The Legend of Zelda: Deluge November 1 Part 1

    

     Link shrugged on his old coat that had more patches than solid garment. Layrel watched her brother from the stoop of the modest inn where she was boarding, her slight figure framed by the large, dark wooden door. Still in her nightgown, one of Link’s long, old tunics, she shivered as a breeze from the river rushed past them.

     “Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Layrel asked briskly, rubbing her arms.

     It was Calan Galaf, the day after All Soul’s Night. It was still early morning, and the sky bore only the faintest signs of dawn; the grey rising over the trees to chase away the stars, the pink clouds. The sun was well hidden behind the woods that surrounded the Zora’s River.

     This morning in Oerbel, most villagers and revelers remained asleep. Some had already arisen out of habit and, in a sleepy stupor, were trying to go about their morning chores. Others, like Layrel, had arisen to help prepare the enormous, luxurious luncheon that the all gathered in the village shared in honor of the day.

     “This will be my only year where I’m in charge of the knot bread.” Layrel frowned at him, twisting one of the loose pigtails of her long blonde hair in her hand.

     Link shook his head. “I need to get back.”

     Sighing, Layrel stepped back, leaning against the inn’s solid wooden door, saying, “If you insist! Honestly though, you’re the same every year. You could stay around at least once.”

     Link just shook his head again.

      She shrugged. “Well, I’ll bring home some leftovers.”

     “Thank you. Have a good time.”

     “Yeah, I’ll tell you all about it later!”

     Link turned and began to walk away. Immediately afterwards the inn door was thrown open. Link looked back to see Layrel jumping off the stoop, away from the white-haired, thin innkeeper who had appeared in the doorway. Link watched as she shooed Layrel inside, probably scolding her for going outside in her nightgown. Once the door had shut, he walked away, through the village square, past a few houses and then out of the village.

      There were only four communities beside Zora’s River, scattered among an area of several miles near the mouth of the river, before the land grew too cliffy and rocky to build upon. Link’s town that he was headed to now was called Sliven. It was the smallest village and the farthest east, about an hour’s walk away from Oerbel, its closest neighbor. It was also nearest Zora’s Domain, which meant that the villagers were not allowed to expand their tiny village any further, even if this only meant leveling a few trees. Yet, the Zoras looked after the village, considering it part of their territory, even though it was easily a two day hike from the village to the Domain.

     The sky was beginning to barely turn daytime blue when Link reached Sliven. He hurried towards the village, staying along the rocky banks of the river. The village was composed of the houses of ten families besides himself and Layrel. The houses were all built on high ground in a close circle, well away from where the bank met the waters.

     Link was almost done in the ascent from the low riverbank that sloped up to the village. Keeping his eyes down on the ground before him, he focused on not slipping on the pebbly, slick slope, dotted with fallen leaves. Obscuring his vision was the vapor that the river was releasing like a breath of life into the cold air. As he reached the top of the slope, all he could see of the village were dark, faint, but close figures in the fog. Even though a couple of the families had stayed in the village during the holiday, there were no lights amongst the homes, save one.

     Hovering in the air in the middle of the large circle of houses was the village lantern. It hung on an ancient, yet sturdy, hooked iron pole that towered above all the houses. The lantern’s flame flickered in the fog, looking unsupported, floating like a ghost’s light. A smile tugged at the corners of Link’s mouth as he remembered how he had once scared his sister with stories about the lantern when they were very young. Reaching his small, wooden house, Link spared the lantern one last glance before opening the door to his home.

     It was small, dry and dark, with only one room. In the middle of the left wall, surrounded by a stone hearth, was the dark, lifeless fireplace surrounded by a stone cooking area and counter. The sleeping pallets were stacked near the hearth and Link’s boat and fishing tack took up the opposite wall. Almost everything else they used in their everyday lives was arranged and tucked away in this single room. This included a small shelf on the far right corner that held a few books, most often read by Layrel. In the other far corner was a door that hid a staircase which led down into the low, cold cellar.

    Stepping inside, Link’s eye caught the only mirror they had, resting on the bookcase. He could see his own reflection, and walked towards it, frowning at his tired, light blue eyes. After quickly running a hand through his short honey brown hair, he turned away, taking a few deep breaths of the smells of his home.

    Immediately after, he headed for his small fishing boat. Checking it over briefly, he looked for any sign of wear or tear that had not been present the day before. Finding none, he hoisted his boat up on his back and headed out the open door.

     The sun had risen higher and the fog was clearing. Link’s house was the closest to where the high slope the village rested on met the river. After taking just a few steps from his house, he stood above the cliff, looking down below at Zora’s River. It was not so far below that a good, strong diver could not make an attempt, though the rocks made such a feat unwise.

     Link stared for a moment, his brow furrowing, his eyes searching the water. A flash of sharp white caught his eye. A small grin spread over his face as, within the raging rapids, he clearly saw white pollan, looking like specks of light in the water, darting about in small clusters.

