PART 2: PAWNS IN A GAME

CHAPTER 8: THE STRATEGIST

25th of Quintember, Year 3378, Third Age
Waker, Windfall Island
Windmill Hill conference room

The late afternoon was melting into red and orange over the ocean. From Windmill Hill, the seat of power in Windfall, Zelda's eyes were stuck on the rooftops and streets that stretched until the very last inch of island fell into the ocean, stopping abruptly when their progression became impossible, their foundations wet and green with seaweed, the Factory district chimneys smoking perpetually, transforming precious resources into precious products. The fishing ships were switching places with navy ships, entering the Harbour and securing their lines to the many docks. Overhead, constant patrols zoomed, leaving streaks of propeller smoke in their wake.

Zelda turned her attention back to the inside of the room, where Queen Rutela sat, all grace and calm, at a table, surrounded by a silent crowd of people. Assistants, typists, advisors, they all sat at the long conference table where Rutela, Ashei Snow, Shad and she were seated in no particular order. It was a refreshing, if humbling, experience. Zelda sat next to Tetra, who was taking a flurry of notes. With the large number of intelligence reports being brought to the table, Zelda felt unnecessary to the proceedings.

The news of the enemy fleet's course had triggered a desperate rush among the people of Windfall. While Windfall was naturally well equipped to deal with naval warfare, they feared aerial attacks ―there was no proof the fleet wouldn't be accompanied by a sizeable army of airships. Initial scouts hadn't dared get closer. It was safe to presume there would be a large aerial attack, so the people boarded up their houses, hoarded water and dry goods... Fortunately, Zelda realised as she listened to the announcements made by Rutela's collaborators, Windfall seemed to have expected an attack, and preparations for its defence had long been underway. Besides, Rutela's reaction to the news had been calm and composed. The minute the fleet's position and direction had been confirmed, the Queen of Waker had fallen into the preparations without the frenzied rush that had filled the rest of her court.

Even Prince Ralis, her quiet son, was the picture of regal cool. Zelda couldn't help but admire them both. After the loss of their home island, watching over the flocks of refugees come to Windfall for shelter and rising to the defence of the economic capital of Waker was a heroic feat, and they accomplished it all with admirable stoicism.

Perhaps, Zelda thought, they had moved so far beyond fear, doubt or shock that they functioned the better for it. She envied them.

Shad was a far more active participant to the talks than Zelda was. She preferred to defer to Rutela's wisdom, taking a few mental notes to broach to her later, in private.

"It seems obvious to me," Shad was now saying, his hands spread out, palms up in a gesture of evidence, "that if we do not counter-attack, the message will be that we are weak." He didn't need to look around for approval; the room was warm with unspoken agreement. There was a rustle among the crowd of Rutela's assistants, people's breath coming differently, a tell-tale sign of their mutual feelings on the matter. Zelda, from her quiet post near Tetra, could almost read them instinctively. Shad had struck a chord that thrummed strongly within the people. If Rutela noticed it too, she didn't seem inclined to let them know. Shad continued, "How much further must the Guardians overstep their boundaries before we put them in their place?"

An almost noiseless murmur of assent rippled through the room, but it wasn't obvious to those who weren't paying particular attention to it.

Still the picture of regal poise, Rutela smiled. It was a simple, charming smile that put friends at ease and made enemies spill their guts. "I have considered this at length, Shad." She spoke on a first-name basis with all her subjects, but in her mouth, it didn't sound condescending. It was a noteworthy feat of strength. "I know," she added, strictly for the aristocrat's benefit, "that you do not share Thaddeus Knowing's penchant for neutrality. That said, is it truly in Hylia's best interest to further aggressions?"

Zelda was wondering the same thing, and the thought made her stomach feel like lead. The question was weighing heavily on most rulers in the Hylian Alliance at this part of the war. They were perpetually pummelled with enemy fire and raids, and they were losing more and more people every day. At the current rate of confrontation, Hylia would have lost a third of its active population since the beginning of the war. If they allowed it to go on.

Surrender, though not named openly, was perhaps the best option, if the only other alternative was absolute eradication of man, woman and child.

"There is no Hylia," Shad insisted. "We are in the midst of a civil war that will, if left unchecked, utterly destroy all that we stand for."

