Part 28: Desperate for Help
After saying goodbye to Malon, they headed back out of the ranch to Hyrule field. Link was a little saddened to leave his good friend, but he needed to save Zelda. When they had breakfast he sensed less tension as they ate. They were all laughing and enjoying each other's company. Link did not know why the difference occurred, but he was glad the two women were getting along.
Link was enjoying the pleasant breeze that brushed his face and his hair. The grassy field always seemed to go on forever. As they exit the ranch, they faced Castle Town. Link's memory flashes to a time long ago, when he had first seen the castle 8 years ago. He remembered how he looked in awe at the craftsmanship and the time it must have taken to make such a majestic castle. He had crossed the drawbridge and experienced something he had never seen, a hubbub of activity, people running her and running there. He was amazed by the crowds of people and how they never seemed to run into anybody else. There were so many shops and people shouting to attract customers to their goods. You could also hear the bartering of prices and people's loud exclaims when they thought the prices were outrageous. When he first saw it, he stared at the strangeness of it all for a couple of minutes until… His memory blanked out again. He had felt so close to something important, only to have it slip through his fingers. He shakes his head, there is nothing that can be done with it right now and he just hopes his memories will come back in time.
"Hyrule Castle has always been the center for activity," Nabooru said softly. "especially after Zelda came back to the throne with the Hero of Hyrule at her side."
"So what all happened that I became a Hero?" Link asked curious to know why he was so honored throughout the land.
"You remember Gannon when you were younger?" Nabooru asked.
Link nodded.
"Well for a while he took over Hyrule with the Triforce of Power. He eventually wanted the entire Triforce for himself and figured out that you would come to him, especially since he murdered your parents. Or you would come because he captured Zelda, one of the people you care about the most. Zelda also had part of the Triforce, so capturing her served two ends. You fought against his army and eventually fought Ganon himself, killing him. You helped the land break free from the oppression of Ganon, so you are renowned as a hero. You also helped a lot of the villages and people in Hyrule individually helping them whenever and wherever you could. So you are very loved by the people. In fact, most of the people in Castle Town are people who want to thank you personally and those who are excitedly anticipating your wedding with their beloved princess." Nabooru told him.
Link was going back through the memory, knowing it was important.
"Do you know when I first met Zelda?" he asked, having a hypothesis.
"You met her as you first came into Castle Town. She was spending the day outside of the castle being the sneaky little princess that she is. Why are you asking?" Nabooru asked.
"I had a flashback to when I first entered Castle Town, and right when I felt like something important was happening, my memory blanked out. Like my memories of Zelda are just wiped clean. It is unsettling." Link told her.
She put her hand on his shoulder. "You will get your memories back Link, do not worry.
Link then got up on Epona and Nabooru gets on another horse.
"We shall ride forth." He said as Epona started forward with Nabooru not far behind.
Most of the day had been uneventful, making their way quite speedily across the field. They were making great time and were at a pace where they would get to the outpost near the desert before nightfall. Link then hears an odd sound and does not change his stance, in case that alerts the intruder, but casually looks around to see if his suspicions are correct. Once Link turned around, he heard a crack from a tree in front of him. He turned around in time to see Shadow lunge from the tree and tackle Nabooru. Neither Link nor Shadow had noticed Nabooru's pace became quicker while Link's slowed down.
Shadow swears. He was planning on tackling Link, not the "thief wench". But his position atop her gives him an idea. He puts one of his swords against her smooth stomach and looks into her eyes, wanting to see her reaction. He was surprised, she was not cowering, not flinching, but staring back at him in the eye, loathing.
'This girl has some spunk!' he thought as he stabs the sword into her stomach several times, making a grunting sound come from Nabooru as she winces in pain. Shadow had forgotten about Link. Suddenly as he was preparing for another stab, Shadow was knocked back. All of this happened in a matter of seconds, but the damage was done.
Link started to beat Shadow senseless, throwing punch after punch, he did not want to give him time to try and do any magic, so he did not try pulling out his sword.
"Link…" Nabooru weakly said.
Link looked toward her, seeing that she was bleeding out. While he was looking at her condition, his punches had stopped. Link suddenly realized he was now sitting on the ground. Shadow had escaped again, but Link had no time to dwell on it, for Nabooru was not doing well. He hurried to her side and felt her skin, which is normally very warm, feel cold and clammy. Link's eyes widened. He needed to get her help; his meager injury kit would do little to help her. He reached into his pack and pulled out bandages, wrapping Nabooru's waist. The blood soaked right through the layers.
"Hold on Nabooru." He told her as he tried to think of the closest place to get help. He then remembered Nabooru and Malon talking about the Zora's and how they were South of Hyrule Field. He gave Epona instructions to follow as he picks Nabooru up and puts her on the horse. She weakly grips the reigns, barely staying on the horse. Link quickly gets up behind her, so she will not fall off.
"Hiya!" Link shouts as he spurred the horse onward, with Nabooru leaning against him and Epona running alongside. Luckily they were close to the border and quickly made it into Zora domain. He saw the waterfall of the Zora's and shouted. "It is Link! Please let me in!"
He then saw the waterfall part as he quickly got off the horse and pulled Nabooru into his arms and rushed through. He recognizes the surroundings and takes Nabooru to the King Zora.
"King Zora, my friend is hurt, I need your help." Link pleads.
"Hmmm… my daughter Ruto could probably help you better. I am surprised that you did not take your friend there right away." The King Zora said slowly.
"Point the way please?" Link asked anxiously.
King Zora points to his left. "She is that way."
Link rushes off down the corridor. He wonders why he has not remembered Ruto or where things are here. Maybe it was because he has not had anything major to jog his memory. He then enters the Zora Princess Ruto's room. It was blue with shells all over the walls, each a different color. He found her room soothing, yet he did not know why. There was a pool off to the right of the door. There was Princess Ruto, gliding gracefully through the water. The one who could help Nabooru, the one Nabooru wanted him to avoid.
