Chapter 7: Shadow's Threat

\-==/\==-/

Perhaps it was the looming autumn season, but the water in the Domain felt colder this time around. And perhaps it was because of the water, but the people of Zora's Domain seemed colder as well. There were fewer smiles, and more worried glances and frowns. The children hung together in groups, laughing less, playing less.

But when Link asked the innkeeper if anything was wrong, she merely waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, everything's alright," she said with a quavering voice. "Just… just a bit of local trouble. Really. That's all."

Link sat on his bed late that night, a deep crease in his brow as he thought. Was this 'local trouble' what Mipha almost told me about?

Carefully he unwrapped his sling, stretching his arm out at his side. His wrist was doing a bit better, but he didn't remove the bandages over his forearm to check on his burns. They still ached a bit, but he didn't have any of the ointment the castle physicians had used when last they examined it, and he felt that his arm would benefit more from the ointment that remained than from fresh bandages.

He pulled off his travelling clothes and washed himself as best he could in the little water basin in his room, thoroughly rinsing out his hair and rubbing dirt stains from his skin. Then, clumsily, he one-handedly pulled on the loose woolen nightshirt he had packed and climbed beneath the blankets, sighing in relief at the comfort of the mattress beneath his back. That was one nice benefit of travelling to actual villages and cities - the beds at the inn were far more comfortable than his bunk in the Royal Guard Chambers.

King Dorephan didn't say anything about something wrong when he debriefed me, he thought as he drifted off to sleep. So it must be alright.

But… then again… he did seem a little troubled by something…

\-==/\==-/

"While having a shield is good insurance, there may come a time when you are unable to use it for some reason," Link said, standing in front of a group of Zoran youths just over half his height standing with wooden practice spears and shields just south of Mikau Lake. "Perhaps you find yourself attacked when your arm is injured, as mine is now. Or it could be that the only weapon you have with you is a two-handed one."

A young Zora girl named Kodah raised her hand. "Sir Link? Why didn't Mipha heal your arm?"

"I didn't want her to. That way I can give you this demonstration," he explained calmly, although he cringed inwardly at the thought of the Zora Princess.

"Then let me heal it instead!" Kodah cheered. "I'm better at it than she is - you should choose me! Choose me!"

He blinked, raising an eyebrow quizzically. "I'm not… choosing anyone. The castle physicians fixed me up nicely; I'll let them do the work."

"You just wanna get close to Link," sniggered Rivan, nudging Kodah playfully.

She gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks in mortification. "I - I do not!" she protested, her voice squeaky with embarrassment. "I just - I would do a better job, that's all!"

Kayden rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because you have magic healing powers."

"Why isn't Mipha with us this time?" Gaddison asked, scratching her leg.

"As a Princess, she's very busy," Link said. "And she's older, so she has already had quite a bit of training. Now, please try to focus. We'll start today with the worst-case scenario - you've been fighting, but your enemy broke your shield -"

"Wouldn't fighting with an injured arm be the worst-case scenario?" Rivan interrupted.

"It depends," Link answered patiently. "If you were injured before the battle, then you would have some time to practice using just one hand. You would be prepared to fight that way. However, if an enemy has enough strength to break your shield - maybe it's a lynel or hinox - there's a good chance they'll break your arm, too. You'll find yourself unprepared, suddenly without both a shield and the use of one arm."

"But we're practicing this now, so we will be prepared," Kodah said eagerly, smiling widely.

"Let's stop just talking about this already," Gaddison growled. "We need to know how to take action! So we can go bash that -"

"Shhh!" Bazz hissed, rounding on her. "We promised not to tell about that!"

Link raised an eyebrow. "About… what?"

"You're not supposed to know," Kayden admitted nervously. "A scary-looking Hylain guy came here a day before you did and told us not to tell about… what's happening."

"Kayden, shut up!" Bazz yelped. "He left his buddy behind - he could be watching us! You're gonna get us into trouble!"

Link's eyes narrowed. Something's definitely going on here.

And why am I not supposed to know?

It could be a Yiga plot. Perhaps they were threatening the Zora people somehow and didn't want him to know because they knew he would help them. His eyes narrowed. "Look," he began gently, squatting down so that he could meet the young Zoras' eyes. "You know I would never hurt any of you, right?"

