Summary: Link continues with his new life then works to locate and confront Timela. Hylia presents him with a painful choice.

Link and Zelda awoke the following day in each other's arms. Zelda smiled at him.

"You know where you are today?" said Zelda. "You're not going to jump out of bed, surprised to see me?"

"I know where I am," said Link as he smiled back at her and hugged her. "I'm where I belong right now. What does Astra do in the mornings?"

"She has lessons," said Zelda. "Nothing too serious at her age. Some playing goes along with it. Then she has lunch and the afternoon off. You generally do some work for me in the morning and then spend the afternoon with her if you're free. Otherwise, she plays with one of the nursemaids."

"What are the nursemaids' names, by the way," said Link.

"In the morning, it's Alicia, and in the evening, it's Patricia," said Zelda. "If you get confused, think of AM and PM."

"I'll try to remember," said Link.

"We should get up, but the company was nice," said Zelda. "I have things to do this morning but will meet you at the castle entrance at noon for our picnic. After that you can take Astra sailing again or whatever you two want. I want you to have time with her, and she enjoys being out on the water with you. Besides the fun of being on the boat, I think she likes having you all to herself. There are no Royal Guards or nursemaids with her when you two are on the boat together. She loves you very much, Link."

"And I love her," said Link. "I love being with her, and she has made me very happy. Tomorrow I want to visit Hateno Village, though. Hylia trapped that witch's ex-husband in a statue there, and I'm hoping he will give me some useful information. I'll need some extra rupees to bribe him. So I will probably be gone all day tomorrow. And I don't know what will happen when I finish. We should let Astra know."

"She'll understand," said Zelda. "You travel on occasion and do some work for me sometimes."

"Really?" laughed Link. "I'd love to see my performance review. I think a good morning kiss would be nice if you don't mind."

"That is a nice idea," laughed Zelda. "But it won't change your review."

They kissed, then got out of bed and prepared for the day ahead.

"You can withdraw rupees from the treasury," said Zelda. "By the way, there is always a guard stationed at Hateno Village who patrols the area and keeps an eye on your old house, among other things. So everything there should be the way you left it."

Link spent the morning finding where his things were and getting prepared for his trip to Hateno Village the next day. He wanted to get an early start tomorrow. By the time he had everything ready, it was time for their picnic. He made his way to the castle entrance, and Astra was there with Alicia.

Astra ran to him, and he picked her up and hugged her.

"Good morning, Alicia," said Link as he held Astra in his arms.

"Good morning, Your Highness," said Alicia. "The Princess certainly can't wait to see you each day!"

"I love you, sweetheart," said Link to Astra as he held her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You forgot to say how much!" said Astra.

"You already know, sweetheart," laughed Link. "As much as there are stars in the sky. Oh, here comes Mommy."

Zelda and four Royal Guards were approaching from the castle entrance.

"Do we need so many guards?" said Link as he looked back at them.

"When all of us are together like this, we do need protection from the Yiga Clan," said Zelda. "Do you mind carrying Astra there? It's a little far for her to walk. She likes to picnic by the Sacred Grounds."

"Of course, I don't mind carrying her," said Link as he gently squeezed Astra.

Then he spun around with her once, and she giggled.

"Help me remember what we usually do there," said Link to Zelda.

"You two sometimes play hide and seek among the trees there, but I usually help her if she is doing the seeking," said Zelda. "She also likes to splash in the water, so I hope you don't mind getting wet. She has a toy sailboat she likes to float in the water here, but she didn't bring it today. And she likes to pick mushrooms, but we've warned her not to eat any of them. There are Hylian, Endura, and Stamella Shrooms near the trees there. Deer, foxes, and squirrels sometimes come there, and she loves seeing the animals and trying to chase them."

"Sounds wonderful," said Link giving Astra another squeeze. "I can't wait!"

When they reached the grounds, the guards positioned themselves around the area, and Zelda opened a blanket for them to sit on. She had been carrying a picnic basket, and she put that down and opened it as well.

