"Eat up lad, we like clean plates in this house ya hear?", Odo said, plonking another oversized bowl of porridge, topped with an Odo-sized handful of pumpkin seeds in front of Link. Link had already forced himself through the last brimming bowlful, not to mention two thick hunks of bread slathered in honey, and his bloated stomach gurgled unhappily at the idea of eating yet more food, nourishing as it was. But he didn't want to offend his gracious host of the last couple of days, so Link dutifully picked up his spoon, and with great force of will pushed another glob of porridge into his mouth.
"Thatta boy. We need to get you up to fightin' weight kid, I've seen scarecrows with more meat on their bones."
Odo laughed heartily, and clapped Link on the shoulder so hard his teeth rattled. A small belch escaped Link, knocked loose by Odo's powerful slap.
"AH HAH HA now yer seemin' more like one of my kin, lad. Better out than in, more room for food that ways BAH HAH."
Link suppressed another burp, and wiped a dribble of porridge from his mouth with the back of his hand.
"I'm glad you're in a good mood today Odo, I was starting to worry about you" said Link.
"YOU were worried about ME!? Pffft…" Odo puffed out his cheeks and blew, making his sagging moustache wiggle. The perturbed look he had worn for much of yesterday returned briefly as he gazed at Link down his round nose, though he shook it off in an instant. Still, it stung Link's heart to see his friend distressed so. In just under two days since the trial, it seemed Odo had flitted between every emotion possible, sometimes in the span of a single sentence.
There had been anger: "THE SWINE. DONKEY-SONS THE LOT O' THEM. I'D LIKE TO PUT A FEW MORE LUMPS IN THAT PORTCHER'S NOGGIN. AS FOR THAT SLICK GIT RUSLAN…"
He had considered defying the council: "They made a mistake. It's only right I make up for it. I-I could smuggle you over the bridge in my wagon. Or ummm… take you to the western border! Hrmph, but the Chief will notice if I'm gone, and he's too smart to fall for anythin' like that besides."
Without fail, speaking of Chief Boru would make him emotional: "The Chief's a great man. A GREAT man. He can't be happy keepin' you prisoner, I know it, sure as rain. If I could just convince him…there's gotta be somethin' I can say."
But most painful for Link was when he came down from his room the night before to find Odo, face buried in his giant hands, shoulders heaving. He was mumbling something to himself and Link could only just make out the words as he padded into the kitchen.
"'Ts'not right. *hic*. It's not RIGHT. They're just kids. Jus' wee boys."
A mostly empty jug of some honey-sweet but potent smelling liquid stood next to him on the table. Link's nose had wrinkled at the smell as he crossed the room to place a small hand on Odo's brawny shoulder.
"Odo, are you… okay?" Link had asked.
Odo had bolted upright, swaying slightly and squinted until his eyes focused on Link's concerned appearance. Various emotions fought for control of Odo's weathered face. He'd rubbed vigorously at his eyes and blew his nose noisily on his sleeve.
"Link mahboy, sorry ah didn't hear ya come in. Whass even the time? Shouldn' you be *hic* shleepin'?" His voice was unconvincingly bright.
"Actually Odo, I think it's time we were both shleeping" Link had said with a small smile. Propping one beefy arm up on his shoulders, Link had heaved Odo out of the kitchen and manhandled him into his bed, ignoring the slurred protestations.
"Ah'm s'posed ta be the one tuckin' you inna bed. Thas what…what a Da' s'posed ta do."
"Don't worry about it, you can make it up to me by letting me sleep late tomorrow. I've a feeling you might need it too. Good night Odo."
That was how they came to be eating breakfast well after noon, and though they hadn't spoken of the previous night, Odo had made sure Link knew he was grateful.
The pair slurped their porridge in comfortable silence for a while longer, until eventually Link had to admit defeat, and pushed his bowl away. His belt had no more notches to use, and he felt if he took even one more bite he might need another visit to Cylia.
Odo had finished his own fourth helping and so busied himself clearing the table and washing up. He wore a food-stained apron that didn't quite manage to reach all the way round his bulging stomach, so that the ties dangled loosely at his sides. He flitted about the cluttered but well kept kitchen with surprising grace, and whistled cheerily to himself.
