THE LEGEND OF ZELDA:
THE DARKNESS OF THE NIGHTChapter one: A Friendly Welcome pt 1
The young man crouches in the shadow, a bow in his hand, slick with water from the heavy rain falling around him, pattering on the street before him. He grasps it harder, realizing quietly that rain will not make the conditions ideal for shooting a bow. Nevertheless, he stays exactly where he is, shielding the bow as best as he can from the heavy downpour. He has a black cloak wrapped around him, concealing his rather outlandish clothing – a green tunic and an oddly shaped hat with spiky, blond, slightly too-long hair spilling out the front like a kettle. It is unkempt, as it usually is these days, and it draws more attention than necessary to himself, which he has never liked. He has kept his title of Hero of Time hidden ever since he left his homeland seven years previous, but even now, after not a single person guessing who he really is, he remains cautious, slightly nerve racked at the possibility that someone might figure out who he is and tell the wrong person. Then trouble could descend on him like nothing he had ever had before.
Despite these conditions, Link does not move from his spot. He has promised the local tavern keeper to hunt down and slaughter the poe who has been stalking his top floors during the night for weeks on end, upturning tables, wreaking destruction and terrifying his own customers, making business less fruitful than would be hoped. Link feels it is his duty, since it is what he has been doing for seven years. From the tavern keeper, whose name was Daread, he has been given the direction that the sinister poe always seems to enter the town. So Link is now crouching just inside the gates, where any second now, he believes the annoying ghost is sure to appear, and begin to float toward the tavern, expecting that business will continue as usual, this rainy night.
As he pulls the dark traveling cloak further around him, he ponders, yet again, just how far away from Hyrule he really is. He dwells upon his home country much, and misses it grievously, but tries to keep his mind off of his homeland, for the pain that it is sure to cause him.
Even as he is thinking these thoughts, a wavering wind waxes into existence around him. He grips his bow tighter, quietly notching an arrow, twanging the string softly under his cloak. He quickly thinks everything over, knowing that he will have to bring the bow out and shoot fast, so the rain can't get in the way of the draw string. He hears the wind getting stronger, recognizing it as the traditional sound surrounding oncoming poe's. Link readies himself, letting tension take him over, even though there is nothing for him to fear. Poe ghosts have never been a problem for him.
He quickly sees it, although it is tougher through the pouring rain, which is now pouring down so hard that it is like buckets of water being emptied repeatedly from the sky. A small dim glow surrounds the ghost, and its drifting quietly down the cobblestone street in front of him, hovering about two feet off the ground. It has rags hanging from its destroyed and tattered remains of its body, and Link keeps inconspicuously in the shadows, readying himself for the perfect shot. It drifts closer, about to pass his hiding spot. It's head is still turned away, its lantern that is clutched in bloody fingers moving in tiny circles …
Link whips out his bow, tightens on the string, and releases. Unexpectedly, it seems the poe is waiting for this move, and disappears just in time. The arrow zooms through the spot where it just was. All Link can see now through the huge gale is the lantern. He throws off his cloak, and draws out his sword and shield, readying himself. Poe's can be tricky when they are invisible. As he crouches down into a fighting stance, he can't help but feel annoyed that he couldn't have just pierced it with one arrow and ended it. Now he has to get messy.
The lantern hovers softly, turning ever so slightly, in Link's direction. Link wanders out on to the main street, watching the lantern steadily. As he nears closer, he gets to seeing the small candle burning through the glass sheets …
Without warning, the lantern whirls up in a frenzy, and a cackle fills the air. It shoots forward as fast as an arrow, and Link throws up his Hylian shield. The lantern smashes against it, and goes out, crashing to the ground. There is an angry screech, and the poe appears again in a flash, glaring with hatred at the Hero of Time. Link realizes quickly that this is a much bigger poe than the one's he has usually seen in Hyrule so many years ago. Even bigger, in fact, than the poe's that haunted Dampe's Gravesite in Termina. It is around three feet tall, and four feet wide, with gleaming yellow eyes that are fixed menacingly on Link's face. He registers this fast, then rolls to the side to dodge a swipe with the dark claws of the enormous poe. As Link rolls, he dimly notices himself and his tunic getting soaked in the massive puddles that have gathered on the street. Another swipe flashes out at Link, and he catches the arm with his sword, a rather unremarkable, yet sturdy and well forged blade. The poe howls as blood drips from the tiny wound on its forearm, and swipes multiple times at the elf, desperate to get in at least one hit … apparently revenge for its broken lantern. Link can't help but chuckle inwardly at this as he dodges several more swings.
