Link's extended daytime nap didn't prevent him from falling asleep quickly. Whatever ailment plagued his body knew no logic or reason. He could sleep for half a day and then return to a slumber without any recent labor giving him reason to be so tired.
For the first time in over 100 years, Link had a dream.
He sometimes caught snippets of useless imaginary images during the night, but for the past months on end he had slept so lightly and briefly that he hadn't really experienced anything concrete when he closed his eyes. That wasn't the case this evening. When Link's eyes closed, a vivid scene flooded into the crevices of his mind.
He was sitting in a boat. The waters that surrounded him were so vast that he couldn't see land in any direction. The wind blew into the sail that cut up through the watercolor blue sky. Beside him in the boat was a little Hylian child holding a fishing rod. A grumpy scowl rested on her face.
"I can't catch nothin'!" the little blonde girl huffed. She wagged the fishing rod indignantly.
"We've only been out here an hour," Link said. He spoke freely, as if he knew already what to say. The breeze was gentle, and the sun was generous. He leaned back in the boat against a wooden crate.
"Well, we don't got all day!" the little girl retorted annoyedly. She peered up at Link with furrowed eyebrows.
"We do, actually," Link mused. His eyes traced the fluffy white shapes in the sky. A cow, a flower… "We've got all day."
Link woke up much earlier than Paya. Once the first of the birds started to sing at 5 in the morning, he was wrestled out of his dream. He looked around incoherently for a moment before rising quietly. He slipped on his shoes and glanced over at his companion. Curled up and sleeping, as was to be expected. It was still dark out.
The remnants of the dream floated through his mind. He knew full well that dreams were full of nonsense. Nothing in that dream resembled any hint of reality. He couldn't even imagine it having taken place in the distant-dream part of his lifetime. Who was that little child? When would he have ever had nothing to do all day except look for shapes in the clouds? Foolish. Impossible.
And yet it nagged on him like a piece of cloth caught on a hook.
He crept out of the stable quietly. He wouldn't go far, of course, but he could collect the ingredients for a halfway decent breakfast. Link fancied himself to be a better cook than anyone at any stable… though that wasn't a hard bar to reach.
After some investigating of the local landscape, he was able to collect a few eggs and mushrooms. Nothing too fancy, but he felt satisfied at the idea of serving fried eggs on rice with steamed mushrooms.
The sun hadn't yet risen above the horizon when he finished, and so Link set to preoccupying himself while Paya had the chance to rest. After another hour of collecting mushrooms, he found himself bored over the endeavor. It was almost amusing to be bored, in an ironic sort of way. He never really had had the privilege of being bored before. Not that he could remember.
As the sun slowly crept up into the sky, Link returned to the stable and sat on his rented bed. After briefly checking on his companion, he retrieved his Sheikah Slate and opened up his log.
One Zora wanted frogs. Another, assistance delivering a letter. Luminous stones. Various deliveries and chores. He couldn't help but smile at the simplicity of it all. It was work fit for a young delivery boy being paid for odd jobs, and yet the familiar course of anxiety that had grown comfortable in his body didn't stir thinking about it. They could make it to Zora's Domain by the afternoon, and he could get set on his tasks.
Zelda. The thought flittered into his mind like a spark that quickly caught flame. Zelda had head off in the direction of Zora's Domain to establish diplomatic relations. Would she still be there now? Surely she would. That sort of thing didn't happen overnight, did it? And what was he to do? Hide away from her like a shy school child? Find her, and then what? Ask for the privilege of following her around? It wasn't disdain that he held for the princess… it was a cowardly sort of intimidation. A feeling of irrelevance. How appropriate for the knight so often complimented on his bravery. He pursed his lips staring at the device.
Perhaps Tarrey Town. A makeshift settlement up to the northeast. It was started up by Hudson- one of the laborers Link had encountered in Hateno Village. Though Link had offered him some assistance (recommending the new town to various people that he'd encountered around Hyrule during his travels), Hudson had requested far more help than Link had been able to offer in the midst of his duty. Wood and other resources… He could do that now.
