-1The Missing Link

Authors Note: This is my first ever attempt at a Zelda story, obviously it goes without saying that Nintendo owns all the characters and places except my own invented ones and I'm not doing this for money. The blue blood idea is not mine, I've borrowed it from Stardust, this is set immediately after the end of MM and I'm terrible about making up names for places so for the purposes of the story I'm borrowing a few Kingdom names from other works as well.

Chapter1: The Truth Shall Set Ye Free

After what seemed like weeks Link had finally brought peace to Termina, he and Epona had just crossed back into the Lost Woods. Eager to resume searching for Navi, his invaluable partner and friend. Link decided to keep searching the wood for now and began to ride towards an area near the eastern border. Moving slowly through the trees far beyond the sacred forest meadow all seemed quiet for a time. The mornings tranquillity was shattered moments later though. From up ahead Link heard shouting and the ring of steel, he urged Epona forward following the sound, a few seconds later he came to a clearing next to a road he had never seen before. Before him all was chaos, a group of stalfos had attacked a column of horses and carriages, knights were battling the grinning skeletons but were spread too thin to wipe them out. Two of the stalfos were moving towards a middle aged man who looked like he was starting to tire, he wore fine clothing and a crown and looked to Link like a man of great importance.

Deciding to intervene, Link dismounted and drew his sword, the gilding and blue steel gleaming in the sunlight. Running forward into the fray Link quickly found himself facing two stalfos, years of experience bore fruit as link easily parried the first skeletons vertical slice and stabbed forward burying his blade into the ribcage up to where a heart would be if the undead swordsman had one, it didn't matter however as the stalfos fell into pieces and burned in a brief burst of blue flame as he pulled his sword free. The second stalfos tried a jump attack which Link easily dodged by rolling to the right past a bush, bringing his sword round in a horizontal sweep across the skeletons exposed back which destroyed it instantly. Link ran towards the middle aged man as the knights used the momentary distraction Link had caused to full effect battling the remaining stalfos and they began to gain the upper hand. Another pair which had been attacking the man went for Link who quickly cut one down while the other fell to the stranger. After a few more minutes the knights had killed the last stalfo and the man began to speak once they had both sheathed their swords.

"Thank you very much young man, you've saved my life. I doubt I could've lasted much longer there, what's your name and why are you all the way out here?"

Link replied to the man, "my name is Link, I just returned from Termina, I've been searching for a former partner of mine. I was attacked and had to go to Termina to recover a very precious item that was stolen from me. An evil curse threatened the land and once I'd recovered the item I was compelled to help the people there by destroying the source of the curse. I heard the sounds of the battle and thought I should help."

The stranger looked him up and down and said, "Well, you have my thanks Link, I am William, I am the King of Windhaven you seem a little young to be a travelling swordsman, where is your family?"

Link bowed slightly upon hearing that the stranger was a King and replied, "I am an orphan Your Majesty, my mother was mortally wounded trying to escape a battle and entrusted me to the great Deku tree when I was a baby. Years later he sent me off with Navi the fairy on my first quest which turned into a much longer adventure than my recent one in Termina. At the end Navi left and I came to the woods looking for her. I have no idea who my family is."

King William shook his head sadly and looked at link with sympathy in his eyes and said, "I am sorry to hear that. I lost my wife and baby son to the Hylian civil war, they were trying to escape to return home after it began and I was leading troops protecting our embassy…… Say, your hand!"

Link looked at his hand which he now noticed he'd cut on a thorn bush during the battle, there was a small amount of dried blood there as the bleeding had stopped. Linked looked curiously at the King and said, "what about my hand Your Majesty, I accidentally cut it on a bush during the battle."

The King shook his head and replied, "not your hand Link, your blood. It's blue! Only Windhavian royalty have blue blood, you said your mother died from wounds received in a battle, just as my wife did, it can't be a coincidence. She was trying to make for the border during the battle at our embassy."

Link thought about this and realised exactly what this meant, he looked carefully at King William, now he looked closely Link suddenly realised how much the King and he looked alike. The King had the same blonde hair and facial features. His ears and nose were identical in shape to Links, but his eyes were a Hazel colour instead of blue. Link realised that this man was his father.

