The Legend of Zelda:
Darkest Hour
Chapter One: Cursed From Birth
"So long as there is a Zelda… There will always be…. A Link." the boy in the dream would say as the rain fell around them. Then, laughter would surround the castle, and the battlement that she and the boy were atop. Then, the eyes would burn through the darkness, and the gleaming white teeth would appear, and the deep voice that forever sent chills down her spine and made her fear all unlit shadows would add, "As long as the royal blood flows…. Ganondorf cannot die!" and his hideous laughter would engulf them both.
The princess woke up screaming and thrashing again. When she had been a small child and had the visions, the nursemaid would always pick here up, hold her, and sing her back to peaceful dreams. But when she had turned thirteen, the king had replaced his daughter's old nanny with a younger handmaid. The girl did a good job, but she also could sleep through ten thunderstorms on a row. Thus, the handmaiden was still sleeping deeply- and snoring- when Princess Zelda Rose Hyrule the Second would awake from her visions.
Zelda took several deep breaths, then lightly rubbed her temples, and closed her eyes. The priests had told her long ago that doing these would help shake off any terror that certain dream-visions would give her. Then, she slowly arose from her overly large bed, took her dressing gown from where it lay on a chair, and walked to the window. It was still a long way until dawn. Below, in the castle courtyard, guardsmen and soldiers stood their watches. One or two servants were up cleaning the castle while they could without interference or trampling feet. Zelda sat on the soft cushions of her window seat, and watched the twinkling stars in the sky. They brought good comfort, and the half moon added to it, as it gave pale light and color to the darkened world.
She had always had the visions. It was a family trait, for daughters to have the gift of Far Sight. Her grandmother had it, and the family history, written in the archives of the royal library, said that all princesses born to the Hyrule Family had it. It was a gift bestowed upon them from Nayaru, goddess of wisdom. Though they had not always known it. The legends go that Zelda the First was the first daughter born to the family, and thus the first to have the visions. It was she who had foretold the coming of the wicked man from the Desert, and had also predicted the coming of The Hero of Time. After that, any princess born was given the middle named Zeldania and was asked to use their power when dour times came. But, for many generations, this was not necessary. In fact, the land of Hyrule had seen peace for nearly two hundred years. Zelda knew, knew deep to her very bones, that she was having such terrible visions because of her name.
It was her grandmother who had prophesied her mother's death and Zelda's birth. Rumor said that the old queen, Tetaniella, had been excited about the birth of a grandchild, until one night a loud shriek had come from her room, and her handmaids had rushed to her aid. When they found her, she was crying and shaking. Tetaniella had been beautiful in spite of her age, and still had dark brown, but on that night, when she was found, her hair had turned white, and she'd seemed to age thirty years. Then, the old queen looked at her servants, and croaked out, "My son's bride shall die…. And the child will be a girl." This came to pass, and the newborn princess was not named until after her mother had been buried and her gravestone covered in so many roses it was like a small garden, for the young queen had been loved by everyone, besides her husband, who had loved her most of all. Three days after the funeral, King Daphnese Johanesen visited his mother in her room, with the baby princess in his arms, and asked her, "Mother, the baby has not yet been named. I have thought to name her after her mother…. But what do you think?"
The old queen too the baby in her own arms, and looked at the child, whose cheeks were rosy pink and whose head already sprouting wispy blond hairs. Then, the she said, "Her name is Zelda Rose."
Now, the fifteen year old Zelda watched the night sky, and wished her grandmother was still alive. "She would know what to do," Zelda said to her transparent reflection in the window. "She always knew what to do." She got up from the seat and went to the table that held the water basin. The water was cold, but that was a good thing to her. She cupped her hands, reached in, and splashed her face with the water, then leaned over the basin and thought.
"What do they mean?" she asked aloud, for though some visions are straight forward glimpses into the future or past, the majority of the time they were really encrypted messages. And Zelda had not been taught to be able to correctly discern the difference before the family matriarch had passed away. Zelda closed her eyes again, and repeated, "What do they mean? 'So long as there's a Zelda, there will always be a Link'? Does it mean that my family will reign until there are no more daughters? Does it mean that there will always be a link, no matter how small, to the royal bloodline?" Then, she remembered, the laugh and the eyes and the teeth, and shivered. "Who is Ganon? What has that name to do with me?" Then, she made a fist, and slammed it hard onto the table.
