LOVE IN A TIME OF CALAMITY
Part 3: Letting Go
Chapter 18: On The Road Again

A/N: Oh my God, she has risen from the grave-Spicy is back! You know, even I can barely believe I've managed to get this up. Yaaaaay! If you follow me on Tumblr you will know that my life has gone to hell in a hand basket as of late, and I have had a REALLY hard time getting the time, space, and mental bandwidth to write. Screed at the bottom, but in sum: I will try and get this and my other stories going again, but updates may (read: will) be prolonged, sporadic and out of the blue. I'd like to get back to my regular Thursday publishing schedule, but time will only tell. In the meantime, enjoy! Don't forget to review (and favorite if you haven't already). Massive list of review responses from my many absent months also at bottom.

Chapter Warnings: none

"Princess, you must consider your safety!"

"Impa, I am considering my safety—"

"You are now the last of your line, if something should happen to you—"

"—Link will be there to protect me. He is the wielder of evil's bane, the most accomplished swordsman in all of Hyrule! He has protected me faithfully and skillfully for the past year, even when I made every effort to impede him."

"I can understand refusing the council's recommendation of a full entourage, but just three additional guards is hardly a burden worth putting up all this fuss ov—"

"Impa!"

Zelda's voice echoed through her chamber, the volume of her voice evidence to the degree of her displeasure. The councilor's complaints ceased at the outburst, and the Princess took a deep, rattling breath, struggling to keep her frustration from getting the better of her. The trip to Zora's Domain and Rito Village was her only chance in the foreseeable future to get space from the suffocating strictures and stresses burdening her within the castle walls; and now Impa was trying to force her to drag more of the castle along with her? No, she wouldn't have it. She may not yet have the courage to argue so fiercely against any other council member, but she'd known Impa since she was but a girl—she would hold her ground.

Zelda's voice was calmer when she continued, both more pleading and more final. If Impa would not accept a simple refusal, perhaps she would yield to reason.

"Impa, we can ill-afford to spare the men. Their time would be better spent guarding the refugee camp from looters, or patrolling the roads. There are no credible threats to my safety, and if it comes to your attention that there is a standing order for my head I will reconsider; but for now I see no reason why I need any further protection."

"Councilor Safula has reports that suggest there may be increased Yiga activities in the Gerudo Highlands—"

"Suggests! May be! Impa, I have read through all the same reports you have. There is no reasonable evidence to suggest that I may be in danger, especially traveling in the opposite direction."

Impa looked sour, but refrained from arguing further. When she finally spoke she did so carefully, weighing her words as she held the Princess' gaze.

"You are Regent and so have final say in these matters. If that is your wish, so shall it be. But both as your adviser and friend, I must ask: is there any other reason you might wish to travel without escort—alone, with Master Link?"

She stared at the Sheikah in confusion a moment before the unspoken implication hit her, and her heart skipped a nervous beat. No, she couldn't be implying…

"I—What?"

"There have been… rumors, circulating in the castle. While I tend not to give the servant's chatter much consideration, given your ardent refusal I feel I must ask: Is there any other reason you might wish to travel alone with him?"

Silence rang through the chamber. Zelda's mind raced as it struggled to grasp the entirety Impa's not-so-subtle suggestion. Really! They were just… friends! Granted, she knew that someone in her position being so friendly with someone in his was… frowned upon, but it was hardly scandalous. This was absolutely ridiculous—nothing more than idle gossip of the worst sort…

But as her mind ran through all the reasons why Impa ought to have no reason to doubt the platonic nature of their relationship, she began to realize that perhaps… perhaps she had been a tad more familiar than even she intended. Now that she thought on it, there had certainly been… moments… but did it really matter if none had seen? The scant few times she had been a bit more friendly with him they had always been alone. Yet even still there was gossip amongst the servants—but was that a result of her actions or their overactive imaginations? She wasn't some young Castletown maiden fawning over the neighborhood shop boy… was she?

She wanted to get away from castle life, that much was very true; but when she thought of the joy traveling through Hyrule brought her, she was suddenly struck with how much the dynamic of just the two of them—just her and Link—had become a part of that joy. It simply didn't hold the same appeal with a cadre of guards. Was there some other reason she wanted so desperately to travel without additional company? She… suddenly wasn't sure.

