Legal disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda, or any of its characters, nor do I have any intention of publishing this story for profit.

Chapter 2

It was well into morning when Link finally woke up. He always had been a hard sleeper.

However, while waking up tended to be a difficult process for him, once he was fully awake, preparing himself for the day was much simpler. After putting on a clean tunic and eating a quick breakfast, he packed himself up and got ready to leave once again.

The Kokiri... except Mido, of course... were all gathered at the entrance preparing to wish him good luck. How they all found out what he was up to was no mystery. Saria obviously had something to do with it. But Link didn't know whether she wanted to give them the chance to say wish their friend good luck, or if this was some last ditch attempt to convince Link to stay permanently, rather than the temporary time he would be staying until he found a new home. One thing Link did know was that either way, the result was going to be the same. Link mounted Epona and she carefully walked toward the forest bridge connecting the forest to Hyrule Field. The Kokiri tearfully said their goodbyes as they passed, Saria being the last. "After you find your place, promise me you'll visit every now and then, ok?" she asked.

Link stopped Epona for a brief moment to answer. "I promise," he said. He nodded toward the other Kokiri. "Take good care of them, ok?"

Saria smiled, the tears streaming down her heart-shaped face. "I will."

As Link gently prodded Epona forward again, another voice cut through the tear jerking scene. "And don't come back this time!"

From where and who the voice came from was painfully obvious. Mido was standing outside his house with a rather spiteful grin on his face. However, that grin disappeared quickly enough when Saria glared at him with such intensity, that it made him cringe.

Despite what had been said, Link watched the wordless exchange and couldn't help but smile. Yeah, Mido had always declared himself the boss of the Kokiri, but it didn't take a ten-year-old to see who was really in charge.

Epona carefully crossed the bridge, then Link prodded her to a gallop. Link wanted to stop at Lon Lon Ranch to see Malon again, but felt it would be better to go straight to Hyrule Castle first. After all, he had to return something that was loaned to him. Link couldn't help but think about that very item... the Ocarina of Time. It had served him well during that time in Termina. In fact, he wouldn't have even survived that adventure without it. Link made it a point to thank Zelda for her remarkable foresight in loaning it to him. Fortunately, he still had the Fairy Ocarina that Saria had given him in his pouch, so he wouldn't need Zelda's ocarina to talk to her.

It was mid-afternoon by the time they reached the drawbridge at Castle Town. The sight of a forest boy on a horse walking by did turn a few heads, but didn't cause any major disturbance. A few even remembered that they had seen it before a year ago, when Link went to the castle to visit Zelda one last time before going on his quest to find Navi. One of those few even stopped to ask "Where you been, kid?" out of curiosity more than anything else. "Oh... just exploring around," Link answered, then left the questioner behind to proceed to the castle gates.

Before they approached the gates, Link dismounted Epona, out of respect, and then gently guided her to follow him. As he approached the gates, he was about to speak to the guard about the reason for his visit. However, before he could even say anything, he was interrupted by another familiar voice.

"Hello, Link."

Even if he wanted to, there was no way Link could ever forget that deep, yet still feminine voice.

Impa, Princess Zelda's attendant and personal bodyguard, was waiting by the stone arch that the gate was constructed in. Link couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. To the unknowing observer, Impa looked stern and intimidating. But Link was one of the few who could see in her the compassion that tempered any belligerence she had.

At Impa's command, the guard opened the gate, and Link, leading Epona, passed through. Impa walked beside him as they made their way up the path to castle drawbridge. "The princess has been expecting you," she said with a hint of foreknowledge mixed with amusement.

Link smiled at that. "She always seems to," he said. Out of curiosity, he then asked, "How does she do it?"

Impa smiled ever so slightly at that. "You'll find out, one day."

Link couldn't help but shake his head at that. Every time Link spoke with Impa, she always seems to have a certain... omniscience about the relationship between him and Zelda. Maybe it was she was also the Sage of Shadow... or maybe it was a form of motherly instinct.

Impa led Link to the stables where Epona could rest. The stablemaster was always happy when Link visited. He always enjoyed tending to Epona, who described her as "the finest filly that graced these stables in years." Although he did find it a bit frustrating that Epona tended to respond indifferently to him. Link had to explain to him that Epona took a while to get used to new people... though that was a bit of an understatement.

Soon after, Impa led Link to the Castle Courtyard, where Link had first met Zelda...

