Link awoke to a mild burning sensation in his chest. He slowly opened his eyes and moaned slightly. It was then that he noticed that a young woman was applying a wet towel to his forehead. Link blinked a few times, trying to figure out if he knew her but then merely asked, "What happened?"

The woman was obviously not paying attention and when Link's voice shook her from whatever she was thinking about she said "Oh, you're awake now."

Link slowly nodded and sat up in the bed, the towel falling from his forehead. He felt his head swimming slightly as he held the bed to steady himself before turning to face the young woman. "What happened?" He repeated his question.

She only gave him a slight smile. "I don't know the details sir. We were told that you merely passed out and were running a high fever."

Link nodded in understanding and then asked, "How long was I out for?"

"A few days. I think they forgot about you once the siege began." She stated plainly.

Link quickly turned himself towards her completely, his legs hanging off the side of the bed until they touched the ground. His head swam at the quick movement but he ignored it and asked, "What siege?"

She shook her head. "Nothing for you to worry about. I'm sure the army will take care of it."

He gripped her shoulder gently and said, "Please. I'm in the army, I should know."

She shrugged. "A Termina army entered Hyrule through the South. It is as if they went into the Northern edges of Rylok first then attacked from the south. They have sealed off Castle Town completely and are not letting anyone in or out."

Link frowned at that. From the South? Didn't the Minister say that they wouldn't dare attack from the South? He then turned to the woman and said, "Please inform them that I am awake and am ready for orders."

She gave him a funny look then said, "Aren't you someone who is accused of being a traitor? Do you really think they'll care?"

Link shook his head as he reached to his side and found his ocarina. "No. I suppose it was a waste of breath. I'll be leaving now." He said, standing up. He felt the room spin around him and had to grab the sidewall in order to steady himself.

The girl looked confused. "And how do you plan on breaking out of the dungeon?"

Link only smirked. "Oh I have my little ways." He said with a hint of amusement as he raised the ocarina to his lips and played a short tune. This confused the girl slightly until she saw Link start to glow yellow for a small bit before a bright yellow flash took place. She shielded her eyes from the light until it was gone then turned back to see that Link was no longer in the room. She quickly looked all around in confusion and shock.

"What was that strange light?" Demanded a guard from outside the room. The young woman heard the door opening and turned to face the guard. He looked confused as well and asked her, "Where did he go?"

She turned back to where Link had been standing and wiped her eyes with her forearm. "I think... he escaped." She said as if uncertain.

-

Luckily for Link, no one was in the Temple of Time that late afternoon, otherwise he probably would have been in a rather uncomfortable situation. Not that his current situation was comfortable, rather he felt like absolute garbage. His head was swimming as he palmed the ocarina back into his pocket and walked towards the exit of the Temple. He was met with a sight that he had hoped he would never see again.

Many of the buildings in Castle Town were destroyed. Large chunks of rock were scattered everyone, causing Link to guess the weapon used. Damn catapults. The further he walked into the town, the more disgusted he began to feel. There were broken and burning homes, victims of flaming projectiles that had flown over the walls of the giant gate. The civilians were huddled together under small tents that had been pushed deeper towards the castle, soldiers running every which way in order to try and regain control of the situation.

This whole sight caused Link to grit his teeth and clench his fists in rage. Those bastards! I can't believe this has happened! He then turned and began to run towards the castle, fully realizing the horrid situation. He cursed at the thought, shaking his head to more pressing matters as he made his way towards the castle in a similar way he did as a child. I can't just walk in now. Guards would probably try to capture me at this point. There's no time left though.

Using his old methods, Link sneaked into the royal garden. He was surprised by the lack of guards patrolling like he remembered but he shrugged, realizing that they were probably stationed elsewhere more important. Not that it matters, it just makes this easier. Shaking the useless thought from his mind, he focused on his infiltration into the castle. I hope I can make it in time.

-

"What is the current situation?" The great hall was tense as it had been for the past few days. The sudden appearance of Termina troops surrounding and nearly invading Castle Town had caused everyone in the capital to feel as if an icy hand had grasped their hearts. If not for the quick actions of a few gate guards to close the drawbridge, it could be that the castle could have fallen already.

General Vass bowed his head to the King who seemed to be very tired. "Sir, we are currently surrounded by approximately 15,000 soldiers. Since they are unable to enter due to the moat and our gate defenses, they have decided on a siege strategy to try and force us to do something careless."

The King nodded but decided to ask, "I know all that General Vass. What I want to know is how they were able to do this? An army of that size should not have been able to enter our borders without us noticing!" The King said viciously, apparently very upset with the situation.