With a start Zelda realized how long she had been silent. Scrambling to organize her thoughts and keep her expression neutral, she hurriedly strung together a reasoned defense of her actions, ignoring the heat creeping up her cheeks as she spoke with more confidence than she felt.

"Link… Link has proved himself a worthy protector, and has been a valued support since I became Regent. There… have been few in the castle I feel I can speak openly with about… my concerns, and the difficulties of my new position. He has been a kind and patient friend. Aside from that, I can assure you there is no other reason why I might wish to travel with only him."

Impa's stern expression melted as her words hit her, revealing a pained and regretful countenance underneath. Zelda started, confusion and surprise overtaking her at her advisor's unexpected reaction. Impa looked away, her hands balling into fists.

"Princess, I… I am so sorry you have felt that way. I should have known…" she sighed, running a hand down her face in an uncharacteristic expression of weariness. "I'm sorry. I know that much has been thrust upon you, and you have had few to share that burden with. I should have been there more for you over the past month…"

Zelda felt her anger dissipate, the topic of their conversation momentarily forgotten. The last thing she had wanted to do was suggest Impa had been anything other than a blessing. She reached a hand across her desk to rest it upon the older woman's arm as she looked into her eyes sympathetically.

"Impa, I know you have been busy," she said softly, pausing briefly as she thought. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she quickly gathered her courage and continued.

"I… came upon your office this morning while you were out," she admitted sheepishly. Impa looked embarrassed, glancing guiltily to Zelda before once more looking away.

Impa was a neat, orderly, precise woman, and the state of her office had always reflected that. To Zelda, it represented the pinnacle of organization, the kind which she always longed to achieve. But when she walked into the usually pristine circular office that morning, it had been an absolute disaster. Papers were strewn everywhere, stacks of haphazard documents lying on the floor, and half-eaten rice balls drying in the stale air.

"I didn't realize it until I saw, but you have been taking on additional tasks to lighten my burden, haven't you?" It wasn't really a question, but by Impa's lack of denial she felt confirmed in her assessment. Zelda softened, smiling faintly at the older woman, her heart aching both with sympathy and appreciation. "Thank you, Impa. I don't want that to be a permanent state of affairs, but I appreciate the extra help. It is because of you I have had the time to think and talk to anyone at all."

Impa glanced up at her, a small, fond smile tugging at her lips. "I am here for you, Zelda. I want you to know that."

Zelda's smile grew. "I know." The Princess held her gaze a moment longer, silently communicating her gratitude before releasing her. She then leaned back in her chair, eying the Sheikah thoughtfully a moment before sighing.

"And… with regards to our prior subject… I suppose you're right. It would be a safer journey with additional guards."

Impa perked up, not-so-subtly suppressing a grin; and though she said nothing in response to the Princess' concession, she couldn't hide the triumph in her eyes.

"However—" Zelda added sternly, "I will take only 1 additional guard, and I will choose who."

Impa only nodded in acquiescence. "That is acceptable. I am glad you have agreed to at least some extra security. I'm sorry if I distressed you on the matter, I just worry for your safety."

"I appreciate your concern, Impa, I do; but I will be alright."

Impa gathered her papers from the desk, securing them within the confines of her notebook with a snap. "I will finalize arrangements with the stables for three, then." She looked up, smiling kindly as she stood and tucked the notebook under her arm. "I do hope you have an enjoyable trip, Princess—I know the castle has been a den of chaos. A change of scenery will be good for you." With a final nod, she turned for the door. "Good evening, Princess."

"Good evening, Impa."

As the door closed behind her adviser Zelda stood from her wooden desk chair, turning and walking toward the plush twin arm chairs in the corner of the room and sitting heavily into one. Though the sun had barely set, already she felt exhausted. She had entertained officials and organizers all day in preparation for her departure tomorrow morning, and though the preparations for her diplomatic visits to Zora's Domain and Rito Village had largely been completed as she planned the funeral, there seemed to be countless loose ends which only made their appearance at the last possible moment. Yet despite the business of the day centering on finalizing the preparations for her almost two-week long journey, it was not those stresses which weighed on her now—no; it was the unexpected diversion in her and Impa's conversation that dominated her thoughts.

