author's note:
/B3vNS3qMibU
So... it's been 2 years. That's... awkward. To be honest with you, I totally forgot about this story. I was only alerted to it again the other day when I got an email saying someone favorited it! I immediately got to my switch, started another save file, and made the impulsive decision to come back to this. I'm not sure how many people will still be reading, but what the hell, I think I had a good idea and I might as well see it through. If you're still here from two years ago: Wow! Thank you! That's incredible. Anyways, I'm returning with proper capitalization, lots of inspiration, and hopefully a weekly schedule! I hope you're as excited as I am to get back to this. Without further Ado, here's chapter 8. Enjoy!
The searing pain in Link's head pulsed with an intensity like no other. It was as though he was being pierced with an array of arrows over, and over, and over... Still, such agony did not stop his swift pace.
Echoes of "Master Link!" and "The Hero has awaken!" chorused through the primitive streets of Kakariko Village. The calls only intensified the pain, but he ignored them ever still. Zelda, in Zora's Domain. Without him. Any ounce of pride that had existed beside him (dwindling, miniscule already) was blown away by the aggressive gusts of wind that coursed through the valley.
"Master Link!" A sweaty, yet grinning man stepped in front of him. His quick pace was halted. "Master Link, you've awaken from your slumber! Are you to catch up with the princess? She's left for Zora's Domain, I've heard!"
Link tried to continue around him, but the man shifted, blocking him. The princess had left for Zora's Domain. Link put his hand on the man's arm.
"Master Link?"
With more force than needed, Link thrust the man out of his way with a swift motion. The farmer stumbled to the ground, and Link continued down the path, ignoring the sounds of gasps that erupted from the surrounding Sheikah. A wave of guilt washed over the Knight, but that did not further impact his exit from the town. He ignored the greeting of the Sheikah guarding the border of town and continued on. Every step brought some glimpse of relief as he moved; it was as though he was escaping a labyrinth, every step being that much further to some great release...
But there wouldn't be a great moment of triumph. It occured to Link quite suddenly as he lost himself in the dense woods that he hadn't any location in mind. There wasn't a single place in Hyrule where he might find an escape, an outlet. He would be known throughout Hyrule as the Great Hero, and once the word spread, the Great Hero abandoned by the Princess Zelda. It wasn't as though he had previously cared for reputation (any more than hating the incessant praise). And he still didn't, not really... though an inkling of rage deep within his stomach suggested that perhaps he felt... deserving of *something*. Not a title, or land, or glory, but perhaps... He couldn't place it. Even more, he loathed himself for wanting anything at all. He thought back to the humble farmer, who had seemingly wanted nothing more than a brief conversation with him. His face burned red with regret. He had tossed the man to the ground. A man who wanted so little.
He didn't deserve anything at all. The pain in his head confirmed that: a punishment from Hylia herself, certainly. He was acting with as much sophistication and grace as a child. A child who had won a race and now felt deserving of some grand prize...
He turned around after several moments of staring aimlessly out into the woods.
He decided then, with the chorus of twigs snapping under his feet as he retraced his steps, that he would do the *Hero's work* of righting his wrong. As... simple as it was, he would do right by the farmer. It occured to him that he in fact *owed* much more than he *deserved*; the praise that had showered on deaf ears would now be requited with... anything. Anything anybody needed. Such thoughts accompanied him as he returned, in a blur, to the middle of Kakariko Village.
He was returned with nervous glances and whispers. "The Master Link... to the ground..." he heard in murmured conversation. His face glowed red with embarrassment. He had acted so very cruelly, and if only he could find the farmer from before...
"Excuse me?" he managed, his voice course and quiet. The two nearby Sheikah women, whom he had addressed, froze. "The... the farmer- A farmer- I'm looking for a farmer, the one I... Um..." Words failed Link. Even still, the Sheikah woman exchanged a glance, before the taller one pointed to the side. He followed her directions with his eyes, and there upon the steps up to Impa's hut sat the farmer accompanied with Paya. The two were sat together, evidently in deep conversation as they didn't seem to notice him as he approached hesitantly. *Great*, Link thought. Now Paya would view him as little more than beast; the likes of which often were seen stumbling out of tavern yelling obscenities. The red hue on his face didn't fade as he made his presence known with a small clearing of his throat.
