Author's Ramblings: A big thanks to Hylian Aes Sadai who seems to be my most faithful reviewer. Also, thanks to all who have taken the time to read. Hope you enjoy.





Present

"And so, you are from the past?"

Link and the Hero had spent the two hours explaining to Zelda and Impa what they had been through in their time apart, and vice-versa. The Hero of Time had briefly stated his tale, but for the most part was silent. Zelda had thought it rather funny that both the men were named Link, and a little eerie too, since there were also many physical similarities.

Impa had found the Hero's tale especially unbelievable, but suddenly recalled one of the stories she had heard over the years. It was a popular tale, one which had been written about in books and sung in ballads in Hyrule for many, many years. It was said that long ago, the first Princess Zelda had married a hero who was of common birth instead of a noble man or neighboring prince. This hero had seemingly come out of nowhere, but had saved the land of Hyrule from the evil of a foreign ruler, bent on destroying all that was good in the land. For some reason, the hero had been named the Hero of Time, and had fallen in love with the Princess Zelda, eventually wedding her. But shortly after their marriage, he had mysteriously disappeared. The Princess was inconsolable, and when faced with the King's decision to re-marry her to a foreign invader to insure peace, had thrown herself off a cliff, though her body was never found. Many of the superstitious believed that they had heard her, wandering along the ruins of the old castle grounds, calling for her love. It was also said that the Hero's ghost wandered nearby, but that the two spirits were destined to never meet.

So this was what had had happened to the Hero of Time.

Zelda's broke into her musings. "We know why Ahenous took Link, but what good would it do him to take you out of the past?"

The Hero shook his head. "I do not know. At first I thought that he must have wanted my wife, and my finding his little traveling device first was a mistake. But he has made no movements to bring her here, or to use me in any kind of political game."

***

As the conversation waned, and stomachs began to growl, Impa and the Hero of Time retreated into the kitchen area to prepare a light supper, giving the other two privacy to discuss their newly revealed feelings with one another.

"How do you plan on getting back to your time? I doubt very much you can simply walk back to the castle and ask Ahenous to send you home." She pulled some leftover bread out from a flour sack and handed it to him.

"I can warp through time, but I need to find the Temple of Time where the master sword is hidden."

"I do not know where that is. But it must be near the ruins of the old castle and town."

"How far away?" He had pulled out his knife, and began to cut the bread into four even slices.

"Well, presently we are in Lyrian, bordering Hyrule's eastern border." She did some quick calculating in her head. "At least a week's journey from here." She sniffed the pot that she was warming over the stove with a wrinkled nose. "Ehh. Stew again. I am glad this is the last of it, because I don't think

I could stand this stuff one more day."

He had stopped and was staring, apparently deep in thought. "I suppose I could warp there. Is the area pretty well deserted?"

"Warp?"

"My ocarnia allows me to warp to six different sites in Hyrule when I play certain melodies."

"And this temple is one of them?"

"Yes. I am hoping it is deserted, though, so we will not have to deal with any guards or curious bystanders."

"We usually steer pretty clear of that area. Legends and tales tell us it is a haunted place, and that keeps most people away." She pulled out some bowls from her pack, and began to dish dinner up.

Link laughed. "Haunted by what?"

"You."

A smile split the Hero's lips. "Me? Why would I haunt that place?"

Impa merely shrugged, unwilling to tell him of his own sad story.

***

Past

The war council had already begun in my father's chambers when Impa and I joined him. We slipped quietly and virtually unnoticed into our seats at the table. A seat next to me was empty, it belonged to Link. Upon adulthood, my father had appointed him head of the Hyrulian Army. His feats in Hyrule and Termania were legend, and when the previous minister had retired the entire council applauded the King's appointment of Link. I don't think Link himself was too happy about the appointment. He hated the weekly council meetings. At first I had thought that he complained because he would have rather spent his time outdoors, he felt chafed and restrained at spending hours of a perfectly good day inside. However, as I began listening closer to him I realized what his problem was. He was angered that these nobles seemed to care so little for the country. They would spend hours arguing the finer points of law yet ignore the people who were starving right outside the castle walls. I was a lot like them before I met Link. I knew nothing of life outside of these castle walls. He has shown me a whole different world, and changed my views forever. I can never go back to being that spoiled, ignorant little princess. I wanted to dedicate my life to helping my people.

