Chapter 3: The Sword in Stone.
Almost Four Months Later
Seventeen Years Old
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Dear Mipha,
I hope you are doing well, I can't really say the same thing sadly as my life has recently gotten more hectic. I am sorry for not writing sooner as I had promised, I have been busy with work and it has left me exhausted, writing to you had been pushed back more and more until I had forgotten completely, unfortunately.
Hope you can forgive the complete idiot that I am!
On a brighter note, the amethyst you gave me has helped immensely. Since getting back from my last visit, my nightmares have lessened significantly! I'll be sure to give you the largest hug the next time I get to see you. Seriously, what did I ever do to deserve you in my life?
Saying that brings me to the real topic of this letter. I won't be able to make the journey to Zora's Domain. Things had become significantly worse than before; dad has had permission to make me an official member of the Guard—a Knight! Can you believe it?! My job is mostly to oversee the Trainees as they are out in the wilderness doing jobs—fighting monsters and such. King Rhoam deemed me to be vital piece in everything that's going on and an excellent person to learn from in real-life situations.
Although, every time I see him, I can feel like his gaze gets heavier and heavier. It's like he's expecting me to whip something out of nowhere and solve these problems?
Maybe I am just overthinking, you know how I can be after all, Mipha!
With lots of love,
Your best friend Lynk
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Lynk was leading the group of three Trainees along a beaten track, their horses chuffing and nickering occasionally. Lynk reached forward and pat Myth's neck, scratching lightly before holding a hand up for the Trainees to halt
They did; Lynk turned Myth partly around to face them. "We'll leave the horses tied up here and continue on foot."
Jaro, Loki, and Himmison silently nodded and dismounted their horses. Lynk followed and led them over to the trees, a good and safe place to tie the horses until their return. Their travel packs were left behind on the steeds.
"Alright, you know the drill, yes?" Lynk raised a brow, they'd already been to three other places. It was a four-day extrusion with a list of locations that Lynk would take them too. They weren't overly crowded monster hideouts, but there was still a fair amount to dispose of.
"Yes, ma'am!" The trio straightened their backs, their armour clanking at the movement.
"Good." Lynk's eyes move to Jaro. "Jaro, we'll approach from a higher stance to try and use our archery skills to minimise the numbers before facing them head-on with a sword if necessary. Is that understood?"
She received positives. Lynk led them further along the place until they arrived at an outcrop of rock large enough to hide behind but still see the six Bokolins and two Moblins.
"Himmison, Loki, until I give the all-clear, you stay here." Lynk gave them a warning look, although it was mostly towards Himmison, who was known to be the more reckless out of the trio. He had this thing about head-on attacks and then getting distracted to glance around, seemingly searching for something. It was getting Lynk a bit more frustrated at his audacious personality.
Honestly, it was like he was trying to impress someone, who she'd never know—there certainly wasn't anyone bar Jaro, Loki, and herself around.
Lynk pushed the thought aside when Himmison nodded, averting his gaze in a sheepish manner. "Come Jaro."
The dark, short-haired male followed Lynk, making sure to follow her example of staying low.
During the third of week training, the Trainees were asked if they wished to specialise in either a sword or bow—while it was mandatory for both, one could choose to become an archer Guard so archery skills were needed to be perfected. Jaro was one of those men, it was mostly because he felt he would be unable to match his comrades in training with his lack of stamina in comparison to them. It was understandable, and Lynk had offered her services to tutor Jaro personally.
He'd made impressive progress; he was still getting a grip of horseback archery but that took time to get a used too and he'd been a natural at that which impressed Lynk.
Lynk and Jaro followed an old overgrown footpath—no doubt people no longer used it because of the monsters living there—to a ledge higher up. Once in a suitable position, Lynk pulled her bow from her back, Jaro followed her example.
"Our main targets should be?" Lynk questioned.
"The Moblins." Jaro breathed, brows furrowing in concentration.
"Yes, and where should we aim?"
"Head."
