AN: This chapter only got a once over by me. Sorry for typos/minor plot holes. I was eager to submit something.

The Twili were the only left over guests from the Harvest Ball; all of the other guests that had spent the night had already vacated the castle after downing a healing potion or two to help with hangovers. Breakfast would take place in the small dining hall with the Royals, Sheik, Wren, the Twili, Chief Advisor Horwell, and Chief Mage Fyn.

Henrietta had, miraculously, revived the previous night's food into the morning's breakfast. A shredded potato hash had been perfectly fried to a golden crisp with shredded meat. Fruit and day old bread (revived by homemade preserves) were passed around with coffee, milk, juice, and tea. For a time the only sound in the room was forks against the plates and glasses gently tapping the table each time they were set down. They were all still waking up and, besides, they had all the time in the world.

Finally, after all the dishes had been cleared, Horwell cleared his throat, "My Queen, I think it's time to discuss the Like Like in the room. Last night you met with our guests, the rest of us need to know why."

Zelda placed her tea back on the saucer and nodded towards Z'a'atar, "Should I tell them, or would you rather?"

The Twili sighed, "I can. I know the details better and feel I can get the entire story out faster." He faced the siblings, "Please do not interrupt."

Z're nodded eagerly, much like a child trying too hard to prove her worth, while Z'dlam barely tilted his chin. He was trying to stay brave, trying to act like an adult when he clearly wasn't ready.

"I guess I will start with the destruction of not only our village, but our entire way of life. The Twili had lived in uneasy peace with the Gerudo up until a few years ago; we were not on the best of terms with the tribe, but they caused us no harm as long as we didn't encroach on what they deemed their 'property.'

"Times eventually changed and the Gerudo cut off all contact with us. They no longer sent scouts to periodically trade with us, nor did they send any spies to attempt to steal our secrets. They just stopped. We didn't know what to make of this at first, but after some careful deliberation, our elders sent our best spies on a reconnaissance mission to their main city.

"The spies never returned. We grew more worried."

Z're looked down to her hands, the only movement around the table while Z'a'atar continued, "That should've been a sign that something was amiss. A sign that we needed to take drastic measures. A sign to contact you."

Horwell interrupted, "Why didn't you?"

"We were scared. There was so much deliberation, too much really, about whether to contact you. We decided against it. What if you saw this as an opportunity to attack us? We had lost contact with Hyrule ages ago. What if you refused to help? What if, even if you did decide to help, it was too late? No. We took the path of urgent action. That proved to be a deadly mistake.

"We sent an ambassador along with the appropriate amount of men to contact the Gerudo. We would not mention the missing spies, but instead we would discuss trade. Avoid war by extending the olive branch.

"We waited several days until one member of the envoy returned. He was nearly dead and had been tied into the saddle of his horse; both his legs were broken along with one wrist. He also had an eye gouged out and several deep scars stretching across his face. He had a sack tied to his broken wrist, weighing it down further. When we finally got him off the horse and to the infirmary, curiosity got the best of us and we looked in the sack."

Z'a'atar stopped and stared each member of the meeting directly in the eye, "Heads. It was full of the heads of the ambassador's party."

A tear worked its way down Z're's cheek as she barely suppressed a sniffle. Z'dlam finally lowered his stoic gaze, a brief look of pain and anger washed over his features.

"My brother, their father, was a member of that party. His mouth had been stuffed with a note from the Gerudo warning of war. They stated that they were aware that the Triforce of Power had been hidden with us and they would raze everything to the ground if we did not surrender it."

Zelda's voice was soft, "But you didn't. You let them burn everything down. Let them destroy your entire life. Let them kill your entire family. You are lucky to be alive and we owe you a debt that can never be repaid."

Z'a'atar let a weak smile play across his lips, "Your aid in defeating the darkness that destroyed us is all the repayment we need. We knew where the Triforce was hidden, and even though we didn't fully grasp its importance, we were certainly not going to give it over to the people who had murdered our men."

Horwell spoke up again, "Is it still hidden? How secure is it?"

"Incredibly. Only the Twili can open the temple that houses the Triforce, and, as far as I know, only the Twili ever knew where the temple was in the first place. It is well hidden, I doubt Ganondorf will be able to find it."

"Are there spells protecting it?" Wren could already see the gears in Fyn's mind working out ways to get to the Triforce. Spells would only make things more difficult.

"No. No spells, but there are—" he hesitated, "guardians. Less than pleasant ones. When Din came to us she wanted to make sure her Triforce was secure, and we placed several traps and monsters in the temple."

Link sighed, "Great. So just like any other temple ever? What kind of traps and monsters are we talking about?"

"The text is vague, and the original plans of the temple have been lost to time, so we only have oral tradition. I have heard rumors of basic traps, such as trip wires and falling floors, to more advanced ones that incorporate poison darts and spears. The monsters could be anything from Stalfos to Redeads to Skulltalas."

The last word triggered something from Wren's memory and she let our and involuntary shudder.

"Cold?"

"I don't like spiders. I really would rather not visit a place that might be full of them."

"You've stood up to a Shadow Sheikah, a Skulltala will be nothing."

"See, you say that…."

