8

Revealing things hidden.

Zelda then lived once again in her dream when Link returned to Hyrule.

The morning, bright and early without a cloud on the sky… Zelda witnessed sunrise, she could sleep no more. Something worried her, something hidden and unsure, nameless. Before the maids spoke Zelda knew what they said, and before they knocked she bid them to enter. The maids prepared a bath with spring water and aromatic leaves, intended to rest the mind but this mind was restless, nobody could think as hard about nothing as the princess could.

On her way to the throne Impa joined her along with a scribe to inform about the day's businesses.

"My lady, today you have the usual matters with the petitioners, a meeting with the council of war before that, a diplomatic meeting with Lord Erion from Pershiom, but first the captain of the outposts wishes to address you at the throne."

"What is he doing here? He should be watching over the boarders." The princess inquired in a pessimistic way.

"He comes to report to the council" Impa replied. "It is part of his duty every two full moons, you should know that."

The princess did not reply for she was embarrassed to continue with any questions.

Impa could notice Zelda's state of mind. Her long years of caring and watching paid off as knowledge of her master continued to grow. Sometimes she felt like a mother.

At the throne the captain told the princess about the conditions of the posts, he requested permission to settle a village to have enough working hands and make due repairs. Zelda had to decline for having a settlement would require taxation and the people could not pay it at the moment, but she would send workers to settle there with the troops.

As the captain left, Impa inquired about the princess mind.

"What troubles you, milady?"

"I wish you could tell me."

"How could I?"

"I feel something is to happen, whether it is good or evil, is unknown to me. Experience tells me that after tragedy hope comes, and the other way around."

"And what will come first? Hope or tragedy?"

"That is the question."

Impa tried to bring something to mind, from memory not imagination; she knows that the worst things are not unheard of, they have been perhaps forgotten or diminished but never unheard of. The greater waves in the stillest of lakes start with one wave and before making the bigger many are formed. All this Impa had very clear, for that she left to mind about these businesses. Zelda could not have the mind for anything else but neither the heart to solve the matter.

Around noon she felt it first. The need of being somewhere; unknown to her the reasons or as to whom might need her. Only the feeling instead of the image, following her steps rather than having a place to go.

She left the council meeting in such a hurry but without knowing. She felt in her heart going right direction. Her feet quickened as they felt light with the step. Soon she was amidst the great market. The right place indeed, but why? She looked around desperate wishing to know what was to come. Looking around she realized that the soldiers had followed her. "Go back I have no need of you here" she said as she kept on searching, she worried when the reply came "but you ordered us to come, your highness." She looked back at the soldiers and their faces she saw truth. She could not remember the order. In fact she could not ever remember how she got there. As she did, one man collided with her. He was covered in a robe and hooded. He appeared to be a peasant or a very poor monk from an outside kingdom. The soldiers held their weapons at the man realizing that the lump on his back was a sword. Although Zelda could not see the man's face nor heard his voice, she ordered the men to lower the weapons. Surrounded by the man's arms, she was. Looking down for she felt something else, a very familiar sensation: she felt safe. "Only someone could make me feel like this" she said and unnecessarily removed the hood. She saw a man instead of the boy she remembered. The hair still on his face, as bright as her own; the skin begotten rigid, with marks of being shaven; but a blank stare, that she could not remember.

"My soldiers, this is the hero of time and saviour of Hyrule: Link." The men took the helmets off and beheld the man they heard in stories by the folk in the markets, in the taverns, in celebrations of their own villages. That very same person was the one before them. Zelda could only remember his eyes along with that firm and calming grip.

The princess awoke inside her chambers; her clothes had been changed and she was tucked inside her bed. It was morning, still sombre yet brighter than yesterday. As she sat up, from the shadows, a voice was heard and the shine of a blade was seen.

"You are awake, thank goodness"

"What are you doing here?" she inquired after rubbing her eyes.

"Is that really what you wish to know?"

"Did you see him?" she left her bed swiftly as Impa stood up watching how her master could be such a fool. "Please, tell me you saw him. Tell me that it was not a dream for it is a nightmare." She gasped with one thought. "Then again, if the truth is too painful refrain yourself." Zelda's shivering eyes met Impa's calm metallic stare, calm only outwardly. "I cannot withstand the light any longer, the more truth I learn more miserable I feel. This light hurts my eyes and my heart. If you must, keep me in the shadows with you."

