Chapter 82: Travelers on the Road
Link did not need to open his eyes to know the light before him wasn't the sun. He pretended to remain asleep. She came to inspect him every night when she couldn't sleep herself. Did Navi worry that he'd disappear again, or that she would?
It took a quarter of an hour or so before the light dimmed. Navi would return to the ocarina. He hoped she would get to sleep, though he did not know if she ever truly rested. Since the Door, Navi kept strange hours. When she tried to time her sleep with Link she would only rest for short fits. She preferred to stay awake for a full day and night and then sleep for just as long. It must have been hard on her, being so long alone.
Link pretended he still slept until the true sun rose. Then he got up and prepared for the day. His hopes were dashed when her light appeared from the ocarina. He raised his fingers to his lips for silence then crept past their other companion to reach their packs. The horse noticed him as he grabbed food and filled a waterskin. But the animal only lifted his head a moment before lowering it back down in silence.
They did not have much food left from their last visit to a village a few days earlier, only some dry bread and cheese. Though the day before Link had found some mushrooms not far from the road, most of which remained. He cut the cheese in half to leave the rest for his companion, smiling to himself as the knife glided through it. He didn't nick his fingertips at all, these long fingers and enormous arms moved almost as he wanted them to. Most of his misshapen body was becoming comfortable, though he expected he'd never grow used to the strange places hair now grew. It didn't itch, not exactly, but it felt different. He'd asked Sheik to teach him how to shave his chin, but he made some excuse. Perhaps he enjoyed watching Link's struggle with the razor.
Moving as silent as his ridiculous gargantuan feet would allow, he left Sheik behind as he went deeper off the road. He wolfed down the food and wiped his fingers on his clothes while Navi hovered over his shoulder.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" She asked when they were out of Sheik's earshot.
"No, I was going to ask you the same question."
"I was still awake." She yawned.
"Why don't you return to the ocarina? You have to be getting tired."
"I can stay up a little longer."
Link found a flat bit of land and tossed the waterskin into the grass. Stepping into the middle of the opening, he shook his arms and took up the stance Bethmasse taught him. "I'm only going to practice; I wouldn't want to bore you."
"You won't." She lowered herself onto the grass.
He drew the Master Sword and positioned the dying knight's shield before him. This felt right. Lifting the sword high, he performed the salute against the air.
Keep the shield forward to hide the blade behind it. Strike strong, strike true, flow from one attack to another. If the opponent has a shield of their own, work around it. Strike at angles, while keeping yourself protected. Move both arms as one. From the flicking slashes using only the hands, to strong strikes forced through the whole body, and thrusts walked into position from the legs.
He remembered each lesson she demonstrated with spear and blade and fist. With every swing and thrust, he felt more real, more himself. The invisible enemy would advance or retreat. He would defend or engage. Shifting from one form to another until he no longer thought what his next move must be and let his body simply act.
The blade gleamed as he practiced. Sometimes, it seemed to catch light that was not there and its edge shimmered like the night sky. It was perfect, this sword from the other side.
As he lunged, his foot caught on the ground and sent him stumbling forward and landing on his knees. "Ugh!" His dreamlike focus crumpled. "Stupid feet!" Even on his best day, it felt like trodding around stomping all the time. So long they dragged on the ground, so heavy it was a chore to lift them. No one needed feet this big.
Grumbling, he picked himself up and stomped to his waterskin for a drink. "Before the end, how'd that look?" Link asked as he wiped some water from his chin.
"Different," Navi said. "Sorry, that's not true. It looks like you, I've seen you practice before, I remember some of it. It's all just…" She sighed. "You looked fearsome."
"It's still me."
"I know it is."
Link took another drink and let the silence grow between them.
The sky had turned bright, Sheik would be awake. He would want to move out, though he remained silent precisely where they headed. "To see the princess," he had said on their first day of travel. But how far was that? Were they even halfway? A quarter? Less? Only the mysterious companion knew.
When they returned to camp, they found Sheik had already saddled the horse. He nodded to Link before tightening the straps on one of the saddlebags.
"Find anything more to eat?" Sheik asked.
"No, wasn't looking."
"Pity, the mushrooms won't last the day."
"I'll find more. The world will provide."
