Here's the fourth chapter of the story. Thanks so much for the kind reviews and constructive criticism. Thanks to one of the reviewers, an error in the naming of Link's kid was caught. Her name has officially been changed from Farore to Sandhya. Thanks so much for catching that! Now, on with the show! And remember, I love and read your reviews!
Hours had passed since the Twili visitor had left the vicinity of Lake Hylia, and Link had still not emerged from his home. The people who lived nearby were curious as to what had happened, but respected the hero enough to give him time alone. A few villagers would walk by his house once in a while, some to make sure he was okay and moving around, and others attempting to get a glimpse of the bundled child that the Twili had handed over. Rumors had run rampant through the town at the arrival of the baby - many of which were actually true. A messenger had been sent to Castletown to alert the kingdom that the Twili had once again entered the light realm, and to let the Princess know that something had happened between Link and the visitor.
Crickets chirped as night fell on the lake, and Link still was unable to snap out of his shocked state. A little while after the Twili had left, everything that had happened finally hit him - hard. It had been many years since he had wept, but today broke the trend. He had coddled his child with tears streaming down his face, remembering how it all had happened.
i "Link." Midna said, grinning. "Seriously, you need to say something."
Link had stood there, just staring at how beautiful Midna was. He finally shook his head, wiping the stupid grin off his face. "Midna... you're... you're... wow."
Midna giggled, spinning around in a circle. "I know - not what you were expecting, huh?"
Link just chuckled, bowing his head slightly as he shook it. "No."
Midna laughed at how shy Link was being. "C'mon you! Don't act so shy!" She smiled, lightly punching him on the shoulder.
"Boys and girls..." Came a voice from the far side of the hill. It was Princess Zelda, grinning widely. "Can't we behave, now?"
"Behaving is for sissies." Midna stated simply, moving toward the Princess and embracing her in a heartfelt hug. "We did it."
"Yes, we did." Zelda said, stepping back and smiling. Turning toward Link, her smile faded. "Link... we owe you so much-"
Link smiled kindly, cutting her off. "Forgive my interruption, Princess - but I am owed nothing. It may be your kingdom, but it's also my home. Regardless of what your wishes were, I would have gladly given my life to protect it." He said, bowing.
Zelda shook her head in disbelief. "Chosen Hero... it is no wonder the Goddesses chose you for this duty. I don't think I've ever met one so honorable in my lifetime. You are more than worthy to bear the Triforce of Courage on your hand."
Link smiled shyly, not used to such praise. "Thank-you." He said softly.
Midna smiled, looking at Link. "Yeah - I guess he's kinda special, huh?" She joked, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Zelda just smiled at the pair. "Understatement of a lifetime, Princess. Come - let us go into Castletown and see if we can't get some sort of grand dinner for our hero."
oooooooo
Despite the large explosion that had seemingly wiped out Hyrule Castle, the damage wasn't nearly as bad as Link had first thought. Much of the interior was damaged, but the structural integrity of the building held strong. With just a couple of hours of hard work from Zelda's servants and some of the more crafty guards, the castle interior had been partially restored - at least, restored enough to hold a grand celebration, and clean out sleeping quarters for Zelda and her honored guests.
"You have some wonderful cooks, Zelda." Midna complimented the princess, as the three headed to their sleeping quarters, respectively.
"It was wonderful - thank-you for that." Link added, truly happy after the dinner. It seemed like it had been years since he had a real meal.
"You two are more than welcome - thanks for sticking around as long as you did. I'm surprised you didn't just go to bed after the meal - you two must be exhausted." Zelda smiled.
Link and Midna both nodded. "We wouldn't have left you there alone to deal with the masses." Midna said with a grin. "Besides, we know the real reason they were there - they just wanted to get a glimpse of the handsome hero that saved them." Minda grinned wickedly. "Did you see some of the young women in there, Link? I can just imagine what they would have wanted to do with you tonight. I bet they-"
Link quickly cut her off, blushing like mad. "Thank-you Midna. I think I get it." He said, looking away.
