Thank you to Just-AWESOME-old-me for the review, in case it was unclear, it was the wooden board that broke, not the Ocarina

Part I
A Hero's Second Chance
Years 504-505 FH

Chapter II
Happy Hearth

Link vaguely heard a man shouting and grabbing the drunk, but in his state he couldn't be sure of anything. He felt someone wrap him in his rough, thin blanket and gently pick him up in their arms but he was constantly fading in and out of consciousness and it was hard to make sense of anything.

He couldn't gauge the time that passed between each moment of almost clarity where he could vaguely sense what was happening around him, but he did know that at some point he had been brought inside a warm room that had the feeling of a crackling hearth. He could tell he was laid on a bed, for what felt like the first time in forever, though it had only been a little over a year since he last was under a warm cover and laying on anything other than the hard ground.

Link felt, and sometimes saw, an old man with a long beard, blue robes, and a doctor's hat wrap bandages around his chest and arm but he hadn't noticed when his ratted tunic had been removed. Shortly after the treated bandages had been applied, what little remained of Link's waning strength fell from him and he closed eyes and let his muscles rest. As he started to fully drift into the land of sleep, he heard two people talking, a man and a woman.

"I can't believe you called a doctor, Al," the woman hissed from about ten feet away.

"It's better than a priest, Ayra," the man answered. "He's a little boy."

"I know, dear. He's nothing but skin and bones and bruises."

"No one else was intervening. I couldn't let that drunk beat him to death. It would be akin to murder. You didn't hear him scream for help, Ayra. You didn't see all those people turn their heads and pretend they couldn't hear. I couldn't…" He make a shaking sound, almost like he was about to cry. "How could anyone turn away from a child being beaten in the street?"

"Don't loose faith in your fellow Hylian because of this," the woman whispered back.

"How can I not?"

"Because you didn't turn away and you can't be the only one that would have gone to this boy's rescue. You were just the first. It only takes one kind soul."
"Yet countless other let this happen."

(1)

When Link woke next it was morning and the light of dawn was filtering through a musty windowpane covered partially by an orange curtain. The smell of bacon and sweet breakfast porridge was what woke him. His ever aching stomach, which rumbled grumpily at him to get some of that tantalizing smelling food before he shriveled into skin and bone nothingness, was not helping him rest for any longer.

Link, powered by his stomach alone, pushed himself up into a sitting position, hissing in pain when he felt his ribs grate against each other inside him and his bruised shoulder scream in protest of the weight placed on it. He felt a cold, damp cloth fall from his forehead, where he hadn't noticed it, onto his lap with a squelchy thump. He couldn't tell if he had a fever or was just warm from being inside a real home for the first time in a long time.

The attention of the family that called this room their personal home was on him in seconds and he noticed two things first. One, the old man, whom he assumed was the father and husband, looked more worried than everyone else, and two, the young man had been sleeping on their couch, which undoubtedly meant Link was sleeping in his bed.

"Are you alright, son?" The old man asked, kneeling by Link and placing a comforting hand on Link's less injured shoulder. He wasn't really old, just middle aged. But he looked old to Link. Anyone over twenty-five looked old to Link.

"Why?" Link's voice barely made a sound. His mouth was dry, but still salivating at the smell of food. If he hadn't just had a full day of food with Ella he wouldn't have known when he had last eaten more than discarded scraps. "How'd I get here, sir?" Link asked quietly.

"I saw that man beating you so I intervened and brought you to my inn, the Happy Hearth," the man said, moving his hand to Link's and holding it to tell Link that he was safe and in a place where no drunk would be able to belt him anytime soon. "What's your name?"

"Link."

"I'm Alfondo Tapton," the man had a very sincere expression that was only strengthened by his kind and honest face. "That's my lovely wife, Ayra," he pointed to the woman cooking, who just scoffed at her husband and cooked even more furiously than before, "my daughter, Ema," a young woman smiled at Link from where she sat, sewing buttons onto old shirts, "and my son, Bindle." He pointed lastly to the young man on the couch, still rubbing sleep from his eyes but looking none the worse for wear after sleeping on a couch.

"Why'd you help me?" Link asked. "I don't have any money."

"No, no," Mr. Tapton frowned. "We don't want any money, just to make sure you're safe."

