Chapter 3
Link was uneasy. And although he wouldn't let it show, he was afraid. The images of his dreams haunted him. Saria's tale made him quite uncomfortable. He tried his best not to sleep, for his nightmares did nothing less but frightened him. He spent most of his spare time with Saria. He comforted her, and she made him feel more at ease. He seemed to be the only comfort to Saria's empty sadness.
Saria and Link walked along rows of beautifully bloomed roses in the castle gardens. Shades of red, white, pink, and yellow, blended with the green leaves. Bright green ivy, sprinkled with morning dewdrops, clung to the outside stonewalls of the castle. A single large willow tree hung over a stone bench, shading it from the sun's bright rays. ''I miss the forest...'' Saria said to Link, setting the tip of one of her fingers onto a closed rose bud. Her voice was sad, and her eyes sparkled with tears. ''I miss how everything used to be. Why can't Hyrule be left in peace, Link?'' The bud glowed with a soft green light, and bloomed into a deep violet color. Link didn't know how to answer her question. He simply shrugged, and looked up into the cloudless blue sky. Saria's long green robes trailed the soft grass, as she walked closer to Link. For reassurance perhaps. ''I'm afraid.'' She whispered softly. Link only nodded, sharing her concern.
* * * *
Zelda had began to see prophesies not long after Saria's arrival. She had not told anyone what was to happen, she merely said that she saw Hyrule's fate. She was just as she normally was, except that she had stopped talking to Link. She barely uttered a word to him whenever they saw each other. She tried to avoid him whenever she could. She spent much time in her quarters, alone. Nobody knew what was going on. And Link was quite worried.
Nonstop rumors started flying around, like a bird trapped in the rafters of a small house. Rumors of people suddenly disappearing, and then found in the most unlikely place, dead. Some people thought they were nothing but rumors started by troublemakers, but still there were some that believed them. Link was one of those who believed the far-fetched tales. He believed Saria, and it scared him.
* * * *
Link didn't know what was going on. There were some times when he would wake up suddenly, and not remember falling asleep. Parts of the day he would not remember, no matter how hard he searched his mind. He thought that he might be going mad.
He came into the castle one day, flecks of blood smeared across his face, and scratches that looked much like fingernails had been dug into his arm, and he had no idea how they had gotten there.
Link wandered around the castle hallways, his head throbbing painfully. His vision was blurred slightly, under the pain from his pounding head. He stopped his slow stumbling walk, and leaned his back up against the gray stonewall of the hallway he was currently in. The cold of the stone, shot through his warm body, causing him to shiver slightly. He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply, forcing himself to relax, to ease the pain in his head. A group of young priests passed by Link, mumbling to one another. He opened his blue eyes, only enough so he could see, and watched them, as they stopped not far from him. He had seen a lot of priests lately. He figured that they had sensed the evil presence and they had come to purify the castle with their holy powers.
These priests's all wore torn gray gowns, and they all looked as if they had traveled a long way. Link watched them, as they huddled together. They were talking so softly even Link, standing about a foot away, could barely hear. Link strained his slender pointed ears to hear what they were saying. He caught only a few sentences. A young boy spoke up a little louder than the rest. He had messy brown hair, and barely visible, but obviously there, a thin silver scar across his cheek. ''We will all die. The rumors say that hell itself has crawled up from the grounds of Hyrule.'' The others nodded and mumbled to one another. Link noticed they were all male, and were all fairly young. There were only about five in all. Another young man spoke, a bit louder than the other boy. ''I say curse the rumors. We need to worry about reality, not about what somebody else says.'' His long black hair fell loosely over his broad shoulders, and his green eyes were lively, and determined.
"It's nothing but rubbish." The others nodded again, apparently agreeing more with this young man. The first boy who spoke, finally seemed to notice Link. He looked over at Link with sad violet eyes. He had the eyes of a man who had seen too many things. Who had seen too many evil things. He was very short, and had a weak appearance. Link saw another vertical silver scar across the boys left eye. It gave the impression that he was crying. The boy didn't dare speak again; he just looked away, and followed his group as they walked from the hallway, going about their business.
