Title: Broken Promises

Game: Zelda

Rating: G

Genre: Romance

Summary: As peace and order returned to Hyrule, he left. But a certain princess has sworn to herself that she will find her best friend and bring him back.

Warning: none

Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time belongs to Nintendo.

A/N: Well… I hope that all my readers and reviewers aren't dead or have decided to abandon reading this because it took me so freaking long to update… ; Here's the next chapter for all of those who care!

Chapter 14

Tomorrow was certainly taking its time… today's work had been hindered by daydreams of my returning to Hyrule and to Zelda's side. Even though it was midday, I was sure that a week had passed… why couldn't the sun just drop down from the sky and rise again as quickly as possible? But then… from Link's stories, the moon had already almost fallen to the ground, I doubted these people would be able to handle it if the sun did as well.

My senses must have been failing due to my impatience as well- I barely heard Romani approaching.

"You seem dazed," she said, smiling at me.

I grinned and confessed that I could not wait to get home, to which she suggested that I leave tonight instead.

I shook my head, "No. I said I would leave tomorrow and that is when I shall continue to work until. I owe you at least this. You've been so kind to me."

She smiled and I inquired if there was any work she would have me do. She nodded and mentioned that the milk was needed to be delivered to Clocktown; the Gorman brothers had gotten into a rather violent fight earlier in the morning and were both in bed nursing their bruises and broken bones, in no condition to work, let alone drive a cart to the town. I nodded and went to saddle up the horses, the milk canisters having already been placed upon the back of the cart. After some brief directions from Romani as to how to find my way to Clocktown, I was off, accompanied only by the steady rhythm of hooves against the ground, the rumbling of the wooden wheels and the clinking of the canisters against each other.

Link pointed out a small wooden sign, "That's the start of the road to the ranch."

Zelda looked over to where Link had pointed. The entrance seemed rather narrow, as it was at the point where two hills that ran parallel to each other flattened down into the rest of the landscape. (A/N: I'm writing this from memory, people… don't kill me if it's wrong )

"Come on," he said, urging Epona forward and galloping towards the ranch.

Zelda followed, her horse falling into speed with Link's as she rode beside him, she too focused on the road ahead and finding Sheik and Link too focused on meeting an old friend for either of them to notice a large vulture that slowly encircled them overhead, before swooping at Link.

A flapping of wings was heard, followed by a shout of pain from Link and a scream of fear from Zelda and the vulture flew south, towards the swamp, gripping its prize in its talons- Link's ocarina.

"That bird stole my ocarina!" he yelled, pulling sharply on Epona's left rein so that she would turn and galloped after it.

Zelda, who was not as skilled, nor as used to horses as Link was, had no control over her horse who became flustered as Epona quickly turned and sped in the opposite direction to where she was going originally. The horse reared and Zelda let out a scream and clung to its neck for dear life, agitating the horse, which also made a sharp turn and sped after Epona.

"Link!" Zelda screamed, keeping her eyes shut out of fear of what she would see if she opened them.

Her horse, becoming more frightened due to her screaming, bucked and sent her flying off, falling into a heap on the ground. The sharp pain had only registered itself in Zelda's mind for a split second before she passed out, her horse still pursuing Epona.

Link couldn't hear Zelda's screams, for his ears were pounding with the sound of his blood, his face turning red with rage as he watched the wretched bird fly off higher and higher with his most prized possession within the tight grip of its talons. Pressing his knees hard against Epona's sides, he drew his bow and strung it, taking aim, before hesitating. What if the ocarina broke when it hit the ground as the bird fell? He couldn't risk it… could he? He shook his head roughly, no… that ocarina's magic went beyond its songs… no matter what he did whilst carrying it, even if he fell from the top of Death Mountain, it would always remain in once piece… today would be the same… there was nothing to risk.

"Die, birdie," he growled as he took aim again and let fly, his left hand, now free for he no longer held the arrow returning to Epona's rein as he watched the bird spread its wings before becoming limp and plummeting to the ground.

Tugging at Epona's reins to make her speed up, he held out his arm and caught his falling ocarina, which had been released from the bird's grips as it was hit. With a smile of victory, he looked around for Zelda, his smile vanishing the instant he realised he had no idea where she was.

