Chapter Two:

The Green One

"For love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." ~ Song of Solomon 8:6b

"Okay, I get it. I'll do it this time."

Abyll blinked against the dreads of blond that hindered his vision and, angling his mouth, he released a great huff that sent them flying from his forehead. They settled angled across the layer of hair that hung over the side, and he grinned. But, the results of his effort only lasted a few mere seconds before the bangs had slid down once more, catching his lashes and tickling his cheeks. He growled in annoyance.

Chuckling, his father lowered the wooden blade and stepped closer to him, using the side of his hand – Abyll's face seemed dwarfed in comparison – to brush them back, off the boy's forehead completely, revealing the stunning blue of his eyes.

"Better?" said Link, wryly grinning down at his son.

Abyll returned it almost identically. "Yes, but I doubt it'll stay."

Link laughed, kneeling down to his boy's level, lowering his hand to let the locks fall back into place. "You let it get any longer, and you'll have to start tying it back."

"I wouldn't mind. As long as Mum can't get anywhere near me with scissors. I like my hair! I want to be able to tie it back like yours."

"Oh, so that's what he's after."

Link looked up to where Zelda sat comfortably stretched out on a patterned quilt, cradling Erulissë in her lap, only a few meters away. A gentle wind made its way through the maze that was the royal gardens, playing at both of his girls' hair, the queen's russet locks blending with the princess' short golden ones. What a lovely pair they were.

"I didn't tell him he had to; don't blame me!"

Zelda grinned, giving no merit to the seriousness of her words. "Yes, but you could at least convince him that cutting it won't necessarily trim his… his bravery or anything. He seems to think that looking like you will make him courageous."

Whether or not he showed it outwardly, the statement made Link swell with pride. Abyll was only ten years old, and already sported such spirit and boldness. He won the hearts of any and all he spoke to with charisma and humility. He never ceased to boast of his father's tales of great adventures, supported by his mother, and he greeted each day with such contagious enthusiasm… Everyone loved him.

"I'm not that versatile. I can't do everything." Link's remark was met with a satirical grin, which he was about to return until arms were thrown around his neck. Abyll hugged his father with fervor. Link, though surprised, easily returned the embrace.

"Sure you can, Dat! You can do anything and everything! You're the Hero of Time!" The boy stepped back, keeping his hands firmly planted on his father's sturdy shoulders. "I can let Mum cut my hair if you really want me to."

He couldn't keep the smile off his face. The innocence on his son's face was overwhelming. Reaching up, he tapped the boy's nose.

"No… You keep it as you'd like. But… you'd better hope it doesn't hinder your sight…" In a flash, his hand flew behind his head and gripped the edge of his hood. He flipped the fabric over his head, letting the shadow cover his features. He drew again with flourish the wooden sword from the ground beside him, and Abyll leapt away.

"Alas, Hero of Time, doth we meet again!" said Link in his best mock villain baritone, brandishing the wooden blade. Abyll's eyes widened and he snatched up his own stick that served as his sword.

"Ye vile villain! Ye shall taste the steely steel of my blade! Have at thee!"

The two wooden weapons clattered together as the two engaged in a fearsome battle, trying to hide their grins of mirth. Zelda laughed at their antics, watching with keen interest, particularly when Link let Abyll thrust his stick under his arm. In dramatic fashion, Link fell to his knees.

"Ah! I am wounded!"

The young prince drew back his stick. "And now, foul fiend, you will trouble the kingdom of Hyrule no more!" He 'stabbed' the branch under Link's other arm and with a gasp of mock pain, the king sank to the ground and lay still.

Abyll was unable to hold in his giggles any longer. He dropped his stick and pounced on his father and both succumbed to the unceremonious fit of laughter that had plagued them since the start of their little game. Zelda, and even the little princess, joined in, laughing until their ribs hurt.

Link never tired of this, nor would he ever. The wholesome company of his precious family, the beauty of the gardens about them, and the momentary escape from pressures and curfews and politics. Basking in the glow of the innocence and freedom his children enjoyed, Link could recall what it was once like to be young, and carefree. Problems were irrelevant, so long as the sun was shining. Threat of the sniffles didn't matter when compared to the sheer joy spent in playing in the rain for hours. Consequences were nonexistent. And all was well.

