Three Days Earlier:
The setting sun glimmered through the thick foliage of the forest, piercing through the lofty trees encompassing tall mountains, its relentless waterfalls cascading into the pond at his feet, rippling with but a single touch. The forest was quiet, the peacefulness of the wilderness silent, the faint chirping of birds heard over the currents of the falls.
Leaning back on his hands, his fingers brushing against the soft blades of grass, he breathed in the air, the scent of the falls drawing a sense of calmness within him. Despite the recklessness of herding the goats back into the barn two hours before, he found relief within his surroundings, his muscles relaxing upon the sounds of nature's soothing song.
"You worked up quite a sweat today, Link. I'd say Fado had his hands tied more so than usual. Despite taking all three of us to calm the herd, I was surprised by your determination despite your exhaustion," Rusl replied, eyeing the young man beside him.
A soft hum escaped Link's lips and he nodded in agreement, recalling the spectacle earlier. When even Fado and himself failed to calm them, one managing to injure Fado, Link had no other choice but to call out for help. "As of late, they've been acting aloof, and I can only wonder if the passing season is to blame."
"Fortunately, Fado only suffered a slight injury, but it might be best to keep a close eye on the goats in case something else happens."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Pleased by his response, Rusl's grey eyes looked upon the setting sun past the mountains, his gaze drifting across the sparkling waters at their feet. There was something on his mind, something which he'd wanted to bring up with Link since morning, but instead, he lifted himself from the ground, Link following suit before cracking his back with a content moan. "It's getting late. We should head back to the village."
Understanding, Link took the reins of Epona, a silver haired bay horse, a companion with whom he befriended five years ago. A large assortment of wood and twigs were bundled together upon Epona's back, the load somewhat light and manageable for her to bear with. Gently caressing her nose, Link grasped her reins and led her behind him, following behind Rusl.
They traveled the worn path along the way, passing through a thicket of trees and wildlife, the sounds of wolves in the distance howling their warnings. As they crossed a winded path, crossing a steady stream, they eventually passed a vine-covered gate, its doors secured by an iron lock, a beautiful spring hiding on the other side.
Link noticed this, his sapphire eyes briefly glimpsing the rusted lock, the subtle sight of sparkling water and cascading falls through the bars on the other side. For whatever reason, the gate was always sealed, and though he never bothered asking, he couldn't help but murmur his curiosity. "Rusl…"
"Hm?"
Without stopping, Link turned his gaze forward, Epona close behind. "I've been meaning to ask, but why do you always have the spring locked?" From his understanding, despite the bridge's gate being secured some distance behind them, he never understood why this particular spring needed protection. It was a mystery which he hoped to solve, but when he noticed Rusl pause in his trek, his eyes turning curiously behind him, he met Link's gaze.
"Ah, the spring?" Rusl turned, both hands placed upon his waist, his eyes staring out across the spring beside them. "Our village, as well as these woods, is protected by Ordona, a guardian deity who resides within this spring."
His eyes widened slightly. "Ordona?"
He nodded. "Much like the three Goddesses who created the world and all its inhabitants, there are four deities who have remained after their departure. These four deities are Ordona, Faron, Eldin and Lanayru, each inhabiting those particular provinces in Hyrule. Using the lifeforce from the Goddesses, they govern over each province of the land, protecting the people," Rusl explained, placing his hand upon the moss-covered gate beside him. "Much like our gate blocking entry near the bridge, it's similar in that respect; it acts as a barrier, protecting our home and our protector from harm."
"I see. In a way, this is how we show our respect to Ordona."
"Indeed," Came his reply, smiling softly at the young boy. "It must never be opened, for fear we may anger Ordona. After all, an angry deity is not one to trifle with."
Understanding, Link nodded. In truth, he had curious interest to climb over the gate and explore its mystery, but after learning this, his thoughts vanished. He wouldn't want to anger Ordona by stepping foot into protected territory.
Rusl and Link continued down the path, the sky darkening with each step and turn through the woods. "Tell me … do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls?" Rusl couldn't help but ask aloud, drawing Link's curious stare beside him. "They say it's the only time when our world intersects with theirs. The only time we can feel the lingering regrets of spirits who have left our world."
"Other world?"
"That is why loneliness always pervades the hour of twilight…"
Twilight, the only time our world intersects with theirs? Whose? Somehow, Link didn't understand Rusl's meaning, however, the term sadness often weighed on his mind, something he didn't understand.
"Rusl…"
"Hm?"
Link mused, his gaze faltering upon the ground with each step. "Do you ever feel as if you've stood upon the same soil before? Not in this life, but in another?"
Rusl paused, his gaze shifting to the young boy beside him. So, Link had thoughts about reincarnation? "Well, I can't really say for sure. Why? Does this all seem familiar to you?"
He shrugged, lifting his head slightly. "I guess so. There are moments where I feel nostalgia, and other times, I can't help but feel a bit … lonely." Noticing Rusl's confused stare, he weakly laughed. "I'm not saying I'm unhappy, but, I just have these moments where I feel a bit empty, as if I'm missing something important."
Understanding crossed Rusl's countenance. "I used to feel the same way when I was younger. I wanted to become a trained knight under the Royal Guard of Hyrule, but, as fate would have it, I ended up falling in love instead and started a family here in Ordon. I suppose I do feel a small tinge of regret, but nonetheless, I'm very happy to have a growing family." He hoped, when Colin became older, he might follow after the dream he once had long ago, but regardless of whatever the young boy chased after, he would encourage him one step of the way. "Perhaps, Link, you are wanting more than just a simple life here."
