Author's Note: I don't own any of the Zelda characters or games, Nintendo does. The characters and story I add are my own. Please read and review.

TC 3: Legend of the Beast

Chapter 3: Warmth in the Cold

After a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and bread, we set out for Castle Town. Link walked next to Epona of course, while I got to walk next to a mule that had been brought for hauling firewood back to town. Both were laden with as much as they could carry. We made our way through the narrow way that led out of the forest and into Hyrule Field. It took most of the morning, during which we talked more, mostly about the cold weather and what we thought of it.

"Everything is so much harder during the winter," Link said in a grumbling manner.

"True, and much more so here than in my world," I replied. "And I don't like being cold. But on the other hand, I just love cold weather."

"Really?" Link asked with interest. "Why?"

"It's so quiet and peaceful. Everything is at rest as the world turns cold."

Link shook his head. "It's too quiet for me. It seems dead. Like everything alive is hidden."

"Maybe. But there's still life if you know where to find it."

Once we left the forest an hour or so later, we were exposed to the force of the wind that was starting to kick up. We both covered our faces to shield ourselves from the cold. Even though I was wrapped up in a winter coat, scarf around my mouth and neck, stocking hat on my head, gloves on hands, and jeans tucked into my boots, I was still feeling cold.

Another reason I hate wind, I thought as we trudged on through the snow, which was just past the ankles in depth. I've hated wind for a number of years now, mostly because of the force it could have or how it made a cold day worse. At least it wasn't snowing today even though the sky was overcast.

The lack of falling snow allowed me to see Hyrule Castle in the distance, or rather a lack thereof. There were no pointing spires or jutting towers anymore. Nothing rose above the surrounding town, at least not that I could see from this distance.

After a couple more hours of moving along, the wind died down and we could talk again. We uncovered our faces and I started by saying, "It's strange, not seeing Hyrule Castle."

Link nodded. "It does take some getting used to. But reconstruction will resume in the spring."

"How is it going?" I asked.

"With the gorons and zora helping, it goes well," Link replied. "It will still be a number of years before it is restored to its former glory, but we will get it there. I was helping before winter set in, and we just barely got a temporary roof on the first floor in time."

I nodded and found myself casting around for the next subject. Small talk was a bit difficult for me at times. "How's Colin? And the other kids?"

Link frowned a little. "They are doing well. They have dealt well with what happened to them. Colin has changed the most though. He wears my- I mean your, old sword and shield. He's determined to keep the village safe when I'm away."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Well... that's good right?"

The hero sighed. "Yes, but they think that it was me that saved them, and not you. And I do not have the heart to tell them otherwise."

I nodded slowly. "I can understand that. You don't want to hurt them."

He nodded, then shook his head. "It's not the whole truth."

I raised an eyebrow. "Then what is?"

He didn't look at me, instead focusing on his feet as they made prints in the snow. "It should have been me to save them. Don't misunderstand, I'm glad that you saved them, but... How do I say it?"

"You feel like you should have been there," I supplied. "Because you've known them their whole lives and you care for them."

He nodded slowly. "And I could only watch as you saved them in my stead."

I bit my lip for a moment as I felt guilty. It hadn't been my fault that I was the one in the game, but I had never stopped to really think about what Link had thought about the situation. "Was it that hard all the time?" I asked. "Watching me do all these things and being unable to help?"

"I did not watch often," Link replied, "Though there were times that I did wonder what you were doing, and Karin would guess at what was happening if we couldn't look. I'll freely admit that I was jealous. You got to do many things that few get to do."

"And I stole them from you," I said, the guilt pressing heavier in my chest. It was then that I remembered that Karin had said that Link was jealous of me after that first adventure. I had forgotten in the mess of emotions and confusion.

Link shook his head again. "It was not your fault. You did the right thing."

"Still..." I let the sentence drop, not sure what to say.

