Disclaimer: I do not own the legend of Zelda

Missing

Chapter 2: From once the past

"ARMELLE! ARMELLE!" Zelda ran out of the room hysterical. Link ran after her only to find Zelda collapsed on the ground, sobbing. He picked Zelda up in his arms and set her on a chair in the room.

"Who was the servant that handled our child?" Link asked sternly. He wasn't going to let his first child be their last.

Zelda tried to stop crying but only stopped enough to say the name of the servant girl. "…Ariel…"

"Thanks…" Link bounded out of the room and down to the servant's quarters.

He swung open the doors so hard that some of the hinges broke off. All of the servants who were currently in the room jumped up and froze.

"ALRIGHT! WHERE IS ARIEL!" Link shouted at the top of his lungs. All of the girls who were in the room were startled. Link was such a nice, caring guy who never raised his voice.

The head servant, Jasmine, slowly stepped up to Link. "Your highness! What's the matter? Why do you need Ariel?"

Link grabbed Jasmine's arm and pulled to the side. "Armelle is gone. Someone kidnapped her. The last servant to handle her was Ariel. Where is she?"

Jasmine's eyes grew wide. "Oh my! That is terrible news! Well…Ariel is outside working on the clothes washing. I can get her for you."

"No thanks. I'll get her myself." Link ran out of the room.

Moments later he was in the courtyard were several servants were hanging and washing linen. "ARIEL!" He yelled out.

A young girl with long brunette hair looked up from her basket of clothes. "Yes your highness?" Ariel said while approaching Link.

"Where is my daughter?" Link asked sternly.

"She should be in the cradle where I left her. Why?"

"She's gone. And you should've been there to watch her too!"

"I'm sorry your highness! I was called away to do this and no one was around to take watch. I didn't think you and Zelda would be long." Ariel fell to her knees.

"Right now you are on suspension and will await judgment until we find Armelle." Link turned his attention from Ariel to the rest of the servants. "I will summon the guards and knights to form a search to find my daughter. Every servant and worker will be searched. If you shall refuse this order, expect to face extreme penalty." Link turned around slowly and walked into the castle.

"ARMELLE! ARMELLE!" A young woman cried out into the open field. All she could see was the small figure of a horse and a girl riding it. "Dinner's almost ready and it's your turn to set the table!" She finished saying and went back into the house.

The young girl on the horse continued to ride around, almost ignoring the woman. Several minutes later the girl put the horse back in the barn and walked into the house.

"ARMELLE! You're late again! Romani had to do all of the work…again." The young woman scolded Armelle.

"I'm sorry, but I was practicing my bow and arrow skills while riding Tula. I promise I won't be late again Cremia." Armelle sat herself down at the table.

Cremia sighed. "That's what you say every time. You're sixteen years old, you need to learn some responsibility. You're not royalty you know. You have to work for what you want."

"Yes…I know." Armelle lowered her head and started to eat.

Occasionally Armelle would look up at Cremia and then at Romani. They were almost identical. They both had long, flowing red hair and bright blue eyes. Cremia was older, about thirty five years old, and looked more dignified. Romani was only a year older than Armelle and was also a younger version of Cremia. Armelle sat back and sighed while her sisters continued eating.

Later that night, after Armelle cleaned up everything after dinner, she laid in her bed and stared out the window. The soft moonlight danced across her blanket and then onto the floor. Armelle could hear her sister's soft breathing from across the room. It was the same thing every night. She'd lay there, awake, stare out of the window and think deep thoughts about her life. Armelle was so different from Cremia and Romani. They were natural workers and were never afraid to get their hands dirty. Armelle on the other hand didn't like outside work, or any work for that matter. Not to mention that they both had red hair and Armelle had blonde. All that Armelle knew was that Cremia and Romani were her only family and the towns folk of Termina were so caring and loving. Alas, as like every other night, Armelle would cry a tear and fall asleep.

…At the crack of dawn the roosters started to crow, signaling that it was time to get up. Romani and Cremia woke up without hesitation, but Armelle had trouble as usual.

"ARMI! Get up!" Romani laughed and hit Armelle with a pillow.

Armelle jumped up and fell onto the floor. "ROMANI!" Armelle screamed and started chasing Romani. They continued chasing each other until Cremia came back into the room and Armelle ran into her.

"ARMELLE! What on earth is going on!" Cremia yelled.

"Romani hit me with her pillow!" Armelle said while trying to regain her composure.

"Yeah yeah…whatever. Get washed up and help me with breakfast." Cremia ordered before heading back down.

Armelle nodded her head and walked over to her bed. She fixed the blankets and looked out the window again. In the far distance there was a small figured walking towards the ranch. It didn't look harmful so Armelle thought nothing of it and walked back downstairs.

Romani had already gone outside to the barn to feed the chickens and Cremia was cooking something in the huge kettle. Armelle picked up the small broom that was in the corner and started to sweep the room. By the time she was done Cremia was still cooking, but had gone upstairs. After taking a second look up the stairs, Armelle exited the house and went to the barn. Her curiosity was compelling her.

Romani was sitting on a bail of hay petting one of the chickens. Armelle walked up to Tula and mounted her.

"What are you doing? Breakfast is going to be soon." Romani asked.

"I just want to ride for a little bit to relax. I'll be back in time." Armelle said then galloped out of the stable.

The real reason that Armelle wanted to ride was that she wanted to see who or what that figure was that she saw in the window. To make herself not suspicious of anything, Armelle galloped around aimlessly. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the person at the edge of the woods. It was a young girl and she looked extremely lost.

To be sure that the girl knew that Armelle wasn't stalking her, she stopped and let Tula eat some grass. Armelle watched the girl as she slowly made her way towards the house. As if some force overcame her, Armelle felt compelled to help the girl. She pulled on the reins to make Tula stop eating and galloped on over.

"Hello there! Can I help you?" Armelle hollered out, hoping that the girl heard her. To her surprise the girl began to run and go behind a tree. Armelle stepped down and walked on over to the girl. "It's ok! I won't hurt you!"

Slowly but surely the girl came out from the tree and stood in front of Armelle. She was short and had soft blonde hair and blue eyes just like Armelle. The young girl's dress was dirty and torn and her hair was a mess.

"Can I ask you where you're from or how I can help you?" Armelle asked. The girl was very unfamiliar to her and she hadn't seen her in town.

"Does Armelle live here…on this ranch?" The young girl spoke.

Armelle felt like something struck her heart. "Yes…yes she does. I am Armelle. What can I help you with?"

Out of no where the little girl ran up to Armelle and hugged her. "I finally found you!"

"What do you mean 'found' me? Who are you?"

"ARMELLE!" Cremia screamed across the ranch.

"CRAP! I mean…I must be going now…" Armelle said and quickly walked over to Tula. She turned around to see a surprised but sad look on the girl's face. Not only did she look distressed, but she also looked very hungry. "Would you like something to eat? My sister Cremia is a really good cook." The girl nodded her head. Armelle picked the girl up and placed her on the saddle while she walked beside.

"I need to tell you something." The little girl spoke up as the two entered the stable.

"What's that?" Armelle responded while closing the gate.

"You're my sister."