Chapter 8- Journey to Hyrule Castle

Picture credits: https://www.deviantart.com/p-olak/art/Zelda-Oot-Hyrule-Field-200110021

Chapter 8

Journey to Hyrule Castle

Link just wanted to go home. Weeks ago, the chance to adventure into the wide and unknown expanse of Hyrule would have filled him with wonder. Home meant safety, where his biggest worry was a bully named Mido and his not-terribly bright lackeys. Mido didn't seem like a big deal compared to what Link had encountered since venturing out of the forest. Did the Great Deku Tree make a mistake? Had he been so close to death that he'd been unable to think straight? It was possible, Link thought. Perhaps he was never meant to leave the forest. But then... No. Saria had known he would leave, and so had Kaepora.

The mizzle that persisted through the small hours of the night dampened his mood. He sat in the doorway of the stables, his arms sore after an hour of helping move boxes into Talon's cart. He hadn't slept much, but he did not want to rest either. Resting just made him anxious, and working gave him something to do. His hand still stung, despite the salve Ciara had given him, and he still reeked of smoke, even after rinsing himself off. It was impossible to keep his thoughts from drifting to the previous night, like his mind was playing a cruel joke and forcing him to relive those horrible memories over and over. So Link did what he could to distract himself, but it wasn't easy.

The boxes Link had been carrying were laden with bottles of milk and enchanted red ice. Navi told him that only mage fire could make it melt, and it helped keep the bottles of milk cold. They were also quite heavy, and Link only managed to load three boxes onto the cart. On his fourth run, he tripped straight over a chicken. Both the crate and the boy went crashing to the earth, bottles tumbling from the box with a loud crash, milk splashing across the ground. The chicken hobbled off to its coop, clucking angrily all the while. Talon came rushing over, as did Tingle, the cat. The cat was only interested in quickly lapping up the milk before it soaked into the ground. Talon shooed the animal away, earning a sulky glare from the feline.

Despite Talon's assurances that it was an accident and not a big deal, Link felt like a clumsy idiot.

Talon sent him to sit down and have a rest, leaving him to the company of Navi and one of the rancher's friendlier hounds, the same one that had kept drooling on his face in the middle of the night. Nosy was a young, sprightly dog with a white patch of fur upon his muzzle. Having given up on trying to convince Link to throw a stick and growing bored of chewing on Link's boots, he was now sitting with his head resting on Link's lap, staring with doleful puppy eyes.

Getting the hint, Link yielded to the dog's request and idly scratched its ears. Nosy closed his eyes, grunting with doggy contentment.

Link watched Malon and Talon as they made their final preparations to depart. Talon was harnessing a horse, yawning loudly as he did so. Judging from Ingo's gruff tones, Talon had somehow tangled the horse in its harness. Malon quickly came over and offered to fix the problem, leaving the two adults to keep grumbling. Nobody was in a particularly good mood, not even Malon. She was usually the one to jump at the chance to cheer Link up, but now she was just as lost as he was.

"Come on, Link," Talon called as he checked the tack. "Climb on the back, and we'll be off."

"Sorry, Nosy," Link said. He stopped scratching the dog and got up. Nosy lay down in the straw, tail wagging, and rolled onto his back in a gesture of, "Can you scratch my belly?"

Link almost obliged, but Talon called, "Hurry up, lad! We can't stand around here all day getting nothing done."

Link could have sworn he saw Ingo pause and raise an eyebrow, the wagon's cargo briefly forgotten. Talon, none the wiser, was already walking off towards one of the storehouses. Ingo followed after him, whistling a command to Nosy. The dog took off, trotting towards the farmhand. Link trudged wearily over to the cart and clambered onto it. Navi landed on top of one of the boxes, her eyes inadvertently drifting to the blackened ruins. Link didn't follow her gaze. He wanted to block out the memory of what had happened. With the heavy smell of smoke still wafting from the wreckage, that was no easy task.

Earlier, they had spent a short time sifting through the ruins, trying to see if they could salvage anything. The farmhands had helped Talon do this, insisting that Link and Malon didn't need to join them.

There had been little left to find, save an odd toy critter that belonged to Malon. Link's first impression was of a small pillow with a leaf-like embroidery fashioned to resemble a face. Malon called it a Korok. Somehow, it had survived the inferno unscathed, unlike most of the trinkets they found.

Malon was walking towards him, wearing a large cloak over her dress to keep out the winter chill. The woollen cloak was too large for her and dragged along the ground. She held a bundle in her hands, offering it to Link.

"Here," she said, proffering the spare cloak. "Da' says you'll catch a cold if you don't wear something warmer."

"Thanks," Link replied, throwing the woollen garment around his shoulders. It was warm, snug, and very heavy.

"How am I supposed to move in this?" he grumbled quietly. He might as well be wearing an entire rug, but at least it was warm.

Malon climbed up beside him. They sat for a while, each lost in their thoughts, the silence almost stifling. Link was glad when the crunch of earth announced Talon's arrival.

"All right, I think we're as prepared as we can be," Talon said, glancing at the ruined farmhouse and then at the two children. "We push hard, and maybe we'll catch a hot meal at the other end. How's that sound?" He offered a smile, but it wavered slightly, never reaching his eyes.

"You said that last time," Malon complained sourly. "We ended up with cold stew."

"You're right, Malon," Talon conceded sheepishly, his grin slipping slightly. "But if we're fast enough, we'll reach the inn before it closes. I have a good feeling we'll be there with plenty of time to spare."

Malon crossed her arms, scepticism plain on her face. Before Talon could respond, the rest of their small party arrived, distracting him.

"What happened last time?" Link asked as Talon marched up to take his place on the wagon seat.

"He fell asleep waiting for Uncle Belon at the castle..." Malon said quietly.

"And we ended up bringing that damned rooster home after it finished waking me up," Talon called back. "Your uncle was glad to get rid of the noisy thing. It still crows at all hours."

Link recognised the rooster from the story. It was kept in another coop on a separate part of the ranch, where it wouldn't disturb anyone.

At last, Talon spoke a command to his horse, and the wagon trundled out the gates. Link sat in silence, watching the walls of Lon Lon grow smaller. Soon, the cart rounded a hill, and both town and ranch vanished from sight.

As the morning mist cleared, it revealed the verdant meadows of Hyrule Field beneath a cold winter sky. The frost that still clung to the grass glimmered in the dawn light.

Five soldiers rode beside the cart like an honour guard, dressed in full armour with helms that covered their faces. Ciara also joined their sombre group. She rode at the head of the party, preferring a small amount of solitude.

They were nearly a third of the way to Kakariko when Malon finally spoke.

"Father says he's taking me to Ordon after he finishes his deliveries tomorrow," Malon said. "I'm going to stay with my cousins for a while."

"Is he going to stay with you?" Navi asked, seizing the opportunity to make conversation.

"I hope so," Malon said, staring away from Link. "My cousins are kind of annoying."

"What makes you say that?" Navi queried, sounding curious.

Malon shrugged. "They just are."

"Oh."

The heavy silence returned, and it seemed half an eternity before Malon spoke again. She drew a deep breath, fiddling idly with her dishevelled hair.

"You were really brave, fairy boy..." Malon said quietly, almost taking Link by surprise. "Last night, I mean."

Link didn't want to talk about last night, but he chose not to get mad at Malon for bringing it up. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't banish the oily scent of burning flesh, the smoke, or the crackling flames from his mind. Thinking of the way the Gerudo screamed, her shriek of agony as she writhed and burned, chilled him to the core. Link disguised his shivering by wrapping the cloak tighter about himself, hoping it didn't look like fear.

