Beautiful Blades
Chapter 29: The Last Day (24 Hours Remain)
The sounds of laughter and bells awoke Dark the next morning. His eyes fluttered open as sound floated in from the streets and from the inn's lobby below, the atmosphere merry. He moaned at the unexpected alarm as he rolled over onto his back and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to wipe away the drowsiness feeling from his eyes. His mind slowly kicked into gear as the gentle sunlight from early dawn colored his bedroom floor from the stain-glass window.
He snuggled deeper into his soft blankets as he heard children giggle and shout about something outside. The night before had been a late one, and he was starting to feel behind on sleep. He was far too comfortable to get out of bed now. And since his tyrant of a master had left Hyrule some time ago, there was no one here to tell him that it was time to get out of bed.
Unfortunately for him, the events of last night immediately rushed back into his mind and his eyes flew wide open. He laid there as he continued to remember, wishing that everything had been a bizarre dream. Maybe it had been. Maybe he didn't totally blow off finding that tattooed man and went into a creepy old pipeline and nearly got killed by a giant walking hand. But a quick glance to the chair in his room where a dirty tunic hung and the small cuts on his arm reminded him that last night was very much real.
Groaning, he sat up, pulling his legs closer to his chest as he thought about everything once more. He lifted his arm up to examine a small red wound on his wrist, using his other hand to slide his finger gently across the damaged skin. He carefully felt the broken skin, but it didn't really hurt at least. As long as he did't apply strong pressure.
Thank the gods for that. With all the crap he has put up with, pain wasn't something he wanted to add. He brought his hand up to run it through his hair as stress built up in his chest. Today was the day. The final day in Hyrule, at least officially. Tonight was the ball, the last time he was going to have with Link.
Link….
Dark pulled the blankets back and stood out of bed, strolling over to the mirror and staring into it. He looked terrible. He was going to need another bath before the ball, although he wondered where he could get a proper one in this city. Perhaps at the castle? Dark lifted up a corner of his hair, gave a small frown, and let it drop. He picked up the wooden brush from the table and quickly ran it through his hair, before tying it up for the day.
What was he going to do about Link? Just how was he going to help him now? Sheik had requested that he tell Princess Zelda (a.k.a. Link) about their discovery in the pipeline, but the thought terrified Dark. How was he going to explain why he was there without revealing the Resistance's existence? Or without having to give an explanation as to why he was even out there originally?
Would he buy that I was just wandering around and fell down the hole? Dark wondered as he picked up a clean tunic and pulled it over his head. He straighten the cloth and wrapped his belt around his waist before pulling the armband that labeled him as the acting Personal Guard to Princess Zelda up high. … Maybe not, he's not dumb.
Furthermore, was Dark going to be happy leaving Link without ever telling him how he felt? At that thought, Dark paused as he was strapping his sword to his waist. He stood there for a moment, listening to the cheerful sounds from the street, before gripping his weapon tightly with nerves. He wished he could share the joy with the children from outside, but the thought of the lies he has told Link and the prospect of possibly confessing to him before he left Hyrule was… difficult to think about.
Dark never had a problem lying to people who irritated him or who had done him wrong, but to people he cared about… it was tough on him. He was taught to never lie to his prince, and he carried those teachings onward to others who have become important to him. Such feelings he did not have before he met the prince. He could lie and deceive as easily as he could breathe to anyone before he was picked up.
Those times were long gone, though. Letting out a huge breath, Dark finished dressing himself and took one last look in the mirror. There was no need to tell Link his feelings, right? After all, it's not like Link will receive them. He may have been raised a girl, but he was a male underneath the disguise. It's foolish to think that there was any chance for him, a foreigner and a male, to believe he even had a chance with Link. Attraction isn't taught; it's innate.
Besides, Dark was determined to not make this the last night in Hyrule. He told Link he took care of that tattooed man, and he did not plan to make a liar of himself to his crush. After the ball tonight, Dark was going to make it his mission to find that man for sure.
First thing was first though. Dark needed to at least tell Link about the monsters lurking below the streets of Hyrule. He had a feeling that if he didn't, Sheik would know about it and come after him. Dark figured he hasn't seen the fullest potential to Sheik's skills, but he didn't doubt that Sheik somehow knew everything. Hopefully he could come up with some sort of cover story that Link would believe. Dark didn't want to lie, but he was already caught in a web of lies that if he stopped now, Link would quickly see that the rest of the picture was bogus.