Did she… were her feelings for Link more than just friendship? She'd been so eager to spend time with him, and had been surprised by how much she'd missed him when he got the rare shift off to rest or relax in his own chambers. She had given such feelings little thought until now, assuming them to be merely a desire to disengage from affairs of the Kingdom. Could she possibly have… other motivations?

And what of the gossip Impa had eluded to? Gossip within the castle about her and Link certainly wasn't new, but she couldn't help but wonder at the nature of what was being said. Yet again, the servants did always manage to circulate the most outrageous rumors—perhaps she shouldn't give it any credence… She certainly had enough to be worrying about as it was.

As her eyes roamed absently, she stole a moment to glance out the small windows of her chamber. The last of the sun's rays were fading, sucking the light from the room and throwing what little of the landscape she could see into shadow. Wearily standing and making her way to her desk, she quickly lit the taper candle which sat upon it, throwing into sharp relief the pile of papers sitting upon its surface. She sighed, glaring at the stack before deciding to sit down. There were still a good number of documents needing her signature before her departure. Thoughts of… other things, could wait.

-:-:-:-

"Is this stallion to your liking, your Highness?"

Zelda, Barlow, and Link rode side-by-side on the road east out of Castle Town, the Princess riding between them. Zelda's new horse, a gray stallion named Ponli, was indeed proving a calm and steady steed. With every step the royal saddle and bridle jangled with the light clattering of metal, and though normally she didn't mind, paired with Barlow's incessant chattering the combination of noises was beginning to grate on her. She was barely awake—the sun had only just risen over the dueling peaks, and hardly in a state to exchange mindless pleasantries. She just wanted to enjoy the cool morning air, the light of the rising sun… Were it just she and Link he would understand without her needing to say a word.

Though it had only been little over a half hour since departing the castle stables, Zelda was already regretting her choice of guard; or, perhaps, simply agreeing to an additional guard in the first place.

Sitting rigidly with her shoulders back, she kept her gaze fixed ahead as she answered politely, masking her irritation, "Yes, thank you Barlow."

"That's wonderful to hear, your Highness. I chose Ponli myself. One must be quite choosy with their steed, especially for longer journeys such as this. Why I remember once when I escorted your late mother, the Queen, on a vacation to Lurelin…"

Zelda tuned him out, holding herself still as she slowly closed her eyes, subtly taking a deep breath. Her late mother was hardly what she wanted to think about while on her way to offer condolences for the deaths of her friends. When she opened them again, she caught sight of Link giving her a side-long glance.

"…and Dorian agreed wholeheartedly with me, which is why I chose Ponli for you, your Highness. It's a delight to know I chose well!"

Zelda turned, giving him a forced smile.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

He smiled gaily in response, turning his attention back to the road. The sound of running water could be heard over the chirping of birds as they approached the Orsedd Bridge, and much to her displeasure, Barlow continued speaking.

"Anything for you, your Highness! If I may speak freely, I'm just grateful to be alive and able to continue serving. If it weren't for you and Master Link, I don't know where I'd be right now! All of us in that guard tower were sure we were about to meet our end before you arrived; and then when you—"

Zelda's hands tightened on the reins as she forced her rising frustration back. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Barlow's efforts—he was a good soldier, one of the veterans of the Royal Guard who'd long-since proved his loyalty and worth. She had no doubt that if it ever came to it, he would lay down his life for her without hesitation. She just… wasn't in the mood for conversation, especially this early—and boy did Barlow like to converse.

"…and when that beast came smashing through the city wall—Dear Din, I've never been more scared! But then Master Link came charging through the gate—"

Goddesses, it was going to be a long day.

-:-:-:-

They neared Inogo Bridge an hour before sunset. As the road split, Link directed them along the left fork, approaching the Soh Kofi shrine from the North. Zelda guided her horse to the vine-wrapped wooden horse shed before dismounting in the sparse grass, feeling her stiff knees complain as she landed forcefully upon the ground. Guiding Ponli beneath the structure, she wrapped his reins loosely around a wooden post, relishing in the tranquility of the rushing water of the Zora river and chirping birdsong. It was, of course, short-lived.

