The last word of Link's story passed his lips, and instantly he lapsed into silence. He had more to say, but his throat was beginning to ache from just how much he'd said. Instead, he looked at Zelda to gauge her response to all of this, trying his best to not make his gaze appear challenging. He already had a feeling of what she was going to say.

It was like Zelda's whole face had gone slack. Her eyes were wavering, her jaw slightly hanging open. She seemed thoroughly shaken. "That is... I-I never thought..." her words came out baffled and jumbled as she tried to speak. "I don't understand..."

"Well that's different," Link muttered, shrugging. In spite of his dismissive gesture, he was a bit surprised. He thought she would've come at him, telling him he and his mother were wrong for what they did and how they thought.

Some of Zelda's composure appeared to return to her then. She frowned, her brow furrowing in sadness. "What is? My reaction?" she asked. "Why wouldn't I offer my condolences to you?"

"'Cause I ran," Link spat, grimacing as a more bitter anger began to rise in him. Recalling this story always made him more angry than sad, which he wanted. "I say only cowards run, but that's what I did back then."

Zelda's eyes widened before she sternly exclaimed. "I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous!"

Link scowled. "That I ran, I know."

"Don't say that!" Zelda shook her head. "Running away doesn't make you a coward. I likely would have reacted the same way."

But it did, that was what Link's father always told him. Even if Zelda knew that now after his retelling, she still was insistent on trying to reassure him.

"You lost both of your parents at once, and you were only seven. I'd be more surprised if you did run to your parents after seeing your mother in that state. Even imagining it just sounds... awful."

"But that's what Pa would've wanted," Link said, clenching his jaw. "I shouldn't be scared, 'cause it makes ya do dumb shit, like runnin' away."

Zelda stared at Link, silent. Then in a voice that was serious yet comforting she said, "There is nothing wrong with being afraid, Link."

How Link begged to disagree. Zelda might have been able to handle functioning alongside her fear, but Link didn't want to. He hadn't for so long, and he didn't want to know if he could now. It was better that he drowned his fear out whenever he could.

"It's impossible to avoid fear," Zelda then said. "I'm not wishing that it befal—happens to you, but it's unavoidable." It was like she could read his mind! Had she been training Wisdom while he wasn't around and discovered some insane new ability? Link pursed his lips. This really was strange. "You seem put off... Are you still surprised by my reaction?"

"Sorta. 'Sides that, I also thought you were gonna yell at me or somethin'," Link admitted with a sigh. "How my ma was wrong for actin' how she did."

"How could I say that? I mean, yes, I don't agree with how she thought, but I wouldn't dare scorn a deceased person like that, not unless they did something truly heinous. I hate it, but it makes sense that she would have that mindset when so many other people do."

Now Link was a bit more than surprised. Zelda had been so staunch in defending the Gerudo before. At the same time, however, she was a stickler for good morals. It would be out of place for her for her to shame someone who had passed. Still, Link didn't expect it, and it made him feel... almost lighter, in a sense.

"And I also find what had transpired during your parents' confrontation so odd," Zelda said. "You didn't see what happened, so it leaves a rather large hole."

In a moment, that slight positivity was gone. "See, there it is. Just 'cause I didn't see it means that I'm wrong." Of course she would try to poke a hole in what he saw as his logic.

"Hold on, I wasn't finished speaking!" Zelda protested, catching Link off-guard. What else was there to say? She went silent briefly, her gaze falling as her expression grew grim and she began messing with the ends of her hair. "You might not have seen what had happened, but it doesn't mean that it couldn't have been the fault of the Gerudo," she said, cautiously looking back up at Link. "It could have been theirs, your mother's, or both.

"While I would like to think the Gerudo had done nothing wrong... it's impossible to truly know the events with how you remember them," she said, her words slow. "It all depends on how someone personally decides to see it."

Link sat there, truly at a loss for words. He was glad he still had a mind to know to keep his mouth shut, because he wasn't sure if it would drop open otherwise. "That's... shit, I-I don't even know how to answer that," he muttered, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. He needed to think of something, so he said the first thing that came to mind. "That's so... you."

Zelda raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "And is it wrong?"

"No, it's..." What was it? Well, he knew. "I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but it's damn relievin'," he said.

Zelda's expression softened. "Well, that's good. But then what kind of Holder of Wisdom would I be if I didn't consider things before I formed my thoughts on them?" She dared to offer Link a small smile. "I'm joking... partially."

"I'll pretend ya are," Link said, a corner of his mouth lifting.

Zelda's smile grew. "Thank you for telling me this, Link. I know it was horribly difficult for you, but—"

"I'm kinda glad... No, I am glad I did," Link said truthfully. All of his hostility about this subject had seemingly been for naught, and it made him feel better than he had in some time, since he found out that Zelda didn't truly hate him, actually. "And thanks for listenin'. Feels like a bit of a weight's been lifted off me, or somethin' corny like that."

