Author's Note: This took longer to get out than I hoped, but college took my attention away for awhile but it's out now and I hope it is worth the wait! Anyway in this chapter Impa goes to question Link about his drawing of her. I hope you guys enjoy!
Impa awoke to be first greeted by her soft blanket, mattress, and pillow as always. She sat up, resting her feet on the wooden floor as she looked to her window. The sun's golden, morning light cascading through its glass. Captured in the sun's light, laid on her cupboard, next to her bed was her portrait. She picked it up and began admiring the lad's drawing, appreciating its detail. The more she looked at it, the more she discovered about her face she never noticed in the past.
She proceeded to get dressed and leave her bedroom for breakfast. It was odd for her these days. Back at the Castle she was up before the sun began to rise, and instantly she began her duties of training knights, guarding the princess, and carrying out any of the king's orders. Now here there were no duties for her to attend to, she wakes with nothing to do. She found herself thinking on occasion, "How can people live like this?" but over time she has come to appreciate the quietness this village offered, the fresh air it breathed, the friendly villagers it was home to. This is truly the right place for her to seek peace from her troubles.
After breakfast she headed to the tree, where she feels most peaceful, and where she believes she'll find that boy. She desired to talk with him about the picture he drew of her. Not to confront him, but to thank him. After all his sneaky portrait of her has brought her more pleasure than displeasure.
Arriving at the tree she sat under the shade it offered and proceeded to admire the sunny day, the view it provided, and her portrait in her hand. There she waited from morning to evening, but the lad never showed. She wondered why he didn't come up today, but supposes he has other things to do besides just coming to sit under this tree all day. So, she made her way back to her house planning to come back and hopefully see him tomorrow, and at that same time Link returned to his home from training.
Impa awoke to another sunny day. After getting dressed and having breakfast she went to the tree where she sat and waited, but again the boy never showed. Believing she shouldn't expect him to come here everyday she headed back once the sun set, not expecting to see him for days, and at that exact moment Link was finishing his training with Rusl.
…
The next day Impa was making her way to the tree, wrapped in a white cloak that protected her clothes and skin from the rain. She headed to the tree with no expectation of meeting the lad today, the past couple days teaching her that his time under the tree was probably a rarity. Climbing up the hill she soon arrived at the tree, taking her cloak's hood off as she took shelter under the tree's branches, but the moment her hood left her head she froze in surprise as she saw before her, seated by the tree, was the boy she had lost hope in seeing again. He was drawing.
He looked up to her and smiled. It took her a second to overcome her shock before she smiled back. As he went back to his drawing her eyes wandered over to his paper to see a beginning of a drawing, and she pondered what it will eventually become. She then remembered the portrait, the reason she wished to see this lad so much. Her hand dove into her pocket, coming out armed with the boy's discarded artwork.
She held it out to him asking, "Did you draw this?"
Link looked up, the second his eyes met the paper they widened in shock and he instantly shot up to his feet inquiring in an anxious tone, "H-how did you get that?"
"I found it at the bottom of the hill, where I assume you lost it. Listen, all I want to know is why you drew this in secret!"
Growing more nervous Link replied, "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. And I didn't lose it I threw it away! I felt awful about it when I realized what I did. I promise it won't happen again and I'll rip that paper apart and burn it."
Seeing how sincere the boy was in his apology she decided to stop torturing him, and lost her scowl as she said, "There won't be any need for that. I've actually become quite fond of it. Would it be ok with you if I keep it?"
Link stared at her confused for a moment when he stammered, "Huh? Erm, y-yeah sure, but wait what?"
"Sorry lad, but I am not truly angry with you. Though, I am a little annoyed that you dew this without my consent. Just promise me you will ask next time."
Realizing that he was forgiven for what he did he smiled relieved, "I will. I promise."
"Good." Impa smiled back then sat down, resting her back against the tree as she enjoyed the view. Still slightly embarrassed Link sat down too and continued with his drawing. They both were silent for a moment until the Sheikah uttered, "I'm curious to know. Why did you draw a portrait of me?"
Link's mind travelled back to that time he decided to draw her face, he remembered why he did so, but felt embarrassed to say. Though he knew he couldn't lie about this now, so spoke the truth, "Because well…I thought you were pretty, and I wanted to see you with a smile."
The grey-haired woman was caught off guard by his answer which caused her cheeks to slightly blush. "You shouldn't say that to an older woman."
"Oh, right sorry."
"You needn't apologize."
