((A/N: Yeah, I had gotten this done yesterday, but I was too busy playing Master Sword: Continued when I got home from school to actually post it up. For a side note, Telma and the group are my favorite side characters… :P Telma is especially awesome.

Ten: Well, it's not completely like Link's… I couldn't exactly figure out what that skirt-looking thing at the bottom of the torso part of the tunic was called, so it wasn't exactly easy to say that it lacked that… XD Also, she has normal-looking pants, not tight white ones like Link. It was just general awkwardness with how to describe it that made me not put it in.

Jenn: Actually, when I was writing it, I left out a lot of the details due to page restrictions [I keep myself to two sheets on paper, a total of four pages] and so I added in a lot when I was typing it up. I've been working in my head of how to make the battle longer and more challenging, and hopefully I'll accomplish that coming up. Glad you like it so far though. I just update sporadically. XD))

Chapter 12: Home Again

Danielle slowly stirred to the feeling of lying on something far softer than grass with warm blankets spread over her. Gradually opening her eyes, she stared up at a wooden ceiling, immediately growing confused. Obviously she was in a building instead of the spring, but where? How did she get here?

"It's not like you're treating her, doctor. She just needs a place to rest until she wakes up," an oddly familiar female voice spoke. "The young man who brought her to my tavern was kind enough to offer to escort my wagon to Kakariko and ask the shaman for help in treating the Zora child. At least he has some guts, unlike you and those cowardly knights."

"Hmph. If you expect to guilt me into taking care of this girl for free, then you are sorely mistaken," a snide voice retorted. "I demand payment for my services."

"Payment? Don't even get me started on payment, or do I nee to remind you of just how much you owe me?"

Danielle slowly sat up in the bed, the blanket slipping down off her chest. A doctor? She knew of only one doctor, Borville, who resided in Castle Town and charged large amounts of Rupees for simple treatments. "A doctor's house, huh…? That would explain the smell," she murmured under her breath, wrinkling her nose at the pungent odor in the air. The voices came from beyond the wall by her bed, two sets of footsteps walking slowly across the wooden floor while they argued. Turning her head, Danielle watched as the two came into view. One was a somewhat heavyset tan-skinned Hylian woman garbed in the clothing of a tavern keeper, her dark red hair pulled up and peculiar small jewelry around her eyes. Beside her stood a considerably shorter Hylian, pale and hunched-over, his glasses thick and causing his eyes to appear abnormally large. "Telma?" Danielle spoke up now, eyes a bit wide.

The woman looked at her in surprise for a split-second before a warm smile spread across her face. "Well, it's good to see you awake, honey. I was worried when that young swordsman brought you in and you weren't moving. Afraid you were still in the castle when those beasts attacked, too."

Grumbling, Doctor Borville turned and shuffled off without a word, casting a backwards glare at Danielle. She pulled the covers off of her, swinging her legs over the side of her bed. About to stand, she was stopped by Telma laying a hand on her shoulder. "Stay here and rest some more, sweetie. I'm about to leave to take a young Zora child to the shaman in Kakariko."

"Kakariko?" The Bridge of Eldin was now missing the middle section of it, and the bridge out of the east gate was also destroyed. The only route would be out of the west gate through the lands of Lanayru and Faron. "There are many monsters out in that path you'd have to take… I'll go with you. You'll need help."

Telma smiled but shook her head, removing her hand. "It's too dangerous for a child like you, Danielle. I know you've tried to train under your brothers, but battles are ugly affairs."

Rising to her feet, Danielle looked up at the barkeep, eyes burning with determination. "Telma, I'm not a mere child anymore. I can handle myself."

She paused, her eyes flickering down to the Champion Blade in its scabbard resting against the bed. It was a second before she shook her head once more, speaking in a quieter and more somber voice. "You're the only person from the castle I've seen alive. Not a single knight, your family included, has come out of that castle. All the soldiers in the town have become nothing but cowards. If something were to happen to you, I couldn't quite forgive myself." Telma turned, about to head out, looking one last time at Danielle. "Just wait for me in my tavern, Danielle. I'll be back soon. My friends there will keep you safe and in good company." With this, Telma left Danielle standing there alone.

"I know she's worried, but she needs to believe in me," she scoffed, snatching up the sword and strapping her scabbard onto her back. "I can do this, I know I can… even if she doesn't believe it."

