Chapter 8: So many places, so little time.

As Link mounted Epona he looked westward at the setting sun. It was at the horizon, and waning. He concluded that there was not much he would be able to accomplish in the dark, so he headed back to his house near Lake Hylia. The words of the sage ran through his mind as he rode to his house. He was wondering where Ganondorf would strike next, and how he would get there fast enough. By the time Link had reached his house the sun had set and the moon was waxing. Link dismounted Epona, tied her to a tree next to his house, and opened the door. He took off his shield and sword, and collapsed into his bed, exhausted from the day's events.

Link awoke groggily the next morning when the rooster crowed. He peered out of his window and saw it was sunrise. Link rose out of bed and grabbed his fishing pole to get his breakfast. As Link was fishing he was contemplating what to do next. He decided it would be best if he saw Zelda next. Link felt a tug on the pole and reeled in the fish easily. He prepared it, cooked it, and ate it. Link went back into his house and grabbed his shield and sword, untied and mounted Epona, and rode for the castle. When Link arrived at the castle Mihalich greeted him as usual, and he went to see Zelda in the castle courtyard, Epona tied to a post outside the castle.

"Link, did you succeed"?" asked Zelda.

"I did and I didn't." replied Link

"Well, what do you mean?"

"I arrived in time to save McKay of the Forest, but I was unable to catch Ganondorf."

"McKay is safe, though, right?"

"Yep. He is in the Gardens as we speak"

Zelda breathed a sigh of relief. "The sages are the only ones standing between Ganondorf and the Triforce. The sages are all that matter currently. So long as they remain alive, the world remains safe".

"About that, I'm having a little issue right now. You see, I have no idea of where to go next."

"Remember Link, you were in this position before. This is how you started your quest."

"So basically what I should do now is get on with my life until I hear anything?"

"Well, you should do a little more than that. Just be on the lookout for anything...funny."

"Right. I won't just have Mihalich come in again and say where Ganondorf has struck. Anyhow, it's still pretty early in the day, and I have a sword or two to make that I have kind of been putting off doing. After all, I still do have to make a living".

"Oh, yea, of course. It is kind of sad though, I was hoping that you and I...well...hoping that you would go on a picnic with me" Zelda said as she pulled a picnic basket out from behind a small bush in the courtyard.

"Well, I could always do it later. I mean...it's not like it is that urgent or anything. I still have a couple of days to do it."

"I was hoping you'd say that" said Zelda, as she smiled. Link and Zelda walked hand in hand, with Link carrying the basket, out of the castle. They got on Epona and rode Epona to the top of a small hill, Zelda's arms around Link's waist. Link leaned his sword and shield against a lone tree as they sat under it and opened the basket and began to eat their lunch. They ate without a word spoken between them, only staring dreamily into each other's eyes. Time seemed to stand still as he ate, as if nothing else in the world mattered. When they finished, they kept staring into each other's eyes. Then Link leaned forward a little, as did Zelda, and they closed their eyes and shared their first kiss. When they stopped kissing, they stared into each other's eyes again.

"That was incredible" said Zelda. "That was the first time I've ever kissed anyone"

"It was my first time too. And I'm glad it was with you"

Zelda blushed at this. She saw that the sun was almost setting, and judged it to be about five in the afternoon.

"It's getting to be dinner time, Link" said Zelda. "I should really be getting back to the castle."

"I'll accompany you back to the castle" replied Link. They fed the remaining food to Epona and mounted her. They rode to the castle, and Zelda dismounted Epona when they reached the castle gates. Link and Zelda said goodbye to each other, and Link rode back to his house. For the first time in a while, Link did not have any worries on his mind as he traveled, thinking only about how wonderful Zelda was. Link got to his house, tied Epona to the tree, and went into his house. He undressed, and dreamily fell into his bed, still thinking about how wonderful Zelda was.

Several days had passed since then, and Link went about his normal routine, making swords and delivering them. Link finished working on a sword on particular afternoon and looked outside. He saw it was noontime and he decided he had enough time to make his delivery to Kakariko Village. He mounted Epona, Master Sword, shield, and boomerang equipped, and sword to be delivered in a sheath at Link's side. When Link arrived at Kakariko Village, the villagers were buzzing. Link looked for the person to whom he was going to make a delivery, and gave it to him. The man handed him thirty rupees, and Link asked him why everyone was buzzing about.

"You know the volcano", the villager asked?

"Yes...why, what happened?"

"Well, you know how the volcano has not erupted in a while?"

"Yes"

"Well, it just erupted. Nothing too big, but still, surprising nonetheless. Nothing really happens here, so it is all that everyone has been talking about."

Link thought that this surely qualified as something funny. He knew that the Cave in the Volcano was in this volcano. He thought that he might be able to save the Sage if he left immediately. And maybe, just maybe, he would be able to catch Ganondorf in his mad quest for the power of the Triforce.

"Thanks, that's all I need to know. Say, can you look after my horse, Epona for a bit?"

"Why sure, Link. After all, this sword you gave me is worth way more than thirty rupees. It is the least I could do for you"

"Thanks" Link began to ascend the path to the Cave in the Volcano. Link did not care what time it was, all he knew was that the Sage was in trouble. And that he was the only one who would be able to save him. It took roughly an hour for Link to reach the cave. He stood outside of it, took a deep breath, and walked in, prepared for anything.