Author's Note

Hey, happy that this is exploding up so big so fast. I'm surprised by the following, and am happy to continue it. I'm surprised by myself for how serious it is themed, but I think it makes it all more believable.

I dunno, I just enjoy writing this, and hope everyone enjoys reading it.

Uploaded

06/06/2023

LEGEND BELOW

"O-Oh goodness, I'm so clumsy!" = Normal speech.

''Dont panic.'' = Normal thoughts.

Chapter 3

Thanking their Hero/A hundred year reunion

Rated-M

M rating for Romance, and things of explicit nature.

Although at first against accepting the man's offer, he ended up finding himself in the man's house, the father quickly clearing out an area for him to rest in. The only bedroom was already occupied with both his and his three daughters beds.

But he did have spare bedding, and quickly whipped something up for him to sleep on for the night in the main room of the store.

After a few short minutes, Link found himself alone in the main room. The thunder still raged outside, and he hoped that it would clear out by the coming dawn.

Even if it didn't, he'd still set out anyway. But for the time being, he was going to get some shuteye.

The first thing to come off were his boots, then his hat and tunic. The chainmail was a bit tricky, but he managed to remove it too. Underneath that was an earthen colored long sleeve shirt, and even it had finally been taken by the storm.

Apparently it wasn't as magical as the tunic was, go figure. But, the man had set out something for him, and with the fire going, he could have it dried by morning. He strung it up by the fire, before practically collapsing into his makeshift bed.

He was out in a minute…

"Quiet Sophie, you will wake him!" A feminine voice hissed quietly, admonishing another girl beside her. A clang echoed out in the house, a wooden spoon clattering to the ground.

"O-O-Oh, I'm sorry, Sophia! I'm so clumsy!" The other responded in embarrassment, quickly yet quietly trying to clean the mess she'd made.

She'd spilled soup everywhere.

"Please keep quiet sissy, you wouldn't want to wake him. He might have somewhere he needs to be, what if he leaves before breakfast is ready?" Another spoke quietly, the image of soft spoken. The girl joined her clumsy sister in cleaning the mess that had been made.

"Oh, you're so right, Cece. Gosh…" The girl, Sophie, mumbled quietly. "Thank you." She muttered happily.

"Of course sister, but please keep it down, I don't wish for him to wake so soon…" Cece muttered quietly, clasping her hands together gently, turning her gaze to the man sleeping in the center of the room.

The back and forth, unsurprisingly, woke the Hero from his sleep.

Link blinked blearily, a deep blue gaze scanning the room he woke too. It took a moment for him to remember everything that was happening, as this was the first true night's rest he'd had since he awoke from the crypt.

He sat up, the blankets falling from his shoulders, exposing his bared muscled chest, many scars dotting his strong body.

"O-Oh, he's awake!" Sophie exclaimed in surprise.

He turned to the sound of a soft feminine voice, finding the third sister from the night prior standing over him with a big yet very bashful smile. In her hands was a steaming bowl of soup.

"I-I hope we didn't wake you! I-I-I'm Sophie." She hastily got out, before introducing herself. She handed the half asleep Hero the food she and her sisters had managed to whip together, before stepping back, bashfully avoiding eye contact. "U-Um, y-you've already met my sisters. But I'll introduce them. This i-is Sophia and this is Cece."

Cece, the quiet and soft spoken one bowed deeply at him. "W-We didn't mean to wake you… We had hoped to have a big meal prepared for you before you woke… I was supposed to be a thank you for-" She paused, trying and failing to repress a hiccup of fear.

After all, what had transpired was still fresh in their minds.

"Cece, i-it's okay." Sophia pulled her troubled sister into a hug, trying herself not to fall into a fit of tears.

"I-It's been very hard… A-After our mother passed away, w-we've struggled to make a living here…" Sophie spoke up quietly, pulling Link's attention. She joined her sisters, enveloping them in a hug from behind, gazing sadly at Link. "Father is gone all day working, s-so he leaves us to run the shop and take care of the h-house while he is out." She explained, turning to look at the garb they had on display. "I-I wasn't blessed with our mother's sewing skills, so I run the shop instead. I-I usually go out and gather the supplies needed, b-but I asked them t-" She tried explaining, but couldn't contain the hitch in her voice as she started crying.

She didn't need to continue explaining, he gathered it all.

The one time she'd asked her younger sisters to gather supplies for the store had nearly cost them more than just their lives, and the guilt was weighing heavily on her mind.

Link quickly sat up, worry evident on his face. He set the bowl of food down before standing up, pulling the three sisters into a hug.

He could've said something, but it wasn't something that hadn't already been said.

