2 – Histories and Backgrounds

Zelda was at her accustomed vantage point in front of the barred window, when she sensed the entrance of Midna. She turned to see the creature once again reclined in mid-air, wearing an attitude of superiority.

"You can't possibly enjoy living in this dismal tower, can you?" Midna idly asked the room in general as a wave of her hand indicated the towering edifice. "Why don't you just leave? These stone walls can't hold you, not with the power that you have."

Zelda wondered if Midna had the same ability as herself to sense magical power. Artifacts or blood could temporarily purchase magical ability for any user, but the ability to sense magic was usually a natural talent, and signified an inborn affluence for magic. Zelda surmised that at least some, if not most, of the power that she sensed in the creature must be of its own nature. The head-piece it wore was the source of the strange power that felt like Shadow-on-Shadow, but that was only a tool, not a necessity.

Another piece of the puzzle that was the mysterious "Midna" had been revealed, but, aside from a simple name, she still couldn't identify exactly who, or what, this extraordinary creature really was. All of the puzzle pieces had created the frame of the picture, but the majority of it was still a gaping void in the middle with no clue as to what the completed result should look like. So far, all that Zelda knew about Midna was that: 1) this creature was a denizen of the same Realm that was the origin of the Usurper, and perfectly comfortable in this magical copy approximating the Twilight Hour; 2) it was magically gifted, if magic was not, in fact, a portion of its essence; 3) it was also being pursued by said Usurper who had taken Zelda's Throne; and 4) it was infuriatingly arrogant, to the point of being an exemplary model of a conceited member of a Royal Family. Using all of the patience that she had learned during her father's, and later her own, diplomatic dealings, Zelda decided to explain her motivations for self-imprisonment to this creature that, most likely, already knew them and was probably only trying to irritate her for its own amusement.

"The stone walls are not what limit me. My responsibility to my Kingdom does, and what might happen to it if I were to suddenly be missing."

"So you still believe that it's your kingdom, do you?" Midna laughed, moving from a reclined position to one of standing in the air with arms crossed. "At least one person would think differently, and it seems that he has the power to hold you, if only by holding your land hostage."

As Midna taunted her, Zelda could see the loathing in its eyes as the creature spoke of the Usurper who detained Zelda and hunted Midna. There was a history between the two that made Midna seethe with fury, and it seemed to be a much more personal offense than what had transpired between Zelda and the Usurper. Midna radiated what could only be described as a lust for revenge, but in an instant, so as not to give too much information about itself, the creature turned its back on Zelda to air-sit and promptly changed the subject.

"The shadow beasts are expanding the Twilight, it's no longer just the area around the castle."

Zelda already knew this. She had been able to see the Veil that divided the Twilight-covered lands from the rest of the Kingdom, but that Veil had disappeared over the course of the previous night, allowing Zelda to see more of her kingdom, though she didn't want to see any of it under these circumstances. It looked like it now extended all the way into the Eldin and Faron Provinces. She wondered about the fate of the fierce but peace loving Goron, and hoped that they had the fortitude to resist any ill that might befall them.

"I found something interesting," Midna teased with a smirk.

To volunteer a tidbit like that was something entirely unexpected, and Zelda remembered Midna mentioning a search the first time that they had met each other.

"So you found what you were looking for, then?"

"Not… exactly…" Midna replied, cryptically. "But it might be one step closer. Maybe he could be convinced to help my search. Depending on how useful he can make himself, you may get a chance to see for yourself."

This was certainly a different turn of events. After all, anyone caught within the Mantle of Twilight was reduced to a spirit form, so unless someone could resist this change as she had, or the person in question was another of Midna's kind…

"You say he's coming here, then?" Zelda asked.

"Not… exactly…" Midna repeated, with a slight note of disappointment, "He's being brought to the castle as we speak, we'll see what use he can be once he arrives. I'll go check on his… progress." With those last puzzling comments, Midna drifted off, leaving Zelda to ponder the fate of the new inhabitants of the expanded Twilight, both human and not. This brought her thoughts back to the interrupted memories of the visitors to the King's Court. On a day that now seemed ages ago.

***

Zelda looked down at those who had gathered in Court from the raised Dias of the Throne Room. She recognized some, but others she did not. Most were Hylian, but there was a small contingent of Goron and one or two of the Zoras. Both were delegates from two races that were Sovereign Nations, not subjects to the King, and they had long-standing Treaties with Hyrule. The three Nations were actually quite friendly, and trade between them was vigorous.

