Drums, he realized. That's what his pulse sounded like in his own ears. Like Goron war drums.

Link sat up and rubbed his face with his calloused hands.

"It's okay to be nervous," Navi said trying to offer her young friend some comfort.

Link exhaled, puffing his cheeks out while he did. "Let's go for a walk," he said. "It's not like I can sleep anyway." Link threw his blanket off and slipped into his new leather boots. The leather fought against his rough calloused feet, refusing to be broken in. Link stomped down with his left foot, then his right.

"Do they fit properly?" Navi asked hovering near the boy's toes.

Link stood up and grabbed his hat off the table. "Yea they're the right size, just stiff. All the more reason to go for a walk." Link grabbed Din's Wrath, some Deku Nuts, and an apple.

To Link's surprise the whole village had joined him in his insomnia. Ryen and Latia were sitting by the pond whispering and laughing with each other. Pete and Ania were talking up on Ania's lookout. Everyone else seemed to be gathered next to Ellie's. Curious, Link walked over, careful to stay on the outskirts of the crowd so as not to disrupt whatever was going on.

Link identified the crowd's organizer by his uncanny laugh long before he could see him. Shylock and Ellie were wearing ridiculous outfits covered in streamers and were bobbing about ridiculously. The audience didn't share Link's opinion, and thought the Happy Mask Salesman's jig was the most clever and exciting performance in the world. Ellie had a goofy smile on her face and was laughing almost as loudly as Shylock.

"I don't get it," Link said quietly to Navi. "What is he doing here? He knows what's going on in the realm. Why is he acting like this?"

"Maybe he doesn't want the children to know what's happening," Navi answered. "Kokiri Village would be a far less joyful place if everyone was as serious as you and Mido."

There was wisdom in what Navi said, Link knew that, but the boy had yet to rid himself of his skepticism concerning the Hylian disguised as a Kokiri.

"Hey!" Link said when Navi's words caught up to him. "Don't compare me to Mido."

Navi bopped Link on the head. "Oh be nice to him. He's not the same bully he was a year ago."

"Only 'cause I'm bigger than him now," Link grumbled quietly to himself.

Navi bopped him on the head twice more. A nearby Kokiri gave Link a quizzical look. Link straightened his hat and pointed at Navi.

"Fairies, am I right?"

The Kokiri turned away quickly then shuffled over in an attempt to subtly distance himself from Link.

With a sigh Link turned from the crowd and the suspicious Shylock and moved elsewhere on his walk. Deciding there was no place for him in the village tonight he decided, despite his better judgement, to wander over towards the Hylian settlement.

Music, chanting, and cheering rumbled through the forest accompanied by the bright lights and dancing shadows created by a bonfire. Warily Link stepped into the clearing, concerned that Nagina's challenge was still fresh in everyone's memory.

Nothing was fresh in these men's memories. Someone had secured several barrels of ale and wine and the soldiers were making short work of it. Men sat around on stumps and logs, wine spilling down their faces as they attempted to chortle along with the music being played. Link scanned the group to find the musician, wondering how such lively music could be coming from one of these drunken adults. He was more than a little surprised to see that it was a Gerudo playing her lute.

Link turned his head quickly, making sure none of the hot-blooded men were planning on jumping the lone woman. It was while he was looking for threats that he realized she wasn't the only Gerudo there. In the circle around the bonfire alone, five or six Gerudo warriors were seated in the laps of elated looking Hylians. One such Gerudo caught Link's attention. She was a little bit shorter than Nagina but might have looked just as fierce and dangerous, were she not kissing the thick neck of one of the Hylian lieutenants.

The man seemed to be whispering something in her ear. Link hadn't the slightest clue what he could be saying but the Gerudo seemed to shiver with excitement and continue kissing the man's neck with even more fervor.

"I don't get it," Link said with a shake of his head. Navi remained uncharacteristically quiet. "Well come on, Navi. Let's see what the rest of the Hylians are doing."

It was easy for Link to meander about undetected. The Hylians were lost in their drink and their girls, not paying the slightest bit of attention to the boy in green and his fairy. The only ones who cast a second glance towards Link were the squires. They, however, were too busy refilling wine-skins and ogling the Gerudo women to stop Link.

