Chapter Three
"Over here, Truda," said the King between little snickers. "You did get me wine, didn't you?"
"Yes, your majesty," said the girl with the green skin. She placed a cup before the King. Then she walked over to Zelda and placed a cup before her also. "And some juice for the princess."
"I didn't demand a juice," she said.
"Just drink it," said the King. "This is Truda. I just hired her from Gerudo Valley. She has been waiting all day to see you."
"Whatever," Zelda mumbled to herself as she sipped the juice. All the sudden she felt her throat jolt back and her chest began to burn. She stood up from the table. "I...I..."
"Is everything alright, Zelda?" asked Link.
"I'm fine...I just...need," she clutched her throat. "To go to the bathroom. I'll be back."
She rushed to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. There had been something in the juice Ida had given her.
She returned only a minute later as if nothing had happened. "Hello again to you all."
"You alright, Zelda?" Link asked. "What happened?"
"I have a twinge. Or...I don't know. But I'm fine now. Let's eat."
She raised her knife as if she was going to cut her meat, but the knife had slipped from her hand and dropped to pierce Link on the side of his arm. Link screamed with surprise.
"Oh, my goodness! Link! I'm so sorry."
He backed away from the table clutching his arm. He didn't feel any pain until he saw bright red blood pouring from it. "My gosh! Zelda! Try to be more careful!"
Impa went over to him and helped him up. "I'll wrap that up for you and send you home. I think you had enough with Zelda already."
As Zelda watched Impa take him away, she felt she had stabbed him for a purpose. An evil grin was drawn upon her face. She smiled as if she had planned to do that for a long time.
Chapter Four
Link came back to the castle somewhere around noon with Saria the next day. Zelda had promised her she could come to the castle if she wanted. So she had decided to go today. They walked up to the castle. That's when they heard a scream from the top window. They both looked up to see a shadowy figure raise a hatchet to someone.
Link reacted at once. "Saria! My Hookshot!"
Saria handed him his Hookshot, and Link fired it to the window. The blade at the end drove into the stone wall and pulled him up in seconds.
"Stay there Saria!" He climbed in the window to see Impa on the floor bleeding and clutching her leg. "Impa, what happened?"
"I was attacked by someone!" She didn't look up at Link. "I didn't see who it was!"
Link tried to help her to her feet, but she wouldn't budge. "Come on, get up." He tried pulling harder, only then she stood up. "Impa! Where's Zelda?"
"She and the King went out today. I don't know where they went." She said rather weakly. She limped when she walked.
"I'll get you somewhere safe." He let Impa lean over his shoulder. Then he heard Saria's cry from below.
"Link, come here quick! Hurry!"
Link, Impa, and Saria towered over the dead child as they prayed for mercy.
"Look at the clothes she's wearing," said Link. "She's a Kokiri."
"Do you think she was killed by the same person that attacked Impa?" asked Saria.
"It has to be," he said. "Those wounds weren't made by a sword. They look like..."
"A hatchet..." said Impa finishing his sentence. "And she isn't the only one who was killed."
Link and Saria looked up at Impa.
"What do you mean she wasn't the only one killed?" Saria asked through a trembling voice.
"The air...it smells of blood. And the blood is fresh. There's been a slaughter."
"A slaughter. Not Kokiri Forest, right?"
"Could be. There's only one way to find out."
They raced towards the forest, each praying that what Impa had said was wrong. Link was the first to get there. His face was filled with horror. Impa was next. Her expression, just the same way. Then Saria, and she fell to the ground and began to cry. There was a massacre at Kokiri Forest.
"Oh, my goodness!" Link screamed with terror. "Is there anyone left alive?"
"I don't know..." said Impa frightened. "We should split up and look around."
"Good idea."
"Hold it, you two!" said Saria as she picked up a stone. "Don't go just yet. Look." She threw a stone a Mido's house. Immediately it exploded and burst into flames. "Both of you don't move. Traps are set everywhere. One step and your leg can be blown up. There are traps set near the dead children too."
"I can't believe this!" said Link. He threw a rock to his own house. It exploded too. And everyone noticed a shadowy figure jump right out of his house just as it exploded. The figure landed right in front of them. He had on black clothes and a black mask that covered his face. In his hand was a hatchet.
"It's him!" shouted Saria.
"Are you the one?" said Link to the person.
"He can't be. He looks so young."
"Look at the blood over the costume and the hatchet he's got. That little kid's gone insane."
"Do you think it's a Kokiri?"
"You, kid! So tell me: why did you kill all these people? Answer me! What are you after?"
The person said nothing. Instead he turned to run to the Lost Woods.
"Hey come back!"
Link ran after him taking out his Lens of Truth to see where all the traps were. He dodged them and followed him to the edge of the Lost Woods. Where he stood still in front of him. He cocked his head to one side, trying to figure out who was behind the mask. It was someone young, and it wasn't a man. It was a girl. But he couldn't pick out what girl. Finally he gave in and said, "Let me see your face."
The person slowly took of the mask, revealing her face. Link felt his heart sink as he gazed upon the face of the person...Princess Zelda.
