Thank you to Machina per Dei, JohntheWhovian, whitworth5274, nobody, TheChargingRhino, InvisableTarget, and MCFanfics for their reveiws

Machina per Dei: I double checked the chapter for instances of [] in the document, both on the Pages document that I write it on and in the FF sites doc manger and I didn't find any odd punctuation. There is an interrobang where Quan is yelling at Christofen and he asks a question. Maybe whatever device or font you're using doesn't support that symbol?

If I didn't respond to your review it's because I didn't have anything to say. I promise I'm not ignoring you and thank you again for all the reviews.

Part II
The Legacy of a Hero
Years 505 FH

Chapter II
The Duel

Link woke up slowly until he was awake enough to notice that he wasn't alone in his bed. When he opened his eyes and saw his father holding him protectively, he remembered crawling under the covers with him and immediately relaxed. He had never felt so safe in his entire life than he had that night and he didn't want to lose it. Link nuzzled into his father's chest and closed his eyes contently. He knew when Christofen woke up because he felt him stir and give him a kiss on the top of his head.

"Good morning, buddy," Christofen gave him a squeeze.

"Five more minutes, Dad," Link mumbled.

"You don't want to miss breakfast, do you?"

"No."

"Then up we get," Christofen pulled the covers off and then tackled Link, tickling him mercilessly. That woke him up fast.

"Ah! Dad, stop!" Link laughed, fighting back half heartedly. He managed to turn the tide and tickle his father in revenge.

"No!" Christofen laughed back. "You got me!" They ended up with Link resting peacefully on Christofen's chest. Christofen had his arms over Link and they were both breathing heavily, tired from laughing so hard.

"I love you," Link said quietly.

"I love you too, Link," Christofen ruffled his hair and then pushed himself and Link into a sitting position. "Now, come on. Go back to your room and get dressed so we can eat breakfast."

"Okay!" Link hugged him one more time before jumping off the bed and running back to his room. He was almost there when he ran into Quan above the stairs, literally.

"Watch it!" Quan shouted in alarm as Link nearly knocked them both over. He managed to steady both of them by grabbing onto Link's arms. He glared down at Link for a moment before shoving him back towards his room.

"Sorry, Uncle," Link mumbled.

"See that you are," Quan scoffed, readjusting his coat. "Irksome brat," Quan muttered spitefully before heading downstairs.

Link didn't like his uncle, nor was he trying to anymore, but he still felt bad about getting him kicked out of the mansion. And it made his father sad to send his own little brother away after not seeing him since Link was born. Link went back to his room with his spirits slightly dampened, but it didn't make the day any less great. Even though it did make his father sad, Link wouldn't have to worry about tiptoeing around his own home in fear of harsh punishment and cruel words anymore and that gave him a kind of security that relaxed him almost as much as sleeping in his father's arms had.

(1)

Quan didn't go to breakfast that morning, not that he had any of the mornings before since Christofen returned. Link finally enjoyed eating in the dining room and he wasn't at all nervous about messing up his etiquette. he had taken Quan's seat at the head of the table, where he belonged. Link wondered if that was why Quan didn't like eating in the dining room anymore.

"Link," Christofen looked up from his plate. "We need to talk."

"Yeah?" Link answered after swallowing. He had said something to Quan once with food in his mouth and the glare he had received was harsh enough to make him vow to never speak while he was still eating again. He also didn't like hearing we need to talk'. Especially when the subject was so hopelessly unclear.

"I know you're only twelve and something like this shouldn't be on your mind…"

"What is it?" Link asked tensely. He didn't like the direction this conversation was going.

"Just a moment, son, let me finish."

"Sorry," Link mumbled shamefully.

"I don't know if I should return to my post as General."

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because if I do go I will end up traveling a lot, especially with the bandits growing bolder and bolder every year. I won't be home nearly as much as I want to and you won't see me very often."

"Oh," Link frowned. "But… are you the best person to be Great General?"

"I'm not sure. Someone else of my ability or better must have shown up by now but Daphnes seems to think I am, yes."

"So for all we know, it's best for Hyrule and all the people? Even if you'll be away a lot?"

