Chapter 20 - Myriad's Sorrow

Lyonel said he'd yet to weed out all of the threats the revolt could potentially harbor, and Zelda quickly learned he was right to be wary.

Not that she was considering the matter as they entered the doors leading up to the various chambers carved into the cliffs. Instead, she asked about their formation, and learned the caves were rather old, originally built to serve as a soldier outpost before River Town was even formed. Because of this, most of the townspeople believed the chambers located within the cliffs were abandoned, even dilapidated, which was true until recently. But those who started the revolt against Ganondorf had been working to fortify and even expand the structures wherever possible.

After all, the revolt's numbers were steadily growing, meaning more rooms were needed, including space for storage, and escape routes had even been dug out of the tunnels in case they were discovered.

Lyonel explained most of this while escorting Zelda up the stairs behind the hidden entrance from River Town, and Zelda was surprised to see two fully armored guards standing sentry by the doors at the top landing—not that she hadn't expected to find soldiers in the revolt.

Instead, their armor was designed in a manner similar to what was worn during her parents' reign, but it looked brand new. So had they salvaged it? Or was it designed specifically to ensure none were confused over their allegiances?

Whatever the case, as they entered the first corridor of the outpost, she overhead one of them asking, "Was that the true Princess?"

Shaking her head, she decided to ignore such questions for now if only because she was likely to be hearing the same thing numerous times in the near future. So she put her focus on her surroundings instead as Lyonel led her to a door on the left which connected with the main hall, a large chamber with no windows that reminded Zelda of a conference room.

Several hanging lanterns lit the various tables and chairs, and the townspeople she'd helped bring to the revolt were all there, engaged in various activities. Some were sitting and resting while others were having their injuries tended. A small group was being led out of the room, possibly to be assigned to quarters.

There was also a group of people who hadn't come in with those from Engleton, proving others who'd been caught in the recent attacks Ganondorf was making on Hyrule's citizens had found their way to the revolt as well. But most of them looked relatively healthy, and were trying to assist those from Engleton who'd been injured.

And once Zelda entered the room with Lyonel, several stared while others covertly pointed her out.

Attempting to hide her discomfort, she told Lyonel softly, "I don't quite … feel right."

"Why not?"

Exhaling low, she returned, "Because I'm not truly the Princess until a coronation is performed, and I don't feel comfortable proclaiming to be one until that time. Yet everyone is still treating me as though it's already happened."

She saw Lyonel's lips curve in a warm smile as he related, "Don't feel that way, Your Highness. After all, isn't it better to refer to you as a Princess than to Ganondorf as a King?"

"I suppose so," she conceded, regarding the people with the thought in mind. No one here wanted to bow to a merciless Tyrant, and what they needed most was a reason to believe everything would eventually return to normal. She also had no intentions of turning them away regardless of how she felt about being their Princess.

So she was going to give them a reason to keep going.

During her considerations, some of the revolt members began making their way over, a few of them armored while others wore regular clothing, possibly because there wasn't enough equipment to go around. Either way, the tallest one, being a man who resembled Betarro with brown hair instead of red, addressed them.

"Lyonel, we're glad you've returned safely." With that said, he regarded Zelda and asked, "Is this … ?"

Nodding in confirmation of the unspoken question, Lyonel provided an introduction. "Yes, this is Princess Zelda. Your Majesty, allow me to introduce my first in command, Dorrel, though you'd know him better as Betarro's brother."

Offering the man a smile, Zelda nearly reached for his hand to shake in greeting while mentioning how she'd thought there was a resemblance between them. Yet Dorrel, right along with the others, all dropped to a knee before her in a show of fealty.

The reaction served as a stark reminder of both her status, as well as how seriously the people here took it. Nonetheless, in that moment, Zelda decided she was simply never going to get used to that type of reception.

"Your Highness, we are honored to be in your presence and finally have this chance to pledge our fealty to you. Our lives are yours to command."

As the others concurred with Dorrel's claim, Zelda hesitated, glancing at Lyonel to see that he didn't seem surprised by their devotion. So she hid her uncertainty in an attempt to treat the situation as a common occurrence if only to avoid making things awkward.

"Thank you, gentlemen. It's wonderful to know there are so many willing to fight for the restoration of Hyrule."

With those words spoken, she waited for the men to stand once more. Yet they remained bowed, and she looked at Lyonel to see him motioning a hand between her and the kneeling men as if to tell her something without words.

"Oh," she rasped, the movement reminding her that she needed to state, "Please rise."

