Disclaimer: Don't own Zelda, not making any money, please don't sue.

Spoiler Alert for Twilight Princess. If you're reading this, well, that may mean it's already been spoiled by the prologue. However, I thought I'd toss it out one more time, just for good measure.

Chapter One: Glancing into the Shadows

Lizard tasted a bit like cucco, Link decided as he chewed. Rather dry cucco, actually. With a partial gag, Link lifted a bottle to his lips and sipped the cool water within it. He had settled on eating lizard simply because there was nothing more to be found in his current location. The northern lands of Hyrule were rather barren, and he began to wonder why he had chosen to stay at this particular site for so long.

As he ate, Link gazed into the small fire he had made, refusing to glance at the shadows that danced around him.

"She won't be there." Link murmured. Yet, no matter how many times he told himself the awful truth, he always looked for her. He wanted, so badly, for her to leap from the shadows and mock him. He wanted her to grumble about his inability to clean a wound, and then take care of his injuries herself.

Epona nudged his shoulder affectionately, as though she had read her master's mind. Link smiled sadly and gave his mare a gentle pat.

"By the goddesses, Epona...I miss her." he whispered.

It had been six weeks since Midna had shattered the Mirror of Twilight. Six weeks since his world had ended. At first, he had told himself he would move on; he had even returned to Ordon with that intent.

'I'll herd the goats. I'll plant some crops. I'll marry Illia and have a family.' Link told himself every morning. His mantra did not matter, because Midna seemed intent on haunting him. Link did all that he could to chase her from his memory, but he failed miserably. Whenever the wind blew, he could hear her sigh. Whenever the shadows moved with the swaying trees, he expected her to appear by his side. Every time he watched the sun set, he saw her standing on that hill, smiling at him and teasing him once more.

It drove him to near madness.

So, five days after returning home, Link left Ordon for the great desert in the east. His torment had begun there; surely it could be ended there?

Atop the Arbiter's Grounds, Link called out to the Great Sages.

"I must see her again!" Link shouted into the star lit sky, "Help me! Answer your servants call!"

No answer came.

"I fought for this world! I fought on your behalf! For the Spirits and the Goddesses!" he called out, "I have asked nothing else of you!"

Link spent three futile days shouting to any deity that would hear his call, but none of them answered his plea. Link, however, was not one to give up so easily. If the deities of his world would not help him, he would simply help himself. They had hardly been good allies when his journey first began, after all...

Once more, he set out, seeking anyone who could assist him. The Gorons were of no help, but they offered him bottles of milk and extra arrows for his trouble. The Zoras seemed concerned at Link's questions; they had suffered more than another other race had when twilight covered the lands, and their worry was understandable. Renado offered all the scrolls and ancient wall scribblings he knew of, but none of them led Link closer to his goal. Shad was content to search the world beside Link, but his focus remained on the Oocca ('Oh, if he only knew' Link had often thought).

Link had resigned to combing every inch of the world. Even if it took a lifetime, he vowed he would never stop looking.

His latest excursion had led him to a cave north of Castle Town. He wasted two weeks beneath the claustrophobic earth. Miles upon miles of what Link assumed were old mining shafts yielded nothing more than a few bags of rupees and a glittering dagger that had caught his eye.

Now, sitting in front of his meager fire and listening to the silence of the wasteland around him, Link wondered just where he would go next. He had heard tales of a great sea beyond the desert, but none of his adventures had ever taken him so far away. Did he dare travel so far? Just how large was his world?

The thunderous sound of galloping, hoofed creatures pulled him from his thoughts. Whoever and whatever they were, they caused the ground to shake beneath his feet. Were there five? No, at least ten riders were approaching from the eastern path. He had not been seen, so Link quickly exstinguished his fire and led Epona into the shadows of the cave entrance. He crouched low to the ground beside his mare and waited, listening intently.

"Who the blazes said there was someone all the way out here?!"

"I dunno, cap' an, some travelers said they saw a man come this way on a chestnut horse. Maybe they were mistaken, eh?"

"This is madness! He's one man! Why is he so difficult to find? Her majesty is getting desperate..."

Link frowned at this statement and slowly crept forward, wanting to see the men behind the voices. There were indeed ten of them, and they were soldiers. Hyrulian calvary soldiers, wearing light armor and mounted on fine white steeds. Link gave a slight sigh of relief; he detested being hunted, but these men held no ill intent for him. He would simply wait for them to move on, and then seek out the great sea at daybreak...

"Why are we playing messenger?"

"An order is an order. We're not the only unit searching for him, anyway..."

"Why didn't she just post guards around the world to wait for him? Surely that would've been an easier way to summon him..."

"Aye, but then again I don't pretend to know all that the Princess has in mind."

"Anyone bothered opening the letter?"

"If you want to break the royal seal, go righted ahead! I'll have at your wife when they hang you in the town square though..."

"You sod off! I was just ask'n!"

Link sighed again as he weighed his options. At any point, the Princesses messengers could catch up with him, of that he was certain. They were not a very brave bunch, but they had dedication. And yet, if his luck held out, he could escape to the desert before anyone could stop him. Then again, why would he run from Zelda? If she wanted to offer him another place in her war counsel, he would simply decline and continue on his way.

It was not a tough decision after all.

"Gentlemen, I couldn't help but over hear you." Link said as he stepped from the shadows. To his amusement, nearly every soldier jumped in fright.

"Where the devil 'ave you been?!" one of the soldiers cried out.

"Everywhere and nowhere" Link answered quietly, "You seek a man with a chestnut horse?"

"Aye, we seek you, I think." another soldier answered, "You're Link of Ordon, aren't 'cha?"

Link inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"This is for you," a soldier rode forward and handed Link a leather bound scroll, "From her majesty Princess Zelda."

"A Royal Summons, mate! We've been scouring the better part of Hyrule looking for ya!" yet another soldier called out.

Link gave no reply as he broke the wax seal on the scroll within the leather bindings. He needed no lantern to read, for the moon was bright and the glittering calvary armor the soldiers wore seemed to magnify the moons glory.

"Ya don't really need to be read'n it, boy. We're official messengers and we're gunna be tell'n ya to go see her majesty right away!"

"Aye! So mount your steed, young man! I daresay you-- Hey! Wait for us lad!"

Link was astride Epona and galloping towards Castle Town before the soldiers ever realized he had stepped away. The soldiers looked to one another in utter confusion.

"By the gods, what did that say?!" a soldier called out. Another soldier dismounted and retrieved the summons, which Link had abandoned in his hasty departure. A look of bewilderment crossed the mans face, and he turned to his fellow soldiers.

"It only says one word! What the devil does 'Twilight' mean?!"

A/N: Many thanks to those who are following my tale! It's an honor for ones work to be enjoyed! Leave a review, if you feel so inclined; I adore feedback! (I'm a review whore, I daresay x) )

Again, my apologies for the rather short and to-the-point content. I confess, I find it difficult to get through chapters that don't contain a ton of significance. Not that this chapter was pointless, mind you. Build-up is necessary, of course.

I am also slightly disappointed that I couldn't give you a non-speaking, true canon Link. (I prefer canon Link, actually.) However, in stories like this, a silent Link is damn near impossible to work with. I give major props to anyone who has done it before!

I'll certainly update ASAP. The story outline is on paper (my microbiology notes, in fact) and it is simply a matter of getting it on my laptop. Until next time:D