Hello guys!

Again, I apologize for the time this takes. I put a lot of work into each chapter, and read, write, and re-read and re-write many, many times. That's the main reason why it takes six months or so between each updates.

This said, I think this is a really good chapter.

I hope you'll enjoy, and leave a review!

With much luv,

Gamesplayers

XIII

"Link! Haven't seen you in a while!" Stated the barman as the Hylian walked into the inn.

"Yeah, glad to see you too." He answered, resting an elbow on the counter and leaning in closer to the barman. "Listen," Link whispered, "there's a guy here, who rented a room. His name's Erk."

"Yes. That pale fellow."

"Yeah, exactly him. He looks like a vampire, I agree. Can you tell me which room he's in?"

The barman's expression turned suspicious. "I can't do that. It's private."

Link sighed, irritated. He was obviously in a rush. "Look. He's searching for me." Said the Hylian, weighing his words, as his hand formed a fist. "And I wanna find him. I'll go knock on every damn door if I have to-"

"Woah, calm down!"

"I'm calm. Lower your voice." Ordered the blond, his stare icy.

"... Are you threatening me?" Asked the barman, looking at the Hylian's clenched fist.

"No." Link sighed. "I'm sorry…" He reached into his pocket, took out a purple rupee, and put it down on the counter. "Will that make you talk?"

The barman stared down at the rupee, before reluctantly pushing it back towards the Hylian. "I can't take this. But thank you." He turned around, and grabbed a book from under the counter, opened it and searched briefly in it. "Room 103."

"Thank you!" Link exclaimed, slamming his open palm down on the counter. "I owe you."

"Yeah, you do. A free delivery of rabbits would be appreciated."

"You've got yourself a deal."

Erk took off his shirt. He looked down at the bed in which he was going to sleep. The inn was nice for such a small village. The whole town was great. He almost envied Link to have found such a relaxing place to call home.

Someone knocked on the door. Erk looked at it, surprised. Was it Kar? It must have been the kid. What would he want at this hour?

The person knocked again, louder. Erk sighed, put back his shirt on, and walked to the door. He opened it. "Yes?"

A man stood there, his profile slightly hidden by the corridor's dim light. When he heard Erk's voice, he looked sharply at the mage, and the icy, panicked blue eyes gave his identity away.

"...Link?"

"Are you alone?" He asked, nervous.

"Yes-"

Link nodded, then rested his hand on the mage's shoulder, pushing him back into the room, and entering right after. He locked the door, as Erk walked away from his old friend.

"You alright?"

"Do I look alright to you?"

Erk nodded slightly, then turned his back to the blond. "Well… Something to drink?" He asked, heading towards a wine bottle.

Link didn't answer, but followed the mage.

"Here." Erk handed a glass of wine to the Hero. "I knew you'd come before the dinner, but I didn't think it would be before tomorrow morning. I guess it would have been too early for wine then." He smiled.

Link accepted the glass, but didn't drink. "Why are you here? Who are these people with you?"

"Wow, I thought you'd be happier to see an old friend."

The blond glared darkly at him.

"Not taking any jokes anymore? That's new." Erk snorted. "I thought we were going to talk about all of this tomorrow-"

"You fucking shittin' me, Erk? You comin' here with people, looking for me, after I left Hyrule and Clock Town to be alone? You thought I was just gonna welcome you with a smile on my fuckin' face?" Shouted the Hylian, putting his glass roughly down on a nearby table, spilling wine. "By what fucking right do you bring people here? Where I live, for Farore's sake!" He sighed loudly, irritated. "And who the fuck are they, anyway?"

"Look." He put his glass down also. "I agree with you that I shouldn't have come to you the way I did, but if it wasn't important, I wouldn't have led them to you."

"Stop that mysterious bullshit, will you? Who are they? You owe this to me, Erk."

Jade sat down on her bed. Half-asleep, she noted it was late at night. Noises had woken her up. Voices. She looked into Kar's direction, in the other bed, thinking he was the one making the noises, but the young man was deeply asleep, snoring lightly, almost drooling on his pillow.

Erk had proposed to take the room with Kar, so she would get more privacy. But the Gerudo had refused. She was here to protect the Hylian, and needed to remain by his side. That was what she had told the older man. It was true. However, she also enjoyed the boy's company, now, even if he was often getting on her nerves.

She got up, looked around, until the voices became clearer. It came from Erk's room. And a man was talking loudly, aggressively. Suddenly wide awake, she covered herself and grabbed a dagger, before walking out of the room, softly, so Kar wouldn't wake up.

Outside, in the corridors, the voice grew louder, the words clearer. She put her ear against Erk's door to listen.

"Stop that mysterious bullshit, will you? Who are they? You owe this to me, Erk." Said the anonymous voice.

"You want to talk about who owes who?" Answered Erk.

There was a short silence. Someone pulled what sounded like a chair. Probably to sit down.

"Listen. I won't just welcome strangers in my house tomorrow night without knowing who they are and what they want. You follow me on that?"

"I do, you're right. The boy is Hylian and the girl is a Gerudo." Replied Erk.

Another silence.

"A Gerudo? That makes no sense…"

"Well, she's just escorting the boy. She's the warrior leader."

Silence again.

