Chapter 18 - Atonement

Ganondorf had little use for the dungeons of Hyrule Palace. Typically, his foes never survived long enough to be imprisoned, and if they did, they were usually left to rot.

Because of this, the cells were mostly empty unless one counted the aging corpses, and the only sound to be heard was a faint drip of water punctuated by the slow squeak of swaying chains connected to empty shackles. So the abrupt sound of the entryway door opening was jarring, sending rats scurrying in several directions with heavy footsteps following behind.

Passing one cell after another, those steps finally stopped at the bars of a seemingly empty prison where a deep voice directed, "Come out, Impa, you're not fooling anyone."

All was silent for a moment following his words, but soon, as if a wind had blown into the cell, the shadows lifted from her body in a shimmer as she stepped into the open from her place seated on the small bench hitched to the wall.

Casting her deep red-brown eyes toward her surprise visitor, she took in his familiar visage without needing him to face her in order to know his identity. Yet there was a single oddity in the form of a blindfold tied around his head, and Impa didn't hesitate to address the matter by issuing an order of her own.

"Turn to face me, Arden."

The former captain hesitated, returning, "It doesn't matter, Impa—"

He stopped as her hand came to rest against his upper arm, and she reiterated more sternly, "I said turn to face me."

Deciding to comply, Arden turned to face the Sheikah—and she didn't bother masking the concern for what she saw. The blindfold he wore was tied around both of his eyes and only partially hid the gash trailing down the left side of his face. It was a new wound, still seeping blood, and it mirrored the one on the right which had stolen his opposing eye.

Now, he was completely blind.

Hand still clutching his arm, Impa asked, "Ganondorf did this to you, didn't he?"

Arden couldn't answer, anger and even shame keeping him silent. Yes, Ganondorf had disabled his former captain rather than ending his life to force him to live in disgrace due to his failures. Instead of a soldier, Arden would be an object of pity, an old fool who'd have to rely on the charity of others to survive.

The mere thought was intolerable. He wanted no one's pity, particularly not that of the woman standing before him now, and didn't say a single word. Instead, he grasped Impa's wrist and removed her hand from his arm.

Drawing back with narrowed brows, she watched as the large soldier took the bars of her cell door in his hands and, with a harsh grunt of effort, started tugging back. Nothing happened at first, yet a low ping soon sounded, the metal squeaking against the force he exerted.

Stopping for only a moment, Arden soon gave it another try, his grunt growing louder as he pulled with all his might, hefting the bars back until finally, the metal pinged again and the door came free.

Stepping back with the frame in hand, Arden threw the heavy door to the side with a forceful growl, listening as it crashed several feet away. Then, after a few deep breaths, he told Impa on a gruff tone of voice, "You're free to go. Ganondorf has departed the palace, so you'll have a better chance of escape as long as you avoid the Jackals left behind."

Silence ensued his words, suggesting the former prisoner was still in her cell. Then again, it was hard to say with Impa. As a fully trained Sheikah, stealth was the strongest weapon in her arsenal, and yet it was difficult to believe she'd use it now.

So he asked, "Why are you still here?"

Impa didn't flinch despite his harsh tone of voice, responding plainly, "Because you've yet to answer my question. Once you tell me what happened, if it's what you truly want, I'll leave."

Sneering, Arden asked, "Why? Because you pity me too?"

Impa frowned, approaching him without masking her footfalls, and he felt her hands against his shoulders a moment later as she retorted, "I never pitied you, Arden. Even when you chose to serve Ganondorf instead of staying true, I never pitied you. It pains me to see what's happened, but you've brought this onto yourself through your own actions. So tell me the truth, Arden. Tell me what happened, and why you're doing this."

Exhaling low, he realized he'd forgotten how astute Impa was, and how her observations usually had a way of making him feel comfortable discussing just about any topic. So he finally gave in and enlightened her.

"The answer is yes, Ganondorf did this to me. He knew I preferred execution, so instead, he forced me to live as a pitiable, blind fool because I failed the task he gave me."

Impa closed her eyes, supplying without needing him to continue, "So you've decided to set me free so that when Ganondorf returns, he'll finish you off."

Arden scoffed. "Do you still know me so well?"

There wasn't a shred of doubt in her voice when she related, "Of course I do. You haven't changed, you've only gone down a path I couldn't follow because you blindly believed the former establishment was weaker than what would rise up. But you're still an honorable man, serving the dishonorable whims of a merciless tyrant."

