Chapter Text
The Lost Wood was a curious and foreboding place. Behind them, trees grew tall and green, the cooler weather fading some into beautiful hues of gold and yellow.
But in front of them, the Lost Wood was all crooked, tired trees drenched in mist and fog. It was familiar to Link ….and not. His dreams whispered in his ears and he shivered despite himself.
“Your lantern, my lord.”
Sidon was eyeing the forest with just as much trepidation as he thanked the guard who offered him the lantern.
“Are you certain you wish to enter alone, your majesty? Not that we don't have the utmost faith in yours and noble Link’s abilities, but this forest is…”
Waiting for us.
Sidon didn't actually see what he said, he was turning down the guard's offer. So he tapped him on the hip and tilted his head towards the forest entrance.
“Yes, we should go. Move out along the perimeter, but do not enter the forest unless absolutely necessary.”
The guards nodded and obeyed, leaving them on the road.
Link was staring into the woods again, at the burning posts just inside. If there were already lights to guide them, why did they need a lantern?
Let's go.
Sidon followed closely behind Link. The mist parted open to welcome them, then closed behind them like a door. It was deathly silent all around.
“Lady Impa said to follow the lights until they stopped, then to let the lantern lead the way.”
What does that mean?
“I'm uncertain.”
Dead leaves crunched underfoot as they moved along the path of light posts. They were both tense and cautious as they moved. Golden chains clicked prettily against his armor plates and echoed faintly through the trees.
Every so often a deer or rabbit would wander by, unafraid of them but moving urgently.
Eventually, the light posts ended. Around them was nothing but trees. The fog was so dense that neither could see more than a few feet in any direction.
Sidon held the lantern up, a chilled wind blowing the glowing embers into the dim. Link paused and listened, putting his hand up to stop Sidon as well.
“What is it?”
Do you hear ...music?
“Do I hear what?”
M u s i c.
A giggle chilled them both, sword and scimitar ringing from their sheaths.
“Stay close together.”
Yeah.
“Whatever happens, Link, you can count on me. Let us show the enemy no fear-”
A loud cackle and trumpet horn rang out of the trees and shadows dropped over them from above. Link and Sidon both reacted spectacularly, dodging and striking the creatures. Long arms were parried and sliced clean off and the shadows fell limply to the ground as more were falling from above.
“Link!”
The fog made it difficult to see them coming, but Link’s reflexes were envied back home. He made quick work of them with his blade, using the trees and terrain to try and balance the terms of engagement. They just kept coming. Every time he tried to create enough of a distance between him and the enemy, more shadowed over him and forced him to dodge again. He could hear Sidon struggling just as much to keep up with the wave of attacks.
Just as he cleaved his scimitar into one of their hard bodies, a solid weight knocked Link to the ground. His head must have hit something because the next moments were dazed and left his ears ringing. His weapon was gone from his hand.
Instincts kicking in over conscious action, Link kicked and clawed until he freed himself of the thing on top of him. He scrambled up and pulled his spear free of it’s holster on his back. Muscle memory had him twisting around with a sharp thrust that pinned the thing onto the thick trunk of a tree.
As his head cleared, no other attacks fell upon him and the forest was quiet once more, the ringing in his ears fading away. There was only moonlight to see by now, so Link stepped closer to his pinned enemy, expecting a beast, but it was nothing of the sort. It was a ...puppet?
Made all in wood with lifeless red eyes that stared right through him. Thin, severed threads hung from its limbs and head.
Link braced a foot against it and yanked his spear free. That’s when he realized he was alone.
He’d wandered too far during the fight. Link couldn’t see or hear Sidon, nor could he see the lantern or the burning posts. He walked in a small circle, straining his eyes and ears but he was absolutely alone. Hylia help him, he couldn’t even call out. Those puppets hadn’t really been trying to hurt them, they were just trying to separate them, and it worked.
As he tried to figure out what he should do, Link heard faint music again, ears twitching towards the sound. It was the same melody from his dream, a soothing sound that seemed to suit the forest when it wasn’t gloomy and thick with fog.
Not taking any chances, Link kept his spear ready as he slowly followed it slowly.
No more puppets sprang on him from the shadows, but Link wasn’t taking an chances. He didn’t know where Sidon was but he had the lantern so hopefully he’d be alright and not get lost like Link clearly had.
