Chapter: II

"A New Mission"

Link reached the base of the cliff and started back toward the Army's camp beside his master. "If you keep doing that lad, you're going to get yourself killed." Alfon chuckled, looking at Link's damaged hands. Link shrugged dismissively, "You work hard to get strong." he grunted. The marshal looked over at his ward. The boy now stood as tall as Alfon's shoulder. "You've grown boy." he said with a smile. "Huh?" asked Link, confused. "Well you used to only come up to... about this high," Alfon explained, holding his hand beside his elbow, "Now... well soon I'll have to teach you how to shave." he finished with a chuckle. Link squirmed awkwardly inside, he did not like Alfon's sentimental side. "Your beard is turning grey." he muttered after a few more steps. The marshal stopped and stroked at his beard, "Really? Telma has not said anything." he asked. Link just smirked back at him over his shoulder and broke into a run as Alfon moved to smack him.

When they reached Link's tent, Alfon stopped him. "Hey there, just a moment. You once told me that you were born in the summer right?" he asked. "No, I said the Deku Tree told me I came to the forest in mid-summer. I don't know my true birth date." Link answered, sourly. "Well, mid-summer is as good a birthday as any." Alfon returned, cheerfully, "I left something for you on your bed. I hope you like it." Link was thrilled, no one had given him a birthday gift since his youth in the forest. He dashed into the tent and found a long, slender bundle of cloth laying on top of his bed. Ignoring the burning in his hands, he lifted the heavy bundle and brought it out to Alfon. "Go ahead lad, open it!" the knight said, eagerly. Carefully, Link untied the leather thongs, and unbound the cloth. Inside, a handsome broadsword greeted Link's eyes. The grip and guard were plain and simple, but the blade was smooth and as reflective as glass. One small feature that caught Link's eye, was the ruby set into the pommel. He had never seen a soldier's sword set with a gemstone. "That little blade of yours was becoming more of a dagger to you these days so... I had the smith re-forge your old sword into this. He had to add a fair bit more steel but... the Kokiri blade is still inside there son. Do you like it?"

Link didn't know what to say. He was overjoyed to receive such an impressive gift from his master, but he was saddened that the Kokiri sword was now gone. "Its... thank you, my lord." he said, looking up at Alfon. The marshal smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "You've earned it! I've never seen a squire work as hard as you have! And this way," Alfon patted his hand on the blade, "The Kokiri can keep fighting with you, even as a grown soldier." Link sniffed and wiped his eyes. "That's great... thank you Alfon." he mumbled. "Now," said Alfon, smiling broadly, "I want you bathed and dressed! You're meeting the council later this morning and you smell absolutely foul!" "The council? What for?" Link asked, surprised. "A mission," answered Alfon as he turned to leave, "An important one! So you'll probably be hearing from the princess. Behave yourself!" he growled with a threatening look before departing. Link returned his new sword to his bed and gathered fresh clothes for the day. As he marched off to the bath-house, he wondered at what Alfon had said. "The council has never given a mission to me... why now?"

Once he had washed, and bandaged his hands, Link dressed in his usual gear: a linen shirt, a pair of hylian trousers, a pair of heavy infantry boots, his half-sleeved mail shirt (which had been lengthened and adjusted several times by the blacksmith), and a white soldier's tabard adorned with the Hylian crest. Link still kept his Kokiri clothing in his tent, but it had become too small for him to wear. A pair of hardened leather bracers and greaves completed his armor and Link slung his new broadsword across his back and marched off toward the temple. He found Alfon standing just outside its entrance, dressed in his heavy plate armor, which shone magnificently in the morning sun. "Good, we have some time." he said as Link arrived, "Now listen lad, when we enter the chamber, you will kneel and place the knuckles of your sword hand onto the floor. Bow your head, and stay that way until you are instructed to 'rise' or are 'dismissed'. Do not speak unless spoken to. I will greet the princess and the minister for both of us. If you are allowed to stand, do not look either the princess or the minister in the eyes - you are a squire and have not yet earned that privilege. If anyone does speak to you, remember to answer with reverence! You may only call the princess: 'princess' or 'your highness' nothing else! Understand?"

