Chapter 4
The morning dawned bright and clear, a few of the sun's warm, yellow rays shining through the window of Elayn's house and spilling about the room. Navi, being a light sleeper, awoke as soon as a sunbeam fell across her sleeping form. Yawning and stretching, the tiny fairy looked about the room, slightly bewildered, before she remembered the previous day's events. The sweet smell of porridge and brown sugar wafted in from the kitchen, and Navi guessed that Elayn had been up for a while, preparing breakfast and getting things ready for the day. Navi's sensitive ears picked up the sound of even breathing next to her, which made her smile.
That boy is always so lazy, Navi thought with a shake of the head.
Flying over to Link's face, Navi began pushing on his cheek with her small hands.
"Liiiinnnk," Navi chirped in a singsong voice. "Get up, it's already past dawn, and if you don't get up we won't be able to eat breakfast before its time to go!"
Link groaned and rubbed his face with his hand, accidentally hitting Navi and sending her tumbling to the foot of the bed.
"Hey!" she cried, her voice shrill. Though I guess I deserved that, pushing on his face like I did.
Navi's cry startled the tired boy awake, making him sit up quickly. His eyes quickly located his tiny friend sprawled on her back at the foot of the bed.
"Oh, Navi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you," he said contritely, picking her up gently. "Something was tickling my face."
Navi rolled her eyes, smiling, before replying, "You just aren't a morning person."
Link only grinned in response before putting on the extra tunic he had packed, his other one still being damp from the night before.
Elayn looked up from her cooking when Link walked into the kitchen, Navi sitting on his shoulder.
"Well, look who's awake," she said cheerily. "Good morning sleepyheads."
Both boy and fairy responded with equal cheerfulness before going to sit at the table. Elayn soon followed suit, carrying two bowls of sweet smelling porridge with her. Link, being a growing boy with an unending appetite, quickly started in on his food, occasionally spooning out small bits for Navi to eat.
Elayn, however, merely picked at her food. Her cheerful attitude was only a mask for her sadness. Link was supposed to be leaving today, and she didn't want him to go, not when she'd found him again. Talking with him last night had hurt her, but it had also healed her. She had not only found him, she had found closure with the past.
"Link," she said tentatively.
Her tone of voice caused the boy to look up from his food.
"Yes, Aunt Elayn?"
The endearment tugged at her heart. How could she ever find the strength to let him go?
"I was wondering….that is…."
Elayn stopped, struggling to find the words. Link waited, expectantly.
"Would you like to stay longer with me? Not just for a visit, but to live here in my house," she asked.
Link was quiet for a moment. He had been expecting this question, but knowing the question was coming didn't make it any easier to answer. Finally, he spoke.
"Aunt Elayn," he began. "I would like very much to live here with you. You are very kind, and I like you a lot. As much as I would like to stay, I can't. I have to go back to the Kokiri Forest. That's where I belong, even if I don't always fit in, and even though I'm not Kokiri, that's where my mother took me, where she thought I would be safe. I think I was meant to be there, even though I'm going to grow up someday and have to leave. Also, I promised my best friend, Saria, that I would come back, and she's like my family, too. The Great Deku Tree, the Kokiri and the fairies, Saria, and even mean old Mido, are part of my family. I can't just give them up."
Link stood up and went to Elayn's side before throwing his arms around her.
"But I promise you, I'll come back soon, and visit for a long, long time."
Elayn hugged him fiercely and bit her lip so she wouldn't cry. After a few moments, she held him at arm's length. He wasn't a little boy, she decided. Though his body was young, the look in his bright blue eyes showed he was wise beyond his years, and she loved him all the more for it.
"You can come back anytime," she said with a smile, and Link knew she understood.
Fifteen minutes later, breakfast was finished and dishes were washed and put away. Link gathered his belongings which he had brought, and stood waiting downstairs at the shop's door with Elayn.
"Before you leave, I want you to have this," Elayn began, pulling out two packages from her apron pockets. "The one in brown paper is some lunch for you and Navi, and the one in white paper is just a small gift I wanted you to have, so you would know what your mother and father looked like. I'm sorry I forgot to show you the painting sooner. Next time you come, I'll show you the bigger painting I have of your family and mine together. It's been kept covered in protective cloth in the storage room of the shop all these years, and I think its time I hung it up again. When you come back, we'll look at it together."
Link took the parcels and placed them carefully in the leather bag with his other supplies, making sure the small painting was protected.
"Thank you, very much," Link said with a smile. "We'll be happy for the food come lunch time, and I'll treasure the painting for forever. I wish I had something to give you."
Elayn shook her head. "Your visit has been all the gift I need."
They hugged each other one last time, Elayn planting a kiss on his forehead.
"Good-bye, Link. You and Navi come back soon, alright?" Elayn asked, tears starting to pool in her eyes.
Link nodded, feeling himself starting to cry, but holding in his tears. He had to be strong for Elayn.
"Good-bye. And don't worry, we'll come back. I promise," he said.
Elayn smiled at him, the tears falling freely down her face. Link returned the smile and with a small wave, he left. It wasn't until he had run out of Castle Town that he allowed himself to cry.
A/N: Well everyone, Who is My Mother? is almost finished. Just a few more chapters to go. Are you all excited? I sure hope so! I have an idea for another story already in the works, but I won't start writing/uploading it until this story is done. I was hoping to do a story on something other than Zelda, or possibly another Link/Ilia story, but I got inspiration for a Link/Zelda, that I hope you will all enjoy. Thanks to all my reviewers, your praise and constructive criticisms are both appreciated.
