The Legend of Zelda: Prince of the Sea

Chapter Three: Pledge

The rain was coming down as heavily as the thoughts within the rider's mind. Behind him lay the shelter of Faron Woods and as he rode on, he and his mount were exposed to the growing winds and falling rain. Link urged Epona forward through the approaching storm. Her hooves splashed through puddles littering the path as her master kept the mare at a swift though steady pace. Squinting against the strengthening wind, Link maintained his heading on a northerly route, directed towards Castle Town's South Gate and main entrance. If it hadn't been raining like it was, he would have preferred entering the usually bustling town from the West Gate, which is where the stables were located. Shelter was Link's main priority because him riding out in the middle of a vast field during a lightning storm was far from smart, especially since he carried with him metal objects. Kicking Epona into a slow gallop, he directed her towards the border of rock that marked the northern edge of the field.

It was Link's own fault that he and his mount were caught out in the storm, for he had taken too long getting out of Faron Woods. The storm had come in quicker than he had anticipated.

After his final meeting with the Hero's Shade, Link had just stood there in the Sacred Grove for a good fifteen minutes, letting the falling rain to soak his tunic. He stood there to allow his to sort through his thoughts and tried to collect himself from the surprisingly emotional ordeal. He went over all of what the Hero of Time had told him, his story and his advice, yet Link struggled to make sense of most of it. The whole time-travelling and being-forgotten-about-completely stuff were difficult concepts to comprehend and the knight's final piece of advice about love and truth had rattled Link. The thought that he might never see the Hero of Time again made Link considerably sad and the ache in his chest felt similar to when he had lost his parents. Funny how things work out like that... how a person doesn't realize or appreciate what they have until it's gone. Link knew that he would miss his mentor greatly. When he finally decided to leave the ruins, the Hylian weighed the knight's words of love and tested them to see if they applied to his situation with Ilia.

Technically he had told her that he loved her, just not to the extent that she seemed to feel for him. If he was truly honest with himself, Link knew that he loved Ilia as a dear friend. The type of love that the Hero of Time of was a love that consumed a person's heart, soul, and every fibre of their being. Link knew that he did not feel about Ilia in such a strong and raw manner.

Climbing out of the Sacred Grove, Link made his way down the forested path back towards the Deep Gorge. Link frowned when he recalled the expression of heartache and loss that he had seen on the Hero of Time's face when the knight mentioned his love that never was meant to be. What stories the Hero of Time could tell, if only there had been time for Link to hear them all. The young man wished he's been able to get to know his spiritual ancestor even more and to learn what he had experienced. Link silently hoped that he would never have to experience that sort of heartache, such feelings of loss from not being recognized for his achievements, forgotten, and unrequited love. Actually, if was difficult for the eighteen year old to think of any woman that he could get so close to that would warrant such strong feelings. Who else was there who could understand what he had been through and with whom he could relate with being a hero? Besides Ilia, who else in Hyrule was there? Link didn't want to think himself as choosy or biased or anything but... most men his age were already married or at least courting a girl, yet here Link was considering a life without love simply due to the fact that he was a hero and perhaps that meant a life of being alone. Like his predecessor... yet Link recalled the loneliness that echoed in the Hero of Time's words and the teenager shifted uncomfortably.

"Ugh! Stop thinking about it!" Link exclaimed in a huff, shaking his head and picking up his pace. Now was not the time to be thinking of such things.

Link had more important things to think about than love or girls or anything of the sort, like getting back to his horse and getting back on the road! Thunder rumbled in the distance just as the hero reached the Deep Gorge and the rain was becoming heavier. He still had to make his way back through Faron Swamp and the cave. By the time Link finally jogged out from the entrance of the cave, he found Epona restlessly stomping her hooves, shaking her head, and standing beneath a nearby tree to escape the increasing downpour.