Chapter 26

The Golden Arrow

Zelda's PoV

Link and I stand down by the lake in each others arms talking after a kiss and just as I laugh at something he says, a loud shout fills the air startling us both. I end up jolting forward and bang my forehead into his and we both cry out in pain. The air is filled with hysterical laughter then as I hold my hand to my head and look to my right. Midna stands there, keeled over with one hand on her knee and the other across her stomach. Link and I both give her dirty looks as she straightens.

"Did you have to?" I growl.

"Yes." She answers, smirking. "Come in the house now if you want me to help you with your disguise makeover, since I assume you are going today. Unless, of course, you want to go as yourself."

I tell her I'll be right in and she spins on her heel and walks away. I look at Link and he's holding his own forehead. I move away from him, but Link wraps his arms around me and pulls me tight to his chest instead.

"Not yet. I won't be able to kiss you all day with that lipstick on." He says, and I giggle before I kiss him and stand there for a few minutes before I push away regretfully.

"You don't have to go today, Zel. I'm sure Anju would love your company around the house."

I make an exaggerated scoff. "And miss you making your big moment as Golden Arrow Champion? I don't think so. I want to be there for you."

"Thanks. That means a lot."

I smile and kiss him once more before I go into the house, not ready to become someone else again, but having no choice in the matter. I was lucky yesterday that nobody realized who I was, but I won't be today if I am not extremely careful. Everyone will be looking for my face today and that scares me, but I'll survive just like yesterday. I ask Midna to make my makeup a bit heavier and to get me a new shirt, because I absolutely refuse to wear the same one again, and she rolls her eyes and complies. We change up the rest of my outfit with some new accessories. I now wear a black choker necklace with a black heart pendant on it and a thin leather armband that goes from wrist to elbow on my right arm. Midna braids my hair with more tiny scalp braids than yesterday, braiding the middle back in a bigger section before making a teased ponytail that poofs between the hair ties down my back. She outlines my eyes more, making a swoop with the eyeliner at the outside corners and glues two rings around my right eyebrow, overdoing it on my ears and giving me the same fake piercings on my nose and below my lip as yesterday. I ask her if a lot of girls dress this way in Tanagar City wondering if that's where she got the style, since nobody dresses like this anywhere I've ever been, and she shakes her head saying it's her own thing. Before I leave the bathroom, she teases me saying "Looks like you two lovebirds worked it out last night." I nod, smirking as I walk out.

Link gives me an even stranger look than he did yesterday when I walk into the living room, and I laugh. "Last time, I swear." I tell him, wiggling my eyebrows.

Link's PoV

I'm glad that the shirt Zelda wears today at least covers her stomach and a bit more of her breasts, though the shorts still hardly cover her. I might not have to watch as many men giving her looks like they want to eat her alive, give them scalding looks for their lingering stares. I saw a few guys reach out toward her yesterday and I swear on my life if anyone actually touches Zelda like that today, they'll have an arrow up their ass.

I come across a random revelation as we walk to Hyrule Coliseum, holding hands. If Zelda is Sheik, that means…"Huh. Hey Zel, I guess I am good enough to be a Golden Arrow Champion, with how easily I won the Hateno Village Archery Contest."

Zelda stops walking and I do as well, turning toward her. She gives me and offended look, pulling her hand from mine and crossing her arms across her chest. "Only because I wasn't on the top of my game that day. I was...um..." She trails off, looking around as if that will help her come up with an excuse. When she looks back at me, I give her that special smile of mine, like I did that day when our eyes met for the first time. Her face flushes bright red and I laugh shortly before finishing her sentence for her.

"Distracted. Like you said last night; I distract you." I say, stepping close to her.

"Shut up..." She mumbles, but her lips lift into a small smile before she steps around me and continues walking.

Zelda's PoV

The four of us get a red Triforce stamp on our hands today after paying and I hold onto Link's hand tightly as we walk inside and he looks at me, wincing. "That's some death grip you have." He says, and I loosen my hand.

"Sorry. I'm just afraid...it's different today."

"Don't be. Just do what you did yesterday and you'll be fine."

"I'm not sure what that was."

"Walk like you own the world like I told you. Blend in and nobody will figure out who you are." Says Midna, putting an arm on my shoulders and Groose nods to me. He finally realized who I was this morning, shouting it to the entire house and everyone stared at him in disbelief, except Midna, who rolled her eyes and called him a slow Hinox.

