As always, disclaimers are in Ch. 1.

Ch. 7

He said that everything possessed

The power to transform itself, or else,

And what meant more, to be transformed.

-Wallace Stevens

The storm, true to its nature, disappeared as quickly as it had inexplicably come. In the west, the sun had begun to set, but its friendly warmth stayed long enough to soak up the cold from his tired bones, and he finally stirred, pushing himself up from the cramped position he'd dozed off in.

Night had set in now, and he looked around curiously. If the watch had come by here, then they'd obviously seen no need to wake him, and left the gate locked for the night. It would not be opened again until morning, or in the case of an emergency. It was just as well, he hadn't planned on going anywhere without his horse. He untangled his stiff arms from the gate, and stretched his body out, flexing his shoulders until he could move freely again.

Unfortunately, he could depend on the nightwatch at the castle being heavier than usual, since his official visit. He walked slowly back up the trail, the moon at his left shoulder, and started to develop a plan.

*************

The hooded figure watched his steady progress back towards the castle from the rooftop above, and rose to follow.

*************

The plan was not elaborate, nor genius, but he was running out of time. Night would be the only time to make the move, and so he had to work fast. He snuck around the last bend, and crouched to locate the gatehouse guard.

It seemed like he had been here many times now, and he felt confident he knew the watch system. Still, it wouldn't hurt to spend a moment to make sure. Keeping an eye on the moon's position at intervals, he watched for the rounds the guards would make further up the hill.

Counting under his breath, he found the three guards directly to his left and right on the higher ground would turn their backs and step away for a time-span of forty five seconds a piece, in different intervals. The first on the left would turn and leave, taking a path higher up the hill, and approximately twelve seconds later, the second guard would turn and go. Then, after another fifteen seconds, the last guard would turn and disappear into the shadows. This also did not count the time it would take for them to get a good distance away, which was about three to four seconds a piece. In order for his plan to work, all three of them would have to be away from their post simultaneously, for more than three to four seconds each. After adding all of the figures in, it would leave him nine seconds to move across a space he roughly calculated to be a four second dart.

Link shook his head in wonder at the plan. It was rash, unpredictable, and sure to fail.

But perhaps, if this strange power he had been feeling lately would hold out, it just might work.

*************

He made his move just as the moon reached the castle, casting a darker shadow across the road. Carefully, he began to count as the first guard turned slowly, and started to move away. His heart beat quickly as he counted three seconds, and then shifted position at the road-side to observe the next two guards on the higher right ridge.

Almost ten seconds later, the second guard peered out into the road before him one last time, and slowly turned, stopping for a precious second to say something to his fellow guard. Luckily, Link had thought to calculate this banter in after the second guard had repeatedly done it before, and in twelve seconds he had disappeared also.

Link counted another three seconds before shifting again, and turned his back to the ridge on the left side of the road in a dangerous move that could cost him the whole operation if the first guard should suddenly decide to return.

The three second waits had given him an extra two seconds to work, and he peered up at the guard, and counted the full fifteen seconds. This time, the guard did not turn, though, and Link tightened his jaw, calmly waiting. Five seconds later, he finally turned, reluctantly, and left. Link could not wait the three seconds now, and had to make his move. He rose quickly from his crouch, and darted across the empty road towards the guard at the gatehouse.

The guard was slumped back across the wall, his spear resting on his shoulder, and Link wondered if he had had the luck of finding him sleeping. Suddenly, though, Link's foot slid across several loose rocks, and the sound echoed across the enclosed area of wall and hill. The guard snapped to attention, and stood up straight, peering through the shadows at the form that was approaching quickly.

Above, on the hilltop, the third guard was also turning to inspect the noise, as he was still within hearing distance of the road. Link gritted his teeth, and put on an extra burst of speed, pile-driving into the surprised gate guard, who only managed to choke out a strangled sound before he hit his head against the wall and crumpled senselessly to the ground.

The third guard jogged back to his position, and squinted down into the shadows of the gate.

"Hey down there!" He cried out. "Any trouble?" There was a moments pause, in which he almost turned to raise the alarm for help, before a spear poked out from the shadows, and was caught along the blade by the faint beams of moonlight that had made it over the castle wall. The blade waved around a few more times, and then a formed stepped out of the gatehouse and into the shadows, and waved up at him.

