Chapter 26 - White Knights

Zelda turned the page with one hand while holding the picture Lindon had drawn with the other, Link leaning against the back of her chair as they went through the images in the book. Myriad was indisposed at the particular time, but was coming to head there as soon as she got a chance to so that she could see if she'd found anything in her own personal research that matched what the farmer had drawn for them to research.

While they turned the pages, Link pointed out a few symbols, but there was always something that made them too different to be a close match. A good half hour of this searching passed by them while they browsed until the door opened with a quiet squeak.

Looking up, they spotted Risek entering the room, and Link couldn't say he was pleased over it, nor could Risek say he was happy to see Link there instead of Myriad as he'd expected, though Zelda seemed to be simply pleased due to the fact that she knew he'd be able to help. Walking over toward their table, he stopped at one of the chairs in order to speak to them.

"The farmer finished the picture?"

"Yes," Zelda nodded, handing it to Risek, "this is it. He said the smaller ones were practice so he could get a proper picture in his head, and the large one in the center is the one we need to focus on."

Risek took the page and looked the crest over. Link and Zelda both watched his face to see what he might come up with, and his response was indeed telling, if not a little surprising. Slowly, his lips parted, his face becoming surprised and at the same time dejected as he sighed out a long breath. With the paper in hand, he turned and walked away from them a few steps while staring at the image upon it quietly and considerately.

Link stood up straight from Zelda's chair, and as he walked around it and toward the Prince, he asked Risek, "What is it? You know that crest?"

Risek took only another moment to stare at it before he let his hands fall to his sides. With a slow nod of his head, he replied, "I do, but you won't find it in any of those books."

Zelda stood up from her chair and turned to face him, standing next to Link as she gave an inquisitive look. "Whom does it belong to then?"

Risek turned around so he could look at the both of them when he gave his answer, but as he opened his mouth, the door to the Library once more squeaked, drawing the three's attention. Myriad came in with Impa just behind her, who had promised to also help look, and they both glanced up to see the three of them standing there.

"I'm sorry I was delayed, and Impa said she'd help search." She stopped herself from saying more upon seeing the looks on their faces, and with a lifted brow, she asked, "Did you find something without me?"

"Yes," Zelda nodded, "Risek knows who the crest belongs to and he was just about to tell us."

"I see," Myriad replied, stepping over to the table where the books were stacked with Impa, adding, "then please, go on, Risek."

Risek sighed in a breath, and looking at the four of them, he finally moved to walk to a chair and pull it out, deciding it was going to be a long conversation. In seeing his movement, Link and Zelda both decided to sit as well, and everyone followed suit. Once settled around the table, Risek placed the crest in the center and finally began to explain.

"There should be a line of text in that ribbon that says words in an ancient tongue that is no longer actively spoken." He pronounced the words for them, and grew quiet for a moment.

Before he could explain what the foreign words meant, Zelda translated for him, "The White Knights of Alnaric?"

Risek looked over at Zelda, his brows narrowed in confusion, and he asked, "How do you know that?"

"The Triforce of Wisdom," she explained. "I'm apparently fluent in all languages, still spoken or not."

"Hmm," Risek drew out aloud, then he looked at everyone else before casting his gaze down again, "She's right. Alnaric is the name of the Ancient Kingdom. Translated into contemporary speak, they would be called The White Knights of Althor."

Link couldn't help his blank, yet surprised stare. Zelda had already picked up on as much though, surprised that, apparently, these Knights hailed from the very Kingdom that Hyrule was allying itself with. Impa and Myriad, on the other hand, weren't showing their thoughts on their faces, and instead, just exchanged a glance between one another. When they did, Myriad looked over and told Risek, "I've heard that name before, but please, continue."

"Very well," Risek nodded. "I was afraid this might be the image Lindon would draw. By Royal law in Althor, I should take this paper and burn it. That is an outlawed crest, meant to be stricken from texts and from the memories of people forever. Only the royal family of Althor has the last remaining coat of arms in existence, kept in secret from all of its people, and they only show it to the members of that family, to remind them of the atrocities they'd performed in the Ancient Kingdom, so they would never commit them again."

"Ancient Kingdom?" Link asked. "You mean Althor, don't you?"

