This was all birthed from the stress of finals week and a need to be doing something other than writing final papers. I have watched Zelda Universe's English dub of Hyrule Warriors, but keep in mind I have not actually played the game myself. I have tweaked some of the characters slightly and the events of this story will not stringently follow the events of the game. Enjoy.
The War Across the Ages was one of the darkest times in Hyrule's history. The land was overrun with moblins and bokoblins and all sorts of other horrific creatures. They pillaged and wreaked havoc upon the outlying territories, and those in Castle Town didn't know where all of these beasts were coming from. Each time a regiment of the Hyrulean army seemed to quell the threat, more monsters would emerge from elsewhere. To make matters worse, the very young monarch of Hyrule, Queen Zelda, was plagued with vivid nightmares each night. She knew that there was meaning to them, but she had not yet mastered all her powers and was unable to interpret these visions.
When time permitted, Zelda's faithful guardian, Impa, trained her in the magical arts so that she, too, might be ready to face the threat of war. Impa, who was of the mysterious Sheikah tribe, was bound to protect the monarchy. It was her belief that Zelda, once she had better control over her mind and her abilities, would be the key to restoring peace to Hyrule once and for all. But the young queen was headstrong and nervous alike, crumbling beneath the pressure of commanding her forces and maintaining a calm face. The stress made the nightmares worse, and the nightmares worsened the stress, perpetuating a toxic cycle. Impa was the one strand of sanity that kept the queen from dissolving into madness. But even Impa was blind to the extent of Zelda's problems. For in addition to the nightmares and the stress, Zelda was (and always had been) shadowed by a feeling of utter and absolute loneliness. Sometimes, it was this loneliness, rather than the nightmares, that caused the queen to cry the nights away. And this was one of the tortured queen's best-kept secrets.
Link gazed up at the night sky. It was brilliant, really: the number of stars that twinkled down at him. Each individual star was so bright, and yet each was surrounded by a dazzling company. It brought a sleepy smile to his face in spite of the discomfort of his current situation.
Hardly a moment passed without some groan from another soldier or a jolt as the wagon bumped over a rock in the road. Link was one of the many newest additions to the Hyrulean army, packed tightly into an open wagon en route to the castle. He was squashed in between two men he didn't know, on his back and staring up at the sky. Everyone was trying to sleep, but it was difficult to manage with such rickety transportation.
Link didn't mind, though. When a Hyrulean captain had come to Faron Woods calling for new recruits, it was as if something had clicked within him. For his whole life, Link had been an orphan and a wanderer. He had traveled from place to place, seeking work and simultaneously seeing the land. He'd enjoyed being a farmhand and he'd seen many of the vast beauties of Hyrule. But all along, he'd been followed by a sense of emptiness. No matter where he went, he could never seem to escape the sense that there was some greater destiny awaiting him. . . something beyond farm work and travel. He'd been in Faron Woods in time to intervene on some sort of crisis, an attack from a squadron of bokoblins and a few moblins. Link had handled a sword before, and, gratefully, so had many of the villagers. Reinforcements from Castle Town arrived and the threat was soon suppressed. But the rush of it all didn't leave Link's system.
That's when the call to enlist had come. It may just be a new job, but Link optimistically considered it the hand of fate. His future training at the castle was a new beginning for him; the thought of it sent adrenaline pounding through his veins once more. With such a thing in mind, Link didn't mind the smell of sweat or the hard planks plastered against his back. His future was upon him, and he was ready to face it head-on.
Gasping, Zelda sat up in her bed. The dark of night still blanketed the skies outdoors. Her heart sank. If it was still night, then it would only be logical that she go back to sleep. And if she went back to sleep, then there was a high likelihood that she would have more nightmares.
She sighed, pulling her robe close around her, and slipped out onto her balcony. Even the outside air felt heavy to breathe: there was such a tangible tension throughout Hyrule. Out beyond the castle walls, the land seemed quiet. But Zelda knew that countless battles raged on along the borders of Hyrule. And they would continue to do so until she and Impa could trace the source of their problem.
