Ascension
By
Damien
Part V:
Slave to Time
Antrice knocked again on Princess Zelda's door as she stood in the room's antechamber. On a normal day, her hand would barely rap once on the old wooden door before Zelda's youthful and energetic voice would answer cheerfully back in greeting. But the day, although young, had already proven to be anything but normal. A fact that Antrice was reminded of, as a strong gust of cold wind blew open the antechamber's door and chilled Antrice to the bone. 'Such strange weather for this time of the year… it was unbearably hot just a few days ago,' she thought.
Shuddering, Antrice wrapped her shawl about herself tighter and walked over to the door to shut it again. 'What is going on today?' she wondered, crossing back over to knock on Zelda's door once more. Zelda would be expected at breakfast with her father, the King, in less than fifteen minutes. Still receiving no response, Zelda's lady-in-waiting raced back the few feet to her own room. Inside her room, she pulled back the carpet near her bed and retrieved a small wooden chest from beneath a loose stone in the floor. Fumbling with a key she kept around her neck, Antrice opened the box where she found a key to Zelda's room that was to be used only in emergencies.
Antrice raced back through the antechamber to Zelda's bedroom door. "Princess!" she yelled, pounding on the door a final time. There was such an ominous feeling in the air that Antrice felt it was almost palatable. These were supposed to be happy days! In just two days the joint expedition to Termina was to begin. "Forgive me, Princess, I am opening the door," Antrice announced, doing just that.
Upon opening the door, Antrice's eyes first found Zelda's bed in hope that the princess had merely overslept. But her bed barely looked slept in. Another gust of cold wind chilled Antrice and drew her attention to its source where her eyes found a sight that widened them in shock and concern. "Zelda?" she asked, forgetting to address her lady with her appropriate title. Seemingly staring out into the gloomy dark morning with dead eyes, Zelda stood before the open window of her room unmoving as both wind and rain assaulted her. Antrice was frozen by both the apparent despair and terrible beauty on display in front of her.
Despite the shards of rain piercing them, Zelda's beautiful blue eyes were unblinking as they seemingly looked into eternity. Her hair waved like a golden banner in the wind and her pale skin glistened in the small amount of light as her drenched nightgown clung to her pubescent body. "Princess?" Antrice entreated, but Zelda's attention was elsewhere, intent on some visage Antrice could not see, entranced by some voice Antrice could not hear.
With timid steps, Antrice walked over to her princess and placed both her hands on Zelda's small shoulders. She instinctively removed them a second later as Zelda's skin was ice cold to the touch. Steeling herself and putting her hands back, Antrice shook Zelda to gain her attention, but Zelda still did not respond. Truly afraid now, Antrice yelled Zelda's name several times before shouting a different name. "Impa! Impa! Something is wrong with Zelda!"
In her haste and concern, Antrice never noticed Zelda's triforce mark glowing hotly.
The atrium of the Forest Temple was a sharp contrast to the coldness of the stone interior. The sun glistened off the pond in the middle of the large open area and nurtured the soft green grass and ancient trees. If the Forest Temple was Saria's favorite place, this was Saria's favorite place in the Forest Temple. It was in this peaceful and gentle atmosphere that Saria found she could think best. Saria loved her fellow Kokiri, but they could be a bit demanding of her attention. While Mido may boast at being the leader of the Kokiri, it was Saria who everyone came to. It was a duty that Saria accepted gladly, but today she needed to be a little selfish… well maybe more than a little.
"Everyone is asking about you," Saria heard a voice say. Laying on her stomach, an ancient text she gotten from the temple library in front of her, Saria looked up from her reading to see her fairy, Sira, floating towards her. "You've been in here all morning. The others are worried.
Sighing, Saria closed the book, a cloud of dust emanating from its yellowed pages. "I think… I almost have it, but there are a few things I'll need." The little girl stood up and and looked into the pale gray skies. The day seemed sad for some reason. "I wonder if he's okay?"
There was no need for Sira to wonder about to whom Saria was speaking of. "Navi would never let Link get into a situation he couldn't handle," Sira reassured her friend. "I'm sure he'll come back fine." Though there was something else that was bothering Sira and it showed on her lovely face.
The thought of Link's return always made Saria smile. "I can't wait for when he comes back! I should have everything done by then!" Saria enthused excitedly to Sira as the fairy came to sit on her shoulder. "Do you think you could see about getting these things for me?" Saria asked holding up a list of items that could not be found in the forest. Saria finally noticed Sira's sorrowed expression. "Is something the matter?"
"Why? Why haven't you asked me?" Sira inquired, carefully monitoring Saria's reaction to her question. Saria just smiled in response and Sira did the same.
"Some things we need to do for ourselves," Saria finally answered.
"You're perfect. Did you know that? You are just perfect!" Sira exclaimed. "We will always be together, you and I," she promised, hugging Saria's neck. Sira memorized the list. "It shouldn't be a problem to get these things."
Saria nodded. By the position of the sun, Saria guessed it was a little passed midday. The others were probably beside themselves with worry. "We best get back."
Nearing their home, Saria spotted several Kokiri waiting, with Mido at their head. Seeing Saria, he called and waved to her.
Saria returned the gesture, but before she ran to join them, she asked Sira one last question. "Sira?" she began unsurely. "Do you think I'm being selfish? Do you think what I'm doing is wrong?"
Sira shook her head and even laughed. "Well, I am certainly not in a position to judge you, but for what its worth; I don't think you're being selfish," replied Sira, wishing the two were still alone at the temple where they could really talk. "In fact, I think I can convince Navi to help us."
At that, Saria clapped her hands together in joy. "That would be perfect."
Sira lingered behind as Saria joined the other eternal children. "And in the end, it will take the power of Navi and I both to convince 'her' it's a good idea."
Antrice waited impatiently outside Zelda's room as the young princess was being attended to by Impa, which confused Antrice all the more. When she had first discovered Zelda standing catatonic next to her bedroom window being assailed by the wind and rain, Antrice had called out for Impa.
While Antrice was Princess Zelda's Lady-in-waiting, Impa has served as the princess's nurse maid and de facto guardian ever since Zelda's mother had died during child birth. When Impa had arrived, Antrice had assumed Impa would summon the castle physician, but instead the sheikah woman ordered Antrice out of the room and told her to watch the door and let no one in.
Zelda needed a doctor, not some sheikah hocus pocus.
Inside the room, Impa looked deep into the vacant eyes of Princess Zelda to ensure that her pupils were even and that were no signs of injury. Finding none, the tall woman knelt down to examine the princess's hands. She had planned on reciting a spell to remove the magical masking of the Zelda's Triforce mark, but quickly realized that such actions were unnecessary. The Triforce of Wisdom glowed with the intensity of a blacksmith's forge.
