"Two Months Later"
Celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie
The stars and moon seemed to have blinked out tonight, for the clouds were thick, and rather low to the ground, or so it appeared to the two Hyrulian soldiers that trekked across Hyrule Field. The two were slightly anxious over the thought of being attacked, but were able to keep walking with the sheer hope that the obscure night would conceal them in any chance of an enemy nearby.
"Girehen," the one to the left addressed the man that stood beside him, "do you think we're headed in the right direction? I've never been this far south…" his voice was but a mere whisper. The sentinels that guarded Castle Town had become timid since the time of twilight, and hardly a soul blamed them for how they felt.
"I think we're going the in the correct path, Alled," came the other guard's simple answer.
"I wonder what business is held in Ordon," Alled started a new conversation, laughing slightly, "the high urgency of the letter is very odd considering it came from the Royal Courts itself, and that it was sent to such a rural area. What do you think the matter of this is?" Girehen took a long, heavy moment to contemplate his answer.
"I'm not quite sure. Either way, we'll know soon enough, won't we? Things are never secret for long in Castle Town, no matter how private they are intended to be," was his conclusion, and while it barely answered Alled's question, it ended the discussion as quick as it began. Silence followed afterwards, and the two knights dutifully kept walking toward their destination.
Link rose early in the morn to the sound of thudding footprints outside. His days as the Hero of Time still affected him, not so much as before, but he was continuously alert, much like a dog that would sleep with one eye open, and ears twitched upright. He chanced a glance outside of his window and the unusual sight alarmed him. Two guards clamored their way into Ordon, breathing rapidly, and visibly swatting the air around them.
Link narrowed his eyes enough to see the bees that swarmed around them, and now was able to hear the low buzzing and clinking as the senseless insects threw themselves against the guards' armor. The hero jumped to his wits quickly, and moved silently and very swiftly to his kitchen. He grabbed his sword, and half-filled a pot with water before running outside to aid them. He could see that they'd been severely stung as it now stood, so he, instead of easing himself down the ladder, jumped from the apex of his overhang. He landed softly, bending his knees slightly to break the fall.
Without a second thought, Link threw the pot's contents over at the accursed bugs. In contact with the water, the bees fled.
The men stared at Link weirdly.
"Thank you for your aid, sir," Girehen spoke, ending the uncomfortable silence, "it is much appreciated. We've been trying to outrun those pests for what seems a very long time."
Link nodded fervently, surveying the guards. He immediately noticed the Castle's insignia printed on their armor, and wondered what business they had coming to Ordon. He could also tell by their eyes that they'd been up all night, or dreadfully close to it, traveling. New silence followed as he continued to pick them apart, much like he would an enemy. From what he could tell, even if they chose to attack, they posed no threat to him so long as he possessed his sword.
"Can you speak?" Alled, rather rudely, asked Link, as if he were some dumb beast.
Link was taken aback by the comment, and narrowed his feral blue eyes.
"Yes, I am capable of conversing, as it so happens," an unidentifiable husky (yet smooth) accent crept its way into the hero's voice, as it did when he was angry, stressed, or affronted, "but I am not as capable of ill manners as you seem to be."
While Alled balked, Girehen took notice of Link's sword, and took a precautious step backwards, and attempted to change the subject.
"What a curious dialect, are you from around here, Mister…" he trailed off, not knowing what title to give Link.
Link gave them a half-humored smile, but then let it fall, "I was raised here, but I have seen far more than this province, I assure you. You may refer to me as Mr. Kindheart, if you wish, as we are not well acquainted," he offered his last name, and still spoke with the same guttural tone.
"Well, Mr. Kindheart," Alled finally huffed, "Is there a mayor, or someone, that I can speak with?"
Link shook his head in affirmation.
"Follow me. I will take you to him."
Link did not await a response before he turned on a heel, and led them to the village. While he walked, he could hear them having a silent conversation. While normal humans would be inept at deciphering their muffled colloquy, the hero had no problem with hearing the words they whispered to each other.
"I am eager to leave Ordon already," Alled disclosed to Girehen, "he…" Link knew that the upset guard was gesturing towards him, "is frightening me a little bit, to be honest. I've never seen a soul with eyes as haunted as his. I wouldn't doubt that he's gone mad, even considering his age."
"For heaven's sake, Alled, he helped us. You should be gracious. Stop being so judgmental… not all harvesters are illiterate animals as you deem them to be," Link's lips twitched, but otherwise, no emotion was detectable on his unyielding face.
"Why does he carry that sword? He has no need of it, Girehen," Alled sniffed in his own defense.
This agitated Link, knowing that he could make proper use of his sword, unlike half of the men in Hyrule.
"He has plenty use of it, just as you do, especially after the plight that befell Hyrule not too long ago," Girehen argued. "Now pipe it down, or he'll hear you."
"Pfft! He can't hear me. I'll speak all I want."
With this, Link turned around, and tapered his eyes until they were nothing more than thin slits. Alled's eyes did the complete opposite, as did Girehen's.
"We're almost there," Link said, not removing his harsh eyes from the dim-witted sentry. When the hero did turn to face forward, he heard Alled let out a breath, and a small guffaw from Girehen. Nothing else was said afterwards, and Link was happy to reach the mayor's house. With two small knocks, Bo of Ordon answered the door, Ilia close behind. He took a step back when he noticed the two palace sentinels.
"Brought company this time, I see," the mayor chuckled, "and what do I owe the pleasure?"
Even though the guards couldn't detect the sarcasm in his voice, Link knew it all too well. Bo had always considered people much like that as nothing but mere palace scum. Ever since the invasion, he'd been even more dissatisfied with the 'knights'.
"We bring a letter from Princess Zelda herself," Girehen spoke, and on cue, pulled out a scroll from a slot in his armor.