Thinking about it all only worsened Zelda's temperament. The queen returned to her bed, reluctantly sinking into the armchair in her room. Perhaps if she didn't sleep in her bed she could fare better in her dreams. . .
Zelda reached for a nearby tome, revisiting stories of Hyrule's past. Though it was relatively futile (she and Impa had puzzled over the conflict for weeks already), she sought through the pages of the volume for some clue as to how previous monarchs resolved their problems.
These skirmishes were a unique situation. In Hyrule's history, wars were usually waged on grander scales, but they were also typically concluded with finality. No matter how many times the Hyrulean army conquered these monsters, more always appeared elsewhere. The supply was endless, whereas the Hyrulean army was not an everlasting resource. How many human lives had to be sacrificed. . . and seemingly, to no avail?
Zelda's tired eyes reread a story she'd heard countless times growing up: the story of the Hero of Time and one of her many namesakes, the princess Zelda of that era. Together they defeated the evil Ganon in one final duel, sealing him in the Sacred Realm. Zelda used to think that the story ended with a twinge of sadness. After all they had been through together, the princess sent the hero back through time to right the wrongs of the past. But then the true happy ending for the story came. For even in the past, the hero found the princess, hence reuniting them for a future of preserving good side by side.
There was a pang of longing in Zelda's heart as she finished the story. It was something she didn't dare discuss with Impa. Though Impa meant well and loved her, Zelda knew how adamant she was about celibacy and the focus that accompanies a life of solitude. But Zelda didn't feel that it could be fair: previous Zeldas always had heroes rushing to their aid, and the Impas and advisors of the past never seemed so opposed to their companionship. However, none of the past rulers ever dealt with these strange, never-ending attacks either.
Against her will, Zelda's head nodded and her eyes gradually fluttered shut. Another nightmare came. An unspoken darkness rushed at her, consuming her in a great cloud. And as always, she was completely and utterly alone, with no one who cared at all.
"My queen. Heavens, were you there all night?"
Zelda stirred at Impa's voice. Her guardian eyed her warily, "I presume the dreams continue, then."
Zelda yawned and nodded in defeat. Impa was the wisest person she'd ever known, and even she was totally unable to interpret such a vague vision. "Of course it could all be a trick of your mind. You're under such great stress," Impa said.
Zelda shook her head, "The dreams preceded these attacks. I know they must mean something."
Impa's expression hardened. Zelda readied herself, knowing full well what was coming. "You are still young yet, your majesty," Impa said, "Time will tell. For now, we have more pressing matters."
Zelda sighed. She was sweaty from sleeping in her robe and her back ached, but she tried to sit upright and seem more poised. The end result was more of a slump, but Impa carried on. "A battalion of our forces has quieted the uprising in Faron Woods, but I expect the threat will resurface elsewhere as it has continued to for the past several weeks," Impa said, "I believe I have a theory as to the source of this madness."
At this, Zelda did sit upright, "Wha-"
Impa raised a hand, interrupting her, "It is only a theory, but I feel I must follow my senses in this. But I require your permission, highness."
"Whatever for?" Zelda asked.
Impa's expression was solemn. "If I am to investigate, I must go alone. And that would necessitate me leaving you here, without my protection. It would only be for a short while, but it is still a compromise of my sworn duties as your protector," she said.
"No, I will go with you," Zelda argued, standing.
"Absolutely not," Impa replied, "I refuse to allow it. If I am correct, there could be great danger. You are safest here, within the protection of the castle walls. Though I will not be with you, you will at least be surrounded by legions of our soldiers. And I intend to return swiftly."
Zelda sighed, "Impa, really. I don't like being removed from the action. My lineage is full of great warriors—queens who fought for their land! Allow me a chance to prove myself."