"Ah, what a view, your Highness!" exclaimed Barlow as he took in the sight afforded by the elevated road above the shrine. The Inogo bridge towers were visible below the cliff atop which the shrine was nestled, glowing blue against the setting sun's golden rays. The zig-zagging path into Zora's domain stretched before them, cut by the turbulent Zora river. The distinct rocky grey-blue mountains which enshrouded the Domain rose high in the distance, and it was towards these mountains the sun slowly lowered. She smiled. Link always chose good places to camp.

Link came to stand beside her, his own horse secured. She eyed him sidelong, and he looked… unnervingly impassive—calm waters that were just a little too still. Turning reluctantly from the sight, Zelda refocused on the imminent loss of sunlight.

"Well, let's divide chores for the evening, shall we? Barlow, I thought perhaps you could catch us dinner." She gestured towards the river below, "I've heard you're quite the accomplished angler, and I thought we might have grilled Bass, if you'd be willing? I can take care of camp—and Link, do you think you could make a fire?"

Silently, Link nodded. Barlow mimicked the action with greater enthusiasm.

"Absolutely, your Highness! I even brought my best pole, just in case there was such an opportunity." Making for his horse with eagerness, he continued speaking with a grin, "Oh, just you wait till you try my personal Grilled Bass recipe! Though it doesn't quite compare to Chef Pimm's, it's still pretty fine fare out here in the woods." With deft hands, Barlow pulled a capped tube and wicker basket from the side of his horse, along with his sword and shield. Turning, he saluted the Princess.

"Back in no time, your Highness!"

As Barlow disappeared through the trees and towards the road behind them, Zelda let out an unsubtle sigh, relishing in the sudden quiet which had enveloped them.

"Diplomatically done."

Link's quiet voice was teasing as she turned to gaze at him questioningly. He hadn't spoken much during their journey—he tended not to when in public as her appointed knight, and it was comforting to hear his light tone. She responded unapologetically, yet humor danced in her eyes.

"I just want a few minutes peace; and besides, bass does sound good for dinner."

Link smiled in amusement. "If I might ask, why did you choose Barlow? Did you not know of his reputation? I would have recommended Dorian or Ivarson if you wanted someone less… chatty."

Zelda glance down the road where Barlow had disappeared around the bend before turning her gaze back to Link with chagrin. "No, I didn't. I just chose the most qualified available knight on the roster."

Link chuckled as he rifled through the packs on Epona. A light smile danced on his lips, and Zelda felt her heart lighten just a little at the sight. As he turned, eyes sweeping the sight of the Zora river, the slight curve to his lips quickly fell and the light humor which had moments ago sparkled in his eyes faded into nothingness. Turning his face from her view, Link quietly cleared his throat. "I'll go get some wood for a fire." Then, without further comment, he headed for the copse of trees along the ridge several dozen feet downhill from the shed. Zelda felt her spirits fall as she gazed after him, her hands still where they rested on Ponli's saddle. She sighed softly, then set about unstrapping her sleeping roll.

Ten minutes later Zelda and Link sat on a log beside a roaring fire with three sleeping mats and a small pile of supplies laid out around it. The sun had just begun to lower behind the mountains as Zelda once more glanced side-long at her knight. Outwardly he seemed calm, sitting with his forearms on his knees, hands clasped between them as he gazed into the flames; and though at the moment she couldn't point to anything specific in his demeanor that might suggest distress, she couldn't shake the memory of the hollowness in his eyes as he set off to gather firewood.

"Rupee for your thoughts?" she asked softly.

He turned his head towards her, gaze unreadable as he observed her. He didn't answer right away, and as the silence stretched on she began to wonder if perhaps this was too public a setting for him to feel comfortable opening up to her. After all, Barlow could return any minute—maybe she shouldn't have said anything…

Finally he turned from her to gaze back at the fire, speaking lowly, "The last time I was in Zora's Domain, she—"

Link's voice wavered and he stopped, shutting his eyes gently against the heat of the flames. Crickets were beginning their evening serenade, harmonizing with the rush of water from the Zora River below and filling the stark silence which had suddenly settled between them.

Zelda felt her heart lurch. At least in front of her Link hadn't expressed much grief at the loss of their friends and champions. Part of her felt guilty, that maybe her overwhelming tide of pain and sorrow had dominated his attention, giving him no opportunity to feel his own. Another part of her wondered if maybe Link simply wasn't the type to process grief that way. And yet…

Quietly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she gazed intently at him, she broke the stillness, her soft voice carrying across the space between them.

