Here is the next chapter. I am sorry it took me a while, but I had to update my other stories before this one. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review! Thanks!
Stage Three:
Getting to Know You
Link swallowed hard as he looked over the beautiful stranger. It was the girl he had seen before on the horse. She smiled as if she knew something that he was hiding, which made him nervous. The fact that he lied about being a Hylian soldier made him cringe in front of her. It was something that he shouldn't have lied about, since it was misleading. No matter how big of a lie it was, it didn't seem to bother her. He saw no emotion of disgust or ridicule. Instead he could see interest and delight. He was confused. In his mind it did not make sense. Not at all. Although he always had a hard time in figuring out women. It wasn't his forte.
"So, you're not a soldier?" the girl asked, as she kneeled before him. She did not want him to realize that she was Princess Zelda. If he or anyone found out, it would be a disaster. "You don't seem like one."
His eyebrows raised. He felt surprised that she said that. Not only had he been training so hard to have the skills as a great warrior, but he also had tried gaining the same presence as one. However all of his hard work turned out to be not like he'd thought. "Why do you say that?"
She smiled. "Well, " she started. She knew he wasn't a soldier, since he did not recognize her, which if he were a soldier it would make him a bad one. "You do not have a Hylian shield. Plus you seem…I don't know…You don't look like one?"
"Kokiri aren't supposed to look like warriors. We are only small forest people," he replied, and looked over his wooden shield laying on the ground. "I got my shield from my friend Saria. She made it herself with wood from the Deku Tree."
"If you are a Kokiri, then why do you not have a fairy and why are you tall?" she asked, her curiosity looming in the air. It wasn't often that she got to meet people outside of the kingdom, which gave her a reason to be inquisitive.
He didn't know what to say. Words would not come out of his mouth. Never had he ever really had to answer that question. Sure he was asked, but never did he answer. He kept his identity wrapped around himself and never let go of it. It was important to him. He knew that he was a Kokiri, maybe a deformed one, but he was still of the race. He just felt that he was. Nothing could change that.
Zelda noticed his withdrawn attitude towards her questions. "I am sorry if I am being too curious," she said. "I am always nosey."
He laughed and stood up. "It's okay," he replied. "I get it all of the time." He waved and began to walk away from her.
"Wait. Where are you going?" she asked, and straightened. "Won't you tell me your name?"
He turned. His eyes trickled over her, studying every part. Even out of the moonlight her body gleamed. She was like an angel sent from the heavens. The sight of her made him forget about everything. All of his problems, who he was, who he wants to be, and all that he has become. Everything. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not, but he didn't want that feeling to leave him. Not even for a minute.
"It's Link," he said, and continued to walk away.
Zelda watched him intently as he walked away. She could not take her eyes off of him. She was transfixed, yet she knew nothing about him, only his name.
She was disturbed in her daze when Impa called out to her, "It's time to go. We do not want to worry anyone."
Zelda blinked and looked over at her nursemaid. "Okay," she replied, and began to walk towards her. "Thank you for bringing me, Impa."
"It's not a problem. Anyway I'd rather you tell me when you decide to go for another one of these escapades, okay?" she said.
She nodded. "Yeah. I promise."
Link went to his tree house, where he wouldn't be bothered by the lively festival. Tomorrow was quickly approaching, where he'd be faced with the most challenging event of his life. He knew he was ready, but would he be able to show that without messing up? He had confidence that he was strong and amazing at fighting, but could he hold up against the Hylian army? Compared to them he was just a wanna-be. He never fought monsters or another person for that matter. Of course there is the usual trespasser he gets rid of, but never anything quite as demanding as a whole army with the intent to kill.
He wiped his face with a wet cloth and looked in the tiny mirror. His reflection made him appear strong, fierce, and determined. However he felt ready to collapse. He couldn't shake off his nervousness and the thoughts of him failing. It made him want to go crazy.
"What are you doing?' he asked his reflection. "Why are thinking like that?"
Nothing could answer those questions. He felt left in the dark, and away from his body. He was separated. And he wasn't sure if he could ever become one again.
"Link?" a voice called out. "Who are you talking to?"
He quickly dried off his face and went out into the main room. There he was met with Saria, with a confused look on her face. "Who were talking to?" she asked, again.
He shook his head. "No one, Saria," he replied.
"What a relief," she exclaimed, and fell back against the wall.
He gave her a strange look. He wasn't sure what she meant by saying it was a relief. However he hardly knew what she said most of the time. He always thought it was just a women thing to always be misunderstood.
"What do you mean, Saria, by saying it was a relief?" he asked, and sat down on a wooden chair.
