A/N: Thanks to RoseWing, alwaysingirl and Kirkysaurus for their reviews! Thanks for that, alwaysingirl haha :P I just noticed the mistake when I was reading through it afterward, and was kicking myself for it. Thanks for not mentioning it though! :D

And don't worry, Kirkysaurus, I'll explain all that in the next chapter ;)

Sorry this was late, guys, but my router got screwed up somehow, and I had to wait 'til Monday before my dad got a new one. Don't worry, though! As soon as it's back up and running, updates will resume as usual next week :)

Dampé has passed on, to Zelda's dismay. What will she do?

Read on!

Chapter 26 - Mourning

Zelda carefully placed the note back on the table and shook with sobs. She had only been gone for what? A few weeks, perhaps? Maybe even less. How? He was so young in heart and mind. He was years away, probably, judging from how active he was. And now he's gone. What may have been her only best friend, someone who she confide in, someone who always cheered her up when she was down, was now gone forever. The thought of it made her eyes squint and more tears started to form.

Zelda shook her head, tears gently plopping onto the table. She left them there and exited the cabin. The cheers of the villagers still rang through the village, seeping in and out of her ears with cruel irony. Why were they happy, when she was not? Granted, they had been saved from the beast's inevitable rampage, and Link was now in the Shadow Temple, slaying it. She had done all she could, so why was she feeling miserable?

Zelda was outside now, and she sat uneasily on one of the seats. The kettle with which Dampé would make tea was still in position on the stove, aching to make another, but having its need unfulfilled. Zelda put it out of its misery by throwing an Ember Seed on the wood below it, and it steamed contently. She looked back at the graves. Dampé was in one of them now, as a spirit. Link had already gotten the Hookshot from him, so she knew had been gone for a while. What pained her most, however, was that her last words to him were 'Goodnight, Dampé,' meaningless words that he couldn't even hear. What was the use? She didn't even properly say goodbye to him. It didn't matter whether she said goodbye to Daisy and the others or not - they wasn't going anywhere soon. Perhaps his death was fated, waiting for the time for Zelda to leave, and then gathering his life up. Waiting for the opportune moment for her to rush away without looking back. Regret twisted her stomach, and she groaned and clutched her heart.

The kettle wolf-whistled slightly, snapping Zelda from her solemn, guilty thoughts. She picked it up with shaking hands, and positioned the cup underneath it. Putting in a few tea leaves, she poured in the boiling liquid, which violently belched steam as the cups frozen surface touched it. The water stained dark brown as it touched the leaves, and the steam was still gasping out. Zelda carefully put the kettle back on the stove and took a spoon from the cup on the side of it. She stirred the leaves slowly, like every movement hurt, and the tea became more opaque. She left it to simmer, as both she and Dampé always did. A small crunch sounded from the entrance to the graveyard, but Zelda didn't react. Daisy thundered through the path with great steps, stretching her arms slightly as she moved over to Zelda's side. She seemed to understand what Zelda was thinking.

'It'll be alright,' she said with care, placing an arm around Zelda's shoulder. Zelda winced at the touch, but still said nothing.

'Everyone's okay. Nobody's hurt. It looks like the houses are all okay too,' Daisy rambled. She danced around the touchy subject as much as possible, mentioning all the good things that had happened. Zelda could tell that Daisy wanted to talk to her about it, but she just felt it wasn't time yet. She shut her eyes slightly as Daisy's arm left her shoulder.

'Well, I'll go and check on them,' Daisy announced, turning to leave, 'I think there will be a celebration, too.'

She said this with a little more enthusiasm, hope in her eyes as to what Zelda was going to say.

'With meat,' Daisy went on. 'And music and dancing.'

It did sound appealing. Zelda recalled all the past celebrations Kakariko Village threw, and she enjoyed each and every one of them. She looked up slowly, and Daisy's eyes sparked.

'I can't...' Zelda whispered.

'What?'

'I can't,' she said a little louder.

'Of course you can,' Daisy spoke without thinking. 'Surely your little journey can wait at least a few hours.'

'No, Daisy,' Zelda said firmly. 'The journey can't wait.'

