To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 43 – Telma's Intel

The following day, Link made the trip to Castle Town and arrived just as the sun was starting to set. By this point, the appointed meeting time was already nearing, so Link went straight to Telma's bar. After a short trip down the south street of Castle Town and an alley off to the side, Link arrived at the small square where the bar was located.

The Hero couldn't help but smile with nostalgia as he approached. He was ashamed that months had passed since he last stopped by to visit the friendly barmaid, so he took a moment to take in the sight of the bar nestled away in the corner of the square. A soft glow could be seen spilling out of the door which was always cracked open. From inside, Link could hear the cheers and laughs of many happy patrons. There was no doubt that this locale would be busy now that the workday was over.

Nevertheless, Link gathered his courage and stepped inside. Naturally, the bar itself was even more nostalgic, as well as noisy and eventful. There was a number of people occupying the tables scattered throughout the room. Some of them were soldiers and some were merchants. Some were Hylians and some were even Gorons. Many of them laughed and smiled and cheered and toasted their drinks to a wonderful evening. Some were happy to get drunk, others were hoping to drown their sorrows, and some still were just content to sit in a warm environment like this and relax. They may have come from all walks of life with different motives in mind, but at least one thing was clear. They were completely satisfied.

It wasn't long before someone came to greet Link. He just looked down in surprise to find Louise, Telma's big, fluffy white cat. She must have instantly recognized Link, for she wasted no time in rubbing her face against his legs and purring.

Link laughed as she squatted down and gave the cat a gentle scratch. "Hey, Louise. It's good to see you again. How have you been doing?"

The cat simply purred in response.

Link smiled, happy to know that she was getting along okay. During his adventures, this tiny feline had helped him on more than one occasion, and to some extent, he still felt like he owed her for it. He made a mental note to bring her some genuine Ordon goat milk the next time he visited.

"Do you know where your master is?" Link asked as he continued to stroke the cat

"Meow," the cat replied before using her head to gesture to the other side of the room.

Link followed this direction and soon spotted Telma: tall, large and cheerful as she stood amongst her patrons. Naturally, she wore a wide, friendly smile on her face as she worked. Her long red hair was loosely tied up behind her, and she wore her typical outfit: a big black coat (which was entirely too revealing, in Link's embarrassed opinion) and a long black skirt. It was a bit of a dynamic look, but it somehow gifted her all the sentiment of a warm, motherly figure.

As Link watched her, he noticed that she seemed to be in the middle of serving a particularly large group of soldiers. He wasn't surprised that she was stretched thin considering how busy the place was tonight. Link soon decided that he would take a seat at the bar and wait for Telma to come to him. As he walked, Louise happily followed behind him.

However, as Link approached the bar, he soon stopped in his tracks. The bar itself was mostly empty, save for one customer who was clad in a dark cloak from head to toe. They even had a hood pulled up over their head. Link couldn't help but shudder a bit when he spotted the figure. He wondered if that's why no one else was currently sitting at the bar next to him. Because the dark cloak was just so imposing, even at a glance.

Regardless, Link couldn't stop eyeing the figure. Before long, he almost felt like he had to do a double take. Was it just him, or did he recognize those dark robes that the stranger was cloaked in? He felt like he had seen them somewhere before, back when he had been on his adventure. He soon took a few curious steps forward, approaching the stranger. By the time he made it to the bar, he felt like his mind had started to connect the dots. Perhaps he really did know this person!

Sure enough, his suspicions were quickly confirmed once a familiar pair of sapphire eyes turned and glanced at him from beneath the dark hood.

"What the…" Link blurted out. "Is that you, Zel-"

A hand, covered in an elegant white glove, shot out from beneath the dark cloak. It placed a single finger against Link's lips.

"Shh, not so loud," came a soft yet familiar voice.

Link's eyes just went wide. "It is you!"

"Yes, it's me," Zelda replied, pulling her hood back just enough to show her face to Link, and only Link. "But please keep your voice down, and don't use my name."

Zelda ended up retracting her finger from his lips, but Link just stood there, looking confused. "Why not?"

"I don't want to be recognized. If the townspeople realize that the Royal Princess is here, it might cause a commotion. Thus, I have donned this cloak to keep my identity a secret."

"Oh, I see…" Link said, slowly nodding. "What brings you here though? I almost never see you leave the castle."

Zelda shrugged. "Telma sent me a letter asking me to meet her here tonight. She claimed that she had some sort of information to pass along."

