Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

Chapter 3 - Meetings and Drinks

"Almost there… almost…" A faint glint of blue sparkled at the tip of a metal edge. With his right arm pointing upwards, Link is aiming very carefully his new tool at the large torch at the tall ledge on the other side of the room.

Biting the tip of his tongue with the corner of his lips, the young blond is trying for the fifth time to hit the mark using Dampé's Hookshot.

"Now!" A flush of air pushed forward, the metal spring unleashing the long chain in the air as the useful tool flew up high. "Yeah! I got iiiiiiitt!" Even after the ghost explanation, Link didn't expect to get flung out of the ground after hitting his target, making him yelp very loudly.

As the spring had recoiled back most of the chain, Link instinctively pulled his arm back, forcing the Hookshot out of the wooden surface and freeing him to spin his body forward to land safely at the side of the pole holding the blue-fire torch.

Glancing down at treasure in his right hand, his cerulean eyes sparkled with that usual glint of awe that young Link always had when finding a new tool on his adventures.

"So cool…" He said a bit more calmly now, putting the Hookshot safely in his pouch. "Can't believe Dampé would give me this just for racing him." A smile appeared on his lips. "Maybe this is what Sheik mentioned about needed something to get in the temple at the Lost Woods."

Leaving the dreary and gloomy tomb behind him, Link climbed back the decrepit old stairs, now comprised most of rotten wood, and emerged right back in the graveyard. When he first stepped inside this morbid place, the first stars in the sky were starting to appear, now the heavy glow of the moon welcomes him back to the world outside.

'With the moon at that height… then it should be a few hours past midnight.' He rubbed the back of his head in contemplation. 'Didn't think I would spend so much time down there…'

As adventurous and simple-minded as Link can be, he too knows that traveling in the dark of night is not a safe bet. It was not safe when he was little and it should not be safe now that Hyrule is drowning in strife.

Deciding that his next course of action should be to find a place to say the rest of the night, Link walked out from the graveyard, and as he appeared out of the old passageway he startled a few of the drunkards that were resting next to the moldy walls.

Giving a quick look around the still busy streets of the small town, Link tried his best to find a safe place all the while he avoided the quieter houses on the parts of the town left from the well.

His search landed him in front of a humble but very inviting building with open doors next to the stairs leading to the exit to the Death Mountain.

Stepping inside with cautious eyes, he noticed the very large tables spread around inside, with sturdy wooden chairs all around them, most of that already full with customers of the place. The only free spots he found are a few lone stools in front of the large counter littered with spilled drinks and empty glasses.

Still finding himself without other options, the young blond marched to the empty stool, taking a sit while waiting for the old woman serving drinks to a couple on the other end of the counter.

Noticing the fresh face presenting himself to her establishment, the older woman nodded to the couple and walked over to the newcomer.

"Welcome to Jina's." She said with a barely welcoming tone, exhaustion and callousness shaping the sound of her voice. "What's your poison?"

"What?" Link stared at the woman, his left eyebrow quirking up. "I don't have any poisons. Never used that stuff before. Only saw Deku Baba using it; nasty things they are, even worse if they grow big."

The older woman gave the boy a weird look, one of her hands going up to her messy and long fuzzy red hair. "What will you drink, kid?" She asked again, now both hands going to the side of her long and timeworn grey dress. "This is why you're here right? To drink your sobbing story away or to hammer your face with liquor to forget something." She brought a heavy jug of a purple liquid from behind the counter and presented a cup to the blond. "If you don't have a poison yet, I suggest this one. It will kick your senses like an angry mare."

Very confused at the woman's words, Link kindly accepted the large cup in his hands, watching as she poured the strange-looking liquid for him.

"Ah… Thank you… for, ahn… this. But what I really need is a place to stay for the night." He said curtly, shifting his nose closer to the cup just to smell the fruity scent of the beverage.

"Hah, you and half the poor souls sleeping on the streets. The other half are just vagabonds that are too lazy to do anything for themselves or anyone else." Frowning slightly, the red-haired barmaid shook her head. "Can't help you kid, all the rooms are full."

"I don't need much." Link promptly replied. "Just a small corner, to lay down for a bit. Don't even need a bed."