"Somewhat," Risek replied, glancing over at him before he continued. "Althor has two histories, it's current history as Althor, and that of the Ancient Kingdom, called Alnaric, which resided in the Endigan Mountains. Have you ever heard the popular tales of the Dragon named Boemith?"

Link and Zelda were a bit surprised over the mention of the stories, and Link replied, "Yes. Zelda and I heard them as children growing up. We looked them up again about a month ago, but we've never had a change to get back to reading them much since then."

Nodding, Risek went on as he looked back at the crest drawn onto the paper. "The reason I ask is because it seems to be the most popular tale of what could have happened. Alnaric was destroyed completely, and the survivors of the destruction migrated east to the sea where they renamed their Kingdom Althor and continued on there. The reason Alnaric was destroyed, however, remains speculated upon, but the story that most people know is the one that revolves around the Dragon."

Link looked over at his mother when Risek said this, and she looked as if she believed the words the Prince spoke - not that Link thought he was lying - simply waiting for the conversation to continue. Risek had grown quiet for a moment, seeming to gather his thoughts about the matter, and Zelda asked, "What happened with the Dragon?"

Sitting back, Risek told her, "He was known for being the last surviving Dragon, and defending mankind in the face of adversity to his own race, a path which a close friend of his named Effilius the White also took up the torch for. Boemith and Effilius were content to protect Alnaric, and when Boemith went into his first hibernation, Effilius began to search out the most noble of souls to form a contingency of men to which he would grant a portion of his power in the form of a white dragon scale. Those men would be the White Knights, bound to protect both the Kingdom and Boemith until he awoke, and then to protect Effilius when he slept, upholding the laws and justice for mortal men in the meantime under the teachings of the Goddesses. They were holy warriors in a sense I suppose."

They listened carefully to Risek's tale, taking the words in, and somehow found it interesting aside from informative all at the same time. Risek went on after a moment of silence, saying, "The White Knights are just referred to as Dragon Warriors in most texts, only by their true name in a few, and they served to protect the Ancient Kingdom for a long time, a very long time in fact."

"So what happened to them?," Link asked curiously.

Risek shook his head, "I'm not sure completely, it's been a long time since I've heard the tales. They eventually became corrupt, but I can't remember if there was a specific reason or not, and I'm not very good at telling stories anyway. If I had my father's tomes, I could look it up again."

"That doesn't matter Risek," Myriad started, "I remember this story well now that I've heard the name Alnaric again. With your permission, I can take over."

"Please do," Risek agreed, folding his arms together across his chest. "I'm sure you could tell it better than I could."

Myriad smiled a bit, then she took in a breath, starting with the words, "I thought I saw one of these riders at Zelda's birthday party, and ever since, I'd contemplated these terms. When I heard the words White Knights, I tried to think of what I could, but this story didn't particularly stand out for me. There are many groups of White Knights in the world after all, even a few in Hyrule's history, and I would have remembered the tale before now if I'd known of that crest and had remembered the name Alnaric. Impa, you know this tale too, don't you?"

"I do," Impa nodded, looking at Link, Zelda, and then Risek. "You're right, Prince Risek, they began to crave more power than they'd been allotted by Effilius the White, and became so devout to the Goddesses that they did more harm than good."

Myriad, with a nod, added to the story, "Their belief that they were the chosen divine became full of Pride, not one speck of sin could tarnish a mortals soul against the Goddesses, otherwise that person lived in fear of their retribution. As you can imagine, the world became full of sin and vice in their eyes, and they were in need of more power to cleanse it. So they used the White Scale, which granted them what power they did have, to, instead of protect Effilius, drain him while he slumbered, until eventual death it was rumored. After all, their quest, as they saw it, was handed to them directly from the Goddess Nayru, as Effilius the White was one of logic and reason, her very signature."

To Link and Zelda both, that sounded horrible. Devout worship was fine, but to be so devout that anything anyone else did became sinful was simply madness. But Zelda found herself curious about a second issue, asking, "So the Dragons have different creators?"

"Yes," Impa nodded to Zelda's question, "According to legend, the three types of Dragons coincided with their Goddesses. White and Blue follow Nayru, Green and Gold belong to Farore, and Red and Black are of Din's flock. Each, of course, had their different strengths."

Link looked to the side while thinking this over, unable to help but shake his head in disgust, saying, "But they just drained Effilius dry even though he created them?"

