9
Time is with us
As the first company of soldiers was dispatched to Kakariko village for centric tactics in the early morning as the sun rose, the people wondered why they had not been attacked the day before. Some thought that maybe it was over, that perhaps from inside the castle Link found a way to ward off evil. Some others feared that a great army had assembled and that a full frontal attack and siege was ready.
The outer walls were still firm since the dragons, the skeletons, the dodongos and other creatures were not able to attack them properly, and nevertheless they were successful in decimating the buildings and almost reach the castle walls.
Link sought to fortify the positions and using wisely the artefacts and other weapons against the monsters. He had been successful in that sense, even in keeping a safe passing route for the farmers and cattle-men to maintain the city fed. Still it had been a week since his back-to-life experience without any news of Ganon's whereabouts or even his plans.
The open market was still in operations, though notably smaller due to various merchants leaving the city or even the kingdom. The people buying did so without much bargaining and the sales-people took almost gladly the profits. The soldiers patrolling, the carpenters hammering the draw bridge, the masons restoring the walls, miners bringing stones from the quarry, they were all quiet. The people inquired in silence as they forcibly worked to restore the damaged city and afford a stand. The soldiers speculated while patrolling fearful of another raid, their minds troubled themselves with scattered recalls of fire, growls, teeth and claw, rusted blades and arrows, pain and sorrow.
Beyond them, higher above their heads the princess remained inside the secret meeting chamber. Locked within her thoughts and peace onto herself for there had been too much talk at the council of war.
She had had enough. Enough of the talking, enough of the bickering; it prolonged so much, unnecessarily loud and without need. Besides, talking never solved anything, at least not the way the generals did: just talking and no listening. Half the time promoting their ideas, half the time discarding everyone else's; too stubborn, they are.
The council had been gone for an hour, now the princess was finally alone and undisturbed. It was quiet, almost enough to listen to her breathing now eased. And then for a moment, she transported herself to a wonderful time, to days when she was not troubled with war but rather enjoyed peace. Those days were brighter, the air was fresher almost sweet, or so they seemed; even the cloudy and rainy looked light-full and joyful. Yes, fantasy and reality; days never to be forgotten… and then again, days without Link.
That thought made her realize something disturbing as she fidgeted in her seat trying to understand her understanding.
That now as she recalled these sweet dreams they were not intense. Ever since Link's return, her heart had been burdened, swollen, ravished and broken.
Turbulent times indeed, yet at the same time full of passion.
Never before had she ever felt love so intense, never before had she ever been so thankful for freedom, never before did she love her father more, never before did she miss her mother so.
There had never been a time when she was stronger, decisive, thoughtful, brave, faithful, mightier, wiser or powerful.
Although difficult to conceive and even harder to attribute, turbulent times strengthened her kingdom, her army and her people. Thus, the wicked died and the righteous found eternal rest.
Can suffering be praised? Or war rejoiced?
"Would I trade" she wondered "those years for peace? The means are questionable but not the ends and I do rejoice in the strength" she concluded. Such selfish idea crossed her mind; to think the better days for her people did not include Link could make them dull. And yet, they were dull.
"Am I interrupting?" from the stairs Impa called.
"Not at all" the princess pulled a chair next to her to have Impa quite close. As guardian and master sat together with the simple intent of just company, a new page of memories was about to be read.
"I was thinking about our days of peace."
"They seem so distant"
"Indeed"
"On the other hand I remember the day you were born"
"You mean the night… do you really?"
"As though it was yesterday."
With a soft smile Impa understood that her master wished to hear about it.
"The story begins in the early morning; it was the first undisturbed day since the war had started…"
"What did you do that day, then?"
"I…" she hesitated "was with your father as his guardian, naturally."
"Father once said you had been my guardian since the womb."
"Do you wish to hear the story?"
"Of course." Both laughed, by that Impa fancied the moment; but before carrying on, Link's voice interrupted.
"I need to talk to you, Zelda."
Impa bit the inside of her lip disgusted by the way Link so rudely interrupted them, the way he addressed her master and above all, that without at least begging pardon he received the princess' attention as she disregarded his bad manners and forgot about the pleasant story Impa had to tell.
"Certainly." Zelda replied holding a breath and exhaled the words "Leave us" to Impa. Her guardian obeyed with a serene bow and swift walk.
