Impa, Purah, four of the guards, and I returned to the castle the following morning. When we returned I rebandaged Impa's wound and applied a burn slave I had in my study that was much more effective as well as some ointment to the bruise on her face. Following that I went to talk with Urbosa who informed me of what had transpired in the meeting with all the military leaders of the clans. I was pleased to hear they had devised a plan, taking my advice into consideration. The clans would be mobilizing throughout the month, making sure each town had a combined force within each. Joint training was also starting at the colosseum this month as well. It finally felt like things were solidifying.
Before I left Urbosa, she informed me that she was leaving for Gerudo Town in two days, along with a squadron of Hylian soldiers. They would wait for the Sheikah troops to arrive and then spend a week or so training and preparing before they attacked the Yiga clan. In response I let Urbosa know I wouldn't be joining her on her travels to Gerudo Town. Instead I had to make a stop at Rito Village, but then I would be traveling to the desert in time for the assault.
With that taken care off, I prepared for my departure the following day. If Master Falnore had to make a new bow, it would take several days, so time was of the essence. I couldn't waste any time. By the end of the day, I had tended to all the necessary affairs, such as talking with my father - briefly - as well as Caption Libo about what happened on the Great Plateau.
By the time evening rolled around, I was busy in my study, deciding what to bring with me. Everything was in disarray as I went through my study, becoming rather side-tracked as I came across projects that had been temporarily paused. One such project had to do with two different types of arrows I was trying to develop. One was a poison arrow, however the tricky part with those arrows was containing the poison so it didn't contaminate other surfaces, which could be quite problematic. It was easy to smear poison on the end of a weapon, but it was harder to make it so the poison was only activated at a certain time, thus only poisoning your opponent. Still people had gotten away with doing the prior for centuries, so I decided to work on other things.
The other arrow I was trying to develop would be one that could penetrate tough monster hide as well as enemy armor. I had taken several different approaches, from using super hard materials - like diamond - and also trying contact explosives. I had yet to get the desired effect.
"Hey." A voice said from behind me, making me drop the arrow in my hand as I jumped and spun around all at once. My eyes fell upon Impa, who brought a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"You startled me!" I accused.
"Sorry." Impa smirked. "I knocked, but you didn't answer."
"Apologies. I was lost in thought." I beckoned to the contents behind me. "How is your shoulder?" I asked.
"It's pretty good. That salve of yours works wonders. The injury should be completely healed in a couple of days. And look at this bruise, practically healed!" Impa pointed to the faded bruise on her cheek.
"That's good to hear." I gave a quick nod.
"So we're leaving tomorrow then?" Impa asked, causing me to stare at her. Impa scowled, "What, you thought I wasn't coming with you?"
"Don't you have to lead the Sheikah forces?" I asked.
"Yes." Impa answered giving me a dull look as if the answer was obvious. "Once they get to Gerudo Town. I discussed it with my father, who left this afternoon to return to the village. He will have Reghi lead the army to Gerudo and once there I can take over. Father agreed that I should stay with you."
I nodded, actually happy Impa was going to go with me. It would be nice to have some company along... rather than just guards who were always impassive and stoic. I was just a job to them after all. And most of the people who resided at the castle or Castle Town, thought poorly of me anyways. I was a failure Princess who focused too much on frivolities rather than her duties...
"Will you be ready by tomorrow?" I asked Impa.
Impa arched an eyebrow at me and gestured to the mess behind me. "Will you be ready by tomorrow?"
"That's not what I meant." I exhaled, "I meant your shoulder. Will it be healed enough by tomorrow to travel?"
Impa nodded, "Yep, it will be fine. No need to worry. Like I said, that medicine of yours works wonders. And we'll just be traveling on horseback, it's not going to put that much strain on my shoulder."
"Yes, we should hope that's all." My tone darkened. More and more monsters were starting to pop up, and in larger numbers. Ridgeland was traditionally a safe territory, but how much longer would that hold? Already I had encountered monsters within its domain.
"We'll have guards with us." Impa stated, "Royal guards in fact. And my father left three Sheikah here to tag along to protect me as well. They're very skilled ninjas. Even if we do come across some monsters, I don't think it will be anything big enough to cause us too much trouble."
