Chapter Text
Link was young when he became a squire, too young most agreed. A boy of only seven following at his father’s heels.
Plate armor clanking and sword belt digging into his small chest. Hair cropped to his chin and hands scuffed from tending horses and polishing weaponry. He was much too young to be a fighter, but he’d seen his first combat when he was three, with only a tree branch he’d destroyed a bokoblin that had come too near him and his mother while on a walk. The woman had been ready to defend her young child with whatever was near when purple smoke exploded and the creature was dead. Leaving her child standing above wriggling guts, covered in blood and holding a stick.
That was Link’s first fight. But it was far from his last.
At four he was able to fight the village guard with little problem, as well as all the other capable fighters in town.
Word had spread quickly around their small community in Hateno village. To keep him away from the rumors of ancient heroes and incredible talent his mother and father had whisked the young child away to Zora's Domain. Hoping to keep him from monsters and expectations.
Despite his troubles with speech, Link had quickly made friends. With King Dorephan’s daughter nonetheless, a sweet Zora girl named Mipha who was learning to use her healing powers. Everyday Link’s parents were grateful for the princess’s ability, because while the rumors didn’t follow them, Link couldn’t help but start more up.
He somehow always found himself in some form of trouble, usually diving off of rock outcrops far too high for a normal Hylian, or the many times he’d defended him and his young friends from wandering octorocks instead of alerting the kingdom’s soldiers like he was supposed to. It was really no surprise word spread of the Hylian knight's young son who saved Prince Sidon’s life when the friends were attacked by a moblin at the age of six.
It seemed Link couldn’t avoid these interactions, so with a sense of dread his parents couldn’t quite understand, they moved once more, to Castle Town, to make sure Link could at least be trained under proper supervision. His father was due back in the King’s service anyhow, so Link became his squire. Though with how fast he began to outshine the knights in training he didn’t stay a squire long, no matter how much his parents disliked it.
Link was knighted at the age of ten, only one year after his little sister Aryll was brought into the world. An exception had been made for his age, most people had to be the age of twenty before knighthood, but no one could slow him down. And with the slowly rising number of monsters… no one could deny he was good at his job. While he had trouble speaking verbally he was fluent in Hylian sign and could best even the King’s most trusted defenders in one on one combat. His father had been so proud of him for following in his footsteps, even if he seemed wary it was all happening so fast. He was the youngest knight in Hyrule’s recorded history, and Link felt pride burn within him at the opportunity to serve his kingdom.
That pride dimmed drastically when only months later his mother died of a strange and incurable illness, he had been on a mission to take out a monster camp with a small group of soldiers at the time. He came home to a dead mother, broken father, and little sister who would never remember her own mother.
After that day Link began to resent his skills. All his tireless training and backbreaking effort and he couldn’t protect his own mother? He hadn’t even been by her bedside when she’d passed. What was the point of protecting the kingdom when he had no mom to return home to?
After the tragedy his father resigned to raise his sister, and Link was only given more dangerous tasks to complete without his father watching out for him. He wished he could resign as well, he didn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps any longer. He was done with this pain. He’d almost worked up the courage to lay down his sword a year later when on a scouting mission, he was lost in the forest. Something was calling from deep within the branches and brambles, something pulled him along through the thickening fog.
Three days later with no sense of the time passed he walked out with a glowing sword in hand.
That was the first and last time he’d ever seen his father cry, a high ranking guard and soldier weeping as he clutched his son to him, begging the goddess for mercy. None came.
He’d tried to hide in his own home, not fully understanding the gravity of the situation, but knowing he didn’t want to be found. A soldier had pried his screaming baby sister from his arms and taken him to the castle, his father stood on, doing nothing to save him, grief heavy in his eyes.
He gave up on his dreams of quitting and finding a more suitable path after King Rhoam of Hyrule announced him the Hero of Legend, the only one who could beat back the impending Great Calamity. As he was forced to kneel in front of his Majesty something fell upon his soul. A weight so immense and powerful that he lost any ability he had to form words. Even with his dear sister his throat remained clogged with fear of failure. His hands were slower as he signed as well, a difficulty he’d never experienced turning them numb and clunky.
