Farewells

She looked tiny, slept in a corner of her own bed, as if she only felt safe in that small portion of space.

As for me, hell, I'd slept on the floor many times before, but the floor of her chamber seemed especially ungrateful. I woke up with a sore neck and back, so I stretched a bit to relieve myself, and... I couldn't help but watch her sleep. It made my stomach cringe to see her so helpless, a helplessness that I had caused.

In the worst possible way, I learned what it was like to be with a woman. That thing my friends talked about so much and I went along with them, was no longer a mystery to me. I don't know why they had always assumed that I had slept with dozens of women. True, many had approached me, came on to me and had even tried something else, but I had only felt a real interest in Eve. My intention was always to be with her, I wanted her, and I wanted her to want me in the same way.

I never thought my first woman would be one I'd met just a few hours earlier. I also didn't think I'd have to do this out of obligation, so I followed the orders of the Hebra healers and put some powder in my wine shortly before midnight. "It'll help you to be ready for the lady whether you want it or not." And I was ready for her thanks to that, but I was also nervous and scared, I didn't even know what I was doing. I could barely stay whole, and she looked so vulnerable… I wanted it all to be over as soon as possible, really. The moment I was on top of her, when she closed those green eyes and turned her face away... it was as if her soul had fled from there, and I don't blame her for that, I wish I could have done the same. When I… it felt painfully nice and wrong at the same time, thankfully she moved towards me and then that cherry-like smell got into my nose, my mind flew, and it was... it was over almost on the spot, before I could even be conscious. I guess that part is the part my friends love when they talk about women and sex.

I worried I'd hurt her, a damage beyond the physical one. She had lent herself to everything as was her duty (as had I), though that didn't mean we were made of wood, neither did mean we could move forward with our lives as if nothing had happened. After that night I changed, I couldn't explain how, but I didn't feel right or... I didn't feel the same way I always did. I'm sure she felt something like that or even worse. If only we could erase it all.

I stared at her a little longer in case she woke up, but seeing her deep breathing, I decided to get out of there to go grab something to eat. I'd barely eaten a bite during the banquet and my stomach was empty, and having overcome so many moments of tension, my appetite returned with a vengeance.

As I didn't know the castle, I returned to the same hall where the banquet had been held. When I arrived, I saw that there were still some guests lying on the floor or on the table, the result of a great drunkenness. I picked up a tray that looked a little clean and filled it with leftover food I found on the tables. To my surprise, I found Fridd snoring over a plate of beans.

"Hey, you rhino," I called him, moving him to wake him up.

"Another one...," he murmured.

"There's no more for you, I'm afraid you've already drunk them all."

"Link!" he sat up, dazed, and wiped the beans that were trickling down his face.

"For a moment I thought you were a corpse."

"By Or... I'm pretty sure these people put something in our wine."

"You're right. I think they put more wine in your wine. That's why you ended up sleeping on the food", I couldn't help but laugh.

"Very funny... and what are you doing here?"

"Eating something," I said, nibbling on a turkey thigh. It was still delicious; I was glad I had the idea to go there—where's Ardren?

"He betrayed us with a lady of Hyrule," Fridd found a tub of water and put his head inside, "That reminds me that I'm the only one who remains loyal to Nightfall... How did it go with you? That princess looked a bit unfriendly, I saw you two arguing."

"She's sleeping," I said, filling my mouth with another bite.

"Yes, I imagine she'll be sleeping, but did you do what you had to do?"

"Yes."

"That explains your appetite," he mocked, "anyway. When do we go back home?"

"Maybe today."

I sat where it had been my place during the banquet and managed to accumulate enough leftover food from other tables. It was a real waste, they were exquisite delicacies, in Nightfall and Fort Hawk there were no tropical fruits or exotic spices as in Hyrule.

"Good morning, my dear gentlemen," Ardren appeared singing and grinning ear to ear.

"Where the hell have you been?" Fridd growled. He had managed to drag a chair and sit in front of me at the main table.

"Enjoying Hyrule's delicacies," Ardren sat on what had been Zelda's armchair and grabbed a not-too-nibbled chicken thigh—Gentlemen, the women of the neighboring kingdom are not bad at all, it's been a fantastic night.

