Chapter 4:

As night soon turned from dusk to dawn, I watched her sleeping soundly, still wide awake by her side. I began to wonder in my head why I was so attentive to her like this. Of course it was because she was my Princess, and as Hero of Hyrule it was my duty in such things to protect the ruler of our Kingdom. Of course it was that... and nothing else.

I walked out for the room we were staying it towards the bar, seeing Telma greet me.

"How did you sleep hunny?" She asked as she was cooking breakfast.

I shrugged. "Haven't slept a wink."

She looked at my worriedly. "And your friend?"

"She is sound asleep. I'm sure she will be waking any time now." I reassured her.

She smiled at me. "That's good to hear," she stopped for a moment as she flipped the bacon on the frying pan. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving." I replied as I sat down on one of the bar stools that sat just across from her.

For the rest of the conversation, we talked about the scarce of last night.

"I just can't believe it..." She sat down with two plates full of eggs, bacon, and toast. "It seems like yesterday we were preventing this very thing from happening. How could all this happen so fast?"

I shook my head. "I honestly have no clue. And if I did, I wish I knew how to stop it from doing any more harm than it already has."

"Well, it's a good thing the town was evacuated. At least if they attack again, everyone will be safe and sound in Kariko Village."

I nodded.

"And where's the princess?" She asked me.

"She's sleeping, in the room right upstairs." I smiled seeing the shock grow upon Telma's face.

"Oh!" She stood up in surprise. "If I had only known!" She said rushing back towards the Kitchen. "You should wake her now before this breakfast gets cold!" She told me as she got another plate from the cabinet.

I nodded, and walked towards the upstairs.

"Take this with you," she told me as she handed the plate full of food to me. "I doubt she wants to make an appearance here like she is now with all these people. I will go fetch some clothes for her. Seeing as she was last night, I doubt she'd want to walk around in that shredded dress."

I smiled. "Thanks for your help Telma."

She gestured a smile at me as I walked up the stairs.

I opened the door to find Zelda still sleeping. I watched her for a moment before waking her.

I shook her shoulder lightly. "Princess...?"

She shifted for a moment, opening her eyes. I could still see the little cut the Bulblin had left on her cheek. Bringing back the anger that I had still felt.

I smiled at her. "Your Majesty..."

She blinked for a moment, trying to get up. Only failing in doing so. She laid back down with her hand on her head. "What... What happened..."

"You don't remember?" I questioned her. "You were being held captive by the Bulblin. If it weren't for me, you'd probably be there breakfast right about now."

She started to say something, but then closed her eyes and looked at the plate of food I was holding. "I need that..." She said as she took from me.

I chuckled. "So you were just attacked last night, being held for ransom. And the only thing you want right now is food?"

She glared at me. "You can always shut your mouth while I try to gather my thoughts." She looked at the plate, and slowly started eating, thus spitting it out after.

"What is this?" She asked me, shocked.

"It's... breakfast..." I answered confused.

"I do not eat such things for breakfast." She pushed the good aside. "Where is the fruit?"

I laughed. "In case you haven't noticed, you aren't in your castle anymore. And if you don't want to go the whole morning without a bite to eat, I suggest you take great thanks in the food Telma made you."

She raised an eyebrow at me. "What happened to my castle?"

"Nothing, it just wasn't safe for you to be there last night when all of that madness happened."

She looked down, still gathering her thoughts. "I'm not even sure what's going on... at one point I was standing on the balcony, watching the moons meet. The next, an explosion happened and I was grabbed into my bed quarters..."

I listened as she spoke. It seems she had no idea what was going on either. Only to leave me in the dark once more.

I heard a knock coming from the door, it was Telma.

"Come in." I gestured her.

Telma walked in with some clothes in her hands. She curtsied in Zelda's presence. The princess nodded politely.

"I wore these when I was your age, Princess." She spoke, handing the clothes to Zelda. "I'm sure they aren't as wonderful looking as your normal attire, but they will do until you can go back to the castle and put on something that's more of your taste."

Zelda nodded. "Thank you for your kindness."

Telma smiled, walking out the door. Zelda gave me a look, which gestured me to leave the room so she could change. I nodded and walked out.

I waited patiently, and the door finally opened.

Zelda walked out, and it was hard for me not to stare. She wore a white long sleeved shirt, that v cut-ted around her neck, and beige pants with a black belt that supported it. She looked at her feet, that were clothed with sandals, thus exposing her toes for the first time.

"I cannot walk out in this!" She exclaimed. "I am dressed so improper for a princess!"

"Well... can you always walk around naked. Would you prefer that?" I said sarcastically, Which only gave me another glare.

"I'm serious, Link!" She said. "I can't be seen in this... this nonsense!"

I rolled my eyes. "You'll be fine. We'll take the back door out of here so you can't been seen looking like a commoner."

We both made our way downstairs and found Telma waiting for us.

"I hope the clothes will do for now," Telma told her.

Zelda nodded, smiling. "Thank you so much for your hospitality, but I must get back to my castle and speak with my Guards. It seems that we have a new threat that arrived last night."

The woman nodded, looking at me. "I hope to see you back soon," she told me. "Come by and have a drink honey, it'll be on the house!"

I smiled at her. "Thanks for everything Telma, I'll see you soon."

We made our way out the back door, me having to make sure The whining Princess wasn't seen. I muttered to myself how stupid it was that she was so worried about how she looked. But than I would chuckle, seeing her cowering in fear as we would pass a few commoners on the back streets.

"This is horrible. I'm a the princess... and I am cowering in fear over... this attire!"

I laughed. "You shouldn't care so much. I doubt people can recognize you in that get up anyway."