"Yes, I suppose that's true."

"Then you should do it," Link said with conviction. "I can always go with you."

"No, absolutely not."

"What! Why?" Link protested.

"It's not safe. If I travel I will be in the line of fire and I won't put you in that kind of danger."

"Dad, I'm not a little kid. I can defend myself. Besides, I'd just run away after you if you ever left without me."

"Then I won't do it," Christofen's tone was getting tense. "Link, I want you safe."

"I'm not safe anywhere," Link pointed out. He could tell by the sudden change from stern to defeated in Christofen that he'd hit home with that remark.

"You won't be kidnapped again, Link," Christofen sighed.

"I… I know. I like traveling anyway. You don't have to sit right and use the correct fork in the woods. And I miss cooking my own food and fishing and tracking and all that stuff. And we'd get to defend Hyrule together."

"How long were you alone, Link?" Christofen asked sadly.

"Since mom died," Link whispered. It wasn't entirely true, Saria and the Great Deku Tree had taken good care of him, up until the Deku Tree didn't have to provide him with safe harbor from the world anymore. But he'd lived on his own in his own house as soon as he was able. He'd had to fend for himself. "It's fine. We're together now, right?"

"Every step, buddy," Christofen reached over and put his hand over Link's and squeezed twice.

"What's that mean?" Link asked. "The two squeezes, I mean."

"It's a way to say 'I love you' without having to say anything," Christofen smiled. Link smiled back and squeezed Christofen's hand.

"We're gonna do it, right? You're gonna be the General again?"

Christofen sighed. "Yes, I am. It's what's best for Hyrule. Link, I can't just take you with me, though."

"Why?" Link asked. "Please don't leave me again."

"No, no. I won't. You're thirteen next month and I have a solution to you wanting to come with me even though you're young. You can become my apprentice. Being General also makes me a Knight of Hylia again and I can train up to two apprentices at a time under the King's orders."

"Can the General manage an apprentice though? Isn't it a big job? Will you have time to be Duke Ordona, the Great General, and train me all at the same time?" Link didn't think he needed much training if he was going to become a knight, but there must be a lot no one ever taught him. And he didn't mind if it was his father he would train him.

"Link, I will always have time for you. And Daphnes and I both trained under the previous General, though it was at different times, Daphnes is older than me. I'll need the help, anyway. I'm not nineteen anymore, that energy has all but left me."

"Can we go up to the Castle right now to tell the King?"

"You want to go now?"

"Well, it is an hour walk and if we leave now by the time we get there he shouldn't be too busy…"

"I think it would be best if we take a carriage. Can't have my damn leg acting up when I come back from the dead."

"Does it matter that much? The General doesn't have to fight, just tell everybody what to do."

"Haha," Christofen laughed and ruffled Link's hair. "You're right, I don't strictly have to fight, but it wouldn't feel right to send my people off to risk their lives and not go with them. And I've still got to inspire confidence. A limp might be off putting in a General."

"Oh, okay. If… if you can't fight I could do it for you?"

"No, Link, I won't stand for that. I won't have you fighting unless absolutely necessary, alright."

"Alright," Link grumbled. He never thought he'd ever actually want to fight again. He knew deep down that he would have to fight again at some point but he never thought he'd actually volunteer for it. But if his father needed him to do something he would do it without hesitation.

(2)

They did end up using a carriage. Link hadn't known they had one in Castle Town. Christofen had Mr. Boggs send one of the scullery boys to get it from the stables at the front of the Gate District. Link was uncomfortable at first, sitting across from his father, and it was really bumpy. But the jolts were soothed by the cushiony seat.

Link kept running his hand over the soft velvet in awe, when he wasn't holding on for dear life to his father's hand. He felt like they could crash at any second. A wagon wasn't this claustrophobic and Link felt a little trapped, but he didn't want to complain. His father needed the carriage so that he could walk through the castle and Link didn't want him to feel bad about sacrificing Link's comfort for his own.