Link appreciated the visible invisibility. It was the one upside to Castletown, he recalled. Nobody singled him out as the "boy without a fairy" and nobody had cared what his business was or where he was going. None except Malon of course.

As he walked through the camp he tried to imagine what these men looked like while they were still serving Zelda's father, the King. Surely they would have never become this unruly and unkempt under the King's reign. Maybe Navi was right, maybe it was the year in hiding that made all these men shameless shaggy-haired drunks.

Link froze in his steps when he saw THE shaggy-haired drunk from his first day in the Hylian camp. The man was sitting around a small fire with a similar looking entourage playing a small wooden flute. Despite Link's opinion of the man, or the fact that his hands looked far too big for the small instrument, the man played it expertly. Decent music was not enough for Link to risk being seen by him though. The boy turned his face away instantly and tried to make for a nearby tent.

Somehow, as though the Goddesses themselves had forsaken the young Hylian, the shaggy-haired man saw him.

"Oy! It's the little man!" he called. "Come on over and have a sit with us, Little Swordsman."

Link stopped and looked over his shoulder cautiously. The man's face actually appeared friendly, and there was no malice or mischief in his voice.

"Don't do it, Link!" Navi commanded into his ear.

"Well now I have to," he replied teasingly.

While he turned to join the men they all gave a triumphant cheer and made room for him on their log. The spot was right between the shaggy-haired man and a plump boyish looking man. Link had to adjust Din's Wrath so the hilt didn't poke any of the taller men's eyes.

"Hmmm," the shaggy-haired man said while he watched Link adjust his weapon. "Don't you know it's bad luck to carry a sword the night before a battle?"

"No," Link said facing the shaggy-haired man who smelled like booze. The boy's feet only barely reached the ground so he tried to straighten his back in an attempt to make himself taller and meet the man's eyes.

"It's true," one of the groupies said before taking a swig.

Link looked around the group and, sure enough, nobody else was wearing their sword. Everyone had a dagger on their belt, and there were two bows resting on the log beside a quiver with red feathered arrows, but the only sword present was Din's Wrath.

"I'd never heard that," Link said with a shrug. "Is that a Hylian thing?"

"A Hylian thing?" the shaggy-haired soldier asked with a snort. "Lady Luck isn't racist. Her rules apply to everyone."

"To Lady Luck!" one of the men cheered.

"To Lady Luck!" everyone but Link replied.

Holding his flute in one hand, the shaggy-haired soldier lifted his mug in the other and drowned himself in the dark liquid. He resurfaced with a loud belch.

"How rude of us!" he said, hitting himself in the chest with his mug. "We didn't offer the Little Swordsman a drink!"

Link raised his hand before anyone could go to any sort of effort for his sake.

"I don't drink," he stated. "But thank you."

The mood of the group instantly changed. Everyone stared at Link as though he had just relieved himself on their boots. It was the plump boyish looking man who spoke.

"Ye can't trust a man who doesn't drink and fuck the night before a battle," he said in all seriousness.

"I don't do either of those things," Link replied.

The shaggy-haired soldier let out a sigh, set his mug down, and put his palm on his forehead.

"A sober virgin child," he said dejectedly. "is leading us into battle against the most dangerous man on the planet."

Link furrowed his brow and opened his mouth to object but he could already feel his face turning bright red. He pushed off the log onto his feet and walked passed the small fire pit.

"Better than an dirty drunkard," Link said as sternly as he could. He had his arms folded over his chest and was doing his best to look intimidating and unperturbed. The men laughed at his posture.

"C'mon, Little Commander," the soldier on the far right said. "there's no need ta be like that. Sambol was just teasin' ya."

"I'm not your 'Little Commander'!" Link snapped. Navi started uttering some sort of warning in Link's ear but he waved her away. "I wouldn't claim you lot if you were the last soldiers on Earth."

The shaggy-haired soldier, presumably named Sambol, rose to his feet. Link didn't stop.

"All of you are lazy, disgusting, drunken, cowards!" Link practically yelled. He neither flinched nor backed down as Sambol stepped over the fire-pit in one stride to stand directly in front of the boy. Link grit his teeth but refused to give the larger Hylian the satisfaction of reaching for Din's Wrath.

