A/N:
As always, a huge thank you to Norkix (here on FFnet) for beta reading this chapter (and consequently getting me into Xenoblade this week, too).
Apologies for the lengthier delay between chapters this time around. Both my and my beta's schedules have changed a bit this month, so I'm anticipating a new chapter release every three weeks or so, as opposed to every two weeks as it had been.
Enjoy the chapter!
XXXXX
Drawing from her final deposits of stamina, Zelda navigated along Hyrule Town's eastern pathway alone under the shriveling scrutiny of the moon. Tangled strands of malaise twisted around her mind, clouding her perception and encumbering her already unstable movements. Haunting thoughts had been relentlessly clamoring in her subconscious, too - though, currently, they were lowered in volume; silenced into insignificance. All the same, she was enveloped in the crushing claws of dread, and her bones were as weary as her sinking heart.
I'm simply exhausted. When I finally get some sleep, these troubling thoughts and feelings will vanish, she told herself - though, truly, she could only yearn for that hopeful outcome. Everything in her life seemed to blend with animosity in the past few days. Her mind had splintered into a clutter of mismatched puzzle pieces, and regardless of how hard she tried, it seemed force alone was not enough to reconnect them.
Still, even with this unquenchable mask of doubt, she pressed onwards; shuffling further beneath the fluttering stars. Pervading worry trailed her steps like a homing Bombchu, making each footfall that reeled on the concrete ground feel entirely too clumsy and foreign within her own body.
To say she was wholly sapped of all energy was an understatement.
Earlier in the day, following Zelda's triumphant return from her and Malon's reckless escapade into the room Link was concealed in, Zelda had used the sliver of time she'd had to rebandage her injuries and study Link's old pocket map. Instantly, she had observed that the center area of Lake Hylia had been circled, just as she had recalled. Likewise, in a merciful discovery for both her wounds and flourishing bruises, she had located Lon Lon Ranch adjacent to Hyrule Town, and, from there, she had swiftly plotted the most straightforward route she would be able to trek come nightfall - which was precisely the route she was currently traversing.
Now, the callow night breeze ruffled the unfettered wisps of her hair with every dragging step she took. Before long, she was passing the barrier of Hyrule Town, with her clunky boots tottering atop the whittled earthen road.
She drifted past crumpled patches of bleary grass plunged into mud-caked soil and wandered beyond distended mounds of crackling dirt that Acro-Bandits had likely jolted upwards from in attack. Signboards scattered the ranch acreage, pointing her in the direction of Lon Lon Ranch's estate, which she readily used in place of relying on her map. Although the air was cluttered with the typical Keese screeches and bug chirping she had noted when she had roamed Trilby Highlands not long ago, the atmosphere felt inexplicably empty; wholly isolated from reality.
With her brain in a muddled trance, Zelda curved her steps to match the pathway she adhered to. Her syrupy pace gradually stalled as she came face to face with the boxy silhouette of Lon Lon Ranch's modestly-sized house, peeking out humbly underneath the bleached glare of the moon's luminosity. Her gaze cautiously lowered away from the imposing structure, suddenly affixing itself onto the blackened contours of a person's form situated just outside of the pebbled entryway.
Oh, that must be Malon, she presumed.
The blotted silhouette turned in her direction, and in that instance, Zelda felt her heart inflame into a solid chunk of glass. Standing in front of her, cloaked in a wave of conceited splendor and superiority, was Hyrule's greatest known enemy and unrivaled threat.
Vaati.
The stars seemed to dim in the celestial sky above, and the encasing echo of countless nocturnal creatures' songs simmered into nothingness. She could see the loose strands of Vaati's pale lavender hair ripple in the wind and felt the searing red of his visible eye impale her with a critical glare.
The insight of what had happened in her preceding nightmare suddenly lurched into her mind and paralyzed her further, drowning her in waves of fear and tension. A patronizing smirk forged itself onto Vaati's waxen face as he examined her helpless state with both fire and ice blended behind his ignoble leer. At once, boiling winds swelled and trapped her in a circled prison, nipping at her shivering skin.
Vaati lifted his hand and placed it loftily beneath his chin, never removing his stare from her own. His infuriating smirk only widened further as he whispered imperiously, "It's such a treat to see each other in person for once. Wouldn't you agree, Princess?"
Speak for yourself, Zelda thought hotly, though she was too petrified to speak.
Her eyes slammed shut with ferocity and, as much as she hated to admit it, sheer terror. Her body trembled and her skin crawled with discomposure. What could she even do? She had no way that she currently knew of to stop Vaati, and no way to even temporarily disable his powers to buy more time. She could try to use her magic in retaliation, but she had only ever been trained to hone its protective and manipulative nature - at best, she could maybe summon forth a bulky prismatic shield right now, though, with Vaati's mastery of magic, it likely wouldn't last long. Worse yet, to add to this piling list of struggles, her lack of sleep and punctured shoulder only hindered her further, halting her abilities and strength to an even greater degree.
