The sun always shone brightly over the realm of Daphnes, a beautiful land blessed with jovial forests, mighty rivers, babbling brooks, majestic mountains, and rolling plains of rich green grass. The centerpiece of this land was a deep blue lake of the purest water, named Lake Hyrule. In the center of this lake stood an island, which functioned as the base for a grand castle; this castle showcased strong turrets, the tops of which displayed bold banners of royal purple adorned with a crest of three golden triangles. This was the home of the royal family of Daphnes, descendants of the heroes who discovered the land.
Deep within one of Dapnes' largest forests, there lived a simple woodcutter and his fourteen-year-old nephew. The boy had been orphaned as an infant, when his parents suddenly and mysteriously vanished. The strangest feature of the boy, though, was a birthmark on the boy's left hand, that of a single golden triangle. All who knew the boy believed that his fate would be special, but his uncle thought that he was too carefree to amount to much. However, the boy's parents must have sensed that he would grow to accomplish great deeds, as they named him Link, after the great hero of legend.
Link led a carefree life, spending most of his time running through the forest, swimming, or just sitting under a tree, playing a tune on his hand-made ocarina. In fact, on this particular day he was doing just that, playing a soft, slow song called Zelda's Lullaby, which was taught to him by his uncle. A rabbit was napping by his feet, and his shoulders were serving as a perch for various birds and small rodents.
Link was a handsome boy, according to many girls who knew him, even if he was a little clumsy. He had a muscular figure, but he wasn't too bulky; in fact, he was quite nimble when he wanted to be. His slender face showcased a pair of deep blue eyes, framed by fair shoulder-length blonde hair from which extended two perfectly pointed ears. Living in the forest, he usually dressed in colors that matched the trees; on this day, he was wearing buckskin pants, soft leather boots, an unlaced green vest, and a long green hat with no brim. Sweat trickled down his bare chest, owing to the fact that this was the first day of summer. It was also another very important day: Link's birthday.
Soon, Link's song was interrupted by a man's voice, yelling, "Link, it's ready! Hurry back to the cabin!" Link jumped up, much to the displeasure of the forest animals, and started running towards the cabin. However, after only a few yards, he thought he heard a noise through the trees. He stopped, trying to hear it again, and sure enough, he heard the sound coming his way: the sound of hoof beats. He hid behind a tree, watching through the forest for a horse; and when it came, Link's heart nearly skipped a beat. Atop the pure white horse now approaching, sat the most beautiful girl Link had seen. Her slim figure was adorned with plain riding clothes, her chest having as if she were exhausted from a long flight. Her long blonde hair was braided in a ponytail, which trailed down to the horse's own tail. She had a lovely slender face, with high cheekbones, a thin little nose, full lips, and green eyes that sparkled like rupees. Her long slender fingers were wrapped around the horse's reins; curiously, she was wearing gloves with no fingers.
This fair maiden enchanted Link; he did not even realize that he had stepped out of hiding. Only when she spoke directly to him did he seem to awaken, as though from a trance.
"Hail, young lad," she said, her voice sounding like water being poured into a crystal bowl. "Can you kindly lead me to shelter? My horse is tired, as I have traveled fast and far this past day."
Link, realizing that this angel was speaking to him, suddenly felt his cheeks flush and his legs go rubbery. Thinking that he must look foolish, just standing there with his mouth slightly open, he decided to reply; however, this only made matters worse. Between an avalanche of "um"-s and "er"-s, the only words he managed were, "You...me...home." When the worst was over, he felt very angry with himself for acting so much like an idiot.
The girl, however, looked sympathetic. She dismounted her horse, walked over, and put her arm around Link's shoulder. Softly, consolingly, she spoke, "I am sorry, I did not realize that you had trouble speaking. Please do not be angry at yourself for trying."
Instead of comforting Link, though, this comment pushed him over the edge. No longer did he care how beautiful the girl was, or even who she was; all that he knew was that he had just been insulted, and that he was not going to just let it go. His temper rising, he stood up and pushed her away, yelling, "I am not a common fool! I was only flustered!"
A little taken aback, the girl stood up, shielding herself with her hands. "I am s‑sorry," she said. It was her turned to be embarrassed. Managing a weak smile and a nervous laugh, she said, "I-it was only in jest, I swear."
This seemed to calm Link, as his breath slowed and the anger faded from his face. After a few minutes, he said in a controlled voice, "I'm sorry if I scared you. Listen what I was trying to say earlier was that if you wanted, you could come with me to my home." He blushed, and then quickly added, "Only if you want to, that is."
"Gladly," replied the girl, regaining her composure. "The afternoon is waning, and I am afraid that I am growing hungry. Lead on, then."
