"Holder Of Light" Chapter 4
By HenryCH (henrych@henrych-uk.fsnet.co.uk)
Overall Summery:
After Link telling her of a strange warning, Zelda tries and fails to discover
who is the new holder of the Triforce Mark of Power. However while Link is
trying to help Zelda, he must also try and stop the murders of a rouge Sheikah
who has a fetish for collecting a certain human organ. -NOTE Glossary has been
modified
Part summery: A
Night at Eastern Palace. Zelda finds out more about the Knights of The Triforce
and Link.
DISCLAIMER: All
the characters from 'The Legend of Zelda' Series belong to Nintendo so please
don't sue me. Also there are pieces of information I used from Darkness
Rising by Alex Foster. Especially One Phrase that I just couldn't
get out of my mind.
'Power may stand
alone, but Wisdom and Courage must not'
Author's Notes: I've rarely used these in this fanfic... Anyway I just wanted to say thank you to Alex Foster for, saying that he liked my fanfic, for not asking me to remove it and for giving me permission to blatantly steal a piece from Darkness Rising part five. In other words the 'Knight's Price' story, so thanks again.
"Slow,
Epona." The sun was still in the sky, after all it was only mid-afternoon
but as always the foreboding gates that was the only entrance and exit, to and
from, Eastern Palace where closed. After all Eastern Palace wasn't officially
part of Hyrule and instantly after it's restoration many had come from far and
wide to see only other town near Hyrule that could be compared to Hyrule Market
Town. However due to security reasons Link had agreed with the palace's squires
that this system would be necessary.
The last remaining
Knight of The Triforce led the Princess of Hyrule up to the gate of the only
place his brother Knights had ever set up as a settlement, with the intention
to relax before he, Zelda and the other Sages went to talk to the Triforce
tomorrow.
"Halt!"
He heard the voice and looked to see one of the palace's soldiers call from one
of the guard towers. "Identify yourselves and tell us the purpose of your
visit." It was standard procedure of course, but sometimes the guards
where just a bit too dense for their own good.
With that thought
in his mind, the child inside was awakened as Link couldn't help but chuckle,
just a little bit anyway. "Sir Link of the Knights of The Triforce and
Princess Zelda of Hyrule and I'm hoping to go home."
"Majors! Call
the squires, Sir Link is home!" He heard the guard answered as he lowered
the drawbridge.
As soon as the pair
entered the market town, chaos ensued.
Link found that
they were instantly surrounded by the squires of the Eastern Palace.
"Welcome home milord." Link turned to see one of the palace's
advisors, Arimos come up on the opposite side to Zelda.
"Thank you
Arimos. How have things been while I've been away?" Link replied.
"The
restoration work on the northern wall has been completed and the farmers have
also prepared next years crops. Neil is still having problems with the horse
breeding though." The minister replied.
"I've got a
friend that may be able to help us with that. I'll ask her to come to stay at
the palace next time I see her." Link replied. "Oh and minister
Princess Zelda will be staying with us for a few days as will her nursemaid
Impa and my sister. I'll leave it in your hands to sort out guest room
accommodation."
"At once
milord. I shall take my leave." With that the minister and some of the
squires headed off ahead..
Zelda couldn't help
but say the next comment. "When I get off my horse milord, would you wish
me to curtsy?"
Link looked at her,
instantly falling into a slight chuckle as well. "Please Zel. I've had
enough of them acting like that, I don't think I could stand it if you started
as well." Link suddenly turned serious. "You should know how hard it
is to rule a country."
"I know there
is Link. But I also know that we're both young, we still have so much life left
to live and we will always have people to help us." She replied. "I
know that uncle Dante would never want you to feel pressured but they need you
Link." She pointed out all of the people who had gathered to see the
knight's return. "As much as I do."
"No wonder
they call you the 'Wise One', you always know what to say." He replied as
they passed the market town and moved through the courtyard. Link moved Epona
closer to Zelda before taking her small hand in his.
"I do love
you, you know?" He stated as he slung his leg around the saddle so he was
facing her.
"I know Link,
and you know I feel the same." She replied as she rested her head against
his.
"Oh it's so
romantic." Zelda jerked up nearly causing Link to fall from his saddle.
The both turned to
see Saria looking at them, the grin on her face so closer to becoming laughter.
"Oh Lady Saria." Zelda replied as she watched Link swing his leg back
over the saddle to sit properly.
"You highness,
please don't call me that." Saria replied as she flicked a lock of her
green hair out of her eyes. "Call me Saria, we are sort of sisters-in-law
after all."
"Of course
Saria." Zelda replied as she dismounted her horse. "Link, why don't
you go ahead with the horses. I want to have a talk with my
sister-in-law."
Link smiled as he
took the reins of Zelda's horse. "Of course your highness. If you need me,
just ask the staff to find me." Link said before he started to move away.
She watched him as
Epona trotted away. "You really love him don't you?" Saria asked
Zelda the moment Link was out of ear shot.
"Of course I
do" Zelda turned to face Saria.
"I still
remember when Link first told me about you. He was so excited that he had such
a good friend, now he's just ecstatic at having such a soul mate. I'm glad you
entered his life." Saria smiled as she looked towards the palace.
"Not as glad
as I was when he became my friend. The royal life isn't all it's cracked up to
be."