"That's fair." I said, agree with her assessment only somewhat. While bokoblins and moblins were relatively easy to handle, there were much stronger monsters we could run into... such as lynels. Would we be able to take one on? Link had quickly dispatched the one we came across in Lanayru, making it look effortless. And if royal guard members were coming with us, surely we would be fine.
"No use fretting, Zee." Impa came over and patted my shoulder. "Come on, let's grab some snacks from the kitchen and then finish packing." Impa glanced at the state of my study, "Maybe tidy up here too."
"Sorry." I said, bringing a hand to my forehead. "I was trying to go through items in my study to see what I wanted to bring along, but I ended up getting distracted. I know it looks like a tornado went through here, but it shouldn't take that long to put everything back."
"Excellent!" Impa grinned. "So snacks, then packing and tidying."
I couldn't help but smile at her chipper attitude. "I think I like that plan."
"Oh course!" Impa replied as if it was obvious. "What's not to like?"
We departed early the next morning, Impa and I dragging ourselves from my room. Per usual, we ended up staying up later than we should have. We had finished packing and organizing my study in a timely manner, but after that... Well, we kind of lost track of time.
Strapping my saddle to Icefire, I glanced at Impa, who was leading Shino out of the stables. Once we were both done readying our horses, we made our way to the front gate, where four royal guards and three sheikah ninjas were awaiting us.
Impa greeted them and I gave a quick nod. Then we were off, taking off at a fast trot. We had a lot of ground to cover since we'd have to head southwest first towards the Tabantha Great Bridge and then north to Rito Village. If we kept up a decent pace we'd reach the Rito Stables before evening.
The trip was uneventful thankfully, and much more enjoyable than my last trip to Rito Village, which had been a cold and miserable trek through the rain. With Impa along, the time ended up passing fairly quickly as we chatted idly throughout the trip. We took a quick break at the Tabantha Bridge Stables and we reached the Rito Stables before the sun had reached the Western horizon.
When we reached the stables, I quickly made arrangements with the stable owner. As I unsaddled Icefire and carried my saddle bags, which weren't packed as full as they had been on my previous trip, a wave of nostalgia filled me. I recalled my time here with Link... the dinner with Revali and Master, the competition with Revali at the Flight Range, and shield surfing with Link in the Hebra Mountain range.
Link...
I wondered how he was doing... how his trials were going. Was he alright? Had he already passed? Or was he in the midst of his test right now? If only I had been able to unlock my powers so he wouldn't have had to undergo these trials. And even though the guilt still plagued me, I knew Link would never blame me. Even if he should. It would be completely reasonable if he did.
"Someone's lost in thought." Impa's voice resounded in my ears, and I turned to see her standing right next to me. Her proximity made me jump back in surprise.
"Impa!" I exclaimed.
Impa arched an eyebrow, "What's was with the gloomy look?"
I straightened, trying to compose myself, "It was noth-" I shut my mouth. If there was anyone I could talk to about how I felt, it was definitely Impa. "I was thinking about Link." I said softly.
"Yeah, he's crossed my mind too since he left." Impa said, surprising me.
"He has?" I asked.
Impa shrugged, "Sure. He's got a big role to play in all this. So I pray to Hylia his trials go well. Not to mention if something happened to him, I'd hate to see the sad look on your face."
I frowned, about to reprimand her, yet she was right. If something did happen to Link... well I didn't want to think about it.
Impa nudged me with her shoulder. "Don't worry. He'll be fine. He's a hero after all. And the hero always prevails."
I shook my head at her, but a smile played on my lips at the same time. "I hope so."
"Ya know, you're a hero too, Zee." Impa poked me, "You're the most determined person I know. You never know when to quit."
I met Impa's gaze, "Link said something to that effect once."
"Then he's smart." Impa winked.
I smiled softly. "I think you're a hero too, Impa." I said and leaned in to hug her.
"Wow, what's this, Zelda?" Impa laughed as she hugged me back. "Getting all emotional on me."
"You're amazing, Impa." I said, emotion filling me as I realized just how much Impa meant to me and how much I relied upon her. She was such a wonderful friend. "I love you."
Impa didn't reply right away. She simply rubbed my back and let me hug her. Finally, she said, "I love you too, Zelda."
A few moments later, I released her. Our eyes met again, and I gave an apologetic look, "Sorry. I'm not sure what came over me."
