Chapter Eighteen - Banishment

"What exactly happened down there?" Zelda asked Link as soon as they got inside the castle.

"That guy who tried to kidnap you at the Domain came back. We locked blades for a bit until I had him at swordpoint. He then ripped off his cloak and revealed that he was Dark Link, in effect, me from another world. So, we fought some more, then you all showed up."

"I see. I am sorry for not being able to figure you out from the start."

"You did what you needed to do. Besides," Link replied, a smile forming on his face. "You never know if you picked the wrong one!" he shouted as he lunged toward her, laughing. Knocking her down onto the carpet, Link sat on her as he proceeded to tickle her unmercifully.

"All right! I give! I give!" she shouted, laughing loudly.

Suddenly, the door was flung open and a man entered, looking none too happy. "What is going on in here? You, get off of my daughter!" he roared, rounding on Link.

Link jumped up. "I meant no harm, sir. We were just playing around."

"Leave the castle at once!"

"But father, he's my friend!" Zelda exclaimed.

"From what I saw when I walked in here, I'd say you're pretty close friends. Too close, I might add."

"Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore! I can take care of myself!" she shouted.

"Not if taking care of yourself involves that!"

"That what? We were just playing around! You know, having a good time? It can't be too foreign to you."

"As long as this is my castle, you will follow my rules."

"Well, then, um, I'll stay with Link!" she replied suddenly.

Link just stood there, dumbfounded.

"You're gonna what?" he and the king asked at the same time.

"I'm gonna stay with Link," she said again, more sure of herself.

"Oh really? Are you sure he'll have you?"

"Zelda knows that she's welcome anytime," Link said casually, as if it was an understood thing. Then, he started to comprehend what had just happened. Zelda was coming to stay with him!

"Very well, go with him and we'll see if you prefer the palace, even with your 'playtime restrictions'."

Zelda grabbed Link's arm and pulled him from her room and out of the castle.

-

"Thanks again for letting me stay with you," Zelda said as they were walking across Hyrule Field.

"Like I said, there's always a place for you at my house, although there's a thing or two I have to take care of first," Link replied, placing his hand on the low brick wall running across the field and catapulting over the wall.

"A thing or two? Like what?" Zelda asked, sliding over the wall.

"Well, unless you plan to share a bed with me, I gotta find you a place to sleep," Link replied, a slight smirk on his face.

"Oh grow up Link!" Zelda remarked, laughing slightly.

"And besides that, Sarah's gonna camp out too, so she's picking up groceries for the three of us."

"Isn't it supposed to rain later?"

"How would I know? I don't have a TV anymore," Link remarked in mock sadness.

"The sky, Link. The sky." And Zelda had a point. The sky was darkening, ominous clouds rolling in above them.

"Let's hurry home," Zelda said. Link nodded in agreement and picked up the pace toward Kakariko.


A/N: I know, a short chapter, but this merely serves as a filler chapter to Chapter Nineteen's events and the plot for Chapter Twenty-one. Either way, it's still something that you can read. Hopefully, you'll forgive me and click the Next Chapter button. Onward!