A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
A Normal Knight
Chapter 7- First at Hand
Hyrule Barracks, The 76th of Summer, 15th year of King Lanster the First's reign
Dear Malon,
How pitiful I felt not writing to you in four years. I know you have word that I'm alive and that I was in intense training. But, the military wouldn't let you know more than that, did they? I couldn't write to you; the military would not permit it. For security reasons, they have said. But, for four years, I couldn't talk to you. Had I gone deranged without writing? No. I haven't at all. My two close comrades, Miru and Zid, we helped each other stay in mental order. I am so glad that they are there. And, of course, dreaming of being by your side everyday helped me also.
What training did they give us? The day after I wrote my last letter, me and my two comrades were to be dub knights, for our honorable duty at the Battle of the Castle. So, if I do survive the war, I will come back to you as you have dream of since you were little, a true knight. I do not know whether it is a good commendation, or a sign of more danger ahead for me. The day after we were bestowed the title of knights, we began training, again. But, this time, for knighthood. It was more intense than I have ever imagined. And I thought the soldiers' course was a pain. Fortunately, we were given great care unlike those at a soldier's discipline. No weak beds, no cold dirty water to clean with or drink, no revolting things whatsoever. We deserve much more gratifying pleasure than this, but it is still better than the ones back then.
For four years, we trained. Sufficient number of years has gone by to truly proclaim us knights of Hyrule. Four long years. Now, we are knights, to be respected by our kind, to be feared by the enemy. I do not know how I felt when I finished my training. Nor does Miru, but Zid have great emotions coursing through him. Tomorrow, we will be given higher missions to carry out. But, before we go on to our purpose, we celebrated the night, this night, just the three of us. It was a bit strange at the beginning. Zid went out for a quarter of an hour and somehow managed to steal a bottle of expensive wine out from the castle's kitchen. Later, we found Miru sneaking in a small box of bottles, each containing a purple liquid as its content. We asked what it was, but he did not answer. He later hid it somewhere where Zid and I cannot get our hands on it. I did not care much. Miru is my close friend, and what he does is his own business. However, Zid differs in my thought. For an hour, he kept nagging about what the purple potions were. He finally gave up after that. So, we continued our 'manly' knighthood celebration, remembering the old times the last five years and talking about each other's pasts. Nevertheless, I found Miru's potions that he hid strange. Miru didn't talk about it, and whenever one of us asks about the contents, he blushes madly, more red than usual. Is it not so strange?
We will be off to whatever lies ahead for us tomorrow, and so, I cannot write to you while we are on our assignment. How I wish it was not so. How I wish I could contact you any other way. But, alas, this is what Fate had for us. So, adieu, my love. I send with you my faithful weapon, the Gilded Sword. I feel if I do not come back… Well, hold on to it for comfort, Malon. Please pray for me.
Link.
--
"Gauntlets?"
"Check."
"Swords?"
"Sheathed and ready."
"Hylian Boots?"
"Wearing them."
"Hylian Shields?"
"Got it."
"Long, pointy hats that come with our tunic?"
"Er, yeah, we got them."
"Alright," Zid finishes the sound off. "Blue tunic for me, red for Miru, green for Link…"
"Are you that excited?" Link asks.
"Hell yeah! We're knights, man!"
"After four long years, yeah," Miru irritably said.
"And four long years of listening to you saying you're going to be the best knight of the land," Link points out.
"I'm not going to be," Zid said with a smug smile. "I am."
Miru rolls his eyes. "Oh, yeah, this is coming from the guy who says he's going to be the Hero of Time."
"I didn't say that. I said I'm going to be a match for the Hero of Time. That is, if he ever did came."
"He was supposed to come five years ago." Link remembers. "Where is he?"
"Didn't you know? They said he opened the Door of Time inside the Temple of Time those five years ago," Miru explains. "And he never came back out."
"Why?"
"The Door of Time closed behind him."
"What?"
"Okay… Let me explain then…" Miru takes a deep breath. "They said a little boy of an age of ten found the three Spiritual Stones of the three other races of Hyrule. With the Royal Family's own secret treasure, the Ocarina of Time, he opened the Door of Time. He went in, and the door closed behind him… Nobody heard from the boy after that."
"What was in there, beyond the Door of Time?" Zid asks.
