#auru

“Hold on—” One of the soldiers called out, but Auru ignored him, stopping as soon as he reached the person. They looked to be a young man from what he saw, his back turned to him as he laid on his side. Auru’s hand hovered over him, almost afraid to touch this stranger, but his desire to help dissolved any caution, and he turned him over. The boy looked so young, his cheeks and roundish nose flushed red while his brows were pinched together in pain. His shirt was a bright yellow with green leaves embroidered into the fabric, a soft orange obi wrapped around his abdomen, and a maroon skirt covering his legs, all articles of clothing smudged with dirt and leaves. Auru didn’t recognize the style of clothing, and if he did, he didn’t know where it came from. He had round ears, which Auru immediately noticed, so he was likely from a different country, but he was awfully far from home if that was the case. The boy was breathing fortunately, but it was quick and shallow, and it was apparent he was struggling with a fever. Auru hummed, reaching for the waterskin on his belt while trying to wake the boy up.

“Open your eyes boy,” he muttered, shaking his gently. He stirred, but his eyes didn’t open, his body too weak to do anything.

“Auru, we need to continue back to the castle before sundown,” the soldier stated, and Auru shot him a glare.

“Then leave without me if you wish.”

The soldiers didn’t move, leaving Auru to continue his attempt at waking the boy. After a few shakes, his eyes finally opened, his gentle blue eyes glassy and dazed. Auru smiled slightly, helping the boy sit up and bringing his waterskin to his lips.

“Drink up,” he ordered, gently tipping the waterskin, and the boy nearly grabbed it in desperation as he tried to chug the whole thing. Auru clicked his tongue in disapproval, pulling the waterskin away slightly. “Don’t drown yourself.”

The boy took a few more sips before passing out again, and Auru sighed, looking around him. They were in a heavily wooded area, the group just about to reach an opening that led to Hyrule Field. He wondered how the boy got here.

“Hello? Is anyone out there?” He called out, listening intently for any soul hiding in the trees, but there was no response. “Does this boy belong to you?” He tried again, but his calls remained unanswered. He looked back down at the boy, worry growing in his heart. The boy was very ill, meaning he wouldn’t last long by himself out in the wilderness, and Auru didn’t have the heart to abandon him here. He just didn’t know where he belonged.

“Auru,” a different soldier pressed, and he groaned, gathering the boy into his arms.

“We must take him to the town doctor,” Auru announced, carrying him over to the carriage. The soldiers said nothing, but their expressions told him everything he needed to know. They were not happy about the new passenger, but he didn’t care. He was always taught to protect Farore’s children, after all. After getting situated, the group began moving again, Auru cradling the sick boy in his arms. The journey grew more tense now with the new situation at hand, and he at least appreciated the quickened pace by the soldiers. They reached Castle Town in the evening, right before they lifted the draw bridge, and Auru motioned for the soldiers to stop. “I’ll get off here. You al may return to the castle at once.”

“Are you sure?”

“Certainly. It’ll be faster to the doctor this way.”

The soldiers all seemed hesitant, but they didn’t stop Auru from leaving the carriage, the boy hanging limply in his arms. They split up, Auru marching into the town with much haste, his footsteps thumping against the paved ground. Although it was rude, Auru pushed past the folks all huddled around shops, his urgency forcing people to move out of the way. They arrived at the doctor in due time, which was tucked away in an alleyway, and the boy whimpered in his hold as he shoved his way in.

The doctor’s place was far quieter than the bustling town outside, the only people inside being the doctor himself and an older man getting his arm patched up. Auru recognized him as the owner of the ranch in the middle of Hyrule Field.

“Alright, that should do it,” the doctor said, rubbing his arm slightly. “How does it feel?”

The rancher stared at his bandaged arm, not at all looking impressed. “It’s fine.”

“Tch, don’t get all uppity with me! I’m the doctor here—I know what I am doing.”

“Right…”

The doctor huffed, shaking his head. “I think it’s about time you retire, old man. You’ll wind up dead one of these days.”

The rancher pointed his big nose to the sky, crossing his arms the best he could despite the injury. “I’ll retire the day I die, you understand?”

“With the way you’re acting, it won’t take long,” the doctor deadpanned.

Auru cleared his throat, getting the doctor’s attention, who looked annoyed.

“Oh great, another patient,” he said sarcastically, moving over to them and gesturing to a white bed. “Set him down here. You may leave, Talon.”

The old rancher got up and started to move to the door while Auru set the boy down, a little flabbergasted at the doctor’s complete lack of empathy. They were silent while the doctor worked, diagnosing the boy with his eyes squinted behind his giant glasses.

“What happened?” He asked.

“I don’t know. I saw him unconscious on the side of the road,” Auru started to explain, “he has a fever, but beyond that I know nothing.”

The doctor hummed. “What’s his name?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen him before.”

“Where is he from?”

“I don’t know, I just found him on the side of the road.”

“He’s from Ordon.”

The two men looked over at the old rancher—Talon—who was watching the boy with a warm look in his eyes.

“What?”

“He’s from Ordon. Ordonians wear those obis around their waists,” he explained, and Auru glanced down at the boy. Of course! How could he not know that? Ordon was a small and well-hidden human village down in the south of Hyrule. They kept to themselves, so much so that many didn’t know about them. Even Auru, being as well-traveled as he was, never visited, so the village rarely entered his mind.

“I see… what the heck is an Ordonian child doing all the way in Hyrule?” The doctor asked, mostly to himself as he looked him over. Auru couldn’t help but wonder the same thing, the worry only growing. What could’ve possibly happened to him?

“Well, I can give him some medicine and potion, it’ll help with his fever,” the doctor said, putting out his hand to Auru. “I’ll take two-hundred rupees.”

Auru blinked, not knowing if he was joking or not. “Excuse me?”

“Two-hundred rupees. I’m not running a charity here!”

“Two-hundred? That’s an absurd price, and you know it!”

“It’s how I run my business—”

“He’s dying! Can’t you worry about that later?”

The doctor leaned in. “I know who you are, Auru. I know you aren’t struggling to find rupees. Pay up or you’ll have to go somewhere else.”

Auru felt like he was about to blow his top off before Talon walked up, handing the doctor a big bag.

“I’ll pay for it,” he offered, and Auru gasped.

“No—no I can take care of it—”

“Nonsense. There’s more where that came from,” Talon said, a small smile hidden behind his white mustache. “Don’t worry about it.”

Auru frowned. “Are you sure? It’s very generous of you, sir.”

“I’m certain. Here,” Talon dug into his pockets and pulled out a bottle of milk, the insignia of Lon Lon Ranch wrapped around it. “Make sure he drinks this when he wakes up. I’m sure it’ll help.”

Auru took the milk carefully, smiling at the kind man. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say, except your kindness will not go wasted.”

Talon nodded. “Just doin’ what I can… make sure he survives.”

With that, the rancher left, leaving Auru feeling warmed and guilty. It was no secret that he was well off with rupees; paying two-hundred wouldn’t have done much to him, yet the rancher who had to work hard for rupees gave so much away without a second thought. He really needed to work on himself.

“Did he seriously give me two-hundred green rupees?” The doctor grumbled to himself, staring at the large bag, and Auru frowned.

“Doctor, give this boy medicine. Now.”

“Alright, alright! Patience!” The doctor hissed, setting down the bag and digging through his cabinets, where he pulled out a purple and red bottle. The two woke the boy up and helped him drink the two bottles, Auru growing more agitated at how careless the doctor was being. After a long moment of them struggling to get the medicine down, the bottles were finally empty, with the boy already looking much better.

“Finally,” the doctor sighed, walking away to discard the bottles. Auru simply watched him, the boy’s soft features relaxing. He was going to be ok…

Standing up straight, Auru set the milk down on the table next to the bed, and he nodded at the doctor. “Thank you. I am needed at the castle but I will be back to check on him.”

