Author's Note: I was about fifty pages into this story when it accidentally got deleted from my hard drive. I was never intending on posting it, however, in light of recent events I will as a security measure to make sure such tragedy never ails me again. Good news, if you enjoy it except quick posts over the next week or two because I will hastily be trying to get back to the point I was at.
Now about the story: This is my novelization of Ocarina of Time, a game so near and dear to my heart and childhood words cannot explain. I understand this game has been novelizied nearly a thousand times; however, I hope you give my version a chance and check it out. I am trying to examine Link's interpersonal struggles along his journey, an aspect simply playing the game doesn't provide. Finally, I am dedicating this story to my childhood best friend in honor our adventurous youth. I hope all of you enjoy it and please do not forget to review! PS: Chapter one is a prologue, linking pre-game events into a clear and focused back-story.
Before life existed three golden goddesses descended from the heavens and brought order to the land that would become Hyrule. They were Din goddess of power, Nayru goddess of wisdom, and Farore goddess of courage. Din, with her strong flaming arms molded the mountains from red fire and created the earth. Nayru poured her wisdom over the earth and gave it law, order, and science. Finally, Farore with her rich soul created all life forms, from the animals to birds in the sky, which would uphold the law.
With their tasks complete, the three goddesses departed once more for the heavens; leaving behind three golden triangles at the spot they left the earth as symbols of their strength. Through legend these triangles became known as the Triforce. A small but powerful portion of the essence of the goddesses was held in this mighty artifact, which became the basis of the world's providence, and the consecrated resting place of the triangles became known as the hidden Sacred Realm.
After many centuries the Hylian people began to settle throughout the land and continued to pass on their knowledge of magical lore to their decedents. Through the course of time, however, the legends slowly became distorted until there was nothing left but myth to speculate. Soon nobody, not even the wise Hylian Sages, knew where the sacred triangles were hidden.
It became known throughout the land that the Triforce could make he or she who touches its' mortal dreams come true and the people began to search for it ceaselessly. Centuries of unrest past, nobody found it, and eventually yearning for the Triforce turned to greedy lust for power. The people became corrupt and turned on each other. Rebel insurrections formed at the gates of Hyrule Castle, for it was said the royal family hid the keys to the Sacred Realm. Hyrule plunged into a state of anarchy that became known as the Fierce Wars.
Late one evening a young, hylian mother crouched before a high arched stone window that lined the wall of her opulent, circular chamber in one of the tallest towers of Hyrule Castle. Purple silk curtains draped languorously over a large four-poster bed in the center of the room giving the atmosphere a mystical, almost dream-like tinge. Moonlight streamed through the opening and illuminated the long blond locks of the woman as she gazed helplessly from her tower over the twisted, wicked land that Hyrule had become.
She was stunningly beautiful. Her flaxen hair was adorned with glistening gold instruments, pined half up with long curly stands gracefully draping down her back and over her shoulders. She was coddling a small infant boy in her arms, and her midnight blue eyes danced with happiness almost too good to be true as she held her child tightly to her chest.
"Sleep tight, my son," the hylian beauty whispered. Her voice was as lucid and angelic as her appearance. Suddenly, however, their perfect moment was interrupted by a loud, thunderous crash that reverberated off the stonewalls. The door on the opposite side of the room swung open and an armor-clad man stumbled in and removed his helmet. His hair was also blonde and his handsome face was covered by ashy soot that drew attention to a deep, bloody gasp below his left eye.
"Leila!" he yelled, grabbing his wife forcibly by the wrist, "Leila, there's a fire in the castle. Rebel forces have invaded, but both the king and the princess are safe. I've escorted them into hiding, and now you have to get out of here. Take Link and hurry!"
"Lance," Leila gasped in disbelief clenching her child uncomfortably tight against her breast. The rosy flush from her cheeks faded instantly to ghastly pallor as all manner of happiness in the world came crumbling down as fast as the palace walls were. Without haste Lance shoved the helmet back on his head and lead the way down a narrow spiraling staircase.
