Nash felt like a coward, but he was absolutely sure it was a death sentence if he entered the castle with her. “I’m sorry, Saria. I can’t go with you,” he said. “I’ll ride as close to the castle as I dare. Once I see you are safe, I’ll be gone forever.”
“Where will you go?” Saria asked, concerned.
“Better that you don’t know,” he answered earnestly.
They rode in silence now. Nash could tell that Saria was disappointed in him. “Better to disappoint the girl than to be dead,” he thought to himself.
“Who goes there!” someone called out from the top of the wall.
Nash stopped, “Go on,” he whispered to her.
Saria collected her strength. “It is Princess Saria,” she proclaimed. “Open the portcullis, I have returned.”
Nash could hear the bars squeak open and the surprised yet cautious voices approaching with a torch. He slowly and quietly backed his horse away as she went forward. “It is the Princess!” he heard someone yell. “Run and tell the King!”
“Is someone with you?” a soldier asked and looked out into the darkness towards Nash.
“No, I am alone,” she replied. “I won’t feel safe until inside.”
“Just so,” the soldier said and ushered her and her horse in through the iron gateway.
He watched the torch disappear inside with Saria. Nash again froze time and began to gallop. He veered south at the next intersection and kept going.