“Mm, yeah, whatever. Just be quick.” The doctor waved him off, and Auru gave him one last glare before turning and heading out, being greeted with the bustling Castle Town. Now with the dire situation handled, Auru was able to slow down, the gossipers’ and shop owners’ voices now filling his ears.

“The queen just seems to be getting sicker and sicker.”

“Oh how scary! Surely they’re trying to do something about it, right?”

“I don’t know. But I hope she’ll pull through.”

Auru left the alleyway and walked near the fountain in the center of town.

“Did you hear about the kid that was killed by monsters?"

“No! Goddesses, that’s horrible!”

“Yes, apparently he was the ranchers’ son. He was only sixteen…”

“So young, how sad!”

He reached the steps that lead to giant doors, guarded by two guards who watched him suspiciously.

“Fruit for sale! Come and get your fruit!”

Showing the guards the royal letter from Queen Zelda herself, the guards allowed Auru through the doors, him finally leaving the loud town.

The guards all seemed confused at him entering the castle in a different way, but they didn’t stop him as he marched to the throne room, where he met the chancellor instead of the queen.

“Auru, you’re late. The soldiers said you were handling some business,” the chancellor stated, and Auru bowed.

“Forgive me. I found a sick boy and had to help him.”

“Well, I cannot condemn you for saving a life.” The chancellor sighed. “What of your journey?”

Auru searched the throne room, pulling out his notes. “Where is the queen?”

“She’s—her condition has gotten worse,” the chancellor explained quietly, as if out of respect. Auru frowned. The rumors seemed to be true then. A few months previously, the queen had been stricken with a mysterious illness, one no one had ever seen before. She was bedridden, attacked by nightmares that made her delirious and weak, forcing the chancellor to act in her stead. The situation only got worse when her handmaiden, Impa, got hit with the same illness. Fearing a plague outbreak, the two were cooped up in their rooms, only being visited by the royal family, and to say that it had the entire kingdom worried was an understatement. It was partly why Auru was so busy visiting different countries—he was trying to find a cure.

“You can explain everything to me, I shall relay it to her when she is… present,” the chancellor said, and Auru nodded, telling him everything that happened during his visit to Holodrum. The chancellor listened intently, nodding and humming as he spoke, and he finally took his notes and dismissed him. “I’ll share this with the queen. Thank you Auru.”

Auru nodded, bowing again and turning to the door to leave. Until the chancellor called out to him.

“Wait! I forgot something!”

Auru turned and gave the chancellor his full attention.

“The rest of the zoras have arrived at our Zora’s Domain. I want you to go there, talk to Lady Rutella, and see if there’s any medicine they can give the queen.”

Auru frowned. He just got here! He’d have to rush to zora’s domain tomorrow morning just to get there in time! And the boy on top of it all, he couldn’t just leave him behind with no one to take him home!

“Tensions are growing high for the zoras, so I just want you to reestablish our relations with them,” the chancellor continued, and Auru swallowed his anger and nodded.

“Of course, chancellor. I will head out tomorrow morning.”

The chancellor didn’t have any objections to that much to his relief, so Auru turned and left, fuming at his busy schedule. He was really hoping to find some rest, his mind muddy from the constant traveling; he only hoped it would be the end for at least a couple of days. But with the queen sick, zoras moving in from different domains, tensions forming between allies, he supposed it couldn’t be helped.

Auru left the castle the same way he went in, leaving the guards more baffled. He normally stayed in the castle if he had somewhere to be the next morning, but there was a boy that he promised to check up on.

The sky was beginning to grow pink and orange with the sun setting, yet the town remained busy as ever, with people trying to squeeze in some last minute shopping before the shops closed. Auru had to shove and push past people who didn’t move, and he finally reached the doctor’s office with a huff. The place was as empty as ever, but this time, the boy was wide awake, with him sitting up and hugging his legs close to his chest. He was impressed that he was awake already; despite his frustrations with the doctor, he had high quality medicine. No wonder why he was so renowned for his treatments. The doctor turned to look at him, relieved that he actually returned.

“Good, you’re back,” he greeted, “the boy has awakened.”

“I can see that.” Auru glanced over to him, who wasn’t looking at anyone, a disturbed expression on his young face.

“He’s not telling me anything, and I don’t have the patience for it,” the doctor explained, and Auru rolled his eyes. Typical. His eyes landed on the milk that still sat beside him and he sighed, moving over to the boy which caused him to finally look up at him.

“Hey, kid,” Auru greeted, slowly reaching for milk and handing it to him. The boy’s face was still slightly flushed, but he was moving fine, the strength having returned to him. He remained silent as he grabbed the bottle of milk, struggling to pull the cork, and Auru took it back, slightly amused. He supposed he was still pretty weak. With the cork off, the boy started to drink the milk, nearly chugging the darn thing in under a minute. Auru watched for a while before speaking up again. “I’m glad you’re doing better. I was worried when I found you on the side of the road.”

The boy said nothing, wiping his mouth and looking into the bottle, as if searching for something.

“You are feeling better, right?”

He nodded.

“Good.” It grew silent. Despite his occupation, Auru had a hard time keeping the conversation rolling. “So… Ordon huh? How’d you find yourself in Hyrule Field?”

The boy’s eyes widened, his gaze moving towards Auru and landing on his pointy ears. He’s probably never seen a hylian before. But he still remained quiet, so Auru tried a different approach.

“We should take you back to your home,” he stated, and the boy suddenly turned away, his mood clearly changing. Auru frowned. “I’m sure your parents are very worried about you—“

He broke down in tears, causing Auru to flinch back. The boy was hunched over, sobs wracking his body, tears soaking the bed, and Auru hovered his hand over his shoulder.

“Easy, hey it’s ok,” he tried to soothe, but of course it didn’t work. He rarely dealt with children. He needed to get him to calm down, to talk to him, to think about something else—something simple. “What’s your name?”

The boy continued crying, but when Auru finally rested his hand upon his shoulder, he looked up at him. His eyes were red, his face was wet, and he looked heartbroken.

What happened to him?

“What’s your name, kid?” Auru asked again. “I’m Auru.”

The boy blinked, sniffling and hiccuping while wiping his tears away.

“R-Rusl, sir,” he croaked, and Auru nodded. Rusl, simple enough.

“Good. How are you feeling?”

He took in a shaky breath, looking down as he thought about it. “I—I’m…”

“Clearly a little overwhelmed, that’s ok. You’re safe now.”

Rusl nodded, though he still looked upset. “I’m… a little sick too, sir.”

Auru snorted. “A little, huh?” He gave him a look and he cleared his throat. Perhaps now was not the time. “Yes, that’s not surprising after the condition I found you in.”

It grew silent again, Rusl poking at the bottle, and Auru finally stood. “We’re going to take you home, ok? Doctor,” he turned to him, “get soldiers together and take him back, you got it?”

“Woah woah, why are you asking this of me?” The doctor protested, and Auru groaned.

“Because I’m too busy to do it!”

“Well you can’t expect me to do it for free, you know!”

Auru glared. “You got two-hundred rupees today!”

“Yes, and it was to cover my supplies! Being a doctor isn’t cheap, you know!”

“You’re a real cheapskate, you know that?” Auru huffed, reaching for his pouch where he kept his rupees. He didn’t carry around much, since billing the castle helped with some expenses, but he knew they wouldn’t approve of him spending money on a random kid. But the memory of the rancher helping out kept him from weasling his way out of this. “How much do you want?”

The doctor thought for a moment. “Five-hundred.”

“I’m giving you three-hundred, that’s all you’ll need.”

