Chapter 3 - New Hope and New Life

Link walked into the overly crowded Castle Town with a heavy heart and an open mind. Many people were out and about, running off to wherever they needed to go. He was far from his quiet, peaceful home in Ordon, that much was for sure.

He lamented in the fact that he would not fit in here. As of this moment, Link was dwelling among the very people who had ostracized him. They were the ones who had pushed him away. They discarded him with their garbage. In part, it was these people that even caused him to travel here to Castle Town.

But most of these men, women and children did not know him by face, and none of them knew what the hero wore instead of the hero's tunic in everyday life. Link had been undercover for much of his adventures. And even when he showed himself, he did a good job of not attracting attention to himself. As such, it was a pretty safe bet that nobody in the Castle Town today knew that the hero was mingling among them.

And that was why Link entered the hustle and bustle of city life with an open mind. Perhaps now he could blend in with society and lead a normal life, the life that was taken from him, the life that every man deserves.

And as Link walked through the crowds in the streets of the city, he felt, for perhaps the first time since the war started, at peace. Still, everybody was going about their daily business and had no time to talk to him, but Link was content because he was once again with other people. It was a start.

Still, the fact of the matter remained that it was getting dark out. He would either have to find lodging soon or be prepared to sleep out in the streets.

In East Castle Town, Link found a big building that offered over-the-night lodging. Upon opening the creaking wooden door, he found that it was quite packed. The whole ground level held tables full of people either eating or waiting to be served. Link walked over to the counter where he found a grizzly, elderly man wiping clean the inside of beer glasses.

The man peered at him through his long grey bangs that had to obscure his vision. "Can I help you?" He grunted.

"Any rooms left?" Link asked doubtfully.

"Sure do. Got one left."

"How much?"

"Well, it being so late, I'm going to have to charge you extra. It'll be fifty rupees, food costs extra."

"That's alright." Link said, simply relieved at the fact that they had a room. It would be nice to sleep on a bed after his experience with the tent last night. He pulled out one of the many purple rupees that he had in his pockets and put it on the counter.

The man picked up the purple rupee and placed it under the counter somewhere. In doing so, he also picked up a ring of two keys and put them on the counter.

"One for your room, the other to get into this building, if for some reason you are caught outside when we close. Your room is the only room on the fourth floor." The man said as Link picked up the keys. "Keys are due back by noon tomorrow, unless you decide to buy another night."

Link nodded his thanks before hurrying up to his room. It wasn't hard to find. Once he navigated through the crowded room to the staircase, all he had to do was follow the stairs up to the fourth floor, which was the uppermost floor, and down the short hallway to the only door. He slipped in the first key and indeed it was his room key.

He opened up the door and placed the bag full of supplies he had been carrying on floor next to the bed. The room itself certainly would not win any awards, but it was big and fairly clean. There was a small desk, a bed and a nightstand, but otherwise it was bare. On the far wall was a small alcove which led to a balcony overlooking the streets of East Castle Town. Not only that, but the balcony also provided a great view of the grand Hyrule Castle.

He was hungry by now, having eaten nothing besides a few apples all day, but he had no intention of eating from this building's reservoir. Beside the fact that the bar's food downstairs did not seem too appetizing, he felt it was time to pay a visit to a friend.

He went back down the stairs and into the streets once again. They were significantly less populated in the dark than during the high time of day, but there certainly was a nightlife for those who wanted it. In Castle Town's main plaza, a band was playing his favorite tune under the torchlight.

Link smiled and dropped a yellow rupee into the hat they hat set out for tips.

"Thank you, kind sir." The lead guitar player said as Link did so.

Link just smiled and continued on his way. It had been quite a while since he was last in Castle Town. Some of the little things, like the music, he had forgotten, but it was a pleasant surprise to be reintroduced to them.

He continued into the south part of town where things were quite a bit quieter than in the plaza. He passed into the small, dimly lit alleyway and down the familiar path to Telma's bar. It was obviously still open, bright lights flashed from the other side of the door. Quietly he opened the door.

"Link, sweetie!" Telma exclaimed as Link walked in. "How are you doing? Come, have a seat!" She said happily, indicating a spot at the bar right of her.

