Calculation never made a hero – John Henry Newman

Chapter 4

It was late into the night when Link woke up, his head throbbing terribly. He couldn't help but groan as he rolled out of the infirmary bed, his bare feet slapping against the cold floor of the infirmary. He held his head in hands for a moment, before getting up and wandering absently towards the door, shoving it open with his good shoulder and traipsing down the cold corridor.

It wasn't long before he found himself in the same courtyard he had seen Rubin in early that morning. The ground was freezing beneath his unprotected feet, the wind harsh against his pathetic, ragged clothes. In a corner of the courtyard there was a small square of grass surrounding a water fountain. He sighed as he sat on the edge of the fountain, staring blankly at the ground below him. A little stone sat at his feet. He glared at it. Sometimes he thought his life was like a stone. Hard. Cold. But there was a difference. Stones didn't bleed.

He leant down and picked up the offending stone, tossing it up in the air and catching it again. He threw it up higher, it flying over his head and back a little. He leaned backward; attempting to catch it, when his feet left the ground he wobbled for a moment, then fell backwards. He landed with a painful splash in the water.

The next instant, someone had a painful grip on the collar of his shirt and was dragging him back up to the surface. He pouted once his face was out of the water. The fountain was barely even waist deep. He hadn't needed the help to get out again.

Sopping wet, the person let him climb out of the water himself, his clothes feeling heavy and even more uncomfortable. He looked up, planning to say something to whoever pulled him out, but his mouth snapped shut and he scowled.

"Why don't you ever do what you're told?" she hissed angrily. Princess Zelda was in a thin dress, something that you would expect to a see a maid in, glaring at him furiously. He noticed the black cloak she had draped over her arm.

"Ah, where have you been?" he asked, eyeing the cloak. "Been wandering around town?"

"…no," she replied, now staring guiltily at the ground. Link smirked. She smelt horribly of cheap wine and there were some suspicious stains on her used-to-be white dress.

"I'm sure your father would be pleased to know what his daughter does in the dead of night," Link teased, making sure his mind had logged this situation away, in case it was needed later for blackmail. The Princess fumbled with her words for a few moments, than let out a frustrated, strangled cry. Link grinned and shook his head, droplets of water from his hair flying everywhere. He heaved himself to his feet clumsily to stand before the Princess.

"I'll be taking your leave now, your Highness," he mocked, bowing his head slightly and starting off.

"You'd better be going back to the infirmary," Zelda warned from behind him.

"Not going to happen, Princess."

"Then where will you go?" He heard her clacking footsteps hurrying along behind him.

"Wherever I please. But first, I'm thinking I'll go down to the town and ask after my friends."

"You won't find them there," she said quietly.

"The town is just a starting point. I'll start there, and see where it takes me."

"You are not to leave the Castle grounds," Princess Zelda said forcefully.

"Why don't you stop me?" Link taunted without turning back. He was jerked backwards as she yanked his hand. Spinning him around, she slapped him across the cheek. He was suddenly forced backwards by an invisible force, lost his balance and fell backwards, hitting his head hard on the stone paving of the courtyard.

The last thing he head that night was the mingled ringing in his ears along with the clack-clack of shoes retreating on the stones.

He was jerked awake by the cold feeling of water. He looked around, bleary eyed and confused, when another splash of water hit him in the face.

"Get up, you lazy son of a-"

"I'm up, I'm up," Link objected groggily, his hand reaching out blindly in an attempt to get his bearings. A hand pulled him roughly to his feet.

"Finally!"

"What are doing here anyway, Rubin?" the blonde man asked, rubbing his eyes.

"I've got a training session here this morning. What exactly are you doing here? And asleep, none the less," Rubin replied sourly.

Link looked up in confusion for a moment, then his expression became dark. "I was just going for a walk and sat down for a moment. I guess I, uh, fell asleep?" he excused lamely. He couldn't help himself running through various ways to murder the pretty Princess.

"Oh, well, that's completely normal." Rubin's tone was full of sarcasm, and it made Link's frown deepen. "Now, do you mind getting out of here? I've got some kids to teach."