On his knees before his King with the Sword of Evil’s Bane in hand, Link understood that the slightest misstep could spell the ruin of all he knew and loved. If he showed even a slight hint of weakness or fear the people would lose faith in him, and despair and depression would clutch at the land.
The people needed to believe he could save them, or else everything he held dear would fall to ashes and ruin.
In that moment Link’s face hardened to stone, his voice failed, and he decided no one could know how truly terrified he was. How unprepared he was to save the world. That he was only eleven years old, he wasn’t a man. He was a child, and he had just been told he had to go to war against evil and destruction itself. He wondered what would be left of him if he won.
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Before he found the sword Link thought he knew what strain and effort was. Goddesses, he was wrong.
The King was direct with his training, he was to have only the finest guards in the kingdom to train him, near constant missions away from the castle and into the thick of monster camps and such, usually he was sent on these alone. He got leave once every two fortnights. And only until the sun made her departure for the night, he was expected back in the knights barracks every night. There were no exceptions.
No one was allowed to go easy on him, every fight was till first blood. Eventually no one would agree to spar anymore, already knowing it would only end in their own bloodshed. So the King sent him for weeks at a time to train at the coliseum, where they kept Lynels for him to spar with. At the age of thirteen they were the only beast to give him any kind of challenge. His superiors called out every mistake and hesitation with borderline cruel delight. While away he also learned to bandage and hide his own wounds. He got yelled at less if he didn't get hurt.
This type of training persisted until King Rhoam had another idea. To see how long the hero could last awake, without food, in the elements. Really any kind of trial he could throw at the young knight to get him stronger.
He’d been left in the Hebra region for a week, told to survive and make it back to the castle alive. Same thing when he was made to walk right up to the hole in Death Mountain and then make it back to Akkala Citadel. The week spent in the ocean was a bit easier at least. There were plenty of fish and he’d always been a pretty good swimmer- for a Hylian at least. But the trials were exhausting and painful. And he was never given much reprieve. It was to make him stronger, everyone said. Link couldn’t help but think they were slowly trying to kill him. Maybe if he died then the Calamity would wait for the next hero.
Link spent hours being forced to march around the perimeter of the castle. Sometimes monsters were released during these tests, sometimes not. The goal was to keep him on his toes, ready to expect anything. His personal record for time walking the outside of the moat was three days, at which point he had passed out from dehydration. He never once complained, he had forgotten how. There was no one to listen anyway, his father would’ve, but he was so busy raising Aryll on his own, and Link didn’t want to ruin their few precious moments together with his weakness.
Guilt had settled in Link’s gut years ago when he realized he couldn’t be there for his little sister. He wanted to see her grow, but he could barely get a moment to himself as it was. And their monthly visits would never be enough. It hurt to see how much his sister looked up to him, despite the fact she so rarely saw him. Shame gripping his heart when he knew he would never be enough for her.
When he was fifteen King Rhoam called forth a championship for all the warriors across the land. They would duel in a tournament to earn glory and fame. As well as a decent helping of prize money. Link hadn’t planned on entering. Until he was called to the throne room a fortnight beforehand.
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King Rhoam Bospohamus Hyrule sat in his gilded throne high up on a balcony. Two staircases on either side, both were guarded by the kingdoms best. His father used to stand there, the highest honor being to protect his King. But Link was knelt on the floor once more, despite his knighthood and the legendary sword strapped to his back like a brand, he was still far beneath his Majesty. He had no noble blood nor high rank. His joints hurt as he supported himself on one knee, head ducked in respect, and submission to his leader.
“Sir Link, as you are well aware I’m sure, in two weeks Hyrule shall be hosting the annual winter celebration of the goddess Hylia.” His voice boomed down on Link’s exposed neck, but he didn’t tell him to rise so he stayed put, taking in his words.
