Whispers circled through the castle. Silent voices screamed dead secrets that no one should have known or should have told. Power corrupts all, and political power most of all. A man's ambition was a another's demise. Words are used as knives, striking at the backs of friends and foes, while a large shadow loomed over Hyrule Castle, where whispers warned of it.
Ah, Hyrule Castle. If only everyone could see it! Hyrule Castle, a monument to time. Home of the King and of the nation. As the centre of Hyrule, there was not a single inn, alley or balcony from where it could not be seen, its white marble tower tops and spirals rising from the air like giants or gods, showing off their solemn virtue. A high circling ramp rose around the entire structure – one bigger than any city in Hellas. The river crossed through the capital and surrounded the colossal building, like a loyal watchdog. The rocky mound the walls and towers sat upon seemed fated to hold such structure. Legends said a goddess-sent star fell on the hill, and upon where it fell, the first building blocks of her country where placed.
Whilst many gazed at it in awe from a distance, looking at the blue rooftops, the stained-glass rosettes in all buildings and doors and the impressive waterfalls; its insides, the entrails of such a towering beast amid the Field were twisted in ways no one expected. A labyrinth of sorts, one in which Zelda had lost herself many times as a child. Back then, there were but guards, soldiers and scholars whispering courtly gossip in the halls: who Fair Anne would marry, the fate of the client hellerian kingdoms, the treaties with the other Tribes… All boring. Now, on top of that, an aristocracy and bureaucracy plagued the castle.
Accountants for all things conferred and put together wheat exercises and tax collections. The nobles, most of whom most had left their age-old lands, cities, castles, and palaces in the care of their advisors, friends, or successors, now found themselves entangled in a fragile power struggle, complaining about their feudal rights being slowly taken away in favour of a "grossly offensive centralization". Of course, they weren't wrong. To some, such presence was a necessary evil, to others, evils only, and to few others, necessary. Still, only vanity had place there. One would not wonder long, for the titan walls, the gold, silver, the ancient and fabled weapons, and artifacts on display made confidence grow inside the common man.
Perhaps not in him. He never liked it.
In contrast to such dismay, the gardens were quiet. High up on the walls and cliffsides, they were filled with marble and stone statues covered by vines, bushes and flowers that hid in every corner, as if playing a child's game. Ponds and fountains serenated the agitated with the murmur of water flowing. Pines and oaks made shadow, where the wealthy court and their not so wealthy workers lied down and enjoyed their time off. There was an everlasting warm breeze there, although that winter seemed cruder than ever and dared interrupt the calm and peace of summer that extended far beyond autumn.
In both the gardens and the castle, and moreso in the rest of Hyrule's lands, there was peace. Or at least, the illusion of it. Even if the grand palace was silent, war raged inside it; a political abyss that swallowed more and more everyone in the castle.
Zelda had recently found herself more than ever, at least, since the fated reunion at Kilias, writing at her study. Feather and ink at the hand, she wrote letters and essays to make Hyrule the best version of itself and denouncing the flawed and worrying structural decisions of other kingdoms, eyeing with a particular hatred Ylisse and its made-up empire. She knew very well something was brewing in the west, only a fool would say otherwise, and she was not a fool.
Lord Marth's – recently Highprince Marth - declaration had surely left a lasting impact on their world. To her knowledge, only one kingdom, the island and land of Ryas in the western most part of Hellas had aligned themselves with Ylisse, perhaps out of fear, perhaps out for revenge. Many were the conflicts that scarred Hellas.
"A new sworn enemy, I assume" Zelda thought out loud. She gazed over at the distant snowing peaks through a big window in her study. They reminded her of the Hebra peaks, but those were far too distant. Still, the view of the capital, a mound in the valley-like, concave sprawling Hyrule Field, showed much of the land. Her land.
As the gentle harp music that came from musicians in the gardens swayed her ears, she could not help but remember past times, simpler times. "Dear, a lot has changed."
Still looking afar, she suddenly found herself startled at a rather strange appearance on the way of her gaze. Blue hair and purple eyes gazed at her, a sneaky smile across the face. Lana, a young witch of the court and a friend of hers was looking at the princess through the window, hanging by her feet from above. She knocked on the glass as to be let in. Zelda, confused, rapidly opened the window, her thoughts interrupted. Lana nimbly made her way in, landing in the centre of the room. The witch shook off the dirt and twigs and leaves stuck in her and looked innocently at Zelda.
