Chapter 41 – Pain Carrier

''Midna. Midna, wake up, I need your help.''

The young imp jumped awake. ''What?'' Renado was leaning over her slumped form on the rocking chair, smiling despite the worried look in his eyes. ''I need your assistance.'' he repeated. ''Some of Link's wounds have become inflamed.''

When Midna straightened, Renado already left her side and went to the table. Luda was there as well, leaning over a makeshift teapot warmer with a flame in it and taking the tankard from it. Steam hissed loudly at she poured the boiling water on a rolled-up towel placed over a bowl.

A cough let her look in Link's direction, seeing him shift a bit with eyes screwed up. Her heart threatened to leap right out of her chest in happiness as she sprang to her feet, running at his side. ''Link! You're awake!''

The youth smiled in her direction, his voice still absent from loss of strength as he spoke. ''I'm earlier up than you, sleepyhead.'' Midna simulated a flap on his cheek and sat down. ''You look terrible, you know that?''

''Hm.'' he nodded back. As Midna gazed over his uncovered belly, her look became worried. ''What's the matter?''

''As I said, some of his wounds have become inflamed.'' Renado repeated as he came back with the steaming towel in his hands. ''I have to treat them immediately. And I would like to bandage your chest, if it's possible.'' he added, directed to Link. ''But because of the big wound it will likely hurt.''

Link nodded slowly, closing his eyes momentarily as apparently another wave of pain rolled over him. ''Just go on, Renado. I will … survive it.'' Midna took his hand and squeezed it, smiling at him.

Renado sat to work, his daughter right next to him with the still steaming towel in her hands. On the bedside table, Midna could see many metallic tools lain out on a clean cloth as well as a little bowl where the shaman took out a pair of forceps dripping with liquid. While the two girls watched intently, he began to explain. ''This is called – ''

''A fomentation.'' Luda quickly said, earning a wide grin from her father.

''Exactly. A fomentation that will allow us to reduce your infection, Link. What I do is placing this piece of lint right on your wound and cover it with oiled silk and wool. Brace yourself, it could be a little hot.'' He said while taking with the forceps the long piece of cloth from Luda's opened towel, shaking it a little to allow steam the escape before laying it gently on one of Link's cuts. The Hylian made no indication that it had hurt, a fact which Midna acknowledged with a hopeful sigh. As she watched the healer reach for the oiled silk and cover the lint with it, Luda already returned to the bigger table to pour more water on her towel.

''Where's Epona?'' Link asked after the third wound had been dressed. His eyes were still drooping with tiredness, his tone a mere whisper threatening to be swept away by a clank from Renado's forceps.

''I accommodated her in the stable next to the inn, and she's fine. I recall that Midna washed her after your arrival, am I correct?'' He glanced at the reddening imp with a smirk.

Link looked at her with eyes widening a little, smiling weakly. ''You really did that?''

''Eh, well yes, I couldn't simply let her all dirty like that. She carried you all the way and was covered in dust and bl – and other filth from the road.''

She gazed at him with a reassuring smile, and reading Link's countenance she was informed that he had not noticed her quick gaffe. His eyes were quite glassy in fact, and the little smile was still hooked on his mouth. ''Thank you so much, I'm sure she's very happy now.''

His head slowly turned back as he watched Renado place another layer of fluffy wool on his bare stomach. ''I'll look like a sheep if you keep on covering me like that.''

The Kakarikan smiled and nodded, running a hand over Link's head. ''I hope you like sheep then.''

Midna's brows knitted ever so slightly while she followed the weird conversation. Her companion's eyes were looking more dull and lifeless with every passing minute. She thought that he was just falling asleep again, yet after a while he returned his gaze on her with that hopeful, nearly cheeky little smile. ''Would you mind riding on a sheep?''

''Eh, no, not at all.'' she answered, forcing herself to return his happy countenance. She sensed Renado's look set inquisitively on her, and she just hoped Link would not continue this topic further. ''But you're not a sheep, Link, you're Hylian. Are you not?'' she said, boring her gaze ever so slightly into his to make him understand that he was on dangerous ground. At once his brows lifted a little, and he nodded. ''Of course I am. I just thought that … that once I'm a sheep I could … carry you to the Twilight Mirror …''

It was apparent that he didn't really know what he was saying. Renado played along with him while he sat to work wrapping his belly with a long bandage. He had to make Link arch his back a little in order to pass the cloth underneath him, which caused the youth to moan and grunt in pain all over again. Midna wished she could cover her ears, but she endured it in silent agony to grant her companion at least that little respect until the healer was done and Link slumped down to the mattress weakly.

