A/N: Arigato gozaimashita, to all my betas, once more. =) And to anyone who's read this. I apologize for the odd beginning, I didn't separate these chapters well, so I hope you can forgive me. Now on with the show!
So began one of the most grueling months Ket ever lived through. On top of her other chores, she began intense training under Impa's supervision. If they sparred, Impa usually stole a guard to act as a partner. Other times Elias faced off to her. That was when Ket fought her best.
However, at the month's end, Impa ended lessons for a week. The Midsummer holiday had begun and the entire land was enveloped in a state of ecstatic joy and celebration. The Ball and Feast held annually at the Castle began tomorrow and Ket had offered to help serve at the gala.
It was that, or dress up in some grossly extravagant outfit and join in the festivities. Ket would have sooner acted civil to Elias then allow that to happen. She could just imagine it, her in some frilly dress and acting highborn. Letting out a snort at the image, Ket returned to stacking dishes for the banquet. Impa may be used to all that hob-knobbing, but I'm not and will never be, she thought.
After she finished helping the servants prepare the Great Hall for the upcoming feast and dance, Ket headed to bed. A yawn escaped as she walked to her room, cracking her jaw in the process. Must be real late, she thought sleepily. I hope I get up in time to help out with the final preparations tomorrow. I wonder what job Cook will assign me to? With that last thought swirling through her head, she entered her room, hit the bed, and promptly fell asleep.
She was serving at the dinner. Or was she? Images swam before her eyes and Ket felt a rush of vertigo.
Then the scene shifted and she stood in the castle courtyard, the sound of screaming filling her sensitive, pointed ears from all directions. A boom like thunder resounded through the air, accentuating the desperate cries.
Disoriented, Ket turned about, searching for the source of the panicked screams. An empty courtyard met her eyes and Ket stared about in puzzlement. A cold wind rose, scattering dried leaves across the cobbled stones and biting into Ket's skin like a fanged beast.
Shivering, she hugged herself while the screaming continued. Soon it stopped, as if cut off by a knife. The eerie silence that followed unnerved her more than the shrill cries. Another shiver raced up her spine, though not from the cold. Her breath misting from her mouth, she called out, "Is anyone there?"
Still silence answered her. Then a breathy voice pervaded the heavy air. "It begins once again."
Searching for the source of the voice, Ket asked, "Who's there?"
Another voice, this one sounding like rocks crashing on boulders, said, "The cycle has come full circle."
"What do you mean? Who are you? What's going on?"
A voice filled with steel and life raised up and said, "Are you ready, young one?"
"Ready for what? I don't understand!"
Joining in chorus, all three voices proclaimed, "You must be ready, the cycle has come full circle. The time of danger begins anew."
Their combined voices resounded through Ket's head and she felt her skull begin to throb in response. Clutching her splitting head, she felt darkness overcome her and she welcomed it like a long lost lover.
Her head ached horribly and the sun that streamed through the window stabbed at her eye as she blearily cracked it open. There had been a dream last night, a disturbing one.
Try as she might, she could not recall the images that danced tauntingly below her subconscious. The attempt only increased her headache until her eyes began to swim out of focus.
Moaning, Ket gingerly sat up and gripped her head in her hands. It feels like I have a hangover, she thought muddily. But I haven't touched any wine, not since the last time I drank too much and woke up like this. At least I'm not puking. Not yet anyway, she continued, feeling nausea pass over her stomach.
A thought breached her muddled brain and she remembered with a start, the feast! Great Goddesses, I'm going to be late in setting up! Ignoring her throbbing head, she washed and dressed in record time.
Bursting from her room, she fled down the stone corridor, skidding around corners and praying she would not run into anyone. Feeling her lungs heave, she jumped down a flight of stairs and flew into the Great Hall, clutching her side where a painful stitch gnawed hungrily. "About time you arrived," a voice commented dryly.
Glancing up, Ket met the amused gaze of Hyrule castle's head chef and organizer of the Midsummer feast. "Sorry Hamen, I overslept."
Hamen cocked a black brow and said, "So I see. Ready to get to work?"
Straightening, Ket said with a mock salute, "Point me in the right direction."
"You'll start by helping finish the decorations for the Great Hall. Think you can handle that?"