The doctor opened his mouth to complain, but Auru’s patience was thin with the man, and one good glare made him shut it just as quickly as it opened. Auru glanced over at Rusl and gave him a small smile.

“You take care boy,” he said, and he turned to leave before the doctor could say anything else. With that headache dealt with, Auru was more than ready to rest, so he turned to the south of Castle Town, right where the bar was located.

For someone of his status, the castle was a place for him to stay overnight, with food and service offered to him, which anyone would be crazy to pass up. But Auru was crazy, and enjoyed staying at the inn instead, where he saw the everyday man drink his sorrows away. He was supposed to be familiar with the folks of Hyrule, after all, so how could he do that while staying in the castle? Besides, the white noise of conversation from drunkards was oddly soothing to him.

As soon as he entered the bar, he got himself a beer and got a room, whistling Zelda’s lullaby to let the barkeep know that the royal family was covering it. And he sat there, slowly drinking while thinking of what to do next. If he left before the sun rose, he’d arrive at Zora’s Domain at noon, which would give him plenty of time to do what he needed to do. But he forgot to round up soldiers to escort him… great… he’d have to wake up earlier if that was the case—it was going to be an exhausting trip.

As soon as he finished his beer, Auru stood and turned to the stairs that led to the rooms. It was well-hidden, and he wondered why they even had inns since it didn’t seem like anybody used the rooms, but before he could reach the first step, something grabbed his shirt. He spun around, expecting a drunkard trying to start something, but to his surprise, it was Rusl, his blue eyes wide as saucers and his fair skin paler than before. Auru stepped back, wondering if he somehow started to hallucinate the kid, and he searched around for the doctor.

“Wha—what are you doing here, kid? This is no place for a child like you!” He scolded, and Rusl shriveled away, making Auru fix his attitude. He was still a child, a sick and scared child at that. “I’m sorry, I’m not angry at you,” he tried to explain, and it seemed to work, with Rusl nodding and listening intently. He was a very respectable boy—his parents raised him well.

“I-I’m sorry sir, I… I didn’t know where else to go… and…” Rusl looked down, guilt written all over his expression. Auru frowned.

“Did that worthless doctor kick you out?” He asked, his voice low and dark, and Rusl’s expression turned nervous.

“N-no… I mean… sort of—I—“ a loud yell interrupted him, and Auru sighed, grabbing Rusl’s upper arm and leading him upstairs to his room, where the sounds were muffled beneath them.

“What happened?” Auru questioned, and Rusl looked down.

“Well… the doctor… he said I needed to find a place to stay for the night and… um…”

“He kicked you out?”

Rusl sighed, nodding. “Y-yes sir. I… saw you in here and… um…” he fidgeted with his fingers, clearly beginning to panic. “I-I didn’t know where else to go, sir.”

Auru sighed, letting the anger leave him. He was scaring the boy, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

“How cruel,” he muttered, and he pointed at his bed. “You’ll have a place to stay, alright kid?”

“Oh… thank you sir—“

“But tomorrow, I have to get up early to round up some soldiers and head to Zora’s Domain. I need you to go back to the doctor and get him to send you back to Ordon, you hear?”

Rusl, for reasons he did not know, seemed hesitant, and Auru raised a brow.

“I know you don’t want to go back to the doctor, but I don’t have time to help you. My schedule is packed tomorrow and I can’t be dealing with organizing an escort for you—“

“T-take me with you!” Rusl suddenly blurted out, and Auru gave him a look.

“Pardon?”

“Uh… sorry sir, but… you can take me with you! I won’t get in your way!”

Auru frowned. “I can’t just take you with me, kid. This is a diplomatic mission, it’s very serious and I cannot let children run around willy-nilly!”

Rusl looked down. “I promise I’ll be good… but… please… take me with you.” He looked back up at Auru, his eyes wide and pleading. Why did he want to go with him so badly? Surely his first priority would be going home, right? This boy was baffling him more and more.

Auru didn’t particularly mind taking Rusl with him. He was a polite and quiet boy, and he was admittedly curious about him and Ordon, so he could try to pry some answers out of him while they traveled, passing the time. But still, to bring a random kid was… unprofessional, to say the least.

“How old are you?” He finally asked.

“I’m sixteen, sir.”

Sixteen? Goddesses, he was older than he looked. He was practically an adult by hylian standards, so bringing him wouldn’t be a terrible idea… but…

“Let me sleep on it, kid,” he finally said, and Rusl nodded, not looking relieved, but not devastated either. Auru pointed to the bed again, gesturing for him to lay in it. “I’ll be up a bit longer, but you go to bed, you hear? You’ve been through a lot.”

Rusl nodded quickly, moving to the bed and timidly sitting in it. His expression melted into surprise, apparent that he wasn’t expecting such a soft bed, and Auru almost chuckled. But instead he turned to the door, leaving the room to give him some privacy. He could strangle the doctor now if he wanted, but he was going to wait to deal with that.