"I woke when I heard someone turning the door handle," Malon said, a slight quiver in her voice. "I thought maybe it was you or Dad... but I never thought-"

Her voice faltered, and she looked away.

"There was someone else in the house?" Navi finished for her.

Malon gave the barest nod, still looking away and not uttering a single word in reply.

"I was scared too," Link admitted. It was stupid, really. He was supposed to be brave, but he wasn't. If he was brave, why couldn't he just shrug off last night's events? Swallowing, he tried to change the subject. "What about Epona? Is she going to Ordon with you?"

"No. She's staying on the ranch. Bernard and Gavin will take good care of her," Malon said. "They like Epona. Ingo only hates her because she kicks him every time he gets close enough. Most of the horses don't like him."

"I wonder why?" Navi muttered sarcastically.

Link gave her a look, but before she could respond, the wagon came to a sudden halt. Talon's horse - Swift - moved a few steps, snorting and whinnying as she did so. Even from where he was, Link could sense that the animal was afraid. His mouth went dry.

"What's going on?" Malon asked, fear tinging her voice.

"It's all right, just wait here," Talon called over his shoulder. "I'm just going to check something, and then we'll be off again."

"Check what?" Navi asked, zipping up into the air to get a better look.

Gerudo? Link thought apprehensively. Knowing it wouldn't help Malon, he tried not to let his fear show, but it was a hopeless effort. The chill seeping into his bones had little to do with the crisp winter air. Link scanned the horizon, but nothing threatening emerged from the surrounding hills. Nobody else shared the road, and there had been no outcry from the guards. So what was wrong?

"The guards spotted something, that's all," Navi said as she too scoped out their surroundings.

For the first time, Link could hear voices raised in consternation. It sounded like the guards were having an argument. Link considered clambering on top of the crates to have a look, but then decided that was a bad idea. Instead, he jumped off the wagon.

"What are you doing?" Malon shouted. "Da' said to wait!"

"I'm not going far!" he called over his shoulder.

He rounded the front of the cart. The first thing he noticed was that Talon's black mare was gazing ahead with wary eyes. The cause of her concern seemed to be the guards who'd clustered around something. The horse was beginning to shy, her head flicking in agitation, prompting Malon to clamber into the front of the cart.

Talon, who was halfway to the guards, called out, "What is it?"

"A deer," one guard called back. "Not much left of it."

"Poor thing," Talon said with dismay. "Must've run afoul of a bear."

"This doesn't look like the work of a bear," another man said, stepping sideways to make room for Talon. "Look here." He gestured at the ground. "I might not be a tracker, but I can tell those aren't bear pawprints."

Link tried to catch a glimpse of the deer, but there were too many people crowded around it. He wandered towards the group, noticing Ciara standing in their midst.

He finally caught sight of the deer and suddenly wished he'd stayed put. Just as the guard had said, there was hardly anything recognisable left. Nothing but congealed blood, bone, and bloodied fur. Bile rose in his throat, and Link turned away, unable to get the disturbing picture out of his mind. Wherever he looked, there were signs of struggle. Specks of blood splattered the flattened grass, and not far away, hoofprints marked where the deer's flight had ended in blood and pain.

There were paw prints too, far too large for an average farm dog, and oddly shaped for a wolf.

"Wolfos," Navi muttered with a grimace.

Link looked around at the guards. One of them appeared to have reached the same conclusion, though the others weren't so easily convinced.

"It was definitely a Wolfos," Ciara affirmed, crouching to examine the prints.

"Gods," one of the guards swore. "Never heard of them beasts travelling this far south of the mountains before. First the raids, then a bloody Gerudo attacks Lon Lon. Now more Wolfos? This isn't normal. It's witchcraft, I tell you... err... meaning no offence, my lady."

That last comment was directed at Ciara.

"The king has to do something soon, or people will be in an uproar," said another guard.

"I'm sure he will." The faintest trace of worry betrayed Ciara's stoic countenance.

Link looked around, half expecting a Wolfos to come charging out of the grass and attack. He could almost feel the beast's hot breath against the nape of his neck, the sudden agony as its jaws clenched shut on him. He'd die... just like the deer whose bloodied remains lay scattered in the grass. Close as he was, Link noticed the stench of blood that hung in the air, and it was little wonder Swift was afraid. Before he could stop himself, Link was breathing unsteadily, his nerves stretched taut.

"Link! I thought I told you to stay where you were."

Link jumped and whirled around, almost stumbling backward. He managed to bite back a startled yell, but even then, the shame of nearly breaking down in front of Talon gnawed at him. The man was standing behind Link, worry written across his face.

"It's alright, boy," he said, offering Link a gentle pat on the back. "C'mon, let's get you back in the wagon."

"Are we going to be attacked by Wolfos?" Link blurted out, voicing his uncertainty. He didn't feel courageous; this sort of thing just wasn't supposed to happen to a Kokiri. It was an effort not to break down crying, and that would've made him feel even more ashamed.

Talon regarded him for a moment, his expression grim. He traded a glance with Navi and sighed.

"I should'a made sure you didn't see that," he said quietly, sounding annoyed with himself. "Wasn't a pretty sight, poor thing." He glanced back at the deer and then gently added, "We have some of the finest soldiers in Hyrule and a Sheikah with us. They'll keep us safe, you'll see."

With a hearty grin, he clapped Link on the shoulder and steered him back towards the cart. "Come, lad, on you get."

"You okay?" Navi asked him quietly as they reached the wagon.

"Fine," Link muttered, joining Malon on her perch. She looked about ready to say something, but her worried eyes conveyed her pity.

Link wasn't fine, and judging by her pained expression, Navi knew he wasn't.

~ 0 ~

As Talon had promised, there were no further signs of any Wolfos. Despite this, Link couldn't help but notice how the guards were now spread out, their banter muted and postures alert. Link didn't remember taking out his slingshot, but for the longest time, he sat with the weapon in hand, idly turning it over and over as he gazed at the countryside.

"Would you put that away?" Navi hissed after a time, landing on his shoulder and giving the slightest nod towards Malon, who was casting glances at the slingshot and chewing her lip.

Link put the weapon away, and the trio - Navi included - fell into another forlorn silence.

Afternoon finally came. It was mild for a winter's day, and soon Link didn't need his cloak anymore. Navi convinced Link to practise his ocarina with Malon, which they did for a short time, and then they stopped by the bridge across the Zora River's wide expanse, deciding to let the horses rest. For Talon, this meant a good opportunity to take a nap.

Link took this chance to clamber down the stony bank, hoping to quickly wash his face. He noticed a few children fishing nearby under the watchful eye of their parents, who were wringing out laundry. Some of the younger children were splashing each other with water, laughing themselves giddy with glee, or chasing their attackers and screaming with delight as they ran.

I wish it were like that for me, Link thought with a pang. Not a care in the world.

Aside from angry mothers, or so Link discovered when one particularly brazen child got hold of a wooden shield, placed it at the top of the hill, and dared his younger sibling to jump on. One push later, and the younger child was shrieking and laughing all the way down the hill. It was the kind of thing Forenz would have done. In fact, he had once, only for the Kokiri on the shield to go crashing straight into a bush and come out covered in thorns. That hadn't quite been part of the plan; Forenz hadn't factored in what would happen if the shield stopped abruptly at the bottom of the slope. Nor had Link.

Nobody crashed into a bush this time, but the younger boy on the shield nearly ended up in the river after his brother, who had been waiting at the river's edge to stop him, darted out of the way. One of the women seated nearby saw this and shrieked at the two children, dropping her basket and marching over faster than Link would have thought possible. 

"Can we try that?" Link asked Navi, eyeing his own shield. 

"No." That was Navi's only response.