"I didn't mean for it to sound…" Link solemnly replied. "I haven't seen much of Hyrule, but I can't say I'm not interested in traveling and seeing the world."
Rusl smiled. "Perhaps that's exactly what you need, Link. You've been cooped up in this village for eighteen years. I think, it's about time you find something you enjoy and chase after it. After all, you are only given this one life. You should make the most of it."
Link mused on his words. In a way, Rusl was right. Perhaps these feelings of emptiness were simply that. He wasn't unhappy living here and seeing the familiar faces of his friends and family, but maybe he just wanted more, something beyond just this. "Maybe you're right. Perhaps we could take a trip around Hyrule once Uli has safely delivered her child?"
"Now that would certainly be exciting. I'm pretty sure Colin might want to tag along," He laughed. "Speaking of traveling, I'm sure you've already heard about my summons to Hyrule Castle."
"I heard from Ilia and the children you are to deliver Ordon's best sword and shield."
"How would you like to go in my steed?"
Link blinked. Go and deliver them in person? "Are you certain? This is an honor, a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet with the Royal Family, Rusl. You should do it."
To his surprise, Rusl only shook his head. "To be honest, Uli is expecting any day now, and the trip to the palace will likely take an entire day. There's no telling how long the King will want me to stay either."
"What's it like?" Link asked. Honestly, he's only seen the palace from the mountaintops of Ordon Province, and although it was very far, it couldn't help but envision what it would be like to stand before it in person.
"In the Kingdom of Hyrule, there is a great castle, and around it, is a castle town, a community far bigger than our little village. I went there once before, but I've never had the opportunity to meet with the Royal Family. To have our village summoned upon and asked to deliver only the best of our wares, is truly an honor. Our village is well-known for our pumpkins and cheese, and while we do make frequent deliveries to the town, this is certainly a first. How about it Link?"
Since he mentioned Uli, Link couldn't refuse. Perhaps, this could lighten up his slightly melancholy thoughts as of late. "Alright. I'll do it."
Pleased by this, Rusl's eyes sparkled merrily in the moonlight. "Then I will discuss this with the mayor first thing in the morning. Be prepared to leave within early afternoon."
Soon after their conversation regarding Hyrule Castle diminished, they arrived at the base of a lofty tree, it's base wide with a ladder spanning up its length, revealing a small two-story hut situated between the crevices of the bark.
"Well, we're finally back. Thank you for helping me gather wood, Link," Rusl replied, taking the reigns from the boy. "I'll take Epona up to the farm after I unload her."
"Of course," Link replied. Before Rusl left, he untied one of the ropes around Epona's side, taking a small bundle of wood in hand. After which, he waved good night to the older man, watching as he and Epona disappeared into the village below the hill.
Reaching for one of the wooden buckets beside the tree, he placed the small load of wood inside, pulling on its handle before slowly climbing the wooden ladder to his hut. After managing to get to the top, he opened his door and stepped inside, setting the bucket down by the closed door.
It was dark within and reaching for a candle situated on a low rising table beside him, he reached for a match and lit it. As the small flame flickered before his eyes, he made his way across the small room and slowly ascended another ladder before setting the candle down beside his small bed.
As he leaned back into the comforts of his blankets, he looked up at the ceiling, recalling his conversation with Rusl previously.
'Tomorrow, I'll travel to Hyrule Castle and deliver Ordon's best sword and shield. I can't say I'm not a little nervous … Still, this is a once in a lifetime chance.'
It would be good for him, he was sure. Leaving the village and breathing in the air of Hyrule Field might do him some good. For exactly eighteen years, he lived in this small village, helping around farming and handling the cattle. When he was a child, probably no older than ten years of age, Fado revealed the truth about his past.
As a baby, he was found crying within Faron Woods, and if it wasn't for Rusl traveling to and from Hyrule, he might not have lived to this day. Despite not having known why he was left in the forest at such an age, and not knowing who his family was or why he was abandoned, Link wasn't burdened by it; in fact, he thought of Fado and Rusl as his family. Fado felt more like an older brother while Rusl was more of a father figure to him and Uli a mother figure, he even though of Colin as his younger brother.
'Will I get to meet the Princess?' He wondered, closing his eyes.
"Link! Link! Wake up!"
Stirring from his peaceful slumber, Link turned onto his side, his eyes shifting around the brightly lit room, a faint warm breeze blowing in from his window. Releasing a yawn, he sat up and stretched his arms. Moving across the room towards the open window, he peered out, noticing the village children gathered just outside his home; they were staring back at him through the window, waving for him to come down.
"Link hurry up! It's almost afternoon!" Beth called out with her hands cupped around her mouth.
"Rusl is looking for you! Hurry up, you slow poke!"
Offering them a small wave, he moved away from the window and removed his trousers, reaching for another set in his small dresser. Once dressing into the beige pair trousers, he pulled on the strings at the ends, the length of his trousers reaching his ankles where he tied them inward so they wouldn't drag to his feet. After which, he adorned his feet in his leather sandals, tying the strings around his ankles so they would not slip off so easily.
He then removed his loose gray tunic and slipped on an offset white V-neck tunic, the sleeves short at his shoulders with light green trim spanning his neck and bottom length. His left arm was dressed in an elbow-length green sleeve resting at his shoulder, held together by a leather strap which spanned across his chest and around his back, securing it in place; a strange fashion of the Ordonians, but simple in style.
