A/N: 3 Updates in the last 14 days, whaaaat? It wouldn't be possible without the fast and helpful editions of my beta reader Diabolical Kitsutora, she's the best!

I'd like to say another massive thank you to all my readers and reviewers. Tenacity has hit just over 100 reviews and it's thanks to you readers who continue to support the story. I know other authors know the smiles and tips you get from your readers, and it's an amazing feeling.

Thank you to all the readers who took the time, and thank you for sticking around to read this author's note.

I have also done artwork for the story! If you would like to see it, visit my profile page and follow the link to my DeviantArt profile. Alternatively, you can simply search 'Kabrex' on DeviantArt. There are two drawings up right now; one for Link and one for Stella. Be forewarned these are the first drawings I have done since elementary school, so do not expect masterpieces! Hope you enjoy nonetheless!

Enjoy!


~~Halcyon~~

Queen Zelda looked like she had hardly slept at all when Helen brought in the breakfast tray the following morning. Despite the bags under her eyes, Helen noticed she seemed a little jumpy. Excited, perhaps.

"Ah! Good morning Helen," greeted Zelda with a broad smile. She stifled a yawn with her hand and hopped out of bed spryly.

"Good morning, your majesty," Helen replied, setting the tray down on the desk near Zelda's bed.

"How went your rendezvous with that soldier you spoke of?" Zelda asked, taking a seat behind the desk. She gestured for Helen to join her.

"It was a very enjoyable evening," Helen said, sitting down across from her.

"Who were you meeting exactly, if you don't mind me asking?"

"His name is Owen, he's a private in—"

"3rd Company! I'm familiar with him. He's a good man, as is his brother."

"Yes, Oliver joined us as did my friend ..."

Zelda lost herself in the simple conversation. It was rare she got the opportunity to simply act like another woman her age and just gossip. That was one reason she was glad to have a maid like Helen. She was intelligent for a woman of her position and she was also genuinely caring and kind. Zelda had known her many years now and she knew Helen would never repeat a word of their conversations.

It had been a very long night. Zelda had spent the entire night awake from the excitement of knowing Link had returned, and it was a relief to finally be able to distract herself in the pleasure of simpler matters. The two of them chatted happily over breakfast, Helen going into more detail about her meeting with the brothers and Zelda telling her of interesting things she'd overheard from gossiping nobles.

Zelda always enjoyed eating with the subjects she liked; hierarchy and positions often dissolved and it was simply friends sharing a meal. She did not resent her position as Queen, for it was an honour and a privilege, but all too often she longed for a friend that treated her as an equal instead of an overlord.

Impa was always there when she needed her, but the forbearing Sheikah was not what she needed. Link was the only one who had no concept of noble tradition or blind devotion; he simply respected her for who she was and judged her on her actions, not her title.

He was different now. Last night, he'd treated her very differently than the last time he was here. While he used to be a little flustered in her presence and much less familiar, he seemed more confident and self-assured. They were different people now, she reminded herself. Five years was no short span of years to be apart.

Out of habit she glanced towards the dresser to where she'd left his hat, only to remember it was gone. Helen noticed the glance and wondered exactly where the hat she'd held onto for years had gone, though she dared not ask. Zelda noticed Helen's questioning look and decided it was fair she told her the truth, or at least part of it.

"The owner finally came back for it," Zelda said, startling Helen.

"Pardon?"

"I know you have noticed my attention to the hat. You have my thanks for not dredging up old wounds by asking who it belonged to, but he has returned," Zelda said with a smile. "And you will know who it belonged to soon enough," she finished enigmatically, answering Helen's unspoken question.

They sat for a moment in silence before Zelda rose.

"Thank you again for your company Helen. Please have Knight-Commander Beaumont sent to me, for I have important news for him."

"As you wish, your majesty," said Helen with a bow, taking the tray and leaving the room.

Zelda simply flopped down on the bed again, smiling. It was good to know she was no longer alone.


Link himself was just rising on the other side of town. Though he had slept, it had not been soundly, and his dreams had been wrought with confusion and terror.

A chorus of voices rising to meet him as he stood at the edge of a precipice.

Two people; a man and woman, alone on a barren desert plain. The man unsheathes his sword and drives the blade into the Earth, cracking it until the world shatters around him.

A shadowy realm beckoning, threatening to consume everything.

A lone, hooded figure, high on a cliff, surveying lands laid bare beneath his gaze. A chilling laugh rises from the man, blanketing Hyrule in fear.

A shade of terror, eyes blazing red, clad in a black hat and tunic. A mirthless laugh and a cruel grin as it raised its sword high, poised to strike him down—

Then he had woken up, startled by the apparition. For a moment he thought it was still night time, as the room was still dark, but he noticed the shades had been drawn. Stella was already awake, sitting on her bed with her back against the wall.

