Zelda pushed Link's bangs back, noting how relaxed he seemed. His eyelids were soft and forehead free from the lines that worried it just an hour earlier. Were it not for the tear tracks on his cheeks and the deep, shuddering breaths that periodically wracked his body, this would look like a typical mid-morning nap.

Link inhaled in again on cue, the breath catching in his throat like a gasp and Zelda thought of Link sparring. She'd been watching him for years and was familiar with his battle cries, the grunts of effort he made he went in to strike or took a hit on his shield. Those sounds were ugly, but this sound was worse. Worse than the Loftwing's lament, worse than when he'd wailed into her shoulder and clutched her so hard she thought her ribs might break. Perhaps it was worse because it was the way a child would cry.

She stroked his hair softly and pulled her ugly blanket tighter around his shoulders, wanting to keep him warm. Link was still wearing his damp shirt and pants though she'd managed to convince him to take off his boots. He'd wrestled with Pipit and Eagus outside, wanting to whistle for his Loftwing and head out in search of his parents. Pipit had finally taken Link by the shirt collar and shook him. "They're gone, Link!" he'd shouted. "They're… I'm sorry, but they're gone."

After that, Link let Zelda coax him inside, and a few minutes after she'd gotten him upstairs into her room, after which Eagus came in with tea. Link had downed it in one gulp then laid down on her lap, his tears soaking a large spot on one leg. He was still laying there, having succumbed to sleep in a surprisingly short amount of time.

"Eagus, what was in that tea?"

Eagus flushed and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "A large amount of Skywheat Spirits."

"Skywheat Spirits?!" Zelda yelped. "Eagus! What were you-"

"He needed to sleep for a bit and calm down. He'll have a clearer head when wakes up."

"He's barely had half a glass of honey wine," Zelda frowned, threading her fingers into Link's hair. "Will he wake up?"

"Yes, Zelda. He'll be fine."

Eagus was leaning against the door frame while Zelda continued stroking Link's hair. Outside the storm had arrived in full, with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder that shook the walls so hard Zelda felt it in her bones. Or perhaps that was her grief rattling her from the inside.

The sound of footsteps brought Eagus and Zelda to attention. Sir Heron appeared in her doorway, soaked through from the rain and flicking water onto her door when he pushed his flight mask up.

"We finally got that bird calmed down. He let Gae take his harness off, but we couldn't find any injuries," he said, shaking his head as he put his hands on his hips.

Gae, Zelda thought. To all the students he was Headmaster Gaepora, but those who knew him well called him Gae. Larke and Orel called him that. There had been an old familiarity between them. Had they been close when her mother was alive? Was her father part of their lives since Larke and her mother had been best friends? Owlan once told her Link's Uncle Ugo had been her father's best friend, had he been close to Orel as well when they were young?

"Where'd the blood come from, then?"

Eagus' words caught Zelda's attention. Blood? She hadn't been close enough to see that, but if there was blood on the harness… she shuddered and tightened her fingers in Link's hair.

"We're not sure," Heron grimaced. "Best guess is a pack of skytails since they come out in the storms, or Albertos said something about lightning because the bird did have burnt feathers. We don't know who got hit or… they both could have been hit. It's impossible to say. Corvus just saw Orel's bird flying back towards the island, screaming so loud he heard it from three-hundred yards away."

Eagus huffed and shook his head. "Hylia, curse it. I can't believe this."

"Me either. I've known Orel my whole life," Heron sighed. "He was one of the best flyers I've ever seen. And it wasn't like Larke was a bad flyer. That bird of hers would have died before it let anything happen to her."

"Perhaps it did," Eagus murmured. The crack in Zelda's chest rumbled, threatening to split her in two.

"We'll never know what happened," Heron said. "Loftwings don't talk."

Eagus sighed heavily and looked at the ceiling. "Larke used to babysit me, she taught me how to read and used to let me sit on her bird all the time. When she and Orel started dating, I hated him."

"You did?" Heron asked, a smirk on his face. "It didn't seem that way when you were begging to go

flying."

"Yeah, but at first I hated him. I had the biggest crush on Larke. I was four or five, alright?" Eagus said when Heron laughed.

"I remember that now. You probably weren't the only one. We used to give him all kinds of hell after they got married," Heron chuckled.

"Still called me Little Eagus every time I'd see her around the village," Eagus said, a small smile on his face. "My mother and Larke are the measures by which I judge all women."

"No wonder you're single," Zelda interjected. Heron laughed and Eagus quirked an eyebrow at her. "Those are impossible standards, Eagus. Your mother is a treasure and Larke is… she..."

Zelda stopped, voice caught in her throat. She frowned and looked back at Link, willing back the tears burning her eyes. Lightning flashed outside and thunder roared a second later, rattling windows and reminding them how devastating it could be. When the noise subsided, Heron's shining eyes turned to Link.

"How's he?"

"Eagus gave him Skywheat Spirits," Zelda scolded.

Heron gave him a look but Eagus just shrugged. "It was the only thing I could think of to calm him down," he coughed, drawing a large hand across his face.

Heron sighed then, lips pursed as he stared at Link. "Gae already called the Congress members together. They're meeting tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Orel was Captain, they're going to have to name someone. If we go by ranking, you're next in line to-."

"No, I'm staying here. I like the kids, I'm good at this. Someone else can take it," Eagus said, shaking his head. "What are they going to do about Link?"

Zelda frowned. She didn't realize Link would need anything done with him. "I'm sure he'll come up too," Heron mumbled. "He turns of age in a few moons, right? I remember Larke was pregnant all spring."

"He turns in the summer," Zelda said. "His birthday is Eldin 3."

Heron gave her a sad little smile. "You two have been close for a long time."

"Since we were five," Zelda replied, still running her finger through Link's hair. "Eagus what did you mean by 'what are they going to do about Link?'"

"Who's going to take care of him," Eagus said. "His tuition is covered for this year, so that's not a worry, but if he wants to stay on next year or when he makes it to senior status… someone will have to arrange for that."

"If Orel and Larke hadn't done it already," Heron added.

"Right," Eagus agreed. When Zelda continued to stare, Heron let out a heavy sigh. "He'll need a place to live, Zelda. The house will be put up or-"

"Wait, they'll sell his house?!"

"He'll automatically get one if he becomes a Knight," Heron said placatingly. "Every Knight-"

"But that's his house! That's… Orel was given that land when he was a knight, he built that house! Larke told me he proposed to her in that house! Link was born there you can't just- that's Link's home!"