"I'm not going back." Said the anonymous voice.

"... I'm sorry…?"

"Look. I'm staying here, this is my home. I'm not the Hero of Time anymore, I'm just a man trying to get his life together at the other end of the world. Whatever that boy's gonna offer me, I'm not going back."

Jade's eyes widened, her heart stopped. She looked around, making sure no one else heard this, or saw her.

"... But I never talked about going back to Hyrule, Link…"

"You thinkin' I'm a fucking idiot, or what? With all that shit going on in Hyrule right now, you bringing a Hylian boy and a Gerudo to me, and that has nothing to do with bringin' me back to that fuckin' place?"

"Just listen to what the boy has to say. We'll talk about it after." Something changed in Erk's voice. It was almost malicious.

"You don't even need to come over. And if that guy needs a confirmation, you can bring him to me tomorrow morning, I don't care, I'll be more than glad to send him off myself."

Someone started walking towards the door. Jade jumped, and hurried to her room, rushing inside as quietly as she could. She pressed her back to the door once she had closed it. Her heart was beating so wildly it seemed to be coming out of her chest.

So Erk knew all along. That bastard was pulling an evil prank on both the Hero and Kar. She looked at the young man, sleeping and drooling on his pillow, and her heart sank. He wasn't prepared for what was coming. Neither was the Hero.

She waited until there were no more noises in the corridor to go out again.

She knocked on Erk's door.

The mage opened the door, and stared at the Gerudo. "Well, that is a busy night."

"Can I come in?" She asked, her expression and voice showing she was preoccupied.

Erk walked away, leaving the door open behind him. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Apparently, someone was screaming at you in here, and that woke me up."

Erk nodded, picked up his glass. "Is Kar awake too?"

"No. He's sleeping like a baby. Even drooling on his pillow."

"Good." Stated the mage, taking a sip of wine.

Jade crossed her arms under her breasts. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

"I guess you heard something?"

"Quite a lot of things."

Erk stared at his wine for a moment, thinking. "Listen, I know how much of an asshole I look right now, but this is the only way for Link to hear what Kar has to say." He lookedd at her. "Believe me."

"I understand, but why Kar mustn't know? This is going to destroy him. That man's reaction to you was already aggressive, imagine when he'll learn who Kar is. And what about Kar? He'll be even more vulnerable than he already is. He needs to be prepared for something like this."

"Do you sincerely believe Kar will really go and meet Link if he knows what he's getting himself into?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, but I still believe it would be better if Kar was prepared."

"They won't talk as sincerely if one of the two know about the other. The surprise will be terrible, true, but could you really see Kar walk into Link's house knowing who he is and not the opposite? And if Link knew who Kar was to him, he wouldn't be there tomorrow, believe me. This man flees responsibilities faster than light." He played with his glass.

"If you had told him before, he would have had time to prepare." Jade stated, anger rising in her voice.

"Maybe you're right, but it's too late to tell Kar now. He won't be more prepared, just more anxious." He sighed. "I know I'm putting you in a bad position, but you weren't supposed to know."

She looked darkly at him. "But I know now."

He ignored her comment. "I'll take all the blame, don't worry." He brought his hand on this chest. "I'll deserve all the punches thrown my way."

Melody opened the door of her shop just wide enough to see who was outside. She sighed. "You scared me." She whispered, her voice sleepy.

"I'm sorry… Can I come in?"

"Why? Don't you have a house?"

"I don't wanna be alone…"

"Don't you have a wolf?"

He sighed loudly. "Please, Mel? I'm having a shitty night. I just don't wanna be by myself, I won't bother you." Hands on his hips, Link kicked a rock at his feet. "You're the only person I have here." He stated, not sounding pitiful for once. He looked at her, waiting for a reply.

Melody sighed even louder. She closed the door to remove the chain, then opened it again. She turned around and walked away, heading towards the shop's counter, leaving the door open for Link to come in.

"Thanks." Said the Hylian, as he closed and locked the door behind him. He was quiet for a moment. "I went to see Erk."

Mel looked at him from above her shoulder, a hint of worry in her eyes. "And?" She asked.

He shrugged. "Nothing really. He said the guy he's with is the one looking for me. Erk can't tell me what for." He ran a hand through his hair. "I was about to kick his ass so hard, Mel." He shook his head lightly. "Told him I wasn't going back, and they didn't need to come over tomorrow, unless they want me to send them off. This is so about Hyrule, I can feel it in my bones."

"So no dinner tomorrow?" Mel grabbed a bottle of Link's favorite wine, and filled a big glass.

"No. I just can't wait until they're gone."

She did not answer. Instead, she offered him the wine. Link accepted the glass, resting his hand on Melody's, caressing her fingers lightly. She jumped and pulled her hand away quickly, almost making Link drop the glass.

"I'll get you blankets so you can sleep here." She said, nervously pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, as she headed to the backstore.

"Thanks." He answered, voice hoarse from fatigue. He took a big sip of wine. He smiled, recognizing she had gotten him his favorite.

Mel came back with a bunch of blankets and dropped them on a nearby crate. "Here. Make yourself at home, I guess. I'll be in the backstore, sleeping." She turned around and walked away.

"Mel?"

"... Yes?"

