Link awoke in the stone lined room once more. It was hard to tell what time it was, the curtains closed tight over the windows, just as he liked it. At the very least, he was able to tell that the sun had risen, its rays managing to force its way through the edges of the curtain and any other small imperfections.
He was able to sit up right away, which was a good sign. After all, he wasn't always able to do that so easily. Once more, he took in the view around him. It was something he did every morning, the boy himself not even sure why he did it.
His bed was large, too large for someone his size, but it was undeniably comfortable. The floor was covered in a soft, rich red rug which was almost as comfortable as the bed was. Dressers and drawers lined a far wall, and three large windows let one gaze to the outside, though the curtains to these windows were always drawn tightly closed. There were two doors, one leading to the bath and one to the hallway to the rest of Hyrule Castle. By the bed was a nightstand with the Ocarina that Saria had gifted him resting on it.
It was a room fit for royalty, quite literally, but it was given to a strange boy that came from the woods. He somehow snuck past the guards and entered the Princess' private garden, and together the two of them convinced the King of Hyrule to investigate Ganondorf on suspicions of treason. Looking further into the Gerudo's actions against the Gorons and Zoras, the King of Thieves was arrested and soon sent off for execution.
The Princess, in her kindness, talked the King into allowing the strange boy to live within the castle, as he had nowhere to go. They had several bedrooms that almost never saw use, so he allowed it. After all, he helped save Hyrule from a horrid plot of conquest. It was fitting that he be rewarded, at least that's what Zelda had said.
Link slowly stood from the bed, feeling exhaustion weigh down on him just from the small movement. At least he had been able to get out of bed that morning. Not that it guaranteed much of anything. The nightmares from the previous night drained him, and the amount of hours he actually slept could easily be counted on one hand. It didn't help that he wasn't allowed to sleep with his sword and shield. It was insisted upon him by the Princess that it was too dangerous. That aside, he wanted to try and be active for the day. If not for himself, then for Zelda. He knew that it upset her when he stayed in bed until the late afternoon, but sometimes the energy simply wasn't there.
A lot of things he did were to try and appease her. She seemed to care a lot about his wellbeing. Zelda would try and make sure he ate, tried to make his stay as comfortable as possible, and she spent a lot of time with him when he let her. There were days where he couldn't handle being with someone else for long, and she respected his boundaries. He felt so bad, feeling that he was just making trouble for her…but at the same time he was too terrified to leave the castle…
He made his way to the bathroom, donned only in a simple green sleeping gown that went all the way to his ankles. As he stepped onto the cool tile flooring of the restroom, his body let out an involuntary shiver. Ignoring it, he went to the mirror above the sink and stared into it.
A pair of broken blue eyes stared back at Link, unblinking and practically dead. A pair of horrid dark circles rested beneath them; the lack of sleep he'd get written all over his face. His hands gripped at the sides of the sink until his knuckles turned white, and he simply stared at himself. Even he wasn't really sure why he did it, but he kept gazing into his reflection almost every morning. Try as he might, he was unable to keep his mask intact since he found his way into Zelda's Garden for a second time, and he was so ashamed…
He leaned forward and threw up in the sink.
Zelda sighed, having just dressed herself for the day ahead. Not that there was anywhere she needed to be. Her mind was swimming with worries and potential fixes to the issues facing her. Or rather, the issues facing the castle's new guest.
The Princess still remembered the look of shock on Link's face when she said his name at their first meeting. Or, rather, their first meeting in their timeline. The night before Link arrived in her garden, Zelda had extremely vivid dreams. She dreamt of meeting a boy in green and the plot she hatched for them. She recalled sending him off with his fairy to gather the Spiritual Stones and thwart the plans of a certain Gerudo. She even remembered bits and pieces of the seven year gap before they met once more.
All the interactions she and Link had in that horrid timeline were crystal clear to her. She remembered every word they exchanged and the thoughts she had as she spoke to him. The dangers she had faced seemed foggy and dreamlike, but she still felt she knew Link. When she told all of this to Impa, Zelda was shocked to learn that the Sheikah had the same dream. The older woman remembered her talks with Link and even her death before awakening as the Sage of Shadow.
Somehow, the two of them, and Zelda presumed the other Sages, retained certain memories from the timeline where Ganondorf had conquered Hyrule and nearly taken the Triforce for himself in its entirety. It was thanks to this knowledge that the Gorons and the Zoras worked far harder to get in contact with her father, and why Ganondorf was revealed to be a traitor at all.
At first, things seemed like they would go smoothly after that. She knew that Link had no home to return to and was surprised that his fairy companion was gone. So, she convinced her father that Link could stay in the castle, more than a fair reward for aiding in saving the entire kingdom. He accepted, though he seemed hesitant, but it still made her happy. She knew what he had gone through and was eternally grateful, so she wanted to do everything she could for him.
Almost right away, things went awry.
Every night for two straight weeks after Link moved into the castle, the poor boy had horrid night terrors. Most of these nights, he'd scream into the castle, his voice carried off into the normally quiet hallways. It got to the point where one time he needed to be held down by a guard because he was thrashing so much he had nearly bashed his head onto the headboard of the bed.
No matter how much Zelda coaxed, Link wouldn't share what it was he saw in his nightmares, but she had a pretty good idea. She didn't know the exact details, but she knew he had to fight monsters and other horrible things on his forced quest to save Hyrule. Without a doubt, that's what he saw. She recalled how in the other timeline, he forcefully he told her that he wasn't an adult, that he was still a child. Going through such an ordeal while mentally only ten…she couldn't even imagine…
Unfortunately, things only got worse from there. He quickly became increasingly paranoid throughout the day, but of what he admitted he wasn't even sure of. He had troubles eating, and on certain days he didn't have the energy to even leave bed. On a few heart wrenching occasions, he broke down into tears for no reason she was able to discern, though one instance she had pondered if it was tied to Impa. There were even a few days he didn't seem able to speak at all. It was more than clear something was very wrong with him…
In her Wisdom, the Princess knew getting straight answers from the troubled youth would yield no results, so she started to research in the books of the massive library within the castle. She knew something was wrong within his mind, and so she focused her studies there. It became apparent quickly that he probably had something known as trauma. A condition that tended to come about after something like what Link went through, terrifying and life threatening events. His quest, the one she had sent him on, made him this way…
So, she knew she had to fix him.
It was an easy choice to make, and the Princess was dedicated to it. Granted, she still wasn't entirely sure if he had trauma, it was too early to tell. Yes, some of the symptoms lined up, but she didn't want to pin the condition on him so quickly. She kept this information from him for the time being and vowed to keep observing him until she was sure.