Eagus considered her before looking to Heron. "She's got a point. It doesn't seem right. Especially if he's seventeen soon and you know he's going to be-"

"The Congress doesn't see it like that," Heron interrupted. "They see it as space, they see it as income for the community, or income for Link. We have little space on the island as is and if they can split it up to build more-"

"No, they can't do that," Zelda hissed, trying to keep her voice down so as not to wake Link. "They just can't. They should ask him first. Surely he'll-"

"He's a minor," Heron said. "Someone's going to have to decide all of this-"

"They won't even give him a say?!" she spat, gently removing Link's head from her lap so she could stand up. He sniffed once but did not wake. Zelda stared at him. He was taller than her now, but he looked so… small under that blanket.

"He's less than a season away from turning of age. It isn't right to just-"

"Perhaps not, but that's… that's the way it is, unfortunately."

Heron frowned at Zelda's expression then gave Eagus a brief nod and walked towards the exit. Zelda stood in the middle of her room for a moment, then stormed past Eagus into the hall.

"Woah, woah," Eagus cautioned, catching her by the arm. "You charging out there to yell at someone won't do any good, Zelda."

"Who's on Congress right now?" Zelda asked. She knew permanent members of the governing body of Skyloft included her father as Headmaster, all instructors at the Academy, and the Captain of the Guard, but they rotated other members to keep the community involved. Two business owners, two citizens, and two active knights were elected to serve every other year.

Eagus blew out a long sigh. "Aside from all of us? Jakamar, Luv, Gondo, Albertos, Cheli, and my dad."

"So, no one who can speak for Link?"

"Jakamar and Albertos know Link pretty well. Owlan and Horwell teach him. Your dad and my dad were both friendly with Orel and Larke. They'll say something. I'll say-"

"But Link doesn't have a voice. This is his life, that's his home, he should-"

"Zelda, he's not going to be in the mood to make decisions. He just lost his parents," Eagus said.

"Someone needs to tell them that," Zelda muttered, crossing her arms over her chest and looking back to Link. "It isn't right. He's not a child, he should have a say in what happens. The Wing Ceremony isn't for another three moons, and we'll have classes for a week after it before Link would have gone home, anyway. Nothing has to be decided tonight."

Eagus considered her, eyes narrowed as he chewed his lip. Zelda put her hands on his large forearm and squeezed. "Eagus, where is that meeting? You know this isn't fair. Think about Larke. That's her only child. She wouldn't want this."

"You realize I stopped having a crush on her twenty years ago," he smiled sadly. Zelda continued to stare at him, and finally he sighed. "Fine. They hold meetings like this at night. Be at the Bazaar by eight. When you see me walk in just follow behind me. You can hide in one of the booths. If you are even a minute late, you're out of luck."

Zelda nodded and watched Eagus walk away before turning back to Link asleep on the bed, thinking this was the least she could for his parents after all they'd done for her.

Zelda was lurking behind the Bazaar, a cloak pulled over her head to protect her from the steadily falling rain, when Eagus approached. He shook his head when he saw her. "I'm going to lose my job."

"What?" Zelda hissed, walking out of the shadows to stand behind him.

"Nothing," he muttered, pushing back the cloth that covered the entrance to the Bazaar. It was eerily quiet, booths covered and only a few lanterns lit. Eagus walked inside, resolutely ignoring Zelda as she scampered behind the counter of Luv's potion booth. Her father was just in front of her, two fingers pressed against the bridge of his nose as he stared at the floor. Jakamar and Albertos stood across from him, grim expressions on their faces. Eagus approached his father, Talon, who looked just like him save for the grey flecked in his hair.

"How's Link?" he asked.

"He'd just woken up when I left. He was quiet, but that's not unusual."

"Did someone let his girlfriend know?" Albertos asked, having turned to listen to the conversation.

"Which one?" Jakamar snickered. Which one? Zelda thought. Link had only had one girlfriend, and they'd been-

"He and Kina broke up before the last full moon. Zelda was in her room when I left," Eagus lied.

Zelda's face grew warm. Had people started thinking she and Link were together? She'd certainly been giving it some thought. Back in the Sparring Hall he'd been smiling lopsidedly at her while she tried to hold her ground against his teasing, feeling almost sick from the butterflies in her stomach. Link had looked like he was going to kiss her, he'd even leaned forward. Zelda would have closed the distance between them if there hadn't been so many people in the hall. She didn't want to kiss him there in front of everyone. She wanted somewhere private, somewhere special, where she could push her hands into his thick hair and press herself-

Zelda took a deep breath and suppressed a shudder. This was not the time to be thinking about kissing Link. Not after everything that had happened.

Fledge's Mother Cheli, Luv the poitioneer, and Gondo the repairman arrived a few moments later, all three wearing rain cloaks and looking tired. "I want to make this quick," Luv said, rubbing her slightly swollen belly. "This pregnancy is wearing on me and I've got to get more sleep."

Zelda peered over the edge of the counter and watched her father nod solemnly. "First thing we need to do is select a new Captain. Albertos, Talon, how are the other knights?"

Albertos swallowed. "They're all shaken. Some of us have known Orel since he was just a kid and flew with Ugo before him. The others have all known Orel since they were kids. This is going to be hard to recover from."

"Did Orel ever mention anyone taking over for him when he- " Her father paused awkwardly, clearing his throat before going on. "If he retired?"

"He mentioned Heron since they worked close together, but Eagus is next in line," Albertos said, frowning when Eagus shook his head.

"Orel knew I prefer working with the kids," he explained. "I like being at the Academy."

"It would be my preference that you stay on," Zelda's father said. "You have a way with them, and Goddess knows Link won't be the only one needing support through this. Orel spent about as much time at the Academy as he did on patrol."

Zelda felt cold. Orel always stopped by her room to say "Hi", or if he found her in the yard he'd shoot with her for a bit. He would stop to give Pipit flying tips, and after Eagus told him Karane was taking all the classes required for Knighthood, Orel had offered to give her individual sparring lessons. She'd see him talking to Link, or to Owlan, or to her father. Zelda choked down the swelling sensation that rose in her chest and wiped her cheeks, leaning against the table while her father continued speaking.

"All right," her father sighed. "Let's… look at it from another angle. Is there anyone the others wouldn't want as Captain?"

