Link could still hear the tolling of the bells from outside the walls of Castle Town. Once he crawled out behind Zelda, he jumped to his feet and ran, but he didn't know where he was running.

"Wait!" Adam exclaimed. "The further you get, the more dangerous it is."

The stretch of Hyrule field on the Eldin side of Castle Town was barren, like a desert. The ground had cracked from heat and negligence, and Link could see waves of heat rising up. In the distance, all he could see was dust, which hid all the danger Adam was talking about. He couldn't tell what was out there, but he knew they had to venture into it.

There was a frail horse stationed near the tunnel, and Link guessed it belonged to Adam.

"Both of you, hop on Orjan," Adam instructed. He lifted Zelda up, to her embarrassment, and seated her on the back of the horse. Link climbed up behind her, still carrying Adam's package of food.

Orjan twitched nervously with the addition of the two newcomers, but Adam led him forward into the desert.

"Where did you get the soldier's uniform?" Link asked.

Adam smiled proudly. "A soldier visited Alfos not too long ago to berate us for not having enough to trade. While he was there, he caught a sickness and died. Of course, it would be disrespectful to take his uniform without giving him a proper burial. Surprisingly, nobody has come looking for him." He looked up at Link. "I don't know your name," he stated.

"Link."

"Please, Link, I want to know about my brother."

"He's doing well," Link promised. "He's been living in Hillwind for years."

"To be honest, I wasn't sure if he would make it all the way to Vera," Adam admitted. "He was so young when he left. Almost a baby. I knew I should've gone with him but I couldn't leave my mother alone. She had supported me my entire life, and it was my turn to pay her back."

Link didn't hold it against Adam. Jørn had made it all right and was doing well for himself regardless of his family's absence. "He didn't stay in Vera very long. He left on the Runner's Express and travelled around the provinces, eventually all over Hyrule."

Adam laughed. "And after all that, he ended up in quiet little Hillwind?"

"He has a daughter now."

"What's her name?" Adam asked, overjoyed. "How old is she?"

"Her name is Miri," Link answered. "She's two years old. Her mother is Sarian, a woman named Liliah."

Link thought Adam might begin to cry. He couldn't hide his wide grin, so he just smiled at his feet.

"Do you have a family?" Link asked him.

"My mother died a couple of years ago," replied Adam. "But I do have a wife, Laura. She takes care of things while I'm gone. She keeps the peace, and such."

"Are you in charge?"

Adam shook his head. "No, not exactly. But I do what I can to provide for my people, and I suppose some of them look up to me."

Despite the dangers waiting for them, Link felt inexplicably safe. He knew then that Adam was to be trusted. Adam was optimistic, which was a trait that his brother did not possess. Link wondered how different Jørn would be if he hadn't left Alfos. He wondered if the strenuous lifestyle of the Alfs instilled some sort of character that couldn't be found anywhere else.

Zelda had been unusually quiet, but Link accredited it to the fact this was probably the last place she would rather be. Horrible memories must have been flooding in. They were in Bulblin territory now, and the chances of being attacked were high. Adam led them bravely across the dead stretch of Hyrule field, always on the lookout.

00000

Laura had spent that morning rolling out dough to make pita bread, sprinkling it with herbs, and letting it bake in the sun. It was a staple of Alf cuisine that tasted like the dirt they lived in, but there was plenty to go around. Her face and arms were covered in dust when she finished, and sweat dripped from her forehead. She wiped it away and stood up, looking towards the outskirts of the province. She could see nothing on the horizon, which was what she was used to.

The well had run dry again earlier that week, so Laura began the long walk in search of water for her people. It was one of the many responsibilities she took on while her husband made his trips to Castle Town. She didn't mind the extra work. Every Alf did their part to survive, except for the sick and dying. And much of the population was sick and dying.

There was a creek north of the town that hadn't dried up yet. Gleefully, Laura filled her large bucket and made her way back home.

