Crystal Tears
Corruption on the Horizon
---
"Be careful on your way to town," An older man cautioned a younger boy, his bushy black mustache twitching as he spoke. "They say the tektites have been migrating south from the mountain region..."
"I know, I know," The boy interrupted with a grin. "And last time you were in town there was a guy that was attacked and blah blah... you've already told me this story, uncle."
The man frowned and looked down on his nephew with disapproval. (I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to Link... his father entrusted me with his care...) "You should take your safety more seriously, boy. Tektites are fearsome creatures, especially in groups."
A mischevious glint shone in the young boy's blue eyes, but the source of that tricky shine could never be revealed to his overprotective guardian -- little did that old worrywart know that he had already disbanded several of the irksome creatures who had strayed to close to their secluded household. If his uncle discovered that he had been slaying creatures with his sword when no one was looking... he shuddered to think of the punishment such antics would warrant. But... honestly. Tektites, fearsome creatures? "I've never had a problem before," he replied innocently, turning his most boyishly sweet grin on his uncle, hoping to reassure him.
"I wish I got the impression my words were getting through to you..." His uncle sighed, shaking his head. "The world isn't always going to be the fairyland childhood makes it out to be, boy."
"I understand," Link replied honestly, for he did understand that... but he also understood that the only way he'd be allowed to go to Kakariko for the day was if he appeased his uncle well enough.
"Bah, get out of here, then."
Surprised by this abrupt dismissal, Link opted not to wait around for a change of heart. Shouting a quick thanks, he spun around and slammed out the door, clutching a bag of rupees in his hand. He took off at a quick pace he knew he'd never maintain all the way to the village, keeping a sharp look out for anything of interest along the way.
"You'd think he'd notice that I'm a little more capable of taking care of myself than he'd like to think," He muttered to himself, kicking a stone along the well worn path to Kakariko Village. "If he doesn't want me out in this so-called wilderness myself, why doesn't he move into town? I never understood why we have to live so far away from everything..."
---
Zelda listened quietly at the entrance into the castle from her secret passage, her beating heart the only sound that her ears could discern. The only drawback to this otherwise fantastic passage was the fact that its entrance and thus exit was only found in the Throne Room of the castle, right behind her father's throne. If she were to re-enter at the wrong time, her secret would be discovered... the results of which would bear enormous consequence. At the moment, it sounded as though the throne room was deserted, so she carefully pushed the large stone monolith that guarded the entrance forward a crack, allowing her ample room to exit.
She made her way past the lavishly decorated throne room and onto the upper landing of the entrance hall of Hyrule Castle, smiling at guards along the way in a manner she hoped helped to portray an innocent exterior. At the top of the stairs, as she prepared to make her way down and toward her private chamber, her eyes caught sight of something that froze her blood in an instant.
(That's the man...) Her mind numbly realized, trying to fully comprehend the implications of what she saw before her. Two guards, escorting a man into the castle, a man expressing urgent wishes to meet with her father... the same man whose laughing face she had looked at through the walls of her crystal prison in her dream.
She wanted to run, but the adventurous spirit that was both her greatest asset and most poisonous curse rooted her in place. Why did this man wish to see her father? Her uncanny wisdom spurred her to use her impeccable knowledge of the castle to secure a hiding place, from which she could overhear the impending meeting. (Undoubtedly, my father will see him in the throne room, where he meets with any who seek his audience...) Knowing this, she dashed back the way she had come, backtracking into the Throne Room, and taking refuge behind one of the many thick green curtains that hung as decoration there. Instinctively she knew she did not have long to wait...
---
(It should not be too difficult to convince the King of my honorable intentions,) Aghanim mused, (Judging by the ease with which the minds of these foolish guards are manipulated.)
A simple mind affecting spell, meant to convince its target that the caster was noble and to be well received, and the all important clause that their wishes should be attended to immediately, with no question. His particular wish, to see the King and be given full access to the most secret of Hyrule's spellbooks and ancient volumes, would be easily fulfilled with this spell cast upon the Monarch himself. The wizard followed the spellbound guards with a smirk hidden by his concealing headpiece set upon his face. He caught sight of a young girl staring at him from the top of the stairs from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but wonder what the Princess Zelda was doing out of her room unescorted. Perhaps the customs of the Royal Family had changed, but more likely, she was up to some sort of childish mischief. (Nevertheless, best to keep an eye out for potential distractions.)
The guards led him through dozens of beautifully adorned hallways and meeting rooms, and up several flights of stairs into the Tower of Hyrule Castle before he finally stood before the private chambers of the King. The guards indicated that he should wait while they informed His Majesty of his wishes, and he was only too happy to comply. It would not be long now.
