~ Disclaimer ~ I actually dreamed that I owned Nintendo but then I woke up and found out I don't. *Shrug* It was a nice dream.

Anyway, I'm here all by myself after sending Link to his room. Also I had to take a small vacation from chapter writing. Merrick may have other plans but I can't work like that! So, I am counting on Shadow Knight to keep his split personality under control. I looked at the last chapter after I posted it.well, I have to apologize for not reading it before hand.

It was pathetic -_-.

Did anyone catch my mistakes?

I fixed them so no problem now but I'm going to try harder not to make those little mistakes to begin with! Plus, that last chapter was sadly short!

So without further ado: The dedications go to CrysSton16 who's helped with the festival plans (order of events), Shadow Knight (and Merrick, I guess), and a new person named Onilink11 (whom doesn't seem to trust me so I MUST WORK HARDER!!) Also, after I typed this one up, another new person came along. Say hello to AuraAngel11346!

Link: *From upstairs* Hello, Aura Angel!

^_^;;

~~~~~~~

~ Festivities at the Festival ~

Link could hear the shouts and trumpet blasts and still people were filing in through the South Gate leading into the marketplace and into the East Gate to where the open field and forge smiths were and another opening on the West Gate where he had not been yet.

He noticed that the people entering the West Gate seemed to be the nobles. More that one carriage was lined up to enter each with their own color flags waving from the horses head gear and the corners of the carriage tops.

Yet on the opposite side of the nobles (East Gate), many wore armor over themselves and their horses. It must be the knights for the tournaments. And the forges must be near the tournament grounds for convenience! Link reasoned with himself with a small grin. He wondered how Andrake would take his failing to carry out that plan he had devised.

Crystal grew quieter and looked at the high walls surrounding the city between the gates as though to look for something or someone. Link also looked but there was nothing to be seen there. Gramps saw the two youngins looking to the sky and said to Link, "Don't worry about it. Every year there are a few stray arrows from novice archers. She is paranoid that one will come at her."

"If I am to die it is not going to be by a snot-nosed, half-witted apprentice picking up a bow for the first time in his life!" Link could understand where she stood but then the odds of a stray arrow hailing down on them were absolutely impossible! With a shrug, Link dismounted Epona but told her to stay near.

It was true that Link had not been to a festival so all he could expect was a large party wit some people fighting in one section, some people eating in another section and several people talking about politics or whatever in the third. He thought about his question of jousting and decided against further questioning the festival.

Crystal continued her sky scanning when a roar of excitement went up from the East Gate. Crystal yelled loudly and Link drew his sword. Gramps tried to cover the ear closest to her and she stood in her seat staring at the East wall. "GRAMPS! They've started, they've started, they've started the jousting tournament!!" Link almost fell with relief. He could have sworn her yelling meant she was being attacked.

But then he did recall one woman shouting like that before. He recalled every single time that he walked into Zora's domain, Ruto would squeal in her watery voice from atop the waterfall. She would run around the throne then leap over the smaller balcony into the water. Then swim at him, then run some more before wrapping both her arms around him and throwing him off his feet with affection much to the amusement of the other Zora's. It took only two official visits before he swore not to go into that domain again.

Link caught himself smiling at the memory despite how he had hated the fishy smell of his tunic on the long return to the castle. He decided when he found Navi that he would wait to return to Hyrule. If only because Ruto would try to hold him up to the engagement he was not even aware of.

Finally the traffic getting into the town cleared enough to allow them and the wagon through. The guards didn't try to stop them but stood with brightly polished armor and decorated weapons not unlike the Gerudo guards. Link didn't even have time to take in all the sights and sounds and smells before his arm was captured by Crystal and forced to run as fast as he could to the East Gate area. Epona trotted along behind them both, minding she didn't step on anyone or knock over anything.

Crystal dragged him all the way to the wide, open field. Link stared in wonder as a thunder of applause and the stomping of horses hooves seemed to erupt from everywhere. Crystal pulled him further, past two stands erected along the fence line of the field and leaned against it, pulling him up beside her and began shouting.

In the middle of the field, there was a long, short fence. But this fence didn't contain anything. It was just there like a line. Two horses all decorated with banners running down their flanks and their riders carrying huge sticks and wearing gleaming armor one red, the other silver/gray charged at each other, running along either side of the fence.

Link watched in fascination as the large sticks they carried in the air came down simultaneously to aim at each other. He gripped Crystal's arm, "They're going to hit each other!" She laughed at him, "That's the whole point!" He wondered at her a moment but watched as the charging horses never shied off their path. The two tips of the long, strong sticks neatly missed each other but them crashed against the chest plates of the opposite knight.

The splinters of wood scattered everywhere and the horses bearing the knights calmly now loped along as their riders were lying back in their saddles, arms spread and dazed by the heavy blows. "I don't get it." Link said sadly and let his chin rest on his hands, elbows propped on the fence. "Of course you don't get it, kid. You've never seen it before." A voice behind them beckoned.

Crystal wheeled around, all excited as Link watched two men on opposite sides of the large stand raise and place two flags into a wooden bar. Link figured it was a system of scoring then he too turned to see whom else Crystal knew.

A boy the same height as Link walked up, his large, gold colored eyes gleamed with merriment. His hair was green and flashed in the sun as the white, embroidered cape fluttered slightly around the kid's boots. Link couldn't help of think as this boy to be Andrake's friend or cousin or something for their wear was alike if different in color. His tunic was the same as Andrake's but instead of dark blue, it was a light green with patterns left in white and copper colors.