Shit.
Satisfied that he was ready for the day, Dark nodded at his reflect and went to the door, gripping the cool handle and pulling it open. Almost instantly the joyful laughter and cheerful chatter got louder, reminding Dark that today was more than just a ball; it was a festival for all the people of Hyrule. In the hallway a Deku Scrub and a large man were discussing inventory for the day, and both gave Dark a polite nod as a greeting. Dark returned the gesture as he proceeded down the stairs. He quickly got to see the chaos in the cafeteria as everyone who was staying at the inn was already up.
He managed to find a seat for breakfast as he surveyed the area, unable to keep himself from at least enjoying the sight. Children ran around the tables, excited for their parents to finish their meal so they can go outside and play games and eat candy. Gorons were already celebrating early; they clicked their mugs together and gave a cheer before chugging down whatever alcoholic drink they had. One of the smaller Gorons finished first and slammed his mug down in victory, yelling a huge 'HA' at his peers. A few human bystanders gave applause for the Goron.
The Goron gave a tiny bow. "And if that impresses you, humans, just wait until you see me in the ring, goro!" he laughed, thumping his chest with his fist.
"As if!" one of the large Gorons chuckled, wrapping an arm around the smaller one. "When it comes to sumo, I'm going to win this year, goro! I've been training all year!"
"If you call sleeping in the hot springs 'training', then sure you have a real shot!" another Goron roared with laughter as he said this, earning uncontrollable howling from the rest of his friends.
Dark gave a small smile and shook his head at their behavior. Gorons were often so serious and scary, but then they were so lively that you often forget that they could tear your head off if the mood hit them.
Not unlike the Gorons, the humans were getting ready to enjoy the day as well, ready to have one day of ease on their minds. A day to forget the horrors and worries of their world around them. Dark wished he could join them in that, but he had a job to do.
As he fell deeper into his thoughts again, the noise started to fade out for him. He stared at his hands as he remembered that last night he learned that magic may be real. How many other people were aware of this? Was he the only one who had believed that it was all nonsense? Correction: still believed that it was nonsense? Despite the strong belief from the Resistance group, Dark still wasn't convinced that what he saw wasn't nothing more than a hallucination. Hmph, magic. Yeah right. It's only something you tell children so that they have hopes and dreams.
Dark rested his head on his palm and sighed. Link probably thought the same, so what should he tell him about the 'hands?' Maybe what Dark saw wasn't hands, but people. Perhaps they wore costumes, and Sheik had thought he saw Dark go through a wall. There had not been much light down there, so it isn't out of the realm of possibility that the shadows tricked Sheik's eyes.
That was a lot more plausible than magic walking hands eating people and defending territory. Once again, though, Dark felt in his gut that if he failed to convey the information to Link, Sheik would find him and rip his heart out.
Do Sheikah eat hearts?
He suddenly felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Having not suspecting that, Dark tensed up and nearly jumped into a defense position. His startled movement in turn startled Marin, who quickly pulled her hand back and held the tray in her arms closer to her chest. "I-I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, pushing some stray hair behind her ear. "I called your name but you didn't respond."
It took a moment before his muscles relaxed. He cleared his throat and shook his head, giving her the best smile he could. "No, no, it's alright," he said, hoping he didn't sound concerned about anything. The events of last night left him a bit twitchy. He needed to calm down. "I was lost in thought."
Marin set down a glass of water in front of him. "Anju is making your breakfast this morning. We are so busy, especially since we got new guests last night." She let out a weary sigh and glanced over to her right. She had bags under her eyes, most likely due to that new group. "They were up all night practicing."
Dark peered around her to see what she was looking at. A group of performers sat in the corner, discussing their entertainment plans for the day. Two men were juggling with the oranges that were supposed to be their breakfast as two girls argued over their dance routine. One particular guest, who didn't seem to be with the group, wore a skin-tight green outfit and was throwing confetti about. He was a particularly disturbing guest to behold.
"I see," Dark replied, his eyebrow rising at the strange sight before him. Marin wiped her brow with her free hand, before suddenly gasping as she remembered something.
