"Everyone," Link called when he arrived home,"I have anannouncement to make" They all crowded around him, even Viel, demanding to know where he'd been and what he wanted to say. He slipped quickly out of the mob of five people.
"Whoa, calm down! I just want to say one thing. I can't be a part of this family." A wave of shock went through them all, and Zelda snapped angry telepathic messages into his mind. He ignored her, as he often did. It drove her insane to be denied attention.
"I have thought it through, and this is not my heritage. I was born into it, I'll most likely marry into it, but I was not raised with it. I will love you all as the family you have been to me. The family I know you always will be to each other. But I can never be Hylian at heart, no matter how long I stay here. I am a Kokiri, and I can't change that, nor would I want to. I ask you all to please accept and understand my choice. At least accept it, even if you can't understand."
There was a moment's silence. Finally, Zelda said, "Blood is thcker than water, Link."
Link opened his mouth to respond as he had done before to that same statement, but he was interrupted by a quiet young voice.
"If Link has taught me nothing else," said Kiana, "he taught me that you are what you make yourself, not what you were born. He told me a phrase to live by. 'Blood pumps through the heart. What's in your heart is in your blood.' " she took a shaky breath and fought back tears, "He was adopted, and so was I. I will never go back to my old life, I couldn't! Neither could he. Let him go back to the life he wants to live."
Link smiled at Kiana. "Thank you." he said. "Dad, I forgive you. I understand now. Viel, I thank you for what you have taught me. Chezdon, I will miss you. Having a brother was wonderful. I think you can understand why. Kiana, I always knew you were my soulmate, even though we don't share blood at all. I will always think of you as my sister. I will love you all til I die. And Zelda," he almost laughed, "thanks for helping me find them. I'm not physically leaving forever, but I will legally become Link Hero. You will be friends, but not family. No Hylians could ever really feel like family. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home." he turned and strode out the door, and everyone where he had gone.
Back to the forest.