Chapter 22

Impa looked up from the ground. Her wrists were rubbed raw from the chains that held her to the wall. Her ankles were in the same shape. Her clothes were torn and dirty.

King Harkanian was in the same shape. He was chained on the other side of the room, across from Impa. He looked up to meet her eyes.

Without even speaking, they both knew they were thinking the same thing – what was going to happen to Hyrule? What was going to happen to them? Were Zelda and Link safe?

Impa hadn't slept in the past few nights. She was so worried about Zelda, wondering if she was alive and well.

Link is taking good care of her. She's safe. She thought, trying her best to be optimistic.

"My daughter," King Harkanian took a deep breath, "is safe."

Impa shook her head slightly, and saw that he was staring at her. His eyes bore into her, reading her every thought. He knew she was afraid.

"I know your Highness." She smiled a small smile and then returned her eyes to the dirty floor. She watched as a rat scurried across the floor, trying to make an escape from the little room.

Please Goddesses, keep Zelda and Link safe. She prayed. Somehow she knew that King Harkanian was praying for the same thing at that same moment.

Epona reached the top of the hill overlooking Hyrule. She tossed her mane about, catching her breath as Link halted her.

He stared coldly at the castle, remembering all the times he had had with Zelda…

FLASHBACK

It was spring, and Link had just turned fifteen years old. He felt much different than he had when he was ten. He viewed everything in a different light, with a new found maturity. The only thing that hadn't changed was his love for Zelda.

She was kneeling in the middle of the garden in the courtyard. Her golden blonde hair gently moved in the soft breezes. It tangled with falling flower petals from the tree a few feet away. Her eyes were closed as she picked a flower, and smelled it.

"Link," she smiled, her eyes still closed, "are you just going to stare at me all day?"

He blushed as her beautiful eyes opened. Her smile only grew wider, and she jumped to her feet.

Link had been gone for a month to check back on things in Termina. He promised Zelda he would take her there some day.

"I missed you." She breathed as she hugged him.

He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his face into the side of her neck. She didn't seem to mind, so he didn't pull away.

For the longest time they just hugged, soaking in the closeness between them.

All of Hyrule knew that Link and Zelda were in love. They had tried to hide it, but soon it didn't matter because everyone knew.

"Come, I want you to tell me all about your trip." She took his hand, and pulled him towards the place she had been kneeling.

He let her lead him to the place, and sat down with her.

As he talked, Zelda's eyes widened in curiosity. Her face was bright as he told her of his trip. He was pleased that she took such an interest in him.

"Oh Link look." Zelda pointed to the sky as the sun began to set. "It's so beautiful."

Link picked up the flower Zelda had been smelling when he had walked into the courtyard. He pushed it carefully behind her ear.

"Not as beautiful as you." He murmured.

END OF FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK

Link led Epona into Kakariko Village as quietly as possible. The night was already quiet, except for the crickets chirping, and he didn't want to disturb anyone.

He paused by the tree when he noticed something wasn't right.

In one fluid movement, he had unsheathed his sword, grabbed the person behind him, and thrown them up against the tree. He pointed the tip of his sword harshly against their neck.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"Link," the person pulled the hood of the cloak back, "it's me. Zelda."

Link dropped his sword, and let go of Zelda. She breathed a sigh of relief, and touched the spot on her neck where the point had been.

"I'm sorry Zelda." He touched her cheek.

"It's alright." She smiled at him and picked up his sword. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing."

Zelda swung the sword around, not expecting it to be so heavy. She dropped it, and fell forward into Link.

He grabbed her around the middle, and she stopped falling. Her head rested against his stomach.

She looked up at him as he grinned down at her.

"Sorry." She muttered, blushing.

"It's okay." He laughed at her, helping her straighten up. "Now tell me, what are you doing here? If your father knows you're gone-"

"That's why I left. My father invited a suitor over to the castle. He was a real jerk Link." She folded her arms across her chest.

"What was he like?"

"Arrogant, rude, and very unattractive." She shuddered.

"What about me? What am I like?" He rested his hands on her waist and looked down into her eyes.

"Strong, charming, and kind."

"Am I very unattractive?"

"Terribly." She smiled as he leaned down and kissed her softly.

END OF FLASHBACK

FLASHBACK

"May I have this dance Princess?" Link asked.

Zelda smiled, and took his hand.

He led her out onto the floor, and held her hand, while his free hand rested on her delicate waist.

Zelda put her free hand on Link's shoulder.

She laid her head on his other shoulder.

"Are you tired?" He asked, leading her away from a group of suitors.

"No. I could stay like this forever." She breathed.

"Me too."

END OF FLASHBACK

"This is for you Zelda." Link said in a hushed voice, as if it were a secret.

He heard the others catching up, and so he urged Epona on, and galloped towards the walls of Hyrule.