"How could you not know who I am?" the girl sounded scandalized.

Scowling, Link held back a litany of impolite retorts.

"Oh..." it was the girl's turn to frown and then she looked abashed. "Of course... you wouldn't know. I am Princess Zelda of House Nohansen."

Slowly his senses stirred, and he could feel someone firmly holding his shoulders. Another pair of hands gripped his ankles, and he had a vague realization that he was being carried. Why were they carrying him and why did everything hurt so much?

"Saria?" the word was a tiny moan that went unnoticed.

No... the girl didn't sound like Saria at all. It was someone else. Link recognized a boy's voice too. He wanted to open his eyes, but even the briefest squint made his head blaze with pain.

Too bright, he thought. Everything's too bright.

"What were you two doing?" the girl demanded. "How did he even get on the wall?"

"He climbed up a tree," Navi replied.

"Should we be carrying him like this?" the boy asked. "What if he has broken something?"

Irritation crept into the girl's voice. "Just help me get him on the grass before somebody finds us!"

The guards quickly surrounded the pair. Navi squeaked as some of the guards raised their bows and aimed. They only drew part way. One man had an arrow leveled at Link's chest from less than a few feet away. Link tensed as though convinced that could stop the arrow in its path. He knew enough about hunting to know that wasn't the case.

"Princess Zelda, my Lady, come away from him!" one man bade her urgently.

Zelda didn't obey. Instead, as the guards took aim, she quickly jumped in front of Link. She drew herself up, hands outstretched, staring at the guard's leader with a look of outrage. At another time, Link might have been impressed as the girl stared down at the fully geared swordsman who'd spoken. He was a broadly shouldered man with a golden knot across his breastplate and a red plume atop his helmet.

"Captain Dragayne," Zelda hollered bravely. "What do you think you are doing? This boy is a guest of House Nohansen and therefore under my protection." She stared at the soldiers who returned her gaze with a mixture of amazement and annoyance. "I demand you stay your weapons at once! If my father hears about this, he will have you thrown in the dungeons or mucking out the stables for a week."