Eyes opened to darkness. The woman was in a cold and empty room and she knew this because she could hear the echo of her shaking breath. There was also the fact that she had been having the same nightmare for nearly two weeks now, so it came as little surprise that she was dreaming it once again. Whereas before when she had awoken to such darkness, panic and confusion quickly consumed her. Not this time. This time, no emotions changed her features, even as Zelda slowly turned towards the only source of light. There in the distance was a column of light illuminating a stone table with a man sleeping upon it.
No…. not sleeping, dead. He was dead, for it was Link, and Zelda could see the sword sticking out of his gut. However the sword… wasn't the Master Sword, that much she could see. It was a black blade, which confirmed that once more she had fallen into the same dream. Sighing, the woman walked forward, just the same as she had many times previously, but she did not react this time. She knew more now. She knew that the Link she saw lying upon the table in the waking world was nothing but an empty vessel. Link's true spirit was trapped from returning to his body and doomed to remain in the Light World. That is until either his spirit entered the Twilight Realm and could then return to his body, if his body was there too, or when his future successor of the Chosen Hero's bloodline appeared, to which he could then pass down his knowledge and training. However, that could take centuries… millennia even.
The current state of Link's body, which was preserved in time by the Master Sword, and his doomed fate are both consequences of the actions of a single being...
"Dark Link…" she whispered, coming up to the side of the table and stepping into the spotlight. The queen stared down at the man's face upon the table, once again regarding how his skin tone was grey, his hair a ghost-white, and his clothes being shades of black and grey. Zelda had always assumed that it was Link upon the table and she would reach out to him, only for the dream to change to the dark island's beach. But… what if she had been wrong all those times before? What if... it wasn't Link who lay dead on this dream-table?
"Dark Link is that you?" she whispered, searching the unmoving face of the dark knight.
A deep growl suddenly filled the air and Zelda whipped around as her heart struck the inside of her chest and her gasp followed the threatening sound's echo. With eyes wide the queen looked around into the blackness, trying to pinpoint the origin to her nightmare's newest development, but she couldn't see anything. When yet another growl echoed within the room, the woman spun around to look to the other side of the table and beyond. The growls, which resounded again and again in different tones and intensities now, seemed to come from somewhere over there. With echoed footfalls, Zelda stepped around the table and, with a lasting glance at the knight upon the table, she walked towards the growls. Fear gripped her chest, but determination drove her forward.
This was new and this this different… and she would find out what her nightmare was turning into or perhaps even trying to tell her.
Being several feet away now from the illuminated table and in complete darkness, Zelda strained to see what monstrosity could possibly be making the chorus of snarks, growls, and barks that filled the air. She shook with fear, she wanted to run, but muttering to herself over and over that this was a dream and that dreams were their own realms helped her to venture forward. One foot after another, Zelda hesitantly walked forward. She flinched and winced every time another loud bark or snarl struck her ears, but if they were getting louder that meant she was getting closer.
As Zelda took another step, the table's light far behind her now, and the Hyrulean Queen froze when her eyes narrowed instinctively at a sudden spark of light. The light was close, really close to her: so close that she had to lift her right hand to shield her eyes when it got steadily brighter. That's when Zelda realized that light was actually coming from her hand and, more specifically, from the glowing symbol of the Triforce on the back of her hand. Surprise momentarily smothered her fear, but Zelda didn't have time to appreciate the sacred sight. She gasped when the light cast from her hand spilt onto the ground where three lines appeared in the form of a triangle etched onto the black ground. When the lines connected, the light of the lines lengthened to meet in the middle to form a dimly glowing triangle.
All the while, the snarls and the growls of a hidden beast continued to fill the cold air.
Blinking, heart hammering, and as confused as ever, Zelda stepped forward and leaned to peer into the glow of the triangle upon the floor. It took her a moment or two to realize that the growls seemed to be coming from within the triangle, which didn't make any sense: but then again... since when has making sense within a dream made sense?
Peering into the triangle, Zelda narrowed her brows with the glow dimmed and a scene developed within the triangle. She saw swirls of grey and purplish smoke across an orange and bluish background and dark landscape. It looked like a sky at dawn and the smoke rolled softly across darkened ground. Perplexed, the woman knelt down slowly and peered into the triangle.
It… it was like a window overlooking an environment that was perpendicular to the darkness Zelda was in: that she was looking down upon a horizontal view. Her eyes widened with fear and she jerked back from the window when another growl filled the air. Immediately following the horrific sound Zelda glimpsed the huge form of a black beast as it was seemingly thrown from beyond the window's perspective. It landed on the dark ground in the middle of the window's view with a loud thud and a whine of pain. The drifting smoke dissipated and parted around the downed beast that layn unmoving and Zelda slowly came and peered closer. She was trying to discern what the beast looked like, but it was proving difficult to tell due to the smoke and lowlight.
Was that… fur?
The beast looked to be laying on its side with its back towards her and finally the growls and snarls had ceased. There was no sound aside from Zelda's own fear-shaken breaths, but those froze when the beast moved. It was slow, as if held back from injury, but eventually it made its way to its feet and Zelda could see that it had four of them. It was truly a beast, with black fur, four legs, a tail, and it's head…
"A wolf?" the woman breathed, near soundlessly, but it must've been loud enough for the beast to hear. The black wolf's head suddenly snapped in her directly and Zelda saw the creature's red, glowing eyes widen, as if with surprise, upon seeing her peering out through the triangle.
The moment only lasted just that, a moment, before the wolf narrowed its eyes and suddenly lunged forward with amazing speed and a loud and ghastly bark. Zelda barely had the chance to react and jump back when the sudden, blazing light of a second beast, a wolf of light, flew into view from the side where the black wolf had been thrown from. The light wolf violently collided with the black wolf just as it neared the window. The light wolf's light was so brilliant that it blinded the woman and she quickly closed and covered her eyes as she fell away from the triangular window.
"Your Majesty!"
Zelda's eyes snapped open as her body was sternly shaken and she abruptly sat up with a loud gasp.
"Your Majesty! It's okay! You were dreaming."