"She…?"

Link breathed quietly, opening his eyes once more to continue staring into the flickering light of the fire. His gaze was faraway as he spoke.

"I got injured clearing out a Lynel atop Mount Poloymus. When we got back to Vah Ruta, she healed me—just like she always did." A small smile graced his lips. "That's how we first met—when we were kids. My father and a group of knights brought me to the Domain to train. I must have been about four. She and the rest of the royal family greeted us. I was covered in bruises, and… she healed me. I'd never seen healing magic before." He stilled, eyes softening as his mind lingered on the memory.

"She said… she hoped that when everything was over—once the Calamity was defeated, we could go back to how we were when we were young; that maybe we could spend some time together." He gazed a moment at the flames before closing his eyes, shaking his head slightly as though to rid himself of a pesky thought. Perhaps he was.

Zelda bit the inside of her cheek. The words he left unspoken—that they'd now never get the chance—didn't need saying. She knew despite her eagerness to get out of the castle that this trip would be hard for her, and she had done what she could to prepare for that. She'd brought a healthy supply of Link's tea, a bottle of sleeping draught, books to occupy her mind, and her diary to work out her thoughts. Though she suspected it would be difficult for Link as well, he hadn't been very forthcoming about his own feelings on the subject—as was his right, if he so chose. Had her own emotions not decided to make themselves known with or without her consent she may well have kept them to herself. Despite that, though, she did want to know what occupied his heart and mind. His support had been instrumental in getting her through the first few weeks of her unexpected rule, and she wanted to be able to offer that same help to him. She wanted to make him feel better, to see that soft smile just a little bit more often. Somehow.

"Link…" she began, turning towards him slowly and reaching a tentative hand out to him. He let her grasp his hands where they hung, clasped, between his knees, without complaint. He didn't look at her, however, simply continued to stare into the fire. Feeling emboldened, Zelda reached forward with her other hand to gently turn his face towards hers.

"Link…"

He allowed her to maneuver him unimpeded, and after a moment finally brought his eyes up to meet hers. Outwardly they seemed blank, but the deeper she looked, the more she could see a lingering sorrow hidden behind them. Her heart twisted. How much had he pushed away?

"I am so sorry, Link; and moreso, I'm sorry you have to be doing this with me." Though the familiar pangs of guilt over Mipha's death hit her, she set the feeling aside. This wasn't about her—it was about him. "I don't know what memories this trip will stir, or how deep your own grief must run. Just promise me… if it becomes too much—when you need someone, whatever it is; come find me. I don't know what I would have done had you not been there for me these past several weeks. I want to be there for you, too."

Her heart quickened in her chest as her words hung in the air between them. Link remained silent, but as the seconds dragged on his eyes began to soften. After a moment, Zelda felt his clasped hands shift beneath her fingers, and he brought his left to rest atop her right, his other below it in a tender hold. A ghost of a smile alighted upon his lips and he gazed steadily into her eyes. Zelda felt a smile of her own bloom, and her heart began to thud in her chest. She was suddenly acutely aware of how close they were to each other, and of every place their bodies touched: her palm on his campfire-warmed cheek, his hands clasping hers…

Unbidden, a warmth rose to her cheeks—a warmth that had nothing to do with the heat of the fire.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Barlow grinned at the prize which sat limp in his creel—or technically, prizes, as he walked up the road towards camp. Oh, the Princess would be most pleased! It had taken a little while to find a nice quiet corner of the river where the Bass pooled to feast on the evening insects, but after some hiking he'd found the perfect little alcove—and caught a couple whoppers! They'd be in for a real treat tonight.

He turned off the road, the horses visible at the top of the incline in the increasingly dim light of dusk. Making for his own steed, he strapped his pole securely to the saddle bags when the faint murmur of conversation reached his ears. Moving towards the edge of the small cliff, he pulled his creel from his waist ready to present his catch to a waiting audience—when he stopped dead in his tracks, mouth open mid-greeting. Sitting side-by-side on a log before the fire were the Princess and the Hero, in a… startlingly intimate position. The Princess' hand was on the Hero's cheek as he gazed intently into her eyes, holding her hand between both of his.

