AN: This is it. This is the end!
Just a little announcement before we get started, I went back and revised this story before uploading the final chapter. Turns out, I had a lot of "happy accidents" along the way (like, A LOT) and I'm still in the process of smoothing things out! Hopefully this will make it easier for anybody reading in the future.
Anyway, what I really wanted to say was A HUGE THANK YOU to everybody who made it through! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 29 - Roads With No End
The journey back to Hyrule had eaten into his boots worse than ever before. The southern exit was busy as usual, though Epona was now far more practiced at dodging people in close quarters. The odd citizen stopped and stared as he passed through. A child tugged at the hem of their mother's skirt, a group of teenagers froze and returned his wave in stunned silence. After weeks of solitude it was a welcome sight, a familiar sight that signalled he was finally home.
Entering Hyrule Castle felt like coming into a city of its own. Knights thundered down the halls just as servants swept up behind them. The gardens were ever-changing, flourishing in the autumn, its caretakers pausing as they took note of their honoured guest. A memorial stood where the road met the grounds, a great wolf of stone that wielded a sword in its mouth, earning him a title beyond the word 'hero.' He smiled to think that person who might have enjoyed it most would never see it.
He left the audience chamber with a slow exhale, stopping in his tracks for the first time that day. The wait was over and he knew where he ought to begin again. He turned to take the next right, stopping as his eyes connected with another in waiting. Warmth touched his face. Hers were darker, hidden, like snuffed embers. "Link," she said.
The years had changed him in some unforeseeable manner. His usual manner was softer, more reserved than ever before when he was not in close company. But his learned confidence shone through with every smile and every quick gesture of his body. His fringe of golden hair was mostly gone, hidden within the long strands of hair that spilled over his shoulders and back whenever he untied his hair. The rest of his face had grown longer, sharper, framing those blue eyes that never changed.
"Welcome back."
"Did you miss m-"
Ashei rushed forward and lifted him up into a hug that nearly squeezed the air out of his lungs.
"Agh! … That much, huh?" he grinned. "C'mon, it's just been over a month."
She too had shifted, radiating a keen optimism despite the shadows etched into her smirk. Her eyes commanding, softening only for a few. Her usual intricate armour had been upgraded to a shining silver breastplate, matched with winged gauntlets and leg guards, worn over a form-fitting uniform of dark red. The Royal Family crest was emblazoned handsomely upon her neck-guard and her raven-black hair was gathered into a braid that hung down the side.
Link squeezed her back before she lowered him down, mindful of his taller stature. "Still killing it in that uniform, though."
"Careful," Ashei warned before she ruffled his hair. "These are my on-duty hours. Can't take any disrespectful behaviour from anyone, not even the Hero of Light."
"You know I hate that title."
She made a derisive sound. "About as much as I enjoy being called 'Lady' at all those damned parties. I've stopped responding to it altogether. Taken them ages to get the hint."
"Even if it's Zelda?"
"You know she doesn't do that," Ashei said, amused. "Knows it's better for me without the nonsense, yeah? Course, I still refer to her properly during work hours. So what about you, yeah? How was life on the road this time around?"
A memory flashed before his eyes. Deku Babas slithering in the undergrowth, Lizalfos hacking their way through the vines. Hyrule's monsters had grown sparse since Ganondorf's demise with many crawling to the distant corners of the world. One night, he glimpsed a pack of Wolfos waiting for him in the dark. He'd led them away from Epona, torch swinging, snarling into the shadows to catch their attention, until they rushed past him to clash with the Stalhounds from a nearby grave. From that night on, he made sure never to camp near one again.
"… Good," Link nodded, after a pause. "… But I'm really glad to be back. This trip took way longer than expected."
"Enjoy the south?" Her eyes lit up as she broached the following question. "What was it like?"
"It wasn't bad," he smiled back. "You'd hate the weather though, it feels like summer everyday. And at first there was nothing but swamp and rainforest… but I kept going until I hit the ocean. Turned out, there was a community thriving out there! People living off the water instead of cultivating the land. It really was different but I managed to pass on a thing or two before I left."