Ashei Snow coughed to clear her throat. She had, until now, only been there to answer direct questions, and was, like Zelda, quietly observing the meeting without intervening, taking mental notes for later. She was a pretty, exceptionally ebony-haired woman, though she looked tired and serious. Her military training had nevertheless taught her little in the way of posture, as she was, until then, slouched in her chair, her darkly circled eyes watching with an almost lazy expression the proceedings.

Now, however, she was sitting up. With a drawl Zelda identified with the northern provinces of Hyrule, Rutela's military advisor opined, "That is a very idealistic viewpoint."

She was careful in choosing her words, something that struck Zelda as an indicator of a high capacity of analysis and synthesis. Furthermore, Ashei did not need to speak loudly, her few words enough to command the table's attention. Even Shad, though slightly irked by the interruption, was quietly waiting for her to continue.

"A war," Ashei reminded him, though it was addressed to the whole room, "can only be waged by consuming valuable resources: people, talent, fuel, food, time. Without those resources, no higher purpose will convince a man or a woman to go die for king and country. Excuse the expression, yeah?" She added, her deep, circled eyes landing on Zelda and Rutela, who nodded.

"You have only just arrived," Rutela continued, making her polite observation to Shad, "but you must surely know we have been in a war of attrition for almost three years now, since the first attacks occurred in December of 3375. We had few troops and little land for cultivation to begin with. Every day is a struggle to distribute food and shelter. I do not think we can spare anyone to go on the offensive, stretched thin as we are."

"So," Shad slowly said, leaning back into his chair in a non-verbal gesture of defeat and deference, though his sullen tone spoke volumes of his personal opinion on the matter, "you will let them wash like a tidal wave over us, and never retaliate."

"We would weather them out, yes," Rutela agreed, her expression carefully void of personal inflection.

"Historically," Shad remarked, licking his lips, "that attitude has never yielded predictable results. So many factors play on who comes out the victor."

Ashei nodded. "With our current force, both aerial and naval, we can't compete. But we established a strong civilian response and ingrained a sense of fierce loyalty to the nation among the people, yeah? They've hardened against the war. They're ready to play a large role in the island's defence."

"Will it be enough?" Shad asked, with such an edge to his voice that Zelda politely coughed, telling him to watch his tone in the universal gesture of courtly poise.

Sheepishly, he shot her an apologetic look, but didn't outwardly make excuses to the assembly. It was, Zelda noted when she saw Rutela's bright gaze on her, a show of deference and respect he reserved exclusively for his own allegiance. On his behalf, Zelda nodded to Rutela, who smiled softly.

There was no evident protocol to Rutela's court, Zelda realised, but it was still there, made all more difficult to navigate because it was subdued and unspoken. Suddenly, she began to wonder whether she had been placed alongside Tetra and other assistants as a way to keep her quiet, to put her in a lower position.

But another glance at Rutela, herself sitting in an unimportant seat, assured her that wasn't the case. Rutela had ever been a friend of Hyrule, true and good and kind, handling her people firmly but fairly. In general, Rutela had had a lot less trouble managing the country since Queen Laruto's death than Zelda had since her imperial parents has passed. With Zelda's unremarkable record of accomplishments, it was very unlikely Rutela felt threatened enough to treat the younger royal with anything less than the courtesy she was due. Disrespect and unpleasantness was a tell-tale sign of concern. Rutela, however, had been the perfect host, even in her country's time of need.

"I think," the beautiful Zora queen said, "that we have no choice but to rely on the people of Windfall and Waker Sea as a whole. It is an unfortunate situation, but it may be our salvation."

Shad had little to say. He clenched his jaw in thought. It was time for Zelda to intervene. She moved forward in her seat, catching the polite attention of those around her.

Despite herself, she suddenly felt her hands begin to shake. She steadied them by pressing them against the table's hard surface. It had been sudden and scary to realise there was something she could and had to do. Now that the opportunity to aid the people of Hylia had presented itself, she realised, terror gripped her. It would have been easy to shirk her duty.

No longer. The Hylian Alliance depended on Waker. With Twilight, Holodrum, Labrynna and Calatia surrounding Hyrule to the West and North, with Minish in the East fighting a difficult battle on its Calatian border, it was only a matter of time before Hyrule itself was completely surrounded. The Minish had the advantage of a large mountainous barrier. Waker, however, was open, vulnerable, and already half-taken.

