The beds did end up being pushed together but Link never made it to the room. After our rendezvous by the temple and our hand-in-hand stroll towards the inn, a man intercepted us on the path. He seemed to stand at attention and mentioned news through hushed whispers. Halfway through, Link turned to me with an indiscernible expression that only spurned alarm. It was then that I realized that the man was a scout in civilian clothing.

He followed us to the inn, only stopping after we walked through the doorway. The old innkeeper glanced at us with disinterest before going back to his novel. With much of my protests, Link pressed the room key into my hand and leaned in, "Go upstairs and rest. I'll be back in a few hours."

"A few hours?" I whispered back in disbelief. A fire crackled on in the background, promising comfort and warmth. "It's the dead of night. Who is that and what did he tell you?"

He held my hand up and studied the slowly fading marks left on it, tracing a finger over them with a furrowed brow. "I can't tell you right now." With a short pause he added, "I will soon though. When I get back."

I tried searching his eyes for an inkling of his thoughts but only found the soft request to ask no further. Gently, I retracted my hand from him and reasoned that Link's absence wouldn't last for too long. While thumbing the key, I reluctantly acquiesced.

"I should be back before morning," he said with an apologetic smile.

"Is that a promise?"

Link diverted his eyes to a lock of my hair he had caught between his fingers, suddenly intently interested in the way it reflected the dim light. Then, with a quick glance at the doorway, he caught my lips in a brief and chaste kiss. It left me so dazed with the unexpected happiness of his affection I almost didn't hear him say, "I'll do my best."

Without much fanfare, he left me alone in the inn.

It would be a lie to say I didn't sleep comfortably. After countless nights of sleeping on pallets, I had come to expect soreness in my back and neck each morning. Contrary to my expectations, I woke with the sensation of the snugness of soft sheets and fluffy pillows. I sighed in contentment and snuggled deeper into the mattress. My outstretched limbs aimlessly searched for the reason why I stayed up pushing the twin beds together and briefly got berated by the innkeeper. All that was found was the cool softness of bedsheets.

Link wasn't here.

With a start, I sat up quickly only to be foiled by the sunlight streaming through the window curtains. I complained in a bleary groan. The bed was empty other than my own person. Mechanically, my knees drew to my chest and drew my arms around them in a hug. Was he okay? Would he be okay?

As I began racking my head for where Link could have gone, I spotted a folded piece of white paper on the nightstand weighed down by a pair of keys with the label "Great Plateau Stables". I bit my lip in concentration, peeling the second page off the first as if the writer hadn't bothered to wait for the ink to dry. It tore a bit and I immediately regretted the error when Link's signature came into view.

Zelda,

If you're reading this then it was decided that plans have changed and it couldn't wait for tomorrow to leave. I don't know when I'll be back. I'm sorry. I wish I had time to talk to you and I wish I had answers for you, but I don't. General Nohansen wants me in the West. I'll be fine and I'm sure your uncle is doing everything in his power to keep you safe.

There was a large space of crossed out words and sentences. His handwriting was hurried and ran off the page in some places.

I left Cozmo's stable keys and more pillows. There's money in the bag under the bed. I know you won't listen but if I'm not back in a week's time you should head back to the castle. Write ahead of wherever you go and don't go to the desert.

Yours,

Link

He had left the plateau then. My grip strained the letter. I skimmed over his words several times until I reached "if I'm not back in a week's time".

"If," I found myself whispering incredulously. If? What in Hylia's name does that imply? I pinched the bridge of my nose as my thoughts seesawed between damning him for leaving me alone and keeping my tears at bay as I prayed that he was safe.

The incessant thought continued until I finally flung the covers from over me and pulled myself from the safe haven of my bed. It wasn't mine, I briefly corrected myself, at least night tomorrow it won't be. Within the pack under the bedframe was a clean pair of riding clothes that I hurriedly fumbled and tripped into after haphazardly yanking my nightgown off. I cursed myself for misplacing my boots before finding them neatly sitting at the door.

Maybe if I rode hard for half a day I would be able to catch up. My grip on the stable keys tightened, making the rigid knobs bite deeply into my hand. Link seemed to be in a hurry, surely that meant he wasn't going to idly travel the road. No, he could already be wherever he was going. What road would they be taking?

-don't go to the desert.

I stopped abruptly in the doorway.

Uncle sent him to the desert. I sat in on all diplomatic meetings with Father. Goddesses, think, what were Hyrule's top priorities when it came to political relations with the Gerudo? That's right… trade agreements were being renewed, but that was routine. A yearly formality. Urbosa would never allow that display of friendship across borders be broken.

