Epona neighed and raised one of her hoofs with strenght, startling a nearby stableboy.

"What's wrong with that horse, Gabe?"

Gabe looked back at the old man, dusting his butt off with a frown, "Don't know," Gabe hid his embarrasment by turning around, "I just gave her her food."

The old man clicked his tongue, "A tough one, that horse. Let her be, she'll calm down eventually."

Gabe gave Epona a sour look. She had arrived almost a week ago and Gabe could not - for the life of him - tame her. He shrugged with all the disdain he could muster and walked to the entrance of the stable. He looked back just to see if Epona had calmed down - wishing that she hadn't and old man Greg would get mad at her - , but she was now stomping in place and moving her head up and down. Gabe thought the horse was losing it, but the moment he looked in front of him, Gabe stopped dead in his tracks. The Hero was five steps away of him.

"Good morning," the Hero said, "I've come to get my horse."

And Gabe heard Epona neighing.

"Ah," Gabe wanted to wish the Hero luck on his quest with Sir Keen - No, not Sir Keen anymore, Robert Castle now - "Ah," Gabe wanted to tell the Hero that his fights in the arena had been amazing, "Ah," the Hero was in front of him now, smiling and waiting for Gabe to talk. To say anything, but Gabe could only stare, and oh, Hylia, take him.

"Hero," a voice said from behind Gabe, "you will have to excuse him, he's a fan of yours."

The Hero lost his smile and looked at Gabe with disbelief. Gabe nodded with strenght, as his voice was having trouble coming out, and the Hero put out his hand to shake Gabe's, "It's a pleasure, my name's Link."

Gabe took the Hero's hand, wondered if his hands would be smelly from the work he had been doing and if the Hero would mind, but the Hero only shook his hand and smiled, "The name's Gabe, sir. It's a pleasure to- to-"

The voice from before was closer now, "He saw you fighting in the arena. Loved it."

Gabe looked back, Cade was half-smirking. Oh, he was enjoying putting him on the spot.

Gabe steeled himself, this was his chance, come on, come on, "You were really good, Hero, and-"

"Just Link is fine," the Hero put a hand on Gabe's shoulder and got down a little, to look at Gabe in the eye, "Thanks for the compliments."

Gabe felt the heat rising to his cheeks, the Hero - Link - squeezed his shoulder once and let go.

"What are you gossiping about? You are supposed to be working, you brat."

Old man Greg got to the entrance and looked at Link, "Oh, look what we've got. You got out of that one, boy. Here to get your horse? Must've felt you, she's practically dancing on her spot."

Link bowed to the man, "Thank you very much, sir. Uh," Link remembered the man shoving Link to leave the arena, "I never got to thank you, sir, so- uh"

"No need to," Greg waved his hand, "Things were getting out of control, just did what I could," Greg turned and went back the way he came, "Though I must say this are off charted lands. Whatever you've done, you did good."

Epona calmed immediatly upon seeing Link, "Uh, thank you," Link wanted to ask more things, but he had to prepare, "I hope she hasn't caused trouble," Cade gave Gabe a pointed look.

"Nothing more that normal," Greg said, "She's temperamental, though. A real beauty, but hard to deal with."

Link laughed nervously, "Well, she's used to being with me, so there's that."

Greg shrugged, he sat on a stool and got back to working in a new bit, "Makes sense." Link got up on Epona and waited in silence, "Try to come back alive now."

Link patted Epona, "I will," Greg looked up, surprised at Link's certainty, "I'm off, then."

Greg saw Link leave, pleasantly surprised at the boy's words. Cade followed the young man, while Gabe looked at Greg with stars in his eyes.

"Just come back as soon as he leaves," sighed the old man.

"Yes!" Gabe punched the air and ran after Cade.

Cade heard Gabe's running behind him, "Old Greg let you come? That's new."

Gabe was almost jumping from excitement. Before he realized Cade was still following Link. "What are you doing here, anyway? It's not like you like him that much."

"I'm being a nice person, who's gonna come to send him off?"

No one, was the answer. It had been announced publicly but no other information had been given.

"That, and the fact that it also has to do with... stuff."

"Stuff," repeated Gabe. Stuff was the answer Cade gave whenever his relationship with Zelda was involved. Cade had a lot of stuff to do. Always.

Link looked back and smiled, "Now that I get a good look at you, Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Cade shook his head, "Don't think so."

Link frowned.

"Maybe from the Castle," added Cade, but Link shook his head no.

Link was waiting in one of the training grounds - the place he had designed as the meeting spot with Sir Keen - when he remembered. Cade. This boy was Cade. And Link remembered the boy from the time he had gone back to Ordon. Zelda had talked to Link about him.

"You could have just come and told me, you know?"