Links jaw dropped at the thought of this and he said softly, "f…father?"

William ran forwards and embraced his son and said, "my son, my only son! I thought you were dead. Forgive me, I never knew you still live. If I'd known I would have come and fetched you."

The Knights all bowed as they realised Links identity and Link replied to his father, "It isn't your fault. The war tore apart many families. Also If you had taken me, their wouldn't have been anyone to answer the call to save Hyrule from Gandondorf. Where were you going anyway father?"

William replied, " to Hyrule, for Princess Zelda's 13th birthday next week. Oh and by the way, Link is only a nickname, your real name is Lysander William Daphnes Windhaven "

Link said, "It's Zelda's birthday! Can I come? She's a friend of mine. I'll have to call in to the castle town and buy her a present though."

William said, " of course you can son, you say she's a friend of yours. That's wonderful, she's a lovely girl. I'm sure we can call into the Castle Town for a gift for you to give her, now lets move on before more stalfos show up."

Link went and got Epona while the wagons were assembled and the knights and King William found their horses. They were soon underway and two days later they were approaching Hyrule Castle town. The knights waited in the town square but Link and King William went to the shops and first went to a tailor who quickly fashioned several new outfits for Link as well as sizing him up for a whole new wardrobe most of which was packed into a trunk, the outfit he changed into was a white tunic with gold embroidery and white breeches, new black leather boots and a red riding cloak with more gold embroidery and gold fastenings, upon his head he wore the crown of the crown prince which was found in the embassy by one of the staff who searched for it upon hearing the news, it was in Links eyes a much more masculine version of the diadem he'd seen Zelda wear as an adult, it was gold with a large ruby set in it at the front. At his belt he wore his sword but kept his shield and other equipment in the cart as he wasn't going into battle. He had called into a jewellery store and had bought a spectacular gold and sapphire necklace which he'd had boxed and gift wrapped. After mounting their horses Link, King William and the Knights rode slowly in formation up the road towards Hyrule Castle. Link found it odd to not need to sneak past the guards. Instead he looked around in interest as the guard at the outer gate opened up without even saying a word after taking one look at the party.

Link noticed Malon at the exact same spot she'd been near the vines the first time and he couldn't help but wave at her, her eyes widened in shock and her jaw dropped.

She managed to choke out, "f..fairy boy? What happened to you?"

Link laughed and said, "It's Crown Prince Fairy boy now Malon. After being attacked in the forest and helping a distant land break a terrible curse I found out the truth about myself and my family. Let me guess, your dads fallen asleep at the Castle again? I'll sort him out."

Malon curtsied and nodded to his enquiry, the guard had finished opening the gate so they rode through to the sounds of the drawbridge coming down in the distance. King William turned and said, "another friend of yours Lysander?"

Link nodded and replied, "that was Malon, her father owns Lon Lon Ranch, they raise the best horses in Hyrule there, Malon raised my own horse, Epona. I've known her for a long time, she came up with the nickname Fairy Boy as the first time I met her I looked like a Kokiri. her dad has a habit of falling asleep when he delivers milk to the castle, I'll wake him up if I see him or tell the guards to get him up."

They arrived at the castle after a few more minutes, gave their horses to a group of grooms and gave their gifts to a servant who put them away to be given to Zelda at the banquet. Turning to his son King William said, "we're a bit early, I'm going to talk to King Daphnes, run along and find Zelda. No doubt she'll be surprised to see you."

Link grinned and nodded and strode off through the halls and courtyards of the vast castle. He didn't need to worry about being seen and felt strange every time he saw guards stand to attention and salute, he told one to go wake Talon and suggested a cucco to be the best means. Finding the entrance to Zelda's private gardens he nervously stepped inside curious as to what his reception would be like when she saw him dressed as he was. He saw her looking through the window into the throne room as usual but before he could say a word she turned around and said, "oh hello, you must be Prince Lysand…… Link!."