Somewhere deep down, Arden knew she was right. He'd believed Ganondorf would grow up to be a capable leader who'd make the kingdom stronger. He'd believed it so fully that even learning the truth of Ganondorf's origins hadn't swayed him.

So he'd turned on his friends and wouldn't listen to reason, believing he'd done what was right for the kingdom itself—and at first, he stood firm in that belief. But over time, it became clear that the new establishment was worse than the old.

Still, he'd continued to serve his post, turning a blind eye to the problems in the hopes that they were nothing more than evidence of the new King stumbling to gain his footing. Then, when the kingdom declined further, he continued to serve out of responsibility, honor bound to walk the path he'd chosen.

Yet his fight with Lyonel shined a light on the truth more brightly than Arden had ever seen it. The two of them were equally matched in skill, and yet the Hylian overcame him because he fought with a type of passion the Captain had long since forgotten. Lyonel still believed in his cause while Arden had lost faith in the crown he served ages ago.

After all, Ganondorf had made it clear that he didn't believe there were any flaws in his rule, and Arden learned to serve his whims without complaint. Besides, even if he'd contemplated betrayal, his former comrades would no longer have him, wouldn't have trusted him, and he had no intentions of begging forgiveness for simply doing what he'd thought was right.

Quietly, he told Impa as much.

"It took both my eyes to see the truth you've just spoken. So go now, Impa, and leave me to the fate I've brought upon myself. Anyone fighting Ganondorf's tyranny will need your help, and I need to atone."

Impa stared up at his blindfolded face, taking a deep breath through her nose that she exhaled from her lips with a shake of her head.

"No. I will not leave unless you come with me."

Hearing this, Arden sneered and grasped her upper arms, shoving her away with the heated words, "Do you not understand that I am blind now and would only hinder you? Or is it not enough that I'm here to pay for my mistakes and instead you wish to see me further make a fool of myself?"

Undaunted by the anger in his voice, Impa pushed forward again and quickly pressed her hands to his temples. Closing her eyes, she channeled magic into his body, directing in the process, "Tell me what you see now, Arden. Can you see me?"

As she spoke, lines of light began forming in the darkness of his nonexistent vision, taking the shape of objects around him. They were colorless, dark, but easy to see—as was Impa's face.

And the more it cleared up, the better he could see her tears.

It wasn't a sight he relished, and with the spell she'd cast working in full force, he looked away, asking, "Why are you crying?"

"You know why I'm crying!" Impa retorted on a voice as full of anger as his had been only moments prior. Yet her tone quickly faded into sadness as she went on to add, "Because I still love you. You've just forgotten that, as well as how to love. But you did love me once, before this new rule corrupted you, and what you're failing to realize is that we've all made mistakes, and we all have to atone for them."

Tugging her hands from his temples, she grasped his arms and insisted, "But there's other ways besides death to do so."

Arden's fists tightened, his mouth a hard line, and as her harshly spoken words gave way to silence, he finally asked, "Could you really trust me?"

"Could you trust me?" she countered. "You think the entire world is the same as Ganondorf now because you've served his evil and dwelt in its shadow for so long. So don't continue to do things in his way, Arden. Let me take you with me so that you can atone properly."

Though a part of him fully understood her meaning, Arden couldn't help but point out, "Then I have to live as a cripple? You know I'd rather die."

"You won't live as a cripple, but as a man who'll be remembered for doing what was right and honored for the sacrifices he made. You'd be looked up to as a man struggling to regain the things stolen from him. It is not in sentiment that I tell you this, but in honesty."

Exhaling low, she grasped his hand in hers and concluded, "For once, listen to me and stop being so stubbornly prideful."

As she squeezed his hand, something stirred in his dead heart for the first time in years—hope. She was right, and there was another way to make up for past mistakes. It would be a long road, but he'd traveled long roads before and could do so again.

If he would just listen to her.

Impa patiently awaited his response, staring up at him in the hopes that he would accept. But when he remained silent, she finally stepped back and looked down at the floor in consideration. He was likely soon to leave, and she could only allow him to make that choice for himself.

Yet his voice quickly drew her attention back to his face again.

"How you can stand to look at me knowing what I've done, especially to you, I will never understand. Do you think, perhaps, I'll learn to understand it again in time?"

