It was almost three days before the squad of knights reached the next town. Link sat in the front of Impa's saddle, barely able to keep his eyes open. The Sheikah woman sighed softly.
At first, every sharp movement from any of the other knights or unexpected sounds they made near him sent the boy into a panic and Impa would have to give chase to bring him back because Link didn't seem to trust anyone but her.
Once they had stopped to make camp for the night Link had become a bundle of nerves slowly increasing in intensity as he tried to keep everyone within his line of sight but wasn't able to. It was Shad, the only member of their group that wasn't a solider, that seemed to break the boy out of his haze of fear, if only briefly.
Link had curled into himself, with his knees against his chest as he watched everyone closely until he jumped when someone suddenly crushed to the floor right in front of him. Papers, pens and scrolls flew everywhere as the young man hit the floor. The act was so common place that the nearby soldiers didn't even pause in their task and just approached the red haired man that had begun to grope around blindly for his glasses and helped him to his feet.
"Sorry! So sorry! I hope I didn't step on anyone this time?" asked the red haired man hurriedly. He accepted his notes and other fallen items gratefully. Link had hesitantly approached the man once the other soldiers started to return to their tasks and held out his glasses. The young man laughed as he smiled in thanks, almost dropping his large pile of papers again when he reached out to take them back.
"Goodness! Thank you! I dare say, I spend more time on the ground because of these blasted two left feet of mine!" exclaimed the red haired man with an embarrassed smile as he slipped his glasses over his nose. His hand hurriedly abandoned his lopsided glasses in order to stop the pile of papers from slipping from his grasp and hitting the floor again.
A small smile graced the boy's features and he timidly gestured that he would carry some of the man's papers for him.
"Oh? Are you…offering to help me?" asked the red haired man curiously as he lowered his head to try to spot a better way to adjust his grip, causing his lopsided glasses to slip off his face, "Oh, darn it. One of these days those things are gonna fall off and will never be seen again. Just to spite me. They hate me, they must! I can't seem to get the darn things to stay on my face!"
Link chuckled as he picked up the glasses and slipped them onto the man's face.
"Thank you! I would greatly appreciate your help if you wouldn't mind. My name is Shad. What is yours?" asked Shad. Link said his name so softly that Shad almost didn't catch it, but what he may lack in physical strength and apparently a sense of balance, he seemed to make up for in intelligence. He was very insightful and empathetic. Even if he hadn't been present when they had found the boy in that nightmarish place, he still could have been able to tell that something trouble had happened to Link.
The boy's fear and turmoil seemed to roll off him in waves, especially when he thought no one was watching him.
Impa watched them from across the camp while she helped tie the horses down. The boy was tense and watched the knights around him instead of listening to Shad's chatter as they walked away. The young man seemed to notice but merely tried to regain the boy's attention by shooting questions his way. Questions that quickly became random and not at all personal once Shad realized how uncomfortable it made the boy.
His clumsy but cheerful nature seemed not as threatening to Link so Impa encouraged the young man to try and interact with the boy more often after that encounter.
Link still stayed glued to Impa's side through most of the trip, especially after the first night once he woke up from a nightmare so intense that it sent the entire camp into a panic from the scream that still echoed faintly in the night after they had finally realized that they were not under attack.
Impa was startled but intrigued by the boy that suddenly had the strength to hurl her a few feet away from him before he realized who she was. She could sense something…else. A strong but violent energy within the boy. Just who was he? She could almost compare him to-no. Her energy was nothing like his. This boy was like nothing she had ever encountered.
Soon the energy faded once the boy realized who he had thrown through the air. He immediately became timid and apologetic. His fearful blue eyes watched her hesitantly as he winced, expecting her to angrily lash out at him.
She was just as patient as always though. The Sheikah returned to his side, a stern glance through narrowed eyes portraying that she didn't appreciate becoming the boy's temporary throwing disk but the hand gently resting on his shoulder showed that she understood why.
She urged Link to lay back down, but the Sheikah woman knew he wasn't sleeping. The dark circles under his eyes that seemed to only grow darker as the days passed proved that he wouldn't sleep no matter how much he obviously needed too. She wasn't certain how to help him, so she just gave him some space. Hopefully he'll find a way to calm his restless mind so he could sleep or his body will soon make him sleep.
