Silhouettes and Strings
Chapter 1

"You are not here anymore."

She'd thought it many times, that it was simply all a dream. It had seemed strangely surreal and in some ways, perhaps none of it had happened. Yet, a swift reminder came from the back of her right hand, the symbol of her heritage and her destiny. There was no escape. After all, once the cards had been dealt, the game had to be played. Though like many things, there was no guarantee of success. It meant she would simply need to do her best.

"You really are not here any longer," she echoed to the reflection in the mirror.

Her hands lifted, each donning a pallid pink glove. Her fingertips fiddled with the blonde hair that fell over her shoulders. Three thousand times at least. That was how many times the bristles of the brush had been pulled through her hair. She was not so often observant over such things. Generally, she was calm and collected, composed and poised. There was an anxiety that fed upon her, however, and it was that which had demanded her undivided attention to trivial details.

There was a knock upon the door to her bed chamber and she turned. Wordless, as though she expected others to so simply heed her, she offered a subtle nod. There was a brief creak, a sore recollection that something would need to be done, and behind a tall woman in blue.

"Impa…"

The elder smiled kindly toward the smaller female, "Have you been here the entire time?" Receiving a nod in response, she continued, "I see. If it were not for me, I get the distinct idea that you would be tardy or otherwise absent."

"…My apologies. It was not my intent."

"I am well aware, Princess." Impa paused behind the blonde and drew her hair over her shoulders. With a gloved hand, she gestured toward the mirror's reflection. "Every day you have only grown more. Maturity fits you as does your position to your people. Your father and mother would be very proud."

"And you, Impa?"

There was laughter in reply to the hopeful look, "Oh, yes! I am quite a bit proud of you, but I have been since I held you beneath my wing, Princess. Stop fretting. Your public will be waiting soon."

Her companion's head inclined and she drew her hands together in that silent contemplation. Though she could hide her doubts and uncertainties from the world, she found that she could only be herself before her caretaker. Impa was not simply her guardian. Impa was her friend and to that precise moment, her only family.

Although the public may await, the one face I wish to see will not be present. Somehow, any happiness I experience seems bittersweet at the very least.

Impa recognized the expression well. It was one she'd seen since her charge was a young girl. How easily her feelings were betrayed and revealed. There would be no chiding, however, and no words to hinder those actions.

"Princess Zelda…" Impa began with a vague smile. "Though this world may feel as though it is shattering at times, you are hardly alone. I am certain somewhere he thinks of you also."

Zelda's cheeks reddened and her demeanor brightened, "Yes. I am certain you are right. We must continue to protect the land, not only for his sake, but for everyone."

Was peace a fleeting ideal? Zelda, with help from the great Sages and the Hero, had put away the evil that had so easily swallowed Hyrule. After that, things did seem to wander into an uneasy tranquility. It had been months later following the princess's progression into one more year that lifestyles had finally begun to resume normalcy. Well… as normal as was allotted.

"The fabled words of the princess," Impa commented. "In some ways, I still see a very young version of you, the one who liked causing mischief. Though it was far better that you were not alone."

Of course you will never be alone.

"I have you, Impa," Zelda replied. "At times, that is all I need."

They were encouraging words and not a guardian in the world would dislike hearing them. Yet there hung this feeling of dread, which lingered in the back of the Sheikah's mind. Peace and happiness were not eternal. Eventually something else would rise up and require their attention. When that happened, however, hopefully they would be prepared, especially their young leader who seemed far more keen on negotiation than war and bloodshed.

Those thoughts were for other times.

Zelda's coronation would arrive soon. Long had she sat upon the throne as a princess, the lone heir to Hyrule's royal family. She was the last of her line, the final of the great nobility that had been chosen by the goddesses. For the providence of all, it was desired and expected that Zelda's life would be long and filled to the fullest. If she left the world with regrets, then she would hardly be different from the poes that graced the graveyards when night fell.

"Do you feel even just a mite better?"

Zelda turned to her caretaker and she nodded sharply, "Yes. It is as though the burden upon my heart has been lifted. Perhaps not fully, and yet enough that I no longer feel plagued. Thank you."

An arm extended and above that, a posture that plainly spoke of great pride, "Then let us be on our way."