Vass almost paled at the King's outraged voice and nearly took a step back. "I.... I cannot say, your majesty." Vass eyed Minister Foss who was standing in the background, obviously preoccupied with something. "This is a complete failure on our intelligence. I have no excuses." He then looked back to the King and lowered his head, "As head of the military, I am at fault for this situation. Punish me as you will."

The King shook his head and yelled at the man. "Punishing you now is a moot point, isn't it General?" He then paused for a moment before continuing in a softer voice, "What we should be focusing on now is how to deal with this siege, not your punishment. It doesn't seem to be a pressing matter at this point."

The General nodded and continued to speak. "I understand your highness. However, as it stands we are cut off here. We have been unable to send a message to any of our outposts. We have resorted to trying carrier pigeons, but by the time they reach any of our forces, we may not have any time left."

"What about requesting aid from the Gorons or the Zoras? We can contact them using magic to ask for help, can't we?"

Vass lowered his head. "It would do no good, your highness. The Gorons are a race of craftsmen, not fighters. They would just barricade themselves into Death Mountain until the situation has settled down. They dislike being involved in wars. The Zoras would react the same way. They detest being involved in the affairs of Hylians. The Gerudo have dispatched forces on their way here to try and help but it may be counter-productive at this point."

General Wilde stood off to the side of the room, watching the King and Vass' discuss the current situation. He frowned slightly as he saw the expression that covered Princess Zelda's face as she stood beside her father, a look of utter defeat and dread showing her emotions. He found himself getting slightly disgusted by what he was seeing, let alone the situation itself. We have found ourselves backed into a corner, in the heart of our own land at that. What would you say if you knew about this Link? Wilde then realized that the disgust and anger he was currently feeling was probably how Link felt most of the time around the nobles and the Generals who only gave orders from the backgrounds and let their men do all the work. Can we really say that we are soldiers at that point? It seems like we're more of a group of old men playing a game with our men's lives.

Wilde broke out of his musings when he noticed a servant approaching Minister Foss. She leaned towards the Minister's ears and whispered a few words. Wilde raised an eyebrow in interest as he saw the panicked look on the Minister's face as he whispered back towards the servant, who only nodded at his question. Wilde began to focus on the Minister, wondering what the balding black haired Hylian was up to.

He didn't have to wait long before the man acted. He took a few steps forward and coughed once before speaking up to attract the ear of the King. "Your majesty, if I may?"

The King stopped in mid-sentence to answer the man. "What is it Minister Foss?"

The Minister coughed once more, seeming nervous. "Well, it appears that the young Master Link has escaped from confinement."

"What? Are you sure?" The King demanded, obviously surprised at what he was hearing. Wilde grabbed his forehead in annoyance. He wasn't really surprised that Link had done such a thing, he was more concerned at 'how' the young man did it. Then again, we really don't know what that kid is capable of.

The Minister nodded. "It appears that he used some sort of magic to escape. The details were not too specific in that regard." He then closed his eyes, "It appears that it is as we feared, he must be a traitor."

Wilde frowned at that remark and spoke up harshly. "Minister, you go too far. You have proved nothing in that regard."

Foss merely shrugged at Wilde's remark. "It seems a little too convenient that an army would attack us from a direction we were unable to defend against if not for an insider."

"I agree with the Minister, for once." Came a familiar voice from the corner of the room. All eyes turned to the source in wonder as they thought they had just been hearing things. The reaction was as one would expect when they saw the young man leaning against the corner of the room, clad in only a pair of trousers and his white gloves, showing the numerous battle wounds and old scars that plagued his chest and arms. A smirk covered Link's face as he raised one hand to brush some of his hair from his eyes. "It is highly unusual for such a thing to happen without there being a traitor. Although, I do object to his continued claims of that traitor being me."

Wilde found himself holding back a chuckle when he heard the young man's cocky and amused voice. He found Foss' expression far too amusing and could not help but laugh at the man's expression of mixed fear, amazement, and anger. "Guards! Seize him!"

The King was far more composed and held up his hand to stop the guards. "How did you escape the dungeon?" He asked the young man, curiosity getting the best of him.

Link only smirked as he pushed off the wall and began walking towards the throne. He felt a familiar pain tearing into his chest as halted his advance as he started coughing for a few moments. I can't get any rest from this pain, can I? He idly wondered to himself as he controlled his coughing to answer the King. "I could've escaped at anytime since I was placed down there, I was merely waiting for an order to leave." He paused as he placed his hands behind his head as he continued to walk forward, "But it seems that it is no longer the time for such a thing." He paused for a moment before continuing his speech, "No, the time for that has passed now, we must act quickly before those Termina dogs break through the defenses of the town and get too close. "

Link continued walking until he was standing next to General Vass who was looking at Link as if he was some type of illusion. Minister Foss it seemed, however, knew he was very real. "Guards! What are you waiting for? He's an escaped prisoner!"

