The wind whipped through Rowen's long black hair as her stallion ran after Peron.  She could hear Epona's hooves behind her; Link was following close behind.  She turned her head to look at him and noticed that he wasn't far from Silver Stream's hind haunches.  She snorted, not sure if she wanted help.  But then again, he is the Hero of Time and she, well, she's just a girl from Kakariko Village who is chasing after Hyrule's fastest man and a crazed god who has control of a guy she doesn't even know that well.  What a predicament for her, but she'd have to get used to it.  She had a feeling that she'd be involved in this 'till the end, or her end.

            Rowen heard another horse whinny beside her and the lovely mare pulled in close to her own stallion.  "Lovely day for a ride, isn't it?" Link said, trying to provide relief for the intense situation at hand.

            "Yep, absolutely positively beautiful," replied Rowen, a sick feeling starting in her stomach.  She felt like she was going to throw up her lunch; no, that feeling is from not eating lunch.  But if they couldn't stop Malice from getting to Peron, ugh, she didn't want to think about it.  She never did like bloodshed much.  Just the thought of it frightened her.  What the hell am I doing here anyway?, she thought; this ain't none of my bees wax, I barely even know the guy who the freak with wings has possessed.  I only just met 'im yesterday.

            Freak with wings, am I?, a voice echoed in her mind.  As far as I'm concerned, mortals are the so-called "freaks".  Just be sure that you fail to turn your back on me; you can never be sure what I will do.  Then a powerful wind blew by, followed by a speeding blur, which she assumed was Malice.  The wind pushed the horses apart and Silver Stream had to struggle to stay on his feet.  Epona, her luck not quite as good as Silver Stream's, stumbled and fell over on her side, flinging Link off her back with a startled yell.  He hit his head hard on a rock, crimson blood gushing out of the wound, and fell out of consciousness.  Rowen halted her stallion, making a decision whether to go back and help him or continue forward and attempt to save Peron.  Her mind was torn between the two sides; a life was at stake at either end of the rope and she didn't know what to do.  She tugged fiercely at her hair in aggravation, a common gesture for her.  Link or Peron?  She bit her lip until she tasted blood and continued forward, hoping that Link would still be breathing when she returned for him.

            She spat the blood out of her mouth.

            When she finally arrived on the scene, Malice had Peron backed up against a large elm and the most wicked grin had ever she seen was planted on his face; his pale fangs could be seen from between his lips.  Rowen nudged her horse forth quicker, leapt off suddenly, and landed directly on her feet, running straight at Malice with her old scimitar drawn.  "Back off, bastard!" she shrieked, but Malice only seized the poor man's shoulders.  Rowen was close enough to hear the bones in Peron's shoulders snap and she thrust her blade at the god's back.  But, to her utter astonishment, the scimitar snapped clean in half and all that remained in her hand was the old bronze hilt.  She heard Malice laugh at her effort to injure him and she threw a childish fit, swinging her arms everywhere and kicking at his legs.  "Damn you!  You broke my grandpa's scimitar!  Damn you, damn you, damn you!  You stupid jerk face!  You broke it into two little pieces!  Now my mom's gonna break me into two little pieces!  Damn you, you…you…you!"

            "Cease playing the hero before you are seriously injured," came Malice's reply; Rowen was flung backward by some psychic force and was floating in midair under the influence of this mysterious power.  She whimpered.  She was deathly afraid of heights, and she wasn't even six feet off the ground.

