Link arrived at the bustling town by midday. It was weird to hear so many sounds and voices in one place after having been out roaming desolated patches of wilderness for the past couple of months. He had tethered Epona in a stall near the Ordon goats, making sure she had a fresh bed of hay and some oats before setting out towards the main square of Castle Town. The whole way, he got many various "hello's" and stares. Everyone knew who he was. The Hylian guards gave saluting stamps with the butt of their spears to pay their greetings to him whenever he passed one. The attention reminded him as to why he hadn't stuck around much.

After squeezing his way through the crowd, he managed to make it into the square, the sound of a Hylian choir band the most audible thing heard aside from a Cuckoo being chased by a little girl. He figured Zelda hadn't moved back into the castle yet, seeing as it was still being rebuilt. She must have found some sort of small manor to live in until then. The only problem was he had no idea where she may have decided to live. Link figured that the guard standing sentry to the entrance of the construction would know best. He approached him, ignoring the excitable whispers of the citizens as he passed through.

As usual, the guard drummed his spear against the pavement. "Sir Link!" he hailed.

"Hello," he replied. "Would you happen to know where Queen Zelda is staying? She sent me a letter saying to meet her." It felt weird using the formality of "queen" to address her. She never let him use such a title in her presence, for she was merely Zelda to him. They were equals, though Link said he'd officially and publically swear fealty to her any time. The ruler of Hyrule refused his offer, much to his surprise.

"When I call on you to stand by me and defend and serve Hyrule, it will not be because I have sworn you to do so. It will be because I am asking a favor from a loyal, trusting friend. When Hyrule is in trouble, I know you will answer the call. But a hero's duty is not limited to just this land. There are other places that may someday need you, and when or if that time comes, I shall not let allegiance bind you." That is what she had told him.

He was so lost in the memory that he almost didn't hear the guardsman answer his question. The armor-clad man nodded. "Oh yes, the Queen has quarters in a manor on the west side of town. You'll know it when you see it. There are many sentries patrolling that street."

Link thanked him for the information and left the square, heading for the street he remembered that silly orb-catching game to be at. As he rounded the corner, he took note of the absence of a young dog that used to live in the alley. Link recalled tossing it a bone quite a few times, wishing he could take it back to Kakariko for the kids to own and take care of while away from their families. He wondered if it had found a home yet.

The street was vacant of any pedestrians, no doubt to avoid disturbing the Queen and crowding her new abode. Even the colorful circus tent with the orb-catching game was gone. However, there were many guards marching in line back and forth, some stationary at key posts around the manor, which did not look any different than any other fancy home around. But Link had no doubt the people in Zelda's service had made the inside as fit for a royal as possible.

When the guards saw him there, they halted their rounds and banged their weapons against their shields. "Sir Link!" they all cried in a deep-throated unison. Link still didn't know how to take such a formal greeting, so all he could do was nod and hesitantly approach the front door into Zelda's home. The two sentries on either side of the double door entrance each grabbed a knob and opened it for him. He gave a polite "thanks" and quickly stepped inside, where instantly, two handmaidens came from either side and began offering to take his things and hang them up for him. He didn't have any time to protest before they had already carried off his weapons and packs and proceeded to guide him to one of the armchairs in the room.

"Please, have a seat," the older maiden said, patting his arm as she escorted him. He couldn't say no. He sank into the nicely crafted, cushioned seat, a bit dazed as he watched the women hurry off to tend to something else.

It was then that he had the time to take in the place.

The manor was set up much like little Agitha's place, with a circular entrance room. However, Zelda's quarters were much bigger than the young, rich bug enthusiast's. Her entrance room branched off to other rooms on both the left and right. From the left side he could smell food, so one room over there must be a kitchen. A large, ornate staircase led up to a second floor where Link could see there was an glass door leading to what he presumed to be a balcony overlooking a quaint garden. There was also another archway up past the side railings to which he assumed led to Zelda's room, as there was one Hylian guard stationed there.