Navi directed his attention to a shack that stood perched further up the river's edge. There was a sign nailed to a nearby post: Fisherman's Shack. Zora are advised to take care when swimming near the river's edge.

"How's a Zora going to read that if they live underwater?" Link wondered when Navi read it.

"Beats me," Navi answered.

At Malon's suggestion, they decided to head inside. The interior of the shop reeked of gutted fish. The fisherman didn't seem to notice as he handed Malon a bucket of squirming bait and then passed Link two fishing rods.

Sickened by the horrible odour of dead fish, Link was glad to lead the way out of the shack. As they climbed down the shop's front steps, Link could hear the man whistling merrily.

"I don't think he can smell," Link muttered to himself as he made his way along the bank.

They found their own spot by the shallows, and the calmer atmosphere soon began to melt away Link's sombre mood. Aware of their ever-present guards, he looked up the hill towards Talon's cart. Ciara stood near the wagon, silent and still. Though the hood of her cloak was up, Link knew the woman was watching them closely.

"She's scary, isn't she?" Malon asked as she noticed, too.

"A little," Link agreed. "Her eyes are creepy."

"I heard Sheikah can kill you just by looking at you," Malon said.

"Yeah, right," Link replied, shooting her a look of total disbelief.

Malon did have some strange ideas, or maybe it was just something to do with Hylians. The children on the far shore were leaving. It seemed their parents were finished with their laundry, for they were now herding the youngsters away from the bank.

Distracted by them, Link pricked his finger on the fishing hook.

"Ouch!" He jerked his hand back.

Then, fumbling with unsteady fingers, he finally threaded one of the wriggling worms onto the barb. He cast the line, smiling in satisfaction when he heard a faint plop.

"See, I told you it was easy," Malon said cheerily.

That was when something yanked on Link's fishing line. Hard.

"Oooh, you caught something!" Malon squealed with delight. "Quick. Reel it in!"

The line jerked again, wrenching the rod from Link's fingers. He lunged forward, catching the rod just before it vanished into the water. A moment later, a milk-white creature burst through the surface, tearing the hook free from his armour and glaring furiously. Although the strange humanoid figure certainly resembled a fish, with fins jutting out from its arms and legs, and another extending from its head like some bizarre tail, Link knew this was no ordinary creature. 

Is that a Zora? Link wondered, having never seen one before. Its face was contorted into a scowl, and its black eyes regarded them angrily.

Oops.

Realising he'd accidentally snared the creature on his hook, Link dropped the rod, jumped to his feet and scrambled up the rocky bank. Malon followed, and by the time they reached the top, both were struggling not to laugh.

Link glanced back at the Zora, suddenly wondering whether he'd hurt him. The creature answered his worried look with an angry shout and another shake of his fist.

Malon burst out laughing. Despite himself, Link joined in, and soon they were both lying in the grass, gasping for breath.

"You... you caught a Zora!" Malon managed, pointing at the furious creature.

Nearby, Link noticed Ciara shake her head with exasperation before shuffling off down towards the Zora. As she did, the owner of the fishing shack appeared, telling the Zora off and jabbing a finger at a sign on the front of his cabin. Then he stormed off, tugging his hat as he did so.

By the time Link finished laughing, he was almost certain he'd cracked a rib. That was when he noticed Ciara standing over him, the tiniest hint of a smile breaking through her Sheikan mask.

Quickly composing himself, Link stood up and offered an apologetic smile.

"Err... w-we weren't doing anything wrong," he stammered nervously. "We just-"

"You may wish to return these," Ciara said, holding out two fishing rods. "And do try to stay out of trouble."

"I don't look for trouble," Link said. "It just finds me."

"Hmm..." Ciara mused, sounding like she didn't believe him. "So I've noticed. We need to move soon, so I suggest you hurry... Unless you would prefer to walk?"

"No thanks," Link said quickly.

"Then hurry up. And you, girl-" 

Malon squeaked, startled as Ciara addressed her.

"Yes, Mistress Ciara?" she asked nervously.

"Do try and wake your father up quickly," Ciara said with an air of amusement.

"What-" Malon glanced back at the wagon. "Oh."

Talon was indeed asleep. Somehow, he'd slept through the entire commotion. The guards appeared not to have taken any interest either. Some of the guards sat around a small fire while the others kept watch over the surrounding hills.

Link and Malon returned the rods. The fisherman grumbled all the while about Zora thinking they owned the joint - which they technically did - and an annoying young Zora who had once stolen his hat as a joke.

Returning to the wagon, Link and Malon found Talon still asleep. Malon shouted and shook him, but his snores continued unabated.

Not giving up just yet, Malon retrieved a bucket from the cart and stormed off down to the river. She quickly returned, water slopping out of her bucket, and stomped over to the wagon. Link found himself wondering if Malon really was going to dump the bucket of water onto her father. It seemed a bit mean; he was no stranger to harsh pranks or teasing.

Just as it seemed like Talon was going to be sopping wet, he stirred and yawned. Realising that Malon was standing next to him with a pail of water, and knowing just what she intended, or so it seemed, he jumped to his feet.

"All right, all right. Time to get moving already? Well, I'm up," he said sleepily. "Just give me a sec."

Malon caught Link's eye and noticed he didn't seem entirely amused.

"I just wanted to get da's attention," she said innocently. "I wasn't actually going to splash him. Swift wouldn't have liked that."

With that said, she followed her father back to the wagon, bucket still in hand, water sloshing over its side as she offered it to their horse.

"He's harder to wake up than you," Navi muttered, watching Talon.

Link gave her a flat stare and started after Malon. "I'm not that bad."

"Sure you're not," Navi teased.

~ 0 ~

After the encounter with the Zora, even Link found it difficult to remain gloomy, and the rest of the journey to Kakariko passed without incident. They crossed the wide stone bridge, which offered a view of the nearby docks on one side, where tiny boats bobbed up and down in the river current. On the other side, the river followed the contours of the land, weaving between grassy plains, rock-studded gullies, and forested hills. Link watched the passing travellers and the animals grazing in the nearby pastures with a rapt interest that Malon didn't share. He pointed out the peddlers and wagons that carried a curious array of shiny trinkets that Link had never seen before. Curious to know what they were, he pestered Navi and Malon with an endless barrage of questions. Malon got bored rather quickly and decided to have a snooze. Navi was a little more obliging and even seemed determined to keep him occupied for a while.

It was nighttime when they finally arrived at the outskirts of Kakariko. They didn't stay in the town itself, though Talon did not say why. Instead, the wagon came to a halt outside a small farm off the main road that belonged to Ciara. Wanting to keep Link away from prying eyes, she decided it would be a good place to stop for the night. Link felt bad for this, even when Talon reassured him that it was not a big deal.

Dinner was a simple meal of lukewarm soup, bread, and cheese. Malon complained bitterly until Talon promised her something nice for lunch the next day. Once their bowls were empty and cleaned, the two children were ushered out of the kitchen.

Link enjoyed a warm bath, prepared in one of the spare rooms, and was then sent to bed. Link was almost asleep when Malon came in and sat on her own pallet opposite his.

"I heard Da' talking with Ciara," she said once she saw he was awake. "I didn't catch most of what they were saying- da' would be furious if he caught me eavesdropping- but I was wondering, why's somebody after you so badly?" 

The question left Link feeling distinctly uncomfortable. A part of him just wanted to sink under the sheets and not come out. She probably wouldn't believe him if he mentioned that he was being hunted by a powerful sorcerer. She didn't know as much as Talon or Ciara did, and he was forbidden to tell her any of it. Navi glanced at him from the bedpost and shook her head.

"I don't know," he lied.