Slowly but surely, Link was convinced to leave Impa's side but only if it was with Shad. The man's natural talent of being a chatterbox seemed to ease the boy's nerves once he got used to the red haired man.
Shad was able to get some facts out of the boy that they all had been wondering as long as Link was distracted with something else. Though no one had the courage to ask about the attack yet. Not even the Sheikah woman. She was certain that Link wouldn't talk about it anyway.
They found he was barely fourteen years of age. His birthday had even been two days prior to the attack. A fact that was revealed by accident, Shad was sure, once they over heard someone boast of a surprise party that he was planning for his daughter. Link had snorted amusingly, muttering that this man's daughter hopefully had the fortitude to handle such a thing. Two days earlier, nearly his entire hometown had teased the boy for the 'girly squeal' he let out when they had hidden in his adoptive parents' house and jumped out to shout in celebration for his birthday once he finally stepped through the door.
Shad was surprised at the personal fact but immediately changed the subject once the boy refused to comment on it any farther.
Link had started to get into the habit of following him around, carrying half of his heavy load, allowing Shad to properly record his notes without dropping everything every time he decided to write anything down. The boy had finally asked in a timid manner why Shad was traveling with a squad of knights once it became painfully obvious that the man possessed as much skill in combat as a frightened squirrel.
"Oh, this and that. I'm an explorer by nature and the Queen happens to be good friends with my father so she lets me tag along with the first battalion of the Gold Brigade. Well, actually this little group here is just part of the first battalion of the Gold Brigade. Goodness, the entire battalion would be far too many people to keep track of, I dare say! Not that I wouldn't be up to the task should it present itself to me but-," Shad paused in his chatter when Link gave him a confused look, "You don't know about the Gold Brigade?"
The boy frowned and then just shrugged. He'd heard of them but didn't really know what they were apart from being part of the royal army.
"You see, the Gold Brigade is the strongest among the Kingdoms military. I believe they are twelve thousand strong now. Ever since the Queen took the throne four months ago she has been 'cleaning up' her father's mess. At least that's what she says. Over tea and a giant sandwich full of greasy sausage and cheese. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it but the Queen eats like a lumberjack! Well, the amount and kinds of food anyway. Not the manner though. Goodness, no woman raised by Impa would be eating without manners. Whether they were royalty or not!" exclaimed Shad with a chuckle. He then paused as he gave Link a confused look.
"Wait…I'm getting off topic. What was I saying before…?" Shad laughed embarrassedly when Link tapped a finger against the huge stack of papers he was carrying, "Oh, right! Well, mainly I'm just here to explore. Once the squad clears an area I go out and investigate. You never know what you might find! I am also another mouth to feed though. So, I pull my weight by offering to keep track of everyone's equipment, supplies and any kind of messages that they want to remember once we reach the capitol again. I know that it doesn't seem like it, but I do have a system here. I know where to find anything I write down…well, after I sort them out again once I drop them…but that hasn't happened since you decide to be a gentlemen and helped me carry everything,"
Link looked down at the mass of papers in his own hand and then over at the other pile in Shad's…just how much equipment did this squad of knights have? Unless they are just messing with Shad and having him write down a bunch of useless facts?
Then the boy frowned at the realization that he was just another mouth to feed as well. How could he pull his weight?
Impa had scoffed at the comment when he quietly brought it up later that night once they settled down to rest.
"Shad is a member of this team. You are not. Do not think that you must carry your own weight. We came to secure the area to the northern border and found total devastation instead," She paused with a sigh when Link lowered his gaze and wrapped his arms around himself with a muttered 'I'm sorry'.
"Don't. You have nothing to apologize for. We are forever grateful that you survived. That is our priority now Link. You. To get you to safety," said Impa as she lifted the boy's chin gently. He had tears in his eyes as he looked at her in desperation.
