There was only one way to find out about the keys. Zelda used the longshot to pull herself up the ivy along the wall, then climbed over to the top of the tree. A small wooden chest sat on the tree across from her. She knew then that she would have to complete the whole temple. Zelda pulled out her ocarina and played Saria’s song, which Link had also taught her, along with the other songs she didn’t know. Saria’s voice answered, " Zelda? Can you hear me?"

No, I can’t, I’m deaf, Zelda thought with annoyance. She had no patience in a time like this. "Yes, Saria. What is going on with the temple?"
" There have always been keys, and locked doors to protect it, but I have used my powers to recreate the temple that Link faced."
" I feel like I’m wasting my time. I should be searching for the one who hurt him." Though deep down she knew that she would go through the temple. Something pulled her there.
" And he will hurt you if you’re not prepared."
" Very well. I’ll do it." It was not Saria’s words that made her decide though, it was her own feelings.

* * *

She was back in the ball room, back at her throne. Her father had not returned yet, and Link was nowhere to be seen. She saw Malon dancing with a young noble man, smiling sweetly up at him, and Nabooru dancing with another. The man she was with looked almost afraid, and Zelda couldn’t help smiling.

" Have you seen Link anywhere?"
Zelda turned to answer Saria’s question. " I saw him about twenty minutes ago, but I was just wondering where he was myself."
" I hope he hasn’t gotten into any more trouble." The Kokiri girl frowned, then brightened. " There he is. With your father, coming in."

Zelda followed her gaze and saw that Link was entering the ballroom the way her father had left, carrying a small golden chest. Her father was deep in conversation with him, but Link caught her gaze and grinned, then winked mischievously. It was then that she realized the box he carried was the one that contained her seventeenth year of birth coronation crown. Every year on her birthday she was crowned once more as Princess of Hyrule, though it wouldn’t much matter if she wasn’t, but her father liked to have parties, and this was a good excuse for one. Each year, the crown contained one more diamond then the last on a beautiful gem encrusted tiara, and for every diamond, it meant that she was getting closer to being queen, unless she married first.......

She wondered what Link was doing with her crown and gave him a questioning look, to which he only grinned even wider. Saria voiced her thoughts. " What is he doing with your crown Zelda? You don't think he’s going to be the one to crown you, do you? I thought your father did that."
" He does do it every year. Hmmm." She waited as Link and the king came up to the thrones and Link set down the chest on the table between them, then her father called for silence. Saria immediately went down the steps and out of the way as the crowd of guests became hushed.
"I would like to thank you all for coming, ladies and gentlemen of the court and esteemed guests, to this year's celebration of my daughter’s birth. As you know, the honor of crowning my daughter has always been one that I have not bestowed upon anyone but myself, but this year, I have decided to give that honor to a young man who has earned much more than we could possibly give. To him, we owe everything, our lives and our future, for he is the Hero of Time, who although none remember, but see it just the same, defeated the evil Ganondorf and saved my daughter’s life." The king paused, glancing briefly at Link, who was focusing on keeping a serious expression instead of the goofy grin that was trying to take over. Zelda exhaled deeply and realized that she had been holding her breath. Her heart was pounding with some emotion she wasn’t quite sure of-Link was going to crown her....
" I felt that on this day, that Link should be the one to crown my Zelda on her seventeenth birthday, knowing that soon she shall be queen ."

With that said, the King of Hyrule turned and opened the gold box, and brought out the crown. What he said next was a blur to Zelda, her eyes, mind, and heart were focused on Link. She only realized that her father had finished his speech when he handed the crown to Link, and Zelda barely even saw how beautiful it was. Her father stood back, between the thrones and in front of the table, as Link walked slowly up to Zelda, holding her crown in his strong, ungloved hands. She knew what she had to do, and curtsied before him with her head lowered.

" I have only been able to defeat all the danger I have faced because of the lady who believed in me when all others did not, knowing that she would be there in my times of trouble, and in my darkest moments. And it was in those moments that I struggled to prevail, because I could not fail the seventh sage, a girl I would die to protect."

