Chapter Two
A Boy of Extraordinary Curiosity
It was on the rugged marsh lands of west Lanayru that our young Hero became fast friends with Sir Hamish's retainer, an agreeable and kind-hearted man by the name of Mister Telmar. Now, Mister Telmar had been born into the service of the house of Hamish through his mother, the head cook of Fort Crenel, and raised as a kitchen boy until they found use of him as footman and then later a butler. He kept a clean run of that estate on the hill, there was not a clock left uncleaned or unwound, a fire unkindled or dirty, nor a pillow left unfluffed or dusty. Where one could expect to find harmony and order in the household, you could find Mister Telmar at the heart of it, working diligently as ever. And as such, it was for many years he served the Hamish family with loyalty and constancy till in the age that the hairs of his temples began growing grey and a long mustache began to droop on his lip that he was chosen personally by Sir Hamish to be his retainer. There was no servant that the Knight of Crenel trusted more that Mister Telmar, and no master that he would rather serve.
Which is why he was sent on such a personal errand. An errand of most sensitive nature, nonetheless.
"Does my papa have a castle?" Link asked Mister Telmar as they bounced back and forth on the wagon seat as they continued due west; the roads there in the Lanayru wetlands never were any good, the bridges even less so, but they did allow wagons to pass once impassible routes all the same. Mister Telmar chuckled to himself before answering, lifting up the brim of his hat to cool his forehead from the summer heat.
"No, he doesn't, though I suppose to a country boy like yourself it might seem like a castle," he replied kindly, giving his reins a quick flick to speed his horse along. The following jolt and hault from the horse made Link lurch forward in his seat till he almost came out of it, but he hardly noticed as his head darted this way and that way to gaze in wonder at the wildlife and flora surrounding them. He would smile brightly when a fish would stir up a splash of water on the surface in its hunt for insects, or when a bird flew overhead to nest itself in a lumbering oak tree, there were so many interesting sights and sounds for a country boy of nearly five to see, but he hardly paid attention to what was a foot in front of him. Mister Telmar had to try many times to gather the boy's attention again.
"There is something you should know boy," he continued, twisting and working the tails of his mustache hesitantly. "It would be best if you did not call Sir Hamish 'Papa,' you understand?"
"Why?" the boy asked, tilting his head with an innocent smile. Mister Telmar chuckled again, though it was more of a grunt than a chuckle. That always was the boy's reply, even to the simplest things. It was always 'why is this,' and 'why is that,' or 'why not.' He certainly had enough curiosity for two and an impatience to learn it all right then and there, and for the most part Telmar was glad to answer such questions. However, the answer to this 'why,' Mister Telmar was indeed hesitant to say.
"It wouldn't be proper," he said in a friendly but serious tone. "Sir Hamish is a Knight, and War Councilor to the King himself, mind you. It wouldn't be proper of you to go about call him 'Papa' or 'father,' or anything other than 'Sir Hamish.'" The implications were too shameful for him, though Telmar left that part out.
"But why?" Link replied, drawing out the last word. "He's my Papa."
"Well…" Telmar tugged again at his mustache awkwardly. How was he to explain this to a child? I pitied the fool man. "Well, yes, he is your father in a way, I'm glad your mother explained this to you, but its more complicated than that."
"Why?" the boy asked.
With a pause, Telmar asked, "do you know what marriage is, boy?"
"Yup!" Link answered, nodding his head vigorously. "That's when two people love each other."
"Well, yes," Mister Telmar sighed, "though I'm afraid that for some marriage is more about duty than love." At that notion Link began to open his mouth to ask another question, Mister Telmar could practically see the gears in his head turning, but he continued before the boy could continue. Hylia knew how long they could have gone down that rabbit trail of questions. "Anyways, that's not the important part. The important thing to know is that marriage is a very serious deal in this Kingdom. It is the foundation on which we stand together. It is what makes a family strong. Now, once a man and woman are married, they aren't allowed to marry another. You understand?" Link nodded vigorously again.
"Mhm! My mama told me that one time."
