-Come Back When You're Older-
-Welcome Home?-
How could she? Link asked himself, but not for the first time. As Epona trotted along the dusty trail towards the land of Termina, Link couldn't squelch the fire that burned inside of him. Every so often the unconscious form of Romani bounced against his back, and each impact would pull him from his reverie and back to the sickening reality.
The woman of his dreams was married.
When had this happened? In the five years of his absence, when had she married? What hurt most was the sight of his necklace round her neck, jiggling as she swayed back and forth. Link pulled the hood over his head, hoping to hide his look of utter embarrassment, jealousy, and sorrow from anyone who might be watching.
As the afternoon passed, the trees began to thin, and the bright blue sky above the forest canopy began to appear through brief slivers of the dense forest oaks. Link could tell they were close. It was times like this that he wished ever so much that he had his companion Navi by his side. She would know what to say, how to make the hurt go away. But to Link's dismay, he had never found her, she had already returned to the forest, where all the guardian fairies of the Kokiri would one day return.
Link would even have settled for Tatl, the noisy, albeit knowledgeable companion fairy that had accompanied him on his first romp through Termina.
Maybe I'll see her again. Link though, and the weight on his heart lessened a little. But another bump from the still-unconscious Romani brought him back to reality, and the weight pilled back on. Looking back, Link had the urge to pull the necklace off of her neck, to pull away his feelings, and leave her with nothing of his that she could hurt. But hope stayed his hand; hope that that ring didn't really mean what he thought it meant, that it couldn't be true that she was married.
Finally the trees gave way to the grasslands, and the brilliant, warm sun washed over the group. Link pulled the hood from over his head and let the rays cascade across his face, the light breeze massage his skin. The rolling hills of Termina field glittered as they swayed back and forth, much like the waves of the Great Bay Ocean.
Speaking of which, Link though, looking to the east. He couldn't see over the hills, but he was more than certain the great blue bay was in that direction. It would be one of his primary destinations once he settled down.
Another bump from Romani, as if to bring every happy thought to an end. Where would he live? Once he returned her, what would he do? Would he turn back? No, he mind almost screamed at him. He had come so far from Hyrule, and Termina, despite Romani's marriage status, was feeling more than comfortably familiar.
A blast of warm air washed over Link's face and renewed his resolve. He would make his own life here, a life of his own, without interference from the twin powers of destiny and fate. Taking the reigns in his hands, he whipped Epona lightly and bent forward, urging her across the plains.
Several of the rolling hills later, Link saw the blue mountain range of Snowhead. It glimmered in the noonday sun, till it took on the shimmering luster of sapphire. I'm almost there, the capitol city, Clock Town, would be just a couple of ridges ahead of him. Link had opted not to return Romani to the ranch. He didn't know how he feel if he had to come face to face with the man that had taken his place. He would take her to Clock Town with him, and leave her with the first defense garrison he found, and then slowly fade into the crowds, hoping to never see her again.
But all his planning, and all his heart pains were quickly thrown aside as he crested the last ridge, and abruptly pulled at the reigns, bringing Epona to a nearly full halt. Romani's form smashed against his back, but Link didn't notice, he was too taken aback by the sight of the city before him.
It had spread little in his time away, but that wasn't an insult to the city planners, for the city was indeed the largest Link had ever seen. Several roads, one from each cardinal direction, and several smaller, dirt paths, all intersected in this one place. Several hundred years ago this must have started out as a small trading post, where all the races of the land had gathered to exchange goods and ideas, now it was a melting pot of Terminian cultures.
Though the prominent race of people inhabiting it were the Hylian looking Terminians, there was not a single bit of hatred towards any of the other races. As opposed to the Hyrulean culture, in which most of the other races were segregated citing the strangeness in culture and looks, here in Termina all forms of difference were honored, and Link hoped his would be excepted as well.
But the crowning feature of he city was not its tall buildings, nor it's well guarded parapets, buts its clock tower. The obelisk stood taller than even Hyrule Castle, with a brightly colored face which told the time, and a brilliant light that shown at night, to guide weary travelers to its warm inns and their inviting patrons.
Link was so engrossed that he failed to notice the waking girl behind him. Romani couldn't remember much of the past three days; her last complete memory was taking an order of milk to the Southern Swap's trading post. She had taken the shortcut through the forest, and her last clear memory was being attacked by a gang of black-cloaked individuals.
