Link Ravrenson worked long and hard in his uncle's workshop, putting on the finishing touches on the King's Blade. Making sure that every dent, chip and scratch was out so that it can be perfect for the king. He wiped his unkempt, dirty-blonde hair off his brow and placed the hammer he was using on the table next to the anvil. He lifted the sword towards the light to look for any chips on the edges. Then he looked down both faces of the blade with his bright green eyes to inspect for any more dents or scratches. When satisfied with his workmanship, he let out a low whistle and said, "Not bad if I do say so myself." To add the finishing touches to the sword, Link dipped the blade into a vat of bomb-flower juice. When he pulled it out, he began rubbing off the leftover residue with a rag that was lying near the vat. Link's uncle, the great blacksmith Alphons Strongarm, always said to him that the juice was their trade signature. The oils from the juice not only gave the blade a shine no other oil could give, but it also prevents the blade from rusting and sticking to the sheath during winter.
Link loved working in his uncle's shop. Besides his uncle, the only other family Link had was his cousin, Illia, and his grandmother, Wise Woman Salina. His parents were killed during a raid by the murderous bandit king, Twin Blade. Since then, Link had been living with his uncle and cousin. Link's one and only dream is to become as great a Hylian Knight as his father, Lord Ravren. One day, he said to his uncle that he didn't want to be a blacksmith all his life. Alphons smiled and just said, "Every great knight had to start from somewhere." Then he quoted his great ultimatum, "A man who knows the sword in his hand, knows the outcome of the battle before him." Link knew that it was his uncle's way of teaching Link the trade of a blacksmith, but he didn't mind. Today was different, today was his eighteenth birthday. It was only by fate that his uncle let him fix the King's Blade. As he finished wiping off the oil, his uncle walked through the shop door.
"Ah, so this is where you've been hiding?" Alphonse was a kind man. He always did things for the good of the people and he taught Link to follow in his example. There was nothing in this world that could change his humorous disposition. His deep blue eyes gleamed with an untainted kindness, his grey hair balding just a little bit at a time. Alfonse was a great man, however, he could be forgetful at times. "What are you doing in here?" He asked.
"Just putting the finishing touches on the sword," Link replied. "Got to make sure it's perfect for King Redleon." Link knew that in just three days it would be the King's birthday, and Link wanted so much to be invited to that party, partly because he might be able to convince the king to let him become a knight. The main reason Link wanted to go was to meet the famed Princess Zelda, who every girl in Kakuriku Village said was beautiful beyond compare. He didn't know if the rumors were true, but a nagging feeling in the back of his mind told him that she was important. He just had to meet the princess, no matter what.
Uncle Alphons walked to stand in front of Link. "Listen," he said, "I know I can be forgetful at the best of times; however there is not a day that's gone by that I haven't anticipated this day, the day you turn eighteen." Link's eyes widened with surprise. "And so, as a present from me to you, I want you to make the delivery."
Link stared at his uncle dumbfounded. "Seriously," he said.
"Of course, Link. You were the one who fixed the sword. It should only be fitting that the craftsman should make the delivery." Alphons smiled.
Link couldn't believe his luck, not only was he given the task of fixing the King's Blade he was also going to deliver it to the shopkeeper Boarson Largebreak, the only shopkeeper in Hyrule Castle town that was born in Kakuriku Village. This was a good day for Link. The only thing that he was missing was suddenly becoming a Hylian Knight. But, even Link knew this was something that only happened in his dreams. Suddenly, a thought had occurred to him, "Who is going to pick up the sword?"
"I don't know," Alphons replied, "I just got Boarson's message this morning. Though, he did say that it was someone important. Well, how about it Link, do you think you're up to the task?" Link was lost for words. His uncle actually trusted him to make the most important delivery of their family's career. All he could do was smile and nod. "Alright then," Alphons said, "go saddle up Epona and get ready."
"Yes sir," Link managed to say before he ran out of the forge. It took him a few minutes to get Epona saddled up, and, just before he was about to leave, his uncle came running out of the forge with the sword in his hands. As he handed it to Link, Link gave a slight nod.
"Oh, there's one thing." Alphons continued. "I accidently left something for you at Boarson's shop. I hope you don't mind."
Link just smiled. "Thank you, Uncle." He leans close to Epona's ear and whispered, "Alright, let's go." And with a heya, they were off. Soon they began to slow down as they reached the closed gates leading out to Hyrule Fields. He yelled up to the gate house, "Open the Gate!"
