This came out a few days later than I'd hoped, but it is longer – so there! 8D Enjoy.
Oh, and thank you all for reviewing! Screen: Skyward Sword is turning out to be awesome, but Twilight Princess was a fantastic game! I sadly haven't played Minish Cap. Such decisions, haha!
Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda
CH. 7
Link stood with his back to the door, despite the fact that it had shut several minutes ago. His mind was reeling and wrestling, and he wanted to just take a moment to sort out his thoughts before doing anything else.
First off, he was alone. The other generals had left, which meant he was now a resident in Mordecai's castle.
Second, he wasn't sure he liked this. He missed Acroff and Ganondorf. And something about Mordecai was off. It bothered him that he'd been told Mordecai's entire story, yet he felt like he knew nothing about him at all.
Third, he really didn't know what he was supposed to be doing in Mordecai's castle. But the man had showed him his room and assured him he would be directed to his activities.
Which led to the fourth thing that was on Link's mind: his new room. He'd never seen a room so huge. A four-poster bed sat in the middle of one wall, a canopy over the top and curtains piled at each bed post – so Link could pull them around the bed if he wanted. Two windows were on either side of the large bed, showing a view from the front of the castle two stories up. To the right of the bed a curved desk had a small chair at it, and an oak dresser was there for him to put any belongings. Which he did not have. To the left of the bed was a seating area with a sofa and two chairs, a low table between them. A wardrobe was against the wall and a door was beside it. The area smelled clean and fresh, the color scheme dark, earthy tones.
Link let out his breath in a long a heavy sigh. Surprised? Yes. Impressed? Most definitely. But he really wasn't sure why Mordecai had decided to give him such a large and lavish room. It made him feel like someone special, at least to Mordecai. But since Link didn't know why the Master wanted him here in the first place, he couldn't help but also feel like some sort of pet.
He at last left his spot and went over to the door beside the wardrobe. Through that he found a big bathing room, complete with a white tub, towels, a marble vanity, and a mirror.
Knocking brought his attention back to his room and he jogged to the door. He opened it to see a woman, pudgy but with a slight prettiness, with light brown hair tied back and green eyes. She wore a simple maid's dress, and she was carrying a tray with some fruit on it.
"Link?" she asked.
He frowned, nodding. "Yes?"
She smiled warmly. "My name is Nenya. The Master asked me to be your personal servant and take care of you. I brought you something to eat; you must be hungry after your journey."
Link was taken aback. Mordecai wanted him to have a personal servant? "Um . . . thank you."
She pushed gently passed him and sat the tray on the desk. "Are the clothes to your liking?"
"Clothes?"
She pointed to the wardrobe. "The Master ordered clothes to be made for your use. I brought them up this morning."
Link's brow furrowed even as his eyes popped wide. He went over to the wardrobe and opened it up, finding it full of clothes of all types. Shirts, pants, tunics, and even boots and gloves sat along the bottom. "Wow, um . . . Wow. Thanks."
"Lunch will be ready in a few hours, and I'll come get you for it," Nenya told him. She stood at the bed, her hands clasped before her. "Is there anything you need, Link?"
He turned around, closing the wardrobe. "Oh . . . no. Thank you. I'm good."
She tilted her head to the side. "Is everything all right?"
After a pause he admitted, "I'm just not used to this."
"Well, the Master seems quite taken with you. He had all of this prepared and wants to have lunch alone with you. And I'm to take you to your tutor, if you're ready."
"My what?" Link asked, perplexed.
"The Master has assigned you a tutor. You're going to receive a fine education! You're very lucky, not many do."
The Hylian shook his head emphatically, taking a step back. The rain was coming down hard, pattering off the windows. "Oh, no, I don't think I want to do that."
She laughed. "Don't be silly."
"No, Nenya . . . I haven't been to school in years."
She softened, giving him a sympathetic smile. "It's okay, Link. Your tutor will take care of you. Now come on. This is what the Master wants."
Link sighed. He really didn't want to rebel against Mordecai within the first hour of moving into the castle, so he relented and followed Nenya into the hall. She led him down a flight of stairs and past a few turns until she stopped at a thick door that was partially open. She knocked and called, "Hassin! I have Link."
