Before Twilight

Chapter 3: My Name is Link

Zelda's P.O.V

Colin was quite the little guide. He showed me everything in Ordon, all the way to the edge of the woods and to the sloping hills. Ordon was such a small, and quaint village. The people were kind and hardworking it appeared. They weren't known to be so dependent on trade within Hyrule but their crop was normally sent through a merchant who sold it for a profit in Castle Town. The village overall was self sustaining. 

"Sheik come this way! You must meet Link! He's the coolest person ever! And the strongest! He can take down an Ox you know! And he knows how to wield a sword! He's training me you know, and some day I am going to be just as skilled as him." Colin explained as he scooped up a stick from the ground and wielded it like a sword. 

"This Link sounds very interesting Colin, I would very much like to meet him." I laughed as I watched the boy play.

"He's just up there on the hill by Mayor Bo's house. He is probably working with Epona right now." Colin explained. 

"Epona?" I inquired.

"Link's horse is named Epona, and he trains with her everyday. He is very good with her as well." Colin bragged. 

"Well this Link seems to be full of surprises." I laughed. 

"Come on if we hurry we can watch him herd the Oxen into the barn!" Colin exclaimed as he grabbed my hand and dragged me up the hill. 

Once we made it up there we met with three other children.

"Hey Malo! Hey Talo! Oh and Beth, didn't expect to see you here." Colin stated.

Beth rolled her eyes at him and returned attention to the other two boys beside her. 

They all appeared to be approximately the same age. Malo and Talo were clearly related. The two boys had very similar features.  

"Whoa look at Link go! He is going to beat his record this time for sure!" Malo exclaimed. 

"What's his current time?" Talo asked. 

"Two minutes and 14 seconds. " Malo answered.

The children stood outside a fence that circled a great deal of oxen. Inside the pen was a man riding a horse. He was herding the oxen at great speed and with such control. The children appeared quite taken with him. 

"He has one ox left!" Talo exclaimed. 

It wasn't long until all the oxen had been herded into the barn and locked up for the day. 

"He finished in three minutes flat!" Malo exclaimed. 

"That's a new record!" Beth added.

The man had dismounted his horse and then led her towards the water trough to drink. He patted the side of his horse's neck as he removed her saddle and reigns. He then carried the equipment into the barn and disappeared for a moment. 

"Come on let's go congratulate Link on his new record!" Beth suggested.

"You just want an excuse to talk to him, Beth!" Malo chastised. 

"I do not!" She snapped back. 

"When will you two ever stop fighting?!" Talo exclaimed. 

"Perhaps you children could take me to meet your friend Link?" I interrupted. 

Suddenly the children were silent as they looked at me with confused look on their faces.

"Who are you?" Talo asked rather rudely. 

"She is my Mother's cousin! She is from Termina. Her name is Sheik." Colin stated rather proudly.

"Well we don't take kindly to strangers, you know." Malo stated. 

"Stop that Malo, she's pretty! Let her meet Link." Beth stated.

I smiled sweetly at her.

"From Termina huh?" A voice stated from behind me. 

I turned to see it was Link the man on the horse from earlier. 

He was strikingly handsome. His eyes were a vibrant blue and his hair was a sandy blonde that was long and uncut. But besides his good looks there was something about him that seemed...Familiar. 

"Uh yes. I'm from Termina." I stated in response. 

"I didn't know that Uli had any family in Termina." Link stated as he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. 

"Yes she does but we have not spoken in a very long time." I lied.

Link observed me silently for a moment. It felt as if he could sense that I was lying. 

I tried to not crack under pressure as he looked at me.

"My name is Sheik." I said with a slight bow. 

Link seemed surprised by my formality for a moment. 

"Oh and my name is Link. Its nice to meet you." He chuckled as he attempted to bow as well. 

The children giggled at his sad attempt to be formal. 

"I'm not quite sure how things are in Termina but in Ordon we aren't usually so formal so please excuse my awkwardness." He apologized. 

He was surprisingly polite for a ranch hand. 

"Oh its fine! I'm sorry! I was brought up this way so don't fret about it." I apologized. 

Link's expresión fluttered for a moment as he listened to me. 

"Your speech is a lot more formal then what I am used to as well. I hope the way I talk doesn't insult you either." He explained.

"Not at all. " I chuckled. 

He smiled softly at me before directing his attention towards the children.

"So what was my time this time?" He asked.

"You finished in three minutes flat, Link! That's a new record!" Malo exclaimed. 

Link appeared impressed with himself at first but it didn't seem that much worth celebrating to him. 

"You and Epona make a great team!" Beth added. 

"She does all the work are you kidding me. I just sit back and enjoy the ride." Link laughed. 

The children laughed with him for a moment before he then returned his attention to me. 

"So how long are you planning on staying here?" Link asked. 

"Um I'm not sure. I was hoping for a bit. I've missed my dear cousin Uli greatly and I really wanted to see her home that I've heard so much about." I lied. 

"Well let me personally say welcome to Ordon. It isn't much, I know...but its home." He explained.

"Home." I thought to myself for a moment. 

Suddenly I thought of my Father, and the danger he was currently in. Yes, Lady Impa was there to protect him but I still worried greatly for his safety. 

"Did I say something wrong?" Link inquired.

"No! Please forgive me, I'm not myself. I think I just need a walk to clear my head." I tried. 

"Here let me walk with you, since you don't know your way around yet." Link offered.

Link then offered me his arm and I took it gently.

"Ilia isn't going to like this." Malo muttered under his breath.

I wasn't quite sure who that was but something told me Link's kind gesture landed us both in trouble.