Ganondorf kept cracking the reigns to keep the horses running all night long. Each crack made Zelda flinch and scan the horizon for enemies. There were none. That meant they were safe. But they were also tired.
They'd reached the small country of Ordon by now. It was a heavily forested place, but beautiful in its simplistic ways. Zelda once read the peaceful Kokiri were from here, and perhaps even that the long extinct Kikwi were not extinct at all, but living here in hiding. Zelda wasn't sure if either rumor was true, but speculating was fun.
"We're not moving," Agitha said and covered her yawning mouth.
"The horses can't take another step," Ganondorf dropped the reigns and turned sideways to look into the carriage. "They're as tired as we are."
Zelda couldn't blame the horses. They'd overworked them that day. There was nothing to do about it. She rubbed the grit out of her eyes and hopped out of the carriage. Agitha followed.
Ganondorf turned again, his eyes following them. "Where are you going?"
She raised one of her shoulders slightly. "To find help. Is that okay with you?"
"Is the Hero of Ice close?"
"I don't know," Zelda retorted. "You have the map."
Ganondorf rolled his eyes and mumbled something in quiet irritation. He rummaged around in his bag for a few moments before handing Zelda the yellowed paper. He didn't look at it.
Zelda glanced at Hyrule for a moment. After just one night, it seemed so far away. Even the nearby Kokiri Forest seemed distant. Then her gaze flicked to her symbol outlined in green and black.
A slender finger trailed from her sun south to the mysterious snowflake. It was close, but so was the rest of the capital of Toa Village. Zelda was grateful the country was so small.
"Well?" Ganondorf prompted.
"It's not too far away," Zelda said. "Just a short walk."
"Will the horsies be able to make it that far?" Agitha asked.
Ganondorf picked up the reigns and gave it a light flick. The horses didn't budge. They just huffed and groaned, then lowered their heads to graze.
"They aren't going anywhere," Ganondorf grumbled. Fingers spread, he dragged his left hand up his forehead and through his wildfire hair. "Go get help. I'll wait here for you. Just don't take too long or I'll come after you."
"You really don't have to."
"I know. That's what makes me so nice." His wide grin proved he was teasing her.
Zelda pursed her lips. "Will you be alright?"
"I'll be fine. Someone has to watch the horses."
Zelda hesitated, then turned to Agitha. "Let's go."
"But Mister Ganny-"
"-will be fine."
Agitha chewed at her lip a moment, then nodded slowly. "Let's go then. We oughtn't to stay in one play for too long."
She took Zelda by the hand and began to lead her down the dirt road. The princess followed, cast one last look over her shoulder, and wandered into the Ordonian woodlands.
They kept walking for a good twenty minutes. Zelda ignored the ache in her feet with each step, though Agitha was not so silent. She made small sounds of protest and pain with each step. Agitha wasn't accustomed to this life yet. Zelda doubted she ever would be.
But the tiny protests stopped when two pairs of blue eyes met civilization at last. Toa Village was a graced with simplistic beauty, even more so than the Ordonian landscape. Houses were built from or into trees. Cats and dogs roamed the grass, wandering past fences, chicken coops, pumpkin fields, and small rocky plateaus.
Agitha stared at the tiny capital, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Zelda only realized then that the tiny girl had likely never left the safety of Hyrule Castle Town. The world outside was foreign – strange and beautiful – and Agitha needed time to drink it all in. Zelda knew from experience. She smiled in silent adoration of the peaceful town before turning her attention to the townsfolk.
A group of children began to crowd around them, looking up at the blonde strangers in curiosity.
"You're not from around here," a brunette boy said. "Your clothes are weird too. Are you Hyrulean?"
"Hyrulean?" a tinier child scoffed. "Their 'king' hasn't let a Hyrulean leave his land in three years."
This came as news to Zelda. Had the tyrant really cut off their country from the outside world? No wonder none had yet rallied against the false king. The information was cut off for them. That, or they were trying to keep some sorry excuse for peace. Zelda now felt ashamed for ever blaming the rest of Hylia on the crisis in her country.
A girl approached the two, followed by a clearly pregnant woman. The girl punched the smaller boys in the head, scolding tem, "Don't bother these ladies!"
"But, Beth-"
"But nothing. We've finally got some visitors and they deserve some respect."
The older woman laughed and rested a hand on Beth's head. "Go scold your friends elsewhere," she said in a soft, motherly tone. "I'm going to get these two some tea and see what they came here for."
"Aw, okay…"
With a bit more shoving, the children ran off, leaving the Ordonian with Zelda and Agitha.
"Sorry about them. We haven't seen any Hyruleans for a long time, especially any that look like you.' She rested a hand on her bulging stomach and turned away. "Right this way."
"But, Miss!" Agitha protested. "We have business here-"
"But tea first is fine," Zelda said. "We're in no rush."
If the Ordonian hadn't seen a Hyrulean in a long time, then it was safe to stay here as long as they wanted. They wouldn't take very long at all for tea, and Ganondorf would be fine. He may have to deal with Deku or Moblins, but Zelda wasn't too worried. Ganondorf was strong. He could handle himself.
Zelda followed the woman to her house. Agitha trailed close behind.
"I'm Sheik, by the way. And this is Agitha."
The woman glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "Nice to meet you both," she said. "I'm Uli."