Her thoughts now drifted to the words Telma had spoken. She had no doubt that the swordsman who had brought her to Telma was Link and that he would help escort Telma and the Zora child she had spoken of to Kakariko. Despite the fact he was more than capable of protecting her, Danielle still wanted to help. Telma owned a tavern in the southern thoroughfare, a place her brothers frequented and often brought their little sister along to. The barkeep had treated her with motherly love, Danielle her favorite out of the four siblings. Because of this, Danielle felt she owed something to the woman, and so she made up her mind to aid them.

Ignoring the grumbling doctor, she headed out into the town itself. The doctor's building was in the eastern thoroughfare of Castle Town, the streets crowded with people. Oddly enough, most of the citizens seemed unconcerned with anything other than their own lives. There were a few soldiers roaming about, but she could tell by their gait that they weren't the most trained of guards or were enthusiastic about their job. As she walked through the crowds, she caught snatches of conversations amongst the townspeople.

"Not allowed into the castle? Why won't they allow any of us in? Where's the princess at?"

"The Zora child… I heard he was taken to the bar on the other side of the southern road…"

"Hm… Telma's always got her hands full…"

"All the guards are good-for-nothings! …but I heard Commander Greil and his knights were all wiped out."

"Have you seen that man in that green tunic like what the legendary hero wore? He can't possibly be from around here, dressing like that…"

"I heard Commander Greil's youngest daughter was found… they say she was near death when a swordsman brought her in."

Danielle stopped in the central plaza, gazing up towards Hyrule Castle. Princess Zelda was in there, Zant's captive until the evil man could be defeated. "So close, yet so far, as they say…" she murmured quietly under her breath. With a frown, she wracked her mind to think of what to do. The stables were not too far from here, the horses used by the cavaliers kept there. Cale's steed was among them, the same horse he had taught her how to ride on. With it, she would be able to catch up to Link and Telma.

Everyone has told me that it is time that I make my own decisions… and that is what I will do. I will not just follow in the footsteps of others, but I will forge my own path.

Determination burning in her eyes like fire, she strode through the streets towards the stables, raising a hand to her necklace and brushing its surface gently. Despite the fact she was young, she walked with her head held high, ready to face what was ahead.

--------------------------

"You sure you'll be able to handle Jaraci on your own?"

"Cale taught me to ride her many times. I will be fine, Aidan."

Danielle sat atop a powerful white horse, gripping the leather reins in her hands. The soldier who helped her to the saddle was a friend of her brothers and one of the lucky soldiers to not be in the castle when the monsters invaded. Although he wore a helmet that covered his face, his tone conveyed his feelings of worry. "Danielle… what about Blaine and the others? I know you were in the castle when those things came… so do you know if they're okay? I mean, you're usually always with them…"

Aidan trailed off, Danielle shifting in the saddle to get comfortable as her blue eyes flickered. "To be honest… I don't know, Aidan. I haven't seen them since. I barely managed to escape myself."

Aidan took a step back, falling silent for a second as he looked up at her. "Doesn't seem right sending out one as young as you, but I won't stop you. There are a lot of monsters roaming Hyrule Field now…" He paused then made his way out of the stable, holding up a finger to tell her to wait. Raising an eyebrow, Danielle sat there until he returned, carrying a bow and quiver of arrows in his hands. "It may not be the quality of Cale's bow, but it's served me well. If you're going out there on Jaraci, you may need something better to fight with. No offense, but you're a little too small to hit something with your sword on horseback."

Danielle couldn't help but grin at this, taking the quiver from him and strapping it across her waist so that it was on her left side before grabbing the bow in her left hand. She wasn't good with an over-the-shoulder draw, but she could manage from her hip. "I appreciate this, Aidan. I'll return your bow, I promise."

With a dry chuckle, he shook his head. "Keep it. You'll use it better than a coward like me ever could. I can't even force myself to step out of Castle Town for fear of those beasts. Yet you… you go to face them without a trace of fear in your eyes, like a true knight…" Danielle's smirk fell away at this, the soldier stepping back. "Go, Danielle… Go and fight to save our precious land!"

A focused look filled her eyes, the girl giving a curt nod before kicking the horse's flanks lightly to get her started off. Riding out of the stables, Jaraci galloped across a short stone path and came out right before the west gate. Night had fallen, the streets deserted except for a few guards who gave her curious glances. She rode across the short wooden bridge out to Hyrule Field, leather reins gripped tightly in her hands. Moonlight shining down on the field, Jaraci raced across the earth while her rider leaned forward.

Ahead, flaming arrows streaked through the night sky…