Chapter 29: Admission

"Princess, I implore you, Link just needs some time to himself. It won't be an easy time for him, you know that," Teacher said, following her through the castle hallways against the small stream of servants and guards – the day and night shifts changing over – who split around them as they walked.

"That's perfectly fine, if he wants to turn me away then that's Link's choice, but I shan't assume his wishes," Zelda replied, glancing outside. Rain had begun to patter against the hall's windows, catching the light from the setting sun and giving the world a dark sheen. Ideally she should change – the ornate black gown she'd worn for Niko's funeral that morning, with all its frills, definitely wasn't built for the wet – but that would take time, and the sun was already starting to set. She settled on asking a passing servant to fetch her a cloak.

"Princess," Teacher said, still following behind her, in a stern yet calm tone.

That brought her to pause. It was rare for the calm man to get annoyed, but that tone was the first sign.

"Please don't act rash," Teacher continued, "you know what it's like; remember how you were at her and his majesty's funeral?"

Zelda's arms tensed and she scrunched the hem of her dress in her fist. After her parents' funeral she'd holed up in her room for nearly a week; she'd only eaten because she – at the behest of Teacher – had forced herself to, let alone wanted to talk to anyone.

She took a calming breath, "I had you, and Alfonzo, and I got to know Mila and Maggie not long after," Zelda said, lifting her head high and looking Teacher in the eye, "but Alfonzo's out on his trip, and I'm not sure if Link's family even know – I refuse to just abandon him and you aren't changing my mind."

Teacher's expression softened and he shook his head, "You've become bolder, Princess. Very well, seeing as your usual driver is unavailable, I'll have a train arranged."

There was a pleasant chill in Aboda's air, the light rain pattering on her cloak's hood as Zelda approached Link's house. There wasn't much light with the moon and stars tucked away behind the clouds, so the dim path was only lit by the faint light from Link's house ahead and the brighter one from the train behind her. She'd asked Zeffa, the train's engineer, only to stay until she went inside – there was no way Link'd send her home after that point – but the lady had refused, apparently perfectly happy to sleep in the carriages. Zelda could see the appeal – while it was typically a little rougher than her normal bed, in some ways she was more accustomed to spending the night on a train than in the castle now.

She had to knock twice to get an answer, but heard scrambling, muttering, and an oddly loud clang from the house, before the door was flung open.

Link's head popped out from behind the door. He looked…exhausted; his hair was even messier than normal, his lack of cap only accentuating that, and he was practically fighting to keep his eyes open – though they were still bright with excitement.

"Zelda!" Link exclaimed, throwing the door open. He had changed from that morning's funeral clothes, now in his engineer overalls, though they were splattered with splotches of what appeared to be various colours of chu chu jelly and…was it in his hair too?

"Come look, I've finally managed to get that model working!" He continued, beckoning her inside and kicking the door shut behind her.

Zelda had to stamp into the ground to stop herself stepping on the tools scattered around the floor. It wasn't necessarily that the house was messy, there was an order to it after all; hammers all lined up in one section, spanners in another, he'd even arranged nuts and bolts by size. It was as if Link had set up a small workshop, expanding from the middle of the room.

Link deftly stepped around everything, before sitting in that very spot – the only clear area in the building. She slowly followed, taking care not to stand on anything.

"You've been…busy," Zelda said as she reached him and looked over his shoulder, "have you been working on this all day?"

Link was focused on adjusting the model train that sat in his lap, using a tiny screwdriver to attach something to the inside. "Not all day, I changed clothes at…some point." He hesitated as he said it, apparently at least realizing how that sounded. "But look what I've done!" He put the metal model in her hands and she noticed the side was open, revealing what looked like a row of tiny fans that he'd added to the engine.

"This is what you've been working on all month, isn't it?"

Link nodded eagerly. "It's a turbine," he explained, pointing his screwdriver at various parts, "It replaces some of the pistons in normal trains with fans. If I'm right, it should use power from the tracks more efficiently on long journeys – basically, if it's travelling quickly, it'll use less power!"

That would be useful, it'd been the biggest concern when they were gathering supplies for winter after all. Zelda paused at that thought; Link was the one who brought up that problem in the first place, wasn't he? So that was why he'd been working on it; he was already planning for next year?

"How'd you manage it in the end?" She asked, handing the model back to him.

"Oh it's really interesting actually," he jabbered, attaching a side panel to the train. "So originally the turbines were too efficient, they'd spin stupidly quick and break or fly out," he placed the model onto a nearby loop of track, and it began whirring to life as it hurtled round the course, "so I added some green chu jelly to help it stick in, then that didn't spin at all – which I think is because the jelly just absorbed the electricity – so I mixed it with the blue type to make this," he held up a bottle, containing jelly that almost matched her pearls in colour and sparkled as light reflected off it, "that worked perfectl-"

As Link spoke, a soft hiss came from the train and the engine slowed as wisps of smoke snuck out from it. Anger flashed on Link's face, before he harshly pinched his brow.