A bolt of electricity shot through her spine and cocooned her in staggering pain - though, whether it had been Vaati's doing or the doing of her own numbing paranoia, she didn't know. Her bandaged wounds felt like they were drilling further into her skin, stretching and tearing open from each bitter seam. A silent cry hung perilously from her dry throat, and her legs began struggling to hold her body's failing weight.
Behind the blinding curtain of ignorance that her closed eyes granted her, she began pleading for her light magic. Even if she could only conjure a meager pinch or a microscopic slice of it, she still threw her prayers heavenward; desperate.
Two rough hands suddenly clasped themselves on both of her shoulders, drawing Zelda's eyes open in haste. A blistering twinge of pain cascaded in steel laps around her wounded appendage, and crystal tears prickled the corners of her eyes.
In front of her was not Vaati as she had expected, rather, it was Malon's innocent face - framed in the shape of a heart from the fleeting strands of her bronzed hair. A panicked, yet quiet, "Princess Zelda? Are you okay?" tumbled off of Malon's chapped lips and floated into the air between them. The ranch girl's eyebrows were furrowed in worry, and concern ticked in her jaw.
"M-Malon?" Zelda's scraggly voice replied.
Malon gripped Zelda's shoulders tighter, much to Zelda's pained chagrin. "What happened to you? I came outside to meet you as we had agreed, but your eyes were shut and your whole body was trembling… I didn't see anything attack you when I ran over, though, maybe I just missed it…"
Zelda inhaled a breath of vinegared air as she contemplated what Malon had said. Did something happen to me? Or did I… just make all of that up? Zelda's watery gaze peeked around her surroundings and wavered on the barren stretch where Vaati had been; where she had thought Vaati had been. The moon's pallid light hardly left room for uncertainty. "Um," she started, "Nothing happened to me, no. I'm just… I'm just tired. My apologies for worrying you."
Malon frowned. "You can tell me anything, Princess Zelda. I want to help."
"Nothing happened," Zelda abruptly replied. Her thoughts were frantic and misplaced, cloaking her in robes of folly. Was Vaati actually here, or did I just think that he was? The fear and pain and anxiety felt real, but perhaps I'm just so tired that I'm beginning to imagine things... Zelda's eyes fixated on her friend before her, heeding the concern that stirred in Malon's gaze. A shaky breath fell from Zelda's lips, condensing into a stream of warmth amid the chilled air. "Please don't worry about me. I'm just tired. That's all, okay?"
Malon withdrew her hands from Zelda's shoulders, dangling them loosely by her sides. "Alright, I - I trust you. If you ever need to talk, though, I'm here."
Zelda managed a weak nod. "Thank you. I sincerely appreciate your support." Still, her heart stuttered in agitated beats, and her limbs felt like one gelatinous mass. She attempted to root her body into the ground and spoon as much eagerness into her voice as she could muster, changing the subject by instead inquiring, "Alright, now, where in Lake Hylia are we going? And how exactly are we getting there?"
"Oh, right," Malon muttered. "We'll need to take the north pathway for a bit, the same one you likely walked down to get here. Then we'll take a right and follow that road for a brief stretch before we reach the entrance that I typically use to get to Lake Hylia. The weird object I saw is in the lake, just below the ledge from that entrance." Her finger poked her chin with her eyes drawn skyward, clearly retracing her steps in her head. "I'll show you when we get there."
"That sounds fine," Zelda said, "Let's get started, then."
Dirt crunched beneath their feet as Malon led Zelda down the northern pathway. In the red-haired girl's presence, a quiet lull surrounded Zelda, shrouding her in a calmness that had all but vanished from her life; that ushered memories of Link back into her mind.
Memories of Zelda and Link eradicating the weeds that grew in droves by Master Smith's house, gawking together at how many rupees they had found camouflaged within the scraggly roots. Memories of Link demonstrating sword skills he had learned from so-called Tiger Scrolls, trying - in vain - to pass this extensive knowledge onto Zelda. But, mostly, just memories of the both of them together; buried beneath the stars much like she was now, excavating their worries into the heedless air and telling each other things they promised to forget come the rising sun.
Though, recently, her memories of Link were becoming more and more distorted - doused in the pools of worry and exhaustion that loomed deep in the caverns of her mind. The fears that had spawned from her divine, foretelling nightmare had started fusing with snippets of her recollection, bending and distorting her memories into unrecognizable figments. Time had seemed to wear these mangled thoughts away, but a lot of the damage was already thickened and heavily stained in her psyche.
However, right now, the best way to escape from her overtired mind and conflicting thoughts was to distract herself. Rather than ruminating on these decaying images and letting them supersede her memories entirely, she decided it'd be best to strike up a pleasant conversation with her traveling friend.
