Ch.4

The Sword of Four

By: Cutegirlmayra1 (if your reading this then you must like this story, please still care about this story T-T)

Link had gathered firewood and placed another big log on it. Coming back to Zelda, she had attempted to break the chains on her wrist and ankles, sadly to no freedom. "Do you… think your sword could break it?" she asked, seeming a bit hopeless and trying to come up with as many options of escape as possible. Link nodded, and only smiled to put her at ease, he hated seeing her struggling so much. He placed her wrist on a stump of tree that must have been cut down years ago. He held his sword and looked at her, she looked a little faint. "You.." she gulped, "won't miss… right?"

"…close your eyes, I can't have you tensing when I strike…" was his only response, though he knew he wouldn't miss, her fear could make her move suddenly and there was a possibility of injury. Which wasn't an option for Link.

"Won't that make it even scarier?" she muttered to him, looking up with pleading eyes.

"….Don't move then. Alright? I vow I won't hurt you, ever." he concentrated on her wrist, holding it down tightly but not to the point of hurting her. He couldn't look at her, she would distract him with her pleading eyes, which just added to his anxiety to get her out of the chain. He held his sword up, and with a quick strike, the chain split. Zelda closed her eyes shut and looked away, holding her breath till she heard the chain crack.

She turned around excitedly, "Is it off?". Link set his sword down and pushed the crack wider, it soon was big enough for her to wiggle her hand out. She let out a happy gasp of freedom as she held up her hand and felt her wrist with her other chained hand. "The rest please?" she said smiling, holding her other hand out.

"..you never did tell me-" he swung the sword, this time Zelda only flinched as it cracked the chain's metal again. "what really happened between you and my other." his voice never wavered, but in his heart he was worried, for someone to chain up Zelda… how could he be even a little of himself?

"….that's…" she wiggled her other hand out and placed it on her neck. Link followed the hand to the area she was covering. Curiosity got the better of him and he removed her hand quickly, "Link!.. Hey…" she stopped herself as she saw the concern and almost over protectiveness in Link's eyes when he saw the scrape on her neck.

"…Did he do this..?" he asked, he was trying to not clinch his teeth together and show Zelda how angry he was. His whole body tensed, chained was one thing, hurt was an entirely different story…

"Link… I baited him! Without that arrow, I wouldn't of-"

"Arrow!?" he looked up at her, his glare was intense and it made Zelda move back a little. "He fired at you?"

"I needed the arrow, Link. It was what helped me unlock the prisons bars…" she gently placed a worried hand on his shaking face. "Link, calm down. I'm fine. I'm with you now…" she caringly ran her fingers down his cheek to his neck, making him take a deep breath and move back slightly.

"…Sorry… but…" he looked away and then back at her. He grabbed her hand, "It could've been worse, and you know that."

She looked at him with a kind smile and then down with a blush, "My Link, your so concerned for me. It makes me.. kind of.. happy." for a moment, They didn't look at each other. Then, Zelda giggled and swung her leg up on the log, startling Link and making him blush at her leg being extended up and to the side of him. "Don't you still have a princess to free?" she said with a lot of charm. She wiggled her foot, "I'm waiting…" he smiled and looked away, shaking his head.

He readied his sword and grinned back to her saying, "Your wish is my command."

In the darkness of a nearby tree, one that Epona was right in front of, Dark link and Dark Zelda appeared out of the mist and rose up behind the tree. Epona's head came up from grazing and her ears searched the jungle for the same sinister feeling and sounds she thought she heard.

The Dark Zelda cooed beside Dark Link, wondering why he had stopped instructing her. He placed a finger lovingly on her lips and whispered, "Shush.. That horse has ears like a bat. If she picks up on us this whole operation is jeopardized." she stroked his chest and pouted cutely up at him. He huffed at her antics and smirked as he took her hand off of his chest, "Leave that for my other." he said, putting his finger up to her chin and making her look dead in his eyes, "Now, be a dear… and wait right here." Dark Link made his way through the shadows again, he snuck up in shadow form near the camp fire, seeing Link and Zelda talking while he removed the last chain off her ankle. She seemed to be thanking him as Dark Link moved a little closer. However, the fire sparked and it's light made him shriek like a demonic monster and he quickly dashed into the shadows of a nearby bush.

