Time

Zelda led the way through the meadow that led up to Hyrule Castle. Link was being dragged behind and Zelda couldn't help but feel anger towards Ganondorf. How could this poor boy be wanted so badly when he literally had to steal to live in this world.

She looked back occasionally and noticed that he was still struggling against the guards who only succeeded in getting a good grip on his arms. Link hadn't let them bind his hands so the guards had to keep a firm grip on him. But Link was giving them a hell of a good fight. They continued to threaten him but Link took no heed.

Zelda devious mind started to come up with a plan of escape for the Link. "Libby, we have to help him, he saved my life and he isn't going to go to the executioners block when there is a chance for him to escape," With that quiet statement, Zelda urged Libby to rear on her hind legs high in the air.

She screamed for effect and the guards ran to her aid, except two, Link took the opportunity to finally break free and he took off at a run for the market. He ran through a fleet of returning guards and quickly ducked to the left alleys. He knew that the guards would split up in the crisscross alleys and trap him.

It was a well-known strategy and so Link darted up behind the Temple of Time and came around to the front and ducked inside. He knew the guards couldn't take him under arrest if he was in this sacred temple.

'So I guess me and the princess are equal, I saved her life and she saved mine,' Link mused to himself. He was grateful that the princess had taken pity on him. She really wasn't so bad, for a princess.

A movement further in the temple alerted Link, and he was surprised to see a shadowy figure looking at him with pale blue eyes. She hid in the shadows and her eyes were the only things that stood out.

She stepped coolly out of the shadows and Link gave a small gasp. This lady was wearing a simply white dress. She had silver hair that was wavy and curved around her pale face. She had delicate features but they showed no weakness.

"Come here Hero," she said softly, calmness and serenity surrounding her. Link moved forward slowly, in totally awe. "Who are you?" he whispered, she just smiled warmly. The smile made her pale eyes darken in laughter and amusement. Link was perplexed, who was she?

"Do you believe in destiny, Hero?" She asked, instead of giving her name. Link was startled by the question but quickly answered. "I don't know, I've never thought about it before," Link answered honestly sensing that she would sense a lie right away.

"Good answer, I am Kariah, the Goddess of Time," Kariah said softly. Link gasped and immediately dropped to a knee. She chuckled lightly at his reaction. "Stand, Link, the Hero of Time," Kariah commanded.

Link looked up with surprise written across his handsome features. "Um, a Hero of Time?" he asked. Kariah smiled softly and nodded. "You're a descendent through a line of Hero's so of course you are the Hero of Time," Kariah confirmed.

"But how can that be, I'm just a poor kid from the streets whose parents died before I turned seven," Link said incredulously, not quite wanting to believe in her, but a part of told him that a Goddess wouldn't lie. Kariah just raised a silver eyebrow, and Link bowed in shame at his outburst.

Suddenly Link's ears heard the sound of the approaching soldiers and he was ready to bolt. Kariah ignored them and pulled a sacred instrument out of her shawl. She started to play her melody, the Song of Time. The haunting notes bounced and echoed around the temple and soon the sounds outside became silent.

Kariah lowered the Ocarina of Time as the last notes echoed throughout the temple. Link just stood and listened in awe at the haunting and sad sound and the power that flowed through it.

"Link, you must go to Hyrule Castle and bring Din's Ruby as well as Nayru's Sapphire and Farore's Emerald which are currently in your possession. Go now!" Kariah urged. Link looked at her incredulously at Kariah. "What! The guards are out there!" Link insisted. Kariah's pale eyes narrowed in warning and Link scampered out of the temple just to stop short at he sight he saw.

Everything was frozen! Nothing moved, and Link couldn't help but stare. Kariah followed and stood beside Link on the steps of the Temple of Time. "What happened?" Link whispered in astonishment. "I have frozen time to give you the opportunity to steal the ruby back from the King's advisor, Ganondorf. You must return quickly," Kariah instructed.

Link sighed and left Kariah on the steps of the Temple. He trekked across the frozen landscape and up through the meadows that lead up to the castle. Link despite himself, moved around like a thief even though the world was frozen. Link saw a shadow and nearly screamed at what he crossed his path.

A smaller version of himself, at the age of four. This shadowy figure ignored Link and continued on his way. Link, after getting over his initial shock, curiously followed his look alike and was led through many secret passages. Some went behind tapestries and down narrow corridors until Link could definitely say that he was lost. Soon though, the smaller Link found himself in the secret study belonging to Ganondorf. The older Link caught sight of the Ruby. Its red and gold shine was the only colour in the room besides himself.

Suddenly, the young Link took off out of room. Link grabbed the ruby, paused slightly at the warm feeling radiating off of the ruby, but then chased after the shadow, but he wasn't fast enough to catch up and lost the boy in the mists of time.

"Damn it!" Link cursed. He backtracked to the study and found that the other door lead into a passage that went straight into Ganondorf's chambers. Link paused here for a moment and muttered something about rich kings, and kept going. Link's mind was going on overfill. One minute he sees a younger version of himself to having weird feelings and faint memories of this kind of castle life. Like that hall, somehow he seemed to know that it led to the throne room, but he decided to ponder on this all at another time, as he was really in a hurry.

He made it out onto one of the main hallways and was able to quickly find his way back out of the castle. He hurried and quickly made his way across the field, to the entrance of the market. He cut left and headed up the stairs that lead to the Temple of Time. He paused slightly at the door to make sure he had the three gems and then proceeded to enter the temple.