It was going to be a long few days.

~~~

“Rusl, wake up!”

Rusl shot up, looking around the room frantically until his eyes landed on Auru, his pose relaxing slightly (though there was a hint of disappointment in his expression).

“Get up kid, dawn hasn’t been broken yet, and there’s much to do before we leave!” Auru ordered, and Rusl groggily sat him, his face a little pink. He was probably still sick, but it didn’t stop him from moving quickly and following Auru to where the guards were. When he went to sleep, he had planned to leave Rusl behind, forcing him to go to the doctor to go home, but something nagged at his mind, and he felt inclined to take him to Zora’s Domain instead. The soldiers were not happy about it, but it didn’t stop Auru, and soon he and Rusl sat in the carriage, with one guard driving and another following on a horse. Since they weren’t traveling outside of the kingdom, only two guards went with them, which he was grateful for. It meant more peace and quiet, and more getting to know Rusl.

“So, Ordon,” Auru started, getting Rusl’s attention, “what’s it like there? Can’t say I’ve ever been.”

“Oh, yeah it’s nice,” Rusl answered, a small smile on his face, but he didn’t continue. He was awfully shy.

“What do you do there?”

“Um… we are a farming community. We grow pumpkins and raise goats.”

“Oh, that’s nice, very useful,” Auru said. “What do your family do?”

Rusl stiffened, his gaze piercing into the floor of the carriage. “They… hunt…” he whispered, which Auru found odd, but he didn’t comment on it.

“Hunting huh? That’s a good skill to have, and living in a forest means plenty of animals to catch, right?”

Rusl gripped his skirt, his knuckles growing white as his eyes began to well up with tears. It was clear that something happened to him; he didn’t like talking about his home life. Auru sighed, hoping to calm the sensitive boy down.

“Well, Ordon seems like a nice place. I’m sure you want to get there as soon as possible, right?”

There was a heavy silence while Rusl tried to get ahold of his emotions, and he figured the conversation wasn’t helping him. So he turned to stare at the river they were traveling beside.

“I’m not goin’ back to Ordon,” Rusl spoke up, his voice sharp. Auru looked over at him, his brows raised in surprise.

“What?”

“I’m not goin’ back to Ordon.”

“Why?”

“I don’t got nothin’ waitin’ for me.” He sounded angry, his hands shaking as he practically glared holes into the carriage. Auru couldn’t help but watch him in surprise. He was so quiet and respectful, sensitive as well; to see such emotion from him was jarring to say the least. With the way he got upset at the topic of his parents or his home, he wondered if he even had any good relations with the folks at his home. He shouldn’t have cared, but Auru’s curiosity was tempting him to pry further. He decided against it though with the way Rusl was feeling. Instead he turned the topic of conversation to other things—the river, the zora, what he did for a living and the things he saw—it at least calmed Rusl down enough.

As they spoke, Auru was able to understand Rusl a bit more. His words had a bit of twang to it, and it seemed to get thicker when his emotions got stronger. His voice was high for a sixteen-year-old, but it was clear his deep, manly voice was trying to break free with all the cracks in his tone. Rusl got embarrassed when his voice did end up cracking, but Auru couldn’t help but find it endearing. The shy boy even had some wit to him, which made conversing with him fun. But despite the hours of talking, he refused to touch the topic of his home and family. Auru figured he’d have to come back to that later—there was no way he was going to help a boy run far away from his home. Teenage angst was rough sometimes but it always got better. He was sure he and his family could make up.

Soon they reached Zora’s Domain, and Auru left Rusl at the bottom of the domain with the guards, his eyes wide as he watched the zoras move around. The meeting with the zoras didn’t take long, and he mostly walked around the throne room with Lady Rutella, Queen Ruto’s cousin who towered over Auru. She was pleasant to discuss things with, and Auru felt much better about the trip.

“I appreciate your visit, Auru,” Rutella said, smiling down at him. “It’s always a nice reminder that Queen Zelda cares for us.”

“Of course. I know Queen Ruto’s disappearance has been hard on all of you,” Auru stated, “we’re always here to support you if needed.”

“Indeed. And if you need any help, do let us know. Us zoras stand with Hyrule.”

Auru nodded, before a thought entered his mind, the main reason he came to the domain. “Actually, there is something I may need from you,” Auru started, and Rutella gave him her full attention. “The queen is sick. We haven’t been able to find a cure for this, and her handmaiden has fallen ill as well. We were hoping you all had any medicine that could help?”

Rutella’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Of course, what is Her Highness dealing with?”

Auru pursed his lips, trying to think of how to explain it. “She’s been having severe nightmares, making her weak and fatigued. She can’t leave the bed, so she stays there all day.”

Rutella’s expression was unreadable, tension filling the air between the two. Auru frowned, watching the zora stare blankly into space, and she subtly shook her head, as if dismissing a thought.

“We have medicine,” she said, “but I’m afraid we have nothing that could cure this… illness.”

“Anything will help, thank you Rutella.” Auru bowed, and he turned to return to his group, before she stopped him.

“Auru, wait,” she called out, and he turned back to her. “Keep—keep a close eye on the queen,” she said, her tone wary. Auru frowned, turning fully to face her.

“What do you mean?”

Rutella clasped her hands together, her gaze traveling to the ground before returning to Auru. “Ruto… she dealt with the exact same symptoms before she disappeared. I don’t know what this is… but…I heard the goron chief suffered the same thing before suddenly vanishing as well. I would just watch over her. Just in case.”

Auru stared, the words sinking in, a feeling of unease clasping his chest and squeezing. He swallowed the fear and nodded at her, forcing a smile. “We’ll keep an eye on her. Thank you.”

With that, Auru left the throne room, heading down to where his group waited. The two guards were flirting with the zora ladies, while Rusl sat by the water, his sandals off and his feet playing in the water. He looked content watching the zora children swim around, and Auru couldn’t help the smile.

“Hey,” he greeted, and Rusl spun around, relaxing when he saw Auru. He raised a brow, deciding to mess with him a bit. “This water is sacred to the zora, you’re dirtying it.”

Rusl’s eyes widened, looking down at his feet in a panic, and Auru laughed.

“I’m just joshing, relax.”

To prove his point, Auru sat down next to Rusl, taking off his own shoes and resting his feet in the water. Rusl gave him an unamused look.

“That wasn’t very funny,” he deadpanned, but there was a hint of sass that lightened the tone a bit. Auru chuckled again, ruffling his hair.

“It was funny to me. I’m trying to lighten the mood.”

Rusl narrowed his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. It grew silent, Auru staring at the glistening water. He never relaxed while on duty. It was a nice change in pace.

“So… are we leaving?” Rusl asked, and Auru shook his head.

“I’m not done yet. We’ll head out tomorrow to Castle Town. I’ll report everything to the queen, but after that…” he glanced over at Rusl, who had a knowing look on his face. “I’m taking you to Ordon, ok?”

Rusl’s expression went blank, and he turned away, clearly against it.

“I know you don’t want to go back there, kid, but the reality is that you have nowhere else to go,” Auru argued, and Rusl refused to look at him. “I don’t know what happened, but you can’t run away from it forever!”

Rusl huffed, finally looking at him with a glare. “You don’t understand… I can’t.”

Auru sighed. “Where will you go then? You can’t stay with me, I’m a diplomat of Hyrule. I travel all over for my queen and sometimes it’s very dangerous! You can’t stay in Castle Town since you’re a kid and not a hylian, you can’t stay here since you’re not a zora—where will you go?”

Rusl shook his head, getting more agitated. “I don’t know… but I can’t face the folks in Ordon right now… not after what happened.”

“You’re only delaying the inevitable! Things will get harder if you keep avoiding it!”

“But I—“

“This is the best option for you, ok? When you get older, maybe you can leave, but you’re in a vulnerable position here at such a young age!”

Rusl went silent again, and Auru could practically feel the rage building up within him. He pressed some more, being a bit more gentle about it.

“Look, whatever happened with you and your parents can be fixed—“

“My parents are dead!” Rusl yelled, his hands slamming into the ground. Auru felt his heart sink.

“What?”

“My parents are gone! Ok? I-I—“ Rusl shuddered, hugging himself. “M-my mama died when I was young… and my pa—my pa—“ he broke down holding his face in his hands as he cried. Auru was frozen, unsure of what to do, how to approach the conversation without making Rusl feel worse. He was stuck.

“Oh,” was all he could say, and Rusl sucked in a shuddering breath.

“We were huntin’ in the woods, like we always do, and… there was a bear… and—“ Rusl whimpered, bringing his knees to his chest. Auru remained silent, feeling horrible for the poor boy. That was why he hated the idea of returning home, why he seemed heartbroken all the time. Goddesses.

“I got no one to return to,” Rusl continued, his voice muffled as his face was buried in his arms. “You get that now? I can’t go back! I can’t… go back to my home without him there… It just…” he whimpered, shaking his head. “I can’t.”

Auru watched him, reaching out to gently rest his hand on his shoulder. Rusl didn’t lean into the touch, but he didn’t throw his hand off either, so he kept it there.

“Rusl… I… I’m so sorry for your loss,” Auru muttered, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “You… really have no one to return to?”

Rusl shook his head.

“Not even friends?”

He didn’t move, his sniffling stopping for a moment. Auru found it hard to believe that the village of Ordon didn’t at least care a little bit about him, and it seemed Rusl felt the same way whether he wanted to admit it or not.

“Rusl… I… I understand now, why you are in so much pain and why you don’t want to return,” Auru started, being careful about his words. “But… you cannot run from this. It’ll be hard, and it will hurt, but I think it will be better for you in the long run if you go back to your home.”

Rusl said nothing, sniffling quietly and glaring at the glistening water. Auru sighed, splashing the water with his feet.

“But I won’t force you. It’ll be your decision in the end. You can try to stay in Castle Town for as long as you feel like until you truly know what you want to do.” He looked at Rusl, gently nudging his head to look at him. “I do want you to think about what I said, though. I don’t think your father would’ve wanted you to stay away from your home.”

Rusl stared at him with his big blue eyes, tears gently dropping out of them. “You didn’t even know him.”

“No, I didn’t.” Auru shrugged. “But I can tell he was a good man. Because you’re a good kid. I’ll be by your side whatever you choose to do.”

Rusl shuddered, resting his head against Auru’s shoulder, which he found surprising, but he pulled him in, rubbing his back while he cried quietly into his shirt.

~~~

It was strange. Auru had known the kid for barely over a day, yet he couldn’t help but care for him as if he’d known him his whole life. A sense of responsibility overwhelmed him whenever he saw him, and he didn’t know if it was because he just wanted to help out a poor kid or if he saw himself in him, or something else entirely, but he cared about him. At least enough to see this through.