Her last syllable told him she was glad to see him and she rushed forwards, a bright smile on her face and her eyes as wide as coins and threw herself into his arms hugging him so tightly he could hardly breathe. He returned the hug slightly awkwardly and said, "happy birthday Zelda, dad told me today's your birthday so I thought I'd come pay a visit, he's somewhere talking to your father. I never found Navi but a few days ago I found out the truth about myself and my family."

Zelda released him, looked him up and down and replied, "I can't believe this, you're a Prince? That's amazing, you look very handsome by the way, I like your outfit."

Link blushed as red as his cloak and said, " I still don't believe it, I keep wondering what's going on when I see people bow or salute. It is nice to have my dad back though and to be able to visit you without having to sneak in, and you look more beautiful than ever."

Zelda giggled and blushed even more than Link and smiled even more broadly at him. She then said, "what have you been doing? I felt evil coming from the forest but it suddenly stopped a few days ago and I couldn't feel it anymore."

Link told her his tale of being attacked and going after the skull kid, Zelda was a good audience and gasped in all the right places, once he'd finished he said, "Is anyone I know going to be at this party apart from you and my dad?"

Zelda smiled and said, "yes, Ruto said she'd come, the other sages will be there as well."

Link replied, "Ruto's going to go crazy when she sees me. I haven't seen her since you turned back time. I don't have the stone but she'll remember."

Zelda giggled and said, "you can save kingdoms without even blinking and yet you're scared of a girl."

Link made an annoyed face and replied, "She's no ordinary girl, she's a Zora, and a Princess as well. Offending heirs to a throne is a dangerous thing to do, it'd be even worse now I'm a Prince myself, and there's politics involved, still it should be ok I haven't got the stone anymore so hopefully turning back time wiped the slate clean with her."

A servant came in and told them dinner was almost ready, so they parted and Link made his way to the guest chambers that had been assigned to him. He changed into a royal blue tunic and dark breeches. Making his way downstairs he found the great hall. He'd never seen such a splendid place, It was so large the entire stock pot inn would fit in it at least twice and had lots of fine polished tables, banks of stained glass windows and two ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. He stopped gazing about as a servant called out, "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Lysander of Windhaven."

Link went to the far end of the table where he found a place card with his name on it. He sat down as the hall began to fill up with more guests, the ushers kept announcing their identities as they came in. King Zora and Princess Ruto came in a few minutes later, Link noticed that he was guided to special enlarged and reinforced seat near the doors, while he saw Ruto come straight for the same area he was in, he looked around panicking slightly and saw a place card with her name on it on his left. She reached her seat and Link remembering his manners got up and pulled out her chair, she thanked him and sat down without recognizing him for who he actually was. Link resumed his seat and she turned to him and said politely, "hello, I don't think I've seen you here before, who are you?"

Link found this very funny and smiled at her and replied, "I found out the other day that I'm Crown Prince Lysander of Windhaven. How are you Ruto?"

She scanned his face closely and then exclaimed, "Link!"

Link chuckled slightly and said, "I know, I look different dressed like this, but I thought you of all people would recognize me straight away, I was only in Termina three days."

Ruto pulled him to his feet and threw herself into his arms and kissing his cheek, Link was surprised by this and blushed red again. Before either of them said anything else however Zelda and King Hyrule came into the room, everyone stood up until the King had sat down. Zelda then took a seat to Link's right and the King then bade everyone to sit. Link sat down and listened as the King gave a speech welcoming everyone to the party and congratulating Zelda on becoming a teenager. Servants brought in food and drink and loaded up the tables, Link had never seen so much food he liked on one table, roast meats, many varieties of vegetables, smoked fish, ham and several pots of spicy smelling food that seemed to scream 'Gerudo speciality' were among the dishes on offer. Not wanting to miss anything Link loaded up his plate with a little bit of everything, except the sashimi which he suspected was for Ruto. Zelda turned to him, smiled and said

"Looks like you needn't have worried about you know who, she seemed glad to see you."

Link swallowed, laughed and said, "looks that way, now I just have to survive without making myself look like an idiot."

Zelda giggled and replied, "you worry too much Link, just relax and enjoy yourself, this is a party not a political event. I hope you can dance though."