"Anything for you, oh great master," Ket said playfully while bowing deeply.
Brandishing a ladle at her, Hamen laughingly said, "Get out of here now, you imp."
Laughing herself, Ket fled and joined up with the group of servants in charge with transforming the Hall's surroundings.
Hours later, Ket stared in stunned silence at the change they wrought over the Great Hall. The golden chandeliers sparkled in the sunlight pouring from the windows lining the long walls. Long tables were set up along the walls leaving the floor, emblazed with the symbol of the Triforce, open for dancers to grace.
At the top of the Hall rested the throne of Hyrule and a table where the King and his closest allies would eat, sat below the dais. Flowers covered every open surface, their fragrances filling the Hall while the open windows carried in the fresh scent of grass from outside.
Along the rafters, garlands of brilliant purple and yellow flowers shone through strands of ivy. Ket was still amazed that they actually got the decorations up that high. It had taken a lot of teamwork and people standing on shoulders and tabletops to accomplish that task. She had the bruises to prove it.
All the servants patted each other on the back, knowing they had outdone themselves this year. Hamen, hearing the loud calls of praise from the kitchen, entered and quickly set everyone to other tasks that still had to be completed. Ket was the only one left when he stood before her, his chin resting in between his thumb and forefinger as he thought of a job for her. Ket grinned at the concentration on his face and received a scowl in return. "Where to put you..." he mused, his sienna eyes focusing on a spot above Ket's head as he pondered. "I've got it! It'll be perfect for you!"
"How so?"
"Impa was pestering me yesterday about this. She wanted you to learn more about the nobles and how they act."
A wave of dread swept over her at his words. Surely he couldn't mean... I mean the idea's absurd!
"I'll have you help wait on the nobles," continued Hamen, unaware that Ket grimaced. He confirmed her worst fears.
Maybe there's still hope, she consoled herself. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Ket asked, hoping she could convince Hamen to place her elsewhere.
"How so? Impa told me you've served before."
Impa, do you delight in torturing me? Ket wondered. Well, there goes my best argument. Still, I can try. "But I've only served in taverns and such, never something like a royal feast! I wont have any idea of what to do!"
Hamen waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, it's a snap really. Just follow my orders or another servant's directions and you'll be fine."
Sighing heavily in defeat, Ket said darkly, "Alright, I'll help. But I'm not responsible for the consequences."
Ten minutes later, she found herself in front of a mirror. The figure reflected back to her wore an dark wool skirt and a white cotton blouse. On the edges of each, an embroidery of green vines stretched across the fabric and the emblem of the Royal Family shone in gold thread in the middle of the hems, the green vines twining around the Triforce in a verdant frame.
Ket twirled in the skirt, feeling the soft material flow around her calves. The design was simple but beautiful, and Ket was immensely pleased that she could wear the servant's garb. Far better then any other outfit I've worn, she thought as she admired her reflection. Though I did like the freedom breeches gave me.
"Ready yet?" chuckled Hamen who watched her preen in front of the mirror.
"Yep, let's get this over with."
"Knock 'em dead."
"If all goes well, I hope I won't," Ket replied with a wry smile.
For the millionth time that night, Ket wished desperately that she had refused Hamen point blank and taken off running. She had not spilt anything or caused any disaster but it was not from lack of trying. She had nearly dumped a bowl of vegetable soup on the head of some unsuspecting noble, but a servant spotted her trouble and rescued her before she started a war.
The problem did not stem from lack of practice; she had served in many taverns before. But tonight she could not hold a tray level because her tightly wound nerves got in the way. Her hands trembled whenever she forgot to focus on steadying them and she constantly felt on the verge of fainting. Maybe if I do, then I wont have to worry about this mess, she thought. But with my luck I'll pass out on the King and dump a cup of wine all over him. Why did I agree to this?
After gingerly handing the plate of venison over to the awaiting noble, Ket sped off to the kitchen with her empty tray. Just a little while longer, you can do it, she told herself. At least you're not serving the King. That means you're far away from Brat Boy too.
The King sat at the head table with Impa at his right and Elias to his left. Other important nobles flanked them and Ket cringed at the thought of walking to them and all that would befall her if she did. Hamen is wise to keep me far away from them, she thought with relief.
