Hey guys. As promised, Chapter Four. Please enjoy and thank you for your support so far. I would like to specifically thank the following who Followed and Favorited my story. MadRam, PocketDuelMonsters and Z23000 for favorites and DaedricEclipse, Z23000, novasharp, Arc1711, Dr Bright, Mystborn08, PocketDuelMonsters, razminr11, and mrfirecool for following. Thanks guys. I appreciate it.
Chapter 4: The King of Hyrule
Zelda pulled Link around the perimeter of the castle to a secluded area covered with climbing ivy. Glancing furtively around, she gripped a section of ivy and carefully pried it away from the wall and held the ivy away, revealing the shiny metal that the wall was constructed with. She explored the blank wall for a moment with her fingers before making a small "Aha!" sound and pressing down on something. Link gasped in surprise as a rectangular outline appeared silently in the metal wall. The panel slid away smoothly, and Link found himself staring into a dark tunnel, lit with tiny lights inset sparsely into the masonry.
"Come on," Zelda ordered softly. She grabbed his hand again and pushed him into the tunnel, following on his heels. The panel moved back, cutting off the golden morning light as it clicked into place. Link could hear a brushing sound and assumed it was the coat of ivy falling back into place over the hidden panel.
This was a curious turn of events. Link was now indeed sneaking into the castle, however, it was the princess that was sneaking him in. Even in the dimness of the tunnel, he could see her focused expression. This was a girl on a mission. "Zelda. Where are we going?"
"You'll see," was all Zelda said as she lead him through the dark tunnel. Link looked around at the darkened tunnel, and Zelda caught his expression of wonder out of the corner of her eye. "This was an escape tunnel made ages ago. Just in case anything happened. It has been used before, in case you were wondering, but is mostly forgotten now. I rediscovered it a while back."
"Where does it end? The kitchens, or maybe the library?" Link imagined the entrance being behind a large bookshelf, like in the vids.
"Neither," Zelda chirped. "It ends in the throne room."
Link stumbled, his face white as a sheet. The throne room! "Uhh… Where the king and all the heavily armed knights are?"
"Yep. Father will probably be there." That was all Zelda said, without even a hint of concern in her voice.
Link was tempted to run but Zelda held his wrist in a vice grip. Well then… I am going to die.
After many long minutes, the pair reached the end of the tunnel. Zelda released Link's wrist to feel around for the mechanism that would open the door. Link cast a glance back the way they came; if he took off running now, he was sure he could make it to the hidden outer door before Zelda could catch him, since the tunnel was a straight-shot for the most part and figuring that Zelda wouldn't be able to run very fast in her heavy skirts. But then, of course, he didn't know how to open the door. She would capture him as he tried to escape, and then she'd be very cross with him, and having Zelda be cross with him didn't sound like a good time.
Zelda located and pressed the mechanism, enabling her to push the door open. The negative side of a tapestry concealed whatever was on the other side of that door, but Link's imagination was in overdrive. He didn't need to see the throne room in order to picture the multitude of trained guards with their assault rifles and pistols, and he knew they were going to be very upset with his sudden appearance in the middle of the castle. It occurred to Link that he wasn't sure which scared him more; the former-Alliance-military guards with enough ammo clips to put down a herd of elephants, or an angry Princess Zelda.
The princess swung the door open just enough for a child to squeeze through and, once again taking Link's wrist, slipped into the throne room. The boy looked up at huge, deep purple curtains that went all the way up to the high ceiling and separated this area from the rest of the throne room. To either side of him were hallways that lead in both directions away from this chamber. Zelda carefully closed the door behind her and Link took a moment to be impressed with the way the seam of the door vanished, leaving no visible trace of the hidden tunnel. Zelda let the tapestry fall back into place over the door, and it was like the tunnel never existed.
"Your Highness!"
Link whirled to an irate Impa storming towards them from through the huge curtains with two knights behind her, their swords hanging at their side and swinging with every step. Link had forgotten that the knights also carried swords. Yes, I am so dead.