Sambol stared through his mane of messy brown hair, boring into Link's blue eyes. Link was only half looking at the man's eyes, his focus was on his peripherals, anticipating some sort of angry strike from the man. Sambol's gaze slowly changed from anger to sorrow.

"You're just a boy," he said quietly. "I have no doubt you've had your share of scraps and fights. Maybe you've even killed a man with that purple sword of yours."

Link swallowed but said nothing. Sambol continued and allowed his broad shoulders to slump while he spoke.

"But don't pretend you've ever experienced the hell that is war. Don't assume you know what you're about to face," he turned and waved his hand with the flute in it in front of his group. "And don't judge those who HAVE seen it and don't behave how you'd like them to."

He lowered himself to a knee so that he was looking at Link on an equal level.

"Some of us are going to die tomorrow," he said it plainly, as though it was a fact he had resigned himself to. "Maybe all of us." He held Link's gaze for a moment then sprung to his feet.

"Which means there's no time ta waste if we intend to get properly wasted!" he shouted. The group around him, and any and all within earshot lifted their wine-skins and horns in cheer.

Link looked at the grass and chewed his bottom lip. Sambol was right, he shouldn't judge these men when he's asking so much of them.

He lifted his head up and straightened his posture. "You're right," he said to Sambol and the group. "I'm sorry for what I've said."

The plump boyish looking soldier waved his hand while shaking his head. "Don't even bother yerself with apologies. None of us will even remember this talk come mornin'."

Link was about to say something else but Sambol cut him off by bringing the tiny wooden flute up to his lips and playing a lively piece. Despite the upbeat tempo of the music, Sambol's men seemed to fall into a sort of trance, and began swaying side to side slowly.

"Maybe we should move on," Navi recommended. Link nodded to her absent mindedly and turned to leave.

Sambol's words consumed his thoughts while he trekked through the rest of camp. He payed only the measliest amount of attention to the rest of the Hylians and Gerudo that carried on with their festivities. Before long his feet and his thoughts carried him outside the camp's perimeter and into the woods.

A twig snapping pulled Link from his thoughts.

"Who is it?" he asked. He was crouched low, one hand on the hilt of his blade. Saria meekly stepped out from the shadows.

"I didn't want to disturb you," she said, not meeting Link's eyes. "You seemed lost in thought."

Link sighed and relaxed his posture. "Nonsense, I haven't seen you all week." With his palm up he gestured towards the path ahead of them. "Would you care to join me?"

For a second, Link thought she might say no. Saria looked behind her, as though some important task were threatening to pull her away.

"I would love to," she finally said.

The two walked side by side for some time, neither saying a word. Link was still trying to figure out what he'd done to deserve the silent treatment for the past nine days, and could think of no good way to bring the subject up. Saria, on the other hand seemed more willing than to continue the reticent stroll.

"We missed spending the evenings with you," Navi said when it became apparent that Link might allow the entire night to slip by without uttering a word.

Saria looked up and Navi and smiled. "I've missed you too, Navi. And you, Link," she said with a gentle wink. Link rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Yea, I went to your house several times but Malon said you hadn't been by for a while," Link said while plotting Navi's demise in his head.

Saria turned her face away but kept walking alongside Link. "I've been busy," she said vaguely.

"Oh," Link replied contemplatively. "Busy with what?" he dared to asked. When Saria didn't answer he dared to keep pushing. "Busy with 'Sage' things?"

Saria shrugged. "In a way, yea."

Link shook his head. "I still don't understand what all that's about. Sheik and Impa keep saying it'll be explained to me when it's necessary, but at this rate the war will be over before I ever find out what's going on."

Saria didn't say anything, or look Link's way.

Link opened his mouth to say something else but he stopped. If Saria didn't want to talk, he shouldn't be forcing her. Instead he turned his attention to the trees and foliage that surrounded them. Strong Deku Oak closed in around the duo, offering comfort even in the dead of night. When he was younger, Link had been taught that the Great Deku Tree was the first Deku Oak, planted by Farore herself. The rest of the forest grew outwards from him, meaning at one point he'd been the center of the whole thing.

