Chapter 51: What a Gift it is to be Free
This is going to work. Zelda fiddled with the stone in her hands. It has to.
"Now, tell me the steps necessary for warding off enchantments of the mind." Ruaru paced in front of her. His robes swishing about on the stones of the temple floor. He had not sat down in over an hour. If anything he seemed more ill at ease at the prospect than her. Behind him his students and fellow priests prepared for the night in their own ways, some gave prayers, others practiced drawing the magical energy from within them.
"Spells that target an individual's mind have several weaknesses. First they must overpower the will of those they wish to overwrite. This is done easiest when the target is weak, or they do not expect an attack. For the more complex spells those that cast it must try to wipe out and replace what was there before."
"And to ward yourself against them?"
"Remember something that is important to you. Something that defines who you are and focus on it. Hold onto those memories as if they were a shield to bulwark the rest of your mind." They had gone over all of this a thousand times or more, there was no chance she would forget these lessons now. But she didn't stop the old man from his questions. They were more for his peace of mind than hers.
"And illusions? What are they and how are they defeated?"
"Illusions allow the practitioner to confound the eyes or touch or taste of those caught within their spell. It is easier to perform than it is to rewrite a mind. To combat them, it is best to look for imperfections in your surroundings. Illusions are based on the details held within the mind of the one who cast the spell. So, if their memory is imperfect the illusion will be."
"And if there are no imperfections?" Ruaru continued. "If you're facing someone who has spent centuries warding their territory and knows every foot within their domain?"
"That is why I have this," Zelda held up the Stone of Agony. "The plan will work, Ruaru."
"I wish I had your confidence," the old priest sighed. "Princess, I must once again protest. This is too dangerous. What happens if this fairy overpowers you? Again. You are too important to be lost. Please let me send my disciples to the mountain. They'll find the Fairy Mound and free your friend."
"No," Zelda met the old man's eyes. He needed to understand that she could not be set from her path. "Your disciples have never met Navi. They do not know the magic of fairies to find her. I would have to go, and there is no way my father would allow me to leave Castle Town when there is a war raging. Furthermore, it would take months! Navi has suffered her imprisonment long enough. She will be freed tonight."
"But if things go wrong, what then? It was difficult to save you the first time you met with this creature. If she has prepared for you to come again, I do not know if I will be able to save you."
"Ruaru," Zelda tried to make her voice sound calming. "I have you and all within this temple to protect me. I trust you. You will not fail me."
Ruaru looked away from Zelda, giving one pleading glance to Impa, who stood arms folded in a corner. "Can you talk sense to her?"
Her guard could only shrug. "When she gets like this? If you turn her away, she will only try it on her own."
"You can't tell me you aren't worried."
"I'm terrified," Impa said.
Zelda turned her eyes away from the stone toward her guardian. She didn't look frightened. But, then, she never did. For as long as Zelda could remember she had always thought of Impa as fearless. But, that was before the first time she had faced the Great Fairy.
Impa was the one that found her near lifeless. The old spy had been in tears when Zelda awoke. It had made Zelda uncomfortable then, and still did every time she dwelt on it. As terrible as that night had been for her, how had it affected everyone else?
Would Impa or Ruaru ever forgive themselves if something went wrong tonight?
Guilt crashed into her like a wave. She was forcing Impa to go through it all again. But it was for the best. Impa had to know that, surely? Ruaru too. They had to see this was the best path forward.
Zelda lifted her chin. "Now, if you are both quite finished, I think it is time we started." Whatever the outcome, this whole venture needed to be done before morning. The delays did nothing but make her second guess herself. And she could not do that now. She must be sharp, focused.
With a resigned sigh Ruaru gathered the other priests and his disciples. Each of them held one of the artifacts from the vault. In Ruaru's hands was the golden harp that Zelda had used to practice her spells when she had just begun her lessons.