"Correct."
They pulled out an arrow each and slipped it into place. "On my mark, yes?"
Jaro nodded.
They lined the shot up. Lynk's sight narrowed and—"Fire."
They released; her arrow pierced the head on the Moblin but Jaro's hit the neck of the second. It didn't matter as Lynk had fired a second arrow in seconds, her eyes had caught the arrow's trajectory before it had pierced the Moblin's hide so she'd notched another arrow in a hardly noticeable blur of motion and fired.
Both Moblins fell down dead.
"Sorry." Jaro's face flushed with guilt.
"Don't apologize. Never apologize, Jaro, you simply work to improve further to not make the mistake again."
Lynk's hardened gaze hadn't moved from the six Bokolins who'd all climbed to their feet as the Moblins had gone down but the monsters were not very intelligent and after scanning and not finding anything, went back to what they'd been doing beforehand, sitting around a campfire.
They weren't very intelligent beings.
She debated firing another round of arrows to take them all out now but ultimately decided against it. They were out here to give the Trainees experience, if she killed everything then they'd learn nothing.
Lynk sighed and slung her bow onto her armoured back, gesturing for Jaro to follow her.
They returned to Loki and Himmison and attacked the remaining six monsters. It was over in minutes and as the Trainee's caught their breath, Lynk heard something. Her ears twitched, she peered over her shoulder to the forest behind her.
She frowned as there was a brush of wind and a silent whisper in the air. Her fingers twitched and something inside her chest jerked as if trying to pull her towards it. Lynk turned her back to the forest and instead glanced at the surrounding scenery as she realised it was Great Hyrule Forest.
…Lynk…
Lynk exhaled and swallowed. There was a flash of lightning overhead and dark clouds began forming. "Let us return to the horses and find some shelter for the night."
"Yes, Ma'am."
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…Lynk…
Lynk jolted awake, the silent voice ringing within her mind. Her ears drooped, eyes flashing to the path that led back up to the forest. The rain had stopped at some point during the night; she noted Loki was on watch, resting his chin on the tip of his sword's handle as he watched the distance.
The familiar night ambience of owls and crickets and the rustling of leaves wasn't nearly as peaceful to Lynk after she'd started hearing the voice…
It wasn't the first time she'd heard it…
…Lynkura…Come…
She gritted her teeth and pushed herself to her feet. Loki straightened. "Ma'am?"
"I'll be back soon. If I'm not back in an hour, then wait until sunrise to start heading back to the castle. Understood?" Lyke's gaze never strayed from the path that led to Great Hyrule Forest.
Loki made a confused sound. "Oh—okay? As you order, ma'am."
Lynk nodded sharply and plucked her sword from the ground, tying the sheath to her back. The ground was soft beneath her feet from the downpour earlier, having turned the dirt into mud but Lynk didn't have enough energy to care for such a thing. She could wash it out later anyway.
There were the rumours that if you entered The Lost Woods then the chances of your return were… minimal. Lynk exhaled as she stared at the path that led into the forest. Her chest twisted.
…Lynk…
Lynk swallowed and took a step back but something caught her eye; a flash of out of place colour. The purple and blue moved further into the forest and without thought, Lynk ran after the colours.
Through the thick fog that covered the forest, Lynk was able to make out the colours belonged to someone. But it was odd because they—she, Lynk knew it was a she, had blue skin and hair that matched—
"Hu-Hey!" She called, voice echoing within the dense and eerie forest.
The female halted and her coat fluttered and she… bobbed up and down?
Lynk squinted as she rushed forward—was the girl floating?
The blue women moved before Lynk could get any closer but never once left her sight, seemingly wanting Lynk to follow her. Lynk had no idea why she was following the woman to begin with, but she just felt like she had too.
Lynk rushed under an old and hollow log, almost reaching the woman when she all but abruptly vanished, dissolving into blue dust that faded before they reached the ground. Lynk stumbled to a halt in confusion however that confusion quickly turned into realisation as her gaze landed on the small creatures, all different shapes and sizes with leaves covering their faces.