The story went on to say that with the arrival of the Hylians, the Great Deku Tree actually sacrificed a huge portion of his trees, his family, so that they would have a home. That land he'd sacrificed was now Hyrule Field, Castletown, and the farmlands to the north.

Suddenly Saria's arms were wrapped around Link's stomach as she embraced him tightly. Link stood there stunned for a moment, then hugged his oldest friend back. It was remarkable how much shorter she was now. Or rather, how much taller he was. He could now easily rest his chin atop her head, and did so while they hugged.

"I don't regret it," she said, face buried in Link's chest.

"What's that?"

"I don't regret it," she repeated without pulling her face away. "It's important you know that. If I was given the chance to do it all over again, even knowing how it ends, I would still choose to be your friend."

"And I would choose to be yours!" Link said quickly. He entangled his hand in Saria's green hair and stroked her head affectionately. "I know this isn't how we imagined things. First me finding out I'm a Hylian and leaving, then dragging the forest into this war. But we'll pull through." Link separated himself from Saria so he could look her in her eyes.

Her orbs glistened, wet from tears she'd been trying to shed in secret.

"And we'll always be friends, won't we?" he asked, quoting Saria's words from that fateful day.

Saria sniffed, wiped her nose, then laughed despite herself. "Yes," she said. "We'll always be friends." She took a second to rub her eyes, wipe her nose, then she straightened her posture, still trying to mimic Zelda's perfect ladylike stance.

"Tomorrow," she said after clearing her throat. "I will stay behind in the forest to look after the Kokiri. Mido, too. The Know-it-all Brothers and a handful of Kokiri will escort your armies to the edge of the woods and prepare an escape route, if it ends up being necessary."

Link nodded his head while he spoke. This was all stuff he knew.

"I'm going to head to the Forest Temple, then to bed," Saria stated.

"Do you want me to walk with you?" Link asked.

Saria shook her head, and seemed to be having some trouble keeping her face and voice even. "No, I have 'Sage' chores to attend to. Will you be alright walking home on your own?" she asked sticking her tongue out playfully.

Link threw his head back and laughed mockingly. "I think I'll be fine."

"Goodnight, Link."

"Goodnight, Saria." She looked like she was going to hug him one more time, but chose not to. Without another word she turned and left. Link remained planted until she disappeared from sight.

"You should have told him," Sprite said when she and Saria were out of earshot from Link.

Saria looked up at her fairy and longest companion. "He has so much to worry about already. More than even he knows. It would be selfish to add my problems to his own."

Sorrow. Sorrow and fear suddenly tightened Saria's chest. She dropped to her knees and struggled to catch her breath. Sprite circled around her head dinging with concern.

"It's okay," Sprite kept repeating. "It's okay, I'm here. I'll never leave you, Saria. It's okay."

"I know," Saria said, unable to stop the tears from flowing. "You've always been there for me, Sprite. I love you."

"I love you too."

"I'll miss you."

"Shhhh, no you won't, Saria. Because I'll never leave you."

"It was good to finally talk to her again," Link said to Navi as they continued through the dark forest. His mood had significantly improved. It was a relief to know that Saria wasn't angry with him, just worried for him, like everyone else.

"When this is all over, you should do something special for Saria," Navi recommended. "Especially after all the worry you've caused her."

Link nodded in agreement. "What do you think I should do?"

"Link!"

Link had Din's Wrath in his hands in an instant.

"I hear it too. Go!" he whispered urgently to Navi.

Without hesitation Navi dimmed her light and zoomed ahead to where the noise was coming from. Link had been in enough fights now to know that there was one taking place. Goddesses forbid it was some Hylians ganging up on a Gerudo. Or vice-versa.

Link maneuvered through the dark forest as quickly as he could, already planning how he should intervene. He saw Navi floating behind a bush, and slid next to her quietly.

"Look," she whispered.

Link peeked around the bush, ready for anything. It took his eyes a second to adjust to the dark, but when they did, there was no question about who was fighting. Sheik was fighting frantically, trying to press the offensive but failing.

Link started to push himself from behind the bush but Navi stopped him.

"Wait. Look over there," she instructed.