There was no path under his feet, just the soft crackle of dry leaves and small twigs, but the wind seemed to blow the grass and tree branches out of his way. As if the forest was welcoming him into its depths. Link shivered in his skin. He jumped at every rustle of an animal and every faint and distant bird call.
The trees began to all look the same and Link was almost certain he was walking in a large circle, but the music was getting louder. It’s tune was cheery and light, but Link didn’t trust it for a second. This had to be a trap. Separate him from his ally, lead him astray, then ambush him. It was common tactics the Yiga used.
But the ambush never came. Link turned around a large tree and stopped dead in his tracks when he found himself facing ruins. Crumbling and moss-covered ruins, like he’d seen in his dreams. Was he actually going the right way?
The music had stopped, leaving the air around him still and eerily quiet.
Angling his spear downward, Link crept up to the failing remnants of a doorway and passed under it, scanning all around him.
It led to a stone floor over the forest earth, in the center was a sword, plunged into the depths of a stone pedestal. It looked old and dull, vines twisting up around the handle. Was this the sword Impa had spoken of?
He didn’t get within ten feet of it when someone spoke.
“Go no further, boy.”
Link whipped around with his spear, but there was no one there. No body to match the deep, old voice. He took a slow step back towards the sword and the voice rumbled again. This time, he saw where it came from.
The great tree before him moved.
“This is a sacred grove, you have no reason to be here.”
The tree was speaking to him. Link almost fell on his ass.
“I am the Deku Tree, guardian of the Master Sword. Leave now while you can, boy, or you may never see home again.”
Guardian of the Master Sword. Guardian of the sword? Link gasped and dropped his spear to the ground. He yanked his pack off his back and searched for the letter Impa had given him. The one he was supposed to give to the guardian of the sword.
It was crumpled when he pulled it free and it snatched itself out of his hand, much to his surprise. He watched it float over and up to the tree, unfolding itself. Link quickly put his pack back on and picked up his spear.
Like an old man, the tree mumbled to itself as it read the letter. Eventually, the letter floated down to the ground and didn’t move again.
“I see. So you are Link.”
He nodded, still tense.
“Well Link, you may attempt to draw the sword if you’d like, but be warned. The sword will only pull free for those worthy of it’s strength. Take care, for if you are not worthy, it may cost you your life.”
Link looked from the tree to the sword, then back at the tree. That seemed pretty dramatic for a sword. He put his spear back in its holster and approached the blade. He couldn’t see what made it so powerful, his scimitar was far sharper in comparison.
Bracing a foot against the pedestal, Link gripped the sword’s hilt and pommel in both hands and gave a good yank. It winded him immediately and the sword didn’t even budge. He tried again, grunting as he pulled. He could feel the Deku Tree watching him, waiting. Strength was leaving his arms and his heartbeat was erratic. Link felt himself growing dizzy.
He couldn’t do it, the sword hadn’t so much as eased a hairs width.
Link let go with a gasp, panting to catch his breath.
“Not so worthy this time, after all,” was all the Deku Tree said, softly.
Wind blew over them and through the Deku Tree’s leaves. Suddenly, torches illuminated another line of burning posts through the trees.
“You’ll find Lake Saria down this path.”
And my friend?
“You may find the Prince, as well. Good luck, Link.”
With that, the tree went still again. Link was too eager to find Sidon and the lake to worry about a talking tree not thinking he was worthy enough for a rusty sword. He took off down the path at a jog.
The posts went out as he passed them, leading him on a winding path. It felt like a long time, but the moment Link heard Sidon’s voice, he picked up the pace.
“Link! Can you hear me!”
Sidon’s voice sounded ragged, like he’d been calling for a long time. He could hear more puppets and a faint tinny of a trumpet horn every so often. When he broke through a thick of the fog, he rammed his spear right into a puppet’s back, heaving it up and over, behind him. The trumpet sounds stopped and no more puppets fell from the tree tops.
Sidon had both his own sword and Link’s, making the remaining two puppets easy work. He dropped both once the puppets stopped moving and nearly crushed Link against his chest.
“Where did you go? I couldn’t find you. I thought I’d gotten lost.” His voice shook as he spoke, which in turn shook Link down in his heart. He pushed Sidon back enough to speak.
I found the sword but it’s not going to help us.
Then he tried to bodily climb Sidon, who made it easy by just picking Link up and holding him close.
We’re not lost. I won’t leave you again. At least, not if he could help it. Okay?
