After Zelda had recovered her composure and headed back to her father, Link resumed his trek back to his inn, hoping to relax after the tiring day once he'd checked on Malon and Talon. True, he'd had worse days in his travels, but he'd also learned during said that he should take advantage of any moments he could to rest, because there was no telling when he'd get another opportunity.
As he walked the streets of Castle Town two things stood out to him. The first was how wary everybody had suddenly become. Unsurprising, as they had just been attacked. It was still off putting to see the soldiers patrolling the streets, eyes wary, while Gerudo travelled along the rooftops, keeping an eye on things from above.
The second was the looks he was receiving as he passed. The civilians watched him with awe in their eyes as they whispered to each other, children followed him at a distance, eyes alight with curiosity, and guards and soldiers nodded respectfully to him as he walked by them.
"Their reactions aren't surprising." Navi said when he pointed this all out, an amused smile on her face. "You took down a dragon that could have easily caused an immense amount of damage all on your own, making the attack that followed much less damaging than it could have been. The story has obviously spread beyond those who saw it. How did you think the common people would react to having a dragon slayer in their midst?"
Link shrugged, but conceded the point. It wasn't the first time he'd been treated similarly, after all.
It just felt odd to be looked at with such reverence in Hyrule, of all places.
Eventually he made it to his inn and walked inside. The common area was packed with people discussing what had happened over drinks, the general air tense and worried. Eyes swung to him as he entered, more than a few eyebrows going up when they saw who it was, but there was no real reaction beyond that. Aside from one person, of course.
"Link!" He heard Malon call out as she stood up, waving at him to show him where she was. "Get over here!"
Lank made his way over to where Malon and Talon sat, taking one of the empty seats at the table with a sigh.
"You alright, fairy boy?" Malon asked as she looked him over for any wounds, becoming relieved when she didn't spot any. "How's Epona?"
Link nodded as he closed his eyes, letting himself relax for the first time since the Rathalos had shown up. Navi was the one to verbally reassure the redhead. "They're both fine. He's fought worse, and that oversized lizard didn't manage to leave a single scratch. Epona is just a bit tired from all the sprinting." The fairy sat down on the table and grabbed a bit of cheese from the food the ranchers had been eating before they'd arrived. "How about you two? You weren't hurt during the attack, were you?"
"Not at all." Talon said as he sipped some ale, his gaze on Link for a moment before turning to Navi. "The attackers focused mostly on the nobles and knights, leaving us civilians alone. The most danger we were in was when people began to panic and run away. I don't fancy being trampled."
"That's good to know." Navi said with a relieved smile as she tore a chunk of bread off the loaf.
"I'm guessing you were at the castle just now. Any idea what's going on?" Malon asked with curiosity.
"The King was injured in the attack, but he's on the mend and should be fine soon. They do have the best healers in the land, after all." Navi explained as she ate. "The princess is organizing the kingdom's defense while he's recovering and has asked Link for help identifying potential threats, since he's one of the only people to leave Hyrule in ages, and that dragon came from another land. The other leaders are also helping by having their people assist."
Malon smiled gratefully. "I'm glad to hear everything is in good hands." She said.
Link was nearly dozing when he was roused by someone setting a mug of ale in front of him. He opened his eyes to find a barmaid smiling prettily at him. "Compliments of the house as thanks for fighting the dragon." She explained. "All your food and drink while you stay here is free."
Link blinked before smiling. "Thank you." He picked the mug up and took a pleased sip.
The barmaid smiled wider before turning and leaving, her hips swaying more than strictly necessary, a fact that left Navi amused and Malon with a slightly sour look on her face.
Talon chuckled at what had just occurred. "Seems you've become popular, my boy." He said with amusement. "Your performance in the tournament alone was making you well known. Pair that with killing such a fearsome beast single handedly and I would expect such treatment to become the norm for the foreseeable future."
Link reached over for some of the meat and vegetables on the table, suddenly feeling famished now that he'd had a drink. "I've experienced it before, but it's odd to do so here in Hyrule."
Talon quirked an eyebrow. "Now that sounds like an interesting story."
"Ooh, Link, tell them about Atolla!" Navi said eagerly, a large smile on her face.