Indecipherable sounds emitted from behind the heavily jeweled door Aghanim stood at, and the wizard found himself growing impatient as the time passed. He was ready to simply open the doors and demand an audience himself, when they finally opened again, admitting the two guards that had led him up here back into his presence. An apologetic look marred both of their faces, indicating that the news they were to relay would not be favorable.
"Pardon, sir, but His Highness says that he can give no audience until late tomorrow, at the very earliest," The first guard explained nervously.
"Important affairs of state, you know..." the second agreed, shifting his weight between his right and left legs. His armor clanked annoyingly each time he moved, grating upon the wizard's already frayed nerves.
"I assure you, my business is far more important than whatever he attends to now," Aghanim argued, gritting his teeth in silent frustration. He had been waiting years to find the answer... but another night still seemed like an eternity to his impatient mind.
"It cannot be helped, Sir."
"His Highness was very firm in his speech."
Instead of replying directly, the wizard muttered something unintelligible beneath his breath, rasping out words in a foreign language. Confused, the guards looked at him in concern, wondering what their reaction to this peculiarity should be. Both realized only too late that the incantations were to activate a spell, and before either could draw their weapons, they slumped forward into a magically induced faint.
"A mere sleep spell... Hylian minds have grown too weak to resist even the simplest of spells their ancestors created; such a sad state of affairs," Aghanim mocked, reaching forward to open the door and meet with this King himself.
---
(I must have been mistaken,) Zelda thought to herself, still waiting behind the emerald hued curtains that had become her would-be spy's nest. She had figured the man would find a way to convince her father to grant him an audience immediately, but apparently not even the villian of her dreams had the ability to rouse him from his paperwork. A sour smile found its way to her face at that... at least that was one feat he couldn't outmatch her in accomplishing. Self doubt eventually wormed its way into her mind as the minutes flew by, all without admitting her father and the mysterious sorcerer she had glimpsed. (And just barely, at that,) she chided herself. (What if you were simply so preoccupied with the discussion you had with Rikoru that you mistook a normal ambassador, or some other perfectly normal figure paying a visit for the man in the dream? Psychological tricks born from a too full mind?)
She shook her head determinedly. (No, that was him. Stop second guessing your instincts!) Such internal conversations might have seemed somewhat indicative of an unsound mind to some, but to her they were effective calming mechanisms. She froze as the sound of the doors to the Throne room being opened reached her. (There they are!) She thought triumphantly. She dared not peek her head out for fear of discovery.
Silence for a few seconds... then the sound of shuffling feet... but only one pair? Wouldn't her father be escorted by guards? And the Wizard should at least be there as well. Something was awry...
She gasped and let out a small squeak as the curtain she hid behind was drawn aside, admitting to her sight a shocked woman brandishing a harmless featherduster in her right hand. A servant, sent to clean the Throne Room... (What a silly way to be caught,) Zelda thought in irritation, all the while trying to think up a good excuse as to why she should be hiding in the throne room.
"Princess Zelda!" The woman exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. "What are you doing out of your room? Your father would have a fit if he saw this!"
"So, you're not going to tell him?" Zelda pleaded, knowing that if this event were to reach her father's ears the security surrounding her would increase by tenfold, making it nearly impossible to escape to see Rikoru. Faced with such a moral dilemma, the servant girl frowned, not knowing what to reply.
"I suppose if His Highness were to find out he would be angry with us for losing track of you in the first place..."
"He would be furious!" Zelda agreed, playing on the woman's fear of her father. "He might even throw some of you in jail..."
"On the other hand," The girl continued, "If I keep this from him, and he finds out that I kept silent on such an important matter, the consequences for my silence could be unbearable..."
"No, no! He'll never find out if you don't say anything!" Zelda assured her, trying desperately to get her off this line of thought. (If I'm imprisoned in my room all day I'll go crazy!)
"...Just promise me, from now on you'll take an escort with you when you want to wander about the castle," The girl negotiated firmly. "Your escapades threaten mine and my friends' jobs and overall well-being, you know... I understand that you want some freedom, Princess, but try not to be so selfish!"
"Indeed, I'll keep that lesson in mind," Zelda agreed sweetly, slipping past her to return to her room. She allowed the implicit insult to slip by without addressing it for two reasons: one, she was glad the woman didn't bring up the fact that she was hiding out in the throne room, and two, she was happy that she wouldn't tell her father what had happened. (Yet... I must find out when he's going to meet with that Wizard!)
---
(A/N):
Yes, I'm going to put Link in here, though his role isn't as important as you'd think until the game actually would pick up. Is it just me, or are these chapters getting longer as I go? I can't say with any certainty whether or not this trend will continue... not that it matters. Ahem. Can I trust you to continue to the next chapter? I hope so, good reader. I do hope so.