Her cheeks turned red and quickly changed the subject. "Nothing…So are you ready for tomorrow? It's the big day," she said, and nervously smiled.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I am not sure, Saria. I don't think I will make it."
"Why not, Link? You are the greatest fighter I have ever seen. Plus you are very smart and cunning. I don't see any reason for you not to make it," she said. "Just before you showed so much confidence…"
He couldn't look her in the eyes. She was intimidating to him. She had some sort of power over him. She knew every time he lied or when something was bothering him. He didn't like it, since it made it harder for him to pull the wool over her eyes whenever he didn't want to know something.
"I just don't think I will," he replied, still not looking at her. "I am a Kokiri after all…"
"Link," she said softly. She bit her lower lip, looking as if she wanted to say something. She held some secret between her lips that she wanted to tell, but it was hard. She didn't want him to think that she has lied to him every day of his life. "Don't think that way."
"And why not? There has never been a Kokiri to try out for the army and get in," he said, and cracked his knuckles. "I don't have a chance, even I know that."
She quickly shook her head and moved over to him, on her knees. "Link, even a Zora can be as strong as a Goron," she said. "Same for a Kokiri. We are all different races, but that does not mean we are don't have the same traits." She grabbed a hold of his hand, and squeezed it. "Plus you don't resemble a Kokiri, Link. You look like a Hylian. So you are special."
His eyes finally met hers. He could see the tears filling up in her eyes. She looked so tiny kneeling beside him. It made him feel so big. Maybe she was right. She was right about a lot of things, so maybe she was about this too.
"Trust me, Link. I know you could do this," she said, holding back her tears. "If I didn't think you could, I wouldn't let you leave."
Link's eyebrows raised. Something about the look she was giving him made him instantly gain all of his confidence. She had that affect over him. "I trust you, Saria."
She stood up and smiled at him. "Good," she turned and started to walk away.
As she walked, a thought came to Link. "Wait, Saria!" he exclaimed. She turned to him. "A Goron can not swim like a Zora can, because of his weight. So what then, Saria?"
She smiled, tilting her head slightly. "Then the swim in the shallow end," she replied. "There are always ways around obvious limitations."
She left, closing the door behind her. Link sat staring at the door. He felt so much better, even though he still didn't now what she meant by ways around limitations. But he still trusted her.
Zelda collapsed on her bed, the biggest smile gliding across her face. She was so happy. Everything Link had said to her replayed over and over in her head. Even the way he looked at her was burned to her body. She never felt this way before. She felt completely out of her body, but it felt so good. She never wanted it to end.
"Link…" she whispered to herself. "You are like a dream I never want to wake up from."
She kept giggling like a young school girl. It was very un-princess like, but she did not care. He was so handsome and mysterious, traits she always looked for in a man, but never found until now. Finding him made her never wanting to lose him, and it also made her forget about the oncoming war, which was a miracle in itself. She hated knowing about the war, and the few moments of bliss she found because of Link were worth more than she could ever know.
The sun slowly crept up along the horizon, bringing light all over Hyrule. The roosters began to crow, signaling it was morning. Link rose from bed, refreshed and ready to start.
He equipped his armor, weapons, and green tunic. His stomach felt weightless in his body, and his heart was racing. He was nervous, but he knew he could go through it. It would be hard, but he truly and honestly felt that he could succeed.
He had something to eat and quickly hurried out of his house. But as soon as he reached the outside, he was met with a big surprise.
The whole population of Kokiri were outside, clapping and cheering. A huge banner was raised that read: Good Luck Link! They were there to support him. It meant a lot to him, since he always considered himself as an outsider.
"Hooray for Link!" Saria exclaimed, and everyone else repeated.
He smiled and climbed down the ladder. "Thank you so much," he said, once he finally reached the ground.
Saria ran towards him. "Link, we have a surprise for you!" she shouted and grabbed his hand. She pulled him to the center of the village, where a horse stood. She grabbed the reigns and put them in his hand. "This is Epona. She is now yours. We were able to purchase her from Lon Lon Ranch."
He walked next to the horse and stroked its mane. He felt linked to the horse somehow, as if they were always supposed to meet. It sounded silly, even to him, but it made sense in a way. "Epona," he said with a smile. "Thank you, Saria. You didn't have to."
She shrugged her shoulders. "I know, Link, but I wanted to," she said. "I'll miss you."
He looked at her in shock. She had never told him something like that before. Never did she tell him about her feelings for him. She never had the courage to. But something about him leaving made her want to say at least something. In case…they never saw each other again.
To Be Continued…
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