"They say it's the Sacred Realm itself through those doors. And that the legendary blade of evil's bane and of time stands in the middle of the Realm…"
"You don't think…?"
"Must be the Master Sword," Link figures.
"Man… I want that sword badly…"
"Only the Hero of Time can pull it out. So…" Miru closes his eyes, "the boy has to pull it."
"Aw, that's a load of bull." Zid waves. "Well, if only the kid can pull it out, let him."
"But, that doesn't make any sense." Link shakes his head. "The Hero of Time can't be ten years old. That's too young."
"I know," Miru replies. "Something's wrong. And we're paying for it by fighting this goddess damn war."
"What kinda prophecy is this…?" Zid mumbles.
A knock on the door interrupts them. The door opens, revealing a general clothed in a high rank.
"Greetings, knights. I shall be your commander from here on out," he declares shortly and without stopping for interruptions. "My name is Gufos, and I shall give you the assignments and the layout of them."
"Greetings… sir," Link welcomes. "So, us three are…"
"Yes, you three are bonded together by your own fellowship of knighthood. I dearly hope you three can stay well with each other."
"That's no problem," Zid said.
"Right, then. As your commander, here is your assignment."
Walking up to the main desk of the room, he lays out a marked map on it.
"Your mission is to investigate these disturbances occurring recently. The areas around the five reachable temples of Hyrule have been under great trouble. We believe that Ganondorf has made the temples radiate evil somehow. Your job is to find out how much damage has been done to the areas around it. And, if you can, help the people with these problems."
"What about the Temple of Light?" Miru asks.
"Nothing from there. Ganondorf cannot touch it for some reason. But, the other five he can. I shall provide you with a world map, marking locations of these temples."
"Nothing else?" Zid looks up at Gufos.
"Nothing else. This shouldn't be a problem for you three. It will be very long, however, very time consuming. I expect sufficient reports when you get back. You have your orders. I expect your leave at in a quarter of an hour."
Gufos pulls out a map similar to the one on the table. He switches it with the other one, then sharply turns.
"Good day."
Out the door, as abrupt as he came.
"Well, not much, I guess," Zid said as he studies the map.
"It's still going to be long, though," Miru concludes. "Five temples, spread across Hyrule. It could take us a year to reach all of them."
"Well, let's get started then, shall we?"
"Yep."
"Let's get going, then, guys," Link said. "The sooner this is done, the better."
"Alright." Zid cracks his neck. "So, nobody forgot anything?"
"Nope," they both answer.
"Anybody need to go the bathroom before we go?"
"Er… no, I guess," Link replies.
"Hah hah! Lighten up, guys! You make this seem so damn ominous. It's an adventure, like I said five years ago. Us three knights on an adventure!"
"You remember that small a detail?" Miru lifts an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Sharp memory I have, you know."
"Heh, you keep abusing it by drinking every time, though," Link points out.
"Still sharp, no?"
"Well, I hope it's sharp enough so that you're not going to forget our mission for a year…" Miru said.
--
Link… My knight… My hero… My love… Malon thought as she goes to bed. Of course, the title of a knight does not matter to me at all, fairy boy. I wish for your reappearance back here. I wish so, by Farore's Wind. Why must I wait for you? Why must Fate make me wait? My heart aches everyday, longing for you. And with you not sending your word back to me…
She doesn't sleep. It's too difficult. She is constantly reminded of Link everyday. She thought that maybe hanging his Gilded Sword on a wall nearby would help, but to her dismay, it does the opposite. She sits up on her bed, then decides to walk over to her window. Opening it, the air of summer rushes past her carmine, silky hair. The moon above lights her figure among the dark. She can't sleep. Her desire has made sure of that. Four years she waited for a letter from him. Now, it's the only letter for a while, again. What can she do? She must stay here to support the ranch, but what can she do? Again, familiar tears threaten to shed, but she withholds them. She can't cry. Link wouldn't like that. She has to talk to him, somehow. But… how?
A bird flies by her, miniature bursts of air pushing past Malon's cheeks. An idea clicks in her mind. There maybe is a way to communicate with Link. Malon rushes back inside. She opens her chest of writing utensils and brings out the necessary things.
I can talk to you, Link… I can… My words shall reach you soon…