"No trouble!" Link called, lowering his voice to sound older. "Just an owl, or something."

The guard nodded, and by this time, the first and second had returned. He waved over to them to convey a 'false alarm' signal, and they both nodded, returning to their watchful positions.

Link did not dare to sigh in relief, for his troubles were not over. Kneeling by the unconscious gate guard, he stripped him of his outer garments and weapons, and then dragged him into the gatehouse room. There, Link folded up his own clothing, and stuck it in the ladder rungs above him. He had nothing to tie the guard with, but hopefully the soldier would not wake for some time, and by then, Link planned to have been gone for quite awhile.

*************

As luck would have it, the guard's clothing did not fit too loosely, and Link finished the look by pulling the heavy helmet down over his head. The spear was cumbersome, being that it was made for someone twice his weight, but he handled it as best as he could, and he stepped back outside, carefully locking the gate door behind him. By now, the moon had fully disappeared beyond the castle, and it was much darker now, before dawn.

He trudged back up the road towards the castle, and despite the weight of the armor and the spear, kept his shoulders straight under the curious looks of other guards. Although some watched him pass by, none moved to intercept him, and he arrived at the castle gates un-threatened. The two guards here however, were not so lenient, and one immediately stepped forward.

"Halt," He called, squinting in the dark to try to make out Link's features. It was good that he couldn't, for surely he would have seen the impossibly young features on the face of a guard who was supposed to be a seasoned soldier on high alert watch.

Link, halted, and leaned on the tall spear, trying to appear bored.

"What are you getting at?" He said as gruffly as possible, "My watch is up."

The guard leaned forward in the dark, but could still not see the face in the helmet. "Why weren't we alerted," He said, peering intently at the shadowy face.

"I just did, didn't I?" Link growled, trying to mimic the tone the guard was using. It would have helped much more if he was older. This was the hardest part of getting in. Beyond here, it would be much easier as he wouldn't be approached directly off-shift. He tensed, suddenly, as the guard took another step forward.

"You're kind of short for an elite soldier," He said in a dangerous voice. Suddenly, the first guard stepped forward, and slapped him on the back.

"By the Triforce, man, relax! He's a bit young, so what? They get younger and fresher every day! As long as he's doing his job, why don't you think about doing yours as well?"

The second guard turned to the first angrily.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Being a pain in the ass, is seems to me," The first one responded in a light tone. "Now come on back, and let the man be. Soldier," He turned to Link, and nodded curtly. Link, relieved, gave a nod back, and stepped past them quickly. Behind him, he could hear the continuation of the argument.

"Its fools like you who keep letting all of those village boys sneak in! I have half a mind to report you!"

"Report me? For what? Not being a nosy idiot enough?"

"That is the last straw, you cad! Come on, put up your dukes!"

"Oh, so now you want to play, eh? Maybe I should report you!"

The voices faded as he walked on, and followed the moat around the castle side. Here, the backdoor of the cellar hall was left unlocked for soldiers changing shifts to come and go. Link remembered this door because the cellar was where Talon used to work after his wife had died. He quit shortly after Link came to stay with them, though, and was forever grateful to go back to his old job.

Link approached the door, and turned the handle, pushing it inward to let himself inside. In the cellar hall, several brightly lit torches shown down on a group of lounging soldiers. They were playing several gambling games, and one offered to Link to join. He declined the invitation, and wandered farther in, hoping to keep a low profile now that his face was visible in the torch light. He passed the wide cellar doors, and continued down the hallway, hoping that this was the way towards the soldier's quarters, and eventually, the practice field. Here the stables would most likely be kept and he hoped to find Epona there.

He continued down the hallway for some time, finally ending up in the soldier barracks, where several men were snoring away blissfully and would continue to do so until called for their watch. Link passed them as quietly as possible, and entered another room where equipment was kept, along with an armory. He set the heavy spear down along with others in a row against the wall, and looked around for a lighter weapon. His eyes trailed along different rows of kinds of weapons, from archery bows to practice staffs. He finally stopped at a rack that sported light weight short-swords.

