Chapter 2

Link pulled on the sleeves of his white undershirt, hoping he looked presentable. He stood at the head of the throne room, faceless people gathered for the royal wedding. Taking a deep breath, he looked down the aisle as a familiar old song played. Expecting to see Zelda in her royal white and purple, panic flooded him as a scream cut the music short. He pulled his sword and ran through the crowd, knowing the scream's owner well. He broke through the doors only to find Zelda in a puddle of red.

Link let out a scream as he sat up in bed, a hand clutching his chest as his eyes couldn't find anything to focus on.

"Link?" Zelda's voice asked.

Blinking his eyes, he found Zelda walking to him with his bedchamber door left open. He looked up at her, noticing the worry on her face. "'s just a nightmare," Link said, half to convince himself.

"It sounded like a bad one," Zelda said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

Link leaned into the half hug, dropping his hand to his lap, as he took in her smell. Anything to prove to his mind she was real, she was still alive.

"You wanna tell me what it was about?" Zelda asked.

Link shook his head, leaning out of the hug so she could stand straight. "No, I'd rather just forget about it," Link said. "What were you doing here anyway?"

"I was coming to wake you up, it's just past noon," Zelda said. "I'll leave you so you can get dressed. Meet me in the cafeteria?"

Link held her eyes for a moment, wanting to ask her to stay. The fear of losing her was still rooted in his chest, but he knew he couldn't. Instead he gave her a smile and said, "Okay, I love you."

Zelda smiled back, saying, "I love you, too." She turned around and left the room, closing the door behind herself.

Link looked down at himself, still mostly covered in his blankets. Reminding himself the girl he loved was also a Sheikah warrior and could defend herself, he threw off the blankets only to instantly regret it. He looked over at the fire he had made just past dawn to see the fireplace empty of any warmth. Quickly he threw on his blue tunic and boots, strapping on his belt as he left his room with his hat gripped in his teeth. Placing his hat on his head, he rushed through the cold halls of the castle.

He stepped into the cafeteria that was used by most of the castle staff and grabbed a sandwich and cup of water already prepared on the counter. Turning to take in the people sitting at tables enjoying their meals, he found Zelda sitting with Captain Izo and walked over to them.

"Morning Link," Izo offered as Link placed his food to the left of Zelda. "Catch up on your sleep?"

"Could've been more restful," Link said, sitting beside the queen.

"This morning we got word of a monster terrorizing the Zora," Zelda informed, seriousness on her face. "They sent a messenger asking for help. The way the boy described it, it sounds like that sea dragon."

"So that's why there's so many knights here," Link said, noticing a good number of knights and squires filled the cafeteria around them.

"I told the messenger to eat lunch and we'll send our response with him afterwards," Zelda offered, motioning across the room to where a young Zora boy sat alone to eat soup. "I would've normally already sent out help but with the vision from last night…" her voice fell away as she looked down at her untouched sandwich.

"I say we go and help," Link said, picking up his sandwich to take a bite.

Zelda turned to look at him, waiting for him to continue.

Swallowing, Link added, "Well, you said it doesn't belong in this world, right? And if the thing is hunting us, I rather go and fight it before it finds us."

"That's what I suggested," Izo added, nodding his head.

"Alright, after lunch we'll gather the troops and head out as soon as we can," Zelda said.

Link felt his stomach drop, his lunch no longer looking appetizing. He should've figured Zelda would be coming along, she was a warrior first. He just feared his nightmare coming true, this time no one would be around to bring her back from the dead.

"Excuse me, Queen Zelda," Croo said, drawing the table's attention to the new historian. The man about the same age as Izo stood with his hands behind his back as he waited for Zelda's attention. "The bookshelf has been repaired and we're now going through each shelf to make sure none of the others have the same defect. My estimate would be we'll be ready for the proper opening in just under a week."

Zelda gave him a nod, saying, "Okay, keep me updated."

Croo gave her a bow before leaving their table.

"The library's still not opened?" Link asked, taking a bite of his sandwich. He figured that would have taken place while he slept.

"Well it was going to, but I moved it to after lunch, since it was your Grandfather's library," Zelda informed. "But this morning one of the bookshelves fell apart."

"I do appreciate your wish for the library to be opened to as many people as it can," Izo offered.

"I hope to get up with the school in town and get them a library as well," Zelda said. "If we can get the literary rate up, that'll help Hyrule in the long run."

Link looked at the girl beside him, proud for what she had accomplished after taking down the demon king. Without thinking, he said, "Hyrule's already a better place, thanks to you."

