Chapter 1 - Time's Passing
It has been 3 months since the Twilight War ended. Zelda has been helping to rebuild the castle after the final fight with Ganon. Link on the other hand, disappeared. Nobody knows where he went or what he is doing.
Zelda sat down on my new throne, taking a deep breath. The castle was finally done, and thanks to everyone's help, it was finished earlier than expected. Telma invited everyone over to her bar to celebrate, but Zelda decided to hang around the castle, letting her army and staff go celebrate. While relaxing in her throne, she thought of a certain person. Link. Where was he now? What was he doing? Is he even alive? She'd ask herself these questions every now and then. She had taken a liking to the hero while she had known him. She smiled as she remembered how exactly she had met him, Midna had just broken him out of the prison and brought him to her. At first, she didn't know why Midna had chosen the wolf, but now she knew.
After thinking for a moment, she got up and walked to her study, passing the guards that stayed behind to protect her. When she entered her study, she closed the door and found herself something to write on and something to write with. She wrote something down then went to her room, changing into some clothes fit for riding. After changing, she walked over to a guard and handed him the note, telling him to give it to her adviser, Jarvan, when he returned. She then told the guard that she wouldn't need any protection while she was out and that she could protect herself, motioning to the bow and arrows on her back to show that she would be prepared if anything happened. The guard reluctantly let her go alone and watched her as she mounted her horse and rode off.
She rode over to Kakariko Village where she stopped by an inn to rest. Renado was surprised when he saw Zelda arrive, but she put a finger to her lips. She wanted to keep her identity a secret and Renado understood. The next morning she asked Renado where Link would be currently. "I would say Link would be in his hometown. He stopped by after the war on his way for a visit, for all the Goddesses know, he could still be there." He told her. "Do you know where the Ordona Province is?" Renado asked her. "Is is not Southwest from here?" She asked. "It is. Go through the pass over there by the spirit's spring. From there follow the path into Hyrule Field. From there go south and you should enter the Ordona Province." He pointed towards the Eldin Spring. "Thank you." Zelda curtsied and mounted her horse.
After a few hours of riding she finally made it to the Faron Spring. "This took longer than I thought it would.." She said, dismounting her horse and letting it rest. "Lets see here... According to the map Renado gave me, I am basically there. I just have to go down some paths till I reach the Ordona Spring."
After a few more minutes, she mounted her horse again and made her way through the rest of the forest. Dismounting her horse after they crossed the bridge, she grabbed the reins. Once she reached the gates for the Ordona Spring, she noticed there was someone there. Looking in, making sure to not be seen, she saw a girl washing a very familiar horse. Epona! Link was here after all!
"Who's there?" She heard the girl ask and Zelda jumped in surprise. "Oh! I'm just a traveler." Zelda walked out from where she was hiding, pulling her hose out with her. The girl's expression turned happy when she saw the pure white horse. "It's so beautiful!" She exclaimed as she ran over to look at the horse. "Thank you. His name is Artemis." Zelda smiled.
"It fits him. I'm Ilia, whats your name?" She asked. "My name? It's Melody." Zelda lied. "Really? That's so pretty. Like Epona over there. She is my best friend's horse." Ilia grinned. "Speaking of which, do you mind taking her back for me? I'll take care of Artemis for you. My friend should be helping Fado out herding the goats."
"Sure." Zelda went over to Epona, who recognized her instantly. "Wow! She really likes you. That's rare, she normally doesn't like people besides me and her master." Ilia said while taking Artemis's reins. "Really?" Zelda asked, remembering how she rode Epona in the final fight while aiding Link. "Yeah! Anyway, we shouldn't keep him waiting."
Zelda took Epona's reins and led her out of the spring and into a clearing with a treehouse. "I wonder who lives there... It seems a little isolated." She said to Epona. Entering town, she gasped. "It's so beautiful and peaceful..." Walking through town, she took in the sights. So this is where Link grew up...
"Hey little miss!" He heard someone call. Turning around, she saw a man walking over. "I don't think I've seen you 'round." He smiled kindly. "Ah! I am just a traveler. My name is Melody." Zelda smiled back. "I'm Rusl, welcome to Ordon Village. Hey, isn't that Epona?" He asked looking at the horse. "Yes, it is. The kind girl Ilia asked if I could deliver her to her master." She petted Epona's mane. "Well, I believe Link is at the ranch helping Fado out herding the goats. The ranch is right up that way. How long ya staying, Melody?"
"Only for a few days at least. Then I will have to be on my way again." She said. "Thank you for helping me."
"No problem. Be careful." He said, walking off to a blonde haired boy. Zelda made her way up to the ranch, and when she reached it's gate, she saw him standing there. Link. He was in his old ordonian clothes, laughing as he talked to the man Zelda presumed was Fado. His hair also seemed to be a little longer now that she looked closer.
She let Epona go over to her master as she lingered, watching as Link was nearly ran over by Epona. Smiling she watched how Link would pat Epona then mount her. Fado seemed to have noticed Zelda, he began to walk towards her. "Hey!" He called, catching Zelda's attention. Looking over, she saw the ranch owner walk over and stand in front of her.