"Mornin'!" she said happily.
Zelda sighed. "Lana..."
Lana was her friend. Her dear friend. A witch, scholar of the old magic of Hyrule and a servant in the castle. Through the years, they had bonded in the many troubles they faced. Too many, for Zelda's liking, and it seemed they would not fall short.
"Thinking about him, your Highness?" she teased her.
"I… I beg your pardon?" she answered offended, but nervousness crept in between her words.
"Thinking about him?"
"Who would him be?" Zelda said as she sat down again, her interest returning into her work.
"Oh, you know… The knight…" she pointed over at the blue dress that was lazily laying on top of one of her many desks "That knight."
"That one?" asked Zelda.
"That one."
"Humpf. As if any of my concerns had anything to do with him. We're settled, he went north and made his own life, and I did likewise."
"Sure you did."
"Besides, it's been years of his departure! What business should bring him to my thoughts? And why are you so adamant about it?"
"Just saying what I feel, princess. Adamantly" Lana lied down on her bed, examining the blue dress.
"I am your princess, you are aware of that, are you not?" she quarrelled.
"I am! But I also thought we were friends, Zel" said Lana, the witch seeming distraught.
"That too..." she sighed. Even with many years of friendship in their back, their ways of being never mixed. Curious that they remained friends. "Anyways, what are you doing here? Do you not have any duties?"
"Oh, loads of them, but I'm taking a break" she went to the other side of the room and poured herself a cup of wine that had been sitting there for a day. Zelda wasn't a big fan of drinking, and one could tell. "The gardens are joyful today. Still, can't a friend pay a friend a visit?"
"Yes, of course" Zelda said taking the bottle away from her. "If only you actually paid for them…" she muttered under her breath.
"Doesn't look like it… What are you writing?" she asked as she kept closer, a curious gleam on her eyes.
Zelda's face suddenly beamed. Writing was one of the only things that could really bring life to her. She loved and read everything, from sacred texts thousands of years old to the latest essay by any philosopher in Hellas. "An essay of my own. At least… I'm trying to?"
"Is it "Wine: Why I desire not to have fun"?" Lana mocked.
"Precisely not, that one is the second one" she joked, then continued gleaming. "It's about the monarchy and its effects. Have you ever wondered why we're still here in the castle?"
"The guards? I'd thank them."
"No, silly. It's the people. More than that, in fact. There have been many revolts against the crown: Bionis, Oreville, Termina… The people did not support them. And so, the people brought them down. It's thanks to the everyday man and woman that we are able to live here, you, me, father… I'm writing this" she said as she wiggled a thick stack of papers "to thank them.'
'Oh… Surely they'll thank you. Especially if you give them that" she motioned to the stack of papers, dropping a bit of wine to the floor "along with some bread and butter. And some rupees."
"Do no think me a fool," said Zelda "I would not give them butter, but some cheese. We are the court, are we not?" she joked.
Lana laughed. "Thanks to the people, aye? And here I thought it was thanks to the goldenists… At least, they seem to take all credit for… well, everything, really" she sipped her wine.
"Oh please, don't get me started on them… They say they are the new face of Hylianism… They merely take the dignity off our sacred religion! A sect is what they are! Hermwidd in floddettan Hylies" she mumbled in Old Hylian.
"I don't think you're supposed to even think those things, Zel. Or curse in our sacred tongue" said Lana, acting horrified, and mimicking Impa.
Zelda chuckled "As a princess, I must not."
"Oh…" said Lana, a knowing grin coming into place "As a princess. What a luck I don't care about your crown or name." she said with glee. Nothing could ever take joy out of that woman. And Zelda loved her for that, deep down. As appropriate enough love a princess could hold.
"What luck indeed…" Zelda muttered
"Anyways, those goldenists really ought to get a better name. I get it, they think the three golden goddesses are more important than Goddess Hylia, but that name is just…"
A knock came on the door, interrupting Lana's words.
"You think they heard us?" she asked jokingly.
Zelda shushed her sorceress friend and went to open the door, revealing two dissimilar figures staring at them, illuminated brightly by the window's sunset light. Impa, a white haired athletic and very strong woman, was staring down at her.