The words left him with a bitter aftertaste, like bile on his tongue, but he did his best to ignore it. Talon broke the awkward silence when he opened the door.

"You two alright?" he asked, noticing that both of them were quiet, despite being wide awake.

"We're fine, Papa," Malon said, curling up beneath her covers.

"Good to hear," Talon replied. "Got an early start tomorrow. You both best get some sleep while you can. Afraid it's cramped quarters, so we're all sharing a room."

Link groaned quietly as Talon strode over to the remaining bed and sat down. With a tired yawn, the man kicked his shoes off and then lay down.

It seemed like only a few heartbeats later that his loud snores filled the room, loud enough to wake even the dead.

I don't think I'm going to get a lot of sleep, Link thought glumly.

He didn't think any of them would.

Except Talon.

~ 0 ~

Before the first tendrils of light crept across the winter sky, Link dragged himself out of bed with no small amount of grumbling about being tired and prepared to leave with the others.

When they left the warm confines of Ciara's home, the frigid winter wind seemed to snatch the warmth from Link's bones. He huddled beneath his cloak and blanket on the back of the wagon, trying to catch up on some much-needed sleep, but the constant rattling and cold made that difficult.

By dawn, they were travelling back over the Zora River. The hours went by, and then, as the sun rose to its zenith, they finally arrived at Castletown. Navi roused Link from his fitful slumber.

Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Link stretched and peered over the stacked crates.

The road ahead ended at what Link thought was a long stone pier. It stretched halfway across the river where it met a drawbridge. The archway of the gatehouse at the far end was adorned with flags of blue, gold, and deep red. The city wall would have dwarfed many of the trees of Link's home, its broad length interrupted at regular intervals by even taller guard towers. Squinting, Link was sure he could see guards patrolling the wall.

His fatigue forgotten, Link simply gawked, enraptured by what he was seeing. He leaned further out of the cart, trying to snatch a glimpse of the city itself. A stern word from Talon quickly sent Link sinking back into his seat.

As the cart rattled across the drawbridge, Link couldn't quite puzzle out why it looked so familiar.

He didn't stay fixated on that oddity for long. Soon they were over the bridge and on their way into the town. Two guards stood by the gate, looking rather bored. One was muttering to himself, stopping as he recognised Talon, to whom he smiled and gave a nod.

"Mornin'," Talon greeted him.

Link wished he had a few more eyes.

An array of brick, stone, and wood closed in on him from both sides, decorated with colourful draperies. Elaborate signs hung from shop awnings, beckoning potential customers inside. Link could barely hear the familiar rumbling of the cart above the clamour of musicians and people talking or shouting.

"It's huge!" he said in astonishment.

They approached a plaza adorned by an elaborate structure of carved stone with water cascading down its sides and into the basin below.

"That's a fountain," Navi said when Link asked. She was bombarded by dozens of questions as Link tried to take in the dizzying plethora of sights, sounds, and smells.

Stalls lined the edges of the square, and Link caught a whiff of freshly baked bread mingling with the sharper smells of fish and herbs. Link wanted to check out everything and wished Navi would stop telling him no.

"What about that?" he asked, pointing to a building from which drifted the pleasant sound of music.

"I think that's a tavern, Link," Navi said.

"What's a tavern?"

"Somewhere you're not allowed."

"Why?"

"Because it's where grown-ups go." At a look from Link, she added, "Hylian grown-ups."

The tavern was soon behind them, and Link busied himself with checking out what else there was to see. Hawkers cried their wares, including some shiny trinkets that Link wanted to examine, while colourful signs beckoned customers into a variety of shops. A host of performers entertained on street corners, while musicians played lively melodies that rose above the noise of the bustling street.

Link's ears soon picked up the soft trill of a flute as its melody pealed through the square. Finally, the cart stopped. Seeing a stall selling some delicious-looking sweets, Link clambered to the edge of the wagon. He stared longingly at the trays filled with stuffed pastries, rolls topped with honey, and buns smeared with sugary cream. They looked far more delicious than the porridge he'd eaten that morning.

"Where do you think you're going?" Navi asked, her stern tone making him all too aware that he wasn't meant to leave the cart.

Link groaned, wishing Navi would at least try to share his excitement, and then resigned himself to just looking around.

It wasn't long until Talon returned, presenting him and Malon with a freshly baked pie to make up for the cold soup.

When Link received the pie, and the wagon was once again moving slowly through the crowd, he bit into his meal, relishing the delicious taste of the hot gravy and spicy meat.

Link quickly consumed the rest in record time, leaving nothing but scattered crumbs behind. He licked the grease off his fingers, smiling as he finished.

"Do you ever eat slowly?" Malon asked when she saw this.

Link didn't answer, for his attention was focused on something else. The path to Hyrule Castle lay before them. The broad avenue meandered between tightly clustered buildings, rising up the hill towards the enormous keep that loomed above all. The tall walls that wreathed the royal residence made Link think that sneaking inside would be nearly impossible.

All too soon, the wagon slowed to a halt outside an inn named 'The Silver Mare.'

A tall gentleman with balding hair, wearing an apron with a white horse embroidered on it, greeted them.

"Talon," he called cheerily. "Was about sure you weren't turning up. What took you so long? Your brother's been here looking for you."

"Sorry, Galad," Talon said as he swung down from the wagon seat. "Ran into a spot of trouble on the ranch."

Galad and Ciara shared a glance as the woman strode over to greet him.

"Damn wolves getting to your herd again?" Galad asked Talon sympathetically. "Belon told me something had happened, but he wouldn't say what."

"I'll tell you later," Talon said with a subtle gesture towards Malon. "Care to help me unload some of this?"

He gestured a thumb towards the cart. No sooner had he done so than two young men emerged from the shadows of the inn.

"Oi, shove over, kid!" one called, and Link almost glared. He jumped off the wagon, Malon following suit, and the men began unloading some of the boxes from the cart.

"So. This is the young lad I've heard about?" Link froze as he felt Galad's eyes on him. "Well, no use standing there, boy. Say your goodbyes and come on inside. You must be freezing."

He gave a nod to Talon and went back inside the inn. Link stared after him. How did that man even know who he was?

"Go on, Link. Ciara will see to your needs from here," Talon said. He gave Link a hearty pat on the shoulder and then spoke with gentle seriousness, "If you need somewhere to stay, once things are settled down and all, I could always use an extra hand on the ranch... you'd be more than welcome. You know where to find us."

"I... thank you," was all Link could manage.

"Remember that, lad. We'll be back soon enough. C'mon Malon. Time to go."

Talon turned towards the cart, leaving Malon beside Link. To Link's shock, she hugged him, and he returned the gesture. Awkwardly.

"I'll miss you, fairy boy."

"You too, Malon," Link mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed.

"That's the last of them, Talon, sir," called out one of the youths carrying another box over to the inn. Link was surprised they'd managed to unload six boxes so quickly.

"Well, best be off. Malon, let's go!" Talon said, stopping as he looked over his shoulder.

Malon met Link's gaze in a final silent farewell, and then she returned to her seat on the cart.

"Come. Let's get you inside."

Link almost jumped, turning to find the Sheikah healer just behind him.

"Aren't we going to the castle?" Link asked, eager to explore it.

"It's best if you wait here. I'll bring someone to meet you. Don't worry, Galad's a good man. He'll take care of you."

Ciara ushered Link into the inn. Galad gave Ciara a cheery greeting from behind a counter as she gave him a few rupees and then directed Link upstairs.

The Sheikah left, promising to return soon, leaving Link and Navi waiting in the confines of his room.

As the day wore on, the afternoon shadows grew, and the sun disappeared behind the castle's tall towers.

Ciara didn't return.

