Chapter 29 New beginnings

Link manhandled the last box and put it down next to the other ones. Malon nodded satisfied and smiled at him. "This was the last one. Good job."

The pasture of the Lon Lon Ranch had been decorated with boxes, tables and chairs and a few braziers. The Gorons had helped carrying the heavy furniture along with Link, while the women had taken charge of the party decoration.

A week had passed since the dark lord had fallen and slowly peace was returning to the land. To celebrate the defeat of Ganondorf and the newly gained freedom, Zelda and Malon had planned a party for every inhabitant of Hyrule and they had been busy all day long to organize the event. Malon's father took care of the wine while everyone else contributed food or anything else that was needed.

Link flopped down on one of the boxes and sighed. He should be happy, but he wasn't. No longer did he have to carry the burden of the Triforce and of his quest. He was finally free. However, something was missing. The Sheikah had disappeared as soon as he had recovered and Link had not been able to talk to him again. He had questions and doubts and the belief that Sheik had betrayed him was tormenting his mind. He felt a hand on his shoulder and when he looked up, he met Zelda's face. "You should stop worrying so much, Link."

"Yes, you're right." He got up and faked a smile. "Let's finish the preparations for tonight."

The party was a big success. Link had marvelled at how many guests from all over Hyrule had arrived. He had spotted Nabooru, Aveil and a few women from the Gerudo tribe, Darunia, his son and his Goron brothers, Saria, Mido and his old Kokiri friends, Ruto and her father King Zora, every resident of Kakariko Village, Impa and of course Malon, Talon, Ingo, Zelda and Navi. And although Link knew Sheik wasn't coming, he caught himself looking around for the mysterious shadow. He really was not in the mood for celebrating anything but still tried not to show it. He faked smiles every now and then, chatted with his old friends, laughed at Ruto and Aveil fighting over him, accepted a dance with Zelda, drank out the glass of wine Talon offered him and joked around with Darunia. He thought about how Sheik had disappeared onto the roof of a house at the marriage and for once he wanted to do the same. He hastily excused himself and made his way through the masses of the people.

"Where are you going?"

The question made him stop. Saria joined his side and looked at him.

"Saria.."

She smiled at him. "I have heard him play the harp in the sacred meadow many times," she said as if she had read his mind. He returned her gaze.

"Thank you, Saria."

Epona whinnied softly when she saw her master approaching. Link patted her neck and snaffled his horse before leading her out of the stable. No one except Saria had noticed that he was gone and he climbed onto Epona's back.

They galloped over the field and even though it was night and dark outside, Epona seemed to find the way without any guidance. The Kokiri village was quiet when Link stepped inside and he breathed in the fresh air. He made his way to the lost woods and his fingers touched the smooth surface of the small ocarina Saria once gave to him as if to make sure it would secure him and help him find the way. He took a breath and concentrated on the sound of the wind. It would be his guidance.

He eventually reached the clearing without getting lost and as he stood at the end of the stairs, he could hear the sound of a harp. Saria had been right. He closed his eyes for a second and allowed the music to float around him. The wind softly tickled his skin while he simply stood there and listened. And suddenly, for the first time after Ganondorf fell and the Triforce shattered into thousands of glowing pieces, Link realised that it was finally over. The goddesses had decided to destroy what they once left behind. Never again could it fall into the hands of someone who would turn these lands into a dreary place full of dangers. Link opened his eyes again and looked at his hand. The symbol of the fragment of courage had disappeared without a single trace.

Link had returned the master sword to the temple of time and even though he felt that he would miss carrying it, it gave him at the same time the security that from now on he could start living a normal life. The door to the pedestal of time was now closed forever, the spiritual stones returned to their tribes. Craftsmen and other voluntaries were already working on re-establishing the castle and the market place. It would be a lively place again, Link was sure about that. He smiled as he finally started climbing the stairs and approached the sacred meadow. The music suddenly stopped as Sheik lifted his head to stare into Link's direction. The wind played with his hair that was no longer hidden under the layers of white cloth and a smile appeared on his bare face.

At last, they were finally free.