Nevertheless… Life came knocking again.

"Your Majesties…" Estel's aged voice broke through their delight, and Link quickly sat up at the seriousness of it. The maid's wrinkle-lined face remained solemn as he let the smile fade from his expression.

"Estel? What's the matter?"

She heaved an exasperated sigh. "His Highness, Prince Caine, has disappeared again. His tutor left for a moment to speak with Lady Impa, and when he returned… the prince had gone."

Any traces of remaining mirth drained from Link's face, and he trailed a rough hand over his face. He suddenly felt very tired…

Zelda, in the meantime, had set Erulissë gently down onto the quilt and stood gracefully to her feet. "How long ago did this happen?"

"According to the professor, about twenty minutes."

Link frowned, pausing to pat Abyll's shoulder as the boy gazed confusedly at his parents. Standing up and folding his hood back, Link set the wooden sword carefully on the grass. "He was gone twenty minutes before anyone noticed?"

"The professor went looking him when he found the room empty. Only a few moments ago did he come to your room, where I was doing my rounds. He explained it to me. He hadn't wanted to concern you two, with what fun you were having out here."

That prof deserves a right piece of my mind… Link shook his head, shooing away the thought. No, the man had only done what he had thought to be right at the moment. But it wasn't the first time this had happened; in fact, they had almost grown used to it…

He craned his neck about to look to his wife. They didn't have to say anything; Zelda would look after the children whilst Link went to search the village.

They all retreated back into the walls of the castle. Zelda disappeared up the nearest staircase, carrying their daughter on her hip and guiding Abyll by the hand. Link, in turn, made sure his cloak was clasped tight, and his sword was on his belt, before making his way to the front gates of the castle.

He ducked under the portcullis before it was even completely opened, and his quick stride carried him across the courtyard and to the gates of the wall. Just as he was about to hail the sentries, the wood and iron doors creaked and swung open.

That was efficient… But his thought went unfinished as he caught sight of the reason the gates had opened.

Two guards dragged a thrashing boy into the courtyard. The boy's azure eyes flashed, and his black hair hung in his face from all the struggling. Upon meeting the king, the guards seemed surprised at the coincidence of it, and began explaining, but Link couldn't seem to focus on their words. His attention was instead transfixed on his son's face.

Caine wouldn't even look at him. He kept his head inclined, his gaze rooted to the ground at his feet. He remained slumped in the guards' grasp, as if content to let them bear the majority of his weight. There was no look of remorse in his youthful expression, only one of contempt, frustration…

"…Master Sword…"

Link's ear caught that name, and his gaze snapped to the guard who'd spoken it. "What-What was that?"

The guard looked confused at the king's distraction, but obliged to repeat it. "He was trying to open the chamber to the Master Sword."

"But how? You-"

The other guard answered the question before he even spoke it. "He had this."

He raised a gauntlet-covered hand, fingers loosely gripped a small, smooth blue object. Though it had happened before, Link felt the color drain from his face.

His own son had stolen the Ocarina of Time to sneak into Time Hall.

But… How had Caine known the inner workings of the hall? How could he have possibly known how to open the Door of Time, or even what song to play on the Ocarina? It was a lot of ancient keys to memorize… Who had told him?

Link heard himself sigh, and yet it surprised him that he had allowed the sound out of his mouth. He let the guard transfer the Ocarina safely into his hand; numbly, he nodded to the two, and they released Caine.

To their shock, Caine bolted for the castle. It was a good thing that Link had spent years in agility training to keep his reflexes quick, or else, the boy probably would have been long gone. But in a cat-like motion, Link twisted around and gripped the prince's shirt collar.

"I don't think so."

After dismissing the guards, Link led Caine into the palace, keeping a firm hand on his arm. Caine followed along sullenly, eyes downcast and hardened. The boy's muscles were tense, apprehensive, as if waiting for the moment when Link would release him. On they marched, Link guiding his son through the castle levels until they came to his room. Once inside, he shut the door and confronted Caine.

"What in the name of wisdom did you think you were doing!"

Caine's gaze drilled into the floor.

"Caine, look at me."

He didn't move.

"Now."