     Setting down his boat, he took about a half hour, as he did every morning, to watch the fish. He looked for movement patterns, how they responded to changes in the rivers flow, and if there was any sign of a frenzy indicating any predators were lurking nearby or had recently left. As he watched, the distant scent of warm bread reached him. Turning around slowly, he saw smoke rising from the house nearest his own. He stood up, hoisted his boat over his shoulders and headed down along the riverside down to the bank, trying not to think of what Layrel might be baking right now.

     The days continued on a solid, familiar schedule. Once Layrel had returned, laden down with bread and vegetables she had gotten for her services, life went back to how it had been for the past many years. Every morning, Link forced himself to wake before dawn and then woke up Layrel, who always had something unflattering to grumble at him. After watching the river for a while, he would go down for early morning fishing, joining the other village men. After returning to their homes for a quick breakfast, they would all go back to fish until the sun was high and the delicate white fish of the season hid in the shade. Some would sit along the low banks on the opposite side of the river where the trees tall trees hung over the water, providing ample shade for the fish to collect. The men would often fish from there, usually with a child or two, using simple fishing poles. Other men would tend to their homes, aiding with setting up fish to dry or smoke, preserving it for the later months. Still others would check traps they had set in the woods. On the days where the sun was warm and the breeze was not too cold, many of the fishermen would simply rest. They needed nothing to wake them but their own habitual schedule and instinct, and were always out working again when the sun had passed back behind the trees.

     After fishing again in the evening, they would return to their homes at varying times for dinner. Often families would visit each other for dinner, always bringing food to share. In this small community where starvation was not necessarily likely, but always a looming threat in the back of every adult’s mind, being in someone’s debt over food was unthinkable.

     Layrel usually loved to visit with the larger families, but ever since springtime, she had much preferred inviting their closest neighbor, Auru. He was both Link and Layrel’s childhood friend, who currently lived alone without any relatives in the village anymore. It was perhaps due to this, Link supposed, that Layrel insisted on having him over almost every night. This night, the twelfth of November, is one such night.

     Coming home late that evening, Link was still drying and cleaning his fishing gear when Auru walked into the house completely unannounced. He had never knocked before entering their house, and Link had never questioned it. So he did not even look up as his friend closed the door and was greeted by Layrel.

    “We’re just having fish and pumpkin from Oerbel,” Layrel was saying, her voice light.

     “Is it the last of the fresh pumpkin?” asked Auru.

     They continued to talk together, the sound of their voices indicating they had walked over together to the stone counter. Link zoned them out as he focused on drying the last of his fishing hooks that he had used that afternoon. Leaning back and holding it up to reflect the glow of the fireplace, he decided it was clean, but still getting a little old. Frowning, he leaned back over, staring at it. He quickly remembered that the hook was from a visit from the caravans of Hyrule Field just two years ago.

     I guess it’s lasted better than I thought.

     “Hey Link!” called Auru. Link knew without looking that the man was standing right behind him, probably grinning just a little too widely from the eager sound of his voice.

     “You almost done?” asked Auru again, this time a little louder. Link nodded, still focusing on the hook, running in his mind all the recent times he had used it.

     After a moment, he began to wonder why Auru was still standing behind him. He shifted, ready to turn and face him when the man suddenly walked away. Link heard him and Layrel talking in low tones. Shrugging slightly, he looked over the hook one last time before setting it down in its place next to his fishing pole.

     Turning around at the sound of a dull scraping noise, he saw Auru dragging the low, small circular wooden table closer to the fire. Link usually kept it propped up against the wall, in either corner next to the door, only taking it down for dinner, and sometimes not even then. Link rose up and walked over, reaching for the table. Auru’s hand shot out, blocking him.

     “I’ll take care of it.” He grinned at Link, some of his freckles disappearing into his dimples.

     Link looked at him, his eyebrows rising. “That’s helpful of you.”

     “What are you talking about?” Auru pushed the table near the fire and, after shifting it a few times to get it more even, stood back up, shaking some of his loose dark brown hair out of his vision. “I’m always helpful.”

     Immediately Link’s mind went back to just about every night that Auru had come over for dinner. Even just a couple nights ago, there was a freezing wind from the river and when Auru came over, he had carelessly shoved aside the rags that they had stuffed under the door to keep the chill out. While Link quietly stuffed the rags back under the door and then set up the table, Auru was in his usual spot, chatting quietly with Layrel at their stone cooking area.

     “I…suppose you are helpful,” said Link, tilting his head in consent. Auru just beamed at him.

     Later as they were eating, Auru had gone back to his usual behavior. He talked energetically to both Layrel and Link about all that had happened that day as well as whatever he had been reading recently. Auru had the most books in the village, though many of them were ones that he had borrowed but had forgotten to give back. Unlike almost all the villagers, he went out of his way when the caravans came to trade specifically for books, information and scrolls. It was perhaps due to his relative lack of outside exercise that he was not as stocky and fit nor as tan as Link and the other village men, though he was taller than most of them.