* * * *
Over the next few days, Link felt as if his strength were returning, for the rumors started to cease, but the sense of evil still hung dense in the air. Zelda however, would not leave her quarters of the castle. She refused to speak to anyone now. This was the longest time she had ever spent in her quarters, and the castle attendants were terrified.
Link walked his way to Zelda's quarters, but was stopped by two guards standing at the foot of a wide elegant stairway, leading to Zelda's private rooms. ''I am sorry sir, but Princess Zelda will not permit visitors.'' The other guard nodded in agreement. ''Tis our job to carry out the Princess' wishes.'' Link opened his mouth to argue, but closed his mouth again, concealing his disappointment. He nodded without saying a word, and sulked back the way he had come.
''Zelda will come back around, in time.'' Saria said with a reassuring smile. They sat at a small, round wooden table, in Saria's comfortable royal guest room. Link didn't seem convinced so easily. ''I'm worried. She hasn't spoken to any of us in days, and most likely wont come from her rooms for a while.'' Saria coiled her long green hair around her fingers. ''Give her some time. It must be awful for her to see things that will eventually be.'' Link opened his mouth to protest, but Saria placed a finger to his lips to silence him. ''Besides, a woman must put up with a certain time of the month. It's something you need not worry about.'' She laughed at the stupefied expression on Link's face.
He didn't know what she was talking about, but he didn't push the matter further, for a guard stumbled clumsily into the room they were occupying. His face was pale, and he had a frightened look in his eyes. ''A body...A body in the castle meadow..'' Was all he was able to say. Saria and Link exchanged terrified expressions, and left the room without question as the guard followed close behind.
Link and Saria saw a group of castle guards, and at least one priest, huddled together, watching something that lay unmoving on the ground. Link jogged up to the small group of six or so, to see what lie on the ground. What he saw shocked him. A young boy lay on the ground, dead. Saria looked over Link's shoulder, clamped her hand tightly over her mouth and turned away from the dead body, utterly disgusted. The boy's brown hair was messily matted to his forehead with blood. His face was so smudged with dirt and blood, Link had to kneel down to see the boy's distinctive features. He was very young, and had a thin silver scar across his cheek, and another across his eye. Link knew this was the young priest he had seen a few days earlier.
The young priest had a wind hole, the size of a fist through chest. His heart had obviously been ripped from his body. Blood stained the green grass around him, and his gray robes were soaked. Link felt a stab of pity for the boy, and wished he could of somehow prevented this. The group mumbled to each other as they eventually wandered away to leave the mess to be cleaned up by someone else. Link bowed his head in a moment of respect. He then turned his head around to find Saria, and saw something glinting in the long grass, by a nearby tree. It caught the sun's rays and shined brightly on the spot. Link stood up, not taking his eyes from it, as he walked toward it. ''What is it?'' Saria asked, desperately trying to keep her gaze away from the brutally beaten body. Link again, kneeled down, and picked up the object into the palm in his hand. He looked down at it. A beautifully hand crafted silver cross necklace, that could only belong to one of the high priests of Hyrule. He turned it over in his hand. It had a name on the other side, but he couldn't make it out. It appeared that it had been ripped from someone's neck, for the fine silver chain it hung on, was broken. ''Nikol was one of our highest priests, and our youngest.'' A female voice said. Link's head jerked up, and there standing not far in front of him, was Zelda herself.
''I was informed that he was found. I'm sorry you two had to witness this.'' She bowed her head. Link walked over to Zelda, and set the necklace in her hand. ''You finally came from your rooms.'' A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth for a brief second, and then vanished. ''Tell me. What have you seen?'' Zelda looked out over the meadow. Her eyes watered over. ''I will tell you when you need to know.'' Link nodded, leaving them, and left Saria and Zelda alone with Nikol. ''Excuse me...'' Saria said in a choked voice, and ran after Link, feeling very sick. Zelda turned to look at the dead Nikol. Her hand clutched the necklace tightly, as tears sprang up to her bright eyes, and rolled steadily down her fair cheeks. ''God rest your soul...''