"Made yourself useful, then? Not your average tourist," she smirked, bumping him on the arm. "Good for you. I'd be lying if I said that dealing with some of the rubbish here hadn't made me wanna be out there, instead."
"That bad?" He smiled again, eyes searching. "Tell me everything. How's the castle been?"
They drifted out of the hall and followed the stairs as they fell into the world outside. The colours around them shifted, from the carpeted blue and marbled white of the castle to earthen red and wilted green.
"It's chaos. There's a lot of pressure from the town and we get big hats visiting all the time trying to win Zelda over. But at the end of the day, nobody's let into the guards without my approval. Smashed that nepotism right in the face. Now we're a force equipped to handle anything! We're turning this place around... Zelda included, I mean." Ashei's steps slowed as they encroached into the garden, her eyes breaking contact with his in their search.
"And how is she?" Link bit onto his lip.
She hesitated in response to his question. "Good. You know, after a while I… began to understand why you were so worried. Zelda's a strong person… but she holds her sadness like a blade. Things are better, though. Only strange thing I find now is that she insists on going to sleep around sundown. And she's weirdly happy in the mornings. This is totally confidential by the way, you better not blab on me or I'll smack your ears off."
"Wouldn't dream of it." He smirked in a manner that was strangely reminiscent of Rusl. "Also, please tell me you didn't start that working relationship by dissing her clothes."
The warrior grinned back at him, unflinching. "Never. She dresses too well for that."
"Ouch."
Her gaze grew still as she honed in on a basket. It was under a tree, just where Ilia had promised. She quietly hoped that the ants hadn't gotten into it. "… So, hey. I've actually taken time off this afternoon. My post ended with your meeting."
"Oh! Did Shad tell you when I'd be back?" Link jumped. "I mean, I-I'm grateful, but if it's easier on you we could always catch up at Telma's instead? I won't be going anywhere for a long while-"
"Enough of that. You're staying right here," Ashei interrupted, unfolding her arms. "And you're going to help me with something, right now."
Shad snored soundly amid the chaos scattered around his desk. Course outlines. Research materials. Essays. All of which had only encroached further and further into his living space. However, not withstanding the precarious heights of the clutter, he'd known that the most dangerous thing of all were the books that never made it into publication.
The first trip that willed him into discretion happened to be his final trip alongside those who called themselves the Resistance. He could easily recall the shimmering grove that surrounded the Temple of Time on the day they'd investigated it. Link happened to be volunteering at the ranch that day and so he hadn't been there to share his perspective on the ruins. The presence of its guardian statues, which gave off the same aura and static as the owl deities he'd studied all of those years ago, alerted him to the fact that there was far more to the Temple than the eye could uncover.
After hours of sketching and ruminating over the mystery, it was he who suggested that they leave. Auru and Rusl were well versed in their history, enough to rival the scholar on this particular matter, though the former seemed preoccupied with his report to Zelda and the latter found himself distracted by the sound of a child laughing in the woods. Ashei had climbed onto the highest archway, content to admire the scenery after hashing out a lengthy argument with him on Hylian religion. When it was time to leave, she gifted him some rare flowers to press within his notebook. All the while, the Rod of the Heavens lay dormant within his office.
Following that had been a long-awaited trip into the mountains. Link insisted that Snowpeak had become far safer in the aftermath of the war, though that didn't stop Ashei from glaring at every set of wolf tracks in the snow and staying up late. As the slopes grew more desolate and the nights grew colder, their ability to make a decent fire and survive on blankets alone had also suffered. The end result was the three of them huddling together for warmth. If the threat of death had been enough to silence Link for weeks on the last occasion, then this time it were such that nobody could breathe a word of it for the rest of their lives. Even if the liquor soothed the edges and they woke up blushing, smiling, sore from fits of laughter after lips were warmed on a dare.
Eventually, they made it to the top of a blinding white hill, and raced down towards the rather sophisticated lair of the monsters, or so Shad had called them out of ignorance. Apart from their enormous stature and frighteningly large canines that resembled tusks more than teeth, it had been easy to forget that Yeto and Yeta were not in fact, human. They were just as intelligent and welcoming in their hospitality as any citizen of castle town… perhaps even more so. And they did not deserve to have their way of life disrupted by hunters or over-zealous travellers. Within hours of meeting them, Shad put his notebook down.
