All was still at first as Link, Tatl, nor Aveil seemed willing to make a move. The only sound was Link's increasingly heavy and desperate breathing as he stared at the blood on his hand. If it wasn't Aveil's then it had to be…his…? But…he wasn't…
In an instant, a stabbing pain pierced Link's right eye and spread through his entire body.
Normally, he kept himself composed with the pain, but he couldn't this time. Dropping his sword, he let out a loud, agonized scream of pain as his left hand flew over his eye, his stomach lurching as he felt something squish against his palm. He collapsed, falling onto his back as he continued to scream, the pain overwhelming him as his mask shattered in a mere second while tears streamed down the left side of his face.
"Link! Oh, Giants! Link!" Tatl cried, flying to her companion as he writhed on the floor. "Are you okay?! You have to stand up! Move your hand! Let me see!" She kept yelling out, her brain scrambled as she tried to work out what to do and how to help.
The sight had been horrible, the fairy witnessing Aveil slice Link right in the eye! From where she was, she knew she saw a chunk of it running down his face along with the blood! They had to get out of here and fast! Tatl felt so sick to her stomach and so awful for Link as he cried uncontrollably as he kept squirming on the floor, not seeming to have heard her at all.
It seemed this took Aveil completely off guard as, for a moment, she just stared at the two. After a moment, she readied her sword and took a step forward. "Okay, time to finish this…" She declared under her breath.
Tatl noticed Aveil's movement and turned to see her approach. In an instant, the fairy was in the air between the Gerudo pirate and Link. "What are you doing?!" Tatl demanded, glaring daggers at the woman. "You won! The fight's over, okay?!" She was furious that the warrior wanted to strike Link down when he was writhing in pain, and tears stung her eyes. "What's wrong with you?!" She despised Aveil with all her being! How dare she do this to Link?!
"Move out of the way, fairy! I'm going to end this!" Aveil demanded, snarling at Tatl. "This boy is an intruder. If you prefer, I can just lock him away for the rest of his life. Which will it be?"
The fairy couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could anyone be so horrid? The Skull Kid was corrupted, so that was one thing, but the Gerudo woman had no such excuse. Her light turning red, enraged tears streamed down Tatl's face.
"He's a child!" The fairy screeched, darting forward and slamming herself into Aveil's right eye. Tatl then darted backwards as the Gerudo recoiled and took a step back, but the fairy quickly dove in and kicked the same eye again. While Aveil tried to swat or slash at Tatl, the small creature was way too fast to be hit. "You're talking about a kid! He's not even a teenager yet, you monster! What's wrong with you?!" Tatl demanded again, panting a bit as she backed off, not risking an attack on the Gerudo's eye anymore. Honestly, she was surprised at herself for this. Never before had she put herself in harm's way to attack someone on Link's behalf.
Speaking of Link, he didn't seem to be entirely aware of what was going on. He hadn't said a word, though the screaming at least settled a bit, and he was mostly just sobbing from the agony. The boy was staring up at the ceiling, whimpering, and taking large gulps of air as he tried, and failed, to calm himself down. "Help…Help…" Link finally murmured, but his voice was so quiet that he wasn't heard.
"Just…let us leave, okay? We'll never come back! You'll never see us again!" Tatl both pleaded and demanded as her light went back to normal. "You won't get anything out of killing my friend, right? Please, just let us go…Link is too hurt to be a threat…"
Even though Tatl was a mere fairy, getting struck in the eye over and over caused Aveil some noticeable pain, keeping her right eye closed as it went bloodshot from the impacts. Yet rather than being furious at the assault, the warrior seemed…ashamed. Gulping heavily, she looked between Tatl and Link, staying quiet for a good few seconds. "…He is just a boy, isn't he? He never should have come here." She said so quietly that Tatl barely heard her. With a huff, Aveil turned her back on the two. "Leave. Now. I won't pursue you. I won't tell anyone I saw you. If you get caught by someone else, I won't help you." Without another word, she left the room in the opposite door the intruders came in.
Tatl was rather shocked that Aveil had a change of heart like that. Perhaps the Gerudo really needed a verbal reminder that she was dealing with a child. Not giving it any further thought, Navi darted toward Link. "Okay, we have to go. Right now!" She felt horrible for rushing him, but the sooner they left, the sooner he could get help. Leaving the normal way was of course out of the question. With his damaged state and the way he'd possibly keep sobbing, the two would be discovered in no time. "Play your Ocarina! I know it hurts, but please try! It's the only way…" As she said this, she pressed herself against Link's hand, the one he had over his wound.
The contact helped Link snap out of his trance. Gasping with shuddering breaths, he continued to stare at the ceiling. "It hurts…It hurts…" He moaned out, never having experienced a pain quite like this one. "Navi! Navi…Navi…! Navi, please help me…!" Link moaned out without even realizing it. After a moment, he was composed enough to let out a "Tatl…!" as he let out a sob.