"Then go crouch next to a tree or something." The woman snarled. "Told you, the place is full. If you want to drink then you're welcomed to stay. If you want to test my patience, then get the hell out."

Link stared at the woman surprised at her rudeness, a light frown on his face.

"Hey, Jina." A soft voice sounded from the right. "No need to be stone-hearted like that." A brunet young man, dressed in loose green pants and an open red shirt walked by and sat next to Link. "He looks like a nice guy. Just someone in need of a friendly shoulder, right?" The man who appears to have the same age as Link looked at him with a charming smile on his lips.

Jina snorted in mild disgust, but left without saying anything else, her eyes still glancing back at the two young men as she went to pour a drink to another customer.

"She has a foul mouth and a scary face, but she means well." The stranger said, some form of admiration in his voice.

"It's okay, I don't mind it." Link replied a bit shyly, he was never shy to get to know people, but something pushed him to stay a bit reserved this time.

"Then you are a good fella too." Another one of those shining smiles appeared on the man's thin but pretty lips. "Everyone is having rough these days. Most people just forget that they are not the only ones suffering." He brought down the mug he was carrying to the counter and turned to Link, extending a friendly hand. "Nice to meet you. Name's Swift."

An unintentional snort escaped Link, forcing him to hide his mouth with one hand.

"Hey!" Swift cried out with a playful frown. "What's so funny about my name?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. Is just that your name is weird." Waving a hand in apology, Link turned to the man and took his hand. "Oh, my name is Link. Nice to meet you too."

"Hahah... And you go saying that my name is weird." Tugging softly at Link's hand, Swift gave him a soft bump in the back. "Heard that someone came through the front gate today. People say it was an oddly dressed guy with a pretty face and mesmerizing golden hair. You sure fit the description."

A flush of red crossed Link's cheeks, his gaze shifting away from the smiling brunet at his side. Unable to think of something to say back or a way to replay to that. He naively turned to his drink for a distraction.

When the first drops of alcohol slid down his throat, Link's whole face went bright red, the drink flying right out from his lips.

"Gah! W-What in the spirits in this?!" He shot an alarmed gaze at the cup in his hands. His innocent reaction to his drink making the young man at his side to chuckle softly.

"That, my friend, is Din's Fire. A liquid made of fermented fruits. something used to numb someone's mind." Swift took the cup from Link's hand and took a gentle sip from it. "I take you never drunk something like this before, huh?"

A firm shaking of the head was the reply. "I am used to drinking bitter fruit juice, but this is awful."

Swift chuckled again, his eyes shining ever so slightly at the blonde's words. "You like juice more, then?"

"Tea too… My friend Saria used to make green-leaves tea for us." Link replied sincerely.

"Hahah… you're a sweet guy Link." Swift made Link blush again, the blond this time casting his gaze down to his lap. "That begs the question, who are you?" The brunet put the other cup next to his on the counter. "I mean, most people I get to know now are just as bitter as this drink here." He tapped at the cup with purple liquid. "Hard to think of someone as shining as you in a world like this."

Link shrugged. This time he didn't respond because he truly didn't know what to say. He is just himself, there is nothing else he can explain other than that.

"Say Link, I hope this isn't a bit too intrusive, but… who are you, really?" Swift asked with a gentle but serious voice. Seeing the blonde's confusion, he continued. "I mean, what you do in life?" Turning his face away, the mysterious brunet got a look of longing on his face. "You know… I used to be a merchant trainee. Too young to own my own business, but my boss saw ambition in my big round eyes. Took me everywhere to learn after him… but that's all in the past now."

"Why?" A question aroused suddenly, surprising both the young brunet and the blond who asked.

Swift looked back at Link with a bittersweet look in his eyes. "The world changed. My boss lost his life protecting me from bandits. My dream died with him that day." A long sigh escaped the brunet, he shook his head and smiled. "Sorry for bringing up something like that. But what about you? I still don't know who Link really is."

After hearing a little about this new person, Link felt a bit more at ease to think at the question directed at him. Giving the other man a pensive look, he brought one hand to his chin and tilted his head. "I don't know… an adventurer, I guess."