Both Link and Zelda looked around, Epona trotted over, hitting the ground as if trying to kill a mouse. "A creature?" inquired Zelda, looking to Link.

"Must of been, Epona is known for chasing things, small or large." Link responded, getting up to calm her. While he stroked Epona to relax her, Dark Link hissed in his shadow form as he crawled through the ground. He finally found what he was looking for though, a cliff. He smiled as his figure moved over the ledge and was now on the split of ground. "kehkehkehkeh~" he laughed as he zoomed back to his position with Dark Zelda, rising out of the shadows with dark mist following him as he took on a physical form again. He adjusted his gloves as the fake Zelda ran up to him and seemed to cuddle up to him as she grabbed his arm. "Well, my dear. The stage has been set. All we need now.. Is that blasted sun." he looked up and frowned at the sky. "Your debut," he put his hand back on her chin and lifted it up to himself. "is coming soon."

Link had created some kind of bed, or more like nest, ground in two different locations, one for him and Zelda. He motioned her to get in it and sleep, she looked at him funny and then the bed of leaves. "This is.. A bed?" she said, starting to miss her pampered life style.

Link rolled his eyes, "Camping is not for everyone, but I do hope you try to enjoy it instead of endure it. Haha." he laughed silently to himself as he entered his own leafy bed and began to get settled. Zelda followed his motions and did the same, but she looked uncomfortable.

"…Well, goodnight.." she stated, but she knew she wouldn't get any sleep. Epona moved over to where Link was about to sleep. She stepped in the bed with one hoof, then started to sniff at Link's head. Once she was able to accept that he was going to go to sleep in safety, she made her way over to Zelda. "What is she doing?" Zelda giggled a bit as Epona's head went in to sniff her, she tried to gently push it away but Epona just put one leg over her and dug her head all over the bed. "Hahaha! What is with your horse?" she happily said, completely being unable to move Epona's head from her face.

"Haha, I'm guessing she's making sure your alright for the night, and I don't think she likes you not cooperating." he turned his body over and stuck his head out from his bed to watch his favorite women playing.

"Hehe, well tell her to stop horsing around!" she moved her head away by moving her head up, then she got up a bit as Epona looked up to her as well. Zelda stroked her long face and Epona huffed and neighed in what seemed to be delight or maybe she was just contented that Zelda looked fine. Epona then moved over next to Zelda's bed, Zelda moved around to look behind her and see what she was doing. Epona slowly moved her butt down, and then her whole body as she turned herself, legs flopping around in mid air, and rolled around in the leaves. "Ah, Link! Your horse is trying to roll over on me!"

"Nah, she just wants to sleep with you." Link said, moving onto his back after watching the fun going on over yonder. He put his hands behind his head and watched the stars above him. 'I kind of know how that feels.. Being left out of the fun and all..' he thought to himself, but even if he said it would be safer if he was closer to her, Zelda would have been very uncomfortable sleeping so close to him. But then again, he might of been more nervous then her, so maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to have separate beds after all.

"Well, I think she just wants the bed! Or worse, she's messing with me by pushing my buttons.. Ah! Haha, Epona!" she tried pushing Epona away, but ended up laughing to much as the horse seemed to take up almost the whole bed. "Alright alright, seems like I've been kicked out." she moved away, dusting herself off and looking to Link. "Do you mind?" she asked, gesturing to his side.

His eyes grew wide, he quickly scrambled to make room for her, "P-please, I don't mind!" he slowly sat back down, his expression one of total surprise and bliss. Once she was next to him, he pushed himself a little more up and mouthed a thank you to Epona. She neighed.