She bore steel plates on the chest and legs, but the rest of her clothes were that of the sheikah, exotica robes of blue and white shirts, all sewn by the expert hand. At her side, a hunchback figure with a kind smile, Dampé. He was waving at her, his patched-up cloths seemingly falling apart. Many times had they offered the old man some new clothes, but he had always rejected them. Surprised, Zelda greeted them.
"Mornin', princess!" said Dampé cheerfully.
"It is late in the afternoon, Dampé, but good morning nonetheless" she corrected politely.
"Tha' explains the cold then, tha' does. Been tremblin' out there in the tombs, ma'am…"
"Why are you here, if I may?" she inquired, looking at Impa. The sheikah was about to talk but was interrupted by Dampé. What he said startled her.
"King's orders."
She looked wide eyed at Impa. King Rhoam only called for her by servant for important news. "Father?"
Impa shoved Dampé to the side and spoke in a calm, monotone voice.
"The king wishes to speak to thee, princess. He told Dampé as he strolled though the outside paths, but I'm afraid he was rather... hasty in his desire to tell thee himself" she looked at the graveyard's and crypt's sexton, the woman towering over Dampé, scaring the old man. "I guided him though the castle" she said, deliberately hinting at anger. "I'll clean the mud afterwards" she added.
"Still ain't used to it, heh… Too much time in the yard, y'know, tha's what tha' does to you."
"Worry not," said Zelda nicely "could you please go take care of the gardens, Dampé? It would certainly be a shame were their beauty to go to waste."
"Yes, milady" he said as he clumsily bowed.
"Your Highness…" Impa corrected the grave tender, who scurried off, making his way to the grand gardens. Impa sighed.
"Cut him some slack, guardian. He's trying his best." Lana stood next to Zelda, a sly smile on her face. She had many smiles, that witch.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be copying the spell books of the library."
"How do you…?" Lana cut herself off as she looked at Impa, dead in the eye. The sheikah warrior's look made Lana rethink her decisions in life, making her go away. "As you say, guardian. Bye Ze- Your Highness…"
"Farewell" corrected Impa.
As Lana left, mumbling to herself, Zelda giggled and looked at the sheikah woman, who was hiding the faintest hint of a smile.
"You worry too much, Impa. Relax a bit sometime."
"That is not a part of my job, your Highness."
Zelda chuckled. "Let us hope it never is, lest Hyrule Castle fall to ruin."
The princess and her guardian made their way through the castle. Her study laid on the western side of the castle complex, part of the castle proper. The mound that elevated the marble palace was almost as big as Castle Town, and so some knew it as the High City, and the districts below, the Low City. More than that, there was many sides to the city itself. Pearl of the East, the central square held the market, royal bakery and armoury of the wall's guard. To the east of that, along the river stood the old cathedral to goddess Hylia and the three Temples of Gold, Din by the forges and metalworkers, Nayru by the water and river docks, and Farore in between the quarry and the Sacred Ground where the people offered what little they had.
Zelda could see this, as they stepped out to head from the west passage, around the backside of the palace, and into the library. From there, they took the long and carpeted stairs across the library – Zelda's favourite place in the castle – and into the Sanctum, where the Throne stood.
The air was bustling out there, as always. Messengers from the court zipped in and out with rings and medallions of the races and goddesses their nobles had given them to send for other nobles; all engaged in casual conversation at that hour. Only the important nobles could enter the Sanctum unannounced, those who actually had power. Others, those stripped off their idiotic feudal powers, those who still held to the old way, stayed outside, muttering about, and frowning at Zelda. Some others were dancing to the music.
It was an old song, and Zelda along with everyone with two ears and a heart had heard of it and loved it. It was in a foreign language, not in old hylian, but Zelda had always held as the best and most universal of languages. She recognized some words; joy, spring and dancing. It spoke of an old queen from somewhere south, perhaps Bionis, who loved to dance. That was quite strange. As far as Zelda knew and had seen, no queen danced. And most of all, not her mother, and not her. Court was a different world, and governing was another star. Still, the song held a rhythm and a way with words she loved. Flutes, drums and violins filled her ear as soon as she let them open.
A l'entrada del temps clar, eya!
Per jòia recomençar, eya!
E per jelòs irritar, eya
Vòl la regina mostrar
Qu'el'es si amorosa!
