This chapter contains swearing, violence and sexual references. Enjoy!

The Legend of Link:

The Bastard Prince

3. Hyrule Field

As Zoelda woke, the first thing she noticed was the pain in her neck from sleeping on the floor. Sitting up, instinctively reaching for her phone while rubbing the back of her neck, she remembered the events of the day before and how they hadn't been a dream. She remembered her strange companion and how he had told her to use a different name, recalling how he had set her up for the night and then left.

"Alarink?" Zoelda called, wondering if he had returned yet as she turned to look over at the empty bed beside her. There was no reply. Wrapping the cloak around her, Zoelda shakily stood up and called again. "Alarink? Are you there?"

Still, there was no reply.

Shrugging, Zoelda stood up and changed into the same tunic and leggings she had worn yesterday evening, putting everything else away in the bag. Pulling the bag over her shoulder, Zoelda started down the ladder. "Link? Are you in here at all?"

Entering the main room of the treehouse, Zoelda was unsurprised to find it the same way she left it the night before, a little more light now spilling in through the ladder gap and the small windows. She was also unsurprised to find the house missing its owner. Really, not knowing him all that well, Zoelda couldn't even begin to guess where Alarink might have been: perhaps he was getting the horses, more likely he was still in whomever's bed he ended up in last night.

Zoelda decided it was best not to ruminate on where he was too much, despite the fact that she almost certainly couldn't manage this world without his assistance.

I can eat breakfast without your assistance though, Zoelda thought to herself, chuckling as she helped herself to one of the apples left over from last night. Normally, she would have eaten something similar for breakfast while perusing Facebook on her phone; she hardly knew what to do with herself in an unfamiliar setting with no one to talk to. So, she decided to snoop around for a bathroom as she waited for Alarink to return, holding an apple in her mouth as she went through the back trapdoor where he had got her clothes from the night before.

Through there she found a toilet and sink - and a door leading to a storage room where her new clothes must have come from - but a bath or shower of any kind was clearly missing. Doing more snooping as she waited, grabbing a handful of berries to eat this time, she found a rack of towels in a cupboard by the front door. Knowing she almost certainly shouldn't, but also knowing she hadn't showered back home the day before, Zoelda grabbed a towel and left the house for Ordon Spring (leaving a hastily written note on the table for Alarink in case he got back before she did).

Humming to herself as she walked, it wasn't until she actually got to the spring that Zoelda realised how easily she found her way there. Sure, it was a fairly linear walk, but this was a new world for her, surely she should have found this all more terrifying and less routine than her mind was making it out to be. Regardless, she took her boots and bag of clothes off, leaving them on the shore as she made her way over to the far end of the spring where a waterfall flowed into a hip-deep pool.

Feeling a little self-concious - as anyone would - Zoelda wrapped a thin and tattered cloak around her as she undressed, keeping it about her even as she bathed under the falling water, her harp necklace very cool against her chest.

As she bathed, a persistent presence was felt watching over her again, much like it had during her restless night of sleep. While the night's presence had been forceful and unpleasant, this was more gentle and even a little nurturing, as though a large yet friendly bear was wrapping her in its arms and keeping her safe.

Feeling mostly clean, Zoelda dressed and started away from the spring. As she let the gates shut behind her, she could have sworn she saw a flicker or spark of a fairy or spirit behind her. Dismissing it as a trick of the rising sun, Zoelda made her way back to the treehouse feeling cleansed and revitalised.

As she made her way through the trees, the notes of a familiar tune made their way to her, growing loader and loader as she neared the treehouse. Walking into the clearing, the first thing she saw were two horses, Malanya and a pitch-black stallion with a white stripe running from nose to tail, making it look like a large skunk. He was quite beautiful and seemed to know it, swishing his tail from side to side as he grazed.

