Author's Note: Well here we are again. I am sorry that this is slightly shorter than the other chapters but not only did I want to get this up, but I couldn't necessarily carry on with this chapter before I would have to merge this one and the next one too; something I didn't really want to do. Either way, we have finally gotten to the second portion of four, and hopefully it is a little more realistic; I used a tiny bit of inspiration from What Makes A Hero, if you have read the Snowpeak portion of that.

Guest Reviews: James Birdsong: Thank you for the support!

Extra Note: I have another Tumblr page, "rosey-crossing," so if you enjoy Animal Crossing then certainly check that out!

"Does the road wind uphill all the way? Yes to the very end. Will the day's journey take the whole long day? From morn to night, my friend."

~Grantland Rice~

Girl of the Dream

Chapter 10: North

I slowly blink my eyes open, and my first thought hits me instantly.

Are we alive?

Shafts of sunlight greet me through the shutters of my room, and I think back to the last time that I had woken up like this; the Clock Tower had fallen and I was sure that we were in the afterlife. I throw the sheets off of me and rise quickly, stretching my arms and glancing out of the window once I open up the shutters. People are still in the main square, and I recall that this was the same when we first went back in time, smiling slightly at the wonderful sight before me. The moon is back to its original point in the sky, lifting a great weight from my shoulder, but what has made the weight dump itself back onto my was that memory.

Why were people trying to keep us apart? He isn't a threat.

Is he?

I shake the thought from my head. Of course he wouldn't be! He came all this way to help me, and I won't judge him for that.

I make my way downstairs, waving to a quiet Anju who is still reeling from Kafei going missing. I go over to comfort her, but then I stop; I cannot comfort her now. I slip out into the warm morning air, diving past people as my speed picks up. I have gone through this morning three times now, potentionally many more times if we have to find all four Guardians, and each time I am more and more desperate to find my companions and make sure that they are alright.

But this time, they find me first.

They race up the street from the southern square, and I have no time to react before Link is embracing me. I laugh into his clothes, joyous that they are here and not injured or out of their natural forms.

And then I remember the memory.

I pull away from him. "Esme and Raven..." I say quietly, and his eyes widen in recognition. "They're your parents... I saw me teach you how to read... and their names were what you first read. Do you remember?" He doesn't need a second to recall it because his face immediately breaks out into a grin and he hugs me again, though I can feel him hesitating. Is it because I am a Princess? I shake my head. Who cares...

When he pulls away, he is still smiling. "So you're starting to remember, then?"

I nod. "I started remembering small memories the day before you arrived, but I seem to only recall major events when we use the Song of Time. It may not be true, but I feel the power in the Ocarina is helping me somehow. But I *am* remembering, and the Song of Time worked," I add after a moment. "And that means that we have enough time to save the other three Guardians. For once, we can finally share a bit of hope."

"Let's just hope that we don't jinx it," says Tatl with a chuckle. "Well Tael said that after the Swamp we had to go to the Mountains, and the only main range that I know of is Snowhead." Snowhead was given its name because it is snowcapped all year round, however it has been slowly submerged in snow and ice not long after I arrived here, and for the Goron tribe up there who can't adapt to it quickly enough, they are greatly suffering.

"Then we will need to get many layers prepared," is my only response, and I glance over to a slightly confused Link and explain the activity on Snowhead; his perplexion morphing into concern; but all he does is nod.

We have a chance to make a difference.

Now we just have to take it.

We make our way north on foot, not wanting to waste our time with horses that we will end up leaving anyway. The temperature drastically drops before we have even reached the mountain's nadir, and I am already pulling the hem of my cloak closer to me. Frost starts to cling to the grass, quickly blanketing the terrain as we cross the rickety wooden bridge connecting the edge of Termina Field, grabbing onto the rope when it swings violently in the wind. I instantly regret not bringing gloves, but force the thought back and focus on the road ahead.

We can't stop before we have even started.

A harsh gust of wind hits us immediately, snowflakes sticking to my hair as we recoil from the shock of it. "M-Maybe we should wait for the storm to s-stop..." Tatl murmurs from beneath her partner's hat, staying away from the cold as much as much as we can

"We'll be fine," I mutter. "We'll be fine."