"So, she did? I am glad for that too. Well, what I mean to say is that your father…" he hesitated, correcting himself. "I mean to say that Sir Hamish was already married when he met your mother." Telmar let the words sink into the boy's thoughtful head before he continued. It was a small hope that Link would understand such a complex issue for a child his age, but he very much doubted it. Still, he had to say what needed saying, for better or worse. That was his responsibility as a Knight's Retainer.
"I know this all might be confusing to you, lad, but the fact of the matter is that because Sir Hamish was already married when he and your mother had you, it made your status as a son illegitimate. There is another word for it, though you are not old enough to hear it."
"What does illeg… illigi…" the boy frowned at the word, unable to pronounce it. "What does that mean, Mister Telmar?"
"It means that Sir Hamish and your mother were not right to break the vows of marriage. It is against the law. When a man and woman are married, they are only supposed to have children with each other, no one else." Link's eyebrows knotted thoughtfully on his forehead, a long frown affixed to his mouth, clearly still unable to understand its meaning. "Listen, Link, I don't mean to confuse you. Some day you will understand, when you are older. But until then I want you to promise me to never call Sir Hamish 'Papa' or 'Father,' or anything of the sort. I want you to think of him only as Sir Hamish of Fort Crenel. Can you do that for me?" For a while the boy pondered in silence, a very ponders silence for a child if I do say so, but in time Link nodded slowly, long locks of golden hair shaking as he did so.
"I think I can," he exclaimed with only a little hesitation. "I'll try my very best. Mama always tells me I should do my best, even when it's hard."
"You're a good lad, young Link," Mister Telmar said with a smile, rubbing the top of the boy's head. "And we wouldn't want to disappoint your mother, now would we?" Link shook his head no, smiling as if nothing was wrong in the world. "Like I said, I promise that one day you'll understand. After all, you seem like a smart lad to me, I'm sure it'll be no time at all. If you ever feel like you need to talk about it, you come to me, alright?"
"Does that mean we're friends, Mister Telmar?"
"Friends?" Telmar laughed. Bless the child, he thought. "You want to be friends with an old badger like me?"
"Mhm, Mama always says best friends are the ones you can tell anything. If you ever feel scared, you go on and tell them. It makes you feel better. I tell my friend Dal back home all sorts of things, so I can tell you too!"
"Well, how about that? What do you say young Mister Link," Telmar exclaimed, extending a hand to the boy, "you shake on it and we'll be best friends no ifs ands or buts about it. A man always needs a faithful friend through thick and thin, I always say. Besides, the way I see it, you'll be coming into a big new world here at Sir Hamish's estate, and that means you'll need someone to show you the ropes. Keeps you out of trouble, right?" Link's smile came without hesitation then, and though his hand was too small to wrap around Mister Telmar's hand completely he gripped on tightly and shook.
"Don't worry Mister Hamish, my Mama told me to mind be good, I won't get into trouble."
"Your mother certainly tells you a lot of things, doesn't she, lad?" Link nodded, gazing out on to the countless bodies of water glistening in the evening summer sun. What a wonder it was, considering his mother's profession, Mister Telmar thought to himself. Although, the boy certainly did seem an innocent and sincere little thing. Perhaps Helen of Hateno wasn't as bad a mother as all that, perhaps she was just a woman of drastic circumstances. And then perhaps not. But who was he to wonder or say which way? He was just a simple man doing honest work, he thought, such things were for a higher judgment.
Thereafter, their wagon ride grew quite―it was the first moment of silence they had since they began―and all that could be heard was the faint siren calls of the herons and cranes resting on still waters, the clinking and rattling of the horse's bridal, the clip-clop-clip-clop of hooves on rough pavement, and the groans and creaks of the wagon. All was tranquil and beautiful this time of day out in those rugged marshes, much better than the stuffy halls and dark rooms he was used to back at Sir Hamish's estate. The silence did not last forever, however, for questions began to brew again in Link's mind.
"Do you think I can see her soon?" Link asked.
"Your mother?" The boy nodded unenthusiastically. "You miss her already?"