He looked over at Paya. He hadn't said Zora's Domain definitively. Hopefully she wouldn't be too disappointed. He sighed and leaned back against the bed. How ridiculous: that a knight be afraid of his own princess.
"...Link?"
Her whisper pierced Link's flood of overthinking.
Paya's white hair fell sloppily over her face, sticking to her cheek awkwardly. Her sweet brown eyes peered out at him sleepily. Her face stuck out of the cocoon she had curled herself into, and as Link returned her look, her eye averted themselves away.
"Good morning," he murmured. He was careful to be quiet as to not wake the other sleeping travelers. He offered her a small smile which she returned by quickly shuffling into a sitting position.
"Good morning!" She whispered back. She pushed the blanket off of herself and back onto the bed. She looked curiously towards the tent flap where sunlight streamed in. "...What time is it?"
"Around 7," he murmured. He slowly rose out of bed again and watched as she quickly slipped on her shoes. "I'll go start breakfast. Come out whenever you're ready. No rush," he said, taking his bag and leaving the tent swiftly.
If there was one thing that could get Link's mind off of whatever it was fixated on, it was cooking. Such delightful aromas could lift any mood! By the time Paya had followed him out of the tent, Link was positively cheerful as he flipped the eggs in the pan.
She had fixed her hair in the style he had always seen it in and adorned the same clothes she typically wore. Practical. When she approached the Hylian, he grinned up at her.
"I hope you like mushrooms!" He greeted pleasantly, gesturing down at the prepared bowls of rice and steamed mushrooms. "I got these fresh this morning- same with the eggs." He picked up the pan and slid the eggs on top of the rice in one smooth action.
"Oh, nice!" Paya returned his pleasant mood and knelt down beside him. "It smells great… I didn't know you were a cook."
"Well, I usually just use whatever I have… but sometimes it comes out nice," he returned. He took another bowl and fork and split the meal between the two, before handing her one.
"Well, I'm impressed. I always mess up whatever I'm trying to make," Paya lamented. "Somehow, something comes out burnt!" Her eyes widened as though she had confessed a serious offense.
Link smiled, taking a bite of his prepared breakfast. "Well, I'll show you how I do it sometime," he said. He had the slightest bit of pride in his abilities. Although he was quite proficient at swinging a sword and shooting a bow, it didn't fill him with any amount of fulfillment. It felt necessary, like taking a shower or brushing one's teeth, but not a source of pride. "...You ready to take off after this?"
"Yeah- say, this is good!" Paya poked at her food pleasantly.
"I thought so too," Link agreed. It would be even better with goat butter, he imagined. Maybe the next time they were in a town he'd grab some. Sugar, too… "I was looking at my notes, and I think we oughtta' go up to Tarrey Town first. I promised the guy there a whole lot that I haven't done yet… and it's a beautiful view up there. You'll really like it." He remembered the shades of orange and pink that had dotted the trees up in the Akkala Highlands. He'd appreciate them more this time. Take a little longer to look at them.
"Oh, so not Zora's Domain then?" Paya returned curiously between bites.
"...No, not right now. Probably later though, once we circle around," Link dismissed. He'd take her all around Hyrule. Akkala first, then the first mountains of the north, then towards the Great Hyrule Forest…
"Oh okay," Paya returned. There was a small hint of disappointment that Link swiftly attempted to ignore. For once, Link appreciated her reservation when she didn't inquire as to the change in plans.
"I'm telling you, Paya, you'll love it."
Once they returned to horseback, the conversation grew thin and infrequent. Paya seemed completely enamored by the view, and Link continuously found himself lost in rabbit holes of thought. Despite the beautiful scenery, his mind kept devolving back to what he had seen in his sleep, and the possibility of running into Zelda again. One intriguing, the other fear inducing.
They went on for a few hours like that, quietly weaving through the rocky roads of Crenel Peak. The two were both prone to the quiet, and so it felt natural to fall into such a peaceful ride.