Link pulled his eyes away from Sheik and her shadowy opponent and saw two more figures standing like statues in the small clearing. It was Impa and Melankomas. Link looked from them, back to Sheik and her opponent. It took him another two seconds but he recognized her opponent as Arminius Prava.

"They're sparring," he said with realization. Sure that there was no real danger, Link silently sheathed Din's Wrath and found a more comfortable position from which to watch the match.

Sheik was moving quickly, much quicker than anytime she'd faced Link. Her hands were up in front of her, she was bouncing on the ball's of her feet, and her head was constantly moving side to side. When she threw a punch it was lightning quick, like a snake striking it's prey. Despite her speed, Arminius had little trouble avoiding her attacks completely.

The Sheikah's stance was similar to Sheik's. He was bouncing on the ball's of his feet and moving his head, but the difference was in his arms. Sheik had her arms extended away from her body, palms outward, while Arminius had his arms tight against his body, and fists right under his cheeks. With each of Sheik's attacks he would raise one of his shoulder while simultaneously rotating his upper body away from the blow. He was even quick enough to duck completely underneath one of the girl's attacks and would appear on the other side of her exposed body. He had yet to throw a punch or kick of his own.

With a grunt of exertion, Sheik threw a powerful roundhouse kick. Arminius not only ducked beneath the leg, but dropped while spinning into a crouch, and swept Sheik's supporting leg out from under her with the back of his spinning ankle. Sheik hit the ground with an "oof".

"Ye fight well, Zelda," Arminius said offering his hand to bring his downed opponent to her feet. "I'd say ye could truly pass for a young member o' me family."

Sheik took the offered hand and brushed the dirt off her butt when she stood.

"You honor me with your words," she said with short bow. "And with your training."

Arminius reached his arms out. "Cut that out, Princess. Sheikah only bow to their parents and the ruling house. Family hugs."

Sheik giggled and embraced the powerful man. Arminius patted the thin girl on the shoulder then turned to his taller counterparts.

"Not bad, is she?"

"Impa has taught her well," Melankomas said with a nod. Link could see a sly smile on the man's face. "Now why don't you try your hand against your cousin?" he asked.

Arminius's hands instantly came up in a surrendering fashion. "Nay, I've 'ad me head bashed in a few too many times by the Malukhas. I dinnae want another bashing tonight."

Impa turned to the taller Sheikah standing beside her. "Are you always so quick to volunteer others, Melankomas? When was the last time you and I sparred?"

Melankomas rolled his shoulders. "Not since the year you challenged Vurugu."

"I've never seen Impa spar with another Sheikah," Sheik said. "I would love to bear witness."

"Ye heard the princess!" Arminius said almost giddy. "She wants to see Malukha thrash ye."

Arminius and Sheik shared a laugh. Melankomas still had a smile on his face but from Link's perspective it looked forced.

"Alright," Melankomas said in defeat. "If it pleases Her Majesty. But I am no match for Malukha in hand-to-hand."

"Yer no match for Malukha anyway,"

"Draw your sword then," Impa offered. "Your bastard sword against my wakizashi."

Melankomas pondered the offer for a moment, no doubt trying to determine which offered the best chance of victory.

"Swords it is then," he said. The two nodded to each other then walked into the center of the clearing.

Sheik and Arminius moved to the side, allowing the two plenty of room. Arminius whispered something into Sheik's ears but Link couldn't quite catch it.

Melankomas and Impa stood a dozen feet away from each other. The taller, heavier Sheikah was standing side-face with his sword in both hands. Impa was crouched low, feet far apart, with her small blade in one hand and her empty hand directly behind it.

"This is going to be good," Link said to Navi. He could feel himself twitching with excitement.

The two warriors stood there facing each other. No blinking, no moving. Link wondered if they were even breathing. They stood like that for minutes until Melankomas finally moved.

It was fast. Too fast for Link to follow. Melankomas's foot had pivoted and his sword came slashing in from the side with blinding speed. Link didn't see the swing, he only heard the "clang" as Impa's blade deflected the weapon. And it was all over.

Link blinked, thinking his eyes had just played a trick on him. Impa had Melankomas's sword arm tucked under her armpit, his sword uselessly suspended behind her back, and had her small sword's edge pressed tight against the larger Sheikah's neck. She also had her right leg behind his, and Link could tell she was threatening to steal the man's balance in case the razor at his neck wasn't enough of a threat.

