That Sinking Feeling
"What? The woman?"
Duchess Toriya of the Morolak Kingdoms sighed. Momentarily, she peered out of the carriage carrying her and her husband. Outside, she saw the green grass of Hyrule Field sway in the breeze. The carriage bounced gently as it moved. The sun warmed her face and she could smell the salty air of the nearby sea. It had taken them a day's travel to get here, mainly because the Duke had insisted on stopping at every single tavern to take a meal. Their honour guard followed them at a respectful distance, heavily armoured and wearing the ruby crest of their land.
She turned to regard her husband. "Yes. The Queen."
The Duke snorted. "Whoever heard of such nonsense? A woman challenging for power? Ha!"
Toriya pursed her lips together. She wasn't sure what Zelda was up to, but it seemed to her that her nation needed to be cautious. She certainly hoped that Zelda knew what she was doing, but if all went wrong, then there could be a civil war between the Hylian King and Queen. "She is a strong woman. We would be well advised to keep her close."
"Have all you wenches gone mad?! It is Cyle we should be flattering. Now there's a real man."
"Lest you forget," Toriya said, using the tone of voice that she used whenever her children got too unruly. "If not for Zelda, we would be going home to tell King Starzin that we'd almost handed half our army over to the Hylian monarch. Don't think I won't report every single thing that happened."
Skulljack hissed. "I knew it was a mistake to have you attend the negotiations."
Toriya stayed silent, watching her husband bite into a cold, slightly grey meat pie. Once again she wondered at the sanity of her parents for marrying her off to such a man. She had only been fourteen when she had presented before Skulljack, his little eyes examining her greedily. She had felt sick under his gaze. Skulljack had been flabby even then. He had attended all their meetings in their forced 'courting' with at least one item of food permanently stuffed in his mouth. Toriya glanced at him now. "Having a bite to eat for a change?" she asked, sarcasm spiking her words.
Before he could reply, the driver 'whoa-ed' in a loud, deep voice bringing the horses to a stop. One of the honour guards, his armour clinking against his weapons, opened a door and helped the Duchess down to the ground. She hugged her shawl tightly around herself to protect herself from the sharply cold sea air. She heard the waves crashing against the shore, while Skulljack went through his usual routine of taking an age to disembark. Naturally, he blamed the guards, the size of the carriage and even the horses. Anyone but himself.
Not waiting for him, she walked towards the ship as it gently bobbed up and down in the private bay reserved for royal visitors. She walked up the gangplank, nodding at all the salutes she received from the crewmen.
"Duchess," the Captain said, saluting.
"Captain," she replied, her voice warm. She watched as the Duke struggled to board the ship. "The minute everyone is on board, we set sail."
"Yes, ma'am," he said, spinning around to bark out orders.
It would be good to go home, she thought as she gazed out over the waves. Skulljack may not have seen it, but there was certainly a power struggle going on in the land of Hyrule. Cyle may have all the influence, but she felt that it would be her nation's moral duty to side with Zelda. Something about the King just was not right. She grimaced at the thought of his ghastly Advisor that tailed him like he was an extension of Cyle's body. There would be much to discuss when they returned home.
Her thoughts were broken by the deep groan of machinery being pulled and readied. She spun around to face Hyrule. Over the crest of a hill emerged gargantuan wooden war machines, creaking and straining. Each one, coated in flaking black paint, reached up to a catapult loaded with heavy, crumbling grey boulders. On an adjacent hill, she saw a flash of blue before at least a dozen Royal Hylian archers emerged, bows aimed, flaming arrows readied.
There was a moment of deathly silence where the Morolaks and the Hylians stared at each other, then with a series of 'thwips' the arrows started flying. The ship jolted from the impacts. There was a hellish scrape of metal, and then a low whistling before a boulder splashed into the water making. The vessel lurched to one side in response.
Skulljack gaped in horror whilst the other crewmembers darted about in panic. Another boulder came crashing down, this time nicking the side of the ship. The vessel, letting free an otherworldly howl, was pushed dangerously downwards for an instant.
Toriya got to her feet. "Get to the cannons!" she bellowed. Her voice seemed to break some of the men out of their shock, and they scurried below deck to the weapons. "Captain! Raise the anchor and get us out of here!"
The Captain froze and the Duchess ran to the anchor herself, jumping over ropes and tearing her dress in the process. Curse these infernal royal gowns! She grasped the chain and pulled, her face tightening from the effort. Tears came to her eyes as she realised it was too much for her, and her palms stung with blood. Some shamefaced crewmembers, their manners lost for an instant, shoved her out of the way, then heaved on the anchor with a cry.
Toriya felt the anchor tear away and the ship began to drift outwards. She knew what she had to do and made her way to the hatch that would lead below deck, screams and arrows following her progress.