Since Hyrule Castle was so huge and had enough people living in it to almost be considered a small hamlet, with all of the guards and knights in the guard house, the advisors, servants, and the King and Princess all living there full time, big welcomes with everyone coming out to greet the guests was almost unheard of. That was reserved only for the Royal Family. So Link and Christofen managed to get in without too big of a commotion.

"Peterson, fine day isn't it?" Christofen greeted the old guard as if no time had passed between his last visit and this one, though nearly thirteen years had gone by. "Doesn't it feel like spring is coming early?"

"Yes, sir," Peterson answered out of habit before he looked to his much younger partner standing guard at the castle's draw bridge and saw the defensive and perplexed look on his face. Then he looked back to Christofen and it dawned on him. "Great General Christofen?"

"The one and only," Christofen smiled.

"You… you're… but… how?"

"I lost myself for a while, but I assure you I'm back, fully and truly."

"I… the King will be overjoyed to see you, Sir General!" Peterson saluted. Link could have sworn he saw a tear fall down the man's face as they passed through the front gates, but he didn't have time to get a good look.

They walked into the entrance gardens to the castle, a place Link had never been. He had only ever taken the back entrance before, but he certainly couldn't tell his father he'd broken into the castle.

The real entrance was a beautifully decorated topiary garden littered with rose bushes and patrolling guards, both just as effective at keeping unwanted visitors out of the castle, or unwanted heroes. Link had fallen in to a rose bush when breaking in and he found that a more effective deterrent than the guards. They were also prettier and smelled much nicer, but, like with the whole incident, Link didn't think his father really needed to hear about that just yet.

A lot of the guards did a double take when they saw the two walking through the entrance courtyard, but most of the ones actually inside the castle were old hardened and skilled veterans who had fought under Christofen in the civil war, defending their King and Prince.

Link wondered why none of them were questioning Christofen's survival as much as he had expected, but then, they weren't particularly perceptive in the first place. Perhaps they forgot he had been missing, or perhaps they assumed that coming back from the presumed dead was a familial trait shared among the Hylexia line, Link certainly felt like it was.

Christofen lead him all the way into the throne room, where King Daphnes was holding an unofficial meeting with a group of eight Knights of Hylia and a few other members of the royal court, the most elite members of the King's men and all of them of noble blood, one of the requirements for being in the order. The Hylian Knights, however, had no such requirement and was open to any who was skilled enough to be a knight and loyal enough to swear undying fealty to the King and all people of Hyrule.

Daphnes looked up from his throne and saw them approaching, though they had entered unannounced. When the others saw the king's distraction, and the smile that spread across his face, they turned around to see what he could possibly be looking at. There were very few things that could make the king smile so. When they saw who it was who had entered so suddenly, more than half of the court looked stunned beyond belief, and then joyous.

"Christofen," Daphnes stood from his throne and the two men greeted each other similarly to how they had the day before. "Good to see you here again, after so long, too long. You've come to give me your answer, yes?"

"Of course, old friend," Christofen smiled.

"Hold on, your Majesty," one of the knights said, his tone oddly defensive. "He's alive? How long have you known? How long have you kept this from us?"

"Sir Joleff, I've only known for a day, though he returned home earlier this week," the king explained. "I was visiting young Link here when I found him with his father."

"It's so good to see you alive and well, Sir General," an old man said, approaching Christofen with an outstretched hand.

"I was under the impression that after an absence of more than ten years any soldier has given up their post," Joleff pointed out, growing even more defensive. "I mean no offense, Hylexia," he nodded to Christofen with at least a little respect. "But your titles should have been revoked almost three years ago."

"Unless I believe it unnecessary," the king explained. "There was no need for a new General and I didn't believe there were any candidates that could fill Christofen's shoes in the meantime."

"No one to fill…" Sir Joleff sounded offended now. "Your Majesty, please. There are plenty of men and women ready to serve under you as General who are in much better health than…"

"Christofen is in perfect health," the king interjected. "Why would suggested otherwise?"

Link felt himself grow angry as well. How dare this man accuse his father of such things! Who was he to judge in that manner.

"His limp is obvious, even if he is trying to hide it," Joleff snapped. "It seems not all of him has returned from the grave, your Majesty, or are you going to neglect better judgement in favor of making yourself comfortable again?"

