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"Hey, what's with that face?" she whispered.
Link glanced up at Tatl, startled, then sighed and looked down at the ground.
"...I'll tell you later."
"...And if you need anything, don't be afraid to give us a holler! Ahaha!"
Link awkwardly waved goodbye to the two of them. When Romani and Cremia shut the sliding door of the barn, it was silent.
...That was until Tatl broke it.
"Okay, what was with that look you were giving to them earlier?! Were you trying to send them a message?"
Link, for what felt like the umpteenth time that day, sighed. "I was going to get to that, but no. I wasn't trying to intentionally 'send them a message'."
"Then why did you look so...pained?"
Link was quiet, defaulting to his usual response when he didn't want to fess up about things that were hard to explain. Tatl hated when he was quiet, but it was all he knew how to do.
"Well?"
Eventually, he found the right words. Or, words that were close enough. "...I, uh, told you when we first got here that people in Termina remind me a lot of people where I'm from, right? Well...Cremia and Romani...um..."
Tatl was already annoyed with him dancing around the subject. She started flitting around his head some more and jingled like desk bells as she spoke. "Arghh!! Just say it already, Link! I remember you saying that, but surely these people can't be the same so why are you being so weird about this?!"
"Okay, alright. Well, I know this sounds weird, but I knew a version of Cremia and Romani back in my homeland of Hyrule. They...were actually the same person, just that Cremia takes the form of her as an adult and Romani as a child. Her name was...
...Malon."
Tatl stopped her flitting and prattling but seemed confused. Link was boring holes into the floor while he spoke and then barely looked up at her like his response really answered her questions.
This guy is so weird.
"But how do you know they don't just look and sound alike? I mean, no one can be an adult and child at the same time, that's like being in two places at once."
Link's ears suddenly twitched. For a moment, Tatl could swear she noticed something akin to anger flash on his face, but it was gone a moment later. He quickly looked away again. He had been actively been avoiding her gaze for most of the conversation before and after the ranchers left the vicinity.
Okay, that's definitely weird. I mean, not his usual brand of weird, but like there's something he really doesn't wanna tell me. That's..concerning.
"Okay, well... Stop beating around the bush and get to the point, Link." Tatl started to hover near his head while she awaited for his response.
He was still looking away, but he went on. "...Well, I knew Malon for a long time, and she was the one who raised Epona before I took her. I-"
He hesitated for a second before shaking his head.
"...I just thought it was a strange parallel, that's all."
After he said that, he turned back to Tatl and he looked like his usual stoic self again. Like nothing had happened.
Reluctantly, she decided now would be the best time to ask.
"Link? Are you...okay?"
He had his eyes closed but quickly opened them after Tatl asked the question. He seemed to stiffen a bit before relaxing again, all in the blink of an eye (only, Tatl doesn't have eyes, so she was able to notice).
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about it. I think I just looked like that because they reminded me of her. That's all."
With haste, he made it to the door, opened it, and shuffled right on through without another word, leaving Tatl alone in the barn.
He definitely isn't fine. But...why is he not fine? What set him off?
Was it something I said..?
...Come to think of it, how did he know who that girl was for a long time if she was an adult already?
Maybe she was a family friend and he met her when he was really young? Who knows...
"Wait for me! You can't just leave me in here, you...Link!"
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"Mikau..."
The two of them watched the Zora fall to the ground in silence up until Tatl uttered his name. It was small and delicate the way she said it.
Link's expression remained the same but she could tell he was thinking. Hard. It was what he did when there was a lot to process.
She was about to ask him what he thought they should do for him when suddenly he reached for his pouch and pulled out his ocarina.
He played the Song of Healing, a song that had proven time and time again its potency to heal people's souls and bring them peace in the afterlife.
Something peculiar she noticed about Link was that every time he played a song on his ocarina, he would close his eyes. He wouldn't do that when he played his other instruments in other forms, so she only assumed up until now that he did that because he was the most comfortable with his ocarina. But now, she guessed it was also for another reason - to show reverence.
Link would always play his ocarina with reverence. And you could see it in the way he played, too. His facial expressions, the articulation, the phrasing, all of it.
Tatl finally realized that now. And she was glad she did.
Link's lips lingered over the mouthpiece for a moment longer than usual as he watched the Zora's body begin to fade into light. Removing the instrument from his face revealed the solemn expression he wore, but he tried to hide it by glancing to the side.
After a moment, a mask materialized from the spot Mikau was at moments ago. Link, a little startled, looked down at the mask and knelt to pick it up. He graced his fingers along the temples, cheek, and chin before taking it in both hands. He rubbed his hand over the fins on the side of the head, taking in their texture and size before something caught his attention in front of him.