     Their dinner was reaching a close, and yet they had not eaten anything of Auru’s. Link had finished quickly, and leaned back on his hands, relaxing, watching Auru and Layrel. It always took them a much longer time to eat, sometimes well over a half hour. Auru talked so much and Layrel spent all her energy paying too much attention to every word that came out of Auru’s mouth. Even now her food was half-finished as she leaned her elbows on the table and cupped her chin in her hands, watching Auru, her eyes half-shut. Link could not decide if she looked more enthralled or tired.

     After a few more minutes, Link spoke up during a moment of silence. “Auru?”

     “Huh? What is it?” He looked a little strange with a large, white pumpkin seed stuck to the side of his cheek. Link supposed he could not tell it was there.

     “What did you bring for tonight?”

     Immediately Auru looked over at Layrel, who met his gaze. She smiled and stood up, walking over to the stone counter. Upon it was a plain wooden bowl that she picked up and carefully carried it over, cradling it. As she set it on the table, Link sat up straight to look at its contents. His mouth immediately watered.

     Inside was dried fruit, just enough for each of them, with just the slightest traces of sugar making each piece sparkle. There were primarily apples, but there were also a few strawberries and blackcurrants. The deep reddish orange of the apples’ outside peel and its bright white flesh contrasted like sunlight on delicious white, flowing water. The sugary pink ruby of the strawberries and the dark, deep purple of the blackcurrants on the side gave the impression of an edible, juicy jewel box. The faint, sweet scent of the dried fruit wafted up to Link and his mouth fell open.

     He did not bother trying to ask where and when the fruits were from, knowing that he would be hardly able to articulate anything. Before he knew it they had hastily divided the fruit amongst themselves and had slowly eaten them. Soon Link was on his last piece, his only strawberry. He took his time, savoring it, feeling like summer was back again for that moment. Leaning back, he gave a small sigh of contentment.

     “Say, Link,” spoke up Auru, “how would you say the fish is looking from here on out?”

     Link just shrugged. Fish seemed so irrelevant at the present moment. He did not even look at Auru, but concentrated on the dried fruit slowly melting away in his mouth.

     “Do you think that the season is almost over?”

     Now Link looked at him. He quickly chewed and swallowed the strawberry. “I guess, but the season is never really over, is it?”

     “Well, our cellars are really full already,” said Layrel, glancing once at Auru before focusing on Link. “I mean, this has been a really great year. I’d say we don’t really have much else to do before winter at all.”

     “I suppose.” Link scratched at the faint stubble on his seventeen-year-old chin. “Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?” He looked at Auru, who looked him straight in the eye as he always did.

     “The thing is,” he gulped, “I’m thinking of going to Hyrule Castle City.”

     Link stared at him. Auru did not look away and his expression remained series, his brow furrowing slightly. Link looked over at Layrel, who nodded.

     “That’s sudden,” said Link, his gaze turning back to Auru, who looked just a little pale. “Why?”

     Auru did not look away, but for some reason had stopped blinking. “That is, I want to look for a, uh,” he cleared his throat and lowered his voice a little, “a proper engagement necklace or ring.”

     His eyes wide, Link grabbed at the table. “Really? I didn’t know!”

     Grinning, Auru nodded vigorously, color rushing back into his cheeks. “Yep, we’ve already agreed. We just need to go through all the formalities now.”

     “That’s great! Though, wait…” Link tilted his head, frowning. “Who is it? What girl are you engaged to?”

     Layrel cleared her throat loudly. Link looked at her and she nodded again. “He asked me this summer, during the Lammas feast, Link.”

     After staring at her for a moment, Link hastily made to stand up, but stopped himself and sat back down again, unsure what to do. He realized they were holding hands. Suddenly, he recalled all the times over the past year that he had seen them holding hands. It was indeed too many to count. Generally, holding hands was not such a big deal in the river villages. It only meant something if you were actually engaged or married, and Link had dismissed the gesture up til now.

     “Link, don’t be upset, please,” said Layrel, biting on her lower lip, her eyes worried.

     “I-I sorta thought you already knew about it,” said Auru.

     “I’m not—” Looking down, Link glared at the floor, deciding to keep his mouth shut.

     After a while, he looked back up at them, clenching at his knees under the table as he asked, “How long has this been going on, even before you got engaged?”

     “Since last All Soul’s Night, I think.” Auru smiled at Layrel in a warm, soft way that Link had never seen on his face before. “We were a little undecided for a while, but ever since this summer…”

     Layrel was beaming back at Auru, her eyes lively and shining. “We just, really realized just how much we love each other.” Meeting Link’s gaze squarely, she said in a warm voice, “Link, I love him. We love each other.”

     Link looked at Auru, then to Layrel, and then back again.  Auru did not move to let go of Layrel’s hand, nor did he lean away or fidget, or make any gesture of uncertainty.

     Taking a deep breath, Link slowly, silently let it out as he ran a hand through his hair. “I just need to think about this.”

