Link Meets his Darkness Part 4: Hero's Legacy

Chapter 1: Diplomacy

He walked the courtyard with content. The boy had an air of adventure and heroism about him. He was a lot like his father.

When his thoughts turned to his father, he felt a strong sense of admiration and pride at his father's great legacy. He hoped to carry on that legacy and make it live forever. He felt like he had some high expectations to live up to, and pushed himself very hard to achieve them. He may only be ten years old, but he acted like a man of thirty.

He then had a sudden strange feeling. A Hylian's sense of foreboding was greater even than their five basic senses, even their hearing, and Marcus had that sudden sense. He felt that something was coming; something that threatened his father's life, and his place as King of Hyrule.

He began pacing in the courtyard, trying to think of what it could be. A thought occurred to him and his eyes opened wide. That very same evil he himself had just vanquished is what was coming. He paused, horrified at the thought, then raced off to find his father.

"I'm glad you all could join me" the king said, addressing all who were there. He had called a council of the leaders of each race across Hyrule.

I was there as well. Seated across from me were, Link, the Goron patriarch, Ruto, the Zora Queen, Rhan, the newly appointed Sheikah leader, Nabooru of the Gerudos and Kiriko, the leader of the Kokiri. Seated near me were three Knights, Liam, Gral and Ron. Next to me, the Lieutenant of the Hylian Knights was an empty seat, reserved for Captain Orlin. He was absent, yet again, and I was growing suspicious.

Orlin had been a fine captain when he was appointed twelve years before, but in these last 3 months, he had become a man of excuses and was frequently absent from the king's council. I had to fulfill his duties within the council.

Link had tried to make me captain numerous times, but I refused every time, being that I believe that there are much more worthy men. I used to believe Orlin was quite worthy, but he began giving me my doubts.

Seated next to the king was Queen Zelda. She rounded out the people at this council meeting. The king continued.

"As has been noted, most of your races were attacked and lost your leaders to assassination. Queen Ruto has brought to my attention the perpetrators of these crimes. Now, under normal circumstances, they would be punished. But, as has been explained, they were not responsible. In body, yes, but they had no control over their minds and did these things against their will."

"But, King Link" said Queen Ruto as the king paused "how do you know this? Were you inside their minds? How do you know they won't do it again?"

"Queen Ruto, I assure you, I know what happened. Now, for reasons I cannot explain, I cannot reveal to you exactly what happened nor who is responsible, only that the one that is responsible has been brought to justice."

"Wait" said Link, the Goron, "only one person is responsible? How is that possible?"

Link looked up to see Rhan and Nabooru looking back at him with eyes that knew the truth. Apart from myself, Link, Nabooru, and Rhan, no one knew the truth of what had transpired in the preceding weeks. Not even Zelda knew the whole truth, only that Dark Link was somehow responsible.

"It was a person of great evil. He has been seen to, and there is nothing to worry about now. You will notice that Rapho and Noro are their normal selves again, are they not? As are Nalquiz and Zarandorf."

"Gerudo scum" I heard Ron say under his breath. Luckily, Nabooru had not heard this. I turned to him with a sharp look, and he quickly returned to attention.

"Yes, King Link" said Queen Ruto "but, what if this is some sort of act? What if they are planning on attacking again?"

"I agree with Queen Ruto" said Link, the Goron "Noro is acting like himself again, but who knows what he is capable of? No, he must be either punished or exiled."

Ruto nodded in agreement with this. Both of them had lost their fathers, and weren't about to let their killers remain unpunished.

"Queen Ruto, Patriarch Link" Zelda said, addressing them both courteously "I know the pain which you are suffering, but Rapho and Noro are not responsible. The real criminal is gone, and we needn't worry about it anymore. Your people are safe. I have seen to Nalquiz, he killed not one, but two people. However, I can tell when someone is lying, and he swears to me that he cannot remember anything of that time, and he also denies wanting to kill either of the people he killed. Nalquiz is not lying to me. He is an honest man, with a good heart. Rapho and Noro are the same. Please, do not condemn them. It was not their fault."

This seemed to have swayed Link the Goron but Ruto was immovable.

"No" she said. "Unfortunately, I do not have the same feeling as you, Queen Zelda. Your compassion is admirable, but I must see to it that Rapho be punished."

It was clear that she could not be swayed in her position. King Link sighed, but then he relented.

"Very well, Queen Ruto. Rapho shall be exiled from Zora's Domain. Send him to live in Lake Hylia, and let anyone who wishes to go with him to do so. Or, do you have something else you would rather do?"

"That is a reasonable compromise, King Link. However, I shall decree it that he is not to set a fin within the domain ever again, lest his life be forfeit."

Link did not want to agree to that, but he had to. Ruto was the Zora queen, after all.

"Very well, then let it be so. Link, what shall you do?" Link the Goron looked up at the king, and shook his head.

"The queen's words ring of truth. I know Noro did not murder my father under his own will. He shall be forgiven and allowed to live freely among the Gorons."

The king smiled at this, and then turned to address everyone in council.

"That shall be all, for now. I thank you all for creating time to be here at council today. This meeting is adjourned."

At that point, everyone got up to leave. I turned to Ron and said

"Sir Ron, a word if you please."

The knight turned to me and said "what would you discuss, Lieutenant?"

"You know very well, Ron. You will hold your tongue whilst sitting in council. Even if you believe it, the Gerudo are not scum. Just because one turned rogue, and they are notorious as thieves, we have made peace with them, and they are to be treated with respect. If I hear you say something like that again, I'll have your knighthood. Understood?"

"Perfectly, sir."

"Good. Now, come with me. You're to help me find Captain Orlin."

With that, we turned to leave the room, but I nearly collided with the prince, who came running into the room.

"Joran! Where is my father?"

"What is the matter, Prince Marcus?"

"I need to speak to him! Something bad is coming!"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"It's Dark Link! I feel his presence once more! He has come back!" My eyes widened at this.

"What? How can you be certain?"

"I can sense his evil again. His power has left him, but his evil is as strong as ever. Where is my father?" he said, repeating his question.

"He has gone back to his quarters, Prince Marcus."

Marcus took off like a shot to his father's room. Ron looked at me, quizzically.

"Who is Dark Link, sir?"

"Never mind that, now. Come. Let us find the Captain."

I believed what Marcus had told me, and I grew worried. I had to inform Captain Orlin and get his assistance. Marcus had already reached Link's room. When he heard his son's words, he nearly fell over from the shock of it. Link hurriedly grabbed his weapons and headed out of his room. With Marcus in tow, he ran off to the Temple of Time. Rauru, the wise old sage could help him figure this all out. With that, another chapter had begun.