Uli's house lay on the southwest side of the village. It was as simple inside as out, especially in terms of woodwork. Tables, chairs, and shelves were draped in gray and white cloth. Pots and vases in earthy shades sat by a stone fireplace which illuminated the room despite closed shades.

Zelda rushed to pull chairs over to the kitchen tale so Uli wouldn't have to. She ran her finger over the tablecloth's blue swirls as and she and Agitha sat down. Occasionally, Zelda would look up. Uli was brewing tea in the kettle over the fireplace.

"So," Uli said, "Tell me your story."

And Zelda did. She told Uli of a home destroyed and a family killed, of the Gerudo king who saved her when she gave up hope, the prophecy that followed, and meeting a strange bug-lover in the Hyrulean capital.

Zelda made sure to gloss over what happened in Lon Village. That held too many secrets she refused to tell – namely, her identity as the true heir to the kingdom of Hyrule. That was the one thing too risky to tell anyone but her heroes. After all, greed had already corrupted one man into revealing their location. Zelda refused to let it happen again.

"And now we're here to find the Hero of Ice," Zelda said. "He should be here."

Zelda eyed the map she'd spread across the table. They were almost on top of the ice marking, but not completely. She wasn't here in this building. So she had to be in one of the houses nearby.

"Well, how did you know Agitha was the Hero of Forest?" Uli asked.

"The map filled in with her identity after we met her," Zelda said.

"And I had a dream telling me Sheik and Ganny were coming."

"A dream," Uli murmured as she placed the tea platter on the table. Steam rose from the mouth of the kettle. "That sounds a bit familiar."

Zelda picked up a teacup and sipped at the drink inside. Her face scrunched up. The tea was bitter. She dropped some cream and sugar in and stirred it.

"Does it?" she asked.

Uli nodded. "We have a knight here from up north. Snowpeak, I believe it was?"

"What's his name?" Agitha asked. Her eyes sparkled. Zelda could only imagine her grandiose dreams of a knight in shining armor.

Uli laughed. "Her name is Ashei," she said. "My husband – the mayor – is visiting her now."

"Her?" The light had died from Agitha's eyes. Her lips pursed, and the cause was clear. No white knight would be coming for her, riding in on a trusty steed to aide her on this quest.

Zelda pitied her. She was once like Agitha. She hoped the tyrant would save her from a life of boredom. He ruined her. Impa left. Heroes died. Her own royal knights betrayed her. Now she was her own hero, even if others stood by her side.

"Where can I find her?" Zelda asked.

"There's a new house on the edge of town. It's painted white. Her husband insisted on that."

"A lady knight found someone to marry her?"

Zelda clicked her tongue in annoyance. Did Agitha really think a lady knight unlovable?

"Enough," she said, unable to hold her tongue a moment longer. "There's something to be admired in a strong woman. She speaks her mind and can take care of herself." A proud smile formed on the princess' face. She liked to think herself in that category. "She can stand on equal ground with her husband that way."

"Oh…" Agitha stared down at her cup. "I never thought about it like that."

Uli finished her tea and poured herself another cup. "You've thought about this a lot, haven't you, Sheik?"

Zelda nodded. "I'm not exactly a warrior, but I like to think myself strong," she said. "I was raised by a Sheikah nanny after all."

"I see. But don't forget that gentle women are strong in their own right."

Zelda's mouth fell open in surprise before she closed it. Uli was right. Even the gentlest person could have their hidden strengths. She wondered if Agitha was an example of that.

"You're right."

The door opened and a man walked in. His face was worn and leathery from the years, but held a gentle smile. He had blonde hair and a moustache, though both were beginning to grey.

So this was the mayor.

"Who are these people?" he asked.

"Sheik and Agitha. They're from Hyrule," Uli said. "And this is my husband Rusl."

"Hyrule? But how'd they make it all the way here?"

"The king of the Gerudo helped them."

"Where is he now?" Rusl asked.

Agitha and Zelda quickly glanced at each other, their faces growing pale in realization.

"Ganny-"

"We left him!"

Rusl raised a brow. "Woah there. Left who?"

"We left Ganondorf in the woods," Zelda said.

"His horses were too tired to move," Agitha added.

Uli smiled gently at the two women. "I'm sure he's fine," she said. "He'll likely be here soon."

"How are you so sure, Miss Uli?" Agitha asked.

"Because you've been here a while."

"Then that means we should get going." Zelda put her empty cup aside, stood, and grabbed the map.

"Huh? Now?" Agitha looked down at her cup, still half full. "But what about the tea? About Miss Uli?"

Uli gave a soft laugh and shook her head. "Agitha, dear, you and Sheik came here for a reason. Your country still needs you."

Agitha stared at her reflection in the tea. The ripples warmed the image. She was so out of place. Zelda wished she could have had a more adventurous hero as a partner. Instead there was Agitha. Pretty dress. Girlish pigtails. Innocent and wandering like a little, lost butterfly.

Then Zelda remembered the night before. Zelda's bow hadn't taken their pursuers down. It was Agitha. Tiny, sweet Agitha. She was something else then, and she was still extraordinary now. Gentle, but strong – Zelda had forgotten such a thing was possible.

"Agitha?"

The girl drained her cup. "Yes?"

"Are you ready to go?"

She stood and ran her hands through the teal dress, straightening out the wrinkles. "Yes. Ganny's waiting for us."

Yes, Zelda thought. He probably was.