The guards were snapped from their musings and began approaching the young man, weapons ready should he try to fight them. But they hesitated once again as Link went down to one knee and crossed his arm across his chest and bowed his head to the King. "Far be it for one such as myself, who stands accused of the highest crime in the land, to give advice. But I think I would far more useful to you following your orders than sitting in a dungeon waiting for some Termina troops to come and kill me." The bowed youth began coughing again and raised his left hand to his mouth to cover it. He could feel the warm substance hitting his hand but he ignored it.

"Why should I trust you now, Master Link? As you said, you are accused of being a traitor; what reason could you give me that would make me want to issue you orders?" The King replied to Link's statement, his eyebrow raised.

"Because if you people stopped to actually think about it, you would be able to see that there is no way I could be a traitor! I have been in Kakariko for over a year with little to no contact with any of the forces at the castle, how the hell would I be able to give them information like that? If you people pulled yourselves out of your preconceived notions that commoners are trash than you would have understood it for yourselves that such a thing is not possible!" Link replied back in a harsh tone, not caring if he offending anyone at this point. He then raised his head to look into the King's eyes and said, "I've saved your daughter's life twice. Why would I do such a thing if I was an enemy? If I was a real spy, I would have drugged both her and the General during our travels and then carried her body to Fasticion! It would make no sense for me to aid her in trying to increase Hyrule's strength! Don't you get it, your highness?"

The King was shocked at the boy's statements, caught off guard by the strange fervor and schemes that could've been. He was also shocked because when Link looked up, a trail of blood was flowing down from his mouth. The King was too shocked to say anything but Zelda then spoke up. "Master Link, you're bleeding."

Link raised an eyebrow to the strange statement before tasting something coppery on his lips. He raised the back of his right hand to his mouth and wiped some away before glancing down at it. Seems so. It's getting worse. "Seems I won't be able to do that much for you after all. My time seems to be running out, for better or worse."

"What do you mean? Who are you?" The King asked, his voice sounding like one of those from the inquisition. The tone caused many of those gathered there to shudder slightly from it's intensity.

Link only coughed some more, kneeling forward as he was unable to steady himself from the recurring pain. He caught himself on his hands as he continued to cough, blood flowing freely as he hacked. Finally he stopped and wiped his mouth with one of his hands before answering. "One who you once trusted with your daughter's life." He then paused as he seemed to think about something. "There seems like there is something that I can be of use to you for, even in this condition."

"What do you mean?" General Wilde decided to break his silence as he walked up next to the boy and grabbed his shoulders as if steadying him.

Link gave the General a small grin, but Wilde could see that he was forcing it, that he must be in unimaginable pain. He then turned to the King and said, "I am far too weak to meet those dogs head on in a battle, but there is one thing I can do for you. If you give me permission, I can take Princess Zelda to a place where no one will be able to harm her. Not even the Butcher of Salendoir or his minions would be able to follow."

The Minister laughed at that. "You must be kidding! Trusting the Princess to one who is suspected of being a spy for the enemy! That is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard!"

Link didn't respond to that, only began to hack wildly again, falling forward to catch himself as he continued to cough out blood before vomiting once again. Once he was able to breathe again, he stumbled backwards, almost falling if not for Wilde. He looked the King in the face and said with sweat running down his face from a fever, "As he said, it is a ludicrous idea. But you must decide quickly for my time is running out and you will lose this chance soon it seems." He then reached for his left hand and pulled off his glove. He then held the back of his hand up to the King and Zelda, revealing the glowing green triangle on the back of his hand, "And if you can't trust an unknown soldier, trust this mark."

Both the King and Zelda gasped when they saw it. There was a long period of time where the only sounds that were in the room were of Link's coughs. Finally, the King spoke and asked, "Is that... what I think it is?"

Link only weakly chuckled at the question and turned to Zelda and said, "It seems we meet once again, Princess of Destiny..." He said in a weak voice, referring to a conversation the two had a long time.

Zelda gasped once again, holding her hands to her mouth as if attempting to hide her shock. She slowly removed them and asked in an amazed voice, "...that story.... It's true, isn't it?"

Link only coughed a few times more and said, "As much as I wish it was only a story... It's far too true."

Zelda seemed to shocked to say anything else but the Minister was able to break into the conversation at this point. "As if that mark means anything! There are a number of people who could craft such a thing!"

"Hold your tongue Minister Foss!" Barked the King, surprising the Minister. All eyes turned to the King as he spoke again, "That is something that no tattoo artist would do, for it would be a sin against the goddesses. And the ones who know of that legend are far too few."

Zelda nodded in agreement. "I agree." She then turned to her father and said, "I do not doubt Master Link, I never have." She then turned to him and asked, "Is this what you have been trying so hard to hide?"

