It was Zelda's 22nd birthday and everything was going perfectly. The castle courtyard was packed full of the subjects of Hyrule. Zelda smiled as she saw Cecil make his way through the courtyard. Cecil had grown up in the castle with Zelda. They were close friends and always had been.
"Happy Birthday, Princess!" said Cecil
"Why thank you Cecil!" Zelda cried as she opened his gift to find a small puppy. "He's so cute!"
"His name's Frod, but you can change it Zel," he said, scratching the puppy between the ears. Zelda petted the playful puppy as she noticed Link in the midst of the crowded courtyard. She cried out to him, but unfortunately, he couldn't hear her. Oh well she thought.
Zelda was playing with Frod, when she heard a rough coughing behind her. She spun around to see a storybook wizard in a deep purple robe. She immediately noticed his eyes. The longer she watched the beady, red orbs, the more entranced she became. Zelda shook her head as if coming out of a deep sleep. She peered at the strange little man.
"Hello princess, and happy birthday," said the old man, "Gremiard the wizard, at your service."
"And what, may I ask, is your purpose in the castle today Gremiard?" asked Zelda, fighting against the horrible feeling the wizard was giving her.
"My purpose is only to serve Hyrule, Zelda." Gremiard said with a bow.
"Alright then," Zelda said reluctantly, "if your purpose is to serve the kingdom, you best take the matter up with my father."
Gremiard agreed with Zelda and there was a momentary lapse in conversation. Zelda frowned for the first time that day, thinking about the way the red eyes had glared at her.
Link made his way through the crowd. Where was Zelda? He had caught a glimpse of her earlier, but only for a moment. As Link peered through the crowd he spun around toa tap on the back. Cecil stood behind him, grinning.
"Hey Link," Cecil said with a friendly grin.
"Hey, have you talked to Zelda yet?" Link replied, noticing that Cecil held no gift.
"Yup, she was up there in the front," Cecil answered as he pointed and grinned.
"Thanks" Link said, already heading towards the area Cecil had pointed to. He smiled when he saw Zelda speaking with a friendly looking old wizard.
"Sorry to interrupt, but may I borrow the birthday girl for a moment?"
"Certainly sir. I was just leaving," Gremiard sneered. Link couldn't help but noticed the wizard's piercing stare. He cringed at the beady red eyes.
"Who was that, Zel?" Link asked once the wizard had gone.
"Oh, some old man named Gremiard. I don't know, but he gave me the strangest sense of...well, I know this will sound silly, but evil!" Zelda said with a frown.
"That's okay Zel, it was just a feeling." Link smiled and pulled a gift from behind his back. Zelda giggled as she opened the present. Maybe Link is right Zelda thought, maybe it was just a feeling and with that, Zelda made a resolution to enjoy the rest of her birthday.
Ganon smiled as he thought of how well his plan was going. Everything was running along perfectly. If only that meddling Link hadn't shown up! Oh well Ganon thought, there's no way he could have recognized me!
Ganon smiled again as he sat back and relaxed in the cave he had chosen for his dwelling until he could take over the castle. His plan this time was fool-proof. No one, not even Link, would go against their beloved princess! Ganon's thoughts were interrupted by his faithful moblin servant, Aspete.
"Miss Rowena 'es come visitin," Aspete said slowly.
"Ahh, thank you Aspete," Ganon smiled as a reward for the faithful, if idiotic, loyalty of his servant. "Good afternoon Princess Rowena," Ganon said, bowing cordially.
"Yes, and the same to you," Rowena purred, "just confiriming our plans." Rowena was a fire sorceress raised deep inside Death Mountain. She was a major part of Ganon's plan. In return for her services, she would have complete control of Death Mountain when Ganon ruled Hyrule.
Ganon went over his plan again for the princess
"Excellent!" she replied upon hearing his intentions.
"Now I must go establish a postion at the castle," Ganon said. "We shall convene here in one week to carry out our plan!"
