Thanks to Generala, Death Waltz, Wolf, Vria, Guest, Needlesslyhere, and Bloodspire for reviewing!

Thanks Generala for pointing that out. I fixed the spelling of Ilia's name.

Chapter 2

Sometimes when he slept strange images would come to him like the shadows of a forgotten world. A castle of sparkling white, turrets angling up towards the sky like thrusting javelins, and a moat and a garden with hedges forming a mazelike network. Then everything would darken and it would morph into the most desolate place in existence, filled with fear and anguish. There'd be foul beasts and monsters, underwater caverns, the scent of firewood and sweat, and a voice…the darkest most evil sound rising above a rugged landscape; laughing and laughing and laughing.

But most importantly there was a princess.

Those images of her tended to be inconsistent with one another. Sometimes the princess was a young child in a pink sundress, others she was a full-grown woman, her face one of passivity and grace. Sometimes she'd have blonde hair, sometimes russet and others brown, but always he knew she was his same princess. When he saw her in those sleeping moments his heart pounded like a drum within his chest as he regaled her with a reverence that constituted one of a divine nature.

At a point in his youth, he had believed he'd fallen in love with her; enamored as he'd never been before to this figure from his fictional imaginings. But as he'd progressed through life he slowly came to realize that that was all it was…fictional. The fruit of an overactive mind, one not content with their lot in life and seeking a reason to strive for more. He could not sustain himself on merely dreams, so with reluctance he allowed the images to fade, the scenes to become blurred. Although they couldn't help but linger somewhere in the hidden depths of his mind, ready and waiting to be pulled to the forefront whenever his thoughts so much as probed them.

And so, with a sigh of forlorn longing, Link continued his life as a blacksmith's apprentice in the small village of Heron Falls located in Lanayru province. And… as with many of his past adventures, this one began on his birthday.

But he was not to know that…

"Link! There you are!"

Idly, Link opened his eyes and angled his head upwards, squinting against the glaring sun to spot the boy on the ridge above. He waved and shielded his eyes. "Leaf. How goes it?"

Leaf crossed his arms, a frown distorting his boyish features. "Hiding again?" he questioned, shaking his head chidingly. "And in the same spot too? How very unimaginative of you. I can't fathom why on all days you'd want to be missing for your birthday. Is the special treatment not enough for you? Do we have to worship you as well?"

Link scrutinized their location overlooking Heron lake, in a little cleft of brambles and rocks near the shore, peaceful and somewhat remote. It was not surprising that he would find solace in this place. He was just the person to appreciate the joys of solitude.

Link snorted. "Don't be ridiculous. I just…don't like all the hype and noise."

"Well," said Leaf, spreading his hands in a 'what can you do' manner. "Can't help with that. Everybody seems to think that this year is extra special for some reason. How old are you now anyways? Twelve? Ten?"

Scowling, Link bent down and grasped a handful of pebbles. Then he launched them one by one in quick succession at Leaf. "Seventeen! I'm seventeen you dimwitted cuccoo!"

Leaf huddled behind his arms, failing at deflecting the blows. "Fine, fine! Cut it out!" He lowered his arms warily as the onslaught died down and then thrust his hands in his pockets and scuffed his shoe. "Dear Farore! You don't have to get all sensitive about it. Just because you look unnaturally young for your age compared to me and Vrel. Psycho."

Link laughed then looked at Leaf, mildly curious. "Where's Vrel anyways. He can't have left you to find me alone?"

Link became increasingly wary as Leaf's grin suddenly took on a sinister air. "Oh…he's around. Somewhere, you know."

His confusion mounted, but then he heard the slight rustling of the brush behind him. Before he could call out, another boy, bigger and gruffer than either him or Leaf, leapt at him. Link attempted to dodge, but was pulled into the larger boy's strong embrace, arms locked behind his back.

He wrestled and struggled futilely. "Vrel! What are you doing?" He grunted and was somehow able to sweep Vrel's feet from underneath him and they both fell. Vrel's grip momentarily weakened as he hit the ground in shock. Link struggled harder. Escape was close at hand, but at the last second Leaf vaulted over the ledge and joined in the melee. Now all three boys wrangled with each other, a highly unfair situation as rather than a free-for-all, Link had to fight off two opponents set on taking him down.

"Just-" Vrel was cut off as he grunted when Link's elbow met his jaw then retaliated by grappling him to the ground. "An early gift. Happy birthday!"

Link saw that they were slowly inching closer and closer to the lake's edge and his eyes widened in trepidation. "No. Guys. Guys, no!"

Leaf laughed while taking ahold of Link's flailing arms. No matter how hard Link struggled any advantage eluded him, and more and more he was being pushed towards the lake. Its rippling waters awaited him, deceitfully inviting and on any other day he'd have been willing to go for a swim. But as it stood, today was his birthday, the big one-seven, and he had no compulsions to wet himself and sidle up to all the slimy wonders within its bowels on such a momentous day.

Link cast them a hateful glare, realizing there was no way out of it. "This is cruelty."

"Not more cruel then you were for our seventeenths," retorted Vrel. Then they both shoved Link into the water.

A shear drop no more than three feet from the shoreline ascertained that Link would be fully immersed and just brushing on the ends of the swaying seaweed at the bottom. He kicked his legs, propelling himself upwards and spluttered as he surfaced. He made certain that his friends knew just how unhappy he was by the glower he sent them.