Knowing of no way to subdue the power of artifact such as the Triforce, Impa simply sat down in the corner next to the window and waited for whatever business the Triforce had with the princess of Hyrule to finish. Hopefully, this did not mean Hyrule was in some sort of peril, but Impa couldn't help but feel that dark times were ahead. Could what was happening in Termina find its way to Hyrule? If that was the case…
Impa was interrupted from her thoughts by the sound of something hitting the floor. "Zelda!" she shouted and rushed from her chair to the princess's side.
Zelda put a hand to her head and blinked several times to clear her vision. "I'm… alright," Zelda said dazedly and struggled to stand up. Impa quickly helped her princess to her feet. "I need to get dressed." Zelda exclaimed with a note of urgency. "We mustn't allow the Hero of Time to leave Hyrule."
"What? Why?" Impa asked. Perhaps her fears that trouble was approaching Hyrule were true. "Is something going to happen here that will require his aid?"
Zelda shook her head and broke from Impa's grasp. "There isn't time," Zelda explained and rushed from the room, grabbing a robe to cover herself as she ran through the door.
Antrice, her ear pressed to the door trying to hear the conversation inside, soon found herself on the floor as the door flung open and the princess burst through and out into the hall. "Princess?" Antrice queried worriedly. "What has happened?"
But Zelda didn't stop to answer her servant's calls, quickly leaving the antechamber and running past the guards outside her door. Impa too attempted to make her way past Antrice, but Antrice would have none of it.
"What's wrong!" What did you do to Princess Zelda?" Antrice demanded, her face red with anger. Most Hylians did not trust the few living sheikah, believing that the decline and fall of the shiekah race was due to their meddling with the will of the goddesses. Antrice was not exception to this. Grabbing the larger woman by the arm, Antrice would not allow her to go until she was satisfied that the sheikah witch hadn't done something to Zelda.
Internally, Impa moaned. She didn't have time for this nonsense. The sheikah woman muttered some words under her breath that Antrice didn't understand, but she did notice two of Impa's fingers begin to glow a pale yellow. Before Antrice could react, Impa reached out and touched the tips of her fingers to Antrice's temple. Zelda's Lady-in-waiting immediately slumped to the floor, unconscious. Though she didn't regret the action she had taken, Impa knew that there would be repercussions. The role of Lady-in-waiting to the princess of the land was no small position and was normally chosen by the King from among the daughters of Hyrule's noble class. 'What is done, is done,' the sheikah woman thought and existed the room in pursuit of Princess Zelda.
Impa was about to reach the column of stairs that would take her to the main hallway, when she heard Zelda's pleas coming from a room farther down the hall in the direction of the King's chambers.
"She must have gone to speak to her father," Impa realized aloud. Knowing that trying to force her way past the contingent of guards outside the King's room would be an act of suicide, Impa instead calmly walked up to them. "Is the Princess inside?" she asked them, knowing full well that she was.
"Uh," one of the guards began almost in surprise. Apparently, they had been more attentive to the conversation inside the room than their surroundings. "Yes, the Princess is currently speaking with the King."
Just as he confirmed what Impa already knew, Zelda's voice carried out into the hall, which was quite the achievement, considering the thickness of the wooden door. Though they all knew it was inappropriate, they couldn't help but listen in.
"But, Father," Zelda's voice could be heard begging. "You have to stop him."
Inside the room, the king gave his daughter a look that was a mixture of worry, disbelief and anger. "Zelda, now what are you saying? Order Sir Ananias to remain in Hyrule? How can you even suggest such a course of action?"
The look on her father's face tore at Zelda's heart, a feeling of dread and sorrow made all the worse by the fact that Zelda, herself, was not exactly sure what it was she was saying. Her eyes darted about the room and she wrung her hands in indecision on how to express her premonition into words. She was not used to not knowing what to do… what to say. Tears began to stream from her eyes. 'If I tell him my dream, he'll just think me mad! But the Hero must remain in Hyrule. He must!'
Seeing his daughter in such distress, cut through the king's bewilderment. He quickly reached out for and held her gently in his arms. "Zelda, please, just tell me what is going on. Why must Sir Ananias stay? Has something happened?" the king softly asked.
Zelda looked into the caring eyes of her father, searching for the answer to her unspoken question. Finding it, her eyes drifted to the corner of the room and she tried to put on a mask of calm and reason despite feeling the exact opposite. 'No matter what I say, you will not believe me.' Her eyes returned to her father. "I had a nightmare," she began finally. "It was quite terrifying. Hyrule, everything… was gone." She smiled. "But it was just a dream although it did disorient me so. I guess that I am just worried that whatever disasters that are plaguing Termina might find their way here." She turned to look out the window. "How could we defend ourselves from it without the Hero of Time?"
A bit of the anger the king had felt earlier returned. "We have survived quite well without him up to this point. Hyrule is not full of children." He regretted the words the moment they left his mouth and conciliatory words were soon on his lips, but Zelda interrupted him.
"I know, Father, as I said it was just a silly dream," she said before curtsying. "If you will excuse me, Father, my sleep was quite fitful and I would like to lie down."
Her father nodded and Zelda rose from her curtsey. As she reached the door, her father's voice stopped her momentarily. "I will have the castle physician prepare a sedative for you. All this talk of heroes and legends has gotten you out of sorts."
"Yes, Father," Zelda said with a nod and left the king's room.
Impa quickly moved from the doorway as she heard the princess approach the door. As it opened, Impa caught sight of Princess Zelda's expression and froze. The guards too marveled at the princess's demeanor. She had stormed into her father's room excited with a hint of fear, but now as she left and walked stately back toward her own room, she was the picture of calm determination.
"Ya know," one of the guards whispered to his companion. "I think the Princess could part the waters of Lake Hylia with the look she had just now."
"I know I wouldn't stand in her way," his colleague agreed.
Impa, who had heard the comments, could only nod her head in agreement as she followed in Zelda's wake.
"Should not he have been here by now?" Lord Saffran asked with growing impatience. It was the day before they were to depart on their return trip to Termina. All the supplies had been gathered and packed into the wagons. Their camp had been broken down, so they could proceed bright and early the following morning and the order of march had been laid out. All was in place except one vital piece.
"He'll be here, when he gets here and then he'll be here," Narcissca explained nonsensically and leaning against a tall tree that stood a top the hill where their journey to Termina would begin. She was again wearing her white riding tunic, black leggings and silver bracers, on her waist a thin crescent shaped sword like weapon.
Saffran sighed knowing it was better not to probe her further along this line of questioning. Hoping to foster some kind of repore with the strange woman, Saffran changed the topic of conversation to another of his interests. "I have not seen your friend, Ivani recently. I hope she is well."
Narcissca paused from her surveillance of the Lost Woods and looked at Saffran knowingly. It was an expression that greatly unnerved the still young noble. "Find her attractive, do you?"
"No! ah… I mean…" Saffran stuttered with a growing blush. "Well, of course, she is quite beautiful that is I meant nothing untoward… I was merely inquiring about her absence."