At Link’s words, a murmur of rumors ran through the guests that rose and spread like a wild-fire. Saria’s mouth dropped open, Malon pouted with a sniff of her nose and a cross of her arms, Nabooru and Ruto smiled knowingly at each other, and Impa nodded with satisfaction. The king grinned excitedly, his heart burning with pride, and Zelda, Zelda was not aware of anyone else except for the person who slowly and gently placed the tiara upon her head. She couldn’t think, she couldn't breathe. Did he mean that? Would he die for her? Did she want him to? Was it because he was her body guard and that was his job? What did he mean? A million questions ran through her head but they were just as suddenly dispelled when she straightened and Link took her hand within his own and brought it to his mouth, placing a gentle kiss upon it. A sigh of pleasure went through the crowd by the ladies of the court, except for a few, and sighs of disappointment by the men.

The King walked around the pair, not wanting to disrupt them, and said, " And now, we shall celebrate this blessed event with a particular song that I think all shall enjoy." At that moment, the opening notes to a very familiar song, at least for Link and Zelda, began to play. A E EEAGFG, A E EEAG#F#G#. A tune very familiar to all, from the very first adventure Link experienced.
Still holding Zelda’s hand Link asked, " Dance with me?"

Zelda nodded slowly and he began to lead her onto the dance floor, the crowd parting slightly to let them through. When they reached the center of the dance floor Link stopped, and put his left arm around her waist, still holding her right. Zelda slowly placed her left hand on his shoulder and they began to waltz to the sound of the famous song. Some composer had rewritten it as a very catchy waltz that made Zelda’s heart soar as she danced with the person that it had been made for.

" I have a gift for you, but I didn’t put it with the others." Link told her, as they danced. There was a large table in the corner of the room filled with presents for her that Zelda could really care less about.
" You didn’t have to..." Zelda began, and Link rolled his eyes.
" Come on Zel, it’s because I want to, not because I have to."
" Alright. Any hints on what it is?" She always played this game with him, and only after she had been given the gift did the clues make any sense.
" It will last forever." Link told her with a grin.
" Was it expensive?" If she had asked any other person but him that question it would have been considered rude, but this was Link.
" Actually, I profited from getting it." That meant he had gotten it after fighting many enemies and getting rupees from them.
" Is it a Deku stick?" Zelda asked with a smile. Link laughed.
" No, but it’s related to one."

Zelda’s brow wrinkled slightly in thought, and in some distant world she heard the music change to a very slow melody. Instantly she was aware of Link letting go of her hand and she feared that that was the end of her dance with him. Link placed the now free hand around her waist as well and Zelda drew her arms around his neck in response. Almost immediately she was drawn closer to his body, and with a happy sigh rested her head on his muscled shoulder. She could feel the soft rise and fall of his chest against her and didn’t dare lift her head and risk the close proximity of where their lips would be, knowing that it wasn’t as romantic as she thought it was.

" All out of guesses? " Link asked, after a while, his warm breath tickling her neck. Zelda smiled into his shoulder then lifted her head slightly.
" I guess so." She could almost hear his grin. She lowered her head back down and adjusted her arms around Link’s neck and was slightly surprised when her hips pressed against his through her dress. A shock went through her body very suddenly and Zelda inhaled sharply. The longing for him was there inside of her, deep and strong, and she knew that she would have to pull away from him now or lose control. Luckily, the song was just ending, and Zelda released him as the crowd of dancers on the floor dispersed, finding new partners.
" Thank you, Link." She said, holding her hands behind her back and smiling up at him. He quirked an eyebrow.
" For what?"
" Everything. Just, thank you." Zelda said meaningfully.
" Your welcome, then." Link replied, still a little confused. Zelda nodded and began to walk away. " Zelda?" Link said softly, stopping her.
" Yes?"
" I meant what I said."

* * *

Zelda was glad she had decided to train at the forest temple first. She didn’t have to worry about lava or drowning, and the enemies here were fairly easy to beat. Link had been right, wall masters were really creepy, and the rooms with those were the only ones that slowed her down. She had managed to catch the four Poe sisters, and was on her way to face the reenactment of phantom Ganon. That was the only enemy she wasn’t sure she was capable of defeating.