Impa paused mid-step as she locked eyes with Link. She ground her teeth together in frustration. She wanted to chew Zelda out for using the secret escape tunnel in order to leave the castle's grounds without supervision or a chaperone, and for bringing a stray urchin into the castle. Via the hidden tunnel, no less! She opened her mouth to begin chastising the princess, for whom the wind had gone completely from her sails the moment she saw Impa.
"Is that Zelda?" a deep voice asked.
"Yes, your Majesty," Impa replied, not taking her eyes from the blonde girl. "It would seem she went for a walk this morning."
"Hmm. Zelda, a word, please?"
Impa drew back the curtains and motioned for the two to follow her. Zelda finally let go of Link and complied. Link rubbed his sore wrist and meekly followed her.
As Link walked through the curtain wall, his breath was taken away from him. The room he'd emerged into was massive and ornate. Huge pillars made of some kind of white stone held up a high, vaulted ceiling. Between the pillars were tall stained-glass windows, each depicting some moment from the many myths and legends of Hyrule. The floor was perfectly polished and reflected the vibrant colors streaming in from the windows. Several guards stood at attention.
The throne was set on a platform three steps high. It gave the throne, and the king by extension, an air of importance and intimidation. As they came around the platform, Link saw the King of Hyrule for the first time. He was a large and handsome man, though not overweight, with a full head of short hair and a trimmed black beard and mustache. He wore a blue military style suit with a red sash, a few medals on the sash over his heart. He was wearing a gold belt, the symbol of the Triforce adorning the center. There was no crown on his head but Link knew there was no mistaking it. This was the King.
Yet, Link could see that the King seemed to have a kind and friendly face. He hoped his personality matched. He had an annoyed expression as he saw Zelda approach. Then, his gaze turned to Link and his expression turned to confusion.
"Zelda," the King rumbled with a sigh. "I know you have a penchant for bringing home strays, but this is a bit too far, don't you think?"
Zelda stayed silent, her head slightly bowed. She knew a lecture was coming. The King turned his attention back to the boy. "Who are you, boy?"
"His name is Link, Father," Zelda interrupted. "We meet at the..."
"Zelda," the King silenced her. "That question was directed to him… Now, who are you?"
Link looked up nervously. "L… Link, your Majesty. Link Shepard."
The King stood from his sacred throne. As he rose, Zelda and everyone else in the room dropped to their knee. Link was frozen. All attention in the room was on him, yet he felt as if the room was empty. Only the King and himself mattered now.
The King chuckled. Link's nervousness was plain to see. "Do you know who I am, Link Shepard?"
Link was confused. Why was he asking? "The… the King of Hyrule, your Majesty."
"Indeed. I am Daphnes Findliath Hyrule, King of Hyrule. And yet, you did not bow when I stood," the King noted. "Are you afraid of me?"
Link felt courage enter his heart. For Zelda, he knew he needed to impress. "No, your Majesty. Nervous, yes, but not afraid."
The monarch cocked his eyebrow as he stepped down from the platform. He walked right up to the boy with his hands clasped casually behind his back. "Really? How old are you, Link? Who are your parents?"
Link's mind was swarming now. He was probably going to die. "I am twelve years old, your Majesty. I am an orphan. My parents are dead."
The King looked at him with sympathy. "I am sorry, lad." He turned away and trudged back up the three steps to the throne to sit again. Once he was settled into the large chair, everyone else rose back up. "You have guts, kid," the royal complimented once he was comfortable. Link turned to Zelda. She was smiling and he finally exhaled the breath he didn't realize he had been holding.
Daphnes glanced to Impa and flicked his finger at her to motion for her to step up the platform. Impa obeyed and hustled to the King's right. "So, this is the boy who helped Zelda a few months back?" he asked.
"Indeed, your Majesty," Impa confirmed. "The one she called 'her knight'."
This earned a laugh from the King. "Zelda, this is your choice for your appointed knight?"
Zelda nodded yes. Link didn't realize this was an official position. The King caught his look of alarm. "Zelda, are you sure? A homeless orphan with, I assume, zero military training and experience?"
"He is not just an orphan, Father. He is my friend and I know he will not fail in his duty," Zelda argued.
"Based upon what evidence?" the King asked.
