Zelda and Link stood along the walk, looking down into the barracks courtyard where their volunteer army continued to train, seemingly oblivious to their presence. Paya trailed behind them, staying close to her queen as much as possible, should she need her assistance. She observed Zelda and Link quietly as they spoke.

"Well?" Zelda said. "What do you think?"

Link looked down at the men below. They were a scraggly bunch, if he were being completely honest. He turned to Zelda and raised a brow. "They'll do."

"We can't all be worthy of the Master Sword," Zelda said. "And we can't exactly be choosey, either. We need an army, and these men have all volunteered to be under your command."

Link turned his gaze to her, his brows furrowed together. "Oh, so that's how you lured them here?" Link said. "I don't exactly remember signing up to be in charge of them."

"Don't worry," Zelda said, turning her gaze back on their newly appointed soldiers. "I signed you up."

Link sighed. "I have more pressing matters to deal with," he said. "Like dealing with the Yiga Clan. I can't be in command of an entire army, never mind train them."

"The Sheikah are capable of training them," Zelda said.

Link hesitated as he looked them over. "Look," he started. "I'm a one man show. I don't lead armies. I can't ask them to put their own lives on the line."

Zelda turned to Link and smiled. "Then I guess you better take out the Yiga Clan swiftly," she said.

"Of course," Link said, crossing his arms. "It's okay for me to put my own life on the line."

"I knew I could count on you," Zelda said with a grin.

"It never occurred to you to ask me if this is what I wanted?"

Zelda hesitated. "Dorian will be going back to Kakariko soon," she said. "Who else can I ask to command our new army? You know my father would have asked this of you."

Link pinched the bridge of his nose. "I work better alone," he muttered. "I don't want to be responsible for them."

"So, who else should I ask?" Zelda asked, narrowing her gaze angrily on him. "There's no one else."

"Find someone else. I have other things to focus my energy on."

"Listen," Zelda hissed. "I expect the same treatment as you gave my father. Would you have disobeyed an order from him?"

Link cocked a brow at her. "So, you're ordering me around, now? That's how this is going to work?"

"I am Hyrule's Queen," Zelda said. "I expect my orders to be followed, whether you like it or not. You don't get any special treatment."

"You'd think a hero could catch a break around here," Link muttered.

At this point, Link noticed a few eyes had turned up to them. The men below seemed to gawk at Link, their eyes moving to the legendary sword on his back. Irritated, he turned away from them and stormed away from Zelda.

Zelda sighed and moved away from the edge of the walk. She walked in the opposite direction of Link, and Paya trotted to her side.

"Give him a break," Paya said calmly. "I'm sure he will come around."

Zelda shook her head. "I know him too well," she said. "He is a stubborn, arrogant ass. He's going to try to do what he wants, whether I like it or not."

"He only has your best interests in mind," Paya said.

"That's what I'm worried about," Zelda said softly.

Link was fuming as he moved through the castle. He wasn't sure where he was going; he just knew he wanted to be far away from that army as possible. He wanted nothing to do with them. How could Zelda expect him to be in charge of them – of their lives – after everything else he's had to endure? He thought Zelda would have understood that. Clearly he was mistaken, and that only made him more frustrated with the situation.

He looked up only when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He had almost walked right into Dorian. The Sheikah's face showed concern as he looked down at Link, who's lips were now tugged into a snarl.

"What's got you?" Dorian said.

Link pulled his shoulder out from under Dorian's grip. "Nothing."

"The brooding thing isn't fitting for you, Link," Dorian said simply. "I expect a better attitude from the captain of the royal army."

"Good thing I'm not a captain, then," Link muttered.

"This army will need a leader," Dorian said, his voice growing harder. "I've done all that I can here. But my duty is with Impa at Kakariko, and I will be returning shortly."

"You know what?" Link started. "I'm sick of people just assuming I'll do whatever they want."

"The thing is," Dorian said. "You have a duty to this kingdom, to Zelda, just as you had a duty to King Roham. Nothing has changed in that regard."

"My duty," Link hissed, "was to defeat Calamity Ganon. My job is done."

Dorian raised a brow at Link. "If that's how you really feel," he started, "then the queen and this kingdom no longer have a use for you, and you have no right to be here in the castle."

Link hesitated and met Dorian's hard gaze. "Zelda -"

"Zelda is nothing to you any more," Dorian snapped. "If you give up your duty to her and to this kingdom, then you are no longer responsible for her. You will have no place in this castle. Zelda will be nothing more to you than your queen."

Link narrowed his gaze on Dorian. "I won't leave Zelda alone."

"Then I guess you better get used to your new role as captain, hm?" Dorian let his gaze linger on Link's for a moment before turning his back to him, leaving him alone in the central room of the castle.

Link stared after Dorian for a moment, his gaze softening. He wanted nothing to do with the army. He didn't want to be responsible for anyone's life any longer. He only wanted to do what he had to do to keep Zelda safe, which meant getting rid of the Yiga Clan once and for all. And he was going to do it himself, on his own terms. No one was going to tell him what to do.

He turned his gaze to the quiet pitter-patter of feet that moved towards him. Bear sat at his side, looking up at his master, his tail wagging. Link crouched down and scratched behind the dog's ears. His fur felt damp. "Don't you think they're asking too much?" Link said to the dog.

The dog tilted his head and let out a soft whine. He licked at Link's face before trotting away, down the hallway on the other side and into the kitchen to search for some scraps. Link stared after the dog, getting to his feet. He moved in the direction that Dorian had headed, presumably to the barracks. Whether he liked it or not, if he wanted to stay with Zelda, he would have to take up his new role as captain.

He found Dorian standing before Hyrule's new soldiers, their gazes turned to him the moment he rounded the corner. They whispered amongst each other and Dorian turned towards Link.

"Have a change of heart?"

Link stood uncomfortably on the edge of the courtyard as each one of the volunteer soldiers got to their knees, bowing to him. They looked upon him with admiration and stole glances at the legendary sword on his back. They muttered softly amongst themselves, many recognizing him from their own travels.

"So, it's true," one man said.

"That was the sword the whole time?"

"This kid…"

"The Hero is alive."

They slowly rose to their feet, peering curiously at the legend that stood before their very eyes. Link tried his best to ignore their stares, moving to Dorian's side and crossing his arms.

"I trust your captain will take good care of you," Dorian said, addressing the soldiers.

But it seemed they couldn't have cared less what Dorian had to say. "Can we see it?" one of the men asked. "The sword?"

The others murmured in agreement.

Link blinked at them for a moment, unsure of what to make of the situation he had put himself in. Then, with a shrug, he pulled out the Master Sword. They stepped back as he did so, their mouths gaping as their eyes fell onto the sword.

"I've heard it speaks. Is it true?"

"She's been quiet lately," Link said casually.

"She?"

"Her name is Fi."

They murmured once more for a moment. "What does she say?"

"She complains a lot," Link said with a grin. "'How can Hyrule depend on such a lazy boy?'"

They stared blankly at him.

Link returned the sword. "No sense of humor," he muttered. And he was in no mood for their questioning. So he turned his back to them and disappeared back inside the castle walls without another word.

Dorian sighed lightly, his gaze on the open book in his hands as he reviewed his own notes, disinterested in Link's exit. "Your captain, gentlemen," he said casually. "May Hylia bless you with patience, hm?"