     “What does that mean? Is there really anything to think about?” Layrel leaned towards him, glaring just a little. “Come on, Link, I know I’m a little young—”

     “Sixteen,” Link said automatically.

     “Well, some people do get married at sixteen!”

     “You want to marry this year?” Link looked at Auru who just nodded.

     “This spring, actually,” he said.

     Link frowned severely, more at himself than at anyone else as he thought, They are both really certain. And…it’s not like they’d be a bad match. Auru’s smart and he knows a lot from reading so much, but he’s not practical at all. Layrel is, though. She’s worse at getting up in the morning than I am, but otherwise, she’s always ready and aware. Even before grandmother died, she’s always been taking perfect care of things around the house. She’s always been a good homemaker, and that won’t change just because she’s married. And I can manage without her, can’t I?

     “Link?”

     He looked up, seeing the young couple looking at him, concern written almost identically on their faces.

     “What’s wrong?” he asked simply.

     “You look so serious,” Layrel said, smiling nervously.

     “I know this takes a lot of thought, Link,” said Auru, “but we really want your approval. And I’d like you to go with me to Castle City, to get the engagement necklace or ring, or whatever’s best for Layrel that I can find.”

     “You…want me to go with you?” Link asked, clasping his hands on the table.

     Before Auru could answer, Layrel quickly said, “Think about it, Link! I know you and Auru haven’t had much one-on-one time since grandfather and grandmother died, right?”

     Link had to nod in agreement. The absence of the hours of free time spent wandering, exploring and learning with Auru was one of the signs that they were no longer children. Despite the history they shared, Link had to admit things had changed between them.

     He’s more like everyone else in the village, more like just another neighbor, than he used to be.

     “You can use this time to get reacquainted, “ Layrel said, smiling encouragingly. “You’ll see. Believe me, Auru and I are made for each other, Link!”

     “And it’ll be a lot of fun.” Auru was smiling too broadly again. “Layrel already talked with Purel about them helping each other out and looking after each other more while we’re gone. Even if we get stuck because of some weather, she’ll have plenty of help and supplies for the winter, especially since she’ll just be here with food prepared for the two of you!”

     “But…” Link gulped. The distant, shadowy concept of the Castle City was swimming before his mind’s eye like a reflection in a ripple. The caravan merchants told of spiraling white towers of the castle and temple, as well as a city full with more people than the villagers could imagine. It was distant, exotic and mysterious, something to think and hear about but never approach. Yet, as Link thought about it now, his heart began to beat faster, though he was not sure if it was from anxiousness or excitement.

     “I don’t think I’d mind going,” he admitted, “but, I’m not going to decide right now.” Their expressions fell as he went on, “I’m going to sleep on it, and then I’ll get back to you two tomorrow morning. I just can’t decide right now.”

     Auru’s expression became a little dark, but he just said, “Whatever you like. This is your choice, after all. I don’t want to rush you.”

     Layrel rubbed her face wearily with her hand. “Fine, fine. I know you, you always do this.” She gave Auru a tired look. “That’s why I said we should ask tomorrow morning.”

     “Well, we’ll have to leave at noon tomorrow to meet the caravan out in the field,” Auru said, looking back at Link, his face lighter. “We’ll go out with them to the plains, since they’ll be going down to the city. That’s what they do every year, it’s their route, and they don’t mind extra travelers as long as we don’t get in their way.”

     “How long is the trip?” Link asked.

     “We’d probably reach the city on the morning of the fourth day.”

      Link nodded, then stood up and silently began to clear the table. The other two worked in silence other than occasional shared whispers. Despite having ignored them so easily earlier, every time the couple began to whisper, Link kept looking towards the door, wanting make them go outside. Soon everything was put away, and Auru left quickly. When they thought Link’s back was turned, they embraced each other in a farewell.

     After cleaning up, Link and Layrel pulled the pallets out and were soon getting ready to sleep. The fire was alive on steady embers, wrapping them in both the warmth and scent of the burning river-wood. They had worked and settled down in silence. Curling up in his pallet underneath an old quilt that his grandmother made him shortly before her death, Link tried hard not to think about Layrel and Auru. After rolling over restlessly many times, he forced himself to settle, focusing on relaxing his body. After a moment, his sister’s voice came out of the darkness.

     “Link?”

     “What is it?”

     “When I say I love Auru, I really mean it,” she said in a hushed voice, as if thousands might overhear if she spoke any louder. “I love him more than anything, anyone. He’s—we’re so good together. I think we were made for each other. I know you’ve never been in love, but this is real, it’s just…” She sighed. “I don’t think there’s anyone that could ever make me happier than him, and there’s nothing else I want to be as much as I want to be his wife. I think, no, I really, really feel that being with him, marrying him, it’s what I was born to do.”

     Link rolled over on his pallet again, frowning deeply, unsure how to respond, but eventually deciding to go with, “I see. I’ll definitely remember, Layrel.”

     “I hope so. Good night.”

     The next morning, for the first time in many years, Link was awoken by Layrel. Rolling over, he opened his eyes reluctantly, groaning sleepily. Slowly he sat up, looking around the room in a stupor. The sun was shining in through the cracks of the shutters covering their windows.