Of course, while Link was chasing the thieving bird and Zelda lay unconscious on the ground just in the entrance to Southern Swamp, a milk cart clattered by on the road not too far away from them, yet far enough for the driver- Sheik- not to notice either of them.

When Zelda next opened her eyes, the first thing she saw were Link's own azure orbs, looking at her with great concern.

"Umm-"

"I'm sorry," Link cut her off, "I… I should have remembered about that annoying bird… it has a penchant for stealing things from unwary passers-by… and I guess I fell into that category."

Zelda blinked, still feeling a bit dizzy. Noticing the bleeding scratch across Link's cheek, she reached up to touch the skin near it.

"It's nothing," Link said, shaking his head, "Just a scratch, I've had worse."

Zelda smiled and gently brought Link's face down towards hers, her intentions clear.

Link hesitated and pulled back, out of her reach, "We have to get to Romani Ranch soon, if we plan to be back on the road before nightfall."

She nodded, trying to pretend that she didn't feel hurt because he pulled away.

"You weren't out cold for long, luckily… we would have had a huge disruption in our planning, otherwise," Link said as he mounted Epona.

Zelda stood up and found that her horse had been tied to a nearby tree.

"Your horse got quite a scare," Link said, looking at it, "I caught it before it ran too far towards Snowhead. That's no place for a horse."

"Thank you," she replied quietly and mounted after untying it.

"No problem, let's just get on to Romani Ranch eh? The sooner the better, I reckon," Link replied, avoiding looking at her.

Zelda hung her head slightly as she rode behind him, aware that she had made Link feel uncomfortable when she tried to kiss him and feeling extremely embarrassed and angry with herself.

"Hey look I-"

"It's okay," Link replied quietly, "I understand."

"Really?" Zelda murmured, though only she could hear it, "I don't."

They were soon at the entrance to Romani Ranch and Link looked around, "Doesn't seem to have changed much… that's a good thing."

"This is the ranch? All I see is… an expanse of land…" Zelda said.

Link pointed diagonally to his right, "That's where the house and cattle shed is. Romani used to live there with Cremia," he then pointed straight ahead, "That's where the cuccoos are kept, and there's a dog racing track there as well. A hidden bonus of the ranch, I guess. The cows are allowed to graze in the rest of the land."

Zelda nodded in comprehension and they set off where Link had first pointed- towards the house.

"Halt! Who goes there?" a voice came from behind them.

Link twisted backwards to look at one of the Gorman brothers, carrying a pitchfork over his shoulder and wearing the same menacing look he had worn years ago.

"Link, remember me?" Link replied, a hint of scorn in his voice.

The face of the Gorman completely changed, to poorly hidden fear and respect, "Link, sir! I had no idea you were in the area! How kind of you to stop by, sir!"

Link grinned, "And what are you doing here? Not stealing cows, I'd hope?"

The ex-thief shook his head rapidly, "No no no, sir. My brother and I work here now."

Link raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Really? That's something I wouldn't have imagined."

Gorman laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck; "I should be getting back to work… I'm sure Miss Romani would be at the house or in the cow shed."

Nodding their thanks, the Hylians watched Gorman scuttle off as quickly as he could without looking like he was trying to get away from Link as quickly as possible.

"So, let's get going to see Romani then," Zelda said, smiling.

Link nodded and led the way to the ranch house, knocking on the door. There was no response so he knocked on the door of the cow shed instead, which was opened after half a minute, by a rather tired and messy looking red headed girl, about Link's age, give or take a few years.

Her blue eyes widened considerably as she took in the man dressed in green before her, her jaw dropping before she screamed out, "LINK!"

The Hylian in question grinned and nodded in a way that sent chills up Romani's spine. Her hand went into her messy tangled hair as she realised how she looked like and in addition, noticed the rather attractive blonde woman standing beside Link, both facts making her heart sink past her stomach.

"I…need…a…bath…" she stammered, her eyes still wide and her movements rigid.

Link smiled comfortingly, "Sure, we'll wait outside in the paddock. This is Zelda, by the way, Queen of Hyrule. She's my friend."

Zelda smiled and Romani returned with a timid smile, bowed slightly and then ran out of the cow shed without another word; her eyes tightly shut as her mind ran over all possible meanings of the word 'friend'

A/N: I think the next chapter shall be the last… but I can't be sure until I write it ;)

Now review, all you wonderful still-alive people!