Chapter 2- The Fiery Oracle
The metallic clangs of a sword could be heard for miles as Link practiced slashing up a scarecrow in his grandfather's field. His grandfather had been timing him but had to retreat inside for a glass of lemonade. He ordered Link to keep practicing, not even offering the exhausted boy a drink. One of the hired hands was sitting on a giant pumpkin, watching Link slash at the scarecrow. A young lad he was, about ten years old. He had dark thick hair, cut slightly above his thin eyebrows. He had a gleam in his sea blue eyes as he watched the soon-to-be prince.
After most of the energy had been drained out of Link and his blonde hair was soaked in sweat, he dropped his sword and collapsed in a pile of hay. "This is exhausting," he moaned.
The little boy sat up. "How does Princess Zelda look, Mister Link?" he asked curiously, swinging his feet. "I've never seen a princess before."
At the mention of Princess Zelda's name, Link's heart began to beat rapidly. He looked up at the blue sky, hoping the boy wouldn't notice how red his face had become. "There are no words that can describe her," he answered. "She is as graceful as a swan, feathers of pure white. And as astonishing as a lone star, the only hope in a pitch black night. As elegant as a rose, pearly petals of crimson. And as stunning as an orange sun rising above the green hilled horizon."
The boy cocked his head. "I didn't know you were a poet," he said.
Link looked at him suddenly. "Huh? I was just trying my best to describe her. I didn't mean to make it rhyme."
Suddenly a female voice pierced the air like an arrow. "Tommy!"
The boy quickly jumped off the pumpkin. "Uh oh! Gotta go!" He then scrambled away, leaving Link to his thoughts of Princess Zelda.
The orange sun had risen high above the fields and was beating down hard on the earth. A slight breeze tickled the tree leaves and the corn stalks as harmonious birds sang in the tree-tops. Link was in a world of blissful harmony as he lay in the soft hay. He took in a breath of the fresh, corn-scented air when suddenly a dark shadow loomed over him. He arose from the hay with haste, only to find the Oracle of Seasons, Din, standing there. She had a nasty scowl on her face and her eyes were cold.
"I have a bone to pick with you, old friend," Din said, her red hair shining in the sun. Her hands were on her hips as she stood there on the rich brown earth, glaring at Link.
Link gulped. He stepped back, stumbling over the pile of hay. "Wha-what is it?" he asked nervously. Strands of his golden hair fell over his eyes and his hands were out in front of him, as if to shield himself from the lady's wrath.
Din kicked the hay aside with her ribbon-laced foot and stepped closer. She seized Link's wrists and brought then down to his side. "Don't take me as a blind fool. Oh, I know, alright. I've heard. You are engaged, am I right? To Zelda, princess of Hyrule."
Link looked away, trying not to meet her eyes. He felt ashamed, though he had no reason to be. He adored Zelda for many years and didn't think much of Din. But he was afraid he may have given the oracle a false sense of affection. "Yes," he replied with confidence. "You have heard correct. Our wedding is in three weeks. You are invited, that is if you want to attend."
Din squeezed Link's wrists with rage and envy. "Why?" she fumed. "Why....would you want to marry someone like her? All these years you've loved me...and now you just toss me aside to the wind?" She stared at him with her fiery red eyes.
Link struggled to get his wrists free from her grasp but was not successful. He had tried to be polite and friendly but he could tell this method was getting nowhere. "I never loved you!" he exclaimed, shaking Din's wrists. "I am sorry if I mislead you somehow but you are only my friend! Or should I say you were my friend!"
Din's eyes grew wide with sorrow and amazement. She had never heard Link speak so harshly. She released his wrists and stepped back. Tears started to form in her sparkling crimson eyes. "I'm going back to Holodrum," she told him softy. "But I will return." After she uttered those final words, she departed from Link's sight. Exhausted, Link flopped back on the hay and rubbed his sore wrists.