Hi everyone!

Long time no update... I'm so sorry about that! I logged onto FF the other day on a whim, and just randomly felt the urge to finish this story... and it's about time!

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 15

A dark cloud had hung over the village since Zelda had left.

Gaepora, understandably, was upset; not only had his son-in-law been captured by an unknown foe, but his precious daughter had up and left to find him, leaving his two beautiful grandchildren without their father, or their mother. His mood influenced the mood of the entire village, and everyone felt on edge.

The headmaster had the little tykes in the office with him today; Karane had been feeling tired, being in her 6th month of pregnancy now, and unashamedly begged him for an afternoon off. Gaepora had smiled and taken the three infants into his office whilst he worked on writing student reports gladly, but right now he regretted it.

"Aria, Dear!" he cried as another poor pot smashed to the floor, dirt, plant, pottery and child strewn across the carpet. Jumping up from his seat, he moved as fast as his old bones would take him to rescue the now screaming child. As he checked her over for cuts from the sharp pottery, Eric and Lee stood frozen, hands over mouths, and uttering 'uh-oh's.

"You're okay, no harm done." He stood the girl up "But next time be careful," he looked over to the other two children, who glanced away with guilty look on their faces. "All of you."

"We promise!" They all chimed, and Gaepora grinned from ear to ear. They might be troublesome children, but by the Goddess they were just too damn cute!

"Here," the old man stood, fetching some parchment and coal sticks from a cubbyhole. "Why don't you all sit and draw?"

"What draw?" Lee asked, looking up to the old man, his face screwed up as he tried to think what to scribble down. Gaepora thought for a second.

"Why, you could draw some loftwings," Gaepora looked up to the sky "Or draw each other. What about drawing mummy and daddy?"

"I don' 'ave daddy." Lee answered, deadpan. Gaepora blinked, taken aback by the toddler's bluntness.

"Of course you have a daddy!" Gaepora wondered for a second if Lee had actually forgotten Groose.

"Only mummy now." He turned to his paper, picking up the coal stick and beginning to draw a few blobs that might have resembled people. "Mummy, Ari 'n Eric."

Gaepora sighed, looking over to the other two children who were scribbling away, ignoring the conversation. He wondered if Link and Zelda were coming home soon. And Groose, if not for Lee, but for his mother's sake. Karane needed the support of someone other than him and the few women that would give her the time of day.

He looked back at the children, sighed again, and went back to his reports.

Later that evening, feeling much more refreshed, Karane came to collect the children. She fawned over their pictures, and thanked Gaepora for looking after them, promising to replace the pot Aria had knocked over. Gaepora refused her offer, but couldn't help thinking how much it seemed Karane was now Aria and Eric's mother. It had only been what… two or three months since Zelda had left them behind? And yet they treated the woman like she was the one who raised them, and she was ready to be responsible for the mistakes they made like a parent would be.

Karane took the children home, back to her house. She paused for a moment to look at the house Zelda and Link should have been living in, but Lee had pulled her away, complaining about dinner. Once home, she had fulfilled the wishes of her youngest, producing a meal of bird meat and assorted vegetables. She always made sure that Eric had carrots, but today he refused to eat them, instead asking for second helping of both meat and broccoli. Karane complied, silently thanking the Goddess her own and Aria were not picky eaters like the smaller boy. He may have been born first, but Aria outweighed him significantly.

"Aria!" She suddenly cried. The little girl looked up at her, an angelic look on her face. Karane looked pointedly at the girl's chubby hand, which sat on Lee's plate, grabbing at slices of bird meat. Nonchalantly, she continued to steal the food. Karane sighed, walking round and pulling the girl out of her chair.

"No!" Aria fought, but Karane didn't give in and sat the girl down away from the table. Aria gave her a dirty look, but didn't try to get back up. Karane exhaled sharply, wondering just what to do with the girl.

Once the other two were finished, Karane sat down. Lee ran up to her, clambering up onto her lap.

"Careful, Baby," she murmured, patting her tummy "Be careful of the new baby, yeah?"

"Baby." Lee poked her belly, but not uncomfortably. Karane laughed, nodding her head.

"That's right, my little man. There's another baby in there, just like you were once." The thought of giving birth to Lee flashed through her mind, and she grimaced. Lee froze.

"Does hurt?" He asked, and Karane instantly cleared her face back to a gentle smile.

"No, it doesn't hurt." She stroked the boy's soft red hair. She was about six months pregnant now, two months more than when Lee had been born. Karane was still amazed that the boy was alive. In hindsight, she was probably a lot further on than she had thought; she hadn't known she was pregnant for a long time, and she had never seen a healer. Even so, Lee had been ever so tiny.