The girls weren't embarrassed or offended by his presence, but quickly embraced him once more, just like the night prior.

It need not be said that they were all young, and none of them were warriors, but mere farm girls that couldn't have been more than fifteen years old.

He would bet that they'd not even seen battle nor a monster up close until that point.

While he on the other hand had been training and fighting as a knight and soldier since he was but a four year old child. For as many of his memories that were missing, there were still parts of him, parts that made him who he was that still broke through to the forefront of his mind.

It was in his bones, the strength, willpower, and overwhelming courage to face any monster, any threat, any challenge head on. He could never expect that from these girls, nor did he feel like they should ever be forced into having to fight to protect themselves.

But one thing was clear to him, Hateno was not as safe as it was made out to be…

After calming the girls down and graciously accepting the food they'd made for him, he politely thanked them for the food and the home they'd let him sleep in. He'd since dawned all of his gear once more, and was ready to set out.

But, the girl that ran the shop, the eldest sister stopped him before he could leave. Halfway out the door, he paused when she grasped the hem of his old green tunic.

"P-Please wait, j-just a moment." Sophie asked, nervously pacing around the room. Link stopped, turning to face her. Face flushed, she began poking her fingers together. "W-Well, I-I just wanted to thank you for saving my sisters. I-I know you won't stay here in Hateno, I-I know an adventurer when I see one. So…"

She paused, instead vanishing into her bedroom. He blinked in question, too polite to peek inside and see what it was she was doing. But she didn't keep him waiting long, before she reappeared with a finely crafted blue cape and surcoat, the bottom of said cape seemingly having been singed off.

He looked at it, confused and yet, he knew what he was looking at. It was the surcoat and cape of a personal royal knight, one that was specially chosen, a cape made to fit one and one alone.

And it looked strikingly familiar, but he couldn't tell why…

"This b-belonged to a royal knight from one hundred years ago, my great grandfather crafted it for him. It was said he wore it only once, before it was set aside. H-He went missing in the Calamity, his armor forgotten. M-My family has passed it down for generations, and we've yet to find who it belonged to." She explained quietly. "But, after a-all that time, h-he's probably dead…"

Then she gained a lick of confidence, looking up to face him, locking eyes with him. "B-But even then, I-I want you to have it. E-Even if it doesn't fit you, I-I feel like it belongs to you." She stated confidently, pushing it into his hands. After that she quickly ran into the back, gathering up the rest of the armor.

What she came back with was a modified version of a Hylian Soldier's armor. He was stunned, yet allowed her to help him remove all of his gear before assisting him in equipping the new armor. His old gear, old and damaged chainmail and aged green tunic were dropped to the ground, leaving him in nothing but his blue undergarments.

Sophie quickly assisted in suiting her hero up in the armor, knowing well that it probably wouldn't fit very well on him.

The boots were fully plated with powerful metal plates, the armor extending up to above his kneecaps with typical Hylian flair. Two large metal plates wrapped around his thighs, strapped on by leather buckles. Above that was a thick scale mail tunic over which was worn a full plate metal chest plate that covered both the back and front. Then came the two metal gauntlets, and one large shoulder piece that rest on his right shoulder, the left one lacking a plate.

Over all of that was the blue surcoat and cape, both of which held the engravings of the Triforce and the Royal family. It was lined with a magnificent golden trim which had yet to dull over the many years since its creation. Underneath the layers of armor were long dark blue pants and a shirt, both made of a surprisingly soft material.

Once she finished strapping every piece in place, she stood back, admiring just how well the armor looked on him. "W-W-Well, what do you think? C-Can you move?" She asked, trying not to sound too interested.

Link blinked, before he tried moving around. He flexed his wrists, bent his arms and raised his arms above his head. He tilted his head, bent his knees and squatted down.

And…

The armor fit him perfectly.

Almost as if it had been originally made for him…

He blinked in surprise, a pleased smile gracing his face. He turned back to Sophie, unable to hide his excitement.

Her eyes widened…

"I-It… I-It f-fits you… p-perfectly…" She whispered breathlessly, taking a step back. "T-That's amazing…" She whispered, almost to herself. It just seemed so surreal.

It was almost as if she were looking at the Hero from ages ago.

Bah, there was no way.

Link, unaware of her current state of mind, quickly grasped both her hands with his own. With a genuine and sincere smile, he spoke. "Thank you Sophie. I don't feel worthy to take something that has been in your family line, but I promise to take good care of it while it is in my own." He spoke, blue eyes shining.

She smiled bashfully up at him, and he couldn't resist the urge to pat her head like an older brother to a younger sister, huffing out a tiny amused laugh. She pouted, blushing in embarrassment, but it was more likely she was embarrassed because of just how much she enjoyed his pampering.

