"I'm starving," Link sighed as he shot his last arrow from his quiver. Bullseye, as usual. "Can't we eat yet?"
"Good things come to those who wait, Master Link," Impa answered as she continued cooking lunch for the two of them.
"Why were you even assigned to go on this mission with me? Aren't you Zelda's guard?" Link pointed out.
"Yes, but we still haven't found you a royal guard and Zelda plans on staying at the castle until tomorrow, so your father decided that I'd have time to accompany you on your trip and keep you safe," Impa explained.
"Is it really necessary for me to have a royal guard? I'm a master archer and I have been for a long time now, can't I protect myself?" Link whined.
"Maybe from a distance, but a bow is no good in close-ranged combat," Impa shook her head as she started to plate the crab stew.
"That's why I should start training to be swordsman! I don't understand why father doesn't understand that." Link shook his head in frustration. Picking up one of his arrows from the target and swinging it like a sword.
"Master Link, you are still too young to learn swordsmanship. You must wait another year," Impa handed the bowl of stew to the young archer, who dropped the arrow to the ground and began eating right away. Impa sighed, "When you are finished, we will scout the desert for enemies and then head back to the palace. Understand?"
"I thought we were staying for the night?" Link tilted his head as he put another spoonful of stew into his mouth.
"We were, but I've changed my mind. We will head back tonight, do I make myself clear?" Impa spoke harshly with a subtle hint of worry in her tone.
"Is something wrong, Impa?" Link asked.
"I feel great darkness coming from the desert, that is why I have decided that we'll leave tonight. Eat quickly so that we may leave soon," Impa demanded.
"I'm already done," Link handed the bowl back to the royal guard, who washed it with some water and put it back in the backpack.
"Alright then, let's pack up before we go scouting," Impa began heading over to the tents with Link following behind her to help pack the tents up.
***
"Can you pass the water?" Link asked, briefly being handed the water and taking a large drink of it. "Did you hear what the townsfolk are calling me now?" Link chuckled a little.
"I assume it's something bad, considering your reputation with the townsfolk, but what is it?" Impa asked, looking at the young prince.
"Link the Bastard... or just bastard for short," Link looked off into the distance, something catching his eye. He rode his pony ahead of Impa to reach it.
"I will alert your father, they shouldn't be disrespecting you like... where are you going?" Impa asked, trying to catch up with Link on her horse.
"I think someone is buried under the sand!" Link called back to his accompanying guard and tried to unearth the body. He managed to uncover the person down to his shoulders, so he could check for a pulse, "he's still alive!" he then uncovered the person, who seemed to be a young Gerudo boy down to his waist, allowing Impa to pull the young boy out.
"Looks like a Gerudo," Impa noted. "I wonder why he's all the way out here."
"Should we bring him back to Gerudo Town?" Link asked.
"It might be quicker and easier if we took him back to Hyrule. We can give him the medical treatment he needs sooner and then come back later to return him to his people. I don't think you would be allowed into the village, anyway." Impa explained.
"What? Why not?" Link wondered.
"The Gerudo are a stubborn society and don't allow any males into their town under no circumstances. Aside from the rare male Gerudo, of course. When we bring him back, you will not be accompanying me." Impa informed.
"Fine," Link muttered.
Impa hoisted the Gerudo boy upon her horse, "Well, Master Link, I believe it is time to return to Hyrule. It's best if we get this young man some medical treatment as soon as possible, just in case."
"Alright, lead the way," Link agreed.
***
Impa and Link arrived at the castle late that evening, "Master Link, go tie up the horses. I will take care of this young man."
"Where are you going to take him?" Link asked.
"I will get him to the medic and then report to the king about him. He will then decide what we must do with him when he wakes up," Impa explained. "After you tie up your horse, go see your father."
"Yes, ma'am," Link nodded and then lead the two horses to the stables. When he finished tying them up, he wandered back to the castle and to the throne room. "Dad?" Link called out.
The king looked at the entrance, "Link! It's good to see you. How did the mission go?"
"It went fine, I thought Impa would've reported to you by now,"
"She did and told me about the boy. He still hasn't woken up. The doctor said that it wasn't anything too serious, so he should be fine," The king informed.
