Disclaimer:

I do not own Ocarina of Time nor any part of the Zelda franchise.

All rights go to their respective owners.

This story is a work of fiction and corresponds to the story line, but does not follow it exactly.

This chapter is rated: K

A/N:

I'm sorry this chapter is a little shorter than the other two. There just isn't much to say about Link's rendezvous at Hyrule Castle, and many of the mini games found in Ocarina of Time are only open at night. They'll probably get an honourable mention later on.

I'm also sorry the last chapter was so condensed. I'm new and still leaning the ropes. I'll try and fix that.

Thanks for bearing with me (^u^) you guys are great!

Chapter 3: Princess of Hyrule

Link managed to slip past the drawbridge of Hyrule Castle before sundown and avoided another run-in with those Stalchildren (he knew better than to stay in Hyrule Field now!). The perimeter of the castle was everything he expected with tall, gleaming ivory walls, polished stones, and a large, golden triforce mounted above the drawbridge. A soldier greeted Link as he entered past the walls. "Welcome to Hyrule Castle, a small, prosperous town."
Link knit his thick brows together at that, a little confused, and entered a building to his left hoping someone inside would explain. Inside was a single guard and a room full of clay pots. Link approached the guard and he invited him to let off some steam by smashing the pots. Link left the little guard house wondering how these soldiers were hired. He traveled north and came across what must have functioned as the "town" portion of the castle. Hylians roamed the streets while others sold their wares from stands. There were several tall buildings and music filled the air as people danced and laughed merrily. Link cracked a small smile; this was a wonderful place.

He pulled on the skirts and pants of several people, but most ignored or scolded him. Finally, a soldier came up to him with a kind smile on his face. He knelt down so he was on Link's level.
"What do you need little boy, are you lost?"
Link chewed on the inside of his lip while looking at the man; Navi flew out from under his hat and spoke for him.
"The Great Deku Tree of the Kokiri Forest beesched us grave news to tell the princess." The fairy chimed almost testily. "Take us to Hyrule Castle so we may meet her." The soldier laughed and Link swore he saw Navi turn dark maroon from anger. "What a queer little companion you have, boy! I'm afraid no common folk have audiences with our fair princess, though, so run along and play." He shooed Link away and Navi fluttered back and forth in obvious annoyance.
"Link, if we can't see her formally then we'll just have to break in!"
Link stared at the fairy as if she'd gone mad.

Link and Navi explored the little open pavilion further before heading down the trail towards the castle. He went inside several shops and even played an archery game with his slingshot for a bigger bag to hold his deku seeds before Navi nearly nagged his ear off about heading towards the caste. Link checked to make sure no soldiers were watching him, then traversed the dirt trail that led towards the castle. He saw big iron gates in the distance and a soldier on guard, so Navi all but demanded he find a way using the tall bluffs on either side of the trail. Link searched around until he found some vines to crawl up, then carefully shimmied his way to the top of the bluff and saw an incredible sight.

The castle was huge and had a drawbridge all its own. It looked polished and practically gleamed in the sunlight. It was beautiful, pristine, and everything Link expected of the Hylian royal family. He tiptoed his way along the top of the bluff (ducking down flat on his stomach every time the guard glanced his direction) and inched his way past the stone guard tower. He stepped on a pile of loose dirt and came tumbling down the bluff into the dirt road below, but thankfully he raised no suspicion. "These guards are peabrains. Get going, Link, the castle is up ahead." Link glared at his companion while he brushed dirt off his tunic and trudged ahead with a slight limp. To his dismay, guards were posted everywhere. He had heard that somebody had tried to break into the castle and the guards were ramping up security, but this was ridiculous! Link hurried his step and finally came to the moat of the castle, where Navi nudged him towards the rushing water. "Hurry before a guard spots us!" She hissed. Link heard heavy footsteps and metallic clank behind him, so he dove in and let the current carry him to a spot where dirt had accumulated. He drug himself out, wet and irritated, and made his way around the side of the castle. He moved boxes to reveal a crawlspace where water was fed into the moat and went through it.

Link came out in a shallow little pool in what appeared to be a garden. He heard the muffled voices of soldiers ahead and bit his tongue so he wouldn't howl in frustration. After more ducking around and dodging men he came to an opening that lead to a private place was beautiful with neatly trimmed grass and white marble. Link spotted someone trying to peer into a window. She was standing on her tiptoes, but was still too short. He smiled slightly and approached her. The girl heard his footsteps and whirled around with a gasp. She wore a long white gown and a plum garment over it inscribed with the holy triforce and the Hylian eagle. Her hair was hidden by a headdress, but Link guessed blonde, since her eyebrows were blonde. Her eye were deep blue and she seemed just as stunned as Link felt. Link felt an unfamiliar warmth creep up the back of his neck and tinge his ears. She didn't seem to notice and instead gave him a pointed look.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Navi appeared from under Link's hat and the girl looked stunned all over again.
"On one knee, Link! This is the princess of Hyrule, so show her some respect!"
Link nodded numbly to the fairy and fell to one knee, bowing deeply to the princess. Dangerous thoughts invaded his mind about just how pretty this princess was. "You have a fairy?" Her tone changed from cold to interested. "You must be the one I'm looking for."
Link's heart jumped involuntarily at her words and clawed its way to his throat. She spread her arms out and curtsied to Link politely. "My name is Zelda and I am the princess of Hyrule. Please tell me your name, young hero."

