Shatter the Sky - Legend of Zelda | Twilight Princess

Hospitality

Tara dismounted Willie, and prowled near the cave entrance that the farm boy disappeared through. A long wait passed, and the sun was disappearing behind the hills and trees. The soft golden-red light of twilight was falling over the woods as the girl and horse waited for the farm boy's return. Willie was stuffed happily with the grass that previously surrounded them, and Tara was seated against the cave entrance in an ornery slouch. A warm light bobbed against the cavern walls, its source hidden from direct view from around a curve in the cave. Tara stood stiffly, unsheathing her short sword. Just in case.

The farm boy rounded the corner, with a sorry-looking village boy trudging sullenly behind him. Tara shoved her sword back in its sheath as the farm boy approached her.

"Hello again," he greeted, lowering the wick of his lantern until it was off.

"Hey," Tara replied.The farm boy looked down at the pathetic slump of a child at his side, who looked gratefully up at him.

"If you hadn't come, Link... Gee, me and that monkey would've gotten eaten, probably!" Tara watched, tacet, as the boy sighed. "She's actually a pretty nice gal, that monkey. She tried to protect me, so we got captured together..." The boy continued to thank the farm boy, and made him promise not to tell his father. He soon scampered away down the path.

"Have you been waiting here since I left?" The farm boy said, turning his blue eyes to Tara.

"Uh, yeah," she replied plainly, "I noticed you were from Ordon... and was wondering if you could tell me where I can stable my horse. And rest a bit." The farm boy smiled pleasantly, and nodded.

"Link!"

From the other direction, a tall blonde man entered onto the path. Tara's eyes lit as she recognized the man as her very first mentor.

"My son told me Talo disappeared into the woods and had not returned... But it looks like you brought him home already. And you, miss... If you assisted him, I am grateful. But I apologize, this should have not fallen on the two of you," Rusl said.

"Oh, no, Rusl... I didn't help..." At hearing his name, the swordsman looked at Tara more closely. She gave a small bow, respectfully.

"Sir, you may not remember me, but I-"

"Tara," he interrupted, holding a hand up to halt her speech. "How could I forget?" he told her warmly. Tara smiled at his recognition as Link addressed him.

"She is travelling, and needs a place to stay, Rusl," Link informed him plainly. Rusl nodded slowly in understanding.

"Of course," he told Tara as he started to lead the way down the path, "Come, you two. Link has a big day tomorrow, we need to get home." Tara tutted for Willie, and led him by the reins after Rusl and the farm boy. "So where are you from? If you don't mind my asking," Link said. Tara chuckled.

"Oh, no, I don't mind at all. I'm from Hyrule Castle Town... I work for the princess. Well... I work for a guy who works for the princess..." She explained. Link's sandy-colored eyebrows rose in interest.

"Really? In what field?"

"Bounty hunting."

"Ah. Yes, Rusl told me about a few bandits who were hididng out in a cave in Faron Woods. You kinda did her job for her, Rusl," Farm Boy laughed.

"Well, not exactly... Now I have to chase them down," Tara muttered, as Rusl chuckled ahead of them.

"That's part of your job, though, right?" Farm Boy asked.

"Yeah." Tara glowered at the ground as they walked across a long bridge over what seemed to be an unending precipice. Tara eyed it warily.

"So your name's Tara?"

"Yeah," she chuckled nervously, averting her eyes from the deathly heights. "And yours is Link?" He smiled as he answered.

"Yes, indeed. Afraid of heights?" Tara flushed and shook her head rapidly.

"No. No, not at all, no no no. I was a damn bird in the last life, no..." she hissed through a toothy grin. Link laughed as they returned to solid ground, and Tara became visibly more sturdy.

"Of course not. Well, your horse will find adequate food and fresh water in this spring, feel free to leave him here. Shall I close the gate?" Tara followed Link into the spring, and removed Willie's bridle.

"He's not much of a wanderer," she told him, watching her giant puppy dog trot happily into the spring to suck up gallons of refreshing water. Link nodded, and motioned for her to follow him out. Soon they arrived in a quaint clearing with a treehouse. Brilliant twilight lit the clearing, warming the trees and earth with its rosy light.

Rusl clapped a hand on Tara's back warmly.

"You are welcome to eat meals with my family and I, Tara, but I'm afraid our house is a little cramped at the moment. Uli needs all the room and comfort I can give her... she is pregnant with our second child," Rusl told Tara. She smiled up at Rusl, congratulating him, and assuring him of her understanding.

"If you don't mind sleeping on the floor, my home is open to your stay," Link offered, motioning to the tree house. Tara thanked him, and Rusl bid them farewell.

Tara followed Link to his tree home, and trailed after him up the ladder. The inside was lofty, with many ladders climbing up to wooden ledges above them. A cheery fire was crackling in the fireplace, heating a stew of sorts. Link went to the pot and stirred it a bit, before scurrying to a ladder that led to a... basement, Tara guessed. She looked around patiently as Link shuffled about, before returning with an extra sleeping mat and a few blankets.

"Here, you should be warm enough by the fire," he told her, spreading the sleeping arrangement out a few feet next to the fireplace.

"Thank you, Link," Tara told him as he stood and went to a small table to fetch a pair of bowls.

The stew was decent, and the two shared jokes and stories and laughs over the meal.

"She's a really nice girl, but I'm pretty sure she only likes me for my horse..." Link said, and they both laughed. "So how is it you don't remember any of Ilia or I, and we don't remember you, if you lived here in Ordon for a few months?"

"I was a shy little thing... I barely left Rusl's house. I was terribly homesick, too. I missed my parents, and never felt like making friends. I vaguely remember Ilia... She was very bold."

"She still is," Link said.

"I would like to meet her again," Tara told Link, as he beckoned for her empty bowl. "Oh no you don't, Mister Nice Guy. I'll take care of these," she made a mock-threatening face at Link, who laughed and handed her the dishes.

"Well, thanks. There's a pail of water, and rags over on that table there. Yes, there. Thank you," he said, standing and stretching. "Well, I'm done for the night. I'm gonna head in."

"Yeah, you need a good rest for the beginning of your journey tomorrow." Link nodded, and squeezed Tara's shoulder as she finished up with the small amount of dishes.

"If you need anything, just holler. Good night."

"Good night," Tara replied, and watched Link ascend the multiple ladders, and disappear over the top ledge. She wandered over to her sleeping mat, and burrowed into it. Sighing, she rolled over and closed her eyes.