"Ooh! So, you are one of those brave people who go around exploring the world?" Swift nodded his head in awe. "It's always good to meet someone who people can rely on." He took his cup from the counter and raised it in the air. "A toast to heroes like you." His lips pressed on for a quick sip of his drink.

"People keep calling me that, but I don't feel like a hero." Link's response made his companion look at him with a quirked brow. "How can I be a hero, if everyone is suffering like this?" For the first time since he escaped from the Temple of Time, his mind acknowledged the very real and sad state of Hyrule.

It didn't feel real enough for him to hear from Sheik how bad everything is. But seeing with his own eyes, made Link feel the weight of his actions. If he only had enough strength to stop Ganondorf that day, people would not be sleeping on the streets, cast aside without hope of better days.

"Hey…" A firm hand came to his shoulder, giving a warm comfort he didn't know he was needing. "You can't blame yourself over the state of the world. No one but that mad tyrant is responsible for this mess."

Link snorted quietly. 'Only if you knew.' He thought bitterly, one of his hands traveling back to the counter to retrieve his awful and bitter drink.

Weird how a few words exchanged can change so much between people, even two newly met strangers. The brunet that seemed so forthcoming and brazen, is now quietly brooding at the side, his eyes shadowed by a pensive haze.

And Link who is now trying his best to take a sip out of his mug without spiting everything into the counter again.

"Are you going to stay?" Swift asked, turning his eyes back to his blond companion. "I mean, here in Kakariko?"

"No, not really." Link glanced back at the other man. "I have somewhere to go. With the first ray of sunlight, I'll leave to the Lost Woods."

A hush of silence came haunting not only their conversation but the entire place. Link didn't need to look behind him to notice that everyone is looking right at them. Trying to ignore the many eyes fixated on him, he focused his attention on the young man staring at him with an open mouth.

"Are you okay?" Link asked in worry, his companion's face is paler than it looked before.

"Lost Woods… why are you…" Swift paused, his face growing colder. "That place is dangerous, you know?"

"I've been to more dangerous places." Link replied with a short grin. "I know that area well, despite the changes in Hyrule. Besides, I am a hero remember? Heroes can't be scared of a big mean forest."

Shushed gasps and words floated around, people not even bothering to hide their gossips at this point.

And Swift, despite the startled look on his face, broke his lips apart in a soft smile. "You are amazing, you know that?"

A fiery blush crossed Links cheeks again, but now he resisted the urge to look away from the brunet.

"Link… You know… I have a sister, she was…" Stuttering and unsure of his words, Swift looked away from his new friend. "Forget it, this is too much to ask from someone I just met."

Getting up from his stool, this time it is Link the one who pressed a firm hand onto his companion's shoulder. "What is it? Is she in trouble?"

The pair of brown eyes widened on how promptly the green wearing warrior voiced his concern, nothing but pure sincerity on those blue shining eyes.

It made Swift smirk on the inside.

"M-My sister was taken by some evil people days ago. They took her to their hidden base within the forest." Resting his cup on the large counter, the brown-haired man got up and stared right at Link's eyes. "I know this is sudden, but can you help me save her? I can't fight and I will be screwed If I go there by myself."

"Of course, I will help!" Link declared openly; his eyes holding steady in a determined way. "Tomorrow morning, we leave for Kokiri and we go save your sister."

Taking the young hero by surprise, Swift went and jump right at him, locking Link into a tight hug. "Thank you… thank you!" Cried the brunet on the verge of tears. "We sleep for the rest of the night in my house. It's just this way." As soon as he suggested, he grabbed Link by the arm and began to drag him away from the bar.

"HEY! You didn't pay for the drink." Jina's yelled from the inside, waving both hands to the young pair.

With Link following him, Swift turned to look at the woman and smiled apologetically. "Sorry Jina, put it on my tab. Love you!"

Giggling at the cursing words thrown at them, the now energetic brunet marched forward to the small shack made of dark wood, past the silent houses at the left side of the lone well.

Far deep inside the green maze that is the Kokiri wilds, rests a hidden bastion of the old country that was Hyrule before Ganondorf's reign of chaos. Makeshift accommodations comprised mostly of silk tents and a few newly constructed buildings made of the giant trees surrounding the area.