A puff of steam escaped when Ket pushed open the kitchen door and stepped into the barely controlled chaos. Dozens of cooks shouted for ingredients as aides scurried about, searching for their master's demands.
Servants rushed to and fro, filling their trays and departing for the Great Hall and the hungry guests that waited. Seeing all the food spread about, it still amazed her that those people could actually eat all that. She felt a surge of anger at the nobles. All this food could feed a poor family for a month and instead it was being used to feed already fat snobs. Letting out a breath, she commanded herself to forget it; she did not need any more worries in her mind now.
Entering the line of servants, she waited for her turn to fill her tray. She began to slip into a wonderful daydream where she was lying in a great meadow devoid of people when a hand gripped her elbow. Startled, she turned and found Hamen staring at her, his normally calm expression replaced by a look of panic. "Ket you have to do something for me, please," the rotund man pleaded.
"What's wrong?" Ket asked in concern.
"That great idiot, Jamus, forgot the entire set of entrees. Please, would you bring it up there before they find out and I'm ruined?"
Hamen's grip was cutting off the circulation to her arm. Prying his fingers off, she said, "Of course. Who do I need to take it to?"
She should have known; the Goddesses always amused themselves by throwing obstacles like this in her path. "It's for the King's table," Hamen said, relief plainly showing in his round features.
Ket groaned inwardly, desperately wanting to go back and tell him no. But the happy smile he wore prevented her from doing anything except taking the full tray and wondering, why her? This was exactly what she feared. Okay girl, deep breath, you can do this, she coached herself, walking deliberately to the table.
The length of the Great Hall stretched for miles and each step seemed like she moved through sticky honey. Breathe, just breathe, she commanded her failing lungs. Almost there... Reaching the table, she set the tray down with an audible sigh.
Hearing a suppressed laugh, she glanced up and saw Impa giggling at her while hiding it behind her hands. Ket smiled wobbly back at her and began to set out the plates of steaming food for the awaiting nobles. When she reached Impa, the woman gripped her hand as she set down the tray. "You're doing fine," encouraged the silvery haired woman. Ket smiled in gratitude then whispered back, "You look wonderful."
It was true. Dressed in a pale blue tunic that flowed longer then normal, the beautiful color accentuated Impa's pale hair and face. She never wore a dress, she had once told Ket. She was there as the King's main body guard and if she donned one of the long skirted gowns, she would be hampered from her duty.
The ice blue tunic split at the waist revealing the white hose underneath. A dagger lay strapped to her thigh in plain view. Probably a hundred more hidden elsewhere, mused Ket before she gave Impa one last smile and moved off.
King Regius was resplendent in deep indigo robes, a gold circlet signifying his status nestled in his ruddy hair. He grinned warmly at Ket, putting the young girl at ease while she set his food out for him.
She smiled in return, thinking, This isn't so bad, when a wave of dizziness swept over her. For a moment she believed she would pass out when the feeling stopped. Coming back to her senses, she released her white-knuckled grip on the table and exhaled.
Regius looked at her in concern and Ket smiled slightly in reassurance. She refused to ruin the King's feast. Putting steel in her back, she straightened and moved to the next person, Prince Elias. For once he didn't great her with a snide remark. Glancing at him, she noticed that he wore a deep scowl, as if in deep thought. Feeling her gaze on him, he looked up and snapped, "What?"
"Absolutely nothing, your highness. Forgive me for feeling concern for you," she said sarcastically, placing the rest of his meal before him.
"It's none of your business," he replied, not even looking at his food.
"As you wish," Ket began to say, when the feeling of vertigo swept over her again, much stronger. The room spun and for a moment she heard a voice from far away boom out, "It has begun."
A hand gripped hers tightly and a voice called her back. Blinking her eyes owlishly, she found herself staring into a pair of amethyst eyes. Elias knelt over her, his brow furrowed under the silver circlet of the Heir. For a moment Ket wondered why he was so tall. Then she realized she was on the floor.
Sitting up, she fought the oncoming dizziness. I passed out, in front of all these people. Humiliation turned her face deep scarlet. It was one thing to imagine it, but to actually have it happen... How was she going to show her face again?