If Waker fell, it would be a turning point for the war. Any fool could see Waker and Minish had to hold. Termina didn't have the army to assist them.

"Given that we are dealing with the possibility of a maritime siege on Windfall," she carefully said, picking her words but trying hard not to hesitate or falter in her inflection, "I think it would be to Waker's advantage that I called Hyrulian forces immediately for assistance. If you would welcome them either in Dragon Roost or Windfall, I'm sure I can provide a dreadnought, or at least some cruisers for aerial command." She locked eyes with Ashei, who hadn't shown any particular expression but who met her gaze evenly, testifying to her full attention, "Hyrule's battlefront is contained to the Calatian mountains and the Gerudo canyon, with a stalemate on both fronts."

"It would weaken Hyrule's defences," Ashei calmly observed.

"With Castleton being Hylia's imperial capital," Rutela added, "that is a risk you should not take."

"If Waker falls entirely to Guardian control," Zelda reasoned, ignoring the slight condescension they were aiming at her, "Hyrule will fall in a matter of days. It is not enough for me to consolidate my country's borders. Together, we stand a chance, but if one falters, the others follow." She took a deep breath and got ready to admit a truth no one, not even Rutela, would have been bold enough to say aloud, "It is no secret my reign is weak." Despite the sudden rise of polite protestation, she went on. "I am governed by the men I have named stewards in my absence, having bowed to their greater wisdom my whole life."

There was no protestation on that end. Even Shad remained silent. Zelda ignored how the brutal honesty of their silence smarted. She took a deep breath again and went on.

"In so doing, I have never truly had to decide anything alone. But this," she continued, now that the initial insult had been moved to the back of her mind, her voice steady and stronger than she felt, "this is a course I cannot back away from. It is time Hyrule brought the support Waker so desperately needs. We must face this enemy as one. I must ask that we consolidate our efforts and our resources for the duration of the war, until it ends."

She glanced at Shad, who looked, understandably, shell-shocked. The rest of the room's occupants still looked disconcerted.

For good measure, she added, "I pledge Hyrule will hold to its promises, as it has for all of our history. In exchange, I simply ask for your assistance and collaboration." She took a shaky breath, the only outward sign she felt anxiety at all. "The people of the Hylian Alliance must come together, under one central government, if we are to win."

At length, Rutela said, "If such is your sincere decision, Princess Zelda of Hyrule, I will gladly accept any and all help Hyrule may offer." She had chosen to skirt the notion of a central government, and Zelda put that observation to the back of her mind, to be examined later. "Ashei will see to the accommodation of the officers and warships. I must ask, however," and here the Queen's expression took on a grave look Zelda had not seen in a long time, "that you make haste. The enemy will reach us in a matter of days."

Zelda pressed her lips together as she stood, then said, for them all, "La Lusce alne soda u yuni."

"Let us only hope the Light is on our side," Ashei grumbled, and Shad shot the military advisor a dark glare.

"We will make good on Hyrule's promise," he gritted out. "For the good of Hylia and its people."

"Shad," Zelda curtly said, meaning to leave the room and wanting to keep an eye on him. His temper was going to flare and she didn't need to dampen their spirits any further. He reluctantly stood and followed. With one last nod at Rutela and her assistants, Zelda left the room.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Shad asked, making sure not to speak loud enough to be overheard by any guards on duty.

"You sounded eager to strike out," Zelda softly said as they walked down the white hallway towards the stairs. "And now that I choose to help them, you would have me keep my cards close to my chest?"

Shad looked flustered. "I didn't expect you to pledge a dreadnought. Some Flit squadrons, perhaps―" He paused to collect his thoughts. "Well, I do think it's the right course of action for Waker, but perhaps your stewards will be upset to see their already dwindling force reduced so dramatically."

"Waker will obviously be the theatre of the war's most important battles," Zelda carefully said. "Evidently, Ganondorf Dragmire believes it is the easiest way into Hyrule. With stalemates all over the map, this is his last chance for a strong push. We'll leave the flagship Faron in Hyrule, but I'd like―"

"Princess Zelda!"

She and Shad turned as one, seeing Tetra hurry down the hallway towards them. Zelda paused, uncertain. Tetra stopped in front of them, and smiled sincerely.

