After that night, Link decided to fast-track our trip to Zoras domain by a week. I didn't argue; since that night, I hadn't felt safe in the village. Any time I went out, I was terrified of seeing the masked man, terrified that the next time I won't get away. For this trip, Link had explained it would be a fairly short trip, but it would be mostly on foot, and I had to prepare myself for lots of hiking and climbing. It excited me a bit more to know it was mostly a hike instead of on horseback. Although I love Eva and where she's gotten me, traveling on foot has a special place in my heart. I think Rito village has prepared me for the hike; I'm feeling optimistic that this trip will be even more amazing than the last.

Our first stop on the way was the dueling peaks stable. We'd spend the first night there, then push to the woodland stable and go on foot from there for about 2 days. One day if I could push through, and I was pretty determined to push through. The night at the first stable was average. Nothing ever really happens at stables. Today, we would push to the woodland stable. It was far but not impossible to do before nightfall, especially on horseback.

However I'm still very much on edge from the Yiga incident. Wherever we went I found myself constantly looking around for the man, my brain kept imagining all the ways he could kidnap me in the moment and it was driving me crazy. Since that night I've had the feeling of this looming dread, like something awful was going to happen. That at any moment I could be snatched up and never heard from again and no matter how hard I tried to shake the feeling or distract myself, it was always creeping in the back of my mind.

Before I even realized we had made it to the stable. I was so wrapped up in my own anxieties. I had myself in such a loop with my own head that time moved inexplicably fast. Link and I got off of our horses and I stood beside Eva still in my trance. I'm sure Link noticed the distant look in my eyes and walked over to me.

"You ok?" He asks gently holding my face in his hand. I nod and look into his eyes.

"Yeah.. just a little anxious about everything."

"Don't worry yourself, I'm not letting you out of my sight ok?" I nod again and the two of us go to board our horses. Afterwards Link had me start on warming up our dinner while he got us a bed for the night. I stared into the fire as our food slowly warmed under the heat. "Alright.. I got us the bed." He sits beside me by the fire. I'm still a bit dazed as I stare into the flames. "Hey." He softly says and holds my chin, gently turning my face to look at him. "You're gonna be ok, I'm going to keep you safe." I nod before he places a soft kiss on my lips. I smile looking into his crystal blue eyes. "Ok?"

"Ok." I nod.

"You!" A voice vibrates through the camp grounds making my stomach churn. I froze realizing I've heard that voice before many times before. "You were going to be mine." Link and I find the source of the voice, sure enough one of my fathers regulars was standing a few feet away from us. Link didn't hesitate to lead me behind him and stand between us two. I was horrified, this man had promised my father he'd pay whatever price he needed for me, I've had nightmares about this man and here he was. The large man took a step closer making Link take a more defensive stance. He didn't seem to care about Link, his eyes were locked onto me. "Hylia has truly blessed me." He laughs. "Here you are, mine for the taking and I don't have to pay a single rupee for you." He takes another step and I shrink behind Link.

"Stay back." Link says sternly.

"Step aside, I was promised her and I'll be leaving here with her." I felt my lip quiver trying to prevent myself from crying.

"She's not going anywhere with you." The man chuckles at Link.

"Alright, I'm in a good mood so how about we just share?" My stomach bubbled with anxiety as I gripped onto Link's shirt. "I'll take her first, then you?"

"Not gonna happen." Link says, his voice seething with rage. 

"I don't want to hurt you kid, so take the deal-"

"Deals off, you were a few days late pal. So get going cause she's not going anywhere with you." Link says and I feel my face go red. Why would he say that?! Is he crazy?

"You fucking slut!" The mans face turns red with rage. He begins coming at us, I cower myself into a ball before hearing a loud thud and a groan. I open my eyes to see the man on the ground and Link looking down at him.

"I don't ever want to see you anywhere near her again." Link crouches down to his level. "Cause I promise you it will be the last thing you ever do. Understood?" The man nods and Link walks over to me. "Lets go inside, I'll warm up our food." I nod still shocked Link managed to get that man on the ground so quickly. I walk with Link inside, he gets us a bed and I sit down at a table and wait for him to return. My heart was still pounding about the situation, what if he goes back to my father and tells him where I am, tells him what Link said. What if he comes back for me? 

I watch as Link comes back with our food and places my serving in front of me. "You ok?" He asks and I nod.

"Yeah I'm just a bit shaken up." I tell him. "If I hadn't left.." I stop myself.

"Don't think about that." Link says placing a hand on mine. "You're safe, and you're free." I nod. He takes a bite of his food. "I'm sorry for saying what I said." Link chuckles. "But they're not going to stop looking for you if they still think.. you know." He tells me and my cheeks flush. Of course, a few seconds of embarasment will save me a lifetime of being hunted down. 

"Th-thanks. For defending me." I softly say. 

"Of course, I promised I'd keep you safe."