Link's usually stoic expression turned to a sour frown, "Why don't I just crawl in on my belly and lick the scum from their shoes?" A hard slap from Alfon's armored hand told Link he had made a serious mistake. "You will control yourself boy! Or so help me you will be dead! You have no idea what it takes to rule a kingdom! Much less hold one together during war! You will not say or do anything to shame me in there, Do you understand me?!" Alfon's eyes carried a very serious, very threatening anger that Link seldom saw him use. "Perfectly, my lord." he answered, rubbing his cheek. "Good!" barked the marshal, "Now follow me." They marched inside and made their way to the princess' council chamber. Normally, here, Link would be directed to wait in the passage, but this time Alfon motioned for him to follow. "Alfon, Lord-Marshal of Hyrule and his squire, here to see the council." he grunted to the chamber guard. The soldier turned, opened both doors, and, after tapping his spear three times upon the stone floor, announced: "Lord Alfon, Your Highness, Grand Marshal of Hyrule... and his squire."

Link clenched his teeth silently as they entered. "I guess I don't deserve a name here." he thought to himself angrily. The room was well lit with many candles and oil lamps hung along the walls. The princess, wearing a beautiful white and pink silk dress, sat upon her throne in the center, with Impa at her left, and the rest of the council gathered behind her. Despite Alfon's warning, Link looked directly at her as they approached. He was still very suspicious about what he had seen that morning. For a moment, just before they knelt, he thought he saw Zelda's cheeks blush and her eyes drift slightly to one side away from him. "Your Royal Highness," Alfon greeted as he and Link knelt and bowed their heads, "Your loyal servants await your command." Link did as he was told; after kneeling he clenched his weapon-hand into a fist and set his knuckles against the stone floor silently. "Just be quiet. They won't even speak to you." he said to himself. Since his punishment, Link had seen Zelda and Impa several times, but always at a distance. This was the first time he had been in the same room as them. His anger and hatred boiled and rolled over in his stomach. How he wanted to curse and shout at them for what they had done. But he had come to love Alfon as something of a father-figure and did not wish to embarrass him in front of the council.

As Alfon was briefing Link outside, Impa was preparing the princess for the upcoming meeting. "Be sure to sit upright on the throne and hold your head high, your grace. Do not look directly at them, keep your gaze just above their heads." "Yes, Impa, I know." Zelda answered impatiently, but the minister continued, "I will brief them on the mission, you should not need to speak. But, if any need does arise, remember to only refer to them by their ranks 'Marshal' and 'Squire', not their names!" "Don't you think this is all a little... 'formal' Impa? We see Lord Alfon nearly every day." the princess asked. "Yes, we do. But that insolent brat does not deserve the same privileges as the Lord-Marshal of Hyrule!" "Don't call him that!" hissed Zelda, just as the chamber guard entered and announced Link and Alfon's arrival. The marshal looked gallant and strong as ever in his brilliant plate armor and flowing cape, but Zelda had grown accustomed to seeing him at her daily briefings. Her attention was focused on Link. She too had seen him, at a distance, several times over the previous year, but she had not been this close to him in a long time. Her heart beat quicker as he stepped out from behind his master and approached the throne beside him. His piercing blue eyes were locked on her and his jaw was set firm. "He's angry." she thought to herself. Still, she could not help but remember the lines of his arms and chest... and the strength of his hands from that morning. When she looked back up at his face again, he was staring right into her eyes. For a moment, she feared that he had read her mind, and quickly looked away with the heat rising in her cheeks.

Impa thanked the two men for coming and asked Alfon to report on the status of the army. Their back-and-forth exchange remained formal and rather boring to Link, who was starting to resent the pain in his knee from kneeling on this hard stone floor for so long. For a few minutes, Zelda listened to Impa and Alfon, but they were not discussing anything she did not already know. These were just formalities... formalities she had started to loathe. "Just get to the point..." she thought to herself. Link was still obediently kneeling before her, with his head bowed and staring at the floor. "If I could just tell him... If I could make things right." the princess wondered as she watched him. Impa continued to drone on about the importance of the army and the different missions that Alfon's companies were expected to fulfill, but Zelda continued to study Link. It was remarkable how stiff and still he was just kneeling there. She could hardly tell that he was even breathing. "He's become disciplined... hard." she thought to herself. Soon, a curious idea came to her mind. Un-focusing her eyes, Zelda allowed herself to drift into her graceful state. "Link... Link..." she gently thought as Impa's voice drifted farther and farther away. He was close... very close here. His presence felt like a burning fire in the room. She could hear his heartbeat... feel the stinging soreness of his hands... even the hard stone pressing into his knee. But his mind was closed to her.