Zelda's steps advanced, ignoring the tensile sting from her ligaments and weeping tendons as she strode alongside the red-haired girl. "So, Malon. How have you been doing?" she stiffly asked.
"Oh," Malon swiftly turned her head to look at Zelda, a startled smile lopped on her face. "Um, I'm doing alright. It was quite difficult for me to see Link earlier, though I'm glad I did, even if it was a bit tricky to sneak in. Thank you for letting me do that with you." Silence hung briefly in the air before she hastily added, "But, really, I should ask how you're doing, Princess Zelda."
Zelda waved her hand dismissively. "As I mentioned earlier, I'm alright. I'm just a little tired," she murmured. "Regardless… even if it was beneficial, I apologize for earlier, for telling you about what happened to Link so suddenly. I know it was a lot to take in all at once."
"It's okay. I'm just glad you decided to tell me, honestly." A heartfelt smile embellished Malon's features, emphasizing her kind nature. "It means a lot to me, to know you wouldn't hide the truth even when you've been explicitly told to."
Zelda returned her smile. From the action alone, a dry, cracked seed blossomed in the depths of her core, causing her steps to feel lighter atop the dusty pathway.
"Alright, now we take a right here," Malon declared, veering off of the established pathway and trampling astride tufts of grass sprouting from the ground. "The entrance I usually take to Lake Hylia is lesser-known, so we'll need to walk on grass and weeds for a bit. But the pathway will return shortly."
The pair walked in amiable silence across the makeshift passage of crinkly undergrowth, whilst above, the glittering stars constructed a mosaic of oscillating nebulas around them. Zelda no longer felt that confining discomfiture that had plagued her earlier - instead, her mind had quieted, and she now found herself solely engrossed with her overwhelming need for rest. She rubbed her clenched fists over her languishing eyelids, hoping the friction would jostle a pinch of energy back into her veins.
Soon, their steps were compressing over another brittle roadway. From here, if she squinted, Zelda could vaguely see the aquamarine fauna that decorated Lake Hylia further ahead. The outskirts were blocked by lanky tree caps that rustled mildly in the nighttime winds, causing swooping shadows to dance beneath them.
"Is that Lake Hylia?" Zelda asked.
Malon turned to Zelda and cheerfully nodded. "Yup! We're very close. We just have to -" the red-haired girl's voice trailed off as her steps swept to the right again, following the border of Lake Hylia's lush habitat, "- turn here, and then the entrance I use is just down there," she finished, pointing her finger towards the unclogged entryway just a few steps further ahead.
Zelda followed in tow. As they passed the cusp of this new area, her eyes were glued to the emerging plants, the visible crust of jutting ledges, and the puddles of crystalline water that were discernable nearby. She found herself awestruck, and suddenly asked, "How often do you come to Lake Hylia?"
"I try to come every few days. I like to pick through the plants here because our cows love the grass," Malon said, "It's quite different from the kind we grow on our ranch due to the unique soil." She raised her shoulders, shrugging slightly.
The granular screech of dirt lessened as their steps transitioned through the open pathway, into Lake Hylia. Grass knolls enriched the lavish, ochre soil beneath them, and buoyant trees stood tall, scattered in a seemingly random pattern. The lake consumed most of the land, circular in shape and vast in size. It sparkled in silver and aqua tones underneath the candlelight moon, beckoning visitors forward.
Zelda halted her steps, digesting the stunning imagery that was fanned before her.
A few paces ahead, Malon perked up. "Ah! That strange light is still here."
Zelda's gaze swiftly snapped to Malon's shuffling form, causing Zelda to resume her pace and lumber next to her friend's side.
Malon was kneeled by a terse ledge that led directly into the lake, with her eyes scrunched and locked onto something in the distance. She muttered, "Do you see that weird glowing… thing, just out there in the shallow end of the water? I know I've seen that ice sculpture before, but… it's never looked like this - well, not that I could remember, at least."
With the flatness of exhaustion wrapping her brain in a wire, Zelda slowly followed the direction of Malon's scrutinizing stare. Not far from their position was a near perfectly smooth, rounded structure, composed of what looked to be solely ice. A small fissure was visible in the center, and its verglas finish glinted brilliantly - though that hadn't been what had captured and retained Zelda's foggy attention. With the moon's opaline flood of light pouring from above, the ice structure appeared breathtakingly magical. It winked and dazzled with a mesh of glossy tints - frozen scarlets and gelid coral blues, amid a mixture of many others. It captured her attention seamlessly, drawing her in closer and closer still.
"You saw this yesterday?" Zelda questioned.
"Yes, that's right. When I came to collect a few bushels of fodder last night, I just saw it sparkling in the distance like that. As I said, that odd ice structure has always been there, but I've never seen it glow like that before," Malon said.