Link gawked. "Huh. She asked the same of me."

Zelda's eyes shimmered with curiosity beneath her hood. "How interesting. In that case, it sounds like she intended to meet the two of us together. Although she never mentioned that she had invited someone other than myself…"

Link rolled his eyes. Somehow, he wasn't surprised that Telma had decided to leave out such important details. It always seemed like she had a way of toying with people, even if it was just in minor ways.

"Well, in any case, would you care to join me?" Zelda asked as she gestured to the empty stool beside her. "It seems like it will be a while before Telma finishes serving those customers."

Link shrugged before taking a seat. He had not anticipated such a surprising turn of events this evening, but he supposed that he should've expected nothing less from Telma and her invitation. However, what was worse was that he had a feeling that the truly shocking events were still yet to come.

"I didn't realize that you personally knew Telma," Link said, still trying to piece everything together.

"Oh yes, since I was a little girl," Zelda replied with a nod. "My father enjoyed visiting this bar from time to time, and Telma was always happy to welcome us. Throughout the years, I occasionally visited on my own, and I've come to know her better because of it. She's always been a good friend, and a surprisingly helpful source of information."

"Makes sense," Link said with a nod. By running a local bar, Telma had always been privy to the rumors and secrets related to Hyrule, and she was often willing to pass those useful hints along to her allies. It was why the Resistance had originally used this bar as their base of operations. Because she was just such a reliable source, as well as a gracious host.

"I'm curious to know what she wishes to speak to us about," Zelda continued as she eyed the numerous bottles of brandy on the wall behind the bar. "Do you have any idea?"

Link shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Do you?"

"No, I'm equally clueless," Zelda admitted with a sigh. "But based on the wording in her letter, it sounded rather important. It makes me wonder what her pointed ears have managed to pick up this time…"

"Whatever it is, it must involve the both of us," Link said with a shrug.

"Hmm," said Zelda, mulling this over in her thoughts. "I just hope it isn't trouble. Hyrule's recovery has been proceeding so smoothly, I'd hate to have to deal with any sudden setbacks."

At this, Link just flashed a confident grin. "Aw, don't worry, Zelda. If it ends up being something dangerous, I'd be happy to deal with it."

Zelda just turned to the Hero with a surprisingly disappointed look. "Um, Link, my name…" she whispered.

Link immediately clasped a hand over his mouth as he realized his mistake. "Sorry Zel–Oh, I mean, Prin–Er…" He paused, looking positively confused. "Um…what should I call you?"

It was hard to see beneath her hood, but Link managed to spot a subtle smile appear on her lips. "Just 'Lady' shall be fine for tonight."

"But that makes you sound like a stranger," Link noted, mimicking Zelda's own words from the Gerudo Desert a long, long time ago.

Naturally, she picked up on this, and continued to smile. "Very funny, Link, but there is a time and place for everything. Now, will you please try to keep my name from your lips for the rest of the evening?"

Link smiled. "Sure thing, lady."

"My Lady," Zelda was quick to correct him.

Link playfully rolled his eyes. "Of course, My Lady…"

Zelda couldn't help but giggle before she nodded in approval. "There, much better."

Link just shook his head before a warm and friendly presence soon approached them from behind the bar.

"Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes!" Telma exclaimed as she greeted her guests. She took a second to set a tray on the counter before giving them each a wide grin. "Link, honey, it's been ages since I've last seen you! Where've you been hiding all this time?"

Link smiled bashfully. It was partially because of her overwhelming enthusiasm, but also partially because her wide chest had been planted front and center before him. He had to intentionally divert his eyes away from her bosom, and more specifically, her shamelessly exposed bra.

"I've been in Ordon," he answered. "And helping out around the castle, of course."

"And yet you never make time to stop in and see little old me?" Telma asked as she placed a hand on her hip. "You're not trying to avoid me, are ya, honey?"

Link shook his head. "Of course not. It's always a pleasure to see you, Telma."

"Well aren't you flattering?" Telma said, cracking another warm smile. "Tell me, how's that lovely little Ilia of yours doing? Is she getting along okay?"

"Yeah, she's doing fine back home," Link assured her. "Also, she says 'hello' and plans to respond to your letter soon."

"Isn't that sweet of her? You'll have to bring her along the next time you stop by. I'd love to see her again and catch up."

Link smiled. "Sure, I'd be happy to do that."

