The courage to find me - The fate of us: Part I

Chapter 13: On my bed?

POV Link

A few hours remain before sunrise when I see the coast of Loshlo Harbor appear on the horizon. Traditionally, ships dock directly at Lurelin Village, a bit further south; but after a conversation with the captain—and a few rupees handed over—a new stop was added to the route so I could disembark closer to Hateno.

"But there's no port there," the captain complained when he first heard my request. I assured him he could stop a little way off the coast, at Tenoko Island. There's always a raft lying around there, and it would be enough for me to reach my destination.

As we near the small island, the ship halts, and they lower a ladder for me to descend. As expected, there's a small abandoned raft there. I load my bags onto it and head for the shore. In less than two hours, I reach the coast, and my feet touch the lands of Hyrule for the first time in years.

I had no idea how far I had traveled. It took nearly six months to return from Koholint, even coming as fast as possible without any detours. I had to take ships at two different points and cross countless miles of land.

Each step I took reduced my distance from Zelda. And that was all I thought about every day of the journey. The longing hurt, ached, and I could do nothing but wait for the arrival. The Ocarina I received from the Hero of Time remained untouched, at the bottom of one of my bags. I knew I would need to return to that task at some point, but my mind refused to focus on anything other than Zelda.

I can't say it was a mistake to leave Hyrule. Without having known Koholint, I probably never would have found new clues to learn more about the past. I wouldn't have learned about the existence of the Spirit of the Hero. However, it was a mistake to think I needed to be alone to make these discoveries. Not that Zelda could have accompanied me. But couldn't I, at the very least, have kept in touch through correspondence? Or returned more frequently?

Since deciding to return to Hyrule, not a night has passed without me dreaming of Zelda. Her smile, her wit, her passion for learning new things, her laugh, her scent. My arms ache with the desire to hold her again.

Unable to wait another second, I start up the road leading directly to Hateno on foot. As the sun is just rising, everything is still very quiet and peaceful. Hyrule—this part of it, at least—is exactly as I remember, and for a second, it feels like I never left.

Within a few hours, I reach the entrance to Hateno and am hit by a wave of nostalgia. I enter the town slowly, absorbing everything around me. I notice that the Sheikah Tower in the region is gone, as well as the Sheikah Shrine that was inside the village. Zelda and the researchers must have opted to destroy them, then.

It must be just past 8 a.m. now. I see some people coming out of their houses to start the day. Some look at me curiously, but no one seems to recognize me. Maybe it's because I've let my beard grow freely over the past few years, with no energy for its maintenance.

I head straight to my old chalet. I imagine Zelda must still live there; knowing her, the castle's reconstruction is likely one of her last priorities. She'll want to ensure her people's well-being first.

As I cross the bridge leading to the house, my heart is pounding so hard it feels like it might burst out. My palms are sweating. My breathing quickens with each step. I see the interior of the house is lit, but I don't know if she just woke up so I decide to wait until she comes out rather than knock on her door.

I go to the tree to the left of the house and sit at its base. After a few minutes, I get up again—the anxiety makes it impossible to remain seated. I start pacing back and forth with my hands in my pockets, trying to make time pass faster. The cabin is at my back when I hear the door opening.