He ploughed his arms, swaying them back and forth in the water, all the while seething at Leaf's and Vrel's howling forms, bent over and grasping their stomachs. They looked like a pair of clowns, laughing until their eyes watered, faces turning red and puffed.

Leaf then noticed Link's expression suddenly change to a mischievous smirk and tapped Vrel to look up. All at once they were doused in a torrent of water, causing them to immediately sober.

"Link!" Leaf cried in dismay.

Link had already paddled to the bank and was hauling himself out of the water, prepared for the mad dash that would follow.

"Get him! Don't let him get away!" shot Vrel, as they both ambled after him, leaving a splotchy wet trail in their wake.

Link laughed and made haste to the village.

Heron Falls was hustling with activity. Banners were being spread, and in the square multiple tables had been lined up, connected at the ends to form one long one, long enough to fit their entire population. The smell of stew and the aroma of cake flitted about his senses, teasing him with what was to come. Link paid brief heed to all of that as he ran, dodging the set up crew and launching over the tables.

An older man shouted at him when he nearly toppled over his ladder. The women smiled and called to him as he rushed past the cooking area, and he slowed only slightly to inhale the divine aroma before hastening on as Vrel's and Leaf's pursuing forms drew nearer.

The chase ended in a wrestling match as Vrel and Leaf finally put their minds together and cornered him in an admirable strategic movement. No one paid them any heed as the boys scuffled, whereas on any other day they might have been lightly scolded or put to work for dallying.

It was a party all for him, the biggest one he'd receive in his entire life, staging his most important year. He was now old enough to be considered an adult.

The festivities didn't start until late afternoon. It consisted of games and fun. One such popular game was 'catch the cuccoo', which the younger boys and girls played eagerly. Link sat and watched with Vrel and Leaf, goading the youngsters from the sidelines, and then leaping in the air and cheering as a young boy named Nova caught the cuccoo and was declared winner.

When it was time for the sparring matches he eagerly participated. As the apprentice to the local blacksmith, he'd worked with all sorts of different metals and materials, shaping them and forging them into whatever was required at the time. Among them was the occasional sword, commissioned by some noteworthy noble or an upper middle class man. Handling one was as if second nature to him, and he easily dominated all the young boys and girls who entered ring. Then came the adult matches, men and women of middle age and brimming with experience, although fewer partook in that challenge. For many their sword skills had dwindled as they'd become more singularly focused on their professions.

That event had been brilliant to witness, and the champion, unsurprisingly, was their resident swordsmaster, Vallen. He spun his sword elegantly, and took a gracious bow, to which applause was given out with shear exuberance.

Late evening saw them around the adjoined tables, sagging with all sorts of dishes and fruits. There was the best soup made from fine pumpkins imported all the way from Ordon province, stews and roasted potatoes, apple pies, and many other delights.

Link was practically inhaling his fish stew when he raised his head and caught sight of someone staring at him. Their eyes connected and she instantly looked away, cheeks flushing.

He looked back down at his food, pondering on this in confusion. He was brought out of his musings as his shoulder was nudged, jostling him and causing a few droplets to escape his bowl.

"Adra's been eyeing you," Vrel whispered lowly and far too gleefully.

Link swallowed his mouthful. "Has she?" He swept his eyes along the table until they rested on another of his dear friends, although he suspected Adra wouldn't be opposed to moving their relationship along a bit. For some reason, though, something always held him back. Adra was a nice girl, and very pretty, but he could see her as no more than a close and dear friend.

Their eyes met once again and Adra hastily looked away, her attention drawn by another girl, Marle, who chattered with her excitedly.

"Aaaand she looks away. My, Adra's being unusually shy today, I wonder why," said Vrel, grinning broadly at him.

Link was by no means dim. He easily caught the hidden implication behind Vrel's words. Finding the conversation had taken a very awkward turn; he opted to reply as curtly as possible. "She is a friend."

"Who's obviously sending you the signals," added Vrel, nodding his head sagely. He looked at Link piercingly. "You can't tell me you've never thought of the two of you becoming anything deeper."

Link scrunched his brow in thought. That notion had actually popped up once or twice before, and recently on numerous occasions, and yet… It was just… just unfathomable. Being in a close relationship to any woman other than…

He blinked, stunned for a moment.

Where had that come from?

Shaking his head to rid himself of the sudden images and the heavy feeling weighing on him, he turned back to Vrel. "I'm not sure she likes me that way." But insisting did not even faze the larger boy.

Vrel tutted in mock pity. He turned to Leaf who was sitting silently on his other side, involved in his food. "Do you hear this idiot?" He jerked his head at Link, who glared dangerously at him.

Vrel then pat Link on the shoulder. "You, my friend, are so evidently deaf and blind," he said cheerily. "Either that or completely dimwitted. Have you not seen the way Adra's been acting around you recently? It's the most painfully obvious thing in the world. Right Leaf?"

Leaf, who had remained abnormally silent throughout, shifted in his seat and averted his gaze. "Umm, yeah…sure."

Vrel slapped the table. "As I said!"

Link flashed a concerned look at Leaf, who appeared to be sinking into his chair, then at the relentless Vrel. "Actually…I…"

He hadn't the chance to finish as suddenly a chorus of cheers erupted as the cake was brought out. Link, grateful for the distraction as he hadn't actually figured out what he'd been going to say, rose from his seat as the cake was placed directly in front of him. As they all indulged in the desert, Link having received the largest portion, as was his right for the occasion, he meticulously steered clear of any conversation pertaining to their female friend. He just…didn't want to talk about it.

