Reminisce

CHAPTER FOUR

Something woke him up. He was wrapped tightly in a blanket.

Nave moves his head slightly to the side for a moment before opening his left eye halfway. It was music that woke him up. It was a harp playing some slow melody, but neither sad, nor cheery…just caught in the middle.

Slowly, after listening to it for a little longer he opened both eyes half way and looked around slowly without moving his head. Zelda was gone.

His eyes are fully open now as he looks at the tree opposite of where the campfire was once burning, the campfire was gone…replaced by a basket.

He followed the sound of the music; the melodies led his eyes up the trunk where he saw two boots swaying slowly back and forth.

He looked up higher and sees Zelda facing the sunrise, playing the harp with her eyes closed. She was sitting on the branch, playing the harp beautifully without noticing Nave watching.

The melodies begin to slow as Zelda plucks the final cord and finishes.

She opens her eyes halfway, deep in thought and watching the sun slowly rise from between the hills. She takes the harp into her arms and hugs it gently, cuddling it lovingly with her arms and nuzzling it with her cheek.

"That was nice." Nave spoke.

Zelda's eyes open slowly and she turns he head. She looks down at him from the branch, "Rise and shine." she said, smiling, but sounded tired, "I woke up a few hours ago, and cleaned everything up. Theres your breakfast in the basket, go wash up in the river a few yards behind you." she turned back to the sunrise, "Take your time…theres no rush."

"What song was that?" Nave asked.

Zelda smiled and said, "It's a song from my childhood..."

She didn't bother diving deeper into the subject. She turned and looked to the daylight once again.

Nave looked at her. For someone with her uplifting personality, she sure did daydream a lot. He wondered what she was thinking about. Perhaps about the one she seeks to come across?

He shakes his head and gets up, walking towards the river.

After a short walk, he hears water and arrives at a small sparking stream. The running water seemed to resonate around him. If not for the water, the woods were silent. No birds, no wildlife about. He paid no real attention to this and knelt down by the water's edge.

He cups the water in his hands and splashes it across his face, washing the dreariness from his eyes.

Over at the campsite, Zelda was still on the branch, harp in hand. She lets out a long sigh and mutters, "Link…give me a sign…where are you?" she plucks another cord on her harp, "Why did you run off so suddenly? Why the secret?"

She tightens her grip on the harp, frustrated by not knowing where Link was. She shouts, "Why do you have to be so dumb!"

Her shout scares some nearby birds and they flutter away into distance. There was another sound, it was faint, but her ears caught it.

She turns around and tries to figure out what it was just then, her eyes searching and her ears listening for any other signs.

After freshening up, Nave walks away from the river towards the campsite.

As he arrives, he notices that everything was gone. The basket, the fire, the bags…

"…Zelda?" he asks cautiously.

No response.

Before he could step forward, a hand grabs him by the collar and yanks him backwards into the bushes he had just walked from. Nave was about to fight back until he heard Zelda's voice whisper, "Shh…be quiet."

The hand releases him and he turns to see Zelda to his left, kneeling down and peering through the bushes. He does the same.

"Guards?" he muttered as he sees a small group pass.

"I'm not sure…might just be a random troupe…" Zelda replied.

"…A pilgrimage?" Nave whispered.

Zelda didn't respond and merely watched. The group was headed towards Vanale. There were two horses pulling a carriage, the driver was plainly armed, and wore chain mail under his plain shirt. Walking in formation around the carriage were armed soldiers.

"Were you expecting someone important?" Zelda said in a hushed tone.

Nave shakes his head, "Not that I know of…the top brass rarely tells me anything anyways."

Zelda nods, "…let's just go before we draw attention." They both travel away from the group and finally, when they were out of sight, ventured onto the main road once again.

"It's weird…" Nave muttered as they officially began their trek northbound.

Zelda looked at him, "Hmm?"

"You'd think they'd have a search party after us, you know?" Nave thought, "But so far, we haven't had any real trouble, it's as if they had forgotten us or something."

Zelda nods, placing her backpack from her left shoulder to her right to get more comfortable, "You're right. The whole thing seems a bit off."

She thought for a moment, "Well…maybe it has something to do with whoever was in that carriage?"

"What makes you think that?" he asked.

She shrugs, "Well, maybe it's some high ranking person? And they don't want whoever that was to know that we broke out of their prison?"

"Yeah, that definitely won't look good." Nave agreed. They decided to put the topic down and continued walking.

"So what makes you think we'll find him over at the village?" Nave asked.

Zelda replied, "It's the only place to go. I'm hoping that he's talked to some of the people there. We might get some clue on where he might be headed, where he came from, and why he's traveling around."

"Oh…smart." Nave muttered.

Zelda smiles, "Thanks."

Nave continued, "What if he just skipped the village altogether?"

Zelda muttered, "Then…we'll look elsewhere. I will find him."

Seeing her determined like that, Nave decided not to question it anymore. To their left, they hear some grumbling, followed by a horse neighing. Shouting followed.

This gets their interest and they both silently, but unanimously decide to check it out.

They both go into the woods to find the source, as they neared it, Nave muttered, "I wish I had my sword with me."

Zelda's hand goes to the knife strapped on her leg. Nave looks at the weapon and asks, "Do you know how to use it?

Zelda shakes her head, "Honestly…no. I've never used a knife against another person before. I've never killed before, either and I hope I never have to."

"Good." Nave muttered, "It's not right for a princess to get blood on her hands." Zelda looked at him. Nave smirks.

Soon, they happen upon a turned over wagon with two women struggling to tip it back over with no success. The horse was safe, standing there watching.

Nave spoke and got their attention, "Hello, ladies…need some help?"

The first woman, a short brunette in her fifties looked to him and said slowly, "Yes…if it isn't too much trouble."

The second woman, who looked to be in her mid-twenties nodded, "Yes, please…our wagon tipped over and now we're stuck here."

Nave and Zelda trudge down towards the two. Zelda inspected the wagon and asked, "Where are you headed?"

The younger one answered, "My mother and I were on our way from Vanale to our village north of here. The village of Ceres"

"Great!" Zelda said happily, "We'll gladly help. We're headed there as well…"

The older woman clapped and said, "We'll give you a ride. We're late so we must hurry. If we start now, we'll make it a wee bit after mid-day."

"Alright…let's get to work!" Zelda said. She pats Nave on the back, "Go on."

Nave looks at her, "Are you going to help?"

Zelda laughs sarcastically, "What are you, crazy? I can't lift that."

Nave sighs, "…rotten spoiled little…"

"What was that?" Zelda asked. Nave answered quickly, "Nothing."

The carriage arrives through the front gates of the Vanale Castle and comes to a halt in front of the entrance. Vincent was waiting in front of the castle doors. A group of guards lined the path from the carriage to the door. The driver of the carriage hops down the vehicle and opens the door. Out steps someone of royal stature.

Vincent smiles politely and greets the man, "Ah, Your Highness. It is an honor to meet the King of Hyrule himself. We've been expecting you." he bows.