Author's Notes: Hello! I'm sorry that the chapters are short :( Maybe I'll start uploading two at a time...

Well anyway, not much to say. There'll be some romance soon, so look forward to that! ;P

Chapter 7: Zelda

I looked up at the tree, wondering how to climb it. Have I climbed a tree before? I don't know, but I'm glad I had "modified" my dress. When I woke, I had found that I was wearing this princess-like dress that would have been very pretty, if it hadn't been torn up. So, I ripped it so that it would be shorter (to the knee) and more convenient. I cut off the flowy sleeves too so it was on my shoulder, and I took off the apron-like thing that was over the skirt. The apron thing had a golden triangle symbol on it, but I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean. Link has the same thing on the hilt of his sword. But I used the apron thing to tie around the waist because I thought it looked cool. Saria let me borrow these leggings too so I could move more freely. I kept the shoes I had. My hair was so messy, and the sides were in these braidish things that kinda smacked my face if I jumped too much. I found out I was wearing this crown thing too, I don't know what's up with that. But I kept that on. It was so pretty.

Anyway, the tree was pretty big. It's branches climbed high into the sky as if to touch it. I quickly found a branch low enough to begin climbing on. I guess I have done this before, because it wasn't hard once I started. I can't explain it.

Soon I was half-way up. I looked back at Saria, who gave me a thumbs-up and smiled. I kept right on climbing. At one point, I saw a branch with claw marks on it. An owl perched here sometimes… How did I know that? The fact slipped out of my mind as quickly as it came. I found out that I quite enjoyed tree climbing. For some reason, I just loved the sun on my skin, the wind blowing my hair and dress around, and the adventure of getting to the top. I finally made it!

"Hey guys!" I shouted down below.

Saria and Link seemed to be done talking. They turned to see me on the highest and upmost branch in the tree, grinning proudly.

"Great job!" Saria yelled up to me.

"Is the view nice up there?" Link called. Oh his voice… I looked around. The view was nice up here, actually. I could see above the wall that surrounded the path to the tree. There was a field that stretched for miles, and farther off, a castle was barely visible. A mountain with a ring of smoke around its peak could be seen, with … was that a village in its base? I think so.

"Yes it is Link. Come and see it for yourself!" I encouraged.

"Sure." He let his cape fall to the ground, set down his sword, and walked towards the tree. I got excited.

I saw his arms for the first time. I tried not to be attracted but… so muscular… the picture of perfection… I officially need help. Anyway, he climbed the tree efficiently and quickly, much better than I could. I was thoroughly impressed.

"Hey." I greeted him as he reached the top.

"Wow. It is a nice view." Link remarked.

His voice was always so solemn. I wondered why, so I asked him.

"I'm just… to tell you the truth, I'm not as happy as I usually am lately." He replied slowly.

It sounded like much more than that. His eyes had faint dark circles, like he didn't sleep. He didn't smile very much, and when he did, it looked like a sad smile. But I didn't want to pry, so I let it be for now. I would interrogate him later… oh screw that, I wanna know. Just then, he nodded to Saria, like they were communicating something. He mouthed, I'll say it now. Go. So Saria waved politely and left for the tunnel. What a nice girl she was…

"So, what's REALLY going on?" I asked good-naturedly and punched him in the arm, then winced because it hurt. "Ow…"

Then I heard the sound I least expected: laughter. Link was laughing. He laughed so hard, he cried. So did I; his laugh was contagious.

"I'm sorry…" he gasped for breath. "I haven't laughed in so long… I miss it."

"Yeah… I can't sympathize. I don't really remember anything before you woke me up, so yeah…" I ended lamely.

"About that…" Link started slowly. "There are some things—a lot of things—to tell you."