Sheik scoffed and went to fold up his sleeping blankets and stuff them in another saddlebag. Link helped while Navi retreated to the ocarina. He did not disturb her until the only sign of their presence was the blackened sticks and ash from the fire.
Link gently lifted the ocarina and attached it to his belt.
Sheik moved beside him.
"Is something wrong?"
He nodded toward the horse. "It's your turn."
"Ahh, you can have another go if you want."
"Stop being a martyr and get on the horse."
Link tried his best not to rouse Navi again as he climbed into the saddle. "You ready?" Link whispered as he nudged his mount to start on the road. The horse trotted steadily and without complaint. He stood fifteen hands high and well-muscled with a healthy coat, a rather friendly and well-trained animal. Suitable for the servant of a princess.
As they journeyed down the road, Sheik kept pace beside them. Sometimes the horse felt as though he wished to run and run and leave whoever was not mounted in the dust. But he never bolted, the good horse that he was.
"I never asked," Link said once they were well on their way, "what's his name?"
Sheik glanced up at him. "Hmm?"
"Your horse, what's his name?"
"He doesn't have one."
Link frowned. That didn't seem right. Malon knew the name of every horse in their stable, along with all the cows and the cuckoos. "He should have a name."
"Whatever for?"
"I don't know. It shows them some respect."
"A man can name his hound and still kick it. Respect shows respect."
"Then that's a bad dog-keeper, but the hound should still have a name, same with a horse."
Sheik sighed. "I suppose the trader who sold him to me called him something, but I was never told it. Or if I was, I've forgotten."
"But you're with him every day!"
Sheik shook his head and fiddled with one of the saddlebags. He pulled out a handful of pages and held them up to his eyes. Resting one hand on the saddlebag to keep him steady, he read the crumpled yellow pages as he walked.
He didn't talk much, preferring to travel with his nose in the paper and vellum rescued from the temple. As fast as he read, he must have gone through them all but that never stopped his reading. Days could go past without Sheik saying a word. Which wasn't a problem when Navi was awake, but now with her asleep, it felt lonelier than walking alone.
But that was an adventure for you. As far as Link could tell, it was brief moments of the most exciting experiences anyone could have, seeing beautiful visions, speaking with interesting people, and oh when your heart turned to thunder and a sword was in your hand! There were few things better. But between those moments, it was mostly lonely.
"How about Spot?" Link asked when the silence grew too much for him.
"What?" Sheik did not look away from his pages.
"For your horse, he has all those spots on him. Why don't you call him Spot?"
"Let me get this straight, you think we should show respect for these animals by naming them, and you think that's best demonstrated calling him Spot?"
"It's a good name."
"I'm not calling him Spot. It's… it's undignified."
"I don't see what's wrong with it, one of the best horses I've ever seen was named Honeyhoof. But it doesn't have to be Spot. We could call him, I don't know, how about Greatheart? Or, hmm, a farm I lived on had a horse named Pomers who looked like yours a little."
"Very well."
"Which one did you like?"
"Whichever ends this conversation faster." He returned to his pages.
Link sighed. There had to be something that made the horse distinct. He was a fine horse, that was obvious. But that wasn't helping him come up with names. When given food, he ate somewhat greedily, but he doubted Sheik would appreciate Glutton or Hungry as names.
Then he thought back several nights earlier. They had set up their camp and while waiting for their food to cook, Link played his ocarina. Just a few songs he knew, but, surprisingly, Sheik produced a harp and strummed the melody. Even Navi joined them, singing a few songs they both knew. It had been wonderful, and all the while the horse stared at them and listened, never once complaining or making any noise. He even seemed disappointed when the food finished and they ended the performance.
"I'm going to call him Song."
"Are you still talking about the horse?"
"We could talk about something else if you want."
"Or, we can not talk about anything, and you can let me read."
"You're going to misstep and twist an ankle if you keep reading while you walk."
"Don't pretend you're looking out for me. You're bored."
"I can be both. You've read through every page already; I don't think the words are going to change if you read them all over."
Sheik sighed, "I am trying to work through what they mean. The princess will expect a full report on what we've uncovered so she can make her plans as quickly as possible."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that. She's going to want to read them all herself anyway. When I first met her, I gave her a bunch of scrolls, and the moment she got her hands on them she started reading. Without even a thank you, I might add."
Sheik paused and lowered the paper. "Oh," he said. "That was rude of her, wasn't it?"
