So we're into the area of Link's memories in the games. I'm not going to be going over them because you can obviously just watch the scenes but I'll be structuring the story around them and making sure they fit with the timeline in the game.

Of course I'm pretty sure in the game Link and Zelda don't know each other before his appointment as Knight and in my version they know each other since early childhood. Still I'm determined to keep as canon as possible even if this is a fanfiction.

Chapter 17- Silence

The castle was alive. Servants rushed about in a wild frenzy as they prepared the lavish preparations for the ceremony. It had seemed a long time since the castle last opened its gates in celebration. Only this ceremony would have more ominous undertones. If the prophesy was to be assumed correct the Calamity would be upon them in the next few years.

"Are you sure you have everything under control? Did you make sure all the tunics would arrive at the proper time," Rhoam said in a panicked sort of manner. Zelda would've found it charming if he wasn't doubting her abilities to send a piece of cloth to five people.

"Yes father…Mipha and Urbosa are the only champions I am yet to ask but I'm certain they will accept. I will hand deliver the tunics to them myself," Zelda said coolly.

"Everything must go perfectly. In the end it's just a show. We need to prove to the people that they have nothing to fear, they need to think they have heroes watching over them…" He paused for a moment and looked Zelda over. "Do you really think you can lead them, these 'champions'?"

She had proposed the idea just over a month ago. It had been one of the few times she hadn't just been told to shut up and go back to praying. Zelda had chosen each pilot out individually. She suggested they go back to the traditions of old and make them into the Kingdom's chosen 'champions'. Her father loved the idea, of course the title would be merely symbolic but Zelda hoped that this new team, of the bravest and most skilled warriors, would be able to form a tight bond. Leading them would also give a front for here to make adjustments to the divine beasts.

"I have gotten to know each one personally, I don't think there'll be a problem," Zelda fumbled a little as her father's attention returned to one of the servants following him around with a scroll. There had been something nagging at the back of her mind. Recently their relationship had been good, or at least better, she didn't want to ruin it. But, now she finally found the voice.

"Father… Who was the fifth garment for?"

"I think you know already." Rhoam turned towards her slowly and looked at like he was trying to read her. "The Hylian with the sword that seals the darkness. I asked him but a week ago and he accepted without doubt. He will be your appointed Knight."

She knew it was coming but it still took away her breath a little. "Father I don't think it would be appropriate to-"

"Zelda…" he said firmly. "There will be no negotiation. He is the hope of this kingdom. Look around you everyone looks up to him. He belongs among the champions and I trust no man better than him to keep you safe. Just last week he destroyed a rogue guardian with nothing but a pot lid."

"Yes I heard," Zelda said miserably.

It was too much. When Link looked at her with that now blank stare it felt like his eyes bore into her, bring out her worst insecurities. It was impossible to tell what thoughts were behind them. With his only passion now being Ganon's demise he must hate her. Zelda was the last piece in the puzzle but, she could not fill the empty space and knew not why.

Worst of all though was they reminded her of the eyes that once lay there. They used to be so full of life and despite all the terror of his life experiences, they showed great kindness, no matter what. The ones that now lay in their place were a sad shadow of the former.

No one else saw it though. It felt like she was the only person who knew the boy before. Everyone else saw him as a hero, standing upright against an evil they could not even comprehend.

"If I talk to Impa maybe we might come to an understanding," Zelda pleaded.

"Zelda…" his voice had turned soft, it rarely did. Sometimes that hard exterior would break but now she hardly wanted to relish in it. "It was Impa who suggested it in the first place."

Zelda closed her eyes trying to imagine it wasn't happening. To have his gaze on her everyday was a thought almost unimaginable. What did the chosen swordsman think of his appointment? More importantly what did he think of her.

Link stared out over the domain from the silk curtains of Mipha's room. He had begun to grow restless in the Castle, there was almost nothing to do and too many prying eyes that seemed to weigh on him almost as heavily as the sword on his back. For once the princess was not the only beacon of hope in Hyrule. Link had no idea how she had been able to keep upright under all that pressure over the past few years. Just a few months and it already felt crushing to him.

"You know Bazz was very appreciative of the help you gave him…" Mipha called softly from the other side of the room. "Seggin believes if his skills continue to improve he will be sure to achieve the role of captain to the guard."

Link continued to look down on the gleaming town. "It was nothing."

His dirty blonde hair was let loose as he leaned heavily against the pillar to the side. It felt good to let it go wild once in a while, keeping up appearances could be exhausting. Mipha was the only person he felt able to keep his guard down around.

"You know I was almost surprised that you decided to come. It's been so long since I last saw you, even longer since you've been here in the domain."

Link turned to look at Mipha. She was very much just the same as she'd always been, unassumingly beautiful with an unmatched quiet grace that didn't shove itself in your face. He had noticed she could not meet his eyes for longer than a few seconds during this visit. Though it was not unusual, most people could not keep Link's now intense stare and even fewer could tolerate his extreme silence.

Still there was a strange sadness in Mipha's voice, like she was reminiscing over someone she had lost.