All of them, with something to amplify their power. All except her. The only tool she had was a stone, a mere magic bauble from an older age. As she held it, it did not sing to her as the harp had, nor shine like the silver bow. Was this truly her best plan? To enter the domain of so powerful an enemy with only this?
The priests will protect me. She felt the chill run up her spine. She needed to get ahold of herself. Ruaru will not let anything go wrong. I can do this.
"Take your positions!" Ruaru and his disciples circled around her. "All your power is to be given to the princess. Leave nothing for yourself. And may the Goddesses guide us, to free their lost child."
Zelda closed her eyes and drew what power they offered into her. Her body felt warm, as if the energy within her blood was about to burst from within. They had been practicing the gifting of magic for days, but never had all the great mages of the temple focused entirely on her. Never had she felt so strong.
With a single thought, she sent her spirit far away to the foot of the mountain where friend and enemy lay.
In her dreams she was content. Something so simple, yet so difficult in the true world. Where everyone was too busy, and so distant. Where nothing felt right.
In her dreams there were people around her. Friends that she never knew. Children that all looked to her for her wisdom and guidance. But their faces were gone. Empty husks, all of them. Nameless echoes from a past that no longer existed. How could she enjoy her time with these phantoms when her own family felt so distant?
And yet, here she felt right. If only she could remember all their faces, or their names.
"Navi," a voice echoed through her dreams, "I hope you're happy."
Link?
She turned to find the boy. Her boy. But wherever she looked she could only see darkness.
The dream ended as another sound filled her head, one from the real world. The voice reverberated through the fountain off every wall as if the stones themselves were screaming.
"My children! My children! The intruder has come! Your mother needs you!"
Navi rose immediately. Gone was the dark wood of ghosts, replaced with the white tiles and moss covered rocks of the fountain, of her home. The Great Mother is in danger! I must protect her! She flew high and fast, following the light of a thousand other fairies as they headed into the central chamber. Worried expressions on each of their faces, some made anxious chatter, others silent, with the grim look of those prepared for battle.
Navi did not know what to think, or truly what she was to do. She had never been in a battle before. Even though the Great Mother warned them an enemy was coming, it still felt horrifying that the day had actually come. They had prepared the magical wards and defenses as she commanded. Navi hoped it would be enough.
She had helped with the defense, hadn't she? Another dream came to her, a waking dream. A dream where she tampered with spells, where she erased the wards. A dream of a life of fear, of giant spiders and lizard-men with sharp weapons.
Why would she have done that?
Ridiculous, these dreams needed to be ignored. She was with her real family. And she must protect her home and her Great Mother.
No. Navi stopped, her head stung. She rubbed at her temples, but it offered no relief. No. She is not my mother.
It was getting so hard to remember. She was not of these fairies. She was Navi. She came from a forest not a fountain. She had raised children. She had gone on an adventure.
And she needed to get out of here.
"Navi," Boshi's firm hands grabbed her shoulders. "Navi what are you doing? We are needed."
"I–" he was not her friend. He had never even been friendly to her. He was just another problem. "Boshi, I'm scared," she made her voice quiver as she spoke.
"What good does that do?" He hissed as he shoved her toward the central chamber. "Move!"
Pretend to be meak. Pretend to be beneath notice. That is how I beat them.
The fountain was in turbulence, the water rippled and formed waves as the Great Mother's voice sang from everywhere. "She is coming! I can feel it, oh yes, oh yes! My little darlings! Come to me! Breaking my traps, not so easy this time, is it Hylia?" Her cackle filled the air.
Above the water, a white speck of light appeared. It expanded into a bright mist, a storm cloud, tumbling about, near as tumultuous as the water.
"Great Fairy," came a voice from the mist as it expanded and collapsed in on itself over and over. Seeming to grow slightly each time. "I have come to reclaim my subject, the noble fairy-"
"Destroy it!" the Great Mother's voice rang out. Navi looked around her, but she could not see the large fairy. Where was she?