"I almost forgot!" she exclaimed. "You didn't come home before I went to bed last night. Your suit for the ball as arrived!" she told him, looking extremely excited for him. She secretly wondered why he was out so late but didn't pursue it. "It's quite handsome. I'll bring it up to your room after breakfast."
He had nearly forgotten about the outfit he had gotten fitted for with Miss Victoria. "Oh, thank you," he said with a true smile, wondering how the final product looked. He thought about asking to see it now, but a quick look around the inn made him change his mind. Marin was really busy, so it was probably best to let her finish her work first. He could come back and see it later.
Dark didn't get to look much longer as Anju suddenly emerged from the kitchen and ran over with Dark's food, nearly ramming down the plate in front of him.
Dark pulled his head back in surprise at the lack of gentleness on Anju's part. Wiping her brow, Anju was swift to apologize. "I'm terribly sorry," she told him, looking a bit down. "It's been busy all morning." She most likely said that as justification for her lack of graceful service.
"No worries," Dark assured her, staring down at the food. He wasn't sure, but he could have sworn that the porridge was moving on its own. He refrained from allowing his lip to pull up in disgust, before remembering that there was supposed to be someone else here. Kafei.
Curiosity quickly got the best of him. "Where is… um, Kafei, right?" he asked, picking up his spoon out of politeness. He may have met a real Sheikah, but a Sheikah still wasn't considered a freak of nature (at least not to common folk, Dark had other thoughts). Kafei was still someone like himself in the world, and he wanted to connect with him, someone who would understand the plight he faced day after day with his red eyes.
At the mention of his name, Anju's face quickly started to beam. Dark hoped that he didn't have expression when he thought about Link (at least, not in front of other people so clearly). "Oh, he went out for a while. He won't be back till this afternoon. Mr. Tarin asked him to run errands for him for the festivities tonight."
A bit disappointed to hear that, Dark gave her an understanding nod as a response.
At the mention of tonight, Marin suddenly got a slightly sad expression. "I'm sorry that tonight is your last night in our inn, Sir Dark." She tried to smile at him but it looked forced. Apparently, Marin was not very skillful at goodbyes. "It truly has been a pleasure to be your hostess."
Oh crap. Dark had been to wrapped up with everything else that he forgot that he may want to extend his stay here at the inn (if he could find a way to delay his return home). In fact… he had forgotten that this may be his last night with Marin as well. She was the first person to be nice to him, and he had literally forgotten to say his farewells.
"R-right…" he said slowly, putting the spoon down and giving her a rather weak smile back, hoping it looked convincing enough. Honestly, he didn't really want to say these next words. It sounded so formal… as if he really had to say goodbye forever to one of the few people who hasn't yet let him down in any way in this country. "I am grateful for everything. Thank you."
He truly did mean that. She had gone up and beyond for him since his stay, including taking him to a shady part of town. She didn't bombard him with questions or scold him for his choices. He didn't really have a way to repay her yet. He hoped he could in the future.
Marin turned pink. She twirled her hair around her finger as she looked down at the ground. "It was nothing. I hope you will come back again."
Anju looked between them as the Marin and Dark sat in silence for a moment, letting the chatter of guests fill the void. Luckily (or unluckily for Marin) Dark didn't pick up on the social cue, and sat there as he was embarrassed that he couldn't properly thank her. Marin continued to twirl her hair, embarrassed for another reason, until she heard Tarin's voice call out to her.
She took the chance to escape. Without another word, she twirled on her heel and quickly shuffled away, keeping her head down. Anju smiled, patted Dark's shoulder, then followed her friend back into the kitchen. Very much confused, Dark picked up the spoon again and tried the still-moving liquid-like substance that took the appearance of food. The moment it touched his tongue he spat it out like it was poison and wiped his mouth.
Good gods, if this is Anju's cooking then Kafei must either have no sense of taste, is part monster, or has the patience of a god. Either way, Dark was now more than ever convinced he wanted to meet this man at least once.
Not long after breakfast (which consisted of stealing morsels from any plate left unattended up the other guests that was clearly Marin's cooking), Dark left the inn to go to the castle. The moment he stepped out into the street, he was met with a new Hyrule he had never witnessed before.