His boots, also the same style as Andrake's had a golden metal piece over the tops of each and came up to the base of the knee but these were both a dusky gold like a late sunset. He smiled and slightly tossed his head and Link noticed he had one gold ring through his right ear. "This here is jousting, stranger. A fine competitive sport among the highest of knights and just one more event I'll be competing in when I'm all grown." Link couldn't place the boy's accent but it was a bit quick with words and pleasant to listen to.

The boy's smile never left his face and Link couldn't help but feel a sense of friendliness about him despite he also wore a belt with long knives on either side of his waist. He held out his hand and said, "Name's Lance. Lance Montego. And you would be."

Link smiled and gripped the boy's wrist in friendship, receiving a grip back on his own wrist, "Link. No last name." They released and Lance settled on the fence between Crystal and Link, "So, you can explain jousting to me, Lance?"

"Certainly. Now, you see how there are two flags on that side," He pointed to the silver flagged side, "and one flag on that side," He pointed to the red flagged side. "Well, that means silver knight had gained two points in this match while red knight only has one. To win a match, the knight has to gain three points. One point is awarded to hitting the opposing knight between the waist and the neck and two points to hitting him in the head.

"But, a full three points is awarded to.well, dismounting him in a single blow of the lance." Lance paused as Link looked at him oddly. "Oh, not lance as in me. That long stick they hit each other with is called a Lance. I was born to play this.ah, sorry. Now if the opposing knight is knocked off his horse, the victor can claim that horse if he so chooses." Link waved a hand to cut him off, "Wait, I can understand why three points is awarded to knocking him off but why two points for a head blow? That should take a point away or something."

Lance nodded, understanding the boy's confusion, "Ah, a lance is not like a sword. A head-blow would only cause a headache, thus why they wear helmets. Well, to answer your question, two points are awarded because it is a difficult shot and you can't just touch. You have to break the lance. The helmet usually sweeps back, letting the point of the lance slide off, unbroken. You see?" Link nodded.

Crystal laughed at them even though the knights were gathering up their strength for the final round. Link could now see that the silver knight was in the lead. She said, "You two act like long-lost friends. Lance, when did you get back?" Lance flashed a winning smile again, "Well, I thought about this lovely festival and thought to myself, 'the guard work is no good' I said. So I thought again, 'all work and no play makes Lance a dull knight'. So I hopped onto guarding a fair countess's wagon and rode all the way down to here. Now, I hope you will make my journey worthwhile with accompanying me to the shopping booths. Oh, after this next round to be sure. I vote that silver knight will win. Oh, you think so too? Then we all win!" Link could not believe how long this Lance person could talk!

Once again the knights were armed with new lances and they charged their powerful horses down the fence line once again. Again the lance tips came down to aim at one another. Once again Crystal cheered and now Lance also bellowed, cheering for the silver knight and wanting him to win. The tips barely missed each other but broke on the breastplates of the knights. Lance pulled his cape up around him as the splinters of wood showered with even more explosive force than before. He pulled his cape up to defend both himself and Crystal while Link quickly pulled up his shield. Wood flew about them, clinking on the shield but silently landing against the protecting cape.

When the brief splinter shower ceased, Lance let his cape down and smiled a bit too warmly at Crystal. She smiled timidly back and thanked him. Lance let out a speech, saying that it was his duty. Link rolled his eyes.

Finally he shouted to the two, "Hey, I thought we were going to enjoy the food and entertainment and all that! Are you listening?!" But the two seemed lost in each other's eyes. Link watched a bit more mournfully. How often had he looked at Malon that way? Silently, he took himself and Epona and walked back to the booths to find some breakfast.

Epona nudged Link's shoulder as he walked rather sadly through the gay, excited crowd all hustling and bustling, stopping to listen to the musicians and to see the magicians perform their magic as well as sleight of hand. Small children laughed and pointed as a puppeteer brought life to the hand dolls and told a story. Link cheered up somewhat at Epona's insistence and at the children's laughter.

Then the sound of a harp caught his ears. An image of Sheik crossed his mind and Link whirled around to see where that music had come from. A song accompanied the music. It was small but sweet but the meaningful words squeezed urgently at his heart.

Gone away, turned away, the hero dared pass by

Flew away, torn away, a fair friend did fly

Now the hero wanders, to find the lost departed

He hopes and searched, he must not be dishearted

Friend in need, friend indeed, wherever he may see dawn

Friend in need, friend indeed, sometime soon she will come

A crowd stood between him and the player. Link slithered and pushed and begged pardon to many a person before he reached the stage. By then both the music and the musician were gone. Link stared in wonder at the Eye of Truth skillfully knitted into the cloth over the chair the musician had sat in. He continued staring as the attentive audience wandered away and Epona caught up with him.

"Link, there you are! Why'd you walk away like that?" Crystal held onto his arm as though to steady herself. Link shrugged as she straightened and Lance appeared beside her, still grinning. "I was hungry then I thought I heard something I recognized from a long time ago." Link turned back to the stage but even the sloth was gone. He slowly shook his head in wonder. "It couldn't be." H said and then turned to them, "Well, am I the only one starving? They have to sell something edible here!" Crystal beamed in memory of the sugar coated pastries and began pulling him along, "Come on, Link. I know just the place!"

Lance looked at the stage and his grin broadened, "So, the Sheikah made it after all. That kid is really good at his harping. If what Crystal said is true, that music must have made Link a bit homesick." With a shrug, he dug into a pocket and brought out three gold coins. Placing them as a stack on his thumb, he flicked it onto the stage, knowing the performer, or his helper, would gather them in good time. With one last glance at the chair, he jogged to catch up with the other two.