"Well, power corrupts," Impa retorted, "and I can only imagine that this power went to their heads completely in this sense. They more than likely viewed their actions as," she thought for the words with a wave of her hand, "the lesser of two evils."

The descriptions and explanations made a good bit of sense. After all, some people did jump at the chance for power, and then go overboard with it, finding outrageous ways and excuses to justify themselves. All Link had to think of was Ganondorf in order to prove that. He had the Triforce of Power, and apparently that was enough of a reason for him to become a murdering tyrant. So when Link thought of that, it didn't seem so strange that these supposed holy warriors would commit such an act themselves.

But Myriad continued with her explanation, no lack of intrigue in her voice as she spoke, "As you can imagine, once Boemith awoke to find that his friend had been drained of all power, he became furious and muted that power of the White Knights in the hope that they would see the error of their ways, using his red scale to do so."

Link looked down with a soft sigh of breath as he knew what was coming. So waving a hand, he asked, "Let me guess, they never did though, did they?"

"Oh no," Myriad shook her head, "there are no interesting plot turns here. Though, for a while they behaved under the watchful eye of Boemith, allowed to keep the white scale that they had been gifted with, and once more they returned to serving their duties properly. In the meanwhile, Boemith gave the red scale he used to control them to his Dragon Master, a figure he'd already established during his long lifetime, which would be passed on from generation to generation in order to help see to it that the White Knights never tried to return to their former state while Boemith entered into his second slumber."

"During this second hibernation, the descendants of the Dragon Master, blessed with Boemith's gift of strength and power through his red scale, found themselves pitted against the once more growing threat of the White Knights who began to return to their former ways, and eventually, enlisted the help of a foreigner to aide assistance in stopping them again, known only as the Hero of Light."

Zelda, Impa, and Myriad all cast their gazes at Link, the pieces of the story falling together somehow. As they did, Link laid his forehead on the table and he muttered out from against his arm, "Don't look at me like that."

Risek narrowed a brow in curiosity over the matter, asking, "Why are you looking at him like that?"

Zelda lifted a hand to Link's back sympathetically and rubbed it slowly. When she did, she explained it to Risek, "Hyrule has its own legend of a Hero, with a similar name, and Link fulfilled that prophecy when he overcame Ganondorf in the Sacred Realm, the only one who can wield the Master Sword. He's the chosen Hero according to Legend, and it sounds as if he may be the same as the one mentioned in this story we're hearing now."

Risek looked over at the Hylian who'd bowed his head, having known some of the extent of his accomplishments, though he wasn't fully versed in them yet, and considered what Link might have already been through while he thought it all over. Somehow, he got the feeling that, aside from knowing they both shared a piece of the Sacred Relic called the Triforce, their fates might be more intertwined than they knew so far.

While he considered this, Myriad went on with the story. "Well, in this tale, the heroic figure helped the Dragon Master to hide the floating Island of Navat, which was a magical island created centuries beforehand by the Dragons as a safe haven from humans when they were so rigorously hunted. The Hero of Light and the Dragon Master were successful in expelling the Knights from the Island, and peace returned to Alnaric."

"In the wake of that peace however, the Royals became so consumed with making sure that no one else carried on the torches of the White Knights due to the tyranny they'd put the Kingdom through, that they tortured innocent people and even killed them if they were suspected of being one."

Link turned a disgusted look up after his mother spoke those words, and Zelda glanced at Risek, wondering if this was the atrocity he'd spoken of, the reason his family had outlawed the former crest of his Kingdom from being displayed anywhere. But before she could ask, Impa added more to the story in order to bring it to a close.

"Following this, Boemith awoke from his second hibernation to find the Kingdom in a different sort of peril, one brought on by it's own hands, and in his rage, he decided to destroy the entire Kingdom, all save a handful of people with good souls who relocated near the sea, and formed what we know is the Kingdom of Althor."

That did a good job to answer Zelda's question. Risek had also heard that part of the tale several times, enough to have it memorized. So in light of the story being completely now, he added to it.