Tatl watched the whole thing unfold, but was sort of far away from it all. As always, she felt like an observer and not someone actively involved in the situation. But she knew one thing - humans are pretty delicate creatures. They feel emotions much more than other races, and as such perform many rituals that other creatures (like herself) don't fully understand. Mainly, it was related to funerals. Since fairies couldn't "die" unless they simply faded away, the concept of holding a ritual in honor of someone's death was foreign to her. Of course, she understood what a grave was and that mortals often held ceremonies in which they honored said person that passed, but she'd never been there to see it happen herself.
It was quite a strange feeling she got when the spirit of Mikau appeared in front of them. Hearing him play, even in death, felt like she was witnessing something she wasn't allowed to. But what made her feel particularly strange was Link and his response to all of this.
He was shocked to see Mikau again, and listened with a lot of intent to his music, even more so than Tatl. When the guitarist eventually faded away for good, he left behind his iconic guitar to which Link took note of. After a moment, she watched as he found a large stake in the sand and propped up his guitar against it. Then, he tied a knot from rope around the guitar and carefully carved a messsage on the stake with his sword. Finally, he went and gathered a couple palm leaves and a colorful sea star and placed them at the foot of the improvised grave.
Then, he stood back after tightening the knot to look at everything. He closed his eyes, then bowed with his arms to his sides all the way down to his stomach. He stayed that way for about five seconds before slowly rising again and opening his eyes.
Tatl had nothing to say as she watched him; it was her way of remaining respectful. She knew that she had a tendency to butt in when she wasn't needed, but she had enough common sense to know when it wasn't appropriate.
Link carefully took the Zora's mask that he placed beside the grave and tucked it away into his bag.
"Come on. We need to find those eggs. We don't have much time left in the day."
"...I wonder if we find those eggs, that he'll be happy."
He said nothing.
He knew what she was really asking and what the eggs meant to Mikau. And Tatl knew it, too.
All she could wonder was how a kid his age seemed to be so mature.
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"Oh, you're the kid collecting masks! How cute! Are you old enough to pay for yourself or does your fairy take care of all that?"
"I'm in charge of my own finances, thank you. How much is it?"
"For you? Hm... How about 20 Rupees?"
"...I think I'll pass for today, but thanks anyway."
"Aw, what a shame. Come back soon!"
"(...Next time Tatl, I'm showing up as a Zora or something. I'm calling it now - she'll treat me better and give us a discount if I do that.)"
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"Anju told me you wear a green hat and clothes, but I didn't expect you'd be a child based on how she described you."
"Yep. I know."
"What, that you're a kid?"
"Yeah. I get it. You wouldn't expect a kid to take time out of his day to help some guy and his fiancè, I'm sure."
"...You're fairly smart for a kid."
"Thanks. I get that a lot."
"Were...you an ad-"
"No."
"...All right, then."
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"Hey, I have a question for you."
Link was riding Epona around Termina Field. Tatl figured it was a better time than any to ask.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"How old are you, Link?"
He pulled the reins a little too hard, causing Epona to have to stop briskly. He stared at the ground for a minute, almost as if he was in deep thought.
"You good?"
"...Yeah. I think there was a rock that Epona almost rode over so I had to stop. Sorry."
That's weird. There wasn't a rock there, to my knowledge.
"Well, are you gonna answer my question?"
"...I'm, uh...not really comfortable saying it."
"Huh? Wh- what do you mean? You're only a-"
"-Kid, I know, Tatl. Now come on. You can't be asking questions like that while I'm on horseback - it makes it hard to concentrate on my surroundings." He was already done resituating himself on Epona and was ready to take off again.
"O-okay. ...Sorry."
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"Sorry, but you seem a bit young to be here, boy. Why don't you hurry along now, hmm?"
The two of them were in the iconic Milk Bar of Clock Town. A woman had noticed Link and had something to say about him being there.
It was true; he seemed pretty young to drink, at least to Tatl. The woman, a wealthier member, seemed to think the same thing (of course, Tatl wouldn't have said anything to him even if she was in this woman's shoes).
But Link seemed to take offense, which surprised Tatl.
He remained calm but was firm. "Ma'am, I'll have you know I have every right to be here. I have a mask to prove my membership."
She was a bit caught off-guard by his attitude but kept her cool. "Mm, yes, but... You know, just because you have a membership doesn't mean it would be wise to drink, young man. There's a reason that non-members aren't allowed to come in here, let alone children, under normal circumstances."
