The time had come at last. As we approached the Throne Room the guards
gasped. They knew very well who had worn this raiment seven long years ago.
Stricken with sudden realization of who was approaching, they immediately
saluted.
"I wish to pass this door," said I.
"Of..of course, M'lady," one of them struggled. The huge doors parted and swung inward with little effort. I began to go in when Impa stopped me.
"You should save your appearance to be a little 'present' for him," she said. "Let me go in front."
I nodded and Impa passed through. I followed close behind. At first I was surprised that my Father saw only Impa (because of what I was wearing it should have been easy to spot me behind her), but then I realized that it must be another one of the Sheikahs' powers: that of concealment. I kept as quiet as I could, listening to the conversation that transpired:
"Hello, Impa!" called my father as we neared the Throne. He sounded nervous.
"Hello," was Impa's cold reply.
"What brings you to my court?" he asked. "And where is the Princess?"
"ZELDA," Impa replied, accenting my name as if it were the first time the King had ever heard it, "Was never of any particular concern to you before now, save if she was locked up with your ridiculous secrecy policy." Impa was skilled at dodging questions without lying. To lie to the King was considered treason, and was punishable by death. I listened intently to what the two were saying.
"You speak as if I do not know my own daughter's name!" he laughed.
"You rarely spoke it before. Indeed you hardly speak of your own daughter, save as of some heavy burden which you alone must carry."
"That girl never gave me the smallest hint of gratitude!" He spoke as if even to be his daughter, the daughter of a King, were a great favor and sacrifice on his part.
"You do not deserve it, if that is how your mind works. She needs a father, Harkinian, and I highly doubt you are fit to play that role."
For a single moment, time froze. The two figures stood still and silent, two great statues moulded by cunning hand and mind.
It was the calm before the storm.
"I wish to pass this door," said I.
"Of..of course, M'lady," one of them struggled. The huge doors parted and swung inward with little effort. I began to go in when Impa stopped me.
"You should save your appearance to be a little 'present' for him," she said. "Let me go in front."
I nodded and Impa passed through. I followed close behind. At first I was surprised that my Father saw only Impa (because of what I was wearing it should have been easy to spot me behind her), but then I realized that it must be another one of the Sheikahs' powers: that of concealment. I kept as quiet as I could, listening to the conversation that transpired:
"Hello, Impa!" called my father as we neared the Throne. He sounded nervous.
"Hello," was Impa's cold reply.
"What brings you to my court?" he asked. "And where is the Princess?"
"ZELDA," Impa replied, accenting my name as if it were the first time the King had ever heard it, "Was never of any particular concern to you before now, save if she was locked up with your ridiculous secrecy policy." Impa was skilled at dodging questions without lying. To lie to the King was considered treason, and was punishable by death. I listened intently to what the two were saying.
"You speak as if I do not know my own daughter's name!" he laughed.
"You rarely spoke it before. Indeed you hardly speak of your own daughter, save as of some heavy burden which you alone must carry."
"That girl never gave me the smallest hint of gratitude!" He spoke as if even to be his daughter, the daughter of a King, were a great favor and sacrifice on his part.
"You do not deserve it, if that is how your mind works. She needs a father, Harkinian, and I highly doubt you are fit to play that role."
For a single moment, time froze. The two figures stood still and silent, two great statues moulded by cunning hand and mind.
It was the calm before the storm.