After leaving her quarters, the Princess made a beeline towards Link room, which wasn't too far from her own. By the time she had arrived, he had already left. He was free to enter just about every room in the castle, but it still concerned her because she liked to know where he was. Some days he seemed to like wandering, and on some days he remained cooped up in his room. It was as easy to predict as the flip of a coin.
Asking a nearby guard where Link had gone, she went off towards the library, as that was about the most interesting room in that direction. At least for someone like him. He admitted to not being able to read, but he liked to view the pictures in the books.
Zelda wasn't surprised at all when she came to the large room and saw Link staring at one of the nearby bookshelves. He still wore his nightgown, and his dry, messy hair let her know he forwent a bath. Still, she approached, clearing her throat to make her presence known. Yet she still felt bad when even that much made him jump in place, a look of guilt on his face as if he had done something wrong.
"Good morning, Link. Did you want to look at a book?" She asked gently, having quickly realized how fragile the boy had become. Zelda didn't judge him for it, either. With all the horrors he witnessed, the fact he was sane at all was a blessing.
It was sort of awkward for Link to be around Zelda. She had told him about her memories of the other timeline. Not only did this mean she could remember his failures, but she was also a strange merge of the original Zelda he knew, and a new one. It was a complicated situation he had spent hours tossing inside his head, and no matter which way he looked at it, it was confusing.
The boy gave a small nod. "Y…Yes. I wanted to…" He had already told Zelda he had no idea how to read and turned down her offers to teach him. When she asked why he didn't want to learn, the words had died in his throat. Even weeks later he found it almost impossible to even talk about…
…Her.
Zelda went over to the shelf, glancing along the spines of the books. She had read what felt like half the library through her life, so she had an idea of which ones that pictures, and which didn't. The Princess imagined that the Kokiri had few, if any, books themselves. Being able to view something as simple as pictures must have been a marvel for him. She smiled a bit as she picked a thick book and sauntered over to one of the reading couches. "I think you may like this one…"
It was a bit odd to Link, seeing Zelda move. It seemed like every movement of hers was done with as much grace as she could possibly muster. Were all Princesses like that? At least the Hylian ones? He had seen so little of her when she wasn't disguised as Sheik, so it wasn't something he was used to. In a way, he felt like a clumsy oaf in comparison.
Slowly, he went over and sat next to Zelda, peering at the tome she had picked. It had a long title that was, of course, absolute nonsense to him. There was a picture of a grassy field on the front, though. It was richly detailed and had all sorts of plant life such as trees, shrubs, flowers, and naturally an abundance of lush grass. "What book is this?" He asked, his sentences having become increasingly short and direct since his mental state started to deteriorate. Most of the time his statements were maybe five or six words.
"It's a sort of field guide…a book that talks about certain areas and what can be found in them." Zelda explained, opening the book up. The first picture was of a forest. Not one like the Lost Woods, though. The trees were far more spread out, allowing a proper amount of sunlight through the leaves and onto the forest floor. Birds were resting within a nest and small critters ran about such as squirrels and rabbits.
Link felt his heart beating in his chest rapidly. Instantly, he thought of the Lost Woods, the place he had for so long thought as home. He heard the howls and whimpers of a dying Wolfos, the indistinct chatter of unseen spirits, the distant notes of an old Ocarina. He quickly took the page and turned it.
When he saw things or thought of things that connected to events in his quest…it made Link feel horribly anxious. Sometimes he felt it hard to breath and at other times he felt so terrified he nearly collapsed. When he looked at the lit torches within the castle hallways at night, he felt his right shoulder burn and throb, and he had to walk swiftly to avoid breaking down into tears.
Thankfully, the next picture wasn't as bad. It showed a wide expanse of blue bleeding out from what looked like sand. This sand wasn't harsh like the kind in the desert. It seemed warm, but not scorching. Inviting, almost. "A lake? It's really big."
"Not quite. This is an ocean." Zelda explained, quickly realizing Link would likely have no concept of what that meant. "It's like a lake…but far larger. Much, much larger. Like here in this picture, you can't even see the other side."
This sort of mental image was somewhat distressing to Link. He instantly imagined being plopped in the middle of this ocean thing, unable to see land from horizon to horizon. "What's on the other side?"
"Well, other lands. Places that aren't Hyrule. It's a large world, of course. The ocean is salty, too. You can't drink it, but it's easier to float on." The Princess didn't mind explaining these things. In a way, she actually enjoyed it. It was interesting to meet someone who had no idea about very basic things…things that Hylians half Link's age would know. Not that she judged him, of course. She knew why he was so ignorant to many things in the world. Zelda also liked doing this because she was sure it helped take his mind off of more awful things. She had read that those with trauma had invasive thoughts of the events that drove them to such a state, so a distraction would surely help, if only a little. Assuming he had trauma, of course.
"Oh…" Was all he could muster to respond with. It all still seemed very odd to Link. And the idea of being stranded in an ocean stressed him out. He knew that lakes had bigger fish than rivers. Saria taught him that. So, if lakes had bigger fish than rivers…what sort of monsters were in the ocean? He decided he didn't like it and once more turned the page himself again, flinching at the new drawing.
The picture itself was very simple. A mountain range with a large sun above the peaks. This would normally be fine, but the sun was depicted as a large orange circle, and it gave Link pause. His body tensed up, and once more he felt his heart hammering rapidly once more. He thought he heard Zelda say something, but he wasn't paying attention.
Link just couldn't stop staring at the orange circle. It was just a simple shape on a page of a harmless book. Yet as the boy looked at it, he saw something entirely different. He saw a fleshy, living orb with a dark green iris in the middle. He heard a deep scuttling and the dampness of the inside of a cursed god.
Without thinking, he reached to the page and violently grabbed it, scrunching up the old paper and ripping it out of the book with a single motion. He crumpled it up and threw it to the side, staring at the trashed page as if it had attacked him, panting lightly.
Zelda was so taken aback by the action that it took her a few seconds to put together what just happened. "I…Link! What was…Why did you do that?" She managed to keep her voice leveled, not wanting to come across as angry. If anything, she was just shocked.
It was only after Zelda spoke up that Link realized what he had done. He quickly stood up, going over to the paper and picking it up, trying to smooth it out. An impossible task, it was torn roughly, and it'd never look like new. "…I…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…" Was all he could reply with. How did he explain what just happened? It felt humiliating even considering it…
Was there something in the picture that had disturbed him? Zelda had to assume it was linked to his apparent trauma. She stood up herself, placing the book on the couch as she went over to the boy. Gently, he placed one hand over his, frowning as he flinched. "It's okay. It's just a page from a book. Nothing more." Just as gently, she took the paper from Link and smoothed it out as best as possible. She placed the page in the book as best as she could and closed it up. "I doubt anyone will ever notice. Not many browse these books." With that, she placed the item back on its shelf. "No harm done."
