"What happened was a disaster, but Her Highness and her attendant, Yuga were clearly the ones in distress at the assembly. It doesn't matter how dubious her decision to pardon Yuga, her court failed her. I can understand your outrage, but try to see it from her perspective. The fact that she even arranged the assembly shows she cares about her court's opinion. But in the end, the princess was faced with a mob of people whom she'd hoped would remain loyal to her. " The Captain sighed, took a long sip of milk, considering his words carefully as he and Ravio sat across from two ex-knights. The conversation was grim, despite the playful tune of the bards in the background and the inviting aroma of the Milk Bar. Ravio wished the older man would lower his voice, but was satisfied that the music was drowning out the conversation for the rest of the bar's patrons. "Yuga did what was necessary to protect her." The Captain continued. "That was his duty as her attendant. Your job was to defend the princess and the kingdom without question; Not pass judgment on her personal affairs. Be it far from me to side with Yuga, but he honored his oath to the royal family. Did you?" The Captain asked, meeting the unapologetic eyes of the men across from him.
"Then why are you here begging us to return?" Asked one of the ex-knights, sucking his teeth.
Despite the rude response, the Captain kept his even tone. "Not begging. I am giving you the opportunity of a second chance. You can take it or leave it. I take responsibility for this, too. I thought I'd trained my men better than this. The only one who is blameless in all this is Ravio here. He has his reservations, just as you all do, but he hasn't faltered in his devotion to Her Highness. Lorule needs more like him."
Ravio cast his eyes away, but couldn't avoid a question from the other ex-knight.
"And where do you stand in all this? Is Yuga not a danger to the kingdom? Why aren't you doing more to oppose him? Especially after he almost succeeded in imprisoning you as a wall painting," he asked, timidly.
"Heh... To be fair, even if Yuga had succeeded, Her Highness would've made him release me anyways... Probably," Ravio shrugged. "Yuga and I have come to an understanding. We've... even been able to be somewhat civil." Ravio said, trying to hold a straight face.
Somewhat... The Captain had to hide his smirk behind the rim of his cup of milk, but Ravio had seen it and for a moment he was able to forget the gravity of the conversation they were having. In this case, 'somewhat civil' was defined as resisting the urge to castrate the sorcerer every time they crossed paths. But being civil was all he could do, considering Hilda was now researching marriage traditions, and faking like she wasn't.
"Tell us, hero. Are the rumors regarding the princess and her attendant true? You of all people should know that nothing good can come from them being together." The bolder of the two ex-knights said. Although his tone was not altogether disrespectful towards Ravio, his words were all too familiar, and the boy's stomach began to twist.
He had only recently confided his concerns to the Captain while they were still at the castle. Was recruiting back the knights really a good idea? The Captain believed they had no other choice.
"That has crossed my mind as well... But, looking at the situation charitably, the Lorulean Royal Family will be expanding. We need to get cracking," the Captain had said dryly as they shared wine in the castle's empty dining hall.
Ravio's mouth had dropped open. "Captain..."
Does he... Does he know? Of course, he always makes comments like this anyways, but he's also very attuned to what's going on around him.
"Don't worry... I won't breathe a word to any prospective knights," the Captain said, grinning at Ravio's reaction.
So Ravio had let the comment pass without revealing anything. He vowed to contribute nothing to rumor. Yet Ravio couldn't help but wonder how the Captain could remain positive and make light of the situation when he felt like the whole kingdom was crashing down around him.
Now Ravio studied the two men before him. How could he be sure these two were innocent of any wrongdoing at the assembly? The event had been so chaotic, it was impossible to determine who had been hurling glass at the princess. What if these two turned out to be just as ruthless as that one strident knight that was intent on murdering both Yuga and Hilda before the crowd. Or what if one of them were to uncover that Hilda was taking Yuga to her chambers at night? Then the rumors really would be out of control. On the other hand, Ravio couldn't help but acknowledge the tiniest bit of selfish hope that the return of members of her court would prompt Hilda to show more propriety, and keep Yuga at arm's length at all times. Ravio had to admit this course of action was tempting for that prospect alone.
Ravio pursed his lips at the ex-knight's forward question, as these thoughts threatened to silence him, but then he thought better of it, knowing what needed to be said. "As the hero, I need to know where you stand. An enemy to the crown is an enemy of mine as well. If you were to return to your duty at the castle, could you be trusted to give her the respect and loyalty she deserves and protect her from those who do not?" Ravio took a deep breath, praying the men would be swayed by the candor he was about to display, and the courage it took to say it. "Things are going to change. I know it. You know it. It's going to be a new era... One of hope and beauty, and I pray that reason can help keep them in check. And so... I hope that you will both consider returning to help her in her darkest hour, just as I am trying to do."
oOo
Ravio hummed an upbeat tune as he pushed through the castle's imposing doors into the foyer. The Captain was currently questioning and assessing the two knights in the barracks. Getting the general staff to return may have been out of his hands, but Ravio delighted in this small victory, nonetheless.