Arminius let out a hoot of laughter. "Ye lasted even longer than I suspected," he cried.

Melankomas swallowed, then let go of his useless sword allowing it to fall to the earth. Impa accepted his defeat and stepped back.

"You have gotten faster," she offered to her defeated opponent.

Melankomas chuckled resignedly and bowed. "It is kind of you to spare my pride some thought, but it is you who has gotten faster, Malukha."

"Sheik," Impa said turning to the young girl. "Will you excuse my brothers and I. It is not often I get to observe Sheikah custom and pray to Achashverosh before a battle."

"Of course, Impa," then turning to the other Sheikah. "Thank you for the lessons tonight."

Despite what Arminius had said earlier, he and the two other Sheikah bowed to the princess in disguise.

"Will you be safe heading back to Kokiri Village on your own?" Melankomas asked.

Sheik nodded. "I will, thank you."

Without any further questions or comments the three Sheikah disappeared into the woods without upsetting even a single dried leaf.

"You can come out now, Link!" Sheik called.

Startled upon hearing his name called, Link rose to his feet.

"How did you know I was there?" he asked.

Sheik smiled and walked over to him. "I didn't," she answered. "Arminius spotted you while we were sparring and told me you were hiding in the bush." She tilted her head to the side. "Why didn't you announce yourself?"

Link shrugged. "I don't know."

"I get it," Sheik said glancing towards where the three had disappeared. "They can be pretty intimidating."

"Nah," Link retorted. "Impa is still the scariest of the group."

Sheik giggled in agreement.

"What's that?" Link asked noticing something silver on Sheik's hip.

"Oh, it a whip of sorts," Sheik answered. She detached the coiled hip from her waistband and held it up for Link to inspect. The entire thing looked to be made of some sort of metal, with all but the round handle at the end having multiple razor edges.

"It was a gift from Cassius."

Link frowned. "Why did he get you a gift?"

Sheik pulled the whip away and gave Link a strange look. "What's wrong with someone giving a princess a gift?" she asked.

Again Link shrugged. "Nothing. He just didn't seem like the type that would give gifts."

Sheik stared at Link for a second. "Hmmm," was all she said.

"Are you headed back to the village?" Link asked, anxious to change the subject.

"I am," Sheik answered. "But I don't need an escort. I was going to check on Saria then head to bed."

"I just ran into her," Link said.

Sheik's face was suddenly filled with concern.

"You did?" she asked quickly.

Link raised a curious eyebrow. "Yea, I did."

"What did she say?" Sheik asked.

"She didn't say anything, we just walked together for a bit. Why?"

Sheik searched Link's eyes to the point Link was beginning to feel awkward.

"No reason," Sheik finally said. "I was just worried about her is all."

"She's nervous about tomorrow," Link said. "Everyone is."

Sheik nodded while looking out into the forest past Link. "I know. We'll be fine though. Your plan will work." She said it determinedly and Link wondered if she meant it, or if she was trying to convince herself.

"Anyway, don't stay out too much longer, Link."

Link put his hands on his hips defiantly. "You're not the Queen yet. You can't tell me what to do."

Sheik laughed then squeezed Link's shoulder. "Goodnight, Link."

"Goodnight, Princess."

"I guess nobody could sleep tonight," Link said to Navi when they had resumed their walk. They were now taking a round about path back to Kokiri Village.

"Impa's fight ended way sooner than I thought it would," Link remarked as he replayed the scene in his head.

"Impa's never struck me as someone who likes to waste time," Navi replied.

"True. Very true."

Link tried not to think about the Sheikah they'd be facing tomorrow in the field. If everything went according to plan he wouldn't have to actually face them in combat but their presence worried him none the less. Apparently it worried Impa too. He would never be able to express how thankful he was that she'd be right there next to him in the vanguard. Her and the other Sheikah.

"Why do you think Cassius got Sheik a present?" Link asked Navi. "I thought Sheikah didn't like Hylians."

"They don't," Navi answered. "But boys do like girls."

"Hmmm," was all Link had to say to that. He could swear he heard Navi giggling to herself. A strange noise caught Link's attention while he was trying to determine if his fairy was having a laugh at him.