~~~~~~~

Upon reaching them, he saw Crystal, bow in hand lined up with several others. Fifty paces away was a large, straw target. Link watched in mild amusement even as Crystal drew the arrow into the bow with professional ease. The others also followed suit and they each took aim at their own targets. The spectators all stood behind the archers, the brave ones coming up beside them, staying well out of the line of fire.

The judge called out, "FIRE" and they each let their shot fly. Crystal's was only one finger length out of the center circle but she looked pleased nonetheless. Link grinned a bit more as he observed the shot and her reaction. "Let' see you beat that, oh mighty Bowman." Crystal said in mockery. Link shrugged and took her bow, "If you insist I humiliate you, then very well." Lance came up quickly, wanting to see if Link could indeed make a better shot.

For their age, Crystal's shot was okay. Link felt bad that he had years more practice than they could ever experience so soon. He almost felt as though he was a cheat but he tried to ignore the feeling and armed the bow, as the judge instructed loudly. He aimed, following the judge's orders but then became a bit detached from the world around him as he always did.

He focused on the hay with the target painted on it. He focused on the innermost circle. He focused on the straws of hay criss-crossed in the center of it.

Bows snapped and arrows began their flight around him. Link released his arrow, the string propelling it forward at nearly impossible speed. The criss crossed straws were pierced and the arrow suck the very center of the target.

Bringing himself back, Link set the bow down and looked at Crystal. Speechless, her jaw hung slightly open, eyes wide with wonder and disbelief. Lance smiled and clapped, "Bravo, Hylian, bravo." He said and Link's bow was claimed by the judge, a pat on the back awarded to him, and more young archers stepped up to the targets. More officials claimed the arrows from the ground around the targets and pulled the ones that did stick as Link, Crystal, and Lance went to find something else to do or eat. Brunch was on Crystal.

~~~~~~~~~~

I do hope this makes up for chapter twelve. I hope even more that this chapter better reflects me as an author and that the new people will like it. It was a bit longer but that's a good thing, yes?

Heh, I'm no poet but I came up with that song all by my lonesome. Be nice! I tried.

Anyway, more festivities at the festival to come! Who's that Sheikah? We may never know.

Until next time!