The townspeople smiled and nodded their heads as she walked by. Some of them whispered, "Good morning, Din," using their nickname for her. They were all frail and dirty, just like her. The women kept their unwashed hair pulled back tightly to keep the grime off their faces. Most men and small children had their heads shaved to save them the trouble. Many children did not even wear clothing. It was hard to supply when one was always growing, so covering the body was not deemed necessary until a certain age. Boys and girls as old as eleven or twelve walked around naked and shameless.

Laura was hungry and dizzy, but she kept the bucket held high on her head until she reached the well. The small crowd that had gathered knew not to drink the water until Laura had mixed in the white powder that purified it. Once the powder had been dropped in, it sizzled and fizzed, and each person took a small bowl of water with them.

"Your husband should be back today," commented Laura's neighbor and friend, an old man with leathery skin and white hair on his face and head.

Laura grinned, excited. "Yes, Morten, he should. Although I'm not sure what time he'll be home. Morning or night, he didn't tell me."

Morten patted her shoulder with his rough, calloused hand. "We will all be glad to see him."

Adam had been providing for the people of Alfos since before Laura had even met him. Every day, he was either fixing people's homes, providing food or water, creating remedies for the sick, or calming the nerves of the townspeople after an attack.

The last Bulblin attack had been three weeks ago, and it hadn't been bad. A couple of homes had been destroyed and some of the food supply was ruined, but there were no deaths, and the homeless moved in with friends. They had survived and recovered, but Laura couldn't help but feel that something larger was in store. The Bulblins were not human. They were monsters, fierce and merciless. The very image of one was enough to cause paralyzing fear, and you would most likely be run through at that point.

In the meantime, though, Laura was thankful for the peace. It made her job easier.

She heard a shout from a teenage boy who had been sitting on his rooftop. The boy suddenly jumped up, pointing into the distance.

"Din!" he shouted. "Adam's come back!"

Laura was overjoyed, but also wished she looked more presentable for her husband. She ran in the direction that the boy had pointed, expecting to see Adam riding alone on Orjan. Instead, she saw him leading his horse, with the addition of two mysterious riders. They appeared to be children, but she couldn't tell from the distance. One thing she could see for sure; they weren't Alfs.

When they got closer, Laura ran up to them and jumped into the arms of her husband. He spun her around, covering her in kisses.

"Welcome home, my love," she greeted him. "Who are your new friends?"

"A couple of Hillwinds," replied Adam, lifting Zelda from Orjan. "I found them in the dungeons at Castle Town. The boy knows my brother."

"He knows Jørn?"

Link handed the package of food back to Adam, who opened it to show Laura. She gasped when she saw the contents.

"We'll eat like royalty for the next few days," she remarked. The package was filled with seasoned meat and roasted vegetables. Zelda averted her eyes before she could grow hungry. "Come on, help me distribute."

Adam was greeted warmly by everyone they passed by. Some of them bowed to him. He amiably introduced Link and Zelda to anyone who was curious, only he used Zelda's alias and introduced her as a Hillwind. He told them the riveting story of how he rescued them from the dungeons of Hyrule Castle. Link could tell that these people hadn't heard any good news in a long time.

Everywhere he looked, he became more shocked. Link never imagined he would experience the setting of Jørn's horrifying memoirs, and yet now he was standing among the poorest people in the kingdom. They were starving, weak, and without any money. Their makeshift homes were falling apart, built hastily because they kept getting destroyed every few weeks. There were so many orphans, and elderly people who were only wrinkled skin and bones.

Adam finally stopped at his house, which was no grander than any of the others. He welcomed them inside the shed-like hut.

"You're both welcome to stay here," he offered, showing them a place where they could sit down. Link took his offer immediately, sinking onto a stool to rest. Zelda was more hesitant.

"Adam, we can't stay here," she said.

"Hey, it may not be much, but it's all I've got to offer you," replied Adam, trying not to sound offended.

Zelda shook her head. "That's not what I meant. I am grateful to you for saving us, and it's very kind of you to let us stay here. But we can't stay in Alfos for long. We have somewhere we need to be."