Sidon nodded and squished Link against him again, breathing him in deep through his mouth.
“Okay. Lead the way.”
Sheathing his blade, Link continued to follow the torches, this time with Sidon right beside him. Link was eager to finish what they came for and get out of the woods. Mipha had been right, it was a dangerous place to the body and the mind.
No other puppets attacked them. In fact, they stumbled upon the lake so suddenly that Link almost ran right into the water. Sidon was the only reason he didn’t. The lake wasn’t very large and the surface was as still as glass.
“Lake Saria.”
Link nodded.
“And the shrine is at the bottom.”
Link swallowed and nodded again.
“You should put the Zora armor on.”
Another nod.
“Probably now, would be a good time.”
Link didn’t get to finish his nod. Sidon sat down on the damp earth next to him and made Link look at him.
“My dear, I know you dislike water. But the sooner we can get into the shrine and remove that mask, the sooner we’ll be able to leave the water again. Then be able to leave this horrid forest. You can hold onto me in the water, I’ll get us into the shrine in no time at all.”
Link took a deep breath of courage and turned to face Sidon fully. He placed his fingertips against his own lips and brushed them up along his cheekbone. Sidon looked at him curiously, tucking a piece of his hair away from his forehead. Link repeated the motion before pointing to both his lips and Sidon’s. He made the sign one last time. Sidon caught on.
“Of course you can have a kiss,” he whispered, leaning down and pressing their lips firmly together. Link hooked his fingers under the edges of the chestplate Sidon still wore, pulling him close. The soft weight of a fin brushed over Link’s shoulder when they separated from one kiss and Sidon tilted his head the other direction to give him another. Link savored the cool and foreign taste of the Prince’s lips. He couldn’t predict what might happen to them in the shrine, but he sent a prayer to the Goddess for their safe return so he could kiss Sidon more. So he could be with Sidon more without a looming threat hanging over their heads. He’d never wanted anything so much.
They didn’t pull apart with longing because determination alight in them both.
“I’ll keep watch as you change.”
With the Zora armor on, the wind’s chill couldn’t creep goosebumps along his skin but the frigid water had that taken care of. Link was latched onto Sidon’s back as he took them to the deepest part of the lake.
“Ready?”
Link pulled the collar up over his mouth and nose, nodding. Eyes clenched shut before the water could even reach his face.
It was so easy for Sidon to submerge them, Link could feel his limbs and fins moving the water around them as easily as if it were air. As much as he didn’t want to, Link slowly opened his eyes. The water stung for a moment but the moment passed. Around them was deep darkness and Link immediately regretted seeing it. His only consolation was seeing Sidon swim with his whole body.
The tail over Link’s shoulder moved with the rest of him. It felt powerful every time it brushed against Link’s helm. They stopped sinking and Sidon began searching for the entrance to the shrine. It was very difficult to see for Link, but he had no idea what Sidon could see in the water.
It only took a few minutes to find a faint glow in the darkness.
The submerged shrine was etched in carvings similar to those on the slate, the Sheikah eye standing out proudly. They glowed in an orangey-red, though, unlike the blue he’d seen so far. Sidon brought them to it’s entrance and Link let go of his back to float closer. The entryway had a circle on the bottom that was cracked, water moving freely through it. Link bent down over it, hearing distant whispers through the helmet covering his head. Sidon felt at the crack, eyes springing open in surprise.
“Do you feel that?” His voice was muffled and heavily distorted by the water, but Link could still hear him. He shook his head no.
Do you hear that?
Sidon struggled to make sense of his signs since Link was trying to sign and not float away at the same time.
“You hear something? What do you hear?”
A voice, whispering.
The cracked stone suddenly lit up orange, startling them both with a rush of bubbles. It scraped stone against stone when it began lowering down into the shrine, creating an ominous hole that Link wasn’t sure Sidon would fit through. He looked at Sidon, ready to say as much, but the Zora was already nodding.
“I’ll fit. It will be tight, but I’ll fit. You should go first, though.”
Are you sure?
“Yes. I’ll be right behind you.”
Swallowing trepidation, Link gripped the edge of the hole and pulled himself into it, head first.
