Shadowbound
Author's Note: Hi again, guys! We are getting so close to the end of this arc. At that point, be on the look out for a sequel to the story. It's been a great ride, everyone. Thanks to everybody who has either read or left feedback for the story. I really appreciate it. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in a review! Thank you!
Chapter IX - Homecoming
Several weeks later...
Torrential rain poured on the streets of Castleton. Men raced through the town, shielding their heads with cloaks, pieces of paper, and whatever else they could find. Dark, grey clouds blanketed the sky. Within the central marketplace, the normal hustle and bustle of traders and merchants filled the air in hushed tones.
The people spoke in uneven tones, their eyes filled with fear and dread. Their monarch, the queen-in-waiting, had not returned from her trip to the Desert Temple. Rumors tore through the air, drowning out all reason.
"Her Highness has not returned."
"Did the shadow beasts...?"
"These are dark times we live in..."
"The soldiers are disappearing... the shadow beasts..."
"Spare a rupee, sir...?"
"Where is the Hero?"
"Why has he not come to our aid?"
"Are we fools to believe in the old legends...?"
"It can't be... the gods can be so cruel..."
Sitting atop a rampart, far from the eyes of guards stationed along the city walls, three boys gazed across the verdant fields. One, an eleven-year-old in blue overalls, squinted his eyes out toward the horizon, clutching the poncho that shielded him from the weather. His companions hung back under the shelter of a piece of wood.
Off into the distance, a group of horses carrying soldiers appeared before his eyes. As the caravan grew closer, the boy recognized the Hyrulean banners, and the carriage they protected all too well.
The Queen-in-Waiting, Princess Zelda, had returned at long last.
Ecstatic at the sight of their leader, he waved for his companions to come out of their hiding places. The boy pointed toward her carriage, and cried out at the top of his lungs.
"Everyone! The Princess! The Princess is back!"
All throughout the marketplace, men turned around, wondering what ruckus the boys had caused now. Everyone paused as their attention turned toward the city gates. The soldiers sounded their horns as they rose up, and the drawbridge lowered. There, before their eyes, the caravan of soldiers flanked a black carriage and a group of covered wagons. The people cheered and hollered.
Within the carriage, Zelda looked on. It brought her joy to see her people eager for her long-awaited return. Their smiles, their joy... for so long, she had only seen their sadness, their fear, their despair at the shadow beasts that hounded them at night. Yet behind their smiles and joy, she sensed something in the air.
There is still much work to be done. The elders on the privy council will no doubt want an audience to discuss the events of the Desert Temple. I have no idea where to begin...
Ever since the events of the Desert Temple, neither she nor Impa saw any trace of the cursed soldier that saved their lives. A part of her felt the diminished aura of evil that still clung to her carriage. She wanted to believe that the Hero Eternal, cursed by Nezera's power, had not abandoned them. Even if he had wandered off, she did not know how far he could have gotten.
He would not leave me. Sadira said he is drawn to me... perhaps there is hope that he is still around. However... I don't know if the people will want to see him as he is. We must hurry and put an end to this madness...
Zelda pushed her thoughts aside and waved at the crowd of people that gathered along the streets, cheering for the return of their wayward monarch. In spite of it all, she breathed a sigh of relief.
It is good to be home.
She watched as her carriage ventured toward the castle gates. It seemed like so long ago that she left his place to begin her investigation into the desert. Even though the casualties of the lives lost along the journey back weighed on her mind, she knew that she would have to explain what happened to these men and their families. Zelda took a small comfort from the fact that these brave men died for their kingdom.
The Shadowbound will answer for what they have done.
Beside her carriage, Impa rode on horseback, clutching her naginata and Nezera's staff in both hands. As they approached the castle gates, a guard stopped them.
"Hail to the Goddesses," the guard called out to them.
"Hail, soldier. We have returned with Her Highness. In the name of Princess Zelda, please let us through!"
The guard nodded in understanding.
"Of course, Lady Impa, but first thing's first. Her Highness may bring her carriage onto the castle grounds, but we must inspect the wagons and your weapons before any of the others can be allowed in. Chancellor's orders."
Impa let out an annoyed sigh. She knew that they had a job to do, and that they wanted only to protect the council and the castle denizens, but the staff needed to be taken to the castle mages. Zelda poked her head out of the carriage, wondering about the commotion at the gate.
"Inspect my blade if you must, but my orders are to bring this staff to the castle mages at once. No one besides myself and the mages are to handle this item."
"Really? Under who's orders?"
Zelda stepped out of the carriage. The guard stopped in his tracks and bowed toward her. She turned toward Impa and nodded.
"Mine, soldier. Allow her through with the staff."
"Please, forgive me, Your Highness! I had no idea the order came from you..."