Link swallowed nervously and both princesses laughed and patted his arms. When everyone in the hall had finished eating the King stood up and proposed a toast to Zelda, every one in the hall stood up and drank to her and sat down again. Guests began to collect their gifts from a side table to give to Zelda so Link politely excused himself and went to collect the necklace he'd brought for her, on his way he ran into his father who said, "how are you going son? Everything must seem strange but you seem to be doing well."

Link replied, "well enough, and yes it is strange. Zelda was certainly happy to see me, as was Princess Ruto."

King William replied, "Yes I saw, you've met her before as well I trust."

Link nodded and said, "yes, when I had to deal with Ganondorf, I had to help her out when I went to Zoras Domain. I'd better get my gift, I hope Zelda likes it."

Link found his package on the table and got in line behind his father as everyone presented their gifts to Princess Zelda, when their turn came Link watched as she opened her fathers gift to receive a new white and lavender silk gown in a similar style to the one he remembered her wearing as an adult, Zelda thanked his father politely and as he walked off he saw him wink at him, remembering what he had to do, Link turned back to Zelda and passed over his present saying, "I hope you like it, I'm no expert at buying gifts for Princesses."

Link watched anxiously as Zelda smiled at him and ripped open the wrapping paper, she gasped as she saw the contents of the velvet case, got up and hugged him again, and before he realised what was happening, she reached over and kissed him on the cheek. Link blushed as red as a Tektike as she released him and said, "that's beautiful I love it, can you help me with it?"

Realising what she meant, he picked up the necklace, undid the clasp and gently put it around Zelda's slender alabaster neck and secured it. Stepping away he sat down in his seat still blushing and looked towards his father who waved and smiled at him, grinning slightly he waved back. As the line of guests came past a few including the sages greeted Link as they gave Zelda their presents, Saria threw herself into his arms and babbled hysterically for a few minutes until Link managed to calm her down and tell her what had happened, Darunia gave him a traditional Goron hug and said, "well look at you brother, a Prince now! Good luck and look after Zelda, I think you could be onto something there."

Link and Zelda both blushed red again and the big Goron chief walked away chuckling about humans and Naborou flirted shamelessly with him and said, "keep an eye on him Zelda, he's become quite the catch."

Link groaned and wished he had the stone mask on him to get away from the laughter that followed. He also noted a younger Noble about the same age as him glared daggers at him as he left and Link said, "what did I do to that Noble who just left? He looked at me like I was Ganondorf himself."

Zelda replied, "that was the Duke of Stormwell's Son, Lord Draco, he's always been ambitious but knows he won't get the throne of his homeland as his fathers the 10th in line to it, so I think he hopes to marry one of the Princesses of the kingdoms bordering his homeland of Albion, and he sees you as a threat, I can't stand him and neither can daddy so he needn't bother you."

Link nodded and the gift giving kept going on for awhile, afterwards, a servant came in bearing a large pale pink iced cake with thirteen candles on it, Zelda took an ornate silver knife and cut the cake after blowing out the candles, he noticed her look at him with an odd gleam in her eyes as she blew out the candles. After everyone had had a slice of cake a maid came and began to pack away the gifts and the King beckoned people to the dance floor. Zelda turned to him and said, "how well can you dance Mr Hero?"

Link replied, "not perfectly like you probably can. I had to learn a bit when I went to a wedding when I was in Termina."

Zelda had the same gleam in her eyes and she reached down and took his hand and stood up, Link guessed what was going to happen and realised he had to do this right, he led Zelda out and onto the floor just as a band on a stage nearby began to play a slow tune. Remembering his time in Termina he took Zelda's waist with his other hand and led her into a waltz. Zelda looked at him happily as they turned and said, "you dance well, whoever taught you was good."

Link smiled and replied, "I helped out the bride and groom before the wedding as well as some friends of theirs one of whom was the maid of honour. The maid of honour, her younger sister and the bride all wanted me to dance with them for at least one song to thank me for the help I gave them, and the last thing I wanted to do was step on the brides feet."

Zelda giggled as he said this and said, "what haven't you done in some far off place?"

Link replied, "all sorts of things, you'll figure them out."