Link remained standing at the stairs, his blank stare arose so many things in Zelda. A strange trade… so much for nothing.
"Is there something you wanted to tell me?" Zelda inquired.
"No."
"Then why…" she then remembered the Kokiri expression Sariah once explained to her D'hrohoged invar which translates literally: talk with you. That is how Kokiries set up meetings however talking is not the purpose instead simple company. She almost felt flattered.
"You might want to sit down" she said pointing to the chair Impa left vacant. She watched how Link hesitated and silently sat. That day had been rather confusing; well then again her whole life had been utterly strange. If so then why would this be different? Indeed strange nevertheless emotive. What if Link was once dead? What if he never changed for the best? Was that enough to discard love? Some love senseless, others love passionately, selfishly. Could she really deprive Link of affections due to his own lacking? The one-eyed can still see, who would blind such man? And even if Link was incomplete, Zelda is whole. If her lover arose from the dead, so could her heart.
Link admired his master and vaguely remembered something about her, about her self, her being. Before he could grasp it, he quaked a little when he felt a hand taking his and throwing it around a back and onto Zelda's shoulder, she leaned against his chest and pressed hard. A token of appreciation to each other.
"I promise I shall tech you" she looked up as she spoke
"I understand" Link replied with his same blank stare.
Their eyes met sharing a secret conversation, unknown even to them; on the other hand there were affairs that needed tending.
"Zelda…" he was shushed softly.
"Be silent" she whispered and looked away into eternity. "Allow us this moment of peace."
"But what of…"
"Leave it, whatever it is it can wait. Time is with us for now."
"You might presume too much." Zelda exhaled a long breath.
"Link, verily you challenge my patience. If you say one more word…" a grin "I shall slap you. "
Barely one second and an immediate irruption.
"Why would…?" before he could finish, he was met by the warning after which he had nothing more to say.
Zelda hushed a giggle with her hand and then started caressing Link's bare hand, wondering where his gauntlet went. While Link attempted to place the slap somewhere within the demonstrations of love; and about the fortifications, why the generals had been so unable to defend the walls and respond attacks.
Outside the room, far away and into the fields of Hyrule the caravans of merchants returned to their establishments to lock the rupees earned and exchange it later for commerce gold. Some of the soldiers volunteered to accompany them at least to the closest town or check mark protected by another company.
The field was quiet, really quiet. The occasional birds sang nothing, rather they observed the wanderers. The rolling grass of green hills seemed calm enough almost unaware of the war waged on top of them. But something seemed to unease the soldiers and their horses. Nothing described or noted by this or that. It was a feeling of being observed, of being followed.
One of the soldiers held his spear firmly and called the men. "I shall go first and scout out, two on the rear and the rest evenly in the flanks form a square unless I order else."
The rest of the soldiers obeyed as the commander cracked the reins and galloped towards the other side of the mysterious hills.
The whole company, including the merchants felt unsure about the road. As they watched the commander leave, they paid attention to everything that moved: a branch, the grass, the rocks, the wind, and the clouds. It all seemed suspicious; it frightened them.
"In the hills, beneath the tall weeds" one thought
"Wings shall be" one from the flank thought as he searched the skies.
Almost sharing the same mind, the two from the rear thought "surely we shall die defending their back"
The right flank was shivering even though the attempted to be firm, their armours rattled in audible metallic resonance. But it was the voice of a merchant that startled the guard.
"What happens now?" he asked to whoever would answer.
"Silence yourself!" a soldier next to him reprimanded. "Quiet all around" turned to warn the rest.
"Mind your manners" the soldier riding behind talked back. "There is no need for silence, these monsters do not sneak."
"Attention, here comes our captain." The company readied for whatever command they received if only their chief would hustle. He seemed to be searching for something given that he approached curving his way, almost as though the horse would guide him and not the other way around. As he came close they noticed he was looking up thus the rest of the company did so.
"What is it, captain?" the closest one asked.
Instead of the response, the captain dropped his head revealing a beautifully clean cut.
The only woman merchant screamed in horror as the soldiers reckoned that the great growl they all heard beneath the shriek was in fact hooves and paws approaching.
