Hello, treasured reviewers and/or readers!!! As I'm pressed for time right now, I'll keep this quick. This story is obviously set after Ocarina of Time, and started about 7 years afterwards. From this chapter onwards, it's set about 19 years after Ocarina of Time. Sorry I forgot to put that in last chapter.

Now the disclaimer, which I also forgot last chapter (looks sheepish):

Disclaimer: Angel does not own Zelda. If she did, she'd be mega-rich, which she is obviously not. Thank you.

'word' thoughts

"word" speech

The Daughter of Wisdom and Courage

Chapter 2: A Lifetime Later

Maia sighed. Her regular nightmares seemed to have a meaning and she, as usual, wondered what they were supposed to mean. She felt so sorry for the young girl who'd lost everything. She'd tried to figure out who the girl was, but the dreams were always the same, revealing no new information.

She sighed again, climbing out of bed, and walking over to her mirror. A tired, but stunningly pretty, girl of 18 looked back at her. Maia indeed was very beautiful, with her cornflower blue eyes, slender figure and long gold hair. Many of the boys in their village were infatuated with her, but all tried not to show it.

Maia then changed into her regular attire: a simple, but nice blue dress that wasn't too restricting, thereby enabling her to move around easily. Just as she was finishing brushing her hair, she heard her mother call out from downstairs,

"Maia! Your breakfast is ready!"

Maia sighed irritably. 'How is it that Mother always knows when I'm awake?' "Coming, Mother" she called. Putting down her brush, she hurried downstairs.

"There you are darling. Would you please go get your father? He should be in the forge."

Maia did not move straight away, instead she stared at her mother. Everyone in the village said that she and her mother were very alike in both personality and looks, and Maia could easily see the resemblance. Charlotte was also very pretty, but unlike her daughter, she had rich, chocolate brown curls. They were, however, alike in almost every other way, though Maia took after her father in the colour of her eyes, skin and hair. Charlotte and Maia had the same faces, same figures, and often looked more like sisters than mother and daughter, despite the fact that Charlotte was twice her daughter's age.

Maia shook herself and hurried out the door to fetch her father. Mark was a blacksmith, and the family owned a forge near the house.

As she moved the short distance to the blacksmith's, she glanced out at the sky in the direction of what had once been Hyrule Castle. Thick, huge clouds of smoke had once hung there continuously, but in the past few years, the 'smoke' had lessened, becoming more of a permanent small black cloud over the castle. Maia had no memories of or before the day when the Great King, Ganondorf, appeared, but many of the other, older children did. They had often told her of the confusion and chaos caused when Ganondorf attacked. It was well known that Queen Zelda's child, last of the Harkinian line, King Link, and the Queen herself had all perished on that day. Many thought it was a sad thing to see the end of that royal family, but none dared say so in public. In this time, the term 'the walls have ears', took on a whole new meaning.

Maia was pulled from her daydreaming by the sounds of children running towards her. She quickly moved out of their path as they ran past. She watched them run off, a soft smile on her face as she turned around again.

She let out a shriek as someone collided with her, scaring her half to death with their sudden appearance. The same person who'd made her fall stopped her from hitting the ground, and worry crossed the face of her 'attacker' as he watched her. He looked visibly upset, "Maia, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you, I swear!"

Maia was still slightly dazed from where their foreheads had collided, so her vision took a while to recover. When her vision was restored, she recognised her helper. How could she mistake those deep brown eyes, and wavy dark hair?

"Callum?"

He nodded, looking relieved that she was all right. "Maia, I really am sorry. If I'd known it was you..."

She smiled gently. "Callum, its fine. I know you wouldn't intentionally hurt me."

He still looked worried. "Are you sure?"

She laughed. "Callum, of course I'm sure! Now, could you please help me stand up? I still feel a little dazed."

Looking guilty, he did as she asked. She then smiled at him. "Thank you. Would you mind walking with me to the forge? Father would have a heart attack if I should faint or somewhat."