"Some say it was a natural disaster that destroyed the Ancient Kingdom," he began, "others say it was the people themselves, and yet more believe in the Dragon Tales to be truth, which have become widely accepted by many. What is left of Alnaric however is located on the forbidden slopes of the Endigan Mountains, and no one is permitted to go there by royal law. I myself wasn't sure what I believed, but seeing this now makes it sound as if those tales might actually be true. Especially since I also know now that the Triforce isn't just a myth. Though some part of me has always believed it anyway, otherwise there would be no outlawed crest."

Link pushed himself forward with his arms resting against the table, he and Zelda knowing firsthand just how real the Triforce was, having witnessed for themselves a portion of the full power an assembled relic had, and Myriad knew even better than they did. But that wasn't the issue now. What was, aside from their intentions, was why were these White Knights of Althor in Hyrule now, and Link asked that.

"So, what do they want from us then? Why Hyrule? Do you think they're looking for something in specific? Or maybe they disagree with the attempt for an alliance altogether."

Myriad had considered that, and she looked at Impa for just a moment, then stood from the table, walking over to the window in the room while looking outside at the currently clear skies. She wished she knew the answer to that for certain, and she suggested, "It could be for the Triforce, but only arrogance would suggest they were after anything we possess, and instead, they could simply be against the alliance as you suggested, Link, out for our destruction. And on that note, why would they want our destruction if that is the case? Or why would they want the Triforce?"

Thinking about it now, Zelda slowly stood up. Link turned his head when she did, watching her pace toward a window herself, though she didn't stand at it, turning back to the table in a slow, thoughtful pace, her face one of deep thought. Coming to a stop, she closed her eyes, concentrating on what she knew, what she could be told inside of herself. As always, Zelda felt there were many answers within her reach, she just needed to understand them.

After a moment, her violet blue eyes opened, and she looked first at Link, then up at the rest of them. "The Triforce of Wisdom was used to wipe the knowledge of the floating island's location from the minds of the White Knights." Then she looked at Risek and said, "That of Power was used to expel them from the island altogether."

Things still felt unclear to her as far as the story went. Shaking her head, knowing she couldn't push it, the wisdom her half of the Triforce carried not something she could simply absorb into her mind all at once because it was far to much for anyone to handle, she finished by adding one thing she did know. "The Triforce of Courage was used to seal that power away from them, suggesting that the Hero in this tale may have had all three pieces, or at least access to them. Boemith's red scale completed this effort, and so to undo the seal, they may need those pieces again, which could be an answer as to why they're here in Hyrule."

Peering back over at them, glancing at their thoughtful expressions in turn, she added logically, "It stands to reason that, since I was attacked by a man who'd been placed under their whims, they have no clue who possesses it, or even that anyone does."

"You make a good point," Myriad started, then she looked at her son and at Risek, adding, "Link, Risek, I think that for now, all knowledge of the locations of either piece of the Triforce should be kept secret between us. Neither of us know who it is that could be one of the Knights, and if they realize that either of you possess a piece, that information could be used against you."

Link felt a degree of obligation in that moment. He now knew what his role was, at least, at that time, and that role was to protect the pieces of the Triforce, as well as those who carried them. Zelda he'd always protected, and didn't have a problem with that, but Risek was a slightly different story, and Link knew that there could be an issue of pride involved. But despite this, Link would keep a watchful eye over the man anyway, no matter his personal issues, just because he would die before allowing someone else malevolent to possess any piece of it, especially that of Power, knowing full well what that particular half was capable of.

"I agree completely," Risek replied through Link's quiet thought, his words earnest, and he added, "I hate to think someone I know and trust could be behind this, but this is one thing I would not even inform my own father of, as it could put him at risk as well. Since these Knights hail from my homeland, I can't be certain who is involved. But I will be keeping my eyes open on my own people here with me, though I'm not sure a diplomat could come to Hyrule with a secret agenda this large and still be able to maintain the progress we've made so far in negotiations."

They knew they could believe him, after all, he'd been just as dejected over finding out the truth as any man in his shoes would be, and Risek honestly did feel shame for realizing that the White Knights hailed from his own Kingdom. Though, it wasn't his fault, and he was just as in the dark as they were about why these Knights had appeared in Hyrule to begin with, as well as where they'd potentially come from within his. While they considered this, Zelda sat back down and gave Risek a nod and a smile to reassure him that she believed him.

"I have to agree. Ambassador Arrik seems far too eager to see relations mended. Perhaps one of the other Diplomats, but that also seems hard to believe given the circumstances."