"It's dangerous to travel on the fields without an experienced guide," Adam warned them. "Please, for your own safety, stay the night, and I'll arrange for someone to take you back to the provinces tomorrow."

Zelda nodded. She could live with that.

Link still didn't think she was being grateful enough to someone who had helped them escape imprisonment, and then offered them lodgings when he himself had nothing. Link shook Adam's hand sincerely.

"While we're here, you might as well practice," said Zelda, pulling Link's bow and quiver out of the supply bag.

Adam's eyes widened. "That's Zora magic," he breathed. "I didn't realize you had seen the Zoras. If you want to practice archery, I know of a good place. Maybe you'll even catch us something to eat." He laughed at his joke.

The last thing Link wanted to do was practice archery, but Zelda seemed indignant. He was disappointed; he thought that their growing relationship meant that she would go easy on him, maybe even decide that killing Daegal wasn't necessary after all.

The air was like an oven on Link's skin, which was beginning to burn and blister. He followed Adam to a dusty gorge, not unlike the one Gerulf had taken him to back in the Goron Domain. Though no targets had been set up, the gorge was long and narrow, ideal for firing arrows.

The first shot was always the worst. Link could almost feel the pain in Daegal's place, as the arrow ripped through the air and lodged into a sand dune.

Adam could see the discomfort in Link's face. After he had gotten a few shots in, he suggested that Link should take a break.

"What are you practicing for?" he asked amiably, unaware of the gargantuan question he just asked.

Link relaxed across the dunes, feeling almost as if he were home with Jørn, unwinding after a long day's work. He trusted Adam. And he was tired of keeping such monumental secrets. Link knew that the mission was not to be revealed. But he liked to think of Adam as an exception.

"Zelda and I are on a mission to save the world," he said.

Adam immediately burst out laughing, and the happy sound made Link start to laugh, too. Adam thought he was joking, but Link continued.

"Have you ever heard of the Triforce shards?"

"Yeah," said Adam. "A little."

Link didn't quite know where to begin. "Back in Hillwind, the Triforce of Power was discovered by my best friend. The shard poisoned his mind, started turning him into a monster. He ran off with it, and the Goddesses gave me the job of getting it back and saving him."

Adam was suddenly incredibly interested in Link's story, true or untrue.

"I met Zelda in Kakariko. She had run away from Castle Town disguised as a peasant. She was supposed to help me save Daegal. But by the time we found him. . ." Link paused, pained. ". . .It was too late."

"You lost your friend?" Adam asked.

"He's still alive, technically," replied Link. "But he probably won't be for long. The power of the Triforce turned him into something evil. Daegal doesn't exist anymore. And now I have to kill what's left over." Link gestured to his bow.

Adam was shaking his head in disbelief. "The Goddesses are making you kill your best friend?"

"To be honest, he was more than that. But that's all over, now. I have to do this. When we're done, Zelda is going to use the remaining shards to take control of the kingdom again. She'll fix it, and make things right."

Adam couldn't argue with Zelda's logic, but he still looked completely troubled by the story. "If you succeed, then I'll be able to see my brother again," he said. "If you succeed, all the refugees of the provinces will be able to return home to their families. There will be peace again."

Link knew that. And he understood now why Zelda was so dead-set on getting Daegal out of the way so she could save the kingdom. It was about fixing things.

He picked up his bow and fired more shots into the dunes just to clear his head.

00000

Zelda and Laura were waiting for them when they returned. They were eating the pita bread that Laura had baked earlier that day, and Zelda looked like she was trying her very best to enjoy it.

Adam kissed his wife and sat down next to her, and she melted into his arms.

Link sat awkwardly beside Zelda, unsure how much of her feelings for him had prevailed thus far. She did not seem tense at his presence, but in front of Adam and Laura, she refrained from being intimate.

