Chapter 11: The Request
The next day started uneventful except that Zelda asked for a tour of Termina Field and the four areas beyond it. However Kafei was forced to decline the tour due to a large pile of paperwork he had neglected to do within the last couple of days due to being busy working on Zelda's arrival. "Can you do it, Link?" Zelda pleaded to the former-hero. He glared at her as he tried to form the simple word 'no' on his lips but somehow a reluctant "yes" came out instead.
"Oh thank you, Link!" Zelda squealed like a child. So the Hylians then began to leave on a pair of horses towards the Valley of Ikana. However before they could leave the East Gate Romani approached, calling out to her husband, who stopped his horse and returned.
"You going to be alright?" she asked, concerned. Link nodded.
"Yes, I'll…" he paused as if to reassure himself. "I'll be fine." He said at last with a forced smile. However Romani didn't smile back, she just gave a worried look
"I mean will you be okay with her?" she asked, not really caring if the mighty Queen of Hyrule could hear her. To Romani, nothing else mattered - especially someone else's opinion - when it came to her family. But regardless, Link was somewhat surprised at what she was implying, but he soon gave a gentle look and a warm smile that was truly genuine - which eased Romani a bit.
"Don't worry Romani; I'll be fine. She may be here in person, but you already occupy that which is most important." He said, placing a fist on his heart. Romani smiled finally and stepped back within Town simply saying "Thank You" so quietly that Link barely heard her. But he did hear her, and smiled back at her and turned his horse around and rejoined Zelda as they made their way to Ikana.
"I see Romani is worried about you being with me alone." Zelda said matter-of-factly in an attempt to break the awkward silence between them. Link continued the silence by nodding and at the same time checking his surrounding, eventually his gaze landing on her, and then quickly focusing back on the road. Zelda saw the frustrated look on his face, and sighed. "And I see you don't exactly trust me either." She commented, showing a bit of depression.
"It's not that, Zelda." Link suddenly spoke, but still keeping his gaze away from her. "Romani trust people to a fault, regardless on their background and story. But she knows what happened and how I felt about you, and above all she knows my desire for distance from you." He stated firmly. Zelda opened her mouth as if to say something but Link continued speaking. "You are gonna say you're sorry again; don't bother. I know that you don't know or remember what happened in the alternate future… but it still hurts, and I just haven't been able to forgive you, regardless even if you remembered or not."
"I understand, Link…"
"I'm not sure if you exactly do, but I know you are trying and I give you credit for doing that, but I have chosen how to live my life now. I'm no longer the lonely, quiet, little boy from the forest. I have grown up, I have a family I care deeply for, and friends I can rely on when I need them. I don't want, nor do I think I could go back to a country that is so willing to ignore someone who was deemed different. Termina took me in even though they didn't even know me that much as far as they knew, and that was within the three days I constantly was reliving." He said, not noticing the saddened look on Zelda's face.
"I must admit that Termina just seems like everything that I have only dreamed of. I'm not surprised that you love it here. It just seems so… perfect." She said, the last word being exceptionally hard to say. Link looked over to her, and felt a bit guilty for how hash he had been.
"I'm sorry, but Termina is far from the perfect slice of Heaven you think it is. In some ways Termina has more blood upon its history than Hyrule does." He answered simply as the road came to a sheer cliff that Link had forgotten about, but recognized it when he remembered this fork in the road. To their left was a short road that lead to the Graveyard; and the sheer cliff in front of them lead to the valley itself, which in turn lead to the kingdom of Ikana. He climbed down off the horse and stuck his hands into his pockets, wondering if he by chance his hookshot, but instead found the Ocarina of Time. He pulled out the mystical instrument and stared at its blue color. Oh yeah, I was going to give this back to Zelda. He thought as then looked at the Queen who had gotten down and was walking over, but keeping her eyes on the top of the cliff. A quick smirk flew across his face as he recalled a tune he often used years ago. He motioned a hand for Zelda to come closer, and she promptly obeyed. He reached a arm around her waist - but not in a way one would hold someone dearly, but as if preparing for a hurricane. But Zelda couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat as she felt his arm wrap around her suddenly. Link brought up the Ocarina to his mouth and played an unfamiliar tune with one hand. A second later two gigantic wings appeared out of Link's back and then closed around them, engulfing them and then the feathers of the wings began to spin around them like crazy. Zelda felt bit nausea begin to over-come her as she felt the ground beneath her disappear. It first seemed like forever but actually within seconds of the constant spinning of the wings and the feeling of being carried it began to end as she felt her feet touch ground again and the wings then imploded away into numerous feathers. Link immediately let go of Zelda and stepped away, putting the Ocarina back into his pocket. The Queen stood there in shock and amazement at what had happened.
