Farrow squinted up at the Great Plateau, its silhouette black against the afternoon sun. She smiled. It was about this point in the path that Link had literally fallen into her life. It had only been a few weeks ago, but somehow felt like ages at the same time.

She glanced over to Link, but found his attention directed north, his face hidden by his hood. Farrow followed his gaze to the ruins of Hyrule Castle. Clouds of malice swirled around it in deceivingly gentle whisps.

"It's about here you managed to break you ankle," Farrow said, drawing his attention away from the looming reminder.

Link met her smirk with a roll of his eyes. 'I was in a hurry,' he signed.

"Sure," Farrow said. They reached the fork in the road Farrow knew was coming. The left path would lead them west and toward Rito Village. The right path would take them dangerously close to the Castle, and into known guardian territory.

Farrow shifted the reigns and Kazim trotted toward the left. After a moment she realized that she couldn't hear Midnight's hoof falls. She twisted in her saddle to see Link had pulled his horse to a stop in the fork. His eyes once again turn north.

"Hey," Farrow called, "what is it?"

Link looked to her with a frown, then back to the horizon. 'I have a feeling about that way,' he signed and pointed north.

"That's a dangerous road, Link. Too many guardians."

'I don't think its far.'

Farrow checked the sun. They had time for a detour if it wasn't too long. "Okay. But we can't go too far."

Farrow turned Kazim back around and they started down the north path. The oak forest they'd been in slowly turned to birch. The white bark seemed to glow in the sun, and beyond the tree trunks a lake glittered to the east.

Link dismounted while his horse was still moving, catching Farrow by surprise. She moved to follow, knowing Kazim would rest where she left him.

"Link," she said spotting him marching off the road and into the trees, "where are we going?"

He paused and turned to her. He signed something quick, a furrow between his brows. Farrow wasn't sure what the sign he'd used meant. Seeing her puzzled look, he quickly took out his notebook and wrote; 'I think I remember this place.'

Farrow blinked. "From before?"

Link nodded and turned back to marching through the trees. Farrow followed without further questions, not wanting to break his concentration.

If Link was able to recall more from his past, that could be helpful in fighting the Calamity. But Farrow found herself nervous on Link's behalf. It was obvious from Impa's warning that unpleasant events had filled Link's life, and Farrow didn't want him to relive that pain. But it was Link's choice, so she followed.

Link neared the lake's edge and then stepped confidently from the tree line and onto the shore. The rough stones and pebbles of the beach crunched beneath their boots. Link walked until the water lapped and his toes, then he froze.

Farrow stopped as well; her eyes locked on his back. He'd gone rigid, and Farrow found herself holding her breath. The wind tugged at Link's hood, knocking from his head but he made no move to replace it.

Then he stepped back and turned to face Farrow. She couldn't read his expression. He didn't seem upset, but he didn't seem happy either. 'I remembered Princess Zelda,' he signed. Link stepped away from the water, then sat on the beach facing the lake.

Farrow hesitated. She had no idea what might be going on in Link's head, or what to say. She decided all she could do was be there and let Link figure it out. She sat beside him.

Link rested his elbows on his knees. After a few moments of quiet he lifted his hands. 'I felt,' he signed then paused and withdrew his notebook. 'Disconnected,' he wrote.

Farrow frowned. "What did you remember?"

'We were here,' he wrote, 'and on our way to the Gorons. She seemed stressed. She asked about the sword I had, and if I could hear the voice from it.'

"A voice from the sword?" Farrow asked. "Was it the master sword Impa mentioned?"

Link nodded. 'It was.' His expression remained flat. 'I remembered it, but I didn't feel,' he stopped writing and frowned at the page.

Farrow hummed and looked to the lake. "Did it… not feel like you in the memory? Is that what you meant by disconnected?"

Link nodded once and put the notebook and charcoal away. They sat there for some time, listening to the water lap at the shore. Farrow had the feeling Link needed time to process, and this was as good a place as any. Wind rustled the birch trees behind them. Across the water a trio of cranes took flight, their long forms skirting over the glimmering lake. Farrow checked the sun on occasion, but otherwise let her mind drift.

A scratch of paper drew her attention back to Link. Farrow watched him sketch something in the notebook. When it was done, he turned it to her. It was a sword; its hilt swooping like a pair of wings and a symbol inscribed on the blade at the base. Link had written 'master sword' underneath.

"Well, we know what it looks like now," Farrow said. "That's definitely good to know."

Link took a deep breath and rose. He offered his hand and helped Farrow to her feet.

'Is the stable far,' he signed as they walked back through the woods. 'I'm dying to sleep in a bed.' He stretched his back with a pained look.

Farrow snorted. "Not far now. And you'd better appreciate it for the night, the next stable is at least three days from here."

Link sighed.

((0))

The next morning Farrow drifted awake to the chatter of people and the comforting smell of horse and dirt. She allowed herself a moment to bask in the comfort of the bed and the warmth of the blankets. Then she sighed and sat up.

The few other travelers that had spent the night at the stables were all in various stages of ready for the day. Some were slipping on their boots, others were already gone, leaving only a rumpled bed. Farrow yawned and looked to the bed to her right.