"They're not much younger than you," Link reminded him again. Rubin grimaced. "Oh, hey, I saw yesterday that you were wearing your father's sword. How is he?"

"... He died a year ago," Rubin replied stiffly. Lin's eyes moved to the ground in embarrassment. Rubin had adored his father. "Yeah, yeah, no need to apologise. I know you didn't know. His sword was the last, and only, thing he left me."

"Oh," was the only thing that came out of Link's mouth. Rubin glanced at him, a small smile suddenly playing about his lips.

"From what I remember, you weren't too bad with a sword, or a bow and arrow, a couple years ago. Have you had much practice recently?"

"I've been in the mines for... who knows how long. And I don't think Prissy is too keen to hand me anything sharp and pointy at the moment," Link said acidly.

"She'd kill you if she ever heard you talking about her like that," Rubin snickered. "But if you're looking for a chance to get back into things... join me today," he offered. Link's eyes brightened a little.

"Sure! It'd be great to have a sword back in my hand and I'd love to teach some of the-"

"Oh, no," Rubin laughed, grinning widely. "You're welcome today, but you won't be instructing."

It was barely an hour later when Link was running through the Castle, hopping along clumsily every few steps as he tried his best to yank on his boot. After a stop at the kitchen, he had visited the small military quarters within the Grounds. Even though Rubin was about half a head taller than him, with a belt around his waist and his pants tucked into his boots, his old friend's clothes fit him quite comfortably. He was glad for the completeness of the garments, as his old ones seemed close to falling to pieces, not to mention still slightly damp.

His borrowed sword clanked at his side as he stumbled into the courtyard, where the rest of the soldiers were already lined up and ready.

"Ah, decided to join us, have you?" Rubin greeted loudly. A few soldiers chuckled, but snapped back to attention once they earned a glare from their Lieutenant Officer. "Come on, come on, to the front now."

Link hurried to the front of the group, rolling his eyes once Rubin called him further forward to make his own little line of one in front of everyone else. He too stood to attention and kept his gaze lazily on Rubin as he strolled about the front of the large group.

"Fall in!" Lt. Officer Rubin Coles yelled, though all his privates were already in formation. "Attention!" Hands snapped up to foreheads as they saluted. He saluted back sharply, then started pacing before the group as he called for them to spread out, taking up almost the entire courtyard, unsheathe their weapons and hold them before themselves.

A series of drills were performed. Link did his best, though he was a little clumsy, what with his still having one shoulder unable to be used. Rubin hovered around him for longer than anyone else and Link was certain that his old friend relished being able to order and jeer a little as he did.

Link himself immensely enjoyed having a sword in his hand again but more than that, being able to use it for something other than just using it to incapacitate or kill. Rubin was always at his throat, telling him to "Straighten up!", "Swing stronger!" or "No, don't fall!"

It wasn't long before the new Spring sun was shining down on the group of Privates –and Link- and the men had all but collapsed from exhaustion.

Link sat alone in a corner, not bothering to talk to any of the newcomers. His shirt, now filthy with sweat, was thrown beside him as he lay comfortably with his hands under his head, enjoying the heat of the sun. He had only closed his eyes for half a moment when he heard someone come and sit next to him.

"Enjoying yourself, huh?" Rubin asked.

"A little, I suppose," Link replied easily. Truth be told, he savoured this, being amongst soldiers again and simply training.

"Oh, well, that's great, because I think it's time we go again," Rubin announced, sounding slightly disgruntled. He got to his feet, calling for the others to get up and back into formation. His own dark, curly hair was glistening as he brushed it back from his face.

Sweating profusely, the group of near three score soldiers started performing their moves again, though rather sluggishly. The midday heat was beginning to make them all feel slightly lethargic as they performed their sharp, orderly movements and Rubin's voice sounded slightly hoarse from yelling.

"Oh, come on, you dolts, can't you even move without tripping over your feet?" he yelled, frustrated.

"Do you deem it necessary for this session to be relayed to Officer Brawdy, Lt. Officer Coles?" a voice asked from behind him. Rubin clenched his fists in anger at his soldiers for a moment, before turning to see Princess Zelda standing behind him, frowning as her eyes came to rest on Link at the front of the group. "It doesn't seem like you have much control over your Brigade."