Think! I bit down on my bottom lip to stop it from trembling. Uncle Nathaniel wouldn't have wanted Link to leave my side. Lest he suddenly decided I was capable after only a month, which would be strange, there was no way he would send his most favored captain away in this circumstance. Unless…

"My goddesses-!" A sudden gasp choked me and my feet found the stairs, but my head was already miles beyond the Temple of Time. I bounded down the stairs, even missing the last few. The fire was still roaring in the small lobby, making for a cold day, but I couldn't be bothered and quickly turned the corner for the exit. There I would attempt to locate the stables. I had to find Link. I won't allow my father-

A burly man stood in the door, momentarily befuddled by my appearance. Then, he bowed low.

"Your Highness," he uttered reverently.

I stared and stared and stared, "I – what did you say?"

He remained in his bowed state, torso nearly parallel with the floor and hand across his heart. My own pounded dread into my veins. I doubled back as I heard Rauru's voice behind me.

"Princess."

I spun around. There by the hearth, Rauru adorned in elaborate priesthood robes made himself at home with a teacup in hand and the rest of the kettle on the old inn table. Another man sat across from Rauru, sitting rigid and straight as he looked between us. A foot soldier, I presumed instantly. Horror stuck painfully into my gut. Mouth agape, I tried to verbalize it, "Rauru?"

"Come sit for afternoon tea, Your Grace," he smiled a smile that promised there was more than the words he spoke.

"Afternoon? It's already past noon?" I was panicking, thinking of how extended the gap was between Link and I. How long would that be? A day by now? Curse those stupid pillows.

"Ah, it's unlikely the sun is even fully over the horizon. But! It can always be time for afternoon tea if you don't care to go outside," the old man huffed laughter into his cup as he drank, patting the cushion adjacent to him. After a shaky breath and shrugging off the feeling of being watched, I complied with his gestures.

Despite the warm tea in the small cup he handed to me, I felt no desire to drink it. Glancing somewhat frantically at the two men in the room, it occurred to me that certain expectations were allotted. I tried to avoid looking perturbed as I uncrossed my legs and attempted to unfurrow the bad habits adopted by being away from proper society.

"Father Rauru," I started, "I beseech you to allow me to… to join with the captain."

Rauru looked towards the fellow across from us, "Boy, are you sure you don't want tea? You seem to be intently interested in partaking."

"Er, no, Father. Thank you," he faltered before arising from the chair and joining the other man at the front of the room.

With a lowered voice, the priest leaned in and I waited in rapture. "I saw him in the early hours of this morning. The boy was fine. He left with two others from the King's army. Not long after a group of these men arrived under the Crown's orders."

I paused, my palms growing sweaty against the pottery. I spoke with haste. "The King or the General?"

"As much as I could gather, the General. However, their instructions sound very much like your father."

"How do you mean?"

Rauru mentioned loudly about the poor quality of the tea before returning to a hushed voice, "In no more than 48 hours, you are to join the convoy back to the castle."

It took every fiber of my being to contain my disappointment. "I…" I swallowed harshly, "What makes you think it couldn't have been my uncle? There must have been a substantial reason why he sent Link away. If Father wanted to bring me home, he would have exhausted efforts a month ago."

"Zelda," Rauru sighed, taking short note of our company who chattered away unintelligibly. "I know you were but a child, but you must remember the desert uprising."

"Of course. The Gerudo uprising was a serious threat to Hyrule," I said indignantly.

The priest raised an eyebrow, "Yes, however, it was not by the hand of the Gerudo themselves. It was a band of rebels that had infiltrated the aristocracy. As you may recall, Madame Urbosa was the one to expose the spies – later giving way to the clashes between the rebels and Gerudo loyalists assisted by Hylian forces."

My cheeks tinged pink at my own ignorance, "I was under the impression that you were a priest, Father Rauru."

"Indeed," he huffed at my lame jab, "A priest who pays attention. Now, history reviews aside, there are rumors that the rebels were never completely eliminated. The reasons are unknown to myself, but I do know for a fact that religious zealots are a vastly different kind of enemy. Lives are easy to diminish compared to stopping the spread of vitriolic propaganda to an already disadvantaged people."

Before I could ask for Rauru what the rebels aligned with, the foot solider - whose only common trait was his clothes – sauntered over and bowed shortly. "Forgive me, Your Highness," he cleared his throat, "We must make haste to the capital within the hour."

Rauru took the cup from my hands, "It seems that our time has been cut short. Princess Zelda, it was wonderful to see you once more."

I diverted my eyes to the floorboards, "Father Rauru, I cannot thank you enough for allotting the Captain and I such warm hospitality… no mater how brief it was."

"Before you depart for Castle Town, would you mind accompanying me to the temple?" Rauru paused to give notice to the man. "If time permits, of course."

