When the two of them finally got all the way down, they heard a voice
shout, "THERE THEY ARE!!"
Link and Zelda whipped around. All over the castle walls, moblins were standing with their bows drawn.
"FIRE!" screamed Gruretta, supposedly the lead moblin.
A horde of arrows came flying at them.
"Quick, behind here!" Link shouted. He took the princess' hand and they dashed behind a large stone. One of the arrows pierced through the heel of Link's boot, which didn't harm him. "C'mon, this way!"
Zelda and Link crawled behind a long row of boulders, until they reached the edge of the mountain's range. "We're going to have to make a break for it!" Zelda said softly.
Link nodded. "On the count of three, then. One...two...three!"
The two elves made a mad dash for it, and in fast motion, they ran deep into the woods.
"I think...it's okay...to stop now," Link huffed inbetween breaths, as he sank down by tree trunk.
Clutching a stitch in her side, Zelda sank down next to him. There was silence for a few moments, except for their heavy breathing. Obviously they were very tired from running.
Eventually, Zelda spoke. "Well now you can tell me. Who are you?" Besides one of the most handsome men I've ever met, she thought.
Link sighed. "My name's Link. Not Sir Link, or anything like that. Just Link. I am a peasant."
"Oh, you are?" Zelda asked, trying not to sound disappointed. She had wanted her father to meet him. Then, she got curious. "How...how did you find me? I mean, how did you know that I was kidnapped by Ganon?"
Link put his head back, and stretched out. "You wanna know? It's kind of a long story."
Zelda shrugged. "Not like we don't have time or anything. I mean, we probably won't be going anywhere until tomorrow. Go ahead, tell me."
Link heaved a huge breath. "Well...it has to do with a kind of vision that your father had...one that included me."
The princess tried to stifle a laugh. "My father has visions?" she asked. "He must have thought it a vision sent from the goddesses, right?"
"Exactly," Link answered.
"So I assume that he tracked you down."
"Yeah...and then he gave me the whole 'if my daughter ever gets in trouble' speech."
Zelda giggled at the way Link impersonated her father. "Well Link, I guess I never really fathomed what it would be like to get kidnapped by that Gannondorf. And I guess I'm trying to say that...thanks. Thanks for, um, saving my life." She laughed at the way that sounded.
Link grinned. "Nothing to it, princess. Just doing my job. But I have a small question."
"What?"
"You used magic to get us up to that window, so why didn't you use magic to escape?"
Zelda sighed. "Well the prison cell was impervious to magic. I mean, the cell I was in earlier. When I got moved to the throne room, Gannondorf watched me like a hawk. My magic is no match for his, so if I had managed to escape...he would've made sure my freedom didn't last long."
Link nodded, and looked up."It's getting pretty cold out here. Come on, I'll take you to an inn. Let's go, we've had enough rest."
Link and Zelda walked down a dirt path. "Should be coming upon it any minute now," Link mused. "Ah, here we go!" He gestured towards a large looking inn. "What do you think?"
Zelda looked up at it. "It looks wonderful," she judged, smiling.
Later, the two elves were sitting at a table eating dinner. Casually, Link took of his gloves. Zelda almost spat out the water she was drinking.
"What in Nayru's name is that?!" she asked, picking up his hand. Zelda traced her finger along the Triforce lines on the back of his hand. "I don't believe it!" she breathed.
"Oh, that?" Link asked. "That just...got there the other day. Impa said that it had been drawn onto my hands by the Goddesses or something."
"She did?" Zelda asked excitedly. "Oh, I knew this day would come! I just didn't expect it to be so soon!"
"What do you mean?" Link inquired curiously.
"Impa used to always tell me stories when I was little," Zelda started. "About how years and years ago, there'd been a hero who had saved one of my ancestors...and a drawing just like the one on your hand had been inscribed onto his own!"
"What did this hero go on to do?"
"Impa said that he became Hyrule's hero and greatest warrior! My father insisted that it was only a legend, and urged me not to believe it. Then Impa told me that if I waited long enough, someday I would be able to meet the warrior's descendant...as did my great great grandmother."
Link raised his eyebrows. "That's...impressive. I hate to disappoint you princess, but I really doubt that I'll ever amount to anything."
"Never?" Zelda asked. "Oh Link, you must have faith in yourself. And besides, you never know." She smiled beautifully, sending a chill down Link's spine. "Maybe soon, everyone will be speaking your name."
Link grinned back. "I'll keep my fingers crossed."
Zelda stood up. "I don't mean to walk out on you or anything, but I suddenly feel quite tired...I think I'll go to bed."