At her command, the men finally stood, and Zelda couldn't help wondering if there was anyway to forgo such terms of etiquette during future engagements. After all, they had much more important things to do than wait for her to tell them whether they could stand, and she still had the mindset of a commoner, which wasn't going to fade overnight.

Still, such rituals were likely for more than simple ostentation considering common practices could also help the people feel as if things were getting back on the right track.

So she didn't comment on the matter and instead told Dorrel, "I met Betarro and Kiama in Engleton, and they're good friends. Have you seen them yet?"

"No," Dorrel replied, then looked at Lyonel, asking, "do you know where they are?"

"They helped Olnor take our horses to the stables," Lyonel informed him. "So they'll be up soon. In the meantime, I'd like to show the Princess to her room so she can get some rest after our travels. Do you know if it's been prepared?"

"It isn't ready yet," Dorrel confirmed, adding, "but it should be momentarily."

"There's no rush," Zelda interjected, unwilling to be their sole focus when so many people here had more urgent needs. "I can stay and help the injured receive proper treatment."

"Thank you, Princess, but we can handle this, and you've helped enough by getting the people to safety. So you really should rest before doing more."

Dorrel's comment came with a warm smile as he then turned and waved a hand at the two men accompanying him, remarking, "For now, allow me to introduce Tenio and Jesop, two of our most skilled members."

The men he pointed out bowed their heads respectfully, and though both wore normal clothing, they were equipped with blades and—in Tenio's case—a bow. She also found him to be the more curious of the two as he was the first Hylian she'd ever met who appeared to be roughly her own age.

As for Jesop, something in his smile seemed strange, and she couldn't quite pinpoint what. Yet there wasn't a chance to speak with either of them before a lady came to the doors and informed Dorrel that the Princess' quarters were ready for her arrival.

At the announcement, Lyonel offered his arm again and asked, "Would you come with me, Your Highness?"

"Of course," she returned, hooking her arm in his as he turned to lead her away from the room.

In the process, Lyonel caught a fleeting glimpse of metal glinting in the firelight of the lanterns, appearing as a swift upwards trail in his vision. It was all the warning he needed, reacting by using his grip on Zelda to tug her around while reaching up his free hand to catch Jesop's arm after he'd lifted a dagger to the Princess's back.

Gripping his limb, Lyonel released Zelda and spun beneath Jesop's arm, twisting it behind him so forcefully the man let a sharp yelp and dropped the dagger. The weapon clattered harmlessly to the floor a split second before his knee smacked down next to it.

Everyone stared in shock, and Zelda certainly shared the sentiment, unsure what to think as Dorrel quickly stepped forward and snatched the dagger from the floor before demanding, "Jesop! What is the meaning of this?"

Jesop stayed quiet, unwilling to answer. So Lyonel twisted his arm again, causing the man to cringe before he finally exclaimed, "She's the reason we're being attacked!"

At his statement, several people exchanged looks as Dorrel shook his head and muttered, "You fool! Even if you were right, do you really believe killing the Princess will stop Ganondorf?"

Punctuating his question, the doors opened and Betarro walked in with Kiama just behind him. Yet the sight awaiting them brought both to an abrupt stop as Dorrel explained what was going on.

"This man is a traitor. He just attempted regicide."

"What?" Betarro yelled in anger. "Why?"

As Tenio brought a set of shackles over to Lyonel, he started the process of cuffing the would-be assassin while answering, "Dorrel can explain it while he and Tenio put Jesop in a cell. We'll decide on his punishment later."

"Yes, sir," Dorrel responded, and Betarro joined his brother and Tenio as they hauled the prisoner off while Kiama approached Zelda with concern in her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," Zelda answered, admitting, "I'm just shocked, that's all."

Letting a low sigh, Lyonel took her arm in a gentle hold once more and related, "As I'd said, you could use some rest."

Bowing his head to Kiama respectfully, he escorted Zelda out of the room and turned left to head up another set of stairs. The room he'd asked to have prepared was located on the top floor, and as he led Zelda there, Jesop's claim that she was the cause for the attacks rang out in her mind.

While she knew it wasn't true, at least not in the manner Jesop had framed it, she couldn't help but feel badly. It was reminiscent of the way she'd felt fleeing the Temple of Time and leaving Impa and Brahm to deal with Ganondorf's soldiers.

She'd wanted to turn herself over to them in order to save them, but just as Dorrel told Jesop, Link had pointed out that it wouldn't make any difference. Instead, they needed to honor their friends' sacrifice by continuing to fight, and that was what she'd tried to do ever since.