That didn't do much to make Link feel better. He still tore a page out over something so significant…yet he had felt like his life was in danger! But why? Why did seeing that circle do that to him…?
Link wasn't able to get out of bed.
Some mornings he simply had no energy at all. His limbs felt heavy like lead, and he just couldn't muster the effort to even try. It had been a week since the book incident, and he felt like things were getting worse for him. More days he felt like this, sapped of all energy and unable to do so much as get out of bed for hours after waking up.
His emotions had been all over the place as well. His anxiety spiked at seemingly random, even when he was doing nothing of note. Depression hit him like a hammer, far worse than he had felt in his life. There was also an encompassing sense of fear that kept following him, the boy feeling as though his life were in danger almost constantly. It was absolutely exhausting, and it was something that never happened to him before, so it left him confused as well.
And Navi was still gone.
The fairy had been on his mind at all hours, day and night, since he came to this new time. She had simply left him without a word…but why? What had he done that was so wrong that Navi would do that? It was a question he kept mulling over, but he was never able to reach a solution.
On top of that…he was separated from Saria as well. Zelda had informed him weeks ago how she and Impa retained their memories of the other timeline, and how Darunia and Ruto had sent messages saying the same thing. So, it didn't surprise Link when he played Saria's Song and found that his oldest friend was the same way.
She knew what he was, a Hylian, and that he couldn't go back to live with her in the Lost Woods. The Kokiri girl had told him that, though they were unable to openly communicate when she awakened as a Sage, she kept watch over him. She had seen the revelation that Link was a Hylian, and the aftermath of the truth coming out. That was the one silver lining of the situation, that he didn't have to break that news to her. It didn't stop him from breaking down into tears as they discussed it, or why Navi left him so suddenly…
Link was startled out of his thoughts when there was a light knock on the door, Zelda's voice carrying through the door. "Link? Are you awake? May I come in?"
He stared at the door, licking his dry lips as he pondered if it was a good idea. It was embarrassing to him how fragile he had become, and he hated Zelda seeing him weak. Or anyone, for that matter. Still, this had been the first time she tried to enter his room while he was still in it, so it must have been important. "…Come in." He called, just loud enough to be heard.
The door opened slowly, and the Princess entered, wearing a white gown this morning. Closing the door behind her, she walked to Link's bed with the same grace she used with just about every movement she partook in. She stood before him, a look of open concern on her face. "How are you feeling?" It seemed a bit silly of her to ask, but she didn't want to be rude.
"…I feel fine." Link replied, realizing how silly it sounded. He was stuck in bed, but he insisted on pretending all was well. This wasn't the first time this happened, ant he was always able to muster up the energy to get up eventually.
Zelda wasn't fooled for a second of course but nodded along anyway. "May I…?" She gestured to the edge of the bed. "I wanted to talk to you about something important."
Link instantly felt nervous, but gave a noise of confirmation, watching as the girl sat at the edge of the comfortable bed. Was this going to be it? Was it going to be the day he was kicked out of the castle? He was nothing but trouble, he realized this. His emotional state was horrific, and lately he even had small mood swings. He'd scream out during the nights due to nightmares he had, and he felt as though he were taking up space.
The boy worried greatly that one day the Royal Family would realize he wasn't worth the effort of keeping around and show him the door. He deserved it, though, didn't he? Link was just so scared about where he would even go. The only place he felt like he even remotely belonged was Lon Lon Ranch…but he hadn't even met this version of Malon...
"What is it? Do I have to leave?" Link couldn't help but just ask directly, even with the growing pit of worry growing in his gut.
That surprised the Princess, who shook her head with a frown. "No! No, of course not…" He really thought they'd do that? Well, he supposed his mind wasn't in the right place, so she couldn't feel too offended over any sort of paranoia he showed. "It is about you, though. About how you've been since coming to live with us."
A small bit of relief coursed through Link, but he still wasn't sure about where this was going, and he was on guard. "I'm okay. I'm just tired." He said, trying to wave off his issues. There was no reason why anyone else had to trouble themselves over him, though he supposed he was doing just that simply by living within the castle walls at all.
"Link, I know it's more than that." Zelda replied gently, yet bluntly. She wasn't about to let him make up blatant lies. It was clear he didn't want to admit he had a problem, but if she could get him to see that he did and admit it, it'd be a good first step to recovery. "I actually looked into what may be ailing you."
His attention piqued, the boy was actually able to sit up lightly, his back to one of the many pillows the bed had. "…What do you mean?" From the way the Princess was talking, it was like he was sick or something. That would explain his lack of energy and appetite, but not the other things. His shifting moods, his inability to stop thinking of horrific things unless his mind was in heavy use, his terror of even leaving the castle…
Zelda's hands wrung together lightly, the Princess nervous. She had tried coming up with exactly what she should say to Link, but now that it was happening, her mind was drawing a blank. So, she had to wing it. "…It's…It's sort of like being sick." She started, looking Link in his dull blue eyes. "But it's not your body that's sick. It's your mind. Does that make sense at all?"
She was saying his mind was sick? What did that mean? "No…I don't understand." Link bluntly admitted, never having heard of such a thing.
"When your mind is sick, it will effect how your mind works. Things will be a lot harder for you, your emotions will be strained, abundant nightmares…and it will even have physical effects. These are things I've noticed in you." Zelda went on, wondering if this was too soon. Maybe she should have waited. Yet so much of what she read up matched with Link, and it worried her greatly. The way she saw it, the sooner she pounced on the issue, the better the healing process would be.
"So…I'm sick?" Link wasn't sure how to grasp it. Zelda's words somewhat made sense, but a mental sickness was such a foreign concept to him. Or at least the idea of it, the boy unaware that the depression he had felt for so long was in a similar vein. "Is it like a fever in my head?" The Kokiri were hardly experts of disease and medicine. He only knew the most basic and general terms for sicknesses. A cold, a flue, a fever. Things like that, and not much else.
"Not exactly. If I'm right…you have something called trauma, and you have it because of the quest I forced upon you." Zelda realized that Link was chosen by the Golden Goddesses, but despite that she still blamed herself for what happened to him. This was one reason why she felt the need to cure him! "The traumatic experiences have affected your brain, your mind, and it's why things have surely been so much harder for you lately." She didn't want to assume some things, but she could hardly imagine he was this bad before.
Link was astounded at Zelda's words. Such a thing was possible? It sounded very unusual to him, and even with her explanation, it didn't wholly make sense. "What medicine do I need?" There were a few herbs that the Kokiri could use, thanks to the guidance of the Great Deku Tree, to aid in sicknesses.
