.
Xxx 35 xxX
"Tell me everything you know."
Heads turned as Link and I entered the large conference room, now crowded with Resistance leaders—Gorons and Hylians alike. Some rose to their feet as we entered, all of them stunned by Link's miraculous recovery. Darunia remained seated at the stone table, the only grim face among them.
"Lord General? You've—"
"I know this is unexpected," Link said lifting a hand to silence them. "But those questions have to wait. Right now I need all the information we have on Clef and Kinsley."
The leaders exchanged puzzled looks but settled back into their seats, still visibly amazed to see Link alive and well.
Lieutenant Theodus stood up and welcomed me and Link as we joined them at the table.
"I won't mince words," he said, his grave tone ringing hollow in the cavernous chamber. "We have feared the possibility of Lord Kinsley's arrest since he volunteered to provide us with inside information. This recent turn of events is puzzling, however, since he has ceased communication since her Majesty left the castle. We can only assume he sought an opportunity to follow her lead."
"He's done nothing to be accused of treason—at least not recently," Lieutenant Aiden added. "It's possible Ashton chose to arrest him without proper evidence."
"There was always some danger of that," Theodus agreed, "considering his history as the Lord General's mentor."
"It is true that Ashton would never fully trust Kinsley," I spoke. "But the Council would never have allowed his arrest. And they certainly would have denied an execution. Ashton must have decided this without their approval."
Theodus nodded, then breathed a weary sigh. "Captain Clef's sentence is perhaps the greater shock. It would seem he left his post and returned to Castletown without relaying a message."
Sorrow tugged at my heart as I considered the Bard family's recent struggles.
Despite the rumors that Clef had escaped prison and joined the Resistance, Siena had chosen to remain in Castletown so that her family's inn, the Red Phoenix, could serve as a safehouse for Resistance fighters. With the aid of magic, they had operated in complete secrecy, right under the watchful eyes of Vandelian soldiers who monitored the inn's activity.
Needless to say, she and her brother Jared had taken a great risk. The Bard children had been sent away to live with Cleia's family in Kakariko, and she had brought them along when her family came to the Resistance camp. The children were safe, but Siena had been left in greater danger than before—all for my sake…
"The Vandelians had grown more aggressive in their watch over the Red Phoenix since her Majesty's disappearance," Theodus said. "Jared and Siena dealt with regular harassment, and consequently the inn developed an unfortunate reputation for trouble. Travelers have learned to avoid it, and their regular tenants found safer lodgings. Eventually, they were forced to close."
I blinked as the shock washed over me.
"It was that serious?" I stammered, turning to Link. "When did they close? Why wasn't I informed?"
He met my gaze with some reluctance, his eyes apologetic. "There was nothing we could do.
I stared back at him with a controlled expression, knowing my objections would have to wait.
"It's true, your Majesty," Theodus said carefully. "Castletown has become a fortress since you escaped. The gate opens only for deliveries, which the soldiers manage. No one enters, and no one leaves. Most of our network there has gone silent."
I stared down at the lantern, my throat knotted with guilt and frustration. My flight from the castle had been so sudden, so desperate… I hadn't considered the full repercussions. As useless as I felt within the castle walls, my presence had ensured some degree of peace in Castletown. Without me, the townspeople were more or less prisoners, subject to Ashton's unpredictable whims.
"All we know is that Lady Siena continued to live at the Phoenix with her brother, and we suspect that the captain left his post well before they were arrested."
Derrick shook his head. "No doubt they interrogated him. Din only know what he's given away."
"Stand down, Derrick," Theodus snapped. "Clef would never betray us."
"Derrick is right," Pierson argued, "Ashton's soldiers could be coming for us right now!"
"No good man would sacrifice his wife, not even for our cause!"
Other voices chimed in, filling the chamber with angry noise.
"Enough of this, all of you!"
The shouting stopped as all eyes turned to Link.
"None of us can presume to know what happened," he told them sharply. "But Clef did not commit desertion, if that's what you've concluded."
Some became sheepish at this, others uncertain.
