Chapter 2- Problems with the Typical Day
Link watched Zelda come out to the fields. The tall grasses came to her knees, flowers of every color of the rainbow dotting it, coloring the green. The woods that bordered the field served as both a beautiful back ground and Link's camouflage. He was about to come from his hiding place when he saw Impa following the princess along her walk through the fields. He glared at the guardian and Navi laughed slightly.
"Come on, Link. Let's go back. It is a lost cause today,"
"Not so fast, Navi," Link persisted.
The fairy sighed and waited as Link watched and waited himself. Zelda and Impa talked for a few minutes, Zelda walking away from her guardian every chance she got. The talk they exchanged lasted a long time.
Link sighed. It was obvious she was trying to gain a few minutes to herself, but Impa wouldn't have it. It would be just his luck if Impa knew the plan... knew their ways by now...
Zelda waved her hand at Impa and the guardian stayed where she was as Zelda walked away. Link lit up as she moved further away from the intrusion... but sighed again as Impa followed...
Epona neighed. Impa, Zelda and Link looked back to the horse at the same time. Link knew, without looking back, that he'd been spotted. Why in the world had he decided to bring Epona into the castle grounds this time? He turned and ran for his horse, mounting her and running off through the small dirt path.
"Is that what this is about? All this sneaking around?" Impa asked Zelda made no response, only stared at where Link had vanished behind the trees, knowing it'd be a while before they could meet again...
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Link brought Epona to a gentle halt when he was safely away from the castle grounds. He stopped and looked back, not seeing Zelda, but feeling her pain in yet another ruined chance to enjoy each other's company. Why he wasn't admitted to the castle, he didn't know... He'd given up his childhood to save Hyrule and he wasn't offered any knighthood or even a place in the castle. Poor Zelda had spent a lot of her childhood being a prisoner. They'd both given so much, and yet no lee way... he sighed again, then headed on slowly to Lon Lon Ranch... counting through his chores and knowing the work would be the only thing to keep him sane.
Later…
Link was sitting in his one room house, the fire in the hearth blazing, the smell of bread in the air after his day of work at the Ranch. The scent of the fresh fish he'd caught, then smoked was still in the air. The room was cozy with its one bed, circle table in the middle, the hearth in a corner (something he wished he could change,) jars in another corner, a dresser next to the bed and a shelf that lined the room all the way around the top. He took in another deep breath, then poked at the fire and checked his bread. It was turning a beautiful golden brown color. Zelda would love such a quite life. It was just too bad they would know automatically where to look for her if she vanished.
Someone in the village shouted. Link stood, Navi floated in from her resting spot on the top shelf. He opened the door, looking down over the village. Impa was walking up the stairs that led to the first level of the village. She was escorted by guards.
Any fool who'd just been caught with the princess she guarded would have known to high tail it out.
Link sighed, upset that he wouldn't get to taste his home made bread; if he left it, the smoke would give him time to get away. He packed a shoulder bag with clothes and the fish, tying on the case for the Master Sword and grabbing his shield, he stepped out the back door, checking to make sure the coast was clear. He ran through the shadows, Navi close behind. From the edge of the village, he jumped the fence and looked back one last time. The Hero of Time was now the outlaw, and that was totally un-cool.