And he loved just about every second of it. Or he would have if he could stop thinking about the horrors of last night.
Lining the road were many homemade stands, each one covered in colorful displays, and overheard banners and flags decorated the sky. Most of the stands lacked any color scheme, but a few were clearly meant to honor one of the particular goddesses. As Dark strolled down the street, trying hard not to push rudely past the many people, he noted one particular stand that was for the goddess Din, selling a dessert-like treat that hailed from desert cultures. Most of the stands, though, were getting final touches since the real festivities weren't until later that day.
Still, already everyone was full of energy for the day. Women clinked their glasses together and chugged down their wine. They snickered at their behavior, until some children ran by blaming each other loudly for breaking 'Old Mr. Anderson's walking stick.' The women fell silent, before passing the wine around for refills.
The men stood in circles discussing the best plan of action to get the maximum enjoyment out of the day, mapping out paths to take through the city and which popular stands needed to be hit before the crowd gathered. They made it sound serious, perhaps even more serious than the negotiation meetings Dark had to attend.
There were even shops set up by non-humans. A Goron father and son duo had just finished their final touches to their stand. Dark watched as the son dragged a sign out reading 'Hot Spring Water' in front of their table. The father gave an approving nod and handed his son a small bottle as a reward. The small Goron giggled and quickly poured the contents of the bottle over his head. Steam quickly rose off his body as the liquid rapidly cooled in the morning air. And just a few steps down the street two Business Deku Scrubs argued over a spot, each claiming that they had the rights to sell there.
It was a shame that Dark couldn't enjoy the holiday here among the people instead. As much as he loved Link, he didn't really want to spend his last official evening at a ball. Still, he didn't have a choice. Even not here Dark still had a secret fear of his master.
Like Sheik, Orland seemed to have a way to know just about everything when it comes to Dark not properly doing his diplomatic duties. Clearly, though, when it comes to illegal activity, he was completely oblivious. That or he didn't care, but Dark felt that it was the former.
Some of the children he had heard that morning raced by him and up to a table with a huge sign next to it, where a red-haired man sat with a huge smile on his face. "Are you interested in a mask, young man?" he asked one of the children, indicating to several masks he had laid out. There were many masks, ranging from cute to creepy, wooden to fluffy. As the boy took time to make a decision, the salesman looked up at Dark and noticed his stare. The man gave him a strange, knowing smile, as if he was somehow let in on a secret.
A shiver ran down Dark's spine and he quickly turned his head. I guess the creeps come too, he thought to himself. He picked up his pace a bit to get away from the mask shop and continued to make his way to the castle.
As he did, he looked about at the people, amazed by just how many people were…unaware of the nightmare that lived just below their feet. Their spirits were high and cheer in their steps. Day after day there was no whisper among the common people about monsters crawling out to kill people. Despite sharing the knowledge with the Resistance group, Dark felt very much alone in this city suddenly. What he knew weighed heavy on his mind.
Get a grip, Dark, there is no magic!
The closer he got to the castle, the more elaborate and the more intense the stands got. Tents made of expensive carpets, decorations made from gold and jewels glittering in the sun, and merchandise that were rare now littered the streets. It was less busy here for now. Dark took the chance to walk and look some more, taking note of the interesting things this part of town had to offer. Overall, he was rather impressed until he reached a tent where a person he recognized sat behind a crystal ball, chanting.
"GAH!" he said as he froze. It was her, the freaky fortune telling lady. He glanced about to make sure no one heard his pathetic cry. Luckily, not even the lady seemed to have paid him any mind. Relieved, Dark almost returned to his path when he stopped.
He couldn't believe to actually see her here. The last time he had an encounter with this lady, she had spoken of magic and love and a lot of mumbo jumbo. Frankly, Dark had believed at the time it had been all nonsense. She even pretended to get some sort of message from her crystal ball, which Dark promptly forgot about. She even had the gall to then take 20 rupees from him, something that still bugged him.
But after last night…. No, wait, even entertaining the idea to ask her about magic meant he has given into the notion that it was real. He shook his head and mentally hit himself. It was all in my head, magic isn't real, he thought. Even this lady couldn't be the real thing. She was a fake, just like those hands Dark had seen underground.