"That was uncalled for, Joleff," Christofen defended his king and friend. "I am, as the King says, in perfect health. We all know the risk of war and fighting in it. You wouldn't hold an injury against someone's integrity, I know you."

"Knew me," Joleff corrected. "You died a long time ago."

"If you don't believe I am fit to reclaim my titles, then who do you believe should take them?"

"I believe I am as good as any a knight that could command our forces. We've all known this for a long time, but there have been obstacles. I do not challenge your competence, Hylexia, I simply believe that your time has long since passed and it's time for a change in leadership."

"These claims are baseless," Christofen defended himself. "We've had similar conversations in the past and you always defended me before."

"This was years ago, before you abandoned your post," Joleff snapped. "I won't allow a lame coward to lead our forces."

Link glanced next to him to see a small knight, only about half a foot taller than him, with a short sword attached to her belt. Link quickly grabbed her sword and stood between his father and Joleff, letting all of his rage and determination show across his face. He was not happy with this man.

"My father is not a coward, nor is he lame," Link snarled, holding the sword in challenge to this man who would insult his family in such a manner. "He is fit to be General, as he always has been. He may have some troubles, but I will be with him. If you doubt my words or my skill, draw your sword and test them for yourself."

"Link…" Christofen began to scold him. "Put that sword down this instant, I will not have you…"

"I know what I'm doing, Father," Link said calmly, not taking his eyes away from Joleff. "Well?" Link asked. "Will you draw your sword?"

"How can you keep an army in check, Sir General," Joleff spat the title mockingly. "You can't even keep your own whelp under control."

Christofen tensed when Joleff directed his insults and disrespect towards his son. Link didn't have to look behind him to see his father's face to know how angry he was at this. He could just feel his father's permission to challenge this man to a duel, even if he was only twelve years old and as far as anyone knew untrained with a sword.

Joleff drew his sword before anyone could interfere and break up the fight before it began. He looked very confident.

"If you hurt my son I'll show you what it means to be crippled," Christofen threatened Joleff angrily.

"Oh, don't worry, Hylexia, I'll just put this little whelp back in his place. He won't get hurt too badly," Joleff spun his sword in his hand and took a ready stance. The court cleared the center of the room, not wanting to get in the way. It was clear the two would fight, even if someone, King included, tried to interfere. "Try not to cry, boy. I would hate for your father to see me beat you back to where you belong."

"You have no idea what my place is," Link quipped. "You have no idea who I am or what I am capable of."

"Oh? And who, tell me, are you?"

"I am Link Hylexia and I'm going to make you eat your words," Link charged.

Joleff was startled to see such bold bravado from someone so small and seemingly inexperienced. But he still moved to deflect Link's first strike to his left side, but he failed to notice that it was a faint.

Link struck his opponents right, rapping the man's knuckles with the flat of the blade, making first strike within the first seconds of the duel. Joleff snarled in anger and quickly moved to the offensive, lunging at Link, not even intending on holding back.

But that did nothing to Link. He was still much more naturally skilled than Joleff and dodged the lunge as easily as if Joleff was moving in slow motion. Link almost felt like he was, for his adrenaline rush almost seemed to slowed time around for all those except for him.

In retaliation to the lunge, Link spun past Joleff's sword and rapped him on the knuckles once more on his way around. Link landed right behind Joleff and cheekily poked him in the rear with the pointy end. Not enough to draw blood, but enough to make him yelp and jump upright. It became clear how much Link outmatched his opponent. He was just toying with him now.

"You little brat!" Joleff spun on Link, swinging down with his sword. Link could do many things to block it with his own sword, but instead he chose to sidestep.

Enraged by his miss, Joleff swung a left sweep at Link, who once again sidestepped the attack. Link continued to sidestep any swing or lunge Joleff directed at him, occasionally rapping the man's knuckles with the flat of his blade, just to keep him angry. Eventually, Joleff exhausted himself trying to land a blow on the dexterous child, and it only took one more rap for Link to knock the sword from Joleff's reddened hands.