With that, he went and gathered his magic bag, strapping it to his belt. He picked up his sword, remembering that he'd broken it in half the night before, and he'd have to throw it away. Thankfully, he had a spare in his bag.

He grabbed his scabbard and his cracked yet still usable Knight's shield and strapped them to his back, offering the kind girl a parting wave, one she returned nervously.

"W-Will you come back…?" She asked quietly, almost too softly for him to hear. But Hylians had a phenomenal sense of hearing.

He turned back to her, nodding with a light look. That was all the assurance she needed, before he departed.

She clasped her hands together, praying to the Goddesses that he would be safe upon his journey...

The storm had finally broken, after having poured for well beyond the span of a single day, and just in time for the sunrise to grace the broken scarred land of Hyrule once again.

And yet, she felt no better about it.

The sound of the storm at the very least distracted her, allowing a moment of calm in the otherwise lifeless world she felt like she lived in.

She hadn't slept, having been awake long through the night, watching as the sun slowly crept up the horizon, the warmth tickling her face through her open bedroom door far atop the third floor of her home.

Her stomachs grumbling was her sign that it was time to get something to eat, even if she wasn't going to gain any rest.

She closed her eyes, rolling out of bed with a sigh. Dressed in nothing but her red colored undergarments, she stepped out into the morning sun, before descending the stairs that wrapped around the top half of her house.

After tiredly exploring her lab, she realized that she had no food.

With the fact that she'd not gone into town for some time, it was obvious she would run out at some point.

Despondent, she dressed herself in her typical garb, before leaving her home behind, making her way into the town below.

The walk down the road was quiet, only the sounds of the winds rushing through the tall grass there to accompany her on her short trek.

Eventually she passed both turns on the road, before she began passing by the homes of the kind people who lived there.

She smiled politely at anyone she'd meet, but it was apparent that it was a mask, and one she did not wear well.

Not anymore…

She passed a person that waved at her, but with her downcast eyes, she didn't see him, instead moving right past him.

Eventually she reached the front of the village where the general store, aptly named East Wind, lay.

The bell jingled as she opened the door, signaling her presence to the shop owner.

"Woah! G-Good mornin, Lady Purah!" An excited little voice chirped as the beautiful woman entered.

Purah glanced down to find a young little Hylian boy standing excitedly before her, eyes sparkling with awe.

She smiled lightly.

"Oh, good morning, Azu. How are you doing this morning?" She asked politely, bending down to his level.

"I'm gwreat! Momma says I'm gotten this much taller since last thime!" The little boy exclaimed in excitement, bouncing up and down.

Purah grinned, red eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh, I don't know, you look even shorter than last time." She teased, getting an adorable pout out of the little boy.

"No way! I'm big boy now!" He exclaimed proudly, puffing out his chest. Purah couldn't contain her giggle.

"Oh dear, my mistake. It seems you are a big boy now. Make sure to protect your momma now, you big strong man." She teased, playing along with the boy.

Azu saluted, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Yeth ma'am!" He said, before running off into the village to play with the other children.

Purah sighed, standing back up.

"Oh, good morning, Lady Purah." A kinder, older voice spoke up. The lone Sheikah glanced up the stairs to the side of the doorway to find a brown haired woman, in her hands a basket of likely dirty laundry.

"Good morning, Amira." Purah responded politely, her smile not hiding the black bags underneath her eyes.

"Are you here to pick up some food? My husband is out right now, so he hasn't set up shop yet." Amira explained lightly, mildly embarrassed.

Purah sighed. "That's alright. I'll find something to eat at the Inn then." She explained, already turning to leave.

"Oh! Before you go, I know you don't get out much, but did you happen to meet that adventurer yet?" Amira asked suddenly, just before the white haired woman could leave.

Purah paused. "No? Why?" She asked, only mildly interested in the gossip the woman had for her.

Amira loved to gossip, and was known for going on long tangents about the most random topics…

"He came into town late last night. Apparently he saved Sheldon's twins from… Well, a terrible fate, let's leave it at that." She started, shaking her head solemnly.

"Apparently they let him stay the night, and he just left a few minutes ago. I tell you Lady Purah, that young man is very handsome, almost had me eating out of his hands when he spoke to me earlier. I've never seen such a handsome Hylian before, especially with those deep blue eyes and that strong stoic expression…" She sighed dreamily, unaware of how suddenly Purah had frozen, intensely listening in on every word the woman said.