"I was glad to talk to your sister," Link said to fill the silence. "It distracted me from what I couldn't do. It also made everything new for me, when I began to wander on my own. I also got to learn of your world." He chuckled softly. "It is certainly more learned and better fed, but also very complicated."

I couldn't help but chuckle as well. "That's true."

Link's gaze lifted up to the town in the distance. "I have consoled myself by thinking that whatever force brought you to Hyrule did so for a purpose and that I am able to see and do things on my own, though they pale in comparison to you."

I shook my head. "A hero jealous of me. I never thought I would see the day." After a pause I said, "I wonder why I was brought here in the first place. I mean, I've thought about it before, but I never really came up with an answer."

"Perhaps to prepare your world for Zant's invasion?" Link suggested. "Or maybe to prepare you for something more. You are here again."

I nodded. "Yeah."

We lapsed into silence for a time, only broken by our feet crunching in the snow along with the heavier steps of Epona and the mule, along with their heavier breathing. After passing some trees, we paused to eat some bread and cheese for lunch before moving on. At length, Link asked about my family and I told him how they were coping well after the invasion and smaller things that may not have made sense to him. He told me about taking care of goats, finding more things for Shad to study, and the things he did for Princess Zelda. Though we both knew we were talking about things that the other knew little about, it was something to fill the silence and the time we had before reaching the town.

Though it was hard to tell, it was mid-afternoon by the time we reached the town. Many chimneys were emitting smoke, warming the houses to fend off the cold. As we crossed the bridge and entered the town properly, I noticed that the market booths were closed down.

"Doesn't anyone do business during the winter?" I asked in curiosity.

"Most finish before winter starts," Link explained. "But there is always more personal trading between people for what they need, or the sale of firewood."

"You're selling all this?" I said with a nod to the loads on our animals.

He shook his head. "No. This is for Princess Zelda. It takes a lot to heat her castle, even with its current size. Though it's also a little more crowded than it used to be, since more people are in a smaller space now."

That brought another question to my mind. "Just who all lives in there anyway?"

Link looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, the Princess, her guards, the remaining nobility that didn't flee when Zant invaded. I have a room there for whenever I stay here in town."

"How many people is that?"

That made Link pause. "I don't know. I never asked."

I chuckled as we entered the central square. It was abandoned and the fountain in the center wasn't running. It was almost eerily quiet as we crossed the square and moved onto the bridge over the moat. A glance over the side showed that at least the top of the river had frozen over. The castle gates stood unguarded, which made me raise an eyebrow.

"No guards?" I asked Link.

"No one attacks in winter, not even the hardiest of foes. But there are guards just inside." Link stopped Epona and pounded on the gate.

A small slat at eye level opened up. That hadn't been there before. "Oh, it's you Link," came a gruff voice accompanied by cold-weary eyes. The eyes moved up and looked at me. "Who's your friend?"

"A visitor, come to see Princess Zelda," Link replied.

The eyes looked at me critically for a moment before he said, "Uh huh. Well, come in. Been blowing something fierce out there these days."

The slat closed and there was a groan as the heavy wooden door swung inward. A grizzled looking guard grunted as his slightly shorter partner helped him open the door far enough to allow us and our animals in.

"Thank you Gren. Khol," Link said to the guards as we entered.

"Don't. We just want the firewood," the shorter, and apparently younger, guard said with a chuckle.

Link chuckled as we moved in. I got looks of curiosity from the two guards, who whispered behind us after we passed. I only spared them a quick glance before looking ahead to the courtyard. The snow here had footprints criss-crossing all over. There was scaffolding set up in many places around the castle walls, with ramps to move up heavy stones. Some stones were sitting in the yard, but not many. No one was outside. They were inside to be warm like everyone else.

"It's strange," I said to link as we came up to the main entrance. "I never thought I'd see this place again."

"I'm sure it is. But perhaps you'll have a chance to get used to the sight," Link replied.

