Recovered lost memory- The Silent Princess- Part 2

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The door rang with the slamming of the fist of the guard, keeping post outside my bedroom door. I was torn from my happy daydream, shooting out of my chair at my writing desk. I heard the thundering march of footsteps towards my bedroom getting louder and louder.

Can I ever get any sort of break? Will they ever let up, just for a moment? I thought to myself as I braced for the door to barge open bearing the guaranteed misfortunes of my nonexistent promise of the Divine Gift.

It was as I predicted. In walked my father, the good and honorable king, along with his retinue of yes-men following close behind. They piled into the room, one after the other, in a grandiose display of orderly fashion. They were so proud of themselves, thinking they could hide the way they secretly scoffed at me. I knew them, though. The look of their condescending eyes alone were enough to reveal the truth behind their fake smiles. I could never have lived up to their vision of what a proper princess should be.

Keeping to herself amid the throng of attendants, however, was one person I trusted. Impa, the lean, silver-haired Sheikah woman, had also entered my room. Among that group's number, she was the only person with whom I shared any kinship. Whether due to both of us being younger than the rest, Impa had never ceased to support me, and I was deeply grateful. Beyond any roles of advisor, though, what I appreciated most was that she was my friend.

"Zelda, why are you still lingering over those books?" He questioned me sternly, his hands shuffling about to fix a nonexistent problem with his coat. He was awfully concerned with appearances while speaking in front of his advisors these days. "There is no time for frivolous reading when the day of reckoning may soon be upon us."

"It is still quite early, Father," I calmly replied, though I was very nearly at my wit's end and could feel the tightening of my fists. This period of imprisonment in my home needed to stop. "I've done as you asked, repeatedly and without question, for as long as I can remember. Are there not even a few minutes during the day that I might keep for myself?"

"You are the first and only daughter of the Royal House of Hyrule," Father spoke, his voice stern. "Your duty comes above all other temporary desires. Just as I must fulfill my duty, so must you fulfill yours. I know we are all asking so much of you, but you are the only one that can accomplish this task. I know you can do this. You are my daughter, and you have your mother's..."

His voice trailed off at the mention of mother. It was as if all memory of her had come flowing back into his mind's eye at once.

It had been years since we last spoke of her to each other and what had happened to her. It was so sudden, the time when she left us alone in this world. He never said a word about it to me, but I knew that the pain of losing her was more than he could bear at times. The wound in his heart left from her passing was as fresh then as the day it happened. At that very moment, my hands loosened, and my heart began to ache for him. I missed her dearly, too, and I wanted to be strong for him.

He cleared his throat and continued, "Now, there is a carriage waiting for you. Don't delay them, and spend today at the Sanctuary. Perhaps more time praying and devoting yourself to the Goddesses and less to your books will do more to earn us their grace."

Ignoring my attempt to speak up, Father proceeded to walk out of my room, along with his attendants. The others looked back to me as they left, but only Impa's glance offered any sort of encouragement. The rest were content to simply frown back at me as if knowing I'd failed my task before it even properly began. I wanted to scream as they stomped their way out of my quarters.

I couldn't take this emotional carousel anymore. I tried over and over, begged, and pleaded to the ancient gods to hear my plight, but to no avail. They were either deaf, or they too despised me just as much as everyone else. Perhaps it was all just a divine prank...

I just wanted to get away from it all. I wanted to be left alone to do my research or better yet; just forget about the Calamity altogether even if it was only for one day. But, before I knew it, I was already being whisked away into a carriage outside the castle, with an escort of soldiers surrounding me. I felt like a broodmare getting ready to be sold at an auction with the way they just shuffled me from here or there without a moment to my own or even a thought of how I felt.

I just wanted to breathe again. Was that too much to ask? The scorching heat of the day wasn't making it any better either. Every time I was forced to go to the Sanctuary, I had to wear this pompous ceremonial dress. For some reason, the high priest from the castle believed it would double the strength of my prayers if such a thing were even possible. I guess at that point; they needed every word heard from the Goddesses that we could afford ourselves, I most of all. I could always imagine hearing him talking down to me with that pumped up tone in his voice. He would still stand there, all short as he was, looking up to me with that long and pointy cherry nose of his.

"Per our tradition throughout the ages, a princess must always look and behave the part as one and must show pure devotion to the divine at all times," he would say. I could just hear him now in my head as I sat idly by in my carriage.

