His Champion (Sidlink)

The Morning After

A/n: okay, so at the time I wrote this we are at 460 reads, and let me say, holy fuck. I'm gonna be real right now, I started this not expecting it to go as far and as long as this, but now, I'm actually sorta proud of it turned out? I have no clue, let me know how you guys feel! Okay, see you at the bottom of this chapter!- Howl

Link's P.O.V.
          I sighed,wiggling so I could look up into his golden eyes, "I haven't told you about my mom and I think it's about time I do tell you,"
         Sidon made a surprised noise, "Are you sure?" He asked gently, brushing a stray hair out of my eyes.
        I pulled the elastic from my hair, "yeah I'm sure. I was fifteen at the time,  and this was the story of the last day she was alive...

"Linny? Are you there?" My mother's soft voice called out as I walked into her house.
I smiled a little at the nickname, "yeah momma, it's me," I came into the living room where she was sat in front of a waning fire. Coals glowed from the almost empty hearth.
"How was your day?" She asked warmly. I smiled a little more, setting down my bag and sitting on the floor in front of my mom. She pulled my hair from the elastic and started running her fingers through it.
"It was good! I trained for a while, then Zelda and I went out and checked the guardians. It was pretty cool! The guardians are all glowy and they have a bunch of shiny legs!" I motioned excitedly. My mother chuckled, then coughed.
"It sounded like fun," she started braiding my hair, "you need a haircut sweetheart," her voice sounded even weaker now.
I looked up to her concerned, "momma, are you feeling okay?" I grabbed one of her cold hands in mine.
"I'm okay, just a little off today," she coughed a little harder into her handkerchief, she folded it and put it away quickly, but I still saw the red splatters.
"No, you aren't okay, I'm going to go get a doctor," I said as I stood, gently putting down my moms cold hand.
"Just be careful," she said weakly, "I love you Linny," she waved a little as I left the house. I closed the door calmly, then broke out in a run. Zelda can help me, she always does. I pushed through people, ignoring their dirty looks. I ran full tilt up the stairs and towards the heavy doors that stood open. The guards gave me a weird look but shrugged it off because they knew me personally. Zelda saw me coming and she was setting down her book, and standing for her throne when I came in.
         "Link? What's wrong?" She asked, rushing down to meet me halfway.
        I was heaving for breath and trying not to start crying, "my- my m-mom, sh-sh-she's,"
         "Her health is deteriorating?" She asked gently. I nod, I was so glad that she knows me well.
         She nodded and ran off after waving for me to follow. I followed her as she wound her way through the castle; we eventually came to what seemed to be a huge hospital. A few soldiers were on the cots, but the majority of the others were ill people. Zelda ran up to a middle aged doctor, and talking briskly, she told him of what's happening. He nodded and started towards the exit. Zelda and I ran ahead of him and he broke into a run after us. We made it to the house. I threw my door open and we heard my mom coughing loud. I motioned for the doctor and Zelda to follow me, and I set off into the living room. I saw my mom, looking frail and pale, being swallowed by the large blanket she had around her. She coughed, blood splattering onto the blanket. I made a pained noise and turned. The doctor went over to her, and Zelda put a supportive hand on my shoulder, standing in front of me. The doctor came over to me, a terrible sad look on his face.
"Mr. Link? The only thing that could help your mother would be molduga guts, but I'm sure you've heard that from many different doctors?" His voice was low, my mothers coughs had eased slightly, "but there isn't time. She won't make it through the night. I'm sorry sir, I've given her something that will ease her coughing. I would say to keep her comfortable until the time comes. I'm sorry again," the doctor adjusted his circular glasses and excused himself. I heard the door click behind him.
Zelda wrapped her arms around me, "I'll stay with you if you would like," her voice was low and her breath tickled my ear. I nodded into her shoulder and she squeezed me tighter before letting go. She walked over to my mom, "Hello, how are you doing today Ms?" She sat on her knees in front of my mom.
My mom laughed in spite of herself, "Zelda dear, you know you don't have to be formal. And I'm doing as well as my situation allows," she looked over to me, who was standing in the door, "Linny, come sit. Zelda would you be a dear and read a story to us?" She hummed out quietly. Zelda smiled and nodded, getting up and going to the bookshelf beside the fireplace. I came into the room, moving to the fireplace to start a fire. I soon had a fair sized fire going, and we had all agreed on a book.
Zelda sat down in front of my mother, more relaxed that before, "Alright, well we agreed on the story of the hero and the princess," Zelda smiled over to me as I settled in front of my moms chair as well. We sat reading for a while, and it was soon getting dark.
        "Link, why not light some candles and I'll make some tea over the fire?" Zelda asked gently. I nodded, a weird feeling settling over me. I walked around the living room, lighting candles as I went, with a strange feeling of heaviness. The room was soon illuminated with the flickering light from the candles. Zelda was sitting on her knees in front of the fire, the kettle starting to whistle a high pitched note. My mom motioned for me to sit by her, so I did. She put a frail hand on my shoulder, so I turned from facing Zelda.