It did not need to be outwardly stated, but it was excruciatingly important for Zelda to be close to her people. They relied upon her so, stared at her with hope in their eyes, and had she requested it, would have bravely jumped into the front lines to die in her name. She didn't want that, though. While Zelda appreciated the dedication and loyalty, the lives of innocents were far more important. It was that line of thought which turned her from warding off the evil. She had surrendered her kingdom, more at the request of Impa, but surrendered nonetheless to prevent the loss of her committed followers.

Zelda curled her arm around Impa's and she offered a final nod. She knew well enough of her obligation that she would perform to the best of her ability. Any other might have looked to her and assumed that she lived not for herself. It was a surprising truth, however, and Zelda found that she lived through the lives of her people.

xxx

"…Hyrule and her people… How miraculous! Our attempts at reconstruction have been overwhelmingly successful. At one time, our houses were burnt to the ground, our memories destroyed. We lost many friends, our family, and our loved ones. Yet we continued to rise and with hands reaching toward the sky, our prayers were answered in kind.

There are not the strengths of one. This is our cumulative, my people. This is the result of our hard work. Our ability to open our minds and our hearts… We have only proven over and over that we are worthy of life, and that we are worthy of the gifts we have been granted.

There is peace in Hyrule finally, and in the lands that fall beneath her jurisdiction. We can rejoice. We can celebrate and our thoughts will not be in vain. Into our hands we take our destiny. Yesterday's paths of sorrow are today's paths of prosperity. It is with every breath that I hope to maintain this peace and this happiness for everyone.

Let us continue into tomorrow. It is my sincerest hope that our new memories will be made as we grow past trying times and hardship. With alliances stretching from the underground caverns of our Zora companions to even the vast deserts, may our strength and unification only become greater."

Time did many things. It healed emotional pain. It paved the way for recovery. It guided those who had been otherwise misled. It was responsible for both good and bad. While it could not repair all things, it simply lent its encouragement. It was an implement only to provoke what was to come, and to serve as a simple warning sign.

Zelda's ears picked up the applause. She found it too common, however, and would have been just as pleased if rewarded with silence. There were things that could be said without the use of speech or clapping hands. It was why she took the smiles of her people to heart. Those were the things that truly touched her. Those were the things that compelled her to move forward.

"They appear to genuinely love you, Princess."

Impa had been quiet through Zelda's speech, glancing off toward the peaceful ring encircling Death Mountain's peak. So many places had been terrorized and it was a delight to find the world reverting into one it had been seven years and more prior. When the princess had finished, Impa looked over the raised hands from the crowd. So many cheerful faces, so many prosperous people. There was no greater privilege than standing beside the cause for it all.

"They know of it, yes?" she asked suddenly.

Zelda turned and with a lifted chin, she gave a subtle nod, "I believe so. Perhaps that is the real reason for their enthusiasm."

"Nonsense," Impa chided with a kind nature. "These people have watched you grow as a person. Many of them have witnessed your actions since you were young. It can only be most heart warming to see you blossom into a woman."

I cannot see that with these eyes. I can only see the great doubt I often feel. Keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom and yet I strangely feel not nearly so wise.

"Your words are always so considerate," Zelda began.

With a tip of the head, Impa smiled knowingly. "It is often much harder to forgive yourself than it is for others to forgive you. You have become a better person and one that I am only too pleased to stand beside. Surely no other guardian has been as fortunate as me."

Zelda flushed with an odd type of pride, "Thank you, Impa."

"That's enough of that. Let us leave your people to their merriment. After all, we have our own things to plan. For you, a celebration of the upcoming festivities." She shook her head when Zelda began to protest, "I find it necessary, Princess."

"Oh…" Zelda's head inclined and she nodded once, "Perhaps you are right. We deserve to celebrate also. What… will we do?"

Impa brought a hand to her chin thoughtfully. What would the princess wish to do? There was a list of endless possibilities, wasn't there? The very typical Zelda made journeys across Hyrule to the other races, all in the name of keeping alliances. There was perhaps no other who held communication as essential as Zelda. Even so, it was more common that she would do the traveling and that was the thought that gave Impa the grand idea.

"Princess, you so rarely go out unless it is for the sake of a meeting. Why not have a banquet here and bring the leaders toward us? They too, can see how your influence has swayed Hyrule's hearts and perhaps they will lend to you their blessings."

Zelda watched the Sheikah for a few moments, considering the possibility. She did like the idea and there was something nice about meeting others while not under obligation. The question that remained was how she would act when personally entertaining the company. She couldn't be uptight after all.