Without replying, Zelda yanked her floor-length skirt up to her ankles and sucked in a heady breath of air. Her eyes were cemented onto the ice sculpture below as her right foot pressed into the water's bank, just beyond the narrow ledge. Her shoe sunk into the spongy sand as the rippling water pecked at her ankle, and, before long, her other foot had followed suit, guiding her with sloshing steps towards the peculiar monument up ahead.
"Princess Zelda?!" Malon cried out.
"I believe I know what this might be," Zelda replied coolly. "And you mentioned earlier while we were at Hyrule Castle that you tried to melt the ice to no avail, correct?"
A stitch of distress was embedded in Malon's speech as she replied, "Uh, y-yes, that's right. I brought a torch here after I first saw it sparkling, but it was useless. Regardless of where I placed the fire, it wouldn't melt."
Zelda's weightless steps tamped the powdery sand as she waded deeper into the water. The biting chill of the nighttime air coupled with the polar effusion coming from the frosted shrine sent a shiver into her spine - submerging her briefly in the memory of Vaati's earlier visit. His visit, or… just a sleep-deprived hallucination? Her momentum progressively slowed as she mulled over this dissenting thought, consumed with internal, endless confusion.
Yet, not long after, her uninjured shoulder gently collided with an abnormally cold, dense object that was veiled in an otherworldly hum. Zelda shook her head, clearing away the dreamy haze that had collected at the edges of her vision, and stared at the structure that was grounded before her.
There, submerged in the sediment and minerals of Lake Hylia's silken waves, was the peculiar structure that Malon had pointed out when they first arrived. It flickered and surged with abstract power; cascading a web of bone-chilling fumes that surrounded its unfamiliar presence. Close-up, it was daunting - both captivating and intimidating Zelda to her very core.
Unbeknownst to her, she was staring squarely at the Temple of Droplets.
With unmerited impulse, Zelda dropped the hold on her skirt and planted her flattened palms on top of the structure, closing her eyes and slowing her breath with purpose. A frozen numbness shot through her body from the physical contact, but her focus drawled forth and maintained. Past the sting of frigidity and smog of enervation, an internal plea to invoke the power of her ancient light magic drifted into her disheveled headspace.
A peach-tinted spark, sharp and lurid, fizzled just out of reach beyond the blackness of her closed eyes. Heat sizzled at her fingertips, and any lingering scraps of energy that she still had surged through her bloodstream. Tentatively, Zelda raised her eyelids, confronting the iridescent force that enveloped the structure before her.
It was actually melting.
The star-shaped crack in the center of the sculpture widened, thawing into the twilight breeze. The prolific glow that had tempted Zelda forward wriggled to the surface, escaping the frozen prison that had tethered it inside.
Instantaneously, a preserved blue so pure and sharp and vivid obscured her vision, blanketing her in a surge of icicle teals and polar whites. The colors were rich and caramelized, almost sizzling as they faded into the salty breeze; as if melting by magnified fire light somehow.
Now, underneath the spotlight of the reflecting moon, with the pigment of ice-colored tales having retreated in her vision, Zelda could see exactly what the ethereal object was.
"The Water Element," she whispered under her breath, cushioned in awe.
Malon's incredulous voice carried in the wind, directed at Zelda, "What is that?"
Zelda scooped up the dazzling artifact that shivered before her, safeguarding it in her grip. "This is the Water Element," she said a touch louder, turning her head back towards Malon. "This is a huge piece of the puzzle I need to save Link. With this, with your help, I'm one step closer."
A gasp of elation creaked out of Malon. "Incredible! I was hoping that what I found would be valuable, especially after I saw Link's condition, but I wasn't sure. I'm glad I brought you here!"
Utterly exhausted, Zelda simply extended a crumpled smile her way. "Absolutely. Thank you, again, for all of your help."
The ranch girl's ecstatic mood suddenly fizzled out. "Princess Zelda, would you like me to walk you back to Hyrule Town? I know you mentioned you were tired earlier…"
At that, a rapid gust of wind whipped around Zelda's body, misting her in the chains of intrusive discomfort. Anxiety compacted into a pit and settled in her chest, causing her to respond briskly, "Sure. I appreciate your support, Malon."
With the Water Element cradled in her hands, Zelda trudged back to the cliffside - back towards her friend. The hem of her skirt dragged on the water's surface and her steps spattered across the shallow plane of the lake, whilst her chary bones and aching wounds softly bellowed. I still have time to rest when I return, even if only for a few hours, she wearily thought.
As she reached the edge of dirt and anchored land again, Malon cast out her calloused hands and plucked Zelda out of the rippling water in one seamless swoop.
"Thank you," Zelda murmured.
Fleeting seconds elapsed in a slow and apparent rhythm, which Zelda greedily took advantage of to recollect her sap-like breath. Whilst chilled drops of water dribbled off of the bottom of her dress, inexplicably, her gaze trailed back in the direction of Lake Hylia's center - back in the direction she had come from. The eclipsing outline of sailing clouds and dented mountain tops were balanced on the horizon, stabilized just beneath the darkened cosmos overhead.