That morning, the group all got up and left for Castle Town, Rusl being quieter than the day before, but of course Auru had a greater understanding why. He didn’t force conversation out of him, and instead told him about his travels from being a diplomat for Hyrule. It seemed to soothe him enough where he fell fast asleep against Auru’s shoulder, his face pinched with worry even when he was dreaming. He only wished he could take away his pain.

Auru once again entered Castle Town through the normal entrance, knowing that Rusl wouldn’t be allowed inside the castle. He sent away the medicine for the queen and woke up Rusl, leading him through the entrance and stopping by a fountain.

“You won’t be allowed in the castle, Rusl,” Auru explained, and Rusl nodded. “I need to turn in my report to the queen. I want you to stay right here at the fountain. Don’t talk to anyone, don’t look at anyone, don’t even acknowledge anyone. If someone talks to you, ignore them, and if you’re ever in danger, go to the guards.”

Rusl frowned, nodding a bit more slowly.

“Things will be fine, but you can never be too careful,” Auru added, trying to ease some anxieties, and Rusl nodded again, sitting by the fountain stiffly. Auru smiled and turned away, giving him a nod. “I’ll be right back.”

As he walked through town, he sent two quick prayers: one to keep Rusl safe, and one to allow Auru a break. Now with a kid who was traumatized and grieving, Auru did not want to be sent on another diplomatic mission. The boy was all alone, and he couldn’t bear to leave him on his lonesome when he so desperately needed help and guidance. The chancellor seemed surprised when he finally entered the throne room, bowing slightly.

“Auru, you’re quick as ever,” he greeted, and Auru bowed back. “I took the medicine to Zelda. Thank you for doing that on such short notice.”

Auru nodded, standing up straight. “It’s always a pleasure to serve Hyrule.”

“Indeed. Now, what of your trip?”

He let out a sharp exhale, recalling the events from yesterday. “Lady Rutella says that the zora stand with Hyrule. I think the trip put them at ease, knowing that we’re there for them, especially with the disappearance of Queen Ruto.”

The chancellor nodded. “Good. I’m glad I sent you. You represent Hyrule well. You are dismissed, I’ll send for you when I need you again.”

Auru bowed in gratitude, feeling relieved that he wasn’t immediately sent away again, but it went away when the memory of Rutella’s cryptic warning went through his mind. He stood up straight, frowning, and the chancellor raised a brow.

“Auru? Is there anything else?”

He was hesitant for some reason. The chancellor was a good man, but he didn’t think he’d understand the strangeness behind Queen Zelda’s illness. Perhaps he should share it with someone else?

Ah, no. He needed to tell him, for Zelda’s sake.

“I told Rutella about Her Highness’s symptoms,” Auru started, his hands fidgeting with each other, “and she told me that Queen Ruto dealt with the same thing before she abruptly disappeared. She told me to keep an eye on the queen.”

The chancellor stared, his brows slowly furrowing as the seconds passed. “I… see…”

“I don’t know what it means but… I figured I’d share.”

“Thank you, Auru. I’ll keep it in mind. You are dismissed.”

He seemed uncomfortable with that warning, so Auru left silently, doing one more bow out of respect. Despite wanting to get back to Rusl, Auru walked slowly through the halls of the castle, staring at the floor mindlessly. He wished he understood what was happening, with these illnesses, but he couldn’t begin to think what could cause anyone to suddenly disappear. Apparently Chief Darunia had gone through the exact same thing, and Impa was suffering with it as well, both being leaders of their races—it was more than a coincidence. But what it meant confused and worried Auru. Things weren’t all peaceful, being at war with the Gerudo and all, but they were winning the war. Whatever was happening with the rulers of Hyrule, it made Auru believe that something bad was going to happen, and it worried him.

Voices were heard up ahead, and Auru finally tore his eyes away from the ground, locking eyes with the town doctor who just left a room. They both froze in their tracks, before the doctor turned and bolted down the hall, Auru wasting no time in following. He caught up to him in seconds, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and pulling him close, the doctor yelping pathetically.

“If you weren’t the only doctor in town I’d pound you!” He threatened, and the doctor squirmed in his hold.

“I-I can explain—put me down!”

Auru groaned, letting the doctor go when guards watched them suspiciously. He didn’t want to get in trouble, but it didn’t make him any less angry.

“What is wrong with you? Kicking out a sick child?” He seethed, and the doctor huffed.

“He didn’t want to go back to his home, so there was no reason for him to stay!”

“So you just kicked him out in a town he's unfamiliar with?”

“Well I’m not an inn.”

Auru glared, crossing his arms and shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re heartless. I hope you can pay me back for the rupees I gave you.”

“Why would—“

“I gave them to you for the kid!” Auru snapped, and the doctor backed up.

“Er… right… I can pay you back, I swear!”

“When?”

“Just…when… er…”

“You better pay me back,” Auru said, leaning down at the doctor’s level, lowering his voice, “or I’ll take the both of us somewhere private so I can beat your ass.”

“Goddesses!” The doctor yelled, pulling out his wallet and pulling out enough rupees to make three-hundred. “Here, now quit pestering me!”

Auru took his rupees, but it didn’t make him feel any better. He was still a scumbag, and he was tempted to actually follow through on his threat. Despite his job as a diplomat, he knew how to get his hands dirty if it ever came to it.

“You know, I’m going to report you to the crown!” The doctor huffed, brushing off his fancy clothes. “Threatening a doctor, how shameful of you!”

“Go right ahead,” Auru deadpanned, beginning to walk away, “I’m sure when they hear about you kicking out a sick child and stealing three-hundred rupees from me they’ll be really sympathetic to your plight.”

If the doctor said anything in response, he didn’t hear, and he just continued marching through the halls of the castle. He couldn’t waste anymore time in there, seeing how he had Rusl waiting for him now. The town was packed as soon as Auru entered it, but hopefully it meant that no one bothered Rusl while he was away. He wasn’t sure how people would react to a random human teenager being in their all-Hylian town.

Fortunately, Rusl was right where he left him, but there was someone talking to him. A gentleman with curly red hair, scribbling like a madman into a journal, sat right beside him. It seemed like they were having some deep conversation with the way the man was acting, and Auru couldn’t tell if Rusl was uncomfortable with it or not. He was about to march up to the man, his protective instincts kicking in (especially after dealing with the doctor), but he stopped in his tracks when he saw a young boy hugging Rusl’s legs, big eyes behind round glasses watching the two speak. Perhaps the conversation wasn’t as hostile as he thought.

Rusl’s eyes darted to Auru’s, and he did a double take, smiling slightly at him. The man speaking to him turned as well, his dark eyes locking with Auru’s, and he grinned.

“Hello! Are you this boy’s father?” He asked, and Auru tensed, glancing at Rusl who looked away.

“No. I’m just taking care of him right now,” Auru explained, and the man nodded, standing and holding out his hand.

“Brilliant! My name is Daniel,” he greeted, snagging Auru’s hand as soon as he lifted it and began shaking it enthusiastically. “I was walking through town this fine, summer day, when my little boy, Shad, tripped and fell! Rusl here was kind enough to help him up, and it’s safe to say he’s gotten a little attached!” He laughed, looking over at his son who was speaking to Rusl, his little boy voice hard to understand. Auru didn’t miss Rusl’s small smile as he spoke.

“Well, he’s a good kid, I’m glad he helped,” Auru said, and Daniel nodded.

“Me too. And I noticed that he was a human so I had to ask him questions,” he patted his journal, “I fear I may have pried too much. When I discovered that he was from Ordon, I got a little too excited!”