The mysteries of the world had consumed the better part of his life. But for now he was happy to hold them in memory, attending to the curiosities of others instead.
"Oh, no. Come on. Wake up!"
Ilia shook her head at the scholar's negligence, her ash-blonde hair now yearning to reach her shoulders. Bathing in the Ordon Springs had removed nearly all of her scars from the war but for the one against her neck, of which she was defiant, unashamed of its presence. She had decided on a sundress for the day, hand-sewn from leftover silks. As luck would have it, there was an ever-abundant supply of materials to work with in the city.
"This is a very important day… or have you forgotten?" she chastised.
"Mhm…" Shad yawned. He stirred for a couple of seconds before settling back to sleep. The time for niceties was over and Ilia lifted his arms out from beneath him. With a shout and a jolt, he nearly spilled the cup of coffee that sat inches away from his head, eyes creased from sleeplessness.
"G-Goddesses!" he snapped. "Ilia? … My dear. Is it about that time?"
"Honestly!" Ilia sighed. "You manage to make it on time to class everyday but when it comes to your own life and happiness, here you are, glued to the desk!"
He rubbed his eyes under his glasses, which were still as deep as the evening sky, though his hair had only grown flatter. He swept it to the side through his fingers before buttoning the top of his blouse, hoping to maintain some semblance of respectability before he could hop into the shower. There was a glimpse of scarring upon his shoulder as he adjusted his shirt. He then threw his dark waistcoat over the chair and inhaled his coffee, gladly.
"A-Apologies!" Shad stammered, hissing as he scalded his tongue. "I suppose I had a lot to get through last night and before I knew it… ahaha."
"It's alright," Ilia assured. "I thought something like this might happen, so I'm here early. Breakfast is on the counter once you get yourself cleaned up. Don't keep them waiting."
"Oh good heavens, what did we do to deserve you?"
Shad climbed into the bathroom with haste, taking care not to trip over his clothes as he so often did in front of Link. After being thoroughly awoken by the rushing waters, he stepped out. Stubble free, suited up and glasses polished. Ilia straightened his tie and gave him one final look, brushing a lock of russet hair behind his ear. She stifled a giggle as it sprang back out of place.
"… It's all this damned coursework," he sighed as they finally set out the door. They walked out into a cobbled courtyard, surrounded by a hub of renovated buildings in a cordoned off section of town. Coloured bookshelves could be seen beyond the windows. Signs and doused lanterns swung lightly in the morning breeze. Both were mildly startled when an owl flew overhead. "I'd hoped to get as much of it done as possible, so that we might enjoy the next week or so in relative peace."
Ilia brushed against his arm, playfully. "College life not up to your standards anymore?"
"Please don't get me wrong. I cherish every moment that I'm here. But I also yearn for the day when my work and living space no longer collide. I don't suppose that was ever the case beforehand… but still, it would be nice."
"You're thinking of him, aren't you?"
Shad could only smile back at her.
Link and Ashei sat on a blanket stretched over the ground. He'd recognised the stitching right away, confident it could originate from nowhere else but his hometown. Surrounding them were a variety of treats and cups of tea, still warm from the sun. It seemed entirely out of place for Ashei to do anything like this, though she had insisted that he wait here unless he wanted to lose his legs. Finally, she settled down next to him with a book, refusing to look at him or give any further detail.
"Never thought you had this in you," he smiled, knowing exactly the sort of response this would evoke. "Is that romance you're reading?"
"It's a rare collection of folktales from Zelda. And I could always throw you into the fountain, if you'd prefer."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Psh."
Upon hearing the footsteps in the distance, Ashei lowered her book and they looked up in unison. It seemed that Ilia had commandeered Epona from the stables and was leading her through the grounds. All the while, Shad was up in the saddle, his eyes widening as he caught sight of the others on the ground. He'd thought that it might be his turn to surprise Link. Yet, here he was now, the last one to know.
He swung his leg around and climbed off Epona, brushing the horsehair from his jacket as Link stumbled to his feet. Both paused abruptly, frozen in time, before they began to move forward. Their steps felt faint as they rushed in, fighting to close the gap between them.