"Stick with us, Zelda, and you've got nothing to worry about. I'll back you up." Groose tells me, and I smile at the both of them saying thank you, before I hug Link and he squeezes me. I may not know Groose well, and hardly really know Midna, but I feel like I have known them much longer than a couple of days. I'm glad I have them for support as well, it makes me feel special.

"We'll be upstairs while you two wait in line." Midna says.

After they walk away, Link and I stand in the line for archery registration. Being in the middle of the people who will most potentially recognize me is a stupid move, but being close to Link right now is really helping me relax.

"I'm glad I have you today; it's terrifying to be here."

"Of course."

"I wish I were here for the first time, so I could have some fun and compete against you again."

"Me too." Link lowers his voice just above a whisper and speaks in my ear next. "To be honest, there might not be many here who pose a challenge."

I laugh and raise my eyebrows. "You sure are confident. You know, some of the best archers in Hyrule are entering this competition. Am I really the only other person you see as a rival?"

"Hmm...you might not be after today. I might have some fun without you."

I sneak glances at everyone around us as we slowly move with the line. I'm glad that I don't know anybody here and perhaps if I have forgotten them, they have forgotten me too. I roll my eyes at that idea as it's probably among the stupidest things I've ever thought. Yeah, right. I made history, nobody will ever forget me. It's a few minutes later when I think of something I need Link to consider.

"Link. When you win, don't give too much away. I hid who I was so I could live a peaceful, normal life. I want that for you too." I say, quietly, gazing up into his eyes with all the seriousness I can muster and he nods, promising me he'll only tell them the things that they need to know. I ask him if he knows what those things are, and he tells me to tell him, since I'm "all knowing." I stand up on my tip toes and wrap my arms around his neck before I tell him to keep his private life secret as it will certainly come back to bite him if he's not careful, and we both laugh at my choice of words.

As Link steps up to sign his name on the registration paper, I hear a voice behind me say something that makes my blood run cold. "Well, if it isn't that girl who won the Golden Arrow two years ago."

I don't dare turn around. I know that voice; I'd know it anywhere. It belongs to that arrogant, self confident, stuck up individual I barely beat when I won the Golden Arrow: Revali. Of all people to recognize me, he's by far the worst. I hear some people around us talking then and I ignore them, my entire body freezing up.

I bite my lip and clench my hands in front of my stomach, trying not to freak out as I hear people muttering and see them looking around. I quickly try to figure out what the best thing to do is, and I come up with pretend I didn't hear him and continue acting like anyone else. I hear Revali talking to me again, and his voice is louder now. Link looks at me and I glance at him with wide eyes, starting to lose it. Pretending: it's not working; I have to move. If I don't move, he will expose me in front of everyone. I can't have that. I need to get away. I have to. I do the first thing that comes to my mind. I move closer to Link, as smoothly as I can with my frozen-up, shaking limbs, and kiss his cheek and whisper to him, forcing a giggle to make it look casual, and turn and silently walk away, slipping through the crowd.

I want to run, but I force my legs to walk at a steady pace, just a little quicker than my usual gait. I hope Revali doesn't follow me, thinking he got the wrong girl after all. I pray to Hylia with all my heart that he doesn't start shouting Sheik across the coliseum, like I expect him to. I'm surprised he didn't call me Sheik right away. When I am on the opposite side of the room, I look over my shoulder slightly and relief passes through me when I don't see him, but I do see Link, who is looking around for me. I don't see Revali anywhere now, and I'm about to walk back over to Link when I see the pompous windbag to his left and our eyes meet for a solid second before he starts coming my way. My pulse raises up into my throat and into my skull as I full on lose it, freaking out. I turn and go up the stairs, once again forcing myself not to run. How does he recognize me?! I don't look like Sheik at all; Midna and I made sure of that. I'm halfway across the second floor when I duck behind a pillar and peek around the other side. I see Revali there, twenty feet away, and my heart is thudding against my rib cage. I also see Midna and Groose between him and me, however, and they are right next to the pillar I'm behind. I walked right past them in my panic to get away. Lucky coincidence, but I can't walk out from my hiding place or Revali is going to see me, so I call Midna's name just loud enough for her to hear me in the noisy coliseum, telling her to come over where I am. Once she's standing in front of me, I shush her and whisper-yell that Revali found me and is looking for me right now. "He's to your left. Rito. You can't miss him." She stares at me blankly, so I growl and give her glare. "I need a distraction! Get rid of him. Do something! Please! Hurry!"