Link smiled, "I wouldn't worry too much about it. She didn't seem like the kind of person to give out many pleases and thank yous."
"That's no excuse, she should have had some modicum of gratitude. Allow me to apologize on her behalf."
"I don't think you can apologize for someone else. Either they're sorry, or they're not."
"Still, I want to thank you, for all you've done. Seven years locked away- I can't-" He looked up to Link and nodded. "What do you wish to know?"
"Oh, anything really. What's the part that's gotten you flummoxed?"
Sheik held up the handful of pages for Link to take. "This comes from the final passages of the Secret Histories of the War of the Interlopers." He pointed out the paragraph for Link to start reading.
Their celebrations proved short lived. Once more, the gathered lords took council discussing the fate of the mirror.
"It should be destroyed," Chief Entugia said. "So, the Interlopers may never again return."
"It should be hidden," High Inquisitor Molné argued. "Lest we have need of it and find ourselves without."
For many days these great kings and queens held debate, but no accord was forged. On the fourth day, King Haraldorf grew so enraged he challenged Molné to a duel, declaring him a traitor to the alliance. For he still held the deep suspicion that the Sheikah kept their old treaties with the Interlopers. Fear gripped the hearts of those in attendance, as they saw the outburst would shatter their alliance and cause war to begin anew.
While steel was drawn, the Queen of the Tribe of Hylians stepped between the bitter sides, and their hands were stayed. To the amazement of all, her eyes grew bright and she spoke with the voice of legions.
Dark days await when Hyrule is bound
With treachery beast shall be crowned
Fear hatred's rule his dark voice cruel
Hope shall rot when joy ne'er be found
Sleeper shall return and call more to rise
Answer shall the Sages most wise
Their lives gifted, shadows lifted
Grief shackles the soul of demise
One raised among the trees
One perched on mountain tall
One sunk beneath the seas
One no more the beast's thrall
One hidden in the night
One servant of the light
Let all who gather sing
The mirror shall awaken
To bring low the false king
The wicked shall be shaken
And freedom's call shall ring
The room grew quiet, for all knew they bore witness to a prophecy. A compromise was reached that satisfied all parties and peace returned to the world.
Link flipped over to the other side of the page, but found it only described each of the lords present at the meeting. "Do you have the next page?"
"That's the end. What do you make of it?"
"I was never very good with poetry. I've always thought if you had something to say, you should just say it. If it's a prophecy, wouldn't you want people to be able to decipher what you're trying to tell them?"
"I'm less interested in your thoughts on the quality of the poetry and more in what you think it means."
"Hmm," Link read it over again. "I take it you think it's talking about now. With Hyrule is bound, that is."
"I do."
"So, what's this about a mirror?"
"A piece of history. Do you know who the Interlopers were?"
"I don't think so. I was never great with history."
"They were shadowbinders and sorcerers, who could look through all the mirrors of the world and use them as easily as we take this road. The legends said there was an entire world of shadows and twisting paths behind the mirrors that only they could access."
"How did they defeat an enemy like that?"
"The mirror. Their greatest artifact, the Mirror of Twilight was captured by the King of Hyrule and they used it to lock the Interlopers in that realm of shadows."
"You think we'll need the mirror to defeat Ganondorf?" Link tapped the pommel of his sword. "Then what is Evil's Bane supposed to do?"
"I don't know. And perhaps it's nothing and the poem speaks of some other calamity. But the signs lead me to believe this is the moment the prophecy foretells. If I'm correct, then we must find that mirror and the sages."
"What signs?"
"The sleeper shall return, for one."
Link frowned as he tried to decipher what it could mean. So much had happened while he was locked in the Sacred Realm. "Who's the sleeper?"
Sheik blinked at him, fixing him with a gaze that made Link grow embarrassed though he didn't understand why. "You," he said. "Obviously, you. You were asleep for seven years."
"Oh," and his embarrassment grew deeper. "Should I call for everyone to wake up, then? I'm not entirely certain what I'm supposed to say, but I could give it my best shout."
"I don't think the prophecy's literal. The answer to our problems won't be solved just by you screaming at the top of your lungs."
"Oh good, wouldn't want to wake Navi."
Sheik laughed at that. Finally. No one should be serious all the time.
"So, if I'm the sleeper. That leaves us with, what exactly? How do we find this mirror?"