Sidon had to help push him along from behind when he needed it. Etchings flared to life in the tunnel walls as they passed, while the tunnel itself seemed endless as it curved into the earth. The pommel of the scimitar strapped to his back kept scraping against the stone. Link was having a really hard time making himself sink. Eventually, the tunnel bottomed out into a dark cavern. Link tried to move out of Sidon’s way, pulling himself along the ceiling the tunnel spouted into. He grabbed onto the Zora again when they were both in the dim and Sidon pulled him down, close enough for Link to see the spots along his crest and tail glow faintly in the lack of light.
What can you see?
“Not much. Though I’m smelling a great deal.”
Link tilted his head in confusion.
“The water here is thick and metallic. I’m beginning to feel a bit light-headed, actually.”
From the light in the tunnel, Link could barely see how tired his companion looked. His chest dragged the water through his gills heavily. Link grabbed Sidon’s attention and pointed back towards the tunnel.
I’ll get the mask.
“Absolutely not. I’m not leaving you here, you can barely swim.”
Ignoring his protest, Link turned around and twisted out of Sidon’s hold. The armor made his movements smooth and easy, but he knew his swimming was sloppy at best. He could move, though, and more than just barely.
“Link, wait!”
He didn’t. He wanted to find the mask so they could leave. Impa had told them that there was a chest in the back of the chamber that held the mask in it. It was very dark though with no glowing etchings to show him the way this time. It was nothing but darkness all around and a blur of light behind him. How in the name of Din was he going to find his way, let alone the chest?
Link was spurred from his thoughts by the feeling of something moving against his hip. He groped over his belt and realized it was one of his pouches. As soon as he released the clasp, light erupted.
The stone Impa had given him, the twilight stone, floated out of the pouch as though it weighed nothing, and it glowed . Luminous and bright, it allowed Link to see all around him within a few feet. Was this the Princess of Twilight helping him again? Link grasped the stone and looked for his way forward.
As he did so, he thought he felt something move in the shadows of the room. The water pushed against his side but when he held the stone out, he could see nothing but the blackness on the other side of stone pillars.
He heard Sidon again behind him, but his voice was garbled and difficult to hear. Link pressed on. He had to do this so Sidon could leave the water that was making him feel ill.
At the very back of the darkened chamber, a chest sat upon a stone slab. It wasn’t a large chest, nor was it highly decorated. It looked to be made of metal and had some overgrown vines coiling around it. Link flailed to sink down closer to it and grabbed onto one of the handles to pull himself down the rest of the way. It wasn’t locked, he realized. The latched moved slightly with the current he was making. Frowning beneath his collar, Link lifted the lid and held the twilight stone up to see inside.
It was empty.
There was no mask, there wasn’t even silt in the bottom. A single, small bubble floated out, but that was it. Where was the mask? Caught in his confusion, Link didn’t notice the vine curling around his wrist until it yanked at him. With a startled burst of bubbles, Link snatched his hands away from the chest, a sharp pain cutting open the skin of his wrist. All the vines twitched and slunk back into the darkness. Link felt the current moving again, this time at his back.
The water muffled his startled scream when Sidon shot right at him, snatching him close with eyes wide and dark.
“What happened? I smell blood.” He picked up Link’s wrist and brought it to his face, inhaling the pink water blooming from his cut. “What did this?”
A ripple through the water froze them both. Link held up the twilight stone so they could both see, but Sidon clearly saw more than him.
“Link.” His voice was low with warning, eyes still wide. “I don’t know what that is.”
He wanted to ask him what, but didn’t have to wait for an answer.
Around the pillars closest to them, black vines crept over the stone. But they weren’t vines, they were alive like tentacles. Slowly, something huge and black moved into the light, blocking the way they came.
It’s body was a mystery, all Link could see was a mess of tentacles with a pair of twisted arms and legs dangling inside. At the head of the hulking beast were glowing yellow eyes. As it lowered itself to be seen, Majora’s mask came sharply into focus.
“..L I NKkkkk...”
“Move!”
The tentacles struck hard and quick, but Sidon had shoved Link towards the ceiling and himself dove to the side. Link hit the stone with a grunt then scrambled to move as more tentacles followed him. He drew his blade with difficulty. Using it with the water’s drag was even more difficult, but he sliced with all his strength.
The mask had regained consciousness. That must have been why it was draining energy through the rivers and lakes, it was building enough strength to escape the shrine.
Link dove down deeper with a struggle. He felt the tips of tentacles lick at him, creating small rips in the fabric of his armor and small kisses of pain in his skin. He dropped the twilight stone and it landed beneath him, illuminating him as a target that the creature took advantage of.