Zelda said nothing else as the guard allowed Impa through the gate. Nearby soldiers inspected her naginata as she made her way toward the castle entrance. As howling wind picked up, Zelda felt a change in the air. Like a tide of darkness, it swept across the land, sending chills down her spine.
Grabbing her books, she waited for the carriage to come to a stop at the castle stables before stepping outside. The castle's pointed towers pierced the heavens, which thundered above her. She wrapped her cloak around herself and her books, eager to get out of the billowing storm blanketing the land.
What a tiring journey this has been.
Zelda, accompanied by weary soldiers, stepped through the doors to the castle. As the doors swung closed behind her, she turned toward a man in an ornate gold and black tabard before her. He bowed before her.
"Hail to the Goddesses, Princess Zelda. I am glad to see that you have returned home safely," the man said.
"Chancellor Gaebora, what a surprise! I was not expecting you so soon."
"I bring terrible news. The shadow beasts... their attacks grow more fierce, my liege. We have lost several men protecting the town below from intrusion."
Zelda's eyes widened. She could not believe her ears. The shadow beasts assault her people still? How could that be possible?
Does the Shadowbound have more than one puppet master dangling their strings?! Why is this still happening?!
"What...?"
Zelda could manage nothing else but a strangled, confused word. Chancellor Gaebora gazed back at her with a dreadful sigh.
"Every night, they sneak into the town, growing more numerous. We have lost 30 soldiers trying to protect the civilians below. The people have grown more fearful with every passing day. Although your return has filled the people with hope, I do not know how long that hope will hold out. They expect an answer to the shadow problem..."
She closed her eyes. Between the men lost along the journey home, and the men lost at home, she did not know what could be done. Her mind shifted toward the shadow that had protected them from Nezera's wrath. In his visage, she placed all her hopes on him.
Hero... I pray that you have not left us...
"Then we had best give them one. Summon the privy council."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Seated on her throne, Zelda gazed into the distant doors. Twelve robed figures, men and women, stepped into the audience chamber. Her guards sealed the doors shut behind them. She nodded at them, pleased that they had followed her orders—she wanted privacy for herself, Impa, and the privy council summoned before her.
"Hail to the Goddesses," the council proclaimed.
Zelda nodded curtly.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice. Time is of the essence, gentlemen, so let us begin."
"You are aware of the attacks, are you not, Highness? Those monsters grow more numerous and ravenous with every passing day," An aged old man stated.
"Chancellor Gaebora has informed me of the situation here, Councillor Vaynd. It saddens me greatly to see my people suffer so under the Shadowbound, but I have something which may be of use to us."
Zelda motioned toward Impa. She nodded, and without another word, a group of mages walked into the hall, holding Nezera's staff. It brimmed and crackled with dark energy. They handed it to Impa, who in turn held it toward the twelve councillors. In turn, they looked up at her with confused expressions.
"What devilry is this?"
"That staff once belonged to Nezera, the high priestess of the Shadowbound. During my sojourn to the Desert Temple, I learned of her hand in the dark rituals being carried out on our fair soldiers. This vile staff turned countless men into the shadow beasts that plague our land, and with sufficient study, I believe we can use this to reverse the curse that created these unholy monstrosities in the first place."
The councillors eyes widened in surprise.
"The Shadowbound are capable of such diablerie?!"
"By the Gods... I did not think this possible..."
"Wait a minute," A woman called out from the group, "If this Nezera commands the shadow beasts as you claim, how did you manage to survive, Your Highness?"
I suppose I have choice but to tell them.
For several minutes, Zelda spoke of her journey to the desert, and how she encountered the shadow of the cursed soldier. The memories of her encounter with Nezera, raw and biting, exhausted her, and by the time she finished, the entire privy council looked up at her with stunned expressions.
"...And when I woke up, we found the staff placed in front of our encampment. Throughout the journey home, we searched for signs of the Hero Eternal. That is why we must study the staff, for the Hero's sake and ours."
"Where is the Hero, Your Highness? Do you know?" The female councillor asked.
Zelda shook her head.
"Councillor Ryla, he vanished during the battle with Nezera. Weakened from bloodloss, my... memory of that night is a bit shaky. Impa?"
Impa nodded in understanding.
"In the battle's aftermath, I found the sorceress, drained and dismembered. No trace of the shadow could be found. We do not know where he is, or where he could have gone. The fact remains, however, that the Hero Eternal is alive, and he walks among us still."
"So that is your answer, Your Highness? To continue to hope that the Hero will somehow reappear and cast these demons away?" A middle-aged man asked.
Zelda shook her head.
"No, Councillor Valah, that is not what we're going to do. We are going to study the staff, and the magical energy it carries. If it could be used to create these monsters and to subjugate them, then that same magic could be used to reverse their current state."
"And what of the Shadowbound themselves? If what you say is true, Your Highness, then the Shadowbound will no doubt want to take revenge upon us for destroying one of their leaders! We must dispose of that wretched cult at once!"