"That's the difficult part. There is no real cure. There isn't anything I can give to make this go away." Zelda watched as Link's expression took on a sort of hopeless look, an expression that filled her with guilt. "The only thing that can be done is to try and make things as least stressful for you as possible. And you'll have to confront these issues, maybe even share them, to help. It will take time…maybe years…but the trauma should fade."
Years? Years of feeling terrified almost all the time? Of nightmares, mood swings, hearing the clash of sword and armor and the blood curdling screams of dying monsters as he tried to sleep? Lack of energy, unable to even look at certain things or certain people like Impa? Looking at the Sheikah caused the memories of the Shadow Temple to erupt in his mind, and the one and only time he saw her since staying in the castle, he had a breakdown and became a crying mess.
He had to experience years of this? Link gripped the sheets, trying not to cry at the news. It was somewhat of a relief to know just what was wrong with him, even if he didn't fully understand it, but it still made him feel awful. He wasn't upset with Zelda for sharing, he was sure she simply wanted to help. Link held the tears back, furious with himself that he couldn't put his mask up at all these last few weeks…
"…I understand…thank you for telling me." Was all the boy said in response, really not sure how else to react. He wasn't sure he could share what happened to him, though. Just thinking of it filled him with stress and anxiety, so he could hardly imagine what it'd be like to talk about it.
Zelda wasn't sure how Link would respond, but she was glad he remained as calm as he did. "I thought it was fair that you had an idea of what was wrong. I just want to help you." She reached out and gently placed a hand over his, frowning as he flinched and took his hand away. It didn't surprise her, there were times where he didn't want to be touched at all. "Do you want me to leave you to your thoughts?"
"…Yes, please." Link murmured, really not wanting Zelda to be around in case he broke down in tears again. It was so humiliating to him…
"I understand. I hope you feel up to getting out and about soon. Just let one of the cooks know if you're hungry, alright?" Zelda slowly stood up, and with a look of barely veiled pity, left Link alone in his room, shutting the door behind her.
When he was alone, Link still tried to keep himself composed, not wanting to cry even in private. He took several deep breaths, which barely helped. The thought that it'd take years for him to feel normal was a horrific, cruel thing. Once more, he found himself cursing the Goddesses for choosing him to partake in such a dangerous quest.
The child glanced over at the Ocarina on his nightstand, slowly reaching over to take it. He felt the strong urge to talk to Saria again. Slowly, he closed his eyes and played Saria's Song on the instrument, wishing he didn't have to speak to her from a distance. Link was sure he could magic himself away to the Forest Temple, but even considering the idea made him feel panicked. The idea of going just about anywhere outside the castle walls made him stressed! Would he ever be able to step foot within the Lost Woods again? He so desperately wanted to. It was nice to be able to talk to Saria whenever he wanted, but he craved to see her in person so badly…
"Link, it's good to hear from you." Saria's voice rang in Link's head. "How are you feeling? Any better?" Link had relayed a few of his symptoms to her when they talked before, when the boy had far less of an idea of what was wrong with him.
"No." He replied bluntly, running hands over the Ocarina to try and find a bit of comfort. It didn't really help much, but it was all he had at the moment. He supposed one tiny silver lining about all this was that Saria's gift to him was no longer destroyed. "Zelda had a talk with me today."
"A talk? I hope it wasn't anything bad…" Saria couldn't imagine what that bad thing could be, though. Surely she'd never just kick Link out of the castle!
The boy wasn't sure how to word it. After all, he barely understood it himself. At the very least, he felt he was able to confide in Saria about certain things. He told her about Navi, but never explained what happened with her to Zelda. "She told me I'm sick…in my mind. It's something called trauma."
"I've…never heard of such a thing…" The Kokiri girl replied, voice full of concern. "So, how do you get better? Is there a medicine for it?"
"I asked that too. She said no. She said it might take years for me to get better." Link's voice started to crack despite himself.
Saria didn't answer for a few moments, taking in the horrible news. "Years? That's…" She paused again, trying to find the words. "Link, I'm so sorry. I don't really understand this, but is there some way I can help you?"
Link found himself touched by Saria's words even with his emotions going all over the place. No matter what, it seemed, she would always try to look out for him. Even after he got her killed in another timeline. "Zelda said if I had less stress, it would help. But that's it…" He still felt odd talking about something he still didn't fully understand. The boy just repeated what he was told.
"Oh…Well, I wish there was more I could do. I'll keep looking for Navi like I said I would." Saria had promised to frequently enter the Lost Woods to search for the missing fairy. Sadly, she had no luck at all, not even the other fairies she came across had seen Navi.
"…Thank you." Link replied solemnly, feeling his misery grow at the mention of Navi. Without her, the boy felt some sort of void in his body expand with each day. Somehow he had convinced himself it would swallow him one day…and this was something he hadn't shared with anyone. "I'd like to be alone for a bit."
"I understand." Saria said, sounding a bit disappointed. "You can always contact me, okay? Don't forget that."
"I know. I love you, Saria." The boy opened his eyes and placed the Ocarina back on the nightstand, his connection with the Kokiri girl cut off. He grabbed one of the pillows from his bed and buried his face in it, letting go and starting to sob.
"You really shouldn't shoulder this burden alone." Impa said to Zelda, the Sheikah woman standing by the Princess' door, watching the girl brush her hair in the mirror. "You may be a holder of such Wisdom that even the Triforce recognized it, but you're still a child."
Zelda sighed through her nose, the two having had this conversation a number of times since the Princess indulged in her nanny. "I've told you, Impa, this is my responsibility. I sent him on that fool's errand that resulted in failure. If it weren't for that, he wouldn't be so…damaged." She murmured the last word, a heavy frown on her face.
"His Majesty doesn't think it's a good idea either. He thinks it best that one of the veterans from the Civil War handle this instead. They know what he's going through more than you do." The Sheikah argued.
It didn't surprise Zelda that Impa went to her father on the matter. Link's story was a well kept secret within the castle and beyond. Aside from the Sages, the only one who knew where Link truly came from and what he had done was the King of Hyrule himself. The servants and guards only knew that he helped with the uncovering of Ganondorf's plot and nothing more, so they were able to accept his presence easily. They trusted the Royal Family even if they couldn't ask too many questions.
"I'm not concerned with what he thinks." Zelda huffed. She cared for her father deeply, of course, but there was a part of her that was still upset that he never listened to her at first. While she still blamed herself for her faulty plan, she wished her own father had more faith in her original accusations. "And while the veterans have gone through horrid things just like Link, they don't know what he went through. They don't know what it's like to fight monsters and have the weight of an entire kingdom on their shoulders alone. Link has no idea who they are, and I doubt he can connect with them. I may not be the same…me…that he knew, but we have a sort of relationship that no one other than the Sages can hope to comprehend."