Adam's arm was draped around Laura's shoulder, both lovingly and protectively. He mindlessly played with her long, black hair, soothing her after a long day. They didn't keep their affections a secret as Jørn and Liliah did. The Alfs didn't have the time to keep secrets. They were a proud people, left with nothing but their dignity.

"Laura is trained in traditional Alf combat," Adam bragged. "Last time we were attacked, she single-handedly fended off two Bulblins who were trying to invade our home."

Laura blushed and quieted him, too humble for his boasting. "I was trained as a girl," she elaborated. "I'm trying to organize the other women so I can teach them, but so few have the energy, or they're too busy taking care of their children. Maybe it will happen someday, but not anytime soon."

"Some of the Alfs here call her Din, because she is like a goddess to them."

"Hush," reprimanded Laura.

There came a soft knock at the door, and then it opened, revealing a shriveled old man wrapped in rags. He had kind eyes and snow white hair, and an overall relaxed demeanor.

Laura immediately jumped to her feet and rushed to the old man's side.

"This is our neighbor, Morten," she introduced him. "Morten, these are our new friends from Hillwind, Link and Impa."

Morten gave them a low bow, moving slowly, as men of his age tended to do. "I wanted to meet you," he said to them in a calm, friendly voice. "I noticed that the newcomers that came home with Adam were not from around here. How did you meet?"

"Adam helped us escape from the dungeons," said Link. He could tell that Adam was not as humble as his wife. He smiled proudly.

Morten uttered a creaky laugh. "Sounds like our Adam," he remarked.

"And they know my brother," Adam added, still joyful.

"The one who left so many years ago? By Din, I haven't seen Jørn since he was barely old enough to speak. I am happy to know he's still alive and well. How old would he be now, Link?"

"Twenty-two," Link answered. "And he's a father now."

Morten chuckled with pride. "Well, I guess he's all grown up, then. I guess I'm getting old."

Link wished Zelda would feel as at home as he did, surrounded by Jørn's friends and family. She hadn't said a word since Link had sat down. No doubt she felt out-of-place. She was sitting amongst people that her kingdom had badly harmed.

Stories of times gone by were exchanged. Adam told of the few good memories he had with his brother; playing games, swimming in the creek, learning to make food. Laura told the story of how she and Adam met, and Link told of how he had come to live with Jørn. Morten talked about their mother, how beautiful and kind she was, and how it was a shame she was no longer alive to see how well her sons turned out.

"You can sleep in the cellar," Adam offered once it had gotten dark and Morten had returned home. He pulled up a heavy trap door in the floor to reveal steps that led down to a sod cellar. It was pitch black until he lit a match, lighting up the lanterns.

The cellar was not made for storage, but for hiding in case of a storm or attack, so it was somewhat cozy, with mats on the dirt floor for sleeping on and shelves stocked with purified water for emergencies.

"I'll be right upstairs if you need anything," Adam promised. "Good night, kids."

When they were alone, Link turned to Zelda. "So, what's it like seeing them up close?"

She shrugged, swallowed, and looked like she might cry. "I don't like being here," she said quietly so that Adam and Laura wouldn't hear. "I feel sick."

"What are you thinking of?" Link sat with Zelda on the sleeping mats, trying to comfort her as much as possible without deterring her.

"I'm thinking that it's wrong for me to be here. It's wrong for them to be so hospitable towards me. It was wrong for us to go to Castle Town and we should've just gone the long way," Zelda replied weakly.

"It was worth a shot," Link lied.

"And I'm thinking of all the bad things that happened last time I came to Alfos."

Link put an arm around her, just as Adam had done to his wife. "It's not going to happen again. I'm here this time to make sure of it. We'll make it out of here, and we'll finish what we started." Link wasn't sure if he believed in what he was saying, or if he was just trying to calm Zelda's nerves. It was true that he wanted to be finished. He wanted it to be over and done with, and he never wanted to worry about it again. But he knew he would worry about it. Link would never forget it. He would dwell on it for the rest of his life.

His efforts to comfort Zelda didn't seem to be working. Now she was shaking in his arms, in dire need of help but too proud to ask for it.

