Chapter 36
Memories
Le vrai n'est pas toujours vraisemblable. (Truth is not always probable.)
- Boileau
His eyes were as blue as Zelda remembered, hers brighter than his, but dark circles and eye bags made him look haggard. His eyes were strained by much squinting from desert sun, snow-blindness, flames, noxious fumes, sharp winds, and only the Goddesses knew what else.
Long hair and a thick, full, short beard now adorned his head, kept clean but was a little messy. How some of his hair hung down either side of his head, and his thick beard, reminded Zelda of a lion's mane. Other than all that extra hair and tired eyes, he still looked exactly as she remembered him: a young man with a cautious, curious, cute face. If there ever could be the apex of courage, heroism, loyalty, and valor, it was him. If adventure itself could ever manifest into a man, it would only be him.
Questions raced through Zelda's mind. Where had he been? How many kingdoms had he visited? How many lost lands had he ventured? How many quests had he accepted? How many people had he saved? How many monsters had he slain? How many nations had he freed? Zelda could not have the faintest clue, but she did not care. She was just glad he was finally back, and felt a lot of ghostly weight roll off her shoulders.
He did not look happy. He held his helm between his arm and waist for convenience, then saw Sheik and Zelda waddle to the scene, standing at either side of mother.
"Because I know you." Queen Zelda answered Link's question.
"Mom, who's that?" Sheik asked, Queen Zelda looking at her son, and then suddenly realizing that Link had never met her children.
"Oh!" the queen exclaimed, putting a hand over her mouth. "Zelda, Sheik, this is Link, the Hero of Time." she introduced.
"Really? So you were real after all." Princess Zelda remarked nonchalantly, but her brother looked up at Link in awe. His sister just rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and looking away.
Queen Zelda then placed her arms around her kids, giving the princess a little shake to remind her to be courteous, but the girl looked uninterested.
"Link, these are my children, Zelda and Sheik." Queen Zelda introduced a little shyly, eyes partly closing. She then felt a little nervous. Queen Zelda did wonder what would have happened if she married Link, and he undoubtedly must have had that thought cross his mind at least a few times. How would he react to this? Would he feel sad? Betrayed? Like he missed out on something?
Link just smiled warmly, then made a little nod. Queen Zelda warmly smiled back at her hero, shoulders lowering a bit, feeling pleased and relieved she could see him happy. It was rare to see Link smile, and his smile gave her hope. She noticed Link's eyes moved to the side, so Queen Zelda turned around to look at the window frame behind them, her children also turning their heads. Old memories came.
"He's still gone?" Link asked with a little humour. Zelda tittered, sliding her hands off her kids, and then clasping her hands, arms low.
"After I sent you back to your time... I waited. I was so scared. I thought that maybe his banishment failed, or would not apply to the past... but it did. The Evil King remains sealed away in the Sacred Realm, banished from our past, present, future... and then I saw you again." Queen Zelda spoke. She looked back to Link. "And we were together as children, again, in peace... I cherished every precious moment like there would never be another..."
Sheik and Zelda became interested in mother's words, and kept quiet. They really wanted to know about their mother's difficult past. Mother's pleasant demeanor slowly faded away, and then she looked rather sad, almost guilty and remorseful.
"After you left all those years ago... I thought I would never see you again. " the queen said. "It's so good to see you, Link. But... where the hell have you been?" she asked with a little heat.
Link stared back, answering with silence. He was not a man to show his sadness, but Queen Zelda could see it in his eyes.
"I couldn't find my friend." was all Link said as he raised his chin.
"I'm sorry." Queen Zelda whispered.
"But I did not give up. I came back, because I sensed the malevolence." Link said, not having to speak anything else for Queen Zelda to know what he meant.
"You had the dream as well?" Queen Zelda asked, a little surprised. Link nodded.
After a few uneasy seconds, Queen Zelda became worried, eyebrows furrowing.
"Link, you look exhausted. Why didn't you use the Prelude of Light to return to the Temple of Time?" Queen Zelda asked, and for the first time she had seen, Link's face became... sad? Worried? Was he keeping something from her? "Link, what's wrong?" the queen asked, but Link said nothing.
"Mom? What's wrong?" Sheik chirped, but mother just stroked his head.
