When Marin had started crawling around the castle, Link and Zelda decided it was time to pay a visit to Skyloft. Gaepora had waited a long time for his "yellow-haired angels", and Zelda was eager to show off her daughter who had been blessed with such an appearance.
They flew together on Link's bird, with the rest of the Crimson Loftwing's family soaring close by. Marin held tightly to Link's tunic, even though she was carefully wrapped around his chest in the crimson cloak-blanket, and her large eyes wandered curiously from bird to bird and cloud to cloud. There was a morning mist hanging over the islands, and none of the small population had stirred yet. They were set down by their Loftwings outside of the Academy, and the birds took to the sky. Link gave Marin to Zelda, and they walked inside. Zelda took the lead, eagerly running down the halls to her father's room, but Link slowed. The walls were dusty- even the paintings of the knights and their Loftwings that decorated the halls. The ferns that grew in the corners had withered, and the barrels of food and drink were rooted to the ground by cobwebs. It was true that most everyone had moved to the surface, but Link didn't realize what that would do to the islands until now. He looked up upon hearing the footsteps of a knight. Link recognized him as one of the graduates from the year before his. He had always been hard at work researching Loftwings, and used that as an excuse not to join the colony on the surface.
"Hey, Link. What brings you up to the island?" He asked.
"Zelda and I are visiting the Headmaster." Link said. The knight bit his lip, and his eyes flickered nervously down the hall.
"Okay, but I'll warn you, he's not looking too good." Link's face hardened.
"What?" The knight leaned against the dusty walls, flipping through his logbook that he'd been working on before Link engaged him in conversation.
"Yeah, Headmaster's been pretty sick recently. He's doing better, but it's touch-and-go." Link frowned worriedly, and quickly hurried to the Headmaster's room. As he neared, he made out weak sobbing coming from the office, and he gasped and sprinted through the open door. Zelda looked up, surprised by his sudden entry, and then smiled.
Gaepora was sitting in bed, holding Marin to his chest and crying. He sniffed and looked at Link with puffy pink eyes.
"She's beautiful…" He sobbed. Marin was frowning at him, possibly disturbed by the lines of tears and mucus dripping down his face. She looked to her father and stretched out her arms. Link smiled and took her, as Gaepora wiped his arm past his face and continued to sniffle. Zelda rubbed her father's back and took a seat on the edge of the bed. "I'm so proud of you, Zelda. And Link," Gaepora looked up and nodded. "you did a good job." Link blushed and put all his focus into rocking Marin.
"How are you, father?" She asked- the lines on her face betraying her concern.
"Ah, I'm old, my dear. And old people need their rest. Nothing to worry about." His reassurance did not ease Zelda's worry, and she looked to Link for help. Her husband smiled sadly and walked closer. Gaepora suddenly gasped, leaning up in bed, his eyes locked on Link's face. The hero stiffened, and looked to Zelda for an answer, but Gaepora spoke first. "M'boy, what happened to your face?" Link sighed, and cast another smile their way.
"Sir, I-" He started.
"Father!" Zelda snapped. He flinched away from his daughter's scolding, but set his eyes once again on Link's marred cheek.
"Ah, Zelda, it's fine. We've just forgotten about it already. I'm sure we'll get there eventually." They talked as the sun rose, exchanging Marin between the three of them periodically. The young girl had become bored, and fallen asleep as the adults conversed, and when Gaepora was handed the snoring bundle, he broke into a fit of tears again.
"Bootifle…" Gaepora blubbered. Finally Marin was woken by the sound, and Zelda took her away for lunch.
That left Link and Gaepora alone. Link always felt a bit awkward around the man. He had been the school's principal, and somewhat of a father figure after Link's own had passed away. And he had always been Zelda's father. Though Gaepora had approved of Link from the start, the shy young boy had felt unnerved by his presence whenever he and Zelda spent time together. And now he was the father of his wife, and his child's grandfather. He was no longer intimidated, but still felt that he had to be on his best behavior.
"So, m'boy, tell me, how is everyone on the surface?" He asked. Link smiled and proceeded to tell him of the new relationships that had developed, and about the horses and Kina's garden and Pipit's newfound strength… "Things sound to be going well!" Gaepora chuckled. Link nodded, but his face was darkened by the fresh memories that not all had gone well. It would have been easy for him to not mention certain events, but to Link, avoiding the truth was as bad as telling a lie. He took a deep breath, catching the Headmaster's attention.
"You wanted to know about these scars." He started. Gaepora nodded, his smile fading as he braced himself for the painful recount of events.
"Go on, then." Link steadied his breathing so his voice would come out clear. He only wanted to say it once.
"Before Zelda had Marin, she was kidnapped by a shadow creature." Link said. Gaepora froze- his eyes wider than usual.
"What?"
"Not all went well as we began our life on the surface, sir. It's a long story…" Link sighed, interlacing his hands. "I was wounded in my fight with Demise. And while my wound festered, a creature came into existence. It was born from the darkness of Demise, and the darkness in my own heart. It vanished at first, then returned and kidnapped Zelda. I was able to find them and rescue your daughter and Marin, but I…" Gaepora pat Link's knee, and Link looked up to him. He realized that his eyes ached, and quickly blinked away the tears before they could flow. He'd never forgotten how painful the memory was, but he'd never repeated the story either.