Tentacles shot out and wrapped tightly around him, restricting his movements. He couldn’t even raise his blade. Link thrashed wildly as the Majora’s mask slid around to his side of the beast’s body. A neck stretched out with sickening pops as the mask came closer to his own face, eyes on fire with unnatural intent. A chilled whisper touched his ears beneath the helmet.
“P ut me ..onnn. I ca n give y ouuu ….un told pow errr…”
Link shook his head violently, even as pinpricks of pain popped into his skin, tentacles tightening their hold.
“..Lin K…”
A beast-like roar rushed passed Link followed by the creature’s high-pitched shriek as it’s hold loosened.
Blade in hand, Sidon had cleanly severed the tentacles that held him. He moved much more quickly with his sword, protecting him despite clear injuries of his own already.
Clenching his jaw, Link pulled away the sharp teeth of the tentacles the kept his sword arm bound and moved forward as quickly as he could. Without thinking of what Impa had asked of them, or what the consequences would be, he curled himself to strike with a powerful thrust.
The moment his blade pierced the mask, another shriek shook the water, letting loose a pulse that almost pushed him back. The beast’s body began to shake violently, trying to throw Link off. But before it could, a second blade struck right below Link’s, forcing the mask to crack in two.
Like an explosion, a current threw them both back, hurdling into the furthest wall of the shrine. Bubbles and the overwhelming pressure of energy and anger blasted against them, shrill screams deafening them. In the flurry, Sidon found Link’s hand and slowly dragged them both up to the tunnel opening.
In what felt like no time at all, they were both back in the lake bed with Sidon hastening their rise to breach the surface. Lightning cracked the sky above them with a rumble of thunder that shook the lake. Rain began to fall in heavy drops. Link ripped the collar of his armor down and sucked in a deep breath, practically yanking the helmet off of his head.
Had they done it?
As he was turning to Sidon, a large hand slipped into the soaked hair plastered against his skull and pulled Link in for a kiss. It was wet and messy but Link moaned at the feeling of a long and dexterous tongue against his own. He barely felt the prick of teeth as they separated. Link wound his arms around Sidon’s neck and kissed him again.
Rain thundered down around them as they bobbed in the water, unable to let each other go from their deep kisses. It wasn’t until the lake began to swell did Sidon try to pull away.
“We should go before the area floods.” He sounded breathless, pressing lighter smacks to Link’s hungry lips. “Come with me, my love.”
-
The guard detail Mipha had assigned to Sidon found them three days later at an otherwise empty stable near the Great Hyrule Forest. It had been raining heavily ever since they’d left the shrine. Sidon was by no means an expert, but he had a strong feeling the drought was over. Whatever Majora’s mask had been doing was reversing in on itself. Sidon was uncertain of where the rain was coming from since he’d been very certain the rivers and lakes hadn’t been evaporating. But in all honesty, he hadn’t thought about it much and didn’t care to.
Those three days were filled with nothing but Link. His lips, his mouth, his voiceless moans, silken hair wrapped around his fingers, and soft skin that Sidon happily murmured sweet nothings against in a rosy haze. They were, without question, the best three days of his life thus far. He was a bit disappointed when the guards came knocking and Link pulled on silk pants to cover skin that Sidon had absolutely not been finished with. For decencies sake.
Apparently the entire region was experiencing heavy rain, which came with flooding. Link rode on Sidon’s back nearly the entire way to the wetlands encampment, where Mipha and Impa were waiting for them. He didn’t complain about the water or even pout at it. He held onto the Prince’s shoulders with his face nestled against the crook where Sidon’s tail met his neck. As they swam, Sidon felt warm puffs against his scales with an occasional kiss.
Sweet Hylia, he wanted to take his little hero home and keep him in bed for a week.
In a very undignified manner, Mipha screamed when they reach the encampment, crushing Sidon and Link both in a powerful hug. She kept praising their efforts and telling them how proud she was, kissing both of their cheeks multiple times. Sidon had to gently pry her off of Link just so he could breathe.
Impa looked impressed, until she realized they hadn’t brought back the mask.
“You broke it.”
Sidon nodded guiltily while Link just nodded and shrugged. They both sat in a tent with the old Sheikah woman, Paya at her side, ever faithful.
Even if we had gotten it out of the water, it was already alive.