"So you got any plans, lad? Healthy boy like yerself shouldn't be inside on a crackin' day like this, especially after sleepin' the mornin' away."
Link gave a small sigh, slumping onto the table and resting his chin on his arms.
"What can I do? I'm a prisoner here, remember?"
Odo gave him a sly, sideways glance.
"You're a prisoner of Ordon village. That's what those ol' goats on the council said. They didn't say nothin' about ya havin' to stay cooped up in here with me all the time."
"But, surely they won't let a Hylian just wander about the place?"
"And who's gonna stop ya? There's guards posted all over the place now so leavin's out of the question. Anyway, I already talked ta the Chief while you was sleepin'. He says it's fine as long as ya got someone to accompany you."
Link looked up at the big Ordonian. "You're already doing so much for me Odo, I can't ask you to babysit me all day too."
"Heh, funny you should say that, ma babysittin' schedule is all booked up for today. Gonna be watchin' wee Cassa and Raffy all afternoon, so's mamma can catch a break."
Link slumped back down. "Well that's that then. No one else is going to come with me. Half the village hates me. I'd probably get mud thrown at me just for askin'...I mean asking."
Odo gave him another sly look. "Well about that…"
At that moment there was a knock at the door.
"COME ON IN", Odo bellowed, so loud the crockery rattled.
A hawkish face framed by floppy, russet hair appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.
"Uhh hi Odo...Link", Rodan said with a nod, "I hope this isn't a bad time?"
"Not at all, yer always welcome in my house Chiefson", said Odo, setting down the bowl he was cleaning, and beaming at Rodan. "To what do I owe the pleasure, this fine afternoon?"
"Umm well actually, I was hopin' to speak to Link, if that's all right."
Link was taken aback. Though he had seen Rodan at the trial, they hadn't spoken since their fight.
"Not here for round two I hope? BAH HAH HA Just pullin' yer leg", said Odo. "I'll get out of yer way, I need to get ready to head over to my daughter's place anyways."
He hung his apron neatly on a peg then scuttled out of the room, whistling to himself once more.
The two boys looked at each other, a little sheepishly. Outside the small kitchen window, they could hear children laughing and playing in the summer sun.
Then they both blurted out at once.
"I wanted to thank you for…"
"Umm I came to say"
"Oh sorry, I interrupted…"
"...oh…uh…no you go first"
"...you should…ah"
They stopped, and grinned at each other ruefully.
Rodan tried again. "Thank you for protectin' me from that thing, Link. And…and I'm sorry for runnin' away. I know it was what you said to do but, I left you to that demon, all alone. You looked out for me when you had no good cause to. Never-mindin' that you was already beat up some, you put your body on the line for a total stranger who had been nothin' but belligerent towards ya. And now you're stuck here, because of me." Rodan dropped his gaze, unable to look Link in the eye any longer. Distractedly, he ran his fingers over the blade of the antler-horn knife in his belt.
Link considered his words for a moment, then got slowly to his feet and came to stand before the Ordonian boy. He placed a hand on each of Rodan's arms, and stooped slightly to catch his eye again.
"You have nothing to apologise for Rodan Cheifson. I would not be here if it was not for you, I'm sure of it. You were one of the few who spoke on my behalf at the council meeting, and you rebuked the accusations of those soldiers. The vote was a close call and I believe your testimony likely swayed some to my cause. As for you leaving me to the phantom, I would not abide by it any other way. It already pains me that you were brought to harm by my actions."
"Your actions? What do ya mean? You didn't have anythin' to do with that demon, right?"
Link dropped his hands to his side and closed his eyes. He could feel Rodan's earnest gaze on him.
"I fear that Phantom Ganon's appearance in Ordon, the very same night that I myself arrived, might not be coincidence", he said. Link's eyes opened, and he met Rodan's intense stare with one of his own. Once again the older boy seemed taken aback by the maturity of his words and the severity written on his face.
Good, thought Link. Never mind that I'm supposed to be the younger one, he needs to listen, to understand the importance of what I say.