"… Shad-" Link breathed.
And then, the scholar crashed into his arms.
"Welcome home." Shad squeezed onto his chest, hands meeting at the back as he breathed in that familiar scent of the forest. "It's so good to have you back, my love." Their lips met for the first time in weeks, tender though restrained. When they broke away, all they could do was stare at each other.
Ilia caught the smile on Ashei's face, who blushed and hid her reaction just as quickly, but she squeaked as Link wrestled her into a hug with an arm. Foolishly, he tried to lift Shad in unison and the three of them toppled into the grass. "Watch out!" she admonished, picking herself off the ground. "You're as reckless as ever, Link!"
"I-I'm sorry - but I really wasn't expecting this! You're all here for me!"
"We only did it so you'd feel bad for leaving," Ashei smirked, reaching down to pull Shad and then Link off the ground. "Hope it worked 'cause this one's the worst when he's down. Even more terrible when he gets the other way… and all he wants to tell me about are those rough hands-"
"Ah, I believe my usual insults were somewhat blunted in your absence!" Shad laughed suddenly, squeezing onto Link's shoulder as he levelled a glare her way. "But not to worry, Ash. I can promise a return to our usual game after a few at the tavern, yes?"
She flashed a dangerous grin his way. "Good. You're paying."
And then she and Ilia looked to each other in accord. She brushed the remaining grass off the younger girl's shoulder before they turned to leave, allowing Epona to roam free upon the grounds. "W-Wait, where are you both going?" Shad frowned. Link mirrored his expression.
Ashei scrunched up her face. "Oh, we're not staying."
"You need time to catch up, so we'll see you both later!" Ilia smiled. "Enjoy the tea. And remember to thank Telma for the pastries later!"
Link watched as they departed from the clearing and stole into the gardens, stifling their amusement over the execution of their plan. Ilia threw a final wink to him over her shoulder and he returned the gesture, holding her back in secret. "… Guess it's just you and me, then," he laughed to the scholar. "For the record, I had absolutely no idea this was happening. They got us good."
"Goddesses, those girls…" Shad smirked, shaking his head. He took a seat with his partner upon the blanket and then nursed a cup in his hands. "Now, perhaps we could start with you telling me more of your journey in person? I've spent the better part of the month avoiding an avalanche in my office and would welcome the added excitement."
"An avalanche?" Link cringed. "You go first…"
Deeper into the grounds, the flowerbeds were filled with autumnal flowers of orange and purple, vibrant against the chill in the air. Ilia looked upon them with a certain fondness before they finally stopped, some distance away from where they'd left Link and Shad.
Ashei leaned against the wall, assessing the state of their fortifications despite her reprieve from work. She was impressed with how quickly the damages from the Bulblin hoard battle were fixed, along with the fact that they'd gotten away with blasting the place to pieces… no doubt thanks to Auru pulling some strings.
"You'll be going back tomorrow, yeah?" she asked. "Now that the festival's been confirmed. Plenty of work on my end for that, too."
Ilia nodded. "… It's getting harder for everyone to be together like this, isn't it? Life keeps pulling us down different roads."
The warrior sighed. "Ugh, yeah. Things at the castle are crazy and some days there's no escape. Shad was actually talking about it when Link was on that last assignment. He sort of misses how things used to be. We'd take turns travelling and there'd always be someone back at headquarters."
"The war was awful. But our environment was better in a way. At the moment what I'd really like is my own space between towns," she frowned, clearing some of the leaves out of the garden.
"Maybe you should move in?"
"Move in?" Ilia turned around, her face lit with excitement.
"Oh. I can't just bring people in." Ashei blushed. "Plus, you really don't wanna live in the castle. It's so bright I want to stab out my eyes. Doesn't feel like home." She shook her head, smirking before she continued. "I meant with those two when they finally get a bigger place. Why not? You could make it work."
"How funny! Shad was just talking about that, earlier. Says that living at work is getting a bit much. He must also know how you're coping, right?"
"Maybe," she shrugged. As loath as she was to complain about her station, Zelda had shared in her burdens from a place of understanding. In the early days, she caught the Princess sneaking out in the night concealed within a dark cloak. As Knight-Captain, she felt compelled to stop her. But as Ashei, who belonged only to herself, she chose to let her go.
