Disclaimer: Still don't own it but I'm working on it.

Chapter 1 A Life to Call her Own

With one faithful pull the young boy drew the sword from the stone. He was engulfed in a bright light that filled the entire chamber of the temple. When his vision cleared the sword in his hand did not seem to be as heavy as it initially was. He laid it across his palms and stared down at the mythical weapon. He saw his face in the bright metal and gasped. He quickly sheathed the sword and pulled his shield off his back. Link held it up in front of him and gazed at his own reflection. His face no longer looked boyish but like that the man he feared he would become when he first left the Lost Woods.

Kail slammed the book shut and tossed it onto her large canopied bed. Her room wasn't overly large but still quite big. A large cabinet for her dresses sat beside her desk, a large mirror sat on top of the desk along with pens, ink and paper. The window across from the bed behind her let in the morning suns light and the large door was shut. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. Her long brownish-blonde hair was braided to perfection as her maid, Cassandra, did every morning. She dragged her fingers over the reflection of her bright blue eyes and full mouth wishing they were that of a boy not the delicate features she had. At 16 she was well developed with full hips and bosom. People often complemented her on having inherited her mother's legendary beauty. The purple silk of her dress whispered as she went over to her window over looking the large training yard. Her older brother, Marius, was practicing shooting his bow from horse back. The black stallion he rode was one of the finest in the kingdom straight from Lonlon Ranch, his black hair blowing behind him. She felt a touch of envy as she watched him. She knew how to ride and was very good at it but was never allowed to gallop for it was un-lady like. She wished to learn to fight like her father's soldiers and her brother but she had been forbidden. Her parents didn't want her engaging in such activity. She had managed to persuade the weapons master to teach her how to use the bow in secret and could now shoot as well as he could but he still refused to teach her the sword. She rested her head in her palm as she watched men spare and practice their archery. On the far side of the yard she could see servants rushing to and fro with water and towels for the men and rushing to do other chores.

"It's not fair." Kail said to herself, "Why can't I learn sword play along with etiquette? Shooting form horse back along with reading and writing?" She heard the door open but didn't bother to turn knowing her parents were that only one that would come in without knocking and that the tread was to heavy to be that of her mothers.

"Who are you talking to dear?" Her father deep and gentle voice asked. She discussed the unfairness of her not being able to do what her brother got to do many times before and didn't feel like doing it again.

"No one papa. Just thinking aloud." She replied simply

"Dear you know the man you marry will hold great status in the court,"

How did her father manage to read her as easily as he did? Kail wondered only half listening to what her father was saying.

"And one such man would want a beautiful lady like you by his side. Not some undignified swordsman. You understand don't you?" Her walked up behind her and pulled her away from the window and into a strong embrace.

"Yes father I understand." He hugged him back but still didn't understand why she couldn't be both.

"Good." He pushed her away from him enough so he could look down into her eyes. "Now, you worry me and your mother when you spend so much time locked up in your room. Won't you come for a ride with me to Lonlon Ranch to help me find a good horse? I fear Epona could use some well earned rest."

"OK Father," she replied, "Just give me a moment to change into some riding gear."

"Meet me in the stables then." With that he strode out. Kail went to her bed and sat down. She stroked the cover of her book wishing she could have adventures too. She didn't want to be nothing but a blushing bride for some stuck up man. She sighed and picked a green riding dress and slipped into it as she dreamed of the life she wanted. One where she could have adventures like her father did.

Kail walked through the grand halls of the castle hardly seeing the brightly colored tapestries that decorated the high walls. The occasional window showed the training yard on one side and her mother's flower gardens on the other. As she glided to the stables people bowed and curtsied; she acknowledged them with a small smile or an absent nod. When she entered the stable the young boy there bowed deeply and ran off to get her mare ready. She could have done it herself but didn't want to risk insulting the stable boy. He returned quickly and handed her the reins of Kisa with another deep bow. She led the horse around the large stables to where her father waited. He smiled as she approached.

"All ready?" He asked as he pulled himself easily into Epona's saddle.

"Yeah, let's go." Was the halfhearted reply. As they rode down from the castle people bowed, curtsied, saluted or even cheered. Kail smiled and took a deep breath when they finally were out in Hyrule Field. People had been doing that all of her life but she never really liked it.

