Chapter 2
New Faces
Zelda stepped forth unto the dark void once again. Her arrival ignited a sea of angry crimson flames. The fire danced and filled the void with the sound of crackling. Zelda stepped toward the fire, and it parted for her. She walk through the parted flames until she reached the center. A perfect circle surrounded by fire marked her destination. She knelt in the circle and a deep, dark voice spoke, "Ah, patience…all will come in time." Zelda looked up at the fire with fury and rage. "I want to embrace it all now!", she yelled. "In time. You must wait, or all with be lost", the voice calmly explained. Zelda bowed her head again. "Yes master, I trust in you", she answer obediently. The fire raged toward her. "The next time we speak, your heart will be darkened more", is voice said accompanying a demonic laugh. "I am forever you servant", Zelda said as the fire swallowed her.
Zelda jetted out from under her covers as the vision of fire faded from her eyes. She look about her room in a stupor for a time. Realizing she was dreaming, she calmed down. She remembered kneeling and being attacked by crimson flames. A voice spoke and she spoke as well, but she couldn't remember. It was strange, the dream had energized her, she felt the same vibrancy she felt after the last dream. She felt disturbed; she didn't understand what was happening, but ever the more she was liking it. Zelda stood up, slipping on a pair of beautifully sown pink slippers. Zelda walked quietly out of her room and down a long winding staircase of smooth stone. Morning was not far off, so she tread softly, trying not to alert any of the servants. She opened a door at the base of the tall staircase. The room was poorly lit, and nothing but a simple bed set on the wood floor occupied the room.
"Impa?", Zelda whispered. The room was silent and still. Not a single sound responded. To anyone else it would seem vacant, but Zelda knew better. "Imp-", Zelda started, more desperate this time. Her voice was interrupted by another from behind her. "I'm here, child", a heavy but gentle voice said. Zelda turned around quickly, met wit the warm embrace of her guardian. "My dear, you feel cold child", the woman said, concerned. "I am fine Impa", Zelda sternly reassured as she broke the embrace. Impa was a tall woman of about forty years. She always dressed in a skintight blue suit with the mark of the Sheikah right below the neck. The mark was and eye was three triangles for lashed and a large tear falling from the center. The Sheikah were the Royal Family's protectors, a secretive society that loyally serves the King and Zelda. Impa carried the weight of Zelda's personal guardian, a task she performed with the highest resolve. Impa was strong, both physically and spiritually. They sat down on the bed. It was as if Impa's amber brown eyes could gaze right into her and tell something was wrong.
"What troubles you, child?", Impa inquired. "It is a dream", Zelda gave her immediate response. Impa listened intently. "What kind of dream?", she probed. Zelda stared at the floor, replaying what she could remember on the hard wooden floor. "In it, I am surrounded by fire. The fire is blood red though and it reacts to the voices", Zelda explained. "Voices?", Impa asked curiously. Zelda shot a glace at her and nodded, slowly tracing her sight back to the floor. "Yes", she replied, "I can't tell what they are saying, but one comes from the fire. And I'm pretty sure the other is mine." "And you don't know what you're saying?", Impa asked. Zelda replied, keeping a fixed stare at the floor, "No, but when I finish, the fire comes and swallows me up." Zelda stared back at Impa, "Then I wake up." Impa had a curious expression on her face. Nothing was said at first, but Zelda then added, "Oh, and when I wake up, I feel…alive, well more alive than normal." Impa nodded slowly. "Why do you think this is, child?", Impa asked. Zelda looked up toward the ceiling. It was brown in color, adding to the room's dull and quiet theme. "I don't know", Zelda said regretfully. She really wished she could answer that question. Impa rubbed Zelda's back gently, doing her best to comfort her. "If you ever need to talk, I'll be right here", Impa said. Zelda hugged her tightly. "Thank you", she said, not letting go. Impa slowly had Zelda release her. "Go, you should return to your room before the maid comes. Impa used to wake her up in the morning when she was young, but as Zelda grew, Impa was reassigned to more pressing duties. Zelda really missed the time they had together. She was the sister she never had.
Zelda slowly and quietly left Impa's room and made her way back to hers. Not another minute passed before the maid entered to ready her for the day. Today was after all, the party her father was hosting, the very one she would accompany Colonel Mikhail. Zelda didn't have any interest in him, but it was just for on evening. "I have drawn a bath for you, princess", the maid said from the doorway to the bathroom. Zelda nodded as she stood up. Disguarding her cloths, she stepped softly toward the tube. The maid held her hand to assist her from slipping. Zelda sat down in the hot soapy water, the heat massaging her entire body. Zelda tilted her head back as the maid began to wash her hair. She closed her eyes, and imagined crimson fire.