It was not the screams or the beastly fury that reached Link at the castle but the terror and anguish. It's cold stab hit him like an arrow shot to his heart that brought him to stand and almost dropping the princess to the floor.
"What is it? She asked as she moved her headdress to place. No answer; Link's face was not straight nor his gaze cold anymore, as though as he could see across horizons and through stones, he turned every way searching for what caught his attention; he was trying to interpret his premonition.
"What?" she asked again, this time Link left the room and even when the princess followed him to even the hallway he would not answer. Zelda stood as Link walked away fast from her, he took a passing soldier and whispered something as they continued beyond reach.
Frustrated, she exhaled and met Impa as she turned the other way.
"Charming young lad, indeed" Zelda stayed her face low, clearly disappointed, the same expression she asked Impa to go with her. And so they returned to the secret chambers where they had just been and as they locked the door, Zelda threw herself to Impa for embrace and to start sobbing.
"You should have seen us, everything was perfect." Few sobs and the cold steel from Impa's breastplate. "Well almost." Another pause. "Why does he have to be like that? Ignoring me as though I am worthless? I am the princess, ruler over this land, and his master for that matter" She turned her drier cheek and continued sobbing.
Impa tried not to but she rounded Zelda with her arms and liked the moment even better. The warmth from another one, even from despair was something Impa had never known and yet arose a familiar feeling.
"You should never mind him, milady." Impa finally replied and added words she had stored within herself for a long time, sometimes for what seemed ages. "He should be the least of your problems. We are at war. You have a vast kingdom and however you are young in years, you have become a wise monarch that has led the people to prosperity; and what of him? A mere ignorant commoner unable to speak clearly." the princess ceased her sobbing. "An alleged hero but was killed for his foolishness. You hold charm and beauty known for miles around even by those that never set eyes upon you. And him... he has eyes as empty as his soul never loved nor wanted. Who cares what he thinks?
"Stop" Zelda energetically intervened as she pushed Impa away. "I forbid you to express yourself that way."
"Milady, I was simply saying the truth." But Zelda would not bear Impa to say such cruel things.
"The truth is for what I care not. He may be all what you said or even worse but I do love him."
"He does not deserve it." Hearing this made Zelda regain her posture and clear her tears for in that statement, her wise guardian was wrong.
"That is not for you to tell me. My heart lodges all kinds of feelings and people. And I just came to the conclusion that his lack and faults are not enough to stop me from loving him." She went to the stairs and before going up, Impa spoke again.
"I think you are better off without those feelings."
"Well, what I think…" made a pause with a foot on the first stair. "Is that one day we will have a serious disagreement, you and I will." And left. Impa pulled her blade and contemplated, took out a handkerchief and polished the tip until shinning again.
As Link whispered the orders to the soldier, he felt impressed that Zelda was being more… what is that word? Useless; quite.
Why must she always say that? There is no way to change things by merely willing it. Just as Zelda cannot disregard her blood he cannot overlook his call, Link thought and doing so seemed familiar.
"Sir?" the soldier interrupted his thoughts.
"Get me as many off-duty soldiers and bring them to the stables, go." And then added "Only those without something to do."
Link's premonitions confounded him; strange, even when directed he felt something wrong about it. His premonitions directed him towards evil, true but why did he felt unsure about this one? Was he supposed to ignore it?
Regardless, he entered the sun outside of the hallway, jumped right over the open passage into the gardens, turned left, crossed the stream and opened the door to the stables.
Those were the stables for the guard, the cavalry troops held theirs in another to the opposite side of the castle grounds. None of the soldiers were there yet.
"What is taking them so long? He wondered without the minimum hint of pressure.
The stable before him held twenty horses; the patch designated for them was quite big with other six horse barns with the same capacity.
Link went for Epona's stall but could not find her, only her hay and the spare chair. "Where is she?" he wondered, it took him quite some time to remember where she was. "She must be tended by Lord Anchorage's servants". He concluded.
In view of her absence, Link took another horse, and since they all came from Lon Lon ranch, he trusted in Malon's breeds. He chaired the white and brown steed meanwhile the soldiers finally came running.
"Sir" the one he sent stepped up. "These are the only available."
"It is enough. To horse!"
They all leapt to the mount and set straight for the gates through the main road at the west wing. They rode hard through the people unaware of the passing company. Link ahead of them, opening through the people, and then through nothing once in the field; he seemed to know where he was going, nevertheless unknowing ever what they were searching.
