When they arrived back at Hyrule's town square, quite a crowd had gathered, waiting for the princess to arrive back. Impa immediately appeared at Zelda's side.
"What happened out there? We saw the boars approaching and then..." She made a helpless gesture with her hands. Princess Zelda smiled understandingly.
"The Bokoblins aren't very easy to reason with." She glanced at Link, who was riding on his reddish chestnut horse, Epona, and looking at ease among people. Lowering her voice, she told her bodyguard, "If it hadn't been for Link here, the castle might have been very badly damaged." The older woman raised her eyebrows. They were distracted by a urgent sounding whinny from the boy's horse as Epona reared. Link managed to stay on top of her, but immediately dismounted and approached Zelda.
"Are you all right?" she asked him. He ignored her.
"You might want to tell your people to get inside the castle, your highness." She tilted her head.
"Why is that?" The young man glanced over his shoulder with what could be anxiety.
"Epona just 'told' me that more Bokoblins and Bublins are coming." She stared at him.
"Told?"
"I'll explain later. Help your people," he commanded, then mounted Epona, and galloped out of the town square. The princess watched him go.
"Who's in charge here?" she murmured to herself, then turned to her people. "I invite everyone to come inside the castle for a feast, as the celebration of our victory!" she exclaimed. Or at least for a little while, she thought. The crowd cheered and began to file into the castle while Zelda sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was create panic in the town and she'd needed a distraction. The princess turned to her bodyguard, who'd been listening to what Link had said and knew exactly what was going on. "I need make sure my people don't panic or learn what is happening. Please watch what Link does and then report back to me." Impa raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, princess."
Link jumped Epona and rode out of the town square. He could feel the princess's eyes on the back of his head as he left but ignored it. The bokoblins and bublins were going to attack the castle and he couldn't allow that to happen. Ganon would not be allowed to spread his power farther then it already was. He drew his wooden bow and felt the familiar weight in his hand. In the distance he could already see dots moving rapidly toward the town and knew it could only be boars.
"Keep riding forward, Epona," he told his horse. She whinnied in reply. Link let go of the reins and strung his bow. When he was finished, he pulled an arrow from a quiver he carried on his back. He placed it on his finger, drew the string back and released. A second later a boar just dropped to the ground. Other boars behind it had to swerve to avoid it. Link smiled and shot another glinting arrow.
Despite his great aim, the goblins continued to ride forward. They were soon close enough that young man pulled his sword out and prepared to swing. From as if out of nowhere an arrow appeared and raced toward his head. Epona swerved to the side and Link swung his silver weapon. A bokoblin fell to the ground, green blood staining the sword. The boy continued to fight skillfully, but most of the goblins just ignored Link and continued to head to the castle. He whirled Epona around and galloped after them. The rider and mount easily caught up, the blonde-haired boy began to attack once again. The bokoblins began to sense the threat he was bringing and encircled him.
Link grabbed his sword in both hands and Epona bowed her head. He then spun the shining weapon in a circle and took out all the surrounding enemies. It was about then the goblins decided to leave before they were all killed. As they pulled back, Link twirled his sword and slid it back into his sheath. He suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him. The boy turned and saw a figure in dark blue with a tear symbol dripping down the front watching him from the castle walls. He smiled knowingly and urged Epona back to the town square.
"That's exactly what he did. I don't know why I've never heard of him before. The way he takes down goblins so easily, he's like a one-man-army," Impa stated. It was after the feast in the castle and Princess Zelda was in her bedroom speaking with her bodyguard about what the older woman just had seen. Hyrule's residents had no idea of the disaster that had been averted, thanks to the strange young man who had just appeared as if from nowhere.
"Perhaps no one ever is present when he does these things. That could be why you don't hear about him," the princess suggested. Impa shrugged, unsure.
"Still, I believe I would've heard about him before he arrived here." They were both silent for a moment.
"Shall speak with him?" Zelda wondered.
"It's your choice princess," the bodyguard replied. Princess Zelda sighed.
"Very well. Send him in." Impa bowed.
"Of course, highness." The young girl turned to a mirror in the corner of her room and began to brush her golden hair, thinking.