The boy took stepped out from behind the tree, looking in disgust at what her was wearing. Everything it embodied was servitude and properness. He hated it. "You look positively smashing, Link", the other boy said, eyeing his new attire. Link rolled his eyes and pushed back his dirty blond hair. "I swear, this isn't gonna work", Link exclaimed, expressing his doubts. "It'll be fine old chap, my plan in foolproof", he said with extreme confidence. He wore the same servant's uniform that Link wore, but is suited him much better. It complemented his bald head and didn't offset his gray eye color. Link's blondish hair and light blue eyes just seemed to put him out of place. The uniform had too many buttons, and it was a fancy white with black pants and vest. Link shifted uncomfortably. "Oh come on", the other complained, "Can you really hate it that much?" Link eyed him in a very annoyed manner. "York, I do hope that was a rhetorical question, because you really don't want me to answer that", Link spoke bitterly. York was mildly taken aback. Link pushed his regular cloths behind the tree. A green tunic, brown boats and gantlets, and his small pouch of rupees. He hadn't had much, but now he had ever less due to the expenses of illegally buying servant's clothing. "You ready?", York asked, looking of the hill toward the castle. They were just a stones throw from the path that would lead them up to this ludicrous escapade. "No", Link said blatantly. "Good", York replied, ignoring him. The two unlikely friends stepped onto the path and made there way to the castle at a steady pace. Link was just a peasant boy who lived with a crazy old sword master. He would work himself to death for food a bed and some sword lessons. York, from as much as Link could gather, might be a traveling con-artist. He knew an awful lot about deceiving people for it just to be a 'hobby'.
"Now Link", York said with great concern, "Its important that you do exactly as you are told in here. Any hint of rebelliousness or malcontent will blow our cover. Understood" Link looked at him seriously and nodded sharply and a carriage passed behind him, flanked by Calvary in gray wool uniforms. They all had decorative sabers in scabbards at their left sides. The carriage and its escort quickly passed them and headed toward the gate of the castle. York pulled Link off the main road and the followed a path into the bushes. Rustling through the brush, Link and York made their way to a small gap in the massive gate, a pair of missing bars just big enough for them to get through. Pushing through the thick foliage, Link and York breached the gate undetected. Link brushed himself off, trying to look as presentable as possible. "Come, time is of the essence", York said, moving hastily. "Not beauty is worth this", Link thought aloud. All this just to see the princess. Link didn't know what he thinking when he agreed to this.
Through a side door, the two entered. They began to act more confidently, like they were supposed to be there. They moved through the empty garden. Sounds of the party could already be heard from here, music filling the air. They passed through the kitchen, the cooks too hard at work to take any real notice. They moved swiftly approaching the ball room until a voice called out, "Hey, you two!" Link froze. The consequences for this stunt just now began to fill his mind. York had stopped too. He straightened his bowtie and turned around. Link was far beyond the second thought stage. The man whom called to them pushed them aside and stood before a pair of real servants. He began to reprimand them for just standing around. Taking initiative, Link and York made a quick retreat into the ball room.
It was truly a sight to behold. A hundred or more people of nobility busied themselves with food, dance, and pleasurable company. The room was as tall as it was wide and it's tables stretched from one end to another, covered with foods like had never even seen before. Women in their most elegant outfits and well dressed men courting them. Link saw gold, jewels, and many expensive decorative items. He had never seem anything like it before. York nudged him to get his attention. Link looked at him, directed to look forward by a directive nod. Link saw a part in the crowd, people moving away with the utmost respect. He could see the King standing by the door awaiting for the last guests with a pleased smile across his face. The men in gray uniforms piled into the room, standing at attention. They flanked the interior of the entrance arch, stiff as boards. Another came in, marching militantly. He had a brown mustache and goatee from what Link could see. The man marched off to the side, saluting his right hand to met his kepi. He dropped the salute and the trumpets began to play a loud, commanding tune. As they did, two figures appeared under the arch. The man wore a gray uniform, but much fancier than the other ones. He had a black rimmed hat with a gold eagle on it. The young woman next to him was easily identified. She was a rare beauty with a graceful step and a perfect complexion. Even from his view in the back, Link could tell who it was. It was Hyrule's living jewel, Princess Zelda.
She wore the prettiest dress he had ever seen and it was decorated in gold a gems. She had beautiful light brown hair, and the most elegant appearance. Link took it all back, this was more than worth it. As Zelda and the man in gray passed midway through the arch, the gray uniform that was saluting announced in a clear and loud voice, "Platoon 1, Right Face. Platoon 2, Left Face. March!" The entire mass of gray men moved as if one, all turning to face the Princess and their commander, Link guessed. As the couple passed the arch, the man announced, "Company! Parade, Rest!" The men immediately assumed a more casual attitude, while the man who issued the order remained as stern as ever.