Corruption on the Horizon
---
"Be careful on your way to town," An older man cautioned a younger boy, his bushy black mustache twitching as he spoke. "They say the tektites have been migrating south from the mountain region..."
"I know, I know," The boy interrupted with a grin. "And last time you were in town there was a guy that was attacked and blah blah... you've already told me this story, uncle."
The man frowned and looked down on his nephew with disapproval. (I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to Link... his father entrusted me with his care...) "You should take your safety more seriously, boy. Tektites are fearsome creatures, especially in groups."
A mischevious glint shone in the young boy's blue eyes, but the source of that tricky shine could never be revealed to his overprotective guardian -- little did that old worrywart know that he had already disbanded several of the irksome creatures who had strayed to close to their secluded household. If his uncle discovered that he had been slaying creatures with his sword when no one was looking... he shuddered to think of the punishment such antics would warrant. But... honestly. Tektites, fearsome creatures? "I've never had a problem before," he replied innocently, turning his most boyishly sweet grin on his uncle, hoping to reassure him.
"I wish I got the impression my words were getting through to you..." His uncle sighed, shaking his head. "The world isn't always going to be the fairyland childhood makes it out to be, boy."
"I understand," Link replied honestly, for he did understand that... but he also understood that the only way he'd be allowed to go to Kakariko for the day was if he appeased his uncle well enough.
"Bah, get out of here, then."
Surprised by this abrupt dismissal, Link opted not to wait around for a change of heart. Shouting a quick thanks, he spun around and slammed out the door, clutching a bag of rupees in his hand. He took off at a quick pace he knew he'd never maintain all the way to the village, keeping a sharp look out for anything of interest along the way.
"You'd think he'd notice that I'm a little more capable of taking care of myself than he'd like to think," He muttered to himself, kicking a stone along the well worn path to Kakariko Village. "If he doesn't want me out in this so-called wilderness myself, why doesn't he move into town? I never understood why we have to live so far away from everything..."
---
Zelda listened quietly at the entrance into the castle from her secret passage, her beating heart the only sound that her ears could discern. The only drawback to this otherwise fantastic passage was the fact that its entrance and thus exit was only found in the Throne Room of the castle, right behind her father's throne. If she were to re-enter at the wrong time, her secret would be discovered... the results of which would bear enormous consequence. At the moment, it sounded as though the throne room was deserted, so she carefully pushed the large stone monolith that guarded the entrance forward a crack, allowing her ample room to exit.
She made her way past the lavishly decorated throne room and onto the upper landing of the entrance hall of Hyrule Castle, smiling at guards along the way in a manner she hoped helped to portray an innocent exterior. At the top of the stairs, as she prepared to make her way down and toward her private chamber, her eyes caught sight of something that froze her blood in an instant.
(That's the man...) Her mind numbly realized, trying to fully comprehend the implications of what she saw before her. Two guards, escorting a man into the castle, a man expressing urgent wishes to meet with her father... the same man whose laughing face she had looked at through the walls of her crystal prison in her dream.
She wanted to run, but the adventurous spirit that was both her greatest asset and most poisonous curse rooted her in place. Why did this man wish to see her father? Her uncanny wisdom spurred her to use her impeccable knowledge of the castle to secure a hiding place, from which she could overhear the impending meeting. (Undoubtedly, my father will see him in the throne room, where he meets with any who seek his audience...) Knowing this, she dashed back the way she had come, backtracking into the Throne Room, and taking refuge behind one of the many thick green curtains that hung as decoration there. Instinctively she knew she did not have long to wait...
---
(It should not be too difficult to convince the King of my honorable intentions,) Aghanim mused, (Judging by the ease with which the minds of these foolish guards are manipulated.)
A simple mind affecting spell, meant to convince its target that the caster was noble and to be well received, and the all important clause that their wishes should be attended to immediately, with no question. His particular wish, to see the King and be given full access to the most secret of Hyrule's spellbooks and ancient volumes, would be easily fulfilled with this spell cast upon the Monarch himself. The wizard followed the spellbound guards with a smirk hidden by his concealing headpiece set upon his face. He caught sight of a young girl staring at him from the top of the stairs from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but wonder what the Princess Zelda was doing out of her room unescorted. Perhaps the customs of the Royal Family had changed, but more likely, she was up to some sort of childish mischief. (Nevertheless, best to keep an eye out for potential distractions.)
The guards led him through dozens of beautifully adorned hallways and meeting rooms, and up several flights of stairs into the Tower of Hyrule Castle before he finally stood before the private chambers of the King. The guards indicated that he should wait while they informed His Majesty of his wishes, and he was only too happy to comply. It would not be long now.
