-Come Back When You're Older-
-Old Friends, New Beginnings-
"You were the last person I would have expected to see, down in that wretched prison." Kafei said, sipping his steaming tea. The two sat facing each other in the den of the mayor's office, a small fire ushering out the chill of the twilight outside.
"Well it seems that I would owe you my life. I might not have had a chance to explain myself had it been anyone else." Link replied, rubbing his wet hair. After he had been released from the prison, Kafei had Link set up in one of the empty rooms of the Stock Pot Inn. There he was able to wash, unpack his belongings, and take a nap. He had been woken, though, by a young attendant, who advised him the mayor would like to see him.
"I would say you owe the fates, not myself!" Link narrowed his eyes, staring at his tea. He hadn't come to Termina to hear those words. Kafei, who's age now more appropriately corresponded to his body, had taken over the position of Mayor as soon as his father had fallen ill, and moved to the coast with his wife.
Link stared at the crackling fire, thinking of another subject to steer the conversation towards. Kafei, though, understood his discontent, changing the subject for him. "I sent word to Anju, she's very excited to hear you've come to visit. She's currently with mother and father, though, and wont be back for several more days. Will you still be here?"
Link took another sip of the tea and set it on the side table next to him. "Actually… I was wondering if I could stay."
Kafei stared at him silently for a moment, contemplating his request. "You mean, indefinitely? Here? In Clock Town?" Link nodded, to which Kafei smiled broadly. "But of course!" He clapped his hands together energetically. "I'm sure we can work something out with the Inn, set you up until you can find a place of your own."
A place of my own. The thought made Link smile, a place to call home. "I worked as a carpenter in Hyrule…"
"Oh, I'm sure you did much more than that…" Kafei winked. Link's brow furrowed, what did he mean by that? "Oh come now? Most people here know you as the savior of Clock Town." Link grimaced; all he needed was to attract attention. Kafei waved a dismissive hand, though. "Don't worry, though. I wont tell if you wont." He elbowed the former hero. "It'll be our little secret. Though I can't vouch for Romani, she'll be surprised when she hears she accused the wrong man!"
Link's happy thoughts were turned to dust, though, when Kafei mentioned this. He sunk deeper into his chair, a brooding cloud masking his face. "Yeah, it'll be fantastic."
"Ah… I see you already must know." Kafei was silent for a while. There really wasn't much else to say. It had been common knowledge that Cremia's younger sister had been so enamored with the young foreigner that she had been devastated when he left.
Cremia. The oldest daughter of the late rancher, Renol. Kafei had known her affections for him since childhood, but like the man sitting across from him, he had given himself over to duty before love. But the choice he had made, so long ago, had brought him to know Anju, the love of his life.
Kafei sighed, what a tangled web life weaves.
Cremia and him were still very good friends. Now that she had taken over the ranch, turning it into a success story over night with the favored chateau romani, the two young daughters' estate had been rumored to be the wealthiest in Termina. She traveled to Clock Town frequently, and had kept very well in touch. It was through her, that Kafei had learned of Romani's engagement to the unknown suitor. And in recent months Kafei had even seen him around town, escorting Romani to and from official events.
Kafei didn't like him one bit. In person he seemed intelligent, polite, even a little charming. But it had been at last years Carnival of Time that Kafei had witnessed him and Romani fight, over what he didn't know, but the next day he saw Romani milling around the local bazaar, a veil covering her face. Kafei was no fool, he knew that a bruise must lurk somewhere underneath it.
"He has no right to raise a hand to her!" Anju had protested. Kafei could only offer a halfhearted nod, what could he do?
"I would rather prefer that Romani not know it was me." Link said, breaking the mayor's reverie.
"Understandable. Anyways, you were saying you worked as a carpenter?"
"An apprentice to the master carpenter Tamil." Kafei knew a few people that traveled in those circles. Aside from the carnival of time, Clock Town was an ever-expanding city; people with Link's talent were in high demand. Though Link had never said anything, Kafei knew there was more to him than a hammer and nails. He had been the savior of Clock Town, and against his better judgment, Kafei believed the encounter hadn't been random, or coincidence. For what would a carpenter need with a sword of such incredible craftsmanship? Link, though, seemed to prefer a life of anonymity, and that was the least he could for him.
"Well, then there should be no problem there!" Kafei said, setting his cup down. "Now, I know you've had a hard couple of days, so I'll let you get back to the Inn. I'll send someone for you tomorrow, and arrange a meeting with Mutoh, the resident carpenter." Link nodded and stood up, taking Kafei's out-stretched hand.