They set westward in a line, passing the roads to the Gerudo Valley and avoiding the main travelling trail. Why going through the more insignificant route? Who would be going travelling this way?
The ride went hard a little before they wondered why they left. Why without any reinforcements, why not take the cavalry? Now come to think of it… what were they going to encounter? Spies? Monsters? A complete invading army? Ganondorf himself? And then they saw it, the signal of what they searched. Black as the night and rising, close even seemed one could stretch out and grab it.
"Quick!" Link pressed his horse and galloped faster leaving the rest of the company behind, deciding whether or not they should go in formation. The black smoke came from three coaches piled up and burning, surrounding them the rest of the trading company, a few helms and weapons dropped. When the soldiers caught up to their commander, they were amazed as to how on earth he could have known about this raid. Thinking about it made them shiver.
"Where are the bodies?" no one answered, they were all admiring the mess, if admiring is the word for it, that is. "What of the bodies!" Not a question, but pointing the obvious. Everyone heard him but could not give an answer. There were none to be seen. Only remains. "By twos I want every point sought by at least 20 leagues find me any kind of trail, creature or stranger, when done report back at the castle. The rest search for bodies here." He unhorsed, pulled an arrow from one of the closer soldiers' quiver and threw it to the fire freezing it and shattering the heap of ice with his boot; nothing underneath it. The soldiers searched very slowly; not careful but fearful. What if this was an ambush? They already sent almost half of their force. Could they make a stand? What if this was a trap? What would happen when spring? Dismemberment at the very least, for sure. Ten remaining soldiers searched around, picking up the carriages, seeking among the goods scattered, especially because of a big roll of silk and one of other fabric enclosed much of the area.
At the quivering end of a quivering hand revealed what was under the landau, now broken into pieces and covered in dirt for some unknown reason.
With relief, he set his fears aside to aid the only survivor whatever hit the caravan left, underneath the scraps a very terrified woman lay, the sister of one of the merchants, the one whose scream of terror seemed to pass distances all the way to Link's ears, still shaking but unconscious. It is quite difficult to describe her state, easier to say that she was between the worse of being conscious and unconscious. Her eyes turned red were wide open, her cheeks dirty and smeared by her tears; staring at the infinite nothing; she seemed to be unconsciously conscious of her surroundings as her vacantly full head tormented her calmly. The soldiers sat her up correctly as one of them kneeled in front of her, he had kind eyes and a soft calm voice which entitled him to question her.
"Can you hear me, woman?" he asked taking off his helmet. Silence and a misplaced stare. "Are you hurt?" She blinked. Link watched behind him as the rest of the soldiers searched more around; still he recognized the state she was in. Something he saw repeatedly in the people who witness violence, thus are hurt inside. He tried to remember how to cure them.
"Look at me, you are safe." He said as he moved aside the hair from her face.
"Hold her." Link finally said. The soldier turned to see Link looking away arms crossed. He thought that maybe he heard wrong and that his chieftain said nothing.
"Hold her." He said again. This time looking at him. The soldier thought and
Considered why he heard this, nevertheless he knew Link well enough to remember that one should never question Link.
Her long black hair at first covered her face completely until the soldier who found her removed it showing two very uneasy brown eyes, perhaps disturbed is more of the word for they seemed to be dead. Her stare was as blank as Link's, actually. Slowly, he obeyed, placing his hands first on her shoulders and gently pulling her towards him. The other two returned to seek among the remains.
She felt a man's breath over her, something hard, flat against her chest and cold on her cheek. The she heard once again, the talking was distant and a whisper to her ear: "all is well, all is well." It said.
Her hands clenched into fists, her lips quivered, fresh tears bathed her eyes and rolled down her soiled cheeks and so she began to sob; quickly after she cried loudly holding tight to the man without even understanding where she was.
"Sir." One of the soldiers spoke from behind them. "There are no more bodies, and no traces of blood. There are about 20 spears in the ground and a captain's helmet; I would say that there were more."
"Any tracks from their horses"
"Nothing obvious."
"Go back to the castle then, I want a report on any movements of troops, who and where they are." He kept on without looking but waiting on the woman's first words. "And get me a report from those scouting." He added.
