Chapter Five
It was an additional two days before the physicians would allow Link out of bed, and yet another week before he was granted permission to do exerting activities such as horseback riding. Finally glad to be out of that stuffy room and into the good Hylian air, the Hero of Time took the first chance he could to escape the world of counselors, messengers, and most of all, royalty. He hadn't really talked to Princess Zelda or King Chandler (both had been terribly busy), but he felt now was not the time to confront them, especially on the matters of marriage.
He simply could not marry Princess Zelda. At one point before his arrival at Mellifluous Bay for the first time, Link would have been enthralled to marry what he thought was the love of his life. But now, heavy with the dreams of fading cries, he realized that he would never be happy as the King of Hyrule. He couldn't stand the constant attendance of meetings and dinners, and the fact that he would probably not be allowed even an hour to himself for any sort of reason. It would be a hectic life of meetings, decisions, and headaches. Link didn't think the life of a nobleman was for him at all.
He rode Epona long and hard across the beautiful Hylian landscapes, not thinking of anything in particular. He had no desire to. Tonight was his; he would use it wisely. He might not get another chance to be by himself for a long time, he feared.
Link finally slowed Epona's gallop to a mere amble as they passed by Lon Lon Ranch for the third time.
"Hile, Link!" Malon called in a friendly tone, raising her hand in the traditional Hylian greeting. Link did likewise, but urged Epona no closer to the ranch than they already were. "Glad to see you back upon your feet! Are you feeling well now?"
"I am, and thank you for your concern! I haven't the time to talk, though," he lied, feeling guilty. But right now, he didn't think he had the patience to face yet another woman who had a strong liking for him. He gigged Epona and they sped off, kicking up a trail of fine dust as the pretty young girl watched them ride into the distance.
Link paused by the bridge hanging over the river. He dismounted Epona and sat on the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the long drop.
"Ahoy, there, matey," Lance called out, walking towards Link from the other side of the bridge. Startled, the Hero of Time looked up to find his friend striding across the rickety wooden bridge.
"The Gerudo didn't catch you?" Link inquired, surprised.
"The Gerudo? Oh, ye mean those pert women, eh?" Lance grinned and winked. "Oh, aye, I would've let them catch me, ye see, but I've a fearful mind that women would so like to get their hands on me. I'm a fine catch, eh?" Link chuckled.
"Whatever you say, friend. Have a seat."
"Don't mind if I do," Lance replied, seating himself nicely next to the nineteen-year-old. "Methinks you're feeling much better than a few days ago, aye?"
"Aye."
"Sleep's been comfortable and pretty dreamless, eh?" Link frowned, puzzled, not knowing where the point of the conversation was.
"I suppose so..." Lance slowly turned his head until he was gazing at the beautiful roaring waterfall.
"Aye, it has been. And I've a mind to tell ye of me past, so I have. Why I talk with a southern sea accent, why I concealed my task from ye, and who I really am. Have ye an ear to listen?"
"I do," was Link's short reply.
"Then listen..."
Once upon a time, he had lived in a small nameless village on the coast of Kreya, although he had been born in the Palace of Selinta. Lanceton Untille the Fifteenth began his journey down the long path called life. His mother was a beautiful woman named Sarya, and his father, a sailor and a Kreyan, named Lanceton. His father had been good friends with the king, but his duties took him elsewhere.
Until the age of five, life was peaceful and sedentary. Then, a terrible event occurred. Pirates, who killed anyone they saw, including his mother, raided Lance's village. Lanceton and most of the men of the village was away, hunting for the winter stores, and about half the children were off playing near Lake Shilla. Lance happened to be one of the fortunate few that survived the raid.
Lanceton took his son away from the village to escape the horrible memories. They traveled to Selinta. Lanceton had grown up with one of the palace guards before having moved to that poor nameless village. So they were accepted into the castle and adopted as servants.