The entirety of the land of Hylia boasted a wide range of ecological and geological models. Mountains, valleys, plateaus, and lakes were all in abundance, and created a diversity of ecosystems that made at least one area of Hylia perfectly suited for each of the races that inhabited it. The key to this diversity was the two mountain ranges that bracketed Hylia.

The Snowpeak Mountains were aptly named, for there were no accounts in the history texts of those peaks ever being barren of snow. So much, that only wild creatures were able to inhabit them. The source of the snow was the heavy, warm, moist air that blew in from the Northwest to be forced upwards by the Snowpeaks and cooled. Inevitably it coated the mountain tops with caps of pure, white snow and ice, and having spent its burden, the parched air was free to pass over the rest of the mountain range.

The mystery was only enhanced by the stories of an impudent and greedy Nobleman's son, who worked under his wealthy father. Rather than wait for his inheritance while living in comfort, the foolish son demanded that he be paid his portion of his father's estate once he came of Age. Thinking he could tame the mountains, the thoughtless boy built a mansion in the Snowpeaks, which became isolated by fierce winter storms and led to his end. Not only did the Nobleman's son and that son's servants and staff suffer, but the Nobleman himself was cast down into financial ruin by the loss of the mountain estate and lives within it. It was a well-known story among the Nobility, often used to lecture young ones about the virtues of prudence. Occasionally, a traveler would lose their way in the mountains and miraculously find a path through the snow back out. Once they made the journey to Castle Town they would sometimes have too many drinks at the tavern and tell wild stories about monsters, called Yeti, who seemed to glide across the ice-covered cliffs like ghosts. No sane, or sober, person would give those stories any serious thought, but the rumors kept most of the adventure seekers out of the snow-covered heights, so there was no proof that the mansion of the Foolish Nobleman's Son was anything more than a legend.

The Death Mountains to the East were named due to their tendency to vent hot gasses that were sometimes poisonous, and always dangerous. Ironically, and contrary to its name, it was a living and growing mountain range. Elemental forces deep within the earth moved and flowed within the depths of the range, and molten rock regularly ruptured from the highest peak. Only the Goron were able to travel the mountain range with impunity, and that was due to their tough, heavy, rock-like bodies that could withstand most of the blasts from the hot vents. How they resisted any poisonous discharge was a different question, and some doubted that the Goron were able to breathe in the same way as the other races, if they did breathe at all. Besides that a female Goron was unheard of, not much was understood about Goron physiology other than that they resembled rocks, maybe more so than anyone really suspected.

The Goron were a fierce and proud race, but also kind and friendly. Of the Goron that Zelda had met, most all of the adults had the attitude of a "big brother" towards any smaller or younger individuals. It was an ideal that was reflected in the governing structure of the Goron, a structure that was, to all of the other races, positively baffling. Part Democracy and part Tribunal Monarchy, they were governed by what could be called a Fraternal Democratic Monarchy. The Goron were, in essence, a fraternity of brothers. When matters of state were in question, all adult Goron were able to voice an opinion during the discussion and participate in the following vote. However, the Patriarch of the Goron Tribe could overrule this vote if he thought it was for the good of the Tribe, and the Elders of the Tribe could overrule the Patriach if they did so in unanimity. Finally, any adult was allowed to petition for an audience with an Elder to try to reinforce that Elder's stand or to try to change his mind. The entire process was convoluted and downright horrifying to a Monarchist, but it seemed to work for the Goron, who appeared to operate as a family without much hint of dysfunctionality.

The Goron Mines were rich in minerals and ores, some of which the Goron sold or traded, and some of which they consumed directly, and rather literally. Of the resources available to the Goron, wood was not among them, nor were textiles or agricultural fibers that could be used to make cloth or rope, and they readily bought or traded for these. Some of the Goron were also Master Smiths, and of their exports, Goronsmithed tools and weapons were the most sought after. There were still a few legends about an ancient hero who sometimes used a Goronsmithed greatsword, a sword of incredible power that would never break or lose its edge, and was second only to the fabled MasterSword.