"I'm sorry, but I can't believe that," Link couldn't bring himself to look at the family any longer. "I just… I can't. Sorry."

"Where do you live? We'll get you home, how about that?" Mr. Tapton said, not at all deterred by Link's lack of faith.

"Anywhere I can sleep, I guess," Link answered, feeling ashamed for his lot in life even if it wasn't his fault, not really. He had tried so hard to find an apprenticeship or a job or anything that would get him off the streets and into anywhere with a roof, even if he had to sleep under a table or with the animals, but no one'd take him so he was stuck outside like a rejected dog. "I've probably got lice in your bed, sir."

"Don't worry about it," Mr. Tapton reassured Link. "You don't have any parents?"

Link shrugged. "I never knew them. All I know is my mom died from injuries she got from the last battle in the Civil War. She fled to Faron Woods so they couldn't have been too bad I suppose. She died after getting me to safety."

"But that was twelve and a half years ago. You can't be more than ten?"

"I'm twelve, sir. I don't know when I was born exactly. All I know is it was twelve years ago during the Civil War, not after, and it hasn't been thirteen years yet, just almost thirteen, so I'm not thirteen for sure. I can't pay for your kindness."

"It's on the house, Link."

"Nothing's free."

"This is, I promise. Did your mother have any family we could take you to?"

"If I knew that, I doubt I'd live on the streets, sir. I don't even know the names of my parents. My father could still be alive, I suppose, but I don't know how to find him. It's okay. I'm fine." Link started to get up.

"Whoa, where do you think you're going, young man?" Mr. Tapton placed his hand on Link's shoulder, stopping him from getting up. "You're in no condition to leave this bed. Just rest, alright? We'll take care of you."

Link didn't answer. He just looked down at his lap and stopped trying to get to his feet. He couldn't believe that anyone would take him in out of charity. He had seen first hand what charity really was; people volunteering at the temples during a holiday to hand out food to the less fortunate. They'd return to a warm home with a full cupboard and pat themselves on the back for being generous and giving up a day of their life only to see the very people they 'helped' the day before and turn a blind eye when they saw that they were still starving.

Link almost stopped going to the temple for food after a kind woman had actually sat down to talk to him only to pretend she had never seen him before when he thanked her a few days later. People with fortune and luxury didn't care about him unless it suited them. Ella was the exception but she wouldn't be after he was gone and she had grown up. The clergy didn't count either but they couldn't do enough to help everyone and Ella would never become part of the clergy. She had other responsibilities.

Link lay back down and closed his eyes, trying not to get accustomed to the feeling of a bed or the smell of food or even the sound of the crackling fireplace. Mr. Tapton went to his wife's side after he was certain Link wouldn't try to make a dash for the door to preserve his pride. He gave her a kiss and she leaned into him. Ema only glanced at him a few times from her sewing project. But Bindle was trying, and failing, to keep a desecrate eye on Link, no doubt watching to make sure Link didn't slip anything into his pocket for fencing later.

Link didn't blame him. He knew exactly what he'd get for all of their small treasures just by glancing at them. And he knew how far it would go to restoring his lost savings and get him through the winter, which he was now certain he wouldn't live through. Someone with less conviction to what was moral and just and with a stronger sense of survival would have undoubtedly taken advantage of the Tapton's blind trust and slipped a few small antiques, maybe even a spoon or two, into their pockets and never be seen again, disappearing into depths of the slums or maybe even the wilds outside of the gates.

"Al," Mrs. Tapton whispered, only barely loud enough for Link to hear over the silence of the early morning. "I know he needed us last night and the days before, but now that he's better maybe we should bring him to an orphanage or a temple or something. Just, out of here."

"Ayra!" Mr. Tapton hissed, sounding hurt. "He's a child. And in no condition to leave yet. Look at him."

"I am and now that he's up and moving I can see just how dirty he is and he's in our son's bed. You heard him too. He has lice. He lives on the street, Alfon. How do we know that if we let him stay any longer he won't take my mother's ornamental dishes and silverware and leave in the middle of the night?"

"Ayra, have faith!"

"The orphanages are overflowing," Link informed them, not wanting to listen to them argue anymore. "And I'm too stupid to steal. If I wasn't I'd have enough food. Maybe even a bed to sleep in. But I'm stupid so I starve. Ella says I'm chivalrous, but it'll just shorten my life, not make me classified for knighthood. I'll leave as soon as I can."

