Archive of Our Own ^beta

It's strange what can make a person sad. The rolling waves in the dawn of the morning before anyone has awoken to judge. The simple thud of wood and rope working alongside each other. The evening spent pricking a hand, attempting to create designs with thread. The spinning of a spoon against a mix of vegetables and broth….Perhaps it's not the things themselves that make a person sad. Rather the memories attached to them.

Lovers spending time with each other before a town awakens and relies on them for guidance. A mother, bow in hand, shooting anything that dared cross her or her children. A daughter, with a smile as bright as the sun, showing her love for the world by trying to capture it in the fabric, telling her how many adventures she was going to have. Grandchildren giggling and laughing around a table, waiting for their Grandma to finish her signature soup.

The old woman sighed, "Oh my precious Aryll, oh my brave Link…if only you were here for me to share this with you."

But they weren't. Aryll had followed after her big brother and became a sailor. Joining the ranks of Tetra's pirate crew. While Link has disappeared from the land. Gone in a snap. He sent letters, though, updating his sweet grandmother about him, about his new adventure. About the eight other men, he been traveling with. The way her grandson went on and on about them, one would think them brilliant diamonds or glittering pearls, or perhaps even a shining crown. The old women hoped to meet them one day. For now, she just have to wait. The soup was ready after all, and her friends had a hard time waiting. Pouring it into bottles, she placed them into a small woven basket and headed out the door, down the dirt path to her dear old friend's house, Sturgeon, Orca, and their sweet darling grand niece or daughter, Sue-Belle. Truly a kind thing, she came and checked in on the pitiful old woman when her Link and Aryll were gone.

Arriving, Sturgeon was the first to greet her. "Delmira, what took you so long, you old cow!"

"Grandfather! Don't be rude!" Sue-Belle scolded the short old man.

"Well, she is, she is the oldest person on the island, and her skin is wrinkly like a cow."

"Good gracious, still, there is no need to be so rude. Especially to someone who is kind enough to bring you food!"

Delmira chuckled, "I listen to your granddaughter Sturgeon, you old coot. Or else there will be no seconds for you. Also, how in the world do you know if a cow is wrinkly? Last time I checked, I was the only one who ever saw one."

The short old man grumbled and complained under his breath, but the threat and truth kept him quiet.

"How are you this evening Delmira?" Orca asked purposely, showing up his brother in manners.

The older woman knew that's what he was doing. "All right, I suppose, let my mind wander a bit. You know how that goes." She handed the shirtless old man a bottle of soup.

"Ah…thinking about them again?" Ocra's demeanor became sad.

A heartbeat, then a whisper, "Yes…."

"Have you heard anything from Link or Aryll," Sue-Belle asked. Unaware they were only a small part of the them her grand uncle was referring to.

"Not since the last letter he sent." She addressed sue-belle. "As for Aryll, she sent me one about a week ago." Delmira handed the short old man a bottle.

"Oh, wonderful, I hope she's well….Did she, um, perhaps mention how Gonzo is doing?" Sue-belle blushed, slightly embarrassed by the question.

"Oh no, you don't!" Sturgeon scolded, "no granddaughter of mine will be involved with a plundering pirate!"

"Oh no, no, Grandfather, I just was wondering how he was doing, he um, he was sick last time I heard anything, and I hope he was better." The older teen quickly justified.

The old man continued to grumble. Most likely cursing Gonzo with every breath.

The old woman walked over to the younger and handed her a bottle. Pulling her down, she whispered in her ear.

"Come by tomorrow morning. I will happily show you the letters." She gave Sue-Belle a knowing smile.

After that, the friends fell into a traditional rhythm. The two old brothers went into excruciating detail about their time exploring the great sea. What monsters they faced. What treasures they found, what books they were able to create.

Delmira listened intently, despite being there for the first-ever hearing. There with a babe in hand, as the two young sailors recounted their journey and wows.

She found it humorous how every new telling, the shark became just a bit bigger. Or the treasure was just a bit rarer. Or how the maidens they wooed became fairer and fairer.

She just listened, never correcting them. How would that be fair?

Then a sound hit her ear. Off in the distance, then grew louder and louder.

"GRANDMA!" A young male voice sang.

"GRANNY!" The voice of a little girl.

Delmira got up, quickly as her old joints would allow, and headed towards the window.