"In the absence of light, it is darkness that prevails and not shadows." As she continued she read from the hilt. "Shadows cannot exist without light, whereas darkness benefits from the lack thereof." And returned her gaze at the princess. "Never mistake them. My father taught me that."

Impa returned her blade to scabbard and stared at the princess, she knew what the princess wanted to know, with resignation she answered. "I saw him; just momentarily he could be seen through that window there." She pointed at the window opposite to the bed. "He hasn't slept at all, I know because I haven't either. He's been about the fortifications; everyone who knew him is scared to talk to him, only the soldiers follow his orders but without looking straight at him."

"He is alive, how could this be?" Zelda asked, Impa did not answer. She knew not and really she wished that Link had stayed inside his grave.

The princess changed her clothes. She wanted to know what happened, she wanted to see it again and not faint. Above all things, she wanted to see him.

Quickly did she dress and tie her hair with the headdress so common for the eastern kingdom's princesses to wear. As she walked, she prepared herself to whatever Link could do. She could not think of what Link was capable of and precisely that frightened her, for that reason she gathered as much strength as she could.

First, she felt the wind changing. The feeling was heavier like rain in the far climate. Then she felt her hands going numb as though she had laboured continuously for a day. Finally she felt her vision blur when her eye was fixed upon him once more. All the strength mustered before made no difference. She could not believe what she saw but still she went up to him and tried to speak; indeed, she opened her mouth yet no words came.

From a distance she tried thus limiting herself to just watch. It was as Impa had said, everyone was ignoring him… no, not ignoring…. They dared not to look upon him. They were afraid. The soldiers heeded to his words but not to look. He carried the master sword, this credited him as the hero of time, and however even all the proofs in the world could not convince her eyes. Her heart would have still doubted had it not been for Link's sudden demonstration of skill. He said "are you going to say something, or just stand and watch?" without turning he awaited for the princess to move. Zelda moved closer and stood next to Link, staring at him she tried to stay on her feet. It was him, unspoiled. Never had she ever heard of someone back from the dead being the same. Others were monsters, mindless creatures, shadows of that which once was, but not Link.

She contemplated as he supervised from a distance the work and before he gave an order, the princess said: "what about you?" Link turned. "I say nothing for I know not what to say, but you? You never do." She was met by the stare. Silence, from the two of them; apart from the hammering, ordering, marching and other noises from work it was quiet.

"My eyes do not lie but it is my ears I trust here. Your silence is all I need to know without a doubt that you are Link the hero of time. I remember that Gannondorf attempted to make a replica out of you. Very accurate indeed, yet he could not make it without feelings. And feelings by the way, those your father have. I never thought I would ever be sure about this lack of yours." More silence and that stare. "And still you say nothing." Zelda scoffed and began walking the other way. She had only taken four steps when Link confessed "I say nothing for I know nothing." She stopped and he carried on. "My memory is that of my quest for Sendrh Uchia, the battle against the evil King's four generals and the voice of Gannon himself. After that I can tell you about recently when I found myself in darkness all around me. Trapped without air. I had little space to move my arms and legs but I broke free. It was not until later whilst shaking the soil off me that I realized it was me own grave I had escaped, my grave inside the forest and next to my mother. The forest was quiet, silent completely, everyone inside their house according to our traditions of mourn. Here at the walled city the bridge was up and a thousand candles burning. That is when I realized everyone thought me dead. I was about to reach for you when I smelled ashes in the air, brimstone and scorched flesh. From a far I heard clearly as I hear you the voice of Gannondorf saying he slew me. I killed a dragon accidentally with the hookshot, I just wanted to get on its back and fly to Gannon. I followed him as far as I could until I realized he still used portals. The miserable coward!" he spit on the floor. "I returned and doing so I found the city gates up in flames, dodongos eating the walls, dragons flying around untouched and ogres inside the city. It took me very little to kill them. That is when you saw me making my challenge to that coward.

That is all I can tell you that do not already know. Now it is your turn to explain how your army is so unable."