Ilia wore a knowing look. "Come on. We all know the real reason you stayed."
"I didn't stay for anyone. It was the right thing to do," Ashei snorted.
"And it just so conveniently worked out that you're here with us, now," the younger girl winked. "Don't be embarrassed. I'm glad that you did. And so are Shad and Link. You should be able to rely on us, Ashei… we're here to help."
She smiled back at Ilia's words, finding herself unable to argue.
Happy hour struck at Telma's Bar, where the warm air embraced them off the streets. The end of the conflict had seen the place nearly overrun with patrons - or more accurately, fans - desperate to rub shoulders with the Hero of Light and those who worked alongside him. However, as great as the business was for the proprietress, who'd had to hire some extra hands from the college, she was glad to see the chaos settle after a few years. Link had apologised to her profusely for the disruption.
"Here we are!" Telma welcomed as she placed a tray onto a table. Her eyes were as kind as ever, creasing with affection for the young group, though nowadays she wore her hair down. Her red dreadlocks swung around her shoulders as she walked. "Oh, and good to see you back, honey."
"My deepest thanks, Telma."
"It's good to be back," Link nodded. He took a pint of cider in his hands, sipping it quietly as the others reached for wine, spirits and a hot tea. "Oh! And um, thanks for the food today."
"Anytime," she grinned. "You should have seen Shad honey the other night. Emotional mess until Ashei got him home. And the complete opposite of this lovely lady when she went to surprise you both."
"Oh, stop it," Ilia blushed.
"Somebody had to do it. It was getting embarrassing," Ashei sighed, rolling her eyes as Link rubbed her shoulder in thanks.
Shad frowned, hiding most of his face in his hands. He could vaguely recall being carried inside and dumped onto the lounge. The threat of cold water loomed over his head, warning him from waking the neighbours with his pining. Before he could continue arguing, she tore into the linen cupboard and buried him under a stack of blankets. He brought the wine to his lips. "Honestly, I could not have been that bad… I was just a touch lonely. That's all."
"Well, hopefully you'll be home for a while now, honey," Telma concluded. She patted Link on the back before fetching the tray and returning to the bar, stopping only to scratch Louise behind the ears.
"So, how's everyone else been?"
"Alright, I suppose…" Ilia began. "I'll be travelling home soon. Feels like I was just there but I've got to sort out our side of the upcoming festival. It means I won't get to see you all for a while." She thought back to Ordon Village, as magnificent as it was this time of the year. The surrounding mountains were crisp, cold, blanketed by pine trees that cleared away into pumpkin fields.
It was strange to think that Malo was only streets away in the city, leaving Talo behind to seek Rusl's tutelage as a warrior. Beth was growing fast as she helped Uli with her daughter. Just as Ilia had done with her, many years ago. And Colin had since buried himself in Link's book collection, his ambition calling him to the world outside. He was always halfway through a letter for Luda, having kept in touch with her through the mail.
Link frowned, drumming his fingers against his glass. "Damn, I was… really hoping we'd get more time together. It's been a long time since I was back in town."
"I know." Ilia smiled. "Sorry, Link."
"Good on you for sticking things out," Ashei said, keeping at eye on the hero and scholar over the table. "Can't be easy travelling all the time, rushing in and out of the tavern between jobs. That was us a couple of years back."
"Oh, but the castle must be a step up from that, yes?" Shad asked, his eyes sparking with enthusiasm.
"Honestly, it's not that romantic. I live where I work, same as you. Triple the political drama at my doorstep. Zelda makes it easier where she can."
"The s-same as…? Do you hear this?" he laughed, gesturing to the warrior with incredulity. "You're on a first-name basis with the Princess Zelda. You have the nicest living quarters I have ever seen. And you have an army at your back! What does it take you meet your standards, Ash?"
"Hah! What about you, Mr Popular Professor?" Ashei smirked right back.
Shad sank back into his chair, defeated. "You've seen the state of my desk. Ridiculous! And you've no idea how often my lectures end up hijacked with questions of Link, whom I have been missing terribly. Erm… no offence, old boy. I am beginning to suspect that some of them do not share my passion for history!"