The only question that remained was whether her efforts were enough.

By the time she'd had the thought, Lyonel had led her up another flight of steps and through a door that connected with a wooden bridge. Stretching from one cliff to the other with the Zora River flowing hundreds of feet below, Zelda was momentarily distracted from her musings as they moved across it.

With a flock of seagulls flying beneath them and up toward the clouds, the wind whipped by as evening cast the sky in orange hues. It was such a beautiful scene she had to stop for a moment to take it in, watching the boats pass by below on their way to the docks at River Town.

Sighing, she drew out, "It really is beautiful here."

Lyonel smiled, nodding in agreement while waiting for her to admire the view before they resumed their walk. Zelda took a few moments as well, but she didn't delay for too long, finally allowing him to take her across the bridge before she asked him a curious question.

"Lyonel, this might sound a little strange, but do you think I'm really doing enough to help everyone by embracing the life I was born into?"

Regarding her in silent thought, the soldier asked a question of his own. "As opposed to what? Hiding from it and allowing Ganondorf to have free reign of the land and its people?"

Somehow, the question made her smile. "I see your point, and I'm sorry for sounding so unsure. I just can't help thinking there must be several others like Jesop who blame me, and it makes me wonder what else I could be doing to stop the chaos."

Shaking his head, Lyonel returned, "There's no need to be sorry. Doubting yourself is just a sign that you care, and as for Jesop, he's bitter over the loss of things he held dear, which is understandable. Yet he's not the only one who's suffered, nor is he right to lay the blame on your shoulders."

During his comments, Lyonel led her into a hallway adjacent to the bridge and stopped at the first door on the left. Inside was Zelda's quarters, and though the room had been carved out of a rock wall, it was inviting. With a single window draped by a blue lace curtain, enough evening light was still shining into the room to see without lighting the lanterns. A full bed had been set up next to the wall, and just across from it was a wing chair settled upon a brown fur rug.

Someone had even lit incense, giving the chamber an airy, floral scent.

It was much more than Zelda expected, and the room wasn't precisely deserted. Instead, a middle aged woman with an almost regal appearance and a measuring tape draped around her neck was arranging a few pillows on the bed. Yet she abandoned the task in favor of walking over to greet Lyonel with a nod and a bright smile before providing Zelda a curtsy that looked as if it'd been honed over years of practice.

"Your Highness," she started cordially. "My name is Bessa. I used to serve your mother as her personal seamstress."

Zelda smiled, genuinely pleased to meet someone who'd worked so closely with her mother. Yet she had no chance to voice the thought before Bessa stood from her polite greeting and, the moment she regarded Zelda more closely, she covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes glistening.

Confused, Zelda inquired, "Is something wrong?"

Tugging her hands from her mouth to thread her fingers together before her chest, she rasped, "I'm sorry, Your Highness, it's just … you look so much like your mother and … ."

As she trailed, Lyonel supplied, "Bessa worked closely with Nissandra during her pregnancy to arrange everything for the girl Nissandra was so sure she'd have, and your mother considered her a good friend."

Bessa nodded to confirm his explanation. "I'm not normally so emotional, but I just know how pleased she'd be to see how well you've grown up."

"No, please don't apologize," Zelda returned, feeling close to tears as well. The way Bessa spoke of her mother was so touchingly earnest she couldn't help it, relating, "I'd love to hear more about her when there's time."

Smiling, the seamstress nodded and agreed. "I'd be honored, and if I might ask, I was wondering if I could take your measurements before you went to rest. I still have the design for a gown your mother wanted me to make once the time came for your coronation and … Oh!"

Turning her attention to Lyonel, she requested, "Don't let me forget that I have the circlet Queen Nissandra crafted for her. I think the Princess deserves to have it."

As Lyonel agreed, Zelda couldn't stop herself from asking, "Circlet? Does it have a Zora sapphire?"

"Yes, that's the one," Bessa confirmed with a smile. Yet her countenance was also confused. "You've heard of it?"

"Yes, Queen Majalyn told me about it, and I'd be happy to let you take my measurements now."

Tugging the measuring tape from her neck with a friendly smile, she wasted no time getting to work while responding, "Good, it'll give me a chance to go through my fabrics and see what I can use offhand. Of course, the design we came up with wasn't fully completed. Nissandra wanted to make certain you had plenty of options in case you didn't like our ideas."