"No one knows what happened to it. I had hoped the Secret Histories would provide some clue, but it only speaks of a compromise. It does not provide any details."
"Well, then what about the Sages? Perhaps we can find them."
"That I have some ideas on. It took the combined forces of all Greater Hyrule to defeat the Interlopers, I expect it will have to do so again. I'd wager we need to find some champion from each of the great tribes."
"Makes sense, a Goron from the mountain tall, a Zora beneath the seas, and all that."
They spoke on their suspicions for long hours. Sheik proved knowledgeable on the matters of history. Link didn't know if the discussion helped his companion in any way, but at least now he had some idea what was going on.
When they stopped just past midday to give the horse a rest, Link went to forage. There was not much to find. No more mushrooms, but a batch of bitter sorrel leaves and a bit further away a berry bush that was not yet ripe. They'd taste worse than the leaves, but food was food. It should tide them over until they reach the next town.
After they ate and Song was rested, they returned to the road. This time it was Sheik's turn to ride and Link walked beside them. They did not go far before Sheik pulled on the reins and brought the horse to a stop.
"Something wrong?"
"There," Sheik pointed ahead of them. At what, Link had little clue. A small hill rose on one side of the road, and the path curved around behind it. On the other side sat a handful of trees, close enough to make a decent shade, but none of them bore fruit. One of the larger trees looked dead, but it still seemed sturdy enough that he didn't worry about it falling over. Then he saw them. A pair of eyes that peaked out from behind the dead trunk.
"You there!" Sheik called. "I saw your shadows moving. Will you let us pass?"
Two men stepped out from behind the trees, both carrying axes, one with a shield. "Depends," said the bigger of the pair, "how much you have to pay."
"Rupees we can give you, so long as we are free to travel afterward."
"Rupees is good, jewels and gold as well."
"Do we look like jewel merchants? Rupees I have and rupees are all you'll get."
"What do you have in those bags?"
"Books."
The other laughed. Of the pair, he was smaller and leaner. "You expect us to believe that? I bet it is jewels."
Sheik turned round on the saddle and untied one of the bags, then he pulled out a handful of papers. "See for yourself."
"Why you carrying books?"
"Do you truly care to know?" Sheik said returning the pages to the bag.
"No, I s'pose I don't."
"Weapons then!" the other said. "The one on foot has a sword on him, I could use good steel."
"We can't give them my sword," Link whispered.
"You think I don't know that?" Sheik cleared his throat and shouted back. "And leave us defenseless on the road? Come now my good man, be reasonable."
"We approach you with that sword, what's stopping you from trying to fight us?"
"What's to stop you from turning on us with those axes if we give you the sword? We can spin this around all day."
The pair spoke between themselves. They weren't soldiers, that was clear. Their axes were too heavy for a battleaxe, likely woodsmen who decided to turn brigand. It wasn't hard to guess why, with how scrawny the pair were. Their rags were hanging on with threads and their bodies nearly as worn.
"How about this," Link called. "I'll tie my sword back into our packs so I can't reach it. And you two put down your axes by the trees."
"You can still reach your sword in the packs."
"True, but you'll have your shield and I'll have mine. You'll be able to see me reach for it, and that should give you both enough time to get your weapons and protect yourselves."
"What are you doing?" Sheik hissed.
"It'll go well, you have those knives up your sleeves, don't you?"
"You have a deal," the leader of the pair said. "Tie up that sword and we'll put down our axes here. Then you come forward slow."
Link laid his sword atop the pile of papers of the opened saddlebag.
"Careful with those, I have them all in order."
"I am," he said as he tied the bag up.
"There!" Sheik called and held up his rupee purse. "Now put your axes down and we all meet in the middle."
The two rested their axes on the trees and stepped toward them. But their movement set Link on edge. One stared at Sheik and Link, but too steadily, as though he was purposely trying to avoid looking elsewhere. While the other kept glancing to his side.
No, not his side, the hill. And just behind it.
"I made a mistake," Link said. "There's more hidden behind the hill. As soon as we give them our rupees they'll come charging. And me with my sword still tied down."
"It's a good spot for an ambush."
"What do we do?"
"I'm thinking, follow my lead."
"Oy," the second of the brigands said, "what are you two muttering about?"
