Zelda slowly opened her eyes, feeling the weight of her body against the bed as she took a moment to remember where she was. She felt drained, just like she did when she'd over used her powers. It was hard to move as she tried to roll over, the blankets feeling like someone had covered her in several dozen. With all the motivation she could muster, she sat up and put her feet over the side of the bed. No one else was inside the inn but she could hear people wandering around outside as they were undoubtedly getting ready to leave. She wasn't even confident she could stay upright on her horse if she could even get up there in the first place.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her legs were shaky as she let her feet get their grip on the floor. She closed her eyes and tried to make herself move but it felt impossible to even lay down again. The door opened so quietly she only knew it had done so because she saw it from the corner of her eye. She looked up, her eyes quickly meeting with Grax.
He had obviously been trying to be silent, quickly standing up straight to return to normal now he knew she was awake. "Sorry, Your Majesty. I'm just retrieving some of the gear that was left in here. You take your time,'' he said and Zelda looked back at the floor that felt so difficult. Grax could tell that she hadn't moved while he walked across the room, looking back at her once he'd retrieved what he needed. "Your Majesty, is everything okay?''
Zelda continued trying to breathe and motivate herself. She finally moved and felt her legs barely hold her up, her arms having to support herself. Grax put the things down and helped her immediately back onto the bed. "I'm fine-''
"You can barely hold yourself up without even taking a step,'' Grax said as he looked lost as of what to do next. "Would you like me to tell everyone we'll be departing tomorrow?''
Zelda shook her head. "I'll be fine. We need to get back to the castle.''
Grax knew that she was going to be stubborn. She would try to push herself through absolutely anything to help her people. "I'll go get Link.''
Zelda held in a sigh as she waited for Grax to get her soon to be husband. Link walked in after just a few moments and he could see the exhaustion in her face immediately. "When did you use your powers?'' he asked and Zelda looked at her hands.
"Pulling Adela from the pedestal must have taken it out of me without me noticing,'' she said as she could see the subtle glow. It was still draining, which meant it wasn't going to improve any time soon. "I'm not sure when it's going to stop. I don't think I was supposed to do it.''
Link sat on the side of the bed, feeling the warmth that was still radiating from her fingers. "I can get Impa.''
Zelda nodded. "She might know what to do,'' she said and Link got up, helping her under the covers again. He made his way out, Grax still standing beside the door with his hands behind his back in a guard position, ready to stop anyone from entering without invitation.
"Her powers have been drained since pulling Adela out of the shrine,'' he said and Grax frowned. "I'm going to talk to Impa.''
"Is it dangerous?'' Grax asked and Link couldn't say anything for certain. "Has it stopped?''
Link shook his head before heading up the stairs, taking them two at a time as he tried to hurry without raising concerns. He opened Impa's door and stepped inside, the woman in her usual position with her head lowered in prayer, or what may have been a nap she was trying to disguise as prayer, he wasn't quite sure by the way she looked at him. "I have a question about the monks in the shrines.''
Impa frowned. "Is this about Adela?''
Link shook his head. "It's to do with Zelda,'' he said and Impa sat up a little straighter, listening intently. "Can monks be taken from their place in the shrine?''
Impa tried to think about it. "As you said yesterday, Zelda did so, so I would assume yes.''
Link tried to think of what his next question would be. It was hard to describe without using too many words. He wasn't sure if that was the certain cause but it seemed the most likely. "Her powers have been drained. She can barely move this morning.''
Impa frowned a little more, deeply concerned by what she was hearing. "The stories tell us that the shrine will only accept those who are willing to give their life to the goddess. They must have forsaken all of their possessions except the clothes off of their backs and cannot accept any gifts that they can keep. They can take food, or borrow shelter and other items, but they cannot keep anything as their own. Only once they have truly given everything to the goddess and have proven their faith, then they can enter the shrines and take their place.''
Link nodded. He'd heard something similar but didn't know all of the specifics. "Have any left before?''
Impa couldn't answer. She moved her hat and looked at Paya who had tried to keep to herself in the corner. "Can you please check if there's any record in our journals, Paya?''
"Yes, Grandmother.''
Paya scurried up the stairs and Link waited awkwardly. What else was there to say? "You and Zelda were discussing advisors last night?''
Impa nodded. "Yes. There are much more limited options than there had been a hundred years ago,'' she replied. "Most won't leave Kakariko village.''
Link folded his arms. "You suggested Adela.''
