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Chapter Seven The Shrine

A month since the Twilight incident has past and the threat of war was in the air. The Kingdom of Ricaka threatens Hyrule because of a refused marriage between Ezye's son and Zelda. Zelda, gowned in her blue dress, was softly playing her harp in her courtyard. A soft smile that was on her face was because her father had taken Rick out of the castle. He was harassing Zelda into harder sword training. Still, the threat of war scared her, she wanted to be part of it, but with no sword to work with except old ones that felt too heavy, she knew she would not be of any help.

Zelda put her harp in her lap and sighed. She had all the skill, just no sword to work with. At least they were able to find Sandstorm. She thought as she recalled the Lon Lon Ranch owners coming to the castle with the horse in tow. Sandstorm was overjoyed to see her again, and nearly toppled her over.

Zelda got up and walked over to her bedroom. She had a rubee bag of 400 rubees sitting next to her sword and cloak. She absently traced the hilt of her sword, it's unique marks intriguing her empty mind other then the last two parts of her dream replaying in her head…

Another flash, she finds herself in the arms of an unknown man, her head on his chest as they stare out into a small lake in a canoe. She might not know who it was, but she felt her feelings intertwining. Who was that man, why was he seemingly special to her…

Flash… the Goddesses will guide you… your relationship will not be cursed upon like your mother and others before her… Live strong, young one, you have a future to hold…

Shaking her head to the knocking of her door, she walked over and opened it. It was her nursemaid, Rita, standing there with a tray of freshly cooked fish. Zelda smiled as she let Rita in, Toaru fish was her favorite.

"Your father is worried about your safety, and wants to see you after you have eaten the fish." Rita said softly.

"Alright, thanks for telling me." Zelda replies as she eats the fish slowly. Rita takes her leave, leaving the princess to think.

After eating, Zelda heads for her father's room, knowing he was going to be in there, with the three knocks to signified it was her, he let her in.

"Rita said you wanted to see me about something." She said once the door was closed.

"Yes, I know your sword is broken dear," he said, staring right into her eyes, "But there is a blacksmith in Toaru who can fix it up."

"Toaru? Why not the smith here?" Zelda asked

"Because he is backed up as it is preparing for the war." Jeramy said

"Oh." Was all Zelda could say as she looked out her father's window.

"Make haste, young one, war is on the horizon and I need you back here as soon as possible to help fight back Ricaka." He nearly hissed, causing Zelda to jump. Her father was never on to hiss. With a nod, she quickly left his room for hers and got ready for travel.

Once outside by the stables, where one of the knights held Sandstorm in wait of Zelda, she pulled her hood over her head to keep the recently falling rain out of her face. With a grunt, Zelda mounted her horse and headed off.


Link was in the blacksmith helping the smith work on a two-handed sword he wanted. It was nearly done, but still needed a few days work on it. He liked how the blade was turning out, and could not wait to try it out. The entrance door then opened, and both the smith and Link turned to the visitor. The person seemed to look around slowly, as if they were in new surroundings. Link took the chance to see what the person wanted.

"Hey, welcome to Toaru Blacksmith, how can we be of assistance?" Link asked

"How long did it take you to memorize that?" Came the feminine response.

"Uh…" Link didn't know what to say. The smith walked over and eyed the person.

"A lady swordsmen, never thought I'd see one." He said.

The girl looked at him confused. How did he know she was a swordsman.

"Smith, watch it." Link said.

"Gee, is Link always like this?" the girl said, recovering.

"Whoa, how…" Link was about to ask 'how did you know my name' when the girl removed her hood, revealing Zelda, the Princess he rescued a month ago. "…never mind." He muttered, crossing his arms.

Zelda pulled out her sword and placed it on the counter. The smith picked it up and pulled it out. Finding only the hilt with part of the sword, he turns the sheath to see if the other part was in there. Sure enough the blade slides out onto the counter. Zelda watches at the man fiddles with the sword to see if he could fix it. He looked at her, and smiled.