As twilight descended and lanterns were lit, everyone relocated to the bridge. It's width almost as big as it's length, it was the stage for many of their celebrations, mostly though for the celebration of the golden goddesses who had created Hyrule and gave them life. But this was the first time it would be used for his birthday. Link's heart pounded in giddiness. He couldn't help it, really.

At one end a small podium had been erected with barrels and instruments. At the foot of the podium there was another barrel. He was practically shoved towards this one. He sat on it with nervous trepidation, feeling all eyes on him. Then the blacksmith, Roark, his stand in father, stepped forward, hands concealed behind his back.

Roark smiled at him and the clamor suddenly died down.

"Link," his voice boomed. "As you have now reached the age of manhood, an age where choices are made, hearts are broken, and virtue is scarce…"

At this a wave of laughter erupted from the adults, while the children looked on in clueless frustration. Link flushed red and ignored the obscene gestures that Vrel and Leaf were making. He also noticed, from the corner of his eyes, Adra glowing a bright red as she clasped both hands to her cheeks. At once he set to ignore that too.

Roark coughed, forcing the smile from his face. "Anyways. Since you are now at the point of manhood, you shall receive…"

Two heavy-set men had taken out their Goron-crafted bongos and started a drumroll.

Roark's eyes twinkled and he swept his hands out in front of him. The drumroll abruptly stopped and the villagers cheered loudly at the items held in Roark's hands, a shiny needle and a pair of blue metal loop earrings.

Link gulped audibly, but determination firmed his mind, forcing him to steel himself. The children all began to chant 'Piercing! Piercing! Piercing!', and one look at Vrel and Leaf had them flashing their earlobes where a similar pair of metal loops adorned them.

Vrel shrugged, as if to casually say 'we had ours done too'.

Frowning, he held still, posture rigid, as Roark approached with the dangerously sharp object. It couldn't be all that bad. Everyone in Heron Falls got their ears pierced eventually, and some even chose to add more than just that single required set. He just hoped he didn't cry. Goddesses! That would be the ultimate form of humiliation. One of the boys back a few years ago had. Peter. He'd put up such a fuss by the end of it, and as punishment he was teased constantly for his weak display. Even now, five years later, at least once a week someone would make a half-hearted barb at him that would set him blushing in deepest shame. Link was determined not to suffer those consequences.

He stared forward as the needle came closer and felt as the point tapped his earlobe. He grit his teeth, anticipating the pain.

Roark smiled at him, confidently. "It won't take a second," he reassured. "Just a short pinch. There might be some blood, but I wouldn't worry too much about that."

"Just get on with it," Link hissed through clenched teeth. He hadn't thought something so small could elicit this much terror from him, although, it probably wasn't helped that the giant audience added a sort of stress to the ritual that made it positively unbearable.

Roark's strong hand patted his shoulder then he grasped his ear. Link shuddered as he felt the needle drive a hole right through, and was pulled out, quickly replaced by the earring. He exhaled slowly. One down. And then the next ear was pierced and it was done, amidst wild cheering.

Lilly, the lady in charge of the apothecary, dabbed some disinfectant around both holes then handed him a bottle. "Keep applying it twice a day, every day for the next two weeks or until it heals," she said softly, patting his cheek. "You did fine, Link."

As Lilly stepped away, Vrel and Leaf yanked him to his feet and slapped him on the back.

"Oi Link, all grown and manly now. Makes me so proud!" said Vrel, who soon had Link wrapped up in his powerful thick arms and proceeded to squeeze the life out of him.

"Vrel!" Link gasped, wriggling in discomfort.

Leaf laughed. "Ease up, will you. Let the poor boy stand on his own two feet, now that he's capable of it."

Vrel gave a fake sniffle. "You're right," he said, setting Link down. "Our boy can look after himself now." He then tilted over, leaning on the smaller boy, using his shoulder as an armrest. Link shoved him off and staggered, breathing in great lungfuls of blessed air.

Music started up, a fast ditty in which drums, wind, and strings played in a jaunty partnership. People converged in the middle of the bridge to dance and the bridge practically vibrated with all the stomping and twirling as joyous laughter rent the air.

Vrel smiled eagerly and splayed his arms around Link's and Leaf's shoulders. "Well what are we waiting for? It's your party Link, join in!" He tugged them in to join the men's circle, hands connected in a chain surrounding the women's circle.

Link laughed and rapidly became dizzy. Every so often the circles would stop and break then the men and women would dance and twirl with each other before the circles formed again and the dance would continue.

He danced through five more songs before he was called on again. Mothers had long taken their young ones to bed and the alcohol had been brought out with full zeal. Pink-faced men and women toasted him as he was shoved along once again to the podium.

"Play, Link, play!" one woman called out.

"Do a little tune, will you!" another one shouted.

"Come on Link!"

Link stuttered bashfully and was offered a violin. It wasn't his, but a borrowed one would suffice. He looked at it and at length, sighed and accepted – to even more cheering.

Tucking the curve of the lower bout under his chin, he positioned his fingers and brought up the bow, already rifling through a list of tunes he could play. Having made his choice he started at a slow first few notes. Then the pace increased and suddenly erupted into a fast river dance, his arm and wrist flying back and forth, the fingers of his left hand dancing over the strings fluidly. The other musicians picked up the tune and began to play the filler parts, leaving him with the melody. Soon the revelers were cheering and dancing once more.