"Bad dreams?" she asked sympathetically.

"Definitely wasn't sunshine and rainbows," he replied, rubbing his eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"Mother of all headaches," she groaned. "But I'll live."

"That's why I don't—" he started to lecture.

"Worth it," she cut him off, flashing a smile. "I'll go order breakfast while you get dressed."

He nodded and climbed out of bed, stretching his arms high above his head and yawning loudly. He pulled on his pants and shirt, deciding the tunic was still too conspicuous for Castle Town. He really didn't want to be mobbed by people while exploring the city.

Strapping his weapons to his back and his belt and pouches around his waist, he did a final sweep of the room to make sure they left nothing behind. Seeing nothing, he left the room and joined his friend for breakfast.

They talked brightly about the day; Stella was excited to see the city and the castle and Link was looking forward to seeing Beaumont again. He realized he hadn't had time to tell Zelda that he was Finn and she was still labouring under the impression that they were separate people.

There was nothing he could do about it now except clear it up when he arrived. For the morning though they'd explore Castle Town. He was almost as excited as Stella; it had been nearly six years since the last time he was here.

After a quick breakfast they thanked the innkeeper and Link paid their fees. It was a fine day outside; although it was technically still winter in Hyrule, the season had been extremely mild and it was warm outside. The streets were already crowded and bustling with activity. Vendors everywhere advertised their wares and shouted for passersby to buy their goods.

For over an hour they simply walked the streets, exploring the city. The city was far too large to be explored on foot even in a day, however, and they soon returned to the central area where most of the activity was.

One of the first places they visited was a smithy in the bazaar, where Link had his shield to be repaired. The original smith who'd crafted the shield no longer ran the smithy, but his son had taken over, and they were treated with many tales of how similar his shield was to the masterpiece he'd forged for the Hero himself.

They also chose some new knives for Stella; her old mercenary blades were a little short and very worn, and Link had no shortage of rupees from his explorations in Hyrule years previous.

The new blades were longer and lighter, made out of an alloy that was also stronger than steel. The hilts were carved with ornate symbols and made of cherry, wrapped in leather. Though they were nearly the most expensive items in the shop, Link knew from firsthand experience how important your weapons were. You trusted your safety and life to the thin pieces of metal you wielded; it was essential that they were the best.

"Link, you really didn't have to—"

"Yes, I did. Just take them and pay me back by putting them to good use, alright?"

"But—"

"No buts. In your hands these could save my life someday. I'm really doing this for myself," he teased. "Seriously though, yours are getting a tad worn and you can't put a price on your life."

She nodded slowly. "Alright. Thanks, I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything," he said, leading them out of the shop. "I need some new boots as well, let's stop by the cobbler."

They spent a few hours replenishing their wares or replacing worn gear. Both of them enjoyed the city; despite some of the destruction that remained evident from the war, it was well on the path to full restoration. Some of the ancient stonework was incredible.

Eventually he decided they'd explored enough for the day. He wanted to go to the castle very badly.

"Link, over here!" Stella called, pointing to a large display with a great crowd gathered around. It was the old Hylian shooting gallery, still in the same place.

"Do you mind if I give it a shot?" Stella asked him.

Link shook his head. "Go for it. It's not easy though, so keep your eyes open."

She nodded and joined the queue to try the popular game. Link watched as a young man tried his hand at the gallery. He missed the first two targets, hit the third and fourth, and missed all except the final target. Even though he missed most of the shots, his hits drew huge applause from the crowd. The game wasn't easy and even someone that could hit a few of the targets was respected.

After a few minutes Stella made it to the front of the line. Link watched her unstrap her bow and accept the quiver of arrows they handed her. He'd always admired her longbow; although her knives were worn he'd never seen a finer bow, including his own. He wondered where she'd gotten it.

Some of the audience shouted words of encouragement to the young woman while others jeered and made scornful noises. She simply ignored them, narrowed her eyes, and nocked her first arrow.

The first target popped up and her arrow was flying towards it nearly instantly. She reached in and out of the quiver and quickly nocked a second arrow while drawing the string, doing both in the same fluid motion. As soon as the second target popped up, her arrow was buzzing towards it, catching it dead center. The crowd roared with pleasure as they realized the woman in front of them was no idle maiden but a seasoned huntress in her element.

All in all she hit every target save one. She was a split second too slow drawing the last arrow and just as her arrow was flying towards the target it dropped back down. Her loud curse was muffled by the crowd, which was exploding with cheers and whoops.

The large man who ran the gallery came running from behind his desk.

"That was incredible! The finest shooting I've seen since the Hero of Time himself played," he exclaimed, congratulating her.