"Oh! I forgot - the Chosen Hero is a bit shy on the subject of-"
"Midna!" Link shouted, a panic stricken look on his face. "I've had enough trauma today - can't we give it a rest?" He asked, pleading.
Midna rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine." She smiled, gently patting Link's shoulder. "I'm just teasing." She added, a little more softly this time.
Link smiled back. "I know. It's just... it's been a long day." Link sighed.
Zelda looked at the pair, smiling. "It has indeed. And I'm going to take my leave of you two, if you don't mind." At the synchronous shaking of their heads, Zelda turned away. "Good-night - I shall see both of you tomorrow." She said, walking to her quarters.
"Good-night, Princess." Link said, turning back toward Midna. "Well, I think I'm going to go to bed as well. We've got a long day tomorrow." He sighed, looking a bit disappointed. "Must we really go all the way back to the Arbiter's Grounds to check on the mirror? Can't it wait another day?" He asked.
Midna turned away, clearing her throat before she spoke. "No... no, we have to check on it tomorrow. Make sure no baddies can get through anymore. You know the drill." She said, turning back to the hero and forcing a smile.
"Yeah... I know the drill." Link smiled back, missing the strain in her voice. "Would you like me to walk you to your room?" He asked, holding out an arm to Midna.
Midna grinned, her mood suddenly improved, interlocking her arm with Link's. "I would love that."
They proceeded to walk the halls in silence; Midna deep in thought, and Link completely oblivious to it due to his fatigue. Midna had to turn her head to the side a couple of times for fear that Link may see her unshed tears. Still oblivious to Midna's mood, Link gently slipped his arm from hers upon reaching her quarters. "Well... here we are." He said softly, gently opening her door for her.
"Yeah." Midna said softly.
Link stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Um... I guess I'll... yeah." He said, turning away and leaving Midna at the door.
"Link!" Midna called after him. He turned towards her, and with a smile, she asked "Would you like a cup of tea before bed?"
Link smiled back, his fatigue leaving him momentarily. "Sure. I'd like that."
oooooooo
The two had laughed as they drank their tea, recounting all the adventures they had together. Despite the gravity surrounding them, they realized that fighting off evil together had been quite fun.
"I still remember the look on your face when you realized that Armogohma was nothing more than this little spider in a giant body. It was the best facial expression ever!" Midna laughed, almost spilling her tea.
Link chuckled. "Well, come on! I mean, seriously! Not only was Armogohma a little twerp, but it also didn't die when I thought it did. It was like, 'What the hell!?' " He laughed.
"I know, I know! And remember Yeta? That was-"
"SO FREAKY! Holy crap, Midna, I thought I had just taken some sort of drug!" He grinned, finishing off his third cup of tea that evening. "I know she wants me to sled with her down Snowpeak at some point, but I just can't get that image out of my head!"
Midna giggled. "What - wittle Link 'fwaid of a big fuzzy lady?" She mocked him with a grin.
"Hey! You're telling me you'd be willing to spend time with her after that!?" He laughed. After a couple of minutes of content silence, he spoke up again. "I guess we had some pretty good times despite it all, huh?"
Midna smiled back softly. "Yeah, I guess we did."
Link nodded, and then stifled a yawn. "Well, I think that's my cue. I'd better head off to bed." He said, slowly getting up. His eyes grew wide as Minda suddenly gripped his arm.
Midna looked up at him, tears forming in her eyes. "Please..." She said softly, her voice cracking. "Don't leave me."
Link stood there, looking down at her in complete shock. "Midna? What-" he started, but was interrupted by her soft voice.
"Link... I think... I think I..." She stumbled, still looking up at him. She suddenly got up from her seat and stared at him face to face. She gently brought a hand up and cupped his cheek. "I love you, Link."
Link stood there in silence, unable to move. Finally, he choked out "Midna... this... I..."
Midna suddenly widened her eyes, realizing what she had done. Embarrassed beyond words, and petrified that she had just managed to lose Link as one of her closest and dearest friends, she blurted out, "Oh my God! Link! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean... I - oh Gods!" She said, falling back into her chair, covering her face with her hands and sobbing.