"No, Zelda, my mind is made up," Impa said, "You must stay. However, if you forbid me to go, then I will oblige you as my sovereign."
Zelda shut her eyes. It was something she always did when she was frustrated; it helped to calm her. Impa's relationship with her was complicated. Sometimes Zelda was treated like a queen who was in charge, and sometimes she was treated like a child in need of reprimanding. It seemed dependent on Impa's whims as to which role Zelda was going to fill. "As your sovereign, I insist you allow me to-"
"Zelda, this is not a game," Impa's tone was stern, "You cannot come with me, and your power is not something that you can merely flaunt about to get your way. You must learn that."
Zelda bit her lip, keeping the outbursts building within her safely inside. "Fine," she said stiffly, "I grant you my permission to leave."
Presently, Zelda didn't much want Impa to linger around anyhow. Impa stood where she was, feeling the strife between the two of them. She exhaled gradually, drawing Zelda into an embrace. Zelda didn't return it at first, rigid in Impa's arms. "I know you're upset," the Sheikah said quietly, her lips pressed into Zelda's hair, "But I need you to trust me as your guardian, right now. This is a small matter, and it will be for the best."
Gradually, Zelda wrapped her arms around Impa. Though the warrior was eternally somber and even somewhat detached, Zelda knew Impa cared for her greatly. Their squabbles didn't detract from that. And after the tragic death of Zelda's parents years ago, Impa was truly all that the queen had.
That was another sad thought, Zelda realized. With Impa gone, it would be like the dream brought to life. She truly would be alone.
Zelda shook the thought from her mind; she felt she might cry if she entertained it. "I know," she said, keeping her voice from quivering. She refused to let Impa see her upset; to do so would be mortifying.
As they broke apart, Zelda cleared her voice and steadied it. "Will you at least tell me where you intend to go?" Zelda asked.
"No," Impa said.
"Why not?" Zelda sighed.
"Because you would follow me if I did," was Impa's knowing reply.
Before Impa departed, she persisted that Zelda accompany her to inspect some new recruits. "They come from Faron Woods," Impa clarified, "Most of them were witness to the damage there. I think that an encouraging word from you would do them a great deal of good."
Zelda refrained from rolling her eyes. She hated tasks like these: tasks that reminded her more of a dignitary instead of a warrior. But Impa seemed to prefer that she give speeches than wield a sword. Zelda cast an unenthusiastic glance over the castle wall upon which she and Impa walked, gazing down into one of the courtyards below. Surely enough, several fresh men were being addressed by a Hyrulean captain. Zelda felt guilty at the sight. How many more recruits would arrive, only to die in these eternal brawls?
Nonetheless, Zelda maintained an austere composure for Impa's sake and followed her guardian down into the courtyard. She'd been through the motions of this several times before: walking up and down along the flanks as they all bowed to her with awe, addressing them bravely and thanking them for their sacrifice, sending them off with her best wishes. Zelda could do it in her sleep, but Impa saw some sort of great significance to these rituals.
At first, it was exactly as monotonous as it always was. Impa led the way as Zelda followed, passing by perhaps fifty men. They were all in a line, dropped reverently to one knee with heads bowed as Zelda passed. "I'll never know their names. I'll never remember their faces. I'll never know a single thing about any of them," Zelda thought to herself as she walked.
Then, everything changed.
Zelda heard a quiet gasp to her side. For the first time ever, her eyes met the eyes of one of the recruits who had dared to raise his head. Zelda's breath left her in a rush. This soldier was not merely looking at her but staring openly. The intensity that swelled in his deep, blue eyes pierced Zelda's heart; she felt as if this soldier was staring straight through her.
The amount of men that Zelda had seen in her life, especially compared to some, was rather limited. Most of her interactions had been with stuffy politicians, usually of the Goron or Zora race, or the occasional captain or knight. But never in her life had she seen a man so handsome as this soldier. His golden hair was tousled and his features sharp and defined. And his eyes were simply hypnotic. He was clearly not a boy, but he wasn't significantly her elder either. He was a man just crossing over the bridge of adulthood, not unlike Zelda's current age. She couldn't bring herself to look away.
