Mid-week post for you guys! I'm glad you guys liked the bow of light. I thought it was weird how in the game it never really says where the bow of light comes from but it is so instrumental in defeating Ganon in so many of the games. Anyway, I figured they deserved one more happy chapter before shit really hit the fan.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the Boxing Day festivities. I have a bit of a turkey crisis to deal with today (someone forgot to thaw it... oops!) but home made apple pie is ready to go in the oven at least!
Anyway, enjoy the chapter and don't forget to leave a like or a review! I live for it! Next post will be on Saturday as usual :)
"The Bow of Light?" Link asked, incredulous. He had heard of it before. It had been instrumental in defeating Ganon in the past. It was known to be one of the few weapons that could actually cause him damage. It was an instrument of pure light wielded by the goddess herself. "Are you sure?"
Zelda looked up at him, eyes wide, and nodded. "It has to be. The way it shone light like that…" She looked back at the bow, "I have to admit, I was sceptical coming out here but… this was certainly worth it!"
Link grinned at that and offered her a hand up which she took graciously. "We should start heading back." He said glancing upwards at the sun's position.
Zelda nodded and headed toward the stone archway.
The horses had moved off a little ways from where they had left them but were still happily grazing on grass. Once Link had secured the bow to Zelda's saddle and let go, the light died to a dim flicker.
"Maybe it only glows when it is being held?" Link suggested.
Zelda shrugged, "I'll have to read up on it when we get back to the castle."
Link gave her a leg up into the saddle then mounted up himself and Zelda led the way back.
"Link…" Zelda started and Link turned towards her, "Let's go a different route back."
Link nodded, remembering how unsettling the quiet was on the ride out here. "Lead the way."
They circled around the coliseum and onto the path on the other side of the mountain the coliseum was built into. It wasn't the easiest road but the horses were sure of foot and soon they were walking along the path.
They passed Outskirt Stable and headed North along the path. It was almost evening when they reached Safula Hill.
Zelda reached down and patted Victory's thick neck, "'Be sure to take the time to soothe your mount… That's the only way it will know how you truly feel.'"
Victory huffed appreciatively and Link couldn't help but smile.
"Your advice was quite helpful – thank you." She said to Link with a smile. "This little one and I are getting along quite well now." She paused, tone changing, "At first, I wasn't sure if I should outfit him with all of the royal gear. I thought maybe he should have to earn it first." She smiled again, looking down at her mount, proudly. "But it works! He wears it like a true natural." She turned back to Link again, "I'm trying to be a bit more empathetic. Benefit of the doubt, you know?"
They continued to ride towards Sanidin Park with the sun setting behind it. The stone horse monument seemed fitting to their conversation.
Once they arrived on the stone walkway, they dismounted to stretch their legs. Zelda walked toward the railing overlooking Hyrule field.
"See that mountain?" Zelda asked, looking at the massive mountain on the horizon, "That's Mount Lanayru. It takes its name from the Goddess of Wisdom. Lanayru's decree is very specific." She looked down sounding very somber, "It says: 'No one is allowed, under the age of seventeen… For only the wise are permitted a place upon the mountain.'" She paused before looking up into the distance, "I've prayed at the Spring of Courage and at the Spring of Power, yet neither awoke anything inside me. But maybe up there… Perhaps the Spring of Wisdom, the final of the three, will be the one." She brought her hands up to her breast, "To be honest, I have no real reason to think that will be the case."
The golden sunset silhouetted her figure over the field and again, Link thought he was able to see the goddess herself in the princess just then.
"But there's always the chance that the next moment will change everything." Zelda lowered her hands to her side. Gazing out toward the mountain, she continued, "Tomorrow… is my seventeenth birthday." She turned to face Link, golden locks blowing gently behind her gazing at him with sadness in her green eyes, "So then I shall go… and make my way up the mountain."
He watched her a moment, afraid to break the majesty of her image against the setting sun. "I shall go with you."
Zelda nodded, "Yes… My father has insisted the other Champions see me off and greet me when I return. All of them have agreed except Revali. No surprise there."
Link smirked and saw a shadow of amusement cross the princess's face as well. "I somehow do not think his presence will make a difference either way…" Link commented.
Zelda smiled, "I think not…"
They stood in silence for a moment as the last rays of daylight disappeared beyond the distant mountains.
"We should go…" Link said and Zelda nodded as they started walking back to the horses. They mounted up and continued back to the castle.
It was late when they arrived and Link saw Zelda to her room.
"Link…" Zelda spoke his name and he turned back to her, waiting for her to continue, "Will you… think less of me if I do not succeed tomorrow?"
Link could see the fear in her eyes as she asked this and he reached up to cup her cheek. She gently put her hand over top of his and searched his eyes, "I could never think less of you, Princess."
The fear gave way to a small smile.
"Good night, Princess…" He said as he pulled his hand away.