"Yes sir."
The soldier ran towards his horse and leaping he mounted and galloped fast towards the castle.
Link watched him this to make sure that at least that soldier could leave his presence safely. A measure that became quite necessary that day. What could happen to him? He wondered, not out of ignorance but out of endless possibilities. It was then that for the first time Link could not know for sure where he felt the danger. Did he feel it in the air? In the water? Inside him? Where did evil lurk that hour? Where was safe?
"It is quite simple." A voice crept from the skies. It was distorted, much alike a very distant moan although very familiar.
Link looked around the kind one still held the woman as she wailed, not so loudly now. The remains of the carriages, the two rolls of clothing being gathered by the soldiers as well as other goods. Surely they said nothing. And then he saw it, a shadow sliding around the area, a big shadow.
None of the men seemed to notice it, regardless he went towards the tree line close by, especially close to the big one without leaves with a big hick and incidentally long straight horizontal branch where a character Link hadn't seen in a long time stood.
"Kaepora…" he was not amazed rather confused.
"Quite a long time no see." The big owl stood firm, the branch did not shunt one bit. Kaepora stared at Link with his huge yellow eyes as he turned his head at times in a strange manner.
"What do you want.?"
"I what?" he laughed which sounded like hooting. "No… now the question is what do you want?"
"Many things."
"Those men over there." Link turned with Kaepora to gaze at them. "They want to go home, see their families… except that one with the woman, he wishes for that embrace to never end."
Silence. Both of them. Wind blew and a lonely bird passed by without a sound. Who knows what that meant.
"As I said, it is quite simple."
"What?"
"The answer to your question." More silence. "Come now, I know what question troubles you, if you will not ask then at least admit it."
"I admit it, then I was wondering where safety is to be found."
"Simple: Nowhere. Danger is everywhere."
"Really? The people are nowhere safe?"
"That is correct."
"Is evil…?"
"Hold on. I said danger, not evil. There is a difference."
As Link though about that difference Kaepora went on ahead. "While the two represent peril, it is danger that comprehends all kinds of risks. Evil is simple, it is extreme whereas danger is complicated and goes in stages."
"I do not understand."
"I am sorry then, it is beyond my abilities to give you a smarter head." Kaepora hooted or laughed, it sounds the same. "Do you not laugh anymore?"
"I neither remember the last time nor do it anymore."
"No matter. Enough you do if you remember my words."
"I shall"
Kaepora made wind and after a few flaps he became a distant dot in the far horizon. He had seen many a strange thing, Kaepora had, but recently in Hyrule all had been superseded in two years.
The battle of time as they commonly called it in the folk songs, left traces without tracks. Stories without facts. Impossible some say? Well his eyes witnessed all of it.
It was not the impossible side of it, not the rarity of the truth, even though it appeals many adventurers; it was the evident side of it which concerned him.
As Link Watched Kaepora leave, he wondered why he appeared at this precise moment. Impa said that he loves praise and thankfulness but Link had given him none.
The raising sun burned his face as he saw the last of Gaebora, the wind ceased and with it the last tear of that woman whose mind was at some point clear.
"May I have some water?" She inquired. The soldier was too deep within his heart to even hear her. She inquired again, this time the soldier heard but believed not his ears.
"Sir" he called for Link and he went to see. "She asks for water, I do not have any."
Link examined her face, particularly her eyes and their tiring sad expression. She needed water among many other things more importantly medicine.
He reached into his pouch instinctively, only realizing after opening the bottle that he would not have the red potion with him save for the spare he kept and the custom in Hyrule of burying men with all of his possessions.
The woman saw the glass and thought of sweet wine, she gladly opened her mouth at request and even more gladly when feeling her strength coming back with the touch of a single drop.
"Can you hear me?" Link inquired staring coldly at her.
It would appear to the whole crowd that she could not hear a thing had it not been for her turning to see who sneezed behind her. But really she was fascinated by the strange man in odd clothes who spoke such a strange yet familiar language. She could almost understand him. Who is he? She wondered.
"Sir, if I may?" Said the same soldier who had held her for so long, he approached to the woman and talked sweetly as though a share of her heart he could claim.
"How do you feel?"
"Better". She answered but her eyes held the secret.