A la vi', a la via, jelòs
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos!
El' a fait pertot mandar, eyaa!
Non sia jusqu'a la mar, eya!
Piucela ni bachalar, eya
Que tuit non vengan dançar
En la dansa joiosa!
As they kept walking, somewhat to the rhythm of the tune, Zelda looked around at all those nobles who were, to put it simply, mad at her.
"Well, I must look dazzling today," said Zelda "for it seems all courtly eyes are on me." She said it aloud, and some minor nobles, blushing, looked away. She hid a smile.
"Now, now, Your Highness," replied Impa, face featureless as always "those of noble blood are not to be mocked. For your wellbeing, hide these words from your parent's chambers."
"Oh, Impa, if only. Noble blood still spills."
"Your Highness…" muttered Impa. Zelda promised her to stop, and they stepped up into the Throne room. Located in the highest and greatest tower of the High city, it overlooked with a sight merrier than any the crown jewel of the kingdom. One jewel greater than all, so thought Zelda.
As they entered the throne room, the royal guards, with their berets and silk uniforms, yet still fit for battle with their high white boots and blackened swords and spears, opened the door for them, their eyes gazing upon the Sanctum.
It was an engineering marvel. High arches locked at the ceiling's middle in starry patterns of marble, velvet, and gold. The floor was marble tile, with cuts and inscriptions all over. There were two levels to the room, the ground floor where the nobles talked and petitioners motioned to the king, and an arch of small stairs that encircled half of the round room, leading to the throne above all, where the king and queen sat, and one day, her. It was oddly quiet there, for the doors kept out any songs or noises from the room, lest there were important meetings, which so it seemed.
Five large windows shed light into the room, prescinding any artificial light at daytime: they depicted in stained glass those who had fought for Hyrule; two at the sides of the entrance, another two at the wall, and the last in front, making the golden triangles glimmer with divinity.
The Triforce. Many were the stories told, even greater the rumours, but nothing was certain of it. During the Calamity, the palace grounds had been the zero-point of the demon's return, but her and their heroes had foiled it so; with the powers of the goddess Zelda had and the Champion's weapon. It had been a short war, but a war, nonetheless. Lives were lost.
An image in glass of rock and fire, depicting a proud Goron in long greying beard; Daruk.
An image in glass of water and stars, depicting a noble Zora in red and blue scales; Mipha.
An image in glass of sky and snow, depicting an elegant Rito in dark ocean feathers; Revali.
An image in glass of lightning and sand, depicting a caring Gerudo in red flaming hair, Urbosa.
The Fallen, she respected and admired them. Still, through their sacrifice, did the realms stand strong. And it was her mission to make work of it.
Many nobles stood at the centre and sides of the room, across the stairways in order of their importance, power and influence, the highest ones next to the king. She recognized some faces the was used to seeing. Rauru, her beloved master; Laruto, musician, sage and emissary from the Zora riverside; Purah, royal scientist; Pikango, painter of the royal house of Bosphora (later named Bosphoramus when being regent or monarch); Endai of the stables and guard's armoury below and Traysi, former novelist turned royal scribe.
The latter one neared her as her father, above all at the Throne, spoke to Anne of the Marque – the courtly name for Hyrule Field, for the goddess forgive bluebloods and common-bloods used the same words – about the wheat supply for the winter.
All gazes were once more on her, although it wasn't her fault that time. Traysi was known for knowing all kinds of secrets and fanned courtly gossip and rumour wherever she went. She unnerved every person at the castle, hylian or human, man or woman, craftsman, or princess. Even Impa tensed up.
"Greeting, Your Higness" said the writer as she bowed.
"Greetings, Traysi" she returned the bow although she didn't have to. Old habit. "How go the feather and ink?"
"Ah, they certainly go well. Last night, sir Alester had too much marqueais from the Akkala plains and slid his tongue more than he wished" she said giggling. "Might I interest you in some goldenist rumour?" she asked, a wicked smile on her face.
Zelda looked up at her father. He was still discussing, along with Anne and Purah. She could take some moments of entertainment. She said so with her head, and Traysi started talking, like a dam broken, the river spilling all out.
"Might as well."
"Well," began Traysi "after yesterday's banquet to which I was invited by Belgar of Faron" she clenched at the man's mention; one of the most important goldenists, who had a seat at the royal council "I stood around the halls of Belgar's home at the other side of the river, near the Salari hills, where the bears roar.
