The air was growing cool, the fall easing its way into the lands of Hyrule Kingdom. The sunlight had faded into a deep orange as it leaked across the green fields. It was becoming too late for any kind of rational meeting with the council, yet Queen Zelda was pulled from her quarters to attention to royal business. She and the council members were in the middle of a meeting as a servant scurried over to her.
"Your Majesty," She interrupted quietly, gaining the Queen's attention, "Sir Link is here. Do you wish for me to send the guard?"
Zelda calmly shook her head and ushered the noblemen out as she replied, "No, we will greet him personally."
"Yes, your Majesty," She bowed, hurrying down the hall.
In the center of the main hall stood a tall, golden blonde haired young man who observed the room's surroundings with his strong deep blue eyes. The knighted hero's face was calm and content as he peered around the room that was once a part of a puzzle. His worn steel breastplate protected his shoulders and torso, showing years of acquired skill overtop his dark green, long-sleeved tunic. His brown boots stopped just below his knees, brown trousers tucked into them. A dark green cape draped over his shoulders, cascading lazily down his back where his sword and shield rested.
"Sir Link," The Queen addressed him as she and the nobles drifted down the hall towards him.
The man turned his attention to the monarch and nobles. He bowed respectfully to them before looking to the Queen and growing a small, soft smile.
The Queen returned the smile before continuing, "It's been so long since you last paid us a visit. Your travels have led you far from the lands of Hyrule."
The hero gave her a short nod, his strong eyes following the group of nobles.
"Three years is a long time to spend from your home," Zelda continued, her smile staining her lips, "I take it you will be staying the night. Ordon is nearly two days from the castle and you must be exhausted." She paused and turned to a nearby servant, speaking politely, "Prepare a room for Sir Link, please."
The servant obeyed and quickly fled.
The queen returned her gaze to the hero, "Last I heard, you were heading to land beyond Termina. Life is always an adventure for you, isn't it?"
He smiled softly.
"I'm sorry, your Highness. But, we must move on to our meeting," Spoke a short nobleman with a bushy mustache, "My apologies, Sir Link..."
The Queen nodded gently, "You're right, Lord Seiran." She gazed back to Link with a somber look, "We will meet again later. I apologize, Hero."
Link nodded, an understanding glimmer in his deep blue irises as he bowed respectfully to the Queen of Hyrule.
"Make yourself at home," Zelda offered him gently, "You've been traveling for far too long."
The hero grew a small smirk that went unseen by the council, but not by the Queen. She smiled as she the nobles bid the hero farewell, leaving the room.
Link sighed contently as he watched the Queen of Hyrule and her council cascaded back down the hall, her dress flowing behind her languidly. The hero finally pried his eyes away as they were completely out of sight from down the hall.
The same servant returned to his side, clearly out of breath, but smiling anyway, "Shall I take you to your room, Sir Link?"
He gave a small nodded and followed the young woman down the grand hall.
The hallways were almost exactly as Link remembered them. Red carpet trailing to each end of the hall and paintings along the naked stone walls. Unlike during the Twilight Invasion, the halls had a lively feeling again. This may or may not have been the fact that guards were stationed to patrol every hall, walking casually throughout the castle and saluting him as they passed. Not after long, the maiden stopped at a dark oak wood door and opened it for him.
"Your room, Sir Link," She spoke with a curtsy. Link gave her a courtesy smile and nod as she left back down the hall.
The room was an average size and the walls were painted white. Soft blue curtains hung on either side of the glass doors to a balcony overlooking the courtyard used for training soldiers. In the center of the room was a queen size bed with a rich red duvet and white sheets. Beneath the bed was a blue area rug, stretching two feet from all walls. To the left wall of the bed was an oak wardrobe. Near the door to his left was a dresser, while against the wall to his right was a small bookshelf.
Link sighed deeply as he unfastened his chest plate and placed it atop the dresser, rubbing his shoulder gingerly as he approached the balcony.
The hero peered outside, soaking in the dying light as a sigh left his lips.
Hyrule truly had grown while he had been gone. The land overflowed with beauty and the people smiled when greeting each other. In the courtyard below his balcony rested flowerbeds spotting along the path to Castle Town. Guardsmen regularly patrolled the long stairway and the surrounding gardens of Hyrule Castle.
What pleased him the most was the lack of creatures crawling around. Five years may have been a long time since the invasion, but he could swear he still sees the monsters creeping around when he closed his eyes. After everything with Ganondorf and Midna, Link could never seem to truly return to a normal life. He couldn't just resume his life in Ordon. Almost as immediately as the Queen's crowning, he was knighted and given the title Sir Link of Hyrule. The Hero of Twilight had continued to serve Hyrule and its people. He trained the new Royal guard, donated to those in need, and led expeditions all over Hyrule and across the world.
Link smirked softly as he thought, folding his arms loosely across his chest. He truly never stopped moving, did he? With a heart of gold and a fire in his ancient soul, the hero continued to help others in any way he possibly could.
His eyes glanced at the bookshelf sitting against the wall. Her Majesty truly enjoyed literature. She had recommended several novels to him throughout the years, some of which he genuinely enjoyed reading while on his travels. He recalled how her eyes lit up at the topic, shinning with intrigue and glee. He had never seen her so dedicated to something so simple. Link didn't mind it. Seeing the queen happy made him smile.
Link shifted against the door jam, pushing off and browsing the shelf. He knew he'd have plenty of time on his hands as he awaited the Queen of Hyrule's return.
Two hours had passed and the sun had officially fallen into the night. Link gazed at the final page of his current novel, hovering over the last sentence before shutting the leather bound book and setting it on the chair beside him. He rose to his feet and stretched his body with a yawn. He rubbed his eyes as he walked out into the hallway, reflecting on the tale he read.
Surely this was just a way to pass time, yet this one stuck to him. A tale of two people who spoke casually every time they met, neither of them aware of the other's passion for them and spent their entire lives alone due to their silence. It confused the hero. No one could possibly be so shy or naive. Yes, he himself was often silent, but for such a matter?
Link shuffled into the barren hallway and proceeded to wander through castle for nostalgia's sake.