Chapter 3

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The seasons changed several times over the course of Link's long recovery. Medilia didn't mind. It was enough that he was finally recovering and she had plenty to occupy her while her son worked his way back to full health.

Although her response to Oric had been rash, she had stuck to her decision to move away. It was no life here for either of them and the thought of a fresh start drove her. For the first time since he died, she went through the box that held Arn's things. His uniform from his time in the Royal Guard, his favourite books, an old hunting knife - and a map.

For weeks she poured over it, looking for a place that would suit them. Hateno was too close and even Lurelin really. Although tempted by a life near the sea, there were too many traders that travelled between the villages and she truly desired anonymity. The Gerudo region was far too hot and while Hyrule town was nice, it wasn't much warmer than Kakariko.

It was with interest that her gaze fell on the Akkala region. It was certainly warmer there, though not unbearably so, and there was a beach not too far from some of the villages. It was further than she had imagined and it would take months to get there on foot but it seemed to meet their needs. If they could get a horse somewhere, they could make it there before winter.

A rustling jolted her from her thoughts and she turned to see the pantry door open and rummaging sounds coming from within. "What are you doing, Link?" She called out, knowing full well what he was up to.

He appeared by the door a moment later, a sheepish grin highlighted by wildberry stained lips. The grin shifted to a sweet smile and she bit back a laugh. She knew she should scold him as dinner was not long now, but it was so good to see his love of food back again, that she didn't have the heart to tell him off. "No more now until dinner, hmm?" She smiled.

He nodded agreeably and went back to playing with the small wooden warriors he had set up in one corner, waving them around as he acted out a dramatic battle.

He wasn't quite himself yet, having never played inside so much before, but his improvement from a few months earlier was dramatic. The cough was all but gone, just the odd moment here and there. The fear of losing him was gone now and she wished she could thank Oric again for giving her son another chance.

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It was just after his birthday that they were finally ready to leave.

"You do understand, don't you?" She looked at him carefully as he put his most precious possessions in his pack. "We're not coming back here, not ever. Whatever we leave behind is gone."

The precious stuffed horse from his father went in immediately and he nodded. He didn't have much, truthfully, just the little horse, the toy warriors and a few books. All of that was squeezed into a little pack he could wear.

Medilia had packed all their clothes in hers, as well as essentials such as a pan to cook in, washcloths and some warm blankets in case they had to sleep outside. There was also a small bag with personal possessions and keepsakes from Arn that she couldn't bear to part with. The pack was heavy, almost too heavy, but she still hoped to buy a small pony when she could, if one could be bought for the little money she had left. Arn had been one to save, lucky for them, but after four years most of it was now gone. A pony might be his last gift.

They left before the sun came up, Medilia choosing to slip away before anyone could notice. The weight of the pack she carried was lifted by how happily Link ran in front, full of life and excited for their new adventure. Still, as they reached the hill she paused and looked back at their home. Arn had loved her there and Link had been born there - there were happy memories despite their troubles. It was hard to leave that behind, no matter the reasons and for a moment, she allowed herself to linger.

At last, she managed to turn away. "Come on then!" She forced a smile and showed Link a spot on the map. "We need to get to here before night... this is where we are now. Do you think you can walk that far?"

He grinned and nodded confidently. His boundless energy had finally returned and Medilia found it inspired her too. She took his hand and they headed over the hill, away from Kakariko and on to a new future.

The land was lush and green before them and though the terrain would change many times on their journey, at the moment the expanse of green seemed endless – and it was wonderful.

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The first few weeks were easy enough. They walked during the day, going at whatever pace Link could manage. Often he shot ahead of his mother, who was left calling after him, burdened as she was by her heavy pack. From Kakariko they headed through the forest, towards Lanayru Road and from there, onto Rabia Plain. The terrain was sometimes rough and they occasionally had to detour, but they made steady progress and the weather seemed to be in their favour.