"I'll tell you what," said Link. "We have two hundred and thirty rupees left over. Let's keep thirty for supplies in the future, and donate two hundred to the Alfs. That would help them out a lot."

Zelda nodded in agreement. Only then did Link realize how much he missed her regal, lively side. The side that bossed him around and spoke her mind. She was clearly keeping things to herself, now.

"About what happened between us in Castle Town," she finally said. "I'm. . .embarrassed that I let it become an issue. I should've kept quiet and controlled myself better, at least until I knew how you felt about it. I know what it's like to have your feelings pushed aside and disregarded. I don't want to do that to you."

"You don't have to worry about that now," Link consoled her. "Man, what happened to the girl who could slap me in the face and not feel bad about it?"

At last, Zelda smiled. She playfully slapped his cheek, and then kissed it.

Link held onto her until she had calmed down and almost fallen asleep.

In Alfos, there was no jolly singing, no music, no excitement to keep Link company through the night. All he heard instead was a tense silence that could be broken by chaos at any moment. They felt as though they couldn't completely fall asleep, or something bad would happen.

Upstairs, Laura and Adam sat awake, not particularly frightened, just wary. They carefully listened for any sound of distress coming from outside, the way they did every night.

Laura sat in the protective embrace of her husband. "How long are they staying?" she asked him. It wasn't that she wanted them gone. She just wanted them safe.

"They are leaving tomorrow," Adam replied. "I'll have someone escort them to the provinces in the morning, someone with enough stamina."

"Why don't you do it?"

Adam held her more tightly. "I've been away from home for too long," he said. "And away from you."

"It's a strange coincidence that Link knows your brother," Laura remarked.

"Strange," Adam agreed. "But even though I know he's alive now, I don't see what good that does me. I'm still stuck on the wrong side of Hyrule."

Laura rubbed his chest calmingly, the way she always did when he was stressed. "Your little brother is living the life you always wanted for him. He is happy."

"I still want to see him," said Adam. "I miss him."

"I find it funny that Jørn had a child before you did," Laura teased. "Now you have to catch up."

Adam laughed and shook his head. "No. No children. I'm laughing but I'm serious."

Laura pretended to sulk and laid her head lovingly on his shoulder. "Never?"

"I know you want to, darling. And if things were different, I would, too. But we live in Alfos. We can't have a baby here, not now. I'm not saying never. I'm just saying not now."

Solemnly nodding, Laura sighed.

"But, I'll let you in on a secret," Adam prompted.

Laura's eyes lit up again.

Adam leaned over to whisper into Laura's ear. She giggled excitedly. "The girl who is sleeping down in our cellar is Princess Zelda."

She scrunched her face up in confusion. "The princess? What's the princess doing in our cellar? And what has that got to do with-?"

Adam brought a finger to Laura's lips, quieting her. "She ran away from Hyrule Castle to collect the Triforce shards and save the kingdom. Once she succeeds, Alfos will be safe again. And then, my dear, you will get your wish."

"A princess in our cellar," Laura repeated. "I'm almost embarrassed. The state our home is in, it's shameful."

"I'm sure she doesn't mind," Adam assured her. "I found her in the dungeons, remember? This place may very well be a step up."

00000

The morning was hot and sticky. Link and Zelda rose and were greeted with a breakfast of the same pita bread they had eaten the day before, plus some of the food that Adam had stolen from the castle kitchens. Link watched Zelda savor it. He also watched Laura tend to her a little more dotingly than she had previously, evidence that Adam had informed her of Zelda's true identity. Laura, however, was just as trustworthy as Adam was, so Link didn't worry. All he was concerned about was the upcoming escape to the provinces. Link had never seen a Bulblin before, and he didn't want to. He knew what they were capable of. Almost everyone they had befriended along the way could blame their hardships on the Bulblins.