As she worked, Zelda could barely wipe the smile from her face. She'd never been one for fashion design, or even sewing in general beyond some general mending of basic garments. Yet she did enjoy learning about the techniques and had fun providing Kiama with ideas during their time together in Engleton.

Yet this was so much different. Knowing she might soon have a dress her own mother designed for her to wear was more meaningful than she thought it would be. Adding to her excitement was the knowledge that Bessa had the circlet, and when she mentioned her surprise over the matter, the seamstress had an easy explanation.

"Oh, the Queen wanted me to keep it so I could base the colors of your gown on it. Speaking of, this dress you're wearing is a lovely shade of red. Where did you get it?"

"From a friend of mine named Kiama who just arrived here with her father. She also has a fondness for sewing and making dresses."

"Oh?" Thoughtfully, Bessa qualified, "Perhaps she'd make a good assistant for me with making clothing for everyone here."

Completing the task of taking her measurements, Bessa stood straight again and added, "I also hope you don't mind my eagerness to get started on your gown, but after everything that's happened, I just thought you might appreciate having something your mother wanted to give you."

Shaking her head, Zelda related, "I don't mind at all. It's actually more than I could've hoped." Giving the woman a smile, she then canted her head and admitted, "But I'm curious as to whether you were around when I was born."

At her comment, Bessa's smile faded, her gaze drifting downward in thought before she answered, "I was. I even held you once while Nissandra was eating lunch." Exhaling low, she went on to add, "Then it was as if we'd entered a fog that erased all memory of those three blissful days you spent with your parents. Anyone who knew Nissandra had a girl simply forgot, and truthfully, there weren't many."

Hanging on every word, Zelda asked, "Why not?"

For a moment, Bessa's fond smile returned as she answered, "Oh, your mother loved festivities, and never turned down the chance to organize official functions. So she wanted to throw a royal banquet where you'd be introduced to the court in a grand affair no one would soon forget. So she made those of us closest to her promise to keep her secret, which we did."

Once again, the seamstress looked down and shook her head. "But it wasn't a princess she introduced to the court that day, and we never even thought to question why. We simply accepted that Ganondorf was their true son, and seven years passed before any of us realized we'd forgotten. So I suppose, in a way I'm eager to make the gown your mother designed to atone for past mistakes, and I'm truly sorry, Your Highness."

Seeing how guilty Bessa felt for her inability to remember the truth, Zelda instantly took her shoulders and shook her head, insisting, "You've no reason to apologize, Bessa. The only person responsible is Dragmire, and I'd never hold anyone who knew the truth in contempt for falling prey to his magic."

The relief was clear in Bessa's eyes when she looked back up with a smile and nodded. "Thank you so much, Princess. But I've bothered you enough, so I'll go look for my materials now. Rest well, Your Highness."

Nodding, she watched the seamstress depart, shutting the door behind her as she went. By then, the room had darkened a bit due to the setting sun, prompting Zelda to light the lanterns hanging on the wall near the bed.

During the silence of her tasks, she began realizing just how tired she truly was. Spending most of the day holding the shadows around the townspeople had taken more of a toll than she'd believed, and the only thing stronger than her fatigue was hunger.

Yet, in the process of removing her cloak to fold and place upon a storage chest at the foot of her bed, she noticed a small plate of fruit and bread along with a carafe of juice sitting on a table next to the wing chair. After asking Lyonel if he'd requested such a commodity be brought to her quarters, he admitted mentioning how everyone was hungry, but seemed wary of allowing her to eat the food without checking it first.

After the incident with Jesop, she couldn't blame him, and yet Zelda had no intentions of allowing him to eat something poisoned. So she used magic to test it instead, finding that the meal was indeed safe to eat.

Sitting in the wing chair, she poured some of the juice into a glass, then insisted on sharing her meal with Lyonel, who had to be just as tired and hungry as she was. Yet he declined, relating that a meal would be brought to him while he was stationed outside her door to keep watch on her quarters.

Zelda nearly insisted he at least take some juice, but stopped when he tugged a skin of water from his belt beneath his cloak. Seeing it, she smiled, then commenced with eating her meal while relating how grateful she was for his help.

"Before you assume your post, I really do need to say thank you, Lyonel, and I mean for everything, not just today."

Humbly, Lyonel replied, "It's my station, my Princess. Nothing more, nothing less."