"We'll be coming up to a bridge here soon enough," Link said, glancing down at his Sheikah Slate. One more curve, and they'd have to cross over where the Hylia River cut through the mountainous landscape. "And then we'll cut up east to the Highlands. It's a pretty ride."
"...How far away is it?"
Link glanced back at her. Was she bored? Uncomfortable? "I think we'll have to stop for the evening on the way, but we should be there by tomorrow for sure, as long as we aren't hung up anywhere. Are you okay?" He frowned and eyed her carefully.
"I'm just fine," she replied dismissively, shaking her head. He could sense discomfort, but he couldn't discern from what.
"Well, just-"
"Sir!" A voice called out, interrupting Link's sentence.
The two turned, and there on the side of the road was a man waving at the pair of them. He was a young Hylian with colbalt hair that fell loosely around his face. His clothes were dirtied and torn, and it looked as though blood had stained his upper arm. His face was contorted in distress. Link's hand rested on the hilt of his Master Sword.
"Can you help me?" He asked, rushing towards the pair. A sort of paranoia was evident on his face. He glanced around anxiously, scanning the perimeter. "Please? They- they took our donkey, and- and my wife is- please, help! They might still be around here!"
Link furrowed his eyebrows. "What happened?" He asked directly. He slung his leg over the side of his horse and disembarked it. He took the Master Sword from its hilt and held it at his side.
"My wife and I- we're going to visit family- my in-laws- and we were just- and then- then this group of guys came out of nowhere and- they wanted our backpack- and I said no- and then one of 'em sliced me with his sword- and then- I gave him the bag- and they took my wife's necklace- and then they ran off!" He explained in a jumble, gesturing with his hands wildly as he told the story.
"Which way did they go?" Link asked. He glanced back at Paya, who looked around nervously atop her horse.
"There!" The man pointed in the direction in which they had been headed.
"And where's your wife?"
"Enna!" The young man called out, looking back behind himself. "Sorry, she's hiding- I told her to do that. One second-" he ran back in the direction in which he came.
"...Link?" Paya asked nervously. Her face had turned a pale hue.
"Just… stay there, Paya. If anything happens, ride off back where we came from. Don't go too far, just… away, until I've handled it. I'll come get you after," Link instructed. He felt the familiar rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was almost comforting.
The young man returned a few moments later, this time with a short Hylian woman beside him. In a sling across her chest was a fussing infant. She cooed down at the baby, before looking up at Link anxiously.
"Can you help us?" Her husband asked, holding a hand to the injury on his arm. "I don't even have our map- that was in the bag!"
"Where are you trying to go?" Link asked. His eyes routinely navigated the surrounding area cautiously. He had all the instincts of a prey animal. It had kept him alive for long enough, and it would hopefully serve him well now.
"We're meeting them at Woodland Stable. They live nearby in the woods. Please, we don't have our donkey anymore," he replied miserably. He looked at his wife and back at Link.
"Of course," Link replied with a swift nod. He looked back at Paya as if for approval. She nodded quickly.
"Yeah, of course!" She echoed. Her eyes were fixated on the young baby in the woman's arms. "You don't think the robbers are still around, do you, Link?"
"I doubt it," Link replied with a shake of his head. "They wouldn't stay in the same place. They got what they wanted." Even with Ganon gone, the folly of greed hadn't yet left Hyrule, it seemed. "But we can't be too sure. We can escort you to Woodland Stable. It isn't too far off from where we're headed anyways, if I remember right." He took his Sheikah Slate in his hand and opened his map. "... It's not far off at all. We could be there by 5 or 6 if we leave now." He looked up at the couple. "Let me wrap your arm, and we can head off. I'm no doctor, but I can clean and secure it." He returned the slate to his hip and slung his bag over his shoulder. Unfortunately, part of his wretched Gerudo clothing would have to be sacrificed for a greater cause. He tore the fabric of the purple bottoms to make a substitute for gauze. He fetched a canteen of water from the bag and gestured for the man to sit down. "Take off your shirt, please," he said, kneeling beside him.
