Chapter 30

Expectation and Duty

The roads were clear, too clear. The walk from Nabooru to the mine was completely monster free. Maybe the word hasn't come to the monsters here that they could revive Ganon by my death, or maybe he didn't have minions here. Either way, not being followed for once was like a breath of fresh air. I could finally relax. Speaking of fresh air, the visit to Eastern Hyrule felt new and clean. I didn't know if that was because of the thought of exploring new ground, or if there was something here Western Hyrule doesn't have.

The mine wasn't too far, being just a little while away from Nabooru. And with luck, it was not abandoned. The worksite was occupied. Citizens of Nabooru were moving to and fro, working or resting. Sweat, hard work, and metal tools all mingled together in one whiff. Voices, both light hearted and serious filled the air, along with clanging, beating, and puffing. As we walked by, some workers stared while others told us to be careful in the mines.

Once we were at the mouth, I brought out my candle and summoned the magical fire on the wick. The flame casted its light to the far corners of the dank darkness. There were a few aches and lowders here, but they weren't a problem. However, here in Eastern Hyrule, we came across a new creature. It was minding its own business, where the tunnels were becoming narrow. It seemed threatened by the light of the candle, because it whipped its long, scaly body around, glared menacingly at us with piercing red eyes, and let out a frightening hiss. The light hovered and engulfed this strange beast, revealing a dark green sheen on the scales.

Despite never seeing one in person before, the prince told me he was aware of these creatures, known as basilisks. He immediately warned me to snuff the candle. After obeying without question, he continued by saying these things had formidable strength if threatened. They had the ability to spit energy spheres from their mouths, and if you're hit by one, it'll give a burning shock and leave you weak.

After lingering in the pitch black shadows for quite a time, my eyes adjusted to the point where I could see the faintest outline of the basilisk. The darkness made the creature relax, soon after that, it stuck its long face in the dirt, sniffed around, and walked around in slow circles. After several minutes of this, it finally turned and marched further in the dark and out of sight.

"It should be safe now." His Highness whispered.


We didn't have anymore problems in the cave after that. I didn't believe our luck at first, but when the stagnate air of the cave began to mix with a free breeze, and the sun casted warm rays of light from the other end of the cave, I was surprised we didn't encounter more creatures or hiding minions in there.

Here, the forest felt just as open and safe as the land around Nabooru. It was refreshing to be outside again, breathing in clean air instead of the floating dust in the mine. Green grass swayed back and forth under the blue sky, and the forests provided plenty of cool shade. For now though, we won't be strolling through the trees, instead, we'll leave the peace of the forest and head for the western mountain. If we kept a strong pace, we might even reach it before the sun disappears. Turning towards our path, the mountain was already visible. It towered over the trees, reaching for the atmosphere.

I then looked over at my companion, I was still worried for him. His arm was almost completely healed now, but we still kept it in the cast for a while longer. I'll have to watch him carefully. But since there was a trail heading for Darunia, I'd imagine there wouldn't be too much climbing.


The trail, like the rest of them, was also clear of any ambushes. The only creature we came upon up here was one I was familiar with, tektites. They were bouncing all over in small packs, springing up high in the air on their crab legs. They were half bug, and half crab, but they were easily the size of shrubs. These things, if you were skilled enough to catch them, were a delicacy in Hyrule. And they may have only a single eye, but it was still difficult to sneak up on them.

"Are you doing all right?" I asked my companion without looking back, but there wasn't an answer. "Your Majesty?" I asked again, this time stopping and turning around.

He must have stopped in his tracks, because he was a little way back. He was just staring out in the distance, facing west, towards home. Of course, we were too far away from Hyrule castle now, but had we been anywhere in Western Hyrule, we would most likely be able to see the striking white towers. Here though, was just a view of rough, jutting rocks, and the wide ocean after it. We were started to run out of time if we planned to reach Darunia before dark, the sun was already beginning to set. But the waters were calm and peaceful, catching glimmers of the sun that shown on the surface like sparkling diamonds. It soaked up the orange sunset. Here, the sea salt was mild. A part of that saddened me, like I wanted it to overwhelm the air with its sweet, tangy smell.

The prince's gaze hardly left the ocean, it was almost as if he was staring at the castle itself, like it was sitting in the water. He barely even reacted when I joined his side and peered over the ocean with him. "Is something bothering you? You've been quiet ever since we left the Island Palace."

He was quiet for a long time. At first, I thought he was ignoring me, but then I realized he was trying to form his feelings into words. "I'm a sorry excuse of a king. This whole time, I've only thought of one thing; I wanted to save my sister and undo my mistake."