"I win," Link said, using his foot to spin Joleff's sword from the ground and into his right hand. It was much to big for Link to hold it properly, but he was more than capable of offering Joleff his sword in the polite manner.

"You cheated," Joleff snarled, grabbing his sword from Link angrily.

"Is this always how you handle defeat?" Link asked. "By wrongfully accusing the winner of cheating? I don't think someone who blames his own shortcomings on others is fit to be called a knight, let alone general."

"You disrespectful urchin!" Joleff snarled. "How dare you question my honor."

"How dare you question my father's," Link snarled back.

"Alright, enough of that," King Daphnes quickly stepped between them lest they attack each other again. "Joleff, I think you know when you've been proven wrong."

"He has proved nothing but his own rashness," Joleff snapped. "Should it not be the father to defend his own honor instead of allowing his boy to do it for him? This just strengthens my claim that his father is crippled and can no longer fight."

"I have no intention of neglecting my duty to lead the King's men into battle," Christofen announced. "If the need arises I will ride into battle like I should. Just because I can no longer hold my own on foot or in a duel by no means undermines my ability as a rider or an archer."

"Will you have your son hold the bow, or can you do that part yourself?" Joleff scoffed. "Perhaps he will lead the pony into battle?"

"Enough!" Daphnes all but shouted. "Joleff, you are not acting in a manner befitting of a knight of your stature and respect. I ask you to leave and cool your head. You may return when you are calm enough not to insult others in this way."

"Yes, your Majesty," Joleff answered stiffly. He bowed respectfully, placing his dominant hand over his heart in reverence to his liege, and left the court in a huff. Link imagined the man wished he had a cape on him, for extra dramatic effect.

"Link, my boy, you fought well," Daphnes smiled down at his adoptive nephew happily, even going so far as to pat him on the back for a job well done. "I believe you have more than proven your worth at your father's side."

"Thank you, your Majesty," Link mumbled. "I was just defending my father."

"Of course you were," Daphnes nodded. "You have every reason too, he's a good man."

"Your Majesty," one of the older ministers approached the king. "There is much we must discuss with the General now that he has returned to us."

"Ah, yes, of course," Daphnes nodded. "We should convene in the Council Chamber shortly. Is that alright with you, Christofen?"

"That will work perfectly," Christofen nodded.

The court disbanded, King Daphnes, the lords, and the high ranking officers headed for a room off to the side that Link assumed must be the Council Chamber. Link handed the knight back her sword sheepishly, wordlessly apologizing for borrowing it without permission. She didn't seem to mind too much. Christofen stayed behind with him for a few moments. He placed his hand on Link's shoulder and smiled lovingly down at him. Link smiled back happily.

"Link, buddy, I want you to wait for me in the gardens, alright?" Christofen said. Before Link could say anything, Christofen continued. "I know you wish to go in there with me, but I cannot be sure of what will be said in there and you are still very young."

"When can I go with you to councils like this?" Link asked.

"When you are older, buddy," Christofen smiled and squeezed Link's shoulder twice, reaffirming his love for his little boy. "I do wish to speak with you later, though."

"W-what about?" Link asked nervously. He didn't like hearing those words, his mind always blew them out of proportion.

"About your skills with a sword," Christofen answered. "But we will discuss this later. Go have fun outside in the fresh air, Link."

"Good luck with the Council, Dad," Link said as Christofen made his way to the Council Chamber after the rest of the soldiers and nobles.

Link wondered if he was allowed to wander the castle unsupervised. He had found himself in a new position in terms of social status, but it was still the castle. Link stood there a bit awkwardly for only a few moments, however, when he felt a finger tap his shoulder from behind. He nearly jumped out of his skin, but when he spun around to confront whoever had snuck up on him, he relaxed immediately. It was Zelda.

She had a big smile on her face and was holding something behind her back with both hands, rocking back and forth excitedly on the balls of her feet.

"Hello, Princess," Link greeted. There were still guards at the doors, so he couldn't call her by her name.