"Don't you miss your Mama?" Link retorted, resting his chin in his left hand, his mood visibly dwindling. "She said I'd be gone for a long time… how long do you think it'll be, Mister Hamish?"
"That's a question I'm afraid I can't really answer," Mister Telmar sighed. "That is something Sir Hamish will have to decide, but don't fret, I think that once you get used to your new home, you'll find it quite agreeable. You'll receive a good education, food, a place to sleep, and of course you will learn to use a sword―" before he could even finish, Link's eyes sparked like fire and his mouth hung agape.
"I get to learn how to use a sword?" he exclaimed.
"Well, yes of course," Mister Telmar answered with a laugh. "You will be the Ward of Sir Hamish after all, it will be a part of your duty to protect the family in times of need. You can't do that if you don't know how to use a sword."
"So I can be a Knight just like Papa―I mean Sir Hamish?"
"A Knight?" he harrumphed, pulling on his mustache. "Gracious no lad, only nobility get to be Knights, deemed and appointed by the King himself. You will simply be a Ward."
"Is a Ward as good as a Knight, Mister Telmar?" the boy asked earnestly.
"No, I'm afraid not. Though I suppose in a way they are alike. A Knight's duty is to serve and protect the Kingdom and its people and of course its King, and a Ward's duty is to serve and protect a Knight and his family and estate. There's plenty of honor in that lad, don't look so put out by it."
"But Mama said I could be a Knight," Link insisted, his lips turning down in a slight pout.
"I'm afraid it just can't be, my boy, it's just the way our Kingdom is," Telmar sighed, patting Link's shoulder. "We all want things in life that we aren't allowed to have. I'm afraid you'll just have to settle on being a Ward. Look on the bright side of things, Sir Hamish is one of the finest swordsmen this Kingdom has ever seen, you'll be well looked after and trained. Why, I bet if you stick to it and get your hands in the dirt you can be just as good if not better, if you wanted to of course."
"Really?" he asked hesitantly. "Do you think I can be strong enough to hunt a dragon all on my own?"
"A dragon?" Telmar laughed, humoring the inventive boy. "Why, there haven't been dragons around these parts for thousands of years. But, I'm willing to bet if put your heart into it, you can take on ten dragons without breaking a sweat―if they ever dare to come back. You might even grow strong enough to out lift a Goron."
"A Goron?" Link asked curiously.
"You've never heard of a Goron?" Mister Telmar said loudly. "Why, they're only the toughest and strongest beings in Hyrule. Well, I suppose you couldn't have met one before, they don't like leaving home too much and Hateno is a long walk. They live up on Death Mountain where the heat can burn the hairs off your head, I tell you, and mighty Daruk is the strongest one of all. They call him the Boss up there, I guess that's as close to a King as they got, but they're as real and as a part of Hyrule as you and I are…" Link's blue eyes were wide with wonder at these revelations, for he truly had never heard of such wonderous and fantastical things.
And so, for the remainder of their long and warm wagon ride all the way to Fort Crenel, Mister Telmar told our young Hero many wonderous and fantastical things about the land of Hyrule, all the while the sun set on their backs, and the herons and cranes relaxed in still waters.
Ha, did y'all miss me?
Its good to be back after a long, rather unplanned break. And as sad as I am to say that I've lost steam on my previous story: the Calamity, I am excited to write this new one. I cant make any promises, but maybe some day I will return to the Calamity, it was about half way finished, but until then, feast your eyes on the Heart of a Hero. Please, as always let me know what you all think of each chapter, your words of encouragement and criticism are always welcome!
Something to note, as I'm sure you all noticed (those of you who have read any of my previous works) I took on a different literary form in this story, favoring a more traditional story teller style and view as opposed to partially omniscient third/first person view or an omniscient third person view. So far I'm enjoying writing in this way, there are certainly some pros and cons to it, but it is a change in creative head space. In a way I find it almost soothing, imagining an almost fatherly/old man at the campfire kind of voice in my head reading a bed time story to me. It might sound weird but its kinda comforting. Let me know what you guys and gals think.
Till next time,
-Bold
