Leia fought the urge to sigh at Clef's explanation. At least he was talking again, but really? That was what he thought? Still, she let the boys react first before she took her turn. Once again, Link's reaction helped. Even if his words didn't exactly translate properly to a centuries old mage, they still helped her decide how to word her reply.
"What I believe Link is saying," she said to Clef, "is that you're special and important to him precisely because it was you who stepped up to adopt him. It was you to first took the time to see and care about him as a child, and a person, rather than just 'the chosen one'. You who loved him enough to think about what he as a person wanted and needed, rather than just expecting him to conform to the role of 'hero' or 'warrior' and solve everyone's problems, no matter how dangerous or ridiculous they may be." Leia didn't know the particulars of what Link had been asked to do in his world, but she knew enough to make some educated guesses. And she was willing to bet that most- if not all- of it would have been considered ridiculous or unthinkable to ask of a child had he not been arbitrarily slapped with the title of 'Chosen One'.
"As an adopted child myself, I can tell you this with certainty: the fact that my parents were under no obligation to be my parents made me love them that much more once I was old enough to truly understand what that meant. I wasn't just dropped into their lives by happenstance. They wanted me. They chose me, out of love. Could someone else also have chosen to adopt me? Of course. But the point is that no one else did. They stepped up, took me in, raised me, and loved me. Just like you did and are trying to do for Link. And that makes all the difference in the galaxy."
She shifted her attention to include Link. "You can correct me if I'm wrong, Link, but by being 'strong' I assume you don't mean being perfect, or stoic, or even powerful. Rather, you simply want Clef to be someone you can turn to with your problems sometimes, rather than you being the one people turn to with theirs, even if he doesn't always have all the answers. A responsible adult who loves and cares for you and doesn't expect you to be the responsible one. Am I right?"
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"What I believe Link is saying," she said to Clef, "is that you're special and important to him precisely because it was you who stepped up to adopt him. It was you to first took the time to see and care about him as a child, and a person, rather than just 'the chosen one'. You who loved him enough to think about what he as a person wanted and needed, rather than just expecting him to conform to the role of 'hero' or 'warrior' and solve everyone's problems, no matter how dangerous or ridiculous they may be." Leia didn't know the particulars of what Link had been asked to do in his world, but she knew enough to make some educated guesses. And she was willing to bet that most- if not all- of it would have been considered ridiculous or unthinkable to ask of a child had he not been arbitrarily slapped with the title of 'Chosen One'.
"As an adopted child myself, I can tell you this with certainty: the fact that my parents were under no obligation to be my parents made me love them that much more once I was old enough to truly understand what that meant. I wasn't just dropped into their lives by happenstance. They wanted me. They chose me, out of love. Could someone else also have chosen to adopt me? Of course. But the point is that no one else did. They stepped up, took me in, raised me, and loved me. Just like you did and are trying to do for Link. And that makes all the difference in the galaxy."
She shifted her attention to include Link. "You can correct me if I'm wrong, Link, but by being 'strong' I assume you don't mean being perfect, or stoic, or even powerful. Rather, you simply want Clef to be someone you can turn to with your problems sometimes, rather than you being the one people turn to with theirs, even if he doesn't always have all the answers. A responsible adult who loves and cares for you and doesn't expect you to be the responsible one. Am I right?"