As Talon and Malon looked at him with interest, hoping to hear about a foreign land, Link swallowed the bite he'd taken, amused, before beginning to do so, relaxing further as the evening wore on.
The next morning Link yawned as he drank some milk he'd been served when he'd sat down in the inn's dining area. The previous day's attack had stirred up memories of his time among the Paracemian clans, and he'd spent the night dreaming of old friends, living and dead. He did wonder how they were doing, and if they had managed to rebuild now that their war with the Tigreta was over.
"Three years…" He murmured to himself, remembering how long it had been since he'd left Paracemia.
"What was that, Link?" Navi asked curiously as she set down her thimbleful of milk.
"Just remembering." He said absently as he took another sip of milk.
"Do you think there'll be another attack soon?" She asked seriously after a moment.
Link considered the question for a bit before shaking his head unsurely. "Not sure. Yesterday wasn't successful. It depends on their resources."
Navi hummed in understanding before sighing. "It's always something, isn't it?"
Link's lip quirked up in a smile of agreement. Then he looked up when the door opened to reveal Impa, who looked around the room before locating him. She made her way to his table with a small smile. "Good morning you two."
"Morning Impa." Navi said with a wave as Link nodded his greeting. "Everything alright up at the castle? The king doing alright?"
"He's woken up and doing fine." Impa said as she sat down to join them. "The healers are keeping him confined to his bed for the next few days, but that's just precautionary. As it is he's keeping abreast of all the preparations being made, though the princess is continuing to organize things, for the most part." The Sheikah sat forward, her elbows on the table. "I'm actually here at his request, actually. He wants you to come up to the castle so he can thank you personally for saving his life."
Link finished off his milk before nodding in understanding. "Fine. Need to start cataloguing Paracemian beasts anyway."
"That's true." Impa said with a nod. "In that case, how about we go now? Breakfast will be provided for you at the castle so you can eat while you work."
Link glanced down at Navi, who proceeded to down the rest of her own milk before getting up and flying over to settle on his shoulder again. Once she was secure he stood up and began following Impa out of the inn.
A short time later Link walked into the king's room, the man sitting up in bed with an empty breakfast tray at his side and some papers he was studying in hand. He looked up when the young man was announced, a smile appearing on his face. "Ah, Sir Link! Good of you to come."
Link bowed to the king before standing up straight. "I am glad to see you are doing well, Your Highness."
"I hear I have you to thank for that." Nohansen said as he set his papers aside. "You've done me and the kingdom a great service, Sir Link. You not only saved my life when my healers and mages had essentially given up hope, but more importantly, you stopped the dragon that was menacing the town before it could do any damage to compound the surprise attack we endured." The older man sat back against his pillows as a maid came in to take away his breakfast tray, his eyes focused on Link. "Were you not already titled I would grant you a knighthood right this moment for services to Hyrule and her people. As it is, I will be discussing a suitable reward with Zelda, as she knows you better than I do."
"I didn't do what I did for a reward, sire." Link said respectfully.
Nohansen smiled a bit wider at that. "All the more reason that you deserve one, my boy. It is sadly far too rare to find someone willing to do what you did simply because it is the right thing to do. Such actions and motivations should be encouraged." Then he chuckled. "Besides, you act as though you have a choice."
Link hesitated before sighing. "If that is what you wish…"
"It is." Nohansen said with a firm nod. Then he glanced at Navi, amusement on his face. "I wish you had told me more about your partner before, Navi. I might have been more prepared."
Navi giggled. "Link is someone you need to see to believe." She said, just as amused.
The king chuckled before becoming serious. "I understand you have discussed the dragon's origins with Zelda, along with what it may mean."
Link nodded, just as serious. "Yes. I will be joining some of your scribes and scholars soon to tell them about the Paracemian beasts I know of so they can catalogue them and spread the information to your troops."
Nohansen nodded in understanding. "Good, good. If whoever our enemies are have access to more beasts such as that dragon, then we need to be prepared. Otherwise we could be decimated."
Link bowed again. "I'll get to work then, if that's alright by you?"
The king nodded. "Indeed. Go and do your best, lad. We will speak further at some point."
