Disclaimer: I don't own Nintendo or anything involving Legend of Zelda, but I am attempting to write a story about things that involve them for entertainment purposes only. Not for the money thing. That's bad.
It Won't Stop Running Down My Hand
Walking down hallway after passage after corridor, Link and the nurse who guided him began to grow closer to Princess Zelda's chambers. While Link wore his typical green tunic and carried his swords and gear with him, his nurse wore only a white dress and carried a small amount of first aid equipment. Link was surprised that the nurse seemed so unconcerned about Link's large frame. Normally people would either gawk at him, or go out of their way to avoid him.
"So I'm really being taken to see Princess Zelda?" Link asked her again, for the third time.
"Yes, you are," she sighed in frustration.
"Sorry, it's just that I've waited a long time to actually meet with her…" Link trailed off in his soft voice, sounding almost sad.
"Don't worry about it, after all, not many people can tell her that they saved Hyrule," the nurse smiled with her back turned to Link.
"What do you mean?" he asked, truly confused.
"The whole castle knows what you did, taking on that army alone. Actually winning too!" she laughed, attempting to brighten Link's dreary mood.
"Army Slayer, eh?" he thought aloud. Thinking back to the battle, if he hadn't had the Master Sword, he would probably have been slaughtered by those monstrous soldiers. After a few more minutes of walking in silence, they finally reached a large set of double doors.
"This is the place," she nonchalantly said, opening the door and stepping aside for him to enter. As he stepped inside of the room, the doors slammed shut and he found himself in front of a long desk. Behind the desk, were some random people who were old enough to be grandparents or even great grandparents. Sitting at the head of everything though was Princess Zelda and General Sifrak.
"Please be seated, Mr. Link," a random sagely voice called out to him. In front of the desk was a single chair, which seemed rather uncomfortable. Link glanced around, unable to tell what the 'council's' feelings were about him. Even Princess Zelda had an indifferent look on her face. After a moment of glancing around the room, he decided it would be best to sit down.
"Are you comfortable, Mr. Link?" a random elderly voice asked, but Link didn't bother to respond. While the old men and the Princess had cushy and comfortable chairs, Link was stuck in a chair that was more suited to convicts. Looking around the room, it seemed the only exit was from the door he came in, unless he counted the large stain glass window that lay behind Zelda and Sifrak. An image of a castle on a mountain was stained into the glass, giving the room a look of elegance.
"To the tell the truth, Mr. Link, most of us in this council of Hyrule would very much like for you to leave this place and never return," General Sifrak's voice boomed out, filling the room. Link could only stare in horror at the General.
"The Princess seems to think you're some great hero, protecting the kingdom and what-not…" Sifrak trailed off.
"Frankly, from what our scouts reported, you're more demon then man…" an old voice finished, from the left of Sifrak.
"Demon…?" Link questioned aloud, memories of the past resurfacing. Terrible voices from the past began to rush into his mind, filling him with horror.
"Filthy little bastard!"
"Leave that boy alone dear, he's cursed."
"Devil! Go back to the pits of Hell!"
"He's scary mommy!"
"Please, don't kill me!"
Suddenly, a memory Zelda as a child smiling at him burst into his mind, causing Link to stand up and throw his chair aside and point at the beautiful princess.
"What about you!? Do you think I'm a devil now!?" he shrieked, causing everyone in the room to stare at him with confused expressions. Heat rushed into his face as he realized what he did, so he picked his chair back up and sat down once again.
"No Link, only myself and one other member of the council wishes for you to stay…" she trailed off in a voice, which reminded Link of birds singing.
"Who's this other person?" Link asked, glancing around the room. Suddenly, the doors burst open behind him and a familiar voice rang out,
"Sorry I'm late!"
"It's about time you showed up, Kastu…" Sifrak impatiently remarked. Turning his head to see the man, Link saw the man from before, who was injured.
"Good to see you again, eh buddy?" Kastu smiled with delight, as he walked over to the desk. Link sat there staring at him, speechless.
"Then I see you already met the other council member who wishes for you to stay," Zelda smiled as Kastu sat down in a chair near her.
"You want me to stay too, Kastu?" Link asked in a soft voice towards the older man he met a few days before.
"Sure thing, after all, you're the Army Slayer!" he laughed out loud, ruining the sterile mood the council had begun in.
"Princess Zelda has the final say in the matter, unless you decide to leave of your own free will. Which the majority of the council recommends," Sifrak spoke in a cold voice, obviously wishing Link would just leave.
"Well Link, what's your answer?" Zelda asked in a soothing voice.
"For someone like me, it might be best to stay away from people," Link began in a serious voice, "however, no matter what I do or where I go, I'll never be able to forget."
"So…" an old voice questioned from the side.
"So I'll be staying," Link smirked at the group of men who had come to dislike him.
"Very well then, in the meantime you must tell us who your master was," Sifrak questioned.
"My master?" Link inquired in a confused voice.
"That's right, if you're not a demon, where did you learn to fight like one?" an old voice asked.
"Surely you took lessons from the Prince of Darkness?" another elderly voice inquired. After a few moments of silence as the council waited for an answer, Link scratched the back of his head.
"Do you mean a teacher of fighting?" Link asked, unsure of himself.
"Of course we do!" Sifrak shouted out.
"Well, I guess I'm my own master then…" Link trailed off as the council stared at him intently. As the council exchanged glances, Link began to grow nervous.
"Very well then, your task while in this castle will be to teach new soldiers your fighting style. Is that clear?" Sifrak demanded in a loud voice.
"Yes sir," Link answered in a soft voice. At this, nearly the entire council left the room except for Zelda, Sifrak and Kastu. Surely the odds were much better now, instead of being attacked by a large group of old men.
"Beware, boy. I've got my eyes on you!" Sifrak huffed and then left with his chest expanded, like he was trying to make himself look much bigger the he actually was. A smile crept across Link's face as he realized that frightened animals tended to do such things.
"Well, I have things to do in the Barracks, so I'll leave you two to discuss things…" Kastu trailed off as he headed for the door. Before leaving though, he walked up to Link and moved towards his ear to whisper.
"Be careful of whose name you speak in your sleep," he smirked and then left the room, not seeing how red Link's face had become.
"Shall we go and have lunch?" the Princess asked Link, as he prayed she wouldn't notice his blush from before.
"That would be great…" Link trailed off with a smile on his face. Finally, he was getting so close to what he desired.
"Over lunch, we can tell stories about ourselves and then maybe you can tell me how Kastu could get your face so red?" she gave a sly smile as Link could feel his face grow warm once again.