She cupped a palm over his hair while she watched him gasp air into his feeble, rattling lungs. She wondered if he still felt the aftermath of his near-drowning experience, if his lungs still suffered from the sudden immersion. She had no idea what near-drowning really did to a person, or if there was a constant damage lingering in his system. She would ask Renado later.

She saw how Link opened his eyes, wearing naught but his complete exhaustion and the little smile on his face. ''Don't worry, Midna … I'll be back on my feet … tomorrow …''

She watched him silently, her worry rising. His eyes already began to close again as he said with a weak, escaping breath. ''You'll see …'' His lids shut completely, and he said no more.

The Twili released the breath she was holding after a few painful seconds, and full with worry she looked at Renado.

''It's the pain I presume.'' His voice sounded troubled. ''I will give him a painkiller when he wakes up again.''

With this he stood up from his chair, casting a last sad look at the unconscious Link. Midna felt an icy shower run down her spine at that gesture, and she promptly jumped up and raced out of the door behind the healer. ''Renado! What's wrong with Link?''

The older man turned to her, still wearing that sad look. ''Come with me, dear, will you?''

He indicated her to follow him down the stairs, shooing the playing children outside with a friendly voice. While Midna sat down on one of the multiple chairs around the big round table, he disappeared through a door which stood right underneath the flight of stairs.

Midna felt still quite uncomfortable being exposed like this, especially when two of the kids quickly ran back in to fetch their play swords. One of them was the friendly blond one who had helped her on her first day amongst the humans. The other was a cheeky looking brat with a red headband and bright green eyes, which turned sallow the moment he saw her sitting at the table.

''Hello Midna. How's Link?'' the blonde asked, smiling despite a sad, worried look on his young features. She smiled back as she realized he remembered her name, trying to sound friendly. ''He awoke yesterday, and he seems okay.'' she replied, yet she wasn't even sure of her own words. Where the heck was Renado and what did he want to tell her?

''Out with you, children. Midna and I have something to discuss.'' came the shaman's most welcomed voice from the stairs. The blue-eyed boy cast a last smile at Midna before being dragged out of the inn by his friend.

The healer did not talk even as he sat down next to her. Soon, Luda came down the steps with the teapot in her hands, and he intercepted her. ''Please take Ilia out to the children, I have to talk alone with Midna.''

His daughter nodded and ran into the kitchen, where the first protests soon emanated into the hall. ''No Luda, I won't! Tell me what's wrong with Link, please! Why can't I see him?''

Midna clenched her teeth in annoyance. She was absolutely sure the girl had wanted to eavesdrop their conversation. Desperately trying to suppress a content smirk, she watched Ilia being pulled out into the village by the shaman's daughter. The door banged shut, and Renado turned to her slowly.

''So? What's wrong?'' she asked before he could open his mouth. She was really getting impatient now.

The shaman sighed. ''This inflammation is a bad sign. You saw how delirious he was, believing that he will be all right by tomorrow. An infection is always straining on the body, and in his current state he simply lacks the strength to hold on further. Not only the loss of blood provokes that, but the immense pain which he suffers. I can give him an anaesthetic to soothe the pain, but it will prevent him from taking in any food, which he absolutely needs to replace the blood he lost.''

Midna nodded slowly, not really knowing what the shaman meant with that. ''Yes, and?''

Renado closed his eyes. ''Plain talking, I do not think that Link will make it.''

Midna turned immobile, her breath catching in her throat. She looked up at him with watering eyes, silently wishing he had never said that. But the shaman seemed confident in his words, his look as hard as stone while he gazed into her eyes.

''We can't give up now!'' she suddenly burst out. ''I brought him here so that you could save him! You always managed to patch him up previously!''

''Midna, do you have any idea how seriously Link is wounded? He cannot move, he cannot stay awake for more than half an hour, he cannot even think straight! And by the Goddesses, he is just a boy!''

''No, he's the Hero of this age! He still has a duty to fulfil! The Goddesses won't let him down now!'' Midna screamed, standing up on her chair and glaring down at him with fists clenched tightly. ''I know he can make it! He always did!''

