The wind played around with the scruffy golden strands of hair, as if trying to see how many directions they could be drawn before their owner swept them back again. Dawn had come well over three hours ago, but the young man didn't mind, there was no point in rushing these days, or almost no point. Maybe there was need of it when there was hunting to do, or herbs to find, or something else of the sort, but beyond that, no. Shockingly deep blue eyes reflected the clear skies and rolling openness that was Hyrule Field. The wind in the long grass giving the impression of an emerald brushfire, still made him breathe deeply and sigh heavily. An impatient snort from his mount brought the young blonde back to reality, thankfully. He glanced down slightly and the very smallest of smiles touched his warm lips. A strong, but gentle hand patted the red mare on her neck and white mane.

"I know girl," he said soothingly, and smirked a bit when he felt her long tail swat against the back of his thigh. "I know." Nudging her carefully in the sides with his heels, they started off at a brisk trot. The young man didn't want to overwork his best friend, especially when there was no need. After all, all that galloping for a night and a day like people did in stories, and like he had done, was hard on both rider and horse. He sympathized with her a good deal. Loyalty could have a high price, but they kept that with each other. He let his mind wander on that…

The wind danced and caressed its way past the long wild grasses of Hyrule Field, but paused at a point where the foliage was flattened in the shape of a person. She lay there quite still, except for the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed and her heart beat steadily. The uninhibited sunlight warmed her fair skin, casting a healthy pink into her cheeks and hands a bit. Nearly everything else on her was covered and she would soon have to get up because of the increasing cramp in her shoulder muscles. This was caused by the odd position she had been sleeping in for the past six or seven hours. Her arm were still looped through the straps of the pack on her back and based on they way her limbs stretched out, she looked as though she had not gone to sleep willingly; not that anyone but passing birds could see her, and they were smart enough to know that she was not dead. Presently she stirred, and made an attempt to sit up. But quickly relented again, her whole body was far too stiff to move much. Her long brownish-gold hair fanned out against the green flames of the field, helped along by the wind, and her eyes opened to reveal the color of fresh young leave; not that anyone was around to see this. But she was thoroughly sick of just lying there like a corpse and decided to try heaving herself up again, this time with greater success. She stood none too balanced from her loose-hanging hair to her white tank-tope and denim jacket down her blue-jeans and right to her feet in their wearing tennis shoes; but still upright and shifted the pack on her back, looking about. The wide open spans f land yielded little to the imagination, except to make her wonder how in the hell she had gotten there in the first place, and what she was supposed to do now. Far to her right, it looked like there was a hill of stone and several towers, and it was likely to be her best bet for civilization, or even just shelter. So what could she do? She started walking, and kept walking, falling into an easy yet persistent pace. Only once did she halt to take out a bottle of water from her backpack, so she would not be in danger of dehydration. And all the while she could swear she heard horse-hooves somewhere nearby though still distant enough to make her question whether or not they were real.

The young man on horseback wasn't sure what he was seeing. He had slowed the mare to a walk and was peering out over the grasslands, squinting a bit to see. And now that the figure was standing again, he was sure it was a person. It was still difficult to determine gender since they were so far off.

Why not get a closer look? He reasoned and directed the horse that way. What he saw as he got closer startled him. The person was clearly a woman, but what a woman. He had never seen such odd clothe on anyone male or female before. Not to mention he'd bet the sack on her back could hold far more than his money pouches and saddlebags combined. But even with all this newness, he noticed right away the long waves of brown and deep gold, and the fact that there were no long pointed ears showing from them. This girl, or woman rather, could not be a hylian, and the only other real option was that she must be one of the other races. Trying his best to keep his mount quiet, he walked her closer. It was obvious that she was not a zora or a goron since those two looked the least hylian of all the races, and since she was tall enough to be considered an adult, it was none to likely that she was Kokiri. So what else was left? She had to be Gerudo. He therefore proceeded carefully. One all on her own could be handled much easier than if she called her sisters; plus she seemed worn out to him, judging by the way she was walking. All the better, he might even come out to this unscathed. When the young man felt he was at a safe distance, he called out to her. "Hey!" She started and then turned slowly. He was shocked at what met his brilliant blue eyes. The face was pale, fairer than his own, and the eyes were greener than the grass all around them, soft pink lips. The details went on, but it really didn't matter. She was certainly not what he had expected. All Gerudos had red hair that stood out like so much fire, darker skin, which sometimes held a greenish-gray hue, longer noses and were skill warriors who only left their fortress in Gerudo Valley to snatch whatever they could. She couldn't be one of them could she? He couldn't even see any kind of weapon on her. The young man sat there staring at her, and waiting as she stared back. He wondered if she could call anyone for help, but she made no move to do anything. She just stood there staring like a startled doe.

