A. N. Right. Truly, by people's request I updated this fic of mine. Well, since I remembered the plotline now, I'm going to keep updating from time to time. But if you like this one you should check my other fic, Tales of the Middle Ages. I guarantee you'll like that one better than this; and trust me, it's not as long as it may seem!

The inn, at morning.

Princess Zelda found herself in the woods wandering alone. Though the air about was cold and the soil lay covered by thick snow she felt warm and needed not any cloak or raiment. The Lost Woods were even darker now that night had arrived and the clouds blocked the dim starlight that by chance might have been seen from the ground. But still sounds of every kind filled the air: an owl's hoot, a cricket's chirp, a fox's footsteps in the snow and that strange music that issued from every corner of the wood. The Kokiri children feared it at night and still more during winter, but the princess walked at ease and strangely peacefully. She sat down to hear to the tune of the woods and sing along it. The continuous but faint notes issuing from an ocarina held the very special ability to sooth a mind with the happy melody within. So Zelda sat in an old trunk and listened and sang for a moment. She then continued her stroll through the woods. After a few minutes of walking she came across a small stream flowing from a pond and deeper into the forest. The crystal-clear water let her see through it and the princess could see the stones lying at the bottom. Stooping, she gazed into her own reflection and smiled. The image smiled back and wavered as the princess' hand caressed the water.

She rose and carried on with her walk. But before she could continue she felt a slight need to return and gaze at the reflection again. There it was, staring back at her with the same look of easiness in her eyes. But, suddenly, behind the mirrored princess a pair of red eyes glared and shown evilly. The princess turned round and beheld the shape that held those eyes. Before her a great white wolfos, greater than any she had seen, stood with his evil gaze. About his eyes dark shades of black gave him a look of hatred and instead of being completely white from tail to snout his paws were of a red fur that stretched to his bent knees. With a howl, he summoned many other wolfos of smaller size but as evil looking as the pack's leader. The red-pawed wolfos started to walk towards her and she cowed back until her bare feet touched the stream's cold water. Feeling the urge to run, Zelda looked hopefully at one of the great trunk-tunnels of the wood, but could only see the same creatures crawling out of it. Looking desperately for a weapon, she felt within her wais-belt a long knife, which she drew. From being in her royal gown, the princess was suddenly dressed in her Sheikah outfit without her even noticing, just as in a dream. Without warning the great wolfos threw itself at the princess. Even with her quick, developed reflexes Zelda fell to the ground and gave a cry of despair.

The princess woke up and sat in her bed sweating. Her heart-beat pounded quickly and she could even feel her nightgown beating by it. She lit a small candle by a small table beside her bed and sat over the edge. She looked about her in awareness, but could not see nor hear anything unusual. Sleep had fallen off her and she was as aware as in daytime. Zelda stood up and went to her desk near the window and sat on the wooden chair to gaze at the stars. But dark clouds covered the sky and no dim starlight came through. She let out a sigh and leaned her head on her hands. She noticed a small parchment and quill lying on the desk and took them in her hands. The memories of her dream came to her and she deemed right to write down the account. So she put the parchment back on the desk and started writing peacefully a few hours ere dawn.

The morning light surprised her sleeping soundly over the desk. A small ray caught her eye and she blinked and lifted her head. Looking down at the parchment she noticed that she had stopped writing just before she had started stating about the wolfos and his pack. Hearing footsteps on the hallway she quickly hid the account under other rolls she had also over the desk. Standing up, she went to the door just as she heard the familiar knocking on the old wood.

"Princess Zelda, are you awake?"

"Yes, Impa."

"Would you be needing something?"

"Nothing, Impa, thank you. I shall go out in a moment."

The footsteps went away and Zelda sat on her bed again, yawning. After a few minutes, the princess, now properly dressed, left her chamber and headed for the dining room. After having a light breakfast she went to the courtyard. Wrapping her cloak about, she went for a walk around the castle grounds. After greeting the soldiers she was about to return to the castle for some reading when a soldier came trotting along the path to her dwelling. The soldier stopped before the princess and saluted respectfully.