Impa smiled. "You may not know her, but she came to me many years ago to ask me to protect her family. She was going to leave the Yiga and they are well known for trying to kill those who leave and their families. Just before they moved to the safety of the village, they were attacked. After she made some very serious mistakes, she came to me to beg for forgiveness, and I told her that it was not me who needed to forgive her but the goddess. She gave away the last of her possessions that hadn't already been taken from her and dedicated her life to becoming a monk from that point forward. That kind of dedication speaks a lot about her character. I would still take caution; I'm not saying to trust her immediately, but keep an eye on her and consider her before writing her off without giving her a chance to potentially prove herself. She may also say no even if you decide she is suitable but being a monk for over a decade is not something to consider lightly.''
Link heard Paya coming down the stairs, looking in her direction as he let Impa's words sink in. He would have suggested Paya but the girl still trembled when she spoke to him. She couldn't even look most of the guards in the eye; although her knowledge was more than suitable for the job, she wouldn't be able to defend the queen if she ever needed to. She'd be found cowering away in the corner instead. Perhaps as she got older and matured but certainly not soon enough for what they needed.
"I found this, Grandmother,'' she said as she nervously handed over the book, still not quite looking Link in the eye. "You're meant to be dedicated to the shrine for eternity. The only way to be removed from the shrine is to be replaced.''
Impa looked at Link. "Did you put someone in the shrine instead?''
Link shook his head. "No, we did not.''
Impa seemed very concerned as she looked at Paya. "Is the method defined?''
Paya flicked through the pages. "They must immediately take their place on the pedestal. Only once they are on the pedestal and have taken position, the other may leave the shrine.''
Link shook his head again. "No, she just took Adela's hands and pulled her out,'' Link said and Paya flicked through some more.
"The only other reason is if the goddess herself requests her to leave. The queen is a descendent of the goddess; perhaps that was enough?'' she said. She flicked through some more. "Nothing about consequences for her.''
Link let out a long breath; he was hoping that they'd have an answer but it looked like they had to sort it out some other way. "We won't be leaving until she is feeling better. I hope that is okay with you. If you need us gone, please let me know so I can arrange how to safely get us home.''
Impa shook her head. "No, that's fine. Take all the time you need.''
Link left the room and back into the inn, Zelda slightly opening her eyes as she got close. "Impa didn't have any more information,'' he said and Zelda nodded. "Is sleep helping?''
"I feel cold,'' Zelda said and Link took the covers off of the bed beside her, adding them to what was over her as well. He tucked it around her body as she curled up, looking more and more tired. "I'm sorry.''
Link shook his head. "There's worse places you could have gotten sick,'' he said and Zelda agreed; they were fairly protected where they were. He left her to sleep, stepping out as everyone seemed anxious to hear any news. "Stop packing. We'll be staying here overnight again.''
There was an uncertain silence as Link sat down near Grax, letting out a deep breath as he tried to relax. There was nothing more he could do than hope that Zelda would recover with some rest. There wasn't a whole lot to do considering they had only suddenly been forced to extend their stay. He spent some time running through a few training exercises with the soldiers as Grax and Adela watched, talking about what had happened since they'd last seen each other.
He finished up and sat down on the ground, lying on the grass to take in some of the sunshine. It felt wrong to do nothing at all. "As the soon-to-be King of Hyrule, can you please tell Grax to shut up and I'll be fine,'' Adela said and Link turned his head to look at them.
Grax let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm not an idiot, I can see that they're targeting me because I left the Yiga clan. The Yiga has always had an agreement with those genocidal racists that when one of us leaves, they will tell them where their family are. Until then, they don't hurt Yiga because Yiga are fighting the kingdom as well. You are my family and all I have left, I want you to come with us so you'll be safe.''
Grax had pretty sound reasoning, if only Link wasn't still cautious of the woman. "You can't force her to follow us into the castle. And based on the risk, I would rather you didn't.''
Grax frowned, folding his arms as he looked at the knight. "What happened to being forgiving?''
"I didn't say she couldn't stay somewhere else where she'd be protected, I just don't like attracting risk to the queen or the castle,'' Link replied. He had to think of Zelda first; even with Impa's words he still saw too much risk to even give this woman a chance. She may have been a model citizen but that didn't matter if she was going to attract a war.
Adela slowly got up, stretching as she did so. "They've been after me for over fifteen years, I'll be fine. I escaped, didn't I? I was fine in the end and I always will be,'' Adela said as she made her way toward the goddess statue, sitting down with her hands in a triangle to pray again like she did multiple times a day.
"Adela,'' Grax said and the woman didn't move. "I'm dropping it. I can't force you to do anything and never could. So instead, lets change the topic.''
