.

Xxx 14 xxX

Slowly I drifted toward consciousness, aware of a throbbing pain in my head. Something soft and wet gently dabbed at my face and hair, cleaning away the dirt and blood from my fall. I murmured softly, struggling to open my heavy eyelids.

I lay in a small bed, staring up at a cobwebbed stone ceiling. A single lantern provided adequate light for what appeared to be a tiny, single room house. It sat on a small table, illuminating a variety of items — and the cloaked figure who used them. Quietly he wrung a cloth into a bowl, his face hidden beneath his hood.

I tried to speak but managed only a small croak, since my throat felt dry as sand. The man glanced toward me and quickly grabbed a bottle as he returned to my bedside. Gently he tipped my head up, holding the bottle to my lips so I could drink.

When I had taken all I wanted, he lowered my head back onto the pillow and rose to set the bottle aside. I watched him reach for a bundle of cloth before he settled back onto the stool.

"...Are you the one they call Shade?" I asked, gazing up into his dark hood. The dim light exposed only his jaw line, which was smooth, handsome even.

Gently he pressed the cloth to the bump on my head. "Some would say so." His voice was quiet, almost sad.

"I've heard a great deal about you, Shade. The people of Castletown find you quite remarkable."

He didn't answer, and slowly I sat up, wincing as the pain worsened.

"Easy," he said, his hand lingering on my shoulder. "You took a hard blow. Do you feel dizzy at all?"

"No," I murmured, brushing my fingertips over the bump. Shade offered me his cloth, and I was impressed to find red ice wrapped inside. It was a rare and expensive material found only in the caves near Zora territory.

"Tell me," he said as I pressed the ice to my head, "what possessed you to come out here in the dark of night?"

I caught the frustration in his quiet tone, and I realized how reckless I seemed, how foolish.

"I am grateful for your help," I told him, feeling my face heat, "but my business is my own."

"I would like to help you," he offered, "if I can."

I sighed quietly, knowing I should ask him for supplies since reaching Siena was out of the question. I had already wasted too much time.

"I need food and water," I said, "whatever you can spare."

"Are you traveling alone?"

I set the red ice aside, unwilling to answer his questions. "If you cannot spare any supplies, then I'll be on my way."

I started to rise from the bed, but Shade stopped me with a hand on my arm. I looked at him, somewhat alarmed, and gently he released me.

"Please," he said softly, "you have no reason to fear me."

"I appreciate your kindness," I replied, uncomfortable with his familiarity, "but I must go. I have very little time."

Spotting my satchel on the table, I rose from the bed to retrieve it. Shade also rose from his stool, as though ready to stop me again.

"I'd like to pay you for your trouble," I told him, opening my wallet and taking two violet rupees. I wondered if it was enough, considering what might have happened without Shade's interference, but I had a limited amount for my travels. "Please, take this."

He hesitated, staring at my outstretched hand.

"Your husband," he said softly. "He has caused you terrible grief... has he not?"

My heart gave a sharp, painful lurch as I withdrew my hand. Had he recognized me, even without my fine clothes and precious jewels?

"What do you know of my husband?" I demanded.

"I know he failed you," he said in that same hushed voice. "I know you have every right to be furious with him. You should hate him for the pain he's caused you."

I stared at him, suppressing a rush of unwanted emotions.

"What do you know of my pain?" I hissed. "My husband sacrificed himself so that countless others could live. I could never hate him for that, or for any reason, and you will not speak ill of him — not to my face!"

I stood there, trembling as I fought to control my slipping composure. Shade stared at me, and in the weak candlelight I nearly glimpsed his face before he bowed his head.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "Show yourself!"

Then, before either of us could say another word, a soft golden light shone from the back of his left hand. I drew a sharp breath, unable to believe my eyes.

Impossible…

The rupees sipped from my fingers as I looked to my right hand. There a similar glow emitted from my Triforce mark, accompanied by a faint hum as our companion pieces responded to each other.

It cannot be…

Only one man, the true Keeper, could bear the Triforce of Courage.