After taking the elevator down and pushing the stone block around, Zelda reached the room where the paintings that Ganon galloped through during the battle were hung. Upon entering, a shudder ran through her body and her heart began to pound. Something was wrong. Instead of the feeling of evil that she knew wasn’t real, this evil unmistakably was, but twisted in some way, almost.....hmmmm. Going against all logic, Zelda went up the stairs, only to be locked in by the iron fence. A hideous laughter began to sound and she stiffened, dread of what she was about to face filling her heart.

" What do you think you’re doing here?" A voice suddenly asked, low and menacing, and almost familiar.
Zelda jumped. " Who are you?"
The laughter boomed across her soul. " Wouldn’t you like to know."
" Well at least let me see you." She was not so much afraid anymore as she was annoyed.
" I don’t think so, not yet anyway." The voice became almost thoughtful.
" If you expect me to fight you, you need to come out."
" You’re rather cocky, princess."
Zelda gasped. " How...?"
" How did I know you were Zelda? I’ve been watching you from time to time, with interest I might add, and your heart reeks of him, the Kokiri-clad fool."
Link. Zelda took a breath before answering. " He is not a fool."
" To have died the way he did and you say he’s not a fool?" The laughter came again.
" What are you talking about?" Zelda’s heart began to race. How could he have been watching her? " I was there the day he died and I’ll be there the day you revive him."
" What?" That caught Zelda off-guard, but at the same time it made her blood run hot with hope.
" You know what I’m talking about, Zel. Someone poisoned our good friend Link and you are on a quest for the antidote so that you can revive him."
" How do you know that?" How could anyone besides a few trusted friends know that? Or was this mysterious new evil attempting to egg her on a wild goose-chase, not knowing any of what she knew?
" I told you, I’ve been watching you. Haven’t you felt it?" Zelda thought for a moment. She didn’t remember seeing anyone that looked potentially dangerous. " Come on, I know your smarter than that, keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom." The voice said mockingly. " The darkness by his bed, his tombstone, the chill around you at night..."

At his words, Zelda remembered. There had been a darkness by Link when he died, a mournful one, and one by his grave. And at night, when she had left, there had been a chill that never left her, though she had failed to realize it. It was something noticed only by the part of the mind that was still willing to perceive anything, the part of her heart that made her recall it, the part that contained the triforce of courage. It had seemed so insignificant compared to the tragedy she had been through, and hadn’t even picked up upon it. She had felt nothing but pain, had seen nothing but Link’s face when he had died. Everything else was a blur. But when whoever he was or it was made her remember, she did. But she remembered only seeing shadows.

" I remember, but I still don’t understand."
" Has the triforce of courage blocked the wisdom? Never mind. After a while you’ll understand. Just learn to trust yourself, and who knows, maybe you‘ll trust me. I’m not what you think I am. I think you‘ll be surprised."
" What are you here to do? Fight me, talk to me, help me, what?" The evil that Zelda had felt before had melted, and she wasn’t sure anymore if it truly had been evil.
" A little of all, for fun. You’ll figure it out soon enough. But before you see me, have some fun with this guy."
Zelda frowned, and suddenly there was a flash of green light. When she opened her eyes, there was one very large stalfos in front of her, grinning evilly at her. " Your not very imaginative, are you?" She asked, and was answered by a low chuckle. " Give me time."

Zelda didn’t answer as the stalfos suddenly attacked. She had to be careful not to get hit. If he got her, that would be the end. She blocked his hit with her shield and made an attack of her own. She got in a good shot to the chest.

" Bravo." The voice said, and Zelda heard something that sounded like vague clapping. Strangely enough, it didn’t make her angry. She stabbed the stalfos again as it prepared for the attack. " How long have you been fighting? Oh yes, Link trained you a bit, didn’t he?" Zelda sighed and got in another hit, then another. Two more hits for this bigger than normal stalfos and it would be gone. She got in the two hits.

" Well done."
" Thanks." Zelda replied dryly. There was a pause.
"Zelda?"
" What?"
" I meant what I said."