"Let him in," came the reply.
Nenya turned to him. "Your lessons should last for two hours-"
"Two-"
"-would you like me to come by and escort you back to your room?"
Link closed his jaw that had fallen open, shaking his head. "No. I know the way back. Thanks."
She smiled and did a quick courtesy. "Have a good lesson, Link."
He watched her go, then went into the room. It was small and square, with a simple table in the center, a chair on each side. Some books and paper was piled on it. In one of the chairs sat a middle aged man, thin and lanky, with glasses, short blonde hair, and brown eyes. He smiled. "Hello, Link. My name is Hassin, and I've been assigned to be your instructor."
Link sat down heavily in the chair, meeting the man's gaze. "Hassin, listen. I haven't been to school in years. I doubt I'm at the education level you're used to teaching. And, frankly, I don't think I can sit here for two hours. I won't be able to pay attention."
Hassin laughed, full and heartfelt. "Well, it appears I have an honest student! How about I make you a deal, Link? We'll work on your lessons for as long as you can stand it, and then we can talk the rest of the time. You can tell me about yourself."
The Hylian considered the proposition for a moment. Then his eyes flicked back to the man. "Seems reasonable. But how about letting me out early?"
Suddenly all humor was gone from Hassin as he replied quickly. "I can't let you out early, no."
"Why not?"
Hassin leaned forward, looking at him hard. "Because the Master ordered me to teach you for two hours. I can't go against his command."
Link blinked in surprise. Yet another person who was intimidated by Mordecai. None of the generals would challenge him. The people in the Realm of Eternal Darkness had been downright terrified of him. And now Hassin. Was it just because of the Sword of Spirits? Or was there something else about Mordecai that frightened them?
Another thought nagged at Link, though. One he wanted to voice. "But you won't be teaching me for the whole two hours. Isn't that going against him?"
"Not necessarily," Hassin gave a more relaxed smile. "It's important for teachers to know their students. That way I know how to instruct you best."
Link nodded thoughtfully, then gave a sigh and gestured at the air. "Very well. Let's get this over with."
LoZ
Link hurried and scribbled down his answers, his eyes narrowed, mouth tight, and hair hanging down to frame his face as he worked.
"And . . . time!" Hassin declared.
Link dropped the pencil he'd been holding, slumping back in his chair with a sigh. He still had had three more to do. "Closer! I was closer!"
The teacher chuckled. "Indeed you were. Only three left this time. That's better than the twenty the first time."
Crossing his arms, Link huffed, "Excuse me, I'm not used to this stuff."
A smile spread across the man's face. "I know. And you impress me greatly, Link. You've picked this math up quickly. I can tell you're going to be a good student."
Link found himself smiling in return, warmth spreading through his chest. He'd always been told he was a hard worker and fast learner, but to hear it apply to something as important as education made him happy. It made him feel like he could do something worthwhile.
"So," Hassin leaned back, closing the book with a soft thump. "Let's take a break, shall we? Tell me about yourself, Link. Where do you come from?"
The Hylian shrugged one shoulder. "I was born here in Castle Town. I was raised here. In the last few years I've been bouncing around Hyrule, visiting different places."
"Oh? What made your family want to move around?"
Link grew quiet a moment, then muttered, "My parents died, so I moved around."
"I'm very sorry to hear that, Link."
"It's fine."
Hassin studied him a moment, eyes questioning behind his glasses, before he smiled and asked, "So what brings you to the castle?"
The boy looked up at him. "You mean why am I living with Mordecai?"
"Who's Mordecai?"
"The Master."
Hassin frowned, eyes darting from side-to-side as if afraid they were being watched. "Link . . . I wouldn't call the Master by his real name if I were you. He's made it clear he only goes by his title."
"That's ridiculous!" Link gasped. "It's-It's . . . demeaning! It's like he's superior to everyone else."
"He is. He's in charge now. We lost. We can either fight against him or submit to him. And since I certainly wouldn't suggest fighting against him, the only thing left to do is give in."