Shade lowered his hand and came forward, closing the gap between us. I looked into his hood, gasping when he took my face in his hands.

"Your wretched husband is alive," he whispered, his voice suddenly, wonderfully familiar. "He is with you now."

Slowly I lifted my trembling hands, pushing back his hood to see him in the light…

And there he was — tired and disheveled, but very much alive. His hair fell loosely about his face and shoulders, creating a soft glow in the lantern's light. And his eyes, those beautiful, haunted blue eyes...

Link…

I traced his handsome features, feeling as though I had slipped into a dream. Without the bond he seemed but a phantom to me, familiar only in appearance. I half expected him to fade away, or to wake from some cruel fantasy…

"It's me, Zelda," he whispered. "It's me…"

I closed my eyes as he thumbed away my tears, reveling in his warm, gentle touch.

"Link —"

I'd barely choked out his name when he covered my mouth with his, kissing me with desperate passion. I clutched his back, whimpering when he drew me flush against him. We kissed again and again, clinging to each other as we sank to the floor.

"I thought I'd lost you," I gasped when we parted for breath. "I felt you slip away..."

"I know," he breathed. "Zelda, I've wanted so badly to reach you, but it's been impossible until now…"

I wrapped my arms around his neck, melting into his form as he drew me close. My sobs poured out of me, quieting as Link soothed me with kisses and hushed endearments.

"I can't believe it's you," I whispered, trailing my fingers along his cheek. "But how? Our bond, it's —"

"Gone," he murmured. "I know. I don't understand it either."

Tenderly I swept his hair out of his eyes, feeling an incessant need to touch him, to convince myself he was real.

"I saw him hurt you… torture you… but I never saw enough to find you..."

A look of confusion crossed his face, then softened with realization. "Your visions," he murmured. "Oh, Zelda, I wanted to spare you all that."

"You —" My breath caught when my fingers closed around his wrist. Gently I took his hand, turning it to find a thick, angry scar which stretched along the underside of his wrist.

From his shackles…

I brushed my fingers over the mark, then reached for his other hand. Swallowing another rush of tears, I pressed a soft kiss to each identical scar.

"I wanted so badly to find you," I told him in a hushed, trembling voice. "I tried to learn where you'd been taken, but no one knew anything, not even Ashton…"

"Zelda, darling…"

"Tell me what he did to you," I whispered, anxiousness strengthening my tone. "I saw only brief flashes…"

"I'd rather you saw none of it," he murmured.

"Link, please, I can't bear not knowing what you've been through, what you're feeling now... Please don't shut me out."

Sadly he traced the curve of my face, then breathed a heavy sigh. "It's all so hazy," he whispered. "I couldn't think straight half the time… He used all the typical means — starvation, dehydration, pain… but he also used some drug or spell that kept me awake and disoriented. I could always hear ReDeads… in the other cells…"

He paused and rested his head against the side of the bed. "…He tortured me with magic, tried to enslave me to his will. I resisted him until it nearly killed me, but he needed me alive. So he tried a different approach..." Link paused, his eyes going distant. "A much more effective one."

"He brainwashed you," I said softly, stroking his cheek.

Link nodded. "He had strong telepathic abilities. He could sense you through me, and that terrified me, so I blocked you out… But that was precisely what he wanted. You protected me, in a way. Whatever lies he forced into my head you could easily undo. So he prevented us from communicating somehow."

"He altered your memories," I murmured. "Convinced you I had married Ashton…"

"Yes," Link sighed. "He filled my head with lies, showed me terrible visions... He convinced me that I abandoned you to that life of misery. I could still sense you, even despite his barrier, and that gave me the strength to resist all the pain and confusion."

He bowed his head, struggling to keep his composure. "…I told myself I would see you again… that I would make it all right again... But then…"

"The bond," I whispered.

Tenderly he stroked my cheek, struggling to find his voice. "I watched you die… I felt you fade away…"

I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my fingers in his hair. "I know, darling… I felt it too…"

"I gave in, Zelda… I couldn't fight him anymore…"

"But you did fight him," I soothed. "How else could you be here now?"