Another tear rolled down Impa's cheek as she slowly started to nod. Turning his darkened, colorless vision back to her, he saw both, listening as she replied, "Yes, I believe you could if you would only try."

Groaning low, Arden looked aside once more, then took a step closer and finally showed a sign of acceptance by placing his hand on her shoulder.

With it, he announced, "Then I'll listen to you for once, because you've surprised me, and if you can still harbor feelings for me, then I know for certain I've been wrong about many things."

Shaking his head, he looked down and muttered, "Old, blind fool indeed."

A slow smile tugged at her lips as she placed her hand upon his and related, "Like any wound, it only takes time and care to mend. So we'll start again, and in the meantime, I think escape would best be done through the sewers."

Considering it, Arden slowly nodded his head in agreement. "There's a small passageway that leads to the mote, and from there, it won't be hard to reach the stables and sneak away under the shadows. There's also word of a revolt we could join, but I never learned its location. I only know Lyonel's part of it."

That did sound like a good plan, though Impa related, "No, I won't go there, not yet," before turning to head further into the dungeon. Like Arden, she knew the palace like the back of her hand, and adjourned to a sewer entrance in the form of a large hole in the floor that was covered by a metal grate near the back wall.

There, she qualified, "I need to visit a few people to be sure of their safety first, and some may already be aware of this revolt and its location. So we might learn more from them."

"Very well," he agreed, coming to a stop at the metal grate in the floor. Thankfully, the magic he was using to see allowed him to make out the outline of the sewer entrance, and yet the dim light didn't provide details—Impa's shadow based magic required light to gain a clearer image.

Still, he could easily hear Impa tugging the grate up followed by a thud as she set it aside.

Just a moment later, the Sheikah took his hands and directed, "Lower me."

Without argument, Arden lifted her arms and turned to lower her down into the hole, asking after a moment, "Release?"

"Yes."

Doing so, he heard the splash of water as her boots met the floor below. The tunnel around her was small, filthy, and like any sewer, the smell left much to be desired. But the change of scenery was welcome after spending the past few weeks locked in a dank cell, and as Arden climbed down behind her, Impa was truly looking forward to learning where this new journey might lead.

It was just a matter of escaping the palace without attracting attention. Thankfully, sticking to the shadows was a Sheikah's specialty.

The road to River Town was long, but the journey went smoothly.

Only a few miles north of Lana's home was the start of the Zora River, the biggest and longest river in all of Hyrule. Flowing from Lake Hylia in the northeast and stretching on through a group of mountains surrounding River Town, the waterway traveled for several miles before it forked at Hyrule Palace.

From there, a portion moved south across Hyrule Field while other tributaries reached as far west as Roshala Village. Thankfully, they didn't have quite so far to travel, though the path to the Zora River on foot made it feel like they were moving across the country all the same.

For that reason, Zelda—with encouragement from her traveling companions—decided to commandeer two of Lana's small barges that were typically used to let people tour the lake. Borrowing the vessels without asking had her feeling somewhat guilty, and yet desperate times called for desperate measures as the increased speed could mean the difference between life and death for some of the townspeople with them.

So she wasn't entirely concerned, and promised to compensate Lana as soon as she could while everyone piled onboard.

Sadly, it was a bit cramped with the people standing about in close quarters, but no one was complaining over the chance to take a break from walking, and though the vessels weren't as fast as a sailboat, it was quicker than traveling on foot. So all that remained was for Zelda to maintain their magical cloak as they got some rest and enjoyed the ride.

To ensure the vessels stayed together, Lyonel, Olnor, and Betarro used rope to secure the barges, and soon, they were entering the source of the Zora River.

Marked by towering cliffs on both sides, several flocks of birds flew overhead into the gorge, and Zelda couldn't help but stare in awe. Despite the gravity of their situation, the scenery was too breathtaking to ignore, from natural rock formations rising high above the waterline to trees and vines growing upon the ledges.

After traveling a few miles, Zelda noticed several rope bridges tied high above them to connect each side of the cliff together in various places. When she asked Lyonel about the structures, he informed her that they belonged to the grottos located in the cliff sides which were currently in use by the revolt.

It was a sign that they were getting close to River Town, and further indication came in the form of a few fishing boats, the fishermen upon them oblivious to the magically cloaked barges sailing by. Thankfully, navigating around them wasn't difficult, though Lyonel soon suggested they stop at the nearest available pier since it would be impossible to reach the entrance of the revolt from the river.