Such bears I found! A man clad in hair and armour with a mark in black embedded in his skin, tall as a moose, dumber than one, found himself talking to lord Belgar and his wife Amara. The matters seemed trivial, but alas, the wine seemed to do the trick and he told me of growing numbers and dissent from the goldenists, or rather I happened to hear so. You see, some now hire private armies to guard the estates where their family members live, for they fear what a unitist crown may do.
Soon, lord Belgar said, would they be forced to take action. Unrest has planted its seeds everywhere, first in Ylisse and now our own crown goes against them, so he said. And with that, he told the bear-turned-human-turned-mercenary of a list of goldenists who hide themselves and would be willing to take action; not of war, but of word, talking to the masses."
Zelda blinked a couple times. It took her a couple more to process what the small woman had said. A couple moments later, she had it.
"Could I have a list of those names, dear Traysi?" the scribe nodded. "Very well, I will send for you. It's a gift you are alongside us!"
Traysi chuckled. "I remain only alongside the truth, Your Highness. I must take my leave."
Traysi left Zelda and Impa, earning glares from the rest of the attendees. Impa frowned even more.
"Despicable woman" she declared.
"Do not treat her like that, Impa. She is of use" replied Zelda.
"She betrays the trust of others! How long until it is your name she speaks of, Your Highness?"
"It's not like I intend to do anything, moreso the contrary; I intend to see who may do what and how."
The wheels were turning in her head. Having every goldenist, all potential threats to the crown, would be an important advantage. She knew to whom she could speak freely, and who could be pulled where. All for the crown, of course.
"Your father does not see to your ways. The goldenists are to be negotiated with, and the power structure accorded. They are not another religion, but mere brothers of our own."
"Those are not your words, are they, Impa?" asked Zelda. Impa looked down and away towards the floor. "So I thought. Father is a model monarch, but some things escape him. Many things, in fact, and I intend to help him, may he like it or not."
"But…" began Impa, but she was cut by the announcer.
"Princess Zelda Bosphoramus Hyrule the IX!"
"Later, Impa" Zelda said, and stepped up below her father's shadow.
He wore his usual blue silk suit and trousers, the crown laying atop a table. Zelda understood, she only wore her silver crown to formal meetings with non-hyruleans. It was too heavy and greatly uncomfortable. Her father looked at her, smiling to himself. Behind him, their banners, the Royal Ensign on a field of red, and Zelda's blue moon banner.
"My dear Zelda! Thank you for coming on such short notice. I take it your work has been prolific at this day?" he asked
"Yes, father, it has. I was told you have important news" she replied with no tone.
"Ah yes, the news." He looked at the royal guard, led by Captain Allas, who was looking intently at her. "Is the full Council at display?" he called.
Around her came forward the members of the Council, the secondary form of government of the kingdom, a sort of aristocracy, truly the best minds in the East, most of the time… There came once again Fair Anne, Rauru, Darum of the Goron, Iros of the Zora and many more. The king looked at the eleven members of the council and smiled once again. He gestured with his hand high towards the door behind them all.
"Come forth… Gannondorf of the Gerudo!"
From the doors of the Sanctum, there entered a figure. A man of green skin and flaming red hair, clad in drapes and robes of black, violet and scarlet entered the place with firm step. He had an air of grandure, of silent pride and honor, but in his face, he wore a sly smile, as if trying to hide it, but the joy being too much. The goldenists, Belgar amongst them, looked tenderly and proudly at him, so Zelda assumed he had already made his stance clear.
Still, it was not that all which put Zelda at alarm, no. It was that name. Gannondorf. Of the Gerudo. A man amidst the Gerudo. She had read that once, in studies about Hyrule's most rebellious tribe. That man there, carpet on the back, was a king.
He kneeled in front of her father.
"Your Highness" He saluted with a deep grumbling voice. "Council…"
Zelda and the Council turned to the king.
"Lord Gannondorf" he explained "is soon to be King of the Gerudo, as the tradition sets it. First man in 100 years! However, he has kindly decided to take time off his future rule to study and practice at our court."
Zelda looked confused at her father.