Link shook his head against my shoulder, unable to respond. Tenderly I stroked his hair, unwilling to force the answers from him. Instead I recalled my visions, searching for details I might have missed…

And then it struck me.

The dagger.

"He cut you," I whispered, "with a dagger..."

Link tensed, then lifted his head to meet my gaze. Gently I pressed my hand to his heart, alarmed to feel a raised mark through his tunic. "Right here..." My fingers traced the scar, following it up toward his shoulder before Link took my hand away, holding it in his.

"Link, I was so sure he'd killed you…"

"He might have," Link murmured, "if I hadn't escaped."

"Escaped?" I breathed. "How?"

He shook his head. "I remember the blade cutting into me… but that's the last of it. All I can recall after that is waking at the Fortress."

"The Gerudo Fortress?"

He nodded. "Some scouts found me in the Haunted Wasteland and rescued me. I recovered there… slowly."

"The Haunted Wasteland," I murmured. Near Tar Alem…

Link looked at me then, his face softening as he reached for my cheek. "I returned to Castletown as soon as I was strong enough… I learned everything I could — about Ashton, but especially about you..."

Oh.

I held his gaze, my eyes wide as I struggled for a response. Shame and guilt tore at my mind and paralyzed my thoughts.

"I — I didn't know… It was such a shock…"

Link's eyes glistened as he brushed away my tears. "Come here…"

Gently he laid my head on his shoulder, holding me close as I wept into the crook of his neck. "Zelda, if you knew how much I ached to see you, to be there for you…"

I shook my head against his shoulder. "I was such a mess, Link… I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep... What if… What if I…"

"Don't you blame yourself," he said firmly. "All of this happened because of me — because I didn't listen to you. I gave into Ashton's threats, knowing what you had seen, knowing I might never return to you..."

"You chose to protect our soldiers… You acted selflessly —"

"I abandoned you! I left you to this misery, to face the consequences of my mistakes..."

"You only did what you felt was right…"

"And I would undo it all if I could," he wept, pressing his face into my hair. "Zelda, I would give anything, anything to bring our child back..."

I buried my face into his tunic, muffling my sobs as he held me close.

"I'm so sorry, Zelda… I'm so sorry for everything…"

xxxxxxx

Ashton walked the quiet, darkened corridors of Hyrule Castle, accompanied only by his shadow leaping from torch to torch. He had spent the evening in his study, poring over documents regarding Zelda's arrangements with the three lowly tribes of Hyrule: the cave dwelling Gorons, miners and blacksmiths; the aquatic Zoras of renowned medicinal expertise; and the desert skulking Gerudo, a hostile tribe composed entirely of women.

The trade agreements Zelda had established left Ashton shocked and appalled. The tribes' combined forces paled in comparison to that of the Hylians alone — why cooperate with such inferior species when she could easily control them? Ashton planned to dissolve those contracts at his earliest opportunity.

They will bend to my terms... eventually.

His reign over Hyrule was hardly strong enough to dissolve anything, but that would change once Zelda became his wife. She had no choice but to accept his terms, not unless she meant to give up her crown and abandon her people. Her dead father couldn't protect her this time, nor could her beloved peasant.

She will give herself to me... it's only a matter of time.

As usual, two guards stood watch over his chambers, and quickly they opened the doors as he approached. Ashton entered without so much as a glance, pleased to see a roaring fire in the drawing room hearth. Proceeding directly into his bedchamber, he moved to his bedside table to pour a glass of wine. Inevitably his eyes wandered the room, settling on his wardrobe which stood against the far wall.

Placing the wineglass aside, Ashton crossed the room to open it, retrieving a narrow chest from a high shelf. Carefully he set it on his bed and removed the key which hung from a chain around his neck. Fitting it into the lock, he lifted the lid to reveal a dark and deceptively plain wooden staff nestled in red satin.

Slowly, reverently he lifted it from its chest, trailing his fingers along the runes carved into its smooth surface — runes bearing the secret to its incredible power...

