Link paced the pebbly sand beside the watering hole, not caring about the gazes he attracted. The Princess should have met him there several minutes ago. She'd insisted that the short trip to the Bazaar was nothing to worry about. It was only about a five-minute walk, and it was very commonly traveled, especially in the morning. Yet here he was, worried sick. They were supposed to leave the Gerudo Desert that day, and the Princess had promised to meet her knight there since it was on the way.

"Whatsa matter, little guy?" a gruff voice asked.

Link looked over at the goron who had spoken, but continued pacing. He was slowly wearing a groove into the gravel. What was taking her so long? She wasn't getting pampered up, was she? She knew there would be no point, since they'd spend the day travelling. Then again, maybe she was. After all, she was in a town full of girls.

But why was he so uneasy?

He turned his head sharply. What was that? He listened intently, turning his ear toward the sound. It started as nothing, but grew as it approached. Footsteps in the sand. Running footsteps. Panting.

Link snapped to action. As he ran toward the scuffle, he heard voices.

"Where is the knight? The one with the Sheikah Slate and what they call the 'Sword that seals the Darkness'! Tell us where he is, or you will share his fate!"

Link's heart skipped a beat. Princess Zelda was in danger.

He drew his sword, his superior agility allowing him to run through the loose and shifty sand. Thankfully, the last stretch was on more solid ground. However, what he saw next made him boil with fury. Not one, not two, but three men, clad in gray and red, wearing masks with inverted Sheikah eyes painted the color of blood. Yiga. Zelda lost her balance and stumbled to the ground, backing away as they surrounded her. The one closest to her raised a vicious-looking curved blade over his head to strike.

You will not touch her!

The Princess whimpered in terror.

The Yiga did not see Link coming. Time seemed to slow down. With a grunt, he cut down the assassin mid-swing. The man did not make a sound as he collapsed on the ground, dead. When the Princess looked up, confused, Link had already stepped between her and the other two. He brandished his sword menacingly, blood dripping from the silver-white blade. The remaining two stumbled back, afraid. That was good. That meant Link was in control of the situation.

Unfortunately, they recovered from the shock faster than he'd expected. Either they underestimated him despite how quickly he had gotten rid of their accomplice, or they were idiots. One of them charged, yelling, "you're just who we were looking for!"

Link caught the Yiga's sickle with his sword, twisting it out of his hand and throwing him back. At the same time, the other dashed at him, and he used one foot to kick the second in the liver with his heel. He dropped to the ground, cradling himself.

The last Yiga standing finally realized he was severely outmatched. He backed away carefully. "We'll be back. Beware the eye of the Yiga!" With that, he cackled maniacally, waving his arms to perform some sort of Sheikah skill, and vanished in a puff of smoke and paper talismans that fluttered to the ground.

Link cleaned his sword in the dirt and sheathed it, then turned to the Princess. For the first time, he spoke to her. "Are you all right, Princess?" His voice sounded as if he'd just woken up from a long night's sleep. He hadn't said a single word for who knows how long.

She blinked in surprise. "You… you're not a mute?"

He shook his head, falling silent again. She seemed to be fine. He offered her his hand. She stared at him for a moment, dazed, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. She finally took it.

"I'm sorry, Princess," he whispered.

"Please… call me Zelda. And, Link? It… it wasn't your fault."

Zelda flinched as the last remaining Yiga stirred. Link put himself between him and her again and gave him a solid kick to the head. That should knock him out properly. He nodded reassuringly and led her back to the Bazaar, where he would fetch someone to capture the unconscious Yiga.

"Link?"

He paused, regarding her.

"Thank you."