"All right princess," said Link. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes." Zelda pulled out a small bag, and tossed Link a handful of rupees. "Here, give these to the waitress. If there's any extra, please do me a favor and keep it for yourself."
Smiling, Zelda walked away. She had been sure to give Link much more than was needed to pay the bill.
Later that night, Zelda was lying on her bed, trying to go to sleep. But she couldn't. Her thoughts kept revolving around Gannondorf, the Triforce, Link, and Impa's stories. Would Link really become a famous warrior someday?
"I hope so," she murmured to herself. She had hardly known him a day, and already the princess knew there was something different about Link. Something very different, but very good.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the morning, Zelda woke up and went over to her dresser. Pulling out a comb, she began to brush her hair. The princess could hardly believe her fortune at being saved so quickly.
It was indeed truthful that she had never imagined what it would be like to actually get kidnapped by Gannondorf. Zelda had always managed to elude him by using her mother's passageways. And now...now she knew why her mother was dead.
Brushing away several tears, Zelda nonchalantly put on her silver circlet. She had always frowned down on the way her father donned a huge golden crown, as if he was saying "hey everyone, look at me: I'm richer and more important than you. Bwa ha ha. Power is mine..." Ugh.
She put down the brush and left the room. The comb belonged to the hotel, as she hadn't really brought anything with her when she had been kidnapped.
Zelda walked down the stairway to the lobby, where she and Link had planned on meeting. A strange man approached her, and sat down on the bench she was sitting on.
"Hello," the man grunted staring at her.
"Hi," she mumbled, inching away from him slowly.
"What's a girl like you doin' in a place like this?"
"Umm...I spent the night. I'm going back home today."
"Oh, are ya sure?" He moved even closer. "If ya don't want ta be goin' home just yet, you can check in with me for a while."
Zelda turned to face him, horrified. Just as he grabbed her arm, he collapsed onto the floor. The princess sat there in shock, her arm still outstretched. She looked up, and smiled with relief.
"Your welcome," said Link, rather casually, sheathing his sword. "He shouldn't be knocked out for long. I just hit him lightly with the hilt."
Zelda smiled gratefully. "Thanks," she said, standing up. "Brrr, I hate to think what that man would've done had you not shown up."
"So do I," Link grunted. "Well, come on. Hyrule's a way off, and we'd best be getting an early start."
"Okay."
After a light breakfast, Zelda and Link left the inn and prepared to go back to Hyrule.
"So this is your horse?" Zelda asked, stroking Epona.
"Yep."
"How did he know where to find us?"
Link shrugged. "I dunno. He has an innate sense of direction."
"Impressive."
Link jumped onto Epona's back and held out a hand for Zelda. "You have to get on Epona too, you know."
"I know," Zelda giggled, smiling. She took Link's hand and climbed onto the horse. "Oh, it's been ages since I last rode on a horse without having to worry about someone seeing me! My father always insists on me going to fancy parties and having lessons on how to improve my etiquette."
Involuntarily, Link let out a laugh. "Etiquette? You sound as if you regret it. Aren't princesses supposed to like that kind of stuff, and tea parties too?" Link started wondering how he was being so outspoken to the Princess of Hyrule all of a sudden.
Zelda smiled, but Link couldn't see it (since his back was to her). "Well, not me. I'm not what you would call your stereotypical princess. Not disappointing you, am I?"
"What do you mean?" Link asked. He really did wonder what she meant by that. She smiled, and said nothing more.
Link frowned as they approached the palace sometime later. "Well, uh...here we are, princess."
Epona slowed down to a trot, and eventually stopped. Zelda hopped off the horse. Once both feet were on the ground, she looked up at Link. "Thank you so much, Link," she said, really meaning it. "I really am lucky that my father was given that vision."
Link shrugged, smiling. "Well, your welcome princess. I am glad that I was able to fulfill my duty as a citizen, and I hope your father is happy about your return."
"Oh, of course he will be," Zelda laughed. "I mean, it's not like he's a psychopathic maniac or anything, but he does get extremely worried if I am not in his vision in every waking moment." She sighed slightly, gazing into Link's eyes. Then she caught herself. "Well, uh..."
"Good-bye princess," Link said, kicking his heels softly into Epona. "Glad I could be of service."
"W-wait!" Zelda cried. He turned around curiously. "Uh...I was just wondering if you could possibly...um, join us in a party later this month? My father always holds one every May, and I could be sure that you get an invitation." She looked at him hopefully.
Link smiled. "Well, if your father will abide it, I'd be glad to come."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" the princess gushed. "I'll send you a letter in the mail sometime this week."