"Good night, Sir Knight…" She replied before closing her door.
Zelda was enveloped in a suffocating darkness. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears as she gasped for air that seemed to escape her. Just as it felt like hear death was upon her, a blinding light chased away the darkness.
When her eyes cleared, a beautiful woman stood alone, haloed by the light. Zelda watched her, entranced.
The woman gazed upon Zelda then began speaking urgently but no sound came forth.
"What are you saying? I can't hear you." Zelda said but the woman's lips kept moving soundlessly.
"Wait! I don't understand!" Zelda cried and the woman began fading into the darkness again. "No! Come back!"
Zelda woke with a start, breathing heavily under sweat soaked blankets. She blinked a few times and looked around her room.
Was that just a dream? Or a premonition?
She pulled the covers off of her and swung her legs over the edge of her bed. She walked to her dresser and pulled out a new nightgown, changing out of the soaked one and into a fresh one then she walked toward the window and gazed out.
The moon was full and bright over the kingdom and she gazed toward Mount Lanayru. A chill spread over her and a sense of impending doom filled her heart.
She moved over to her desk and pulled out her diary. She wouldn't be getting any more sleep tonight.
Link knocked on Zelda's bedroom door. He was earlier than they had agreed upon but he'd decided to take a chance with this. It was a moment before the door opened and Beth, Zelda's personal maid peeked through.
"Sir Link! You're here early. The princess isn't ready yet." She started to close the door but Zelda's voice stopped her.
"Wait." The princess appeared at the door. She was dressed in her travelling clothing and her hair was brushed but wasn't braided the way it normally was yet. "Beth, please excuse us for a moment."
Beth bowed and left the room. Zelda stepped back and opened the door for Link to come in.
He looked around for a moment before settling his gaze on Zelda's inquiring look. "Sorry to bother you so early. I just came to give you this." He brought his hand out from behind his back and presented a small wooden box to her.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion as she slowly reached out to take it. She lifted it up and examined it before glancing back up to Link.
"I thought I made it clear that I didn't want to make a big deal out of my birthday?" Zelda said though her slight smirk showed her pleasure at having received a gift.
Link relaxed a little seeing that his gamble had paid off. "It's nothing really. But I didn't think it was right to completely ignore the day."
To hide her smile, Zelda looked down at the box again and opened it up. A melody started to play as soon as she opened it. It was a familiar tune from her childhood that made her think of her mother. Her eyes widened and she looked up at Link, "Where did you find this?"
"I called in a favour with one of the craftsmen and had him make it custom for you. The court minstrel helped with the melody. He said it was an important song to the royal family – a lullaby that legend says helped the princess and her hero long ago. I thought it was fitting." He watched as she closed her eyes listening to the song play to finish before she closed the box.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him with an expression he hadn't seen on her before. "Thank you, Link. This means so much to me." She wanted to say more but a lump formed in her throat that made further speech impossible. She turned to set it down on her desk, using that as an excuse to hide the tears forming in her eyes. Memories of her mother humming that song to her as she fell asleep drifted through her mind. After a moment, she took a deep breath and turned to face her knight again, "I should continue getting ready. I'll be along shortly."
Link bowed to her and left the room. Zelda turned and ran her fingers over the intricately carved box with a soft smile on her face. A moment later, Beth returned to the room with an inquiring look. Zelda decided to keep the music box to herself and left her maid in the dark as to what the surprise visit had been about. Without further question, Beth began braiding her hair and soon, Zelda was making her way down to the stable.
Urbosa travelled with them from the castle.
"Where were you two all day yesterday? I tried to find you but your maid said you had left early." Urbosa questioned, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
Link could feel the heat rise in his face and Zelda blushed as well before blurting out that they had gone on a field survey.
"We found this!" Zelda took the Bow of Light from the saddlebag. Link didn't realize she had packed it with her but he smiled proudly at her for thinking of it.
Urbosa studied it a moment as it grew brighter, "Is that…"
"The Bow of Light!" Zelda exclaimed excitedly, "Yes it is!"
"Where did you find it?" Urbosa asked incredulously.
Zelda told the story of how they had been searching for clues and had gone to the ancient coliseum to find it. She cleverly left out the part about the lynel as Link was certain that Urbosa would have words for him if she'd found out about that part of the story.
"Impressive! I'm sure that will be helpful!" Urbosa praised. She reached out to touch the bow and recoiled her hand with a gasp after she touched it. "Damn thing burned me!" She looked down at the red mark on her finger with a frown.
Zelda blinked in surprise, "Do you think, perhaps, it can only be touched by certain people?"
Urbosa sucked on the burned finger to try to cool it. "If so, it clearly doesn't like me very much."
They continued in silence and Link thought he saw a worried look on the princess's face.
She must be worried about failing at the Spring… Link surmised but he couldn't say anything to her about it in front of Urbosa so he kept silent.