Out of the gate house came Turk, Kakuriku Village's best guard. Turk is the only actual guard who was trained as a Hylian Knight, so he and Link became best friends. It was no secret that Turk fell in love as soon as he was posted here. Not with the village or the view of the mountain in the background, but with Link's cousin. No matter how hard he tried, Turk couldn't hide it. "Oh, Link," He said. "Hang on."
As soon as Turk began to open the gate, Link heard a familiar voice. "Link, there you are."
Link turned to where the voice was coming from and saw Malon heading his way. "Oh, hey Malon." He said with a smile. Malon was the daughter of Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch, as well as Illia's best friend. She knew Link's sad history, but had always tried to cheer him up. Sometimes, Malon would ask Alphons if Link could help her father around the farm. Some of that help revolved around her prize cow, Betsy. "How's Betsy?" Link asked with genuine concern. Betsy had been pregnant for at least nine months, and any day now, she could give birth.
"She doing fine," she replied, "looks like the day is come close. Are you going to be there for when it happens?"
"Yeah, I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"HEY!" Turk yelled from the gatehouse. "Gates open!"
"See you later, Malon." Link said before he kicked Epona's flanks to get her going. The travel between Kakuriku Village and Hyrule Castle Town was an hour ride through Hyrule Fields, which was full of monsters. It wasn't dangerous or anything like that, however, with Hyrule's forces focused on the gates keeping the Gerudo Army at bay, people kept getting attacked. But Link didn't have to worry, as long as he wasn't out after sunset, because only the weak monsters, like Gellies and Deku Shrubs, come out during the day, and those things were afraid of Epona's hooves. But he was too excited to worry about the monsters; he wanted to get to the Largebreak Bazaar to see what his uncle had left him.
It took him at least an hour to reach the wall of the castle, a grand monument made, brick by brick, by Goron hands. As he reaches the drawbridge, he noticed a long line trying to go into the city. "I guess the threat is greater than I thought," he said to himself. When it was his turn, he was asked to stop and dismount so that they could search him and his horse.
The guard searching Link's saddle bag noticed the sword and pulls it out. "What do we have here?" He asked.
Link looked at the guard and said, "It's a delivery for Boarson Largebreak, sir." When the guard searching Link was done, he walked over to the guard holding the sword. "Straight from the forge in Kakuriku Village. May I?" He asked, holding out his hands. As soon as the guard put the sword in his hands, Link pulled out the blade only a little bit to show them the markings on the blade. Taking a closer look, the guards realized that what they were looking at was the legendary King's Blade. The looks on their faces was priceless.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," the lead guard said, "you may go, but your horse is going to have to stay in the stables."
Reluctantly, Link agreed to leave Epona in the stables and made his way to Boarson's shop. The Largebreak Bazaar is one of Hyrule's most famous shops, housing a selection of unique and interesting items. Boarson Largebreak, the owner of the shop, got business from all walks of life, from street urchins trying to buy some candy, to Hylian Knights. He was a giant of a man, but was kind to anyone who entered his shop. However, do not let his kind nature mislead you. He is sometimes quick to anger and will be stubborn at most times. But no one in Hyrule could ever beat his prices, and his shop sold everything from food to weapons. When it came to weapons, however, there was no one in Hyrule that Boarson did business with besides Alphons Strongarm. So it was to his surprise to see Link walking into his shop with the sword, rather than his uncle. "Link," Boarson said, his deep voice filled with surprise, "what are you doing here? I was expecting your uncle."
"Uncle Alphons had me do the delivery today." Link replied.
"Oh, I see. Well," he waved Link over, "come now, let's see it." Link, standing in front of the counter, unsheathed the blade and showed Boarson his work. "By the Goddess," he said in awe, "your uncle's craftsmanship is stupendous."
"My uncle let me re-forge the blade."
"What!?" Boarson looked at link in disbelief. "Your uncle let you fix the blade?"
"Yeah," Link replied, "he said that I was ready to handle the job myself."
"Unbelievable." And just as he said this, a whistling noise started to rise from the back of the shop. "Right," Boarson said with a clap of his massive hands, "tea's ready. Would you like some?"
"Uh, yes sir." Link said with a short nod.
"Great. You man the counter and I'll pour you a glass." Boarson was almost out of the room, when he turned around and said, "Oh, I almost forgot, your uncle left something here for you. It's on top of the strongbox under the counter." And with that he was gone.
