Chapter: XVI
"A Part of Her People"
As Alfon's team departed on their mission, Princess Zelda watched from the lakeside. Wrapped in a white fur cloak and mittens, she had insisted to Impa that she leave the temple and watch the men go. "They are going on my orders, and they may not return Impa. I... need to see them go." She explained. Zelda's attendant had been watching her curiously since the council meeting had ended. "Your Grace, are you sure everything is alright? I sense there is something you are not telling me." Impa prodded. Zelda drew a breath and considered telling her of the vision. Turning and smiling at her advisor, Zelda said, "It's nothing Impa, I am fine! I just... needed to get out of the temple. The Zora are very kind to shelter us here, but I needed the open air for awhile." Impa smiled and nodded to the princess, but she continued to keep a close watch on her.
Uncomfortable under her attendant's eye, Zelda began to walk around the lake and through Laketown. As she passed, soldiers would kneel and townsfolk bow in reverence. Many times Zelda would bid them, "Please, please rise." with a warm smile. Impa too would smile and greet the Hylians they met, but once she and Zelda were alone she attempted to correct the princess, "It is important for a Monarch to be seen as regal and majestic your grace. While you are undoubtedly kind, your grace, you must be careful not to be seen as weak." Zelda frowned at her, "My people are cold, starving, and afraid Impa! If all I can do to ease their grief is stop them from kneeling in the freezing snow, then I will do it!" Impa, shaking her head, gave Zelda the same look her father gave her when he believed she was being a naive child. "You are their strength, your grace. They take heart knowing that their royal family is strong and will be there to protect them! You must learn this!"
Too frustrated to continue arguing, Zelda continued their walk. After a few minutes, Impa brought the princess back to a topic at the council meeting. "There is concern, your grace, that the outer kingdoms are... losing faith in the crown. The sudden loss of the capitol to a band of Gerudo thieves and the... departure of their majesties have left the kingdoms fearful that Hyrule cannot protect them." Zelda felt a rush of anger at how simply Impa had described the events. "Gannondorf was a fearsome sorcerer!" she shouted at her attendant, "My father was trying to take a chance for peace!" Impa, seeing the worried glances and awkward stares of the Hylians around them, tried to calm the princess, "Please, your grace, I only meant..." but Zelda continued, "And the only reason why we've lost the castle is because he managed to take the Triforce! How are we supposed to fight that?!" Alarmed, Impa ushered the princess forward, "I know, your grace, I know. But these people were not there. They have no idea what has transpired at the temple. They only know that the Kingdom has fallen and its princess is relying on their support. It frightens them. And... it should frighten you, your grace!"
Zelda looked up at Impa suspiciously, "What do you mean by that?" she asked. Impa took a deep breath and sighed, she did not want to tell the princess this, but there was no other choice. "Not long after you were born, the lesser kingdoms rebelled and attempted to break away from Hyrule. Publically, they proclaimed that they were doing it for the good of their own people, but secretly... they were in league with Gannondorf and the Gerudo." Zelda's eyes widened with shock, her father had never told her this. Impa continued, "Many on the king's council were certain that if Gannondorf had been victorious, he would have gifted large portions of eastern and southern Hyrule to these kingdoms for their help. The fathers of the governing households were imprisoned and quietly executed in the dungeon beneath Hyrule Castle on your father's orders, your grace." Zelda's hand covered her mouth, her father was capable of that? "Now the sons have taken their father's places. The king hoped that reconciliation could be made and a trusting peace established in the years to come, but now he is gone and these men are in command of the outlands. The very lands that are keeping us alive, your grace." Zelda's eyes drifted around the camp, how many of these men came from the outlands? How many would betray her when they had the chance? "We are at their mercy, your grace, and I'm certain they know that. We must do what we can to strengthen their allegiance and guarantee their support going forward." Impa finished. "How will we do that?" Zelda asked curiously. "I am not certain yet, your grace, but I am sure it will be... unpleasant for all of us."
They returned to their walk in silence. The princess, feeling the weight of the crown and the looming menace of Ganon's cloud above, desperately looked for a distraction. Soon, they came upon a wagon team unloading supplies for the camp. Zelda noticed that among the soldiers, was a very worn old man, who struggled to carry baskets of food to the nearby tents. Ignoring Impa's sputtering objections, Zelda walked right up to him. "Excuse me, kind sir-" she began, as the old man recoiled in surprise. She tried to calm him with her smile and warmly saying, "It's alright, don't be alarmed. My name is Zelda-" but the old man quickly fell to his knees and bowed his head. Rapidly he began to nervously babble his apologies, "F-f-forgive me m-m-my lady - YOUR HIGHNESS! Forgive this old f-f-fool! I was not watching where I was g-g-going." For a moment, Zelda was not certain what she should do. The other soldiers and workmen stood frozen nearby, staring at her. As she glanced at them, they quickly bowed their heads and backed away. Zelda was stunned at how afraid of her they seemed to be, "Please, please it's alright, you may stand kind sir!" she said as she returned to the old man. Very slowly, he returned to his feet, but he continued to avert his eyes from her. After a few uncomfortable seconds he said, "H-how may I serve your highness?"