"Enough, Link. I've heard enough. You saved my daughter, that is all that matters. You've kept your promise to keep her safe for me." Link nodded.
"Always." Gaepora leaned away, resting his head on the pillows. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Link thought he was drifting back to sleep. Then he lifted his hand and pointed at his desk.
"Link, will you get me my sash please?" The hero nodded and located the scarf hanging from the back of the chair, and set it in the Headmaster's hand. His fist closed over it and lifted the crimson sash to his face. Gaepora examined it with half-open eyes. "I am an old man. And there is no one on this lonely island but me and the Remlits and a few stubborn knights." He opened his fist and met Link's eyes. "A new era has begun. It is time for our people to return to the surface once more. Our time of hiding in the clouds is done." Gaepora smiled, ignoring Link's confused expression. "What is your nickname again? Oh, King, correct? King Link. Ha, it has a good ring to it. Do you know why they gave you that nickname?" He looked to the hero, for an answer this time.
"Because a King is someone who keeps people safe." Link responded. He'd been called the name so many times that he'd committed its definition to memory. Gaepora nodded.
"That is only half of it. It is an ancient title, given to the great rulers of the surface kingdoms when our ancestors lived there. They were governed by their King, and were protected and nurtured by him. They built a town surrounding their castle, and lived happily under the clouds instead of above them." Gaepora swallowed, as did Link. "It is my belief that you are meant to be the surface world's next King, Link." He cracked a smile. "You already have the title. Now you just need a crown." Link frowned.
"A crown?" He repeated. That was…a woman's piece of jewelry. Why would he-?
Gaepora chuckled at his confusion, and Link, for a moment, though that it was all an elaborate joke.
"Oh, I have no crown for you yet. But I do have this." He opened his fist and offered Link the red sash. Link did not move for it.
"Sir, that's yours." He said. Gaepora closed his eyes and shook his head.
"It belongs to whoever is the leader of our people, and that is now you." Link shook his head.
"I'm no leader. What you're asking of me…it's…" He scratched his neck, where an annoying itch had been growing during the entire conversation. "The kingdom you describe…it's like a fairy tale- it does not happen."
"That is no fairy tale, Link, it is our history, and it will happen again. Link, you are this world's hero. Look at the back of your left hand. Zelda has told me of the Goddesses who approve of you, and the power they granted you to be brave, wise, and strong. Those are the qualities a King possesses, and only you have." Link looked to him with pleading eyes.
"What about you?" Link asked, stretching for any answer that would lead to alternate actions. Gaepora shook his head.
"I must remain here. The era of the people of the sky will die with me." Link's eyes separated from Gaepora's. He was not prepared for any of this. He was no leader. He took orders, and followed them without complaint. Yes, he had saved Zelda, and the earth, but he'd been told to do so. He did it himself. Yes, he had protected Zelda, but she was just one person. How was he expected to guard an entire population? How…
"I-" The Headmaster caught Link's wrist and stuffed the scarf in his hand. He pulled away, and Link had to grab the sash so it would not fall to the floor.
Gaepora got out of bed long enough to walk around the island with his daughter. Link took Marin and waited under his favorite tree for them to return. Marin watched the Loftwings fly above and below, and giggled when a wind passed by and tugged some of the leaves free. Link carefully took them away from her, so she tried to grab a Sky Stag Beetle instead. Link gasped and slapped the bug away just as it tried to chomp on Marin's finger with its powerful pincers.
Marin squealed in annoyance, and watched it fly away.
"No, Marin. You can't grab those." He explained. She continued to reach over his shoulder as the bug flew off the edge of the island, and Link wrangled her back into his arms. She pouted at him. "Your mother did the same thing, you know." He said, as he stood and began to walk towards the plaza. "And it bit her, and I chased that bug around half the island until I caught it and then it bit me too. So I caught it in a bottle and took it all the way to the Eastern islands so it could fly around without bothering anyone. But these…" Link sat Marin down beside a patch of flowers, where a pair of violet blue butterflies lived. They had glided away at their approach, but were slowly flying back towards them. "These are friendly. They won't bite you." Marin beamed, and stretched her arms out for them. When one fluttered close, she grinned and swatted it through the air. Link quickly grabbed her hands. "No, Marin!" He firmly scolded. She looked to him with wide eyes, startled at his tone of voice. He smiled at her, easing away her shock. "You have to be gentle, or you'll hurt them." He said. She looked back at the winged bugs. "But if you're patient…" He released her arms and his daughter sat very still on her own. The Blessed Butterflies returned, and one even fluttered so close to Marin, that it must have touched her nose, because she sneezed and fell over into Link's lap. He scooped her up. "That's my girl!" She squealed in delight as he kissed her cheek.
He leaned back and sighed. He'd completely forgotten about his talk with Gaepora, but now it was coming back. He felt the weight of the sash in his pack.