"Hello. You must be Fado! Ilia told me to take Epona here so Link to could finish help you herd the goats." Zelda said, looking at the bigger man closer. "I am indeed Fado. Link is one of my friends and a great helper. He and Epona are the greatest duo when it comes to herding goats." And saving the land Zelda finished for him in her head. She noticed Link had finished because he began to head this way.
"HEY! You want me to set up the fences for you and Epona to practice for a little?" Fado yelled, making Zelda cover her ears. "Sure!" Link called back.
They set up the fences and Zelda watched Link and Epona practice hopping the fences. When they finished, they put the fences up and Link came her way. When he spotted her, his expression changed. "Link? Whats wrong?" Fado asked. "Huh? Oh, nothing! I didn't know I had a watcher." He smirked. Zelda sighed then smiled. He walked over to her with Epona following close behind.
"Well, Princess, I didn't expect a visit from you." He whispered as they walked. "I went looking for you. You suddenly vanished and it worried me." She said with a calm face. He chuckled as he put his arms behind his head. "There was no more use for me, so I returned home."
She rolled her eyes with a small smile, "Silly you could have helped rebuild the castle." He just looked up at the sky, "I would've just ended up destroying it... again..." She giggled and looked around. "I see why you like it here. The people are nice and it's peaceful and calm."
"Why thank you. We've worked hard on keeping this place peaceful."
She looked at him and studied his face. Even though it was still young, it seemed to have aged quickly. War has taken it's toll I guess, she thought. She had also just noticed his scars that lined his arms. They looked deep and he looked lucky to have survived.
"Hey Link, where are you taking me?" She asked finally. "My house." He said whistling as three kids approached them.
"LINK LINK!" They yelled in unison. "Can you teach us more sword skills? OOH! Maybe how to properly use a bow?"
Zelda looked at Link who was thinking. "If I DID show you three troublemakers, would you promise not to use these skills unless needed?" He asked the three who nodded almost instantly. She laughed as Link shot a glare at her.
She noticed the baby watching her and she winked. He seemed to have understood seeing as he wasn't telling anyone she was Zelda.
"Hey Link! Who's the pretty lady with you?" One of the kids asked, pointing at Zelda. "Oh, her? She's-" Before Link could finish his sentence, Zelda spoke up, "Melody. I was passing by when I decided to come visit Ordon. I had met Link before on his travels."
"Yep, that's who she is." Link smiled and the kids lined up from tallest to shortest introducing themselves.
"I'm Beth and I'm Sera the shopkeepers daughter." The girl said, waving.
"I'm Talo and I helped keep Kakariko Village safe during the war with the help of the Gorons." The boy from earlier grinned proudly.
"I'm Malo, I'm Talo's brother and I run the Malo Marts in Castle Town and Kakariko Village." The baby said.
Link sighed and looked over at Zelda with a smile, "These kids were taken from the village during the war and were dropped off at Kakariko Village. We returned them home after the war when it was safe enough to."
"I see. Well, at least you three are safe." Zelda smiled at the children. The five of them made their way to Link's house(which to Zelda's surprise was the treehouse) and Zelda watched as Link showed off some moves for the kids.
It soon became dark and the kids had to go home. Link let Zelda stay at his house while she was in Ordon. She sat down by the fire on a pillow while Link went to go grab something. He soon returned and opened the door. "I believe these will fit you. Uli heard you came to town and apparently because Rusl recognized you she made you something a little more comfortable. But don't worry, those two are great at keeping secrets. Trust me." He handed Zelda some clothes. "I'll give you some privacy to change." He walked over to his basement entrance and climbed down.
She changed into the clothes and were surprised how warm, yet comfortable they were. Link soon came back up with some more firewood. "How do they fit?" He asked setting the wood down by the fire.
"Perfectly." Zelda smiled. Link stretched, "That's good. She was worried she had gotten the size wrong."
Zelda kept looking at his scars and he noticed her staring. "Curious?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "Shut up you!" She said a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. He laughed and sat down in front of her. "If you wanted to see them, you could've just asked."
She sighed and traced a scar on his arm, "Do they hurt?"
"Sometimes, but not normally. These aren't even the deepest." He said, taking his shirt off. She blushed and looked away for a few moments, but she soon looked back and saw the many scars that marked his body. There was an especially big one on his side.
He saw where she was looking and looked at the scar, "That one? I got that one when King Bulblin and I fought on the Great Bridge of Hylia. He hit me with his spear and if it weren't for a fairy I was carrying, I would've died."
"Link..." She said looking at him, feeling guilty that she had sent him out to fight in the war knowing he could've easily gotten killed.
He smiled at her to reassure her that he was okay, "I earned King Bulblin's respect that day."
She nodded, looking at the other scars he earned in battle. "You have so many..." She said, looking at each one closely.
"But each one holds a different memory. Its getting late and you have been travelling all day. You should go get some rest." He stood up, putting his shirt back on. "Right." Zelda stood as well. Link showed her where to sleep as he went back down to the fire.
"Sometimes... You are wiser than me." She whispered, lying down and falling asleep.
That was the first chapter! I hoped you enjoyed and please leave a review! I'd like to know what to work on.
See you guys later~
-Stormi