"No, no, it's fine, your Highness, just fine," Rubin replied, a little flustered. "They were just ...cooling down, anyway."

"...I see."

Link slowly tried to back away into the group of training soldiers, tried to shield himself from the Princess's wrath that he was beginning to fear slightly.

"You still refuse a little gratitude, after all I have done for you, don't you?" Link swore as he saw her eyes swing to him murderously. "You can't even show a smidgeon of respect?" She grabbed his hand, unclenched it from around the hilt of his sword and threw it to the ground, it's point landing with a clash against the stone.

"Ah, Princess..." His sentence trailed off as a strange sensation overcame him. He lost control of his body as his knees became weak and crumpled beneath him. A sudden light filled his view. Zelda swore as she saw him fall.

Link's awakening was groggy and uncoordinated. The first sense to come back to him was his sense of smell. The fragrant aroma of a meaty broth wafted over to him and stirred his empty stomach. It growled.

"Awake, are you?"

Link groaned in response.

"Well, come on, don't just lie there. Open your eyes, try to sit up."

Though still completely dazed, and now slightly irked, Link tried to do as told. He opened his eyes after a moment, reluctantly becoming accustomed to the light cast around the room by a fire in the corner. As he sat up, a thin blanket fell off him and a cup was thrust into his hand.

"Drink this," said the woman towering over him. Her face was one that provoked immediate fear, and made Link's 'flight' instinct almost make him spring to his feet. She made him feel like a little child again. He just stared at her for a few moments, eyes wide. "Stop staring and drink it," she scolded. "It won't do you any good sitting there and warming in your hands, now will it?"

Link raised it to his lips and swallowed it in a few gulps. "Who... Who are you?" he asked hoarsely.

"My name is Impa," she replied stonily.

"This is bad, Impa," Princess Zelda suddenly said, entering the room in a rush. She glanced at Link, fury in her eyes. "Oh, you're awake." Her voice concealed the anger well.

"I apologise for whatever I have done to anger you this time, Princess," he replied flatly.

"And no matter what I owe to the Goddesses, I will begrudge this against you," she seethed.

"And will either of you ladies be so kind to inform of this great unkindness that I have apparently done?"

"How are you feeling?" Impa asked suddenly. Link pondered the thought for a moment.

"Uh, fine, I guess. A little sore from the training session. Boy, it really did seem like Rubin was trying to torture me. I mean, -"

"Right." She paused and when she spoke again her voice was slightly hesitant. "And... uh, how much do you know, exactly of the Tr-"

"Impa," Zelda rebuked sharply. She shook her head at the older woman causing Link to narrow his eyes at the Princess.

"The what?" he ventured. Impa and Zelda seemed to be having a glaring match. Link's stomach growled again. "Listen, Princess, when you make up your mind to tell me... whatever it is that you aren't telling me, I'll be in the military barracks. For now, I'm heading to the kitchens."

He untangled himself from the thin blanket that had been covering him and stood up, a little shaky at first but then took a few long, confident strides to the door of the little shack they were in. He pushed the door, gentle at first, then again, harder, when it didn't open. It quickly sunk in that he was not in the infirmary, nor any part of the Castle he had seen so far. He spun around wildly for a moment, before fixing his glare on Impa and Zelda.

"Where am I?" he demanded gruffly.

"It does not concern you at this time," Impa replied sagely. Link's expression grew dark.

"Why am I not allowed to leave?"

"This area is dangerous. We do not want you getting lost." He was not satisfied, but Impa's look made him cower back onto the bed and sit.

It was hours before Link was left alone. Impa and Zelda sat on chairs beside the fire, murmuring quietly and constantly examining scrolls, before they both finally retired for the night. After the earlier interrogation, neither had spoken to Link again.

He shuffled tiredly to sit on the earth before the burning embers left of the fire. He blew roughly on them a few times, sighing gratefully as the flames shot back up and provided him with comforting warmth. Lolling his head back onto one of the chairs, he lazily picked up a scroll and started to read.

It is an ancient force, believed to be bestowed by the Goddesses themselves unto the world. The Triforce.