"I can fix the beauty up, but it's gonna coast you 300 rubees." He said, "but I can't get at it until next week."

"I'll give you 400, just because." Zelda said, "I need to leave here as soon as the blade is fixed, so please, hurry."

"I'll do what I can." He said, then turned to Link, "Don't think pretty girl's got a place to stay, boy, take her somewhere."

Link nodded, and jumped over the counter. The smith cursed at him, but neither Link nor Zelda heard as they left the blacksmith. Link had told Zelda she could stay at his place, his mom wouldn't mind and his older sister could lean some clothes for her. As they entered, Link moved to the side while Zelda stopped cold. A dart was at her feet. Picking it up, Zelda looked at it. Instincts kicked in as she dodged more flung at her. After 3 minutes, the firing stopped when Zelda flung the dart she picked up to where they were coming from.

A rather tall female dropped from her hiding place, holding the dart Zelda threw in her index and middle finger. She was smiling at the fact.

"Not even Link can do that kind of thing." She said, "Where did you learn how do evade like that."

"Came with the sword training." Zelda said as she took off her cloak, getting rather warm underneath it, "Link said I could stay here for a while, is that alright with you?" she asked. The lady looked to be old enough to be his mother, but she didn't know.

"Sure, just stay in Marg's room and you'll be fine." She said.

"Uh, thanks." Zelda said as another lady entered the room. She smiled as she walked over.

"I'm Marg, Link's older sister." She said, "That's our mother, Jen, she's a Sheikah."

"Noticed from the way she hid while throwing the stars at me." Zelda said.

"Come, we should get you out of the dress so we can wash it for your return trip home." Marg said.

Zelda nodded as she followed her upstairs. Link followed, but stopped at a different door and walked in. The two girls continued on until Marg stopped at another door and opened it. Zelda followed quietly. The older girl closed the door and walked over to her dresser and started to rummage though it.

"Never thought I'd get to meet the Princess of Hyrule, let alone lend her some clothes to wear." She said as she pulled out an outfit. "Here, try this on, might be a bit big, but that's alright."

Zelda smiled as she commented on Marg's comment. "Well I never thought I'd get to come to Toaru because my blade's broken and my father fears my safety back home." Once dressed in the Toaru outfit, she stepped out and handed the other girl her dress, "Careful with it, its much older then my other ones."

Marg smiled as she placed it with her other dirty clothes, "I'll wash it tomorrow. Right now it's time for bed." She nodded over to the other bed in the room, "hope you are not bothered by its slight uncomforted, it's my older bed."

"I'll sleep on an ant hill if I must." Zelda joked; witch got both girls laughing.

Zelda slid into the bed, and found it rather comfortable. Within minutes she was sound asleep.

When Zelda woke up the next morning, someone was nudging her. When she opened her eyes, she saw it was just before sunrise. Lazily, she sat up in her bed and looked at Marg. The older girl smiled.

"Hope that you don't mind waking up early." She said.

"I normally rise with the sun." Zelda said as she slipped out.

"Good, cause I can never get Link awake, always got to seek out Mother." Marg said.

The two girls headed back downstairs to eat breakfast. All the while a plan was forming in Zelda's head. She could only hide a smile when the perfect idea came to mind. She listens to Jen and Marg talk about Link.

"He might be a hero, but that doesn't mean he can go right back to sleeping way in." Marg said.

"And I told you, just let me handle it." Jen said, "I don't wake him until about 10 minutes before he has to leave."

"Let's wake him up now." Marg said, pleading.

Jen started to shake her head when Zelda spoke up.

"Just dump some cold water on him. That'd teach him not to sleep in." She said while picking at her food.

Jen and Marg looked at one another, then both nodded. That was a good idea.

Ten minutes later was the yelling of Link's chorus of colorful language. Zelda allowed herself a victorious giggle before collecting herself as Link came down, drenched in water. He did not look the least bit happy. Zelda could only hide a laugh. Jen tossed him some clean clothes and he left to get changed.