As they rode her father tried to start conversation but Kail was too deep in thought to form a reply that made any sense or to even hear him half the time. She looked around her wishing there was a way to just gallop off into the open field without being seen. Yeah right, she thought. I'd have to sneak out of my room, through the city and out the gates. And it would have to be night so I wouldn't be spotted. I wouldn't be able to take my horse but I couldn't make it far or fast on foot. Her eyes had been so fixed on the pommel of her saddle that she hadn't even noticed that they had rode into Lonlon Ranch.

"Hullo Princess!" Kail looked around to see one of the boys who worked here, Haru, grinning and waving. His short cropped light brown hair looked as if it hadn't been combed in weeks. "Long time no see. How ya been?" She dismounted and smiled. It had been to long since she had seen her friend. "Come on, we can talk while is stable the horses." He led her into the stable while Link talked with the head of the ranch.

The small building smelled of hay and horses but Kail didn't mind it. She sat on the rail and watched as Haru brushed down the horses.

"Convince your parents to let you try the sword yet?" He asked suddenly. She just shook her head. "I dunno why they won't let ya try."

"Me neither" Said Kail miserably.

"I mean just let ya try so ye can see for your self that yer unfit for it." Haru laughed as Kail aimed a weak kick at him that he easily dodged.

"I think I should just leave the castle in the night but I wouldn't be able to do it on foot and couldn't take Kisa."

"Well if ya could walk this far then ya could just buy of these horses here and take it." That might actually work!

Kail grinned. "Yeah then I could ride off into the night to find adventure!"

"You could fight monsters with th' best of 'em." He joked. "Now stop yer dreamin' and come see what I got for ye." He led her up into the hayloft where he slept and began to dig in the straw. "I was thinking,"

"That's dangerous." Kail said with a giggle sitting on her knees in the straw. Haru stopped rummaging in the hay long enough to stick his tongue out at her.

"I was thinking about ye tellin' me ya got that ol' weapons man up there ta teach ya the bow so I made you this." He finally managed to find what he was looking for and pulled a beautifully carved bow out of the straw. He handed it to her and rummaged around some more, "I have a string an' a case here for ya too, if I can find 'em." Kail didn't hear. She was too busy tracing the elegant carvings of leaves and vines that circled the narrow, curved piece of wood. She looked up to see Haru looking at her with a string in one hand and a leather tube in the other. His eyes looked uncertain noticing the frown on Kail's face. "Ya like it don't ya?"

"Like it?" She exclaimed, "I love it! But where did you get it made? I've seen the best work the city has to offer and it doesn't compare to this work."

Haru traced a pattern in the straw with his finger looking sheepish. "I made it. I've always like working with my hands and bows are simple enough." Kail hugged him around his shoulder and thanked him.

"How am I to get it home without my father seeing it though?"

"No problem. I thought of that and I can just tuck it under your saddle blanket when I get th' horse ready to go. Now we had better get outside before yer father wonders what we be doin' and sends the headsmen out after me." Kail laughed and followed him back down the ladder. Haru tucked the string into he tube and handed it to her. She slid her new weapon into the case and smiled up at haru who took it from her and laid it in the straw in Kisa's stall.

Outside Link rode a black stallion jumping the low fences with expert grace. He saw her appear out of the stables with Haru and rode towards them reining his horse up in front of them. Haru bowed deeply.

"Yer Majesty."

"Good to see you Haru." Kail's father said with a smile. "What do you think Kail?" He asked as he turned the beast in a small circle. "Does he pass your fine judgment?"

"He's beautiful. What's his name?" She asked stroking the horses neck.

"Shadow." He replied as he turned his attention back to Haru. "The old man tells me you raised this one."

"Yes I did m'leige." Haru said meeting Link's blue gaze with his own brown one. "He's a fine beast. Doesn't startle easy, fast an' good jumper. You honor me by choosing 'im." Link nodded to the boy and rode back out to the field to pay for the steed.

"I better go get yer Kisa ready." Haru told Kail with a wink as he went back into the stable.

It was nearly nightfall when Kail and her father started heading back to the castle. He looked over at her and smiled. "Glad to see you smile again my dear" He commented noting her happy expression.

"I think getting out of the castle was exactly what I needed father." She said and smiled even brighter at her father. He smiled back and they rode the rest the way home in a comfortable silence.