For a moment the remembrance of the voice chased away her despairing thoughts. Where have I heard that phrase before? A hand filled her vision and she felt someone lift her head up. Impa's worried chestnut eyes met hers. "Are you all right?" she asked, squatting before her.
"I think so," Ket said while the disorienting sensations continued to flow over her. She wasn't all right. No, that wasn't it. Something wasn't right, there was a feeling of tension in the air, as if the whole world held its breath in anticipation for some ground-shattering event.
Before she could open her mouth and express what she was feeling to Impa, another wave broke over her, this one filling her eyes with night, a ringing beginning to resound throughout her mind.
When she woke again, she found herself resting in strong arms as she was carried down a darkened hall. Laying her head back against her carrier's chest, she closed her eyes against the growing vertigo, trying desperately to fight back the feeling.
She must have blacked out again because when she woke, she felt herself being lowered onto a couch. Opening her eyes, she met Elias' gaze for the second time that night. "Where am I?" she asked, trying to gather her surroundings and put an end to this unnerving disorientation.
"You're in a waiting room, not too far from the Great Hall," came the taciturn reply.
Sitting up, she turned, and rested her back against the couch, letting her head slip and lay on the furniture. Keeping her eyes resolutely shut, she said, "Thank you."
"What for?" Elias swiftly replied. "I only did it to leave that boring feast. I hate these things, all those old nobles reminiscing about times so far back even the Hylian Scribes have forgotten them."
She heard him begin to pace, his leather boots muffled by the deep carpeting. "If you're glad you left, why are you so tense?" she asked, lifting her head to look him in the eye.
"It's none of your concern," he repeated, continuing to walk the floor. In the shadowy room, his garments appeared black, accentuating his hair and reminding her of Din's flames. He resembled a caged animal as he swept across the carpet, his head bent in concentration. I wonder if he feels what I do, Ket wondered suddenly. Maybe he heard the voice too. Gathering her courage, she asked him, "Is it from the voice?"
If he laughs, he won't be alive much longer, she thought fiercely, awaiting his reply. Her words stopped him in his tracks. Looking up at her with something akin to surprise, he said, "Voices?"
I shouldn't have opened my big mouth. "Nothing, forget I said anything."
Grabbing her shoulders in a surprisingly strong hold, Elias said, "What voices?"
Staring into his deep gaze, Ket thought, Maybe he has heard them. "The ones that say 'It has begun.'."
"Have you dreamed them too?" Elias asked. his face inches from hers.
Leaning back slightly, Ket said, "I don't remember any dreams. I heard it when I passed out in the Great Hall."
Elias registered her words and released her shoulders, returning to his pacing. Ket rubbed the feeling back into her limbs and asked, "Have you heard them?"
Stopping, Elias turned and stared at her, judging her ability to be trusted. Finally he said, "I haven't heard them, at least not in this world."
"Care to explain?" Ket commented, perplexed.
"I've dreamed about them for the past week or so. Constantly. It's always the same; I'm alone in the courtyard when I hear pleading screams. Then these voices tell me 'It has begun' or 'The cycle has been renewed'. It's driving me insane, I can't interpret these."
Ket frowned when she heard Elias speak. His words stirred memories from deep within, but try as she might, she could not recall them. Giving up, her brain fell on one of the phrases Elias had said. "What do you mean, interpret them? They're just dreams."
"Maybe for you," Elias said scornfully.
"And yours are so special?"
"Yes, mine are prophetic. At least most of the time."
"Come again?"
Elias sighed deeply, then sat on a chair opposite from her. "I have the ability to see the future. It's a rare gift that runs through the line of the Royal Family. The last person to have the ability was an ancient descendent of mine, Princess Zelda. She used her abilities to help the last great Hero, Link, defeat Ganon, the vile wizard who tried to take over all of Hyrule."
Ket remembered hearing that story once as a child. A wandering traveler had kept her and a bunch of other street children entertained with his tales of daring and magic. She had tried to get others to repeat the story once the nomad had left, but no one else could recall the ancient tale of a young man who aided his Princess in defeating the most evil man born, Ganon.