The queen's frantic eyes looked over to come face-to-face with Arvid, who was sitting next to her on her bed with his hands still upon her shoulders and his expression was brimming with concern. Behind him Zelda saw the worried form of Imala, who was clutching her apron with worry and stared at her with motherly anxiety. Zelda's breathing came out in gasps and half-developed breaths and her heart thudded painfully in her chest. Her bedsheets stuck to her from sweat and her head felt light from her gasping. Surely if she hadn't already been sitting, the queen might've fainted. Outside rain pelted the window and promised that it was going to be a dreary and rainy spring day.
"Your Majesty, please, focus on your breathing. It's all right, I got you… it was just a dream."
Looking back at Arvid, Zelda paused and blinked before tears fell from her eyes. "Arvid?" she breathed, her breath catching again, before she erupted in sobbing coughs and leaned into Arvid, much to his surprise.
Before the man could stop himself, the knight brought his queen close and held her against his chest as she cried, petting her hair and rocking her gently. Looking over to the nurse, Arvid shared the same worried look with Imala as he continued to gently whisper to his queen that everything was all right and that she was safe.
Never would Arvid have guessed that he'd be holding and consoling his queen like this, because Zelda had always been so strong, so calm and collected. Seeing her so upset like this was more than a little distressing for the knight. He had never seen Zelda cry, not even during the funeral for the Queen's mother, the late Queen Adelheide, and to have her sobbing into his chest, her hands gripping her sides, shook him to his core. He didn't know what exactly to do, save for hesitantly placing his hands upon her back in an attempt to comfort her.
As ordered by the emergency Council two days previously, Arvid had not left the queen's side, not even to sleep. A cot behind a divider had been set up within the queen's own personal room and while he slept half a garrison remained in the room. Sleep was hard to accomplish and Arvid insisted on doing so only during the hours of the day so that he could be wide awake during the night. This was to ensure that the queen could sleep in relative privacy during the night without so many guards in her room. Even now it was only Imala and Arvid within the room, but the knight knew that at his call the not-to-be-locked door would burst open and a dozen or more armed guards would quickly swarm into the room within moments. Fortunately when the queen had begun to call out and thrash about in her sleep, she hadn't done it too loudly as to possibly raise a reaction of alarm. Arvid had been quick to get to the queen's side and softly tried to wake her. When that hadn't worked and the woman began to toss and turn more in distress, he had been forced to resort to taking a hold of her shoulders to try and shake her awake.
It had worked and now that she was awake, he'd wait to ask her about her dream until she had calmed down more.
A few more minutes went by and the queen's sobs quieted and finally she leaned back from Arvid, to which he immediately dropped his hands and stood dutifully by the bedside. Imala took this opportunity to come closer and offer a handkerchief to Zelda, who wordlessly took it and wiped her eyes, face, and nose.
The knight and nurse waited patiently for their monarch to collect herself and when it seemed that she was calmed down enough, Arvid quieted asked, "Your Majesty-?"
"Zelda, please. Arvid," the queen suddenly interjected, looking up at her knight with slightly red and puffy eyes. "You may call me Zelda, in private. It's fine, really."
"If you insist, then..." Arvid replied, hesitance in his tone. "Zelda… ah, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm…." Zelda began, before sighing and dropping her shoulders, her hands falling to her blanketed lap. "I'm fine, really I am."
"But what were you dreaming about, my dear?" Imala chimed in, coming to sit near the queen's knees.
"Was it the same nightmare you've been having?" Arvid added, his expression still one of concern but also of protective suspicion. Since having become the acting Personal Guard of the Queen, the knight had been told of the queen's nightly nightmare with all of its dark and foreboding details; however, the past few nights Zelda had not experienced the nightmare for the first time in weeks. This just so happened to correspond with the fact that the nightmare had stopped the same night after when Dark Link had attacked her and Link as a wolf had driven him away. Not that Arvid knew this, but Zelda had given this correlation great thought.
Looking between the two, Zelda's expression twisted with puzzlement as she tried to remember. "I don't… I don't know…" she began, biting her lower lip and holding her forehead with her hand.
"If you can't remember, that's fine," Arvid offered, sitting gently once again by his queen's side.
"It's… not that I don't remember.." the queen began. Lifting her glistening eyes up to meet her knight's, Zelda remained silent as she seemingly searched into his gaze while her face quivered with growing uncertainty. "I just don't understand it. I mean... it began like before. I was in the dark room save for a single light…." Her words were quiet and slow while the memories of her dream drifted into view. "I walked towards it. There was the table with Link laying dead upon it and I approached him like before, but..."
Zelda paused as she recalled her thoughts within the dream, that it was actually Dark Link impaled upon the table and not Link, when she shook her head and continued. She would think about this later.
"But then there came a growl, like some menacing beast, out from the darkness, and another and another. Again and again," Zelda recounted, her voice wavering and her eyes brightened with another wave of tears, "But then there was a light and a triangular-shaped window appeared on the ground and I looked into it and saw... I saw…" Swallowing hard, Zelda half-blinked as the memory of the scene filled her mind and tears fell down her cheeks. When Arvid reached up to lightly cup her shoulder in support, Zelda sniffled and looked aside and quickly wiped her face.
"Zelda? What did you see?" Arvid whispered his eyes searching his face with concern.
The queen directed her eyes back to Arvid's and in a hushed voice she said, "Light at battle… with Darkness. Beasts, or wolves, of Light and Darkness fighting and from what I saw, the Light was trying to keep the Darkness down. But, it was fighting back…"
Any more words were destroyed by a sob and Zelda dropped her head, slowly shaking it. Surprise and worry crossed Arvid's face as he uselessly stared at his queen's distraught form, unsure on what to do: should he hold her again? Was that overstepping his rank? Before, she had fallen into his arms… but now, she wasn't exactly crying again, well not loudly at least, more distraught...
While Arvid was facing his moral conundrum, Zelda stared at her hands in her lap through narrowed eyes as her tears continued to fall. Her nightmare had filled her with such fear and she could only guess why. Two wolves: one of darkness and the other of light… Zelda knew who they were and what she saw. Those wolves were Dark Link and Link fighting in their beastly, spiritual forms and Dark Link had seen her watching.
"Whatever the meaning of this dream," the queen spoke up and lifted her head, sniffling and again ridding her face of her tears, "I cannot allow it to distract me today. There is too much on the line."