Narcissca laughed lightly to herself. "No need to be ashamed or embarrassed. Ivani is quite pretty, not as pretty as me, but then no one is," Narcissca explained returning her attention to the woods. "She is currently running an errand for me, but you will undoubtedly see her again." Turning back to Saffran again, she looked him up and down as if measuring his worth. "You're a fairly attractive human male; you have my permission to court her."
Now Saffran was truly embarrassed. "I… that is…"
"Want me to put in a good word for you?"
Saffran placed his hand to his mouth to cover his cough. "Uh, shouldn't this guide of yours be here by now? We wished to leave at daybreak tomorrow morn," Saffran asked changing the subject from his crush.
"Patience," a new voice said entering the conversation. Lord Saffran turned to see Princess Sol walking up to them, looking far more relaxed than Saffran thought he had a right to be. "If Lady Narcissca says that he will be here, then he will be here."
Upon hearing Prince Sol's vote of confidence for her, Narcissca almost let out a sarcastic laugh, but instead just smiled and returned to her vigil of the woods as Prince Sol returned to his tent. Saffran was quite certain now that Narcissca had done something to Prince Sol… bewitched him somehow. Recalling the events at Hyrule Castle when they first arrived, Saffran concluded she had most likely done something similar to the Hylian minister and his guards.
Walking back to his horse and mounting the saddle, Saffran thought worriedly about what this would mean. He turned his gaze to Narcissca as she stood next to the tree on the hill. She was again looking down the path that… if he recalled correctly… led to the very lost woods they would have to navigate if they were to return to Termina.
Thinking back to their conversation, which caused him to blush lghtly, Narcissca's personality had seemed to do a complete reverse. Not the hardened female warrior that he had first met, looking at her now she resembled nothing if a flighty, overly excitable child waiting for some favorite idol of hers. "Who are you really, Narcissca?" Saffran wondered aloud. 'Are you going to jeopardize the mission?'
"What is it, Lord Saffran?"
Interrupted from his thoughts by the voice of his princess, Saffran quickly dismounted from his horse and bowed. He momentarily hesitated whether or not to burden Princess Jylene with his doubts concerning Lady Narcissca.
"Is it Lady Narcissca and that woman Ivani? You doubt that their man will show? Or that he will be able to lead us home?" Jylene queried, voicing some of her own doubts. "I must admit, there is something strange about her," Jylene further ventured, coming to stand beside Lord Saffran and looking toward Narcissca. "She had seemed most eager to find the Hero of Time, but now that we have found him, she is quite petulant towards him."
Saffran rose from his bow, thinking of the point the princess had just raised. Keeping his own doubts about Sir Faron Ananias to himself, he instead spoke of Narcissca. "I am not entirely sure we should place our trust in her or her companions, Milady."
Princess Jylene sighed. "I thought all our troubles would have lifted once we found Sir Faron, but alas our position is still so precarious." The doubt lifted from her young face and was replaced by determination. "We have little choice but to rely on Narcissca's man for now, but watch both of them carefully, Lord Saffran for the slightest betrayal. Too much is riding on our mission. Failure is death for our dear Termina."
"Yes, Princess," Saffran said with another bow.
Princess Jylene turned to leave, but paused. "Perhaps you should share your suspicions with the Hero of Time. Sir Faron can surely deal with any mischief she has planned.
Saffran brightened immediately, having forgotten that they now had the hero of legend as an ally. "Of course, I will seek his counsel."
"Yes, after all, he will be the future king of Termina if all goes well."
Saffron was not sure if he heard a note of melancholy in the princess's voice as she said that, but he had little time to think about it as he and Princess Jylene heard the most girlish and childlike scream.
"He's here! He's here!" Narcissca enthused and ran down from the small hill she had stood watch on.
At a more sedate pace, Saffran and Jylene came to stand on the perch Narcissca had just abandoned. From their new vantage point, they watched Lady Narcissca run towards three men and a young child on horseback. Their guide had finally arrived.
"Finally!" Narcissca yelled and ran towards the four horses. She didn't know who the three men in the lead were and quite frankly, she didn't care. The whole of her attention was on the young boy and equally young horse. So much so that she was completely unprepared when they ignored her and rode on past.
"Welc…" she almost shouted out as Link on Epona approached, but he was talking to the young bearded man to his right and didn't notice her, a fact that didn't sit well with Narcissca at all.
"Oh boy," Navi sighed, noticing Narcissca's rising ire. 'Nothing to do about it now,' she thought turning her attention back to the conversation between Link and Tier.
"I appreciate the thought, Tingle, but you really didn't have to come out all this way just to see me off," Link said, hoping that was the only reason the young noble had followed him. The pack and satchels Tier's horse and those of his men carried were giving him a very bad feeling.
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense, we don't spend nearly enough time in each other's company, kindred spirits such as us. Ah! If only I were a fairly like Navi, I could spend every waking moment with you!" Tier didn't notice both Navi and Link visibly pale. "Besides, I would like to see that small trinket of mine at work, not to mention the trivial matter of payment."
Navi's glow turned red. "If you think Link is going to pay that extortionist price, you can think again. Who would pay twenty thousand rupees for a stupid compass! Besides, originally you said it was going to be fifteen!"
Tier looked positively hurt. "You wound me, Dear Navi! Wound me gravely. This stupid compass as you poetically put it, is rumored to be one of the great treasures of an ancient warrior god. Supposedly, it can guide a person back to any place they have been to previously. Any place you can picture in your mind, the compass can lead you to it. With this 'worthless' compass, it is impossible to get lost." Tier pulled back on the reins of his horse. It looked as though tears were forming in his eyes. "Its quite priceless, yet for the sake of our friendship, I was willing to part with it… sniff sniff But do you appreciate it?" He covered his face with his hands and his two guards pulled their horses along side to console him.
"There, there, Master Inglez, it will be alright," Anston consoled, patting his employer gently on the back.
"I thought I was helping," Tier got out between sobs. "But Link hates me!"
"No, Sir, I'm sure young Link admires you greatly."
Tier looked up with hope in his eyes. "Do you really think so?"
"Of course, but you don't have to take my word for it. Isn't that right, young Master Link?"
Link looked at Anston aghast and then at the teary eyed face of Tingle and sighed. "You've always been a great help…"
"If not expensive," Navi interjected quietly.
"…To me and Navi in our quests. And I appreciate your finding the compass. I don't know how we would reach Termina without it," Link finished in a dead pan voice.
"But we're still not paying twenty thousand rupees… twelve tops!" Navi added.
"Because Link and I are so close… I can see parting with it for seventeen."
"Fourteen and I'll tell you when Link's birthday is," haggled the small fairy.
"Done!" Tier agreed enthusiastically and stuck out his empty palm. His reaction was like that of a child told he was getting his most desired toy.
'Well, at least she saved me six thousand rupees,' Link thought, grabbing a bag of gems from his pack. Sorting and then counting out the proper amount, he handed over payment to Tier, who quickly passed it on to one of his men.
"…And?" Tier asked anxiously.