Zelda was flustered at the question as her cheeks reddened. She wasn't sure how to explain it in words. When she looked at Link and thought of him being her appointed knight, it felt natural. As though it was meant to be. "I feel it, Father," she said finally. "I can just feel it."
The King was surprised at her passion. Zelda's mind was made up and when that happened, there was little point in trying to change it. He shifted position in the chair and looked between the two. "Well, Zelda, have you even asked for his opinion or his approval for this appointment?"
Zelda's face flushed an even deeper shade of red in embarrassment. In her haste, she had forgotten to ask for Link's consent. "Link, the role of my appointed knight is very important. You'll be charged with escorting me when needed and with my protection. You will be expected to defend me when the need arises, even at the cost of your very life. Are you prepared to accept this responsibility?"
Link was astounded. This was like the tales his mother told him long ago. But this was very real. This could determine the course of his entire life. As he was now, living in a shanty in the narrow alley between two buildings and going to the Temple for food and clothing, his future was rather bleak. If he stayed the course he was on, he'd end up just like Finch, and Finch was likely to end up imprisoned or dead. But this would be an opportunity of a lifetime. And when he looked on the blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess before him, he knew there was only one real answer he could give.
For her, he would do anything.
"Your Highness, my mother told me tales and showed me vids before she passed. Stories of knights in shining armor, fighting monsters and rescuing damsels. Tales of the Hero himself defending Hyrule from the great evil and rescuing the Princess of Destiny. The Heroes of the Sky, of Time, of Twilight and of the Wild. All of them have inspired me. My mother told me that I could do anything I wanted and maybe one day, I might find that princess." He blushed. "I think maybe she may have been talking about you, your Highness."
Zelda knew this came from the deepest parts of Link's heart. Even Impa and the King were touched by mention of Link's mother. Daphnes knew in that moment that Zelda had made a wise choice. Link was loyal and had a courageous heart. He would serve Hyrule well.
"I want to be a knight. I now know what I want to do with my life," Link concluded. "And, your Majesty? You were right in assuming that I lack training and experience. But I am more than willing to learn."
The King smiled at him. "Then, it is settled. Sir Niall!"
One of the knights standing at the side of the throne came forward and stood to the king's right. "Yes, your Majesty?"
"Niall, I am putting the boy's training into your care. You are to mold him into a true knight. That is your responsibility. Train him as you would any other royal knight, in every form of combat," he commanded.
Niall bowed with his left hand to his heart. "Yes, your Majesty."
"Link," the King addressed. "Sir Niall is my appointed knight and has served me for a long time. Listen to every word he tells you. It may save your life one day." Link nodded in agreement.
"One more thing, Link," the King continued. "I withhold the rank of knight from you – for now. I want to see how you will do first with training."
Link also nodded at this. "Yes, your Majesty. That makes sense."
The King motioned him toward the throne. Link glanced at Zelda before obliging. When Link was near, the King warned him quietly. "I may be King of Hyrule, Link, but I am also a father. If anything happens to my daughter or if you bring harm to her in any way, nothing will save you from me. Remember that. You are dismissed."
The King turned to Impa. "Set him up in an appropriate room please, Impa, and get him some nicer clothes. He will join us for dinner tonight."
The room Impa brought Link to was huge. It had a full four post bed, a number of wardrobes, and a desk with a mirror above it. The ceiling had a mural of the Hero, clad in a green tunic and cap, raising his sword skyward. This couldn't be it. Could it? "Was this once the Hero's room?"
Impa looked at the mural too. "Yes, Link. This room once belonged to the Hero of the Wild. At least, until he married Queen Zelda. This mural was painted after his death, commissioned by the mourning Queen."
Link had never heard that part of the story. A happy ending, at least for a time. "The servants will be in shortly to stock your wardrobes. I suggest you take a bath while they work. You'll find everything you need."
"Thank you, Impa." Link had not bathed in some time. He wanted to be presentable for dinner. A good place to start.
Impa turned to go. "I'll leave you to it." Impa stopped a moment at the door. "Oh, Link. One more thing."
Link turned to her. "Yes?"
"His name was Link too."