"Of course!" Kodah smiled shyly, and the others nodded along.

"And do you know that the strange Hylian would never hurt you?"

They exchanged glances, shuffling their feet and avoiding his gaze. "No," Bazz admitted at last. "Kinda the opposite, actually…"

"Maybe he wants whatever is happening to continue," Link pointed out. "I might be able to help, if you'd tell me."

"No!" Gaddison shook her head. "King Dorephan told us 'no,' too! And he wouldn't hurt us!"

Link frowned. "...Alright, then."

This just keeps getting weirder.

\-==/\==-/

From that moment forward Link was always on his guard.

And it didn't take him long to realize that there was a Hylian traveller who seemed to be following him around. Wearing thin wire spectacles along with a dark green cowl over a dusty vest and cream-colored doublet, and walking around in tall, age-worn boots, he didn't cut a very imposing or suspicious figure. However, he seemed to know exactly where Link would be, and when.

Going on a walk in the woodlands around the Domain whenever Link went out to teach the Zora youths. Sitting in the entry room of the inn every time Link came in or out. Leaning against the railing of almost every bridge he crossed.

And always with him was a notebook and a pen.

Eventually Link approached Bazz as he practiced his spearing techniques one afternoon and nodded carefully towards the traveller. "Is that the man who came with that strange Hylian before I arrived?"

Bazz leaned to the side to see over his shoulder. "Yes," he whispered. "He likes to write lots of notes, I think."

Link nodded. "I noticed," he murmured. "Thanks, Bazz."

He got to his feet and glanced back at the traveller, debating on whether or not to approach. If he was a Yiga, he was probably there to ensure the Zora didn't do anything undesirable.

But because it seemed he was following Link around, perhaps… perhaps he was an assassin, or perhaps he was merely collecting information to report to his Clan.

Unsettling whichever way you slice it, he thought, shaking his head. I'll be keeping a careful eye on him.

It wasn't until his fifth day in the Domain that he learned anything else.

Mipha came running up to him in the afternoon, her eyes wide with terror. "Link, it's- it's going to get him; he's alone - the monster, it'll - he won't survive!"

"What? Who?"

"M-my brother," Mipha all but sobbed. "Sidon! He… he wanted to save everyone and be a hero, but he's just - Link, he's too young!"

"Where did he go?" Link frowned, and his heart began to quicken. "Who took him?"

"No one - no one took him!" the Zora Princess wept, wiping her eyes with her hands. "It's the lynel, Link! The lynel of Ploymus Mountain - I wanted to tell you when we arrived but my father forbade me, said you couldn't know - but you're the best warrior I know -"

"Slow down," Link interrupted, raising his hands placatingly. "There's a lynel on the mountain, and Sidon went to… what, exactly?"

"He thinks he could kill it and save everyone!" Mipha whimpered. "This lynel - it's begun sending shock arrows down into the Domain! It wants - it sees this as part of its territory, and it wants us to leave - it's only a matter of time before it comes and tries to drive us out! And we - we can't survive against shock arrows! That's why - that's why I came to you!"

Link frowned. Zoras could climb up waterfalls, meaning that the little Prince Sidon could already be at the top of Ploymus Mountain. And that would be disastrous!

Without another word to Mipha he whirled around and dashed away from her up an elegantly curved set of stairs, planning a route up to the mountain in his mind. East past Mikau Lake and up to the Reservoir, then east along the bank. Eventually there's a less-treacherous slope I'll be able to climb up without gear, and then I can make my way back west to Ploymus Mountain.

Hopefully I won't be too late.

"Link, wait!" Mipha called out, her feet slapping behind him. "The quickest way there is up the waterfalls - you'll never get there in time otherwise!"

"You just said shock arrows can kill you," Link protested, legs flying across the eastern bridge. "You're not coming with -"

"I won't - I'll come straight back, I promise!" Mipha panted desperately, struggling to keep up with him. "But please - you won't get there in time if you go around - please, Link!"

He clenched his teeth. "Fine. Only if you go straight back to the Domain."

"I will - of course I will!" she exclaimed, and Link felt grass beneath his boots. Without breaking stride, he turned northwards, up towards Mikau Lake, sprinting up the gentle hill and past the dark pines, plunging into the water as fast as he could as Mipha dove gracefully in. "Hold on to my shoulders!" she called.