Lance escorted his wife and child through the narrow palace corridors, past the mayhem of fleering knights, nurses, and courtiers. The further they walked the more intense the heat became, until smoke eventually made it almost too difficult for Leila to pursue. Eventually however, they broke free from the burning castle and rounded on the royal stables. Lance encroached upon a beautiful pepper-gray stallion and swiftly hoisted his little family safely on its back.
"There's a break to the right of the rebel lines," Lance instructed. "I think they are weak enough at that point for you too slip by, but you must hurry. Once you're past their front line keep running and don't look back. Do you understand?"
"But what about you?" Leila wept.
"Don't worry about me. Save yourself and Link, that's all that matters. I cannot abandon my position or my countrymen. It is my duty as one of the proud knights of Hyrule to fight honorably and, if I must, die with dignity."
Tears stained Leila's face as she knelt down and kissed her husband passionately. "Take care of Link for me," Lance whispered. He stroked the back of his wife's neck softly with his grizzled hands and kissed her again. "I love," But before he could finish his sentence a masked rebel snuck up from behind and sank his sword deep into Lance's chest, piercing his heart through his armor.
Hot blood was fresh on Leila's lips from her husband's final kiss as his body fell limply to the ground. Before she even had time to scream, the gray stallion took off charging past a horde of rebel forces and leapt a high fence onto Hyrule Field, an endless open grassland that stretched between the various regions of the kingdom.
Hours later Leila stumbled into a deep, mysterious forest as far to the west of Hyrule she could penetrate. Her flaxen locks had lost their shine and her once glistening expression was wiped away in place of fear and fresh heartbreak. The infant was screaming with pain from how tight Leila was squeezing him as she ran. A long arrow pierced her left shoulder blade and her once pristine, white silk dress was stained thick with red blood.
Leila staggered through the unfamiliar woodland until she finally tripped over a hidden root. In despair she lay, defeated on the leafy floor. Consumed by her own grief and the sounds of her infant's cry, she rested in agony, ready to give up. Leila was so abdicated from the world around her she didn't even notice the faint, childlike footsteps of another figure who had entered the scene and gently ran its little fingers threw Leila's matted hair. The distraught young widow looked up and gasped at the equally frightened being before her.
It was a young girl. She looked no older than ten or eleven, had vivid, natural green hair, and wide eyes that also reflected dominant tint of her fertile surroundings. "Shh," she whispered and silently and gestured for the fading mother to follow. Without thinking twice, Leila gathered her son in her arms and followed the forest child.
As they walked in silence, Leila's breathing grew shorter and increasingly more inconsistent. She was loosing a lot of blood. The young girl led them through the winding wood into a mystical clearing. They were in the presence of the Great Deku Tree, the guardian spirit of the forest.
"Thank you child," the magical tree acknowledged the girl, "You have proven your self wise and daring beyond your years." Next turned his attention to Leila. "No Hylian is allowed to set foot in this domain; however, your love and courage, Leila, have brought you safely to my haven. Tell me, what can I do for you."
"My time has come, Oh Great Deku Tree," Leila wheezed, "My hour is neigh. I was wounded in my attempt to escape the crumbling Hyrule Castle." She brushed her long blonde stands away from her back to unveil the fatal blow to her shoulder blade.
"I'm afraid," The Great Deku Tree replied solemnly, "There is nothing I can do to save your life."
"That's not what I ask," Leila pleaded, reclining softly on the meadow floor. "I know I cannot be helped." Slowly she unwrapped the swaddling cloths from around her infant and presented him before the tree. "This is my son and his name is Link. He is the last descendent of a long line of Hylian Knights, dedicated to serving and protecting the royal family. His father was killed a few hours ago in the siege on the palace and I will soon join him in the next life. Please," her voice grew soft and somber, "Have mercy on me and on my child. Take him into your forest, keep him safe, and give him life. I may not be here to watch him grow, but I know it is not his destiny to die here tonight like his father and I."
The Great Deku Tree meticulously observed the Hylian mother before he examined the soundly sleeping infant. He could sense this was the child of destiny and that his fate would affect the whole world. Somberly, he soothed the young, distraught, and dying mother with knowledge her son would be taken into the forest and cared for, and the night air became as still as death. Leila passed on while the child slept peacefully at his mother's lifeless side.