~ 0 ~

Link paced around his room, his anxiety becoming increasingly unbearable as he traced an imaginary line up and down the floorboards. With each lap, he idly played with his slingshot, glancing at the busy city streets.

There was still no sign of the Sheikah, even as the sun dipped low in the western sky. Another woman came in with a tray of food, and when Link asked her where Ciara was, she just shook her head and offered him a smile before leaving. Trying not to worry, Link scoffed down the peppery stew and waited. Soon, his stomach was twisting itself in knots, anxiety making him wish he hadn't eaten so quickly.

"What if she doesn't come back?" Link asked eventually, pacing for the umpteenth time.

"She will," Navi said. Link's keen ears caught the tension in her voice.

Link wondered if Talon and Malon would still be in the market. Maybe they could help him find Ciara, or even get into the castle. Hadn't Talon been off to see his brother? That, Link thought, might be his way in. He'd find Talon and Malon himself, and explain that Ciara was missing.

Deciding to find them, Link made his way downstairs, but just as he reached the common room, Galad spotted him.

"She'll be back soon. Don't you go worrying yourself," the innkeeper said reassuringly, ushering Link back into the room.

Not to be dissuaded so easily, Link waited until he heard the man's footsteps descend the stairs. Once they faded, he walked over to the table and hauled it over to the window. It was a difficult task. The table scraped and bumped with each shove, and Link hoped nobody downstairs could hear it.

Finally, with the table against the windowsill, he opened the window and peered outside. Navi protested loudly, but he ignored her.

Clambering out onto the tiled roof of the extension beneath his window was the simple part.

"Ahh... Link? We really should wait," Navi said as she looked up and down the street. "This is a bad idea."

"Navi." Link turned towards her. "Ciara would have come back by now! Something's happened to her. How do we know we won't be found again?"

Navi went silent, and Link knew she agreed with him. There was a reason the Sheikah hadn't come back. He didn't want to wait at the inn until Ganondorf's people found him, and he knew they would cause trouble in the inn. A lot of people would get hurt.

Link slowly made his way along the roof, careful to ensure none of the tiles were loose before stepping on them. He didn't think it was that different from climbing a tree; you still had to consider each movement carefully to avoid tumbling through the air. He tried not to think about that; the mere thought of what would happen if he wasn't careful made his stomach churn with nausea.

Swallowing his fear, he considered his options. There weren't many. The stones looked far too smooth to climb, unlike a gnarled tree trunk. Jumping onto the balcony of the inn's second storey was asking to be caught. There was another balcony that wrapped around the building next to the inn. An alley ran through the narrow space between the two buildings, but it wasn't far to jump. He could make it.

"Link, why don't I like that look?" Navi asked.

Link smiled, almost mischievously, as he made up his mind and peered over the edge. Knowing Navi would disapprove - and confident it was completely safe - he said nothing. He jumped and felt an exhilarating rush as he landed feet-first on the balcony.

He rounded the corner of the porch and came to the front door of someone's house. At least, he thought it was a house; there wasn't a sign to announce the building's trade. He peered over the balcony's edge to stare in fascination at the street below. Then Navi flew in front of his face, scowling, both hands firmly on her hips.

"You and I need to have a good talk about being careful," she said, anger brimming in every word.

"I was careful," Link said. She shot him a doubtful look.

"No, you weren't. Just..." she sighed, "just wait for me next time."

"Okay," Link said absently. He moved away from the balcony railing in case any of the inn's patrons or staff noticed him. It then occurred to him that he had not considered what to do once he was out of the inn.

Find Ciara, he thought. Or get into the castle.

That was going to be tricky. How was he supposed to find his way around this city? Would Talon be able to help him, or would he send Link back to the inn?

Maybe finding Malon wasn't such a great idea. He knew staying at the inn would lead to Ganondorf finding him yet again.

Link was so busy thinking that he didn't notice the door beside him opening. Not until it nearly knocked him over.

"What are you doing?" an angry voice bellowed from behind.

Link jumped back from the door, accidentally upsetting a flower pot beside him. He cringed as it toppled over with a tinkling crash.

Oops.

The rather large woman standing in the doorway glared at Link, then looked to the broken pot and back to Link, who managed a sheepish grin.

"Uhh... sorry," he managed.

"Filthy urchin!" the woman screeched, her eyes going huge. "Get out of here! Go on!"

Link ran. He could hear the woman shouting angrily as he bounded down the stairs and off into the street. Once he was sure he wasn't being pursued, Link slipped into an alley and tucked himself in behind a barrel.

Navi joined him, still scowling. "I tell you to be careful, and then you break things. Honestly, Link. You might not get away so easily next time."

"I didn't mean to break the pot," Link protested. "She startled me."

"I know... just..." Navi drew a breath and let it out, the fury melting away. "You don't know much about this place, and there are still people looking for us. A city is not a place that you can fool around in or play to your heart's content. It isn't safe. Your sword and the stone might make you a target for anyone wanting a few spare rupees. Be careful, okay?"

Link wasn't entirely sure he understood, but he nodded anyway.

"Okay," he agreed, meeting her eyes.

"Good. In that case, we'd better get moving. The faster we get to the castle, the better."

"Navi..." Link paused, considering something. "What's an urchin?"

Navi's anger vanished, and she looked sad. "They're children that don't have anyone to look after them."

"Oh..." The idea made him sad. "So... are they cursed? Like Skull Kids?"

"Not exactly." Navi landed on his shoulder, her gaze pensive. "They're not cursed, but they are dangerous. Hunger makes people do bad things. Even children."

"That sounds awful," Link murmured.

"It is," Navi agreed. With a deep breath, she straightened and took to the air. "Come on. Let's get moving."

After checking that the coast was clear, the duo left the alleyway and slipped into the crowd. Navi led them on an indirect route towards the castle. This way, there was less chance of being spotted than if they took the main thoroughfare to the gates. Despite this idea, the side streets seemed no less crowded than the main road, and wandering through the crowd of tall Hylians was a daunting experience. They moved so fast and never took much care to avoid walking straight into him. More than once, someone shoved into Link, nearly knocking him onto the cobblestones. Most cursed or yelled at him, but Link didn't hang around to listen to their angry tirades.

Why is everyone in such a hurry? he wondered. Are they all this cranky?

With the odd exception, it was like being surrounded by dozens of grumpy Ingos. Link swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and pressed on, not allowing himself to be intimidated by the forest of people, despite their size.

As they continued along the narrow avenue, Link noticed that some children playing along the edges of the street were eyeing him with suspicion, even hatred. Once, three boys followed him, and something in the way they looked at him frightened Link. Mido's friends had beaten him more than once, and he recognised the threat in their eyes. He knew he stood a good chance against them, but after what had happened to Mido, he did not want a fight. Heeding Navi's warning, Link hastened his pace and quickly tried to lose them. He detoured. Behind him, Link could hear Navi's agitated muttering, no doubt cursing herself for letting him slip away.

Their detour led Link into a less wealthy part of town. It smelled horrible, and several wagons were collecting what looked like dung. As Link headed back for the main road, sure he was no longer being pursued, a beggar grabbed him, his dirty fingernails digging into Link's arm. The state of the man's clothing, the smell of it, and the sight of his decayed teeth made his grin truly terrifying. Never had he seen something so wretched and destitute. By reflex, Link's free hand snatched at his sword, and then it was the beggar's turn to step away, letting go of Link's arm. Torn between apologising and running, Link turned and fled.

After that, Link was nearly ready to return to the inn, despite the danger. For all he and Navi knew, Ganondorf's spies might already know he was staying there. Navi offered to fly back and offer the beggar a rupee, but Link didn't want to be parted from her. He sat by a stall selling fruit, letting himself recover. The stall owner must have thought he was lost, for she took pity on him and gave him an apple.

