Ravio poked at the fire absently before turning his attention back to Link and Zelda. He didn't need to be clairvoyant to see that his cousin was angry. No wonder really, Link had never been one to respond kindly to being told what to do. His brow lifted as he watched Zelda gently touch Link's arm. She leaned closer to say something softly in his ear. He lifted an eyebrow when Link nodded, and Zelda smiled. Ok, so maybe there was an exception to Link's aversion if you had blonde hair and violet eyes. The pair stood up. Zelda jogged to their tent and disappeared inside. Seconds later she reappeared carrying two canteens. Tossing one to Link, Zelda rejoined him and the two disappeared among the trees. No doubt to refill the empty canteens.

He turned back to the crackling fire. He was a little surprised Link would willingly leave camp this close to sunset. Especially with their expected company arriving soon. He glanced up when Hilda sidled up beside him. Resting her head on her paws, she stared into the flames. Not for the first time, Ravio wished she had the ability to speak. He'd give anything to know what she was thinking right now. She had to be excited about turning back into a Hylian. He knew that he was, or at least he will be once he finds out what Midna's conditions are. Thoughts of Midna reminded him of her strange messenger. Those markings on that man's face seemed so familiar. He was positive he'd seen them somewhere else but his mind kept drawing a blank. Heaving another heavy sigh, he looped an arm around Hilda. Maybe he would ask Link about it later.

"I still think we should go after the sword." Zelda dipped her canteen into the cool water and watched as it began to refill. "Even if Midna turns Hilda back."

Behind her, Link crossed his arms and frowned. "But that guy made it sound like Midna would only turn Hilda back if we left the sword alone. Why would you want to tempt her anger?"

"That Sheikah said the sword is needed again." She drew the canteen out of the water when it wouldn't hold anymore. "We must be really close to finding this forest spirit. I think walking away now would be stupid. We could find the sword and just leave it there. I just feel like it's a good idea to at least know where the sword is." She screwed the cap back onto her canteen. "You know, in case we suddenly need it. Like Impa said."

"What would we need an ancient sword for?"

She paused. He had a point. Their whole reason for even looking for the sword had been to break the spell over Hilda. If Midna was going to do that, what need did they have for the sword?

"Let's…just call it a hunch for now." Turning to him, she smiled. "I just want to look for it. We won't remove it from the forest."

He looked uncertain but he nodded all the same. Zelda's smile grew and she rejoined his side to loop her arm around his. "At any rate we should return to camp before Midna shows up."

Link opened his mouth as if to say more but hesitated, instead he nodded and led the way back. Zelda breathed a sigh of relief, happy that Link was letting it go. She really couldn't explain why she still wanted to go after the sword. All she knew was she felt drawn to it. She wanted, no, she needed to find that sword. She, just had no idea why she felt this urgency.

Ravio glanced up when Link and Zelda returned. They were both talking quietly and neither seemed to realize they had an audience. If you could call himself and Hilda an audience. Shrugging to himself, Ravio grabbed another log from the neat pile Link had made earlier, and tossed it onto the fire. Midna should be arriving soon. He leaned back on his hands and stared up at the deepening sky.

He wanted Hilda back to normal. He missed talking to her but, how was he going to explain to them that he couldn't give up on finding the sword? He'd been contracted for a job. One that he couldn't just flub off. His client was determined to find that sword. The man who went by the name of 'Demise' wasn't going to abandon his search just because Ravio refused to retrieve the blade. However, before he'd taken this job, he would never have imagined he was looking for a mystical blade. He'd honestly thought this blade was some old ceremonial piece.

So, it begged the question. What could Demise want with a magic blade? If he believed the stories, the blade could only be wielded by the Goddess Hylia's chosen champion. Did Demise think he was this champion? He snorted in amusement. Demise's reputation made him a more likely candidate for the villain, not the hero. He shook his head. Maybe he'd ask Rova if he ran into her again. Maybe she'd have an idea of why her employer wanted the sword?

"Ravio."

He glanced up as Link plopped own beside him.

"What do you know of that guy we saw earlier?" Link didn't look at him as he picked up the stick Ravio had been using earlier to poke at the fire. "I've been going over it in my head and I don't understand why we haven't seen him before now."

