I am sorry once again for the ridiculously long update... I'm afraid that the chapters will be up sporadically from here on out. But rest assured, this story will be completed, even if it does take longer than I would hope...

Warnings - I don't want to give away what the chapter entails, but fair warning that there is some use of blood. The murderer has been silent for a bit too long...

Side note; I have used the Geordie accent within this. (Otherwise known as how people from Newcastle speak - such as myself.) Don't be too concerned if you don't understand it - it's simply for a bit of fun. Having said that, please feel free to say, in any way you prefer, if you are confused!

Last note; though my chapters are always dedicated to those who pay this story any interest, a special shout-out goes to LEva114. I hope you enjoy this, Miss Eva!


It was during their journey back into Hyrule Field that Zelda realised she wasn't sure where they were headed. As far as she knew, there was no direct entrance to Gerudo Mesa. As a means of division between the Gerudo and Hylians following the Civil War, all possible routes into the land had been destroyed. She frowned softly; the clear rift that had emerged between the two races would make obtaining the medallion all that harder.

However, she would ponder over how to proceed democratically later. For now, they needed to devise a course into the mesa itself. She had warped them easily enough from the Arbiter's prison back to the castle that time with Midna, but it was how to get there that was the question. She was aware that Link had travelled through the Arbiter's grounds previously and unless Midna had warped them straight to the destination, there had to be a means of transport. To warp into the grounds was a possibility, but if they were going to try and reason with Gerudo warriors, she rather wanted to be at full strength just in case things made a turn for the worst.

"Link," she called out, waiting until he turned to face her until continuing. "How did you manage to get up to Gerudo Mesa before?"

A hint of humour lifted his mouth, "We'll need to be at Lake Hylia first."

Her expression became one of barely concealed dread as she realised what his words implied. "I am not travelling by those blasted cuckoos again." Once was enough in her life time. She was not doing it again.

"It's not that bad," Link reassured, seeing her displeasure. "Besides, all other routes involve getting soaked."

"I'd prefer that over Falbi's definition of fun." She mumbled.

"The cuckoos are the easiest bit. It's being shot out of the cannon and onto gritty sand that's crap." He said with a shrug.

"Pardon?" Zelda gasped.

"It's how I got up to the mesa. And I'll tell you now - the ride is unforgiving."

"No," she shook her head. "I am not going in that cannon. In fact, I plan to avoid those ridiculous clowns for as long as I live."

"Unless you've got another idea, then the clowns' mad methods are our only option." Link chuckled.

She bit her lip and glanced around her surroundings, hoping for some spark of inspiration. She sighed softly, it seemed like they only had the one option and it did not involve anything to do with those clowns.

"We'll have to warp."

"Doesn't that deplete your energy a lot though?"

"It does," she agreed. "But any method is more pleasant than the ones employed by those clowns. Being shot out of a cannon is mad in itself, but flying by cuckoos? What had he been thinking..?"

"She." Link corrected.

"Sorry?"

"Falbi is female."

Her face must have said it all, for Link laughed.

"I know, I didn't think so either, but Fyer refers to Falbi as a female." He divulged.

"I mean no disrespect to her, but goodness…" Zelda said, flabbergasted. Link continued to grin. "However, be she female or male, it does not appeal the idea of poultry any more to me."

He nodded, "If you're comfortable with it, then we'll warp. But I'll warn you, the Gerudo Mesa is a hostile environment."

"I realised as much, but do not fret, I am sure I can survive the heat." She reassured him.

Link frowned, "The heat is just one factor that contributes to a larger overall unpleasant experience. The terrain is harsh and though the days are sweltering, the nights are freezing."

"I have more than enough blankets to accommodate the cold and I hope that my Sheikah guise will keep cool." She replied, acting more confident than she felt about the idea of it all.

"That's all well and good, but how much water do you have on you?"

Zelda rummaged in her side bags and located the half-empty bottles. She hadn't restocked anything for a while now, and her reserves were running low. "Not a lot," she admitted.

"Then we'll need to restock at some point."

"Castle Town is close by; we can gather provisions there." Zelda suggested. She wasn't too fond of the idea for she could easily be spotted, but it seemed logical. Besides, she could simply send Link in. Yet as he tensed slightly, her eyebrows rose. "Unless you have a problem with that?"

He ran a hand through his hair, "It would be easier to get what we need elsewhere."

"I thought you required something from the town?" she inquired with a frown.

Link looked away and her suspicions rose.

"You did tell me the truth in Kakariko, didn't you?"

"I told you all that was relevant." He said simply.

"What object do you seek in the town?" Zelda asked firmly.

"Why?"

She quirked a brow. "Seeing how intent you appear to be on lying, this object must be of high value to you."

His jaw tensed. "It's none of your concern."

"I beg to differ," she contradicted, ignoring the sting in his tone. "Every time I inquire about the period of your attack, you visibly become uncomfortable. I do not wish to intrude, but your behaviour strikes me as peculiar."

Link breathed out in a sigh, "It's nothing you need to worry about."

"And yet you are still being elusive." She pointed out.

He just shrugged, "I'm not plotting some major conspiracy. You can stop worrying."

"Then you won't hold any objections against telling me what object you were planning to purchase."

A wry smile found its way onto his lips. "Just a gift, Zelda. A friend's birthday is soon, and I wanted to get her something specific. I don't want her finding out is all."

"Oh," she murmured after a pause. "It must be important then." Her mind thought of anything that would have such significance it could make such an imperturbable hero so jumpy, and all she could think of was a wedding ring. Perhaps he was planning to marry Ilia… He had said his reasons for leaving Ordon were personal… She bit her lip, repressing any bitter feelings poisoning her bosom before they could emerge further.

Link glanced over to her curiously and she carefully masked her features into a polite attentiveness.

He raised an eyebrow in question, still giving her that penetrating stare.

"Very well. Shall we proceed?" Zelda said. She didn't wait for him to reply as she clicked the reins between her fingers and alerted her steed to pick up the pace.

The rest of the journey was silent, both seemingly lost in their own thoughts. As the western bridge leading into Castle town came into her view, Zelda took the opportunity to transform. It was a simple spell and she was already familiar with its effects having used it in Kakariko.

She was well aware that with Link's popularity amongst the town folk, the probability of her also being spotted had risen, but there was little more she could do about it other than manipulating some of her external features.

After she had tacked her stallion at the designated post, Zelda looked up at Link, watching how intently he looked at her.

"Is something amiss with my appearance?"

"Not at all, you're just incredibly striking with red hair." He said nonchalantly.

Her eyebrows rose as her lips became a wry smile. "I have the growing suspicion that you are attracted predominantly to red heads."

"Hmm, I like women who are interesting." He shrugged.

