Waiting

Chapter 2

Months had past since Link's legendary duel with Gannondorf, But even with Hyrule in an era of peace, Link hasn't returned home...

Ilia lay on her bed, waiting for sleep to drift through her, but like most nights it wouldn't. Ilia sighed and sat up. After slipping the goat fur slippers onto her feet, she went and stood by the window, feeling the cool night breeze wash over her and stare at the moon, like she did whenever she couldn't sleep. The moon's smooth light and the peace of the forest helped clear her head, but her thoughts always came back to the same thing.

Why hadn't he come home? Ever since he had brought her back to the village she hadn't seen him. Life wasn't the same without him.

"Ilia?" Bo, her father whispered

Ilia didn't respond. She just continued to gaze out her window. Bo came to stand beside her and placed a stern hand on her shoulder

"He'll come home, honey. He is just trying to figure out his place in the world." He said

"His place is here. With the village..." Ilia said, finally turning to look at her father "With me."

"Link knows you're waiting for him. But the life of an adventurer isn't an easy one. And he needs to figure out what he is going to do now the adventure is over."

"He could just come home." Ilia turned her gaze back out the window.

"Go back to bed, honey" Bo said lovingly, kissing her on the forehead.

"Night dad"

Ilia didn't move away from the window. So Bo just exited quietly. He knew Ilia would never give up on that boy, never.

Ilia awoke early the next morning and left for Rusl's house. Even though Gannondorf had been defeated, Rusl had been working with the other freedom fighters and the Hylian army to eliminate any of his rogue forces. And with him away for weeks at a time, Uli had to focus most of her energy on the baby. Ilia had started to help Colin & Uli now that she had given birth to her baby girl. Ilia didn't really mind looking after Colin since they had grown close when they had been living in Kakariko.

Ilia crossed the stream and climbed the small rise to Rusl's house and found Coline waiting for her on the porch.

Noticing her arrival Colin looked up from his feet

"Oh, hi Ilia" Colin beamed. Since the incident with the monster on the Bridge of Eldin, Colin had become very self-confident. And, like herself, he hadn't given up on Link's return.

"Good morning Colin," Ilia smiled "where is Uli?"

"She is inside," He replied "but the baby is still sleeping, so she told me to wait out here."

"Oh, so then what do you want to do today?"

Link awoke on the coast of Lake Hylia from a gentle nudge from Epona. Link had been camping on the southern beach ever since his search had gone cold.

Ever since Midna had left, Link had been searching Hyrule for a way to restore the Mirror of Twilight. He's search had taken him to every corner of Hyrule, seeing if there was any rumors, any ancient legends. Link had consulted with Princess Zelda, Spoken with each of the ancient Light Spirits, The sages of Arbiter's Grounds and even to City in the Sky to ask the Oocca, just something to give him a chance to see her again. Without Midna Link's shadow felt...empty. Link took his time packing up camp. He was trying to figure out what to do now.

After weeks of tracking the trail had gone cold.

"Link?" a voice interrupted. Link turned around, only to see King Ralis with several zora guards behind him. "What are you doing here?" Ralis continued. Link answered the young king with a sad gaze and looked away. "Still searching?" Ralis queried

"Not anymore." Link answered rather coldly. Ralis dismissed his guards with a quick gesture of his hand, the guards then gave their king a salute and left to refresh themselves in the lake behind them.

"What are you doing here?" Ralis asked again.

"I needed time to think." Link said dully. Ralis sat down by the waters edge to dangle his legs in the water. He gestured for Link to join him. Link hesitated for a moment then unstrapped his boots and sat down next to him. The water of Lake Hylia was the perfect temperature, the slowing rolling water helped ease Link's mind. Several minutes past and neither of them said anything.

"What are you going to do now?" Ralis asked without removing his gaze from the water.

"I'm leaving." Link replied flatly

"Why are you leaving?"

"There is nothing left in Hyrule for me."

"What about Ordon?" Ralis questioned

Link said nothing and continued to stare into the water. Ralis gave a sigh and turned to look at the older boy. He noticed how much Link had changed since he saw him last, he seemed paler and his natural confidence seemed to be replaced by despair and great sadness. But worst of all was his eyes, his bright blue eyes had become almost grey in appearance.

"Link," Ralis began turning to face the water again "When I found out my mother died, I…I felt like a part of me had died as well. I felt so sorry for myself that I neglected my duties and my people. But you taught me how to be strong and how to put the needs of my people before myself."

Link turned to face the young zora and noticed how much he had grown. His limbs had bulked up in the weeks since he last saw him. He had the air of a sturdy leader around him. Ralis turned to look Link in the eye. "You lost someone close to you, I can understand that, but you need to go home." Ralis turned to the water once more "Besides, those closest to you never really leave you."

Realization spread through Link,

"The one place I didn't look," Link thought "maybe there is still a chance." Link rose quickly and began re-strapping his boots.

"Where are you going now?" Ralis asked. Link didn't answer he just continued to saddle Epona. "Link?" Ralis asked again, with more intensity

"Kakariko……" Link said. And then he was gone

Ilia sat on a fallen log and watched Colin spar with a dummy. Colin had become much more confident in himself since learning how to use a sword.

With a few more quick strokes from Colin and the dummy's head was destroyed.

"You've really come along with that Colin." Complimented Ilia

Colin's eyes brightened with joy "Really?" replied Colin excitedly "Maybe one day I'll be as good as my Dad!"

"I think you almost as good as..." Ilia left the sentence unfinished

The joy faded from Colin's eyes as he was reminded of his former role model.

After several minutes Colin spoke hesitantly "Is he going to come back?" As he spoke Ilia saw a glimpse of the old, shy Colin and realized that Link's absence was not just affecting her.

"He will, I just know it." She said through a weak smile, not sure whether believing herself.

Link emerged from the small tunnel connecting Kakariko graveyard with the ancient zora resting place. Link stood up and dusted himself off, then swam over to the zora tablet at the far end of the grove.

"Queen Rutela," Link called as he sank to his knees in front of the tablet, "I need to speak to you once more. Please, heed my call!"

"Hero?" came a distant voice "why do you need me?" Link turned to face the ghostly image of the deceased queen zora.

"Rutela how is it that you can appear in this world?" Link asked

"Hero…" Rutela began, her tone ever calming "you wish to see her again, don't you?"

"More than anything"

"My soul resides in this world because of this ancestral place," Rutela said indicating the grove around her, "She is not of this world and she has not passed on."

"But she became a being of this world, surely she can…"

"There is no way," Rutela interjected lightly "and if there was, you could not be together. She has duties to her people and you have duties to yours."

"But…" Link said, tears welling in his eyes.

"Goodbye, young one" she said softly as her voice faded away, leaving Link alone once again.

Link slowly trudged into Hyrule field upon Epona, his life in taters. Now what was he to do? All hope was lost. He could go back to Ordon, but would they take him back after he abandoned them for so long? He looked up to see the grey afternoon sky, making him feel ever drearier.

"Mr. Link?" came a voice from behind him. In his despair, Link hadn't notice the Mail-man approach him. Link stared blankly at the strange man. The Mail-man seemed taken off guard by this and simply handed Link a letter. Link took it without removing his empty stare.

"From the castle..." The Mail-man said before rushing off in more of a hurry than usual. Link turned the envelope over and noticed the seal of the Royal Family. Link carefully opened the envelope to find a simple parchment.

Link,

I need to see you.

Zelda

Rain began to fall as Link nudged Epona forward and started the slow trek to Hyrule Castle.