Telma paused for a moment before smirking. She soon leaned over the counter and gave Link a surprisingly stern glare. "And you better keep treating her well, you hear me? If you ever break her innocent little heart, just know that there'll be hell to pay, young man."

Link backed away, partially in fear and partially because he didn't want to risk her large breasts coming into contact with his hands or face. "Of course not! I would never hurt her."

Telma smirked some more as she backed off. "Of course, honey, I know you wouldn't."

Link just felt his surprised expression dissolve into a frown. Then why are you giving me such a hard time?

Fortunately, Link's time in the barmaid's gaze had finished, for she soon turned to the Princess who had been surprisingly quiet up until now. Perhaps her silence was because there hadn't been a chance to get a word in. There usually never was when Telma was leading the conversation.

The barmaid simply smiled as she placed a hand on her hip once more. "Well, it seems that we have another stranger in these parts. I'd say it's nice to see you again, if I could actually see you under that thick cloak of yours." She took a moment to laugh at her own joke before shaking her head. "How are you doing, Zelda?"

This seemed to snap Zelda out of whatever daze she must have been in, for she quickly protested against the older woman. "Shh, Telma, don't use my real name! I've already had to stress this to Link. I don't need you jeopardizing my identity too."

Telma just laughed some more. "Oh, don't make such a fuss, little lady. These patrons are as rowdy and drunk as can be. They won't catch a word of our conversation. I guarantee it."

"Still, I would prefer to be cautious," Zelda insisted.

"Hmph, suit yourself, dear," Telma replied with a shrug. "Tell me, how's that sick old father of yours doing? Is he getting any better?"

Zelda let go of her nerves and allowed herself to relax. It helped to talk about familiar and comforting things. "Yes, he's steadily improving. He was even allowed to return to his own bedchamber recently, so he's no longer confined to the infirmary."

Telma's face brightened. "Is that so? Well good for him. And hey, tell Caius that if he finally gets well enough to leave his bed, I'll have a free drink waiting here with his name on it."

Zelda couldn't help but smirk. "Well, I appreciate the thought, but something tells me that this offer would just cause him to rush out the door before he could even make a full recovery."

"And what would be wrong with that?" Telma asked with a grin. "A hard drink might be just the thing he needs to get back in gear."

"I seriously doubt that," Zelda said with a shake of her head.

"Mercy, when did you get so strict?" Telma said with a sigh. "Still, it's good to see you again, honey."

Zelda nodded. "And you as well."

Telma smiled brightly. "Well, now that you're here, can I get you anything to drink? It's on the house, of course."

"I'm fine, thanks," Zelda replied.

"Do you have pumpkin juice?" Link asked.

Telma laughed. "I should've known that you were a softie. Sure, here ya go." It didn't take long for her to fill up a pint and hand it to the Hero. She eagerly watched as he took a few sips. "Good?"

"As good as it gets," Link said with a smile. "Thanks, Telma."

"Aw, anything for you, honey," she said with a wink. Link wasn't sure, but she seemed to be getting a little coy with him. He wondered if it was because it had been so long since they had last seen each other, or if the older woman was just in a playful mood. This certainly wouldn't have been the first time that she had ever flirted with him.

"Ahem," Zelda suddenly interrupted in a stern voice. "Excuse me, Telma, but now that the pleasantries are out of the way, can we move on to the topic at hand?"

Telma raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. "The topic at hand?" she repeated, sounding clueless.

"I'm referring to the reason for why you called us here."

Telma smiled, doing her best to appear innocent. "What? Can't I just invite a few friends down to my bar for the sake of catching up?"

"Telma…" Zelda sighed tiredly. "I was under the impression that you had something important to tell us. If you've only invited us here to waste our time-"

"Ugh, how rude!" Telma exclaimed with a disapproving look. "To think that my company would be considered a 'waste of time' of all things! Mercy, don't be such a stick in the mud, Zelda."

Zelda sighed again, and Link had to fight hard not to laugh. It was clear that the barmaid was toying with the Princess, much to the latter's disappointment.

"Forgive me, Telma, I was not trying to be disrespectful," Zelda apologized while trying to maintain her patience. Fortunately, her cloak made it easy to hide her visible annoyance.

Telma casually waved a hand as if none of it really mattered. "Oh, relax, sweetheart. I'm only teasing you. Besides, I think you'll find that your time here will be more than worth the trouble. Trust me, I have some info that you're definitely going to want to hear."

This quickly caught Zelda's attention, and she leaned in a bit closer. "So you do have something to share with us."