Z'a'atar was still talking, "But, I think with the proper men as well as the Goddess's vessel, we should be able to make easy work of the temple. We will need to gather the proper supplies of course-"

Horwell interrupted, "I don't think it's wise to take Wren along on this journey. She is barely trained, and even though she shows natural talent, I don't believe going into a temple would be a good choice. I worry about attack and ambush."

Zelda nodded, "That is my concern as well. A party with Link, his men, a Sheik, and Wren would draw far too much unwanted attention from the Gerudos—"

Link scoffed, "So we will travel at night. I wasn't planning on moving during the day anyway."

"What then will you do during the daylight hours? You can't very well hide in the desert and this will take more than one day of riding."

Link turned to Z'a'atar, "Are there any outposts that the Gerudo are unaware of? Any friendly stopping points that would be willing to hide a few weary travelers?"

"A few dotted here and there. Mostly trading outposts and a few watering holes. Once we pass the final one though, we will be on our own for a full night's ride. It should only take us two nights to arrive at the temple."

Horwell's voice was soft, "But that's if everything goes as planned. Who is to say that the Gerudo are prepared for you to arrive at the temple—"

"They don't know where the temple is—"

"Then the outposts. What would you do should they have those monitored?"

"Then we will fight, and kill, anyone who stands in our way."

The group was silent so Z'a'atar continued, "We need the vessel anyway; she is the only one who will actually be able to access and hold the Triforce. We" he gestured to his niece and nephew, "are needed to enter the temple, but she is needed to get the treasure inside."

Zelda rested her chin on the tips of her steepled fingers, "And Link won't be able to possess it?"

It was Fyn's turn to speak, "Even if Din hadn't expressly forbidden her Triforce from ever being held by mortal hands again, the fact that he already possess a piece of the Triforce is no guarantee that he will be able to hold this one. Those artifacts have more magic in them than we will ever understand, who is to say that it won't tear him apart by the force of it."

The Queen faced Horwell, "Is letting Wren leave the castle wise? She runs the risk of capture, even with the guard, but I don't see another reasonable option."

Horwell pursed his lips and shot Z'a'atar a firm glare, "You are certain Wren is the only one that can physically possess the Triforce?"

The Twili did not lower his gaze, his violet eyes staring pointedly back at Horwell, "Positive. Din trusted us to hide her Triforce, she gave our ancestors specific instructions on how to do so, as well as instructions on how to handle it. I doubt she will be able to deny Hylia's vessel access."

Wren finally spoke, her voice was soft but sure, "Is it likely we will meet Din in this temple? Is she still there?"

Z'a'atar broke the staring contest with Horwell to face Wren, "There is a chance she will make an appearance, but no, she is not there in a dormant state. The temple is not her home, just where she hid her Triforce."

Sheik, who had remained quiet throughout the entirety of breakfast, considered Z'a'atar, "And what will we do should Din grace us with her presence? Do we have any need for concern?"

"No. I have studied the texts numerous times, and it seems that Din left us the Triforce on good terms—"

"She will not be irate when we trespass and take the Triforce?"

Z'a'atar waved Horwell's question to the side, "I have no reason to believe so."

Zelda cleared her throat, "Din may be the most—" she made a small gesture while searching for the right word, "temperamental of the Sisters, but she will understand why we are taking the Triforce given the circumstances. She is not a fool."

The group sat in silence for a moment until Link stood, his chair grating against the wooden floor, "Well, that settles it I guess. I need to gather up a few men and supplies. When do we leave?"

Z'a'atar also stood, his niece and nephew mimicking the action, "Tomorrow evening, if it pleases you. That will give us all night to ride to the village on the outskirts of the desert, we can spend the following day there and then strike out again the next night. Please, only select your two best men and pack light."

Link acknowledged Sheik, "So that's you and probably General Rusl," he faced Z'a'atar once more, "Can I assume any outpost we stop at will have the essentials for travel?"

The Twili nodded and Link continued on, "Good. So clothing, weapons, food, water, and whatever other miscellaneous gear we can fit on our horses." He faced Wren, "You will need to be disguised somehow. Do you still have that cloak that Sha'Lyn gifted to you?"

"Of course."

"That will work. Do you feel safe riding Tempest on your own?"

Wren scrunched her eyebrows, the same spikey worm that worked its way through her gut on the night she arrived was busy again.

"Wren? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just nervous for some reason."

Sheik stayed silent in her mind and Wren continued verbally, "Um. Yeah, I do. I think so long as we stay close together I should be fine. If it comes down to it we can tether him to another horse and I can ride with Sheik."

Link nodded, "Of course. I need to get with Rusl and prep our gear," he faced the Twili, "Use the rest of this day and tomorrow to rest and recuperate," and faced Wren, "You get whatever training in today and tomorrow you can. Make sure your weapons are in order and only take those that you are comfortable using. Don't overexert yourself, this is a long journey, we will possibly be away from the castle for over a week."

Finally he turned to his wife and gave her a cheeky smirk, "Promise not to burn the whole Kingdom down while I am gone."

Zelda stood and worked her way around the table, "You know, I have ran this Kingdom without you before. You just come back with everyone and in one piece."

"Naturally."