"Link, we need to talk." the queen nearly ordered, then stepped forth, and Link turned around to walk with her, his mail armour jingling.
He would have liked to see an old friend waiting for him at the entrance to the courtyard, but Zelda's guardian was elsewhere. In fact, Link would like to see quite a few friends sooner or later, when he had the time.
Link found himself in the queen's bedroom, seated at her desk. He great helm was on the floor beside his chair.
The prince and princess played chess by the fireplace, which had a small fire going.
Queen Zelda walked around the desk, and then produced a scroll. The Queen of Hyrule then suddenly slammed the scroll in front of Link, causing him to flinch in his iconic manner, and he looked back at her warily. She then sat at the back of her desk, and made herself comfortable. Zelda lifted her legs and placed them atop the desk, one over the other, revealing a pair of long, sexy leather boots. She crossed her arms and stared back at Link, clearly not happy.
"Before you arrived, that scroll was delivered to me by a Sheikah man who I did not know even existed. I spoke for hours with him, he called himself Ira. I was quite surprised that he happened to have a letter that correlated with my dreams. He told me he was Impa's uncle, who was in hiding due to the arrival of malevolent forces, keeping himself a secret even from Impa. I thought she was the last Sheikah, but I believed him. He then murdered several castle guards, kidnapped a Gerudo boy held here, stole a horse, and fled." Queen Zelda explained, still unhappy. "Link, and..." she hesitated, head dropping, and she looked hurt, betrayed.
Link's face remained cautious and attentive, but he said nothing. He did not want to say it, but he knew that the Zelda he once knew was no more. Zelda had changed, and Link had a feeling he also changed. She looked back at him.
"As for the Castle Town... things have changed, Link. Many Hylians no longer obey the Royal Family. I have distanced myself from my people, allowing them to rule themselves, and they established a republic... of sorts. I am not opposed to a commonwealth, but occasionally, riots break out, and citizens faithful to Hyrulean tradition are beaten in the streets. To prevent further civil unrest, I allowed the loyal ones to live along the path to Hyrule Castle, where they are safe with my guards. I even paid for the construction of many mansions, my thanks for their loyalty. Now, most citizens are republicans, some are loyalists, and some remain neutral."
The news was rather surprising for Link. He never would have imagined that the people he saved would defy their own monarch by divine right. Memories of that horrible dream rushed through Link's thoughts. There could only be one plausible explanation.
"Legion... they are corrupting the people." Link said quietly. Zelda nodded. "What do you know about the Princess of Suffering?" he asked, Zelda shrugged.
"Nothing. My dreams, and the letter, warned us of this false princess, but she did not communicate with me. How about you, Link?" Zelda replied, but Link did not react. The two remained silent, Queen Zelda expecting Link to say something, but then the princess and prince knocked over a few chess pieces and arguing about something.
"No, it's my turn!" Princess Zelda whined, picking up a rook her brother had captured with a bishop.
"No, it's not! You already moved your knight!" Sheik countered, the two grabbing at each other's chess pieces. The two siblings then noticed mother and Link staring at them, and the children immediately stopped fighting, and slowly went back to their game in a calm, quiet manner.
"We only have a few leads." Queen Zelda said, looking back at Link.
"Ira, Legion, the Apostles, and the Great Deku Tree." Link answered, Zelda nodded, but she stared at Link with a pair of demanding eyes. She did not forget his silence after her question. Without saying anything, Link stood and picked up his great helm.
"Link?" Queen Zelda asked as he just turned around and took his leave. Swinging her legs off the desk, Zelda jogged after Link, her children watching her. She grabbed Link's shoulder just as he opened the door. "Link!" Zelda shouted, and the two made eye contact, and paused.
"I must return to the forest, and protect the Kokiri. The Great Deku Tree will know what to do, just as our dreams foretold." Link said, then stepped out the queen's quarters. Zelda walked after him.
"Link, wait! Let me help you!" Zelda exclaimed, but Link ignored her.
Zelda ran to Link, grabbing his arm and pulling it over herself, slamming the mail-clad hero's back down to the floor, he dropping his helm. Zelda then mounted Link's front, her knees at either side of him. Link's surprised face was priceless. Leaning over to be face-to-face with Link, hair hanging over him, Zelda just narrowed her eyes.
"I'm going with you, whether you like it or not."