"Ah," she nodded, "so just who was your mystery "A" woman?"

"You, my dear Alina." He smirked.

"Oh ha ha, Link." Zelda scoffed and began to walk across the bridge. "You had not met anyone called Alina back then."

"So you think. I have been on many travels, it's not all that impossible."

"You gave me the same name as someone you were involved with?" she remarked.

His smirk never faltered. "On the contrary, I heard the name, and it's applicable to you."

"Interesting, but I cannot say that I know the meaning."

"Such a shame, beautiful. The name suits you very well." Link grinned.

Zelda's cheeks tinged pink. Curse the man and his ability to make her blush. "Being overly charming shall get you nowhere in life."

"I beg to differ. You blush every time I compliment you, even off-handed."

She blanched before giving an uncaring shrug, "The dilation of blood vessels is not a result of your words, it is the wind whipping the blood into my cheeks." Yet even as she said it, she lifted a hand to her cheek, feeling the warmth even under her glove.

Link smiled slyly before he stepped ahead of her, effectively blocking her path.

"What are you-?" she began, but her word were caught in her throat as he tenderly brushed a strand of hair back from her face, running his thumb across her lips as an afterthought as his fingers curled under her chin.

His deep blue eyes met hers, locking them intensely. Her skin practically glowed pink, the feeling from the simple touch residing deep in her womb. She knew that she was flushed, but what woman wouldn't be with a handsome man this close…

"Definitely has something to do with me." Link teased, his voice low as finally released her. The movement let her breathe normally once more.

"Oh shut up," Zelda remarked, thoroughly embarrassed, and averted her eyes to anything other than him as she all but stomped forward. Briefly, she wondered if there was a spell that could make her immune to his teasing. She swore he never would have been as upfront with her when he worked at the castle…

"Now now, is that really something a queen should be saying?" Link laughed, clearly amused at her language choices.

She shrugged lightly, "I could have told you to do something much worse."

"Like?" he prompted.

"I think you'd understand if I said it rhymes with duck two…" Zelda replied easily, raising her brows expectantly.

Link grinned at her. "Careful what you offer darlin', some less mannered men may want you to carry that out."

Her eyes narrowed. One, for the fact she wouldn't dare let anyone request such a thing and two for that although he put on the front of happily taunting her, when she yielded to his advancements, he brushed her aside. A behaviour that made her think he was hiding more than he was letting on.

"Oh and of course, you are far too chivalrous to even attempt such a feat."

He nodded, his tone still light, but a particular tightness had taken to his jaw. "You deserve far better than some lousy commoner."

"Hmm, well I guess I'll keep waiting for my valiant hero. Do you know anyone who would be suitable?" she asked sweetly in jest. But even despite her humorous mood, Link still appeared tense.

"Are you alright?" she inquired, wondering at how quickly his disposition had shifted.

"Your birthday will be coming soon - plenty of opportunities to meet your desired guy." He muttered.

At that, Zelda frowned. He wasn't jealous… was he? "I have no intention of marrying any of them, the pompous buffoons they all are."

Link gave a half-smile, but his eyes remained impassive. "We should move on, night will hit faster than we expect and it would be better to get to Lake Hylia before then."

Her eyebrows furrowed, night was far from being a problem yet. With him being so touchy about the subject of marriage, she wondered if the gift actually was a wedding ring…

"Yes, of course. The dark harbours many foes that are best left avoided." She said, still puzzling over the enigma that was Link.


Castle Town bustled with energy. Merchants yelled out their prices of wares and children scampered around the flurry of shoppers. The combined vigour was almost palpable despite the bitter cold that hung in the air. Though the restoration was in full swing, several of the shops were still decorated with scaffolding or half-way through having their roofs repaired. Even with her best builders having been employed, the progress was still ongoing. A feat that sparked many of the complaints she usually addressed. Twilight may have been long gone, but its affects lingered. Still, it was reassuring to see the workers atop the roofs, their hammer's dull thuds barely audible above the chatter of citizens.

With the patrol of foot guards that were to protect the city, it was a possibility that either one of them would be spotted. It wouldn't have been so much a problem if not for the matter that she was supposedly on holiday, and Link already stated his dislike on being noticed.

Therefore, the best course of action had been to split up and return to the central plaza in half an hour. The large sundial that overlooked the town could be used as a reference for time, but Zelda had been taught many years ago how to read the position of the sun in the sky as an alternative. A skill that proved useful as she made her way down the south road to where the majority of the shops stood, unable to see the sundial anymore.

At first, she had worried that her shielded appearance would only serve to draw more attention, but she soon saw that several others had drawn their hoods up. Their attempts at drawing warmth proved to be futile against warding off the setting chill. She found it highly unusual that the weather had changed so abruptly since she had entered the town, and she was becoming aware of an unsettling feeling that something was not quite right.

As she ventured down the streets - nimbly avoiding the citizens who all but barged their way through the crowds - she noticed how frantic many of them appeared to be.

Though she was focused more on not being knocked aside, what she noticed was the expression on several people's faces - the evidence of an uneasiness she had felt earlier herself. Once she regrouped with Link, she planned to ask him if he could feel it too, the sensation of anxiety.

Zelda continued along the path, her eyes scanning the area with every step she took. Her gaze darted to every shadow and rooftop and found nothing, but it did little to quench the worry in her gut.

Remaining vigilant, she made her way over to one of the several stalls selling produce and immediately frowned at the lack of display. There wasn't a lot that would keep for weeks, and coupled by the quicker rate of decay that the Gerudo sun would present, her purchases seemed worthless. Still, she did the best she could - purchasing bread and nuts - and slipped the wares into her bag, dropping a few more rupees than necessary into the vender's waiting hand.

A glance up was enough to tell her that barely any time had passed, even with the drab clouds blocking out the sun's rays. Rather than sitting and waiting for Link - who had opted to gather potions and restock on water - she ventured off down the eastern street, always mindful of her settings to save herself from becoming lost.

It was embarrassing really that although she was ruler of these lands, she did not know the location of places, be it in reference to Hyrule, or simply the town.

Walking down the street that gradually curved to return to the plaza, she ducked slightly to miss the washing strung across the alleyway, the dripping water likely what was keeping the weeds thriving. At the sight of the clothes, Zelda realised that there was something she had planned on doing should she happen to come to town, and now was the perfect opportunity to do so.

She continued on her walk to get back into the central area of the town, but the shop she wanted soon came into her view.

A small bell chimed above her head as she entered the tailors and removed her hood, the sound alerting a woman to come running out to her from the back of the shop. Her dark hair was streaked with grey but her eyes were bright. Sashes of fabric trailed out from behind her like colourful streamers and measuring tapes lined her arms and neck. Coupled with the dresses boldly on display, Zelda wondered if she had come to the correct place for what she required.