The Sheikah had to admit that Zelda had somewhat of a point regarding the connection. "That doesn't change that you're not equipped to handle something like this. At least consider other opportunities. If not for your sake, than for his. I care about his wellbeing as well." Of course, at the end of the day, despite being Zelda's elder, Impa held no power over her. She could advise all she pleased, but the only person that could overturn the Princess' decisions was her father. Unless he made a decision regarding Link himself, the Sheikah's hands were tied. And, frankly, he certainly had more to worry about with the unrest from the Gerudo, who hadn't taken the arrest of their leader well. That on top of all the general parts of running a kingdom, of course.
Zelda paused, putting her brush down. "I'll have to learn, then. I don't care if it takes the rest of my life, I'll do everything in my power to heal his mind." She turned to face Impa directly. "However, you're right. I shouldn't do this solely alone. I'm going to write to Darunia and Ruto. I'm sure father wouldn't mind them visiting the castle…"
With the fastest couriers on hand, letters were sent back and forth to and from both Goron City and Zora's Domain. Zelda had told Link of her idea, and with his permission she outlined what it was that was wrong with the boy. He had no concept of being secretive of mental illness, and he knew the two would realize something was wrong with him quickly. The boy felt better about Zelda describing his condition rather than do it himself since he still only had a basic grasp of the situation.
The idea Zelda had was that the other Sages could aid in the healing process. At first Link was hesitant on the idea, not wanting to bother more people with his issues. He was too paranoid and afraid to travel to their locations, so they had to go to the castle. It had been a bit over a month by this point since Link had lived in the castle, and the only times he ever went outside were to spend brief periods in Zelda's Garden.
Still, the Princess was able to convince him, reminding him that the Sages knew what he went through and wanted to aid him. She told him that Darunia was bound for trips to the castle anyway, so for him especially it was no burden. Link relented after some pressure and agreed to the visits.
Darunia was the first to make the trip, his territory being closer than with the Zoras. His ability to roll at high speeds helped with the issues with time as well. The Goron Chieftain felt it had been too long since he went to Hyrule Castle, so it was a pleasant trip for him. He had business with the King of Hyrule, but first he went to the room Zelda had told him to in her letter.
The Goron knocked gently, for a Goron at least. "Link? Are you in here?"
Indeed, he was. The child had been sitting on his bed, once more donned in only his sleeping clothes. Darunia's knocks were loud and had made him jump in place. "C…Come in." The boy lightly called.
When Darunia entered the room, Link braced himself. When he had laid eyes on Impa weeks ago, it sent all manners of horrific memories right into his mind. The Shadow Temple had been so bad that being forced to recall so much of it drove the child to tears there on the spot, much to his shame.
Unfortunately, a similar situation occurred when Darunia stepped through the doorway, closing the door behind him. Instantly Link felt the heat of the Fire Temple on his skin, and his right shoulder throbbed as if flames were gently licking at it. He heard the roar of Volvagia, and his heart started to hammer away. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.
Normally, delicacy was hardly Darunia's strongpoint, but Zelda had emphasized a great deal about Link's fragile state. Link would probably not want to be touched at all, the Goron wasn't to bring up detailed events of the other timeline involving danger, those sorts of things. Darunia wasn't exactly versed in the idea of trauma, so he simply did what Zelda said.
The Goron sat down on the floor in front of Link, knowing that he'd ruin the bed if he tried sitting on it. With the Chieftain's height, even sitting down allowed him to look Link in the face. "It's good to see you again, Brother. You're looking well." A white lie on Darunia's part. Really, he didn't look good at all. His hair was messy and all over the place, he looked paler than he remembered, and this helped the circles under his eyes stand out all the more. The eyes themselves were dull, nearly lifeless, and it was actually somewhat unnerving for Darunia to look into them.
"Thank you, Darunia. It's nice to see you. Especially with the long trip…" Link replied, lying lightly as well. It was good to see a friend of his, yes, but it kept bringing up horrid memories and a feeling of guilt. This time, he expected it, and the Fire Temple wasn't close to being as terrifying as the Shadow Temple. At the very least, he didn't instantly break down into tears. That was something, right?
"It's no big deal, Brother. I had to see the King anyway, so it's no hassle! Besides, it's never a bother to see one of my Sworn Brothers!" Darunia gave a grin to Link, trying to reassure him.
Link frowned, still unable to hide his emotions at all. "Is it okay to call me that?" He asked, staring down at his hands. His arms had a number of scratches and marks on them. Something had gone wrong when the other Zelda sent him to this time. His body had scars from encounters that, technically, never happened. Scratches and faded cuts on his arms, his legs, his torso, bitemarks on his shoulder from that Deku Baba, among others.
It made him feel ugly.
"I don't see why not. After the things you did…" He trailed off, almost mentioning King Dodongo by name. Probably a bad idea! "…Well, you've more than earned it."
The boy shook his head. "I didn't do anything." Not this time, at least. The King sent his own guards to Death Mountain and Zora's Domain to take out the monsters Ganondorf had planted there.
"Nonsense! Maybe not in this time, but you did great things for us Gorons! Even across timelines, you're still my Sworn Brother." The Goron insisted with the shake of his head. "That's not a title I give up lightly."
Link realized arguing was pointless. It always seemed to be. No one ever seemed to view things the way he did, and it upset him. "…Okay." Was all he said in response, not knowing what else to even say.
Darunia was saddened by how much Link had changed. He was a bit meek when they first met, but he was still much livelier than he was now. "So, what have you been getting into? I bet living in a castle took time getting used to."
"It did…It's the opposite of my old home. But I feel safe." Link admitted, looking to the stone walls of his room. Back before he was sent on his quest, he'd surely find the living conditions claustrophobic. At this point he liked how cramped things were. He could see everywhere around him with a glance…
"Safe? From what?" Darunia asked, frowning lightly. Hyrule was the safest it had been in quite some time. The creatures out in the fields even stopped appearing, no doubt allowed to walk there as a result of Ganondorf.
The boy continued to stare downward, not able to look Darunia in the eyes. "Everything. I can't stand going out there." He found himself admitting it, thinking that maybe Darunia would understand. He lived on a mountain full of monsters, even without Ganondorf's influence, after all.
"Well…I guess it makes sense for you to be scared after all that. I know you're strong, Brother! You'll be ready to leave the castle in no time!" Darunia encouraged, feeling this was the way to go.
Him? Strong? If Link wasn't feeling so horrible, he'd almost laugh. He was too scared to even go outside, yet he was somehow strong? "…No. I'm weak." The boy murmured, staring at the scars on his arms. Just another sign of his lack of strength.
"Link, if you were weak, I'd never call you my Sworn Brother." The Goron argued with a shake of the head. "You've done more than anyone your age has; you can't forget that. Even in this time, you helped my people, and that's not something I'll forget anytime soon. You just have to have some faith in yourself."