"Hello, Link," Zelda all but beamed at him. Then she leaned forward and whispered into his ear. "Follow me, quickly." She almost reached out to grab his hand, but then realized that it wasn't proper for someone of her status to come in contact with anyone other than her close family. She frowned for a second before turning on her heels and quickly took off, headed outside.

Link followed diligently and it didn't take him long to realize she was leading him to her secret garden. When they reached it and left the prying eyes of the well meaning, but a little inept guards, Zelda grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the window looking in on the throne room.

"I saw everything through this window!" Zelda announced, a big grin on her face. "That was amazing! Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Um… I dunno, I taught myself, I guess," Link answered sheepishly. He hadn't remembered that Zelda could see into the throne room. "When I was on my own there wasn't much to do other than hunting and practicing."

"Oh, well, maybe you can teach me!" Zelda asked. "Father doesn't want me to learn how to fight."

"I don't think mine likes that I already know how. And… and we probably won't be staying in Castle Town anymore, either."

"What! Why?" Zelda looked so sad that it made Link feel awful. Zelda shifted when she noticed that Link was just as upset about leaving her as she was. "Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel guilty. You have a good reason, right?"

"Yeah," Link nodded. "Dad's the General again so he's probably going to have to tour the kingdom to assess all the military operations stationed around Hyrule and I'm going with him. He's going to make me his apprentice so I can officially join him and not be a civilian."

"Lucky," Zelda pouted again. "I've been asking for years to be a knight's apprentice but Father always says it's too dangerous. He's such a worrywart. Maybe your dad could talk Father into letting me be his other apprentice. He can have two right?"

"I could ask but I don't think he'd say yes. He doesn't really want to take me in the first place and honestly, I feel like an apprentice would just get in his way but… he's all I have of my family and I'm all of his. We can't just… I don't know. He can't leave without me."

"I understand," Zelda sighed. "Oh! Before I forget." Zelda pulled out the thing she was hiding behind her back. "I made an exact copy of that paper I memorized." Sure enough, the paper she handed Link was the exact same one they had found in his uncle's desk. It read Eldin at the top and had all the same numbers, or Link suspected it did, he didn't have a photographic memory, but he trusted Zelda.

"This is amazing," Link held it in his hands gingerly. "If Uncle saw this he'd be so mad. Did you figure out what the numbers mean?"

"Not the lower ones, but I'm certain they're points on a map. I cross-referenced them with the maps in the Council Chamber and the top ones are settlements, complete with the population from last year."

"Why would Uncle have this?"

"I don't know, but I think it's perfect that you're going to be traveling with your father because now you can check the locations of the mystery numbers and see what's there."

"I'd probably have to sneak away," Link frowned. "And Dad might give me a guard or something because I am pretty important now that he's General again. And because he won't want anything to happen to me."

"I'll make a copy of a map of Eldin for you and mark all the mystery spots. You can come get it before you leave. I just wish we had all of the papers, but I only had time to remember this one."

"I hope I don't find anything bad. I mean, I know Uncle's a very bad man but… if I find anything I'll have to tell Dad and… he loves him, even if Quan doesn't love him back. They're brothers."

"I hope it's nothing bad, too," Zelda signed. "Maybe it's just… maybe they're just locations where he's buried treasure or something. That's not bad."

"I doubt Uncle would bury treasure all over Hyrule."

"That is silly, isn't it?" Zelda giggled. Link imagined Quan digging holes all over the place and dropping little chests into them after looking around comically to make sure no one was looking and he laughed too. But then he remembered how suspicious the whole thing was and he frowned.

"I'll… I'll investigate and then I'll write to you what I find so that you don't have to wait for me to get back. Who knows how long a trip around the country could take. Hyrule is a big place."

"I'll miss you," Zelda looked away from him, glancing into the Throne Room. "Stay safe, alright? I won't forgive you if you come back like last time. You scared me half to death. I thought… please, don't make me worry like that again."

"I'll be fine, Zelda," Link hugged her. "And save the goodbye for when you need it. I'm not going anywhere, yet."

"You should get back to the front of the Castle. That's where the gardens closest to the Throne Room are and your father did tell you to wait there for him."