"Link" she silently called. Slowly, in the darkness, his form appeared. He was dressed, just as he was in the throne room, and still kneeling with his head bowed. "Link... speak to me." she asked quietly, but he did not seem to hear her. She knelt down in front of him. He was trembling slightly and his breathing had become erratic. Did he know she was there? she wondered. Zelda gently tried to press her way to his mind. She had to know what he felt... what he was thinking... but he was iron-bound and would not let her in. Frustrated, the princess relaxed and just stared down at his sandy hair. "Link... I know you're angry. I just want you to know... I'm sorry." she whispered to him. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sudden bolt of movement, Link raised his head and looked directly into her eyes. Zelda shook at the sudden flood of memories and emotions. Pain... anguish... burning hatred... it all crashed over her like a great wave and carried her through his most bitter memories: She heard the Deku Tree implore her to find the princess and save Hyrule as he steadily withered and died. She was leaving her home behind and Saria was crying to see her go. She ran in terror from the evil pouring out of the Temple of Time. She felt the sickening horror that Link felt after Zelda decided to allow the moblins to burn the forest. The agonizing lash of the whip and the bitter anguish of the betrayal Link felt. A hundred sleepless nights, tossing and turning, completely consumed with anger and hatred for those who had ruined his life, but were supposed to be his friends. "You... took everything from me." he growled menacingly, as a red flicker of light seemed to pass over his eyes.

In the throne room, Link remained motionless, and the princess stared straight ahead, but her hands steadily gripped the arms of her throne tighter and tighter. Impa, having been distracted by the long speeches and formalities with Alfon, suddenly stopped and looked over at the princess. Outwardly, the princess looked unfocused and bored with the meeting, but Impa could sense that she was using her power. Impa's eyes darted from Zelda, to Link, and back again. "Squire!" she shouted, suddenly, which startled everyone in the room. Zelda snapped herself free from the connection and struggled desperately to regain her breath without revealing herself to the others. Link too was breathing hard and struggling to compose himself, "My Lady?" he answered Impa with a slight shake in his voice. Impa did not know what she had just interrupted, but she was furious with herself that she had allowed it to happen. "Darunia of Death Mountain has requested you personally. The Gorons have some need that apparently you are best suited to handle. Gather your gear and depart at once for Goron City!" "Yes, my lady." Link answered obediently.

For a few, quiet seconds, the room stood very still. "You may go, squire." Impa finished with obvious contempt in her voice. Link stood, averting his eyes from both of the women, and turned to leave. Her heart still beating rapidly, Zelda's mind flashed, "Say something! Say something to him before he leaves!" "L-Link!" she stammered out loud. Link stopped and slowly turned back, looking down at her feet. "Princess?" he mumbled. Impa and Alfon were frozen with dread at what the princess might say or do next. The gathered council stared at her curiously as her mind raced for something to say. "I... uh... you... uh." she stammered as her face flushed with embarrassment. "Say something... anything!" her mind begged as she struggled under the pressure. "What would a lady say to a knight before a mission?" Her eyes darted about the room until they fell on the chamber guard standing by the door. He was standing at attention, holding his spear and shield. The shield... The princess rose and swept her way across the room, to an antechamber on the far side. She returned, a few moments later, carrying a large Hylian heater shield. "It will be dangerous to go alone... please take this." she said as she held it out to him. Link hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and slipped his arm through the shield's enarmes. "Thank you, your highness." he said, glancing at her face.

Still holding onto the shield's edges, Zelda wore an expression of desperation. Silently, she begged him to forgive her... to try to understand her, but Link remained motionless and cold. Feeling the moment becoming awkward and overlong, the princess leaned down and kissed the rim of the shield at its top, "Come back to us safely, Link." she said softly as she returned to her throne. "Princess." Link grunted with a slight bow of his head and departed.