yippee, another chapter!!

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"Link, I'm afraid I've got some horrific news," Zelda said two mornings later, showing him a letter she'd just gotten. "It's Sir Brian and his men, down in Kiara .... they've all been massacred."

"Massacred?" Link asked, taking the letter and skimming over it. "Oh my Goddesses! By--by moblins!"

"And apparently, it's not the first attack," Zelda said quietly. "There was another in Zhulin. They said that Gannondorf is behind it."

"Who else?" Link asked darkly. "He'll never stop with these massacres and careless killings until he gets his hands on the Triforce." He walked over to Zelda, who was sitting on a chair with her head in her hands. "Don't worry, Zel." She stood up and put her arms around him. "I won't let him do anything to you. He'll never get the Triforce, I promise you."

"But how can you be sure?" Zelda whispered. "The dreams I've been having are so....they make it seem as if Ganon is going to take Hyrule right from underneath my fingers. And I can't let that happen, Link!"

"I know," he whispered. "I know."

She tightened her grip on him. "Thanks for always being there for me, Link. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Saria and Malon walked into the library where all this was happening. The former took a step back from shock. Malon glanced at her sympathetically, as if saying, 'This might not be what it looks like...."

"Oh! Malon, Saria, sorry, I didn't notice you there," Zelda said upon seeing them, quickly backing out of Link's arms. "Link and I were just discussing s-some of the massacres going on down south." She passed the letter to Malon.

"That's terrible," Malon muttered, skimming the note. "Moblins again! Those wretched beasts, they destroy everything! Gannondorf is will suffer for all of this, I know he will! He must!"

"We cannot expect a story-book ending from all this," Zelda said. "It could end in disaster. He wants the Triforce, and I highly doubt that anything will make him stop until he is defeated once and for all. And, as we all know, that is not going to be an easy task."

Link glanced over at Saria, who was still hesitating by the doorway. Then he looked away, and said, "There was something I meant to tell you, Princess."

"What is it?"

"I went down to the market today and I found nearly all of the carts overturned," Link said. "I asked some elves what had happened and they said that they'd been raided by moblins. Not only did they steal food and possessions, but several of the horses were taken as well."

"Again with the horses," Zelda sighed.

"But that's just it," Link said. "One lady said her horse had been acting as gentle and kind as usual that morning, until she tied it to a post while she bought some jewelry for her daughter. After the moblin attack, she said her horse looked as if he had gone mad, trampling elves and mauling them at the same time."

"So there was slaughter involved as well?" Zelda asked.

"Yes. These moblin raids are getting out of control. How many knights do we still have in Hyrule?"

"Half of them," Zelda sighed. "I sent one quarter of the army down to Kiara and the another to Zhulin....we've only got the ones at home left. And those are not enough to defeat Gannondorf and his army."

"Malon, Saria, would you two go and find Impa, please?" Link asked.

"Yes, of course," Malon said, as the two of them exited the room.

"Oh Link, what can Impa do for us now?" Zelda asked.

"I don't know," he answered. "But I was just thinking that I should go out and help the others fight. You know I'd do well at it; and besides-- I've had experiecnce fighting against Gannondorf before."

"I know," Zelda said, standing up. "But Link, I'd be too afraid of losing you!"

"We can't worry about that now," Link said. "This is about protecting Hyrule, and I know that's what you want most in your heart. Even if it means putting me out there in the front line."

Zelda looked down and was silent for a few moments. "If....if you were to go out into battle, I would follow you to my death."

Link's eyes widened. "Zelda, you can't do that! I know you're strong enough, but if--if something were to happen to you, Hyrule would have no leader! No one to guide them, you can't go!"

"But I'm doing this for Hyrule, Link!" Zelda protested. "And besides, what would you do with the Triforce if you ever got it? They belong to me, and only I can use it! You need me to go with you!"

"All right, what's the problem?" asked Impa, entering the library with Saria and Malon not too far behind. "These two said it was important."

"It is, Impa," Zelda said. She handed her the letter. "Read it."

"Oh no...."

"Link and I decided we should send out reinforcements," Zelda said. "But it just occured to me that some should stay here to protect Hyrule in our absence."

