"And then he just climbed up the side of the ravine and disappeared?" Malon asked incredulously. "He wasn't hurt at all?"
Link shook his head, he had met up with Malon again shortly after returning from delivering the milk and had wasted no time in telling her about the stranger he had nearly ran over. "Didn't say a thing to me, just took off like someone was chasing him."
"I wonder if it was really a 'him'." Malon tapped a nail thoughtfully against her lips. "You said the guards were searching for the Princess right?"
"Oh come now Mal," Link laughed, "you can't seriously think that person was really the Princess."
"Well you said yourself that you weren't able to identify the person cuz of the cloak they were wearing." Malon clapped her hands together excitedly. "Wouldn't that be exciting? You might have seen Princess Zelda and not even realized it! Oh I wonder what she is like...We might even see her!" She started to look around the market excitedly as if the Princess would suddenly materialize beside them.
Link shook his head with a sigh. "Mal your imagination really runs away with you sometimes. Are you done with your shopping though? We should really head back before it gets too late."
"I suppose you're right." Heading towards the cart she secured her purchases in the back. Link untied Epona's reins and quickly mounted her while Malon settled down at the driver seat once more to steer the cart home.
Digging his heels lightly into Epona's sides, Link took off in the lead with Malon keeping pace closely behind him. Leaving Castle Town behind, the duo slowly started the trek back to Lon Lon Ranch. "We've been lucky so far to not see any Bulblins this trip." Malon shouted to her step-brother as he continually searched the horizon for the troublesome bandits.
Link sighed as he caught movement up ahead. "I think you may have just jinxed us Mal. Keep heading home. I will try and draw their attention alright?"
Nodding silently, Malon flicked the reins urging the horse team into a fast gallop. Link watched his step-sister fly across the field towards home before spurring Epona towards the group of Bulblins. As he drew closer he counted three on foot and another three astride large oversized boars. He spared a quick glance back at Malon, so far the small cart and horse team had gone unnoticed by the Bulblins and he wanted to keep it that way. They seemed preoccupied though and as Link gained on them, he found out why. A small cloaked figure was caught in the middle of the six creatures and as whoever had the misfortune of travelling by foot was easier prey, the Bulblins weren't bothering with anyone else.
Reining in Epona, Link stopped on a slight rise to watch the Bulblins and the stranger, trying to decide if he should even bother to help. Now that he had a better view, he recognized the figure to be the person he'd nearly hit coming back from the castle. But even with this knowledge, he hesitated to help. Though they weren't the brightest bunch, the Bulblins tended to be more of a nuisance when they were in a group. He was pretty confident in his skills but with three on boar-back, they would be more of a challenge then Link was willing to face for a perfect stranger.
Tugging on Epona's reins, he started to turn the horse around to head to the ranch when the cloaked stranger was thrown to the ground. The hood fell back as the stranger fell and Link caught a glance of golden blonde hair. A very feminine cry rose from the stranger as she struggled to her feet. Link's eyes narrowed in on the woman. Even from this distance there was no mistaking the golden hair or the glint of a tiara woven through the silky strands.
Digging in his heels, Epona broke into a fast gallop, charging straight into the fray. The distraction worked and the Bulblins paused long enough for Link to reach down a hand and pull the woman up behind him as Epona raced past the startled monsters. He spared a long enough glance at the woman just to confirm that it was indeed Princess Zelda. With an enraged look the Princess wrapped her arms about his waist to keep from falling off the galloping horse. Behind them the Bulblins had gotten over their surprise at the unexpected saviour and had started to give chase. Luckily, Link knew Epona was one of the quickest horses in Hyrule. So he was confident that they would be able to lose them. However, what he hadn't counted on was the Bulblins losing interest and turning their sights to something more attainable...like the small cart and horses still racing home to Lon Lon Ranch.
With a muttered oath to Farore, he whipped Epona around and charged after the retreating bandits, attempting to cut them off before they reached Malon. With the change of direction, a fist started pounding into Link's back. With a glare he met the Princess's furious violet eyes.
"I refuse to return to the castle! You will take me to the Lost Woods at once!"
Link blinked in confusion, "castle? What are you talking about?" He looked ahead and noticed castle town looming ahead. "I am not heading back to castle town; those bandits are after that cart heading to Lon Lon Ranch..."
"Let them have it then. Everyone knows it is foolish to travel the Field without a proper escort. If that driver's too daft to hire someone let them pay the consequences."
Link's harsh bark of laughter caused the Princess to pause in her tirade. "That is rich coming from you. It just so happens that the person hired to escort that cart had to go rescue a fool-hardy Princess who decided to try and cross the Field without first enlisting the help of the multitude of guards she has available to her. So ya, I will try and stop those bandits as it is my job."
