The crisp morning air flowed into the small wooden houses of the Kokiri Village. The little Kokiri children emerged into the soft sunlight and stretched out their young limbs and yawned peacefully. Rowen climbed down the ladder, Zelda following closely behind, and walked to the small pond of clear water. Kneeling, Rowen submerged her whole head underneath and washed her hair. She drew her head out now and shook it, sending water flying from her black hair and sprinkling a tired Zelda. "Cummon, Zelda, wake up. We got a lot to do today and the next day and the next day."
Zelda cupped her hands and dipped them in the water. "I know."
Rowen put an arm around the princess of Hyrule. "Cheer up, it ain't the end of the world. Yet."
Zelda grinned a bit now. "You have a way with words. Has anyone ever told you that?"
"Yeah, but it ain't the truth."
"No, it's very true, Rowen. Have you ever considered becoming a writer?"
Rowen shook her head and smirked. "Nah, it's not me. I don't have the patience to sit and write stuff down on a parchment for a long time. I like to roam and play with sharp, dangerous things, like my damn broke scimitar—oh, excuse me. I mean dumb broke scimitar." She bit her lip in embarrassment. "I got a problem with controllin' my language. Sorry."
The future queen of Hyrule sipped at the water in her hands before speaking. "It's all right. The knights in the castle curse a lot, too. I've grown used to it."
Rowen took off her boots and stockings and dangled her feet in the water, kicking up little waves. "Used to it huh?" she asked while looking at a little minnow swimming around her feet. "Do ya ever say anythin' bad?"
"Occasionally."
She laughed. "I can't imagine ya sayin' anythin' mean or nasty or dirty. I mean, you're a princess, ya know? Princesses are s'posed to be perfect in, like, every dang way possible!"
Now Zelda had to smile. "Then I'm not your average princess."
"Guess not." Rowen grinned brightly. "That's cool, though. My mom gets on me all the time 'cuz of my attitude and all that other crap. She's so dignified and dainty that I wonder if she's even my mum. Do ya ever feel like that?"
Zelda's eyes dropped the bottom of the shallow pool. "I never knew my mother. She died after I was born."
"Oh, uhm, I'm sorry; I never shoulda asked 'bout your mom. I kinda forgot that not everyone has a mom."
"No, it's fine. You didn't know."
"I feel stupid now."
"Don't," said Zelda, taking her friend's hands in her own. "Don't ever feel bad about yourself. You're perfect the way you are. I don't ever want to hear you say that again."
"'Kay."
"Zelda, Rowen," a familiar male voice said from behind the two talking young ladies. They turned around to see Link standing there with a weakened smile. Rowen, very mother-like, stood up with a stern glare and marched over to him. She pointed back toward the house above the ground.
"Bad Link, get back inta bed. You ain't s'posed to be awake now after that conk to your noggin," she scolded, only half serious.
Link chuckled. "That's a nice wake-up call."
Rowen grinned at him now and squeezed him tight. "I'm just kiddin', big guy; come here and give your buddy Rowen a big hug!"
"I can't breathe," he gasped out from her embrace. She quickly let go and kicked the dirt until he ruffled her hair playfully. "That's a nice good morning."
"You feel better?" said Zelda. "I'm glad."
Link placed his hands on his hips. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the castle with your father and the knights."
Zelda sighed. "We…we need to talk about that."
* * *
"God damn it!" he exclaimed, tossing his bow away. It was useless with no arrows and he had missed his target each time. Usually, he was unbeatable when it came to archery, but something was throwing his aim off today. He scowled and kicked his bow with a loud curse. "Damn you, stupid thing!" The bow jumped across the grass and fell into the river leading to Zora's Domain with a splash. An Octorok popped its ugly head out and squeaked angrily at the man on the shore and spat out a large rock. The man, who hadn't been paying much attention, was smacked hard in the gut and flung backward. He stood quickly and gave the beast the finger, but of course it didn't understand. He picked up an equally large rock and threw it at the Octorok. The rock got stuck in the beast's constantly open mouth and suffocated the hideous thing; he snorted at the lifeless corpse and hopped over the quick river to the other side of the bank. "Serves you right for hurling damn rocks at me."
He'd have to get a new bow soon.
He looked up at the blue morning sky and snarled. Too bright. He was not one for bright things; he was much too nocturnal. Sometimes he wanted to shoot an arrow up at the sun, but he knew that it would fall short. The thought didn't change his mind much, though.
Continuing on his way to the Zora he was supposed to meet halfway to the Domain, different thoughts drifted through his subtle mind: the death of his family, betrayal, murder. Just the thought of it made him sick. Sure, he had killed his parents, but it was a complete "accident". Then he lied to his friends and discontinued speaking to them, and when one had gotten too nosy, he took up his bow and put an arrow through his head...the memory of that day was vague. Then he left, determined never to return. It was then that he had grown cold, hard, and emotionless. There had been a time when he cherished life and everything about it, but that time had ended long ago. And he didn't care anymore.
"Kirek," a voice said to him and he turned to face the Zora lounging in the river. "You made it."
Kirek sat on the riverbank. "Yeah, so?"
"You worried me. You're later than usual."
"Get to the point," Kirek snapped ferociously, leaning forward only slightly. "I didn't come all this way for you to lecture me, Ruza."
The Zora, Ruza, laughed. "You always say that."
"No shit," came the reply. "Now hurry up with whatever you need to tell me; I've got other more important things to do."