"Thank you."

She sat down on her bed, heavily. "You forced yourself in, Link. Like you always do."

"Yeah… Sorry about that…" He played with his glass, wondering in what else he could force himself. He smirked, thinking how good being inside her right now would be, before shaking his head and pushing the thought away. "Thank you still."

Erk laid awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling.

The sun was rising, and he hadn't slept at all, after all the events. He never thought he'd find Link to be this aggressive, and that Jade would find out about everything.

I hope he's not going to act like this with Kar… That would be a disaster.

But he understood the man: Link had run away from two cities in order to be alone and far away from Hyrule and what he left there. By the Goddesses, he even had a house and a woman, now. Bringing him a son he never believed he could have had in another life would certainly be disastrous.

The mage turned around, never finding a comfortable enough spot to sleep or think.

And Kar… the boy had gone all this way to find his father. It would be more than horrifying if Link was aggressive to him.

I can't let it happen like this. Link will be ready to fight, when we go to him this morning. He's ready to explode.

"Fuck…" Whispered Erk, as he pushed back his hair from his face.

He sat on his bed, massaged his forehead, feeling the start of a headache. He wondered if Jade was asleep.

I have to tell Kar.

He got up and dressed.

Jade was already awake, dressed, and ready to go when Kar opened a heavy, sleep-stricken eye. He turned around, pushing the blanket down to his waist, and laid on his back. Jade looked at him, her eyes lingered on his defined torso and arms for a split second before she turned her back to him, giving the Hylian some privacy.

"You up already?" He mumbled, sleepy, as he covered his eyes with a forearm to shield himself from the morning light. "Did I sleep in?"

"No, it's still really early." She whispered. "You can go back to sleep."

"Hm…" He turned to his side, facing her. "You should… Come with me."

Jade looked at him sharply. "With you?"

He nodded lazily. His eyes were closed again. "Here." Kar tapped the mattress right next to him.

"... Are you still asleep?"

He did not answer. Instead, he snored softly.

Jade sighed, before she laughed. A soundless laugh, it was. Yet it made a smile appear on her lips. She turned around and watched him sleep.

In the morning light, his curly hair shone like gold. Even his skin, now accustomed to the hard southern sun, was starting to take a light copper shade. He looked like a prince, she thought.

Jade walked up to him, careful not to make the wooden floor crack, and sat on his bed, not far from where he wanted her to be. Softly, she touched a strand of sun-bathed hair. He looked so happy, oblivious to the pain to come. It hurt her.

Her smile faded. She realized she had come to care a lot for him and his well-being. This young man was soft-hearted and sensitive. And by what she heard the last night, the man he was about to meet wasn't as soft as the boy he had bred…

She feared this meeting would make it worse for Kar.

She pulled her hand away from his hair, put it down on her lap.

Softly, his hand found her wrist, and pulled it back to his hair. "Keep going." He mumbled.

Jade snatched her hand away and raised to her feet. "You weren't sleeping!"

He smiled, and looked at her. "I wasn't awake either." He turned on his back, smiling, his forest-green eyes playful. "You can caress my hair as much as you want, even when I'm awake. Or you can caress other parts of me too. I wouldn't mind."

Jade looked at him with disgust. "Not even in your dreams, Hylian." She hissed, as she walked as far as she could from the boy, hating herself for having been soft with him.

Kar laughed. "I didn't mean to anger you, Jade. It was a joke."

She didn't even care to glance at him.

"And it seems I forgot you never take jokes."

"Get dressed so we can go down and eat." She ordered.

There was a soft knock at their door. Kar, being closest to it, wrapped a bedsheet around his hips and went to get it.

Erk's brows furrowed when he saw the boy half-naked with a sheet to cover himself. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No, Jade wouldn't give me this honor. You know Gerudo women." He winked towards one end of the room before a pillow hit him in the face.

Erk laughed softly. The boy had certainly inherited his father's inappropriate sense of humour. He walked into the room, bowing his head lightly to Jade when he finally saw her.

"You look tired." Said Kar to the black-haired man.

"I look grim. But that's my natural look." Replied the mage, smiling. "Sit down, Kar. I need to talk to you a bit before we start today's adventure."

Jade's color faded lightly. "What do you want, Erk?" Her tone was grave.

"The man wants to talk, Jade." Replied Kar, as he sat down on his bed.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Shut up." She told the boy before staring intently at the mage.

Erk kept his gaze away from hers. He sat on Jade's bed, facing Kar. "I… need to prepare you for what is to come later today." He played with his hands nervously, wondering if he'd get beaten by Kar or Link first. "The man you are going to meet is a man who…" He searched for neutral words to describe Link's choices over the last two decades. "... Left Hyrule to rebuild his life over here. He has a house. He has a woman by his side."

Kar stared at the mage, his face darkening with each word. "Yeah, but he's just going or point us to the Hero, isn't he? Why should I care about all this?"

Erk held Kar's gaze for a while, not saying anything, searching for a way to phrase what he was about to say without starting a war right away. "Kar…" He finally whispered. "I lied to you."

The boy sat up straight, alarmed. "What do you mean, you lied to me?"

Feeling the urgency in the blond's tone, the mage pressed on. "What I mean is that the man you are going to meet in a few hours is not just a friend… He is the Hero of Time."