"Why…? Why are all of you grateful that I survived? Anyone else would have been better. Everyone else h-had a r-reason to live. I'm n-not even f-from Ordon-"
"Are you telling me that you have no reason to live? Are the lives lost in Ordon not worth your devotion to life? Do you think any one of them would say that they deserved to live and not you? Link, you need to talk about this. Grief can be just as deadly as any poison if not treated properly. It doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow or even this year. You can choose. Just remember though, if you forever stay locked in the darkness of your past, then you will never find the light of your future. The longer you take, the more that darkness will grow," said Impa as she used a thumb to wipe his tears away. Link sniffled and then wrapped himself around her again.
"Will the pain go away if I do?" asked Link softly. Impa sighed sadly and then run a hand through his blonde hair.
"It will help but only time can ease that pain. Allow it and it will happen. You just have to make the effort or the darkness of your past will consume any amount of light that you try to accept in your life. Now sleep," replied Impa. She held him for a few more moments before gently pushing him down onto his bedroll. A stern look pierced him until he sheepishly laid under the blankets.
The next day, Link found what he could do to help out. He understood that they weren't expecting it but it didn't feel right to not contribute.
Link has always had a way with nature and the creatures that lived within it. It was the reason why his skill with the bow and arrow had helped feed his village. Rarely did he come home empty handed and if the few goats or cattle they had ever got out of hand he was the one that was called to settle them down.
It was like the creatures of the earth didn't see him as a person but as another of their own. Link had difficulty hunting after he realized this, so he made sure to only kill what they needed.
Something had spooked one of the horses. No one even knew what it was at first, but the unfortunate thing about herd animals is that they tend to follow the crowd. Once one is spooked then they all will soon get spooked.
Granted, the fact that they are warhorses has improved their fortitude but you can't teach a herd animal not to be a herd animal anymore then you can teach a predator not to be a predator. You can suppress it, and even distract it, but ultimately that instinct is going to come out one way or another.
That was why several knights immediately rushed over to try and calm the beast, because nobody wanted to have over forty horses thinking that they needed to start defending themselves, or worse, that they needed to start running away.
Then they stopped, watching in amazement as the boy stood in the center of the herd. He spoke softly to the one in the center, as if the rest weren't snorting and pawing the air or digging their hooves into the ground in fear and aggression.
The knights looked at one another, and then to their commander as Impa came barreling forward. She was about to demand an explanation for their inactivity until Link suddenly was leading the now calm chestnut mare by her halter.
The boy stood rooted to the spot once he noticed the many pairs of eyes suddenly on him. Then he quickly inched closer to the mare now looking around for any grass she could pick at.
"She…she doesn't like the sound of-of…the dice rolling in-in that metal c-cup," stuttered Link bashfully. They all stared at him for a few moments until several started to slap the back of a short but stocky man near the front.
"Damn it Ben! You trying to start a stampede with that cup of yours?!"
"I knew you were rigging the game Ben!"
"Thought you could be all sly didn't you?"
"Couldn't wait to taste some action, huh?"
The one called Ben apparently was having a good time with the harassment thrown his way. Denying it or just giving excuses. Then they all thanked the boy for stopping a catastrophe, though they stayed at a distance. They learned that he couldn't handle any proximity with anyone but Impa and Shad at the moment.
Link nodded silently in response to any that personally thanked him while staying mostly hidden by the body of the grazing mare.
That became his self-assigned job while he traveled with them. He would care for the horses whenever he wasn't helping Shad carry his massive pile of papers or talking with Impa. The familiar act of cleaning out their hooves, washing them down when it got too hot and brushing their coats until they shimmered in the daylight distracted his mind from the images trying to remind him of what he had just survived.
The Sheikah woman had watched closely at first, ready to step in if it proved too much for Link but the boy seemed more at ease around the animals then he did around people. It even looked natural, making her believe he had always been like that.
It also made Link so worn out that by the time that they unpacked their bedrolls he would crash as soon as his head hit the pillow. A slight smile reached her lips, glad that the boy was finally getting some much needed sleep.
Eventually, the boy had asked Shad why he didn't have a bag of any kind but the red haired man laughed and said that he actually has several bags but most of them are already stuffed with books and some of his personal journals.