However, something odd caught her attention, floating just between the serene landscape and wedged into the distended clouds. Zelda peered closer, squinting, and saw the faintest etchings of a floating castle in the sky, smeared and blurred by rolling fog. Her eyes blinked heavily, focusing and unfocusing, unsure if what she was seeing was real. Perhaps it was just another tired delusion, or something she had heard about once but was too exhausted to recall; perhaps, though, it was something dark and catastrophic.
"Are you ready to go back?" Malon suddenly asked, concern laden in her question.
Zelda swiveled her head back to the red-haired girl, painting a smile on her face. "Yes, I'm ready now. We can head off."
After ensuring with finality that the Water Element clung safely in Zelda's grip, they began their journey back to Hyrule Town.
Still, as the pair meandered on the dirt pathway out of Lake Hylia, Zelda chanced a final glance behind herself. This time, however, the sky was completely clear. There was no hint, trace, or blurry indication of an obscured building of any kind in the sky; there was nothing but a sickle moon and a bowl of twinkling stars.
Since daybreak, drizzling rain had pelted the gravel pathways and sheared greenery of Hyrule Town. The storm's dissonant rattling had awoken Zelda after only a few dull hours of sleep, though, even that tiny amount had been enough to refresh her mind and body to a favorable degree.
Zelda was still burrowed in her bed; puffy eyes glazed over from the leftover crumbs of sleep. She stared, disoriented, at her ornate bedroom ceiling, consumed with simply watching it flicker from the outlines of passing guards in the garden outside, or warp with shadowed droplets of rain. It was calming and peaceful - the exact opposite of what her life had become in just a few short days.
But even in these rare, tranquil moments, everything still felt wrong. The pit of anxiety that had been planted in her body never vanished or shrunk - instead, it only prospered and flowered with the passage of time. Quiet moments to herself would transform into something wicked; she'd catch an unusual breeze that seemed hellbent on following her, or she'd feel a baleful gaze on her movements at all times.
It was maddening - and no matter what she did, it never went away.
In an effort to distract herself, Zelda carefully lifted her body out of bed. Her punctured shoulder still warbled with stubborn pain, but with a drop of sleep and consistent bandaging, it had lessened into a manageable thrum. Her bruises had reached the paramount end of growth and had begun to yellow into a distorted color akin to her flesh, and her nicks and scrapes had mended into mere scabs. Although she still faced the physical reminders of her first adventure outside of Hyrule Castle, the worst of it seemed to be over.
It's unlikely I'll be able to sleep any more with this rain, and I still have some time to myself before I need to serve my duties for the day. Perhaps now is as good a time as any to collect what I have and visit Master Smith, she concluded. Glancing around her room, she quickly took notice of her archery boots and valuable items strewn about with wild abandon, having been flung onto the floor upon her return last night.
After she had snuck back into her bedroom yesterday, all she could think about at the time was rest - though, it hit her now how risky that had been… if a maid had come in and seen Link's old map, her unkempt boots, or, worst of all, the gleaming Water Element that had been shoved into the corner, goddesses' knows what they'd be able to decipher of her plan.
Suddenly consumed in a trance-like state, Zelda promptly assembled these deserted items into a neatened pile on her floor. Her hand hovered above the Water Element as she settled it near Link's map, entranced with its opulent glow, before she shook her head and strode to her wardrobe to change.
She made quick work of the dirtied and ragged dress she had worn all day yesterday; shoveling it off of her body in haste and slipping a thicker cotton gown on in its wake. The rain didn't seem like it'd let up anytime soon, so she snagged a weatherproof coat to enhance her ensemble, before donning her soiled archery boots once again for comfort and ease.
Alright, now to collect the most important items, and then I can head off. Using an aged leather bag that had been perched near her wardrobe, Zelda waltzed over to the pile on her floor and seized the crinkly map - folding it into squares and chucking it in her bag. Her gaze turned to the Water Element, gleaming in its ancient glory and exuding eloquence even from the fibers of her floor, before she picked it up and tucked it securely inside.
Her legs began to gently wobble as she maneuvered to her hidden storage chest, a gauze of uneasiness abruptly casing her mind. She inhaled a lungful of air as she crouched on the ground and unlatched her storage chest with quivering hands, feeling suddenly fraught with bubbling, boiling anxiety. I just need to grab two things and then I can leave, she reminded herself.
The chest scraped open, presenting her with an assortment of her most valuable possessions. As she sunk her hand inside to pull the scarf-wrapped Fire Element out, a sudden, deliberate, almost whispering wind snaked around her body, coiling her in barbed fear.