         "You are strong, and I know that Link. Protect the people of this land, but most importantly protect yourself. I'm sorry for all of what your father did, and I truly regret not doing anything about that. Now be my brave little soldier, and kill that horrible beast and," she coughed, the violent expulsion shaking her entire body, "and I want you to keep this safe. And one day give it to that special someone," she pressed a hard object into my palm.
          She pulled back her hand to reveal a golden pendent with a glowing light blue stone on a sturdy gold chain.
        She took a deep, rattling breath, her face looking paler by the minute, "the stone is the same colour of your eyes," she chuckled, which turned into a body wracking cough again, "now please go out. I don't want you to be here to see me like this,"
       I frowned and shook my head, "no, I'm going to stay with you,"
      She snorted, "you are a stubborn little bugger, you know that?" Her coughs were seeming to ease, but I knew that was not good.
       Zelda set down a cup of tea on the table beside my mother, "here you are," her voice was sounding strained now. I could tell by my mothers small smile that she didn't notice the change in Zelda, but she was projecting a lot of nervous energy.
       We sat and started reading again. My mother started to stroke my hair, but soon her hand grew still. I turned to look up at her to see her eyes closed, and her lips slightly parted. I clenched the pendent in my hand, holding it close to my chest. I tried to call to Zelda, but only I hoarse cry came from my throat. Zelda looked up to me, then to my mother. She stood quickly, dropping the book from her lap, coming over to me. I stood too, I tired to avert my eyes but I couldn't help but stare. I started to shake my head, slowly at first, then violently from side to side.
        Zelda reached down to my mother and pressed two fingers to her wrist. She shook her head, turning tear filled eyes to me.
      I fell to my knees, a high guttural cry rose from my throat. I doubled over, slamming my fists hard against the wooden floor. Hot tears were falling freely from my closed eyes. I felt like I couldn't breath, like my chest was collapsing in on itself. I was trembling hard, all over my body. I felt like I was going to throw up. Zelda placed a small hand on my shoulder.
        "Link?" She asked softly. I sat up slowly and looked over to her. I had tears and snot streaming down my face, and I'm sure it wasn't a pleasant sight. She extended her arms, and I practically fell into her arms.
She wrapped her arms around my shaking shoulder, stroking my hair gently. I gripped the fabric of her dress with both of my hands, sobbing into her shoulder.
"I know Link. I'm here," she was rocking me a little, "you can stay in the castle with me tonight if you want?" She asked gently.
On one hand I wanted to stay here, it was my childhood home. But the other hand outweighed it; I wanted to be as far away from this place as possible right now. I nodded into her shoulder. She hummed and pulled back from me a little.
"Let's go get your hood and some clothes," she said softly. I nodded, whipping tears away with my sleeve.
We gathered a lot of my clothes and I pulled a good over my head, hiding my face. I laughed my backpack over my shoulder and followed Zelda out the door.
She stopped and tutted, "wait out here, we forgot something," she disappeared back into my house. She came out again with the pendent dangling from her hand. I didn't realize I had dropped it. She came over to me and reached under my hood, clasping it around my neck. I nodded my thanks and we started walking towards the castle. I kept my head down during the trip and soon we were inside the castle walls.
           We walked in the doors and Zelda turned to me, "okay, I have to go tell my parents that you will be spending the evening, and I'll say that we will go on a mission to check the Devine beasts tomorrow, how does that sound?" She asked gently, a warm hand on my shoulder. I nodded a little, and she set off down a corridor. I went over to a wall, leaning against it. The cool stone felt good against my hot back. I slid down to a sitting position, pulling my knees to my chest and resting my forehead on them. If I was a better warrior I could have gotten the molduga guts and saved my mom. If I had listened to my father, I would have been better with a sword. I could have tried, even if I was killed by it, mom would have died anyways, so what would've it hurt. It wouldn't have hurt.
        I jerked my head up when I felt a gentle hand in my shoulder. It was Zelda, a concerned look on her face, and slight tears in her eyes, "Come on, let's go get ready for bed," her voice was soft, but I think that was because it would have broke if she had have spoken louder. I followed her to her room. She opened the door and let me in, following, then shutting and locking the door.
         "You can sleep on the bed, I'll make up a bed on my little couch over there," she pointed to a small plush couch to the side of her bed. I made a small noise and walked over to the bed, flopping down my bag, and digging through for some clothes to wear. I came up with a loose light brow cotton tunic and a pair of comfortable black trousers. Zelda was rummaging through her drawers too.
         I pulled my hood off, smoothing down the flyaway hairs with my palm. I grabbed my shirt from the bottom and pulled it up, getting a little caught in the fabric as I pulled it off.