The Blistering Cold
Chapter 1- Duty Calls!
Disclaimer: Nintendo owns The Legend of Zelda, I do not.
"I almost got you, almost got you!" Link exclaimed as he waved his sword vigorously around in the air at some butterflies.
"Leave them alone they're just stupid bugs! Stop slashing at them!" Link's childhood friend, Ilia exclaimed. She had forced him to go with her to the spring and was now regretting it.
"I need to get my sword training in for today. And, besides, you wont let me slash at you," the young man replied, still swinging his sword haphazardly through the air at the tiny insects.
"Uh!" Ilia snorted. "Link, you know why you don't have a girl? Because you're a slob! A foolish, rude slob!" She then stomped away, furious.
"What's up with her?" Link put down his sword and flopped down in the shallow water. "Not that I want a girl. She just wishes she could have me. Never! This Hylian will always be single."
Just then Rusl strolled up to him with a purple and pure gold Hylian shield in his hand. Link quickly got to his feet and brushed himself off. "Mayor Bo," Rusl began, "told me to ask you if you would be able to take this shield to the royal family in Hyrule."
"I don't have anything else to do...." the Hylian hero began."And there are probably giant bugs I can slash at in Hyrule Field. And I could get away from Ilia for a day....Sure!" Link replied. He grabbed his sword from the moist earth and placed it in his sheath.
"Thanks, and don't let anything happen to this shield," the older man instructed, handing Link the shield. "This is pure gold," he pointed to the thick gold rim on the outer edge of the elegant shield.
"I'll be careful," Link reassured, carefully placing the shield on his back. "I'll be back this evening. If Ilia asks, tell her I wanted to get away from her." He mounted his horse, Epona, who had been getting a drink from the cool, fresh spring water.
Rusl smiled. "Will do. See you then. Be careful!" the Ordonian replied. And with that, Link kicked the side of his horse with his boot and galloped away.
The grassy Hyrule Field was a magnificent sight. The bright sun shown down on the rich, green earth and the wild flowers blew in the slight breeze. Epona majestically galloped across the fields, Link on her back. When Link reached the castle doors, he dismounted his horse and started across the wooden bridge to Castle Town. Then something caught his eye. It was a golden dragonfly.
"Maybe I can hit that," he said to himself. He drew his sword and, looking up to the sky, started chasing the insect. Just then he bumped into someone and fell to the ground.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Link heard someone ask. He looked up to see a dark, cloaked figure kneeling beside him. Just then he recognized who that was.
"Queen Zelda, your majesty, what are you doing out here?" he asked.
"Darn, he recognized me," Zelda said under her breath. She removed her hood, revealing her beautiful, radiant face. But the expression she bore looked distressed. "I......have to leave."
"Why?" Link asked, getting up.
"I....just have too," the young queen sighed. "I'm not sure I can tell you."
Link smiled mischievously. "If you don't, I'll tell the general you escaped," he told her.
"No, please don't!" she exclaimed. Then she lowered her voice. "Okay. I'll tell you. Last night, I had a dream. Some evil located somewhere in Snowpeak Mountains has been plotting revenge against Hyrule. I suspect Ganondorf. I didn't want to worry Hyrule so I didn't tell them. I am headed to the snowy mountains now."
"Oooh, adventure! Sounds like fun! Can I come?" Link inquired. "We made a good team."
Zelda's worried expression changed into a smile. "Okay," she whispered. "Just don't tell anyone."
Link removed the shield from his back held it in front of the queen, bowing. "You're majesty, a gift from Ordon, to Hyrule."
She took the shield and replied, "Thank you, brave knight, who has had enough courage to join me on this epic journey." Queen Zelda still wore a beautiful, genuine smile on her face. "And you don't have to be bowing to me all the time and calling me 'your majesty' and 'queen'. Since we're going to be traveling together, just call me Zelda."
"Are you sure?" Link inquired. "I don't want to be disrespectful."
"Yes, please do. It's fine."
"Don't tell me you're going to walk all the way there. You have a horse, don't you?" he questioned.
"I can't get to it. It's in the royal stables and I'll get caught if I get it. I guess I'll just have to walk," the young woman replied.
"You can ride with me, milady," Link offered.
"Are you sure?"
"Sure, I'm sure, Epona's this way," the young man replied.