"Let's have lunch first, then some playtime," said Zelda. "Astra, you can decide if you want to play here or go back and sail with Daddy after lunch."

"Okay, Mommy," said Astra.

They all sat down together and had lunch. There had been a brief rain shower earlier that morning, but the skies had cleared up by now, and it was warm but with a gentle breeze that kept it from being hot. An occasional Warm Darner hovered nearby.

"Look! A fox!" shouted Astra excitedly, pointing to where a fox had gone past one of the trees.

"Did you decide what you want to do, Astra? Sail with Daddy or play here?" said Zelda after everyone finished lunch.

"Can I do both?" said Astra.

"If you don't play here too long, you can," said Zelda.

"Come on, Daddy," said Astra taking Link's hand. "Let's hunt for mushrooms."

Link let Astra lead him from tree to tree and excitedly pick the mushrooms she found. Along the way, she chased after a squirrel that scampered away. Then they returned to the blanket and dropped off the mushrooms. It looked like she was getting tired.

"She usually benefits from an afternoon nap," said Zelda. "If you sit with her on your lap, she will probably fall asleep. There will still be some time to sail with her before dinner."

"Come on, princess," said Link. "Can you let Daddy rest for a minute? And a cuddle with you would feel good."

Link sat down, and Astra cuddled on his lap with him as he leaned against a tree. As Zelda expected, Astra quickly fell asleep. Link looked over at Zelda and smiled.

"She is so cute," whispered Link.

They sat quietly, then Link reached out and took Zelda's hand. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand back. The way to his heart was through the beautiful little girl in his arms. He was happy right now, and he felt he was doing what he should under the circumstances.

But he hadn't forgotten his other family. He looked over at the ceremonial area of the Sacred Grounds and remembered the long-winded speech Zelda gave appointing him as her knight. Mipha and the other Champions were there to watch it. He knew Mipha wasn't thrilled about his appointment and resented all the extra time he would be spending with Zelda. But things had worked out in the end. I guess he was getting a taste of what life would have been if they had not. And it seems he was blessed with a beautiful family either way.

This timeline was growing on him, though. He looked down at Astra, and she was still asleep, breathing gently. Yes, this timeline was growing on him, which will doubtless break his heart in the end. But so be it. He would give this family all the love he could while he was here and take the hurt that followed. It was not their fault.

When Astra woke up, she still wanted to go sailing, so Link helped pack up things and put them back in the basket. Then he took Astra's hand, and they walked back to the castle, Link having to hold her part of the way.

"I will see you two sailors at dinner," said Zelda as she left them.

"Ready to sail?" said Link as he put her down, and they walked to where the sailboat was tied up.

They followed the same pattern as the day before, Astra sitting in his lap. This time he let her play with the sail as well as the rudder whenever she wanted.

"Did you sail much, Daddy?" said Astra as she held the rudder.

"I did a little sailing," said Link. "Usually, I used small rafts which didn't have a seat like this. And I didn't have a beautiful princess like you with me either. This is much more fun."

Astra smiled at him.

"When I'm bigger, maybe you could take me sailing on the river," said Astra. "I like looking at the river by the park and seeing the fish swimming there."

"That would be fun," said Link. He wiped his eyes with the hand he was not using to hold her. This was getting harder and harder for him. Astra didn't notice as she was busy watching where the boat was going.

They navigated the small sailboat all around the Castle Moat north of the pier and sailed for almost two hours before the wind started to pick up, and it looked like it would rain soon."

"I think it's getting too windy, sweetheart," said Link. "And it's almost time for dinner. We should go back now."

"Okay," said Astra. "It was fun."

"It was fun for me too, sweetheart," said Link.

Link maneuvered the boat back to the pier, then they washed up and headed to the dining room. It was another delicious dinner, and they talked about what a good time they had today. After dinner, Astra went off with Patricia for a bath and some quiet playtime in her room. Zelda and Link went for a walk.

"So, tomorrow you leave first thing in the morning?" said Zelda.

"Yes, there is a lot I have to do," said Link.

"Do you want some guards to accompany you?" said Zelda. "You haven't adventured on your own since we married."