Lance met the King and his Lady of Selinta, and immediately befriended them. Their daughter, Cheyanna, was only three years to his five years. Lance's father received his own ship and the rank of captain aboard it. He took his son with him and they began traveling ever since. They often returned to Selinta, but the last time they had gone there together, Lance was only thirteen, and Cheyanna hadn't begun to bloom her true beauty.
They visited foreign lands, made friends of kings and queens, learned different languages and dialects, and explored vast new oceans and shores. Lance was a sharp learner and soon became their navigator, learning to read their position from the faraway stars.
At long last Lance pleaded with his father to travel on foot, and finally Captain Lanceton consented. For the past three years (Lance was now eighteen) he had been trekking to new places, often meeting his father at various ports around the lands. He had only journeyed back to Selinta and received a note from them to ask for help from the Tophetian Warriors; that was what the letter contained. He had seen Cheyanna, who was on the verge of turning sixteen, and she had been quite the beauty.
The sketch had been done by one of Lance's dear friends, Mystu the Fourteenth. He was a fair lad, tall for his young age of fifteen, and a terribly talented artist. (Here Lance bade Link should meet him sometime to have his own portrait sketched. "You'd make a fine picture, matey," Lance proclaimed. Link shook his head. "No, I'm uglier than old Ganondorf himself." "Hardly!" The young sailor seemed indignant.)
"And that's me story, matey," Lance finished quietly.
"So why the accent? Why pretend you're of the southern sea area?"
"Well, matey, I do like the sound it brings to me own ears, and they're a friendly people at that. 'Tis my favorite accent to speak with, so 'tis." Link nodded. "I enjoy their culture, matey."
"So you do," the blonde teenager replied. "What are we going to do about Princess Zelda?" Lance remained silent for a moment.
"It's pretty obvious you don't want to marry her."
"I think I've fallen out of love with her, if I ever was in love with her. She's a beautiful princess, Lance, and she's kind and sweet, but... the life of a king isn't for me. I would suffocate quickly. Do you understand?"
"Aye. You're more of a loner and an adventurer. 'Twould not be right for you to dress yourself up prim and proper and attend banquets and sign treaties. You would rather be fighting in wars, protecting the innocent firsthand, and riding around on your Epona." Link nodded his head emphatically.
"Exactly."
"...Miyako would be yer gal, then, Link-fada. She's always sought out adventure, she has, aye." Lance brought his fingers to his mouth and thought for a moment. "Aye... perfect..."
"What?"
"You two." Link colored slightly. This was an unexpected
"Oh really?"
"...Yeah..." Lance's voice dropped lower. "You would."
It was late sunset when the two of them returned to the castle. Unfortunately for Link, King Chandler and Princess Zelda greeted them.
"Where have you been, silly?" The princess's cultured voice was chiding yet relenting, somehow. King Chandler remained silent, passive, watching Link closely. Zelda's voice faltered, and she stopped. The air was thick. Her expression grew from forced cheer to crestfallen sorrow. "I knew it to be true, Link, I prayed it would not be so..."
"I'm sorry," he uttered, averting his eyes. "But I don't... I don't want to marry you, Princess Zelda. I'm not suitable to be King of Hyrule. And I never will." The Princess looked away for a moment, her eyes softening with fresh tears. King Chandler took in a deep breath and released it slowly. "...I..."
"It's fine, Link," the kind replied heavily. "I had such high hopes for you, my daughter, and Hyrule... but it seems that Fate decrees it not."
"Yes, sir," mumbled the Hero of Time, still keeping his gaze on the ground.
"Well, after much thought, I have decided to send you and your friends to Selinta, with the Hylian Army. It seems that they need our help as fast as possible, and... with General Khegen's betrayal, it seems that Selinta could be the key objective in this war."
"Yes, sir," replied the Hero of Time, meeting the king's gaze at last. King Chandler's eyes softened slightly at the corners.
"A damn fine son you would have made, Link," he murmured as the nineteen- year-old bowed and turned away. "A damn fine son!"