Lastly, he reached for a long piece of light blue fabric and wrapped it around his waist, the ends barely meeting before securing it in place with an orange sash tied at his side in a double knot. Link ran his fingers through his tawny hair, which was neither blonde nor brown, merely a mixture of the two.
Securing his hair into a low and short ponytail, his layered fringed laying just over his sapphire eyes, Link proceeded towards his table, grabbing a single red apple from a wooden bowl before opening the door to greet the children.
The morning air was warm, the sun shining down above them warming his skin. There was a faint breeze billowing past, and as he breathed in the fresh air, stretching slightly, he waved at the children, but he paused, his eyes wide in confusion as he noticed Talo push Beth, the two glowering at each other, their voices raised. Sensing the beginnings of a fight, he placed his apple into his pocket and quickly descended the ladder, jumping short of it before running over to separate the two.
"No!"
"Why not?!" Talo cried, his brows furrowed as he pushed Beth again. "What your mom doesn't know won't hurt her! I said I'd give it back after I'm done with it!"
Beth fumed. "I told you no already! That's stealing! Do you know how much trouble I'll get into if I took it from the shop? No way!"
"You're such a worry wart, Beth! It's not stealing if you return it! Just lend it to me!"
"I said no!"
"Will you two stop fighting?" Colin weakly asked, his hands fisted in front of him as he looked between his two friends. He didn't want the fight to escalate any more than it already was.
Malo simply stared at Beth and Talo with nonchalance, his eyes shifting to Link who was trying to calm the fight, but with little luck, the children threw themselves at each other, their hands raised.
"Get off me!" Beth cried, throwing her fist at Talo's head.
Despite their bickering, the two rolling around in the dirt in front of his house, Link moved between the two and pulled Talo and Beth up from the ground, separating them with both his hands. "If you keep this up, I'll have no choice but to explain the situation to both your parents," He warned, though his smile was slightly faded.
Hearing his warning, they froze and looked at him before glaring at each other once more.
"I didn't do anything wrong, Link!" Beth pointed at Talo indignantly. "He kept pestering me about the sling shot in our shop!"
Link blinked. A slingshot? His eyes turned to Talo, but he only crossed his arms arrogantly and looked away. "Talo…"
"I only asked if I could have it for a while. I said I'd give it right back!"
"That's stealing!" Beth retorted before looking at Colin beside her. "Isn't it, Colin?!"
When he noticed the glares from both Beth and Talo locked on him, he didn't know what to do. He truth, he slightly froze up, and not wanting to be the center of attention, he hid behind Link. "I … don't know… just stop fighting, please?"
At the sight of him hiding, Beth rolled her eyes. "Some help you are!"
"Talo, why do you want the slingshot so bad?" Link asked, removing his hand from the young boy, but he only fumed at his reply.
"I wanted to practice shooting stuff!" Came his reply. "Dad is always wanting me to help him with the pumpkins, and I just wanted to hone my skills!"
Hone his skills? Link couldn't help but sweat drop at his reply while the kids only looked at Talo disbelievingly. "Why is that?"
"I plan to become a great swordsman one day!" Came his reply, this time, his face contorted into an excited grin. "In order to do that, I need to practice with my aim. Since we don't have any bows and arrows, I wanted to try using a slingshot!"
Link nodded in understanding, but still, Talo was too young to begin any such training. "But that doesn't give you any right to take it from the shop or ask Beth to take it without her mother knowing," He explained, hoping the child would understand. "Even if you planned to return it, it is still stealing. If you wanted to borrow it, you could directly ask Beth's mother; I'm sure she would be understanding."
Talo frowned. "I thought you would be on my side, Link…"
He almost sighed. Of course, he would receive this reaction after scolding him. "I am but starting a fight with each other is not the way. I think you should both apologize to each other."
Beth and Talo's mouth flew open at this, their expressions speaking volumes. Apologize to each other? Link had to be kidding, but judging by his patient stare, they glanced at each other awkwardly.
"Sorry Beth…"
"Yeah … sorry I scratched your face up…"
Talo touched his face, feeling the scratches upon his cheeks and slightly winced. He was pretty sure his mom and dad would question him about it. "I'll just tell them your cat scratched me."
Pleased the two finally apologized, Link patted each of their heads, Beth slightly blushing from Link touch while Talo pushed his hand away. "Now, how much does this slingshot cost?"
"It's thirty rupees!" Beth replied, her hands placed upon her hips. "Mom put it on the shelf last night, so Talo went nuts when he saw it."
"Thirty rupees? That seems a bit pricy for a wooden slingshot," Link mused.
Talo nodded. "Exactly! I don't even have that much saved up, so that's why I asked Beth to let me borrow it."
Beth stuck her tongue out at him. "Then I suggest you get the money first, Talo, other wise you can't have it."
"Fine…"
Malo suddenly tugged on Link's pants, the young man glancing down at the five-year-old child curiously. "Don't you have to leave soon?" He asked expressionlessly.
Realizing he was right, Link nodded. "Thanks for the reminder." Before he could make his way past the children, Colin suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Before you go, mom was looking for you." He replied, smiling excitedly. "She made a bunch of freshly baked bread this morning! She said she wants you to take some on your journey."
Beth's eyes alit with excitement. "I thought I smelled something delicious this morning! I want some too!"