Callum sighed at the mention of her father. The reason that none of the young men in the village pursued Maia was because they were afraid of her father. He was easily the best swordsman in the village, no doubt due to his occupation. He was also very protective of his only daughter. The custom in those days was that if a man dishonoured a woman, her father had every right to challenge the offender to a duel. Even though he was slow to anger, none of the young men of the village wanted to court her on the occasion that Mark wouldn't approve.

Even though Callum got along very well with Mark, he was still slightly afraid of him reading the friendship of the two the wrong way...the way that Callum wanted it to be.

Maia then sighed, interrupting Callum's thoughts. Callum looked at her. "What is it?"

She sat down on the bench outside the forge, "Just thinking about Father. Even though he tries to hide it, I know he's disappointed that I'm a woman, because I cannot work in the forge. I can make small things like horseshoes if I have to, but I have cannot make armour, shields and swords. Therefore, when he and Mother retire, they will have to sell it. And Mother said that Father's family have been blacksmiths for decades."

Callum smiled at her. "Well, that's why I'm training to take over the forge. My parents are long dead, and my grandmother is a herbwoman. She already had an apprentice by the time my parents were killed, so I needed some occupation to take up. So think of it as a good thing. The fact that you are a woman has given me a job."

She smiled, "I suppose. I'll just run in and get Father."

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Mark sighed, wiping his forehead on his sleeve. His wife said it was a horrid habit, but he did it anyway. He then pulled the sword from the fire, placing it on the shelf to cool. He glanced up as he heard the door open.

"Hi Father!"

Seeing his beloved daughter, the blacksmith smiled in greeting. "Hello Maia. What brings you here this morning?" Mark was the village's resident blacksmith, and obviously Maia's father. Although Maia was most like her mother, her colouring definitely came from her father. She had his golden blonde hair, his blue eyes (darker than his wife's, although Maia's eyes were the same shape as Charlotte's), and his tanned skin.

Maia beamed at her father. "Mother said to come and tell you that breakfast is ready, and that you have to come home to eat it. She also said you have 15 minutes to get home or you won't eat."

Mark chuckled at that. "Well, if Charlotte insists. I'll be ready in a minute. Just let me finish this sword."

As he prepared to leave, Mark noticed Callum sitting there. "Hello, Callum. What brings you here so early? I won't need you for another hour or so."

"I was just talking to your daughter sir. If you're leaving, do you want me to keep making the swords and that? We only have a few more weeks to make them all."

"I know, but I think perhaps you would be better off cleaning up a bit. I still think it would be best if I was there to supervise. After all, if you stuff up one sword, you could set us back a while. No offense meant."

"None taken, sir. I'll get right on it."

"Good. I should be back in a few minutes."

Maia smiled. "Not if Mother has anything to say about it! You need to slow down Father. The world won't end because you take a break from the forge. You and Callum have plenty of time to finish that order for the King."

Mark sighed in resignation, knowing he'd never win an argument with his wife or daughter, particularly on this issue. "You are right, as always. Very well, Callum. I should be back anytime over the next few hours then."

Callum smiled, "Of course sir. I'll clean up, and then get started on the devices for the finished swords if you don't mind."

"By all means, go ahead. It's a good thing I've got you. It's well known I'm not the artist in this family."

Maia laughed as she remembered her father's attempts at making devices for the hilts of the swords. In the end, he'd given up, and left them all blank. But since Callum had come along, Mark had made him do the devices. Callum was obviously a skilled artist. He even painted in his spare time. He had taken lessons from Charlotte as a young boy, and his skills had stayed with him.

Maia had originally done the devices for her father, but had been more than happy to surrender that particular job to Callum. She much preferred to sit at home and paint, or even do some embroidery. Her mother had taught her well, and Charlotte's artwork was famous in the village. It was rumoured that even the King had some of her tapestries and paintings in his palace.

"Well, if you're all set Callum, Maia and I shall go home."

Maia blinked at her daydream being interrupted, "Hmm? Oh, of course Father! I'll see you later Callum."

He nodded, and she gave him an endearing smile as she left, making him blush slightly. Maia looked very beautiful when she smiled. Fortunately, Mark had not seen Callum's reaction, but looked sideways at his daughter as they left.