The area he sat in now was furnished with two matching armchairs made with mahogany wood, and a large sofa with the same type of fabrics as the chairs. A low table separated all the pieces, adorned with a very expensive looking tea set on a silver tray that glistened from the sunlight pouring from the window on the high ceiling. Beneath him, a rug with patterns of the royal family embroidered into it with expert detail and skill. On the walls there were portraits of the late king and queen: Zelda's parents.

Curtains were pinned back on either side of each entryway, obscuring his observation from everything else, but he could hear the maids hustling about. A minute passed before one came from down the stairs, assuring him that Zelda was almost ready to see him. She rushed back upstairs before he even had a chance to blink.

He heard voices coming from upstairs, then a door close. The guard stiffened into attention as Zelda appeared through the archway. She looked over the rail to see him, offering him a bright smile. "Hello, Link," she said.

"How do you like your new house?" he asked as she made her way down the stairs. "Bit more snug than a castle, huh?"

She was not wearing her usual princess garb that he remembered seeing her in almost always. Rather, she wore a very casual summery, sky-blue dress with a hand-knit shawl. Her hair was pulled back and braided at the end as usual, but the ornaments that typically dressed her brown hair were gone, allowing the front pieces of hair flow into their natural curls. She only wore a gold tiara with three gems at its center. It was strange seeing her in more comfy clothing, but it was good to know she didn't dress in that tight princess corset every day.

"It makes me wonder how you lived in a tree for seventeen years," she mused with a chuckle. "No, I like it actually. It almost feels like a vacation retreat. At least, that's how I like to think it. Keeps me from drowning in all my paperwork." She lifted a bit of her dress as to make sure not to step on it when she reached the base of the staircase. They locked gazes, merely smiling and happy to see each other.

"It's been a while," she said, breaking the brief silence.

"Yeah."

The queen of Hyrule sighed. "Seeing as you are here, you must have gotten my letter. Come, we'll talk in the garden." Zelda waved her hand in indication to follow her. Link rose from the chair and padded behind her as she went into the left room, passing a dining table and a sizable kitchen where her personal cooks bustled around preparing lunch. There was a door in the back, which she opened, allowing him to pass through first.

There was a short flight of stairs to go down before he passed through a large floral arch. A stone path weaved its way through the garden, widening at a space with a small table with a white parasol over it. A small fountain surrounded by many different types of fauna gurgled nearby. An array of butterflies flitted about, enough to make Link believe that if Agitha were to come here, she may just faint. There was an expanse of grass, and the entire enclosure was marked off with stone walls, giving only the people who lived behind Zelda the ability to see into her property. But there on the balcony of that house was another Hylian guard. Perhaps they had bought that property as well to make sure no one would be able to get to the queen so easily.

A sharp bark caught Link's attention. From somewhere in the bushes emerged a floppy-eared dog with golden fur, a handsome collar around its neck. It rushed over to them, sniffing Link's boots with a frantically wagging tail. Zelda laughed and bent over, picking up the sizable pooch and coddling him to her chest.

"I know you," Link said, giving the dog a rough pat. "Last time I saw you, you were a flea-bitten runt! Now look at you! You're fat! And clean!"

The dog barked again, looking quite happy and pleased. The queen cradled the dog in her arms affectionately. "Yes, when we were looking at this manor I saw him, so hungry and lonely. I couldn't just let him stay out on the streets. I named him Rauru, and he is the smartest doggy in all of Hyrule!" Zelda cooed, nuzzling Rauru's head with her nose, who in turn licked her face happily. She paused to look at Link, a glint in her eyes. "Well… Second smartest. You were a pretty smart dog yourself."

His mouth went agape to the comment, mostly because he wasn't used to Zelda making jokes, especially about his time as a beast of the Twilight at that. He finally snorted and grinned, replying in full sarcastic banter, "Excuse you, I was not a dog, I was a wolf, thank you very much."

She waved her hand to dismiss the retort, setting Rauru down with a smile. The dog ran off to chase off a bird that had landed in the yard. Zelda approached the shaded table, pulling out a chair for him. Link sat down at her request, watching with anticipation as she did so as well. He had been dying to know what it was she had found out.