The girl grabbed the horse's reins to lead it, and Link led them through the forest. Halfway to the cabin, though, the girl spoke.
"I am sorry," she said, "but I do not know your name."
"Oh, it's Link," he replied. "And you?"
"It is not important," the girl replied. However, her face seemed to contradict this, as it had turned to a light shade of red.
"Well," said Link, "if you want me to guess, I'll play along. So let's see, you're probably the daughter of one of those stuck-up nobles." The girl's face froze in a look of shock, and Link, mocking her earlier actions, added, "It was only in jest, I swear!"
"Point taken," she said laughing. "But really, is it that obvious?"
"Well," said Link, "let's just say that you're quite an extraordinary lady. But let's get back to the business at hand. What's your name?"
"Well, if you must know," replied the girl, "my name is Lucinda. My father is, as you rather rudely pointed out, a noble, but he is obscure, even in our own land." However, as she said this, her heart was racing and a bead of sweat was forming on her forehead. Luckily, Link didn't seem to notice this.
"Hmm, Lucinda," he said, contemplating the name. "Do you mind if I call you Lucy?" When she gave him a reproachful look, he turned back to the path. "Well," he said, "we're almost there."
In fact, as they stepped into a clearing, the cabin came into view. Link's home was a rustic cottage with a thatched roof, small windows with plain shutters, and a sturdy oak door upon which was carved a design of three triangles, positioned to form a larger triangle. A garden lay on one side of the cabin, and a creek flowed alongside it. A weather-beaten sign near the front door read, "Friends Welcome, Enemies Beware." On this day, a banner was stretched above the door, displaying the message, "Happy 15th Birthday, Link!"
"Today is your birthday?" asked Lucinda, surprised. "Funny, I have a friend whose birthday is today."
"That's strange," said Link, lost in thought. Suddenly, though, he snapped back to reality. "Oh," he said "there's my Uncle Harold in the doorway now." After saying this, Link waved.
Harold was a brawny man, as his job required great physical effort. He had a great mane of shoulder-length gold hair and a full beard to match. This, along with his shining hazel eyes, gave Harold a fierce look, and he was known as "The Lion" in all of the nearby pubs. However, he always softened around Link, and the two always got along as well as father and son.
"Ah, the birthday boy finally arrives!" Harold shouted, his voice roaring like that of a lion. "Ready to become a man, then? Oh, who is this?" he asked, noticing Lucinda standing behind Link.
"Oh, this is Lucinda, a weary traveler to whom I promised food and shelter," said Link. "Lucinda, this is my Uncle Harold, my guardian."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Lucinda said sincerely, holding out her hand.
"The pleasure is mine," replied Harold, kissing the back of her outstretched hand. "As the sign says, all friends are welcome, if friend you be. You're lucky, too. You arrived just in time for the party! But please, let's get inside before it gets much darker. You can tie your horse up by the stream if you like, miss."
Lucinda did so, and then the three of them entered the cabin. The interior consisted of only a single room, but it seemed to be functioning well. Along one wall hung two hammocks, over which were shelves stacked with clothes and personal belongings. Another wall provided a tub for water, a sink, cupboards, and a small pantry cabinet. The far wall displayed the focal point of the room, a roaring stone fireplace. On one side of the fireplace sat a tinder box, and on the other side sat an equipment chest. Hung above this was a large wood-axe. On the mantle, a short sword was displayed on a stand. Upon the hilt was the crest of the royal family. In the center of the room stood a small table and two chairs. The wooden floor was mostly bare, except for a rug in front of the fireplace made from the skin of a white wolfos. A large iron pot was hanging over the fire.
"It's not much," said Link, "but it's comfortable."
"I find it quite charming," replied Lucinda. "Much more so than my father's drafty old cas…manor," she said, quickly correcting herself.
Harold raised an eyebrow, but busied himself with retrieving dishes. Once the table was set, he went over to the fireplace and lifted the lid on the pot. "I made your favorite, Link," he said, "rabbit stew. I hope that's okay with you, miss?" he asked.
"It smells wonderful," she replied, smiling.
And so they ate, enjoying the stew until they were satisfied. Once everyone was finished, Harold rose from the chest, which he was using as a seat, and walked over to the pantry cabinet, opening it.
"Now, I have a little surprise for you," said Harold, beaming.
He reached into the cabinet and pulled out a beautiful frosted birthday cake, much to the delight of the other two diners. After the meal ended, the three of them celebrated Link's birthday with songs and games. At one point, Link played a fast song on his Ocarina, and Lucinda tried to dance to the ever-quickening pace. At another point, Harold told some funny tales that he had heard in the local tavern. Soon, they grew tired, and they fell asleep almost as soon as they lay down, Harold sleeping on the wolfos rug in front of the smoldering fire.