Growing Up

Link's accommodation was nothing remarkable. It was mostly a small stone hut just outside the castle and right next to the stables. Within was a simple bed, a wooden table and chair, a wardrobe, and a square window. He had been told that he can decorate this room however he saw fit, but he saw little need to. He did not feel inclined to stay in there except for when he needed to sleep or eat. Since he was granted this accommodation, he found himself in the stables quite often, whether to offer assistance to the staff tending to the horses, or to visit a newborn foal which had taken a liking to him and was named Epona by the stablemasters. It did not take long before Link requested that he be allowed to ride her, only to be declined due to her youth. Aside from the stables, Link found himself practicing with his wooden sword much of the time. Once, he rarely used it save for the occasional aggressive animal that stumbled across him. But now, he found it a source of entertainment. Sometimes, he would pretend to be one of the knights of Hyrule, embarking on noble quests and slaying imaginary beasts. But most often, particularly in the late evening, Link sought out what has become his favourite activity. During a break he identified in the routes of the patrolling guards, would climb the stone walls of the south tower. While it was very different from a tree, he eventually figured out spaces where the cobblestones jutted out slightly, just enough for him to place a firm grip on. Once he reached the window at the top, he would only knock on it and wait for Zelda to open it and help him in. He remembered the first time he surprised her like this, and her panic at the possibility of him falling. But now, she had gotten used to this entrance of his enough to half-heartedly scold him with a smile.

"Have you come for your next lesson?" Zelda asked playfully, to which Link smiled and retrieved a quill from his pocket. Since his first visit to the Princess, their conversations revealed his inability to read or write, a revelation that appalled her to no end. For this reason, Zelda had taken it upon herself to teach him. Link could not help but feel some pride at his own progress. As of their previous meeting, he had just mastered writing his own name, even if his handwriting was extremely shaky. Link spared no time to considering the question. He had thought about this all day.
"Can you teach me to write your name?" he asked. Zelda seemed slightly taken aback.
"Oh? How flattering." She went to her small desk, dominated by a large mirror, and retrieved a notebook containing all her progress in educating her friend. While she did this, Link took his time to look around Zelda's chambers. It was surprisingly spacious, boasting a white and gold colour scheme in its surfaces. Aside from the table, it was dominated by a large purple bed covered by a veil hanging from the ceiling. To the far side, between both rectangular windows, stood a large wardrobe containing a myriad of dresses and a small collection of casual wear. She told him this was for exploring outside the castle without some boring social event her family were expected to make an appearance at. This room would have seemed very elegant were it not for the mess of books haphazardly stacked about the place. Here and there lay a few fictional stories, several editions of guides on the flora and fauna of Hyrule, maps and several others Link dared not attempt to open. Zelda returned with the notebook and they both sat at the foot of the bed. Without any time or breath wasted, Link began scrawling at her direction.