Finally, the captain of the guard noticed that something was amiss. "You there!" he barked, storming toward Link, "Lower your head this instant!"
Zelda's embarrassment caught up with her. She could feel the warmth rapidly filling her face and spreading throughout her entire body. What in Hyrule had gotten into her?
Impa turned around, confused as to what the fuss was about. To Zelda's horror, the captain seized the soldier by the neck of his chainmail and flung him to the ground. Zelda withdrew, gasping. "Apologize to her royal highness, the queen of all Hyrule, you dog," the captain demanded.
Now sprawled at Zelda's feet, the soldier lifted his eyes once more. But he said nothing as their eyes met. Perhaps he, too, was stunned. Perhaps he was feeling this inexplicable emotion that had captured Zelda and sapped away all of her control. "Now!" the captain thundered. He kicked at the soldier, forcing him to fall forward once more.
Finally, Zelda found her voice. "Stop!" she managed to cry. Her voice was far more feeble than usual, not at all the commanding tone she usually undertook. She had no idea what had overcome her. Even Impa looked at her with confusion.
The captain had lost his patience. He beckoned two soldiers over. "Take him to the dungeons for a whipping," he spat, "Until this rat gets it through his head that he's to follow orders when they're given."
All too quickly the handsome soldier was being scooped up by the guards, hoisted to his feet and led stumblingly away. Zelda was stricken as she watched. She wanted to cry out at the injustice of it all, but she seemed to have been rendered speechless again. She opened her mouth but no sounds came. The soldier, silent through everything, risked one more glance over his shoulder, meeting Zelda's eyes once more.
"N-no, wait!" Zelda stammered. Her control over her body was gradually returning to her, and she knew she had to interfere.
"Zelda," Impa said sternly.
Zelda started to walk after the retreating guards, outstretching her hand toward them, "Stop!"
"Zelda!" Impa caught hold of the queen's shoulder, yanking her back.
The castle door slammed behind the guards. "Your majesty, he must be reprimanded," the captain tried to explain, "His indiscretion is unacceptable if he intends to be a part of our flanks."
"Your speech, Zelda!" Impa hissed, "Control yourself. You have a duty."
It took all of Zelda's restraint to keep from wrenching away from Impa. She didn't care about duty at the moment, and she especially didn't care about rehearsed speeches. How could she boost morale when a man was being whipped for merely looking at her? She had to act! Her spirit screamed that she take charge.
And yet, Zelda could feel Impa's fingers digging into her shoulder. She could feel the bewildered eyes of the surrounding guards, trying to make sense of her peculiar behavior. She swallowed. She would have to wait. If she didn't want Impa or her troops to question her authority further, she would have to maintain a brave face for the time being.
Shaken but resolute, Zelda slowly returned to the line. She walked the rest of the path, stopping at the end and asking the soldiers to rise. She addressed the remainder of them, using rhetoric she'd learned explicitly for furthering patriotism. And once she had finished, she didn't recall a word of it.
Link wasn't sure what had overcome him. He was still dazed as the two guards brought him to the castle dungeon and forcibly removed his new armor from his torso. His hands were shoved into manacles that dangled from the ceiling, causing him to lean forward and remain in place.
"Ten lashes," one of the guards ordered the keeper of the dungeon.
It had all happened so swiftly, like a blink or a splash of color across his memory. Link had never laid eyes on a woman so beautiful before in his entire life. He'd been instructed to lower his head, but some quiet voice within him had urged him to sneak a glance when his queen had passed by. It was then that Link had lost all power he might've previously had over his body. The moment he had seen the queen, his blood had run cold.