"I envy that guy", Link whispered to York. He was met with no response. Link turned his head looking for him. He saw a servant here and there, but York seemed nowhere in sight. Link jerked his head all over, turning around and stretching his neck to find York. "Excuse me", a soft voice spoke. Link stopped moving. He didn't want to believe it, but when he turned around, he knew what would be their. Link stiffened himself and about-faced. He met nearly eye to eye with the Princess, maybe two inches taller. He looked into her eyes, a dark blue sea of perfect exquisiteness. The tall men in gray next to her spoke. "Good man, fetch me your finest wine, for the princess and I", he ordered. Link tried his best to respond. His lips moved, but for a moment he was mute. She was just too gorgeous. Finally, he bowed and walked off to retrieve the wine. Link was almost in a state of panic. How the hell did he know what the finest wine was, or where to get it. In hasty desperation, Link grabbed a pair of full wine glasses from a serving tray. Returning to the Princess, Link walked with finesse in his steps, now seeing this as an opportunity to possible impress her. "Here you are, your highness", Link said, handing one glass to Zelda personally while bowing. The Princess nodded in thanks. Link turned to the gray uniformed man and said, "And to you Mr.…?" "Colonel, Mikhail", he answered distantly. Link gave a quick bow to the Colonel and let them be, sighing heavily as he distanced himself with her. It had scared the hell out of him. One screw up and it could have been his head. Even though it was worth it to see Zelda, now he had, and he wanted out of this castle.
The party flowed on until the late hours of the night, when the first guests took their leave. The cool night air filled the ballroom each time the door opened to allow another guest to leave. Zelda breathed this air fully each time, dreary from the long day inside. The Colonel had departed as well, and not soon enough. Although a gentleman, Zelda couldn't stand him. It wasn't his uniform of his men, but the way he talked. He spoke as if they had a bright future together. She couldn't bare to tell him off, that would be unladylike. Something during the party stuck her as odd though. The servant boy, the one her age with the blondish hair, he seemed very out of place. His hair was rather unkempt, his demeanor to nervous to have been here long. The strangest one of all was when the Colonel asked for the finest wine. The servant hadn't gotten it; Zelda knew, she was actually tolerant of whatever second rate wine he got. The castle's finest wine just tasted putrid to her. The more she thought of it, the more it irked her. When the remainder of the guests had gone, Zelda informed her father that she was retiring for the night. Using this excuse, Zelda set out to locate the strange boy.
Link opened the side door that he and York had entered through and stepped outside. He could see the path they used to breach the gate, and a cream colored sack on the ground in front of it. Curious, Link walked up to it, taking a small peck inside. He could see only the glimmer of gold and jewelry in it. Staring at it, Link's hand drew closer, in awe of the riches before him. "Link", a voice whispered. Link darted his head around, looking for the source. "Psst, here", It said louder. Link looked into the path and saw York coming back in, his arms full. "Here, take it", he said, handing Link his tunic and other affects. Link graciously accepted them. Now with free hands, York crawled threw the gap in the gate. He brushed himself off and remarked, "Well, you can put that back on, our work here is done." Link began removing the dreadful outfit that he had been sweating in all day. York took his bag of looted treasure and departed through the gate. Link shook his head, believing he should have known better. All York wanted was the rupees. Pulling on his boots, Link stood up, feeling comfortable for once. The last article he put on was his green cap. It was long and the tip reached nearly the middle of his back. Link looked into the brush, trying to figure out how he could squeeze through with the least rustling.
"Excuse me!", a voice cried out to him. Link stood petrified, he knew the soft voice that called out to him; it was Zelda's. He took a glace out of the corner of his eye, clearly seeing her approaching him from around the outside of the castle. She still wore her fancy pink dress, but many of the finer and more expensive pieces had been removed. Less gold encumbered her. "Um…a…", Link mumbled. He had now way to explain himself, and it didn't help that fast talking wasn't one of his strong points. The princess came nearly within an arm's reach of him and stopped. She looked upon him with both surprise and curiosity. "Your not one of the servants, are you?", Zelda said more as a statement than a question. Link scratched the back of his head. "Well…you see…I was just…well", Link let out a small groan at the end of his attempt at an excuse. He was caught, no two ways about it.
Zelda stared at the boy, curious. He was defiantly around her age, and handsome at that. From his nervousness and half responses, Zelda could gather he wasn't supposed to be here. She opened her mouth to address him what another voice called, "There you are!", it said. Zelda turned to see a girl of her age running toward them. She had long strands of red hair that came down just above her waist. Her attire resembled that of a farmhand, a white short sleeve shirt with a yellow handkerchief tied around the neck, and a plain purple blouse, barely hiding her rugged brown work boots. The boots weren't that much different than the boy's. The girl stepped up to the princess and respectively bowed. She grabbed the boy by his hand and pulled him over. "Very sorry your highness, this is his first delivery and he got a little lost", the red haired girl said. She stood maybe a inch shorter than her and next to the boy, three shorter. Her voice carried a lot of cheerfulness and spirit, no doubt the work of a pleasant upbringing. The boy kept his mouth shut, going along with whatever was said. Zelda nodded and the girl ran off, practically dragging the boy behind her. Zelda let them go even though he knew it all to be lie. She knew it was the same boy from inside, the one that left such an awkward impression on her, the one whose name she wish see knew.