The fairy felt her blood go cold when Link mentioned Navi. She was sure he did it by accident, and that alone nearly made her heart break. "I know it hurts, but you have to be strong for just a minute!" Tatl insisted, trying her best not to break down sobbing herself. It just shattered her heart to see Link sobbing from pain like this. She didn't care that Aveil let them go, she'd hate that woman for the rest of her life!
Link tried to gather himself, but it was just so hard! It seemed like no matter how much he tried to breathe, he couldn't get a proper lungful of air! He felt so sick, like he would vomit at any moment! Shakily, he slowly sat up, Tatl floating off his hand so she was in front of his face. "I need help…" The child blurted out, not able to fully think straight from the pain and dizziness. It was to the point he didn't even feel distraught over his mask shattering, it hadn't even crossed his mind!
"I know, I know…" Tatl assured him gently. "Just play the Song of Time and we can get help, okay?" There had to be someone in Clock Town that could do something! Trying not to panic, she watched as the sniffling boy got his sword and put it away along with his shield. It was slow and a bit awkward since he seemed unwilling to take his hand from his eye. Yet when he got the Ocarina ready, he had to use both. Tatl couldn't bear to look, keeping her eyes on the blue instrument instead.
Trying not to break down crying again, Link raised the instrument to his lips. Slowly, awkwardly, he tried two times to play the Song of Time but couldn't get through it. Forcing in a few deep breaths, he concentrated as hard as he could and played it right, turning back the clock. He and Tatl felt themselves fall through the flow of time yet again and they were back in front of the Clock Tower.
Link let out a sob, staggering forward as he covered up his eye again. "Help…Help me…" He choked, a few people stopping to look at the child with blood and more running down his face. Before he could say another word, Link collapsed, prompting some people to yell out to him, for Tatl to scream his name. His world was getting dark, Tatl's continued cries and the shouts of someone to get a doctor being the last things he heard before he lost consciousness.
Tatl let out another scream as her friend fell unconscious. "Link?! Link, get up! Get up!" She begged, flying down and tugging at the tip of his ear, which of course did nothing. Frantically, she looked at the crowd that had gathered, the people looking to Link in shock and horror as they mumbled amongst themselves. "What are you doing?! Help him! He needs a doctor!" The fairy screamed, light turning red as everyone just stood there and looked on in confusion.
"What happened to him? Who is that?" One of the construction workers that had wandered over asked. "There's blood all over…"
The fairy couldn't believe her ears! "Who cares?! He needs help right now! One of you help him or I swear I'll…!" She was so frustrated, she couldn't even finish her sentence!
It turns out that Tatl didn't need to finish as voice piped out in the crowd. "What's going on here?! What's the commotion?!" Surprisingly, Mutoh pushed his way through, eyes widening as he spotted Link's unconscious body. "What're you idiots doing?! This kid needs help!" He growled, moving to Link and, without hesitation, scooping him up.
Of all people to come help, Mutoh was one of the last Tatl expected! His reputation as a grouchy man was greatly deserved and the fairy was no stranger to hearing his cursed-filled rants. Relieved, she flew up to the man, her light returning to normal. "Thank you!" She blurted out. "Please, get him to a doctor!"
Apparently, Mutoh hadn't realized Tatl was there, flinching a bit as she flew towards him. "A fairy?! Well, whatever. If he's your friend, then come on, I guess!" He demanded, turning and pushing through the crowd with the unconscious Link in his harm, demanding everyone move out of his way.
"It's going to be okay, Link…It's going to be okay…" Tatl assured the boy, flying by his ear. She had no idea if he could even hear her, but she had to at least try. It was terrifying to her to see his body so limp and lifeless, all covered in blood and…and…
She could barely even look.
Tatl didn't exactly think Link was invincible or anything but seeing him with such a serious injury truly rattled her. It was another reminder that he was just a kid, and he wasn't supposed to be doing things like fighting monsters or pirates. Some adult should be saving Termina, not him. Knowing his attitude, even if someone else stepped in and offered to do the fighting, Link would reject the offer and insist on doing it himself. That was the idea Tatl got, at least.
The fairy wished she could go back and give her past self a slap on the head for tormenting him the way she did. He was one of the last people to deserve any issues with the selfless way he seemed to want everyone he came across. It wasn't like he wanted the fame either. As soon as he helped someone, he just moved on. What had happened to him to give him this attitude? It seemed so unusual to her…
As Mutoh carried the boy into West Clock Town, Tatl made a promise to herself that she wouldn't let anything like this happen to him again! She couldn't fight, but she couldn't stomach it any longer to just sit by and watch him get hurt. Somehow, someway, she'd continue to help him, even if it was just someone he could talk to and rely on emotionally. Not that it seemed he'd want that, but she'd try to make him!
