11 • Remembering

                                    

                                          
     I jolted awake, a knock on the door to Sidon's room startling me thoroughly. Sidon, however, was significantly less bothered. He just grumbled something in his sleep and buried his face into his pillow. 
     I sighed, smiling a little at this new side of Sidon I had yet to witness before standing. I grabbed a blanket that was slung over the back of one of the plush chairs and wrapped it around myself before opening the door. 
      Muzu, who was looking up to around Sidon's height when the door opened, became visibly confused for a moment before his gaze drifted downwards. His eyes widened almost unnoticeably for a moment before he regained his composure. 
      He cleared his throat. "My apologies, Master Link, but where is the prince? His father has requested for me to wake him so he wouldn't miss breakfast," Muzu said quickly, his voice carefully measured. 
      "Oh, he's still sleeping. I'll get 'im up," I said simply, undecided if Muzu's obvious discomfort was funny or if I should be embarrassed as to how this situation looked. 
      Muzu just nodded and turned on his heels, walking back towards the throne room. I closed the door after a moment, then let out a sigh, before I began laughing. 
      "What good fortune befalls me? Is that my guppy's laughter so early in the morning?... too early if you ask me," Sidon said with feigned grandeur, that he dropped quickly to grumble the last bit into his pillow. 
      I shook my head at him, a large grin still on my face, however. "C'mon, golden boy, we have to get a move on. Muzu knocked on the door." That got him to lift his head and look at me. 
      He looked a little shocked, then he began to laugh as well. "Ah, the old zora must've gotten a shock when you opened the door. Especially like that," Sidon added as he took in the blanket I was clad in. 
      "I'm really asking to get jumped by your fan group, huh?" I joked as I came up to Sidon's side of the bed. 
      He rolled over, propping himself up on his elbow. "Absolutely. Seriously, those zora are vicious. I would watch out if I were you," Sidon said with over dramatic concern. 
     I laughed, shaking my head. "That really puts me at ease. But seriously, get up lazy bones," I said as I reached an arm out of my blanket cloak to try and prod at Sidon to urge him forward. 
      He just took that opportunity to grab my arm and pull me back into bed. I couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of me as I tried to squirm away. "C'mon, we can't be late to the breakfast we promised to be at," I said through laughter as I stopped struggling to grab Sidon's face in emphasis to my words. 
     He sighed deeply- and in a very dramatic manner, might I add- before easing his grip on me. "Alright, fine. But only for you, my guppy," he cooed as I wiggled free from his grasp. 
      I shook my head, still smiling. "You are terrible. C'mon, get your stuff on," I called over my shoulder as I made my way to my bag to rummage for viable clothing. 
     I heard him get up with a grunt, then the distinct jingle of his jewelry. I managed to find a shirt that wasn't stained or torn, which I promptly put on and promised myself that I wouldn't wear this one out- for future mine and my wallets sake. 
     I managed to get my shirt on, though I also managed to hurt myself as I did so. Thankfully, I was dressed and didn't have to do that again for a bit, but I knew my hair was in an utter state of disrepair. I debated leaving it or...
     "Sidon?" I asked, turning to where he was standing, fiddling with the decorative ropes he wears. He hummed in response, not looking up from his- apparently difficult- task. 
      "Would you mind helping me with my hair? I think I popped a stitch already getting dressed," I joked weakly, which earned me a look of concern from Sidon. 
      "Of course, guppy. What do you want me to do? I uh... don't have a lot of experience with hair," he said with a small laugh as he motioned to his own head. 
      I laughed, shaking my head a little. "That's okay, could you just brush it? It probably looks like a disaster," I joked as I fished for my hairbrush from my bag. 
     Sidon looked a little unsure as he took my hairbrush from me, but didn't say anything. He stood behind me for a moment before starting to brush. "Tell me if this hurts, okay?" He asked, his tone betraying his concern. 
      I laughed, turning a little so I could catch sight of his face. "I'll be alright, don't worry." My words seemed to placate him enough for him to actually start to brush. 
      He wasn't great at this, by any means, but there was something very familiar about this. 
      I felt like I was going to pass out... huh, that's strange. 
     I was sitting on the floor of a familiar house. A woman's voice hummed a pretty song from behind me, a hairbrush pulling its way through my messy hair. 