            "I'm in my happy place, I'm in my happy place," she murmured to herself, her eyes closed.  And then she heard screaming, blood curdling screaming.  Her organs turned to mush and a sharp chill raced up her spine.  One of her eyes she opened forcefully and she saw blood splattered all over the once green grass.  Malice was kneeling beside a dead Peron doing only Nayru knows what, but she had a good guess.  Green eyes straining for a better look (her heart temporarily stopped in fright of what she would see), the sight she saw was horrid, the horrid one only sees in dreams.  Malice was swathed in blood that was not his own and was devouring the remains of Peron, every last bit of him.  She covered her eyes, wishing Navi were here.  She wanted to feel the little fairy's soothing warmth up against her throat and hear her small, sweet voice in her ear.  "Nayru, Farore, Din, help us all," Rowen whispered to no one as Malice stood upright and turned around.  Nothing was left of Peron except his vermilion blood splashed all over the ground and anything else close to the sight of his death.  Rowen's eyes widened when she saw what he held in his hand: a slowly beating heart. She gnawed at her nails (which her mother had told her numerous times not to do) as he approached her, but he didn't seem to want to do the same to her as he did to the late Peron.  He stopped when he was a foot away from her and she could only watch him swallow the organ whole.  She could see it travel down his throat (or just see the protuberance it formed) and the blood from it trickled down his chin.  He smirked darkly and she wondered how he could consume a full-grown man and not gain an ounce, for he showed no signs of ever consuming the man, with the exception of the blood covering his intensely muscled frame.

            He licked the blood from his lips before speaking.  "Mortals have such a gratifying flavor about them; I am sorry I did not experience this earlier."      

            "Cannibal!" she shot at him, the very picture of anger, hatred, and fear.  "You're a sick psycho, do ya know that?  What kind of idiot eats an entire man and talks 'bout how good it tastes?  That's just plain gross."

            Malice chuckled.  "It is the way of life, my dear.  The weak die and the strong thrive.  I suggest that you grow to accept this; I do not plan on leaving or being defeated any time soon."

            "I ain't your dear and I ain't gonna ever get used to it, not ever!" Rowen spat like an angry feline that has had its tail stepped on or pulled.  "Now put me down and…and…lemme down already!"

            "As you wish."  And, with a simple wave of a hand, she fell to the grass and he disappeared before her eyes.  Rowen sighed, and then remembered that Link was still lying in the middle of the field in unconsciousness.  She summoned Silver Stream to her, mounted, and galloped away to gather him and take him back to the Kokiri Forest so his wound could be dressed.  And she'd get some rest in the mean time and recover her lost nerves.

*          *          *

            Navi returned shortly after Rowen carried Link back to his childhood home.  She was informed of everything Rowen had seen, and her wings drooped sadly at the loss of a friend.  "He was a good guy," the little fairy had said; "He helped teach Link swiftness."

            Rowen sighed.  "I tried to stop that monster, but—my scimitar didn't hold out."  She held up the hilt and the broken blade.  "The moment it touched him, it snapped.  This was a family heirloom, and I broke it.  Without a weapon, I won't last much longer.  Hum, maybe I should go see Biggoron; he's pretty good at fixin' busted swords."

            "Uhm," began Navi, "that's not entirely possible…"

            Rowen snorted.  "Huh, why not?"

            "Biggoron passed away about two years ago.  He may not have looked old, but he's been around a long time."

            "Damn it!  Why don't anyone tell me these things?" the feisty teen growled, banging a closed fist on the small wooden table.  Then she flinched and shook her hand vigorously.  Her fist had struck the broken scimitar blade, slipped, and left a long vertical slash on her wrist.  Quickly she clapped a hand over it to slow the bleeding.  "What am I gonna do now, Navi?  We'll only be safe in the forest for a little while, and without Link here to help defend the Kokiri, gah, I'm overwhelmed!"

            Navi perched on her wounded partner's forehead and looked down at his face.  He was sleeping peacefully, but his expression was unpleasant to the eye.  The fairy sighed and turned a lighter shade of blue.  "Get some rest, Rowen.  I've a feeling we won't have much time for relaxation soon after Link recovers."

            Rowen spat out the carrot she had been munching on.  "Why not?"

            "Well, we have to find you a weapon, figure out a way to stop Malice, and track down Princess Zelda."

            "What?  Why do we have to find the Princess?"

            "She's missing."

            "Oh, great!" said Rowen sarcastically and she leaned back in her chair, almost toppling over backward.  "As if things weren't bad enough.  Whaddaya think happened to her?"

            "Who knows.  Now, rest up.  We've got a lot to do."