The bar was a pleasant sight for Link's eyes. The place was as friendly as ever, but Link could not help but notice the vacant seats at the table at the back of the bar with the map of Hyrule on it.

Link took the spot Telma had pointed out and said, "Hey, Telma! Long time no see."

"You got that right!" Telma said, handing him a small cup of her 'specialty.' It was something of chicken noodle soup, but it had a whole bunch of extra spices and to Link, it was the most delicious thing in the entire world. "It's been almost a month since you last visited. Something happen? Everything alright?" She asked, looking concerned. When she had looked at his face, she saw a worn and tested soul.

"Yeah, sorry, Telma." Link said, sipping a spoonful of the soup. "I've had a lot going on."

"Care to talk about it?"

They always said that talking about it eased the pain. That it helped comfort and renew the body and soul. Even if the person you told didn't console, just getting it off your chest can be the best way toward getting through it. But Link never got a chance to talk about it.

Well, he had Epona. While she was probably the smartest horse Link had ever seen, he needed to tell someone that could help him through this.

"Well, this whole..." Link paused as he tried to find the right word. "ordeal I've gotten myself caught up in...it is really starting to take a toll on me."

"I can only imagine." Telma said in response.

"I'd definitely take fight Ganondorf again over this." Link said with a sigh. "At least he is quick to the point. This just keeps dragging out..."

"I know what you mean." Telma said with a condescending smile. "So things are still just as bad at Ordon then?"

"Telma…" Link sighed. "I left Ordon."

"What?" Telma asked, shocked but did not seem disapproving. "Why?"

"I couldn't stand it anymore." Link said, his eyes fixed on his soup. "I felt like I was trapped in a cage there."

"So things aren't better there yet, are they?" Telma asked, though she already knew the answer.

"No."

"Don't give up, honey. They'll come around."

"But that is not even the worst part." Link said, twirling his spoon in his soup. "I tried to see Ilia the day I left, but Bo's got her locked up. I haven't spoken to her in months."

"Sounds like a man who doesn't know the real you."

"Yeah," Link said with a grunt. "Him and the rest of Hyrule..."

"Well," Telma replied. "you could go show them the real you again."

"I only wish I knew a way that I could do that." Link said with a frown. "All that I can do now is wait for this whole thing to pan out."

"It will Link, perhaps earlier than you think."

Link pushed his now-empty bowl across the bar, back over to her. "Thanks, Telma."

"You're welcome, sweetie." Telma replied, smiling and taking the bowl away. She continued. "You know, Castle Town has had its share of hardship recently."

"Really?" Link asked, curiously. Being shunned by society, he was a little behind on current events. "What happened?"

"Well, nothing really happened. It got sorted out, but a couple of weeks ago, Princess Zelda tried to dethrone herself as Princess. Guards caught her trying to run away."

"What?" Link asked. Now this really astonished him, that didn't sound like Zelda at all. "Why would she try to do that?"

"Nobody really knows. Some think that they stress has gotten to her. Others just think that she is going mad. I don't know, your guess is as good as mine, but I'm fairly sure it's not stress and I know she's not insane." She paused. "Maybe it's something more personal."

"Wow. I wonder what's going on?" Link asked rhetorically.

"The monarchy has been a little on edge since then. I've heard that they have more guards watching over her so that she wouldn't be able to try and escape again."

"How did everyone receive this?" Link asked curiously.

"Well, obviously, the people began to think of the monarchy as incompetent. There were even rumors about a planned rebellion a few days after Zelda had been caught trying to run away. All of that has seemed to have stabilized since, though."

"Well, that's good." Link said, distractedly. "Thanks again, Telma. It's getting late, I should get going."

"Sure thing, sweetie!" Telma said happily. "And remember," she added suggestively. "There is still a secret entrance to the castle right here in my place…you know, if you want to, well, check things out…"

Link waved good-bye and walked out the door and back into the streets. He walked through the deserted walkways back to the lodge and used his key to open up the door. The entry room was now empty; everyone had, by now, finished their food and were getting ready for bed.