The twisted necromancer had wanted the entire Triforce for his possession so that he would rule the world, something every evil villain desires. But he had not accounted for Link, the one man brave enough to stand before him and stop his evil from spreading. After a fantastic battle that shattered the heavens, Link defeated Ganon, sealing him in the Sacred Realm where the Triforce once rested. The battle was hence known as the Imprisoning War and with its conclusion, Hyrule fell into a time of peace.
But the tale says, many years later, Ganon found a way to escape. Link had to retake the mantle of a hero once more to aid Zelda in banishing the man forever. Their legends were recorded in the Ancient Texts of Hyrule so that no one would forget their noble sacrifices.
Unfortunately, time has a way of erasing everything and people soon began to scoff at the idea that Ganon or the Legendary Hero ever existed. Other tales of other heroes that followed dotted the fresco of mythos, but they had all happened so long ago that most regarded them as simple children's tales and not the true legends the Ancient Texts described them to be.
As for what happened to the Triforce after Ganon found it and split the treasure into its three respective parts, Power, Wisdom, and Courage, the theories only became increasingly insane.
All varied and none seemed to hold a seed of truth to them. People still searched in the vain hope that they would be the ones to discover the ancient token and have a wish granted from the Goddesses when they held the mystical object in their hands. But that's only a legend, it's not real, scoffed Ket. The Prince must be out of his mind.
As if sensing her thoughts, Elias said softly but vehemently, "I am not insane. I speak the truth."
"Right, your Highness."
Flying from his seat, he renewed his pacing. "I was an idiot to tell you any of this."
Ket was about to say he was an idiot whether he told her something or not, when the feeling of tension reached a crescendo. At the same time, Elias halted in his tracks, his face ashen. "Something's not right," he said softly and took off running for the Great Hall.
Ket followed closely behind, pushing the dizziness behind her. She felt Elias' anxiety. Something was amiss, a pallor of disaster seemed to hang over everything as they rushed by. We're too far away, Ket thought desperately. We'll never get there in time.
She redoubled her efforts and ran harder, drawing even with Elias. A deep boom resounded through the air, surprising Ket and Elias into stopping. "What was that?" he asked, his eyes scanning for the source.
Danger, thought Ket ominously, starting off for the Great Hall again, Elias hot on her heels. The booming continued as they raced along the passages. When they neared the Hall, it ended only to be replaced by the sound of screams rising from hundreds of throats. Ket's heart leapt into her own throat at the sound, memories of her dream finally surfacing, too late to give her any aid.
They neared a corner that would take them to the opening of the Hall when they ran right into a group of strange soldiers. Recognizing the emblem of the silvery hawk on the tan background, Ket snatched Elias' arm and tore off in the other direction, the sounds of the confused troops echoing behind her.
Now she understood the origins of the booming noise. Dalitian soldiers must have used a battering ram to bust open the front gate. The source of the screams were explanation enough. Ket fought a surge of bile that rose at the thought. But how did they sneak in so close without raising an alarm?
Elias began fighting her grip, breaking her from her pondering. "Let me go," he hissed, trying to go back.
"What for?" Ket challenged. "Think you can hold off an entire garrison of troops by yourself?"
Receiving no response, Ket stopped trying to run forward and shook Elias, growling, "There is nothing we can do. The entire castle is under attack and we're just two kids."
Staring down the hall, Elias said desperately, "But my father-"
"Can take care of himself," Ket cut off harshly. "We'd only get in the way, or worse, those Dalitian bastards could use you against him. Is that what you want?"
"No-"
"Then come on!"
Renewing her grip on his hand, she ran with all her might, hoping they would reach an exit before the soldiers found them. The sounds of fighting filled the halls and rang off the stone walls, echoing until it seemed the gods themselves were battling.
They fled down corridor after corridor, sometimes having to backtrack when they discovered groups of soldiers deeply engrossed in their bloody play. Elias offered no help. Locked in a deep state of shock, his hand hung limply in hers and he followed wherever she led, his eyes turned inward to the turmoil within.
A feeling of desperation swallowed Ket. She had run all over the castle and now found herself completely lost. If only Elias would snap out of it to give me a direction to follow, she lamented. Coming to a fork in the hall, she hesitated, then swung right.
