There was little Link could do, he knew that much.
He also realized that though he had played a big role in Hylia's decision to forgo her status. It was also him who had given her happiness and reassurance.
Him. As if that made sense.
Link sobbed in Hylia's lap and all he could think of was that neither his shame nor his guilt had gone away, but a new feeling overpowered the others. Longing. The same he had felt as a child desperate to find a family.
Was it just that the chance was given to him and he was aching to be able to take it?
Was it something else?
Did it matter?
His mind was still too numb from guilt, and his heart still hurt from her pain, so his tongue felt heavy and the only thing he could do was whimper. "I'm never leaving you," Hylia caressed his hair and Link felt too much. "Never," he promised again.
Link wondered whether this would spook Hylia, his desperation. His faithfulness. But Hilya was smiling with her lips slightly raised, with eyes that shone too bright and with a tightness that betrayed a secret.
But Link didn't ask.
And so he begged.
"Please, don't leave me."
⁂⁂⁂
It had been Link's idea. After a couple of weeks of what Hylia could only call a dream, Link had started to look to the skies and the forests with longing.
She had thought adventure had whispered to his ear. But once again, he had surprised her.
A heart so big. A soul so strong.
It was just no wonder she had fallen in love.
Link's eyes glistened like the times she had seen him train with Orca. His strides were strong and his hands were warm and at night he would gather her into his arms and whisper about everything he knew.
Whenever he stopped over a hill, sweeping his gaze to the distance, looking, searching, he would turn to her with a smile and a shake of the head, "Maybe farther along."
The land was filled with monsters and empty of Hylians. But Link would just plunge his sword into the enemies and smile whenever he turned.
"Maybe farther along," Hylia reassured.
⁂⁂⁂
Farther along became farther along. And then, even farther. Link had stopped looking to the distance and he would only talk about those memories that weren't his.
About the memories Rhoam had gifted him and Link had treasured so much. About the flowers, and the sons, the daughters and the wayward wife who were always there.
The distance shortened and Hylia could only grab Link's hand as support. How much she longed to pull his heart closer to her. To soothe his worries and whisper loving words to his heart.
Link was starting to realize how much this meant to him. How important it was for Rhoam to be alright. For his struggles to mean something.
For there to be a tether to what seemed reality.
Hylia squeezed his hand and Link started to fear.
"What if no one's there?"
Hylia furrowed her brows but said nothing.
"You can't feel him, right?"
Hylia shook her head no, "I no longer feel-"
Link nodded, "Yeah, that's right, I know..."
