Chapter 3: "I crown thee"
Princess Zelda suddenly could not breathe...her heart was pounding in her chest as she struggled to fight back. Her head began to go light and her vision fuzzy, as she felt icy hands wrap around her throat choking her. She did not even have time to anticipate it. The minute she saw herself in her ceremonial dress, she suddenly felt like she was being suffocated by some hidden malevolent force. "It's okay sweetheart, breathe! You are having a panic attack, so nice deep breaths okay?" Impa soothed rubbing her back. "I…don't…think…I can…do this" Zelda struggled as she hyperventilated. "You absolutely can! We all believe in you!" Impa said assertively. "I... can't! I am not…worthy!".
Zelda looked back helplessly at Impa who only beamed even wider. "Let's ask someone else if you are not worthy, shall we?" she said hurrying to the door. She left the room, leaving Zelda alone for what felt like an eternity. Her mind was a torrent of thoughts. Father…Mother…what would they both think of me if they were here to see this. What does anyone think of me? I wiped out darkness that had already ravaged this land precisely because of my own failures! How can I even be trusted to watch over Hyrule after that? -
The door opened and in slowly walked Impa…followed by him. The man who said nothing whilst bringing with his presence the countless whispers of legend. A beacon to all in the darkness, slayer of monsters. The man who carried the unfathomable power of a God yet, simultaneously held himself in such humble stature. The man who everyone seemed to know both everything and nothing about. The hero of Hyrule…
~Link~
Slayer of darkness and Zelda's most trusted bodyguard
As always, Link remained silent. However, he need not say much at all, for he always had a way of saying what needed to be said without uttering a single word. Zelda often got lost in those sapphire eyes. To her they carried the unpredictability of one of the many untamed wild horses that roamed the land of Hyrule and yet…Zelda saw such a spark of devotion in them as they locked with hers. Her face flushed and yet, her breathing calmed. Just like that, his very presence was enough to make her demons turn tail and flee. "Link...tell our soon to be Queen of Hyrule…errm…in so many…words just how worthy she is" Impa said enthusiastically at first. However, she soon grimaced as she suddenly remembered Link to not exactly be much of a talker and realised that the whole thing could be about to backfire spectacularly.
"I have no right to ask that of you!" Zelda interjected. "You destroyed Calamity Ganon, not me" she added, her voice quavering. "I sealed him sure, but it was too little too late! This land and its people paid the penalty! Even when we prepared all that time before, I was…" her eyes welled. "I was so horrid to you Link and yet you stood strong and guided me, protected me!". She let out a long shaky sigh. "If anyone should grace my Father's throne Link…it should be you. I do not deserve this, and you deserve better…all of you". Impa's face was etched with pain at Zelda's anguish. Link, however, did not react in this way but the way Zelda longed for without knowing it. Without word he got down on one knee, bowing his head and closing his eyes. His arm across his chest in a sign of unwavering loyalty and respect. Zelda realised in that moment…to him she would always be worthy…and was all she wanted to know.
The ceremonial hall of Hyrule was alive. Guests from far and wide had turned up to show their support for the future monarch. There was an excited buzz in the air from a nation of people desperate to claw something positive back from the maws of despair. Zelda could hear the faint murmurings at first and the louder they became, the harder her heart began to beat. She was guided by a procession of prominent Hyrulians who had now stopped at two large closed wooden doors which led to the hall. Notably at the front was Kapson, the ageing Zora priest who clutched an ornate golden sceptre capped with the same distinct triangles as on the wax seal of the ceremonial scroll. He was flanked by four Hylians, three of them carrying urns and the fourth carrying a small basket of food.
Next was Princess Zelda, who was reluctantly allowed to have Link by her side by a protesting Purah who had to be reminded by Impa that being seen by and with him was not bad luck because it was in fact a coronation and not a wedding. It was not often Zelda witnessed the hero of Hyrule blush, but she did find it rather cute despite blushing herself. Impa however, advised Zelda to walk in the ceremonial hall unaccompanied to demonstrate her standalone strength for her Kingdom, stating that it was of paramount importance. Before Link was ushered away, without thinking Zelda quickly reached out and grabbed his hand and their fingers interlocked. He turned to her and both met eyes very briefly smiling at one another. In that moment Zelda was not sure whether the giddy feeling she was experiencing were nerves or…something else…but she liked it.