Link knocked on the front door, and a boy that couldn't have been much older than thirteen stuck his head out the door. A smile lit up on his face as he opened the door fully to reveal his lean frame and plain clothes. "Oh! Sir Link! Hello!"

Link smiled. "Hello Owen. I've got another shipment of firewood for the princess. You'll take care of Epona for me?"

"Yes sir!" He went and took Epona's reins before noticing me. "Oh. Hello," he said somewhat shyly.

"Hello," I replied, offering the mule's reins to him. "I'm Tyler. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you." The boy smiled a little before taking the reins and walking off with them, presumably to the stables or wherever the firewood was stored.

"You seem to know folks around here," I noted as Link led me into the castle.

"People still think of me as the hero," Link said, pausing as he closed the door. "So I feel like I need to know them."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I let the subject drop. As we walked into the castle, a whistling caught my ears, and I looked up to see that a wooden roof had been put into place about thirty feet up. I then looked down to see that the stone floor had also had patches of a sort in it, filled in with gravel and mortar here and there. There were also scrape marks where things had been dragged across the floor, and more scaffolding against the walls.

"It took weeks just to clear out the rubble from the collapsed upper floors," Link explained. "Even with the gorons helping. It's all outside now, being reworked into something useable."

I had to admit that it felt wrong somehow to see the castle in such a state. And while I didn't cause it directly, I still felt somewhat responsible for it. Especially when I finally noticed the people that were scattered about the hall, huddled around small fires. "Not a lot of living space down here?" I asked.

Link shook his head. "No. It was all the upper floors. This castle was built to impress people, more than as a place to live. I think Zelda is planning on changing that."

I bit my lip as we walked past the people, many of whom raised a hand in greeting to Link. He would reply in kind as he led me to a doorway on the right side. We passed through a hallway and came to a room that had two guards standing outside it. They both gave me looks before one spoke up. "Sir Link, what brings you here today?"

"I have a visitor for the princess. Is she available?" he asked.

This got another searching look from the guard. "Fortunately for you, she has just concluded some business with the zora. Just a moment." He knocked on the door before opening it and stepping inside. After a couple exchanged words, he came back out. "You may enter."

Link nodded and entered, and I followed on his heels. We entered what looked like an office of sorts. There was a lit fireplace in one wall, and the other walls were lined with bookshelves containing various tomes and scrolls. There were a few chairs, and a writing desk against one wall with a lantern on it. It was in front of this desk that Princess Zelda sat, though turned away from whatever she had been writing. "It is good to see you again Link." She smiled at Link as she stood, but then raised a curious eyebrow at me. It was then that I remembered that my face was hidden by my winter clothes. I unwrapped the scarf and took off my hat, and Zelda's eyes widened as she gasped softly. "Tyler!"

I bowed at the waist and smiled back. "Hello your majesty. It's been a while."

Zelda's surprise gave way to a smile again, this one a little wider than the last. "Indeed it has. And I will admit that I wasn't sure that I would see you again."

"Fate seems to like keeping me on my toes," I replied.

"Come, sit. I wish to hear about your travels. We were not able to hear the entire story of Zant's invasion on your world."

As socially awkward as I may be at times, when someone invites me to talk about something, I tend to go on for a while. So I was all too happy to sit and fill in Link and Zelda on the details that they were unable to get about the invasion. "I'm impressed," Zelda said at length. "You are certainly living up to your role as Chosen One of the Goddesses."

That made me bite my lip bashfully. "Thank you."

Zelda's brow furrowed. "But why are you here now?"

That began the next explanation, as well as showing her the mark of the Triforce on my hand. Zelda's confusion deepened. "But... But I don't understand." She removed the long white glove on her left hand. Her skin was pale and flawless, but also seemed to have an inner strength. There was also no Triforce. "When Zant invaded Hyrule, the mark appeared on my hand, and I soon after had the wisdom to surrender and spare many lives. Even when Zant invaded your world, the mark appeared on my hand, and I had the wisdom to listen to a Zora messenger that said you needed help."