"Oh yeah," Navi recalled and whispered a date in Tier's ear. "Keep that info to yourself. Link doesn't like a big fuss," Navi advised, though she knew it was falling on deaf ears.
Tier giggled. "Oh, that's not too far off! I need to think of the appropriate gift," he thought aloud. He next looked at Link sidelong before riding a few paces off, not wanting Link to hear his deliberations. His two retainers quickly followed.
When Tier was out of earshot, Link turned to Navi. "I don't even know when my birthday is, how dud you know what to tell Tier."
The fairy shrugged. "I just picked a date, who cares?" Noticing an angry Narcissca storming her way over, Navi retreated to inside Link's hat. Narcissca was difficult to reason with when she was in a good mood. Talking to her when she was upset was a waste of time.
"How dare you ignore me!"
Link turned in the direction of the admonishment to see a tan skinned woman with jet black hair, wearing a white tunic and black leggings. "Huh?" was all Link was able to say before Tier came to his defense.
Tier interposed his mount between Link on Epona and Narcissca, which only infuriated the mysterious woman all the more. "Who is this weird and distastefully dressed woman, Link? Surely, she isn't an acquaintance of yours?" Tier asked incredulously.
"What!" Narcissca yelled and balled her hands into fists. Their argument was beginning to attract the attention of the soldiers who were looking for something to relieve them of their boredom.
"This is going to be some trip," Navi bemoaned, but no one heard her.
"Why don't you put those things away," Tier said indicating Narcissca's exposed cleavage with a dismissive wave of his hand. "No one here is interested."
"Oh boy," Navi commented underneath Link's hat.
Link too knew that Tier didn't get along with women at all, though he couldn't fathom the reason why. And usually, the prettier the girl, the ruder Tier would become.
"You're cute," Narcissca began to Tier in an angered voice. "But you're not that cute. I suggest you leave!" Her hands which she had balled into fist began to dimly glow, but no one noticed.
"He will do no such thing!" a new voice called out.
Everyone turned to see Lord Saffran, Princess Jylene, Sir Rami and Sir Ananeas approach. Seeing Link, Gram Rami literally pulled the young Hylian off Epona by the arm, while the others were busy greeting a puzzled Tier Inglez.
"What did you do to Paige, boy?" Gram asked angrily. "Since she met you, she's been having terrible nightmares and hasn't been herself." He violently shook the small boy in an attempt to force an answer to his question. "You've put her under some damned Korkiri spell, haven't you?"
Gram Rami wasn't on Navi's favorite person list to begin with and his current actions were bringing him dangerously close to a confrontation with the diminutive fairy. "If you don't do something about that man, Link, I will!" Navi bristled glowing red.
Link was at a lost as to how to handle the situation, but as events progressed the decision was taken out of his hands. Gram Rami's attention was so focused on Link that he didn't notice the weapon at his throat until it began to cut into hi flesh. Luckily for Gram, Link was not so blinded by emotions. With his free hand, Link knocked the knife from Narcissca's hand.
While this was occurring, Tier was suffering from a vastly kinder greeting. Lord Saffran ran up to Tier and heartily shook his hand. "Hello, my name is Lord Seifert Saffran. I can not tell you enough what an indispensable service you are providing to the people of Termina. If there is anything that I can do to assist you?"
Tier was certain this man was mistaking him for Link, but Tier was hardly one to turn down a propositioning young man. Using the grip from their handshake, Tier pulled Saffran into a tight embrace. "I'm sure if we put our heads together we could think of due compensation, but you must know that my heart will always belong to another. The name is Tier Inglez, a humble merchant and entrepreneur," Tier said as a way of introduction, rubbing Saffran's back the entire time. "You can call me Tier, if you like," Tier finished, blowing his last words into Saffran's ear.
Saffran broke loose from Tier's grip and jumped back as if bit by a snake. Princess Jylene tried to stifle a giggle by placing a hand over her mouth. "An interesting fellow you have met here, Lord Saffran."
Saffran resisted the urge of hiding behind his princess. This man, Tier, was unnerving. But, if his name was Tier, where was the man, Link, who would lead them to Termina. "Are either of you two men, Link?" Saffran asked the two men with Tier. He was beginning to worry that their departure would be delayed further.
The two men shook their heads and Tier laughed out loud. "Haha, them? Link? Hahaha, they're barely competent, but they're pretty enough." Tier ran a hand through his hair and told his men to secure a wagon and prepare for the journey to Termina. Saffran was surprised that Tier would say something like that in front of them. When they left Tier continued. "Link is on an entirely different level. Entirely different," he turned to look in the direction Link and Navi had gone and frowned. "What this?"
Antrice was just picking herself up off the floor, an indignant scowl on her face, when she heard the soldiers outside the door to the antechamber greet Princess Zelda and open the door. "Thank the Goddesses," Antrice said releasing a relieving breath. She then noticed Zelda's serious expression. Something was still very wrong. "Princess?"
"Antrice," Zelda said barely acknowledging her servant before entering her bedroom. Her father was certain to be true to his word and send the castle physician. She had precious little time.
Antrice, abandoning etiquette and protocol, followed Zelda into her room without asking for permission. Zelda, however, was so involved in her preparations that she either didn't notice or didn't care. Zelda threw two satchels, one small and one large, onto the bed before going to her wardrobe and dragging out a large locked wooden box. Taking a key from under her bed, Zelda used it to open the box, revealing a stash of cloths… very unlikely clothes.
Before Antrice could ask what was going on, Impa appeared behind her in the doorway.
"You plan on convincing Sir Ananias to stay in Hyrule on your own," Impa stated as a matter of fact, not even bothering to make it seem like a question.
"What?" Antrice interrupted confused. She looked quickly out the room's window. It was still overcast outside, but the midday bells could be heard tolling the hour. "Sir Faron Ananias has no doubt departed for Termina by now."
Zelda quickly stuffed the clothes in the larger bag. "Which is why… I do not have time to explain." She paused from her work long enough to meet Antrice's worried eyes with her own. "Please, Antrice, I need you to trust me right now."
"Uh," Antrice began, when Impa spoke again.
"I'll ready an appropriate mount. Meet me at the stables; I know how we can get past the gate unnoticed."
"Yes," Zelda replied. "Thank you."
"Like you wouldn't go even without my assistance," Impa retorted before exiting.
"Does the King know you are leaving the castle?" Antrice asked, knowing that something wasn't right.
"I would imagine that is the last thing he would allow at the present time," Zelda answered. "I expect the castle physician to come through that door any second to give me a sleeping aid."
Right now, Antrice thought that a wise course of action for the king to take. "Princess…"
"Just trust me. I do this for the sake of Hyrule," Zelda explained. She was now dressed in plain dirt brown pants and an equally drab shirt. Tying the small satchel around her waste against her left hip, and the larger on to her back, Zelda moved toward the window.
Not knowing whether to argue with her mistress or run and tell the king, Antrice hoped that Zelda's missing of a minor detail would end this madness. "How do you plan on leaving the castle and reaching the stables? Surely someone will see you and inform the King."