Albertos pursed his lips. "Cregger is not suited to the position, and Talon, you've said for a long time you don't want-"

"I don't," Talon said. "Heron would be my choice. He's the same age as Orel so he's got a number of years in him yet. He doesn't have a family-"

"I think having a family is what made Orel a good captain," Albertos interjected.

"I agree," Zelda's father added. "But if Orel and Heron worked closely together, he'd know schedules and any plans Orel had. He's well liked in the community and he's devoted to the squadron and everyone in it. I formally nominate Heron for Captain."

"I second," Talon said.

"Third," Eagus added.

Zelda heard quiet murmurs of agreement then Gondo spoke. "I think it's unanimous."

Zelda's father nodded. "Settled. Talon, I'll trust you to talk to him. Now…about Link."

Her father exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose again. "Since he's a minor and a student, he's a ward of the Academy for the time being. But there's the matter of the house and all the possessions," he explained, speaking very matter of factly, almost detached. "If he were of age, they'd fall to him but since he's not, they fall to his guardian. Which means they fall to us."

Cheli frowned. "Didn't they have a guardian named for him?"

"As far as I know they never named another person after… after Ugo died," Zelda's father explained. "The odds of them dying at the same time were…"

He fell silent. Zelda chanced a look over the counter and saw Jakamar frown at her father. "What about Larke's parents? Are they still-"

"Larke would come back and curse us if we left Link with them."

"Orel wouldn't be far behind her," Talon added.

Cold rushed through Zelda again. Link had... grandparents? Had he ever met them? Where did they live? She knew there were a few residents scattered on the larger islands off of Skyloft, but they were mostly farmers or keepers of produce. Was one of them Link's grandmother or grandfather?

"If land and possessions fall to his guardian, and the Academy is his guardian, that technically means they fall to the community," Luv pointed out. "That's a large plot of land and there are at least two or three knights coming through in a few years, right, Gae?"

"This is true," Her father agreed. "It's one of the larger plots in the village. Since the assets belong to us there is the possibility of splitting the land and selling the house."

Zelda scrunched up her face and punched the ground, frustrated that it was her father suggesting this insane plan. Hadn't Link lost enough? Did he need to lose his home as well?

Zelda remembered the countless hours they'd spent running that house as kids, building forts out of blankets and pillows, playing outside behind Orel's workbench. She'd practically lived there sometimes, Larke had even gone so far as to make her a special sleeping space if she wanted to stay the night.

"I think we should," Luv said. "Split up the land that is. If we have to plan for multiple Knights in the next few- "

"Now hang on," Jakamar interrupted. "Orel helped build that house with his bare hands, my dad told me all about it. If Link is on track to be a Knight why not just let -"

"Because the community needs the assets in the interim," Luv continued. "If we have more students coming into Knighthood, we're going to need the land. The classes coming through are larger than normal. You know how tight housing is, Jak. Plus the money from a sale would help the community."

Zelda almost jumped to her feet. They were going to take away Link's home and not even give him the money from it?! Why wasn't her father putting a stop to this? After everything Larke and Orel had always done for her, and for him, didn't he care about Link at all?

"Any money from the sale would go directly to Link," Zelda's father said to her relief, though his voice remained detached. "It would cover his room and board for two years, until he became a knight in his own right… if that's the path he stays on."

"But if the house falls to the community, the money from an auction should go to the community," Luv argued. "Even if we didn't split the land, that house is large and will fetch a nice price. And Larke had that machine Orel made her that he never would share the plans for. That's worth a lot of rupees and the plans for it mean everyone could have one," she explained, scoffing when the rest of the group stayed silent. "We need to look at this practically. There have been wards of the village before, haven't there? What happened then?"

"It's been a while," Albertos said with a sigh. "It was Orel and Ugo wasn't it, Gae? That was… over twenty five years ago though."

"They were never wards. Ugo was seventeen- almost eighteen. The house and possessions automatically fell to him, and they pushed his Knighting ceremony through a season early so he could take custody of Orel," Her father explained. "If Link was seventeen now I'd say let it sit empty. But he's got over a year before his Senior year, not to mention a Wing Ceremony and final tests to see if he makes it. Orel and Larke paid his tuition yearly, in case he changed his mind about being a Knight. And he could very well change his mind by -"

"But he won't!" Zelda snapped, jumping to her feet, unable to swallow her anger anymore. Eight pairs of eyes turned to look at her, some of them surprised but a few others angry.

"Zelda?!" Her father yelped. "What? What are you doing-"

"I'm speaking for Link since no one else is," she explained, undeterred by her father's glare. "He deserves a say in this. He's old enough-"

"He's sixteen," Luv argued, narrowing her eyes at Zelda.

"He'll be seventeen three days after the Wing Ceremony, that's less than a season-"

"Zelda, you should not be here. I don't even know how you found out about - nevermind," he growled. "I am ordering you to leave. This is a private meeting for the adults of this community and you have no business-"

"You have no business trying to sell off Link's home!" she shot back, rounding the corner of the booth she'd been hiding behind. "You're deciding his life like there's an immediacy-"

"There is immediacy!" Luv shouted. "How many students are participating in the Wing Ceremony this year, Gae? What if they all pass? What if-"

"That's never happened before," Her father grumbled. "We have very strict – and it doesn't matter! Zelda, this is none of your-"

"Well, someone has to be concerned because you're clearly not!" she shouted. He gave her a dangerous look, but Zelda was too angry to back down now.

She looked her father square in the eye and said, "You're talking about this as if you don't even know Link. You act like you didn't know Orel… and Larke…. They spent more time with me some days than you did! Orel taught me how to shoot a bow, and Larke… Larke…"

Zelda took a breath and pressed a hand against her sternum as though she could physically hold herself together. "She read to me, and brushed my hair… she made me blankets and taught me how to make my own clothes when I started to grow out of them. She… they both there for me when you were busy with… everyone else! And after all that you're just going to act like you don't know Link at all? Or that you don't care about him?"

Her father suddenly looked guilty, but Zelda just frowned and looked around at the group. "Larke and Orel haven't even been gone a day and you're all sitting here talking about splitting up Link's house and selling off his possessions, not giving any consideration to the fact that he's lost everything! You… you…" she stammered, turning back to her father with a scowl. "You should be ashamed of yourself. What would my mother say? Owlan told me Link's uncle was your best friend, what would he say?"