" What happened? I lost control of the temple right when you were supposed to face Phantom Ganon."
" There was someone else there instead." Zelda replied calmly, though her heart was shaking.
" Who?"
" I don’t know, but they knew who I was and what I'm trying to do." Quickly Zelda explained to Saria the events that had followed when she had entered he painting room. Saria’s eyes widened through each passing minute until Zelda finished.
" Wow. What are you going to do? He must be strong if he could take over the control of the temple from me."
" I need to find him. I have to know what he is."
" So will you go to the fire temple to look for him?"
" Yes. He was here, so I expect he’ll be at the next place Link went, waiting for me. I think I’ll talk to the Goron’s first though, and see if they've seen or heard anything strange." Zelda took a deep breath, trying to slow the beating of her heart.
" Have you talked to the other Kokiri yet, or the Deku tree sprout?"
" Not yet. But I will now."

* * *

Zelda was safely in her room, away from it all, the guests, the presents, and Link. Though the ball was in her honor, she had left it early, claiming to be tired. No one would notice her absence. It was only partially a lie. She was tired, but it wasn’t entirely why she had left. It was too crazy. She had to limit her contact with Link, in more ways than one. She had changed into a white silk nightgown, her hair flowing freely now, and she brushed it slowly, letting the golden locks fall smooth against her white shoulders.

A knock came suddenly at the door and Zelda froze; now remembering that Link had a gift for her that she had not yet received. She stood slowly, and moved to the door. Silence. There was no other knock. She opened the door. There was no one there. But then she saw the note pinned to her door. Zelda reached for it and unpinned it carefully. But before she read it, she glanced down and around the hall carefully. Nothing, absolutely nothing and no one. Forever zero. She went back inside her room, closing the door. She sat down on the bed and took a deep breath before reading it.

‘ Zelda,’ It read, and Zelda recognized the handwriting to be Link’s. ‘ I’m sorry that I was unable to give you your gift before you left, but now I feel that there is a better time to give it to you. But,’ Zelda could just picture the grin that the but entailed. ‘ But, you’re going to have to wait a bit longer. Tomorrow morning I leave for Delina with your father. I know I was supposed to go the day after tomorrow, but his majesty decided that we best leave at once in order to obtain peace between kingdoms. Zelda.....’ The note trailed off in a few spots of ink, as if Link was unsure of what to write. ‘ Please forgive me if I don’t return.’

The note fell to the floor, slipping out of Zelda’s limp fingers. Please forgive me if I don’t return. What did he mean by that? He couldn’t honestly believe that he would die, he would have informed her father if there was any danger. Or did he plan to stay? King Dremin had a sister....she was supposedly young, beautiful, and unwed. Her heart seized in panic, but then she calmed. No, that was unlike Link. He wouldn’t do something like that. Would he?

Zelda looked up at her door, staring at the wood paneling, at the knob. Abruptly, she flung herself up off the bed and to the door, flinging it wide as she ran down the hallway, her bare feet padding against the dark red carpeting as she ran towards Link’s bedroom. A door opened and Zelda crashed into the person that came out, barely apologizing to the confused noble woman as she raced past her and to the door at the end of the hall. The door knob turned easily in her hand-Link never locked it-and Zelda entered his room.

The bed was neatly made, and everything was neatly put away. A sudden thought made Zelda looked at the corner of the room where Link usually left his sword. It wasn’t there. Zelda began to panic and flung wide the doors to his closet. Most of his travel clothes were gone. She opened the drawers to his bureau and found that most of those clothes were gone as well. She knew then, that Link had left even earlier than he had said. Why hadn’t he told her? What was going on? Would she ever see him again? Zelda straightened, and backed up, until the backs of her knees hit the edge of the bed and she fell down on top of it. She lifted her legs and curled up into a ball on top of the covers, pressing the pillow to her head and breathing in the scent. It smelt of fresh woods and pine, as well as a scent that was entirely Link’s own. She breathed it in deeply, and suddenly, fresh tears began to flow, soaking the white cotton pillow. Her heart was filled with every emotion she had ever know, as well as a few more. Despair, sadness, regret, longing, love, pain.....They made her want to burst.