To that Zelda smiled and clasped her hands together momentarily blinding Antrice with a flash of light. When she could see again she caught glimpse of Zelda jumping out of her bedroom window. Screaming the princess's name, Antrice rushed over to the window, but saw no trace of the princess. 'At least she hadn't fallen to her death,' Antrice thought as her knees gave out and she slid against the wall down to the floor. The sounds of the guards rushing to answer her scream filled the room, but Antrice could not hear their entreaties. Her mind was elsewhere. 'That light must have played tricks on me,' Antrice thought, her hand shielding her eyes. 'I could have sworn the Princess's eyes became red.'
After convincing her husband earlier in the morning that she was fine and that it was okay for him to depart on his journey to Termina, Paige Rami found herself once again at the center market. She was hopeful that perhaps some incense would help her to sleep tonight. Despite the brave face she had given Gram, Paige dreaded sleeping alone tonight.
Paige had just left the apothecary's shop front, when she noticed a small ruckus approaching toward her. Ruckus probably wasn't the right word, but apparently someone had captured the attention of the men in the square.
Oh, how she hated coming into town and if anyone else had asked her she would have refused immediately and without question. Everyone always stared at her here! She didn't like the attention at all as it made her self conscious. She paused to look at her reflection in the bakery shop window. 'I don't see what so different about me. I look Hylian enough,' the young woman thought comparing her look to the women scowling at her inside the bakery. She was of average height, maybe a bit shorter than most. Her skin lacked the honey glazed of some, but was not that pale. 'Maybe it's my hair?' she wondered, patting the large green ponytails she wore on each side of her head. She wore her hair parted in the middle, and her bangs long to the point that they covered her eyes depending on how she canted her head. "It's not that different," she said comparing it to the flat easy to maintain style most of the peasant girls wore. The women continued to look at her with contemptuous eyes while most men couldn't look away. In addition to her physical allure, there was something mystical about her.
She turned from her reflection and pulled at the wide v neck of the vestment she wore. It looked like a small coat and barely reached her midriff. Normally, it would have been worn with some kind of light shirt underneath. But the young woman wore none, leaving her taut stomach clearly visible and just two buttons straining against her enormous bust. Pulling the cloth away from her hot skin, she fanned herself with her free hand, revealing a scandalous amount of cleavage. "It's so humid today! I can't wait to get back and take a nice bath," she complained, walking toward the apothecary's shop. "Let's see, she wanted me to get some dragon root," the young woman mentally recalled the list of items she was to retrieve. She was so focused in her thoughts that she almost bumped into Paige Rami.
"Oops, sorry!" the young woman apologized, dodging the unmoving Paige Rami at the last second. "Didn't see you there." She took a step closer to Paige, completely invading the older looking woman's personal space. She put one hand to Paige's cheek and kissed the corner of Paige's lips. "By way of an apology," the girl explained with a wink before entering the apothecary's shop.
The woman's flirtatious behavior towards another woman no less caused a small frenzy to break out in front of the store front. People pressed up against the shop's window to see the strange girl browse around the shop, the wizened apothecary speaking to her knowingly.
"Who is she? That woman with Paige Rami?" someone asked.
"Probably a harlot with that manner of dress."
A large number of the men present thought 'If only that is true.' Perhaps her fees were reasonable? More than a few began to rummage through their coin purses.
"I saw her once before," a shopkeeper spoke up. "It was a couple of summers ago. She came into my store looking for a wood carving knife. She has such a melodious voice. It was like listening to a song," he recalled bewitched.
Paige Rami barely listened to the crowds ramblings. That woman… She knew that woman. A hate filled Paige's heart. That day! That day… that woman was there. All those years ago!
"So what mischief are you up to today?" the apothecary asked, her eyes not fooled a bit by the woman appearance.
The woman did not turn to look at apothecary, but continued to sniff and touch whatever she could get her fingers on like a small child. "Mischief? Me? You must have me confused with another. I am the picture of propriety," the mystery girl insisted.
"Oh! And what was that just outside my shop?"
If the old woman was expecting the girl to blush, she was wrong. The girl cocked her hip and winked in the old woman's direction. "I was just saying hello to cute young girl. Are you jealous?" A curious child one moment, a seductress the next.
"I guess we're all young compared to one such as you. And ever the flirt, it must run in your kind's blood," the old woman theorized.
"You speak such nonsense, Keera. I am quite spoken for," she said with a bite of playful anger. "Now where do you keep the dragon root? My sweet mistress beckons."
The old woman nodded and headed into a back room. Just as she left the front door of the shop burst open. "You!" Paige shouted furious. "You killed my sister!" Paige grabbed whatever she could get her hands on and threw it in the woman's direction.
"What?" the green haired woman said startled. She put up her hands to defend against the onslaught of jars and pouches. "I haven't killed anybody, you loon!" Finally, she was forced to duck behind the counter.
The noise brought out the old woman, Keera from the back room. "What's going on out here!" Keera shouted. Her shop was a mess with broken bottles and split powders everywhere. She looked to see Paige Rami being restrained by some of the townsfolk and the green haired girl hiding behind the counter.
"Paige? What's going on?" Keera asked.
Paige just glared at the green haired woman. The rational part of Paige knew that people were unlikely to believe her reason for attacking that witch. It took all the control she had but she calmed herself down. Seeing on how they no longer had to restrain her, the men holding her loosened their grip.
Knowing Paige as she did and knowing the person Paige's glare was directed at, Keera guessed who was at fault. "Sira, what did you do to this woman?" Keera admonished.
With an incredulous look, Sira stood up from her hiding place. "Me! All I did was kiss her on the cheek. That's no cause to get homicidal," Sira argued, glaring back at Paige. Now that she really looked at the woman, Sira recognized Paige as the woman that had been found in the Lost Woods. 'Still doesn't explain why she's made at me,' Sira thought confused, though there was something else familiar about that woman.
"What's all this now?" the local constable asked, making his way through the crowd.
"She was saying something about her sister being murdered?" someone claimed pointing to Paige.
"I didn't know she had a sister."
"She had an older sister, but she died in a fire when they were both children."
"She's a witch!" Paige finally accused.
Sira was not used to being insulted. Being quite proud of her looks, she took particular offense at being called a witch. "Who's a witch!" Sira fumed jumping over the counter. Upon landing, something fell from her knee length pants and rolled along the floor toward the crowd. It was a bottle of perfume.
"Hey! That's from my shop!"
"Oops," Sira said innocently. Despite getting caught red handed, Sira didn't seem the least bit remorseful. "What! It's not as if I could pay for any of it. Money doesn't grow on trees you know," she said glibly and winked again at Keera.
"So you're a thief and a witch!" Paige pronounced.
"And how exactly am I a witch!"
"Paige hasn't been right since she got lost in the fairy wood the other day," a voice whispered to the constable. The man nodded and moved toward Sira.
