Linktober Day 3 Prompt: Companion
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"Hiya, Mr. Link." Karin was kicking her feet back and forth in the water as she sat at the edge of the pond outside the town.
He pulled back his hood and managed a small smile. "Hey, Karin."
She patted the spot beside her.
He raised his brows and dropped his traveling gear, sitting down next to the tiny brunette.
"I lost my pet bird yesterday," she said quietly.
Link was unlacing his boots. He glanced at her. "I'm sorry. Need help finding it?"
Her pensive expression turned wistful. "No. I didn't lose him like that. He died."
"Oh." He rolled up his pant legs and dipped his aching feet into the cool water.
"I know a secret, Mr. Link."
He propped himself up with his hands on the ground behind him.
"I know about you and Ms. Zelda."
Link made a splash with how he flinched.
"Don't worry. I've known a long time. I won't tell anybody."
He worked to catch his breath and not look mad at the little girl.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm real sorry. When I lost my friend yesterday, I couldn't stop crying, even though I'd only known him a few weeks. Then I realized that I was crying for you and Ms. Zelda. I was just so upset to think of how bad it must be...to lose your very best friend. I'm sorry, Mr. Link." Her voice wavered and she looked down sorrowfully.
Link's throat tightened. "We'll find her. Don't worry." He was lying. She'd been lost to time. She was a dragon and she could never turn back. He was the only one who knew, though. He couldn't let anyone else lose hope the way that he had.
"Mr. Link?"
"Uh-huh?"
"I'm right, aren't I? You are in love with Ms. Zelda?"
"Uh-huh."
Karin's cheeks turned red and she covered her face with her hands. "I knew it. I knew it! I'm really smart about love; way smarter than anyone else my age."
"Hm." This is why he didn't hang around the school.
Kids could sniff his and Zelda's relationship out from a mile away and he didn't feel like questions especially now.
"You say not to worry. But you're the most worried."
Link met her eyes, his wide and questioning.
"You just look so sad. You'll see her again. I promise." She smiled so big her eyes disappeared.
"Promise?" He forced a laugh.
Karin held out her pinky. "Don't give up no matter what anybody or anything tells you. I've read lots of books and you know what they all say?"
Link let her hook her pinky around his. "What?"
"The princess always gets saved in the end. Because of true love. Because it's so powerful!" She tightened her grip and shook. "I promise you'll rescue Ms. Zelda."
Link dropped his hands back to his lap and slouched forward. He looked down at his blue, rippling reflection and he exhaled a deep breath. "Thanks, Karin."
She giggled and drew her legs up from the water. She scrambled to her feet. "Bye, Mr. Link!"
"See you later."
When she was out of sight, Link fell on his back and draped his arm over his eyes, still kicking slowly in the water.
"Zelda?" Link whispered. "Zelda, is it true?" He bit down hard on his lip and forced his breathing steady. He'd done enough crying on that beach full of Silent Princesses.
"Will you come back home?"
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linktober day 3 - companion
listen, i know the obvious horse choice is epona bUT my boi harrison has been with me through it all in tears of the kingdom and breath of the wild. he is best horse. (even though he got stuck on a cliff one time and i couldn't get him down)
harrison mentally in this photo: you're gonna leave me here for like 3 days because you're gonna get distracted and forget i'm here.
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