Link only nodded weakly as he began to cough again. The King spoke up while he was coughing and said, "Zelda, I want you to go with him."

She looked to her father in shock and asked, "What? You can't mean that father."

He shook his head. "It's for the best at this point. At least you will be safe, that young man will make sure of it."

"Your highness, you can't be serious!" Foss declared, obviously very distressed.

"Minister, hold your tongue or I'll cut it off." Link was surprised when he heard this statement, or rather, realized who had said it. General Vass was glaring at the Minister with a look that could kill as he spoke again, "The King has decided. You shall remain silent."

The King nodded before turning to the boy who was resting with the help of General Wilde. It looked as if the boy would collapse if Wilde was not supporting him. "What do you need, and do you really think it'll work?"

Link closed his eyes and took a deep breath before saying. "I'll need the things that were taken from me when I was locked up. I will also need as many soldiers as you deem necessary to protect her; I am no longer in any position to do such a thing." He said as if disgusted with himself.

The King nodded and spoke to one of the guards. "Gather Master Link's possessions." He then turned to General Wilde and said, "General Wilde, I leave this in your hands, as he is your adjutant. I want you to go with him as well."

Wilde bowed his head, still holding up Link. "As you wish, your majesty." He then slowly lowered Link to the ground before walking away towards a group of guards. He gave them several orders while Link tried to raise himself back into kneeling down on one knee.

"Don't strain yourself Master Link." The King stated as he watched Vass go to support the young man.

Link chuckled and slowly pushed Vass away so he could stand up for himself. "Everything has been a strain recently, your highness. Please do not worry about it." He then looked between the Minister, who was fuming at this development, and the King, was merely watching the young man with a strange sort of reverence. "There are other things you should be more concerned with. As the minister said, there is a traitor among us. It would be in your best interest to find out who it is as soon as possible."

The minister slowly nodded his head, as if still unpleased with what was happening. This was not a planned move... Perhaps I placed them in check too soon? "The young master is correct. Although I think we still should not trust him, for he is our most likely candidate."

"Cheery thought Minister." Link mumbled under his breath as he watched the doors open to reveal four familiar faces, one of them carrying a bundle under his arm. Link couldn't help but smile when he saw his four friends walk towards him, shocked to see him there, but still not really surprised by it. When they reached Link, they bowed their heads to the King.

"Reporting as ordered by General Wilde, your majesty." Vyline said as he bowed his head. Underneath his arm was a satchel of items, obviously belonging to Link.

Wilde walked forward and patted Link on the shoulder before turning back to the King. "I will take these four besides Link and myself. If the location is as secure as Link believes, we should be more than enough to protect her highness."

Zelda nodded and walked towards the small group before turning to face her father. "I shall be off then father."

"Take care, my daughter. May the goddesses watch over you." He said with a sad smile. How come this seems like the last time I will see you smile, my daughter?

Zelda bowed her head, feeling a similar thought race through her mind before turning to the small group. "Shall we go then, Master Link? I am rather curious how you expect to go somewhere during the middle of a siege." She said with a raised eyebrow.

Link coughed a few more times, blood once again running down his mouth. He then chuckled lightly before saying, "Why, a magician never reveals his secrets milady." He then spoke a little louder to everyone else. "Everyone, grab hold of me, or someone who is holding me. And for the love of Faovre, whatever happens, do not release your holds. I have no idea what will happen if you do, understand?" His order was met with nods and voices of confirmation before Link felt several hands grab his shoulders. He smiled as he reached into his pouch for his ocarina before turning to the King. "Then we shall be off, your highness. I hope we meet again."

"Likewise Master Link. Please protect my daughter well."

"Your majesty, you can't be serious! You're going to send your daughter off with him?" The minister declared once again before being silenced by a glare by Vass.

General Vass turned towards the group and said two things. "General Wilde, make sure to keep a leash on that lad." He then focused on Link's eyes and said two words, "Don't die."

Link chuckled at that before raising the ocarina to his lips and begin to play. The song was mysterious, one that no one had ever heard before. Zelda felt a strange flow in the air as Link played the small song, but she couldn't really tell what it was. She understood that it was some sort of magic, but of a type she couldn't really understand. But it felt familiar to her body as the green light enveloped the small group, before they flashed out with a sudden green light. The rest of the people in the great hall were shocked by the sudden disappearance. Even the King was amazed and had not been expecting such a thing. He only mused to himself, I hope we have done the right thing.

The King was not the only one lost in his musings. Now Minister Foss wore a deadly frown on his face, one that showed irritation and blatant rage. Yes, it was far too soon for checkmate. I became too greedy. He paused for a moment before smiling a smile that seemed like a snake's. No matter. Just because the pawn has reached the other side of the board, does not make it a threat. Checkmate is still unavoidable.