"You may not be a witch, but you're definitely a thief. Come with me," he ordered, grabbing the woman by the arm and leading her toward the door. "I'm taking you before the magistrate."
"Enjoy manhandling me while you can, Big boy. I know it's the highlight of your life," Sira quipped, awarding her captor with a seductive if condescending look. 'I don't have time for this,' Sira thought. 'But I shouldn't do anything in such a public place. I'll have to wait until I have a little more privacy.' The corner of Sira's mouth turned up into a smirk. It was seen by both Keera and Paige.
"Don't do anything permanent to them, Sira! Behave yourself!" the apothecary, Keera, pleaded to the retreating group.
"What could a mere slip of a girl like me do?" Sira commented back.
Keera shook her head at the strange girl as she was led away, then she noticed Paige and began to worry. "Paige."
Paige ignored Keera and continued to watch Sira as she was led down the street.
"Paige!"
Paige turned to look at the apothecary, but only for a moment. When she felt a hand on her shoulder she finally tore her attention away from the witch, Sira.
"Paige," Keera began compassionately. "I don't know what your involvement with Sira is, but its best you forget about her."
"FORGET?" Paige turned on Keera angered, wrenching the woman's hand from her shoulder.
Keera didn't attempt to hold Paige back physically again. "Sira isn't a witch, Paige. She's more dangerous than that. She thinks you're cute so she been tolerant with you, but she has a limit. She and her sister aren't evil, but they don't have the same set of mores that we Hylians do."
"So she has a sister too," Paige thought aloud.
"I've already said too much about them and I am honored bound to say no more. Just let her be." With her piece said, Keera went about cleaning up her wrecked shop.
Paige paused considering Keera's advice, but in the end she couldn't heed it. She owed it to her sister. A few paces behind Sira and the constable, Paige followed with a dark expression. Everyone thought she was suffering from the curse of Kokiri forest, but Paige had never been more certain about anything in her life. That woman, Sira, had caused her sister's death.
Long ago...
Paige's eyes opened for the third time that night. She was too excited to sleep. She sat up in her bed and looked over to her big sister, Sarah. Tomorrow, Sarah would teach her how to play the flute! The combination of her excitement and the glass of water she had before bed, proved too much for five year old Paige.
Just as she emerged from the outhouse, little Paige noticed a strange glow in the air. She looked up to her bedroom window and saw someone sitting on the window ledge, looking into the room. Paige was momentarily frozen by the sight. It was a woman with two large ponytails and the dress she wore seemed to be the source of the glow in the night air. It had been hot that night so the windows and shutters were open and Paige became frightened when she saw the ethereal woman enter her bedroom.
"Sarah!" Paige shouted and ran back inside. As fast as she could she ran up the stairs and to her bedroom door. What she saw next both filled her with wonder and dread.
Her sister slept peacefully unaware of the woman hovering over top her bed. She didn't stir when the woman began to run her hand through her soft brown hair, humming the tune Sarah had played on her flute in the forest earlier in the day. Paige could clearly see the soft green glow that surrounded the woman and matched the color of her hair. Paige also noted that it was with unmistakable affection that the strange woman looked upon Sarah and caressed her face.
"W…who…who are you?" the child stuttered out both afraid and curious. At first the woman didn't answer, the whole of her attention on the sleeping Sarah. Paige got up the courage to ask a second time. Light violet eyes turned to look at Paige and the woman smiled warmly.
"My… you're a cute little girl," the woman said in a voice that nearly sang the words as much as spoke them. The woman's attention then returned to the sleeping Sarah. "Not as cute as your sister, but then, no one is." The woman floated closer down to Sarah to the point that she was just a breath away. "You don't belong here, little one," the woman said in a quiet voice to the still Sarah. "This world doesn't suit one such as you."
"Leave my sister alone!" Paige began to shout, but the woman ignored her. It was as if at that moment, Sarah was all the woman could see or hear. "I said, LEAVE SARAH ALONE!" But her child yells were for naught and when she saw the woman kiss Sarah's forehead, Paige ran out the room to fetch her father.
Their parents' room was just the next room down and it was strange that they hadn't awoken already. Little Paige threw the door to their room open and it slammed hard against the adjoining wall, but otherwise the room was deathly silent. "Papa?" Paige called out running toward where she knew her parents' bed to be. It was difficult to see with the moonlight barely passing through the window's curtains and as a result Paige tripped on a shoe and tumbled forward. She landed hard at the side of her parents' bed. "Papa!" she screamed, tears beginning to stream down her face.
Finally, a figure on the bed moved and a feminine voice called out to Paige. "Paige, Honey, what's the matter? Is it a bad dream?" her mother' sleep heavy voice asked.
Paige's tears changed from ones of fear to tears of relief at hearing her mother's voice."Sarah, you have to help Sarah!" Paige entreated.
"Sarah?" her mother asked, fully awake. "What's wrong with Sarah?"
Paige was about to tell her a strange woman was in her room when they both heard something fall to the floor and a door slam shut. Now it was Paige's mother who began to worry. "dear," she said, shaking her husband awake. "Dear something's wrong in Sarah's room!"
"What?" the father asked groggily.
"Something…" she began, but the unmistakable smell of smoke filling the air interrupted her.
Even in the haze of sleep, the father recognized the heavy smell and instantly awakened. He jumped out of bed and ran to his eldest daughter's room. As soon as he entered the hall, he could feel the heat in the air, hear the crackle and pop of the fire and see the smoke billowing from beneath the closed door.
At the sound of a gasp, the father turned to see his wife holding their youngest in her arms. Fear and horror was etched on her face. "Get out of the house and go next door. If we can get some help, it may not be too late to save the house. I'm going to get Sarah."
His wife nodded to him and moved past the girls' door. She paused when she reached the stairs and turned to see her husband attempt to open Sarah's door. Sarah's father abandoned all pretense of caution and rammed the door with his shoulder. On his second attempt, the wood yielded and he tumbled head long into the room. Immediately, he screamed and crawled back out covered in flames.
"Go!" Paige's mother ordered her. "Run outside." Seeing her youngest pause in fright, the mother continued angrily. "GET OUTSIDE!" She then ran to her husband and tried to help him pat out the flames that ate at his night clothes. The mother spared a glance into the room and choked back a sob. Sarah's bed was an inferno of flames and she wouldn't have been able to set a foot in the room do to the ferocity of the flames.
Outside, Paige Rami looked up to the room she had shared with her sister, as flames roared from the window. She continued to watch numbly as her mother emerged helping her father to safety, but there was no sign of Sarah.
A neighbor ran up to them, while others started to form a bucket line from the well. "Anyone left inside?" the neighbor asked.
"My little girl, Sarah…"
Before anyone else could decide to brave the flames to rescue the Sarah, the roof began to collapse and the fire spread unnaturally quickly after that leveling the rest of the house to the ground. The flames had burned so hot that even the cast iron stove in the kitchen began to warp and deform.
And her sister, Sarah was gone. The only thing they could find was the silver flute she had received as a birthday gift. Her body reduced to ash.