He was as dull as they came. I think he even believed his act, with his sermons of self-righteousness, I honestly did. I'm pretty sure his wife dreaded the thought of him coming home every night, with the way he acted. However, things were not always as they seem; rumor had it among those who knew him best that he wasn't all that devout to the divine as he led on to most in public. Or at least, that is what I have heard on the lips of the castle yarn spinners. In any case, it is neither here nor there, and I try to stay away from such mindless gossip.

The illustrious dress I had to wear by his and my father's decree was double laced white and stitched thick. It had an impossibly tight blue corset with shiny gold adornments hooked at every hem. I cursed the master tailor and artisans who made that dress. It covered me from head to toe and choked me at the neck. Its stranglehold on my throat made it near impossible to utter words to pray or breathe for that matter. It was truly a misery to wear. It made me feel faint and weak when I walked around in it. How was I to offer any sort of penance to the divine if I can hardly gather two thoughts together from this unbearable, heat soaking, and choking excuse of a dress?

"We are here, your grace. The Grand Sanctuary!" called out the squeaky voice of the young moppy haired stable boy who happened to be driving my chariot. He was well on his way to becoming a man soon. I could tell by the awkward crack in his voice that popped as he spoke. He was a nice young lad, and I've known him since he was just a small boy. The horses slid their silver shoed hoofs to a halt. The two royal guards then opened the double doors to my carriage as they graciously lifted me out by the hand onto the sun-scorched cobblestone road.

My only temporary protection from the abusing rays of the sun was a thinly veiled white umbrella. Fortunately, one of the guards was kind enough and held it over my head. I thanked him with a smile. It was the least I can do. The other guard then led me to the grand entrance of the Sanctuary. That was where I was to try and save the world. Or at least, that what's they all thought I would be doing in there. Secretly though, I think I wished for it even more than all of them. I truly wanted to be free of this impending doom that was coming for us all.

"Here you are, your majesty, right this way. The clerics are waiting for you inside and have already prepared the Holy Pillar for your arrival, " the guardsman said as he shoved open the massive and towering main entrance doors.

"Thank you...bye, Desmond!" I called out, waving a goodbye farewell to my young driver. He then trotted off to await further orders from either my father or the high priest. At a moment's notice, that young lad was to always be at the ready. As I walked into Grand Sanctuary, I thanked the guard who led me in who stopped to wait at the entrance. I was now alone.

The Sanctuary was a large and magnificent building. It was nearly empty in its main worship chapel. The clerics and high priest must have just cleared it of all the common folk who usually gathered there, so I can be in total reverence for when I arrived. This was where I was to lay my offerings and prepare sacraments to the Goddesses. The Chapel was so empty that even the faintest whisper could be heard clear across the high chamber of the Sages of old. It truly was a beautiful building. Centuries of stories most certainly could be told hidden within its ancient architecture and hallowed grounds.

But, for as grand a spectacle as it was, it still couldn't keep the unbearable heat of the day at bay. There was no escape from that, not even in one of the holiest of hollies. The dress continued to choke my neck even more. Somehow by some miracle, I had to be able to repeat the traditional sacred rites and prayers of my mother. Not just her prayers, but my mother's mother and all those who have come before them wearing this unbearable dress!

Just minutes after I knelt to offer up a solemn prayer, a loud and distracting commotion started to brew outside. I tried ignoring it the best I could, but it got so loud to a point where I just had to investigate. What on this good earth was all the fuss about? So, I tiptoed over to the partially stained-glass window that overlooked the vista of the main entrance. That is where the guards stood. There I watched and listened intently.

It was the High Priest! It was strange because, as far as I knew, he just left the Holy Citadel just moments before I arrived. I wonder what could have brought him back so soon and why he had such strong words with the two guards outside. He looked different as if in a hurried fluster. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but he was talking in a way where he was continually shuffling about. He was tossing and turning his head, hiding it in his heavy cloak. Quite strange a spectacle to be sure.

"My Lord, what brings you back so soon?" said the taller guardsmen to the priest, who just stood in a pompous stance.

The priest leaned back with his arms crossed. "I am here to acquire the princess! She is to return with me to the castle at once!"

"Sir, what do you mean you are here to gather the princess? I don't understand; it was you who told us at the castle to bring her here in the first place. That you wanted us to keep watch and make sure she is not to be disturbed in schedule. Did you not?" the taller guardsman questioned as he leaned onto his pointed spear. He then jolted and shot a look to his compatriot for some help but received none.