The castle seemed devoid of life, Ravio noted as he crossed the foyer. His footsteps echoed, carrying through the great hall. It was hard to imagine that not too long ago it had been filled with castle staff watching as he and Yuga fought. Now there was a quiet stillness to it that made Ravio's skin prickle. It felt like a completely different place. And then there was the image of Yuga shielding Hilda with his body as even glass was thrown at them frozen in his memory. Ravio frowned.
"Lead me to the princess," Ravio instructed Sheerow, not wanting to waste time going room to room in such a massive castle. Sheerow chirped and took off.
Ravio's mind drifted as he followed the white and blue bird, only vaguely aware he was being led to the courtyard until he arrived at his destination and witness something that gave him pause.
There was the princess, sitting alone on a bench. She'd set up a makeshift clothesline and her attention was focused on white linen sheets billowing in the gentle breeze.
oOo
"Why didn't you come for me before? All these years... Why now?" Yuga asked as he and his mother made their way up the wide, stone steps leading up to the temple.
Fayre cast a glance over her shoulder at her son. "Oh, so you want to be with your mother now?"
"That's not why I'm asking!" Yuga raised his voice in an indignant manner. "Your timing is most suspicious, and I want to know what you've been doing all this time. Why did you never try to visit me?"
Fayre's heart dropped, silenced by the question for a moment. "Just like I told you. I've been observing you. I thought if I tried to see you, I'd only cause trouble for you. The sorceresses aren't highly regarded by Lorulean women after all," came the tired refrain.
Yuga relented, although his wary gaze told her he remained unconvinced. "Yes. I had to learn that the hard way from the queen. She used to throw things at me – anything within her reach. If Embla hadn't advocated for me, I might have been tossed out into Lorule field."
Fayre smiled sadly "I am grateful for her... What is it you did to garner the queen's ire, may I ask?"
"Besides being a male of obvious Misery Mire descent? I climbed onto her vanity as she was on bedrest and tried on all of her makeup."
Fayre giggled, her laughter even higher than Yuga's. "I'd be quite annoyed, too, if a strange boy was sticking his fingers in my pots of cremes and powders."
"The queen was convinced a horde of sorceresses would lay siege to the castle at any moment to take back their young king. But it never came to pass..." Said Yuga without emotion.
Fayre stopped, turning to look at her son in full. "You can't imagine how much I've missed you. Please don't confuse my lack of action for apathy."
Yuga pushed past her. "None of that prattle. Let us make haste into the temple before my makeup melts off. I forgot how oppressively humid Misery Mire can be."
"Speaking of which, I'll arrange for a change of clothes for you. Your current garments aren't suited for this climate."
"Change my clothes? This staff and my tunic are the only things I have to remind me that I once served Her Grace."
"Well, you have to bathe eventually, and when you do, I'm going to hide them and leave the new clothes in their place. Then you won't have a choice but to wear what you're given, now will you?" Fayre laughed.
"I'd like to see you try, mother," Yuga grumbled, continuing on, outpacing Fayre. She took her time as she walked behind him, smiling – until she saw the twin witches emerge from the temple. Koume was looking right at Fayre with a sneer clearly meant for her as the old crone wrung her wrinkled hands. Fayre's veins ran ice cold, and Yuga was none the wiser.
oOo
Ravio cracked an awkward smile feeling as though he were witnessing something he should not see.
Oh, come on Ravio. Everyone has to wash their bedding every once in a while, even royalty. Especially when all their staff has left them high and dry. Try not to think about...
He moved to back out, but at that moment his boot collided with something heavy and metallic, creating a sound that alerted the princess to his presence.
Hilda whipped around. She let out a sharp breath, staring at him as if overcome with relief. "You've finally returned, Hero of Lorule."
Ravio flushed slightly, confused by her official tone. She'd never addressed him in such terms before. Though before Ravio could dwell on it, he noticed Hilda's expression hadn't changed. The look in her eyes was... startling.
"Some good news, Your Highness." Ravio offered hesitantly. "The Captain and I have recruited back two of our knights and they're ready to resume their duties immediately."
"Well done, Hero of Lorule. I'm sure they will prove useful for what is to come."