"Okay, okay! Got it." She says.

I hear Midna shouting at the top of her lungs next, and everyone around us goes silent. She's sputtering nonsense, but I hear Revali's name being yelled and next thing I know, everyone rushes towards where she went. I risk a glance around the corner of the pillar as she keeps talking. She's insulting him now, and I have to hold my hand over my mouth because some of the things she says are so downright hilarious and spot on. I hear him shouting back at her and I suddenly fear making this much of a commotion will get her kicked out of the coliseum. I bite my lip and hold my hands in fists, locking my legs in place so I don't go over and ruin this distraction. Cool it down Midna, you've done enough. Thank you. I think, wishing I could send my thoughts to her telepathically. Luckily, she does stop and she and Groose walk up near my pillar.

"You're safe now. He's gone, his fans are now doing the distracting and he went down the stairs."

"Thank you." I say and hug her.

"No problem. That was fun. I haven't gotten to make a ruckus like that for months."

"There you are. I think the entire coliseum heard you telling off Revali, Midna." Link says, walking over to us.

"Awesome. I had to save Zelda and I made it fun. It's about time someone put that jerk in his place." She says, grinning.

The four of us hang around on the second floor while we wait for nine am, when the Archery Tournament will start. I sit on the floor with my back against the railing, listening to Link talk to Groose. They are discussing what it must be like to win and become a champion here, and I sigh to myself.

Link doesn't understand what winning the Golden Arrow means. We talked about it a bit last night when I explained better why I choose to live my life the way I do, but the way he talks now makes me feel he didn't grasp the entirety of it. But maybe things would be different for him; it's possible he might enjoy the attention and like being known. Selfishly, I also think of myself as I sit here; I'd never be able to hide next to him, but perhaps that would be okay. Maybe I might be okay with the world knowing me if I had Link by my side to support me and he fully understood what fame is like. I want him to experience the feeling of having his dream fulfilled, so as much as it scares me, I want him to win. I want him to feel that happiness I felt in that moment they announced me Golden Arrow Champion, but I don't wish the stress I get for it upon him. I'm sure I'm just a basket case though, since the other winners haven't seemed to care if the world is in their business, but then maybe it's the other way around and I am the only sane one.

I know Link can do this; he beat me in a contest, even though it was under a special circumstance that I wish he did not bring up again because I am proud of my accomplishment. I don't like that he made it sound like it's easy to be as good as I am, but he has serious skill that comes from the same type of hard work and determination that I live by, so I believe he has more than enough potential to win today. No matter how much it frightens me, I want Link to take the Golden Arrow more than anything. I want to be here as he makes his place in history by becoming the forty-third Golden Arrow champion.

A bunch of people start screaming and cheering ten minutes later and we all look down to the coliseum floor to see a familiar Rito standing there and shouting for attention. I take Link's right hand in mine before I move to stand behind him, so that if Revali looks up, he won't see me. I have a sickening feeling about what's about to happen and I close my eyes leaning my forehead against Link's back.

Please. Please no. Hylia, I'll do anything if you keep him from exposing me here. I pray, desperately. I'm not a worshiper, but I silently ask the goddess anyway as it's not the first time I've "prayed" today.

"Everyone! You should know that the girl you've all been wondering about the past two years is in Hyrule Coliseum at this moment! Sheik is hiding upon you and I hear...she isn't participating!"

Revali goes on encouraging everyone who is listening to search for me and pick me out so the competition will have all of its worthy candidates to make the show most entertaining. Link squeezes my hand in his.

"Zelda. Play along. Look for Sheik. If you keep hiding, he will find you." He says, just loud enough for me to hear. Midna grabs my arm and jerks me away from him when I don't immediately move.

"Do it. It's your only option here!' She hisses.

They're both right. I have to. I'm glad that so many people start talking at once just then, as it drowns out Revali's voice and maybe they don't hear him describing what I look like. As everyone searches the audience for me, my heart thuds in panic in my skull and I start to sweat. I stand up straight and put my hand on my hip and look around the coliseum, doing my best to look and act like everyone else. Several seconds pass by and I'm not sure how long Revali will wait for nobody, or worse, somebody to find me. I have to endure twenty more seconds of this before a woman's voice cuts loudly through the air and my heart stops until I hear what she's saying.

"I think you'd rather take me on, wouldn't you, Revali?"