"Me too! Maybe she made some pumpkin rolls!"
Colin nodded again. Thankfully his friends were no longer fighting but were now smiling at each other with the thought of food weighing heavily on their minds; in fact, he could practically see Beth and Talo drooling. "Come on! Mom made a lot!"
"Here you go, dear," Uli replied, handing a large roll of pumpkin to Ilia, who took it appreciatively.
Accepting a large load of freshly baked bread, its scent lifting a smile upon her face, Ilia thanked the older woman. "Thank you, Uli! Father and I always love your baked bread and rolls. I'm sure father will go crazy once he sees this."
Uli only smiled at her compliment as she moved around the counter space to tie up a few loaves and rolls for the other villagers. Truthfully, she prepared a few dozen of before the sun rose, allowing each to rise twice before baking them at dawn. It was no surprise Ilia was the first knocking at her door, the aroma awakening her from bed and guiding her towards their small house on the hill beside the river.
Before long, the door creaked open and with it, a soft jingling of bells alerted both Ilia and Uli that there was company. It was no surprise Colin peeked inside, smiling warmly at both his mother and his friend.
"Hello mother. Hello Ilia," He kindly greeted, slowly stepping inside, the door somewhat closed behind him.
"Oh Colin, did you tell Link I have freshly baked bread and rolls for him?" Uli asked, her hand placed upon her bulging stomach.
"Actually…" Colin replied before opening the door.
To Ilia and Uli's surprise, Link stood on the other side, the rest of the village children smiling from ear to ear beside him. The sight was rather amusing as Link scratched his cheek, a weak smile played upon his head and a rumbling stomach, the children eager to step inside and glimpse the baked goods.
Uli sweat dropped. "Oh, it seems you told the entire village," She replied with a small chuckle. "Don't be shy, come inside. There's plenty for everyone," She replied, waving her hand in gesture.
Immediately after, Beth and Talo pushed past Link and sped inside, the aroma carrying them to each counter top and towards the built-in stone oven, its flames high and the dough inside slowly coloring to a golden brown.
"Oh, I want some!" Talo cried, his eyes noticing a large roll of pumpkin and cream not yet freshly cut, it's scent eliciting saliva within his mouth.
"These look amazing!" Beth marveled, clasping her hands as her eyes sparkled at the vast array of bread, rolls, and of course her favorite, pumpkin sweet rolls with a touch of cream in the middle. "You must have been baking since early this morning!"
"I could have helped you Uli, if you wanted; it wouldn't have been any trouble," Ilia insisted.
Uli smiled at this. "It's quite alright. I've been meaning to bake some bread for some time now, especially since my husband mentioned it a few days ago. I've made plenty for everyone, so please, help yourselves."
A sudden smack turned everyone's attention toward Talo and Beth, the two glowing at one another from across the room. From the looks of it, it seemed as if Beth had smacked Talo's hand, as he was holding his small appendage close to his chest.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Talo cried out.
"Don't be rude. Where are your manners, Talo? No one will want to eat those after you've touched them! Colin's mom worked very hard to make all this, so don't let it go to waste!"
"I wasn't touching it! I was only looking!" He retorted, turning away slightly to ogle the rest of the bread.
Beth almost rolled her eyes. Only looking? As if, he was totally touching them with his dirty fingers. "Looking? With what, your hands?" She almost laughed. "How do you look with your hands?"
Looking back at the freckled brown-haired girl, Talo couldn't help but smirk. "Like this!" Without warning, he threw his hands at her face, not intending to hit her but to touch her hair, which of course caused her to recoil in disgust.
"Ew! Get away, Talo! Your hands are dirty!" She cried out, running away from him as he laughed in triumph.
Uli only sweat dropped at the scene. "Beth, Talo, Malo, I've prepared some bread and rolls for your family. They are over there on the counter," She replied sweetly, motioning towards the very spot; it was no surprise they quickly ran in her intended direction, gathered around the food in awe. Turning back to Link, Uli couldn't help but sigh. "I was hoping I would catch you before you left this morning, Link."
"I was planning to visit anyways before I left," He replied, ruffling Colin's hair from beside him, the little boy grinning from ear to ear at the affection.
Ilia smiled from beside him, her own baked goods held close to her abdomen. "Link, did you enjoy the stew I made for you last night?" She asked, suddenly capturing the tawny haired young man's attention. "I figured you would be really tired after helping Rusl gather firewood."
At her words, he grinned. "Yes, I did. Thank you. Your amazing cooking really hit the spot last night, and I slept pretty good after."
She blushed at the compliment. "I'm glad."
Link couldn't help but notice something different about Ilia today. Normally, she was dressed in her usual thigh length sleeveless shirt, designed with stiches of stars and swirls, her upper torso intricated with green embroidery and a green choker, and the usual light brown pants which fell just a bit below her knees.
Today was different, however. Ilia was no longer wearing her usual clothing but instead was wearing a maroon, sleeveless knee length dress, the embroidery light blue and pink with stitching's of blossoms near the ends which flared out somewhat. Her brown sandals were worn with it and her hair was slightly brushed back, a pink butterfly hairpin pinned behind her ear.
Noticing his eyes sweeping across her attire, his gaze shifting from her dress to her hairpin, Ilia's blush darkened slightly, a bashful smile playing across her lips. It seemed he noticed, but he did not seem disappointed, in fact, he seemed surprised if anything with a sign of approval in his blue eyes. "Do you like it? Uli helped me make it not long ago."