Link, curious at what his gift could be, reached under the counter and pulled it out. What he clasped in his hand was the one thing that he had always wanted since he was a kid, an ocarina. It was beautiful, painted blue with a gold ring around the base of the mouth piece. Link had to try it out. But before he could, the bell tingled as the door opened. In the doorway stood two figures; one wearing a hooded cloak so Link couldn't tell who it was. But the other, Link knew exactly who it was. Her name was Lady Impa. She was a captain in the Hylian Knights, and had sworn to protect the fair Princess Zelda. Link couldn't believe his luck. He finally had a chance to talk to Lady Impa. "Lady Impa." He said as he stood straight in attention.
"I am here to see Master Largebreak," she said, "is he available?"
"Yes ma'am," Link replied, "he is in the back preparing tea. You can go back there if your business is with him alone." Link knew he shouldn't have said that, but this was Lady Impa. No one denies her anything.
"I will do just that, thank you." But, before leaving, she turned to the one she walked in with and said in a low voice, "Stay here." And with that she was gone.
It was a very awkward moment of silence for both Link and the hooded figure, so Link decided to try out his gift by playing a song that had been playing over and over in his dreams. The sound was beautiful. The melody was flawless. And Link played it like he had played it a hundred times before. It was only when he finished, that the person took of her hood, and he realized who his audience was. Standing before him, was the loveliest creature he had ever see. The beautiful Princess Zelda herself. "Where did you hear that song?" She asked, her voice sound it like a chorus of angles to Link.
Link, trying not to make a fool of himself, said, "I keep hearing it in my dreams." He knew it was weird, but he didn't want to lie to the princess. "I know it's weird, but I don't know why it's there. Why," he said, "have you heard it somewhere before?"
"It's just," Zelda looks at the ground before continuing, "that song sounds just like the lullaby my mother use to sing to me." She looks at Link, tears shimmering in her eyes, and he could tell that that song held dear memories for her; memories of happy days, long since passed. "By the way," she continued, "my name is Zelda. What's yours?"
Link swallowed hard. The princess asked for his name. "Link," he said, "Link Ravrenson."
Zelda's face grew brighter. "Anyway Link," she said, turning her head so that she didn't make eye contact, "I was wondering, that is if you don't have any other plans, if you could come to my father's birthday party."
Before Zelda said another word, Link yelled out, "Yes!"
"I mean it's alright if you don't want to," she said, "it's just a party and all. But, I promised my father..."
"No," he said, interrupting her, "I would love to go."
Zelda looked at Link, with a smile, as a tear of joy rolled down cheek. "Thank you," she said, "you don't know how much it means to me to hear that answer."
Not knowing what to say, he just gave a slight nod and said, "You're welcome."
As soon as he said that, Impa appeared in the backroom door. "It is time to go, My Lady." She said as she walked around the counter to grab the sword from in front of Link. "Our business is concluded here. Thank you, Link, for all of your hard work." She unsheathed the blade to inspect it. "Boarson tells me you did a fine job, and I see that he did not lie. Excellent work." And with a fluid motion, the sword was fully sheathed with a shink. "I will hope to see you at King Redleon's party, of course." Her eyes narrowed. "It would be very disappointing to everyone," Link noticed that her eyes moved towards Zelda direction as she said this, then back to him, "if you do not attend."
Getting the hint, Link knew that he had no choice but to attend. But Link was a man of his word, and would honor his promise to Zelda no matter what. "Of course," he said, "it's a promise."
"Good," she said. And with that both she and Zelda left.
Trying to understand what had just happened; Link heard a low whistle come from the door to the backroom. He turned to see Boarson, standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, looking at the front door. "That Impa is some scary woman." He said as he turned his head to Link. "You are going, aren't you?"
Link was shocked at what Boarson said. "Of course I'm going," he said, glaring at the giant, "I made a promise to Zelda, didn't I? And an honorable man has to keep his promises, doesn't he?"
"Whoa, whoa, little knight," Boarson said, raising his hands, "I meant no disrespect. It's just that Zelda is going to name the one she wants to marry in front of everyone at the party." Link's expression changed from anger to surprise so fast, it made his mind spin.
"What?" Link managed to say.
"Yeah," Boarson continued, "it's all over Hyrule. Apparently, Zelda promised her father that she would find a husband before his next birthday, and, on that day, would tell him who it was."
"Wow," Link said, again lost for words.
"Yep," Boarson replied. "Anyway, tea's ready if you still want some."
"Sorry, I'm going to have to pass. But thanks for the offer." With that he grabbed the ocarina, waved goodbye to Boarson, and made his way back to Epona, still thinking about what had just happened.