Hello! I think you should doodle a King of Hyrule and Link’s parent/uncle/grandparent design. Everyone does their own Zelda and Link, but I haven’t seen many draw their own important side characters!
OKAY I WAS ACTUALLY SO EXCITED FOR THIS REQUEST THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH
SO EXCITED IN FACT I STARTED A HIGHER EFFORT DOODLE!! SORRY FOR THE HOLD UP!!! This alone took almost 2 hours total (much more time than I usually have for doodling in a day), but rest assured I WILL be coloring it!
I think Rohan and Arn could've been friends if things had gone differently :')
It's that time of year again! I'm doing the shorter version of Color Fall this year (1 drawing roughly every 3 days), as well as participating in the Four Swords Fright Fight!
I also wrote a fic to go with this one:
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
I was tagged by @skyrim-forever @theoneandonlysemla @thequeenofthewinter @pocket-vvardvark @emicat1159
It was a long day so finally getting to sit down and look at your WIPs was lovely. I love you all so much 🥰🥰🥰🥰
-
For my WIP today I'll be sharing a little character portrait I've been working on <3
His name's Eren, and he's going to play a somewhat important role in the astor fic I've been quietly working on. Working with his design has been interesting because it's a challenge between making him feel like his own person while still feeling true to the source material
(Yes, this is Link's dad lmao)
The picture on the left is concept art for Link's family from botw, so that's what I've been using as a jumping off point for Eren, esp in terms of physique, and then using Link as inspiration for more specific things (like coloration etc)
So yeah! He has a name now! He's not just Astor's ex Links dad anymore!
Part 22 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - best to read in order, also on ao3). Warning for strong language.
Cold
"He's burning up."
hand big who…? Gone. Back? No…
"…Um. Yeah. He. That's. Hot. I… don't need to see what's under those bandages to tell you what medicine he needs, but I still want a look at the wounds."
"You're about to get it. Lynd, help me-"
Finn. I know, I know.
"Wait."
"Commander?"
I can only see it through this one, you don't have to keep telling me, it's getting really annoying, actually.
"You'll wake him up."
If you're yelling, it's still too quiet.
"We need him conscious."
Take the mask off, already. You're all muffled.
"Don't trade his consciousness for your own."
Don't be huffy, you're the one who hid the whole time.
"I can awaken him, sirs. He shan't lash…"
I did NOT leave youCold…cold, no no nooo why did it get so cold "cold" the hurting's enough it ohhhh-
"…out."
-ohhhhh… it hurts bad enough already, doesn't it? It doesn't have to be cold too, where's the blanket no no please floor somewhere easy?
"Link."
Father?
"Two men are going to lift your couch."
I thought you were angry at me.
"Uh." "Alright, we-"
Broken windowoahoh what spinning hoooh. Oh no no, no, you're not going to throw up, you're not. No, not that.
"Khh-hh."
Just ride it out ride it out so much sweat my hair is just plastered to me isn't it where am I?
"Eh-" "Yeah."
Can I have my blanket back?
"Get the cot in."
Oh HE has it, nevermind, I'm not asking, I'm just- just… closing my eyes… that's fine.
"Link?"
Zelda "yeahhh"no no shouldn't've said it like that I'll be in trouble
"How are you feeling?"
Not good. "Sick."
"They're about to redress your wounds."
Way to say it like that bored tourboat guide on Lake Hylia and what's he doing here anyway? "Didn't you say I forgot about the twilight?"
I get funny looks for that? He's the one who said it, not me.
"Medicine! Important. Here you go."
Huh?
"Link, this is Natsu. She's one of the Sheikah your father's company has been working with. She's a healer. Please take whatever she gives you."
Zelda says drink it, you drink it. "Mk. Gm-kk-" holy "uff- Holy Hylia-"
"Tastes bad, I know. Drink it anyway."
In all Hylia's skies, I have NEVER tasted an elixir this nasty "what- the- what the hell-"
"You don't want to know."
"It's- like-" what the frick is it even like?! It's the smell of a bird that's been dead for two days stuck in thick mud keeping it nice and juicy, and it's that horrible wildberry muffin I gagged on that time I didn't realize the ENTIRE underside of it was coated in green fur- "rot."
"You're not far off."
Well now I'm DEFINITELY not-
"Please drink it, Link. Purah- is flippant to be sure, but I suspehkhhct- kh-khHh-hh- her scathing remarks regarding the benefits our society would have enjoyed had we never shunned the Sheikah to stem from a healthy dollop of truth."
"There's also a healthy dollop of Sheikah magic to it. A weaker version's make-able without it, though."
She sounds so like 'obviously' about it.
"It'll help, Sir Link. A lot."
"Drink it."
Goddess- damn it, did he have to say that right as I was about to anyway?
Down the stupid hatch, Link. Do NOT breathe. "…Ugfv- vh-eh-eh-eh-eh." I was already shivering but I would be anyway after that, it's SO FOUL, and ohhhh it's also very much not agreeing with my stomach, is it?
"Yeah. It does that. You'll be fine."
She says as he wrings my innards out like a fricking dishrag, stop it, cut it out Sheik SHEIK for f#$('s sake your hands are NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE
"Sir, can you stand?"
Wow. Finn sounds different when he thinks I'm me.
Where'd he go? No no, she's right there. Wait.
CAN I stand?
Time to find out. Ohh "ffffhhh-" pain "hhhhh-"
"Easy…"
painHard to stand if your feet are on the ceiling. Shouldn't be there. Woa"OHf-"
"Got you."
Armpit up. Can't possibly be pleasant for him. I'm drenched. Oh, there's the table-y thingie it's kind of soft isn't it? Tables aren't usually soft.
"M-khHHHhh. Khh."
Nevermind, it's not THAT soft. Uncomfortable.
You're neither a table nor a bed, table-dude. You shouldn't hedge your bets like that. Pick one or the other. You could've supported beer. In cups. But nooooo.
"Ah- yeah. Get his legs up there."
No, I really don't want to lay on the bad table, it's a bad bed too, at least my chest isn't too bad the back's a thousand million times worse, so PANTS "hey!" Cut it out!
"Sir- sir, there's a privacy screen. The Princess won't see you."
"Sir, please let us. We need to change your bandages."
Ass bandages? "…I'm going to have… butt-scars."
"Restrain yourself in the Princess' presence, please."
Ohhh annoyed father. "She doesn't care."
"I care."
"Pff, nope." I mean, he does about the Princess' fragile Princess-ears, but-
"Link."
Zelda.
"I do care whether you receive the wound care you need."
…Oh.
Yeah, Link, what's the matter with you?
"Red elixir, I think. Miss Natsu?"
"Yeah. He's a little off."