Ruza approached Kirek cautiously. She knew of her friend's horrible temper. "Listen good, Kirek. There's something I need you to do for me."
Kirek put his hands behind his head. "Yeah?"
The Zora sighed. "Be serious; this is important."
"And so is my time and patience."
"Will you just be quiet for a minute?" she demanded loudly, startling Kirek. He stared at her slightly wide-eyed and crossed his arms. "Thank you. Now, you do know of the escape of the prisoner in the castle dungeons, correct?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well, uhm, I don't exactly feel safe with a convict on the loose so do you think you could track the guy down and return him to the prison?"
"I suppose so. But I don't see why this is any of my business."
Ruza sighed. She reached down to the bottom of the river and pulled out a heavy, brown leather bag. She threw it up on the shore by Kirek's feet and he picked it up. "I'm ready to pay you five-hundred Rupees if you take on this task."
Kirek tossed the bag up and down in his hand, delighted. "Yeah, I'll do it." He smirked. "Where did this guy go, anyway?"
She rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, he was last seen with the Hero of Time in the castle, but no one knows anything else. The two of them vanished near the courtyard; any further details are unknown. I'm sure the guards will let you in the front gates if you tell them that you are there to inspect the escape."
He scowled. "I've done this kind of stuff before; you don't need to tell me how to do my job. Heh, while I'm in the bazaar, I can find a new bow."
"What happened to your old one?"
"I kicked it into the river."
Ruza almost slapped her forehead. "That's the third one in two weeks. Dirai can provide you with another, but you can't keep getting them for free. Sorry."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just take some of these Rupees and get me a good damn bow. No weak wooden shit; it breaks too easy." Kirek opened the pouch and withdrew two hundred of the small gems and placed them in her open hands. Clasping them tightly so she didn't drop any in the water, Ruza swam swiftly off to the Domain to pay Dirai a visit. And in the meantime, Kirek would take a dip in the cold water and hide under the bridge near the entrance to the Domain until she returned. There wasn't much light there.
* * *
"Yeah, and he busted my grandpa's scimitar too!" Rowen angrily exclaimed, holding up the two separated shards of the broken blade. "When I see him again, argh! My poor, poor scimitar; I barely knew it."
"There are other, more important things to discuss, Rowen," Link replied sternly and Zelda nodded in agreement. "We have to consider all that Malice—"
"That's his name?" interrupted Rowen. "Oh, I was just callin' him other stuff, like—"
"Shh," said Zelda.
Link continued: "—can do. If what you say is true, Rowen, he will eventually come after me and Ganondorf."
Zelda breathed easily now. "But Ganondorf is trapped inside the Sacred Realm. Malice can't get to him."
Rowen held up a hand in question. "Hey, uh, what is the Sacred Realm?" Neither Link nor Zelda answered; they were busy in conversation. Rowen crossed her arms and snarled at the table. "Ignore me, huh. Last time I do anythin' for anyone."
Suddenly Zelda grabbed her hand. "Rowen, we're going to pay a little trip to the Chamber of Sages. Bring Navi; I'm sure Saria can help heal her wing. Hurry now; we don't want Malice to discover our plan."
"Wha-? Chamber of Sages? Saria? I'm confused! Somebody explain!" They weren't listening again.
Link nimbly hopped up on Epona's back and gave Zelda a hand up. Rowen summoned Silver Stream and they were off for the Temple of Time.
* * *
Kirek had set off again, a new bow in his hands. It was good, strong wood and was easy to pull back. His aim was right-on again; he had shot two Guay down simultaneously with a single arrow. Dirai was skilled in the art of bow making and his prices were fair as well. Kirek set an arrow in place and roamed about the Field searching for signs of the escapee and the Hero. Nothing. No movement, no sound, nothing. He kicked at the dirt and growled.
Hoof beats.
He turned his head toward the noise and saw two beautiful horses galloping toward the castle. And, of course, he recognized the Hero of Time's horse. That horse almost never left his side and he often rode about the country on her back. He hated the horse almost as much as he hated the Hero of Time. Kirek drew back the bowstring and took careful aim, preparing for a shot at the ground before the mare's front feet. He didn't plan on killing anyone or anything. Yet. He would save that for…later. He could not help but smirk. This was too good…
The arrow was loosed. The mare reared back and neighed, startled. The riders held on tight. The black stallion was halted and turned to see what had happened. Kirek dashed forth, drawing a long dagger from his belt. It was stained crimson from many bloody battles, out of which he had always claimed victory. A black-haired girl pointed toward him and shouted something; the blonde man looked in his direction and drew a glittering silver blade. "Drop your blade," the man said, his sword pointed at Kirek's chest. Kirek snarled at him viciously and said something horrid. Then the two of them engaged in furious battle, the two young women watching from the sidelines. The regally dressed one hid her eyes, but the other in the black tunic whooped and cheered the blonde on.
"Cummon, Link, beat his sorry ass into the dirt!"
Link shot her a stern glance. "Rowen, be quiet! I can't…" he parried his opponent's blow and staggered backward, quickly regaining his balance, "concentrate!"
"Well, excuse me for supporting you!"
"Zelda! Take Rowen to the Temple of Time. Don't wait for me to get there; go see Rauru. Hurry!"
Zelda nodded and the two horses sped away. Rowen looked back and saluted Link with the hilt of her scimitar. "G'luck and be careful! We'll be waitin' for ya!"