All about the fountain magic soared, greens and blues, pinks and yellows all flew toward the white mist from a thousand fairies all screaming their hatred at the light.
But their magic ran through it, as though the light was nothing but empty air.
The voice inside the mist laughed for a moment, before it regained its composure. "Great Fairy at the Foot of the Mountain, I am coming into your domain. I apologize that I could not wait for a formal invitation."
The mist expanded into a rough shape of a person, before it condensed, squeezed together and solidified into Zelda, the princess that Navi had seen all those months ago. The one that first freed her from the Great Fairy's curse.
She was back.
Navi had not been forsaken.
In her royal hands was a great gray stone that Navi had never seen before. But other than that she looked much as she had the first day they had met. Adorned in gold jewelry and wearing a white dress emblazoned with the symbols of Hyrule. Appearing for all the world like a princess of legend, with a golden aura around her. Frowning, Zelda looked over the ocean of fairies before her.
In front of Navi, Boshi screamed and hurled more of his magic at her, others followed his example. The magic passed through Zelda as if she was not there.
"Cease that nonsense," Zelda demanded. So overwhelming was her presence that the fairies obeyed. "Thank you, all that accomplished was hurt my eyes. It's far too bright. Great Fairy, I have returned to see the release of the fairy Navi. Do this, and I will leave and never again return. You will be free to dwell in your fountain as you see fit. But you will not do harm to my people again."
Boshi turned and glared at Navi. "She does not mean you."
Who else could she mean? She wanted to shout at him, but only nodded. Not yet, now wasn't the time to strike. The magic of Fairies may not hurt Zelda, but if they all turned against Navi she would not leave this fountain alive.
"I knew you would return, Hylia! You cannot have her!" The Great Fairy screamed. The magic that ran along the walls glowed green.
The princess looked around. "Where are you? It's disconcerting speaking to no one. Not to mention, rude."
The light of the Fountain dimmed. The Great Fairy did not respond, but Navi could feel her presence. She was doing something. Magic was being drawn from the spells etched around the walls. What was her play?
A shadow passed over the princesses eyes.
"You think I would not prepare for you? Arrogant godling. I have made myself even greater! Far more than strong enough to best a fraction of a goddess like yourself."
"No," Navi whispered.
The image of Zelda pulled back, her eyes closed and she clutched the stone with all her might.
"One who is so powerless. One who is so lonely. One whose every plan and goal turns to ruin."
"I am Princess Zelda," she said. "Heir of Hyrule. Daughter of King Regent Liotidos and Queen Zelda." She gasped and shook her head. The shadows played around her face. Water reached up from the pool, twisting around her legs. Not touching the person, but holding, like the fingers of the Great Fairy herself ready to snatch her prey.
The Princess gasped, her shoulders slumped.
She needed help.
Navi moved toward her. She did not get far before a hand clutched her arm. "And what do you think you're doing?" Boshi said as he pulled her back.
The Great Mother's voice returned. "But how lonely you are," she said. "Such a poor little princess. All alone in the world. No one believes you." The water rose higher, all the way to the girl's waist.
"You saw the perils that would destroy your kingdom. You saw the truth of everything. But no one ever believed you."
"I remember," Zelda's voice was a whisper. "I-"
"You never sent anyone out to help you. How could you? You don't really have power. You're locked up, in a cage. I see it clearly now." The Great Mother's voice sounded soothing, as if she was rocking a child to sleep in her arms. "Oh yes, I see it. Your own father sent you away. And there you spent your time, dreaming, creating fantasies. Stories of fairies and magic. Hiding from a world that does not love you. Does not understand you."
The water wrapped around the girl's neck.
"I remember," Zelda said again. "I remember, riding on my uncle's shoulders."
"What?" The water stopped.
"Uncle Darunia, I called him. Because he had fought and bled beside my father. I remember riding on his shoulders."
