Chapter 3: A Dream
The black clouds rumbled across the once shining sky, bringing night to the Land of Hyrule. The dark seemed to swallow everything, all light and joy in the world. Zelda stood watching as more and more came from the west, the desert land. She couldn't stop it. She didn't know how. Suddenly, one green beam of shone from the forest. It spread, brighter and brighter. The dark clouds began to separate under its great gleam. A figure appeared, silhouetted by the light. He came closer and closer to the little princess, a fairy fluttering by his shoulder. Zelda tried, but she still couldn't see his face. He stopped and pulled some sort of instrument from his pocket. When he began to play, Zelda recognized it as the lullaby her nursemaid had played for her since she was a baby. Then the figure reached into his pocket. He pulled out a great shining green stone. It began to shine brighter and brighter. Suddenly, it got so bright she could see nothing else.
"Huh?" Zelda exclaimed, waking up.
She was safe in her bed. She opened the soft purple curtains hanging around her bed. It was morning. Her nursemaid Impa was in her room, placing a new dress over her chair.
"Oh hello, Zelda," she said pleasantly, "Did I wake you?"
"No," she answered, thinking, "Impa, I had a very strange dream."
"Really?" she asked, not very interested.
"Yes," Zelda went on, "Hyrule was covered in dark clouds. Then a light came from the forest, followed by a figure. He was playing my lullaby and had a fairy and was holding a green stone. The black clouds dissolved with the light. Impa, I think it was a prophecy."
Impa frowned slightly, but not with anger. She knew the princess and trusted her judgment. Zelda had had many prophecies in her short ten years of life, and they had proved true. Could this be another?
"Are you sure?" Impa asked, tensely.
"I can't be positive," Zelda replied, "but I think it was."
"Well, look for signs; things that the dream represents. I think that's all you can do."
The princess nodded with an air of wisdom beyond her years. She dressed quickly that morning, even with her thoughts elsewhere. She had so much she wanted to do, tend to her garden, ride Lata, her white horse, to Kakariko Village, visit the market, and possibly go see Malon. It was a busy day, for a ten-year-old.
She skipped down the stairs, dressed in her riding pants. She was still young enough to get away with wearing pants, though not too often. After eating breakfast with her father and Impa, she walked backward to the courtyard. She didn't usually walk in the normal way. When she got to the courtyard, she quickly knelt down and started digging in the dirt. She was completely tuned out in a matter of minutes.
Suddenly, she found herself bathed in shadow. She looked up, expecting to see a cloud covering the sun. Instead, she jumped and cried out in surprise, seeing a strange man looking at her. She quickly turned around.
"Did I scare you, Princess Zelda?" he asked.
Zelda nodded silently, staring at him. He was unlike anyone she'd ever seen. His olive skin contrasted greatly with his flaming red hair, and his large nose seemed to be compensating for his small ears. On his forehead was a large jewel that matched his orange eyes. He was bigger than any man she'd ever seen and looked extremely strong. Behind him were two women holding spears with curved blades. They too had olive skin and orange eyes, but they had veils hiding their faces from eyes down. Their long red hair was pulled back into ponytails reaching their waists. They were dressed in large pants and skimpy tops. Zelda could do nothing but gawk.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice quavering.
"King Ganondorf of the Gerudos," he answered, smiling mockingly, "I'm here to see your father.
For the first time, Zelda noticed some Hylian guards beyond the women. She nodded, understanding.
"I'm glad I had a chance to meet you, Princess," said Ganondorf.
"S-so am I," she lied.
Ganondorf walked on, followed by both sets of guards. 'What's he doing here?' she wondered to herself. She followed them from a distance. When they reached the throne room she stayed outside and peered through a crack between the doors.
"Your Majesty," said Ganondorf, bowing with his guards.
Alec nodded his head accordingly.
"Your visit is a surprise, King Ganondorf," Alec remarked.
"Yes, I know I came unannounced," the giant man answered, "I was struck with an inspiration and knew I should come to you first."
Alec raised his eyebrows as a question.
"The years of war have ended, yet no pacts of peace have been signed," Ganondorf continued, pulling out a paper, "I have with me a peace agreement that says all five kingdoms will become allies. We shall protect each other from outside forces and live in amity."
He handed the contract to Alec, who looked over it thoroughly.
"This looks quite good," Alec remarked, "Have you talked to the others?"
"No, I planned on seeing them after you," Ganondorf smiled, "You are the most prominent of us all."
"Well, I agree fully with this," said Alec, "This is just what we need. It seems that our people still fear each other. I hope this will put an end to this and strengthen our acceptance of diversity."
He was handed a quill and signed his name next to that of Ganondorf. He then handed the document back to Ganondorf who put it in his cloak.
"You've made a wise choice," Ganondorf smiled.
"Please accept my invitation for you to stay the night," Alec said cordially.
"No thank you, sire. I plan on making it to Goron City before night."
"Good luck then, Your Majesty," Alec said, shaking the Gerudo's hand.
Ganondorf nodded at the guards then headed for the door with his escorts. Zelda quickly hid behind the door as it swung open. He was laughing gently to himself.
"Foolish man," he muttered under his breath.
Zelda watched them pass. She couldn't help but think that his flowing cape looked an awful lot like a dark cloud.
****
"But Daddy!" Zelda exclaimed, looking frantically at her father.
"Zelda, I don't understand you!" he replied, waving his arms in an exasperated way, "What do you have against this man?"
"Nothing, Daddy," she dropped her voice, "That's what makes it so frightening."
He looked at her, a little confused.
"Ganondorf is the dark clouds," she said, her voice filled with meaning, "We need to stop him now."
"From evoking peace?" Alec asked, his mouth devoid of a smile, "Listen, Zelda. I know you may feel afraid of him. He's not Hylian and you may not feel that you can trust him. That's the point of the treaty, to merge our cultures. There is so much we can gain from each other. Will you trust my judgment?"
He looked at her imploringly. She was silent for a moment, then gave a sigh.
"I trust you, Daddy," she said softly.
He smiled and nodded. He turned back to the room filled with his council. Zelda watched him, a frown etched on her young face.
"But I don't trust him."
****
Two weeks passed with no word from Ganondorf. Not that that was unexpected. Negotiating peace wasn't a short process. Zelda felt that the less they saw of him, the better; and yet, she knew it wouldn't last.
This time, Ganondorf sent a messenger to tell them he was on his way. All the note said was that he would be back in one day. It said nothing of how the negotiations were going. When Zelda heard the news, she decided to do some eavesdropping. She crept into the council room and quickly hid behind a tapestry. The council and king soon came in.
"How do we want to deal with him this time, sire?" a councilman asked.
"It worked well last time," he mused, "Why don't we meet in the throne room again, and then we can move the conference into here?"
"I think that would be wise," a woman nodded solemnly.
The conversation went on to other topics. Zelda quietly sneaked out, having learned all she needed.
