Ilia, Her connection to Link *spoilers*

Ilia, yet another of the many females in Link's life. But what kind of relationship do they share? Let's discuss it here everyone!

I see them as childhood friends.

My brain is dead right now, i cant type anything.

I knew this topic was going to pop up eventually. XD

I'm pretty merciless when it comes to dealing with Ilia XD... but right now I'm in a fairly good mood so I'll tone myself down a bit. >_>

The way I see their relationship to this game is like the Link and Saria of OoT--childhood friends. If there was any sort of "romantic" relationship, it was certainly one-sided. The way I figure this is because of the scene where she recovers her memory--if Link had romantic feelings toward her I would expect him to beam with happiness and do his dialogue-less gasps of joy and some sort of physical contact would have been there, but there wasn't... In fact, he didn't really do much at all.

Going back to the Link and Saria comparison... at the beginning of OoT, Saria was a part of his mind often--same in TP. (Well, the reason for that is because she was shot by an arrow.) He was off to rescue her (but he was off to rescue the kids too... and she wasn't really "rescued"). But after a while, Ilia played less and less of a role. It was the same in OoT with Saria.

Link/Midna is more evident than Link/Ilia...

My conclusion? Nothing more than childhood friends, with perhaps an unrequited love.

Lol, great anyalisis HM!

I agree with you, there is a lot of that Link Saria feel there. I honestly did not see anything really romantic in their relationship. Half the time, it reminded me more of a sort of family thing. Ilia reminded me of a sister or a mother with the way that she scolds Link and the way he reacts to it. For instance, when Epona was supposedly 'injured', she immediately berates him and he cringes and acts like a kid who got caught raiding the cookie jar.

And as for the whole rescuing/recovering her memory thing, there wasn't really much there on Link's part. He did look sad that she couldn't remember who he was, but other than that, there wasn't total tragic emotion from him. And even when she regains it, like you said, all he does is smile.

If anything, I think this supposed romance is onsided, with Ilia loving Link romantically, and for him, only the friendship sort of deal.

Ilia also makes me think of Malon too- she's there because of Epona, if that makes any sense. So, I guess she's a combo of Saria and Malon's roles.

I completely agree with you on the who Ilia = Malon thing, because, quite frankly, Ilia seemed more worried about the safety of Epona than Link

She sort of did, huh? Ilia always reacted more strongly to Epona being hurt or in danger than she ever did to the thought of something happening to Link.

What I can't figure out is if Epona orignally belonged to Ilia and she gave her to Link, or if she just loves the horse. Because its sort of weird for Ilia to get so worked up about how Link treats Epona if she's never had any claim of ownership. Does that make any sense?

Yeah, she did seem oddly attached to that horse. *snerk* Who wants to bet that there is a person out there who actually ships Ilia/Epona? XD

*headdesk*

You know, I actually wouldn't be surprised if there was someone shipping that pairing. There doesn't seem to be any low that fandom won't stoop to anymore.

Actually, I think that Ilia was concerned about Epona as a reason to keep in touch with Link. And I mean, sure, they live in a tiny village and they're the only ones their age for miles, but you know how sometimes you have a crush on someone and you'll keep messing with them just to pretend you're just friends?

I get that feeling off Ilia; maybe I'm overanalyzing.

Over the game, though, I think she grows to become less of a crushing girl than a genuine friend. She didn't exactly express reluctance at Link's wanderings, or show any jealousy or whatever.

Not to mention Midna doesn't tease Link about Ilia the way she does about Zelda (if I recall properly).

Actually, Midna does taunt Link a little about Ilia. She goes "Aww, how sweet! A girl and her wolf!" But it didn't carry the same feel to it as her taunts about Zelda and Link did. At least, that's how I felt about it. *sweat*

Ooooh, I forgot about that. True, very true. Well then, ignore my comment above. I don't remember what Midna did to tease Link about Zelda, aside from the eye-roll in the very beginning.

Lol!

Well, Midna also says something to Link along the lines of "Don't worry about Princess Zelda. She chose this state of affairs afterall," or something like that. I swear there was something else, but my brain's dead at the moment.

Actually, Ilia does say, "You still prefer your master over me?" Or something to that affect when she steals Epona from Link... AGAIN. (I personally would prefer Link over Ilia any day! ...*ahem*... I'm getting a little carried away... ^^; )

Now that I think about it, Midna makes more comments about Zelda than Ilia... "don't fret about Princess Zelda!" "Don't worry about Zelda!" Heh...

Another part of my opinion on how Link and Ilia are no where near a romantic relationship also has to do with the horse whistle... if you read the description, it says "A horse call that Ilia made for Epona" (or something like that)... but if there had been a romantic relationship between she and Link... don't you think that "Epona" would have been replaced with "you"?

Also... back to the "recovering memory scene"... I came to the conclusion that their relationship is one-sided (if there's any sort of romantic relationship), because after Ilia said "the smell of hay..." she remembered that rather fabricated moment... Now, if it was a two-way relationship, I personally, would have shown Link as well in the cinema before the "flashback". But that didn't happen--what struck me that it was all in her head.

And did anyone else find that shot between them a little cheesy?

Link: derrrrrr....

Ilia: aaaaaaaa

Epona: *slow motion* NEEEIIIIGGGHHHH!!! *bucks*

...

Unfortunately, I did see a romantic relationship between them, or at least the beginnings of one. It seemed to me like at the beginning that they were best friends, but it just on the verge of shifting into more. Hey, if Link hadn't gone on his adventure, I would see him eventually marrying her.
When he did find her and she didn't remember..he truly seemed heartbroken. Even the part where Telma skips off after Renado..Link seemed like he wanted to skip off to Ilia..but realized she didn't know him.
When she remembered, the scene had the "cinema effects" often attached to love..sparkling lights on the water, the camera circling them like they are the only two in the world. The last time I saw a similar scene ( floating in the clouds, the only two in the whole world feeling...) It was the Sky Scene in OoT, and I have no doubt that was romantic. Lastly..." I will be waiting for you"...isn't that usually a romantic phrase? In OoT, Rauru actually said: "The one who is waiting for you...the one who is waiting for you in the Temple of Time" He was obviously referring to Zelda, who waited seven years for Link to return. Ilia's speech in the remembering scene seemed to be taking a page from Anju/Kafei's reunion as well.

To add to the above discussion, Midna also torments Link about Ilia when he discovers her purse: " It's the girl isn't it? I can see the look in your eyes"...and then basically hints Ilia could be hurt.

There...I've said my take on it. Despite the abundance of hints, I am most certainly not an Ilia x Link shipper at all. The relationship IMO felt forced...not natural like Link and Zelda typically are..and Link and Midna's. I do think in the end Midna may have taken his heart from Ilia. He's suddenly got two girls he likes, and a whole new lifestyle..I can't see him with Ilia after the adventure. She appeared to get left behind, with the rest of Ordon.

( And I fully agree about Ilia being a blend of Saria and Malon )

True, true--perhaps Link would have married Ilia if he had not gone on his adventure.

But he did go on his adventure, so he's bound to walk the path of the hero. And as the game progressed, it seemed that Ilia only became less and less important.

Even if Link did want to be with Ilia, because his heart is set on adventure and he's destined to walk the path of the hero.