Such as the man in front of her. Her heart raced, and her breathing became erratic, she had to do something to escape. But she found herself unbound, which puzzled her. This didn't deter her, though, from pushing the man off of the horse with every ounce of strength she had within herself. The cloaked figure yelped in surprise, and his steed whinnied in response, kicking its feet. Romani, being the expert equestrian her job required of her, took the reigns as if they were an extension of her body, and urged the mare forward. Epona bucked, refusing to comply, but Romani continued to dig her heels into Epona's sides, until they left Link rolling around in the grass, rubbing his sore head.
Link got up just in time to watch Romani ride away with his horse. His head still pounding, he cursed the woman he once thought he loved. Now she'd done it, she taken yet another thing from him. But from his position high on the ridge he could see her riding into the stone walls of the city, at least he knew where she went. Picking up his sword, Link sighed and continued down the dirt road on foot.
X X X
If Link had thought the town was enormous by his vantage point way up on the hill, up close it was even bigger. The walls seemed to climb higher and higher the closer he got, the banners representing the races of Termina flapped in the diminishing glow of the receding sun, as the day drew to a close. This close to the evening hours, Link expected to see a garrison of soldiers manning the entrance, one of four that marked the cardinal directions, but he found no resistance.
The large iron door that sheltered the town from many of the nighttime foes had a smaller, man-sized door cut into its base, through which Link entered. He could already hear the hustle and bustle of the town square, which filled him with a sense of completion- that his journey had come to an end.
"Stop where you are, fiend." A harsh voice came from the darkness to the left. Link hadn't heard the man walking in, which meant he must have been waiting for Link. Someone lit a match and the small entryway was illuminated, revealing several guards, their swords and spears pointed menacingly in his direction.
The man whose voice he had heard, a short fellow with a shaved head, held his sword the closest. His authoritarian demeanor was betrayed by the obviously uncontrollable convulsions in his feet. He's nervous, Link realized. They must have heard the same myths about the darkmen of the forest, but never expected one to actually approach the city. Using this to his advantage, Link turned to the man, and pulled the hood back, exposing his piercing blue eyes, which bore holes into his captors.
The man paled slightly with the gesture of defiance, but became noticeably relaxed as he realized Link wasn't one of the beasts of legend. The sword tip remained close to Link's chest, just the same.
"You're under arrest!" Link took a small step forward, until the point of the sword rested neatly upon his chest, causing the twitching in the man's leg to increase.
"What have I been charged with?" Was the only thing Link responded with. Though he knew that he could take on the small group of guards without breaking a sweat, he also knew this was a misunderstanding, and that they were just doing their jobs. Just the same, he felt the need to push his luck, to feel the thrill of combat he hadn't felt in so long.
"M…Ms. Romani!" Link's pointy ears prickled at the sound of her name. The missus title betrayed the fact that she wasn't married; more likely that she just wasn't married yet. "She accused you and your band of thieves of kidnapping her!"
Link took a second to look around himself, "My 'band' of thieves, you say? Now wouldn't that be a useful thing to have at a time like this?" He muttered dryly. "I found the lady in the woods, I rescued her from her attackers, and now you wish to accuse me of their misdeeds?" Link spat.
The leader had regained his sense of courage and applied pressure to the sword, which already rested on Link's chest. "Enough out of you! Men!" He gestured to the others. "Take his weapon!" The others stood still for a moment, exchanging worried glances. "Now!" Slowly they approached Link, who turned to them. They were still for another moment, wondering what he would do. But Link sighed and unhooked his sword from off his back, handing it to the nearest soldier.
With even more boldness the leader spun Link around and threw a pair of iron shackles on his wrists. Locking them in place, he turned to the group and gestured for two of the soldiers to take Link by his arms.
What a homecoming, Link thought as they led him away from the bustle of the city square, and into the lower levels of the palisades, towards the prison.
X X X
Luckily Link hadn't seen the inside of a cell before they brought into a small room for questioning. Link was told to take a seat, then the guards promptly left the room. He sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity, but more than likely only spanned several minutes, before the large iron door squealed open and an aging soldier walked through. His gray hair and plethora of wrinkles advertised his age, but his physique had yet to fall into the same disrepair. He took a seat across from the young, green clad man.