Several people around me stop searching and turn around, looking for the source of the voice. I see a woman with red hair climbing up on top of the railing straight across the coliseum from where we stand. Several people gasp and go to grab her to stop her from going over it, but she slips down on her fingertips and drops to the first floor in a fluid movement that looks effortless and practiced. The maneuver actually reminds me briefly of when we were on the wall in Castle Town, when Link was climbing down from the watchtower. People point and gasp as the woman puts her hands on her hips and walks toward the middle of the floor with every eye in the coliseum on her.

"Wait a minute, that's-"

"Karane." Link finishes my sentence.

My jaw drops as several other people in the crowd begin to recognize her too, shouting and pointing down from where they stand. I can't believe it, I haven't seen her since I was ten years old. I'm shocked that she's standing out in the open like she is, looking as strong and confident as she did that amazing day, her presence known and surrounding her like an aura. For Karane to show up at this moment, it seems like a huge coincidence. It's ridiculous, but the thought of the Goddess coming to my aid comes to me, as if she's sent me an angel in Karane's form...Or maybe Karane just wanted to pick a fight with Revali. I'll take that explaination too. Either way, I look to the sky and put my hands together and whisper thank you.

Revali stares at her before laughing and bringing the tip of his wing up near his beak. "Well, well now. If it isn't the mysterious Karane herself? I'm looking forward to competing against Sheik again, but I do have to say that I am quite surprised to see you. The first woman in history to win the Golden Arrow shows her face after so many years and she wants to try her luck to best me? I'll take on your challenge, just don't cry when you learn my superior skills are high above your level."

"Shut your beak you over-sized strutting cucco. You're nothing but a bag of fluffed up feathers. Wait until you've won to act like a big shot. " Karane says, her arms crossed.

I hear several people from the crowd go "ooooh" in the low voice that is made when someone has made a good comeback or burn on someone's comment. They are both shouting their words loud enough for all to hear. My eyes flicker back and forth between Karane and Revali and the coliseum is so silent then that I can hear myself breathing.

"Cocky huh? You really believe that after all this time, an old lady like you still has what it takes to win?"

Karane steps up close to him and her eyes are looking so dangerous that I wouldn't be surprised if she rung his feathered neck for that comment. She really doesn't look that old, at most she's probably around thirty-five, and time hasn't touched her fierce beauty.

"Let's settle this, egg brain."

"What a weak insult, but one to be expected by a lowlife like you."

The emcee breaks the palpable tension in the air that I can feel even from twenty feet above them. "What a shocking scenario to come up! Karane! The first woman in History to claim the treasured Golden Arrow vs. the five time winning prodigy, bested by only by the mysterious girl named Sheik, Revali! A showdown between former Golden Arrow champions! "

I feel satisfaction and let out a laugh that the emcee mentioned me while mentioning Revali. I almost lost to him and even I'll admit that I was just lucky enough to get a slightly higher score. He's a sore loser and he confronted me before I got the chance to leave with my dad and sister. He said that he'd crush me the next year, but I wasn't here, and he won't be able to compete against me this year either.

Several men walk out on the floor and set up a bunch of targets for the two of them, and they discuss the terms of the "showdown" repeated by the emcee for everyone to hear clearer. The only rule of their "Champion Showdown" is: The first person to hit the white on a target will be declared the loser. It's perfect shots to determine fate. Revali suggests they raise the stakes and they make a deal where they both have something to lose, and she agrees. If Revali loses, he has to give up participating in the Golden Arrow Competition ever again after this year. If Karane happens to lose, she must turn to the crowd and give up the identity she's been hiding for the last nine years to the entire coliseum, which is pretty much the same thing as announcing herself to the entire world. It's a dangerous deal for the both of them, but, in my opinion, Karane is losing out a lot more than Revali is. I'm afraid for her; she'll lose everything -considering she feels the same about fame as I do – if he comes out the victor. I'd never make such a ridiculous deal, but then again, I wouldn't go down and face Revali either. I admire Karane, but also find her mentally insane. Perhaps she's tired of hiding from the world. I know from experience that the lengths to do so can be exhausting.

Their showdown is long, the crowd counting up the number of bullseyes they each make, a man having to remove arrows from the twelve targets that have been set up several times. They talk as they shoot, jeering and insulting each other loudly and trying to throw the other off, adding to the tension that already exists. The hatred between them is crystal clear; it's in their movements, their stances, they can't wait to see the other fall in defeat. Eventually, we can even see them both shaking as they pull back their bowstrings, physically tired. Even with that, it still takes a while longer before an arrow hits the white and the crowd gasps as the emcee says "stop!" I can't see clearly, but the person who just shot stands with their bow to their side for several seconds before the judge comes over to take a closer look. Revali and Karane stare, their heads turning finally toward each other and then the emcee announces the winner.