But her own voice broke as a sob escaped her, and she quickly wiped the stray tear that had invaded her cheek away. As Renado lowered his head and sighed, she let herself plummet back down on her chair with another sob. ''Maybe not this time, Midna. I am truly sorry, I did everything I could.''

''Isn't there another way to help him?'' she asked, looking at the piece of paper Renado had fetched out of the room under the stairs and which laid in front of him. It was completely blank, so she wondered why he had taken it in the first place.

''Medicinally, no. But I thought about writing a letter to Rusl and ask him if he could come here. I believe he's in Ordon as we speak, for the birth of his child.''

''I know him. We met once at the Temple of Time where he and Link fetched the second piece of the mirror. But why ask him to come? He's not a healer for all I know.''

Renado ran his palm over his dark-skinned face. ''He's Link's surrogate father.''

Midna relapsed to silence, understanding just what the shaman was intending to do. He wanted Link to see his father one last time, and vice versa, in order to say goodbye.

This time, she could not prevent the tears from flowing. Renado placed a consoling hand on her shoulder while she buried her face in her palms, shaking with sobs. It hurt to come to such a conclusion, but what tortured her the most was the fact that all her efforts to save Link had been in vain. She loved him, and now she would have to watch him draw his final breath without ever having been able to tell him.

For she would never be so selfish as to burden him with her own feelings in his dying hours. They solely belonged to him.

0

Link awoke in the late morning again, looking pale and feeble. Midna had stayed with him all the time and was just coming back from a short trip to Renado's room when Link gazed at her happily.

''Hello my little imp … how are you? You look sad.''

Midna smiled and cupped a hand over his cheek. ''I'm all right, don't worry. And how are you? Are you in much pain?''

Link swallowed faintly and gazed at his belly covered with the woollen blanket. ''No, not really. It doesn't hurt that much.'' As his eyes moved up to her once more, she tried to look past the grey curtain veiling them, but even if he suffered greatly he managed to hide it nearly perfectly. It frustrated her to not know if he was sincere or not. Normally he had never been a good liar, but if he lied now then she didn't notice it.

''Why were there … threads all over my belly earlier?'' Link asked and closed his eyes briefly, breathing in deeply but quickly blowing the air out once more as his stomach stretched painfully with his inhale.

''Renado stitched you up to allow your cuts to heal.''

The Hylian now gave a faint chuckle. ''He must have thought he was binding a book with all this stitching …''

At least he was in good spirits when delirious, Midna thought with a sigh. She nodded and grinned to make him happy, and he smiled back with drooping eyes. ''Which book was he binding then?'' she asked, keeping the conversation going for his sake.

''Oh, surely a book about … weird travels and huge monsters that … threaten to rip the hero of the story to … pieces.''

''Does it have a happy ending?'' the imp then voiced, and had to clench her teeth to not burst into tears once more.

Link bore his dark gaze into hers, and his hand moved a little under the sheets as if knocking on the cloth and begging for release. She lifted the covers and took his left arm out into the daylight carefully, letting her own hand be embraced by his cold fingers.

''Of course it has a happy ending.'' he whispered, looking at their hands united. ''The hero slays the evil monsters and lives … happily ever after. That's how all stories end.''

Midna nodded silently, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand. ''Then everything is all right.''

They were both silent after this, Link catching his breath once more after having spoken so much, and Midna letting Link's words replay in her mind with a little smile glued to her lips.

The two companions turned their head the moment the door opened, revealing Renado's big form enter with two bottles in hand. ''Hello Link, it's good to see you awake. How are you feeling?''

''Well, I think I have to reconsider the … the fact that I'll be up by tomorrow. Could last a little longer, I'm afraid.'' He cast a little, apologizing gaze to Midna, who just smiled while running a finger down his cheek.

''If you're in great pain I can give you something against it.'' the shaman said and indicated the two bottles. Midna was glad he had something like this in his medicine stock, for now she wouldn't have to imagine Link being in constant, nearly unbearable pain when speaking to her.

As Link eyed the two bottles, however, he shook his head to both their surprise. ''That's nice of you but I can handle it. It's nearly not hurting at all.''

The Kakarikan stared at him for a short while, as did Midna. ''But … your entire torso is wounded, Link.'' Renado stammered, sitting down next to him and placing a hand on the youth's forehead. ''Don't tell me it doesn't hurt.''

But Link just shook his head slowly, still wearing his tired, yet resolute expression. Even after another agonizing treatment with the shaman's ointment he stayed with the same decision, and was immovable to any propositions or advices from both of them.