Tall canyon walls tower above us, cedar trees in the distance bending over drastically from the wind. The ground is constantly inclining but covered in ice and snow, and we have no choice but to cling to the rocky crags on either side of us to help. We huddle underneath an overhang to eat something warm, but even now it has cooled dramatically. We don't stay there for long, moving out again in less than an hour.

"There's a sign here," Tatl calls out to us through the wind. Link brushes off the snow as she reads it. "Mountain Village ahead. Beware of... blizzards and snow. Gorons should be able to break snow boulders easily..."

"Hopefully that will be a blessing," I say.

The cold attacks us with an even harsher blow, already leaving my extremeties bright red before rhe sun has even reached the highest point in the sky. However, despite the harshness of the wind we make it up to the Village within the next few hours, but it isn't much of a Village. The river has frozen over, from what we can see of it, and there is only one lodge. Grinning, we huddle together tightly and pick up our speed. I can already feel my feet growing weak and my eyelashes sticking together.

The cabin is small and somewhat warm, tools of the trade dotted all across the walls as well as pots and pans for cooking. There is only one light, and even that one flickers. The giant boiler off to the left is generating most of the heat and light, but the shadows conceal the large figure working behind it. We creep in without hesitation, ready for the heat more than anything.

The creature behind the counter then cries out in warning, making me jump in alarm.

"Shaddup! Just when I was having a good dream too..." We spin around, the action sending a freezing wind through my body. A young man lays on the ruined sofa, beady eyes narrowing at the creature. He seems rather relaxed for just waking up, his blue overalls covering so little I'm surprised that he isn't shivering yet. As he adjusts his white cap, his tiny eyes find us. "Oh! Welcome to the Mountain Smithy, travellers; where take our time to make a good point." He chuckles at his own line. "So, what brings you here?"

"We're travelling up to the Temple here in Snowhead," says Tatl, emerging from Link's hat. "But it's so cold that it will take numerous days so we came here for some warmth, if you'll have us."

"It's fine, fine!" comes the man's reply before he turns to the creature behind the counter. "Go on, you lump, get something good for our travellers!" I wet my lips to ask why he is being so horrible to who I assume is his friend, however the creature merely wanders off towards the hearth where a weak flame glows. The man scoots up and offers us a seat on the sofa, and I specifically allow Link to sit between us. I'm not afraid of him or want Link to protect me, but I see the way he looks at me and I don't like it.

There's a beat of silence, then Link asks, "Who are you, then? Your Smithy seems to be popular but I'm not from around here to know."

The man holds his hand out for Link to shake. "I'm Zubora, the owner. Pleased to meet you." We quietly introduce ourselves, then the creature behind the counter places some tea down for us and signals so with a monstroud cry. "Shaddup! You're scaring the guess." He shrugs as they shuffl away. "hat huge fellow is my assisstant, Gabora. He's all brawn and about as smart as a Deku Stick."

"That's harsh," I say before I can think.

"Harsh but true," is his only reply as he leans back down onto the cushions, cradling his drink. "Well we aren't doing any busines right now, as a matter of fact, but we have been popular enough to let us afford food. I can see by the hilt of your blade that a good person made your sword. Who was it? Any competition I need to know of?"

Link forces a smile before placing his mug down and drawing the blade. Zubora studies it with awe, and so do I; more so because of the memories that almost sparks because of them. "It was not made from around here, so don't worry about competition. It, uh, was made by a dear friend before I set off travelling. I don't even remember his name." Zubora doesn't see it, but I note in his eyes that he is lying about not knowing who made it.

Zubora rears back. "Well that's a mighty fine blade you got there." Link nods and sheathes it, drinking more of his tea as the smith continues. "Well if this abnormally cold snap we've been having during the higher snowfall stops anytime soon, then we can start back up again. See, our hearth can't hold a proper fire, and our power is barely working. The way things are going now, I won't be able to do any business until spring... If I could just do something about..."

The large light above us suddenly blows, plunging us into darkness that is only cleaved by the fire in the hearth.

"Urgo!"

"Shaddup!" Zubora huffs loudly. "Ugh, the electrics have gone again!"

