Chapter
4
"The
Beginning of the Cold"
"Princess!
My Princess!! Princess Zelda-sama!!" an urgent voice called from outside
Princess Zelda's sturdy locked door.
Zelda
stirred from her silent slumber slightly. It was still very early in the
morning, even earlier than she normally arises from her dreams and her sweet
reverie. Often times, she wished that she could find time for more peace to have
to herself -- helping her father lead the kingdom which would one day be her to
look after was a large burden for one her age to carry upon her small shoulders.
The
only times Princess Zelda was able to relax was only with one soul in all of the
land of Hyrule...
Link.
For
some reason or another, and to her it didn't need an explanation, when she was
around Link, a calm would descend over her, relaxing her tensed muscles and
straining mind. Sometimes, even
thinking of Link would bring the some feeling of assurance, the feeling that
everything was going to work out peacefully in the end.
She
oftentimes was slightly jealous over Link's carefree lifestyle that he was
allowed to live day by day. She wished that for just one day, only one, for that
would be enough, she could enjoy a ride through Hyrule field, or a cool swim in
the Lake where the mysterious Zoras, friends of the Royal Family, dwelled.
But the
day was denied to Zelda, her being of Royal Blood she could not enjoy the
feeling of a laid-back lifestyle.
She
felt she should talk to Link about this, but every time she tried, a lump in her
throat would appear, and all she could choke up was a
simple:
"How's
your day, Link-kun?"
She had
hoped for sometime to herself to think about the troubles ahead in her dreams
through the morning, but once again Zelda was denied the liberty to have some
precious time to her benefit.
"Princess
Zelda-sama? Are you alright?? Princess!!" the voice called
anxiously.
"Yes,
yes, I'm fine." Zelda said quickly, fearing that the owner of the voice would
barge through the door thinking foolishly that she had been kidnapped during the
night. "What is the matter of this, waking the whole castle with your yelling at
such an early hour?"
"My
apologies, Princess Zelda-sama," the voice pleaded. "but a young girl is here to
see you, and she says it's quite urgent. If we had not restrained her, she would
have barged right in all by herself!"
Zelda
laughed to herself, for she knew exactly whom her visitor was judging from her
manner of getting inside the castle.
"Send
her inside, I shall see to her business as she pleases, and see if it's as
urgent as she claims."
Though
Zelda knew it was Malon, the daughter of the owner of Lon Lon Ranch, she had to
keep her social stasis among the guards of the castle. She was, after all, the
princess of Hyrule.
"Y-yes,
my Princess!"
The
door was unlocked, and the visitor who had caused quite a ruckus at the gates
walked into the room. Zelda was not surprised who it was, for it was Malon, but
the expression on her face caused an icy chill to run down her spine.
Something
was wrong, very wrong indeed.
"Princess
Zelda-sama," Malon said politely. "I have something to tell you that needs your
attention."
"You
may proceed, and Malon," Zelda answered. "no formalities among friends, it's
Zelda."
Malon
blinked, but a small smile crept onto her gloomy features. But the smile quickly
dissipated and she gave a more serious expression, once again giving Zelda a
sudden chill.
"Pri- I
mean, Zelda, Epona came home last night, frothing at the mouth and in a
panic-run. Something was clearly chasing her, for she nearly collapsed was
exhaustion when she finally reached the ranch. She was screaming, I've never
seen her like this ever before!! Not even Otousan could calm her down!
"
Zelda
took this in slowly; her mind reaching an awful conclusion, which she prayed
with desperation that it wasn't true.
"And,"
Malon added. "her saddle was turned to the side, as if someone was been riding
her and had fallen off suddenly. I think... I think it was Link. Oh Zelda, what
could have happened to him?!"
It was
only the beginning, the first few steps toward what was awaiting in the
shadows.
~End of
Chapter 4