"Thanks," she replied, strapping the longbow back to her leather harness.

"Please, choose your prize!" he said, gesturing to the wall, where a wide array of dazzling prizes was arranged according to the score of the player. She spent a few moments thinking it over before deciding on a golden necklace with a model Triforce hanging from it.

"A fine choice!" yelled the man, and clambered to retrieve it from the top shelf, where only scores of thirteen out of fifteen targets or better were allowed to claim prizes from. By the dust behind the glass, it was obvious that no one had claimed a prize there for a very long time.

"Second prize I've ever given out from that shelf," said the owner, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb. "First was a quality leather quiver. Gave it to the Hero of Time himself, no less. Kid got a perfect score, imagine that. Didn't know who he was at the time of course. I don't think we'll ever see the likes of him again."

"Oh I don't know ... I bet my friend over there could give it a pretty good shot," Stella replied, gesturing to where Link was standing in the crowd.

The man thought it over. "Tell ya' what. Since you just did so good, his round's on me. You've driven the crowd into a frenzy, and that's good business for me."

Stella nodded and ran over to Link. "He says he'll give you a free round, come on!" she said to Link excitedly.

Link looked uneasy. "I don't know if that's a good idea," he replied.

"Oh come on Link, don't spoil the fun," she admonished. "The crowd would love you."

He sighed. "Fine, I suppose it can't do any harm," he said, walking over to the man and pulling out his own bow. He was more afraid of being recognized than doing poorly. Drawing attention to yourself was sort of the opposite of anonymous.

He drew back the arrow and waited for the first target to appear. It was barely even moving before it shattered as his arrow pierced it down the center. Link retreated into his own world of focus, where the crowd was silent and nothing else existed but him and his targets. Time seemed to slow down, and what was only a few seconds to the crowd felt like a minute to him. The arrows found their targets, dead center, every time.

The last target, a large red rupee, popped upwards, hanging in the air for a split second. He briefly considered missing on purpose but his pride instantly brushed the thought away, and not a moment later his arrow struck the rupee in the middle.

The crowd was deafening as they exploded into frenzied cheering. The manager of the game came running over, looking dazed.

"I've never seen anything like that since the Hero himself!" he spluttered, barely audible above the roar of the onlookers.

"Lots of practice," Link shrugged. "Thanks for the game." He strapped his bow back to his harness as Stella joined his side.

"Wait! You have to choose a prize first!" called the man as they started to walk away.

Link stopped and scanned the crowd for a moment. He walked over to a young girl in the crowd, no older than ten, who was standing with a woman Link presumed to be her mother. Their clothes were ragged and torn and they were almost emaciated.

"How you would like to have a prize?" he asked gently, kneeling down next to her. The girl's hair was matted and her cheeks were dirty.

She nodded her head excitedly, a small shy smile lighting up her face. He reached his hand out and she clasped it gently. They walked back over to the prize shelf, hand-in-hand.

"You can have anything you want on this entire shelf, but you can only pick one," Link said softly.

The little girl was silent for a few moments as she scanned the shelves, finally pointing to a large stuffed bear on one of the lower shelves.

"We'll take the bear," Link told the owner of the game.

"But you got a perfect score. Wouldn't you rather a prize from the top—"

"The bear, please," Link repeated firmly.

He nodded his head and climbed up the short ladder to retrieve the stuffed animal.

He handed it to Link, who handed it to the girl. She clutched it in a tight hug and smiled up at him.

"Thank you," she whispered shyly.

He smiled back and walked her back to her mother.

"Thank you sir, you're too kind," the mother said, bending down and giving her daughter a hug.

"It's nothing," he replied. Reaching for the pouch at his hip, he pulled out a red rupee. "Take this as well. Get yourselves some fresh clothes and a hot meal for the night."

The woman's eyes lit up for a moment, but she shook her head. "Thank you sir, but I couldn't accept that. It wouldn't be right."

"I understand why you think that," he said nodding. "But I've been through some rough years myself, and I know how it feels. It's not wrong, for I give this freely, and you have a daughter to look after."

Tears appeared in the corner of the woman's eyes. "Thank you, sir. It's a good thing you've done for us today."

Link nodded humbly and rejoined Stella, who was standing near the edge of the crowd.

"Never seen anyone shoot like that," she commented as he joined her. "All the stories in Othera were true."

"You weren't too shabby yourself," he grinned back. "You only missed the last one by a hair."

"Thanks." She paused as her stomach rumbled loudly. They both laughed. "Apparently I'm hungry. Lunch?"

"I was thinking we should head up to the castle now," Link replied. "I'm sure we can get something from Beaumont there. After all, he did promise me milk and cookies."