Her father had frozen, face slowly draining of color. He exhaled slowly, giving Zelda a pained look before turning over his shoulder back to the Congress members. "Perhaps we are... rushing this," he murmured. "The Wing Ceremony isn't for another three moons and we won't know until then how much-"

"It should be decided before then," Cheli murmured. "If... they all advance to their Senior Year that means-"

"In the exceedingly rare case all five of them advanced, that still doesn't mean every student will become a Knight," Zelda's father interjected. "Some may want to become teachers, or open businesses. Natala and Geo's twins are interested in Loftwings, they've talked about opening a clinic. And if everyone did decide to join the Order, they'd still have another year of school before a knighting ceremony. We have… time. They're not going to rush out of the gates wanting a house, either. Many of them would still live with their parents, I expect."

Cheli nodded, as did Gondo and Jakamar. Albertos and Talon remained stoic, but Luv looked perturbed. "I still say we should decide what to do with it now. Why else were we called in then?"

"To elect a Captain, and we need to discuss a dedication," her father said, motioning for Zelda to sit. "Since we can't have a… burial, I propose a dedication in the square. Orel will get a flag on the flag line for his service, and Larke-"

"Should have a flag too," Cheli insisted. "How many times was she elected to Congress? She was the one who encouraged me to volunteer last fall."

"I second that," Gondo said. "Larke never had a booth but she was in the Bazaar two days a week to take orders for things. She helped my mom out when I was struggling to read, too."

"She did the same for us when Eagus was struggling," Talon added, while Eagus nodded in agreement. "Not to mention the number of years she spent making uniforms for the entire squad, and everything she did for the Academy. She did just as much for this island as Orel, and she wouldn't be the first civilian who had a flag up there. Aya has a flag, so does her father."

This information startled Zelda, and she glanced at her father who simply gave her another pained look. She'd always known the flags represented Knights who died while still in service, but had no idea civilians were represented as well. She wondered which flag belonged to her mother…

"I don't hear any objections to Larke having a flag, so that's what we'll plan," her father concluded. "Zelda, you are closest to Link, do you think you could talk to him about what he'd want to have on display during the dedication? If he has any pictures or drawings of his parents? I'm sure others will have effects, but I feel like Link should get a say first."

"I'll… um, I'll ask him," Zelda mumbled, unsure of how she was going to bring up the topic. When she'd left, Link was awake, but he was sitting in his room staring at his bedspread. The last thing he said to her was "I need to get my mittens back," and she wasn't entirely sure what he was referring to.

The meeting ended a few minutes later. Zelda noticed Albertos and Eagus talking quietly in a corner while Cheli and Luv stood beside Luv's booth conversing. Cheli smiled and put her hands on the bump just starting to poke out from between Luv's hips. Gondo walked with Jakamar out of the tent and back into the rain and as they left, Zelda realized her father had scurried out a head of them without saying a word to anyone.

Zelda picked her damp cloak up off the floor, wrapping it tight around her shoulders before pulling the hood up. Eagus caught her eye and he gave her a curt nod when she smiled gently at him. She pushed the curtain back and stepped out into the rain, taking a sharp left at the staircase to head towards the Academy. It wasn't until she was on the bridge that a pair of voices stopped her.

"... Certainly has a lot of her mother in her," Talon was saying, sounding amused.

"You have no idea," her father replied. There was an audible sigh before he spoke again.

"Talon, I was never meant to do this alone. I was never meant to be so… alone. Why the Goddess has taken all of them and left me-"

"None of us are meant to do it alone," Talon replied. "That's why we have partners, and the village, and-"

"You don't understand," her father interrupted, his voice shaking. "Orel and Larke filled the gaps that Aya and Ugo would have. They were there for Zelda in ways that I never could be. That I don't… know how to be.. I love her so much, but I'm just not… when Aya died the piece of me that would have been any good at it died with her."

"Ugo was still there."

"He was," her father agreed. "He poured his grief into caring for Zelda, which, thank the Goddess he did because I could not have done it without him. But then he was gone, too. And I… stupidly cut Orel and Larke off for years, not realizing how much I needed them. I worry often about how those years affected Zelda."

"She was two, Gae. They're more resilient than you think. What brought the three of you close again?"

"Zelda and Link," her father laughed. "From the second they met each other she latched onto him like nothing I'd ever seen, and Link was much the same. We couldn't have kept them apart if we tried, and of course Larke just encouraged it. I tried to apologize for how I… behaved, but they acted like nothing ever happened. Like things were just..."

Her father sighed again, and Zelda pictured him with his fingers pressed against the bridge of his nose. "And now they're gone too. I've lost everyone who-"

"So has Link," Talon murmured. "So has Zelda. You're the only one left for them, Gae. You don't have the choice to lean on someone else, you have to be there."

Silence fell between them, giving Zelda time to arrange her thoughts. Link's Uncle Ugo had... helped her father? Had he been a babysitter or been more like a parent, the way Horwell and Owlan acted at times? She had no memory of the man, and only vague descriptions of what he looked like when Orel talked about him every so often. Had he been friends with her mother as well as her father?

"You know what the saddest thing is?" her father said then. "I don't think either Link or Zelda remember Ugo. Obviously Zelda wouldn't remember Aya which breaks my heart, but I was hoping…"

"It would probably help if you talked about them more," Talon scolded gently.

"You may be right about that," her father admitted.

They conversed in low voices for a few more minutes, then Zelda saw Talon walk off towards the path by the windmill while her father went inside the Academy. Zelda stood in the rain, the crack in her chest threatening to open again as she thought of what her family could have been and what was left of it now.

The sun returned two days later, shining warm light on the ribbons and flowers that now covered the square. A tiered table was set up at the northernmost end. On it was a flight mask and a knight's tunic that had belonged to Orel, and several gorgeous blankets Larke had made. A sword, bow, and handsome red scarf were laid next to a white dress and a pair of aged flower and feather crowns. Also displayed among the personal effects were three hastily drawn three pictures Link had done: one of his mother, another of his father, and one of them together.

"Where's Orel's sailcloth?" Pipit asked. Zelda frowned, thinking of the white and blue cloth Orel always wore around his shoulders. She looked to Karane, who'd volunteered to help Zelda and Fledge's mother gather items from Link's house for the display.