"If Phantom Ganon is pursuing me, then that can only mean that King Ganondorf has learnt of my existence, and if he knows who I am and what I've done, then he will stop at nothing to see me dead."
"And…who are you?", said Rodan breathlessly, his eyes shining in wonder.
Link did not enjoy talking of himself nor boasting of his accomplishments but in that moment, emboldened by the reverence of Rodan - whom he had come to respect - he felt his chest fill with pride. He drew himself up to his full - if unimpressive - height.
"I am Link of Kokiri Forest and Hyrule: Hero of Time, Saviour of Termina. I was the chosen bearer of both the Master Sword and the Triforce of Courage. Be it dark sorcerer or ancient monster of the deep, I oppose all evil, and bring light to those who suffer under shadow. I fight for all the good and the innocent, in the name of the spirits, the Gods, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Zelda!"
A second passed.
Then another.
Until…
BAH HA HA HA HA HAAAAH!
Link, who had been looking (rather majestically he thought) off into the distance with his head held high, brought it back down to find Rodan doubled over, wheezing with laughter. For once it was Link's turn to be taken aback.
"Wh-what, do you not believe me?", he said reproachfully.
"No…no…it's not…not that", Rodan said between shaky breaths and outbreaks of giggles, "it's just…you just…you look so serious."
Link looked at Rodan, who was wiping tears from his eyes. And then he smiled. Then he chuckled. This provoked another fit of giggles from Rodan, which just made Link laugh harder, and soon they were both cackling uproariously. Link couldn't remember a time when he'd laughed so hard or for so long.
"Your squeaky… little voice…when you said that I oppose all evil line…it killed me to stay quiet."
By the time Odo came back into the room they were both on the floor, holding their sides and trembling with the aftershocks of mirth.
"Heh heh, looks like I missed a real cracker of a joke there lads. You'll have to fill me in some other day though, it's past time I was leavin'", Odo said. "Matter o' fact, ain't you needin' to move along too, Master Rodan? Pip and Geral will be wonderin' where yer at."
"How do you know that Odo?", said Rodan, sitting upright, wincing at his tender ribs.
"Jus' a lucky guess. Safe bet with you lot", Odo said with a grin. As if on cue, there came shouting from outside the window.
"Hey Ro, ya in there?"
"Yeah what's takin' so long? Ya didn't get eaten by the Hylian or summat did ya?"
Rodan got to his feet and cupped his hands to his mouth.
"Just gimme a sec and I'll be out, alright?"
Link stood up as well, brushing down his tunic.
"You better go, I don't want to take up any more of your time."
"Now hold on", said Rodan, crossing his arms. "I haven't even said what I came here to say yet. That uh, sentimental stuff just kind of came out. Well umm…what I really wanted to say was…do you like fishing?"
Link was so surprised he wasn't sure what to say.
"Hurry up Rodan, or we'll catch all the fish without ya!" came the call from outside.
"Or, what I mean to say is…would you like to come fishin' with us…me and my friends that is? Only my Da' says you can't go anywhere on yer own so I was thinking, why not hang out with us, y'know?", said Rodan.
Link enjoyed fishing immensely and was eager to get outside, but for some reason there was a knot in his stomach and his mouth was abnormally dry. Was he…nervous? But of what?
"And…and your friends, they'd be okay with me tagging along?"
Odo butted in. " 'Course they will, you boys will have a blast", he said, spreading his massive arms and herding the two of them towards the door. "In fact I'm makin' it official right now."
With mock severity, Odo scrunched up his face, clicked his heels together and threw out an elaborate salute, directed at the bemused Rodan.
"Rodan, heir of Ordon, I relinquish the prisoner to your command. Please sir, have him home in time for dinner sir!"
As the boys smirked at his antics, Odo threw open the door and hurried them all out into the bright, balmy daylight.
"Now, I'm late so I'll take my leave", Odo said hurriedly. "Make sure this lot stays out of trouble", he said to Link with a wink. Then he took off, his long, powerful strides quickly carrying him out of sight. The two waved after him, then turned to find Pip and Geral, mouths open, staring at Link.
"Umm hi", Link said with an awkward smile.
The mouths did not close. Geral returned an awkward wave but Pip didn't respond.
