A Link to the Heart Chapter 16

Night settled over the refugee camp, a velvet blanket smothering all in darkness. Here and there campfires burned before the walls, casting a red glow over the fields but they were few, supplies were scant and nobody would waste wood on frivolous parties into the night. Tents had been distributed among the camps, the foresight of the Royal Family paying dividends and meagre rations were chewed on slowly, nobody knowing when the next meal would come.

Among the camp mothers tucked children into sleeping rolls and hushed questions as to where their fathers where, knowing full well it was an answer that would never come. Widowers sat with heads in their hands, crying for families fallen to Gerudo blades while others drank to the memory of lost friends. Not all were so melancholy, thieves crept through the dark looking for opportunity, while elderly survivors shared rations with starving children. Strangers gave their blankets to folk they had just met while in the shadows burly men used their fists to take what they wanted. Hope and fear in equal measure brewed in the camp, the finest examples of charity sitting side by side with the most selfish cruelties. The best of the spirit existing alongside the darkest deeds.

Link was walking around the perimeter of the small corner set aside for the Lon Lon Ranch survivors. He was walking with his sword in hand and staring into the night. Behind him a dozen tents squatted, hurriedly erected after a weary cart driver had distributed them. The tents were set in a circle, facing inwards and between them horses and carts were sheltered. The survivors had little to their names but it was enough to draw thieves and muggers, so Link had insisted a night watch be maintained. After his failure at Lon Lon Ranch he was taking no chances with the safety of those left. Three men patrolled the edge of their camp, keeping a wary eye out.

Link had been loitering for hours and had experienced several false alarms. His attempt to cast a magic ward had been futile, there were too many people and small animals about, several times he had been alerted only to find one of the survivors wandering off for a piss or rats trying to sneak into the tents. Finally he had given up and gone back to patrolling the old fashioned way, walking in a circle and using his eyes and ears.

A soft scuffle behind made him turn, but he relaxed when he saw Ingo. The man looked bleary-eyed, having only had four hours sleep, but he gripped his pitchfork tightly. "Anything to report?" he asked.

Link sheathed his sword and said, "Nothing much, keep an eye out for rats, they are trying to get into our rations."

Ingo sighed, "How long must we live like this? Begging for scraps."

"It's been one day," Link admonished, "Give Hyrule a chance to correct this, it won't be forever."

Ingo muttered under his breath, "I'm just glad it's summer, I can't imagine being stuck here in the winter."

Link sighed as he turned towards a tent and left Ingo to watch. He carefully stepped over a guide rope, hearing people snoring from within as he did so. He felt a curious stab of guilt as he passed by, knowing he was responsible for these people. The survivors of Lon Lon Ranch had followed him and they looked to him to lead. Their lives were in his hands and it was his duty to protect them, to fight on their behalf so they could be safe. Strange how that always seemed to be the position he found himself in, no matter where he went it always fell to him to fight the monsters. Destiny, he supposed, he was bound for the life of a wandering hero. Fate had him in its grip and there was no escaping it.

He reached the last tent and ducked within, finding it lit by a small oil lamp hanging from a central pole. The tent was circular, large enough to sleep a dozen people and filled with small items, yet miraculously no people. Only one inhabitant remained, it was Malon and she was dozing under a blanket, a rumbling snore issuing from her open mouth. Link tried to step quietly as he entered and made for his bedroll but he must have disturbed Malon, for she sat up and groaned, "Whaaa…"

Link winced at disturbing her and whispered, "Hush, go back to sleep."

"Link," Malon yawned as her red hair frizzed around her head like a dandelion, "I was trying to wait up for you."

"Why?" Link asked as he shrugged off his shield and sword.

"I thought we could… talk," Malon said with a wan smile.

