The walk to the Grand Hall was tricky. Luckily Cecily and her friend Roesia had a guide. The two Kokiri children, Fara and Modo insisted on coming. They knew the forest well, it wasn't called The Lost Woods for a reason.
"I swear I seen that branch before." Roesia complained. They been walking for hours.
Cecily silently agreed. Luckily monsters were few and far between, didn't mean the forest wasn't dangerous. They defeated an imp, who threw rocks at the two women. Cecily almost shot an arrow at its head, till Fara begged for its life.
"Please don't! He's my friend!" As she held out her arms.
"That is a monster." Cecily insisted. They heard of Imps. They were mostly seen in heavily wooded areas, they threw rocks at outsiders. Legends say they were orphaned children that were abandoned by their parents and left behind during times of famine and hardship. The Kokiri children and Deku Scrubs called them 'Skull Kids' due to them having no faces. Cecily wasn't sure if she believed in the stories, but seeing one in person, she couldn't help but feel sorry for it. Still, she was trained as a warrior. Her two escorts were attacked.
"Look. He is just afraid. You are the first adult to cross these woods in a very long time. Just as long as you stay away from his home, he'll leave you alone. Please." He waves to the bushes.
Roesia and Cecily nods. They thought they seen two more faces, but they ignored them.
"Sunset will be here soon. How long before we get there?" Roesia was getting exhausted. Usually she never complained, but she barely slept last night. She dreamed that the fire dragon came out of the volcano and burnt the village down, then she started spitting out the bones of the Goron Tribe. Roesia was a trained mage, she knew it was a prophecy for things to come.
Finally they make it to the gates. Hearing a growl, both women order the children to come between them. Two large wolves came growling with large teeth. Cecily takes out her bow and aims, Roesia got her potions ready. Before the wolves charge, they heard sharp whistle.
"Garnet! Ash! Heel!" A young woman's voice calls out. Immediately the two wolves start whimpering. A young woman with a blue hat wearing blue robes was standing at the gate. Seeing the two Sheikah, she demanded their business. "Beyond this gate is private property. State your business."
Both Fara and Modo peek out of the women's legs. Seeing Beth they quickly run out.
"Wait!" Cecily calls out. Too late, the kokiri run to the gates.
"Beth!"
Beth looked surprised.
"Modo? Fara? What are you doing here? Who are they?" She nods towards the Sheikah.
"They're friends." Modo, seeing them jumping in and protecting the two children without hesitation, knew they were true friends. He waves them over. "Cecily, Roesia, this is Beth."
"Sheikah? I thought you were extinct?" Beth looked at them with awe.
"Excuse me?" Roesia said, insulted. "We are not dead."
"Pardon me. In my region where my family lived, the Sheikah died out when the War broke out. They were dead for hundreds of years."
The Kingdom of Ikana. Even we don't know about the history. But it was believed to be long and bloody. I never thought a war like that would happen here. How I wish I was wrong.
"So your family? How long have you lived here?" Cecily asked. They were walking through the maze, Beth said her family used to throw elaborate parties back in Ikana, but when the War started, they were forced to flee, leaving their grand home behind. They rebuilt a replica home here, including the maze, they wanted to invite the locals to their home. However, her great great grandfather feared assassins would find them and ordered them to stay hidden. Unfortunately his paranoia caused their bloodline to die, leaving only the four sisters.
"Its been years. Many years. Our parents died when I was a mere child, my baby sister, Amy was just a newborn. My sisters, Meg and Joelle were forced to raise us. They were just teenagers themselves. But they hope to have a normal life, since I am of age to take care of myself, Amy is still young, but she is very mature for her age." She waves to the Dekus who were hiding. "Don't be afraid of them, they are just shy. They guard this place from intruders." They walk till they get to a grand yard. Both Cecily and Roesia were speechless. They never been to Hyrule Castle, but they knew this place was way more fancier.
"Your home. It's gorgeous." Roesia was envious. Her family wasn't rich, but were considered more well off then the rest of the village. But the Poe home, she could already see her boyfriend's jealousy. The Skulltula Family was the wealthiest family in Kakariko, but here, they were merely middle class at best.
Cecily had her mouth open. The grass was the greenest she ever seen, the trees were growing the biggest, most juiciest fruit she ever saw, and she swore the sky was more colourful than back home. Even the pond and the river nearby had plenty of fish jumping out of the water. Both Modo and Fara were begging Beth to ride the horses that were grazing nearby.