"And I even got the mark when I summoned the courage to go with her and protect her," Link chimed in.

"But now neither of us has the Triforce now. Why is it that only you have it?"

I bit my lip and thought for a moment. "I don't know. All I know is that it means I'm needed. Is there anything going on in Hyrule?"

Zelda shook her head. "Nothing beyond the normal politics and making sure no one freezes during the winter."

"So then the Twilight Realm must need me," I concluded.

Zelda looked thoughtful as she put her glove back on, muttering a little. "...not the place... person."

"What was that?" Link asked.

Zelda shook her head. "Just a thought." She then refocused on me. "So, you're planning on going to the Twilight Realm?"

I nodded. "Yes. And you're the only person with magic strong enough to open the way."

The princess cocked an eyebrow. "You do know that Lake Hylia is frozen?"

My face fell. "What? But water flows through it, so I didn't think it would freeze that much."

"The river still feeds the lake, but the surface of the lake has a layer of ice several inches thick," Zelda explained.

I smirked at that and pulled the goron mask out of my bag. "That doesn't worry me. A few punches and my sheer weight will take care of that."

"And how do you plan to return home?"

That made me pause. "I... I don't know."

"You may not be able to return for a long time, if at all. Are you really sure that you want to go?" Zelda gave me a searching look.

I nodded. "Yes. I need to know what's going on. I need to know why this mark is on my hand."

Zelda sighed. "And I suppose there is no stopping you. However, I can't go with you, so I will have to find a way to put the magic into a vessel. Something you can break to release the magic."

I tilted my head. "You can do that?"

She nodded. "It was a means of passing spells on in the past, though this will only have one use so that it cannot be abused."

I nodded. "Great. Thank you."

"It is nothing compared to what you did for Hyrule," she replied formally.

"That reminds me," I said as I waggled a finger. "I never did get to thank you two for saving my life. Zant had me on ropes before you two showed up."

Link tilted his head. "What ropes? I don't remember any during the fight."

"It's an expression," I explained.

"Oh."

"Well, we were glad to help," Zelda said. "And Zant would have surely come to Hyrule had he succeed in conquering your world or the Twilight Realm."

"I will admit, I have more respect for you after that," Link added. "You made slaying monsters look easy."

"Really?" I asked with a smile. "I guess I was doing something right then."

A knock came at the door before one of the guards poked his head in. "Your majesty, dinner will be ready shortly."

"Thank you for letting me know," Princess Zelda replied. She then looked at me again. "You're welcome to join me for dinner. I'll arrange a room for you to stay the night."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you." Then I remembered the people in the main hall. "I'm not sure how I feel about having a bed with the people in the hall."

Zelda smiled and shook her head. "No, no, they don't live in that drafty hall. It's where the officials hold their meetings since they still don't think it's proper to hold them in their rooms. And they also share their rooms with others that need a place to sleep, so they actually get more privacy in the main hall."

I let out a breath as I relaxed. "That makes me feel better."

Link smiled a bit sheepishly. "Sorry, I forgot how that might look to outsiders."

"It's okay," I reassured him.

"Well, dinner won't be the greatest of feasts," she said as she stood, "I refuse to eat lavishly at the expense of my subjects- but we don't go hungry."

I stood as well. "I'm honored."

"You know people will talk having a stranger at your table," Link said with a neutral face as he got up.

"I know they will," Zelda replied as she moved towards the door, picking up a thick shawl from a stand next to the door and wrapping it around her shoulders. "But I have never let rumors stop me from doing what I think I should."

I sighed. "Politics. I could never bring myself to get involved in them."

Zelda shrugged. "It is the life I lead. I make the best of it."

She led us down the hall back the way we came, guards framing us at the back and the front of our little line. We went through the main hall again and through another hallway to a dining hall. It had a table that could easily have seated fourteen people or more. "It's nothing like our old feasting hall, but I've come to like it," Zelda said with a small smile. "It's more intimate this way."