Impa smiled back. "No worries. I think times like these we really start to appreciate what we have and those around us. Because soon we'll be putting that all on the line." I nodded, her words ringing true. Impa patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Come on, let's cook up some dinner." She grabbed the fire rod which she had brought along with her, carrying it around as if it was a trophy.
"I am hungry." I agreed, and the two of us made our way outside where Impa promptly put her fire rod to use.
About an hour later, Impa had some rice and a hearty stew brewing over the fire, the aroma filling the air with a heavenly scent. The guards and sheikah ninja joined us, all sitting down by the fire to enjoy the meal, which we made sure there was enough for everyone. Impa had obviously done most of the cooking, since we didn't want to poison anyone here, but I had at least been able to help prep the food. That was about all I was good for when it came to cooking.
"Purah leaves tomorrow for the Great Plateau." Impa said as she blew on her steaming food.
"I hope she doesn't run into more monsters." I fretted.
"She should be fine. She has some sheikah ninjas going with her as well. And I'm sure the soldiers at the Great Plateau will be on alert now." Impa replied, not seeming that worried.
"That's true." I agreed. Now that the initial surprise of the monster's presence was over, the soldiers could prepare for more monster attacks.
"I'm curious to see how that chamber works." Impa said, changing the subject.
"Me too. I look forward to seeing what she discovered when we get back." But first we had a dangerous battle ahead of us.
Impa and I chatted for the remainder of dinner. The Sheikah ninjas joined our conversation, and a few of the royal guards made comments too, although most remained silent. After dinner was over, I got out my bag of hard candy and passed it around. We spent more time around the fire, telling stories and making plans for the days ahead. A little while after sunset, I found myself yawning and retired early that night.
Before sleep claimed me, an image of a sandy-haired knight crossed my mind, his deep blue eyes seared into my mind.
The next morning I awoke later than normal, still tired and groggy. I rolled out of bed and pulled Impa from her bed too. Once up, the two of us ate a quick breakfast and dressed. I was wearing black traveling boots and sleek sheikah training gear, along with my armor overtop of it. I hoped that when I got back to the castle, my new outfit would be ready. For now I had borrowed one of Impa's outfits.
I grabbed what remained of my bow and then headed towards Rito Village, Impa, a ninja, and a royal guard following me. Reaching the entrance to Rito Village, I greeted the guard on duty, telling him I was here to see Master Falnore. The guard remembered me and let me in with no hassle. Impa and I climbed our way up the stairs, stopping when we reached a Falnore's familiar hut.
Walking to the entrance, I spotted Falnore, who was busy working on a bow at his desk. I gave a soft knock, which was enough to grab his attention. His eyes instantly widened as he spotted me. "Zelda?" He questioned, not anticipating seeing me.
"Hi." I said shyly.
"What are you doing here? Did something happen?" He asked, standing up.
"Sort of." I looked down and held out my broken and scorched bow. "There was a battle. And well, my bow was destroyed." I explained softly, my eyes never leaving the remains of my bow.
Falnore walked over to me quietly. His green feathered hand reached out towards the bow, gently caressing the burnt wood. "This bow served you well." He stated solemnly. "But I suppose it is time for a new one."
I looked up at him, surprised by his remark. I had expected a reprimanding. Seeing my expression, Falnore scowled. "Did you expect me to be mad?" He inquired haughtily, "I'd rather see a bow of mine burnt than a student."
I lowered my head, feeling abashed, as if I were a child who had been reprimanded. "Are you able to craft me a new bow?" I asked hesitantly.
Falnore was quiet for a moment. "It would take quite a while to craft a quality bow befitting an archer like you. And I'm sure you are in a hurry. But-" His eyes drifted to the side of the room. "I think now is as good a time as any. And if anyone has earned it, you certainly have, Zelda."
I furrowed my brows. "What are you talking about?"
Falnor walked over to a chest at the side of his room, boxes of bow equipment piled on top of it. He removed the boxes on top of the chest and put a hand on it. "My family has produced many fine archers over the years, however our greatest talent is crafting bows. My ancestor long ago crafted a bow like no other. She crafted it for a Princess of old, one who bore a great destiny like you, Zelda. This bow was made specifically for that princess, having special properties. No other has been made like it sense. When that Princess fulfilled her duties, she gave it back to my ancestor in the hopes that it would be used to protect Hyrule again should the need arise. Since then my family has passed it down for generations, waiting for the right person. I always had an inkling it was you, Zelda."