"All for you, I don't want anything from this kingdom," Fridd protested.

"I hope you didn't get us into any trouble with King Rhoam, because, you know? He doesn't have any more daughters left to fix problems," I growled.

"Take it easy, fellas. All has been correct, as befits a good mountain barbarian. Best of all, because Link is a married man, I've had the attention of more ladies than ever, we should have married him long before —Ardren patted my back as he let out a laugh.

"Fantastic, someone finally wins with this deal," I said, grabbing a plate that contained a mixture of everything I'd found.

"You must be joking, Captain. I think you're the luckiest guy on the world."

"You're still drunk, you idiot" Fridd intervened.

"I mean it," Ardren continued, "just think about it. They force him to marry a lady he has never seen, one who is also a princess. They could have married an old courtesan, couldn't they? But our Link got a princess. Besides, she could have been an old woman, horrible in character and uglier than a moblin from the caves of Hebra. But no, instead, they marry him off to a goddess with golden hair, velvet skin and round, appetizing breasts like-

"Exaggerations, I looked at her and it's no big deal. There are much more beautiful women in Nightfall," Fridd growled.

"Link? Do you feel the same way?"

"Well. She's pretty, that's true."

Ardren let go of one of his giggles.

"Pretty? You are still drunk, that girl is so beautiful that her beauty seems almost unnatural —he filled a chalice and drank it whole.

"Link will have plenty of time to look at her, of course," Fridd said, "he's doomed. Damn Hyrule..."

"So, Captain, do we go back home, or can I keep widening ties with Hyrule?" Ardren said, with his most mischievous smile.

"We're going back home. We need to get out of here."

Once I filled my stomach, I left instructions for Ardren and Fridd to prepare for departure. It was neither good nor safe that all the heads of the lands of the West were so far away from the border, that made us vulnerable to our enemies, we needed to regroup and leave immediately.

Giving the instructions for the journey and breaking up the camp in Hyrule royal forest distracted me a little from the thing that clenched my stomach every time I remembered it. My wife was still in her quarters (I assumed), and I'd have to start dealing with her. I wish it didn't make me feel so uneasy. It's one of those things that if I could I'd delegate it to someone else. That's it. Something like: Ardren, tell Zelda we're leaving, get her luggage ready. Nah, too easy to be true.

As I climbed the stairs, I came upon the sheikah woman, who was guarding the princess' door like a dog guards the master's house, so I didn't find the place as forlorn as I had left it earlier.

"Good morning, may I see Her Royal Highness?" I asked her. She took her hand to some kind of dagger that hung in her belt and I realised I was unarmed and also with the stomachache of nerves I felt half paralysed.

"As far as I know, a husband doesn't ask permission to see his wife," she said.

"We're still in her castle, her country and her quarters, and I... it's out of courtesy, I don't want to disturb anyone."

She rolled her eyes, that's what she did. And made way for me, this time at least I had freed myself from being slit by a sheikah dagger.

The princess held her breath when she heard the door and stuck her back to the wall as if she'd seen a monster. That didn't make me feel any better, of course.

"What's happening?" She asked, as if she were disoriented to see me there. Actually, I was disoriented, too.

"Nothing, don't worry," I tried to sound reassuring. I wandered around the room a little bit and looked out the window. There were carriages with guests leaving the castle. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, of course."

I was unable to remember any protocol I followed (or tried to) the night before. Maybe that bothered her, but if the situation was weird, talking to her about "highness" and other stupid protocols seemed out of place.

"Good. We have to leave for the Eagle's Nest because-

"Leave?" She interrupted, her green eyes gleamed a little.

"... Because the border has been unguarded for many days. Sometimes there are bandits from Ikana who take the opportunity to... well. To cause the odd altercation."

"I thought I'd have some time to say goodbye to my family."

"We're not leaving until you've done it, but it has to be today."

"Today... Ok thank you."

She seemed about to cry, but she pulled out a kind of strength from within that kept her whole.

"The things you need to carry... they can be packed and sent to the Eagle's Nest. Now it's better to carry only the essentials. Especially warm clothes, autumns in the West are much colder than here. In the fortress there are some things that you may use, but I guess you'll prefer to carry your own belongings."