Adela took a deep breath and exhaled, her hands moving as she looked so focused that no one would be able to interrupt. At least that was until a wooden stick a few soldiers had been training with went flying and her hand snapped up at the last second, catching it with her eyes closed in one hand before bringing it between her hands and bowing.
She got up with it after opening her eyes, turning to the source. "Show me your grip.''
The soldiers looked confused but one took it, holding it steady in his hands. They were fairly close together and his non-dominant was in the completely wrong position for a passive, defensive stance. It wasn't even correct for an attacking one. She looked at his face to check he was settled before she made one movement against the stick and it went flying again, the soldier nursing his wrist. "Whoever taught you how to hold a weapon obviously neglected to do it properly.''
"Oi, I heard that,'' Grax called out as he watched beside Link, curious to see what she'd do. "Sword grips and pole grips are different. Was he doing the sword grip? That's the one we focus on.''
"He was doing a combination of the two,'' Adela replied and Grax got up with a quiet grumble and groan.
Grax picked up the long stick and held it tight, his hands spread along with more space than the soldier had given. "If you're not about to strike, always use a defensive position. Hands wide, relaxed and yet firm. You need to be able to absorb the pressure in your wrists otherwise it will just hurt and if you get caught off guard, you'll let go.''
"Do you fight?'' The second soldier asked, looking at Adela curiously. They still knew very little about her other than she knew Grax and considered herself a Sheikah monk, which was a mysterious profession to most anyway.
Grax could see her hesitate. "She taught me and most of the others I fought with for a long time.''
"I merely practice as a form of meditation and self-defence now,'' Adela said as she looked at Grax. She looked like she was seeing an old memory as she saw him in a ready and yet relaxed stance. "You should be better than me by now.''
"Stronger, probably. Cleaner too but you always could read me better,'' Grax replied, letting up his grip and handing the long stick over to the soldiers.
The female soldier looked at Adela. "Can you show us? The only one of us that can get him to drop his pole or sword is Link,'' she asked and Adela hesitated. "I know I'd appreciate seeing someone use a different style, even if you don't win.''
Adela sighed. "I suppose I can give it a go. Am I defending or attacking?'' she asked as she took one of the poles as the male soldier fetched the second one to hand to Grax.
"Standard rules; whoever touches the other person or removes the weapon of the other opponent first wins. No injuries or you're out,'' Grax said and Adela nodded. She stepped back to give herself a little bit of space. Grax stepped aside and held the pole in both hands and ready, which said a lot given he often looked way too relaxed when he took on most of the soldiers in the group. Then again, he hadn't fought her in so long he couldn't predict her fighting style too well anymore.
She wasn't going to move first; she never did. Grax went low first and she flipped backward in the same fashion as usually taught by the Sheikah. She landed so quietly on her feet that no one heard the sound, even more silent than Grax usually was. Grax went forward again, trying to bluff his next move but she knew better, using the momentum from his strike to turn again, ducking down to try and knock Grax off of his feet instead.
They fought more similarly than they'd expected, though it made sense. If Grax had learnt from her, it was little wonder they used similar techniques. She was quieter and more defensive but just as graceful and precise. Everything was momentum based, trying to use the opposing force against them instead of overpowering the other. They'd gathered a small crowd as it went on for longer than expected, most training exercises with Grax only lasting a couple of minutes.
Link watched carefully, examining the first real Sheikah combat that he'd seen. They tended to keep their techniques fairly well guarded, particularly as the bias against the race was building even before the rise of Calamity Ganon and they wanted to make sure they could still defend themselves if they had to.
The fight was over when Grax ended up flat on his back, Adela catching the split second she could hook her pole through his and force him to lose his balance. He hit the ground and Adela put one foot on his stomach lightly, her pole pointed straight at his heart. "Please don't ask for a rematch, I am so unfit,'' Adela said as she was panting for air, putting the pole aside as she reached down to help Grax up. He looked motivated to try again, his hands automatically resetting on the pole.
"You can't beat me once and then say you're done, that's not fair,'' Grax said and Adela leaned on her pole, taking a few deep breaths.
"You can go again, I'll just let you win because I can't do that again,'' she said and Grax sighed, putting the pole aside. It had reminded him so much of simpler times, when they may have been on the wrong side but at least they were together.
Adela sat down beside Link, taking a few more deep breaths. "He leaves openings when he has planned out and is close to his winning strike. You just have to spot it and use it before he gets you. You have to be quick but it's doable, clearly.''