... and she was waiting there, sitting on the steps to the window she had peeking into then.

Link's heart always skipped a beat ever time he laid eyes on her. Even to one at such a young age, it was obvious that Princess Zelda was the epitome beauty, grace, and purity... despite the fact that he knew about her more tomboyish side. Her clothing had changed a little bit, as she, too, was growing. The dress she wore was was similar, but she had abandoned the silken hat she used to wear for a tiara. Her golden hair was longer, too, now draping just past her shoulders.

Upon approaching her, Link bowed graciously, causing Zelda to giggle. Zelda had always insisted that Link never needed to bow before her, but Link always did, anyway. Impa then left the two to talk.

Link pulled the Ocarina of Time out of his pouch and presented it to Zelda. "Thank you for lending this to me," he said with a healthy measure of politeness.

"I trust that it was helpful to you," Zelda said, equally gentility as she reclaimed the royal heirloom, then motioned Link to sit beside her.

"More than I ever imagined," Link said as he sat.

Zelda smiled, then turned to face him. "So, what have you been up to while you were away?" she asked, this time without any unneeded refinement.

Link smiled back. This was how most of their conversations started. They would trade their introductions in "civilized speech," then any and all royal manners were thrown out the window and they would talk normally like any other two people. Zelda had called it "going through the motions of acting royal," when all she really wanted was to talk to her friend as a friend, and not like a commoner.

So Link told her about the places he had been, what happened at Termina, and how he eventually found what happened to Navi. He even showed her some of the masks and other objects he had collected, as well as the pendant of Navi. Zelda listened intently, hanging on to every word. She loved to hear stories about places beyond the castle walls, since she was rarely ever outside beyond them. And every time she was, she was constantly with escort. It was always a source of frustration to her. Ever since Link had gone, living at the castle had gotten a bit more lonely, since there was no one her own age for her to relate to. Impa was sympathetic to her plight. But, being her protector, she had to keep her... well, for want of a better term... protected. However, Impa always helped her maintain hope that Link would return... and as usual, she was right.

Soon the subject somberly changed to Link's present situation. "So you can't stay in the forest anymore?" Zelda asked, worriedly.

Link simply shook his head. "Not for much longer, anyway. Just long enough to find a new home."

"Where will you go?"

"I'm not sure," Link said. "I don't suppose any of your knights could use a squire? Or maybe I could work at the ranch..."

"A squire?" Zelda asked incredulously. "After what you've done for so many people, I can hardly think of you as being just a squire!"

Link shrugged. "Well... I am a little young to be a knight," he said, not without humor.

Zelda conceded that he had a point. So she thought for a moment. "I'll speak to Impa. I'm sure she can find something for you."

Link nodded. "Thank you, Zelda."

Zelda smiled, then stood up. "But let's not spoil your coming back with this. Let me show you the knight's new target range. Think you can hit them with your slingshot?"

Link smiled in return, sensing a challenge. "Actually, I've been using a bow since Termina. I'll show you what I can hit."

Zelda laughed as they ran out of the courtyard.

What they didn't realize was that they were being watched as they ran out.

The King of Hyrule watched along side Impa as his daughter and the boy in green ran from the courtyard. "Impa, who is that boy?" he asked.

"His name is Link, Your Majesty," Impa answered. "He and the princess have been friends for over a year now."

The King faced Impa. "How did they meet?"

"I believe that they met during one of the princess' visits to Castle Town, Your Majesty. I'm not quite sure." Impa said. Of course, she couldn't tell him the real truth that they actually met when Link snuck into the castle.

"You're not sure?" the King asked. "Do you not keep your guard up around Zelda at all times?"

"Zelda is very persistant in trying to sneak off on her own sometimes," Impa explained. "Even Shiekah have to turn their back at one time or another, and she often waits until that moment. Needless to say, I've often had to chase after her."

The King nodded, satisfied at her answer. "And you do not see this boy as a threat?"

Impa shook her head. "No. Link is no threat to the princess. In fact, I see him as the one thing even I, as her caretaker, cannot provide for her."

The King raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

"A true friend. Someone her own age that she can relate to."

The King thought about this. Someone she can relate to, he thought. Yes... I do recall feeling the same in my youth.

"Thank you, Impa," he said after a moment. Then he took his leave of her.

As the King walked away, he continued to think about what Impa had said. But one thing still nagged at him.

Why does that boy look so familiar?