I was confused by this. "That doesn't make you a bad ruler. You care for your sister, that should be respected. Even if you made a mistake, you recognized what you did wrong and you're trying to fix it."

"Yes, but I abandoned my people."

I held my breath, trying not to sure how much his response struck me. This could mean two things, either he realized this himself, that Impa took control in his absence, or he was awake when Tog was explaining this to me. I hoped it wasn't the latter.

I was curious. "Why do you say that?"

"I don't blame you, but I heard you and the moblin talking the other night." Of course it was the latter. I stiffened, tense and not sure how he'll respond next. "And he was right, after Father died, and the princess cursed, I was the last noble of the kingdom. The last one who was needed to lead the people through a stressful time, the last one responsible, and I left them behind." He sighed and shifted his weight over, no longer standing perfectly straight. "I wonder if she's mad at me, Lady Impa. She told me I needed to stay, but I disobeyed. Now she's ruling the kingdom on her own. And I haven't thought about that happening. Not that I'm surprised she had to take over, I've just been too focused on my own mission."

I didn't know what to say. I didn't have any ideas, any words of encouragement or anything. I wondered what he planned on doing with this information. Will he decide to go back home, or was he still too stubborn on rescuing his sister? Another moment of silence came, looming over us like bad weather. I imagined he was fighting the voices in his head, as he never moved from his spot, even though it will be growing dark soon and we had to reach the town before then.

Finally he spoke, his voice cracked with frustration. "I don't know what to do! Now that I remember my responsibilities, I feel like it would be best for me to return home, but I can't! I can't bare to see my sister in the state she's in much longer." He breathed, his tone softening a little. "How can I show strength and confidence for my people when I don't have any for myself?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea. I wish I had a better answer."

He sighed, and glanced around at the trail, then to the sky, like he was realizing how dark it was for the first time. "It's getting dark, we should continue." Then he marched on ahead without another word.


By the time we entered Darunia, the moon was high in the sky, and for a long while, I was worried we wouldn't be able to find a place to stay. But the goddesses were smiling down on us, because we found the inn while wandering around in the pitch dark.

The next morning, we visited shops to eye supplies. It wasn't long ago when we left Nabooru with supplies we needed, but this was a good chance to pick up what we missed. Then after that, we began our hunt for the wise man.

My companion, the prince, returned to his still and quiet state. Throughout the day, it was like he was stuck in a bothering ponder, like he was busy seeking an answer to his problem.

Meanwhile, we finally found the elder's residence. After telling him the elder from Nabooru sent us, he knew exactly what we wanted. He gave me a scroll for the spell called "Reflect" and told me the wizards of the Maze Palace had strong magic few can beat, but this spell will enhance my shield so I can send their magic right back at them.

Once we were out on the street again, I stood, thinking what else we may need, but I believed we had everything we needed to continue with. "Is there anything else we need from here before we go?" I asked the distracted noble, just making sure we were on the same page, but the question was met with silence. "Your Highness?" I asked again. "Have you made a decision on what to do next?"

Then he breathed and came back to reality. "I believe I have." Then he hesitated for only a short moment, most likely giving it one last thought and making sure it was the right choice. Then he faced me. "I can't avoid my duties forever, and while I want nothing more than to continue helping you find the Triforce, my people need me, and now's the best time to show them what their next king will look like."

Hearing his decision made my heart sink, he's been by my side this entire time. I know not all of it was friendly, and I never wanted him to come along in the first place, but we were a team. I understood his decision, and it was the right thing for him to do, but still, the thought of going to the Maze Palace by myself filled my head with sadness and worry. Funny, that's how I wanted it at the beginning of this quest, but now, I wondered how I would handle it. Both His Highness and the moblin, Tog, saved my life hundreds of times. It makes me wonder how I survived on my own this long anyway.

It took me a short while to realize he was talking again. "...And I'm going to be honest, I'm terrified. I have made my final decision, but I'm going into it no stronger or ready than I ever have been. But I don't think I'll feel any better about it until the princess wakes." He breathed again and turned his gaze over to the west. "But maybe this is my first step towards becoming king, the first challenge I'm fighting to face in front of the eyes of the kingdom."

I tried to say something to fill in the gap. This goodbye after such a long journey seemed to happen too fast, like none of it mattered. But I had nothing to say, I wanted him to go, it was important, but I also didn't want to show how I felt about going on my own.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel right about leaving you alone on this quest. But when first joined you out of stubbornness, I wanted to be the one to undo my own mistake, and in that thinking, my vision was clouded, like I forgot you were the one who rescued her in the first place. But she never forgot. She knew if it wasn't for you, she most likely would have been dead long ago. She trusted you fully, and now it's my turn. I'll go home and face my responsibilities, but I'm not giving up, I'm choosing to trust you'll bring her back to us again."