"The stars shine so brightly, don't they? I wonder what for…" Zelda asked out loud, then looked fondly to Link. "Hey, do you think that if I tried to play connect the dots with the stars, I might form a picture?" she seemed to be absolutely honest about trying it, making Link chuckle.

"You can try. When I was a boy, the Great Deku tree told us, the kokiri, stories about how stars tell stories. But I wasn't quite sure how they did. Maybe your picture could be a story I heard, or maybe the star's themselves are the stories. All I know is that they each tell a child's story. When that child dies, a new star is born to report to the world that child's life. The Great Deku tree told us these people's stories so we could learn from there decisions the means of right and wrong." Link suddenly realized he was talking a lot, "Sorry, since I've gotten my voice I can't stop talking… it-uh.. Must be annoying to you." he looked at her. From below him, and having her head turned toward his chest with her hands on her belly since she to was on laying on her back, Zelda looked up at him with fond eyes that seemed to linger on each word he said.

She shook her head and smiled, "Oh no, I happen to enjoy hearing stories, and since I've never heard you really speak before, it's almost like a blessing to hear from you now.. In your own words, and not your fairies." she turned her head back to the stars. "..I'm sorry.. I know I'm the reason Navi took off like that.. I wish we could tell her it was just a misunderstanding…" Link looked away, Navi knew he loved Zelda, why would she get so jealous now? Why not tell him before? But instead of being mad he was really, really worried and sad. She was out there all alone, and for this long, who knows what she could be suffering in this unknown land. He just prayed she was okay.

"She… she'll be fine. She's a strong girl, even without me she's always had a lot of determination. She'll come back when she's ready to face me, I suppose." He tried not to show Zelda how scared he was, that Navi might be hurt or never come back. But Zelda seemed to sense his concern, and sat up a little to turn to him.

"… She's very special to you too, huh?"

"…."

"You should tell her that. She's probably only jealous of me because she thinks I hold a more special part in your heart then her. Girls like to feel special, and when someone makes them question where they stand in that boys heart, they tend to get scarred and want reassurance that they won't get replaced." Zelda stroked the hair on the side of Link's face, trying to calm him. "She'll return, but it's best if you find her and mend her heart first, without me." she moved her hand, and leaned close to his ear, "I'll be fine, but it's your job as a hero to save all my people. Even the smallest, little fairy." Link turned his head up to her, she quickly moved her face away as he turned and smiled, "Just remember, girls can be very unpredictable. It's best to be ready for any scenario they may or may not place you in. I just gave you information that a lot of men would kill for." she smugly turned back onto her back and laid down. Link looked at her fondly and smiled at her last remark. He took a chance and moved his arm under her head to hold her up to him, since she was about to sleep anyway might as well use him as a pillow right? She didn't seem to be bothered with it. "Now, you never did say goodnight."

He smiled, and pulled out his ocarina.

"Hey… that's my-"

He played her lullaby, and it wasn't long before she was sound asleep beside him, with a small smile, breathing quietly. He moved his head beside her ear and whispered, "Goodnight, Princess." and fell asleep himself, at this moment, Epona got up after sitting so long and wondered over. Link hoped she wouldn't try to lay down again, that was bad for a horse anyway. But she didn't, she just stood behind the two, a caring and watchful supervisor.

The next Morning…

As Link and Zelda helped one another pack up, Link couldn't help but laugh to himself at Zelda's bed hair. She kept snapping at him not to, and covering her hair with her hands, though it didn't help. Once everything was loaded back onto Epona and the campfire put out, they started on foot toward heading out of the jungle.

"You sure Navi would head this way? Out of the jungle I mean." Asked Zelda, looking at Link who had a map in his hands. He nodded, stating that Navi wouldn't like to be alone in a scary place, especially the jungle of the destructive nation. "Speaking of the nation,.." Zelda suddenly began, neither of them noticing how a strange shadow was moving them slowly off course with gentle tugging of there own shadows. "I hear Shard wants war. Since I'm not in any way, shape, or form going to marry him! My father must declare war now, the people won't have my kidnapping go without retaliation." she stated quite firmly.