Triforce.

The word hit him, like a rock to the back of his head. He knew suddenly that this is what the two ladies had been discussing. His eyes continued of their own regard, reading ahead eagerly to find what secret they tried to keep from him.

It was only when the first pinks of the morning were just barely touching the sky that Link finally fell asleep, the last piece of parchment falling from his fingers onto the hearth.

The most ostentatious, and perhaps also the most useful, of the Hero's armoury was the legendary Master sword, also known as the Sword of Evil's Bane. Legend has it that it is kept in the Forest Temple, a place significant to all the Heroes throughout time.

Perhaps it was just the mention of a legendary sword that had roused Link's interest in the early hours of the morning, or perhaps it had been the rumour that it was in the Forest Temple. Saria's special place had always been off limits to the Kokiri children and though Link had been the most daring of them all, even he had not ventured there yet. Though he did know where it was.

The next day, Impa and Princess Zelda had not let him leave the... place, again. Neither of them left either, instead they sat with their heads together again, whispering to each other all day. Again, they did not speak to Link, save to ask him to sweep the floor, boil some water, or keep the fire going.

It was not before the next night, however, that Link was left alone again, the other two leaving to sleep in another room. He grabbed a thick, woollen cloak from the back of a chair, placing it around his shoulders in preparation. He scuffled to the door and tried to pry it open again, quickly giving up when he realised that it most likely could not be opened without the magic that the Princess possessed. Spinning around, he looked desperately for a way out. There was a window, but it was bolted down, as he had figured out earlier in the day when he had tried to let some air in.

It was a strange sort of hut, for beside the fire place was a grate that, when opened, let a few piece of wood tumble out for rekindling. He had seen Impa use it several times through the day. Shaking his head at his own idiocy, he crouched on his knees and hand, teetering strangely for he did not have a forth functioning limb to lean on. One arm was still held close to his chest with some fabric, keeping the shoulder from moving.

Carefully he pried the grate open, putting his hand out when three pieces of coarsely chopped log rolled out. He moved them aside, trying to make the least noise possible, and put his head into the hole, crawling in slowly. Another piece of wood rolled out and hit him on the head and Link bit his tongue in an attempt not to cry out. He paused for a moment, letting his eyes become accustomed to the shrouding darkness, then stood up cautiously when he established that he was still indoors.

He had crawled from beneath a table, on which a mechanism was set up to release a few pieces of wood form the stack on it every time the grate was opened. He felt around carefully, his hand running along the walls until he found a slight gap. Fumbling, he moved his hand around in order to find a catch or a knob that would see him on the other side of the wall. He found a rusted old knob that turned precariously to let the door swing open. It squeaked as it swung in towards him, making Link wince.

He hurried through it, closing it behind him in haste and then surveying his surroundings. It didn't take him long to figure out where he was. It was familiar to him and whilst it did not give him a homecoming feeling, he knew it had been his home for quite some years.

He stood at the edge of the Lost Woods.

A grin broke out on his face. For someone so often injured, tortured and almost constantly in some sort of harrying pain, he was certainly a very optimistic man. Sometimes it felt like the Goddesses were truly on his side. This was one of these times.

He strode forward confidently, not even bothering to mount one of the horses he could see tethered up just around the corner. If it had been anyone else, they may have shied away, but Link knew this forest well.

Though the days had begun to get warmer, the nights were still chilling. Link pulled his borrowed cloak around him tighter as he entered the wrath of the old forest, the stiff trees seeming to sway in the wind, beckon him forward.

A/N:

Oh crud. I'm so incredibly sorry at the... three months it's taken me to put this up. I swear, I had it done in a month, then deleted it all, because it simply sucked. I'm still not completely happy with this but... oh well. Sorry.

School is a usurper, taking up my time with useless things like Trigonometry and French verb conjugations. Man, I feel so terrible for not finding time and writing this sooner.

A cyber hug to Tek Sonay, who has kept a conversation going with me even though I'm a terrible person who often doesn't keep her promises.

No promises on the next update, though I will sincerely try and keep it less than three months.

All of those that read, thanks for sticking with me, and don't be shy to leave some feedback.

buddy w