"You can say that again," Izo said, sitting his cup on the table. "Camp Shi turned into a shelter to help train the homeless for work, putting in laws to help the people in town protect themselves better, expanded the economy of the kingdom."

Zelda let out a small laugh. "I had help," she tried. "A lot of people have good ideas, my title just gets some of that done faster. Anyway, anyone would be seen as a good ruler coming from the last king."

Link took a bite out of his sandwich and noticed the Zora boy placing his trash where it was marked. Through the mouthful of food, he leaned over to Zelda and said, "The messenger's done eating."

"Oh," Zelda let out, swallowing what was in her mouth. She rose to her feet and threw Link a "Thanks," before rushing over to the boy.

Link watched her talk to the boy only to feel Izo's eyes on him.

"You know, there's stories from before Skyloft of the king going into battle," Izo said, getting Link to look at him.

"Yeah," Link said, hearing about the Lord Minister Izo was talking about. "The Lord Minister Enclie was a knight and fought like his father before him to protect the Land of Hylia." He looked back at Zelda nodding to something the young Zora had said to add, "They aren't Zelda."

"True, she sure is one of a kind," Izo said, taking a sip of water. Sitting the cup on the table he added, "Take it from someone married to a Sheikah, they're stubborn and strong willed. Reda may not have gone into the academy but she knows how to defend herself well because all Sheikahs are trained early on."

"Doesn't stop me from being worried about her," Link said, watching the Zora boy bow to Zelda before rushing out of the cafeteria. Zelda turned to go back to the table as Link ate the last bite of his sandwich.

"Get the people ready, Izo," Zelda said, standing behind her chair to reach down and pick up the last of her sandwich. She quickly downed it before adding, "I want to be heading out within the hour."

"Yes, sir," Izo said. He pushed himself up to his feet, leaving his tray for the moment, and stepped over to another table where Lady Hugolin sat with other knights and squires. Leaning over her, he said something before she got to her feet.

Link watched as, unprecedented for something like this to take place in the cafeteria, other eyes watched in curiosity. Izo and Hugolin stepped over to the front of the cafeteria, standing in front of the counter to get food. To get everyone's attention, Hugolin let out a loud sharp whistle. Instantly all chatter died in the large room.

"Knights and squires of Hyrule," Izo started out in a loud booming voice. "I'm sure you've already heard about the Zora messenger. A sea dragon appeared in the night and is causing havoc to their people. They have asked for our support. The plan will be two waves."

"First wave!" Hugolin said, her voice deep when she tried to project it. "Ivon, Phoeni, Aldous, Jittin, Avon, Maneld, Haws, and Link, you'll be with Captain Izo and Queen Zelda. Second wave! Ivan, Robi, Pacci, Wistin, Trea, Eudo, Folcard, Helisent, and Gondo, you'll be with me. We leave within the hour. Be prepared with your horse in the court yard. Dismissed!"

Link stood up, pushing his chair in as the atmosphere of the cafeteria had changed. Murmur had quieted down as most hurried to finish their lunch, others getting to their feet like Link was to leave.

"At least we got a couple of months as break before anything happened," Zelda said, turning Link's attention to the girl standing next to him.

"You don't think this will turn into something like the last few adventures, do you?" Link asked.

Zelda looked him in the eyes, worry showing through. "I don't know. I've tried to look into that world the dragon's from but I don't know enough." She looked down at the trays still on the table and mumbled, "I wish Grandfather was still alive."

"Me too," Link said, nodding his head. He picked up his tray and held his shoulders square, looking back at Zelda as she looked back at him. "We should get ready."

Zelda gave him a nod, seriousness clear in her features.

-.-.-.-

The first time a knight wore his armor into battle was supposed to be a noteworthy occurrence, Link remembered reading in his studies. He walked through the snowy castle yard to the stables in his armor, helmet still under his arm as he fought with the undercap to get the knot tied just right under his chin. He didn't want the first time he had to use all this armor to be a noteworthy occurrence. He wanted them to get there and defeat the monster quickly, or better yet, have the Zora have already defeated the thing before they got there. He walked into the stable, the sounds of other knights and squires dressing horses for battle filling his ears, already knowing his wishes wouldn't come true. Stepping over to Epona's stall, he caught sight of Zelda's horse, Max, and Izo's horse, Kirk, already dressed in armor. Max had the royal purple draped under the saddle to mark him as the queen's horse while Kirk had the blue that marked him as the captain's horse. Link caught sight of Amit, the stable boy, working on dressing Hugolin's horse, Margery, knowing the boy would go down the ranks to dress the horses whose knights didn't have a squire to do so.