"Are you calling me a liar!? Or the king, for that matter!? Do you wish to defy the king's orders, man!? Here you, show your dim-witted friend the orders and let us pray you have better sense than him," the priest shouted to him as he threw a scroll into the face of the shorter guardsmen. The guard desperately flailed around for the unraveling document. He was pinching his fingers in the air for the piece of parchment, just before it landed on the ground.

They both hunched as the smaller man unrolled the scroll and read from it. It was all there. And I could see it from the window. It seemed the priest was having a bit of fun watching them squirm. I chuckled from the show of my window, seeing them behave that way and acting so foolish as they did when nobility was present. They were both fumbling, one over the other trying to make their pardons.

"So sorry, my Lord, forgive us for doubting," they begged.

"Better not happen again, or I will have you both on...on uh..."

"On what?" the taller guard questioned.

"On stall duty! For a week or worse! That's what! And don't you interrupt me again, you hear?! You just be glad we will keep this whole incident to ourselves, alright. We wouldn't want the king to know of your defiance, would we?!" the priest scorned with a stern finger raised to their faces shaking it erratically in his over-sized robe. He then jerked himself to the side and, with his other hand, dusted off his shoulder, as if he was cleaning them of his presence. So peculiar indeed, his behavior, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes, sir!" They said, frantically bowing to him.

"Well, don't just stand there; get her, you fools!" the priest said. He then stamped on one foot in front of them, hands at his waist. The taller guard shot up and bolted towards the main door and just about tripped over himself. And just as he opened it, I was already making my way out.

"Your Highness, the priest-"

"That's, Grand Master, High Priest and Lord of the Citadel to the likes of you!" the high priest interjected, cutting him off as he was about to greet me.

"So sorry, my Lord...beg your pardon...Your majesty, the Grand Master, High Priest, and... Lord of the Citadel is on orders from your father the king to take you back to the castle," the guardsmen said to me as he mumbled desperately, trying to keep his words clear. He then did an embarrassed tilt of the head looking low to my feet. There he stood ushering his hand down the walkway for me to follow so I can greet the High priest.

It was all so strange. The priest's behavior was acting sort of funny in a way that I have never seen him behave before. He was much friendlier with me today. It was almost as if he was eager to see me. He never liked me, not that I knew of from before. In fact, we never saw eye to eye on anything. He was always trying to pin my father against me. I was never good enough in his eyes as princess of the kingdom, with no sign of the divine gift within me and all that from before.

Without warning, the high priest ran up from behind the guards, shoving them both out of the way, with one guard falling over on his face into the garden. He then did a sharp bend of the knee in front of me. Which was most peculiar seeing is that he has never done so before. He has never honored me as such in the past, at least not in private. Just as I was about to meet up with him, he then stretched out his hand like a prince and twirled it in the air, offering it to me. From his bowed head, he barely and carefully lifted his hood to only where I can see it. From the shadow of his hood, a wink and sparkle shot up from his eye, and I saw his face.

It was Link! Not the high priest at all. He tenderly grabbed me by the hand and held it in his. It has been five days since I saw him last, and the touch of his skin electrified my whole body. I felt the sudden rush of blood to my head and butterflies filled me at the revelation of him being Link. What a wonderful surprise.

He came for me! But why? Or how? Oh, It doesn't matter, he came for me, and that's all that matters now. I could barely contain my excitement from exploding with laughter. It was all I could do to lift a hand and cover my smile at how ridiculous Link looked wearing all those fine priestly garments layered over him. Funny still is that he knew just how to look away at the right moments to fool the guards not to notice him. Could they be so dumb?

"Your Grace, I am on orders to take you from this place back to somewhere more to your liking, the castle." he winked under his hood again and said, continuing his puffed up priestly tone. The guards behind him were still stewing about what just happened; each was looking over to the other confused.

"Say goodbye to the men; we are off now. No need for an escort, my lads, it is quite alright. She is in my care now, and my own men are waiting just around the bend. Stay here and wait further orders and mention this to no one you hear?"

"Bye…" I said, gleefully holding back the laughter as I waived to the two fools of guardsmen who we left at the Sanctuary door. I was free at last. He held and led me by the hand as we skipped away from the sight of Sanctuary and the guards.

