Rusl

Link did not return to Hyrule Castle that night. He was hurt, worried, and, forced to admit, afraid. Afraid for Zelda. Afraid of what it might mean if the beasts he had seen earlier were truly Twilight creatures. There was only one place Link could turn, only one person he wanted to talk to, and that was Rusl, in his hometown of Ordon. Rusl was like a father to Link. He had taught him swordplay, fishing, farming, and a little of everything in between. If Link was ever unsure of where to turn, he sought Rusl's advice. Rusl was wise and gentle. Somehow, he always knew exactly what to say.

It took Link some time to calm Epona, but she quieted quickly after the dragon-bird disappeared. Gathering his sword, Link mounted her and rode out of the canyon expecting an ambush from behind the whole time. None came. But the constant vigil set his nerves on edge, sapping his strength. The rain did nothing to help. In the dark downpour, he could hardly see past Epona's head. His shoulder throbbed, a sharp, constant reminder of his failure. He kept his arm tightly folded against his chest, riding Epona with a one-handed grip on the reins. She was accustomed to this, as he often rode with sword drawn, but Link was careful to keep her calm so that she wouldn't throw him again. He kept to the forests and back roads as he traveled. He didn't want to meet anyone along the way.

Link arrived in Ordon late that night, nursing an injured shoulder and a growing sense of failure. He came into town past his old house. Someone, probably Colin or Ilia, was keeping it nice. A cheerful blue and green banner hung from the doorway. It did little to lift his spirits tonight. He wound his way through the village, for a moment, glad of the late hour and the rain. He saw no one on his way to Rusl's house. He pulled Epona to a stop just outside of the light of the lantern that burned brightly on Rusl's porch. Suddenly the door burst open and Colin came running outside despite the rain. He had grown a lot since Link had last seen him and no longer wore a kid's tunic. Now he wore the traditional Ordon goatherd outfit, a white shirt with a blue sash around his waist over tan leggings. The muscles in his arms and chest attested to the hard work he was putting in at Fado's ranch. His wide, serious eyes were set into the lean face of a young man now, his blonde hair dark and short, making him appear older. He had to be about thirteen now anyway.

"Hey, Link!" he shouted a greeting and splashed across the yard to meet Link. "I knew you would be coming back soon. I just knew it! I heard hoof beats outside the door and knew they were Epona's." He chattered excitedly as Link dismounted stiffly.

Link didn't answer.

"Link, is there something wrong?" Colin ventured. Not only were he and Link good friends, but Colin was gentle-natured and could read emotions and feelings well. Link knew that there would be no hiding from him. He turned to face Colin and gave him the ghost of a tired, half-hearted smile.

"You're hurt!" Colin exclaimed. For the first time, Link realized that his tunic was stained with blood, despite the rain that he had ridden through. Some was his own, some was the dragon-bird's.

"It's not all mine," he said. "Is your dad home?"

"Sure. He's inside with Mom and Kale," Colin returned guardedly. He knew something was amiss and Link wasn't telling him. "You go inside, Link. You look dead on your feet. I'll take care of Epona."

Link nodded wearily and trudged up the stairs onto the porch. He hesitated a moment before putting his hand on the worn door and pushing it open. Something in him balked at the idea of telling anyone what had just happened. But his more reasonable side told him that he needed help. He took a deep breath and stepped into the well-lit living space of Rusl's house, a place so familiar to him that it could have been home.

"Oh, Link!" Uli, Rusl's wife, greeted him with a startled exclamation. She jumped up from where she'd been sitting on the couch and put an arm around Link's shoulders, careful of his injured one. "You look terrible! Please, come sit down," she motioned to the couch. Link followed her suggestion as if in a daze. He sank, exhausted, onto the couch. As he sat down, he realized that he was so tired he could barely keep his head up. Uli sat beside him, sliding a basket of sewing onto the floor. She brushed his damp hair from his forehead, probing his face gently with her eyes. They sat in silence for several moments.