Something in Link snapped.
"I can assure you I am more than capable of making a wise decision, ma'am. And I'm not sure why you think you can tell me what I can and can't do seeing as you're a stranger. And I rightfully earned my membership - you can talk to the bartender if you think otherwise."
Tatl felt like she needed to intervene before things got dicey.
"Okay, you two. Let's just all calm down. Miss, we'll see ourselves out shortly. Sorry to bother you." She started butting Link to get him to budge, and thank the gods that he did.
When the two of them were outside, she turned to Link and just about lost it.
"What was that?! Why did you go off on her like that? Were you asking for an argument?! And Link, just look at yourself! You are literally a child!! I don't care if you're one heck of a smart kid, but in what world would someone look at you and say you're old enough to drink? Of course she was going to say something! Unless there's something you aren't telling me, then I would've had reason to believe you're underraged, too! Which, now that I mention it, I've noticed that you act weird sometimes when certain things get brought up, like your age and stuff. So what's that all about, huh? Be honest with me!"
He was quiet for a little while after she was done with her monologue. He seemed pretty frazzled.
I guess it was a lot to load on him all at once. But still - I need to know what's going on with this guy.
Eventually, he spoke.
"Sorry. I just don't like when people look down on me just because of my age. It...gets frustrating sometimes."
I guess that makes sense. But that doesn't answer why he acts weird when I ask about it...
A kid, no matter how mature, should be able to tell me how old he is without getting all antsy.
Is he trying to lie about how old he actually is?
"Is that all, or is that all you're willing to tell me?"
His face turned a bit red at her accusation. He stayed silent.
"...Fine, then. I get what you mean by not liking when people are condescending, but just be honest with me - why are you lying about how old you are?"
Link turned stiff as a board.
"I've noticed that you get all huffy when people bring it up. That, and you seem a bit too smart for a twelve-year-old - if that even is your age. So tell me: how old really are y-"
"Why do you want to know, Tatl? So that it satisfies your curiosity? Or do you just wanna know because you like to get up in other people's businesses?"
She noticed his fists were balled and his expression was that of annoyance and deep-rooted frustration.
She was shocked - Link almost never fired back at anyone like that in all her time spent with him. It was like she flipped a switch and now he was acting like a completely different person.
"I- No, I just..."
She thought about the Skull Kid.
"I just wanted a friend that I could trust. If you've been lying to me this whole time, I...don't know if you'd just up and leave me or not."
Link's face and balled fists loosened. He was quiet for a moment while he considered what she said.
"...I'm sorry. I didn't really mean what I said. I understand why you wanted to know now. I shouldn't have gone off on that woman in the bar, either. Or even when you asked me how old I was that other time."
He looked down at his hands and sighed, then glanced to the side regretfully.
"To be honest with you...I'm not really sure how old I am at this point. I never really counted or celebrated my birthdays when I was younger, not to mention I-"
He halted his sentence abruptly for some reason.
"-I spent a lot of time traveling to different places, so sometimes I'd go days without ever seeing the light of day. All in all though, I'd say your guess of twelve is pretty accurate."
Her wings almost caught. "Wait, I was right about you being twelve?"
He shrugged. "Yeah, probably."
There was a beat of silence.
"Then why the heck were you being all mysterious about it, Link?!" She angrily buzzed around his head as she started to turn a slightly darker shade of yellow, leaning on orange.
He nervously tried making a "hold on" motion. "Woah, calm down there. Like I said, I don't like when people talk to me like I'm incapable of handling things by myself. I didn't want you to think that of me. It's not like I wanted to be 'mysterious', I just didn't know what to tell you, I guess..."
Eventually, she settled.
"Why didn't you just say that from the start, though?"
He shrugged again. "Like I said, I didn't know what or how to tell you, so I just left it at that."
Tatl hummed as she flitted around him.
"*sigh*. Why are you such a weirdo, Link?"
He let out a quiet chuckle to himself as they went to start walking around Clock Town.
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"Hey, new friend? Tatl has a question for you."
"Wha- Skull Kid, I'm not going to ask him, it'll make me look-"
"Hehe, Sis! You're getting all embarrassed now, huh?"
"No! Hey! I'm not! It's just..."
"What is it that you wanted to ask, Tatl?"
"Ughh... I just got to wondering, um... You said you never used to celebrate your birthdays, right?"
"Uh-huh. Why?"
"Well, would it be okay if we celebrated your birthday now since we're all here..?"
"..."
"Umm...Link? You okay?"
"...Yeah. What did you have in mind?"