One For Sorrow

Chapter 2: A Hero Forms

Link looked down at the world. One that had changed so drastically since he last looked upon it. Was it scary, you wondered, to look upon a world that continued without you? To see people who only remembered you in stories? To see the aftermath of your failure? Or did he not even know how long he had been asleep?

It was almost serene, watching him take in the land he used to protect. But then the moment was over, interrupted when he turned and saw the two of you. With one last look at the far off castle, he began striding over.

You would have known he was a knight— or maybe even the fabled hero— just by looking at him. He walked with purpose, shoulders back, stride confident. His eyes, ones that had seen so much, faced so much, were as blue as the sky above. They were not unkind, not harsh, but piercing nonetheless. You found it hard to keep looking at them, so you turned to your companion.

The old man seemed pleased. A small smile played at his lips, under his beard. He seemed to have no trouble maintaining eye contact with Link, so you left him to it.

You looked back at the fire, anticipation filling you. Here he was, the hero of legend. You were about to see him. Awake and alive. He was here. He would talk to you. You would talk to him. So many would kill to be in your spot.

He...

He was short. Shorter than you expected. And holding a tree branch. Link walked up to you, still confident, but less intimidating since you knew he was shorter than you. And then stole your baked apple.

You were surprised, to say the least.

"I beg your pardon!" The Old Man cried out. His sudden and loud voice startled you. By the way Link blinked, eyes widening, it seemed to have stunned him too. "I do believe that was my baked apple. You can't just go about taking whatever you please."

Link, at least, looked apologetic. He "sheathed" his tree branch by strapping it to his back. Hands on his hips, he waited for you or the Old Man to talk.

"Oh ho! Forgive me— I could not resist pulling your leg." Link's eyes seemed to soften. And then he was back to his normal stare, face passive. "Please help yourself. An apple and an open flame make for a succulent treat."

Realizing you hadn't said anything, you piped up, "Yeah, and it tastes even better with honey." You handed him the rest of your glazed apple. It was cold, and not as tasty as it had been when you first received it, but people who sleep for a hundred years can't be choosers.

The Old Man watched this exchange. He seemed to study it, eyes carefully surveying every movement between the two of you. "It's a bit strange to see another soul in these parts."

"Who are you?" Link asked. His voice startled you. Its raspiness proved its disuse, a hundred years since last spoken. But he spoke clearly and precisely nonetheless. Even if he sounded odd, he sounded regal. You could tell he grew up around noble folk because no common people sounded like that.

He didn't seem to miss your reaction and seemed to focus solely on the man across from you. He seemed a bit colder now. You almost forgot about the part where the Old Man pretended not to know who Link was. What was he playing at? Would he answer his questions, since he was a hero?

"I'll spare you my life story," he said. You didn't miss how the conversation had taken an icy tone. You were sure your breakfast partner knew more than he was telling Link, and the hero seemed to figure it out too. Perceptive, you noted. "I'm just an old fool who has lived here for quite some time now. I used to be alone, until my young companion—" he gestured to you "—was kind enough to join me. What brings a bright-eyed young man like you to a place like this?"

Link studied him. Around the three of you, the grass blew in the breeze. The fire crackled. Bugs chirped off in the distance. The silence dragged on. "Where are we?" He asked, at last.

"Answering a question with a question. That is fair enough."

You had, funnily enough, been in a similar situation to Link when you first got here. Confused, defensive, and forced to trust the only person besides yourself: the Old Man who would talk circles around you until you explained far more to him then he did to you.

"The Great Plateau," you offered. Link was looking at you again, face impassive. You hoped he would like you, if just for the reason he would make a bad enemy. "It's supposed to be the birthplace of Hyrule kingdom. That's what the legends say, at least."

Link nodded. If he was going to say something, he was interrupted by the Old Man standing. The clank of his lantern seemed thunderous in the otherwise silent day. He turned and pointed to Temple. "That temple there... Long ago, it was the site of many sacred ceremonies. Ever since the decline of the kingdom one hundred years ago, it has sat abandoned, in a state of decay."

He turned back to Link. Before speaking again, he glanced at you, as if to say, Listen well. You sat up a little straighter. "Yet another forgotten entity. A mere ghost of its former self."

With no further explanation, he sat back down. The conversation was at a close. He seemed content to continue relaxing by the fire. Link seemed just as surprised as you. "What are you doing?"

"Relaxing by the fireside, of course. Although I'll need to bake myself another apple at some point..." He trailed off like it was an inconvenience. Like the Hero of Hyrule wasn't standing before him. In clothes a bit too small, with a tree branch, but a hero nonetheless. He continued on about how great apples were before offering his service to Link.

Link nodded, once to him and once to you. You nodded back. His blue eyes watched to movement, watched you for just a second too long, before he was walking away. Before continuing on the path again, he glanced to the right. Almost out of spite, he marched over and picked up the torch you had used once.

"Help yourself," you muttered.

"And how, may I ask, are you planning on using that?" The Old Man turned to him.

Link looked at the torch in hand. He let its weight carry it, falling over the back of his hand. With a swift movement, he turned his wrist in time to catch it, forming a circle. He repeated the motion again, almost like he was practicing. Like he had done that over and over again with something that had weighed more.

"As a weapon," he spoke finally. His voice was almost back to normal. You knew, as soon as you heard it, that it was one you'd never heard before, and probably never would hear another person speak again. What once was lost in the harshness of disuse was uncovered now. He spoke in a commanding tone, authoritative, smooth. You had no trouble, now, believing it was him who rose to protect the princess, to face Ganon.

The Old Man was talking once again, but you weren't listening. How could you? A large weight had been lifted from your shoulders, and now rested upon Link. But you were free now. Free to go home. See your family. You were relieved of duty.

Link began to walk away. As silent as he had come.

"Link," The Old Man called. "It's dangerous to go alone—" for a split second, Link froze, like he was suddenly a million miles away. Then he resumed his normal stature and turned back to look at the two of you. "—like this. It's best to have a friend. As it happens, my companion here is very skilled with a bow. I'm sure she could help you through your long journey."

And just like that, you were back in employment. Freedom went as quickly as you had thought you had it.

The hero looked back at you, nodding once more. As soon as you started to rise, he turned back around, not waiting for you. This was going to be a long journey indeed. 

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Whoo! Another chapter posted! 

This is going to be about the size of most chapters. They might be a little shorter or a little longer, depending, but this is probably the average. 

Anyways, thanks for reading!