King William passed them dancing with a Hylian Noblewoman that Link didn't recognise and looked approvingly at Link dancing with Zelda and said, "good job Lysander, keep up the good work, I'm impressed, as is King Daphnes."

Link and Zelda changed direction and Link began to relax more at the news that Zelda's father seemed to approve and said, "That's nice of dad, good to know your dad likes me as well."

Zelda smiled and said, "I've told daddy all about you and he wanted to meet you even before we all realised who you actually are. I had actually planned to persuade him to give you a Knighthood. But now you're a Prince and both our fathers can see how good a man you are, of course they approve."

Link and Zelda danced a few more songs before taking a break, a few young Noblewomen asked him to dance and he obliged as best he could and all seemed to like him as he told them about himself. Later on Princess Ruto found him and took him as well, he found that the young Zora Princess was actually quite a graceful dancer though not as good as Zelda, Naborou and Saria also came and found him at different points during the night. By the end of the night after a few more dances with Zelda he was tired but happy as he and Zelda left the hall together hand in hand, though he noted that Lord Draco had disappeared early as the other guests left the hall around him. He and Zelda parted ways upstairs and he went into his bedchamber and shut the door, however before he could do much a crossbow bolt came through the window and struck the door behind him, drawing his sword Link looked around and saw a giant Lizard type creature and a figure draped in a long black robe come in through the broken window and draw long swords. Link wasted no time and grabbed his equipment pouch from the chest of drawers next to him, pulling out a deku nut he thew it down onto the floor creating a blinding flash of light and temporarily disabling the attackers. Taking his shield from the wall he moved to attack the robed figure as it seemed to be the greater threat. The nut flash had blinded it to Link stabbed the figure in the chest causing a spray of blood, some of it hitting Link in the chest and it dropped to the floor and laid still. The Dinofos recovered and swung it's sword at Link who dodged and raised his shield sending the Lizard slightly off balance. It tried again and Link moved slightly and swung his sword wounding the Dinofos in the chest causing it to cry out slightly. The blow wasn't fatal however and it kept coming though slower and Link landed a few more hits before the Dinofos fell to the floor and evaporated. The robed figure stayed there and blood had leaked onto the floor in a pool around him, so Link pulled a cord on the wall to summon a servant who came in took one look at the scene and threw up, Link looked at him and said, "It's alright whoever it is, he's dead, just fetch the captain of the guard and tell him I have a dead assassin in my room and ask him to take care of it. Also send someone else to open up a new room for me to sleep in, I don't blame you one bit I'm a bit shaken up too."

The servant bowed and left so Link cleaned his sword on the dead assassins robe and sheathed it and after a few minutes a bell was heard rapidly ringing and a group of the castle guard came in and one of them who had slightly more ornate armour and a purple cloak said, "are you alright your highness? I'm captain Keene of the Royal Guard, let me express my sincere apology for this, whoever did this must have been a professional Assassin, I'll do everything I can to discover who was involved, and I'll post guards outside the door of your new suite which is this way."

He gestured to his left down the hall, so Link picked up his trunk that he'd bought that day at the tailors and followed the captain down the hall to a another suite of rooms where there was a pair of soldiers guarding the door noticing the door on the other side of the hall also had a pair of guards, he put his trunk down and thanked the guards who left and changed into a nightshirt before getting into bed, before he could blow out the candle however the door crashed open, he reached for his sword before realising it was his father, lowering it and sheathing it he relaxed as his father said, "are you alright Lysander?"

Link smiled and said, "I'm fine father, It'd take more than a Dinofos and an assassin to kill me, I'm just a bit shaken that of all the places this happens at, it's Hyrule castle."

King William smiled sadly and said, "I think this was politically motivated, any idea who might want you dead."

Link thought of the young Lord and said, "one man didn't like me being as close to Zelda as I was tonight his names Draco Stormwell, Zelda thinks he wants to marry her to get her fathers throne, he's the only name that comes to mind, and he left the party early."

King William had a slightly angry look and said, "sounds fishy, the Royal Guard are investigating, you just get some sleep now, if your right he'll pay for this."

He left and shut the door behind him and Link leaned over and blew the candle out and went to sleep.