Zelda placed a hand on his shoulder, "you're much closer now, you'll definitely get it soon – I'm impressed you managed to make such a big improvement in just a day."

"It's just annoying; it only happens every four or five tries, so I have no idea what's causing it," Link growled, stretching his back and shoulders.

That was a good point actually, she knew from experience how uncomfortable working on the floor could be, why didn't he set up elsewhere?

A weight pressed on her shoulders as her answer was given by several stacks of simple, yet stunningly decorated, sheets that covered the table in the room's corner. The only somewhat clear spot taken up by an incomplete picture. Niko's final piece.

Her skin ran cold as she realised how he'd made so much progress, why he'd been keeping himself distracted on his project all day, and she had to look away. When she did, she found herself staring at the kitchen counter. An oddly, completely clean counter.

"Have you eaten at all?" She asked absently.

"…Yes?"

She laughed gently, and began walking to the kitchen – dropping her cloak over the back of a dining chair, "and to think, you make such a commotion if I forget."

Link toppled as she left, just catching himself before he met the floor. "Where're you going?" he asked, almost sounding worried.

"I'm going to make some food," she replied, rolling up the sleeves on her dress, "I assume you do actually have some in?"

"I just…didn't know you could cook."

She shrugged, "I've never tried it before, but I watched you prepare food all the time last summer – I'm sure I can figure it out," she said, looking over her shoulder and into his eyes, "of course, if you're worried, feel free to help."

Link thought for a moment before shaking his head in defeat, and she smiled at her personal victory – though paused as she looked around the cluttered room.

"Can I actually move anything? We'll struggle to eat if we can't sit."

Link glanced around, seeming to finally realise what he'd done to his house. "Good point. Tell you what, we'll go upstairs – just remind me to grab some blankets."

"The royal chefs cook all my meals, how was I to know you aren't supposed to put Chu Chu Jelly in – it's named after food!" Zelda exclaimed, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders as the rain filled air swept around the former ship mast they were sat atop. She'd never been sure why, or even how, someone had attached an old ship mast to the house – but with the added canopy protecting them overhead and a couple of blankets, she had to admit it made an oddly cosy spot.

"That doesn't mean you should just try it though! I'd at least hoped you'd figure something was wrong when it turned purple," Link replied, before taking another mouthful of his Clam Chowder and pointing at her with his spoon, "I'm not stopping you next time."

"Experimentation is the basis of innovation," Zelda quoted back, "that was coined by you royal engineers – I believe."

Link gave her a playful scowl, and started scraping the last of the food from his bowl. She set her own, now clear, bowl aside. Despite what she'd said, compared to what Link'd cooked up, it wouldn't have been a surprise for even the castle pigs to reject her mixture. She'd also admit that seeing the much more natural smile he now wore had warmed her more than the actual meal ever could.

Zelda's mind drifted as she watched the rain outside, listened to it patter against the roof, felt the delightful chill of crisp air run across her shoulders despite the blanket. It was a little odd, she'd gotten so used to the winter weather of Castle Town that she'd forgotten how pleasantly different it could be this far south. Occasionally the moon peeked out from behind a thinner cloud, illuminating the rain like a late night mist. She let her mind begin to wander, using vague thoughts as a guide. Niko had lived in the house for nearly a hundred years, how many times must he have seen that very view? On top of that, Niko had told her many stories of where he, where her Grandmother's whole crew, had travelled; mountains coated in ethereal glows, pits as deep as the Tower of Spirits was high, islands with constant swirling snow storms. She had to wonder, had they found similar sights to this one elsewhere? Or was the rest of the world as varied and interesting as it had sounded?

"Thank you," Link said, putting himself to the forefront of her thoughts. He too was facing out, though he didn't seem to really be looking. "I…needed something like this."

"I know."

The rain's drumming seemed to fade into the background, and there was a flash of lightning far off the coast.

One…two…three…four… Zelda counted, waiting for the accompanying thunder.

"We used to watch sea storms from here sometimes," Link almost whispered, "Niko would always make this syrupy, cakey thing a few hours before – like he knew when one was coming." He chuckled softly. "When I was little he claimed he used magic. I never believed him though."

She found herself smiling, "I mean he's beena sailor for years, decades even, he travelled to so many places that he probably experienced more bizarre weather than anyone else."

"Exactly! I told him that, but he kept insisting!" Link exclaimed, "I don't know why he wouldn't just admit it."

The thunder finally rumbled, almost softly, through the clouds. "Nearly a full minute," Zelda noted – the storm was nowhere near them.

"You know, he always wanted to go on one last adventure, to travel the kingdom, fill up his stamp book and see everything he could," Link said, "That's why I wanted to build a train that could go anywhere, I wanted to take him one day." He frowned. "But I don't have that now, I've even finished his stamp book for him. In some ways I kind of…don't really know what to do now."

Zelda finally felt the night's chill. "How are you, generally?"

"Honestly? I don't really know; everything's kind of…muddled in my head,"Link sighed.

"I remember, it hits you hard at first, like there's this bizarre mix of not quite believing it, but not being able to deny it," she looked to Link, "in the end I just ended up feeling…sad."