Realizing he'd been staring too long, Link looked away and nodded, smiling in reassurance to the young girl. "It looks pretty, Ilia. The hairpin is a nice touch as well; I've never seen you wear one before."
Uli couldn't help but smile at the two. Despite both Link and Ilia falling into small conversation before her, she couldn't help but notice how the young girl looked at Link, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears, a bashful smile, and the blush she knew all too well; young love, that's what it was called, and yet, she couldn't be sure if it was welcomed or unrequited. It was no surprise the entire village knew of the young girl's affection for the farm boy, and while many remained passive and quiet, they eagerly hoped for the two young ones to marry one day and start a family.
From Uli's personal opinion, it seemed Link was either oblivious to her affection or simply pretended not to notice. Either way, the sight before her was positively adorable.
Realizing he had yet to pick up his bread, Uli reached over the counter for a large loaf of bread and four rolls, an extra sweet cinnamon roll and wrapped them up in a wide towel. After which, she handed the bundle to Link.
Link's expression changed the moment she handed him the bread, and already, he felt his mouth water at the fragrance just beneath his nose. Removing the cloth, he saw the golden-brown loaf, the perfectly round buns and the sweet cinnamon glaze atop the cinnamon rolls. "Thanks, Uli! It smells amazing," He replied, lifting it to his nose before reaching for one of the rolls. To his disappointment, Uli stopped him.
"Don't eat it now dear. You have a long trip ahead of you. Save it for later."
Although he wanted to complain, he nodded obediently, laughing it off while rewrapping his bundle. As the children finished grabbing theirs, they followed Link and Ilia out the door while Colin remained behind and helped his mother tend the oven.
As the children ran home excitedly to show their parents, as well as to feast upon their delicacies, Ilia and Link found themselves walking alone together. They fell into silence, each caught up in their own musings.
With her hands behind her back, Ilia's eyes shifted to Link beside her. She noticed his gaze upon his bundle of goods, a small pout upon his lips and stifling a giggle, she reached into her basket and pulled out a sweet roll, holding it up just a few inches from his face.
Link immediately stopped and stepped back, his eyes blinking at the sight of the roll, its scent strong and tempting.
Ilia smiled. "Here, Link. You can have some of mine."
"Are you sure? These are for you and your father…"
She merely shrugged. "Of course. It's not like father needs all these sweets anyways," She laughed. And neither did she as a matter of fact. As great tasting as Uli's bread was, too much was never a good thing. "Please, help yourself. I already have my share."
Without any complaints, he took the roll from her offered hand and bit into it. Within a moment, he sighed in contentment, the roll soft and tasty. He always loved Uli's home cooking, as well as her baked goods.
Pleased he accepted it, she smiled to herself, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked out across the village. There were chickens frolicking, many pumpkins, corn, potatoes and wheat growing in their fields as well as many other vegetables. She noticed Sera's black cat loitering around the river bank, its paw slightly raised; it must have noticed a large fish swimming by.
"Rusl is at my house talking with father right now. If you like, we can head over there now. I assume that was the real reason for heading to the house besides getting fresh bread from Uli?" She slightly teased.
Swallowing the last of the roll, he nodded. "Yes. I figured I should leave early instead of midday."
"So, you are leaving soon?"
Again, he nodded. "The sooner the better."
Her smile faded, a worrying look passing her countenance. So soon? And here she thought they would get to talk a bit more before he left. 'I was actually hoping there'd be time to talk one on one with Link, but I might not get the opportunity...'
"Ilia? You okay?"
Blinking, she flashed him a smile. "I'm fine. Just took me by surprise to know you were leaving earlier than expected. I just thought we could spend a bit of time together … and the children were wanting to play with you before you left," She quickly added, hoping her flustered expression wasn't too apparent. "You know, they look up to you a lot, right? Especially Colin."
"I know, but I'll only be gone for about five days, if not less," Came his nonchalant reply. After all, it took two days on horseback to reach Hyrule Castle.
Ilia hummed at this and mused slightly. "So, you don't plan to sight see while outside the village?" She asked. The very thought came as a surprise to her; surely, he'd want to see all that he can before returning. 'What am I saying? Here I am not wanting him to leave but now I'm telling him he should sight see?' "I overheard Rusl and my dad talking and Rusl mentioned you wanted to travel. Is that true?"
"I won't lie and say it hasn't crossed my mind, but it would be nice to leave the village for a short time and see the world. This journey I'm going on will be nothing but a small touch of frosting on a slice of cake for me. I'll only get to see a small portion on my way to the castle, but eventually I'd like to explore all of Hyrule … and maybe beyond it."
Explore the world and even beyond it? Hearing this didn't exactly please her, and yet, she wanted to smile at this dream. Yet, deep inside her, she felt guilt and a pang of regret. One day, Link would leave, and what if, he found a better village to stay in? Or what's more, what if he found someone to become a family with? The very thought worried her, yet, she couldn't help but smile.
"Wouldn't you want to travel one day, Ilia? Link suddenly asked, his thoughts filled with curious excitement.
This took her by surprise. He was asking her? "Huh? Travel?" The thought never crossed her mind; in fact, she was quite happy here, living with her father, playing with the children and learning to sew and cook with Uli guiding her. 'Could it be … he is asking me to travel with him someday?' The very thought left her blushing, a sudden bashfulness overcoming her. "I … I never gave it much thought, but it would be refreshing."
