"After Departure"

"Everything happens for a reason, learn from it and move on, don't be bitter about what happened, be happy about what will."

-Zayn Malik

It had been many hours since they had departed from Ordon, yet they had only just made it out of the Faron Woods. Link knew that, without the pestering guards, he could've gotten twice as far. Nonetheless, he wasn't irritated. While Alled was nothing short of a prude, Girehen proved to be somewhat entertaining. He had an infinite amount of things to say, or stories to tell, which refreshed Link due to the fact that he himself was not talkative.

Once they had settled in, and Link had removed his belongings from Epona's back, Girehen sent a still cantankerous Alled in search for firewood. The breeze coming in from the north, though refreshing presently, would result in a teeth-chattering sleep for all three of them. Link, however, was indifferent to the cold, as he'd had to endure far worse on his escapade to the Snowpeak Ruins. Once Alled was out of sight, Girehen heaved a great sigh, and turned to face Link.

"Ignore him, please, Mister Kindheart. He's never been known for gallantry, to say the least. He's rather pompous, and prideful, and will stick thoroughly to first impressions, which usually aren't right. While you're very quiet, you seem to be a very good listener seeing as you've put up with my nonstop ramble. I deem you to be quite… likeable," Link could see the cheerful wrinkles worn deep into Girehen's face, which heartened him a bit. Moreover, the hero was happy for the compliment, seeing as he so hardly received any anymore.

"I'm glad you find me bearable," Link muttered quietly, realizing that his dialect was still present in his voice. He quickly cast the thought aside, knowing that he had dealt with Alled since the morning, which was most likely the cause, "most people… do not. At least, not anymore."

"Tell me more about yourself, then," they both took a seat on the ground, after having spread out their blankets. Link was slightly distressed at the thought of having to talk, especially about himself, for a long period of time, seeing as he really hadn't spoken much at all for months, to anyone, not even Ilia, or Colin. Link was sure everyone in town was worried for his wellbeing. He glimpsed at Girehen, and saw that he was waiting.

"Well," Link cleared his throat, knowing it'd be smart to practice his voice before they reached Hyrule Castle, "I… never knew my parents. From what I've pieced together, my mother died in childbirth, and my father was taken by the war that took place around the time I'd been born. The Ordonians claim to have found me wailing somewhere in Hyrule Field when I wasn't even a year old, and tell me that they never truly figured out how it was that I got there. I was raised by Rusl, and Uli, his wife. They were very young when they took me in, so I had a rather rough childhood, but I am very grateful to them. I moved out of their house when I was sixteen… or so…" Link wavered a bit over that sentence… and Girehen interrupted him.

"Or so? You don't know how old you are?" Girehen gaped, already enthused by Link's history.

"More or less, I know I'm either twenty or twenty one, but I tell people I'm twenty. I always counted the day they found me as my birthday, seeing as that was when my life truly began," the hero answered, suddenly recognizing that it may sound ridiculous to not know your own birthday, even if the circumstances presented themselves the way that they had.

"Did Rusl and Uli name you, then?"

"Yes and no, I guess. My last name, most definitely, but it took time. I spent my childhood doing everything I could to please everyone, big or small, and I still do that depending on the day, and whether or not I can bear going outside. After a while, they presented me with the last name of Kindheart. Link traces back to the day they found me. My father, or whoever had carried me to safety, had written it on one of my hands, along with another word on my other palm, but that one was smudged and illegible. Whatever it was meant to be, a message or a name, that's what I have always gone by," Link looked away from the guard.

After a moment of thought, he continued with his earlier story.

"After I moved out of their house, I visited frequently. I still do. Rusl did his best then to teach me how to fight, since I was young. I spent nearly five years under his care then, and the old swordsman taught me close to, if not everything that he knows. Afterwards, my skills with a blade… I'm afraid I cannot explain to you how I came across those, but I have mastered the very art of the sword. It was very useful during the dark times, because, as you know, I …helped. During that time, I also took the incentive and can efficiently use other weapons, from bombs to a simple slingshot. I eventually had to put those skills to use, and kill many, many things. Which is why I am so withdrawn as it stands. Before the invasion, I was rather easygoing. I herded goats for a living, and spent the rest of my time trying to please and placate others… but now, while I'll still protect Ordon, and Hyrule itself, with the skills I retain, I'm not… sociable," Link drew out a long, and distinct breath from trying to explain things to the guard, who seemed astounded, and perhaps remorseful, as far as the Hero could pin it.

The night was definitely upon them once Link's story was finished, and Alled was still not back with the firewood Girehen had requested. They both began to worry for him, but Girehen proposed that he was probably hiding somewhere. The hero accepted the conjecture, for he did not particularly care for the other soldier anyways, and then began to stare up at the sky. He noted that it might've been dark, but the burning stars were completely uncovered by clouds, therefore the usual black was a tantalizing midnight blue. A flicker of a smile wove its way onto Link's lips; the stars were something he'd been able to enjoy ever since the days of his early childhood. He knew it was rather a simple pleasure, that most discarded, but it never failed to make him feel serene. Even on the days in his journey, they had relaxed him.

