"Awe dad. I don't wanna spend time with a girl. Why does she have to come here all the time? She's annoying and-"
"Link," He fell silent. "She is the Princess of this great country. One day you will marry her. These meetings are for you two to get to know each other better"
"I'm only ten. Why can't we do this when we are older?" Links father gave him a shunning look. "Is that boy coming with her this time? At least he's fun." Link grumbled the last bit.
"Yes, I think Sheik will be coming along this time. So you two better not get into any mischief like the last time." His father's Green eyes pierces through his blue one making him feel a tremor in his soul. No there would be no playing pranks on the Princess this time. He had gotten into so much trouble. "I know I said to get along with him, but maybe you guys should spend some time apart this time around." Link rolled his eyes away and stared at the carpet that lined the halls.
"If i'm only to marry Zelda because I am a knight then why does-"
"Link," His father said again, in that low no tolerance voice. The rest of the walk was silent.
Link jumped down off his horse and walked her into the carrel. He's been riding her all morning hoping to take the edge off. The princess and her company were coming to the Ranch to view the horses today. The yearly tournament was round and it was the first year he would be here to actually see her. Since Talon had pasted he'd been helping out a lot more, Malon needed it, and he no longer had the free time he once did.
"Link?" Turning around he saw Malon walking towards him from the small house they shared. It has been almost eight years this fall that Link had known her. She and her father were all he'd ever known.
Eight years ago she found him stumbling around the fields covered in blood, delusional, and dehydrated. He had no memory of what had happened to him or how he had come to be there. The only things he knew was that he must have been a servant boy at the house of Sir. Smith for it was there that Malon and Talon had heard of a great battle. When he managed to come to Talon asked if he wanted to go to the castle and ask around but Link refused. He told them that a servant wouldn't matter to them. If anything he would just be assigned to another house.
Because Talon could use an extra pair of hands around the ranch, since his brother left to go lead a circus group, he asked Link if he had wanted to stay here with them. With no knowledge of who he was Link had agreed and had been with them ever since.
The only mystery and confusion he'd ever had was when he turned 16, Talon had given him the ring with the family crest of the Smith house. He told Link he'd been wearing it the night they had found him but knew not why he wore it. He said he should have taken both Link and the ring to the castle but Talon feared they would execute Link for stealing the ring, seeing as he was just a servant boy. So he decided to wait till Link was older and do what he pleased with the Ring. So far it just remained hidden in his chest of so few belongings.
Maybe one day he would head over to the old ruins of the fortress to see what was there, but for now he was content to stay and help in the farm. He'd go adventuring in a few years. When he saved up enough for a real sword, not the wooden pole he always practiced with.
"Yes Malon?"
"Hurry and go wash up," she said, stopping in front of him "I prepared everything while you were out riding. The princess will be arriving soon so go and hurry up. You shouldn't been seen with grass in your hair."
As he walked past her he could see the residue of rouge that had been applied. Malon never wore makeup…except for one person. "So you said you prepared everything all by yourself?" he asked mockingly. He saw he blush deepen and her eyes dart away.
"Will you just go already!" she squealed and pushed him in the direction of the house. He wasn't going to push the issue but he couldn't help it.
"Alright. Are you sure I shouldn't go find Jaxton and make him wash too?" he shouted back at her as he took off running for the house. He squealed his name in the growing distance.
Zelda trotted up to the ranch on her white stallion and smiled. It had been all too long since she had last been here, maybe 4 years? She loved being at the ranch where it was open and far away from the castle life.
Her attendant Impa and her son Sheik road along beside her. She enjoyed their company greatly. They were always open, honest and above all didn't hide things from her cause she was a girl or the information was too sensitive. Her coronation would be in a few months and then those pigs that co-ran Hyrule would no longer be around. She didn't approve of their greed or their disregard for her word. She would make up a new council of people she trusted and were worthy of the title.
She loved that she was allowed to do this, and get away from all the political drama that seemed to be growing more tense and she got older. It was probably due to the fact that she would soon be Queen, but she didn't pay it any mind. Pushing it back from her mind she focused on having a nice relaxing night with her old friends Malon.
She was sad that she couldn't make it to the funeral last year but she'd been in Termina. Malon had told her over her letter that she and her brother were doing well, someone who Zelda still had yet to meet. When she last came he had been off on his wandering ways. She was excited to finally meet him. As a child she had come her more often with her father, Malon slowly became something of a sister for her. This was going to be a night she needed, a night of total freedom. She would think about politics, tournaments, and…future husbands when she got back.
"My lady, the ranchers have set us up in their main residence. Sheik will be down the hall from where we are staying." Impa said as the ranch came onto view.
"Where are they going to sleep?"
"There is a small guest house beside the main one they will be staying in."
"Why can't we just stay there? It would be much easier." She looked over at Impa and saw that she was getting 'the look' "I hate being a princess sometimes. Malon is my friend; she shouldn't feel obligated to give up her room for me."
"Maybe you can tell her that when you see her" Impa chuckled under her breath. As Zelda gave her a scowl she turned her head back and saw three figures waiting for them just outside of their home.
"Well, shan't keep them waiting shall we?" and Zelda rode off towards the trio.
Coming to a halt in front of them Zelda, very un-lady like, jumped off her horse and headed towards them. Malon was standing next to a young man with green eyes; she didn't have time to make out who the second figure was because Malon jumped on her right then. "Hello!" she shouted, mostly in her ear. She didn't care; wrapping her arms around the fiery read-head she shouted it back. Both of them laughing at the joyous moment of being reunited.
"Here let me introduce you to my friends." Malon grabbed her hand and pulled her over. She heard Impa and Sheik approach and dismount behind her. "This is Jaxton." She pointed to the boy Zelda had identified early. She also noticed the small blush on her cheeks when she spoke his name. "And this is my brother" she pestered over to him, "His-"
"Link?" Zelda stepped towards him and he gave her a puzzled look. "Is…is it really you?"
"Uhh-"was all he managed to say. She could see that he was uneased by her presence.
"It can't be." Sheik whispered behind her
"Impossible." Link stepped back from them, awing as they were all circling towards him. He bowed awkwardly at them all.
"Princess,"
"Link…I-I can't believe you're alive.
