I dunno if this is a tall person thing or just me but if I see a small creature, child, or smaller adult I get the instinct to protect them and take it upon myself to keep predators away from them.
Rhea shares her story with her “not-so-dead” brother.
Part 1 here
Sibling bonding is my favorite bonding. Also any singular mention of ‘Link’ is Wild in this case.
Most people would find long periods of silence awkward. Rhea was not most people.
All of the Links (that was weird to think about) were as silent as her brother. For the most part. So she was not surprised or nervous when she walked back into the house and found silence.
Most of the Link’s were gathered around the table, finishing off the last of the stew. Her brother was still by the fireplace with Twilight, if she recalled correctly. She smiled at the two before dropping the wood next to the fireplace. ‘This should last us the night.’ She signed quickly, the motions very familiar.
Link smiled back, hesitantly. ‘Thank you. For letting us stay here.’
‘What else would I do?’ Rhea winked. ‘Let you shiver in the cold? What would mother say?’
Link’s face fell. He chewed on his bottom lip, unsure of how to respond.
Rhea waved to get his attention. Then she put her hands on her hips, collected herself in a stern matter, then began to sign so rapidly, even Time had trouble keeping up. ‘Have I taught you children nothing? Why, when I was your age, I had to beg for food! Night and night again, I would huddle by any kind of warmth and was always thankful when someone offered me a warm hearth to huddle by. By Hylia, I would take a single torch over nothing! If I ever see you ignore a person in the cold, then I will beat you with a ladle, do you understand?’ Rhea’s stern expression slid away. She giggled at Link’s bewildered look. ‘That’s what mother would say.’
Link blinked a few times before a very small smile appeared. “Really?”
“Really,” Rhea finally spoke aloud. “I think she’s the reason you’re so quick at dodging. Her wooden spoons would fly about the house when we misbehaved.” She giggled. “Don’t get me wrong, she was a wonderful mother. But I do not think she ever knew how hard she hit us. You should have heard the ‘thwaks’ from her projectiles.
Link tilted his head to the side, clearly confused.
Rhea smiled. ‘How well do you know sign?’
‘... Well.’ Link admitted. ‘Though I do not remember why.’
‘We learned from mother. She was deaf.’ Rhea explained. ‘Father would speak and sign at the same time, so we would know verbal words as well.’ She paused. ‘Mother died when I was very young. I do not remember her well.’ Another pause. ‘For a long time, I was worried I would forget her. But you told me that as long as I continued to sign and cook, she would be a part of me.’ Rhea smiled sadly. ‘We always signed to one another. Silence was part of our lives. Most people never understand that.’
Link stared at her, eyes wide. He looked down at his hands, then over to the kitchen. ‘I... I had no idea.’
‘Now you do,’ Rhea felt her heart soar at that thought. She turned to the rest of the Link’s. “I’m afraid I don’t have enough beds for all of you.”
“It is fine,” Time reassured. “We’ve slept on the ground here before.”
“Before?” Rhea asked in surprise. “I do not remember my brother coming home with a group of heros in the past.”
“I bought this house,” Link explained. “In the future.” He looked around at the small building. “I had no idea that it was mine before the Calamity... they were going to tear it down, actually.” He paused. “I didn’t like that idea. So I bought it. Must have been a subconscious desire.”
It was Rhea’s turn to be surprised. “Tear down? Why would they tear it down?”
“No one had lived there for a long time,” Link shrugged. “No one remembered the original owner except that they were a knight who reported to the castle during the Calamity...” Link’s voice trailed off. “I guess it was me.”
Rhea slowly shook her head. “You moved into the Castle when you were appointed as Zelda’s knight.” She hesitated. “When Calamity Ganon appeared... Father took a small group of men to the castle for support.” She did not finish the tale, but she did not need to. Link’s eyes went wide before he bent his head in sorrow.
“The Calamity took everything from you.” Link shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“It was never your fault,” Rhea protested, “As your friends explained earlier, Hylia had another plan. Perhaps not a happy one, but a plan, nonetheless.” She sighed, “It is good to know the Calamity will be destroyed. One day...”
One of the others (Rhea did not remember the name, but it was the one with pink hair), spoke up next. “Where did you go after the Calamity?”
“I stayed right here,” Rhea pointed at the ground. “A few neighbors would check on me.” She shrugged, “But I was never concerned. Link and my Father taught me how to survive before disaster struck.” She patted the sword and quiver on her belt. “I can take care of myself.”
Warriors laughed. “Now that, I believe. My own sister cannot navigate to save her life, but she fires a mean crossbow.”
Wind shot to his feet. He glared at Warriors, “You have a sister too! Why didn’t you tell me?” He glared at the other Links, “Does anyone else have a sister? Or a brother? Speak now, or face my wrath later!”
After a moment, Legend hesitantly raised his hand. “Technically a half-sister. My father wasn’t exactly a loyal man.” His expression turned dark and the group quickly moved on.
Four made a so-so motion. “It’s complicated. If it ever comes up, I’ll explain then.” He refused to say more, despite Wind’s pleas.
Wind glared at the others. “Anyone else?”
Twilight tapped his chin. “Do ‘unofficially adopted siblings’ count? Because if so, then every child in the village.”
Rhea laughed at Wind’s annoyed look. “I take it you are very proud of your sister?”
