"I found her!" Link rushed in breathlessly to Gaepora's office.
"What?" He turned and looked incredulously.
"I found Zelda! Today while I was deep in the woods!"
The large man stared with a look of utter shock on his face.
"Well where is she then!?"
Link knew this question would come.
"I couldn't take her home just yet. She's being held captive by Ghirahim, a self-proclaimed demon lord." He said.
"I've heard you mention that name before...but you said he was dead-"
"I thought he was!" Link interrupted, "but I never saw his body actually die...I suppose he could have come back, probably not as strong..." He thought out loud.
"Well take all the time you need, son, just bring me my daughter back safely!" The large man said now in a much better mood.
"I will, I promise...I just have to sneak out when she's alone, grab her and go."
"I have faith in you, link," he smiled and patted the young man on the back.
The hero did not sleep well that night, he dreamed of the younger days with his friend. How they used to play and run, with no worries in the world...and when he woke up, he still couldn't get her face from his mind. But one thing had been bothering him that he hadn't mentioned. The fact that she looked right at him and ran the other direction. He attributed it to the fact that she was afraid of Ghirahim and if he saw her escaping. That thought eased his mind a little. After all, it had been nearly six months since she had been taken. Kidnapped just when everyone thought it was safe to begin building on the surface. A few people had remained down on the land, but the event scared most people back up to the safety of what they found familiar.
Link found comfort in both places but preferred his house he built on the surface the most. It was his very own that he had built with the help of his friends. And not only that but they had discovered these large hairy beasts that they were now calling 'horses', and link found a love for riding the creatures that was equaled only by riding his bird. He had tamed a large sorrel mare by himself in less than a month. He did it to aid in the search for Zelda, these animals were much quicker than humans on foot.
Link decided to pack up some supplies on his horses back, and stay a few days in the woods to wait for Zelda. He would not return without her this time.
Deep in the Faron woods in uncharted territory, Ghirahim sat in his room with a smirk on his face. He could not believe what his life had become! He was a practically a king! After the fall of his master, he laid low trying to find a way to get revenge on that brat that had taken everything from him. And he had gotten his chance when he found a small village the people from the sky were building. He planned on a much worse fate for the little goddess, but he figured out the hard way, if you hit a human in the head a little too hard in just the right spot, they apparently lose all memory of their lives.
He was disappointed at first. But as Zelda began to come to and ask questions, he decided this could work in his favor. He made up some intricate story that he had found her unconscious in the woods and had been nursing her back to health. He said there was a war going on and that's why they stayed in this castle tucked away in the woods. She seemed very grateful for his help and as he slowly gained power over her, he realized he could make bend at his will. She seemed all too happy at first, to her, it was probably like returning the favor. But he slowly turned her into more of a servant then anything. And if she disobeyed him, then he simply threatened to send her out into the woods on her own to get ravaged by some wild beast or captured and killed in the 'war' that was going on. She seemed to stay in line better after a few threats. And as for that bratty sky child he despised? Well every time he visited the little dove in her chambers, he thought of his face and what he would say if he could see his girlfriend now, and that was payback enough for now. He had taken something he loved and ruined it, an eye for an eye. He laughed to himself at the thought of the pathetic boy.
A few rooms away, Zelda paced the floor. Her curiosity was only growing about this boy she had seen. Yet she was afraid. What if he was an enemy coming to take her away as a hostage, or even kill her!? She realized that she should probably stay away from him for her own safety.
But what if he returned? What if he was waiting for her next time she went outside? As confused as she was, she still couldn't find it in herself to tell her master about him. So, she waited.
After a few days, thoughts of him slowly disappeared. She focused on her work, and keeping Ghirahim happy. But being inside all day was getting to her. She longed to feel the grass on her bare feet again. She finally broke down when she finished early one day, and was allowed outside.
She slowly opened the door and looked around. No sign of anything suspicious. She closed it behind her and walked quietly to the garden. She sat silently for a moment on the stone bench, and when she heard and saw nothing, she grew more comfortable. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, face towards the sky.
Her eyes snapped open at a strange noise. She looked around but saw nothing. Perhaps it was the wind. But she heard it again. She stood this time.
"Hello?" She whispered quietly.
"Down here," in just the smallest whisper. Her heart pounded, she already knew who it was before she peeked over the low wall. The blonde boy was crouched behind the stone hidden from view of any windows In the house.
"Thank god, Zelda, you were so quiet I couldn't tell who was out here." He sat up slightly, keeping an eye on the big house behind Zelda.
"We have to go; do you think he is watching you?" He said trying to spot any human like shape in a window.
"I-I'm not going anywhere with you!" She said incredulously.
The boy stared at her a second.
"Very funny...now come on," he quickly stood and grabbed her arm, trying to pull her over the stone wall into the woods.
"No!" She tugged her arm back. The boy looked completely stunned. He stood frozen in place.
"Zelda...everyone's waiting for you...I know you're afraid but I won't let him get you again..."
This boy seemed determined to take her from her home. None of what he said made any sense to her. But he was right about one thing, she was very scared right now.
"I don't know what you mean, and I'm sorry, but I have to stay here and take care of my master." She tried to be polite.
"After he tried to capture you and bring back the demon king with your soul? After he kidnapped you and has kept you in hiding for six months your choosing him over your family!?"
Something stirred in Zelda. Something that told her he wasn't lying. Yet...she had been told none of this by her master and surely, he would not have lied to her about it...
Would he?
"I...my master says there is a war going on and people are killing each other out there! That's why he keeps me safe in here! I don't know who you are, but you don't need to worry about me. I'm well protected and don't need you to save me. Besides, for all I know you could take me away and kill me!" She turned and ran, the boy seemed stuck to that spot in the ground, his mouth open, as though nothing in the world made sense right now. She couldn't worry about him. She had to please her master not some young boy who claimed he knew her...
She went to bed early that night, but didn't find much relief in sleep.