"You wanted to talk to me, princess?" Link's voice filled the room, reminding her of his strange style of speaking. She turned to look at him.
"Yes, Link. You... you... you told me you would explain your 'connection' with your horse," she stammered quickly. She paused, unsure why she'd come up with such an excuse. She had no reason for it. The boy gave her a mixed look.
"All right. Where would you like me to start?"
"Um... The beginning. Please," she replied. "Oh! Sit down. If you'd want. Er, if you'd like." The princess shook her head. What was wrong with her, stumbling over her words like she was? She glanced at Link. He was watching her with no expression on his face. "Excuse me," she apologized and regained control of herself. "You may sit down." The teenager bowed his head.
"Yes, Princess." He walked over next to her and sat upon a stool. Zelda sank onto her own cushioned chair. The boy began. "Let's see... I first met Epona when I was about twelve. She was a foal on a small ranch. I helped the owner with... important ranch work. So as a reward he allowed me to keep Epona. We've been together for years and have a stronger bond than most owners would with their horses. We can kind of understand each other. Well, in our own way," Link finished.
"Do you think we can train our horses to have such a close connection with their owners?"
"No. I doubt it. The only way would be to give a soldier the same horse, watch over it all his life, allow them to have quality time, and spend years with it."
"Oh. It could've been helpful," the princess sighed.
"Sure," the boy shrugged and then leaned forward, his blue eyes shining. "Now what was it you really called me in here to talk about?" The princess was taken aback.
"What might you mean?" Link looked at her.
"You know what I'm talking about," he sighed. "A princess wouldn't just want to talk about a stranger's connection with his horse. What do you really need to speak about?" Zelda just stared at him. No one had ever been so direct with her before, with the exception of Impa. But he seemed to look right through her and what shocked her the most was he was right. She did want to talk to him about something other then the horse, but she simply didn't know what.
"I don't know," she stated honestly. "I have several questions, if that's what you mean." The boy leaned back.
"Okay, shoot." Princess Zelda raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" Link quickly sat up.
"Oh, sorry. It's an expression from where I come from. It means go ahead."
"A-alright. Where is it you come from?" He shifted uncomfortably.
"I'd rather not say."
"Alright. Why is it have I never heard of you?"
"I prefer to keep to myself."
"Who are your parents?" He was silent for a moment.
"I don't really know."
"Oh." The princess thought for a moment. She was getting nowhere with this and decided to try a different approach. Examining him in front of her, she stated abruptly,"What's with the hat?" At this Link threw up his hands.
"Why does everyone question the hat? It's a unique hat, okay? Just go with it!" Then to his astonishment, the princess opened her mouth and began to laugh.
"Finally an answer! I was beginning to wonder if you would ever answer in more then one sentence!" She smiled at him. Link smirked and brushed against his hat with his hand. It was indeed a strange hat; green and hanging from the back of his head it fell past his shoulder blades. The princess began to speak again, feeling the barriers beginning to dissolve. "When you arrived here, I wasn't sure what to think of you. I'm still don't, but I believe I can trust you."
"Well, that's good. I'm glad," he smiled.
"I still have a few questions."
"Shoot-err, go ahead."
"What do you call the attack when you spin your sword in a circle?" Link smiled.
"Spin attack."
"Oh..." Zelda realized she had just given away that she had him spied on. When the teen didn't react to the comment she asked, "Aren't you going to ask how I know that?"
"Should I?" he asked in a knowing voice. She looked at him curiously.
"How could you-?"
"Tell that your bodyguard was watching me?" Link interrupted her. "I've been fighting most of my life and can usually tell when a pair of eyes are on me."
"O-of course... Well, I'd like to apologize for telling her to follow you. I-I just wanted to see the way you would handle the situation."
"I'm sure, Princess. Apology accepted." The princess glanced out the window to see the setting sun sinking below the trees in the distance, creating a fiery sunset.
"I've kept you up for far too long. You may eat and then retire to your room."
"Thanks, but I'm not-. Wait, I have a room?"
Thanks for all the views guys. Comments are welcome and encouraged.
