Chapter Nine
After several days, Zelda had come around to letting Link visit his hometown, with the exception that she accompany him. And so they traveled for days on end, through brutal sun and pouring rain, toward Ordon Village.
Link had never been more relieved than when they had entered Faron Woods. The familiar scent of trees and wildflowers comforted him. Even the sight of the Forest Temple looming over them felt comforting and familiar. "This is... nice," Zelda decided. Link nodded and stroked Epona's mane. She seemed as glad to be home as he had. "About how far out are we?"
"A few hours," Link answered. "We'll arrive by nightfall."
"We'll go ahead," the captain said as they approached the cave connecting Faron and Ordon Province. "Make sure it's safe." Link sighed, but decided not to argue. Most of the monsters had disappeared after Ganondorf's defeat, though a few still lingered He doubted any of Zelda's soldiers would know how to fight the local beasts, though. Still, he followed.
He couldn't help but smile when he saw the old, rickety suspension bridge ahead of them. They were so, so close. He would see the ones he grew up with again. He would see Rusl and Uli, who raised him, and Colin who viewed him as an older brother. He would see Ilia... He couldn't focus on her, though, especially not given the circumstances.
The closer they got to Ordon Village, the slower the journey seemed to Link. Eventually, though, they rode past his home, his former home, he corrected himself, and into the village proper.
"Hey!" Fado shouted and ran out of his home near the village entrance. "Link!" He stepped back a bit when he realized who Link's companion was. "Your Highness," he bowed awkwardly before turning back to Link. Link dismounted Epona, and Fado pulled him into a tight hug. "Long time, no see," the ranch owner smiled and stepped back, getting a good look at his former assistant. "You look good. Adventuring suits you."
"It does, yeah," Link couldn't help but smile. He hadn't realized just how much he had missed the villagers, the familiarity of everything.
"Hey!" Talo shouted. "Link's back!"
"Link's back?" Beth raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"Well of course he is," Malo mumbled. "He's right there."
Beth lit up and turned to face the royal caravan. "Oh! And he's with the Princess!" she fumbled a curtsy before running over to Link with the other two. "Hi Link," she smiled.
"Hey," Link smiled at the kids. "Glad to see you all are home safe," he turned to Talo. "I'm sure you helped with that."
"Of course I did," Talo couldn't hide his excitement that Link had singled him out. "Even Colin helped. He's at home. He's done nothing but talk and talk and talk about you."
"Is it true you're marrying the princess?" Beth gushed. Link smiled slightly, despite his lack of excitement at the marriage arrangement. He knew Beth loved her fairy tales and stories. She loved happy endings. He nodded. "Oh that's wonderful!" she bounced up and down with excitement.
Link smiled and watched the children share in their excitement. He wondered if he had ever been that happy, that carefree. He wasn't that much older than they were, he only had maybe ten years on Beth, but he felt so distant from them, and he felt infinitely older than he had when he had left the village to rescue them.
"Now then," Zelda finally dismounted her horse, her horse that looked so regal and composed compared to Link's Epona. "I would lvoe to meet Rusl and Uli." Link nodded and led her to the small house on the hill behind the creek. He smiled when he saw Uli sitting outside with the baby, Rusl nearby practicing his swordsmanship, and Colin watching intently.
"Link," Rusl stopped what he was doing and turned to face Link. The older man looked the Hero over before dropping his sword and pulling his surrogate son into a tight hug. "I had heard you were injured. I'm glad to see you're all right."
"I'm fine," Link assured and stepped back.
"More than fine from what I've heard," Uli smiled slightly. "Ah," she turned to face Zelda and bowed slightly. "The rumors are true then?"
"They are," Link nodded. Uli smiled sadly as she took Link in. Link glanced into her eyes, his own full of stress and sadness. He knew she would see through him. She had always gotten a better read on him than anyone else ever could. Well, anyone other than Ilia and MIdna.
"Well it's wonderful to meet you," Uli said to Zelda, sho smiled slightly. "Come in, come in. There's always room for one, or rather I suppose two, more. Link, you sit and play with Colin for a bit." Link rolled his eyes and moved over to Colin, who chatted with him excitedly, and watched as Zelda walked inside with Uli, and at least for a moment, everything felt normal again.