It was a good day. Link and his new friend explored the market place ooohing and aahing at the decorations for the festival. She seemed to have an endless amount of rupees, so they spent as they pleased, as childern do. Indeed, it was a good day.
As the sun was setting on a serene horizon, the girl removed a bunny hood from her head, looking mournful.
"Wow, looks like the day's done already." Link commented, in an attempt to bring conversation back to them both, although stating the odvious probably wasn't the best way to this, as he reminded himself.
"Thank you." she said mournfully, "for letting me spand a day... like a normal girl."
"What?!" He wasn't sure if he understood her.
"Nevermind."
"Oh yeah! I don't even know your name. My name's Link." He pointed to himself proudly, "Ta-Da" written all over him.
The girl opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly her eyes grew wide. She started coughing and staggered a little.
"H-hey, are you okay?" She had been doing this all day, but never this bad.
She wobbled toward him and collapsed. He only barely caught her.
Oh no! She's burning up with a fever! What do I do?! Where do I take her? I know! Mr. J will know what to do!
He hefted her onto his back. Wow, she so light and so thin. Doesn't she eat?
He trotted as fast as could toward the Wind's Waker.
~*~
"Mr.J! Mr.J!" Link yelled through the empty tavern. Tomar looked up from a table Rosemary was wipping down, Mr.J nearly dropped a cup he was cleaning behind the bar..
"What is it, lad?" All three of them rushed over to help Link.
"She fainted." He didn't have time for a thorough explanation.
Mr. J gasped. Tomar and Rosemary stood motionless.
"B-but that's..." Tomar stuttered.
"Yes, it is." Mr. J said solomnly. "Rosemary, do we have an extra room?"
"Yes, Room 18 should do."
"Good. You may not like this Rose, but can you go-"
"Whatever." She answered irritated. "Only for her."
Rosemary grabbed a coat off the rack, not nessasarily her's, and pulled it on. She charged out the door and Link heard her whistle to a horse before riding away.
Meanwhile, Mr. J had taken the girl from Link's shoulders and was heading for Room 18.
"Tomar, get me a cold wash cloth!" he called as he disappeared.
Tomar stepped behind the bar and pulled out a towel.
"Tomar, where did Rosemary go? What's going on?!" Link was utterly confused.
Tomar looked at him as if he had just asked what his own name was.
"You really are a country boy aren't you, Link?" He started walking off the way Mr. J had, washcloth in hand.
Link chased after him.
"What do you mean, a 'country boy'?" Link was thuroughly frusterated now. "I just fouond a girl a sick girl, we played around in the market place all day and then she fainted. What's so 'country' about that?!"
"Yep, a country boy and a lucky bastard."
"What!?"
Mr.J and Tomar where in and out of Room 18 for the rest of the evening and wouldn't answer any of Link's questions. Link retired early, a little worried and very confused, with hopes he'd find out more the next day.
~*~
When Link crawled out of bed the next morning it took him a few moments to recall what had passed the night before. It had all happened so fast.
He plundered down the stairs, hoping to see some sign of the past events, but everything was the same. Mr. J was cleaning cups behind the bar, Rosemary was serving "usuals", and Tomar was drooped in a chair, looking half asleep. There was one odd-looking customer in the back, but that was it.
Link rushed up to the bar.
"Mr.J, how's the girl?"
He sighed.
"She's gone."
"She's DEAD?!"
"No! She's gone home."
"Oh..." Link was a little disappointed. He hadn't even caught her name.
He looked at Mr.J and was surprised to see the man was watching him, but the strange character in the back.
The person did look rather shady. They were wrapped in a dark robe that covered their face in shadow. When Link looked that way, he could feel the person smile. In one, swift movement, they seperated themself from their chair and made their way toward the bar.
The strange figure stopped next to Link, who was trying hard not to stare.
"This is him?" The voice was surprisingly female.
"Yup." Mr.J answered.
The woman, or at least Link thought it was a woman, sat down on a bar stool and faced him. She took off her hood.
In place of the shadow, there was a strict-looking woman; thin, hard eyes accented with short hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked tough, like a warrior.
"You found a little girl yesterday, didn't you?"
"I did." Link was unsure where the conversation was going.
"She would like to thank you personally. Please come with me."
The woman stood up and quickly made her way to the door, her robe swishing behind her. link followed her, confused at first but encouraged by Mr. J.
"Don't worry, you've done nothing wrong." he said.
So Link followed the stranger; out the door, through the streets, left right, right, left. He had to jog to keep up with her.