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"And just what was that about?"

"What was what about Father?"

"You know full well what I mean."

"Oh, Father, it meant nothing. Callum's just my friend. You know that."

"Well, I suspect that's not the way he sees it."

"Father!"

"Sorry darling. I just worry about you."

"I know you do Father. Besides, if he ever did try anything dishonourable – which he wouldn't - you could easily cut him to ribbons."

"Don't remind me. I'd enjoy that."

"Father! You'd better not!"

"Sorry. I don't mean to tease."

"Hrmph. Then don't."

"As usual, I am beaten by the superior wit of my darling daughter."

A third voice joined in. "As you should, dearest. She's smarter than you."

Mark chuckled, and smiled at his wife. "I know. Both you and she never let me forget it."

Charlotte smiled. "Well, it's true," she said as she kissed her husband.

Maia just shook her head, and walked inside, soon followed by her parents.

"Well Mother, what's for breakfast?"

"You'll just have to wait and see dear."

"Smells delicious Charlotte."

"Thank you. Now, dig in!"

Maia laughed, "That I can easily do, Mum."

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Maia sighed, and stretched luxuriously "Great breakfast mum."

Mark groaned, and rubbed his stomach, "Yes, most excellent, beloved. One of your best, I must say."

Charlotte laughed, "Rogue! You say that every time!!"

Mark also laughed, and dodged his wife's playful slap. "Sorry dearest," he said solemnly, but he was still grinning.

Maia smiled at the playful banter between her parents. She hoped that when it came time for her to marry, that she and her husband could be this close. Her parents seemed to have something special.

Charlotte then snapped her daughter from her daydreams. "Maia dear, would you be able to take this soup up to Angmar in that old Sheikah library? I feel so sorry for her, her apprentice can't be there for her all the time and Angmar is getting on in years."

Maia brightened, "Of course I will Mum! I'd love to visit her. Besides I was planning on going to the library this morning anyway."

Charlotte smiled, "Wonderful. Just let me put it in the bottle, and you can be off. Say hello to her for me alright?"

"I will Mother."

"And as you finished your embroidery yesterday, you can stay until lunch. However, after lunch you must come home and help me finish those banners for the King."

"Yes, Mother. Thank you!"

"You're welcome dear. Now, here you go. Be careful not to spill the soup, and when you get there, remember to put some in the 'cold room'. And tell Lilia - if she's there - that I'll have those dresses ready for her tomorrow, as well as that cloak for Angmar. Alright?"

"Yes Mother. See you at lunchtime!"

Maia then pulled on her nice blue cloak, gathered up the pot of soup, and then left.

Mark sighed, "She's far too like you for my liking dearest. So eager to learn."

Charlotte sighed, "Yes, but it's all for the best. I think she's old enough now."

Mark watched as his wife's eyes went distant, and he gently shook her, "Not here, not now. You know the danger. It is for Maia to decide the time, not us. We've done all we can. We have done our duty. She is still alive."

Charlotte sighed, leaning into her husband's embrace, "Oh, beloved, I know. It's just so hard knowing she is on her own. She hasn't even shown any signs of remembering yet! How can she learn the truth if she doesn't even remember any of it?"

"Dearest, stop worrying. She has other gifts too. Besides, we made a promise that we wouldn't tell her. Nevertheless, you'd best return to your sewing, and I'd best return to the forge. We'd better not anger the King by not finishing his orders on time."

"You're right, beloved. See you at lunch then."

"Yes." Mark then kissed Charlotte goodbye.

Charlotte allowed herself one moment of reflection before returning to her work.

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Two people, one of pure heart, the other of black, gazed out their respective windows. Each stood in completely different parts of Hyrule, but for once their thoughts followed the same pattern. Unbeknown to each other, they both said softly. "When will the heir come forth?"

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Angel: Well, well. Isn't this nice?

Crickets: (chirp again)

Angel: Lovely... As for the name of Angmar, I got it from the books of the wonderful Katharine Kerr. Well, next chapter should be up soon, (hopefully) so for now…

C YA!! Angel