"I didn't see it when we were going through things," Karane replied, chewing her lip. "It could have been somewhere hidden, or maybe-"

"He would have been wearing it," Link said quietly. "He never took it off. My mom… she made it for him," he said as though should have been obvious to anyone listening. It was the first time he'd spoken since that morning when Zelda had found him in his room swearing up a storm while trying to put on his father's tunic.

"It's too itchy," he had told her before throwing it on the bed and fisting his hands into his hair. Zelda had dug through his drawers to find a white shirt he could wear underneath it, but he'd grown too broad and tall for it in the last year so she'd gone searching for one in Parrow and Groose's room. Groose had dug through his drawers until he'd found one he'd grown out of, and she'd been so grateful she'd kissed him on the cheek before rushing back and helping Link into his clothes. He looked a little disheveled, with his father's tunic being a little too big and Groose's undershirt too long in the arms, but it would have to do.

Link leaned over the display, examining the picture of his mother. He picked it up, smudging the lines with his fingers. "This isn't what she looked like," he mumbled.

"It's... close enough," Karane said kindly. "Link, you did very well in such a short amount of time."

Link shook his head and gestured to the display. "This is… this isn't who she was. She wasn't just a seamstress. Where's her tea kettle? And... and the pan she used to make pancakes? She made pancakes for everyone," he explained fruitlessly. "She… she taught Fledge how to read, and Eagus. There's nothing here that shows that. Everyone should know what she did. Where are my dad's projects? How many Loftwings and Goddess Statue's did he carve? No one knows how much-"

"Link, they know," Zelda assured him. "This isn't meant to be everything they were. Though, now that I think of it, we should put some cups out and maybe a project of Orel's. Pipit, can you…?"

Pipet nodded, walking quickly off the square and down towards the residential area. Link was still staring at the display, and Zelda slipped an arm around his waist to guide him away. She walked him over to where her father and several Knights were standing. They'd been staring in their direction for a while and she gathered they wanted to speak with Link.

"Link, Zelda" Albertos said when they approached. Link snapped to attention and Zelda could feel him trembling slightly. "We've gathered some stories together, but before we started we… we wanted to ask if you would like to say anything, Link?"

Link's face went white. "M-me?" he stuttered. "I-I-I can't t-talk in front of everyone."

"You wouldn't have to talk, per se," Heron assured him. "We have a reading if you like."

Link nodded, his free hand rubbing at the back of his head. "Um… I guess? If-if… I need to."

Zelda's father stepped forward, speaking gently. "It's only if you want to, Link. We thought it might… bring you some peace."

Zelda narrowed her eyes at her father, feeling that Link reading something was more about presentation than peace. She gave Link a encouraging squeeze around the waist and he nodded before following Heron and Albertos back over to the memorial. Zelda's throat felt swollen when he walked away with his shoulders slumped in resignation. She swallowed back tears and fought the urge to grab Link and steal him away from all those speaking to him now.

"Zelda, we should sit," Karane said, taking Zelda by the waist and turning her towards the chairs.

"Yeah, we… we should," Zelda mumbled. Once everyone was seated, her father rose from his chair, dispensing with the traditional memorial dedications that Zelda knew.

Instead, he described Larke's contributions to the Academy and to education all over Skyloft. How, at one time, the Academy had been just for Knights or those looking to be educators. General instruction was left up to the parents, which left some children excelling and others falling behind. Larke had been the one to suggest the Academy could be more. That there should general education for all the children in the village: reading and maths courses, history and trade skills. Larke suggested it all. She also offered private tutoring lessons and developed the early education curriculum used by practically everyone on the island.

"Larke never taught a single class at the Academy, but in many ways she educated us all," Zelda's father finished with a slight tremor in his voice. Several people in the crowd clapped and Zelda watched Link fidget nervously in his seat next to Heron, eyes fixed on his boots.

Albertos was next. He smiled as he described young Orel and Ugo playing with wooden swords in their front yard, and how proud Orel been the day he was knighted. "I swear it was the only day I ever saw his hair combed neatly," he teased. "I'm sure Larke had something to do with it. But from the moment he showed up, he was always volunteering to do more. Extra training runs, helping out with the Squires, volunteering for Congress after he'd been in three seasons. He demonstrated the essence of the Knights of Hylia from the moment he joined."

After he finished, Jakamar's Father Jay stood next, running a hand through his thinning hair before giving Link a gentle smile. He grinned almost his entire speech, regaling everyone with snippets of Larke and Orel's relationship, having been Orel's oldest friend. He told them of times Orel lingered too long in the dorms just to catch Larke in the kitchen when she went down to make tea. He mentioned the way Larke would blush when he'd come near, and how that blushing never really stopped. Several people laughed out loud when Jay reminded them of the dramatic displays of affection Orel was prone to, and described the "ridiculous" smiles they'd both had on their wedding day. The only time his smile ever faltered was when he mentioned the three plus year struggle they went through to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term.

"Eventually it happened, and that baby became Link, and I don't think there's a person on this island who ever questioned Orel and Larke's commitment to being the best parents they could be," he smiled, putting a friendly hand on Link's shoulder before moving on and offering a few anecdotes about their life as parents and the hopes they had not just for Link, but for Skyloft as a whole.

When he finished, Jay sat down next to Link and there was an awkward pause before Heron leaned close and whispered something to him, clapping him on the back when he was finished. Link stood and moved a step closer to the crowd, the paper he held shaking slightly. Zelda's stomach clenched tight, her throat unbearably dry as she watched Link open his mouth to speak. He closed it, then opened it again. She balled her hands together into fists in her lap, willing the words to come for him. He'd never been good at this, even when he answered questions in class he was quiet.

Link took a breath, standing up taller. He cleared his throat and Zelda was gripped by the terrible fear that the childhood speech impediment he had would return as it often did when he was exceptionally nervous. Perhaps she should say something, or offer to read it for him. She'd just started to get up from her seat when Link finally spoke.

"Do not linger beside my grave for I do not sleep," he began. "I have walked onto the Goddess's path, she keeps my soul so do not weep."

Zelda relaxed into her seat, though her hands stayed balled into fists in her lap. Once the first sentence was out, Link took another breath before continuing.

"Seek me instead in the breeze that blows,
Or inside the moons ethereal glow.
Find me in the first rays of morning light.
Or in the... rush of wings as the birds take flight."

Link's voice was wavering but he soldiered on, eyes flicking up to the crowd before turning back to the paper.