Febrile. That's the word, right? Your brain's cooking, Link. That's why you can only see through one eye.
No, no, wait. They both work fine.
What was I looking through?
"Here you go again. Drink up."
"Ugh." More?
"It's different."
Oh. It is. Red. Good. "Mgh."
"Great. Twenty minutes. Then you'll be saner."
…They took my pants off. Sneaky. Potion-distractionNNN"NNNgmMMMng!!"
"Sorry-"
Ho ly
"sorry, sorry, sorry, sir-"
Table "mm-MM!" table leg right there grip grip grip
"-it has to come off."
harder harder harder harderHARDER
"O-oh…"
harder harderHARDER
"S-Sir Lyle?"
stand it
"Yes, Princess."
stand it
"Are you well?"
stand it
"I am."
STANDit
"Is- is it-?"
NoOOO-
"WhGH!" "W-OH!" "FFF!"
-stupid bad table!
"How's he that strong?!"
DON'T FALL
"Hold it up, hold it!"
"I have it."
Of course he does
"Erwier, return the other cot to the room."
Link breaks something
"Yes, Commander."
Of course it has to be when he's right there.
"Sh- should I- the bandages?"
Wouldn't need fixing if I didn't break it.
"Wait."
Pretty much always true.
"I- here, I shall assist."
I'm so confused. Didn't I make it all right again?
"P-princess, I can carry-"
Why are they still mad at me?
"Nonsense. You shall need me out of the way, regardless—"
"I am never angry with you."
"—we've too much furniture in here already."
Could've fooled me. No, no- no, Link- keep it together-
"Let us move this to the bedroom first-"
What?! There's a BEDROOM?! What are we doing on couches?!!
"That's it. Khhh-hh-kh."
Hey, he's gone again. "Where'd you go?"
"We're all right here, sir."
"YOU are, but what about Sheik?"
"My name's Natsu."
"Not you."
"Your fever is talking."
Ugh. He's still here, too.
"Eh- ehh… now the- yes. Thank you."
Always has to make sure I'm doing it right
"We shall have to shift the screen."
as if I don't know how to shield-bash
"Alright, I have this side."
all this stuff about swords being useless without courage
"Princess, I advise against-"
as if I ever wimp out and run away, though okay to be fair I did this time but we were so totally dead if we didn't
"Sir Lyle, I amkhH. Khhm-"
And why does HE get to be tall?
"-utterly unconcerned with modesty at present."
Lucky duck.
"Prin-"
"Hh!"
Zeldagaspscared?!
Oh.
…Didn't think my rear was a shocker at this point.
"…Erwier."
Aww.
"Yes- yes, Commander. Princess-?"
That's… wow, I guess she doesn't like it.
"Y- I. Hh."
Sad.
"The medicine'll help a lot, Princess. You'll see."
Oh. Oh, it's not about lack of pants. Bandages. They're still there.
"A- apologies."
Right. Right, you're hurt, Link. Must look real nasty to put THAT look on her face.
"Ah- Princess, with respect, I must ask you to move away from here. You shouldn't be anywhere near the used dressings."
"I- understand, Sir Finn."
Leaving again?
Miss you.
"Sir Link, please shift to the other cot."
Huh? Oh. Oh, that's for me. More bad tables. Okay. "Mg-g-vv. Hhh." Someone has to fill in those cracks.
You can do it, Link.
Huh wait "What…?"
"They're cutting the bandages."
Oh. Oh, no, more's coming. More pain. Brace
"Don't-"
Hey!
"Link."
My hands, don't block me.
"Link, do not break this one.."
Dammit. Stupid. Why does he always have to be right? Uncurl your stupid hand, Link, you can't hang onto this thing. You'll snap it like a twig like the other one.
"Kh-hh."
Your own fists, Link. Just squEE"VVV-hh!"ze they're probably less breakable thanpain the stupid cot, it's a cot, Link, you're so addledpaIN thearrowwasworse, Icanhandleit, the- the-
HE was worse, oh my Goddess how could I forget, snapped, snapped like a twig- they HAVEto clean- clean- what?
"KhHHh."
Is hepain actually doing that, or is it just my fever-brain?
Really?
Reallypain?
When's the last time he held my hand?
Is he just trying to make sure my painfist doesn't jerk back and break someone's faAA"FFFFFF!"
"…Was it the fire?"
"VM. Gh. Fff. Fff-hh. Fi-re…"
"At Serenne."
Serenne. Serenne. Right. Well… "Kind of, but mostly the lynel."
Oh, there's his face "fffFF-" so blotchy good thing he's got that beard coming back in
"Lynel?"
I'm usually the blotchy one, but no beard for me. Too bad.
"Link."
Yeah?
"What lynel?"
"I…"
Zelda
"…am continuing my written account as you speak, Sir Lyle."
Oooh he's nodding at me did I nail it?
"The lynel was in Serenne."
Wait…continuing? Did she sleep?
"…Inside Serenne…"
"Apologies, Commander. She'd- the Princess mentioned this, but at the time-"
"I understand. Is it dead?"
"Hahahahaha" OWLinkthrobbing "welllllllll its bones are still moving around." Oooh look at his facey face now, so annoyed, think I'm crazy, do you?
"…Princess?"
"It's not the fever. It's truehhkHh-hh."
Ha! See? "…What?"
"What had you by the neck?"
Weirdvoice. "A Yiga's skeleton."
Heyy, they stopped. Breather. Nice.
"Heh." His face went funny. "Yeah, so, be ready to kill things twice, now."
Link whatthehelljustcameoutofyourmouth thingsnonotthingsshewasaperson apersonaperson DON'T do this to yourself, Link, stopshaking, she was an ASSASSIN and you and Zelda were her targets, you had to kill her you HAD to.
I had to.
Right?
FACE HILTPUNCH
“BF-!”
HolyF#$&shecrunched
No, not really, right, in a weird f#$%ed up way it was an accident, I was fighting her and she broke, but if I hadn't killed her she'd've just kept coming anyway, so I'd've had to sooner or later, but she DID keep coming anyway so it was pointless, totally pointless, and is that why she became a stal and not a ReDead, is it because I killed her, so she's like some kind of vengeance demon, and Huiru, I didn't kill him with my own hands but Zelda and I put the wounds on him that stopped him getting out of the way of the fireball and are the ReDeads different because their killers are the ones who raised them? You killed them too, Link. Marc. Challa. Mizral.
Didn't kill Erl, though, wonder what happened to him and did anyone milk the cow again?
…Is he disgusted with me? Is that that look? I know, I'm s%$&tty at handling things. He could probably deal with it no problem. "It's not a problem for you, right? That's why you're holding my fist down."
What's THAT look, now?
"Sir Lyle."
"Yes, Princess."