"Navi, is that you?" he asked straining to hear.

"No," she answered. "It sounds like crying."

Saria! Link thought. He took off in the direction of the noise. The crying grew louder as he approached, until it was a loud wailing noise. The creature making the noise didn't sound Kokiri, or Hylian, but Link didn't let up and pushed himself even faster. He recognized where the sound was coming from. It was the imp's clearing.

Link came through the brush and found the pitiful creature who was balling. A forest imp, the same one he and Malon had danced with so long ago, was kneeling in the grass holding his brother. The cry was high-pitched and scratchy, almost like that of a sick baby. Link crept closer to examine the other imp, the one who was lying perfectly still in his brother's arms.

With horror, Link realized that an arrow shaft was protruding from the Imp's chest. He rushed forward to help but the imp's brother spotted him first.

"Get back!" it hissed in it's hair raising voice. "Go away!"

"What happened?" Link asked showing his empty hands.

"Go away!" the creature commanded.

"I can help," Link offered. He reached into his tunic and revealed a bottle of red potion. He knew he shouldn't be wasting the miracle drug just before a battle but he also didn't consider helping people to be a waste.

The imp shook his head causing cloudy tears to cascade about. "Nooo," it wailed. "It doesn't work! Now go away!"

"Who did this?" Link asked desperately.

"You did!" the imp snapped. "You brought the Big People into the forest!"

"A Hylian did this?" Link asked incredulously. Why would anyone attack an innocent imp?

"GO AWAY!" The imp brought his small wooden flute up to his mouth and blew on it, puffing his cheeks out aggressively while he did. A projectile came flying out the other end towards Link.

Link dodged the missile easily but backed away, not wanting to anger the imp any further.

"Okay, okay, I'm going. I'm sorry. I -" his words escaped him when he looked closer at the imp's flute. He'd seen a similar flute earlier this evening. He looked at the body of the dead imp and searched for that one's flute. It was missing. The only thing on it's broken body were the arrow shafts that had claimed its life. Arrows with red feathers.

"Sambol." Link said to himself. He could feel anger burning in his chest.

"I'll find the one who did this to your brother," Link promised the imp. The imp didn't hear him. He had resumed his mourning and was rocking his brother's body back and forth. The sight was too much for Link. He turned away, preferring to let anger burn inside him, than sorrow.

Navi was spouting some nonsense about calming down and being sure before he did something stupid but Link didn't hear any of it. Link didn't care about any of it. He could see it in his head. Sambol and his friends following the music they heard in the forest. They'd spotted the imps then thought they'd have some sport and kill one. Steal its flute.

Link made it back to the Hylian camp in no time. He had no idea how long he'd been out walking, but it must have been some time. The festivities were drawing to a close. Soldiers, Gerudo and Hylian, were sprawled about the grass, lost to their drinks and their lust. Link stormed past them not giving a damn.

"I only hope he's awake," Link growled to himself. He spotted the fire Sambol's men had been sitting around but the group was nowhere to be seen. Link could only assume that the nearest tent belonged to the shaggy-haired soldier or at the very least, one of his men.

Link reached down and pulled a dagger off one of the unconscious soldiers at his feet, then stepped over him and headed for the tent. Din's Wrath would be too big to use inside.

Navi was still going on about something but Link had now completely tuned her out. He only hoped her yammering didn't alert any of Sambol's friend. Quiet as a thief, Link slipped into the tent. He stopped just inside the entrance and allowed his eyes a moment to adjust to the dark.

He could feel his heart beat accelerate, as though his body was excited about the coming task. Justice, Link thought. My body knows this is justice.

There were two lumps inside the tent, people sleeping under their covers. Link spotted the the shaggy hair that belonged to Sambol on the far side of the tent. Quietly Link crept towards the back of the tent. In his excited state, his foot got tangled in the blanket of the nearest sleeping form. He swore under his breath and tried to free himself but ended up losing his footing and falling on top of the sleeping mass.

"Nagina!?" Link asked in shock.

