Knock knock "Zelda, are you in there?" Daphnes stood outside her room, banging repeatedly on the door. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," came a weak voice, "I'm fine. I'll be down soon." Sighing, the king plodded off down the hallway, muttering about unruly children.

The door creaked open after him and Zelda peered out at his retreating figure. Quickly she shut the door again and turned around to face her two maids. "If you play your cards right, no one will ever know. Just make sure someone is always here to be 'me' and that my dad doesn't call in his own healer. You can't trust anyone."

The older of the two maids was nervous. "But," she worried, "what happens if they force their way in and discover it is not you?"

Zelda picked up her bag from the floor and slung it over her shoulder. "Then you tell them it was all my idea but that you don't know where I went. And make sure you cry a lot, my dad can't deal with weepy women. You'll be fine." She pulled on her cloak and slipped out the door, leaving her maids standing in distress.

Zelda made quick business of sneaking down to the stable without being spotted. And it was easy, really, to steal a horse. The problem, she discovered when she got there, was that there weren't any horses to be stealing. And just when I thought this would go off without a hitch. Scowling, Zelda circled back the way she had come and out through the front gate towards the Market. Her ragged appearance helped convince the guards she didn't belong inside the castle grounds and they shooed her onward. Zelda vaguely wondered what would happen if they knew it was their princess they ushered onward with such scorn.

Once in the Market, Zelda cast around for a horse to steal. But as she wandered down the main street, she realized how impossible this would be. There were people everywhere. Zelda felt stupid, thinking she could get away with thievery in broad daylight. So she reconsidered her options. Well, I certainly can't walk all the way to Sano. And I didn't bring enough money to buy a horse. They'd be suspicious anyway though.

As she pondered, Zelda wandered aimlessly through the streets of Hyrule Market. It was a strange pleasure not to be recognized by everyone. But it was not pleasant to be trampled upon. Zelda quickly found herself retreating from the busier streets. She walked through the backstreets, feeling that her ingenious escape plan was seriously flawed only because she couldn't actually escape.

Then she rounded a corner and almost ran into a loaded wagon. A horse that was tethered to the front of it whinnied at her. Now's my chance! Zelda sprang forward with the full intention of stealing the horse, but as she leapt past the wagon a woman stood up from just next to the horse and literally ran into her, knocking them both to the ground.

"Oh gosh!" exclaimed the woman. "I beg your pardon miss, but I didn't see you there." Quickly and with much grace, the woman got her feet and offered Zelda a hand. As Zelda took it, she noticed the woman was dressed almost as filthily as she.

"Oh, it's quite alright, fair lady," Zelda quickly replied. Even before she finished her sentence she was mentally kicking herself. Peasants don't talk like that!

The woman, who was picking up a sack up from the ground, paused and turned to face Zelda fully. Obviously, she thought the same thing. "What brings a peasant like yourself to the Market? Surely you can't afford their lofty prices." She gestured down the street, towards the main market, with scorn.

"Well, no," Zelda answered sheepishly, "I was just passing through really."

"Mmm, " the woman replied. Once more, she looked Zelda up and down. "You wouldn't per chance looking for a ride out of this dump, would you?" She turned back to the cart and tossed the sack in. "I'm done with this place, heading out for a spell. I could use some company for as far as you want to go. What do ya say?"

Zelda couldn't believe her ears. "Really? Are you sincere?" She could barely contain her excitement. "That would be wonderful! When do you leave?"

The woman smiled. "Right now, actually. Hop aboard!" She extended her hand again to Zelda. The princess took it and was hoisted up onto the seat of the cart. The woman swiftly climbed up after her. Once settled, she glanced back at the cart, decided she had everything, and set the horse on its way. "Oh, before I forget, my name's Andrea. What's yours?"

"Mia. I'm Mia," Zelda answered. Maybe this will work after all.