Her blood nearly solidified as she lugged the Fire Element into her bag, dropping it inside as if it were a hot coal. As always, a million thoughts surged in her labyrinth mind, sailing by way of a storm: Am I still just so exhausted that I simply think this wind is here? Could I have left my window open and a draft snuck in? Maybe I really am just imagining all of this, but, maybe it actually could be…
Quickly, she rammed her hand into her storage chest again, pulling out her stained and dented armor piece in doubled urgency before shoving it into her bag without care.
"There, that's everything," she mumbled under her breath. She slammed the chest's lid shut, locked it, and forced it back into the opaque shadows.
Zelda stood in a snap, shuffling close to a nearby curtained window and peering outside. The garden looked to be completely clear of stationed guards at first glance, with only the fuzzy, gray sky meeting her determined stare. Odd, Zelda thought, I've never seen it empty at this time before…
However, upon closer inspection, she noticed the hunched form of a guard pressed against the cobbled exterior. He was collapsed right by a flourishing shrub, with his spear lying diagonally across his body.
"Oh my goddesses, is he - ?!" her sentence trailed off into the pernicious atmosphere, feeling too improper to complete on her lips.
Without thinking further, Zelda unbolted her lavish window and yanked it ajar. She clutched the concrete windowsill, now slick from her panicked hold, and hoisted her legs over it to droop them against the wall outside. Like this, she was dangling in the garden several inches from the ground, with her wounded shoulder prickling from a familiar jolt of stretching, rubbery pain. Her eyes closed, her worries magnified, and she swiftly released her grip - allowing her body to drop to the ground.
Gratefully, her fall ended briskly. Her feet hit the pulpy dirt first, with her bent knees following shortly afterward. A tremor of dizzying adrenaline coursed through her body as she deliberately stood back up, eyeing the slumped soldier a few feet away.
"Hey, are you -" Yet, for the second time, Zelda's sentence was stamped into nothingness and silenced from shock.
There, collapsed against the reinforced brick and stone wall, clad in full-plated armor and clutching a stiff spear brought against his chest… was Rorro, snoring blatantly into the inclement air.
He's… sleeping, she realized. The rush from before soured into nonexistence as she looked at his undisturbed face. He looked utterly debilitated, with crescent-shaped craters engraved beneath his sunken eye sockets. His normally tousled hair appeared disheveled and heavy with both grease and rainwater and, most notably of all, he had somehow fallen into a deep slumber whilst stationed on his guard shift; something that seemed completely out of his character.
I can't believe I rushed out here for… this. While Zelda did feel apologetic for his rumpled condition, ultimately, there wasn't much that she could do. She couldn't wake him, not unless she wanted to be questioned and likely scolded. No, no matter how much she worried he'd get sick from the drizzling weather or be caught asleep on duty, she would just have to leave him be. At least this gives me a much easier way out of Hyrule Castle this time, I suppose.
Beneath the pouring rainclouds, with beads of water beginning to drip from her clothes, she turned on her heel and set about the shifty stroll to Master Smith's house. Her boots clipped and splashed against the soaked pathway as she traveled ahead, cloaked behind jutting bushes and verdant leaves.
She never spared a second glance behind herself at the slumbering Rorro.
Droplets of rain slithered down her hair, plopping onto the wooden ground beneath her in a staggered cadence. She sat on the floor, compacted against herself, with her knees bent underneath her chin and her hands projected out in front of her face, pilfering the orange warmth that spilled in airy gusts from the iron hearth before her.
Outside, rainfall continued to batter the earth, saturating open pockets of land in heaven's ruthless tears. It thumped against the glass frosting of the house's windows and sank into the soil below, defeated. Yet, inside, within the four walls of Master Smith's house, Zelda felt impervious; at peace, even.
Master Smith ambled in the room's kitchenette corner, sluggish from the morning's stubborn siren. He picked and pulled the typical ceramicware from the cupboards, fully engulfed in the trite task of composing their usual cups of tea. A tuneless song seemed to hang from his lips, with the dustings of a soft hum being Zelda's only indicator of its presence.
She glanced at her leather bag, slumped on the floor and slick with rain. Both the Fire Element and Water Element had managed safely from the soggy trek to Master Smith's home, for which she was incredibly grateful. I hope this trip will be useful, she thought.
A vibrational thud resounded by her ear, startling her from further musings. Looking to her right, two splintered mugs brimming with herbal tea were placed on top of the nearby coffee table, complete with wafting swirls of steam that ascended into the air. Soon after, Master Smith turned his step and wandered into the dining corner of the room. He removed one of the table's wooden chairs and lugged it near the fireplace; plopping it on the other side of the refectory table near Zelda.
Her back shot up straight, and she hurriedly fumbled out a creaky response, "Oh, I can get up and we can move to the dining area instead if you'd li-"
"It's no trouble at all," Master Smith interjected. "I quite like this little hearth, and it's the perfect weather to get some use out of it anyway!"