Kar's eyes grew wide and the color faded from his skin.

Suddenly, under the bright morning light, he looked like a ghost.

"Did you sleep like this?"

Link jumped. He was drowsing off for the first time of the night when Melody woke him up for good. He was sitting on the floor, on the blankets she had given him, his back against the wall. For the whole night, he had sat there, thinking about all the reasons why a Hylian boy would be looking for him, and it was only when the sun started to raise that he had started to feel sleepy. But it was over now, he was as fully awake as he had been an hour ago.

"I guess." He whispered.

Melody crossed her arms over her breasts and found they were swollen a bit, but paid it no attention. "Are you hungry?"

Link shook his head. "No, thanks." He got up, cracked his spine. He felt terribly stiff. "I'll be on my way. I don't know when Erk and his group will come over."

She nodded. "I wish you luck, then."

"Come over later?" He asked softly.

"I work." She answered, flatly.

"After. I'll tell you what happened."

She stared at him for a moment. "I'll see what I can do."

Link smiled to her. "I'm sure you will." He whispered, before leaning in quickly and kissing her cheek.

Melody stiffened, her eyes grew wide, too surprised to push him away.

He smiled and chuckled softly, and left the shop before she could react.

Kar walked far behind Erk. His heart pounded in his chest so hard he could hear it like drums in his head, and bells seemed to ring his ears. He stared, not seeing, at the mage's back as they headed towards this single house by the beach.

Jade's own heart was beating madly. She was afraid for Kar. Afraid of his reaction. But she was afraid of the Hero's reaction even more.

And somewhere inside her, she was nervous for herself. She was, after all, going to meet the man who had killed her father. She wasn't sure if she nourished hatred or admiration for the person who freed her from Ganondorf's terror reign.

A man appeared on the house's balcony. Kar stopped walking almost instantly, as he looked up at him. He was too far to distinguish anything particular about the Hero, beside his size, height and hair that looked like coppery-gold in the sunlight. Yet, the boy could feel this man's gaze on him, and he felt anything but good under that pressure.

Jade rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly. They were to stay here and wait until Erk would signal them to come. And then, Kar would have to say what he wanted to tell him, his father. He had insisted to be the one who announce that man he didn't know yet who he was. He wanted to see his face, his reaction. He needed to.

Erk walked up to Link, and remarked how the man looked much more fierce than he did the last time he saw him. Despite he would never be tall, the Hylian was now stronger, his shoulders were broader, and even his features seemed harder. Maybe the fact that his skin had been darkened by the sun also gave him a rougher look.

Or maybe it was only the icy, angry stare and clenched jaws and fists.

When he was closer to the Hylian, he saw his cold blue eyes switching from Kar's face to his. And Link almost seemed like he was about to growl.

"You really needed to come, didn't you?" Said the Hylian, voice lower, rougher, angrier than what Erk was used to.

"Link. I need to talk to you."

The blond crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't think so."

Erk's own anger started to rise. "Stop acting like a spoiled brat." Commanded the mage as he made his way up to where his old friend stood. He was a lot taller than Link, but felt so much smaller now. "Listen to me. This young man needs to talk to you and you will listen to him. He didn't walk all this way from Castle Town to here for nothing."

"I'm not going back."

"Link. All I am asking of you is to listen to this boy. And please, be open to him. This is not going to be easy, I assure you, but if you welcome him like a snarling dog about to bite, you'll just make everything worse."

Link's jaws seemed to clench more. Erk wondered how it was possible that he hadn't broken a tooth with all the pressure he was putting into that.

"Now, uncross your fucking arms, put a smile on your asshole face and lighten up." Spat the mage.

The Hero obeyed the first command only.

Erk sighed. He looked over at Kar, who stood like a dead tree, unmoving, farther behind. "Link… You might want to sit down." He signaled to the boy and the Gerudo to come forward.

Link ignored Erk. He rested his hip against the balcony's wooden fence, and observed the duo as they marched towards him. The Gerudo was one of the most gorgeous women he had ever laid eyes upon, with thick black hair, copper skin, sensual and yet fierce eyes and lips.

The boy looked Hylian enough: tall and lean, athletic, with pink skin that was starting to take a sun-kissed tone. On his head, sat a glorious mane of curly, golden hair, which fell over his brows and brushed against his eyelashes. When he came closer, Link could not distinguish the color of his eyes, but he could still see the apprehension and, maybe, the fear in them. If the young man had lips, they had been pressed in such a thin line that they seemed to have disappeared.

Link nodded softly to him.

Kar didn't move. He merely stood a few feet away, staring down at this man who was the Hero of Time, and also his father, and all he could see was the cold steel edge of his winter sky blue eyes. There was no warmth in there.

But maybe it would change once he would know…?

"I'm Link."

"This is Kar." Answered Erk when he realized the boy wouldn't speak. "And this is Jade."

Link nodded again, but didn't speak. He stared at the young man's face, noting how his name was absolutely not Hylian.

Jade studied the man's face. Because she knew he was Kar's father, she could see the resemblance in the features, but they didn't look as alike as she thought they would. Kar seemed to embody the Summer, while Link was made of Winter.