"None taken. I'm… sorry this one took so long." Link leaned in and kissed Shad on the temple, squeezing his leg in solidarity. "It, uh… kinda sounds like everyone's been having a rough time. But if I'm hearing things right, then… we're also looking for some extra support?"
He looked to Ilia, whose eyes connected with his over the table. They were the same resplendent green he'd kept in his memories, like sunlight filtered through the leaves.
"What if we could offer you a place to come back to when you're tired? No work stuff, no crashing at Telma's… just us? Like things used to be."
Ashei smiled, studying her expression with subdued quiet.
"And, um… Ashei." He looked to the warrior next. Her eyes caught red under the light, steadfast and hungry for purpose. "Thanks for looking after Shad while I was gone. I know you've got enough to deal with and I'm sorry I couldn't be here. If there's any way we could make things easier, we're here for you."
"L-Link, do you mean…?"
"Why not? I was gonna leave it as a surprise but we've been talking about it all day."
"Talking about what?" Ilia prompted.
Shad blushed as he cleared his throat. Ambition was new to him but at its heart he found it to be liberating, inspiring. Not a cloud felt out of reach. "W-Well, you see… we perused the row of properties I used to live in just down the road from here. The landlady has been having some awful trouble with tenants and it seems now, they are up for sale."
"You don't mean…" Ashei frowned. She thought back to the cozy kitchen with books crammed in all manner of unconventional places. The lights dwindled as stray cats perched in the windows.
"The very same. We did mention how funny it might be if either of you were to take up residence alongside us. Almost like a second task force! Ah, can you imagine?" he chuckled, nervously. The warrior nearly choked on her drink, unsure of whether she ought to be amused or impressed by their foolhardiness.
"Um, assuming she'd accept our offer," Link corrected.
"Old boy, I am expecting to pay double the market price for that debacle."
"Wait, wait. Hold up. You're serious about purchasing that block?" Ashei repeated, her gaze flickering between the two as though they'd gone mad.
Link shrugged, finishing his drink in a single throw. "I've got more money than I know what to do with. And Shad's been saving to get us out of the college. Might seem crazy at first but it'd be a good move, I think. Especially if we fix the place up ourselves."
"Then let me help you!" Ilia smiled back at them, her head rushing with excitement. She could suddenly recall her first day in the city. A bowl of soup and an awkward smile had greeted her in the heart of this bustling, colourful mess. Though the trees were sparse, markets filled every corner and the songs of the bards greeted her every sundown. Most importantly, Link was here now. And home was never quite the same without him. "If there's space for me to stay, then I want in, too."
"Of course there's space!" Link beamed, reaching over the table to pull Ilia into a hug. He knocked his chair back and drew gazes from the smattering of other customers, along with Telma who threw a wink at them from across the room.
"Bo's not gonna be too mad, is he?" he grinned.
"If you're there? Not a chance."
Shad and Ashei glanced at each other. She was wry as ever in the face of intimacy, though she did not look away. He took a moment to collect his thoughts.
"O-Our offer stands for you too," Shad stammered. "I cannot pretend that your life is perfect, Ashei. You've made great sacrifices to stay here. And if you ever wished for a space outside of the castle, we would welcome you with open arms. I want to see you happy."
She thought back to the old days. Days spent arguing behind the curtain, punching knives into their meeting desk. Nights spent flinching away from the wall and sharing drink on the roof. All peripheral, all background noise, to the crisis burning at their hands. She had torn through it all. Her own army at her back.
"… You had me at task-force," Ashei smiled. "Why not make it official? We have our own jobs but we could also be working together. Gathering information for Link and moving within the fringes. Hyrule's still got a long way to go and Zelda can't do it alone. People in the city have been resistant to change."
"She's right," Ilia nodded. "And regions other than Ordon still need rebuilding. We're one of the lucky ones."
"Oh, and there's still tonnes of monster activity in the wild…" Link added, falling back into his seat after he'd rescued it from the floor. "Ganondorf's death turned them off the roads and into the other territories. If we can't defend those, Hyrule has nowhere to go for help in the future."
