Link glanced over at Hena in alarm, but she was simply stretching out comfortably. She noticed his look and smiled, and her teeth caught the sunlight. "Exciting afternoon, huh?"

"I didn't catch anything," said Link, coming to sit beside her.

Hena waved her hand. "It's all about the challenge," she said. "It wouldn't be fair if you always won."

Link looked off across the pond. He couldn't see beneath the surface at all, the orangey glare of the sun was so strong. Her words struck him. He remembered frustrations that had tripped him up in his quest; unwinnable battles. 'It wouldn't be fair if you always won.' But he had to always win. If he didn't always win, he would die. Hyrule would be doomed to eternal twilight. He looked around, suddenly feeling the weight of the twilight time on him. The golden sun no longer seemed so bright. It oppressed him. He could sense his shadow twitch without him, too—Midna. Link shivered.

Hena glanced up at him and frowned. "Are you all right? You look a little sick." She sat up on her elbows and reached to feel his brow for a fever, but Link shied away. Hena's frown deepened. "Hey," she said, "what's going on?"

Link shook his head. "Probably just seasick. Pond-sick."

"Haven't been out in boats much before, huh?" she asked, hardly convinced.

He shook his head again.

Hena studied his face, resting her arms behind her head. Link tried not to acknowledge her. "Oh," Hena said after a long moment, as if she'd just recalled something. "You were going to tell me what you're doing here."

Link smiled slightly, without humor. "Fish," he said. "It's a pond."

Hena sighed grandly and sat up. She reached up to undo the clasps of her overalls.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting out of these wet waders. It will get cold once the sun goes down. Plus, we're going to be here for a while if you won't be straight with me, pretty boy."

Link rolled his eyes very subtly.

"That reminds me. What is your name, actually?" she asked, pulling her overalls down so they folded around her waist. Her damp blouse hung loosely off one shoulder, leaving the tanned skin exposed. Link looked away from her intense gaze on him.

"Link," he said.

"Link? Like Lincoln? Or a chain link?"

He shrugged. "Link."

"Okay, then, Lincoln. What brings you to my pond, actually?"

Link gave her an unimpressed look for the choice of address. His face quickly cleared, however, as he looked back over the pond. The sun had fallen behind the cliff edge. The sky was more pink than yellow, and his discomfort had passed. The pond water was rosy, like the color of Hena's shirt. "I need peace sometimes," he said.

"Have a busy life, do you?" asked Hena.

Link felt Midna shift, and he winced ever so slightly. How much was safe to tell this fisherwoman? His mission wasn't common knowledge. Who could he trust? Just to be safe, Link limited his response to a shrug.

Hena pushed him. "No, I'm curious, now," she said. "What do you do?"

Link felt a tug on his shadow, as if it were a fishing line and he was the one hooked. Midna was warning him. Link struggled—he liked Hena, and he didn't want to offend her (more than he had already), but he did not feel secure enough with her to share his story. He tried to glance at her discreetly for some insight, but Hena was watching him, and he flicked his gaze away. It took a long time for him to answer, but finally caution won out. "I shouldn't say," he said.

Hena deflated just a little bit. His tortured expression seemed to deter her from pushing him further, however. "Hm," she hummed in disappointment. "Well, okay, if it's that important to you." She sat up and reached to fix her hair, dismissively. "It's getting dark. We should pack up and head inside."

'We?' Link didn't want to stay the night. He looked around as Hena rose and collected a crate of fishing supplies from the end of the wooden dock, including her own pole. That made Link realize, "I lost my pole."

Hena looked at him, and her expression was scolding. "Where?" she demanded. "How are you supposed to fish again without a pole?"

Link gestured to the water, which lapped harmlessly at the grassy shore. In the shadows cast by the waning red light, the edge of the gray water was indistinct against the gray grass.

"Oh, when you fell?" asked Hena, her anger ebbing. "Well, I guess you'll have to get a new one. Or jump in and dive for it. I'd be glad to push you."

Link looked at her sharply, feeling hurt. Hena snickered softly at his face as she walked up to him, fishing gear in her arms. "I'm just kidding," she said. "Here." She deposited a load of supplies into his grasp. Then she turned and sauntered up the slope toward the shack that was her store, and Link followed.

...

"You're absolutely sure you want to leave in the dark? The river can be tricky at night." Hena didn't sound concerned, but her eyes betrayed her.

Hena had hung up her damp overalls and was instead wearing a soft sleeping gown in the same warm colors as her blouse. Link was preparing his pack to venture out again. He couldn't afford to spend any more time here, for his own sake. The aura of the pond was addictive, and the guide...well, she really was charming. But he had duties to return to. He found himself finishing the thought with, 'But...return from?' Link sighed. Every day was a risk. Any battle could prove too much for him. Every day could be his last. His hands stilled from packing as his thoughts sank into a funk.

He felt Hena move up beside him. "You may not want to tell me what you do for a living, but I can tell it's something serious," she said. Her voice was uncharacteristically quiet. Link looked at her bleakly, and his heart was steadied a little bit by the warmth in her brown eyes. "Come on back here if you ever need a break, will you?"

A small smile passed his face, and Link nodded. He finished with his pack, fastened the clasp and swung the bag onto his shoulder. Over his other, he hung his bow.

Hena followed him to the door and held it open as he stepped out, down the single step and onto the porch. Link felt it polite to turn back to bid her farewell. When he did, Hena was already leaning out the doorway to him. "I mean actually," she said, and her voice was tight. "Come back soon. And pay for a lesson this time."

Link chuckled slightly. He reached for her hand, and she allowed him to raise her fingers to his lips and plant a kiss there. He didn't say anything else before turning out into the moonlight and crossing the grass toward the door to the real world. Before he opened it, the air rang with the hiss of him drawing his sword.

...