"I'll go fix it," Link says suddenly, catching us all by surprise. "Back where I'm from there has been some prototypes of generators that I've worked on, and I'm wearing enough." The smithy ponders it for a while, then passes him a grateful nod. I go to stand up with him, but he holds out a hand to stop me. "There's no point in all of us freezing. I won't be long. You too, Tatl," he adds when the Fairy floats up to join him. He smiles at the worry clear on my face, daring to touch it lightly. "I'll be fine; gone a few minutes."

"Promise?" I ask childishly.

He shakes his head. "I hate promises. We can't ever be sure that we will uphold them." He smiles at me. "But I will vow to be back as fast as I can; I'd rather not freeze too." I force a smile and nod, letting him slip past me and step out into the blinding whiteness, the blizzard instantly consuming his form. I stare at the door for a while, glancing back to his half drunk tea every now and again, as I pray that he will return. Zubora tries to strike up conversation, but I am too worried to reply in depth.

And in no less than twenty minutes, the light sparks back on.

"I might have to keep him around a bit more," says Zubora. "It normally takes me at least an hour to get my head around that mechanism, even longer if it's frozen over. I think extra tea will be in store when he gets back. Now," he turns to me. "How long have you two been travelling together, eh?" We talk for a while, chatting about one another over rather trivial subjects, and for a moment I let my worries drip into my tea.

Minutes pass.

Then an hour passes.

I cast my gaze up to the clock, realising how long it has been, however Tatl has baten me to it. "How long is he going to take?" Panic fills me alongside drastic thoughts, and I rise to my feet. She flies up to me. "You're going... aren't you?"

I nod, turning on Zubora. "Thank you for all of your help but... I have to go and find my friend. He probably just got stuck but—"

"Go on with you," he cuts in with a grin. "Just drop in when you can."

I agree silently before taking one last sip of my tea and exiting the Mountain Smithy, the snow hitting me so harshly against my damp cloak that it sends a harsh chill straight through me. Tatl sacrifices her light to guide me around the building, the snow slowing slightly so I can still see Link's tracks. He did as he said and made his way to the circuit board behind the building, but then they change so subtly that I barely see them through the snow at first.

"He walked off?" Tatl asks in disbelief as I kneel before the tracks. "Why would he just... leave?"

"M-Maybe he saw s-something dangerous," I say with a terribly covered shiver.

The Fairy turns her gaze to me, then flies underneath my cloak. "Let's get somewhere warm. Maybe he ended up in the Goron Village ahead." I nod and cover her as much as I can, pushing out further into the thick blanket of whiteness without hesitation, curling up slightly as the harsh winds hit me again.

I follow part of the tracks, but they fade off before a icy lake. I heed Tatl's advice and head off towards the Goron Village; I trekked up here once or twice in my first few months here, but back then it was covered in a lot less snow and not fatal to one's health. I start to feel snow seeping into my shoes and wetting my socks, wracking my entire body with shivers as I squint through the blizzard.

Where are you?

I make my way up a wide pathway, my limbs quickly becoming more and more numb as we continue on up. Larger tracks are more evident here, but from what I'm not entirely sure; they are too big to come from Link, is all I know. "H-How much... m-more?" I mutter to Tatl as we reach a much larger ice lake where only frozen bridges and mounds between them stand for me to get across.

"Not sure... j-just keep going..." is her only reply.

I grab onto the rope nonetheless, the wind wildly throwing the bridge about as I press my boot against the wood to test my weight on it. Chills slip through my gloves as I slip slightly on the wood, freezing up in fear and cold. Just keep going... I repeat over and over, praying to the Four that I can find Link and get out of this damned cold before either one of us can't carry on and Tatl is left with no hope in saving her brother.

There's just so much on the line.

And in my moment of reminiscence, it all falls down.

The rope that I ever so desperately cling to suddenly snaps from my weight, and the frost on the bridge doesn't help me as I tumble down from the bridge itself and collide harshly with the ice. Pain erupts in the side of my head, and I suddenly feel paralysed. As Tatl shoots out and tries to keep me awake, but I can't hear her well enough or have the strength to respond. I merely stare ahead as the wind and snow consumes me.