The Hylian thought about this for a moment, guilt prying at him because he knew that he was the reason they 'lost' in the first place. But it would be better now. Mordecai had had a peaceful rule, according to Sephora. And Link couldn't deny that that was the way things seemed now. One day of fighting, and suddenly all of Hyrule was under Mordecai's control! He had never seen something so effective. The Master certainly wasn't one to waste time.
"I guess so," Link stated, not wanting to tell about his involvement with the generals. He didn't want Hassin to see him as a traitor. After another paused he continued, "I'm not sure why I'm here. I think I'm going to be trained as a warrior. I think Mord-the Master sees . . . potential in me." Link didn't want to talk about being the so-called Hero yet, either. Well, he guessed it was obvious he was this Hero. He was the only one who could pull the Master Sword. He wasn't very familiar with the prophecy, but didn't it say that the Hero and Princess of Destiny were to defeat evil together? He wasn't with Zelda, and he supposed she was the princess in question. And he had no idea what this evil was. He didn't really think that releasing Mordecai to bring peace to Hyrule counted as he himself stopping evil. Maybe something would come up in the future?
"Link?" Hassin asked, drawing him from his thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, sorry. So, what about you? Are you from Hyrule? What made you want to work here?"
"I grew up in rural Hyrule," the teacher answered, seeming pleasantly surprised by Link's interest. "Once I was old enough I moved to Castle Town to pursue a career as a teacher. There's more opportunity here than where I came from. I set up my own school and have been at it for a long time now. Unfortunately, the attack on our castle a month ago scared a lot of people, and I haven't had many children coming lately. But I got a letter from the Master just two days ago, wanting me to come move into the castle and teach you." Here he smiled broadly.
Link was shocked, his eyebrows rising. "Really?"
"Yes. So, you must be something special to the Master."
The Hylian considered this for a moment. Mordecai was investing so much in him. Question was, why was he so interested? Was it because he was the Hero? Link made a note to ask Mordecai about it during lunch.
The rest of his time with Hassin was spent talking idly about places they'd visited in Hyrule and what else Link would be taught. By the time the two hours were up, the boy decided he really liked his teacher, and would look forward to seeing him tomorrow. Bidding him good-bye, Link left the room and headed out into the hall.
He paused for a moment, looking up and down the length of the hall. It was dimly lit, the walls stone and floor carpet. He remembered the way back to his room, but he felt the urge in him to have a look around. He'd never been in the castle before. When was it Nenya had said lunch would be ready? In a few hours? He wondered if she'd literally meant a few, or was just saying an approximate amount. Either way, he wanted a look around. He would just be quick about it.
Link started walking, looking around for anything interesting. He didn't think he'd get in trouble. After all, if this was to be his home now Mordecai would want him to get familiar with the place. But he didn't want to be late for lunch. Something told him that the Master took promptness seriously.
He hummed to himself as he found a staircase and headed up. The rail along it was intricately carved with swirling patterns. Windows were set at intervals, allowing a view of rainy Hyrule. He guessed that, if the sunshine was pouring in, the castle would be beautiful. He could almost imagine this stairway bathed in golden sunshine, with the smell of lavender and burning torches. He could picture women in elaborate dresses, knights in shining armor, and smiling maids carrying food up and down the stairs.
But now, the stairwell was dark. It certainly smelled clean, but not of anything in particular. And the castle was strangely silent and had an empty-feeling. Link knew there were people in here, but it felt like he was alone.
Ascending to the third story, he was faced with a hallway of doors. He couldn't resist and looked in a few, finding a maid's closet, an empty guestroom, another room that looked lived in, and more doors that were locked.
Reaching the end of the quiet hall, Link turned left and paused. The passage was completely empty except for a single door at the very end. There was a flower vase that set near the door, painted up in blues and pinks. But no flowers were in it.
Link tilted his head to the side. Was this, perhaps, Zelda's room?
Suddenly self-conscious, he looked around. But he was still alone. As he stared back at the door, he felt the urge to look rise up strongly inside him. He didn't have very many memories of the princess. Just her candidly talking to him at Lon Lon Ranch, then breaking into the house at night with Talisman and dropping him off at the Temple of Time, smiling at his awe. Then that brief encounter in the woods when she'd yelled at him, tackled him, and stole the Master Sword.