For her part, Zelda looked shocked to have been spoken to in such a matter but Link didn't have time to think of that. Unhooking his bow, he threw it at the Princess. "Try and draw their attention will you?" Why he thought she would have any skill with the bow was beyond him but again Link had the odd sensation that his instinct would prove correct once again.
Taking the bow in a steady hand, Link felt the Princess shift until she was steady enough to nock an arrow and take aim. The arrow flew true and embedded itself into the hindquarter of one of the boars. With a squeal the giant pig went down throwing its rider. Another arrow followed the first, taking down another of the giant pigs. By now the last rider had turned his boar around and was coming at the pair astride Epona. The three on foot continued to the cart, trusting their comrade to take care of the bothersome couple on the horse.
Gripping his sword, Link drew the blade with a growl and squeezed his thighs against the horse to help keep control as he only had the reins gripped in his right hand. Meeting the boar head on, he swung the blade successfully knocking the Bulblin off. With no rider, the giant boar came to a stop and snuffled the ground. Scrambling to its feet, the Bulblin attempted to reach its mount but by this time Link had turned Epona back around and with one clean cut, he cleaved the Bulblin in two before once again bringing Epona around to give chase to the remaining bandits.
"Bring us closer and I'll try and take a couple out with arrows."
He nodded in reply as he sheathed his sword. Digging his heels into Epona's flanks, he sounded a war cry. The remaining three bandits on foot were now joined by the two that had been on boar-back and were quickly gaining on Malon who had started to slow down as the horses started to tire. Glancing at the Bulblins, she tried to use the cart as a weapon and run them over but it wasn't long before one grabbed a hold and climbed into the back of the cart. Raising its crude blade, it attempted to slice the red haired woman but an arrow through the neck caused the Bulblin to fall back with a gurgled cry.
Gritting his teeth, Link grabbed his sword again and tried to swipe at one of the bandits as he came up beside it but the angle was difficult and he really didn't want to injure his own horse. Instead he settled for kicking it in the face as he passed by to get to his step-sister's side. Behind him, Zelda nocked another arrow and made sure the Bulblin he'd knocked down didn't get back up. With half their numbers gone, the remaining Bulblins fell back and dispersed, deciding that the Hylians were no longer worth the trouble.
Breathing heavily, Link scrambled down off of Epona and ran to Malon's side. With a scared cry, she bolted to his arms. "I thought they were going to get me Link, I really did..."
Comforting the scared red-head, he hugged her tight to him. "You know I'd never let that happen Malon. I came back as soon as I could when they turned their sights to you."
Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, Malon finally noticed the stranger sitting on her brother's beloved horse. "Oh, I didn't realize you'd had help."
He had forgotten all about the Princess, so when Malon mentioned her, Link drew back to turn around. The Princess had donned her hood again to hide her identity and offered Malon few words besides a quiet greeting. Taking the hint that the Princess wanted to remain a stranger, Link cleared his throat to turn his inquisitive sister's attention away from the other woman.
"She was who the Bulblins were originally trying to ambush when I stepped in."
Malon nodded at Link's explanation but didn't give up her quiet speculation of this stranger right away. Suddenly clapping her hands excitedly, she finally turned to her startled brother. "She's the one you nearly ran over coming back to the market isn't she?"
"Hey, I didn't nearly run her over!" He protested with a faint blush. "She jumped right in front of the cart! If anything she is lucky she didn't get hurt!"
"Aaaah so you rescued her because you felt guilty!" Malon batted her eyes and twirled around with a wistful sigh. "Soooo romantic."
"Oh Din." Link groaned, burying his face in his hands before shooting the disguised Princess an outraged glare. "Do you see what you've started?"
He couldn't be sure but he swore he heard the Princess chuckle softly but he dismissed it quickly. "Look we should get back before it gets much later. Talon will be sending the search parties soon."
Malon hopped back up into the driver's seat. "Is your mysterious maiden going to ride with you Link, or with me?"
"Good question." Link looked up at the Princess with a raised eyebrow. "The cart would probably be more comfortable than doubling with me."
"I..." The Princess paused looking between Link and Malon. "I must continue on..."
Link started to shake his head but it was Malon who spoke before he had a chance. "Don't be silly. Come back to the ranch with us. It's getting late and seeing as how your escort was killed in the ambush, you really shouldn't continue on your journey alone."
Link blinked in surprise when Zelda wordlessly agreed to go with them. She made no effort to correct Malon's assumption about the fictional escort and he didn't correct her. He wasn't sure what game the Princess was playing but he supposed for now he would go along with her. As long as it didn't bring trouble to the ranch and endanger his family.