The Hyrulian Valhalla Saga: Side Stories
By Queenie Z
Oh Hush Thee My Dove
It had been a long day for the newcomer, who had been dubbed "Twilight" by his fellow Heroes. The others had spent the entire time showing him around their paradise, explaining how everything worked, and telling him how he could see his loved ones who had already died again. His new life was already filled to the brim with amazing discoveries and tearful reunions - yet nobody bothered to tell him that he didn't need to sleep to survive in this world. And so, out of habit, he fell asleep on a loveseat in the room that had been prepared just for him, his head smushed against the armrest rather unattractively.
Of course, none of the other Heroes were asleep - why would they be? They only slept when they felt like it, and Twilight's arrival kept them far too excited to want to fall asleep. Thus, Time was out and about, trying to think of more things he could show the successor he had so desperately wanted to meet again. When he passed by the open door to Twilight's abode, however, he became concerned. Not everybody takes death well, even brave heroes like themselves, and not everybody is prepared to adjust to a whole new life in the beyond. Perhaps, he thought, he should stop by and make sure he was feeling okay.
He peered into the open doorway, then quietly walked down the hall. When he caught sight of Twilight's sloppy, sleeping form, with his arms dangling over the armrest and his hat in a wad on the floor, Time bit his lip to suppress his laughter. As he suspected, the boy continued the proud, heroic tradition of ungraceful sleeping habits. Ah, well, he'd had a long day; he didn't have to sleep, but a trip to dreamland was probably a good break from everything nevertheless.
Overwhelmed with a strange, fatherly sort of feeling, the Hero of Time walked over to his pupil and carefully lifted him into his arms. It was a good thing the new arrival was a tad short in comparison to himself, otherwise he would have been even heavier than he already was! Summoning his strength, he carried Twilight into another room, laying him down gently on the soft bed inside.
Time smiled when he saw that he hadn't woken him up. As he turned to leave, however, he couldn't help but feel that parental part of himself urge him to stay. He hadn't expected these feelings to come so strongly, but he understood why they were there nonetheless. He had so desperately wanted to pass on his teachings; to prepare his line for the destiny they would have to inherit. Yet he never got the chance in life to teach his own children, something he had regretted for centuries afterwards. Then he was given the chance to do for his great-great-great - he lost track of how many generations separated them - grandson what he could not do for his sons. So it was only natural for him to be so protective of this child, this Hero who had so valiantly fulfilled the role he had inherited. And now that they were finally together again, here in this Heroes' paradise, he could finally, finally express the pride and gratitude he felt to him.
He remembered something he had done during the short time he spent with his children, and he sat beside the sleeping Twilight, placing a gloved hand on his head and stroking his hair affectionately. Had he his ocarina with him, he would have played that; but he instead had to make do with his voice, humming a lullaby he hadn't sung in eons.
Soon his hums turned into soft lyrics. "Oh hush thee my dove," he muttered quietly, "oh hush thee my sweet love. Oh hush thee my lap wing, my dear little bird."
He could have sworn he saw a smile creep across the sleeping boy's face. Perhaps he had heard this lullaby himself as a child? Regardless, his smile made the elder Link's smile widen, and he continued his song.
"Oh, fold your wings and seek your nest now. The berries shine on the old rowan tree; the bird is home from the hills and valleys."
He went back to humming the rest, for the words he struggled to remember wouldn't come to him. But that did not prevent the love he felt for Twilight - his incarnation, his flesh and blood, his son in every sense of the word - from bubbling up in his chest. When he finished, he held his hand still, then leaned over and placed a small kiss on the boy's hairline.
"Sweet dreams, my child," he whispered, before finally taking his leave.