"I- feel I ought to clarify. The two Yiga assassins yet- walk."
Fail fail fail and more fail.
"And- the lynel's rider is yet abroad."
Iron blanket.
"The Yiga's- remains- followed us along the canyon floor. We were faster."
Purple eyes.
"Natsu… how soon do you expect Link to be well enough to travel?"
"I mean. It's- bad. But maybe a day or two."
"A DAY or two?!" With THIS going on?
"What about the Princess' cough?"
"Cold air's bad for that. I have things that help."
…He wants us out of here. Happy to get rid of me. Well, fine. But "We weren't enough."
What? Nothing to say about that? Guess it's poor form to criticize someone with ass-bandages.
Oh. Or without. Burns. They're cleaning them. Everything hurts, doesn't it? What did she give me?
.
Well, this is awkward.
Master- MASTER!
Fi!!
"Stay still, sir-"
You are unwell! Seek medical attention at the first opportunity!
"Fi! Zelda, I hear her!"
"Oh!"
"Fi, Fi, I'm good they've got me, they're on my butt."
"Huh." "Wow." "Slate, slate-"
"…Excuse me?"
Who is, Master?
"The medics."
…Accessing.
"That red elixir. Any minute now."
"Accessing what?"
"Should've dosed him sooner."
Your memory, Master.
"Better he slept longer."
"She is indeed speaking again!"
"Yep." "Who is?"
"The sword."
Don't you look at Zelda like that. "She's not crazy."
"I wonder- why she-?"
A strange and possibly urgent matter is before us. I appear to have experienced a total energy drain on the cliffside followed by a time gap unprecedented in my whole state.
Huh?
"I don't- Fi, I don't understand."
Where am I?
"Dunno." "Sirs- sirs, where is Link's sword?"
"Just outside, to the left."
"Oh! Oh, perhaps- that may explain-"
Proximity is preferable, though precise distance requirements have never been tested. We were separated?
"I guess so. I mean, you weren't in this room."
"Pardon me, Erwier. Thank you."
"…The sword."
Father.
"It speaks to you?"
"She does." Wow father-amazed-face. Wait wait wait wait wait that's impressed-face. Kind of. Hmm impressive thoughtful considering Link's performance face kind of happy but not because he like thinks I'm going to get a big head or something if I know he actually thinks I did awesome.
'You're square, Link.' "Hahahaha, can't fit."
He legit still can't believe my backflip, though. That surprised the HELL out of him.
Huh?
"Here. I thought- if perhaps you held her."
Sure, sure, the hilt ohhHHhhh father worried, now, he thinks I might go nuts and like slash people but pretty sure she said she can't, she doesn't hurt people aligned with me, but wait maybe that was only the magic stuff? I mean if I hit you with a piece of metal it's going to hurt no matter what. Right?
.
Fi?
Fi, you must know the answer to this, right?
.
"Hello?"
"Link?"
"She- she's not answering again."
"What?!"
Yes yes check the slate what the frick "Fi, seriously, what's going on?"
Zelda looking at me, look at her stricken. What's wrong? At least she's not looking at however nasty my back and- ass- are. And legs. And "Zelda! Zelda, move away, you're not supposed to be near my- gunk!"
"Hy- he's right." "Oh- gracious, yes."
"Guess feverish boy still has some sense."
OoooOOOOOh oOOOOOOOH! Father glared at someone who ISN'T ME!!!! Oooh what did she do wrong? What was it? And why isn't he telling her off? He'd tell ME off!
"Link."
Yeah angry-dad.
"Give me the sword."
"No WAY, glaring's fine, but I won't let you go stabby!"
Oooh that's Link-is-crazy-face again.
"Go stabby?"
"YOU."
"…You… could hurt somoene."
"I could always hurt someone."
"It's worse if you have a sword in your hand."
"I'm not the one glaring."
"You are not in your rightest mind."
"Oh so you are?"
.
Weird weird quiet guess he's-
"More so than you."
Of course. Always. More than me. Right?
Keep it come on keep it together
"At least release it."
.
Fine. Yeah, I don't need it now. No moblins.
"Pf-"
Oh good, it didn't fall. Bad tables are good for something. Table-legs.
—---
Head.
Frick, was I drinking or something? I don't drink. Generally. Would be irresponsible right now to say the least.
Sure feels like what people seem to think hangovers feel like.
I know what HEADACHES feel like.
And that's definitely what this is.
… Um.
Oh crap.
LiterallyLITERALLY"Holysweet-!" MAKEITLINK MAKE IT TO THE WATER CLOSET HOLY FRICKING CRAP WHAT THE HELL WHAT DID I EAT??!?!?!
—----
Okay, Link.
Nothing happened.
NOTHING.
Nothing to see here.
Um.
Where's the nearest garderobe?
Zelda's asleep, right? Right?
Please. Please, I beg you. Let her have slept through that.
There she is. In the bedroom but on the couch? What the- weird. I'll ask her later.
Asleep, though. WIN.
I actually feel way better. How long was I out?
Water?
They left us lots.
My hands are clean, right? Like REALLY clean? I cleaned the crap out of them "hehm" crap out of them best pun I'm capable of under the current circumstances and even Mipha wouldn't've found this one funny. Tasteless, Link. Though important.
I… wonder how that gash in her back is healing. Did they stitch her? They must have.
Okay. Hands… very clean, Link. You're allowed to pour yourself some water.
Weird how normal this seems. "Gmpg." Wow. Wow, that is- "Gmpg-gmpg-gmpg-ghhh-" so, so, SO good. What is it, fresh snow-melt? "Gmpghghh."
Hungry, too. Someone read my mind because that jerky there looks really good.
It is! Save some for Zelda, Link. But you deserve some fricking food (no you don't). "Hfh."
Don't see Reida's face that way. Just don't.
Push it out. Likenope.
I said NO. No. I don't want that to be what I see every night in the dark. At least with- with-
Before this. It.
I didn't actually see his body. Alixnononono not thename, just nope it out nope it out just- totally out of mind. You can do it. You can- look forward, remember? Look out, not in.
Firelight in the waterglass. Pretty.
I'm… just not my best self right now. Or…"hhh." That might be backwards. My best self should be able to remember him without just- ceasing to function.
Rage.
I'd never felt anything like it before.
I killed those bokoblins almost before they knew what hit them. And I still feel it. Every single time I see one.
The disgusting thing is it's useful. Those bastards don't scare me. I want them dead.
Zelda…
Her breathing. So soft.
She has no idea what I'm capable of. Thinks I'm sweet. Right? So does Mipha. I am to them. They've seen me fight to protect them, but they've never seen me hunt. Stalking directly into one of their nests. Intending to kill every last one of them.