The doctor was soon reached, who was appalled at Link's condition and got to work right away. Tatl wasn't able to watch the process, turning her back to it, but answering the questions the doctor asked, if a bit vaguely. She didn't go into detail about the Gerudo warrior specifically, just saying Link was injured with a bladed weapon.
By the time it was done, Tatl wanted to cry as she saw Link in his eyepatch.
Being far kinder than Tatl expected, Mutoh then scooped the boy up and asked Tatl where he lived. She told him she was from far away, but had a reservation at the inn, which the carpenter boss carried him to next. The building was open by the time the two arrived with the unconscious child. When Anju saw the boy and heard what happened, she went pale and very nearly fainted. But with Tatl's explanation, the woman got the key to the Knife Chamber and unlocked it for them, Mutoh helping shed Link's equipment, boots, and hats as he settled him in bed. Anju, caring as always, gently tucked him in…and simply sat there staring at him.
"What a horrible thing to happen to a child…" Anju murmured as she sat the bed's edge, Mutoh having long gone. She looked up to Tatl, floating above her unconscious friend. "I'm glad he's alive, at least, and has a room here to rest…"
The fairy didn't expect Anju to linger, but it didn't surprise her. She remembered how involved the innkeeper got when Link was sick. "I am too, I just…I felt like I could've done something…" Tatl didn't expect to open up to Anju, but she couldn't stop herself from blurting it out. She supposed it hardly mattered, the woman wouldn't remember this anyway.
"I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm sure you did your best." Anju insisted without hesitation. It seemed she assumed the best of everyone she met. "He's lucky to have a friend like you."
Tatl almost laughed at that. After harassing him, calling him a freak, screaming at him, and failing to help him, she was about the worst friend someone could ask for. "If you only you knew…" The fairy murmured, too quiet for Anju to hear.
Link had zero knowledge of what happened around him once he passed out. He didn't hear Tatl trying to comfort him, nor did he feel the pain of the doctor working on him. As he stirred into consciousness, all he knew was darkness, but then the voices came…
"I hope you don't mind me staying. I don't want to intrude, but I'm so worried…"
"It's fine, don't worry about it."
"I just wish I knew what happened to him. The poor boy! Are you sure you won't tell me the details?"
"That's…it's kind of complicated. Just please don't ask him, okay?"
"Mmm…I suppose if that's for the best. It's like I said, he's lucky to have you."
"That's…mmm…"
"Oh! I think he's stirring a bit!"
"Link? Hey, Link! Come on, wake up!"
A mild, but pulsing headache was the first thing Link noticed outside of the darkness and the voices he heard as his consciousness started to truly fade back in. He then realized he was in a bed, one he instantly recognized as from the Knife Chamber given the dozens of times he slept in it. Blinking a few times, the world swam into view, and he saw the ceiling. His vision was blurry and a bit…off…and he tried to blink more to get things into focus. It only worked a bit, but it seemed like his field of view was lessened…
He then realized someone was sitting at the foot of his bed, and he had a good idea of who it was. Slowly, his body feeling heavy and sore, Link sat up a bit to look. That small action was more difficult than he expected, nausea filling him as his body cried out to just stay still and rest. Still, he sat up anyway. As he did this, the boy kept blinking to make his vision return to normal, but something was just off, and he was too groggy to work it out. There at the foot of his bed sat Anju, with Tatl floating by her shoulder. The innkeeper wore an expression of blatant worry that Link hated, it made him feel like he was a pest…
"Tatl…? What happened?" Link asked, the headache of his pulsing harder as he spoke, the soreness present on the right side of his face. With his episode over, his voice took on its monotone nature once again.
The fairy let out a breath of relief as Link sat up and spoke. There was this small part of her that was almost scared he'd never wake up. Sure, the doctor said he'd live, but Tatl was just so stressed at that point the paranoia got to her! "You don't remember? We…arrived at Clock Town and you passed out." She nearly caught herself mentioning time travel with Anju right there!
"Our doctor patched you up. Luckily you had this room booked, so a nice young man carried you here." Anju explained. "I'm sorry for intruding, but I was just so worried…" Not that her expression hid that at all. It still had that blatant look of pity for the child before her.
Link didn't remember anything since he passed out, but stumbling about in South Clock Town seemed barely familiar. "I see. I appreciate it, giving me a place to recover." He just wished she'd stop looking at him like that!
"Um…Anju, is it okay if we talk alone?" Tatl asked, not normally so overtly polite, but she was so exhausted and emotionally shot that she couldn't muster the energy to be even remotely demanding.
The innkeeper didn't seem to like the idea…but she nodded anyway and stood up. "I really shouldn't impose any longer, should I? I'll be back later with a meal for you, alright?" With a light bow, the redheaded woman left the two alone in the Knife Chamber.