"Yes," the Great Mother;s voice regained some composure, as she tried to weave her spell back. "But you have not seen Darunia in so long. The only one who truly loved you. Not the guardian who lies to you. Not the father that locked you up. You never spoke to anyone about your plans. You never sent-"
"There's music playing. A lute, that's what Darunia and I are dancing to." The princess gave a small laugh then winced. Only then did Navi notice the stone. It vibrated in her hands, faster and faster. The more it moved the brighter it glowed, but as it shook, blood dripped down its face. The Princess' blood.
What was it doing?
"My guardian, my oldest friend, Impa is standing behind me. Watching me, making certain I do not fall from the giant's shoulders. And, that lute. I can see who is playing it. My father. He is happy," she smiled, and her eyes opened. "I am not alone, Great Fairy. I remember my duty. And I remember the debt I owe to those who have aided me. Stop these games. Where is Navi?" With a wave of her hand, the water crashed down into the pool.
"There you are," Zelda glared into the waters, her blood dripped from the stone down her arms. "That is how you hide yourself? Those are the spells you use to change your shape? I expected more."
A scornful laugh echoed through the chamber, two hands burst from the pool, followed by arms, and head and neck. The Great Mother appeared, grinning. "Very well, Hylia, if that's what you wish." She looked out over her fairies. "Darling. Come to me."
Navi glared at Boshi, and he released her. She flew toward the pair of creatures that both seemed so much more powerful than her.
"Navi," the princess said. "It's me. I don't know if you remember me, but you must fight what has been done to you."
"Yes, Great Mother?" Navi bowed her head, looking away from the princess and the fae queen.
"Oh sweet darling," the Great Mother said, as her eyes found Navi. Behind her, the magic in the walls glowed green. The presence of the Great Fairy loomed large, and as the magic grew brighter so did the feelings of awe, of impossible might that rolled off the ancient one. All of it crashing down on Navi.
Every second, images of a false life filled her. Pushing away everything else in her mind. She was still so strong. The spells she severed had not been enough.
She had tried. She did not mean to lose. But she felt the life where she had always lived here with the Great Mother filling her. Where her closest friend was Boshi or Telti. Where she never lived above ground, never raised children, never left home.
Where she never had sat and watched the sunrise with those she loved.
"Do you wish to go, my darling?"
Navi said nothing. Her tongue formed the words of submission to the Great Mother, but she forced her mouth to remain closed. The pressure on her skull was unbearable. A drumming hammering demand of subjugation. It would be so much easier to just give up, and tell her what she wanted.
"I asked you a question, darling." The Great Mother paused, frowned. "That is not right." First she looked to her hands, and the magic of fairies that danced around them, then to wall and the runes and wards placed upon them.
"I never wish to leave your side!" Navi squealed as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Immediately, the giant fairy's eyes went back to Navi, and her smile returned.
"There you see? How can you say I am holding her? She wants to be here, Hylia. She deserves to be here. Not with those foul creatures you call your children. Those beasts that capture us, use us for our magic, and leave us to perish. Your children that break every treaty forget every agreement and vow. What fool would ever wish to return to that world?"
"Navi," Zelda ignored the Great Fairy. "You must listen to me. She has broken your mind. You do not belong here. You are needed above. You must-"
"She must do nothing!" The Great Fairy snarled. "She will stay here! She will be protected. She will be happy!"
'The Hylian boy, he hopes you are happy.'
"Great Mother," Navi said. "May I speak?"
"Oh?" her smile went wide in triumph and delight. So wide it no longer seemed to fit on her face. "Is there something you wish to say to the evil woman, my darling?"
"Yes, Great Mother." Navi met the gargantuan fairy's eyes. She took a deep breath, and banished all the lies she had been forced to live. "I am not your darling. My name is Navi." She dove at the Great Fairy, toward the budding emerald flower over her right shoulder. Her hands grasped the plant and she pulled with all her might.
"How?" The Great Fairy screeched. "You should not be strong enough! I am weak! Why am I weak?" Navi could feel the shadows of those massive hands reaching up around her as the green bud came loose.
