"A King," King Dorephan began as he reclined in his throne, "is a leader, obviously. An example. I would say you have that aspect down. The entire kingdom knows your and your ancestors legacies. Now, a King is wise as well. You must not take yourself and only yourself into consideration. You have the lives of many rest on on your shoulders. Anything may affect those lives." Link listened intently. It had been a week since his coronation and he had done nothing he considered "kingly", now he was seeking the advice he remembered King Dorephan had offered him. He was sitting cross-legged in his Zora armor and greaves on the shiny wet floor of the throne room. He had set the crown aside at the beginning but King Dorephan asked him to place it back on his head. He liked seeing the small Hylian wear the crown. It made him proud.
"Now I understand that due to your gift you have uncontrollable bursts of immense courage. From what I remember my dear daughter telling me, you act as if you are immortal. You will have to find a way to reign that part of you in. I understand, in crucial times your training as a knight required you to act on instinct. However now you must think. If we are at the very beginnings of war you cannot simply send troops out without a battle plan. A King cannot wing it." Link nodded, feeling just a bit offended. "And as King, you must also consider other things for your kingdom aside from fighting. You now have the incredibly dull task of seeing how the kingdom's taxes get spent. Especially now what with the great need of repairs. However King Daphnes had placed experts to settle that task. I suggest you do that as well. If you had lived a normal life as a child you may know a thing or two about that part of your responsibility." The Zora King frowned. "However you did not live a normal childhood. You spent your days training to become the man you are today." Man. The word didn't sit well on Dorephan's tongue. Not for Link. He was a young boy, not a man yet. He was forced responsibility when he was a small child and now that he is a teenage boy he is having even more responsibility pushed on him. It saddened the Zora King.
"You can find the well known money experts in Hateno Village. If you so please I can send a Zora out to find one. You must also consider travel routes. In the days of the Calamity our merchants traveled aimlessly. It is now time to create paths to make sure they are safe." Link nodded. Beedle was the one that popped into his head for this job. He didn't know why but Beedle seemed to appear just about everywhere, he had to know the safer routes of the kingdom for merchants. "And trade is definitely a major aspect to a flourishing kingdom. Especially since our villages are so far apart. Trade routes can increase money being made and help us progress."
The King looked down at Link. Link had been scribbling down notes the whole time. He didn't smile down at the boy. He didn't praise him for paying attention or for seeming so relaxed even if something this serious was being placed on him. He, instead, was angry, but only a little. The anger was unintentional and honestly unjustifiable. It wasn't Link's fault he happened to be the chosen one. It wasn't his fault at all but Dorephan still held some anger towards him for it. If he wasn't the chosen one he would've had a better life. He would've been happier. When Link looked up from his messy notes Dorephan spoke again.
"I am embarrassed to admit this, but I pray to the Goddesses that my son doesn't turn out like you." The Hylian was taken aback. That was...slightly rude. "Not to say I don't admire and respect you. But that is just it. I don't want him to be like you because I'm worried he may not be happy in life. I don't mean to be rude in any way, but I can see the emotions hiding underneath the skillfully used mask of stoicism you place on your face before talking to anyone. I can see the many years of hardships you have faced. And while I admire the trauma you have dealt with, I do not wish that kind of pain on my own kin." The King looked up and outside. The sun was high up in the sky and the happy chatter of his residents and travelers intermingled. Sidon was out there, among the Zora, telling tales of his adventures with the new King. "I have tried my best to prepare him to be a king, and I have tried my best to allow him to be a child. He is still fairly young for a Zora, I do not want his youth to be shrouded with the stresses of royalty."
Link looked down at his lap. Guilt washed over him and thoughts of telling Sidon to return to his home immediately popped into his mind. He knew the Zora King meant no ill will and he knew the Zora King wanted whatever made his son happier. But that wasn't stopping Link from trying to come up with a plan to convince the Prince to go back.