"I always have something worth sharing," the barmaid corrected her. "But you're right, this time is something particularly special."

Zelda nodded. "Well, I'm all ears." Link nodded and leaned in a bit as well. The sudden seriousness of the discussion had quickly attracted his curiosity.

Telma smirked, more than happy to have their attention. She soon grabbed an empty glass and casually began wiping it with a cleaning cloth. "Tell me, dearie, what all do you know about the Gerudo?"

Zelda's eyes went wide before she flashed a quizzical expression. She had not expected such a topic to come up, but she answered the query anyway. "I know quite a lot about them, but all of my knowledge comes from what I've read in books. I've never actually had the pleasure of meeting one."

"Of course, you always were well-read," Telma said with a nod. "And what about you, Link?"

Naturally, Link felt equally surprised by this question. "The Gerudo?" he repeated.

"Yes, surely you've heard of them?"

Link slowly nodded. Truth be told, he had. "Sure, but only in stories and history books. They were a group of bandits that used to live in the desert, right?"

Telma laughed, as if Link had said something rather humorous. "That seems to be their general perception, yes, but they were more than that." She soon turned to Zelda. "Would you care to fill him in, little lady?"

Zelda seemed like she was eager to push the conversation forward, but she relented for the sake of catching Link up to speed. She turned to the Hero next to her. "To be more specific, the Gerudo were a group of desert-dwellers that consisted entirely of women. That was just how their race functioned biologically. Gerudo mothers would only ever bear daughters, and thus the tribe never had any male members outside of a few exceptions." (Zelda could have elaborated here, but she chose not to for the sake of keeping things simple.) "Nevertheless, while some of them did turn to thievery–and were quite good at it, mind you–many of them were honest, hardworking folk. Quite a few of them took up trade and became merchants while others took up crafting and others still took up bodyguard duty. You see, many of these women were actually fierce warriors, and it was said that you would never want to find yourself on the receiving end of one of their blades."

"I suppose it goes without saying that they specifically lived in the Gerudo Desert?" Link asked.

"That's correct," Zelda said with a nod. "They were said to have dwelled there for many centuries. Much like the Gorons and Zoras are today, the Gerudo were once counted as one of Hyrule's proud peoples."

"So, what happened to them?" Link asked, trying to piece everything together. "I mean, they don't live in the desert anymore, do they?"

Zelda shook her head, almost looking a little sad. "I'm afraid not. Centuries ago, they mysteriously vanished from those sanded plains. There were rumors that they packed their bags and departed for another land outside of Hyrule, but it is unclear if this is truly the case. And even if it is true, it is unclear why they did this. All the history books can tell us is that the Gerudo ultimately vanished without a trace, and nobody has seen one in Hyrule since."

"Not until now, that is," Telma interjected with a knowing smirk.

Both Hero and Princess fell silent as they turned to her with curious expressions.

"Telma…what are you suggesting?" Zelda eventually asked.

"Exactly what you think," Telma replied. She then grinned. "The Gerudo have returned to their desert, my young Princess. Why, it was just the other day, in fact."

Zelda just gawked, looking stunned beyond words. Link felt rather confused too, and seeing just how startled Zelda was, he took it upon himself to ask the simple question that was on both of their minds.

"Wait, what?"

Telma merely laughed, refusing to elaborate as she basked in their confusion. She continued to wipe her empty glassware clean, almost as if she didn't have a care in the world. That was just how Telma was.

"You really ought to close your mouth, dearie," she eventually whispered to the Princess. "Before a fly crawls in there."

Zelda simply shook her head, not really in the mood for jokes. "Telma, is what you're telling us true? The Gerudo have been sighted in the desert after all of this time?"

Telma nodded. "Of course. I would never lie to you, darling."

Link just raised his eyebrows. Much like Zelda, he was having a hard time coming to terms with this information. "Where did you hear of this? From one of your patrons?"

"Nope, I heard it directly from the Gerudo themselves," Telma replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "From a lovely girl known as Kanora, to be exact. She's actually the current Chief of the Gerudo Tribe."

Zelda opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying but ultimately failing to find words. This was just too much to take in. One of Hyrule's most iconic peoples had just suddenly returned out of the blue! After having been gone for centuries! And on top of it all, they were apparently in contact with this lowly little barmaid in Castle Town?

Zelda just sighed, expelling more than a few breaths of air from lungs. She soon gave the older woman a pleading look. "Telma, this is a lot to take in. Could you please explain?"