Nestled on a high plateau between the Snowpeak Mountains to the West, and the Death Mountains to the East, was Zora's Domain. This plateau was where the two mountain ranges abutted each other. The hot, living rock of the Death Mountains warmed a few of the snowy icepacks from the Snowpeaks, the other glaciers simply slid down the foothills until the air was no longer cold enough to keep them frozen. As the ice melted it soaked into the plateau until it pooled underground and bubbled up in the middle of Zora's Domain as a cold spring. However, this wasn't any ordinary spring. There were untold amounts of water stored in the glaciers of Snowpeak, and the Zora Spring vented that huge amount of snowmelt to a powerful river that, over ages, had carved out the great ravine that was spanned by the Bridge of Eldin.

The Zora were ruled by a King and Queen, much like Hyrule. They were mostly self-sufficient, and shared the water from the main spring of Zora's Domain freely. The water was a natural force of nature, and it flowed down Zora's River through an underground river and the ravine to Lake Hylia, at which the Zora maintained a temple and a shrine to their Patron Spirit. They couldn't exactly hold the water from the rest of the people, and there were a few small natural springs in Faron Province and Ordona to the south, but all that they asked was that the water was used respectfully and not wasted. The King saw the wisdom of this and enthusiastically agreed, and when the Zora sold fish and aquatic medicinal herbs or traded them for lamps and torch oil, both Nations prospered. The Zora also sold and traded Zora Coral jewelry, prized for its craftsmanship and innate beauty. The jewelry was exceedingly rare, as the dense Zora Coral grew very slowly, and apprenticeship into the Zora Jewelers Guild was an apprenticeship of decades. An initiate into the Guild would not even be allowed to work true Zora Coral until his or her apprenticeship had been completed and he or she had advanced to Journeyman Level. Rather, soft stone and then lesser coral would be used to mimic carving the pink, iridescent Zora Coral during apprenticeship so that none of the rare harvest would be wasted. A Master instructed his or her student on how to carve a piece of coral in such a way that would retain as much of the substance of the raw material as possible. The ideal result removed as little of the raw Zora Coral as possible, working with the natural curves and angles, while drawing out the play of subtle shades of white, pink, red and purple in an effect much like a Tiger's-Eye gem. Journeyman-crafted Zora Coral was worth its weight in Zora Freshwater Pearls, another sought-after gem. Mastercraft Zora Coral was worth three times its weight in Zora Freshwater Pearls. An exquisite pair of often-coveted Zora Coral earrings was sometimes worn by Queen Rutella, passed down the Zora Royal Line for generations, and the work of a Master whose name had been lost to history.

Bordered on the North by the Zora lands, to the East by the Goron, and to the West by Snowpeak and Desert, the Kingdom of Hyrule lay in the fertile valley between them. Besides the occasional rain shower that skirted around Snowpeak to drift in from the North, an underground waterway, a smaller branch of the river that scored out the ravine, fed the upper highlands north of the castle in Lanayru Province, which bordered Zora's Domain. The Eastern Plains and Southeast Hyrule Field in Eldin Province, bordering the Goron ranges, were fed by underground reservoirs connected to the water coursing through the ravine. To the West were Lake Hylia and the vast Gerudo Desert beyond it. The Lowlands of South Hyrule Field were close enough to the water table created by Lake Hylia that water pooled in a few low ponds and trees grew. Further South, the dense Faron Woods of Faron Province fed off the natural springs there to create an abundant resource for forestry, if it was sensibly harvested and replanted when timber was cut. These lands were the body of Hyrule Kingdom, with Castle Town as its heart in the center. At the foot of the Kingdom, along the Southern border of Faron Province, were the lands of Ordona. It was not part of Hyrule proper, but the village there Swore Fealty to the King of Hyrule. They would be the first line of defense along the southern border, and in turn, Ordona was a Protectorate of Hyrule Kingdom. Other than the martial agreement, Ordona was allowed to govern itself.

Zelda watched the first citizen approach the Dias to report. Of the districts that each person represented, this was the closest to the Castle. Telma, the owner of the tavern off of the South Road, gave her testimony on the commercial health of the markets. She had worked at the tavern since the time that she was Zelda's age. That much Zelda knew from the stories that the King told her about when He was a young man. When He was still just the Royal Heir, He would sneak out of the castle and visit the tavern in commoner's clothes to socialize with the subjects of the Kingdom while in disguise. He wanted to know His people, and none of them were the wiser, except perhaps for the owner, who let a knowing smile show now and then. Zelda fervently hoped that her father didn't know that she had taken up His old hobby, and that He wouldn't find out anytime soon.