''What is that all about?'' Midna said angrily when they exited once more, leaving the stubborn Link under Luda's care. ''It cannot be that he doesn't hurt with such wounds!''

Renado shrugged as he leaned against the upstairs railing. ''Maybe his body is so sore that he really doesn't feel anything. That can happen with serious wounds such as those covering him, where the body shuts down all feeling in the injured area so that the patient can recover.''

''But what if he lies?'' Midna was not convinced at all.

''Well, if he lies then I didn't notice it, and that is saying something. You're aware of the fact that Link is not a very good liar, I hope?''

At his last reply which he ended in a little chuckle, Midna just had to smile. ''Yeah, I know. He's the worst liar I've ever seen. Probably you're right, then.''

0

Surely, if Link ever knew that she was hiding in his room to spy on him secretly, he would have been most outraged. He had never been the one to like being cared about, thinking that it was more than he deserved. But on this matter, Midna had to contradict him. He had winced and moaned in pain more times than she could count on the first evening when Renado had treated him, and every time it had made her blood curl in dislike. Now, however, when the shaman treated his wounds, he didn't react more than a little twitch when the older man brushed over a particularly sensible point. She was sure he was hiding something from them. Her common sense was ringing the alarm bells frantically.

That evening, he was peacefully settled in bed on his left side – his better side – quietly breathing away in his sleep. She loved it when he slept. If it plagued him at all, in that state he at least didn't feel the pain.

She was hiding in the shadow of the corner next to the door, only seeing his shoulders and the back of his head, the sheets covering him to the neck. There was a bruise on his right shoulder, probably from the harsh impact on the surface of the lake. He had taken most of the hit since she had been protected by his entire body, an act he surely had performed deliberately. Sometimes, she hated his selflessness.

The actual reason why she hid in his room was that, except the one evening when Renado had been watching and she sleeping, they had never seen him actually come to senses during this day. Either he was asleep all the time during which they kept a watchful eye on him or, as soon as they went out, for example to fetch a few more bandages, he was gazing at them as soon as they re-entered. Renado had said that he had been in dreadful pain that first evening, but now he assured them that it was more than bearable. She wanted to be certain that it was for real, that he didn't hide his pain just to prevent them from worrying. She knew that he was capable of doing that.

It was about an hour later that she heard a faint moan from the bed. She let herself glide up along the wall where a shadow was cast by the little candle next to the bed. Like this she could fully see his breathing form as he started to shift slightly. After a couple of minutes he moaned louder, seemingly trying to turn around with the aid of one arm, the hand of the other balling to a tight fist. Even if she couldn't see his face, she immediately knew what the wincing and writhing of his half-naked body meant.

His arm shook in effort as he eventually managed to roll over, but the strain let him groan even louder. It made her nearly sick upon hearing his pained, feeble voice cry out so faintly, and she had difficulties restraining herself to not shoot out of her hiding place and yell at him in anger and despair.

He was panting deeply and painfully, eyes half open, occasionally letting loose a little whimper as another wave of pain bolted down his nerves. After a few minutes, she saw his ears perk as his look darted to the door, and she too heard a soft noise from outside, presumably the shaman coming up the stairs. When she looked back to Link she saw him close his eyes tightly, breathing in and out deeply as if trying to calm himself down. So he does try to suppress his pain! she thought in utter disbelief. Why didn't he tell them that he suffered like this? Her shadowy fists balled in fury as she realized that he had lied to them all along.

''Ah, Link, you're awake.'' Renado's friendly voice met their ears as he walked towards Link. The young Hylian broke a weak smile, not looking pained at all, just tired. Midna recalled always seeing him like that when he was awake, but now she knew that it was faked. Her entire being wanted to scold him, to shout at him and tell him how stupid he was, but another part of her was dreadfully amazed that he could hide such agonizing pain so well from everyone.

''How are you feeling?'' Renado asked the usual question, like always. And, as Midna had presumed, Link answered like always. ''Not bad, I don't feel much actually.'' he said softly. In his voice there was no trace of pain to be found.

''How's the pain? Is it worse than this morning or better?'' the healer asked as he poured a little cup of water for the Hero. This time, Midna saw Link's body give a little twitch, but he quickly hid it by turning his head away from the older man. ''It didn't really change, but it's not okay. I can handle it.''