One of the older ministers was speaking now, and I shook off my reflecting and leaned in slightly as to better hear the conversation continued about the invader's demands.

"I do not see any other alternative. We must give in. It is a small sacrifice on the country's part, and we do not have a standing army large enough to repel them."

"No!" My father stood up, his face scarlet with anger. "I will not allow it." He looked at me with a sad, longing gaze. "It is not worth it."

"But your citizens will die. Is not one life worth hundreds?"

A chill ran up my spine. One life? "What are their demands?" I asked.

My father sat next to me and took my hands in his. "It does not matter, we are not giving in."

"He wants you, Princess." One of the ministers broke in, a hateful glare being sent his way by my father and his closest friends.

"What do you mean, he wants me?" I asked, a little surprised, to the man who had spoken. "As a hostage?"

"No. As his wife."

I laughed. "Someone should tell him I am already married."

Another minister spoke. "Widowed, your Highness." At my scathing glare he replied cynically. "Prince Link is gone, dead. We must act in the best interests of your country." He was one of the ministers from a faction I usually disagreed with, and I could see that his views had the support of many in the council chambers.

I glanced down at my hands that were folded and clenched in my lap. I had no problem with sacrificing myself for my country, but was this course of action best for Hyrule? And then I realized it would not be just me who would be giving up their life. Link's child would have no chance in the court of this foreign invader. Being the heir to the throne, this Prince would ensure his own children's succession by any means possible. Although I was willing to risk my own life and happiness, I would not for my child.

"No." I finally spoke out loud. " I will not."

"Your highness, you cannot think only of yourself. You must think of your people. I know it is what the Prince would have wanted." What a joke. I knew he was not thinking of the people, but of his own pocketbook. Going to war meant raising money for a defense, and if we lost these nobles would most likely lose their lands, estates, and large wallets.

I glared at the man who had so brazenly declared Link's death, forcing him to meet my eyes and quiver beneath my wrath. "My husband is not dead. I suggest we utilize the time we have to plan defensive strategies."

My father released his breath in a relieved sigh. "This border here is weak, and will need to be reinforced."

***

Present

"Are we packed and ready?" Link asked Impa, yawning in the predawn hours.

"As soon as the Princess decides to join us."

"What, is she still asleep."

" I believe so." Impa finished tying the top of the last of the packs and looked around. Everything was as they found it when they first rented the house.

"Where's Link?"

Impa started at the statement, as he was standing right in front of her, until she realized he was talking about the other Link. "I believe he is outside looking for orillin root."

"Orillin root? Whatever would he want that for?"

"He claims it makes a wonderful tea to relax sore, aching muscles. Which we will need if we are going to be walking for two weeks to get back home."

"I still don't understand why you and Zelda did not simply 'borrow' a pair from the royal stable."

"And risk the royal guard dragging her back to the palace and locking her in her room. I think not."

"They would not have gone that far."

"Do you have any idea what that girls life in the palace is like since Taryn took the throne? Every little decision is dictated for her. Every move she makes and decision she thinks about must go through her brother for approval first." Impa sighed and shook her head. Then she glanced up and gave Link a small smile. "I think one of the only bright spots in her life has been you. You seem to see her for what she really is and what she wants to be, not for the title she bears."

Link hung his head in shame. "And I have been pushing her away. What a fool."

Impa reached out and forced him to look her in the eyes. "You have both been victims of circumstance. But now, now you have a chance to fix that. Do not waste it."

He looked towards the doorway, where a sleepy Zelda was making her way to the kitchen, before giving Impa a slight smile. "Don't worry. I won't."

He was about to fix Zelda a cup of coffee when the Hero of Time burst through the door.

"Did you find your root?"

"Yes, but unfortunately I found something else as well. We must leave at once."

"What is going on?" Zelda was not yet fully awake, but feeling more alert by the second at the tense sound of his voice.

"I almost ran into a couple of the palace guards. They are looking for you, Princess. Well, not you but your alias. Somehow Ahenous has connected you with our escape, and they are searching for us. If we leave at once we may be able to elude them. I had hoped we would be able to find some horses first.but there is no time."

Impa nodded and silently picked up her bundle. The rest followed, and they silently left the house and made their way out of town.