Koroks.
Lynk eyed them all.
A lot of Koroks.
She was in the Korok Forest?
Lynk straightened, Korok Forest was the home of the legendary sword that seals the darkness. Then she looked forward and she saw it.
The Master Sword in its full glory, surrounded by a dozen Silent Princesses.
Almost hypnotized by the legendary sword, Lynk didn't realise she had moved until she was stood in front of it. Her eyes rose to the gigantic—gigantic was an understatement really—tree before her. Its name, like she'd known it her entire life, came to mind: The Great Deku Tree.
"Well, well." He hummed, tree branch brows moving curiously. "What do we have here? A Hylian? It had been a long while since I have seen you one of your kind. What is your name?"
"Lynkura." She answered.
The Deku Tree blinked; a deep hum escaped him that Lynk swore she felt in her bones. "Greetings, Lynkura. I welcome you to the Korok Forest but if you are here to take hold of the sword before you, then I must warn you to take extreme caution. The Master Sword stands as a test to anyone who would dare attempt to possess it. As you are now, I cannot say whether you are worthy or not… if you sought to free the sword in any sort of weakened state, you would surely lose your life where you stand. Best of luck, young one."
Lynk's gaze fell back upon the sword, reaching out a hand. She lingered, hesitated for a moment, really asking herself if she was going to really do this. Pulling the sword—it meant a lot.
She wouldn't be able to return to her normal life—she would have the face the King and become an almost poster girl, a sign on Calamity Ganon's ultimate return. Her fingers trembled.
It was a heavy feeling that settled in her chest. If she did succeed in freeing the sword, was she really willing to accept her fate? A fate she, being honest with herself, didn't want for herself.
She just wanted to do her father proud, become a Knight and serve the Kingdom and its people. She didn't want to be pointed out in a crowd and awed at—she wanted to blend in and have the freedom to do what she wanted when she wanted without people judging her for her actions.
If she pulled this sword, she couldn't continue being this Lynk. Couldn't be Lynkura anymore, couldn't be the girl that loved laughing and messing around, she would likely lose the friendships she'd formed over the years to respect they felt they owed her for being the Sword's wielder.
What… what would her mother do?
"Fate is a complicated thing, darling." Helkura hummed thoughtfully as they watched the starry night sky. Lynk snuggled closer into her mother as she gently stroked her hair. "I've always believed we each have a path to follow, even if we may not favour what that path leads us to. We don't know what our future holds, but that's the way of things. It's why I've always been so happy to let you live so freely, Lyn."
"Because you got to live freely yourself?" Seven-year-old Lynk asked.
Helkura laughed heartily. "Exactly. Your curiosity came from me—my desire to see and experience the world and by no means was it easy for me to do. But I believe it was that way so that I could grow and learn and become who I am today. I know you'll face lots in your life." Her gaze softened. "While I don't know what or why, I just feel it in my soul. So, I want you to know that you'll never be alone, okay? Whether there physically or not, your father and I love you—if you remember that—" Helkura broke into a coughing fit and Lynk fretted nervously as her mother rasped in a breath painfully.
"Mama?"
"I'm okay, sweetheart."
Lynkura inhaled and exhaled deeply, if that's so, then if I'm to be the one to pull the Sword, I'll accept what is to come. Like Mama had done, I'll grasp the future with both hands.
And she did, wrapping her hands around the handle of the Legendary Blade. Her skin tingled; a feeling that rushed through her entire being causing the hairs on her arms to stand.
"The sword cares not for your physical might, young Lynkura. It is moved by what lies within. It cuts through bravado and superficial enhancements. Only true strength can draw it from its resting place."
Lynk pulled the Master Sword from its stone hold.
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Dear Lynk,
I am most certainly angry that you forgot about your best friend! The horror I felt when I finally received a letter, but I am glad to know you are generally in good health and that the amethyst as done you justice.