    Layrel was getting the fire going again for the day, stoking its reviving flames with their old iron poker that she had swindled out of a merchant the last time the caravan came. Glancing over at him as he slowly stood up, she smirked.

     “Didn’t sleep very well?”

      Memories of the long night spent trying not to think, tossing and turning and then staring at the ceiling and trying to let sleep come came to Link. He shook his head.

     “Did you…” She bit her lip, then said carelessly, “Well, anyways, this is the rest day for the month, so don’t worry about sleeping in, okay? Like we said last night, there’s not too much to be done today.”

     “How late is it?” asked Link, stretching.

     “It’s a fair while past sunrise. But no one is really out fishing today.” A smile lit up her face as she turned away back to the fire as Link started to get dressed. “The Zoras are coming down today, everyone was saying, so they’ll probably be fishing later.”

    “When are they coming?”

    “Most of them are coming much later, in the afternoon, but I think your friend is going to come earlier, in about a half-hour.”

     Slipping on his belt and tightening it, Link nodded. “Alright. I’ll be going, then. Don’t worry about breakfast.”

     “Link.”

    He looked up to see Layrel facing him, her face set, her poker gripped tightly. She noticed him looking at it and hastily placed it by the fire, then turned back on him, saying, “Noon is just in a couple hours. Are you going with Auru?”

    Looking away, Link said, “I haven’t decided yet.”

    “You certainly had all night to think,” snapped Layrel, folding her arms. “You kept me awake, tossing, turning, grumbling to yourself.”

     “I don’t remember the grumbling…nevermind, I just need to think a little more.” He headed for the door, saying, “I’ll let you know soon.”

     Layrel hissed something under her breath, but before she could call after him, Link had hurried outside. Shutting the door firmly behind him, but not slamming it, Link turned away to the village. Few people were out; most were still inside for a long, leisurely breakfast. He walked out of the village, not down to the banks, but away towards the Domain.

      Sliven was settled on a level area of grass and dirt, but just about a fourth a mile away the riverside was narrowed and stony. Here the river was much wider, shallower and flowed slower. Link was now walking and climbing along the uneven, smooth, large stones that composed the bank. On his right was the river, and on his left were the woods, both just about ten strides away.

     About twenty minutes later Link stopped, climbing down the stones until he reached one that hung out low, meeting the water. He sat down there, looking at the water. Instinctively he began to search for fish and immersed himself in this task. The steady, smooth flow of the wide river allowed for many fish, and multiple swarms of minnows and pollan were scattered about the water. After a few minutes, the pollan vanished, fleeing. Link looked up, seeing something bright, large and silver coming down the river.

    Soon the silver creature swam down near Link. A Zora’s head popped out of the water, grey and white with dark blue eyes. After spotting him, she submerged again, swimming over to him.

    “Good morning, Laruto,” greeted Link as she reached him, climbing up on the rock next to him. Her grey-blue skin of fine scales was soaking wet. Water flowed down the long fin that hung like hair down behind her head, reaching past her waist, curving like a dolphin’s tail. The end of this fin, and the fins on her arms that looked like long, loose, wavy fabric, had uneven dark blue spots. Clothes were not needed for modesty thanks to the Zora physique, and so all she had on was a petrified rope necklace with a pearl attached to it.

    “How are you doing, Link?” She smiled at him, her pointed teeth showing, white and sharp. “You look a little tired.”

    He sighed, lying back on the stone. “I was up all night. Thinking.”

    “That’s rare. You being up all night, that is.”

     Link nodded, then looked at her. “How are you doing?”

    “Fine. My job has been going well.” She leaned back against a stone, pursing her lips. “You’d think that working in the graveyard, so far underground away from running water would get to me. But I really don’t mind. It’s damp enough after all, and it’s so peaceful.”

    “The graveyard is beneath the Zora’s Domain, right?”

    “Yes. It’s a very quiet place. And it’s very important work, too, keeping everything clean, keeping the rooms with the graves sealed, setting up the fires at the right times in the right places, saying the daily prayers…” She stood up straight, smiling. “Proper work for a princess, even if I’m just one out of four. But, I’m happy with it. I’ve wanted to work there all my life.”

    Link smiled, thinking of all the times Laruto had told him about the graveyard. “You’ve been talking about it for over ten years now.”

    “Ten years?” She whistled. “It’s hard to believe. So much has changed. Well, except for you. Not that that’s a bad thing.”

     Sitting back up, Link said, “I think I’m going to Castle City.”

    “What? The city?” Laruto stared at him, her eyes wide in shock.

    “Yes. Layrel has also found out what she wants to do.”

    Laruto’s brow knit as she asked, “Oh, you mean her marriage?”

     “What?” Link frowned at her. “You knew?”

    “I’ve seen her and Auru making eyes at each other and whispering together and holding hands, if that’s what you mean. It’s been going on for nearly a year. Didn’t you realize?”