After all, today was the day. At dusk Zelda would hear whether or not she would be permitted to leave the kingdom and seek out the Sheikah. In doing so... finally have some questions answered.
Wiping her face with her sheet, Zelda's expression steeled itself and she took a steadying breath. "It was just a nightmare," she said finally, before gesturing to Imala to help her get dressed and, thus, was Arvid's cue to dutifully back off. It was time for her to be the Queen of Hyrule once more, not a sobbing wretch wrought with fear.
/
"It's time, Your Majesty. Are you ready?"
Zelda glanced over at Arvid from her position by one of her grand windows of her bedroom. Her hands tightly wrung one of her gloves from her nerves and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Somehow the queen had managed to get through the day without further incident following her rude awakening from her nightmare. The hours and minutes had dragged and Zelda had done everything she could think of to keep her mind preoccupied. Unfortunately, she had only vaguely succeeded. Beyond her window, the sun was dropping low towards the horizon and setting the sky alight with oranges, reds, and yellows. Dusk was fast approaching.
Arvid was right, it was time. Zelda had a Council meeting to attend and she did not wish to be tardy.
"I am," she replied after another moment and calmly replaced her glove upon her hand.
Her knight went towards the door, though hesitated when he saw his queen headed towards her room's desk and retrieved a small key from her dress' hidden pocket. Curious, he watched her unlock a drawer and remove a small, wooden box from within, before she closed the drawer and came over to him.
"Arvid, I'm entrusting you with this," she said and presented him the box. It was small, about the size of his palm, exquisitely made and polished and carved into the top of the lid was the Wingcrest. "Hold this for me during the meeting, but do not open it, please."
"As you wish, my- I mean… Zelda," the knight answered a bit clumsily, recalling what his queen had said that morning, before carefully taking the box from her with an unsure smile.
Zelda nodded back and, with Arvid by her side, the queen exited her room and was immediately greeted by her dutiful guardsmen who were stationed outside. This… was the current norm. Paying the extra security no mind, save for a respectful nod of greeting to her loyal countrymen, Zelda and Arvid made their way through the castle until the many footfalls of the guards echoed down the queen's private corridor that lead to the Council Chamber. Seeing the set of doors and knowing that all of her Councillors, the Heads of the Seven Noble Families, and the Noruidians were surely already inside waiting, set her heart thundering within her ears. Arvid, perhaps sensing his queen's subtle hesitation, waved off the other guards and gave Zelda a small smile when she looked at him.
"Whatever may happen, you know that I stand beside you," he said in a low whisper, earning a small smile of gratitude from his liege.
"One can only hope that the Goddesses will grant us some luck this evening," Zelda returned, matching her knight's volume. Taking another slow and deep breath in, before slowly releasing it. Zelda lifted her chin and gave her knight a small nod to open the doors for her.
As the doors were opened, the pair were struck with the chorus of the many voices from within, all talking in all manner of voices and tones as each member of the Council continued discussions that had been taking place over the past couple of days. However, as their queen's private doors opened and Zelda stepped forward, everyone in attendance fell silent and stood, if they weren't already, to loyally bow their heads as their monarch climbed the stairs to her podium. Zelda sat in her seat as the low boom of her doors were shut by Arvid, who then stood at the base of his queen's seat, and the scuffles of her Councillors and Noble Heads taking their seats followed thereafter.
For a few moments, silence hung within the chamber's air as everyone awaited for Zelda to speak first, and the queen took the moment to assess the faces who stared up at her. She glanced to her right to see the Five Councillors, the Council scribe, and before her sitting at the large semi-circle, or horseshoe-shaped, table were all of the Heads of the Sevens Noble Families, as to be expected. Zelda had no doubt that her subjects would attend, as truly they had no choice in the matter, but the people whom her eyes mainly were drawn to were the Noruidians seated at the back of the room.
Zelda didn't allow her gaze to linger long, but for the briefest of moments her eyes locked with the prince's, before she blinked and sat tall in order to address the Council.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Council, I thank you joining me here today. It is my hope that we may come to a just and peaceful decision in regard to the suggestion I put forth for your consideration that I, Zelda Adelheide Tetranna of the House of Otherwen, Queen and Sovereign of the Kingdom of Hyrule, be allowed to leave our kingdom in search of the Sheikah Tribe and to possibly find answers to the darkness that is quickly threatening the safety of my people. In regard to this proposition, does the Council have any final questions concerning the matter before we proceed to the voting process?"
Zelda turned towards her Councillors and Elder Yrota nodded towards his queen and brandished a piece of parchment. "The Council has indeed put forward two questions to be answered concerning this matter." The chamber was silent as the master blacksmith adjusted his spectacles and began to read from the paper. "The first question put forth by the Council so states: "In order to reach the so-called 'Sheikah Village', how does Her Majesty, the Queen Zelda of Hyrule, propose that this feat be done safely so that no harm befalls Her Majesty?""
Elder Yrota turned back towards the queen, indicating that it was her turn to speak, and after a moment she did. "And what of the second question?" she asked politely, her expression having not changed upon hearing the nature of the first question.
The Council Elder gave her a nod and returned to reading the parchment. "As for the second question put forth by the Council: "What is the meaning of having members of the Kingdom of Noruidia being present to important matters of the Kingdom of Hyrule?""
There was an audible murmur within the chamber as the anxiety of those in attendance increased as the second question was read. Zelda's own eyes glanced once more towards the back of the room where she caught sight of Simin looking nervously over at the twins, while Vahlymor and Balin remained seemingly unfazed.
Zelda herself did not allow any reaction to be seen by either the Councillors or the Hyrulean nobles because these questions came as no real surprise to her. In fact, she had anticipated them and, with a calming breath, it was time to play the game that she had been setting up over the passed couple of days.
"Members of the Council. I hear and acknowledge your questions as I know that they have been put forward with the best of intentions with Hyrule's safety at their core. As for my answers for both questions, I do admit that I believe that I can answer them both with the same solution." Pausing for a moment to allow her words to settle, Zelda interlaced her fingers upon her podium and continued, "To do so, I now call forth Prince Vahlymor, Second Son to His Majesty King Vasailek, Prince of Noruidia, to come forth and stand before me."