Link smiled and observed them from his vantage point, all the while playing flawlessly. He had to concentrate near the end as the last few notes drew more speed and then finally he finished with one long clear note.

The villagers applauded and cheered, and he was led down, relieved of the violin and offered a refreshing drink from Vrel.

He chugged it down, and immediately spat half of it back out. "By Din, what did you give me?"

Vrel smiled. "Ale. Your first time trying it, right? Do you like it?"

He shook his head vehemently. "It's horrible."

Vrel laughed, and no matter that Link had determined at first taste that he didn't like the brew at all, he couldn't stop himself from drinking glass after glass whenever anyone offered him some.

Soon he was stumbling all over the place, his head filled with light and fuzzy feelings. He laughed a lot too, and at some points the world seemed to tilt funnily, but he did well in the dances, or at least better than most. By now over half the people were drunk or bordering on it. Link never imagined inebriation would feel so…so…

"Link."

His head snapped up, his blurred vision seeking…

"Zelda?" he said, but it must have come out as a 'blah', because Adra merely grasped his hands and giggled.

"Dance with me?" she said, tugging him into the mass of revelers.

Somehow disappointed - although he couldn't fathom why - he smiled and assented, seeing as how he had little will to resist anyways.

Adra pulled him into the middle of the floor as the next ditty started. From somewhere far away he thought he heard Vrel shout out 'Way to go, Link!', but it was lost to him as Adra positioned his hands appropriately and he instinctively led her into a dance. They spun and jumped, all the while laughing with delight. Yet with each spin and with each jump, Link grew more and more pressured, as if a weight was gradually settling on his shoulders.

It was a relief when the dance finally ended, but before he could sit down and rest for a bit Adra had pulled him with her across the bridge and onto firm soil. In the thick trees of the surrounding forest the light from the lanterns didn't reach far and only remained small pinpricks in the distance. With the darkness, some of that pressure was alleviated, but a grand portion of it still remained.

Adra led them to a small glade, glistening in the moonlight. She turned and beamed widely at him. Link halted beside her and grinned back. He felt awfully malleable for some reason. He didn't think he'd be able to put up a proper fight even if she decided to dunk him in the lake right now.

Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at him. "Aren't the stars magnificent tonight?"

He registered the conversation starter as romance talk and mentally groaned. Curious…how it bothered him.

He blinked slowly, as suddenly the world began to spin, and when next he opened his eyes he was startled to see her standing directly in front of him, peering at him intensely. She reached a hand and gently fingered the lobe his pointed ear.

"Did it hurt?" she asked, expression one of concern.

Adra was only sixteen and still had over half a year before the village threw an equally massive celebration for her seventeenth birthday. Her ears were round and free of any metals hanging from them.

Link gulped and quickly shook his head, regretting that action at once when the pressure increased. "Not really. A short…pinch…is all."

The words came to him slowly and were somewhat slurred. But Adra didn't seem to mind as she smiled at him. As the miller's daughter her family was one of the wealthiest in the village, and thusly her clothes and dresses were of a better quality than most the other young girls, more flattering too. When usually garbed in white trousers and cream shirt with a vivid green overcoat and sash, right now she donned a lovely yellow dress than matched her pale blonde hair, let loose for the occasion.

In a moment of fogginess, Link grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and brushing his cheek against her hair. Soft and golden, scent of roses and lushwood…

"Woah there. I think you enjoyed the alcohol a bit too much," said Adra, hugging him back. "We haven't done this in a while, not since we were kids." She sighed and then asked quietly, "Do you love me, Link?"

Her question went far over his head, as he couldn't quite grasp what she was saying.

Adra huffed in annoyance. "Lightweight. You're practically a redead when you're drunk, aren't you?" she said, smiling indulgently. "Hey, do you ever think of leaving Heron Falls?"

Link inhaled, immersing himself in the feeling of her. This time her question successfully filtered into the conscious portion of his brain. "Why?"

Adra shifted in his arms. "Heron falls is nice and all, but I want to look at my options. I want to see other places, don't you?"

Link shrugged. "Sometimes. Mostly I'm happy where I am." That was a lie. He couldn't stand being stationary. Open fields called to him. Cities and places he'd never been beckoned him by name, the longing for travel suppressed for as long as he could remember.

Adra pulled away fully and to Link's blurred vision he saw her hair long in golden waves, her eyes a shimmering blue.

"Well, I think it's about time we got out for a while," she said, taking his hands in hers. "We could roam a bit, go to Kakariko village and Death Mountain to see the Gorons. Or Lake Hylia, it's supposed to be quite stunning in the summer time. I know! Let's go to Castle Town, Link! Oh, I've always wanted to see it! And we might even see the regent! The ruler of all of Hyrule!"

"Regent?" he muttered tiredly. "Prin…cess?"

Adra took a good look at him and frowned, her short locks of white-blonde hair floating in the breeze. "Princess? What are you on about?"

Link's head drooped, his tongue becoming thick and unusable. Suddenly the world seemed to convulse around him, a dizzying sensation hit him, making his stomach surge and his head pound. Everything attacked him at once, raining down on him like one enormous flood of water. The pressure! It was unbearable!

"Argh!" He cried and stumbled away, clutching his head in agony.

Adra shrieked and jumped away, spooked. Hesitantly she reached towards him. "Link? Link, what is it? What's wrong?"

Link pulled at his hair, panting harshly. Another wave of pressure and pain coalesced over him and he was brought to his knees, curling into a ball and then arching his back, his head snapping upwards, eyes squeezed tight.