"Flee, Navi," Zelda ordered. Brilliant white light surrounded them. Shouts rang out from the countless fairies that had surrounded them, forcing them back. Navi looked around to see the Great Fairy's hands stuck in the air, shackles of light holding her back.
"I will not be made a prisoner in my own home! I am the Great Mother! I am the protector of Fae kind! I am more powerful than you, Hylia! I am greater! I am greater!"
Navi flew toward the exit. As fast as her wings could take her.
"No! You do not know what you're doing! Stop! Stop her!"
Magic whirled around the cave. Spells far older and more powerful than any Navi had ever seen sprung to life. Green lightning flashed from within the stones, racing past Navi, only stopping where the entrance had been.
What did she do?
Someone grabbed her leg and pulled her back. Navi spun in the air to see Boshi glaring down on her.
"I knew you were lying," he hissed. Whatever insincere tolerance for her had disappeared, now all Navi could see was hate. "I knew you were not one of us. That the big folk tainted you."
"Do not hurt her!" the Great Mother screeched. "She is still precious. She is still my little darling."
"Fairy!" Zelda's voice called. "You are not yet finished with me."
Green and gold, light and darkness danced around the fountain. Illusory shadows dueled along the walls while the light from the princess' stone burned them away. But whatever the two powerful creatures were doing, Navi could not get a clear view. The only thing she could see in full was Boshi, and his anger.
"This is your fault," he hissed as he pulled back on her leg, bringing Navi closer to him and dragging her away from her escape. "All this trouble for one, ungrateful, spiteful, and pathetic outsider." A wind picked up around them, battering against her wings pushing her away from the exit.
He was stronger than her. He called the winds with ease, when she tried to summon her own magic it dispersed. Draining away into nothing. Other fairies had her surrounded, clutching at her. Their hands absorbed whatever magic she tried to use. She cursed and thrashed, trying to wiggle free or push them away. But it did little good. There were so many.
How could she fight them without magic?
The same way Link has faced every issue his entire life.
Navi looked at Boshi, pulled her leg back and slammed it into the fairy's nose. His grip loosened, his eyes found hers, they were wide with shock, unfocused. She kicked him again, smashing her heel down as hard as she could. The shock turned to fear. His mouth opened, but only blood and a tooth came out.
One more kick and he released her. His wings stopped beating. The green fae tumbled to the ground, some of the fairies that clutched at her raced to catch him. Others simply stared at her, shocked at what she had done.
She roared, clenched her free hand into a fist and burst forth toward the nearest of the Great Mother's children. Her fist connected with the fairies jaw. Pain bust around her knuckles and up her arm. But however it hurt her, it must have hurt the other fairy more. He dropped as fast as Boshi.
She kicked again, taking another fairy in the wing. The thin membrane tore from the force of the blow, sending the fairy screaming in agony as she tried to keep flying.
"You will not keep me here a moment longer!" Navi glared at the remaining fairies, trying her best to ignore the pain that was forming up her arm and leg. How did Link do this? How could he enjoy it? Fighting felt like tearing your own body apart almost as fast as you tore apart your enemies.
But the other fairies did not see her pain, or her weakness. They fled from her, crying in pain and terror.
This was it.
She flew to the section of dirt that the fairies used to leave and enter. She pressed her hand against it.
And she did not move.
"No." She tried again.
This was what the green lightning had done. The Great Mother had locked her inside.
What was the spell to reopen it? She tried to remember, but she had never studied the magic of this part of the fountain. She tried the spells she had used to create spaces in trees for the kokiri children to live, but it did nothing.
"No. No." She pressed her shoulder against the entrance. She slammed her side as hard as she could. "No!"
This couldn't be the end. She couldn't just be caught again when she was so close.
Reaching into the dirt, she grabbed as much as she could and pulled it free. But as she did, a gasp of pain escaped her. Her hand hurt too much from that punch. She switched the hands she held the flower in, and tried again. This time she could grasp some of the dirt and pulled it loose. The tiniest clod fell to the ground.