"Splendiferously adorable!" a voice rang out behind Zelda prompting her to release Link's hand from her own. She turned with a coy smile only to be outmatched by an even wider charismatic one. Behind her stood four new generations of leaders, descendants from four great fallen warriors. The one Zelda now found herself engaged in conversation with, she knew would rapidly become one of her closest friends from the moment they met. He was a proud charismatic figure, with a larger-than-life personality. His presence always lit up a room as he burned with a rare resilience and unbreakable positivity he had forged out of tragedy and loss. Zelda had often watched him with admiration since they gathered a few times after her return, as he always captivated those around him. With him on her side Zelda knew Hyrule was that much safer.
~Prince Sidon~
Royal envoy for the Zora race and designated keeper of light
"Do I detect the early blossoming of something magical?" Sidon beamed. "Of course not! It would be most unbecoming!" she shot back flustered. Sidon's grin could not have been wider. "It most certainly would not! You and Link would make a fantastic pair. A gift of a match sent to Hyrule from Lady Hylia herself!" Zelda was scarlet. "Just look at those cheeks, redder than embers from a fire! Says all we need to know" he teased. "Hey Zelda, if you get married to Link you won't pass up on me becoming a bridesmaid, will you?". A young Gerudo girl poked her head out from a little further back in the procession beaming at Zelda. Her hair was an intense red and her eyes a piercing green. She was still incredibly young but carried herself with a rare, formidable presence of a natural born leader. Staring into her eyes, Zelda saw the spirit of someone dear to her who had long since departed from the world…living on.
~Riju~
Royal envoy to the Gerudo race and designated keeper of light
"Oh, I can just imagine it!" she swooned. "Nice big fancy ceremony and Patricia could pull you both away on a fancy carriage…ooo no wait! Patricia could be the bearer of the rings!". Zelda was getting incredibly flustered. "You want a sand seal to…" she shook her head as if snapping herself out of a daydream "wait why are we having this conversation on my coronation!? We should be thinking about me being a leader!". "Because you deserve a future too Your Majesty" a soft wise voice rang out. Zelda peered further back in the procession to see a proud Rito warrior peering out at her with a glint of wisdom in his yellow eyes. Out of the four of her chosen warriors, this one spoke the least. However, when he did Zelda was sure to take notice. He was not only a formidable fighter but also had a strong sense of morality and wisdom.
~Teba~
Royal envoy to the Rito race and designated keeper of light
"You serve this kingdom Your Majesty" he pressed on, "however remember that this is not all you are fit for existing for". "There won't be a more precious gift in your life than the companionship of a loved one. If there is one thing above Hyrule that will give your existence purpose and strength it is a partner". Zelda paused and appeared to concede. Teba nodded knowingly, the corner of his eyes indicating the flickering of a smile. "It was my wife and children who dominated my thoughts when I helped Link to take on Vah Medohhhoowwww! Watch it!" Teba scolded as he lurched forwards into Riju and Sidon. Behind him was the last of Zelda's chosen warriors but certainly not the least endearing. A young member of the proud Goron tribe, this warrior was ironically clumsy and nervous. However, true to his race he had a massive heart. He always stood by what was right and always provided a morale boost to the rest of them in the form of some needed comic relief at times. However, when things got serious Zelda knew he would deliver in surprising ways.
~Yunobo~
Royal envoy to the Goron race and designated keeper of light
"Sorry man" Yunobo said with a sheepish grin. "I skipped on my morning bowl of gravel today and I feel quite lightheaded between that and the nerves…hey rock roast is on the menu for later, right?". "Gorons!" Teba huffed burying his face in a wing. Zelda laughed. "Okay enough fooling around!" Kapson barked sternly. From behind the large wooden doors an organ began to sound, playing an ancient melody of unknown origin known as 'Ballad of the Goddess'. "This is the moment Princess Zelda, where the eyes of Hyrule are upon you as their new ruler, are you ready to undertake such a task?". Zelda's heart resumed trying to escape from her chest. "As ready…as I will ever be" Zelda responded anxiously. "Very well, good luck!" Kapson responded and with a nod two Hylian soldiers heaved the two doors open to reveal a bustling hall with a sea of expectant faces.
"All rise in the presence of her holiness Lady Hylia!" Kapson declared. Everyone stood up. Slowly, Zelda and the rest of the procession followed Kapson to an altar at the front of the great hall she found herself in. She remembered getting scolded for playing in this room as a child by King Rhoam, now she walked here freely in his footsteps. It felt so surreal. Yet at the same time, given that it had miraculously survived the Calamity unscathed it could not have been more fitting. Zelda stopped at the designated point before a large throne that she would shortly grace for the first time as Queen of Hyrule. She felt hundreds of eyes burning into her. Little did she know however…that one eye belonged to the grotesque hand she had seen earlier that day.