And then, there was the danger of being recognized, more present now than ever. It was true that they were far from Daphnes' clutches in Alfos, but back in the provinces, they would have to guard their identities more closely, now that they were wanted for treason. Everyone would be on the lookout. Link and Zelda were no longer safe.

Zelda studied his face, trying to decipher his thoughts. His brow had contorted with worry, but when he saw her staring, he gave her a smile, and she relaxed.

Adam had told them that it was easier to cross Hyrule Field with as little to carry as possible, so they carefully packed the supply bag, leaving behind anything they would not need. Zelda left her cotton dress and bandana, as it surely would fit someone in Alfos who needed it. Link did the same with Edvard's jacket, returning it to its rightful home. They held onto the medicine, even though the Alfs could use it. Their hardships were not over yet, and Zelda didn't want to end up in a bind without supplements.

Everything else went into the supply bag, which Link secured around his waist. With thirty rupees left over, they could purchase food in the provinces.

"But no more staying at inns," Zelda said. "We can't have ourselves documented anymore. We'll have to get creative about shelter."

Link nodded in agreement, though he was disappointed, and not looking forward to sleeping on the streets, especially in the run-down provinces.

The closest province to Alfos, as Adam had said, was Vera, one of the most populated. So populated, that the Republic saw uprisings as a real possibility. Link and Zelda would be dropped off on the outskirts of Vera near a common shelter for escaping Alfs, not too far from the border so their escort wouldn't have so long to travel.

"I've found an experienced escort," Adam announced. "He'll take the two of you later this morning."

Adam had ignored Laura's suggestion of leaving earlier in the morning when the Bulblins were more docile, wanting to delay the departure of the only connection he had to his brother. He would be sad to see Link go, and Zelda, too. But he also understood their mission and wished them the best of luck. Adam encouraged them to eat so they wouldn't need to stop along the way.

Link was the first one to notice the smell. He recognized it right away; wood was burning. He thought it strange, since the Alfs cooked their food in the sun.

"Do you smell that?" he asked the others. Zelda only shrugged, but when Adam and Laura sniffed the air and smelled what Link did, they exchanged terror-struck glances dropped their breakfast to the table.

"What's happening?" Zelda demanded.

The only answer was a rapid knocking at the door. Without prompt, it flew open.

"Din," panted the young boy, burnt and bloody. "We are under attack. The Bulblins have burnt east Alfos to the ground." He tried to articulate more information, but through his grief, he could only stutter through the rest.

Laura rushed to his side like a mother would rush to her child. "Where are your parents? Tell them to lead everybody here."

The boy shook his head, his eyes wide. "I think they killed my parents."

Laura stood again, and in a second, her motherly compassion gave way to firm, headstrong leadership. She wrenched open a cabinet, which to Link and Zelda's surprise, was filled with expertly crafted Alf weapons. Laura made her selection, a bow and a quiver of arrows, and then tossed a knife to her husband.

"Link, if you and the princess would stay here with Niklas, please. We will handle this."

"What?" Zelda exclaimed in disbelief.

Adam whispered to them so that Niklas couldn't hear. "There is nothing for you to be afraid of. Attacks like this happen all the time. Laura and I will be back when the Bulblins have been driven out. The sooner we can get you on your way, the better."

"Adam, the fires are spreading," Laura warned.

After the two had disappeared outside, Link could hear Adam's booming voice, ordering people to keep the fires at bay, to run to the west side of Alfos so they could fight collectively.

Niklas was slowly regaining his wits, though he still trembled with shock. He couldn't have been more than nine years old. He wore almost no clothing. His bare head was bruised, his limbs were scraped, and blood dripped from his gaping mouth. Neither Link nor Zelda knew how to comfort him. They also had no sort of escape plan, should the Bulblins gain entry.

"It's worse than ever," the boy spoke up. "It's been a long time since the last attack. We knew one was coming, and we knew it would be bad. Lots of people are dead already, not just my parents. I didn't know what to do so I ran here. Din protects us."

