An Opening in Love
Zelda saw him from a distance. Link was just sitting beneath one of the trees, playing his ocarina without a care in the world. Epona was chewing on the grass nearby slowly swaying to the rhythm of his music. She clicked her horse faster; her face scowling as the wind tore through her hair with her speed.
Link looked up from playing his ocarina and reached for his sword as he heard the rider approach. He could feel Rhaea slowly reaching for her staff. But when Link saw the rider, he smiled and released his blade giving the woman in the tree above him the signal that everything was all right. Rhaea released her staff and stayed in the tree as the rider came to a halt. The horse neighed and Epona reacted.
Link smiled up at Zelda as he calmed Epona his soothing words lulling the horse. Rhaea could understand completely how the horse felt when he spoke like that. But her curiosity was peaked and she moved slightly to better view the person who leaped off the other horse. The last person she had expected to see was a raving blonde beauty with huge sapphire eyes and a tiara about her head. And in a dress. Her hair had blades of grass and grain, which spoke of the speed she had been traveling. Rhaea smiled at the woman. Obviously she had been in a terrible hurry.
"Hello, Zelda. What brings you this far out from Hyrule Castle Town?" Link asked. He smiled at her appearance and the scowl on her face. Zelda just growled at him and began to pace before him, grumbling the entire time. Link lifted an eyebrow. "Zelda? What's wrong?"
Zelda turned to the man before her, his eyes full of bewildered worry, his cloak shifting in the wind. Her blonde hair blew into her eyes and she tugged it away. "The Chancellor found out and now he's threatening me! He says he'll tell my father of my little 'adventures' into Hyrule Castle Town!" Zelda looked desperately at Link. She grabbed onto his tunic. "Link! What am I going to do!"
Link lifted an eyebrow and shrugged. "I don't know, Zelda. Have you told him who you truly are?" Zelda slowly shook her head. Link threw his arms in the air in exasperation and shook his head in disbelief. "Zelda…"
She scowled and stomped her foot. "Link! I'm terrified of what'll happen when he finds out I am the Princess of Hyrule! And I do not want Father finding out about us until I do tell him! What am I going to do?"
Link rolled his eyes. "Looks like I'm going to have to save you again. Only this time it will not be from the clutches of evil." Link shook his head. "Go home, Zelda. I'll be there shortly. I will have you know you've inconvenienced me greatly. I was on my way to the Kokiri Forest to ask the Great Tree something important."
Zelda leaned up and kissed Link on the cheek. "I'm so sorry you've been inconvenienced, my friend." She grinned up at him happily. "But I don't regret having you help me now. Somehow you'll fix it. I know you will."
Zelda turned and leaped back onto the horse. She gave Link a small wave and rode off in the direction of Hyrule Castle Town. When she was out of site, Rhaea leaped down from the tree and gave Link a curious look. "That was the Princess of Hyrule?"
Link nodded as he began to ready Epona. He smiled at Rhaea and gave her a wink. "Don't worry, Rhaea. We've known each other since we were children. She's more like a little sister."
Rhaea turned a bright red and began to pay close attention to Epona's nose and began to caress it, her face still flushed in heat. "I'm not worried at all, Link… Besides from the sound of what she was saying, it seems she had a man problem."
Link nodded and leaped onto Epona he reached out for Rhaea. He gave her a crooked smile. "You must come with me to Hyrule Castle Town, Rhaea. They'll be looking forward to meeting and seeing the dancer they've heard so much about. Besides, I need you're help with Zelda's 'man' problem."
Rhaea grinned and took the hand offered to her. She was pulled onto Epona and Link gave her a lingering kiss that left her utterly breathless. Rhaea was still dazed when they rode in the direction the Princess of Hyrule had just finished taking.
* * *
Link motioned for Rhaea to stay behind the Mask Shop as he made his way to the shop behind it. He told her she would know when to come out. He approached the shop and saw the Zelda pacing before it. Dalan was obviously inside waiting for her. When Zelda saw him approach she ran to him.
"Oh, good, Link. You're here. You made it here quite quickly. Let me get Dalan." Zelda ran inside and Link smiled. He knew who would be just around the corner. He turned and stared into Rhaea's astonished eyes.