He sighed, shoulders drooping. He'd disappointed her. He wished he'd had the chance to explain everything to her. He knew he didn't owe her anything, but before that night in the woods she'd been so friendly to him. So sweet.
He shook the thoughts from his head. No use in dwelling on that now. His curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he was going to look inside her room.
Glancing around once again to make sure he was alone, he jogged up to the room and tried the handle. Locked. Of course. Mordecai had probably combed through the entire castle and had gotten things just the way he wanted. Link didn't see any logic in locking the room of a runaway princess who had stolen the Master Sword, but then maybe that was the point. He wanted the memory of her sealed away from this place. He was the new ruler, after all.
Link had once worked in an inn for a few months in a bustling town called Kakariko. Due to all the people that came in and out, the inn keepers kept many doors locked to prevent goods from being stolen. With only one key among the employees, Link had learned to pick locks so that, if he needed a certain item, he wouldn't have to hunt down the person who was currently holding the key. The inn keepers thought that was hilarious.
Kneeling beside the door, Link twisted the handle a certain way and pulled off his belt. Using the metal buckle, he simultaneously pushed on the door and pushed the buckle into the space on the threshold. He felt the lock give way with a click and the door opened.
It was certainly Zelda's room, no question about that. In size it was even bigger than his. The color scheme was blue, white, and pink, matching her bed, curtains, rugs, and furniture. Along one wall ran a bookshelf full of heavy books. Everything was neat and tidy, making Link wonder if Mordecai had had Zelda's room cleaned up.
The boy took a step inside, glancing around. He felt a pang of sympathy for the princess. She left all this behind. There were some photos on her walls of her father the King, of that white-haired Sheikah woman, and of Zelda herself, smiling radiantly. Link found himself smiling back. She really was quite pretty.
"Link."
The Hylian jumped, spinning around to see Mordecai standing in the doorway.
A hand flew to his chest to still his pounding heart. "Mordecai! You-you startled me."
Like the last time he'd called him by his real name, the man seemed more amused than offended. "You are late for lunch. Nenya is in an uproar looking for you."
"Oh, sorry," Link responded. "I lost track of the time." A frown creased his features. "What are you doing here?"
Mordecai chuckled, dark eyes surveying the Hylian. "Looking for you, of course. Nenya told me you weren't in your lessons or at your room, so I assumed you were having a look around the castle. It's quite something, isn't it? A lovely place. I figured you would try to find Zelda's room, given she took your Master Sword from you." His expression darkened, the 'M' scarred into the side of his handsome face drawing in. "I had it locked for a reason. That is very rude of you to break in."
Link crossed his arms, not liking being talked down to. "Why is it locked?"
"Zelda is a relic of the old Hyrule. It's best that the people of this kingdom, and those in the castle, forget about her. I almost had everything in the room taken out, but I reconsidered. You never know when it could come in handy." He took a step forward and placed a slender hand on Link's shoulder. "Now come. The food is getting cold."
LoZ
Link didn't see the wisdom in two people eating in the full dining hall. Yet, that had been what Mordecai led him to, with their plates sitting out and full of food. It was a long, rectangular room that was lined with marble pillars, arched windows, and banners depicting the goddesses and the Triforce. The table was shiny cherry wood, the high-backed chairs having padded seats. As Link took his seat, he stared down at his food. He wasn't even sure what it was. All he knew was that it was some kind of meat with some kind of sauce, and had condiments piled around it.
Mordecai was sitting at the head of the table and Link was on the closest seat beside him. The man regarded him a moment with a small smile. "Is this finer dining than you've experienced?" Due to the immensity of the hall, his voice slightly echoed.
"Yes," Link replied slowly, unsure if he was receiving an insult.
"I'm sure you'll grow accustomed to it. I have a great appreciation for the arts, and I see food as an art form." He took a drink. "I've employed the finest chef Hyrule has to offer."
"It does look good," Link responded in a neutral tone. He wasn't really sure what it looked like, but he had the feeling a request for something simple would be met with anger. He tasted the food and found it different but not unpleasant. Perhaps it was an acquired taste.
"So, Link," Mordecai began as they ate, "I'm sure you have many questions. Please, ask some."