"Sounds like a plan to me," she agreed. "You mind doing me up first?" she asked, gesturing at the fine necklace she'd won from the gallery.

"My pleasure," he said, and she turned around. Link felt a little awkward standing so close to her, and he fumbled to do up the necklace quickly. After several moments he got it done, however, and he stepped away, blushing a little.

"Got it."

She looked down. "It's beautiful ..."

"That it is," he agreed. "He doesn't have to give out too many prizes from the higher shelves, but the ones he does are true treasures."

"Next time I'll beat it," she said, with a determined look in her eyes.

"I do not doubt it," he replied with a smile. "Come on, let's get to the castle."

They walked through a few different streets and squares until they arrived at the path to the castle. Link noticed that the security at the gate was considerably higher than yesterday, and a few guards were posted on the bluff he'd snuck in on. Obviously his intrusion had scared the Hylian Guard into increased action. Not a bad thing; life wasn't fun without a challenge.

"Halt! State your names and your business at the castle," called one of the guards as they approached the gate.

"Stella and Finn, here to see Sir Beaumont at his request," Stella called back. Link nodded his approval.

There was a moment of silence as the guards talked amongst themselves.

"You may pass; open the gate!" There was a loud grinding as the large iron portcullis was slowly raised.

As they walked underneath the gate, the guard who they had spoken to stopped them. "I'm Captain Langstaff. If you'll follow me, I'll lead you to Sir Beaumont."

They nodded and followed the Captain as he led the way up the path to the castle. The castle was very impressive in the daytime. While the old castle had been an example of the wealth and splendor of the royalty of Hyrule, the new one appeared more like a beautiful fortress. The polished white walls of the stone gave it a benevolent quality while the design was still practical and strong.

They passed under a second portcullis and entered the main castle grounds. The trees were still saplings from where they had been planted after Ganondorf's demise.

Langstaff led them into the castle and down several hallways, before finally leading them to an open aired courtyard where a group of soldiers were training.

"Sir Beaumont!" called the Captain, walking towards two armored soldiers squaring off against one another with wooden practice swords.

"A moment, Captain," replied one of the armored men. Link watched as he waited for his opponent to make the first move. At last the other soldier opened with a few small thrusts, which Beaumont parried easily. They exchanged light sparring for a minute before the other soldier lost his patience.

The sword whipped down in a large, reckless slash, straight for Beaumont's shoulder. At the last second Beaumont ducked under the blade. The large swing had left the soldier vulnerable, however, and Beaumont drove his elbow down on the man's sword arm, causing him to drop the weapon.

"A solid effort Hubert, but you need to focus more. The victorious swordsman is patient and only moves to emulate his enemy."

"Yes sir. I'll try harder," replied the other man as Beaumont removed his helmet.

Beaumont nodded, and turned towards Link and the captain.

"Ah, Stella and Finn!" he called, a grin spreading across his face. "It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too, Kyle," Stella replied. "Looks like you're keeping in shape."

"Got to keep my skills sharp somehow," he replied, joining them. "Thank you Captain, you may return to your post."

Langstaff saluted. "Yes sir."

"I hear you two had quite the stay in Argyle a couple days ago," he said with a broad grin.

"It was an interesting day," Link agreed.

"Lucky you two were there, or there'd be nothing left," Beaumont replied seriously. "I have cousins there. I now owe you two debts, and I won't forget it."

"You owe us nothing," Link replied. "Except cookies and milk," he amended, reconsidering.

Beaumont laughed aloud. "Maybe I can do something about that," he replied. "Follow me."

Beaumont led the way through the halls. Eventually they arrived in an inner courtyard of the castle which was open to the air.

In the center of the courtyard was a large statue of a very familiar man wearing a very familiar tunic.

"Din's breath," Stella breathed looking at the face of the statue and then at Link. Her eyes swept from the face to the hilt of the sword down the tunic she knew was in his bag right now. He saw the recognition in her face and watched cheeks turn white as she turned to face him. "Link, is that—?"

"It's the Hero of Time," Beaumont interrupted. "I'm surprised you know his name was Link. Most people just know him as the man who wore green. Disappeared from Hyrule almost six years ago."

Stella's jaw dropped. She looked like she was about to say something but Link shot her a dark look and she simply nodded slowly to Beaumont's statement.

"I must have heard it mentioned somewhere in town," she replied shakily.

Beaumont stopped for a moment and turned to face them, his expression serious.

"I know you two have already done much for Hyrule, but our situation is turning grave. The Queen requested an audience with you when you arrived. With your permission I will get her now."

"Um, I don't know if—" Link began. At the time, he'd thought it prudent to travel anonymously, to keep his secrets from Stella. Zelda still thought he and Finn were two people. Now all his deceptions were piling down on his head at once.