The former owner had adopted Telma as his own daughter shortly after she had drifted into town, and put her to honest work before she could resort to pick-pocketing, or anything even less respectable. She made a good waitress, and later a better bartender. She also proved quite adept at breaking up scuffles between patrons who had too much drink. Sometimes a discussion about a difference of opinion escalate into an argument, and then into a fight. On a few occasions she had done more than just intervene, but physically thrown the offending parties out of the front door of the tavern, to the boisterous cheers of the other patrons. She was a striking figure due to her foreign appearance, and she brought a flair of the exotic to the tavern. The owner enjoyed watching her interact with the customers, or rather, he enjoyed watching the customers interact with her. He was an avid watcher, and loved observing people and their behaviors and habits. Once he had trained Telma in every aspect of the business, he felt that he could retire and live comfortably off of his savings, supplemented by the installments that Telma paid him as per their agreement when she bought the tavern from him. He now spent most of his days in the open-air café on the West side of the Main Square, quietly observing the people bustling about, and Telma enjoyed the life of a business owner, rising to prominence among the merchants and becoming their spokesperson to the King.

Telma's dark skin, red-tinged hair, and almond shaped eyes marked her as one of the last descendants of the Gerudo, a race of people that once lived in, and gave their name to, the Gerudo Desert in the West. The winds that had dropped their precious moisture over the Snowpeaks continued down over the Western Plains of the Desert. Bone-dry, these winds scoured the sun-ravaged sands until the whole plain was unfit for any creature not specifically adapted to its stark and desolate landscape. The elements had all but erased any evidence of the Gerudo, except for the nearly-forgotten Arbiter's Grounds. The final destination of only the most vile criminals, it had been expanded from an ancient Gerudo Spirit Shrine. The antique and withered shrine had been hewn directly into the rock there, and an army of masons and laborers had carved and built upon it further so that those scoundrels would see the ultimate triumph of law and order.

Primarily because no one wanted to, no race of people had lived in or ventured there since the disappearance of the lost Gerudo. They were a race of mercenaries and bandits, strong and confident, and they were all women. No one currently alive could remember ever having met a full-blood Gerudo male, and there were old legends about such an occurrence, dark legends about a Gerudo King. The same legends explained the downfall of the race and it's near extinction. However, Telma didn't have any concerns about the old legends, and her only King was the King of Hyrule, who was pleased with her current account of the health of the commercial district.

Prosperity was rampant. All the merchants were doing quite well, and there were a few new additions. A new stall had been constructed near the South Gate, where a Goron merchant, along with his son, was selling hot spring water by the bottleful. Bids were being submitted for the recently vacated space near the West Road. So far the highest bid was from a gentleman who wanted to pitch a large tent for some kind of carnival skill game, but it would be some time before anyone new the result. As Telma spoke, Zelda could tell from the tone that she didn't have a high opinion for the game's master, Purlo. It seemed that Telma didn't trust him, or his game, but if he wasn't fair, word would spread among the populace and he would soon find himself with a lack of clients. The last note of Telma's report was that Chudley's Emporium had once again raised its prices. Already an impossibly expensive retailer, it was largely kept afloat by Jovani's patronage. He lorded his wealth over those of modest assets, and wasn't well liked by Telma, due to his tendency to short-change her tips. She was quietly resigned to the fact that, one day, his greed would be his own undoing. Most all of the items available for purchase at the Emporium could be had for a much lower price in the open-air market stalls, but some of the nobles, Jovani in particular, had peculiar ideas about their appearance of status and how it was affected by shopping with the commoners. The King wasn't about to interfere. The more snobbish nobles could afford it, and it drained their purses enough that they caused less trouble for the Kingdom with their pretentiousness.