'A practical matter,' Zelda said.
She has this weird idea that I'm better than her. More good. I'm not. I'm just different.
Will I become that way with the Yiga? Like I am with bokoblins?
Do I hate them?
Wow, Link. Put the glass down before you break it. Tremor-color-shapes in the water.
I started looking in a lot more, didn't I? When I got to the castle? And then… even more?
I get "turned in" when I talk to Fi. It might be bad in more ways than one. Better to have those floodgates in place. I'm not… a good enough person to think about Alix without this red hot lava-stone burning its way through my chest- "Heh. Hhh-h- hh."
Wow. She warned me. Fi. About knowing too much about the past. Is that all she meant? That it's just too much to deal with? Lifetime after lifetime of blood, sweat, love, loss, and if I'm always the 'hero' the blood must spill over everything. I NEED floodgates.
I… huh. The sword. It's here. When…?
Fi?
.
Fi?
.
Still nothing. At least it's not lost.
…Is it maybe… am I the problem? I do like to block things out. Did I block Fi?
Wait.
…Oh man, my hair is NASTY. "Ugh."
Do I remember… hazy. She talked to me a little? Something about an energy drain? Or was I dreaming? I think I've been dreaming a lot. Fever dreams.
…Slate.
What time is it?
Swipe…
12:34 am. No wonder Zelda's asleep. Scroll up, scroll up keeeeeeeeep scrolling oh wow people were gabbing while I was out of it, weren't they?!
Why should that surprise me? What, should the world stop because I'm not listening? HEY!! Who said that?!? Oh my Goddess it doesn't say who said what or anything, it's just… just LINES was that him? Was that father? Was he being a jerk while I couldn't even defend myself?
'Is rather immature'?
There's GIGGLING. Or something.
'Less mature than Jessrel' oh COME ON. What did I do to deserve that?
Wait, they know Jessrel?!
Scroll up, scroll up, come on come on and wow, Link, they're right about you, you stopped looking for Fi on here and instead are freaking out about what you might've done that was so childish.
…I was asleep a long time.
"Pfffffffffffffhhfffff. Hhhh."
This is way more boring and SLOWER than leafing through a book. Glad we don't usually read on these things.
Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many dots. Zelda coughing. Only a little, though. Good. Though I guess it could be someone else coughing, too.
Someone building up the fire or something…
Oh, Zelda had stew for dinner again. Good.
This is her talking to someone, with her "shalls" and "oughtn'ts." Love those. And… the someone is… father. 'Sir Lyle.'
I.
.
Really want to read that.
This is it, isn't it?
This is my temptation. Like hers with my thoughts. I want to read what she and father said about me.
Except I have no idea if they were talking about me because I'm looking at the ceiling. So as NOT to be an asshole.
Her gift to you, Link?
Trust.
She said so.
Granted, this isn't what she had in mind, but it applies.
I'm not going to read it.
Just keep scrolling up, LInk. If you did something immature it'll've been while you were awake. When you're thinking, it does the slanted letters, so you'll know right away when it shows up, so you can just skim. Just skim it, Link.
Yes. One win for your nicer side. Or something.
Chat chat chat dots dots dots. "Hhhhh." There should be a better way to find stuff on this thing. What's this even for? The point of the camera and the compendium is totally clear. What's the point of THIS? I mean, record-keeping I guess. 'Log' it says. But it's just- if this thing kept every single thing its eye saw every instant, there would be so many pictures to look through you'd never find what you want. Just seems like bad planning or something. But the camera ISN'T bad planning. It only keeps what you tell it to.
Why can't it do that with the words?
Oh oh oh something different. Yeah here we… go.
Oh man.
'I won't let you go stabby'?
What?! Am I twelve when I'm sick?
Oh CRAP. I said that to my FATHER. IN FRONT OF HIS MEN.
This is so weird. I- clearly said and even thought these things but I don't really remember. It's like a dream even though it wasn't. Like you knew you had it and you can sort of get the sense of what it felt like, but nothing's clear… except that Fi definitely did say 'energy drain.'
And that bugs me. A lot.
Why does that bug me?
There she is. Right there. Leaning under the window.
The hilt. Oddly cold.
Something… something's off. I don't know what it is, but- maybe- I-
This is weird.
She feels wrong. She's always light. That's the same. But she feels sort of… empty. Does she look any different- "Woah." What happened? She's gone dark! The blade's always weirdly white, it is SO bizarre, but it's not, it's like- kind of like- ordinary steel. Is this a FAKE?! No- no, it can't be, the blade is nowhere near heavy enough to be steel and she DID talk earlier. Unless- was she somewhere else? I-
The whole blade. Look at it.
There it is. The bizarre shape. The top of the royal crest strangely stamped into it somehow. The utterly smooth surface, totally unblemished by anything, no nicks, no wear, perfectly, pristinely sharp. The hilt's inexplicable color. The green wrap.
Festival day.
Before she was able to talk to me.
I kind of… shouted at her inside and felt a response.
Worth a try.
Sit on couch.
Ohhhh yes.
Hilt to forehead.
Like prayer.
Hello?
Fi, can you hear me?
If you can, please try. Please. I'm listening.
Concentrate, Link. Everything you have. Put it there. Into the blade like you did even with an ordinary sword at the melee.
Concentrate.
Concentrate.
Energy drain.
Right?
She needs energy. Like I need food.
But…
Concentrate.
Concentrate?
Fi? Fi? Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi Fi
OH there it is.
It didn't feel annoyed this time, though. More like… worried.
And wow, I… got tired…
Damn.
Well, it's not like I have a reason to be awake at this time of night. Better eat a few more strips of jerky, slam more water down and pass out.
Wish Zelda was in here with me.
But…
Yeah, I can… understand wanting to keep her away from whatever foulness was in my bandages.
I feel a LOT less sick, though. Whatever they did, it's working. OR I'm just my usual way-stronger-than-I-should-be self and am getting over it. Or both.
—-----
Wh-?
Knocks, not loud, not annoyed sounding this time, just normal but- "ohhf." Shaky.
Up, Link. Let Zelda sleep if she can. Open the door, always ready, always just in case… "Allim? Oh."
"Sir- Sir Link, Sir."
That's a lot of sirs, and that's a lot of my father, too.
"Join me on the battlement. Bring the Slate."
Wooooaaaah. "The Princess is asleep. I shouldn't leave her."
"Look behind me."
That's… a lot of guards.
"They are to remain on watch."
…Is this okay? She'll- "She'll be worried. If she wakes up and I'm gone."
"One or both of you must accompany me."
…I really don't want to wake her up, vague memory, she wasn't sleeping? Wasn't resting enough- but no. She said herself she at least deserves to be asked. "One moment."
