Early the next morning Link descended the stairs to the lower part of the bar only to see Telma already up and preparing for the day.
'Does she never sleep?' Link wondered to himself.
"Oh hi hon, did you sleep well?" Telma asked as he got to the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes, thank you." he replied.
"I'm glad. I don't often have people stay here so I'm not sure how comfortable those beds are." she said "Now onto more important business, what would you like for breakfast dear?"
Link smiled. "Thanks for the offer but I really need to be heading to Ordon if I want to make it there before noon." He replied
Telma looked somewhat disappointed but just said "Alright hon, if that's what you have your heart set on then I won't stop you, but don't forget your first meeting with the Resistance is in two days and you'd better not be late!"
Link thanked her and promised that he would be at the meeting on time. After stroking Louise one last time he walked out into the busy streets of the town. He paused to look around and noticed that it was later then he had originally predicted. As he walked past all the shops and cafes the smells of food made his stomach start to complain rather loudly so he decided to grab some food for the ride. Link's idea was that he would return to Ordon to collect some of his things and to check up on everyone before returning for the meeting. As he walked across the bridge that lead back out to Hyrule field he suddenly heard someone calling to him from behind "MR. LINK! WAIT!"
Link turned to see that it was the mailman running frantically to catch up to him. Link stopped and waited until the mailman got close enough to deliver his message.
"Good morning Mr. Link, I have a letter for you" Then he made an odd little fanfare noise that he always did when delivering a letter. After a laugh of triumph he said: "Well, my business is concluded. Onward mail!"
Then he quickly ran away making strange little grunting sounds as he went. Link watched him go for a while before looking at the letter. The letter was stamped with the official seal of princess Zelda. Link quickly opened it to see what it said, his curiosity burning.
The letter read:
Dear Link,
I'm sorry to bother you so soon after all the work that you have done but I need to speak with you of a matter of utmost urgency. Please come to the castle at your earliest convenience.
Zelda
Link stared at the writing for a few more seconds then put the letter in his sack. 'I guess that changes my plans.' Link thought. He turned and started walking back into the town. He fleetingly wondered if the guards would let him into the castle but, he was confident that he would be able to find another way in if necessary. As it turned out the guards at the gate let him through with no trouble, it was the guards at the throne room that were less accommodating.
"Halt! State your business!" the first guard yelled at Link as he neared the doors to the throne room.
"Zelda summoned me" Link replied without stopping.
"Hey! You can't go in there!" the second guard said as he quickly situated his spear between Link and the door. Link stopped and turned his gaze to look into the eyes of guard. He held the gaze just long enough for the guard to start second guessing himself before backing up and putting his hands up to show he meant no harm. The guards glanced uneasily at each other before sending a messenger to find out if princess Zelda was, in fact, expecting a visitor.
The messenger returned within a few minutes and explained that Link was to be taken to Zelda immediately. Link follow the messenger to where Zelda was. After a quick glance back at the guards, he made a quick mental note to talk to Zelda about the training that the guards receive. The messenger lead Link down a series of halls before stopping at the royal library. He paused and did a slight bow to Link before quickly taking off in the other direction on some other task. Link turned back to the door and lightly knocked. He backed up as a studious looking person opened the door.
"Yes? Is there something I can help you with?"
Link answered by simply saying 'Zelda' then looking with a meaningful glance behind the man. The man opened the door wider and did a small motioning gesture to Link before walking into the room. At first Link just stared at the enormity of the room, then he looked across the room to see the man he was talking to earlier turn a corner of one of the long aisle ways. Link sped up his pace to keep up, after quite a few twists and turns through the hundreds of book-filled rows, they came to a large open area that was decorated with couches and armchairs. Almost immediately Link noticed Zelda sitting in one of the far armchairs deeply concentrated on a scroll that was laid out in front of her. The studious man that had brought Link held out one hand for a few seconds indicating for Link to wait. Next he walked over to Zelda and bow deeply before explaining that there was someone to see her. Zelda thanked the man and he went off though some other aisles on the other side of the room. She then set aside the scroll and smiled at Link before inviting him to join her.
"This is probably the best place to conduct our business; almost no one comes in here anymore." Zelda sighed. "I know this probably isn't the best timing but I need your help with this." she said as she tapped the scroll she had been reading. Link looked down at the scroll. The penmanship was close to illegible but after just a glance Link could see that the letter had the word "dragon" sprinkled thought out the entire text.
"It's a report from one of our very remote villages, they are requesting back up from our army to help get rid of a dragon that has been attacking their villages and farm land." she explained, worry clouding her features.
"Will you send them?" Link asked curiously
"I want too, but it gets more complicated, the village is right on the edge of our boundaries and Norachre's and unfortunately we have a very uneasy relationship with that particular neighboring kingdom. And if they were to see our army marching towards the border they might assume that we are declaring war on them." Zelda sighed again.
Link paused and thought for a moment. It was relatively easy to guess what the princess was going to ask of him but he did have other things to deal with first.
"I'll go." Link said after a few moments silence
Zelda looked visibly relieved before frowning and asking. "Are you sure? It's a long journey and I don't want to impose on you more than I already have."
Link smiled and said "It's fine... But I can't leave right away."
Zelda did a bit of a start after hearing that but replied. "Alright, that's fine when do you think you can leave?"
Link smiled again and explained to her about the Resistance meeting in two days.
Zelda didn't say anything for a few moments but then she chuckled and said. "I'm very glad that you have found somewhere for you to fit in here in Hyrule... I was a bit concerned that you would go back to Ordon and I wouldn't be able to see you." Then as if just realizing what she had said blushed slightly and said "I-I mean the royal guard is just so pathetic it's nice to have someone around who knows what they're doing."
Link smiled and pretended not to notice the princess' cover up. After spending a few more minutes hammering out the details of the trip Link stood, bowed and excused himself, leaving though the twist and turns of the library aisles.
After exiting the castle Link headed back toward the bridge leading out of the town. He reached the end of the bridge and called Epona, as he waited for her to arrive he looked around. He guessed that it was about 1:00 in the afternoon, leaving him little time to get to Ordon. After pausing for a few moments more he decided to go anyway, with the upcoming trip he had some things he would need to pick up before he left. Link climbed onto Epona and set her galloping towards Ordon.