THIRTY-SIX
LONG DISTANCE PENPALS

Letters exchanged between Lady Paya of the Kakariko Sheikah, and Master Link; a former Knight of Hyrule

Master L,

I pray this letter finds you well.

In fact, I pray this letter finds you – if the strange gentleman I paid to deliver this makes it to you, then he is worth the money I paid for the delivery!

Please don't feel you have to tell me where you are. In fact, please don't tell me. If you did, I just know that somehow the information would slip out of my mouth and find its way into the ears of Grandmother, and then eventually to those of Princess Zelda. I know it is wrong to carry around a secret when people desperately seek it, especially when Grandmother seems to have a way of knowing everything, but I promise I will keep yours.

One thing I must ask – why did you leave? The Princess came back to Kakariko, with Prince Sidon and Dorian, and she did not speak to anyone for nearly a week. I was so worried. Grandmother got to see and hear about your injuries, and then finally after a while I managed to gather the courage to ask Dorian exactly what happened. I hope you don't mind, but I was concerned for you.

(As an aside, if you are worried about your hands, you should bathe them in clear running water once or twice a day, and then wrap them in Mighty Banana leaves. Crush the leaves first with your foot so that the juices leak out, and don't leave the poultice on overnight. That is, if you want to. I don't want to tell you how to manage your own recovery. I'm sure you know what is best for yourself.)

You don't have to reply to me, but if you wish, please hand something to the peculiar mailman. He often visits the stables around here in rotation, and he will deliver your correspondence to me in secret so that we will not be intercepted. But here I go, just assuming you want to write back!

My apologies,

Papaya

Lady Papaya,

Thank you for writing to me. I must say, I was completely surprised by the strange mailman. The first time he appeared, running at me with that wild expression (does he always look like that?), I took off – I assumed he was trying to rob me!

I'm sorry you had to pay him to deliver to me. Hopefully he is an honest man and hasn't stolen the Rupees I have enclosed for you, as repayment.

Thank you so much for your tip about the banana leaves. I think it is helping. I'm not sure if you already knew this, but the burns were worst of all on my hands, and I was worried I would never lift my sword again. Don't worry, I have been making an honest, if slow living, as a stable hand. I go directly from one stable to the other, as the work dries up. At least it means I will never miss the post!

I hope that the Princess and Prince are well. And of course, your Grandmother and the villagers.

Best wishes,

L (You don't need to call me 'Master'.)

Mast- Link,

I was so excited to hear from you, even after waiting for such a long time. I don't wish to sound rude, but I was worried you could not hold a quill pen. The thought didn't even occur to me until I'd sent a letter to you!

The Princess and Prince left town, a couple of weeks ago. She was mostly back to her own self again, but she refused to speak about what happened in Gerudo, instead behaving as if she had never seen the desert. I heard a rumour that she got involved in the battle – and then I heard some harsh words exchanged between her and Grandmother a few days before she left. I assume she was safe and sensible, otherwise she would not have returned. I love Grandmother and I know she is very wise, but I do often wonder if her commenting upon everything is necessary.

Prince Sidon is well also. I don't really know how to ask you this, but did you know that they were engaged? I'm sorry if you didn't already know, but since they got engaged in Gerudo I wondered if you might have been there at the time. I am excited about a Royal wedding! I don't think even Grandmother has ever attended one of those!

I'm glad you are working, but please make sure you take care of yourself. Don't go out into the wild until you can properly lift a sword – I know that you are strong, the strongest man I have ever known (even stronger than Dorian, I think!) but I am worried that you will overexert yourself. Grandmother says you have a 'knack' for doing that - please Link, don't use your 'knack' until you can safely lift it!

Yours,

Paya (just Paya is fine)

Paya,

Yes, I know about the Royal engagement.

Thank you for the letter, and the advice. I hope you and your Grandmother are well.

I am fine, thank you for your concern. Currently working gathering wood which is helping strengthen my arms. I won't be leaving the safety of the stables until I am at full strength.

Link

Dear Link,

I think I have realised why your last letter was so short.

I am so sorry to have upset you, with my mindless gossip, and then my presumptuousness. I have no right to lecture you when I am a mere child myself – I have never even seen the world outside of my little village. Grandmother means well, but when all the other children my age were picked up by the Yiga or worse, well, she meant to protect me…

This is why I am so grateful to you, and Prince Sidon and the Gerudo of course, and of course Princess Zelda too, for eradicating the threat of the Yiga. I can now sleep knowing that Dorian's lovely daughters, although they have lost their mother, are no longer threatened by our own people, who were turned over to their dark influences. Grandmother tells me there are young Sheikah like me somewhere, but she will not say any more, and she gets very upset when I ask, so I just don't any more.