"My name is Typhor, we are all soldiers. Would you care to tell us what happened?"
At first the woman kept certain peacefulness mixed with expressed heartache that is when she said in return.
"My name is Lydia…" Before she could go on, a pause. Then her hands started to shake, her eyes held no secret any longer as they set straight into nothing as though in a trance, her lip began to shudder with the memory of what cannot be undone. "I knew we were in danger and that we should not have left." Typhor was about to intervene but Link held him back, for he perceived that Lydia was not done yet. "And they came; they all knew this would happen, you could see it in their eyes. And the captain, he was the brave one who went first… he came back without his head."
Everything was quiet save for Lydia's breathing that turned uneasy as she recalled that horrible scene. But she had nothing more to say for soon after that the wagon fell on top of her covering with darkness the wide open eyes until a kind hand held her close making her feel safe in the little time that seemed to her a whole life.
Link on the other hand minded less about her well-being and more about what had happened, particularly with the bodies.
"What attacked you?" Link asked and Typhor asked again.
"An alligator or so it seemed; an enormous one that breathes fire." A dodongo, everyone concluded.
"Did he eat the men?" Typhor asked by his own inquiry.
"Eat them?" now she looked confused.
"Or something else attacked you?"
"I only saw that thing."
"What did he do to the bodies?"
"The bodies?"
"Yes, the bodies. The dead?"
"Dead?"
"Yes the dead, woman!" A soldier from the back pushed his way through to look her in the eye for he had had enough of her rambling. "What of them? What did that monster or monsters do to the men who died defending your life and your redundant tongue?"
Typhor stood in front of that other soldier to keep his defying eyes away from Lydia as he shouted at her but they kept piercing her with despise.
"The men?" she asked, Typhor held the soldier back who almost drew his sword as he spat all kinds of curses to the wretched witless hag that drove him mad. And when the curses turned to Typhor, they started to wrestle. The surrounding men joined the come to blows turning what was a guard into a self-hating mob.
Paradoxical to things: the only man without feelings, who knows half the language, and to whom things from the heart are as foreign as the farthest kingdom; he was the one who interpreted the meaning of meaningless ignorant words.
While the men fought, Link stood as steady and serene as a statue before he went towards the fight, after which he walked, calmly? Shall we say? And then he stood between the multitudes that rested their fighting upon seeing their chieftain. He told Typhor the question he was to ask Lydia, it was then that the men fell silent for it was so disconcerting that confused them and thus could not wait to see the effect when uttered. They forgot everything, after that they orderly went back a few steps towards Lydia; and kneeling, staring into her troubled soul finally Typhor asked.
"Did any of them die?" Breaths held their piece, hearts skipped their beats as Lydia looked around the mess not searching something or recalling for what she witnessed for she wanted to forget to cease her suffering. She looked again because what happened there would change her life forever.
"Only the captain died." She finally answered. "Each and every one of them ran for it and left me for dead, including my brother. I was able to see that." She stood. "Is that what they teach you in the army? Cowardice?" she spoke to the soldier who yelled at her and walked towards him with her eyes neither teary nor sad but burning with rage as clear-minded as she ever was. "You can find them, and then you can unsheathe your sword, now… out of my way" and he yielded for her words had cut him deep, deeper than a blade. Not afraid but ashamed.
Lydia walked by without minding how far Kakariko village is to walk.
Everyone stared at her but Link, of course, he thought, the weapons were dropped not snatched, neither broken nor soiled. Some of them are even still shining. Good. Because they, the deserters will not need them now, and we do.
"Attention, all of you gather the weapons and everything of use, we shall be taking it."
"Shall I seek the seekers? So that they return?" a nearby soldier asked.
"No, I want them to find the deserters."
"Why is that, sir?"
"Because they shall be executed."
"Sir?" everyone stopped their labours and turned to see Link.
"Deserters die; it is part of our law."
"But sir…"
"Deserters die; it is part of our law."
"They are not deserters, they ran for their lives."
"That is called desertion. When you abandon your position or post, when others die when you do not and whenever you run in the wrong direction, war or not is called desertion. Even I know this." Then he turned to his horse for he needed to go back to the castle, but before even mounting he perceived that they were not gathering things. Even after an order they did not. There is a name for this. "Anyone feels differently about my judgement? If so that is insubordination which is punished by lashing." He dropped the reins and turned to gaze at them. "Disobey me and that is sedition and rebellion which is punished by death." And he rested a hand over his Kokiri sword.