Suddenly a coldness gripped Link's guts as he realised he was alone in a tent with a girl who had made her intentions plain. He instantly grasped Malon had arranged this deliberately, making sure they were alone. It felt like the time he had stumbled into a pit of stone-adders, their hungry gazes eerily similar to the look in Malon's eyes. His heart fluttered as he understood what the girl was up to and he realised she thought they were more than they really were. Link's stomach plunged as he grasped he was going to have to rebuff her advances, in a way that left no uncertainty for doubt. They couldn't be what she wanted them to be, destiny wouldn't allow it and fate was against them. Yet to simply slap her down would be too cruel, after all she had lost, all she had suffered how was he going to turn her down without hurting her.

"Oh… I've forgotten my quiver. I'll be right back," Link said, then winced as he heard the stupidity of his own words.

"Link!" Malon snapped, "Don't run off, I've got something to say."

Red embarrassment crept up his face as he blurted "I'll be just a moment."

Malon's eyes widened, making Link feel like an absolute heel, "What is…"

Link awkwardly stammered, "Really, I'm flattered but I can't…"

"Link shut up!" Malon barked, "Look at your hand!"

Link had not expected her to say that and he lifted his left hand, realising the Triforce mark on his arm was glowing fiercely. A pure golden light radiated from his hand and the warmth of it washed over his face as he held it up to his eyes. "My Triforce piece, its resonating," Link breathed.

"Your what?!" Malon gasped.

But before he could answer there was a tremendous rustling outside and the sound of many people waking. Link dashed to the tent flap and stepped out, only to witness a marvel. Advancing into the camp were a dozen Hylian Knights, armed and armoured for war. They marched with swords drawn but Link barely noticed them for his eyes were fixed on a woman walking in their midst. She was shorter than Link but her hair was blonder, cascading down her back in long tresses while two braids fell over her shoulders. She wore a long lilac dress, hem held daintily out of the mud and an intricate banner hung from her waist to her knees. Her shoulders were covered in engraved metal pauldrons and she had pale gloves that stretched to her elbows. A golden circlet was across her brow and her face was radiant, with clear eyes, a cool smile and long, pointed ears. Link gasped as he beheld Princess Zelda walking into his camp, her beauty completely at odds with the humble surroundings.

Faces stuck out of tents and gasps arose as people murmured, "The Princess! What's she doing here?"

Link and Malon stepped forth as the Knights and the Princess drew up before him and Link bowed to her. Zelda smiled at the sight of the weary traveller and proclaimed, "There is no need for that, the Hero of Time should bow to no one."

Then her eyes drifted to Malon and there was a slight narrowing of her eyes. Malon held her gaze firmly for long seconds and Link sensed something passing between them but eventually the farmgirl made short curtesy to the Princess. Zelda inclined her head and said, "Be welcome, citizen of Hyrule."

Malon glared daggers as she replied, "My name is Malon… Princess."

Link spoke up, "Princess Zelda we have travelled far."

However Zelda cut him off as she uttered, "I am aware of your travails and I am proud of the way you have dedicated yourself to helping the peasant folk."

Malon butted in icily, "We peasant folk have suffered greatly, while you stayed safe behind your thick walls."

Zelda replied, "I have many Royal duties to attend to, but rest assured the safety and prosperity of my people is my greatest concern."

Malon hissed, "It is fortunate Link was with us, he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty."

"Link has much more important things to do with his time," Zelda stated firmly, "Hero, we have matters of state to discuss, alone."

Link wasn't following their back and forth. He was certain the two women had never met before but they seemed to be feuding like two alley cats. Each one jabbing and hissing with their backs up. He had absolutely no idea why they were so antagonistic but he said, "Please, come inside."

Zelda stepped primly past Malon, head held high, and the ranch girl scowled fiercely. Link had the nasty suspicion he was in trouble, somehow, but he stepped into the tent and then he and Zelda were alone. Link let the flap fall closed behind him and gazed upon the Princess. She was as lovely as he remembered, but not exactly the same. In his adventure through time he had met an adult Zelda, but she had been hardened by rough living and years on the run. This Zelda looked fair and untroubled. She had left her tomboy youth behind and embraced the delicate manner of a courtly lady. She was soft in the arms and her face was pale. He couldn't imagine this woman sleeping in ditches or evading monsters, or deigning to disguise herself as a man. She looked like she had come straight from the royal court and was about to attend a formal dance.

