A/N: This chapter was revised as of 12/30/12 – Mostly rewritten, added scene.

This chapter was revised as of 5/6/13 – Minor errors and typos fixed.

This chapter was revised as of 12/15/13 – Polished, enhanced by readers' criticisms.

What Makes a Hero

By: Selphie Kinneas 175

Chapter 2: A New Family

.:.

A mere two days had come and gone since young Link found himself in the unfamiliar village of Ordon, but he had not yet left Rusl and Uli's sofa. He couldn't get the image of his father's corpse out of his mind – no child should ever have to lay eyes on a dead, mangled body, especially that of a parent or loved one.

His hosts often brought him food and water, but seldom did he take either. The boy began getting frustrated when the young mother tried to force him to eat or drink, even though she only had his well-being in mind. He did not yet feel well enough to satisfy his hunger or thirst, and being in the state of shock in which he was in, he hardly even noticed his grumbling stomach or his dry throat.

He was grateful for the company and the caring hands of these strangers, but he honestly wanted nothing more than to be left alone where he could cry without anyone watching over him.

He was not yet strong enough to step out of the little house and greet the stark, new reality that awaited him. It wasn't physical strength he lacked, but mental and emotional. Suddenly having the only family he'd ever known taken away from him and being unable to return to the one place he had called home his entire life was immensely frightening. What was he going to do now? Where was he going to live? Who was going to care for him?

Who would he go to when he simply needed a loving hug? He sobbed just thinking about it.

Days continued to whisk by and Link stayed put on that same sofa. Sometimes he cried gently, others he bawled uncontrollably, but most times he was simply there, staring straight ahead with a glazed over look in his eyes and an agonized expression on his young features. He kept closing his eyes and trying to fall asleep, unconsciousness being the only time that he could escape from the horrible image in his mind and the unnerving reality that he was now an orphan.

Rusl and Uli didn't know what to do for him other than simply leaving him alone as much as he wished it, which was most of the time. He wasn't trying to come off as rude or unappreciative, he just didn't know how to continue on after what had happened.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this was all a nightmare. He kept pinching himself, hoping to find himself waking up in his comfortable bed, in his cozy home, with his loving parents greeting him at the start of a new day. But every time he opened his eyes he saw that he was in the house of a stranger without anyone he could readily talk to. With every waking moment all he felt was utter loss and despair – he wanted nothing more than to be rid of all those horrible feelings.

He was realizing that he just wasn't himself anymore. Since that first night that he came to the village, he hadn't spoken. It was as if his voice had gotten up and left him of its own accord; they hadn't heard him utter a single word since his arrival. When they would try to speak with him, he would simply show his response by shaking his head, but most times he showed no acknowledgement at all.

He didn't feel like the same happy, smiling boy who he had always known himself to be. But then again, what reason did he have to be happy and smiling now?

Rusl had been checking on him continually as he slept, just to make sure that he was still alright. He couldn't fathom what the boy was going through, as he had been much older when his parents had departed Hyrule for the Sacred Realm, and his mother and father had gone at separate times. Not only that, but they weren't viciously murdered. Rusl sighed as just the thought of how this child must be feeling made his heart ache.

Other than being worried for the boy's wellbeing, Rusl had also been very intrigued by his appearance. His clothes were torn and dirt was plastered to his face and body in various places. His pointed ears had been of much interest as the Ordonian did not see people of true Hylian lineage very often. There were only about a handful of people in the kingdom with pointed ears, most of which consisting of the royal family.

The thing that caught the older man's attention the most, however, had been the glowing, golden triangle on the boy's left hand – it was the very symbol of the Goddesses themselves, and it wasn't placed on just anybody. The day after his arrival, though, Rusl noticed that the Triforce had completely faded away.

Despite his rugged guise, the swordsman had read many books on Hyrule's history in his time and took a strong interest in the matters of the Triforce and the Goddesses simply because he found them fascinating. He remembered reading in one of the texts that the mark of the Triforce would only manifest itself on the Chosen Hero when he was of age to become as such. Rusl ran his mind ragged thinking about this peculiar boy and what he saw on his hand that day. Had it even really been there at all?

