Chapter One

"This was a wonderful idea, Zelda."

Zelda was lying on her back on the grass. "I know. Daddy and Impa think I've gone to spend the night in the Kokiri Forest. It's so perfect."

"And Saria thinks I'm staying at the castle," Link added. He also lay back on the cool grass and gazed up at the stars above. It was a perfect, clear night.

Saria didn't have any authority over Link the way King Harkinian and Impa did over Zelda, however she was certain to have had the same reaction as them if Link or Zelda had told her their real plans for the night. All three would have been dead against their idea.

"Nobody knows we're here," Zelda spoke the words just as Link was thinking them. She let out a small giggle. Link suddenly felt a little awkward. He couldn't understand why, so he sat up and threw some more wood on the nearby fire. Zelda sat up too, and she looked as though she was about to say something, but she suddenly stopped. Link followed her gaze, and was captivated by the still beauty of Lake Hylia at night. The dark water was smooth like a sheet of glass, and occasionally a slight breeze would create tiny ripples that expanded out across the lake and lapped at the shore.

A few hours earlier, Link and Zelda had set up a small tent on the grass about thirty feet away from the water. It was positioned near a clump of bushes, so that it was hidden from the fishing pond, the lakeside laboratory, and the main entrance to the lake. Zelda had wanted to camp on the small island in the middle of the lake, but Link thought it was too visible a spot.

Link turned his gaze back to Zelda. She was still staring out at the lake, looking deep in thought. The firelight was reflected in her golden hair, making it sparkle, and shadows danced across her face. She had abandoned her traditional royal garments in favour of a plain dress that she had made Link buy her from the market many months ago. Zelda often complained about how heavy and uncomfortable her royal clothes were, and she loved that dress. Link knew that she was enjoying being free, even if it was just for one night, from being the Princess of Hyrule. She could always be herself when she was alone with Link, without having to put on manners and phony graces. And Link knew he could always be himself around Zelda. He could talk to her about anything.

Zelda saw Link staring at her, and she looked at him. Their eyes met for a second, and Link looked away. When he looked back, Zelda was still staring at him.

"Link, I'm so happy. I wish we could stay here forever."

A cool breeze blew across the lake. Zelda shivered, and drew her knees up to her chest.

"Maybe it's time we went to bed," Link suggested.

Zelda looked as though she was about to protest, but she agreed. Link sat and kept himself warm near the fire while inside the tent Zelda changed into a nightgown. He piled on some extra wood to ensure that it would burn through the night. If it was cold now, it would be freezing without the fire.

When Zelda re-emerged in the doorway of the tent, Link suddenly felt uncomfortable again. Whenever he stayed at the castle, he had always slept in a guest bedroom. And if Zelda stayed in the Kokiri Forest, Link always let her have his bed, while he slept on the floor. A couple of times she had stayed with Saria. This tent was awfully small.

"Are you going to sit by the fire all night?" Zelda asked. "I thought you wanted to go to sleep. Come on, I'm tired too."

Link stood up and entered the tent. He spread his bedding on the right side of the tent, and Zelda did the same with hers on the left. While Zelda snuggled under her thick blankets, Link removed his boots, cap, sheath and belt and piled them in a corner. He then climbed under his blankets.

"Goodnight, Link."

"'Night Zelda."

All of a sudden Link didn't feel so tired. He moved around, trying to find a comfortable position, and ended up lying on his back. Next to him, Zelda was also trying to get to sleep. Despite her thick blankets, she was beginning to feel cold again.

"Link?" Zelda whispered, "Are you asleep?"

"No," Link replied immediately.

"I'm freezing," Zelda said.

Link was used to sleeping in the cold, but he agreed with her. "Yeah, it is a bit cold tonight."

"I heard that body heat helps you to stay warm. Move closer and lie against me; let's see if it works."

Again, Link felt awkward.

"Come on, I don't bite!" Zelda said, "I'm just cold."

Link shuffled over until he was lying right against her. Zelda rolled over so that she was facing him, and he did the same. Almost at once he began to feel warm, especially in the places where he could feel her through their blankets.

"I'm feeling warmer already," Zelda whispered, and she smiled at Link. Their faces were very close. In the soft light that the fire and moon filtered through the tent walls, Link could easily make out her delicate features. A warm, happy feeling spread through his body and he relaxed and dozed off. In his half conscious state, he couldn't work out if he was dreaming or not that Zelda put her arm around him as they lay there.

The next think Link knew, he was being shaken awake by Zelda. It was still dark, so he knew he hadn't been asleep for very long.

"Link!" Zelda said urgently.

"What?" he asked.

"Did you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"Noises! Outside the tent!" Zelda looked pale.

Link lay still and listened hard. "I don't hear anything," he said after a few moments.

"Shhh!" Zelda hissed. "Listen!"

Link listened again, and was about to roll over and go back to sleep in frustration when he heard it. The sound of bushes rustling, and then something that Link was almost certain sounded like footsteps.

"I'll check it out," Link whispered. Taking care not to move around too much and make a noise, he pulled on his boots and picked up his sword. He crawled to the front of the tent, crouched for a moment, muscles tensed, and then leapt out of the tent brandishing his sword.

Something long and hard knocked the sword out of Link's hand. The blow was so fierce the pain reverberated all the way up his arm to his shoulder. At the same time, he felt a sharp pain in his back. He turned around to see three women standing in front of him. They were Gerudo. One held a bloody dagger. Link felt a warm liquid begin to flow down his back, and he dropped onto his knees. The shock of the sudden attack had weakened him, and all he could do was watch as Zelda stuck her head out of the tent.

"Link?"

She was grabbed by two of the Gerudo, who dragged her out of the tent and flung her onto the ground. Her wrists and ankles were bound, and then she was hoisted up onto a nearby horse. One of the Gerudo mounted the same horse, while the other two stood above Link.

"What about this one?"

"Filthy man! Shall I cut off his head?"

"Leave him. His wound is fatal," the horsewoman said. She stared down at Link, but Link was having trouble focusing on her. Black spots danced across his eyes. He could make out the Gerudo talking as they mounted their horses and rode away and he could see Zelda screaming, but all he could hear was a buzzing in his ears. He could feel the back of his tunic clinging to him, warm and soaked with blood. Then dizziness hit, and he fell forwards and landed face down in the grass. Darkness brought relief from the pain.