"Sure, sweetie," Telma said with a shrug. It seemed like she had her fill of teasing the Princess for fun. "I suppose it would be best if I picked up where you left off, huh? You see, centuries ago, the Gerudo didn't truly vanish. Not like the history books say, anyway. Instead, it was the rumors that were actually on to something when they claimed that the Gerudo had departed for other lands. I heard that they became a nomadic people, fleeing their traditional desert home in order to explore other nations. They took everything they owned with them, even their children and horses, and made a long, distant journey across the land."

"And where did they go?" Zelda asked, her eyes glistening with excitement at the thought of discovering an unknown part of history.

"I can't say that I know," Telma said with a shrug. "I'm sure they settled down in places from time to time, but from what I understand, they remained nomadic and always kept moving, even as the centuries slowly ticked away. That is, until now…"

Link and Zelda slowly leaned in, eagerly awaiting what the barmaid would say next. She simply continued to grin, grateful for such an attentive audience.

"Just the other day, I received a letter from Kanora. I'm not sure what changed on their end, but she told me that the Gerudo's long pilgrimage has finally come to a close. They plan to take up residence within the Gerudo Desert, and call the Kingdom of Hyrule their home once again."

"I can't believe it," Zelda whispered, mostly to herself rather than the others next to her. "The Gerudo have finally returned to Hyrule, after all of this time…"

While Zelda was lost in this revelation and all that it entailed, Link simply frowned and turned to the barmaid. "How is it that you know so much about the Gerudo?"

Telma just laughed, as if he were asking for answers that should have been obvious. "Honey, you're looking at one."

Link had gone to take another sip of his pumpkin juice, but he almost immediately spit it back out. "What?" he asked before blinking. "You mean…you? You're…"

Zelda quickly tuned in, assisting the Hero in finishing his query. "You're a Gerudo?" she asked with mild surprise.

Naturally, Telma just laughed again. "Of course. Couldn't you tell by my glorious red hair, and my irresistible charm?"

Zelda rolled her eyes. "I…never quite picked up on that, no."

"Well then you really ought to be more attentive, honey."

Meanwhile, Link was still trying to make sense of all of this. It felt like Telma had dropped a few too many bombchus on him today. "I don't understand. Telma, if you're one of the Gerudo, then what are you doing here in Castle Town? Why aren't you with the rest of the Gerudo?"

Telma playfully shrugged before giving the young man a wink. "I'm afraid that's a private affair, honey. But I'll let you know that I'm not the only one. There's a small number of us dotted throughout Hyrule, laying low and keeping an eye on things. You see, the Gerudo never truly disappeared from this Kingdom. A few of us were here the whole time."

Once again, Zelda's eyes went wide at this revelation. To think that the Gerudo still lived in her Kingdom, even if it was such a small number. "I had no idea," she whispered.

"And that's exactly how we prefer it," Telma said with a smile. "We're not exactly keen to make ourselves known, especially when we're under cover. Oh, and I'm sure this should go without saying, but I really would appreciate it if you kept this secret to yourselves."

Zelda had to resist rolling her eyes again. She couldn't help but note the irony in Telma wanting to keep her identity a secret while so callously revealing Zelda's own. Still, the Princess planned to respect her wishes. "Very well. My lips are sealed."

Link nodded in agreement, but he still looked rather confused. "Why are you under cover though? Is there a reason why you can't reveal your identity?"

"It's just better this way," Telma said with a shrug. "Some people find the Gerudo to be untrustworthy, even though we're harmless, pretty little things." She took a second to smile innocently. "Still, some people find it easier to talk to a Hylian, so that's my facade. A friendly bar maid tucked away in one of Castle Town's alleys. It's a good position, honestly. I'm able to gather a lot of information from my patrons and then I communicate anything useful back to the Tribe."

"And how do you communicate with the Tribe?" Link asked. "This 'Kanora' or whoever."

"Why, through the mail, honey," Telma said with a laugh. "You know how reliable that dedicated little Postman of ours is, don't you?"

Link frowned as he imagined the little man running across distant landscapes, all for the sake of delivering mail. Somehow, the image seemed fitting. "True…"

A silence fell over the counter after that. The two guests seemed to be lost in thought, while Telma was content to simply gaze at the two of them. At some point, Louise climbed onto the counter, and Telma casually began petting her.

