The Legend of Zelda: Seven Seals
Chapter One: A Birthday Letter
The three young children splashed and laughed in the warm waters of the Zora's Domain. They were an odd group; two Zoras and a pointy-eared Hylian boy. The Hylian boy's shaggy blonde hair was saturated with water as he dove away from the Zora boy. He hit the water with a splash and the Zora girl giggled; the blue necklace around her neck caught a beam of light and sparkled.
An older Zora descended from King Zora's throne room and called out to the three youths. "Link, Sol, Princess Ria; King Zora wants to see you."
The three stopped in their play. "That's right!" Link cried happily. "It's my birthday today!"
Link and Sol raced each other to the path with Princess Ria following close behind. They followed the Zora guard eagerly but right outside the throne room the guard stopped. "Not you two; King Zora only wants to see Link. You two can wait out here."
Princess Ria stomped her foot angrily. "I want to go in."
The Zora shook his head. "Sorry Princess. King's orders."
Ria huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine."
Link smiled at his friends, followed the guard into the watery room, and bowed before King Zora on the large pedestal. Little did he know that he was standing in the exact spot his mother had kneeled eleven years ago. King Zora smiled down at him kindly. There was something lying next to his large bulk but Link couldn't quite see what it was.
"Congradulations, Link," King Zora began. "You've come of age. Your mother told me to present you with this," he picked the package up with his small hands, "when you turned eleven. I'm proud to give this too you. Take it with my blessing." Link stepped forward to receive the bundle. It was small and squishy and wrapped in brown paper. Link slowly untied the twine. He unwrapped the paper and pulled out the contents.
Link gasped. He hadn't been told about his heritage but he knew that his great-great-grandfather had been the Hero of Time. And now, in his hands, were the Hero's Clothes. The dark green tunic and hat, the brown belt with its golden buckle, the soft leather boots, and a small leather bag. The clothes had been sewn many times, giving them a used feel. With the clothes was a small ocarina; the Fairy Ocarina. "Wow," he breathed, running his hands over the cloth.
"Why don't you try them on?" King Zora suggested.
Link quickly did; the clothes fit him perfectly.
"You look just like him," King Zora had seen the Hero of Time a couple of times when he was a small child.
Link blew on the ocarina gently and a soft lilting note came out. "Wow," he said again.
"Link!" Princess Ria yelled suddenly. "Get back out here and tell us what's going on!"
King Zora nodded at Link to go and Link ran down the steps of the pedestal and back out into the hallway. "Woah!" Sol gasped. "You look so cool!"
Princess Ria giggled in agreement and turned slightly red.
"Thanks guys," Link said.
A Zora appeared before them. "Come on you three! It's almost time for the feast!" and he disappeared again. Link Sol and Ria looked at each other before taking off to see who could get there first. Link jumped off the side and dove into the water, heading down into the air bubbled deep below the surface. Bright lights played across the surface that Link broke through just seconds before his laughing companions.
The feast was already in full swing when they arrived. Link tried to wring his hat out some but he didn't really mind being soaking wet; when one lives in the Zora's Domain, one gets used to being wet. People looked up from the roaring fire – introduced by Link's great-great-grandfather – to congradulate him and compliment his new clothes. Link thanked them as he, Sol, and Princess Ria made their way to an empty fire. Sol left to go get a giant platter of food, leaving Link and Ria sitting by the fire. Link sat a little closer to the flames than Ria did; wanting to dry his clothes off.
"You look really cute in those clothes," Princess Ria said with a nervous giggle.
Link turned bright red. "Um… thanks."
There was an awkward silence in which they both sat there blushing. The blush was more pronounced in Ria's pale fish-like skin. Sol suddenly burst in and broke the silence. "I got a great load!" he crowed happily. "Fish and trout and minnows and guppies and some river weed!"
"Great," Link said distractedly.
Sol plopped himself down and speared a large fish on the end of a wooden stick. "Hey, hey, guess what?" he continued before either of them could say anything. "I got accepted as an apprentice guard!"
"That's awesome," said Link sincerely. Sol handed him a slightly charred fish. They ate and they laughed, joking and making fun of each other. Link was perfectly happy, this was easily the best birthday he'd ever had… except for a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't place.
After the feast was over Link, Sol, and Ria started back to their rooms. They had to pass by the throne room on their way and voices inside caused them to stop. It was King Zora and a couple of others. "I don't think we should let them go," King Zora was saying. "I think it may be a trap."
The three of them froze. Sol pulled them into the throne room through the shadows and they hid behind a curtain to listen.
King Zora stared at the note in his hand. It appeared to be from Princess Zelda but as far as he could tell there wasn't any royal seal or signature. It was handwritten on heavy parchment paper in a dark blue ink that didn't bleed. It was written in a curling, girlish hand. But it still didn't ring true.
Dear King Zora,
I must see the young Hylian charge in your care. Something has come up where I believe he is needed. I cannot disclose the exact details of this mission in a letter, but rest assured that it is of utmost importance. Lives may depend on his actions, millions of lives. Please don't disregard this letter!
Have him meet me at the marketplace clock tower at noon tomorrow. This conversation is for us and us alone. I will explain the details to him and send him on his way.
Thank you,
Princess Zelda
King Zora didn't want Link to go. He thought the whole thing smelled like a trap. His advisors thought so too. So they decided they wouldn't tell the boy; that would be best.
"Did you remember to tell him?" one of his advisors asked suddenly. The room had been silent for a couple of minutes and the three eavesdroppers had been about to sneak out. But now they froze and shot each other a glance.
"Oh shoot! I forgot!" King Zora gasped. "I'll tell him later. I don't think it much matters anyways."
Outside Link was thinking Tell me what? Tell me what? But the king and his advisors said nothing else on the matter. Someone yawned and chairs creeked as the Zoras stood up. "Let's get out of here!" Sol hissed as he yanked on his companion's hands. They reluctantly followed him out and ran up the stairs and out of sight just before the Zora Council poured out.
Back in their rooms the three stared at each other. "What was that out about?" Sol asked.
Link shrugged.
"We should do as the note says!" Sol continued vehemently. "It could be important! It could mean the fate of the world!"
Link laughed. "Don't be so dramatic, Sol. I'm sure it's nothing like that."
"But we'll never know unless we go!" Sol said. He was getting worked up over it, pacing the room and waving his arms around.
"But what about what Father and the others said?" Princess Ria asked timidly. "They obviously don't want Link to go. Maybe we should respect that."
Sol made a dismissive gesture with one hand. "Where's your sense of adventure, Princess? I say we go. You've always wanted to get out of here, Link."
Link nodded thoughtfully. Yes, lately he had begun to fell antsy about being cooped up in the Zora's Domain. He wanted adventure, he wanted danger, he wanted to know what it was like on the outside. "Alright," he said, "Let's go."
"Yes!" Sol pumped his fist in the air. "I'll go get a boat ready!" And he ran out of the room.
A small, wet had crept into Link's and he looked down to see Ria staring up at him imploringly. "Link," she said softly, "are you sure this is a good idea?" She sounded extremely nervous. Link place his other hand over hers.
"Don't worry," he said soothingly, "I'm sure everything will be fine. Besides, you don't have to come if you don't want to."
Ria's gaze hardened suddenly. "I'm going if you're going," she said determinedly.
"Alright then," Link smiled.
Princess Zelda stared out of her window, allowing her hair to blow out around her. She sighed. I wonder if they got my message, she thought.
Enia: Wow. Is it a trap of isn't it? Who knows. I do! But I ain't tellin'. Why would I? Psh, why would you even think I would disclose such valuable information?
Anyways, until next time, please read and review.