The poe seems to be in a frenzy of anger, for the lanterns are always kept close to traditional poe ghosts. And since this is a rather bigger poe, losing its lantern will make it feel like it could defeat anything that broke it. This is not a comforting thought, but Link still feels confident. Being in a rage filled frenzy such as the poe's current means that it has no control of its swipes – it is swinging blindly, the easiest tactic to dodge. Link moves left and right, smiling as the poe tries harder and harder, screeching even louder in protest. Finally, when Link pokes it jokingly in the side with the very tip of his sword, it grows even angrier. It swoops down and seizes a large chunk of broken glass from the lantern. It's jagged, gleaming end glints even through the heavy rain. Link realizes what its about to do half a second before it does it. He ducks down just as the poe hurtles the sharp glass at his neck. It soars over him, but with the slippery road beneath him, Link slips and goes down hard on his back, dropping his sword and shield. He scrambles to get up, realizing that this is just what the poe was counting on, but isn't fast enough. He feels both dead hands of the poe close around his ankle, and feels himself being dragged across the road toward the brick wall where he was just previously hiding under. He clutches desperately at the wet bricks, but his fingers are too wet to grasp a single stone.
He is lifted off the ground, yelling, and slammed hard against the brick wall. Not hard enough to go through it, but enough to cause him sufficient pain. The poe lets him fall to the ground, moaning, and reaches down to do it again. Link hasn't time or energy to react, and the poe hurtles him across the road, again in its blind frenzy of anger. Link rattles across the rough brick, and comes to rest on the very other side. At the back of his mind he sees lights being flicked on from the houses only blocks away. The poe is about to get more victims. In the front of his mind, Link sees the poe flying quickly toward him, rage boiling in its yellow tinged eyes …
Link rolls over onto his stomach and grasps his sword with slippery fingers. He spins himself off of the ground with his final dreg of strength, and stretches out his sword. The poe's eyes widen as it is cut horizontally across its middle, blood spurting out of it in torrents, splashing Link with the dark, putrid liquid mixed with the rainwater. Link drops the sword again, and it clatters at his side on the street. He sees the poe screech one final time, then disappear out of existence, never to terrorize this small town again. He breathes hard, and clutches at his back, groaning in pain. There is slight dust from where he hit the wall, but it is quickly washed away as he lays there, poe blood running down his face, which is also quickly washing away.
He sees villagers rushing up to him, crouching down, muttering in worry. Among them, Link notices Daread, the tavern keeper whom he promised he would dispose of the foul ghost, pushing through all of them and supporting Link's head with a hand.
"Are you alright, there, sir?" asks Daread, his thick accent as always making Link have to think about the words he is speaking. "Was it that damn ghost thing that has been terrorizing my tavern that did this to you?"
Link nods weakly, and says "but it won't be terrorizing you anymore. You have nothing to worry about, Daread."
The tavern keeper grins, but then notices all the poe blood splattered about Link's body, which is being washed into the street by the still down pouring rain. He cringes, but says "well done, sir. You are our hero, indeed!"
Hero … a title I am not worthy to uphold. Here I am, in a foreign country, fighting minor little poe's that are attacking taverns, when I should be off fighting greater evil's that are no doubt threatening the world. I should not be here …
Link's thoughts whirl about in his head. The villagers stay with him while he lays there, collecting himself. After a few minutes, he pulls himself upright and rests his sword and shield across his back. He turns to the crowd, and says "I thank you all for your hospitality. This feat that I have done for you needs no paying back, I have done it by choice, and do not regret it in the slightest. I have been happy to help you fine elves out, but now I must go … there are other matters I must attend to. Perhaps one day I may return, and when that day comes, please remember me. I am off now … good night to you all."