Lance was all about dancing about as they strode down the hallway to the castle front the next morning. Link couldn't resist a smile; the young sailor was incorrigible.
"We meet again, Link," a gruff voice stated rather sourly. Startled, the teenager turned around and found himself face to face with his one-time rival, Jonathan.
"Jonathan," the Hero of Time replied impassively. Lance watched the two stare each other down, with some curiosity.
"Well, now, ain't we just a tad too friendly? Methinks I'll have to pull ye off each other, yer so happy to see each other," the blue-haired teenager drawled dryly, smiling oddly. Link shook his head wearily, said nothing, and turned away. Jonathan wasn't his top priority at the moment; leaving Hyrule for the land of Selinta was.
"Let's go," the blonde said curtly, ignoring his rival. Lance followed his friend, and then noticed Jonathan following them as well. "What are you doing?" The Hero of Time turned around, surprising Lance.
"Following you, mate," replied the young sailor. Link shook his head once.
"No, not you. Jonathan." The other teenager smiled wryly.
"I've been assigned to go with you, oh Hero of Time."
"Don't get in my way," spat the nineteen-year-old before turning to stride off. This time Jonathan didn't follow; he merely watched the other two disappear down the hallway.
"You'll get yours, hero," muttered the young soldier.
"What was that all about?" Lance inquired, hurriedly following his friend outside to the ranks of the army.
"...Jonathan and I go back a year or so ago," Link answered coolly, not bothering to look at his companion. "He tried to best me in a sword fight, and then, during the midst of it, attempted to win by cheating. We haven't made amends since. Of course, he happens to be quite full of himself, so losing to me wasn't exactly his idea of maintaining his pride. He hates me for not having gone back in time; he thinks I'm out of my place, that I shouldn't be here."
"I see," the younger said uncertainly. "Well, that's all fair enow, I suppose, but I reckon he's right jealous of ye." Link nodded in agreement.
"I guess he must be, though I haven't tried to upstage him at all..."
It was an additional two days before the physicians would allow Link out of bed, and yet another week before he was granted permission to do exerting activities such as horseback riding. Finally glad to be out of that stuffy room and into the good Hylian air, the Hero of Time took the first chance he could to escape the world of counselors, messengers, and most of all, royalty. He hadn't really talked to Princess Zelda or King Chandler (both had been terribly busy), but he felt now was not the time to confront them, especially on the matters of marriage.
He simply could not marry Princess Zelda. At one point before his arrival at Mellifluous Bay for the first time, Link would have been enthralled to marry what he thought was the love of his life. But now, heavy with the dreams of fading cries, he realized that he would never be happy as the King of Hyrule. He couldn't stand the constant attendance of meetings and dinners, and the fact that he would probably not be allowed even an hour to himself for any sort of reason. It would be a hectic life of meetings, decisions, and headaches. Link didn't think the life of a nobleman was for him at all.
He rode Epona long and hard across the beautiful Hylian landscapes, not thinking of anything in particular. He had no desire to. Tonight was his; he would use it wisely. He might not get another chance to be by himself for a long time, he feared.
Link finally slowed Epona's gallop to a mere amble as they passed by Lon Lon Ranch for the third time.
"Hile, Link!" Malon called in a friendly tone, raising her hand in the traditional Hylian greeting. Link did likewise, but urged Epona no closer to the ranch than they already were. "Glad to see you back upon your feet! Are you feeling well now?"
"I am, and thank you for your concern! I haven't the time to talk, though," he lied, feeling guilty. But right now, he didn't think he had the patience to face yet another woman who had a strong liking for him. He gigged Epona and they sped off, kicking up a trail of fine dust as the pretty young girl watched them ride into the distance.
Link paused by the bridge hanging over the river. He dismounted Epona and sat on the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the long drop.
"Ahoy, there, matey," Lance called out, walking towards Link from the other side of the bridge. Startled, the Hero of Time looked up to find his friend striding across the rickety wooden bridge.
