The sun made the snow near blinding. Every time Zelda glanced out the back of the carriage, she quickly had to avert her eyes again. She didn't know how Ganon dealt with it as quietly as he did.

"Are you okay up there?" Ravio kept asking. "Do you need any help?'

Every time, Ganon shook his his head and gave the same answer. "The horses don't know. It's me and no one else."

"Or Zelda?" Ravio offered once.

But that only made Ganon repeat himself. "Me and no one else," he said.

The trip proved silent and mostly uneventful. In the distance, ice Keese and Snow Wolfos went about their daily lives. Zelda even saw two Wolfos pups playing – a rare sight. She didn't know if anyone but them had ever seen such a thing, or if anyone had even seen a Wolfos pup. She savored the moment. Golden eyes watched them from the snow – orbs more than eyes. They were Boe, innocent creatures unless startled.

"They're beautiful," Agitha said, seemingly unbothered by the sheer whiteness of the snow. She'd been watching the scenery pass since she arrived.

"They are," Zelda agreed. She made a mental note to travel the whole of Hylia with a notebook once the chaos was over. Then she could capture this beauty for her homeland, if not the entire world.

As the sky began to turn orange-violet, the trees vanished altogether and the land began to flatten out. Pine trees gave unnecessary shade as the snow collected in their boughs. Even without a sign, Zelda was certain they'd left Lorule.

This was Termina. Snowhead, specifically. It was more beautiful than rotten, ugly Lorule. After all, Termina was known for its gorgeous landscapes. It had snowy mountains, modern architecture, lush plains, swampy wilderness, sandy beaches, and ancient ruins all in one country.

"So here we are," Zelda said, more to herself than her companions.

It would get dark from here on out, but none of Termina's drastic landscapes ever lasted long. They could reach Clock Town by midnight. Since the carnival was still months away, the inn would even still have rooms unoccupied.

"South from here, right?" Ganon asked.

"That's what the map said," Zelda replied.

Golden orbs popped up from the snow then narrowed to slits. Zelda was grateful they weren't on foot now. The Boes were trampled under the horses' hooves and the wheels of the carriage.

Soon the snow died away to reveal rocky ground. The great capital of Termina and Hylia's capital of modern technology, Clock Town, was in sight now. Tall walls surrounded the town, painted in ornate red, green, and blue designs. They must have had some meaning to Terminians, but they were foreign to Zelda. Maybe one day she'd journey around and learn the culture of the world around her. Someone had to care enough to learn and share it with the rest of Hylia. Might as well be her.

They passed towering Eeno. The giant beings looked like piles of snow with Goron faces carved in. They gathered rocks and snow into snowballs, but Ravio melted them into nothingness with his fire rod before they dared throw.

Finally, as the moon hung high overhead, they reached the north gate. A knight stood there, spear in hand.

"A Gerudo?" The guard readied his weapon. "State your business. Why do you come from the north?"

"I'm Hyrulean," Ganon said with a shrug.

"Then you should have come from the east," the guard replied.

"My friends and I have been travelling Hylia seeking allies for a rebellion."

"An honorable task." The guard smiled and lowered his weapon. "Where all have you been, Gerudo king?"

"Ordon, Labrynna, and Lorule."

"Have you a long way still to go?"

Ganon lowered his head. "Unfortunately. We were hoping to stay here for the night."

"The Stock Pot inn should have room for you."

"May we pass then?"

"Yes, but leave your carriage here."

Ganon's eyes widened. He didn't like the sound of that. "Out in the open?" he asked.

But the guard just smiled. "We have a stable you can leave them in on our east side."

"And our belongings?"

"Take in what you want. We just have rules against horses on the streets. Cleanliness issues, you know?"

Ganon nodded. "I do."

Ganon insisted that he stay with the carriage while the others got their room. Agitha and Zelda took their belongings. Ravio slung his bag of tools over his shoulder and carried their box of perishables. His ice rod still sat in that box, chilling their drinks and food. Ravio really was something else. They left their coats in the carriage and entered the city gates.

The streets were mostly empty this late. A few glowing pink fairies floated about, but the main lights came from hanging lamps. The guard told them the inn had a giant bell on top of it. They saw that bell as soon as they passed the gates.

Zelda led the way with Agitha skipping along beside her. Ravio held up the back. Yet they all looked like tourists as they stared at their new usrroundings. There were common things like buildings made of stone and clay, and stands made of wood with hay tops. Clocks were everywhere, even in the inn, ticking away to a steady pace.

No bell chimed when Zelda opened the door. The princess held the door so the others could file in before she entered herself. There was a small silver bell on the front counter. Zelda approached it and rang the bell three times.

There was a loud groan upstairs, followed by words: "I'm comin', I'm comin'."

A bulky woman trudged down the stairs in a nightgown and robe. Her red hair was down and messy, hanging past elven ears and onto her shoulders. She took the path through the hallway to the other side of the counter. She leaned on it and propped her head up with her hand.

She opened her mouth wide and yawned. "Well?" the woman said. "What do you want?"

Zelda winced. They'd woken the poor woman by mistake, and Ganon would likely do the same if no one was around to tell him where their room was. Zelda decided that someone may as well be her.

Once they paid for their one night stay and Zelda handed the key off to Agitha, she took a seat on the bench. Her eyelids were heavy, but she forced them to stay open. She had to be awake and here for Ganon.