The villagers mutter their deepest thanks and regretful goodbyes, and slowly recede back to their homes through the still raging gale. Daread is the last to leave, and he clasps Link's hand and gives him a hug before retreating back to the tavern. Link smiles, then turns and hurries over to the brick wall, retrieving his traveling cloak. As he whirls it around himself, he hears a whinny in the distance. He reaches out with his mind.
I am coming, Epona, my faithful companion. We are leaving this village … for a place neither you nor I have seen in quite some time.
Although his faithful horse does not understand all the words, the meaning of them is quite clear. Link believes that she even knows where their next destination is. When he finally leaves the road and traverses across the small stretch of open field toward the trees of a massive forest stretching for miles north, he sees his horse. Epona, tied to a tree where he had left her only hours before. He greeted her with a hug and a pat on the head, smiling at her as he rubs her head. She whinnies softer, and nudges him.
"Okay, we shall depart, now," whispers Link to her, swinging himself up into the saddle. He takes a quick drink from his flask, fills it up again with the rainwater, then nudges the horses sides, and they take off back onto the main street, cross quickly through the small town, and out onto the road curving through the wilderness, heading south, homeward bound.
Deep in the unknown reaches of the underground …
A figure cast in shadow, sitting on a rock throne with his armored fingers curling menacingly over the arms stares with a penetrating gaze at a subject, who is kneeled before him with an arm over his chest. The subject shivers violently, for it is very cold in the small, rocky room, but also for fear of what his master will do to him if he did not choose his words right.
"Ulvarth," rumbles the figure sitting upon the throne, tall, foreboding, and sounding not pleased at all with the elf before him, "what have you to report from the surface?"
"A-All the proceedings are going well, my L-Lord," stammers the elf called Ulvarth. "Neam has kept a steady watch to the formation of the guards, and of the time that they switch shifts at the castle gates. He will strike mere hours after twilight."
"And how many guards are expected to be murdered?" demands the huge shadowed figure, sounding a bit more impatient than before.
"At least twenty-five, my Lord," replies Ulvarth. "Perhaps more, if he can work fast en-"
"NO!" shouts the shadowed being, cutting off Ulvarth so suddenly that he jumps in terror, cringing back as his voice radiates with power throughout the room. "UNACCEPTABLE! HE MUST SLAUGHTER EVERY GUARD THAT HE SEES, NO MERCY, AND NO EXCEPTIONS! IF HE IS TO DIE, THEN HE WILL DIE WITH A PURPOSE!"
The echoes bounce off the walls, screaming through the subjects mind. He nods feverishly, and says "it will be d-d-done, my L-Lord!"
He bows low, and sprints from the room, pure horror flying through his shaky mind and body. The supposed "Lord" sitting on the rocky throne smiles to himself after inflicting such terror into his elf servants. "Everything is going as planned," he murmurs softly to himself, then chuckles menacingly, again, with the deep voice reverberating off of the walls surrounding him.
Jaccfall Port, two leagues north of Lake Hylia Port
Link hands over twenty rupees to the elf running the dock. It is a small port, with just one wooden raft, which is relatively big, but that he is supposed to navigate himself, but it is sturdy enough to support both his and his horses weight. The man nods to him with a smile, his greasy hair bouncing on his head, and mutters "enjoy your ride, my comrade at Lake Hylia Port will take her back to here for you."
"Very well," says Link, returning the smile as he leads Epona onto the raft. "I shall not forget your kind service, sir. Good day to you."
As the rope tethering the raft to the dock is thrown off of it, Epona whinnies quietly with pent up fear, but Link places a hand on the saddle, calming her. "Don't worry, my faithful companion," he whispers to her. "I have plenty of food, and it will only take a few hours. Have no fear."