Zelda's spine curled again, her chin falling once more atop her bent knees. "Well, alright. If you say so."
Master Smith sunk into the chair he had gathered with a depleted sigh. He fastened his hand around the mug of tea closest to him, sloshed the liquid around idly, and trained his gaze onto the window settled behind the fireplace.
Zelda cleared her throat before speaking up, "So, Master Smith. How have you been since we last spoke?"
"I've been quite alright," he said. "I've been working on a few projects courtesy of King Daltus. One you might even be interested in, actually."
Her long ears perked up as she careened her head to look at him. "Oh? And what kind of project would that be?"
"King Daltus entrusted me with repairing the broken Four Sword."
The silence that followed was stifling. Zelda felt intrigued, baffled; mostly, just largely auspicious. Years ago, she had heard from Link that only the Minish could repair the Four Sword, as the Minish were the ones who had crafted it as a gift to the people of Hyrule. Link had seemed assured that there was no other way to fix the blade, at least, not that he knew of. Within this reality, the possibility that there might be a shortcut to save Link fully excited her.
Yet, on the other side of the rupee, did her father know for certain that a simple Hylian could mend the Four Sword? Or, did he simply hope it could be done? Could he have read something in those strange books I see him and Minister Potho always glued to? The possibilities were certainly there, and she made a mental note to attempt to stealthily deduce an answer from her father later.
After the haze of shock settled, Zelda found her voice to respond, "Do you feel confident that you can restore the Four Sword?"
"Maybe," Master Smith professed. "I've only just started, and King Daltus didn't give me much to work off of. It's certainly an odd blade, that's for sure…"
"Please keep me updated, Master Smith. This could be a huge help in saving Link after I retrieve the Four Elements."
"Alright, then. I will," he grumbled. "Actually, speaking of the Four Elements, I have some news about that, too."
Zelda's ears twitched again, with her body twisting on the floorboards to fully face Master Smith. "What about the Four Elements?"
His free hand brushed through his beard thoughtfully, with his eyes cast onto Zelda's bunched form on the ground. "I went over to Minish Woods yesterday since I wanted to try my hand at helping you find the Four Elements, even though you told me not to." A wry smile lit up his face before he continued, "I went pretty far in, into the nook where Link had showed me he had met Ezlo and found the Earth Element way back when, but… I couldn't find it at all."
"Nothing? Not even a sign that the Earth Element could have been there?"
He shook his head perilously. "Nope, nothing. I searched for a good chunk of time, too. I was doing my best to help both you and Link out… I'm sorry."
Zelda plucked her teacup from the table nearby, tilting it up to her mouth and basking in the vegetal remedy that flowed past her lips and coursed through her aching body. Her response came simply and doggedly, "It's alright. I admit that I appreciate you looking for the Four Elements, even though I did specifically request you do not go looking for the Four Elements." A lone eyebrow cocked upwards at the end of her sentence, sending a clear signal of disapproval his way. "Perhaps the Earth Element was missing as a sign for you not to look further," she added. Help was always appreciated, and really, she wasn't receiving as much of it as she'd like right now. However, if anything were to happen to Master Smith whilst he was searching on her behalf, Zelda was sure she would never forgive herself.
A mere chuckle was his only retort.
Quietness bordered the small room and roped the pair into a comfortable lull. Things felt almost normal again; or, rather, things would feel normal again, if Link were also bunched on the floor next to Zelda, with his knees clacking against hers unintentionally and his eyes lighting up like a meteor from his animated storytelling.
No, things were definitely not normal. A fact Zelda was reminded of far too often lately.
Her nails tapped nervously against her ceramic mug, filling the room with a tense staccato melody that broke the silent spell. Her eyes shifted towards Master Smith once again, hesitant, before she announced, "I actually came to share some good news with you, Master Smith. Well, that, and to request a favor from you…"
"Go for it," he said. "Why don't you start with the favor first?"
Zelda took another full sip of her tea before settling her mug atop the coffee table, half-empty. She sunk her hand into the bag she had brought, loosely rifling around the cramped space before her fingers grazed the dented metal of her armor piece. A smile popped onto her face as she pulled out the item slowly, presenting it in the entirety of its dingy, battered glory to Master Smith.
"I'm quite sure you can already tell exactly what I'm going to ask you just by looking at this, but I ended up damaging this armor plate that I keep on hand. I was hoping you'd be able to buff out the scratches, hammer out the dents, and clean it up a bit, perhaps?"
Master Smith planted his teacup onto the table near Zelda's and grabbed the armor plate from her grip. He turned it over at random, scrutinizing each dirt fleck and dimple that scarred its thin surface. "What caused this much damage?" he asked. His gaze was wholly affixed to the offering in his hands, melded to the dips and grooves that dappled it.
"I'm glad you asked," she eagerly remarked. Her hand had flung back into her bag before she had finished speaking. Slowly, inch by inch, the blocky outlines, glaring colors, and dreamlike complexions of the otherwordly artifacts she had brought with her came into view.