Books were sacred to Shad apparently. Link hadn't really put too much thought into that until they found a book just lying on the side of the road. The red haired man went crazy with worry as he rushed over to it. The boy hadn't laughed like that since before the attack but he couldn't help it. He'd never seen someone cradle a book so tenderly as if it were an abused abandoned child.
Now they were approaching the next town, the royal colors flying in the wind from the banner held in the front so the town didn't think that a random but large band of knights were just strolling up to their front doors.
Link's drowsy mind seemed to snap to attention. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Impa.
"What is the matter, little hero?" asked Impa. The nickname had bothered him at first. He didn't see himself as a hero at all but Impa said that sometimes it isn't about you. It is about what others see in you. Every knight in that squad thought that he was heroic and so did those horses, in their own way. It doesn't matter if it was because of calming a frightened mare before anyone got hurt or if he had slayed a dragon before it could destroy a city. What matters is the impression you make on those you help.
"N-nothing," muttered Link. Impa hummed, low and long. A sign he has started to associate with her nearly flawless insight and endless patience. It was her 'I know you're lying to me' hum.
"I mean…it's nothing worth saying," muttered Link.
"If it is bothering you, then it is worth saying. Don't make me ask you again," said Impa in her stern 'no nonsense' voice. He lowered his head and tightened the grip on the arm she had wrapped around his stomach to keep him steady. He started to say something but one of the knights approached them, making the boy cringe and lean away.
Impa pulled the boy closer so he wasn't hanging halfway off the saddle and then sighed when he quickly brought his right leg up and bent it so he could use it to try and propel himself from the saddle. He started to hyperventilate when she grabbed a hold of his leg and forced it back down. She jerked her head toward the knight, signaling that they needed space but she was glad to see that he was already doing so.
Link instantly started to relax when she began to shush softly into his pointed ear. Red eyes turned to lock on with the knight waiting a few feet away. He was the same one who had found the boy first. Her right hand man, with an intimidating appearance but gentle hands.
"Charles, go with Shad into town while he gathers supplies. Take Edward and Nicolas with you. Tell the rest to make camp nearby," said Impa. Charles gave a swift salute followed with a 'Yes ma'am!' before he strode out of Link's line of sight. That made him anxious again but he could manage it this time since he could hear the heavy foot falls of the man's boots fading away.
"Now, I believe you were going to say something to me?" stated Impa as she urged her horse forward again and approached the front gates to the city. The guards standing ready at the gates saluted her as she passed by them. She nodded her head in acknowledgement and suddenly they entered the bustle of the city as its residents went about their everyday lives.
The sight was more disturbing to the boy then the sudden increase of activity. Didn't they know what happened to Ordon? Those horrible people could have easily headed this way after they destroyed his home and almost every soul within it.
"You're going to stay here…right? You and-and the knights?" asked Link timidly. Blue eyes were swimming through the crowds of people rushing passed them. They looked no different than his own family and neighbors! They wouldn't stand a chance against those monsters if they showed up!
"This town is considerably bigger then Ordon, Link. That means they have better precautions against raiders. I even trained a few of the guards that are employed by the mayor. You will be safe here," said Impa. The boy fell silent after that.
It was nearly two hours, mostly because Shad had to be physically dragged away from merchants selling any books, before they had finally gathered enough supplies for the troops. Impa had browsed and bought a few things but Link always shook his head when she asked if he needed anything.
She caught him running his fingers over a green cap when they were standing next to a stall overcrowded with warm cloths. Honesty, it looked more like a giant sock but the fond smile gracing the boys features made the Sheikah woman believe it must remind him of something he held dear.
She knew winter was approaching and the weather was harsh this far north. She ran a critical eye over the boy's thin frame, trying to guess his size. He couldn't be wearing those cloths much longer. They weren't warm enough and bore signs of having to deal with fire and vengeful pieces of the ruins of his home by the burnt holes and torn edges seen throughout its length.
Link was startled by the pile of cloths pushed into his arms once they stopped to eat at a tavern. He looked up, about to protest but was cut off as something was pulled over his eyes. He quickly raised a hand, while struggling to keep the pile from hitting the floor, to push the material up and away from his face only to see Impa peering down at him with her arms folded and a small smirk portraying her amusement.