"You will not leave this home until I know you're going somewhere safe," Mr. Tapton scolded. "Maybe we can find your family?"

"I don't have any. I've gave up looking months ago. It's a goose chase. I've got nothing to go on and you've already said it, I'm too far gone. I'll never get off the streets."

"Well I haven't given up yet," Mr. Tapton answered. "Since you're so keen on paying for this hospitality, how about we strike a deal. You can sleep in one of the rooms, which we can move you too once you're better, and I'll hire you as an omnibus. You'll clean and we'll keep you warm and fed. And there's pay."

"Alfon, we can't afford an omnibus," Ayra hissed at him, shaking him with her wash towel.

"It's just until we find your family."

"I… You're sure it's alright? No one's ever… I don't usually get looked at twice… I can't… I don't know…"

"Think about it and when you're ready, we'll talk pay."

"Really?"

"Alfondo," Mrs. Tapton hissed.

"Really," Mr. Tapton answered with conviction, brushing his wife off. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, that porridge smells like it's just about done? What say we serve that up? I bet I'm not the only one here starving!"

"I doubt you've ever been starving, sir," Link scoffed. He didn't usually point out his state in life, but that term had always bugged him. People tossed the word starving around like it was a substitute for the word hungry. He never heard it in the Lower District, only the Gate District and Market District. He was certain the word was thrown about in the other's as well. People who were starving didn't complain about it, they accepted it. He'd give almost anything to just simply be hungry. "But it does smell very good, Mrs. Tapton. You're sure I can stay?"

"Maybe I'm lacking in faith, as my husband said," Mrs. Tapton turned to look at Link and met him in the eye. "You seem like a good boy. Don't break my trust."

"I won't, ma'am," Link said.

(2)(2)

The food was just as delicious as it smelled and Link wanted to ask for more but he didn't want to be a burden. He hadn't eaten meat since he still had his sword and bow and could hunt, clean, and cook his own game. So he had no idea the last time, or maybe the first time, that he had had well done meat, cooked to perfection and soaked in grease and herbs. Like with Ella before, Link was the first done eating, but he remained quiet, listening to the family talk. He watched them prepare the rest of the food for their guests who would eat in the main room of the inn.

When Mr. and Mrs. Tapton and their daughter left to serve their customers, Bindle stayed behind with Link. He continued his sister's chore of mending buttons, glancing at Link every once in a while. It was clear he shared his mother's view on how Link could bring more trouble than Mr. Tapton thought he was worth.

"How long was I asleep?" Link asked. The room wasn't silent, the sound of people eating breakfast in a common room was just on the other side of the door, but it still felt quiet.

"Three days," Bindle answered. "You had a bad fever, but it broke last night. We called Dr. Shikashi to see you after Dad brought you in here. You were in pretty bad shape."

"I felt pretty bad," Link agreed.

"The doctor'll be back here later today to see how you're doing. He'll be happy to see you're awake. You almost didn't make it."

"I always thought I'd die of starvation or illness, not from accidentally bumping into a violent drunk. Guess I've still got that chance."

"You're not going to accept my dad's offer?" Bindle asked, sounding suspicious, like he excepted Link to pocket the spoon he had eaten the porridge with and run away.

"I dunno," Link answered, choosing to ignore the distrust on the young man's face. "No one's been this nice to me before. I've asked for multiple jobs and apprenticeships but I always get a door slammed in my face. I didn't think I'd get an offer like this without begging for one without rest until they either caved or called the guards."

"People are that mean to you?"

"It's okay. I'm used to it. And not everyone's mean. It's just that no one that can do anything is nice. I'm not used to this." Link motioned to the personal room he was in. It was homey and cozy with a sitting area, a dining area, a kitchen, and three beds. "Even when I was traveling in the country, I could only ever really get people to let me sleep in their barns. And where I used to live wasn't this nice."

"How long have you been alone?"

"Around three years. I got kicked out of my home by someone I thought would always protect me and love me. At least it was mid Awakening so I didn't have to worry about winter until later. My friend came with me but… She left a few months later. I spent a few years wandering around Hyliana Province and Faron Province. I went to some of the boarder towns in Lanayru Province as well, but I came to Castle Town to look for my parents. That was a year ago, today. It's Enday, right?"