He had worried that his second staff, promised to him in exchange for the peasant's life, would hold less power than the first. But his worries had vanished the moment he chanted those unfamiliar words. The magic embedded deep within the staff had seared through his veins, filling him with an exhilarating rush of power… something he longed to feel again and again.

Every night the spell danced on his tongue and whispered in his ear, tempting him to throw open the netherworld gates. Thoughts of conquest stirred in the back of his mind, of claiming endless territory with his invincible soldiers of darkness...

Thump. Thump. Thump.

A heavy knock shook Ashton from his trance. Startled, he quickly placed the staff back in its chest and slipped the key around his neck.

"What is it?" He called, annoyance sharpening his tone as he strode back into the drawing room.

"Lord Vasilis is here to see you, Sire," a guard called through the door.

Ashton sighed. "Let him in."

The doors swung open as the elder minister stepped inside, unfazed by the king's unwelcoming demeanor.

"What part of no 'do not disturb me in the evening' have you failed to understand?" Ashton snapped, turning back toward his bedchamber.

"You had left your study."

"Then you wait until morning."

The minister paused in the bedchamber doorway, his grey eyes settling on the chest still sitting on the bed.

"Is that…?" He turned to Ashton, his face white with horror. "Have you completely lost your mind? If the Alliance discovers you —"

"They will not discover it," Ashton silenced him. "Not if you keep your mouth shut."

Calmly he placed the chest back in his wardrobe, aware of the minister glaring into his back.

"I will destroy it once my throne is secure," the king added, retrieving his wineglass from the bedside table. "When Zelda becomes my queen."

"If you cannot bring yourself to part with it," Vasilis growled, "then at least find a more suitable place for it. I can sense its horrid aura from the next room."

Ashton looked at him in surprise. "An aura? I sense nothing."

"Of course you can't — you're a Vandelian. Believe me, it is very strong. If you let the queen anywhere near these chambers, she will surely discover it."

"Well, then I shall have to remove it before our wedding night," Ashton replied with a grin. "Now unless you have a reason for disturbing me, you can escort yourself out."

Vasilis sighed. "There is a matter I came to discuss."

"Get on with it then," Ashton said, moving back into the drawing room.

Vasilis followed behind him. "Tell me, was the General alive when you left the necromancer's chamber?"

Ashton sat down before the fire, fingering his glass with a frown. "Yes," he muttered. "Why do you ask?"

"How can you trust he will remain there?"

Ashton scoffed. "How could he possibly leave? The necromancer swore he would not survive."

"What exactly did he tell you?" Vasilis asked, moving to stand by the hearth.

Ashton paused to sip his wine, thinking back to that night he delivered Zelda's consort to the necromancer. "'Once I'm finished with him,'" he quoted, "'the man you see before you will cease to exist.' Those were his exact words."

Vasilis sighed and rolled his eyes. "But what does that mean? Those with the Gift often speak in riddles. You did not ask for clarification?"

Ashton shrugged. "It was good enough for me. He'll die there, one way or another."

"And if he escapes?"

The king laughed. "Don't be absurd."

"He's done it twice before — from guarded prisons. Gifted or not, the necromancer is still one man."

Ashton gave an annoyed shrug. "You're being paranoid."

"Am I? You've heard the talk about this mysterious 'Shade' figure."

The king paused and lowered his glass. "Wait," he said, amusement coloring his tone, "you're not suggesting this mysterious Shade character is that peasant in disguise… are you?"

Vasilis glared at him. "It wouldn't surprise me."

Again Ashton laughed. "Oh, such a role would suit him, wouldn't it? Slithering about the alleyways, sleeping amongst the rubbish..."

"You won't be laughing if my suspicions are true," Vasilis snapped.

Ashton rolled his eyes. "Calm yourself, old man. Even if it was true, I've blackened his name. People blame him for the death of their husbands, sons, and brothers."

"Not everyone believes your tale," Vasilis muttered.

"Enough do. If he ever did show his face, I'd put a price on his head so large his own friends would turn him in. Then I would execute him myself. Honestly, Vasilis, I think you're looking for reasons to worry."