Ravio frowned. "What do you mean?"

"He's supposed to be Midna's right hand man, isn't he?" Now Link gave him a sideways glance. "At least, that's how he came across to me. So, why haven't we seen him before now?"

Pulling his knees to his chest, Ravio stared thoughtfully into the flames. "I've never had a reason to contact Midna before. I know very little about her organization."

"But you must have heard rumors."

Ravio shook his head. "Not as much as you are probably thinking. Of course I've heard the usual stuff that floats around in the Underground. She's vicious and not one to be trifled with but beyond that, I don't know much."

"My Mistress makes sure that it stays that way." Midna's said, startling both Link and Ravio.

The man was back, his hands clasped behind his back with a stoic expression on his face.

Both Link and Ravio jumped to their feet. Link instantly looked for Zelda, his body tensing when he realized Midna's henchman was between them and her. At his feet, Hilda growled. Ravio dropped a hand to rest on her head. Attacking Midna's man would do nothing but anger her and they were in no position right now to risk such a thing.

"Where's Midna?" Link demanded in way of greeting.

The man inclined his head. "I come with an apology from my Mistress. A…old adversary has entered the forest and she felt it best to deal with this presence before meeting with you. She sends her apologies for the delay."

Ravio winced. That wasn't going to go over well with Link.

"Wonderful, so when will she be here?" Link crossed his arms. Just as Ravio expected, Link looked irritated.

"She will arrive tomorrow, in the morning." Crossing the small campsite, the man settled in front of the fire.

Ravio raised an eyebrow and exchanged a bewildered look with Link. "Um, what are you doing?"

The man turned a bored eye towards them. "I have been instructed to keep watch over you while Midna deals with these unexpected intruders."

Link clenched his fists. "Like hell am I going to let…"

"You have no choice." The man interrupted. Turning back to the fire, he idly added. "Now, go to your Princess as you've been itching to do since I arrived."

Link bit back a snarl, but to Ravio's surprise, did exactly as the man had suggested. Apparently Zelda's safety also outweighed Link's aversion to being told what to do.

The hairs on the back of Zelda's neck stood on end when she saw the huddled figure sitting by the smoldering remains of their fire the following morning. Clutching her towel tighter to her chest, she glanced over to Link.

"Was he up all night?"

Link poked his head out of their tent. His frown growing when he too spotted the man. "I guess so." He disappeared back inside.

"But, he looks like he hasn't moved…"

From inside the tent, Link snorted. "Who cares? He could have left anytime last night. We weren't making him stay here and we certainly didn't want him here either."

Zelda gave him a slightly scolding look. "Link that isn't nice."

"You're defending Midna's man?"

Zelda rolled her eyes. "I just meant his devotion to her is commendable."

Link popped his head out again to give her an incredulous look. "You are defending him!"

"Oh will you stop. He didn't do anything at all to warrant your suspicion."

"Oh, ya, sure. He just works for Midna. That's not suspicious at all." Link groused as he went back inside.

"You're just grumpy that you didn't sleep at all last night." Zelda chided softly and ducked her head inside. "I'm sure Ravio is up. Why don't you try to sleep a bit before Midna arrives?"

Link flushed uncomfortably. No doubt he'd believed she hadn't noticed he'd remained awake throughout the night. She'd actually considered suggesting shifts but had instinctively known there was no way he would ever agree to it. Maybe if he'd been able to speak with Ravio privately they could have set up something, but Midna's man seemed to have uncanny hearing. Throughout the evening he would add random comments to their conversation whenever they believed he was out of earshot. Link wouldn't want to tip off their unwanted guard that he was also keeping watch. It was why she'd kept quiet and hadn't suggested they take shifts.

Blame it on his lack of sleep, but he finally noticed the towel Zelda was holding. "Why do you have that?"

She glanced down at her folded towel. "I wanted to go down to the river and wash up before Midna got here."

Link frowned. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Maybe I should come with you…"

Zelda blushed. "P-pervert! What makes you think I'd let you watch me bathe?"

"W-what?" Link's face grew just as red as hers. "I-I didn't mean I would –I'd turn around and not watch you! I just meant—"

Zelda giggled. "I know, I'm teasing. I'll take Hilda with me. Will that work? A wolf has to be just as good at keeping watch as you, right?"

