This is kind of just a filler chapter, to get us moving from the hatred (trust me, there will be more ;D) to the thoughtfulness of Link to Vaati. It's also to just get into the big dungeon chapter, which is next. I'm not promising that is going to be good, however. I've never really written that before.

My night had been restless, as I predicted it would be. As I made my way downstairs, redressed, I found that Vaati was already there. From what I could recall from the night before, he had gotten even less sleep than I, yet he was looking as perky as ever, his arms around the two girls from the tavern.

"Have a nice sleep, Link?" he said cheerfully, all traces of the hatred disappeared from his voice.

I grunted in reply and called for breakfast, which consisted of pumpkin soup. I inhaled the aroma and took a spoonful of the thick liquid. Pure gold, in my opinion. "Where's the other?" I asked after I got some food in me.

I glanced at Vaati as he purposefully looked toward the bar counter. I knew that face. "Colin," I said softly, turning back to sift through my pumpkin soup. I was no longer hungry. "He must be seventeen by now."

"And these lovely ladies to my right and left are the same age. Is that a problem, Link?" I could hear the smirk on Vaati's lips without having to turn.

I stood, pushing my bowl away from me as I did so. "You disgust me," I muttered spitefully before starting for the door. I reached it and called over my shoulder, "I'll be outside when you find your dignity."

I could hear Vaati's cackling as I closed the door behind me. It echoed through my ears as I walked to the small bridge and sat down, pulling off my boots and dipping my toes into the blessedly cool water. The sun was barely up and yet it was already blazing outside.

When I finally heard Vaati's voice, I was dozing in the high sun. Vaati's shadow crept over my face and I opened my eyes to look up at him. "All done screwing the locals, are you?"

Vaati's lips upturned into a smirk as he crouched beside me, bouncing on his toes to keep balanced. "What they do of their own free will is not your concern, is it?" When I didn't reply, the mage continued with, "You see that tree in front of Sera's shop?"

I looked over at Sera's Sundries and then across the way. "Yes, but that's just Fado's house. The tree just rests on it." I glanced at Vaati.

"Precisely," the mage replied, holding up a finger to explain, "There's a secret way into the tree through Fado's house." Vaati's hand made a scooping motion, I assumed to implicate the so-called secret way.

I gave Vaati an incredulous look. Like I was going to believe that. "You're tricking me. To make a fool out of me again."

Vaati gasped, obviously mocking me. His face contorted in pain as he shook his head. "I would never!" The mage broke into cackles, which soon were shaken off by a wave of his hand. "No, I'm not joking. The first object you need is in that tree. It's a lot larger than it looks; goes underground."

I took a calming breath, my eyes scaling the tree, trying to figure out if he was right or not. "Yes, alright. Whatever. What am I looking for, then?"

"Oh, I think you'll know when you see it." Vaati turned to me and grinned, his fangs shining in the sunlight.

I wondered briefly—very briefly—if he bit while kissing. Shaking off that unwelcome thought, my lips turned down in a frown. I had heard those words before, in a similar fashion.

Vaati picked up on that and laughed. Really laughed; shoulders trembling, bent over slightly at the waist. It wasn't funny. "This isn't funny, Vaati." I scowled deeper and crossed my arms, far past annoyed by now.

"You're right, I'm sorry," Vaati said, still chuckling a bit. I could tell he wasn't sincere, but I didn't want to incur his wrath again so soon. He waved his hand in the direction of Fado's house. "Go on then, get to it."

"You aren't helping me?" I questioned. I knew it was a longshot that he would help me do anything, but it didn't hurt to ask, I justified.

Vaati smirked and his eyes raked over my frame. "Goddesses no. I think you've got this one, Link. Besides, who would keep poor Colin company if I were to go?"

I bit back a sharp retort and resigned myself to asking once this was over—joke or not. I glared at the mage and nodded. "I'll be off, then. How's about you make yourself useful by distracting Hanch while I enter?"

Vaati agreed and for once I felt a feeling of triumph over the mage. At least he was going to help me this much.

We went over to Hanch and while Vaati was pulling him off to the side to discuss the bee's nest above Fado's house, I glanced around and pushed my way into Fado's house. Vaati must have unlocked it, because for once I could actually get in without having to ask Fado for his key.

I didn't feel right about sneaking around, but no one knew that the kingdom had been overtaken again; everything was normal still to keep suspicion down. I knew that Zelda would want discretion, like she always had in the five years I had been her head guard and friend.

Five years of peace, when Zelda had promised five decades. It was no small wonder why she wanted to keep it quiet.

It took a few minutes to locate the hidden entrance. I had to move a few things out of the way; the dresser being the hardest to shift. It seemed to be hammered to the floor, and I almost knocked everything over when it finally gave.

Vaati wasn't lying. There was a loose sideboard that came out when I slid my fingertips into the sides of it. When I set it to the side, a gust of moist air blew into my face, nearly dislodging my hat. A sick feeling overcame me, but it was too late to turn back now.

I took a short breath and eased myself into the hole, pulling the board back into place to cover my tracks.