Link turned the request over in his head. Did he have many questions? He had so many he wasn't even sure what to ask. He swallowed his food before going with the one that was on the forefront of his mind, "Why am I here?"
The Master smiled. "You're here because I see great potential in you. I want to see that flourish. And it never would have if I'd left you alone. I know you are alone, Link. I can see it plainly on your face."
Link was slightly creeped out and slightly offended, but he shoved off that last statement. "Does this having anything to do with me being this Hero?"
Black eyes narrowed as they studied the Hylian. "You're very perceptive, Link. I suppose you being the Hero is what got us introduced, wasn't it? So, in a way, yes."
The boy didn't think that entirely answered his question, but he didn't feel like pressing. He had more inquiries. "I heard that Sephora told you about the generals while you were in the Realm of Eternal Darkness. How is that possible?'
Mordecai chuckled. "That's a very advanced question. You impress me. Sephora knows a bit of magic. Not enough to be considered a sorceress, but she learned how to use the connection her soul had in my Sword of Spirits to talk to me. The spell took her a long time to learn."
Link nodded, digesting this. "Alright . . . I know about Talisman betraying you and that he's the one who scarred that 'M' into your face. Does that stand for Master or Mordecai?"
"Both, perhaps."
"And Sephora told me that Talisman was interested in your wife and your power, so that's why he betrayed you. Is that true?"
Mordecai's jaw tightened. Link could tell the question hit a nerve. "That's a rather adult topic, young Link. But yes, it's true. Do you understand what it is you are asking?"
The Hylian frowned. "Um . . . that Talisman wanted to steal your wife and your throne?"
Black eyes crinkled in amusement. "Yes, that is basically it."
A thought occurred to Link. "So . . . where is your wife now?"
The dark expression that fell over Mordecai's face told him he'd said something wrong. For a moment the only sound was the rain against the windows. Link froze with food halfway to his mouth, meeting the Master's dark gaze.
At last, like a statue coming back to life, Mordecai resumed eating and stated, "She's gone now. Any other questions?"
The last sentence was snapped out, and Link had the feeling that the next question should be something casual.
But there's still so much I want to know! He thought. What does he plan to do with Zelda when he finds her? What does he plan to do with Hyrule? How did Talisman outsmart him?
Another thing Link wondered was that why, in the Realm of Eternal Darkness, the people were afraid of Mordecai. After all, if they were sealed there for eternity, what could he possibly hold over them to get them to fear and obey him?
But Link let these go for now. He sighed and asked, "What would you like me to be doing from here on out?"
Mordecai's mood seemed to lighten. "Work hard on your studies. Train hard to become a warrior. I'll make a fine man of you yet."
That made Link feel like an object. And he didn't like it at all.
LoZ
Link had only been in his room a few hours before a knock came again. In that time, he'd thoroughly explored every aspect of his room, looked through the clothes in the wardrobe, and thought about everything Mordecai had said. The man was an odd one, that was for sure.
"Link, it's Nenya," came a voice from the other side.
"Come in," Link called, getting up from where he'd been seated on the bed.
The door opened and the maid came in, giving him a warm smile. "How did your lessons go? And where were you? I thought I was going to have a heart attack."
"Sorry," Link replied with a half-grin, feeling bad for upsetting the woman. "My lessons were great. I just wanted to explore afterwards."
She shook her head, chuckling. "You young ones always have such a fire in you. Now, you have warrior training to go to. Logon is waiting for you."
Link's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Great! I'll get my sword."
Excitement burst through him as he picked his sword up from the bed and strapped it onto his back. Ganondorf had let him keep his practice sword and given him a scabbard for it. Link knew he'd grow out of it in a few years' time, but he liked having the same weapon for now.
"Come, I'll lead you out," she told him.
They headed down the hall together, and Link noticed that it was still raining, but it was lighter now. He didn't like the idea of having to practice in the rain, but he supposed it was better than the excruciating heat of the desert. After a month of living there, he'd still never gotten used to it.
Link recalled what Hassin had told him, about losing his school because of the shift in power to Mordecai. He wondered what Nenya had gone through. So after a moment, he asked.