Link could see shame on Zelda's face. Whatever hardships she had endured last time she was in Alfos were incomparable to what these people faced daily. He could tell she was embarrassed for her complaints the night before.

Niklas slowly made his way over to Laura's cabinet.

"I have to fight," he said, carefully rummaging through. "They killed my parents. I have to fight them with Din and Adam."

"Niklas," Zelda began to say.

"You should stay here," finished Link.

The child shook his head. He pulled out a large knife, similar in size to the one Link owned, though not as decorative. It looked too heavy for him, disproportionate.

"Din would want me to fight," he finally said, and before either Link or Zelda could stop him, he left in search of Laura.

"We shouldn't have let him leave," muttered Link, not wanting to be responsible for more death.

"It's too complicated for us," Zelda replied. "He wants to avenge his parents, we should let him."

There were footsteps approaching the front door, too heavy to belong to a child. Link turned expectantly.

"Adam?"

He knew, even before the door opened, that it was not Adam. He knew by the chill he felt in his spine despite the heat. The door creaked and groaned as it swung open.

Link didn't know what he expected a Bulblin to look like. It almost resembled a human; two beefy arms, wielding a spiked, blood-stained club, a snarling face and misshapen mouth with dagger-like teeth dripping with saliva, and emotionless beady eyes fixed upon him. Its skin was slimy and green, like it had just crawled out from the depths of a sewer. In its other hand, it held the broken body of Niklas, dangling him like a prize. When it dropped the child's body to the ground, the sound made Link's insides seize up.

Slowly, menacingly, it advanced upon Link, who didn't have the mind for what he should've done. He was frozen. When the Bulblin raised a club to strike, he couldn't move.

"Link!" Zelda screamed. She darted forward to grab him and pull him away, but she wasn't fast enough. The Bulblin swung, and Link squeezed his eyes shut, expecting excruciating pain. But he felt nothing.

He opened his eyes to find Zelda on the ground.

"No," he whimpered, crouching down to her.

The sound that came from the Bulblin's mouth resembled laughter. It left for a moment, and came back inside with a flaming torch and a can of lantern oil. Link looked straight into its eyes as if to plead for mercy.

"Please, no."

With the ghosts of its laughter still plastered onto its face, the Bulblin scattered the lantern oil across the ground, and swiftly dropped the torch. Immediately, tall flames leapt from the puddles of oil, singeing Link's face so intensely that he had to hide his face.

The Bulblin admired its handiwork, then grew bored, and left to wreak more terror upon others.

Link was sweating, both from the heat of the fire and from fear. He examined Zelda more closely. She was crying in pain and shock. Link's stomach dropped when he noticed the blood spreading underneath her, the tear in her dress, and the gash across her torso.

"Oh, no, Zelda. . ."

He quickly removed his tunic and wrapped it around her injury to slow down the blood, though the flames were prickling at his skin now, making him dizzy. Link knew he shouldn't try to move her, but he couldn't keep her there, either. They would both die.

"You're gonna be okay," he whispered to her. "I'll get us out of this. Here, put your arm around my neck, that's it. I'm so sorry." He apologized in advance for how much it would hurt when he lifted her into his arms. Zelda cried louder, and guilt ripped through his heart. Link repeated his apology over and over.

There were flames in every direction, and no way to escape. He didn't want this to be it for them, as much as he didn't want to go through with the mission. It had become his life. She had become important to him.

"Zelda, look at me," he pleaded. "Just keep your eyes open, please."

It gave her trouble, but Zelda tried her best to look up at him while he frantically put together an escape plan.

The cellar door was several feet away. Link carefully dragged Zelda over to it, trying not to hurt her too much. In his panic, it was hard for Link to open the door, but it finally budged.

It was safe, for the time being. Link set Zelda gently on the ground and grabbed one of the water jars from the shelves. He brought it to her lips and she drank slowly.

"There you go," Link said soothingly. He tightened his tunic around her. She would need medical attention, which was more than Alfos had to offer.