"Unable? Is that what you call the men that give their lives for the kingdom? Twenty three have died in two days and all you can say about them is that they are unable."

"Many more should have died and the city defences should have held."

"You are without a doubt the man I loved." She scoffed. "Go on with your duties, I shall be at the throne as always." she did not leave instead she moved next to Link to say one more thing. "I think my biggest mistake was to believe you to change. Whilst I am incomplete inside the kingdom shall go on." And so she left.

As usual that meant nothing to Link. Indeed his life as a soldier needed not for understanding the heart, even one as precious as the one he entered long ago. Nevertheless he worried about her sake. That was the only thing on his mind. Even revenge and anger were displaced by that thought.

He hated Gannondorf but that was not what he was thinking. Instead he thought of brighter days with the princess and especially that night they spent together before he left to Sendrh Uchia. He could not understand it but he felt it as lively as that night. The memory was beyond that it was as time travel; so clear and palpable. He tried to ignore it with his duties but it stayed with him all day.

Behind him at far, Impa watched. She saw him treat her master coldly. Once again for the thousandth time she wondered how Zelda could love him.

Thinking that made her breathing heavier and clench her fists.

Nobody ever saw her that way; she was too careful to be showing it to anyone. Link served a purpose to the kingdom, in that he was successful; nonetheless he had no right to treat the princess that way. Zelda had no reason to love that man. A mere commoner, a soldier in her service; that is all he is. Not a great man, someone empty inside, without feelings.

But not Impa, she had always had the burning desire to serve and protect the royal family. She remembered the day she started her training in Kakariko village

The sky was piling up with clouds real fast, it was windy and dirt picked up entered her red eyes. As she tried to open them once more, she heard the voice of her father.

"You can rub your eyes as much as you please, that will do nothing. Instead you should listen to the wind and learn from it." She turned to see him standing next to her and gazing to the horizon.

Then, her sister appeared behind her; both her father and sister wore the clothes of the sheikah as well as the armour. Onia said "the wind salutes you, Impa." Then she held down both of her younger sister's hands to keep them still. "You should listen, it blows hard for you."

Ronius, her father turned to Impa and standing tall he said in the loudest voice he could keep solemn: "your duty shall be to the family, the royal family that is. Nothing shall stand in your way to protect them. You shall always stand in the way of danger as it approaches the king. Your training shall be severe and hard. Do you wish to do this?"

Even when only 8, Impa knew not to disappoint her father and to reply with all her heart. "I do, father."

That marked the beginning of a very hard training and a very solitary life. As a sage she would learn the great duty upon her. She would later learn that the shadows are part of a balance. To understand darkness, light holds an ally in the middle: the shadows. These are in both places at the same time. It mediates between them. By doing so, shadows are neither one nor of the other. Shadows have no one. Thus would Impa learn to live her life as being there and not at the same time: Being someone and nobody; knowing it all and nothing, she mattered to both all and to nobody. For that reason, to always remember it, Impa had it written in the hilt of her sword, the words her father repeated so fervently.

Her training was indeed hard, what she really wanted was to make her own family proud. They loved her yet pushed her beyond limits to fulfil their duty, to bring a good warrior that protects the king. The safekeeping destined for our loved ones had to be sacrificed in benefit of the rulers, her greatest honour would be to die in the service of them.

She learned this as she sacrificed calm days with her family, hardships, love from another man, even the child she had to bear to secure the blood line of the Sheikahs.

As she matured, she learned to live without those things, she began to harden her heart and free her spirit. She listened to the sorrowful stories from the wind, tragedies from rocks and blood-stained soil echoed the pain and death. She learned to live with such songs. She learned to live with the history of her people and the horrors of disgrace.

To this day, she still slept outside to avoid hearing the whispers of the stone walls.

As she gazed at Link, she carefully cursed him under her breath.

At that moment, one of the watchmen yelled: air raid! All the soldiers readied their weapons, Link quickly instructed the catapults to be directed towards the land monsters and not the dragons. The archers piled by groups at different points rather than along the wall. And the walls were manned behind them since they would not be climbed but destroyed. Packs of rubble piled blocking the exit for the creatures were not smart enough to dig instead of pounding.