All of them nodded slowly, thinking that whoever was behind this had to be someone they'd yet to meet, except for Risek who could have easily known them. But thoughts of who the Knights were began turning more to how they'd suddenly shown up. Link was desperately trying to figure this out. If there had been a seal placed upon their power, then why and how were they suddenly popping up again after so long? Maybe it had to do with the dragon scales.

When he considered this, he suddenly had a thought about their origins, and then looked at his mother, asking, "Could it be possible that they still have the white scale Effilius gave them?"

Myriad thought that over for a moment, and then slowly nodded her head. "Yes, it would be feasible, Link." She looked at him as if she knew what he might have had in mind, allowing him to stand up from the table and push his chair under it.

When he did, he started, "Then that has to be what's still giving them power now. After all, Risek," Link went on, looking over at the Prince, "you've never even seen them before, have you?"

"No," Risek replied, "there is no official contingency of White Knights in Althor now. There never will be again no doubt."

"Then something had to have happened to make them suddenly appear. Whatever that reason is, it could be because of that Scale, still providing them power."

"That's a good point, Link," Impa told him. "After all, even sealing the power away at Navat wouldn't stop any power provided by a Dragon's scale. It could be that they're searching for a way to release the power they once had."

Link nodded, finishing for her, "Then, no matter what they're after, what we have to do now is find the White Scale, and destroy it so they'll no longer have that power at all."

Myriad couldn't help a smile. Link's summation seemed to be fairly accurate, but there was one last issue they'd yet to tackle. Now seemed the best time to bring it up. "This is true, however, it is a dragon scale, Link. If myth is accurate, then it would be nigh indestructible. So not only will destroying it be a chore in and of itself, getting close to the Knights with such a power as they possess will also take a special effort. Not only can they control people for a short amount of time, but they are more than likely formidable opponents as well, though I'm sure their powers have limits with the seal placed upon them. Things may, however, be made easier if we take certain steps to ensure our success."

Myriad sounded as if she were suggesting something in specific, and she stepped over to her son while the other three watched, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Link, you know what you need to do now."

Link had a fairly good idea. Glancing at Impa, then at Risek and Zelda, he listened to his Mother confirm the thought for him. "Travel to the Lost Woods. You'll need to take up your sword once more."

A stone if silence fell into the room it seemed, and Link stood up straight from where he had leaned against the back of his chair, finally nodding his head. He'd hoped he would never have to use that weapon again despite it's usefulness, but as Myriad had told him only a day or so ago, he would always be what he was born as, and that would never change, not until he was dead anyway.

Despite the fact that he would rather let the Sword of Evil's Bane rest, he apparently had a job to do. It bothered him a little, though it also wasn't completely surprising somehow. Turning his head, he looked at Zelda and saw her giving him a supportive smile that was small, and perhaps even sorrowful somehow, as if she understood the plight of carrying the weapon, no matter how useful or strong it actually was.

"I should probably go as soon as possible," he said to her. "What do you think, Zelda?"

"I think you're right," she told him in response. "Too much has happened already, and if it continues to go on, someone could really be hurt, or even killed. In the meantime, it may be wise to look up the myths on Dragon Scales, just to find out exactly what they can do for someone, and perhaps gain a better understanding of what we're up against."

"First we should tell you father," Impa suggested. "I'll stay here and find as many books as I can. Link, why don't you go prepare to leave, and Zelda, you can take Risek and Myriad with the picture to inform Hadinaru of everything we've learned here now."

"That sounds like a good idea," Link replied, then he turned and gave Zelda a kiss on the cheek. Once he'd pulled back, he said, "I'll let you know when I'm going to leave."

"Alright," Zelda smiled in reply, watching him as he went toward the doors of the library, opening them in order to go get ready. Link sighed as he went down the hallway, thinking all of this over. Maybe he should have just brought the sword back to the Palace to begin with, to continue using it after he'd dethroned Ganondorf. But somehow, it just hadn't seemed suiting. This was simply a new threat that could have come about at any time. Link was simply thankful that someone was about who could actually wield the Master Sword, which would definitely give them - almost literally - the edge they needed to overcome this.

No matter what happened though, Link determined to himself that he wouldn't fail.