Silence followed the queen's summons except for the quiet shuffle caused by the prince as he rose from his seat. The soft footfalls of his boots upon the floor were heard by as the man walked around the left-side of the room, his posture and composure ignoring the numerous sets of eyes staring him down, before he calmly came to stand at the base of the queen's podium and immediately gave her a Noruidian-styled bow: the prince swept his left arm wide, his right arm gently crossed his chest, chin to his chest, bending low at the waist, and his right foot half-stepped back with its heel raised.
"Prince Vahlymor," Zelda addressed and paused, to which the prince straightened his stance and set his hands behind his back. The queen regarded the calm and relaxed expression that was beginning to be synonymous with the prince. However, Zelda knew now that the man could conceal his emotions even better than she could, given the training he had told her about during their conversation in the garden. "Prince Vahlymor, you and your countrymen have journeyed to Hyrule from your kingdom, is this true?"
"It is, Your Majesty," the prince replied, his tone as casual as his features.
"And do you trust in the experience and skills embodied by yourself and your comrades to be able to make such a journey once more?"
"I do, Your Majesty," the prince replied, a small smile entering his features and for those who didn't know the man better it would appear as if he he was actually enjoying the line of questioning.
"Are you confident that yourself and your comrades can safety traverse the mountains to the west of Hyrule, the natural barrier between our kingdoms?"
"I am, Your Majesty."
"As you say in line with these truths, would you, Prince Vahlymor, with confidence be able to act as my escort into these mountains in hopes of locating the village of the Sheikah?"
A low drone of complaint and whispers echoed the queen's words and several members of the Council revealed their expressions of alarm or disbelief at such a notion, but when the prince began to respond all quieted down once more.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Vahlymor replied, not missing a beat. "Such a venture is possibly dangerous even without the pleasure of your company. Besides, it could mean putting mine or the safety of my men at risk. If I was to agree to acting as your escort into the mountains, what does the Kingdom of Hyrule offer to Noruidia in exchange?"
This was it: time for Zelda to make her power play. All of her planning had amounted to this moment.
"A fair question indeed, sir," the queen replied. Her heart hammering in her chest. "Understandably, this venture that I have proposed does incite the possibility of great danger and it would be foolish of yourself and your countrymen to put your health and safety at risk for the sake of another kingdom's ruler simply out of the goodness of your hearts. Now, I am not implying that you wouldn't, but let it be recorded that I do have an offer for Prince Vahlymor upon the agreement that he will act as my escort to find the Sheikah."
Taking a moment to regard the prince and steel herself with what she was about to say, knowing that she would not be able to take them back.
"In exchange of you, Prince Vahlymor, risking yourself at my and Hyrule's expense, I offer this: a royal declaration, followed by an official announcement that would be spread throughout the kingdom so that there may be no mistaking it, that I offer my hand in marriage to you."
The synchronized gasps that were heard within the chamber sounded almost comical in response to the queen's offer. Arvid himself turned to face his queen from his position by her podium, his face clearly revealing his own surprise. At the back of the chamber, the Noruidians looked at one another before looking at the back of their prince with mixed expressions.
"B-but Your Majesty!" Lord Euros suddenly shouted out standing abruptly from his seat, the lord's puffy face red with barely contained indignation.
"Your Majesty, he is already a marriage suitor!" Matriarch Teria added, and Lord Oris and Lord Kaymib voiced their agreements. "What does such an offer accomplish?"
Elder Yrota needed no signal from his queen to begin hammering his gavel upon his desk. "Order! Everyone, return to your seats!"
All the while the members of Hyrule's nobility begrudgingly settled down, Zelda's eyes never left the prince's and the man never faltered with his small, yet charming, smile. Once relative calm had returned to the chamber did the prince finally respond.
"I find myself in agreement with your advisors, Your Majesty. As I am already seen as a prospective suitor for yourself, and have been your betrothed since your birth, how does your offer differ from what is already known?"
Whispers and hushed tones could be heard from the nobles, and the words "ungrateful" and "greedy" reached Zelda's ears. In response, Zelda shocked many by nodding to the prince. "And I agree with you, prince. As I see it, if you are to risk your life for my kingdom, you ought to have a substantial claim for the future of Hyrule more than the title of my Prince Consort could offer. That being said, if you were to agree to act as my escort, I still offer my hand in marriage and its official declaration, and that on the day we wed that I, Zelda, Queen of Hyrule, will make you Vahlymor... King of Hyrule, and my equal in all duties, responsibilities, and power, this I promise to you. This will ensure that you have reason to risk your life for Hyrule and protect me. In addition, such a union will bring our two kingdoms closer than ever before. This is my offer."
Before the prince could respond, madness and chaos erupted within the Council Chamber.
Lords and ladies of Hyrule voiced their objections or disbeliefs. The Councillors themselves either tried to reclaim order or talked amongst themselves. Arvid was one of the few who remained silent, but he did drop his head slightly to stare incredulously at the floor, while his heart tightened. The Noruidians jumped up from their seats in response to the announcement and sudden cacophony of voices. They began to rush towards their prince, but were stopped by the strength of Balin's hands and the sternness of his voice to remain. Slowly Simin, Crevan, and Todd realized that this was what Vahlymor had probably spoken with the queen about two days prior during the emergency Council meeting.
And they were right.
This was what Zelda had planned and this is what the prince had been considering since he had read the small message the queen had presented him in private. As to what that message read, it stated simply: "Help me find the Sheikah and discover the truth to what threatens Hyrule, and I promise to make you King of Hyrule".
What Zelda was offering, to a foreign prince no less, was equal power to her own. If Vahlymor agrees and if they were to wed, he would become the new King of Hyrule in addition to being her husband, as well as being a prince of Noruidia. This would mean that Noruidia could have direct inference with Hyrulean politics. Zelda had taken this into consideration but outweighed the possible repercussions with the benefits that would come with renewing the marriage-based alliance with Noruidia. Hyrule needed such an alliance and any Noruidian meddling would be a small consequence of that.
Since the noise continued, thus making it impossible for the prince to respond accordingly, Zelda sighed and slowly stood. She hoped that her presence would soon be noticed and when it was and her nobles began to quiet down, did she address them.