"Right," Link nodded. "Um, how do I get there from here?" He knew he could find his way there quickly, but it wasn't a lie that he didn't know the exact way. And he liked being with Zelda.

"This way, you goof," Zelda giggled. She lead him back through the castle, but when they got there, Christofen was still in the meeting so they found themselves sitting on one of the stone benches waiting for the meeting to be over. Instead of talking about all the big things going on, they discussed little things. They told jokes and eventually found themselves looking up at the clouds as the sun sank below the walls of the castle.

Eventually, Christofen came out, though the sky was all shades of purple, red, and orange and the stars were starting to appear in the night sky. Only two of the moons were visible at that time of night but it was still beautiful.

"Hello, Link," Christofen smiled. Link noticed that his leg was hurting, but he was fighting hard to hide it. "Princess, good evening. I'm glad you two were having fun while we were in there. Sorry it took so long, there was a lot I missed. Long meetings were not one of them, I'm afraid."

"Hello, Christofen," Zelda smiled at him. Link liked how well they got along. The four of them, Zelda, her father, and him and his father, could almost make a small family, only slightly broken by past tragedies. "Link was just telling me how that cloud up there looked like a pink bunny."

"Haha, was he," Christofen ruffled Link's hair, a big grin on his face.

"Well, it's changed now," Link blushed.

"Come on, buddy, it's time we go home. If we're late for dinner, Cook'll have our heads," Christofen chuckled.

"Can't have that," Link joked back. "Bye, Zelda!"

"Bye, Link," Zelda stood up, looked around to see if the guards were looking, and when she saw that they weren't, she gave Link a big hug, which he returned.

(4)

Link was only slightly more comfortable this time around in the carriage. The roof and walls still made his breath catch in his throat a bit and he almost flinched every time the carriage bumped and jolted against the rough cobblestone road.

Link was looking out the window at the night sky resting his chin on his hand and his elbow on the armrest on the side of the carriage. He could feel his father looking at him. They still hadn't had the chance to talk about his duel with Joleff and his abilities with a sword and Link could just tell it was front and foremost on his father's mind.

"Who trained you?" His father finally asked, after what must have been a while of him trying to decide how to best breech the subject.

"No one," Link answered, not looking at his father but still taking his eyes away from the stars and moons hanging in the sky.

"You can tell me," Christofen said quietly.

"I did. No one trained me."

"This wasn't the first time you've held a sword, son," Christofen pressed.

"Yes, but no one trained me. I learned it on my own."

"How? Why? Where could you possibly have found the need to become so skilled with the sword? We are in a time of peace. There are bandits and they are growing bold, yes, but your skill… you fight like you've only ever fought for your life."

"I know," Link sighed, trying hard to cover up the weight in his voice from all of the things he'd seen and done, but he wasn't sure if he had succeeded.

"Do you even need me to train you if you're already this skilled?"

"I'm sure there's a lot I don't know and I'd rather you teach me than me having to continue learning through trial and error. And everyone can benefit from advice, no matter how skilled they are. But… why are you do upset that I know how to use a sword? It isn't that big of a deal, is it?"

"I spent seven years of my life fighting so that you wouldn't have to," Christofen sighed. "You're sure no one's trained you. You must have been raised by someone…"

"He never taught me anything," Link snarled. He then realized what he'd said and how ungrateful it was of him. He'd be dead if it weren't for the Great Deku Tree, but still. It felt like the only reason he was saved was because of what he was and he resented that. He never asked for that. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get mad. It's just… I don't want to think about it anymore."

Christofen looked like he wanted to talk more about Link's past. Link was grateful when he didn't push the subject. "Well, at least I know there are some things you can still learn from me," Christofen smiled, reaching over to place a hand on Link's knee comfortingly. "There are some sword techniques that your grandmother taught me. They have been passed down in our family for as long as anyone can remember. She never got the chance to teach Quan, though I'm sure he doesn't want anything to do with a sword. I'm just glad I have the chance to teach them to you, so the tradition can be carried on."

"I'll look forward to that," Link smiled. It would be a way to really cement him into his family and reconnect him with his heritage. He couldn't imagine anything better than that.

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