    “No. I didn’t know until last night, when they told me they were going to be engaged.”

    A hand shot to her mouth, but giggles burst forth. “You—you didn’t know? Really? Oh, Link, that’s so you!” She kept laughing, patting Link’s back affectionately.

    “Auru wants to go to Castle City to get a proper engagement jewelry piece,” Link said, ignoring Laruto’s diminishing giggles. “He wants me to go with him, to show my approval and to spend time with him, to be sure he’s the right person for Layrel.”

    “Really?” Laruto had stopped laughing. “You two have known each other since you were kids. Don’t you know he’s fine? I mean, he’s different from most of the other villagers, but he’s a good guy.”

    Link nodded slowly. “And Layrel seems to know what she wants to do, to marry him.”

    Leaning forward, Laruto looked at him until he met her gaze. “You really want her to be happy, don’t you?”

    After a long pause, he nodded. “I know they’re a good match. He’s three years older than her, but that’s not really a difference to be concerned about. They’ve known each other for years. And, I know I’ll be able to get along without her.” A sigh escaped him, and he quickly said, “Well, I’ll be going to the city, so you won’t see me around for a while.”

    Fingering the ground with a sharp, strong fingernail, Laruto asked, “When do you leave?”

    “Noon. I need to get back to the village and get ready.”

    “It’s a good thing I came down now, then. I’m needed back at the graves.” Laruto slid down the stone, back into the water. Keeping her hands anchored to the stone, she let her body float out in the water as she looked up at him searchingly. “I think Layrel will be good with Auru.”

    “Yes, I agree.”

    “And I’m sure you’ll be back to the village before you know it.” She grinned at him, showing her teeth again. “I think you’ll have a great time Link. And their marriage will be amazing. But don’t get lost in the city, or you’ll miss too much!”

    Link nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

    “Ah, I know you won’t. That’s what I like about you, Link. Well, it’s one of the things, but, it’s just that even while everyone is growing up, getting married, dying, having kids, you’re still the same. It’s comforting. And you love the river, don’t you? That’s why I like fishing with you.”

    “Yeah,” said Link, trying to make his voice as energetic as possible, but not managing much enthusiasm. He forced a grin. “We’ll have to fish again, when I come back.”

    “Certainly!” Laruto let go of the bank and began to swim away. Half-way out into the river, she stopped and looked back, shouting out, “Have a safe trip and be careful! There are monsters out in the field. I’ll be praying for you!”

     Nodding gratefully, Link watched as she turned away and swam swiftly back upstream, leaping up the small waterfalls like an exceptionally agile salmon. Even after she vanished from sight he stared up the river, at its twists and turns and the large pine trees that loomed in the distance.

     I wonder when I’ll see this place again?

     Link hurried back to town as quickly as possible, being only as careful as absolutely necessary. He did not find Layrel inside the house, so he went over to the smallest house in the village, about half the size of his own. Knocking on the door, he glanced around, looking for any sight of Auru or Layrel, but saw none.

    The door flew open and he turned, seeing an old man in the doorway. It was Purel, often just referred to as “the knight” of the town. He was a retired knight from Hyrule Castle. He had fought with the monsters who had attacked and stolen from the Temple of Time over fifty years ago. Many a cold winter’s night he had regaled all the village in tales of his heroic and daring feats throughout this attack. While his stories changed a little every year, there was no doubt that he was a true knight. Even now as he was reaching into his seventies and his hair was white, he still stood tall and straight, and was in very fit shape, even though he no longer practiced with the sword regularly.

    “Link,” he said, his eyebrows rising. “What are you doing here so early on a rest day?”

    “Can I come in?” asked Link.

     The knight slowly nodded, stepping back and opening the door widely.

     Link stepped inside to his house, which was composed of a smaller room with just enough space for a fire, cooking, dining and sleeping area. He had no fishing tack other than a couple beautiful, old poles from the city, and he had more gaming and hunting tools than anyone else in the village. On his wall hung two swords, sheathed in wooden scabbards covered in leather, as well as his shield, all of which were in fine condition.

     Closing the door, Purel abruptly asked, “What can I help you with? Do you wish to train with me, on a rest day?” He smiled broadly. “Then again, it’s been well over a month since we’ve done that.”

     “I wanted to ask you about the city,” said Link.

     Purel stroked his thin, long white beard thoughtfully. “Really now? Usually it’s Auru who does that. He’s been coming over here often, actually returning some of my books, asking me more and more about the city. Is he going there to visit his brother?”

    Link clenched his fists at the mention of Auru’s brother as Purel went on, “Ah, no, it’s much different. Layrel was talking about working with me while the two of you are gone. This trip is for something bigger than a visit, isn’t that so?”

     “Yeah, Auru wants to get a proper piece of jewelry, to propose to Layrel with.”

    “Mhmm. And to impress you, her relative, with.”

    “I know he has enough money and—”

    “Custom, Link.” The old knight was nodding thoughtfully. “Our customs shape our very lives. And it appears your life is not an exception. You’ll go to the city, then?”