Link took it and considered returning to give it to the beggar, but then he spotted one of the children he'd seen earlier lurking in the shadows. Eager to avoid confronting them, Link abandoned the thought and returned to the main road.

Ahead, he saw a building with an insignia of two swords painted on its worn sign.

Navi read the sign to him.

Death Mountain Smithies - It's dangerous to go alone. Take these!

Across the cobblestone street, a shop overflowed with cramped cages, each one filled with indignant clucking chickens. A sign proudly declared: "Highly Aggressive Hylian Cuccos. The perfect solution for any farmer looking to remove foxes or wolves from their land."

Navi scoffed as she read it. "Yeah, right, like anyone would believe that."

Her amusement vanished when she noticed bottled fairies in the shop window. Link saw her fury, her wings fluttering rapidly. He contemplated freeing the fairies, but Navi urged him on before he could act or consider the chaos such an act might cause.

"Why are they bottled?" he asked as Navi hurried him along.

"I'll explain later," she snapped, prodding him in the back. "Hurry up!"

"Saria told me some can heal you," Link said, momentarily distracted by the potential benefits. He noticed a variety of caged creatures, including a Deku Scrub watching from one of the cages. 

"Some," Navi admitted grudgingly. "It depends on the fountain they're from. Stop dawdling!"

At the next corner, Link spotted a shop adorned with a picture of two grinning masks. The sign proclaimed: "Happy Mask Shop:  Magical Masks to suit all your needs."

Wondering if he could buy something to help him get into the castle, Link's curiosity was piqued.

"I wonder if they sell masks that can make you invisible?" he asked. Navi frowned doubtfully, but he continued anyway, "It might help us get into the castle."

"I have never heard of any masks that can do that-" Navi pursed her lips and frowned. "Except one."

Link looked at her questioningly, and Navi continued, "Remember how I told you I was there when the Great Deku Tree was cursed?"

Link nodded.

"Do you think it made the Desert Man invisible?" he asked.

"That or it made him impervious to the wards protecting the forest... or both," Navi said thoughtfully.

BANG!

The shop door burst open, almost tearing off its hinges as it crashed straight into Link.

The blow stunned him, and for a moment, Link barely realised he had slammed into the cobblestones.

"Damn it!" a woman yelled. "Do you people ever look where you're going?"

Breathing through the pain, Link looked up, and his insides froze. A Gerudo woman stood before him, nearly twice his height, with the olive skin and fiery red hair characteristic of her people. He scrambled upright, ignoring the pain throbbing through his head. He reached for his sword, and the woman snorted.

"Do yourself a favour, kid," she said, an amused smile tugging at her lips, "don't even try."

Knowing it was useless and having failed miserably the last time he'd tried to take on one of her kind, Link moved his hand away from his sword. The smile on the Gerudo's face was positively terrifying. He stepped back, swallowing nervously.

The woman rolled her eyes. "If I were going to hurt you, do you think I'd still be standing here talking?"

Link backed away a little more, wondering if he could quickly slip into the crowd and run before the Gerudo pursued him. As light as he was on his feet, he didn't think he could outrun her. Then she said the words he'd been dreading. She was staring at him, an odd curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"You're that forest boy, aren't you?" she asked slowly, looking him up and down. "The one that went missing a while back?"

She knows who I am, Link thought, gulping. He was ready to run, hoping the crowd on the street behind them might slow her down. Or was that a futile thing to hope, and she'd haul him back to her king?

"I don't know how you arrived here, but I won't tell anyone that I saw you," the Gerudo said without waiting for a reply. "A few days ago, I might have done, but..." the Gerudo paused, all trace of her smile gone. She looked troubled. Then she shook her head and sighed. "Never mind. I doubt a boy like you would understand. I'm not sure I do yet. A lot is going on, and this town is not safe... Sheikah murdered in broad daylight. I'm telling you, kid, this place is the pits. Do yourself a favour and get away from here. Give that stone you carry to the Sheikah. They should never have burdened you with it, let alone made you bring it here. You can do that, can't you?"

"I... I can," Link squeaked.

"Good. If you go to the docks on the other side of the city, you might find a barge going up north." Without another word, she darted off, leaving Link and Navi staring after her. Both boy and fairy glanced at each other, neither voicing what the other suspected: The Sheikah meant to guide them to Hyrule Castle was dead, and this Gerudo knew far more than she should.

"We're on our own," Link mumbled. "What do we do now?"

Not for the first time since arriving at Castletown, he felt alone and afraid. Everything about the city seemed strange. He wanted to find Malon and Talon. He wanted to go back to the woods. He wanted to find something - anything- he recognised. But every face that looked down at him was a stranger's.

"We can't give up now, Link. Come on, let's see if we can find something in here," Navi encouraged him. "I'm sure we can still get into the castle ourselves."

Despite the reassurance, Link felt his courage faltering. He half expected another Gerudo to burst out of the crowd and snatch him away. Every tall figure suddenly seemed a threat.

Feeling a little numb, Link decided to follow Navi's lead and stepped into the mask shop. He entered a spacious room, bedecked with a dizzying display of bright colours and oddly fashioned masks. Ribbons draped the walls, and a rug of royal blue covered the floor. It was the masks that caught Link's attention. There were masks of animals, masks with broad smiles (Link thought these were creepy), and masks with their faces twisted into a feral snarl. There were others Link couldn't even begin to identify.

"What is this place?" he wondered aloud. It looked weird. All these grinning masks made his spine tingle, and the hairs on his neck stood on end. It was as if their eyeless slits were watching him, scrutinising his every move.

As if in answer to Link's thoughts, a high-pitched voice broke out in song, startling him so much that he jumped. Link located the source in a heartbeat - a mask, its face decorated with a lavish smile.

"What is that?" Link asked as the merry singing continued in what he assumed was total gibberish.

"A talking mask," Navi said, sounding very unamused. "How annoying."

"What's it doing?"

"Singing a Hylian carol."

"Oh, don't mind that," a voice called cheerily from behind them. "That's just his way of saying hello. That there is one of my finest creations, and quite handy when you're in the back of the... well, I haven't seen you around here before, have I?"

Link spun around to see a man standing behind the counter. Having heard no footsteps or the creak of an opening door, Link was almost convinced he'd appeared out of thin air. This gentleman was a lanky fellow dressed in blue robes, his pointy ears poking out beneath his neatly combed red hair. He was hunched over slightly, but his smile spread from ear to ear, and he clapped his hands together in apparent delight.

"Uhh... hi," Link said, feeling unnerved by the elaborate gesture.

The mask by the door finally stopped singing. Link breathed a quiet sigh of relief, as did Navi. Still trying to take in the array of masks lining the shelves, he approached the counter, not quite able to shake the sense that every one of those masks was watching him. A tome, lying flat on the countertop, caught his attention. Though he couldn't read the words, he glimpsed a picture of a heart-shaped mask. The shopkeeper quickly snapped the tome shut, and Link almost jumped at the force of it.

"I didn't see anything," he said, his voice straining from nerves. "Honest."

"Curiosity is a virtue! But a dangerous one for a boy like you," the man chided.

Great, Link thought. He sounds like Navi.

The similarity ended there. The man's smile widened again, and he gestured with an elaborate bow. "Well, in that case... Ah, where are my manners? Welcome, my dear friends," he said, opening his arms wide. "Welcome to the Happy Mask Shop! It's always so delightful to see a new face. We sell the finest masks from all of Hyrule and beyond. Masks bound to give you everlasting happiness!"