The sight that her eyes focused on though, was stood on the balcony of the treehouse, directly above the odd banner over the lower door. He - like Zoelda - appeared to be damp from a recent wash, his hair sticking to his forehead and curling around his neck and ears where it had yet to be put up. The sun was hitting him directly, washing his skin pale and his hair an almost ginger as the shadow of leaves danced over him in the breeze. Zoelda was reminded of how attractive he was in that moment, not that she had really forgotten since she had been in his almost constant company since they met, but the things he said and the way he said them often made her forget he was very physically appealing.

Regardless, Alarink looked almost ethereal as he played "The Song of the Hero" on a hand-carved wooden flute. His eyes were closed, making the scene before Zoelda look far too private for her to be walking in on.

So, instead she stood back among the trees and removed her harp necklace from inside her tunic instinctively. The Song of the Hero - or the main theme of the Zelda series - was one of the first things her mother had taught her to play, and while the harp on her necklace was tiny, it still worked. Using her nails to pluck the strings, Zoelda joined in with Alarink's playing, closing her own eyes as she began to hum quietly first, then loudly and passionately.

She couldn't see Alarink look over at her as he heard her join in. She didn't see the smile he gave her, sweet and honest as he watched the light filter through the leaves and trace patterns on her dark hair - an almost dirty blonde where the sun bleached it - and pale skin. She never knew that he thought her more stunning than any of his conquests in that moment.

By the time Zoelda realised that Alarink had stopped playing, she saw him leaning over the balcony railing, his flute held in his fist, smiling a little sadly at her as she tucked her necklace back away. "That was beautiful, Zoelda."

"Thank you, you play well yourself." Said she in response, coming into the clearing with the horses. "When did you learn?"

"...Mother taught me, long ago." He said quietly in response, flicking his flute around his fingers as he turned and went into the house before Zoelda could ask the obvious follow up. When he came back out, he was carrying two dark travelling cloaks, giving one to Zoelda as he walked over to Malanya, using a tattered cloth to tie his hair back again. "I assume you're ready to set out for the Castle?"

"Oh, um, yes." She stuttered as she wrapped the cloak around her shoulders, noticing it too had a blue trim, like most of the black objects Alarink seemed to own. "Sorry I wasn't here when you got back."

"Ah, no worries, I wasn't here when you woke up!" Alarink smiled as he went over to the black horse, tightening his packs and stroking his mane. "I was sorting these guys out for our trip. He's yours by the way."

"You're… You're making me ride by myself?!" Zoelda was understandably shocked. "I've never ridden alone before…"

"Don't worry, we'll go for a little run across the field and you'll be fine. Rogue's a good horse."

"And with a name like that, why shouldn't I take you at your word?" She eyed Rogue suspiciously as he did the same to her.

"Trust me, Zoelda, he'll treat you fine." Alarink smirked as he reached into one of the saddlebags. With great purpose, he withdrew two short swords and a spare bow and quiver. Zoelda's eyes widened. "The monsters in Hyrule, however…"

"You want me to fight on horseback?!" Shocked once again, Zoelda noticed the mass of straps covering Alarink's torso for the first time that day, she'd forgotten that he'd been wearing them yesterday; it had felt like an age since then.

"I don't expect you to know how, but yes, the monsters are quick to attack travellers."

"I know how to fence and shoot." She said confidently as she took the straps for the swords, bow and quiver and attached them to herself expertly. After securing them, she then took the sword from Alarink's right hand, turning it in her hand with practised ease as he watched with smug disbelief.

Zoelda sighed angrily at his disbelief in her skills and kicked a leg out at him suddenly, catching him off guard enough to send him stumbling. Quickly, she followed his stumbling and slashed out with her sword, which he just barely managed to parry. As he struggled for footing, Zoelda slashed again, claiming a resounding clang of metal on metal as he parried again. This time, she kicked out at his shins, knocking him to his knees with her sword under his chin. He looked up at her with huge turquoise eyes showing much more surprise than disbelief.

"I can handle myself, I just don't know how to ride a horse." Said she, reaching down to help him up.

"When the fuck did you learn stuff like that?!" Alarink asked as he got to his feet, brushing himself down as he handed her the other sword, which she quickly sheathed.