"My father wants me to go above with him." And there are his boot sounds… "He wants me to bring the Slate."
"Why?"
"There is something at the treeline."
"Hh."
Ohhhh s#$^.
"Something… what?"
"The Slate may know."
No wonder he wants it, my- "Zelda." Shuffling boots.
"I- Link."
Her hand reaching out cup it, cup BOTH she's shaking so hard! "Hey- hey, I'm here." It's hitting her, isn't it, the horror, she said she didn't feel it before but that can happen, it can take days, even weeks-
"Link, I- I don't feel well."
I wish he wasn't standing right there in the doorway. I should be kissing these hands I love so much. Squeeze them firm and warm instead. "It's okay."
"It- it isn't, I don't understand."
Is she maybe still half-asleep?
"Allim. Geffron."
"Yes, Commander?"
"Fetch Sir Finn at once."
"Yes, sir."
If I was sure I didn't have a fever myself, I'd check her forehead. Can't tell. She's felt cold to me the whole time we've been here, and I'm not sure how bad her shakes are because I'm shaky myself- it's-short-nap-shakes, isn't it?
"I am so- tired."
Her too. "It's very late. You haven't been sleeping much, have you?"
"No."
"What do you want me to do?" The light's so dim. The fire in here's not so high anymore. Can't tell if she's scared or sick.
"I- I believe I must rest."
"…Okay. Can I take the Slate?"
"Of course."
"Are… are you sure-"
"Yes, but- please return soon if you can."
One more hand-squeeze. Not kiss. He WOULD have to stand right there. "Okay. I… do want this place full of people in my absence."
"It will be."
Wow.
I must be used to him saying no to me or something.
More people is better. They can't ALL be Yiga. If they were, we'd be very dead already. Very very very very VERY very extremely dead. And…
You know what?
Fi's not talking to me anyway. Maybe… I should leave her with Zelda? Swapping artifacts. Slate for Sword. I'd… feel better that way. I'd feel even better if Fi would keep in touch and tell me if anything went wrong, but I guess that can't happen right now.
Damn.
Damn, can I do the thing? The thing that makes sure people are aligned with me? "Father."
"…Yes."
…Why the hell did he say it like that? "Hhh." Don't get sidetracked, just- "I'm going to try something. It's not dangerous." To you.
Other room.
Fi.
Draw.
Arm straight right.
Oh he's staring at me real hard, now, but he must trust me at least. If I were anyone else, I think he'd've disarmed me already.
Concentrate.
Concentrate.
Everything into the sword.
Everything.
…
Nothing. Except my eyelids feeling… heavy.
"What is it?"
"Not sure." Shake it off. "I'll take my old sword." Zelda Zelda Zelda. "Hey."
"Mm. Hello."
Wow. She'd started falling asleep again. "Sorry. Keep Fi with you. Okay?"
Nodding and- that's actually kind of cute how she curled her hand around the hilt. "Heh. here." Right beside you on that couch. Like a pet. "Heheh. I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Thank you, my knight."
You are very, very welcome. And… there's Finn's voice way down the hall. Good. He's- maybe a little bit of a jerk, but he's good at what he does.
Up and out- oh, and Slate.
"Can its outward light be extinguished?"
Guess he has stealth in mind. It was like a beacon in the dark, Zelda holding it. "I've never seen it go out." And he kind of looks like he expected me to say that. "Princess? Do the lights turn off?"
"I don't believe so."
"Okay- don't worry about it. Get some rest."
"Mm."
Hey, do I know this person? She looks familiar… "Are you… Natsu?"
"Sure am. Fever broke?"
DAH, I am not used to random people palming my forehead.
"It did."
Well… glad that's settled.
…Zelda didn't have a fever, then. She felt cold to me. Guess that's goodandHEY! THAT's what I ate.
"The Princess is feeling unwell."
Nasty medicine. Intestinal corkscrew.
"We'll tend to her, Commander."
Does it make me feel better that he does that snappy little nod to other people, too?
Yeaaah, yeah it does.
Shirt-
Damn.
DAMN.
"We've dallied here enough."
I know I KNOW "No clothes. All ruined or on Irch-" Oh? What's he pointing- oh. Okay, Link put whoever's tunic and trousers these are on quick, grab your old sword, baldric on"FFF-!"
Ignore father's 'you're an idiot' look, yeah I should've known it'd hurt my back, belt scabbard only damn that hurts too and go go go go he's walking fast. Behind you-? Literally no one else is following us. An army to tend to Zelda. Good. Not alone.
Get back fast, Link.
You can't- you can't NEVER be out of sight of each other.
"Be quiet, and stay out of sight."
Stay out of-? "How am I supposed to tell you what I'm looking at if I can't see it? That's why I'm here, right?"
"The Slate will look for you."
"Do you know how to use it?"
"I have observed the Princess. It seems fairly straightforward."
I guess the camera's not hard…
Didn't realize this garrison was so large. It doesn't get all that much traffic, right? This is the unpleasant way to travel to Rito Village. Most people only head this way for Tabantha. Then again, it's been built up. A waypoint for all the excavations in Hebra. Still, surprised the building is this substantial.
Stairs. Down. We must be in a keep. Squarish little room at the bottom, table, cups. Door.
What's- oh. Yeah, that's. That's smart. If it'll still let the camera see. "Is that a cutting board?"
"It was yesterday."
Some cook's going to be upset. Guess you could still cut stuff on it, though. Just the juice would run out all over your table. Especially if those nail-holes go all the way through. And hey, the handles might actually be useful.
"Slate."
No 'please?' "Here."
Sits snug right between those nails. Job well-done. But "It'd have to line up just…" Oh. It does.
Did he take measurements?!
Maybe THIS is what they were talking about when I was out of it. Shame on you, Link. Thinking it was somehow about you.
It is NOT about you. Keep reminding yourself. You can't let it be about you, Link.
Ha. Your father sure doesn't. So much so that he's not even happy you're not dead. So much so he won't even talk to you. About anything that isn't security, anyway. So much so that-
Oh. Is that what it is? He interrupted me. Every single time I started a sentence with "father." I got it out tonight once and he sounded pissed when I did.
Does he not even want me to call him that? Too informal for him? Or maybe he's just ashamed of me and doesn't want to remind people we're related.
It's probably that last one.
Hey, look at that. He knew how to turn the screen on.
He… does NOT look like he knows how to do anything else. He's just staring at it. Should I help him? We used the camera a ton on festival day, though granted I was scrolling, not snapping.
That'd probably piss him off, too. Like me in Zelda's room. Not my place. Except it is. Princess privilege.
…Not fair of you, Link. Calm down. He doesn't even know. Maybe he read his letters by now and maybe he didn't, but I don't know what the King put in there anyway and somehow I doubt it was, "I believe my daughter may be boinking her Appointed Knight. I approve heartily. Don't be a royal pain in the ass."