Link spent a moment tapping his spoon on the cleared bowl. "That's the thing, I'm not sad. I'm not happy; but every time I'm reminded of something, or someone tells me they know how I feel, and I think I'm going to be upset, I just…aren't."

That…didn't make any sense to her, and her confusion must've shown on her face as he soon continued.

"I mean Niko was old Zelda, really old. Honestly, I kind of thought something would happen soon. He'd barely been able to walk for a while now, especially without his cane, but until just a couple of years ago he still travelled a lot. You know he was supposed to give you your birthday present himself? I didn't realise when he asked me to instead, but I bet he knew he wouldn't be up for going." He drummed his fingers against the wooden floor. "So anyway, I started thinking; he lived through the country's entire history, and adventured to more places than even we did. I mean just look at his funeral, I didn't even know we both knew most of those people. Pina was telling me about how he taught her when she was our age, apparently he baby sat Teacher when he was a kid, I mean he was even close with your grandparents. Honestly, he had so many stories I don't think even I heard them all." He took a deep, shaky, breath. "So I think about all that, and then remember what we did together, how I know he loved every bit of his life, and I just can't be…sad."

She shifted closer to him, till her shoulder pressed lightly against his own, "But something has upset you."

"I don't feel…upset. Maybe frustrated? Annoyed?"

"Confused?"

"…Yeah," he started picking at the floor. "But I should be sad, everyone else is – you are!" he exclaimed, and Zelda recoiled in surprise.

"I've-I've known him half my life, he knew me even longer!" Link began to shake as he spoke. "He looked after me, and taught me, and even when I tried to build projects out of his stuff he never really complained – and now that I'll never see him again I can't even care enough to be sad!" Streams of tears started to flow down his face, and he snivelled, before speaking so quietly she barely heard it above the rain. "Is-is that al-all he meant to me? Did-did I not love him as much as everyone else?"

'That's ridiculous - how could you even think that? Just look at how you are now!' Zelda's instincts screamed for her to say. She didn't though. Instead she just placed a hand on his, and ran her thumb over the back of his palm.

Link looked up at her, eyes red, letting out a small 'hic' alongside a sad smile. He looked so tired. How long had that been on his mind? It…it seemed to be a bit longer than just the past couple of days. She didn't even last a second before needing to pull him into a hug. "You know Niko wouldn't think that for a moment, don't you?"

"Maybe…"

She released their hug, holding him by either shoulder so he had to look into her eyes, "he never did Link, I know for a fact."

He fixed his gaze on hers for a moment, and she could almost see the thoughts mixing in his head. "Then why do I feel like this?"

"I think only you could know that…but, everyone's different Link. Just because I, or anyone else, doesn't react like you, it doesn't mean you cared any less." She took his hand in hers. "If anything you're not letting one sad time get in the way of happy memories." She gave his hand a soft squeeze. "I respect that, it isn't easy."

Another rumble finally echoed around the bay, causing them both to look out at the ocean. A few more bolts danced across the sky, lighting up clouds that churned like the waves beneath them. Zelda glanced to Link, who was lost in thought as he watched the sky, and pulled him back into a one armed hug. He dropped his head onto her shoulder and she soon found herself absently stroking his hair, just letting time trundle away as they watched the show.

"How are you holding up?" Link eventually asked.

"I'm…fine," she said, "I barely knew him really."

"But you could have. He was the last founder, your last link to your grandparents," Link said, looking up at her. "He liked you, you know?"

He was daft, worrying about her even now. Didn't he see he should focus on how he was feeling? "Thank you Link, I…it's nice to know."

Link didn't look convinced, but never the less dropped his head back on her shoulder.

He seemed so…lost that evening. When she'd first arrived she thought he'd just been hyper-focused on working on his models, except…he'd been more frustrated than normal. Now she considered it, perhaps it'd be more accurate to say he'd fallen into his usual routine out of habit, but without his usual drive. It made sense in some ways; if Niko had given Link his goal, then he may very well feel lost now, and that was an all too familiar feeling. He needed to clear his head, she knew from experience, to do something different. A blossoming plan grew in her head.

"If you're not busy next week, would you mind coming to do something at the castle?

"I…maybe. What is it?" He asked, voice muffled as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

She had to stifle a laugh, seemed he'd finally relaxed a little, "It's a surprise - don't worry, I promise it'll be…different."

"Ok, but in that case would you mind," he fought back against a yawn, "would you stay here tonight?"

"Of course," she smiled as another rumble gently echoed in the distance, "if it'll make you happy."

Thank you all for reading! And the Kudos and comments too! It's great to see what you think!

This chapter...well it's one I thought of a long time ago - partially because I think it's an interesting thing for Link in particular to deal with, he's someone who always finds a solution to whatever problem he has, so how would he deal with something that can't just be solved?

That being said (though it feels odd saying so) this was also partially inspired by my reaction to my own Grandfather's funeral. At the time I had an assignment due that week, so I spent the whole night working on it without realising which...wasn't the best, but was something I thought fit Link well!