They walked along Lanayru Promenade and left the horses with some of the guards posted there. There was an outpost where Zelda was able to change into her prayer gown in privacy and they continued to Lanayru East Gate on foot.
Ahead, they saw Daruk and Mipha waiting for them. Daruk waved his massive arm at them, "About time you made it here!"
Urbosa smirked, "We had a bit further to go…"
"Hello Link… Princess… Urbosa…" Mipha said quietly as they approached.
"I guess Revali has decided not to show up… No skin off my back." Urbosa commented wryly.
Link suppressed a smirk.
Zelda looked up the mountain with an unreadable expression. "I won't have time to wait on him. It is a long road to the Spring of Wisdom…"
"You best get going then, little Princess!" Daruk stated. "If Revali shows up, I'll hold him down until you get back."
Link did smirk at that mental image.
The humour didn't reach Zelda though and she looked to Link. He quickly went back to his usual stoic expression and nodded to her.
She turned toward the mountain again and began walking the long path ahead and Link followed.
They weren't very far up the mountain when the air cooled and snow slowed their walk.
Link looked at the princess with concern, "We should turn back and get you something warmer to wear…"
She just shook her head and continued up the mountain path.
Link frowned but noticed she wasn't shivering. There was something different about her today… maybe today was the day she would finally unlock her powers…
The path grew steeper and narrower as they climbed. The snow and ice making the path more treacherous than Link had anticipated but Zelda never showed any sign of being cold. She was set and determined to pray at the Spring and she wasn't about to let anything get in her way.
Link watched some wolves who eyed them hungrily from a ledge. He drew his sword and the wolves backed out of sight, seeming to understand the threat.
As they rounded the final bend of the path, the wicked icy wind seemed to die down and the Spring of Wisdom lay serene before them. Link watched Zelda as she walked ahead of him on the stone dais.
She paused at the end of it. The goddess statue was ahead of them standing tall out of the water. She stepped slowly into the water and walked closer to the statue. Link watched but she still didn't show any signs of being cold. He reached down and stuck his hand in the water and was surprised that it wasn't nearly as cold as the air had been going up the mountain.
The sun was high in the sky now and was beginning to warm the air.
We'll still have to wait for her dress to dry before we can head back down… He thought frowning.
He stood guard as she prayed while an eerie silence filled the spring. It was unsettling and he found himself looking over his shoulder a number of times, half expecting a Yiga assassin to appear out of no where. None came, however, and he was left with a chilling uneasiness.
After a few hours, he heard a splash and a sigh from the princess. He turned toward her and saw her standing in the water facing him and looking utterly defeated.
She started walking towards him and he offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her up onto the dais.
Without a word, he knew what the outcome was and there was no need to say anything. She wrung the water from her skirts and while looking down, turned her head over her shoulder to him, "We should head back down to the others."
"You need to dry off first. You'll freeze." Link insisted.
She shook her head, "I'll be fine. Let's go." And began walking.
Link followed after her but she was still showing no signs of being cold somehow.
No wolves bothered them on the way down the mountain and the icy winds didn't seem to touch the princess. Much faster than Link expected, they were back down the mountain and the other Champions waited for them – Revali included.
The four of them gathered around as they approached. Daruk spoke first, "Well? Don't keep us in suspense." Even the huge Goron had worry in his beady blue eyes as he walked along beside the princess. "How'd everything go up there on the mountain?"
Zelda paused and just shook her head, looking down.
Everyone was silent for a moment, taking in this news. Revali finally stepped forward and in a surprisingly gentle tone asked, "So you didn't feel anything? No power at all?"
Zelda crossed her arms in front of her waist, still looking down and spoke softly, "I'm sorry, no."
Urbosa saved her the trouble of further questioning, "Then let's move on. You've done all you could. Feeling sorry for yourself won't be of any help. After all, it's not like your last shot was up there on Mount Lanayru." She turned to face up the mountain, hand on her exposed hip. "Anything could finally spark the power to seal Ganon away. We just have to keep looking for that… thing."
Her words seemed to revive hope in the other Champions and they all took turns nodding encouragingly.
Link just watched his princess from where he stood behind her. She was putting on as much of a brave face as she could muster but Link knew this had crushed her. The defeated look she'd given him when she had finished praying had told him everything he needed to know and the last ounce of faith he had in religion fell away from him. No goddess worth worshipping would put her through such torture…
"That's kind of you." Zelda said softly, still looking down. "Thank you."
Mipha stepped forward and her sweet voice chimed in, "If I may… I thought you… Well… I'm not sure how to put this into words…" Zelda looked up to meet the Zora's eyes. "I'm actually quite embarrassed to say it."
Everyone was watching and listening to Mipha now.