“There is to be a tournament of this land's bravest and most courageous fighters.” A brief pause before he continued. Link couldn’t help the feeling that he was being lectured. “Obviously you will be participating, I suppose signing up must’ve simply slipped your mind…”
The King audibly stood from his throne but stayed at the balcony. “I expect better of you.” His voice stung something deep inside of Link’s soul but he paid the hurt no mind. He was but a statue that held a sword. He followed orders and didn’t allow anything else through the cracks, otherwise the house of cards would fall.
“But this is more than a mere festivity for you. You must prove yourself to me before I give you your next assignment. Look me in the eyes boy.” He dropped the title, addressing Link as what he truly was, just a boy from a small village miles and miles away.
Link obediently raised his head and held his gaze, the voice inside his head beginning to panic as it often did when asked to interact with others, much less the King.
“Should you show your worth you will be put in charge of the safety of the most important thing in this world, should you fail, well…. Let’s hope you do not.”
Link wasn’t given time to think over what the ‘most important thing in this world’ was. The King continued to speak. “This will also be your first public appearance as the Hero Of Prophecy. The people will be expecting great things from you.” A pause. “Don’t disappoint them.”
It was an order, and it hung in the air like a threat. A warning that bad things were to happen if he were to fail.
Link only nodded sharply, never betraying the fear embedded in his very bones.
“You’re released, go back to your training.”
Link stood and walked back towards the barracks, the feeling of cold dread seeping into his veins. His next time patrolling the castle he was denied food and sleep two days in advance. There were more monsters than usual in his path. He hid the cut on his arm and the bruises painting his ribs, he couldn’t be weak.
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The arena was loud. People talking amongst themselves, children chattering in excitement, metal armor and weapons clanking absently. Link could see his opponents waving to family and friends in the stands, adjusting grips on weapons and scratching their feet into the dirt in wait for the King's first words.
Link found himself staring into the audience as well, hoping to catch a glimpse of dirty blond hair and a smile full of missing baby teeth. And he found her, sitting next to their father, was Aryll. She had a small scrap of cloth dyed with the kingdom's flag, and was waving it around in cheer. Even from a distance he could see her light green winter cloak, it was well made, the money he sent home had paid for her comfort, he was glad for it. Link made eye contact with his sister and wished he could smile at her. But his face was carved from marble and all he could do was nod in her direction.
Thankfully she didn’t seem to take it personally. He’d been like this as long as she could remember, being only six she probably couldn’t remember much of him anyways. He was always gone, and his heart stung with that knowledge. But the next week he would be home for the day, maybe I can take her to get something from the market. I have enough money for a toy or a treat from the bakery. She likes the wildberry scones.
His thoughts were interrupted by King Rhoam Bospohamus Hyrule clearing his throat and speaking from his seat high up in the audience. “Citizens of this land, I am honored to present to you this festival in honor of the great Goddess Hylia!” His voice boomed across the large coliseum. “To start the celebration there is a tournament in honor of the Goddess Farore! A test of all the soldiers and warriors of our wonderful land. A test of courage and strength!”
The King raised his arms high above him as he said a short prayer in praise of the goddess and then began introducing the contestants.
He started with the Rito and ended with the Zora. There were in all a hundred and twenty people participating, mostly trained soldiers and guards from the various regions, but there were a few others who just wanted to test their strength. Link noticed as the King deliberately skipped over him.
As the roars of the crowd died down King Rhoam spoke up once more. This time he made eye contact with Link, a chill went up his spine at the cold gaze.
“There is one more contestant I would like to introduce you to, people of Hyrule. You all know the legends of the Hero of Prophecy. The Hero meant to save Hyrule from harm. The one who wields the Sword That Seals The Darkness.” The crowd waited with baited breath.
“A few years ago you heard that the Hero had been found! And today, I introduce you to that very same Hero. The one bearing a gift from the Goddess of Courage herself.”
He motioned for Link to step forward into the center of the ring, and with dread in his heart and a blank expression Link forced his feet forward. Stopping once all eyes had fallen on him.
“I give you Sir Link, Hero of Hyrule!”
All the hero wanted to do in that moment was fall on his knees and beg for mercy. To let the earth swallow him whole rather than face the judgment of the kingdom.