There was simply no possible way this could truly be the Link that would grow up to save Hyrule from whatever evil was to plague it in the future. There was just no way he had a young hero residing in his home. After contemplating it for much too long, he merely settled his arguing thoughts on the idea that perhaps the boy had had dirt on his hand, and he had hastily jumped to conclusions; this boy being the next legendary hero was simply preposterous.

It was almost a week to the day when Link finally agreed to step outside the house with Rusl. It had taken some convincing, but he eventually obliged. The young boy thought that the only thing they would be doing was getting some fresh air, but what he didn't know was that Rusl had gathered every inhabitant of the village for a small luncheon feast to welcome the town's new resident.

They were a simple people, but they took great pride in caring greatly for one another as well as others. Each and every individual in Ordon considered their fellow villagers as their family, and they were all very close to each other. Every birthday, every anniversary, every anything… they celebrated by gathering together in the center of the village.

Before any of this was planned, Rusl went to each family and told them of the young boy who had stumbled into their midst. He informed them of the manner of his appearance, and the few things that he had mentioned about himself on the night of his arrival. Everyone instantly felt sympathy for the poor youth; it was a horrible thought to imagine what it must feel like for such a young child to suddenly lose everything they ever knew and loved. Driven by their kindness and their compassion, the village unanimously decided that formally welcoming the young lad into their community was necessary.

As soon as Link took a step onto the dirt of Rusl and Uli's doorstep, he was instantly blinded by the sun, and instinctively he raised his forearm to block his eyes from the bright rays. After his eyesight adjusted, he saw a large banquet table set up in the middle of the small village, and seated around it were people he didn't recognize (save a few from the night of his arrival).

He saw kids around his age, kids littler than him, as well as adults all smiling in his direction and seemingly excited to greet him. He just didn't feel ready.

He immediately got the urge to turn around and run back into the cottage and onto the sofa, the only place he felt safe and comfortable anymore, but Rusl blocked his path.

"Hey now," his deep voice spoke up, "don't you want to meet the people that are going to be your friends and neighbors?"

Link looked up at him blankly, unsure of what to say. At first he wanted so desperately to start crying and say, 'no,' but something stronger inside him prevented that. After a few silent moments of deliberation and calming of his inner anxieties, the only thing he gave in response was a slight nod.

Rusl smiled and patted the boy's shoulder comfortingly, leaving it there as he led him to the villagers that were excited to meet him. When they saw that Link was now willing and ready, everyone stood, eager to introduce themselves and learn about their newest neighbor.

Before the young boy could even reach the table, a blonde-haired girl who he vaguely remembered seeing the night he arrived bolted up to him.

"Hi! I'm Ilia! You said your name is Link, right?" she chirped enthusiastically, only inches from his face. Her curly blonde hair was high above her shoulders, and her eyes were a piercing shade of emerald.

Link jumped back a bit, alarmed, and took a moment to regain his composure before giving the young girl a nod in affirmation.

She squealed in excitement and clasped her hands together as she responded, "We're gonna be the best of friends, Link! Just you wait and see!"

For the first time in what seemed like forever, a miniscule smile tugged at the corners of Link's lips, but if one wasn't paying close attention, it would have been impossible to spot.

At that moment, a large, corpulent man came up from behind the girl. Noticing that she was directly in the newcomer's personal space, he said, "Now, Ilia, don't frighten the lad." He then turned his gaze to the boy, "Link! I'm Bo, mayor of this great village! You'll like it here, I can guarantee ya that!"

Link was silent and unsure of what to say. Noticing this, Bo began taking the initiative of the introductions. Rusl released his grip on the youth's shoulder, relinquishing him to be guided by the mayor.

"Well, I see that you've met Ilia; she's my daughter," Bo began, Ilia smiling brightly upon the mention of her name. The mayor then pointed to three people behind Ilia, saying, "And this here is Hanch, Sera, and little Beth."

Hanch was a short, thin man with brown hair. His wife, Sera, however, was quite large in comparison. Her hair was a lighter shade of brown and was tied up in two buns. Their daughter, Beth, was rather tall for her age, clearly taking after her mother. Her short, light brunette hair was adorned with a red headband, and dozens of freckles danced on her pale skin beneath her cerulean eyes.

"I'm not little!" the small, four-year-old girl shrilled angrily, crossing her arms over her chest in a fit, resulting in unwanted laughter from the adults.