The Hero of Time raised a brow, showing his impatience.

"Kar… It's your chance." Jade whispered to him, softly.

It seemed to make the boy jump in surprise, reviving him. "Hi." He blurted out.

Link cocked his head to the side lightly, visibly not understanding why the Hylian boy was this nervous, if not terrorized.

"I… My tale is gonna be long…" Said Kar, his throat dry like the desert. "Maybe we could sit down somewhere?"

Link studied the young man's expression for a moment, wondering what he meant by 'tale'. "I suppose we can go inside." Finally answered the Hero, before he turned around, and opened the door to his house. "Be my guest." He said, flatly.

A moment later, everyone was sitting around the table, Link and Erk to each end, with Kar to Link's right, and Jade between Kar and Erk.

"Need anything to drink?" Asked Link, already half on his way to get water.

Kar nodded. The other two were silent. Yet, there was water on the table a moment later, and Kar was drinking it with joy.

"So, what brings you here?" Asked the Hero of Time, joining his hands together on the table, and looking at Kar.

The boy looked down at the table, saw Link's left hand was covered with a bandage. He stared at it for a moment, knowing what was under the cloth. "I don't know where to start." He finally mumbled.

"From the beginning, let's say." There was sarcasm in Link's tone, remarked Kar, and he hated that. He just hoped it would change when the man would know who they were to each other.

"I was… born in Castle Town." Started the young Hylian. "In fact, my twin sister and I were born there." He corrected himself, smiling lightly at the thought of Midna and her furry.

Erk's eyes grew wider as he stared at Kar's head. He had no idea he had a twin sister… He rested a hand over his chin, scratching his beard lightly.

Link caught the movement. He looked up sharply at the mage. "Something wrong, Erk?"

"N-no. Please continue your tale, Kar." Erk got himself water, as he stared at the table. He hadn't known that Kar had a twin sister. This would be even harder for Link, and his reaction could be more aggressive.

The boy nodded, looked back at his father. "I had another brother too, in case you'd like to know." He smiled awkwardly. "So we were raised, the three of us, in a great mansion in Castle Town."

Link nodded, waiting for the right moment to send Kar away, far back to Hyrule.

"I… Didn't have a bad childhood, I suppose. I was educated, well-fed, played a lot with my sister, and tortured my brother. My mother…" He swallowed his saliva. "Loved me quite a lot. But my dad…" Kar sighed. "Though he always provided for me, I never felt any kind of warmth coming from him. He looked at me as if I was…" Kar shrugged. "As if he disliked me."

Link's expression switched from closed and determined to confused. Obviously, he had no idea where Kar was going with this.

"I never understood why. Until… He told me." The young man took a great sip of water. "I stumbled on him, one night, talking about his plans to do… whatever is happening in Hyrule right now-"

There! He's gonna say it! Thought Link.

"I promised I would say nothing and never betray him. Yet, he… He…" Pain flashed in Kar's forest eyes. "He staged my kidnapping and brought me to the desert, where he told me to go and never come back to Hyrule. He said it was for my safety because someone wanted me dead because of what I had heard." He sighed, not fearful anymore, but tired. "My mom… She will never know that I'm not dead. I'll never see my sister and brother-" He paused. "Half-brother." Kar looked at Link, hoping he would understand.

Link's expression had overall softened, but his confusion was much greater than before. "Why are you telling me this?" He asked the young man in front of him, his voice a lot softer than before.

"Because… My dad, the man who raised me, told me before sending me off to the desert that he wasn't my real father…"

Link's heart started to beat faster in his chest. A bad feeling started to creep up his spine and made the hairs on his neck stand. Yet, he said nothing.

Seeing how the older man wasn't speaking, Kar nodded softly, realizing he would have to tell him everything. "The man I called 'Dad' all my life, his name is Isca. And my mother is Tatl."

Link's face turned white, and suddenly he was covered in cold sweats, his bowels seemingly turning to water. If he hadn't been already sitting down, he would have fallen to the ground. "W-what?" He heard himself ask. "What do you say?"

"I… I think I am… We are…" Kar seemed in a similar state. "I'm... your son."

Link was as still as a statue for a moment. Only the tears gathering in his eyes showed he was still alive. When he moved, it seemed to him it was in slow-motion. "My…" He blinked the tears away, looking at Kar as if he was seeing him for the first time again. "My son…?"

Melody walked towards Link's house with a certain apprehension. He had been too confident, too cocky, that morning. He was usually too prudent, almost reclusive, and his recent bolder behavior was worrying her. Though he had lied to her about his identity, Link was unable to hide his feelings and his personality. And Mel knew that he was stressed out, prone to make mistakes, and distressed. Yet, he tried to look strong. He tried to look tough.

But she knew he wasn't. He hadn't been in a while, she realized. Link had been dead inside for months, if not years now. She saw it now.

The night was beautiful with a clear sky, many stars. Far above, the Moon was watching over Termina. The air was warm, and smelled salty. It was a perfect evening to be out on the beach.

She spotted Link sitting on the beach, stiff as a statue, a while before reaching him. Laying in the sand, beside him, was Vodka, apparently sleeping. When she grew closer, the beast opened an eye and stared at her. It lifted its head, and stood before trotting happily towards her, its fluffy white tail whipping the air around it.