Hearing her response, he smiled. "Our world is so vast, there's so much the two of us could one day see…" He was oblivious to her bashfulness, caught up in his own thoughts as well as his voyage to Hyrule Castle. Once he returned, he was sure he would have stories to tell the children; the thought left him grinning.
Loud boisterous laughter resounded within the large house as they stepped inside, Link closing the door after Ilia. As they made their way through the living room and past the kitchen, they arrived in comfortable setting where both her father and Rusl were seated, two steaming cups of tea placed before them.
Upon noticing their visitors, the Mayor flashed a smile to Link and Ilia, his eyes immediately caught on the bundle in his daughter's hands. "Oh my, is that bread?" He asked, his mouth opening slightly as he could almost taste the aroma.
Rusl turned at this, pleased to see Link before waving them over. "Ah Link, my boy, there you are. And Ilia, how are you this fine morning? The Mayor and I were just talking."
"Hello sir. I'm well," Ilia greeted before approaching the table and placing the bundle before her father. "Uli made bread this morning. She has prepared some for the entire village."
Mayor Bo was a rather tall and paunchy man in his mid-forties, a head which naturally reflected the sun's rays and a presentable white mustache which complimented his thick brows. Despite his many tales of wrestling Gorons in his youth, he was a gentle old man, and where he lacked as a leader, his daughter surely made up for.
"Your wife never ceases to amaze me, Rusl," Bo replied suddenly, his giant hands reaching for a sweet roll before placing it into his mouth. An expression of pure delight crossed his countenance, and he slammed his hand on his knee. "You are one lucky man, Rusl!"
Rusl only laughed. "Lucky indeed. I offered to help her, but she shooed me out of the kitchen and told me to go out and work." He seemed almost hurt as he said this, but merely laughed it off. "A tough woman who can make great food. What more can a man ask for?"
Bo suddenly shifted his eyes to his daughter, a sudden smile crossing his face. "Ilia has been taking lessons from Uli. She prepares all the meals in our home, and I have no doubt she will make a wonderful wife someday. Isn't that right, Link?"
Despite Link agreeing whole heartedly with the mayor, Ilia merely fell silent, her cheeks aflame. Father was not at all subtle with his hints, and it seemed Rusl caught on as well, standing up before slapping the young boy on the back as if he already knew something he didn't.
"Our Link surely has grown up, hasn't he? A ranch hand who was taught the way of the sword to boot! Now we just need to marry you off so we can have more children running around!"
"I think marriage is a long way away for me, Rusl. I'm not ready to settle down any time soon," He laughed, slightly sweat dropping.
"Nonsense!" Bo replied. "That's what they all say."
"Father…" Ilia murmured, hoping her father would take a hint and drop the subject. To her relief, her father caught on and immediately cleared his throat, laughing suddenly.
Rusl and Bo grew up together as children, but it wasn't in Ordon. In fact, they lived further across the plains of Hyrule in what was once called Kakariko Village. During their younger years, they eventually sought out a different way of life, one much quieter and in tune with nature and eventually stumbled upon Ordon Province. In truth, Ordon was only recently established, and though it was still a growing village, it was no wonder it was so small.
As Mayor Bo cleared his throat, his gaze fell upon Link standing beside Rusl. "So, Link, have you finished preparing for your journey out to Hyrule Castle?"
"Yes. I don't plan on taking much, just the essentials; water, food and a change of clothes."
Rusl nodded approvingly. "That's excellent, my boy. That's all a traveler ever needs. Now, let me show you what you'll be delivering to our future queen," He replied, sitting back down in the wooden chair before reaching for a large green bundle positioned between him and Mayor Bo on the table. While Link and Ilia leaned over to glimpse Rusl's wares, Mayor Bo took a sip of his tea, his mustache twitching upon contact with the hot liquid.
Unraveling the bundle, an ornate sword and shield, both inlaid with the horns of their prestigious goats, were presented before them. The village emblem of Ordon was engraved on the hilt of the sword and at the center of the decorative shield.
"What do you think?" Rusl asked, smiling proudly at his creations. "I worked tirelessly for weeks on this. Surely, by presenting this to our soon to be future queen, it will bring more business to our village."
Reaching for the sword, while Ilia softly caressed the exterior of the shield, Link balanced it within both hands. This wasn't the first time Link held a sword, in fact, he trained with Rusl every so often during their free time. "It feels different from your other swords. Much lighter."
Rusl laughed at this and nodded. "Nothing ever gets past you. Yes, it may seem lighter, but its efficiency remains the same. This sword was made with the intention of anyone to wield it, be it man or woman."
Link nodded at this, slightly smiling. It was a beautiful sword, long and durable. "It's well made. I'm surprised you didn't use leather for the hilt."
Rusl nodded. "I gave it some thought, but I wanted our fair princess to see the extent at which we craft our swords. Normally, I'd round some strong wood from the forest and shape it into the hilt for the blade, but I felt a strong inclination to do something different."
"I'm sure the princess will be pleased," Link replied, setting the sword down carefully upon the table near Rusl.
Mayor Bo nodded in agreement. "Indeed. I've heard our fair princess is quite an intellect with a soft kindness; I'm sure anything you present to her, she'll welcome with her gentle grace."
Rusl laughed while rewrapping the sword and shield. "Only the best for our princess. I wouldn't dream of offering her anything less. I'll give these one more shine before I bring it over to your place when it's time for you to head out, Link."