He continued, "Now that there is Jaggle, Pergie, and Talo," as he pointed to another family at the opposite side of the table.

Jaggle was a short man much like Hanch, and he was also a brunet. His wife, Pergie, was a bit taller than her husband with her coffee-colored hair tied back. Their son, Talo, had the same green eyes as his mother, and his chocolate locks were mostly covered by a red bandana. It was clear that this little boy was a rambunctious one.

"Tay-oh!" the young boy shouted; an attempt at his name. He had just turned two and therefore did not know much else in words beyond his given name.

Link glanced at each person in turn as their name was stated, trying to memorize the face and the name together. He also couldn't help but smile at the littlest ones.

"You remember me, don'tcha?" a boy about Link's age bounded up to him, the same one from the night he stumbled into Ordon. He had a long face and a large nose with freckles sparsely decorating his cheeks.

Link took a short minute to recover from the sudden outburst, blinked, and then nodded slowly.

"I'm Fado!" he said with a grin and a thick country accent. Link nodded again, signifying without words that he understood. After shaking hands, Fado went back to his respective place at the table.

The mayor was about to carry on, but Rusl stepped forward and took the reins in order to best introduce his family, saying, "I'm Rusl, my wife's name is Uli," he continued, the young, fair-haired woman coming closer along with their one-year-old boy, "And our son here is Colin," the baby cooed and reached out for Link's finger.

Finally having the opportunity to take in his caregivers' appearances, they didn't seem so intimidating. Rusl had sandy-blond hair and a thick, dark mustache above his thin lips. Almost invisible crow's feet surrounded the man's teal eyes, and his five o' clock shadow was thinly spread across his cleft chin. His wife, Uli, was young and had delicate, feminine features. Her golden hair was cut in a short bob and her eyes matched that of her young son's. Their boy, Colin, was very small. His little tuft of hair – much like his irises – were identical to his mother's.

Link smiled at the infant and gave him what he was reaching for. The tiny baby grasped his index finger tightly and grinned widely with a hearty, squealing laughter.

Rusl then spoke up again, kneeling down to be at the boy's eyelevel, "Link… I don't know what has happened to you, I don't know exactly who you are, where you have come from, or if fate has brought you to us, but as far as everyone in this village is concerned, this is your new home," he stood up, outstretching his arms, "All of this is a celebration of the newest member to the family that is Ordon Village!"

With that, light cheering swept over the group universally. Link tried to hide it, and he felt guilty for having even the smallest of joyful feelings, but he had to smile; he had never witnessed this degree of kindness in people who were not his parents.

Rusl then took on a disparaging expression, "Well, you know, Link… I don't believe you've introduced yourself to all of the villagers. In fact, I don't even think most of them have heard you speak," he said teasingly, glancing at Link from the corner of his eye.

Link gazed up at him for a few moments, then down to the ground as he tried to find his voice. Did he even still have a voice? Or had it gotten up and left like almost all else he had grown accustomed to in his life? He cleared his throat, trying to remember how to speak.

"Um," he began quietly.

He looked up and noticed that everyone was watching and waiting for something, anything, to be said. Normally, speaking to people wouldn't have been a problem for Link in the slightest, but he was still emotionally and mentally drained from the death of his parents. He looked to the town's entrance, half expecting to see his father come galloping in on his steed, pick him up, and take him back home to his mother. When it didn't happen, he let his gaze fall back down to the earth at his feet.

In his mind, introducing himself to these people meant agreeing to becoming a part of their village and their lives, in turn, meaning that his parents were truly gone. Accepting their offer meant that they would become his new family, and that he would have to leave his old one behind.

A courage and acceptance far beyond his young years told him it was going to be okay, that these people would love him and think of him as one of their own, and that he had to accept that this was a new chapter in his life.

It was time to conclude the old one.

"Hi everyone," he spoke up, "I'm… Link."

Smiling, it seemed, had become contagious. Each person grinned widely as they then, in turn, went up to Link for a more proper welcoming. Some of the women and children gave him hugs and chatted him up a little bit, while the men gave him a firm handshake or a clap on the back and welcomed him to the village.

"Everyone," Bo's booming voice sounded over everything else, "Let's feast!"

The meal lasted several hours; most of them spent simply chatting. Many of the adults tried to ask Link about his previous life, but Rusl was quick to nip that kind of talk in the bud; he knew the lad wasn't ready to discuss it just yet and that he wouldn't be for quite some time.