"I would like to see everyone while not beneath the guise of a need rather than a want. Though at times my needs and desires are often the same." She smiled gently before continuing, "Yes. We should do this, Impa. These halls are not filled enough. If the palace were sentient, I imagine it would tell us how lonely it is."

Always thinking of others. Zelda was such a selfless person. Impa had often wondered if there was ever a possibility that she could be the opposite. Helping others was well and good, however, she needed to help herself also.

"I'm pleased that you agree. So then, it would seem the time to write once more is upon you." Impa offered her arm once more, "Shall we?"

xxx

Zelda was not unaccustomed to writing. She did so quite a bit in her spare time and though she had a good tutelage, she never placed her talents on that of the authors who wrote great books. Her writing was merely a fleeting hobby, something to take her mind away from the harsh realities of the world. Needless to say, there was less writing with the tidings of peace. As a result, she spent more time playing in the courtyard gardens, speaking with the guards over trivial subjects, and rewarding the otherwise silent air with the notes of her ocarina.

In her study, she clutched the feather and in thought tapped the inkwell to the side. The company would be but a few, though it was the quality of the few that really made a difference. The daughter of the Zoras would be requested from her post along with the rather boisterous leader of the Gorons, as well as the beautiful commander of the desert thieves. There were a few others too, but none who struck her heart as much as the forest of the Kokiri. Even the Great Deku Sprout that had grown would have been wonderful company, however, wouldn't be able to attend, and in spite of that, she hoped he would send a messenger in his place. If she was fortunate…? It would be him. Not just any 'him'. The 'him'.

She heaved a sigh, somewhat filled with a juvenile longing and finally brought her implement to the scroll.

xxx

Commander of the Gerudo
Lady Nabooru,

I hope this missive will find you in good spirits. It is my sincerest wish that whether you fair ill or well, that you will grace me with your presence in the coming week.

Hyrule's choosing has brought about the need for my coronation. My caretaker, with whom you are acquainted, believes that this event may be beneficial in strengthening our bonds. Though I am aware Hyrule and the Gerudo have had their miscommunications in the past, it should be well received that I hold nothing against you or your people. You cannot be held responsible for what you could not control.

Please, join me in Hyrule to celebrate these times. Rather than from one leader to another, my request is that of a friend to a friend. We may grow nostalgic and speak of past times. We may speak of future memories. We are not bound by protocol that tends to discipline us. It is with that confidence that I give you this invitation.

Whether you choose to accept it or not, there is an open chair for you at my kingdom. May you be blessed by the goddesses.

Sincerely,

Zelda
Princess of Hyrule

xxx

Zelda lifted the scroll and with dainty hands attempted to dry it. The letter to Nabooru would need to be delivered first. Even for the feet of a quick courier, it would be the longest trip one could make. Though there was a part of Zelda that was far more ecstatic to see the Gerudo woman than any of the other invited guests. After all, it had been Nabooru who had been around the Hero longest of the great Sages of Hyrule.

Was there, however, a reason for the Sages to remain? Zelda was so reasonably certain that she'd read of the tale. When the evil had dissipated, the Sages were no longer needed. If someone wasn't necessary, did it mean that person would vanish? The thought was frightening, and yet not entirely implausible. Hyrule's creators had seen fit for many odd things to take place. Prodigal princesses and heroes of destiny were not so commonplace. Though to be honest, Zelda had never thought much on worlds that extended past the Gerudo's fortress.

I am sorry for deceiving you.

She had said it before, and she had felt it many times. For others, however, some were not privileged to know the truth. Zelda had plenty of regrets, and even if she'd grown into a better person, there was always some type of concern that remained behind. Impa had once told her the uncertainties would be fleeting. Impa was a wise woman and had seen many things in her time. There was no reason for Zelda to distrust her. Yet in the way close friends at times questioned one another, and in the way children questioned their parents, Zelda could not admit that she was, without a doubt, relying upon her guardian.

It was when the far off bells chimed that Zelda was pulled from her thoughts. The sun was beginning to sink and the sky resembled a painting. It was the perfect moment of each day. It was the moment where nothing else seemed to matter. The world was at ease again. The birds would soon settle down to slumber. With the setting of the sun, a wondrous day in Hyrule's castle town had come to an end.