That didn't really sit well with Link at all. He thought Darunia was flat-out wrong. The boy felt his stress growing, and images of Dodongos and other creatures within Death Mountain kept scratching at his brain. "…I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Darunia felt he had messed up, frowning as he stood up. "I'm sorry, Brother. I was just trying to help."
"I know. Don't be sorry." Link wasn't mad at Darunia, he just disagreed with him.
The Goron still seemed a bit distraught, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I have to talk to the King, so I'll just let you be. I'll be sure to visit sometime soon, okay?"
Finally, Link looked up at Darunia. "Thank you. That means a lot." The fact he would take the time to visit Link again perplexed the boy, and he still felt like a burden. Yet he couldn't help but be touched by the offer. He just wished he wasn't so worthless and weak, then he could be fixed and healthy.
Darunia gave a smile and a nod to Link, going out of the room and leaving the boy once more to ponder things.
It wasn't long after Darunia's visit, about a week, before Ruto came to visit. King Zora wanted to meet with the Hylian King, and the Zora Princess was able to convince her dad to let her tag along. Within this time, Link saw no improvements. Even after the talk from Darunia, he was still unable to leave the castle for more than an hour or two at a time. Even then, he had to remain in the garden while accompanied by Zelda. During this week, he even had two days in a row where he just couldn't talk. Something was simply blocking him from doing so…
On the day of Ruto's visit, Link wanted to try having the encounter outside of his room. In Zelda's Garden, in fact. He felt safe there, relatively, and he wanted to try leaving the castle more and more. Zelda herself had no issue with it and would allow the two privacy to talk. Link awaited his guest, actually having gotten properly dressed that day, though he forwent his hat and boots as he sat in the grass. The garden served as a nice, easy way for him to get back to nature a bit, so it was a part of what helped the place soothe him, if only lightly.
When the door to the castle opened, he flinched and prepared himself. Out stepped Ruto, smiling widely as she laid her eyes on Link. Like with Darunia, Zelda had told her things to avoid doing when meeting with the boy. The Zora Princess understood less than Darunia about what was going on with Link, but she was happy to follow Zelda's advice. The last thing she wanted to do was cause any unnecessary stress towards the poor boy.
"It's good to see you again, Link. Though I guess we're sort of meeting for the first time." Ruto remarked, sitting down next to the Hylian. For her, and the other Sages, the dreams they had of the other timeline were rather vivid. She had never truly met Link before, but it sincerely felt like she had. It was strange, but she felt more mentally mature than she did a few mere months ago all because of her new knowledge.
Link looked at Ruto and felt the tingle of electricity flowing through him. He heard the sickening shifts of the fleshy deity he had to traverse, and the whispers of his doppelganger rang in his head. The boy took a few deep breaths, clutching at the grass to stop his hands from shaking. "It's good to see you too, Ruto. Is the Domain okay?"
The Zora Princess looked Link over, as if searching for something. Her gaze lingered on his face, slightly less pale than when he had met with Darunia, not that she'd know. Rather her eyes honed in on the boy's own dull blue orbs. Still, she kept her tone chipper, she didn't want Link to feel pitied. "It's great, actually! Lord Jabu-Jabu made a full recovery and everything's perfect. My dad is even here to talk about making the Domain less closed off, so outsiders can enter far more easily."
That sounded a bit odd since an outsider was what caused all the trouble in the first place, but Link wasn't going to pretend he understood these sorts of things. "What about you?"
"Me? I'm fine, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Ruto asked with a light laugh. She looked on at Link with pure adoration, her feelings for him had changed little. Without the responsibilities of a Sage, nothing could get in their way this time!
"With everything that happened. It doesn't…bother you?" After all, she died. He let her die. Link had nightmares since that day, as he did with all the Sages, that played out all sorts of gruesome ways they could've met their end.
Ruto got what he meant, shaking her head. "Even though I still feel close to you, a lot of it just…feels like a bad dream. It's scary to think about, but that's it."
Link nodded, feeling a bitter and petty anger in his gut. It wasn't towards Ruto, not exactly. His mind felt fractured by what happened to him; he had nightly terrors, his mood would fluctuate if he was able to even feel anything at all, things that seemed so random and insignificant terrified him or drove him to tears, some days he could barely move or eat. He had this sensation, sometimes, that he didn't exist…like he was an outsider looking in.
None of the Sages he talked to felt like this, despite the horrors they had to witness. He asked Zelda and Saria on more than one occasion how they felt about the other timeline, and their answers were always similar to what Ruto said. Link even had Zelda ask Impa, and he got the same answer. To his own shame, he felt frustrated whenever he heard those answers. A frustration that ended up with Link hating himself even more.
Why was he the only one like this?
He felt so isolated. The Sages knew him and what he went through, and even then he didn't feel like they actually understood him. To them, the events of the other timeline, even with death involved, was as effective to them as a nasty nightmare. Yet he remembered every excruciating because he lived it, he even had scars left behind. Link was the only one left shattered by all that happened, and even though the others tried to emphasize with him, they'd never truly understand his issues. Even with everything Zelda was doing…he still felt so alone. There was only one person that would truly get him, and she had vanished without a word.
It wasn't as though he wanted the Sages to suffer like he did…but there was still that part of him that wished they could get what he was going through. He still felt horrible for being mad, knowing fully well that it wasn't their fault. Again, it wasn't even the Sages he was mad at. He was just angry at the situation in general, he supposed.
Link realized he was twisting his hands, nearly tearing the grass out of the ground. With a slow breath, he let go. "Okay. Are you mad at me?" He asked Ruto, staring down at the ground.
"Why would I be mad at you? That's ridiculous!" The Zora replied, frowning heavily. "You don't mean…" She trailed off, prompting Link to answer.
"I let you die." Link replied simply. That guilt still weighed heavily on his mind. Even though the Sages were all alive, it didn't change the fact he still allowed every single one to die.
Ruto sighed, placing a gentle hand on Link's back. When he didn't flinch away, she started to rub it gently. "I'm not upset at you. I don't blame you either. It was stupid of me to go in there. I never learned how to fight, what was I going to do? If anyone got me killed, it was myself. Or you can blame Ganondorf. Just don't blame yourself."
Easier said than done. Even with her words, Link still felt the guilt picking away at him. At the very least, she didn't seem to hate him, and that made him feel better. How long he'd accept her lack of hatred, though, was hard to tell. Seemed like every other day he questioned if Zelda herself secretly hated him despite all she did for him.
"I'm sorry…I'm just ruining things…" Link murmured, still staring at the ground. Ruto's touch did little to soothe him, and of no fault of her own. Physical contact didn't seem to do much to make him feel better, even on days where he didn't mind being touched.
