Chapter 4—Stealing Away Like Thieves in the Act

Author's note: Okay...since Link & Zelda need a place to hide, there are going to be many smaller villages of Hylians scattered across the Hyrule Field in OoT. This dose make the map much bigger. But I can't find any other way around it.

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Link almost forgot to let out his breath when they reached the other side of the open courtyard unseen.

"Epona is on the other side of the wall, Link," Navi said. Link peeked around the corner and found only Epona. She neighed as Zelda mounted, then Link followed. And they rode off, Link having been smart enough to put them on the secluded side of the castle wall that led into the woods.

They rode through the woods and fields the two had so often met in and as Link's nerves calmed, he begin to feel triumph. He'd taken his love away from a place she could not love in. Lest, not him, anyway. They could never be together when he wasn't allowed to be in the castle unless on strict business. When they came out from the woods, they stopped, dismounted and rested by the tree line, gazing over the open Hyrule Field. Zelda hadn't spoken since she'd read that guard's letter. She didn't like to know that others were suffering, he knew that. Link was busy keeping an eye on the area, watching for movement, and found none.

They mounted and rode on again. The first village they came to, the East Village, seemed far too convenient for Link. He didn't know why... other then the fact that this would be one of the first places they searched once they realized Zelda was no longer in Hyrule Castle. He steered Epona on, knowing that Zelda was asleep in his arms.

They reached the South Village by dawn. Link realized faintly that the tendency to fall off his horse was increasing... He went through the town slowly as the lights came on and people began emerging from their homes. The dizziness took over and Link barely comprehended when he met the cold, hard ground.

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Zelda opened her eyes and was shocked to find herself inside a house, tucked away in a mass of covers. A small fire blazed at the other end, and a pot set to simmer smelled really good. There was a table in the middle of the room and what looked liked a homemade kitchen area to the left. To the right was a weaving loom and two bookshelves with three wooden chairs scattered over the area. She sat up just as a woman came in.

"Good, you're awake. I was worried for a while there," she said.

"Where am I? Where's Link? And Epona?"

"Your boy is in the next room over, still asleep. Epona is the horse?" Zelda nodded. "She's in the stables. Don't worry about her. My brother is an excellent groom. Now, what's your name?"

"Zelda,"

"Ah, pretty. My name is Fay, and my baby," she pointed to a crib next to the loom. Zelda climbed from the covers as went to look. "Little guy's name is Blake."

"He's beautiful,"

"Trust me, hon, it's only because he's asleep. Poor thing is sick and quite a handful when awake,"

"Zelda?" Link walked into the room, rubbing his head.

"Link, this is Fay and her son, Blake," Zelda said. Link took a look at Blake.

"He's kinda cute," he said. Fay let out a soft laugh.

"Come on, you two, now that you're awake, you should eat," she pushed three bowls of hot soup onto the table. They sat down, ready to eat.

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"So…she's been sneaking out to see Link?" the king asked.

Impa nodded. "He fled his home earlier today when I entered the village."

"And then he came here, convinced her to leave with him, and they managed to get out before the guards had the palace sealed."

Impa nodded again. "I can easily track them, my lord. There is no need for you to fear for your daughter. I will have her back by morning."

The king leaned back in his throne, rubbing his hand against his chin. "I have a better idea," he said at long last. "My daughter's happiness is important to me. Perhaps we could…test Link, see if he has the makings of a king."

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Impa was there. She shouldn't be, but she was. Fay and Blake were long gone; Link had told them to leave to avoid getting hurt... Impa's sword clashed with Link's.

"Impa, no!"

"Zelda, I will not allow you to do this. You're young still. You do not understand."

"I do! Yes, I do! Love is not so complex, Impa. Impa, I've learned that! Please stop."

"You will not take her," Link said.

"I am sorry, Link, but I must."

"NO!!" Zelda realized too late that she'd screamed. Blake was crying now. Link was shaking her shoulders.

"Zelda, talk to me. Talk to me, what happened?"

"What's wrong, Zelda?" Fay asked as she hushed Blake and rocked him back to sleep.

"Bad dream..." she mumbled.

"Tell us, Zelda," Link urged. Her rubbed her back and moved her hair out of her face. "Zelda?"

"We have to leave, Link. Impa knows where we are."

"How can she?"

"I don't know," Zelda looked up at Fay as she placed Blake back in his crib. "I'm sorry, Fay. We can't stay here. You've risked enough for us."

"Zelda, are you sure about this? Your moving about might stir things up; and it was just staring to quite down." Fay said.

Zelda looked at Link. "You know they will never stop looking for us." Then to Faye she said, "We must keep moving."

Link nodded and climbed out of bed and pulled on his boots.

Zelda set to gathering their things. Link took Fay aside and told her some of the truth about them.

"She's from the castle?" Fay asked when Link grew silent.

Link nodded. "Yes,"

"Would she know the guards?"

"Some, maybe, but not all,"

"Where are you going after this?"

"Probably out of Hyrule,"

"What if you resided in the Market area around the castle?"

"No, I don't—"

"Link, listen to me. If they started searching as soon as she disappeared, then they would have swept through the closets places first. The market is one of them. They might not go back and look there again because of how close it is."

"And they might have tight security there because it is close and has already been searched."

"They will continue to moved outward, expecting you to flee. Hiding right in their market would be unexpected," Fay pointed out.

"It is the opposite of the most obvious of moves; therefore it is expected. I do thank you for the thought, though,"

"Link..." they both turned and found Zelda. "I think Fay is right,"

"Zelda, please, let me decide on this."

"Link, listen to me. I know my father and Impa better then you."

"I don't like this. If we're caught, there'll be no where to run."

"Then we'd best no get caught."

"Easier said then done."

"What do you think Navi is for?"

"Navi is very clever, but she alone cannot steer us out of trouble."

"You're afraid," Zelda said.

Link bit his tongue. Yes, he was afraid that they'd be caught. No, he never turned down a challenge.

"See?"

"Alright, we'll go back to the market."

"Thank you, Link," she giggled. Link sighed.