As he was about to leave, Link stopped. "Um, princess...would it all be possible to...oh, never mind."
"No, what?" Zelda inquired. "Do you have some friends you might want to bring along?"
Goddesses, she's psychic! Link thought, grinning. "Well...kind of, yeah. They've always wanted to meet you."
"I think that would be wonderful. My father rarely lets me outdoors anymore, and it would be lovely to meet some of your friends. Just give me their names, and I'll send their invitations to you."
"Okay." Link took out a pen and a scrap piece of paper (which he always had in his bag), and wrote down his friends' names. "I hope to be seeing you sometime soon, princess." He rode off.
Sighing with satisfaction, Zelda flew towards the main entryway.
"Princess Zelda!" exclaimed one of the guards. "You're back!"
"Yep I am, Sir Thingamabobit!"
Zelda felt slightly guilty for forgetting the knight's name, but she hoped that he'd understand. Immediately, she rushed to her father's throne room. He looked up in surprise from a letter he was writing.
"Zelda!" he cried, as she rushed forward into his arms. "I can hardly believe that you're back already!!"
"What do you mean 'already?'" she asked.
"Well just that I didn't expect you to be back so soon," he explained. "But nevertheless, I am thrilled, daughter! Simply thrilled!"
"I'm glad you are, father! For it is so good to be home!...Even though I was gone for only a couple days."
"I'm glad too," King Harkinian, said, gazing lovingly at his daughter. "Now I may hold the May festivity with no guilt!"
"Speaking of which," Zelda said. "I was wondering if I could ask you a favor. A really big favor."
"What is that, my daughter?"
"Um...could Link and some of his friends come to the May party?" she asked very quickly.
King Harkinian's smile crashed to the floor. ".....who's Link?"
Zelda sighed. "Oh, he's only the man that just saved my life from Gannondorf!" she erupted.
"Oh, that peasant," he grumbled. "But Zelda--he's a commoner!"
"Yes, I know! But father, please just give him a chance! Do it for me, I need some way to show him my gratitude!"
The King rubbed his beard and looked up at the ceiling for several minutes. "Oh, fine. Send out their invitations. I guess the dirt does deserve some type of reward. The festivity is to be held in two weeks."
"Oh, thank you father!" Zelda squealed, hugging him once more. "And he's not dirt!" She rushed out of the room.
Link and Zelda whipped around. All over the castle walls, moblins were standing with their bows drawn.
"FIRE!" screamed Gruretta, supposedly the lead moblin.
A horde of arrows came flying at them.
"Quick, behind here!" Link shouted. He took the princess' hand and they dashed behind a large stone. One of the arrows pierced through the heel of Link's boot, which didn't harm him. "C'mon, this way!"
Zelda and Link crawled behind a long row of boulders, until they reached the edge of the mountain's range. "We're going to have to make a break for it!" Zelda said softly.
Link nodded. "On the count of three, then. One...two...three!"
The two elves made a mad dash for it, and in fast motion, they ran deep into the woods.
"I think...it's okay...to stop now," Link huffed inbetween breaths, as he sank down by tree trunk.
Clutching a stitch in her side, Zelda sank down next to him. There was silence for a few moments, except for their heavy breathing. Obviously they were very tired from running.
Eventually, Zelda spoke. "Well now you can tell me. Who are you?" Besides one of the most handsome men I've ever met, she thought.
Link sighed. "My name's Link. Not Sir Link, or anything like that. Just Link. I am a peasant."
"Oh, you are?" Zelda asked, trying not to sound disappointed. She had wanted her father to meet him. Then, she got curious. "How...how did you find me? I mean, how did you know that I was kidnapped by Ganon?"
Link put his head back, and stretched out. "You wanna know? It's kind of a long story."
Zelda shrugged. "Not like we don't have time or anything. I mean, we probably won't be going anywhere until tomorrow. Go ahead, tell me."
Link heaved a huge breath. "Well...it has to do with a kind of vision that your father had...one that included me."
The princess tried to stifle a laugh. "My father has visions?" she asked. "He must have thought it a vision sent from the goddesses, right?"
"Exactly," Link answered.
"So I assume that he tracked you down."
"Yeah...and then he gave me the whole 'if my daughter ever gets in trouble' speech."
Zelda giggled at the way Link impersonated her father. "Well Link, I guess I never really fathomed what it would be like to get kidnapped by that Gannondorf. And I guess I'm trying to say that...thanks. Thanks for, um, saving my life." She laughed at the way that sounded.
Link grinned. "Nothing to it, princess. Just doing my job. But I have a small question."