Paige recalled the horrible night as she followed Sira being taken to the magistrate building. It had taken quite a bit of talking, but Paige convinced the jailor to let her speak with the woman being held. Thankfully, the man had been a friend of Gram.
"Just five minutes, Paige. The magistrate will be here in about an hour, so keep it civil.'
"I just want to talk to her," Paige assured the jailor. The magistrate building was a two floor building, located in the center of town. It was built in such a way, that a majority of the first floor was underground. Only a thin line of windows, far too small for even a child to slip through, near the floor's ceiling provided any natural light to the rooms. The second floor housed a number of administrative offices, while the first floor was used mostly by the constable. In one of the corners of the bottom floor, was a reinforced room with only a small porthole for a window and a barred door. It was here that prisoners were kept before they were either taken before the magistrate or to a proper jail. In this room, Sira sat on a small wooden bench looking at the light coming through the small window and humming a familiar tune. On hearing footsteps, Sira turned toward the bars. "Come to keep me company?" Sira asked with a jovial smile. "If so, it will have to be another time, I was about to leave."
"What was the song you were humming?" Paige asked.
"Actually, it doesn't have a name and I don't do it justice. You should hear my love play it. " Sira explained, smiling at Paige before returning her attention to the sliver of light in the room. "I really should get back."
'Doesn't have a name? That's what Link said before…' Just looking at Sira filled Paige with anger, but despite the rage she was feeling inside, her outside demeanor was calm. "You said you were planning to leave? How exactly do you plan to do that?" Paige asked with a note of amusement. She pulled up a chair and continued. "The bars are locked and not even a child could fit through that window.'
"I am not a woman without means," Sira claimed confidently. "I was just about to leave when you showed up as a matter of fact."
"With your magic?" Paige asked plainly.
This surprised Sira. Did this woman suspect what she really was? "What makes you say that?" Sira asked, coming to stand before the bars. Paige was a good deal taller than Sira, but when the woman came to stand in front of Paige, a chill of fear ran down Paige's spine. Though usually warm and inviting, Sira's violet eyes could be quite cold.
Paige refused to be intimidated by this murderer. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Sira double blinked. 'Does she mean in the forest?'
Seeing how Sira wasn't about to answer, Paige continued. "Well, I remember you. You haven't aged at all in over twenty-five years."
Now, Sira was really puzzled. "Twenty-five years?"
Paige lunged forward and violently gripped the bars caging Sira. For her part, Sira did not react, instead she kept wondering what it was that this woman was angry about. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. I saw you in our bedroom. You started that fire! You killed Sarah!"
Paige watched with a note of satisfaction as Sira's eyes widened in recognition. "You're her sister!" Sira leaned in closer to see if she could spot a resemblance. "You've aged…"
"Yes, I have. That was a gift you wouldn't permit Sarah."
'Gift? Silly, silly girl.' Sira reached through the bars and patted Paige on the shoulder. "It's not your fault. We can't all be special. No need to become upset over it," Sira said in sympathy. She then let out an exaggerated breath. "I'm glad we got that out of the way. I would hate to have such a cute girl not like me," Sira teased, winking at Paige.
Anger battled with embarrassment, as Paige had never had a woman flirt with her before. "So, you think I killed your sister and burned down your home?" Sira asked looking out the small window again, an unreadable expression on her face.
"I know that you did!" Paige fumed. She picked up the stool she had been sitting on and hurled it at the bars, smashing it to pieces.
Sira turned to look at Paige, her violet eyes glowing dimly in the dark. "Yes, I did burn down your home," Sira admitted in a solemn voice. "I thought it poetic… the symbolism of it and it did serve a purpose." Her voice grew quiet. "And you should forget about Sarah, she no longer exists."
"I can't forget!"
The room began to darken further, despite it still being early evening outside. It was as if something was consuming the light in Sira's cell. "I can not begrudge you that. I could never forget her either."
Paige recognized the emotion in Sira's voice as she spoke of Sarah. It was love, just like that night all those years ago. Paige was again confused and as she became surrounded in darkness, frightened. Was she going to burn down this building too? Then a strange sound entered her ears. Sira was singing.
Her voice was soft and intoxicating and Paige couldn't help but relax upon hearing it. "What're…doing…to…me?" Paige asked, as her knees gave out and she slumped to the ground. 'Why am I so tired?' She struggled to keep her eyes open and see what Sira was doing in her cell. Paige thought she could still see Sira's violet eyes glowing in the dark, but there was only one light now… and it seemed green instead of violet. Stranger still, it rose into the darkness, higher and higher.
Paige could follow it no more as her eyes closed in sleep. Her last thought was where had she seen that ball of light before.
Link was now free of Gram and was weary of the woman. Though he couldn't place the feeling, there was something not quite right about her. Despite his feeling he didn't think that either of the two were much of a threat, so he left his sword in its sheath. "Everyone needs to calm down," Link began. "We're all friends here."
"Tell that to the Hylian," Narcissca spat, putting her knife away.
"Yeah, Link," Navi agreed, coming out from beneath Link's hat. "She was only trying to help you against that lunatic." The small fairy glared in Gram's direction.
In fact, Gram noticed a lot of looks in his direction. Not only were the Termina soldiers looking at him with something approaching contempt, but even his own men were looking at him as if he had gone mad. He realized that his outburst was damaging the still new diplomatic relations with Termina. The two sides new little of each other and his actions weren't going to make the Hylians look any better.
"What's wrong with you?" Sir Faron asked his colleague. "If you are not fit to make this journey, then say so now. The King will not look kindly on any of us if this mission fails before it even begins," the newly found Hero of Time said to his fellow knight.
"What is going on?" Saffran asked as well. "You three look as though you are about to gnaw out each others throats." Saffran looked accusingly at Narcissca. He knew that she had to be at the root of it all. "Would someone care to explain?"
Knowing that he was at fault, or at least that it looked that way, Gram stepped forward. "I apologize. Its just that I, the boy, Link, have some prior history."
Princess Jylene and Lord Saffran both wore equal expressions of shock and wonder. "Are you saying that this is the man… uh… boy, who is going to lead our return to Termina?" Saffran wondered aloud.
"Didn't you say that a page dressed in green was scene in Clocktowne?" Princess Jylene whispered to Saffran. "Could this be him? If so, he would be able to give us further information on the Hero of Time."
Saffran nodded and he and the princess began to approach Link when two riders approached from the direction of the castle. The Hylians instantly recognize one of the riders as Impa, the shiekah woman. The second was a mystery to most of them, but Narcissca, Navi and Link knew the sheikah "boy".
Link tried valiantly to keep from laughing, but failed miserably and his fairy soon joined him. For her part, Narcissca didn't know what was so funny about that girl being here though it was not unexpected. Still if Link thought her laughable, that was more than enough to bring a triumphant smile to Narcissca's face.