He wanted to say that him pulling the sword was all some cosmic joke, that Hylia was messing with him. Link wanted to grovel before the King and beg that he let him go. He wanted to be with his little sister, he wanted to hug his father and sob in his arms. He wanted this to all be some horrible dream.
Link wished that bokoblin had killed him when he was three years old. So he wouldn’t have to be here twelve years later, cold as stone while the coliseum shook with applause and gasps and shouting.
But Link stood firm in the dirt of the arena, a legendary sword on his back like a puppet on a stage. Eyes lifeless and dull, white water vapor leaving his mouth in the frigid air like a spirit leaving a husk, a gaping hole in his stomach always tempting to swallow him whole.
He wished he had never been born.
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Applause filled the arena as Link disarmed his final opponent, a Gerudo woman who towered over him. She had been difficult to beat, but he had a feeling life would get a lot worse if he didn’t win this so he had incentive. And it wasn’t like anyone had been able to defeat him in one on one since he was thirteen.
In the corner of his eye he spotted Aryll jumping up and down in her seat, waving her small flag and cheering for him. Next to her sat his father, he was clapping and smiling in his direction, but Link didn’t miss the sorrow in his eyes. Ever since he’d pulled the sword his father had been distant. Sometimes he acted like Link was already dead and in the ground, rather than accept that his son could never truly come home.
Link stood still in the ring, watching as the Gerudo woman nodded to him in begrudging respect and raised his hand into the air with hers, declaring him the winner of the tournament. Link felt nothing. The Master Sword in his hand was unbearably heavy, but his fingers were frozen around the hilt.
The King found his eyes from his high seat and nodded firmly. It seemed Link had passed his test.
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He gave the prize money to his family, they would take what they needed and give away the rest. He always gave his earnings to them, with his father no longer working, Link was supporting them. Not that he minded, he had no use for his money anyway, it was a rare day he wasn’t training.
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“Congratulations on winning Sir Link, I expected nothing less.”
He was in the throne room once more, kneeling on the red carpet with his head bowed. The ever present weight of the sword on his back seemed to pin him to the floor, like a bug in a glass case.
The King’s voice was firm and sharp, etching its way into Link’s tired mind.
“As stated previously, I have a new task for you. It seems you’ve been trained to the end of our resources.”
That was an understatement. Link had been starved, dehydrated, sleep deprived, roughed up, and put into the harsh elements. Yet he still lived somehow, it seemed the Goddess wouldn’t let him die. He was beginning to resent that fact.
“You are to be put in charge of the safety of this Kingdom’s greatest treasure, my dear daughter Zelda.”
The King paused momentarily. “Look at me boy.”
Link met his eyes, a chill in his fingertips as his Majesty sealed his fate.
“You are the most capable knight this land has to offer, you’ve defeated every foe you’ve come across, you carry the Master Sword with the grace of a trained dancer. No one could ever come close to being good enough to protect my child, but you are the best we have.”
The King stared into his eyes with a cold fire.
“This Kingdom is running out of time, the Calamity fast approaches, I’m sure you’ve noticed the power and frequency of monster attacks. And Zelda continues to visit the sacred springs regularly, trying to wake her power. From now on you shall accompany her everytime she as much as leaves the castle walls.”
“I expect you to fall on your sword before a finger is laid on her. If she ever befalls any harm while under your protection you will pay heavily.” Link didn’t doubt that for even a second, he’d lived in this man’s training regime for four years, and that’s when he was in his good graces.
“Do you understand me, boy.”
Link nodded stiffly, he had no choice in this matter. He was nothing but a string to pull in this man’s clean uncalloused hands.
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After his meeting with the King the captain of the guard debriefed him on his new position.
Not only was he expected to guard the Princess while she went outside the castle's walls, but he was to follow her to most of her activities. To stand guard while she studied in the library or her personal study. If she wished to go to Castle Town he would accompany her, he would escort her to dinner with her father every night.
He was expected to know her whereabouts at all times. The only time he was allowed away from her was when she had gone to her room for the night, or while she was with her tutors, even then he was expected to either be asleep or training. He had to go back outside her door in the morning to walk her to breakfast with her advisor Impa.
