"There has been too much loss for us to see gain, too much heartbreak to see a mend, and too much weight to see it be lifted. Any life lost is a tragedy but to mourn so much at once is something unthinkable."

Orielle paused. She knew she was likely the most coordinated of all of them to get through a speech without blubbering, but she still felt it rising within her.

"Today," she continued shakily. "We mourn more Sheikah than we knew existed just months ago. So much blood was spilled, so many lives lost that Hyrule and the town within it hurts deeply. The deceased Sheikah have been given to the many surviving members of their race, for them to be buried according to their own customs, but we still must honor their sacrifice on this day. They…assisted us, fought on our side…protected us even in moments we perhaps didn't deserve protection. It is because of that we release them to the Sacred Realm with the knowledge that they didn't deserve to be sent there so soon."

She stopped again to wipe away a gathering tear.

"Headmaster Rauru Gaepora," she said before taking a deep breath, "was the best of us. He was wise as a teacher and used his power as headmaster to instill courage into the youth of Skyloft. He will be not only remembered by his daughter and son-in-law but by all he taught, all he touched, all he helped. He will be buried near the Temple of Time and he will be missed greatly. A strong pillar of Skyloft, him and his wife gave life to a fitting replacement, but that doesn't mean we aren't shaken by the loss."

"Uhm," She said as she looked down, fidgeting with a piece of paper. "It's customary for a family member to say a few words before we go out to actually bury the deceased, but I've been requested to read the words of his daughter in her stead."

Orielle looked to Zelda, sitting in the front row in Link's arms. They shared a small smile.

"I didn't know my mother well," Orielle said, reading the words before her. "I have no memory of her death. Unlike my husband, I grew up not having to truly mourn anyone, to learn of death through personal experience. When Link's father's Loftwing came back without a rider, I pitied him because I couldn't imagine not having a father in my life. I couldn't imagine what that must be like because of the great father I had and how important he was to me. Now that I face the pain that Link did when he was just a child, I finally understand it."

"It is because of my father that I felt loved growing up," Orielle continued to read. "When I was old enough, and he told me about how my mother died, he was worried I would think I wasn't enough for her and that it could lead me down the same path, but…it never did because of how much he loved me in her stead. My father had a great, caring heart and loved me very much. He was capable of great care and put that compassion into everything he did. He was and is Skyloft and I hope very much to rebuild our town within Hyrule based on his example."

Orielle folded the paper and nodded to Zelda.

"Thank you for that, Zelda," Orielle said. "I know that must have been hard."

Orielle looked to the congregation, addressing the group of people who, like her, were dressed in black and deep in mourning.

"We will now move to the burial site, if you so choose," Orielle said before stepping away from the pedestal, her steps echoing around the Temple of Time and accompanied by small murmurs.

Link rubbed Zelda's arm as the rest of the guests slowly filtered out of the temple. He looked to her profile with concern, how blankly she stared at the checkered floors.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

Zelda nodded.