            "Right, right," replied Rowen, lying down on her spot on the floor.  She pulled her blanket up over her head and, slowly, drifted off into slumber.

            The water sparkling in the lake gently ebbed in and out in front of her eyes.  The sun sparkled and a soft breeze blew through the short grass.  Lake Hylia was the most peaceful place in Hyrule, completely clear of any evil.  Rowen lay down on the sun-warmed grass, staring up at the sky, and chewing on a blade of the crisp green grass.  The fluffy white clouds drifted high in the sky and wild Guay screeched their horrid, yet beautiful, cries and soared along in small groups of two to three.  She sighed.

            There was a ripple forming on the surface of the still lake.  Rowen sat up to see what caused it and her eyes widened, and then settled down.  She stood and smiled back at the man standing a few feet away from her and approached him as if she had known him her whole life.  "You…you're Luke, right?"

            "Yes."

            "But you…and Malice…and—"

            He silenced her with a finger.  "Hush, all will be explained.  Sit, and we will talk." 

            She obeyed.

            "Is this real?  Or is this a dream?" she asked him, and he took her hand kindly.    

            "It all depends on what you consider real," came the response, and Rowen could not make herself look at him.  His genteel smile faded into an expression of sorrow and vague hatred.  "I know what you think."

            Her words were just above a murmur.  "It has nothin' to do with you, though."

            Luke shook his head.  "It has everything to do with me.  He lived inside me for all those years, and I never knew it.  I could have lived my life peacefully if it wasn't for that cloaked man and those threescore soldiers that I…killed."

            Now she looked up into his dazzling turquoise eyes compassionately.  "It ain't your fault, is it?"

            "I wish that I could answer that, but I can't.  The only thing that I am sure of is that Malice can be stopped.  And I will tell you how, but it is nothing close to simple.  And it must be done before seven moons have passed, before the Red Eclipse, or everything will fall into his hands."

            Rowen eagerly clutched his hands, tighter than intended.  "I'm listenin'!  Tell me; I can do it!"

            "Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, Spirit, Light, Wisdom, Power, Courage, Life.  These are the ones you must protect from his wrath.  And there is more.  There are two masks that he must not obtain.  If even one of the listed is lost, his power will soar higher than ever.  But if all are lost…there will be…"

            Rowen looked completely bewildered.  "Huh?" she said, but he continued on.

            "I…I have foreseen the fate of Hyrule and three other places, two of which are sacred.  Before two moons pass, they will be no more, all four of them.  If you can find the legendary blade Vorflarine, forged by the power of the elements and the goddesses, all of which I have told you can be done.  Remember well what I have told you, Rowen; you will meet again with him after darkness falls and discover the missing one in his clutches.  Protect her, then gather Link and Navi and flee to the castle.  You will know what to do then."  Then Luke stood, having relieved his information to her, and walked off.   

            "Hey, wait!" she called out after him.  "I don't understand what you've said!  Are ya listenin'?" 

            Lake Hylia faded slowly as her mind began to reawaken…

            "Rowen, wake up!  Please, Rowen, wake up!" a small voice begged her and she felt a warm orb press against her throat.  Rowen stirred and opened her eyes.  Navi was hovering in front of her eyes now; her body was a snow-white color.  "He—he found us and—and—he has Zelda."

            The Kakarikan shot up at the mention of Zelda's name.  "No!  Cummon, Navi!" she exclaimed and bolted out the door, jumping down off of the balcony and sprinting toward Malice's almost invisible body.  She collided head-on with him and fell backwards with a frightened gasp.

            "How convenient congregating here with you," Malice said, holding a limp Zelda in his powerful arms.  "Next time, survey the surroundings before you start to dash."

            Rowen snarled at him.  "Give her back!  She b'longs in the castle, not with you!"

            Malice laughed.  "I am not interested in women.  I only care for what she holds within her."

            "What're ya talkin' 'bout?"