"Well," came Telti's voice. "There's no way that will get you through in time."
Navi whirled around, her good fist clenched to fight again. But Telti flew past her, and pressed her hand against the dirt. Energy spread from her fingers up through the soil. Then she looked to Navi. "I can't hold it for long. Go."
Navi glanced once more back over the fountain. The two giants still did battle, but it looked as if Zelda had gained the upper hand. The light that surrounded her burning away every trace of the Great Mother except her desperate screams.
"Go, Navi." Telti said again.
"Thank you," she said as she pressed against the ground and felt the magic release around her, letting her pass.
"Tell the boy, we're even."
The ground formed around her head and she could see nothing but the lightless ground. The touch of grass and roots formed around her, gently cradling her as it lifted her up through the mud.
The sounds of violence stifled through the layers of dirt, until there was nothing but Navi and the writhing ground. Then the night sky.
She took a deep gasping breath as the plants released her, letting her fly free into the sky. A true sky. A sky that held a moon and stars, half covered by the branches of massive trees.
Navi flew. Her body ached. But she did not care. She flew until the fairy mound was nowhere to be seen. She flew until the night sky went from black to a deep purple. Miles she must have gone, clutching the emerald flower to her chest. She could feel the magic hidden within it. That small piece of the Goddesses, surrounded by some lingering might of the Great Fairy.
She flew until her wings ached with pain and could fly no further.
Her feet touched down, balancing on a blade of grass for the first time in months.
She was free.
That pressure in her head was gone. The voice that tried to tell her what was false was true wasn't there anymore.
And as the sun rose, she could do nothing but cry at how beautiful the free world could be.
Navi was gone.
She had gotten out. There was no further need for Zelda to remain.
"You tricked her!" the Great Fairy screeched as she lay sprawled on her back. Her illusions shattered, her wards broken. "Your kind lied. You will just use her and throw her aside. You will ruin her. You vile, miserable whelp!"
Zelda forced herself to look at the Great Fairy with an expression of imperious authority. She was a princess, still. Though every part of her mind and body felt as though it was about to collapse. She would not show weakness before an enemy. Never again.
"Then I will take my leave. Goodbye, Great Fairy, and remember this lesson should you ever again try to steal one of my subjects."
She expected the vile creature to proclaim one last spiteful curse. But, the fairy didn't. She collapsed on the ground, her body shook as she wailed. "You took her from me. She was noble, she could have lived a long happy life here. But you took her. How can you be so blind, Hylia? Her quest will be her end. Your kind, that boy, will take everything she has until there is nothing left. She will die, and it will be all your fault."
The noble victor does not gloat. A princess accepts her victory with the same dignity as a defeat. The Great Fairy was broken, there was nothing more to say. Closing her eyes, Zelda released her spell. Her spirit tumbled out of the grotto, whirling through the lands of Hyrule. Only the fairy's screech of anger followed her as she opened her eyes to see another underground room. This one far more pleasant to behold.
"Zelda," Impa rushed to her side and tried to take the Stone of Agony from her hands. But it stuck to her.
The princess looked down, and saw her hands were covered in blood. "What?"
With a sickening squelch the stone fell from her fingers and smashed against the floor of the temple. Where her palms had touched the stone jagged burns and cuts filled them. "So that's how… it breaks the… illusions." Zelda stepped back, her feet slipped out from under her and she fell forward.
Impa grabbed her, and drew her close as she let Zelda slump to the ground. Undignified for a princess, she knew. But somehow she could not find it in herself to care. She was so tired.
And not the only one by the look of it. Of all the mages that had leant her their power, only Ruaru still stood. The others had collapsed to the ground. Some sitting, some clutching their heads. Helmin had sprawled himself over as much ground as he could, visibly panting.
"What happened?" Ruaru asked. "Is it done?"