Somehow, the response reminded her of Link and the way he always shrugged off praise by saying something like it's nothing. The thought had her smiling as she insisted, "But you don't have to be as considerate as you are, and you've helped Link and I beyond your station. You provided us with shelter and food in Roshala, you gave me Frost, and your flute helped us cross Lake Hylia safely."

The thought of their attempt to cross the lake reminded her that, at the time, they'd had no idea whether Lyonel survived his encounter with Arden. So before the royal guard could deny his good deeds as being anything exceptional, she inquired, "Might I ask you something before you go?"

Recapping his skin and returning it to his belt, Lyonel nodded. "Of course."

"What happened between you and Arden that evening? It's clear to see you bested him but … did you kill him?"

Where Lyonel's countenance was casual before she'd asked her question, a more solemn look overtook his features once it was posed. Tilting his head forward, he shook it in the negative and replied, "I didn't. I got the upper hand, and could've killed him, but I left him to live."

Zelda canted her head, inquiring, "Did you take mercy on him because he used to be your friend?"

Lyonel seemed to consider her suggestion, thinking back to that night while recalling the words he spoke as he stood over Arden with the tip of his cutlass against the berserker's throat.

During the fight, his hood had come down, revealing the scar on the right side of his face. It encompassed his temple and some of his brow and cheek, and his ear no longer possessed a point. Instead, half of it was missing, and what was left had a jagged edge just visible through the strands of wheat blonde hair tied back neatly across his head.

As he stared down at his bested enemy with sky blue eyes, he hesitated, but didn't move a muscle when Arden snarled angrily, "What are you waiting for, Lyonel? Go on, you've won, so stop delaying!"

Injured and unarmed thanks to a few skillful moves, Arden glared up at Lyonel with his single working eye—the sight of the other was taken ten years prior by the same blade that now threatened to take his life.

Yet the Hylian refrained, giving a succinct answer that was full of meaning.

"No. I won't end your life tonight, Arden. Instead, the king you've bound yourself to can decide your fate, and though I can't imagine Ganondorf is prone to showing mercy, perhaps, if he lets you live, you'll someday remember how you once were."

Scoffing, Arden turned his head and spat blood, then sneered up at his former friend and demanded, "For what reason, Lyonel? Look around you! Everything you see will soon be gone, crushed under Ganondorf's heel."

Exhaling low, Lyonel lifted his head, then shook it with the words, "Not once my son rises up to destroy the evil corrupting this Kingdom, and he's already fighting to do so."

As Lyonel related the story to the Princess, Zelda stared in shock. His last statement had her standing from the wing chair without even realizing she'd done so, her full focus on Lyonel as he finished his story.

"With those words, I turned and left Arden in fate's hands."

For several moments, all Zelda could do was stare at the man, disbelief leaving her speechless. Yet she heard herself asking, "You're … you're Link's father?" and the question gave way to another unbelievable thought that she also voiced. "And then … Myriad is his mother?"

Lyonel didn't immediately respond—not that he was surprised to learn Link had relayed his wife's identity to Zelda. Instead, he was still hesitant over revealing this information to anyone, even Link's cherished childhood friend.

Yet he didn't deny her an honest answer, stating, "Yes, we are both his parents. Myriad not only hid the truth of her son's identity, she concealed her pregnancy entirely, knowing if Dragmire ever found out she was carrying, he would use our child against her."

After a moment of thought, Lyonel added, "So, for the first few months of his life, we allowed another family in the palace to adopt him as if he were already an orphan. That way, we could care for him as often as we pleased, but until Dragmire was removed from the picture, there was no way we could officially claim him as our own.

"Yet Myriad had no means of battling Dragmire during her pregnancy, or even just afterwards when she was recovering from the birth. Still, in her eyes, our child's safety took precedence, and I agreed. So we did all that we could to ensure he remained safe."

Adjourning to the window, Lyonel leaned against the pane and concluded, "In short, Link was Myriad's greatest joy, and the situation became her greatest sorrow."

Zelda felt tears tracking down her cheeks, and quickly reached up to wipe them away. Not only was she overwhelmed to be in the presence of Link's actual father, she also couldn't imagine the pain of giving up an only child regardless of the reason. To never know if they were happy or sick, laughing or sad? It had to be a nightmare for any parent to endure, and it wasn't easy to get a rein on her emotions well enough to continue their conversation.

Yet she managed, asking next, "Why didn't you tell him? He thinks you're both dead."