"Kafei, I really don't know what to say, other than thank you." Kafei's eyes, the only part of him that still seemed like the child Link had last seen him as, shimmered in the fire light.
"Please, Link, it is you, who I must thank."
X X X
Link had opted not to return to his room after the meeting with Kafei. The crisp air had offered an inviting look into the stars above. Strolling down into the empty square that dominated most of East Clock Town, Link was happy to see that not much had changed. Save a few new stores added next to some of the original game houses, it was much the same way he remembered it. The post in the middle of the square, topped with a torch, gave off a ghostly glow, scattering his shadow this way and that.
Passing by one of the gates to the outside, he saw one of the guards, who nodded courteously, then settled back into his uneventful watch.
The carpet of stars above, the empty, lit square below, it looked like a place he might find the Darling couple sharing a midnight tryst. He had never been one for dancing, he never had a chance to learn, but this empty square made him feel as though someone should be enjoying it, putting this romantic scene to use. But alas, even if he did want to dance, he had no partner.
Damnit, Link thought. Why did he have to break the mood? Taking a seat on one of the wooden benches outside the Milk Bar, he tried not to look towards the sky, knowing what he would want to do. But his body betrayed his will, and he brought a hand to the sky, and slowly searched the heavens for the constellations she had taught him.
Had this been a bad idea? He pondered, his face turned towards the heavens. Had he come all this way for naught? No, he had left Hyrule because it didn't feel like home, seeing Romani had been a side benefit.
Hadn't it?
He looked again the peaceful tranquility that pervaded Clock Town. No, he though, this was home.
X X X
"He look's a little scrawny, dontcha think?" Mutoh said, examining Link like a piece of meat. Standing near the bustling town square, at the foot of the clock tower, the three men, Link, Kafei, and Mutoh had made introductions.
Big as a Goron and probably jut as strong, Mutoh commanded as much, if not more respect from the citizens than the defense corp. did. I'll show you scrawny. Link thought, his cheeks turning a slight shade of red.
"Oh come now, Mutoh, give him a chance! I can personally vouch for him." Mutoh mulled it over, one foot tapping to the rhythm of the hammers pounding the structure together that would later serve as the bridge to the clock tower on the eve of the carnival, two weeks off.
"Alright." He finally agreed, then whistled for another carpenter to join him, a frumpy looking man with hair that stuck up in a most comical fashion. "Victor, this here's Link, he'll be working under you, ya'hear?"
The man's mustache curled, as he looked Link over in the same bored manner. "Awright," He said waving a hand in his direction. "Come on, we ain't got all day."
Link looked to Kafei, nodding his thanks, who responded with a thumbs up.
The rest of the day was filled with some of the most grueling work Link had yet to endure. He thought the heat of the Fire Temple had been bad, but now Link really wished he had something akin to his Goron tunic still with him, as the sweltering heat, combined with the physical exertion, made it nearly impossible to work. But the other carpenters went about their jobs with the same care and diligence Link envisioned a painter taking with a powerful work of art.
The bridge to the clock tower would allow the people to make their way to the top, where they would celebrate the New Year with fireworks, food, and an abundance of colorful masks. Link, who hadn't been around to take part in the ceremony, was happy he had returned at such an exciting time.
His ears prickled when he had heard one of the carpenters gossip excitedly that the Indigo-go's were expected to make an appearance. The famous Zora rock band had come to be one of his most cherished memories, and Link had often wished he had been able to listen to them play one more time.
Finally the sun became too much, hanging high in the noonday sky, and the carpenters had broken for lunch. Link threw off his sweat soaked tunic and let his pale skin take in the rays when Victor, his trainer, had waved him to follow the rest to the Milk Bar. The dozen men that made up the construction crew all crowded around the bar, and the bartender struggled to keep up with the orders.
"What'll ya have, sonny?" The old man asked.
"Just a bottle of milk, thanks." He let his tired eyes return to the counter top, and he felt as though he was about to fall asleep.
"And for the missus?" He heard the bartender ask the person next to him. Link hadn't even noticed anyone was sitting next to him.
"Chateau Romani, if you please." The voice replied in an angelic tone.
"Anything for you, hun." Link's curiosity got the best of him and he turned to his right.
It had to be some sort of sick joke. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the person sitting next to him didn't disappear. Romani, dressed in a rather plain blue dress, sat next to him, her hands clasped together in anticipation of a brief, refreshing respite from the burning sun.
He couldn't stop staring. He couldn't stop noticing how her fiery red hair, freshly washed, no doubt, cascaded down over her shoulders. She sill had several cuts and scrapes from her endeavors with the darkmen, but for the most part seemed like a completely different person. There was barely any evidence that only a day ago she had been the unwilling guest to a group of monsters.