"Good day, welcome to Madame Opal's dress emporium! I'm Mable and how may I be of assistance?" the woman inquired with a cheery smile.

Zelda returned the smile. "Is it only woman's clothing that you sell here?" she asked curiously, unable to see anything other than gaudy pink dresses decorated with flowers and sickly-sweet things.

"Oh no, dear. I have much more than garments!" she enthused, gesturing for Zelda to follow her to the back. "What are you after?"

"Something that can be used as nightwear for a male." Zelda answered, thinking about how Link always slept in his clothes. Surely it could not be as comfortable as he claimed.

"Of course, of course! Getting sick of seeing him naked?"

"Excuse me?" the red-head spluttered. What kind of question was that?

"If you're buying him nightwear, I can only assume that you must be close." The older woman shrugged.

"Not in the manner that you are thinking. It is possible for members of the opposite sex to be friends." Zelda corrected.

Mable simply laughed heartily. "That's what they all say, and then poof, what do you know, they end up married with three kids."

"That's rather presumptuous." Zelda chided. Link wasn't even here and yet people still assumed they were involved with one another!

"Honey, that's reality!" Mable laughed, the creases along her eyes becoming more pronounced.

Zelda sighed softly. "See that as you may, but not all matters can be judged in the same manner."

"Sure." Mable drawled disbelievingly. "Now how about that bed-shirt?" she asked, her tone still alight with humour.

Zelda just rose her brows.

As the woman expertly wove through her shop, searching out several different items, Zelda glanced at the various displays. One in particular caught her attention and she stifled her chuckle at the sight.

Barbarically high shoes lined the counter, encrusted with more jewels than her royal crown held. She had seen many ladies of her court wear such things, stating it was all the range, but what amazed her was that many of the shoes were designed for the male population.

Zelda wondered how Link would react if he saw them, thinking of the boots that he wore and wriggling her toes in her own leather ones.

"Ta-da!" Mable announced, holding out different items of clothes. Ones which were - thankfully - not clogged with patterns or embroidery. As she held one up after the other, Zelda shook her head. She couldn't imagine Link wearing any of them. She wanted a bed shirt, not something akin to a dress.

"Have you got anything else?" she asked with a hopeful tone.

"Sorry dear, that's my entire stock. You just happen to be buying for a fussy man." Mable said with a small shake of her head.

"It would appear so," Zelda replied. She doubted any man would wear what the seamstress had suggested, but she couldn't claim herself to be wise in the fashion couture. "Thank you anyway." Zelda said, wondering if there was an unspoken rule about having to buy something when entering a shop at seeing Mable's frown. She swiftly made her goodbye and departed, feeling as though she had annoyed Mable at wasting her time.

Even with the detour into the shop, Zelda still had more than enough time to spend. She wandered back down the street she had came from, deliberately trying to use as much time as she could. She passed through the stalls, not looking for anything in particular when some bright flowers caught her attention.

Yet as she slowly made her way closer, the feeling of dread encompassed her gut. She curiously glanced around, wondering what had caused its sudden onset, but as before, nothing was noticeably wrong. Shrugging the feeling off, Zelda picked up one of the flowers and brought it close to her face as she inhaled its fresh scent.

"Are ya alreet there, pet? Ya louk as if yav seen a ghost." A voice called to her, the accent one that Zelda had never encountered before.

She looked up and the anxiety in her stomach rose to the back of her throat. It was completely irrational - there was nothing amiss with the woman - but Zelda couldn't shake the feeling. It was similar to what she had encountered Persephone, and she wondered if the two were related.

"I'm fine, thank you. The hustle and bustle of the city is overwhelming when someone is unused to its pace." Zelda replied as she compared this woman and Persephone. Though both had the same raven black hair, the woman's eyes were close to black too. The sight of her pupils bleeding into her irises was an unnerving effect.

"Ah, well yoor not tha only one whose a larl bit frazzled." The woman shrugged, continuing to pluck the petals from the flower she held.

"Yes, everyone seems rather tense. But perhaps the cold is to blame."

"Whey aye pet, such an unusual chill in tha air today." The raven-haired smiled and there was something lurking behind it that Zelda couldn't quite place.

"Indeed," Zelda agreed as she placed the flower she held back into its bunch.

The woman stared at her whilst she did so, her head tilted to the side in curiosity. "Ey pet, what's yoor name? Ya louk familiar."

"Alina," Zelda offered without a heartbeat.

"Howay, dunt it suit cha well." The florist chuckled.

Zelda gave her the same look of intrigue. "You know it's meaning?"

"Course pet, means beawtiful in Terminian."

"Oh, thank you for your compliment… I'm sorry, I don't know your name." Zelda smiled, finding it embarrassing to be recommended on her appearance by a stranger.

"Yoor welcome. Me name's Helena, but Ah'm known as Hel." She laughed, and much like Persephone's, the sound made Zelda feel uneasy.

"Then thank you, Helena." She said, hiding any discomfort that she felt.

Hel glanced around, scattering the petals collecting in her hands, the action allowing Zelda to see that it was a lily she held. "Ah'd be gan yem now pet if ah was ya. Someit duhn't feel qwite reet." Helena informed her, her dark eyes attentive to her surroundings, hands still wilting the lily away.

Zelda hid her frown, not quite sure what "gan yem" meant, but figuring it had something to do with going home given the context. "I'm scheduled to meet a friend shortly."

"Then ya'd best be findin' 'em. Some people are sayin' that those wolves aah close by."

"The wolves are here? What could they possibly want?" she mumbled more to herself than to Helena.

"Ne idea, pet. Ah'd be might'ee careful if ah was ya mind, seein' as what 'appened ta tha hero…" Helena shrugged, a bit too nonchalantly for Zelda's comfort.

"I believe your suggestion of home would be the best method now. No-one would want to get caught near those wolves."

"Nah," the raven-haired smiled, her eyes boring into Zelda's, "who knows what they'd do ta a bonnie lass leek you."

Zelda forced a smile, her blood freezing at Helena's tone. "Thank you, ma'am." She quickly said and did a swift curtsey. She refused the urge to look back as she hurried away and the prickling sensation of being watched never left her as she all but ran back up the Southern street. As the icy fingers trickled down her spine, she spun on her heel, completely unnerved at the feeling. But the street was completely deserted. Not even Helena was visible.

Though she found herself foolish for doing so, Zelda shivered. She quickly turned back round and hastened to find Link as soon as possible. She was incredibly tense and the idea of having her hero at her side made her feel a bit better.

She had just entered the square when she heard it. An ear-splitting scream.