Zelda turned to Link but then she dropped the cool façade as her face broke out into the warmest smile. She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around him crying, "Link, it's so good to see you!"

Link hugged her back as he replied, "Zelda, I thought you weren't happy to see me."

Zelda only replied, "Sorry about that, I have to keep up the Princess act in public, but I am happy you're back."

Link sighed, "I'm sorry I took so long."

Zelda gripped him tightly as she said, "I knew you would come back someday, my dreams spoke of your return."

Link's nose was filled with the scent of pomander in her hair as he replied, "I always knew we would meet again."

Zelda finally let go and stepped back, she pulled off a long glove and revealed a glowing icon on her hand as she explained, "When the Triforce of Wisdom started resonating, I knew the Triforce of Courage was coming. Our fates are entwined, this was meant to be."

Link started in surprise and patted his belt as he said, "I almost forgot, I promised to return this."

He offered the Ocarina of Time to the Princess and she took it with wide eyes. She clasped it to her breast and said, "Thank you Link, I hope it served you well on your travels."

Link frowned slightly as he asked, "You don't know already, I thought the Sages were watching me."

"Partially," Zelda sighed, "We kept an eye on your welfare but we weren't watching night and day. We can't see everything and as time passed the Sages' duties grew more onerous."

Link frowned as he asked, "Rauru mentioned a dispute between you."

"It is nothing," Zelda demurred, "We merely have different roles. I am Princess of Hyrule, I must protect and guide my people. The Triforce of Wisdom has revealed many secrets to me, many lost histories and hidden mysteries. The past and the future are open books to me, I use what I learn to steer my kingdom."

Link glanced at his own glowing icon and muttered, "That's nice, mine doesn't do much."

"It is far more than you know," Zelda countered, "You don't understand what the Triforce is, what it represents. You are the Chosen Hero, you are destined to save Hyrule."

"From the Gerudo?" Link asked, "I thought you foresaw the war. Actually, how did the Gerudo manage to pull off this attack, didn't you know they were coming?"

Zelda sighed deeply, "My gift of prophecy is far from making me all-seeing. Minor details change; names, places, dates. I knew the war was coming but I could not see the day it would start or from what direction. Yet some things are certain, like unexpected turns in a river but knowing it will inevitably lead you to the sea. The war, your return and your eventual victory, all must come to pass. It is inevitable. Convincing my father to prepare the kingdom for war was not easy, but he has learned to trust my dreams."

Link's head was starting to throb, every time he encountered a Sage it seemed to devolve into talk of arcane philosophy. When he had pictured his reunion with Zelda he had imagined a lot less discourse over fate and a lot more hugging, followed by kissing and then other things. His teenage years had been lonely and he had clung to that dream, to keep him going through the rough times. He sighed loudly and said, "Zelda, I didn't come all this way to debate."

"Of course not," Zelda said solemnly, "You came to win this war for us. I shall speak to my father and tell him the Hero of Time has returned. He shall knight you and you shall ride under the banner of Hyrule. These things I have foreseen."

That wasn't what Link had been hoping for and he replied, "Um… that's nice. But I was hoping we could spend time together."

Zelda only smiled demurely as she explained, "Plenty of time for that later. I have dreamt our future Link. You shall defeat the Gerudo and all shall cry your name as a Hero. And there is one other thing I have seen: we shall fall in love and be married. We can wait a short while for destiny to unfold. Goodbye for now, my love."

With that Zelda turned and walked out, leaving Link alone in the tent. The young man was stumped by what he had heard; it was everything he had imagined, everything he had thought he would want to hear. Yet for some reason the Princesses' words did not bring him joy. They had felt cold and distant and as his eyes fell upon an empty sleeping roll he had the strangest feeling that he had missed something wonderful. He sighed deeply as he consoled himself he was destined to know love and he glumly accepted he'd just have to learn to be patient. He only wished he could escape the nagging feeling that he had acted as the greatest fool in creation.