Link was uneasy. And although he wouldn't let it show, he was afraid. The images of his dreams haunted him. Saria's tale made him quite uncomfortable. He tried his best not to sleep, for his nightmares did nothing less but frightened him. He spent most of his spare time with Saria. He comforted her, and she made him feel more at ease. He seemed to be the only comfort to Saria's empty sadness.
Saria and Link walked along rows of beautifully bloomed roses in the castle gardens. Shades of red, white, pink, and yellow, blended with the green leaves. Bright green ivy, sprinkled with morning dewdrops, clung to the outside stonewalls of the castle. A single large willow tree hung over a stone bench, shading it from the sun's bright rays. ''I miss the forest...'' Saria said to Link, setting the tip of one of her fingers onto a closed rose bud. Her voice was sad, and her eyes sparkled with tears. ''I miss how everything used to be. Why can't Hyrule be left in peace, Link?'' The bud glowed with a soft green light, and bloomed into a deep violet color. Link didn't know how to answer her question. He simply shrugged, and looked up into the cloudless blue sky. Saria's long green robes trailed the soft grass, as she walked closer to Link. For reassurance perhaps. ''I'm afraid.'' She whispered softly. Link only nodded, sharing her concern.
* * * *
Zelda had began to see prophesies not long after Saria's arrival. She had not told anyone what was to happen, she merely said that she saw Hyrule's fate. She was just as she normally was, except that she had stopped talking to Link. She barely uttered a word to him whenever they saw each other. She tried to avoid him whenever she could. She spent much time in her quarters, alone. Nobody knew what was going on. And Link was quite worried.
Nonstop rumors started flying around, like a bird trapped in the rafters of a small house. Rumors of people suddenly disappearing, and then found in the most unlikely place, dead. Some people thought they were nothing but rumors started by troublemakers, but still there were some that believed them. Link was one of those who believed the far-fetched tales. He believed Saria, and it scared him.
* * * *
Link didn't know what was going on. There were some times when he would wake up suddenly, and not remember falling asleep. Parts of the day he would not remember, no matter how hard he searched his mind. He thought that he might be going mad.
He came into the castle one day, flecks of blood smeared across his face, and scratches that looked much like fingernails had been dug into his arm, and he had no idea how they had gotten there.
Link wandered around the castle hallways, his head throbbing painfully. His vision was blurred slightly, under the pain from his pounding head. He stopped his slow stumbling walk, and leaned his back up against the gray stonewall of the hallway he was currently in. The cold of the stone, shot through his warm body, causing him to shiver slightly. He closed his eyes, exhaling deeply, forcing himself to relax, to ease the pain in his head. A group of young priests passed by Link, mumbling to one another. He opened his blue eyes, only enough so he could see, and watched them, as they stopped not far from him. He had seen a lot of priests lately. He figured that they had sensed the evil presence and they had come to purify the castle with their holy powers.
These priests's all wore torn gray gowns, and they all looked as if they had traveled a long way. Link watched them, as they huddled together. They were talking so softly even Link, standing about a foot away, could barely hear. Link strained his slender pointed ears to hear what they were saying. He caught only a few sentences. A young boy spoke up a little louder than the rest. He had messy brown hair, and barely visible, but obviously there, a thin silver scar across his cheek. ''We will all die. The rumors say that hell itself has crawled up from the grounds of Hyrule.'' The others nodded and mumbled to one another. Link noticed they were all male, and were all fairly young. There were only about five in all. Another young man spoke, a bit louder than the other boy. ''I say curse the rumors. We need to worry about reality, not about what somebody else says.'' His long black hair fell loosely over his broad shoulders, and his green eyes were lively, and determined.
"It's nothing but rubbish." The others nodded again, apparently agreeing more with this young man. The first boy who spoke, finally seemed to notice Link. He looked over at Link with sad violet eyes. He had the eyes of a man who had seen too many things. Who had seen too many evil things. He was very short, and had a weak appearance. Link saw another vertical silver scar across the boys left eye. It gave the impression that he was crying. The boy didn't dare speak again; he just looked away, and followed his group as they walked from the hallway, going about their business.