I still can't believe he said that.
…Seriously, what's taking him so long? It's not THAT hard. He hasn't even made a move- Ah! There it is. The 'bliingablingabling.' Camera ready.
And out without a word. Hylia.
"Crouch."
Skies. Okay, one word that suggests I'm too stupid to know how to stay out of sight.
Not a bad move right now anyway with how dark they have it. The braziers down at ground level are lit. Nothing up here.
Wow. In the dark? I feel even more tired. My body wants sleep. I- am supposed to hide anyway. Shoulder-lean, Link. Against the battlement. Head-lean too, apparently. "Hhh."
He mustn't see anything yet. Just looking out. Slate hanging at his side. Attached to a cutting board. "Hh-h."
Guess I get side-eye glare even for extremely quiet and quickly-tamped laughter. He mustn't find this funny.
It… isn't funny if there's something nasty out there. Looking for us.
"It flashes occasionally. In the underbrush. A light. I'd've thought it an odd firefly or a fairy had I not read the Princess' description of the skeletal creatures."
"…Color?"
"Something reminiscent of lotus-flower."
Don't swallow too loudly, Link. And don't- suddenly be feeling your exhaustion more. It's just in your head. "Sounds right."
His head ticked up. A fraction. And there he goes, lifting the slate.
And… snap.
And holding it out for me to see- Oh. "You have to hit 'save' to keep it." Like this. The view's not great. The board's too thick. You only get a narrow picture, it's blocking the edges… and… "stal…koblin?"
"What?"
"Look." If he's as confused as I am, he's not showing it, stalkoblin? Bokoblin? Coincidence? Doesn't seem likely.
Doesn't seem NEW, either, if the Slate's been around 10,000 years. But… I've never seen anything with these eyes before. "Can you zoom in? Get a better look at it."
"….How?"
Fingers out fingers out, yeah he gets it.
.
Seems to be having a harder time this time.
No, stomach. No twisting. Not now.
And Slate in my face again- "That's… not what we saw. It's not- the Yiga."
Tiny, professional nod.
"I am glad of that."
What was that tone for? Glad of THAT? But not something else? What the hell, did I somehow do this wrong?
Calm.
Calm, Link. "Uhm." Fist to your mouth, press out that pissy expression your mouth's trying to make. Get rid of it. "It'll be in the compendium- since the Slate recognized it." Oh, okay, guess it's my turn. Swipe, monsters please, funny that it distinguishes between animals and monsters, isn't it?
Here it is. 'Stalkoblin.' Is he going to crouch down here with me to read it?
No?
Out-loud then, I guess. Quietly. "The remains of Bokoblins appear in the dark of the night. While they're…fragile… enough to crumble from a single blow, as long as a skull remains intact, they'll continue to pull themselves… back together…"
And no, he's not looking at me to see what I think about that.
"…and go on fighting. Sometimes the body will pick up the wrong skull, but this doesn't seem to be a problem for them… Wow." Like Huiru and Reida, but dead bokos instead. "We're… awfully removed from the plain. Is it… does whatever that magic was… reach all the way across the canyon?"
"What makes you think so?"
"I've never seen or heard of anything like this except in old legends. Sort of. Seems weird that this would show up now, right after all those new monsters on the plain."
"The Princess' account made no mention of these creatures, specifically."
"…Not exactly… no…" The connection seems obvious, though. "Is it just the one?"
"…Thus far."
More side-eye. "…You think they're here for us?"
"I cannot be sure. But you should depart as swiftly as possible."
Yeah, I… haven't had much time yet to think about that oneUFF! Ugh. My hair is so nasty. Stop running your hand through it, Link. "We can't leave if Zelda's not well." Or if I'm not, but I at least seem to be mending-
"Natsu will go with us."
"…What?"
"Sir Finn is stationed here, but Natsu has duties elsewhere in Hebra. She will go."
"Nononono- no, us?"
"I can't let you go alone."
Chest things but they're stupid, stupid kid things and my Goddess, it's been like a day and I'm already furious with him, and he if he treats Zelda like some kind of weak child again I might snap. No. No way. No WAY. "That's. Not a good idea."
Ohs$#& did I just say that?
"Yes it is."
?!
That's all I get?! He's just walking back inside?!! "Father-" Oh OH? I saw that, I saw those fingers twitch, he stopped it but too late "what- why won't you talk to me?"
.
Oh-HO, no answer, I'm not imagining it, he IS trying not to talk to me, catch up to him, Link-
"Stay low."
"For f$-!" Oh s#$%, Link, do not, do not be immature and don't be unreasonable, just- "Yes. I know." Breathe. Calm. He's not storming off. And he wasn't storming off a second ago either. He just… doesn't want to talk. He hasn't- since- he left you at the castle.
Do I really want to know the answer to this question?
"You are unwell."
"That isn't why you won't talk to me."
"This isn't the time."
"For"don'tsayitdon't"f#$&'s sake, you didn't even write." LINK, your- stupid ass.
Keep it together.
"…Nor did you."
Oh? OH? "Is that what this is about?"
Woah woah he never moves like that, the weird, wild head shake like he's suddenly praying to Hylia, he just turned mostly away from me he doesn't do that-
"It… was worth noting."
"Okay, so that's not it?"
He's breathing funny.
And he's not answering.
'Are you ashamed of me?' That's what I should ask. He thinks I screwed up massively on the plain. Even if he knows nothing else. "…I don't need a babysitter."
"Hah. Hh-mph."
Ohhh. "You think I do."
"I think you're inexperienced."
"Inexperienced!?"
"For your rank? Yes. Extremely."
"I'm not commanding armies, here, I'm just-"
"Leading our Princess into monster-hoards and wildfires."
"It was her choice."
"She is also inexperienced."
"She's extraordinary."
"So are you."
Wh- woah, he- never says-
"But you were promoted too quickly."
NEVERMIND, it was just a segue to MORE CRITICISM. "Maybe that's because I'm good at what I do."
"Maybe it's because you pulled the sword."
"…Is THAT it?"
OOOOOH. OOOH I HAVE HIM it's about the SWORD?! What?! Is he jealous?! No no he doesn't do jealous. What the hell? I… kind of thought he wouldn't be proud of me for it (like a NORMAL dad would), but why would it be bad? I mean… unless he's just worried about me.
Am I allowed to hope it's that?
I hope it's that.
Please be that.
He's bad at feeling stuff. Right? That's why Mom has to suss him out.
"This is why I did not wish to speak."
