Return of a Son and Warrior

Ilia stood watching her two kids run around outside their house. They had recently turned fourteen, and they had seemed to be enjoying it. But it was a birthday that Link had missed, and that had made her sad. She missed Link. He left for the castle to be a trainer for Honor Guards a year and a half ago. Maybe he was looking for a way to help pay for his family. Maybe he needed to get away after had happened between him and Jacob. Either way, she wished she could see him.

"Ilia?" a voice said behind her. I know that voice. She thought. Slowly, she turned around to see Link standing behind her. Millions of thoughts and emotions ran through her at once. But she pushed them all away and threw her arms around her husband. He pulled her close to him and held her tightly.

"Link. I can't believe you're back." she whispered in his ear.

He smiled. "Me either." he pulled away and turned around. Ilia looked over his shoulder and saw a man he hadn't noticed before. "Ilia, this is Joey. Joey, this is my wife, Ilia."

Joey held his hand out to her. "Hello mate. Pleasure to meet you."

Ilia smiled and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you too Joey. What brings the two of you here?"

Link's face lost the smile that attracted Ilia to him and grew even more serious. "I heard from Zelda that Jacob was back."

The surprised look on Ilia's face told Link that what Zelda had heard must not be true. He cast away the hope that seemed futile. I knew it was a lie. "I guess he isn't home, is he?"

Ilia shook her head. "I'm sorry Link. If he is, he hasn't come by."

Link sighed. "Ok. Well, we're going to stay here tonight. Then we must head back."

"Do you really have to-" Ilia started but a scream split the air. Everyone turned in the direction of the scream.

"Where are Bo and Jena?" Link asked slowly. Ilia turned to her husband, confused at first. Then her eyes widened as what he was asking about came to mind.

"NO!" she cried and took off to where they heard the scream. Link and Joey were right behind her. When they reached the river, they found Bo on the bank, screaming to his sister. They looked across the river to see Jena surrounded by wolves.

"Jena!" Ilia screamed. She attempted to run across the river, blinded by panic. But she never got anywhere because Link had grabbed her and pulled her back.

"I'll go get her mate." Joey spoke up.

Link shook his head. "It's not worth it Joey. You would be no match." Joey stared Link in the eyes.

"I'll be okay mate." Before Link could say anything, Joey was already walking into the river. He managed to make it halfway across before the current suddenly picked up. Caught by surprise, he was swept off his feet and was almost dragged down the river. But when his hand was up, another hand shot out and grabbed his, saving him from certain death. Joey looked up to see his savior.

At first, he thought it was Link. But he noticed that there was differences in his savior's face. Instead of the bright blue eyes Link possessed, this man had gray eyes. His hair was a little darker than Link's, and he seemed more built muscle wise. "I got ya man!" he yelled. The man pulled Joey up and managed to toss him onto the bank. Joey slammed on the bank, his breath knocked out of him. Coughing up water, Joey rolled around to see the mysterious man jump across the river and land behind Jena.

The wolves looked upon him with eager hunger. But none attempted to jump at man slowly pulled his sword out. A gasp from behind made Joey turn and he saw Link looking at the man with a surprise on his face. Turning back to the man, he saw that Jena quickly got behind him. There they stood, man vs. beast, waiting on one to attack the other. After a minute, one of the wolves grew impatient and jumped at the man, his teeth bared and a roar escaping him. The man moved out of the way and the wolf slammed into a tree.

Momentarily distracted, the man did not noticed another wolf jump at his back. Teeth sunk into his shoulder. A scream escaped the man. He dropped his sword, reached behind to grab the wolf by his fur, and slung him over his shoulder into another wolf that had jumped to kill. Diving for his sword, the man rolled just as a paw came slamming where he was. He shoved his sword into the wolf's side and threw him into the wolf that had hit the tree. They fell into the river and were dragged down beneath the water.

The man slowly turned to the last remaining wolf, preparing himself for an attack. But this wolf seemed to be smarter than the others. It growled at him, then turned and ran off into the woods. The man sheathed his sword and turned towards Jena. He held his hand out to her, and she took it. Looking first upstream, then at the group across the river, he pointed upstream. They turned to see a bridge hanging above the river. Understanding his meaning, Link, Joey, Bo, and Ilia walked over to the bridge.

Along the way, Joey kept looking at the mysterious man. Mostly because he didn't want him running off with Jena, but because he couldn't help not to. It was like he knew the man from somewhere. But he did not know the man. Maybe it is because he looks so much like Link. That must be why he seems so familiar.

When they reached the bridge, Jena ran over to them. Ilia scooped her up and held her tight. "Don't EVER do that to me again. You hear me?" she kept saying. Jena just kept nodding.

"Where are you going?" Link said. Joey turned to see the man walking back across the bridge. He stopped and slowly turned back to the group.

"I must leave." the man said. Link shook his head.

"You're not going anywhere... Jacob."

Jacob twitched at his name. How did he know? "I am not Jacob."

"Do not lie to me." Link said, walking over to him. "I know it's you."

"And what makes you think that?" Before he could get another word in, Link jumped at him with his sword drawn. Joey expected to see Link stop the sword, but he just kept going. A ring of swords clashing told Joey that the man who was supposed to be Jacob managed to pull his sword out. Suddenly, Link jumped back.

"That's why Jacob. Your sword is the old Ordon blade I had used eighteen years ago. It's hard not to forget it."

Silence. Then... "You're right. I am Jacob. But I must leave." he turned to walk away.

"Don't go." Link pleaded with him. Jacob stopped and stared at the ground. Then he turned back around.

"I will stay for one night. Then I must leave." his voice told Link that his decision was final. And Link got the idea.

"That is fine. And thank you for saving Jena and Joey." Jacob turned his hand to Joey.

At once, visions of the past swam through his head. It can't be. He is dead. "Nice to meet you Joey." He held his hand out.

Joey took it after a few seconds. "Nice to meet you too mate." The hand shake sparked a reaction in Jacob. Our destinies are tied. I can feel it.

Link turned to everyone. "I think we should go get something to eat. Let's go." Jacob went to go walk with them. An evening with his family was something that he truly needed. Suddenly, a shiver ran through his spine. He looked around, aware of something watching them. But he had a feeling that it was hunting. For what, he did not know. He hoped not to find out. Putting the thought in the back of his head, he took off after his family and Joey, not noticing the shadow figure that walked out of the trees behind him.

The "hunter" that Jacob felt watching him let its prey run off. It was with the two he had fought earlier and he dared not go after it. Sure, it looked like a regular eighteen year-old, but looks were deceiving. No matter. the hunter thought. I will get my time soon. Then, with him out of the way, I will be the ruler of everything that is Hyrule. Making sure to stay far behind but not too far, the hunter stayed behind the group. He would wait as long as it took. The patient always win.