(This chapter is later than I would have hoped. I would give excuses, but you are here to read the story and not my excuses about an overheating computer.)

Greki: Nice to know you are enjoying the story. Thank you for the compliment (and for reviewing).

As they neared the entrance Link's trepidation grew, he could feel it in his stomach, an unpleasant heavy feeling, like his soul was sinking. David turned the handle and pushed the door. It gave a small groan as it opened on its well used hinges and they both walked into the school.

They found themselves in a white hallway; the walls were lined with various paintings and projects that the children had done in previous years and through the door on the right at far end of the hall they could hear muted voices.

Walking down the hall, Link looked at the art on the walls and asked 'Do you have a picture on the wall?'

'No, I never was any good at art. I did make that though.' David said and pointed at a small, crude wooden sculpture of a sitting Goron on a table. Alongside it were other crude carvings of a Zora with its arms crossed and a Deku Scrub with standing on a pile of leaves.

'Why have you carved a piece of wood to look like a rock?' Link said knowingly, trying to provoke a reaction.

'It's not a rock. It's a Goron.' David said calmly. 'It does need a bit more work…'

'A bit?' Link said.

'…but it's not bad for a twelve year old.' He continued, ignoring Links comment.

Link looked at it for a moment and said: 'I guess it's not that bad.'

'Come on.' David said who had continued walking as Link took time to look at the figure.

Link ran to catch up and they continued to the door at the end of the hall. They paused for a moment outside the door and as David turned the handle the talking from inside the room stopped and he pushed open the door. To find the teacher standing with a group of parents in front of a large blackboard that took up most of the wall.

'Come in.' she said.

'Are we late?' David asked as he walked into the room, Link following close behind.

'You're just in time.' She said 'I was just about to explain what I will be teaching the children and addressing any concerns that your may have. She continued as David and Link walked towards the group.

'You go and take your place, Link.' She said and directed him to the desks where the other children were sitting and talking amongst themselves.

Link walked slowly towards the desks while the children and the parents continued to talk. Looking around the room he could see that despite the size of the room there were few children to fill it, as he looked one of the girls in the room caught his attention.

She had blond hair and blue eyes, just like Link did; apart from her hair was shoulder length and was well groomed, whereas Link had a just-got-out-of-bed style. There was something about her that caught his attention, so much so that he walked into a desk. Fortunately it didn't look like anyone had noticed as he continued to walk to the desk next to hers.

As he sat down came a voice from behind him. 'Hey!'

Link turned round to see a girl with long red hair and green eyes. She was wearing a simple white dress with a pattern in blue going round the bottom of the sleeves and she was wearing an orange neckerchief round her neck held in place by a golden head of an unknown creature.

'Hi, Malon.' Link said

'It's been a while since I saw you last.' She replied

'How are you getting on? He asked

'Well, we lost everything when the village burned down, so we had to start from scratch. So far we have the crops sown and we need to complete the final section of fencing, but we have been getting help from the locals. So we seem to be settled in well.' She explained.

'How are you coping?' She asked, knowing what had happened to his parents.

'Not so bad. David, the man I walked in with, and Harriet, his wife, have taken me in. David is a blacksmith specialising in making swords, although he does make daggers and knives as well. He also has been teaching me how to fight with a sword that he made for me.' He said

'He made a sword for you?' She said wide-eyed. 'Isn't that dangerous?'

'I have used a sword before you know. My dad used to let me use his sometimes, but it was too heavy for me to use properly, I could barely lift it. So I used to copy him as he practiced.' As he spoke about his father, sadness could be seen growing in his eyes.

'I'm sorry about your parents'. She said softly

'It's okay, as long I live I will remember them and they will live on with me, even if they are in only my memories.' He smiled and Malon returned the gesture.

As the parents were ushered out of the room the teacher returned to her place in front of the class. Once the last parent has closed the door behind them, she clapped loudly three times which got the children's attention and they all turned round to face the front.

'Thank you. My name is Tina and will be your teacher for all your lessons. So if you were hoping for another teacher I'm afraid you're stuck with me.' She smiled.

'Now I've introduced myself it's your turn.' She said, 'I want you to say your name and favourite colour. Okay, let's start with you.'