It was then Saria
decided to change the conversation. "So what do you think this murder is
about?"
"I'm not sure
Saria but I have a feeling that this has something to do with Link's
warning." Zelda suddenly became a lot more serious.
"I'm just
worried that they may come after the Kokiri. They are after all my
responsibility."
"I hope that
no one has to suffer what that poor woman had to." Zelda said in return as
a uncomfortable silence fell on the both of them. She wasn't sure how she knew,
but she knew he would return, her only hope was that Link to stop him in time.
---
She wasn't sure
what time it was but sleep seemed to evade her, the conflict in her mind never
fading. She got out of bed throwing on her robe she moved over to see the view
from the window. The view from the palace was beautiful, on the west, north and
south sides at least as apart from the main merchant travelling road the palace
was surrounded by the large trees of Kokiri forest and the large cliffs that
separated Hyrule from Calatia.
However the calming
view just wasn't enough to calm her inner conflict. She turned away from the
window and headed for the door, opening it and heading straight towards Link's
chamber. As she had her hand on the door, about to turn the handle and let
herself into her husband's bed chamber, she finally realised what time it was.
Her hand suddenly left the handle, as much as she needed to talk to him, waking
him up at this time was not appropriate.
She started to walk
down the corridor, with no definite final destination, she finally ended up in
what could only be described as a small Sanctuary. It was set up like the
Sanctuary outside Hyrule Market Town, however it had the definite feel of a
warrior's prayer room. She looked around at the decorations in the room until
one piece caught her attention.
It was a tapestry
that spread the western wall of the sanctuary, that obviously told some sort of
story. As she looked through the tapestry she could definitely see that one
character was in the pictures repeatedly.
"That Tapestry
was made to tell 'The Knight's Price'." She turned to see an old man enter
the Sanctuary. "Oh! I'm sorry if I scared you young lady."
"Oh it's quite
alright." Replied as she moved towards the man.
"You must be
Princess Zelda." He answered as he extended out his hand in a friendly gesture.
"How did you
guess?" Zelda asked, curiosity peaking.
"Sir Link is
very good at describing people." He replied as he suddenly realised
something. "Oh. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Sahasrahla, the
palace's Elder."
"Nice to meet
you." Zelda replied as she turned back to the tapestry.
"As I was
saying that tapestry was created to honour one of the most honourable Knights
of The Triforce. Would you like to hear the story?"
"Of
course." Zelda replied as she sat down on one of the pews.
"Alright. According
to the myth, a great Knight of the Triforce went seeking something that would
offer him a true challenge. It is said that he searched the entire world for
something that would challenge him, and he never found what he sought. In the
end, he prayed to Farore to give him something to fight that was as good as he
was. She complied and made a shadow of him, an exact imitation. She said that
he would never find what he sought by challenging others, so he must challenge
himself."
"So,
what happened?" Zelda asked, intrigued. "Did he beat his shadow?"
The
old man smiled as he moved his hand to the point halfway through the tapestry.
"Legend says that they fought for three days and three nights, both a
perfect match for the other. Every swing the Knight tried was parried
perfectly. Eventually, he realized what the goddess had meant in her riddle
about challenging himself. He lowered his sword and let his shadow run him
through, however, when the shadow did so the Knight brought his own sword up
into the shadow's chest. They both died, each killing the other."
"I don't
understand." Zelda told the elder, a look of confusion on her face.
This caused the old
man to laugh. "That my dear is because I haven't finished. Now where was
I?"
"The Knight
and his shadow just killed each other." Zelda answered.
"Thank you
dear. Seeing how the knight gave up his life for what he had asked for, took
both the knight and his shadow and placed them into the cosmos." The elder
stood up and signalled for Zelda to follow him to the window. "Now where
is he? Ah! There he is!" he pointed to a bright constellation of stars in
the summer sky.
"Farore placed
the Knight on this side of the cosmos so he can be only seen during the summer,
the shadow is on the other side and can only seen in the winter. They'll never
catch each other and they'll never stop trying to." He paused a second
before saying. "My dear, you may have something on your mind but take the
advice from an old man."
"What makes
you think that I have something on my mind?" Zelda retaliated.
"What else
explains why you're in a Sanctuary at some ungodly hour in the morning?"
This caused her to chuckle. "Now as I was about to tell you: The things
you wish for in life are reachable but sometimes you have to be prepared to
make the sacrifice."
"Oh I
understand. All the knight wanted was a worthy opponent. Now because he gave
his life for his wish, he'll have that opponent for eternity."
"My you're a
clever one aren't you." With this Sahasrahla moved back. "Now I'll
leave you alone to think over your little problem without having to listen to
the words of an old man."
"Sahasrahla."
Zelda called to the retreating figure. "There is one thing I don't
understand. What are you doing here at such an ungodly hour?"
The elder only
chuckled in response. "My dear as the Elder it is my duty to maintain the
upkeep of this sanctuary. I sleep in the room next door, so when I heard you I
just came out to check on the place."
"I see. Thank
you for your time."
"Your welcome
your highness." With that the elder was gone.
Zelda looked at the
knight once again before she resolved to do something. She would tell her
father about her marriage as soon as she arrived home, she owed Link that much.
With the conflict in her mind finally over, Princess Zelda, Wife of Sir Link of
the Knights of The Triforce headed back to her bed chamber
End Of Chapter 4