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Link‘s gaze fell upon the exquisite statue of Mipha, something to immortalize her legacy for all of time. “I... remember I was many things,“ he began, his voice trailing off as he reflected on the memories evoked by the sight before him.
Sidon shifted his gaze away from the captivating statue and directed it toward his beloved friend.
“I remember that I was a master swordsman, that ever since I pulled the Master Sword when I was twelve, I was destined to be the hero, that I was knight since four,” Link listed. “That many people adored me, even when I was filled with doubt.”
Sidon‘s words were direct, yet not impolite. “So we came here to mourn our sister together, only for you to be self-centered and boast about yourself?”
Then, sensing he may have been too harsh, he quickly corrected himself, knowing he would never think such cruel things about Link. “Not to say that you aren’t amazing and the best person I’ve ever met—”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got the message,” Link expressed, and gave him a rare smile he doesn’t usually give others.
“Oh, goodness, because you’re amazing. Just my friendly reminder.”
Link went back to his topic. “I was adored by many people, I knew that, but I didn’t know that I was… loved.”
“Loved?”
“By Mipha. She crafted this armor for me, to signify our bond as future husband and wife,” Link explained as he pulled the armor out of the Shekiah Slate display.
The delicate design of the armor alone must’ve taken her weeks to create. Weeks, that she spent for him because she loved him.
Loved.
“My chest hurts with her gone…” His gaze never left the gorgeous armor he held.
Sidon paused looking at him, at his chest, as if he expected a sword to be lunged in his chest. But he was physically healthy as ever.
“I remember how she made me feel, warm. Like I belonged. She made me feel special, valued,” Link continued. “I felt contentment and vulnerable. Yet so powerful. Like I was strong enough to do anything…”
“Weren’t you always strong?”
“Sure, but never as strong as I was with her.” Link opened his palm to his sights as if expecting a power to unleash itself just by talking about the one who loved him.
“She didn‘t treat me like this because of respect or adoration. But because she loved me.”
Sidon placed a comforting hand on Link’s shoulder, a gesture of support and understanding. “She loved you with all her heart, Link. And she still does, in spirit.”
“But... that‘s the problem.” Link‘s heart felt heavy with guilt. “I remember she loved me, but... did I love her in return?”
“… what?” Sidon was taken aback by the impulsive inquiry, his gaze softening with worry.
“I mean, I cared for her, I adored her as a dear friend, just as you are to me. But did I love her the way she loved me? Did I truly pay back her feelings?” Link‘s voice wobbled with hesitation, the weight of his reflection bearing down on him.
“I’ll admit,” Sidon whispered. “I’m not the best with love, either. Not romantically at least.”
“I’m sorry for springing this up on you—” Link began to apologize but Sidon cleared his throat, motioning himself to keep going.
“But I believe what you described is love. Love that you have back for her. Love that you ‘paid back.’”
Sidon‘s words brought a sense of relief to Link, a glimmer of hope amid his internal turmoil.
“You may not have recognized it at the time, Link. But the way you utter of her, the way you feel about her death—the way that you miss her despite not remembering as well as you used to... that is love. Genuine,” Sidon reassured him.
“But still...” Link‘s voice trailed off, his thoughts drifting back to the remembrances of Mipha and the hope that lingered in his heart.
Maybe the fact that it lingered in his heart, the fact that it refused to leave, the fact that he stood here right now wondering—no wishing—if he loved her back.
Maybe love was the fact that his heart ached with her gone.
“You told me she made you feel warm. That you were vulnerable yet strong—that’s love.” Sidon broke through the silence.
He looked at Link, his gaze unwavering to parry against the other one’s wavering. “Love is a campfire for your heart, to shield you from the harsh cold of the world. It’s a sense of vulnerability that strengthens you.”
“Like how she made me feel weak? But also strong enough to do anything?”
“You said it yourself, you feel pain in your chest with her gone? That’s love. And I’m sure that‘s what she felt about you too.”
They stood in silence for a couple of minutes, not in awkward silence though… But comfortable silence that lingered with a sense of understanding.
“What do you think it means to love?” Link brought them both back to reality. “Like the difference between that and something like respect.”
Sidon pondered at the question for a moment. “Respect is easy to explain, it’s acknowledging someone for their worth. But love isn’t easy…”
“It always seems that way,” He let loose a small chuckle.
“Love doesn’t come with a standard or expectations like respect does. It comes naturally, as a connection between two souls. A bond that even time couldn’t break.” Sidon gave him a fond smile. “A bond even a hundred years and death couldn’t break.”
Link took in all of his words and let out a deep breath he didn’t know he was carrying. “She loved me before I was a master swordsman, before I pulled the Master Sword, before I was the ‘Hero,’ before I was a knight.”
“She loved you. As Link. No titles, no accomplishments… Just Link.”
After another beat of comfortable silence, Link’s lips flickered upwards when he finally realized how beautiful the feeling was. Of being loved. So he declared it. “I was loved.”
“No, Link. You weren’t loved,” Sidon corrected him, though his stare suspiciously caring for such cruel words.
“What?”
“You are loved.”