"Clef and Siena have supported the Resistance since the beginning," Link continued, "and they have risked everything to do it. Once we agreed that Clef would forward supplies from outside of Hyrule, and that Siena would shelter recruits at the Phoenix, I gave Clef the freedom to leave his post if he truly feared for his family.
"Obviously returning to Castletown would pose a great risk—to him as well as the Resistance. For that reason we agreed that neither Clef nor Siena would know the location of our base. They knew who to contact for sending information or supplies, but they could not reach the camp on their own, or give away its location."
"So even if they were interrogated—which they undoubtedly were," Aiden said, "they had no valuable information to give."
Link nodded, waiting as the others absorbed this information.
"I understand that Clef chose to risk his life when he returned to Castletown," he said. "But I also know that every last one of you would do the same for your loved ones."
I looked around the room, watching some nod in agreement while others maintained a guarded expression.
"I will not stand by and allow these men to die," Link added in a darker tone. "Even if it would elevate them to martyrdom. They have fought and bled for this kingdom, and they deserve better."
"But how?" Aiden said softly, voicing the question on everyone's tongue.
"Ashton was foolish enough to arrange a public hanging," Link replied, "and that will be his mistake."
Most regarded him with surprise—all except Darunia, who's stony expression softened with a confident smile.
"Darunia," Link said, addressing the Goron in a softer tone, "this cannot succeed without your support."
Darunia pressed a fist to his heart. "You have it, Brother. We Gorons are proud to help in any way we can."
"Thank you, Brother."
Link paused then, searching the faces of his most trusted soldiers.
"...I need two volunteers."
xxxxxxx
Vasilis slowed his hurried pace as he neared the king's chamber, catching his breath and gathering his wits. He had returned that evening with a heavy heart, having completed a loathsome assignment.
His mission had brought him far beyond Hyrule's borders to a penal colony in the Western Sea. There he had collected a prisoner named Jedrek Khar, an infamous Tar Alemian assassin—or at least he had been, until he was captured during the Retribution War. Prince Link—though not a prince at that time—had defeated Khar on the battlefield and delivered him to King Nohansen, who had sentenced Khar to life in the penal colony.
All that had recently changed, once Ashton decided to reassign Khar to Hyrule Castle, where the assassin would serve directly under the king.
Vasilis had urged Ashton to consider all the problems that came with that decision—rescinding Nohansen's sentence, bringing a man who slayed countless Hylian soldiers into the castle, treating a former ally of Vandelius as little more than a slave…
Vasilis' main concern, however, was the man's history of violent and unstable behavior…
Ashton's guards straightened as Vasilis approached them, regarding him with cold indifference.
"Lord Vasilis," the guard to his left addressed him. "His Majesty has been expecting you. You may proceed."
The other guard then opened one of the heavy, ornate doors, allowing Vasilis inside.
The room was strangely dark, Vasilis noted as the door groaned shut behind him. No lamps had been lit, despite the late hour, and the fire seemed in need of kindling.
"Ah, Vasilis," a haughty voice addressed him from the shadows. "Come, have a seat. I trust your journey was a success?"
Ashton sat in his usual chair by the fire, though from his position Vasilis could see nothing but a bejewled hand lift from the armrest to beckon him closer. Vasilis obeyed, coming forward to sit in an empty chair before the massive fireplace.
"Have you completed my assignment?" Ashton asked him, fingering his wine glass.
"Yes, Sire. He's in the dungeon, awaiting your command."
"Excellent. I shall see him tomorrow morning, after the execution."
Vasilis' blood ran cold. Execution? He had only just arrived from his incognito journey—word of an execution had not yet reached his ears.
"Execution, my Lord?"
"Yes, at dawn. A hanging. Should be quite the spectacle."
"A public hanging?"
"Of course."
"Who…?"
"That nuisance, Kinsley. And Bard the traitor."
Vasilis slid to the edge of his seat with his hands pressed together, remembering to calm himself and check his tone. Ashton stared into the fire and sipped his wine, seemingly oblivious to the minister's anxiety.
"My Lord," Vasilis said carefully, "may I speak freely, as your advisor?"
The king sighed but waved a permitting hand.