" Zelda?" Impa’s voice made her sit up in surprise. Impa stood in the doorway, looking at her strangely. Zelda looked down, embarrassed. " What are you doing?"
" Link’s gone."
" What?"
" Link left. He left a note on my door...."
" Where is he going?"
" To Delina."
" Yes, that was the plan."
" He wasn’t supposed to go until the day after tomorrow and he left tonight."
" I still don’t understand why you’re upset, princess."
" In the note he said he would be leaving in the morning, and he left now. Why? He also wrote to please forgive him if he doesn’t return." Zelda sobbed on the last word, and Impa moved to her side.
" I don’t know what this all means, Zelda, but rest assured that Link will be fine."
" Will he?"

* * *

The Kokiri knew nothing, and neither did the Deku tree sprout. Mostly, they asked her questions about who she was and where she came from. Zelda told them that she didn’t know, that she was lost herself. Which was mostly true. They were not even aware of the takeover of the forest temple. They were of no help. Zelda decided to move on, playing the Bolero of Fire to bring her to fire temple without the need of travel.

IT’S TOO HOT TO STAY HERE FOR TOO LONG, HURRY ZELDA! A high, bell-like voice called out, and Zelda swiveled at the words. Navi was flying high above her head behind her.

" Navi? What are you doing here?" Zelda asked, deeply surprised.
I WANT TO HELP YOU, I MISS LINK TOO. BUT FIRST YOU NEED A RED TUNIC TO KEEP YOU SAFE FROM THE HEAT. DO YOU HAVE LINK’S?
Zelda nodded and brought it out quickly, the heat from the volcano almost blistering her bare skin. She put it on, sliding it over the tight shirt she already wore.
NOW WHAT?
" We complete the temple." Zelda replied, and headed for the ladder leading down inside the fire temple.

* * *

While Impa got her father, Zelda waited impatiently, note in hand in the hall behind the throne room. Finally, her father came out, looking confused.

" What is it Zelda? Why are you in your nightgown?"
" Where’s Link?"
" Where’s Link? He went to Delina."
" Weren’t you supposed to go with him?"
" I'm going to follow after him in the morning."
" He told me he was leaving in the morning, but when I went to his room he was gone. His stuff was gone."
Her father looked at her, wondering why she was going to Link’s room in her night clothes. " It was a last minute thing. He was all ready to go, but I saw him a few minutes ago, and he was anxious to leave, so I told him to go on out ahead."
" During the night?"
" He can take care of himself."
" Father, may I go to Delina in your place?"
The king looked at his daughter with one eyebrow lifted. " Why?"
Zelda handed him the note. " Read this."
The king began to read, a little annoyed. When he finished, he quoted, " Please forgive me if I do not return." He frowned. " What does that mean?"
" I was hoping you’d know." Zelda replied, wringing her hands anxiously.
" Well, when I saw him, he seemed a little preoccupied, and I asked him if anything was wrong. He said he had a bad feeling. I made light of it, but told him he could go early. Maybe I shouldn’t have."
" May I go in your place father?"
" Zelda...Link felt something was wrong, how can I let you go into danger?"
" At least I have the power to take care of myself, father, and Hyrule needs your supervision right now, not mine."
" Very well, Zelda. But I shall double the guards that were supposed to go with me, with you." The king finally replied, with a sigh. He knew that there was no arguing with Zelda when got like this, when she was worried about Link.
" Thank you father. I shall leave right away." Zelda turned to go, but her father stopped her.
" No you won’t. I thought you were tired daughter, you left the ball early, and the guards are not prepared either."
" Very well. In the morning then."

* * *

Link had just saddled Epona when he realized what he had forgotten. It had been bothering him ever since he had left his room, though he had checked and rechecked it twice already. He had forgotten the sapphire amulet that Zelda had given him so many years ago. He always left it on the end table beside his bed, and now he remembered that he had put it in the draw so it would be safe when he had torn his room apart searching for his cap. The amulet was supposed to bring him good luck, but he didn’t care, it had come from Zelda. It was just a stone, no string, so Link didn’t carry it around a lot for fear of losing it. One of these days he’d find a way to make it into a necklace without damaging it.