The minister frowned into the fire but gave no response.

"Now leave me," Ashton said, waving his free hand. "I tire of this discussion."

Vasilis sighed but moved for the doors, pausing beside the king's chair. "You would be wise to keep your arrogance in check," he muttered, "or it will be your undoing."

Ashton scowled, glaring into the fire as the doors closed behind him.

"Shade the Castletown rogue," he muttered. "Ridiculous."

Still he lingered by the fire, draining an extra glass of wine before he retired to bed alone.

xxxxxxx

"…He gave me three months to mourn you. If I refuse him I renounce the throne."

We lay stretched out on Link's small bed, wrapped in each other's arms as we quietly discussed our predicament.

"It won't come to that," Link soothed, idly caressing my back. "Don't worry."

"What are you planning to do?" I asked him softly.

"For now, gather whatever allies we have left and form an underground resistance."

"But we have so few left," I murmured. "The Alliance has all but abandoned us."

"I haven't given up on them. If I can expose Ashton's lies, they might still help us. But for now we have the Gorons, the Gerudo, the Zoras, and whatever Hylians I can recruit."

"Link, it won't be enough... certainly not without our soldiers..."

"I know," he said softly, kissing my brow. "I mean to do something about that."

I drew back, meeting his gentle gaze with an agitated look. "Link, you don't plan to go rescue them all on your own... do you?"

"Of course not," he assured me. "I'll have others with me."

"Link —"

"Darling, I can't just leave them there," he insisted. "I have a responsibility to them. If I don't help them, then my sacrifice — and your pain — will have been for nothing."

I turned away and sat up, hugging my knees as I wrestled with more selfish thoughts. And what of your responsibility to me?

Link sat up beside me, running his hand along my back as he waited for me to speak.

"But what if something happens to you?" I whispered. "Link, I've already lost you once..."

"Nothing will happen to me," he soothed, reaching for my cheek — but I turned my face away.

"That's what you said about the war," I said bitterly.

Link hesitated, then bowed his head with a quiet sigh. "I don't know what else to do, Zelda… We need our soldiers if we have any hope of reversing this; you said so yourself."

"Come to Antheia with me," I pleaded, reaching for his hand. "Show the Alliance you're alive; they'll know Ashton lied about everything!"

"It would be my word against his," Link said quietly. "I've been pronounced dead; how can I explain my sudden return — especially after Ashton's lies about me using dark magic? Unless we can find the necromancer and present him to the Alliance, we have nothing more than finger pointing. I don't know how to find the necromancer, so we can't trust the Alliance. Not currently, anyway."

"But why? You said you haven't given up on them —"

"I haven't," he said gently. "But I'm not prepared to face them yet. Ashton has done more damage than you know."

I paused, aware of the cold, sinking feeling in my chest. "...What do you mean?"

"I only know what Impa told me," he replied, giving me a gentle look. "I'm sure you've been worried about her, and she's been more than worried about you. She came to the Fortress while I was recovering — fled there, actually. She said the Alliance was unusually reluctant to assist her. Most of the representatives demanded evidence of her claims, and she went to find it. By the time she returned to Antheia — empty-handed — Ashton had already defeated our army.

"Five representatives volunteered to accompany her back to Hyrule for an investigation, but Ashton had a convincing story ready for them. Not only did he claim the staff was mine; he accused Impa of teaching me the dark arts. He'd done his research, Zelda. Considering the Sheikah's history, it wasn't difficult for him to vilify her. She has a price on her head now, and she can't go near Antheia."

I stared at him, struggling to make sense of his words. "But… But how could they be so easily convinced? Impa has served as our representative for years…"

"I don't understand it either. It's as though they're being influenced somehow."

"Corruption…" I whispered. "But when did this happen? Have we been blind all this time?"

Link shook his head. "All I know is they've chosen to keep their distance. But can you see why I need our soldiers? I have nowhere else to turn..."

I looked at him, seeing the desperation in his gaze. "But how can you reach them? Siena said they were in some faraway prison..."