"So much has happened since you were last here," Mipha glanced up and down quickly. "I was so dreadfully sorry to hear about your father Link. I really was, he meant a lot to us here in the domain but I can only imagine how you felt."

Link returned to his post, looking out over the settling Zoras below. What his was looking out for, he had little clue. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

"I see…" Mipha said awkwardly. They really didn't make the best pair for conversations but they both didn't seem to mind. There was a heavy silence between them, before Mipha edged her way across the room to the table to the right side of the window. There were two parcels on it one labled to her the other to Link.

"Do you mind?" she asked. Link shrugged in reply as Mipha unwrapped them delicately revealing the striking blue garments beneath.

"Oh wow!" she breathed. "They're beautiful. I heard they were made by the princess but I didn't know she had this much skill."

She managed to meet Link's eyes as her awe took control of her face. "She was rather adorable you know, all nervous to ask me to become a champion. Can you imagine…someone nervous around me…?" She giggled a little before looking down from Link's neutral face. "I don't know why you didn't say hello, she was here for two days..."

"She doesn't want to talk to me," Link assumed. Zelda looked at him as though he wasn't even human anymore. He had similar suspicions.

"The Appointed Knight… You will be spending a lot of time with her." There was that sad voice again. Link nodded tautly in reply. "How do you feel about it all, it must be a great honour for you."

Link scratched at the pillar as silk glided across his back in a wave under the wind. "I'm glad to be doing something but…"

"But what?"

Link sighed. "There will be even more eyes on me because of it and I feel as though I'll be more royal babysitter than elite Knight."

There was another long silence.

"Maybe it's wrong to look at it that way. You will be fighting with the princess. In the end your bond must be somewhat…strong. Plus from what I hear you will be helping with her preparations for Ganon, that not nothing right?"

"Right…" Link repeated unconvinced.

More than anything it just felt strange to be around Zelda. When she looked at him, Link felt incredibly uncomfortable, it was like his hard exterior was crumbling beneath her glare and he was afraid to see what was beneath. With so many eyes on him it was more important than ever to keep up the silent front. He had to look strong.

"Link…" Mipha whispered though a shakey voice. "When you first came here you were like a ray of sunshine for us all, yet now you do not smile and you speak so sparsely. Has something happened, is something wrong?"

Is something wrong? Link's face wavered a little, before he noticed an argument between the Demon Sergeant Seggin and a terrified guard.

He shook his head and Mipha looked to the side in defeat.

"Mipha! Mipha!" the tiny Zora prince Sidon waddled into the room carefully.

"What is it little one?" Mipha asked kindly as she took the small child into her outstretched arms.

"Another patrol got attack by the monster," Sidon was deadly serious though it was difficult to feel the urgency in his squeaky high pitched voice.

"The Lynel of Ploymus mountain?" Mipha asked. The name made Link's body tense.

Sidon nodded firmly in reply. "Uh-huh, father says we're not even allowed to go near the reservoir anymore."

Link silently tied his hair back, smoothing it back neatly over his head and clipping the sword on his back. His shoulder tingled a little. It was where his first scar lay, he remembered it a little better than all the others. That day was clear in his memory also, the feast, Bazz's boys, the bet and the fight with the Lynel. It had been the first day he had spoken to Zelda too. Things were more simple back then. Link wasn't one to hold grudges but well…he wasn't one to walk away from danger. He made his way for the door.

"Link?" Mipha called. "Where are you-" She realised immediately where Link was going and rushed after him lifting her trident from where it leant against the bed and followed him out towards Ploymus Mountain. She turned back to Sidon. "Go find your friends we'll be back later."

Sidon stuck out his bottom lip bravely as the strange silent Hylian and his sister disappeared off down the stairs.

A gentle haze descended from the mountains and filled the basin of the Lanayru area until the blue lights of the Zora domain became a faint glow from below. Mipha was surprisingly strong for her size and made light work of carrying Link up the waterfall. They paused for a moment at the top. Mipha was content with catching her breath until she noticed Link's expression.

"Link…?"

It was all how he remembered, every detail. The rocks, the trees, the lush wet green grass, all the same as they had been that day. Even the weather matched, rain fell lightly in a film over the landscape and the mist continued to shroud the area around them. But all those details they didn't even matter. Link didn't feel a thing.

All the emotions from that day, the fear, the excitement, he couldn't connect to them. It was a strange feeling, it was like he was looking at a past but, it was a past that didn't feel like it belonged to him. His childhood was a stranger to his own eyes.

He snapped out of it and allowed his face to harden again. "It's nothing, let's keep going."

Mipha scrambled after him as he set off once again at a heavy pace up the slope that would lead to the plateau on the peak of Ploymus.

Link strode forwards and the mist scattered before him, slithering away through the still air. The wet fog seemed to move around the flat plain making the air relatively clear, though still the trees shimmered gently.