"I am in the sun, and in the rain
Until the day I see you again.
Take heart my love, let your tears be dried,
For I will watch you from the eternal sky."

The paper was shaking violently in his hands. Zelda could see Link's shoulders heaving as he took deep breaths to steady himself. Thankfully, Heron pulled him back into his chair. Zelda's father stood to close out the ceremony with calls to support not only Link, but every person in the village. The crowd rose and moved into a single line in front of the memorial, waiting to light candles or sticks of incense that were displayed amongst Larke and Orel's personal effects. Zelda ended up towards the back of the line with Karane and a few others.

"Did Link pick out that… poem? Was it a poem?" Orielle asked in a watery voice. Zelda shook her head, too busy watching Link bury his face in his hands to respond. "I suppose he didn't have a lot of time to think about it," Orielle sighed.

"I think Albertos found it," Fledge said quietly. "I saw him and Eagus going over books in the library yesterday."

Zelda nodded, eyes still on Link. He was standing up now, and it seemed Heron was holding him in place. He had a broad hand placed firmly against his shoulder and Link was just nodding as people passed by, touching him on the cheek or taking his hands for a moment in solace. Zelda again felt the urge to rush up to the memorial and tear Link away from everyone. Get him somewhere where he could grieve in private.

Grey landed then, just behind where Link and Heron were standing. It was strange to see a Loftwing so large without a harness. He trilled quietly at Link, though Link frowned and looked away from him. Heron patted Grey on the neck when he leaned forward to nudge Link's shoulder. Then, to Zelda's surprise, Link scowled and shrugged away from Heron and the bird, storming across the square to the other side of the memorial. Grey followed and they began a game of chase.

Link tried to hide himself amongst the crowd, but Grey pushed through and tried to corral Link under his wing. When Link dodged this and fled towards the path, Grey floated into the air and cut him off.

"Go away," Link grumbled, pushing around Grey and continuing back towards the Academy. Everyone was watching now as Grey squawked and tried again to corral Link. Zelda pressed her fingers against her lips and choked back tears. She'd never seen a Loftwing behave the way Grey was now.

"What's he doing?" Karane asked.

"He's lost," Parrow said in a hollow voice. "A Loftwing without a partner will eventually return to the larger nest to help with the nestlings, but… they grieve too."

Link was swatting at the bird as he tried curl around him. Blue often did to Zelda when he was feeling affectionate, she knew the gesture well. Link wanted none of it. "Go. Away!" he snapped, drawing the attention of Heron, Corvus, and her father. Grey was distressed and crying, and it hit her then that Link was not the only one who'd lost his family.

"STOP IT!" Link shouted, physically shoving Grey off when he tried to place his beak on his shoulder. "You were supposed to protect him! You were-"

In a flash of color the Crimson Loftwing was there, landing behind Link with an enormous presence. Wings spread and neck lowered, he screeched at Grey until the other bird moved back, hissing in response. Several people gasped and fear seized Zelda. Benevolent servants of the Goddess they may be, Loftwings were dangerous if they fought, and Link was caught right between two of them.

Heron rushed forward and tried to pull Link out of the way, but the Crimson Loftwing curled defensively around him, still screeching at Grey as he crowed in distress. Link clambered onto the red bird, burying his face into his feathers and gripping the harness so hard his knuckles were white. Grey squawked disapprovingly but the Crimson bird was undeterred. When Grey moved forward the red bird let out another warning roar until Grey backed down.

Others moved forward then, some trying to pull Link off his bird's back. "Let him go!" Heron shouted. "Just... let him go."

He said it as if they had a choice in the matter. Link's bird had spread his wings now, beating them Grey's direction before he lifted into the sky with Link and they flew off into the distance. Grey called after them, but Heron rushed forward and put hands on his wings to fold them back into his sides, whispering quietly as he did.

"Orel's bird still thinks he's the patriarch," Pipit noted in too casual a tone for Zelda's liking.

"Parental attitudes don't just disappear," Parrow agreed. "Orel was Link's father, he was his guardian, therefore Grey sees himself as Link's guardian now, even with the Crimson Loftwing."

"Do you think it's because Link is young? If he was older would Grey grieve and move on?" Pipit asked.

"I think it's different for each bird, you know?'" Parrow said thoughtfully. "Orel had an extraordinary bond with that bird, they were together for… Goddess, how long? How old was Orel?"

"He turned forty last fall," Zelda clipped, irritated by their casual conversation about Loftwing behavior when something so terrible had happened. She wrapped her arms around herself and stalked off, following the almost involuntary pull towards Grey.

Heron was stroking the bird's feathers, and he smiled gently when Zelda reached out to do the same. Grey was singing quietly, the Loftwing's Lament again, though it was not as haunting this time. It was soothing in a strange sort of way.

"Sing as long as you need, old friend," Heron was murmuring. "You did what you could. He loved you no matter what."

Grey let out a whimpering sigh before tilting his head skyward and singing out a long, solemn note. He fixed his yellow eyes on Zelda then, looking to her as though she could provide some sort of answer to his grief.

"I'm sorry," she breathed, laying a hand on his beak. The bird pushed his head into her hand, the action causing her throat to swell up again.

"How are you, Zelda?" Heron asked. The question caught her off guard. "Orel talked about you all the time, Larke did as well," he said gently, as though his words could patch the crack inside her chest. "It was clear they-"

"I'm fine, Heron, thanks," Zelda clipped, fighting back tears. Grey pushed his head against her chest, right against the crack that threatened to split her in half if she lost control. "I'm… I'm fine," she mumbled, unable to look at Heron, or the bird, or the candles on the memorial, their light a feeble representation sight of the light that Larke and Orel brought into the world… brought into her world.

"Zelda?"

Karane was there then, a hand around her waist, guiding her away from the crowd and towards the windmill where she could have a little privacy. Zelda was breathing deeply, willing the tears back. She couldn't cry, it wasn't her place to cry, this wasn't her grief to have.

"Zelda, it's okay," she whispered, rubbing gentle circles on her back. "You've barely spoken since all of this happened."

"I've talked."

"You've talked to Link. You've been there for him but you need-"

"He needs someone there for him!" She cried. "He has no one… he-"

"He has you. Who do you have?"

"I'm fine," Zelda insisted. "It's not like they were my parents, Karane. It's not like… this was Link's family, not… mine."

