Consequences of a promise chapter 3
A shadowy figure watched Link intently through the red smoke watching as he destroyed his temple, watching as he stole the spirit stones, and watching as he rode carefree toward the Zora kingdom acting like nothing happened "That's it link you're progressing nicely. It won't be long now." He said in a raspy whisper as a thin smile crept across the decrepit remnants of what had once been considered a handsome face "But you may need another incentive…" with a wave of a frail hand the image grew dark and the smoke thinned away into nothing "yes it won't be long now!"
Being able to ride the open clear fields of Hyrule again was helping Link forget his troubles the fiasco at the temple but a shadow the light could chase away but for Link moments like this never did last long. Something in the air seemed wrong and the faint sound of a soft tinkling bell rang in the distance. Epona stopped abruptly rearing onto her hind legs braying bleats as she kicked madly at the air Link held on to her main for dear life trying to calm his old friend by whispering calmly into her ear. Krell just snickered while riding on ignoring his plight even when Epona reared again sending Link to the ground then ran into the distance toward Lon-Lon ranch he ignored the young Hylian enjoying Links humiliation while he focused on the distant visage of the Zora kingdom…
Dazed Link stared skyward red faced and breathless watching the clouds as they passed overhead and the once faint sound of a bell grew louder and louder still until the very sound became unbearable; Link sat up and looked around for the source his hands clasped firmly over his ears. Not two feet away from him the ground began to tremble as soft turf was torn into the air when skeletal fingers clawed their way to the surface, twice more did the ground surrounding Link began to shake and twice more did the bony hands of the Stalfos claw through, dragging their undead bodies into plain view, Link blinked. He hadn't been in Hyrule for near going on ten years but he still vaguely remembered that Stalfos only appeared at night. Acting quickly flipped backwards resting on his right hand as he used his left to pull the Kokori Sword from its sheath at the base of his spine, landing firmly on his feet with the sword held ready. By now the Stalfos we're free of their graves each plunged a hand back into the earth and pulled out large rusted swords and advanced on Link. Link flipped deftly over the head of one of the Stalfos bringing the small sword in a backward arc into its spine severing its top from its bottom then flipped the sword so he held it by the tip and slung it straight into the second Stalfos' skull he watched as it turned to dust before his very eyes, he was about to jump again but he was stopped by the first Stalfos he thought he'd destroyed the severed torso held his legs fervently as the last lumbered at him with its sword raised high
"Stupid Link amateur mistake, how long you been doing this?" he berated himself ignoring the oncoming blade
"Gaaaagh!"
"Will you just…SHUT UP!" as the blade came down over his head Link quickly clasped onto the weapon stopping it mere inches from his nose. With his hands clasped firmly on either side of the sword he made a quick shunt slamming the handle back into the Stalfos skull knocking it away, as the skeletal body crumbled away he flipped the sword around and brought its full weight down on the skull of the Stalfos by his feet shattering it into pieces then threw it at the chattering skull on the ground. Only after the ghost lights faded from their sockets did he make his way to retrieve his Kokori sword then placing it back into its makeshift sheaf and walked toward the coach "Where the hell were you? You could have helped fish breath! You are supposed to be a soldier am I right?" he said furiously at Krell but the Zoran just smiled
"You looked in control. So I didn't see the need!"
"You… yellow… cowardly… whatever! But now you're giving me a ride!" Link hopped into the carriage, sitting on the soft satin pillows made quite the difference from his hard leather saddle and he happily popped his feet up on the opposite seat and set himself for a comfortable ride at Krell's expense.
"B…but what about your horse cant you call it back?"
"I could" he said in a humoured tone "but… that'd make your job easier now we wouldn't want that now would we!" Link tried to sound serious but about halfway through he broke out in an evil snicker before he pulled a small blue ocarina out of his shirt and began playing a soft melody on it as the coach lurched forward back on track toward the palace, the notes rang in fluid motion as he played the nocturne of shadow blissfully unaware of his surroundings.
THE ZORA KNGDOM:
The carriage pulled up outside a cave Link had never seen before, he was about to ask if they'd gone the wrong way before another Zora came out of the dark this one smaller barely coming to links waist and greatly overweight with two tendrils dangling from his top lip like a comical version of a moustache "This him?" he asked Krell pointing toward Link. Krell just nodded before he walked into the cave leaving them alone. "Good. Good. Link was it? Well it's a real honour to meet you"
"It is?"
"Why certainly! Princess Ruto won't stop talking about you. She's quite taken with you it seems" the tubby little Zora broke out into a hearty laugh making his neck and stomach shake comically, Link patience began to thin
"Can we get this over with?"
"Pardon? Oh of course you must both be anxious to get this over with and get on with your lives. The princess has waited for this for a very long time."
"Sorry about that" he said apologetically scratching the back of his head.
"No need to apologize mi'boy all that matters is that you're here now. Come now we can't keep her waiting. Let's go" beaming broadly he brought an arm round his waist and guided him into the cave. At first there was nothing but darkness but as they went deeper a faint blue glow began to grow until every aspect of the tunnel was illuminated in its light. The quiet that had settled unnerved the little man and if only to make things more civil he asked "so what have you been doing over the years"
"I'd rather not talk about it" was all the answer he got. The tunnel opened up into the main hall of the Zora kingdom the first thing Link recognized from his last visit was the giant pristine waterfall set at the back of the cave he was lost in the beauty of the lake it was so clean and crystal clear. He stopped at the edge of the lake staring into its depths as the little Zora walked away ten minutes passed and he returned with the Princess
"LIIIIINNNK YOOOHOOO!" Links heart jumped into his throat racing at a mile-a-minute. Spinning around to face her he was hit hard as Ruto tackled him her arms wrapping tightly around his neck squealing like a little girl again knocking him into the cold water of the lake "You're back! You finally came back to me." She broke her embrace her smile fading "You do have the Zora Sapphire right?" coughing harshly trying to breathe again
"cough cough your crazy I could've drowned!" she swam back a bit looking hurt and pouting
"I'm s…sorry it's just that… well, I haven't seen you in over ten years and I…I missed you" Links angry expression softened as he pulled the shining stone from his pocket
"Is this what you wanted?" he asked
"Yay we can finally get married" she began hugging him again as his face turned a sickly white colour
"MARRIED!"
"You promised remember, all those years ago and now you're here with my engagement present, we can get married today"
"Bu…but I have to see Zelda she's expecting me!" he said frantically trying to find an escape
"Nonsense! She's already here. I've already got the wedding ready. All the sages are already here, except Saria who had to stay in Kokori forest" Links head sunk in defeat as she babbled on, he wasn't getting out of it this time he was sunk. How could he forget about this twice now? "finally after two life-times we will finally get married I'm so excited are you?"
"Ecstatic" he sighed