Here it is, Chapter 30!

Chapter 30: Riddles

Faith's breathe caught in her chest. She'd heard this riddle before. She wished she could tell Link what to do but she wasn't allowed to help him in these challenges.

Link tried to figure out what he meant by touch the hand of the maiden. There had to be something to this. He needed to be closer to her. He saw one of the other boys trying to lift the box and jump at the same time but the box wouldn't move. How could he get closer to the girl? "Wait, that's it!" he whispered to himself. He didn't need to get closer to her, she needed to come to him! "Miss, will you please come over here?"

When both the girl and Alden smiled, Link knew he'd guessed right. The girl walked over to Link and held her hand up to him. Touching her hand lightly, Link smiled. "Why thank you greatly miss." Link put his lips an inch away from his lips in the gesture even older than he was.

"Link has passed the second challenge!"

Faith couldn't contain her excitement and cheered in celebration. She wasn't the only one either. Several cheers from the crowd could be heard. Her heart felt light as she turned to Akiko and Ryder. They were not smiling. Both looked solemn as they watched Sophia approach Link.

"It all comes down to this final test," Sophia said. A boy was at her side holding a small glass figurine on a pillow. "You must keep this figurine from me." Slightly confused as to what this was testing, Link took the figurine with his right hand. "You may go anywhere within the borders of Kakariko. Also, you must keep it from me until nightfall."

"It can't be so simple can it?" Link thought to himself. He started to place the figurine in his bag when Sophia drew her sword.

"The challenge begins now." With that, Sophia launched herself at Link. Link had only a split second to react. He quickly put the figurine in his bag and grabbed a small nut from his bag. Throwing it at the ground a flash of light temporarily blinded Sophia, giving Link time to move.

Faith moved as well. She kept her eyes on Link and followed him. Ryder and Akiko had also done the same thing. Link had run to the graveyard. "Link do you have a plan?"

"No, and she's fast. She probably knows I'll come here and come after the figurine. If I keep it anywhere, she'll try to find out where I've hidden it. This is her game after all, and there are no rules."

"If there are no rules why not give it to one of us?" Faith asked. She wanted to help; this could be her only chance.

Akiko was keeping a watch on the entrance to the graveyard. "No time to discuss that. Here she comes!"

Link drew his sword. "I knew you'd come here Link."

""Well are you going to try and take it from me?" Link needed a plan and he needed on fast. He wasn't going to be able to keep this up until nightfall. He had a limited number of Deku Nuts and they were bound to stop working as a surprise.

"You know Sophia this is an interesting task to give him. It tests speed, skills, wit..."

"You know what I really want to test though Ryder."

"It's a very open ended task. There are so many things he could do to pass."

"Yes but which will he pick? Does your hero even have a plan?"

A smirk formed on Link's face. "Actually, I do now." He pulled out the figurine. "Faith I need your aim," he said so only he, Ryder, Akiko, and Faith could hear. Faith nodded and pulled out her bow and an arrow. "I know that I can't keep this from you when you know every spot I could hide it. After all, you know Kakariko better than I do. There is only one thing I can do. Faith, now!" Link threw the figurine into the air. Faith aimed into the air and shot the glass. The figurine shattered into a thousand tiny pieces and fell around Link like snowflakes. "You can't get it now, for it no longer exists."

Sophia smiled. "You had the courage to admit you could not beat me the strength to sacrifice the glass so I could not get it. Princess Zelda had that courage when she cut her hand off to free the Triforce of Wisdom from Ganondorf's grip." Sophia turned to those villagers who had come to the graveyard. "Link has passed the final test! Let us celebrate the return of the Hero of Time!"

Link's eyes once again drifted toward Death Mountain. Time was not on his side right now. "I cannot stay long."

"You can stay one more night can't you Link? I know the clouds over Death Mountain loom in your mind but please, there has been so little to celebrate since you disappeared. Celebrate with us today.

Link turned to Faith. "There has been little to celebrate anywhere since you disappeared. I think it only fair to give these people a celebration." Faith knew Link also needed just a little time to celebrate. He could not go through the entire journey without some reason to celebrate.

"Alright, we shall stay tonight."

The whole town seemed to erupt with cheers. A group of them surrounded Link and lifted him onto their shoulders. "The hero has returned!"

Faith's smile faded. She had to right to be celebrating with these people. "I was once among those who caused these people misery. Link has always been a symbol of hope for these people. I do not deserve to celebrate with them."

"What is on your mind Faith?" Ryder asked, watching Link being taken to the town hall.

"It's nothing," Faith replied quickly. She knew that only the two of them had not joined in the celebration. She could see Akiko in the group carrying Link.

"You are not very good at hiding your emotions. I can clearly see it in your eyes that something troubles you. You can tell me."

Faith looked at the man. His pure white hair made him seemed older than he was. She could tell he couldn't be much older than 30. He seemed so familiar to her, as though she'd known him all her life, but she knew she couldn't have. "I do not belong with these people. I don't deserve to celebrate with them."

"Why is that? You too are a Hylian who is fighting against Dogan, are you not?" Ryder looked into Faith's eyes. The red of Ryder's eyes was not nearly as chilling as the red eyes Faith had seen in the water temple. Ryder's eyes were just as warm as Link's.

"I..." Faith wasn't sure she should tell him. It would take away from the joy of the town if she told him, and she didn't want to ruin the mood. "It doesn't matter." She resigned herself to tell him if they ever ran into him again. "Come on we're going to miss the party!" She said trying to smile as believable as she could. She could make everything but her eyes smile. Grabbing Ryder's hand, she pulled him toward the direction the mass had gone. It was best not to give him a chance to question her further.

Upon entering the town hall, Ryder and Faith found Link and Kyle both standing on the center table holding wooden rods on one hand and beer in the other.

"Alright hero, the game is this; you must knock the other person off the table without spilling your drink. First to fall or lose their drink must kiss the other's boots."

"You're on. I'll beat you just as quickly as I did in the challenge."

Faith laughed at the two. Link and Kyle danced about the table without spilling a single drop of beer. When Link fell from the table, he still didn't spill a drop of his drink. He kissed Kyle's boot and downed the beer.

After a few more rounds of table fighting, Akiko appeared from a room in the back. She was now wearing a blue cotton dress made to show her as a woman rather than a warrior. Her hair was done up in a way that covered he eye without needing the patch. In her hands was a silver stringed wooden harp. Softly, she played a sad, sorrowful melody. As the song went on it became more valiant and strong. It was the song of Hyrule. They would rise from the darkness.

As the party came to a close, practically every warrior in the place was drunk. Everyone eventually left, save for Link, Akiko, Ryder, and Faith. They'd been allowed to spend the night in Town Hall. Link and Faith agree that it would be best to set out just after dawn to head up the mountain.

Okay in later chapter's I'm going to be borrowing stuff from the Manga. I thought I would tell you this now because in a way I have started to borrow from it already. (Can you guess how?) Not completely pleased with this chapter but there are some parts that were fun to write. Hope you guys enjoyed it though.