With Anju gone, Tatl let out an exhausted sigh. "Link…how are you feeling? Do you hurt anywhere?" The fairy asked, floating closer to her friend.
That just left Link confused, wondering why Tatl needed to talk to him alone. "What's wrong, Tatl?" He was grateful Anju and her pitying gaze were out of the room, but he was sure the fairy wasn't aware of that issue he had with it. As for talking about physical pain, he was fine with that, it was never something he felt ashamed of. "I feel sore all over, especially right…" The boy reached up to place a hand over his right eye and when his digits brushed against cloth, he retracted his fingers. "Tatl? What is this?" There were no mirrors for him to look in. It'd explain why he couldn't see out of his right eye, though…
Tatl felt panic rise in her chest, feeling she had to be the one to tell him. Anju was filled in, but she didn't want the innkeeper to interfere with this talk. "Link…your eye was really hurt bad by that Gerudo woman. It was bleeding and…" She shuddered and forced herself to keep going. "…Link, you were taken to a doctor, and he did everything he could to help you. He really did all he could! There are just no Red Potions here, so…"
Link didn't understand the issue. Doctors healed people, he knew that much as Zelda told him about them during his stay in the castle. "So, what happened? When will my eye get better?" There must have been a patch over it, that's the cloth he felt, right?
Not knowing how to word things, Tatl just spat it out. "Link, you don't have that eye anymore!" She blurted out, feeling like she was going to be sick just from what she said. "It's…gone. The eye is gone. The doctor removed it."
For a second, Link didn't even register what Tatl said.
His body was perfectly still, the boy not even breathing. As the words sank in and he realized the weight of what Tatl said, his blood turned to ice, yet his skin felt hot. What did she say? His eye? Gone? He could feel it hurting right that second! "Tatl, that's not funny." Link managed to breathe, unsure of what else to say.
Tatl felt like she just got slapped in the face. How could he think she'd joke about something so serious?! For a moment, she wanted to scream at him, but then a heavy sense of pity took over. "It isn't a joke. Even if there was a Red Potion, it wouldn't have mattered. That Gerudo woman, she…she tore out a huge chunk of your eye with that swing of hers. Even potions can do so much…" It wasn't like they could regrow fingers or anything like that…
He didn't want to believe this was real! It felt like a horrid nightmare, but the pain he felt was too sharp to be part of some dream! His breathing started to quicken, the boy feeling dizzy as he barely managed to get an actual breath. Once more, his mask simply shattered as panic rose within him. "It's all gone? It's…all…gone? It's gone?" Link kept asking, his brain firing off every which way, but his mind not knowing how to process things.
The boy felt like he was going to die. His vision became blurry again, hands gripping the sheets as he tried to make sense of what he was just told. Injuries were nothing new to Link, but losing a body part…! Tatl said something to him, but the ringing in his ears drowned out her words as he let out a whine of fear, his eye swiveling about in its socket as he had trouble focusing on any one thing.
Tatl tried calling Link's name, but he didn't respond at all! "Hey! Come on! Link, try to calm down!" She yelled, not sure of what else to do! At that moment, she wished she was bigger if only to hold onto the boy and try to soothe him. It wasn't like she could say anything to help. What was there to say? Was she supposed to tell him losing an eye wasn't all that bad?!
Link didn't even hear her, his hand reaching up to his missing eye and claspin it over his patch. Without even noticing, tears started to stream out of his left eye, unaware that even his tear duct on his right side was damaged and couldn't produce tears anymore. This idea that something of his was just gone forever was so terrifying to him! On top of that, if his eye was gone, why was it still sore?! He could feel a throbbing pain in his right eyeball! It was there, clear as day!
His mind then wandered to his quest. How was he supposed to get through it with a massive blind spot?! The danger he had to face just got twice as deadly, and he didn't think he could get through it! After all, he just lost an eye even when he was at full strength, now he had half his vision snuffed out…
"I can't…I can't…" Link sobbed out, not thinking about his words, and just letting his unfiltered thoughts spill out. He didn't even react as Tatl hugged his cheek, the child rocking back and forth as he broke down for the second time within the Knife Chamber. Link told himself he wouldn't let this happen again, yet he couldn't last a few days…
The two sat there with each other for some time, Link sobbing until his tears dried up and Tatl trying to comfort him with little success. Eventually, the boy sniffled one last time as he calmed down enough to actually talk properly. His mind during his crying session was mostly muddled, and he was still barely able to even grasp the situation. He lost his eye, and he'd have to live with that for the rest of his life. A sense of self-disgust rose in him, this idea that he was incomplete being very horrid to him. He already felt he wasn't whole due to Navi's absence, that a void in him would swallow him hole…but now he lost another chunk of himself…
Tatl felt lost and useless, not knowing how to help her friend through this. She felt such an intense pity for Link that seemed to grow with each day. The fairy already gathered he had a miserable life, then she saw him break down, and now he lost an eye and broke down again. It seemed like life itself was just out to get him, and he didn't deserve any of it. How was she supposed to help him? This was so beyond her and it actually scared her because she knew she had to be there for him. No one else would be…
Link finally managed to take a few deep breaths as he stared at the fairy fluttering in front of him. "I'm sorry about that." Was the first thing he could think of saying, his voice uneven and still emotional, his mask not put back together yet.
