TWENTY-NINE
ZELDA'S DECISION
Princess Zelda
I decided the moment I woke up this morning that I am going to Gerudo, with the troops.
As disgusting as it would be to behave in such a fashion, I am willing to throw my weight around if necessary. I may not be able to force Link out of his mission, but I have found my way in.
Last night, I happened to overhear part of a conversation by mistake that could be the way in. I was on the verge of falling asleep, much later than Paya as usual, when I heard Impa slide her door open and closed.
"…completely understand your feelings, but I am afraid I cannot condone your request to join the battle, Dorian. You had no right to demand that of Master Link. And you have a duty to your family."
"You are right as always, Lady Impa. My family is everything to me."
The pair of them continue, no idea they are being eavesdropped upon. I suppose Impa has never been upstairs to notice how much one can hear from here. This house is like a little concert hall, and it certainly would be fit for one, given the amount of dramatics that have occurred here recently.
So, Dorian wants to join the fight against Sheikah, but Impa will not have it. That is good: he is a widower with two tiny daughters. But she might let him come to Gerudo if he were just guarding me. Paya and Impa would watch his children while he is away, and once the battle was over, I would come back to Kakariko with him.
In theory.
The entire village is tense this morning. Even the Cuccos do not holler their good mornings at dawn. Paya trembles whatever she does: her twin hair buns are startlingly uneven, and I have never seen Cado pace about so much.
Impa assembles us all, even though the party barely fits into her front room. She expects us to all dine briefly together, to ask the blessings of the Goddess, and then for Link to set off with Prince Sidon and the aid of his upgraded slate. I will wait to break my news.
Ceremonial candles are lit, and tea is stirred by Paya. Though I certainly appreciate them, I am left cold by the rituals, as they remind me of my constant physical and mental struggle to unlock my powers. Impa serves the warriors' tea first: Prince Sidon and Link, and they touch their cups together before the first sip.
Cado brings forth a little idol of the Goddess Hylia, which is placed in front of Impa and facing all of us. From my place left of Link, I bow down along with everyone present, and try to focus on Impa's words of prayer.
Instead, I am saying my own: Goddess, keep them safe. Please be with them where I cannot. Be with Link most of all, and protect him, where I might have failed to stop him.
But I know I will not fail to protect him.
Impa has arranged a mighty fine feast, almost as extravagant as the one held at Zora's Domain, although not nearly as large. Plates pile in from the food store and are handed through the screen door by the shopkeeper, who bows deeply every time she passes in a plate. As the last plate comes in, I make sure I stand and catch the door, in order to thank the older woman personally.
The room patiently waits until I am sat to begin eating. We all dine as friends and equals, and plates are passed between all of us with no mind who is passing to whom. I am hungrier than I have been for a good week or so, and I cannot wait until my plate is full. I snack on whatever is in front of me. There is a plate of my favourite steamed meat buns, absolutely perfect, soft and round, that I am a little bit reluctant to share with anyone.
I am still finished long before anyone else. I have lost count which plateful the Prince and Link are on, but on the other end of the scale is Impa, who seems to chew each bite a hundred times.
Once the feast is over, and the Goddess idol is back in her velvet-lined box, the atmosphere turns decidedly serious.
Prince Sidon and Link roll out the map of the Yiga hideout. Watching over Link's shoulder, I try to commit it to memory. After discussing their plan once more, they begin to make a list of supplies they will need from the town. I wait for an opening to interrupt, my heart leaping into my throat every time one of them pauses, but not once am I able to get a word in.
Eventually, the two men finish their discourse, and everyone gets ready to stand, except Impa and I.
I seize my chance, rudely cutting across Impa: "I propose a small change to the plans."
Everyone pauses. Link and Sidon exchange a glance.
"I will be accompanying you to Gerudo."
Nobody dares say anything, though I can tell they all cannot wait to speak at once. Impa, as our senior, gets there first.
"I think it would be safest for you to stay here, Princess, as already discussed."
"Dorian," I ask, blithely ignoring any other face in the room, "would you kindly accompany me? I understand it is an imposition upon your plans, but I would like to meet at last with Chief Riju, and see that the strike goes as planned."
Dorian is kind enough to bow politely, his hands folded in front of his waist, without a show of surprise. "Of course, your Highness, if that is what you wish."
