The sounds of nature and the soft crunch of hooves on the dirt trail was all the lingered between them. The late afternoon air was beginning to cool as the sun crept closer to the horizon. Tree frogs sung in the forest and Anne was beginning to wonder if she should bring a lantern out before it got too dark. She wasn't sure if it was her eyes playing tricks on her, but she thought she saw the first flickering lights of fireflies.

There hadn't been a word said between them and now she wondered if Link would ever ask her about the events he was put through. Reluctantly, she tried to come up with something to begin her explanation but she didn't get the chance.

"Why…" he trailed off, his voice almost startling her. His eyes were trained down at his saddle, as he wondered too how to start.

"Why are you involved with someone like that?" he asked, the question was the one that she knew was to hardest to answer. "His threats, his disregard for you. Why?"

"He wasn't always like that. I mean, no one really starts off that way. He and my brother were childhood friends. They were both mischievous together and liked to leave the town and explore in the woods. It's kinda my dad's fault, really. Being a historian and telling them all fairy tales- I mean, maybe not fairy tales anymore. They grew up wanting that adventure. Their childhood interests turned into real motivation. My brother wanted to find that sword so badly. He was always reading, always searching for an extra tidbit of information. He didn't want to take it, no, he just wanted the satisfaction of finding it." she began, recalling her childhood. She felt her chest tighten at the fond memories.

"Of course, I was so impressionable when I moved to Clock Town from Gerudo. I was in a new place with an entirely different culture. My brother and Volmar were the two angels that helped me fit in, helped me adapt. I was much younger than my brother, so it's a wonder that he let me hang around, but I was grateful. I wanted to be just like him. The new addition to the family was a strain and with my mom having trouble finding a job, my brother and Volmar had an idea. They'd simply steal the food that we needed. The shops threw out the food so why not? Well, over the years they got more organized. Being as willing to impress my brother as I was, it was no problem distracting people while my brother stole what he needed to. It's not like Nalo was proud of it, it's not like he didn't feel guilty. Volmar… Volmar loved it." she continued, taking a deep breath.

"I think that Volmar thinks that eventually I'll change my mind and come back to help him. He knows that I don't want anything to do with it anymore. He's known for being apathetic of his members, but I think part of him still holds onto the friendship we had when we were kids. I'm afraid to be too forward in cutting him out of my life because my brother tried that once and it didn't end well. I know for a fact, however, after you punched him today, you're on his shit list. That's why I said you're from Kakariko, if you wanted to know. He may have caught on, but at least he doesn't know exactly where you're from. He wouldn't like anyone else to lie to him, but I know I can get away with it." she finished.

Link had silently listened to her half explanation and he remained quiet, musing over her words. He sighed.

"Annette? Please don't lie for me like that. Not to him. I don't want your concern for me getting you in trouble. I can handle him if I need to." He pleaded, his voice low.

"How can you hear what I just said and then come back with that?" She breathed out, her heart sinking. "Not a single scolding? No accusations? You can't… trust me after this?"

"Why not? If you were going to rob me, you would have done it already." he started. "Your guilt is enough. I don't care what you did in the past, no one's perfect." the blonde stated, his eyes tearing from the reigns that he fiddled with to meet hers.

She wanted to say that she couldn't believe it, but she had a feeling that Link would be this way. Part of her wanted him to be mad and to tell her to leave him alone. That would make it easier to say goodbye and it would prove to her that he's not an all-trusting ray of hope.

But the way he looked at Volmar, she had a feeling that he didn't trust everyone. And that was good.

By why did it matter. He was an adult, he could take care of himself right? Annette didn't have to worry. She didn't have to, but she did.

There was silence and instead of thanking him or commenting more on how she felt, she chose something else.

"It was hilarious when you punched him. Volmar, that is. No one ever gets away with that. I think even his crew would pay a few rupees to see that again." She said, her humor tinged her voice and for the first time since their departure, the mood was tangible. Link gave her a small laugh, the sound sweeping away her negative feelings.

"If he does what he did to you again, no one will have to pay anything." he said, his voice light but it held a seriousness. Her heart fluttered, and she gave a nervous laugh.

"A lot of people would do it for free." she added, diverting her gaze to look out at the open road. The sun was beginning to dip behind the mountain.

"So…" she began "Just up ahead is Lake Hylia, I think it'll take around two hours or so to get there. I don't know where to go after that or how long it'll take." she began and Link did a little mental calculation before he gave her the answer she was fishing for.

"If we keep on going, then we could probably make it to the Faron area by sunrise." he gave and looked over at her expression. She could pull an all nighter, but an all nighter on a horse sounded painful to her. He said it so nonchalantly, as if he traveled like this a lot. She had no doubt he did. Gauging her expression, he sighed.

"Near Lake Hylia, there is a spring that is tucked away in a cave. We could rest there for the night and maybe eat something." he said, the very thought looked to brighten his face. "Yeah, rest and food wouldn't hurt." he re-stated and she smiled.

"Good, I wouldn't mind it either. I brought some matches and a pan and you saw what I bought at the deli, right?" she asked and Link nodded.

"Sausage." he answered.

"Yes, sausage."