"What's so special about it?" Impa inquired.
"It is said the Princess the bow was made for could combine her magic with her bow and use the two together." Falnore explained.
Impa looked impressed. "That's cool."
I pressed my lips together. "Yes, that would be exceedingly handy if I had powers to use."
"It also functions as a normal bow." Falnore continued, his eyes focusing on me, "You can use any kind of arrows you desire. You will find this bow is made exceptionally well and can handle most shots." He unlatched the chest, unveiling a very unique styled bow.
My eyes fixed on the bow and I felt a sharp tug at my heart, as if something inside me was calling out for the bow. It had one broad arch and the wood had been polished smooth and stained so it appeared white at the edge. There were not distinct lower and upper limbs, they simply blended together. The bow itself was thick, having an intricate golden design below the white part. The grip was positioned farther back instead of being adjacent to the two limbs and was actually coated in gold and leather dyed gold. I had bever seen a bow like it... it was gorgeous.
"This... is an odd design." I finally said, my eyes glued to it.
Falnore chuckled. "Like all great weapons, this one was given a name. It was named the Bow of Light."
"Bow of Light." I walked over to the chest and reached down to touch the bow, the surface polished completely smooth. Carefully I picked up the bow, running my fingers along the thick arch. Finally I pulled back on the drawstring, which was much thicker than I was used to. I felt my muscles tense as I pulled it back.
"It may take a little while to get used to." Falnore said. "It is a little trickier to use with that design. But I assure you, once you're used to it, it will not fail you."
"Are you sure you should give this to me?" I asked, wondering if I really was worthy of such a weapon.
Falnore scoffed. "I do not know a more worthy successor than you, Zelda."
His words warmed my heart and I felt a small smile spread across my face. "Thank you, Master."
"I did train you." Falnore stated. "And you're the most determined... and stubborn... person I know."
"Agreed!" Impa said.
I looked down at the bow, feeling a tingling sensation in my fingers. It felt as if I was meant to use this bow. "I suppose while I'm here I should test it out."
"Not a bad idea. Like I said, it's a little tricky to handle at first." Falnore reiterated. "You'll probably have to figure it out as you go. I know you need to hurry to Gerudo Town. Revali told me you're going to take on the Yiga."
I nodded. "Yes. We need to take care of them before they become an even bigger problem." I stated.
"That makes sense." Falnore's eyes flickered, as if he was planning something. "I think I'll join you at the Flight Range."
I dipped my head in respect. "Impa and I will meet you there." I said as I grasped the bow tighter, ready to see just what this bow was capable of.
A little while later, Impa and I found ourselves arriving at the flight range, our guards trailing along behind us. We hopped off our horses, letting our guards see to them. I tugged on my jacket, pulling it tighter. Thankfully I had anticipated needing my winter clothes and brought them... Impa however didn't have any, thus I bought her a set at the stables. They were traditional Rito styled clothes, a cream color with red and light green accents and moccasin-style boots.
Master Falnore was already here, talking with a Rito who I recognized from my previous visit: Tath, Link's friend. There were other Rito's present as well, flying throughout the Flight Range as they practiced their archery.
"Wow." Impa said. This was her first time at the Flight Range, and she seemed stunned, as if this was far more than what she was expecting. "You were right about it being the perfect place for the Rito to train."
I smirked at Impa. "Now you understand what I meant." As I said this, a gust of wind blew past us. The wind came at us like a downpour, whipping my hair back in a frenzy. I looked up, knowing exactly who I would see. Flying down towards us along the powerful currents was the Rito Champion himself: Revali.
He landed gracefully, the winds dying down as soon as his feet hit the ground. He gave me a curious look, not anticipating me being here. "Zelda." He said, taking a step towards me. "I did not expect to find you here."
I bit my lip. "I was in the market for a new bow." I held up the Bow of Light, which instantly caught Revali's attention. He widened his eyes in surprise and then his head whipped in the direction of Falnore, who by now had noticed my arrival and was flying over to us.
"Do you know what that bow is?" Revali hissed.