Link nodded before turning and leaving the king's chambers, finding Impa waiting for him. "Come along then. I'll take you to where you'll be working. I've already ordered breakfast be served to you there."
Link nodded in understanding, following along behind her as she led him to another part of the castle.
A few hours later Link was hard at work doing his best to remember all the Paracemian beasts he could so that the scribes could note them down. Some easily stuck in his mind, such as the various wyverns that terrorized certain areas of the land. Hours into the endeavour, however, he was having trouble coming up with any new ones to note down, though he knew there were more that the kingdom should be made aware of.
"And you say these are more at home in an arid climate?" The scholar that was there to ask clarifying questions as the scribes noted everything down asked.
Link nodded. "Yes. They burrow under the sands of deserts and lay in wait for someone to pass by."
The scholar nodded, humming thoughtfully. "Another one to make sure our Gerudo allies are aware of, as they're more likely to encounter it…"
"Indeed. I'll want copies of the catalogue you've been creating made for each of the other leaders so they can pass them along to their own people." Zelda's voice came front the entrance of the study Link had been working in. The scholars and scribes looked up in surprise to find their princess standing in the doorway, not having noticed her approach. Link himself simply nodded to the woman with a smile, having just barely noticed her arrival, her Sheikah training obviously serving her well.
"Of course, Your Highness." Was the immediate response.
"Good." She said as she entered the room. "Please take a rest now, all of you. I'd like to speak to Sir Link."
The scholar and scribes immediately gathered their things and left the room as Zelda walked over to sit in front of Link. She relaxed slightly once they'd left, smiling at her friends. "Hard at work, I take it?"
"I just heard Link speak more in a couple of hours than he usually does in weeks." Navi said with amusement.
Zelda's smile widened at that. "Indeed? Probably more words than I've ever heard from him in all our time knowing each other, in that case." She said teasingly, prompting Link to roll his eyes as the two giggled.
There was a moment of silence as the three simply enjoyed being together once again. Link especially felt himself relax, being with two women who he had spent so much time apart from. Much as he loved the friends he'd made in his travels, there was something special about these two to him.
"Father has asked me what we should do in order to reward you for the help you've given us." Zelda said after enjoying the silence. "I'm having trouble thinking of anything you would accept. You're too humble a man for your own good, sometimes." The smile on her lips told him she didn't mind that side of him.
"How about your hand in marriage?" Navi asked with a grin on her face and mischief in her eyes.
Zelda's face lit up with a blush as she stared down at the fairy in surprise before glancing at Link, who's eyebrows had risen to show his own shock at the fairy's words.. She then looked away, trying to get herself under control, especially as she was reminded of what she'd impulsively offered him the previous day. "Please don't joke like that, Navi."
Link just sighed in exasperation as Navi cackled at the princess's reaction. Before he could say anything to curb his fairy's teasing, however, he felt an odd sensation that it took him a moment to remember, as he'd only felt it once when he had first left the forest. It was like a half remembered song was trying to catch your attention, drawing your thoughts to it. After a moment he realised that this was what his song communication with Saria felt like from the receiver's end. Which meant she was trying to get in contact with him. This worried him quite a bit.
Saria had made it clear early on that she would only ever try to reach him this way if things were dire for her, mostly because she knew that distracting him at the wrong moment when he was travelling outside the safety of the forest could be fatal. Which meant that something was very wrong right now.
"Saria, what's wrong?" He asked as soon as the connection was secure, his eyes closed as he focused.
"Something's going on in the forest, Link." He heard her say in his mind. "It started earlier this morning, long before the sun rose. The fairies are reporting strange figures entering the forest."
"Are the enchantments working?" He asked as he felt a heavy sensation in the pit of his gut, knowing she wouldn't be contacting him if something bad wasn't happening.
"That's the thing, they are, but whatever these things are, they're just ignoring them. It's like they don't have senses to be fooled and misdirected like most of those who enter. They aren't getting lost. The fairies say that they aren't natural. They don't know what they are, exactly, but they reported a lot of metal. I was thinking armor like what I've heard you talk about, but they say that isn't right either."
Link's brow furrowed. "Are they causing any damage?" He asked.