"What does it mean?" she screamed. She reached up and grabbed two handfuls of her long honey colored hair and shouted, "Who is the boy in green? Why do I have this one dream and no others? Nayaru! Goddess of Wisdom, answer me!" then she slunked down to the floor, curled up, wrapping her arms around her knees, and cried herself back to sleep.
Transition
The next day, Zelda absentmindedly pushed a cherry tomato around her plate with her fork, as she sat across the from her father. For meals like breakfast and dinner all inhabitants sat in the Long Hall, but for lunch Zelda and her father took it together ins a smaller room. They used o take this time to talk together, for the princess had been very close with her father. But not lately, and this worried the king.
"Zelda?" King Daphnese asked. She didn't look up. "Zelda, what is wrong my child?"
"Nothing, father" she mumbled.
"Zelda," the king said, as sternly as he could with her, "My eyes may be old, but they are not blind. You rarely eat, speak, or smile. And Winsick is more aware than you think, for she has told me of your night terrors. And frankly, I am hurt that you saw me unfit to confide in."
Zelda looked down, ashamed of herself. "You aren't unfit, Father," she said. "It's just…. You have never had visions. You would not understand."
"I understand that you are troubled," King Daphnese said. "I understand that none have heard you laugh in so long it brings sadness to the entire castle. And you are my dearest child, Zelda. I may be a boring old dud, but I love you and will help you as best I can."
Zelda couldn't help but let a little smile slip. Her father laughed, and said, "Now there is the Zelda I know."
"Very well," Zelda sighed, her spirits lifting. "I will tell you what I've seen." She told him everything about the nightmares that plagued her life. The King sat and listened to every word, and to everything his daughter could think of that could explain the dream. When she finished, he got up, came round to her, and placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder.
"This is indeed a very troubling dream," King Daphnese said, "Sadly, I can neither decipher it or tell you if it is true. But I will say this: many times a dream is just a dream. And for all our sakes, I hope this is just a dream. When did it begin?"
"Around the time grandmother died," Zelda answered.
The King smiled. "Then maybe it is an ordinary dream. Your grief and sorrow at losing your grandmother so young must have manifested itself in your mind. And perhaps it is also being prompted by your upcoming birthday?"
Maybe he was right. Zelda had been so confused and frightened that she had nearly forgotten her sixteenth birthday was next week. Her father had been planning the tournament and ball from the week after her fifteenth birthday.
"You will finally be of age to be officially named heir," her father said, "And to begin looking for a suitable husband. Maybe one of the knights and warriors from the tournament will catch your eye?"
"Father!" she exclaimed, blushing.
"Then it is settled," he said jollily. "Chase all thoughts of this nightmare form you mind and let the world see your shining, happy face once more." and with that, he bowed and left to attend more pressing businesses of state.
Yet, as Zelda allowed a servant to come and take the plate away, she could not shake the nagging feeling in her mind.
"Miss," the girl taking her plate said, "Forgive me for having eavesdropped, but perhaps my grandmother could help you?"
"Who is your grandmother?" Zelda asked the girl.
"Well… this may sound quite silly, but she used to be the sage of the Wind Temple…. She has recently retired and given her post to my young cousin. She was known to have the gift of deciphering dreams."
Zelda thought, then said, "Take me to her."
Transition
Only an hour after the serving girl told the princess about the former sage, Zelda and the girl, who turned out to be a member of the Kokiri Tribe in the Ancient Forest, rode north to the Wind Temple. Of the original eight, only a few remained that were in use. The Temples had been set up long ago, during the age in which the Hero of Time lived. The Temple sages would play instruments and pray to the gods, asking them to bring peace to Hyrule and keep power within the fabled Master Sword. It was believed that if the sword lost it's divine power, evil would be unleashed on the land. Zelda had heard that it was her own family that protected the sword, but she had never seen it, nor knew of anyone who had.
A few hours after they had set out, they finally came to the valley between the Wind Temple, and Windfall Mountain. Between the two peaks, a large city rested, surrounded by outlying farms and cottages. It was in the cottage they were now beginning to approach that the servant's old grandmother lived.
"Tell me," Zelda asked the girl, "Why would your grandmother pass the duty of sage to your cousin and not to you? You are just as close in blood."