Link's blonde hair stuck up like weeds from a fold in his blankets. The rest of him was hidden in a pile of pillows and fabric.

"Link," Farrow said, her voice scratchy from sleep, "wake up."

The tuft of blonde disappeared into the lump of blankets.

"Link," Farrow groaned. When she got no further response she sighed and swung her legs over the side of her bed. She slipped on her boots and debated the best way to rouse her companion. Farrow laced her boots, stood, and strode away from their beds.

She returned moments later with arms full of wriggling dog. Farrow dropped the retriever, named Bell she'd learned, onto the bed.

Bell seemed to understand his mission, and began shoving his nose through the tangle of fabric. His tall wagged, signaling he'd found a face to lick. Moments later a spluttering Link surfaced from the bed, grinning as the dog continued to assail him.

Farrow took the opportunity to drop his boots in his lap. "Hurry and wake up or I'm making breakfast."

Link grimaced at the threat, gave Bell one more pat, and stood up to get ready for the day.

Minutes later, Link shooed Farrow away from the cooking fire and started on breakfast. He whipped together something he called an 'omelet,' using some eggs and mushrooms they'd found the day before. Farrow thought it just seemed like a scrambled egg pancake, but it was good and she inhaled it.

Once breakfast was eaten and their bags were packed, Link said goodbye to Bell and they were on the road.

The morning air still held a chill to it, and Farrow knew it was only a hint of the cold to come. Her cold weather clothes were in her saddle bag, but she'd have to find a trader with something warm for Link. She was hoping someone at the stable would have something, but they had been out of luck.

They'd been on the road for just under an hour when a trader appeared in the road ahead, walking with his donkey in their direction. He passed them, his nose buried in his map. Farrow frowned. She could have sworn she had seen him at the stable last night. Was she mistaken, or was he back tracking?

"Hey," Farrow said, catching Link's attention, "was that guy at the stables last night?"

Link twisted in his saddle to glance back at the man and shrugged.

"I think he was there last night." Farrow scanned the road ahead. "Keep an eye out. Not sure why he turned around."

Link nodded and turned his gaze to the road ahead as well.

Farrow caught the smell of fire on the wind just before the trees cleared. Ahead on the path a small cluster of travelers gathered at the cliff's edge. They all faced the place Manhala Bridge used to be. All that remained of it was a blackened skeleton of the scaffolding, some beams still smoldering.

Farrow pulled Kazim to a halt, and Link did likewise.

"Damn it," Farrow swore. She ran a hand through her hair. This was the only bridge that fed west for miles. The only other option was many days north, and through guardian territory. Farrow whipped out her map in the vague hope she was mistaken.

Link leaned over her shoulder, his eyes scanning her map as well. He pointed to Carok Bridge and shot Farrow a questioning look.

"Yeah," Farrow said, "I think that's our only option. Unfortunately, that is a very dangerous route. It's the one I wanted to avoid yesterday." She scanned the ruins of the bridge and sighed. That was going to take months to repair. They didn't have months.

"We're heading back to the stables," Farrow decided. "We'll have to go on foot. And we'll need to prepare." She flicked her reigns and turned Kazim back around on the path.

Farrow glanced back once. How had the bridge burned? There was always the possibility of a lightning strike, but there hadn't been a storm last night.

Link waved to get her attention. 'I don't think it was . . .' Link used an unfamiliar sign.

"Storm?" Farrow guessed. Link nodded.

"I don't think so either," Farrow said.

Link pulled his hood down further. 'Yiga?'

Farrow opened her mouth to answer, then reconsidered. 'Maybe,' she clumsily signed back.

Link shot her a slight smile at the sign, but it faded just as fast.

They spent the rest of their trip back to the stables scanning the trees in silence.

((0))

Farrow organized their packs for the third time. They had decided to keep weapons and shield ready and available, but all other supplies, like food and clothes, had been stored in the Sheikah Slate when no one was looking. They'd gotten one more good night of sleep at the stables, and this time Link needed no rousing.

Farrow had agonized over the decision to travel on the horses, or on foot, but she decided the best way to handle the Guardians was to not be spotted at all. The horses would make them faster, but also easier to see. And a Guardian could easily outrun a horse in any case.

The goal would be to slip through the western edge if Hyrule Field without being seen at all. Another set back was that Farrow had never used the northern bridge before. She would be flying blind on this leg of the journey.

Leaving Kazim behind was hard, despite the logic. It had been years since she'd been without him for any real length of time. But she'd be back, and he'd be safe here in the meantime.

Farrow led Link north from the stables and off the path. There was a small bridge that cut over to Hyrule Field they could use, and after that she intended to avoid the roads. They would use the trees for cover and hunker down at night.

The shade of the forest fell over them and the leaves whispered in the gentle morning breeze.

A small group of bokoblins had made camp near the bridge. There were only three, so she and Link had each picked one to fire on from the tree line, and the third fell a moment later to both their arrows. No other monsters emerged from the brush and Farrow felt her confidence grow. Maybe this wouldn't be a disaster.