I nodded. "The Bow of Light." My eyes went to Falnore as he landed next to me.
"You gave her that bow." Revali stated.
"Indeed." Falnore confirmed, "It has been kept safe by my family for centuries."
Revali looked between the two of us, and then his eyes came to rest on the bow I held. "I expect you to put it to good use then, Zelda." Revali huffed, giving me a challenging look.
"I would do no less." I replied. "But I'd like to test it out first. It feels very different than my old bow."
"What happened to the old bow?" Revali asked and I quickly informed him. Afterwords, Revali's eyes drifted to Impa, who was standing behind me. "She is the one you spoke off." Revali pointed a feathered finger.
"Correct."
"And the two of you plan on leaving for the desert after this to deal with the Yiga?" He surmised.
"Correct again."
"From what I've heard, the Yiga are quite formidable, Revali." Falnore interjected. "Sneaky assassins. Probably many skilled snipers."
Revali scoffed. "None of their archers could compare to my skills. I could snipe an enemy soldier thousands of meters away!"
"Is that so?" Falnore said, a note of skepticism in his voice. I gave him a questioning look, which he responded with an obscure wink in my direction. "That's a long distance ever for you."
"Do I need to prove myself to you?" Revali asked flippantly, "I could easily best a Yiga in the ways of archery. None would stand a chance against me. My arrows would find them before they even pulled their drawstring back."
Falnore chuckled, "Well there's only one way to test that theory." It was then I realized what Falnore had been planning all along.
"Very well." Revali met my gaze and I nodded, knowing what he was about to say. "I shall accompany Zelda to the desert and put forth my superior skills! It makes sense to have me tag along anyways. That mediocre knight of yours is gone, so for once you can have someone with actual skill alongside you."
Impa arched an eyebrow, about to protest, but I tugged on the sleeve of her jacket to silence her. She crossed her arms, but remained quiet.
"Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, Revali. We could use the power of another Champion." I answered, finding myself happy Revali was joining us. I glanced over at Falnore briefly, who gave me a knowing smile.
"Of course; who wouldn't be happy to have someone with my skills along?" Revali boasted.
Impa looked at me and I shrugged in response. Grimacing she muttered, "He's going to be a joy to be around."
This would certainly be an interesting venture down to Gerudo Town with Impa and Revali in tow. Deciding it best to change the subject, I lifted my new bow up, "I think I should get practicing. I want to be moderately competent in using this bow when we attack the Yiga."
With that I walked towards the Flight Range, climbing the stairs to the cabin at the top. Impa hurried after me, not wanting to be left alone with Revali and Falnore. Catching up to me, Impa hissed, "He seems like an absolute delight."
I smirked, recalling Revali and I's first interactions. "He grows on you." Was all I said. Entering the cabin, I grabbed some arrows from the training supplies, wanting to conserve my own. Then I went out onto the deck, stopping at the edge. Most of the Rito had flown elsewhere, leaving the Flight Range open for me to use. I glanced down at Falnore, knowing he must have told whoever was in charge that I needed to train and because of that, they had temporarily moved their practice.
I appreciated their cooperation, but they didn't have to cater to me completely. I just needed to fire a few shots. Notching an arrow, I pulled back the bowstring and then fired the arrow. The arrow hit the rim of my target, making me frown. My accuracy hadn't been that bad since I first started. Still, I had aimed as normal, but there was something about this bow, probably the thickness and abnormal shape that made the arrow's trajectory different. I fired several more arrows, all of which hit the target at random points. I grabbed more arrows, releasing round after round until I finally stopped to take a break. My shoulders were sore, although pulling the bowstring back was easier now.
My eyes went to the targets around the flight range, all of them with arrows sticking from them. None had met their mark, although some had gotten close. I glanced at the Bow of Light, frustration bubbling inside of me.
"You've been at it for awhile." Impa said, who was sitting next to me, her feet dangling off the edge of the deck.
"Yes." I gritted out, "Yet it appears I haven't gotten much better."
"Progress is progress."
"Hmm." I grunted. I had grown so accustomed to my old bow that I could make practically any shot, even in the most tumultuous of situations. But with this bow, I couldn't hit the center of a target no matter how hard I tried. Still, even with my poor precision, I could tell the Bow of Light was superior to my old bow. The power behind it... The speed at which it released the arrows... everything was enhanced. If I could master this bow, it would be a dangerous weapon indeed.