Bad choice, she thought when she spotted a troop of Dalitian soldiers sifting through the spoils they had won after slaughtering a group of escaping nobles. Unfortunately the task of dividing the riches was not interesting enough. One of the men looked up and saw Ket begin to step back. Smiling widely, he poked another soldier in the back and motioned to her and Elias.
Time to leave, Ket thought, racing for the fork and turning left instead of right. Nearing the end of the hall, Ket realized with dawning horror her second mistake. The hall ended with a tapestry of Lake Hylia blanketing a very solid partition, leaving no chance of escape or retreat.
Stone walls echoed the sounds of her harsh breathing, laughing at her naivety while she turned and pressed her back to the tapestry, feeling the smooth fabric sink under her weight, gripping Elias' unresponsive hand tighter.
She prayed fervently that the soldiers would think they went straight instead of turning. The sound of boot heels on stone soon dashed her hopes to pieces. "They're down here, I'm sure of it," called a rough voice from up ahead.
A small whimper escaped from her throat. The noise grew louder while Ket's hope for survival shrank until it flickered like a guttering candle trapped in a whirlwind. The curving of the hall prevented the oncoming soldiers from seeing them right away, but she knew it was only a matter of time. The sound of their footsteps swelled until it resounded against the stone, filling the corridor and Ket's heart throbbed in time to it.
They were reaching the final bend when a hand grabbed Ket from behind, covering her mouth, and pulled her into the supposedly solid stone she once stood braced against. Her cries muffled from the iron strong hold of her unknown assailant, she dropped Elias' hand and struggled, fighting to pull away.
Seizing an opportunity, she bit into the soft flesh covering her mouth. Stifling a curse, the owner of the hand continued to hang on, despite Ket's attacks. Her attacker's other hand snaked around and pinned her arms to her side, nullifying her struggles. "Will you stop?" demanded an amazingly familiar voice.
Ket stilled, barely allowing herself to hope.
"If I let go, will you promise not to yell?"
Nodding against the hold the person had on her, she prayed that she was right. Sighing, the hand dropped off her mouth, letting her breathe in deeply the musty air of the secret passageway. Total darkness covered her vision, preventing her from discovering if she was correct about the identity of the person who dragged them in here. She felt the hand return, this time gripping her own. "Follow me," the disembodied voice whispered. "Don't make a sound."
Walking compliantly, Ket followed the voice's lead, trying not to stumble in the pitch black hall. She trailed along, intensely grateful for being rescued from her dire predicament and hoped others would be saved from their bloody fate.
Traveling in the absence of light, Ket felt time drag. A year passed before her savior stopped and pulled her to the right. The wall swung open, revealing a softly lit garden.
Stepping out, a puff of welcome fresh air brushed against her face, chasing away the stale ether of the passageway. Something seemed off as she inhaled deeply, savoring the lightly scented breeze. A taint of bitterness wafted in, disturbing her reverie. Smoke. In horror, she turned to the castle. Now she knew why she could see so well when it was supposed to be night. Flames licked at the castle, hungrily devouring everything in its path.
The enemy soldiers were burning all the survivors out, or hoping to trap them in the raging inferno. A hand settled on her shoulder and Ket looked up to Impa, seeing her despair and anger reflected in the older woman's haggard face.
Elias stood beside her, finally returning to his senses. Gazing at his home burning brightly in the soft summer night, his eyes filled with tears. Turning to Impa, he asked huskily, "My father?"
Impa bowed her head in sorrow. "I'm sorry, I couldn't save him," she choked, fighting her own tears.
Elias faced the castle and slid to the ground. Clenching the grass with white-knuckled fingers, he whispered, "Father." Tears spilled freely, dazzling diamonds that reflected the raging hell the castle had become.
Impa offered no comfort to the aching boy; she could not. Her guilt at failing both Elias and Hyrule consumed her and held her back.
Ket stepped forward and sunk down to Elias' level. Lifting the sobbing boy's chin up with her hand, she gazed into his pain filled eyes, forgetting their enmity. With a gentle smile, she kissed away his tears, then drew him in close, offering the meager comfort her embrace offered.