"Hail! Princess Zelda. I bring news from the market."

"What might those be?" she asked concerned.

"A man was found in the snow yesterday, my lady. He was slain and very marred, but the marks of his wounds were not of any kind of blade."

"Perhaps a wolfos?" Zelda said thoughtfully.

"Indeed, a wolfos, my lady."

"Has this man been properly buried in the graveyard?"

"Already, my lady."

"Then go and tell the King about this. It might mean that the winter has attracted yet again white wolfos from the woods." And she bid farewell to the soldier and turned round. But the soldier still spoke.

"My lady, wait. There was another wounded. He is still alive down at the inn."

"I care about my people, indeed" Zelda said with a peculiar tone in her voice, wondering and the insistence of the soldier and turning round again, "but what does this have to do with me?"

"The one that brought the dead fellow was attacked while on his way to the castle. It is the owner of Lon Lon Ranch and I thought you would like to know."

"The owner? The princess inquired. "Talon? This is grievous news."

And she sped back to the castle. Arriving to the stables she mounted her white steed after adjusting the chair. With the aid of a stable groom she was led to the market and to the inn. People bowed before her and greeted her respectfully, after their fashion. Upon arriving, the groom helped her dismount and opened the door to the old building. The fire was lit and flickered merrily in the fireplace. The owner was leaning on his hand and sleeping while the commons were talking and chatting with a mug or two of fresh ale. The wiser were sipping at steaming cups of tea near the fireplace. Zelda entered and went to the counter. Being gently shaken, the owner snapped his mouth and half opened his eyes.

"My, my," he said sleepily, although waking up little by little "What a beautiful lass we have here. Come on in! We have plenty of tea to keep you warm. And if it's not enough you can sit by the fireplace and just relax. Or, if you prefer, I can arrange for a mug of my best beer, though it wouldn't be common for a girl to have such a drink But then again, you see strange things nowadays, with all these young ones all about the town. It's just not like the old days, not that I'm complaining, mind you; these times have been very good with all of the folk coming to my inn. It's a decent place, I'll wager. But, come! I'm straying again. We can do a lot of things: serve you some tea, some beer or even some wine if you have a good tongue to drink it. We can book you a room if you'll be staying the night, we can give you some food, polish your rings, wash your gorgeous dress, and clean up your tiara. Good grief! A tiara? Where did you get that? Those things can cost an eye out your face and only the royalty can afford those prices, usually. And the rings, and the dress. Why, you must be quite a rich lass! You're fortunate to be so beautiful and have so much money. But you are still young, and I deem you'll be beautifuller still! Lucky bum'll be he who marries you!" Zelda smiled pleased and at the same time amused.

"If your wit were as quick as your tongue," the groom told the innkeeper in a half amused tone, "you would have guessed that you're talking to princess Zelda of Hyrule, not any rich lass."

"Princess Zelda!" the innkeeper exclaimed astonished. "My goodness! Please forgive me your majesty. I was a fool. I didn't know what I was talking about. You pardon me! What might I do to please you? Anything you tell me I'll do."

Zelda laughed and asked. "Have you been tending any wounded in these days? Perhaps the ranch owner?"

"Old Talon? Yes, of course, your majesty. He's up there on one of the rooms. Pretty badly injured he was, old Talon. A wolfos did that to him. Darn creatures, those wolfos. You can't go out, and if you do they cut your leg and arm out. Darn creatures.

"Did he lose a leg?" Zelda asked alarmed. "Is he badly injured?"

"You pardon me again, your ladyship. No, he didn't lose nothing. Got some very ugly scratches though. You should have seen him. Poor fellow! He was brought by a soldier yesterday in a pitiful state. Why, he was bleeding badly from his arm and his chest! He'll have those scars for a time, I'll warrant."

