A/N:This is the first chapter of a sort of "four chapter arc" I know it is a bit short but that's just the way it has to be for it to flow nicely. Link has been gradually coming to terms with how things are, but he is not exactly going to 'get over it' any time soon. My focus for this chapter (and a bit of the next) is more or less the idea of putting up a brave face for the sake of those around one and one's self and the idea of friends and family being able to poke fun at each other without getting offended. (there may or may not be an Ashei and Link adventure and something to do with rescues and bounties) But I have already said too much now he he (my bad) I hope you like it. I feel truly honored to have so many readers.

MiniJen- thank you, that makes me feel rather pleased with myself, I have read many fight scenes in which it was hard to follow too short or long and I tried my best not to make any mistakes like that. I had the idea in my head sort of like a movie and I tried by best to describe it in such a way that my readers could see it too. I'm glad you liked it.

Da Amazing Po-Po-Pony- Hi Jenna-bear (Jk) :P Yeah Telma is awesome, thank you for your review by the way, it made me smile. I would say you look great in a Ryan Seacrest outfit but I probably went too far already with my first statement already. :D

CuriosityCat- Awww shucks, I never been inspirational before :D hope you had fun wrestling Gorons. Thanks for your time and review!

Thank you to Generala, James Birdsong, xXx skytale xXx , Gojira Geek, and xXfirecrackerXx. I loved your comments and finding out your favorite bosses. I personally cannot decide which ones I like the best(lazy answer I know but I can't help it. : )

Oh, and cousin, if you use my account one more time I will rip you limb from limb, or feed you to the Empress : )

To Disobey an Order

A couple days later, Link found himself relaxing against a tall oak tree. It was his turn for hunting duty and he was quietly waiting for prey. His green tunic and mottled brown cloak helped him blend in well with the surrounding forest. He had hidden himself near an often used dear trail and had an arrow casually notched to his bowstring so he could be ready to fire at a moment's notice.

There was a quiet rustling in the brush ahead of him and he brought his bow into firing position hoping for something nice to eat for dinner. The rustling became louder and he took aim. He sighted down his arrow shaft as he waited for his quarry to break free of the cover of the brush. With a crash, his prey broke through the foliage and stumbled into view.

"Rusl," he exclaimed, exasperated. "What are you doing sneaking around the hunting grounds? I almost shot you."

Rusl motioned for silence and Link obliged willingly. The two took cover in some nearby bracken.

"There are some soldiers lurking about these woods," Rusl explained in a low whisper.

"I still think it is not the smartest thing to sneak around where you know someone is hunting." Link said with a raised eyebrow when they were sure it was safe to speak again. "Surly you did not come all the way here to offer yourself up as the main course."

"I most certainly did not!" Rusl replied, smiling, "I wouldn't taste good anyway."

"Yeah, that's probably true, now that I think about it," Link said, making a face, "tough and tasteless."

"I'm going to forget I heard that," Rusl said with a mock glare before he sobered, "I came here to tell you of an urgent matter."

Rusl was silent for a moment and Link waited patiently for him to continue. "Talo's family had problems paying their tax and all of them have been arrested."

Talo and his family lived in Ordon and they were good friends of both Link and Rusl.

"Why didn't they ask for help?" Link complained. "I am sure we could have figured something out."

"You know Talo's father, he was too proud to ask for it."

"All of them have been arrested?" Link asked worriedly.

"All of them except for Talo's little brother Malo. He was at his apprenticeship in Castle Town at the time. But you have not heard the worst of it yet. The guards plan to make Talo endure some public punishment, as a lesson to the public and especially his family."

Link jumped to his feet angrily. Talo was Colin's age about eleven. To do something like that to a child was disgustingly low. Although Talo and Colin were near in age, the two were very different. Colin was more like a brother that was ones best friend and Talo was more like an annoying brother. Despite that fact, Link had become rather attached to the less than mannered Talo. Talo had always been supportive, in the way a child is, and he had always looked up to him. His mother and father were also good people. This was unfair and cruel.

"Exactly where do you think you're going?" Rusl demanded lifting an eyebrow.

"I am going to help them," Link said determinedly.

"No you're not," Rusl informed him blankly. "I did not tell you everything yet. On my way here, I overheard some soldiers talking and they said that they are going to use Talo and his family for a double purpose: one is to teach the public a lesson, and the other is to capture you. They have set a trap and Talo is the bait. Don't go off and do something you will regret later."

Link sat back down angrily, "is there no limit to how far she will lower herself," he muttered darkly. Aloud, he said "there must be something we can do; we can't just sit here and do nothing."

"You will sit here and do nothing. I think of you like my son and as such I am worried for your safety. If you have any sense at all you will not go. In fact, I forbid you to go. Let Auru and I handle this one, alright?"

Link looked at Rusl's concerned face and then nodded.

That seemed to satisfy Rusl. "Auru and I are planning a meeting at sundown to decide on a course of action."

Link nodded again. There were about two hours left before sunset and Rusl offered to join Link in his hunt for supper, but it was a futile attempt. The sun was setting when they finally gave up. They trudged back to camp empty handed. The mood between them was discouraged, but not only because of their lack of game. Link looked up as Rusl broke the strained silence between them.

