HF

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HF

We had paused for the night, setting up tents for proper sleep.

The small woods before Lake Hylia made for ideal cover as we rested. Guards watched our camp and food was passed out. I was rinsing my face by the stream, the two ladies with me unfortunately. One guard had his back to us as we went about our business.

"Oh I wish I could fully bathe," Lady Fatima whined, squeezing the water from her long dark brown hair. "I've never felt so grimy before. Could I die for being so filthy?"

The guard lightly coughed behind us. I slightly shook my head.

She would not have survived my life as Sheik, that much was certain. How fortunate she was living in this timeline and not the other. Baths would have been the last item on her mind. But she does not know. None of them do. I shouldn't be too hard on them, I know.

But it is rather difficult to not remember.

"We will bathe soon," Lady Katira murmured as she eyed her own wet hair. "Bear it for now lest the bandits catch you in a vulnerable state."

My mouth twitched up. "Well spoken," I acknowledged.

Lady Katira slightly smiled.

"I was only speaking as a proper lady," Lady Fatime defended. "Such travels as this are not meant for our weaker dispositions."

My amusement dried up.

I picked up my small washcloth and wiped my face. "Weaker? By whose accounts?" I did not let in her rebuttal, "Perhaps not all women can endure such things," I coolly murmured, keeping a sharp gaze on Lady Fatime, "But I can confidently say that there are men that cannot endure these things either."

She had the grace to look chided.

"I meant no harm, highness," she bowed her head a little, "I simply mean that one such as yourself should not have to deal with these things."

I felt my ire rise. I was not ignorant of the court talk revolving my marital status, or rather, lack of. I ascended the throne with no consort. Those of my line almost always had a consort. I could not think of a monarch that ruled without one.

Regardless...

"Then who else would undertake this task?" I raised my chin up haughtily. "Am I not sovereign born? Do I not have my people's approval? The council's?" I then looked at them one at a time. "Your fathers'?"

Lady Katira was the first to bow her head. "Yes, Mi'lady."

"Of course, highness." Lady Fatime demurred.

To say otherwise would be treasonous.

I left my wash things for her to pick up and headed back to the camp. The guard started to follow me, but I halted him with a hand, silently ordering him to stay and protect my ladies, however ridiculous they could be at times.

I really should not have taken her words to heart, but it hit a sore spot.

When I re-entered the campsite, Sir Arken stood up. Something of my poor mood must have shown on my face for he came to me.

"I will retire," I said before he could speak.

"Are you not hungry, Mi'lady?"

"Not now," I murmured. "Perhaps later."

Then I went to the other side of the camp where my sleeping bag was already laid out. My ladies slept near me, seeing as it would be improper of us to sleep amongst the men. No tent was out for it would only draw attention. I wanted everything to be simple about our travel.

My own gown was that of an ordinary woman's, a dark chocolate brown with white sleeves and a lace up front. On my own insistence, I also wore thin pants underneath. I wore pants for the possibility of needing to run or ride. Some throwing daggers were hidden in my sash in case of an emergency.

I would not be left weak and defenseless.

HF

"I envy you."

Impa's fingers paused on the hand harp. "Whatever in the world makes you think that, Princess?" She plucked a low note, the sound vibrating through the air. "I am the last of my people, little one. I would not wish that on you."

I looked at her uniform with the foreboding Eye of Truth painted in red. "Even so, you are strong."

Impa plucked a few more chords with a thoughtful hum. "Do you say that because of my armor? My short blade?"

I sat back a little to consider her fully. "I think...because of your voice." I nodded as the thoughts completed themselves. "Your voice speaks of the strength inside."

My nursemaid looked taken back, unless my eyes failed me that day.

"You are wise, Princess Zelda."

I grinned at her, more than happy at her words. "Your fighting skills are impressive too, though."

We shared a look and then Impa slightly shook her head in amusement.

"Do you wish to learn this or not?"

I picked up my hand harp. "Of course I do."

Impa, to my surprise, put down her harp. "This can wait."

She took out her short blade and the sun gleamed on it as she flipped the handle, making the blade lay parallel to her forearm. As I looked at the blade, a sinking feeling settled into the pit of my stomach.

"Prepare yourself," Impa darkly murmured, nodding her head towards the window.

I looked out to see the trees catching fire, arrows coming out of the sky to rain on my castle.

"No..."

I lift my hands up in a protective manner.

My eyes widened as I awoke on top of my sleeping bag. My hands were fully extended upwards towards the night sky with the stars shining down. A faint, glimmering yellow barrier was around the campsite.

I made it appear in my sleep.

I quickly withdrew it.

The Power of Wisdom still stayed with me, despite the time change. Because of that, I had the ability to draw magic from the Triforce piece within me. The ability of dreams I was born with; the Power of Wisdom had found refuge in me when Ganondorf seized the Triforce, only receiving the Power portion. Courage, of course, went to Link.

The older legends spoke of it separating should one be unworthy of all of its parts.

When I was a little girl, I had read that scroll and wanted Wisdom to be my strength. People all around me told me how wise I was, even for most adults. Wisdom was a strong trait through my mother's line, hence why she had the Ocarina of Time for safekeeping. When she was on her deathbed she gave it to me to hold and told me to pass it on to my daughter.

I planned to give it to Impa.

There were many hiding places in Hyrule. As Sheik, we had formed a whole system of what to place in which location depending on what happened. Those places were still around and thankfully, they were places Impa had told me about.

I had told her that I was aware of her hiding system and that we would implement it in this timeline as well. She would know where to find the Ocarina should anything happen to me.

"Confounded dreams," I muttered into my hands.

"Highness?" The guard on watch came over tentatively, not wanting to intrude. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," I straighten up. "Go back to -" There was a shifting shadow in the trees behind the guard, making me pause.

The guard saw my eyes widen.

He turned around just as several figures burst out from the bushes. I heard the twang of a bow and arrow and immediately after, the guard cried out, an arrow in his left shoulder.

"Bandits!" I yelled out, simultaneously getting out of my sleeping bag.

HF

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AN: Sorry if this seems slow, but I'm still working on building Zelda's character and setting the history. For the life of me, I couldn't remember if Zelda's mother was the one to give her the Ocarina or if that was just in the manga version of the game.