But even with telling himself all of that, he still couldn't bring himself to keep walking to the castle. He rocked on his heels, trying to get himself to keep going, but his body wouldn't let him. He grunted, grinded his teeth, actually hit himself, before finally giving in and marching right over to her. He towered over her, arms folded, ready for answers for whatever stupid thing he was going to ask her.
Curse his curiosity.
She was the only person who claimed to know any magic that he knew. Maybe she would be able to sort out some things for him, things about last night. Perhaps give some clues that are a lot more plausible than real magic, something he could really tell Link. At worst, Dark wastes a few minutes with her…. Or 20 more rupees.
Her eyes were closed as her hands hovered over her ball. She hummed quietly to herself some sort of incantation as the strong smell of incense overpowered the surrounding area. She slowly opened her eyes when she heard Dark approach, and let herself glance over him before letting out a large sigh and closing her eyes again.
"Well well, I suspected you would be back," she told him, "but my services are not free."
"I don't want your services," Dark told her. "I don't believe in magic."
"And yet, here you are," She lowered her hands and leaned back in her chair, opening her eyes once more, "seeking answers." She let out an amused hum. "I doubt you are here to yell at me for anything else. You already did that the last time we met."
Dark opened his mouth to argue, but then shut it, realizing that she was right. Pressing his lips together in annoyance, he fought the urge to snap at her. "… I saw some… unexplainable things last night…" he mumbled, lowering his tone. He tugged at his hair the moment he said that. "Arg, I shouldn't even be talking to you. You're crazy."
She chuckled. "That's true," she said, leaning forward. "But Madame Fanadi knows things." She suddenly shot forward and grabbed his arm. She was like lightening; Dark didn't even have time to pull his hand back. She ran a finger over one of the cuts on his arm, and she made a 'tsk' sound. "You have been a busy boy, haven't you?"
She was not gentle with his wound. It stung. He snapped his arm back to his body, freeing himself from her grasp and feeling his face pale. Seeing his expression, she grinned and rested her large chin on her hand, spreading her heavily decorated fingers across her cheek. "Madame Fanadi isn't a tattletale. She only informs those of what they need to hear." She beckoned him closer.
It suddenly occurred to Dark this woman was a lot smarter than he had originally given her credit for. He took a deep breath to calm himself. His heart had started to beat wildly in preparation in either flight or fight, his guard still up after the sudden contact. She indicated for him to take a seat in the chair opposite to her. He hesitated, then sat down, still feeling a bit silly for coming to her for any hope of answers.
"Ask away," she said in an inviting manner.
It took him some time before he finally got over his feelings on what he was doing. "… You are the only person I have met… besides some other people," meaning the entire Resistance group, "who can give me a second opinion on magic." He lowered his voice. "I won't tell anyone, but be honest with me… Does magic really exist? What you do is a trick, right?"
She didn't respond right away. She regarded him quietly, letting him stir in his seat uncomfortably, as her fingers tapped her cheek. Smoke from the burning incense floated between her and him, filling his nose with nothing but an intoxicating aroma. It swirled around her turban like it was alive, suddenly giving her a mysterious aura that Dark had disregarded before. For just a small moment, she seemed otherworldly.
Dark's hands wandered to his knees, and he gripped them with anticipation to her answer. He wondered if she would answer honestly, though he doubted it. This was a chance meeting, with a last minute decision to ask her anything, and it would most likely lead nowhere. Their last meeting should have proved to him she was a fraud, and that magic was nonsense, yet…. He couldn't stop himself from seeking answers from her.
He wondered why that was.
Finally, she removed her hand from her cheek. Her rings glinted in the morning sun as she gave him a firm nod. "Yes. It's real."
At that response, he let his head hang. Of course, as if she would admit to being a faker. This had been a total waste of time, and it was totally his fault; he let himself get carried away at the thoughts of unicorns and fairies. Or perhaps she really was bonkers.
She gave him a disappointed look. "Don't ask me that question if you are completely going to ignore my answer just because it doesn't fit your expectation," she scolded. "Magic is very real, as real as your dull red eyes." She tapped her crystal ball. "You may ignore it all you like, but that fact won't go away, just as my warning won't change either."