As she cradled her boy, Aria and Eric came and sat down her legs. The four of them sat there for a little while, until Karane realized the children had all fallen asleep. Chuckling, she carefully stood up, taking the toddlers one by one off to bed.

As she settled back down in her chair to maybe doze for a little while, there was a knock at the door. Groaning, Karane heaved herself to her feet, and walked to the door, cursing whoever was dropping by at this time. She opened it, plastering a smile on her face.

"Yes?" She greeted, politely. Her brain caught up then, and her heart flip-flopped when she realized who is was that stood in front of her.

"Hello, My Love," Groose greeted her tentatively. "How are you?"

Zelda clutched her short sword, watching as the recently-slain bokoblin dissipated. Quickly glancing around in case a hidden foe decided to try their luck, only once satisfied that that was not the case did she slide the sword back into the sheath at her belt. She had been perfectly content to take only the bow and arrows with her, and let Groose take Link's training sword in case he ran in to any of the monsters, but Groose had prmised he would be fine, and made Zelda take it anyway. And, she was grateful for it; arrows are great, until the horrific monsters get up close. Zelda couldn't believe she'd ever been hesitant to kill one.

Jolting, she realized how she had changed in that regard. Once, she would have cried for hours over slaughtering what appeared as another living being. Now, she was just glad that she didn't have any cuts to clean, or monster goop on her tunic. Shaking her head, she moved on through the grass. Grannie hadn't been very willing to give up the whereabouts of her old clan; but Zelda was determined, and eventually the old woman had given her a map. She wasn't quite certain if she was following it right, but Grannie said that she wouldn't know she was there until she was there, as they were such a secluded race. With that in mind, she carried on as best as she could.

According to the map, she was getting close. Another day or so and she'd arrive. Grannie had said she'd be looking for a cave. As darkness fell, Zelda decided to stop and make camp for the night. It was late, she was tired, and what good is sneaking into a cave full of enemies when she couldn't even keep her eyes open?

Even though she was a little cautious to start a fire, the chill of the night bit into her skin through her tunic, and eventually she gave in. She nibbled at some dry meat that Grannie had given her, and drank from her skin. Setting her weapons out next to her, Zelda curled up and let herself fall asleep.

Zelda was rudely shaken awake. Her eyes flew open, heart rising in her throat. She jumped up to her feet, shuffling backwards quickly away from whatever had shaken her.

"It's okay, Zelda," Harley, Link's second-in-command, spoke softly. He threw his arms out to show he had no weapons. "It's only me."

"Harley!" Zelda crumpled with relief.

"I will tell you now, it's not a very bright idea to sleep out in the open," Harley looked around. "Especially with a lit fire. But, no harm done."

Zelda nodded, her cheeks flaming at being scolded like a child. Dropping her eyes, she fetched up her sword and bow, strapping them around her before grabbing her bag. Harley kicked out the last embers of the fire. The sun was just beginning to colour the sky, telling Zelda it was early in the morning.

"Where are the others?" Zelda asked once she was ready to go.

"They stopped to rest, their camp is back a few miles. I carried on into the night, to scout and hunt a little bit."

"Are you going to take me back there?" Zelda looked at Harley, a little bit apprehensive. Even though she had not said it, Harley understood immediately what she meant.

"You aren't trained for a mission like this," he shook his head slowly, confirming her worst fear. "What good is it if you get yourself hurt, or worse? I know you care deeply for Link; we all do. Maybe not as deeply as you, but all any of us want is to see him come home safe and sound."

"You don't understand, none of you do!" Zelda raised her voice. "Link and I, we have a connection. I can find him, and I will."

"Zelda, please." Harley took a step towards Zelda. Like a frightened animal, Zelda took one last look at him, and ran.

"Zelda!" Harley yelled, taking chase. Zelda was young, and quite fast, but as Harley had said before, she wasn't trained. As a soldier, Harley was significantly more fit than Zelda. He closed the gap between them quite quickly.

As he reached out his hand to grab her, Harley was suddenly hyper-aware of someone else, watching them. He slowed down, calling to Zelda. Turning, his eyes flew open as he saw one of them. Decked out in furs, just like before. Harley looked back to Zelda, to see that she had stopped and was looking at the person, her mouth open.

Zelda looked at the person who joined them. Was this a Hylian?

She didn't have much time to think about it. Harley was yelling at her to turn and run, but it felt like she was frozen in place. Her heart beat loudly in her ears, and the last thing she saw was Harley crumpling to the floor, his face twisted in pain, before the noise overtook her entire body and her vision went blank.

Thank you for reading! Please favourite, follow and review if you liked it!

Meiko x