Link frowned. No emotion, he told himself. This time, she's definitely not flirting.

I hope.

The instant his hands grasped her shoulders she took off like a shot towards the waterfall. Link sucked in a deep breath as she lunged into it, pounding water crashing down on him, threatening to tear him from Mipha's back. Eyes narrowed, he struggled to see anything but white, foaming water as the Zora Princess darted up the waterfall and dived over the top and into Lulu Lake before charging towards the next waterfall. Link shook his dripping hair out of his eyes, barely managing to get another breath before Mipha was swimming in the next waterfall, pushing past the tumbling water and once again diving forwards when she reached the top, tucking herself into a roll upon seeing dry land beneath her.

Link couldn't keep his grip on her shoulders and landed on his back in the grass, grunting at the impact. Quickly he pushed himself to his feet and dashed towards the last little waterfall that would take them up to the top of the mountain, past the colorful bushes reminiscent of coral sprouting from the fertile soil. Mipha made it into the water before him; he hurried after her, shivering in his thoroughly drenched clothing, and grabbed her shoulders again as she plunged into the waterfall.

Once again at the top they were met with solid ground instead of water, and Link let go, turning his fall into a roll that brought him smoothly back to his feet. Without wasting another moment he started running north away from the falls, his breath coming in rapid spurts. A cold mountain wind drifted past him and he shivered again, water dripping from his hair and clothes as his feet and stockings sloshed in his boots with each pounding step.

"Where, exactly, on Ploymus Mountain?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder at Mipha jogging after him.

"Th-the very top," she called breathlessly, several yards behind. "Near Shatterback Point!"

Link nodded, veering east along a faint path winding its way up the shining blue mountain peak. His calves burned from the ascent and he could hear Mipha's breaths growing more and more ragged behind him - water was her element, not dry land.

They hurried past a signpost; Link didn't pause to read it, slowing his pace only when he came to the crest of the trail. A wide plateau spread out before him, broken here and there by boulders and large stone protrusions emerging from the pale grassy soil.

Link went still as a red-maned lynel plodded casually out from behind one of the massive rocks, still too far distant to notice him. Slowly he walked forward, crouching slightly, heading for the nearest stone outcropping and pressing himself against it.

Mipha followed, her features drawn and tense with anxiety. "Do you see Sidon?" she whispered shakily.

Link put a finger to his lips, walking carefully around the boulder to peer out from the other side. A tiny red shape was making its way after the lynel, following at a stealthy distance. That lynel could swallow him whole! What in Din's name was he thinking?

Double-checking that the lynel was facing away from him, Link darted out from the boulder's shadow and ducked behind the next-closest one, his heart hammering. Sidon, he could see now, had a massive grin on his face. Doesn't have a clue what he's gotten himself into.

Moistening his lips he ran out from behind his cover and flattened himself against a stony protrusion closer to the lynel and the little Zora following it. He shuddered in the cold mountain air, sidling cautiously around the edge of the rock. Sidon was now hiding behind a low ridge forming a path up to the highest point of the mountain - he barely had any cover at all.

Eyes narrowed, Link edged his way around the back of the stone formation, sinking into a crouch as he reached the edge and faced Sidon. With another wary glance at the lynel, he beckoned rapidly to the little Zora. It's less likely the lynel will notice something small, like him, than both of us together.

Prince Sidon noticed him and his eyes widened. He frowned, shaking his head, and turned to watch the lynel again, crawling slowly forward.

Link grit his teeth, watching the lynel carefully before darting out from his hiding place and lunging over to Sidon, crouching low beneath the ridge. "You're in a lot of trouble," he whispered, grabbing the Prince's wrist.

"Wait!" Sidon squeaked. "But - but I wanna watch the lynel -"

"Another time," Link muttered. "Now, let's go - Mipha's here; she'll take you back."

"No!" Sidon whined, and Link clapped his hand over his mouth.

"Don't bite me," he warned quietly, lifting him in his arms and dashing back behind the nearest large, protective boulder.

"Thank goodness!" Mipha sighed, gratefully taking her brother into her arms. Her tone turned scolding. "Don't you ever do something like that again!"

"But, Mipha - that guy dared me to get close!" Sidon protested. "I coulda gone closer!"