Mel smiled to the wolf as it pushed its head under her hand, demanding to be scratched and petted, which she did, until she felt Link's gaze on her.

She looked back at him. His expression was unreadable. It felt like he was wearing a mask… or staring through her.

"... You came." He greeted her, quietly.

"Are you well?"

Link stared at her as if she had spoken in an alien language.

"Link? Are you alright?" Melody asked again, getting closer to him.

He blinked. "Yeah." He mumbled before looking away, deep into the dark water of the Great Bay.

She stared at his profile for a few seconds. "You're not."

He lowered his gaze and sighed. "Why don't you sit down with me?"

Melody frowned, but sat down beside him. "Something went wrong." She stated.

Link seemed to be looking for his words. As if he wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come up his throat.

"You're going back?" There was a small hint of fear in Mel's voice.

"It wasn't about Hyrule." Was all he could find to answer.

"Then what was it about?" She asked, staring at the side of his face. "What could be important enough for them to come over here and find you if it's not about Hyrule?"

He shook his head softly, still not finding the words he seemed to be looking for. His jaws clenched and unclenched a few times, as if he was about to speak, but nothing came out.

"Link, what's wrong?" Melody's tone was getting more urgent, more anxious.

"Erk…" There was a hint of anger in the way he said his name. "He brought the boy to me. Because…" He shook his head lightly again as he stared through the water.

"Because?" Mel asked, trying to encourage him to speak.

"He…" Link paused. "He's…" The words died in his throat.

Melody's heart beat faster. "Say it, Link. He's what?"

"My son."

"I wish… I could hate you for this." Melody said, filling her cup with wine for the third time. "But you didn't know either."

Link did not answer. He played with his glass, looking outside at the forest. They were sitting in the large room at the back of the house where Melody used to paint. Link hadn't been in there much since she had left.

"How could you leave behind a woman pregnant with your children?" Melody asked, voice empty. "I don't even know what's worse. I can only imagine what she must have gone through." Wine was making her think aloud.

"She did well." Link answered. "She married Hyrule's greatest swordsman, and a honorable man. He was her fiancé before I… did what I did."

"You are the worse asshole in the world, Link."

He was silent a moment. "I know." He finally whispered. "If I could take it all back… I would." His throat tightened. "Everything Tatl went through. Everything that kid endured." He looked at Melody. "And you… I would do anything to get you back by my side, Mel."

She stared at him, but did not reply.

He looked away. "There is no… Depth. No end. To how sorry I am." Link whispered, voice unsteady, holding back a sob.

And then, Melody could swear that she heard him brake. Like glass shattering. In total silence.

His chest raised higher than normal as he tried to breath normally. And then a spasm or pain shook his shoulders, and his breathing came out ragged. And a sob. A single one, escaped his mouth, before he bent over, forehead, almost touching his knees. The wine glass fell to the ground as his hands closed on the side of his head. Another sob shook him, and something like a muffled groan of anguish and pain escaped his throat.

Melody put her glass down, and she got up, walked to him and grabbed his head, pulling it to her breasts. His hand found her wrist, clung to it, as he sobbed in her arms, against her.

She caressed his hair softly, not knowing what to do or say, or if there was anything else she could do for him.

"I'm so sorry…" He articulated between sobs. "All I wanted… Was for you to love me… For me." He seemed to cling harder to her wrist. "I never wanted this fucking life. I never wanted… To be the Hero of Time. I just…" He shrugged, or sobbed. It was hard to tell. "I just wanted a place to call home. Far from Hyrule. Far from whatever would be waiting for me over there. I got royal blood and I was just so… afraid I'd be sent back there and have to live like that… I was just so terrified you'd find out, and look at me differently. I've been so terrified all my fucking life, Mel…"

Melody hugged him closer.

"And now… This kid come by to tell me he's my son…" Link seemed to calm down a bit. "I can't even take care of myself, what am I supposed to do with him? I can't ignore him. He's my son."

"You'll figure this out later, Link, You're exhausted." Melody said, trying to sound soft, confident, and strong.

"I can't sleep, Mel. Since you've left, I just can't."

She sighed softly. "Tonight, I'll stay."

He pulled away from her sharply, looked up at her, with an expression between surprise and confusion. "Don't do that because you pity me."

"I don't pity you, Link." Mel sighed. "I'm tired too. It's a long walk to the shop." She shrugged softly, looking at his tear-swollen face. "If you don't mind, of course, I'd stay."

He was silent, the sobs subsiding slowly. He looked down at the floor. "This house is yours just as much as it's mine." Link finally whispered.

Midna was sitting by Sheik's side. The man was sleeping ever since Gregory had brought him to the castle. The last remaining physicians, those who had escaped the previous night's massacre, were also here. They helped the injured soldiers and knights, and one had been assigned to Sheik and Midna by Isca.

The young woman had been very lightly injured. She had only suffered a few cuts and scratches. It was quite different for the Sheikah. The lacerations on his thigh was deep, and it was unclear if he would be able to walk on this leg again without help, but he would live. The blood loss had been great, close to deadly, but a physician had stopped it and closed the wound before Sheik died.

And Midna was thankful to all of the Goddesses above.