"Yes," Zelda forced herself to speak. "Navi is free."
"Good." The old man knelt before Zelda and looked at her hands. "Unlike this."
"What can we do about it?" Impa said.
"Clean the wounds, and wrap them. What else?"
"She cannot go to court with her hands like this."
"Lady Impa, even our power is not boundless," he waved to his disciples. "Perhaps I could do more to heal her in a day or two."
"That is not good enough!"
"Impa," Zelda said, trying to push herself to sit upright. "It is enough. Tomorrow morning, you will tell everyone that I am feeling ill." As she spoke the priest took clean cloth and wiped away the blood from her hands. "That should give us a few days for Ruaru to gather himself."
Impa looked as if she wished to protest, but all she did was nod, before she pulled Zelda into a hug. "You did it? Truly?"
"Yes," Zelda said. "I did."
"Your mother would be so proud."
It took longer than Zelda would like for Ruaru to clean her hands and wrap them. There were still bloodstains on her dress, but that couldn't be helped. It was already starting to get bright, when she and Impa left the temple to return to the castle.
Zelda let Impa lead, in truth she knew that she should take the time to learn by watching the spy, pay attention to all the minute movements she made to best infiltrate and avoid being seen. But Zelda was too tired. She moved as if in a haze, barely even noticing when Impa opened the door to her chambers and let her in.
"Rest, princess," Impa said. "For as long as you can. I'll make certain that no one disturbs you."
"Thank you," was all Zelda could say through her yawn.
"Yes, Impa," came a deep voice from within her room. "Do make certain my daughter gets a good night's sleep."
Zelda's eyes widened, and in a moment all her wariness had disappeared. Her father sat on her desk chair, a book in front of him. "Father! What… why are you…?"
"I had not seen you for most the day," he stood before her. "I had come to deliver a gift for you, but when I came to your room I found it empty. So I waited. I waited all night." His jaw set. "What have you been doing?" His voice flat, as if he was beyond anger.
"I-" Impa stepped forward, "your majesty I must humbly ask-"
"It is my fault," Zelda cut off her protector. "I forced Impa to take me. To. To a party."
"Come here," her father demanded.
She froze. She had hours before faced a being of immeasurable power from centuries past. And yet, somehow this one man terrified her beyond anything else.
"Zelda. Come. Here."
Head bowed, she walked to her father. He took hold of her hands, she winced as his fingers pressed into the bandages.
"What is this?"
"Nothing, father," she tried to pull them away, but his hands were still strong. She could not get free. "I accidentally stumbled onto a lantern and burned myself. That's why it took so long to get home. Impa took me to a physician, and-"
"Do not lie to me."
"It's the truth, just a simple mistake. I- I was trying-"
He released her, scowling he looked past his daughter. "Impa. Explain."
Without a sound, the Sheikah stepped to Zelda's side. "It was caused by this, your majesty." She handed him the Stone of Agony.
"What is this?" he sneered. "Magic?"
"Yes, your majesty." The Sheikah met the king's eyes, but in her voice Zelda could hear the regret.
The king hurled the stone to the ground, the slab shattered.
"No," Zelda gasped.
"I trusted you," he pointed his thick finger at Impa's face.
"I know, your majesty."
"You know where this nonsense leads. You know how it consumed her mother. You are supposed to protect her. Guide her. Not bring her into danger behind my back!"
What did magic have to do with mother?
"I have no excuses, your majesty. I will accept any punishment you see fit." Only then, did Impa bow her head.
Punishment? "Father, you can't. It is not her fault. I am the one that forced her-"
But as always, the king did not listen. "Get out."
"Father, no!"
"Get away from my daughter, Impa. You have proven yourself unworthy as a protector. Get out. And be thankful that I do not have you in chains."
The old spy stood tall, rigid. Her jaw clenched and eyes looking forward. "As you command, your majesty." She gave one last look to Zelda, nodded, and left Zelda's chambers.