"For... what's to come?" Ravio asked, confused.
"Don't you sense it?"
Ravio swallowed. "Sense what, Your Highness?"
Hilda looked down, holding out her gloved hand. "My Triforce of Hope... Has left me." Hilda removed her glove, and Ravio could see only an empty outline of where the triangular mark had been.
Ravio felt a sense of heaviness about him. "This is..." Ravio couldn't finish his sentence. Simply saying how awful it was didn't do the situation justice. "Does Yuga know?"
"It's all his fault!" Hilda hissed, gritting her teeth.
Ravio's stomach lurched. "What?" he asked alarm in his voice. "What happened?"
"I finally see him for what he is. Oh, Ravio, can you forgive me?"
"Hilda, please, slow down and explain what's going on."
"I was visited by an oracle of the goddesses. She came to speak to me about him. She told me what I should have known all along. I went to confront him, and that's when I noticed Hope vanishing."
"Wow... I don't know what to say..." Ravio began. His stomach was knotting in a not so subtle way. He'd been telling her as much for years, but, of course, she'd never shown more than passing concern.
I don't get it. I've been speaking against Yuga all this time... What sort of magical powers of persuasion does this oracle have? And why now? Where was this oracle before Yuga tried to turn me into a painting, or before he ruined Hilda's reputation?
"So some woman shows up, tells you he's bad news, and you finally see the light? And then Yuga realizes he can't continue his scheme and absorbs your Triforce of Hope?" To Ravio, it sounded too good to be true.
The look Hilda gave him instantly made him want to put his foot in his mouth. "Ravio I'm so sorry. You must think I've been such a fool."
"No, no, no no. I didn't mean to imply..." Ravio trailed off so lost for words and confused. By all accounts, Ravio should have been doing a dance of victory and planning to buy the Captain a drink in celebration, but it didn't feel right.
"Where is Yuga now? What about the Oracle?" Ravio pressed, praying to every goddess he knew to help him make sense of the situation.
"I don't know where he is... A strange woman appeared and then Yuga was gone. The oracle... I had wanted to inquire of her, but I didn't get a chance. She left just as quickly as Yuga disappeared."
The feeling of heaviness was only growing. The ground beneath him felt like it would give way.
Hilda continued. "I fear Yuga may return for your Triforce of Reason. Perhaps you should stay at the castle while we await his return. We must take back the Triforce of Hope and also claim his piece, Beauty."
Ravio looked at her at a loss. Did she really say that? "T-take his piece of the Triforce?"
"Obviously, Hero of Lorule... An enemy of Lorule has no business holding any of the virtues, so say I and the goddesses."
Ravio wanted to protest and demand more of an explanation. Why had Hilda listened to the word of a stranger, oracle or not? And what's more, how could Hilda so easily get over Yuga when she'd failed to do so many times before? As he'd learned from a certain diary left in a makeshift bedchamber deep within the catacombs, even one who has been betrayed could still love. Hilda shared the same soul as that princess, did she not? So, what was happening here?
And worse... Yuga was out there, somewhere - likely enraged, scorned, and plotting. In truth, Ravio wanted to be as far away from the castle as he could get.
"Then... we must prepare for Yuga's return," Ravio heard himself say. "Your Highness... How did he react when you confronted him? What did he say to you?"
Hilda opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out for a few moments. "I... I... Can't remember..." Her shoulders shuddered as if she would burst into tears, but before she did the more controlled demeanor resumed.
A/N: I forgot to say before, but I've surpassed 100 reviews. I'm so so happy that this is my most reviewed story. So thank you to everyone that has reviewed, favorited, and followed. It means everything to me. Also for those of you interested, as of December I posted a picture of my Breath of the Wild Zelda cosplay on tumblr and DeviantArt. I plan to have a more proper photoshoot as soon as the weather warms up. Ok, that's enough shameless self-promotion.
HacchanADL: Hilda's thoughts guided by Twinrova. This is my chance to write a darker and unforgiving Hilda. Hilda's behavior has and will leave quite an impression on Ravio. And, Ravio has undergone quite a development hasn't he? Hope you enjoyed the new chapter.
Prometheus17: In an upcoming chapter there will be more of an explanation as to why Yuga is so 'weak'. Let's just say he's not as comparable to Ganondorf as one might think since Yuga's priorities are divided. Koume and Kotake are quite astute villains and powerful magic users that have been alive at least four centuries, so it wouldn't be too hard for them to overpower Yuga in this instance. Yuga certainly has the potential to be more powerful than them, because of what he is, but he's not at that point yet. And poor Ravio. He must think Hilda's lost the plot completely.