Zelda increased her pace, trying to push through the crowd of bodies that had suddenly swarmed, struggling to get close to the western balconies that overlooked the town.

Yet when she finally came across what everything was gawping at, she regretted the decision.

Even with the frantic gasps and sobs, the slow spatter of blood could be heard. Its steady drip splashed against the stone.

Her eyes trailed up, her shocked inhalation joining that of everyone else. She followed the old and frayed ropes that had been tightly knotted to the banisters, down to the three bodies that rocked in the wind. Their hair was matted and knotted, and their mouths were left wide and gaping; forever frozen into permanent surprise.

Zelda's own mouth threatened to drop as she took in the scene. The ropes were tied far too perfectly for the females to have fallen and with identical wounds - this was no accident. The blood had coated the females dresses, the once bright colours now streaked with red. She drew her gaze up to the trail of blood, its beginning from the ghastly lesions in their necks. From the distance, she was unable to tell if the ropes had been the cause of the blood, or if they had been brutally killed first before being hung for everyone to see…

The air breathed past them, lifting their hair and revealled their faces, leaving Zelda unable to even gasp.

She knew them. All three of them had worked as part of the team associated with events management at the castle, mostly working on the days held in commemoration to the Goddesses. A feeling of guilt built at the back of her throat, she was unable to even recall what their names had been…

"What happened?" she asked to nearby observer who looked as shell-shocked as everyone else.

"I, I don't know…" He mumbled. "We were all going about our business when they just… fell."

"Did anyone see anything?"

"No," another voice spoke. "It happened so abruptly…"

Zelda just nodded, not quite sure how else to respond. She made to turn away when she heard a young girl's scream.

"Momma!"

Her heart clenched. She watched the girl barge her way through, no older than nine, and stop in clear view of the bodies. Arms wound round the girl before she could get too close, but the look of horror on her face showed she had already seen too much.

Her shriek resonated against the walls, her frantic sobs heard even against the arms of those who had pulled her near.

"Someone help! Please, help my momma!"

Zelda bowed her head, knowing that the girl's pleas could not be answered. But even with her hair covering her ears, she was still privy to the gossip emerging from the citizens.

"How horrific for someone so young to lose someone so close…"

"How could the Goddesses allow for such a tragedy to befall her…"

"Perhaps the deities have turned against us. With these recent murders coupled with the others and those wolves, it makes you wonder what has happened to Golden Hyrule…"

The words sparked murmurs throughout the crowd, but they were titters of agreement or decline. It wasn't until she was brought into it that the response was amplified.

"And just where is the Queen in all of this?" an ambiguous voice yelled out, their tone clearly disproving of her recent disappearance.

"Off on some hunting trip. Hyrule is going to ruin and she ventures off for sport?" another shouted back, creating a round of speculations to spread throughout the people.

Zelda bit her lip, maintaining her mask of impassiveness, never more thankful she had pulled her hood back up. She wanted to dispute their theories, and tell them that she was doing all that she could from an internal perspective. But as it was clearly being stated - she technically wasn't even here.

"Some queen she is! First the Twilight ascends without warning, murders happen across the land and the townsfolk are slaughtered before our eyes. And she has the gall to just sit pretty on that throne of hers!"

She flinched, running her thumb across her wrists. As they began to question how useful she actually was, Zelda backed away from the crowds, beginning to slip through the masses of people.

It is their grief speaking, she told herself. In these times, different matters are always brought into question... Myself included

Perhaps it had not been a wise idea to inform her council she was visiting Labrynna at the request of Princess Freya. But it would not have worked in her favour to simply say she was taking matters directly into her own hands with the aid of the Hero. Somehow, she doubted the council would have been quite as willing to give their affirmation of freedom.

Still able to hear the malicious tales being spun, Zelda sped her pace up - wanting to be as far away from them as possible. She had dealt with many complaints aimed at her before. Being Queen - it came with the job description. But it was still a blow to hear that her subjects thought so little of her. When times became hard, they looked to their sovereign for support and guidance through the difficulties. When she wasn't there to give them that basic, fundamental need, it was to be expected that the people would revolt.

Still, it didn't give her anymore encouragement to remain in the plaza and she made her way to the next closest source of water - wanting to be close to its soothing melody. As she entered into the southern field, she heaved a deep sigh. In public, she never allowed for her insecurities to show, but there did come the times in which she needed a moment purely for herself.

She drew in deep cleansing breathes before perching on the rim of the fountain, her dress fanning out around her. Absentmindedly, she ran her fingers through the water after she removed her glove. The icy chill it brought was enough to distract her from how demoralized she felt. Of course many didn't like her, to expect to please everyone was a naïve and ridiculous belief to hold. Yet here she sat, feeling like all her efforts to be a righteous ruler had gone to waste.

Many moments passed by, her back now resting against the wall and her hand still creating ripples, when she realised what she had completely forgotten to do.

A quick glance up told her that far more than an hour had passed and she mentally cursed. With all that had been happening, she had completely forgotten about Link. It was odd how she hadn't seen him in the plaza, but with her mind being preoccupied, she had completely overlooked their arrangement.

Zelda ran up the steps, hoping Link would be waiting for her. What she didn't expect was that as she reached halfway up, she would collide directly into a figure.

Her eyes shot up in alarm as she stumbled back. Her protest died on her lips when she recognised the face under the hood, a relief briefly flickering through his eyes.

"Link," she sighed, her surprise morphing into worry at seeing the tightness in his expression. She could assume the most recent deaths had him tense, but she felt that there was something more to it than that.

"We need to go."

Zelda frowned at the abruptness in his tone. "What's the matter?"

Link made to open his mouth, beginning to say exactly what, and then she heard it. The rattling, thunderous breaths of an animal she had heard too much about.

She felt his arms wrap around her, tugging her body close. She could feel his tension radiating off him, his grip tight around her waist.

Zelda swallowed back the fear mounting in her throat and tried to think of all possible exits. She attempted to focus on where the sounds were emanating, but she felt surrounded.

Cautiously, she angled her head to see past Link - wanting to pinpoint where the beasts stood - and her blood ran cold.

Incredibly large, completely black… The words hardly did justice to the beats standing before her now.

She felt her eyes widen, her own breaths hitching as she fought against the panic. Growls rippled around them, ear-splitting in their audacity, terrifying in their menace. She had been told of their stature, of how tall they stood when compared to normal. But this was something altogether different.

Her body felt frozen - paralysed by the terror she felt. It was a clever principle to try and rationalise fears, to look for a way that they could be undermined. But the wolves gave no credit to such manners of thinking.

She flinched as another growl tore through the air, their canines deadly in the dim light, their eyes blazing even from the distance. She barely registered that she was slowly being moved, that Link was carefully leading them further left.