"Our rotten luck," Sheik said. "You're the second gang of thieves we've crossed today. It's a pity, we'd have more to give you if you were only a few miles further along the road."
"That so?" The man laughed.
"Everyone's got to make a living somehow." The leader stepped around the horse to stand face-to-face with Link. He was taller, but did not look particularly strong, and held his shield limp at his side where it would do no good. "You're not going to cause trouble, are you, boy?"
"I'm not planning to," he looked to Sheik who did not move from Song.
"How much you got in that purse?" The second asked.
"Enough."
"Well, open her up and show me."
Link and the leader continued to stare at each other. His eyes went to Link's hip. "Hey now, what's that? You said you had no jewelry."
"That's not a jewel," Link covered his ocarina. "It's an instrument."
"It looks well-made and worth some coin. Hand it over."
"I'm not giving it to you."
"I'm not asking, boy." He reached for it and Link stepped back. "I said give it here."
When he lunged forward, Link planted his feet and swung. His fist connected with the man's nose. He felt its satisfying crunch move through his knuckles and up his arm. The brigand fell back howling and grabbing his face.
"What are you-?" The other man said, "Welgin! Welgin! Now!"
Sheik gripped the purse closed and smashed it against the other's head. When his target fell back, Sheik looked to Link. "Is that following my lead?"
"Sorry." Link went to the saddlebags and untied them.
"Link?" Navi's voice came from the ocarina. "Link what is happening."
"Nothing!" Link said as he pulled his sword free. "Nothing's wrong!"
A hand grabbed his leg and pulled. Papers flew all around. Link struck the ground, and his vision blurred. When he could see clear again, he felt a weight on his chest. The brigand had crawled onto him and pressed his shield into Link's stomach and with his free hand grabbed onto the Master Sword's sheath. Blood streamed from his broken nose.
An adult was pinning him! He couldn't win a grapple against an adult. They were bigger than him. They were stronger than him. He was only… only…
Link pushed up and the sword lifted with the man still clinging onto it. Then Link twisted and sent his opponent into the dirt. Daring to let go with one hand, he slammed it down on the brigand's nose again. The yelp was almost as satisfying as the strike. The man let go of the sword and Link stood up.
"More coming," Navi said. He felt her small hands grab the back of his tunic and pull him away from his first opponent. When he turned, he saw three more racing at them from around the hill; one a knight on horseback with lance and armor, the other two on foot with only long-knives.
Link looked down at the first brigand, he was rolling on the ground groaning. "Don't move." Unsheathing the Master Sword, he dropped the scabbard and marched ahead of Song so the spear would reach him before his friends. Then he took up his stance with his sword low and prepared for the oncoming threat.
He swept his blade up. The edge hit the lance as he turned. Steel rang. The weapon sailed over him harmlessly. Link adjusted his grip, and his blade aligned with the rider. It struck his leg as he rode past. The man roared and slowed his horse, preparing to circle and strike them from the back.
But the slow was all Navi needed. Link saw her light flash before the man's eyes and disappear into his visor. He screamed.
Sheik came to Link's side. He had dismounted Song and held a few throwing knives in his hands. "How's that practice coming, hero?"
Link grinned at him before he returned his focus to the two charging them on foot. When an enemy is stronger then one must draw them out, force them to make a mistake, and take advantage where he could. But his opponents weren't stronger than him. Not anymore.
"Are they weak enough for you to run down? Then attack quick, attack deadly."
Link raised his sword high and when his opponents ran themselves to exhaustion just to reach him, he stepped forward and swung down strong and fast. And for a moment, everything unfolded before him. The smell of Song and the acrid scent of the trees. The steady drumming of his heart almost in time with the thumping footsteps of his opponent. The perfect arc of his sword's descent that would bash against the knife with such force the small blade would flop out of the brigand's hands. All he had to do was keep the blade straight and he would disarm and skewer the man in a single blow.
And he heard the hollow bravado in the thief's scream and the terror in his eyes.
Link turned the blade. The long-knife clattered away, but instead of piercing the man's chest, the Master Sword ran across his arm leaving a long red gash. But his momentum carried him forward. The brigand collided with Link, flailing his limbs and giving a wild scream. It was nothing to plant his feet and rotate; leaving his opponent in the dirt next to the man with the broken nose.