Renado bore his gaze deeply into his eyes. ''You know that I can give you something against it if it's too grieving.'' he repeated for the third time that day. Link merely shook his head, which infuriated Midna even more. What was so wrong in accepting Renado's medicine, if it freed him from all this agony?

''I can manage, it's all right.'' the youth answered as he raised his head a bit to receive the water from Renado. After the cup was emptied and Renado placed it down, the shaman nodded. ''Good, then I'll let you sleep. But you know that you can call for me should anything be. Don't hesitate.''

Link smiled a little in compliance and watched the Kakarikan leave through the door once more. As he laid there for a moment unmoving, seeming to listen to the shaman's steps as they faded again, Midna prepared herself to confront him. She didn't want to startle him too much, considering the true state in which he was. He already let go of his forced restraint and breathed deeply, racked with pain, believing that no one was there to notice his scam.

After taking a deep huff, she made herself visible. ''Link?''

The Hero's head shot in her direction with eyes wide in fright, and instantly he began breathing hard as he lost control of the pain in his chest. Moaning and crying, he balled his hands into fists while screwing up his eyes, trying to once more regain the upper hand over the searing agony. Midna was instantly at his side to calm him down, but Link was so terrified that her words of comfort fell on deaf ears.

''Link! Calm down! Link!'' she called in despair, but realized soon after that it was in vain. Instead, she ran to the door and tore it open as she yelled for Renado. Downstairs, she heard a chair being tossed aside as the big form of the healer rushed up the stairs. ''Midna?'' he called in alarm.

As he saw Link squirming on the bed, he immediately raced to him and also tried to calm him, achieving not more than Midna. ''He is hurting badly!'' Midna explained hastily. ''I was hiding in a shadow and saw him suppress his pain so that we wouldn't notice it. You have to do something!''

As Renado took in what the Twili told him, he wasted not a single second and stormed out of the room again, calling back. ''You stay with him, I'll be right back!''

It didn't last long until he entered the room once more, sweating profusely as he placed a green bottle on the table. Link was now panting quickly in an irregular manner, making a suffocating sound every time he inhaled, His eyes were closed, his hands twitching strangely while Midna spoke to him all the time. ''Why is he breathing like that?'' she called towards the healer worriedly as he poured some of the liquid from the bottle into a bowl. ''He's hyperventilating, which means he's taking in too much oxygen.'' Renado explained as he hurried with the bowl in hand to the bed again. Placing it on the bedside table, he turned to Link. ''Link, calm down, don't breathe like that. Follow my hand and calm down.'' He made slow up-and-down movements with his palm as the youth opened his eyes again and tried to concentrate on Renado's moves. His breaths became deeper but still came by fits and starts occasionally, where the shaman shushed him every time and placed the other hand on his chest carefully.

After a few minutes, Link was again breathing normally, although his moans and screwed-up eyes indicated that he still was in serious pain. At that, Renado took the bowl which he placed on the Hylian's mouth without warning, urging him to drink up. Even from Midna's place at Link's other side, she could perceive an awful smell coming from the bowl, and it apparently tasted like that, too. Renado was unrelenting, though, and forced the disgusting liquid down the Hero's throat.

''This is a strong painkiller, Link, so in a moment you'll feel better. Don't fight against it if you're feeling drowsy, this is completely normal.''

Link, as soon as he had downed the stuff with a last, disgusted grunt, nodded slowly, a pained expression still plastered on his face. Midna was watching him worriedly and turned her gaze on Renado as the shaman went back to the table. ''What exactly did you give him?''

''Morphine. It's the strongest anaesthetic I've got.''

''Anaest … thetic?'' Link stammered as he looked at the shaman with eyes wide. Already his body was going slack and he had difficulties to keep his eyelids from falling shut.

''Yes.'' the healer answered plainly, adding in a more sympathetic tone. ''You will likely fall asleep in a matter of minutes, but don't worry, it will soothe the pain from your wounds.''

''I don't – want to fall … asleep.'' Link said with a catch in his voice, although the morphine was forcing his eyes to close and his breaths to become even. Renado sat down once more, placing a hand on his shoulder. ''Don't fight it, it's no use anyway.'' he said as he saw Link tear his lids open every time they touched. ''How are you feeling now?''

The moment he said that, Link felt as if a warm gust of wind suddenly waved over him and blew all the pain away. His eyes widened in surprise as a relishing breath escaped his mouth. ''Good.'' he whispered, completely amazed. ''There's no pain any more …'' Already his eyes turned glassy and soon closed for good, his hearing fading from his senses along with Midna's touch that caressed his hand.