Karane frowned and let out a heavy sigh, studying Zelda with concerned eyes. "Cheli says we should leave most of the memorial up, but I don't… I don't think we should leave Larke's dress out in the rain, or those feather crowns. Was that Orel's sword?"

"It wasn't his, he would have been wearing his," Zelda frowned. "Just like he was wearing the sailcloth."

Karane chewed her lip. "Perhaps Link will get his own sailcloth."

Zelda nodded, thinking of the upcoming ceremony and remembering with a jolt of pain the story of how Larke and Orel first got together. She could see them on the Goddess statue, Larke blushing and Orel gazing at her with that awestruck look he had whenever she walked in the room.

"Let's get everything important off the memorial just... just in case it starts raining again," Zelda sighed, giving Karane a watery smile when she stood up from the bench. For some reason Karane reached out and hugged her tightly. Zelda embraced her back, wondering exactly what it was for, though the warmth of Karane's arms said a lot more than words ever could.

After the memorial was mostly put away, Zelda walked to the broken windmill to wait for Link. It was his favorite spot on the island for some reason and where he always went if he wanted to be alone. She planned on leaving him alone if he wanted, but she had to check on him first, just to make sure he didn't need something… or to make sure he actually returned.

The Crimson Loftwing landed just before sunset, bringing Link with him. Link climbed off his back and stood under the bird's wing for a few moments, then nodded while scratching his feathers. The Loftwing cooed quietly at him and butted his head into Link's chest before flying off, sailing into the western sky where Grey was flying. They began to circle side by side just above the clouds; it almost looked like they were talking a walk together.

"Link?" Zelda said quietly, not wanting to startle him. He eyed her over his shoulder before giving her a cursory nod. She walked to his side, hands tied together in front of her waist and voice caught in her throat. It took her a few moments to get it unstuck.

"W-we put most of the memorial away," she explained, surprised at how shaky she sounded. "The candles and pictures are still there, but… your mother's wedding dress and their crowns, and your dad's uniform… it's all safe. Just… just in case it rains again."

Link pursed his lips, then gave her another nod before looking out at the two Loftwings. Zelda fidgeted and shifted on her feet, trying to decide whether to leave or whether to stay with him. She hated silence most of the time, but this silence was pressing. It made her throat feel dry and her stomach feel queasy. Link wasn't going to break it, she knew that, but she didn't want to just keep babbling at him.

"Cheli went through a few things. She and Karane… we found stuff in in closets and under your parents' bed when we were looking for things to put on the memorial," she blurted, unable to stop herself. "Everything we found, it's… it's all in a box in your house if you want to… look at it."

Link just gave her another nod, still resolutely silent. She chanced a step closer, relieved when he didn't shrug away from her. "Maybe… maybe we should go look at the display and see if there's anything-"

"No," Link murmured in a thick voice. Zelda noticed his cheeks were wet and his eyes a little swollen and bloodshot. "I don't want to look at it. It wasn't… that wasn't for them."

Link avoided her eyes, breathing slowly as silence settled between them again. It seemed to get heavier the longer they stood there. Zelda wondered how long it would be before it crushed them both. "You're right," she mumbled after it became too much for her.

"What?"

"I said you're right, Link," Zelda whispered, voice shaking. "It… it wasn't for them."

Link scoffed at this and folded his arms over his chest. "It wasn't for me either. I don't care what Corvus says. That wasn't… none of that was for me."

"You're probably right about-."

"Then what the hell was it for?" Link snarled, startling Zelda so much she took a step back. "Why'd I draw those pictures? What did I put on this... stupid itchy tunic for? Was it for the other Knights? Was it for the village? Why do I have to do anything for them?"

"Because everyone knew your parents, Link. Everyone loved them and-"

"No, they didn't!" he growled. "Giselle used to complain every time she picked something up from my mother, no matter how hard she worked on it. Cregger and Corvus used to question every decision my dad made. And don't get me started on the rest of the people in the village," he snapped, rounding on her now as though she'd tried to defend them.

"Every time he did something to make the island safer he was criticised. He wanted to put up barriers around the edge in some spots, but people thought it'd be ugly. If he wanted to put out a flight restriction because of the weather, they argued. Like they knew what it was like to fly in… in..."

Link paused, as though he'd just realized something. "Why...whywere they out flying? What were they doing?!" he shouted, gesturing at random to the sky. "They'd just told me not even two days earlier to watch the weather before going out! Then they did the exact opposite and this… this happened!"

Link raked his fingers through his hair and let out a stream of curse words that put his father to shame. She'd never seen him so angry. He looked down at his father's tunic and began pulling it over his head, then he balled it up and squeezed it so hard his arms shook. Zelda leapt forward and seized from him when he made to throw it over the edge.

"What the hell were they thinking?"

"I don't… I don't know, Link," she mumbled. "Maybe it wasn't stormy or-"

"Everyone was saying today how… greatthey were," he muttered, turning away from her again and starting to pace. "They weren't perfect. Sometimes they did stupid things. My dad was... reckless and my mom… she… she... Sometimes they fought, you know? But no one… no one talks about that. They didn't know them like I did, and all that… all that stuff?" he gestured behind Zelda, back towards the square where the memorial sat. "That wasn't them. They were more than all that. Why have a memorial for someone when it's not actually for them?"

Zelda just shook her head, she didn't know how to answer. Link seemed irritated by her silence. He turned away again and stared out at the horizon, nose crinkled in disgust.

"What's the point of having a guardian bird if they can't even guard us?" he grumbled, gesturing vaguely to Grey as he flew alongside Crimson Loftwing. "Albertos said he tried. He tried… Maybe he did, but he was too late and he failed."

Zelda winced at his tone. "That doesn't mean he… loved him any less, or that he loves you any less. Grey-"

"My mother's bird died. She tried until the very end to keep her safe, and she still couldn't. What's the point of having Hylia's guardians with us if they can't-"

"Link, I don't know," Zelda interrupted, attempting to take him by the elbow but he pulled away. "I don't… I don't think it works that way..." she grimaced. Hadn't her father said that very same thing to her when she asked why Hylia didn't save her mother? It had seemed like an empty answer then, and it was no less empty now.

