Chapter Five
Link and Annabella leapt from Epona and scrambled up the stairs. Annabella tripped on the hem of her skirt and stumbled, but was quickly caught by Link's swift reflexes. She felt a tingle rush through her body and her heart began to beat faster. It felt like forever that Link's gloved hands held onto her upper arm, but also the time passed too quickly, and soon Link was helping Annabella straighten herself and continue to race up the slippery steps to Kakariko Village.
Link led the way to an empty house. Link took off his gloves and put them on the table to dry, removing his boots also. Annabella took off her borrowed boots and placed them next to Link's. Malon's shoe size was too small for Annabella, but she did not mind because at least they protected her feet.
Link sat down in a chair, seeming perfectly comfortable where he was. Annabella glanced quickly around and asked, "Um, what happens if the owner of this house comes back?"
Link shot a questioning look at Annabella. "They won't."
"Why not?" insisted Annabella.
"This is Dampé's house," replied Link with an emotionless expression. "He has died already."
Annabella did not know what to say. Link's face was expressionless, but was Link sad? Sorry? Nothing at all? Dampé had helped Link a few times during his first childhood…
"That's…sad to hear," whispered Annabella, looking down at her bare toes.
The rain persisted for a long time. Link seemed to be wrapped up in his thoughts, but each minute stretched was longer than Link was tall…
But then Link was standing and leaving the house. Annabella did nothing to stop him, just watched him go. And, somehow, the Ocarina of Time appeared in her hand. She stood up and walked outside. It was still raining, but Annabella did not feel the rain. She handed the ocarina to Link, who took it from her hand and gazed at it. He rubbed the mouthpiece gently, and then looked up into the distant rain. Annabella's eyes could make out each shape of the gravestones.
A whisper floated around Annabella. She turned her head around slowly to see Link waving one arm above his head in almost slow motion. A man with ash colored hair was standing in the rain. His eyes were kindly, and his body was swathed in a cloak.
The whisper came once more, and Annabella approached the man, listening intently. He was speaking words of Princess Zelda and of herself, of Annabella.
Come see me, Annabella…take the Hero of Time and the Princess of Hyrule…I am a friend.
And then he disappeared.
Annabella awoke from her dream with a start. Who had that man been?
Link was also asleep in his chair. Annabella gently woke him.
"H-huh? Oh, hello Annabella. Is anything wrong?" he asked, straightening up in the chair.
"Do you know a guy with gray hair and dressed in a cloak?" asked Annabella. "I…I had a weird dream."
Link rubbed his temples. "Well…there's a man in Hyrule Field. He built a cottage there. This is the first time I've heard of him; in…my…first childhood, he was never there. Well, he must have established the cottage at a time that I was, well, not…awake. I was only eleven when I first drew out the Master Sword. Then I slept for seven years! He must've established his home around when I was fourteen, and, well, disappeared before I was eighteen. He does have gray hair. I believe his name is Roan. That is all I know." Link gave Annabella a strange look. "It…is convenient that you have such odd dreams."
Annabella nodded. "I…I guess it is. In…in my dream, he…asked me to bring you and Zelda to his home. He says he's a friend."
"And you believe him?"
"Yes," replied Annabella, "in fact I do."
Link smiled. "Good enough for me."