"You're not ruining anything. You'll get through this, Link, I know you will." The Zora Princess replied, offering him an encouraging smile. "One day you'll be all better. We can get married, and we can have a happy life together." She gave him a look he didn't quite understand, but it made his face feel warm. "You may not have technically promised me that, but I remember, and I'm holding you to it."
Link…still had no idea what marriage was. It was hardly something that had been on his mind since being sent back in time. At this point, he was too nervous to ask Ruto herself. It clearly meant a lot to her, so he felt like it'd make her upset if he confessed he had no idea what she was talking about. "R…Right. I understand. I didn't forget."
"Good!" Ruto chirped, the mood lifting again as she continued to rub her back. She talked on, Link content on simply listening as she discussed how things were back home and how he should visit one day. In a way, it was nice to just let a one-sided conversation happen to him. All he had to do was listen, and that felt much easier.
The Zora Princess and the Hylian sat in the garden, keeping each other company until a guard came to fetch Ruto. Her father and the King of Hyrule's business was over and she had to leave.
"It was nice seeing you." Link said, standing up slowly along with Ruto as the guard went back inside.
"Likewise! I'll try and come again, soon. I'm…glad we have this second chance." Ruto said, leaning in and pecking Link on the cheek, tittering lightly as he flinched in surprise. With that, she left the flustered boy behind, who had no idea why his face felt so hot.
He really had to ask Zelda what marriage was.
With how far away the Sages were from Link, save Zelda herself and Impa, who Link couldn't bear to be near, the Princess had to think of something else. It wasn't as though Darunia and Ruto could just pop in any time they felt like. It was a long trip to make, after all. Two months after his arrival at the castle, Zelda asked Link if he had ever made other friends by chance during his quest, one that wasn't a Sage.
Instantly, a redhaired girl came to his mind, one that he had missed since being sent back in time. Link told Zelda about Malon, how the two met and the way he woke up her sleeping father, how he had saved her ranch from her own Uncle, and how almost no bad memories were tied to her. Except, of course, regarding the promise to her he couldn't keep…
So, Zelda devised a small plan. The next time Talon delivered milk, and inevitably fell asleep, Link would go out and talk to Malon. This idea made him nervous, as he had yet to actually go outside with the exception of the garden. He wanted to try, though. He wanted to see Malon again, even if it wasn't the one he had grown to know.
With the plan hatched, the day of the next milk delivery seemed to arrive in an instant. The drawbridge was lowered, and the guards were instructed to let the ranch girl within the castle walls as long as she was with Link. They still didn't understand what made the boy so special, but the order came form the Princess herself, so they agreed. What harm was one little girl anyway?
The Princess and Link stood at the end of the drawbridge, the boy glancing around constantly, afraid of danger all around him. He wore his full outfit that day; his tunic, hat, and boots and was all bathed up and clean. Zelda had also been kind enough to apply some light makeup on his face to hide the dark shadows under his eyes, so he looked more normal and put together than usual.
He wondered how she knew it'd work so well.
"There will be guards all along the pathway to the gate. You'll never really be alone." Zelda assured Link, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know you can do this. If you can't, though, that's alright too. Don't force yourself to do something you're not ready for."
Link didn't want to be seen as weak. He wanted to be able to make some sort of progress, still not grasping how complicated trauma can be. The boy took a few sheepish steps forward, slowly crossing the drawbridge. He did his best to ignore the guards on either side of the structure, thankful that they kept their gaze forward and off of him.
He turned to look at Zelda, who remained where she was, giving him an encouraging smile. The boy took a deep breath and turned back around and slowly made his way forward once more. Link couldn't help but keep looking around, it hardly mattering that there were guards almost everywhere he turned. He still didn't feel safe! However, he forced himself to keep going.
The trip felt like it took hours, but in reality it couldn't have been more than ten minutes. Link wouldn't allow himself to stop, even with the anxiety building with what seemed like every step. Sometimes he would stop, close his eyes, and just take a few deep breaths. They barely helped, but still enough to let him keep going.
When he approached the gate, he didn't even have to say anything. The guard pressed a button on the stone structure around the gate, and it creaked open for him. He remembered the path ahead from seven years ago…no…not that long ago. Only a few months? But also seven years.
He shook the thoughts away.
Before he even fully passed the gate, he heard a lovely noise. It was a girl's voice, vocalizing wordlessly around the corner. Link would recognize that sound anywhere. Slowly, he rounded the corner and saw her. Instantly his heart hammered in his chest.
Standing before him was Malon, eyes closed and singing Epona's Song to the air. For a second, he just stared at her. Somehow, it was far more surreal seeing her than any of the Sages. Probably because he knew she'd have no idea who he was.
Malon realized someone was there, stopping her singing and looking to Link. She seemed surprised, even jumping a bit. "Huh? You're not a guard! Or my dad either…" The ranch girl sounded a bit disappointed, but quickly replaced it with a curious tone. "Did…you just come from the castle?"
Link felt fuzzy in his stomach, and he didn't know why. Memories came to him…but there were no monsters or pain involved. No slashing of a sword or spilled blood. Instead, he heard the distant neighing of courses and the laughter of someone who for some reason cared deeply for him.
He didn't feel scared.
It took the boy a second to remember he had to actually reply. "Oh. Uh. Y-Yeah. I did." Zelda had advised him not to tell the full story, which he wouldn't have done anyway. No way she'd believe stories of time travel and all that stuff, right? There was no use pretending that he didn't live there, the two agreed on. After all, the truth on that would have to come out eventually, he couldn't just say he had no home or anything like that.
The redhead giggled, instantly chippering up with a smile. "Oh, so you got kicked out, huh? Were you trying to meet the Princess?"
"N…No." Link replied, feeling so unusually tongue tied. It was embarrassing! Why did he feel that way…? "What about you? Why are you here?" It felt kind of bad for him to pretend like he had no idea who Malon was. Even though it was for the best, he was still lying to her.
"Well, I'm waiting for my dad! He's the owner of Lon Lon Ranch, so he's delivering milk. He probably fell asleep again, though." She huffed with a sigh. "My name's Malon, by the way, what's yours?"
"Link." He replied, wishing he didn't feel so nervous! "That...uh…I mean, I heard you sing. It was really nice." If only he had remembered to bring his Ocarina…
That made Malon titter again, beaming at Link. "Thank you! It's called Epona's Song. It's the favorite tune of my favorite horse, Epona." The girl explained.
The boy nodded, as if processing new information. He hoped one day he'd be able to come clean about everything. Link really didn't like this sort of lying he was doing. "…Do you want to get your dad? I can take you to him."
"Eh? What? What do you mean? Do you know a secret path into the castle or something?" Malon asked, eyes widening in wonder.