"A long time ago. Impax knew martial arts and Mum knew how to fence, joust and shoot both bows and guns, they both taught me and Dad as we grew up."

"That's… Well, I'd say that's insane, but my father taught me how to fight when I was growing up too, I guess it's just odd to see a young woman so proficient." He helped her onto Rogue, who seemed a little apprehensive at having someone new on his back.

"I thought you said your society was progressive, what's with the sexism?" Zoelda asked as she settled herself in the saddle, grabbing the reins instinctively.

"I'm just digging myself a hole, aren't I?" Alarink muttered to himself as he got on Malanya. "I suppose I'm simply a little surprised to see you so well off since you come from another world. I know several very proficient female fighters, such as the Princess or my mother, so I certainly don't think women can't handle themselves."

"Oh, who is your mother?"

"Not the time, Zoelda." Alarink smiled sternly as he grabbed the reins of her stallion. "Now, let's teach you how to handle Rogue…"

Slowly, their horses walked along the path through Ordona's and Faron's woods, giving Zoelda plenty of time to get used to Rogue and vise versa. Unlike Malanya, who seemed impatient to start running, Rogue was more cautious, likely due to having a wary stranger on his back. It was odd for Zoelda to see this level of caution in a stallion, especially since she had always heard they were the most excitable of horses, but she appreciated it, it even made her trust Rogue a little more.

Alarink, giving her advice on how to soothe Rogue and how she should be sitting in her saddle and encouraging the horse, occasionally commented on their surroundings, telling her how they had changed over the score of years since she would have last seen them. It was still all so odd for Zoelda to be riding through places that she had once explored with her mother, and more recently with her father. The comments Alarink made reminded her of the comments her mother had made, the fact that she may have once come from this Kingdom becoming more and more likely as Zoelda thought about it.

Eventually, the trees broke into field and the pair walked onto the paved road crossing Hyrule Field. Alarink motioned for Zoelda to rein in Rogue, which she did relatively easily, stroking the horse's mane reassuringly.

"Do you see that bastard over there?"

Squinting, she looked out to where Alarink was pointing in the low sky. Just as she was about to say she didn't see anything, a flicker of wing entered her field of vision and soon she could see the whole Kargarok circling low in the distance. "The big bird thing?"

"That's the one," Alarink sat back smugly in his saddle, folding his arms over his chest as he watched the bird-monster. "That fucker is likely a friend of the one who tried to get you yesterday. I want you to kill it."

"From here?" Zoelda asked incredulously as she took the bow off the straps on her back, fingering the string as she gauged its range. "There's no way I can get it from here!"

"Then gallop a little closer," replied he simply. "I already know your sword skills are impressive, I want to see how well you shoot."

"Okay…" she muttered a little uncomfortably as she readied an arrow. Tapping her feet on Rogue's flanks as Alarink had taught her for changing his gait, she encouraged him to a trot, then a full out gallop as they neared the Kargarok. "Come on, Rogue…"

At the last possible second, the Kargarok saw them and readied itself to dive. With her bow already drawn, Zoelda instinctively lifted herself up in the stirrups and shot. With a twang, the arrow flew true and struck the monster in the middle of its forehead, causing it to convulse and spasm as it fell suddenly to the floor. Breathing slightly heavily, the brunette reined in Rogue and stroked the side of his face as she stared at the monster she killed.

Snorting, Rogue seemed almost as impressed as she did that she'd managed that.

There was a clatter of hooves from behind them on the path as Alarink galloped over to join them, that ever-present grin on his face. He jumped down from his horse as he neared her and got a closer look at the bird monster, taking the arrow from its forehead slowly, causing a trickle of blood to start running down its face. "Impressive. Now, this is normally when I tell the monster who's boss using a series of swears. So, repeat after me: 'take that you motherfu'-"

"Alarink, watch out!" Shouted Zoelda over his raging profanities as a Bokoblin came running over to the two of them, it's sword waving as it shouted angry nonsense.

Looking over his shoulder at the nearing monster, Alarink messily tried to grab his short sword from under his tunic.

