The monsters lay, their throats cut, weeping with blood at Link's feet, as he whipped his sword around his body and re-sheathed it.

'That was too close…' Aryll pulled herself to her feet, holding onto her brother for support.
'We need to save Ilia. Come on.' She dragged Link by the arm to his horse, and motioned for him to mount her.
He did so, and she jumped on behind him, riding sidesaddle with her legs swinging against the side of the horse.
Link took a firm grip on the reigns and called for Epona to move, she did so with a loud neigh, rearing her front legs upwards in a beautiful pose, before they galloped off together out of Ordon, towards Hyrule Field that glistened with opportunity in front of them.

'Now Linky brother,' Arylll tightened her grip on the horse,
'Why did you drag away Ilia? Why? Tell me!' Link looked downwards, his gaze resting upon Epona's shimmering mane, his eyes brimming with sadness.
'Just this once Link, please, talk…' He pulled upon the reigns and Epona came to a standstill, jumping off the saddle and fishing a battered piece of paper from his pocket, brandishing it at Arylll as if it were some deadly weapon.
'What's this?' She asked, unfolding it, and glancing down at the paper. The words began to burn into her mind with a sad vengeance …

Dear Link,

I fear this shall be the last time I ever talk to you, I am, sadly, unbelievably disappointed in you. I wish to never set eyes upon you ever again, I NEVER want to see you back in Ordon, you are to leave my family alone, and place your silly sword back in its sheath and never fight another monster in your lifetime.

I thought we had a chance, you and me, I truly thought that you loved me, but now I can see that was a LIE! A dirty stinking LIE! Why didn't you tell me about the princess? I thought it was merely a relationship on behalf of the people, but now I see, you prefer the company of the royal to those of who love you.

Enjoy your time in hell.

Ilia.

'LINK!' Arylll yelled, her voice angered.
'YOU COMPLETE IDIOT!' Link stared up at his sister, who was still sat upon Epona's saddle, his eyes dark.
'Ok brother I have two questions for you,' She swung herself off the saddle and landed on her two feet, sword drawn, her face angered,
'And you are going to talk to me. First one,' She placed her sword against Link's neck,
'Why did Ilia think you loved her?' Link stared at her with those empty eyes, drawing his shoulders into a deep shrug. She sighed, annoyance in her gaze.
'Second, what is going on between you and Zelda? Because if you're not going to tell me, I'm gonna march down to that castle RIGHT NOW and find out. You have five seconds!' Link raised his arms up very slowly as if in surrender.

'FOUR.' He then twisted his hands downwards, looking like a complete idiot.

'THREE.' He leaned forwards slightly, staring intently at Arylll's sword.

'TWO.' He tensed the muscles up in his arms until they bulged almost out of his robes.

'ONE!' As fast as lightening he launched his hands downwards, catching the blade of Arylll's sword in his fingertips, crimson trickling down his arms, and pushed the blade away, ducking under arm and re-saddled Epona from behind, galloping forward as fast as she would go, not even looking behind to see his sister.
Arylll promptly transformed into her Lynx form and charge after him, madness streaking across her face, snapping at the heels of the horse, but suddenly she stopped, returning to her normal self and sighing.

When they had been small, the two of them, Link and Arylll, had sworn never to marry another, to be free spirits of the wind.

Link had either broken that rule,

Or he had managed somehow to get the wrong picture into Ilia's mind.
Arylll had to know the truth, something wasn't right here; she could almost smell it.
She turned back on her heel, pulled a small wooden charm out of her pocket and blew into it, the high-pitched noise loud and ear piercing, whilst a beautiful black horse galloped towards her, whinnying with pleasure.

'Hello Dynva.' She smiled, saddling her easily, and proceeded to gallop the opposite way to Link, towards the castle.
Now was the time for answers.
The wind whipped through Arylll's hair as she travelled, speed throwing itself at her, as if mocking her. She couldn't help grinning, the air pounding her in the face in such a familiar way, the horse's rhythmic motions beneath her legs softly familiar.

'I love you.' She muttered, kissing the dark mane as it flew into her face, her one free hand flying to her pocket to pull out Link's letter.
To her surprise, her face was marked with tears, sadness running over her cheeks,
'Link, why? Link …' Then, looking up form the paper, castle town fluttered into view, the tall shape of the castle behind it, but again, as almost as if this was the norm now, something wasn't right.
The drawbridge was up.
As Dynva's hooves came to a standstill in front of it, Arylll easily slipped off, the paper still in her hand as she stowed it into her pocket.
She squinted in the harsh sun and saw, to her surprise, two Hylian soldiers stood with spears raised, in front of the bridge, their faces marked with fear, then it hit her like a ton of logs. They were pointed at her.
She walked towards them with her hands raised as if in surrender, calling to them:

'I mean no harm! I am the sister of the Hero of time Link! Well I am also a hero myself, but I bet that doesn't mean anything to you does it? I am sorry but I have been having some troubles with my brother, he is being an ass and I-'

'L-less talk! Come with u-us!' The guard on the right placed his spear against her chest, in a small attempt to be threatening.
It had no effect whatsoever.

'Hey, you should totally watch what you're doing with that! You could take someone's eye out! And hey, careful of the robes, these are limited edition you kn-' The other guard gave her a hearty push, towards the drawbridge, as it lowered to let them across.
'What are you doing? I want to know!'

'You are h-hereby wanted by her r-royal highness of Hyrule, for b-b-being associated with the traitor L-Link!' Arylll's jaw dropped, her fierce struggling coming to a still.

'What did my brother do?' The guards remained silent, pushing her like she was their prey towards the doors upon the other side of the bride, digging their spears into her back. 'TELL ME!'

'L-Link tried to assassinate the princess!' Aryllll found it hard to stay standing up.

'WHAT?' She screamed, struggling in the grip of the soldiers, suddenly more of them, a glistening army of silver and red, surged upon her like a giant snake, bonding her wrists and ankles, half dragging her through the cobbled square of market town.
The residents peered from behind half closed shutters as Arylll roared and screeched, her voice echoing off the buildings around her.
The rope dug into her skin, causing pain too blossom up her joints, she bit into the restraint in her mouth so hard that it snapped, her cries becoming almost unbearable for the men around her.

'IF YOU THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT I AM GOING TO COME QUIETLY, THEN YOU HAVE GOT IT WRONG!' She roared, kicking out at the guards.
No effect.
This was bad, very, very, bad. Eventually she was brought into a cold dark cell somewhere within the castle, still bound together, her shoulders aching from movement.
The darkness was absolute, making no difference whether her eyes were open or shut, but suddenly there was light! Air! Sweet oxygen! And a soothing familiar voice…