Link then returned his focus to his drawing, and Impa began to admire his drawing of her.
"You truly are a skilled artist lad."
"Huh?" Link uttered returning his attention to the older woman.
"Your drawing." She said, showing him her portrait, "In it you have expressed your skill with a pencil without fail."
"Oh, thanks." Link replied with a cheerful smile. He loved it when others complemented his drawings, it let him know he was honouring his mother well.
"It is almost life like, as if you have cast a spell that has placed my face on this paper. If it wasn't for the familiar grey lines of a pencil I would probably believe that to be true."
"Heh, I think you're exaggerating a bit." Link replied rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Oh no, I speak only the truth. You have displayed your talent with a pencil flawlessly on this paper."
"Yeah? Well, thank you!"
"How long have you been drawing for?" Impa inquired with a voice full of curiosity.
Link thought for a moment, "I guess ever since I could put pencil to paper. My mom was a professional artist, over the years she taught me to draw the best I could."
"Does she still teach you?"
Link hesitated for a moment before he answered, "No, not really. I prefer to do it on my own now."
"Developing your own skills and techniques? I respect that."
"Yeah, although nothing I've made has even come close to been as good as my mom's."
"If that is true than your mother must of created utter masterpieces."
The blue eyed boy smiled at her words, "Yeah, she did."
A moment of silence passed when Impa asked, "Why do you draw, lad?"
The brown-haired boy answered, "Oh, erm I don't really know." He thought about the subject for a second when he continued, "I guess because I find it relaxing, when I look at some of the beautiful things in Hyrule I want to draw it, keep the image of those things with me."
Impa looked to him impressed, "I didn't expect someone of your age to have a reason such as that."
"Yeah, well I do it because I find it fun too." He assured.
"Of course." The older woman smiled.
Link looked at her smile, and was happy to see her real face with a real smile, "My drawing of your smiling face really doesn't do your real one justice." He complemented.
Impa's smile transformed into a shy grin as her cheeks took on a shade of red. She felt almost ambushed by his words, and didn't know how to respond. "Didn't I say you shouldn't say such things to a more mature woman?"
"Yeah, sorry, I know but it's just...true." He replied.
The red tattooed woman remained lost for words. Never has she been complemented like this before. She wasn't certain if he was being honest, or if he was just trying to get on her good side because of what he did. Either way she wished not to remain on this subject (although the slightest part of her did) so she changed it saying, "What are you drawing at this moment?"
Deducing she desired to flee the topic of her smile he replied, "Oh, it's my horse."
"You posses a horse?"
"Yeah, her name's Epona. One of the most loyal horses in Hyrule, and the fastest!"
"That is quite the bold statement."
"Trust me, if you saw her ride you'd believe that too."
"Hmmm, I'm intrigued now. How is the drawing coming along?"
"Well, it's still only at the beginning stages, so its got a long way to go."
Impa realized that all her questions were probably slowing his drawing down, so she decided to cease her interrogating for now, "Sorry, I've been distracting you."
"Oh, no-no-no it's fine-" Before Link could finish the grey-haired woman interrupted, "It's ok lad, I'll let you focus on your drawing." She looked away from the boy and to the view of Hyrule Field, while Link returned his attention to his paper, and for the rest of their time under that tree they enjoyed a peaceful silence between them. Eventually it came time for them to seek shelter in their own houses as night began to take over Kakariko Village. Before they leave Impa desired to know how far the lad's drawing had progressed so asked, "How is your new drawing coming along?"
As he packed up his things Link replied, "It's not finished yet, but it's getting there."
"I would like to see it when it is complete." The Sheikah stated making the boy smile.
After donning their rain cloaks they both said goodbye and returned to their houses. As both of them enter and shut their doors behind them they think of the individual they just spent a pleasant day with, but realize they don't know the others name.
Link sat on his bed looking out his window, finding himself hoping it will rain tomorrow, and on top of the highest hill in the village, within the largest house Impa found herself hoping to enjoy the lad's company again in the morning.
Author's Note: So Impa and Link finally talked to each other! Hope it was a good first discussion between the two. Also the reason they don't know each others name yet is because I forgot to write that introduction between the two, once I realized that I thought it would be a cute ending for them to want to find out the other's name, I hope I was right about that. So I think the next chapter shouldn't take as long as this one to get out especially since half-term is right around the corner, but that's not a promise. Anyway I hope you guys enjoyed! And please review criticism is welcome!