"Oh, shit-!" He exclaimed just as the creature jumped at him, it's sword raised high above its head.

It never got the opportunity to strike Alarink as Zoelda shot an arrow at its chest, knocking it back with force. Alarink, having finally removed his sword from its sheath, ran over to it and - rather elegantly, she thought - sliced the Bokoblin's throat. Running a hand through his hair, he turned back to Zoelda and re-sheathed his sword, a messy grin on his face making him seem awfully young. "Very impressive indeed, darling. That bugger never saw that coming. Now, if you please, repeat after me: 'You little motherfuckers think you can'-"

"Alarink, get back on your horse." Zoelda snapped at him, putting her bow on her back. "We've got a royal appointment to keep and no time to be swearing at dead monsters."

"Hmph, when did you get so bossy, dear?" He asked as he got back on Malanya, who looked like she was ready to do a bit of fighting herself.

"When you started calling me 'dear' and 'darling' again?"

"Ah, yes, you asked not be called that, didn't you?" Alarink rubbed his chin as he remembered, moving Malanya to trot alongside Rogue as they crossed a small bridge. "Fair enough, but I suggest we stop under that tree to eat lunch before we continue. We don't want to be going into town on an empty stomach."

"Alright, but is it safe there?"

"I've fallen asleep under there before and nothing killed me, so I'd say so." He turned Malanya off the path towards the tree with Zoelda and Rogue following behind him. Alarink dismounted first with Zoelda struggling a little as he stood going through the saddlebags for food. Quite suddenly, she fell out of her saddle and landed a little roughly on her feet in a crouch with a slight squawk. With a small pile of food in one hand, Alarink looked around Malanya at Zoelda on the floor and gave her a sad smile. "Perhaps I should have taught you how to dismount."

"Perhaps." She half snapped in reply as she got up, dusting herself off and pushing her hair back as she walked over to the shade under the tree. "Speaking of sleeping, where did you end up last night?"

"Aw, didja miss me?" He joked as he brought a loaf of bread, a box of berries and a flask of water over. The horses had been given two apples each, which were already gone as they began to wonder around to graze on the grass.

"Not so much as I missed having someone who knew what they were doing and where they are." Zoelda responded a little snappily again as she helped herself to a hunk of bread that Alarink had cut with a rather blunt dagger.

"You're awfully waspish today, Zoelda, rough night?" There was a look of concern on his face as he finally caught her eye over their food.

"Something like that," muttered she a she thought about that presence in her sleep again. "Sorry I'm snappy…"

"I don't mind. I'd rather you be snappy at me than the Princess." He grinned as he held a cherry to his lips in thought. "Though, knowing her, it'd end up being a snap-off…" He chuckled a little as Zoelda watched in silence. "Ah, well. To answer your earlier question, I ended up with Ursila again in Ordon Village. I much prefer spending my nights warm in the embrace of a lover, even if they don't want to be seen with me in the morning…"

Zoelda decided not to push that line of questioning further.

Truthfully, she had no problem with Alarink's philandering way of life, she just had no desire to hear about it. Some of her friends back home would think her a bit of a prude for the way she viewed others sexual relations, but coming from a father who hadn't even really dated since her mother died, she had never had much exposure to relationships growing up. With a slight shudder, she decided it was best not to think about her friends and family back home.

"Cold?" Alarink asked when he noticed her shudder.

"Ah, no. Just thinking," Zoelda responded, grabbing a berry from the box and looking out at the scene before her. She guessed she was looking towards Kakariko, though she couldn't say for sure since all she saw were monsters, grass and hills. Hyrule Field was a lot less exciting in reality.

"What about?"

"Um, just about how much longer it'll take us to get to the Castle." She lied.

"Hum," hummed Alarink as he thought, spinning another cherry around by its stalk. "At a full gallop, it'll take less than half an hour to get to Town. But navigating Castle Town can take an hour on its own, then there's getting into the Throne room and convincing Zelda… I'd say we'll be done before dinner at the latest."