Things I'd prepared with Eve in thought. The idea was stinging in my chest.

"I don't want to keep anything from here," she said, taking a look at her personal items.

"Are you sure? I can ask my men to pack as much as they can from this chamber."

"I don't want any of this."

Her desolation knotted my throat.

"Can I go see my brother?" She asked, wrapping herself in a blanket.

"Sure. You... you don't have to ask my permission for that."

"I'm not going to come back to this room," she said, staring at me, "I- I can't."

"All right," I nodded, "I can take care of your luggage."

"Thank you."

I looked for my men to give them a useful occupation. And that might be to try to get into a wagon everything in the princess' chamber, everything we could carry. The three of us focused on doing that job. None of the servants objected, in fact, none of them ever showed up there again, not even the sheikah woman. They must have been with Zelda somewhere else in the castle.

"What is this?" Ardren said, pulling a thin (almost transparent) nightgown out of a chest.

"Bring it here, you idiot, this isn't a game," I said, pulling it out of his hands.

"Your wife accumulates strange objects," Fridd observed, "where is she, by the way?"

"Solving her affairs."

"You're a softie, Link. It'll bring you trouble."

"At least she's got really nice nightgowns," Ardren smiled, mischievously.

"All right," I'd had enough. Normally they would cheer me up and make me laugh, but this was not the day, "you'll pack everything in here without exception."

"Everything?" Ardren complained.

"Everything. I leave that task to you and I don't want any complaints, nor do I want to know that you've snooped through her stuff. If you break anything, you'll pay for it. Understood?"

I got rid of them and the anguish that also caused me that room. Dad came to see me, said that everyone was ready to go and that Kruu and other chiefs were getting impatient and were starting to tease the Hyrule's soldiers. I asked them to depart immediately without waiting for me or the princess, anyway we didn't have the same destination, some would go North to the mountains, others would stay halfway in Nightfall and my family would return to Fort Hawk. For them it was better to take the North route, while we would go South towards the Eagle's Nest.

"Visit us as soon as you establish yourself," Dad told me, "are you sure you don't need any more men?"

"No. I'll manage with Ardren and Fridd."

"Considering that you travel with her, I don't think more protection is needed."

I just nodded. I needed to return urgently to Nightfall, but I understood it was more urgent to reach the Eagle's Nest as soon as possible. Later... I could settle my affairs later, the same thing she was doing with her family.

"Have a safe trip, son. Be careful —Dad squeezed my shoulder and then approached King Rhoam and Prince Kahen, who were there to say goodbye to them.

I saw them leave from the gates and walk away until they were just tiny dots on the horizon.

"We haven't had a chance to speak, you and I," I heard Prince Kahen's voice behind my back.

"Yesterday was a difficult day," I forced a smile. He remained serious.

"Listen to me, Captain Link. If something wrong happens to my sister... No. Better yet. If I get a slight rumor that something wrong could happen to my sister, my men and I will tear down your beloved border and take it by force, no matter what my father thinks about it."

"Threat received," I replied.

"Don't be funny with me."

"Humour is not my strong suite, Your Highness." I replied, facing him. What a moron.

"Kahen," King Rhoam left the prince with some acid answer on his mouth, "go and look for your men, make sure the departure from the forest camp is safe."

"Right away, Father," Kahen murmured, squeezing his lips. I was glad I didn't have to see him again or say goodbye to him.

The king approached me then. We both stood in silence as we watched the sunset.

"My daughter is ready to go, she won't be long, she's saying goodbye to her maids and other people from the castle, it's taking longer than expected" he said, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

"Thank you, sir. It can take as long as she needs until she's ready."

"Whatever you need, no matter what it is, don't hesitate to ask me, Captain Link. I understand your haste to come back to the border, so I don't question it. But if necessary, I will send you troops of men, servants, cooks, personal assistants, there are even a couple of sheikah who would willingly accompany you."

"What about the sheikah woman? The one that... you know, wish my death."

The king let out a sincere laugh.

"Goddesses, Impa is so imposing that even I get shivers sometimes. But you don't have to worry about her. She approves you."

"Impossible..."