"I implore you to reconsider. Kinsley is well respected, and you have no evidence that he's a traitor. To end his life in this way… You will lose favor with the court. And the captain… his family is revered among the residents of Castletown—"
"Fear is a powerful tool, Vasilis," Ashton murmured. "When those peasants see their beloved captain hang, they will know the futility of treason."
"Sire, you have not yet regained the public's approval—as you did so effortlessly when you first toured our kingdom all those years ago. They view you as a usurper—a tyrant, even. An execution will make martyrs of these men and strengthen support for the Resistance—"
"Calm yourself, minister," Ashton sighed. "I'll spare Kinsley but the captain will hang. I'll have a partial change of heart there in the market, so the people can witness my mercy as well as my might."
Vasilis watched him take another sip, trying to suppress the ever growing dread which weighed upon his chest.
"I fear that will be of little consolation to the public."
"That is of little concern to me. In Vandelius a king does not dance to the public's tune—they dance to mine. It will be no different here. I am their king, and I have made my decision. Bard will hang at dawn."
The minister pressed his lips together and looked away, knowing the matter was closed.
As much as he loathed to admit it, Ashton was not the man he remembered from all those years ago. Gone was the charming prince who had toured the kingdom with Zelda, winning her heart along with the people's. Gone was the passionate leader who spoke of a strong, harmonious union between Hyrule and Vandelius.
Of course he's embittered by all that's happened, the minister reminded himself. I can salvage this if the queen would only return…
"I can see you are tired from your journey, Vasilis," Ashton said, regarding the minister with a frown. "I suggest you rest and clear your head. The execution begins at first light."
Rigidly, Vasilis rose to his feet.
"You are quite right, my Lord. In truth I feel quite drained from my travels. I… fear I may be unable to rise so early tomorrow morning. I respectfully ask to be excused from attending the execution."
Ashton swirled his wine a moment, then took another long drink. Vasilis waited in suspense, unsure where to rest his eyes.
"Very well, Vasilis," Ashton finally said. "I would hate to see you in poor health. I will allow your absence this time."
"Thank you, my Lord."
Vasilis bowed and bid the king a good night before turning to leave the room. Only once he had left the chamber did his guarded expression slip into a frown. The words he had itched to speak still pressed at his lips.
Capital punishment is vile. I will have no part in this.
xxxxxxx
"You will have no part in this!"
I closed the iron door behind me, leaving us alone in our guest room. Link had gone there to fetch some supplies, giving me the opportunity to confront him in private.
He gave no response as he moved to a long shelf on the far wall, which held our few belongings in a row of metal chests. Opening one of them, he retrieved his hookshot and inspected it with deep interest—no doubt to avoid my baleful gaze.
"Do you hear me? The fairies' magic will leave you at any moment!"
"This isn't possible without the Ocarina," he answered. "You know that."
"Then I will do it," I declared, knowing it was pointless. "I taught you that melody, didn't I?"
He gave me a gentle but reproving look. You know you can't.
In a huff I crossed the room and snatched the hookshot from his hand.
"Then you will deliver them and return to the forest immediately—nothing more!"
Link sighed and knelt before a larger chest on the floor. I tightened my grip on the hookshot, watching him remove the lock and reach inside. Slowly he withdrew his hands and rose to his feet, cradling a magnificent sword in a gilded sheath.
"Valèshar," I breathed, regarding him with wide, fearful eyes. "You… You mean to reveal yourself…"
"It's time I left the shadows," he said, strapping the scabbard to his waist. "We will need a diversion to pull this off. Revealing myself will buy time and inspire more faith in the Resistance—"
"Have you completely lost your mind? Ashton's guards will shoot you on sight!"
"I won't allow that."
"You won't allow it? Do you hear yourself?"
He turned to face me then, his hand on Valèshar's hilt, his face a mask of determination. I found myself weakening at the sight, struck by a familiar surge of pride. Link seemed to notice my struggle, for his expression softened as he drew closer.
"Please, Zelda," he said, his fingers brushing mine. "I have to be there. Clef and Kinsley have given their lives to the Resistance. I can't abandon them now."