Link had noticed something like that before but hadn't learnt the pattern. They spent too much time training others that they rarely fought each other. "You were slow for those elaborate movements.''
"I used to be faster. He was definitely going easy on me,'' she said as Grax took the two soldiers through a few motions again before they set up to face each other again. "The Sheikah are all about being in tune with your energies and the environment. It's why we're so spiritual. I move broadly because I'm letting the energy flow. When I haven't used those pathways for a long time, they don't flow as well. It's the secret to being silent.''
"Grax told you that he likes to sneak up on me,'' Link said and Adela nodded.
"You can feel the resistance of the air if it's not timed perfectly. I am certainly not, and I use it every day to get around without being spotted when I can. Don't force your senses; just let the sound come to you and you'll hear his clothes and his breath no matter how quiet he is.''
Link watched as she got up, her breath still somewhat unsteady as she fetched some water to drink. It was a new side to her that Link could relate to but it didn't ease the sense of uneasiness he had for the mystery woman. He took her advice though; relaxing to let his senses tell him what they wanted to, rather than forcing himself to listen or watch for any movement.
He caught Grax's arm as the older man tried to sneak up on him again. Link looked at Grax whom was a little impressed. He'd heard a rustle that was meant to be covered by the sound of leaves on the wind but wasn't quite the same, instinctively reacting as he heard the sound of Grax's sleeve stretch and weapons move on his back. "She told you the secret, didn't she?'' Grax said and Link nodded. "Ah, she's no fun. I'm going to have to try harder now.''
Link immediately turned as he heard the inn door open, Zelda stepping out with her jacket wrapped tightly around her body, still looking pale but better. She sat down next to Link, curling into his side as she tried to get warm and comfortable.
"How are you feeling, Your Highness?'' Grax asked as he stood up straight.
Zelda looked up at him. "Cold but better. I should be fine to leave tomorrow,'' she said and Grax nodded. "You look like you haven't slept.''
Grax shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle. Someone has to keep alert.''
Zelda smiled as she looked at Link. "Sounds like you.''
Link tried not to roll his eyes and he put some wood on the fire pit, hoping the coals would be enough to light the logs. He put some of the kindling around, watching it light up slowly. Grax only had to point and someone brought over a cup with some tea in it and some food, offering it to her with one knee on the ground and their head lowered.
Zelda smiled, saying a polite thank you as she took the food and placed it in her lap, holding the warm cup between her hands. She still looked sick enough that everyone could tell but her smile seemed to wipe a lot of worry off of everyone's faces. "What did I miss?''
Link looked at Grax. "Grax and Adela did a demonstration.''
Zelda's eyes went slightly wider, curious and excited by the prospect. "The last time I saw a Sheikah using their fighting techniques was Impa,'' she said as she looked a little wistful. "Impa wasn't even in her twenties back then.''
Link remembered it as well. He used to train against her on occasion and she'd beat him every time. He finally got a win just before they had left for the Spring of Wisdom and the world crumbled for a hundred years. Everyone else couldn't relate at all; Impa had been an old woman for a long time and it was hard to imagine her as anything else. Zelda still thought of the young, fierce and intelligent woman that was going to someday be her advisor when someone mentioned the woman's name, having to correct herself when she remembered how much things had changed.
"Who won?'' Zelda asked as she felt the slightly awkward silence. She'd never taken particular interest in the guard's training regime before. She'd watch and ask how things were going but most of it was beyond her area of expertise and she had other things she needed to be doing.
"Adela,'' Grax said as he moved his head to the side, feeling the muscles and bones in his neck creak and crack. "She can still read me like a book.''
Zelda seemed impressed. "How long have you both known each other?''
"Since I was born? She's a few years older than me. We grew up in the same village,'' he said and Zelda nodded.
"The one that was destroyed.''
"That's the one,'' he said as he stretched some more. He felt like he was getting old but he knew that was just because he'd been stationary for too long. "We were amongst a handful of survivors. Most came here or went off elsewhere, we ran off together. Eventually joined the Yiga, she left and after a while, so did I. Now here we are.''
Zelda sipped from her tea. "It's nice you've had a friend for so long. Particularly when you both lost your families. Adela lost hers twice.''
"To be very honest and abrupt with you, Your Majesty, that is why I am concerned for her. The Yiga don't take to people leaving. They killed Dorian's wife, Adela's family, and the only reason they didn't kill me when she left was because I was still with them. She's the closest to family I've got. I've left and I'm not worried about me, they're going to make me suffer by killing her if they ever get the chance. I have to apologise because this has all been them trying to make an elaborate plot to make me suffer and get what they want in the meantime.''