"The winner of the spontaneous Champions Showdown is Karane!"

I breathe in relief as the coliseum erupts in laughter and screaming. We watch Revali stand there in complete shock, but I don't feel sorry for him at all, especially not after what he tried to do to me. It's not like he hasn't won the Golden Arrow five times already anyway, he could be losing more. Karane turns around and bows to the crowd before looking up in my direction, right at me, crossing her arms and staring. I finally understand, but I can't believe it. How did...she knew I was here? Well, obviously, me! Goddess…don't be stupid! But...I've never met her and she obviously recognized me somehow, but with how I look today, for the life of me I can't figure out how. I've seen my portrait down the wall below the second floor; the girl painted there just barely looks like the real me. Then the obvious hits me; she must have been here the day I won. I never considered the possibility or even thought of the chance that Karane was watching. I quit gaping at her and grin before I cup my hands around my mouth before I yell two words that don't even come close to filling my gratitude towards her:

"You're amazing!"

x.x.x

The four of us move to a new spot on the second floor where it will be easy to see how well everyone does. We joke around until the emcee announces the formal beginning of day two and calls the archery contestants down. We all wish Link good luck and I kiss his cheek before he goes, telling him to kick ass. He grins before walking away.

"I wonder how long it will be till he finds out about those purple lips on his cheek." Groose says, snickering.

"Considering he doesn't know." Midna adds.

"Maybe he'll wear it all day. Don't tell him." I say, winking, and they both burst out laughing, agreeing not to. I enjoy the idea of Link having no idea, but I love the thought that he might be wearing it proudly; as unlikely as that might be.

Link's PoV

I've never actually entered this competition before, but I've watched it numerous times. I listen to the emcee rile up the crowd and call the names of each participant until mine is called tenth. Not even half of us have taken to the first target round and I'm already up against some serious competition. There's at least one person from each race that shows promise. Rito Village's stuck up, arrogant star stops in my path as he walks past me, having just taken his turn showing off to the crowd. I've never actually met Revali, but from watching him the past few years and then the stunt he pulled to find Zelda not even an hour ago...it's safe to say that the guy disgusts me. I've had more than a few murderous thoughts toward that vain-glorious prick today.

"Next up is Link, from yesterday's sword tournament. He didn't quite have what it took to take the title there, but does he have the talent to be steal the title of Golden Arrow champion?"

The crowd recognizes me and they clap and shout my name, getting riled up. Before yesterday, I never imagined what it would be like to have so many people rooting for me; it feels great. I look around standing in the spotlight with my golden feather bow in my hand, the metal gleaming blindingly in the sunlight from the open coliseum roof. It's such a pressuring experience to be standing with hundreds of people watching you, which is honestly the reason I haven't entered before. But this year, I decided that I would get over that nervous lump in my gut.

I raise my bow and pull an arrow from my quiver, then make easy work of sailing fifteen nearly perfect shots into the targets for round one. I catch Revali staring me down as I walk back under the second floor with everyone else, but I ignore him. I feel satisfaction in knowing I've already caught his attention enough to warrant such a distasteful look, being recognized for my skill by a very accomplished archer, even as much as I hate the guy. The rest of the participants take their place in front of the targets before there's a short break where the targets are set up differently and more are added. The emcee announces who the top twenty of the forty are to go on to round two of the competition. From there, it gets more difficult by the round, and five people are cut from the third and fourth rounds each. I really have to give it my all and barely make it through to the top ten by the skin of my teeth, being the last name called for the final round. Of the final ten, five of the competitors are women now, even with the men. If this was how difficult the competition was when Zelda participated, she's a lot better than I thought and I'm even more impressed with her talent. I'll probably always feel less superior in talent with her if I don't win today.

The final round has targets that slide back and forth, up and down, or rotate and spin on wooden machines. There are also several scattered targets of different heights and distances spreading out on both sides of the wooden contraptions. There are thirty targets and we are each given thirty arrows. For every red bullseye we land, it's ten points, and each circled line from there on out decreases by two points.