So Zelda did just that, finding a small, deserted fishing pier to tether the barges at before helping everyone off so they could travel the rest of the way into town on foot—and they didn't have far to go. Only a few hundred meters up the shore where the cliffs tapered away was the settlement they sought.

With stairs carved out of the rocky pathways leading from several large docks and up to River Town's large central square, it was quite a sight to behold. The settlement itself was divided into a north and south side by the Zora River, and the buildings were all nestled upon various ledges that rose up around the bustling town junction.

The people there also looked to be in fine moods, all of them shopping and talking, or sitting and eating at sidewalk cafes. Adding to the scenery was the arched bridge stretching over the water with various painted lanterns strung up to light the path from one side of River Town to the other.

Having only heard of the town before, Zelda found it difficult to focus on the task of getting the people to safety instead of gazing at the sights—not that others weren't also gazing about in awe. The settlement really did look like a lovely place to stay, and if things weren't so dire, she would've considered her desire to return sometime and tour the place more thoroughly.

Instead, she focused on helping everyone enter town as quietly as possible. The cloaking spell hid them from sight and masked their scent, but too much noise might still be detected by parties outside of the shadows. The fact was proven true when a man sitting on the steps nearby looked about in confusion and used his pinky to clean his ear as if he couldn't figure out why he was hearing so many footsteps.

Seeing it, Zelda made sure to silently let everyone know they needed to remain quiet by raising a finger to her lips, and once Lyonel and Olnor reached her position from bringing up the rear, she moved in next to the men and issued her concerns.

"Lyonel, I don't want to startle anyone by appearing out of thin air in the middle of town. So when should I release the shadows?"

Looking about, Lyonel motioned at the bridge and stated, "The entrance is on the other side, so you should wait until we reach it. I only hope there aren't too many people about it, but it's getting to be late evening, so hopefully they're all home having dinner."

With a nod, Zelda inquired, "Could you take the lead and bring us there?"

"Of course," he obliged respectfully and turned on his horse to join Betarro at the front of the group, giving everyone a silent signal of his hand to follow. In turn, most seemed to be relieved to know they would soon reach their destination, though Lyonel took an indirect path to avoid populated areas where they'd be discovered more easily.

On the way, Zelda heard some of the people discussing the town's appeal by musing over how it could be a good place to live if returning home wasn't an option. The talk made her smile if only because it proved there was still hope.

Truly, it was preferable for their homes to be salvaged, but despite all they'd lost, they were planning for their futures, and though it might be a long road to recovery, that road was far from impossible to traverse.

The thought drew to mind her own admiration for the town, and she only wished Link was there to share it with. He'd likely be fond of the river considering his enjoyment of fishing at the pond in Kakariko—despite his complaints of how it wasn't large enough to have the big one, and the memory curved her lips in a smile.

Perhaps, once he was done locating survivors and bringing them to the revolt, they'd have some time to take a boat out on the river. After all, recent events had been so troubling they could use the distraction.

Even if the chance never presented itself, there had to be a number of shops around that sold fishing supplies, and she decided to surprise him with a new rod and a few lures that might help him catch the big one once he returned. The thought of it was enough to chase away the gloom brought on by their separation, and she genuinely couldn't wait to see Link's reaction to receiving such things.

Spying the pleased look on Zelda's face, Olnor smiled and asked, "What's got you so happy?"

Snapped from her thoughts at the sound of his voice, she drew out an, "Oh!" and regarded the dark haired man sheepishly, admitting, "I was just thinking of how Link likes to fish and how he might get the chance to go when he gets back."

Letting a soft chuckle, Olnor qualified, "I haven't done much fishing lately either, and it would be nice to get back to it. So perhaps we'll all get a chance while we're here."

"I hope so," Zelda returned, glad for the lighthearted conversation as they made their way to the east side of the town.

Yet their chattering soon ceased when Lyonel led them toward the base of a cliff after taking a few turns around some scattered buildings. Finally, he reached an opening in the rock wall that, thanks to the natural ridges of the stone, was only visible if one was right on top of it. Once the Hylian slipped through the narrow gap, everyone followed suit, moving inside one by one to find a short tunnel connecting to a modestly sized cave.

On the far wall was a large set of double doors made of granite and carved with the crest of the royal family.

Coming to a stop before them, Lyonel dismounted and looked back at Zelda, stating, "It's safe to release the gathered shadows, Your Majesty."