    “Yes. And I wanted to know if there’s anything I should know about it.”

    A distant look came into Purel’s eyes. He walked over to one of the windows of his house and threw the shutters open. As he started talking about the city, he began as he always did, talking about the knighthood. A warm feeling of nostalgia rose within Link’s chest as he listened. He remembered the many times in his childhood when he and Auru would visit Purel, listening to his stories. Eventually, he began to teach them how to read and write properly, as well as how to use a sword. Link had immediately taken a shine to using the sword and shield, and while Auru was not a bad student, he eventually abandoned the sword and devoted himself wholly to reading. There were innumerable evenings in their boyhood spent behind Purel’s house; Auru reading by lantern light while Purel and Link trained.

    With a start, Link realized he was sitting on the floor by Purel’s fireplace. The knight was sitting in his wooden chair across from him, still telling his old stories. This one was about how he had gotten in trouble for trying to sneak out to go to a brothel. He spotted Link watching him and cleared his throat nervously.

    “Never go to one of those, lad,” said Purel seriously, though he still looked a little embarrassed. “It makes for a good story, but you know I’m not serious. When you’re lonely or have free time, go to the temple instead.”

    Link nodded vigorously. Purel was smirking at him and Link hastily looked away, feeling warmth spreading into his cheeks.

     “Now, as for going to the city yourself…” Purel stood up and began to pace in front of the fire. “I’ve heard of monsters arising in the field. Even when they attacked the city and the temple, there were still fewer in the fields. They used to be few, harmless, but now they’re much more numerous and a much greater threat. Maybe it’s the curse of the gods, since we could not protect the Temple of Time?” He stopped pacing and looked down at Link. “You’ll be traveling with a caravan?”

    “Yes, we’re meeting at noon to go out and join them.”

    “You could easily be attacked all the same. Never underestimate these creatures. Sometimes their sheer numbers can overwhelm even the most prepared travelers. Even though they can be incredibly dull, it seems there’s always something, someone leading them to do what they do. An evil god, a demon…I don’t know. Some even said that the king let them into the city and to the temple all those years ago.” Purel shook his head solemnly. “Either way, you’ll need to be prepared.”

    Link arose quickly, holding his breath in anticipation as Purel walked over to his swords and shield on the wall. After a moment, he took down his shorter sword, equipped with a simple wooden handle with tough cloth around the grip, and turned towards Link, holding the sword out. Link walked over, took it and, after a nod from Purel, turned aside and unsheathed it. It slid out smoothly, with only the soft sound of steel on leather; everything was clearly in the finest of condition. As Link held it, he could immediately tell from years of using makeshift spears for large fishing and wooden swords for practice that the sword had perfect balance. Mindful of his surroundings, he went through a few motions and thrusts with the sword, holding it steadily but easily.

    “You haven’t lost your touch.” Purel was smiling at him. “You’ve always had a knack for anything you set your hands on.”

     Link looked down at the sword, his mouth firmly shut; the sword felt stiff and motionless in his hand. Purel was talking again, pulling his shield down from the wall, explaining, as he always did, about different ways to use a shield to throw an opponent off-balance. Grasping it with both hands, he held it out to Link.

    Before he took it, he suddenly asked, “Purel, did you think I could be a knight?”

    The retired knight stared at him, his old eyes wide as he asked slowly, “Did I? Do you think I trained you to be a knight?” His eyes narrowed. “Is that what you’ve always thought?”

    Shrugging uneasily, Link said, “Sometimes I thought that, but, other times it didn’t seem right.”

    “Do you want to be a knight, like Auru’s brother?”

    There was a pause before Link answered, “When I was young I did.”

    “But you don’t want to now, because now you must look after Layrel?”

    He shook his head. “It’s not just that.”

    “Sheathe your sword and take the shield.”

     Immediately Link obeyed. As the shield settled into his grasp, leaning against his arm protectively and securely, he felt his body ease. He began to stretch his arm, moving the shield with it, getting a feel for its weight.

     “Link.”

     He looked up at Purel, who went on in a low, earnest voice, “You’re not meant for knighthood, but something else. Maybe you’ll find what that is on your journey.”

     Before Link could respond, Purel was ushering him outside and hurried with him around behind his house and immediately began drilling him.

    

     They did not practice for long, but by the time they were done, Link was flushed and breathing fast not from weariness, but from exhilaration. Before sheathing his sword, he held it out one more time. The stiffness was gone, and now he was relishing the feeling of having an extension of himself. The feel and reach of the sword was unlike anything that any fishing tack could offer. Purel had often talked of swords that were custom-made for their wielders, perfectly suiting their height, muscle weight and fighting style. Compared to a more standard sword such as Link’s, these swords were not just an extension of the self, but rather became part of oneself. Link could not imagine this, and privately wondered if such swords could exist.

    Either way, he thought as he sheathed the sword, smiling to himself, I’m perfectly fine with this one.

      Someone called him. Turning, he saw Auru and Layrel approaching them.