"Did she say 'Dalan'?"
Link nodded and smiled wickedly at her. She approached him with a scowl just as Zelda exited the Silver Shop. Zelda blinked as she gazed at the faery woman with black hair that began to rave at Link.
"You knew? All this time and you knew? I should strangle you, Link…"
Dalan rushed outside when he heard the familiar voice. His eyes widened in disbelief and joy. Could it possibly be…? "Rhaea?"
Rhaea looked up and stared into her brother's eyes. She gave a cry of joy. "Dalan!" She rushed to him and he grabbed her to him, holding her close. Link smiled at the two while Zelda just stared in complete confusion.
"I thought you were dead, Rhaea. I thought I'd never see you again," Dalan murmured against her, holding her tightly.
Rhaea leaned back and shook her head. "I knew you were alive. I refused to give up hope that you were alive. You big idiot! Why didn't you come searching for me? Why did you give up hope?" Rhaea hit his arm and he shrugged.
"When I saw the waves swallow you…I thought…"
Rhaea gave an exasperated cry and Zelda shook her head. "My point exactly," the princess remarked as she heard the cry. Zelda turned to Link. "What is going on? I know you have something to do with this? Who is she?"
Link grinned at Zelda. "Isn't it perfectly obvious? They're brother and sister. That's how I knew that your love was a Pryderi. I had already met his sister."
Zelda turned to Dalan as he released Rhaea. Zelda blinked up at him. "You never told me you had a sister."
Dalan shrugged. "I thought Rhaea was dead. It wasn't important that you know about her. I didn't want to bring up the subject. It was much to painful for me to discuss." He stared at Zelda. "Surely you understand."
Zelda nodded and Rhaea blinked. She shook her head and turned to Link. "You called Dalan the Princess' love? What did you mean, Link? Are you saying the Princess of Hyrule is in love with my brother?"
Link grinned wickedly. Zelda gasped and turned to Link. "This was your plan?!"
Dalan blinked and lifted an eyebrow. "Princess of Hyrule? Plan? What is going on?"
Rhaea looked up at her brother. "I was traveling with Link when the Princess came and asked him to help her with a man problem. She said the Chancellor had found out about them and she had to do something about it. Link said he would help." Rhaea looked and Link and shook her head. "You knew my brother was Dalan! So you used me to let my brother find out about the Princess!"
Link nodded and leaned against the wall. "Right as always, Rhaea."
Dalan looked at Zelda who was staring at the floor. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Zelda stared into his beautiful gold eyes. "It wasn't important. I love you and I didn't care who I was or what my position is."
Link stared at Zelda hard. "Now tell him the rest. He deserves the truth, Zelda."
Zelda turned to Link. "But it isn't important! I don't care about the rules. Nothing and no one is going to prevent me from loving Dalan!"
Dalan stepped forward and took Zelda's hands. "Nothing will prevent our love, Zelda. But whatever it is, I do deserve to know." He then turned to Link. His eyes narrowed. "And then we'll have to discuss what you've been doing with my sister."
Link shrugged. "The same thing you've been doing with mine."
Rhaea gasped and Link laughed. "No, love. I'm not a prince if that's what you're thinking. Zelda and I are both only friends. But we consider each other like brother and sister."
"Oh."
Link smiled and pulled her into his arms. Dalan scowled. Link ignored him and turned to Zelda. "Tell him, Zelda."
Zelda stared up at the man of her dreams, the soul of her soul, and sighed. "I am the Princess of Hyrule, but I am also the Seventh Sage."
Dalan blinked. "What is a Sage?"
Zelda sighed and turned to Link. "Perhaps we should go inside. There is much to discuss."
Dalan nodded and the group entered the Silver Shop. They gathered around the table Link and Rhaea sitting across from Dalan and Zelda. And Zelda began her story.
"Hyrule is Guarded from evil by Seven Sages. Sage of Water, Sage of Fire, Sage of Wind, Sage of Spirit, Sage of Forest, and the Sage of Light. But the one who leads them the one who channels their power is the Seventh Sage. That is I. I am the one who controls them all, the one who can transcend time and go between the worlds. I am the ones who channels their powers into the Hero that will protect us. That hero is Link."