"Yeah, the ninth."

"Not a good day to try and get settled in a new place with absolutely no connections. Even worse, I suppose, since winter starts really kicking in later this month. But I'm not very good at planning ahead. Maybe I should stay here. It's warmer than outside."

"You've been on your own since you were nine?"

Link nodded. They fell back into silence. After breakfast had been served to the rest of the inn and its patrons, Bindle switched places with his father and went out with his sister to buy supplies and 'partake in other activities befitting two young adults in the prime of their life', which Link assumed meant personal shopping and talking to other people their age that they liked. Mr. Tapton was busy keeping the books for the rest of the day and Link busied himself with pretending to sleep but he was actually thinking long and hard about what to do next.

He knew that if he did accept Mr. Tapton's offer, his wife would protest and he wouldn't end up in a room, like Mr. Tapton had offered. If he was lucky, Mr. Tapton would at the very least push for giving Link a bed or a mat, but Link would not get his own room. That was too good for him since he wasn't part of their family, extended family, or even the child of an old friend.

People didn't do things for children if they didn't have a relationship with their parents and Link had no parents so no adult would do anything for him without him first reaching adulthood himself. Even people like Mr. Tapton, who seemed to want to pretend that Link was some distant cousin from the countryside there to learn how to live in a big city, were not exempt from this rule.

It was late in the afternoon and the sky had already started to turn different shades of pink when Dr. Shikashi hobbled into the inn to make sure Link was healing nicely. Link had run into the doctor before on multiple occasions and, like he was with other people who were his elder, he was always polite and greeted him with a smile and bow of the head, but neither of them knew each other by name or often exchanged more than a polite greeting.

"How are you feeling, child?" Dr. Shikashi asked Link as he checked the boy's forehead for any lingering fever.

"A little better, sir," Link answered, not meeting the doctor's gaze with his own.

"You've still got a small fever I'm afraid, but it's much better than before. I'd say you're out of the woods and on the road to recovery."

"Thank you, sir," Link mumbled.

"You should also thank yourself. I wasn't sure if you'd make it. You've recovered rather quickly. I didn't expect you awake until next Cenday, if at all."

"I've always recovered quickly. It helps keep me on my feet."

"Yes, yes," Dr. Shikashi nodded knowingly and stroked his beard. "A very remarkable gift indeed."

"Yes, sir."

Dr. Shikashi checked and changed Link's bandages. He also pressed a little on Link's ribcage to see how his ribs were healing. Judging from the pain, Link guessed he had three broken ribs and at least five bad bruises. Since his head wasn't wrapped as much as the rest of him, he also guessed that his head wasn't as injured as he first thought.

As the doctor left, he gave Mr. and Mrs. Tapton instructions on how to change Link's bandages and what to feed him to help fight infection and the lingering fever. Link liked the sound of honeyed tea but didn't think potato broth would be very good, especially since he didn't like potatoes. But beggars can't be choosers and Link would eat anything at this point, even mashed potatoes, his least favorite type of potatoes.

"Dr. Shikashi, wait, before you go I have a few questions," Mr. Tapton said as the doctor began putting his coat back on and collecting his things.

"I hope I have answers," Dr. Shikashi chuckled warmly.

"You deliver babies, right? And you lived here during the Civil War?"

"I do and I've lived here since I finished learning my practice in Lanayru University. Castle Town born and raised, you know."

"Yes, me as well," Mr. Tapton nodded, still deeply involved in his line of thought. "Did you deliver any baby boys around the end of the War who's mother fled during the last battle, with the baby?"

"Mr. Tapton, it's alright, really," Link said when he realized where this was headed. It seemed like Link had not been the only one deep in thought while pretending to do something else, like sleep or keeping books.

"It can't hurt to ask, Link."

"As a matter of fact, I do know of a family that could very likely have met with that fate. Yes, you know, it was roughly twelve and a half years ago, but I'm sure that must have been what happened. I delivered a baby boy the morning of the last battle, the one in Castle Town, and the mother fled, badly wounded, from Dead Fang when they took advantage of the army and guards' preoccupation with Ganondorf and his forces. It was Lieutenant Linandra."