Nodding, Zelda closed her eyes and, as if a wind had blown over them all, each person shimmered back into view. Yet, to each other, the effect wasn't noticeable, and instead, everyone was focused on Lyonel as he directed the youngest and the most injured to the doors.

"Olnor," the former guard began once the task was accomplished, directing, "I need you and Betarro to keep a watch while I take these people inside first and gain entrance for the rest. It won't take long."

"Alright," Olnor agreed, waiting as Lyonel helped the first group inside. Yet, only a few moments after they disappeared through the doors, he pursed his lips and muttered, "This may not be the right time, but now that it's so quiet … ."

When he didn't continue, Zelda canted her head and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Well, so much has been going on I haven't even thought about it but … I'm starving," he admitted as if sharing a scandalous secret.

The comment had Zelda grinning, and indeed, her own stomach started rumbling at the thought of food. The last meal she'd eaten was with the Zora's early that morning, and for as hungry as it left her, she could only imagine these people, who'd been traveling for most of the night, were absolutely famished.

"I'm sure everyone is," she started. "I just hope there's enough food here to go around. If not, we may need to send someone into town for a few provisions, which makes me wonder what the revolt's finances look like."

Smiling, the two of them looked up when Zelda's comment was punctuated by the sound of the doors opening as Lyonel stepped out to signal everyone else inside. Without hesitation, the remainder of their group began to move through the doors with the exception of Betarro, Kiama, and Olnor.

Instead of joining the others, they dismounted their horses with Zelda following suit, taking Frost's reins to lead him over to where Bettaro and Kiama stood just as the girl mused aloud, "I wonder if Alia is here."

Despite all that had happened, Kiama sounded excited over the prospect of seeing her cousin again. So Zelda related, "Link and I met Alia not long before we encountered your group fleeing Engleton, and she knew where the revolt's entrance was located. So we warned her and a family living near Lake Hylia to come here, and they decided to sail, meaning they probably arrived before us."

The news seemed to delight Kiama, who gave Zelda a bright smile as her father inquired, "Was the family you mentioned Cody and Lana?"

At her nod of confirmation, Bettaro grinned and qualified, "Good, Cody's an excellent sailor. He's got the most sour attitude of anyone this side of Hyrule, but he could weather waves the size of these cliffs. So if they ran into any problems, chances are he'd make it through."

Zelda smiled over Betarro's description of the young man, understanding precisely what he meant about Cody's behavior. But it was good to know they'd be safe in his hands, and no sooner than she had the thought did the doors open with Lyonel exiting to walk toward them.

Stopping to take his horse's reins, he informed them all, "They know you're here, and stalls are being prepared for the horses. So you three go on ahead as I need to speak with Zelda for a moment."

"Alright," Olnor agreed. "Should we take your horses for you?"

At his friendly offer, Lyonel nodded, replying, "Yes, thank you. Just ask for Kiron, he's the stable hand."

With a nod, Olnor took the reins of Lyonel's horse, and Kiama approached Frost. But instead of taking him directly inside, she stopped long enough to tell Zelda on a whisper, "I'd no clue you were royalty, and I'm sorry."

Either the notion of Zelda's royal bloodline had intimidated her, or she was worried she'd behaved toward Zelda in a manner unbefitting a princess because she was wringing her hands together in shyness.

So Zelda was quick to return, "Don't be. You weren't supposed to know, and it doesn't change our friendship … does it?"

Kiama instantly shook her head. "I don't want it to."

"Good, because I don't either."

Smiling, the girl reached out to hug her, admitting as they embraced, "I'm glad because I was hoping we could still make that dress we talked about."

"Me too, and I'm sure there are fabric shops and haberdasheries in town. So perhaps we can start working on it while we're here."

Parting from their hug, Kiama nodded and promised to see her inside, then turned and took her father's hand before walking Frost to the doors.

Once they were gone, Zelda gave her attention to Lyonel who observed with a small smile, "You and Link seem to have made several friends so far."

"We have," she confirmed, adding with a smirk, "and you should've seen us with the Gorons. We feared making them too happy could be dangerous for our health."

Lyonel chuckled, and somehow, the sound was surprising. Zelda couldn't claim to know him well, but so far, her impression was of a stoic soldier, stern and serious. Of course, that didn't mean he had no sense of humor, and yet there was something odd about the way he laughed, something … familiar, perhaps.