"Oh goodness me, my babies, my beloved babies." Looking out, the silhouettes of her two grandbabies could be seen sprinting to their house. "Oh, Oh dear, Sue-Belle, can you call them." The elderly woman pleaded, making her way towards the door.

Sue-Belle was up within a second, hurrying to the door, once reaching the balcony. She called out to her younger friends. "LINK! ARYLL! YOUR GRANDMOTHERS OVER HERE!"

As Delmira came out to the baloney. She saw the shapes of her two grandchildren run into each other. Before turning on their heels and sprinting to her.

"GRANDMA, GRANDMA!" Her precious little Aryll sang. As Sue-Belle helped the older women down. Quickly, meeting her beloved on the path. Opening her arms wide to greet them with the warmest of hugs. The force they came at her with was almost enough to knock her down.

"Oh, my sweet little ones. You come home! How are you? Are you sick? Injured?" Pulling away, she started to look her darlings up and down. "Link, have you been eating enough? My goodness, you grew another few inches. Do I need to tailor your pants? Aryll, my, my, how you have blossomed. Look at you, are you well? Are you taking care of yourself with so much sun? Is Tetra with you? Is she well?" The older women looked around, seeing the young pirate captain sneak towards the family, shyly waving. "Oh, there you are, dear!" Delmira moved forward, cupping the young one's face. "My, you have grown as well. Absolutely stunning. Only are these new scars? Dear, what have we talked about? You have my brave grandchildren with you. There is no need to–"

"It's okay, Granny. I swear, these were by accident. I know I can rely on them." Tetra smiled towards the other teens.

"Hmmm, very well." The older woman was not pleased. Starting to think through all the old remedies her mother taught her to help with scars.

"Grandma…." Link whispered, putting an arm under hers. "There's some people I would like you to meet." Leading her to the shore.

There stood eight boys. Children in the old woman's eyes, but oh how she mourned for them. From their countenance and demeanor. She could see the joy and pain they had gone through.

All straightened up as she and her grandson reached them. Addressing her as if she were a princess, oh what a thought. One came forward dressed head to toe in armor. Oh, the poor dear, what horrors did he face that he needed to don that today?

"Madam," He bowed, very clearly the leader.

This would not do. Taking the leader's hands, she gently pulled him down to her eye level. Pushing his hair back to see his declaration of heroism.

"Oh, precious one….What have the old gods forced you to do?" The poor dear was taken back. Face filled with sorrow.

That answered the question enough. She took the boy by the hand.

"Come, come now, all of you. You need some rest. You'll be staying with us while here. Are you hungry? I have some soup back home. It's been sitting for a while. I'll make a fresh batch tomorrow." The older woman gently pulled the older man along. Watching her grandchildren giggle at her.

As they walked up the path, her old friends met them. "Master Link!" Orca excitedly approached. "How are you? Oh, it is so good to see your face again." He moved forward and placed both hands on the boy's shoulders. Behind him, Sturgeon approached, looking past the Hero of the winds and further down at the group of young men.

"I say? Crow? Is-is that you, old lad?" The short old man wiped his glasses.

Delmira paused, looking back to see who her delusional old friend could be talking about. Then she saw him. A mighty short young man with hair golden and straight, donning a bandanna. He wore a tunic of many colors. He seemed startled and confused by the old man calling him out.
"Oh my," was all the little old woman could say. Thankfully her grandson came to their rescue.

"Oh, mister Sturgeon, that's the Smith. He's one of the heroes I've been traveling with." The boy walked over to the confused Hero and wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder.

The short blind old man grumbled. He was very good at that. "Well, he looks almost exactly like Crow. Wouldn't you say so, Delmira?" Looking at Link's Grandma.

The women stood still, taking it all in. She hadn't seen that face in years.

"Crow? Crow….Crow–WAIT! You mean Grandpa? Grandpa crow?" The youngest Hero expressed. Looking to the Smith wide-eyed.

"Yes, what other crows do you know?" Sturgeon answered, annoyed.

"Grandfather!" Sue-belle scolded.

"What! It's not that common name, and he grew up on the Island! How many crows does the boy know? Also, Orca look at him. Is he not the spitting image of Crow? He's just a whole lot shorter!" The old man ranted.

The Smith glared at the comment, definitely offended.