"I simply wanted to say, on the Queen's behalf, thank you."

"She could have said so herself―" Shad commented, offended, but Zelda interrupted him with one gesture of her hand.

"Begging for our help would have seemed weak, and her people need a strong queen. It was my pleasure," she added, for Tetra's benefit.

"I know this is doesn't compare, given the circumstances," Tetra said, "but I asked friends in the Civilian Resistance to give me a fixed address for the pilot who brought you here. I think it may be good to surround yourself with Hyrulians in the coming days. He may not be particularly renowned, but as captain, he's the highest-ranked Hyrulian officer in Waker I know of."

Shad took the envelope Tetra handed them. With a lot more tact than Zelda expected, he admitted, "It's true he's come through for us on many an occasion." He eyed Zelda, who was carefully hiding her personal opinion on the topic.

Zelda outstretched her hand, quietly asking for the address. It was odd, the way thinking of the handsome pilot made her heart leap. It was unreasonable, actually. She'd seen plenty of attractive men at court, and those hadn't seen her vomit. A mix of embarrassment and panic gripped her. "Thank you," she said, to Tetra. "I'm sure you're right. He'll be good counsel in the coming days."

Perhaps, Zelda considered, watching Tetra's bright blue eyes flicker with intelligence and perceptiveness, the queen's assistant knew something more, something that amused her somewhat.

Feeling sudden irritation heat her cheeks, she added, a little bit reproachfully, "You seem very pleased with yourself."

Tetra actually laughed. "I'm sorry, your highness. It's just, I allowed myself to look through his records. He's a charming man. Clean record, numerous recommendations, several medals of courage, single… A perfect example of Hyrule's finest. I'd have half a mind to keep him to myself."

"Wait," Shad interrupted, "you looked into Hyrule's military records? How? I thought military matters were exclusive to their respective countries."

Tetra turned her sharp, amused gaze on him. "With all due respect, sir, I make it my business to know these things. But since you insist, he had to provide personal identification when you landed, and under the Open Borders Act, we can access the official files of anyone visiting our country."

Shad scowled. Zelda actually found herself chuckling. She held up the envelope with Link Forester's information within.

"He's single, is he?" She smiled, trying to appear aloof. "Perhaps I should let you talk to him instead."

Tetra looked mildly horrified. "I wouldn't dare. You are a guest of Waker. Pre-war, our sales pitch was going to be 'Sea of Entertainment'. So I humbly suggest, Miss Zelda, that you go entertain yourself while you're away from home. I promise you, what happens in Waker…"

Zelda laughed, the better to hide the sudden heat rising in her chest. With a tone of good humour, she found the strength to joke, "Oh, I'm sure the people would understand their princess frolicking in times of war." When Tetra grinned, Zelda felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Even Shad's lips curled up a little at the corners.

"Well," she said, after a moment, "thank you." She gestured with the envelope. "I, um, I have to send messages to Castleton. I'm sure we will speak later."

"Rutela will want private counsel with you," Tetra agreed. "You brought up some delicate matters and she'd prefer to discuss them with you behind closed doors."

It was on the tip of Zelda's tongue to apologize for inconveniencing them, but she stopped herself. Her reign was weak, and she wouldn't weaken it further. "I wanted to share my sincere concerns. It was not my intention to put Rutela at odds with her court on the topic of an imperial seat of power." Although, to be quite honest, Zelda thought to herself, nursing a neutral expression, the empire of Hylia was hers by birthright, and the coming days would remind the remaining royals of the Hylian Alliance that despite her youth, she was their superior. It was a selfish thought when she put it outwards, but deep down, she felt she would be able to do so much more if they'd just give her the throne. Instead, they dallied, the void left behind by her parents so easily filled locally rather than centrally.

"I'm sure Rutela understands," Tetra agreed, though she averted her sharp blue eyes, the tell-tale sign of a polite lie. Zelda set her jaw and smiled thinly, their previous good humour gone, the sea of diplomacy and words treacherous and delicate to navigate once more.

"Well, good afternoon," she said, and Tetra smiled, sincerely.

"Good afternoon, Zelda. I'll contact you when I can."

With a glance at Shad, Zelda turned on her heel, the envelope in her hand burning her fingers.