Try not to stress yourself too much, otherwise, I am going to have to come down there myself and deal with you personally, Lyn! I will admit I am a little upset that you are not able to make the journey, but I completely understand that your service will come first from now on.
Father received a message from King Rohan last month, it involved the discovery of Vah Ruta within the Zora's Domain a few months prior. He wishes to discuss about someone from the Domain taking up the mantle of Champion and becoming the owner of Vah Ruta. Father has spoken to me and wishes to have me become Champion, many of the council has also agreed with his thoughts. I was flustered at the praises and belief in me.
I've also heard whispers that the Legendary Sword has been drawn, is this true? If so, do you know who it is? My informant, unfortunately, didn't.
Missing you dearly,
Mipha.
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Zelda lingered outside her father's office before she finally straightened up and gathered the courage to knock.
"Come in."
Zelda opened the door and stepped inside the office. "Father, I was informed you wished to speak to me?"
"Yes, that is correct." King Rhoam confirmed, placing the papers he'd been holding down and stood. He moved around his desk; hands clasped behind his back. "There is something important that I must speak to you about, Zelda."
Zelda clutched her notebook tightly, dreading what her father would bring up. He'd been ever so persistence the last few weeks in trying to unlock her powers. Even more than normal.
She was getting nowhere, not even a hint of something. Nothing. Her praying never worked and her pleas went unheard. Like always.
"What is it, Father?" Zelda asked with only a moment's hesitation.
"The Master Sword has been drawn."
Zelda felt like her insides froze, her gut clenching painfully. She swallowed and bit back the bitter tone. "Really, that's great news!" She forced herself to smile.
No doubt this supposed hero was a knight, someone who'd preen under the new spotlight he'd be receiving.
He was also a reminder of her own failures.
"Her name is Lynkura."
"P—Pardon?" Zelda was unable to hold her surprise. A… a woman? The sword-bearer was a woman? Zelda… she'd not expected it. Legend had always depicted the barer to be male. But it didn't matter to Zelda, not really because male or female, even the thought of this Lynkura left Zelda already despising her.
But… something about the name felt oddly familiar to her. "Lynkura?" Zelda echoed.
"She is often referred to as just Lynk by the solider and guards, her father is Captain Jin." Rhoam informed.
Zelda let out a breath, feeling like it had been stolen from her. Flashes of dirty blond hair and piercing cerulean blue eyes. Images of the girl wearing both dresses and trousers hit her. She could remember always enjoying watching a girl in the training grounds, often assisting the sessions. She'd witnessed great skills—mastery perhaps—over the sword and bow and she could be no older than Zelda herself!
…Zelda could even recall Lynk being officially knighted four months ago. A woman being a Knight? It had never happened before within their recorded history.
This Lynkura, this Lynk, was a girl she'd seen from a distance almost her entire life. She can remember moments, both clearly and fuzzily, of seeing a girl helping around the castle when they'd been younger, talking to guards, servants, even people of nobility (Lynk too was nobility surprisingly, but then again, her clothing should have given that away…)—Zelda was even sure she'd seen Lynk near the kitchens during her strolls, covered in flour and grinning away…
Zelda had always been envious of the other blonde girl—Zelda desired the freedom Lynk had, the ability to do as she wished without her duties as Princess getting into her way. In fact, Zelda had not believed it when she'd first been told Lynk had been Captain Jin's daughter.
It was… it was simply unbelievable.
Unbelievable that such a girl like Lynkura was… could possibly be the bearer of the Master Sword but… but that was what had happened. Her father's next words hit Zelda like a brick.
"Truthfully I have had my suspicions that the barer would be Lynk for the last few years." Rhoam mused aloud.
Zelda flinched. "R-Really? Why is that?"
"She is a remarkable young woman, the soldiers, servants and even nobility sing praises about Lynk's skill and determination from even a young age. I've seen it first hand as well."