Nobody feels comfortable enough to argue. I feel satisfied, but also as though I have manipulated everyone. Is this how a ruler should feel?
I cannot look anyone into the eye for the rest of the evening. Once everyone has retired, either to their rooms, the Inn or the watch posts, I am able to look at Impa. She does not meet my gaze, but speaks regardless.
"Do you remember the reason for preserving the life of your remaining Champion, your Highness?"
"I do." How could I forget?
"In that case, I was hoping that perhaps you would understand why your life has to be preserved now." She is treading the line very carefully. Not many people ought to get away with speaking to a member of the Royal family out of turn.
"I see it as a necessary risk," I say trippingly. "Dorian has happily agreed to accompany me, and I would rather be with the Gerudo that awaiting news from far away." I try aiming a smile at Impa. "I would like to greatly thank you for your hospitality. We could not have achieved everything that we have in the past weeks without your kindness, Impa."
Impa's face remains unchanged. "I won't tell you I'm not concerned," she replies, "but I know there is little I can do to change your mind. And I suppose it is more useful for you to meet with the Gerudo Chief than stay here, waiting for news."
I stand, reach down, and embrace her. My head rests in the crook of her bony shoulder, like it used to when we embraced as young women.
"Please," she urges, "do not be reckless. Hyrule needs you."
I cannot lie to her, and so I faintly nod: a brief inclination of my head, giving nothing away.
Upstairs I pack my bag: a change of clothes, my notes, a bag of cooked and dried mushrooms and a number of small bottles which may come in use for elixirs. I take the spare paper Paya gave me, folded up inside my notebook. I wonder if she is still worried for Link, and I feel even guiltier, knowing that she will now be in the situation I would find myself in, had I not insisted upon coming along. Despite thinking my plan to set them up was brilliant in theory a mere few days ago, I am now unsure if it is my place any more to decide what happens between the two of them. Time will tell, perhaps: I pray it proves me wrong about their suitability.
As I come downstairs, ready to meet with the gentlemen, I see that Impa is holding another Sheikah slate in her hands. She beckons me over, patting the cushion beside her. Impatiently I sit and watch as she brings the slate to life.
"This is a new feature," she explains, touching the rune shaped like a lens which brings up the camera. "My sister has had this feature added to Link's Sheikah slate. It means that you can speak to me, on this slate, through the camera on his. Just watch-"
She presses a rune which looks like a simplified face, and holds the camera up in front of the pair of us. The rune button pulses, and then the screen ripples like a puddle of water, and there is a flash of pink.
"What-?"
The camera angle shuffles, moves around, and a very confused Link - without his tunic or shirt - appears. The camera is pointed to his left shoulder. He is glaring at the camera with a very confused expression, and his finger flickers across the view of himself as he taps the screen.
"Ahem, Master Link," announces Impa. Is that an impish glint in her eye, or am I imagining it?
Link gasps, throws his hand across his bare chest, and then drops the slate: we are treated to a view of the ceiling of the Inn and some loud rustling as Link quickly clothes himself. I can feel my cheeks warming as I noticed the freckles on his shoulders once again. He'll know next time not to open the slate without being fully clothed.
When he picks it up again, he is wearing a simple white undershirt. He apologises, the look of confusion still on his face.
"So you see," Impa says to both of us, "You can communicate with me through this. At the moment, only these two slates are linked, so you need only press the speech rune if either of you need to communicate with me."
Link and I both nod.
"Master Link, are you and his Highness almost ready?" Impa asks. "I would like you to transport with Dorian first, returning to the shrine on the hill, where we will all wait for you."
Link nods again and slings his pack onto his back with his free arm. Impa closes the screen and sets her slate on the table. I am relieved at this new technological advance: at least this way we both feel that we can check on each other.
"Are you ready to go, Princess?" Impa asks. "If so, I will walk with you down to the shrine."
"Of course," I reply. She looks a little too tired to walk all the way there on her tiny legs, but I am sure that she will not be persuaded otherwise. I pick up my pack, and slide the door open, stepping out into the cool night air.
A/N: Many thanks again for the kind reviews and a big shout out to my frequent readers.
AMENDMENT! I'm so, so sorry to the people I confused - one more chapter to go until the Yiga battle, not one more of the whole story. I can't wrap up that fast haha!
