An Expected Visitor

The kids made it home without any incident (much to their dismay), and their parents were waiting on the path to greet them. They were interrogated as to why, exactly they had twigs and leaves in their hair and clothing, but their answers soothed their parents' frayed nerves. Arson was glad that he'd had the foresight to suggest that Zelda keep the Forest Stone - she was the princess, after all, so she had the most right to it - given that he didn't have to explain something else suspicious.

On the second evening after their return, Arson managed - after some wheedling - to convince his parents to let him stay at Odie's place. The plan was to sneak out early in the morning, find Zelda, and get this adventure started! Though, there were some things they would need to get…

Late that night, a figure could be just barely seen skulking through town, peeking through windows. Given the information that they had… Ah, yes, this one. The figure straightened up to knock at the door —

It opened, revealing a middle-aged woman with her white hair piled on her head. She bowed her head and moved aside, gesturing that her guest should come in.

"Princess, to what do we owe the pleasure?" she asked once they were both inside with the door shut, smiling softly at the girl.

Zelda gaped at the woman in shock. She had thought that she was well disguised in her tunic and trousers, her hair in a long braid, and the hood over her hair.

"My dear princess, if you wish to not be recognized, you should perhaps wear a scarf," Rove continued, gesturing once more further into the house, where a tea pot sat steaming on the table and two cups set across from one another.

"Ah…" Zelda stammered, still in shock. "Well…"

"You have come to fetch Odalia and Arson, correct?" Rove inquired as she poured both cups of tea, watching the princess settle herself and find a seat.

"They told you? Wait, that wouldn't make sense…" How would Odie and Arson have known that she wasn't going to wait in the field? She'd had to make a break for it early, and it didn't seem safe to wait out there alone.

"Oh, no, Princess. They haven't breathed a word. But I was expecting you." Rove smiled again at the girl, trying to put her at ease.

It finally seemed to click, because Zelda's eyes went wide and she breathed out a small "Oh," but then settled into the chair across from Rove. "Thank you for the tea," she said quietly, still a bit bewildered. "Are…you going to stop us?"

"Oh, quite the opposite," Rove said, gesturing to the corner where three bags rested, as well as a sword Zelda would recognize as Arson's and Odie's daggers. "This mission is of the utmost importance, if I understand things correctly. Danger looms, and once more, it is children who are chosen to pre-empt the impending destruction." She sighed, her mouth set in a tight line. Just because she wasn't stopping them didn't mean she was happy about it.

"Unfortunately," Zelda said quietly. "History suggests that it is often that way. And…from what I understood of the events…" She sighed, shrugging. She wasn't quite sure of what was going on, only what Arson had told them of his experience.

"Just because I am permitting this does not mean that I do not want you to be prepared," Rove said firmly. "Do you know how to use that rapier at your side?"

"I do. My mother taught me."

"Good. I am afraid that the time will come that you will have to use it without hesitation. Your friends' lives — as well as your own — will depend on it. Hylia has a tendency to choose those with soft hearts, and often, this means that they are often hesitant to harm others." Rove leaned forward, hands curled around her teacup. "You will have no choice, Princess. Do you accept this?"

"I do," Zelda said confidently. She would do what she had to in order to protect the citizens of her country…as well as her friends. "But why do you say this is Hylia's doing? Arson said that…" She trailed off, worried that she had said too much.

"That Farore was the one he met?"

Zelda nodded, blushing. How much did this woman know?

"Hylia herself told me of the events of Keshi Forest," Rove said, her voice hushed as if she was sharing a secret.

It made sense, Zelda decided. Rove looked like a Sheikah, and her words just confirmed it. She was blessed with foresight like many other Sheikah. She nodded again.

They spoke for a while longer, the night moving on into early dawn.

Quiet padding footsteps could be heard coming down the hall. Confident. Must be Arson, Rove guessed. There was a thud following, and then a hissed curse. Ah, yes, Odalia.

Arson appeared first at the mouth of the hall, startled to a stop when he saw Rove and Zelda awaiting them at the table, breakfast ready (and Zelda's plate almost clean). Odie walked into him and cursed again.

"Why'd you stop?" Odie asked.

"Uh… I think we're caught," Arson whispered.

"Whossat with Mama?" Odie asked again, dropping their chin on Arson's shoulder, unbothered by the fact that they were caught. They felt Arson's shrug.

"What, don't you recognize me?" Zelda said with a laugh, then turned to Rove. "See, I don't need a scarf."

"You most definitely do," Rove protested, already rising to greet the other two. She kissed Arson's forehead, then Odie's. "Eat, you two. All your preparations are taken care of."

"What?" Odie asked in shock.

"Your bags are packed and your weapons are sharpened. You will be joining the princess in her journey, right?"

Odie only stared, confused. Was their mother condoning this?

Arson, on the other hand, joined Zelda at the table and dug in. "I didn't recognize you until you spoke," he said, grinning at her. "You did well."

"Well, I read," Zelda explained with a shrug. "Come on, Odie, come eat. We have to leave before too many people are awake."

Odie gave up as their mother handed them their glasses. "I guess you're okay with this?" they asked, sitting down.

Rove sighed. "I wish it could be another way, but I do have to accept that my child was chosen for this task." She kissed Odie's forehead again before going off to find a scarf. When she returned, she finished the thought: "The three of you will be cautious, will you not? The wilds of this world are dangerous."

"Of course. You know I'll take care of them," Arson said with a grin, ever confident. "And it'd be a fu- uh, a really big disaster if something happened to the princess, so we'll definitely watch out for her!"

Odie nodded in agreement, mouth full.

"I'm not helpless," Zelda protested. She quietly accepted the scarf from Rove, wrapping it around her shoulders and pulling it up to obscure the lower part of her face. At Rove's nod of approval, she also raised her hood.

She was grateful that Odie's mother had packed a separate bag for her as well as the two kids from the village. She had to leave with only what she could fit on her person. At least they would have plenty of supplies.

Once breakfast was over, the three teenagers quickly gathered their items. Odie didn't even argue about wearing shoes (though they did plan on getting rid of them as soon as they were out of town). All three of them knew that they needed to make haste in order to dodge the most early risers of the village.

"Do not worry about what to tell your parents," Rove said as she kissed Arson's forehead. "I will explain it all, whether your mother likes it or not."

"Thanks," Arson said. "'Cause I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to convince her to let me go, especially if Hylia's involved." And, to hear Rove tell it, she was.

"Be safe - all three of you," Rove said, turning to press a kiss to their child's forehead, then the princess's. "I fear that the fate of this world depends on it."

"We will," Zelda said, smiling at the woman. "I'll make sure they come home safe, and I know they'll do the same for me."

With that, they left, scurrying as quickly out of the village as they could so as to not get caught.