CHAPTER 9


Arriving back at the castle, the trio were greeted by Zelda and Emily.
"Hey you guys!" Zelda greeted them joyfully, but when she saw the three men's faces she knew something was wrong. "W-what happened?"
Climbing down from his horse, Sage answered stonefaced. "We were attacked by some stalfos, an' it was all me fault." A look of suprise showed on all the faces that were present.
"Wooh man, what are you talking about?" Link asked.
"Think about it," Sage started. "Ever since I showed up here I've caused naethin' but trouble." A look of confusion was on the faces of Sage's friends.
Sage continued with his arms crossed. "That huge battle, that fight in the woods," Sage shuddered, "And that shadow creature o' me. Maybe I should just leave."
Putting her arms around Sage's waist and looking into his eyes, Emily argued. "Don't you even think about, Sage McIntire. If you leave you will be even more vulnerable to Ganon's little friends." After she gave him a kiss, she continued. "And besides, you know that we'll just go out looking for you and bring you right back."
"Yeah," Perrin interjected. "Besides, if your here you're protected, not to mention surrounded by your friends."
Looking around at all the smiling faces, he then looked into Emily's eyes. 'How could I let those eyes see pain.' "Okay," Sage said hesitantly. "I'll stay, but if something happens again, I'm going tae leave." He added quickly before anyone could say anything back.
Link shrugged off the warning. "Come, let's have a drink."

******

The five talked long into the night. Mostly about Sage and his homeland of Scotland. About his small village, his family and basically anything else that they could ask him about. He suggested that he cook some haggis, but after the others found out what it consisted of, they changed their minds very fast.
Perrin and Zelda were the first to fall asleep. Then, it was just Link and Sage that were awake. Soon, Sage was the only one left, too deep in thought and full of worry to fall asleep. Looking at Emily, Sage stood up and took her in his arms and carried her to her room. After laying her on the bed, he kissed her forehead. Smiling in her sleep, Emily rolled onto her side.
After watching Emily for a while to make sure she was asleep, Sage walked over to a gilded dresser. Lighting a candle, he sat down and wrote a note. Taking one last look at his love, he walked out the door and closed it softly.

******

"He did what!?" Link shouted amazed at Zelda.
Sitting down with a sobbing Emily in her arms, she looked up concerned. "I said that he left! Last night while we were all asleep, he sneaked right out of the castle! If you don't believe me, then read this."
Taking the note from Zelda's hand he read it, with Perrin looking over his shoulder:
My dear Emily,
I can no longer stay here and endanger you and our friend's lives. I am going into hiding so that neither you nor Ganon can find me.
Please thank Zelda and Link for helping me. I hope that we may be able to see each other again, someday. I'll never forget you.

Sage McIntire

"That stubborn Scot," Link growled crumpling the note in his left fist, "What does he think he's doing!?"
"He's protecting you." A voice from nowhere said. "Although it will do none of you any good."
Link frowned as he recognized the voice. "Ganon, what do you want now?!"
An image of the evil king appeared before them. "Nothing more that the usual; you dead, me ruling Hyrule, and...." The image turned it's head and looked seductively at Zelda.
Getting the hint from the image's actions, Link threatened, "Don't even think about it, Ganon!"
Evil eyes glowing, Ganon laughed evilly. "Oh, naive little boy, can you not realize that I do as I please?" Looking over at Emily he continued. "Oh yes, I almost forgot." Smiling evily and moving, a scene of terror unfolded out behind Ganon's image.
Sage was once again chained to the wall, bloodied and beaten. "Your love sends his greetings."
"No, it can't be true!" Emily yelled, choked with tears. "Sage can't be captured!" Laughing madly the figure of Ganon disappeared in a black flame.
Crying into Zelda's shoulder, Emily repeated over and over again. "Its not true, its not true." Stroking Emily's hair Zelda looked up worriedly at Link, who was fuming. A flame of hate burned in his eyes.
******

"Well, that certainly was fun." Ganon stated calmly. Snapping his fingers the illusion of Sage chained to the wall melted away. He smiled calculatingly. "Now the real fun begins."