What's he doing, no he does NOT get to just leave, follow him in, Link, FOLLOW oh. He's just. Yeah. Taking the Slate off the thing. Doesn't want it shining in the dark outside. And handing it to me. "Mom said…"
Oh yeah, now he's looking at me real close…
"…the best way for two people to understand each other is to talk… frankly and openly." And he's shaking his head.
"Understanding is not always desirable."
"I really, REALLY desire to understand this."
"Hehhh. Hh-hh."
That's… not exactly laughter.
If I shine the Slate light at his face he'll know I'm trying to get a good look at it and he'd just turn away.
"I do not believe good can come of it."
"So, what, you're going to keep ignoring me, except of course when I do something wrong, in which case you'll definitely let me know REALLY fast-"
"When you nearly get yourself killed? Twice?! Yes, I absolutely will inform you of the errors in your decision-making process and hope to hew some sense into your mind!"
"So now I dont have sense?!"
"You are eighteen- Goddess."
A temple-squeeze? He only does that when Muzu-
"Your assertion that accompanying you is unwise proves that, beyond a doubt."
"Are you kidding? Look at us!"
"Your life is worth this."
…Oh.
"The Princess' life."
What- how did I get turned around like that?
"Your silence says you know I am right."
There are...things I want to say to that. 'I could order you not to.' 'It doesn't have to be you.' 'We weren't enough on the plain, and you're NOT magic. What the hell good do you think it'll do?' They're just… wrong and awful.
Dammit. Dammit, dammit, really- really. Why… does he always have to be right?
"Can we… please. At least clear the air. You-" noOo, Link, no, no voice-waver, keep it together. "You're my father. You-" together. "You say I'm- inexperienced. I have no sense heh- ff." Can't even look at him right now. "Okay. I- fine. Then why weren't you there?"
.
So quiet. "If I'm so- flawed-"
"I did not say-"
"Let me finish."
.
Wow. That actually worked. "If you thought I couldn't handle it, why leave? Why stay away? Why not- be there to help?"
I think I know what the answer is already. It would be a relief to hear him say it. That he just didn't want to.
It's taking him a while.
I understand.
It would take me a long time, too, if I were him.
"When I left… I had no expectation you would be anything more than a knight six months hence. How was I to know you would pull the sword? …Would you have preferred I remain? Dog your steps?"
Dog my-?
"Better for you to be Link than to be Sir Lyle's son, in those early days. Or so I thought."
"…But I did. Pull it."
"You did. Our King informed me."
"…Is that- is that all it is? That I didn't tell you?"
"…I have already said too much."
"Oh, for- please. Just tell me."
"There is no need."
"I feel like I kind of need you to."
"Can you simply accept that I, too, am flawed, and that in this matter my judgement has not been so sound?"
"Wh-? What, did you think I had to learn not to rely on you or something? I've been clearing out monsters from Necluda since I was twelve. I'm not- dependent."
"Perplexing, then, your insistence on my attention."
And THERE IT IS. Holy- Holy Hylia, mother of Hyrule, he just can't not. "You know what? You almost had me convinced." Oh I see that tiny twitch of confused eyebrow, and I don't care, I'm sick of this S#$*(. "That you staying away, maybe, was misguided or something but somehow supposed to be for my own good. But that is so totally, utterly, and completely not it. Is it? Why should it be strange that I expect my own father to actually speak to me when we see each other for the first time in half a year?!"
Oh yes, I totally caught him in nonsensical bulls#$&, and holy frick, if he's going to go with us I refuse to have it be because I stuck my tail between my legs and did whatever daddy told me to because he knows better and I don't. "I know all the s#$& you said about me."
"Excuse me?"
"Telling the King my 'mouth was a problem?' Telling the Royal Guards I was gay?" OH HO, he looks surprised but he's not denying it! "Preparing everyone for all the things you thought were wrong with me so they wouldn't be too shocked when they found out Sir Lyle's son wasn't at ALL like him?"
"I did no such-"
"This ISN'T about me. It's about you. And how ashamed of me you are."
"I am not-"
"Horses#$&. You act like you are. All the time. And I really- really- don't need that. Not with- this. With what's coming."
"…I think… you do not fully recognize the weight of your words."
"Wow." He can turn anything into criticism. Anything. What the hell do I even say? It's like talking to a boulder. "Fine, then. If it isn't shame, then what? Why stay away and stay silent, and why the hell try so hard not to talk to me like father and son-"
"Because I'm not sure we ARE!"
?! That's ridiculous, mom would never-
"For Hylia's sake, you pulled the sword!"
What does that have to do with-?
"What was I supposed to think?! The child I thought was my son turns out to be the hero of legend—an ancient spirit tied to the Calamity's rise!"
...He... thought..?
"Were you my son? Had you ever been, did I- have a son?"
.
Holy-
"These- questions- weighed heavily on my mind. Would you have had me pen them?"
Holy. "If you had, you'd've given me the chance to say yes. You never gave me that."
"No word from you arrived. It seemed answer enough, at least, that you had no need of me. I'd have thought a son would inform his father of critical matters."
"Dam-mm. Ffhh." No, no no no this is still horse#$%# Mom almost never gets mad, but THIS would piss even her off, she'd have set him straight if he was home with her and why is he giving me that very pointed and particular look it's that weird one where he looks at your cheekbone with his eyebrows way up what the hell is that for? Two can play that game. "You never told me mom was pregnant again."
"I assumed she would tell you."
You walked right into that one, Link. That's actually pretty reasonable, of course she would tell you. And f#$& f#%& G#$&% D#$#&*(#$ of course it's reasonable for him to expect me to write to tell him I pulled the sword but I was so FREAKED OUT what the hell was I even thinking? I was thinking he'd hear and come running back. Right? Did I not want him to do that?
I didn't want him to do that, but the silence was worse.
HIS silence was worse. For two reasons. "So... is the Princess not the Queen's daughter, then? You made a big deal about that before. Our late Queen's only daughter. But she's part of all this destiny stuff too, right?"
"That situation is different."
"Is it?"
"It is Hylia's lineage."
"Pff. For all I know we're part of the hero's lineage or something. But fine. You weren't ready for it. Heheheh, neither was I, but-"
"Link-"
"-let's put that aside. You want to say I should've written to you? You're right. I should've. But here's the thing." Keep it together keep keeping it stop being wavery. "You're the dad. You're... kind of the one who's supposed to set the example." Guess examples don't need to be set if there's no parenthood involved, though. "…Convenient for you, huh?"
"Convenient?"
"An easy way for you to wash your hands of me."
"Wash my…"
"If I'm not even your son. Doesn't matter, right? If I say stupid things and start banging the other guys in the barracks."
"Why do you think THAT is what matters to me?"
"Why would you think I'm not your SON?! That makes a lot less sense!"