"This is not the time for discussion," she stated towards her kingdom's nobility before returning to her seat and looked back down at the prince looking up at her. "Prince Vahlymor, what is your answer in regard to my offer."
A hush hung in the air as everyone leaned forward in anticipation. Only the Noruidians knew for sure that their prince had had the last two days to consider the queen's offer, though if any of the Noble Heads put any thought into it they could also figure that much out. Still.. What would the prince say?
"My answer…" Vahlymor began, his voice still even but the way he held Zelda's gaze caused her interlocked fingers to tense against her knuckles.
The prince's pause did nothing to ease the tension in the air.
"My answer is thus: I… accept your terms."
Zelda inclined her head and raised her gazed to look upon her flabbergasted and stunned Council members. "Prince Vahlymor agrees. If the Council votes to allow me to leave Hyrule, I will offer my hand in marriage to him here and now, within the walls of the Council Chamber, with the entirety of the Council bearing witness. Henceforth, there will be made a grand declaration of our engagement for the entire kingdom to rejoice. Forthwith, our departure from Hyrule will be done so under the guise that we are travelling to Noruidia to visit Prince Vahlymor's father, King Vasailek, in order to avoid possible panic from spreading with my absence. It will be announced that the wedding will be held here, in Hyrule, upon our return. During our absence, hope and joy will hopefully spread through our kingdom to combat the despair and fear that has crept inside by the death of Sir Link and the attack upon myself."
Zelda paused, expression as serene and sincere as ever, before she pointedly looked around the room and added, "That is, of course, if the Council votes for this proposition. If not, then the offer is void and my courtship by the established suitors will continue."
No one spoke a word as every man and woman, noble, knight, Councillor, or Noruidian alike were all speechless.
Seeing as this was the case, Zelda smiled down towards the prince and inclined her head, to which he immediately responded with another bow.
"I thank you, Prince Vahlymor. Please, return to your seat until after the vote has been passed."
As the prince walked back towards the back of the room, this time he was able to do so without every set of eyes watching him. Most of the Hyrulean Heads of the Noble Houses either hung their heads in disbelief or were softly whispering to their closest neighbours. No one would dare it aloud but everyone knew what had just happened.
Zelda had played her hand perfectly and had put the Council into an anxious position.
On the one hand, Zelda was offering the opportunity of forming a very strong alliance with a neighbouring power, the assurance of a new king, and, if any of them chose to read between the lines, the queen was also promising that relatively soon the future heir to the Hyrulean throne would be conceived. On the other hand, their queen would leave the relative safety of the kingdom and downvoting the offer could be seen as pushing personal agendas considering that the matter of the queen's marriage was on the line.
The fact that Vahlymor was Noruidian was also problematic, but, then again, Zelda's own mother had been from the kingdom even if this detail had been more or less glossed over and hidden over time.
Once Zelda saw the prince return to his seat, his fellows immediately leaned towards their leader to whisper to him, did the queen speak up once more.
"Elder Yrota?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Have I supplied this Council with a sufficient answer to the two questions put forth?"
The Council Elder leaned towards the other Councillors and after a few moments of murmuring and receiving the others' nods of agreement, he turned back to nod towards his queen. "You have, Your Majesty.'
"Very well," the queen continued. Swallowing softly, she nodded towards Yrota and said, "Please, proceed to the vote."
"Very well." Clearly his throat, Yrota spoke up with his weathered yet strong voice, coaxing all to look up at him whether they were ready to or now. "It is up for vote of the Council to allow Zelda Adelheide Tetranna of the House of Otherwen, Queen of Hyrule, to depart our kingdom in accordance of her promise that she will marry Prince Vahlymor of the Kingdom of Noruidia, upon his promise to escort her safely on this journey, protecting her, and returning with her to Hyrule, which upon their marriage he will be named King of Hyrule. All those in favour, say aye!"
The entire time Yrota spoke, admittedly, Zelda's hands were shaking but she kept them hidden upon her lap.
'This… is for Hyrule… this… is for Hyrule…' her thoughts whispered to her again and again.
The queen watched as, slowly, hands began to raise into the air, followed by the sequence of "Ayes!"
Four of the five Councillors raised their hands first, along with Lord Oris', with only Councillor Oplin appearing to still be in decision. There was a moment where it did seem that Zelda's plan had backfired, that she might be outvoted, as six votes were needed for her proposal to be approved. Elder Yrota seemed to think this as well, for the blacksmith looked around and opened his mouth to move for the opposition but was stopped by a surprising voice.
"Aye!"
Even Zelda had to blink in surprise when she saw that it was Lord Euros of all people who had spoken up and had his hand raised. Albeit, his expression looked terribly torn and his eyes seemed defeated yet calculative to the queen, but still… with the Patriarch of the Gefion Family's vote the queen's proposal would be accepted. Upon seeing this, every other member of the Council raised their hands and voiced their votes so until all eleven possible votes were in favour of the motion.
This was all Elder Yrota needed to see.
"Let it be recorded that the vote is unanimously in favour. However, due to the unique circumstances of this vote and thus before I declare the verdict, I believe that Your Majesty, as per your promise, must declare herein now before this Council your official engagement to Prince Vahlymor. Once this is done will the proposal be accepted into the record."
"Of course. Prince Vahlymor, please come before the podium once more."
Almost as if in a dream, Zelda rose from her seat. Shadowing her movements were those in attendance who all stood after the queen out of respect. As he'd been summoned, Prince Vahlymor began to retrace his steps back around the left-side of the room, to return to where he stood minutes before. Gracefully and slowly did the woman descend her set of stairs, head held high, while her thoughts were buzzing noisily around her head. All of her calculative planning, her risks, and her doubts, it had all lead to this. For years the queen had avoided the topic of marriage, yet here she was reaching the bottom of the stairs and coming to meet her betrothed.
Zelda made it to the base of the podium mere moments before Vahlymor did and once more she found herself regarding the man. He was tall, strong, obviously handsome, with his short, dark hair and matching, trimmed goatee. She took in his long pointed ears, similar to that of a Hylian, save for the darkened skin at the ear-tips, and from his right ear hung an earring that appeared to be a sapphire. Then, of course, there was the scar that cut his right eyebrow in half. Surely she would need to inquire about how the prince acquired such a scar, but then she recalled the prince's duel against Link and how there had been a long scar around half of the man's torso. Clearly there were a great many tales the prince could tell her of his life.
