Toraho's, the assassin lieutenant that had been assigned to researching the Frost Stone, eyes scanned over the written report. If the information written on the piece of parchment was correct then he was a large step closer to finding the location of the magical item he searched for. One passage on the piece of parchment was the most interesting it read: After extensive research in this field all sources seem to say that the Frost Stone was thrown into a body of water because at the time no one inhabited this area. During the reign of King Ganondorf, the King tapped into the power of the Frost Stone and used it to freeze his enemies' kingdom, The Zora Domain, by placing the Frost Stone within a portal to their kingdom. When the power of the Water Sage flew out of the reawakened temple it destroyed the might of the Frost Stone which was driven out back into the body of water from where it was from.

Toraho smiled, the master will be very pleased with this. He quickly exited his hideout and headed north at all speed towards Hyrule Castle Town. He knew that the drawbridge would be lowered soon and he wanted to get this information to his master as soon as possible.

………………………

A few hours later Toraho stood obediently and patiently in the small apartment his commander had rented while the commander went over the report. Finishing perusing the document the master assassin looked up to Toraho and nodded, impressed.

"Good job lieutenant", said the commander, "dispatch men from your brigade immediately to Lake Hylia. Order them to commence searching dives and to recover anything that emits magical power."

Toraho nodded before saying, "Why Lake Hylia sir."

The commander smiled before answering, "Because, my dear lieutenant. Lake Hylia is: 1. the largest and most significant body of water in Hyrule 2. It is the only body of water with a portal into Zora's domain, and it is the only area of Hyrule that is not populated heavily or by a single race. If this information is right, that is where this Frost Stone is. Good work lieutenant."

Toraho saluted and then exited the apartment, returning to his own hideout. The commander sat in his chair pondering for a while. Good, everything is working. By next week the King and Link will be dead, the Frost Stone will be in my client's hands, and, most importantly, I will be very rich.

At the same time the assassin wondering if his decision on the other information he had received was wise. He had been informed by his scouts in Hyrule Field that Link had paid many visits to the ranch lately, or more specifically, to the pretty little ranch girl that lived there.

The assassin had seen an opening and, like a cobra, had decided to strike hard and fast before it disappeared. He had called in a whole other brigade to carry out this operation because he wanted no mess ups. Link would die, it may ruin their disguise but Link would die.

The assassin consoled himself by remember that getting Link out of the picture also would clear many things up. For example, the assassin had been informed that Link usually disagreed with his client's advice to the king, advice designed to hinder the Crown's hunt for the assassins. With Link out of the way their would be no alternative to his client's words.

The assassin nodded to himself. Yes, this was a smart move. No one, not even the Hero of Time, can take out a whole brigade of my men by themselves. Today is the last day that Link will live on this earth and his king will follow him soon.

………………………

Link walked slowly down the dirt path away from the city walls and towards Lon Lon Ranch. He had had business to do at the castle after the Royal Council meeting had finished and he hadn't had time to go visit Malon. He had been quite happy to find that his day was almost completely free this day and had immediately headed out towards the ranch.

He whistled to himself as he pondered how he would ask Malon if she wanted to come to the Royal Ball with him. I don't want to come across sounding too stupid, he thought to himself.

He quickened his pace as the ranch came into sight, thoughts of Malon making his blood pump faster in his veins and warming his heart. He thought of the times, twice now, that he had lain with her. It had been like they were one heart, one soul. It had been beautiful, nothing like what he had heard many men brag about. Maybe he and Malon were special, he thought.

He continued to near the ranch and his pace continued to quicken. He couldn't wait to be with Malon; even if they couldn't make love right now just hearing her voice was uplifting. Link smiled and walked on, oblivious to the trap closing around him.

………………………

Darnast, the lieutenant whose brigade had been called in for this job, watched Link approach and smiled grimly as he neared the trap blissfully ignorant. He, as well as five other men armed with bow and arrows, lay flat on the roofs of the house and stable. The lieutenant motioned to his men who rose up a bit off the roof and strung arrows to their bows.

Darnast rehearsed the kill in his head. When Link came within range he and his other archers would open fire. The six arrows would bring Link down, dead hopefully, but if not the three assassins out in the field with Link would finish him. Link hadn't seen the two horsemen, one was on the other side of the hill that bordered the ranch and the other was on the other side of the ranch. Nor had he noticed the assassin on the road with him, moving silently and quickly at his back, always staying twenty or so feet behind him. When the signal was given they would rush the fallen hero and make sure of him. Then Darnast, his eight assassins, and the two men had left to guard the owner of the ranch and his pretty daughter, would make their escape back into the desert and never be caught.

Link was almost within range and Darnast motioned again. The men pulled their arrows taught on their bows and took aim. Six lethal arrow heads pointing towards the exposed hero. Darnast took a deep breath, ready to yell the command to strike. Link walked a few more paces. The assassins' hearts raced in anticipation. Link took another step forward.

"NOW!"

………………………

Link was surprised by the sudden call and even more surprised by the six arrows he saw racing at him. The first flitted past his head narrowly missing. The next two came in at his right side, slicing hits that didn't stick but left two red lines across his side. He gasped in pain and clutched his wounds as the next three came in. One nailed him in the soldier sending pain coursing through his body. The next slammed hard into his chest knocking his breath out of him and dropping him to his knees. The final damning arrow hit him in the throat. Link gasped a breath and then fell to the earth, dead before he hit the ground.