Lots of good feedback! As promised, here's the next chapter.

xLoZx

Chapter Two: A Hero in a Hurry

"C'mon, Epona, we're almost home!" Link urged.

Epona snorted loudly.

"I know, girl, I'm cold and wet, too!" Link was shivering terribly, in spite of the heavy wool cloak he wore. The ride back through Hyrule had been a long, unpleasant one. The recent snows had turned the countryside roads into an unending expanse of slush and mud, and quite a bit of that mud now adorned Epona's flanks and Link's clothes.

The only thing that made the ride bearable for Link was the prospect of dancing with Zelda at the ball that evening.

Link cast a worried glance up at the clock tower as he and Epona rode past. He'd hoped to have been back at the castle earlier in the day, but it was now early evening. The ball would be starting in just under an hour.

If he hurried, he'd be able to get cleaned up and dressed for the ball and still have some time to spend with Zelda. Just the two of them before all the ball guests started swarming around.

Link rode in through the castle gates, brought Epona around to the stables and swung himself down. He gave Epona a quick rub-down and got her settled in her stall with a horse blanket and a big bucket of oats. The grooms would have been more than happy to do it for him, but there were some things Link insisted on doing himself.

As he exited the stables, Link's hand went to the hookshot rope attached to his leather satchel…and then he thought better of it. The last time he used that particular "shortcut" into the castle, he'd almost gotten a crossbow bolt in the back from one of the castle guards.

Front door it was, then. He headed for the front doors and bounded up the steps.

"Don't forget to wipe your feet, hero!" one of the guards teased.

Several people greeted Link as he hurried through the corridors on his way upstairs. But there was no sign of Zelda.

She's probably in her room getting ready, he thought. Or maybe she's in the library.

Link stopped at his room long enough to drop his satchel, discard his wet, muddy traveling clothes and put on a robe. Then he headed straight for the bathing chamber, where he eagerly sank into a hot bath.

After the long ride, he was sorely tempted just to loll about in the hot water for hours. But he had just enough time to wash the mud out of his hair and give the rest of himself a quick scrub.

Back in his room, he quickly ran a comb through his damp hair before reaching for his winter dress tunic, trousers and cape: all made from fine dark blue wool and trimmed with narrow silver braid. Link wasn't quite used to wearing clothes like these; when he did, he often felt as if he were a peasant boy disguising himself as a prince. But Zelda had told him he looked handsome in them.

Doing up the last clasps on the tunic front, he pulled on his polished black riding boots and fastened the cape around his neck. Then he opened his satchel and took out the sealed letter from the mayor of Clock Town; the king was expecting that.

Link went downstairs to the great hall, which was now decked out in miles of glittering purple, blue, and silver bunting. The musicians for the ball were tuning up in their alcove off to one side, and the first throngs of guests were entering.

But still no sign of Zelda.

Link frowned. Zelda should have been in the great hall by now. Where was she?

"Well, Link, it's good to see you home," Impa said, coming over. Tonight, she wore an elaborate set of turquoise robes with the Sheikah emblem on them. "It sounds like you did well on your first king's errand."

"Thanks, Impa. Have you seen Zelda anywhere? I haven't seen her since I got back."

Impa shook her head sadly. "Zelda's not coming to the ball. She's fallen ill."

Link's face fell.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine in a few days. But I'm afraid there'll be no dancing for her tonight."

"I'm going to go see her right now," Link said.

"Not yet. You need to be here for the ball's opening," Impa said. "Then you may go see Zelda. But only for a little bit. She needs to rest."

Link sighed and followed Impa up to the dais with the thrones. The captain of the guards was up there already, awaiting the king's entrance. By now, the hall was completely filled with guests.

The heralds blasted a fanfare on their trumpets. The midwinter ball was now underway.

xLoZx

Still more to come. As ever, reviews welcome!