She stayed by Sheik's side day and night, talking to him, sometimes singing songs she remembered he liked to hear her hum when she was a little girl. Meals were brought to her, and she touched them scarcely. She couldn't find the will to eat.

It was her fault that Sheik was in such a state. He had injured himself because he wanted to protect her.

Sometimes, Isca would come by and see that she was alright. But these moments were rare. The Knight-Commander was too busy, and he seemed only more and more tired, disheveled, and dark circles were starting to appear around his eyes. Midna wished he would just take her, Sheik, Gregory, and go to Kakariko, or wherever, and abandon Castle Town and its civil war. She wanted their family to be back like it was before. With their stupid, petty arguments, with her two brothers, and her parents together. Even if it hadn't been a perfect life, at least, they were all together.

She heard the door to the room open softly. She didn't have to look, she knew it was Gregory. He still smelled of fire, metal, and blood. She felt his presence behind her. Midna sat up straight, not sure whether she was glad or anxious that he was in the same room as her.

"How is he?" Greg asked, his voice smooth, yet exhausted.

Midna shrugged. "The same." She whispered, throat tight.

Gregory rested his hand on her shoulder. It felt immense and warm on her. "He will live. You should rest. And eat."

She brought her hand up to meet his. His skin was almost burning her cold, small hand. "They bring my meal here."

"And you don't touch them."

"I'm not hungry."

"No one is. But you need to force it down. If you don't eat, you'll grow weak. And what will you be able to do for Sheik, if you're weak?" He asked. His voice had taken that fatherly tone that Midna had grown to hate.

She pulled her hand away from his. "Leave us alone, Greg. I don't want you in here with us."

The knight sighed heavily, and took a step back, letting go of Midna's shoulder. "Your father asked me to check on you. I'll be around for some time."

She looked at him from above her shoulder. Her eyes were angry. "Why can't he come?"

"We found the people who instigated the attacks of last night. He is making sure that Justice is being served." Gregory explained, as he rested both his hands on the pommel of his sword.

Midna stared at him. He was wearing his armor, and was armed. The only thing he didn't wear right now were his helmet and gloves. A shiver went down her spine as she understood. "You are here to protect us."

Gregory did not answer. He stared at her.

"Dad is scared that the castle will be attacked, and he wants you to protect Sheik and me."

"... Yes."

Midna got up suddenly, agitated. Her large, blue eyes were stricken with fear. "He will execute the prisoners? Who are they?"

"Common folks." He replied, not answering her first question.

"What…? Common people are turning themselves against Dad? And they butchered most of the people who were supporting this revolution! They are going to kill Dad as soon as he executes the prisonners!"

Gregory did not move, but his expression fell. "Isca is strong. There's no better swordsman in Hyrule. He'll survive, whatever happens."

Midna stared at her father's Lieutenant. "How many people will die today, Gregory?"

"Six, if everything goes as planned."

"And… if it doesn't?"

"... More." He laid his back against the door. "Do as if I wasn't there. I won't bother you, my Lady."

Midna's expression turned to disdain. "I hate you."

"Olwen?" Called Tatl, softly.

The butler had been staring at a letter for a few minutes. He was stiff. The parchment had been brought by one of Isca's pigeons.

She rested a nervous hand on his arm. "Are they alright?"

He did not answer, but handed her the letter before exiting the house.

Tatl watched him leave, surprised. She had known Olwen all her life, and never had she seen him in such a state. She looked down at the letter and began to read.

It was Isca's messy handwriting. He had always hated to write, and she knew that her husband must have been in a hurry to write it himself.

"Midna and I are safe in the Castle. Sheik has been badly injured, and he might not walk again, but he lives. I need to know that you, Mathias and Olwen are safe as soon as possible. Send it by birds, messengers might be killed."

There was no signature. She remarked how he hadn't mentioned his name or hers. Probably in case the letter would be intercepted. Tatl sighed in relief. Her daughter was alright. She smiled.

And then she realized what she had read about Sheik. An immense sadness took over her, as she understood why Olwen had reacted in such a way.

He must have gone to pray at the Graveyard, she thought. The Sheikah temple was there, after all.

Tatl looked out the window, searching for both her son and Olwen, but she couldn't see them. She felt suddenly terribly lonely in Impa's old house. She gathered paper and ink, and sat down at the table, and began to answer to Isca's letter.

"You stay here. End of this discussion." Said Tatl, her voice firm, her finger pointing at her son's face.

Mathias was calm. "Olwen will keep you safe here. I'm useless in Kakariko."

"And what use will you be in Castle Town? You'll be butchered like all of the nobility was!"

He looked at his mother in the same way Isca did when they would argue. "I'm a good swordsman now. Father will need more over there than in this stupid village."

"Mathias! Your father sent us here so we could be safe! He does not want to risk getting you injured! You're his only son!"

The young man's stare hardened. "Exactly." His tone was sharper than a sword. "I'll make him proud." He walked over to a window, crossed his arms over his chest as he looked in the distance, at the crowd of hungry, injured, dying refugees. He wondered if Lance was among them. He sure hadn't seen him when he had taken a walk earlier.