She had a rosiness that blossomed across her cheeks and pink, plumped lips. Her eyes were a piercing blue, as blue as the spring sky. Her hair was long and blonde, braided regally down her back. When she'd noticed him, she had gasped and Link's heart had stopped. His mind had run away with him, and he had envisioned kissing those parted lips in that moment. He'd had to force himself to swallow, trying to rid his mind of such inappropriate thoughts of his own queen.
Link's teeth sank into his lip, stifling his cry of pain. His back arched away as the strands of a whip licked at him, tearing through his bare skin. His eyes squeezed shut as the pain seared through his body, a fire heat stinging all along his nerves.
But, for her, he could bear it. Thinking of the queen and her beauty was a small distraction, and it made the pain a little less brutal. Link dared to hope that maybe he'd even see her again. Considering his captain's reaction to his previous encounter, he doubted it. But there was always a chance. He even thought that he'd seen her lose her breath when she'd seen him, too.
There was another crack as the whip snapped forward again. Link winced. He could feel the blood dripping down his back. "Only eight more," he thought to himself, "Only eight more for the queen."
He focused on the image of her and readied himself for the next blow.
"Zelda, it was only right that that soldier reap the consequences of his actions," Impa stated, "If he cannot follow a simple command now, how can he be expected to be obedient in battle?"
All of Impa's logic fell on deaf ears for Zelda. She had thought of nothing other than the new recruit for the entire morning, and Impa knew that it had been troubling her. They stood in one of the castle's hallways, at odds with one another. "Don't you understand?" Impa asked.
Zelda didn't know what Impa expected her to say. If she spoke her heart, Impa would never understand and likely berate her. Her only other choice was to speak words she didn't mean. Eager to have the Sheikah off of her back, Zelda lied, "Yes."
Impa studied her, clearly unconvinced. Nevertheless, Impa's mission still awaited her, and time was of the essence. "Good," Impa finally said, "I trust you to remember, in my absence, that there is an order to everything for a purpose."
Zelda nodded quickly. "I have spoken to the captain of the guard, and you will have a knight escort in my absence," Impa explained.
Taken aback, Zelda looked to Impa. Such a command wasn't truly surprising, considering how overprotective Impa could tend to be, but it would be inconvenient considering certain plans that Zelda had developed for later. "Within the castle?" Zelda asked.
"Of course," Impa's tone left no room for argument.
Zelda's lips drew into a taut line. She was displeased, but she knew that if she let on, Impa might grow suspicious. "Very well," she said.
Impa seemed uneasy, but Zelda knew that the she was growing restless with each passing moment. She pulled Zelda into one last hug. "Be vigilant," Impa said, "Guard your senses. Promise me?"
"I promise," Zelda said. She gripped Impa a bit harder than she intended to; the reality that her protector was leaving began to settle in.
Satisfied, Impa released her. She lifted Zelda's chin, meeting the queen's eyes one last time, and then left.
Zelda watched Impa's horse race across the drawbridge from the castle window, waiting until it was shrinking into a speck in Hyrule Fields before she acted. She had little time. There were guards everywhere throughout the castle, and Zelda knew her escorts would be seeking her out in no time. She hurried down the halls, making her way toward the dungeon while she still had time.
She tried not to run so as not to draw attention to herself. The guards she passed nodded in acknowledgment of her, but they didn't act as if anything was amiss. At last Zelda crossed the courtyard once more and reached her destination. The prison master bowed as she entered. "I'd like to speak to the recruit who was imprisoned this morning," she said, enunciating the words she'd practiced in her head perfectly, "To ensure he is aware of the severity of his misdemeanors."
"Of course, your majesty," the guard led Zelda to a hallway lined with prison cells. Suspecting nothing, he left her to return to his post.
Against her will, Zelda's breath quickened. She tried to compose herself as she approached the cell.
Inside, the soldier sat on a bench, hunched over with his head hanging. Zelda controlled herself and kept from gasping at the sight. His torso was exposed, and harsh, red scars now littered his back. Zelda's fingers curled around the prison bars as she swallowed.