"In who's absence?" Impa asked, looking up. "You aren't thinking of going too, are you Zelda?"

"Uh, actually, I was," Zelda said. "You see, seeing as how you need me to use the Triforce, I thought that I should go if they should manage to get a hold of it."

Impa stared at her. Then her gaze shifted to Link, and back to Zelda. "That is a wise decision, your majesty. And I believe that I may have acquired some information you might find useful on your escapade."

"Wait, you actually agree with me?" Zelda asked, dumbfounded.

"Of course I do," Impa replied, taking a large book off one of the shelves. "You're eighteen, Zelda, almost nineteen. You're old enough to make these kinds of decisions on your own."

Malon was floored. By the way the Princess carried herself and presented herself, she had guessed that she had been twenty or older. But that would've been awkward, because Link himself was only nineteen. She noticed Saria's hands clench into small fists for some reason, but said nothing.

"Oh my Goddesses, Impa!" Zelda exclaimed, astonished. "Where did you find this?"

"It's something of a long story," Impa sighed. "But you see, that book has been laying underneath your mother's old bed for the past eleven years, and I never bothered to pick it up until a couple weeks ago."

"Why didn't you show this to me before?"

Impa shrugged. "I was waiting for the oppurtune moment."

"If I'm not prying, what is it?" Saria asked, walking over with her sister.

"It's a map of Ancient Hyrule," Zelda said excitedly. "And there's the Triforce, right at--at--oh, schist."

"Death Mountain," Link said. "Great. Right underneath Ganon's nose! But what's funny, though, is that he doesn't even know it's there."

"Amusing indeed," sighed Impa. "Your majesty, may I make a suggestion?"

"Please do."

"Divide what is left of your army into parts and send some off to Kiara, Zhulin, and any other country that is being raided by moblins. Then you and a smaller group should go towards Death Mountain to retrieve the Triforce."

Zelda glanced at Link, then said, "Impa, I think that's a wonderful idea! Why didn't I think of it before? Oh, you're a genius!"

"You flatter me."

"Please, if we could be of any service, we'd be more than eager to help you on your quest," Malon said, bowing. "It would be the utmost honor to serve our country on behalf of our Princess."

"It's going to be dangerous you know," Impa informed them.

"I think they can handle it," Link said, grinning and slapping Saria hard on the back. "These two have guts, I think, and they know how to use their weapons. Isn't that right, girls?"

"Sure is, if I do say so myself," Saria said.

"Well then, why not join us?" Zelda asked. "We could use all the help we can get with this. You two are in. Perhaps you could both accompany Link and I as the 'smaller group' that goes to Death Mountain. Then--"

"Zelda," Link interrupted. "When Impa said a 'small group,' I think she meant more than four people."

"No I didn't," Impa said.

"....oh."

"As Malon said, it would be an honor, your highness," Saria said, bowing. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as possible," Zelda said. "So if you'll excuse me, I must go and speak with what remains of my loyal army." With a sigh, she hugged Impa and the two of them exited the library.

"Do you two still have your weapons with you?" Link asked.

"Yes," answered Saria. "But I'm going to need another horse. I'm still too nervous to go back to my home, and the one I have from here looks about ready to keel over and die, I'm afraid."

"There's probably another horse around here some where," Link said. "So don't worry about it. I'll go find one for you now." After another awkward moment, he quickly walked out of the room.

The two sisters were left in the library, staring uncertainly at each other.

"Are you nervous about this?" Malon asked. "I shouldn't have volunteered you if you didn't want to do it."

"Don't be stupid," Saria said. "I think it'll be exciting. And besides, what would the Princess think of me if you asked to help and I didn't? She'd think I was a frightened baby, that's what. And I want her respect more than anything!"

Malon's eyebrows raised. "Really? After what we saw a few minutes ago, I wouldn't think that....you'd...." She stopped mid-sentence. There was a silence between the two of them, each recalling the passionate embrace they had walked in on earlier.

"Do you think that he likes her?" Saria asked quietly, rubbing her arms with her hands.

"I don't know," Malon said, just as softly. "They could've just been...."