He picked one up, and let his body do the magic, amazed once again as it seemed to adapt to the feel of the weapon. It was as if he was born to do this.

Perhaps I was...

Link blinked, and shook his head, lowering the sword as he did. This was no time to let his mind drift back to the strange thoughts. Although it seemed to come through for him at the most desperate of times, it was often becoming a handicap now to suddenly have the visions or hear the words in his head.

He looked around for a scabbard, and found a plain one hanging up on the wall. He took it down and took a moment to clumsily clip it at his waist as he had seen some soldiers do before. When he had finished, he sheathed the sword at his hip, and took a moment to test the feeling. He felt none of the previous strangeness, though, and his shoulders sagged in disappointment.

Maybe the strange feeling only happened sometimes? Or at key moments or... or when I'm feeling especially insane, he thought dryly.

Resting a hand at the hilt of the sword, he looked around the corner of the next doorway, and then stepped out. This hallway was longer, and had several doors on either side as he walked past. He tried to peer into all of them, but some were closed and locked. At the end of the hallway, there was a larger exit, with double wide oak doors. A light draft of cold night air was coming through the spaces around the door frames. Just as he approached it, one of them swung outward, and a young soldier entered.

He was tired looking, and yawned loudly as he stepped inside, stretching arms above his head. When he was finished, he spotted Link in surprise, and blinked.

"Hey," He said, "You new here? Haven't seen you around..."

He stepped forward and held out a hand. "I'm Dabura, with the morning watch."

Link automatically held out his own hand, and had it shaken briskly.

"Link," He said, and then tried to catch a glimpse outside of the door that was slowly creaking shut behind the soldier. Dabura looked behind him, and turned back with a grin.

"You wanting to see that new mount, too? She's a fine one. I think the Captain took her from some kid for himself. Pity," He sniffed, "Thats one Hylian who doesn't know bottoms from tops about horses..." He shrugged, as if to say "That's life," and caught the sight of the sword at Link's hip.

"Going out for some training?" He asked. "This is a good time. Not too hot, not too cool. I'll join you if you'd like."

Since Link had only taken the sword for disguise, and had not fully intended to use it, he was caught between immediate denial and interest at how the weapon was used. Finally, he shook his head.

"Just in from a shift," He apologized. "I want to check out that horse, and then hopefully get some shuteye." It was easier to talk to this soldier, as he was obviously younger and fresher than the guards, and thought Link to be, also. Dabura shrugged, and stepped past him.

"Okay, then, see you around," He called, and Link nodded back, before continuing out onto the field. The field was set up in the far right corner courtyard of the castle. Here, away from the eyes of prying eyes and distractions, the soldiers could train to become elite fighters in the Hyrule military force. At the far corner of the field, the stable loomed in the gray morning light, and it was all Link could do to keep from running headlong towards the tall doorway.

He stepped inside, and began to search quickly. Shortly, at the far rear corner, in a stall of obviously high position, was Epona. She nickered in delight to see Link, and immediately reached down to nuzzle him. However, upon smelling the sweaty guard's clothing, she snorted, and took a step back. Link chuckled.

"I know what you mean." He said, opening the stall, and reaching in to guide her out. In the back, on a nail, hung the saddle and tack, and the horse blanket was folded neatly on a crate. Link quickly saddled her, and led her out of the stable by the reins, looking around quickly for anyone who could be watching. The courtyard was empty, however, and he was able to keep moving undetected.

*************

Dawn's light was slowly creeping over the high castle walls, as Link finally made it to the heavy gate that led to outside of the castle. The path from the courtyard to here was well worn by hooves riding over it, and Link had followed it to this gate. He put a hand to Epona's back, and she came to a halt at his side. Despite the situation, her quick obedience and insight into his own needs made him smile. Epona was truly a one of a kind horse.

He walked over to the small gatehouse built onto the courtyard wall, and tried the door. It was locked, and he gave an exasperated sigh.