The second citizen to report was Iza. She lived with her sister Hena at the border of Zora's Domain in Northern Lanayru Province. They inhabited a cabin on the shore of a fishing grotto located just before the river forked. They also had a brother named Coro, and their family had lived in that area for quite some time. Recently, Coro had moved to Faron Province and was, in fact, the Representative of that area and therefore in attendance. Being siblings, Coro was right behind Iza and would be giving his report once she was done. There was nothing out of the ordinary in Iza's report, aside from her plans to open the fishing grotto to the public and charge a nominal fee to fish there. The plan was to establish the fishing grotto business and let Hena, assuming her place in the family line of fisherman, take over management. Iza would then start a new business of canoe rental with Zora-guided tours down the river to Lake Hylia. The King couldn't find any fault with the plans and gave His approval.

Coro then stepped up from behind his older sister to report on Faron Province. It seemed that events in Faron were less stimulating than in Lanayru. Coro spent his time fashioning lamps and lamp oil to sell to those who would travel through the Faron woods, with its thick canopy that shaded the paths. Occasionally, the monkeys that inhabited the trees would cause some sort of mischief, but that was in their nature, and they hadn't done anything truly damaging, yet.

Renado, the Shaman of Kakariko Village, was the next to approach the King. Kakariko was a spiritual retreat to some, a home to others. Above the Inn, there was a hot spring that was rumored to have regenerative properties. The extent of these properties was unknown, but the spring was undoubtedly relaxing, and soothed the body and soul. The King remarked that some of the canyon passes between the outlying fields had been accumulating boulders and rubble from rockslides, and asked about the production of the next order of Barnes' Bombs for the purpose of clearing them. Renado assured the King that the Bomb order would be completed and delivered on time, and travelers would not be inconvenienced.

The last to approach the King were more unusual, both because of where they were from, and because there were two of them, rather than one. Mayor Bo and Rusl of Ordon Village stepped forward to the foot of the Dias. Mayor Bo was an old acquaintance of the King, and he was the King's Liaison to the Goron. Bo was responsible for nearly all of the trade agreements between Hyrule and the Goron over the past twenty years, and they were all beneficial to both sides.

By some means, by which Bo kept a secret to this day, he had been accepted into the Goron Tribe as one of their own, rather than an outsider Diplomat. Bo was a Goron Brother, and the Goron Representative that the King had questioned only said that Bo had been tested, and succeeded. The Representative thought of Bo as a true Brother and nothing else, and couldn't be convinced otherwise. The King sensed the steadfast resolve in the Goron estimation of Bo and knew that if He pursued the question any further, the only answer that He would obtain was the one that He had already received. From that point on, the King decided that He would rather accept His luck in having such a well suited Liaison, rather than create contention by questioning His good fortune.

The King hadn't made Bo the Mayor of Ordon Village. Bo had been appointed Mayor by the villagers without the King having to use any of His influence. Bo was a strong, natural leader, and the villagers recognized that. Originally, he had moved to Ordon Village because he said that he was a simple man and wanted a simple life where he could raise his daughter Ilia. The King decided that having His Goron Liaison in such a remote area was a small price for the Kingdom to pay for all the service that Bo had given. For all his want of simplicity, Bo enjoyed his place in the village. He once told the King, "A simple life still has its own responsibilities, and running that village is a responsibility that I wouldn't give up for all the world. Those people are my family, just as much as Ilia."

Rusl was a retired soldier, he lived in Ordon Village with his wife Uli, and their young boy Colin. It was only natural that he would accompany Bo on the journey to Hyrule Castle. It wasn't a short journey and travelling it alone would be tedious, and Rusl was the self-appointed protector of the village and its inhabitants, to the chagrin of his wife. Rusl had been a Lieutenant of the Crown Guard, he was an accomplished swordsman, and a quick thinker that kept his wits in battle. He retired from the Guard with the birth of his son, and the King was disappointed to see him leave for Ordon Village rather then stay at the Castle in service as an instructor, but the King understood, considering the circumstances.

During a voyage to a foreign land, the King had come under direct attack by a band of brigands. The Crown Caravan was traveling through a wooded pass when an alarm was sounded by one of the mounted Guards. Rusl was the closest Guard to the King at that moment, and quickly pulled the King down from His mount to shield Him with his own body, and none too soon, because just then a crossbow bolt shot out and caught Rusl in the side between the ribs. As it was, Rusl was extremely lucky. A political faction would have wanted to assassinate the King and therefore used a poisoned bolt, but these were highwaymen, thieves, and had planned to hold the King for a Royal ransom. The rest of the Guard was able to fight off the bandits and eventually dispatch them, while Rusl stayed by the King, sword in one hand as he clutched his bleeding side with the other.