"It isn't deep," the man sighed, stripping off his filthy, stained shirt. "Just hurts more than anything… Thank you for doing this… Ah!" He grimaced as Link poured water over the exposed wound. He was right, it wasn't deep; still, the long stripe of red wasn't immune to the sting. Link moved quickly and wrapped the fabric around him once the water had run down the length of the injury. He worked efficiently and calmly. He wasn't the least bit squeamish about blood, and he was more than used to treating his own cuts and gashes. The litter of scars on his body attested to that.
"What's her name?" He heard Paya ask behind him.
"Lenni," Enna replied quietly. "She's not usually this fussy. She's really sweet."
"I can tell," Paya replied softly.
Link tucked the fabric into itself, forming a sort of cast. With another strip, he strapped his arm to his chest in a makeshift sling. It would be less painful if it didn't move around. "Here-" he said, handing the canteen to the young man. "Drink the rest of it. That should help stop the bleeding… No other injuries, right?"
"No," he replied, looking down at his arm. He took the canteen and pressed it to his lips, drinking it quickly.
"...And you're okay, ma'am?" Link stood and eyed Enna carefully. She didn't look injured. Overwhelmed, but otherwise unharmed.
"I am. Thank you so, so much," her words dropped with sincerity as she gazed at her husband who was slowly rising to his feet. "Tolen and I… We can't give you any money right now. They took it all. But once we get to the stable, I can get some from my mom."
Link made a face, disgusted by the idea. "What? No. I don't want your money," he replied indignantly.
"We don't," Paya confirmed, equally appalled by the proposition.
"Are you sure?" Enna asked, bouncing the child in her arms. She looked between the two with pursed lips. "After all this…?"
"It's nothing," Link said firmly. He glanced behind himself again. Still nothing. "...Are you both able to travel now? Paya and I can share a horse, and the pair of you could ride the other," he proposed.
Tolen nodded. "Yeah, I can ride." He shook his arm, trying to adjust for the discomfort in his arm.
"I'll help you up," Link said. He whistled, and Dahlia slowly stirred to attention. He approached and knelt, holding his hands for Tolen to step on.
"I seriously owe you," Tolen commented, clumsily maneuvering himself onto the mare.
"No, you don't. Ma'am?" Link gestured with his head for Enna to follow.
"Let me help you," Paya insisted, following behind the mother. Standing next to Link, she held her hand as she climbed atop Dahlia behind her husband. Link handed the reins to Tolen's free hand.
"We'll go slow," Link said, eyeing his injury. "Try to ride steady, and let me know if you need to stop." The couple offered him anxious, yet grateful looks. He turned to Paya.
"I hope you don't mind sharing a ride," he said, approaching Violet. Another careful look around the area. He was certain the robbers were long gone, but vigilance was never a detriment.
"I don't," Paya shook her head. He held out his hands, and she pushed herself up and onto the horse. "...It's nice of you to want to help them. I can't imagine robbing a young couple like that. With a baby, no less." She sighed as Link climbed atop the horse in front of her. "Poor things."
"Some people are cruel," Link murmured. He looked behind himself at the couple, before urging the horse to move forward. "It's good that you couldn't imagine doing it."
"...I never got your name," Tolen called out. He jostled Dahlia's reigns, and the black spotted horse crept into a gentle trot just behind them.
"Link," he called back, holding onto the reigns tightly. As they crept over the hill, he quickly assessed their surroundings. Still clear. Only a small bird waddled about nearby.
"And your wife? Paula, you said?"
"Paya," Link clarified. The same mistake had been twice in less than a day. It made sense, of course. Two young people of the opposite sex traveling around the way they were. He didn't particularly mind it; it wasn't an insult, merely a misconception. One he didn't even care to clarify. He could sense Paya's red face, but she also said nothing.
His eyes traced every rock suspiciously.
"Oh, gotcha. Paya. Sorry… Where are the two of youse' headed? Up north?"
"The Ack…" Paya attempted. She frowned.