"The Gerudo didn't catch you?" Link inquired, surprised.
"The Gerudo? Oh, ye mean those pert women, eh?" Lance grinned and winked. "Oh, aye, I would've let them catch me, ye see, but I've a fearful mind that women would so like to get their hands on me. I'm a fine catch, eh?" Link chuckled.
"Whatever you say, friend. Have a seat."
"Don't mind if I do," Lance replied, seating himself nicely next to the nineteen-year-old. "Methinks you're feeling much better than a few days ago, aye?"
"Aye."
"Sleep's been comfortable and pretty dreamless, eh?" Link frowned, puzzled, not knowing where the point of the conversation was.
"I suppose so..." Lance slowly turned his head until he was gazing at the beautiful roaring waterfall.
"Aye, it has been. And I've a mind to tell ye of me past, so I have. Why I talk with a southern sea accent, why I concealed my task from ye, and who I really am. Have ye an ear to listen?"
"I do," was Link's short reply.
"Then listen..."
Once upon a time, he had lived in a small nameless village on the coast of Kreya, although he had been born in the Palace of Selinta. Lanceton Untille the Fifteenth began his journey down the long path called life. His mother was a beautiful woman named Sarya, and his father, a sailor and a Kreyan, named Lanceton. His father had been good friends with the king, but his duties took him elsewhere.
Until the age of five, life was peaceful and sedentary. Then, a terrible event occurred. Pirates, who killed anyone they saw, including his mother, raided Lance's village. Lanceton and most of the men of the village was away, hunting for the winter stores, and about half the children were off playing near Lake Shilla. Lance happened to be one of the fortunate few that survived the raid.
Lanceton took his son away from the village to escape the horrible memories. They traveled to Selinta. Lanceton had grown up with one of the palace guards before having moved to that poor nameless village. So they were accepted into the castle and adopted as servants.
Lance met the King and his Lady of Selinta, and immediately befriended them. Their daughter, Cheyanna, was only three years to his five years. Lance's father received his own ship and the rank of captain aboard it. He took his son with him and they began traveling ever since. They often returned to Selinta, but the last time they had gone there together, Lance was only thirteen, and Cheyanna hadn't begun to bloom her true beauty.
They visited foreign lands, made friends of kings and queens, learned different languages and dialects, and explored vast new oceans and shores. Lance was a sharp learner and soon became their navigator, learning to read their position from the faraway stars.
At long last Lance pleaded with his father to travel on foot, and finally Captain Lanceton consented. For the past three years (Lance was now eighteen) he had been trekking to new places, often meeting his father at various ports around the lands. He had only journeyed back to Selinta and received a note from them to ask for help from the Tophetian Warriors; that was what the letter contained. He had seen Cheyanna, who was on the verge of turning sixteen, and she had been quite the beauty.
The sketch had been done by one of Lance's dear friends, Mystu the Fourteenth. He was a fair lad, tall for his young age of fifteen, and a terribly talented artist. (Here Lance bade Link should meet him sometime to have his own portrait sketched. "You'd make a fine picture, matey," Lance proclaimed. Link shook his head. "No, I'm uglier than old Ganondorf himself." "Hardly!" The young sailor seemed indignant.)
"And that's me story, matey," Lance finished quietly.
"So why the accent? Why pretend you're of the southern sea area?"
"Well, matey, I do like the sound it brings to me own ears, and they're a friendly people at that. 'Tis my favorite accent to speak with, so 'tis." Link nodded. "I enjoy their culture, matey."
"So you do," the blonde teenager replied. "What are we going to do about Princess Zelda?" Lance remained silent for a moment.
"It's pretty obvious you don't want to marry her."
"I think I've fallen out of love with her, if I ever was in love with her. She's a beautiful princess, Lance, and she's kind and sweet, but... the life of a king isn't for me. I would suffocate quickly. Do you understand?"