"He will therefore serve the crown not as leader of the Gerudo, which he has promised will serve the kingdom faithfully, but as member of government. You've always talked about having more bureaucracy and power structure in our realm, my daughter. So he shall serve…"
She looked unconcerned. However, her blood froze as Gannondorf spoke again. Something awakened in her, a primal fear she knew nothing about. She was confused, nervous before, but at that moment, she became terrified. She looked in his eyes, but found nothing more than a deep dark green, but flashed in a moment's notice with hating amber.
And just as it came, the fear was gone.
"As Prime Minister of Hyrule" continued her father.
The man looked at her with hidden smugness. Zelda could read him very well, too well. This man had a purpose in Hyrule. She intently stared at his bright amber eye.
"As the King's Hand."
One should wonder aloud sometime by the city's walls just how many days or even months it would take to have such splendor in the palm of one's hand. For the royal family, it had taken generations to accumulate the power they now had; stripping titles and rights from pesky feudal lords who took all for themselves and warred with one another.
Hyrule, Zelda had written once, had been in a constant state of revolution for years now. For long, the High Kings of old Hespertia had warred the noble families. Throughout the passing of time, Hyrule had established itself as the sole king of the East, defeating many empires and kingdoms. While she disliked war, Zelda saw in history an apparent rising of Hyrule, from a measly castle to the giant it now was; and in that history, the lords of Hyrule grew in power, and the High Kings rose even higher. No longer did the noble families rule with their own law the lands, no longer did the Goron close themselves in their cities, now sunken beneath the earth, no longer did the Zoras wage war from the sea; Hyrule was one and full, and so it was then. The goldenist traitors were a product of that old world, the dying world of chaos and war, and so they behaved. Yet not even them, an idea spanning centuries had taken a hold of the kingdom
Alas that the winds would blow against her, for it took Gannondorf of the Gerudo three days to have half the kingdom at his disposal.
What was more, he had taken the goldenist half.
Whilst the royal family had firmly positioned itself as unitist, defending the dogma of the hylian religion, standing aside the goddess Hylia of the Skies from the Forgotten Temple, many had taken a dislike towards the family, enemy, and ally alike. For you see, unity in time of divide is frowned upon. The goldenists held the creator goddesses as more than myth or archaic and revered them and opposed to both them and the crown were the pure hylianists, the key members of the church. They had seen too, what the crown was trying to take from them; their taxes, their lands and their authority over the law, and they hoped the conflict would present itself rewarding.
Still, the divide's cause was confusing, but shortly after arising, Hyrule had been at the brink of civil war, at least inside the court. Zelda was sure the common citizen cared not for such dispute and revered all their gods, or none of them. Yet Zelda had found amongst the goldenists' ranks the people she most disliked. Her enemies if she dared. King Rhoam had mediated between both factions and a fragile peace was established. Still, as all, the problem was much more complex than the naked eye dared to see.
Annd in come Gannondorf, a man not only from the Gerudo – the most annoying of the tribes of Hyrule – but a goldenist leader of the old world's vanguard.
Her parents claimed it to be an effort of reuniting the court, goldenists and unitists. She saw other things. His presence at the Council was now of the utmost importance and rank, and it showed; the trade embargoes with the Ylissian Empire were being renegotiated, as well as the vassalage of Hellas being rethought of and the conflict in Tabantha being approached from a "diplomatic solution". She saw treason and corruption. And so she had said at the next council.
"Do the Termineans cut deals with the pirates of the Golden Coast?" she had said. "Did they seek offers of peace with Great Volvagia? Did Fódlan come out as it is from trade deals? Are we to examine the Calamities' interests?"
No.
"Of course not. They fought with resilience, and through resilience, they won." she continued, the other members of the council awaiting the end of her speech. She usually went off when speaking, and she knew it. She never had minded. "This evil spawn of a nation, and the traitorous ideals of the rebels must be met with true justice, not false and bloated pragmatism."
"Hear, hear..." Sage Rauru, Darum of the Goron and Fair Anne said in unison. The members of the council sat around a large oak tale, older than any brick of the castle; the table where the country had first been formed and form which now it was governed. The King gave orders, but all went through the Council.
"If only D'Anton were here" said Lord Satori "So I could cut him down myself! Rebelling at a time like this... This winter shall be bad enough on its own!"
"Aye" interrupted Darum. "Bastard's heart's as cold as that bloody mountain of his. No peace will come from any Goron soldier."