Auru nodded. The man was a little too excited now. He must’ve been a scholar of some sort.

“Oh but Rusl is patient—I appreciate that! No one ever likes to listen to my many rambles,” Daniel said, smiling at Rusl who looked surprised at all the affection given to him from Shad. The little boy was all over him. “Anyways, look at me now, rambling! I haven’t even gotten your name!”

“Oh, it’s Auru.”

“Auru! A pleasure. I apologize for keeping you and Rusl, Auru. I wish you both the best. Shad.” Daniel turned to his son, who broke away from Rusl. “We are leaving. Say goodbye.”

Shad pouted, burying his face into Rusl’s legs. “I don’t want to.”

“Come on son. I’m sure these two already have plans for today.”

Rusl glanced at Auru, who shrugged. They didn’t really have plans, seeing how Auru was off the hook for a bit. He walked closer to Rusl as Shad began to throw a tantrum, the boy watching him curiously.

“Do we have plans?” He asked, and Auru shrugged again.

“No. I don’t have any orders right now. I kinda figured we’d follow your lead.”

Rusl blinked, clearly not expecting that. “I… I don’t know what to do.”

“I assume you’ve never been to Castle Town?”

Rusl shook his head.

“Why, you haven’t?” Daniel asked, shocked, and Rusl shook his head again.

“Well, what do you say about seeing what Castle Town has to offer?” Auru suggested, gesturing to the bustling town. “I’m sure you could use a distraction.”

Rusl stared, his eyes lighting up slightly as he watched the town. “Yeah… ok.”

Auru smiled, glad that he agreed to it. He was a rather submissive kid, but he didn’t hide his feelings when he didn’t want to do something.

“Oh! Can we join you? I know a lot about Castle Town!” Daniel asked.

Auru glanced at Rusl, who was nodding with a small smile on his face.

“I’d love for you to come,” he said quietly, and Daniel practically exploded with joy.

“Wonderful! Come, there’s so much to do here!”

Soon Auru and Rusl were dragged by father and son to a random minigame in town, Auru feeling particularly out of place. For someone who stayed in the castle and the town, Auru never got involved in town. He knew where important things were; the bar, the doctor, the shop, but when it came to the more domestic small things, he was completely out of his element. Immediately, Rusl was dragged into some bomb-throwing game (which seemed rather dangerous for kids), and Auru took it as an opportunity to talk to Daniel about Rusl. He didn’t know how much he knew, but he didn’t want him being unintentionally insensitive.

“Uh, Daniel,” Auru started, and Daniel looked over at him with a smile, “about Rusl… watch what you say around him.”

“Hm?”

“He… recently lost his father,” Auru explained, and Daniel’s smile vanished.

“Oh…”

“That’s why I’m watching over him. He needs someone there for him.”

Daniel looked away, watching Rusl sadly. “No wonder… I feel horrible. I didn’t know.”

“Well, that’s why I’m telling you,” Auru said, patting his shoulder. “He doesn’t seem to mind your company though. I’m sure this will be good for him.”

Daniel nodded, smiling again. “Yes, I hope so. How do you know him?”

“I found him on the side of the road. He’s stuck by me ever since.”

There was silence as Daniel stared.

“So… you don’t know him?”

“Well… I do… just not that well.”

“How long ago was this?”

“About two days ago.”

Daniel continued staring before nodding slowly, turning back to the boys. “I see… it’s very kind of you to watch over him.”

Auru shrugged. “I couldn’t live with myself if I left a kid to fend for himself. Especially after everything he’s gone through.”

Daniel nodded. “Thank you for telling me. Do let me know if I’m ever too much.”

“I will.”

The two grew silent while Rusl and Shad played the games, the littlest boy laughing as hard as a little boy could, and it always made Rusl giggle in response. He seemed to be happy with the distraction, since he kept leading everyone to new places in town out of curiosity. It was cute to see; he was probably the first Ordonian ever to see Castle Town.

Auru was enjoying himself as well, he had to admit. He never was interested in the games, but Daniel always kept conversation entertaining between them. They talked about their travels, what they did for a living, and Daniel even talked his ear off about sky people, showing him notes on their language. Occasionally, when everyone pressured Auru into playing the games, he heard Daniel and Rusl talk about his home; the things he liked to do, the things he loved about it, his life there, it surprised Auru at how much Rusl talked about it with such fondness. Whereas when he talked to Auru about it, there was disdain behind his voice. Daniel must’ve made things easier to talk to—he was an enthusiastic and happy man after all.

The day flew by, and soon the sun was setting with the townsfolk rushing back home. Shad was fast asleep in Daniel’s arms, giving them a sign that it was time to separate and turn in for the night.

“He had a lot of fun,” Daniel said, smiling at Rusl. “Thank you for playing with him. He liked you a lot.”

Rusl smiled back, looking at Shad warmly. “Well… the feeling’s mutual. He’s a good kid.”

“So are you. I hope we can see you again.” Daniel turned to Auru, holding out his hand. “Have a good night, you two.”

Auru smiled, shaking his hand firmly. “Of course. We’ll keep in touch.”

Daniel nodded and left the two, the man disappearing into the alleyways. Auru glanced over at Rusl, who was staring blankly into the darkness, and he nudged him, gesturing to the inn with his head.

“C’mon, we could use some rest.”

Rusl nodded, following Auru through town and heading to the bar, which was packed to the brim. He worried about getting a room for the two of them.

While he talked to the barkeep to try to snag a room before it was too late, Rusl was looking around curiously at all the drunkards, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

“Sir, do you have a home?” He asked while Auru waited for the barkeep to deal with a customer. He glanced down at Rusl and shrugged.

“Yeah, I do. It’s in Kakariko but… I’m so busy I never go there.” He sighed, thinking about his home in the town, probably broken into with someone living in it. It was a place he hadn't seen with his own eyes for… Din knows how long. It didn’t really count as a home at that point. The bar was more of a home to him considering how many times he’s stayed there.

“So… you just stay at the inn?” Rusl pressed, and Auru nodded.

“Yeah… I could stay in the castle but I don’t ever want to. I like it here, it’s nice.”

Rusl watched him, his eyes widening slightly with surprise. “You can stay in the castle?”

Right, staying in a castle wasn’t normal for everyone else. And it was something he never did.

“Why don’t you stay in the castle?” Rusl asked while the barkeep gave Auru the key to his room. He moved to the stairs, entering the room and letting out a sigh.

“I don’t know. I don’t care for it.” He simply explained, sitting down on the ground and staring at the bed, which Rusl gingerly sat on.

“I hear castles are amazing. I’d love to be inside one,” he said, looking out the window. Auru shrugged.

“They’re amazing for sure, but what do you even do with all that space? It’s empty, it's quiet, and… it’s lonely.” He sighed again, running his hand through his hair. “There’s nothing there, just empty space and people who don’t talk to you. At least here it’s… alive. There are people and friends who see each other and it feels more grounded than a castle. It makes me feel… less…” he couldn’t think of the right word. Lonely? Empty? Like he actually had relationships? His many travels kept him from making super close relationships, especially that of a lover, but he never really cared too much about it. He was distracted enough. Maybe. Rusl watched him thoughtfully as he struggled, and he finally let out a chuckle. “I don’t even know what I’m saying.”

Rusl smiled, nodding his head. “I get it… it was fun spending time with Daniel and Shad.”

Auru couldn’t help but smile back. It was genuinely a lot of fun with the two, something he wasn’t expecting. “I’m glad you had fun. I’m sure it was needed.”

Rusl nodded again, looking down with a somber look in his eyes. “Daniel was… a lot like my father.”

He looked at him, insisting he continued, so he did.

“My father loved animals, and he loved to talk about them, similar to Daniel with the sky people. It… reminded me of him and… I think… he’d want me to go back to Ordon.” Rusl looked at Auru, a nervous but sure expression on his face. “I want to go back home.”