"Has Castle Town changed much these last two decades?" Zoelda asked, genuinely curious.

"I don't know much of what it was like before, but it's large and convoluted now. Almost everyone lives there, so it's very busy. Not somewhere I like to frequent much, I prefer the quiet countryside myself."

"I agree." Nodded she in response, thinking about her and her father's little cottage in an industrialising town back home. They would sell up and move somewhere even more rural, but they loved her mother too much to move from her home.

"Well, might as well get started again," Alarink said suddenly, getting up and dusting himself off before grabbing the leftover food. "If we don't get to the Castle today, it'll take forever to get another meeting."

"What, does the Princess hate you or something?" Zoelda got up, brushing herself down as she wondered over to where Rogue was now watching a few small birds hop around. He was certainly a one-of-a-kind stallion. As she stroked his mane, Zoelda happened to glance in front of her and gasped. For the first time since arriving in Hyrule, she was taken aback by looking at something seemingly new.

Before her, in the not too far distance, stood Hyrule Castle.

It was resplendent, a clear white with bright blue turrets reaching for the sky. There were stained glass windows visible from even a distance showing the Triforce and other, harder to see scenes from the kingdom's history. The walls around it were just higher than the tree line, and guards could be seen posted at key points.

For someone who had only ever seen fantasy castles in books, games or films, the only actual castle Zoelda could compare this to was the Queen's back home. They were in no way alike, Hyrule's was far more fantastical, mythical and mediaeval in appearance.

It was quite the sight in tangible glory.

"Truly a sight to behold, isn't it?" Behind her, Alarink was mounted on Malanya, a small reminiscing smile on his face. "I remember being taken aback when I first saw it. I can promise you it's even more impressive up close. … The inside is a little hallow though, much like many of the people who live in the town surrounding it. People who surround themselves with inherited riches who have no idea how hard one has to work to earn something like that."

Zoelda looked up at him suddenly, surprised by his sudden change in tone. "I could have ended up like that… Living off father's name and inheritance. Living off of mother's-Living a shallow life of no hardships…"

"Link?" She said his name tentatively, like reaching out a comforting hand, as she mounted Rogue again.

"Disgusting, the lot of them." He announced suddenly, a quick angry scowl on his face. It was gone by the time Zoelda had registered it, replaced by that smile of his once again. "Anyway, shall we be off? Can't keep royalty waiting!"

Quickly, he forced Malanya into a gallop, leaving Zoelda to look momentarily shocked before spurring Rogue on to follow.

AN:

So, this was originally two separate chapters before I realised that it would make more sense to make them one since they were both very short. I believe this was mid Julyish written, honestly might have been into August, I know it took me far longer to write than necessary - this was back when I wouldn't write more than 2000 words a day and this chapter is just shy of 4000 in and of itself anyway.

Looking back on it, it's clumsy and awkward, not entirely sure what it's meant to be doing but providing information that the story needs so it can't really be cut. I swear that the rest of the chapters pick up in quality and have a more set purpose than this one, so please bear with me.

In the next chapter, about the same length as this one, we meet 'Link' and the Princess. But more importantly, we see Alarink's character change and hear his most popular nickname. Trust me when I say the next chapter is better: it was more fun to write, it's got new characters and even some important character development.

So let's just call this chapter a filler, an example of how not to write a chapter. Don't flesh things out for the hell of it, it clearly doesn't work and it just ends up a convoluted mess that isn't easy to fix and unfortunately contains necessary information.

Anyway, back to the weekly Saturday updates that *shouldn't* change, but there may be other times when I update on a Friday for whatever reason or on a Sunday if really necessary, but they shouldn't happen any time soon.

So, once again, please follow, rate, review, whatever; just please let me know what you think. We're still on ten people per chapter, so hey, you ten people, thanks! I hope you stick with me into the next chapter, and you know, it would be nice if you could tell me what you think... Review box is right there, you can use it even as a guest... Or, you know, Twitter... WritesWithQuill guys, check me out if you want, I post a lot of crap...

Anyway, have a good weekend.

~WWQ