"AHHHHHHHH!"

Link howled in lament to the heavens. He curled into himself, wracked with the most intense pain he'd ever experienced. He wanted it to stop, he prayed for it to stop! It pounded at his skull, his brain a blazing mass of dendrites firing at a rapid pace, images rushing in torrents through his mind's eye. Emotions of torment, despair, fear, agony, hope, peace, love, then the most miserable feeling of ultimate sorrow, consumed him.

He panted, unable to catch his breath, unable to breathe.

He could barely hear as Adra rushed back to the bridge calling out in panic. "Someone, help!"

"ARRRGH!"

His head was being bashed open, again and again. Hundreds of swords and knifes pierced him all at once. His vision spotted, then blackened. He passed out just as the pounding of footsteps heralded the arrival of help.

One lingering image pursued him as tears streaked down his face.

He was floating in a realm of darkness; the only sound a single drip of water. Peace flowed through him, a sense of calm contentedness. A figure suddenly manifested in the distance, glowing and wrapped in a consuming cloak. He stretched his arm out, suddenly desperate to reach them. The figure turned, eyes trained on him before it faced forward, and began to walk away.

No…

No!

Don't go!

"ZELDA!"

He shot up, blankets falling all over him in a puddle, hand still reaching for something he could not grasp. He stayed there, panting, sweat beading down his face as awareness soon returned to him. Slowly, realization settled over him and he sighed a long breath, hand flopping to his lap. He stared unseeingly downwards his eyes filling with tears.

There was the rushed thudding of footsteps from down the hall and he quickly swiped his eyes, erasing all signs of his discomfiture.

The door burst open and Roark appeared. "Link, my boy! Are you alright?"

Link looked up at his current father figure, noting his haggard appearance and rapid breathing. Their lack of blood relationship was obvious in their features, while Roark was tall and broad, Link was short and lithe, Roark had vivid red hair and a shadow around his cheeks and chin, while Link's own hair was a dirty blonde and no matter how patiently he'd waited facial hair had yet to take root.

Roark pulled up a chair and gave Link a quick sweep over. Almost casually Link buried his left hand in the blankets.

"Link," said Roark, his burly voice low with concern, "what happened? What was that sudden episode? Was it the drink?"

Link scoffed and looked away. "You know it wasn't."

Roark gazed at him piercingly and rubbed his chin. "Nay, it wasn't. Drink doesn't cause one to dissolve into fits of pain…sounded like you were being tortured back there."

Mentally he chaffed, I was.

"Anyways," continued Roark, running his hand over the back of his neck. "I'll go get you some soup, and then tell everyone you're alright. You gave us all quite the scare. Had to end the party earlier than planned. Most of us thought you were being attacked by one of those beasts then we were all confused when Adra said it was just you. Some fools say it's a bit ominous. You suddenly collapsing, especially since it happened on your birthday."

Link flinched and held back from groaning, instead rubbing his temples as another round of pain hit. His head was killing him.

Roark noted his discomfort and went to get him the soup. He soon returned and handed the warm bowl to him. Link ate it slowly, appreciating the menial task and the repetitive motions. There was a lot on his mind right now, too much to focus on strictly anything at a time.

"Feeling better?" asked Roark gruffly, and although he didn't quite cut the fatherly figure, his efforts were good-willed and hearty enough.

Link nodded in affirmation and sipped some more of his soup.

"Should I get Adra then? She's been worrying herself sick over you, thinks it's somehow her fault. Poor girl," Roark said, scratching the back of his neck. And then as if it were his duty, he added with a subtle hint. "She really does care for you though."

Link's faltered and nearly lost his grip on the spoon. He slammed it into his bowl. "No!"

Roark narrowed his eyes. "Pardon my hearing? I don't like that sudden tone you have."

Link realized his mistake and said more lightly. "No, it's fine. I'm fine. I just…just…want to be alone for a while."

Roark's eye's softened as he patted Link comfortingly on the back. "You've been through a lot these past few days. I understand how it wouldn't look good to be appear weak in front of someone who matters to you."

He frowned. Was Roark suggesting he was embarrassed?

Pushing himself up, a few bones creaking, Roark headed out of the room. "Rest for a bit. I gave you yesterday off because you were out of it, and the day before because it was your birthday. But today's the last day I'm giving you. By tomorrow you'll be put to work whether you're well or not."

Link's lips started to twitch upward but he hastily forced it down. "Yes, sir."

"Good," said Roark, then closed door all the way to leave Link alone.

Link heaved a long hard sigh.

He kept his mind carefully blank as he finished off his soup and set the bowl aside. Gingerly he turned his hand over and eyed the back of it. Over the peachy sheen of his skin was the mark of the Triforce, three equilateral golden triangles, all connected at the tips to form a larger triangle.

He'd carefully kept it concealed as he'd eaten, facing it away from Roark, but he'd need a pair of gloves, and soon. He remembered the last time he'd flaunted the golden triangle around without heed and the repercussions that consequently followed. He would not be so foolish again, at least not until he was well stocked and supplied and up to par with his previous selves. He felt out of shape, it was a wonder he'd done so well in the sparing matches.