I'm a hero?

He wasn't about to correct her, even if she was obviously mistaking him for someone else. "Link." He said hoarsely, then shriveled internally at how weak he sounded. Some hero he was. Zelda didn't seem to notice Link's discomfort and folded her hands in front of her daintily. She fluttered her lashes at him and Link nearly fell over. "Link," She said sweetly, "I've been dreaming about a young hero with a fairy who will be my champion. Is that you?"
Link nodded and she chuckled softly.
"Rise, Link. We have many things to discuss." Zelda beckoned Link towards her, and he came without hesitation. "Do you see the man inside this window?"
Link stretched on his tiptoes, then nodded as he caught the outline of a man dressed in black.
"That man is evil." Zelda hissed. "He pledges allegiance to my father, but I know he wants to rule all of Hyrule himself. We are in a state of peace across the land and I won't have that filthy King of the Gerudo Tribe destroy it." Link watched her as she spoke. She was obviously passionate about her nation and people, but he was more focused on how cute she looked with her nose scrunched in anger.
"So we must work together and stop him. Do you understand, Link? I cannot leave the castle grounds, but I'll persuade my father not to trust the Gerudo king while you work in the field. He's after the sacred triforce, but we won't let him have it."
Zelda snatched Link's wrists and made his pale face flame up. "You have to do this task for me, Link. You cannot fail, understand, because all of Hyrule rests on our shoulders."

"Anything." Link said bravely and caused Zelda's lips to twitch slightly into a smile.
"Good. You have to go across Hyrule and collect the three keys to the temple of time. Guard them with your life so Ganondorf cannot have them. They are located in the Kokiri Forest, Death Mountain, and Zora's Domain."
Link blinked at her in slight confusion and produced the emerald that the Deku Tree gave him before he passed on. Zelda gasped and grabbed Link's shoulders.
"That's it!" She yelled, then stepped back and regained her composure. "That's it, the Kokiri Emerald. I knew you were the hero of my dreams, Link. Do you have the Goron Ruby and the Zora Sapphire as well?"
Link shook his head and Zelda sighed softly.
"Then that is your mission. Find them and bring them to me for protection. Can you do that for me, Link?"
"Anything for you, princess." Link bowed deeply again and Zelda looked deeply gratified. "Thank you, Link."

"Princess Zelda, are you okay?" Another feminine voice called. Link jolted upright as a tall, muscular woman with body armor and the mark of the Sheikah on her jogged towards Zelda. She had white hair cropped short and tied back in a short ponytail. It reminded Link of a warrior's wolf tail. "Impa, I'm fine." Zelda insisted firmly and pushed the woman away when Impa tried to embrace her. "Link, this is my personal attendant Impa. Impa this is Link, the hero in my dreams."
Impa gave Link a curious look, but crossed her arm across her chest and knelt in respect towards him. "It's an honour to meet a friend of the dear princess." "Impa, it's a wonderful thing you arrived. Link will need some sort of proof to show he is on a mission from me, so teach him the song of the royal family."
Impa looked stunned and began to protest.
"But princess, that song is sacred and only passed down among-"
"I trust that Link is pure of heart and good. He won't abuse the power the song brings, I promise."
Impa looked like she wanted to protest some more, but instead pursed her lips tightly and stood upright. "Yes princess, of course."

She narrowed her eyes slightly at Link then gestured towards his ocarina. He grabbed it and Impa whistled while Link replicated the tune.
" A master musician." Impa looked slightly impressed by his obvious talent with the instrument. "Use the song whenever you need a sign to show you are working for the royal family."
Zelda came forward and squeezed Link on the shoulder. "Good luck, hero."
She leaned toward and placed a small, chaste kiss on his cheek at made all the hair on the back of Link's neck stand on end. He smiled shyly at Zelda while Impa led him out of the courtyard.

Impa took Link to the outside of Hyrule castle to the main drawbridge and pointed towards a tall, looming mountain in the distance. Smoke floated from the top and a bad feeling twisted Link's gut looking at it.
"Death Mountain is the next stop on your journey, hero. Travel through Kakariko Village and follow the trail to the Goron City. Find Darunia and seek his aid. I wish you luck, Link."
Impa nodded to him, took a few steps back, then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Link coughed and waved away the smoke, then gazed at the mountain looming over him. "Well, you heard the princess, lets get moving."
Link ignored the fairy and started towards the mountain, intent on reaching this village before night fell. All the way there he thought of nothing but Zelda's words.

Link, the hero of my dreams.

His heart fluttered inside his chest and Link couldn't mask the smile on his face.
"Ah oh, looks like the 'hero' is in love." Navi grumbled to herself as she hurried along behind the boy.

Awe, so Zelda makes Link's heart go 'doki doki'.

Reviews! Yes! Please? They make the story better and me happy!