"Hyrule, at war?" questioned Link, holding Epona's reins and not noticing how she, too, was being moved off course with them.

"It's bound to happen now, by kidnapping me he has brought this upon his people and our own. Besides, Hyrule needs to show a bit of a back bone after all these years."

"So.. Otis was right, you did speak of war when Shard visited your castle…"

"Who..?" she looked at him curiously.

"Otis, he said he heard you talking to your father about war when Shard went to see you. He's a gardener..?"

"Link… are you seriously telling me that an old man who once gardened the temple of time, was spying on me and my father at that time?"

"…Yes..?" he looked at her in confusion.

"Link… at that time, all the servants had a day off. He couldn't of been working at the castle. Not to mention I usually enjoy doing the garden work as a hobby, no one does that but me usually… but I do suppose my dad could of hired someone.. Still.." she looked away, then realized she rambled off and started talking to herself and embarrassedly looked back at Link. "Opps! Sorry, sometimes I-"

"Tend to think out loud to myself? Haha," he smiled, "you never change. That's good to know, after so many years…"

"You remember that long ago..?"

"I always remember a time with you, that one in particular." he noticed the trees weren't around them anymore, and looked around questioningly. 'Wait.. Are we off course..?'

"R-really..? That's very sweet of yo-AHHHHHH!" Zelda suddenly was caught off mid-sentence as she feel down a cliff, rolling and tumbling downward.

"Zelda!" Link was about to jump down and help her, when suddenly a large Shadow giant appeared behind him, holding two large cubs. "Erk, Epona! Go!" he gave the command and Epona wobbled back and forth, not wanting to leave his side but also wanting to obey. "Go!" he drew his sword and Epona kicked up her hindlegs and neighed as she raced down the cliff to help Zelda.

At the bottom, Zelda noticed the cliff tilted to an angle, though she still slid down the cliff she was hammered by the impact of the new slope. She reached out her hands and grabbed a twig, thankful it was growing there. But then she felt a hand grab at her shoulder, when she turned around, her face was looking at her, sticking out her tongue as Dark Link smirked and knocked her out with the hilt of his sword. He caught her from falling and motioned with his head for Dark Zelda to take her place. "Now, call for help. And remember, kill him when you know he lest suspects it. You'll only have one try so get it right!" he flung himself off the cliff, below was an even bigger drop that fell thousands and thousands of feet down to another level of the jungle. He was caught by a rubied skinned dragon and on his back they flew off without anyone seeing.

Link dashed under the Giants feet as he tried to swing his long cubs all over the place in front of him. He stopped to look around and then below his feet, "HYAH!" Link lashed some of his under thigh and the monster stumbled back, roaring his pain. This would be a fine time for Navi to show up,… again. He dashed back under the giant, still just randomly swinging his clubs and looking dumbly furious at Link. Once under he saw the Giant bend over to check out where Link was going again, and he jumped high up onto his back. The giant let out a, "Huh?" and Link strode up the back and slashed at his neck. Then climbed his thick matted strands of hair that hit his shoulders and stabbed the head. The creature dispersed into mist, and Link fell through it quickly, screaming. He hit the ground with a thud, and his whole body ached. He looked around though, frantically, seeing if Epona had caught Zelda. "Zelda!" he shouted out.

"Link~!" her voice responded, and from the cliff, Epona slowly made her way up. Zelda was on her back, waving her hand in the air real high. Something was strangely different about her. "Did you miss me? Hehe!"

Link let out a sigh of relief, running over to her. He patted Epona's neck, "Are you alright?" he huffed out.

"…Never better, now that you're here…" she bent down and kissed his forehead. The biggest blush came on Link face as he stumbled away.

"Uh…"

"Hehe, what? That was reward you for being so concerned over me." she winked and giggled.

'Link… Link get away from me.. Please Link…RUN!'