The woman couldn't help the shiver of sadness that crept down her spine as her gaze met the prince's and she realized that she would be marrying a man she did not know. Alas, a small price to pay for Hyrule because, after all, she was doing this for her kingdom.
"Prince Vahlymor?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?" the prince replied, his hands behind his back and expression still as calm as Zelda's.
Now that she was face-to-face with the man, it became even clearer to the queen that this was the prince's mask: clam, collected, casual, almost aloof, while hers was serene, collected, and regal.
"Are you sure that you want to proceed with this matter?"
The queen's question hung in the air and she watch Vahlymor's eyes closely. The man blinked, his gaze shifted ever so slightly, before he breathed a soft chuckle and smiled at her. "I am."
"So be it," Zelda said gently before gesturing for Arvid to join her.
Her knight seemed to snap awake from whatever deep thoughts that had been consuming him and came forward to stand by his queen and inclined his head in greeting.
"The box I gave you?" Zelda prompted lightly, with a smile, and Arvid quickly retrieved the box from a pocket in his cape and handed it over to her. "Thank you," she said and without speaking, her knight once more inclined his head and returned to his spot.
Zelda held the small, wooden box gently between her hands and looked up at Vahlymor.
"Prince Vahlymor… kneel, if you please."
For a mere moment did Zelda think she saw the man hesitate, but she also might have imagined it when the prince gently fell to one knee and then the other, bowing his head. Looking down at the top of the man's hair, the Hyrulean woman took a small breath before she opened the box. Inside was a ring. It was large, a man's ring, and made of silver. Delicately and beautifully crafted within the ring's face was the Wingcrest, the insignia of the Hyrulean Royal Family, carefully inlaid with diamonds to form the crest. Other precious stones like rubies and sapphire intricately covered the band. The ring was priceless and an heirloom of the Royal Family.
"This ring…" Zelda proclaimed, her voice once more filling the Council Chamber, "belonged to my father, King Arawn Emmett Kobayne III. It is a ring of the Royal Family of Hyrule and I wear its partner, which belonged to my mother Queen Adelheide Lunalillith. Prince Vahlymor, if you accept this ring, not only will you be accepting my proposal to become my husband, but you will also be accepting the responsibility of protecting the Kingdom of Hyrule as its future King. By accepting this ring, you are agreeing to devote your heart, soul, and life to upholding the values of our kingdom by the graces of the Three Goddesses. You will be my equal upon marriage and a figure of inspiration, strength, hope, and kindness for all of the peoples of Hyrule."
Pausing a moment to steady herself, Zelda regarded the top of the man's head, with his dark hair, before reaching her left hand down to gently cup the side of the man's face and draw it upwards so that he looked up at her. Their eyes met and a moment passed between them, a feeling of mirrored masked anxiety, as a bond began to form between them that would secure their future together.
The chamber itself was silent, everyone was holding their breath as they watched the proposal, and if Zelda closed her eyes she might even have been able to imagine that she was somewhere else entirely.
"Vahlymor of Noruidia," Zelda continued holding up the ring. "Do you accept this ring and with it, the title of my fiancé and the future Sovereign of Hyrule?"
"I do."
The prince's words came effortlessly and the smallest movement of his chin accompanied his words with a ghost of a nod. Vahl's gaze never left hers as Zelda lifted her left hand and he gently placed his upon her gloved palm. With the ring between her thumb and forefinger, Zelda slipped the ring onto Vahlymor's ring finger.
"I, Zelda Adelheide Tetranna of the House of Otherwen, Queen of Hyrule, hereby announce my engagement to Prince Vahlymor of Noruidia wherein on the day of our marriage, I will name him my husband and King of Hyrule."
The prince stood as Zelda made her declaration and the pair joined hands while the chamber erupted in applause, whether they wanted to or not. The Queen of Hyrule was engaged to marry and this was a joyous occasion, the beginning of a new chapter for the history of the kingdom.
Though she smiled along with her new fiancé, Zelda couldn't find within herself any ounce of happiness. Perhaps... such a feeling would come in time.
/
"My lady, your guests have arrived."
Zelda looked up from her desk, dressed now in one of her more casual dresses after having donned her more regal attire for the Council meeting earlier, and her knights Faris and Arvid stood on either side of her. The queen smiled at her nurse. "Thank you, Imala. Let them in and then, please, go and relax yourself. You truly deserve it. Once we're finished here I'll send for you
Imala inclined her head and returned the queen's smile, before she opened the door and said to the visitors waiting outside the queen's study. "Right this way, gentlemen, and thank you for waiting."
The figures of Prince Vahlymor, Simin, Balin, and the twins, Crevan and Todd, all entered the room, thanking Imala, who closed the door behind her. The Noruidians appeared a bit surprised and suspicious as to why they had been summoned to the queen's study so late into the night.
It had been several hours since the conclusion of the Council, which had not exactly ended following Zelda's proposal to Vahlymor. First, Zelda announced that in three days time she would make her public announcement to formally declare her engagement, after which on the fourth day she and her entourage would depart Hyrule seemingly for Noruidia. During this four day period, the necessities for the journey would be prepared. The Council then began to debate as to who would join the Noruidians in protecting the queen, some saying that an entire regiment should join them. However, it was Vahlymor who astonished the chamber by suggesting that the smaller the escort the less likely they would attract the eye of any bandits or monsters. Zelda put forth that in order to not draw attention to themselves, that she would be joined by Arvid, Faris, and the Noruidians. Several members of the Council refuted this, saying that it would be inappropriate for the Queen of Hyrule to not go without her handmaidens or at least another woman. Then, upon the suggestion of Patriarch Kaymib, whose province to oversee was the Peak Province, that Ashei, former member of The Resistance and a current captain within the Hyrulean military, ought to join the queen. Zelda, who actually hadn't thought of the strong, raven-haired woman and friend of Link's, who was known for her knowledge of the mountains of Hyrule, agreed to this. She affirmed that as soon as the meeting was over she would send for the captain. While it was clear that there were those who disagreed with such a small escort, it was ultimately agreed to.