"What?"
"You used magic to get us up to that window, so why didn't you use magic to escape?"
Zelda sighed. "Well the prison cell was impervious to magic. I mean, the cell I was in earlier. When I got moved to the throne room, Gannondorf watched me like a hawk. My magic is no match for his, so if I had managed to escape...he would've made sure my freedom didn't last long."
Link nodded, and looked up."It's getting pretty cold out here. Come on, I'll take you to an inn. Let's go, we've had enough rest."
Link and Zelda walked down a dirt path. "Should be coming upon it any minute now," Link mused. "Ah, here we go!" He gestured towards a large looking inn. "What do you think?"
Zelda looked up at it. "It looks wonderful," she judged, smiling.
Later, the two elves were sitting at a table eating dinner. Casually, Link took of his gloves. Zelda almost spat out the water she was drinking.
"What in Nayru's name is that?!" she asked, picking up his hand. Zelda traced her finger along the Triforce lines on the back of his hand. "I don't believe it!" she breathed.
"Oh, that?" Link asked. "That just...got there the other day. Impa said that it had been drawn onto my hands by the Goddesses or something."
"She did?" Zelda asked excitedly. "Oh, I knew this day would come! I just didn't expect it to be so soon!"
"What do you mean?" Link inquired curiously.
"Impa used to always tell me stories when I was little," Zelda started. "About how years and years ago, there'd been a hero who had saved one of my ancestors...and a drawing just like the one on your hand had been inscribed onto his own!"
"What did this hero go on to do?"
"Impa said that he became Hyrule's hero and greatest warrior! My father insisted that it was only a legend, and urged me not to believe it. Then Impa told me that if I waited long enough, someday I would be able to meet the warrior's descendant...as did my great great grandmother."
Link raised his eyebrows. "That's...impressive. I hate to disappoint you princess, but I really doubt that I'll ever amount to anything."
"Never?" Zelda asked. "Oh Link, you must have faith in yourself. And besides, you never know." She smiled beautifully, sending a chill down Link's spine. "Maybe soon, everyone will be speaking your name."
Link grinned back. "I'll keep my fingers crossed."
Zelda stood up. "I don't mean to walk out on you or anything, but I suddenly feel quite tired...I think I'll go to bed."
"All right princess," said Link. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes." Zelda pulled out a small bag, and tossed Link a handful of rupees. "Here, give these to the waitress. If there's any extra, please do me a favor and keep it for yourself."
Smiling, Zelda walked away. She had been sure to give Link much more than was needed to pay the bill.
Later that night, Zelda was lying on her bed, trying to go to sleep. But she couldn't. Her thoughts kept revolving around Gannondorf, the Triforce, Link, and Impa's stories. Would Link really become a famous warrior someday?
"I hope so," she murmured to herself. She had hardly known him a day, and already the princess knew there was something different about Link. Something very different, but very good.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the morning, Zelda woke up and went over to her dresser. Pulling out a comb, she began to brush her hair. The princess could hardly believe her fortune at being saved so quickly.
It was indeed truthful that she had never imagined what it would be like to actually get kidnapped by Gannondorf. Zelda had always managed to elude him by using her mother's passageways. And now...now she knew why her mother was dead.
Brushing away several tears, Zelda nonchalantly put on her silver circlet. She had always frowned down on the way her father donned a huge golden crown, as if he was saying "hey everyone, look at me: I'm richer and more important than you. Bwa ha ha. Power is mine..." Ugh.
She put down the brush and left the room. The comb belonged to the hotel, as she hadn't really brought anything with her when she had been kidnapped.
Zelda walked down the stairway to the lobby, where she and Link had planned on meeting. A strange man approached her, and sat down on the bench she was sitting on.
"Hello," the man grunted staring at her.
"Hi," she mumbled, inching away from him slowly.
"What's a girl like you doin' in a place like this?"
"Umm...I spent the night. I'm going back home today."
"Oh, are ya sure?" He moved even closer. "If ya don't want ta be goin' home just yet, you can check in with me for a while."
Zelda turned to face him, horrified. Just as he grabbed her arm, he collapsed onto the floor. The princess sat there in shock, her arm still outstretched. She looked up, and smiled with relief.
"Your welcome," said Link, rather casually, sheathing his sword. "He shouldn't be knocked out for long. I just hit him lightly with the hilt."
Zelda smiled gratefully. "Thanks," she said, standing up. "Brrr, I hate to think what that man would've done had you not shown up."
"So do I," Link grunted. "Well, come on. Hyrule's a way off, and we'd best be getting an early start."
"Okay."