"There, that's it!" Zelda said with more excitement than she intended. Although his handwriting was, once again, difficult to make sense of, Link had completed her challenge after what felt like all night. "You did it!"
"Thanks." Link replied, beaming with pride. "I did struggle with the 'L'. So, it only sometimes has that other line coming from the bottom to the right?"
"At the start of a sentence." Zelda explained. "Or a name. Like yours, for example." Link nodded but said nothing else. "I think we have time for something else, if you'd like?"
"I…don't know." Link admitted. Zelda frowned, noticing something about her friend. He seemed distracted, something on his mind was bothering him. Now that she thought about it, he took quite some time on tonight's writing lesson. Was this a lack of focus? Or was he deliberately taking his time?
"If something's wrong" Zelda started. "you can tell me if you'd like." Link glanced towards her, suddenly looking slightly uncomfortable. Zelda immediately regretted bringing it up. "I'm sorry, if you'd rather not-"
"No, it's not that, I just…" Link scratched the back of hid head, unable to maintain eye-contact. "I meant to tell you about this anyway." Zelda remained silent, waiting for him to continue. She was not sure how he could help with his problem, whatever it was, but she still wanted to hear him out even as just an outlet. Finally, Link spoke.
"I want to be a knight." He blurted out, cringing in embarrassment. After letting a moment pass, he looked at Zelda, whose face showed only admiration.
"Really?" She asked, sounding genuinely impressed. "That sounds very noble of you. What gave you this idea?" Link turned back from her gaze and removed his hat. He looked down on it, as though lost in thought.
"There's just something about them. The knights, I mean." He began fiddling with the hat absent-mindedly. "Their whole purpose is to serve the greater good of Hyrule, to protect the people and…that just feels like what I want to do with my life." As proud as she was of her friend, Zelda suspected there was something else. Link's explanation sounded, at least to her, somewhat rehearsed. He noticed her concerned expression and sighed in resignation.
"I asked your father if he knew anything about mine. I didn't know his name, but I had this." He held up his hat as he spoke. "My mother made this for him. After he became a knight himself." Zelda's eyes widened. Link's father, a knight? Her mind was bursting with questions, each competing to be asked first.
"Your father?" She found a question to start with. "But you were from the forest?" Link shrugged.
"At some point, he left and took me with him into the forest." He paused for a moment, considering how he should best share what remained. "My mother died the day I was born. I don't know how. My father bought me up on his own in the forest, though I don't know why he chose there." Link grimaced slightly at this point, something which Zelda noticed. This was difficult for him to talk about.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly. "You don't have to talk about this if…
"No, It's fine." Link replied hastily. He gulped before continuing. "when I was younger, he got sick, but I don't know what it was. At first, he seemed fine, but it just kept getting worse and worse." He stopped, took a breath, but did not stop the story there. "He tried to hide it, but I knew it was bad. I tried to help, but he wouldn't have it. He insisted that it was nothing serious, that I shouldn't have to have such responsibility." Link was now staring at the floor. "Looking back, he almost seemed…ashamed." Zelda squeezed his hand, her eyes beginning to well up.
"He kept insisting he would get better. That once the sickness ran its course, he'd be back to normal. I… I buried him when I was six." Link's voice broke on this last sentence. He had never spoken out loud about this before. He thought he had made his peace with this loss, but that was before he had ever talked about it. He had not even noticed his own tears until Zelda suddenly began to hug him, snapping him out of his trance. He hugged her back, forcing himself not to cry. Once they broke away, he realised that Zelda had been less successful.
"I'm…I'm sorry." She brushed her sleeve against her face, attempting to dry her eyes. "I had no idea…Link…" She stepped forward and hugged him again. Link decided he should finish his story quickly. His composure was gradually becoming more and more difficult to maintain.
"That's why I want to be a knight." He concluded. "I want to be able to keep people safe. To stop that happening to anyone else if I can help it and…I don't know, I just feel like this is the closest I have to actually knowing him." Zelda nodded in understanding, forcing herself to smile.
"I'm sure you would make an excellent knight." She stated, having calmed herself down. "You're certainly brave and noble enough, and you seem quite skilled for it." Her smile faded when she noticed Link's grim expression had not changed. There was something else.
"When I spoke with your father about this," Link began to explain. "I asked about the possibility of becoming a knight. In order to do so, I need to leave for training and evaluation." Zelda's face fell entirely, her insides instantly feeling empty. "I…accepted." Link added with reluctance.
"How soon do you have to go?" She asked, afraid to hear his answer.
"Tomorrow morning."
"But it's night!"
"I know."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I was afraid to." Link blurted out. "I knew I had to, but…" He looked down slightly in shame. "I didn't want to ruin the last time I saw you."
"The last…" Zelda murmured. "How long will you be gone for?"
"I don't know." Link admitted. "Your father said a knight would require years before they can be accepted into the ranks."
"Years?" Zelda's horror at this revelation amplified Link's guilt tenfold.
"I'll come back!" He promised hastily. "I swear, as soon as I'm done, I'll come straight back!" Zelda said nothing in response. She screwed her eyes shut and turned away, holding back tears. Link felt his gut twist. He was afraid she would be upset by this news. Maybe angry, but this was worse. He fully expected her to be upset. Maybe a bit angry. But not betrayed. Not abandoned.
"Here." Zelda opened her eyes to see what Link had to show her. In his hand, held out to her, hung his hat. Zelda's expression softened; her mouth held agape slightly.
"But… This is…" She stammered. "This belongs to you! Link, I can't take…"
"Just hold onto it until I come back." Link told her.
"But you have so little."
"It's only a hat."
"But… your parents...This is all you…"
"Well, don't lose it then."
Zelda looked him dead in the eyes, searching for any hint of hesitation or mischief in his intent. There was none. She reluctantly took the hat from him, holding his most precious treasure at arm's length.
"But why?" She asked. "This means so much to you."
"This means that I gave my word and I'm keeping it." He explained. "When I come back, whenever that is, you can give it back then." Zelda looked down at the hat, this tattered green sack of headwear, as her friend's words sunk in. Link almost stepped back in surprise when she dashed to him, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing into his shoulder. Taking a moment to register what just happened, he hugged her back.
"Please come back." She whispered between sobs.
"I will. I promise." He held her until her crying stopped, unsure of how long he did so. With one last smile, he clambered out the window and disappeared. Zelda lay down on her bed, clutching the hat tightly. It felt rough and smelled of grass. Like its owner. She fell asleep still holding it.