This time defending the city was easy enough. The dragons did little harm and the catapults proved effective against the ground monsters. However something troubled Link; it was the raids. Why bother with small raids when he could mobilize an enormous army at the gates? The evil king might or might not be aware of Link's living and whereabouts, still it meant that there was no apparent reason for not doing so.

Perhaps distraction, perhaps to gain time for a proper siege; nevertheless it was very suspicious it had not happened yet

Zelda met with the council of war inside the quarters to decide the proper action. They were waiting on the scavengers dispatched the day before to detect the presence of Gannon's troops. Link met with the rest of the council in spite of the fact that even they were afraid of him.

However Impa did not join; first of all she is not part of the council, second: she had to take care of matters while the meeting took place and last, she did not want to see Link.

So many things were wrong about him: everything seemed too easy and too complicated at the same time; a complete disaster in one sentence.

Impa was a lot more simple and direct about things. She did have feelings but they were towards only one person, her anger to her enemies, and her whole self for the royal family.

Sometimes she felt part of the family, only momentarily when in peace, only in turbulent times did she feel in such trust, that because it was a false trust.

By the time she was 16, she was living still in Kakariko village, her father returned for a few eight years prior to start her as a sheikah, and she had not seen him since. Her training was continuing along with Onia's under the supervision of Ichiro, an apprentice of the Sheikah that teaches the rules and duties to the youngest whilst the eldest serves. Ichiro was a man of great wisdom and great admiration for Ronius, there was little he would not do for him.

The code the Sheikahs follow is called the Half-light law it teaches the warrior the way of the shadows and the loyalty towards the light without being light itself. It teaches how necessary they are, how they are to live under the rule of kings, how they are to grow without their parents, how they are to secure the bloodline. It has a guideline of the training and the secret for listening to the wind, ground and rocks.

Men and women like Ichiro are called Markers, this because they do everything that marks a difference in the sheikah. That is their duty: to raise, train, counsel, direct and care for the future warrior until summoned before the king.

Ichiro had quite a burden though, not only did he had to deal with Impa and Onia, but also with Jia their mother. Jia was another Sheikah who did not know it until womanhood. She tried to learn how to be a warrior but could not tolerate the talking of soil, wind and rocks. Eventually she married Ronius who tried to help her with the listening, in spite of his efforts Jia lost her mind. She was kept inside a hut away from the mountain, the soil was combed, the rocks were removed and the floor was wooden.

Particularly Impa could not understand how her mother was demented. They thought the marriage even against the Half-light law could be of benefit for the bloodline. The problem with Jia was that she did not have the spirit of the Sheikah. She was not trained as a child, she did not know about her identity until later on; she had been a child from Ronius' brother. Jia's wish was to serve, to learn and be part of something.

It was loneliness and the hearing that drove her mad; that which she never learned as a child and failed to grasp as an adult

Ronius loved her as much as he could in his own particular way but mostly he pitied her as a tormented soul who deserved better and a normal family and not the shadow folk who lived for the king of Hyrule.

The day that Impa and Onia were summoned before the King in the middle of the summer, when Kakariko village floods with butterflies from the forest in a wonderful spectacle of colours and silent figures; it happened. A company of soldiers came riding hard into the quiet village as the people went inside their houses. Soldiers meant being safe, of course but it was more like being safer in the path of danger. The company halted in front of a two story house and knocked the door. Ichiro answered; the captain handed him a scroll sealed and said "we came for the Sheikahs." Impa and Onia were about their training when heard the soldiers coming, from a distant hill they saw them.

"The soldiers let us see what they want." Onia held her back and sighed

"Spare us of your stupidity and let Ichiro see the scroll first."

"Why should we fear his majesty's soldiers?"

"For all we care that only looks like a company of soldiers, their uniforms mean nothing."

As they talked, the soldiers awaited for Ichiro to recognize the royal seal and bring the warriors before them.

"I shall fetch them, for now you may rest, if you like food or drink we have enough."

"We will leave at once" said the captain.

"They should inform you better, the Sheikahs go through a ceremony during the night and the following morning they do another one."

"Is it necessary?"

"Quite, I suggest to leave tomorrow morning"

Having said that Ichiro opened the door for them and with a gesture invited them to enter. As the soldiers went inside the house taking off helmets and sighing, Ichiro waved without knowing where he was signalling. He then went inside the house with the soldiers.