She is not fully soothed, but manages to calm herself with Link's presence. The minutes slowly slip by, with Link slowly steering the boat with a paddle, feeding Epona piles of grass that he has gathered from near Jaccfall Port before they left. The food helps calm her, and before long, Link can tell that Epona is completely calmed down, and collected with herself.
As the hours slip by unnoticed, Link begins to fee a strange pressure emanating from the south … from Hyrule. It seems to feel like a physical force trying to keep him from arriving in his homeland. He does not take notice of it at first, but after a while grows weary of it. As they draw nearer to Lake Hylia Port, the physical force turns into a foreboding force, what seems to be a supernatural warning. Had Link been traveling to any other part of the world, he may have heeded this strange warning, but his mind is set on reaching Hyrule, and nothing will stop him now. Even so, as they draw close to only a few miles away, the warning is so strong and fierce that even Epona begins to feel it, and she stomps her feet softly on the wooden surface of the raft uncertainly.
Finally, after much waiting and worrying, Link sees through the darkness of night, the small dock that indicates the entrance to Hylia Lake. He sighs in relief, as he sees a group of men gathered at the end of the dock. People to usher me in and bring the raft back, no doubt, reasons Link.
The raft bumps to a halt at the dock, and Link takes a closer look at the men as they tether it to the dock. There are five of them, all wearing dark cloaks with their hoods folded behind their heads. They all have swords strapped to their sides in leather sheathes. As soon as its tied firmly to the dock, they all fall silent, staring at him silently. They aren't smiling, but they don't glare either.
"Are you the comrades from Jaccfall Port two miles north of here who seek to take this raft that I ride on back to the port?" inquires Link. He starts to get a bad feeling in his heart about these men. One of them steps forward, unshaven and dirty looking.
"Whoever you are, whatever your business here in the land of Hyrule is, leave now, if you wish to live," says the man firmly.
Link frowns quizzically. They want him to leave? What could be going on in Hyrule that outsiders are being denied entrance? These are not guards of the King Daphnes, he works out quickly. His thoughts immediately jump to his lost and best friend, Princess Zelda. If anything has happened to her … he knows he must find out.
"Are you threatening me?" asks Link calmly. "Do not stand in my way, or you will die. I have no quarrel with you, sir."
"Turn this raft around now, and leave!" snarls the man, drawing out his dagger viciously with a rasp. All four men behind him do the same. "If you do not obey us, we will slay you and your horse where you are."
This threat to Epona drives Link over the edge. With lightning fast moves, he seizes his bow off of his back, notches an arrow and lets it fly straight into the man's chest who has just threatened him. He sets his bow back without looking to see the man's reaction to his mortal wound, and lunges forward, drawing out his sword, slicing the rope tethering him to the dock. The four men dive for the rope, but the raft sails just out of their reach. They curse audibly, and Link glares stiffly at them. He watches them turn and begin running all the way around the lake, attempting to beat him to the other side.
If I can just get to shore and ride Epona out of here before they reach me, I'll be safe! Link thinks quickly. He paddles frantically, speeding the raft up considerably. Epona whinnies loudly as the raft increases speed. Link shoots a quick look to the men. They are nearing the halfway point, and Link isn't. He realizes that paddling isn't enough. He must call upon magic to speed the boat up.
In the ancient tongue, he mutters a few choice words, and with his paddling and the magical boost to his strength, his arms move lightning fast, shooting the water up in a spray behind them. The speed increases dramatically, and Link and Epona shoot across the clear surface of Hylia Lake. As they near the shore, Link looks again at the men pursuing him. They are almost all the way around the lake. He panics, and when they hit the shore he leaps up onto Epona's back and kicks her sides hard before the raft is at a complete stop. His faithful horse panics also, and makes a large leap, landing partway on land, her back hooves sinking into the water. She flounders for a second, then gallops out of the lake, spraying water up behind them, and darts toward the exit to Hylia Lake. Link urges her to go faster. The men are dashing full out toward him, closing ground rapidly. Thinking fast, Link nocks yet another arrow and lets it fly, allowing for wind target advanced movement. One of the lead men is struck in the temple by the arrow, and falls forward, not even making a sound. Link realizes that it must have pierced his brain. Good, one more I don't have to worry about.