"Please, Mathias… I don't want to lose my second son…" Tatl's voice was breaking. "Midna is far from me, Kar is gone… Don't leave me…"

"I'm sorry, Mother." He answered flatly.

Tatl began to cry. She sat down, and hid her face in her hands.

Mathias looked at his mother from above his shoulder. He felt like hugging her. But at the same time, he enjoyed to see her being hurt.

"You and your sister will kill me." Tatl whispered, as she slowly calmed down.

"Midna is fine. So am I." The young man's voice was annoyed, obviously thinking she was overreacting.

"This is fucking war out there, Mathias!" She screamed. "You think this is some training in the yard? Men are killing each other! Your father is the best swordsman in the kingdom and he fears what is happening right now! You can't go!" Her voice lowered as it got stuck into her throat once more.

"I'm good enough, Mother. Better than all the untrained commoners, for sure. With my armor, I'll be perfectly fine." He was trying to reassure her, but his tone was completely devoid of empathy.

"You won't be." She whispered, staring at her child. "I don't want to lose another one of my babies…" Tatl whispered to herself, more than she was talking to Mathias.

"I'm not a baby anymore." His words crashed on her like thunder. "I'm a grown man, and it's about time I make a reputation for myself!"

"By getting slaughtered!" Tatl screamed.

"Shut up!" Mathias snapped, glaring at his mother with a deadly fire in his eyes.

Tatl stared at her son as if she was seeing him for the first time. What he had just said, it had felt like a knife through her heart. Her last born, the youngest of her children. She remembered nursing him, teaching him to walk, talk, read, write. She remembered her sensible boy, the one who was afraid of everything and who seemed always clumsy in his big body.

But that boy was no more.

"Send a pigeon to Father. Tell him I'm coming. I'll send you Midna, if I can." Mathias commanded, calm now, obviously ashamed of his outburst. He headed towards his bedroom to pack his belongings.

Tatl didn't move. She looked at where her son had been standing a moment before. A tear rolled down her porcelain cheek. She would do as he commanded, hoping not to have to bury another one of her children.

But deep inside, she knew it was inevitable.

Isca stood on the large scaffold that had been quickly built for this execution. Six men stood beside each other, with cloth bags over their heads, and a thick rope around their necks. Their hands and feet were tied.

A hand on the lever that would open the platform under their feet, Isca stared at them. Already, the town square was full of people. Some were only curious, standing quietly on the sides of the crowd. Others were shouting insults at the condemned. But most of them, they were threatening the guards and soldiers, throwing rotten vegetables and anything they could find in their direction.

Isca had gathered most of his army around the scaffold, and a great part of them were between the prisoners and the roaring crowd, protecting themselves with tower shields. The Knight-Commander knew that he might lose men today. He also knew that he might execute more than six civilians.

But he was ready. So were his men.

In full armor, with his two-handed sword on his back, Isca was ready. He kept his helmet under his left arm. The people would see his face when he would push the lever. He did not fear them.

One of Isca's Lieutenants stepped forward with a parchment. It should have been Gregory, but Isca knew that his old friend would sooner let himself be killed than murder a civilian he had pledged to protect. And he needed Greg, so letting him die in order to honor his vows was not something Isca could let happen.

"On this day," Started the Lieutenant, "Justice will be served for the individuals who set fire to the upper neighborhood last night. They are accused of pyromancy, murder, rape, theft, and treason."

The crowd booed and shouted insults at the top of their lungs.

"This is why these criminals are sentenced to be executed by hanging."

The Lieutenant rolled back the parchment and walked away to stand beside Isca.

A women cried and screamed at the top of her lungs at the Knight-Commander. Her husband was among the soon-to-be hung men. Isca stared at her coolly, before giving the order to take the cloth bags off of the men's head, so their faces could be seen, and for the whole world to know they had died as traitors.

The crowd grew even more agitated as one man began to scream and try to get free from the rope around his neck.

Isca pushed the lever.

The wooden platform under the six men's feet opened, and they fell. For those close enough to hear, see and smell, there was a sharp snapping noise as four of the men's necks were broken right away. The two others jerked in the air until they choked to death. Soon, the smell of piss and shit was overwhelming as the hung men's bladders and bowels emptied.

There was a massive, communal scream of horror coming from the crowd. Executions had never been public in Hyrule. Until now.

The people needed to see what happened when you defied the kingdom, when you defied its Justice.

Isca and his men were ready for a riot. But the Knight-Commander was not surprised when, instead, he saw the crowd running away in fear.

"Take the dead ones to the Temple. Rauru will take care of the bodies." Commanded Isca to the Lieutenant who had read the sentence.

"Yes, Captain." Said the man, before disappearing.

"Make sure there are soldiers everywhere in the city, day and night." He ordered another officer. "And make them gossip. I want them to talk, and to mention how this execution would never have happened if they hadn't rebelled against the crown."

"But, Captain, the order did not come from the Queen. They could not have rebelled against the crown."

Isca stared at his officer, held his gaze until the other man lowered his.

"It will be done, Captain." Finally answered the officer, before walking away.

Isca gathered his knights. "We're going back." He announced, walking towards the castle. Behind, his men followed at a short distance. They had grown afraid of their commander.

Isca walked ahead, hair in the wind, and face as hard as stone.

But his heart had grown even harder.

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