A maid brought out a tray of tea and cookies, setting it between them. They thanked the woman curtly before Zelda poured both of them a cup. Link helped himself to one of the sweets as she did so.

"So," she began as she passed him his teacup, "about this little quest of yours…"

His attention become riveted to her.

"Link… Have you ever heard legends of the 'Shadow Folk'?"

There was a stifling silence as he mulled it. "… Shadow Folk?" he echoed, his brow knit together in puzzlement. "I can't say I've heard anything about them."

Zelda stared into the contents of her cup, her expression now somber and professional, just as he remembered her to be when dealing with official affairs. "There is a race, long since forgotten, that used to dabble in dark magic. They created many artifacts, with incredible power. Some think that… they even were the ones responsible for creating the Fused Shadow during the Interloper Wars."

Link felt his teeth grit behind his pursed lips. He took a moment before asking, "Wait, so these Shadow Folk are the interlopers? The Twili?"

"It's only rumors, Link. Legends. But to answer your question, yes and no. You see, the Shadow Folk- also known as the Sheikah tribe- were a race that held many secrets. They were allied and sworn to guard the Royal Family for a very long time. But during the civil war of Hyrule, a sect of them betrayed the family and allied with the enemies, using their powers to create weapons they intended to invade the Sacred Realm with. The Fused Shadow could very well be one of their creations. Then, the goddesses banished the interlopers to what is now the Twilight Realm. If this is true, the other sect of the Sheikah, loyal to Hyrule, lives on. There are descendants of this race still alive to this day. I know of three, possibly the only three Sheikah left in this world. They would be the ones to know most about things such as the Mirror of Twilight and origins of the Fused Shadow. And who knows, maybe they have knowledge of another way in..." The queen shrugged, avoiding his gaze. "But, as I said, this is only speculation. There is no evidence to suggest that they are related. I only know of the Sheikah lore my old attendant used to tell me before bed when I was young. And it seems to fit in with the history of the Twili."

The hero blinked. He had heard the story of the Interloper War from the light spirit, Lanayru, but the snake deity had never said in detail who the dark beings were, only that they were the ancestors of the Twili and great sorcerers. This new development of them potentially being this strange race was promising. "Where can I find your attendant to ask her about it? Is she here?"

Zelda shook her head sadly. "Unfortunately, she died many years ago. But… Her sister actually lives right here in Castle Town. You've probably have met her already. Miss Fanadi the local fortune teller is one of the last descendants of the Sheikah race."

This was a shock to the hero. That old, phony fortuneteller? A member of the race related to the Twili? It sounded extremely far-fetched. And that was only if Zelda's theory was correct. All Link could do was shake his head in disbelief.

"I know it sounds unlikely," Zelda trailed on, "But it is the only lead I have for you. And that is better than nothing, I guess. If it turns out that it's a dead end, I can't say I didn't try."

He snorted. "Yeah, you're right…" Link sipped the last of his tea before standing up. "Well, I guess I should go talk to Fanadi then."

Zelda stared up at him, her eyes stern. "Remember what I told you, though. There is a reason Midna destroyed the Mirror. You have to consider that maybe she doesn't want you to find her."

"I know," Link said softly. "But I have to see her, at least one more time."

The queen nodded somberly. "Very well… I wish you the best luck." She clapped her hands twice, resulting in one of her maidens bringing Link's gear out to him. He slipped on his sword and shield, fastening them tightly to the strap across his chest. After straightening out his tunic, the young man held out his hand.

"Thank you, Zelda. Your help means a lot."

She reached over the table and took his hand in hers. "Anything for a friend."

Link bent down and respectfully kissed the back of her silky hand, though he knew he did not have to. As he let her fingers slip away from him, he promised, "I'll keep in touch. And I'll let you know if I find anything."

Zelda only smiled, and told him to be safe in his travels. After another goodbye, Link allowed the maiden who brought him his things to walk him out of the manor. As the door closed behind him, Link immediately began walking towards the road that would take him to Madame Fanadi's home near the southern entrance of Castle Town. Maybe, just maybe, she could open a new path on his journey.