I watch each person shoot, and I have to not let how well they are doing get to me. I was confident when I got here this morning, talking to Zelda, but now I'm starting to doubt my ability for the first time. I also really think about what it must be like to win in detail, to become famous. Zelda treats it as the world's worst burden and I can understand why. She told me more about why she regrets entering last night, how winning changed her life and fame became something she didn't want. She says she lives her life watching her back, being careful with what she says, and keeping away from others just so she can feel safe. If that is what fame is like...do I really want it?

I hear Zelda's voice shouting down to me then, cheering me on. I look up and search the crowd until I find her, which takes a while with her disguise. The grin on her face and her words reassure me. She blows me a couple of kisses and winks, which makes me laugh and my nervousness dissipates as I see her laugh too. "Thank you." I whisper at her and, whether or not she understands my lips, she nods, leaning on the railing.

Even if fame is as bad as she tells me, I feel I can handle anything in this world with her by my side. If I win this, I'll also understand what it's like for her a little more. But...I will also be shining that spotlight on Zelda, who has been hiding from it for two years, and she won't be able to hide anymore. She'll certainly be exposed as Sheik, maybe even as Zelda. Does she know that? I bite my lip and burn that thought. I'm sure she must understand what me claiming the Golden Arrow today will mean for her. But she was so encouraging and happy for me this morning, genuinely excited to see me compete for history, so she must really be okay with that. I decide I'm going to do my best and win this, not only for me, but for her. I know Zelda won't forgive me if I don't give this my all, and I personally won't forgive myself. I'll certainly end up regretting it, especially after making it this far in the tournament.

The emcee announces Revali and the coliseum roars as he walks up, spreading his wing out to the side and looking around, waving to his adoring fans. Maybe if I had much of an ego built up with being a multi-year Golden Arrow champion I might be the same, but then Revali turns and looks over his shoulder at the rest of us with a disgusted look that practically tells us he sees us lower than dirt on the ground, and that thought is disintegrated to ash.

No, I wouldn't. I don't think I could even fake being that self-centered.

The Rito have one rule they must abide by on top of the regular ones: no flying while shooting the targets, as it gives the other races a disadvantage. Revali gives the audience an entertaining performance regardless. He runs around in almost a dance inside of the circle we are given to shoot from as he hits the targets at a quick pace, slowing down for the moving ones, making it appear effortless all the while. The crowd roars when he finishes the target course. He puts his bow on his back and takes off, flying around the coliseum close to the audience floors and everyone goes nuts, reaching their arms off over the railing shouting, screaming, and yelling. He lands after a few circles around the coliseum and bows in every direction, saying "Thank you, thank you, that was thrilling, wasn't it?" I just watch and cross my arms, waiting for the end of his self-indulging behavior. I look to my right and left and I am relieved that I'm not the only one of us ten that looks displeased with him. The emcee finally ends his crowd pleasing by saying "A wonderful show from everyone's favorite Rito! Thank you Revali, but sadly, we must get on with the tournament." The audience laughs and Revali looks over to the announcers' booth - which is located on the second floor on a small balcony - and gives the emcee a smug look before giving his fans one last bow and finally walking toward the rest of us.

The judges stand up from their chairs and walk around, taking a look at the targets and marking on their clipboards, like they have been the whole tournament. The arrows are removed from each target before the emcee gets the okay to move things along.

My name is finally called and I take a deep breath to cool my composure. Just before I go to take my place, I hear the words "Don't freeze up now. If you do you may as well quit." I don't need to turn around to recognize that voice and I don't bother paying him any mind, determined to pass him up and do well enough to earn the Golden Arrow. I look forward to seeing the look on Revali's face when I beat him. I regret not seeing his reaction when Zelda stole his thunder. Defeated by a woman, which must have been humiliating for the type of guy he is, as I've heard Revali has no respect or appreciation for the ladies who are not Rito. I imagine he gave Zelda hell for taking the title from him when she won. He had been the titles current holder for four consecutive years; not that he didn't reclaim it last year.

I stand and take a breath with my eyes closed, readying myself mentally before raising my bow and arrow, looking up quickly to where Zelda is and see her grin and give me a thumbs up.

I pace myself evenly between each of the targets, lining up and calculating them all before letting each arrow fly, hitting each bullseye dead center. The left side of the audience chants my name with their applause once I've hit ten targets; people screaming and shouting encouraging lines. I smile as I shoot, but make sure to keep concentrated on my task. I leave the moving ones for last, giving myself an extra second to ensure each shot. My shots are not one hundred percent perfect, but they are still close enough. I hope the point deduction does not hurt my score badly. Perhaps the over-sized strutting cucco, as Karane called him, did not do as well as it looked. The audience chants my name as I look all around, scratching the back of my head and grinning.

