Author's Note:

Back with Ch. 3. Thanks to all of you who have been reading and reviewing.

shAdOwArt: Yeah, it does remind you of Wheel of Time. That's one of my favorite book series of all time, so it is an inspiration for me. Hopefully though you do enjoy the story for what it is. There's plenty of my original stuff in there too.


VOLUME ONE - THE LEGEND OF ZELDA

Ch. 3

Things to Come

A silent figure wearing robe and hood crosses the threshold of the Temple of Light. The figure halts several paces in and breathes deep, taking in the faint smells of ancient stone and melting candle wax. In the light streaming through the large windows of the temple the colors of the figures robes are quite clear. It is shining gold in appearance, with narrow bands of red, blue and green around the cuffs of the sleeves and the hem at the bottom.

"Ah, Sage Rauru, I thank you for coming," a voice echoes out from the chamber. Rauru lowers the hood of his golden robe, revealing a head devoid of any hair and a man well into the later years of his life. But his eyes, his eyes are still as clear and as sharp as ever.

"My pleasure Archmage Aganhim," Rauru answers. "Your messenger said you had a question."

"Indeed," the man known as Aganhim says in reply, stepping from the shadows of the grand chamber. He is a man of middling age, who generally prefers to wear his robes volumous and scarlet in color, as he is now. His left hand clutches a long metal worked staff also painted red. "I was hoping you might be able to help me with a question I have about the prophecies."

"The Prophecies of the Hero?" Rauru says curiously. "I had no idea you were interested in such things."

"I'm interested in many things great Sage, some only in passing," Aganhim explains. "I find myself reading through the prophecies lately. An idle amusement, to be sure. But there is a passage I've recently come across that vexes me.

Of the Old Blood, and older still.

Born in nature, raised by man.

His Courage will light the way of the three.

"One of the early passages," Rauru says, his voice contemplative, "and one of the more obscure."

"Have you any idea what it means?" Aganhim asks.

"None what so ever, unfortunately," Rauru replies. "Most of the prophecies are vague at best. Guesses can be made, of course, but they're still just guesses. No one, not even those of my order knows fully what they mean. Or if they're even true."

"You mean you don't believe?" Aganhim asks, his eyes intent on Rauru's reactions.

"I mean how could I, or anyone else living have any real idea," Rauru explains. "The prophecies were written how long ago? A thousand years? Two thousand? We don't know for sure. Yet we know that the Hero must come if Princess Zelda is to wake."

"Yes, the Princess," Aganhim says musingly. "Another thing I wish to discuss."

"What about the Princess?" Rauru asks, his voice growing guarded.

"I plan on petitioning the King, to allow me access to see her," Aganhim says. "I am the Archmage of Hyrule. There may be something I can do. I should have been consulted with. Instead some hedge wizard is asked."

"The man you speak of is a very old friend of mine," Rauru says. "And there was and is no one more knowledgeable than he." Rauru pauses a moment, studying Aganhim. "You can make your petition to the King, but expect nothing from me. The only thing that can help the Princess is the Hero."

Aganhim's face darkness, but only for a moment and then it is back to its normal smooth mask. "Well, then I suppose I should be going, I still have business in the Mage Quarter. Thank you for your time great Sage, and good evening."

"Good evening Archmage," Rauru says in return, watching one of the most powerful men in all of Hyrule as he leaves the Sanctuary."

"You play a dangerous game Sage of Light," a woman's voice says and from another chamber steps an extremely beautiful young woman, her fiery red hair cascading around her shoulders in many curls. "Refusing to help the Archmage of Hyrule. One of the most powerful men in all the land, and if rumors are true, the most powerful mage. Some might call that a death wish."

Rauru smiles genuinely at the young woman, "And what would you call it my Lady," he asks.

"I call it a wise decision of course," she replies, returning the smile. "You will have to speak with the King tonight, of course. We cannot allow him anywhere near Zelda."

"Naturally," Rauru says. "And now his interest in the Prophecies of the Hero. It would seem what Princess Zelda was saying two years ago was more than feverish ramblings. We should proceed carefully. We'll need a good reason to tell the King to refuse the Archmage."

"You will need a good reason," the woman says. "I still cannot be seen to have a hand in this. I must remain hidden, for the time being."