He looked back to Mipha who held her trident firmly. He was surprised to see that there was no fear in her eyes, she was completely at ease. Larger men had been known to quiver when tracking a beast such as a Lynel. Link knew Mipha was proficient with a spear, just as much as she was with healing but he couldn't allow her to stay. He worked best alone.

"You'll find no honour here," Link said curtly. "It's best you turn back now, Lynels know only violence and can be ruthless in their fighting."

"I'm staying with you." Mipha stood firm.

"You got me here, that is enough. Turn back please, this isn't a game."

"Link…I can handle myself and I will feel better knowing that I can do something to help you. I will stand and fight with you…"

She noticed that Link's face had gone slack and his arms had tensed. His fighting instinct was kicking in as he felt blood pounding through his body, getting his muscles ready.

"Link…?" Mipha asked perplexed.

With explosive movement Link grabbed Mipha and dived to the side as the Lynel jumped from the rock behind them brandishing a sword and shield. Mipha lay on the floor in shock as Link withdrew the Master Sword and held it to his side. As the beast came to a grinding halt and spun round Link met its fiery green eyes. They were filled with undeniable hatred.

Remember me buddy?

A scar remained where Link had stabbed the shock arrow into Old Ploymus, when he had first come to the domain. The beast glanced over to it and suddenly the green pits of its eyes glowed with greater intensity. Link's scar also seemed to itch slightly at the sight of its creator.

You do remember me.

They began to circle each other. Link swivelling his blade as he loosened his wrist. The Lynel rolled its shoulders and snorted at him. Their eyes did not leave each other. The duel had already begun in some form, their wills battled each other. They continued to circle until the Lynel's back was completely turned to Mipha, who sit sat by the rock in awe. Neither Link nor the Lynel paid her attention. This was a duel between them.

The Lynel broke. Bringing both arms swiftly to the side his head exploded forwards in a gut wrenching roar. The very ground shook beneath them, like yet another divine beast had been released from the mountain. Link stopped and stood grounded, now holding the Master Sword firmly between two hands.

It began to charge towards him winding its sword to the side as it galloped towards him screaming. Link kept steady as it came. He wasn't running from it this time. Its eyes gleamed with pure excitement as it neared him. No doubt no person had managed to survive its charge before.

The sword of the Lynel came down at him with a rush of wind and the Lynel shrieked in victory. Link danced to the left, gliding backwards and grinding to a halt with his right foot. Old Ploymus didn't like that one bit. It screamed yet again and made a grabbing motion towards Link. He flipped backwards over the lunge and landed softly as his focus intensified and the world slowed around him.

His sword felt light as he lunged forwards through the overextended guard of the Lynel. The blade rendered through tough flesh but it was not tough enough, as link dodged back from his attack, it bellowed in pain and staggered to the side a little.

Link let a half smirk form on his face as he brought his guard up again and prepared for the inevitable counter attack but the beast did not lunge forwards again. Instead it put its weapons away and bowed down low before him. Link was taken aback.

It's surrendering?

It was too late that Link realised his mistake. He felt the full weight of its huge body slam into him as it charged forwards. With two huge hands it pushed Link forwards several meters and slammed him into the dirt. Link tasted that familiar metallic taste in his mouth. Old Ploymus was smarter than it looked.

He was pinned down with two of the beast's hands. One clasped his right hand, which held the Master Sword, and the other around his left leg. It snapped down towards him with its powerful jaws and Link held it at bay with his only free arm. It screamed out to him in pained strain as he struggled to battle against the creature's muscular neck. With each snap it got closer and closer, until Link could smell its rancid breath. With a bite coming but an inch from his nose, Link slammed his forehead into the snout of the creature and it backed off dazed.

Link rolled away from its grasp, trying to regain some of the grace and decorum he'd lost in his mistake. The creature cocked its head to the side almost as if to say: "fair play". Link swirled his sword and brought it to his side again, readying himself for the next charge.

Link's eyes widened as Mipha leaped onto the creatures back from behind, stabbing her trident into the beasts shoulder. It grabbed at her wildly but Mipha kept it at bay by pushing further into the shaft of her spear.

That's my Mipha…

Now was a better opportunity than ever. The move was perfected now, it seemed to work perfectly with the Master Sword, as though it had been the missing ingredient this whole time. Link rushed forwards and as he reached Old Ploymus he kicked into the air. With all his might he brought his sword around with several spins as he rushed up the full front of the monster. He reached his highest point in the air and the Lynel crashed to the ground.

Link dived into Mipha and spun himself so that he cushioned her fall with his own body. Swiftly getting up he prepared his blade once again but the damage had been irreparable. It had l already reduced to a meagre black sludge. He turned towards Mipha who was panting heavily.

"I heard stories," Mipha breathed. "But that was…beautiful. I've never seen someone move like that in my life."

She was staring at him strangely. Link flicked any sludge off the blade and sheathed it onto his back and offered a hand which she took gladly.

"Link…I," she looked strained like there were words that just wanted to explode from her mouth. "I…" Mipha's mouth shut and she looked down in pain.

"We better get back," Link murmured. He wasn't really sure what else to say.