Link didn't know how much time had passed when the cellar door opened again. Adam looked considerably rough, but he was not seriously injured. He had extinguished the fires in the house, and beckoned for them to come up.

"Zelda's hurt," Link called to him. "We need to get her out of here."

"There's been a change of plans," Adam said. "I'm taking you to Vera. I'll help you carry her."

Zelda had lost consciousness, which came as a relief to Link, since she wouldn't have to feel the pain anymore. But his insides were still racing with fear. He could not lose her.

"They killed Niklas," Link said, though he noticed the boy's body was gone.

"I know," replied Adam. "Morten, too. We lost a lot. There's nothing left of east Alfos, and they did a number on the west, too."

"Where's Laura?" asked Link, fearing the answer.

"Looking for survivors."

Adam led Link to a stable that had once been filled with horses. Most of them had been slaughtered or stolen by the Bulblins, but a few malnourished ones remained. Adam hitched them up to a wagon, used for carrying fugitives.

"Do you have any medicine in that bag?" he asked Link.

"Yeah, a little."

"She can't be healed without a doctor, but it will keep her alive until we get to Vera. Give some to her now," Adam instructed.

When Zelda was safe in the wagon, Link brewed the Kakari herbs in the spirit water that Gerulf had given them. Link forced Zelda to drink it, causing her to regain consciousness.

"We're on our way to the provinces, Link said to her. "How to you feel?"

"It hurts," she breathed.

"It's my fault," Link answered, and Zelda didn't have the energy to argue.

00000

No one knew what to do with all the bodies. It would be too much work to bury them all, so mass cremation seemed to be the only option. First, they all had to be identified, which proved to be impossible in some cases. People had been burned and mutilated beyond all recognition. Then and there, a new law was established. Everyone was to write their full name in ink on their feet, to make future identification easier.

The Alfs lined up their dead, and the line stretched from the entrance of town to the well where everyone retrieved their water.

With blood on her face and arms, Laura searched through the ruins of east Alfos for survivors. She had done all she could during the attack to defend her home, and it still wasn't enough. Her bow had broken, the bow her mother had given her. It didn't bother her too much; she could make a new one. But as a leader, she felt as though she had let her people down. Guilt consumed her.

Underneath the burnt rubble of the house she was searching, Laura felt movement.

"Can I get some help over here, please?" she called to the others.

Several weary Alfs rushed over to help Laura pry away the wood. Concealed inside, they found a black and white dog with a crushed paw.

"I thought it was a person," admitted Laura, though she lifted the dog away from the rubble so it could be cared for. Immediately, the dog began to bark and growl and whine in protest at being moved. Upon closer investigation, Laura saw something else moving beneath the ruins. The dog, inconsolable, leapt from Laura's arms and attempted to dig with its uninjured paw.

"There's someone in there," somebody exclaimed. They joined in to help again, until they found the shaking body of a young woman. She was covered in lacerations and blood, but with care she would be fine.

"My children," she cried. "My children are in there."

"How many?" Laura asked.

"Two," the woman replied. "A boy and girl."

The young family was rescued with only minor injuries. The children huddled to their mother's side.

"What's your name?" Laura asked her.

"Katya," she answered.

"Where is your husband, Katya?"

The question brought the woman to tears. "August left Alfos years ago with his friend. They said they were going to seek their fortune, but they never returned and I haven't heard from him since." Katya kissed the top of her children's heads, almost as an apology, almost as if to say the whole thing had been her fault.

"We are setting up tents for the families who have lost their homes," said Laura. "If you could help us make bread, we would appreciate it. Much of the food supply was ruined in the fire."

Katya nodded. "My children can help, too." She lifted her young daughter into her arms, and Laura carried the boy. They shielded the children's eyes as they walked past the long line of bodies leading the way into town. Laura knew so many of them. Morten lay among them, run through with a blade. His age was impressive; Alfs didn't normally live as long as he had.

All Laura wanted was for her husband to be by her side, comforting her as he always did after an attack. But Adam had his own mission to attend to.