Link's blood ran cold. Three guesses who 'that guy' is, he thought angrily. "Get out of here," he murmured. "I'll take care of that lynel - just go."

"I don't want to leave you alone with that thing," Mipha said slowly, her voice soft and hesitant.

Link's eyes widened. "You told me you'd leave - now go!"

"No!" Mipha shook her head, her voice gaining surety. "Link, I - I really care about you! I don't want you to get hurt, and you're soaking wet - just as susceptible to shock arrows as we are, now!"

"You said," Link growled, "that you would leave once you got me here. Well, you've gotten me here, and as a bonus you have your brother, too. Get him back to the Domain safely. I'll be right behind you."

"But - no. No, I'm not leaving you," she vowed, infatuation glowing in her eyes.

"You're just giving me one - no, two more things to worry about while I'm fighting," he pointed out, frustration rising in his voice. "Get out of here. This isn't safe for you."

"Oh, and it's safe for you?" Mipha pouted, her brow furrowed. "I'll stay right behind this boulder the whole time, I promise -"

"Quiet!" Link hissed, pushing her back against the stone.

He had heard nearing footsteps. Hooves crunching on loose gravel. Heavy breathing that could only belong to a massive animal.

As slowly as he could, he looked back over his shoulder. The lynel was approaching them, snout raised and sniffing the air. Link scowled. "Stay here," he breathed, and without turning to see if his words had been acknowledged, he dashed out into the open, whipping the Master Sword free from its sheath.

The lynel whirled to face him, drawing its own blade with a roar. Link sprinted past it, hoping to draw it away from the Zora royalty. He heard the thunder of hooves behind him and threw himself violently to the side just in time to escape the monster's charge; it skidded to a stop and turned to face him, teeth bared in an angry snarl.

With a growl it leapt towards him, swiping its thick blade and shield horizontally; Link jogged quickly backwards, lunging forward again the instant the lynel's attack passed and thrusting the Master Sword forward. The lynel swung at him, catching the side of his head with its fist and knocking him off balance; Link's blade merely sliced into the beast's side instead of skewering it. He staggered sideways, his skull pulsing and vision blurring from the force of the blow, and the lynel slashed at him once again.

With a grunt Link threw himself forward, ducking under the attack, straightening at the beast's side and stabbing at its chest. The lynel sidestepped and cantered away, out of reach, veering in a wide circle around him before charging once again. Link adjusted his grip on the Master Sword's hilt and widened his stance, ready for the next attack. The lynel raced forward, blade held far out to the side, and swung at him with vicious speed. Link leapt sideways and plunged his sword forward, digging it into the beast's shoulder before it galloped away again, tearing itself free.

Again it raced around in a wide circle around him, bleeding from several wounds but not done in just yet. Rearing back on its hind legs, it sheathed its sword and charged him with its massive arms outstretched, tearing up the ground beneath its hooves. Link braced himself, heart racing in his throat as the monster drew closer with terrifying speed, and at the last moment threw himself to the side and slashed out, sinking the Master Sword deep into its chest.

With a pained roar the lynel snatched his arm and wrenched both him and his blade out of its side, throwing him harshly to the ground. Link grunted, his back throbbing from the impact as the breath left his lungs. He saw the lynel raise its sword over his head and stab downwards and he rolled to the side, pushing himself back to his feet with a grimace.

The lynel jerked its weapon free from the grass and turned to face him. It threw its head back, jaws parted, and Link's eyes widened in horror as a ball of flame shot from its mouth. He ran out of the way, and continued running as it pivoted again and again, spewing fire in great burning spheres rolling across the grassy mountaintop. Admittedly, the heat felt wonderful to his chilled, waterlogged skin, but the sound of roaring, crackling flames swiftly devouring the plant life at his feet prompted him not to linger.

At last the lynel stopped, breathing heavily, smoke curling up from its nostrils. Link didn't slow, changing direction to charge directly at the monster. Teeth clenched, he threw himself forward, leaping the last few feet and landing on its back - something he had practiced over and over again with Choice, though she was a bit shorter.. Instantly the monster went mad, bucking furiously, and Link thrust the Master Sword into its spine. The lynel screeched in agony, going still for one moment - that was all he needed. Lunging to his feet, balancing on the beast's broad shoulders, he spun his blade around in a circular motion, severing the Lynel's head from its neck.