"Did Zelda already head to bed?" Link asked.
"Not yet, she wanted to greet you when she heard you were returning tonight. I believe she is in the archery range," his father told him. "She has some exciting news to share with you."
"Alright, I'll go see her then. See you later," Link headed out of the throne room and headed to the archery range, where he spent most of his days training as an archer. When he approached the field, he saw a hooded figure shooting a bow. When the arrow released, it hit the edge of the target. "Well, at least you're hitting the target now." he chuckled to himself.
The hooded figure turned to face him, revealing golden-blonde hair and bright blue eyes. "Link! You're back!" she set down her bow and ran over to hug her brother.
"Yep," he chuckled nervously. "Dad said you had some exciting news for me?"
"Ah, yes! Look!" Zelda held out her left hand to reveal a triangular mark on the back of her hand. The mark of the triforce, a symbol to show that she was the wielder of the triforce of wisdom.
"Woah! You finally got your powers? That's amazing Zelds!" Link was surprised and happy for his sister, who held out her hand to gesture for him to hold it and examine it closer. In which he took her hand in his and looked at the marking when suddenly he felt sick to his stomach. He stood frozen and seemed to be entranced in a daze. After a few moments of this sickening, cold sensation, he was overcome with serenity and peacefulness as images of a beautiful young woman with golden hair and blue eyes. Sometimes this woman would be riding on the back of a horse, sometimes she was wielding a bow, shooting arrows of light at a beast. There was no doubt that this woman was beautiful and was friendly. He felt like he had known this woman for many years, but yet he couldn't remember her name. The flashes of images ceased after a few moments, in which he returned to the present, seeing his sister worried for him. "Link, are you okay? Snap out of it!"
Link shook his head and a wave of pain shot through his skull, "Agh!" he winced.
"What's wrong?" Zelda asked.
"I-I don't know," Link answered, "I'm suddenly really dizzy, though. Maybe being in the desert sun all day is getting to me."
"Maybe you should ask father to cease your training for a while. It seems like you're overworking yourself," Zelda suggested.
"But it's my duty to train to protect you one day," Link pointed out.
"Yes, but it seems like you're always out on a mission of some sort. You go out for a couple of days, come back, eat and sleep, and then you're back out on the road with Impa or another royal guard. You must rest," Zelda advised.
Link rubbed his forehead, "Maybe you're right. I'll talk to him tomorrow,"
"Good, now go to bed and get some rest. Who knows what you must face tomorrow," Zelda smiled.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Link asked.
"Nothing really, I suppose," Zelda shrugged, "just a thought."
"Alright, weirdo," Link rolled his eyes. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Link," Zelda hugged him one last time, making Link feel the serenity he had felt seeing that beautiful woman.
With those final words, Link headed back to his room, slowly feeling more and more tired. His migraine had faded somewhat, but his dizziness never subsided. He sat down on his bed, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. His grand room was the only place he belonged it seemed, everywhere else people often mocked him for not being of real royal blood, despite being the prince.
That's what Zelda and the King called him, anyway. Prince Link, as if he was related to the royal family somehow. But he really wasn't. He had been brought into the family when the king found him in a burning village as a toddler. He didn't seem to have any family around since the fire had started in Ordon Village and it seemed that most of the villagers had fled from the scene. No one had visited the village since then, assuming that the villagers never returned and left it in ruins. Those woods were considered forbidden to Link for some reason as if they had become too dangerous for him to wander into even with the protection of the royal guards. But Link promised himself that he'd return to the village and learn more about where he had come from, for all he now remembered was Hyrule Castle and the townsfolk. The townsfolk who called him a fraud, bastard, brat, and many other names that he dared not repeat.
He never really fought the townsfolk over what he was named or whether or not he was considered royalty or not. He didn't see himself as royalty, despite living in the castle all his life and being treated as such from the guards. He never asked the maids to clean his room or serve him. He preferred being independent and helping himself. He did get into a lot of trouble from sneaking out at night and causing the townsfolk trouble throughout his childhood, hence the namecalling.
Casting all the thoughts and doubts aside, he turned out the light, laid on his side, and fell asleep.