Flopping down on the bed, he drew up the blankets and settled in for a long nap. He was exhausted beyond belief. Having all of his memories of his previous lives returned to him all at once had taken its toll, and he was left with the familiar feeling of misplacement. His current mindset battled to assimilate with all his others into one masterful one, but it wouldn't happen in a day. Different faces, people he once knew, friends and enemies, all converged and for a moment it was difficult to differentiate between who belonged to which lifetime, which Link knew who and what information. So while the battle waged on, he would procure the most amount of rest possible in his situation. By Nayru, this would have been immensely easier had he lived on his own and could dwell on his thoughts without any interference.

Eventually, exhaustion took over and he was sound asleep.

He awoke hours later and by then the day had gone and night had fallen, shadowing his room in a cloak of blackness. Link's eyes flashed open and he eased out of bed. He pulled on his boots, all the while straining an ear in order to keep track of Roark's heavy snoring.

Slowly, he slid the window open and crept out into the night.

The village was silent and serene. A peaceful little way town that nobody really paid any attention to, and Link pondered on the strategic little methods the Goddesses used to see him safe until grown to adulthood. In an unremarkable little village it was almost ascertained that he'd have a calm and easy childhood. Only that one time had he been reared in Castle Town itself, as the ward of one of the guards. It was simple to deduce that it was because at that time monsters had abound in massive hoards all over the country and Castle Town had been the safest place to be.

Link skimmed around the perimeter of the village, enclosed on two sides by tall cliff walls, a small means of defense. It offered only two exits, one to the woods, and the other to a broad road where travellers and merchants passed. As much as he desired to follow the road and encounter Hyrule's large open fields, he drifted from that path and instead entered the forest.

It would only be for a short while, to gauge how much he needed to work on, but he was fairly confident. Work in the forge had already strengthened his upper body, but he could imagine his footwork and reflexes needed a bit of fine-tuning. As he walked he searched the brambles until he found a decent size stick, relatively straight and sturdy. He swiped the air a few times, and once he arrived at a familiar glade far enough away from the village he set about performing his old training exercises.

He first determined his shoddiness at handling a weapon, swinging the piece of wood in vertical, horizontal and diagonal strikes, and as familiarity flowed through him and his body began picking up on lessons long ago learned, he began twirling it in intricate arrays.

He conjured up an imaginary foe and brought his 'sword' to bear. The form took the shape of a large piggish creature, a middle ranked enemy called a moblin. He attacked with ease, incorporating maneuvers from his former lifetimes and slowly regaining his technique. The imaginary moblin swiped its sword at him. Link quickly ducked and rolled, pulling up in an upward slash. The moblin fell forward, its back sliced open and it 'poofed' out of existence.

Link continued battling invisible foes, setting himself up against hordes at a time, defending against multiple enemies at once until he broke out into a sweat. It all ended when, in a frenzied slash, he tripped over a root and collided with the ground.

He lay there gazing up into the canopy, his breaths coming in gasps. His muscles burned ferociously, a welcoming feeling that gave him renewed vigor.

At length, he sat up. Crossing his legs, he placed the wood across his lap. He mentally reviewed his mock fight and assessed his skill level. There was much to be done, as was expected. His arms moved too fast for his feet, he kept losing balance and he needed to work on conserving his momentum for the next attack rather than drawing back. Above all what desired the most improvement was his abysmal stamina. He hadn't been at it for more than half an hour and that annoyed him. He recalled weeks and weeks of running around Hyrule, full days spent fighting gruesome monsters.

That and his level of alertness, he thought aptly as he at once swivelled his gaze over to meet the bright green eyes of his watcher, peering out at him from the trees.

He swiftly pulled himself to his feet, stumbling as his legs ached in protest. "Adra, what are you doing here?"

Adra's eyes rounded even wider than they'd already been. Hesitantly, she came forward out of the brush, her expression a mixture of disbelief and wonder. "I came to see how you were doing. I saw you leaving your house and followed," she explained then paused. "How did you do that? All those moves with that stick. You didn't fight like that in the sparring matches."

Link sighed, annoyed that she had to be so nosy, and doubly annoyed that he hadn't caught her following him. "You should get back, Adra. The woods are not safe at night."

Adra's forehead creased in a frown, her lips thinning. "And what are you doing out here, may I ask?" she replied heatedly. "It's just as dangerous for you. If Roark knew you sneaked out in the night to practice your sword waving he'd be furious!"

"Adra, keep it down!" Link urged, ears pricking at the strident howl of a wolfos in the distance.

Adra paled at the noise and looked abashed and fisted her hands. "You're right. I'm sorry."

He waved off her apology and flung the stick somewhere into the brush. "Let's just go back, alright?"

She nodded. "Alright."

They walked in silence, all the while Link kept his eyes and ears on guard for anything dangerous. Forest keese fluttered their wings in their perches high in the trees, occasionally swooping down to hunt, but largely keeping to themselves. He steered them clear of a well-known patch of deku babas, walking along a deer path leading towards the river. It was quiet for a time, however the peace didn't last as Adra piped up.

"Link, what happened the other night, on your birthday?"

Link didn't directly meet her eyes as he adopted an air of trivial nonchalance. He diverted her question with one of his own. "What are you doing up at night anyways?"

Adra huffed in irritation. "I told you, I was worried about you. Now, what happened?" she pressed before saying softly, "You were crying out in pain and at first I thought it was that cut from your match against Keegan, but then you started to…I don't know, glow. A golden light surrounded you and then faded. The only thing left was…"

His footsteps faltered and his heart stuttered all at once. "Yes?" he pressed, breath catching in his throat.