"You're really going to apologize for that?" Tatl asked with a light sigh. Who apologized for freaking out after losing an eye?! This kid, apparently. "But you know, the doctor did the best he could. There was just nothing he could do…" She shuddered as she recalled the injury. When Link was struck, he of course bled…but the other thing that slid down his face was a chunk of his eye! Just thinking about it made the fairy want to vomit…
"I assumed that. I'm not mad at him." Link assured, trying to calm himself further, but he still felt on edge. What was almost the worst part of this was that he had no idea what to even do. How did he go forward? What was his next plan of action?
Tatl nodded, knowing Link was too nice to be angry at someone trying to help him. "After he patched you up, he fled Clock Town. He was on his way out before you were carried to his office, so he made an exception for you. Before he left, he just said for you to rest and gave you some medicine to dull the pain for a while."
Whatever the doctor did, it seemed to be fading because his entire body felt a bit sore, not even just his eye or his head. Exhaustion filled him, like he had just spent an entire day running around. "Okay. So, we can go back to the Great Bay tomorrow." The boy replied simply.
"What part of rest don't you get?!" Tatl snapped without thinking. She couldn't help herself, and her anger stemmed more from worry than anything else. "You need to recover! Do I have to remind you that you just lost your eye?!"
"I can't just sit here. Lulu and her eggs need me." Link responded, not minding Tatl yelling at him. He knew why she was doing it, though it was still a bit surreal. No matter how worried his friends in Hyrule got, they never yelled at him. A part of him appreciated their gentleness while another part was annoyed at how fragile they thought he was.
The fairy couldn't believe he was being difficult now of all times! Though she supposed it wasn't much of a shock. After all, she had to basically force him to rest when he got that fever. If it were up to him, he would have kept going up that mountain and probably would've died! "Yes, you can! Do you even know how exhausted you look right now? You probably couldn't even make it to the Great Bay without tiring yourself out!"
She was right, of course. Even talking was pretty draining for Link, and he felt if he shut his eyes…eye…he'd instantly fall asleep. The only time he ever felt fatigue like this was when he was sick or after really difficult battles. "…You're right. Tomorrow I might feel better, though."
"But you probably won't. I'm not letting you out of that bed!" Tatl promised, flying very close to Link's face. "Can't you just do this for me? You're in no condition to go anywhere!"
Link didn't want to wait anymore. They kept running into obstacles and halting their progress. Or rather, he kept halting it. He was the one that insisted on trying to cleanse the South over and over again. He was the one that got sick. He was the one that dragged out going to the Great Bay for so long and then interrupting their progress there twice. So much time was being wasted, and he had to get back home and look for Navi again!
…But he knew Tatl was right.
The boy was in no condition to go West and he was just trying to be stubborn. Even tomorrow was too soon if Link's exhaustion was anything to go by. Despite his wishes, he had to stay behind and recover. Withholding a sigh, he nodded. "Okay. I'll say and rest. We'll see in the next Cycle."
That was a lot better! The doctor never really said how long Link needed rest for, but three days seemed like a good amount. "Okay, good! You should go back to sleep, then. Anju should be back before too long with some food." Tatl glanced at the clock, seeing it was a bit past eleven. Those five hours while Link was unconscious practically seemed like an entire day…
"I have a question first." Link replied, staring down at his hands, unable to look at Tatl as he asked the question. "Was Anju in here the entire time?"
Not a question Tatl was expecting! "Yeah, she was. Her face went all pale when she saw you at first when me and the guy that carried you in told her what happened. After you were put in bed, she tucked you in and stared at you until you woke up…so why do you want to know that?"
Anju really stayed with him all that time? Link recalled the innkeeper's mother saying it was almost nice when she got distracted from Kafei. When the boy got sick, it was Anju that checked in on him and seemed genuinely concerned for him. It was embarrassing to be treated like that…but it was also nice in a way, too. No one else in Termina really cared about him except for Tatl. The only ones that did only liked him when he did something for them first. Link hated how cynical that was, but he couldn't help thinking that way.
"Oh. I was just curious." Link replied vaguely as he started to settle into bed. "I didn't think I'd wake up to her." As he said this, his head hit the pillow and, despite the thoughts swimming in his head, he instantly fell asleep.