"Looks like we have no other choice but to have Rusl roast, made from awesome Ordonian, since we have no game to offer," he teased lightly trying to lighten the dark mood, though his attempt did nothing to make him want to smile.

"Yuck," Link said with grin, "you may think that you taste awesome, but in reality you are probably completely flavorless."

Rusl gave him a scathing glance.

"Impossible to chew," Link continued.

"Quit while you're behind," Rusl warned.

"Stringy."

"That does it!" Rusl exclaimed, aiming a mock kick at Link's backside which he easily dodged.

He danced nimbly out of reach and fixed Rusl with a gleeful self-satisfied grin.

Rusl pursed his lips in annoyance before he spoke, "if you were still my apprentice I would make you run five miles then scrub all the dishes. Also, at least there would be meat if I was the main course. If we were to eat you, there would be nothing but skin and bones you scrawny noodle.

Link laughed and Rusl glared at him severely for several moments before chuckling softly as well. The two parted ways as they reached the camp. He watched as Rusl headed towards Auru and the two entered in an animated conversation. The nagging worry that he felt for Talo and his family returned. There was no doubt in his mind that something had to be done about it and he hoped that Rusl and Auru would come up with a successful plan.

~x~X~x~

Link was slinking quietly out of camp. Although he had at first agreed that he would stay out of this matter, and in fact knew it would be smarter to stay out of it, his mind had changed when he had eavesdropped on the tail-end of Rusl and Auru's 'secret' conversation to think up a plan. They had thought up what he considered to be the most worthless plan possible, namely, to do absolutely nothing. They thought the risk was too great to pull off a successful rescue.

He knew he would be blatantly disobeying the person that was the closest thing he had to a father, but he did not believe doing nothing was an acceptable option. If Talo was being used as bait for his capture, then that made this whole mess inadvertently his fault. So, therefore, he felt it was his responsibility to fix it. He jumped as a female voice cut short his revelry.

"So you are turning into a regular outlaw aren't you? First you spy on Auru and Rusl's private conversation and then you sneak off like a common thief to do something you promised you wouldn't."

Link whirled around to see Ashei leaning nonchalantly against a tree. "Caught you," she smiled.

He felt the heat of a blush beginning on his features, before he hastily retorted. "This makes you twice the thief and outlaw I am, if you were spying on me whilst I was spying. Not to mention the fact that you were sneaking after someone who was already sneaking."

"That is quite beside the point," she said with a roguish smile.

Link raised his eyebrows incredulously. "It is?"

"Yes, because I am taking about your terrible behavior at the moment and not mine, yeah?"

No, Link thought to himself as he raised his eyes skyward in an exasperated gesture. "And what exactly, may I ask, is the point?"

"The point is, I can't let you walk into a practically suicidal rescue mission without some backup," she smiled, her dark brown eyes twinkling with excitement. "besides," she continued, her smile fading, "everything we fought so hard for when Ganon came is gone now, and this might just show her highness that I am not just going to stand idly by as we lose our freedom. I am coming too and you can't stop me."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said quietly, feeling a smile breaking out across his own face; "any help would be welcome."

He had no right to forbid someone from going on a mission he himself was forbidden from, and besides, he liked Ashei. She was a clever capable person. She was good-hearted and adventurous, although she did have the somewhat annoying tendency to speak whatever was on her mind.

"That is what I like about you," she said happily, "you are not an uptight selfish adventure hog. I had to do tons of persuading to go on a quest with Auru, because he thinks that questing is dangerous for a young lady. You don't seem to care; I like that. Where exactly are your friends being held prisoner?"

"Rusl told me that they are being held in Kakariko village. You do realize we are walking straight into a trap."

"Yep," she replied, "I've never been one to shy away from a challenge."

"I think that's what I like about you," Link smiled as they flitted from shadow to shadow.

~x~X~x~

Rusl had wanted to tell Link of the conclusion he and Auru had come up with, and the reasons behind their decision, but he couldn't seem to find him anywhere. He had asked around camp but no one had seen him. At first he thought Link might have wandered off alone into the woods to think-like he often did when he was feeling bothered or upset, but he discarded that notion when he discovered that no one had seen him leave.

He headed towards Link's camping spot and something seemed wrong about it. In the shifting feeble light of the outlaws campfire, Rusl could see that some of his former apprentice's gear was missing.

Rusl groaned inwardly as the realization of what had happened dawned on him.

"The foolish reckless boy," he muttered angrily.

"Make that foolish and reckless girl as well," Auru said as he walked up to join him. "Ashei is gone as too. They both gave me the impression of having a lot more sense than to run off and do something as dim-witted as this; I suppose I was wrong about that."

"I wonder what has gotten into them. This is the first time Link has ever blatantly disobeyed me on something this serious. They don't even know about the blockade," Rusl complained.

"It is my experience that youths often do things without thinking it completely through, and without taking the advice of others. Perhaps if we hurry, we can catch them before they try anything foolhardy and get themselves hurt or worse," Auru said urgently.

The two seasoned warriors rushed off to go arm themselves and get some supplies in order. When they were ready, they walked though the darkened forest in the direction of the canyon lands after the two reckless teenagers.

I hope you liked it!

QUESTION:

What is your favorite TP pairing?