Still blushing furiously, Link nodded and then drew the covers over his head. "Yes, go! Just, don't leave without Hilda."

Zelda grinned at the flustered man before leaving him to search out her sister.

Hilda laid her head on her paws, her body laying parallel to the river her sister was currently bathing in. Her ears flicked to take in the sound of splashing water. She would have rather stayed back at camp but had understood Link's concern when Zelda whispered to her that Link didn't want Zelda going to the river alone. Her eyes rolled up to the canopy of the forest. Zelda had promised to make it quick but she was getting impatient. She couldn't blame Zelda for wanting to get cleaned though. She would have been the same way if circumstances were different. As it were, she was a wolf and she saw no need to get her fur wet –wait. What was that?

Perking up, she tilted her nose into the wind and drew in a deep breath. There was someone coming their way. She slowly stood up, her ears swiveling to pick up the faint sounds of footsteps. It wasn't coming from the direction of their camp. She lifted her nose again to try to pick up the scent but the person had moved downwind. She growled softly. It didn't matter. She'd recognized that scent and was slightly amazed that her wolf-brain had catalogued a scent she'd only smelled when she'd been Hylian. Her hackles rose and she dropped to her belly. She was suddenly very glad that Zelda had insisted she come along. She crept into the underbrush and swore, if a wolf was capable of it, she would be grinning evilly right about now.

"Well, well, I do believe I just caught a forest nymph bathing in the river."

Zelda froze at the cold, mocking tone in a voice that she'd sincerely believed she would never hear again. Ducking down into the water, she hugged her arms around her body and turned in the direction of the voice.

Ralph stood at the water's edge with her towel held out. "Still as beautiful as ever my dear. Tell me, has Link had the pleasure of seeing you like this yet?"

Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes as she sunk deeper into the water until it lapped around her ears. She hadn't expected him to show up. What was he even doing out here?

Ralph grinned at her obvious discomfort. "Now, now, I really do need you to come out. Despite what you may think. I have other reasons for tracking you down." He held out the towel again. "We need to be going before your lover comes to your rescue, again." He spit out the last word bitterly, his eyes dark with hatred. "So get your ass over here because you do not want me to come in there and drag you out."

Zelda moved further away from the shore and where Ralph was standing. Maybe if she was quick she could reach the river bank further down along the shore and make it back to camp? True she'd be as naked as the day she was born, but right now her need for survival outweighed propriety.

"I'll count to three, Zelda." Ralph called, having noticed her slow retreat. "If you don't start moving this way, things will get ugly for you. Don't think I have forgiven you for the way you turned those muscle head morons against me."

Zelda tensed. "You did that to yourself when you tried to use them against Link."

Ralph snorted. "Oh please, I was just trying to get back what was mine."

"I am not yours!" Zelda hugged herself tighter. "We broke up! You have plenty of other women…"

"Actually, I don't." Ralph dropped the towel and kicked off his shoes. "Nayru left me and Ambi got weird and stopped talking to me. You're all I have left and I swear to the goddesses you will come back to me."

"Find someone else." She hissed. Her eyes widened in alarm when he threw off his shirt. "Don't you dare come in here!"

"Oh please, like it isn't anything I haven't seen before." Ralph waded further into the river. The water lapped at his legs. "Now get your ass over here."

"No." Zelda glanced around wildly. She couldn't let him catch her.

Hilda crawled on her belly, ignoring the branches that tugged at her fur and the rocks the scraped against her stomach as she quietly circled around the arguing pair. So long as Ralph's attention was on Zelda, he did not notice her slowly creeping up behind him. However, the further he got into the water was going to be a problem. If he dived after Zelda, she didn't think she'd be of any help.

Ralph waded in further. The water was at his waist now and he was moving slower. Hilda eased closer. Zelda was watching him too, as if she was biding her time. Was she waiting to make her own move? Hilda tilted her head, her eyes moving between the pair. The deeper Ralph went, the slower his response time was. He'd only bothered to remove his shirt and shoes. The man had been stupid enough to wade into a river wearing jeans. His remaining clothes would weigh him down. Was Zelda hoping to duck around him? Unhindered as she was by her state of undress, she'd be quicker than him in the water.