"Can't anything ever be easy?" He muttered, unbuttoning the pouch on the guard's belt to see if he had any keys. Inside was only one key, and he tried it, only to find that it gave him trouble. He tweaked it around in the lock for several full minutes, until it finally turned a half-circle, and the lock clicked as its mechanism unlocked. Link pulled the key out and looked at its strange shape in the growing morning light. He shrugged, and dropped it back into the pouch by the sword at his waist, and opened the door. Inside, the room was cold and drab, and he moved around in the dark, searching for the gate lock mechanism.

He finally found it set in the wall. It was a handle for pulling that had a system of chains and pulleys connecting it to the gate, and a locked catch to its side for emergency raising and lowering in times of need. He grasped the wooden handle with both hands, and pulled down hard. At first, it refused to budge, but soon slowly started to creak down with a grating sound. Outside, he could hear the chains moving over stone to work as a pulley and raise the gate. It was a heavy, metallic sound, and he winced, running outside to watch as it slowly moved upward.

Suddenly, he heard a cry from behind him, and whirled around to see a servant running towards him.

"Stop! Thief!" The voice carried over the still air sharply, and immediately windows, doors, and shutters were thrown open, as the residence of Hyrule castle came alive.

Link's eyes widened, and he turned to Epona.

"Uh oh," He said, and ran to leap up into the saddle. Grasping the reins, he kneed Epona into a gallop towards the slowly raising gate. Epona, however, seeing that she could not go through the slowly rising gate, cut a sharp turn, almost throwing Link, and ran back the way they had come.

"No, no!" Link cried, now getting a full view of a group of off-duty soldiers running towards him. "The other way, Epona! The other way!" He pulled on the reins forcefully, and she grudgingly turned to try the gate again. However, by now, several soldiers were running along the wall above them, and one had halted, drawing a bow.

"Halt!" He bellowed, aiming for Link.

Behind them, the soldiers were drawing closer, and more residence of the castle were coming out to see the scene.

Link tugged at the reins to keep Epona from turning away from the gates again, and almost halted at the archer's command. He looked up, and saw the arrowhead aimed for his heart. Taking a chance, Link ducked his body down until he was flat against Epona, and kneed her sharply in the ribs. This time, she finally went for the gate, and lowered her head to fit under it. Several arrows sang through the air, but none could find its target of the rider on the back of the swift-footed Epona.

They cleared the gate with a cry of triumph from Link, and were off down the pathway through the hills before the soldiers could even mount and give chase.

*************

Down the road they traveled, until it gave out, and was no longer flat and worn. Here, Link led Epona away from the trail, and into the foot-hills. His spirits soared at the first true triumph of his life, and he laughed aloud in wonder. It had been strangely thrilling, to sneak through the guard system and to find his way through the castle. And the near escape!

The only drawback of course, was that he had left his clothing behind, with the ocarina in it... He felt the loss deeply, and dismounted by a clear, cool stream to let Epona cool off. She went to drink from the flowing water as he sat down heavily in her shadow.

Perhaps there was still a chance he could go back later and get it back? No... he sighed, the guards would find it, and that would be the end of that. His shoulders slumped, and he looked into the water dejectedly at his own reflection.

He looked different...

Link leaned forward, and peered down at his own face. He lifted the now far too heavy helmet from his head, and ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. It was matted down, and he tried several times to comb it back up, before finally giving in and letting it be. The rest of him looked changed also. He was no longer clothed in the old working tunic he'd used while working with the horses, or the soft shoes he'd worn around the ranch. Now he was wearing heavy chain mail and a short-sword. The clothing of soldiers, not ranchers. It was strange how things could change so quickly.

Even his eyes seemed different, though he could not really tell how... Only... they seemed older, more thoughtful, almost as if he had somehow aged in the past few days.

With a sigh, he sat back, and turned his gaze towards the warmth of the rising sun, finally laying down on the stream bank to rest his tired body. This time the dreams were not urgent, nor disturbing: The warm sun pierced through dappled leaves, making dancing patterns on the shadowy forest floor, and he lay back in the thick, soft carpet of grass, and listened contentedly to the music of his childhood...

Memories... stored forever in the songs that we play, Link.