"Aye. You're more of a loner and an adventurer. 'Twould not be right for you to dress yourself up prim and proper and attend banquets and sign treaties. You would rather be fighting in wars, protecting the innocent firsthand, and riding around on your Epona." Link nodded his head emphatically.
"Exactly."
"...Miyako would be yer gal, then, Link-fada. She's always sought out adventure, she has, aye." Lance brought his fingers to his mouth and thought for a moment. "Aye... perfect..."
"What?"
"You two." Link colored slightly. This was an unexpected
"Oh really?"
"...Yeah..." Lance's voice dropped lower. "You would."
It was late sunset when the two of them returned to the castle. Unfortunately for Link, King Chandler and Princess Zelda greeted them.
"Where have you been, silly?" The princess's cultured voice was chiding yet relenting, somehow. King Chandler remained silent, passive, watching Link closely. Zelda's voice faltered, and she stopped. The air was thick. Her expression grew from forced cheer to crestfallen sorrow. "I knew it to be true, Link, I prayed it would not be so..."
"I'm sorry," he uttered, averting his eyes. "But I don't... I don't want to marry you, Princess Zelda. I'm not suitable to be King of Hyrule. And I never will." The Princess looked away for a moment, her eyes softening with fresh tears. King Chandler took in a deep breath and released it slowly. "...I..."
"It's fine, Link," the kind replied heavily. "I had such high hopes for you, my daughter, and Hyrule... but it seems that Fate decrees it not."
"Yes, sir," mumbled the Hero of Time, still keeping his gaze on the ground.
"Well, after much thought, I have decided to send you and your friends to Selinta, with the Hylian Army. It seems that they need our help as fast as possible, and... with General Khegen's betrayal, it seems that Selinta could be the key objective in this war."
"Yes, sir," replied the Hero of Time, meeting the king's gaze at last. King Chandler's eyes softened slightly at the corners.
"A damn fine son you would have made, Link," he murmured as the nineteen- year-old bowed and turned away. "A damn fine son!"
Lance was all about dancing about as they strode down the hallway to the castle front the next morning. Link couldn't resist a smile; the young sailor was incorrigible.
"We meet again, Link," a gruff voice stated rather sourly. Startled, the teenager turned around and found himself face to face with his one-time rival, Jonathan.
"Jonathan," the Hero of Time replied impassively. Lance watched the two stare each other down, with some curiosity.
"Well, now, ain't we just a tad too friendly? Methinks I'll have to pull ye off each other, yer so happy to see each other," the blue-haired teenager drawled dryly, smiling oddly. Link shook his head wearily, said nothing, and turned away. Jonathan wasn't his top priority at the moment; leaving Hyrule for the land of Selinta was.
"Let's go," the blonde said curtly, ignoring his rival. Lance followed his friend, and then noticed Jonathan following them as well. "What are you doing?" The Hero of Time turned around, surprising Lance.
"Following you, mate," replied the young sailor. Link shook his head once.
"No, not you. Jonathan." The other teenager smiled wryly.
"I've been assigned to go with you, oh Hero of Time."
"Don't get in my way," spat the nineteen-year-old before turning to stride off. This time Jonathan didn't follow; he merely watched the other two disappear down the hallway.
"You'll get yours, hero," muttered the young soldier.
"What was that all about?" Lance inquired, hurriedly following his friend outside to the ranks of the army.
"...Jonathan and I go back a year or so ago," Link answered coolly, not bothering to look at his companion. "He tried to best me in a sword fight, and then, during the midst of it, attempted to win by cheating. We haven't made amends since. Of course, he happens to be quite full of himself, so losing to me wasn't exactly his idea of maintaining his pride. He hates me for not having gone back in time; he thinks I'm out of my place, that I shouldn't be here."
"I see," the younger said uncertainly. "Well, that's all fair enow, I suppose, but I reckon he's right jealous of ye." Link nodded in agreement.
"I guess he must be, though I haven't tried to upstage him at all..."