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Wolf Link
Wolf Kagome
Arriving back to Arbiter's Grounds, Midna caught Link's attention.
"It looks to be midday, why don't we head back to your house and rest for the night before storming the castle?"
Link thought about it for a bit.
"Might be a good idea. I should probably stop by Bo's house while I'm there."
Midna gave him a confused look.
"Why?"
A bitter smile adorned his face.
"Just to see if Rusl did as I asked."
The imp was silent. The blonde warrior turned to face his companion.
"Let's get going, we have a lot to do tomorrow."
Without a word, Midna spirited them away.
~* Ordon *~
After stopping by his house and changing into his village clothes, Link made his way into town. Following the well-known path to the Mayor's house, he noticed the villagers staring at him and smiling as they whispered to each other. He also noticed how it seemed as though the village was getting ready for a party or festival.
'I wonder what the occasion is,' he thought to himself.
Coming up to the walkway of the Mayor's house, Link paused as he heard someone call out to him.
"Link!"
Turning, he saw Rusl jogging up to him.
"Rusl."
The swordsman winced at the cool tone of his apprentice.
"Uh, heading to Bo's are you?"
A blonde eyebrow rose.
"I'm assuming you haven't gone over, then?"
"I just returned to the village myself," the swordsman admitted.
Turning back around, Link walked up to the door; Rusl followed him.
Link had just raised a fist to knock when the door swung open and a large hand grabbed onto the front of his shirt and pulled him in. Rusl blinked at the spot where the young warrior stood before looking skyward and sending a quick prayer to the Goddesses before entering the house and shutting the door.
~* Inside the Mayor's House *~
Rusl came into the living room in time to see Link loose his breath as a smiling Bo gave him a hearty slap on the back.
"Take a seat Link, you too Rusl!"
After getting his guests some water, Bo turned toward Link.
"I have to say Link; Ilia's letter certainly came as a surprise."
Bo leaned back in his chair with a smile.
"It doesn't really come as that big a surprise, the whole village has been saying it would happen since you were kids."
He took no notice of Rusl hiding his face in his hands.
"And the mess with that girl! I don't you blame you, Link. Women like that have a way of making even the strongest of men fall to their charms. You're lucky Ilia was able to see what was really going on."
He paused, paying no attention to Link's body language.
"With all of these problems coming about, the wedding is just the thing to help raise the village's spirits."
Link narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"What wedding?"
Bo laughed.
"I know you asked Ilia to keep it quiet until you and the kids got back because of all the danger, but you didn't really think she wouldn't tell her own father, did you?"
His face took on a sheepish look.
"Of course the rest of the village knowing is my fault. I was just so happy I kind of blurted it out without thinking."
"Bo."
The Mayor was startled at the underlining anger in the young man's voice.
"What. Wedding?"
Bo looked confused.
"Yours and Ilia's, of course."
Slowly exhaling, Link asked to see the letter. Still confused, Bo handed it over. It contained much of the same information that Telma's had, but this letter included how he, Link, had proposed to Ilia and she gave a detailed description of the dream wedding they had talked about. Carefully placing the letter on the table in front of him, Link looked Bo straight in the eye.
"I believe we need to talk about everything that has happened. All of it."
Rusl looked up at this. He thought he knew all that was going on.
~* Many Hours Later *~
During the retelling of the adventure, the room gained a new occupant. Midna appeared so as to validate Link's story.
"After Midna destroyed Zant, we were just about to leave the throne room when Kagome vanished from my arms."
Bo and Rusl looked at the young warrior with emotions ranging from disbelief, to anger and to pity. It was Rusl who spoke.
"Do you know what happened to her?"
Link shook his head, but it was Midna who voiced the answer.
"We think that whoever was directing Zant took her."
Rusl nodded.
"So you think she is in the castle."
Link finally looked back up.
"It's really the only place she can be."
All three turned to Bo, who was still silent, his eyes closed and arms folded in front of his chest. It seemed like forever before he opened his eyes.
"Link, you get rested up and get ready to get back that girl of yours. Don't let Ilia know you've been to see me. You just worry about dealing with the guy behind all this."
"What about Ilia and the villagers?"
Bo looked over at Rusl.
"I'll deal with the village as soon as Link leaves, and Ilia will be dealt with when she comes back."
"I'm really sorry Bo."
The large man shook his head.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for. I let that girl get away with a lot growing up; I guess I just forgot to tell her that she can't have everything she wants."
Shaking his head, he stood and held out his hand.
"Get on home Link; you have a big day ahead of you."
With a smile, Link took his hand and shook it before leaving. As soon as he stepped out of the door, Rusl turned to his old friend.
"I'll head back to Castletown and round up those friends of mine. Link will need all the help he can get, and those guards are useless."
"Sounds like a plan."
The two were silent for moment before Bo spoke back up.
"Do you think he'll still want to live here after all this is over?"
Rusl was silent as he thought about it.
"It's hard to say. I'm pretty sure it will be up to Kagome."
"I would understand if he doesn't, but I still hope he will."
Rusl nodded his head as he stepped out the door.
"Let me say goodbye to the wife and then head off. Have fun with the villagers."
Bo scoffed.
"You're a damn coward leaving me to do this myself Rusl, but we both know I'd do the same thing if our roles were reversed."
Rusl laughed as he made his way home.
Looking the village women who tried to look like they weren't eavesdropping, he made his way over to them.
"Start gathering everyone," he ordered with a solemn look on his face. "We need to have a town meeting."
The serious look on his face made the curious women hurry about gathering everyone they could find. When Bo felt as though everyone was there, he began the meeting.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke.
"It would seem that Link and Ilia will not be getting married."
He paused as the gathered crowd began muttering to themselves.
'This is going to be a long night,' he thought to himself.