Suddenly, it was Shad's turn to choke on the spot. "I-I'm afraid I was being fanciful about that part! Oh… but I do like the thought."
"So, what do you say?" Three sets of eyes settled upon him at once and he was caught at their mercy.
"It's a good idea," Link affirmed, reaching for Shad's hand. The scholar's fingers entwined within his own, as soft as he had dreamed of all those nights on the road. "And we can look out for each other at home. Just like we all used to."
Ilia reached for Shad's other hand and he squeezed her back, unable to resist her smile. "… Just like you did for Link, after the final battle."
"Yes. Alright! Consider me sold!" he laughed, exasperated. If he imagined himself to be ambitious before, then this agreement had blown that image right into space. "Goddesses, the three of you are completely mad. I suppose we will have to think of a new name."
Ashei emptied her pockets onto the table, which thudded loudly under weight of the purse. "Let's reinforce those walls, first." She smirked. "I'm not losing out on sleep cause of you idiots, yeah?"
Link held his breath on the steps, unsure of what to expect before he was greeted by peeling paint and dusty ceiling beams. A ginger cat from the garden rubbed against his leg. He lifted it up into his arms, murmuring to it in secret before he crossed the threshold. Shad was in his other hand, mirroring his smile as he followed behind. After sweeping around the fireplace they spent the afternoon cuddling upon the floor, imagining the comfort it might bring to them in the winter.
The scholar, shocked by the acceptance of their compensative offer, had immediately taken leave from work and rolled up his sleeves. Though he'd initially worked his way into the ground and fallen asleep at the bottom of the stairs, his heart for the project was never shaken. He ensured every corner of the rooms had sufficient lighting, insisting that it were for the purposes of reading. Admittedly, he thought it silly to replicate the feel of Telma's Bar when it was only down the road.
Ilia joined them some time later. She hopped across the stones in the garden, painting a picture in her mind before the weeds were ripped and the vines were trimmed. Not long after that, the soil was restored. Winter crops were set into the back of the yard, surrounded by sleeping flowers for the coming spring. She knew them to be in safe hands for as long as Link was home. When their cat showed an immediate preference to her company, he found himself unable to complain with Epona waiting for him in the stables.
Ashei appeared in the evenings after her shift. She'd hoisted Link onto her shoulders as he painted the ceiling and boosted him onto the roof to find the source of the leak whenever it rained. Her room was red, dark and subdued, the exact opposite of her working quarters. Her snow armour terrorised anybody who dared to look in through the windows. And the castle stood only a short distance away, beckoning to her from the horizon.
Surfaces were sanded down and reinforced into something stronger than what they were. Polished into brilliance. Weapon racks took preference over coat hooks. Bookcases lined the walls of the second floor, becoming a library in its own right. When the rest was taken care of, plants filled every corner of the kitchen, adding splashes of green for Link to admire as he cooked dinner. The finishing touches were a series of emblems etched into the doors - an owl, a deer, a wolf and a bear.
Their home was their fortress.
And no calamity could strike it from the earth.
Epilogue
They stood upon a platform where the two towers met, united by a single bridge between worlds. At their backs were their thrones - once occupied by a crazed usurper and a feral beast, disguised as a man. The sky around them burned bright orange, falling away into soft pink. Clouds of the deepest purple rolled over the faraway hills.
"How's my little wolf doing? Did he return from that expedition yet?"
Zelda nodded, a true smile spreading to her lips. "Yes. And with some rather surprising discoveries, I might add. Hyrule will be more knowledgeable than ever before. In fact, it is my very wish that we are… so we may never harm other worlds like yours again."
Midna looked upon the Princess of Light and sighed, blinded by the warmth in her features. Her eyes were rippling blue, like raindrops falling into the ocean.
"As for how he's faring… I am pleased to say that he plans on settling down for now. With your favourite companion, the scholar, is that right?"
The Twilight Princess made a face, her smouldering red eyes narrowed in good humour. "About time, if you ask me. That was painful to watch. I'm surprised they made it as far as they did without my help. Well… I helped just a little. And how are the others?"