The Gerudo woman snorted in her sleep and turned, only slightly disturbed in her slumber. Link shook his head, willing his mind to clear so that he wouldn't see the leader of the Gerudo people sleeping here in the tent with this shabby murderer. But alas, even after shaking his head and rubbing his eyes, there was no mistaking the woman lying there.

Nagina had a relaxed look on her face, maybe even a slight smile on her painted lips, as she lay there oblivious to the intruder. Link's eyes trailed from her sleeping face and closed eyelids, down her bare neck, to her exposed chest, only barely covered by the blanket.

Forgetting the anger burning in his chest, Link blushed and crawled away from the woman, averting his gaze. At the entrance to the tent Link cast one more look at Sambol's sleeping figure, then, despite himself, at Nagina, then crawled out of the tent.

In disgust he threw the stolen dagger into the ground.

"Why was she in there?" he asked while he stormed back to Kokiri Village. "Huh?" he demanded when Navi didn't answer. Navi stayed silent for a moment more.

"I have nothing to say to you," she said angrily.

"I didn't even do anything!"

"You would have!" Navi yelled as loud and angrily as her little fairy lungs would allow. "If Nagina hadn't been there you would have ignored everything I said and done something stupid."

"He murdered that imp!" Link yelled back.

"You don't know that!" Navi countered. "You have no proof. And you can't take it upon yourself to punish someone you think is guilty just because you don't like them!"

"I don't think he's guilty because I don't like him." Link said, his impatience and irritation evident in his tone. "I think he's guilty because he had the flute, and a bow with red feathered arrows. How can you be defending him?"

"I'm not defending him, I'm defending YOU!"

"What?"

Navi let out an exasperated sigh. In a much calmer voice she asked, "What do you think would happen if you did punish him? Hmm? Say we knew for a fact that he murdered the imp so you went in there and killed him or even just gave him a thrashing."

Link didn't say anything.

"In the morning his men would find him and word would spread that Sambol was killed or attacked or threatened by the very boy that was asking them to risk their lives against Ganondorf."

Link continued to remain silent.

"Let alone what Impa would do when she found out. Or what Sheik or Saria would think. How many do you think would fight for you after you'd dubbed yourself executioner and killed one of them? How many do you think would try to put a knife in your back once the battle started?"

"Goddesses, I get it, Navi!" Link said. He let out a frustrated sigh. "You're right, you're right. That was stupid of me. I'm sorry."

"Humph!"

Link brought his hands up and rubbed his eyes, trying to alleviate some of the stress. "Navi, I'm sorry. It's been a long night and my nerves are frayed. I need you to forgive me. I'm going to need you tomorrow."

Navi flew tight concentric circles around Link's head before responding. "You need me every day," she stated.

Link snorted. "True," he said. "But especially tomorrow."

"Fine," Navi said. "I forgive you. Let's go to bed."

Somehow Link's mind buzzed even more than when he'd left for his walk. His body was exhausted, he knew for a fact as he climbed up his ladder. But his mind couldn't stop going over the last couple hours.

"Goodnight, Navi."

"Goodnight, Link."

Link doubted it would be a good night, and he doubted he would be able to fall asleep. The Goddesses were merciful that night though, and Link dozed off in seconds.

Author's Note: By far the longest chapter I've written. I would have broken it up into two chapters but I really wanted you to feel how long and dragged out Link's night was. Next chapter is the battle! I've already enlisted the help of Itsyerfella to help me write what is going to be a difficult chapter. I expect it will take me several weeks to upload the next chapter and the ones that follow, given the chaos of a good, old fashioned, clash of armies. If anyone would like to send some advice about writing scenes like that my way I would appreciate it. Or if you can point me in the direction of some good examples. Obrigado.

I hope Impa's fight wasn't disappointing for too many of you. Historically Samurai fights were over in a matter of seconds, despite what Hollywood depicts. I imagine Impa and the Sheikah are as close to samurais as one can get in this fandom. Anyway, lots happened in his chapter with Link. Most of it necessary.

So I went back and reread some older chapters and was a little disappointed by what I saw in my own writing. I like to think I've improved as this story has progressed so for those of you who are interested, I will be going back and seriously reworking the first five or so chapters. Nothing plot-wise should change but I'm certain I can improve what is there.

Hope you've all enjoyed the ride thus far. Thanks!