Time's Moving Faster Than I Can Count

A Sinking Feeling

Rusl and Uli stopped in the doorway, listening to the conversation. They watched as Time gently rocked Hana and watched Colin re-enact some of Link's moves he'd seen him do. He stumbled slightly and Time caught him.

"Your feet are too close together for that, move them slightly," He guided Colin. "There you go, try again."

The young boy attempted his move again, this time pulling it off flawlessly. Time clapped quietly so he wouldn't wake Hana, and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Now you can show Link what you can do, and one day you might just be better than him."
"I doubt that, he's really good!"
"He is, but that doesn't mean you won't ever be that good."
"I don't know if I wanna be a swordsman though." Colin sat next to Time.
"What do you want to do?"
"Hmm..." He thought for a second. "I wanna be a horse rider."
"That's a great idea, I think you could do that."
"Really?!"
"Why not? My wife rides horses all the time. So do I. I have one back home, though she's too old for all the..." He trailed off and looked at Colin mischievously. "Horsing around, now."

Colin laughed hard and Time couldn't help but laugh as well. It was a stupid joke, but he liked it. Rusl and Uli walked in properly and laughed with the two. They noticed Hana was fast asleep and drooling on Time's shoulder. The older hero carefully stood and gently passed her back to Uli, who took her gracefully.

"Thank you for babysitting for us." She told him.
"It's no problem, I'm happy to do it again if needed."

He smiled sincerely, and moved to get his things. As he did so, Rusl grabbed some rupees, holding them out to Time. The Hero looked very unimpressed and pushed the money away, before returning his attention back to his things.

"Don't you want some money, Mr. Time?" Colin asked.
"I told you, you don't need to call me mister. And no, I don't want money. Keep it." He replied without looking up.
"But you did a job."
"I did a favour, not a job, kid. I don't need money, nor do I want it." He stood up, ready to leave. "I'll take my leave now so you can all get settled for the night." He nodded to the parents, waved at Colin, and left before they could try give him the money again.

---

"He spent a century alone, Pa. A century alone, dead, just waiting for me." Link stifled a sob. "Just so I wouldn't be unprepared against Ganon." He put his hands in his hair. "I can't imagine how lonely that much have felt." He whispered. "He knew me, but I didn't know him. Not yet."
"He was a good man." Rusl whispered, gently pulling Link's fingers from his hair and holding him close. "I'm glad he was the one to help you."
"No one here remembers what he did. I... don't have the full story, he wouldn't speak on everything, but I want to tell the story I do know. He sacrificed so much and never had anything to show for it. He was forgotten, again and again. He did all he could and it still wasn't enough, not for him."