I'm getting sick of complaining. So I won't say that this is a horrible dramatic piece of writing.

Oh...wait...

*Sigh* Ah well. This is a kind long chapter, I guess. I don't own the characters, so enjoy.

Chapter 3

Zelda stared at Link blankly. He stared back.

"W-what?" She asked. Her mind seemed to be numbing. Link looked slightly confused himself.

"The princess died." He repeated. "She was born dead. It's really sad, but-"

Zelda shook her head, cutting him off completely.

"You seem really shocked." Malon said, reaching out a hand. Zelda jerked away. She was dead?

"W-what about a…prince? I mean, the king and Queen have someone to take over…" She stammered.

"Um…not quite." Ilia sighed, turning her head away. Zelda slumped back against her pillows. Her head was starting to hurt.

"I…"

"Nah, its fine." Link waved his hand, dismissing her comments.

"I have to go." Zelda said suddenly, starting to rip off the blankets.

"What? No, you can't!" Malon said suddenly, standing up and bustling around to bring the covers back up.

"No! Really, I have to go!" Zelda insisted, trying to take them off again.

"You aren't wearing anything!" Malon said loudly. Zelda froze on the spot, looking back over at Link. She then hurried back under the covers, turning onto her side and folding her arms over her chest. She was embarrassed, but was swiftly thinking of a way to check on the castle. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"May I sleep?" She asked softly. Malon and Ilia looked at each other, then at Link.

"Yeah, sure." Ilia shrugged, getting up to leave. Malon followed, shutting the door quietly.

"You can leave too." Zelda said pointedly to Link, who shrugged. He got up and went to the door. He turned back around with the door wide open.

"Do you want me to get you're clothes, in case you want them later?" He asked. Zelda nodded and then closed her eyes. Link left, leaving her in the peace and quiet. Zelda opened her eyes and stood up, throwing her blankets off. She wrapped them around her chest awkwardly. Link would be a while, so she could explore. She had a bit of trouble dismissing her nervousness at walking around in her underwear.

There really wasn't anything there. It was just what she first saw. She walked over to another bed, looking down on it. It was made of straw. She didn't know what to make of all of this. She knew about Ordon, and from what she knew it was a peaceful town. She would have loved to stay here, except that she had no idea what happened in the castle. She had to know if Impa was ok. And Rauru. And her parents. Zelda sank onto the bed and covered her face with her hands.

"Hey, I brought your clothes!" Link burst into the room happily. Zelda squealed and covered her chest, falling backward onto the bed. She flipped over onto the floor and scrambled up, keeping her chest beneath the bed's surface. Link closed his eyes tightly.

"Did you see anything?" Zelda asked in a high voice. She cleared her throat.

"No…not really. Just you're face." Link said. He waited a second. "Can I look now?"

"NO." Zelda said, her voice back to normal. Then she realized that he couldn't put her clothes down unless he saw where to walk. Why didn't Ilia or Malon bring her her clothes? "Yes…" She said slowly. Link hesitantly opened his eyes and stepped into the room, closing the door slowly behind him. He set the clothes down on the bed Zelda used to lie down in.

"Um…I should probably go." Link muttered. Zelda nodded. Link went back to the door. He turned around.

"Uh…you're clothes are still too ripped, so I got you one of Malon's clothes…" He said nervously. Zelda just nodded. Link took a deep breath and left, closing the door softly. Zelda looked at the pile of clothes. She picked it up.

A soft white shirt with a pale yellow skirt and brown apron like thing. Zelda shrugged and slipped them on. It wasn't what she was used to, but it was good enough. At the bottom of the clothes pile was a small book and dagger. On closer inspection she noticed it was the two things she brought with her. She smiled and slipped them inside the dress's pockets. She felt grateful all of a sudden, that Link would be so kind and fetch her weapon and spell book without her asking.

Zelda opened the door and stepped out into the bright air. She shielded her eyes for a second, waiting for them to adjust. She stepped down the small wooden step and onto the dirt road. She observed her surroundings slowly.

She saw a big building with a small one behind it. There was a nice small river by her feet, and other houses littered the ground.

"Hey, you're up!" She heard a happy voice next to her. Zelda turned around wildly, wanting to hear who said it. Ilia was walking up to her with a brown horse on reins.

"If you want to get working, just go up that hill. Malon and Link will help you." She pointed up a small incline of dirt and walked off with the horse. Zelda looked after her as she led the horse over a small flat bridge and went out of sight. Zelda walked up the hill quickly.

When she got there, a small ranch was revealed. Goats were grazing on grass. Zelda hoisted herself up onto a large gate and leaned over it, trying to get a better view. For some reason, she felt free, as if all her other troubles were whisked away by the small breeze.

She spotted Link on top of another small hill. He spotted her and waved her over. Zelda hopped over the fence and walked up to him. Link patted the ground beside him and Zelda sat down on the dirt. She looked at the little blue goats that were grazing. Zelda took a deep breath and turned to Link.

"So…who lives here?" She asked. Link took a deep breath and let it out slowly, grinning.