"Master Link!" gasped Paya, her voice little more than a squeak. Any progress he had made with her had certainly been regressed tenfold. The guilty feeling in his stomach was only compounded further.
"...I... I'd like to apologize, sir," he said, mustering the courage he was so often praised for, and meeting the man's gaze. "For... well, you know, but-" Link felt as though he might be more comfortable fighting a Yiga Blademaster than continuing in conversation with this man.
"Please don't apologize, Master Link," replied the farmer. Link blinked in response.
"Pardon me, sir?"
"And don't call me *sir*, you're- you're quite forgiven! No, you needn't forgiveness at all!"
A deep wave of guilt racked through the young Hylian. Apologizing would be much more work than anticipation. Awkwardly, he knelt down before the man. "Please, sir, accept my forgiveness. What I did was wholly unjustifiable..." he sounded so *sophisticated*. Like Zelda. He cleared his throat and tried again. "What I mean, er- Mister, is that what I did wasn't called for. Not at all. And I'd like to just... you know." His eyes were concentrated at the tensed up Sheikah man's legs. He was far too humiliated to try and initiate eye contact.
"...It's quite fine. Really. I was being... obnoxious," replied the farmer slowly. "Really, Master Link. I won't hold it against you."
Hesitantly, Link rose to his feet. "Thank you," he replied. In his peripheral, he caught sight of Paya, whose wide eyes traced the two men. She seemed inquisitive more than frightened. That was... something. "I really do mean that. Thanks for your understanding." A small smile was exchanged between the two. After a short bow, the farmer excused him. Link was left then with Paya.
"You must think me a brute," he said after several moments of dense silence. "I... I'm sorry you had to... hear about that," he managed to glance up at her face to catch wind of her reaction. The Sheikah girl only smiled. A hesitant, shy smile, but one nonetheless.
"Never, Master Link," she replied genuinely. Her eyes softened as she looked him over. "You've displayed more sensitivity than I could've ever imagined from a young soldier. I remember..." she paused, seemingly flustered. Her eyes shifted up towards the sun.
"You remember...?" Link encouraged quietly.
"I remember the delicacy with which you treated me when the Sheikah Heirloom was lost. You stayed with me all day, you remember? I remember, even still, how you treated me... like a *princess*, really. Such care." Her face grew redder with every word, but sincerity knit through her sentiments even still. "I couldn't ever think you to be a brute, is what I mean to say. I've seen your nature, even if... even if under stress you perhaps... betrayed that."
A mixture of humility and embarrassment courses through the young knight. She was so... sweet, but he couldn't help but feel entirely undeserving of such praise.
"You know, Paya, I was thinking..." he started slowly. Paya returned his glance, and after a moment of eye contact, she quickly looked away. "...I'd like to fulfill some of my promises I've made. In all this traveling, I've been asked for lots of things. Deliveries. Errands. Things I didn't really have time for prior to... Well, you know. I've been a bit busy." He managed to smile. "But I think it might be nice to... go back. I have a list of things on my Sheikah Slate. And..."
"...and, Master Link?"
"I do believe... Well, with these headaches, I... I'm not sure if it would be wise to go alone."
"...Master Link."
"I mean to say... I'm concerned for my ability to... I just..." He cleared his throat, a red tint covering his cheeks. "Perhaps you might go with me, Paya?"
The Sheikah girl blinked. Her eyes grew wide as her face grew red. "You can't be serious, Master Link?"
"...No really, I am. I just... How might you like it to see Hyrule, Paya?" A sheepish grin passed over his face. "It's beautiful. And I haven't been able to appreciate it, and I just think..."
"It would be my honor to do so, Master Link!" Paya interrupted, her voice little more than a squeak. "I would be honored to help you, in any way!" She dropped into an awkward sort of bow. Link figured that was primarily to hide her ever reddening face. He couldn't help but smile.
"I'll talk to your grandmother, alright? And we can make preparations..." A bolt of pain rushed through his head. Link winced, instinctively putting a hand to his temple. "...And we'll figure something out."
He turned quickly on his heel. The pain coursed through him like a slow, painful slash. He needed to lay down. How *embarrassing*. Anyways, Paya certainly would appreciate the time given to compose herself. His priority became getting inside, up to her bedroom, without collapse. He needed to lay down.
The eyes of the Sheikah girl traced his figure as he disappeared up the steps to Impa's home.