After walking for what seemed like a half an hour, she came to a halt in front of a white marble wall. She pushed a brick and a door appeared. She walk through as if it were a common pathway.
Inside was dark and eerie. The walked down a hallway and up a flight of stairs, then more stairs and more stairs.
Where am I? Link began to wonder, breathless and sweaty. The endless climb seemed to take no toll on his guide.
Finally, they reached a landing with only one door.
"She is waiting for you through here." The woman reached out and pulled the handle.
There was a burst of blinding light. Link covered his eyes while they adjusted.
When he could see again, he realized he was outside. the wind that ruffled his hair told him he was high up. All around him white towers rose, reaching for the sky.
The veranda he was on was huge and circular, garnished with white roses. White pillars form an intricate shell above him, etching shadows over the white marble flooring and leaving the very middle a pattern free circle.
The floor itself was far more complex than the shell. The holy three triangles were carved into the floor surrounded by six dazzling circles. Three circular indents sat in the forgotten inner triangle. Link lifted up his foot and realized he was satnding on "South". The other directions were labled in their places accordingly, as well. At "North", where a seventh, slightly more intricate circle met the tip on one of the three triangles was the feet of the girl.
"I haven't told you my name yet, have I?" She said.
"What? Don't tell me you're-"
As if it was listening, the sun riccoched off the crown on her forhead.
"Yes... I am Zelda, Princess of Hyrule."
Link couldn't help it. He just stood there in shock.
"O-oh yeah!" he stammered, "I was wondering if you were okay or not..."
She smiled
"Thank you for your concern, but I believe we have more important matters to deal with."
Suddenly, her blue eyes narrowed and she look to the left. Link followed her gaze and landed on someone he wished he hadn't seen.
"Good morning, Princess." a deep voice called to her. An armored boot landed on the veranda, clanking noisily, as a tall, dark man approached them. His red hair, red eyes and spear-like nose seemed even more appearant in the bright light.. If the rumored appreance was correct, this was Lorad Gannondorf.
"Don't you think you should be laying down in your condition?" He almost taunted Zelda.
"I have no reason to talk toor accept any advice from you." She glared at him. "Please step away from me."
"There's no need to be rude." As he came closer, he noticed Link for the first time. Their eyes met and Link thought for a moment he saw a flash of shock and fear in his insane, red eyes, but it was gone.
He started to turn away.
"You should lie down, Princess, you wouldn't want to miss the festival." and he took his leave the way he had come, along one of the two terraced paths that lead to the veranda.
"So that's Lord Gannondorf, huh?" Link said half to himself, half to whomever happened to be listening.
"Yes." Zelda responded.
"Oh! Weren't you going to say something?"
She smiled and shook her head.
"Forget it."
Link was unconvinced, but didn't pry. Then he remembered he had work to do at the Wind's Waker.
"I'll have Impa escort you out." Zelda offered.
"Who's Impa?"
"You called, Princess." The strict-looking woman had reappeared behind Link.
"Impa, please escort Link back to the Wind's Waker and tell the guards he is free to visit the palace as often as he pleases." She smiled at Link.
Impa opened the door behind them. With one last "goodbye" and "thank you" to Zelda, Link took his leave, worshipping his luck.
~*~
"Damn!" How could this happen?! Why now!?"
"What are we going to do?"
"How are the troops?"
"Ready for anything, sir."
"We must accelerate our plans."
"But, Zelda-"
"We'll have to make do with what we have. I cannot afford to have that brat ruin my plans again. Inform Onox. We strike two days from now; at the Cultural Appriciation Festival."
--
Author's Notes:
Well, how'd you like Ch 5? Long and boring, huh? Don't worry, I swear the story will pick up soon! But man, that scene with Zelda... Can we say "Cliche"? I couldn't think of any other way to do it! I have also noticed that I have very few reviews... Is NO ONE reading my story? :_: boo hoo... c'mon people! Be nice this is my first fanfic! I hate to say it but please R+R! Thank you for reading and I hoped you enjoyed chapter 5! ^_^
**Edit** - In the last sentence other this chapter, Gannon (No way, it's him!) said "Inform Golgon.". Sorry, I got the name from a bad translation I guess, but either way he's suppose to be that freaky Dark General guy from the Orcale of Seasons (lol, I haven't play that game, could you tell?! :P ) I have changed it to "Inform Onox" (is that his name?) Sorry, for that misunderstanding. If that's STILL not his name than somebody email me... please....