He nodded. "Ashton sent them to a prison fortress out at sea, off the western coast of Vandelius. If I can free enough soldiers to take over the fortress, we should be able to escape. Impa will come with me, and Nabooru will bring her best warriors. The Zoras will help too — and the Gorons, if I can convince them to board a ship." He gave me a wry smile, one I did not return. "I'll be well protected," he soothed, stroking my cheek.

I sighed and leaned into his touch. "I don't suppose I can come with you…"

"I would prefer you stayed somewhere safe," Link replied, "but I certainly won't stop you. You can come with me, or you can remain elsewhere — whatever you want. The decision is yours."

I hesitated, overwhelmed by the sudden freedom at my fingertips. Stay with him! I imagined myself hiding with him by day and recruiting by night, building an army to restore the Hyrule we knew and loved…

…But that was a fantasy, and I knew better.

"If I leave the castle," I said softly, "Ashton will stop at nothing to find me. Hyrule and Vandelius would be crawling with soldiers, and that would make things much harder for you."

"I could work around it," Link offered. "I don't want you to go back for my sake."

Slowly I shook my head. "…I would jeopardize everything."

"You had already decided to leave the castle… Why the sudden change of mind?"

I could see how much he wanted me to stay, even despite the challenges he would face, and it killed me to refuse him.

"Everything's changed now," I said softly. "I left because I could no longer wait for answers. I meant to visit the other tribes, but I knew I would eventually have to return to the castle."

Tenderly I brushed my fingers across the back of his hand. "I also meant to search for the shards of the Triforce of Courage, but they're right here with you. You can do everything I meant to do... and I will help you in whatever way I can, even if that means separating myself from you."

Link searched my face, furrowing his brow as he considered my words.

"…Who am I to argue with the Keeper of Wisdom?" he said, giving me a sad smile.

I drew him into a fierce embrace, swallowing the painful lump in my throat. "Please don't say that," I whispered. "I wish to the gods I could stay with you…"

"I know you do," he murmured, caressing my back. "And you're right, of course… The sooner I fix everything, the sooner we can be together again. It's just so hard to let you go... especially back to him…"

I sighed into his shoulder, unwilling to think about returning to the castle. Instead I pressed my lips to his neck, kissing a soft trail up to his lips, and fervently he kissed me back.

"There's one thing — I need you — to do," I said between kisses.

"Anything," he breathed.

"I need you — to take — the Ocarina —"

He broke away to give me a stern look. "No, Zelda —"

"Link —"

"The Ocarina is your only way out of the castle. Knowing you have it is the only way I can sleep."

"I will live without it," I said firmly. "You're the one risking your life."

"You're a prisoner in that castle, Zelda; you need a way out."

"You're the one planning to attack a Vandelian prison!"

"And I would never teleport away and abandon everyone, so why take it?"

"Link," I pleaded, clutching his tunic. "I don't want to argue. Please just take it... for me?"

He sighed and placed his hands on my arms, caressing them gently. "How about this… I'll take it until I've completed the mission, and then I'll find a way to return it to you. That way you will know it was successful, and you'll have no reason to worry."

I gave him a weary look, then breathed a heavy sigh. "...I suppose I can accept your compromise. But I do wish you would keep it."

He smiled and gave me another soft kiss. "Thank you."

Then he sank back against the pillows, cuddling me close as I lay my head on his shoulder. Having slept during the day, he did not share my fatigue.

Part of me still refused to believe it was real. I feared I would wake in my own bed, find it was all some cruel dream inspired by Siena's tale of Shade…

A thought surfaced through my drowsiness, and slowly I opened my eyes. "...Link?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you keep your disguise?"

His hand paused on my back. "What do you mean?"

I lifted my head, studying him with a furrowed brow. "When I regained consciousness. Why didn't you reveal yourself right away? And why didn't I recognize your voice?"

"Oh, that." He moved to sit up, giving me an apologetic smile. "Believe me, I was more than ready to tell you. But... when you began to wake I felt suddenly nervous. Self-conscious. I couldn't face you... not until I knew how angry you were with me."

