Link crept through the huge marble hall without a sound. The noble behind him was not as silent. He was a big man, and although he stepped carefully, the dull thud could be heard throughout the great hall. Link was slightly annoyed by the footsteps disturbing him as he listened for any sound that might tell him of someone unwelcome. But it seemed that no one was here. He sheathed his sword back in his belt and nodded to the man behind him, who in turn nodded to his slightly smaller but no more agile son.

The three of them moved quickly, the feeling of unease filling their hearts. Although no one was there, it felt like a tomb. Their mission was complete, but still they felt tension as though they were going into deeper danger rather than leaving it behind.

The moon light streamed through the high windows and cast ghostly light in the hall. Link glanced around himself, alert for any movement other than his two companions. The king stopped suddenly behind him, and Link paused, turning quickly. He had pulled his bow out before he realized it and had aimed it at the door way the king was looking at. But the man had not taken a frightened stance, and started walking forward to the door.

"My Lord!" Link whispered hoarsely. "Dammit!" he hissed under his breath as the son followed his father curiously. He had been hired to protect them and complete the mission. Only half of his job was over, but the nobles seemed not to care to make that easy for him. Link ran gracefully after them in annoyance, keeping his bow raised and aimed.

When he came around the corner, he saw the nobles standing around a large object box in the middle of the floor, but nothing else seemed out of place.

"Kasumi!" the king shouted in surprise, making Link jump at the loud sound. It echoed through the hall, seeming to go on forever.

"My lord!" Link whispered in frustration of the king's lack of caution.

"Kasumi!" the king yelled again suddenly shaking whatever was in front of him. "Kasumi, Kasumi!"

"Lord Shiro, please!" Link begged, lowering his bow and rushing over to the noble to silence him.

He came into sight of what exactly was in the middle of the floor and stopped dead.

Upon a slab large of black marble looking like a casket for some royal person, was a woman, lying within a glass box. The box seemed to give off it's own light, illuminating the girl in a strange and eerie light. She looked deathly white, and her coal black hair was fanned out around her. Her expression was peaceful, but her position was not. She was sprawled out on the rock as though she had fallen down and not moved since then.

The king continued to sob and shook the glass box, attempting to move it, but it held firm. In frustration, the man raised his hand was about to bring it crashing down on the glass.

"WAIT!" Link shouted about to stop him, but he was too late. He flinched waiting for the shattering of glass, but nothing happened. He looked to see that nothing had happened. The box still held as steady as ever. The king sobbed again, bending over the box and breathing on it till his breath fogged up the glass.

"Kasumi…" he whimpered.

"Sister…" the son said in a hushed voice.

"She's your daughter?" Link asked the king who nodded weakly still crying.

"My beautiful daughter… Kasumi… Kasumi!" He hit the glass with his fist a couple more times before giving up and sliding onto the floor, leaning his head up against the cold stone.

Link edged forward and touched the glass timidly. It was oddly difficult to feel, not cold not hot. It also seemed impossibly delicate, but he knew differently.

"It's magic," he whispered to himself. Suddenly he found himself missing his fairy companion, Navi. It was the first time since she left, because he had always found her rather annoying, telling him what he already knew several times, and hanging around his head, blinding him out of one corner of his eye while he was in the middle of battle. He sighed. At least she he had seen this sort of magic before while he still had her around. All he needed was to have his bottled fairy cast a spell on his sword.

He again sighed, knowing that he really didn't have time for detours, but couldn't leave the woman as she was. He reached into his pouch and took out the bottled fairy he was saving for when he was in critical condition. At least he had another one.

"I need your help," he said quietly to the fairy and unbottled the creature. He unsheathed his sword to the nobles' surprise, and held it out to the glowing ball.

"What do you want?" it asked in a high, irritated voice.

"I need to cut that box," he said to her jerking his head to it.

"Why should I?" she asked hovering just out of reach.

"Because otherwise I'll just put you back in the bottle, that's why," he said growing inpatient. He really didn't have time for this. "And don't think I can't. I've caught you once I can do it again."

The fairy seemed to think for a moment before it agreed. The sword glowed blue and pink as the spell settled on the surface.

"May I go now?" the fairy asked in a haughty voice.

"Yes, you may," Link said nodding to it. Then he turned back to the box as the little glowing ball flew away.

"What are you doing?" the prince asked nervously, as Link climbed up onto the glass box, and raised his sword. Link ignored him.

"Link! I command you not to—" the king said getting up hurriedly.

But instead of bringing it down quickly and smashing through it, he touched the tip of his blade into the glass and pulled it along the surface, cutting a scratch into it. He made the line go from one end to the other, then jumped back as the glass shattered melted away before even touching the woman.

The glow faded away from his sword, and he sheathed it again. The king reached out in wonder towards his daughter, but Link grabbed his arm.

"Don't touch her!" he told him harshly.

"Why—"

Link was already pulling items out of his pouch. He wrapped a magic protective cloth he had gotten from the Zoras around his palm and reached out gently towards the girl. The cloth began to glow blue, and then his hand was covered in the strange light. He rubbed his hands together, and the light engulfed his other hand. He looked down at himself measuring what parts of him she would touch when he carried her, and he quickly swiped the light across his chest and arms. The glow left a trail on whatever it touched.

The nobles watched him in awe as he reached out for the girl. He carefully lifted her from the stone, making sure no part of her touched anything that wasn't covered with his light. When she was safely in his arms he jerked his head to the king to proceed.

"Why—" the prince began to ask.

"Not now," Link said agitatedly, walking back towards the doorway. "Just don't touch her."

The nobles did as they were told, and the group left the great hall as fast as they could. They were being pursued and the rescue of the princess had taken precious time.

"You better be worth it," Link muttered under his breath as he swiftly and silently followed after the nobles.