"The Akkala Highlands," Link clarified. He felt at home in this state of hyper vigilance. It was familiar. The only home his body knew.
"Oh! It's beautiful up there. We went there for our honeymoon!" Enna interjected pleasantly. "The sea is so pretty out there!"
Link blinked. The sea. It reminded him of his dream; the vast waters that cascaded out in every direction as far as the eye could see. Maybe that's where it had taken place. Off the coast of the Akkala Highlands. Past the islands and the threats of the shore. Off into the sunset, beyond the horizon. The rest of the dream was still nonsense, of course. Still, there was a strange satisfaction that rested in his chest at the idea of the destination being real.
"I've never been," Paya replied. "But I can't wait to see it."
"What are you headed over there for?" Tolen inquired.
"Helping a friend out," Link replied vaguely. They rounded the curve of the road. The bridge would be soon.
"That's nice," Tolen replied. "We'll have to get up there again sometime… We've been couped up at home since Lenni was born. This was supposed to be a nice vacation…" He sighed and shook his head.
"It still will be," Paya replied optimistically. "You can have a nice time still. Don't let this ruin it for you. Every cloud eventually runs out of rain, doesn't it?" She smiled back at the couple.
"...I suppose it does." Tolen held his head up, letting the sun caress his cheeks. "...What do you do for work?"
Link wasn't used to the small talk, but it didn't particularly bother him. He hesitated in responding that question, though. What did he do for work? He wouldn't exactly answer honestly. Oh, well the thing is, I woke up in a tomb about a year ago…
"I'm a fisherman," he replied after a beat of silence. "Near Hateno Bay, if you're familiar." He remembered his dream wistfully. Would he enjoy being a fisherman? He'd seen some in Lurelin Village. Hardy men with large nets. He could be one, he figured. Would he ever get a job like that? One that held a person down to one village, one home? It felt impossible, somehow.
"Oh, gotcha. We're from Hateno Village, actually," Tolen replied pleasantly. "I'm a cattle rancher. Got my brother looking after 'em while we're gone… If you're ever in the area, stop by! We're just outside of town to the east. Hundreds of cows- can't miss it!"
Link glanced back at the man. He mustered a smile and nodded. "We'll keep that in mind," he replied.
The rest of the ride to Woodland Stable was uneventful. As Link had anticipated, the robbers were long gone, and the biggest fright they got was a doe running across the road. A few breaks were deemed as necessary on the way (for both food and rest), but they arrived at the stable in the evening. It was out of the way, and there wasn't a stable in the right direction that they'd arrive at at an appropriate time. It was decided that they would stay the night shortly before they arrived at the stable.
Enna was visibly exhausted from the journey. At the very least, Lenni was quickly rocked to sleep by the gentle trot of the horses. When they approached Woodland Stable, Link swiftly disembarked in order to help the young mother down. Tolen was pale; the injury ached, and the exhaustion of the day seemed to be getting to him, too. After helping down Enna, Link offered him a hand.
"I seriously owe you," Tolen murmured, cautiously disembarking the horse.
"No, you don't," Link dismissed.
"Enna?" A woman's voice called. Near the fire was an older woman wearing a shawl. Beside her, a skinny man with glasses. "Oh Enna, you're late!" She scuttled over to the family, shaking her head. "Tolen, what happened to your arm!?"
"Nothing," Tolen dismissed, shaking his head warily. "Just… This fella, Link, he really helped us out. We ran into some trouble, and he brought us all the way here." He turned to Link and offered a smile. His mother in law followed his gaze.
"Link," the woman echoed with a frown. "Do I know you? I swear I know a 'Link'!"
"No, ma'am," Link shook his head. He turned to Paya, who had found a stump to sit on. "I really doubt it. We're from the middle of nowhere."
"Well…" the woman paused, before practically leaping in Link's direction. She took his face in two hands and pressed a big, wet kiss to his cheek. "Thank you so much, young man! I was scared to death when they weren't here earlier! Mwah!" She squeezed his quickly reddening cheeks with her two hands affectionately.