"Well, this is all very interesting," Zelda eventually spoke up. Even now, her eyes seemed a bit glazed over, as if she was still trying to fathom everything she had been told. "And I'm honestly glad that you shared this information with us. But…" She paused, thinking of how to word her question.

"Why am I telling you this?" Telma supplied before shaking her head. "Of course, leave it to our cynical little Princess to always need a reason for everything."

"Telma-" Zelda began with another sigh, but she was immediately cut off by the bar maid's snicker.

"Oh, I'm only teasing again, darling. I really did have a reason for dragging the two of you down here."

Link raised his eyebrows. "And that is…?"

Telma smirked, allowing the silence to drag on for just long enough to make their curiosity peak again. "I heard the two of you went on a little tour around the Kingdom recently," she said, almost as if she was striking up a casual conversation. "I assume you got the chance to say hello to a lot of faces, both old and new."

Zelda's eyes narrowed, but she slowly nodded. "Yes, what of it?"

"How'd you like to extend that tour? Add one more location to the list of places to visit?"

It didn't take long for the Princess to put two and two together. "You'd like us to make a trip out to the Gerudo Desert?"

Telma smirked some more. "I don't necessarily want that, but Kanora does. She asked me to contact the two of you and see if you would be interested in paying them a visit. She specifically asked for the Hero and Princess who put an end to the Twilight Invasion."

Link seemed taken aback. "Us? But…why?"

"Well, you are the famous individuals who saved the entire Kingdom, aren't you?" Telma asked while beaming at him. "It's only natural that everyone wants to know you a little better, honey."

"Naturally, I am very interested in meeting them as well," Zelda interjected. "The Gerudo have always been one of Hyrule's peoples, and we will gladly welcome them back with open arms. If they wish to meet with me, I'll speak to the Hyrule Council and arrange to take a trip out there at once."

"Delightful," Telma said as she clapped her hands together. "I'll let Kanora know to expect you. I'm sure she'll be pleased."

Zelda soon turned to the Hero with an expectant gaze. "And you'll come with me, won't you, Link?"

Link honestly felt a little hesitant about how fast things seemed to be moving. He had just returned home from the tour a few weeks ago, and now he was already being asked to embark on another adventure? All to meet someone who he didn't even know existed ten minutes ago? It almost felt too sudden, but slowly and surely he managed to come to terms with the idea. Being a Hero, he simply couldn't resist the call to adventure.

"Sure," he answered with a smile. "Tell the Gerudo I'll be happy to meet them too."

Zelda smiled back as relief washed over her. She hadn't expected the Hero to say no, but she couldn't deny that she held a small bit of doubt in her heart. Thankfully, there was no reason to be worried. It seemed that the Hero was always happy to stand by her side.

Zelda soon turned back to Telma. "I'll begin the necessary preparations for our visit then. It might take a few days, but we should be able to get everything assembled. In the meantime, is there a way for me to contact this 'Kanora' so we can let her know when to expect us?"

"It's probably better to just leave that to me, sweetie," the barmaid insisted. "I have the quickest method of contacting her, and she trusts me. If you have any messages to pass along, just send them my way."

Zelda smiled before bowing her head. "Thank you, Telma. I really appreciate it."

"Of course, honey. It's my pleasure. Just be sure to make a good impression with the Gerudo. You wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of their ire. And that goes especially for you," she said as she pointed an accusatory finger at Link. "Don't go breaking any hearts, okay honey?"

Link just blushed. He wasn't quite sure what Telma seemed to be implying, but he knew that he didn't like it. He turned to Zelda, hoping that she might come to his aid, but she seemed to have gone strangely silent as well.

Just then, a customer in the corner of the bar yelled out Telma's name. A few of the men sitting with him banged their empty mugs on the table, all while laughing and hollering.

"Tch," Telma said as she put her hands on her hips. "Seems I've been distracted for too long. Sorry, but I need to get back to attending my tables."

Zelda nodded in understanding. "Of course. We'll talk again soon, Telma."

Telma flashed the Princess a grin and threw the Hero one final wink before she strolled away from the bar. A second later, Louise lazily yawned before she rose to her feet and followed after her master.

And thus, Link and Zelda were left alone.

The Hero turned to the Princess and eyed her for a moment. To his surprise, she kept her gaze down, staring hard at the wooden countertop while her eyes were glazed over again. It was obvious that she was still lost in thought, trying to fully grasp everything that Telma had shared with them. He couldn't help but smile as he imagined the gears relentlessly turning in her mind.