"Thanks, I'll do the best I can." I replied, trying to shake buried fears and nightmares out of my mind. "With that kind of thinking, you'll make a fine and humble king."

"Ah, we'll see." He answered, slightly embarrassed. "Good luck, and save the Princess." Then, after he told me he was going to stay in town a while longer before heading back to Nabooru, I wished him a safe trip home, then went on my way.

As I was doing so, my conscience yelled at me. I felt like I was leaving him behind again. No, I answered my thoughts, this is his decision, and as much as I would like to keep him by my side on this mission, I had no right to deny his position in the kingdom.

As I was walking by the trail leading out of the town, I almost missed a scene of heartbroken parents wailing to some heavily clad soldiers. "We can't just leave them out there!" One distraught man yelled, he faced the first soldier, leaning towards him, like he was trying to intimidate the man. "You need to continue the search, they're out there somewhere, maybe in danger!"

"You need to calm down, Sir." The soldier replied calmly without raising his voice. "You're not listening, I just finished telling you we already know where the children are."

Then the knight next to him pounded his spear into the stone to gain attention from the crazed parents arguing and talking above the first soldier. "While we searched the forest, some sort of beast fired an arrow at us. The arrow carried a message."

I slowed my pace, growing interested. What's going on here? Are there children missing from the town?

"The letter said the kids are being held in the maze." He finished, and upon hearing those words, the men and women began screaming and falling to their knees.

The only villager still standing was the angry man, though even his voice was cracking. "Then you know where they are. Go over there and do your jobs!"

"And it also requested the hero known as Link to come save them." The knight replied, ignoring the man's outraged comment. I sucked in a breath and held it. A group of monsters took helpless children away from their parents so I would come out and help them? They were trying to lure me in, they were setting a trap. But I was fixing to head that way anyway, and can I really leave them with the monsters after I found out the truth? I hesitated. How many monsters are over there now? What if their trap works, what if they finally capture me?

"You're going to wait for this Link?" The voice of the angry man broke my thoughts. "You're going to let him do your job for you!? Well then, why don't you-"

"Sir," The other knight interrupted. "We're just keeping you updated. Although, I've heard of this hero, and they say he's quite capable and willing to help with any crisis. I do believe we shall send word for him, and in the meantime," He emphasized the last word and glared at the villager, like he was daring another hateful comment. "We shall group our strongest soldiers and do the best we can to liberate the children."

I thought about speaking up, I thought about letting them know that I was already here and I would help the children. But this time, I think I'd prefer to do this anonymously. Besides, I would be able to sneak by whatever trap these monsters set up easier by myself than with a whole group of soldiers with me. After making up my mind, I quietly left the scene and continued out of town. Little did I know then, I was making a mistake by leaving without help.


There was a long bridge crossing from the woods, over the ocean, and to the maze. I could see the island in the distance in front of me, and it was like someone built the sheer cliffs from the ocean floor itself, then made it rise to the surface. The island was marked on the map, but it didn't show any detail about it. It didn't show what kind of turns there were, or where the palace was. But I had Zelda's pendent to help me.

The bridge seemed to stretch all the longer when I was on it. The stone surface traced the water impossibly far to be considered safe. But I learned the palaces were strengthened in magical ways, and there was no need to question its condition.

Once I finally met the maze itself, I was worried it would be growing too dark too soon for my search to lead me anywhere. Already, the sun was leaning to kiss the salty horizon, and I haven't even entered the maze yet. Well, I should have a few hours to start at least.

I wanted to look for the palace, but if there was any hope of the children of Darunia, I had to keep an eye for them as well. Not to mention all the traps and scouts these monsters no doubt had in place for me, I had to be careful. I glanced down to the Triforce hanging around my neck, an idea was forming in my mind. "Can you show me the way to the kids?" I asked of it. But nothing happened. "Can you at least show me which way to the palace?" And this time, the silver light obeyed, shooting it down a specific hallway. So the pendent didn't lead the bearer to certain things, but helped show the way out once they were lost, although, it did know where the palaces were, that's handy. But of course it couldn't help with where the children were being held, that would be too easy. Whatever the case, this will help keep me from spending weeks in the maze looking for the palace.

Still, I was unaware of my big mistake in coming here alone. How did I ever believe I could sneak by these monsters when I already knew they were just sitting in there waiting for me?