FFxivWrite2024 Day 27 Prompt: Memory
Link and Zelda stepped down from the platform surrounding the Gridanian Aetheryte and both smiled as they saw a pair of Hyuran children run past. They bolted toward the Carpenters Guild and then to the Acorn Orchard behind. As they reached the Orchard the young girl behind the boy tripped and fell letting out a wail. The boy immediately slid to a halt and rushed back to her calling, "Gytha ye ok?"
She looked at the boy and sniveled, "No my knee it hurts,"
"Lemme have a look," he said gently taking her knee and looking at it. There was a small gash where the stones in the dirt had scraped it a bit but otherwise didn't seem too bad. The boy gave a grin and said, "Its gonna be fine little scrape nothing to get o upset for."
At that Link felt a sharp pain lance through his head and he stopped clutching it for a moment doing his best not to curse. This wasn't the Echo that had an ironically gentler onset with it being a pounding headache before. This was one of his old memories from pre Calamity returning. Zelda and the Sheikah had determined that it was a lasting effect from the Shrine of Resurrection. As his vision whited out he saw the kids move toward them.
He then found himself staring at the Ranch in Central Hyrule. But it wasn't as he last saw it. The stable and house were fully built and while showing wear of time not burnt out or damaged. Ahead was the paddock full of horses grazing and the track surrounding it with a pair of Hylian children racing on foals.
The boy, himself was in the lead looking back at a younger girl who was shouting, "I'm gonna win this time Link,"
"Is that why your so far behind Aryll? Cause seems me and Epona are gonna beat you and Clover there again."
"Not if I can help it!," she shouted as she urged the foal faster the spirited horse decided it had enough and slid to a stop flinging the girl off of its back and fortunately into a pile of nearly haybales.
"Aryll!" Link shouted pulling Epona's reins to stop her before jumping down and running to the now winded crying girl.
She was looking up at him sky blue eyes full of tears and she gasped, "My wrist hurts Link,"
"Here lemme look." he responded gently taking her arm. Fortunately it didn't seem broken, no bones poking out or misaligned there was a bit of a red mark across her wrist that Link suspected came from the reins she had wrapped around her wrists. As he gently squeezed she gave a cry and he pulled her into a hug saying, "Its gonna be fine Aryll I know it hurts come on lets go into the house." He then helped her up and together they went to the house.
Links vision whited out again and he found himself on his knees in the Orchard tears landing on the leaf strewn dirt in front of him. He heard one of the children ask, "Miss Zelda is he ok?"
"Yes children, this….this is something that happens sometimes…its a bad headache." Zelda responded
Link pushed himself up and quickly scrubbed his face and nodded saying softly, "I'm good kids like Zelda said just a headache. Lingering effects of an old injury."
"Oh so like Mr Wifram then." the young boy responded, "Well I hear his wife tell him when it happens he should get some rest and take medicine. You should too Mr Link."
Link gave the kid a wane smile and nodded giving a wave goodbye before turning toward the Carline Canopy. He heard behind him Zelda quietly say goodbye to the kids then felt her grab his arm asking softly, "Are you alright, I've never seen the onset be this bad…."
He nodded giving her hand a squeeze and saying, "Don't you apologize again for the Shrine, I would have died had they not taken me there. It was a memory from my childhood….Zelda….when we get to the room there's..something I want to ask you."
"Of course, you know I will answer you if I know of it. Your actual childhood I know a little about. I didn't realize the Shrine had taken those too.."
"Not all of them like most of my memories from before its fragmented. This one…this one was from just before I found the Sword."
By this point they had arrived in the Canopy and Zelda secured their rooms and in a few moments they found themselves alone in the room a gentle song playing on the Orchestrion. Zelda swiftly dug through her bags and found the herbs that seemed to have the same soothing effect that the ones the Sheikah had given him back in Hyrule for the headache. As she went about making the tea Link sat on the edge of the bed looking down at his hands trying to see if with this new memory he could recall any more.
Seemed it wasn't to be and he just sighed before asking softly, "Zelda did…you know my little sister Aryll?"
Zelda froze mid work and then looked at him anguish in her eyes, "Had…had you forgotten her?"
Link nodded stating softly, "When the boy said its gonna be fine the memory that returned was of my and Aryll racing at the ranch and she'd gotten thrown…" he frowned for a moment before saying hesitantly, "Her wrist had been sprained by the reins. Mipha had healed her because she had stopped by for a visit…" he then growled as it seemed that was all his fragmented memory was going to allow him to recall.
Zelda set down the pot and came over to him giving him a hug and said softly, "I had only met her a handful of times. When we passed through the ranch on the way to one of the shrines… She…didn't like me much because you had to be with me instead of at home…"
He gave a laugh, "I'm not surprised. I think we were close before I drew the blade. Then we drifted because of training and then traveling…"
Zelda nodded, "Aside from not liking me much she seemed to be a sweet girl. I…wish I knew more Link.."
He just gave her hand a squeeze then said softly, "Finish the tea please this one is bad."
She nodded and then busied herself with finishing the tea as Link stared out the window trying to will his shattered mind to recall the good times with his sister. Not imagine what she and his father went through as the Guardians tore through the Ranch.
