Prologue-

The fields of Hyrule were quiet. Neither bird, nor cricket sang. Even the grass refused to rustle in the dawning light. Not a noise was to be heard for miles. A horse, large and powerful, yet swift and brave stood proudly on the hilltop. Her white mane wavered in the silent breeze, her hooves still. All the world seemed to be holding its breath, as its greatest champion reared back his steed and galloped for the gates of the castle.

"Hyaah!" Link cried to his faithful Epona, "Ride on straight through the gate!" The bridge was descending as the sun rose, opening to a new day. The horse and her rider were approaching at breakneck speed. Epona was in a wild gallop that even Din herself could not stop. It took all the strength in his rancher's arms to hold on. 50 paces, ten feet to go. They would not make it, they could not. Three paces from the drawbridge, Epona took a mighty leap. Five feet in the air easily, she sailed on over to the other side, Link laughing and praising his legendary steed. The horse and her rider rode straight on past the townsfolk waking from the slumber. Straight on, to Hyrule Castle, and darker business.

Queen Zelda, daughter of the late King, was tired of waiting, "He should have been here hours ago, we left the Southern Arch open just for him."

"Perhaps you should rest; you have not slept all night, Majesty," suggested Auru, an old scholar from the desert, now her trusted chief councillor.

"It's been 14 months, Auru, Fourteen. He leads the main assault against the Gerudo rebels and disappears shortly after the stunning victory. Then almost a year later, we get a message so vague it could have been from your aunt. It's no wonder I can't sleep."

"I agree, that blasted boy. What would we do without him though, eh?" Auru asked.

"Suffer fewer headaches and more defeats," she answered drily. Just then, there was a sharp knock at the door, Auru perked up and opened it to admit a small, beefy, puffing soldier.

"He's back!" gasped the exhausted guard, nearly invisible behind his oversized moustache, "Back!" he proceeded to collapse on the floor, drooling.

"Auru, grab a few guards to take him out. He's ruining the carpet," Zelda asked. Auru strode out at once, eager to return and see Link. A few moments passed, and Zelda fidgeted, trying to fix her overtired self up. Why on earth she felt so strongly about this one man escaped her. She heard voices, footsteps closing in, the door opened slowly. And finally, here he was. He looked the same as always, a little more windswept but alive and well. Her eyes traced the outline of his cheeks, his jaw, and the texture of his light brown hair. He wore his customary green tunic and leather footwear, the blue hilt of the Master Sword was visible over his left shoulder. Most intriguing, as always, were his eyes. Piercing blue orbs, holding both the playful and savage parts of the wolf. His eyes reminded her of a mighty beast, the embodiment of justice and cunning, the eyes that would hunt you if you so dared to harm those he loved.

Zelda knew she should have been enraged, yet all she felt was relief. Link was safe and here with her. She couldn't manage to hold her ground; she covered the floor between them in a few short seconds and threw her arms around his neck. He was thrown off balance, both physically and mentally, but he returned the hug gratefully. She bathed in his scent, sweet forest trees and livestock. His face was filthy with dust, and yet she preferred it over all the others. Finally she broke the embrace and looked into his blue eyes with her firm grey ones, "Where were you?"

"Ah, yes, um... that will probably require a little bit of explaining," he gazed downwards and shuffled his feet.

"Yes, it will," she said through gritted teeth, "Fourteen months, fourteen! You disappear as soon as the fighting ends, and then return with little explanation?"

"Why is there a sleeping walrus on the floor?" Link asked.

"Do not change the subject! Where on earth did you go? I've had curious mobs to attend to, excuses for reasons why the great champion of Hyrule suddenly ceased to exist," Zelda put poison into every word, "The only clue we get is a half deranged captain saying, 'He vanished into the desert, my lady'."

Link's shoulders slumped, "It was her," he breathed. Zelda's world seemed to collapse. At that moment Auru returned with the guards to haul Fierro away. He stopped when he saw Zelda's deadly white face and heard her quickened breath. She held fast, though she felt like collapsing just like the soldier. For there could be only a single woman in the universe to which Link could be referring: Midna, Twilight Princess.