Link dreamt of fire; fire surrounding the castle, fire in the skies, fire devouring every object in its path. What was happening?

He slowly turned to his left and followed a small, dark path – the last section of Hyrule that the fire had not yet touched. He walked down it cautiously, expecting something to happen. The longer he walked, the farther the crackling of the fire became. Soon he was bathed in complete silence, for his steps were also silent. Away from the light of the raging fires, Link was overcome in complete darkness. He couldn't see where he was going, nor hear any sound. He simply followed as the dream progressed, curious as to where it was leading him.

As he followed the dark path, a light appeared in the distance. He realized he had been walking through a tunnel with no light source. He quickened his steps as he neared the light. His heart began racing. He had to reach the light!

Suddenly, his steps grew slow and sluggish, and the air slowly lost its oxygen, suffocating Link with each breath he tried to take. The end of the tunnel loomed just out of reach, and he fell to the ground.

Link sat up gasping for breath as the dream played through his mind. He was sweating and his heart was racing. He looked around the room in confusion, feeling disoriented. He was wearing soft clothing and sat in a large, plush bed with the canopies closed around it. Then he remembered he was in Zelda's chambers, not the cold dungeons.

He pushed back the covers, pulled back the canopies and then got out of the bed. He felt weak. Not having sufficient meals when he had been in the dungeons took its toll on his body. He hadn't even noticed until now. He walked from the room and made his way to the dining table that had an assortment of food lain across it.

His stomach growled as he reached for whatever his hands could find and stuffed it greedily into his mouth. He sat in a chair, pulled a plate towards him and filled it with fruit, toast, eggs, bacon, and sausages; anything that his hands could reach. Link continued eating until he could feel his stomach bloating outwards from eating so much. He sighed as he leaned back in the chair with a hand over his full belly. He smiled. He was warm, clean, full, and comfortable. But his smile soon faded.

So much had happened in the past week. He wondered what Colin was up to… Would he now be searching for both Link and his father? Did Colin even truly believe that his father was still out there somewhere? If only Link could tell him that his father was here in Hyrule. It would make Colin happy.

And Ilia… What would she think of all this? Link hadn't really given her much thought. She had always been skeptical about Hyrule; never truly believed in its existence. If only she could see him now!

Finally, Link thought of Zelda. It was all because of her that Link was even here, in Hyrule. He had been scared at first. He could admit that much. But now… Now he never wanted to leave. The one thing he had been searching for his whole life was finally in his grasp! And the King – Zelda's father – wanted him to go back. Was it because the King didn't believe in the Hero of Time or that he simply did not like Link? He didn't even know Link! How could he dislike someone who he knew nothing about?

Link shook his head and rose from the chair. He never did look around the chambers last night. He walked around, finding the billiards room which was also a library. He walked around the shelves, examining the title on each spine as he went. There were so many volumes on Hyrule's history! How could there be so much recorded history on just one realm? Link continued walking around the library until he was back at the door; the room shaped as a circle.

He left it and entered the next closest room which was the biggest walk-in closet he had ever seen! Gowns upon gowns hung throughout the room. There was a large mirror taking up an entire wall and a plush couch in the corner as well as a screen to change behind. He smiled to himself as he left the room and headed back to the bedroom. He picked up his folded clothes and changed into them and found a pair of boots Zelda must have left him.

The fire in the grate had burned down so Link walked up to it, thinking to relight it but realized there was no wood. He backed up and looked around the room. Light was streaming in through the several windows throughout her room. Everything was so beautiful in Hyrule; especially the tapestries lining the walls. One caught his eye and Link found himself walking up to it, entranced by the beautiful face woven in the material.

It was a woman with long, blonde hair. She was emanating a soft, golden light and she seemed to be creating the world and its beauty as she went along through it. Link continued to walk towards it, hardly realizing he was moving.

"Link?" He heard from behind. He turned around quickly and saw Zelda watching him, wearing a beautiful purple gown.

"Zelda! Good morning!" He said. She smiled, which made Link smile.

"I wouldn't call it morning," she began as she walked over to Link's side. "It is late afternoon."

"Oh… I see," Link said with a laugh. "Well where have you been all morning?"

"I was speaking with my father…" Zelda said.

"About me?"

"Yes. He wasn't happy when he found out that I let you out of the dungeons."

"He's going to make me go back, isn't he?" Link asked afraid. He didn't want to.

Zelda shook her head, "No, he won't make you. He has agreed to meet with you."

"Really?! Why?" Link asked. He couldn't believe it!

"He just agreed," Zelda said as she turned away from him. Something clicked in Link's mind. He reached for her and turned her towards him.

"Does it have anything to do with the bruise on your cheek?" Link asked slowly, controlling himself.

"He didn't mean to," Zelda said.

"But he still did!"

"Link, I am fine!" Zelda said. "Despite his disdain towards you, he is a good man! And he is the only family I have left, so please… I am fine," she repeated.

"Sorry," Link said as he left her side. He could tell she wanted to be by herself, so he would let her be.

"Your sword – the Master Sword – is on the table. Impa is waiting for you to give you some training so that you may protect yourself against what is to come."

"Thank you," Link said as he left her chambers. Link closed the door behind him and walked over to the table, retrieving his magnificent blade. He marveled at it before sitting down in the chair to wait for Impa, however long she may be.

"Hello, Link," a voice said from behind him. He jumped. This was really getting old. He turned around and came face-to-face with a blonde woman who had an eye painted in red on her forehead. Her hair was cropped close to her head save for a long tuft of hair that was tied with red ribbon, much like how Zelda did her hair. "I am Impa, Zelda's caretaker, if you will," she finished.

"Hello, Impa," Link said as he rose from the chair, sword in hand.

"Please follow me and we will start on your training," she said with a smile before quickly walking to the door, her black shall trailing behind her.