Link tried to glare at her but couldn't help the smile that started to spread over his face at the feel of the green cap's soft material against his fingers.
"You didn't have to get these Impa…" muttered Link bashfully as he played with the edge of the green cap. He hugged the thick green long sleeved shirt, black pants and brown boots to his chest though, sure that they were meant for the cold weather that would be washing over the land soon.
"Of course I had too. No charge of mine is going to be walking around in those rags. Especially when winter is just around the corner. Now, finish your meal and then you will change. No if's, and's, or but's. Understand?" said Impa sternly. The boy nodded with a small smile, muttering a soft 'thank you' as he set his cloths next to him.
They ate their food in comfortable silence. Link sat with his back against the wall as he watched the customers as they ate their meals. He was nervous at first but having Impa so close and no one else nearby helped calm him. He used to like watching people, just for the fun of it. You never know what you can spot if you look hard enough.
Now, his mind seemed to find something dangerous about every person he wasn't familiar with. The man sitting by himself in the other corner of the room, with enough chest and back hair to be mistaken for a bear from far away. The two women sitting close to the front door, chatting over two cups of tea. Or at least that's what he guessed they were drinking. It could have been hard liquor for all he knew.
"Are you done?" asked Impa without looking up from her meal.
"Yes," said Link quickly, wanting to leave this crowded place. Red eyes finally did glance over to see the boy's barely touched food.
"You will eat the rest of that Cucco breast and then you may go change," ordered Impa as she narrowed her eyes at the boy. He huffed, but started to cut the meat up before stabbing them with his fork and plopping them into his mouth.
Link was almost done when something seemed to have caught Impa's attention. He paused, his fork halfway into his mouth when she suddenly raised from her seat.
"What's wrong?" asked Link anxiously as he dropped his fork back to his plate. Impa glanced back over and nodded toward his food.
"I have just spotted an old friend. I will return shortly. I want that finished when I get back," said Impa. She then turned and strode toward the bar, where an elderly woman had just walked up to the counter.
Link's anxiety instantly soared through the roof. The only reason he wasn't bolting in pursuit of her was because he could still see the Sheikah speaking to the elderly woman. They definitely seemed to know each other, if the friendly pat on the Sheikah's arm by the other woman was anything to go by. So, that was good. No one he should be worried about then…right?
They must have spoken for over half an hour, making him fidget and glance around worriedly. Why would they need to talk for so long?
Then in what seemed like years to Link, Impa was making her way back to their table. When she reached his side those red eyes narrowed at the sight of the cold Cucco still sitting on his plate. Blue eyes glanced down in confusion before widening in realization.
His fork stabbed through all three big pieces and quickly stuffed them into his mouth. Link then sat there, trying to pretend that there hadn't been any meat on his plate as he tried to chew the mound of food trying to escape his overcrowded mouth. Impa made a sound of disapproval but then the elderly woman approached the table.
She wore a grandmotherly smile, making him think of cookies and old stories from the point of view of someone that had been there. Her white hair was held up in a tight bun and she held onto a wooden cane as she hobbled along.
"Hello, dearie. I am Mable. You must be Link. Oh, what a strapping young lad. Don't you worry. You are in good hands now, sonny," said the elderly woman. The boy looked at her in confusion once he finally managed to swallow the mound of food. He knew that Impa would take care of him but it was nice of the old lady to remind him.
"Link, don't be rude," said Impa sternly. Link's eyes widened and then he looked up sheepishly at the elderly woman.
"Hello…it's nice to meet you," said Link bashfully. She chuckled, amusement gleaming in her green eyes. Impa sighed and then gestured toward the boy's winter cloths sitting beside him.
"You may use my room to change now Link. It's the fourth one on the left side upstairs. We will be leaving afterward so be ready," said Impa as she handed him her room key. The boy nodded with a shy smile before gathering up his cloths and bolted away.
Mable sat down with a heavy sigh and then watched the boy scurry up the stairs. Impa stood next to the table, her arms folded.