     “That sword and shield…”Auru trailed off, looking at Purel, who just nodded.

    “I decided they might keep the two of you safe, so I can bear parting with them for a while,” Purel said, stroking his beard.

    Layrel was beaming at Link as Auru quickly asked him, “So you’re going? Absolutely?”

    Link nodded and immediately Auru grabbed his free hand and shook it wildly, his face alight with joy and relief. “That’s great! Ahh, wonderful! This trip is going to be amazing, you’ll see!” Releasing Link’s hand, he quickly asked, “I’m almost done packing, how about you?”

    “I haven’t done any, but I can do it soon enough.” Link looked up at the sky to see the sun just peeking up above the trees.

    “You’ve got about thirty minutes or so,” said Auru, also looking up. “Do you need—”

    “Come on, Link!” Layrel grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, pushing him towards their house. “I’ll help you pack; we’ll be done before you know it!”

     In a short time, they had almost everything packed and bundled together. They were taking a cloak to use as a blanket or for warmth, dried food, a water skin and a couple extra warm clothes. As Layrel was putting a few extra things in that she deemed necessary, Link found himself looking at his fishing tack. After a few moments, he picked out his oldest hook and grabbed one of his smallest leather pouches. Layrel spotted him and shook her head.

    “You really think you’ll have time to fish? Sounds like people don’t fish in the river around the city, you know.”

    “I don’t know. Maybe…” he slipped the hook inside the pouch, “maybe it’s something from here to bring.”

     “I didn’t know you were so sentimental, Link.” Her voice was light, but it was not mocking, nor did she laugh at him.

    After securing everything together with leather straps, Layrel helped Link put the bundle on his back like a knapsack. He did not need her help, but he accepted it, realizing they might not see each other for much longer than a week. They had not been apart for so long ever since Layrel came to live with him and his grandparents when they were children. Just before they stepped outside, Link donned his hat, which he knew he would need to keep him warm as they went up north to the city.

     As they walked outside, Link saw the faces of the other village people, most of whom had come to bid him and Auru farewell. Most of the older men and women looked disapproving, though some of the eldest, wrapped in their large cloaks for the chill breeze, were warmly reminiscing far too loudly to everyone around them about their own travels during their youth.  The children, almost all with the wavy brown hair of Hylians in the area, were at Link and Auru’s waists, talking with and at them, asking for souvenirs, reminding them to tell them all the stories of the city. One of the youngest little girls, who Link knew had an embarrassingly large crush on Auru, was clinging to her mother. Even with her messy hair shrouding her face, Link could tell she was glaring daggers at him, as if it was his fault that her beloved was getting engaged. Link smiled at her apologetically, but she just turned her head away, her nose in the air.

    In the midst of the small crowd and babbling and the elderly talking too loudly, the village mayor, Fislem, came forth. He shook Auru then Link’s hands firmly large, callused ones; his dark walrus mustache hid his mouth as he said, “Just stay out of trouble, and don’t make the village look bad. We don’t want those city folk looking down on us and deciding to try and get their fish from another village, you hear?”

     “Yes, sir,” said Link and Auru at the same time.

     Fislem’s mustache bristled and his eyes were smiling as he looked down at them. “You two have a safe trip.”

     As they headed away from the farewell calls and shouts from the village, Layrel going with them for just a while longer, Link asked, “How did they all know we were leaving?”

     “I told them.” Auru grinned at Link. “I knew they’d want to see us off.”

     “I know Fislem’s wife is already starting to make plans for our wedding,” Layrel said, shaking her head. “She’s a sweet lady, but this feels just a little early!”

     Link glanced over his shoulder to see the village was nearly out of sight. He stopped and the others followed in suit as he turned to his sister, saying, “Maybe you should head back now.”

     “I guess so.” Without another word she embraced Auru, who held her gently, and they stayed this way. Just when Link was about to turn away or clear his throat loudly, they broke apart, their gazes still locked. Suddenly Layrel turned and hugged him, whispering into his shirt, “Look after him.”

     “I will.” They stepped back from each other, Link’s hand still on her shoulder. “It’ll be fine.”

     “Of course!” Auru leaned against Link, grinning at his fiancée. “We’ll be back before you can miss us.”

    She laughed, though she still looked a little worried even as she said, “Of course, of course! And at least I can count on Link to keep you out of trouble!” Stepping back, she raised her hand from her elbow and waved slowly. “Good bye, you two!”

     They walked away slowly. Auru turned back many times to call out to Layrel, usually calling out a light-hearted joke or something that sounded too much like flirting. Link had waved back to her once, but mainly kept his eyes ahead of him. They continued on like this as the river began to widen and the ground became more grassy and less pebbly and stony. Slowly, the bank became more and more level with the river. They made a turn and, without looking back, Link knew that all sight of his home was gone.

The Legend of Zelda and characters copyright Nintendo

"The Legend of Zelda: Deluge" writing and original concepts and characters copyright Mahira / Mahira-chan