Links urges Epona to her fullest extent, and just before the remaining three mysterious guards reach the fence, Epona leaps full out, at least five feet into the air, landing down on the other side of the gate. They take off at full speed, flashing across the dark plains of Hyrule Field under the infinite stars. The three guards curse loudly, whacking each other angrily.
The Hero of Time looks up at the familiar constellations, his breathing ragged, but with a sense of safety. Finally, after seven years of wandering and saving people from minor problems, he was home in Hyrule, where his loyalties will always lie, where his best friends reside, and where, most importantly, he was born. But with these strange men attempting to deny him entrance, he wonders just what is going on in his homeland at the moment. He knows that those guards could not have been set there by the Royal Family, else they would have the armor of the traditional guards, and they didn't. He knows he needs to work this out, and decides to do it tomorrow, when there will be less dangers out hunting him. What he does not know is how many more men are scattered about the other entrances of Hyrule, and how fast the men at Lake Hylia could spread the word that he has made it inside.
So he comes to the conclusion that the most sensible place that nobody would look for him at is Lon Lon Ranch … where his old friend Malon, the farm girl from his childhood, he presumes, still lives.
Already in the distance Link can see the windows glowing like eyes beckoning him to hurry closer, for danger lurks nearby. This he already gets, but even so he urges Epona to move faster. Despite the fact that he is back in his homeland, he still feels uneasy while out in the open, since Hyrule Field is such a vast place.
It takes him about ten minutes to gallop into the ranch with Epona on quiet hooves. He leads his horse to the door to the only real house on the ranch. As Link dismounts, he notices that the nearby circular stable that takes up the heart of the ranch is motionless and empty. No horses are out on that field. He feels even more unsure, and knocks hastily on the door, hoping it isn't too late that Talon will hate him for knocking.
He waits a few minutes, knowing that it may take a second for someone to wake up and get down to the door. Sure enough, he hears hasty footsteps hurrying down a set of stairs, and straightens up, hoping he won't look too flustered. The door opens before him, spilling light all over his face. He squints in the bright light of the lantern that a figure in front of him is holding, for a swift transition from darkness to light is not friendly. He can tell that the figure holding the lantern is feminine.
"Malon," Link says in a quiet voice. "Is that you? And if it is, could you please lower the lantern? It's kind of bright."
The lantern lowers and Link blinks several times to clear the glare from his eyes. Indeed, it is Malon, his long lost friend. She is looking at him in puzzlement, and he sees with some sense of humor that she is now squinting at him.
"Do I know you? I'm getting the strangest sensation of Déjà vu …" she mutters.
"Malon, its me, Link! Fairy boy, remember? From seven years ago. I left Hyrule when we were eleven."
Realization seems to strike her with his words, and she throws her arms around him, crying out "Link! Oh in the name of the goddesses, where in Hyrule have you been? It's been so long! I thought you were dead!"
"I have been all around the world," responds Link. "But perhaps explanations are best left for later. I have a problem. There are men out hunting me, and I don't know how long it will take them to track me here. I came here because this is was the closest place. If they arrive here, I may be able to take care of them, but could I take shelter here for the time being?"
Malon seems more than slightly surprised by this desperate plead, and says "yes, of course! Where should you put your h … horse … oh Din's Fire, is that Epona?"
"Malon, please! I will put Epona in the stables, but we must hurry," says Link. She nods, remembering her promise to him.
"Go, put her in the stables. But hurry back, please."
Link brings Epona to the empty caged in area, again staring around in puzzlement as he pushes the gate open and lets her trot inside. As he closes it, he finds himself frozen in place, gazing raptly at the deserted place in the darkness. Epona gallops with glee across the familiar plane, scooping up mouthfuls of grass at will. Link is transfixed by the odd sight, but quickly shakes himself back to reality, and runs back to Malon's house, shutting the door behind himself. Malon is sitting on the couch before him, and he sits down beside her as well. She stares at him with interest, and says "as I asked before, what has delayed your return so much, and for what reason did you leave in the first place?"