She sat looking forward, but out of the corner of her eye she could see the strangely handsome man staring at her. When he didn't stop she turned to him, a questioning look in her eyes.
"Yes?" The man only blinked in embarrassment and returned to looking at the counter top, waiting to be served. His chiseled chest and abdomen made a striking profile, coupled with the long, green hat that topped his blond mat of hair. "Do I know you?"
The man only mumbled a reply. "I don't think so." Link felt so absolutely embarrassed. Here he was, a carpenter in training, sitting without a shirt next to one of the wealthiest women in Termina.
Soon-to-be-married wealthiest woman in Termina. His mind corrected him, and he scowled.
Something about the man next to her though brought up memories, from when she was younger. "Are you sure? You… you just look like someone I once knew."
The man, who had once been staring so intently at her, didn't return her gaze. "I just have one of those faces, I guess." The bartender served him his drink and the man became engrossed in that.
"Here you go, Romani, it's on the house." The old bartender winked at her. Romani smiled back and took a sip of the refreshing and invigorating liquid.
Several gulps later and she turned to the anonymous man to her left. Maybe it was the liquid courage, maybe it was that she didn't want to sit alone at the bar without someone to talk to, but she wasn't about to let the man ignore her.
"Where are you from? I haven't seen you around here before, are you new in town?"
Link couldn't bear to look at her, to tell her the truth. What would he say? There was nothing to say. He wanted to say the three words that had consumed him for the past five years, but she had long forgotten him, and even if she hadn't someone had already taken his place.
But what harm could it do? Another part of his mind asked him. If he told her, maybe, just maybe, there was hope. Maybe she wasn't in love with the man that had laid claim to her hand in marriage. Link turned to her and saw the necklace still bound around to her. It glittered in the light of the dim bar, and looked as though it had been freshly cleaned.
If he was ever going to say it, now was as good a time as any. "Actually, I'm…"
But Link was silenced as a hand found its way around Romani's mid section, and her eyes went wide with surprise. The hand pulled her close to a body, which was draped in some of the finest, most expensive clothing Link had yet to see.
"My sweet, I've been looking all over for you!" A sickeningly needy voice called out. The head atop the torso to which Romani now clung was dark, topped with short black hair. The man's eyes were the color of the setting sun; a brown orange Link had seen before but couldn't quite place. "I thought I told you to stay back at the Inn! I don't want you getting yourself exhausted!"
Romani smiled playfully at the man, then looked almost apologetically towards Link, as she pushed him away. "Oh, it was not like I was gallivanting around the town square, just coming down to escape the heat!" She said fanning herself. The man nodded to the barkeep curtly, and promptly received his own glass of chateau romani. Taking a large gulp, he set it back down and eyed his wife to be.
"Still, I told you to stay at the Inn, next time," He seemed to say in as condescending a voice as possible. "Please heed my request, wont you?"
Romani blushed, as she looked anywhere but Link. "Yes… of course."
Link still sat there with his mouth open, ready to finish his revelation that he was Romani's lost friend, when the man shot him a dirty look. "And who," he began, his words stinging like acid. "is this?"
"Actually Verci I was just about to ask…"
The dark man, as Link had come to think of him now, cut her off. "Never mind, you shouldn't be associating with people so far beneath you, anyways. He isn't even dressed suitably!" Romani looked shocked that he would say such things, and began to protest, when he grabbed her forcefully by the arm. Romani winced in pain, and Link stood up, as if to act, but Verci stared him down. "What? You vagabond, you urchin, you have something to say?"
Link had had enough and was about to show this self-righteous bastard the bottom of his boot when Romani intervened. "No! You're right, Verci, I shouldn't be seen with people the likes of him." She lifted her nose in Link's direction, the ultimate shrug-off. Verci lessened his grip on her arm, and shot a sneer in Link's direction, content that he had won this battle.
"Good, I'm glad you see that you're too privileged to have to associate with the commoners." To which Romani nodded enthusiastically. Then, both of their noses turned high in the air, the couple stalked out of the barn, leaving Link standing, still ready to fight. He was so angry, so filled with contempt for the woman who had once been at least a friend, that he couldn't think, he couldn't feel, he couldn't even sit down.
He watched them walk up the stairs, hand in hand, and finally turned to the bar, gulping down what was left of the milk. He turned just in time to miss Romani turn to him, her face full of apologies.
A/N- Thanks for your support! I know there are a lot of Zelda fics out there, but I'd just like to know if you like this one! Thanks!