"With what resources, Ryla? Every day, we lose more and more men to those monsters!"
"So then our answer is to do nothing and let the beasts kill us, Ganav? The people won't stand for that!"
"We must fortify the border!"
"Sweep the cities! Weed out the Shadowbound!"
"Enchant the walls!"
"Hang them for treason against the crown!"
Within moments, the meeting had gone out of control. Zelda felt her head pound. She did not want to listen to her council bicker and argue all night. The evening would soon approach, and she had more to do before retiring for the evening. Her tiredness from the long journey home began to grow on her. Sensing her fatigue, Impa stepped forward.
"Forgive my intrusion, but Her Highness has had a long journey home. I know we are all eager to do away with the Shadowbound and their monsters, but I believe we should come back to this when we all have a clear head..."
Zelda glanced over at Impa, who stepped back beside the throne.
"An excellent suggestion, Lady Impa. Let us adjourn for tonight, and revisit the matter first thing in the morning."
The council turned toward the door to the throne room. Councillor Ryla turned around and narrowed her eyes.
"We cannot delay the matter. The more we wait, the stronger the beasts become!"
"Goodnight, Councillor," Zelda said tonelessly, "I will see you first thing in the morning with the others."
Neither of them said anything else as the privy council left the chamber. Zelda rubbed her temples, her head throbbing. Impa placed a comforting hand on her arm.
"That... went better than I expected," Zelda said.
"The way things were going, I was afraid they would tear each other apart. Truly, things have gotten worse since we last stood in this hall."
"I'm aware, Impa."
Zelda adjusted the crown on her head. She turned toward Impa, who gazed back at her with intensity.
"I wish to have a bath drawn."
Impa raised an eyebrow at her.
"At this hour?"
Zelda returned a tired nod.
"A good bath always helps me when I need to do research..."
"Ahhhh, I understand now. You intend to find out more about the cursed soldier?"
Zelda closed her eyes.
"Even if he is no longer with us, I must know who he is. Sadira said we would be important to breaking his curse. I believe the answer lies within his file. We have kept documentation for every man who has ever entered the army, and the cursed soldier would be no exception."
"Very well, Your Highness."
Night fell over the land. Amid the downpour of rain, soldiers trotted wagons to the castle stables. Mud splashed in every direction, while horses neighed, eager to get out of the terrible storm. Off into the distance, Zelda's carriage sat unoccupied, its horses now sheltered within the stables.
Darkness slithered out of the carriage's shadow. The shadow slithered along the ground, eager to get away from the numerous lanterns of the soldiers on watch. He took shelter along a rickety fence, and gathered himself into human form. Golden eyes gazed out into the stormy night, studying the castle grounds around him.
Faint recognition awakened in the man's mind. The rocky walls, the vigilant soldiers stationed in the ramparts... he remembered this from somewhere. As his eyes shifted toward Zelda's carriage, it dawned on him.
This was the castle. This was Zelda's home. He had to see her. He had to find her. She had to help him. She had to help him remember...
Lightning flashed in the skies. Behind the shadow's eyes, the man looked on, his alarm at the sound masked behind an expressionless gaze. Faint light shimmered nearby. The shadow looked up, and saw a vigilant soldier patrolling the rampart above.
He had to get out of here. He did not want to be found. He did not want these men to suffer the fate of the pilgrims he encountered that day in the desert.
Waiting for the guard to pass by, the shadow dissolved into a puddle. He slithered up the wall and sneaked across the rampart. As the shadow wandered into a nearby yard, he stopped to gaze out at the straw dummies and training weapons nearby.
Flashes of memory jolted his mind. He remembered the man, and how he defeated his fellow trainee in a mock fight. Slinking away, the phantom of Zelda, staring down at him on a beautiful spring morning, haunted him. The memory spurred him onward as he sped across the yard.
In the shadow of a wall, his liquefied form came to a stop. The shadow gathered himself and gazed up at the towers. Wind and rain howled around him. As the torrential downpour rained down on him, the faint glow of torchlight beckoned him.
Someone was up there. Was it his goddess? He had to find out. He had to find out who...
The shadow melted into a puddle and slithered across the porous stone. As lightning and thunder rumbled in the distance, the guards below held up their arms, shielding themselves from the storm. Water trickled down the shadow's amorphous form. He did not react to or feel the chill of the air around him.
He approached the window. From the darkness, he peered inside. Surrounded by a stacks and stacks of files, the figure of Zelda thumbed through paperwork. Her nightgown, a white satin, glimmered in the orange light of a candle.
Images flashed in the shadow's mind. For a moment, he found himself back in the Desert Temple, fighting Nezera's control. From the darkness, he had called out to her, begging her to free him. The shadow reached deep within himself. Forgotten knowledge danced at the fringe of his mind.
As he let his form seep into the cracked stone walls, he called out to her in the darkness...