"Something grave has happened today," she finally said.

Link nodded.

"I won't ask until you are ready," she said. "But that shoulder needs attention. May I?" Link nodded again and obediently took off his tunic and the soft undershirt that he normally wore under his chain mail. How ironic, he thought, that he had neglected his chain mail today because he thought he wouldn't need it.

Uli examined his shoulder gently. She sang softly to herself as she worked, as much to pass time as to comfort Link. After looking at the wound closely, Uli fetched a bowl of hot water and a clean cloth and began cleaning Link's shoulder. Though her touch was light, it was all Link could do to sit still.

"You're lucky," Uli said as she pulled a length of clean white cloth from her sewing basket. She began winding it around Link's shoulder and upper chest. "Any deeper and you would need a few stitches. As it is, I think you will be alright if you don't strain it for the next few days."

"Thanks, Uli."

She smiled. When she was done, Link leaned back, resting his head against the back of the couch.

"It's a clean cut, Link, and you're strong. It will heal swiftly," she kissed his forehead as she rose. Just then, Colin returned from tending to Epona. Uli caught him as soon as he entered the room. "Colin, run fetch one of your father's tunics for Link."

Colin left the room, clearly disappointed that he couldn't speak to Link yet. As Colin disappeared upstairs into the sleeping quarters of the house, Rusl came downstairs. He stepped up behind the couch and laid a hand on Link's good shoulder. Link opened his eyes.

"I thought I heard your voice," Rusl said gently. "I can see you've had a rough day. Do you want to tell me what happened?" He stepped around the couch and sat down in a chair facing Link. Colin reappeared at that moment, holding a rust-colored tunic in his hand and followed by his younger brother, Kale. Link took the tunic with a murmured thanks and gingerly put it on, avoiding strain to his injured shoulder. Uli quietly picked up Kale and motioned for Colin to follow her upstairs. Colin opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it, and with a backward glance at Link, followed his mother. When they left, Link took a breath and then spilled the whole story to Rusl.

"Princess Zelda got kidnapped," he concluded. "And I failed to save her."

"You didn't fail, Link," Rusl smiled gently.

"Then what would you call it? You don't get named Hero for letting Ze - the Princess get caught by monsters."

Rusl caught Link's slip of the tongue, but he didn't mention it. "You aren't named Hero either if you aren't expected to go to the ends of the earth to get her back. You haven't failed," Rusl repeated. "In fact, quite the opposite. You now have the opportunity to prove your loyalty and courage in the Princess' rescue."

"Will everyone see this the same way you do?" Link put a voice to the fear that was coiled in his stomach like a snake.

"Link, you are the Hero of Hyrule. People all over the kingdom see you in that light. They trust you. Princess Zelda trusts you. Do you think they have forgotten your great deeds already?"

Link saw the truth in Rusl's words and berated himself for being so easily worried. He supposed that it was his love for Princess Zelda and his concern for her safety that had him so on edge.

"No one is expected to do a job right the first time," Rusl continued. "Everyone needs some practice. No one is perfect, Link. We all make mistakes. It's what we turn those mistakes into that really counts."

Link nearly gave Rusl a smile. Just then, Uli called Rusl from the other room. Rusl stood and walked up the stairs with the promise that he'd be back shortly. Link sat in silence, mulling over Rusl's words, already forming his next actions in his head. Suddenly, he felt a little hand tug at his pants and he found himself looking down into Kale's large, dark eyes. "Link is hurt?" Kale whispered.

"Yes, Kale. Link is hurt," Link replied.

"I'm sorry," the little boy said sadly, climbing onto the couch beside Link. He curled up against Link's side, a comforting warmth. Link leaned his head back once again and closed his eyes. He was tired, so tired...

Rusl returned to find Link and Kale asleep. Link's arm was around the little boy and Kale had his thumb tucked into its customary place in his mouth. They looked so peaceful that Rusl didn't disturb them. With a smile, he blew out the lanterns and went back upstairs.