'Surely! There must be someth-'

'I can't, Daisy!' Zelda shouted, snapping her head upright all the way. Daisy's mouth shut and she twiddled nervously with her fingernails.

Zelda breathed out slowly, and looked at Daisy's eyes. They wouldn't meet. It took a while but she also noticed that her fists were clenched.

Why? What's wrong with me?

She unclenched her fists and let out a deep sigh.

'Sorry Daisy, but I can't. It's not going to wait,' Zelda spoke with finality. Daisy nodded, still looking at her fingernails.

'I understand. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right?' As she spoke her voice trembled slightly. Zelda wished she could just throw herself in the cup of steaming tea.

'Sorry,' she repeated, and Daisy nodded.

'It's okay,' Daisy whispered, before nodding and snapping her own head up. 'Yes. I'm not gonna stop doing what I'm doing just because you have to do something important. Take all the time you need, and set out whenever.'

She turned and waddled toward the entrance, and Zelda hit herself in the forehead repeatedly.

What is WRONG with me?

With the third hit, she felt the need to sleep. Someone was dragging her into unconsciousness once again. She sighed heavily and threw herself in one of Dampé's chairs. Her eyes drooped involuntarily, and after a few seconds, she was unconscious.

XxX

She awoke again in the Sacred Realm, and stood uneasily. Everyone from before was there, with someone new. Ruto stood proudly on the Water pedestal, eyeing Zelda with admiration.

'Welcome back, Zelda. It's been a while,' Rauru's regal voice cut through the silence. Zelda stopped looking Ruto and faced him, acknowledging Saria and Darunia's presence.

'Firstly, I would like to say, my deepest condolences, Zelda,' Rauru said sympathetically. Zelda nodded. For some reason, when Rauru said that, she felt a lot better. Maybe it was his voice, or the setting they were in. Or maybe, just maybe, he cared for her emotions.

'I know it must be hard to lose such a dear friend, but, as much as it pains me to say it, we must press on. There is no time to waste,' Rauru said with a frown. Zelda nodded with understanding.

'Now Link is in the Shadow Temple, my new task for you is to teach him one last song. All the sages, except for one, have now been awakened or are going to be soon. The last sage is located in the sandy desert of the Gerudo tribe. The journey will be arduous, however. If the guards catch you, you may be put in their prison, meaning more time will be wasted. I suggest a measure of stealth when inside the guard's area.

'After you have passed the area of the guards, there will be a desert. It will be hard to see. Only one path leads out of the desert, and many have been lost in it, trying to find the way.'

He paused, and held up his hands. A blue light shone on him, and a small jewel began to float down. When he caught it, he held it out to Zelda, who took it graciously.

'This jewel is very important. Using it, I and the other Sages can communicate with you. This will be important as I will personally lead you through the desert unharmed. You must pay your fullest attention, as your life is at stake.'

Zelda grinned broadly. Rauru really did think of everything.

'Now, all there is left to teach you is the song that leads to the Spirit Temple. This song is embodiment of spirit, the notes of which can calm demons and soothe mourners.'

He swept out his harp, and Zelda swept out hers.

'This is the Requiem of Spirit!' Rauru announced loudly. Zelda got ready to play.

He swept his fingers across the strings, the six notes clearly echoing from the sides. Zelda played as soon he finished the notes, with perfect rhythm and precision. As they played, the walls shone with a dark orange, and the other Sages swayed slightly from the rhythm. The song finished, and the walls assumed their original colour of black once more.

'Hurry, Zelda,' Rauru said, putting his harp away. 'You know what to do.'

Zelda nodded and lay down. The feeling came back again, and her eyes drooped again. Very soon, she was asleep.

XxX

Zelda awoke, still in the rickety chair. She was smiling a bit, but then remembered the sadness of the occasion. She stood, and looked down at the teacup. There was no more steam, and as she touched the sides she found it was just the right temperature to drink.

As a final goodbye to Dampé, she raised the cup to the sky, and then downed the tea in one gulp. After finishing, her face wrenched with disgust. She set the cup back down on the table breathed heavily, the cool air cleansing her taste-buds.

Looks like he was the only one who could pull this off after all.