"Very well," Zelda relayed. "I could not have hired a more argumentative Knight-Captain. It is rather amusing, though it flusters her every time I broach the topic. I believe our better decisions are reached over a cup of tea. As for the new ambassador, I still see her every now and again. Trade with Ordon is stronger than ever before. We might be looking into opening some new businesses."
"What about you? Not going through with any of those proposals, are you?"
Zelda shook her head, fighting the urge to laugh. Midna always asked herself whether it counted when they were dreaming. "You're no fun," she smirked. "You could throw a bunch of parties, acquire some new territories and have a couple of castles built in your name. It'd be an easy ride… until they all met each other. Then you could watch them fight it out?"
"You know that does not appeal to me in the slightest," Zelda smiled. "Unless you were willing to join the fray? I could always cover you."
"Just like you always take everything seriously!" Midna sighed. And then she flashed a devious grin her way. "Come on, Zel. I was only trying to lighten the mood."
"I know."
A brief silence fell as they sat upon the ledge and gazed upon their Kingdoms, in their entirety. Death Mountain rumbled in the background. Clouds of frost rolled away from Snowpeak in the distance. Even further away were the distant cities of Twilight, which arched up into the skyline. Zelda offered her arm, as she usually did, and Midna accepted it gladly.
"… How long do we have til nightfall? Feels like it's gone too quickly today," the Twilight Princess frowned, taking the moment to look over her love once more.
"It won't be long now."
"So… let's just enjoy the time we have left. Until tomorrow, right?"
Zelda rested her head against Midna's shoulder, relieved that she could finally do so for how heavy it was. "Until then, my treasure."
AN: ... AND WE'RE DONE.
I understand that this ending leaves things rather open, so allow me to expand on it in the form of head-canons. I hoped to convey a "found family" between our characters. It might not last forever (Ilia has ambitions for her hometown and Ashei wants to travel someday) but for now, they have a shared space and aims to conquer the rest of the foreseeable future together! :)
Ending Notes
- Link and Shad are in a loving, committed relationship and continue to support each other in their endeavours. Of his own volition, our hero takes on a variety of assignments from Zelda, who still has her connection to Midna in her dreams. Link will take Shad with him on the safer journeys (despite the fact that he's been picking up tips on how to fight) and whenever this happens, he gets leave from the college to uncover more of Hyrule's mysteries.
- Shad works as an educator and has become a renowned historian with Zelda's patronage. He's at home the most and surprises Link whenever he comes home with things like fresh coffee, new books, pressed flowers and healing items... to repay him for those tears. ;) Shad may or may not be writing a book about their exploits... with more than a few omitted details. Link tends to be very affectionate with him at home, while Ilia fusses over his health and Ashei gives her usual tough love.
- Ilia still finds herself between towns due to her work but sharing a home with the others is a source of comfort. Whenever she actually is home, she lifts the mood entirely. Her and Shad are more domestic than Ashei and Link. They're excellent at mending clothes and cooking meals but everybody shares their skills with each other.
- Ilia and Ashei have struck up their own friendship outside of the boys. They love to go on horse rides and they'll take each other shopping even though they buy wildly different things. Ashei teaches Ilia how to use a bow to defend herself on the roads. And Ilia has exclusive rights over Ashei's makeup and hair on special events. She won't let anyone else do it. If you were wondering, Ilia has actually had a low-key crush on Ashei ever since she saved her in the castle! Only Link knows about it, though sometimes Shad is close to figuring it out. ;)
- Ashei and Shad are still weirdly close. And they still fight. It sounds exhausting but most of the time they just enjoy pressing each other's buttons. They care, too. Shad has had more than a couple of arguments with the nobility on her behalf and Ashei enjoys the odd tavern fight if anyone dares to step on him. They are also fiercely protective of Link and Ilia. Sometimes after a few drinks, the subject of their attraction to each other will come up... but they'll laugh it off and start roasting whoever started it instead. Only Link can get away with talking about it unscathed. Ilia is too considerate to even try it.
Please feel free to add your own! I'd really like to hear how other people envision them relating to each other.
I also listened to a LOT of AURORA for this project ('Animal' really kicked me off), so please check her out. Other heavily inspired artists included Hozier, Banks, Imagine Dragons, Lauv.
Thank you for your time!