Elias stiffened, then relaxed. His hands wrapped around Ket and he hung on fiercely, desperate for a small bit of security in his chaos enveloped world. He broke down completely, releasing all of his anger and sadness in a tidal wave of emotions.
They stayed like that as the world burned around them, drawing off each other's strength and comfort. Finally Impa touched Ket's head lightly, brushing her fingertips against Ket's sweat-laden hair. "We have to go," she said softly. "The soldiers will be here at any moment."
Nodding, Ket helped Elias up. The boy bowed his head to the fiery castle and whispered softly, "Good-bye, father. The Goddesses grant you peace in the realm of the dead."
Straightening his shoulders, he faced Impa and Ket and said, "Let's go."
Impa nodded and set off for the garden's exit. "From here we'll go to Kakariko for supplies to get us on our way," Impa told them as they walked cautiously across the lush grass.
Kakariko was the closest town to Hyrule Castle and sat at the base of Death Mountain. The small village remained impenetrable, defended by the natural obstacles of the treacherous terrain and the stout walls surrounding it, and hopefully stayed untouched by Dalitian hands. It was the best place to go, but also the most obvious. Ket hoped they would be long gone before the Dalitian soldiers thought to search there.
Trailing after Impa and Elias, Ket crept along silently, every nerve stretched drum tight as they exited the garden and began walking along the castle's outer walls.
A muffled snort broke the silence, freezing everyone in their tracks. Impa motioned for them to stay and inched along the wall, searching for the source of the noise. She scrambled back a moment later and both Ket and Elias were about to flee when she whispered excitedly, "It's Hylian soldiers! They've been waiting for us to escape. I told them to stay here when I got out and realized you two were still in there. Come on."
For some reason, Impa's words only filled Ket with a sense of dread. Stop it, she commanded herself. You've got enough to worry about without dreaming up new problems. With that, she chased after Impa and Elias and rounded the corner.
A regiment of guards sat atop horses, just as Impa said. There were two mounts with no riders, one of them being Zephyr. Probably for Impa and Elias, she mused, unbothered by the fact that they had not considered her. It was to be expected. She was only common after all.
Elias mounted the other restless horse, sitting slack in the saddle. He had reverted back to his shell-shocked state and Ket hardly blamed him. If she could, she would copy him, sliding into a state of oblivion eagerly. But reality always harshly forced her to face it head on.
Impa motioned for her to mount first on her horse and she obeyed. She felt Impa swing up behind her when a noise like a whizzing bird swept past her ears. The soldier next to them slumped over his horse's neck, a shaft sticking from his back. "Go!" yelled Impa, all pretense of quiet shattered.
They spurred their horses on, filling the narrow passage that led into Hyrule Castle Town. More arrows flew as their enemy learned of their escaping. Soldiers dropped like flies, their bodies tripping up their fleeing mounts. Ket saw the end of the passage near and said gleefully, "We're almost there!"
As if called by her words, another arrow flew straight and true. She felt the shudder in response to the burrowing arrow, pushing itself deep into Impa's back. Turning, she saw the warrior begin to slip from the saddle and latched on, holding her tight. Hooves ringing on the flagstones, they raced past the city, seeing the frightened faces of the peasants blur by.
Exploding from the main drawbridge, they flew on, unchallenged. All the troops must be focused on the castle, Ket thought, her heart giving a giant leap for joy. Reaching Hyrule Field, the Hylian soldiers swept left, heading towards Death Mountain and the city that squatted at its feet.
Zephyr raced on by himself, venturing straight into the summer night and into the unknown. With Ket's hands full and no one to guide him, he continued unchecked, leading them farther from the fleeing band of soldiers and Elias. Ket could only hold on to Impa and pray the horse brought them to safety.
The sounds of battle began to fade as the burning castle disappeared over the dark horizon. Ket watched it recede, staring past Impa's unresponsive head, her body half turned in the saddle to support the unconscious woman's weight . Her mind began to hum blankly, the shock of the night finally catching up.
When she came to her senses again, their horse stood still, panting heavily. His once golden hide was darkened with sweat and steamed in the warm night. He limply hung his head, inhaling nosily, ribs heaving like a bellows.