*************

His waking was peaceful, and he did not immediately rise. The events of the day and night before had worn away his reserves. He had never been so active in his life, not even when rounding up horses with Talon. Finally, hunger called to him, and Link realized he hadn't eaten in several days. It was funny how one could forget the most natural of things under certain circumstances. He rose, and went for Epona's saddle bag, searching through his supplies that had thankfully been undisturbed. In the bottom of the bag was a sealed jar full of Lon Lon milk, and a wrapped package of stale bread and dried meat. He pulled it out gratefully, and ate voraciously. The sun was directly above him now, and he leaned back against a rock by the stream, glad for the rest. Epona was some ways away, grazing lazily in the hilly plain.

Link let his gaze drift, running over the new scenery around him, until his eyes rested on a flat rock, near Epona's saddle and blanket.

On the rock, rested his folded tunic, boots, and ocarina.

He stared dumbly at the sight for a moment, before scrambling up and dropping the rest of the bread absentmindedly. Walking over to the rock, he knelt, and touched a hand to the tunic. It was wrinkled and slightly dusty, but unharmed, and he looked at the other objects in amazement.

...How?

Quickly, he started to undress, taking off the outer clothing he'd removed from the guard. He gratefully slipped into his forest tunic, and slipped on the boots and supple leather belt. His money pouch lay almost flat on the rock, and while the money was gone from it, it had nothing else missing, and for that he was grateful.

Finally, he picked up his ocarina, and took a long look at every inch of it, carefully going over the surface and inside for any damage. There was none, however, and he brought it to his lips and blew an experimental note. It came out clear and true, and he turned the instrument over in his hands for some time, finally looking up and around in amazement.

It was impossible. He'd put them all in the ladder rung in the gatehouse. How could they be here now? Suddenly suspicious, he picked up the sword from where he had dropped it, and moved around the campsite. Nothing else had been disturbed though, and he couldn't find tracks anywhere. Deciding to let it be, he re-sheathed the sword into the scabbard, and set it back down on the ground. There was no sense in looking a gift horse in the mouth anyway, right? Right.

Turning to find Epona, he called to her to come to him, and made an exasperated sound when he received a tail-swish in reply. He sighed. Maybe they really needed a break from this constant running around. However, this was no place for a vacation, and he went out into the field to catch her reins. She didn't give much protest, but did thump him in the back with her great head several times in chiding. He saddled her again, and this time hooked the strap of the scabbard around the saddle-horn, making sure it would stay even at full gallop. Finally, Link took the garments of the guard, along with the heavy chain mail, and bundled them up, throwing them into a crack between two large rocks. Last, before he shoved the guard's pouch in, he went through it, and removed the small bread-ration and the strange key. He put both into his own pouch, and took a final stop at the stream-edge to dip the Lon Lon bottle in, and collect the cool, fresh water. There was no telling how long it would take to make a full circle around these hills and head back for town, and he would need all the supplies he could get.

*************

In two long days they had finally come full circle back to the town. It was just in time, for Link had run out of food the night before. He waited outside of the town gate early in the morning until the town watch changed shifts, giving him a interval of time to hopefully get out. It was strange to suddenly become wary of a whole town, he thought, especially one only a week ago he'd been shopping in.

Link led Epona quietly through the early morning mists, taking it as slow as possible to keep the echo from her shoed hooves from traveling to the sleeping people in the buildings closest to them. He led her around the fountain in the town square, and through the maze of dark, empty market tents. Finally, they approached the drawbridge, and he had never been so glad to see it in all of his life. They slipped out and into the fields just as a soldier was stepping out of the watch house to stretch and take in the morning air. The soldier paused in curiosity, thinking that perhaps he had just seen a boy with a horse disappear into the fog, and perhaps he had not. Since it was chilly and damp out here, and the torches kept it nice and cozy inside, he opted for not, and went back in.

Link also stopped to breathe in the fresh morning air, feeling alive again after the confinement he'd experienced while up in the hills. Epona seemed to share his sentiments, and neighed happily, before breaking off into a trot across the dew-sodden grass.

"Hey!" Link called indignantly, chasing after her. She ignored his call however, and pranced away friskily, leading him out into the open, wonderful fields, where soon the sun would rise, and another day would begin.