After very few attempts of keeping her identity hidden, we finally made it inside the castle.

"Follow me," she ordered in an annoyed voice.

We made our way towards the Guard's residing in the northern part of the castle. It seemed as though they were the only one's patrolling. The others must have been with the folks that had been evacuated out of the town.

"Princess." Both the guards spoke, bowing their heads.

"You may rise." Zelda ordered. "Where are the other Guards?"

"They are residing with the town's folk in Kariko Village." One of them said.. "We thought best to think of the people, so me and Terrance stayed here to wait for your return, your majesty."

Zelda nodded. "There haven't been any more intrusions?"

The guard shook his head. "No, but the guards residing in Kariko Village sent word of Bulblin surrounding the Northern and Southern exists from the town. We assume it's so you do not leave."

Strange... I said to myself.

Zelda looked even more confused than I was. "I do not understand. What are they planning?"

"That is unknown at the time." The guard said. "But we do know it isn't safe for you here at the time being," The guard looked my way, bowing slightly. "Great Hero, we must ask that you protect our Princess until we know more of why the Bulblin were so egar to attack last night."

"I may know a little information." I said. The Guards looked at me with curiosity.

"You see," I began. "When I came to the Princess' resque, the Bulbin holding her captive spoke of the Two Moon's making them stronger, and someone- I don't know who has given them orders to make sure I, nor Zelda get in the way of what they are planning. Or the consequences will not be good."

The guard nodded his head, turned to the other guard, spoke silently and then turned to face us again.

"We strongly suggest Princess that you must go with the Hero so you will be protected."

Zelda looked puzzled. "And what do you mean by this?"

"It seems as though whatever the Bulblin are planning, your life is once again in much danger. That being said; it is my deepest wish that you journey back with the Hero to his Village, protecting you from whatever they are scheming."

"And leave my castle?" Zelda asked. "I do not think so! Do not forget who gives orders around here!"

The Guard nodded to her, bowing once again. "I am sorry, my Princess. It is only a suggestion. It seems as though no one is safe her in Castle Town. The ones who have chosen to stay are deciding their own fate."

Zelda stood silently for a moment, and then let out a big sigh. "I will do what need to be done for my people, and my people only." She looked at the Guard. "But I do not understand how Journeying back to Ordon with Link will help me."

"That is simple." The Guard explained. "To keep you from harm you must blend in. And with the look of your new attire, it shouldn't be hard in doing so."

"You mean, I have to keep dressing like this?"

The Guard nodded. "It is the only way you remain invisible to the Bulblin, my Princess."

Zelda sighed once again. It seemed as though she was not happy to be leaving her castle so soon, nor her elegant gowns just waiting for her right up the stairs. "I understand..." She spoke softly, and walked away.

Just when I was about to follow her, the guards pulled me aside.

"Hero..." The Guard began. "We give our Princess' safety to you now. It was the King's deepest wish before his passing that if anything should happen, the Great Hero would protect her at all costs."

"And that I will do." I told them. "You can believe me, the Princess will be safe in my care."

The Guards nodded. I began walking towards the exit where Zelda was standing. Anxiously awaiting me.

I stood for a moment, trying to contemplate what was going on at this very moment.

"Can we leave now?" Zelda asked annoyingly. "If I am going to leave my castle behind, I would like to do it as soon as possible!"

I nodded. "Let's go."

Luckily, Epona had been just where I left her when Ilia and I entered the town. I took hold of her reins, and gave a hand to Zelda pulling her up on Epona beside me.

I looked at the sky. It was nearly Twilight.

"It seems as though we may not have much time to get back to Ordon to night." I sighed heavily. "We will have to make camp at Lake Hylia.

Zelda sighed. "Great... camping..."

I looked at her with a smirk. "You mean to tell me you hate camping?"

"I have never been... and don't wish to." She replied.

I smiled, turning my head towards the Western door that would take us to the Lake. "Well, I suppose now is a good start."

We made it to Lake Hylia just in time before dark fell upon us. I jumped off Epona, and handed my hand to Zelda, she took is softly. Her hands were so soft, like she had never worked a day in her life. My hands were so rough and callused, and I could tell she noticed.

"This is Lake Hylia?" She asked me, admiring the scenery.

I looked at her, puzzled. "Yes... you mean to tell me you've never been here before?"

Zelda shook her head. "I have never been outside the Castle Town, and if I needed to be, my guards and messenger would do it for me."

"Wow, you need an adventure." I smiled at her.

"I rather not..." Zelda murmured.

We walked towards the water. I lead Epona to it so she could drink. I then began taking the bed mats out from under her for a place to sleep.

"I can't believe I have to sleep on the ground!" Zelda shook her head. "I am royalty!"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sorry, maybe I can kick the Prince of Zoras out of his room and let you have it."

She widened her eyes. "You can do that?"

I rolled my eyes once again. "You stay here with Epona. I'm going to go fetch some firewood."

I left her there, hoping I could find some a few feet away so I could see her in my distance. Luckily, There was a small tree sitting ten feet away. I began breaking twigs. I looked up to see how Zelda and Epona were doing. I could see she wanted to sit down, but she refused to. I chuckled to myself. She's in for a rude awakening.

After getting the fire going, and mats place across from it. I sat down, holding my hands out for warmth. Zelda sat down on the other mat, then laying on it and turning her back towards me.

"What's wrong Princess?" I asked her.

"Just leave me alone." She replied.

I did as she wished. I couldn't imagine what she was going through. Well, I could. But having no family nor friends besides me and her Guards didn't seem to comfort her at all to night. She had been through a lot today, and I could only hope she'd feel better in the morning. I wasn't exactly looking forward to the whining again.