Chapter Twelve Seperation

As Link galloped Epona across Hyrule field as if the hordes of Ganondorf were after him; she wondered as far as she could about the change in her young master. She had seen his preoccupation as he saddled her again and she had heard and seen all the hasty bustle around all the visiting horses; plus the mention of her master's name often on the lips of the strange grooms. She could smell the unease surrounding the swift departure of the man and his sisters and she felt that Link was a part of it. Epona also noticed the firm and unshakable stance of Link; seeing the Master Sword in his hand as opposed to sheathed on his back and she knew that he was battle prepared. His voice was quiet, but determined when he spoke; even when he raised it slightly and she knew, that frame of mind on him meant death to someone if they stood in his way.

But as they rode away, Epona could not smell blood or injury from Link or any of his victims and normally he was more cheerful when riding her in that state. Not this time however; she could tell he was still wound like a spring; the tension stopping him from enjoying the ride as he normally did and there was no singing under his breath or talking to her. She remembered she had seen him like this before, but only when they were fighting a lot more and in danger from the time of fear and Epona knew that that time had passed.

Not that any of that mattered to Epona really; just as long as she was with her beloved master. She would offer him what comfort she could, whether it be keeping him and his wife safe from prying eyes or acting as a windbreak while he slept; she would be there. And it would certainly not be the first time that she had kept silent counsel, when her neck was drenched with the tears of a Hero. But there were no tears so far; Link was beyond angry and hurt and nothing so simple as weeping would ease his pain this time. In fact he didn't know if anything could.

Having ridden as hard and as far as he could without causing actual bodily harm to Epona; Link was fit to drop and stopped to unsaddle her and set up his camp. Although he hadn't been in the position of camping alone for some time now, the familiar routine had not been forgotton. The night was still and the night sky had always been calming to him. Many times in the past, he had felt the solace of the unending beauty of the stars and moon; allowing them to ease his hurts or troubled soul.

Tonight they did not work and Epona, sensing her master had deeper trouble than usual nuzzled at him and blew in his hair; whinnying her concern for him. He stroked her nose gently but his mind was absent; until he fell asleep tucked against her side, finally defeated by exhaustion. Epona stood guard all night over him and when he awoke in the morning, she once again nuzzled his cheek and whickered her greeting. Link smiled at her but his heart was not in it; sleep had as usual restored his strength and vigour, only to bring his pain back stronger as well.

After breakfasting on the rations that he always carried for journeys, stashed away in his saddle bags; Link went and bathed in the river and remounted Epona to carry on his journey. He had no clear plans and did not know to where he was headed; deciding to just keep going towards the Gerudo desert for now. Besides, not many knew the secret of travel in the desert; so it would not be likely he would be found even if anyone were looking for him. Galloping towards the entrance to Gerudo Valley he got the feeling instead to turn towards Lake Hylia.

Link had suddenly thought that the desert was a form of prison; Epona could not accompany him acrosss the sand and if she waited by the gate it would tell the Gerudo exactly where he was and he didn't think he could face Naburoo and her well meaning 'bossiness'. No. It would be better to set Epona loose with the freedom of Hyrule at her hooves, where he could call for her at any point or time and from many more places. He then thought to stay in the Water Temple for a while; as once again, only Zoras had access and he didn't think that Ruto would be as assiduous with her ' temple visiting duties' while she was making plans for her wedding.

Plus, he didn't plan on staying for very long; just long enough to give him time and space to think things through and decide on what to do next and how to free Zelda from their marriage. That thought however, caused too much pain and he viciously shoved it to the back of his mind until he could deal with it in peace. Now though he needed to decide what to do with his gear. He would not cause Epona discomfort, by making her wear it all the time while he was not in the saddle and that left the only choice of taking it with him.

This he did after wrapping it in oilskin and telling Epona to 'roam free'. She understood the command and would not wait around the Lake for her master; neither would she return to the castle stables, to be caught or followed. Meanwhile Link dived into the water after putting on his iron boots and was soon making himself at home; storing his kit in a room that never got wet if the water rose. He found upon exploring, that there were many smaller rooms that he had not come across before; when he was cleansing the temple.

These rooms had not been crucial for his quest and so it occupied some time for him to become re-aquainted with the layout of the damp temple and any time that it took him to explore, was time taken up with not having to think too deeply. Eventually he was hungry however and he sat down in one small room that was snug and warm; to make a fire and cook some of his rations for his, by now, evening meal. Link had already found some bedding of sorts in a store room that would do for keeping him warm and off the floor and so he settled down for another solitary night away from Zelda.

