Chapter 2: Persuading "Daddy"
I soon found myself holding hands with the Princess of Hyrule, about as red as a Heart Container, and walking down the corridors of the castle. It was a splendid building, and hard to tell it was this large from the outside. The walls were draped with blue and gold cloth, the colors that symbolized Hyrule, and there were Triforce markings above every doorway. Even the bricks that made up the building had a silvery glow to them. The soldiers, stiff as they were, looked completely natural with all the scenery around. It was truly a magnificent sight, and I found my eyes soaking it in far too quickly.
"So, where are we going?" I asked, confused. I had no idea where we were going, and I knew Zelda had the answer.
"We're going to see my dad!" Zelda replied, she seemed rather excited about finally introducing the one she could litteraly call "the boy of her dreams" to her father. I, of course, had no intention of letting anyone know about that.
"Wait, Dad? You mean the KING?!" I exclaimed. "Why do I have to meet him?"
"Because I need to have his permission in order for you to stay here." Zelda said. "Besides, I think I can persuade him into making you a respected person in the castle!" With that comment, she started to giggle. I found myself even more red-faced as I saw her smile…
We soon came to two large oak doors with gold embroidary lining the smooth, complex knotwork that decorated them. Zelda looked at one of the guards and smiled, and the guard immediately called for the large doors to be opened. I looked inside the room and couldn't help but stare… The throne room… It was as big as the Hyrule Castle Town Marketplace! I noticed that the celing was only a tiny bit lower then the top branches of the Great Deku Tree, and that Lord Jabu-Jabu might even be able to sleep in the large girth that was the throne room without a single problem!
"So…" I started as we walked closer to the large golden thrones that were to seat the King and Queen of Hyrule. "You seem to have taken on the Zora habit of sneaking up on people and surprising them, so… does your dad give Goron Hugs?"
Zelda looked at me and beamed. "You'll just have to find that out for yourself, Mr. Hero!" I smiled. I really couldn't hold it in… Being with her just… made me smile…
After about a five minutes of walking, we finally made it to the other end of the throne room. I looked at the golden chairs with the blue cushioning, and noticed a large, dark-skinned man with a white beard in the throne on the left. He was obviously Zelda's father. He wore a red dress tunic with gold trimmings, black hose underneath, and a long, red robe to keep himself warm. The crown that capped his head was a sign of his massive authority, and fatherhood of the girl whose hand clasped my own at the time. I noticed, then, that the throne on the right was surprisingly empty… I decided I would worry about that later, because the King suddenly turned his head to make a sharp look at me. I released my hand from Zelda's grip and fell to one knee, in honor of the King's authority.
"Hello, Daddy. This is my friend Link!" Zelda stated.
"How do you do, Link?" the King asked.
"Very well, m'lord…" I said, sounding like the peasant I most likely was.
"You may stand." He stated, raising his hand. "What brings you here to the castle?"
"Actually," Zelda started. "That's why we've come to see you… I was hoping that Link could stay here at the castle with us!"
"Oh really?" the King asked, sounding suspicious. "Was this your idea, or Link's?"
"Mine." Zelda stated, bluntly.
"And… what duties might he be able to perform around the castle to earn this stay?" he asked the Princess.
"If I may speak m'lord…" I started.
"You may…"
"I could become a squire and train to become one of the Knights of Hyrule." I stated. The position of a squire seemed fitting for someone of my skills and age, and it would honor Zelda's request of staying at the castle with her.
"A squire, eh?" the King said. "And what experience do you have in the field of combat, child?"
Upon hearing the question, I started to think of my most impressive victories, such as my victory over Dark Link, my evil counterpart, or Ganondorf himself, but then I decided to go with a simpler, easier to believe, story. I told him of the time I tried to break the curse that sapped the Great Deku Tree of its life force by destroying the foul parasitic arachnid, Ghoma. I left no details untold, and even showed him my Fairy Slingshot and a piece of Ghoma's exoskeleton as proof. I had my doubts that my tale would be believed…
"Well… I don't see why we can't accept someone like you into squirehood. I will allow you to stay." the King stated, with a tone that said how impressed he was. "But be warned that you will have many duties around the castle, both concerning your squirehood and your apparent friendship with my daughter."
"I understand, m'lord." I said. "I will take these duties with honor!" I followed my comment with a bow of salute to the King.
Zelda looked ecstatic. I didn't know why, but I felt the same way… It wasn't even my idea to stay at the castle with her, and from her point of view, we hadn't known each other long… Then I remembered what she said when she first learned my name… Link? Hmm… It sounds, somehow… familiar. I pondered this memory for a moment as Zelda took my hand once more and led me to the barracks where I would most likely spend the next few years…