Unexpectedly, the table shook, both Mayor Bo's hand placed firmly atop its surface, his mouth wide with excitement. "I came up with a wonderful idea! Why don't we have a feast before Link leaves?"
Ilia smiles at this. "That's a nice idea. I wouldn't mind preparing something."
"No, that's quite alright," Link replied, sweat dropping. "That won't be necessary."
At first, Ilia was a bit disappointed to hear those words, but remembering what he told her earlier, she gasped. "Oh, that's right. Link mentioned he was leaving early today. After all, it takes two days to reach the palace."
Mayor Bo's eyes squinted at the young man, a knowing look upon his face as he relaxed in chair. "You must be more excited to leave than I first imagined. I get it, it's not just the beautiful scenery you are excited to see on your journey, but our fair princess as well. Am I right? I heard her beauty cannot be matched," He replied chuckling whole heartedly.
Link couldn't help the blush that swept across his cheeks. He wouldn't deny that; in fact, he was curious if he would truly meet with her highness face to face.
A sudden silence fell between them, Ilia's frown becoming more apparent with each passing moment. Rusl must have noticed from the table, sweat dropping while her father rambled on about this and that to Link concerning the princess.
Noticing Rusl's shifting gaze towards Ilia, Mayor Bo's eyes locked onto his daughter, her face strict and her eyes suddenly cold, staring at him with clenched hands. It seemed, his daughter was not at all amused. "Oh, I mean … but that's just a rumor. My daughter is far more beautiful," He exclaimed, suddenly howling with laughter, in hopes of calming his angered daughter.
"Father…" Ilia sighed, but when she caught Link's curious stare, she smiled, weakly laughing along with her father.
"Oh Ilia, you know I didn't mean anything by it," Her father insisted, his laughter subsided.
At this, Link only smiled between the two. It was a normal thing between the father and daughter. Mayor Bo was always looking for some way to tease Ilia, whether it was on purpose or by accident, and the sight of seeing Ilia a bit flustered caused Link to chuckle. "I'm going to get Epona ready and then I'll head out."
Everyone's gaze turned to Link, each smiling and nodding.
Forgetting her embarrassment, Ilia followed behind Link as he made his way towards the door. "I'll help you."
Appreciative of this, Link smiled and opened the door for her, following after as he closed the door behind him. They were both completely unaware of Rusl and Mayor Bo within smiling knowingly at the two.
Once exiting her home with Link beside her, Ilia couldn't help but sigh in relief. Any long inside and she was sure an argument would have started, but she was thankful it ended the moment Link decided to head out and fetch Epona at the stables.
She fell in step with him as they turned and made their way up the incline towards the farm where Fado was likely managing the cattle, but the paused when they heard someone from behind call out to them.
"Link! Ilia!" Colin's voice called out suddenly.
As they turned, they noticed the blonde-haired child, his face contorted into a worrying expression as he stopped near the base of the hill, his hands upon his knees in exhaustion.
"What's wrong Colin?" Ilia asked, quickly descending the hill with Link following after.
He pointed his finger in the direction of the woods far across the village near Link's house. "Talo took Epona to the spring. He said he was going to wash Epona. He's trying to climb the gate."
Link and Ilia's eyes met in surprise.
"You shouldn't do that Talo! It's dangerous!" Beth replied, her hands grasped around Talo's ankles as she tried to pull him off the gate. "We were told by the Mayor never to climb it!"
Talo kicked his feet at Beth, his hands firmly grasped upon the iron gate's bars. He was so close to getting over it, despite Beth's futile attempts to pull him off. "Shut it! It's not like I'm hurting anyone! This is the cleanest spring in all of Ordon. Don't you want Epona to look her best when Link meets the princess?"
Malo rolled his eyes, watching from beside the horse which was calmly munching on some grass. "You idiot. Why would Link take a horse into the castle? It's obvious Epona would be left at the nearby stables." He stated as a matter of fact.
Talo's face scrunched up at his words. 'That makes a lot of sense…' Despite knowing his brother was right, he merely scoffed at Malo. "How do you know? You've never been to Hyrule Castle Malo!"
Malo merely narrowed his eyes. The little brat was trying to act smart, even thought it was obvious he was in the wrong.
Annoyed with Beth holding onto the back of his ankles, he managed to pull one leg free and kick her in the shoulder, enough which caused her to fall onto her butt.
"Talo!" She fumed, picking herself up. "You better get down from there or you'll get in trouble! Colin went to tell on you already."
"That annoying snitch," He replied. "I don't care. Why are we friends with him again?"
Despite being over this entire situation and annoyed with Talo and his strange fascination with the spring, she only scoffed at his words. "Don't even start with that. I should be asking everyone why we're even friends with you."
"Whatever," Came Talo's reply as he pushed he feet against the gate, pulling himself higher and higher until he managed to get to the very top, the spring just on the other side. For a moment, he was lost in the sight of its beauty, the glistening water and the vibrant trees spanning around its entirety.
"There's no getting through to him!" Beth growled, crossing her arms indignantly as she glanced behind her. There was no sign of Colin yet or any of the other villagers.
Hearing a loud thud, they noticed Talo lying on his back; it seems he'd fallen over the gate and onto the other side, the iron bars separating them. As the two children approached the gate, they watched as Talo picked himself up, patting the dirt from his butt and arms before smiling triumphantly at them.