"Tricky, isn't it?" A voice called from behind me. Master Falnore walked out onto the deck.
I nodded, my brows furrowing, "Yes, it is."
"You'll have to give it time." Falnore advised, although time wasn't something we had much of right now. "But I believe you can do it Zelda."
I set my face in a determined scowl, knowing this was just something I'd have to overcome. I never had an issue with practicing before. It was how I had gotten good at martial arts, archery, and science. This was no different, maybe even a little easier since I already had a basis in archery. "I'm going to practice for a few more hours." I said. "Is that ok? I don't want to take away from the Rito's training."
"It's fine." Falnore grinned, "In fact they are doing aerial training today. So they don't need the flight range.
"Aerial training?" Impa inquired, a curious glint to her eyes.
"Every Rito needs to know how to handle the wind." Falnore explained. "And with Revali's new ability to control the air, it has led to new attacks and strategies our Rito warriors can implement."
Falnore continued to give Impa details, but I tuned them out, trying to focus on my training. As I continued, Falnore and Impa retreated to the cabin. Eventually as time passed and my arrows became depleted, the sky darkened. Once more, Falnore joined me out on the deck.
"I think now is a good time to take a break." He said, his eyes analyzing the targets, taking in my progress. "I've invited Revali and Impa for dinner tonight. We should be getting back soon, if you care to join us that is."
I glanced back at the targets, the need to continue burned deep inside me. But Falnore was right. My body was tired and frustration had sunk in, making me unfocused. My shots had gotten sloppy, and staying here longer wouldn't correct that. "Very well." I said, just as my stomach let out a growl.
Falnore chuckled, "I better head out then and start cooking. I'll see you and the Sheikah girl shortly."
I gave a quick nod to show I was in agreement and then Falnore leapt into the air, his bright green wings snapping out to catch an air current. He then swooped to the South, heading back to Rito Village. I sighed and walked into the cabin, where Impa was patiently waiting for me. Quickly we joined the guards, who had been waiting at the base of the staircase. They had built a fire to keep warm as they didn't have the best winter clothing, as well as by practicing their swordsmanship as they waited.
We returned to the stables and then Impa and I walked to Rito Village. By now, the sun had set and torches were lit all throughout Rito Village to illuminate the village. As we climbed the stairs, I looked out at the lake below us, the water shimmering with starlight.
Entering Falnore's hut, a delicious aroma wafted through the air, making both Impa and I's stomachs growl. Revali was already there, while Falnore was busy setting the low table.
Impa and I quickly took our seats, sitting across from Revali and Falnore. Jumping into conversation, I asked Revali about the aerial training. He was happy to share, while Falnore set the food on the table. Impa wasted not time digging in and I swiftly followed. The four of us gobbled down our food, talking in between bites. It was a really nice dinner, much better than my last dinner with Master Falnore, where the room had been laced with tension. Impa did roll her eyes at several of Revali's boastful comments, but she was much more chill about it than I had been.
By the time dinner was finished, all our stomachs were full and we had figured out when we would be leaving for Gerudo Town. Although I knew the battle before us would be difficult, I was glad that I wouldn't be facing it alone. I was glad that Urbosa, Impa, and Revali would be by my side. Looking around the room, a warm feeling ensnared me; it was nice to be surrounded by people that cared about me. It made me feel not so alone anymore.
I'm still alive! Sorry it's been so long. I've just been really busy. I'm teaching this semester as well as doing research, therefore my spare time is limited. I've still been keeping up with writing - I have two more completed chapters after this, but I've fallen behind on the editing part. I'm going to try my hardest to get those two chapters edited soon though!
For the duration of this semester, my chapter uploading schedule may be inconsistent, but I will still be working on the story, I promise. No plans to abandon it. I may take a break in between each story (A Hero's Ballad, A Hero's Sacrifice, and A Hero's Tears - yes I finally decided on a name for the third one, and yes it is after Tears of the Kingdom) as I have some other projects I want to work on, but I do plan to see this trilogy to the end. My plan is to finish a Hero's Ballad around December/January. So I am trying to keep on track for that.
Thanks everyone for being patient and sticking with me! It means a lot and I really do appreciate your support.