That caught his attention. He lifted his head back up, confused. "Warning?" he asked. "What warning?" He didn't really remember any warning.
"Hmph." She turned her head away. "Why would I repeat it if you are just going to call it nonsense?"
Dark stared at her intensely at her comment, before standing up in irritation. Well, this was stupid. Even if she had a point there, this had still been ridiculous. This brought him no answers at all. The warning was probably just as fake too. "Fine," he told her. "Don't tell me." He pushed his chair out and prepared to storm off. He didn't have any more time to waste here. It's true he wasn't satisfied with her answers but frankly it all had to be a ruse. Magic was real… it just wasn't.
He didn't get far when she called out to him. "… You owe me 20 rupees."
Twenty rupees short and a new headache later, Dark finally made it to the castle grounds. His eyebrows furrowed together as he stared up at the high walls, still fighting with himself with what he saw last night and with what he was going to tell Link about all this. He pressed his hands into his face and slowly slid them down. Urg, this was going to be a nightmare. Just what do I say? Hi Link, love your dress. By the way, did you know that you have giant severed hands crawling under your city killing people? Don't worry, it has only been criminals since the only way to get there is a popular place for criminal activity. Also, a Sheikah saved my life yesterday and he's a bit of an ass.
Yup, sounds good.
Letting his arms fall loosely at his side as he slouch, he moseyed over to the well-guarded gate. He presented the proof that he was allowed entrance and entered the courtyard… and was nearly mowed over.
If he thought the streets of Hyrule were busy, then this was chaos. Servants, knights, and soldiers alike were racing about to get ready for the huge night. Knights harassed their armor with rags as they attempted to make them shine brighter than the king's crown while soldiers discussed their rotation plans to keep the guests safe. The servants, however, were moving as if they were on fire. Those in charge yelled out orders and expectations of what the courtyard should look like, while those in their charge tried their hardest to fill those expectations. They were in such a hurry to get all the last minute things done that they barely moved out of Dark's way as he walked through, constantly bumping into him and barely stopping for as much as a 'sorry.' He tried to stop one of them to question them about the location of 'Princess Zelda' but anyone who did answer did not know. They gave him shrugs or shook their heads.
As he dodged his way across the yard, Groose and his friends noticed him. Cawlin elbowed Groose for him to stop cleaning his armor and thrusted his chin out to indicated towards the foreign guard. "He's here," he whispered to his boss. Groose looked up to see Dark nearly get tripped by a servant and grinned.
Dark wondered where Link was. The hallways weren't any better once he got inside, too many servants ran about. A few servants yelled at him to get out of their way. Frowning, Dark decided to change his route on his quest to find Link, and went down a different corridor. Several weeks in the castle has taught him some of the pathways through the castle; he was glad he could utilize this skill set now.
Down here it was quiet. This part of the castle was most likely not going to be open to guests, so the servants did not focus their attention here. This gave Dark the chance to think of a good story to tell Link, one that didn't reveal all the lies he has already told him. One day, he would tell him the truth, but for now it was not necessary.
The sound of his footsteps was dampened by the soft carpet underneath his boots as he guided himself through the maze of hallways. He remained on the carpet carefully, since he didn't really want to make a lot of noise by walking on the stone floor. Even though he had gotten familiar with this area, he wasn't technically supposed to be here. He didn't want to attract anyone's attention.
When he turned another corner, he recognized the hallway quickly; it was that creepy hallway with no decoration except for one large, freaky painting. After wandering down a bit he saw it and paused at it to stare at it. The figure in the painting stared back, grinning, eyes empty and its mouth full of pointy, vicious teeth. It seemed to be laughing at him, as if it found the notion of Dark's very existence hilarious. Leaning on its hands, it continued to regard him as Dark shivered and turned his head. Whoever decorated this hallway failed to consider the appeal to bystanders.
And what was this creature anyways? Some creature from magic? Ha, yeah right.
Dark brought his hand up to his face to rub it. Damn it, he just couldn't stop thinking about last night. Who in their right mind could? In his mind, those hands crawled over and over again towards him. There had to be a trick. What was the secret?
"Just what is going on…" he whispered to himself. He bent his head in frustration, when he suddenly froze at the sound of a very familiar voice.
