My apologies for not making the next few chapters earlier -- I've been a
little busy. (: Also, don't mind the HTML stuff in the beginning, even I had no
idea what it's for, and I didn't put it there, so just try your best to ignore
it. I've also been told that I make "faces" while I type, as in, when a
character I'm writing about is angry, I'm making an angry face (sounds weird,
huh?). I didn't know that I did that, and that's kinda scary and neat at the
same time. Now, off to the next chapter (and my many funny faces!)
!
Chapter
8
"As the
Snow Falls"
The young princess of the Zora people, Ruto, watching solemnly as the
only home she had ever known shrank further and further in the distance, until
it could not be seen at all. That was partly due to the dark clouds that were
poised over the once-peaceful land of Hyrule, preventing the warm sun's rays to
shine upon the trees and people. It
was always dark during the day, and even darker at night. Always cold, always
freezing, always snowing a white blanket over the land. Hyrule Lake had long
since frozen over, along with all the bodies of water located anywhere within
Hyrule.
The Cold had taken Death Mountain only yesterday, leaving it more barren
and completely lifeless -- for all of the Gorons except a few which were absent
were killed. All the remaining people in Hyrule were being taken from their
homes to reside within the castle walls -- the last stronghold against the
ruthless Cold. Half of Kakariko Village and more than half of its population
were killed in the sudden unexpected attack on the large Mountain shadowing
their small homes. The rest were quickly evacuated thanks to Impa, acting
immediately once she heard the rumors of the Village's
plight.
The Forest had already been taken, along with the playful Kokiri and the
strange race of Deku's. The castle guards tried desperately to evacuate to
Kokiri and save their lives, but they simply replied that they would die if they
left the forest; no point whatsoever to try and save their fate. The Cold came,
and the forest was completely destroyed in an instant, a simple blink of the eye
in the Cold's eternal existence.
They knew that Zora's domain time of destruction was nigh, but all of the
Zora's, like all the other people of Hyrule, were very reluctant to leave their
lives behind for the Cold to swallow hungrily. His father stayed behind with a
couple dozen Zora's, not wanting to give up their faith and hope to the Cold.
Ruto wanted to stay with her father, but he urged her to go along with the
remainder of the Zora's, to lead them in this time of
need.
Lead them? Hah! Ruto thought to herself, almost angry at her
father for letting her live when he would not. I'm not even half the age of
all the Zora's here! How will they listen to such a naive child? Oh Father
you... you... dummy! I... I... her train of thought broke off as she tried
her best to hide the tears running in streams down her cold cheeks underneath
the hood of the heavy cloak she was wearing to protect herself from the
bitter-cold weather. She wanted to
be there, at her father's side until the end, but thanks to his decision, not
hers, she must lead her people.
I don't care about our People! She sobbed to herself as silently
as possible. I wanted to be with you, Father!! The People can lead
themselves; just let me lead myself the way I want to! Thoughts similar to
these repeated over and over within her mourning mind until she fell into an
uneasy sleep. The horses and carriages pulling the Zora's further and further
from home continued on their journey to the castle, never resting until they
reached their destination.
Before Ruto submitted to the sleep tugging at her heavy eyelids, one last
thought went through her tired mind:
Sayonara, Otousan...
As she was having council with Impa over the steps they should take to
save the remaining people alive in Hyrule, Princess Zelda was notified of the
Zora's arrival in the castle. There wasn't much room left in the castle, despite
the fact that more than half of Hyrule population was killed by the deadly
Cold's wrath. But yet more room had to be made with the Zora's arriving to be
sheltered and keep safe and warm.
Zelda told the messenger to find if King Zora or Princess Ruto were among
them, and if so, to bring them to her as soon as it was possible. The messenger
took his orders and hurried back to quickly carry them out, not wanting to keep
Zelda from wanting too long -- the stress upon her was very great at these awful
times, and he was one of the few which tried everything in their limited power
to help bear the weight.
Malon was given a room in the castle, and was often seen talking to Zelda
about Link's sudden disappearance. Zelda talked and conversed with her as much
as she could during the day, and even through the night, for Malon was mourning
the death of her beloved father, Talon. A few days before, Malon and a few other
valuable horses and cows from her Ranch were taken to the castle for protection
from the Cold, but a dozen guards could not convince the stubborn Talon to leave
his beloved Ranch and the remaining horses behind.
"I've stuck with 'em this far," He answered the guards with his broad
arms crossed over his chest, "An' I'm gonna make sure that they live the rest of
their lives with the proper care they deserve! These are the best horses I've
ever had, and I ain't gonna abandon none of them now. Unlike ya'll, I haven't
given up my faith for Hyrule, and I intend to keep hoping that things will turn
for the better. I don't care whatcha gonna say, I'm stayin' and that's final!!"
And with those words, he stormed back into the Ranch, and no one
followed.
The Cold attacked later that day, leaving the Ranch in ruins with no
survivors.
When Malon heard the new of her father's death, her brave face shattered
like glass upon stone. She insisted on being alone for a day, inside her room,
neither eating or sleeping, lying on her bed and sobbing, whispering "Otousan,
Otousan, Otousan," over and over again.
It was
Zelda who brought her back into reality, telling her that more orphaned kids
like her needed comfort as well.
It was then Malon realized she had a purpose for being saved. The next
day she befriended many of the orphans who were living in the castle, and helped
them through their times. Their pain often hid her pain, helping her cope with
her terrible loss little by little. But at night when she was alone in her room,
Malon could be heard sobbing from behind her closed door.
Ruto came into the room, wrapped in a black cloak that covered her
downcast eyes. Zelda immediately knew what had become of her father, and bit her
lip, thinking silently how the Cold has had such an impact on the people of
Hyrule and their lives. Ruto lifted the hood to reveal her tear-stricken, yet
very determined blue-violet eyes; some of the light had faded from her fiery
stare, but not enough to make her appear weak and
defeated.
She has gotten much stronger in such a short time, Zelda thought
to herself. Everyone has.
Zelda moved her lips to greet Ruto, but Ruto was the one to speak
first.
"Princess Zelda, I humbly thank you for the hospitality you have provided
for us Zoras. I'm afraid to tell you of my father, King Zora, and his untimely
demise. I am now the ruler of the Zora's, and I am for now at your service
during these gloomy times."
Zelda was a little surprised at the stiffness of Ruto's voice and how
formal she had sounded. Zelda knew that she had to reply correctly or this
meeting would become a disaster very quickly.
"You and your people have always been welcome to the castle, we have only
invited you to live among us. As for your father's death, I'm truly and deeply
sorry for you and your people's loss, but the formal ruler of the Zora's has
been replaced by one whom I believe can carry on through these times without the
losses they have recently sustained."
Zelda perceived the faintest of smiles passing over Ruto's features --
the correct answer had been given, the meeting would carry on without
conflict.
Outside, the snow continued to fall, never resting, ever ceasing.