The young woman blinked once or twice but otherwise stayed quite still. She didn't know who this man was, but she had a pretty good idea who he looked like. But that was insane, absurd, impossible, even if he was right there a good four yards to her right. Her posture stiffened further as he encouraged the horse to walk slowly up to her. With tension in her body and on her face, she took a defensive step back, then another. Whoever he was, he got the point and stopped his advance. Even when he dismounted and took a step forward, she took another back. So he paused, then to her utter surprise, he held out his hand in a greeting. "Are you lost?" he asked very calmly and rationally, the way one tries to do with a terrorist that might snap at any second.

"Um, not really." She stumbled for words. "I'm heading that way." She pointed in the direction of the town with its towers, turrets and pale gray stonewalls. The young man, or elf or whatever he was, came a bit closer by maybe five paces.

"Would you like a ride?" he could tell he had startled her with this question, though he didn't know why it had that effect on her. The strange woman's expression turned arch and suspicious, he knew the look all too well.

"I'll walk, thanks though." At least she was halfway courteous. The more he observed about her, the more he learned. The young man was just wondering if this indicated some kind of upper class upbringing, when she turned away from him and started walking again.

"You sure?" his voice bordering on concern startled her for a second time that day. Why was he being persistent? Most people, or maybe just guys, would go on their own way and not think twice about her. The fact that this total stranger seemed to give a damn was unnerving to her because it was the last thing she expected.

"Yes, thanks, I'm fine." She said more edgily than she had intended. "Besides, it's not like something dead is going to leap up and take a limb off." She added more gently. But when she looked up she noticed that not only was he sitting on his horse again, he was giving her an exceptionally skeptical look. Neither one said another word, but they still walked beside each other. Both kept sneaking glances at the other and hoping not to be caught.

Some time around noon, or maybe a little after, they reached the draw bride into fortified market of Hyrule Castle. Directing his mare carefully, the young man joined the throng of people going in, and the woman followed at his side.

And how things have changed. He marveled to himself more poetically than usual. Now that there was no more threat of Ganondorf, or anything else really, the people of the Market Town had grown far more relaxed and comfortable, if a tad foolish. They came and went at leisure nowadays but there was always the story of some random thief or something of the sort for those who weren't more careful. As far as the young man was concerned, he had nothing to worry about, but he felt that others should be more wary. Having survived worse than a mere robbery, he felt he could handle himself. He heaved a tired sigh. It was sort of funny, but when the world didn't need saving, and the one he most wanted to save was long since beyond his reach, the world seemed a deadly dull place. Now it was just a matter of getting through the days that seemed to bleed one into the next. His thoughts paused as he looked around absently. There was the strange woman walking next to him, but it was difficult to see any real details because her hair was so long and because she now had a white scarf or something keeping her tresses in check, and was looking the other way anyway.

"Hey Link." Said someone, drawing the young man's attention away from the girl. He waved in reply to the guard who had greeted him, and smiled a bit. Since the Late Princess had known him quite well and they were good friends, this naturally meant that those around her would have known him too. But they still had no idea of what he had accomplished all those years ago, nine years going on ten, it seemed so much less than that sometimes. Link, for that was his name, had the theory that he was going insane, but he no longer really cared, as long as no one else was ever hurt by it. After his time being a ten-year-old in the body of a teenager, then going into another world, Termina if he recalled correctly, it felt difficult t distinguish between memories of when he was actually 17 rather than ten in his adult body. Or maybe he was just nutty as a fruitcake he didn't really know or care. Somebody, one of the guards he correctly assumed, wolf-whistled as the girl he'd met earlier passed him by. She seemed not to notice and kept walking her form held straight and tall, unlike plenty of women these days. Link would have wondered if there was noble blood in her, if not for the oddest of odd clothes she was wearing. Link checked himself and forced his gaze to focus in between his horse's ears again. He had caught himself eyeing her figure a little too closely.