Cade shrugged and evaded Link's gaze. Link thought about pressing the matter. Cade was on Her Majesty's side. So was Link. They shouldn't have so many walls between them. But it was clear Cade didn't want to talk about it - whether it was because it was just not his style or because Gabe was still there, ears peeled, Link couldn't know - so he dropped the subject.

Sir Keen appeared after Link had promised Gabe - much to the boy's delight - to show him some stances for practicing the sword. The boy was just a stableboy, but he had dreams of becoming a knight, and Link just encouraged him, assuring him that he was going to take time to help the boy.

"Sorry," Sir Keen wheezed, "Had some trouble..."

Link waved his hand, "It's no problem, Sir Keen, we've still time."

Sir Keen was taking deep breaths, Cade looked unimpressed, "Yeah, okay, thank you."

"Shall we go then?" Link looked behind Sir Keen, then around him, "Are we supposed to go fetch your horse from the stable?"

Sir Keen frowned, "No, I-"

"He has been disowned, Hero," Cade said, his voice was cold and Sir Keen had to fight a glare, "I'm sure you've heard."

"Ah, yes, but-"

"The horses he used before were his family's, and now he has no money to buy one. So, no horse for him."

Link was beginning to feel sorry for Sir Keen, "I can rent one for you..."

Cade looked at Link as if he was dumb, "I'm sure he can walk just fine," Sir Keen bit his lip.

Gabe was beginning to think that he might have better stayed with Greg.

"I can," Sir Keen barely gave Cade a glance, "I appreciate the offer, Hero," unless it was to mock him, of course, "but I would like it if you could just overlook my horse situation. As the young man has said, I can walk just fine."

Link saw Cade sending daggers at Sir Keen, and Sir Keen having to control the need to flip the young man off. Link sighed, he got off Epona.

"Okay, fine." Everyone was just so angry all the time. "I'm sorry I assumed your situation, Sir Keen, it was rude of me. I rather we walk, then."

Link took Epona's bridle and looked at Cade, who had a face of disgust Link could hardly believe. Yeah, no. "Can I leave her in your care, Gabe?"

Gabe opened his mouth, honored and horrified, "Of course," he was going to die, he knew.

Cade gave Link a look, "Your horse will trample him."

"No." Link looked Epona in the eye, "Epona," he called, the horse looked away, "Epona, you'll behave, you hear me?" Cade had his mouth open in mock shock. This man was not trying to talk with his horse. "You will be nice with Gabe, all right? You follow his orders, you don't make trouble for him." Epona let out a huff that made Link blink. "You do that and next time I'll take you out to the fields, deal?"

Epona stomped her hoof once.

Link turned and gave the bridle to Gabe, "All yours."

Gabe received the bridle and looked at Epona with a small smile, she was strong enough to drag him around - she had already done so before.

Link grabbed his bags and made to walk away, "Okay, see you later."

Sir Keen walked behind Link with a forced face of serenity.

When the men were gone, Gabe gave a pitiful look at Cade. "No," answered the boy, "You could have said no."

Gabe dropped his shoulders and almost whined, "But he asked."

Cade looked away, Link was going to ask him, he was sure, why had he asked Gabe instead, then?

"No, not my problem." Cade walked away, slowly letting go of his anger at Sir Keen. He was half-way out of the ground when he looked to the sky and turned around.

And Gabe was walking towards him with a tame Epona at his side, "Dude."

Cade must have showed disbelief because Gabe began walking in zig zags just to show what they were starting to realize now. "Do you think-?

"No."

Gabe stopped a few steps away and Epona stopped, too, not a single step out of line, "Do you think he can talk to animals, too?"

"No fucking way."

Link made calculations in his mind. Without horses they had to add almost two full days to their schedule. It didn't really affect anything, but Link had been wanting to have some time with Zelda before leaving the Castle. Link sighed.

Sir Keen cleared his throat. He had mistaken Link's sigh for one of contempt and he remembered everything he had done to the Hero. He had to say sorry.

Link didn't hear Sir Keen and was looking around their surroundings. Zelda had given him a report about the cave they had been sent to. Nothing to worry about, they were only going to face bokoblins, babas and some keese. The cave was supposedly a nest for the bokoblins and they had been sighted in nearby villages.

Sir Keen coughed loud enough this time.

Link turned his head and saw Sir Keen looking to the ground. "Sir Keen?"

Robert Castle winced at his name, "Yeah, about that. I'm not a Sir anymore," a second, "I'm not Keen, either."

Link made a face, "Ah, yeah, sorry. I... I knew about it, but I wasn't sure how to adress you, so-"

"Robert is fine."

Link rearranged the straps of his bag, "All right. Robert it is, then."

Robert knew this was a chance, but his mouth was frozen in place. His father had never taught him how to do this.

So he started with simple stuff.

"Yeah, my father has very few good qualities, but the few he has, he takes pride in them. One of those is being a man of his word. I was on the verge of being disowned already, got what was coming for me."

Link thought about consoling Robert, but the man kept on talking.