A sense of isolation enveloped her. Giant trees surrounded them, obliterating the sky above. We're a long way from the castle, she thought with a touch of apprehension. The deep forest was ominously quiet, as if the woods held its breath, waiting.
A small groan snatched her from her thoughts. Impa! Dismounting, she eased the injured woman from the exhausted horse and laid her on her side on the forest floor, carpeted in pine needles and fallen leaves.
Her once ice blue tunic was stained darkly, reflecting dully in the meager moonlight that filtered from the trees. Oh Goddesses, not Impa. Please, take me instead, she pleaded to the watching universe.
Silence met her prayers, broken only by Impa's harsh breathing.
Desperate, Ket broke off the arrow head that protruded from Impa's chest and pulled the bloody missile from its warm home. Impa let out a shrill scream that echoed off the wooden trunks, her body rigid in pain.
Tearing a hank of fabric from her skirt, she bound Impa's wound while her mind clamored, It's too late, you can't save her. Shut up, she savagely told her panicking brain, freeing herself to focus totally on Impa's struggling body. A rattle filled her lungs every time she inhaled, and Ket felt cold with fear. She couldn't die, it wasn't fair, it wasn't right! Why did everyone she love leave her? "You can't die," she demanded. "You can't!"
"Why's that?" murmured a weak voice.
"Impa, you're awake!"
"Unfortunately," she said dryly. "Exactly why can't I die?"
"Because- because-", Ket floundered for the words. "Because you promised me before I left for this foolhardy adventure that you'd prove to me justice exists in this twisted world; that others do help people for no reason. Besides," she continued, on the verge of tears. "You still owe me the money for taking care of your sorry carcass from before!"
Impa chuckled softly, then grimaced as pain shot through her body. "I was hoping you'd forget about that."
"I don't forget debts," she said softly, clasping Impa's cold, blood-stained hand in hers.
"Dear girl," Impa said reverently, raising her free hand to caress Ket's face. "I was blessed when I found you. I hope you keep your beautiful, strong spirit for all time."
"Stay alive and you'll make sure of it," Ket pleaded.
"I'll try," said Impa, letting her hand weakly drop to her chest.
Ket blinked and a tear spilled, its path burning down her face before it reached her chin and dropped onto Impa's pallid cheek. "Please don't cry for me," murmured Impa softly. "I've lived a wonderful life and have no regrets, but I can't stand to leave you sad."
Sniffling, Ket wiped her face and forced her tears away for another time. "I won't cry for you," she whispered softly.
Suddenly, like a guttering candle, Impa flared up. "There's something I want to give you." Reaching feebly to her belt, she gave up and allowed Ket to open the leather pouch that hung there.
Inside rested a beautifully crafted wooden instrument, its polished and worn sides gleaming softly in the light. It was oval shaped and consisted of three holes spaced in a row on one end and four set in a diamond pattern on the other. A mouth piece sat on the side and off-centered, closer to the diamond set holes. A shiny metal band covered half the mouth piece, the Triforce emblem shining against the steel. The small flute was cool against her hands.
Curious, Ket glanced up to find Impa watching her intently. "That was something I was supposed to give Elias one day," Impa told her, clutching to her fading strength.
"It's the Ocarina of Time," she continued. "It was the Royal Family's treasure and now it's yours. I want you to keep it until you find Elias. Promise me you'll give it to him."
"But you can," Ket said desperately. "If you just try..."
Impa smiled wanly. "We both know the truth, child, don't hide from it. The truth is your greatest ally, remember that. And promise me you will complete my task."
Swallowing hard, Ket said, "I promise."
"Good girl," said Impa, her eyes fluttering shut.
She was silent for a moment and then, "Ket?"
"Yes?"
"Will you hold my hand?" she said softly.
Not trusting her voice, Ket held Impa's hands tightly in her own, as if by her simple act she keep Impa from Death's waiting embrace. "That's much better," sighed Impa softly. "Now it doesn't feel so cold."
Ket sat next to Impa, watching her chest rise and fall weakly. Then finally her chest fell once and stayed there. Grasping Impa's hands in bone-cracking grip, Ket whispered, "No."
Raising her face to the canopy of trees, she screamed, "NO!" then fell onto Impa's still form, her sobs racking her body.