Chapter Six: Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...

A/N: Well, we're almost finished. Only two chappies left after this. (sniffs) I can't believe it. I had so much fun writing this story. (sobs) Thanks to Miss Piratess, Malon Aniku (Yay, you're back!), and zeldaisthebest. I hope you like this!

While Lute and Cassandra were heading to Aranel's cave via Kaepora Gaebora, the folks at Hyrule Castle were busy.

Making wedding arrangements.

Zelda was being fitted for her bridal gown. It was white silk, embroidered with diamonds and pearls. Her train was six feet long, and her veil was made of the sleekest satin available. Her golden locks had been brushed untilthey were a glossy sheet, and her cheeks were blushed pink. She was ecstatic, one of loveliest brides Hyrule had seen in a long time.

You may wonder why she was so happy. She wanted to marry Link, not Lute, right?

Why, of course she did! Who'd you think she was marrying?

This was the reaction Impa had received when she asked Zelda the same question. The Sheikah was bewildered, as well as indignant.

"What about the prince?" she asked King Daphnes.

Daphnes was annoyed. "I never wanted him to marry my Zelda in the first place."

"But what about when he comes back? You know what Xenos' army is like! His father will declare war on us!" Impa insisted.

"He won't come back!" Daphnes roared. "Do you take me for a fool?"

Impa didn't say anything out loud, but she was fervently thinking, Yes!

"No one can defeat Aranel!" Daphnes continued. "Fifty-two knights and princes have tried – and failed!"

"This boy seems different," Impa said. "He's knows what he's up against. He's not dumb."

"Are you saying I am?" the King challenged.

"No, Your Majesty," Impa replied, bowing. "But I have faith in him."

Before Daphnes could bluster a reply, the cook ran in. "I don't know if there's going to be enough flour for a cake that big! How can you expect me to make all this food on such short notice? It's impossible!" he whined.

"You're dismissed," Daphnes said, waving a hand at Impa. She sighed and left the throne room.

Back in Zelda's chambers, the princess was having a fit.

"But I want a pink dress!" she screeched.

"But Princess, pink's not for weddings," one of her ladies-in-waiting tried to explain.

"I don't care!" Zelda insisted. "I want pink!"

"Link would like white better," the lady-in-waiting said slyly.

"He will?" Zelda asked, suddenly straightening up. "Well, in that case ..." she trailed off. "What about the flowers? Can they be pink?"

The lady-in-waiting shook her head. "Yes, Princess."

At Lon Lon Ranch, Malon was twining a pink ribbon through the mane of Zelda's mare.

"I can't believe the King would do something like this!" she exclaimed, stamping her foot. "That prince was gullible, but sending him off to his death is wrong! And then marrying Zelda behind his back?" she huffed.

Nabooru, the Spirit Sage, and a recently acquired friend of Malon's, simply shrugged. "He didn't have to go if he didn't want to."

Malon angrily knotted the end of the ribbon. "Daphnes knew he would. Men are so egotistical that it makes them look stupid."

"So Link is just egotistically misunderstood?" Nabooru asked.

"No, Link's just stupid," Malon replied, brushing the mare's coat. "That's why he and Zelda belong together."

All the residents of Hyrule Castle Town had been invited to the wedding, and it was quite a turnout (due to the fact that there was free food). The guards were having a time controlling the crowds, and when a fight broke out over a chicken leg, more than a few guests were escorted out of the castle.

At the top of Death Mountain, Kaepora Gaebora gently lowered Cassandra and Lute to the mountain path.

"Well, here you are," he hooted. "Would you like me to explain how to enter a dragon's lair?"

"No!" Lute and Cassandra shouted.

The bird shrugged. "Fine. I'll be on my way now. Farewell!"

"Thanks for the lift!" Lute called, and he and Cassandra waved until the bird was out of sight.

"He means well," said Cassandra when he'd disappeared. "He just talks too much."

"Too much?" Lute grinned. "That's an understatement."

They laughed for a moment, because they were now standing outside Aranel's cave and were trying to make this little bit of merriment stretch. They both knew that it might very well be their last.

When their laughter died away, they bade each other goodnight and fell into restless slumber.

The next morning, they woke with the sun.

"How'd you sleep?" Cassandra yawned, her bright red curls in tangles.

"About as well as you did," Lute replied drowsily.

When they'd eaten breakfast and washed their faces with water from their canteens, they sat rigidly for a bit. Cassandra stared at Lute intently for some time.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, uncomfortable under her constant gaze.

"No, it's just that ... if we live through this, there's something I have to tell you."

"And would that be?" Lute prodded jokingly.

But she was dead serious. "I mean it, and it's important."

Lute's smile faded quickly.

"He's home," Cassandra breathed, her emerald eyes now on the cave entrance.

"How do you know?" Lute asked.

She tapped one of her long, pointed ears. Lute nodded, embarrassed. "Oh."

They looked at each other, then entered the cave. Suddenly, Cassandra gripped Lute's arm tightly. "There he is!" she whispered, pointing to the far side of the cave.

A dragon sat at a table, his black scales andgolden horns shining in the morning sun. He was at least fourteen times Lute's own height, and hisgolden claws were each the length of Lute's leg. Cassandra made a small noise of fear, and the dragon looked in their direction abruptly.

Lute quickly unsheathed his sword and tried to push Cassandra behind him. Midway, she caught his hand and held it. "You said I could help," she reminded him.

"No, I didn't," Lute replied. "I said you could come in. There's a difference."

"I don't care," she insisted. "I'm helping."

Lute realized there was no arguing with her. "Fine," he said, squeezing her hand. "We're in this together."

"Who are you?" asked the dragon. "Come here!"

Lute took a deep breath. He walked up to the table, where the dragon was – reading and drinking tea?!

"Not another one," Aranel said after he could see them. "Would you like to leave, or will you be stubborn and force me to cook you?"

"Were you just drinking tea?" Lute asked, all his fear forgotten.

"Why, of course," Aranel replied. "Why wouldn't I be drinking tea? It's quite normal."

Lute and Cassandra gaped at him in shock.

A/N: So? I know this chappie wasn't as funny as the others, but I can promise you that the next will make up for it. And in the end, you're in for a surprise!