The group was still closer to Hyrule than the foreign kingdom, and needless to say, the voyage was immediately cancelled and they turned back. Rusl was brought back by covered wagon, in which he was treated by the Crown Physician. The King thought it was only fitting that Rusl should receive Royal care since his injuries were earned by saving Him from injury or death. The expert care proved necessary when it was revealed that the tip of the bolt had barely pierced Rusl's lung, which was in danger of collapsing. Fortunately the Crown Physician was able to safely remove the bolt and slather the wound with a rather rare Zora water blossom ointment to clot the wound and stave off any infection. He was then able to dress and bind the wound such that Rusl was well on his way to recovery by the time that they reached Castle Town, though he wouldn't be doing anything but lying down for some time. The Physician did warn the King that it was a grave injury indeed, and had Rusl not received immediate treatment as he did, they would have been carrying his body home. The King shuddered to think what might have happened had Rusl been treated by Borville, the town doctor, who had excellent credentials, but had grown cynical in his old age, and lost the drive to save life at any cost. With that thought, the King remembered how so many times He had told His daughter of her mother's last words, "With Life, there is always Hope."

Upon their arrival in Castle Town, a crowd had gathered to see the state of their King, for rumors traveled faster than any caravan. The King rode in at the front of the procession to assure the citizens that they did, indeed, still have a King, and proceeded to lead the cavalcade through the Main Square of town, past the fountain, and through the front gate of the Castle. Once through the front gate, the great wooden doors were closed, and the King could finally relax, for a moment. He was greeted by His daughter, her eyes bloodshot with worry and restrained tears. After she had hugged Him, and verbally berated Him for ever getting into such danger, she made her way to the covered wagon and personally thanked Rusl for the safety of her father. On her knees next to him, she bent down and kissed him on the forehead, an act that, to this day, had never been repeated.

Uli was escorted in by one of the heralds. The King thought it only proper that he should send a messenger to inform her that her husband had been injured, but was being treated by the Crown Physician. However, He had neglected to describe just how serious Rusl's injuries were, so her first sight of Rusl was of him laid out in the wagon, a very bloody bandage on his side, his chest wrapped to apply pressure to the dressing, and the Crown Princess kneeling next to him looking as though she might burst into weeping at any moment. At that point Uli was already stressed, and very, very pregnant with their first child. The midwives had estimated that she would give birth within the month, but they hadn't taken into account that the site of her husband, looking bloodied and near-death, might give her the impression that he had taken a turn for the worst during the return trip, and that it would send her into hysterics that ultimately caused her collapse and hastened her labor to that very moment.

So it was that the Crown Physician found himself once again in service to someone other than the King. Although premature, Uli's labor proceeded without incident, but the Physician noted that the child, a boy whom they named Colin, would need special attention for the next few months to ensure that he developed properly. It was a suggestion that Uli took to heart, for she was very cautious with the child, an attitude that she never lost. She always kept a close watch on Colin and discouraged him from doing anything remotely dangerous, which gave him a somewhat timid personality, and some thought of him as weak.

Once Colin was old enough to travel, Uli insisted on moving to Ordona, her childhood home. The King was unhappy to let another Servant of the Kingdom relocate to the far Southern land, but it did provide Him with another trusted contact there. It was actually Bo and Rusl that had proposed the idea of Fealty to the King to the villagers, rather than the King suggesting it Himself. They explained the benefits to the villagers regarding protection from any hostile armies or thieves, and support in case of famine. In return, the villagers would provide able-bodied men who could be spared from village-duties if Hyrule needed to raise an army, and they would be the first alarm and defense against invasion from the South, which hadn't happened in ages, and probably never would. However, should the improbable occur, the King knew that the villagers would fight valiantly, because they would be defending their homes, not just a line on a map, and they would dispatch a messenger immediately to inform the King and request help from His forces.

The King thought it unlikely that the inhabitants of Ordona would ever need to fight, and sincerely hoped that they never would, but it was an extra precaution. A well-thought defense had never hurt a Kingdom, but carelessness had felled many, so He accepted their offer of Fealty, and Pledged His protection and support. The King never knew just how important this arrangement would be to the future of His Kingdom, and some would say that the Hands of the Goddesses were involved in the circumstances that had led to it.