Rauru, the formal scribe of the Council, peaked his head over his cloak and work. "So, I take it war will rage on?"
The members looked at each other in unison. All had the same idea. However, a different voice, pride and vengeful was heard all around.
"The King's wishes are that of peace and tranquility" Ganondorf, laying smug and comfortably on his larger and darker chair, got up and started walking to a map of Hyrule that was being painted by a hylian man. He wore a formal outfit, different from the traditional Gerudo robes, but bore a piece of cloth, perhaps a cape or cloak much different from anything purely hylian Zelda had ever seen. "And the King's wishes are the King's words. Lord Satori, if I may..."
Lord Satori, head of everything west of the capital and east of Tabantha, who was leading the war effort there, stood confused. Ganondorf took a stick, used for pointing, and continued in his grave but melodic voice, signalling with said stick at the map.
"Have we not asked too much of the Ritolands? Do their poems seek naught but sorrow in their words? In our actions?" He looked at Yleve of the Rito and continued. "Have we not asked too much of the people of the Marque and of the mountains? Dare we start another war?"
"We didn't start war" replied Zelda angrily.
"And neither did we stop it" said Ganondorf. "And yet we fight it. Lord D'Anton does not seek independence, I know that. We all know that. And still, none of us here are certain on what his intents are, what he hopes when rising to arms against the Eastern Pearl! Isn't that concerning in the least to my lords here?"
"Hear, hear" said Belgar of Faron, brother of Blaithan of Akkala.
"All we, His Majesty and I, are saying is to have faith on the reason of people. Not to burn our own lands on a wasted effort. Must we crush any who oppose us? Or have we all forgotten what transpired west of the Gorge, in Hellas?" Ganondorf said with an unnoticeable smile, only seen by Zelda. She was furious. She slammed the table and got up.
"How dare you!?" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "You stand in the achievements of our forefathers, the peak of our kin's history! Not in vain were these walls erected! Not in vain does the throne glimmer! Not in vain is our land the greatest of Old Hespertia!" She claimed to be insulted, but she was furious about something else. How dare he mention Hellas.
"When this council attacked Hellas, I was wandering around the desert. In my years of solitude and heat, I could only be but grateful that I was not one of those tormented souls of the old empire... Hyrule took the cities of Hellas to their knees: Sparthens, Eeria, Midgard and even Silver Kilias! We sought to fill a power vacuum with our own intentions and destroyed the lives of thousands, both hyrulean and hellerian, and what do we have now? What lies before and beyond the Gorge? A ruined land of evil dwellers and Dark Lords, and an imperialist kingdom who serves as Hellas' very own Ylissian Empire! In vain we fought our wars, and in vain shall we fight until the last hyrulean falls dead to the ground!"
Silence. Then, a vote. The embargo was retaken. The hellerian vassalage to Hyrule, too stayed. But the peace and negotiations with Tabantha's rebel army kept going forward. She could see in the man's eyes.
He would take every little victory, for he had nothing to lose. She, in turn, could lose everything.
It had been two days since Zelda had wept. She had protested for hours to her father, but her wails fell on deaf ears; for Ganondorf was staying as King's Hands.
Lord D'Anton had agreed to talk of peace and reform to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, and yet reports came of killings in the north every half-day. As Hebra bled, Ganondorf's authority grew. She could only scoff at the burning stares of the court's nobles. Yes, Ganondorf's words were evil, but not entirely untrue, and worst of it all, Zelda knew that deep, deep inside her. But all for nothing. Her mother, although understanding of Zelda's worry for Ganondorf's sudden arrival, had been adamant in her position next to her husband. It was, after all, the king's words.
Zelda was now at the gardens, looking towards the east, where the Goron people and some dragons rested, or so the tales from days of old sang. The non-human or hylian tribes of Hyrule had mostly remained loyal to the crown, always at the side of the royal family, safe for the Gerudo.
The Rito tended mostly to their own matters, composing their everlasting songs and poems, but had always been loyal. The Gorons and the Zora were the friendliest to the Hyrulean government, helping with dams, maritime traversal, and construction as ones tended to the rivers and coasts and others built cities inside their mountain. Meanwhile the Gerudo, though usually loyal (at least recently), rarely stepped out of their borders, and had been the protagonist of most scuffles with direct rule over the Desert from Castle Town.
