Chapter 5
Days, weeks, months and years passed. Link blended into his family well. though he didn't learn much about his mother, he preferred not to speculate and just to assume that she would have been like him. She was his mom, after all.
Viel was a wealth of knowledge about Barive, his father. Though she was normally quiet, she would willingly talk about Barive. It irritated Link to hear someone that wasn't his mother talk so lovingly about his father, but he dealt with it. This was the only real way he could get to know his father, who had been missing for ten long years. Kiana was now 13, Chezdon 18 and Link 21. Zelda, also 21, missed Barive as well. She loved the Dassins as her own family, and they loved her as their own daughter.
One day, everything changed.
Kiana was home alone when the knock came on the door. She called from the kitchen, "Who is it?" and rose to look out the window.
"Kiana?" came the voice, "Is that you? Open the door, I can't wait to see you!"
Kiana looked through the window. The man on the other side looked vaguely familiar...
"Who are you?" she demanded, "Give me your name please, and I'll let you in! How do you know my name, anyway? Who are you?"
The man laughed. "Kiana, it's Dad! Come on, let me in! Don't you remember me?"
Kiana didn't know how she felt. She didn't remember him. She hadn't seen him since she was three. But she'd always hoped he'd come back, and she loved him. So did Chezdon and Viel, she knew it. And wouldn't Link love to meet him? She opened the door and said hopefully, "Dad?"
He immediatly embraced his daughter. "Oh, my baby! You're 13 now, aren't you? And Chezdon's 18! I missed you guys! Where's your mom?"
Kiana swallowed hard and tried not to stumble over her words. "Oh, she'd be back soon. And Chezdon. Say, Dad, where've you been?"
His gaze dropped to the floor as he mumbled, "Everywhere you can imagine." looking back up, he said, "Where are they? When'll they be back?"
"Um, about that, Dad. A lot of stuff's happened while you've been gone."
"Yeah, I figured. It has been ten years." in a nervous voice, he asked, "Is your mom married again?"
"No, don't be silly!" she laughed, then said, "But there had been a new addition to the family."
"A baby? A pet?"
"No. I guess that come out wrong. This is hard...Come on, I'll take you to them. Our family."
* * * * *
Meanwhile, the Dassins were at the castle. they had been invited over to tea, but Kiana had declined because she felt sleepy. So Viel, Chezdon, Link and Zelda sat talking and esting in the royal drawing room when Rabay announced the visitors. Kiana and Barive entered.
Viel almost dropped her cup. "Barive?" she gasped, "Is it you? It can't be..."
"Viel! It is me! Oh, I missed you!" he embraced his wife and turned to Chezdon. "You're a man now, I guess. Come here, son."
Chezdon met Link's gaze, then went to their father's side. "Dad...it's been awhile."
Barive patted his son on the back, then smiled at Zelda and Link. "I haven't been keeping up with my headlines, but can I assume you two are the royal couple?"
The Queen and the Hero looked at each other and blushed. Kiana stepped in and said, "No, Dad. She's the queen, though. And he's... well, no doubt you've heard of the Hero of Time?"
"Yes, of course." Barive continued to smile at Link. "He's a legend. Are you him, then, if you're not king?"
"King?" Link laughed and choked on his biscuit. "No, I'm not king! But I am, as you say, the Hero of Time...among other things." he cleared his throat and braced his nerves. "For example, I'm also your son."
The castle was silent as a tomb. Rabay hurried in. "It's quiet...is everything alright?"
"Yes, Rabay." said Zelda, "You may go."
Barive was still in shock. He was sheet white.
"On second thought, Rabay," the queen called to the servant, "could you get this man a strong drink?"
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