Auru blinked, his words caught in his throat at the sudden decision. “I—that’s—“ he cleared his throat, smiling at him. “That’s wonderful, Rusl. I’m so happy you’ve come to that decision.”

Rusl grinned, but it quickly went away as he hugged himself, staring hard at the ground. “I-I’m just scared…”

“Hey now,” Auru stood and sat down next to him, resting a hand on his shoulder, “I don’t blame you for being scared. But I’ll…I’ll be there for you. You won’t be alone.”

Rusl stared at him for a long moment, his big blue eyes slowly trailing off of Auru before he leaned against him, his head resting against his arm. Auru couldn’t help but smile, wrapping his arm around him and giving him a squeeze.

“Get some rest kid,” he said softly, gently pulling away. “We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.”

~~~~

It was apparent that Rusl was still sick as they sat in a small carriage, with his eyes droopy and his skin pale, but he was nowhere near as sick as before, so Auru didn’t worry too much. The boy was a tough kid he had to admit, doing everything the day before despite his illness. He just hoped it didn’t get worse from it. Rusl was fast asleep against Auru’s shoulder for most of the ride, waking up briefly, when they saw the farmers from Lon Lon. Auru made sure to thank the rancher Talon a thousand times over, even trying to give him his rupees, but the kind man refused.

“You just take good care of him, ok?” Talon said, and Auru smiled, nodding his head.

“I promise I will.”

The interaction was short, but it left Auru feeling warmed. It was nice to see that despite everything, kind people still existed. Rusl watched Talon curiously, but he quickly fell asleep once again, which made Auru chuckle. The kid needed the rest, clearly.

With him asleep, it left Auru alone with his thoughts again, worry gnawing at his insides. He wanted to be at Rusl’s side when he saw Ordon, but he didn’t know how long he’d be able to stay. If he was lucky, he’d have two days to himself, which didn’t seem to be a lot of time considering things with Rusl. He’d have to leave whenever he could, just so that the chancellor wasn’t searching for him. Rusl wouldn’t be happy about it, and Auru wasn’t either.

The carriage stopped when Auru came face-to-face with Faron Woods. He’s gone through the woods many times, but he never went anywhere near Ordon, let alone a random village. It was a dense forest, livable at best, but it held mysterious inside the trees and branches, at least to him. He wondered how he would get to Ordon without getting hopelessly lost.

Fortunately, Rusl eventually woke up and helped lead him through the woods, the two passing springs, a bridge, and soon they reached a home. The house was built into a giant, thick tree, and Auru couldn’t help but stare in awe.

“Whose house is that?” He asked. It was beautiful, and it was in a gorgeous clearing away from everything else. Not exactly his type of home but he couldn’t help but admire it.

“It’s mine,” Rusl answered simply, and Auru looked over at him, nodding slowly. The boy stared at the house with a blank expression, and Auru decided to stop the carriage, hopping out and stretching his legs. He said nothing as Rusl slowly crawled out, his eyes never leaving the house. Slowly, he walked over to the ladder, climbing it to the very top and stopping at the front door, his hand hovering over the handle. There was a long pause while Rusl stood there, the silence feeling thick and heavy as the time ticked by, and he finally opened the door. Once again, he paused, staring at the empty home while his knuckles turned white from gripping the door so hard. Then he abruptly shut the door, jumping down the ladder and rushing to Auru, his body shaking from his crying. Auru wasted no time in pulling him into a hug, holding him firmly while he sobbed into his shirt.

“I can’t do this, I can’t do this,” he cried, his voice muffled, and Auru ran his hand through his hair, trying to calm him the best he could. But what could he do? Or say? Everything was feeling more real, for both of them.

As Rusl cried, Auru spotted a young blonde girl walk into the clearing, her eyes wide when she noticed the two standing there. Auru frowned, pulling away from Rusl slightly, which caused him to turn to the girl. She gasped, her hand covering her mouth.

“R-Rusl?” Her voice was high with disbelief, and Rusl quickly wiped his tears away, watching her uneasily. The two teenagers did nothing except stare, so Auru decided to wrap his arm around his shoulder, nudging him forward.

“Let’s go see your people, Rusl. We can deal with this later,” he said, and Rusl pursed his lips, nodding and walking towards the girl, who still looked shocked. Her blue eyes were glued to Auru, but she walked beside them, her hand resting against Rusl’s back.

“I can’t believe you’re alive, we all thought—we assumed—“ she stopped herself, eyeing Rusl’s tear-tracked face, her small brows drawn together.

“What’s your name?” Auru decided to ask, hoping to ease the tension between them. The girl looked up at him in surprise and swallowed.

“I-I’m Uli. I was going to go pick flowers by the spring… and…” her eyes traveled to Rusl. “Everyone will be so relieved.”

Rusl nodded, but he didn’t look at her, he just stared at the ground while sniffling. They soon entered the village, which was surprisingly small, and he could see the Ordonians doing their chores and work, not at all noticing the group.

“Papa!” Uli called out, looking at a short and stocky man with hair just as blond as hers. He looked up, his small eyes widening when he saw his daughter next to Rusl, and he tapped a woman on the shoulder.

“Spirits above,” he muttered under his breath, taking off running in their direction. One-by-one, the Ordonians broke away from their chores to see Rusl, and they were soon surrounded. It worried Auru that Rusl would grow overwhelmed, but he barely reacted when Uli’s father grabbed his shoulders, a big smile behind his mustache.

“I can’t believe it, you’re alive! We all assumed the worst!”

“What happened? How did you get here?” A big girl asked, who pushed her way through the crowd. “Rusl, your father…”

It grew silent, with Uli tapping the girl on the arm. Rusl swallowed thickly, not looking anyone in the eyes.

“I know,” he whispered, and all the Ordonians glanced at each other, sympathetic looks on their faces. A shorter man pushed through the crowd, his gaze focused on Auru.

“Hylian, what is your name?” He asked, and Auru straightened up. Despite towering over him, he felt so small under his stare.

“My name is Auru. I’m a diplomat of Hyrule escorting Rusl here home.”

The man nodded. “Thank you, Auru. I am Tam, I’m the mayor of Ordon.”

Auru bowed his head right when Tam reached for his hand, shaking it rather aggressively.

“Thank you, Auru, for bringing Rusl back to us. May Ordona bless you for all your years.”

Auru nodded, not knowing who Ordona was, but not really caring. “It was my pleasure.”

Tam smiled, glancing over at Rusl, who was finally looking up at someone. He had a stoic expression on his face as he watched Tam, and the mayor rested his hand on his shoulder.

“Rusl, we buried your father next to your mother. You should visit them.”

Rusl nodded slowly, swallowing again. “Thank you.”

“I know you’re going through a big change, boy. Please don’t be afraid to reach out to us. Your house is far away, but we’re always right here for you,” Tam said firmly, and Rusl nodded again. He smiled, moving away from him while gesturing for the villagers to do the same. They all slowly walked away from Rusl, each one looking sympathetic to him.

“I-I can make you a bouquet of flowers for their graves!” Uli suggested, and the other girl stepped up.

“I’ll tie it up real nicely with a ribbon! We can—“

“Girls,” Uli’s father warned, pulling his daughter away, who watched Rusl worriedly. They were soon left alone, and Rusl silently turned back to his clearing, leaving the village with Auru following. He wondered where the graveyard was for Ordon, and if Rusl would want him there when he visited. The boy simply stood by their carriage, as frozen as a statue. It was silent for a long moment before Auru decided to nudge him again.

“Where’s the graveyard?” He asked, and Rusl finally moved, glancing over at him.

“It’s in the deep south. That’s where we all go when we pass on. We walk there, on foot, silent so other folks know what’s going on… then we have a feast in their honor and… I missed it all.” Rusl shuddered, looking like he was about to break down again. Auru frowned, walking up to him and wrapping his arm around his shoulder, pulling him close.