Oh, this will not do. Delmira walked over to the grouchy old man and flicked him in the forehead. "Don't be rude to my guests." She bluntly said.

Her grandchildren were stunned, Tetra was pleased with the older women's action, and the boy that looked just like her late husband smiled, happy to be avenged. "Now, please excuse us, gentlemen. I need to go take care of my children." Continuing up the path.

Tetra, the considerate girl she was, offered to go back to her ship. Not wanting to take up space in the house. Delmira would not allow this. She needed a bottle of soup first before leaving her home.

Returning, she started to relight the fire and fan the flame. A young man in a blue tunic rushed to her side. Burn scars lining the side of his beautiful face.

"Please, please let me do this and the cooking. You're already offering your home to us!" Hands prepared to take over.

"No need. You're my guest. After all, I want to make sure you're all comfortable." Realization slowly setting in. "Oh dear me, I never asked you, precious boys, your names!"

Aryll's face lit up, "Link! They're all named Link!"

A beat of silence, "well then, that is quite easy to remember." The old woman chuckled.

Her darling grandson moved over to assist. Nudging the older boy in the blue tunic. "We're all named the same, but we gave each other nicknames to make it easier." Taking, his grandmother's hand and waved his hands toward the gentlemen.

"The dear boy right here is our group's main chef! We call him Champion!" The boy, flush Champion, waved.

He continued on to a boy who wore red. Holding his arms close to his chest. "The one right there! We call him the Veteran, Vet for short." The old woman could see he was trying to be polite. He nodded towards her but looked as scared as a rabbit. This would not do.

"Veteran, would you like to sit in this chair? You seem very cold, dear." She asked sweetly, but everyone knew it was a demand. He reluctantly sat down. Then Delmira softly wrapped her blanket over his shoulders. "There we go, snug as a button." She sweetly smiled at the boy. Who was trying not to get hot from the other's teasing.

The one who seemed to pick at him the most was a boy in bright green who wore a long blue scarf that had elaborate embroidery. It reminded the old woman of her….

"And who might you be, young man?" She wagged her finger at him.

He bowed, "They call me Captain, madam."

"Well, dear captain, I have a rule in this house. Weapons and armor are left at the door." Pointing to his shoulder. "This goes for all of you." Eyeing the man she had been first introduced to.

The room shifted, and the boys began to rest their armor and weapons. Everyone seemed to have relaxed. Finding places around the room to sit down.

Aryll joining them, sitting across two boys' laps. One content with her presence. He had a sharp face with a tattoo on his forehead. Something about him reminded the old woman of her mother, hm?

The second boy couldn't be a year or so older than Link. He still had his baby face, after all. He seemed a bit nervous around Aryl but didn't show any disdain at her presence.

The two boys noticed her looking their way. She smiled at them. Aryl graciously answered the question that was floating around at hand.

"This is Rancher and Traveler!" Giggling as she wrapped around the Ranchers neck.

The next child she noticed was a boy that chose to sit in the bed. Wrapped in what appeared to be a sail? How strange. She watched him for a moment before figuring out who he was. He was the group's sweet gossip king. She could just feel him radiating that energy. Her grandson came up next to her.

"That's Chosen, and knowing him. He will be asleep in about ten minutes." The boy chuckled, taking a bowl of soup from his grandmother to give to their guest. Walking over to the man who had just finished taking off all his heavy armor.

"Here you go, old man!" The boy said sweetly.

"Link, don't be rude. To our guest." She scolded her grandson.

"Oh no, Grandma, that's what we call him! It's his nickname. That or time." Link quickly defended.

"Mmhmm alrighty then," she turned to time and winked at him. "These children."

The older gentleman chuckled. "Tell me about it."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the small one sneak by. "Smith was it?"

The boy froze, debating how he was even seen. "Would you like some soup?" Finding it really hard to make eye contact with him.

The Smith carefully approached the older woman, gently taking the bowel from her hand. Shyly smiling at her.

Her beloved grandson didn't seem to notice the awkward tension because he addressed the one thing both parties hoped to avoid.