"You did not persuade them to join," I argued, forcing some strength into my voice. "They believe in you, and they accepted the risks when they chose to follow you."
Link shook his head, dismissing my words. "If I stay behind, if I put my own safety before theirs, I betray their faith in me."
"This isn't about their lack of faith, Link; it's about yours! You don't trust your own followers—you've been lying to them from the start, hiding that scar as though their loyalty would crumble at the sight of it!"
His face darkened. "I've already explained that to you—"
"And your reasoning is an insult to their character, not to mention their intelligence. They would know you were a victim—"
"A victim?" he echoed bitterly. "And how is a victim supposed to restore Hyrule? A movement is only as strong as its leader—I will not allow my weakness to unravel everything we've worked so hard to build."
I stared at him through glistening tears, disturbed by his cynical state of mind. I knew, then, that no logic would dissuade him.
"If you won't do it for them," I said, my eyes boring into his, "then do it for me. For our child. I asked you to play a less dangerous role in all of this. You haven't given me an answer."
Link studied me a moment, then glanced toward the bed, where he had nearly died mere hours ago. I waited in suspense, watching him struggle beneath the weight of my request.
Then his eyes met mine, two pleading wells of sorrow, and I knew he had denied me.
"Zelda…"
I snatched my hand from his with a choked, bitter laugh.
"Well, this is all very familiar, isn't it? Go then, Link!" I shoved the hookshot against his chest, making him jump to catch it. "Go prove your strength, keep up this noble charade. But know this—" I jabbed a finger in his face, speaking with venom through my tears "—if this idiotic thing you call duty gets you killed, I will never forgive you."
Then, steeling myself against his stunned expression, I turned and left the room, slamming the door with a resounding clang.
xxxxxxx
Seated in his throne-like chair on a balcony overlooking the market square, Ashton drank in the scene before him with veiled anticipation. A sea of people had gathered below, gazing upon the newly constructed gallows and talking amongst themselves in quiet, mournful tones. Occasionally they chanced a glance up toward their king, some with fear, others with bold hostility.
All of them had come to witness a historical event: the execution of Kinsley Carlisle and Clepharas Bard.
At least Kinsley protested with some dignity, Ashton mused.
He had demanded evidence and a fair trial when Ashton's guards arrested him but otherwise made no attempt to fight or escape. When Ashton denied both demands, the minister had gone to his cell and refused to speak another word. Not once did he request food or water, even when Ashton withheld it. Not once did he cave during his interrogations, no matter pain they inflicted.
It mattered not. Ashton had no intention of executing the former minister. He no longer trusted the man, but the people still supported him. He would be spared in a grand demonstration of Ashton's mercy.
The captain would not be so fortunate.
The man had been surprisingly cooperative in his confinement, if only to protect his wife, but the information he provided had been useless.
"I don't know where it is," Bard had pleaded. "I was posted outside of Hyrule; I've never even seen the base! We agreed it was safer that I didn't know—you're wasting your time! I came back only for my wife… Please let her go—she had no part in this..."
For a while Ashton refused to believe him. He fed the man false information, describing the torture his wife never actually endured. Bard himself was denied any food or water, and in his delirious state he claimed that Zelda taken refuge with the Gerudo.
Ashton had realized, then, that he would extract nothing useful from Bard. If Zelda had indeed reached Gerudo territory, she was untouchable. The bridge between Gerudo Valley and Hyrule Field had been destroyed, and anyone who dared to cross some other way was shot on sight.
So he had found another use for the captain: to remind the people of Hyrule that treason was a futile and unforgivable crime.
A dull drumbeat sounded, and a hush fell over the crowd as a procession entered the market square. Four soldiers led the way on horseback, followed by a small cart which held the prisoners. Bard and Kinsley sat back to back with their wrists bound, both of them dirty and disheveled. Tattered clothes hung from their bent forms, and their heads were bowed, their faces hidden behind strands of grungy hair. Kinsley bore his fate in stoic silence, but Ashton recognized Bard's strained voice, uttering his final prayers. Some witnesses openly wept, and some even reached out toward the cart—only to have their hands smacked away by soldiers.