"That boy is too attached to you Impa. With what you told me, he's not going to handle this well," said Mable gravely as she folded her hands over the handle of her cane. Impa sighed.
"I didn't know how to handle the situation myself. I just…did what seemed right and I thought Link responded well to my efforts," said Impa softly. Mable snorted.
"Of course he responded well. You were the first person that didn't remind him of the hell he must have went through. With the obvious skill to defend yourself and him if need be. The squad of bloody knights probably even helped his paranoia of being finished off by those monsters. There's not much difference between two aggressive men when you're a frightened young child," said Mable. Impa ran a hand down her face.
"I couldn't just let him sit in the corner of our camp in a scared little ball of misery, Mable. I can't take him with me now either…Shad said that the area surrounding Ordon had been the most active site he had on record. Once I finally got there the connection had gotten too weak to use! I can't stop when we are so close to finding them. I just need to find out what made that area different than the others," said Impa. She glanced down, her red eyes lost in contemplation.
She could have finally stumbled onto the key of their disappearance. Her people had been gone for so long…and Hyrule seemed to be suffering from their absence. No one had believed such a thing at first but it was hard to remain ignorant to the fact that magic was starting to disappear from the kingdom. Not just from spell castors and ritual makers, but even potion brewers were starting to realize that their potions were getting more and more like a slightly nutritious bottle of colored water instead of the powerful concoction capable of healing the most grave of injuries.
"That poor boy isn't going to know that. He's just going to know that the person who's keeping his world from collapsing around him is about to walk away after dumping him onto some old hag," said Mable with a frown. Impa turned to face her with a scowl.
"I'm not dumping him on you, Mable. You agreed to this and are perfectly capable of taking care of him and you will be here whenever he needs-"
"This is why you are the best damn leader in her highness's command. You know exactly what is needed to be done to get your mission completed but you are absolute crap at knowing what is needed outside of that duty. Children don't follow any kind of rule book. Those that seem like it are either messing with you or are seriously damaged like that boy," said Mable as she jabbed a finger toward where Link had disappeared up the stairs.
"It's a small wonder how he's even this stable with the level of devastation that he came from. That means he's latched himself on to you like a leech," muttered Mable before shaking her head, "The moment you rip apart that connection he's going to fall apart,"
Impa pursed her lips. She had made a mistake by allowing Link to rely so heavily on her. She sighed, an unsettled expression flashing across her face before a perfectly neutral one replaced it.
"You are right Mable. I can't prolong this goodbye. So, I will just take my leave now," she said before she swiftly gathered her supplies and cloak.
"What?! That's not what I-"
"Please…take care of him Mable. And tell him…I wish him the best," said Impa, a rare sad look reaching her red eyes before she pivoted around and almost ran out of the tavern.
Mable hurriedly stood to her feet but Impa was already out of sight by the time she could get her old bones to work properly.
"Of all the stupid, idiotic, reckless-"
"Ah…where's Impa?" asked a timid voice from behind her suddenly. She stopped, her shoulders sagging as she sighed. Then she turned to face the boy looking worriedly around for the white haired Sheikah woman.
Link's green shirt was a little big, and his pants were a bit too long but he would grow into them relatively quickly. His arms, now covered by long green sleeves, were held close to his chest as he nervously waited for an answer. The green cap covering his blonde head made him look even younger.
"Don't worry, sonny. She went to…take care of something. Let's get out of this stuffy place, alright?" asked Mable as she gestured for him to follow. The boy hesitated, giving another nervous glance around the tavern for the white haired Sheikah. Eventually he finally followed behind her.
Impa had said that she was an old friend so she would be safe to be around…right? Impa did always look busy while they were traveling so she probably just went to take care of something involving the knights. They never did much without her say so.
Mable sighed again as the boy scanned the street as soon as they left the tavern as he followed close behind her. She wasn't a miracle worker but she would do everything in her power to help this young boy cope with his loss.
The old woman grumbled softly to herself. Impa had just made that feat a lot harder but she guessed just leaving was better than an awkward goodbye that might have given the boy the wrong impression. Only time would tell.
"But so help me Impa, if I have too, I will drag your arse back here if that is what this boy needs though," muttered Mable to herself.