            "Before I regained control of Luke, Link revealed precious information to him.  He told of the Triforces of Wisdom, Courage, and Power.  The Triforce of Wisdom lays within this princess, the woman Luke cares for most.  Link holds the Triforce of Courage.  And the last, the Triforce of Power, is in the hands of the Evil King Ganondorf, who is sealed away in the Sacred Realm.  But I am baffled.  The Triforce of Life is the only portion that remains unknown to my comprehension.  It does not matter.  With Wisdom, Courage, and Power, the path to Life shall be exposed and half of my power shall be returned to me.

            "Following the completion of the Triforce, there are other strengths that I must obtain.  From stories that this princess used to tell Luke when he was naught but a child, there are ones called Sages wielding the power of the elements.  Those elements are the other half of my full clout.  And when all are in my grasp, only the Red Eclipse remains, the night that blends all rudiments together and bestows the Ultimate Darkness to me."

            Rowen crossed her arms in pure defiance.  "Nope, that ain't gonna happen."

            Malice smirked, fangs glinting in the full moon's light.  "And why, pray tell, do you say that?"

            "'Cause me 'n' my friends are gonna stop you."

            Expressionlessly, Malice removed Zelda's left glove and stared down at the golden mark imprinted in her skin.  "Try all you might, but you shall fail time and time again."  He placed his left hand on top of hers and, together, their hands glowed black.  Rowen picked up a stone and hurled it at the god, only to find that it ricocheted off and smacked her forehead.  She flinched and stumbled backward with a loud curse that caused Navi to come flying out to see what was the matter.  The little fairy, despite her great fear of Malice, flew underneath the god's arm and attempted to push his hand off of the princesses'.  Nothing happened.  Then the symbol of the Triforce appeared on the back of the murderer's hand and disappeared.  Malice dropped Zelda to the grass, flicked the fairy away, and stepped back.  "Farewell, for now.  You may have your valued princess back; I have no further need for her now that the Triforce of Wisdom is in my hands.  Just three more, and the Black Triforce shall be whole again."

            "Hey, that ain't yours!  Give it back to—he's gone," Rowen said, falling to her knees with a weak whine.  She looked at Zelda, smiled, and crawled over to her.  "She'll die of cold out here.  Gotta get her in a house somewhere.  But I can't carry her up the ladder…shoot.  I guess I could build a fire and get some blankets…what if I accidentally start a big fire?  I could always jump in the pond.  It's got to be cold at this time at night and—and," she abruptly halted.  Zelda stirred and opened her beautiful eyes.  Rowen stood quickly and curtsied, then bowed, then curtsied again.  "Err…g'night, your Righness, I'm Howen—uhm, your Highness, I'm Rowen."     

             Zelda looked around the surroundings in a daze and blinked in confusion.  "Where am I?  How did I get here?  What am I doing here?"

            Rowen stayed in her bowing position.  "You're in the Kokiri Forest, some freaky dude brought you here, and I have no clue what you're doin' here.  I don't think that'll answer any of your questions, but, uhm, it's really cold out here, your Highness, and I think that I—we—us—whatever!  We should go inside."  She pointed behind her and up the ladder.

            The princess stood and dusted off her skirts before looking up at Rowen.  "There is no need for formalities, Rowen.  We are all people; titles are useless when you think of it."

            "Yes, your Hi—I mean, Zelda."           

            Zelda smiled and picked up the glove that Malice had taken off of her left hand and put it back on, ignoring the dirt and dust lining it.  "Is this the house that you are talking about?"

            "Uh huh, it's Link's old house.  It's itty bitty, but big enough for three people and a fairy."

Zelda made her way up the ladder, politely refusing help from Rowen.  Navi perked up all of a sudden and flew in after them with a broken wing.  The fairy settled down on Link's slowly rising and falling chest and rested; Rowen sat on the small, round table and sighed.  Zelda sat on a stool next to Link's feet.  "Something feels different, like I'm missing something."

"Well, uhm, Zelda," said Rowen, "maybe it's 'cuz the Triforce thingy you had is gone.  The winged dude took it away, and I can't remember his name.  Darn my short memory."

Zelda's eyes widened and she removed her left glove again.  And sure enough, it was gone.  She fainted.