"Go right ahead," Stella said, talking over him. "I need a moment alone with Finn anyways," she finished icily.

Beaumont looked relieved. "Thank you. The dining hall is through those doors. It should be empty right now. Take a seat anywhere you like."

"That will be fine, thank you," she replied sweetly. Beaumont nodded and walked off.

As soon as he was out of earshot she wheeled around to face Link.

"I swear to the goddesses themselves Link, you'd better be straight with me right now," she said coldly, jabbing a finger into his chest. "You're the Hero everyone's raving about here, and you didn't think it would be important for me to know?"

"It's not that simple. I wasn't ready to tell you," he replied quietly.

"Well what the hell does that mean?"

"More than you think. Let's talk inside," he continued in the same quiet voice. "Now that you know who I am it's best you hear the story from me."

She stopped, confused. "You're just going to tell me?" She had been expecting resistance after he'd kept the secret all this time.

"You deserve to know," he said, nodding. "The story itself is known to very few. Many know the legend, but only a handful know the truth."

"Have the battles we've shared and the leagues we've traveled together not proven that I'm worthy of your trust?"

"They have," he said, nodding. "But even had I told you the truth, would you have believed me?"

"It does not change the fact that you hid it from me," she replied, countering his evasion. "Besides, after blood we've spilt side by side it might not be so hard to believe as you think. Do I not deserve the truth from a man I consider to be my closest friend?"

"Yes, you do. Come." He led the way into the dining hall, and they sat down at a gigantic oak table.

"It's a long story, and I'd like to do it justice," he began. "I'm not going to have time to tell you it all before Beaumont returns."

"Then you'd better—"

"Relax, I'll finish it after we're done here," he said, holding his hands up. "There are parts to the story that are very important for you to know, especially before Beaumont comes back."

She still looked a little angry but she nodded after a moment's pause. "Fine."

"Alright. The beginning of my adventure in Hyrule was no different than the beginning of ours. I was a boy, living in Kokiri Village. One day, I was sleeping in, just an innocent boy trying to catch up on some hard earned rest, and this annoying little fairy flies in …"

He told her about Navi, about Mido, about the finding of the Kokiri sword and the purchasing of the shield. He told her everything that had happened in the Deku Tree, from the four deku brothers to the horror of Gohma herself.

"Then the Great Deku Tree gave me the Kokiri Emerald, a jewel guarded by the Kokiri people for millennia. He told me to go to Castle Town, and seek out the Royal Family."

"Wow," she breathed, no longer angry. His story was both incredible and fascinating. "And you were only ten-years old?"

He nodded. "I had Navi's help though, and the advice of both the Deku Tree and Kaepora, an ancient and wise owl."

"A talking owl?" she asked skeptically.

"This is why I thought you wouldn't believe the tale," he sighed. To be fair he'd thought he'd eaten something he shouldn't have when he'd first seen the talking bird, but since then he'd seen many things much more surprising. The world was full of wonders.

"Anyways, I eventually made it to Castle Town. As a boy, I did much of what we did today; played the shooting gallery, went bombchu bowling … eventually Navi's warnings got through to me though, and I set off for the castle at sunset."

Link wondered when Beaumont would return. He'd been gone nearly twenty minutes, but Link still had to reach an important part of the story before he returned with the Queen.

"On the path to the castle, I met a girl my age with long red hair. Her name was—"

"Malon!" Stella exclaimed in wonder. "Sorry," she said sheepishly when Link looked at her.

"Yes, it was Malon. She told me her father had been gone all night, and to look for him if I was going to the castle. Long story short I found a way into the castle grounds, where I found her father. After waking him and making sure he knew he'd forgotten Malon, I found a way into the castle gardens. After sneaking past all the guards, I met someone who changed my life forever. Her name was—"

"Link?" They both spun around to see a blonde woman in a regal dress standing in the entrance.

"…Zelda," he finished after a moment's initial shock.

"Link, it's good to see you again," Zelda said, striding towards him and taking his hands. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up today."

"I'm not about to pull another vanishing act," he said with a small smile. "It's good to see you again."

"I am glad you are here also. You're just in time too," she said. "Remember those travelers I told you of yesterday evening? Finn and Stella? They've arrived at the castle, and I'm on my way to greet them. Would you care to join us?"

"Travelers? Yesterday night?" asked Stella, confused. Zelda turned to face her, noticing her for the first time.

Out of the corner of his eye Link saw Beaumont slowly turning white as the pieces of the puzzle started to come together in his head.

"A friend of yours Link?" Zelda asked, raising her eyebrow. "I am Queen Zelda," she introduced herself.

"Um, my name is Stella, your majesty," she said, standing up and bowing.