"What's he doing here", Pip said to Rodan, still not taking his eyes off the Hylian.
"I asked him to come with us", said Rodan, puffing out his chest.
"Well, he's not usin' my gear", Pip said with a sniff, turning his back to them and marching up the path.
"That's why I brought a spare rod, donkey brain", Rodan yelled after him. He retrieved his things that he'd stashed by the front door, and handed a fishing pole to Link. "Let's go. Hey c'mon Pip, slow down!" Rodan ran to catch up with the smaller boy, bugs spilling from his bait jar.
"Sorry 'bout him", Geral said to Link, gesturing towards Pip, as Rodan caught up with him, pleading with him to wait. "His Da's a soldier. Prolly told 'im yer a sorcerer with magical powers or something."
"Maybe I am", Link said, flashing a smile at the stocky boy.
They joined the others on the dirt path that served as the main thoroughfare for the little village. It was a gloriously warm afternoon, but a refreshing breeze kept the air from becoming sticky. All manner of tiny birds flitted between the many leafy boughs of Ordon, and filled the village with sweet song. The village was alive with activity. Children played tag, or paddled in the stream that wound its way between the houses. Villagers tended to their vegetable gardens and livestock, or washed their clothes in the stream, leaving them on big rocks to dry in the sun. Some of the villagers muttered to each other if they spied Link, and shot him nasty or fearful looks, but no one stopped them.
As the boys walked together, they chatted amongst themselves, though Link mostly stayed out of the conversation, unless directly spoken to. He could tell that the other three were close friends. Much of their banter seemed to involve inside jokes or references to past exploits that he was nor party to. Link noted that Rodan's accent became far more pronounced whilst amongst his friends, and sometimes he had a hard time understanding what they were saying.
Pip still regarded him warily, and would not speak to him directly, instead addressing the others even if his words were meant for Link. Geral however seemed very amiable, and was curious about Link's life.
"Do ya find it weird livin' in a tree? Odo's house is one of the oldest in the village. Ma Granpappy says the first settlers of Ordon all built their homes inside trees."
"Pfft he's a Hylian. He's prolly used to livin' in a castle or a mansion, with a hundred servants waitin' on him", Pip muttered, turning to Rodan but snatching a glance at Link as he did so.
"Actually, it reminds me of home. In the forest where I grew up, we lived in treehouses. All the children did", said Link.
"Jus' the children? Where did the grownups live?" Geral asked.
"There weren't any, it was just us Kokiri. Well, I wasn't really a Kokiri but I didn't find that out until later."
"No grownups? So you didn't have no one tellin' you what to do? No bedtimes or chores?" Geral said excitedly.
"No parents?" said Rodan quietly.
"Well there was the Great Deku Tree. He was kind of like a father to everyone in the forest."
"Wait, yer Da' was a tree!?" Geral exclaimed, a dumbstruck look on his face. Even Pip had leant in close to listen now.
"He wasn't my real father, but he took me in after I was orphaned; watched over me as I grew up. I didn't see him often, but he was wise and kind, so I do think of him as like a parent, I guess."
"What about fairies?'' Pip mumbled, still avoiding his eye. "My Da' says…at the trial…you mentioned somethin' 'bout fairies."
Link chewed his lip.
"Yes, there were lot's of fairies. Every Kokiri was assigned a guardian fairy by the Deku Tree, to guide and protect them."
"So did you…?", Pip said, looking at him with shining eyes, too breathless to even finish his question.
"For a time", Link said flatly. "Two of them actually."
Pip looked like he had more questions, but Rodan saw the look on Link's face and quickly changed the subject. The four left the path and started to follow the babbling stream, walking along the soft, grassy riverbank to the very edge of the village. Here the stream began to widen until it suddenly bellied out into a large, glassy pond. In the bluish haze, Link could make out the shapes of fish, lazily drifting in the currents. Occasionally one rippled the water's surface, but otherwise the view was perfectly still and serene.
"All right boys, same rules as always. Whoever catches the smallest fish, has to collect the bee larvae for our next trip", Rodan said, setting down his gear.
"I hate that rule", Geral grumbled. "I'm fed up of gettin' stung."