Her senses registered as she felt him guide her down the stairs, the simple fear of going backwards surmounted by the terror of the wolves.

"What are you doing?!" she whispered, her voice stretched thin with panic.

Link glanced down at her, his face entirely impassive. If not for the situation being so dire, she would have admired his courage. That he managed the ability to remain calm when her nerves were firing with impulses begging her to run.

"In exactly three seconds," Link began in a perfectly controlled voice, "we are going to run."

She barely had the time to even try and reply before she felt him do exactly what he has said. Her dress flapped against her legs, their cloaks flying out behind them. The sounds of their footfall lost in the growls that rippled around them.

Zelda felt her heart fly into her mouth, the frantic breathes behind her made her skin prickle. Only the sheer adrenaline pumping through her veins prevented her from shivering as they sprinted.

She didn't know where he was leading them to, but she desperately hoped he had a plan. Her feet skidded against the stone, her hand gripping onto Link's. The breaths heaved against her body, the omission of heat leaving her feeling cold.

As they began to run through the grass, she wondered what he was proposing to do. From the determination in his strides, she could guess he had some idea, but the ambiguity left her grasping for some indication.

Her heart pounded in her chest, its frantic rhythm aching. As a coarse texture ripped against her hand, she jolted to the side. The sensation of being so cold that it burned radiated from where her hand had touched the fur.

Yet another growl echoed around them, only this time, a swarm of black accompanied the cacophony.

They stood, a wall of darkness that blazed with power and ferocity. Their teeth bared in snarls and backs arched in a predatory stance. As she realised what they had done, a dull hopelessness ensnared her in its deathly embrace.

She felt Link skid to a stop, their risky chance of leaving through the southern entrance completely ground to a halt. The wolves watched, unmoving from where they blocked the exit, the snarls from behind enough to inform them that direction was also impassable.

Her eyes frantically searched her surroundings and she looked to Link, praying that he had some idea.

Steadily, they drew closer and the soundlessness of their steps created an aura of dread. Her mind fought to think rationally, but she couldn't focus away from how un-normal they truly were.

Link's hand tightened around hers, but the gesture did nothing to reassure.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, barely above a whisper, his eyes unwavering from the wolves ahead.

"In theory?" she managed to mumble.

His mouth twitched into an imperceptible smile. "I'll take that as a yes."

Their feet pounded against the ground, only the responding growls an alert of movement from the wolves.

In those seconds that they ran, she wondered what he planned to do. But as a large hole rushed up in front, she only then realised what Link had in mind when it was too late.

Her body tipped, the ground having run out from under her feet. She gasped as her momentum propelled her body into a spiral, her hand still desperately clenching Link's.

Their speed gathered as they fell, the rapids roaring below them and she knew from the sight that they would not survive that.

In a split decision, she brought him close as she could and quickly recited the spell, taking three tries - with anxiety building at each failure - before the silvery blue encompassed them both.

Her destination was made so quickly, she prayed that it would work.

The colours flashed by her, blending into one fabric of intertwined hues when she felt herself drop. With the spell having been cast so abruptly, she barely had the time to gather her bearings before she felt her hands scrape against the ground, her gloves tearing at the impact as she released her hold on Link.

Zelda's head was pounding as her heart slowly regained its steadier beat. Even with her head facing the floor, she could still see Link out of her peripheral - an overwhelming relief making her sigh in gratitude.

A part of her, albeit small, wanted to laugh at the impossibility of it all, but she felt too shaken to even attempt chucking.

"I have been told on several occasions that there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. But I dismissed the speculation, believing them to be two distinct ends of a spectrum. Clearly, I was wrong."

She heard Link laugh, a sounds that was brimming with such a relief that she wanted to join in.

"It was the best I could come up with."

"True," she agreed, "and I am thankful you were there or I dread to think what may have happened."

"I'm just as grateful I had you - going down those rapids is not something I would recommend."

Zelda glanced over at him, her eyes staring incomprehensibly at the insanely mad person before her. "What in your right mind possessed you to jump?"

"Curiosity." He shrugged as though it was a perfectly valid reason.

"Does your courage know no bounds?" she mused. There was definitely a correlation between idiocy and bravery.

"Courage isn't about acting strong or being completely untouchable. It's about recognising your fears and knowing that you can surmount them." Link reasoned.

Zelda quirked her brow in surprise. "So you see bravery as faith in oneself?"

"For the most part."

She made a soft "hmm" as she thought about it. On one hand, that made Link think very highly of himself, but he was imbued with the Triforce of courage - a factor that would make him push past the boundaries others wouldn't dare to challenge. It was a rather admirable quality.

Zelda glanced around her surroundings, attempting to distract herself from finding more reasons as to why her attraction to Link was rationalised. Instantly, she recognised the setting before her - having seen it several times when she had been researching the medallions. Though she had never actually been outside of the place, the foreboding structure of the Arbiter's prison was unforgettable. Even from their low vantage point, the pyres of the sages rose out from behind the golden loftwing insignia, the sun bright against the metal.

When thinking of the Gerudo Mesa, she had only been able to visualise one area, but as she looked at the despondent expression on Link's features, she regretted the choice.

Zelda bit her lip, knowing exactly who he was thinking of. Without hesitation, she stepped closer to him and took his hand. "I'm sorry. I should have chosen someplace else."

"Don't worry about that. I'm just glad we don't have to go in there - those redeads shall forever haunt my nightmares." He said, a forced cheery lilt in his voice.

"We will need a place for shelter." Zelda said and shifted the subject away the reliving of memories. It was mostly for Link's sake, as she didn't want to remind him about his adventure with Midna, but also because she wasn't too fond about remaining close to the place for any longer. The place was the very embodiment of torture and death. The sight of those bodies was still imprinted in her mind, and to think of them becoming cursed to wander as redeads was enough to leave her feeling queasy.

"There's an area back from here, we can stop there." Link offered.

"Lead the way," Zelda said and gestured for him to take the lead.

Though the day wasn't even close to being half-over, it was better to rest now and begin travelling when the sun made its descent. As it was now, the sun wasn't at its highest peak, and to continue walking when it did reach that height would be dangerous. Already, the heat was enough to make Zelda's braid damp from the humidity, and her eyes were being forced to close against the drifting sand.

As they walked the short distance to where Link believed the best campsite to be, Zelda felt her skin sticking to the fabrics of her outfit. She was positively certain that a thin layer of perspiration was already clinging to face and neck.

When they arrived at their destination - or what she assumed it to be as Link had stopped - she was surprised to see tents already mantled. Though completely swept in dust, their structures held them strong.

Link was already checking over them and glancing inside before giving an approving nod. "It's not much, but they'll do for getting us out of the heat."