     "Honestly, dear. You're lucky squirrels haven't started nesting in your hair," the woman joked, her voice silvery in only a way a mother's voice could be when she was doting on her children. 
     That's right. How could I forget? My mother was brushing my hair. She did that all the time. Both for me and... someone else. A little girl? Her face was too fuzzy for me to know for sure who she was. She was younger than me, that's for sure, and I knew I loved her. Maybe a sister? I couldn't be sure. 
     I just laughed in response to my mother. She began tucking my hair into a neat braid; maybe I had a formal event today. My dad was a knight, and I was... getting knighted, that's what was happening. 
     I tilted my head back, smiling at my mother. She had the same bright blue eyes that I did. Her hair was more brown than mine. Her face was lithe and I recalled now that she was... healthy here. 
     "Thank you, my hair won't get in my face now," I said as I ran my hand over my braid. She hummed and patted me on the shoulder, signalling she was done with my hair. 
      I stood, smiling down at her as she sat in her chair, a blanket pulled over her legs. She had been getting so cold lately. That's why there was a nice fire crackling in the stone fireplace before her, as well. 
      "Good luck today, dear. I love you," my mother said, her voice soft and her eyes almost sad. 
      I gave her a thumbs up, calling out a quick 'love you' over my shoulder as I started towards the door. 
     "Link!" A voice- close to shouting- broke me from my memory. I felt my knees buckle. I was much too out of it to catch myself, so I just braced for impact. It didn't happen, however, which caught me more off guard for a moment. 
      I then clued back in enough to feel the strong arms around me, holding me carefully. I blinked my eyes back into focus, meeting Sidon's very concerned eyes with my own. 
      He let out a shuddering breath when he saw me awake. "Oh thank the Goddesses. What happened, Link? Another memory?" Sidon asked, his voice shaking a little.
      I brought a shaky hand to my face. I rubbed my eyes as Sidon helped me stand straight again. "Y..yeah," I stuttered, my voice sounding thick and wrong in my own ears. 
      Sidon let out a relieved sigh. "Okay, that's a relief. Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low now to avoid shaking. 
      I nodded. 'I'm okay. Just shaken up,' I signed to Sidon, my hands shaking a bit as I did. 
      Sidon nodded, dropping to his knees so he was more level with me. "I'm glad you're alright. We don't have to go to breakfast, we could just-" I cut Sidon off by waving my hands. 
      'No, I'm alright. This happens sometimes,' I signed. I was only lying a little, as while this does happen all the time, it didn't stop my mouth from feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, and my brain to feel fuzzy. 
       Sidon didn't look convinced. "What was this one about? If you don't mind telling me. I just- maybe I could help?" He suggested, his eyes full of concern. 
      'I remembered my mom... and someone else, but I can't remember who she was. I don't get a lot of memories of my family, that's probably why I almost passed out. Just a lot.' I still didn't trust my voice, but luckily for me, my hands had stopped shaking. 
      Sidon nodded before placing a gentle hand on my cheek. "And you're sure you're alright? That must've been a lot, and I don't want you to push yourself," he said, his voice soft. 
     I nodded, offering a thumbs up and a smile. 'I'll be okay, trust me. Thank you,' I signed, my smile a bit more genuine now. 
      Sidon smiled a little as well, his head tilting to the side. "For what?" 
      'Being here.'
      Sidon's smile grew, and I saw tears well up in his eyes before he pulled me into a tight embrace. I held him back readily, his strong arms grounding me. I buried my face in his shoulder, my hands knotted in his sash. 
     "I... I'm really glad you've dropped your walls. I don't know if that came out like I meant, but I'm just so glad you're comfortable enough with me," Sidon said into my hair, his hold on my still tight, yet incredibly gentle, as if he was afraid I would snap. 
     I couldn't help but laugh a little. "I'm glad you're here. Though, this is all new to me, so you'll have to bare with me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. 
      Sidon chuckled a little. "Of course, who would I be if I didn't? We made a pinky promise, remember?" 
      I pulled back a little now, laughing heartily. Sidon just watched me, a warm smile on his face. "Oh right! Well I can't go against that, a pinky promise is unbreakable, after all," I managed through my laughter. 
      Sidon put his hand back on my cheek. "You sure you're good to go?" He asked again, his voice gentle. 
      I nodded. "Yeah, I'm alright. We gotta get going though, we're already very late."