Adra stopped suddenly, looking away. Link stopped with her, needing to know if she had seen it. Abruptly she shot her hand out and snagged his wrist. Link tried to pull away, but the damage had been done. In the moonlight the clear outline of a golden triangle shone visible on his left hand. He realized that her eyes hadn't even moved towards the mark and that they'd been watching his face the entire time. She hadn't needed to see it to know that it was there. And if she knew where to look for it, that meant that the other night she'd seen it too.

He yanked his hand away and pulled down his sleeve to cover the mark. She scowled. "Don't be absurd Link. For Farore's sake, I've already seen it. It glowed too and I had to cover it up because it looked like something important."

"You can't tell anybody," hissed Link, vehemently.

Adra appeared startled. "I-I wasn't going to," she murmured silently. "Those triangles…that's the Triforce isn't it? The mark of the Goddesses? But what does it mean, Link?"

Things were quickly spiralling into turmoil and he had to stop her from inquiring further. "It means nothing." He clenched his jaw to calm himself then narrowed a stern gaze at her. "You can't say a word about this to anyone."

"Roark has a right to know," she pressed, glaring up at him.

Link grit his teeth then sighed. He was going about this all wrong. Forcing his pounding heart to steady, he gingerly took one of Adra's hands into both of his and gazed at her eyes, imploringly. "Please. No one can know."

Adra's fierce eyes met his and softened. She squeezed his hand. "Only because it's so important. I won't tell." She smiled and stepped forward, closing the space between them. "It will be our little secret."

Link smiled back but halfheartedly. He shifted to allow him more room. "Thank you."

"I know the village means a lot to you, and you wouldn't want anything bad to happen. If that really is the mark of the Goddesses…"

Link almost groaned and pulled her along through the trees. "Come on. It's late."

At the northern end of the village there was a river that ran all the way from Zora's domain to Heron Falls, creating the great cascade that it was renowned for. The water swelled and formed Heron Lake before it continued its journey southward, funnelling into another river and flowing onwards to Lake Hylia. On the southern river was the watermill and a cottage nearby that housed the miller and his family.

Link escorted Adra to her doorstep and she glanced back as him as she made to enter. Link turned to quickly walk away, but her hopeful voice called him to a halt.

"Link."

Long bred courtesy forced him to stop and hear what she had to say. He twisted his head to look over his shoulder, seeing her hovering on the threshold, but said nothing. This resembled too much like a romantic parting for his conscious.

"Link," she started, but something in his demeanor must have enlightened her to his unease as she merely stepped into the house and eased the door closed. "Goodnight." Then it clicked shut and he was left alone.

He snuck back through the window of his house, noting that there hadn't even been a pause in the rhythm of Roark's snoring. Link lay in his bed, mind engaged in a furious number of activities, too awake to settle down as of yet. He would sort it out as he always did. One day at a time. He'd live through tomorrow and plan the next day, doing this the load on his mind could be broken down into simpler parts. There was much to do, but he couldn't do it all at once. He had to plan.

Vrel came to visit him in the forge the next morning. Link was shirtless, sweat beading down his brow, and marking trails between his shoulder blades and along his back. Heat blasted in his face and he pounded the metal into shape, his left hand holding the hammer with a firm grip, newly acquired fingerless gloves creating a layer between wood and skin.

"What is it, Vrel? Can't you see I'm busy?" he said curtly and brought the hammer down with a ringing clang.

But Vrel was wise to the methods of deterrence. He'd annoyed more people than just Link and Link's attempts to drive him away had no effect. Rather, he watched in the doorway where the breeze cooled him from the harsh glower of the forge. The cloth door was pulled aside and hooked around a jutting prod to allow air circulation, but no matter, the sun beat hot and the forge was as boiling as ever. Why Link had been reduced to this profession he couldn't imagine. It was like trekking a full day through the sands of the Gerudo desert while bundled up for winter.

Roark had gone ahead to deliver some horseshoes, so the forge was his for the day.

Vrel smiled playfully. "Had fun the other night?"

Link looked thoughtful, all the while still hammering away. "What other night?" He feigned innocence. Surely he hadn't witnessed his little escapade into the woods and leaving them with Adra. That would have surely raised suspicions, and not a small bit of scandal either.

Vrel only chuckled wryly. "Your birthday," he said jauntily. "You and Adra, dancing under the moonlight, and then running off to Farore knows where, ring any bells?"

Oh, he remembered. And it eluded him why Vrel insisted on pushing them together and didn't pursue the girl himself. After all, he had agreed she was probably the best catch among their age group. So why did he insist…

"Did you kiss? Are you officially courting now?"

Link studied the mangled piece of glowing metal and used the tongs to douse it in a bucket of cool water. It was slowly beginning to take shape.

He sniffed. "You're beginning to sound like a woman in want for gossip. And no, nothing happened. We danced and then I blacked out. Doesn't everyone know? Shouldn't you be asking how I'm feeling, hmm? I was bedridden for two days, you know."

Vrel waved him off. "You're feeling fine. Listen, you're even bickering with me. Don't we make a marvelous pair of old house wives?"

Link sighed and continued with his work. "What are you really doing here? And why aren't you at work with your parents?"

At this Vrel simply grinned brightly, having ignored the question entirely. Vrel's antics tended to amuse him on the best of days, however, today he just didn't feel like it… he wasn't in the mood to indulge in his friend's silly games. He wanted to be alone.

"Come on Link," Vrel urged, lithely. "You can admit it to me at least, can't you? I'll even help. I'll spell it out for you. You. Like. Her."