"Are we not intruding upon someone else's quarters?" Zelda questioned, wondering if perhaps the Gerudo still lived in this area. It was an uncommon sight to see living quarters already up and ready for use.

"Not at all. The bublin infestation was cleared out years ago, and they haven't since returned." He shrugged.

"So we are at no risk of being harmed whilst we reside here?"

"Unless there are stragglers somewhere, then no." Link assured. "Auru said the Gerudo live in the far East. I doubt they would still visit this particular area of land."

"True, but the prison was once in their possession. Even with its horrific background, it may still be revered to them," she added, but Link shook his head.

"I spent longer than a week up here, and other than the depictions of the Goddess of Sand in the prison, there's nothing to show the Gerudo ever lived here."

"Then I shall take your word on it." Zelda relented and made her way over to one of the tents located closest to the shade. After brushing most of the dirt aside, she changed into Sheik. Instantly, she felt cooler and the feeling was a welcome one. Perhaps it was her innate temperature, but she much preferred the cool over the warm for she simply felt disgusting when too hot.

With not having thought the course of action out fully, Zelda wished she had picked a more convenient time to warp to the mesa. Given what the situation had been, all she had wanted to do was get them to somewhere safe, but she couldn't deny that waiting around for the sun to drop was a tedious process.

There had been many times in her life when she had been left waiting. More often than not, it was court officials who liked to believe they could attend meetings 'fashionably late' - an excuse she found ridiculous. Then of course, there had been that time in the tower… Time had become meaningless in those days. The suns rays had been unable to penetrate the thick cloud of twilight, and the only way she had kept any semblance of the day's passing was through her monthly cycles. That was, until Link had arrived.

Zelda glanced over to where the Hero lay atop the sand, seemingly content at the heat. She thought perhaps it was their difference in skin tone. He had the golden brown of a herder - adapted to the constant sun - whilst her pallor was a clue to her royal upbringing of a life reserved to the indoors. It was a strange thought, but she realised as she looked at Link's tan, that not once had she ever been tanned. Curiously, she thought about basking in the sun and seeing what would happen, but the probability of her burning was a high one and she didn't want to risk becoming any more uncomfortable.

"You're like a cat relaxing in the warmth of a fire," Zelda observed, referring to how at ease Link was. His weapons lay to the side of him as did his tunic, the white undershirt reflecting the light better than the dull grey of the tunic.

"Or maybe I'm secretly cold-blooded and you never realised." He joked.

"Ah, so secretly you transform into a lizard?"

He gave a her a questioning look as he rose his hand to block the sun. The expression was enough to say how much he doubted that.

"Well, I wouldn't expect wolves to sit around and lounge in the heat."

Link chuckled, "Then you're severely misinformed about the lifestyle of a wolf."

"Do you ever switch forms?" she asked, her intrigue besotting her.

A few moments passed before he spoke again, sounding as though he was pondering over it as he replied, "Not as much as I once did."

"Because of her?" Zelda said. He had already explained that his clothes were not retained during the change, and without an imp to carry them, she imagined transforming spontaneously would be a hassle.

Again, he hesitated before he sat up, his arm resting across his knee. "Not really. Sure, it was nice to have a personal carrier, but over the years, I don't feel the need to change as frequently."

"It could be that you developed more control over it?" she suggested, not overly confident how these things worked.

"Maybe," he shrugged passively and Zelda felt like she wasn't getting the full truth.

"If you have perfected control, then why not change now? When crossing the mesa, having an even weight distribution will make the trek easier. Also, it may be a wise idea to conserve as much energy as possible in case there is conflict upon arrival at the Gerudo site." She suggested. The Gerudo were known to be an all-female race, and as of such, she didn't imagine that they would take too kindly to Link. That, and she had the nagging suspicion that Link was concealing something about his other identity.

"It would be unfair on you." He said simply.

"I am a Sheikah, we are used to endurance work. The journey will not affect me as much as it would an ordinary Hylian." Zelda reasoned.

"I've travelled these lands before and I'm far more used to labour in the heat than you. I'll be fine." Link replied and his eyes searched hers, almost looking for another reason behind her words. "Why are you so intrigued to see me as a wolf? You already know what I look like."

"Yes, but I am considering how this may affect you. If there is anything that would make the trip easier, then I suggest you use it to your advantage. Unless the transformation is painful, then I do not see what is holding you back."

Link's gaze never left her face, continuing to give her that look that felt like he was reading her carefully. As it happened, she was also studiously observing him. Eventually, he sighed and turned his head away from her.

"I don't like to change. It… reminds me too much of being with Midna." He murmured.

"Oh, I understand." Zelda quickly said. Though she was well aware that Link clearly still held feelings towards the Twili, she couldn't quite shake the suspicion that he was lying.

"Besides," he continued, "other than the physical changes, my senses only improve minutely. I could find you pretty easily today without any bother."

This piqued her interest and it only then dawned on her how Link had found her considering they had not met at their designated location.

"How so?"

Link gave an odd smile, and to her it almost seemed embarrassed. "You… have a distinctive smell." He divulged.

"Nothing too bad I hope?" Zelda asked uncertainly. It was her turn to feel chagrined as she thought about how much she felt like she had been sweating… she hoped he couldn't pick up on that.

"Not usually," he smirked and she guessed he had seen the worry flicker in her eyes.

She simply held her head higher, showing how unfazed she was. It was a natural bodily process for cooling down; it wasn't her fault glands were activated by hormones and heat.

"I'm joking, Zel." Link chuckled. "But in all honesty, though you don't exactly smell like roses, you do have a pleasant fragrance."

"Thank you, I think." Zelda said, finding the kind-of compliment rather peculiar and feeling rather self-conscious about how she smelt now. "What makes me so poignant then?"

He became pensive as he mulled it over. "If water had a scent, I'd apply it to you. Not so much in the sunshine and daises way of a spring, but more something well, you."

Zelda gave him a curious stare, the shade from the tent allowing her to do without squinting. "That's rather ambiguous, Link. Normally, I receive compliments on my choice of perfume, not my natural scent." She mused.

"Yeah, but I'm complimenting you, not the material things that you wear."

"There's a first time for everything." She shrugged and another thought entered her mind. With a glint in her eyes, she added, "Such as being called beautiful through a name."

Surprise flitted across his face before he gave her a charming grin. "I told you it was very applicable to you. How did you figure out where it came from?"

Her eyes narrowed, recalling the strange aura of alarm that she had felt from Hel. The more she thought about it, the more certain she became that she recalled the name 'Hel' from somewhere. When she happened to meet Ailith or Serilda again, she would have to ask if they knew any meaning behind the name.

She soon realised that Link was awaiting an answer and she replied, "A flower vendor informed me."