Indecipherable sounds emitted from behind the heavily jeweled door Aghanim stood at, and the wizard found himself growing impatient as the time passed. He was ready to simply open the doors and demand an audience himself, when they finally opened again, admitting the two guards that had led him up here back into his presence. An apologetic look marred both of their faces, indicating that the news they were to relay would not be favorable.
"Pardon, sir, but His Highness says that he can give no audience until late tomorrow, at the very earliest," The first guard explained nervously.
"Important affairs of state, you know..." the second agreed, shifting his weight between his right and left legs. His armor clanked annoyingly each time he moved, grating upon the wizard's already frayed nerves.
"I assure you, my business is far more important than whatever he attends to now," Aghanim argued, gritting his teeth in silent frustration. He had been waiting years to find the answer... but another night still seemed like an eternity to his impatient mind.
"It cannot be helped, Sir."
"His Highness was very firm in his speech."
Instead of replying directly, the wizard muttered something unintelligible beneath his breath, rasping out words in a foreign language. Confused, the guards looked at him in concern, wondering what their reaction to this peculiarity should be. Both realized only too late that the incantations were to activate a spell, and before either could draw their weapons, they slumped forward into a magically induced faint.
"A mere sleep spell... Hylian minds have grown too weak to resist even the simplest of spells their ancestors created; such a sad state of affairs," Aghanim mocked, reaching forward to open the door and meet with this King himself.
---
(I must have been mistaken,) Zelda thought to herself, still waiting behind the emerald hued curtains that had become her would-be spy's nest. She had figured the man would find a way to convince her father to grant him an audience immediately, but apparently not even the villian of her dreams had the ability to rouse him from his paperwork. A sour smile found its way to her face at that... at least that was one feat he couldn't outmatch her in accomplishing. Self doubt eventually wormed its way into her mind as the minutes flew by, all without admitting her father and the mysterious sorcerer she had glimpsed. (And just barely, at that,) she chided herself. (What if you were simply so preoccupied with the discussion you had with Rikoru that you mistook a normal ambassador, or some other perfectly normal figure paying a visit for the man in the dream? Psychological tricks born from a too full mind?)
She shook her head determinedly. (No, that was him. Stop second guessing your instincts!) Such internal conversations might have seemed somewhat indicative of an unsound mind to some, but to her they were effective calming mechanisms. She froze as the sound of the doors to the Throne room being opened reached her. (There they are!) She thought triumphantly. She dared not peek her head out for fear of discovery.
Silence for a few seconds... then the sound of shuffling feet... but only one pair? Wouldn't her father be escorted by guards? And the Wizard should at least be there as well. Something was awry...
She gasped and let out a small squeak as the curtain she hid behind was drawn aside, admitting to her sight a shocked woman brandishing a harmless featherduster in her right hand. A servant, sent to clean the Throne Room... (What a silly way to be caught,) Zelda thought in irritation, all the while trying to think up a good excuse as to why she should be hiding in the throne room.
"Princess Zelda!" The woman exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. "What are you doing out of your room? Your father would have a fit if he saw this!"
"So, you're not going to tell him?" Zelda pleaded, knowing that if this event were to reach her father's ears the security surrounding her would increase by tenfold, making it nearly impossible to escape to see Rikoru. Faced with such a moral dilemma, the servant girl frowned, not knowing what to reply.
"I suppose if His Highness were to find out he would be angry with us for losing track of you in the first place..."
"He would be furious!" Zelda agreed, playing on the woman's fear of her father. "He might even throw some of you in jail..."
"On the other hand," The girl continued, "If I keep this from him, and he finds out that I kept silent on such an important matter, the consequences for my silence could be unbearable..."
"No, no! He'll never find out if you don't say anything!" Zelda assured her, trying desperately to get her off this line of thought. (If I'm imprisoned in my room all day I'll go crazy!)
"...Just promise me, from now on you'll take an escort with you when you want to wander about the castle," The girl negotiated firmly. "Your escapades threaten mine and my friends' jobs and overall well-being, you know... I understand that you want some freedom, Princess, but try not to be so selfish!"
"Indeed, I'll keep that lesson in mind," Zelda agreed sweetly, slipping past her to return to her room. She allowed the implicit insult to slip by without addressing it for two reasons: one, she was glad the woman didn't bring up the fact that she was hiding out in the throne room, and two, she was happy that she wouldn't tell her father what had happened. (Yet... I must find out when he's going to meet with that Wizard!)
---
(A/N):
Yes, I'm going to put Link in here, though his role isn't as important as you'd think until the game actually would pick up. Is it just me, or are these chapters getting longer as I go? I can't say with any certainty whether or not this trend will continue... not that it matters. Ahem. Can I trust you to continue to the next chapter? I hope so, good reader. I do hope so.