Chapter Six

After the rain had lightened up a bit, Annabella and Link had gotten into their boots and walked outside, careful not to slip in the mud. Being a teenaged girl, Annabella was only used to short skirts, not long ones, so of course she tripped often on the skirt's hem, but she usually grabbed the wall or a fence to catch herself. Then, she realized that she could just lift the skirt from the ground, keeping her from tripping and making sure she did not soil Malon's clothes, which she was kind enough to lend to her.

Link and Annabella furtively and expertly snuck through the garden to see Princess Zelda yet again. Annabella followed Link closely, but was positive that if she had been Link and had not been seeing this from a bird's eye view, then she would have been caught before she took one step.

"Zelda! It is fortunate that you are out again," called Link when Princess Zelda appeared through the mist. The Princess embraced the Hero and gave a warm smile to Annabella. It seemed as though she was going to try to friendly approach with Annabella, instead of suspicious. Annabella was glad, because Princess Zelda had always been a favorite of hers: a beautiful female warrior. It was what Annabella hoped to be one day, if she could possibly ever stay in Hyrule without her parents claiming her dead or mentally insane.

"So, what have I done to receive such a lovely visit from you two again?" asked Princess Zelda.

"Well…Annabella seems to have taken on a trait of mine and yours, from, well, the first time. Visions. Dreams. How…convenient, I thought. A man appeared and told her to visit him with you and me. I believe that it is the old man Roan. What say you, Zelda? Shall we visit him? He lives out in Hyrule Field."

Princess Zelda cast her gaze towards the sky. "Indeed I shall, Link. Oh! How…convenient, to borrow your phrase." She smiled. "The rain has ceased. Shall we visit this…Roan?"

Link smiled back. "Yes, we shall. We should hurry before the rain starts up again, and then mayhaps we could hurry back before the rain gets too heavy."

Princess Zelda and Annabella both nodded. The Princess escorted Link and Annabella out of the garden. Many of the guards were confused to see Link and Annabella, whom they had not seen enter, but they did not question this, in case it would be found offensive to Princess Zelda.

A small drizzle appeared as the trio strode across Hyrule Field. Link had put Epona at Lon Lon Ranch to protect her from the rain and because she was tired. Annabella's head whipped about, intrigued by everything she saw. The light breeze that caressed her hair was real; the mud that squelched underneath her feet was no longer just a background object; the way Princess Zelda's clothing swished around her feet was no longer added for realistic affects. Her head still spun. She was in Hyrule. It was impossible, but the less she thought about it and the more she focused on finding out who Roan was, the more she could accept the fanatical idea.

The silhouette of a cottage became visible through the light rain. A chimney was puffing out smoke that was lost in the mist.

"This is the cottage of Roan," Link declared as the details of the thatched roof and the smoothed stones came into sharper focus. Link glanced at Princess Zelda and asked, "When did this cottage disappear?"

Princess Zelda opened her mouth, and then hesitated. "This is the first time ever that there have been records of such a man. It is perplexing. And…it is quite odd to build such a cottage by Kokiri Forest."

Link raised his slender eyebrows. "Indeed it is!" His gaze flickered towards Kokiri Forest, shining with such an overwhelming love that he was almost moved to tears. It was strange for Annabella to see Link gaze at something in such a manner; but, even as he gazed, Annabella knew what feelings he felt: such love that it was infuriated that he could not express it. He knew more things about Kokiri than any of the young inhabitants, yet they were the ones who could bask in its glory. That was how Annabella had felt about Legend of Zelda and Link before she was plunged into this wild adventure.

Link raised a gloved fist and rapped loudly on the door. As they waited for the door to be opened, Annabella wondered if Princess Zelda had done Link a favor by sending him back to have another childhood.

I have a confession to make: drizzle. When I typed that word, I laughed SO HARD. I don't know why, but I think it's one of the funniest words in the world. I mean...drizzle! lol.

Okay, I didn't update for a while because my friend from Vermont was visiting, but she left today and I'll be able to write Chapter Seven wicked fast (it's handwritten). So here I go!

drizzle! lololol