It stood, headless, for a moment. Then it crumpled, and Link leapt lightly to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Oh, Link!" Mipha swooned, hurrying forwards with her baby brother in her arms. "That - that was -"

"Awesome!" Sidon cheered, eagerly clapping his tiny hands. "I wanna do it too -"

"Sidon," Link interrupted, wiping the Master Sword clean on the lynel's fur. "You said a man dared you to come here just to get close. But Mipha said you wanted to fight the lynel. What's going on?"

"A - a traveller told me he'd seen my brother run off," Mipha admitted quietly. "He's the one who told me that Sidon wanted to fight."

"Some Hylian said he'd give me a hundred fish if I got close enough to touch it!" Sidon whimpered. "A hundred fish!"

Link's eyes narrowed.

\-==/\==-/

"Is this the man?"

Link had one arm locked around the Hylian traveller's neck, and his still-healing left arm held a knife against his back.

"I - I haven't done anything," the man blubbered, his face pale with fear. "L-let me go!"

Mipha frowned. "Yes," she answered. "And… come to think of it, he's the one who came with the Hyrulean General."

"This's the guy who dared me!" Sidon cheered.

Link frowned. The… the General was here?

Was he that 'strange Hylian' the children were talking about?

"What's going on?" he hissed into the traveller's ear. "Tell me now, or I won't hesitate to break your neck." He cringed inwardly, and deep within his mind he could hear his own dying voice. Beware… the monster… within…

Would I really go through with it?

"In - in front of them?" the man sputtered. Link tightened his grip, his heart racing. "Alright, alright! It was a test! Th-the King, the General - they wanted to see what you would do!"

"Ridiculous," Link scoffed, forcing his mask of impassiveness to continue over his uncertainty. "Why -"

"To see if you could be trusted w-with Princess Zelda," the traveller whimpered. "As - as her Appointed Knight! P-please, I'll send for the General and he'll explain - explain everything!"

"Not likely," Link growled. "If you were a Yiga, you could be sending for your allies to finish what you planned - to kill Princess Mipha and her brother. I'm not going to let you out of my sight until we reach Hyrule Castle."

"You're leaving?" Mipha's eyes widened in dismay.

Link glanced up at her. "I believe this man attempted to have you and your brother and possibly others assassinated. He may be a member of the Yiga Clan."

"Even though… he came with the General?"

"The Yiga have been known to disguise themselves as familiar people," Link said. "Were you with your father when the General ordered him to forbid anyone from telling me about the lynel? Can you verify that it was indeed the General, and that he really did give those orders to your father?"

Mipha looked down at her hands. "...No."

Link nodded curtly. I thought not. "I'll leave as soon as I can."

\-==/\==-/

As he walked with the traveller, whose hands were manacled together and chained to Choice's saddle, seeds of doubt sprouted in his mind.

I wasn't aware that anyone else knew the King was even considering me as the Princess' protector.

And the way they all sent me off to Zora's Domain, all of a sudden like that… it wasn't at all normal.

It wasn't even too outlandish an idea that this whole thing had been a test of his skills. Sending me back to Zora's Domain, where I would once again encounter someone with a slight… infatuation… with me… well, that could test my ability to keep a level head under uncomfortable circumstances.

And if I had known right from the start that a lynel was troubling the people here, I probably would have just gone and killed it right then and there. Instead, by keeping it hidden until absolutely necessary, both Princess Mipha and her brother were placed in danger. That would have tested my ability to protect others.

He thought of how Mipha had insisted upon coming with him, and how he wouldn't have made it in time to save her brother without her help. He grimaced ruefully to himself. And it tested my ability to cooperate with those I'm not particularly fond of.

But still… even if all of that checks out… why would they take such a risk with the children of the Zora King? Dorephan and Muzu are quite protective over Mipha. They wouldn't let her endanger herself like that.

Unless… unless this was also testing how much the Zoras trust me. Dorephan himself requested that I train the youth of the Domain; perhaps that made King Rhoam curious as to how much esteem they hold me in.

It was unsettling either way. And the traveller could still, of course, be a member of the Yiga Clan, in which case the entire thing was an assassination attempt.

Or maybe this is all just a mistake and I'm being paranoid.


Updated 7/8