I black out.

There's an image in my mind of a beautiful garden littered in snowflakes, some flowers thriving whilst others await the Spring to come. I look down to my red gown spiralling out around me, white dots of frost seeping onto it in hopes of claiming me. I finally look up as a thick cloak is tugged over my shoulders, smiling as Link buttons it together for me.

"Can't have you catching a cold, now, can we?"

And then we kiss.

"Zelda!" I blearily open my eyes, immediately hit by the freezing weather. I groan and try to move, only for a bright light to appear before my eyes. Sounds are emitted from the light, and it takes me time to realise who it is; our Fairy partner. "Go... snow and... cave..." Her words merge together, but with her tugging on my cloak I somewhat understand what she means. I gingerly push myself up, surprised at the amount of snow that falls from my body.

How long was I out?

The memories of what happened before are a haze, though I remember something about a Smithy and searching through the cold for Link. I must say his name aloud because I hear Tatl say it as we move, although I'm not aware of saying it. I crawl across the ground, surprised to feel ice beneath me.

Why don't I remember this?

Through the blizzard I see a blot of darkness, and something at the back of my mind screams that it is a cave. A tiny smile tugs at my lips, daring to feel hope, and I move as fast as my numb body can take it; Tatl's light guiding me all the while. Something pounds in my head, and as much as I try to ignore it I can't seem to push the pain away. Something about the snow, the pain, the lack of memories that I have about when I was last awake, and the memory I just awakened keeps me going.

I barely manage to find the cave through the blizzard and force myself into it without question. I can no longer feel anything through my gloves, a substance having frozen on my skin a long time ago. I sink down into the wall as far away from the entrance as possible, hugging my feeble body as I try my hardest to stay awake. As I slump down against the wall, I leap out of my skin when a loud groaning enters my ears. I snap my gaze over to the other side of the cave to notice a tired looking Goron resting in here too.

"Are you—?"

"Hunh?!" it gasps suddenly, sitting upright; causing their rocky back to click violently. "What was I doing?" The Goron seems to be male, however I am too cold to move over and see closer. Tatl floats out slightly from my cloak and over to the Goron, hoping to help him regather his bearings once again. He glances out of the cave, then notices Tatl and I. "W-Who are you? How'd you get through the blizzard?"

"We've come to find the Temple," the Fairy says quietly. "Do you need—?"

"Ah! Is it already this late?!" he cuts in suddenly, forcing himself onto his unsteady feet. I rush over despite how lightheaded it makes me and support him back onto the ground. "Step aside, human! I-I must go..." He falters greatly, slipping from my hands and tumbling to the ground. It seems that the storm has hard a great affect on him too, leaving him barely able to stand or stay awake for long. Link is most likely just as lost as us, and if we don't find heat and shelter too we will be dead before we can save Termina. "For the sake of my village... for the future of all Gorons... I must go..."

The Goron's eyes flutter, however he manages to stay awake. I stagger down to the ground, my awareness fading as the harsh wind blows into the cave.

I won't last the hour, let alone the next two days.

I can't...

The Goron snaps his head up to something outside, but I can't make myself do it. He is greatly surprised by what he sees, yet darkness is clawing at my vision and desperate to claim me once and for all. I try and fight it as best as I can, even Tatl noticing and attempting to help too, though nothing seems to work. In the far distance, I hear a cry of, "D-Darmani? Do my eyes deceive me?!", although I'm not sure who said it anymore; my memory fogs over and renders me useless and dying. I curl up on the ground, just in time for my fluttering eyes to note what is now above me.

A large figure looms over me, seemingly a Goron.

Maybe it will get rid of me before the snow does and puts me out of my misery...

I mentally shake my head; I still have to find him.

"No.." I whisper in a desperate plea. "D-Don't..."

Darkness claims me before I can witness my fate.

Author's Note: So there you go; another chapter done! Again, I'm sorry that it is slightly shorter than the others but, as I explained up there, it would have been a lot longer otherwise and I didn't want to have almost all of Snowhead in one chapter. Anyway, please drop a rate and review if you haven't already, and consider this a little gift as I go off and carry on playing New Leaf in time for my birthday!

~RandomButLoved~