This guy was seriously weird. Some of the masks, the few that weren't grinning, looked more like they would frighten someone to death and bring everlasting sleep rather than happiness. No wonder that Gerudo had been so eager to get out of the shop.

"Umm..." Link stammered, swallowing before he tried again. "Your sign says you sell magical masks."

"Indeed, I do." The man beamed. "We have a lot of masks. Hmm... Let me think."

He tapped a finger on his chin and glanced sideways at Link, looking him up and down like a tailor fitting a patron. "Ahh... yes. Some of these would go nicely with your costume."

He waved a hand at the masks on one side of the shelf behind him. Link spotted a yellow fox-faced mask among the dozen or more on the shelves. There was another that resembled a demented, smiling skull, and a third was a bright yellow hat with floppy bunny ears.

"How about this one?" The man gestured at the bunny-ear mask. "It would fit perfectly with your costume, and I dare say you would look splendid."

Link blushed, and Navi burst out laughing.

"No?" the Mask Man asked when Link wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"No thanks," Link said. He shot Navi a death glare that quickly stifled her mirth. "And I'm not wearing a costume; I'm a Kokiri."

"Of course you are," the man said dismissively, unconvinced. "Not to worry. I do like a tricky customer from time to time, but fear not, you won't be disappointed." He clapped his hands again. "Do any of the other masks take your fancy?"

"We are not from around here," Navi said. "We are from the woods near the edge of Faron Province."

The man's small eyes spotted Navi. He squinted and frowned as if only noticing her for the first time.

"A boy and a fairy. How intriguing... very intriguing indeed," he mused softly before smiling and chuckling as if he'd told an elaborate joke. "Forgive me, forgive me. I thought you must have been a child with a pet fairy."

Navi stared daggers at the word "pet."

"I'm after a mask that makes you invisible," Link said loudly, his face going red. "Please? I need one."

"Invisible?" All traces of the man's smile vanished. "No, my dear boy, I'm afraid I don't have anything like that."

His eyes fell upon the scars across Link's face, and he grimaced.

"I was sent a shipment of invisible masks, but when the crate arrived, it was empty." A flicker of annoyance passed over the man's face. ""I am terribly sorry, boy. I can't help you, but if you change your mind-" He gestured towards the group of children's masks.

"No, thanks." Link left without another word. He didn't like the strange blue-robed Hylian and decided to get as far away as possible.

As they walked out of the shop, Navi snorted with laughter.

"What?" Link asked as he shut the door.

"Oh, I was just thinking about how cute you would look in that bunny hat, what with that green-"

"Hey!" Link protested, blushing furiously. He nearly bumped into someone as he stepped into the crowd. Their angry words nearly made him flinch. He was starting to feel jumpy, the crowd becoming stifling and crushing. Was his imagination playing tricks on him, or was it getting harder to breathe? Like something was slowly crushing his lungs. His head buzzed, the noise of the crowded city becoming too much for his mind to bear. Swallowing, Link asked Navi to guide him.

Link didn't want to stay in the thick of the crowd. He wanted to get away, but Navi, with some coaxing, insisted it would be safer. Link knew deep down that she was right; the Gerudo might go back on her word and send someone after him.

As he approached the castle, the crowd thinned out. Something large and orange stood beside an armour stall. At first, Link took it for a six-foot-tall boulder. Then it moved.

"Uhh... Navi. What is that?" he asked, nearly bumping into a couple kissing by a fountain, earning a glare and a shooing motion from the woman.

Moving out of the way, Link was still fixated on the bizarre rock-like creature, its mouth moving as it spoke to a Hylian beside him. The man in question was about the same height as Talon, and even then, he barely came up to the giant's shoulders.

"That's a Goron. They're the ones who made your sword," Navi replied.

"What?" Link asked, confused.

"Kaepora retrieved it after they brought it partway."

Link thought his sword would have looked like a butter knife in the Goron's hand.

A very sharp butter knife.

"Come on, Link," Navi said at length. "We should keep going."

Link walked past the stall and reached the castle gates. They were open wide, but even as Link thought about it, there was no way he was getting in there. Soldiers in uniform stood guard, and more watched from the wall. There were at least twenty, and their hard stares didn't look friendly.

No getting in that way, Link thought, moving towards the side of the road and nearly tripping over a dog presently fleeing from its young master, who was busily running after it.

"You want me to try flying in?" Navi suggested.

Link didn't like the idea of waiting alone while Navi hunted for Zelda, still certain a Gerudo might find him. That thought made him look around at the thickening throng, but none resembled the warriors of the desert.

"Let's have a poke around first," he said.

Just as he spoke, Link felt a hand in his pocket. He spun, saw an older boy pull his hand away, and realised he was holding Saria's ocarina. Caught, the boy started to run towards the nearest alley. Caution forgotten, Link charged after him.

"Give that back!" he cried, all rationality giving way to a wave of seething hot anger.

The boy entered the narrow confines of the alley, and Link was only a few steps inside before he realised his error. Suddenly, where there had been one boy, there were five surrounding him. They were taller than he was, and they looked mean. One glance and Link knew they were not well off; dirt stained their clothes, they wore no shoes, and their hair was unkempt. He was reminded of the beggar he'd seen earlier.

"You look like you've got some interesting stuff on you," the tallest boy said smugly. "Think we might just take a look-"

His eyes turned to the boy with Link's ocarina, who was busy tussling with one of his companions as they tried to take the instrument from him. The others stopped their argument when they felt their leader's eyes on them.

"Hey, what you got there?" The tall boy stared at the thief holding Link's ocarina.

"It's just an ocarina..." the thief replied. Link watched the boy turn it over in his hands, resisting the urge to fight and rip it free. "Think I might just keep it." His grin was mocking. "Might fetch me a few rupees."

"It's mine!" Link said fiercely.

That drew their attention back to him, and the tall one scowled. "You watch your tone."

He stepped forward. Link swallowed, and without moving, he tried to open his awareness to his surroundings. There were two ways out, both blocked. One led deeper into the warren of alleys, where Link was certain he'd encounter more trouble; the other led back into the crowded streets. A third option, climbing the walls on either side of him, seemed impossible; the stones were too smooth, with no nooks or handholds.

"How about we search him?" one kid suggested. "Bet that sword's worth a bit. Wonder what he's got in his satchel too."

The boy in front of Link made a move as if to push him, and Link stepped back, nearly bumping into the two other kids behind him. He knew he couldn't go any further back. He'd have to fight... even if his instincts were screaming that this was wrong.

"Careful," one of the others cautioned. "I bet he can use that thing."

"Pfft..." the eldest laughed. "Look at him! He's barely old enough to be a squire."

"I reckon he's a girl," another piped up. "Look, he's even wearing a skirt."

Link felt the heat rise in his face as laughter rippled around him. Fury rose in him, and without thinking, he drew his sword. The effect was instant. The mocking laughter ceased, and there was a moment of tense silence.

"I can use it," Link said, trying not to let his fear show.

The tallest boy's expression shifted from fear to outrage.

"Are you threatening me?" he asked, drawing a knife from his belt.

Link didn't say anything, his eyes fixed on Saria's ocarina.

One boy made a loud, "Oooooh."

"Shut up!" his friend hissed, then he turned his gaze on Link. "Don't be stupid, boy. Give us your pretty sword, and whatever else is in those pockets of yours, and you might still have some teeth left after we're finished with you."

The others balled their hands into fists, and their leader held up his knife. Link's mouth was suddenly very dry, and his sword hand was trembling.

"Oi! City guard! Stop right there!" a voice boomed.

Several of the boys swore, as did their leader.

"Run!" somebody cried.

Seizing the momentary distraction, Link lunged at the boy holding Saria's ocarina. He had no intention of causing harm, but the feint worked.