Ilia gasped lightly, surprised at the name.
"Princess Zelda, eh?" Bo brought a hand up to his face, and Link knew the mayor was pleased with the source, "she's respectable. Come on in, then. Make yourself comfortable, and we'll hear what Her Majesty has to say."
Ilia ran beside Link, and touched a hand to his arm.
"You can stay as well…"
In truth, Link cared nothing about remaining there after the poor treatment he had endured previously, but he stepped in, giving away to his interest. He had not heard anything from, or even about, the princess since the last time he laid eyes on her in the depths of the Gerudo Desert. In the back of his mind, he wondered if she was doing well.
After Link and everyone else had seated themselves, Girehen unfurled the document, and then proceeded to read its message.
"To Bo, Mayor of Ordon,
I know this letter may of inconvenience to you, especially after the madness all of Hyrule has endured. I also know that you require every one of your villagers to aide Ordon in its recovery; however, if I may request… I'd much like to see a certain person that I am aware lives within your township. In celebration of the reassembled Hyrule Castle, we are holding a ball in two days, to which I would call upon a man by the name of Link to be my escort. He has done much for Hyrule, including tasks to assist me specifically, and it has not gone unnoticed. I wish to thank him personally, and knight him as a reward for his endless services to everyone. If he does not wish to attend, please send a reply with the two guards present. If he chooses to be my attendant, if at all possible, see if he can leave with the messengers. I'm sorry for the short notice, but the festivity was just recently organized. Thank you for your consideration.
Formally yours,
Princess Zelda Harkinian
Girehen closed the letter, and tucked it back away.
Bo and Ilia were watching Link with wide eyes, making him shift uncomfortably. The two guards were surprised enough at the message, and didn't regard anyone else in the room. Bo coughed, after a long minute, and some of the awkwardness faded.
"Will you speak with Sir Link about Her Highness's request?" Alled asked hurriedly.
Bo chortled heartily, "It seems I don't have to, what say you, Link?" he shot the young swordsman a look, still registering Zelda's words. Alled cast his eyes on Link, and his face puckered as if he'd eaten something very sour. Girehen was once more trying to stifle laughter.
"I will go," Link answered simply, and stood from his seat.
Ilia looked slightly horrified.
"Allow me to pack my belongings, and I will take my leave whenever you wish for me to," he spoke mainly to Girehen, and then left the room. Only Ilia followed after him. While Link knew she was there, he did not turn around until she called out to him.
"Link, please wait…"
He did.
"Yes, Ilia?"
"Since when do you bloody know the princess?" the hero was surprised at the curse word in her sentence, but kept his composure.
"I wouldn't quite sat that I know her, but we have shared a few conversations," he knew that she would be unaffected by his rectification, but still spoke it. He noticed that a scarlet heat was beginning to color her cheeks.
"Details!" she scoffed, "Why have you not told me? You used to confide in me about everything!"
He knew she was not truly angry with him.
"I'm sorry, Ilia. Really, I am. There are some subjects that are rather sensitive to me at the moment, and will continue to be so for longer than I can predict."
"Ugh! How often are you going to use that excuse, Link?"
He looked her straight in the eyes, knowing that his distant behavior was not justified. He truly meant no offense to her; she just didn't understand what exactly he'd been through. Link decided to give her a piece of truth as a consolation.
"As long as it takes for me to recover from however many beings that I have bloodied, and killed," he whispered, and her face fell immediately.
"I'm so sorry for my outbursts, I just… I was…" she clamped her mouth tightly shut.
"I know."
"I was concerned that… that…" she maintained her sputtering.
"While I sincerely appreciate all of your unease for me, there is no need for it. I will be fine; I swear it. Furthermore, I have to leave soon, so I need to use the remainder of my time to gather everything I need for the time I am away. I believe this to be goodbye until I return," he watched her mull over his words.
She agreed with him, but something in his voice alarmed her.
She could tell that he was truly questioning whether or not he would come back. Her eyes made their way to the grass under her bare feet. Either way, even if he did opt to come back, he would come home the same as he had two months ago. Link would still be depressed, and reserved, unlike the many years she'd spent with him prior to the fall of their country.
She did not know what took place in the time of his absence, but she did know one thing…
Link Kindheart was forever lost to her.
She muttered her own goodbye before watching him walk away from her.
Link felt guilty for having to leave abruptly, but knew Girehen and Alled, especially Alled, would be ready to depart for the Castle. Once he arrived at his cottage, he entered swiftly and grabbed a dull brown haversack from the far corner of his kitchen. He packed his necessities, but also threw in his journal and charcoal. He was still far from finished with it, and hoped that there might be some free time up at the Castle during his stay. He freshened up a bit, which didn't take long, as he had just showered last night. He cleaned his teeth thoroughly with a toothbrush, and ran a comb through his hair before adding the two supplies to his pack.
The hero looked out the window for the second time today, and saw that both of the Hyrulian knights were waiting in his yard.
On his way out, Link strapped his shield to his back, lest he have need of it.
Girehen greeted him as he walked out, but Alled did not share the similar courtesy.
"Are you ready?"
"May I bring my horse with me?" Link remembered her, and saw that she was awake and staring after them, "in case we need her?"
Girehen nodded, and flashed a smile, which Link barely returned.
He called her over to him, and stroked her mane lightly, speaking soft words to placate her.
"Don't worry, girl; you do not have to strain yourself today. You are only carrying my pack, for I will be walking alongside you, I promise," he soothed her, and she trotted after him confidently like the brave horse he'd ridden in battle so many times. He tied his knapsack onto her with no assistance from either of the men.
"Does she spook easily?" Alled asked, with no friendliness.
Link shook his head.
"She can withstand war."
Girehen looked very pleased.
"Forward, then."