In case of conflict, she would barely lament their loss, for she had never counted with the Gerudo in the first place. Furthermore, the possible conflict had arisen on their behalf. In fiver days, Gannondorf had proven himself to be vile and evil, in Zelda's eyes, although she was uncertain if she shared that vision with everyone else. Not only his behaviour was a witness to this, but there was something else about him, something Zelda could not put into words. A strange, cold feeling...
She remembered the first conversation she had had with Captain Allas after the Council¡s meeting about Tabantha.
"Captain, do you trust this man?" she had asked.
"As you know, I have a particular dislike to the Gerudo since that adventure of ours on the desert, your Highness. Still, were this Gannondorf a mere hylian, I'd rather have him hung."
Captain Allas, the longest lasting of the Captains of the Royal Guard, was indeed a very opinionated and rather aggressive man, but she trusted his judgement. She had commanded him, in the wake of any conflict, to make sure her men were loyal, and to make loyal any opposing forces, whatever the price. That winter was truthfully proving itself…
Eventually, Lana came into her view, a confused look in her face.
Her blue hair was tied up, and her staff hidden in her long dark blue dress, with fur and parchment to keep the bitter cold away. At her side, walking with the grace of a sheikah, was Impa, barely making a sound, although Zelda knew her guardian could make none if she so wished. Her safekeeper since birth practically only cared about the princess' well-being, for both good and bad effect.
Zelda greeted them as they neared her.
"Impa, Lana, do take my apologies for making you come here in the cold… I wanted our reunion to be as… modest as possible."
"No worries, Zel." Lana stared back at Impa, who was judging her with the eyes. "Oh, cut it, we're incognito here."
"Hm…" replied Impa, staring at Lana. She liked to toy with her too much for her own good. She turned to the princess. "Your Highness, you know wha-" Impa started to talk but was cut off.
"Impa, as your princess, and moreso as your friend, I beg you to listen to me." Zelda turned to Lana. "Hyrule is being threatened."
"By whom? Termina?" Lana said jokingly.
"Hyrule itself." Snapped Impa.
"Beg your pardon?"
"We- I fear that some sort of plan is being brewed in shadow to attack our great kingdom," Said Zelda. "Poison so clear it seems water, but deadly as blade… First, the Ylissian Empire, then its ridiculous proposition. The alignment of the goldenists, their unforeseen moves… And then, in come Gannondorf and this supposed rebellion."
"I would have thought things to stay the same." Said Lana, confused.
"Perhaps no danger may come, but alas, we are not to believe ourselves free of it." replied Zelda. "It has stricken me that these events may not be unconnected, and that the lack of action is merely a game of waiting; waiting for all pieces to align, and then strike." She explained. Lana seemed distraught, her smile faded as if it had never been there before.
Zelda came closer to the witch, her friend.
"I will always put Hyrule above anything else, you know that my dear friend. We are forming our own alliances, covered by a lying mist… The court won't give me permission to go oversee the rebellion on the north. I need loyalty and dignity in the trying times to come, the fire that will wash away the cruel winter. Loyalty like yours, Lana."
"I'll always be at your side, Zel."
"Then go north, to see D'Anton's actions. Talk to no one. Stay away from the paths and the ill eyes that may lay themselves upon them. Figure out what is happening there, and we will do likewise amongst these walls. Look inside their leader's minds, inside their deepest secrets..."
"I will." Said Lana firmly, although inside she was feeling overburdened with such a task given to her so suddenly. "What do you think hides there?"
"I am as of yet unsure…" started Zelda. "But something lurks unwatched and unguarded. These ambassadors father and Gannondorf plan on sending surely aren't to be trusted. Never has Tabantha rebelled, and reasons for this uprising are all but confusing."
"So, I spy on them?" asked Lana confidently.
"Precisely. Discover what really goes on in Hebra, enter Tabantha's insides to save Hyrule. But remain unseen…" she paused. 'Hylia knows what could happen to us…"
Lana laughed. 'Princess Zelda of Hyrule skipping over the law! Who would've guessed!' Zelda darted her eyes to the side, embarrassed.
Impa put her hand on Zelda's shoulder, reassuring her. Looking at both the princess and the witch, she spoke.
"It will be our little secret."