“It’s true, Lady Impa. We really couldn’t fathom another way.”
She considered them for a quiet moment before nodding.
“I’ll send someone to collect the pieces once the rain has died down. ...So the entire shrine had flooded with water? That must’ve been what woke Majora up.” She grumbled, “I’m still amazed it managed to do what it did.”
She studied them once again, taking in small flecking scars and Link’s obvious lovebites. They were both proud of themselves and were unable to stray away from one another very far for very long. She could see no bite wounds on Link but supposed it would only be a matter of time.
“Thank you Prince Sidon for your valiant service to Hyrule. You make your father and your people proud.”
Sidon nodded his head in thanks.
“And you, Link of Gerudo Town. You may not be Time’s Hero in this lifetime, but you have certainly proven that you’re still a champion for all kind. Your mother raised you better than I could have ever hoped to raise you myself, and the world is better for it. You’re better for it. The strength of the Gerudo has saved us all.”
Impa and Paya both bowed to them. Sidon glanced down at Link’s smile and felt his heart warm.
Despite the rain, Mipha threw together a small feast for them, which Link dug into like he’d been starving. All they’d eaten the last few days were rations the Sheikah had given them. They stayed near each other all night, laughing and drinking with everyone in the encampment. When they finally collapsed onto the cots in their tent, completely sloshed on chillshroom wine, Sidon helped peel away Link’s armor to hold his bare skin close under thick blankets.
It felt like heaven under the sound of a storm, and every kiss came with a promise that it wouldn’t be the last.
As much as Sidon wanted to beg on his hands and knees for him to stay longer, he knew Link had to go home. He needed to check on his people, on his family, and make sure the desert was not immune to the quenching of the land. Sidon knew how he longed to see his mother. He understood that Link had to go.
His heart still felt like it was dropping out of his body, though.
Four guards waited for Sidon on the edge of Lake Hylia, facing out over the water. An additional two waited near the road, equally interested in whatever was on the other side of it. None of them paid any attention whatsoever to the couple who stood amidst some trees in between them. Respectfully, they gave their Prince and Link privacy in their goodbyes.
“May I write to you?” Sidon asked softly against Link’s lips in between loving kisses.
Sidon was kneeling on the ground while the Gerudo stood on a tree stump to even their heights. Neither were satisfied with any kiss being their last one until they could see each other again. And neither knew when that would be. The states of their homes was uncertain to them both.
Link nodded and sighed, hugging Sidon closer. So tightly pressed to Sidon’s chest, he could feel his small Gerudo’s heart beat. Just as fluttery and upset as his own.
“This isn’t forever, my dear. There is no desert I wouldn’t cross to see you again.”
Link unwound one arm to spell out, or I you.
When their lips met again, Sidon held it. He memorized the feeling, the taste of his beloved’s lips. Nothing would ever be the same after this.
With immense difficulty and a few more desperate touches to each other, Sidon let Link go. Then Link pulled the Sheikah slate up from where he’d mounted it to his hip and waved Sidon back in again, who was more than happy to oblige. Not that they hadn’t already taken dozens of photos. Some of which Sidon really hoped Link never showed anyone, regardless of how much he likes them.
In this one, they’re both wearing weary smiles edged in sadness. Sidon was almost embarrassed with himself so he prodded Link to take another, smiled like he meant it, and hugged Link tight. Link laughed in surprise just as the slate snapped the photo. It was a much better still memory. Before they separated again, Link looked into Sidon’s golden eyes and bit his lip. After a second or two, he reached up to one of his earrings and took it out, offering it up to Sidon.
Link’s mother had given him those earrings, he’d protected them like nothing else the whole trip. But now he wanted Sidon to have one. Sidon didn’t even know what to say.
He accepted it with a smile.
“I’ll treasure it always. As I treasure you.”
You’d better. Or my mom will come beat you up.
He said it with a cocky little grin that Sidon couldn’t help chuckling at.
“I’ll do my absolute best to stay on your mother’s good side, then.”
Sidon walked Link up to the guards waiting by the road, the ones Sidon requested to accompany Link to the edge of the Gerudo Desert since Sidon himself was needed back in the domain and couldn’t take him there himself.
Watching him walk away was one of the hardest things Sidon could ever remember doing, and it hurt.
Because he took a little bit of Sidon’s heart with him.