Zelda put a hand on Link's shoulder. When Link didn't protest the action, she squeezed his shoulder comfortingly. Her touch was gentle and warm. "Of course." She tilted her head. "So what does this make us, according to you?"

"Obviously friends. But better than before," Link replied. There was no doubt about that now, at least in his eyes. It still felt strange to have someone else he could talk to besides Luce, but he was happy that he did. Then further to Link's surprise, Zelda hugged him. Link went more rigid than a wooden board when she did that, but that didn't stop her.

"That's good," Zelda said. That gentle warmth of hers enveloped Link, and he slowly relaxed. Only Luce ever hugged him like this... But this felt different, almost more reassuring in a sense. "And I hope this means you feel more comfortable telling me about what's bothering you." Zelda released Link, and he no doubt looked shocked by what she had just done. "I want to try and help you," her look became the slightest bit more stern, "but this also means that I could tell you about my own problems."

And he was fine with that. "Makes sense, ya don't need to spell it out."

"I don't know, it's hard to tell with you," Zelda said unsurely.

Link smirked mischievously in spite of himself. "Good, that's exactly what I want."

Zelda rolled her eyes, sighing as her hand dropped back to the grass. "You still have to be the brooding hero, don't you?" she wondered aloud. "Sulking in the shadows with an armored heart, waiting for someone to crack it open. It seems like my stories still hold some weight, if only a little."

"Hero?" Link questioned. While he still didn't see it, Zelda and Resa probably thought otherwise. "Well, I guess now I might be." He then realized how he must have sounded when he said that. "But don't hold your breath."

"Of course you would say that." She grinned, revealing the little gap between her teeth Link loved seeing. And at that, Link smiled.

—~*~—

A few more days passed, and things were mostly silent around the village. Link had developed a routine of sorts like he had at Zora's Domain, though this one drove him mad. All he felt he could do was sit around and watch things happen. And when he wasn't watching, he was talking. At least the conversations he had with Zelda and even Resa were nice.

Luce, however, was more elusive than Link thought she would have been. Her concussion was all but gone by now, allowing her to continue her personal training. She spent her time in the nearby Sheikah training grounds just outside the village. Link didn't like that they weren't spending as much time together, but she was more strict about training than he was.

But along with Luce's absence, there was another. Fira. Link found this especially odd since it seemed like he was almost always Zelda's shadow. He decided to ask her about it while they were talking one afternoon since there was no way he'd be able to ask Fira himself.

"He's been spending his time with Luce, believe it or not," was Zelda's answer. "It seems that he's really taken a liking to her."

It made sense, considering what Fira had told him back at the domain. Still, that sounded bizzarre to Link. While it was nice that Luce was also making friends, she didn't think it would be with a personality like Fira.

Link leaned back on his hands, letting out an exasperated groan. "I can't believe ya aren't goin' crazy," he said. "We've literally been sittin' here for almost a week straight. I feel like a damn Slakoth!"

"Oh, woe is your inability to have patience," Zelda sighed dramatically. "But I do agree it's frustrating that we can't do anything. Even if my wrist does heal well, I'll still be so out of practice with my shooting."

Link frowned. "Oh shit, yeah. If it heals weird, then ya won't be able to shoot good anymore, right?"

"Yes. I was worried about that as well." She held up her bandaged and splinted wrist. "It was apparently a clean break, so it should heal up back to normal," she said. "I'm thankful for that, at least. Waiting out this time is the price for this thankfulness, however."

Of course, Link thought otherwise. "I know I shouldn't piss an' moan 'bout this, but I still hate it," he said. 'At least at the Domain I could train. Right now, I feel..." He sighed. "Useless, useless as all hell."

"What, talking with me isn't enough for you? I would say I'm hurt, but what else should I expect from you?" Zelda said sarcastically.

Link shrugged, playing along. "Hey, ya set yourself up for that one, since ya have me all figured out."

"I don't want to gloat and say that I do, but I feel that I can after all that you've told me," Zelda said, tapping the side of her head while winking. Some of her playfulness faded a moment later when she said. "I've come to realize something else about you. You can't read or write, can you?"

Link was surprised that she hadn't figured this out before, or mentioned it if she had. It could've been good ammunition against him. "My ma was tryin' to teach me, but I forgot it all a year or two into livin' in the woods with Luce," he affirmed, frowning. "Almost forgot how t'talk also, but Luce made me talk with her. Glad she did, didn't know how I would've done half the stuff I did in towns without speakin.'"

A cautious hope warmed Zelda's aura as well as her expression. "Then I believe I've found something to occupy not only your time, but mine as well," she said. "How about I teach you how to read?"

Link frowned, confused. "What?" he stated bluntly. "I don't have time for somethin' like that. 'Sides, can't learn nothin' in two weeks."

"Think about this, really. You still have a little while until you're fully recovered. What are you going to do, if sitting around is so painful for you?" Zelda tried to reason.