Link shook his head, glancing in the direction of the gate. "I…I live in the castle. I can take you to your dad."
"You? There's no Prince! What are you talking about?" She seemed more skeptical than anything, as if not sure if Link was really fibbing or not.
"I can't explain. I can take you through the front gate…if you'll let me…" Link felt a bit nervous. What if Malon just called him a liar and stormed off? That seemed very unlike her, but his paranoia made him think of such nasty outcomes…
Malon hummed, looking Link in the eye. If she was bothered by how dull his eyes were, she didn't openly show it. "…Okay. Let's try!"
Nodding, Link turned and led Malon to the gate, the redhead walking next to him with an amused look on her face. This amused expression turned to one of shock as the guard saw the two and then opened up the gate for them without a word. The shock increased as Link walked through the gate with no problem, the ranch girl following suit.
"You weren't lying!" She exclaimed as the two slowly went up the path towards the castle. "Who are you? Why do you live in the castle?" Malon was very blatantly fascinated, looking Link over as if trying to solve the mystery by sight alone.
"I can't…really say, I'm sorry." Link felt bad about that too, but maybe Malon would forgive him for that. "It's sort of a secret."
Malon pouted at that. "You really can't tell me?"
Link felt his face heat up with how Malon stared at him. He actually felt tempted to just tell the truth, but he forced those urges down. "Sorry. I really can't. One day, if that's alright…"
"Well, if it's a secret…" Malon relented. "…So, that means you want to see me again?" She asked, laughing in a good natured manner.
That caught Link off guard, the fuzzy feeling in his stomach intensifying. "Y…Yes. Is that okay…?" Did he say something wrong?
"You seem nice, doing me this favor and all…so I don't see why not. You can come visit the ranch sometime!" Malon chirped, already sounding excited.
This made Link question why he was worried this wouldn't work out. It was as though he somehow forgot just how friendly Malon was. "I'd like that."
"Good!" Malon declared, looking about the area and at the guards as they went. "So, what's it like living in the castle anyway? Are you friends with the Princess?"
"It's very…" Link hesitated. He almost said 'safe' but realized that would sound unusual. "…comfortable. I'm friends with Zelda, yes…"
"Wow, you must be close. You just called her by her name!" Malon sounded astonished, but somewhat amused as well. "Hey, is it true that she's really beautiful? That's what I've heard people say!"
Beautiful? Link never really took the time to focus on Zelda's looks. For some reason the question made his face feel kind of warm. "…Yes. I think so." It was hardly a lie. She certainly looked very nice and was very graceful.
"More than me?" Malon asked, her voice taking a very sincere tone as she stopped walking to look at Link.
"Wh-What?" The boy blurted out, his face getting even warmer. Where did that come from?!
Before Link could answer further, Malon laughed. "I'm kidding, Link! I didn't think the question would spook you so much!" She said, starting to walk along again.
"O…Oh…" Link hesitated before catching up to Malon. What was that?! That really threw him off! Was he this unused to talking to someone so chipper like her? It was also odd to hear her call him by his name. No reason for her to call him 'Fairy Boy' this time around…
As the two got to the drawbridge, Malon stopped to look up the castle, having to crane her neck to see the very top. "Wow! It's so big up close! I can't believe it!" The redhead exclaimed. Looking around the immediate area, she pointed to the right. "I think dad said he goes around to the side. Let's take a look!" Apparently she was pretty comfortable on castle property at that point, hardly paying mind to the two guards who watched the scene unfold in barely noticeable amusement.
Link and Malon followed the moat, and before they even properly rounded the corner to the side of the castle, they heard a sound in the air. "Snoring…" The boy remarked, pretending to sound a bit surprised. He recognized that sound, of course. It was to no surprise of his when they properly went around the corner and saw a man sleeping by a bunch of crates. "Is that him?" Once more, he had to pretend like he had no idea about the situation. He wondered if Malon would be mad at him when she found out the truth one day. Link certainly hoped not…
"That's him alright!" Malon said, seeming a bit annoyed. She stomped over to the man, Link right by her side. Looking down at the slumbering figure, she took in a deep breath. The boy only had a second to realize what was going to happen and cover his ears. "DAD! WAKE UP! YOU FELL ASLEEP AGAIN!" Malon screamed. She was small, but boy could she shout!
This was enough to startle Talon awake, letting out a shocked yelp as he jumped to his feet. "Huh?! What in tarnation?!" He looked about before quickly realizing his own daughter was there. "Malon?! How'd you get here? And who's this?" He glanced at Link, who lowered his hands from his ears.
Malon crossed her arms, giving her father a mighty pout. "This is my new friend, Link. He helped me get here. I knew you fell asleep again! I was waiting for over an hour!"
Talon seemed pretty confused, but nervous at the same time. "Ah! Sorry, I had only meant to sleep a wink! We should get going then, shouldn't we?"
The redhead let out a huff, turning to Link. She instantly was all chipper and smiles again, a change that sort of startled the boy. "Thanks for helping, Link. Stop by the ranch sometime soon, okay?" She took her dad's hand, starting to drag the man away who started rattling off questions as Link watched.
"B…Bye." He called after, seeing Malon turn to wave at him and returning the gesture. When they went out of sight, he let out a breath of relief and sat against the milk crates. That went better than he expected. She warmed up to him so easily, inviting him to visit the ranch!
Malon may be able to relate to Link far less than the Sages…but somehow, he didn't mind that with her. She may not be able to understand him, but she wasn't connected to such awful situations that the Sages were, not that they could help it. Not to mention she lived closer than a majority of them and she had no biased feelings towards Link. She seemed to like him, and she liked him for his actions in this time, not in another timeline. It made things seem almost more…genuine, for lack of a better term. Not that the friendship from the other Sages, Saria especially, were disingenuous, but it just felt…different since they were able to start things fresh.
As he sat outside, he suddenly started to feel paranoid again. With Malon gone, the feeling of content and relative safety ebbed away fast. The boy stood up, his eyes darting about as he quickly walked back towards the entrance to the castle. His mind was filled with the redheaded girl as he went.
He really wanted to see her again soon…
A/N: Well, that's the first part of the Epilogue finished. I initially planned to cover the first year of Link's stay in the castle, but you can all see how long it took just to generally cover about a tenth of that. I didn't want to make this chapter some sort of 30k word behemoth either, so I decided to cut it off here. I think maybe, in a vein of my story "In The Castle", I may have Link recall more memories of these two years during downtime in my future Majora's Mask novelization. And I'm sure no one wants another five chapters of this story of just this two year gap. So, I'll just have to jump months in the future next time. At the very least, that means the next chapter is the final chapter of the story, for real this time. I know I'm looking forward to it.