"Stella? Isn't that the—Oh." She stopped midsentence as it all clicked. Link could literally see the clarity wash over her expression before it turned angry. "You deceitful rogue!"

"Kind of deceitful, yeah," Link agreed meekly.

"Why would you do this?" she demanded. "How dare you do this?"

"Didn't want everyone to know I was back until I saw you first," he replied, looking her in the eye.

At this her expression softened but her irritation did not completely melt away.

"How did I not recognize you? I walk by that statue every day!" Beaumont asked in astonishment. "It's an honor to know you, Sir Link."

"I am no knight," Link replied, shaking his head. "And the same person I was a moment ago and no more worthy of your respect."

"So the 'friend' you and Malon were speaking of was the Queen?" asked Stella incredulously.

"You visited Malon before me?" Zelda asked, equally incredulous.

Link held up his hands in surrender.

"I think," he began. "We all need to sit down and have a very long talk."


They were there hours as Link explained the full tale of how the tyranny of Hyrule was ended and his travels thereafter. They ate lunch as they talked. When Link left a detail out or couldn't remember something, Zelda filled in, for she had spent much time with him as Sheik.

Soon afternoon became evening as he explained the events of Termina. Even Zelda struggled to believe one of her most trusted friends as he described a parallel universe. The story was incredible, and all three of them were left in awe when it was finished.

Day became night and dinner was called for. Link's voice was hoarse from talking for hours on end but he had made his promise, and he told them everything from his time outside Hyrule. About lost lands and ancient wonders, and wars older than Hyrule itself that he fought in. Stella had heard this part of the story before, but the tale was no less impressive in retelling.

"I made my way down the ridge carefully, for I knew I was being followed," he explained, smiling at Stella. "After I set up my camp, I laid a trap to finally find out who the shadow was."

"It was a lousy trap," she complained. "You could have hid behind the tree instead of falling from it."

"I have a flair for the dramatic," Link replied. "And it worked, so shush. In any case, that is how I met Stella here, and we decided to travel together since we both were headed to Hyrule. We became good friends during the months, leagues, and battles along the way."

Zelda felt a slight jealousy at Link spending so much time alone with this young, pretty, and obviously charming woman, but quickly brushed it aside as childish romanticism.

"A few days later we reentered Hyrule. That very same night we stumbled across a squad of soldiers ambushing a moblin camp. That's where we met Sir Beaumont," he said, nodding to the knight.

"After that we went back to the Lost Woods," he explained. "I wanted to see my old home again for a few days. Not only that but I had to retrieve a few things." He tapped the Master Sword and Hylian Shield.

"So that is where the Master Sword disappeared to," Zelda said with understanding. "Where did you conceal it in the woods?"

"That's the Master Sword?" Beaumont asked in wonder.

"Yep, not as impressive as you might think," Link said, smiling. "As for where I hid it, well, I can't really tell you. It is the Lost Woods after all and directions would just be ... lost. Next time we visit I'll show you the spot, if you like."

Zelda nodded, satisfied. "That would be wonderful."

"We left a few days after arriving and headed for Lon-Lon ranch."

"Wait. Why did Saria tell me the travelers she met were headed for Kakariko?" Zelda asked.

"Because I knew after Beaumont's report was delivered you'd assume it was me, and since I told him I was headed to my home you'd contact Saria. I made her promise to let me tell you myself."

"That's — kind of sweet actually," she said thoughtfully.

Link blushed a little but continued with the story. "After a few days travel I decided we should stop in Argyle. Stella's complaints about the lack of soft beds were ceaseless—"

"He's exaggerating," Stella cut in.

"—so I decided to humour her and stop in Argyle to stay at an inn. You know what happened after that as well as I do. We left the next morning for Lon-Lon. After catching up with Malon I used the Ocarina to take us here," he finished.

"Incredible," Beaumont said, breaking the silence.

"It's an impressive tale, to say the least," Zelda agreed. "It's good we have you back, and it's good to meet you Stella. Thank you for keeping my friend safe."

"It's an honour to meet you as well, your majesty," Stella replied humbly.

"The Deku Tree also had some bad news to deliver," Link continued. "He told me that I should be ready, because something old and evil was stirring again."

"Never a good combination," Stella quipped. Beaumont chuckled and nodded his head.

"That is dire news indeed," Zelda replied, mulling it over. "Commander, you are dismissed. We've kept you from your duties long enough. Please join me for breakfast in my study tomorrow morning."

"As you wish, your majesty."

"And Commander? Link's tale is known to only a select few and I trust you respect both him and I enough not to breathe a word of it to another soul. Am I clear?"

"Crystal. I appreciate your trust in allowing me to hear it."

Zelda nodded and turned back to the two companions as Beaumont took his leave.