As soon as Link passed out, Midna began to tremble. She suddenly felt incredibly frightened from the situation just passed, and nearly began to hyperventilate on her own. Renado noticed this and quickly fetched another bowl of water for her, which she downed in one immense gulp.

''Thank you.'' she huffed, setting the bowl aside and laying her forehead on her palms, breathing deeply to calm her nerves.

''It's all right. That's completely normal to happen. You did good in mistrusting his calm appearance, definitely you know him better than I do.''

Midna nodded and looked at her sleeping companion. ''Only he can be as stubborn as that.''

Renado sighed. ''It amazes me how he fights, I have never seen such a strong lad in my entire life. The fomentation has nearly defeated the inflammation, and it seems that the wounds are starting to close. Maybe you were right, Midna. If he continues like this, and the fever breaks soon, he really could make it.''

Midna's look set on him, gazing resolutely into his brown eyes. ''He just has to make it, Renado.''

The shaman nodded. ''Let's hope the Goddesses give him their blessing. I'll pray to make it so.''

0

The late night hours were disturbed by a knock on the inn door. Renado opened to the mail carrier and confided to him the letter wrapped in animal skin, with his own seal waxed on the closing lace. The strange man in red nodded as the shaman gave him the instructions needed, saluted sharply then disappeared back into the night. Renado watched him jog away quickly, leaning against the door to grant his body weary with worry and mourning a little rest. Midna had insisted that she guarded Link during the night, so he could look forward to a few precious hours of sleep in his own room under the stairs.

He just hoped that Rusl was still in Ordon, and that the letter reached him safely. Recently, the roads were haunted by dangerous monsters threatening travellers and merchants. Hopefully the Postman knew how to defend himself.

0

''Ohhhh, look at the pair of them!'' Ashei called, laughing while Rusl stepped out into the sun with his newborn daughter in his arms, grinning from ear to ear. The little girl was crying and wriggling in the white blanket wrapped around her, and Uli soon took her from her husband's hands again. ''She's hungry, Love. Let me feed her, will you?'' she laughed as Rusl wanted to protest.

''Well done, buddy!'' Ashei said while tapping on his shoulder. ''Yeah, she's gorgeous, old boy!'' Shad joined in while wiping his glasses. Auru stepped up as well, and to all their surprise took the blacksmith into a big hug. ''I'm so proud of you, my friend!'' he said, and Rusl could swear he saw the old man shed tears.

''Oh Din, Auru! And you fight with bombs, mate!'' he chuckled, punching his lifelong friend on the back affectionately.

''Well, not all fighters have a heart of stone.'' Auru defended himself, wiping his eyes dry quickly.

Ordon was proud of a very sunny morning that day, as well as a new addition to their big family. Little Aryll was born late that night, in between cries and yells from Uli who was being assisted by Pergie and Sera. That morning all the inhabitants of Ordon, along with the three visitors from Castle Town, assembled around the blacksmith's house and greeted the little baby girl happily.

While Uli sat down on a wooden bench and gave the child her breast, she waved her husband nearer. ''Love, come here and have a look at her. Do you recognize something?''

The smith approached and gazed into the wide eyes of his daughter. He immediately saw what his wife was talking about. ''She's got Link's eyes!''

''Yes, exactly.'' Uli answered with a serene smile, caressing her child's head where a few tufts of dirt coloured hair stuck out already. ''She's got your hair and Colin's strength. But she has Link's eyes.''

''Gracious Nayru, you're right!'' Bo answered as he leaned over her as well. ''It's the exact same blue as Link's.''

''Link …'' Rusl mumbled, suddenly frowning a little. He hadn't seen the lad since they went back from the Temple of Time and his adoptive son got Renado's letter. He had been thinking about him ever since he left for Ordon, and the momentary feeling of incertitude and … sadness nearly … which overcame him right now, he could not explain. He just hoped his son was all right.

But the subject was cut short as Aryll fell asleep in Uli's arms, causing everyone to approach and watch her happily. Even Ashei admitted that she was a beauty, but as the warrior girl continued on this path until she said that the child was so cute she could eat her, Rusl quickly intervened by suggesting they all had a drink on his daughter. Obviously, Ashei's mind was completely elsewhere after this proposal.