"W-what was that?" she stuttered, then looking around at her surroundings now noticing they were different. "And where are we?" she asked, already calming down. Link gave her a small smirk as he approached the edge of the sheer cliff that was the valley. "Ikana Canyon; or the Ancient Kingdom of Ikana; whichever you prefer. And that song was 'The Song of Soaring'. It can transport me to many locations across Termina."
"That's amazing." she exclaimed as she carefully looked down the valley to the river below. "Termina is a pretty wondrous place!" she exclaimed, and Link could tell there was some genuine jealousy in her voice; he couldn't help but smile, but it soon disappeared as his eyes landed on the ruins of Ikana Castle, and his smile disappeared quickly and then approached the Queen and joined her.
"I don't think you should start envying this country or ever." he advised.
"Why?" she asked, curious.
"Termina has had its deal of problems. For example this area was once part of a mighty kingdom that was once ruled over much of Termina. But the people were envious of the Goddesses and wished to eliminate them. They people then built a tower, reaching up into the heavens in an attempt to smite the Goddesses to prove that their protective Gods - the Four Giants - were stronger; but the Goddesses punished those whom were foolish to oppose them by flipping the tower, causing the sky to be in the earth and the earth to become the sky. But doing so released an evil God of the Sun known as Majora. The people discovered this God and worshipped it, eventually converting the top of the tower into a temple, honoring the evil God. But another evil God that represented the Moon arose and challenged Majora. This Warrior God's name is not generally known anymore but it was known by several names such as "Bade", "Oni", or even "The Fierce Deity". This "Fierce Deity" was extremely powerful, in some ways more powerful than Majora. Anyway, an epic battle ensued between the Evil Gods that lasted what is said to have been three whole days. The battle seemed endless until the people called the Four Giants and they ended the battle by using their power by sealing the Fierce Deity and Majora into two masks. The Masks were sealed away for many, many years. The day that the battle was ended was then held as a holiday that is still held today, however the exact reason has been forgotten, and has been named "The Carnival of Time". Zelda looked over with a puzzled yet serious look.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" she asked. Link looked at her, then back towards the ruins of Ikana Castle.
"Come on; want to see something interesting?" he asked, already walking towards the ruins, not awaiting a response. She did give herself time for one, for she immediately began following him into a small hole in a large stone wall, several feet away from two mighty doors. The hole was just large enough for an adult to fit through, and the two Hylians entered and followed into the front yard of the castle. Zelda tried to see the castle, but Link gave her no time for he was already entering with a sword drawn. The entrance foyer was empty to Link's surprise but it didn't stop him from immediately going further into the castle, and ultimately and very quickly reaching the throne room. It was a large room with two windows with burned curtains shining light into the rather dark room. Link retracted his weapon and placed a shield next to the empty throne and then suddenly sitting in it himself, relaxed.
"This is the throne room, right?" Zelda asked the rather obvious question. Link ignored the question as he placed his sight on the windows and their burned curtains; a smirk formed on his face at the memory of the last and only time he was in this throne room. His smirk quickly disappeared when he turned his focus on Zelda once more, and leaned back in the throne; getting comfortable.
"Earlier…" he began, deliberately leaving an unsettling feeling in the room with that one word. "You asked why I told you the history of Ikana?" he asked, even though it was more of a statement the way he said it; but Zelda nodded regardless. "You see; this kingdom fell due to its foolishness. They tried and failed dearly for trying to control what was not theirs in the first place." He said mysteriously. Zelda thought about saying or asking something but decided to keep quiet as he continued. "Much like Hyrule tries to control the Triforce." He said in an arrogant tone. An awkward moment passed in the quiet, dead throne room.
"So you're saying that Hyrule will one day fall, exactly like Ikana did?" Zelda asked in a somewhat challenging yet interested tone. Link straitened himself in the throne and nodded.
"Yes, I think Hyrule will one-day fall. Hyrule will continue to experience times that will threaten it; it cannot just lean on a boy in green to play hero whenever it seems convenient. Even if I do go back to 'save the day' as it were; what the hell would it be accomplishing? I'd just be delaying the inevitable. You and I know that some other sick bastard – like Ganondorf - will come along and try to either conquer or destroy Hyrule."