For the first time these men who had been in the service for a fair long time were now afraid of Link.
Seeing that they would not dare do anything against the orders he left them confident that they would do every single thing. He galloped fast taking the shortest route, within he felt his blood boil every part of his body as his clear mind swirled with thoughts of death and justice.
Zelda could see him from afar, knowing that as important as his affairs could be, she would not let this pass without discharging her chest and her mind against that troublemaker. What at first as a moving distant cloud, she could now distinguish green clothes as she approached the barns quickly.
"What was it? Why did you leave in such a rash?" She asked form the doorway as Link tied the horse.
"There was an attack"
"Where?" Strangely Zelda did not worry about the attack perhaps she knew about it somehow.
"In the road to Gerudo Valley. Only one dead, the rest fled.
"What measure should we take?"
"It was a merchant caravan guarded by some soldiers… the soldiers will be executed. We need to meet in order to make this stand."
"I shall arrange this. Do you plan to confront Ganondorf?"
"It is my wish but to do so now would be unwise, we need to gather the sages."
"I will summon them." Silence and a couple standing facing each other. "Anything else?"
"Not for now, thank you."
"Good. Perhaps now you can explain me why you left in such a hurry."
"I already have."
"No, that does not explain your rudeness and lack of commitment towards me."
"I had to leave."
"The behaviour code mandates a proper leave in front of the ruler. That is me, and you did not. Explain this."
"I cannot nor do I understand." There was no need for Zelda to be so obstinate, or so he thought. However Link's death was still on his lover's heart; her pain spoke for her instead of her curiosity.
"I thought so, frankly I care the least." She exhaled and took time to scrutinize well the man before her. He provoked so many things, but now was not for dramatic displays, it was time for amends. This took the place where her previous point laid. "There is something I realized when you died."
"What is that?"
"That is true when I say I am unable to live without you. And I enlarge the fact not in the smallest bit. However I demand more from you. These displays of rudeness will stop."
"Is it wise to dwell in these matters given our situation?"
"We could die any hour and I intend to do so with a whole heart, not shattered as you constantly make it." Silence. "Do you care about me?"
"Yes."
"Do you love me?"
"What do I know about love?" Zelda's eyes knew not yet they pleaded for some answer. "I remember once when you found a letter from your mother written before your birth. It begged your father not to be with that woman. Do you remember this?"
An old wound but not unnecessarily opened, Zelda thought so, she nodded. "You barged into your father's chambers with me along and you demanded to know what treason that was."
"I remember. What about it?" She wanted to hear a point not dig into the aching past.
"He said he loved your mother more than you could ever imagine but you said that words are not enough. Why are words everything with me?"
A fair question, Zelda could not answer it right away nor did she want to. The reason: two year of uncertain feelings and even mourning do not turn away and vanish with just a few words. Whatever attacks could come, this moment was for them as a couple, to prosper. After all, it was love that drove her all this time and strengthened her.
"That is different."
"In what way?"
"It is just different, it simply is so."
"You never made yourself that question, right?"
"That makes no difference."
"You are very knowledgeable; you tell me if I love you."
Compliments are very strange when they come from Link. They are not intended that way, rather it is the truth or in other words, what he believes is to be true. But to Zelda, everything that comes from Link was in the best intentions, she knew this. Almost as though they were small presents without greetings or congratulations.
About that, things are not always as they seem. Beyond our eyes, deep within the hearts and thoughts of the people, for good or bad, intentions direct themselves. The same way are the small matters like this one of the heart, troublesome yet important and drawing. They need our attention. Maybe difficult times like these are the ones that remind us such affairs and their importance. On the other hand, maybe our affections grow intense after getting back what was lost, and in that transition, we loose focus of everything else. Perhaps the calm before the storm is simply the storm somewhat quieted.
In any case, that is unknown to two lovers disputing what words can define. If only they listened themselves once in a while.
"I cannot." Her head lowered in shame. "I tried time and again but I am unable."
"Time shall decide then." And left without excusing himself.
"Yes time." Zelda exhaled as she saw him leave. "Time holds the answer to everything."
