A/N: Thank you to Malon Aniku, my little sister Alu' (who signed under my name), zeldaisthebest, and Miss Piratess. I really appreciate all your reviews. It's what keeps me posting. And for everyone who signed "Accidentally Undead" and "The Mirkwood Invasion" lots of thanks!
-Avie
Chapter Four: The "Quest"
Disclaimer: IT'S NOT MINE! (screams) I am getting SO sick of writing this stuff!
Real Disclaimer: "The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time" is © Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto. I make no claim to it and have no intention of using this story as a means of profit
Lute and Link walked into the throne room of Hyrule Castle. While Lute walked in a brooding manner, Link swaggered about like a rooster. The King and Zelda sat in their thrones looking bored. Lute and Link were received with mixed reactions, the first of them dismayed, and the second joyful.
"Oh, it's you again?" Zelda said, sounding annoyed. "Well, where's Link?"
"Sweetheart!" Link cried, running in behind Lute, nearly running him over.
"Linky-poo!" Zelda replied, running toward him at the same thundering pace.
"Future son-in-law!" shouted King Daphnes Hyrule.
"Daddy!" Zelda screeched reprovingly.
Lute was confused. "You mean me or him?" he asked, pointing at Link.
"Him, of course," Daphnes said, pointing at Link, as well.
"Oh, of course," Lute said sarcastically. He seriously wasn't in the mood to deal with these idiots. "I'm sure you know that this violates the treaty you and my father signed."
Daphnes' ears perked up. "What, what? What treaty are you talking about?"
"This treaty!" Lute shouted, pulling a folded piece of paper out of his boot. He unfolded it and jabbed a finger at a sentence toward the bottom. "'This treaty is a legal document that certifies Prince Lute of Xenos shall be wedded to Princess Zelda of Hyrule in an act of joining their kingdoms in peace,'" he read. "It says nothing whatsoever about Zelda marrying Link."
"Stupid Court Councilor," Daphnes muttered. "He told me to sign that stupid piece of paper."
"Yeah, well, if you're going to go against the treaty, my father will certainly declare war on Hyrule," Lute said triumphantly, putting the paper back in his boot.
Daphnes thought fast. Unfortunately, thinking wasn't one of his strong points. "Aridia, get over here!" he called. The sorceress hurried to the side of his throne. "What should I do, Aridia?" he asked urgently.
Aridia looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, there is the 'quest'," she said.
"What 'quest'?" Daphnes asked.
"You know," Aridia prodded, raising her eyebrows. "The 'quest'!"
"Oh!" Daphnes exclaimed. "The 'quest'!"
"The quest, the quest," Lute mimicked in an obnoxious voice. "What's the stupid quest?!"
"Not 'the quest'," Daphnes protested. "The 'QUEST'!"
"I'm waiting," Lute said, tapping his foot.
"Well, there's a terrible dragon named Aranel that's been terrorizing Hyrule for decades," Daphnes began. "He lives at the very summit of Death Mountain."
"And where do I fit into all of this?" Lute asked. Then, he realized what the King wanted. His eyes widened, and he dropped his face into his hands. Looking up at Daphnes, he said, "You want me to...slay the dragon...don't you?" he whispered.
Daphnes nodded.
"Wonderful!" Lute shouted. "And what about 'the Hero of Time', huh? What's he gotta do?"
"Nothing," Daphnes replied, a cruel smile curling his lips. Surely this foolish prince would back out now. "He's already proved himself."
"Yeah?" Lute challenged. "Well, I'll show you! I'll kill that dragon, and I will marry Zelda! Even if she is an idiot!" He clenched his hands to keep them from shaking, doubting himself even as he said those words. How in the world could he defeat a dragon? And by himself, too?
"You will have assistance!" Aridia added, as if reading his thoughts. "We shall send Cassandra, my apprentice, with you."
"You're gonna – you mean – I've gotta go with an untrained, inexperienced magic user?" Lute cried in disbelief.
Daphnes waved off his comments. "You have three days," he said. "I suggest you start now." And with that, the castle guards escorted Lute and Cassandra outside the palace gates and left them holding a pack of food and a bag of magical antidotes.
"I'm not that inexperienced!" Cassandra protested from beside him as the guards returned to the castle. Her arms were crossed, and she was glaring at him with an enraged expression. "I said I was sorry for the duck incident."
"But what if it happens again?" Lute countered. "What if you turn me into something worse next time?"
Cassandra looked hurt. "I won't do it again."
Lute felt bad all of a sudden. "Look, I didn't mean it like that," he said, running a hand through his dark hair. His bangs fell back into his eyes. "I'm just having a really, really rough day."
"I know what it's like," Cassandra said. She smiled at him consolingly. "But we'll do this."
And something about the way she looked at him made him believe her.