Turning back to his own horse, Link sat his helmet on the fence post that made up her stall and held out his hands to pat her on the muzzle. "Hey girl," Link offered in a calm voice. He could see in her eyes she knew something was wrong. Giving her one last nose rub, he took his hands away and opened her stall. "Time to get you dressed," he said to her. He walked around her to the back wall of her stall and pulled down the crinet. Turning back to Epona, walking back so she could see him, he held it up like he had while training her to wear the armor. She held her head up and let Link wrapped the armor around her neck.

Link focused on attaching the armor to his horse, leaving the shaffon for last, using the process to clear his mind. As he strapped on Epona's saddle, Zelda's voice reached his ears.

"I want those who are best in archery to keep on their mounts," Zelda was saying. "I'll lead my group. Do you believe Sir Robi would be best of your group?"

"I'll let him know," Hugolin said.

Link stood up, finished with Epona's saddle, and took in Zelda dressed in Hylian armor. He let out a sigh of relief, glad she was wearing the armor that held the most protection since Sheikah armor focused more on stealth than protection.

Zelda stepped away from the second in command, going over to Max to start checking his armor over.

Link reached over for Epona's helmet, strapping on the shaffron as he took care of her ears and eyes. Giving her the last part of her equipment, Link put the bit in her mouth and put the reins over her head so they were ready for him. He stepped over to where he had left his helmet, throwing one last look at Zelda, and put his helmet on. Pulling himself up into the saddle, he took the reins in his hands and gave Epona the signal to walk forward. He led her out into the snow and over to where five horses already waited. He led his horse to stop beside the largest of the knights and asked, "Lady Avon?"

"Link, good to see you ready," the woman said, giving him a nod. "Excited for your first fight as a knight?"

"Wouldn't call it excitement," Link offered.

"True," she said with a shrug. She looked down at her horse as he shifted under her, giving him a pat through the crinet around his neck as she added, "You've been through more as a squire than most knights do by retirement." Turning back to Link she added, "Was Izo getting ready when you left?"

"No, Zelda was almost ready though."

"He's checking Kirk over now," Zelda said, turning Link to his left as she stopped Max beside Epona. She dropped the reins and pulled on her undercap, her helmet balanced on the saddle horn.

A part of Link wished she would put her hair up in a bun more often, thinking she looked cute with something other than a braid. Shaking the thought away as she pulled on her helmet, motion out of the corner of his vision alerted him of more knights on horseback walking over. Turning he noticed the blue scarf attached to Izo's armor marking him as captain leading two others to the group waiting.

"Everyone ready?" Izo asked, looking the group of nine over. Hearing no remarks, he turned Kirk towards the gate and ordered, "Move out."

Link watched as Izo and Zelda took the lead, knowing his place as the newest knight of this party to be at the rear. Getting beside Lady Maneld, they followed in two lines out of the castle yard.

The ride through town was a silent one, the snow muffling any sound so all they could hear was their own horses' hoof steps through the thin snow on the coble stone streets. Link glanced down at the villagers they passed, all eyes on the parade of knights in full armor.

"The tension in town's almost palatable," Maneld mumbled softly enough Link was sure he wasn't meant to hear it.

Turning to look at the woman only a year older than himself, he said in a whisper, "They remember the last time they saw men-in-arms."

Maneld turned her head to Link, her face unreadable behind the helmet. After a moment she gave him a nod before turning to look back at where they were going.

Link followed suit, turning his head forward to watch for any change out of Ivon ahead of him. Stealing a glance through the corner of the slit cut for his eyes, he could see mother's pulling their children back. Worry on one particular woman as she watched them struck him. Looking ahead to see Zelda at the front of the line, Link promised to ask her if there was a fair they could hold for the people of castle town, something to help the people to not fear the armor they wore.

He turned to the right, already seeing the edge of the well placed Milk Café coming up. A smile pulled at his cheeks as Oto and his mother, Karimi, stepped out of the café, the older woman wrapping a shawl around her shoulders.

As the party rode past, Oto put up a fist, cupping his mouth with his other hand, and called out, "Long live Queen Zelda!"

The voices of a few others echoed his chant, his mother one of them.

"And long live Hyrule!" Oto added, getting those who had echoed him to add that themselves.

Link smiled at his friend and the woman, knowing they couldn't tell it was him under the armor. As he and Lady Maneld passed them, he made out Karimi saying something low enough he couldn't hear to her son.

"Oh yeah, that is Epona!" Oto exclaimed, getting a laugh out of Maneld. She turned to give Link a look, getting a shrug in return.

Link was grateful Oto didn't call him out by name like he had done for his horse. He kept his eyes forward as he felt them watching his back.