The last few competitors take their turns before there is a break for the judges to prepare announcing the winner. I stand against the wall for what feels like an hour before a judge finally brings a note up to the emcee and he announces the top five. I feel a mixed rush of excitement and relief upon hearing my name. I'm not out yet and I still have a chance.

"Contestants! Please make your way to the center of the coliseum to await your results." The emcee says then, and I look up to see a piece of paper in his hand.

I hear our names being shouted as we walk up and stand next to the large square winners podium. "It was nice to compete against you amateurs, better luck to you next time." Revali says, just loud enough us to hear and striking a nerve with all of us. The woman next to me looks like she's about to punch him. I wish the audience heard him saying that; I'd love to hear everyone boo and insult him. They make us hold out for several minutes and the crowd starts becoming antsy and impatient, many people start shouting to get on with it and just announce the champion already. I agree; this anxious suspense is killing me.

I look up to where Zelda was and find she is no longer there, and neither are Midna and Groose. I see someone else in their spot now: Karane. She stands with her arms crossed and nods at me, pointing her finger to her left and I search the crowd until I see Midna's unmistakable orange hair and Zelda standing next to her. She cups her hands around her lips and calls out my name and follows that up with a cheer before she grins.

"Now...for the moment everyone has been eagerly waiting for! The winner of the Golden Arrow is:" Our emcee pauses and several people in the crowd scream in irritation. I bite the inside of my cheek. The emcee laughs before he restarts the sentence.

"The forty-third champion of the Golden Arrow, at the world renowned Festival of Warriors is Link! Congratulations to a new face on the wall of champions!"

My jaw drops and the coliseum erupts in noise so loud it's literally deafening. A now familiar high pitched noise whistles through the air and the loud echo of fireboomers cracks high above my head, exploding in golden sparks that rain down.

I can't believe this is happening. I blink my eyes and sure enough it's not a dream; I'm really standing in the middle of Hyrule Coliseum and those words were really just said. I did it. I actually did it! I'm the Golden Arrow champion! The judges walk over to me and hand me a large trophy of a bow standing with a gold arrow leaning across it. I'm also handed a large wallet of rupees as they congratulate me again. I let out an ecstatic shout of my own as an overwhelming happiness washes over me. I hold my trophy above my head in my right hand, grinning so widely that my face hurts. I look up to Zelda and she is hopping up and down next to Midna and cheering as she looks down at me. She just may be as happy as I am right now.

I look to my right just in time to see Revali coming out of what appears to be distraught shock. It's a more satisfying feeling to beat him than I thought as he looks over to me, crossing his wings and tilting up his beak as he walks toward me and I lower my trophy arm.

"You were lucky to surpass my score, Link. Enjoy the fame for the short time you'll have to live it...for I'll be taking that title back." Revali says, thrusting out his wing to shake my hand briefly in good sportsmanship.

I shake, and I remember something he has obviously forgotten: Since he lost to Karane earlier in their showdown, he can't enter the Golden Arrow Tournament again. I don't say it; even if I hate him. He's already had that ego of his broken once today, and now there's this on top of it. I'm not the type to kick people when they are down. Revali looks at me for a long time before he turns away without a word.

I turn to my other competitors and smile. I get a few resentful looks, but no dirty ones. A couple of them say "Congratulations" and "Great job." I say thank you and tell them that it was fun to compete against so many amazing talents, and even the two men and woman who look upset nod at me.

I turn around and suddenly I've got Sheikah microphones stuck in my face as several formally dressed people, some with notebooks in their hands, start asking me questions all at once. Newspaper and radio reporters. I can't speak at first, overwhelmed with all of their words smashing together. I remember Zelda's words just then.

"When you win, don't give too much away. I hid who I was, so I could live a peaceful, normal life. I want that for you too."

I take a breath and wait for a few of them quit talking before I speak. I tell them my name, that I'm from Kakariko Village, and that my favorite fruit is apple. A couple of them laugh and start talking to me again, and I only answer the most basic questions, refusing to give them personal information. One of the lady reporters asks something that makes me freeze.

"Who's the lucky girl who gave you those purple lips on your left cheek?"