Link blinked and rounded a befuddled gaze at the other boy. "What?"

Vrel's smile only broadened. "Ahhh, your reaction say's differently. Let me respell that for you. You. Love. Her."

His heart beat fast as the full extent of the meaning of those words overwhelmed him, bringing up a series of familiar emotions. "Her? Who's her?"

"Adra, of course."

All at once those feelings turned and indignation befell him, marring his face in a dissatisfied frown. "What?"

A small scuffling sound came from beyond the doorway, a villager making their way down the street. Vrel quickly glanced outside then shifted his gaze back to Link's, clearing portraying his disbelief. "You love her."

Link drew up sharply, annoyance slowly morphing into anger. "I don't." He turned back to the forge and pulled the metal out of the bucket then stuffed it back into the fire.

"You do, Link."

Why, why did he have to press the issue? He did not love anyone other than…

A flash of deep blue eyes donning a lovely heart-shaped face breezed across his vision.

He shivered and closed his eyes, hope and yearning allowing him to steady his heart and relax him. Languidly, he opened his eyes.

She was out there, somewhere. And this time, he would not fail her.

He swept his eyes over the tarnished length of steel, not yet fully tempered, but admittedly it was beginning to look like what it was supposed to. Currently he was fashioning himself a sword. Later, when he had the rupees, he'd pay Roark back for it. Just…he had to have a weapon, he wasn't complete unless he had something to defend himself with. To defend others as well, he added as he recalled multiple times bringing up his sword in defense of the innocent.

His demeanor changed into one of cold determination. He'd also have to be prepared for when Ganondorf returned. If the King of Thieves did indeed regain his memories as Link and Zelda did, they had to know when and how much did he remember. Was it at the age of seventeen, like them, or in his later years, or, Goddesses forbid, in his younger years, granting him even more time to ruminate and plan. Also did he recall absolutely everything, or only the most important events of their lifetimes?

In any case, it was Link's sworn duty to face him. That he was born again meant that a calamity would ensue, and he'd be the only one able to stop it before it consumed the world.

"Come on, Link. At least admit that you like her a little," said Vrel, bracing his hands behind his neck.

"No, I don't."

Vrel's blithe smile seemed to falter as he was losing confidence. "Link-"

What was the matter with him? It was not like him to be this persistent. Groaning in annoyance he slammed the hammer down. "Stop it, Vrel. I don't like her in the way that your implications demand that I do, and I definitely do not love her," he told him heatedly. "Can't you see? You and everyone else may be pushing for it, but I assure you there will never be anything between Adra and me. We will never get together, we will never marry, and I will never love her! I do not know what's gotten into you, but now that you've heard me I'd like you to stop…stop going on about this!"

From outside there came a feminine gasp and then a wavered inhalation of breath. Vrel dropped his hands and darted his gaze over to the other side of the doorway, eyes wide and worried. Footsteps pounded onto the earth as someone sped away in a rush. Vrel appeared to be struggling with whether to tear after the fleeing person or to stay and give Link a piece of his mind.

He settled on sending a heat-filled look at Link that spoke of anger and disappointment. "You're heartless, Link. You know that?"

Link gazed unflinchingly back at him, expressing no emotion. Vrel snorted in disgust and ran after Adra. Leaf came in a moment later, worried and distraught.

"What happened?" he gasped quickly. "What did you say to Vrel?"

Link immediately pierced him with accusing eyes. "You knew about this?"

Leaf shifted uneasily then reluctantly nodded, casting furtive glances down the road in the direction Adra had fled. "Vrel was going to get you to tell him how you feel about Adra while she listened in, and in return she'd assist him in getting closer to Marle. But it appears things didn't go so well."

That was an understatement. Things had gone horrid. Vrel thought him a heartless bastard and Adra revealed herself to be too self-involved to accept the truth of his feelings. He refused to feel any guilt whatsoever. It was their own fault for scheming behind his back. They had no right to pressure him like this, neither Vrel, nor Roark, nor the rest of the village had any right. Just because they'd been childhood friends and were still close didn't mean anything had to happen between them.

Leaf appeared to be upset but at the same time he looked relieved as if a hope had been rekindled inside of him.

Link sighed and gave his back to his friend. "You… Go to her, Leaf. Large as he is, Vrel doesn't have enough shoulder for her to cry on. And you know Adra. When she cries, she cries rivers. She's going to require a back up."

That motivated Leaf to quickly rush out of the forge, flashing him an apologetic look as he dashed off. Link slowly relaxed his rigid shoulders, and rotated his neck, alleviating the tension in his muscles.

He looked at the scrap of metal that would become his sword and set it aside to work on later.

He sat heavily on a stool and leaned back against the wall, propping his head upwards. That little mess brought up painful memories. Faces of all the girls he'd associated with, all those who'd played major roles in his lives, emerged and he diligently went through them giving them each names. Malon, Ilia, Emma, Mell, and now Adra, all who'd nearly passed the boundaries of friendship into the territory of lover, the only one who'd ever come close had been Mell…

He hated thinking about her. He hated dwelling on his last life and so suppressed the memories, but couldn't prevent the sorrow from reaching up and grasping at him.

He heaved himself up. The most important fact he knew was that the faster he caught up to his old selves, the faster he could leave, and the faster he could reunite with the one person who mattered.

Zelda, wait for me. I'm coming for you.

Hope you all enjoyed!