"It's true, she herself has told me that she trusts the barbarian, don't be offended by that way of referring to you. That's a lot coming from Impa. However, I cannot promise she won't send from time to time any of her sheikah watchers to... make sure everything is okay."

"To spy," I said.

"Yes, to spy. The sheikah are distrustful by nature and Impa was appointed to protect my daughter years ago."

"Impa's spies will be welcome in my home, Your Majesty."

"Captain Link, you're still young, but you seem to be a noble, honest man, like your father. I'm even hopeful that you can make my daughter happy."

I wasn't so sure about that. She was afraid of me, and I... I had changed.

"I'll try to get along," I replied. That was the most I could commit to.

"I'm sure you'll make it," the king grinned, "nonetheless... I have to warn you something, too."

I sighed. There was a new threat coming.

"My daughter does not have an easy temper. She manages to unsettle me easily; she can make me laugh out loud and also burn with fury in seconds. I beg you to be patient with her, it'll take time for her to show her true self and getting to know a wife is something that requires time. You are both still young, as I say, it's just a matter of giving marriage a chance."

"Thanks for... for the advice, sir," I babbled. I didn't expect something like that. I expected rather a message like Kahen had given me, "If you touch my daughter, I will gut you myself, I will slit you from your navel to your chin..."

The king then asked me for some privacy to say goodbye to Zelda. Fridd, Ardren and I took advantage of the last rays of sunlight to finish putting the princess luggage in the wagon. Luckily we had help this time: an army of servants appeared out of nowhere and made it much easier for us to get all the luggage down to the courtyard. Then we were left alone to wait, barbarians, wagon and horses, until the last glimmer of sunlight sank below the horizon.

She appeared long after, hooded. Even if she tried to hide it, I could see that her eyes were still wet and reddened by tears. She told us that she had already said goodbye to everyone, and we could leave, and she was walking determinedly towards us when Prince Gaepora came out of nowhere and slapped over her. They were hugged for a long time and both cried without hiding.

"Captain Link, I hope to visit the Eagle's Nest soon," the prince said, his voice still cracking.

"Consider it your home, Your Highness. Come whenever you want, without warning, it doesn't matter. We will receive you as if you were the lord, I promise you," I said. He bowed and walked away into the castle.

My wife had taken advantage of this time to get into the carriage we had prepared with all the luggage. I also climbed in and took up the reins. Thus, escorted by a line of royal soldiers with their spears pointed skywards, we left the concentric circles of Hyrule Citadel and Castle. It was night as we rode out into the plain.

We rode several hours during the night. My men and I were fresh and preferred to shorten the trip. Autumn rains would soon flood roads making them impractical. The constant rattling of the car made me feel sleepy, I thought it'd make her sleepy too. But I turned my head and always saw her awake, silent under her hood.

"Are you all right?" I whispered.

"Yes, I am. You don't have to ask the same once and once again."

"If you're cold, there are plenty of blankets. You can sleep now; the road is long and we're not going to stop in a while."

"I'm not sleepy."

"If you need anything, just tell me."

"I don't need anything, thank you."

I snorted. It was like trying to open a dungeon door or picking a lock on a chest. She was locked in herself. I didn't know what to do or say to make her relax a little. I didn't want anything of this either, for hell's sake, I didn't want it! And the worst thing was that I couldn't express my frustration the same way she did, it was my turn to pull the reins of our stupid marriage, at least until we were settled.

"I'm very sorry for what happened, I really am." I said. Rather, it was a thought expressed aloud.

"Link, please..."

I held a breath when I heard her say my name. It was ridiculous, the night before something similar happened to me when she named me. She pronounced my name and sounded different. It was just stupid.

"If you want to sleep, do it. I'll be awake, and so will Fridd and Ardren. I'll watch all night, you'll be safe."

She sighed and added nothing else. I didn't mind being a pain if I had to. I felt calmer if at least she managed to sleep for a while instead of rummaging through the dark with her eyes open like an owl.

I never imagined that my wedding and my journey to the Eagle's Nest were going to be like this, but somehow my existence had always been linked to Hyrule, the neighboring kingdom, the eternal border. First through my mother, then through my wife. I was hoping the trip would be safe and without any altercations.