Soldiers and civilians alike followed their princess into this haven, a place where they can keep hope alive and strive for one day to strike back at the monster who attacked their beloved home.

Now, under the shade of night, most of the residents of the large camp are sleeping or trying to do so in their thin beds. And everything is engulfed in blissful silence, save from the sound of a few soldiers patrolling the edges of the camp.

Far back there is only the echoing between the wavering trees are the singing of nocturnal birds and the slithering of lizards painting the forest background noise.

At the northmost side of the camp lies the most well-adorned and expanded tent out of all the others. Serving as the private quarters to their Princess and also their headquarters, this place is the one with the greater distance between any other sleeping accommodations, but also is the most heavily guarded one. With at least four soldiers always standing guard over the wooden steps leading to the elevated ground where Zelda now lives.

Over a giant tree at the left side, a regal and prideful hawk watch over her liege's safety. Letting out a few curious chirps, the light brown bird tilted her head to the side, focusing her potent hearing at the faint sounds coming from behind. Flushing her wings wide open, the hawk bounced a few paces to the side, getting to the far corner of the branch away from the tree's trunk.

With a silent thud, a pair of nimble feet landed on the free spot next to the quiet bird.

"Hey, girl…" One hand wrapped in white bandages affectionally scratched at the top of the hawk's head, making it chirp happily in delight. "Anything of notice tonight?" Sheik asked quietly, his ruby gaze shifting down to his friend's tent.

Rustling her feathers, the beautiful hawk shook her head vibrantly, chirping yet again but in a more affirmative way this time.

"Thankfully nothing ever happens here…" Sheik mused to himself but in louder words. "Keep your senses always on alert. The enemy needs only one chance to destroy everything we hold dear."

A vigorous chirp came in response, leaves falling from the branch as the bird bounced up and down.

Smiling affectionately to his feathered friend, the young Sheikah tapped her head gently and giggled. "I know, you're always on alert. But I am here for the rest of the night, you can go and rest." Before the spirited bird could chip back in rebuttal, Sheik stood up from his crouching position to end their conversation. "Good night, Pyra."

He then gracefully leaped from his stop on the tree to the ground in a marvelous flip, landing completely silent right next to Zelda's tent.

Pushing the waves of silky fabric standing as a door in the entrance, Sheik stepped inside onto the padded floor.

"Please take out your shoes." A sweet and sisterly voice sounded from inside, the giggle that followed making Sheik roll his eyes ever so slightly. Even if he could fool and sneak past all the guards and soldiers in this camp, he was never able to get unnoticed by the girl who received some of the same training as him.

Doing as asked, even if faintly annoyed, Sheik stepped to the side on the large wooden square reserved for shoes and boots. And sitting down on the ridiculously soft ground, he began taking out his very tight footwear.

"I've been worried about you." From the corner of his eyes, Sheik saw the Princess step out from her room wearing a very stuffy and long sleep-dress. "Is it done?" She asked in a grave tone.

"General Derehn is dead." Sheik responded in his cold and professional tone, his eyes showing no sign of remorse from the deed.

Wearing a painful expression, Zelda sighed in relief. "Even if my hands are tied to help my people the way they deserve, I couldn't allow that monster to continue his slavery ring." She then stepped close to her friend and kneeled behind him wrapping a comforting arm around his chest. "I'm sorry for forcing you into missions like this."

"You didn't force me into anything, Zel." Shiek turned to give a one-eyed glance at her. "I am a Sheikah, a servant of the royal family. It is my life mission to serve you, it just so happens that my limited skills are necessary to this kind of job."

"You are so much more than just my servant, Sheik." She tightened her hold on him pinching his arm with her free hand. "My closest friend… my brother all but in blood. I love you; you know that, right?"

Deflating his shoulders in defeat, Sheik tossed his shoes to the side and turned to fully embrace his sister. "I know… I've chosen poorly my words. Just don't let people hear you talking about this, it will affect their image of you."

"Like I care one bit." She said back angrily. "Did anyone mistreat you again? I will have this person properly punished for it."