"Then get better at fishin' " Rodan grinned.
"Plus yer perfect for the job, you've got all that extra padding to protect ya!" Pip chimed in.
Geral snorted like a wild boar and tackled Pip by the waist, wrestling him to the ground. Link couldn't help but laugh as he watched the two roll around in the dirt, as Rodan chided them. "Knock it off, dungheads, you'll scare all the fish away."
The four of them spent a magical afternoon, sitting on the edge of the little wooden dock, kicking their feet as they dangled their fishing poles into the water. Any reservations the Ordonians had about Link had evaporated in the summer sun, and the boys chatted easily about everything and nothing. When any of them got a bite, they all rushed to help haul the thrashing fish onto land, whooping in excitement. Many small fry were set free, as all feared the dreadful punishment for last place. Eventually though, all four had a fat catfish of their own, green scales glittering in the sunlight.
Link had spied his target early on, a vague outline in the water, longer and rounder than the rest. It was wily, and had to be coaxed into taking the bait, and when it did it took almost twenty minutes, plus the combined strength of all of them to land it. But when they did, and compared it to the other catches, Link proudly claimed first place.
"Jeez, you're just good at everythin' aren't ya lil knight?", Rodan teased as they all sat around a crackling fire, their bellies full of Link's bounty.
"I'm not complainin' ", Geral said, picking at the carcass of the humongous fish. "You should come with us every time, if ya can keep gettin' us good eatin' like this."
"Easy for you to say. That means I gotta get enough bee larvae for four people", grumbled Pip, who's fish was barely six inches long.
For a while they were quiet, as they watched the flickering flames dance.
Eventually Rodan spoke. "Link, do you miss your home? You must have lots of friends waitin' for you."
"I'm not even sure where I would call home now, I've been travelling so long. I wasn't ever really one of the Kokiri. There was only Saria that treated me like I belonged. For a while I thought maybe Hyrule Castle could be my home, with Zelda. But… I felt like an outsider there too. As for the friends I had, well, most of them won't remember me now."
"Sure they will, I've only known ya a day and I think I'd remember you", Geral said kindly.
Link shook his head. "It's… more complicated than that."
Rodan scooched over to Link and punched him playfully on the arm.
"Hey, who's this Zelda you keep talkin' about anyway? Is she…your girlfriend."
Pip crawled over to Link's other shoulder. "Ooh or maybe it's that Saria. I think I saw summat in yer eye when ya mentioned her", he said, pouting his lips and making kissing noises.
"Knock it off guys", Link said, pushing them off, though he couldn't help but smirk.
"No no, it's definitely Zelda. Ya should have heard him earlier", Rodan said, jumping to his feet and striking a regal pose in front of the fire. "I fight for Her Royal Majesty, Princess Zelda. Wait, do your I am Link, Hero of Time bit again. Oh please."
Link swept Rodan's legs from under him with a swift kick, then jumped on top to try and pin him down, while the others cheered and howled with laughter.
The fire had burnt out, and the sun was disappearing behind the treeline by the time they eventually trudged their way back up the trail. In front of Odo's house, they said their goodbyes between yawns. Odo was sitting in the kitchen when Link traipsed through the door.
"Yer late, Link." His arms were folded, and his expression was more stern than Link had ever seen. "I asked ya to be back by dinner. Ya had me worried lad!"
Link looked at the floor. It was better than looking at Odo when he seemed so disappointed.
"I'm sorry Odo. We were having fun and I guess I lost track of time. It won't happen again."
Odo's expression softened.
"Well, I guess I wanted ya to have a day of bein' a regular wee boy, and it seems you did jus' that, breakin' curfew and all. I'll say no more of it. Now, I hope you left room for supper. Raffy and Cassy are joinin' us so I made extra. They're gonna be staying here a while. Hope you enjoyed your lie-in this mornin' lad, it's the last one you'll get for a while. COME AND GET IT KIDS!"
From above, came a shriek, and a rumble like thunder as two feet thumped down the stairs, that crescendoed to a fever pitch. The door burst open, and Link yelled in horror as he was swept away in a screaming tidal wave of mini Odo's.