The fireflies were long gone and Anne was immensely overjoyed that the cave provided them safety from the nightly dew. Just thinking of being cold and wet was nothing she wanted to think about and the crackle of the fire was beginning to dull. One of the first things they did upon entering the cave was stoke the fire. While Anne did her best to prepare the sausage on the small travel skillet, Link found a way to set up the tent without any help.

Afterward, they ate and Anne even attempted to make a cup of tea, but the cloth she tried to use as a filter failed and the tea leaves were free to float around. Now, by the dying light of the fire, Anne flipped through her brother's sketchbook. Each page had maybe a sentence about the subject he was drawing. He drew everything from mushrooms that he found to the odd fashion choices of some Hylians in Castle Town.

On the very last page was simply a poem, and to her, that was the oddest thing. Nalo was not the type to write poetry and never once wanted to read a book that wasn't entirely fact. She read the poem over and over again but she wasn't sure what it meant. It was abstract and nonsensical.

It read:

A circle of light that hides from the sky

A blue sun it adorns

To be whispered words of pleading for its purpose

Yet never to taint the air.

It resides tucked in the blanket that holds the beginning and the end

The skeleton of such a beast

That shall never grow an inch more.

It was completely absurd but she couldn't take her eyes off of it. It was definitely in her brother's handwriting. It had to mean something. Reluctantly, she called out to Link, who was by himself by the water of the spring. She heard rustling and he came over to her. He looked expectantly down to where she sat, his fingers pinching at his leather bracers.

"There's something written here. I think it means something but I don't know." she explained and Link took a seat next to her. He held out his hands and he took the book and began to read.

She didn't know if Link would be any help, but maybe they could both come to a conclusion. He leaned forward as he read and his blue eyes traveled the page a multitude of times. The brassy light from the fire was dull and hid his expression, yet she still watched in hope. He hummed to himself before muttering something.

"It's a riddle." He said, and read over it again, mouthing the words in silence. A riddle?

He flipped the book around and brought it close to his face. His eyes lit up and he grinned in satisfaction. Before she could ask, Link shook the book over his palm. She was in disbelief, struggling to understand what he was doing until something dropped from the inside of the book's spine.

A small, silver ring with a rounded blue gemstone gleamed in his gloved palm. Her mouth fell open and she was amazed that Link has figured out something like that so quick. He looked up at her and smiled.

"I think your brother wanted you to have this." he said and held out the ring. He dropped it in her palm and she ogled it.

"How did you...?" she began and Link obliged to explain.

"The first part wasn't the part I was looking at, but it makes sense that it's a ring. It's the last three lines that told me where it was. The "beginning and end" and "beast that will never grow" part made me think it may be the book, but when it said "skeleton" that's what made me think it was in the spine." he said and she gaped at him. She let the ring slide around in her palm before she looked back over to the poem in Link's hands.

"What about the middle? What do you think that means?" she inquired and then read it aloud, "To be whispered words of pleading for its purpose, yet never to taint the air." she recited and Link looked down at the ring.

"I think it's magic and has some purpose but I don't know what that is. Maybe you should put it on." he suggested. That was a good idea. She didn't want to lose it, especially if it was from her brother. She slipped the ring on and its appearance was dull and otherwise unimpressive. If it was magical, then it hid its potential well.

Link stifled a yawn and handed her the book.

"I'm about to put the fire out for the night. Do you want to read more or can I do that now?" he asked, and his question came as a reminder. She was tired herself.

"I'm good. I think it's time for bed." she stated and knew that she wouldn't be met with argument. In response, the blonde nodded and pulled the green tunic off, followed by the chainmail shirt. She had almost forgotten that he was wearing that under the tunic and felt sorry for him. She couldn't imagine how heavy that would get after a while.

Stripped down to just his white shirt, he dipped the skillet into the spring water and dumped it over the fire. The sharp sizzle accompanied the lack of light in the darkness of the cave. Annette had to let her eyes adjust before she could stand up and try to get over to the tent. The palette of Gerudo roll out mattresses were spread across the tight quarters of the tent and the brunette considered the one thing that hadn't crossed her mind before.

She was about to share a tent with Link.

It wasn't a big deal. No, she told herself. Not a big deal at all. They were just sleeping. Still, she realized how aware she was as she watched his lay on his side, pulling his cap off and setting it to the side. Reluctantly, she knelt down and rolled her blanket out over the thin mattress. Trying to think of anything else, she lay down and ignored how his back was against hers. She moved over as much as she could, but it didn't help much.

"Got enough room?" He asked and she hummed.

"I do… just make sure you have enough room for your arm. I don't want to bump it in the middle of the night." She said. "Just let me know and I'll scoot over." She added.

He only gave a hum in response. A few seconds passed and she added yet another thing.

"And stay on your side of the bed. Don't cuddle up to me if you get cold. There's another blanket in the bag." She warned for good measure. He gave a laugh, almost as if he expected it.

"Thanks, Anne. Goodnight." he uttered softly and she took a breath.

Instead of focusing solely on not feeling weird sleeping next to Link for the first and probably last time, she let her hand reach to ring and let her imagination craft its significance.