After a light breakfast, Zelda and Link left the inn and prepared to go back to Hyrule.
"So this is your horse?" Zelda asked, stroking Epona.
"Yep."
"How did he know where to find us?"
Link shrugged. "I dunno. He has an innate sense of direction."
"Impressive."
Link jumped onto Epona's back and held out a hand for Zelda. "You have to get on Epona too, you know."
"I know," Zelda giggled, smiling. She took Link's hand and climbed onto the horse. "Oh, it's been ages since I last rode on a horse without having to worry about someone seeing me! My father always insists on me going to fancy parties and having lessons on how to improve my etiquette."
Involuntarily, Link let out a laugh. "Etiquette? You sound as if you regret it. Aren't princesses supposed to like that kind of stuff, and tea parties too?" Link started wondering how he was being so outspoken to the Princess of Hyrule all of a sudden.
Zelda smiled, but Link couldn't see it (since his back was to her). "Well, not me. I'm not what you would call your stereotypical princess. Not disappointing you, am I?"
"What do you mean?" Link asked. He really did wonder what she meant by that. She smiled, and said nothing more.
Link frowned as they approached the palace sometime later. "Well, uh...here we are, princess."
Epona slowed down to a trot, and eventually stopped. Zelda hopped off the horse. Once both feet were on the ground, she looked up at Link. "Thank you so much, Link," she said, really meaning it. "I really am lucky that my father was given that vision."
Link shrugged, smiling. "Well, your welcome princess. I am glad that I was able to fulfill my duty as a citizen, and I hope your father is happy about your return."
"Oh, of course he will be," Zelda laughed. "I mean, it's not like he's a psychopathic maniac or anything, but he does get extremely worried if I am not in his vision in every waking moment." She sighed slightly, gazing into Link's eyes. Then she caught herself. "Well, uh..."
"Good-bye princess," Link said, kicking his heels softly into Epona. "Glad I could be of service."
"W-wait!" Zelda cried. He turned around curiously. "Uh...I was just wondering if you could possibly...um, join us in a party later this month? My father always holds one every May, and I could be sure that you get an invitation." She looked at him hopefully.
Link smiled. "Well, if your father will abide it, I'd be glad to come."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" the princess gushed. "I'll send you a letter in the mail sometime this week."
As he was about to leave, Link stopped. "Um, princess...would it all be possible to...oh, never mind."
"No, what?" Zelda inquired. "Do you have some friends you might want to bring along?"
Goddesses, she's psychic! Link thought, grinning. "Well...kind of, yeah. They've always wanted to meet you."
"I think that would be wonderful. My father rarely lets me outdoors anymore, and it would be lovely to meet some of your friends. Just give me their names, and I'll send their invitations to you."
"Okay." Link took out a pen and a scrap piece of paper (which he always had in his bag), and wrote down his friends' names. "I hope to be seeing you sometime soon, princess." He rode off.
Sighing with satisfaction, Zelda flew towards the main entryway.
"Princess Zelda!" exclaimed one of the guards. "You're back!"
"Yep I am, Sir Thingamabobit!"
Zelda felt slightly guilty for forgetting the knight's name, but she hoped that he'd understand. Immediately, she rushed to her father's throne room. He looked up in surprise from a letter he was writing.
"Zelda!" he cried, as she rushed forward into his arms. "I can hardly believe that you're back already!!"
"What do you mean 'already?'" she asked.
"Well just that I didn't expect you to be back so soon," he explained. "But nevertheless, I am thrilled, daughter! Simply thrilled!"
"I'm glad you are, father! For it is so good to be home!...Even though I was gone for only a couple days."
"I'm glad too," King Harkinian, said, gazing lovingly at his daughter. "Now I may hold the May festivity with no guilt!"
"Speaking of which," Zelda said. "I was wondering if I could ask you a favor. A really big favor."
"What is that, my daughter?"
"Um...could Link and some of his friends come to the May party?" she asked very quickly.
King Harkinian's smile crashed to the floor. ".....who's Link?"
Zelda sighed. "Oh, he's only the man that just saved my life from Gannondorf!" she erupted.
"Oh, that peasant," he grumbled. "But Zelda--he's a commoner!"
"Yes, I know! But father, please just give him a chance! Do it for me, I need some way to show him my gratitude!"
The King rubbed his beard and looked up at the ceiling for several minutes. "Oh, fine. Send out their invitations. I guess the dirt does deserve some type of reward. The festivity is to be held in two weeks."
"Oh, thank you father!" Zelda squealed, hugging him once more. "And he's not dirt!" She rushed out of the room.