Chapter 6- Leaving Ordon
Link was hastily pack things. He was throwing things in Epona's saddle bag, sharpening his sword, and collecting his other weapons from the basement. Pit was following him around, asking questions.
"What are we gonna do about your girlfriend?" the angel inquired.
"I'm taking her back to Hyrule," Link replied, climbing down the ladder to the basement. Pit followed him.
"But remember what Zelda said? Hyrule is over run! We should stay as far away as possible from it!" Pit exclaimed.
Link halted. "You're right," he realized. "Then what should I do?"
Pit shrugged. "I dunno. Ask your girlfriend."
As Link climbed back up the stairs, he mumbled, "She's not my girlfriend." When he climbed up the loft to where the ill princess lay he asked her, "Zelda, what should we do?"
Princess Zelda opened her eyes weakly and looked up at him. "We have to..." she began. Then, after she had coughed, she continued. "There is a book in the Hyrule Library...It has all kinds of cures. Maybe there is something about the poison Ganondorf gave me."
Link sat down next to her and helped her sit up. Then he wrapped his arm around her to make her feel more comfortable. Pit had silently climbed the ladder and was spying on them. "So we have to get to Hyrule to save you?" he asked.
Zelda nodded. "Yes. Then, after I am cured, I can help you defeat Ganondorf."
The young man thought for a while. "Alright," he answered. "We'll need to sneak in."
The princess looked up at him. Though her face was pale, her eyes were sparkling. "Thank you," she said in a whisper.
Link blushed. Then he realized that he had no time to be embarrassed; he had to take care of his princess. He soothingly rubbed her back and told her, "Don't worry. We'll leave you in the care of Uli. Me and Pit will sneak into the castle and bring the book back. We'll try to hurry."
Zelda nodded weakly. "Alright. Thank you," she said. Then she dozed off again.
Ten minutes later, Link and Pit were packed and out of the house. Pit waited by Epona while Link went over to Rusl's house to find Uli. As he entered the quaint little house, Rusl turned from his pot of stew to look at him.
"Oh, Link, come in!" he exclaimed. "What brings you here?"
"Is Uli around?" he asked, stepping in.
Rusl turned back to stir his pot of stew. "Yes, she's in the other room. Uli!"
Moments later, Uli came out, wiping her hands on a towel. Her forehead shown from sweat and she had an exhausted look on her face. "Just had to change the baby. Yes?"
"Pit and I have to be going to Hyrule. Would you please look after Zelda while we're away?" Link asked with an urgent look in his eyes.
Though she didn't understand the full importance of the mission, Uli could tell it was urgent. Link rarely joked when he had that look in his eyes. As exhausted as she was, she nodded. "Yes, I will take care of her. Don't you worry. Just concentrate on your mission."
Link let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks," he said. Then he turned and rushed out the door.
When he got back to the house, he told everything to Pit. Then he climbed up the ladder to the loft. He was much too hasty, though, and awoke Zelda from her nap.
"I'm sorry I woke you, Zelda," Link apologized. "Uli agreed to doctor you, so don't worry. We're going to the leave now."
He turned to leave but Zelda caught his hand. Though she was weak and trembling, she managed to hold it firmly. "Link...be careful."
Link smiled and stroked her pale cheek with the side of his index finger. "Don't worry, I will." Then he climbed down the ladder. When he and Pit made sure they weren't forgetting anything, they headed out.
As they walked out, Pit muttered, "She never told me to be careful."
Link was about to reply when he stopped. There, in front of his tied-up horse, stood Ilia. "Ilia, please don't cause us anymore trouble. Zelda is dying!"
"You always call her Zelda and you never call her princess!" Ilia exclaimed, stamping her foot. "Is there...something between you two?"
Link shook his head vigorously, though he was disappointed. "No!" he replied. "Now, please, let me mount Epona!"
Ilia crossed her arms. "I'll let you mount her but I won't let you ride her to where you're going," she said stubbornly. "It's cruel to lead her straight to the enemy. If you want to endanger your life and this ugly angel's life, that's fine with me. But NOT Epona."
Link groaned. He was about to protest when Pit cut in. "Just leave the horse, Link. We can go on foot. We won't be detected that way. I mean, think about it: we could ride her across the field but what do we do with her once we get there? One doesn't simply ride into Ganondorf-controlled Hyrule."
Link reluctantly sighed. Pit did have a point. "Alright, you win, Ilia," he said through his teeth. He slung the pack he had planned to burden Epona with on his back and started off towards the outskirts of Faron. Pit followed close behind.