"Maybe tomorrow. Sunset is about to disappear. Come in. Meet my sisters." She leads them to a mansion. "Jo! Amy! Meg! Where are you!" She calls out. She pets the two wolves who were guarding the courtyard.
"The kitchen! I made a fish dinner and baked cookies for your guests! Take a seat in the dining room!" A woman's voice calls out.
Both women were confused. Where was the door? Beth must have noticed, she chuckled.
"Our late great grandfather twice removed was very paranoid. Come on, climb this vine, the entrance is on the second floor." She climbs up the vine that was hanging next to a tree. Both women allow the kokiri to go first. Then they follow suit.
I heard stories Cecily told me about the Poe home. She said it was even more luxurious inside. Grand halls, magnificent art, comfortable furniture, even secret rooms. If only the sisters weren't caught off guard. I'm glad Cecily and Roesia escaped in time, they had no choice but to run when their murderers came.
When they walked in, a twelve year old girl came skipping by. Seeing Modo and Fara, she runs to greet them, but stops seeing the two Sheikah. She looks at Beth with curiosity.
"Amy. This is Cecily and Roesia. They come from the village of Kakariko." Beth introduces the two women. "This is my little sister, Amy."
Amy smiles shyly at the two women. She curtsies with her green dress, her red ribbon tying up her blonde hair.
"Hi." She looks at them with curiosity. "Are your Sheikah?"
"Yes we are. My name is Cecily, and this is Roesia." Both women curtsy back making Amy giggle. "Very pleased to meet you."
"Amy, where is Meg?" Beth asks.
"She is outside, she thought she saw a intruder." She points to the back.
"An intruder? Us?" Modo asks. "We always come in, you know that."
Amy shook her head.
"She saw you coming. She thought it came from the yard."
"That's impossible. The walls are high, and the well is filled with water. A intruder can never come in. Grandfather made sure of that."
"What do I know. I'm just a kid." They were interrupted by the same voice that called them from the entrance.
"Amy! Beth! Supper's ready! Bring everyone!"
"Jo is a very good cook. Hope you are hungry, she always makes extras."
They walk in to see a older woman wearing a red shirt and pants, her blonde hair tied up in a green ribbon setting down a plate of steamed vegetables. She smiled at the visitors.
"Welcome to Poe Manor." She looks behind them, hoping to see some male visitors as well. She looked disappointed seeing none. Modo was blushing looking at Joelle, he had a major crush on her. Jo smiled at the kokiri, but he was way too young for her. "I hope you are hungry, I made plenty."
"Sit anywhere you want. Other than the kokiri children, we never get visitors around here. My sister Meg will be joining us shortly." She gestures to everyone to sit down. "Shoot! I forgot the drinks. Amy, will you help me?"
"I'll be back. Tell us about the outside world when we get back!"
Those poor women. That was the final meal they ever had as a family. Their slaughtered bodies were found later that same night.
Once everyone sat down, a tall woman came walking in, she was wearing a outfit similar to priests, her blonde hair hidden underneath a tall purple hat with adorned with red jewels. Her robes were purple, it was similar to Beth's dress, but more fancy. She bowed to everyone. When the sisters stood up, everyone else followed suit and bowed back.
"Welcome Sheikah, welcome Kokiri. My name is Meg. I am the eldest of the Poe family." She sits at the head of the table. "Before we eat, let us pray." Everyone bowed their heads and joins hands. "Oh Goddesses of Ikana and Hyrule, we thank thee for the blessings you have given us, the roof over our heads, the clothes you have given us from the animals and nature outside, the magic that we were born with, the fresh water we drink, the food we have been given, and our family. Plus our new friends. Bless us be.".
"Bless us be." Everyone else echoes.
Link and Navi already felt dread. He fought their ghosts. The Great Deku Tree said people that died violent deaths are reborn as angry spirits. Why would anyone kill four innocent women. Goddess, one of them was a small child. That must have been Amy. He had to find the treasure of this place. He gets up since his butt was sore from the cold floor. He sensed so much anger in this place. Everyone here, they all had the same aura as Forest Temple. He swore to put their spirits to rest. He and Navi leave the room. The Master Key had to be somewhere.