The procession then slowed to a stop once the cart reached the gallows, and the soldiers dismounted to remove the prisoners. The crowd gave a collective gasp when Bard fell to his knees against the cobblestones, too weak to stand on his own. Ashton smirked, studying the man with mild disgust.
Pitiful creature. To think he was once a respected officer…
Once the soldiers had forced the prisoners to their feet and dragged them to their trap doors on the scaffold, an attendant stepped forward to address the crowd.
"People of Hyrule, I give you Clepharas Bard, former Captain of the Hylian Royal Army, and Kinsley Carlisle, former Minister of Military Affairs. Both stand accused of high treason against Ashton Iladius Regaldi, King of Hyrule."
More sobs and incoherent voices rose among the onlookers, but none dared to interfere. Ashton looked down upon them with a faint smile and hooded eyes, his hands gripping the ornate armrests of his throne-like chair.
The executioner, a tall man hooded in black, moved to place a noose around Bard's neck and tighten the knot. He was Vandelian, of course—Ashton could not trust such a monumental task to a Hylian. Vasilis' lack of support the previous evening had only reaffirmed Ashton's choice to summon his best executioner from Vandelius. He could only assume that most Hylians shared the minister's discomfort regarding capital punishment.
Fools, he thought with a scowl. Shying away from execution in fear of some mythical god's wrath. It is my punishment they should fear.
Kinsley showed no sign of fear, however. Bard still prayed aloud for his family, his voice quivering with grief, but Kinsley stood calm and composed, even as the noose tightened around his neck. The elder man even lifted his head slightly, daring to meet Ashton's gaze, and for a moment the king reconsidered his plan to spare him.
He can't be trusted. Why should I fear the rage of my own court?
Slowly the executioner returned to his post by the lever. His gloved hand hovered above it as he awaited Ashton's command. The king hesitated, still debating which order to give—
Then, in a stolen moment, everything changed.
Ashton heard a strange click as a chain pierced the gallow's beam, and the crowd gasped as a figure shot out of nowhere, landing firmly on the beam above the prisoner's heads. His hood had slipped off, exposing his identity—
Ashton felt the blood leave his face.
Link.
"SHOOT HIM!" he cried, lunging from his seat to grip the rail. "SHOOT HIM, DAMNIT!"
He was too late. Before the guards could even nock their bows, Link slashed at the beam with a gleaming sword, cutting the ropes in one clean stroke—then vanished in a massive explosion of thick, black smoke.
The crowd scattered, shouting and coughing as the smoke consumed the entire square. Several arrows launched into the chaos before the guards fell to their knees, overcome with violent coughing fits.
Ashton pressed a handkerchief to his nose and mouth, struggling to see through his watering eyes. He could only hear a great rumbling below, followed by strange voices he recognized as Gorons.
"Stop them!" he shouted hoarsely, grabbing the nearest guard by the arm. "Stop them, you imbicil, they're—"
He broke off in another fit of coughs. A horse's whinny sounded above the noise, followed by the clatter of hooves against the cobblestones. Shouts grew louder near the Southern Gate, but Ashton could not make sense of the noise.
Finally the haze began to clear, and Ashton gasped for clean air as he grabbed the rail and pulled himself to his feet—just in time to see the drawbridge close. His soldiers clustered before it like a frantic dogs, struggling and failing to push the massive gate back down.
Ashton turned back toward the abandoned gallows, aware of a painful throbbing in the back of his head. Some people still sat on the ground nearby, catching their breath as the clouds slowly dispersed.
The prisoners were nowhere to be found.
They had escaped with the Gorons—the only creatures strong enough to keep the drawbridge raised from the outside…
And Link… He, too, had disappeared.
Contrary to the necromancer's promise, he was still alive and well. He had returned from the grave in a brief moment of glory… all before the eyes of his people.
Ashton knew then, even before his guards moved to fight off a mass of angry, half-crazed Hylians, that he had suffered a humiliating blow.