With nervous footsteps and a jittery pulse, Barlow slowly—silently—backed away, unable to tear his eyes from the sight until they disappeared from view behind the cliff edge. His heart pounded and his mind whirled with questions. Was there something going on between the Princess and the Hero? It had looked… well, it had looked like they were about to kiss. By all accounts otherwise they were merely politely friendly. Were they… were they seeing each other in secret? Goddesses, a Royal Guard consorting in such a way with a member of the Royal family! It was scandalous! An outrage! It was— Suddenly, Barlow's eyes bulged. Had they been intimate with each other?

Forcefully Barlow shook his head, accidentally backing up into a tree with a soft thump. Goddesses, man, get your mind out of the gutter!

But… if they had, and if it were ever discovered… Barlow gulped, feeling his palms sweat. He liked Link; in fact he admired him greatly, even if the boy was 25 years his junior. He didn't deserve a decade or more of imprisonment. Barlow straightened himself, turning back towards his horse and attempting to shake off his nervous energy. Whatever was going on between them, it wasn't his business. He didn't see anything, no siree. Didn't see nothing at all. Forcing all his nervous energy into his legs, he turned and high-tailed it back to the horse shed.

As he began to mindlessly fiddle with the straps of his horse's saddle bags, searching halfheartedly for his spices, he heard a rustling downhill. Startled, he turned, seeing Link hike up the incline, and jumped in surprise. As Link caught sight of him in the fading light, he quirked an eyebrow in question, heading towards his own horse.

"Oh, Master Link! You startled me," he stuttered, nervously fidgeting as anxious energy flooding him with renewed vigor. He hadn't been seen… right? "I—I just got back from the river. Caught a couple good ones!" He chose this as the opportunity to awkwardly lift his creel, giving it a halfhearted shake. "Dinner tonight will be delicious, yes sir! I'll just gather up my spices here…" he returned to digging through his saddle bags, fingers passing over his spice bottle several times in his nervousness before he was able to focus enough to extract it. When he returned an anxious eye towards Link, he noticed the boy was standing in silent wait by the path down the slope to the shrine, a small wooden block and knife in his hands.

Smiling wanly, he held up his spice bottle and gently shook it, "Ah, finally found it."

Link eyed him impassively. "I'm sure the Princess is looking forward to it."

Shaking off the last of his nerves, Barlow headed towards Link, following him down the path to the campsite. He was probably being silly, it was unlikely they'd seen him. Still… he'd need to watch himself. This trip just became a lot more… complicated.

A/N: Ah, and there it is. The first chapter of part 3! It's not a total cliffhanger, but it kinda leaves off on a mysterious note, so... don't hate me. *hides behind pillow*

So you may remember me posting chapters 15, 16, and 17 all at once and (frankly) bitching about my brother and sister-in-law causing problems. Well, in the months between the publication of chapters 17 and 18, things have only gotten worse. Turns out my suspicion several years ago that their choosing to have a baby was, in fact, the "a baby will fix our marriage" trope, and that their marriage is, indeed, cracking. They're a hot mess of self-delusion, mind-numbing stress, and morbid depression, and I just couldn't deal. I lost the office I spent a week setting up in the guest bedroom (I refinished the furniture and everything), and had to move my desk back into the bedroom with my partner (because they're always around the house-she can't stand to be around him sometimes and they have to separate), which in turn made writing more difficult since it really kind of depends on not getting interrupted (either by baby screams, cats meowing, or your partner going in and out of the room-not his fault, btw).

In the middle of all that, my 20 year old cat's mild dementia started getting worse and she was keeping me up all night with confused kitty screaming, which we had to get meds to treat (or rather, meds to knock her out at night so I could sleep). That was a whole month of sleep deprivation that was not pretty. The 86 year old I provide care for ended up in the ER at one point which I had to facilitate-that was super stressful-and my arthritis and tendonitis started acting up making sleep uncomfortable due to numbness and anything to do with the computer a no-go.