He was no longer given days leave to see his family. His job was too important now. In his new room closer to the Princesses, Link cried for the first time in three years. He mourned everything that had been taken from him, as well as his own life. He was nothing but Hylia’s glorified sacrifice now, he was just waiting for the slaughter.
He was to start immediately and wasn’t able to tell his family in person. He wrote a letter, the page was dotted with strange watermarks, he could only hope his sister didn’t realize he’d been crying.
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The Princess hated him.
No, ‘hate’ was an understatement. She despised him.
They were the same age, a small, weak, part of him had hoped that maybe they could be friends. But that was dashed the moment she slammed her study door in his face and told him to leave. Link had wished he could, if not for himself then so she could have true privacy. She was obviously not a fan of this situation. But the King’s orders were final. And he didn’t wish to find himself starving in a dungeon for who knows how long like other traitors to the crown. So he stood stiffly outside her door, sword in hand, and didn’t say a word.
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Link followed behind at a short distance while Impa and Zelda whispered amongst themselves. Their horses were drawn up right next to each other, a brilliant white stallion named Storm and a gorgeous grey mare whose name Link didn’t know. His own chestnut mare Epona trotted behind them dutifully.
This was his first time leaving the castle with the Princess, secretly he was glad he wasn’t alone with her, the silence would be deafening and awkward. She had already made her displeasure with the entire arrangement very clear. So having Impa and a few other knights around was a relief.
The small traveling party was headed towards Zora’s Domain, Zelda planned to meet with King Doriphan about the Divine Beasts she was studying. From castle gossip and her own hushed ramblings he understood they would help fight the Calamity, along with those weird robots that reminded him too much of spiders and octoroks. One had gone haywire in the courtyard last week and to protect his charge from its laser Link had blocked her with a pot lid, he didn’t trust the things. His arm still stung a bit from the pressure and heat of the attack. The Princess had yelled at him for destroying the ancient technology with its own laser. He hasn’t defended himself, it wasn’t his place.
But apparently the Divine Beasts and Guardians were supposed to help so the King had sent Zelda to find a pilot for Vah Ruta. Link was sent along as he would be for the foreseeable future, he was glad for the fresh air. As much as he hated the solo missions to take out monster camps in the wild, he missed the sun on his skin and the bird song. The castle had always been too confining for the boy born in a small village near the sea.
Not wanting to listen in on conversations he wasn’t included in, Link continued to scan for enemies while focusing on the sound of wind in his ears. A part of him was glad they were going to Zora’s Domain, he hadn’t seen Mipha or any of his other old friends in years, not since before becoming a squire. Even Mipha’s occasional letters had fallen to the wayside as he trained and trained constantly. But he was always glad to receive them, even if he could barely find the time to write back. Most of his responses included him pointedly not talking about his life and instead drawing the Zora Princess silly drawings and talking about the occasional recipe he’d convinced a cook to teach him in his little downtime.
But he was also nervous about seeing his oldest friend. He used to be so much more expressive and energetic, she could barely keep up with his antics back then. He hadn’t spoken much then either, but his friends had taken the time to learn some Hylian sign so they could communicate more effectively. But he was always full of energy and mischief, excited to learn how to catch fish and cook dishes. Now he just stood blankly, his fun loving spirit seemingly beaten out of him. A near constant thrum of exhaustion beating under his scarred skin.
Mipha would notice, she would ask, and it would take everything in him to not break. He couldn’t break, that was the whole point wasn’t it? He had to stay strong so everyone else could have breathing room? That’s why one person held the sword, so it was their burden alone. That’s what he’d been told afterall.
He would just have stay strong, be a statue. He’d gotten quite good at it. Over the years it had gotten harder to change his expression, he was beginning to worry he might never smile again.
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Camp had been made for the night. With no nearby inns or stables Zelda had called for the tents to be set up and a fire started. Now after everyone had eaten the meals packed away in saddle bags and gone to bed Link sat outside the Princess’s tent.
