Zelda tiptoed around in the dark, the fabric of the tent brushing against her occasionally as she made her way around the inside. She would have to be careful; Adius would definitely not appreciate it if he found the Princess of Hyrule snaking about in his tent. Dressed back in her trousers and red shirt, Zelda flipped through his books, one by one. She had spied on him and the King as they had talked, and the discussion had chilled her.

"The Hero will stay here. He won't be able to help the Princess conquer us completely, which is what the Hyrulians have always wanted to do. Control. Funny, you think they had enough just governing over us as they are, now they want more."

"And Princess Zelda, my King?"

"Well, it really is unfortunate the Hyrulians do not know she is here. I assume she might just...disappear one day. What think you? Do away with her."

A meeting with Adius would not be a pleasant one.

She had heard about a map, buried in his tent. But where? Where was this damned map? Zelda had been looking for a quarter of an hour through Adius' extensive collection piled onto a desk. She was beginning to grow frustrated. She needed it! The Realm of Twilight awaited! And Ganondorf needed to be defeated. But where was the map? If the situation were not so dire, Zelda would have cried out as her search led to no avail. She flipped through all of the books again, but in vain. As a last resort, Zelda ran around to each and every thing she could find and searched. She was about to give up as she searched under the sheets he used as a bed.

But lo and behold! There it was! A map to the Mirror of Twilight. Link and her would have to travel a few miles, but Zelda was ready to make the trek, and she wondered where Link was at the moment. With Xenia was one possibility she feared with all her heart, but she chased that out of her mind for the moment. What mattered was that she found the map in the dark of the tent with what little light she could use to see. Relieved, Zelda sighed, then tried to make her way out.

"Good evening, Princess."

Zelda froze and stared, the map in her hands and Adius' eyes baring into her.

"Care to explain what exactly you're doing here?"

Zelda's eyes darted around the room. She had to hurry, Link would be waiting.

To her horror Adius unsheathed his sword. "Let me ask again: What are you doing here, Princess?"

"Hyrule will find out," warned Zelda as she held the map behind her back, "I heard what you were saying in the tent with the King. Don't assume my other subjects are dense."

"Your Majesty, I'm not too sure if you have noticed, but my sword is in my hand. And I know you're in here for the map. All you need to do is hand it back to me. Then everything will return to normal. So, may I please have the map?"

Zelda unsheathed her dagger, praying that she would not have to use it.

"Give me the map Princess."

She held the paper even tighter in her hand.

"I'm waiting, Princess."

Nothing.

"The map your Majesty!"

He would not persuade her.

"Fine. So be it, then."

And Adius charged at her, the blade flashing in the darkness. Zelda cried out and darted to her right, just out of reach of Adius' sword, which came down onto thin air. Zelda saw an opening and tried to run out the tent flap. But the general was too quick for her and his agility enabled him to meet her speed. Panicking, Zelda raised her dagger, blocking his sword that was attempting to swipe at her side. However, she had let herself open and soon, Zelda felt Adius' hand on her shoulder, forcing her against the desk. Before she could call out, his hand slammed down on her mouth, pushing her head back and her whole body fell against the hard surface. Adius' hand was now hovering over her, pinning down her throat, and Zelda was choking as the general pushed down.

"I'll offer you one more chance Princess. All you need to do is hand me the map."

There was only one choice. But did Zelda want to take it? Adius was a citizen of Hyrule, therefore it would be dishonourable. No, it would be in self defense. Zelda thought hard, trying to solve the dilemma as she felt herself gradually growing weak. Soon, she would be lifeless. Link would be all alone, and perhaps he would never find the Mirror, and Hyrule would fall once again.

Zelda's eyes widened. Then she did it. She thrust the dagger into Adius' chest. The general didn't even cry out; All he could do was gasp. Zelda pushed him back and watched Adius fall to the ground. He was clutching the dagger with one hand, and the other was reaching for Zelda in desperation. Forcing herself to not let conscience get in her way, Zelda pulled the dagger from Adius' weak hand and his bloody chest. She felt regret, and an intense sense of guilt filled her. But it was too late now. What was done, was done.

Zelda turned and ran out of the tent. They had to leave even sooner than before.

Link, dressed in his signature green combat attire, made his way to the gated horses. He wondered where Zelda was, and questioned what was taking her so long as she was supposed to meet him a few moments ago. Pushing himself to be calm, Link faced the night guards.

"Princess Xenia gave me permission to examine my horse," he declared confidently.

Hearing this, the guards nodded and opened the door to the makeshift stable for him.

Link walked among the horses, looking left and right for Epona. It didn't take him long to find both Hyrulian steeds, as they were smaller in size than the valley horses. Bending down, Link examined Epona's wound, concluding that it was not as serious as the Moledo King had said. Link frowned and thought to himself how the King had lied. At the same time, Epona was gently observing her master, her eyes brightening that he had returned for her.