About halfway through the lunch, Rusl pulled Link aside in order to talk with him one on one. Link looked nervous as the older man knelt down to his eyelevel and placed his hands on the boy's shoulders.

"Are you alright with all this?" he asked.

Link was still for a moment, slightly confused, before giving a nod.

"Good. I just want to make sure that you're comfortable. I can only imagine what you must be feeling, and I didn't want myself and the rest of the village to make you feel uneasy if you aren't feeling up to mingling just yet."

Link remained quiet.

Rusl furrowed his brow, having found himself so far unsuccessful at getting the boy to speak comfortably with him. He thought for a moment and then said, "Are you afraid?"

The young lad looked up at him a bit perplexedly, expecting the older man to elaborate on his question. When no such thing occurred, the boy took a moment to think… Was he afraid? Afraid of what? He pondered it long and hard, coming to the realization that there was so much to be scared of: the uncertainty of what was going to happen to him now, the unknown in being away from all that he had grown used to, and so much more.

He nodded slightly, "I am…"

Rusl gave him a soft smile, showing that he truly cared, "That's a good thing. It shows that you have accepted what has happened and that you are looking to the future. It might seem bleak or even rather terrifying right now, but I want to assure you that you can and will find solace in these people, in us. We all treat one another as if we were all related by blood. I want you to think of us as your new family. Do you think you can do that?"

Link tried fighting the tears, but one drop inevitably made its way from his lashes, and he quickly wiped it away with a nod.

"I want to hear you say it," Rusl demanded gently.

The boy took in a deep breath and said, "I can do that."

Rusl grinned and pulled the anxious child in for a hug. Link was too surprised at first to react, but it only took a matter of seconds before he realized just how much he had been in need of a loving embrace, and he returned the gesture. They pulled away not too soon after and exchanged knowing smiles before heading back to the table.

Not long after the children had finished eating, they quickly became bored with the adults having uninteresting conversations at the table and decided to leave to go play.

"Gee, grown-ups are so boring!" the young, blonde girl stated.

"I know… Hey! Wanna go play with the goats? I bet we could get one real angry and have it chase us!" Fado suggested enthusiastically.

Ilia gave him a look, "Why would I want to be chased by an angry goat, Fado? Gosh, you say the stupidest things!"

"Gee, Ilia, you don't have to be so darn mean," Fado said dismissively, resulting in quiet laughter from Link that he could not stifle.

"I think we should go play with the horsies! They're much more fun than those smelly goats!"

Ilia's last words sent shocking realization through Link's small body in a flash. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened, no longer hearing the two as they bickered about what they were going to play. He frantically began looking around in every direction, obviously looking for something in particular.

"What is it?" the brown-haired boy questioned.

"Are you wondering where your horse is?" Ilia asked, her hands on her hips.

Link's gaze instantly locked into her's, and he nodded frenetically.

"Well, maybe you should pay more attention to her!" she barked angrily.

Fado rolled his eyes, "Gosh, Ilia, if ya know where his pony is, why don'tcha just tell him?"

Ilia scoffed, "Fine!"

Link followed behind as the three eldest of the children ran up a small hill to an open field where they came to a barn.

"She's in there," Ilia pointed, but Link was already running there as fast as he could.

He took one step into the worn out shed and instantly saw his beloved birthday gift. He sprinted over to his filly and threw his arms around her neck as he pet her mane. The biggest grin he had produced in days was now embedded on his lips; at least he had one loved one from his family left, and that was all he needed.

Somehow, as he held onto his adored friend, he knew that he was going to be okay. It was in that single, simple moment that he knew everything would be alright. Without a doubt, he also knew it would be hard and painful, going through life without his father and mother, but he thanked the Goddesses that he was lucky enough to be brought to this village in all of Hyrule. Despite what had just happened to him, he still felt like one of the luckiest children in the land.

He had lost his family, but he had gained a new one.

Link turned around to face Ilia, "Thanks… you know, for-"

"Yeah, I know," she smiled, no longer able to be upset with him after his display of affection for his mare, "I can see she really likes you. Just don't forget about her again!"

Link grinned as he turned back to his companion, "I won't."

When one door closes, another opens.