-
The desert had flooded like nothing Link had ever seen. He didn’t even recognize the dunes when they came upon them. Clouds still fought against the sun, rain falling in the distance. It was easier to leave Sidon’s guards behind than it had been to leave Sidon, assuring them that he would be fine on his own from there. His heart was aching in two different directions, but his feet were taking him home.
He shed the voe armor on the way, letting the pieces fall into the sand without care or a glance back. With a sash and scarf, he fashioned himself to be more fittingly presentable. He didn’t want to get denied entrance at the door, despite only being gone for a couple of weeks.
Kara Kara had barely survived the flooding, but traders were all in good spirits. Link even got himself a celebratory shot of Noble Pursuit before he moved on. He didn’t encounter anyone on the road to Gerudo town though, which worried him. But the moment he caught sight of home in the distance, he understood why.
The sands had risen up as the floods cut new paths through the desert. The south-eastern corner of town was completely buried. From where he stood, he could see Gerudo moving around the mound like ants, clearing it from their home. Link quickened his pace.
When he caught sight of the front gate, he audibly gasped.
Black banners hung over the entrance and the two guards on either side stood with their spears pointed down.
It was a sign that the town was in mourning.
The guards stirred when he approached at a light run. They were ready to bar his way until he ripped the scarf back away from his face. They both jumped in surprise.
“Link!”
He waved quickly as he ran by them, through the banners and into Gerudo Town.
The black banners were on every building. It was hard to imagine that the Gerudo even had so much fabric of such a sad color, but there it was, covering his home like a solemn blanket.
Most everyone was on the eastern side of town, he could hear them working to remove sand. Link ran straight home.
No one was there, but he was hardly expecting his mother to be home at a time like this. He practically threw his pack and weapons down and crashed into his room to find some clothes better suited to hard labor. He didn’t really bother to match colors and he neglected veils entirely. As he was pulling his hair into a tight ponytail, he heard someone approach his room.
His heart hoped it was his mother, but instead it was Liana who appeared in his doorway.
“Link…” She looked as surprised as they guards, but that surprise turned into a wide smile. “You’re back!”
She nearly knocked Link on his ass with how hard she hugged him, smiling and crying all at once.
“With the rains and floods, we weren’t sure if-” A sob stopped her and she squeezed him tighter. Link returned the squeeze, tracing letters on the bare skin of her back.
What happened?
Liana froze and sobbed softly again.
“You mean the banners?”
He nodded. Liana wiped her own tears away before she pulled back, frowning miserably at their feet.
“One week ago, the Yiga attacked the town directly after luring your mother and most of the warriors away with a separate threat to Kara Kara. Those of us left behind fought as hard as we could and, even though we lost a few beautiful souls, we managed to drive the Yiga away, but-”
Her eyes watered again.
“The Chief ….she’s dead.”
Ice like he’d felt in the water of Lake Saria Shrine poured down Link’s spine as he stared at Liana in shock. His hands shook when he sucked in a harsh breath.
What?
“She died like a true warrior, protecting her people.” Her voice warbled over every word. “Urbosa was elected to take her place until the Chief’s daughter is old enough to take on the trial.”
My mother? Where is she?
“The palace right now, I think.”
Link ran out of the house with Liana on his heels. Emotions welled inside of him like a wave and he sprinted up the palace stairs. The guards there tried to stop them but Liana shouted, “this is Urbosa’s child!” Entry was quickly given.
Link had only been in the throne room of the palace a few times in his life. He’d mostly spent time with his mother in meeting rooms or the Chief’s daughter in the living quarters back when he was babysitting Riju.
Now the throne room was lined in dark banners of mourning, dimming the brilliance of the room. But Link only had eyes for one person in it anyway.
More guards tensed to see someone running the full length of the room but they were halted by a single raised hand.
Urbosa’s expression quickly changed from one of disbelief into one of indescribable relief.
“Link.”
She closed the remaining distance between them swiftly and snatched Link into her strong arms, falling to her knees as she did so. She trembled to keep in her tears while Link let his flow free.
“I knew you could do it, my clever child.” Her voice was thick. She cradled him against her and Link hiccuped through his tears. He’d missed how warm her skin was, like she carried the desert sun itself inside of her. The smell of spice and desert roses made him cry harder, hugging his mother as tight as he could. He’d never been away from her for so long, not ever in his entire life. But she held him like they’d never been separated, with nothing but love.
“You’re home now, my love. You’ve saved us all.”