He had been given first watch, in five hours he was supposed to wake an older knight by the name of Sir Graril. However while the soldier would take his place as night watchman, Link was not permitted to rest. He was to guard the Princess with his life, night and day.
So Link sat, sword in his lap and eyes darting across the moonlit landscape. His undergear and standard issue cloak were warm enough at least, though the cloak was a bit too small for him, his commander hadn’t ever bothered to commission a new winter cloak for him since he was twelve, and he was nearly sixteen now. But Link was content, there was no other way to be.
Tomorrow afternoon they would reach their destination. He would be allowed momentary rest then. No doubt King Doriphan’s own soldiers would be protecting the domain, and perhaps Link would be permitted a few hours sleep. He could hope, if only a little.
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The afternoon sun was just beginning to shine through the grey clouds as the traveling party dropped their horses off with the inn just outside the glimmering castle-like structure that served as the Zora’s home. Shining blue stone etched with gorgeous details arched around as he walked behind Zelda. He carefully watched her body language, she seemed enthralled by the beauty around her. He couldn’t disagree, it was truly a sight to behold.
A rush of nostalgia hit him as he followed the same walkways he had as a child. Back when he was young and hopeful, back when he thought he had a choice over his destiny.
A thin sheen of water splashed beneath his boots as he continued behind his charge, a small urge in the back of his head told him to jump in the puddle like he was a kid again. Instead he stared straight ahead, as was expected of him.
Things were going pretty well until they reached the proper entrance of the domain. Because there she stood, regaled in silver jewelry with a sash draped across her body, was his old friend.
Mipha stood proud and calm as she greeted Zelda in royal fashion. “It’s wonderful to have you here Princess, I’m sure we can come up with some solution to this Divine Beast situa-“ The Zora Princess cut herself off abruptly as her eyes wandered behind the Hylian Princess to her knight.
Mipha’s practiced ease broke as she saw her old friend.
“Link!” Her face was bright and voice exited as she rushed towards him, “I had no idea you were coming! It’s wonderful to see you.”
Link felt a stone sink in his stomach as he found himself unable to answer her, not with his voice or hands or even a soft smile. His face was numb as he stared into her golden eyes. Thankfully the awkward moment was broken by Zelda’s regal voice.
“You know my knight?” She seemed genuinely inquisitive, which was a relief from the usual harsh tone she adopted when he was the topic of conversation.
Impa who also stood behind the Princess, cast Link a questioning look. She had always seemed a bit more friendly than her highness, something he’d appreciated the last week he’d been guarding them.
Mipha nodded happily, hands clapping together in excitement. “Of course I know Link! We grew up together here in the Domain.”
“Really? I never would have guessed.” Was Zelda’s only reply. Though she sent him a strange look he couldn’t quite interpret. He felt judged underneath her sharp gaze.
“Well,” the blonde girl turned away from him to speak to Mipha. “We have business to attend to. Shall we go speak to King Doriphan?”
Mipha caught Link’s eyes as she turned back to Zelda. A clear message of ‘we’ll talk later’ being sent. Link managed a nod. “Of course, follow me.” And he was once again trailing royalty dutifully.
Though it was a bit trickier to pay attention to his job with all the Zora people waving and calling out greetings to him. It seems even after years away and changing drastically he was still recognizable to his old friends and acquaintances. He only nodded in passing acknowledgment and hoped they didn’t take it wrong. He wished so hard that he’d never left in the first place. What a horrible mistake it had been.
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Link wasn’t happy about the conclusion to Zelda’s meeting with the King. But he of course had no say in the matter. So he stood still as Mipha was chosen to pilot Vah Ruta, a gnawing worry in his gut that came with the realization that Mipha would be battling alongside him. That she would be in direct danger.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her to hold her own. He had grown up sparring with her, he knew she was a force to be reckoned with. But her nature had always been that of a healer, and to put her into a position where she could only destroy, it seemed cruel. But she was the obvious choice, and she seemed excited at the opportunity to protect her people. So as always he stayed silent and in the background, letting his anxiety eat away at his insides.