Saria was silent for a moment, and Link imagined that she was asking the fairies that very question. Then she responded. "Burning. They're burning parts of the forest that are impeding them in a more direct way, but it's controlled and not spreading." She hesitated. "Not yet, at least." Another moment of hesitation. "Link, I think they're hunting for us. For the Kokiri."
"I'll be right there." He told her. "Castle Town was attacked yesterday. This might be related."
"It was attacked?" Saria asked, shocked. "Is everyone alright?"
"Some people died, but the rest of the Sages are fine." He reassured her.
"That's good, at least." She said, relieved. "Please hurry, Link. I don't know how long it will take these things to reach us, but they're moving quickly."
"As soon as I can." He assured her before he ended the connection. When he opened his eyes it was to see Navi and Zelda gazing at him in worry.
"What's wrong, Link?" Navi asked. "We tried getting your attention, but you wouldn't answer."
"You looked worried." Zelda added with concern.
"Saria contacted me. Strange figures in the forest." Link said as he stood up. "They're burning parts of it, and not getting tricked by the enchantments. She thinks they're hunting the Kokiri."
Zelda's eyes narrowed. "You think this is related to yesterday's attack?"
"The timing is too coincidental for it not to be." Navi said seriously as she got off the table and rose to sit on Link's shoulder, all playfulness gone at the news their forest was in danger. "We're going?"
"We're going." Link said firmly.
Zelda rose as well. "I'll have some travel supplies prepared and brought to you at your inn's stables at once." She said, a hard glint in her eye at the news that a fellow sage could be in danger.
Link nodded his thanks and left without another word.
Barely fifteen minutes later Link was finishing saddling up Epona, who could sense Link's seriousness and was preparing herself for a hard day's riding. Talon and Malon stood nearby, Navi having informed them of the situation while Link gathered their things and prepared himself.
"Be careful." Malon told them. "We just got you back, Fairy Boy. We don't want to lose you again already. And you'd better take good care of Epona."
Link gave her a small smile and a nod before looking over as someone entered the stables, his eyebrows rising.
Nabooru stood before them, a bag full of the supplies Zelda had promised over her shoulder and a pair of falchions strapped to her back. "I'm coming with. We figured you'd need backup, and of all our options, I'm the one best suited for this."
Link studied her, considering, before shrugging as he took the bag from the Gerudo woman and strapped it to the saddle before he mounted Epona. "Fine. Stay close so you don't get lost."
Nabooru cracked a grin. "No worries about that." Then she jumped up onto Epona, settling in behind Link, pressing her breasts against his back with a smirk. "I'll stick very, very close…"
Link rolled his eyes as the watching Malon's cheeks puffed up in irritation and Talon chuckled. "Take care, lad." The rancher said.
Link nodded to the two before beginning to ride away, heading out the gates of Castle Town. Once they reached Hyrule Field Link didn't hesitate to have Epona begin to gallop for the forest, intent on reaching Saria as soon as possible.
Finally got this chapter done.
I wanted to have this done a week ago, but I had surprise training for a new account last week that kept me from being able to write as much as I wanted. Still, at least it's out now.
Not too much happened in this chapter, since it was mostly setup for the future, but the next one should have some action as Link clashes with the army invading the forest.
A reviewer pointed out that any army invading the forest was suicidal, but there are ways around that which I've hinted at here. After all, at least from what I gathered, the woods work by confusing the senses and getting you turned around till you don't know which way is up. And even then you can push through that if you're powerful enough, as Ganondorf was.
Also, just because some have asked, no, this fic doesn't cross over with anything else. I might use elements from other properties (such as the Rathalos from Monster Hunter) in order to populate the other lands Link travelled to, but for the most part they're all of my own making.
Can't think of anything else that needs to be said, so instead I'll remind you that you can have a say in what I write each month by donating to my Pat A Ron. One dollar equals one vote, and I've changed the system so that the votes of whatever doesn't win will roll over into the next month until that option wins and resets its votes to zero. So if what you want doesn't win in one month, it might in another, even if something else gets more votes in a single month. I'm hoping this'll make things more egalitarian so that the big spenders aren't the only ones getting what they want. That's at Pat A Ron dotcom /athanmortis.
Thank you all for reading, please review, and stay safe. Till next time!