Link was lying on the table. No one had done anything to prepare the Hero for burial. No one had done anything when they heard it was over.

Zelda looked at his eyes. They had remained closed, but his face did not appear peaceful at all. He looked sad and angry, almost disappointed.

She remembered the sword he had carried, the Master Sword that had once been wielded by her grandfather. No doubt Gannon was reforging it into a terrible weapon.

Zelda swore and turned away from Link.

So it's all over. The Hero has been defeated and so has Hyrule.

She looked back at his face, and for some reason it looked more calm. Not a year ago had those eyes almost seen through her disguise, not a year ago had those hands saved her from a rampant boulder…

She sighed and walked away. The door closed behind her with a tiny click.

A guard stood outside, stiff and resolute in his position.

"Soldier, what is your name?"

"Oltin, milady."

"Why are you guarding a dead body?"

Oltin hesitated, his eyes flickering to the closed door, "Well, milady…"

"You're guarding me."

Oltin nodded slowly. He braced himself, ready for an onslaught of curses.

"Where's Impa?"

Oltin's eyes opened wide, and he smiled in relief, "Funny, that. She said she was with the last of her people. Which would mean she's with herself, wouldn't it?"

Zelda closed her eyes in frustration.

Job well done, you deserve a medal for that brilliant thinking.

Oltin watched in amazement as the Princess stalked off. When she was out of his view, he opened the door slightly to look at the man he had known as a child.

When he saw the bloodstain on the sheet, he found he had tears in his eyes.

Last I saw him he was ten, running errands for my son…

He closed the door, thinking of how his son had been playing with that mask the day their house burned down.