Sheik sighed, but a short smile tugged at his mask. "No one did anything to me, Zel. But that doesn't change their prejudice of what I am. They don't trust the Sheikah and they never will."

Zelda pulled herself away from her friend, giving him a stern frown, as she folded both arms against her chest. She wanted to counter back those words with a tirade of her own, but deep down knowing what Sheik said to be true, she just reserved herself to stare at him dissatisfied.

Then her mind drifted away from this topic to one that has been wandering her mind since the dawn of the previous day. Her eyes suddenly sparkling up in wonder as she leaned forward, both hands pressed together in front of her.

"What happened at the Temple of Time?" She asked energetically. "Did… did my dream became true? Did you find him?"

Seeing the always calm and collected Zelda get so flustered and excited about something made Sheik a bit startled. He looked at her with an odd gaze, then a soft smile broke his lips apart. Ignoring her sparkling eyes for a moment, the young Sheikah began to work on his turban, slowly undoing the biddings holding it over his head.

"Sheik!" Zelda slapped one hand at his shoulder, taking out a good-hearted laugh from him.

"Okay… Okay…" Sheik took the turban out of his head, letting his long golden hair drift freely at his back, then his right hand going to his mask to pull it down below his chin. "I met him…" He said with a pause, his voice now completely free of the muffled sound that his mask gave him. "The Hero of Time."

The glint of happiness turned into sparkling tears at the corners of Zelda's eyes. "He returned to us… Our hero." She took Sheik's hands to hers, bringing him closer. "So many long years have passed… how is he? What did you think? Is he ready?"

Sheik frowned and shook his head. "Clumsy." He said curly. "Naïve, hopelessly clueless to what he is and what needs to be done. His first steps made him stumble to the floor like a helpless toddler."

As her friend and younger brother began his report on their precious hero, Zelda's excited eyes lost their sparkle. "You can't be serious…" She asked in a worried voice. "I mean, surely there are very good qualities to him, right?"

Sheik paused, his gaze shifting to the side as he recalled his memory of the young hero. "He is tall, very tall." The blond young man dragged his breathing in contemplative silence. His eyes sliding down the imaginary figure of the other man as if he was standing in front of him. "Broad shoulders with a firm look to them. His legs are surprisingly toned, I swear I could see muscle lines under those white leggings… What?" He frowned at the giggles he heard coming from Zelda.

"Someone is smitten with the Hero…" Zelda teased him. "I am sure Link has turned into a very charming young man."

"Ah?!" A very flustered Sheik jumped to his feet, his ruby eyes scandalized at the accusation. "I am not smitten with anyone, excuse you." He puffed angrily. "Know what? I think I am done reporting anything to you." Spinning on his feet, the Sheika turned readily away from the smiling princess behind him.

"Oh, Sheik… I am just teasing you." She giggled again, now standing up to position herself right beside the Sheikah, in front of the spare room inside her very spacious tent. "So, where is our hero now? I take he was able to escape Hyrule Castle City without many problems."

Noticing the more professional tone in her voice, Sheik turned to face Zelda again. "I sent him to Kakariko. If he has any sense of danger to him, he should spend the night there and come here to Kokiri towards the Lost Woods tomorrow morning."

"You will meet him there?" She asked.

"That's the plan…" Sheik replied, suspicious of the little wiggles at Zelda's eyebrows. "If everything goes well, I will be standing there waiting for him in front of the Temple. With enough luck, the place will not be overrun with the scum Ganondorf call allies."

A pensive hum echoed from the princess, her cheeks turning slightly red as her lips quivered.

"What?" Sheik asked, noticing her strange behavior.

First came a chuckle and then a giggle. "I'm sure our Hero will be delighted to have your company there."

The poor Sheikah that had his cheeks almost getting back their pale color, went full red in the face again, this time, wasting no breath to march his way inside the spare room, letting the curtains close behind him in a very conclusive manner.

"Good night, Princess." He grumbled from inside.

Zelda could not hold her laugher anymore. She bursted into the room to tease her little brother a bit more before she could let the topic rest. After so long without being able to take her mind out of the war and serious decisions, the young woman will have her full share of having fun… even if it is at her brother's expense.