"Oh," she said, considering it for a length. "Well, I used to live in Termina, it's quite far away. Over to the east. I was a maid in the castle for years, but I was let go because they had too many workers and not enough money. I heard Hyrule just recently changed rule, and I thought new positions would be open in the castle because of that. So I traveled here. I was told they needed maids. A lot . . ." here she paused, dropping her voice to a whisper, "a lot of the servants in the castle were killed during the attack. At least, that's what I've been told."
It pained Link to hear that. Why had people tried to resist so much? Or was it Rolox's fault? The boy could only imagine Rolox tearing through the hallways and killing everyone in sight. Still, he found it odd she'd agreed to work here after hearing that. "But you still decided to work here?"
She sighed. "Political strife happens all the time. I'm broke, and I'm unmarried. I have to look out for myself." She smiled. "But now I have a job and I get to look after you! And now, so does Logon." They stopped at a door, and she opened it to show a rainy courtyard. "Out you go. He's in the building."
Link thanked her and stepped out, the rain hitting him. He eyed the wooden building and began running to it, his boots squishing in the mud and sword bouncing against his back.
The courtyard was large and perfectly square, the castle walls rising up on every side. It was a flat expanse of grass only interrupted by a long, wooden building nestled into a corner. It had a small, covered porch along the outside, and two windows showed light inside.
Link's footsteps turned into thuds as he bounded up the stairs and to the door. By then he was thoroughly wet, his clothes heavy and hair sticking together. He knocked, glancing about the area.
The door opened to reveal an older man with graying black hair. He had warm brown eyes and was wearing the light leather of a soldier for practice. He had a stubble of a beard and some light scars across his jaw. He was thick and muscular, but not overly so. He gave the boy a sideways smile, appraising him. "You must be my new student."
Look couldn't help but smile in return. The man had an instant friendliness about him. "Yes, I'm Link."
"I'm Logon." He motioned with his head. "Why don't you come inside and we can get started."
Link entered as Logon closed the door behind him. He realized this building was there to keep training supplies. Weapons were hung all over the walls, their metal glinting in the lantern light. Some sparse furniture was about, along with a cabinet that currently held light snacks and cups of water. Some armor, belts, gloves, and helmets sat about.
"I've been assigned to train you to be a knight," Logon said, stepping into the room. "I've also been a trainer for the Hylian army since I retired as a soldier. And now, it seems, the Master wants me to exclusively train you. Especially since it doesn't look like we'll have new volunteers for the army anytime soon." He said the last sentence with a hint of bitterness, and Link realized what he was saying. That no one wanted to join the army with Mordecai now in charge.
"Did you fight back when he took over?" the Hylian asked, curious.
Logon shot him a surprised look. "Careful, Link. You don't want to be marked as a traitor. But yes, I did. And we lost. So now I get the pleasure of serving a conqueror." He sighed, shaking his head. "Sorry, pay me no mind." He smiled.
Link took what he said to heart, though. He took what everything Hassin, Nenya, and Logon said to heart. Their statements were painting him a picture of Mordecai. It was too soon to see if it was picture he would like or not, but Link was determined to be patient. He didn't want to pre-judge Mordecai, for either good or bad.
"Now, I see you have a sword, that's good," the retired soldier nodded. "Looks Gerudo. How about we head into the courtyard and I'll see how far along you are?"
Link frowned, glancing out at the window. "We'll practice in the rain?"
"Battle doesn't wait on the weather. This will be good experience."
As Logon made for the door and Link followed him, the boy let out his breath knowingly. "I guess so. I've certainly had experience fighting in extreme heat."
The older man chuckled. "That's the spirit."
They stepped off the porch and onto the wet grass, being pelted with rain again, and its scent lingered in the air. Link followed Logon until he stopped in the center of the space. They faced each other, and Link waited. Ganondorf would snap at him when he pulled his sword out too early, saying, "What, you think you know what I'm doing? You do not, so put it back." They boy grinned at the memory. He certainly missed the Gerudo.
Logon pulled out his sword from a scabbard on his hip. "Draw your weapon."
Link did so, bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet. He felt adrenaline begin to course through him. Oh, was he ready for this! He loved this.