Master Smith lowered the armor plate in his hand, almost dropping it onto the ground haphazardly from astonishment. "Are those… what I think they are?"
"Indeed. In fact, this was the good news I wanted to share with you!" A lofty grin emerged on her features, drenching her in an aura of unusual confidence. "Since the last time we spoke, I've recovered the Fire Element and Water Element successfully."
His eyes bulged beneath the unruly strokes of his eyebrows. A choked, "How did you manage to get both of those so quickly?!" rolled off his tongue.
"I'm not quite as defenseless as you may think," she muttered. "Regardless, I actually do have another request to ask of you regarding the Fire Element and Water Element."
Master Smith smoothed his wrinkled fingers over his beard, appearing deep in thought. He spoke curiously, guardedly, "Ask away, Princess Zelda."
"I… haven't been feeling too secure in Hyrule Castle, as of late," she started. Zelda turned her head aside, choosing to peer out of the misty, rain-covered window above the fireplace. "I believe I'm just exhausted, as I haven't gotten much sleep these past two days, but, well… I've just been feeling a dark, looming presence whilst I'm there. Especially when I'm alone. Really, mostly when I'm alone." A sigh trailed her speech, pausing her statement before she blearily continued, "In this condition, I honestly don't know if it's safe to keep the Fire Element and Water Element in my care. I think it'd be better if you kept them out of harm's way for now, not I."
He paused his hand's impulsive ministrations on his beard and narrowed his gaze onto her wilted form. "I know you want to do this on your own, Princess Zelda. However, if you think something could be following you, don't you think we should alert King Daltus?"
She blurted out a sharpened, "No!" with brazen intent entangled in her speech. Zelda turned, facing Master Smith in full force, with a crackle of fire burning behind her eyes. She swallowed a thick mote of air before ardently adding, "I've already achieved so much. I've gotten half of the Four Elements, and now you're even on track to repair the Four Sword. If we involve my father, things simply won't get done at this rate. Link may never be saved, even years from now!"
"Zelda," he said, "I agree with you, and I'm worried about Link, too… but I'm also worried about you."
"Please, Master Smith." Her heart felt like it was lit aflame; burning with sincerity. "We can't tell my father. It will only complicate things further. You have to listen to me."
He exhaled a bristled sigh - cold and heavy and imprecise. "Alright. I won't involve King Daltus. Yet." Master Smith's eyebrows furrowed into garish, thickened paint strokes above his contemplative stare. "But you have to be safe, Princess Zelda. I don't think you quite realize what you may be getting yourself tangled up into."
Her voice dropped an octave and trailed, like thin wisps, into the air, "Does this mean you'll safeguard the Fire Element and Water Element?"
"Yes."
A willowy smile stretched on her face. "Thank you so much. I promised you earlier and I promise you now," she said, "I will be safe."
Master Smith merely grunted.
The warmth and comfort from the iron hearth all but sputtered into a numb chill - not from its depletion of energy, but from the now frigid atmosphere. Her tea had grown lukewarm and, with her head turned back to the grayed window, she saw the spatters of rain outside only amplifying, showering the world in thick globs from the clouds above. Everything felt slightly displaced; perhaps not like home at all.
Although Zelda had gotten Master Smith to agree to her request, in the end, it had felt somewhat fallacious. Now, and even in the past, she had never enjoyed pushing his boundaries or forcing him into silence, but what else was she to do? I'm so close to freeing Link at this point that I can't back down… no matter what.
Her tongue was tinged with somber words as she pressed her knees closer to her chest, melting into herself. The storm whirled and roared outside, and she knew she'd have to leave soon; return to Hyrule Castle and begin another tedious day as the princess. Perhaps I should apologize, she thought. It's no use leaving on soured terms.
Reignited, Zelda pivoted her head to Master Smith once again. She drew in a breath, considered her words, and opened her mouth to speak, when - suddenly - three guttural, hollow knocks pealed off of Master Smith's front door, halting Zelda entirely.
The pair linked eyes before Zelda found her voice. "Were you expecting someone?"
"Not at all," Master Smith grumbled. "This will be my second unexpected visitor of the day, and the sun hasn't even fully risen yet."
He clambered out of his chair with his eyes fixated on the door. She noticed the strings of alarm pitched beneath his demeanor, concealed with brass assurance and fortitude. In sweeping steps, he plodded towards the front door, stretching his back in a series of muffled hisses along the way.
Master Smith's feet came to a standstill by the doorframe, with his hand wavering on the burnished doorknob. He spared a single glance behind himself at Zelda, before swiftly gripping the handle and drawing the door open; opening the portal between the quiet simmer of the indoors and the intemperate disruption of the outdoors.
And there, standing idly in the middle, was somebody Zelda had never seen before.