Wait, why do I care? It's not like she even really knows me. He reasoned with himself, letting his gaze drift back to her form. Besides, she's not even looking. But there, it happens he was slightly mistaken. Link continued to keep his sapphire gaze on her until she turned a corner and was lost from his sight. Oh well, such is life: win some, lose some. He lamented finally dismounted from his mare, and leading her to the stables near the Inn. But his mind lingered on her for another minute, and he wondered why she grasped his curiosity so much. And he vaguely hoped she knew how to handle herself when all alone in a crowded marketplace. Deciding that it was best not to worry about her, he shrugged it off and continued on his way. "Good girl Epona." He said patting the mare affectionately and picking a carrot for her to nibble. Epona nuzzled his face in a motherly fashion before catching the carrot with her teeth and pulling the whole thing out of his hand. Link laughed a bit and patted her again. "Ill see you later." He told her and walked off. He really had nothing to do in the market today; he could always do it tomorrow. So what was there to do? Walk around and see what was going on, if anything. As always, merchants called out to him, and everyone else, from their dingy cloth tents or musty-looking front doors all but ordering him to buy their goods. It was a little irritating but what could one do? It was just the way things were. He did however wave to a few of the weapons dealers he knew and they waved back. The sword and shield on his back never seemed to go unnoticed, by anyone, ever. Old habits die hard. Link just kept walking; it was sort of nice to become lost in the everyday babble once in a while. Eventually he found himself in front of the Inn doors again, the sun sinking low in the sky, and he entered feeling like this place was becoming too familiar, and for the wrong reasons. The young man's presence did not go unnoticed, as he would have liked at this point. There was the usual number of drunks, social drinkers and one more whore than usual, and someone new behind the bar too. Link took what had become his typical seat at the end of the bar farthest from the door. He waved to the bartender who came over and ask how he was. Link however was not in a social mood, sure he'd laugh a bit and even smile, but that wasn't the same as a need for companionship. He got straight to the point. "I need a room for the night and some kind of dinner. What's good tonight?"

"Sazonia!" the bartender called over his shoulder and a pale face with deep goldish-brown hair and green eyes came into view.

Link would have fallen off his stool if he hadn't caught the edge of the bar quickly enough, but he was lucky. By the goddesses, so this is where she's been! He could have been knocked over with a feather at the realization.

"What's cooking in there?" the bartender's words brought him back to reality for the moment.

"Well, the stew is ready, I'm still working on the roast and the potatoes are nearly done. So, what would you like Sir?" she added to the blond man at the end of the bar. If she recognized him, she showed no sign of it.

"I'll take the stew, and maybe some potatoes." He said, still rather floored form it all. Sazonia he thought. Wonder where she got a name like that?

"Are there any mushrooms back there woman?" the bartender said gruffly and was almost immediately smacked in the face with a damp washcloth. Link grinned, and made a mental note not to call her that in future, unless he wanted his reflexes tested.

"There are for those with manners." She snapped as she carefully carried a large bowl of the hot stew and set it before the young man. "Would you like anything else Sir?" She asked, the epitome of politeness.

"Are there any mushrooms?" he asked, stirring the soup with his spoon.

"Sure, would you like them fried, sautéed or raw?"

"Sautéed please."

"Okay, I'll be back soon." She turned and walked back to the kitchens. Link was scrutinizing the contents of his soup bowl carefully before scooping some up. He blew on it to knock off the steam and tried it. Link felt better from the first bite. The liquid was creamy and slightly rich without being too much so, the vegetables were cooked properly firm rather than absolute mush, and the bits of meat he caught with his teeth were tender and came apart easily. The whole soup was just spicy enough for not too spicy and made him feel as though he were slowly soaking into a tub of warm butter.

"Mushrooms!" called the young woman's voice, snapping him out of his daze just long enough for him to take another bite of the stew. The bartender chuckled as he set down a plate of freshly sautéed mushrooms next to his blonde customer.

"Good stuff isn't it?" he asked knowingly, and Link nodded. "She jus' showed up outta nowhere, askin' if there was any work she could do for a place to sleep and a few rupees." The balding bartender grinned again as some of the other male customers pointed in the direction of the kitchens, laughing and daring each other to do this or that. "Real pretty too, she'll be good for business." She chuckled again winking. Link didn't like the implications of that last statement, and he knew perfectly well why. Most of the loose women around here were that by choice, but there was the occasional case where one would be forced into it. And hero though he was, there was little he could do to help in that kind of situation. Hell and hell, life wasn't fair, and barely just wasn't enough anymore. Funny how barely could mean you survived in the end of some great battle, but it could not get you out of just a generally bad situation like that. The sense of guilt that had abated due to the soup seemed to have sunk back in leaving a lead weight in his chest, and a question in his mind.