Tatl wasn't sure she bought that answer as she stared at the sleeping child. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the eyepatch, the white square bandage that covered a horrid wound. It really rattled her that something so permanent happened to Link, almost made the quest seem more real than it was before. Yes, it always seemed real, but they could pause it whenever they wanted to in order to rest. The Moon still neared Termina, but otherwise Clock Town was safe. Now there was a constant reminder that Link was vulnerable and any monster or human he fought could wind up killing him.
Another thing that crossed the fairy's mind was the people waiting for Link back in Hyrule. There had to be someone there he called a friend, though the boy was naturally very private regarding this. All she knew about was Navi, whom Link was trying to find. For those he called friend or family, how would they react to seeing him return missing an eye? They'd assuredly feel as disturbed as Tatl had been, if worse…
Feeling a wave of exhaustion herself, Tatl fluttered over to her own bed, nestling on its pillow. All Link needed was rest, so she could get a nap in while he slept. As much as Link had gone through, the fairy found herself fatigued as well. Within moments, her eyes closed and she too found herself asleep.
Link let out a tired noise when he heard a light knock on the Knife Chamber's door. Once more, he blinked himself awake as pain coursed through his body, stemming from behind his right eye socket. And like before, he was groggy and exhausted, his left eye burning from a lack of good sleep. He had no nightmares, but the nap he had felt…empty, somehow.
There was another knock, and Anju's voice came from behind the door. "Mr. Link, are you awake? I have some lunch for you."
Blinking a few times, Link found it hard to get a good look at things around him. As he looked to the door, he noticed something was off about it, and it took him a second to realize it seemed a bit farther away than it always did. The boy had seen that door from his bed more times than he could count, so he quickly realized something was wrong.
"Yeah, you can come in!" Tatl's voice rang out from her side of the room. Link didn't even notice she was awake, and he had to turn his head entirely to see she was even airborne. The fairy flew over to him as Anju opened the door and entered the room.
As before, Anju made zero effort to hide the pity in her eyes when she looked at Link. In her hands was a tray with a bowl of soup, a glass of milk, a bread roll, and an apple. "I hope it tastes okay. I'm not the best cook, so I also have some things I didn't cook at all." She explained, placing the tray on Link's lap as he slowly sat up. "How are you feeling, Mr. Link?"
"Link is fine." The boy didn't like being called Mr. like that. He knew it was something adults were called, and the less he was treated like a grownup the better. "Thank you, Anju. I'm sure the food will be okay." Even with his exhaustion, he managed to pull his mask back together. The shock of losing an eye surged through him, but he had to keep himself composed, he couldn't show how terrified he was due to his loss.
"Hey, I'm hungry too! Can I have some of your bread, Link?" Tatl asked, only just realizing how hungry she was. Glancing at the clock, it was a bit after noon, so now wonder!
Knowing how much she despised Anju's cooking, Link nodded. "Sure, okay." He noted that Anju once more sat on the edge of his bed, apparently she was going to be sticking around. When reaching for the bread, Link felt himself squint without meaning to and his hand just…missed. His hand went right past the bread and hit his sheet.
"Uh, you okay?" Tatl asked with a frown. "Just grab the bread, okay?" The fairy wondered if he was just groggy. She watched as Link reached for it again, but again missed, and he then felt up his leg and to the tray, not pulling his hand away. Soon enough, he reached the bread which he finally managed to pick up.
"I've actually heard of this long ago…" Anju piped up as Link took off a sizable piece of bread. "I remember a guard that lost his eye to a monster when I was a little girl. He couldn't do his job so well anymore because he couldn't see things so easily or aim. I didn't think of it until just now, but…"
Link felt a nasty pressure on his chest as he slowly placed the two pieces of bread onto the tray. That simple action took him three tries. Looking back up at Anju, he realized that she, like the door, looked farther away than she should be. He tried blinking his eye a few more times, but nothing changed. Things looked…flatter, in a way. It wasn't something he really noticed before, so shocked by what happened to him that everything around him looked like a blur anyway…
"This is permanent?" He asked, having to turn his head to look at his gear, specifically his bow and arrows. If he couldn't even handle bread, how was he supposed to fight?! The Gerudo he fought managed to do this to him when he had both eyes. What would he do with only one? Not taking into account all the other perils he'd have to face? "It doesn't get better?"
"I'm not an expert, sorry." Anju replied, seeming to regret bringing it up in the first place. "I think it will, over time. Really, I don't know much else."
Tatl rested on Link's tray, grabbing at the piece of bread he ripped off. For him, it was small. For her, it was nearly the size of her body. "Link, I've seen you do a lot of crazy stuff. You can overcome this! Just gotta rest up first!" She was worried he'd break down again…maybe she needed to shoo Anju out of the room?
