"What is it?" Ilia tried to read over Link's shoulder, but it was pointless. Link was too tall. After he finished reading he handed it to her so that she could read it herself. He knew she'd finished it but she continued to read it over and over, slowly. Finally she looked up at him, her green eyes showing nothing. "So…are you going to accept the position?"

Link frowned, uncertain of what he should do. Ilia understood. "You need time to think. I understand. I'm going to take Epona down to the spring now, I'll see you later." The words stung his heart. Never could he hear them again without thinking of Midna. He stood there, numb, while Ilia walked away with his horse.

He walked down the path into the village, milling about as he went from person to person. They were all happy and satisfied, and Link realized that there wasn't much more he could do to help here. Fado hadn't asked him to help with the goats in days, they had calmed down considerably, as if they could sense the end of the War, and would do what he needed without protest. Zelda needed his help a lot more in Castle Town than the people of Ordon did, they would manage perfectly without him. He began to set things in order to leave.

He told Rusl first about his departure. Rusl was very understanding and wished him the best of luck. The word quickly spread that he was leaving, and everyone came by to say some sort of farewell. Beth came with her parents and complained extensively about how she never got to do anything exciting. Sera gave him some milk for free, her eyes misty. Hanch didn't say much, just stood there awkwardly, but Link knew in his own way he was saying farewell too. Link came to Talo and Malo's house to give them his slingshot, a parting gift. The whole family was outside at their picnic table, having what looked like a heated discussion.

"Malo, you really expect us to believe that you are going to Castle Town by yourself to operate a store you opened?" Pergie, his mother, was saying.

"If Malo is going to the Town I wanna go to!" Talo stated hotly.

"He's not going, blimey the boy is only six years old!" Jaggle, his father, said firmly.

"Look, I've got my own shop and I can't leave it unattended for this long. Ask Talo, I had one in Kakariko too!" Malo's voice was quiet as always.

"That's right! While he was all locked up in that boring old store I was on the highest peak, watching out for the whole village! I remember when this big ugly beast came tearing through the village, and he wanted to eat up all the kids, yeah, but I stopped him! I sure did, I yelled-"

"Sweetie, that's nice, but we need to deal with this issue we have at hand." Pergie stopped her son.

Link heard footsteps coming up behind him. He turned and saw that it was Rusl. "They've been squabbling like that all morning. Link, I think I have something that could put them at ease. Will you help?"

Link nodded and Rusl approached the family. "Pergie, Jaggle, I think I have a solution that can solve all of our problems. As I understand it, Link has been asked to start a training program for new soldiers at Castle Town. I wanted to send Colin there, but with the new baby we can't just move down there and I can't send him to live there by himself. What I was thinking was that if Malo already has a need to go there, perhaps you should spend the summer in the town and let Talo join this training program. This could only be temporary, a summer long type of thing, unless you decide it is worth spending more time."

Pergie and Jaggle blinked and looked at each other. "That… that could work. I know both the boys would love it." Pergie said at last. Jaggle nodded.

"Whadda say boys? You wanna move to Castle Town? Talo, you can train to be a Palace Soldier and Malo you can have this shop of yours." Jaggle said.

"Yeah!" Talo cried with enthusiasm. "Link, you'll teach me how to use a sword and we'll kill monsters together just like we did with that monkey and we'll be awesome!"

"Now, I'm sorry to ask of this, but if you do decide that this is something you want to do, I'd like to send Colin to the camp as well, and I would feel very comfortable knowing that he would be in your hands. Would you take him in?" Rusl asked.

"Of course!" Jaggle said without hesitation. "That boy is a fine lad, and I'm sure our kids could use the good example." He said, looking directly at Talo.

It would take them longer to pack all of their things and get everything situated, so it was no surprise that Link was ready to leave before they were even close. He hadn't seen Ilia once since he decided to accept Zelda's offer. Her father came to say farewell, but didn't speak about Ilia.

So it came to a great surprise when she came walking up the path, just as he mounted Epona.

"So you're really going to leave." She said her head down. "Will you come back?" She asked, lifting her eyes to search his face.

Link looked away. He didn't think so. She understood. She'd come to interpret his silence with ease.

"I see. So it's true then. I didn't want to believe it." She looked away. "Father always thought so much of you. He said he was thinking about having you become the next mayor. He said he wasn't sure if he wanted you or Rusl, you were both such fine men. I told him you were better." She gave him a wry smile.

"When we first met as children, I was only interested in the foal you brought with you. But then, because you were the only other child around at the time, we became such close friends. I remember lazy summers spent on the ranch, cold winters spent by the fire in my house." She sighed. " You know, if this war hadn't happened, you and I probably would've gotten married. Father had such high hopes for us. I did too." A tear trickled down her cheek. "Did you ever love me?" She asked, looking up into his eyes, green meeting blue. "I mean as more than a friend. Was it possible that we would have spent our lives together, if the War hadn't happened?"

Link didn't know what to say. He hadn't ever explored his feelings for Ilia. She was his best friend, although he had to admit that the title had probably been given to Midna now. He wanted to be her friend again, but he just wasn't the same man he used to be. He remembered the grief he felt when he realized Ilia didn't remember him, but that was nothing compared to the anguish he felt when he lost Midna. He looked down at her, his eyes grave. He didn't want to hurt her like he was now.

"I see." Ilia pursed her trembling lips together to keep herself from crying more. "You should go Link. The princess will be expecting you." She said the last words with some bitterness in them. Link looked at her for a long moment, before guiding Epona away, into the forest. Ilia stood and clasped her hands together against her chest, watching him go. She stood there as Fado came running up to Link's house, calling for help. She didn't acknowledge him at all. She watched until he disappeared from sight, and the pain inside her chest intensified. Another tear trickled down, but she refused to let this happen. She sucked in a deep breath and started to walk away slowly. She was almost to the path when she paused and looked at Fado. She blinked once and saw his bewildered expression.

She said plainly, "He's gone."