I saved the land from being flattened, but did I really save anyone from a worse life? It was the sort of question that never really has a positive answer, and when it does, you go crazy figuring it out so it no longer matters. Thankfully he had little time to dwell on these depression notions. The bartender had called everyone's attention to the very back where a piano was set up.

"We've got some entertainment tonight. Our very own singing chef Sazonia." Somebody sat down at the piano and started a slow, drugged sort of melody. And there she was, sitting sidesaddle on one end of the piano looking ungodly innocent, a joke no doubt.

"Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong. But he doesn't care, he'll string along. He loves me so, that funny honey of mine." She had a lovely voice and although it sounded a bit nasal anyone listening could tell that was how the song should be sung. "Sometimes I'm down, sometimes I'm up. But he follows 'round like some droopy-eyed pup. He loves me so, that funny honey of mine." Link was listening, but not raptly. It was nice having something calming his nerves for now and enjoying a decent meal. But her next words almost made him choke. "He ain' no sheik, that's no great physique, an' lord knows he ain' got the smarts. But look at that soul, I tell you that whole is a whole lot greater than the sum of his parts." The music had seemed more sensual in nature but just then it took a slightly innocent little turn. "And if you knew him like me, I know you'd agree." But it slid back to that same melody again fascinating in both its sensuality and lack there of at the same time. "What if the world, slandered my name? Why he'd be right there, taking the blame. He loves me so, an' it all suits me fine, that funny sunny honey hubby of mine." There was a slight overture in which she teased a lock of her pretty hair and smiled in a manner to make the harlots blush a bit. Though most of the men doubted it was from the suggestions they'd blush for. "He loves me so, that funny honey of mine." Again came that smooth velvety voice. And Link thought that her voice had the same effect as her soup, making one feel like they were soaking in warm butter. Again the music all on its own, but then she started up again, gruffer this time. "Lord knows he ain' got the smarts." A few of the patrons whooped and clapped and one even whistled during the next few notes. "Now he shot off his trap, I can't stand that sap!" It almost sounded like she was angry, but the smile on her face gave her away, she was enjoying this little performance. "Look at him go, rattin' on me, with just one more brain what a half-wit he'd be!" She slid gracefully from the piano and cocked her head to the side, striking a pose. "If they string me up, well I'll know who brought the twine!" And here came the finale, making at least all the men smile if not laugh at the turn in the song. "That scummy crummy DUMMY hubby of mine!" And that was it. The pianist played another short round and she took a very short bow. A few of the patrons tossed rupees to her. "Thank you. Thank you, you're most kind. In fact you're every kind." She joked and a roar of laughter went up. "But I gotta get back to the kitchen before I'm sat upon by the dinner rush." And she bowed again, retrieving the few rupees, and waved a farewell amid another bout of laughter. A set of impossibly blue eyes trailed after her as she retreated back to her working area. Link shook his head and ordered a beer. He knew he shouldn't look at her like that, it was disrespectful to the princess's memory, and he could feel guilt pecking at him like a starved raven.

Some time after dinner had been finished, and the swell of customers had ebbed, Link still sat at his stool, his eyes focused on a knothole in the smooth surface of the wooden bar. There was a persistent throbbing behind his left eye, which seemed to correspond directly with the way the fire popped and crackled. He knew it wasn't the booze, two drinks wasn't enough to split his skull like this. No, this was born of something deeper than the mere consumption of alcohol. They young man heaved a sigh that no one in the nearly empty bar could hear. He would have liked to go to bed and be unconscious for the next eight hours, but his mind refused to be at peace, even for such a short period of time. The bartender was shooing the last few stragglers out so he could close up for the night.

"You paid for a room right?" he asked the young blond, who nodded silently. The bartender walked past the entrance to the kitchen and to the wall exactly opposite the door, where the keys were kept. He picked the last one, walked back and handed it to Link. "Room 3 is open. Have a good night Sir." Link nodded and heaved himself up with an inaudible groan. The creaky stairs up to the landing seemed that much louder to his already sensitive ears, but he bit his tongue; there was no point in complaining about what couldn't be changed. Which was another way of saying no one would give a damn unless the whole structure collapsed. When he reached his door he leaned his head against the cool wood for a moment, willing the pulsating pain to just go away, or failing that lessen. Another sigh, and the scrape of the key in the lock. The door swung open effortlessly, and the young man's jaw just about hit the floor. Right there in the middle of the small room, standing on her hands and feet with her body arched towards the ceiling, was Sazonia. And judging by the expression on her face, she had acknowledged his presence. That and the thud as her body gave up supporting her.