A sound caused Link to shoot up back onto his feet, his shield and sword almost tilting him back. The Hero turned to where the sound had come from and sure enough, the Princess of Hyrule walked towards him.

"There you are! What took you so long?" he asked urgently.

"Shhh," replied Zelda, "I have the reins, and I hope you don't mind riding bareback; I couldn't find the saddles."

"That's fine," answered Link, then, with a tone that was gentler than he wanted, he said to Zelda, "I was worried about you. I thought something might have happened to you."

Zelda smiled a sad smile and gestured to her shirt, which Link finally noticed was bloodied. His eyebrows raised in shock.

"Zelda...You didn't happen to..."

"Adius."

"That's...unfortunate."

"Which is why we need to get out now!"

Link nodded sternly in agreement. "But where to? Did you find out anything?"

Zelda held up the map, "We go North."

Both Hyrulians settled on their horses. "Link, would we need the Stalfo prisoner?"

The Hero pondered, then replied. "No. I'm sure the Stalfos have something to do with Ganondorf. We'll leave him here so when they interrogate him, he can prove our story true."

Instantaneously after Link's statement, both heard a hustling by the gate of the stable.

"They're inside! Get them!"

Link and Zelda gave each other a look. Mischievously, Link winked at Zelda, making her blush a little in the darkness. He then motioned to a nearby wooden wall. Kicking their horses in the side, the Hyrulians charged at the wooden wall, their steeds breaking it down, much to the surprise of the Moledos. Angered, one of them shouted, "Get the horses and follow them!"

They would have to gallop faster than ever.

Bearing down through the camp, Link and Zelda urged their horses on. One by one the residents of Gar Havel awoke, puzzled by what was happening. Looking outside their tents, all the Moledos could only witness their own guards on horseback, thundering between the tents and kicking up dust. They had no idea what was happening, and what exactly the guards were doing. They stood near their tent flaps, and stayed there tentatively, observing what would happen next.

The wind flapped at Link's face as he and the Royal Princess shot across the valley, with Moledo guards behind them. Sensing that something was chasing them, the Hyrulian steeds were performing quite well considering that rocky terrain was an unfamiliar territory for them to explore. Link looked sidelong at Zelda, whose wavy her flowed out behind her, not touching her shoulders as she practically flew alongside him. At one point she looked back at him, and Link knew that she was insisting that they form a final plan to lose the Moledo guards. They could not outrun them forever.

Link turned his head, up and down, side to side, trying to find something they could use. He dared not drive the horses up the slope to flat ground above, for the guards would surely catch up with them. He couldn't stop to face them either, not right now. He had to create an opportunity.

About forty metres from where they were, Link saw a bend in the path of the valley. Turning back his head, Link noted that the guards were perhaps thirty metres behind him and Zelda. It would give them enough time. He turned to look at Zelda, exchanging a nod with her. Zelda knew what they were going to attempt, so connected was she with Link from adventures past. Pushing Epona faster and faster, Link saw the bend loom up, getting closer and closer before he and Zelda turned, keeping their horses close to the rocks. They stopped and waited. The Moledo guards had seen them turn, and did so as well.

Thud!

The first Moledo guard cried out in pain as he ran right into Link's well-timed fist. Link felt the bone of the guard's nose give way and a crunch followed, alerting the Hero that he had broken it. The force of the hit plus the speed at which he had been traveling knocked the Moledo soldier backwards off his horse. Ironically, Zelda thought the sight slightly amusing and stifled a giggle. Ahead of her, Link slashed the side of a second Moledo guard's horse, causing it to shriek, more in fear than in pain, and run amok, its riding struggling to get the frightened beast under control. Seizing her chance, Zelda quickly dismounted and ran towards the first fallen Moledo guard. Turning him over, she took his bow and quiver of arrows. Loading an arrow, she waited behind Link who was fighting two of the guards. She waited for him to lunge to one side before firing. The arrow shot through the air and impaled the shoulder of a guard who dropped his sword, allowing Link to elbow him in the jaw, throwing him off balance. Zelda shot an arrow again, this time she aimed at the hip of the fourth and final Moledo guard. The guard yelled out in surprise as Link knocked him out of his horse. He motioned for Zelda to mount her horse, and she obeyed.

In the darkness they flew on their horses, the wind battering them as they continued on their quest. They had managed the situation with the Moledos, and now entering the Twilight Realm was their main goal. At one point, the two travelers halted. Consulting the map, they nodded at one another and steered their horses towards the North. They were going to Midna.

And they were going to stop Ganondorf.