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It was only after dinner that Mipha was able to pull Link aside for a moment alone. Zelda and Impa were off in their shared room seemingly engrossed in conversation about how the Divine Beasts would react to their chosen champion and how all the stories of old might come into play.
Normally Link would stand outside the door, making sure the Princess was safe. But King Doriphan had insisted that Link and Mipha be allowed some time to catch up and stationed multiple of his own guards to protect the Princess. And Link supposed he couldn’t go against royal orders. Especially when King Rhoam had said he was allowed to rest momentarily if Zelda was safely guarded in another building such as an inn or palace. And even inn’s were frowned upon.
The first thing Mipha did when she had pulled him away into an empty corridor was pull him into a tight hug. It was then that Link realized he was taller than her. With how the Zora aged they would now be about equal in number. Two teenagers, equals. It felt good to finally be on the same maturity level as his oldest friend. No longer could she chastise him for being a reckless child. Though that probably wouldn’t stop her from trying.
The hug was tight and long, and Link curled into it with full acceptance. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been touched in a way that didn’t hurt. The last time contact with another hadn’t been a monster getting in a lucky hit, or a superior whacking his wrist in disapproval. And goddesses, he missed it.
Something inside him was weak, an aching pull at his heart as he listened to Mipha’s steady heartbeat. His fingers clasped in the back on her silken sash, he hadn’t seen her in so long.
Eventually he pulled away, knowing that if he let this last he would fall to pieces, the strings holding him together were tight and strong, but a lucky shot would break him.
Mipha didn’t seem to mind, she was smiling softly as she looked him over, taking in his shorter hair and the new scar on his forehead. A gift from his first fight with a lynel. As well as the large burn on his right cheek. That and a longer deeper gash in his leg, he almost died of blood loss that day. But that wasn’t visible, she didn’t need to know. There were others scars too, but none quite as interesting.
“Link, it's been ages since I’ve seen you last. I can’t believe you're taller than me now.” Her small laugh was music to his ears. “How have things been, your letters keep saying you’re busy, are they truly working you that hard back at the castle?” Her voice had taken on a slight concerned edge. If only she knew that half of it.
Link shakily raised his hands, trying to discard the fear of being judged. If he couldn’t talk with Mipha then who?
His signs were clunky and slow, but he got across what he’d meant too. ‘Yeah, lots going on. Sorry.’
“Oh, don’t apologize. I understand that duty to a kingdom takes a lot of time out of one’s day.” She smiled up at him and began leading him through the miraculously air filled underwater passages that comprised most of the Domain.
“I know Sidon’s been missing you, he’s always talking about your adventures up in the highlands. Did you really dive off Shatterback Point?” Her voice was scolding and Link rubbed a hand at the nape of his neck in embarrassment before she continued. “Without me?”
The smile had returned with her soft tone. As they walked through corridors Link began to recognize where they were. The kitchens, a place he’d spent hours back when he was young and his mother was trying desperately to keep him out of trouble.
Mipha snuck a look through the door and finding no one inside opened the door wide for him to enter.
“I swear I would have prepared something more extravagant if I had known you were coming. But I was thinking we could make you a birthday cake together.”
And Link momentarily felt the mask slip, his eyes widened ever so slightly, mouth falling open for a second. Mipha seemed to catch on to his thought process.
“Did you forget it’s your birthday?” And her voice was so small and sad, he could hear the heartbreak in her words.
He only nodded. The thought had truly slipped by him. With the tournament and his new assignment and the pain of being somehow even more separated from his family it had been lost in the stress and melancholy. He was sixteen years old today. He really had caught up to Mipha. Link reached for the nearest sturdy surface to brace himself against, not fully trusting his legs to stay working while he tried to process the news.
Mipha thankfully didn’t push it, leaning up against a counter to let him find himself once more. A common practice when they were children and Link got overwhelmed by loud noises or his own anxieties. He had never liked to be crowded in times like those, and the healer had caught on fast, always giving him space and silence to come to grips with what was going on.