"But… Your Majesty," he heard. He snapped around and listened carefully. That was Pipit, Link's overprotective caretaker. Oh shit, what were the odds that he would be down here when all the important things were occurring elsewhere?
What Dark was quickly about to learn, though, was that it was his own timing that was unbelievable. For if he had not decided to take an alternate route that day, he would not have heard something of incredible importance. Sometimes, it can be hard to see things on a small scale, but perhaps the god had a greater plan for Dark and Link's future.
Just perhaps.
"Enough, Sir Pipit," another voice responded. Dark wasn't sure if he had heard this voice before or not… it sounded familiar, but Dark couldn't place it. Whoever it was, he and Pipit were getting closer. If Pipit saw him here without some sort of escort….
His head whipped around and saw a curtain. He quickly dove behind the soft velvet fabric and stood still, glad it was so large. If he stayed quiet, they shouldn't notice him. He felt silly doing this, but he really didn't want to have to explain himself today. He already had a lot on his mind. He would just let them pass, and then go on his way.
Their voices got louder as they approached. Dark covered his mouth with his hand to lower the sound of his breathing. "You are sure that it is happening?" the other man asked. Dark couldn't see him, but he sounded large and rather heavy.
Whoever he was, Pipit sounded nervous to be with him. His voice was low and shaking. "Yes, Your Majesty…" Pipit said slowly. "It's happened on a few occasions now. He claims it's a cold, but I have kept an eye out for the signs." Strangely, Pipit sounded rather sad as he said this.
"So, he is starting puberty," the other man said.
In that moment, Dark knew who they were talking about and his heart came to a stop.
Link.
There was a pause in conversation, but Dark could still hear them. They were now literally passing by where he stood. He held his breath, determined to hear more. This conversation did not sound like it was going to have a good outcome.
It was Pipit who spoke next. "Please forgive me for saying so, but could you spare Link? His father has done a great service for his country and…"
"Sir Arn," the other man interrupted, "was a knight during a time of peace. He never saw battle. He never put his life on the line or made a great sacrifice. I owe him nothing."
"But his son is the last of that bloodline, and an ancient one," Pipit started to argue.
"That bloodline is cursed, doomed to suffer. Ancient it may be, but some things are meant to fade. Link knows too much, and he can no longer act in my daughter's place. After his does his part tonight, it is time for him to go. With what he knows, he has no place anywhere." The man stopped walking, and his next words were full of anger. "And I would appreciate that you do not question me again, Sir Pipit. I had always admired that quality in you. You were always my most loyal knight."
"And I still am, Your Majesty," Pipit said meekly. "I just…" Dark could not see it, but Pipit hung his head. "I ask that you give him a peaceful passing."
Dark literally could not believe what he was hearing. The world slowed down around him. His daughter? His part tonight? Time to go? Dark ran those words through his head again and again, and then nearly gasped in horror as he connected the dots. The other man… was the King of Hyrule.
Oh gods, he was going to kill Link.
He barely processed the rest of the conversation. "I did not plan to let him die any other way." The king let out a sigh. "I appreciate everything you do for that boy, Pipit, but you must understand. This is for the best." They continued to walk again, with the king still talking. "I won't even ask you to do it. I know what the boy means to you."
Pipit did not say anymore. Dark remained in place, his heart pounding in his chest, until he could no longer hear them. His eyes were wide in absolute horror. It just… it couldn't be true. Link had talked about a death threat if he exposed who he was to the world but…. Now that puberty has caught up, the king was really going to just…
Kill him?
Oh my god, oh my god I have to find Link NOW. Forget stupid monsters and forget the Resistance group. Dark nearly ripped the curtain off the wall as he pulled it off of him. Running in the opposite direction of Pipit and the king, Dark raced to find Link and warn him.
Dark cursed himself as he sought out the person he loved. All this time, he focused his attention on what was happening beyond the walls, when he should have seen the stuff happening within. The real danger was inside.
He had to get Link away. He had to save him.
Quickly rounding a corner, Dark found himself in the chaos again. Servants dashed left and right, nearly bumping into him again. "Hey, watch it!" one of them said. Dark grabbed her, the frantic look in his eyes startling her.
"Where is L… Princess Zelda?!" he demanded. "I need to know where she is!"
