Authors Note: A big thank you to those people who took the time to review. It is much appreciated. Just a note to help with any confusion, in case that I have not made it clear in the story: Both Links are currently caught between times in a void so to speak. When they are together, I try to refer to the past Link as the Hero or Hero of Time (yes, from the Ocarnia of Time game). And when he is thinking, it is always written in the first person. Present Link is just Link, and is always written about in the third person. Thanks, and happy reading.



Present

A passerby would not have noticed anything amiss in the scene by the small house. The house itself blended in well among its surroundings. Small, dirty, and in desperate need of a few homey touches it meshed well with its few neighbors. A faint line in the yard could be interpreted as a once fine flowerbed, if one looked past the tall overgrown weeds. The two figures standing by the door blended in only if you did not look with too much scrutiny. A young man in baggy clothes conversed with a middle-aged woman garbed in a traveling outfit.

"No luck today. An old man selling candles thought he had seen a man that fit Link's description, but it turns out that it was only the baker's son." He sighed, going inside. The woman followed, shutting the door tightly behind her.

"Don't give up hope, Zelda." The 'young man' removed his cap, revealing the profile of the Princess of Hyrule.

"I just thought we would have heard something of him, or at least of Ahenous by now."

Impa had found the small, one room house to rent just after the two had arrived at the capital city of Lyrian. While they had managed to gather plenty of information on Prince Harath, Zelda's betrothed, no one had seen Ahenous since he had left for Hyrule. Similar inquiries of a man fitting Link's description had also proved futile. The information she had gathered on the Prince, though, further cemented her decision that she would never marry him. He was rude, arrogant, and treated his inferiors much like one would treat livestock.

Her caretaker smiled at her, giving her quite a shock at her next words. "I think I may have located Ahenous."

"Where?"

"I met an enterprising young lad today. While his mother works at the castle, he wanders around looking for odd jobs worth a rupee or two in payment. Luckily for us, he is quite a chatterbox. One day while wandering he came across an old man standing over a mysterious basin much like the one you have described to me."

Zelda smiled. Finally, after months of searching, a solid clue.



Between in the Void

It is dark. So dark I cannot tell how time passes. Yet I can clearly see the young man sitting next to me. I can tell from his facial expression that he is trying to think of yet another escape plan. Yet how can one escape a prison with no doors or windows. I have heard his tale. From the future, well, my future at any rate, his name is also Link, and he guards a Princess Zelda. From his tone when he talks of her, I can tell that he deeply cares for her, yet has not told her.

It seems like an eternity has passed since I've seen my own Zelda. There are times where my longing for her is so acute, I actually see her in front of me, just out of reach. But just as my fingers reach her, she disappears. I am glad for the company of Link. In this inky blackness there is nothing to do but remember. So we have talked. We have not seen a captor, or guard in this strange prison. Somehow we do not hunger or thirst, it is like we have been suspended into nothingness.



Link paced the space once again in frustration. He could tell the other man was lost in thought, most likely about his wife. It was obvious from his descriptions that the two were deeply in love and completely devoted to one another, despite the fact that he was not of the nobility. Link smiled bitterly. He wished with all his heart that his own dear love would return his feelings. Even after the kiss they had barely shared he doubted that the Princess could ever share a future with him, even if she had desired it. He shook his head to stop his train of thoughts; he feared they would drive him mad. Instead he should focus on escape. They had already tried every means they could think of, the hero of time had already tried playing an ocarnia he claimed could transport him through time. He had almost scoffed at the other man, but then remembered where he was at present. He shook his head again. This was no better than being driven crazy over Zelda. He sat down in front of Link who opened his eyes and regarded him with a slight grin.

"So." he began, nervousness showing as he stammered, "how do you win a princess's heart?"



Past

Another two months and still no word of my missing husband. My father has even given up hope, and his closest advisors are beginning to whisper of remarriage for me. The pigs! At least they have enough decency to whisper behind my back, yet their talk grows a little louder each day. Two princes from neighboring countries have even had the audacity to come to court me only to find themselves turned away at the castle door. A familiar nausea wells up from my stomach, and I run to empty my attempted efforts at eating breakfast into the nearest chamber pot. Impa, my constant shadow, helps me to my feet.

"Zelda, please, call the physician."

I look up into her worried eyes, and realize how much stress I have caused her. "Only for you Impa." I grin, and she leads me to the doctor's door. After an hour of poking, prodding, and intrusive questions he has me sit while tea is fetched from the kitchen. Over steaming cups, he regards me silently.

"So, doctor, am I dying as Impa fears?" I laugh nervously, trying to prod him from his uncomfortable stare.

"Far from it, your Highness."

"Then what?" Impa finally demands.

"I believe her majesty is expecting."



Present

Zelda sat gratefully in the wooden chair as she watched Impa carefully stir the stew that was to make up their dinner. In the months that had passed, she and Impa had made several attempts to gain access to the castle with no success. Until now. Zelda had hit upon a plan to pose as a merchant's son looking for work. She had been hired by the palace staff, mainly because of her refined manners and speech. She now served as a personal valet to the Lyrian Prince. While this gave her virtually unlimited access to all areas of the castle, it put her in direct dealings with the man she had come to refer to as the insufferable bore.

She sniffed the air appreciatively as the smell of dinner grew stronger in the air. Impa gave a final stir before dishing up two plates of the savory stew and hading one to Zelda.

"No luck today, Impa." Zelda said between blowing on a hot bit of potato. "The royal pain didn't give me a moments rest today. Something about a party next week to celebrate his royal birthday." She laughed sarcastically, popping a bit of bread in her mouth. "He is all upset because he hoped to be married on the same day."

Impa gave a small chuckle at the reason of the Prince's disappointment. "Any word from Hyrule or Taryn?"

"Only that her Royal Highness has twisted her ankle, and can not possibly travel in such a delicate state. However she is looking forward to and eagerly awaiting the meeting of her betrothed," she snarled, "the pig."

"Mmmmm. Good excuse. Makes travel impossible, and they will be able to send you as soon as you are 'recovered.'"

"Bah. But good news. I think I may have found our suspicious room. I was planning to sneak my 'aunt' into the castle tomorrow, as she would so love to see a magnificent tapestry hanging right next to it."