Meantime Zelda had awoken to find her cousins had departed under Link's supervision and that he too, had left the castle. No one knew where he had gone; only that Epona and all her kit and tackle was gone as well, in fact her stall was completely cleared out. Impa was no help either, as she didn't know where he had gone; only that Link had said that he thought Zelda had been forced into their marriage. That had wounded him even more than the knowledge that his wife had been touched by someone other than him.

"Have you told me all that transpired between yourself and Prince Tarin? All the things he said?

"Yes, everything, I just couldn't believe the nerve of the man..."

"But you refuted nothing Zelda, none of the harsh words he said. What do you expect Link to think? His own self esteem will not surfice to discount Tarin's words and now he feels that you are bound to him by obligation and not love."

"You know that's untrue, you know how we feel about one another Impa."

"I do. So really does Link, you will have to give him time; his duty will recall him anyway."

"I should not have taken the words of that poisonous groom to heart; I knew all the time that Link was not just using me, but it led to me listening to Tarin for too long as well. I should have remembered how upset Link was when we lost the baby; but I fell into the same trap again, when Tarin suggested that Link wasn't ready to be a father." Zelda was angry with herself, but Impa decided she needed to know the truth.

"Link had exhorted us not to tell you Zelda; the reason why you were advised to wait a year and not the normal month or so to try again. But it went against my better judgement to keep you in the dark. The doctors felt that your body had suffered too much stress during the imprisoning years as Sheik and that the pregnancy was one change too many."

"Why would he keep such vital information from me?" Zelda whispered.

"You were feeling so guilty anyway for losing the baby, he didn't want you to feel you had real reason. He was willing to take the blame of being over protective of you instead." Impa watched her charge to see the results of the news and saw Zelda pace up and down; while wringing her hands, as tears coursed down her face. Then she sat down suddenly in her chair and buried her face in her hands, sobbing unreservedly. Impa moved to comfort her; listening to her broken cry of 'my poor Link' over and over again. It was a long while before she could pull herself together to regain some composure and stirring in her nurse's arms she asked;

"Will I never be able to transform to Sheik again Impa; if I want to have children?"

"Yes child, the problem was that the pregnancy came too soon on top of the stresses of the times for you. Your body needed to physically recover, more fully than it had done. The year was to give you time to settle; turning into Sheik, is not in itself dangerous." Impa continued to pet Zelda until the girl was sleeping once again and she hoped that Zelda would be able to convince Link of her true love for him when she saw him again.

The girl had all afternoon by herself to think over the recent events and she used it wisely in self searching. She was not brought up to be a spoilt brat but she had acted a bit like one at times. She had forgotton the words of the Goddesses at the end of their quest and forgotton a lot of what she personally knew of her husband and she was determined to find him. Their mental link was not working properly either; she could not reach him or even feel him anywhere and while she knew that Link was still learning about how far he could project, Zelda still should have been able to feel something.

Once again she fell asleep; not wanting to think anymore, but her sleep was not peaceful as a vision took over her mind. All three Goddesses appeared to her, looking solemn and sad.

"You have not used your wisdom well my daughter, but you know this already and are feeling the loss; so I will not add my censure to your distress."

"You may search for your husband child; but for now at least, you will not be allowed to see him. My son needs time to think and not be distracted any further."

"You really should have told me if you didn't want him girl, I'd have taken him off your hands."

Ignoring the last comment, as she could tell Din was angry at her; Zelda was more concerned with Farore's words;

"What do you mean, 'I will not see him', he must come home so that I can make everything better? Why can I not reach him through our link?"

"We have blocked that path to him; he needs peace to think and you will not see him for a while, because we need him to do something for us."

"Not another quest. He deserves to live his life normally, not have to endure more turmoil; please do not send him again into danger and not while I am not with him."

"We do not ask that he put his life at risk this time and he is already in enough turmoil at the moment, that was not of our making; if you remember."

"I am sorry. Will he ever come back to me?"

"He needs time as we have said, time to want to come back for himself and not for you or for his duty. He always puts everyone else's needs before his own as you well know and if you were to pressurize him to return, you will never know if his love for you is still from his heart."

Nayru had a parting word for Zelda, a word with comfort in it;

"Mistakes can often be rectified my daghter, bridges can be made stronger; but they need to be worked on. Your husband doesn't always know when to speak or what to say, but he does know what is right to do. Your mistake was to forget this knowledge; we told you that Link was perfect for you and you for him, remember that in future child."

"I will." Zelda said, as she fell deeply asleep and the Goddesses faded from her mind. Her sleep refreshed her and she awoke just before midnight, remembering her vision. The Goddesses had said that she would not be allowed to see Link, but they hadn't forbidden her to try. Zelda was soon slipping out of the castle and across the grounds, as silent as a shadow and with a stealth that only the Sheikah were known to possess.