King Daphnes angrily stomped down the hall. It had been only five days since his daughter had become mysteriously ill. At first, he had been concerned. But now he was suspicious. It seemed alarming that Zelda, a healer herself, was unable to identify the sickness. He knew there had to be more to it, something he was missing. He truly doubted that she was naturally ill. That left three other explanations.

Benjamin was snoring loudly when King Daphnes banged open the door. The noise jolted Ben awake. "Your Majesty!" he exclaimed.

"Listen, this is important." Daphnes sat down at Ben's desk. "You hear all the talk amongst the court, correct?" Ben nodded. "I need to know if any of them are plotting against me in any way that involves Zelda."

Ben blinked. "With Zelda?" he replied dumbly, scratching his shiny head. "Well I don't think so. I mean they plot and scheme all the time... but nothing that ever involves her. She's an angel to them, you know that."

Daphnes frowned. "Then why is she sick? Who did this to her? Have you heard nothing? No speculations from anyone?"

"Ahh," Ben said with understanding. "You think she's being poisoned." He shook his head. "No, they would never do that to her. Although-" he continued, with sudden inspiration.

Daphnes knew what he was thinking though. "No, I doubt the killer's friends have come back. If they were trying to kill her, they would have just done it and gotten it over with."

"I suppose," Ben replied. Then he glanced sideways at the king. "What if she's not really sick? What if she's just.. I don't know, sad over Link leaving? Hmm?"

Daphnes shook his head, stating, "She's never been that melodramatic." But then he paused. "Perhaps I underestimate how much he manipulated her though."

Suddenly Daphnes came to a decision and stood up, pulling Ben to his feet as well. "We'll find out though, won't we? This quarantine has to end. Come Benjamin, let's find out if she's really ill!" Still holding Ben by the collar, the king marched back down the hallway.

When they reached her room, however, they found the door standing open. A maid was inside, fixing up the bed. Zelda was no where to be seen. "Maid," Daphnes demanded as he entered the room, "where is my daughter?"

"She's outside in the gardens," the maid stated simply.

"But her illness?" he urged.

The maid stopped and looked up at him nervously. "Her Highness is... feeling better. She thought some fresh air would do her good."

Daphnes turned away, back out into the hall. Ben looked anxiously at him. Daphnes said slowly, "I don't understand. Perhaps she was just ill."

Ben shrugged. "May I go now?"

Outside in the garden, Zelda sat under her favorite tree with the other maid, who was extremely confused. After a bit of silence, the maid ventured cautiously, "You left to find Master Link. Yet obviously you haven't. Your Highness, I do not understand why you returned."

Zelda turned to the maid, putting her hand on her shoulder. "I'm not sure what you are talking about. Perhaps you should go in and lie down for a bit. It is a bit warm out here for how thickly you are dressed."

"What?" the maid responded. She glanced down at her clothes. "Well, alright." She got up hastily and left, glancing over her shoulder at the princess.

Zelda waited until she was out of sight before getting up herself. She walked cautiously down the path until she reached the small pool tucked away in the corner. Quickly looking around, she hustled over to it and, muttering under breath, lightly dipped one hand into the warm water.

The surfaced changed. Instead of reflecting the morning sunshine, it showed a dimly lit wooded glade. A dark face swam into view. "Well? What happened?"

Zelda shook her head. "I don't know. As far as I can tell she took off a couple days ago. The sickness was a ruse she created herself. I suppose it made my transition very smooth, but still-" she glanced around again, "-I'm concerned about what will happen if she attempts to return."

The face in the water laughed. "Don't be silly. If Princess Zelda is wandering lost in the woods, my agents will pick her up. A minor change of plans, really. I will contact you once we've caught her, and then you can make your move against King Daphnes." The face laughed again. "Usurping the Hylian throne will be too easy with their hero out of the picture. Now go."

Zelda smiled crookedly before removing her hand from the pool. Instantly the image changed back to the sunny sky. Casually she drifted away from the pool and left the garden. The guards bowed to her, holding the castle door open as she passed.


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