Link's watchful gaze never left her, the hint of confusion ebbing itself into the tilt of his mouth. "Alina is of Terminian origin. Last I checked, the merchant has lived in Hyrule for her entire life."

"Perhaps she travelled? Or happened to know meanings behind names?" she reasoned, trying to suppress the urge of something definitely not having been right about 'Hel.'

"I don't know, but it doesn't seem right in my mind." Link frowned.

"Can you recall her appearance or perhaps her name?"

"Tall, brunette, softly-spoken. I'll admit I never paid that much attention."

"So no "gam yem"?" Zelda asked, still unsure of what the woman had meant by that.

"No," Link said, "That's not a phrase native to Hyrule. A lot of the Terminains do use it though. It practically means 'to go home.'"

"How very peculiar…" she mumbled. First Persephone and now Hel, surely to have felt at unease around both of the raven-haired females was not a coincidence. Yet as she had no truly substantial knowledge to go on, there was many other variables that could have swayed her judgment. Still, the occurrences struck her as odd, especially as they had only begun to happen recently.

"Is something bothering you?" Link inquired and she noticed that his eyes were resting upon her.

"Only simple things of trivial matter. They are nothing to cause alarm," she reassured whilst trying to convince herself that it was mere coincidence and naught more.

Link, however, did not look satisfied at her noncommittal response. "Are you sure about that?"

"No," she replied honestly. "To be absolutely certain would deem me a genius or a fool, and I do not believe I fall into either category."

She watched his jaw tense, her digressing answer not giving him any indication into what was bugging her. Eventually, he relented and sighed before he laid back on the ground. With nothing more being said, Zelda edged back into her claimed tent and waited for the sun to go down.


The sun slowly arched across the sky, the fiery ball of light bright against the blue. The afternoon peak had risen and fallen, but the heat was no less sweltering. They had been travelling little under an hour judging the sun's position, yet any signs of civilisation were still absent.

Zelda brought her bottle to her lips and wrinkled her nose at the warm water she was met with. Still, with the high possibility of contracting heatstroke, she knew better than to avoid drinking water, even if it wasn't pleasant.

Though she was careful to keep the back of her neck covered from the harmful rays, she longed to wipe away the moisture that she could feel building. As she was now highly aware of Link's heightened senses, she felt even more uncomfortable with wondering how alert he was of her endocrine glands.

With no shade in sight, Zelda was beginning to feel the affect of the heat. Even in her Sheikah gear that had a lot of white to help with the refraction of light, she felt far too hot. Several times, she resisted the urge to fan herself. It would be counterproductive as the movement would generate her cells to release more heat, and that wouldn't be helping anything.

Zelda looked up as she felt Link look over to her for the umpteenth time. She could see the worry slowly mounting, but she kept reassuring him that she was fine. If she did feel drowsy, or as though she was to sick, then she would be sure to alert him, but as for now - she didn't want to sound like some whiney Queen who couldn't handle the heat. She had made it through the Goron mines, she could hopefully get to the Gerudo grounds too.

Zelda bit her lip. With no records of the Gerudo following the Civil war, she couldn't be overly sure how far back they had retreated into the Mesa. Though it had bugged her when both Serilda and Link had thought her incapable of venturing out on her own, she was entirely grateful she had the Hero beside her now. Her knowledge of the lands of Hyrule was severely lacking - something she would only ever admit to herself - and without Link, she never would have progressed even this far.

"Zelda, are you sure you're okay?" Link asked, the anxiety seeping into his voice.

"I'm just not adapted to this type of heat is all. I assure you that I am fine." She waved him off. She was familiar with the signs of heatstroke: fatigue, a rapid heartbeat and feeling nauseous, and she didn't have any of those symptoms.

Link's expression showed that he didn't buy it, but there was very little he could do about her stubborn attitude.

After a lengthy period of time, Link stopped abruptly. She caught the movement in her peripheral, paused and wondered what he was doing.

"There's no shelter hear, and so I suggest we keep moving." She pointed out, but her voice sounded tired and the prospect of a break was appealing.

He shook his head and removed one of his gloves before lifting the hand to her head. "You're overheating. Not to mention that you're completely flushed and sweating. We are stopping now."

"I don't have heatstroke," she countered.

"No, but I do think you have heat exhaustion." He replied simply. "Now before it can develop into anything more serious, we're having a rest."

His tone gave no room for disagreement and so Zelda complied. Being a healer, she knew how dangerous it was to ignore symptoms and though a part of her wanted to persevere, the other - far more sensible part - knew that the break was needed.

"Is there any water around here?" she asked, not really concentrating on what she was saying and only after realising what a ridiculous question it was. With the heat, it would be rare that the water hadn't evaporated.

"Yeah, but not the drinking kind." Link answered as he lead them in a northern direction. "Have you ever seen a red tide?"

"No," Zelda replied. "Though I know it's due to an extreme abundance of nutrients and continuous sunshine."

He nodded, always keeping a mindful eye on her. "Then you'll likely know that the red colouring is a result of dinoflagellates that overpopulate the water. It's those micro-organisms that release the virulent poisons that can kill you."

She looked at him impressed. She would happily blame it on the heat getting to her head, but a guy who read always made them more attractive in her mind.

Link continued to lead them further north until a dip in the sand could be spotted. At first, she feared it was some minor canyon, but as they drew nearer, she could see that it was in fact a trench.

The sun now dipping to the west, one of the walls had created shade that Zelda gladly went to. Her eyes closed as she leaned against the wall, drawing in deep, cooling breaths. The temperature was significantly lower and she was grateful to be out of the heat.

"Lie down," Link instructed and she peeked an eye open to watch him dampen a cloth. She did as he had asked, understanding what he was doing.

As her back rested against the sand, he brushed her bangs back and laid the now damp fabric across her forehead. When she felt his hands touch her cowl, her eyes flew open.

"If your core temperature is to go down, you can't keep this on." He explained and continued to remove it from around her neck.

Zelda smiled in consent. She was so used to be the one helping, it felt strangely nice to be the one being taken care of. "Thank you."

Link brushed aside her comment, "I'm only doing my job of keeping you safe."

"Which deserves my gratitude." She replied and watched him as he simply shrugged.

"Tell me when you feel better," he said, the watchful expression still engrained on his handsome features.

"Of course."

Zelda folded her hands across her lap, trying to get as comfortable as possible. The attempts were lost even as she shifted slightly. She hadn't thought to remove her dagger at the base of her spine, and the metal sheath dug into her. Though she could move to accommodate the feeling of her weapon, she could always feel Link's eyes on her.