"I don't think I've met another soul like you, Link," Girehen admitted, "then again, I've hardly been outside Castle Town."

Link unwillingly tore his glance away from the sky, and observed the guard. The ever present wrinkles in Girehen's face were even more prominent now that the stars and moon threw dark shadows over him. Link shrugged a little, not knowing what to say to such a sentence.

"I must ask you something…"

"Yes?" Link was slightly relieved at the subject change.

"I would like to spar with you, to pass the time until it's time to build a fire. Would you mind giving me the honor?" the watchman sounded very pleasant when he asked, as if it were a casual request one would speak every day. Link showed no emotion, and considered his partner's wish, and eventually agreed, finding no harm in a simple scuffle. Link unsheathed his sword, slightly delighted at the prospect of using it again, and grasped it in his strong fingers. While it wasn't the Master Sword, he'd reinforced it, simply because he'd had the free time to do so.

Girehen did the same, and both of them latched their shields to their arms.

"I've had years of training myself," he mentioned, "ever since I was nine, I worked every day at the blade. I am slightly curious of how my talents will match with yours."

Link nodded, knowing beforehand that whatever moves Girehen had learned was no match against the sacred moves of the hero of old. They both squatted in a fighting stance, and Link bore his eyes into Girehen's, calculating everything as he'd done time and time before. The guard looked into Link's eyes, but the hero could tell that he was simply waiting for him to strike first. Link moved his free hand and moved it along the length of the blade while surveying the guard. He could tell by Girehen's stance that his right leg was dominant, as was his right arm. He was edging more and more onto the balls of his feet, meaning he was about to pounce at any given moment. By the placement of his adversary's legs, and the angle of his footing, he would veer to the left when he jumped, and his sword would slice the same direction, or so Link predicted.

Link's presumptions were correct, and Link thrust his sword to effectively parry the attack. He knocked Girehen's sword away from his midsection, and brought his sword in a slice across the open armor. It clanked very loudly, and knocked the breath out of the surprised sentry. Link vaulted around Girehen to perform a back slice, which knocked him forward. Girehen thrust his sword backwards, but Link flipped in time to avoid the slice before shoving his sword once more into the chainmail. Girehen turned to face Link, his eyes flitting again and again over the hero, who still was analyzing the guard's movements. After a few blocks, the hero moved again in a head slice, and a small yelp erupted from Girehen's lips as the blade knocked his helmet.

The guard stumbled, and Link prodded his sword into his mid-back, knocking him over completely. By the time Girehen rolled over, Link had already landed on his chest, faking the Ending Blow, sword placed directly over Girehen's heart.

With that, the duel was over. The hero lightly flipped off of Girehen, and landed lithely on the balls of his feet three feet away from his opponent, who was still lying flat on his back.

"Never in my life," Girehen spoke after finally getting to his feet, "have I seen such moves, or talent. Especially for one so young… You have a remarkable ability," the sentinel sheathed his own sword, "no one but my teacher was ever able to get me on the ground, and even he couldn't do it so quickly… I congratulate you; you have earned my utmost respect a hundred times over."

Link thanked him, but otherwise, was too humble to do or say more. In a way, he hardly saw his talent as something to boast over. There was no satisfaction linked with knowing how to kill, even if you were doing so out of benevolence. Even a slight reminder of what he'd been through was enough to send a deep ache through his muscles, and a roll of discomfort through his stomach. The hero cast his eyes down, and said no more.

"I'm going to look for Alled," Girehen finally announced, "hopefully, he hasn't gotten himself into trouble, or at least… too much trouble. You never know with him."

Once he was alone, Link drew his journal from his pack, and turned to a fresh page, deciding he might as well get something done while the two were gone. Even with his tremendous effort to finish it before it grew old in his memory, he had just finished drawing many captions from the Lakebed Temple he'd ventured through. A frightening depiction of Morpheel was illustrated in his most recent entry. Once Link touched his utensil to the parchment, he groaned, knowing Zant was the next person, if you could call him that, which would have to be drawn in order to continue with his story.

Halfway through the picture, he heard heavy panting coming from his left. The hero cautiously shut his journal, and yanked his sword from his scabbard. The blade hissed in satisfaction as it was removed from its holder. Link narrowed his eyes and stared at the direction of the noise. Girehen and Alled came into view. Alled held fast to many branches, but leaned on Girehen for support. Link stashed his sword quickly back into its sheath, and went to help.

"Take the firewood, Link. I'll help him over. He's sprained his ankle…"

Alled glowered at Link before dispensing the wood over to him. The young swordsman hauled the wood, and placed it in the middle of their makeshift campsite. The limbs were tangled together with bramble that seemed to have snagged its way onto the wood, and Link barely desired to alter the mess into an appropriate campfire.