His reign, built upon lies and fear, was anything but secure.
xxxxxxx
Darkness still cloaked the forest when Saria and I reached the Temple, though a faint lavender sky cast the treetops in dramatic silhouette. Early birds filled the crisp, morning air with song, heralds of the coming dawn. It seemed the Sacred Forest Meadow had retained its beauty, unaffected by the evil which seeped into Hyrule's land.
I had always cherished the Meadow's tranquility, but in that moment I felt only the distance between me and Link, the stress of knowing what terrible danger he would soon face.
Our argument had left me so angry that I stormed out of Goron City and returned to the Lost Woods. There I found Saria and ordered her to lead us back to the Sacred Forest Meadow, where we would await Link's return.
If he returns.
Regret churned my stomach. Of course I had forgiven him. Part of me had ached to turn back the moment I slammed the door. But the louder, more stubborn part of me had driven me away, spreading to my heart like a bitter frost.
You should not have lost your temper. It will only distract him.
So many things could easily go wrong. Would the magic fade gradually, or would he collapse without warning? Would he have the opportunity to escape?
As much as these questions weighed upon my mind, I was most unsettled by a single image—the look on Link's face before I stormed out.
He needed your support, your understanding, and you threw it in his face.
"A rupee for your thoughts?"
I looked up to find Saria watching me with concern.
"We argued before I left," I admitted softly. "I… regret something I said."
"What did you say?" She inched closer and studied me with skepticism, as though she doubted I could say anything so terrible.
"I said… that I would never forgive him if he doesn't return."
She sighed and drew her knees up against her chest, wrapping her arms around them. "That makes two of us, I think."
I glanced at her mournful face, then down at the dewy grass, clenching my teeth as tears blurred my vision.
"I hate it," I whispered. "His incessant need to fight for Hyrule, bleed for Hyrule, die for Hyrule… He done that already. He's earned the right to live a full life… to start a family and grow old with them…"
I trailed off in a frustrated sigh and wiped the tears from my face, unable to meet Saria's troubled gaze.
"I know he can't stop being who he is—and I would never wish to change him. But the way he talks sometimes, as though he's nothing without a sword in his hand. You and I know he's so much more than that, but whether he believes it, I don't know…"
Silence fell between us, and the cheerful bird songs seemed almost a mockery of our anxiousness.
And then, with only a whisper of sound, he was there on the teleportation dais, surrounded in emerald light.
"Link!" Saria cried.
He stumbled onto the grass, the Ocarina slipping from his hand. Alarmed, I shot to my feet and caught him, lowering him to the ground as he lost consciousness. With trembling hands I felt his neck for a pulse, and beside me Saria took his hand.
"He's alive," I breathed, taking a moment to calm my pounding heart. "Thank the gods…"
"But he's bleeding…"
Saria touched his sleeve, just below a gash near his shoulder. Carefully I pulled the torn fabric aside, relieved to find nothing serious.
"The fairy magic has left him," I murmured. "Even if I can revive him, I doubt he has the strength to stand. Go find Darunia and bring him here."
I looked up at her, seeing my own terror reflected in her young face.
"Zelda… If he had been a minute longer—"
"I know, Saria," I whispered. "But he's safe now, and he needs our help. Go and find Darunia—hurry!"
She jumped to her feet, backing away with a worried look before she ran off into the Woods.
I turned back to Link's unconscious form, forcing myself to release a slow, trembling breath. I couldn't predict how difficult his recovery would be, but I knew it would keep him safe for a time. In a strange way I drew some comfort in that, in knowing I could keep him close for a time. The gods only knew how narrow his escape had been…
A cold breeze swept through the Meadow like an omen, shaking the trees and tugging at my clothes. I shivered and drew Link closer, wrapping my cloak around us both. I was determined to be strong, even as he lay unconscious in my arms. He had kept a brave face for so long, struggling in silence, unbeknownst to those who depended on him. The extent of his suffering was a mystery even to me.
"That ends now," I whispered. "Starting now, you are under my care, and you are off-duty until I say otherwise. I don't care what it does to the Resistance; I care about you."
My fingers traced the line of his jaw, moving below his ear to the black tendrils on his neck.
"Until you are free of this—free of him… you will not leave my sight again."