Link considers the question. "Well, I left in the first place because there was nothing for me here. Where have I been? Many places, doing deeds for random villages and towns. Just a few nights ago I helped a tavern keeper named Daread rid the town of a troublesome poe ghost. Things like that, you see."
"Ah … saving people, as always, Link. Why do you do deeds as such?" she inquires. Link once again ponders the question.
"Because I feel that it is my job," he answers simply. "But tell me, where are all of your other horses? The cage is empty!"
"Oh, that," says Malon darkly. The change in her tone surprises Link a bit. "That started about a month ago. Someone has been slaughtering our horses. We don't even know how. It can't be by blade, for the holes are in their sides, and they are cauterized on the insides, and they are in far too perfect of a circle for any normal blade … or any weapon, for that matter. So now we keep our horses locked in the stables out back. The problem has finally stopped, but we lost many horses before solving it."
"And you never caught the culprit?" says Link in outrage. "How horrible! That could put Lon Lon Ranch in debt like you have never seen before!"
"We know," replies the farm girl with dismay. "If any more horses are slaughtered we could go out of business. So we have to keep the horses locked up all night, and some of the day when we aren't around them, just in case the perpetrator returns for more. Hopefully we will catch him one day soon. But I'm not so sure, for this person is smart – they leave no tracks or fingerprints. Whatever powerful magic they are using, they have made sure that they are untraceable. And it is working."
Link frowns. "Well, rest assured that this person will not get away. I will track them down eventually. But it may take a while, since I am being tracked right now, as well."
"Yes, and what is all of that about?" inquires Malon with curiosity emanating from her voice.
"When I sailed into Hylia Lake Port, there were five men who tried to stop me from entering. I took down two of them with my bow and escaped the other three. But I am sure that they are still hunting me, and I'm also sure that there are more out there, helping them. I don't know how long I can avoid them, and I don't know what they want. Do you have any idea why they were there?" inquires Link. Malon shakes her head sadly.
"I have not heard of any violence in Hyrule for some time, now, Link," she replies with a frown. "What could these men be up to that they must not have any outsiders entering Hyrule? If there is something happening in here, I should probably know about it, or anyone at all should know about it. But I don't, and I don't believe anyone else does either, for I have heard nothing of any strangeness in the papers lately. So the Royal Family must not know about the men, or else they would have dealt with them accordingly by now."
"Depending on how long they have been here," reminds Link. "It must be important to threaten to kill an elf over. Whatever it is, I can guarantee that it is something bad … and I will investigate whatever it is with all of my wisdom, courage and power."
Malon smiles. The three sides of the Triforce. "Will you stay here, tonight, then? You are more than welcome," the farm girl offers. Link smiles.
"Your hospitality is very much appreciated, Malon," says Link, grasping her hands in his. "I thank you to the fullest. If you would permit it, may I sleep down here on the couch?"
"Absolutely," responds Malon at once. "You may rest wherever you like. I will see you in the morning, I guess."
And with that, Malon gives him one final hug, and hurries up the stairs again, blowing out her lantern as she does. Link lays himself softly down on the sofa, kicking his boots off as he does. As he sets his hat on the table beside the sofa, he reflects on all that has occurred over the last few days. Much questions have been left unanswered, and he feels determined to unravel them as soon as he can. Yet, at the same time, he feels a sense of comfort … he has arrived home at last, his place of peace.
Unfortunately, it is all but peace that he is feeling.
Hyrule Field, the next day
Link pats Epona's side as she gallops hard across the rolling plains of Hyrule Field, bound west, toward the distant Hylia City, where the tall spires of Hyrule Castle were already visible. He has left a note on Malon's door, explaining where he has gone. Although he has done this, he still feels guilty not saying goodbye to her in person. But he forcibly pushes these thoughts out of his mind and continues on, unheeded by the clouds above. It is a gray, overcast day, yet sun is still shining through. Not exactly ideal conditions for his first day back in his beloved homeland.