"Well, what do you think?" he eventually asked, eager to discover what must be going through her head.

Zelda simply smiled back as she dismissed her daze. "I think this news is nothing short of wonderful," she said sincerely. "Link, you may not fully grasp how amazing this is, but this truly is a historic moment for Hyrule. I mean, the Gerudo have been missing for centuries, and now they've suddenly returned to us, and wish to be a part of our Kingdom again. It's just so…so exciting!"

Link couldn't help but laugh. Zelda had almost started sounding like an enthusiastic child. "Trust me, I can gather how amazing it is just from hearing you talk about it," he assured her.

"Oh, it's going to be so wonderful to meet them," she continued. "To welcome them back to their homeland. To forge a bond of friendship with them. To learn more about their culture. Surely, the reunification of our Kingdom will only grow stronger because of this. We'll stand united like never before."

Link smiled, just as he always did whenever he heard the Princess begin to speak so passionately about the betterment of Hyrule. "It sounds great, My Lady. I hope it works out."

Zelda nodded. "And you'll be willing to help?"

"Of course. I'm always happy to pledge myself to your cause."

Zelda stared at him with soft, appreciative eyes. She was about to thank him, but the moment was soon cut short as a lively group funneled in through the bar's front door. These patrons were so cheerful and noisy that they honestly put the rest of the bar to shame. They were easily the rowdiest group of the night, and they had no remorse in seating themselves right in the middle of the room, where everyone could hear their obnoxious cheers and chuckles.

Zelda simply winced at the noise. "Perhaps now would be a good time to dismiss ourselves."

Link nodded. He too felt like the atmosphere had transformed into something he did not care for. He took a moment to drain the last of his pumpkin juice before standing up. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Zelda did the same and followed him out of the bar. Once they reached the dark alley, the atmosphere shifted completely. They could still hear the cheers of the noisy patrons inside, but they were now dull and muffled thanks to the walls between them. Link and Zelda just gave each other a small smile of relief before they made their way up the stairs and back to the main thoroughfare of Castle Town. Naturally, they were both happy to be free of a place as raucous as that.

"Honestly, I'm not sure how Telma deals with it," Zelda said as they came to a stop.

Link laughed. "She's tough enough to handle customers like them. If anything, she probably appreciates their liveliness."

"Ha ha, probably," Zelda agreed. She then took a moment to glance down the main street. The market had been closed by this point, so the street was mostly empty save for a few passersby. She soon turned back to Link. "Where are you off to now? If you need a place to stay for the night, you're welcome to come to the castle."

Link shook his head. "Thanks, but I actually think I'll start making my way back to Ordon. Ilia was hoping that I wouldn't be gone for too long."

"Oh," Zelda replied. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't help but look a tad disappointed. "Will you be riding through the night?"

"Yeah," he said with a shrug. "I know my way well enough by now that there's no chance of me getting lost. And if I end up feeling tired, I can always stop and make camp."

"I see," Zelda said, slowly nodding. She hated to have to part ways with him so soon, but she supposed that there was no reason for him to stay. "In that case, I don't plan to keep you here any longer. I'll contact you once I talk to the Hyrule Council and our trip to the desert has been ironed out. Until then, farewell Link."

Zelda then turned to leave, not planning to make this goodbye any more painful than it had to be by dragging things out. However, she immediately froze when a hand reached out and secured her wrist.

"Wait a second," Link said, tugging on her wrist and turning her back around. Once she was facing him, he gladly let go. "Are you going back to the castle?"

Zelda raised her eyebrows. "Er…yes."

Link's expression softened a bit, and he almost looked a little bashful as he spoke up again. "In that case, I'll walk you to the gate."

Zelda blinked before immediately waving a hand in dismissal. "Oh, that's okay. You don't have to do that for my sake."

Link shook his head. "But it's dark out, and late at night. It wouldn't be right to send a lady on her way without an escort."

She couldn't help but smile at his modest attempt to be a gentleman. "Really, Link. I'll be okay. Even if a thief approaches me, I'm sure I could drive them off."

"I'm sure you could too," he said quietly. "But I…I just know that I would feel better if I saw you arrive safely at the castle with my own eyes."

Zelda went silent, not quite sure what to say to this. Here was the Hero, being as sweet and kind as he could possibly be. She couldn't help but feel her face start to steam a bit.

"Will you let me walk you home?" Link asked softly.

