucked it behind her ears. "Perhaps Paya has baked something, or retrieved it from a baker at least." She spoke with such a joyful air, no doubt the idea of bread making her mouth water. As much as she teased him for being a glutton, she had exclaimed that every bite of food which reached her lips was the most delectable morsel that ever existed. He remembered feeling the same shortly after awakening. It was only after he had eaten the old man's apple that he began to doubt the sense of taking food from mysterious, hooded figures. Regardless, it was a damn good apple.

He didn't have to respond to her verbally, which he appreciated. He gave her a quick shrug, then turned his attention back to the morning. If she wanted him to fetch bread, she would ask him to. He remembered her habits better than he remembered his own. If she wanted something, she would vocalize it. While he was a man of few words, she spoke enough for the both of them.

Minutes passed in comfortable silence. Link kept his back turned to the princess as she dressed in borrowed Shiekah clothing. This had been their routine for the past few days, since reaching the village. They were originally on their way to Zora's Domain, but Zelda insisted on seeing Impa before meeting King Dorphan. The village wouldn't let them leave with a simple greeting, throwing a huge party and banquet. Neither the princess nor her hero were willing the pass up the offer. Then, on the advice of Impa, Zelda composed a letter to the leaders of the various regions of Hyrule to speak together about the rebuilding of the castle, and the instatement of Zelda to the throne. The meeting was scheduled for a month and day ahead, at Zora's Domain, given travel and boarding arrangements. So now they just waited until they received letters in return confirming the acceptance of the other leaders. The first letter arrived yesterday, from King Dorphan, confirming that he was willing to keep the others in his domain on the appointed date.

A soft knock on the door broke the silence, gaining the attention of both guests. Link and Zelda briefly locked eyes, before Zelda flicked the lock and opened the door. Paya stood in the hallway, looking rather nervous. She gave the princess a quick bow, doing her best to focus on her and avoid catching Link in the corner of her vision.

"My lady Zelda," Paya greeted, quite quickly, in Link's opinion, as if she had memorized her words and only wished now to spit them from her lips as soon as possible. "Grandmother has had the baker prepare a selection of sweetbreads for breakfast this morning." Link did his best not to show his obvious joy at her words. "And we have received word from the Gerudo chief. She has agreed to go to Zora's Domain." She stopped mid-breath, quite clearly having something else to say but not wanting to say it. He imagined that Zelda gave her a certain look to encourage her continuation. "We have a guest joining us for breakfast. A Hylian leader, Toman."

"Toman?" Zelda repeated. "I've never heard of him." She looked back at Link, still by the balcony. "Have you, Link?"

"I have not." Link confirmed, but something in the back of his mind didn't like the sound of the name regardless.

With his confirmation, she returned her attention to Paya. "Either way, I suppose it would be rude to refuse a visit from someone who has looked after my kingdom while I was battling Ganon. We will meet with him."