Rather than break down, Link kept his mask sturdy. If he had to get used to things, maybe even train himself, it wouldn't be so soon that he went back to the Great Bay! He had to be entirely sure he could handle it, or else he may end up losing his life instead of just an eye to the Gerudo. "I hope so." Was all he said in response, reaching for his spoon. Like with the bread, it was hard for him to grab it, and he felt embarrassed as Anju and Tatl watched him struggle. With a few attempts, though, he managed. Actually, getting the spoon into the soup wasn't nearly so bad, it being a far larger target. Slowly, carefully, he ate his meal, trying to ignore the others.
The fairy was pretty surprised at Link's stoic nature just then. How did he so quickly repress his emotions like that?! A bit over an hour ago he seemed ready to have a breakdown, and then it seemed like he just didn't care! She realized he hid himself away, but how dedicated he was to it was unnerving to her. It also baffled her because he already broke down in front of her twice, so he knew she knew he wasn't just some emotionless doll. What did he gain out of pretending he felt nothing?
Link didn't notice how much he was disturbing Tatl as he ate his soup. Even with the larger target of the bowl, it still took him some effort to eat it properly. He found it easier not to focus on the spoon as it came back to his mouth, as its distance always seemed off. It either seemed too close or too far away. Still, when he worked slowly, he was able to do it right.
Without warning, Link felt a hand on the top of his head. In a split second, a fear that his life was in danger overtook the boy as he felt his blood go cold. Flinching, his head snapped up to see Anju retracting her arm. He took a few deep breaths, eye wide as the innkeeper gave him an apologetic look.
Anju's expression quickly turned into one of guilt as she glanced away. "I'm sorry. It's just…after what happened…" She cleared her throat. "Things were so hectic, and, well, I never asked, but are your parents in town?" The woman asked as she looked back to Link.
Was that what it was? She just wanted to comfort him? Being touched so suddenly like that nearly sent him into a fight or flight mode, especially given what just happened to him. Link couldn't be mad at her, though, since he knew she just wanted to help. "They aren't here." He replied calmly, looking back down to his soup. "Please don't ask about them again." Normally he wouldn't mind her prying, but at the moment he wasn't willing to tolerate it.
Despite how calm Link was over it, Anju lightly flinched like he screamed at her. "You're right. It isn't any of my business. I apologize." She quickly said, getting no answer back from Link. As he ate his soup again, she slowly reached out and touched the top of his head again. This time, he didn't flinch, and she gently stroked his hair on the top and back.
Slowly, the boy kept at his soup, refusing to look back up at Anju. A part of him wanted to demand she stop…but it wasn't like he hated what she was doing. In fact, it was the fact that he enjoyed it that upset him. He knew it made him look pathetic and needy, but he couldn't bring himself to speak up. A comforting touch from another human…it had just been so long.
Tatl just watched it unfold, slowly eating her bread. She felt no need to intrude during situations like this, unknowingly differing heavily from Navi who would have spoken up quickly. She was surprised Link didn't tell Anju to stop…but she supposed even he had to seek some sort of a comfort no matter how emotionless he acted. If it weren't for how dire things just became, the fairy would have been tempted to tease him about it later…
Link had to wonder, as he slowly ate a meal cooked just for him, comforted by a grown woman…was this what having a mother was like? Was this what most other children got to feel when they were upset or hurt? Saria was similar to a mother for Link…and he couldn't help but see a bit of her in Anju. Kind blue eyes and even their hair is done in somewhat similar styles, even if the color is different…
"What was it like, having a mom?" Link asked, sitting in the garden with Zelda. The sun was bright, but Link didn't feel its warmth. It had only been a bit over a year since he lived at the castle, his mask reformed, though it sometimes broke.
The Princess looked at Link, a small flower she had plucked twirling in her fingers. "Link, you've asked me that before." She patiently pointed out. "And I know my experience with my own mother differs from the usual Hylian. Why do you ask again?"
Link shifted in place, feeling like he had upset Zelda despite it being clear he hadn't. "It's something I want to know about." He replied simply.
There had only been one occasion where Link talked to the Princess about his parents. She had asked directly if he knew anything about them, and he told her he had no idea. It was never actually said, but she assumed that one or both of them were dead. If he was raised by the Kokiri, he had to get into the Lost Woods somehow. Legends said the Father of the Forest sometimes took pity on children…but never adults. Anyone that was with Link as he was left in the Lost Woods was assuredly a spirit now…
"You miss them, don't you? They're gone, aren't they?" The Princess asked bluntly. In most cases, she allowed Link to ease himself into talking about personal things. With this, though, she hoped since it wasn't directly involved in his quest, he may open up.
Indeed, the boy was taken a bit by surprise at Zelda's unusual directness. Gulping, he stared at the grass. "…My mother is dead. I don't know about my father." He wasn't sure why he felt like he could open up about this. This was the second time Zelda asked about his parents, and the only time she actually asked if they were dead. "I miss my mother, but not my father."