"'I ask you to bless me today as I seek my partner in flight, my guardian, and my treasured friend,'" Link said, quoting the Paring Day prayer. "Bestow upon me the symbol of your divine protection so that I may fly with-"

"Link, I know the prayer. I know," Zelda interrupted. "But... that's not the point of-"

"There is no point, Zelda!" Link shouted, gesturing towards the birds again. "We have guardian birds that can't guard, we have memorials that aren't for the people they're dedicated to. All of this is bird shit. My parents are dead. They were thrown out of the sky and... I will… I will never see them again. My dad will never finish that wingcrest for your father and my mom will...my mom…"

Link went breathless, face tight as tears welled up in his eyes. "My dad used to talk about how people… looked at him. After his parents died in that fire, they… looked at him. I never understood it but now," he said, a wry laugh in his voice. "Now, I get it. They're so sorry… everyone keeps saying that. 'I understand how you feel, Link,' Heron told me. Like he has any fucking idea how I feel! Like anyone knows-"

"I know," Zelda whimpered, unable to stop herself.

"You know what?'

"I… I'm sorry," she mumbled, turning away from him. It wasn't fair for her to try to share in this. This was his grief, not hers. They were his parents, not-

"You know what, Zelda?" Link demanded.

Zelda flinched, tears spilling onto her cheeks. She couldn't stay quiet, especially not when he was expecting answers. This was her role, she was the one who knew everything, she filled the silence between them, she always had.

But for the first time in her life Zelda had nothing to say.

She pressed her face into her hands and sat down on the ledge of by the broken windmill, trembling as she tried to hold back her sobs.

A second later Link was there, the warmth of him pressing against one shoulder, making the other half of her feel strangely cold. Zelda sniffed and wiped at her cheeks while Link looped an arm around her waist, never saying a word as she tried to compose herself.

"It isn't fair for m-me to… feel this way. Because they weren't my parents. It wasn't my family," she explained, pressing a hand against the stabbing pain in her chest. "But your dad... he was the only one I still let call me Little Zelda. It never bothered me when he did it. I loved him, Link. And your… your mother…"

The tears came faster now, to fast for her to form words, though there were no words to form. Zelda didn't have the language to describe what Larke had been to her. Some cross between parent and confidant, between mother, sister, and friend. She had been everything Zelda didn't know she needed, and the worst thing was Zelda never got the chance to thank her for it.

One of Link's hands found hers. His fingers were long and slender, and she could feel the places where the handle of a sword had rubbed until the skin grew tough and calloused. Strangely there were calluses on his first finger and thumb, either from holding a bow string or a drawing pencil, she wasn't entirely sure.

"Link, it's not the same, but I know how you feel," Zelda said after a few moments. "I loved them too. But it's not… it's not fair for me to feel this way. This is not my grief, I wasn't their child and-"

"You were close enough."

Fresh tears. She paused to wipe them away before returning the squeeze Link gave her fingers. "You know what has haunted me these past few days?" she asked. "I… never said thank you for it all, and now I'll never be able to."

"Yes, you did."

"Not like, 'thank you for supper,' Link. I mean I never said 'thank you' to them, for everything. Your mom… when I'd come over in the mornings, before you were awake? She'd brush my hair out. Sometimes she'd made me clothes because she worried my father didn't have time to buy me any. All those times I slept at your house? If I woke up, she got up with me, even if your dad beat her too it. Your mom was there for me so many times and I just… I never pictured a world without them in it."

Zelda sniffed and wiped her eyes with the inside of her wrist. "I hope they knew… Link, I hope you know how much I loved-"

"They knew, Zelda" he murmured before taking a deep breath. "And I know… they loved you, too."

Zelda nodded, leaning her head against Link's shoulder. A few seconds later she felt the pressure of his head melt into hers. There was something soothing about it. Zelda released his hand and hooked her arm through his so she could lean closer. They stayed like that for a while, both of them quiet, Zelda no longer caring about the silence between them. It seemed less heavy now.

The Crimson Loftwing landed in front of them just as dusk had started to fall, his presence startling Link. He jumped to his feet and turned toward the horizon, looking distressed again. Zelda followed his gaze to where Grey was flying, past Skyloft, past all the little islands that surrounded it...

"I didn't… where's he going?" Link asked, and Zelda wasn't sure if he was speaking to her or his Loftwing. "I didn't want him to leave. He didn't… have to leave."

Link's face was tight again, and he pressed his hands against the sides of his head. Zelda wrapped her arms around his waist and at the same time his bird stepped forward, trilling quietly while setting his beak on Link's head. They watched until Grey disappeared into the horizon, Zelda squeezing Link as tightly as she could while he took deep heaving breaths to calm himself.

"I didn't want him to leave."

Zelda swallowed. "I think he had to. Maybe it's the only way he… he could move on."

Link nodded, wiping a fist across his eyes. Zelda released him then, though she kept a hand on his shoulder. It was dark now, and Link's bird was starting to settle in for the night, walking in circles and trampling a makeshift nest into the grass. It was getting colder and the chuchus and keese would start coming out soon.

"We probably should go inside," she said gently.

"I don't know if I'm ready," he mumbled. "Everyone is going to… stare at me."

"Do you want to go home?"

Link thought about this for a second, then shook his head. Zelda considered him. Everyone would stare when they got back to the dorms. Not out of malicious intent, but simply because they were concerned, or curious. There would be nothing to distract them either.

"What are you doing?" Link asked when Zelda started to untie the ribbons from her hair. Once they were free, she took the longer portions in front of her ears and pulled them up, arranging them into a bow shape. "Um… Zelda?"

"Yeah," she mumbled, fixing the pieces together with her ribbons. She shook her head to make sure it would stay in place.

"What are you doing?"

"Do I look ridiculous?"

Link froze. "Er…"

"Just be honest, Link. We told each other we were going to be honest from now on."

"Yes, you look ridiculous."

"Good," she said, taking his hand again. "Now no one will stare at you. Or at least if they do they'll wonder why you let me fix my hair like this."

Link exhaled a short laugh, then he smiled at her. Amidst her grief and confusion something warm unfurled through Zelda's chest. She thought she'd wear her hair like this every single day if it meant Link would smile at her.

He let out another sigh and looked off towards where Grey had flown, pursing his lips a little. "Will you remind me tomorrow that I need to go get my mittens?"

"You said that earlier. Where are they?"

"Kina has them."

Zelda pursed her lips. "If you want, I can make you-"

"My mom made them," he mumbled. "They're… they were the last thing she ever made me."

Zelda nodded, squeezing his hand Link's hand until he gave her another small smile. "We'll get them back. I promise."

Thank you again for all the feedback! It is so appreciated