One day I might find more people like myself, but – and I hope you'll forgive me for saying so – although I sometimes fumble my words, or even the things in my hands, I never felt as comfortable as when I was with Princess Zelda, and Prince Sidon, and mostly you.

I hope you can forgive me. I won't bother you any more with my silly letters.

Paya

Paya,

I've tried about fifty times to write this letter, which might go some way to explaining the huge long wait for my reply. I swear, it wasn't deliberate, and I wasn't angry with you. I actually wanted to come and visit, but I was worried that someone might see me, or that I might accidentally cause alarm. I'm much better, healing nicely, but not quite as stealthy as I was.

The one thing I wanted to say was: I'm sorry. My last letter was curt, and rude. I wrote it in a fit of pique and threw it at the poor mailman, and no sooner had he crossed the horizon did I realise my mistake.

The reason for my frustration wasn't your charming letter at all. I have looked forward to reading them, to the point where it is now me chasing the poor mailman whenever I see him! I can see his face twist every time he spots me, I think I must be in the poor man's nightmares.

You promised you would keep my secret. Forgive me, but I think I am about to burden you with another one. Please may I ask that you treat this one as seriously as I know you treat the first secret – perhaps even safer.

I know about the Royal engagement, because I was right there when it happened. I was laying on the floor of Lady Riju's bedroom, like a burnt piece of meat, when Prince Sidon proposed and the Princess accepted. Also, I knew he was going to do it. When he and I were sleeping in the Inn together, he told me he was going to ask her. He didn't really so much as ask my advice – he just told me it was happening, and I felt I had to agree it was a good idea. Prince Sidon is a very confident and persuasive Zora, and he is a Prince. I think he is a good match for the Princess.

I hope you see what I am getting at. It is somehow as difficult to write it as it is to say it out loud, but I believe I knew it somehow from the moment I awoke to her voice in the Resurrection Shrine: I am in love with Princess Zelda.

It feels such a relief to get it out.

(But is there any chance you could burn this letter after you read it?)

I'm sorry that I have wasted half of my parchment on my troubles. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to know you are the only one like you in your village. I cannot say when, or really explain why I feel this, but I feel that the time will come when you are no longer alone. It makes me so happy to hear that you think of the Princess and I as your equals. I know I am certainly no better than you – in fact, I was always impressed by your humility and charmed by your attitude.

Thank you again, so much, for taking the time to write to me. When I first left, I felt like nobody would notice that I was gone – stupid of me really, but I didn't realise I mattered so much to you. It gives me the incentive to push on with my recovery. I hope I haven't upset you too much, but I'll understand if you don't want to write back.

Hope that you are all keeping well,

Link

Dear Link,

I'm so glad to hear from you again. I could never, never stay angry with you!

I promise I'll keep your secret. I'm glad you finally realise how you feel, but I have to confess… I am a little disappointed in you, Link.

I can't help but feel a little bit like you ran away.

So, you have a love, and that love is not returned. That doesn't mean you take yourself away from them! Imagine if the Princess had done what you did. Wouldn't you be terribly worried - worried sick, in fact?

You said Prince Sidon is right for the Princess. You may well be correct – you certainly know them both better than I do. I personally don't see it, but that is all I will say on the matter, as my knowledge is limited. But that doesn't mean she still doesn't want you in her life. Do you not remember how close you two were before the Calamity struck? You were her friend, her protector, and her travelling companion. Imagine if one day your beautiful horse, your Khalil, suddenly bolted from you while you were brushing his coat – wouldn't you be devastated?

I think I have been honest enough – also I am horribly aware that I have just compared you to a horse. As handsome as Khalil is, you are - not a horse.

I know that part of your reason for leaving was to get better, and to make yourself whole again. But if I were you, and this is just a suggestion, I would try my hardest to return to the Princess once you are well enough. Not only will she probably forgive you, but she needs her Champion – I don't suppose you've seen the posters around the stables at all, have you?

One more thing, and this is optional: if you decide to return to Hyrule Castle town (there is a ceremonial ground-breaking in a few months' time, you should see what it has become), please… would you care to pay me a visit first? I would really, really appreciate it. You don't have to, if you don't think you can. Please let me know if you do are can, and I will arrange somewhere safe to meet.

Best wishes to you,

Paya

(Please don't mind the wet splodges, I was feeling rather upset. Upset for you of course.)

Paya,

Sorry for the delay. I don't want to put anything down in another letter, so can we meet?

I'll come to you – the place where the Silent Princesses grow in pairs, in seven days, at nightfall.

See you then.

Link

Fun fact: yes, it's the postman from Twilight Princess. I love him. You love him. Link? Not so much.