I Live to Serve

Chapter #10: Fetch the Horses

The next morning felt like a daze. Link packed his few possessions away into his knapsack and adorned comfortable clothing for the journey. He watched as Paya packed away her things in a small leather bag. Two extra changes of clothes. Her diary. Some basics, like a hairbrush and the like, and that was all.

"Is that it?" he had asked her curiously. For whatever reason, he has expected the Sheikah girl to bring much more. It would have been an inconvenience to have to lug around multiple bags, but not one he would've complained about. Surely someone who had spent the entirety of their life in one place would have more... things?

"Yes, Master Link," she replied, equally curious. "Why? Do you think I might be missing something?" She began rummaging through her bag, checking for what might've been forgotten.

He shook his head. "No, not that I know of. It's just... Maybe..." What was it that young women did to keep themselves busy? He certainly didn't want her to get bored while he was off running errands. "...Like... Knitting supplies, maybe?" He proposed. He recalled vaguely the art of knitting. He wondered briefly from where or from whom.

A sort of smile graced Paya's face. She couldn't help but laugh. "I think I'll do quite fine without knitting needles, Master Link. I'm not so old!" she returned her things to her pack and tied it shut. It pleased him to see her smile; it pleased him more to see her speak in a more casual manner with him, even if she was still going about calling him Master Link.

"Oh, alright," he replied rather awkwardly, still not sure what compelled him to suggest knitting. Did his mother knit? Such a jump was certainly unprompted, entirely constructed by the young knight, but it was a pleasant thought to think. He tried to imagine some blonde Hylian woman knitting in a humble little home... Had their home been humble? His father had been a member of the King's Guard, he had learned that, but what did that mean for the rest of the family? Link admittedly knew very little about the ins and outs of castle life. Of knighthood, even. Especially ironic, he thought, considering his supposed mastery of the profession.

The two spoke no more as they finished packing away their things.

Impa was surprisingly relaxed regarding the whole thing. Link had expected quite a bit more dramatics, akin to when she was first reunited with Zelda. But she had merely smiled, bowed her head, and said, "Good luck on your journey, Master Link. May Hylia watch over you. Are you quite sure you don't want the letter the princess left for you?"

"No," Link had replied cooly. Anything Zelda wanted to say, she could've said to him.

"...Right then. Might I have a moment alone with my granddaughter?" She request, switching her intense gaze over to Paya.

Link bowed his head and stepped outside.

It was a pleasant day in Kakariko Village. Perfect for travel. Light winds, a slight overcast, and even the Cuccos had seemingly learned to shut up for the time being. Link took a moment to close his eyes... letting the delicate breeze brush through his hair and across his neck... before quickly opening them. He needed to stand alert.

It took a few minutes for Paya to come bounding out of the door with far more enthusiasm than Link had expected. A great smile graced her face, and her eyes grew wider as she looked out over the village.

"Oh, I'm so excited, Master Link!" she admitted in a rush of speech. "Nervous, sure, but mostly excited! Where will we go first? Oh, this is a dream; I've always wanted to leave the village, you know!" she made her descent down the stairs, where Link quickly followed behind. She was being... he didn't know what word to use for it. But it brought him great joy to watch the young Sheikah girl ramble on about their journey.