Onia sat on the ground as Impa stared at the house imagining what the soldiers might be thinking when going into an almost abandoned town as Kakariko.

"Finally, our time has come and our destiny shall start tomorrow" Onia said as she ripped some grass and heard the soil groan.

"We will see father once more." Said Impa still gazing at the distant house without knowing that her sister looked back at her silent and rabid, frustrated.

"Where have I mistaken?" she stood up "as hard as I try and you keep avoiding a Sheikah's proper attitude."

"Attitude?"

"We are not going to the castle to see father; we do not benefit from it. We are fulfilling our destiny as protectors of the king. You should not… you do not cherish anything else but being in their service. There is nothing else but the King and his safety. Nothing!" Onia cut the air horizontally with her open hand as she stated that last thing. She walked away.

It was seven years since the last time Impa cried. Now, she sobbed very quietly clenching her fists unable to know if she wished to hit her sister, yell at her or simply cry as loud as possible. She did none of that instead she left for her mother's hut and as she did, she tried to regain her posture and serenity. Not to feel it but just to show it. Passing the houses beyond the tree line, the hut remained as hideous as ever, solitary, and noticeable among anything around it. She entered and her eyes adjusted to the dark just to see a figure crawling in the far corner, trembling. "Mother" she said without a response. "It is I…"

"Silence!" the figure burst violently throwing a hand in the air and standing straight.

Impa took a step back, startled by the scream but her mother looked at her completely different and almost motherly. "Oh, not you my child. Not you" and looked around. "It is them, the voices… do you hear them?".

"Yes" in fact there were no voices. The ground, the trees, the grass, the wind were all without a voice inside the hut but given Jia's state, she heard them inside her head.

"They never quiet. They are always there. Telling me what to do. Telling me what others do… I hate them." And returned to the corner.

"Have you eaten?" Jia grunted affirmatively.

"I have news."

"Well, speak. I read no mind" she said focused to the ground.

"The king has summoned us" Jia halted her blind writing in the ground and stood up as Impa continued. "We are to leave tomorrow to see him."

"Ronius…" whispered nodding her head.

"We shall partake of our share of destiny, we shall serve the king."

"Ronius…"she whispered again, nodded again and this brought tears to her eyes.

"I wanted you to know this because when we leave, we will never come back" it was hard for Impa to complete her sentence but she did almost as hard as she swallowed.

"So many years, sixteen of them. I have not seen my husband in that time. Now I am left with no one."

"Ichiro will stay"

"I never carried him in my womb"

"I am sorry" Jia returned to her blind writing and said nothing else. Impa attempted to embrace her but was held back by a snarl. She stood there for some time hoping that maybe her mother could at least say a goodbye. She waited in vain. There was nothing else to do but to continue her training, eat and sleep. The ceremony started around dusk. Onia had a short sword and a grey cloak recently made for her as well as the breastplate, the gauntlets and the ceremonial robe she wore in similar ceremonies. Impa had similar attire but no sword. Both of them kneeled before scrolls of the half-light law and recited their prime duties to the ruler. They swore allegiance to the king, to serve only him, to be anywhere, to be nowhere, to be loyal, to be a protection, to be his servant.

They denied themselves, denied anyone else's existence, to breathe with the king's lungs and to live with the king's heartbeats. And so on until the following morning. The soldiers awoke long after the sisters finished their ceremony. Both stood against the passing wind that caressed their clothing as the soldiers chaired the horses. They rode hard towards the castle, knowing that a new beginning they were facing as more Sheikahs joined the ranks. As Impa looked back at the village and the old houses that made her home, she attempted to spot her mother's hut. Without a glimpse, she knew deep within her own self and her limited experience that many feelings turn to be as one fears, that even without proof of this, she knew she would loose her mother in the immediate future in a terrible manner.

She quickly forgot that idea as they entered the city. They didn't ride as much as she thought, even when never having been to the walled city; she knew it had to be somewhat distant if the soldiers came on horse rather than by foot. Nevertheless she wondered how the city being as huge as the mountain was never seen in the village.