Suddenly Zelda dived beneath the surface and Ralph lunged towards her. She easily slipped around him beneath the water and surfaced behind him. In a flurry of limbs, she scrambled up onto the shore and snatch her towel up. Wrenching the cloth around her body, Zelda stumbled up the steep bank. Unfortunately, she miscalculated how quickly Ralph would be able to follow her. A snarl rose in Hilda's throat when Ralph yanked her sister back by her hair.

"I told you, bitch." Ralph sneered, pulling Zelda's head back so that she was staring up at him through watery eyes. "You wouldn't want me coming in after you."

Zelda's mouth curled into a snarl and she spit in his face. Crying out Ralph used his free hand to wipe the spittle away while Zelda used the distraction to try to break free. Dropping his hold on her hair, he grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back.

"Rova told me to retrieve you in one piece but screw that." He kicked at the back of her knees and Zelda cried out as she lost balance. "I've been itching to teach you a lesson ever since you had the audacity to stick up for yourself at the farmer's market."

Ralph yanked off his sock and shoved the wet fabric deep into Zelda's mouth. "Just try and scream for help around that."

Zelda's eyes widened in horror as she gagged on the soggy fabric. She'd never seen the crazed look before that was in Ralph's eyes. He didn't even seem to notice her sagging towel. Her state of undress was the furthest thing from his mind. He shoved her against the ground and pressed her face into the dirt while he maneuvered himself into sitting on her back. Zelda choked as the unfamiliar weight settled over her chest and pain seared through her arms when he pressed his knees against her elbows to keep her pinned.

A hand wrapped around her hair and yanked her head back, bringing tears to her eyes. Ralph ducked down and pressed his head hard against her face. "Link isn't going to find you quite so pretty anymore once I'm done with you."

A loud snarl ripped through the collective quiet of the forest as a wolf leapt from the underbrush where it had been hiding. Ralph turned wide eyes towards the charging animal, his mouth falling open in surprise. Zelda twisted around and relief bubbled up inside of her at the sight of her sister.

Hilda launched herself at the hateful man. She'd always suspected Ralph had physically hurt her sister but had never had proof. Zelda had always been surprisingly tight-lipped about her relationship with him.

Her front paws pushed Ralph off of Zelda. She would check if her sister was ok later and once she was turned back to a Hylian, she would apologize to Zelda for waiting so long to act. She'd wanted absolute proof of what she suspected before she acted. The minute Ralph had pinned her sister down, Hilda knew she couldn't wait any longer.

Leaping free of the winded man, she circled round. Her teeth snagged the back of his jeans and dragged him further from Zelda. She pulled her lips back to reveal her sharp teeth and enjoyed the way Ralph started to blubber and cry. This man had all but broken her sister. Ruto and Lulu had told her of how Zelda had retreated into herself after her breakup with Ralph. The Zora sisters had suspected abuse too, but like Hilda, they couldn't get Zelda to admit to it. Through Ruto, she'd heard of the rocky beginning to Zelda's relationship with Link.

She'd known of their attempts to set the two of them up, or at least she had once she'd confronted them after meeting Ravio's cousin. She'd recognized right away that Link and Zelda knew each other. It was only natural for her to ask Ruto about it the next day and she'd gotten the whole story of how Link kept coming to her sister's rescue. She'd quickly come up with a plan to further the match making along. Suggesting to Ravio that he bring up going to the Twilight Fair had been child's play. Unfortunately, her attempts to get Zelda to talk about Ralph had back fired on her when talk circled around to her last trip to the fair. Thankfully, Link had made up for her blunder beautifully by winning her a new prize. She would never know what Ralph had done to the carnival prize he'd won for Zelda but she was confident that whatever hurt Ralph had inflicted had been healed by Link's actions.

Releasing her hold on Ravio, she pounced on top of him with her teeth still bared. Ralph screamed but there was no stopping the enraged wolf. Her teeth sunk in and she thought, perhaps her obsession with the Twili's Sol had actually been a blessing in disguise. After all, you can't charge a wolf with murder because she sure as hell was going to make sure this asshole never caused problems for her sister again.