"Link, for- the love of Hylia, I asked you to understand my mind in this was unsound. I did not write because I was un- sound. You insisted on dragging it from me here and now, and I regret it already."
"I don't. At least now you're f#$&ing talking to me like an adult and not some shroom-addled preteen."
"I had no wish to speak with you this way."
Yeah. Yeah, he'd rather've avoided it. But I'm glad it's out. I don't have to worry anymore. I'll never be able to make him happy and he already found an out. All set.
"I had no wish to speak of this with my thoughts in such disarray."
He does like his ducks all in order. "What has you disorganized for once?" Woah, that... that was unnecessary venom, Link, he already looks-
"You cannot be serious."
"Can't read your mind."
"Hh. Hh-hh."
Guess this is funny. He doesn't look happy about it, though.
"Why should you need to read my mind to know what may have disturbed me these past few days?"
Would be nice if the Slate would read yours.
"Any thoughts? An inkling?"
And he's back to looking disgusted with me, great to be returning to form. "Well, I know it's not about me. I'm not your son, right?"
"Link-"
?! "Oh, we're growling now?!"
"I endeavored NOT to tell you this. Do not hold it against me."
"Oh, so if I don't tell you something, but tell you later, you can't hold it against me either, right? Like the sword?"
"You didn't tell me later."
...Goddess. DAMMIT.
What I really want to tell him is he's not coming with us.
But the irritating truth is he's one of the finest swords in all of Hyrule. And he's really smart. And experienced. And I'd be insane not to invite him along, him and a whole company of soldiers to help keep Zelda safe. My gut instinct outside? That it wasn't a good idea? He was right AGAIN. That was absolutely not wise.
Let's just start walking back to Zelda. You're not storming off, Link. Keep it slow. Ish.
Back up the damn stairs. Wonder whose boots I'm refusing to stomp angrily in.
I'm breathing heavy.
Calm down. Before reaching Zelda. Hopefully she's peacefully asleep anyway, but I'd rather not show her whatever horror is going on on my face right now if she's not.
"Link."
Oh. That one wasn't a growl. How about a nice, frustrating, curt nod in his general direction? Great.
"Is... there anything else you would tell me?"
And there's a sack of building stones. Control your stupid chin, Link. He would have to ask. After THAT.
People voices, low. "...There are things I would tell my father."
Just go, Link. Don't look back. There's a woman in there who loves you. Be with her. Let those other footsteps just... fall behind.
Wilting Heart: Seedlings • Lore Post (III) • Father of the Hero
"Seedlings" is the first portion of the Hero of Heart's storyline, referring to everything before the grand scale adventure heroes tend to be known for... look below to read some of it!
Link's father, named Arn, is quite fit for someone who mostly spends his time watering tomato plants and daisies. Given that he also manages pulling their cart, carrying deliveries, and the like, he has no problem staying in shape. With all the work he does, Arn is basically Link's hero! Of course, Link has gotten to the age where he can help, too. Any chance to earn a new task is a victory in his book.
So, when he sees his father cooking lunch, the young boy's first instinct is to dart over and see if it is something he can assist with. The contents of his father's cooking pot over the fireplace include a variety of veggies mixed in with potatoes. Unfortunately, it already seems close to complete. This is admittedly a little disappointing, but there's no reason not to ask anyway, "Do you need any help, Papa?"
"Ah!" Arn, having been primarily focused on his cooking, has barely noticed Link's approach. He flinches in surprise at the boy's suddenly close voice, turning his head to look down at him. "Link— Well, the food's just about done. I won't need any help here, you're alright." He was going to leave it at that, but, noting his son's expression, he speaks again after a pause, "...Buuut I suppose I'll be needed at the castle again today. Doing a sort of… 'check-up' on the courtyard, I guess you could call it. How's about you come with me today? I could always use an extra set o' hands."
Unsurprisingly, Link's face lights up. "You'll let me come to the castle?"
"If you promise not to play around while we're there. Those gardens are important to the King, you know. It's an honor that he even lets me go near them." Arn scoops some of the cooked potatoes and veggies out of the pot and into a bowl now. He moves on to another bowl after setting the first aside to cool off.
"I won't play around! This is.. important business! No playing around, I promise!" Link stands up straighter to prove how professional he is. He's so professional, there's no reason not to let him tag along.
"Hmm… you've convinced me." His father nods to himself. "I'll be heading there this afternoon, so be sure to eat plenty before we're off." Arn passes him a bowl of slightly-cooled food.
The Lone Father
Arn raised Link completely alone. He at first had some difficulty, though it became much easier for him once he realized how similar a young life was to a fragile sprout. It certainly helped that Link was able to bounce back anytime an incident were to occur, of course. (And, being Link, he got into a LOT of incidents...)
A Strong Character
Many people wrongfully assume a stern nature of Arn. He is a very tall Hylian, about the height of Rhoam in Breath of the Wild, and muscular on top of that. But beneath his tough and burly exterior, Arn has a very steady head and is a very careful man.
He is an impressive role model. He keeps his business small so he can be sure every part of it is manageable while keeping at its best quality (still shouldering a lot himself). Arn is gentle with most things but firm when he needs to be, and he is surprisingly patient with Link's antics.
A lot of other folks in town envy him, but with that envy also comes a lot of pity: pity that Arn personally finds wasted.
The Garden's Keeper
Arn and Link's house doubled as a shop— especially the exterior. Around Hyrule Town, Arn would make deliveries via cart for both flowers and garden decorations. He was in very high demand thanks to his craftsmanship and artistic eye. Eventually, business expanded to welcome other workers (such as Magda from BotW/TotK, aka Flowerblight Ganon).
After the Queen of Hyrule's passing, the expansive castle gardens were left without someone to serve as the groundskeeper as she once did. The rest of the castle staff was too grief-stricken to volunteer themselves, so the king reached out to Arn and offered him the job. Although Arn was hesitant, he accepted it in sympathy— the gardens were the last thing the King had left of his departed wife, after all. He now works under the head keeper of the castle overall, Impa, alongside other attendants.
He thinks that, perhaps, there could be more opportunities for his son this way.
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Masterlist
Summary 🌸 Hyrule is a small but flourishing province, united with many other smaller ones to create a larger kingdom. The provinces are said to be the most beautiful place in the world, blooming with life and celebration every night. However, the kingdom falls into a sudden despair when the Queen of Hyrule— beloved by her people— passes from an illness that had affected her for quite some time. A man named Arn is appointed to tend to her most sacred place: the garden she left behind for her daughter, Zelda. Brought in as his apprentice is his son, Link— a ten-year-old boy who takes notice of the princess's grief and, believing it would make him like the heroes of old, makes it his mission to heal the hearts of her and the castle staff in any way he can.
