Part of Your Realm: A Twilight Princess Fanfic

Let Love Be

*Ordon Village*

Link finally arrived back in Ordon after an exhausting wedding outing. He wondered where to look for Y/N. He kept his eyes peeled around Castle Town, but to no avail. Link was certain she had left. She had to be somewhere in the village.

I'll check the spring. I should stop home and grab towels in case she went swimming. There's someone I need to talk to first. Link turned in the direction of Rusl's house.

The only father he ever knew.

The faint glow of torches beckoned to Link as he approached. Rusl's house had a well lived-in feel, something Link's own house lacked. The only camaraderie to be had was between Link's two feet stomping around on his wooden floor. His thoughts constantly spoke to him, no matter what he did. When he ate. When he did chores. When he relaxed. When he tried to sleep. Which, as a result, gave Link crippling insomnia. He couldn't escape the constant chatter of his mind that bellowed throughout his empty home. Aside from Ilia, who, if she had her way, would move in with Link, Colin would visit sometimes. Of course, if there was Colin, there were also Talo, Malo, and Beth. But Link's bare house held little desire for rambunctious children. It held little desire for Link himself.

Link tapped lightly with his fist on Rusl's door. The door hovered slightly in a cracked position before slowly opening. Link was greeted by the googly blue eyes of Colin.

"Link!" He jumped up as high as he could in order to embrace him. Link knelt partially, scooping Colin in his arms. "Hey Kiddo. Is your dad here?"

"Aww, shucks, Link! We are supposed to train! What if evil comes and we aren't ready!" Colin folded his arms. "Hmph!" He lifted his chin away from Link to emphasize his displeasure. Link let out a helpless cackle. "Heh. I haven't forgotten about you, Colin. I promise. Let's just say I am working on some top-secret stuff that I can show you soon?"

"Pinky promise!" Colin stuck his pinky up. Link retrieved it with his own pinky. "I pinky promise."

"Colin! Come eat!" Uli appeared from the kitchen and called out to Link, "Hello Link!" Her face was pleasantly round and aglow from the life settled inside her womb. She held a wooden spoon and wiped a sweat bead from her forehead. "Can I offer you dinner?"

Link shook his head. "Hello Uli. No thanks. May I speak with Rusl for just a moment?" Rusl walked in from another room, greeting Link. "There's my boy. What brings you here?" He sashayed over to Uli, licking the wooden spoon in her hand and grinning. "Link, this is delicious. Are you sure you don't want to stay for some stew?" He dotted kisses across Uli's forehead as she giggled, "Rusl! Just think this will be you soon Link."

Link couldn't contain the ugly frown that appeared on his lips. Rusl caught sight of it, excusing himself from Uli and Colin. "Let's step onto the porch." Rusl offered.

Once they were away from prying eyes, Rusl inquired, "What's eating you, boy?"

Link nervously tousled his hair. "What do you mean?"

"I may not be your biological father, but I've known you long enough. That bruiser of a frown you gave us in there. That isn't the first time it's appeared. Any time we mention your engagement, it's visible like a flock of birds in the sky. "

They both watched the serenity of the breeze that passed through the trees overhead. Rusl continued, "You aren't in love with Ilia."