"Feels big to me," I replied. "I'm used to just eating either with my family or by myself."

"Well, we eat with everyone that cares to join us, so that the kitchens don't have to be working all the time," Zelda explained.

That explained the others in the room with us, who took up most of the other seats at the table. We were escorted to the head of the table, and I felt a moment of awkwardness as I wondered where I would sit. Zelda sat in a nicer chair that had probably been salvaged from somewhere else in the castle. Link sat in the chair to her right. Seeing an empty chair to her left, I sat in it. Instantly I heard whispers from the others at the table. They were probably wondering who this strangely dressed person was who sat next to the Princess. I hadn't felt so self-conscious for a long time. This only increased as other Hylians came into the hall, filling up the rest of the seats and quickly joining in the gossip.

Luckily for me, the food showed up to distract us. I was curious to see how royalty in Hyrule ate, even if it was less fancy than normal. First came warm bread and goat cheese as an appetizer. I've never had goat cheese before, and while it wasn't quite to my taste, it wasn't bad either. Next was a hot soup, potato. I enjoy potato soup, but this had some kind of spice or herb in it that made it just fantastic. The next course was the entree, a ham that smelled marvelous and tasted sweet as it practically melted in my mouth. And then came dessert, which was... Well, it had a small bit of pastry, some cream, some cinnamon, some nuts, and a sauce which I think had some kind of alcohol in it before getting cooked out.

I hadn't eaten so well in a long time, and relaxed back into my seat with a sigh. "If that wasn't lavish, I'd love to see what something fancy would be."

Zelda smiled a little. "Well, in better times, there would be at least two more courses. And there would be more food for each." Her expression then turned more thoughtful. "We were also more wasteful. Now, nothing goes to waste. I hope to keep it that way."

"You've done well in rebuilding Zelda," Link said with a smile. "You keep selling yourself short."

Zelda smiled back. "Thank you Link. Your kindness is always appreciated."

There seemed to be something unsaid between the two of them, something that made me smile.

Link stretched a little. "I think it's time to get some rest."

"Yes, I believe so." Zelda stood, and everyone around the table stood as well. "Thank you for joining me this evening." Everyone made small bows and said their thanks before she turned back to me. "Link can show you to your room. There's a guest room next to his."

"Thank you Princess." I bowed again before she left the room.

Link led me down another hall to a few bedrooms next to each other. "Zelda actually sleeps at the end of the hall. She likes to keep me nearby for protection."

I smirked. "I don't think that's the only reason why."

Link looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Oh come on. You're telling me there's nothing going on between you two?"

I never thought I'd see the day that Link would blush. "I.. Well... It wouldn't be proper."

I folded my arms. "Link, you two are more than friends. I can tell by the way you look at each other."

He shook his head. "But we're just friends. I couldn't... I mean, she's a princess."

"Is there a law that says she can't marry a commoner?" I asked. You never can tell with these medieval societies.

"Well, not that I know of. It's tradition, but I don't think there's a law."

I mellowed out a little. "You two obviously like each other. Don't count yourself out before anything can happen."

Link looked down at his feet for a moment. "You... may have a point. I have some things to think about."

I smiled again, more kindly this time. "Don't think too hard. Good night Link."

"Good night."

I entered the room, which was rather simple; a chest of drawers, a bed, and a desk and a chair. There was a window that was currently closed by shutters. Very little light seeped through so it must have been dark already. I sighed as I set down my back pack and started stripping down for the night. It seemed that things were going much slower than I hoped that they would, but then again, this was my first proper adventure. After all, a proper adventure is a lot of boring traveling dotted with exciting events. At least, that was how it worked in fantasy novels. But then again, my life wasn't the typical fantasy novel.

I lay in the bed, finding it nicer than Link's, but I still felt just as confused. Why was only I needed? Maybe it wasn't a big problem. Ah. I worry too much. I rolled over and pulled the covers tighter. At least tomorrow I'd be on my way.