Marin looked up at him, though his eyes were fixed on the distance, then back to the butterflies when he did not look back at her. Then she gasped and giggled- reaching with her pudgy arms. Link followed her stretching fingers and smiled when he saw the violet Remlit, Mia, prancing their way. Link stretched out his arm and the feline scampered up his hand and onto his shoulder. Marin squealed in delight as Mia stretched out her neck and nosed the baby curiously. Marin readied her arms for a swing, then remembered how her father had reacted when she hit the butterflies, and instead gently placed her hand on the cat's head. Mia purred, and Link smiled.
"Good girls."
Zelda and Gaepora circled back their way after a while, and Link suggested they return home. Mia remained at Link's heels the whole time, mewling loudly. Mia's friend, the only other Remlit on the island, had joined them. Now two of the felines anxiously pawed at his feet.
"Ah, Mia had missed Instructor Horwell immensely." Gaepora told them. "Why don't you take them back down with you?"
Link was worried about the Remlits' evening transformation, and didn't want them anywhere near Marin after the sun went down. But Zelda picked them up and giggled as they licked her and snuggled up against her with their bushy tails and cold noses.
"Oh, can't we, Link?" She begged. He closed his eyes and sighed, but nodded. He'd never been able to refuse her.
This time back to the surface, Marin was carried by Zelda, leaving Link to hold onto the pair of anxious felines. They were used to Loftwings, but they had rarely, if ever, ridden on them. Link felt their claws dig into his skin and winced at the sharp sting of pain. He vividly remembered every time he'd been out past dark and encountered one of them, and had the feint white scars scattered about his arms and ankles to remind him. But the birds dove gracefully back under the bank of clouds and set the family down outside of the castle in no time. Mia and her friend leapt away from Link and rolled in the unfamiliar grass, grateful for solid ground again.
Horwell, who was currently outside with Owlan as they examined Kina's flourishing garden, spotted the Loftwings and waved a greeting. Mia's wide ears stiffened and lifted straight, before she cried out and ran over to her favorite person. Horwell saw her, and cried out and dropped to his knees. Link sternly reminded Horwell to keep the Remlits outside at night, and the instructor nodded and went back to petting his purring friend.
"Owlan looks a bit jealous." Zelda added, as they entered the castle doors. Eagus shouted a welcome to them from his guard post above the main entrance, and they waved back. "Horwell seems to have a new favorite."
"I should have thought to bring them down earlier." Link replied, as they reached their room. "Is there anything else we need from Skyloft?" Zelda wrapped Marin up in her blanket and set her down in her crib.
"I don't think so…" Link put his arm around Zelda as they both stared into the crib. "She's had a long day." Link nodded, and they stood in blissful silence as they watched their child sleep. But after a while, Zelda turned to Link. She reached out and touched the three scars on his face. Link closed his eyes and turned his face into her hand.
"I'm sorry my father acted the way he did." She whispered.
"No, he was just concerned… Do they bother you?" He asked. Zelda didn't answer right away. She brushed her thumb over the glossy skin, and Link shivered. He thought it amazing how easily Zelda could cause him to falter.
"They remind me how much pain you endured to save me." She admitted. Link nodded understandingly. That was what he had thought.
"I could ask the Great Fairy to heal them." Link offered, opening his eyes. Zelda was taken aback by that. Link never asked anyone for anything, except for their permission or forgiveness. She thought about what the scars meant to him, and to her…and to others. "I'm sure she could."
…What did the others think?
She had noticed subtle things. Things she could have been looking too much into.
They were quieter around him, nervous perhaps? Some still felt guilty about the way they had treated him after Dark put that spell on the castle. No, that wasn't it though. Weeks had passed and that incident was over now. People still approached him with their woes and he helped them all the same.
Link had never been proud of himself, he was too humble for even pride. He never bragged, and so, many other knights didn't realize how amazing he was. Even his year-long quest to seal Demise went relatively unnoticed. The Instructors and his close friends, those who saw first-hand his injuries and strife, realized what he was going through. But even then, the majority of Skyloftians took no notice. And after he returned the Master Sword to its pedestal, he had no physical proof of his endeavors except for the Triforce on the back of his hand; a mark that had been forgotten ages ago.
But those scars were right on his face. No one could look at him and ignore the harsh proof of his bravery and will.
"Do they bother you?" Zelda finally asked. Link glanced over her shoulder at the mirror. Then, of course, he shook his head.
"I don't mind. You're here, and I don't care what my body looks like." His brow furrowed nervously. "Unless you do. Then I'll-"
"Keep them." She interrupted. Then she stood on the tips of her toes and kissed those bright scars. "They make you look even more handsome. I always dreamed I would marry such a noble knight." Link's lips quivered, then broke into a smile.
"And…I'd always dreamed I would marry you." He whispered back. Zelda blushed and looked away demurely. Link couldn't stand it. He took her face in his hand and guided her eyes back to his. And then her lips to his.
A/N~ Hey guys! Thanks for all the support and reviews! :) I could end this story soon, but I have a few more ideas. Sort of "creation explanation" things, like...where did the Mogmas go, or How did Zoras come to be? If you have any of your own, tell me and I'll see what I can do! Thanks!