"We're going to spar," Logon explained. "Just defend and attack as best you can. I won't hurt you. I just need to gauge where we should start your training."
"Okay," Link responded, tightening his grip on the hilt.
There was a drawn out pause before Logon ran forward, swinging a horizontal arc. Link spun his blade in his hands and blocked. There was a loud metallic clang and he was sent staggering from the force, but he kept his feet. Logon's sword swung from the other side and Link ducked low, letting it whiz overhead. He then darted toward the man and thrust.
Logon side-stepped easily, kicking out. Link took two quick steps back, splashing up water and mud. The retired soldier swung his blade vertically down. The boy pulled out of the way and then planted his own sword over Logon's, wanting to prevent him from pulling it up and get time to devise an attack.
But the man simply grunted and pushed passed Link's sword, sending the boy stumbling back with a cry.
"Don't try to win with strength," Logon stated. "I'm stronger than you."
Link growled and swung hard and fast. The man blocked, shoving Link's attack back. The rain continued to pour down as they fought, blades loud in the quiet of the courtyard. Their clothes were wet and heavy, and Link could feel drops of rain running under the collar of his shirt and down his torso. Water flung off of him with every determined attack, but still he couldn't gain the upper hand. This didn't surprise him, in all honestly. He was still too inexperienced. But he had a drive to do better, to improve, and it left him frustrated when he was so easily thwarted.
Logon faked at his side and then brought his blade down toward his head. Link threw up his guard hastily, stopping the sword just above him. But rather than disengage, Logon kept pushing down, trying to break his guard. Link gritted his teeth and struggled to push back. His arms shook with the effort. The man kept pushing and Link let out a strangled groan as he was forced to his knees, the rain soaking through his pants. Confused, Link glanced once at the man's brown eyes, seeing Logon studying him.
Then the boy realized why his trainer was doing this to him. He wanted to see how he would get out when facing a stronger opponent. Link held his guard a little longer, preparing himself. Then he dropped and rolled to the side in a single lightning-fast move, getting wet and muddy but feeling satisfied as he heard Logon's blade chop harmlessly to the grass.
Link jumped back to his feet, hair sticking out in different directions, ready to defend himself. But the older man held up a hand. "Stop."
The Hylian sighed, panting but happy. He always enjoyed sparring. He sheathed his sword with a metallic hiss, waiting expectantly.
Logon beamed. "I'm very impressed, Link. You'll make a fine soldier. How many years have you been learning?"
Pausing, confused, the boy answered, "I've only been taught for a month."
Logon looked like he'd been slapped, his eyes popping wide and head jerking. "A month? You've never learned to wield a sword until a month ago?"
He shook his head.
The retired soldier raked his fingers through his graying black hair. "Wow, Link. You're very talented. You're a natural. I can't wait to see how you progress."
A bright grin spread across his face. "Thank you."
Logon gestured to the castle. "We're done for today. By tomorrow I'll have a schedule for your training. Go get cleaned up and have a good rest of the day."
LoZ
Link stared up at the ceiling of his room, lying in the middle of his large bed. It was so warm and soft, he felt he was practically floating in it. The mattress conformed to his small shape, the pillows firm and comfortable. Save for silvery light coming through the curtains, his room was dark.
The rest of the day hadn't been very eventful. He'd returned to his room to find a bath prepared for him, something he was certainly not used to. But the water had been warm and it felt nice to clean all the mud off of him. He'd changed into some clean clothes and Nenya had come by to pick up his dirty ones to run to the wash. All in all, Link was very uncomfortable about having a personal servant, but it did have a certain niceness about it. To have someone take care of you. Like a mother would.
He swallowed his suddenly tight throat. No, why? I'd been doing so good . . . He pushed the hurt down, banishing the memories it brought up. One thing good about all the craziness with Mordecai was that it kept his thoughts from returning to his parents. He briefly wondered what they would say if they saw him now. Would they be proud of him? Or would they be disappointed?
Link found himself often wondering what he should feel. Ever since he'd first agreed to help Sephora, he'd been having doubts. And they were growing more persistent.