When asked as to how long this venture would take, Zelda left it up to Vahlymor to decide and he reasoned that, realistically, it takes about two weeks to travel to Noruidia, meaning they would need at least a month. Zelda then proposed two months, stating that while they may not need that long to find the Sheikah Village, to everyone else they were travelling to visit Vahlymor's father. The Council agreed, but Zelda also made sure to remind everyone that their true destination was not to leave the chamber's walls. The queen said this calmly but her warning hung in the air and was left up to interpretation. On this, the Council agreed to the length of time for two months. This also would align with the proposition of adhering to the date of the Midsummer Solstice for the wedding. Zelda had no objections to this, as the solstice was still about three months away, and so the queen and prince's wedding date was established. Next, Zelda announced that in her absence that Elder Yrota would act as Regent and in the situation that she would not return, that the throne would fall to the next in line. This, of course, meant that the Gefion Family, specifically Euros, would inherit the throne. The Gefions were in fact distant cousins to Zelda on her paternal side and it became pretty clear to anyone who gave it any thought that this was why the Patriarch of the Gefion Family had voted to allow Zelda to leave Hyrule. This was not voiced, however, during the Council meeting but surely it had come to the minds of many. The line of succession also highlighted that in the case of Zelda's death, Vahlymor would not become king, giving more assurance that he would do everything in his power to protect her and ensure her safety whilst on their journey.
Zelda was well aware of this fact, but she had no intention of dying outside of Hyrule. She had faith in the Goddesses that by their graces she would return to see her kingdom again, perhaps without the shroud of darkness currently threatening it.
"Welcome, gentlemen," Zelda greeted the Noruidians, who all bowed to her in greeting. "Please, there's no need for that here," she continued, still smiling as she stood, and gestured to them to come and join her at her desk. Her eyes met Vahl's and she added, "We're all friends here."
"That we are…" Faris growled out, the man clearly being the tallest and biggest individual in the room, and he eyed the Noruidians with the posture to match.
"Now, now, Faris," the queen lightly chided, patting his shoulder as she came around behind him to step forward and meet the Noruidians. "If we're all going to be travelling together, we might as well try and get along now."
"Travelling together…" whispered Crevan to his brother.
"Marrying each other..." Todd whispered back.
The pair erupted in giggles, earning a quick and intense glare from Balin and a sigh from Simin.
"Would you two at least pretend to be civilized before royalty?" Simin chastised hotly under his breath towards the pair.
"Why?" Todd returned, shrugging innocently.
"This is how we act around Vahl and he's apparently royal. Why should we change for his future bride?" Crevan mirrored his brother's innocence, both of the bright red-haired brothers smiling playfully.
"That's quite enough, you two!" Vahl finally barked out, half glancing towards the youngest of his crew; the twins immediately zipped their lips and took on a sheepish demeanour.
Zelda, who had quietly watched this entire interaction, only chuckled and shook her head. "No, it's quite all right. They have a point," she said as Vahl returned his gaze to her, to which Zelda smiled wider. "The less formal we act around one another, the better. I think anyway." Glancing back at Faris and Arvid, who themselves looked as pleased with the twins' antics as the prince, Zelda continued, "From now on, when we're alone such as this and when we do depart, I ask that you refrain from referring to me by any royal titles."
"But, Your Majesty-"
"It's quite fine, Faris," Zelda interrupted her one-armed knight, but with a kind tone. Turning back to the Noruidians, she stated, "Please. Feel free to refer to me by my name, call me Zelda."
Simin looked physically uncomfortable with the queen's request, while the twins' expressions lit up with excitement, and Balin… well, the man's face simply relaxed back to his usual distant expression. Arvid, who had already been referring to his queen by her first name for a day, turned his conflicted face away, but Faris just sighed and shook his head.
"You're just like your father, y'know?" he said with his gruff tone, but his expression spoiled his admiration for his queen.
"Well, Zelda…" Vahlymor began, allowing for the queen's name to roll off his tongue as if he were savouring the sound it, as he smirked and crossed his arms. "As happy as I am to be summoned by my… fiancée at such a late hour, I must presume that you summoned us here to discuss more than your name."
Surely everyone caught the brief hesitation within the prince's smooth voice when he referred to Zelda as his fiancée, but it was quickly covered by Todd's sudden inquiry. "Oh! Is this about the woman that's joining us? When will she be here?"
"Yeah! And is she available?" Crevan piped up, before being elbowed by his brother and the pair chuckled.
"Her name is Ashei," Zelda replied to the twins, amused by their antics, "and I've already sent a messenger to summon her to the castle. She should be here in the morning and then she will decide herself if she will join our venture. However, from what I know of her, she isn't one to turn down an adventure. Especially if it means journeying into the mountains. Oh, and I do belive that she isn't married if that's what you mean."
That was one thing Zelda would have to ask Vahlymor or Simin: how old were the twins exactly? They looked to be in their late teens, but something about them also made the Hylian woman wonder if they were in fact older than their appearance.
"Well that is something I can admire," Vahl spoke up, nodding his head and raised his brow at the queen. "The thrill of adventure is hard to resist."
She wasn't sure why, but the way Vahlymor spoke roused a brow quirk from the queen out of curiosity.
Vahl, who was watching the queen, smiled wider and chuckled lightly, reaching up as he did to scratch his goatee.
"What's so funny, prince?" Faris growled out, clearly forgoing all decorum and showing that he didn't at all like the man.
"Faris..." Arvid warned, but the man's own expression read that his thoughts were in-tune with the elder knight's.
"No, no, I mean no disrespect," the Noruidian prince casually replied, glancing over at Balin, before turning back to the queen. "It's just… my men and I couldn't help but discuss all that occurred after the meeting and we all agreed that having two months to find one village is a lot of time."
"I see that there's something on your mind, Vahl," Zelda replied, indulging the man's line of thought, as her curiosity and suspicion grew. "There ought to be trust amongst us if we are to go forward so, please… speak your mind."
"I would but here's the thing…" Vahl began and he dropped his casual expression all together and revealed the true seriousness he'd been hiding. "You have already warned me once before about speaking too loudly, as we cannot be sure if the dark creature that attacked you might be listening. Who am I to know if the beast is listening now?"