Then came the change. Caine raised his eyes to his father, and there was a look in them that frightened him. Yes, that frightened even the great Hero. The prince's eyes blazed in icy fire, and as if strings had been attached to his back, his posture straightened. He stood rigid, feet planted and arms tense at his sides. He hadn't lifted his face, but his gaze locked on Link's, glaring out from under the crest of his brow.

Blatant defiance.

"Yes… sir." The words were all but respectful.

Link held up the Ocarina. "Where did you get this?"

Caine actually dared to scoff. "Where do you think?"

"Watch your tongue, boy. I am your father; you will at least pretend to respect me."

"You always tell Abyll not to pretend to be something you're not."

A chill raced down Link's spine. Where was all this audacity coming from? Surely, it couldn't have sprouted in those mere twenty minutes of leaving the castle. Dear Lord, grant me the patience not to… bite his head off…

He took a deep breath, letting the anger ebb away. "How did you get out of the castle?"

Caine moved this time, leaning back to fold his arms over his chest. "The same way you always do when you want some time for yourself. I'm not stupid; those songs aren't that hard to memorize. Even Abyll knows most of them."

"All right…" He paused, thinking. "What exactly were your plans once you got there?"

"I don't have to tell you."

"Caine, I warned you-"

"You wouldn't be scolding Abyll like this if it had been him."

"And he wouldn't be talking back like this if it had been him! Caine, has this been what you've been trying to achieve every time you've slipped out of the palace? To reach Time Hall?"

Caine turned away from him. "What would you care if it was? The result of this conversation will be the same whether I tell you or not, so just go ahead and punish me. Get it over with."

Link gazed at his son's tense shoulders for the longest time. For reasons unknown to him, he felt the stinging pang of compassion. Something in Caine's voice had slipped, from protest to what sounded like… loneliness.

"Caine…" Link's voice had softened significantly as he tried to ease the irritable beast that was his son at that very moment. "Why must you keep comparing yourself to your brother?"

The prince seemed to hesitate, as if he hadn't expected such a blunt question. His shoulders dropped an inch. "…You're always with him. You always have time for him… Whatever he wants, he gets. Even the people love him, considerably more so than me. I've heard talk on the streets that they want him to be the one chosen to… inherit the throne. Yes, despite Rite of the Firstborn." Caine's voice was so low, now, that Link had to step closer just to hear him. "What am I… against him? Even if you did choose me in the future – if you were brave enough to go against popular opinion – there would be an uproar. The people, most likely backed by the Council, would force my withdrawal. And Abyll would be crowned."

Slowly, he turned back to his father. "You see now… why I must compare myself to him."

It was a long moment before Link could reply. "Where does Time Hall…" He didn't have to finish. By the look on Caine's face, all the evidence clicked into place. The Ocarina, Time Hall, Abyll… Caine wanted to test the Master Sword. If he were able to touch it, as Link could, then perhaps a scrap of his reputation may be saved.

"It doesn't take a sword to make a king, Caine. It's about his heart. It's about integrity, loyalty, morality, and justice. You've failed to show these qualities for so long… and yet your brother has no problem demonstrating them. The people look at what you do and what you say, and judge you by those things. Even if you could wield the Sword… there's a large chance it wouldn't change the people's opinion at all."

The prince looked crestfallen. His plan, which must have seemed so logical before, had been discredited.

"Caine, your mother and I love you… You know this, don't you?"

A trace of the fire returned to Caine's eyes and his fingers twitched. "…You had me fooled."

Link's anger collapsed completely. What? Could he have honestly failed that miserably in being a father that his firstborn doubted his love?

"Caine-"

"Don't say it. Now that you know where I stand, of course you would try to disprove it. But it'll take more than mere words to convince me after ten years."

Ten years… Since Abyll was born.

"Just give me your punishment and be done with it. Leave me in peace." Caine stalked to his bed and sank down onto the edge. Link remained frozen where he stood.

It seemed like hours of tense silence before he spoke again. "Stay here in your room. Your mother and I will discuss your punishment before supper. Until then…" A sigh escaped his lips. "Caine, truly… You may not believe it, but you're my son, and both your mother and I love you beyond what we can express in words. I'm sorry… if we've led you to think otherwise."

Caine said nothing, and did not even look up. So, with a heavy heart, Link turned and exited the room, looking back only once in time to see his son bury his face in his hands.