Link huffed a little as he got off of Epona and let the castle staff take care of her from then on. He didn't like her getting so pampered like that, but it was a minor detail he could let slip for now. He easily maneuvered his way through the mostly empty- but far more welcoming -halls of Hyrule Castle, remembering easily how to get around from previous visits and his first true glimpse behind the alabaster walls.

He smirked lightly at the thought of knowing the palace better than the guards thanks to his endeavors.

He noted a few people- probably new to the couriers and other staff -dropping things and gaping in awe at the sight of him, but passed them without remark as he started jogging up steps to get to the throne room. Oh, how he was starting to loathe castles: they always had to have so much extra grandeur...

While he paused to catch his breath just outside the throne room, he marveled at the view of Hyrule the castle provided. Goddesses, you can see everything up here... he wondered in his oxygen starved state how long it took to build up this high. Probably a long, long time. He dusted himself off, pulled out his old sword and examined his reflection (he idly wiped up some dirt) then resheathed it and walked into the throne room.

He liked how it looked after the careful restorations. Gleaming marble, grand and echoing, yes, THIS was a meeting hall of royalty. Link bowed his head to the Goddesses and the Triforce, carefully sculpted far above the small and humble throne Zelda was seated upon. She was nodding her head lightly as some advisor rambled on.

Link knelt "You asked for me, my lady?"

He heard Zelda make a small 'tch' noise as she dismissed her advisor "Link, how many times have I told you... you have no need to address me so." There she was again, insisting a simple cowherd was of equal rank. As he rose, he sighed lightly at how robotic her voice had become. It was always so proper during day hours, when the whole country had eyes on her.

She smiled, a glimpse of the strongly youthful and bouncing Zelda that was always so hidden "But still, it is lovely that you responded."

Link looked away slightly "You're queen, how could I deny you?"

"You didn't have to respond, it was a request." Zelda stood and walked over "Now, I'm sure you remember that Rusl was typically the one who brought tribute from Ordona province?"

Link nodded, knowing Rusl had retired and he'd taken up the job "What about him?"

Zelda unfolded a small piece of parchment "My father knew you thanks to him..."

Link read it over- the King's will, he realized -and indeed, Rusl had talked to the old ruler about Link, mentioning his mark of the Triforce. "...'the young boy, Link, is to receive three gifts from the Royal Treasury as he sees fit, for saving the country of Hyrule. This segment of my will is to be delayed until he has saved our land and it is certain Hyrule is at peace.'..." he looked at Zelda questioningly "How did he know I'd-"

"Save our country?" she finished his question "The answer is on your hand." she gently picked up the hand with his crest of the Triforce "It only appears on the hero of legend."

"So I'm related to him?" Link asked, pulling away and examining it closer.

Zelda paused, then said "Perhaps. It's plausible, but maybe you are only his spirit incarnated." She then grasped his hand "Come, you have some gifts to choose."

He hated suspecting her for forgery- perhaps finding some official reason to bestow thanks upon him again -but the thought did occur. No, Zelda would never stoop to that level... They were both silent as they weaved through the empty halls.

Zelda then said "Well, I don't know for sure if we're at true peace yet, but I didn't want to delay any longer."

Link tilted his head "Is there something wrong?"

Zelda sighed a little "Even with your effort there's monster problems, the guards need more training, some of the castle is still ruined-"

Link stopped her, turning her around to face him and grasping her hands nice and tight "Zelda, it'll be fine. You're a wonderful ruler."

She gave him a relieved smile "Yes, you're right." She turned back around, and then said in a slightly embarrassed titter "Oh, we're here." She glanced back at Link "You knew didn't you?"

Link didn't respond, but there was an amused twinkle in his eye. Zelda only smiled and opened the door "Well, you know what it said. Three treasures, your choice."

Link almost scoffed at all the gold and jewels; after all, he'd amassed more rupees than he had to use from his adventures. He idly looked over a few things, not pocketing anything. Admittedly it all looked gorgeous, well crafted, but it was just extras he didn't need. Anything he chose would look out of place in his home back in Ordon-

He almost dropped a pot when he saw it. A small lapis-lazuli ocarina. He fumbled slightly to put up the delicate thing (he knew Zelda didn't like him smashing anything) and walked over to pick it up. Something was strangely familiar and comforting about it. An old friend, almost. He thought he saw his reflection shifting multiple times. He gently traced a finger over the smooth curves, imagining how long it would take to get it to be such a smooth and polished surface and wondering what the stone really was. No, not lapis-

"That's supposedly the Ocarina of Time."

Link full out jumped upon hearing Zelda right behind him, almost dropping the sacred instrument. Zelda giggled, then shrugged "I don't know, it's really just legend." Link went back to examining it "Excellent craftsmanship..." The stone felt odd. Tingly, like it was filled with electricity. He held it up to the rest of the room, intending to catch the light in it, but realized it was somewhere between translucent and opaque... oddly enough he thought he saw untamed meadows instead of castle walls.

"It's yours if you want it." Zelda said.

Link then very slowly put it in his pocket, deciding to keep it.

...

Link was now off at Lake Hylia, sitting outside Lanayru's Spring and examining the supposed "Ocarina of Time". He'd also grabbed two other things (after all, if Zelda was being gracious enough to give him up to three things he might as well grab three) and currently they were sitting next to him.

There was a small statue of the Golden Goddesses, each standing on one base and holding a pearl-like gem of their respective color in their hands (it was odd how much he was attracted to the piece) and then there was an amber sculpture of a wolf that reminded him so much of his adventures that it should've been a crime not to have it.

But the ocarina was his only interest.

He then put it in his mouth, trying to recall what Ilia had said about playing such an instrument. It didn't take long for perfectly pitched notes to start dancing off of the high cliffs of the lake and for his fingers to skip along the holes to send out songs he didn't know he knew. Some sounded like folk songs he'd known from earlier days of childhood, but something was more... basic? The bare beginnings of songs he'd sing for festivals?

His mind drifted as the songs continued pouring out of him.

"What do you think, Zelda? I carved the Timeshift stone myself!"

"It's great!"

Link's eyes snapped open. He didn't recall a conversation like that. And what in sweet Farore's name was a Timeshift stone?

AND THE PLOT THICKENS. Sorry, I've been wondering how to handle the story and I've been feeling kinda blocked recently.