Whatever it was, she didn't dwell on it, asking instead, "So what did you need to speak with me about?"

Nodding in a manner suggesting he knew they needed to speak of more serious matters, he looked over at the doors and started, "The people here have been wondering about you. When I first arrived, they harbored some odd concepts concerning recent events, and I've managed to clear most of it up, but I thought to warn you that you'll likely receive numerous questions you probably haven't thought of an answer to."

That made sense—if the people here had reacted to current affairs like those in Kakariko, she'd probably spend the next few hours being interrogated for all intents and purposes. After all, they actually knew her identity, which made the coming tasks seem daunting.

"So what do I say?" she inquired.

Lyonel responded with enough confidence to waylay her concerns. "For now, just tell them you're planning to give an official address regarding their concerns at a later time. That way, you can avoid giving information to only a few people which might be relayed to others inaccurately, and everyone will be settled knowing they'll have answers soon."

Zelda nodded, thinking his advice certainly sounded like the best plan of action—though it left her feeling somewhat inadequate. It was such a simple solution, one she hadn't thought of, and if nothing else, it proved she truly hadn't been raised as royalty.

The thought had her regarding the doors in concern, and upon spying her expression, Lyonel told her, "Don't worry too much, Your Highness. It won't be difficult to integrate here."

"I hope not," she returned with a small smile, then cast a more considerate gaze his way in asking, "but before I forget, I wanted to know what the revolt's finances look like. Are there enough provisions to go around?"

Looking up in thought, Lyonel started, "The people here have supplied many of their personal belongings, and several have made donations, so the treasury is modest, but enough to keep us going for now. That aside, there's … ."

Trailing, he suddenly smiled and turned his gaze down with an airy chuckle of amusement.

Confused, Zelda canted her head and asked, "Lyonel?"

"I'm sorry," he replied, pinning her gaze while admitting, "but for a moment, it felt as if I was speaking with your parents again."

Hearing this, she couldn't suppress a smile as he further qualified, "Actually, if I might be so bold, Princess, I wanted to tell you I believe they'd be proud of you for doing all you can, and I'm honored to be serving you as well. I suppose it's just nice to return to a position similar to the one I held with them no matter how badly I failed."

"Failed?" she inquired. "How did you fail?"

"By sending you away," he explained, adding as if knowing she'd disagree, "It was done for your safety, yes, but the purpose of each royal guard is to protect Hyrule with their lives, and I never realized what Dragmire was doing until it was too late. So though you may not hold me accountable, and though it saved your life, handing my King and Queen's only child off to be raised apart from them is the ultimate example of my failure."

Zelda held his gaze for a few moments following his confession, and finally shook her head, relating, "You just said my parents would be proud of me for doing what I can, and Lyonel, I think they'd be proud of you as well. If you hadn't handed me away, I wouldn't be here to even try, and you're helping me with it. So perhaps you made mistakes, but everyone has, and what matters is that we're trying to fix them."

Though his expression remained stoic, something in his sky blue eyes lit as if she'd made her point well. It was just a matter of hoping he took it to heart, and he seemed willing to try in stating, "I'll remember that, Your Majesty, and regardless of what comes, you can rest assured that I intend to do all I can here to atone for past mistakes."

On a lighter note, his lips curled as he added, "Still, I feel I'd be remiss not to say how much you sounded like your father just then."

Finally, Zelda laughed for what felt like the first time since leaving the Temple of Water. It was the second time that day someone had told her she'd spoken as Hadinaru would, and though she'd felt inadequate before, the reminder provided her with enough confidence to try despite her shortcomings.

So she waved at the door and asked, "Then, shall we?"

"Of course," he returned, pausing just long enough to offer one more piece of advice. "Still, before we go inside, I need to tell you to stay close to me for now. I know the people here will accept you, but I haven't been able to weed out all of the possible threats yet. So don't leave my sight."

As he offered his arm, she took it with a smile, qualifying, "I won't, but I also have to say that if I sounded like my father, you just sounded like Link. So if you're going to treat me that way, then things here won't be much different at all."

The comment had him chuckling, and once again, the sound seemed familiar. It was such a strange notion, and though she couldn't explain why, the sensation redoubled when she looked up at his face beneath the hood of his cloak. Something in his features was almost comforting in a way, and perhaps it was due to the knowledge that he'd already done all he could to ensure her safety, leaving her with no doubts he'd continue doing so now.

She only hoped the task turned out to be boring for him.