"You have a valid point there Link. What could I do if that happened—"
"IT WILL HAPPEN, ZELDA!" Link roared at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the throne room.
"OK, when it does happen, what shall I do? With this threat, there is no one that could possibly fight this man…" Zelda trailed, trying to hold back tears in fear of Link's anger. He however didn't raise his voice again."
"One man? What could one man do?" he asked instantly, forgetting what all he had done in his life – all that filled his head was anger. A moment passed and he calmed down for a bit, he remembered what Ganondorf had done in the alternate timeline and much of the people were suffering. "No one could possibly be like Ganondorf." He said answering his question. Zelda shook her head.
"No, he's not like Ganondorf; but his army could easily destroy Hyrule or any other countries that dares oppose it. But he has offered an alternative to avoid the war."
"Oh, and what might that be?" Link asked with false interest.
"A duel; one on one with the king." Zelda said matter-of-factly. Link flinched and gave a surprised look. "Those are his terms; he promises to disband his army and never cause harm to Hyrule or any other country if someone is to beat him in battle."
"I assume a battle to the death?" Link asked with curiosity, concern, and one more thing; immense interest. The Queen nodded.
"Yes, as I said in the letter I have tried to agree to your request for no involvement, but our mightiest swordsman..." she trailed off, gulping down her sadness. "has died just a month prior to me sending the letter… the swordsman was…" she tried speaking but she couldn't; she just cried in silence.
"I get it; the swordsman was your husband and the king." Link said, understanding her discomfort in talking about such a… touchy matter, however the widowed Queen nodded.
"Yes, he was my husband; Nohansen." She explained, but Link didn't say anything in response, and Zelda didn't say anything either. They just sat there in silence as time passed by idly. Link just stared out the old windows and reminisced about the fight he had with Igos Du Ikana – the old, and final king of Ikana. He remembered how tough it was fighting the Ikana King, and then he remembered the other tough fights throughout his two journeys – the fight with King Dodongo, Volvolgia, Goht, Twinmold, Garo Master, his dark half, Ganondorf and his monstrous form, Majora, and even his duel with the Fierce Deity. His memory drifted, and has it drifted he could feel his blood pumping, adrenaline running on over-drive, and the world around him seemed surreal, yet so tangible. He looked at his left hand when he noticed a faint glow on it – it was the Triforce mark, not glowing too bright but it was notable and he could feel its power regardless, and oddly Link thought about it for a minute; this was the first time he ever truly felt the power of the Triforce. It was so… powerful, yet he could feel tremendous courage building up, and all at the same time he felt he could solve any problem, whether it was mathematical, philosophical, anything really. It felt so… odd. He then noticed something else with his hand; it was shaking like a leaf.
Why am I shaking? I'm not scared, or cold… could I be… excited? He thought as he stared at his shaking hand. He sat there pondering over it all when it finally hit him like a ton of bricks to the face; he had felt this way before… every time he was going to or was fighting a powerful enemy. That nagging feeling that caused all those spasms of the shakes before each major fight was not fear, or cold, or even the power of the Triforce… it was pure excitement. He couldn't help but smile to this realization. Suddenly he felt the feeling of being watched and instinctively looked at the only form of life in the room – Zelda was just staring out the open windows, looking at the Terminian sky above. "Zelda." Link spoke, making the Queen slightly jump out of her skin and then looking at him.
"What?" she simply asked.
"What is this man's name?" he asked seriously. Zelda stood there dumbfounded for a few moments, oblivious to the question. But she realized the question and answered.
"Slone." She said simply, a silence passed for a second. "Are you… going to do it?" she asked. Link looked at her and stood up and stepped away from the throne, looking back to it just once, and then going back to approaching the Queen, pulling out the Ocarina at the same time.
"I'll consider it." He answered as he lead the way out of the ruins of the ancient castle of Ikana that once was the symbol of a mighty, but now forgotten kingdom.
The two Hylians left the Ikana region and arrived back at Clock Town as the sun was setting. "I'm sorry, Zelda." Link suddenly said as they approached the East Gate.
"What for?" she asked; if there was anyone that Zelda felt should be saying 'sorry' it should be herself.
"For yelling at you, and that I promised to show you more of Termina." He confessed.
"It's alright; perhaps tomorrow we can all go out exploring?" she suggested with a smile. Link sighed and smiled weakly back.
"Sure, we can do that." He said, returning a similar weak smile. "Oh, but for our sake of not arguing that's have my family and friends come along."
"That sounds like a good idea." She returned with a laugh. Link was confused but he joined in regardless.