Link jolted awake. The cold air forced its way into his lungs more than he inhaled it. His heart pounded in his chest as he panted. Wha-? Where-?
Above him was a dark piece of sky outlined by thick branches. As the shock wore off he became aware of the chilled earth beneath him. He grasped at the soft pine needles on the forest floor to bring some life to his limbs. Bending his frozen fingers stung, but at least they still worked.
With some effort he sat up, putting a hand to his head. Soft moonlight outlined a small clearing, rimmed by towering pine trees. Only small tufts of grass poked up through the thick bed of needles and pinecones. Obviously, very few beings had ever set foot here, meaning that whatever forest this was, he was very deep into it. But where exactly is this? More importantly, how did I get here? He squinted at the patch of stars above him, tracing from star to star in the hopes of finding a familiar constellation. None appeared, but very few were visible anyway.
Sighing, he turned his attention away from the sky. His fingers, though cold, were far from frostbitten, and none of the forest dust had seemed to settle on his soft green tunic. With further inspection he found the soles of his boots spotless, and his hair mostly without tangles. However he had gotten here, he hadn't been here long. What was I doing? Where was I before?
Images of a castle interior flashed through his mind. Warm smiles, laughter, music. Next to him, a woman in pink with beautiful auburn hair. That's right. The feast. Her awakening feast. The Princess had just given a toast, and then… Link gasped and began searching his pockets. Sword, shield, bow, potions, but where is it? It can't be gone.
At last, in the bottom of his rupee pouch, his hand clasped around the small wooden box. It's still here. Good. His relief quickly turned into confusion. But if I still have it, what happened? I was about to make my toast, and… Try as he might, the last thing he could remember was clinking his goblet with his spoon. This is all too strange. An invasion? But I seem unharmed. Magic, perhaps? But I wasn't wearing this tunic at the feast. What magic would change my clothes but also provide me with my weapons?
The wind licked his face and sent a chill down his spine. Whatever had happened, trying to puzzle it out here would do little good. There was little in the way of shelter. Traversing the woods at night wasn't ideal either, but the moon was at its peak. The light wouldn't be this good for much longer.
Link pushed himself to his feet, adjusting his equipment. With another glance at the sky he found south and started off. Though the forest was dark, it was certainly not empty. Crickets chirped and a creek bubbled in the distance. If this was the forest he was thinking of, the nearest town would surely be south. Few pine forests grew so thickly in Hyrule as the ones on the northern border. Of course, that was on the assumption that this was, in fact, Hyrule. He tried to ignore that thought and instead take comfort in the familiarity of forest travel.
Several hours in the forest was not a bother to Link. As a child he had loved exploring the woods. Handy with a sword and fascinated by wildlife, it was one of those many adventures that led to his meeting with Impa. He had never really returned from that adventure. Then again, he hadn't much to return to in the first place. By then, the wilderness had become more of a home to him than… well, he couldn't remember much about his life in the village. Both life in the village and life in the castle seemed equally foreign to him.
But I can learn to live in a castle, he chuckled, ducking under another branch. For her, I can learn to live in a castle.
As the moon began to dip the trees began to thin. Pine needle carpets gave way to more underbrush, and animal tracks became more common. He was entering a younger portion of the woods where the trees weren't quite so tall, letting him see further ahead. In the distance he could see the gleam of water. No rumble of waves, so probably not a river. A lake, maybe? The water source was a good sign that civilization might be nearby. But just as the forest could harbor wolves and monsters, so could towns harbor thieves. He caught sight of a plume of smoke and tightened the strap on his wallet.
Link crept from the tree line into what appeared to be a traveler's town. The dirt road, winding along between cottages and small gardens, was well worn. The heavy wheel ruts told him it had seen many wagons. Other than the lake, the village seemed absent of any valuable resources. Likely a halfway point between two larger towns. Far enough apart that a rest stop is warranted. There must be an inn of sorts somewhere.
Walking along the path, he quickly found what he was looking for. In the center of town, right on the waterfront, stood the town's only three-story building. Above the main doors hung a sign bearing "The White Wolfos Inn" in cracked blue and white paint. Propped up in one of the windows, a slate read "Home of Hyrule's Best Ale!" So I am in Hyrule. He reached for the door.
"It won't open. It's after hours."
The voice made Link jump. Left of the door on a bench sat a young man roughly the same age as he. About a head shorter, he sported a traveler's cloak, well-worn boots, brown trousers, and leather gauntlets. His golden hair was straight and cut off at the jaw, but wavy tufts here and there made it appear as though it took a lot of work to keep it that way. Across his forehead was tied a deep green headband, and beneath the cloak Link could see what looked like a tunic pieced together with four different colored fabrics – green, red, blue, and purple.