Zelda had a feeling and could see Link's hesitation. For all that they knew about Grax and how much they trusted him, he had to think about Zelda's safety above all else. "Have you spoken to Impa? If you both asked, I'm sure she could stay here. At some point in the future, she may be able to stay in the castle but right now it's too political and I worry it would only endanger her and yourself even more,'' Zelda said and Grax sighed.
"We went over it while you were sleeping. She won't stay still. She wouldn't even come to the castle if she could.''
Zelda lifted her cup to her lips, thinking for a few moments. "I'm very sorry, Grax. There's nothing I can do if she doesn't want the help.''
Grax nodded. "I shouldn't have bothered you with such a personal matter, Your Highness. Please don't dwell on it,'' he insisted.
Zelda felt some guilt that she couldn't help any further but tried to let it go. She had other things she needed to focus on first and dwelling on it wasn't going to help anyone. Namely, getting better so they could get back to the castle as soon as possible.
She got up once she'd finished her meal, making her way up to see Impa once again. The elderly woman looked pleased that she was awake and out of bed but still wary of her health. "Are you feeling better, Your Majesty?''
Zelda nodded. "Still not entirely but much better than before,'' she said, knowing that there was no point in insisting she was fine to this woman; she'd see straight through it. "I had a thought last night as I went to bed. Purah.''
Impa seemed surprised. "If you think you could convince her to give up her research. She's able but not a skilled fighter, though she does know about politics.''
Zelda leaned forward on her knees. "She also has that anti-ageing rune.''
Impa took a moment and realised what she was asking. "You want her to use it on me?''
"Then the concerns about your age will no longer be present. You'd be young and fit again,'' Zelda said and Impa still looked uncertain.
She sat in silence for a few seconds, gathering her thoughts before she spoke. "Although this may seem like the solution we've been looking for, I am very hesitant. However, I will consider it for you and let you know my final answer and reasoning tomorrow before you go. I think before you rush this decision, you should focus on someone to assist Link as you are coping on your own and Link should take some responsibilities away from you as well.''
Zelda knew that was the priority but all of her ideas were falling flat. Anyone she considered to be a good candidate were being held onto by their villages and she didn't know who else to choose from. The decision was getting increasingly difficult and time was of the essence; Link would have official royal duties as king and desperately needed someone to help him through adjusting to his new role. Zelda didn't have time to hold his hand through it all.
She slowly got up, still feeling tired and uneasy. "Please think about it, Impa. It was a duty assigned to you for a reason and you are the perfect link between the new world and the one I know well.''
Impa bowed her head slightly. "I will consider it, Your Majesty. You should concentrate on your recovery.''
Zelda nodded as she let herself out, holding the rail carefully as she walked down the stairs. She still felt weak, sitting down beside Link again who was preoccupied by watching the guards practice as Grax took them through their drills. He knew she was there without even looking, letting her take his hand. "Link, I have a question for you.''
Link turned to look at her. "What is it?''
Zelda kept her voice quiet but not so quiet as to raise suspicion. "If you were to ignore the fact that you are going to be king soon and pretend there was somebody else, who would you pick of everyone in the kingdom to be the king's advisor?''
Link frowned. That was a very difficult question. "I'm not sure,'' he admitted. "Would the role remain the same? You're making it very military focused for me.''
Zelda took a moment to think about it. "Well, I think for any king, you'd want somebody across politics who is well respected to be by their side. The military part you have covered or in the hypothetical situation it wasn't you, it'd fall back to be advised about by the head of military.''
Link thought a little longer. "I don't know. There is no one who stands out to me above all others. The only one I could think of is Impa but she would be more suited to you than to the king, and she's too old for that now. Everyone else is already preoccupied.''
"Ignore that. Pretend no one is. Who would you pick for the job?'' she said and Link thought for a few seconds.
"Sidon,'' Link said quietly, his eyes returning to the guards. Of course he picked the one option that could never, ever be. However, that didn't make his response any less true. Sidon was a good leader and knew his way around politics; Link was tempted to just hand him the king's crown instead.
It felt like there was no true answer. If only it was simple, then a number of their stresses would be handled. Zelda let go of Link's hand and gave it another squeeze. "Make sure everyone is ready to depart tomorrow morning. I'll say goodbye to Impa and then we'll go. The kingdom has already waited a hundred years, I owe it my full attention for at least a little while more.''
So sorry this took so long to update! No excuses; it way too long to wait between chapters and I'll try make sure it doesn't happen again.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter anyway, don't forget to let me know what you think. Thanks!