He walked up three flights of stairs and back into his room. He took off his boots and placed them at the foot of his bed. He was tired enough to go to sleep now but he didn't. Instead, he got up and walked out onto the balcony. From the small balcony, Link had a perfect view of the city. And under the bright moonlight, Link was able to see much of the grand city. And with all the stars out tonight, it was a great place to think.

Though he did not tell Telma, Link did have his own theory for why Zelda tried to get away. It indeed was very personal. He knew that she pushed him away for a reason.

It must be extremely painful to shun a friend. That was why Link thought she tried to do that disloyal act. She had to push Link away. It was what society wanted and if she went against the flow of society, she too would be shunned.

So, Link assumed, she tried to get away, so she could live without the guilt of hurting a friend again. Well, at least that is what he hoped. It was comforting to think that she stills cares, even if that isn't completely proven yet.

Well, that's just what Link thought. But before Link opened the door back into his room so he could get some shut-eye, he could've sworn he saw a glint of an eye coming from a high-up balcony on Hyrule castle.

Link always was an early riser. The next morning, Link woke up and was ready for the day ahead well before the sun had risen. The way Link saw it; it would be a waste of daylight to sleep in until the sun was directly above his head. The day before had been an exception. He was exhausted and needed time to escape reality.

But he is ready now. He was prepared to face the trials of a normal day head on.

He wasn't sure yet if he was going to stay another night. To be safe, he paid the man with another purple rupee in order to stay in possession of the keys. Link then promptly walked out the lodge and back into the streets. Light was just beginning to creep around the horizon and the streets were fairly quiet. All of the stores still held a wooden sign that read 'closed' in their windows and many of the candle lights that were placed through the city at constant intervals still held lustrous flames of beauty and artificial light.

He still had no idea what this new day had in store for him, nor did he have any plan whatsoever. In the short term, he decided to go check on Epona, and feed her if need be.

He found Epona right where he had left her, outside the gates of South Castle Town. Still tied up, Epona seemed happy and content to sleep in the hay. She was perceptive though. She heard Link approaching and she quickly jumped up and neighed happily, getting as close to him as her rope would allow her.

Link walked up to her and scratched her behind the ears and Epona neighed gratefully. Link gave her an apple he had picked up back at the lodging this morning. She gulped it down with her usual vigor and Link noticed that she had plenty of hay to eat for days to come, if they were going to stay that long.

Link patted her on the head as she laid back down, and then walked back over the thin drawbridge to the city.

Once back into the city, Link found himself in the middle of a small crowd that had emerged in the short time he was gone. The sun was coming up and many people, mainly workers going to their jobs, were in the streets.

These people were almost as oblivious as before, though he did notice a few cringe as he walked by. He wasn't sure if that was because they had recognized him or if they could just tell by the air that surrounded him that he was a man of power and strength.

Link glanced up at the giant castle that stood before him, in all its majesty, and Link silently wished that he could see Zelda…just one more time.

It was then that Link remembered what Telma had said last night. He was too exhausted to really take in what she had said fully, but now he knew that there was a way to see Zelda again! And the entrance was in the house of perhaps the only person in town who would allow him to enter such a place!

That night, he would give it a go.

Around dusk that day, Link prepared to leave. He had spent much of his day waiting in anticipation in his room. It made him really antsy, knowing that he could get to see Zelda again. He was so close, but he knew it would be very dangerous to sneak into the castle at midday. There were probably more guards in the daytime than at night, and anybody might see him sneaking around on top of the roof. It would be safer to go at night, but that didn't calm Link much.

Locking the door behind him, Link walked out his room and down the stairs to ground level. He walked out the door into the decreasingly populated streets. Pretty soon, he found himself inside Telma's bar.

"Hey there, honey!" Telma exclaimed when he walked in. "Come to take my offer?"

Link smiled shakily and nodded. Telma continued. "The ladder's behind the curtain."

Saying his thanks, Link went behind the curtain that separated the main part of the room from the part where Telma's group used to hang out. He grabbed the ladder he found behind it and propped it up against the ledge where he knew the secret entrance was.