"I tried knocking already, and no luck," the boy continued, "but I'm not surprised, seeing it's about three in the morning." He gestured to the bench. Link took the seat but made sure to keep a hand on his wallet.
"This may seem like a strange question," Link began, "but may I ask what town this is? I seem to have gotten somewhat… turned around while hunting."
The boy raised his eyebrow. "Funny you should say that. I'm in a similar situation myself. Then again what other reason is there for arriving at an inn so late at night?"
Link chuckled. "I suppose you're right." Both fell silent. A few minutes passed and a slight wind gave Link a chill. He clenched and unclenched his fists and his fingers cried out for relief from the cold.
"Perhaps I will try knocking," he said at last and got to his feet. He gave three solid raps on the hard wood and paused to listen.
Just as he was going to knock again the door latch clicked and a figure pulled the door open enough to peek through. The other young man got to his feet at the sound. A curly-haired woman holding a lit candle peered through the gap.
"What do you want?" she asked firmly. Obviously this woman was in charge.
"Just lodging, ma'am," Link replied calmly. Best not to appear suspicious. "There are two of us out here looking for a bed and a warm fire, if they are to be had."
The woman sighed and opened the door further. Scanning both Link and the young man up and down, she swung the door wide and beckoned them inside. "Come in, come in, jus' be quick about it. God knows how many more o' ya will show up 'tween now an' sunrise. Every time I open this door it's another log on the fire and my husband won't be 'appy if he 'as to go cut more before breakfast."
"More of us?" the young man puzzled. "How do you mean?"
"Oh," the woman chuckled as she shut the door, "Nothin' by it young master. There've just been a few other travelers arrivin' tonight after hours. Seems as though that storm yesterday afternoon caught some by surprise and got a fair number o' people lost."
"Ah," Link said. I suppose that's a lucky coincidence.
The woman led the two of them up to the second floor and down to the end of the hall. "I hope you masters don't mind sharing a room. We're hosting a party what got stranded by the storm and so we're a bit short on space. If it's any comfort to ya there are two cabinets that lock solid fer any of yer belongings need safekeeping." She pulled a large key ring out of the pocket of her wool robe and fingered through until she found what she was looking for, poking the key into the lock and giving it a twist. The door swung open to reveal a simple, cozy room with two beds, a hearth, a washbasin, and two large chestnut armoires. "There ought to be firewood, and the bedding is all fresh. Regular pricing is 30 rupees a night wit' breakfast, but we can discuss tha' in the mornin'. Would the masters like me to send someone to start the fire?"
"No, thank you ma'am," the young man replied. "Your hospitality is much appreciated."
The woman nodded, satisfied. "Well, best of rest to ya. Keys to the room and the cabinets should be on the pillows. If ya need anythin', housekeepin' is the door at the top o' the stairs."
The woman retreated down the hall, leaving Link and the stranger to settle in. Neither seemed particularly comfortable sharing the space, but both found the alternative – sleeping out front in the cold – undesirable enough that neither mentioned their discomfort. He seems polite enough, Link thought. Still, better lock up my things.
Link took the closer bed and began removing his equipment. The young man set to lighting a fire, giving him the opportunity to stow his more valuable items in secret. Most travelers had wallets, but few had rarities like his magic rod. It was better no one knew he had such an item; locks were only meant to keep honest people honest, as thieves could and would pick locks. A prize like that was one no thief could resist.
He kept a wary eye on his roommate as he too began settling in. When the stranger removed his cloak, Link was tempted to stare. The tunic he boasted was pieced together from four different tunics laced with gold embroidery. Link would have been convinced he was royalty if the four colors weren't stitched together so haphazardly with thick brown yarn. The boy was also quite spindly. The only thing that told Link they were the same age was the lack of baby fat on his jaw. Something about him seemed familiar, too, but logic kept his curiosity at bay. When the stranger laid a gold-hilted shortsword on the bedspread, Link pretended not to notice. Just another traveler. It isn't as if my blade is any less impressive.
Link considered locking his blade in his cabinet, but instead propped it against the bed. The silver, ruby-encrusted hilt shimmered in the dim light. If the stranger noticed it, he hadn't let it show.
Finished settling in and itching for warmth, Link slipped off his boots and crawled into the soft feather bed. Now, with only the crackling fire to break the silence, the strangeness of his situation came to the forefront of his mind. Where exactly was he? How had he gotten here? Most importantly, how was he to get back? Were his friends okay? Was she okay? What of Hyrule? The innkeeper had let them in in the dead of night without a lick of suspicion, so if Hyrule were in crisis, she didn't seem to know. The frustration of trying to remember what had happened didn't lend itself to easy sleep, but he was warm. Warm and alive. That would have to do for the night, and he could figure out the rest in the morning.
In the other bed, unbeknownst to Link, the stranger lay plagued by the same questions.