"See? I'm still alive."
"Ok Mr. Smart guy, now you are over there. How are you going to get back over?" Beth pressed.
Malo nodded. "And what was the point of you climbing over the fence in the first place, especially since the lock is on our side?"
Talo paused, his eyes glimpsing the gate and then back at them. Good point. How was he going to get back? He didn't think that far ahead. He was sure he could climb back over easily enough. "It's not a big deal. I was only going to survey the spring to see if it's safe to wash Epona."
Beth squinted her eyes at this. "And just how do you plan to get Epona over there?"
"I'm thinking, Beth! Geez, lay off!" With that said, Talo wandered a bit further towards the spring, his sandaled feet stepping across the vibrant green grass, the blades as high as his ankles. There was an assortment of flowers, their petals different colors spanning around the edge of the water, and from what he saw, there was no sign of a deity anywhere. It seemed safe enough.
Yet, as he continued walking this way and that, making sure Beth and Talo hadn't abandoned him, he couldn't help but notice hole dug into the side of the hill towards his left. As he peered closer, pushing a bush to the side, he figured it was big enough to squeeze himself in and would likely allow him to leave the spring without any hassle of climbing the gate. Yet, as he stood there, staring at the hole, big enough for an adult to crawl through, he wondered what sort of animal made such a hole.
"Okay, you surveyed it, Talo! Are you done yet?" Beth shouted.
He turned at this and frowned. "I'm still surveying! You can't survey an area from one position!"
Beth was about to shout back for him to hurry up, but to her surprise, she heard running footsteps approaching her and Malo. Turning her head, she noticed both Ilia and Link, with Colin following quickly behind running towards them, and she stepped away slightly.
Ilia's eyes scanned the two children and Epona for a moment before turning her green eyes towards the gate. She noticed Talo on the other side and grasped the bars of the gate angrily. "Talo, what are you doing? Get over here!"
Link also approached the gate, his hand pulling upon it for a moment before surveying the lock. "Huh, the gate is still locked. Talo, how did you get over there?" He inquired, his voice calmer than Ilia's.
Despite fearing his father had shown up to berate him and likely punish him in front of his friends, he was relieved to see Link and Ilia instead. Feeling a sense of pride towards Link's question, Talo wiped his nose, his chest puffed out and a wide smile across his face. "I climbed it."
This took Link by surprise. "Really? That's pretty impressive."
Ilia couldn't help but smack Link across his shoulder, a disappointed look crossing her face. "Don't encourage him, Link," She turned to Talo, ushering him over with her hand. "Talo, I won't say it again. Come over here, or else I'm going to tell your parents."
"No!" Came his reply. "Why can't we wash Epona here? See?" He held out his hands, motioning towards the spring. "There's no spirit here and it's safe. This is also the cleanest water too. If you wash Epona here—"
"There's no difference between this spring and the lake down the hill from us, Talo! It's all the same water!" Ilia retorted, quickly interrupting him. "You know this spring is forbidden to us!"
"Why? Cuz Ordona is inhabiting it?" He asked, crossing his arms defiantly. "I don't think it would mind, cuz we aren't hurting anyone! I was only thinking of Link and Epona!"
Sighing, Ilia pulled away from the gate, flashing an apologetic smile to Link and the three children. "I'm sorry. But I can't just let this slide. I'm going back to the village to grab the keys from my dad's drawer."
Overhearing this, he ran up to gate, stopping only a short distance from it. "You don't have to do that. I can easily get out of here."
Ilia frowned at him. "No. You've done enough climbing for today. I'm surprised you haven't hurt yourself already. I'll be right back, and I'm bringing your father with me, Talo. So be prepared for a scolding."
"No, ilia don't tell my dad!"
Before Ilia could run off back to the village, Link reached for her arm, grasping it somewhat firmly. "Ilia, you don't have to go that far. I can easily jump over the gate and bring him back over."
"No, Link. You can't always baby him. He needs to learn from his mistakes," She explained. As much as she didn't want to tattle on him, it was only right. Pulling her arm free from Link's hold, she quickly ran off.
Seeing her run off, Link sighed. Sometimes, Ilia just couldn't see it from the children's point of view and normally acted like an over protective mother who believed discipline was the best way to teach a child to learn from their mistakes. As much as he disliked such thinking, he knew that Talo was a stubborn child. "Sorry, Talo. I tried."
Beth huffed. "Now you're in for it Talo…" As she turned her head to look at Talo, hoping to see his teary-eyed gaze, she was suddenly surprised to see he'd vanished. "Hey, where did he go?"
Malo and Link looked as well, and as they searched through the iron bars, there was no sign of the little boy. The sounds of shuffling footsteps took their attention away from the spring and towards the direction they saw Ilia run off. To their surprise, it was Talo. Somehow, he managed to get out without climbing over and was already catching up to Ilia.
Beth blinked confusedly. "How did he…"
The sight of seeing Talo quickly take off while in full panic caused Link to chuckle and shake his head. The little boy's feet sped fast across the worn path and it wasn't long before he caught up to Ilia's pace and quickly outmatching hers. "It seems Talo will reach the village before Ilia." If he was lucky, maybe he could smooth his way around not getting in trouble. Grasping the reigns to Epona, Link led the horse behind him.
Looking behind her, Beth reached out to Malo, grasping his small hand in hers. "Come on, Malo. We don't want to miss out on this," She exclaimed, following after Link.