And talking.

And talking.

"So, yeah, you know how every noble house has a motto and stuff?"

Link kicked a stone out of the way. In a sense, having Robert talk endlessly was better than them having a strained silence. "Had no idea."

"Well, we do- they do. So the Keen's family motto is 'For another tomorrow'. And I'm pretty sure that the women and men of old meant it as in 'the family will protect the tomorrow for everyone', right? Well, my dear father decided that it was only meant for the family. As in, as long as the Keen's see another tomorrow everything is dandy." Robert paused a second, looked up as if trying to remember something, "Now that I think about it, it's kind of the way every noble family thinks. Only looking out for themselves and stuff."

Link thought he felt relief in Robert's words, but the man was still the one who had brought Zelda a huge amount of problems, so Link threw a stone to tease the waters, "Is your father going to have you come back?"

Robert opened his eyes and faltered in his step, but remained silent.

Link kept on prodding, "Because I heard that though difficult, being disowned is something that can be undone."

Robert opened his mouth and breathed in through his teeth. Link had been walking a few steps in front of Robert, but now Robert made sure to catch up with Link, "You heard right," Link saw Robert squeezing the straps of his bags, "My father could, if he so wishes, go back on his word," Robert made a face that made clear he thought that it was more probable for the sun to fall out of the sky than for his father to ask him to come back, "if he can also fight with the council that I have made up for whatever reason he kicked me out. Which, probably, I will never be able to, disgracing Her Majesty is akin to high treason in the eyes of some." Link thought Robert would keep quiet then, the topic was obviously uncomfortable for him, but Robert kept on talking. "My father could also arrange a marriage with a family member, which could work, as I have a shit-ton of female cousins, but in this case also, he would have to fight with the council that my honor has been restored and yada yada."

"Ah."

Robert looked at Link, serious, "But I can assure you that my father will never do that."

"Would you, though?" Robert clenched his teeth, "Go back, I me-"

"Not in a fucking million years."

Robert looked to the ground after that, let Link get in front again, and got quiet for a while.

"Sorry if me talking so much is a bother, Hero."

Link shook his head no, "Please call me Link, Robert. And, actually, it's not. I used to travel with someone who was talkative, too. It's nice, the outdoors can be pretty lonely."

Robert breathed in a shaky breath, "You know- I-" His voice was trembling, "I am talkative," Robert admitted, Link chuckled and gave him a glance, "but I also nervous-talk, you know, which is what I've been doing- What I'm doing right now."

"You can talk all you want, but you don't have to force yourself, either."

Robert closed his eyes. How could Link be so nice to him?

"I heard that you asked Princess Zelda for us to go together."

"I did."

"You didn't have to do that."

Link stopped and turned, he was confused, "Sorry if it-"

Robert raised his hand, "No! Not in that way! As in, I did so much shitty things to you and you decided to help me anyways."

Link let his head fall to his right, raised his shoulders a bit, "I mean, and I don't want to offend you or anything, but you don't really know how to fight."

Robert looked shocked for a second, and then guffawed. Link could even see tears in his eyes.

"No shit I can't fight! I mean, I actually took classes, you know? You should spar with other nobles, I dare you."

Link looked disgusted, "No more fights with nobles for me, no."

Robert laughed again, Link had a small smile on his face, and Robert could feel the blame again on his mouth.

"Yeah, I did that. And sure, I suck at fighting, but you could have left me to suffer alone," Robert thought about telling Link that he had never expected help to come from him. Robert had held the hope that maybe his father wasn't throwing him away like this, that maybe he had some kind of back up plan to help his son. But there had been nothing. "Maybe pay for being a prick."

Link clicked his tongue, shrugged and turned, "Yeah, not my style." Robert started to walk behind Link again. "That doesn't mean I trust you, yet."

Robert smiled, "Yeah, don't, I fucked up."

"But then again, you were probably ordered or pressured, I think." Link thought about whether he would have let Robert go alone if he knew the man had enyojed what he had done... Yeah, it wouldn't have mattered, "Maybe you liked throwing sand at my eyes, who knows?" Link heard a chuckle from behind, "I've seen my fair share of death, Robert. I'd like to keep it to a minimum now."

Robert nodded, felt a knot in hit throat. "You were ready to kill me in the arena, though," he said with a chuckle.

"Yeah," Link turned and walked backwards, "I was fucking pissed."

Robert looked at Link and though the man was frowning and giving Robert an evil look, his eyes were filled with mirth.

Robert's smile died on his lips and now. Now. "So, yeah, what I've been wanting to say is..." he was going to cry, "is, uhm..." Link was walking closer now, but never turning, "I'm sorry," Robert's voice broke, and then he smiled, and, and, "and thank you," he croaked.

Link nodded and kept walking. "Sure."

Robert felt the tears falling down his face, "Also, if you can bring me back alive, I'd appreciate it."

Link snorted.