"Oh Ma," Enna groaned. "Leave him alone…"
"You're a total sweetheart!" Her mother ignored her plea and began to brush Link's hair back with her hand. "Say, let me treat you to some dinner. How's that? Our house is just down the road!"
Link pulled back slightly, for fear that he might die of embarrassment. A pathetic way to go after having defeated Ganon himself. He looked over again at Paya, who was rubbing at her legs on the stump. He frowned. She was sore from the ride. That was it. He hadn't considered that she wasn't at all used to horseback. He was such an idiot.
"My… wife is really tired," he explained, adjusting his hair as the woman stepped back. "I'm afraid I'll have to turn down your… generous offer," he said sheepishly.
"Aw… I understand," she sighed, shaking her head. "But hey- take this, instead! It was for Gerri-" she cast a forlorn look back at her husband, who was standing behind her awkwardly. "But that hunk of junk isn't as precious as you." She retrieved her bag from where she'd tossed it and took out a homemade satchel. It was quilted in shades of green and yellow and hung on a strap of leather. Was that an embroidered flower on the front of it…? "I made it myself!"
Link blinked. "Oh… Are you sure?" He wouldn't be caught dead carrying the purse around.
"Absolutely! Consider it my thank you!" She pushed it into his hands. The look on her face persuaded him to accept it. That, and it was practically a work for mercy for her husband.
"...Thank you, ma'am," he said bashfully, scratching at the back of his neck. "...You all have a good night, okay?"
"Thank you again," Tolen said, holding onto his wife's shoulder with his functional arm. "Seriously- if you're ever in the area, come say hi. I can't- we can't thank you enough."
"...You're welcome," Link replied. The last of the embarrassment left him as he looked at the young family. Gratitude was painted on their face. It caused a pleasant swell to grow in his chest. He'd done a good thing. "You all have a good night."
The extended family left shortly after on foot. Link watched as they disappeared into the slowly darkening sky with a sort of wistful air. He felt… Strange. Warm was the best descriptor he could think of.
He allowed Paya time to stretch and relax as he fetched dinner. Two rabbits quickly retrieved from the local forest and a handful of mushrooms made up their supper. He brought it to her and sat back on the opposite stump beside her.
"You should've told me all that riding wasn't comfortable. I didn't even think about it," he said, sticking his fork into the cooked meat. "I'm sorry."
"No, no, it's fine," Paya waved him off. "I'm glad we did that today." She smiled down at the nearby fire. "It felt… good to help them."
"...Yeah," Link agreed. His eyes fixated on the jumping flames too. "I'm glad we found them first."
The two began to eat their meal. The symphony of frogs and crickets echoed from the nearby woods. The incoherent drone of conversations from inside the tent wafted through the air along with the smell of the hot embers. Link was almost hypnotized by the simplicity of it all. Good food, good company, a perfect sky decorated with clouds that held onto the last of the sun's violet shadows. He could've stayed there forever, he thought. It was as peaceful as the boat he had seen in his dream. As tranquil as anything he'd ever experienced. There was no underlying panic or fear. The sky wouldn't fall if he slept for an extra hour. Death wouldn't befall all of Hyrule if he allowed himself to enjoy the company of a young Sheikah girl and the gentle presence of the breeze. This is what it was to live, Link thought. To allow his muscles to relax. To allow his eyes to focus on nothing more than the fire. To allow his heart to swell with satisfaction for a job well done. There wasn't too much glory in it. No dramatic high or low. But the stars had borne witness to his good deed, and that seemed enough.
...
Author's note:
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I had a lot of fun writing it.
Quick clarification: I am changing the technicalities of Tarrey Town/Link's house in Hateno Village for the sake of the story as you might have noticed. In this version, Link hasn't yet purchased/developed the house at all yet. He's sent people over to Tarrey Town, but hasn't supplied it with the necessary wood for it to be extensively developed. I hope that makes sense!
As always, any comments are greatly appreciated!