Link looked down at her, his eyes still wide as he processed what had just happened. Midna... loves me? But how... He slowly stumbled back as though he had been struck with an arrow. He slowly found his way back to the chair he had been sitting in, and slowly sat back down. He shakily ran his hand through his hair as he thought of what to do. "Midna..." He started, looking down at the floor. "Midna..."
"Link, go." She finally said. "Forget what I just said." She said, her voice cold.
"Midna - " Link looked at her, his eyes pained.
"Go!" She demanded, quickly getting up from her seat and proceeding to go to the bedroom in her quarters.
Link looked up as she walked away. He looked back at the floor, shaken and confused. As he heard the door to her bedroom slam shut, he began to think. He thought about when he had first met her, how he had hated her, how that hate had grown into a friendship, and how that friendship had grown...
With a shocked expression, Link came to the realization that he refused to acknowledge before. Slowly getting up from his seat, he walked towards her bedroom. Standing at the door for a moment, he slowly raised his hand and knocked. After what seemed an eternity, Midna had slowly cracked the door. She had removed her crown and cloak, wearing only a black nightgown-like garb. She looked at the floor, refusing to look at Link. "I thought I told you - " She was interrupted as link enveloped her in an embrace like no other. He then slowly placed a finger under her chin, raising her head up to look him in the eyes. "Link?" She asked shakily.
The multiple questions in her simple statement were answered as Link captured her lips with his. Stopping for air, Link and Midna looked deeply into each others eyes, as though a conversation were being carried out on a telepathic level. Finally, Link kissed her once more, but gently, as he led them both into her bedroom, intent on showing just how much he loved her too.
ooooooo
Link snapped out of his reverie as Sandhya shifted in his arms. He looked down at the little wolf-girl, and smiled sadly. The night that he and Midna had created her would be the last night they would intimately share with each other.
"And they said shadow and light couldn't mix, huh?" He said with a sniffle, looking down Sandhya. "Shows how much they know." He mumbled. Sighing, he looked out the window, and saw Coal sitting on the sill, probably waiting to be let inside. With a small smile, Link shook his head. Opening the window, the cat bounded inside and promptly curled up next to the potbellied stove, oblivious as to the drama that was unfolding with his owner. Link looked down at the cat wishing, for a moment, that he life was as simple as Coal's. But he knew that the day he was born with the Triforce on his hand that his life would be anything but. He had grown to accept this, and for a while had honestly felt that he was prepared for anything that life decided to throw his way. It was with Sandhya's arrival that he realized how incredibly wrong he was. He was not prepared in any way shape or form to deal with a child, and knew that he would need help. Sighing, he set his child back into the large wooden bowl with blankets, and started to quietly pack a knapsack with provisions for a short road trip. Finding the old baby bottle he had used to nurse Coal when he was just a kitten, Link cleaned it out and filled it with warm goats milk, and filled one of his own bottles with extra for the remainder of the trip. He dressed in his traditional green garb and then looked at the baby, not knowing how to prepare her for a trip. Using his best guesses and some common sense, Link started to pack things he may need for her along the way. Finally, creating a simple sling out of a bed sheet, he placed Sandhya inside so that she was nestled in front of his chest. Grabbing his knapsack, he looked over at Coal. "You keep things under control, okay?" Coal just stared back and yawned. Link chuckled. "Whatever - I'll be back in a couple of days. The window's open for you." He told the cat, believing that perhaps he could understand. Leaving the house, he locked the door. He breathed in the night air deeply, feeling slightly refreshed.
Epona sauntered over towards him, curious as to what he had been doing all day. With a quiet snort and a bob of her large head, Epona greeted him, and gently nuzzled his face. She then sniffed the child hanging from his chest with interest. With another snort, she looked at Link as if to say "What did you do?"
Link rolled his eyes, walking to Epona's side and saddling her before mounting her. "Don't judge - just go." He said to her, urging her on with a quiet whoop.
And the townspeople watched as Link left the Lake Hylia area for Castletown.