She was quickly caught in the delight of the stoned walls; the swarm of people walking by and talking loudly; the many soldiers around; the market place smelling of fresh fish and spices; mostly, though, when she saw the castle. Seeing it against the rising sun was exquisite experience, the green hills and the perfection of its arquitecture was splendour beyond her knowledge.

They were both led to a hall where they said were to wait for their orders. As the soldiers left, the sisters wondered about the nature of the room. It was quite large, nothing in the middle of it, only an inscription and a symbol on the floor. It read: "to all of those great" and the royal emblem.

"I wonder why we are waiting here" Impa said taking off her hood.

"We are to have our orders."

"We are Sheikahs, we protect the king"

"Yes, but we still have specific orders or duties and that is what we wait for."

"Are we going to see the king?"

"Not likely, he must be busy"

"Busy" a third voice from the door intervened. "When I am too busy for my guardians, then I must be busy with my grave digger. Otherwise I cannot see why" the king smiled and the sisters bowed.

"Your majesty" they said at unison.

"Stand up and let me see you close." He raised them holding their shoulders. The king looked at them with teasing eyes that resembled a child's. He smiled again and said "I know that Onia is the oldest, yet you seem the same age…" then he stared at Impa, this time steadily as an arrow shot straight. "But judging by your eyes, I must say you are Impa.

Both sisters amazed at the king's accuracy in guessing who was which sister.

"I did not guess" the king laughed. "I can never forget those eyes, they are beautiful."

A warm strike hit Impa's chest. It was the first time anybody paid her a compliment. No one else had ever said something delightful about her. Nothing beyond a job well done, for that she was speechless, it did not even deem her to thank the king.

And suddenly her day was brightened, as it was eight years prior, she knew it was him that day, and could never forget him. Her father appeared out of nowhere from behind the king. He was tall, had dark greyish hair, long and tied; his thick side whiskers reached the end of his jaw as they accentuated his rugged looks the same did his brows and black eyes.

"Ronius, good you came. Your daughters are lovely, they remind me of your wife"

It went dead silent. Impa looked at Onia who barely raised a brow, she never liked to hear about her mother.

"You should draw your swords." Ronius said looking at his daughters. Onia did so and raised before her face, to salute the one that weapon would protect. But Impa remained standing and weaving her fingers quite embarrassed. "I have no sword."

Onia sheathed her sword and sighed. "Her hands are small and any weapon I give her slips and cuts her. We were going to make one but have been summoned first."

"Well, I shall see to it that the finest sword smith is brought and make her a perfect blade for her." Again Impa did not know how to respond to that.

"Your highness, you are needed before the council. They have found the culprit."

"Thank you, Ronius." And then turned to see the sisters. "I must go, but first I will explain your duties. These are turbulent times, my enemies lie within my own people, and the places are infested with vile killers. You are here to protect my wife and the heir to the throne: my son Hark. Onia, you shall see to my wife's safety, and Impa, you shall protect my son." He turned to the end of the hall and concluded. "I have faith in you. You should let me keep it."

She might have met few men in her life, but not one could be described as charming or even attractive as the King. Impa knew there was something captivating about his smile, his voice, and those childish eyes. Life emanated from him to her. His presence was refreshing.

As she thought of this, her father approached his daughters and without greeting them, he said "He is the king, I am your father. Believe what I say, and limit yourselves to obey him and nothing else. Your duties and everything you need to know are in the Half-light law, I want you to study it copiously as you remain here. You do whatever the king tells you. Understood?"

"Yes, father" Onia said nodding.

"I do not understand what is it that you wish us not to do"

"I do not want you to learn anything from him" Having nothing more to say or wished for nothing more to hear, he left.

That was as far as Impa wanted to remember from the lie her younger years had been. It was better to always leave the past where it belongs. First it hurt her, then it became sore as a broken bone, then something vague as a scar and now it was a headache like the ones that come from too many bad ideas.

The sky was calm but grey; rain could be smelled in the air from the courtyard in the west wing, but something else in the air, convinced it was foul. She walked away listening to the ground talking about the dead within themselves, wishing she could silence them, and as she did, she wished she could silence her memories of a wasted youth protecting a tyrant and loosing a mother, a father and a sister in the process.