It was around noon, and the summer sun was high in the sky. Ningan and Zelda stood in the Castle courtyard, surrounding by lush green hedges and blooming flowers. High up on the walls of the buildings were carefully positioned red targets.
"What do you think your father would say if he knew you had that?" Ningan asked anxiously.
"Who cares?" Zelda chuckled. "My father is in a meeting with some tradesmen this afternoon anyway. He won't bother us."
She raised the bow and inserted a pointed arrow onto its fine string. The string drew back as Zelda squinted her eye for precision. With a faint twang, the arrow glided through the air and hit the highest target with a slight thud. Ningan was impressed.
"You're really good!" he clapped.
"You should try!" Zelda smiled and handed Ningan an arrow.
Ningan drew the bow, and managed to hit one of the lower targets.
"We should make it a game!" Zelda proposed as she went to collect the arrows. "How many targets can you hit with ten arrows?"
Ningan grinned as the two began their fun. Zelda achieved a high score of eight on her second round, while Ningan had only hit one target and was down to five arrows. He took his last shot and resigned to defeat.
"Very good." a stern voice echoed nearby. Ningan and Zelda spun round to see Impa standing under the stone archway looking pleased.
"We'll keep practising until we get all ten!" the Princess cheered.
Zelda's dream came true: she was a natural with a bow. It was astounding how someone so young could have mastered that skill. Ningan found it curious how Impa had lent her such an item. She obviously trusted her. And him? He was yet to gain any kind of attention from the Royal attendant. Not that he ever would. He belonged in the kitchen, not on the throne.