What? I reach up and wipe my face, and sure enough, purple lipstick comes off on my fingers. I then remember the moment Zelda kissed me before I walked away, I hadn't thought twice about it at the time. Wonderful, now hundreds of people have seen me with lipstick on my face. Why did nobody point it out? I sigh, not really mad, but I give the woman an annoyed look.

"I believe whoever kisses me is my business alone." I respond, flatly.

The woman pushes me for more information, but I slowly make my way through the reporters, having to shove a couple of them off. I call for the guards, who I know are standing nearby. I'm done answering questions today, these vultures have more than enough information. I want to turn and walk up the stairs as I pass them, but I don't, knowing I have no choice but to wait to reunite with Zelda and our friends. There will be plenty of time later for us to celebrate together. Luckily, I'm able to walk out of the coliseum alone, as the royal guards block off the reporters who are following me at the doors. I'm actually shocked they let me leave like this.

I climb down the cliff that I think Karane uses to escape from the coliseum when she leaves, which is an easy task as there are handholds everywhere. I take my time to the bottom to the river below the bridge, stepping up onto a rock to hide for the time being. Zelda will know where I am since we talked about it on the walk here, back when I thought there was no possible way I'd win today.

If people come looking for me, I hope it's before she comes along, or everyone will see us together and they will find out who she is.

Zelda's PoV

During the final round of the tournament, someone taps on my shoulder and I turn around. My eyes go wide and my mouth drops open before I reel it shut again. Oh my goddess...it's Karane, standing there in front of me, whom I thought I'd never see again, much less meet, just earlier today. I've dreamed of meeting her since I was ten years old and I'm starstruck for several seconds and I try to speak, but this tiny, embarrassing squeak comes out instead. She leans forward closer to me and mutters quietly. I have to really listen to hear her as everyone around us is so loud.

"Your boyfriend is attracting way too much attention to you like an idiot, and you're also being stupid by giving him attention. You need to move before Revali - who's been watching him - puts it together if he hasn't already. You know that birdbrain will expose you."

I blink. I didn't even think of that, how stupid me yelling down to him is. I nod, turning and grabbing Midna's arm and telling her to follow me, and she gets Groose's attention. When I turn around, I see Karane disappearing through the crowd and I walk quickly in the direction she's going. When I get to the back of the crowd we were standing at, I follow her to the right and then she says to find a place over here and try not to attract attention to myself. I nod and thank her, for now and for saving me earlier, hugging her tightly. Karane hugs me back briefly before pushing on my shoulders.

"We'll talk later, just go and support Link." She says, winking, before she turns around and walks off. It's then that I wonder how she even knows we're a couple, but I shrug it off for now and make my way through the crowd. Luckily, the three of us are able to squeeze in by the railing so we can see.

"I can't believe that just happened." Midna says and Groose nods, looking just as starstruck as I'm sure I do.

"You're telling me!" I exclaim, still giddy from meeting my childhood idol.

I'm literally jumping with joy when Link is announced Golden Arrow champion and I hug Midna and then Groose and they both laugh and hug me back awkwardly. I shout and cheer for him, leaning against the railing, and he looks up my way with the biggest grin on his face. I'm so happy for him I can't even contain it. I told him he'd win today and I was right. As the reporters surround him, I hope he's taking my advice while I watch him talk, unable to hear a word. I want go down there and hug him, but that would be the world's stupidest idea, so I just imagine doing it and plan to embrace him extra later. Link doesn't seem to be saying much, which is a good sign. I just hope that he's saying the right things. I'm glad when he gets out the coliseum okay and the guards do their job to protect him from the rabid reporters. I'm actually surprised they let him leave like that and nobody says or does anything about it. It was a lot harder for me to leave this coliseum the day I won. They didn't want to leave me alone, but being a woman who won the Golden Arrow tournament… I guess I did have special circumstances. Anyway, I'm glad that Link is able to get away from them.

Groose, Midna and I watch some of the strength contest even if I want to go after Link as soon as everything settles back down. Midna convinces me I shouldn't follow Link yet so I don't draw attention to myself, and I have to admit her advice is logical, so I wait, every second ticking by as if it's an entire minute instead. I rock back and forth on my toes to my heels impatiently until Midna says we can finally go. I have to restrain myself from running and leaving them behind.

"Zelda, stop walking so fast! He'll still be there five minutes from now." Midna says, practically jogging to keep up with me.

I laugh. I can't slow down; I'm too excited.

Thank you for reading everyone, I really do adore you all for your support.