"Grandma, does the smith really look like Grandpa?" The child asked in blissful ignorance….or not. He knew what he was doing.
Delmira quickly turned back towards the pot. To avoid the blushing face of the young man.
Hearing the slight puff of skin and fabric most likely coming from her grandson.
Staring at the soup, she started to think. Her darlings deserved to know.
"He looks similar, Link…." She could feel the room still. Everyone's eyes were on her. "Your grandfather, he had longer hair. It came about to his shoulders. He kept it that way from the time he joined the Island to the day he died. He also had these beautiful burned red eyes. The likes I don't think I've ever seen again." Sorrow and warmth laced her words.
"You…never talk about Grandpa….How-how did you meet?" Aryl bravely asked.
Delmira paused, mind searching for all the details.
"To answer that, my love, we have to go way back. Back to the days before the endless rains took the kingdom of Hyrule. It all started on a dark stormy day with my adopted mother, Malon."
~
She was getting too old for this, but someone had to do it. Not like the royal family did a blasted thing about it. So it was all up to her.

It had been eighty-five years since fairy boy disappeared. Or rather eighty-five years since he defeated the demon king Ganon and saved Hyrule. Before apparently riding off into the sunset, never to be heard from again.

Only thing is Malon knew that wasn't true. How could she possibly know? Because his horse came back to her. Epona returned, and he wouldn't ride off into the distance without her. Not without his noble steed.

So what happened to him? Well, the simple farm girls theory was the princess murdered him. She just so happens to reappear the day Ganon is defeated, and the Hero responsible for it disappears?

Yeah, no, she didn't buy that. Then not fifty years later, evil starts to seep into the land again. Accept no one was there to clean up the mess. No matter how much the people prayed to the gods for the Hero to come back and save the land.

She accepted that would never happen. Malon knew he would never come back. So she had to stop being a damsel in distress.

This is how she found herself shooting monsters on horseback. Bow in hand, not giving them a chance to get close to her. They frequented this road a lot, attacking innocent travelers. Unfortunately, today she arrived just a bit too late. The poor babe's bloody bodies were thrown about the land.

The old woman sighed. She gave them a burning funeral. It's the least she could do. Flames flickered and danced in the fire. When a small bundle caught her eye. Something was moving.

Malon pulled her bow out. Ready for anything that attempted to come out. Small hands reached out from behind, pulling themselves out.

It was a little girl with big brown doe eyes and short soft brown curls. She appeared to be about two years old and stood there staring at Malon. Tears streaming down her eyes.

"Oh, little one….are you all right?" Malon watched the girl for any reaction. Nothing, she just kept staring before wobbling over and hugging the older woman's leg.

Malon went to pick up the poor thing, hugging her safely in her arms. In normal circumstances, she asks where the dear's parents were. Only she knew where they were, burning into ashes.

The child, at first glance, looked fine. Just minor cuts and bruises. What to do with her was the question. Malon was on the road so much and raising a child like that. Well, it was hard, but she didn't want to take her to the Castletown orphanage…the old woman wanted her to have a chance at life.

The babe snuggled closer to her. In a heartbeat, the women had decided. Looking at her horse that had been patiently waiting.

"I was denied this in my life. Was forced to survive instead of thrive. Never had time to find myself a man and start a family….but it's never too late….Might be a hundred and two years old, but it's never too late." She smiled at the darling nestled in her arms. "And you, my little one. I think you were worth waiting for."

Malon mounted her horse with the child in hand and headed back to Lon Lon Ranch.

The first few months had a bit of adjusting to them. She named the baby Delmira, never knowing the name given to her at birth. Not that she didn't ask, she tried so hard to get the little one to say a few words.

Nothing, the little girl would only stare at her.

Oh, but how malon loved her. She took some old shirts that belonged to her father and tailored them into a dress. The red very much compliments her hair.

And for five years, they lived happily and peacefully on the ranch.

Until one night, Malon was awoken in a cold sweat.

"Mama?... What is it? What's wrong?" The now seven-year-old Delmira rubbed the sleep out of her eye.

"The– the world's going to flood." The old woman held a hand to her chest.

"What?" The little girl was confused.

"A goddess sent me a vision. It was grains of sand falling before heavy rain. It– it engulfed the land. Everything gone, just like that." Malon wanted to get up and began preparing.

"Mama? I'm sorry, but that sounds crazy." Delmira snuggles close to her mother's side.

"Yes, it does…but I can't take that risk…." The old woman got up out of bed and grabbed her traveling sack.

"Where are we going?" The little girl asked.

"To meet an old friend." Malon threw her cloak on her back.