Link ran down the little path to Ordon Village. He leaped the stream and rapped his knuckles on Rusl, Uli and Colin's front door. Rusl opened it quickly and ushered Link inside. Rusl sat down on a small wooden stool and motioned for Link to do the same.
"Link, sometimes I worry about you." He said, his voice weak. "You're seventeen. You're young. You don't have any parents to guide you or tell you wrong from right." Link winced. Talking about his parents had always been a tough subject. "So I have always felt that it was my duty to lead you in your life. I have treated you like a son, and right now, I need to have a talk with you like a father has with his son."
Link blinked twice. That usually meant he was listening. Rusl continued.
"Link, someday you are going to get married. Am I correct?" he asked. Link nodded. "And all of us in the village suspect that person is going to be Ilia. Am I incorrect?"
Link blushed. Married? To Ilia? Forever? The idea seemed strange.
"When we are working in Ordon Ranch or whenever I talk to anyone in this village, they all agree that eventually you will marry Ilia and take place as Mayor of Ordon." Rusl explained. "Well, when the time is right, give her this." He pulled out a small silver necklace from his pocket. Link recognized it; it was a silver circle made of vines. Every married woman in Ordon wore one. It symbolized eternal marriage and bliss.
"Propose to her. It may not be Ilia, but I have a strong hunch it will be." Rusl stood up and motioned towards the door. Link clasped the necklace in his hand and walked towards the door.
"Oh, and one more thing. After you are married and the time is right, just act on your instincts." He winked at Link. "I'm sure Ilia will make a wonderful wife and mother, and you will make an exceptional husband and father."
Link walked out the door and blinked into the suddenly way-too-bright sun. Wife? Mother? Husband? Father? He was seventeen! None of those terms should apply to him OR Ilia. She was only sixteen. He clenched the silver necklace in his hands tightly. Rusl was too nice in giving him the necklace. It must have cost a lot of rupees, and he must have traveled to Castle Town just to purchase it. He imagined himself with Ilia, tying the string of leather with the silver ring of vines around her slender neck.
Father?
Father!
Link raced to his secluded tree house.
"Ilia! Ilia!" he called up to her as he feverishly climbed the ladder. She rushed out onto the balcony to greet him.
"What is it Link?" she asked him, grabbing his forearms. "What did he want?"
"Nothing." Link muttered. He wrapped his hands in Ilia's. She glanced up into his eyes. She loved his eyes. They were beautiful and deep. And thoughtful. Very thoughtful.
"Link," she breathed. "Do you want to sit in Ordon Spring or something?"
He nodded. She smiled and they both climbed down the treehouse ladder.
Link helped Ilia on top of Epona. He didn't stop staring at her. She nervously grabbed on to Epona's white mane. Link rested his hand on her thigh and grabbed the leather reigns. She gasped lightly. Link looked up at her and smiled. They walked to Ordon Spring together.