"We'd be foolish to ignore a warning from the Deku Tree," she continued. "Ganondorf's seals are strong, however. Whatever this is, he's not responsible."

"I know," Link nodded. "Which is why I want to set out again, soon. I'm going to find whoever is doing this and make them pay for it, swiftly."

"That won't be necessary," Zelda said, shaking her head. "Commander Beaumont will be leading a platoon to investigate the source of the monsters. They leave in several days."

"Then I will join them," he replied. "I can't just stand idle while Hyrule is threatened."

"Link," Zelda said softly. "Will you not stay for at least a week? The scouting will not go any faster just because you are there. Once they've found something to hunt then they may need your skills ... but others have need of you here as well."

Link opened his mouth to reply, but paused a moment. He'd been gone nearly six years now, and he was about to turn around and leave the person he cared most about a second time. Staying an extra week would not make much of a difference if there was already a team out there.

"I will stay for a week," he conceded delicately.

"I am glad," she replied, and for a moment they just stared into each other's eyes.

Stella began to realize that Malon had been speaking about Queen Zelda when she warned her of a woman Link still felt attached to. While it wasn't an obvious attraction, she knew Link well enough by now to know that he wouldn't have stayed a week for anyone else. His sense of duty to protect others was too strong.

"Where do you stand in all of this Stella?" Zelda asked her, startling her from her revelations.

"Pardon?"

"Will you stand with Hyrule in this fight, whatever it may be, or return to Othera?"

She considered it for a moment. It was an important question; she had only come to see her mother's homeland for herself. Along the way she'd made a close friend though, and that was something she wouldn't easily forsake. She was confused about the way she felt about him now, and it might well cause tension in their friendship, but those were concerns for another time.

"I will stand with Link," she replied. "I trust his judgment and will stand by his decisions."

Zelda looked slightly perturbed for a moment, but she acquiesced. "That is good enough for me. My thanks; your skills will be a valuable asset. Commander Beaumont told me you saved his life."

"It seemed like the appropriate thing to do, given the circumstances at the time," Stella smiled.

"Then you have my thanks again. Hyrule owes you more than one debt for your actions," Zelda replied, smiling back.

"You could square all of them at once by setting me up with a nice bed," Stella said thoughtfully. Link kicked her from under the table. "Ouch! Come on Link, I was just kidding!"

"Actually I was hoping you would stay at the castle," Zelda said to the two of them.

Link thought it over for a moment. "That would be wonderful," he agreed. "That okay with you, Stel?"

"I'd be honored, your majesty," she replied to Zelda.

"It's settled then," Zelda confirmed. "It's late, so I'll have someone show you to your rooms, but I wish to speak more. Will the two of you join me for breakfast in my study as well?

Link and Stella happily agreed and Zelda summoned a servant to show them to their quarters.

It was getting quite late; the sun had gone down over half an hour ago and the only light in the hall was a dim candle at their table.

"Stella, I wish to speak with Link alone for a few minutes," Zelda said as the maid arrived. "Annamarian will show you to your room."

"Thanks for your hospitality," Stella said gratefully. Although she was slightly perturbed by leaving, she had no right to object so she kept her silence.

"Until tomorrow then," Zelda said with a nod. Stella smiled and followed the maid from the room.

"Link ..."

"What is it, your majesty?" he asked.

She made a face at the title. "I'm just glad you're back." She took his left hand with her own and her fingers meshed between his own. A soft glow lit from the back of their hands from the Triforce shards being brought so close together.

"Why couldn't I feel you ... I searched for you with the bond, but you were lost to me," she said quietly.

"I do not know exactly why," Link replied. "I suspect it is because it is a part of us, and it evolves as our character does. We've been apart for so long, we no longer recognize each other."

"Are you saying we're no longer the friends we once were?" she frowned.

"I'm saying that we have the chance to reforge that bond again even stronger," he replied with a soft smile.

She smiled back and they simply shared the moment, their features illuminated by their glowing hands and the small candle on the table.

"I should go," he said after a minute.

"Are you sure? It's not all that late and we can—"

"Zelda..." he interrupted softly. "You're the Queen. I won't be the one to stand in the way of your responsibility because of my own selfish desires."

"You're - you're right," she sighed. "I'm sorry, it's just been a long six years."

"No, it is I who am sorry. I never meant to leave for so long ... things just ... I ...," he trailed off, unsure how much he was even prepared to say to her. "Goodnight, your majesty."

Zelda was taken aback by the formality. "Goodnight, Link."

He smiled again and left the hall, leaving her alone and confused in the darkness.


"Wow! Why didn't we come here sooner?" Stella exclaimed happily, diving onto her large bed and sinking into the soft mattress.