"Here, take your stupid ocarina!" The thief threw Saria's instrument, and Link's breath caught as it fell. He wasn't close enough to catch it in time, even as he reached out to snatch it into the safety of his hand.

Thoughts of Saria's ocarina, shattered and broken, flashed through his mind, but before he could reach it, a blur of light shot past him.

Navi grabbed the ocarina by the mouthpiece, nearly knocking herself out of the air. Turning swiftly, she dropped it in Link's palm, and then spun around, hollering, "Pick on someone your own size next time, you rotten cowards!"

Link looked up as several guards rushed past him, pursuing the fleeing boys. One stopped, but Link hardly noticed. As his pounding heart slowed and the heavy thuds of steel boots faded into the distance, he stood there, trembling from the encounter. It was getting harder to breathe again.

Link regarded the ocarina, turning it over in his hand. He'd come so close to losing it and the emerald. Again. It made him feel weak, powerless. He stared down the alley, still keenly aware of how close he'd come to trouble.

I'm no good, he thought unhappily, his lips quivering ever so slightly. Even the local street thugs knew he was no good.

Navi fluttered to his shoulder. "They're gone now... I'm sorry I couldn't warn you faster... are you okay?"

Link kept staring down the alley, blinking back frightened tears.

"You alright, kid?" a deep voice spoke from nearby, and Link nearly jumped.

One of the guards, the one who'd remained behind, was looking down at him.

"Did they take anything from you?" he asked more softly.

"No." Link shook his head, barely keeping his voice steady. "I got it back."

"Glad to hear it." There was a gentleness to the man's tone that calmed Link, much like Talon's. "Are you lost? Where are your parents?"

"I... I'm not lost," Link managed, still struggling to find his breath. "I..." Suddenly unsure of whether or not to tell the truth, he stepped back. All that armour and the man's spear made for an intimidating sight. "I... I'm okay... thank you."

The man looked confused by Link's reaction. His eyes went to Navi, and his confusion only seemed to intensify. Without another word, Link bolted, running back towards the road.

He left the main avenue, far more cautious now, his steps carrying him down a side street. This one seemed empty, save for a dog sniffing in a gutter. Ignoring the hound, Link kept his sword drawn. It felt strangely comforting. He'd just have to hope the guards wouldn't notice; having his sword drawn would probably grab their attention. It also meant that nobody else bothered him. By now, he was breathing more steadily, but even the slightest movement in the shadows made him twitch.

Tall stone buildings, some with wide, spacious gardens, stood on either side of the road, which rounded a bend and meandered its way along one side of the castle's outer walls. Guards stood outside some of the bigger dwellings, but further along, Link came across two dilapidated houses, their spacious grounds devoid of life. Broken windows with scorched frames,  burnt timbers, and soot-smeared stone suggested that these once-grand houses had been the victims of a fire. It seemed odd that nobody was around, but sensing nothing dangerous, Link decided to enter one of the abandoned estates. The vast grounds were home to towering trees and overgrown bushes. The largest tree, near the back of the estate, stretched towards the wall itself, and though its canopy did not quite reach the walkway, it was close enough for a reckless Kokiri to attempt the jump. 

"Link, I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Navi said when Link pointed this out to her. 

"It's not that high," Link assured her. "I've climbed higher in the forest."

"And almost killed yourself, according to Fora."

"That wasn't my fault," Link retorted, earning a sceptical frown from Navi. "Someone put my boots up a tree."

He didn't add that the someone in question had been Mido, who clearly hadn't expected Link to retrieve them. The fall had come afterwards.

"Well, that wasn't very nice," Navi said, "but I still think this is a bad idea."

"We have to get the stone to the princess, and we don't have a Sheikah to help us anymore," he insisted. "So that means we have to get in ourselves."

Navi muttered something under her breath, but Link ignored her.

A house near the tree obstructed any view from the main road. Nobody would see Link climbing until he was a good way up. He was hoping no one would see him at all.

He circled the tree, looking for the easiest way up, eyes scanning the various knots and cracks in the wood. Satisfied, he started climbing, clutching a gnarled stub and hauling himself up. Navi guided him to the stubs of the branches that had once formed the lower canopy. It was a slow climb, even though it was not that high. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, muscles straining with effort, Link reached the branch by the wall. He pulled himself up onto it and then, gripping the branch with arms and legs, he slowly slid across on his belly like a tree lizard. He looked out at the wall and saw that there was nobody nearby; most of the guards seemed interested in the gate. Stairs led down from the wall not far from him.

Perfect.

He could sneak in that way. As it reached the wall, the branch grew too thin, so after some quick thinking, Link jumped onto the parapet and climbed to his feet.

"Yes, we did it!" Link said with a small laugh, earning a loud "Shhh!" from Navi.

Scanning the wall to make sure nobody was coming, Link turned to take in his vantage point. He could make out the sea of buildings that formed Castletown's southern district, with roads threading their way between the tall structures, people moving along them like columns of marching ants. Colourful awnings draped the edges of the market. From here, Link could also see flags atop some of the larger houses. There was one bearing the symbol of a bear, another the head of a wolf surrounded by a wreath, and a third green banner bore a tree. Another displayed the sigil of a red lion upon a sea of blue. Hadn't he seen that flying from the castle gates as well?! To the east of the southern square, an enormous temple rose high above the surrounding buildings, a grand edifice of marble and steepled towers. A single tower at the rear featured a white dome that gleamed in the afternoon sun. To a small degree, it reminded him of the Forest Temple in the Lost Woods.

"What is that?" Link asked, pointing towards the temple.

"That's the Temple of Time," Navi explained. Looking nervous, she added, "We shouldn't stand here. Let's-" She stopped abruptly. "Oh no."

Link stepped down from the parapet and took a couple of steps backwards along the walkway, unaware that there was nothing to stop him from falling into the castle courtyard.

He turned to his left, still backing away, and caught sight of two children coming up the stairs. A boy and a girl. Both stared at him, their eyes wide with shock.

Startled, Link took another step backwards. His heel slipped over the edge of the walkway. Before he could regain his balance, he was falling.

Link cried out, and the wall slipped away.

Next Chapter

SunPraiser31 chapter 9 . Oct 31, 2016 So Ciara is dead? Talon and Malon went home? Link is knocked out? Well that's certainly not good at all... Who was that Gerudo woman? Was that Ganondorf's wife or someone else? Hopefully Link gets to meet Zelda soon! Looking forward to that!

Barbacar chapter 9 . Oct 29, 2016 Kind of a longer chapter, but that's fine.

Norkix chapter 9 . May 22, 2015 *yawn* Last for me tonight, I think. Damn if this isn't a page turner though! Or, page scroller, as it were. Honestly, after reading this, I'm considering a rewrite myself, even though I'm nowhere near as far along as you are. It would certainly help set up some of the new plot ideas I've been tossing around recently, and there are some things I do feel I should retcon, much as I hate doing that. I am really enjoying your take so far! Honestly, after reading this, with all your well-executed drama and carefully maintained intrigue, I'm surprised you find my own glorified rehashing worth reading, especially given your allegedly high standards. Can't wait to really dig into this over the weekend! You're going in a different enough direction that I feel safe reading this and maintaining my own originality. You're very talented, and you've set a bar for me. Til next time -Norkix-

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 9 . Aug 6, 2014 Good chapter, I like the diversity you gave Castle Town. I think that's one of the things Twilight Princess exceeded at improving over big brother Ocarina. Glad you showed Link meeting Nabooru, she did seem too quick to trust him at the Spirit Temple and having them interact before explains it better. Makes me wonder if they'll run into each other again.