"Have you been advised of the charges against you?" He said in a matter-of-fact tone. Link nodded in reply. "Do you realize that we take kidnapping very seriously? If convicted you will face the gallows." Link's face went white; he had come all this way simply to be hung?
"Sir, you must know I had nothing…"
"To do with it." The older man finished his sentence. "Yes I know, I figured you would say that. But you must also realize that your word, the word of a complete stranger, will be worth nothing next to the word of one of the most respectable citizens in all of Termina. We may have the presumption of innocence here, but even that can't protect you. I'm sorry, son." The man almost sounded sincere, and it made Link sick. "But where are my manners? My name is Viscen; I command the defense corp. of Clock Town." He held out his hand, but Link did not return the gesture.
"I can't say I'm happy to meet the man who will play my executioner." He replied bitterly. Viscen was not insulted, he merely understood.
"We don't have much of an inmate population here, mostly chronic drunks who spend a few nights with us every now and then, so you will be tried as soon as possible. You'll be brought before the mayor tomorrow before your trial. I suggest you get some sleep." And with that, the corp. recruiter stood up and walked out of the room, two guards took his place and escorted Link to his cell.
Along the way Link entertained several serious thoughts of incapacitating his two escorts and making a run for it. He had navigated much worse threats, and knew escaping wouldn't be hard. But the thought of meeting with the mayor tomorrow, and possibly seeing Romani, gave him hope that he could straighten things out. He would reveal himself to Romani, and save his life, at the loss of his pride. He would be able to live in peace, which was much more agreeable than being on the lam.
The guards left him in his cell, a small, dank room, without any window to the outside. A small cot lay in the corner, next to a small bowl of fresh water. Link had to give it to the people of Termina; he much preferred their system of representative democracy to Hyrule's monarchy. In Hyrule, even the mention of a plot to kidnap the princess would result in an immediate hanging, no trial included.
Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred rupees.
He put the thoughts of a hanging out of his mind, and fell into the feathery cot, letting the exhaustion he had accumulated overtake him.
X X X
Link was rustled awake by several of the guards. They pulled him to his feet and clasped shackles around his legs and hands, beckoning him to follow them on his long march down the ill-lit corridor. They led him into another small room; similar to the one he had been questioned in the day before. But this room was only half lit by a small candle in the corner, casting a dark shadow on the opposite side of the room.
Link was sat down, turned in the direction of the shadow, though he could make out the outline of an individual in the darkness. Link knew this must be the mayor, and his only chance to make his case.
He opened his mouth to speak, but was shut down as the man in the shadow began. "I see, stranger, that you've been charged with some very disheartening things, kidnapping chiefly among them. As I'm sure you've been informed, that carries the highest penalty we have." Link nodded, he didn't have to be reminded of it. "Do you have anything to say for yourself before you are put to trial?"
Link pulled his hood back, exposing his face. "Sir, you must know, I really didn't have a thing to do with the kidnapping of Ms. Romani, except if you count rescuing her." He paused for a moment, waiting to be interrupted, or hastily drug off to trial, but he was able to continue. "I was on my way from Hyrule when I was attacked by the same men myself…"
He was finally interrupted when the man suddenly asked him his name.
"My name, sir?"
The man became irate. "Yes, your name, what do they call you in Hyrule?"
"Link…"
"Viscen!" The man yelled from the shadows, and the iron doors immediately flung open, a pair of guards with their weapons at the ready, expecting to see their mayor being held hostage. Viscen appeared seconds later, his own weapon drawn. Seeing that there was no danger, he sheathed his short sword at his hip.
"Yes sir?" Suddenly the voice came out of the shadows, and while Link's attention had been at the door, the man had come out of the shadows and was standing in the flickering light of the candle, his features revealed.
"Get these restraints off of this man this instant! He's an honored guest in my house!" Link was confused at this turn of events, and eyed the small man. He stood several inches shorter than himself, with blue-purple hair that was nearly shoulder length. Dressed in a fancy, burgundy coat, he looked the very part of civil service. But below all that, Link felt he knew the man.
"Sir?" Viscen said, obviously confused as well.
The mayor ignored the soldier and took one of Link's shackled hands.
"My friend, it has been too long, I never expected that we should meet like this." Then Link remembered.
"Well, hello Kafei."
A/N: Sorry it looks like its been so long! But I truly had writers block! But now that I have a very clear story lin set out, chapters should pop up quicker! Thanks in advance for all your reviews!