"One of the heroes of the war?" Mr. Tapton asked, the entire family, which had been doing other things but was now at rapt attention, looked very stunned at the mention of this name. It sounded like a big name drop but no one had taught Link much history, recent or otherwise, so he didn't fully understand how shocking this news was.

"Who's Lieutenant Linandra?" Link asked, not wanting to be out of the loop if this conversation went further in a new direction.

"Sir General Christofen and Lady Lieutenant Linandra Hylexia were married a year before the war ended," Bindle answered. "It was only a few days after the treaty between King Hyrule's forces and the Zoras signed a treaty with the Gorons and their Brotherhood alliance from the mining and mountainous provinces of Hyrule. It was a big deal at the time because General Christofen was the leader of the Hylian army under King Hyrule and Lady Linandra was the daughter of Fereld Smithston II, Duke of Eldin, and leader of the Hylians in the Brotherhood.

This meant that the two knew each other before the alliance was struck. Their marriage was what made the alliance between the two previously very opposed factions so unified against Ganondorf and the Renegades, the alliance of the Gerudo and the western and southwestern provinces of Hyrule."

"Sir General Christofen was a master tactician," Dr. Shikashi added. "The second youngest General and youngest man to ever be General of Hyrule's main forces at nineteen. The youngest was Queen Zelda I, Warrior of Hyrule, who founded the kingdom alongside her right hand man and cousin, Sir Link the Valiant Hero, who was one of the Great Heroes who wielded the Master Sword. I believe he was the last Great Hero to use that sword. It's long since disappeared."

"Link is a family name of Hylexia, is it not?" Mrs. Tapton said. "I know it's a terribly common name, since so many parents want their boys to grow up to be noble, courageous, and kind, like the name implies. But when the Hylexia family names a son Link they usually become quite the hero."

"Yes, they're descendants of many Great Heroes, no few named Link" Dr. Shikashi nodded, knowing stroking his beard again.

"Sir Christofen and Lady Linandra both went missing after that battle," Ema mused. "They never recovered their bodies did they?"

"No, I'm afraid not," Dr. Shikashi said. "I was one of the doctors treating the wounded and I did help to identify some of the Knights of Hylia who didn't make it. The Gerudo have a habit of taking the armor and swords of those they defeat in battle as spoils of individual victory so many of the knights and soldiers were hard to identify without their crests. The baby was the only civilian who went missing. Everyone else was accounted for."

"Link," Mr. Tapton turned to Link where he still lay on the bed. He looked to Dr. Shikashi again. "You don't think he could be the missing child of Sir Christofen and Lady Linandra, do you? His name and the circumstances of what orphaned him fit."

"My mother fled the final battle with me. I thought she was headed south for Faron but she veered too far east. Maybe she was headed to east to Eldin and ended up going to far south."

"It is entirely possible," Dr. Shikashi answered, his voice at little misted. "In fact, it is very probable. I practice often in the Upper District, where Hylexia Mansion is located, and I have treated that family for many maladies and delivered almost every child born in that house since I earned my license. I delivered both Sir Christofen and Lord Quan, his younger brother.

Had I been just a decade older, I might have delivered their mother, Lady Runnella, who annexed Ordon Province into Hyrule Proper nearly fifty years ago. You have a remarkable resemblance to Sir Christofen at his age, though I suspect you look like Linandra at that age as well, though I only saw her when she was pregnant with her child. You do resemble both of them."

"So we're certain he is the missing baby?" Mr. Tapton asked. He sounded stunned that it had been that easy to find Link's family, and that it was that particular family.

"No, not one hundred percent. I do not know what they named their child. There is a small possibility that our assumptions are wrong, as there always is. Unless we know for certain what the boy's name was, we cannot be sure. I would suggest you arrange a meeting with Lord Quan to see if he knows the name of his nephew. He is up from Ordon this time of the year. If we are correct, I'm certain he will be overjoyed to be reunited with his closest of kin, the son of his lost brother."

"Thank you very much, Dr. Shikashi," Mr. Tapton said as Dr. Shikashi began to out his coat on for the second time that evening. "You watch out for yourself."

"Yes, yes, I will, I will," Dr. Shikashi nodded. He looked to Link and smiled kindly. "I wish you luck, my boy, on your inquiries. May you find what you are looking for."