Zelda felt like she'd been pierced in the heart. Was her father really… saying this? To her of all people? It hurt her deeply, knowing that she was a complete failure and her father had already believed to have known who the barer was for years! Years!
Zelda's eyes burned and she forced herself to straighten her posture. "What is to happen now?"
"The other Champions have been summoned, where you will all officially meet the fifth champion." Rohan answered.
"May I… met her sooner?" Zelda asked hesitantly. She wanted to see hero—heroine first-hand, despite the bitter resentment that festered in her.
"No." Rhoam was firm and Zelda frowned. "You and the other Champions will meet her in a week's time. Lynk has a few tasks to… complete beforehand and so will be unavailable."
(That was false, but what Zelda didn't know wouldn't hurt her. Lynk had simply asked King Rhoam for a week. A week to accept her fate, accept what she must do and become for Hyrule. Rohan had met Lynk's eyes and seen this…horror within them despite how she tried to hide it behind a stoic expression. She simply needed time and Rhoam was willing to grant it for her. Especially after everything she'd done for his Kingdom already.)
Zelda bit her lip and nodded. "Of course, Father. If it is alright, may I take my leave?"
"Yes, of course, my dear."
Zelda closed the door behind her, leaning on it as she fought back the tears of frustration. It wasn't fair!
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"I keep forgetting how lean you really are, despite your height." Madam Leona, a renowned Sheikah seamstress and long-time girlfriend of her father, tut softly.
Lynk remained silent, well quieter than normal…however, normally Lynk didn't have a problem chatting Leona's ears off when she visited so much so that the Sheikah woman was reminded of an Islander Hawk.
Leona finished taking her measurements—Lynk always seemed to grow whenever she'd visit, despite how short she was—and stepped back, eyes peering down at Lynk's stoic expression. Leona's own expression softened.
"You have a heavyweight on your shoulders, my dear." Leona comment. Lynk turned to her, the flicker of her eyes momentarily revealed her curiosity surrounding Leona's comment.
The older woman smiled. "It's okay, Lynkura. It's okay to be scared. No one is going to leave you by yourself, all you have to do is ask."
Lynk's stoic mask cracked for a split second but Leona saw it. She sighed softly, a fond look forming. "So very much like your parents but ever so different too."
"…Thanks." Lynk croaked. Her words almost didn't make it from her throat.
Lynk had been slowly getting quieter over the last few months, becoming more focus driven with her new role; her loud laughter and outbursts had almost become a thing of the past. But she supposed that was just part of growing up, she was seventeen years old after all. She was at the age most stopped being children and started learning to act like an adult.
Lynk glanced forward, her insides jittery with nervousness because in a few days' time she'd be meeting the Princess officially and the Champions. The only upside Lynk saw about it was that Mipha would be there. Her heart fluttered at the thought.
She hadn't gotten around to answering the letter Mipha had sent, mostly because the King had informed her that the Champions would be coming to the castle to meet her.
Lynk wondered what Mipha would think when she finds out it was her who had pulled the sword. She hoped Mipha would not treat her any different, but Lynk knew deep down that Mipha wouldn't do such a thing. Lynk knew her worries about Mipha were for nought, but it didn't stop her.
Lynk squeezed her eyes closed, forcing her stoic mask back into place and released a breath. She stepped off the stall. "I'll see you later, Leona."
"You too, sweetheart." Were Leona's parting words.
Lynk left the shop and paused for a moment, waving a greeting at some passing guards. They shot her worried glances at her odd greeting; she was often vocal about them after all. Lynk watched the streets, listened to the bustling market place a street over, and silently died inside.
These were her last few days as a normal girl.
She was really regretting her decision now. Damnit.
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Islander Hawks are canon birds from the game.
Thought checking up on Zelda/introducing her was best suited in this chapter. I've never really written a character resenting another before, so I'm gonna try and make it as realistic as I can. Any tips/pointers are more than welcome!
I've also gotten sequel stuff noted down if I decide to continue on with during-calamity, with my own implementations and characters from other games possibly making an appearance ;)