"Girehen, do you have any water?" the hero asked once he was close enough to hear it. The guard nodded, and passed over a halfway filled bottle. Link took it, and then proceeded to speak, as he had gotten better at doing so.

"Would you mind starting the fire? I'll do what I can to help him," he gestured to the injured sentry.

Girehen consented quickly, leaving Link to go about his business.

He ran into the Faron Woods, bottle in hand, knowing exactly how to heal the portentous man. During the final week of his travels, he'd heard of how to create a healing potion for adequate to serious injuries. However, such a remedy would require nearly all of his energy, which is why he was careful about concocting such a tonic. Link figured it would be safe, seeing as they'd rest upon his return and that they would arrive at the palace quicker if Alled was able to walk.

He scanned the forest floor for certain flowers and grasses that the potion medicine required, and added them to the mix as he found them, making sure to crush them into very small pieces, in order for the juice of the plants to properly absorb into the water. It was a mucky green color by the time all the ingredients were added, and Link was slightly revolted at this, but still continued making it. The final step was the hardest part, for it required magic.

Triforce Magic.

Link had not used his power since the day he'd fought Ganondorf, and was marginally keen to the idea of calling upon it once more, but also a bit frightened. He collected his emotions before looking up at the sky, raising his hand to the heavens, and readying himself to call to Farore. While he could call upon this power without doing this, Link found it less arduous than having to completely clear his mind, and focus on what he wished to do.

Link parted his lips, and began to sing softly to the wind. The tune was bold, but melancholy… it was the song of the Hero of Time. He felt his Triforce not only light up, as it usually did if it was touched (or something of that nature), but flood through him. Silently, he put his lips to the bottle, and blew into it, letting his intentions flood his mind. Immediately, the ugly color of the medicine turned into a brilliant, luminous gold, and the texture changed from lumpy to milky.

It was finished.

Link released the power when he was satisfied; suddenly feeling extremely spent, and stuck the cork back into the glass. It took a matter of minutes to get back, but to Link's tired legs, it felt more like hours. When he was in sight, Girehen rushed over to him to see the potion.

"What is this?" he asked.

"It is a medicine. If you must, force Alled to drink it," Link ordered, knowing that the pompous guard might not take something that came from him. Girehen stared into the flagon, and ran a finger along the side of it.

"How long will this sooth his aches?"

"It will heal his ankle completely," Link corrected.

"Well! Impressive!"

Link smiled a little at the encomium, but said nothing about the potion's creation. While he didn't mind whether or not people knew of his Triforce, he thought it to be rather complacent to broadcast it with such insouciance, especially considering that he had just met the two of them. Girehen nodded, and popped the stopper as he walked over to a sitting Alled.

"Did he make it?" he indicated Link with no shame.

"Yes. He did. If you don't drink it willingly, I will be forced to make you do so."

"Fine," Alled spat, and allowed his companion to pour the contents down his throat. Moments later, his eyes expanded until they looked like they were about to dispel themselves from their sockets. Alled pressed his hands against the ground, and was able to stand up easily. While he was erect, he shook his foot, trying to figure out how it had already repaired itself. After the inspection, he shoved a finger at Link, and then motioned the hero forward. He was confused, but followed Alled's demand.

"What kind of potion was that?" his voice sounded surprised, and mildly angry.

Link answered nonetheless.

"A creation of my own, one that cured your sprain," it was a simple answer, and everything was quiet. Alled grumbled, but mumbled what Link considered to be a thank you under his breath, seeing as the guards face was nearly as scarlet as a young rose. The exchange only tired the hero more, so, in return, he curled in his blankets, not even bothering to eat dinner.

He fell asleep instantaneously.

In the morn, Link was the first to awaken. He gathered his things quietly, and securing them to his mare, not wishing to awake the two Hyrulians just yet. He chewed on some bread and cheese as he worked; hoping to settle his stomach after he'd missed dinner the previous night.

Subsequently, when the guards rose from slumber, they jumped up at the sight of Link.

"Morning… ready to get a move on?" Girehen slurred, still mildly disoriented.

"Yes. I believe so."

Link was ready to be outside of the forest, and also ready to arrive at the Castle, seeing as the hard ground did not serve one as a bed did. He stretched his back, and felt it pop in several places. The act hardly provided any relief, but Link was compelled to repeat the action again and again, hoping each pop would prove more effective than the last.

"I will be soon."

(A/N- It isn't long before the plot begins to unfurl. Bear with me Also… you may find a couple mistakes (some of them are ridiculous and I can't believe I didn't catch it while writing) in my chapters, but I hardly have time to proofread, so just read over them and pretend they aren't there. If you review my story, it is much appreciated!:) Thank you! )