Link's gaze fell to the dirt as he thought. Zelda was making sense, though he still wasn't going to leap at her offer. "I mean, yeah, you're right 'bout that, but..."

"But what?" Slight sadness weighed her shoulders down into a slouch. "Remember what you said..."

"I know, I know," Link said. "It's just kinda embarrassin' admittin' that I can't read. Whenever my clients would figure it out, they'd always laugh in my face." He scoffed. "Never mind that they didn't look like they could tell a Throh from a Sawk, but me not knowin' all six of the damn alphabets in this kingdom's obviously such a riot."

"It won't be embarrassing if you're actively trying to learn," Zelda said. "It's never too late to learn how to do something. I mean, we've had our Holder abilities our whole lives, and we've only begun to use them nineteen years later."

"But that's magic, not words an' stuff," Link said.

Still, Zelda persisted. "If you learn to read, you'll be able to know more of those 'fancy words' you don't know," she said with a wry smile.

Link pursed his lips, staring at Zelda, who smiled back. He wasn't going to win this, was he? "Fine, then. Teach me the Wisdom-ly ways of readin'." This was something he wouldn't admit, but he really did want to learn more words.

Zelda's smile widened. "All right." She picked up a twig and began to scratch some strange squiggle into the dirt before them. "First, we will have to start with the alphabet. Hylian, of course, since that's the most common language."

Link squinted. "I know that." He sighed and nodded, relaxing. "Sorry. Ya can go on."

Zelda nodded before pointing the tip of the stick at one of the squiggles, surely a letter. "So as I was saying..."

—~*~—

That night, Paya's efforts to cook alongside Fira's more refined cooking skills yielded yet another palatable dinner. Link was glad he got to sit around and watch the meal being prepared, because along with his chest, his head was now hurting. Even the first eight letters of the alphabet was overwhelming to try and comprehend. Unfortunately, his mind wouldn't see a reprieve because of what Paya had to say during the meal.

"Mother should be arriving back from Castle City soon," she informed. "Sh-she'll surely be wondering why you all are still here, but I can already assure you that she'll be fine with letting you stay here."

"What, she'd kick us out?" Link questioned, frowning.

Paya's mouth dropped open. "N-no, of course! I... I-I just didn't know if you thought you would be allowed to stay or something along those lines."

In that case, do you think she could help us plan a route to Eldin? Resa asked. The Sheikah must have scouts out there, right?

Paya tapped her chin with a finger as she thought. "I-I think so, Sheikah-born ones, at least. I do know we have a Goron informant stationed in Goron City, a-and I've also heard rumors of trying to recruit Gorons into our ranks as," she hesitated, "enforcers? Defense? I-I'm not quite sure."

I apologize, but the day I see a Goron silently assassinate someone is the day I will grow legs, Resa said with disbelief.

Paya's face flushed bright red. "I-it was just something I heard, n-nothing more!" she stuttered, worse than usual. "But yes, Mother will be returning, and she will h-help you as best she can."

We appreciate that, Resa said warmly.

The response didn't seem to quell Paya's embarrassment, however, because she left the room, vanishing into the kitchen with an armful of empty dishes under the guise of getting a head-start on clearing the table.

I truly didn't mean to fluster her, Resa said guiltily.

"I'm sure it's fine, she's too sensitive anyways," Link said, ignoring Zelda's look.

I should apologize again later, Resa sighed. Anyways, I want to say something to you two, Wisdom and Courage. I know it isn't long into your recoveries, but I believe it's still possible to train your Holder abilities. She flinched, flicking out her sashes. I apologize, that was selfish of me, wasn't it? You should be resting, not possibly straining yourselves more.

"No, you don't have to apologize, Resa," Zelda said. "We understand why you're concerned."

Link agreed with her. "It won't kill us to put out a pulse of Courage or Wisdom once or twice." He pounded a fist into an open palm, nodding. "'Sides, it'll be good practice for us to tap into just our Triforce's energy." He gave Zelda a reassuring look, trying to let her know he wasn't already trying to weasel out of his reading lessons, even if he wanted to.

Thank you both for understanding, Resa said.

It was hard to believe that this was the same Resa Link had met back at Kokiri Glade. Then again, impactful experiences changed all. Even me, he admitted internally. Zelda and Resa would have a field day with that if they heard it. Link then took note that Resa's blade looked different than how it had this morning. "Just noticed that your blade's lookin' better. Ya get it sharpened or somethin'?"

Yes. The village blacksmith was also able to repair most of the chips and scratches as well, she replied. Unfortunately only the small ones could be repaired, but I'm in a much better condition than previously. I'll have to be more cautious in the future.

"I never thought I would hear you admit to being reckless," Zelda said with a small giggle.

Resa pointed a sash at Link. I blame him, I believe he's rubbing off on me. If she had a mouth, Link was certain she would have been smirking.

"Like that's a bad thing," Link said.

Resa crossed her sashes thoughtfully, doing her version of a nod. It... honestly isn't.