Silence stretched through the air as the prince's last word hung over everyone's head. Even the twin's demeanour sobered and Simin creased his brow with nervousness. Arvid and Faris glanced at one another and Balin continued to stare at the fire within the study's hearth. Zelda's eyes never left Vahlymor's as pleasantry left her features and she mirrored the prince's stern expression.
"What you say is true," Zelda finally replied, her voice low, "and we must be careful with what we say. This is all the more important that we have trust in one another. This… being of dark shadow magic, can hide in shadows and even had the power to possess me. I am regretful to say that I am sure that it has the power to possess any one of us here, just as I am sure that could easily possess or manipulate any of my guardsmen." Holding her waist with both arms, Zelda felt her sadness and regret creep into her eyes and she turned her gaze away from her fiancé. "Hyrule can either choose to live in fear of every shadow, or I can try and do something about it and I am. If we can locate the Sheikah Village then… perhaps we won't be so much in the dark."
The men of the room all looked towards the Queen of Hyrule and each of them felt sympathy for the sadness within her tone, but also felt the spark of inspiration from her words.
Vahlymor came up beside Zelda and offered her his left hand, the ring of Hyrule clearly adorning his finger. Wordlessly, Zelda looked up at him and slowly placed her hand within his, to which the prince smiled. "I trust you, therefore my men trust you… Zelda. Even if we were not about to be married, I would never allow anything bad to happen to you if I could help it."
Lightly curling his fingers around hers, Zelda looked to their hands and sighed. "I wish…" she began but stopped herself, guilt filling her chest as she thought of her intentions, as she thought about Link's soulless body laying in a lonely room of her castle, and as she thought of the possibility that one if not more than one people standing within her study could very well perish because of this selfish venture she had planned for.
Vahlymor, searching the queen's downturned face, reached his right hand to gently touch her chin to coax her to look up at him. "You know…" he whispered, "all I was going to say was that two months is a long time. It got me thinking… about your theory about how this shadow creature might be connected to the Isle of Blights."
Zelda's eyes went wide with surprise, panic momentarily jolted her chest, and her mouth opened a bit as she began to try and form a response.
The prince, however, just laughed and gave her a wink, his scarred right brow arching with amusement. "As I mentioned before… the thrill of adventure is hard to resist."
/
Rain pelted down from the dark sky and had been doing so all day. The spring rains had arrived at Hyrule in full force and today was an all around gloomy and wet day, as it had been on and off for the passed few days. Regardless, it was fortunate that the heavens had decided to release their deluge tonight because the two cloaked figures navigating the streets of Castle Town would rather not be seen. The rain concealed their footsteps and the gloom of midnight masked their features. Hopefully the weather cleared up for the morning, but as of that moment the sky was not promising a clear day to come.
Even with the day's long rain, the weather had done nothing to belittle the rejuvenation of the spirits of the citizens of Hyrule. Just that morning, the Queen has announced her engagement to the visiting Prince of Noruidia! Such an announcement meant much rejoicing, especially when the Queen declared a day off of work so that all peoples across Hyrule could celebrate with loved ones. This meant lots of drinking, dancing, singing, and that currently Telma's bar was still packed even at such a late hour.
This was favourable for the two cloaked figures because even if they were seen making their way through down the dark and rainy streets this late of night, anyone who saw might think that they've just been out celebrating.
Boots splashing through puddles gathered on the cobbled streets, the larger of the two figures led the way down the alley until they came to a door. When Faris knocked, at least this time Arvid didn't have to wonder as to where they were headed and who lived beyond the door. The lights were on inside, indicating that Faris' father ought to still be awake.
Sure enough it only took a few moments for the door to be unlocked from within before opening, revealing the strong figure of the master wainwright.
"Ah? Y'here I see… well, come on in. No use talking in the rain."
Wayne walked from the door allowing for his son and Arvid to slip inside. Arvid shut the door behind him and locked it while Faris removed his hood.
Faris, glancing at Arvid, before coming forward towards his father to say, "You know why we're here, Pa."
"Yeah, yeah… why else would you visit this late on a bloody rainy night?"
Arvid looked between father and son and could tell that Faris wanted to say more, so he stepped forward to address the wainwright. "We came to confirm whether or not your project has been completed."
Wayne, scratching his chin, nodded. "Ye, it's done. It'll be waiting by the stables by the castle wall before dawn. You have a small window to work with unless y'want a bunch of nosy castle workers see what y'doing."
"Understood," Arvid said, with an incline of his head. "Thank you, Master Wayne."
The wainwright regarded the younger knight before he turned towards his son and said, "Tell my sweet Zelda that I said congratulations and that I don't need any gesture of thanks."
"I will but.. you look tired, Pa."
"Tired?" Wayne exclaimed, scowling up at his son, "Well what the hell do you expect? I've been busting my ass for days with little sleep. Sure, it was done after two days like the Queen wanted, but these extra three days did allow me to perfect the design." Shaking his head, the older man waved his son's concerns away as he moved to sit by the fire. "No go on, now. With you gone I can get back to my bed."
Faris nodded towards his father and turned to leave, Arvid following suit. Just as they reached the door, Faris paused when Wayne spoke up once more.
"One more thing, boy…." the knights turned back towards the wainwright and Wayne's stern, almost angry expression. "If you return and our Queen doesn't… go for a swim."
Shock and confusion creased Arvid's expression at Wayne's words but Faris only grunted in response and opened the door and stepped out. Arvid was quick to follow, shutting the door behind him, and had to jog a bit to keep up with Faris' fast pace.
"What was that all about?" Arvid asked in a hushed whisper, fixing his hood on his head.
Faris, whose expression read contemplation and perhaps even remorse, stared forward as he made his way down the alley. Just when Arvid thought he wasn't going to reply, the elder knight gruffly replied, "I can't swim and Pa knows it."
Arvid's pace fell a bit as he registered Faris' words and what they meant… what his father had meant. Quickly, he caught up with the larger man and the pair made their way through the rain and dark, heading back towards the castle to report back to their queen.
In the morning they were to leave Hyrule to begin a journey far beyond their kingdom's border, into lands unknown, and... it was quite possible that not all would return.