As Viento slowed down at the base of the hill that Lon Lon ranch sat upon, Nabooru noticed a wooden notice nailed onto a sign saying the ranch was closed.
"Did Link find out already?" Nabooru whispered to herself before spurring on her horse. He neighed and trotted up the hill. She could see the rosy rays of the sun coming from over the wooden walls of the ranch; she scowled as she realized she spent most of the night galloping to this destination. She only had three sunsets to find Link before the ceremonies began.
"Hello? Anyone here?" She called out as they walked into the ranch. The ranch appeared to be deserted, there were no horses galloping about or farmers working. She slid from her horse and tried the door to the farmhouse. She could hear angry clucking from inside, but it didn't interest her as much as the fact that the door was locked. Confused, she turned around and walked to the barn, pushing open the door with her foot and slowly pulling out her sword. Then, she noticed a red-haired girl mucking out a stall, her back to Nabooru.
"Excuse me?" Nabooru called friendly. The girl stiffened and turned her head to look at Nabooru. Nabooru suddenly had a thought, didn't someone mention this place to me before…
"The ranch is closed. You need to leave," The girl said stiffly.
"I saw the sign. I'm looking for a friend, have you seen…" She started to ask, taking a step forward. The girl lunged at her, her muck-covered pitchfork swinging to hit her.
"Hey!" She yelped as she ducked under the wide swing and tackled the girl. The girl screamed angrily and clawed at Nabooru's face. That was when Nabooru remembered what she thought about earlier. Ten years ago, one of her elder sisters came here and was attacked by the wife and seven-year-old daughter.
"You will not take my father! Never, you bitch!" The girl screamed.
"Shut up! I'm not here for you father!" Nabooru yelled back.
"You won't take anyone!" She yelled. Nabooru rolled her eyes and smacked the girl. This quieted her a little, enough that Nabooru's ears would stop ringing.
"I'm not here for you father. I am looking for Link, where is he?" She hissed.
"Who's Link?" The girl replied haughtily.
"Link, he is known to usually be here. Where is he?" Nabooru said.
"Never heard of him, now leave!" The girl growled.
"Oh, so you are saying Link's long-time friend is a liar? I know he spends his time here, so tell me where he is!" She yelled.
"What, so you can force yourself on him like that Zora Princess?" She yelled back.
"See, you know Link, since you gave away Ruto," Nabooru replied sweetly.
"Damn it," The girl swore.
"Now, I'll make you a deal. You tell me where Link is, and I won't let my sisters carry off your father," Nabooru said. In truth, she couldn't do such a thing. if one of her sisters did have the father for her prey, she couldn't do anything about it.
"Link's hiding at Princess Zelda's castle," She replied. Nabooru smiled and let the girl up, but she knew it was a lie. Who would go to a princess for protection?
"Wait here for a just a second, please?" Nabooru asked, then walked out of the barn. She pulled out her Spirit Medallion.
"Saria?" she asked.
"Nabooru?" The reply came almost too quickly.
"Hey, Saria. Are Link and Zelda close?" She asked.
"They are friends, yes, but not altogether close. Zelda is a princess, you know," Saria's reply came almost angrily.
"Well, I just heard from someone that Link is over at the palace. Is that true?" Nabooru asked.
"No! He is not at the palace! He would never hide in a well-known place. That's why he is over…" Saria retorted. Nabooru grinned; Link was over in Kokiri Forest, by the sound of Saria's indignation.
"Just checking. Bye, Saria!" She said.
"Nabooru! Wait…" Saria's voice called frantically as she broke the connection. She walked over to Viento and pulled something from the saddle
"Girl? What's your name?" She called as she walked back in. The girl had returned to mucking the stalls.
"Malon. Didn't I ask you to go away?" She growled.
"You did, and I will leave. I just have one thing to say," Nabooru replied cheerfully.
"And what is that?" She growled as she turned around.
"You lied to me, Malon," Nabooru hissed sweetly. A look of confusion came to Malon's face and Nabooru took the chance to jump the girl. Soon, the farm-girl was tied up on the floor.
"Now, I know Link is over at Kokiri Forest. So, you get to come along and convince Link to come out of hiding!" She replied cheerfully as she started dragging Malon out of the barn.
"Link will never…" She started to yell. Nabooru sighed and punched the girl as hard as she could. The girl groaned before falling unconscious.
"Girls are so noisy," She sighed as she threw the farm-girl onto Viento's before jumping on. Viento neighed in annoyance before he began trotting to the exit.
"By the Goddesses! My daughter is being carried away by Gerudos!" A horrified scream came from the house. Nabooru laughed as she spurred Viento and they galloped out of the ranch.
"Link! I'm sorry! I am so sorry!" Saria screamed as she ran into the temple. Link looked confusedly at her as she ran to him.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he put the sword he had been cleaning to his side.
"Nabboru…just asked if you were at the palace…and I think…she figured out…you were here…I'm so sorry!" She wailed.
"Saria…" He started to say.
"Its all my fault! Now she knows…" Saria continued to wail.
"Its okay!" Link yelled. Saria hiccupped and stared at him.
"What do you mean? You said not to tell her…" Saria whispered. Link smiled and hugged the crying Kokiri.
"I didn't want my general location discovered. However, she still has to find a way through the Lost Woods and if you make sure no one will lead her through, she will be lost long enough for the festival to end," Link replied soothingly. Saria nodded and Link pulled away. She sat down beside him, looking at the weapons he had collected on his travels before suddenly thinking of something.
"What festival?"