"I don't think so," said Link. "Having guards with me would only make me more noticeable. I think I need to be stealthy."

Link took her hand, and she smiled at him.

"You're starting to act like my husband again," said Zelda.

"I had a wonderful day," said Link.

They walked around the area near the front of the castle. Then it was time to tuck Astra into bed for the night. They made their way to her room, and Astra was already in bed waiting for them.

"Astra, Daddy needs to go on a trip tomorrow so you won't see him," said Zelda. "So, maybe you can give him an extra special big hug and kiss."

Zelda kissed her goodnight, then Link leaned down and kissed her. She squeezed him harder than usual and held him longer.

"I love you, Daddy," said Astra.

"I love you too, sweetheart," said Link. "As much as there are stars in the sky. Be a good girl, and take care of Mommy while I am gone."

Then Zelda and Link left and went back to their room.

"I should get some rest," said Link. "I want to leave first thing. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long day."

"I understand," said Zelda. "Wait, just a moment. I forgot to let someone know about something."

Zelda wrote a short note, then passed it to one of the guards outside their room. Then Zelda went to one of the drawers and pulled out her Sheikah Slate.

"Here, take my Sheikah Slate. It will speed your travels," said Zelda.

"I will, thank you," said Link. "This will be an immense help."

"Are you sleeping on the couch or with me tonight?" said Zelda.

"With you if it's okay," said Link.

"Come to bed then and hold me," said Zelda.

They both went to bed, Link leaned over, and they kissed good night.

"Good night, sweetheart," said Zelda.

"Good night, sweetheart," said Link.

Then they fell asleep in each other's arms again.

The next morning it was still quite early when Link quietly got up and dressed. Zelda was still sleeping. He leaned down, gently kissed her on the forehead, then took the Sheikah Slate and made his way to the nearest travel medallion, which was in the dock area of the castle.

He stood on the medallion, selected the shrine near his Hateno Village home, the Mayhem Agana Shrine, and activated the slate. As he remembered, he dissolved into ancient energy and emerged at the shrine just northwest of his house. Then he made the short, familiar walk from the shrine to his house.

He opened the door and went inside. It was just as he remembered it, but the rooms needed some dusting. All the Champion weaponry he had collected was still there. He wiped each of them off with a rag he found, then took hold of Mipha's Lightscale Trident and removed it from the display case. He paid particular attention to cleaning that, then put it back. He walked upstairs and saw that his bed was made, and the Champions Inauguration picture hung on the wall where he remembered it. He took a moment to gaze at it. He used to do that when he lived here long ago. And there was his desk where he wrote the first parts of his journal.

But this was not the time to reminisce. He needed to have a conversation with a statue. He freshened up, then made his way across the short wooden bridge and down the hill to the horned figure. He approached the statue and addressed it. The statue glowed, and it remembered him.

"You... Come to tamper with your essence, yes?" said the statue.

"No, not this time," said Link.

"Then what do you wish?" said the statue.

"Information about your wife," said Link.

"Ah, you have met Timela?" said the statue. "What do you wish to know? You should know my service comes at a price."

"I need to know where I can find her," said Link. "And how I can destroy her."

"Ah, those things are hard to say," said the statue. "But perhaps 10,000 rupees to tell you how to find Timela and another 10,000 to learn how to destroy her would help my memory."

"What would 10,000 rupees in total do for your memory?" said Link. "I do not see many worshipers coming here, and rupees must be scarce these days."

"Well, perhaps 16,000 rupees would suffice," said the statue.

"My final offer is 12,000 rupees," said Link. "I will seek her by other means if that is not good enough."

"Very well, I accept," said the statue. "Give me the rupees."

"Half now, and the rest when I hear your information," said Link. "And if your information proves false, I will ask the village to surround your statue with stones, and you will never see another worshiper."

Link paid 6,000 rupees, half the amount they agreed to.

"My dear Timela, who used to visit me but now has forgotten all about me, can be found after sunset at the East Gerudo Ruins. She travels there from the nearby area, and I cannot tell you from which direction. If you see her, say a curse at her for me. She has not treated me well. But if I know her, she will not look kindly on your visit."