All of that culminated in my mother and father-in-law, feeling super sorry for our worn-out asses, booking my partner and I a week at a hotel to get away from the crazy, which enabled me to accomplish this: finalizing chapter 18. Yaaay! The brother-in-law managed to find a job finally several hours south of where I live, and *in theory* this will result in them not being around meaning I can finally, you know, function. I say *in theory* because the brother-in-law is a steamy-hot mess of neuroticism and uncontrollable assholery, so we'll see how that goes, or even if they stay together. Even if not divorce, I could see a separation on the horizon. It should come as no surprise that my partner and I are now looking for a place of our own, which is a hell of a challenge in and of itself because goddamn housing prices, Jesus H Christ.

Oh, also, taxes. I was doing taxes in there somewhere too. I almost forgot about that. Taxes were super stressful and I STILL haven't received the $330 the IRS owes me even though they said it would only be 6-8 weeks after tax day. PSH. *insert huge eye roll here*

Anyway, the point of all that was this: I'm going to try to get some updates out over the next couple months, but please bear with me. If and/or when updates to happen, they will likely be sporadic and out of the blue. If you're not already following this story I'd recommend it, that way you get an email when new chapters are posted. Review responses are below, and there's a lot of them because there's a lot of reviews to sift through. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

-:- Review Responses! -:-

Nightwing2013: Lol, I should have added that. He's definitely a haughty classist asshole, and I'm actually super jazzed at everyone's hate of him. I've never written a really bad villain, so it feels like an accomplishment to hear everyone's vitriol towards him, lol. And I hope the drama will be interesting! He's actually one of my favorite characters, funny enough, I think in part because he's a challenge. I've got lots of good characters but few bad ones. I haven't yet decided where his character will end up by the end of the story, yet, so who knows! Maybe he will get killed in a duel with Link.

Guest (3/12): Ah, but first our boy needs to figure out he wants to do that! Don't worry, we'll get there ;)

Ania Nicole: Your review put such a huge smile on my face! That is the absolute ultimate goal for me when writing fics, is to connect with readers like that. I'm so glad you like it. It's the AU I wanted to read and couldn't find, so I wrote it instead. I do hope to get more chapters out soon. And as you could probably see from the screed above, things haven't quite settled down, but maybe soon? I've got my fingers crossed, but realistically I'm not super hopeful. They've always been a mess, and the only reason I didn't have to deal with it before was that they lived on the other side of the country for a number of years. So... maybe It's time I move to the other side of the country, lol. But thank you for your sentiments :)

Markus-Antonius: Thank you!

Guest/Aude: Your reviews are delightful, as always!

Euivy: Thank you! Traysi will, I hope, surprise you. Or if not surprise you, be more interesting a character than expected. Pikango as well.

Awakening5: Thanks! Even more pieces will be revealed in part 3, so stay tuned! ;)

Amarok Walker: The first few chapters of part 3 focus on Link and Zelda, but soon you'll get a peek back into Freder's head! And I think what's going on might surprise you ;)

Guest (3/14): Thank you! That really is such a complement, to know it moved you. Hopefully this chapter was at least a little worth the wait!

CoOpGame: Did I answer this question? I have a vague memory of doing so a while back, so if I already did please forgive the double-answer; but basically, the use of the word tenor with regards to language and music have different meanings. My understanding is that in music it is used as a technical term, whereas in language it is used as a descriptive term, so unless you were making a specific allusion to music, "emotional tenor" would simply refer to "the drift of something spoken or written". And thank you! I have the stubborn opinion that any character with more than a passing mention should have some sort of distinct character, personality, or role-no matter how minor. I think it really makes the story and world richer, so I'm glad it comes across well. And yes, it can be a bit tough to balance at times the minor character with the main ones -_-' Thank you for your thoughtful review!

Gnote fanfic: Lol, that was the goal.

lordrednight: Thank you! It's been a point of exhaustion for me to make sure the pacing of their character development is right. My beta has been fantastic in helping me with that, but even still, I worry there are places it isn't smooth. So I'm super jazzed it comes across well, let alone is captivating! Thank you for your comment!

Pepin-Bones: :3 haha, well, I won't give any specifics away. But thank you for your comment!

Fan01: Ahh, thank you! It gives me the warm fuzzies to hear that my story is binge-worthy. I'm sorry its taken so long to get the next chapter out, but hopefully it was at least a little worth the wait!

BigBossofMoss: I have not seen Guardians of the Galaxy (I know, I know, what rock have I been hiding under), but I've seen clips of Yundu so this made me chuckle.