"How do you know this will work?" Marg asked

"Even the laziest guards get right up after the first time they were splashed with water." Zelda said. The two girls nodded. When Link came back, Zelda looked up at him.

"I'm going fishing." He stated, and headed for the door. Zelda got up.

"Hey, it's been awhile since I fished." Zelda said. Link looked at her, then nodded. He would take her with him.

The outside air was chilled, but it didn't bother Zelda. Link made his way over to one of the canoe's and loaded the bait in, as well as two rods. Zelda got in as Link started to push the boat out. He paddled out a ways before coming to a stop. He grabbed one rod and sat next to Zelda.

"So how long is awhile?" he asked gently.

"Since I was five-years-old." Zelda said as she took the rod into her hands.

"Wow, a long while." Link said, "well, it's easy once you are reminded how…"

The rest of the early morning was spent with fishing. Link and Zelda started to compete against each other as she got more comfortable fishing. It ended with Zelda catching the biggest fish Link has ever seen.

"Damn, a 35 pound fish?" He stated in disbelief. They placed the large fish into the boat as Link steered to a nearby bank. Zelda looked at him curiously. "There's this shrine I wanted to show you…" He said softly.

"Will my catch be alright?" she asked.

"Should be."

With a nod, both walked into the overgrown area into what looked like a grass hut. Inside was an altar, splashing with water in anticipation. Both Link and Zelda looked at one another before walking forward. Once close enough, Zelda could feel a change in the air, and the water in the altar suddenly stopped. The exit was sealed off as the light inside dimmed. She glanced over a Link, who was equally scared and confused.

Faroe, Nayru, we have guests. A voice echoed in the dark. Zelda managed to keep a frighten look off her face as she tried to understand what was happening.

Ah, They finally showed up. A second voice said. Link inched closer to Zelda.

I think you scared them, Din. Came a Third voice. Neither Zelda nor Link moved.

Suddenly, three women with a gold radiance appeared out of the darkness. Each was garbed in a different color dress. One was in blue; one was in red, and the other in green. Zelda was the first to recognize them.

"The Goddesses." She whispered

Very good, child. The one in blue said.

"You sound as if you were expecting us." Link said calmly once he knew who the people in front of them were.

We were. The green one said. I believe you should already know us.

"Nayru, Din, and Faroe." Zelda said quickly, and all three nodded.

Hyrule is under attack now; Child, but you mustn't leave until your sword is ready. Din said to Zelda.

"I feel helpless, unable to do anything to help my country." Zelda said, she would've stared at the floor if she could, but something kept her from doing that.

Know this, Child, Hyrule will win, they wait for your return. Faroe said, then walked over to Link, come lad, you and I must talk. Link looked at Zelda, who nodded. Silently he followed Faroe.

If the Hero of Time and Princess of Destiny could see there descendent, they too would agree you have equal balance between courage, wisdom, and power. Din said, before leaving a confused Zelda. Nayru only smiled.

What do you fear? Nayru asked.

"I…I dunno." Zelda said, unsure of where this was going.

You fear love, child. Nayru said, staring at her. Don't fear love, for the future needs your love to your land in order to live. Nayru said.

"But… there is a double meaning to it, isn't there?" Zelda asked.

Yes…your relationship will not be tainted like you mother's and her mother. Nayru said, standing next to Zelda. Don't fear what your heart tells you, child.

Zelda nodded in understandment, and closed her eyes to keep the tears back. Her mind suddenly swirled, and when she opened her eyes, she was staring outside with Link bent down next to her. Her head hurt, but she pushed that away as she sat up, and looked at the alter. She was utterly confused.

"I thought we were talking with the Goddesses…" Zelda said softly.

"We were," Link said, helping her up, "In our sleep."

Zelda didn't say anything else as they got back in the boat. Link paddled back to the shore where the village was, and Zelda carried her catch into the house. After having supper, Marg takes her to her room and Zelda promptly falls asleep.