"Angry?" I stammered. "Link, I thought I had lost you... How could I feel anything but joy at seeing you again?"

"I don't know," he murmured. "I… wasn't thinking clearly."

I traced the curve of his cheek, struggling to read him without the bond. "And your voice? You sounded the same, and yet..."

"I used a spell," he admitted.

"A spell?" I blinked with astonishment. "Link, that's advanced magic..."

He shrugged. "I've been practicing. Impa taught me some useful tricks. I doubt it would have worked if you saw my face."

I smiled softly. "You're beginning to embrace your Gift…"

Link shook his head. "I wouldn't go that far. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

I sighed and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Whatever the reason, don't you hide from me again."

"Never again," he assured me softly.

Something distracted him then, and he glanced toward the table with a frown.

"What is it?" I asked, noticing his lantern had significantly dimmed.

"It's almost dawn," he replied. "Since you insist on leaving the Ocarina with me, I want to escort you to the safer side of town before sunrise."

My heart sank. "Dawn already?"

He nodded sadly. "How is your head? Any pain still?"

"It's fine," I said softly. "Thanks to you."

I slipped off the bed with a sigh, moving to pick up the rupees I had dropped on the floor. I then reached for my satchel, pausing when I noticed Link's hookshot on the table next to Valéshar.

"Take this," I said, handing him the satchel. "The Ocarina is inside, and I see you already found the rest. I wish I had brought more for you…"

He took the satchel and tenderly stroked my cheek. "You brought more than enough."

Then he reached for a Gerudo scimitar and strapped it to his belt. Then he threw his cloak over his shoulders, fastening the clasp before he reached for my cloak. I held his sad gaze as he draped it about my shoulders, struggling to suppress my tears. Gently he took my face in his hands, leaning in to softly kiss my forehead, then my eyelashes, then my lips.

"I love you," he whispered, nuzzling my face.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and fervently kissed him back. "I love you more…"

I had barely finished my words before the lantern went out, leaving us in darkness. Link rested his forehead against mine, breathing a quiet sigh.

"We should probably go," he murmured, "before it's too late."

Then he pulled away and moved toward the door, lifting his hood up over his head. "Wait here," he told me. "I'll be right back."

I pulled up my own hood, watching him draw his sword and vanish into the darkness outside. Minutes later he emerged from the shadows, so silent he might have materialized from the air itself.

"Come," he said, taking my hand. "It's clear."

He led me outside and shut the door behind us, raising an invisible barrier to seal it. Above us rose a dark sky tinted the faintest shade of lavender — dawn was nearly upon us.

Quickly Link guided me through alley after alley, his hand firmly grasping mine. Thrice we paused so he could glance around a corner, but it seemed the night dwellers had already fled to their daytime haunts.

How Link navigated the alleys with such certainty, I could not say. They all looked so similar to me, especially in the shadows. Eventually, however, I began to recognize the wider, cleaner streets of central Castletown, and there Link slowed us to a stop.

"This is as far as I can go," he whispered. "Just keep moving through the main square — I'm sure a guard will find you before anyone else. I'll be watching until you leave my sight." He turned to me, his hand still holding mine. "You'll have to keep me a secret for now. I'm not sure when that will change."

I nodded, holding his sad gaze.

"I'll return the Ocarina to you as soon as I can," he added softly.

I shook my head and swept my thumb over his knuckles. "Keep it."

He reached into my hood with his free hand, tenderly cupping my cheek. "I don't want you to worry about anything," he murmured. "I know it seems impossible right now, but I swear I'll make this right..."

"I know you will," I whispered.

His eyes searched mine before he leaned in to kiss me, clutching me close as I desperately kissed him back. We lingered even as the sun's light crept over the rooftops, both of us unwilling to walk away.

"Go now," Link breathed between kisses, his hands moving from my back to my waist. "Go..."

We broke our last kiss and pried ourselves apart, clasping each other's hands until our fingers slipped away. I watched him vanish into the shadows before turning away, back toward the place we once called home.