We made it back out into the open market square of town. He had it all figured out by what seemed like an elaborate plan. Link was such a mystery from before when we didn't speak to each other. And now I think I'm finally starting to break through to him and get to know the real Link. He was really beginning to open up to me.

He had a horse tied up to a simple common two-seat carriage. But to my eyes, it was a grand chariot, the finest in all the land. He boosted me to the padded seat and leaped right beside me with reigns in one hand, and mine is his other. He probably didn't realize just yet he was still holding my hand. The warmth of his hand filled my whole body with a swell. My throat tightened, being near him again. Upon Noticing my hand in his, he embarrassingly loosened quickly and reached for the other set of reigns.

"So, where are we off to? Grand Master, High Priest and Lord of the Citadel-Or should I say— Link!?" I said to him with a playful unconvinced look at his disguise. "And is that your idea of how Nobles behave?" I spoke with a chuckle.

He realized then that his trick was caught for sure and shuffled nervously in his seat. "No, but did you see their faces?...and...I'm Not quite sure where to go...but anywhere is better than here! Definitely, not the castle though...haha," he said, smirking. He joyfully flung the fanciful priestly hood off his head and slapped the reins to the horse. We were off in a gallop, free at last as the wind kissed our faces. We both laughed at our miraculous escape. It was all so exciting, fooling the guards and being free. My skin felt warmer than ever, but I couldn't tell if it was the heat of the day or because of sitting so close to him in that carriage.

"But Link, are you not worried we will get caught or that you might land in some serious trouble?" I said to him, genuinely concerned.

"I think I'll be alright. And..."

"And?" I said, leaning towards him. He paused and then continued glancing over his shoulder to me as he drove the carriage.

"And I don't think we will be caught...And besides, I was hoping that you would be the one to give me...a royal pardon," He said back to me with a friendly stare.

"Haha. Oh my, of course!" I said, shaking my head, holding back the laughs. "So, where are we heading to now, may I ask?"

"Your handmaid Adeline said she would meet me somewhere with some of your things but, she failed to mention just the place. Or perhaps, I just forgot to ask."

"Oh?! Well, I know just the place then...Just the spot where she'd go for a rendezvous! The forbidden pool. It's just north of the castle, in a secluded holy place. Nobody goes there, not even my father."

"Yeah, but isn't it...well...forbidden to commoners like me?" Link asked, pulling the reins close to his chest to slow the trot of the horse. There we sat in the carriage at a dead-end stop that forked in the middle of the city road. Townspeople were rushing past us on the busy, noisy street.

"Yes, but as you said before, you have me, right? And that means you have a royal pardon, my knight. As many as you will need for today." I smiled again at him.

"Only for today?"

"Oh, you're terrible!" I retorted.

"Well, then...onwards, Storm!" He declared to the stallion. The horse kicked at the command and continued to pull our tiny wagon.

"So, that's this boy's name, hmm? He cannot possibly be that grumpy old stallion that kicked the Master of Horses, right? The one that has been causing all that trouble around the castle?"

"The very same."

"My my…I know they've been trying for ages to get him to heel. You surprise me, Link. But...how did you...?"

"Well, this fine stallion and I came to an agreement."

"Really now? And what might that be?"

"I promised that if he helped me, just this once, I'd set him free once and for all," Link proudly declared with a quiet laugh.

"And you think he...really listened to you?" I said, chuckling a bit, picturing the thought of Link talking sweet to a horse. It was a silly and amusing notion, indeed.

"Of course. How else do you think he would have helped me? But, to tell you the truth, I told him it was...for you..."

I quieted and fell still in the carriage. I couldn't understand why, but my face glowed warmly at the sound of those words. I quickly composed myself, and in a lady-like fashion, I leaned over to speak directly to the steed himself.

"Thank you, Storm. You may receive a full pardon as well," I said, laughing again at the idea of talking to a horse. Upon hearing my words, the steed neighed in delight, seeming well-pleased at my royal decree. He stamped and pulled harder on the reigns in Link's hands, driving the small carriage even faster through the streets.

"See, Storm! I told ya we would make it out of this alright!" he proclaimed. The steed then raced us through the busy city streets leading up and behind the castle. We would be there in no time.

Update: 12-31-2019 The first chapter to the fully cast and voice acted, dramatized audiobook version of this story is posted to youtube listed as "Zelda botw sequel (fanmade) audiobook part 1". The Actors would really love if you gave it some love and took a listen! Thank you : )