Zelda looked at the stairs leading to the second floor. "Lead me, please, to the room"

"Of course, your majesty."

The innkeeper disappeared behind a door and showed himself besides the princess. "Follow me," he said as he walked towards the stairs. Zelda quickly followed him after telling the groom to stay. The princess went upstairs and found herself in an old but clean corridor with several doors, each one marked with a number. She walked along them and passed several before she had arrived to Talon's room. As they went by she noticed that the floor became a bit dirtier as she moved along. At the end of the hallway the owner pulled out a key and slid it into the knob. Some cobwebs hung at the upper corners and the paint on the walls was already old and chipped. "You pardon me again, your majesty," the owner said. "But these rooms are seldom used and it's a long corridor to sweep everyday, if you follow me."

"Why it was, then," Zelda asked, "that you used this to tend Talon?"

"Because if by chance old Talon forgot to pay (as he often does, not meaning anything bad) I'd have more time to clean this one than those at the beginning. Even if it wouldn't appear so, I've had plenty to work in these days. If you caught me snoozing it was because I haven't slept in hours since yesterday that old Talon came."

"So you have been tending him?" Zelda said as the innkeeper opened the door for her. She entered and let out a cry of dismay as she saw the state of Talon. The ranch owner had many cuts all over his face and his big, round nose was broken. About his chest were many linen bands stained in blood. He was unconscious or sleeping, the princess could not tell very well knowing about Talon's odd sleeping customs.

"Yes, my princess," the innkeeper said answering Zelda's question. "As you can see, he did need some caretaking, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, I do," replied Zelda. "Thank you. I must go down immediately." But as she turned round to go downstairs a thought struck her. "I see you are a kind man, but do you need any money for your services to Talon?"

"Well, your majesty," said the owner a bit nervously, "now that you mention it, I had planned to send lad to Lon Lon Ranch to tell Talon's daughter (you know, that pretty lass with the reddest hair I've seen) about his father. And I was expecting her to, er, pay for her dad's room, when she'd be able to, of course."

"That can be arranged," Zelda said, and she produced a small leather bag and took out a silver rupee. "Should this not be enough tell my groom and he will pay the difference."

"Your ladyship is most generous," the innkeeper said beaming, but he quickly faded his smile. "But I cannot lie to you. A room for a night is only thirty rupees, and old Talon hasn't been here for not even two."

Zelda smiled seeing the honesty of the innkeeper. "I am glad of your sincerity. But this is hardly anything for me to give you. If Talon leaves even today, you may keep the difference."

"Thank you, your majesty!" said the owner. "Please! This way."

Zelda went down to the first floor led by the owner and there he called for her groom. The young Hylian had been sitting near the fireplace talking with some of the commons and answered immediately to her call. He stood up and went to the princess. Zelda thanked again the owner and turned to the groom.

"Yes, my lady?"

"Take a horse and head for Lon Lon Ranch. Tell the ranch owner's daughter that his father is injured but still alive and healing in the inn. Be swift, for you have to be here ere afternoon."

"But, er, my lady," the groom said unsurely, "the snow will make that impossible. If leave right now I would have to go on foot at would be back maybe at night, but not before sunset."

"Then leave right now. I think Talon really needs her daughter at his side if we want him to get better soon. But wait." A sudden idea had occurred to her. "Would it not be dangerous with the wolfos about the field?"

The groom laughed and said to the princess: "Don't worry, my lady. I've fought with a wolfos before. All I need is my sword and perhaps a knife, just in case."

Zelda nodded, and the groom left the inn and headed for Lon Lon Ranch after bowing before her and bidding farewell to the commons. When he opened the door the princess noticed the snow falling heavily over the streets of the market. Wrapping her cloak and bidding farewell also to the innkeeper and the commons she headed out into the cold wind that blew all over the land.

A. N. Bye for now. Check out the other fic please!