Link took one step inside and she sat up and was halfway to her feet when they both spoke. "What are you -?" They both stopped.

"You first." Link said, leaning against the doorframe and putting two fingers to his temple, which had chosen that moment to beat horribly again.

"What the hell are you doing in my room?" her voice was far more commanding than he had originally remembered.

"My room, you mean." He corrected coolly. She looked about ready to pop him one, when the barkeep in question tried, and failed, to walk silently past the two.

"Hey!" She pushed past the blond and snagged the bartender by the shoulder. "You wanna tell me what's going on?" For a moment he tried to look innocently puzzled, but when he saw that both young adults weren't going for it, he just shrugged.

"Time is rupees sweet-cheeks." He laughed a bit. "He paid for a room and it's more than you can really afford."

"And just what am I supposed to do?" she spat. Her hands were on her hips, she was ready for combat.

"Well you could always sleep in the stables." And with that he walked away laughing raucously. The young man half expected her to spontaneously combust on the spot. But she just punched the wall and pushed past him back into the room again. He would have asked what she was doing now, but it was obvious as she picked up her pack that had been sitting in one corner. One of her arms was already through the strap before his arm blocked her way out.

"Do you mind?" she grumbled, gripping him around the wrist to try and move him. Link wouldn't budge so much as an inch.

"You're not sleeping out there." The utter calm in his voice should have warned her that he meant no game in this. But she was irate and impatient, and at this point, damn sick of people.

"Says you." She bit out and proceeded to walk under his arm. But she had not counted on Link being as fast as he was. Before she quite knew what was going on, his arms had come around her middle like a boa-constrictor and the next thing she knew there was something hard in her stomach. When she figured out that she was looking at the floor, and that was his boot kicking the door shut, she guessed she was over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Put me down!" she ordered, letting her fists smack none to gently into his back, which only achieved a metal clank and a few curses from her in response.

"It's not safe out there." Link told her in the same calm demeanor as before. Sazonia was about to protest, so he shifted her on his shoulder again, standing in the middle of the room. "Promise you won't go out there." It sounded more like an order than a request to her.

"For the last time, PUT ME DOWN!" So naturally he dumped her none too gracefully on the bed. She bounced once then sat up and gave a furious growl. "Look you-!"

"Shut up." Now his tone was clipped and stinging, and for once she did the smart thing and was silent. She waited for him to say something more, but he just turned, walked over to the closed door, and locked it. He removed his shield and sword setting them up against the wall, and sat down with his back up against the door.

The female on the bed was growing more agitated by the second, and finally, the tension got to her. "Look putzo, I'm not sleeping in the same room with you! And if you think-!"

"Do you even know what's out there?" His question startled her.

"A stable and a few horses?" she suggested wryly.

"Worse than that." He said simply, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Like I care." She fired back. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly Miss Prim-And-Proper."

"You think?" He replied, and actually smiled a bit at his own wit, or maybe the flushed and furious color of her cheeks.

Just when she seemed ready to erupt again, she heaved an exasperated sigh. "So why do you care what happens to me?" she could find nothing else to say, so there it was.

Link couldn't give her a real answer since he didn't know himself. However, "Why not?" It seemed as logical a response as any other words they'd exchanged up until now. Sazonia mad a frustrated noise again and shook her head, the long tresses waving. He remembered something that he had been wondering about all day. "May I ask you something?"

"Don't ask me if I'm a Gerudo." She said and one of his eyebrows arched. "I've been getting that one all day, it's driving me absolutely bonkers." Link didn't know for sure what she meant by the word "bonkers" but he thought he could guess. When she finally broke the silence again, it was to correctly interpret his silence. "No I'm not a Gerudo, dummy."

"You just look like one isall." He remarked coolly, though there may have been a hint of curiosity in there too.

"So what? You look like one of Tolkien's wood elves, that doesn't mean you are one." She remarked.

"I'm a Hylian, that's all." He stated and was surprised when she rolled her vivid green eyes.

"Yeah, and I'm the King of France." She retorted. Before Link could even ask what or where France was, she went on. "Look, I'll stay put for the night, but he second you try anything you're a dead man got it?"

"Tch, as if I would." He said bitterly, but that seemed enough for her. She lay down and burrowed under the covers. But her sharply green eyes didn't close; they stayed fixated on him in a hard glare. So naturally, he glared right back. After that it seemed to become a contest between who could keep awake the longest. And in the end, neither of them would ever know who won.