"I am not inclined to look kindly on her, either," said Link. "Now, how can I destroy her?"

"Yes," laughed the statue. "The answer is you cannot. Now wasn't that worth all those rupees?"

"Let me summon some workmen," said Link. "Say farewell to Hyrule as you will soon be encased in stones."

Link began to walk away.

"Wait!" said the statue. "What I said is true. You cannot destroy her. But she hates bright light and is sensitive to it. That is her only weakness."

"Here is the rest of my payment then. I hope for your sake your information is true," said Link as he paid the rest of the rupees.

The statue made a chuckling sound and seemed quite pleased with itself. Link wondered what it did with rupees but guessed it was like a greedy miser that enjoyed possessing things just for the sake of owning them.

Link returned to his house. He would need to change into warmer clothing before venturing into the Gerudo Wasteland at night. As he approached his house, he thought he saw some movement near the cooking pot. Were those ridiculous Bolson Construction people still hanging around? He looked around, but no, there was no one there. It was probably a squirrel or a fox.

Link went inside to prepare what he wanted to bring with him and then take a short nap. It might be a difficult night. He set the Sheikah Slate to wake him at the time he wanted. But he missed Tabs. He would have filled his Tab with pictures of Astra if he could. After getting everything ready, he managed to fall asleep.

It was late afternoon when the alarm went off, and he awoke. It was time to go. He made the bed and took a last look around the house, then he took the Sheikah Slate and brought up the map. He selected the Korsh O'hu Shrine and activated it. An instant later, he was in standing at the shrine in the center of the East Gerudo Ruins, surrounded by the massive statues of the Seven Heroines.

He needed to ambush Timela, take her unawares, so he climbed to the very top of one of the statues on the western edge and sat down to wait. The sun slowly sank, and by the time it was 9 pm, the horizon to the south and west glowed red from the setting sun.

Naboris stood proudly perched on Spectacle Rock where Urbosa's spirit had left it during her attack on Ganon. Naboris was quiet now, like all the Divine Beasts. Just below, there was a small outcropping of Luminous Stones that glowed in the distance. Whenever he saw Luminous Stones, he thought of Zora's Domain, his home.

As the night wore on, he could see his breath, the temperature dropping to the freezing point. He dared not light a fire and was grateful for the warm Rito-made armor he was wearing. Orange Gerudo lamps glowed here and there among the silent statues of the heroines. Shadows moved like ghosts across the landscape as the moon slowly rose behind the cliffs to the east, and its light angled over and around the peaks.

Link remained quiet. Small patches of clouds moved from west to east, driven by the higher elevation winds. The only sound he could hear was the swish of a gentle breeze that came and went, sometimes kicking up small clouds of sand far below.

It was a cold and lonely vigil, but Link had done this kind of thing before in his younger days, and he was still in good shape, barely thirty years of age. He continued to crouch behind the stone structure, scanning the area. The Kara Kara Bazaar and Gerudo Town looked silent now, most residents asleep. The bones of some extinct giant beast lay exposed, curving out of the sand, a pale white skeleton in the moonlight. It was 11:30 before the moon finally rose above Spectacle Rock and arched its way westward. It was a crescent moon tonight, which gave some light but not too much. Link was beginning to wonder if he would have to pay another visit to that cursed horned statue.

And then he saw her, someone moving toward his location, passing through the skeleton to the southwest. It must be her. Link waited. He hoped her power was not strong enough to sense his presence. He needed to catch her by surprise. Then he was distracted for a moment by a shadow moving against the direction of the other shadows near one of the statues. But when he looked more closely, there was nothing there. Perhaps the wind had blown some vegetation.

Link waited until Timela was just below him. She hadn't detected him yet. Then he quietly paraglided down behind her and managed to land a sneak strike with the sword that seals the darkness. Timela fell to the ground, and Link took advantage, striking out twice more with his sword. Timela seemed to be weakening, but then she managed to chant something, and he froze. He couldn't move.