Beside him, Sheik was fairing nearly as well with his opponent. One of his knives stuck out of the bandit's shoulder, while he used the other to defend himself. Blocking one strike, and dodging another, he took little flicking nips at his opponent when he found an opening.
It seemed a waste of time. Link stepped behind the still standing bandit and smashed the pommel of his sword into the same shoulder struck by Sheik's dagger. The man screeched and fell to his knees. With a kick, Sheik sent him sprawling with the others.
That left only one. The knight grabbed at the visor of his helmet, removing the pins that held it in place. He lifted the visor, and Navi shot out of it. His eyes were puffy and red, and his lip had a fresh cut.
Link advanced on the knight. "Navi, are you hurt?"
"He never touched me."
"Good," Link smiled.
The knight squinted at Link, cursed, and put his spurs into his horse. But he did not rush toward Link, instead, he pulled the animal around and fled.
"Welgin!" The thief with the cut arm screamed after him. "Welgin! You coward!"
Sheik spun his knife between his fingers as he reached for the nearest of their captives.
"Wait!" he raised his hands above his head. "Surrender. We surrender! You can't kill us if we surrender!"
"This isn't a battle and you're not soldiers. Do yourself a favor and don't move, this will be more painful if you squirm."
The man gave a strangled cry as Sheik raised the knife to his chest.
"Stop," Link pushed his hand down.
"What now?"
"They surrendered. This is - I don't know - murder."
"They're bandits. They tried to kill us and likely murdered others."
"We never killed anyone," the man said. "Just robbed them. Nothing else."
"Do you think we're fools?"
"It's true, I swear it. I swear it!"
"Swear it on what?"
"On... on... on Hylia and the Golden Three."
"Eryck be quiet," the man with the broken nose said, his voice stuffy with blood. "Let's not end our lives on false oaths."
"So, you have killed."
"I have. We were starving. The Gerudo took all we had to feed their army, and there weren't time to wait for the next harvest. Sir Welgin rounded us up. When a lord tells you to do something, you do it, or you meet his sword."
"So, you'll blame Welgin for everything you did. All the blood on your hands, you had no choice. Is that your lie?"
"No. He set us on this spot, but when the axe is in your hands and your belly is empty, what else can you do but fight?"
"How many?"
"Only two. They fought back. I made certain they ended quick though, not spending time hollerin' in pain." He nodded to the one Sheik knocked unconscious with the rupee purse. "Please give my brother the same courtesy, he never killed no one." He sat up a little taller. "But I'll take whatever punishment you mean to give."
"That I can do," Sheik raised his blade.
"No, I can't watch," Navi said.
"And I won't. Don't do it."
"They're murderers."
"They're starving."
"We let them go, and what happens? They'll tend their wounds and they'll be right back here."
"They're only here because they have nothing."
"How are we going to fix… no."
But Link had already taken his rupee purse off the ground and opened it. He pulled out a handful of the larger rupees and handed them to the leader. "How much is that?"
The man's eyes were wide. "Enough to buy a horse. Enough to fill our bellies for half a year."
"Good. Do that and never take up arms again. And if you do, I'll know, and I'll hunt you down. Because... ahh..."
"I will tell him," Navi said, flying before the four men. They shrunk away from her light. "I am placing the fairy's curse upon you." She called the winds to billow around them and spoke loud and harsh. "If any of you harm another I will know and every blight you can imagine will befall you!"
"We won't!" the one named Eryck cried. "We won't! We promise."
"I want you to swear it!"
"By Hylia's grace, we swear it!"
"Then go," Link said, "and leave your weapons behind."
Two of them fled. The one with the broken nose stayed long enough to scoop up his brother, shake him awake, and help him away. "Thank you, masters."
Sheik snatched his rupee purse from Link's hands. "I suppose you think that was noble."
"I don't know. Maybe."
"They'll squander the money in a week and not long after they'll discover that the fairy's curse is a lie. Then they'll return to their mischief."
"I don't think so."
"Oh, you don't think so? Then my fears are alleviated! Wonderful." He sighed and shook his head. "Your mercy is going to get someone killed." He tied up his purse and went to gather the fallen pages, grumbling about them losing their order.
Navi hovered a pace away from Link, staring.
"What about you?" Link asked. "Anything to add?"
"No," Navi said, then she laughed and flew to Link's neck to embrace him. "You're still you."