"Forgive me." Dorephan sighed. "Again, I did not mean to upset you. I am simply a father trying to protect my only family from hurting any more than he already has. However I know I cannot protect him from everything. Emotions are one thing I cannot simply pick up and throw far away from my home. I will admit, he does seem to be more...active since you have returned to his life. Most of what I remember him doing is swimming deep into the depths of the water below us or simply floating in the waters near Vah Ruta. Often he would lock himself in his room and only come out to pray to his sister's statue. I believe you have done him well." The Zora smiled kindly and Link returned it with a smile of his own. "I must ask you one thing, it may be a bit too personal and you are more than welcome to deny an answer. How are you?"
"I'm fine." The response was instant. Link didn't think much of the question and he didn't think Dorephan would read much into his response. The gigantic Zora leaned back and examined the Hylian King in front of him before speaking again.
"I understand, you are still not quite ready to talk. That's fine." Link rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "These things take time. Tell me, how are you since your coronation? I know you are inexperienced but how are you feeling about everything?"
"I..." Link faltered and lowered his hands. He sighed and began pacing. To be quite honest he didn't understand how he was feeling. He was excited, honored, proud. He was King of his home, he was the most important person in Hyrule. At the same time he was terrified. The dream he had not too long ago still crept into his mind and made him feel as if he was a failure of a King before he even begun doing his kingly duties. "I had a dream. Three- no, four. Four girls stood around me. With them there were five...five men? Some looked like men or at least mature teens. Then there were two boys. They all looked like me in some way. And there was a wolf too. It was..." Link racked his brain trying to figure out what part of his dream he would tell the King. He didn't want him to worry. "One of the boys wore a mask and stabbed me. That is it."
Link walked more towards the entrance and looked outside, mentally debating whether or not he should mention what he had remembered of his life before the Calamity. Eventually he sighed and turned around, signing it out.
"I also...remembered something. Of myself when I was a child. I think...it was my mother and father? I'm not sure. I visited a home in Castle Towns when it was just ruins and I...remembered something." Link looked up to see the slightly surprised look of King Dorephan. This was certainly...something. Both of what he Link had confessed was...something. The Zora King sighed and thought for a moment but Link began signing again. "And I have been feeling...this is pretty damn embarrassing to say but...I think I have grown too dependent of Sidon." He lowered his hands, not giving any more detail but Dorephan didn't need any.
"Ah, that is something I am able to answer confidently. I'm going to let you in on a small secret, Your Highness, my son has been attempting nudge you into perhaps becoming more comfortable towards him. You see, since the day you arrived here with the very upsetting news of the Princess's death he felt the need to become the friend you hadn't had in a long while, so perhaps you being dependent on him isn't such a negative thing. However I do not recommend being completely reliant on Sidon, just enough to where you are able to feel comfortable enough to discuss things you need to get off your chest. I understand it may be hard but please, for your sake, make an effort." Link allowed a small smile to escape his stoic expression and nodded. What the Goddess had informed Link long ago about someone being his guide returned and now he was more sure than ever that it was Sidon.
The two talked some more after that. King Dorephan explained certain things a King should do and what Link should probably do. Setting stronger relationships with the Goron, Rito, and Gerudo was one thing Link was tasked to do and was actually excited for. When all was said and done, Link began heading out but the Zora King stopped him once more.
"Son, before you go I would like to offer you one last piece of advice regarding your recent recollection of a childhood memory. As you travel Hyrule to strengthen the bonds between the sub-communities, do not be afraid to explore the land some more. Perhaps another memory will return. And...those five figures in your dream. That is something that can be answered in an old, ancient library buried deep within Hyrule Castle. It holds the history and secrets of those five and it may even help you in your own journey."
Link smiled and thanked the King once more. He bowed and promised to return soon before he turned and began walking out. Sidon was playing with the Zora children. As he walked down the glittering stairs and thanked the Goddesses for someone like Sidon in his life.