It wasn't a particularly bad thing - she was long used to the sensation of thousands of eyes resting upon her - yet she wondered what he was looking at. Was he simply keeping an eye on her, or was he thinking she was weak for being unable to handle the heat? Surely not, but she couldn't help but ponder over how he perceived her.

It was incredibly tempting to remain where she was, but it wouldn't benefit her in the long run at all. Eventually, one of her eyes cracked open to look at him and met his blue gaze.

"Any improvement?"

Zelda sat up as she removed the cloth. "I believe so. We can continue moving whilst the sun is at an advantageous position."

Link nodded and rose to his feet before helping her up too. Her eyes glanced over at him and she felt a bit disgruntled at seeing how perfect he still looked.

"How can it be that this heat does not affect you?"

"I've worked outdoors from a young age, so I guess that plays a hand." He said simply.

"It certainly has paid off." She noted.

Link just shrugged.

As they trekked on, the temperature shifted to a cooler degree, but the ground was still blistering. Zelda had once read that in such atmospheric conditions, mirages became a highly common occurrence and could produce displaced images. The optical phenomenon was caused by light moving from cool air into a layer of warm air, with the light being refracted. Due to the nature of the Hylian eye, it interpreted the light as having moved in straight line, whereas it had actually been distorted into a curve.

Though it had intrigued her to learn about, they could be dangerous to those who wandered through locations such as a desert. Despite the refracted image being of something that existed, there was no true way to tell how near or far the object was.

Whether it was a case of the heat or due to their long walk, she wasn't completely sure, but Zelda found it became more difficult to concentrate as time passed by. At first, when she saw the building come into her line of vision, she assumed it was a mirage she was seeing. Yet as they drew nearer, she could tell that it was in fact a building situated above an outcropping of rock.

Even from the distance, she could see the shapes moving around and could easily guess that it was the Gerudo that she was seeing. Zelda frowned as she analysed the best method for approaching, but nothing seemed to be a suitable tactic.

She was well aware of Auru's words - that the Gerudo imprisoned anyone who dared trespass on their lands - but how else were they to approach them? She looked over at Link whose eyes were also searching for the best route, yet the tight line of his mouth showed he had yet to think of anything either.

The environment around them was deserted save for a few scattered rocks. Upon spotting a large rock that provided suitable shade, Zelda made her way over to it - signalling Link to follow with a motion of her hand. They needed to think of a plan and she didn't want to risk being seen. It would be overly easily to spot two approaching figures in such a barren environment.

She gratefully dropped into the shade and wiped her hand across her brow. The heat was completely unrelenting.

"Any plans?" Link questioned.

"Not as of right now." Zelda admitted and leaned over the rock to look at the Gerudo warriors roaming the perimeter. Each one looked identical - from their scarlet hair and bare midriffs to the deadly spear they all clutched. At seeing them up closer, she was reminded of her earlier musings over the peculiar race.

"You have to wait here."

He looked at her incredulously. "Not likely."

"The Gerudo are a race of females; they do not take kindly to men." Zelda stated in an obvious manner.

Link gave her a pointed stare, "A man has been accepted into their midst before."

"In another timeline," Zelda sighed. "What had once been accomplished has been erased by the workings of time. They will have no recollection of the Hero of Time's deeds."

"True, but it does not mean that it cannot be achieved again." He shrugged carelessly, a spark of determination lighting his eyes.

"Link," she began, "though the past can be an indication into the future, that does not immediately declare that our time will be dictated by it. What happened then was likely luck and fate rolled into once. The chances of that happening again is slim."

"But not unobtainable. The circumstances are different, but we still have a shot at the same amount of insane fortune." He said, that focused look never leaving his gaze.

Zelda simply looked at him and felt a smile ghost across her mouth. "Then what do you propose we do?"

"Look for one who appears to a leader of some sort. If we can infiltrate the fortress, we can search inside for someone who fits the description."

She shrugged. It wasn't the greatest of plans, but it was the best they had to go on. As she pushed up to stand, Link held out his hand.

"You might want to change back before we proceed any further," he pointed out.

Zelda glanced down at her Sheikah attire and couldn't agree more. The Sheikah and Gerudo did not have the most amiable history following the Civil War. Serilda had once mentioned that the Sheikah perceived the desert folk as ruthless thieves who held no regard for honour. Zelda was willing to bet that the feelings from the Gerudo were mutual.

She nearly laughed at her ability to so easily forget such a detail. This heat was completely disorienting her concentration.

Zelda opened her mouth to whisper the incantation when she saw Link tense. "What's wro-" she tried to say before Link quickly grabbed her to the side.

An arrow sailed over her head, landing where she had been crouched only seconds before. She only had the briefest of seconds to glance down at the red fletching before she heard a stream of yells sound around them. Immediately, she dove to her feet, the spark of adrenaline curbing the fatigue she had been feeling.

Zelda ducked as another arrow flew past her head and from a different direction - she knew that they were surrounded. The thought didn't deter either of them as they quickly unsheathed their weapons.

The aim was not to kill and so Zelda settled for knocking out as many Gerudo as she could. She could feel, more than see, that Link was holding up well. But she hadn't expected anything less from the Hero.

She dived into a roll across her back as a spear came hurtling towards her and used her feet to kick out at a Gerudo who was fast approaching. Her dagger swung out as she nimbly avoided the attacks from the other party. She had no intention of dealing death, but drawing blood was something she felt comfortable with.

Yet, even as she struck another and another, their numbers only seemed to increase.

"Use your shadows!" Link called out to her other the clatter of spears and cries of Gerudo.

Zelda shouted back her refusal; she wouldn't dare leave him like that.

"Just do it!" He yelled at her, his sword swiftly cutting through the spears as he used the butt of his weapon to knock out the warriors with a blow to the head.

She gritted her teeth. Though to become invisible would give the advantage of attack on her side, she couldn't leave Link to bear the brute of all attention being directed onto him. Perhaps if she could clear a big enough path, she could grab Link and transport them back to the Arbiter's Prison… She made to do exactly that, but as a spear came sailing in front of her, she had to quickly retreat her steps.

There were just too many, and the distance between Link and herself was increasing. She could barely concentrate on the action around her, only knowing that they were fighting a loosing battle. It went against everything to kill another person - be they trying to murder her or not - and though Din's Fire would create a wide berth for her to reach Link, she was completely against the idea of burning the Gerudo to death.

She could see that Link was valiantly holding them off, but there was only so long he could continue to do so in this heat and with so many around him…

She saw no other option than to use her shadows and conceal herself, praying that it would grant her the upper hand. She jumped back a few spaces, providing herself with enough room to quickly summon her shadows. But just as she felt their magic begin to take a hold, something heavy slammed against the back of her head.

She could only just make out Link's look of shock before her vision went black.


Thank you all for reading. Reviews are always greatly appreciated.