Kapson rested the golden sceptre on the altar before the throne and everyone took their seats again. "Under the divine grace of Lady Hylia, our land has prevailed against the forces of darkness and destruction" Kapson chanted reading from a large tome on a nearby lectern. "We give thanks to you Lady Hylia" the rest of the room answered in unison. "Forever may you rain supreme as divine guardian of our land" Kapson chanted. "We give thanks to you Lady Hylia" the room responded once more. Kapson reached in the basket of food pulling out a hearty radish and the four Hylians did the same pulling out different foods. They placed them gently on the altar, on which rested a statue of Hylia. "Lady Hylia, please accept this bountiful offering as a symbol of our devotion to your cause". "Praise be to Hylia!" the room chanted in unison. He then approached Zelda with the basket. Zelda reached in, hands shaking and pulled out an apple. Her legs felt like jelly as she approached the altar. "Lady Hylia" her voice wobbled. "Please accept my bountiful offering to you as the future ruler of Hyrule. Watch over my reign and guide me always". First tough part over she mused.
Yet more Hylian hymns rang out, as Zelda tried to comprehend the surreal experience. Through the eye of the hidden grotesque hand, her spies looked on in disgust from afar. "Pathetic!" the male said spitting on the ground. "Did you expect anything more?" his companion responded. "'Lady Hylia'…what utter nonsense" he seethed. "After we dethrone this false monarch, let us then desecrate every monument to their pathetic false prophet!". "With the utmost pleasure!" his companion nodded.
"Now it is time for the solemn oath to Lady Hylia. Princess Zelda please face your people". Zelda snapped out of her daze and stepped forwards. This is it she thought anxiously. Slowly turning, she was met with hundreds of faces of her soon to be royal subjects. She gulped, wrang her clammy hands and took a deep breath. "I, Princess Zelda, d"- she paused, gripped once again by anxiety. An awkward air descended upon the hall, as Zelda frantically tried to regain her composure. She finally found herself locking eyes with Link and took another deep breath. "Do solemnly swear that in the name of her most holy, Lady Hylia, that I will lead this beautiful kingdom of Hyrule along a path of prosperity. That I will possess and respect the divine and righteous balance of all three sacred elements of the Triforce. That I will have the Power to shape this kingdom in the image of all that is good, the Courage to stand against its mortal enemies and the Wisdom to use both righteously…until my last dying breath". Link's smile made the terrifying last few seconds worth it, as his face filled with pride and devotion.
"Light keepers step forward" Kapson ordered. Sidon, Riju, Yunbo and Teba did so. "Do you acknowledge the legitimacy of Princess Zelda of Hyrule's claim to the throne of this kingdom?". "We do" they responded in unison. "Do accept her rule over this land until her dying breath, as members of the four sacred races of Hyrule?". "We do" they repeated once more. "And finally…do you commit to serving her bidding and by proxy the bidding of Lady Hylia until your last dying breath, in the name of all that is righteous?". "We do" they responded one final time.
"Zelda please be seated" Kapson said beckoning to the throne overlooking the altar and sceptre. Zelda did so, looking on across the crowd…trying to distinguish whether they shared the Light Keeper's sentiments. The three Hylians carrying urns stepped forwards. Kapson removed the lid from the first urn. Dipping a finger inside it, he approached Zelda marking her forehead in a triangle shape. "With the sacred water from the Spring of Power we recognise your power over this land". He reached into the second urn and marked Zelda's forehead with another triangle. "With the sacred water from the Spring of Courage, we recognise the courage with which you stand for us". He reached for the third urn. "Finally, with the sacred water from the spring of Wisdom, we recognise the wisdom with which you will use to lead our land knowingly and truthfully into a period of undying prosperity and peace".
Kapson circled behind Zelda, disappearing. Zelda then felt the heavy weight of a crown being lowered on to her head. "You have been recognised as being worthy by the people of Hyrule, the four sacred envoys you have chosen and most importantly…by the divine power of Lady Hylia herself. "It is with great delight that I crown thee. Go forth, Queen Zelda of Hyrule!" Kapson declared finally beaming. The room erupted in thunderous applause and cheering. Zelda smiled emotionally at Link and for the first time…she felt strong.
Elsewhere…Zelda's spies were now incensed. "THEY USED THE SACRED WATER IN THIS JOKE OF A CEREMONY!?" the male bellowed; his body trembled with pure hatred. Somewhere unknown…something dark drank the malice oozing from male's spirit… and found it delicious.