He knew there was nothing to be done now. Mordecai was out, he was in control of Hyrule, and that was that. Still, he didn't like the feeling. He wanted to be sure everything was okay. That he'd made the right decision.
Which brought him to his plan for that night.
He was going to return to Zelda's room and have a look around. He didn't have a particular reason. He was partly curious, partly put-off that Mordecai had forced him to leave, and partly drawn to the room. He felt like there was something there for him to see. Something he needed to know. And, hopefully, something that would settle his mind.
He waited for an hour to pass, arms hooked behind his head. When he was satisfied that most of the castle was in bed, he sat up and pulled the covers off. He swung his legs over the side and stood up. He was wearing night clothes provided to him. A pair of loose, dark green pants and a white shirt with a collar that was slit to the middle of his chest. It was supposed to be laced up, but he found that uncomfortable. He ignored the mild chill that crept across his exposed collar bone; it was from getting out from under the warm covers and he'd soon adjust.
Not bothering with slippers, Link opened his door silently and peered into the hall. It was empty, nearly fading into darkness at both ends save for the torches. He crept out into it and closed his door behind him.
Link vaguely remembered the path he'd taken, and it wasn't long until he found the stairs. He headed up, looking through the windows at Hyrule veiled by night. The rain had at last stopped, but clouds still covered the sky. Once reaching the third floor, he quietly made his way down the familiar hall. He jogged around the corner, seeing Zelda's door.
He smiled, pleased with himself. The boy hurried over to the door, checking to make sure no one was around. He then froze, horrified.
I forgot to bring my belt!
How was he supposed to pick the lock now? Biting his lip, he tried the handle anyway, and was relieved when it turned, opening the door. Mordecai hadn't locked it back, had he? They'd been on their way to lunch, and would have had to get the key to re-lock the door.
Link quickly stepped into her room, closing the door behind him. He looked around it, feeling sadness grip his heart. All of this, left behind. A sad tribute to a girl who no longer lived there. He walked about the space idly, looking for anything that would catch his attention. He trailed his hand over the beautiful chairs, and paused to look at the pictographs on her wall.
As he made his way past her bed, he stared at it, wondering how many nights she had slept there and thought herself safe. Did she ever believe she'd have to flee her own castle?
He gave a disgruntled sigh. If she'd just listened to him in the woods! Where on Hyrule had she gone?
He stopped, facing a large bookshelf that ran across the wall and nearly stretched up to the ceiling. It was brimming with books, but there was no dust on them. They must have been well-loved. He stepped closer to examine the titles, smiling. What was it that the princess of Hyrule read?
He frowned, blue eyes narrowing as he read them. A History of Hyrule, The Culture of the Gorons, International Affairs, Concerning Great Fairies, Debunked Myths of the Triforce . . . many other various volumes and an entire series over Prophecies of Hyrule. He looked over the series. Something felt off. He ran his eyes back and forth a few times before placing it. One book was missing. There was a slightly larger gap between volumes two and four, barely noticeable. Why was volume three missing? Had she taken it with her? She'd had a small traveling sack, but it was hardly big enough to contain one of these books.
Then something Mordecai had said rung through his mind.
I almost had everything in the room taken out, but I reconsidered. You never know when it could come in handy.
Link had merely brushed off his words, seeing some wisdom in them. But what if Mordecai had already found something he was interested in? If it was him who had taken the third volume of Prophecies of Hyrule, Link felt he had a good idea why.
The prophecy of the Hero. Link was the Hero, wasn't he? And now Mordecai wanted him living in the castle with him, training him and educating him.
A frown creased his features as he surveyed the rest of the bookshelf. It was impossible to tell if another book was missing. Link decided then and there that he was going to look through the volumes of Prophecies of Hyrule to be certain which one was gone. And if it was, indeed, his own prophecy missing, then he wanted to read it.
After all, it was his destiny. And Mordecai had no right to hide it from him.
No Zelda in this chapter. I had too much to cover with Link! But we'll catch up to her next chapter. Oh, and it's been so long you might not remember, but the books Zelda has in her room were touched on in the first chapter.
And yes, I can pick a lock just like Link can, so I know it works! I don't use a belt buckle, though. 8D
Reviews are very much appreciated!