"I-I don't know! No one has seen her today!" she replied, freaked out by his behavior. "Most likely in her room."
"Where is that?!" he asked. When she didn't respond fast enough he nearly bared his teeth at her. "Answer me!"
A relieved look crossed her face. Dark was confused by her expression for a moment, but it suddenly made sense when two pairs of large, strong hands grabbed both of his arms. He glanced up to see two large Hylian Knights towering over him, both with extremely angry looks.
Dark let go of the servant. "Sorry," he said, "You two can let go of me, I wasn't going to hurt her."
They didn't remove their hands. Dark tried to jerk his arm free, but their grips were like iron. "Hey… I said I was sorry!" he said sharply. The servant bowed to the knights and raced away quickly.
"Sir Dark," one of them finally said, "you are under arrest."
There are some days were things go your way. The birds sing lovely songs, the storm clouds parts, and one thing after another just makes your life become something wonderful. But, as it was established, the gods hated Dark.
Those words were proof of that.
"Excuse me?" he asked, his eyes going wide in shock. "What are you talking about? Let me go." He tried again to break free, but with no avail. "I am a diplomate under the protection of Queen Ambi of Labrynna and Prince… OW!" he cried out as the knights forced his hands together. The cold sound of metal clicked as his wrists were bound together in iron. The servants were now watching in surprise, witnessing a rare and amazing event. They parted, though, when Daxton walked up to Dark. He was slowly clapping his hands.
"Good work, boys," he told his knights, "You have apprehended a dangerous criminal." Standing in front of Dark, he grinned and folded his arms across his chest. "Throw him behind bars."
"Yes, sir," the men said, but Dark wasn't going to go without a struggle. This could not be happening… not NOW.
"Hold on!" he growled, jerking away from the men. He glared at Daxton, his hate for the man growing. This xenophobic sorry-excuse of a man was getting on Dark's final nerves. He never felt such hatred for anyone before. "On what grounds am I being arrested? You cannot arrest me!"
Daxton tapped his lips with his finger as he pretended to be in thought. "And normally, you would be right? Oh, but what's this?!" he asked, leaning down and hooking a finger around the armband on Dark's arm. He shook it a bit to make his point clear. "This piece of fabric says that you are recognized as an official member of the Hyrulean Army. Tsk tsk…. Don't you know that means you waive your diplomatic rights?" Daxton laughed deeply from his chest. "Poor boy… I guess your master taught you nothing."
Dark looked at the armband he wore as proof of his role at the castle. The armband he had gotten a while ago, which allowed him access to the castle. His eyes went wide before looking back at Daxton. This could not be. No one had told him anything like that.
Leaning in close so only Dark could hear, Daxton whispered happily. "That's a good humble look for you. I think you should keep it… boy." Standing back up straight, he then yelled at the servants and his men. "Get back to work! And you two, take this criminal away! Sir Dark is charged with participating in illegal activity outlawed by the order of our king, and for endangering the life of our princess!" Before turning his back to Dark, he grinned one last time. "Or… would you prefer being called Sir Orland?"
Dark's expression of shock gave Daxton all the answers he needed. There was no way… how did Daxton know about the dueling underground? No… this could not be happening….
"Let me go!" he cried, but his captors were too strong. Unable to break free, they dragged him to the one place where he truly could not do a single thing to save Link's life.
The dungeon.
Fast chapter done, yay. Long chapter. And thank you some beautiful reviews! Truly, just... wow.
And thanks to those who favorited and follow! Please continue to enjoy! *bow*
Next Chapter: Chapter 30: A Hidden Gem Among a Sea of Enemies
Tiny Extra: Note From the Happy Mask Salesman
Ho ho ho! Hello there, I am the Happy Mask Salesman! I have a lot of rare masks that I have come to own from all over the world! I travel and sell them for a good price. Eh? I seem shady? No no, I can see it all over your face, there is no need for you to say anything. That is fine, I will take my wares somewhere else.
This world is large. Dangerous things, mysterious things, wonderful things… Elsewhere my shop will thrive.
Oho, do not worry, stranger! I will be back!
After all… The most dangerous and mysterious things are here.
I am the Happy Mask Salesman. Ho, ho, ho.