Impa and her charge rode up to the group and dismounted. "My name is Impa Sheizare and I am an advisor to the king and guardian of the princess. This is my nephew, Sheik. As I have some time off from my official duties we would like to be of some assistance. Both of us are quite good hunters and trackers and would like to accompany you on your journey."
"We will gladly accept all the aid we can," Saffran said in welcome. He waved to one of his men. "He will lead you to our lead scout," he began to say, before he remembered what is was they were discussing before the two shiekahs arrived. "Wait, before that." He turned to Link, who was still trying his best not to fall to the ground in a fit of laughter. Saffran frowned, was this really the person who would lead them to Termina. "You, there," he called in Link's direction. "Your name is Link?"
Too soon for him to speak, Link just nodded. Navi had slightly more control, although the miniature Shiek was funny to her too. She decided that she would have to speak for the both of them until Link could contain his mirth. "Ahem… Yes, this is Link and I am Navi. You'll have to forgive us. Its an inside joke," she explained.
Princess Jylene stepped forward with wide eyes. "Forgive my staring," she began. "But I've never seen a true live fairy, before."
"Does that mean you've seen fake dead ones before?" Navi quipped and Link lost all control and burst out in loud laughter. He was soon joined by Tingle and Narcissca, both of whom were just happy to see Link happy.
Saffran's frown deepened. Were they ridiculing the princess? This mission was too serious to rely on people who weren't capable of serious discourse. Jylene on the other hand was happy to be around people who weren't afraid to be themselves around her. "Haha, Noo," she drawled in mirth. "I have not met any fairies before, alive nor dead."
"Are you sure?" Navi asked seeming to hint at something.
The princess double blinked. "Well. Yes, I am quite certain as I would surely remember. We believe that when a young woman sees a fairy before her sixteenth birthday, she is guaranteed a long life of love and prosperity." She held out her hand and Navi not being shy took her cue to perch upon it. It was difficult to make out Navi's features with the strength of the glow surrounding her, but Jylene could see the fairy had the figure of a young woman and was quite slim and curvaceous. "What a good omen, for us! And for me especially, now I am assured a life long love."
"A fascinating lore," commented Tier. "Here in Hyrule, opinions on fairies vary greatly. Some believe that fairies are a sign of good luck as you do. Others see them as tricksters who put curses on people and are rumored to steal children and cause the death of livestock. And still others see them as little more than bugs. No offense intended Navi."
"None taken," Navi assured. "I know quite a few fairies who don't think to highly of Hylians either."
"And what do you think of fairies, Link?" Narcissca asked.
Link looked at the woman who was staring at him intently for a moment before answering. "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for Navi or Tael or the Great Fairies," Link said with a shrug of his shoulders. "They've always been a big help to me, so I guess I like them well enough."
"Just like?" Narcissca asked with a cryptic smile.
Link was confused. What was she asking? He wasn't given time to answer as a ball of red flew in front of his face. "Didn't I say not to mention HER in front of me?" Navi warned angrily. "You have no tact!"
"Great Fairy?" Tier asked. The lores of Hyrule had always fascinated him and although he had heard of the Great Fairies, he didn't know of anyone who had actually met one. Though, now that he thought about it, if anyone was special enough to know a Great Fairy it was Link. 'If only I could meet one of them, perhaps my dream could come true! Ah! To be a fairy.'
"As fascinating as this conversation," Saffran began, growing impatient. He moved to stand in front of Link and placed his hands on the young boy's shoulders. "Can you do it? Can you lead us to Termina?" His voice almost sounded as if he were pleading. Waiting for his answer, Saffran looked into Link's eyes trying to gauge if what he was about to hear is the truth. And if he was shocked by the idea of a ten year old boy as the lead scout for the expedition, he was terrified by the boy's emotionless aged eyes. Not that his eyes looked physically old… the aura, if eyes could have aura's of their own, just seemed ancient and powerful. 'Who is this boy?'
Link simply nodded to the man's question. He had always been able to do what he set out to do and saw no reason why this time would be different. "Let me know when you would like to begin," Link replied. He wasn't comfortable in this crowd of people and decided to head for more solitary surroundings. "I'll be at the head of the column." He clarified by pointing to the far end of the field near the gates of Lon Lon Ranch. The wagons and horses which had already begun to get into march order reached a length a quarter mile. This was promising to be a difficult journey. Bowing to Princess Jylene and nodding to the others present, Link put his hand on Epona's mane and led her away.
Passing Impa, he began to approach her in greeting, but as he remembered that they had "never met" he frowned, but that didn't last long as he paused in front of Impa's "nephew". Sheik maintained an outside appearance of stoicism, but on the inside, the masculine dressed girl was quite puzzled. Her appearance, a combination of sheikah magic she had learned from Impa and practical male clothing, should be perfect enough to fool her own father, but as she looked into the piercing blue eyes of the boy in front of her, she knew he could see right through her. What's more, this was the boy she had seen in her dream and again at the gathering of knights. The boy she had handed over her precious ocarina to without understanding the reason why she should. Just looking at him she felt a connection that was both deep and profound and yet she couldn't define it or describe it. She opened her mouth to ask if they had met before, but realized that was a poor question… of course they had, she had given him the ocarina. She was trying to think of another way to phrase the questions in her head, but her train of thought derailed completely when he stepped closer, his cute… where did that come from… mouth upturned in a knowing smirk.
"Fool me once, shame on you… Fool me twice," he left the rest to her imagination and continued on his way. Navi also stopped in front of the disguised princess and wagged her finger disapprovingly. She soon caught up to her friend and the two disappeared into the crowd. Sheik looked up to "his" aunt, who shrugged in response to the "boy's" questioning looked.
Deciding there would be more than enough time to learn about the boy on their journey, Sheik decide to see to his and Impa's horses. "Where can we find feed and water for our mounts?" he asked in a decidedly masculine voice.
"We've contracted with the local ranch for additional horses and necessary supplies," Saffran advised. "Near the rear of the wagon trains, you'll find a wagon with a red cover. There, speak to Malon and she'll help you water your mounts."
Narcissca frowned darkly at the retreating form of Sheik and Impa. She didn't like this event at all, though she hadn't expected the Princess of Destiny not to play a role in this little drama. Both, the princess of Termina and the princess of Hyrule were going to be disappointed. No longer would Narcissca allow her hopes to be a slave to time or those three witches. Whether or not Termina would be destroyed in the coming weeks didn't concern Narcissca in the least, but the Hero of Time would not belong to that silly kingdom. Nor would the Hero of Time ever see Hyrule again… that the woman falsely bearing the name of Narcissca, vowed.
Author's Notes:
Things should be a little clearer now and there will be more action in the next chapter as the long journey to Termina begins. Hopefully, there will be something left of Termina when they get there.
I would like to thank everyone who has put up with the long wait between chapters. I can promise to do better, but doubt it would mean much. Since I write sections separately and then piece them together, there could be areas that are disjointed. I would appreciate the pointing out of any grammatical errors or parts that just don't make sense.
Next Chapter: "First move"
