"If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind wanders."

-wandering still

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CHAPTER NINE: Castle Affairs

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When Link awoke he openly ignored Ayleth when she tried to talk to him. When he was allowed out of bed three days later, he avoided her at all costs. Whenever she did manage to reach him, the large black wolf was there to chase her away.

The two animals that Link had brutally defended had been allowed to stay at the castle when the soldiers had realized that they were friends with the teen. Of course, the massive horse had to stay outside, but she and Link seemed alright with it, as long as the creature was allowed a free roam of the gardens and a small shelter was put up underneath Link's section of the balcony.

The horse herself was an impressive animal, nearly 16 hands tall (5 ft. 4 in.) at the withers. She was fiery red chestnut with a creamy mane and tail with blackened stockings, very unlike the boring dun, bay, and roan grey steeds of the castle.

During this time, Link had taken to following Zelda around. At first the princess was slightly annoyed at the older person trailing her like a lost kitten, but eventually warmed up to him.

Zelda was currently practicing her archery, aware of the watchful eyes of her 'shadow'. She took three deep breaths, keeping her gaze on the hale bay target. As soon as she exhaled her final breath, Zelda released the string. The arrow shot forward with a sharp TWANG!, and embedded itself in the blue ring, two colors from the center.

Zelda bit her lip. It was better than normal, if the target was a person, they'd certainly be dead, yet she wanted so badly to get the center. Shaking her head, she pulled another arrow out of her quiver lying on the ground and fit it to her string. She continued to practice, and got slighter closer to the middle, grazing the yellow, but that was it.

She'd just about given up in frustration when a gentle touch on her shoulder caused the princess to emit a yelp of surprise and jump nearly a foot in the air.

"What in Hyrule!?" she snapped, only to freeze as she met Link's piercing gaze. "Link? What is it? Do you need something?"

He didn't answer obviously, but held out his hand. Zelda stared at it in confusion. After a pause, Link reached out and carefully took the bow. He held it up, mimicking her. He closed his right eye and looked at the target.

The black wolf padded over and settled itself by his side giving a soft snort.

Link smiled slightly.

A black ear twitched.

A chuckle was emitted.

A seemingly annoyed growl was heard.

Link lowered Zelda's bow and turned to the canine. The blonde girl knew that they were having an unspoken conversation, but she was baffled as to how.

Before she could interrupt to get her bow back, a guard jogged up to the trio.

"Princess Zelda?" he asked, drawing the silent conversation of the boy and wolf to a close.

"Yes?"

"Your father had requested your presence in the meeting room."

Zelda openly groaned. Her father had told her last year that he was going to start to include her in council meetings. Since then, he'd held up his word. It was important for her to learn how those sort of affairs went, though it didn't mean that she enjoyed them.

Zelda had a sneaking suspicion as to what today's meeting was about. Acknowledging the guard, she took her bow back form Link and began to follow the soldier, she herself being trailed by a shadow. She returned the bow to its proper place on a mantle in her room, before making her way down to the council room.

As she neared it, she began to look for Cassius or Ayleth. Link wouldn't be allowed in, especially if his dark colored friend intended to come. So Zelda needed one of her friends to take over watching him, she didn't want someone who didn't know Link. To her delight Cassius walked by, humming a soft tune that Zelda hadn't heard before. He stopped in his tracks when she called him.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Could you watch Link for me?" she asked.

He laughed. "He's not a little kid Zelda!"

"I know, I know," she smiled. "But I have to go to a meeting with my dad and as you know, it's council members and royalty only."

He nodded. "Okay. Let me ask this though. Is it about…?" As he trailed off in his question, Cassius gestured to his cousin.

"Yeah."

"Oh. Will you tell me what they decide afterward?"

Zelda looked at the captain. "You know that's not really allowed, right?"

Cassius' eyes narrowed. "He's my family Zel. I think I have a right to know what'll happen."

The sixteen-year-old sighed. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"Well, I'd better go otherwise I'll get in trouble with dad for being late."

Cassius nodded. As Zelda began to walk off, Link took a step toward her, only to stop as she gave him a look that said: Stay here with him. He hesitated, then nodded. Satisfied, the princess left. Before she disappeared, she called over her shoulder: "Cassius, do you think you could teach him how to speak? I'm kinda getting annoyed of not being able to understand a thing he does. Thanks!" And she was gone.

XXX

Sky stared at the other two-leg.

"I really need a name for him," he told Eclipse. The wolf snorted.

"How about Same Pelt?" she huffed. "Or Dark Snare? Evil Captor?"

"That's insanely rude Eclipse! I'm being serious!" he grunted.

"So am I!" came the retort. "You want me to be serious? Okay, I'll be serious. It's downright FREAKY how much this two-leg looks like you. Sky, something is really wrong here. Epona and I have been patiently staying here with you so that you can heal but not anymore. Look, I know that you said that Farore told you we can trust these creatures, but I DON'T. Have you forgotten about what happened in the forest? We need to leave and find the pack!"

"You were the one who agreed with Epona that they were gone!"

"What about me now?" the voice of the horse resounded in the two's heads, signaling that she was close enough to communicate with them.

"You and Eclipse both told me that they were gone when we were fleeing the forest! You both told me that it was worthless to go back! Why are so suddenly changing your minds!?"

As he spoke, Sky stalked back and forth, briefly aware that the still unnamed two-leg was staring at them in utter confusion.

"WELL?" demanded Sky.

Epona didn't answer, but Sky could sense her attention turn to Eclipse. The wolf shifted uneasily. Immediately, Sky knew something was up.

"What happened to you while we were separated?"

His sister looked at him.

"We have to leave this place."

"What happened?"

"It isn't safe to stay here. The longer we tarry, the higher the danger."

"What happened!?"

"The forest is in horrible danger. So are the other Light Spirits. There may even be spies among these-"

"TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU NOW!"

Eclipse froze and Epona's mental link flinched.

"I met the Golden Alpha."

XXX

Zelda walked into the council room calmly. However, the people in the room weren't. A female council member was on her feet shouting at a person across the table.

"It's official!" she screeched. "That strange boy is a murderer and he must be killed NOW!"

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I'm so so sorry for the longer wait, but the computer was acting up. :(

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Many Thanks,

WolvesoftheBlueMist