That made sense to Zelda. It was something she noticed about Link, how much more comfortable he seemed around women than men. At times, he wandered around and followed some of the female servants, but never the male ones. It also seemed like he preferred when Ruto visited than Darunia. Him missing his mother over his father was just another part of the pattern. "And…she died for your sake, didn't she?" It felt rough to ask such questions, but she wanted Link to be able to speak of such things. She guessed what she did given she couldn't imagine Link would miss his mother if she had simply abandoned him in the woods or something similar.
"…She did." Link replied after a pause. He felt stress building up in him along with heavy misery. "She died trying to take me to the Great Deku Tree."
Slowly, Zelda placed a hand on Link's shoulder, feeling guilty when he flinched. "You know…there are places called orphanages. It's where children without parents go to get adopted…to get taken in by couples. I'm sure my father would be willing to skip past the orphanage stage. He could put out word you're looking for a home, a mother. I'm sure you crave a more normal life, don't you?"
For a moment, the paranoid side of Link thought Zelda wanted him gone. That thought lingered, but he tried to focus on the idea that she just wanted to help. It was useless, though. Who would want him? Why would anyone want a broken child? Despite his efforts, tears started to form in his eyes. He didn't want a new mother. He didn't want a replacement. "I don't want another mom, I just want my mom…I want her…" Link choked out, feeling foolish and knowing he'd never get to see her. ""I want my mom…I want my mom…" He kept repeating before breaking down in a harsh sob. His mask broke so easily, it seemed, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of humiliation…
Zelda frowned, rubbing the broken boy's back…and the idea was swiftly abandoned.
"I'm glad you enjoyed your meal." Anju said, collecting Link's tray as she stood up. Though a small smile graced her lips, the concern in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Thank you." Was all Link said in response. He felt embarrassed, still, at how slowly and carefully he had to eat. Each spoonful of soup took what seemed like ages, and he had to feel along his tray to pick up the rest of his bread, his apple, and the milk. The milk especially he was not willing to try and just reach for. If he spilled it over, he'd have felt humiliated, more than he did by having to be so overly cautious.
Tatl remained quiet throughout the meal, only speaking up when Anju finally left. "She really cares about you, you know. I don't think she's just being polite." She said sincerely, thinking it'd make Link feel better.
"I know." Even with the general paranoia he had, Link couldn't wave away the woman's excessive kindness as anything but genuine. It wasn't like she owed him anything or got anything out of it.
"…I think we'll need more than this Cycle. You'll have to get used to just the one eye." The fairy mentioned. "It could even take weeks…and I'm not letting you go West until you're ready!" Tatl promised, hovering in front of Link's face. "Promise me! Okay? Promise me you won't go West until you've gotten used to this!"
As much as he hated to wait any longer, Link knew Tatl was right. If he tried to go in the next Cycle, it'd surely turn out horribly. "I promise. Tomorrow I want to try and practice moving around." As it was, he already felt another wave of exhaustion. "I'm going to just rest for today."
"Good idea. Just get some sleep." Tatl assured gently, trying not to sound too sorry for Link. She knew he'd hate that. "I'll help you out…somehow. I don't know how, but I will, okay?"
It almost felt like Tatl was replaced by an entirely new fairy sometimes. He couldn't imagine the fairy he first met in the Lost Woods acting even half as kind or patient. "Thank you. I just need some sleep now…"
He nestled into his bed again, really starting to fully realize this was forever. His eye was gone, he'd need a patch, his vision was cut down, his ability to tell distances was damaged…and who knew what else? Despite these harrowing thoughts, his fatigue didn't let him contemplate any further and the boy was soon fast asleep once again.
A/N: You may not remember, but in the very first chapter of this story I mentioned a special something I was going to change from Tales of Termina. Well, this is it. Given I started this story over a year ago, I've been waiting ages to reach this point. I decided it'd be tragic, but also sort of obvious in a way, to make Link lose his eye during his trip to Termina rather than somewhere down the road or in his adulthood. As you can imagine, it will take some time before things go back to normal, or as normal as it can get, and he can move on. I tried to brush up on how losing an eye instantly impacts someone, but there wasn't as much as I expected from reliable sources. More often than not, I kept finding sites talking about losing vision in general rather than flat-out losing one's eyeball. So I'm trying to make things at least decently accurate, I may just hiccup a few times.
As you can imagine, I'll have to take a few liberties. Like one thing I read was him using a bow should be impossible, but I'll have to bend things a bit to make it work. A faster recovery time is all but required too, but I know how that will work already. And don't worry, this sort of "arc" with his lost eye won't be entirely filler. There will be sidequest progression during it. It won't just be Link moping in the Knife Chamber for three chapters straight.
Special thanks to my beta reader. He takes a look at most of my chapters for my Zelda stories anyway, but in this instance he read it over three times as it was being written out. This chapter more than most others was one I really wanted to work well.