LinkFelton: Thank you! I'm still writing, albeit much more slowly. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter!

BigBossofMoss: I'm glad you noticed, I was admittedly surprised no one else said anything, lol.

BigBossofMoss: You know, that wasn't any intentional parallel, but funny enough I see what you mean.

Pepin-Bones: Aw, thank you! I have put a lot of time and thought into this, time which should PROBABLY be going to towards my actual work and life, but i'm just as hooked on writing this as you guys probably are reading it, lol. Thank you for your comment, it really made me smile.

NC2001: Thank you! I'll warn you now this is a slow burn (like, sloooooow, lol), but It'll be worth it, scout's honor!

Guest (5/8): Well, when I first outlined this story it was going to be 30 chapters. Now I'm at 60, and that will PROBABLY get increased even more once I start digging in to the later parts (there will be 7 in total). So by the end, maybe 250k words? Possibly even 300-350k if I really go nuts? Honest to God, my intention was 100k when I outlined this. But creative projects tend to get away from me so... eh. And don't worry, there will be plenty of heartwarming and "good" characters still to come. As for the bard, I kind of went off some of the things that are said about him in the game, I think even by Kass specifically. At least to my mind, it painted him as a somewhat petulant lovesick puppy, at least until it kind of sunk in the straights they were all in with the coming calamity and he shaped up a bit. So that's why I painted him the way I did, it was what kind of stuck out to me from the game. And thank you for noticing my efforts to stick to canon! I mean, it's an AU story, so there's going to be deviation, but in that deviation I'm drawing as much as I can from the game, even if characters that only exist during Link's resurrection 100 years later are showing up during and after the calamity. I'm trying to keep the geography and locations as much the same as I can, with a few variations or original additions.

AnInAMouse: Well, some of that is answered in the response above, but basically it felt a little silly to keep creative new characters to fill certain roles when there were characters all over the place already made for me that I could use if I was willing to just say, "screw the timeline". Like, yes Bolson and Yunobo only exist 100 years later, but I needed a character to portray a Goron representative to the council and, lets be honest, Daruk is a warrior not a politician. But Yunobo struck me as a fitting character, so I just put him in that spot. It saves me time, and is also a shortcut for connecting with the reader. They already know a lot of these characters so I don't have to do the legwork in making them likeable. Also, Nintendo is really good at making very rich characters, so it feels a shame to let them go to waste. That was an interesting question, thank you!

AnInAMouse: Thank you! I debated for a while in the early stages sticking to just Link and Zelda's perspective, but I'm a systems thinker, and it felt like too much fun to dabble in the minds of all the characters-I thought it would make for a really rich and complex world to be very selective and thoughtful about whose perspective to show scenes from.

LuniaWolfe: lol, yaaay my romantic tension is working *cheers*

MusicFreak2k14: Thank you! Hope you enjoyed it.

Guest (7/8): Thank you, I do plan to continue this story and have many of the next chapters mostly written, it's just a matter of getting around to finalizing chapters and finishing off the last 4 of part 3 _' Hope you liked this chapter!

Nekotoko: Thank you! I know it took a while, but here we are! Continuing! Very slowly... heh. Well, I hope this chapter felt at least a little worth waiting for. I hope to get the next one out soon-ish!

Kami-Sama-Senpai: Exactly. And here's the thing: in this Zelda universe, the power is carried down through the female line. Which means that a woman would always have to be the heir, rather than a man per traditional standards. So that leaves a lot of wiggle room for interpretation. My interpretation is basically an optional shared power situation centering on the blood descendant of Hylia, but it'll be explained in greater depth later on in part 3.

Stori39: Hi! Welcome, and this story hasn't been abandoned! Just delayed by life stuff. Thank you, I did get your message back in August and it did give me a little boost to get some work done ^_^ Your guys' enthusiasm and support always boosts my mood and gives me a little writing energy, I appreciate it so much!

Guest (9/20): Thank you! That means a lot. Your timing is good since I'm coming back from a several months long hiatus, and bam! New chapter! lol.

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On that note, thank you all so much for your enthusiasm and support! Your thoughtful comments, your kind words, all of it means so much to me and gives me so much motivation to keep going! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I really am going to try to get more out to you soon!

~Spicy