"Yes," the girl said, "But I cannot play the fiddle."
"What does that matter?"
"Wind Temple sages must be able to play the fiddle to the brothers Zephos and Cyclonus," the girl explained. "I cannot play any instrument. So I was sent to serve in the castle, and my cousin, Fado, apprenticed to our grandmother. Now he serves as sage." They dismounted from their horses, and the girl knocked on the wooden door. On the door was painted what resembled a green fiddle.
"Grandmother?" the girl called, "It's me, Valla." They heard small and slow footsteps come from inside, and the door creaked open, revealing a tiny old woman in green.
"Oh my," the old woman said, seeing Zelda behind her and also seeing the royal herald on Zeda's dress, "Forgive me, Lady, I did not know you would be coming."
"Forgive this intrusion," Zelda said, stepping inside, "But I have need of your skills." The old woman ushered her granddaughter in after the impatient princess, and sat down. Zelda then proceeded to tell the old Kokiri about her dream, not a detail was left out.
When Zelda finished, the retired sage scratched her chin, then got off her low stool and hobbled off, "My my, this is puzzling. I must consult Nayaru herself! And you as well, my dear," the woman said. "Follow me, I have just the things," Zeld got up and followed the woman to a back room, and as the withered old hand lit a candle, Zelda's eyes beheld a round table, and in the center a bowl. All around them were flasks and bottles of herbs and seeds and Chu Chu jelly.
"Now, m'lady, sit here," the woman said, "And after I mix a few things, we will speak to the goddess."
"Thank you, but," Zelda replied, "I thought you served the Wind god brothers."
"Child," the woman said, "If you will recall, Nayaru made both the waters and the skies. The Wind gods serve her. Therefore I served her, and still do in this old age." The old woman brought down many herb bags and bottles, poured them into a bowl, then ground them up and put the mush in a bottle of green liquid. "This is Magic Potion; boosts magic power in whoever drinks it. These herbs will open our minds and hearts to Nayaru's will and her guidance." the woman set a cup of the mix in front of Zelda, and said, "Drink, m'lady. It may not taste good, but it's still quite healthy."
Zelda warily picked up the cup, held her nose, and downed the concoction. The former sage sat in the chair across from the princess, slowly drank her mix, and then took Zelda's hand.
"Now we must concentrate," the woman said. "And pray…" both closed their eyes, and the old woman began mumbling a rhythmic chant. Zelda felt her body growing lighter and lighter, and then she heard the old crone speak, "Oh great Nayaru, creator of water and air, wisest of all gods! Hear us, Oh Nayaru." then she whispered, "Open your eyes, m'lady."
Zelda raised her eyelids and gasped. They were in the clouds themselves! "Where-? How-?"
"The potion has freed our astral forms, but for a short time only," the woman said. "Hurry, while the goddess is listening."
Zelda looked around the clouds, and said, "Great Goddess Nayaru, I have had a dream of a boy in green and monster called Ganon."
Suddenly, a loud, yet soothing, voice surrounded them as the clouds grew a little darker, and sparked with light. "I know of your dream, my child."
"Then what does it mean?" Zelda asked. "What is Ganon? Who is the boy in green?"
"Listen, my dear," Nayaru said, "There is a great darkness that is coming. Evil has been unleashed once more. This world will soon be engulfed in a world of Twilight."
"But what does that-?"
"Listen!" commanded the goddess, "For your world is dying, and you do not yet know it! There is one who can stop this end, if he is brave. If he will try. He shall appear in seven days time. He will be clad in green, and be one with animals. If he can reject the darkness in him… then he can save your kingdom."
Then, without warning, Zelda felt herself being dropped, and in a blink, she was slammed down back into her body, in the old hut.
"Oh dear," the old crone said. "This is indeed terrible."
Suddenly there was a great commotion outside, and a scream from the girl Zelda had followed here.
"Grandmother!" cried the girl. She rushed inside, and fell on her knees, clutching her grandmother. "He's dead! He's dead!"
"What are you talking about?" Zelda asked the servant.
"Fado!" she screamed. "Fado is dead! The Wind Temple has been taken over by monsters!"
As the girl cried, the old woman said solemnly, "Then what the goddess has foretold has begun… The Wind Temple has fallen to the Twilight Realm."
Authoress' Note:
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