“Well, let’s go visit him. Better late than never, right?”

Rusl sniffed, nodding his head. “You’ll come with me?”

He paused. “If you want me to.”

“I do.”

Auru chuckled slightly, ruffling his hair. “Then I will.”

Rusl smiled, and though it was wobbly, it was genuine. The two walked to the Ordon Spring, picking the flowers there and tying them together with Rusl’s headband. It looked good for a bouquet thrown together. Then Rusl led him through the village, both as silent as the night. Ordon was very small, but there seemed to be other parts that were tucked away, separated by miles of farmland. Some of the farmers watched them curiously, while others bowed or took off their hats in respect when they noticed the flowers. No one said anything, and it made the trek somber for Auru.

Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the graveyard. It was the most beautiful place he’s ever seen, with bright flowers decorating the place and gravestones lined up neatly against each other. It was a respectful place for those that passed. Rusl stiffly moved through the graveyard, and Auru decided to give him privacy, standing back while he stopped in front of two graves, the flowers in his hands shaking slightly. Neither said a word as he knelt down, simply staring at the gravestones. Auru couldn’t tell if he was crying or not since his back was facing him, but he knew he wanted to. Everything about it, it was tragic. He was still so young…

After a long, quiet moment, Rusl finally stood and bowed slightly, bidding his final farewells to his parents and turning to Auru, his eyes glued to the ground as he walked over. Auru forced a smile, but he didn’t reciprocate, and instead walked past him, starting his trek back to his home. The walk back felt just as heavy, with the silence almost deafening. Auru wondered if he should’ve even been involved, since it was such a personal and intimate thing for Rusl. After all, he never knew his father, and he barely knew the boy as well. Yet Rusl never pushed him away, clearly finding comfort in his presence.

By the time they reached the northside of the village, Auru’s legs were exhausted. The place was small but not small enough for the trek to be short and sweet, but he didn’t comment on it. It was well into the night when they finally arrived to Rusl’s house, the other Ordonians tucked away in their homes and the only light being lanterns that gave out a soft, orange glow. This time, Rusl didn’t hesitate outside his home, and he went straight inside, his head hanging as if to avoid looking at anything. He mumbled to Auru where he could sleep, which was up a few ladders, and he went to the very top where another bed lay, with Auru watching him worriedly. He supposed he didn’t want to chat tonight, but he couldn’t blame him for that. The poor boy has been through a lot.

That morning was somber. Auru was up early and getting ready to head back to Castle Town, knowing he’d be sent away soon, and Rusl was still fast asleep, curled up on his bed.

Auru didn’t want to leave. He worried for Rusl and his mental state, and he wanted to be there to keep him from isolating himself. And when Rusl finally woke up to see him packed up, he could tell he didn’t want him to leave either. It only made it harder.

“So… you need to go back to Castle Town?” He asked while they cooked whatever they could scrape together in his home.

“Yeah. I need to be somewhat close in case they got something for me to do,” Auru said, letting out a sigh as he thought about it. He just never had time to himself. “How are you feeling?”

Rusl shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel… empty.”

“Well, I suppose you’ll feel that way for a while. This is a big change for you after all.”

The boy watched him, his jaw twitching as if he was about to say something, but a knock at the door interrupted them. Rusl paused, watching the door as if it’d suddenly attack him, and Auru gestured for him to answer it. It was his house after all. Rusl slowly got to his feet and walked across the room, opening the door when another knock came. On the other side was the Uli girl, whose fist was raised while her other hand held something.

“Oh! Sorry!” She apologized, laughing nervously. “My momma made you some bread.”

Rusl silently took the bread that was wrapped up in a red cloth, giving her a nod. Auru got to his feet, hoping to ease the awkwardness.

“That’s very nice, Uli. Thank you,” he said, and Uli smiled shyly at him.

“O-of course! Um… let us know if you need anything,” she told him, and she turned and left. Rusl gently shut the door, staring at the bread, which made Auru smile.

“It seems they all care about you.”

Rusl nodded, tracing the intricate design cut into the bread. It was tanned and round, with the edges slightly crisped brown. He felt better about leaving, knowing that the village was looking out for him.

“They never did stuff like this before,” Rusl mumbled, setting the bread down on the table and sitting on the floor, slumping over. “I don’t know how to talk to any of them.”

“Uli seems like a nice girl. Is she your age?”

Rusl nodded.

“Well, start there. I’m sure she’d want to help you.”

Rusl frowned. “How do you make it sound so easy?”

Auru chuckled. “Years of experience, kid. But it’s never easy.”

His brows drew together, his mouth forming a little pout. “I don’t want you to leave.”

Once again, Auru found his words in his throat. It was a plea for him to stay, for him to be there beside him. And he wanted to, but he couldn’t. He had a responsibility to his kingdom, to his queen, to the chancellor, the leaders, the people of Hyrule and Holodrum, to—

To people that barely cared about him.

He sighed, running his hand through his hair. What was he going to do?

“I understand why you have to leave,” he added, picking at the floors mindlessly. “I won’t keep you. I just wish… I—“ he let out a breath. “I wish I was strong enough.”

Auru frowned, silently grabbing his shoulder and pulling him in, holding him as he started crying again. It took a long moment for him to stop, and Auru finally decided that it was time to leave. He and Rusl quickly ate their breakfast (Rusl mostly picked at his), and Auru was out by his horse and carriage, watching Rusl’s house sadly. The boy was at the door watching him, a sad expression on his face. Auru gave him a quick wave, which was reciprocated, and then the door was shut.

The clearing was silent, with Auru feeling strangely empty. It all felt… wrong, as if something within him was telling him to stay. But he knew he couldn’t, no matter how much he wanted to. Could he?

He stared at the sky, the day passing quickly, which meant he had to rush if he wanted to get to Castle Town before sunset. Otherwise he’d get locked out and then he’d be in trouble. Though despite the rush to get back to town, he stood there, his feet glued to the ground.

He had to leave.

But he didn’t want to leave.

He couldn’t stay.

But he didn’t want to leave behind Rusl.

He had a responsibility.

But Rusl was his responsibility too.

He brought him back to Ordon. He did what he promised.

But Rusl wasn’t well.

His stomach was twisted in knots as he thought about the past few days, finding Rusl, taking him to town and to Zora’s Domain, talking with him, spending time with Daniel and Shad. He just… couldn’t leave him. Not yet.

“Ah… what the hell,” he muttered, unhooking the carriage from the horse and giving her a loving pat. “I might as well stay until the chancellor fetches me.”

He rushed up the ladder while the horse nibbled at the grass, knocking firmly on the door. There was a hesitant silence, and the door slowly opened. Rusl stared at him with wide eyes, confusion apparent on his face. Auru only shrugged while chuckling.

“Well wouldn’t you know it, I took too long. The town’s drawbridge will close by the time I get there!” He scratched the back of his head, resting his weight on one leg. “Guess I gotta stay here for a bit, eh?” To make sure Rusl knew what was up, he winked at him, playfully nudging his shoulder. The boy grinned, his body relaxing with relief.

“You need a place to stay?” He asked, and Auru laughed, nodding his head. The two entered the home, spending the rest of the day talking and cleaning the house, all while nibbling on the bread given to him. Auru knew he wasn’t going to leave the next day, or the day after, and it felt right. He wanted to be there for the kid, to help him get back on his feet before he inevitably left. All his good qualities, his small quips, his polite nature, he didn’t want any of it to waste away due to grief and isolation. No, he was a good kid, a good boy who deserved to be happy.