"He looks cold and stoic on the outside, but once you start talking to him, he has this soothing and gentle voice that just makes my heart flutter. I don't think I've seen a Hylian with such golden blond hair before, and that loose ponytail he wears it in, oh, I need to stop fantasizing otherwise I'll be in serious trouble…" The woman laughed at herself, cheeks warm just thinking about the young man.

Purah swallowed thickly, eyes wide and shaking. She tried calming her heart, telling herself not to get so excited.

After all…

There was a chance that it…

That it wasn't actually him…

"W-What was… D-Did you catch his name?" She asked, trying to hide the hitch in her voice.

Amira smiled. "Oh, he goes by Link."

If an explosion went off in that moment, Purah wouldn't have heard it. For the sound of her own heartbeat seemed to drown out all other sounds.

Amira wasn't prepared for the woman to suddenly and desperately grasp her hands, eyes so openly pleading that it gave the mother pause.

"Please! Tell me! Tell me which way he went!" Purah begged, on the verge of tears.

Amira blinked, surprised by how desperate the Sheikah woman was. "O-Oh, he said he wanted to meet with the woman atop the hill. I assumed he was talking about you…" She explained.

Purah's eyes widened…

It…

It was him…

It had to be!

"Oh! Thank you thank you thank you!" Purah practically sang, so excited that she kissed the woman before running out the front door, leaving Amira shell shocked.

She ran outside, eyes immediately going up to the hillside that her laboratory house sat upon.

Her heart froze, eyes shaking as she caught sight of a familiar head of hair, man making his way up the lonely road to her house.

She took off running, afraid that she was dreaming. That any moment now she was going to wake up, and he'd be gone.

She wanted to cry, her emotions threatening to burst forth and consume her.

But her body wouldn't let her cry anymore, not until she was sure, not until she knew for certain, that without a shadow of a doubt, that he'd returned to her.

By the time she caught up to him, he was only a few feet from her front door. She slid to a stop just behind him, afraid to touch him, as if he were merely an apparition of her imagination.

Having heard her run up behind him, he stalled his step, turning to glance curiously out of the corner of his eye.

Her heart was sent fluttering at the cool blue gaze that drift in her direction.

"L-L… L-Linky…? I-Is that you?" Purah asked quietly, eyes wide.

His eyes widened slightly in response to the pet name, finally turning to face her with that same handsome and gentle smile she'd come to associate with him. "That is me, I think." He chuckled softly. "Are you the one that lives here, are you Lady Purah? Impa sent me to find you." He asked cooly, still smiling that genuinely gentle look.

Purah's eyes widened, her breath hitched. It was him, without any doubt in her heart, she knew that face and voice anywhere.

But, from his words, it was just as Impa had said all those years ago. The Shrine of Resurrection truly had stolen some of his core memories, the experiences that had helped shape the man she'd come to love.

And, unfortunately, from his words and his perplexed expression, she deduced that she was also one of the many things that he'd forgotten in his many years of rest.

Then, her body allowed her to cry.

For, she'd finally had him back, he'd finally returned, but he held no knowledge of her, nor her deep true affection for him.

She fell to her knees, bawling her eyes out. "Y-You don't remember me…" She whispered through the tears.

"H-Hey, what's wrong, are you hurt?" He exclaimed suddenly, rushing to her aid. He slid to his knees, sliding right up to her, hand on her shoulder to check her for injuries.

He wasn't expecting her to suddenly grab him and slam her lips into his own with a bruising level of force.

His eyes widened in surprise, too shocked to stop her or even inquire as to what was going on, instead falling victim to her sudden and unexpected passion.

The kiss was long and exhilarating, the Hylian warrior letting out a tiny surprised moan as her tongue explored his mouth, taking his breath away. When she finally pulled away, she instead pulled him into a tight and deep hug, unable to hold her tears and cries of heartbreak back anymore.

"I-I-I-I've waited f-for so long t-t-to do that…" She managed through her tears, clutching desperately to his armored shoulders.

At first surprised and still recovering from the soul searing kiss, he quickly caught on that this woman must've somehow known him from one hundred years ago. And, far more than that, it was apparent to him now that there was a relationship there that had once existed.

Whether or not this relationship was well founded or not, didn't matter, for the reality was that she had waited for him…

She had waited for over one hundred years for him to return, and when he finally had, he couldn't even remember her face.

He couldn't help but feel guilty for having made her wait that long, and her heart wrenching cries poked and stabbed at his heart.

There wasn't much he was sure he could say to calm her down, nor was he sure anything could. So he did was he was good at, and returned her hug, his strong presence assuring her that, although he'd been gone for so terribly long, he was here now and he wasn't going anywhere…

Chapter

3

End

P.S

If you want to know exactly what links armor looks like, my new profile picture displays it quite well. But I hoped I explained it well enough.