He climbed up the ledge and entered the entrance that led him to Jangle's house. After he had regained movement and lost that goldish glow, Jangle had packed up his bags and left town, leaving no trace of his being behind. The house been deserted since then, all the better for Link. Being a fugitive, it wouldn't be beneficial for him to be charged and jailed because of trespassing.

Though the mounds of gold and other valuables were gone, the treasure chest that was lodged in the ground was still there; the lone accessory in the otherwise bare house. Link opened it up and jumped down the hole that it concealed.

Link weaved his way through the familiar sewer setting and past the various riddles that were concealed within. He soon realized how much easier this sewer was to navigate as a wolf than as a man. It took the better part of a half hour to dig through the dirt and twice he fell off the ropes helping him up the broken staircase.

Eventually, though, he was back outside and on top of the roof. It was pretty dark out now, with the majority of the light coming from lit windows in the castle. Link made his way quickly across the rooftops. Given the lack of light, he didn't have to worry about any bystander spotting him on the rooftops of a castle. The periodic, spontaneous gusts of wind helped him get across the broken, fluttering bridges, and before he knew it, he was at the small window that was in the hallway that led to Zelda's room.

Link looked down at the hallway and saw what looked to be a butler leaving her room. It seemed that he came at the right time. Link jumped down into the hallway when he was sure that the man had left. With superior agility, Link landed without an audible thud and walked up the slightly sloping staircase to the door that Zelda was behind.

Taking a deep breath, Link knocked twice on the door. From inside, she called, "Come in."

Link walked into the room to find that Zelda was standing a few steps in front of him, with her back to him.

"Thank you for the towels, Benson-" Zelda said, thinking it was her butler again. But when she turned around, she found out that she was very wrong.

"Link!" She exclaimed. "Sh! Sh! Not now!" She looked around with anxiety. "Hurry! Get under the bed!" She read the look Link gave her. "Hurry! I'll explain later!"

Perplexed, Link wedged his way underneath her bed, which was not hard at all given its size. A few minutes later, Link's confusion was answered when someone knocked on the door, obviously something Zelda was expecting.

"Here is your towel, your Majesty." The man said. As it turns out, it was the butler that Link had seen earlier.

"Thank you, Benson." She said lightly. It was very hard to detect, but Link could still hear a small haste in her voice.

"Would you like assistance with your bath, your Majesty?"

"No thank you, Benson. If you could leave me at peace for the rest of the night, I think I'll be fine."

The man bowed and left the room. Link took that as a cue to emerge from under the bed. Link was immediately engulfed in a hug that he had been hoping for since the end of the war.

"Link!" Zelda exclaimed. "You don't know how much I have missed you."

Link patted her on the back and silently thanked the goddesses for this joyful reunion. After a while, Zelda pulled away and Link was finally able to get a good look at her.

Zelda had not changed seemingly at all. Her smiling face was just as beautiful as Link had remembered it. She still wore the same elegant dress that Link had come to expect of her. And never before had Link so happy.

She looked exasperated. "Link, I am so very sorry! I never meant to do anything to harm you! I've been hoping for a while that you would come to see me, that you would forgive me..."

"Sh, Princess." He knew exactly what she was talking about. "I forgave you for that long ago."

"But I just sat by idly while you were thrown away!" She seemed to be on the verge of crying. "I should have done something…"

"Zelda, there was nothing that you could have done. You were doing what you could for your kingdom."

She smiled. "I don't deserve a friend like you."

Link smiled. "But Zelda, what happened? I heard you tried to run away from your kingdom?"

Zelda looked down at the ground, ashamed. "I couldn't take it anymore. I was hurting you and I knew it. I had to do something."

"I figured that was it. Zelda, I want you to promise me something though. Don't put me in front of Hyrule. I will be fine, don't worry about me. But it is Hyrule you should worry about. In this period of disarray, Hyrule needs a strong leader. They need you, Zelda."

"I know, but..."

Zelda didn't seem swayed. "But you still want to get away?" Link asked.

"Link…There's more."

"What is it?"

"Link…" Zelda started, with apprehension. She continued to avoid contact with his eyes and instead, focused on her feet.

"What's wrong, Zelda?

"Link, I'm pregnant."