She didn't know what to say. Any plans she had devised left her when she saw him again. Blessedly or unfortunately (Zelda wasn't sure which), the prisoner glanced up and noticed her standing there.
Zelda froze at his gaze. Quickly, he scrambled to his feet and stooped into a bow. "Your highness," he mumbled.
Zelda wet her lips, "P-please, there's no need for that."
The soldier stood upright. Zelda fought to keep her eyes from wandering the length of him. His body was strong and well-built; it looked as if he had seen many days of hard work. It was he who broke the silence once more, "I apologize for my actions this morning, your highness."
Guilt swept over Zelda like a flood. She swallowed and regained control of the conversation. "No," she kept her voice low, nervous to be overhead, "No you did nothing wrong. I'm so sorry for what's happened to you. You shouldn't have been punished. . . it's terrible."
The soldier came forward, standing just in front of Zelda. "You owe me no apology," he managed a small smile, "I disregarded orders: a criminal offense for a soldier."
Zelda examined his face, staggered by the sincerity of his voice and expression. "But why?" she asked. There was a slight trembling to her voice that she did not like.
The soldier hesitated, warring with himself on how to respond. Meeting Zelda's eyes, he said, "I'm. . . not sure. I was just, well. You're very beautiful. I was. . . it was distracting."
He averted his eyes then, glancing downward. He'd become fidgety, and Zelda could see a flush rising in his cheeks. Something within her was pleased that he was nervous around her. "Again," the soldier said quietly, "I apologize."
Zelda was unsure of how to respond. Her heart was racing in her chest. She hadn't allowed herself to dare to hope that the soldier could've possibly reciprocated an attraction toward her. She often snuffed out such optimistic notions before they went to her head. The fact that he found her beautiful churned something deep inside her gut, something that had been silent until she'd laid eyes upon the soldier.
"You don't owe me an apology," she whispered again. Her voice was still a bit shaky and she hated it.
A short silence passed. The soldier looked up curiously, "Was that all you came for, then? To know my reasons?"
Zelda maintained eye contact with the prisoner, "What's your name?"
"Link," he replied.
"Link," Zelda repeated softly. Remembering her manners, she said quickly, "I'm Zelda."
Link smirked, "I know."
"Oh." Of course he did! Zelda scolded herself internally. She was the queen; everyone in Hyrule knew her name!
"Your majesty?" the voice of the prison master echoed through the corridor.
Zelda tensed. "I'd better go," she whispered.
Again, the soldier seemed to hesitate, battling internally over some decision. After a moment, he lifted his hand, slowly running his knuckles over Zelda's fingers. "Well goodbye then, your highness," he said quietly.
A shiver racked through Zelda's entire body at the touch. She jerked herself away from the bars, shocked at what a powerful effect Link had over her. Their eyes locked again before she finally tore her gaze away. "Goodbye," she breathed.
Meanwhile, trouble stirred in the Valley of Seers. Cia, the sorceress charged with guarding the Gate of Souls, had become distracted as she watched time unravel. It was a handsome young hero, in particular, who had captured her intrigue.
Yet, as Cia watched over this young hero, a darkness crept into her heart. The sorceress, however, was blind to this poison, overcome by her budding feelings for the hero. Her curiosity soon turned to infatuation. Indeed, her desire for the hero became so great that she was nearly sick with want. Not a night passed in which she did not dream of Link's strong arms around her, Link's blue eyes staring into her own with adoration.
But one day, a horrific storm disrupted her fantasies. In her all-seeing orb, she watched, full of loathing and envy, as Link saw Hyrule's young queen for the first time. The look that Link gave Zelda made Cia want to both cry and scream all at once. She coiled her fingers into tight fists as Zelda returned Link's stare. Cia knew what that look meant; she'd recognize it anywhere. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into, my queen," she hissed.
