The stump had gone silent, and Link could tell Zelda was gone.

He couldn't say anything else to her, not till he could greet her face to face. Till that day comes, he would do everything in his power to complete his side of the promise.

For now, he had to return to Tatl. It wasn't ideal, but for the last ten years Termina had been his home and he had grown to hate it, even though it still had people providing him warmth. He needed to repay his debt to this place before he left.

It was that word, home, that felt so wrongly placed. Had Link ever had a real home? A childhood that was a lie, living in a forest where he never belonged. And then he wandered through the fields of Hyrule, but he never stayed in one place for long enough to call it home. And after that... Navi left. Link couldn't return to the forest without her, for he would become a stalfos if he stayed too long. It was so cruel. Termina seemed to be the place where he stayed longest, did that make it his home? No, Zelda wasn't there. It couldn't be a home. Especially not without her. But even so, it was a home to the people who resided there.

With a shred of hope, Link felt the craziest stur of emotions. It was fresh, so new to him. Before all he felt was a blank emptiness, he never trully believed he could get home. He wasn't as optimistic as Tatl. But now, he had hope. Genuine reason for hope.

He needed to hurry, to return to Tatl. She would be waiting. Link had no idea how long he stayed by the tree stump talking with Zelda, that time had felt so cold and hot, but he knew he had been gone for far too long.

As he ran back the way he came his destination the witches place, a wash of guilt surfaced in him. It was different than his self hating guilt he had always felt, this time he felt bad with concrete reason. He had totally blown his promise to find that witches sister.

If Termina had been a temporary home for him, he ought to have treated it's people better. They may have looked the same as previous enemies in Hyrule but they weren't. Everyone here had given Link many blessings during his time here, and he was spitting then back in the face.

The worst of it was, he didn't have the time left to fulfill his debt. His debt to Termina, his apology to all the people for treating them wrong. He had to return to his other home, with Zelda. He wouldn't be able to bear knowing he kept her waiting any longer, as selfish as that was.

As for Zelda, as soon as the connection severed her guards appeared from the bushes nearby to aprehend her.

"Who were you talking to? Lady Impa said nothing about this," a guard grunted, ripping some sticks out of his armour that the forest had so graciously slowed him down with.

"Oh, I, I apologize. I found a huge lead in my search but we have to hurry!" Zelda knocked the dirt off of herself, bringing her bag up on her shoulder.

"Wait," one guard grabbed her wrist and forced her to stand next to him. "We can't just go back. You broke Lady Impa's orders and we are under instruction to apprehend you in such a situation. We are intitled to know what you were doing here and who you were speaking with."

Zelda remained calm, she was used to being pulled aside by guards. Ever since she began her search occasions like this would occur on a regular basis.

"I was just observing the area."

"We heard you." His grip didn't loosen.

"Come on, we want to go home too," one of the other guards complained. "Can't we leave this to Lady Impa?"

"Ugh, fine," he threw back her hand, "Listen, as soon as we get to the castle you are required to report to Lady Impa."

"Yes, I understand," Zelda nodded as she rubbed her wrist. The guards used to treat her nicer and like royalty, but over time they had grown annoyed of her and many treated her this way. Zelda went the polite route That had been engraved in her since she was a child, as any princess would. She didn't mean to cause them any trouble, but finding Link had always placed it's importance for her above all else. She was selfish, but she didn't know what else to do.

They arrived at the castle in record speed, because for once Zelda wasn't fighting the urge to keep looking and wanted to get back to the castle. There were things there that she needed to keep her promise.

"Okay, wait here," one guard instructed as the others left to get Impa. He would be staying to make sure she didn't act up like she normally did. She had manners, yes, but that didn't mean she let others run her life.

Impa arrived soon after, a scowl placed on her face wrinkling her skin. "Zelda, what happened?" He voice held no pity, but motherly concern. Impa always attempted to hide the fact she cared for Zelda.

"Impa, you won't believe it!" Zelda's voice held such optimism and joy that even Impa's hardened expression softened at the sound of it. The guilty undertone did not go unnoticed, however.

It's not like Zelda could hide it. After everything with Link she was bound to feel a variety of emotions.

"Guards, you may leave. We won't be requiring your assistance for the time being," Impa commanded. She turned to Zelda, "Won't believe what?"

"I was right."

"Then he's alive? Where is he?" Impa cursed her questions, she shouldn't remind Zelda about the boy. But, in the most likely scenario, that was what Zelda's news would be about.

"Well, you see..." Zelda went on to explain her findings with Impa, leaving out major details. Impa didn't need to know about all of the struggles or about her plan. If she did know she wouldn't allow Zelda to follow through.

"So you're telling me that you actually heard that boy's voice?"

"Yes. Impa, I promise you I'm not lying. I can't prove it to you but... It was real!"

Impa weighed her options, "I believe you."

"You're actually believing me?"

"Zelda, I've known you since the day you were born, I held you before you could even speak. I can tell when you're lying and I can tell when you've found something dear to you. That boy really means the world to you, huh?"

"Oh... Yes I suppose so. Then--"

"Don't worry about the rest. You may have your secrets."

"But you--"

"I'm always much harsher, I know. Don't make me change my mind, Zelda."

"I won't."

"Now, you do plan to bring him home now that you know he's alive, correct?"

"I do..." Zelda let her voice wander.

"I can't provide help on that matter, but I can allow you some time to focus on it while I take care of your duties to Hyrule," Impa offered, as it was the most efficient way to go about things. Zelda on her own wasn't getting any of her jobs done, and knowing Link was out there would even lower her productivity if she wasn't able to do anything.

"Thank you."

"I assume you've already thought about how to bring him home?"

"I... Well yes, I have. In fact, I could bring him home in a matter of days or even in just a few hours if all goes according to plan."

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I almost forgot to update. Oops.