For the rest of the day, Link curiously explored the castle, almost laughing when the guards became paranoid and afraid. Link paid no mind to them and kept on walking, for they couldn’t arrest him unless he stole something or killed someone. But he had no weapons and stealing was the last thing on his mind.
He finally reached a nice courtyard. It had certain rooms where each had some sort of garden or fountains in place. It was truly a majestic area and Link walked into it, noticing more guards here.
He walked past the maze of bushes and into the next, which was a surprise.
There were no guards here, but the place looked beautiful. A moat surrounded the circular room and flowers grew along the island in the middle. There was no ceiling, so birds and bugs and other animals gathered around here.
Zelda was standing in here, trying to concentrate. A bow and arrow in her hands, aimed for a sack of grain with a target on it. Link understood and watched Zelda let her arrow fly.
She squirmed in pain as the bow hit her arm and the arrow hit a picture of a man in the other room. The picture fell off the wall with a crash. Zelda flinched from the loud noise and sighed in frustration. Link walked over to her, sensing that she needed help.
“Princess Zelda,” Link caught her attention. “Do you want help in that?”
Zelda smiled. “Yes! My father allowed me to fight with a sword, but he never gave me lessons of the bow and arrow. I’d be grateful if you’d help me.”
Link smiled and walked over to her. “Okay, first of all, stand at a forty degree angle so the bow won’t hit you in the arm.”
Link stood right behind Zelda and anchored her into the right position.
“Now pull the string leveled to your eye and tilt your head slightly with the bow.”
Zelda did as Link told her. She pulled the bow and tilted slightly to the right.
“Aim and make sure the notch is up to the target.”
Zelda aimed making sure her arrow seemed to touch the target.
“And release…”
Zelda released the bow to let her arrow fly. It struck perfectly true right into the target. Zelda looked up at Link and smiled.
“You’re a wonderful teacher Link.”
“You flatter me too much, princess,” Link said blushing.
“Love is in the air,” said another voice. Link and Zelda looked towards the entrance to the castle.
“Malon,” Zelda blushed slightly. “Good to see you.”
Malon and Sheik stood there. Malon smiled while Sheik looked pensive as always.
Zelda then realized what Malon had just said. Link did also… They looked to realized that Zelda’s back was just up against Link’s chest and they could obviously be mistaken for a couple. Link and Zelda blushed and took a large step away from each other. Zelda’s embarrassment drained and she ran up to Malon.
Zelda and Malon made a bright, cheery hug as Sheik smiled as he shot a glance at Link.
“Well, this is very strange, meeting Link in the castle,” Malon replied.
Link nodded, then began to think about what she said. Sheik walked over to him.
“I told her the truth after you left,” Sheik murmured. “She’s okay with you being a thief, just don’t steal anything from her ranch again.”
Link frowned. “I won’t.”
He began to feel doubt in these words. What would happen now? He couldn’t just abandon his family and live in the castle the rest of his life. All this confusion made his head hurt and he began to grow pale.
Zelda, who was just conversing with Malon, looked over to Link, who didn’t look like he was in good shape.
“Link?” Zelda asked, worried. “Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”
Sheik, Malon, and Zelda directed their attention towards Link and he began to feel nervous.
“Umm,” Link stuttered. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just going to head back to my room for a while.”
And with that, Link walked away. All three of them were silent. Malon and Sheik began to talk about gossip going through towns, but Zelda couldn’t help but think of Link. She couldn’t take her mind off of him, and as seconds passed, she became more worried of him.
Link walked back to his room after asking a dozen guards where it was. He entered it and looked out the window and looked at the view.
It was a beautiful view as it shown the sight of the ranch, the river, the mountain, and Kakariko.
Link’s stomach churned as he became homesick. He couldn’t believe it. He was with Zelda, a girl that he secretly had a desire in him to stay with for all of his life, and his dank home under the well, where he wanted to help his family survive.