Suddenly a sailor appeared before her, eyes wide in panic and opening his mouth to speak before an arrow pierced his throat and pinned him to a cabin. The Duchess brought a hand to her mouth as the man gurgled in pain. Hot tears sprang to her eyes.
The ship shook as the cannons started to boom, filling her vision with smoke. Someone grabbed her arm and she spun around to see her husband, shaking with fear.
"Toriya! Toriya! What's going on? The ship … the ship will sink!"
The Duchess wrenched her arm free with a snarl. "I'm surprised your girth hasn't sunk it already!"
She knew they were not going to make it out alive as she clambered below deck. Her king and queen had to be notified and so she made straight for the messenger birds. She heard the 'whoomph' of something catching fire above, her stomach twisting in response. Dodging injured men laying on the deck and moaning, Toriya noticed that the wooden floor was already soaked red with blood. Grabbing a quill and a scroll, she quickly jotted down a message before tying it to the scaly leg of a bird as it cooed quietly.
Briefly, she considered sending a message to Zelda, but knew that Cyle or his Advisor would get it first.
Opening the window she let the bird free and watched it flutter away. She smelt burning smoke and heard the splintering crash of a boulder ramming into the deck.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
2
"You don't write, you don't visit," Princess Ruto, the Sage of Water said with a laugh. "I'm beginning to think you don't love me anymore".
Zelda laughed as Ruto pouted. A little guiltily, she realised that this had been her first meeting with the Zora Princess since the feast day. She had been so busy with Duchess Toriya that she had almost forgotten about her old friend. Tyron had informed her that Prince Chizan had indeed arrived the night before and Cyle was trying to keep her away from him. It was of little concern. She would get her chance to speak with him. Cyle could not keep him hidden forever.
"You must forgive me," she said. "I've been ... indisposed."
"Indisposed, is it?" Ruto answered, a glint in her eye. "I'm trying to remember when you started talking so ... formal."
They sat in Zelda's chamber, sitting crosslegged. Mina was bustling away in the corner tidying Zelda's clothes, whistling a happy tune.
"With all due respect," Ruto said. "You are well, aren't you? We heard … rumours."
Rumours started by her husband no doubt, Zelda mused. Despite her flippant tone, Ruto, her silver skin shining in the light, still carried herself like a true Princess, more than Zelda herself ever could. All of a sudden, the Queen felt an ache in her heart. How long had it been since she had spoken to Ruto? Too long, that was for sure. She missed all her friends now. Why had she locked herself away? She frowned. No, why had she let Cyle lock her away?
"I am fine, my friend," Zelda said with a sigh. "How are things with the Zora?"
Ruto stretched, a lazy gesture. "Oh ... same old. We swim We fish. We sell the fish to the King." She winked. "My children keep me busy now. I didn't realise how much they brought to my life. And Mayro has been a wonderful husband so far. I was lucky to have met him." She started playing with a pearl, rolling it through her fingers. "So .. how are things between you and Cyle?"
"Never better," Zelda said, grinning. "We were surely meant for one another."
Zelda hadn't told Ruto about Link's return. She and Tyron had decided that the less people that knew the better. Besides, she didn't even know for certain if he really was back.
Ruto eyed Zelda with amusement. "Your Majesty. Verily, you are a terrible liar."
The Queen laughed.
"Forsooth," Ruto said waving her arm in a regal manner.
"What?"
"Erm ... Thouest art the liarest?"
Zelda snorted.
"Oh, never mind." Ruto said, as they both laughed. "I'd wager that they have special classes where you have to learn to talk like that."
Zelda sighed and hugged her legs. "Ruto, it has been too long. I've been foolish, letting myself ..." she trailed off, not knowing what to say next.
Suddenly Ruto grasped her wrist so tightly that it hurt. Zelda almost flinched from the heat of her stare. Ruto spoke, her voice hushed, but serious. "Your Majesty. The Zora are always at your service. No matter what."
Ruto released her. Zelda was a little shaken, but slightly pleased. Yet another ally.
There was knock at the door and the Queen made a motion to Mina, indicating for her to open it.
"So," Ruto continued, smiling as if nothing had just happened. "My children would love to visit the castle one day and meet the mythical Queen Zelda,"
Zelda grimaced. "I'm not mythical, Ruto," she said as Mina handed over a scroll that the visitor had just delivered. "And you and your family are always welcome in my castle."
The Queen unrolled the parchment, then read the words. Her heart skipped and her face paled in shock. She read the words again, slower this time.
"Zelda ..?" Ruto asked softly, concerned. "Is everything alright?"
Zelda sprang to her feet. "Mina! Get me a Messenger!"
