“Wake up! Wake up!” Link could hear the young male voice just a few feet above him, and could feel the warm sun beating down upon him. Where…am I? The Hero's mind was groggy, and he wasn't sure what had happened. He could feel something soft beneath him, but truly didn't care what it was or how he had gotten there.
“Mister! Are you ok!?” The young soldier opened his eyes to find a young Kokiri boy hovering above him.
“Oh! He's awake! Any news on his girlfriend, there?” A female nurse who looked to be Hylian approached.
“She's still asleep!”
“Alright, thanks for your help, little one!” The voice grew closer to him. “Are you alright, sir?”
“Yes, I think so…is…is Zelda ok?”
“Zelda? You mean the princess!?”
A rock dropped in his stomach. “No…no I'm sorry. My mind's just a bit rattled. I oftentimes call her Zelda, because she's so beautiful, just like a princess.”
“Hmm…what an odd young man…if I had a lover who called me by the name of another woman, frankly, I would be offended.” The woman walked away, but turned to speak again after a moment. “I think she's alright, she's just sleeping.”
“That's good…thank you, ma'am.”
“You're welcome. Let us know when she wakes up, I'll bring you both something to eat here in a little while, please make yourself at home.”
He sighed as the woman walked away, getting out of bed and looking around. There were tents set up and many people scurrying about…they weren't Kokiri. He knew that they were lucky not to have been recognized so far…but also knew that if they remained there their luck would surely run out. “Zelda…” After a few steps he was at his lover's bedside, gently stroking her forehead. “Are you alright? It's all over…”
He remained by her side until she stirred, minutes later. “Mm…oh…”
“Zelda!” His voice sounded excited. “Thank goodness you're alright!”
“Link…?” Her eyes caught his. “Where…where are we?”
“I…I'm not sure. This looks to be some kind of camp that was set up…and that's why we have to leave, right now.”
“W…what?”
The young man drew closer to her, speaking softly into her ear. “I saw a woman here from Kakariko Village…and that means that there are probably more people here from town. We have to leave before you or I are recognized.”
“Where will we go?”
“I am not sure…but anywhere is better than here at the moment, come on.” His fingers closed around hers, and he helped her out of bed, leading her out of the clearing and into the dense brush of the forest.
Back to Part 24 | Continue to Part 26