"Yes, I know," Rauru says. But before he can say any more a wave of pulsing energy sweeps across him and the young woman, literally dropping them to their knees.

Minutes later they are able to stand again, though weakly and a bit unsteady. "What…what was that?" the young woman asks.

"I do not know," Rauru replies softly. "I've never felt anything like it before."

"Do you think…did everyone feel that?" she asks.

"I doubt it," Rauru replies. "I suspect only those sensitive to magic felt anything at all." Rauru takes a deep breath, seeming more sure on his feet. "It would seem we have another mystery to unravel. But for now, I suggest we be on our way. You must be getting back. And I need to see the King as soon as possible."


The capital of the Kingdom of Hyrule the great city of Hylia never really sleeps. In the Merchant Quarter deals are made at all times of the day or night. In the Mage Quarter the fires are always burning and strange noises can always be heard there. The massive palace in the center of the city, a fortress really, sitting in the center of a giant lake at the heart of Hylia. There are always lights on in Castle Hyrule. One such is in the highest tower, the Kings personal study. King Noah Daphnes Hyrulean is a largish man. Not in girth, but in pure stature. All his life he has been a kind and just man. But his face now is one of lines, and his eyes speak of a personal haunting. He is a man of little sleep these days.

The door to the study opens with a quiet creek, and in steps Rauru, his face calm and reserved. "Thank you for seeing me at this hour your Highness," he says.

"I always have time for a friend," the King says softly. "Especially since friends seem to be all I have left these days."

Rauru considers the King for a moment, his heart going out to his friend. "Are you still not sleeping?"

"Very little," the King replies. "I'm getting strange reports from the Mage Quarter. Something has them in quite a stir," he says, changing the subject.

"Yes," Rauru says with a slight pause, "I felt it as well. I've no idea what it was though. I've never felt its like before."

The King grunts, turning his eyes back out across the landscape from his balcony. "I just received a petition from Aganhim. He wants to see Zelda."

"I believe that would be a mistake Noah," Rauru says, stepping to the King's side out on his private balcony. "I wondered at what reason I should give for you to deny his request. But, I decided only the truth would do for an old friend. I do not trust the Archmage. I believe what your daughter was saying tow years ago."

"I love my daughter Rauru," the King says. "But you know as well as I that those were ravings brought on by her sickness."

"I don't believe that Noah," Rauru says. "I have no proof, but there is something about Aganhim that makes me uneasy. I believe the Princess's concerns were nothing to do with her illness. Not a byproduct of it, anyway."

"Those are serious accusations Rauru," the King says, his voice soft.

"That is why I am not accusing, merely advising. "Rauru replies just as quietly. "If you wish for him to see Zelda, I will not stand against you. But there is something about all of this that does not sit well with me."

The King remains quiet at first. "Very well, he is denied access to my daughter."

Rauru quirks an eyebrow, "That was…quick."

"You're my oldest friend," the King replies. "I trust your opinion and advice above all others. IF you feel uneasy then there is something to be uneasy about. We must tread carefully my friend. Aganhim is a powerful man."


The Syran Desert, the deadliest lands in all of Hyrule. A place that given time, could burn you alive in the day, and freeze you to death at night. In the deep desert, in a small valley in the mountains there lies a small bit of paradise amongst the harshest of environments. A small lake on the shores of which sits a large stone fortress. High atop the Gerudo Fortress, on the highest level a young man of perhaps eighteen practices with a large broadsword in the fresh moonlight. Streaks of red flash across the surface of the large sword. The man himself is tall, heavily muscled and well defined. His long red hair is held in a loose knot at his back, his eyes are a light green, almost yellow in appearance and his skin is dark from years in the sun.

"You missed dinner yet again brother," a tall young woman with equally red hair and sun-darkened skin says from the only entrance to the roof.

The man stops, relaxing his muscles as he looks at the woman. "I'm sorry Nabooru. I must have lost track of time again."

"Of course you did Naroon," Nabooru says with a wry smile. "And like the good Captain of your Guard that I am, not to mention your ever dutiful sister, I've already instructed the kitchen to have a tray waiting in your chamber."

"What would I do without you Nabooru?" Naroon says with a grin on his face.