He is still about a mile away, but in the distance he can see the drawbridge being lowered slowly down, creaking in the crisp morning air. He can't help but smile at the familiar site … his mind returns to the first time that he was running across the field at ten years old, his first time out of Kokiri Forest, with a feeling of openness as he saw the vast field before him. Now it was as normal as a walk across a road for him. And it was even more comforting and gave him a feeling of being home when he saw the bridge being lowered to admit weary travelers. He is a weary traveler.
The ride to the bridge is uneventful, or as uneventful as it can get riding a horse across a vast plain. When Link arrives at the gate and gallops over it, he can already see the townsfolk bustling about the main square, chatting animatedly with big smiles on their faces. A few chickens are squawking and running about with children chasing after them, dogs are barking and wagging their tails, and there is an auctioneer's voice rattling off a list of prices. It is the center of activity for Hyrule. All races are here – gorons, zora, elves and gerudo. They all coexist in harmony in Hylia City, there has never been conflict here, aside from the nonexistent future that Link remembers quite well, when Ganondorf took over. And since that future now does not exist, Hylia City is his favorite place in all of Hyrule, aside from the forest, his original home inside his home.
As he trots into the main square, he is greeted with cheery waves and calls of "hello!" with random people he did not even know. These people have no conflicts in their lives, and everything to live for. Link almost feels that they are luckier than him, but decides not to go into that sort of thing – he never has and never wants to.
Epona and him quickly exit the main square and trot up the path leading to the meadow in front of Hyrule Castle. They draw closer to the familiar place, and Link reminisces about the days when he had to sneak past all the guards just to see Princess Zelda.
When he rounds the corner, however, a new problem faces him. Since his thoughts have been so cluttered since the previous night, he hasn't thought about how he is going to get into the castle to see Zelda. Now the gate before him is shut firmly, and two guards stand in front of it, permitting no entrance to civilians. And Link is a civilian to everyone except the sages. He leads Epona up to the gate, and the guards stand up stiffer, grasping their pikes a bit harder. Link grimaces, already knowing that they will refuse to let him through.
"Please, I would like to gain access to Hyrule Castle in order to consult with –"
"Were you invited?" cuts in the guard to Link's left, not even turning to look at him. Link grits his teeth, and says "no, I do not sir. But I must see the Pr –"
"Then you shall not gain entrance to the Royal Families Castle, under order of King Daphnes, henceforth when –"
A second voice cuts through the guard who is deliberating at Link. A feminine voice … the most welcome voice Link has heard since he left Hyrule seven long years ago. The voice of a Princess of Destiny.
"Open the gates, Fulst," orders the voice. "He is with me."
The guard named Fust falters, then glares with hatred at Link, and slides the gate open. Link nods to him, and he and Epona trot through the gate. It slams shut behind him with a jolt.
Link leaps off of Epona, seeing the figure of a skinny, blond haired woman wearing regal pink clothing with Triforce shapes embroidered in gold upon their surfaces, standing in the middle of the dirt road before him. Her unmarked, perfect face is smiling with joy at the sight of her old friend and savior as he jumps off his steed and sprints toward her. Dangling from both earlobes are Triforce shaped earrings, also shining gold. The Princess Zelda, the only other elf aside from the sages who knows who Link truly is, embraces her old, lost friend with pure happiness and cheer, glad that he has finally returned to her at last. She has thought to herself over and over the years that he was gone from Hyrule, what her true thoughts toward him are, and came to a simple conclusion, though she knows she would never work up the courage to tell him straight forward. Link is the elf with the mark of courage.
Link has often thought the same thoughts about Zelda, and has come to the same exact conclusion, but for all the courage bestowed upon him, he can not bring himself to tell her. A secret that he believes will remain with him for the rest of his life. But he does not curse himself. At the moment, all thoughts have left his head, and he is simply overjoyed to be holding the woman he has known since childhood once more. He breathes in her rose scent with reverence, rubbing her back with his mail-backed hands, something he has been waiting to do for seven years.