"Thank you, sir," Link answered, bowing his head respectfully as the doctor left. When the door closed behind the man, Mr. Tapton was left standing, leaning on the door in stunned excitement. "Was that real?" Link asked quietly. It was that simple. He didn't need birth records, just to find the doctor who delivered him.

"It was," Mr. Tapton answered, turning to face Link and his family. "See, that wasn't so hard, was it? We've found you're family."

"We're not entirely certain, Al," Mrs. Tapton corrected. "But it would seen we're very hot on the trail."

"I suppose finding anything is like this," Link said. "You lose something and look for it endlessly, only to find it was right under your nose the entire time and then you feel kind of silly that it took so long."

"The Hylexia's, though," Bindle said. "That sounds far fetched but when I think about it from strictly a historical perspective it makes perfect sense."

"You know a lot about the Civil War," Link noted.

"I want to become a historian. Lucky me that Ema's the oldest so she inherits the Happy Hearth Inn and I get to do whatever I want with my life."

"It just so happens that I like this inn," Ema laughed. "It's been in our family for hundreds of years. You know, the Minish Hero stayed here once. That's our biggest seller."

"Youngest ever to be awarded the Medal of Heroes for saving Queen Zelda the Steadfast, though she was still Princess at the time, from Vaati after he turned her to stone and stole a magical relic from the Royal Family. He was a blacksmith and forged the Four Sword. That sword was used by the last Great Hero, who split himself into four to defeat Vaati reborn. Both those heroes, or all five, rather, were Hylexia. The Hero of Four was fifteen when he received his Medal of Heroes."

"I wonder if they gave him four or just one," Ema laughed. "Didn't he put the sword back so he was one again?"

"Yes, he did, and they gave him one," Bindle answered. "We're due for another hero anytime now, you know."

"I don't think so," Link said. "Besides, there's no need for a hero if there's nothing bad happening. So I suppose the longer we go without need for a Great Hero the better."

"You think Hero Keaton was the newest Great Hero?" Mrs. Tapton said. "It certainly fits, I think. Mysterious youth appears from nowhere and stops a very bad man from doing very bad things then disappears before anyone can so much as thank him. And if he is, he stopped a Great Catastrophe before it even began."

"But this hero is prophesied to travel through time with the Master Sword, which is still missing. Plus, Hero Keaton is a Kokiri. One of the requirements to be a Great Hero is being Hylian. I'd say the Great Hero is Sir Christofen except this hero is supposed to the Hero of Time and use the Master Sword, which hasn't been seen since Hyrule was founded over five hundred years ago and the Valiant Hero used it."

"Did I have anything on me when you carried me here?" Link asked, suddenly acutely aware that he didn't have his coat on and therefore didn't know where the Ocarina of Time was. "There was something in my coat pocket."

"We didn't go through your pockets," Mr. Tapton assured Link. "Your coat is in the cloakroom. I'll get it for you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Bindle, you think maybe that prophecy's wrong? The one about the Hero of Time appearing from outside of time, wielding the Master Sword, to stop an evil tyrant. We'd need an evil tyrant for that and the closest we came to that was Ganondorf almost killing the new King but failing when that Sheikah woman intervened with evidence that he was using foul magic."

"Can we talk about something else?" Link whispered.

The fact that he knew exactly why there was no need for the Hero of Time and the Master Sword was because of him made this conversation awkward for him, but he couldn't say that because he wanted to keep that secret for as long as possible. If people thought Sir General Christofen Hylexia, former Duke Ordona of Ordon and great Knight of Hylia, leader of the Hylian Army, with all of his fancy titles and heroic ancestors, was the Hero of Time then that would make Link very happy. Sir Christofen was most likely dead, so he couldn't correct anyone.

Mr. Tapton returned with Link's ratted coat and handed it to him. Link quickly felt it to see if the Ocarina of Time was still in the hidden pocket and it hadn't been broken when the drunk had belted him. He was relieved to find it secure and intact.

"You'll need new cloths if you're going to be going to the Upper District. And we'll need to take care of those lice of yours and clean off all that dirt."

"But I can't afford new cloths. I can barely even afford to keep these."

"Nonsense," Mr. Tapton said. "I'll pay for the cloths."

"If we're right, I can pay you back."

"If it makes you feel better."

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