Dalan and Rhaea turned to Link in astonishment. Link gave a slow smile and sighed. "But now I think there is a new evil, Zelda."
"What!" Zelda blinked in astonishment. "What do you mean a new evil?"
Link stared into the distance. "I felt it come with the storm that blew in. Whatever it is, it is awakening. But I think it has something to do with what the Great Tree told me about my father. It said my father was the last one to know the Forbidden Language, which the 'Legend of Zelda' was written. But he said not to worry about it for it can only happen when the Eighth Sage appears." Link shrugged. "Rhaea and I were on our way to Kokiri Forest to ask the Great Tree more about this."
Dalan and Rhaea looked at each other and swallowed. Rhaea turned to Link with fear in her eyes. "Link… Dalan and I came into Hyrule with the storm. Do you think whatever the tree is speaking of has to do with us?"
Link shook his head. "I sense no evil in either of you. But something else may have come in on that terrible night. So we must go to the Great Tree to find out." Link smiled at Dalan and Zelda. "Perhaps Zelda, if you take the issue to the Sages they will let you be with Dalan. You are their leader. And besides…he shares the same telepathic ability you do. I'm sure they will be reasonable. If you're persuasive enough." Link grinned and gave her wink.
He stood up and Rhaea followed. "I must go, but I've asked Rhaea to go with me." Link smiled at Dalan. "Is it all right to keep her?"
Dalan smiled at the irony. Who would have thought Zelda's 'older brother would fall in love with his younger sister? Dalan nodded and stood, giving Link the dagger he had ordered. Dalan nodded. "You may need this." Link and Dalan clasped hands. "Stay by her side."
Link smiled. "I shall." He turned to Zelda. "Farewell, Zelda. And good luck to the both of you." But before he could turn, Zelda called out to him.
"Link! Wait!"
Link turned and Zelda hugged him. "Link, I want you to take the Master Sword from the Temple. You may need it fighting whatever it is out there."
Link smiled. "Thank you, Zelda. I shall. Take care." And with that he nodded and made his way out. Rhaea staying briefly to hug her brother before she followed Link.
"I hope you're dreams come true, big brother." And with those words she left following behind the Hyrulian warrior.
* * *
Link and Rhaea had just arrived before the Great Tree. Rhaea had imaged it to look like many things…but she never expected to be so massive and huge. You could probably have a city inside of it! Link approached the tree and knelt down before it. He slowly stood.
"I am here."
"I know why you have come, Link. You seek the answers to your questions. But I can not answer them, my son."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what I say, Link. I do not know the Legend of Zelda, only that it exists and that it was written in the Forbidden Language. A language that not even the Sages know of."
"You said my father was the last one to know this language."
"Ah. That I can answer, my son. One family has passed down the Forbidden Language from generation to generation. Only one of the family is chosen to know that language…and the one who knows it cannot die until he has passed on the knowledge to another. Or unless the Legend comes to fruition."
"So my father is still alive?"
"Very likely… I know you ask about the
Eighth Sage, but I know nothing of him. All I know is that he is part of the Legend. But I fear, Link. I sense
he has finally come to Hyrule to fulfill his destiny."
"Is he evil?"
"Nay. He knows not of the Chaos that he will cause. He will sacrifice everything for love… But what he does not know
is that with it comes a high price. The
Legend of Zelda is a prophecy, Link. And no matter what happens, it will come to pass."
"Where would this prophecy be located? Perhaps my father is there?"
"'Deep within the Castle lies a hidden
door. Beneath the door lies a passage
of darkness that leads to Evil. One man
guards it. He is the one who holds the
knowledge of the Forbidden Language. He
may not enter the door he guards, for then the Evil shall overwhelm him and
destroy him. He guards it endlessly…For
the time of Zelda has arrived.' I do
not know where this hidden door lies, Link. But that is all I can give you."
"I understand." Link stared up at the huge tree. "Thank you, Great Tree. I will find this Legend and find what can be done to mend it. It can not be stopped, but it can be mended."
Link turned and faced Rhaea who was smiling at him. He smiled in return and they left the hidden plain in the depths of the Lost Woods towards the depths of the Hyrule Castle.