At dusk each day they sought out a safe place to rest, though it often took the form of a small cave or outcropping. The next stable was now a couple of days walk away and there Medilia hoped to obtain a pony.

One bright morning she could see all the land that lay ahead and it didn't look too far at all. "Look... Can you see that valley?" She asked Link, pointing. There's a stable there. We'll see about a pony and spend the night." Maybe two, if Link needed the rest.

Link peered ahead, looking down the valley. It seemed like a long way to him, but he was used to that by now. He turned and tugged at her arm, pointing to the bag that contained their food.

She reached in and handed him an apple and a bit of bread that was going stale. "We'll see about some fresh bread too," she promised him as he made a face, chewing on the crust. Sometimes, she wondered what he'd say if he could. Would he complain more? Or was his accepting nature part of him regardless? She doubted she'd ever know.

He was quieter now even than before. While he'd made some small sounds before he was ill, now there was almost nothing. The odd grunt or squeal, sometimes on rare, wonderful days, she'd hear him laugh. But the rest of the time he was completely silent and she had accepted that he might never talk. It made her wonder how he'd manage as he got older. She'd started teaching him to write, but his sickness had put that on hold and there was a long way to go before he would master it.

As the day dragged on, Medilia realised she had made a mistake. They stable was a lot further than she realised and as the sun began to set, she knew they'd never get there before nightfall. "I'm sorry Link, I know I promised you a bed tonight." She smiled apologetically. "But it's not safe to keep going. Let's find somewhere to camp and we'll get there tomorrow."

Her heart sank at the look of utter dejection on Link's face. He was managing the journey so well and she hated letting him down. "I'm so sorry. Come on... We'll make a fire and bake some apples before we sleep." That seemed to cheer him up and they set about looking for somewhere to rest.

As they came to an incline she saw smoke rising. "Look! There must be other travellers up ahead. Maybe we can share their fire." At the very least they might be able to take a lit torch from it, to get their own going quicker.

Link grinned and ran on, his energy renewed by the idea of baked apples.

"Wait for me!" She called out, trying to catch up before he disappeared from sight. She caught up with him just as they came into view of the fire.

She realised her error one horrifying moment later. It was not a travellers camp they'd stumbled on, but a group of moblins and lizalfos gathered around a bonfire. They turned as they saw Link moving towards them, already reaching for weapons, their eyes glowing with malice.

"Link, run!" Medilia shoved her son behind her in a vain attempt to protect him. The Lizalfos were so fast, the words were barely out of her mouth before they were a breath away. With nothing to fight with, she shrugged off her pack, throwing it at them in an effort to buy them time to get away.

As their possessions scattered, she moved to pick Link up, but a blow from behind knocked her away from him. "Link!" She cried out, her back and arm throbbing from the hit. As a trickle of blood started down her arm, she tried to fight off the moblin while looking for her son, her terror increased by his inability to reply. A blow to her head sent her vision spinning and she flailed blindly, pushing at her attackers, scratching and kicking wherever she could.

She had no way of knowing that, small and fast as he was, Link had managed to slip away and was now hiding behind a rock, eyes wide in fear and trying terribly hard not to cry as one large moblin loomed over his mother.

Medilia tried not to scream. If Link... if he was still okay, she didn't want to scare him any more than he already was. The moblin was bearing down on her now, blade in hand. She tried to calm herself for the end. She'd see Arn again at last and maybe, if he was lucky, Link would survive and find somewhere safe. In that moment she didn't have time to dwell on his being four years old and alone in the wilds. She had to believe, because it was all she had left.

The monster raised its arm and she whimpered... but the blow never came. As it moved to strike its eyes went wide and a blade pierced it's stomach. A moment later it crumbled away and she saw who stood behind.

"No..." the word fell from her lips as she took in Link, far too small for the sword he held, as his innocence vanished into a cloud of malice and monster guts.

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Any feedback would be wonderful, thank you! According to canon, Link was a master swordsman at four. I think that's a little much, but picking one up to defend his mother? Absolutely!