Still facing the window, Lyonel replied on a morose tone, "It was better for him that way, Zelda. Still, I'll admit that the most difficult moment of my life was seeing him for the first time in seventeen years when you two showed up in Roshala, and then acting as stoic as I did to keep things from seeming strange. But … seeing the man he'd grown into, and knowing I'd missed all of it ate at me every moment of that first meeting, and it still does."

Sighing low, he turned his hooded face toward her as she moved to stand beside him and admitted, "I envy you for being there where I couldn't be, but we both know that if he learns Myriad is his mother, he won't rest until she's freed of the Sacred Realm, and this won't suit. Ganondorf is the priority here, and that aside, he could still be used as leverage against Myriad. Or she could be used against him."

Zelda had to wipe her eyes again, unable to stem the tide if only because Lyonel was right, and in this situation, knowledge could be dangerous. Yet she did have something to offer that might ease the weight on Lyonel's heart, and she didn't hesitate to mention it.

"If you'd like, I can tell you stories. We weren't always together, but up until we were seven, we know just about everything there is to know about one another." Letting a soft laugh, she added, "For instance, he hates cuccos because he was swarmed by a flock after trying to pluck their feathers to make an arrow."

Hearing this, Lyonel grinned despite the tears now streaming down his cheeks. At the sight of them, she knew for certain he truly loved his son, and the thought blurred her vision with a fresh wave gathering to flood her own cheeks.

Sniffling, she couldn't help but ask, "Can he truly not know about this until all is said and done?"

"I … ," Lyonel drew out, looking outside again before admitting, "I want to tell him more than anything. But I don't want him burdened with worry either. I want his head cleared, able to think straight in these troubling times."

Looking out at the mountainous scenery in thought, she finally cast her gaze at Lyonel's profile again and suddenly realized why he'd looked and sounded so familiar. His smile, his laugh, it was Link's, as was his solemn, thoughtful expression. Of course, Lyonel's hood had prevented it from being so obvious, as did the hint of a scar she could see on his cheek.

Yet there was a certain family resemblance she couldn't ignore now that she knew the truth, and in turn, it made her wonder about their personalities. Were they much alike where temperament was concerned? Or did Link take after his mother?

Whatever the case, she knew her friend well enough to know how he'd react to the truth, and she didn't hesitate to inform Lyonel if only to ease his concerns.

"Lyonel, I still think he should know the truth. Soon, I mean. Link's rational, and he'd understand the reason the truth was hidden from him. He knows Dragmire's to blame for everything, and though you're right that he'd want to free his mother, he wouldn't pursue that goal at the cost of the kingdom's welfare. Besides, it would do him a world of good to know that his father thinks so highly of him, especially after what he's been through."

Lyonel didn't respond, though he appeared to be thinking it over while swiping a few fingers across his cheek to wipe away his tears. He simply needed time, and she knew it, remaining quiet during his considerations while hoping he would agree.

After all, she could think of nothing that would inspire hope more than to see Link reunited with his father.

Finally, Lyonel stood straight from the window and related on a somber tone, "I'll keep it in mind, and I'm grateful for your insight, but … I'd like to ask you not to tell him. It's my responsibility as his father, and … ."

Trailing as if trying to think of the right words, Zelda instantly agreed. "Of course, Lyonel. I'd never take that privilege away from you."

Releasing an airy sigh as if relieved, he returned a heartfelt, "Thank you," then gave a kind smile and turned away from the window to go to the door. Once there, he took the knob and looked back to state, "Whatever happens, I need you to know that I'm truly grateful Link's had a friend like you to rely on, Zelda. It helps knowing he wasn't alone when we couldn't be there for him."

The words put a genuine smile on her face, and she had to relate, "I'm truly grateful you sent me away with him. You were right to think we'd benefit from the companionship."

With a kind smile, he nodded and replied, "I'm glad, and I look forward to hearing your stories. So rest well, Princess."

Bidding each other goodnight, Zelda watched as he stepped out and shut the door, followed by staring at it for several long moments in thought. Now that she was alone, the full weight of the situation began to settle in, and though the discovery of Link's lineage filled her with joy, the circumstances were rife with sorrow.

Eventually finding her way into bed to get some rest, she considered Myriad and how they'd never realized just how much the Sage of Light had sacrificed to protect those she loved. The notion had tears streaming down her cheeks, and not simply those of sadness, but also elation in knowing Link's parents were alive and he actually had the chance to know them both.

She only hoped that wherever Link was now, he was fine, perhaps even heading to River Town with survivors in tow. Whatever the case, she had faith in his abilities, and doubted he was having much trouble at all.