Link wasn’t sure how long he stayed frozen, or when he’d ended up sitting on the ground, or why he’d shut down when he hadn’t in years. But when he came to Mipha was sitting on the ground across from him, looking sadly at his shaking figure.
“You back?”
Link nodded weakly, the ache in his heart more pronounced than usual.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, I hope you can forgive me.”
That shocked Link out of his mind. ‘Not your fault’ his signing was sharp and sure, muscle memory taking over. ‘My fault I forgot.’ He stared into her eyes, trying to get his message across.
“Link,” Mipha scooted a little closer to him. “Is it really so bad that you forgot your own birthday? You’ve been avoiding talking about home and training in your letters. What’s going on in that castle?” She seemed a bit desperate, face pinched in genuine concern.
Link could feel the wall of emotions hit the back of his throat and he forcibly swallowed them deep into his stomach.
‘It’s fine, I’ve just had a lot on my plate.’ Link lied, his sentences becoming a bit more structured as he got used to signing again. It had been awhile since he dared express himself in any way, since he was allowed.
Before Mipha could respond the door to the kitchen was slammed open in a panic. A Zora man stood hunched over and breathing heavily as he made eye contact with the princess. “Mipha, your brother is missing.”
With that the girl cast Link an apologetic look and rushed to her feet. The guard continued. “We think he’s headed to Ploymus Mountain! There have been reports of a lynel in the area, it has shock arrows!”
Mipha seemed to understand the underlying message and turned to him, offering a hand up. “Link, I hate to ask this of you. But Sidon is in danger and you're the only person I know who can take down a lynel without getting injured.”
Link was just thankful to have an out of the dangerous conversation, he took her hand firmly and nodded. The thought of Sidon in danger propelling him forward.
><><><><
Unsurprisingly Mipha joined him in the battle. She had never been one to sit on the sidelines and once Link had disarmed the shock arrows she and her trusty trident joined the fray. Together they made quick work of the monster and Mipha was able to find her little brother hiding behind a rock structure with a too large trident in hand.
She hugged him tightly and explained that next time he wanted to test his strength to Tell Her First. Also that he should start easy, not with the most dangerous monster he could find. He only nodded, obviously a bit shaken at his encounter, and convinced Link to give him a piggyback ride back to the Domain.
It was dark when they returned and while Link was worried about being seen so unprofessional, Sidon had the best sad puppy eyes he’d ever seen. And it would be downright cruel to disappoint him at that moment. The young Zora prince seemed in better spirits already, babbling about his friends and lessons. If asked he could just say he was following orders from a member of the royal family. Or, get Mipha to say it that is.
“Okay Sidon, you’ve had quite the adventure but I think it’s time you get to bed.” Mipha took her brother from Link’s arms and waved goodbye to him, Sidon already beginning to droop his eyes.
“I’ll catch up with you in a bit, meet me back in the kitchens?”
Link froze, he couldn’t, he had gotten too close to his worst fear. He wasn’t allowed to lose it like that. He checked around him before raising his hands.
‘I need to get back to the Princess, I have a job to do.’
Mipha only sighed, and Link hated disappointing her. But this was for the best. If he never showed weakness then they would all be okay. It would only be his burden and everyone else could move on once this mess was cleaned up. That’s what he had always been told.
“Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.”
Link only nodded and turned down the main plaza, his heart was numb as he found her door and relieved the Zora guards from duty. Standing at attention with arms beginning to ache, Link started to wish he’d taken a nap before getting back to his duty.
Guess I won’t be getting any sleep tonight either.
><><><><
As it turned out Link and Mipha didn’t have a chance to talk the next day. Or the next. For the rest of their short trip to Lanaryu, Mipha and Zelda were busy trying to figure out how Divine Beast Vah Ruta worked exactly. And Link, as he was now becoming accustomed to, was on guard.
Mipha tried to initiate conversation a few times but after he shook his head and motioned to his sword she gave up. Understanding that he was on duty.
He avoided her in his few spare moments while not working.
By the time the small party departed the region he was feeling a little more put together. Like the seams holding him in place were no longer snapping apart. He was thankful for that one grace he’d been granted.