"Sir," I held the stable keys out to him, "Would you mind readying the horses and whatever else my father has decided to surprise me with?"

He seemed to hesitate, "Princess, with all due respect we have very little time."

"Oh," I folded my hands in my lap and looked up at him through my lashes, hoping to channel the little girl I once was that guilted the cooks into extra desert. "I hoped I would be able to pay respects to my late mother while I'm here."

At that, I almost felt bad as the man faltered out of his normally erect composure. I forlornly shrugged, "Of course, I would understand if the circumstances won't allow."

"A-Absolutely, Your Highness! I apologize for the intrusion, please take as much time as you need. We'll prepare for your departure. Would you like to be accompanied?"

I smiled brightly to his concern, "Thank you for your understanding. I believe Father Rauru will be a fine escort."

It felt awkward to have the roles of propriety fall into place as I walked to the head of the room and out of the door. The pack around my shoulders were shrugged off and taken towards the stables. Then Rauru and I took our leave with interlocked arms. The man who was waiting at the door trailed ten paces behind us. It didn't take long before I noticed there were several other people that stuck out in the small groups of tourists. Outside the inn, amongst the market wagons, a Hylian woman stared at us over a map from across the square. A scabbard at her hip was lamely covered with the hem of her shirt. Every now and again a man would walk alongside the one trailing us to whisper before walking away as if nothing transpired.

"How many are there, do you reckon?" I mumbled.

Rauru whistled lowly, "Do I 'reckon'? It seems you've spent far too long in the wild. Imagine if Impa heard that improper language!"

His smile reached his eyes, making him seem younger than he was. I shook my head to keep my own at bay. I had a feeling that it wasn't where I was, but who was with me. "You know what I mean."

"I reckon there are at least one dozen. At least from what I've encountered."

We were climbing the stairs to the temple and I reminisced shortly of the first time my mother had brought me here and pushed away the memory of the last. They were hazy and I could now tell I misremembered much about this place.

"Father?" I finally said as we reached the apex of the stairs. He looked expectantly at me. I looked at the descent of the stairs to both find our stalker and mull over my words. "Do you… Would you ever come back to the castle? I just…" I stopped, frustration at myself building. "It has been so empty when you left and Impa has been increasingly absent. My prayers have made no progress and I fear," I sniffed and my lip began to tremble. "I fear if there my portion of the prophecy will not be fulfilled. I fear the goddess has abandoned me."

With a hand under my chin, Rauru lifted my head upward. His smile had softened to a knowing gaze caught between understanding and pity. "My dear," he shook his head at my degrading disposition, "The goddess would never abandon her children. When you were small, what did I tell you after our goodnight prayers?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and felt my tears being wistfully wiped away. "Hylia loves you forever and always."

He nodded, "And not a bit less."

"Not a bit more?" I offered a watery smile.

The priest smiled back, "If it were possible, every bit more."

His hand dropped to my chin and I hurried to embrace him. Rauru reciprocated with a chuckle. "Thank you, Father Rauru," I softly smiled into the embroidered fabric of his robe.

"Think nothing of it, my rose," he took my arm in his again and began to lead me through the tall temple doorway. The doors themselves were already propped open for visitors. Though there were few patrons among us, he still took care to tame his volume, "She will deliver when the time is right. It seems inconvenient to us, I know, but remember She would never forget about us."

I sighed, surveying the stained glass and the beautiful etchings of the goddess statue, "Hopefully that insinuates that the Calamity is still far away."

"Humph!" Rauru grumbled. "Calamity… No one knows what form of danger the prophecy imposes, but to call it a calamity is an imposturous label."

"Surely if it's an unknown entity, then it cannot be underestimated."

"Perhaps I should return to Castle Town if everybody is beginning to sound like that Sheikah woman," he huffed once more. "It shouldn't be underestimated. However, to fearmonger the nation into submission and to torment a grieving child-"

He stopped himself and we sat in the pews of the temple in a short silence.

"Forgive me, Zelda, it seems that subpar tea has gone to my head."

I looked up at him with a forgiving smile, "Does that mean you're coming back?"

He laughed heartily, "Not necessarily. I'm still needed on this rock and there's a strange peacefulness that comes with the void of politics. But, if the royal princess of Hyrule wrote to me, I would certainly be at her beck and call."

Father Rauru placed his forearms on the pew in front of us before I could reply and bowed his head. "Now, child, let us pray for our dearly departed queen, for Hylia's protection over Captain Link, and your safe venture to Castle Town."

I copied his movements and followed through with repeating the praising words in my mind. Even in the calming serenity the Temple of Time afforded, I could not shake off the itching feeling that the latter prayer would not come to fruition.

Note: It's happening, guys. It's really happening.