"Well, the adults are Mayor Bo, and he's the mayor. Uli and Rustle, who are married. Uli sews clothes and Rusl helps protect the village. Sera and her husband Hanch run the general store; Jaggle and Pergie are in charge of the waterwheel. Then there's Fado and Talon, who are in charge of the ranch. Talon is Malon's dad. Ilia is Mayor Bo's daughter. Beth is Sera and Hanch's daughter. Malo and Talo are Jaggle and Pergies son's, and they're trouble makers. Finally, there's Colin who is Uli and Rustle's son. All the kids are too young to work. I herd the goats, Ilia usually helps run the infirmary, but when she isn't doing that she washes my horse and helps to straiten things up…and Malon takes care of the animals." He said, taking a deep breath at the end of his speech. Zelda nodded, looking almost amused.

"So what can I do?" She asked. Link took another deep breath.

"Well, you can help Malon. She has to groom and milk the animals, so you can take over grooming them." He said, shrugged. Zelda nodded and stood up, looking at a barn down the small incline.

"Is that it?" She asked. Link nodded. Zelda smiled at him, bowed in respect and ran off. Link sat behind her, looking bemused. Zelda walked quickly down the hill. One of the blue goats near the barn gave out a small yell as she passed and she halted. She leaned down and held out her hand to it. It licked her palm hesitantly. Zelda smiled and patted its head.

"It likes you." Malon said next to her. Zelda jumped and turned to face her quickly. Malon shrugged. She was carrying a bucket of white liquid.

"I…I want to help out. Clean the animals, and that sort of thing." Zelda said quickly standing up strait. Malon smiled and nodded.

"No problem. You can start now. Inside are a few horses. Just give them all a good brushing. Everything should be in plain sight. Later we can run through the goats." She said brightly. Zelda nodded. Malon held up her bucket of what Zelda assumed to be milk.

"I have to take this to Sera. So she can sell it, and whatnot." Malon smiled. Zelda nodded and walked into the barn. As Malon had foretold, everything was already laid out. There were only four horses. Zelda took the brush off of its hook and walked up to a horse. It was a light caramel and white spotted color. Zelda raised the brush to its neck. She kept her eye contact with it. She had no idea if what she was doing was right, but it felt natural enough.

She finished brushing three of the horses. All that was left was a brown one with black hair. It made Zelda nervous. She walked up, raising the brush. It reared up and whinnied, splaying its hoofs through the air. Zelda stepped back in fear. She then attempted to make eye contact. She stared hard into its eyes.

Trust me. I'm not going to hurt you. Calm down right now. She tried to transmit her persuasive thoughts to the horse. She could never do it with people; Impa had never let her stay up later when she tried on her, but maybe an animal would be easier.

It was. The horse calmed down and let Zelda brush it. She patted its head when she was done. It met her eyes. Almost all rage it had toward her was leaving.

"Wow, you're good with animals." Link said. Zelda turned around to face him. She shrugged.

"I guess." She said, walking toward the end of the barn to put the brush back. Link waited at the entrance of the barn.

"Do you want to go eat dinner?" He asked. Zelda looked up at the sky. It was a red and pink shade.

"Yes please." She said finally, noticing her rumbling stomach. She placed the brush back and walked out, following Link.

They walked back down the hill to Ordon. Everything was beginning to wind down. Ilia was waiting by a large house at the bottom of the hill.

"Hey Link. Zelda." She nodded. Link greeted her back and Zelda waved.

"Want to eat with us, Link?" Ilia asked brightly. Link frowned.

"I don't know. I'd really hate to impose-"

"Oh, come on! It's not like you have anywhere to be." Ilia giggled. Zelda looked at Link. He looked a bit uncomfortable, but he nodded.

"Won't your parents worry?" Zelda asked. Link shrugged again.

"Um…my parents died." He said sheepishly. Zelda blinked.

"Oh…that's awful. I'm so sorry for bringing it up." She hurried to apologize. Link shook his head.

"No, don't worry about it. I don't remember them. Uli and Rusl raised me." He said. Zelda could see the sadness in his eyes. Ilia looked back and forth between them and then laughed. "Well, come one! Let's not stay out here in the cold." She said happily.

"Ilia, it's Spring." Link pointed out.

"And a cold one!" She said, grabbing his arm and dragging him inside. Zelda followed slowly. She entered the house. There was really no temperature change. It was a bit chilly outside, but the sun had gone down. A very large man sat at a table.

"Ilia, welcome home. And you brought guests." The man said. Ilia beamed.

"Zelda, this is my dad. He's the mayor of the village. Call him Mayor Bo. Father, this is Zelda. She got hurt, so she'll be staying."

Mayor Bo walked up and extended a hand to Zelda.

"Well, welcome. Stay as long as you please." He said. Zelda looked at his hand. She remembered Impa teaching her about grace and respect. Zelda wasn't sure if she was above Mayor Bo or not, as a princess. But then again, everyone thought she had died. And she was now in hiding.

Without really thinking Zelda swept to the ground in a kneel.