Link just shook his head in amusement. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said, turning to leave her chambers. Their rooms were neighboring on each other and he'd come to check she was doing okay.

"Oh no you don't!" she cried, immediately leaping up again. "You promised! Finish the story ... or else," she said, wagging a finger.

Link tried not to look amused but he dutifully sat down on the bed.

"I already told you almost everything when we were in the hall," he said.

"You skipped over a lot of the details. I want to hear it all."

"Fine ... but make yourself comfortable. It's a long one."

It was well past midnight when Link was finally finished telling the story.

"Wow! That was — amazing!" she exclaimed, searching for words to describe it. "I still can't believe Queen Zelda was Sheik all along ... she doesn't seem like she could fight at all."

"She was the Princess then, but yes, she can fight," he said with a smile. "She is undoubtedly the strongest sorceress alive and she's not too shabby with her hands either."

"Still ... wow!"

"Stella, you need to promise me you won't repeat what I've told you," he said seriously. "None of that story is common knowledge, particularly the fact that the Queen and I are bearers of the Triforce."

"I swear it," she vowed. "Thank you for trusting me, Link." She took his hand and their eyes locked for a moment.

Link suddenly felt uncomfortable at just how close he was to her. He pulled away and stood up. "I should, ah, get to bed. See you in morning," he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Yeah, you too," she replied, looking away.

He left her room and headed down the hall to his own chambers.

After checking no one else was around, he too happily flopped down on the luxurious castle bed. Lying on his back he gazed up at the ceiling.

It was liberating to no longer be harboring any more secrets. While he hadn't enjoyed any of the deceptions, they were necessary. If Stella had proved a fickle or untrustworthy companion, he could have ended up with a knife in his back or worse. After what they'd been through together though, he trusted her implicitly and felt comfortable sharing such critical information with her.

As for the Finn identity, well, he'd created it for his and Zelda's sanity. It would have driven him insane to be mobbed by crowds and made her feel ignored that he wasn't coming straight to visit her. It was a human reaction and he knew he might very well feel the same way in her position.

He sighed again, content to finally be back in Hyrule and at rest. Though things were rough, Beaumont's team would leave soon to search for the source of the monsters, and they'd put an end to them together. He was confident there was nothing out there that could even come close to matching Ganondorf's Triforce of Power, and Zelda mentioned earlier that the sages had already checked his seals many times.

No, whatever was out there was just some restless monsters; he'd been gone a while so it was natural they were starting to get gutsy again.

It was good to be home. His last thoughts as sleep ensnared him was the hope that he might finally be at peace.


A thousand leagues away, a storm was brewing. A storm of monsters and cruel beings of darkness that had not seen the light of day for millennia. All it was waiting for was someone to unleash it on the world.

The tall shadow of the hooded man stood on the cliff high above the army he'd marshaled. A thin smile crossed his lips was illuminated by the soft golden glow of his eyes.

"Your orders, my lord?" asked a tall woman with pointed ears, fiery red hair, and golden eyes. A set of demonic wings flared restlessly from her back and her skin was a light shade of purple.

He gazed out over his force for a second longer before turning slowly to face her. When he spoke, his voice was that of many at once. The screams of tortured souls in anguish, some in radiant joy, others in hatred and fury. Somehow they all blended together in a discordant harmony that formed words.

"Send forth all legions. Do not stop the attack until the castle has fallen." He turned and gazed out over the force he'd amassed.

"And what of the Hero?" she asked in reply.

"His return is a trifling concern," the hooded figure replied icily. "We are beings of an age forgotten and no tool of the goddesses will stand in our way," he spat.

"As you say."

"I will summon his shade to hunt him once more," he continued. "As his sentiment has grown, so has his hatred. Everyone has a dark side."

"I looked forward to seeing him ... broken," she hissed, a cruel smile passing over her features.

"And Seraph?" he said, stopping her as she turned to leave.

"Yes my lord?"

"Do not fail me."


Closing Note: My second update that's been within a week of the first, what's up with that Kab? Well I'll tell you what's up - tonight I'm going on a fishing trip with some friends and we'll be gone Friday through Monday, so my sincerest apologies if I don't get a chance to response to your PMs/Reviews before then. I'm taking the iPad in the hopes there might be some service to keep in touch but it's quite far north so I'm not holding out much hope.

Secondly I've been updating frequently because in a few weeks I'll be away two more times; July 5th I'm in Amber Hills near Detroit, for Warped Tour, and mid July to August I'll be in Hawaii.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The next few chapters are going to be very interesting as well (I hope!) so stay tuned!

As always, a special thank-you for the readers who take the time to PM me, leave a review, or add the story or myself to their alerts/favorites. You guys keep me motivated, thank you (go on, give yourself a pat on the back!)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

Cheers,

Kab