Disclaimer: I do not own the legend of Zelda. That would be Nintendo.
Escape
Time seems to have slowed for Zelda as the days counted down to her impending doom. Odd how that happens at a time when Hyrule castle seems busier than ever. They were preparing for a wedding; Zelda's wedding to be specific. The staff had started preparations as soon as the engagement was announced.
Yesterday, Zelda was asked to try on a few dresses. Most brides would be frilled. Not Zelda. She didn't smile a wink throughout the whole ordeal. Though each dress was beautifully woven, and the true work of a master seamstress, she couldn't care less. When she looked into the mirror and saw her pale face staring back at her from within the folds of the dresses, she didn't see a bride. She saw a phantom, a wraith, a spectre who didn't belong in this world; who should have moved on long ago but was being held back against her will. She felt dead inside, and probably looked it. Why else would they slap a pound of blush and makeup on her face? To hide the lilies with fake roses.
At the moment Zelda was walking through her private garden. It was the only place where she found solitude these days. She admires the beauty of the flowers, wishing her life was as simple and free as theirs.
She kneels beside the flowers, caressing their petals with her fingers; barely brushing against them out of fear of tainting their beauty with her sorrow.
As she admires the natural beauty of the flowers, a hearty song is heard on the wind. It is not a human song, no. It is a bird song. In the air she sees a pair of birds chasing each other in a dance of flight. Singing their song of joy as the wind carries their small bodies through the open free sky.
Zelda reaches out her hand towards them, hoping against all hope to catch them, to join them, to meet them halfway across the sky. As they disappeared into the horizon a fierce sense of jealousy overtook the princess. How was it fair that the birds could go wherever they wanted? How come they could chase the clouds and kiss the stars while she kicked the ground and rotted in a prison of stone and false life? She was a descendent of the goddess Hylia! Or so she's been told her entire life. She should be out there in the world, not here behind enclosed walls looking down on her kingdom from a window in a high tower!
Looking back where the birds disappeared, in a moment of uncharacteristic confidence she makes up her mind. If the birds could do it then so could she! She will be leaving, tonight!
It was late at night, and everyone was asleep; except for Zelda. She was awake, and by the light of a candle was studying one of the many maps she owned, planning out where she would go from here. She has never stepped foot outside of the castle walls, so she had no idea how far one place was from another. Or what the people there were like. She did know one thing though; she had to go somewhere were her name would hold no meaning, and her face would be unrecognizable. After much studious thinking and silent debate she finally settles on a destination.
Holodrum. She would go to Holodrum.
With the great sea between the two, the monarchy has no power in Holodrum. The only purpose Holodrum serves is as a port stop for traders on their way to and from Labrynna. Thus, her face and name should be unknown to anyone there. The perfect place to hide.
Rolling up her map she stuffs it into her bodice. She then wraps herself into a cloak that she wore in the winter. Drawing up the hood to conceal her face, she opens the windows leading out to her balcony to scale down the wall.
Before she can even reach the railing she freezes, for sitting on the railing patiently -as if they were there the whole time- was Impa. Fear overtakes her and her confidence evaporates upon seeing her old nurse.
Fearing she'll receive some form of punishment, Zelda closes her eyes, too afraid to face it. But instead of a rebuke, or a firm hand, she feels a warm embrace.
Daring to meet Impa's gaze, Zelda is surprised to see the pride, as well as the sorrow in the older woman's eyes. The smile on her face reflects both happiness, and sadness.
"I always knew you would do something eventually," she says. "You were never meant for this kind of life. You have too much spirit to be contained, or bond to a lesser man." Reaching into a bag beside her Impa hands Zelda a bundle of cloth. Unwrapping it she reveals a set of clothes. They were simple in make and mediocre in quality, for they were peasant clothes. Consisting of a white underdress, a blue dress, a white veil with a blue ribbon to fasten it on, a rope girdle, felt shoes, and a fur lined cloak with a hood, it was the bare essentials.
"If you want to travel incognito, you should change into something more common."
Accepting the clothes, Zelda quickly changes back in her room, removing all of her jewellery, makeup, and expensive silks. But when she reaches for her ring, she hesitates. It was her mother's wedding band, and the only memento she had of her. It's also the only thing her father ever gave her. It could give her away, but she can't bear to part with it. So she keeps it on her finger, for now, until she decides what to do with it.
She returns not looking like a princess. No, she looks like a simple young peasant woman. She wasn't Princess Griselda de Hyrule. She was just Zelda. Simple ordinary Zelda; and she liked it.
"Now come, hurry!" says Impa. "We haven't a moment to lose. I will help you get out of castle town, but the moment you are beyond its walls you are on your own. Don't worry about getting caught. I am a Sheikah, and the shadows are our domain. As long as you do as I say, you will make it out tonight."
Zelda nods in understanding. The two women then begin to descend the wall, using the ivy vines for support. Fallowing Impa's instructions and sticking to the shadows, the two are able to avoid the guards with ease and make it outside. Skirting along the edge of the grounds they avoid all other guards and make it to castle town. However, they were not out of the woods yet. While there weren't many guards patrolling castle town, the town was walled and the draw bridge was up at night.
But Impa knew another way out. One nobody would ever expect a princess would use. The sewers.
It was dark, wet, and stank of human filth. Zelda could have sworn she stepped in feces, and was convinced she saw a rat scurry by. She was disgusted, and nearly lost her dinner by the end of it. Eventually they see moonlight ahead and exit outside of town and into the Zora River.
Zelda panics because she can't swim, but Impa reassures the girl and helps her swim across. It's at there and then that Zelda is grateful Impa had been waiting for her on her balcony, or she never would have made it this far on her own. Yet now she had to say goodbye, and she didn't want to. Impa had done so much for her throughout her life. She had always been there for Zelda. She was Zelda's nurse, Zelda's friend, Zelda's role model, Zelda's mother figure, and Impa was the only person who even called her Zelda instead of Griselda.
But Zelda also knows that if she backs down now, she will never get another opportunity to escape again. It was now or never.
Fighting back the tears she embraces Impa one last time, and the Sheikah woman returns the hug with an equal amount of affection.
Too soon the embrace ends. Impa then hands Zelda a bag full of rupees; enough to last her a few days. Zelda ties it to her belt and then leaves. After going a while she looks back to see if Impa's still there, but the Sheikah is already gone.
Zelda feels heartbroken, but then she feels something else. An emotion she hasn't felt before. Peace. With this peace came joy, for she was free; free from her prison, free from her engagement, free from her soul destroying life! She was free!
The biggest smile she ever smiled adorns her face and she laughs a hearty, fruity laugh. She then races across Hyrule field, skipping and prancing through the tall grass, dancing in the moonlight. Free, free! and how she loved it; this sensation that fed a fire in her soul.
With her heart light as a feather, Zelda races off into the night, determined to reach the nearest port by tomorrow, to sail to Holodrum and her new life of freedom.
Well, what do you think? A bit of a bitter sweet chapter, don't you think? Don't worry, things will get happier. And for those who are wondering "Where's Link?" don't worry, we'll get to him soon, we just need some time. For now simply leave a review and stay tuned for more.
Special shout out to Lightblade1121. First person to favourite this story.