"It is a pleasure to meet you." She said meekly. Everyone else in the house looked confused.

"No need to do that." Mayor Bo laughed. Zelda swallowed and stood up.

"I…I'm sorry." She muttered. Link frowned.

"Where are you from, anyway?" He asked. Zelda swallowed.

"Um…" She couldn't think of anything. "It's a long way away. I passed by a large field." She said. Link nodded.

"Are you always this shy?" Ilia asked. Zelda turned to her.

"I don't know anyone here. I was injured by a monster I had never faced, and woke up without clothes. How would you feel?"

"I would feel uncomfortable." Ilia said. Zelda nodded.

"That's how I feel." She said.

"Don't worry. A couple of days and you'll be just like you were before you came here." Link said happily, sitting at the table. Ilia gestured for Zelda to sit. She did, and Malon emerged from a side door. She was carrying three bowls of soup.

"Oh…" She said softly. "I didn't know that we were going to have guests." She blushed slightly. She set down the soup.

"I'll get more." She said instantly, going back to the door.

"I'll help." Link offered, standing up and following her. Malon smiled and they went through the doors.

Zelda watched them. Ilia picked up her bowl and began to slurp the soup out happily.

"Here ya go!" Malon pronounced gleefully when she came back in, setting the soup in front of Zelda. She looked hesitantly at it.

"Do I…drink it?" She asked. Ilia looked slightly confused. Malon giggled.

"Yep." She said. Zelda picked it up and stared at the odd soup. It was an orange-ish brown. She brought the bowl to her mouth and began to drink. It didn't taste as bad as she imagined. She drained her bowl, not realizing how hungry she had been.

"Is it good?" Bo asked. Zelda looked at him slowly and nodded. She smiled and stood to go.

"I hate to be rude, but I really must leave."

"Aw…why?" Ilia whined.

"I have to go home." Zelda said sternly.

"But you just got here." Malon said.

"I have to go."

"Please stay."

"I really can't!"

"Why?"

"I have somewhere to be!"

"Where?"

"I am not at liberty to say."

"Why not!"

"Because I'm not! I really have to go home, so please excuse me!" Zelda pushed her chair back and turned.

"Can we walk you out, at least?" Malon asked. Zelda sighed and nodded. Ilia and Malon grinned and bounded out of their chairs. They all went to the door. Ilia opened it. A very skinny man was running through the town.

"Ms. Zelda? Is there a Ms. Zelda here?"

"Her!" Malon said gleefully, pointing to Zelda. The mailman ran up and handed her a letter.

"Here! I have a letter, Ms. Zelda. Duh duh duh da!"

"Was that really necessary?" Zelda frowned at his sound effects.

"Oh, he always does that, just ignore him." Ilia dismissed it carelessly.

"On a better note, open the letter! Who's it from?" Malon bounced behind her. Zelda frowned and carefully opened the letter.

In darkness, I see nothing.

In light, I see the truth.

Time seemed to still as they all read the words. Zelda almost didn't dare to breath. She shut the letter abruptly. The letter was labeled on the front. It was from Impa.

"What was that all about?" Malon asked. Zelda closed her eyes briefly.

"Nothing. I don't know." She lied. She folded the letter neatly and then slipped it into a pocket.

"Do you have my clothes anywhere?" She asked sheepishly.

"Yes." Ilia said plainly.

"May I please have them?" Zelda asked. Ilia and Malon exchanged tiny glances that Zelda noticed.

"No…" Ilia said sheepishly. "They aren't fixed yet."

"That doesn't matter, does it? They can't be ripped too badly."

"Yeah, they can." Malon said, casting her eyes down to her boots.

"But I can't take these clothes!" Zelda exclaimed, thrusting the skirt out. "That's like stealing!"

"Then you'll have to stay!" Malon said happily. Zelda blinked. She mulled this over for a few seconds before resigning herself to the inevitable conclusion. She had to stay.

"Fine." She agreed. Ilia and Malon gave small cheers and high fived triumphantly.

"This is great!" Malon yelled, thrusting her fists into the air. Zelda balled her hands into fists.

"You are going to love it here!" Ilia said happily. "Come on; let's go get my dad to make you a bed." Zelda allowed herself to be mercilessly dragged off.

After minimal preparation, Zelda was sleeping on the floor, in between Malon and Ilia's bed. A small candle burned on the dresser.

"Well, night!" Malon chirped before rolling over and closing her eyes. Ilia did the same. Zelda waited until she heard their steady breathing. Then she waited a few more minutes to make sure they were fully asleep.

She crawled silently out from her blanket and kneeled beside the candle. She pulled out the letter from Impa and held it up to the candle. Nothing happened. The words remained the same. Zelda sighed. She didn't know why she had expected anything to happen.

She stood up and walked slowly over to the window. The moonlight shone in through the glass. Zelda held the letter up to read it better. Her brow furrowed. Letters seemed to be leaking from behind the paper. Zelda squinted in order to read the letter better.

My dearest Zelda, It began.

Yeah, yeah, sucky ending.

FYI, this is so going on a hiatus.