3
Cyle drummed his fingers on the table as he watched the Freelander. Chizan held the stare, his purple eyes mellow. Either side of the Prince there stood two Freelander Guards, their bodies covered in armour with sharp weapons glinting. They must have over fifty weapons attached to them. He saw a dagger in a chest pouch, a sword strapped to their back, a knife hanging at their waist, and shuriken peeking out from a leg pocket. The King wondered who exactly they had to be so well-protected against. He'd gotten used to their liquid gold complexion, but he still couldn't help but marvel at their patience. While the Prince had gone to refresh himself, the two guards had stood unmoving in the same position for over two hours. Now here they were again, making not even the slightest of movements.
Cyle was flanked by Chalance Vance and one of his own Royal Guards. The Guard had shifted from foot to foot impatiently. The King had been embarrassed by his Guard's fidgeting in the face of the Freelander serenity. This, he knew, had given the visitors a mental edge even before the talks had begun. He promised to have the Guard severely punished.
"So," Chizan said, his voice smooth and calm. "If you are not Link, then who are you?"
The King's forehead creased at the man's insolence. "I most certainly am not Link." He almost spat the words. "I am Cyle Narawan, King of Hyrule."
Chizan digested this, silent and thoughtful. "And what is your accomplishment, Cyle Narawan?"
Cyle gritted his teeth. How dare he call him by his first name? "My accomplishment?!"
"Yes," the Freelander replied, a bit surprised. "Your Heroic Deed."
What nonsense was this? "I have no heroic deed!" He caught one of the Freelanders shift. Just a tiny movement. What had it been ... surprise? Shock? Disgust?
The Prince simply arched an eyebrow. "You do not make your heroes the rulers in this land?"
"No, we do not," Cyle said, a little too quickly. He felt Vance's cold, clammy hand on his arm, restraining him.
The Prince was silent. He did not move for a while. Cyle found the statuelike pose a little unnerving.
"Why have you summoned us here, Cyle Narawan of No Heroic Deed?"
The King wasn't sure if that was an insult or not, but he fixed his smile in place regardless, then said, "Our two great nations have lived side by side for many thousands of summers. It is time for us to join as one. We will pool our resources and learn from one another. It is surely amazing that this has not been attempted before. There is so much we can mutually benefit by. Trade. Culture. Knowledge." Cyle paused. "Fighting skills." The King raised his arms and laughed. "Incredible, is it not, that we have not joined much earlier?"
He turned to Vance and his Guard who both nodded vigorously. "You speak the truth, Your Highness," they both said.
"What exactly do you propose should take place between my noble nation ... and your nation?" the Prince asked.
Cyle noticed that the Prince hadn't added the 'noble' when talking about Hyrule. Something else was bothering him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on exactly what. Nevermind. This was the meat of the matter.
"Ah," he said. Cyle bowed his head humbly. "The Freelanders have the martial skills that we sadly lack. We would greatly benefit from your deep wisdom. In return, you will establish trade routes with Hyrule. You must have heard of our .. fortunate wealth by now, and word must have reached you that all but the Freelanders have joined with us."
"And?"
Cyle was getting irritated. What more could this man want than money? "And ... whatever else you require. The Hylian King's guarantee for protection for one thing."
"Protection given by one who has no Deed?"
Cyle finally realised what had been bothering him "How do you know of the Hero of Time?"
Chizan's face brightened. "The Hero of Time is well known to us. Our prophecies speak of him. Tales about him from your land are brought to us and we make songs and dedicate feast days to him." Cyle felt a little sick, hearing that. "He is the slayer of evil, the breaker of destiny, the one who changes dynasties."
"Changes dynasties?" Cyle laughed. "He has not done that!"
"Not yet."
Cyle was silenced by the almost chilling certainty in the Prince's voice. He coughed to cover for his discomfort. "Prince Chizan," he outstretched his hands to the Freelander. "This is an opportunity you can ill afford to miss." Cyle pondered for a moment before adding, "If you sign today, I will let you meet the Hero of Time himself. In fact, he can be the official emissary between Hyrule and the Freelander Emirate."
Cyle felt Chalance Vance stiffen beside him as the lies poured out. The King saw something soften in the Prince's features though, as if the man had come to some decision. The King's heart stirred in hope.
"I thank you," the Prince said, standing up and turning to leave.
Cyle grinned. Victory! "I will have the treaty written up by evening. Tomorrow morning, we will officially be allies." The King turned to a Messenger boy standing behind. "Let word pass that another feast will take place! The grandest feast that Hyrule has ever seen!"
Prince Chizan turned back. "You misunderstand me, Cyle Narawan of no Heroic Deed," he said. "There will be no treaty between us and you."