* * * *
Over the next few days, Link felt as if his strength were returning, for the rumors started to cease, but the sense of evil still hung dense in the air. Zelda however, would not leave her quarters of the castle. She refused to speak to anyone now. This was the longest time she had ever spent in her quarters, and the castle attendants were terrified.
Link walked his way to Zelda's quarters, but was stopped by two guards standing at the foot of a wide elegant stairway, leading to Zelda's private rooms. ''I am sorry sir, but Princess Zelda will not permit visitors.'' The other guard nodded in agreement. ''Tis our job to carry out the Princess' wishes.'' Link opened his mouth to argue, but closed his mouth again, concealing his disappointment. He nodded without saying a word, and sulked back the way he had come.
''Zelda will come back around, in time.'' Saria said with a reassuring smile. They sat at a small, round wooden table, in Saria's comfortable royal guest room. Link didn't seem convinced so easily. ''I'm worried. She hasn't spoken to any of us in days, and most likely wont come from her rooms for a while.'' Saria coiled her long green hair around her fingers. ''Give her some time. It must be awful for her to see things that will eventually be.'' Link opened his mouth to protest, but Saria placed a finger to his lips to silence him. ''Besides, a woman must put up with a certain time of the month. It's something you need not worry about.'' She laughed at the stupefied expression on Link's face.
He didn't know what she was talking about, but he didn't push the matter further, for a guard stumbled clumsily into the room they were occupying. His face was pale, and he had a frightened look in his eyes. ''A body...A body in the castle meadow..'' Was all he was able to say. Saria and Link exchanged terrified expressions, and left the room without question as the guard followed close behind.
Link and Saria saw a group of castle guards, and at least one priest, huddled together, watching something that lay unmoving on the ground. Link jogged up to the small group of six or so, to see what lie on the ground. What he saw shocked him. A young boy lay on the ground, dead. Saria looked over Link's shoulder, clamped her hand tightly over her mouth and turned away from the dead body, utterly disgusted. The boy's brown hair was messily matted to his forehead with blood. His face was so smudged with dirt and blood, Link had to kneel down to see the boy's distinctive features. He was very young, and had a thin silver scar across his cheek, and another across his eye. Link knew this was the young priest he had seen a few days earlier.
The young priest had a wind hole, the size of a fist through chest. His heart had obviously been ripped from his body. Blood stained the green grass around him, and his gray robes were soaked. Link felt a stab of pity for the boy, and wished he could of somehow prevented this. The group mumbled to each other as they eventually wandered away to leave the mess to be cleaned up by someone else. Link bowed his head in a moment of respect. He then turned his head around to find Saria, and saw something glinting in the long grass, by a nearby tree. It caught the sun's rays and shined brightly on the spot. Link stood up, not taking his eyes from it, as he walked toward it. ''What is it?'' Saria asked, desperately trying to keep her gaze away from the brutally beaten body. Link again, kneeled down, and picked up the object into the palm in his hand. He looked down at it. A beautifully hand crafted silver cross necklace, that could only belong to one of the high priests of Hyrule. He turned it over in his hand. It had a name on the other side, but he couldn't make it out. It appeared that it had been ripped from someone's neck, for the fine silver chain it hung on, was broken. ''Nikol was one of our highest priests, and our youngest.'' A female voice said. Link's head jerked up, and there standing not far in front of him, was Zelda herself.
''I was informed that he was found. I'm sorry you two had to witness this.'' She bowed her head. Link walked over to Zelda, and set the necklace in her hand. ''You finally came from your rooms.'' A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth for a brief second, and then vanished. ''Tell me. What have you seen?'' Zelda looked out over the meadow. Her eyes watered over. ''I will tell you when you need to know.'' Link nodded, leaving them, and left Saria and Zelda alone with Nikol. ''Excuse me...'' Saria said in a choked voice, and ran after Link, feeling very sick. Zelda turned to look at the dead Nikol. Her hand clutched the necklace tightly, as tears sprang up to her bright eyes, and rolled steadily down her fair cheeks. ''God rest your soul...''