The morning was just touching its end when Jaggle came into the village from his guard duty, with a strange man in tow. 'Postman' was written in Hylian on the big flag he had somehow attached to his rear, and Rusl recognized him immediately.

''Greeting, my friend!'' Bo called in his bellied voice as the Postman approached, swinging his mug along with his words. ''Step nearer, we're just having a drink. Take some as well while you're at it.''

The thin man in red pants bowed low and doffed his hat. ''Thanks, dear mayor of Ordon, but since I'm on duty I cannot accept your offer. I have come to deliver a very important letter to Mr. Rusl of Ordon.''

He seemed to know exactly who he was referring to, for his hand pulled out a brown envelope blazoned with a red wax seal and handed it directly to Rusl while bowing anew. The smith took it with a smile, turning it to look at the seal.

''Well then, my business is concluded. Onward to mail!'' the funny little man cried, turned around, and hopped away. The townsfolk stared back at him for a little while; they were not as accustomed to mail as were the two Hylians among them.

''From whom is it?'' Bo asked while sipping at his mug. Rusl showed him the red seal which depicted a big candle with two wings on either side. ''That's Renado's seal.''

''Ah, Renado! My dear friend from Kakariko!'' Bo exclaimed, brandishing his tankard once more. ''He's a really special fellow, knows everything about medicine and worshipping the Goddesses. His daughter must be around fifteen by now. Dear Farore, time flows away like snow in the sun! ''

Rusl nodded as he cracked the wax and unfolded the parchment. ''Read it to us, darling! I'd love to hear what Renado has to tell us.'' Uli said, giving her husband a loving peck on the cheek. She had been to Kakariko once to learn the basic healing methods from the friendly shaman.

''Well then: Dear Rusl,

Even though I deeply regret the fact that this message of mine will tear you from your beautiful wife's and, if I'm not mistaken, from your newborn child's side, I do believe that these news concern you most, and I must urge you to come to Kakariko at once.

Link arrived the day before yesterday, gravely –''

Rusl relapsed to silence immediately, slowly turning pale.

The others around him stared for a moment at their blacksmith, waiting for him to continue. The bearded man was completely silent, his eyes seemingly plastered unmoving on the one word he had not vocalized.

''Darling?'' Uli asked worriedly. ''What is it?''

Rusl gulped and ran a hand over his head in sheer disbelief. With quivering voice he resumed his reading.

''Link arrived the day after yesterday gravely … injured, in our village, carried by his horse which was led by his companion Midna who told me you and her have

already met. Now, I've seen some things in my humble life which I dare speak with fear of, but seeing the state in which Link arrived here that night, it even drives me at a loss of what to do. I am deeply sorry, old friend, but it seems that Link's days will come to a cl … to a close if not a miracle were to occur. I'm not to stop now loosing hope, and I think neither will you.

Link would be … would be very happy to see you.

Renado''

The silence befell all of them at the smith's last word. They were all staring at the letter in Rusl's hands, not grasping the words that had just left the paper across his lips. Uli had clapped a hand on her mouth and was completely frozen, Rusl just seemed unbelieving. His eyes darted over the parchment once more as if searching for a little switch or knob to make the words different. He turned the letter round, looked behind, even held it upside down with eyes wide before tossing it aside and storming from the porch.

''Where're you going?'' Shad called from behind.

''To Kakariko!'' he answered, making his way towards his horse which was grazing next to the house.

''Wait, Rusl, we're coming with you!'' Ashei shouted out and jumped over the railing as well, but the smith halted her with a hand. ''No! You stay with Uli and make sure she's all right. I'll ride alone, I'll be quicker like this.''

''But –'' Ashei stammered. ''You can't ride on the road alone! It's too dangerous!''

''And I'm coming with you!'' Uli stated stubbornly, already approaching the second horse standing near her husband's where she didn't even know whose it was.

''No Uli! You're just out of a birth, I'll not let you ride on this dangerous road! I'm going alone.''

''You're not!'' Ashei yelled.

''Ashei! Let him go.'' Auru stated, earning confused looks from everyone. The old man approached his friend who already sat in the saddle, holding him by the leg. ''Take care of yourself. We'll follow as soon as Uli and Aryll don't need us any more.''

Rusl took his wrinkled hand and squeezed it. Traces of fresh tears were glistening on his bearded face, and he nodded thankfully to Auru before throwing his stallion into a gallop, disappearing out into the dense wild of Faron Woods.

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