The Zora princess looked down, "But I was thinking about what I do when I'm healing. You know, what usually goes through my mind…"
Link thought back to their conversation back on Vah Ruta, Could she mean…
Mipha looked up to meet Zelda's eyes again, "It helps when I think – When I think about –"
A loud boom shook the earth and Link reached out to catch Zelda as she lost her footing. Once they had all regained their balance, Revali shot up into the air and looked toward the castle. Link could see the Rito's eyes narrow from where he was standing and a sickening feeling sunk into him.
They could hear lightning striking in the direction of the castle and a horrible roar that echoed through the canyon.
"It's here." Urbosa stated.
"This is it, then…" Daruk said, clenching his enormous fists.
Mipha's voice seemed unsteady, "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Even Revali seemed sobered by what he'd just seen as he set down beside them.
Zelda seemed on the verge of a panic attack, "It's awake. Ganon!"
An evil magenta and black smoke began to ooze over the mountain and Zelda stepped back in fear.
Daruk turned towards the rest of them, "Let's stop wasting time!" He said commandingly. "We're gonna need everything we got to take that thing down!" He stood tall, "Now Champions! To your Divine Beasts! Show that swirling swine who's boss!" He turned to look at Link, "Link will need to meet Ganon head on when we attack! This needs to be a unified assault!" He lifted his hand in a fist. "Little guy! You get to Hyrule Castle."
Link nodded and ignored Revali scoffing beside him.
Daruk seemed to emphasize his next statement a little more, "You can count on us for support." Revali was quiet this time and Daruk continued, "But it's up to you to pound Ganon into oblivion!" He held up his hand and made a fist as though crushing Ganon in his own hand.
Urbosa walked behind Zelda and put her hands on the princess's shoulders, "Come. We should go." She spoke as a mother would to her child, "We need to get you someplace safe."
Zelda looked up and set her jaw, pulling away from Urbosa, "No." She said firmly and turning to face the others. "I am not a child anymore! I may not be much use on the battlefield… But there must… There must be something I can do to help!"
They were all silent for a moment and Daruk scratched the back of his head uncertainly.
Link stepped forward, "You can come with me. The rest of you to your Divine Beasts. I will protect the princess and we will get everyone away from the castle."
The Champions all looked at each other but none of them argued. They all looked back and nodded in unison.
"I'll be ready to strike when you go to face Ganon." Daruk stated before rolling into a ball and rolling out of the canyon back to Death Mountain.
Revali shot into the air again without a word and headed North West back to Vah Medoh.
Mipha walked with the others until they were back near the water below. "I'll be waiting for the right time with the others. Link, I won't let you down." With that, she leaped into the water and swam back to Zora's Domain and her awaiting Divine Beast.
Link, Zelda and Urbosa retrieved their horses and set a hard pace to their respective destinations.
As they neared the castle, the horses were frothing at the mouth from the hard ride. They rode to Lon Lon Ranch and Malon ran up to them, barely contained panic on her face.
"Link! What's happening?" She cried as she got closer.
He dismounted and handed her the reigns for Epona. "Look after her until I can return. Get out of here if you must. We need to get everyone out of the castle."
Zelda dismounted as well and went to take the Bow of Light out of the saddlebag. A crash of lightning spooked Victory and he took off.
"Wait!" Zelda called after him but the stallion was gone.
Link took her arm to get her attention, "Leave him. We can find him later. We need to make sure everyone gets out safely."
Zelda watched as the white stallion disappeared from sight then looked back to Link determinedly and nodded.
Link looked back at Malon, "Be safe…"
Malon nodded, "You too…"
Link nodded back and turned with Zelda to head toward the castle.
As they approached, the smoky apparition of Ganon circled above the castle. It's massive head was the only thing that had any sort of shape and resembled a the head of a boar. Suddenly, four huge balls of magenta smoke shot out to the four corners of Hyrule. They watched them go and realized with horror what their targets were.
"No… The Divine Beasts!" Zelda cried as she started to run towards the South West where Urbosa was headed.
Link grabbed her and held her back. "We can't help them now. We must play our part. The Champions are strong."
Link looked toward the East where Mipha had gone and found himself praying for her safety.
Zelda stopped struggling against him and stared toward the Gerudo homeland in silent prayer for Urbosa as well before turning again toward the castle.
As they neared the gate to Castle Town, people ran, screaming out into the field.
"Impa!" Zelda yelled and ran toward the crowd. Link raced after her and saw the tall Sheikah woman spot them and run towards them as well.
"Go! Get away from this place!" Impa cried. Link caught up to Zelda and grabbed her, stopping her as through the chaos, guardians appeared, shooting their lethal lasers as the fleeing civilians.
Impa grabbed the princess and pulled her running away towards the South. "Run! The Guardians have turned on us."
Zelda looked over her shoulder back at the castle as she ran, "What about my father?"
"The king is dead." Impa yelled over the screams.