It hit him.

Harder than any physical blow he had ever received...far heavier than any strike, punch or kick he had ever taken...

Link stood at the crest of a small knoll two or three miles from Castletown, gazing up into the night's cool air. Though his enchanted slumber had not weakened him, Link had no strength to make it all the way to Kakariko that night...and so had simply laid down on a small hill just outside of the town. He was simply too weak from hunger to continue on...

...but beyond that, Link was devastated. Hyrule was overrun with evil now. A dark cloud hung over Hyrule Castle...where Ganondorf now reigned as king.

But beyond that...a helpless sensation swept over Link...

Where was Princess Zelda?

His desperate question to Sheik had gone unanswered. Did the Sheikah just not know? Or did he? A looming sense of dread passed over Link. According to Rauru, he had been locked away for 7 years. Could Zelda have held out that long?

A tear of helplessness feel unbidden from Link's cheek as he gazed up into the starry night sky. Where was she? Had she died during his slumber? It seemed like he had just seen her under Impa's arm, rushing out of Castletown...but that was seven years ago.

His thoughts were cut short as Navi fluttered over him, settling beside him.

"Are you alright, Link? You don't look well."

Link turned towards his small fairy, offering her a small, sad smile.

"I just wish I knew...what happened," Link whispered, burying his face in his hands. "One minute, I'm watching Impa and the princess escaping from Castletown...and the next, it's seven years later...and I have no idea where either are. I don't know who I can trust...who I can't trust...and I feel like I've abandoned Hyrule for the time I was kept in the Sacred Realm."

Navi was silent for a long moment, having felt the same general feelings of disorientation, and gazed silently at Link as he lowered his hand to the brown grass under his hands. "Hyrule is dying because I was too young. Princess Zelda...could be dead...because I was too young."

Navi snorted slightly, then fluttered to look Link in the eyes. "That's not your fault, Link. The goddesses knew what they were doing when they put you to sleep for seven years. You are the chosen one, Link...the Hero of Time! Surely all is not lost."

Link gazed up silently at Navi, reaching up to gently scoop her into his hands before rolling onto his side. She settled quietly, folding her gossamer wings.

"...I just want to know what happened to the princess..." Link murmured softly, feeling his eyes grow heavy.

A pair of piercing red eyes gazed down at the young hero from a tree several dozen feet away, bandaged fingers clutching the tree's branches silently. Sympathy bubbled within the Sheikah at each word acutely heard.

Silently dropping from the high perch, Sheik vanished before touching the ground.