Zelda looked away, hiding her expression from him. She then thanked the Goddesses for both the cover of night and her dark hood for she was fairly certain that her face had turned as red as a tomato. "V-Very well then," she stuttered clumsily.

Link just smiled, happy to have her acceptance. "Then come along, My Lady."

In spite of her nerves, Zelda smiled too. Even now, Link was still using the title that she had insisted on for the evening.

The two of them began making their way north to the castle. By this point in the evening, the streets were quiet. Serene, even. The local pedestrians were sparse, leaving most of the roads and alleys empty. The only people out seemed to be solely intent on heading home for the night. The streets were rather dark as well, as they were only illuminated by the soft glow of lantern light. But it was a pleasant sight. Almost magical in a sense, just to see the dark buildings with orange and yellow lights in their windows: a sign that families and friends had safely returned to the comfort of each other's company for the evening.

Link and Zelda remained silent as they continued their stroll into the main square of Castle Town, where a large fountain continued to gently flow, even at this late hour. They both had a lot on their minds at the moment. For Zelda, she was consumed by her flustered feelings as well as her future plans regarding their visit to the Gerudo. Meanwhile, Link had his own troubles to dwell on. He wondered how Ilia might feel about him having to travel so soon after returning home again. It seemed like she had begun growing less tolerant of his absences over time. He was fairly certain that she would still permit him to go, but he dreaded the thought of upsetting her. He hoped that everything would work out this time around, and that once the trip was finished, things could quiet down for a while.

Before long, the pair walked beneath a grand stone arch before taking the path to the Castle Gate. Once they were in sight of the guards, Zelda came to a halt and turned to Link.

"Well, here we are," she said softly. She then nervously stared at the ground as she attempted to conjure her next words. "Um…thank you for walking me home tonight. It seems like you're always looking out for me and I…I truly appreciate it."

Link smiled modestly. "Of course. See you again soon?"

"Yes, I'll see you soon," she promised. Zelda then surprised herself by doing something completely unexpected. Her hand slowly reached up and gave Link's arm a small squeeze of affection.

As soon as she did it, Zelda just froze, as if she couldn't comprehend what had just transpired. Why had she done this? Was it because Link had grabbed her by the wrist earlier and now it felt okay to do the same to him? Was it because she wanted to show Link a physical sign of her appreciation through a gentle, innocent touch? Was it because it simply felt right in the moment? Who knew; perhaps that truly was the reason. After all, Zelda's hand seemed to have acted naturally, almost as if it was only following instincts.

Still, Zelda couldn't help but feel like this action had been far too sudden and forward of her, so as soon as the gears forcefully began turning in her mind again, she immediately released her grasp. She then quickly brought her hand back to her side, almost as if she had just stuck it into a fire or some other danger. Now her instincts were telling her to flee as fast as she could, before she embarrassed herself any further.

"F-Farewell, Link," she stuttered as she hastily turned away. She then hurried over to the gate where she showed her face to the guards who had been expecting her. They soon let her inside.

All the while, Link just stood there, feeling both surprised and confused by her sudden departure.

"Um…bye?" he said, mostly to himself.


Writing Telma is so much fun. She's just such a playful, endearing troll. I ended up taking a lot of inspiration from her when I wrote about the Gerudo in the upcoming chapters, so please look forward to seeing more of her antics manifested in other characters lol.

If anyone out there is curious as to why I decided to include the Gerudo in this story when the Gerudo don't even make an appearance in Twilight Princess, please listen to my reasoning! One, I thought it would be fun (lol), and two, the official timeline seems to suggest that the Gerudo reappear in Hyrule after the events in TP (and personally, I'm a big subscriber to the timeline). To explain a bit further, Four Swords Adventures (the game that chronologically follows TP) shows us a thriving Gerudo settlement in Hyrule. So that begs the question, why were they absent in TP if they inevitably return centuries later? Well, I came up with my own theories and plan to explain and expand upon them in the upcoming chapters. Please look forward to it :)

Also, speaking of theories, I included one in this very chapter! Telma being secretly revealed as a Gerudo. I think it's somewhat plausible based on her appearance and flirtatious personality. Also, I refuse to believe that the Gerudo all died out, and I also really like the idea of the remnants staying undercover in Hyrule and just being friendly information seekers. And Telma seems to fit that role perfectly, so I happily gifted it to her. Personally, I think it makes for a more interesting read, and I hope you all agree.

Anyway, that's enough theories and headcanons for one chapter lol. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you all next time!