“Proud?” Wind perked up, “She’s the best sister a hero could ever have! Uh... no offense.”
“None taken,” Rhea said. She gasped suddenly, hands flying up to her mouth. “By Hylia, wait there!” She dashed around the table and under the stairs to the second floor. A loud curse was heard before she dashed back, grabbed the nearest kitchen knife, then hurried back to the stairs. Loud scrapes were heard and after a moment, she returned. In one hand was a dead flower stem. The petals had long disintegrated, except for one, which had turned an ugly brown. In her other, a sealed letter.
She appeared apprehensive and put the items on the table. The signs were slow, and hesitant. ‘When you left, Link- my brother, Link, I mean- you would be gone for long periods of time. I was young and missed you. Everytime you left, you would leave something under the floorboard for me. Usually a flower or a silly drawing to make me smile, when I was down.’ She paused, touching the dead flower stem. ‘When you were appointed the Princess’s Knight, you put this envelope under the floorboard and told me not to read it until you came home, after the Calamity. You visited a few more times after that, but the letter remained. And after the Calamity... I haven’t had the courage to go back there.’
Rhea looked up. ‘If it is alright... I’d like to open it now.’
Link stared at the envelope, unable to speak.
Time stood up suddenly, taking the attention, “Boys, how about we step outside?”
Link looked down right terrified at that idea, “You don’t have to leave!”
“It is fine if you stay,” Rhea agreed. “I would not have brought it up in front of all of you, if I had been uncomfortable with the idea.” She picked up the envelope and looked at Link. “May I?”
He nodded and the nine heroes settled into their spots in chairs and the floor.
Rhea broke the seal, hesitated a moment, then opened the pages. Her voice was soft, but it carried.
“My dear little sister,
“If you are reading this, then I am home. This could mean one of two things:
The first situation is my favorite. You are reading this aloud, a big smile on your face as you finally get to read these ‘secret words’. I am standing, or perhaps sitting, smiling back. Father will be pretending not to hear, either upstairs or outside. I will be home with you. If this is the case, then--”
Rhea paused. Her voice wavered slightly on the next line. “--then there is no reason to read on. This is a happy day and there is no use on dwelling on what-ifs.”
It was Warriors who tried to excuse the group this time. Rhea ignored him and continued to read aloud.
“The second situation is harder to imagine. You are probably sitting at a table, Father across from you. There may have been an officer at the door just a few moments ago, or perhaps the Princess herself (I know you always wanted to meet her, Rhea). Or maybe someone in the streets informed you that I have gone home to...” Rhea stopped again. “I have gone home to mother.”
Link reached over and put a hand on Rhea’s arm. “Maybe we should leave.” His gaze was sad and full of regret.
“This is your letter!”
“A letter I do not remember writing,” Link replied. “These are my... his last words to you. It is private and words just for you.”
“I... I can’t do this alone, Link. Please...” Rhea begged. “I need to do this.”
Link hesitated, looking at the other heroes. Several nodded encouragingly and Time was already at the door. “We will see you all in an hour.” No one protested as the heroes stood and left the two siblings with their letter.
Link hesitated a moment, holding out his hand. “Would you like me to read it?”
“...Not yet, but maybe later.” Rhea’s fingers crinkled the paper and she began to read again.
“I pray that Hylia has at least left my body to be laid into the earth. I cannot imagine Father being able to move on without performing proper burial rights. I do have a few requests:”
Despite the subject, Rhea could not help but laugh at the next lines.
“First, I do not want a big show for the hero. A simple service with family and friends. Nothing more. Second, please do not put me in a cemetery of any sort. Cemeteries are full of sorrow and loss. I do not want you to visit me in such a place. I suppose I will not hate it if I am near Mother, if the cemetery is necessary, but I would prefer if you dragged me into Hyrule field. Remember the old tree we used to play under when you were younger? When we lived in Castletown? I would much prefer if you come visit me there. Then I may actually see you smile.”
Rhea was smiling now. Link shared a small one as well. “I can agree with that.”
“You would hate cemeteries.”
“They are dark, dreary, and dead.”
“It’s a cemetery!”
“And? Life should be celebrated, not mourned.”
Rhea rolled her eyes before she continued reading. “Second, I do not want you to cry every time you come to see me. You are allowed to cry at the funeral and for the first month. Then wipe up those tears and continue on, my little mountain.” The smiles had died now and it was silent for a moment.
“You would not remember this, but mother gave you that nickname. She always said you were the most stubborn little girl and that you would not bend for even Calamity Ganon. I must agree. But you are strong in ways I cannot even describe. And I know you can be strong now.” Rhea was now trying to hold back tears, her voice cracking.
“Please watch after Father. I know he will blame himself. Tell him that his failures are not the reason I am gone. I am so thankful for everything he did for me. He is the reason I am who I am today, and I would not change it for all the baked apples in the world (probably. You know how much I love baked apples).” The tears were now falling.
“As for you, my little sister: I want you to know that--” Rhea’s voice caught in her throat.
Link gently took the paper from her hands and began to carefully read. “I want you to know that you are the reason I am fighting. Yes, being the Hero of Hyrule means I fight to protect everyone. But you have always been a constant, even before I pulled the sword. You are my rock; my mountain. No matter where you are, I will always be protecting you. You will always be my little sister and I will... always be your brother. That is something you must...” Link paused, his voice getting softer. “You must never forget.