"No, he does! You know it!" Saria said. "And what chance do I have against Princess Zelda? Me, a homely, skinny little forest imp, and her! A gorgeous, accomplished brave royal! Link will never appreciate me!"

"Saria, you aren't homely at all!" Malon said, walking over and hugging her sister. "You mustn't say such things! And you're brave too, you know it! And Link appreciates you, he does!"

"But she's a Prin--"

"Even if Link DID like her, it wouldn't be for her title!" Malon interjected. "Don't you even think of calling him cheap like that!"

Saria was silenced. "This is pathetic," she muttered. "Me, worrying about a stupid little childish crush, when the country is in danger of crumbling. I need to stop my foolish ways, and I think I have." She looked up at Malon and half-smiled. "Wouldn't mother be happy? I've aged a million years in just two seconds."

And with that, she walked out of the room.

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"Good-bye, Impa," Zelda said four days later. "I hope you stay well, and that you will help protect the castle and the Hylians while we are gone."

"Don't worry about me, or about Hyrule, Princess," Impa said, embracing her. "And I know you will succeed on your mission....I've p- prayed to the Goddesses to bring you luck." She began to sniffle a little bit, tears coursing down her cheeks.

"Don't cry for us, Impa," Zelda said, smiling. "Link and I know how to handle ourselves, and I'm sure Malon and Saria do as well. And who knows? We might be home quicker than you think."

And then they were off. None of them knew when they would return or what would happen on this expedition, but all were praying for the best.

Obviously.

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By nightfall they had set up camp. All of them were exhausted from a day of riding and arguing about directions (it took them a while to find out which way was north on their map, until Link discovered the Compass Rose in the bottom corner), and were eager to lie down and rest a bit.

But tomorrow they would have to be more careful about where they slept, because they would be entering a region of Wolfos and Skullkids.

"Link, I can't sleep," Zelda murmured in the middle of the night. "Are you awake?"

"Well, I am now."

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

"It's just that I'm afraid of going to sleep. I don't want to have another dream about Gannondorf and his moblins destroying countries. I get them every time drift off, I can't help it."

There was a silence, and Zelda wondered if he had fallen asleep again. "Come here," Link finally said. "So I can see you."

She hastily picked up her blanket and moved over towards him. "Holy Din, it's freezing out here." Zelda shivered and leaned into Link's shoulder.

He rubbed her arm and said, "Well, I'm closer to what's left of the fire over here, so maybe it'll warm you up a little."

The Princess grinned and said, "Your doing more for me than the flame."

Link reddened, and fortunately the darkness covered his blush so Zelda didn't see it. He sighed and whispered in her ear, "My passion for you is like a flame in a hearth. It grows larger and brighter each time I feel or see you....and like the fire, my love for you will never end until I am gone from this world forever."

"That was very beautiful," Zelda said quietly, blushing fiercely. "Who wrote it?"

"My dear, that was a poem I wrote eight years ago," Link answered. "In a small love letter to a certain little princess."

"That note was from YOU?" Zelda asked. "I had no idea! You never signed it, and I--oh, I knew it sounded familiar! Not a bad poem for someone who was only eleven years old."

"I'm glad I made a lasting impression," Link said, nibbling her ear gently.

"Oh, stop," Zelda giggled, pushing him away. "What would Impa do if she was here, Link?"

"Well, she'd either die from laughter, or drive a stake through my heart," Link answered. Then, in one cobra-slick move, he pushed her down to the ground. "But Impa's not here, is she?"

"No," Zelda breathed. She put her arms up around Link and brought him down on top of her. The Princess ran her hands through his hair, then sighed and kissed his eager lips ardently.

His hands cradled her slightly, brushing through her hair and stroking her face. Zelda's lips moved down Link's neck, moaning with satisfaction. She wondered if Link's flame was burning as bright as hers was.

Malon awoke as she heard a rustling sound in the grass not to far away. Instinctively she reached for her dagger and sat up slightly. She stared for a moment, then silently lowered herself back down. The noise was only Link and Zelda tumbling about in the grass by the fire.

'So Saria was right,' Malon thought to herself. 'Oh, Goddesses, she's going to die when she hears about this.'

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a/n: hope yall liked that! the next chapter is already in progress!!