Zelda's heart beat quickly against her chest and her cheeks became quite red with embarrassment. In the past, her father and mother had received the reverences of the people while she trailed behind, hardly taking notice. When soldiers or noblemen bowed to her, it was never with such an uncomfortable air of fear. "I-I was..." she stammered, frantically trying to think of something to say, "I was wondering if... if you had any apples?" Zelda knew the answer was yes, as she could see baskets of them in the nearby wagon , but she needed anything to diffuse the tension. The old man briefly raised his eyebrows in disbelief as the soldiers traded confused glances. "I'm rather hungry you see..." finished Zelda awkwardly; trying her best to smile sweetly. "Y-yes... of course!" began the old man, as he rushed back to the wagon. "You are in luck your highness! We've just brought in the late-harvest from Necluda!" Zelda breathed a sigh of relief, the old man was smiling now and eager to please her. She still did not like how afraid he seemed to be around her, but at least now the tension had passed. "A very good year this, your highness! A very ample harv-" but the poor man was not able to finish. As he was rushing back to her, his foot caught a stone hidden under the snow. He now lay sprawled in front of her, with the basket of apples cast around her. "Fool." muttered Impa, as Zelda dashed forward. "Oh you poor man! Please, let me help you!" she said as she reached to help him up. Zelda gently grabbed his arm, and helped him to his feet. "Oh thank you, thank you your highness! I am not worthy-" the old man began overflowing with gracious embarrassment, but his voice was slowly growing quieter. As Zelda held his arm, she could see his lips moving, but his voice was silent. She soon realized that all sounds from the lake-side town had gone silent, and the world seemed to grow dark again.
Zelda was kneeling now, with her head bowed. Slowly, she became aware of the company of soldiers gathered around her. She was kneeling on a crimson carpet, trimmed in gold. Her heart was beating very fast, "Goddess help me! Don't let me mistake the oath!" she earnestly prayed as she waited for the captain to finish speaking. This was the moment she had waited years for! At last, she was going to be granted the sword and made a soldier in the king's army! She raised her head slightly and saw the captain standing in front of her, holding his sword out over her head: "Do you Baelin, son of Gaelin, of the province of Necluda in Greater Hyrule..." But the captain's words trailed off as the gathered host disappeared.
A jarring flash of red-orange light and a sudden blow to her chest carried Zelda to some far away battlefield. The Gerudo were attacking the Tabantha Heights. The house of Aryn had sent urgent pleas for reinforcements. Zelda had doggedly marched her company without rest for three days and two nights to reach them. Here on the third night, the Hylians clashed with the Gerudo invaders. Surrounded by ruined and burning buildings, Zelda, collapsed on top of a mass of corpses, looked down at her own chest. Her breastplate was rent and a terrible gash spewed bright red blood over her armor. "Goddess... help me..." she groaned as she felt her strength failing. As this world faded, Zelda heard a soldier near her cry out, "Captain Baelin!"
Looking up into her apple trees, Zelda smiled as she spied several bright red, meaty apples waiting to be picked. "It's going to be a very good harvest this year son!" she said as they worked their way higher into the tree. "I can't wait for the pies!" exclaimed a sandy-haired boy nearby. For a few minutes, Zelda marveled at the land around her. The peace that had come over Hyrule had been very good to Baelin's farm and his son was growing into a fine young man. Suddenly, a branch snapped under the boy's foot, and he tumbled out of the tree and landed hard on the ground. Zelda was dashing back to the farmhouse, carrying the unconscious boy in her arms. "Goddess Hylia, mother and protector of Hyrule and its people, hear my prayer!" she urgently whispered, "Protect this child from harm and deliver him once again to strong health... please... I beg you!" Tears were streaming down Zelda's face as she crashed through the farmhouse door.
Again, the world faded and returned. Zelda was now standing in the high hall of the King, her son kneeling before her. He was clad in shimmering plate armor from the neck down. The gathered host was dressed, and ordered for the ceremony. The King nodded to the Lord-Marshal, who smiled and placed a hand on Zelda's shoulder. Zelda drew her old soldier's broadsword, and rested its point on her son's shoulder. "Do you, Taelin, son of Baelin..." Zelda recited the knight's oath as her heart overflowed with pride. She was watching her own son join the ranks of the King's Knights. His majesty had been gracious enough to allow Baelin to administer the oath to his own son. "... and by the Sovereignty of this crown, I name thee 'Sir Taelin of Necluda', a Knight of the Realm of Greater Hyrule!" his majesty finished. Cheers roared through the hall, as the Lord Marshall and Knight-Lieutenant Alfon cloaked the new knight and welcomed him to the brotherhood. "Goddess... watch over him... keep my boy safe." Zelda silently plead to Hylia.
A cold wind suddenly bit at Zelda's face. She was lying on her back in the snow, shivering, as Impa desperately implored her to speak: "Your Grace! Your Grace speak to me! Are you alright?!" Slowly, Zelda's senses and memory returned to her. Impa wrapped Zelda's arm around her neck and helped her to her shaking feet. "What did you do to our princess?! ANSWER ME!" a voice roared nearby. Her vision clearing, Zelda could see the frail old man, cowering against the wheel of the food-wagon, with the point of a soldier's spear to his throat. He was shaking from head to toe with an expression of complete bewilderment on his face. "It's...it's ok" she mumbled to the soldier, but he did not hear her. "I'll skewer you old man! I swear... by the Goddess... if you've harmed her!" the soldier threatened. "THAT'S ENOUGH! STAND DOWN SOLDIER!" shouted Zelda, her voice suddenly growing in strength. The shocked soldier lowered his spear, and backed away as Zelda approached the old man. As Impa still hovered over her, Zelda knelt down and looked into Baelin's eyes. "Where's Taelin?" she asked, "Where is my... your son?" Baelin was completely shocked... for a few seconds he stared at her in complete bewilderment. When she asked him again, his eyes welled and he covered his face with his hands. Zelda wrapped her arms around the grieving father, and wept with him.