"Likely stumble over your own feet and stab yourself with that great hunk of metal you call a sword."

Naroon raises and eyebrow, but keeps his smile on. "Is that any way to treat your big brother?"

Nabooru snorts in amusement, "Big brother by only several minutes."

"Well, your King then?"

Nabooru laughs outright this time. "Yes. And I remember my King's bottom being paddled just as much as mine by mother. Perhaps more," she says with a knowing grin.

Naroon shakes his head ruefully, "I thank the Goddesses every day they blessed me with you," he says. "You know just how to keep me grounded."

But as Nabooru is about to respond, she drops to her knees with a gasp, her hands clutching to he head. She is closely followed by Naroon, who responds in a similar way. Only moments pass, and the pressure and pulsing the two feel inside of themselves fades to nothingness.

"What was that?" Nabooru asks, drawing deep breaths.

"I'm not sure," Naroon answers, scrubbing his right hand through his long read hair. Nabooru gasps. "What?" Naroon asks.

She points, "You hand."

Naroon turns his right hand over, and his eyes widen in surprise and amazement. There on the back of his hand, looking as if it is etched into the skin, is a pulsing Triforce mark, glowing with golden light.


She stands upon a snow and ice covered balcony, her eyes not really focused on the wintery, barren landscape laid out before her. The landscape is the Winterguard Mountains in the northern most border of Hyrule and its sister country, Winterguard. She is garbed in a dark gray bodysuit, so dark as to appear nearly black. Upon the chest a stylized red eye is stitched on and the only true concession the young woman makes to the snowy weather is a dark cloak wrapped around her body, its hood pulled up to shield her head from the cold.

Her hair is of medium length and platinum blonde, her eyes a strange mix of violet and crimson. But, the strange beauty of the wintery mountains holds no interest for the young woman this night. Instead her mind is churning, the events of only ten minutes ago quite fresh in her mind. She had been enjoying a small moment of leisure time, reading in her chamber when a sudden wave, a pulsing power had stricken her. The book had dropped from her hands as they gripped her head. The pulsing in her head was intense, but disappeared just as quickly as it had come on.

"Mistress Sheik," Calli, one of the serving women of the Snow Peak fortress says, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes Calli," Sheik replies.

"I am sorry to disturb you this late," Calli answers, bowing slightly. "But I think you should come to the Princess's chamber. There is something you should see."

Sheik nods, her focus quickly snapping back to the present. Anything involving Princess Zelda demanded her full attention. The Princess is her charge, and Sheik well lay down her life if necessary. She follows Calli from her chamber, which lies at the foot of a narrow, winding stone staircase leading upwards. At the top of the stairs is a set of heavy oak doors."

"I was finishing my evening chores in the chamber when I noticed something strange," Calli says as they open and enter through the wooden doors. "There was a strange glow coming from under the Princess's blankets."

Inside the chamber is well lit, with a fire burning every hour of the day, every day. In the center of the chamber is a large raised bed, with a beautiful golden blonde woman lying atop it, covers with blankets. Sheik peels back the blankets carefully, and her eyes widen with surprise at the sight of a metallic, golden Triforce etched onto the back of Zelda's right hand.

"What does it mean Mistress Sheik?" Calli asks, her voice fearful.

"I don't know," Sheik responds. "But I think time is running out."


The shimmering pool of water ripples in its stone basin, revealing three separate images. One is of Link, standing in the Village Square of Ordon, his hand glowing bright in the darkness with the Triforce mark. The next image is King Naroon of the Gerudo on his knees atop the Gerudo Fortress, his hand glowing with a Triforce mark. The final image shows Sheik standing over Zelda, studying the metallic, golden Triforce mark on her right hand.

Standing above the stone basin, studying all the images intently, is a man in a dark brown tunic and pants. The cloak he ears is an even darker brown, the hood of the cloak pulled low over his head, shadowing the upper portion of his face. The lower half is covered by a mask of similar color as his cloak.

"Time moves," he says, his voice light, but there is no one present to hear him. "What once was, comes again. He comes, like a storm passing in the night. His coming will change the world." He pauses, his blue eyes intent on the images.

"Of the Old Blood, and older still.

Born in nature, raised by man.

His Courage will light the way of the three.