Leaving Epona where she was, Link hurried back into the palace. The dark feeling that something was going to go wrong had not left him, and he figured he needed the luck, plus, it would be safe inside the special pouch he’d prepared for it. He made his way to his room, hearing the distant sounds of music and laughter ( and old Jedi masters) from the ball that would carry on for some time yet. He went inside and moved quickly to the end table, pulling open the top draw to find the amulet sparkling merrily at him. He grabbed it, put it in his pocket, and shut the draw, then made for the door, and stopped.

The room smelt of roses. More precisely, of pink roses. He knew only one person who had that scent; Zelda. She’d been in his room. She had probably started a search for him after reading the note, and not found him. She would be confused of course now, but that couldn’t he helped. He couldn’t help but smile. It took a lot of work to confuse the girl who possessed the Tri-force of Wisdom. Link yawned suddenly, and frowned. He should be in bed, but that had never stopped him from riding at night before. He was never tired, not until he actually went to bed. But he hadn’t been sleeping much lately, so this was probably the result.

Abruptly, his knees buckled underneath him and he caught himself on the edge of the bed just before he fell. He blinked. That had never happened before. Link shrugged and sat down on the bed. Well, if sleep wanted to claim him he would have to unsaddle Epona first. He took a deep breath and stood up, intent for the door. He had only taken one step before he passed out.

* * *

Zelda took a deep breath and jumped across to the door that led to where Volvagia once reigned. Navi at once told her to be careful. Well, duh. She opened the door, wondering what new enemy she would face and if she’d see the stranger again. She was greeted by a stronger wave of heat then she had previously had experienced, and sweat ran down her face in bead. She wiped her brown with her sleeve, then stepped forward.
" So you made it, congratulations." The voice came, making Zelda jump. That was weird, she hadn’t even sensed his presence, whoever and whatever he was.
" Thanks, I guess. Any vague words of wisdom for me?"
" As a matter of fact, I do. I’ve kind of taken a liking to you, princess, you’re more courageous and sharp-witted than I previously gave you credit for. I’ve done some hunting around, went to Delina, went to this beautiful cemetery, you’d like it, it was very nice."
" Get on with it. Delina?"
" Yes. An old hermit lives there. It took some searching, people had forgotten he was still alive. I did a bit of spying and found he was very good with potions. You might want to go there and check him out."
" Thank you." Zelda was actually heart-felt in her gratitude. She was grateful to whoever this person was, though he tended to annoy her sometimes.
" Don’t thank me, thank Link." Replied the voice.
" What?"
" Never mind. I spent a little bit of time using my imagination and came up with a monster I think you’ll love. Ready?"
" I’m ready."
" Here you go." There was a flash of red light and when Zelda opened her eyes, a huge fiery dragon was flying before her.
" What imagination? It looks like Volvagia!" Zelda called.
" So sue me, I lied. But you don’t need the megaton hammer. A good thing too, considering you can barely even lift it."
The dragon went flying towards her head and Zelda ducked, the flame from it singeing her hair. So that’s why Link wears that cap, Zelda thought briefly, before yelling, " How do I fight this thing?"
" How is the world going to end? Some say fire, some say- ."
" Ice!" Zelda yelled, finishing his sentence. The voice laughed.
" Glad to see that Tri-force piece is kicking in."
Zelda brought out her bow and fitted it with and ice arrow, taking aim at the fiery dragon. She let loose the arrow and got it square in the face. Immediately it the ice took hold of the flame, and Zelda was able to get close to it without burning herself. She hit it with the sword as many times as she could before the ice arrow’s magic wore off, and then shot another one to send the dragon tumbling down again, avoiding the spurts of flame it shot at her. She hit it three more times before having to repeat the process, and soon the dragon was down, falling to the ground in a burst of flame.

When the smoke cleared, Zelda heard a cooing sound. Moving her arm away from her eyes, she peered through the remnants of the smoke to see a small red animal. She stepped closer. There, on the ground, was a tiny little baby dragon. She dropped to her knees and the dragon wobbled up to her, beating it’s wings to no effect. Zelda held out her hand and the dragon licked it. The sensation tickled.