A/N: This chapter was revised as of 2/24/2018 - Polished, minor errors and typos fixed.

This chapter was revised as of 5/17/2019 - Polished, minor errors and typos fixed.


When Heroes Fall

By: Selphie Kinneas 175

Chapter 6: Play the Part

.:.

"We would prefer to speak alone," Zelda's powerful voice reverberated off of the stone walls of the castle.

It echoed several times, and was the only sound anyone heard for a handful of minutes before the guards finally complied. They scurried out, the noise of the tall, double doors closing behind them a monumental volume that ricocheted just the same.

Finally confident that they were unaccompanied, Zelda sat down in the plush throne at the end of the hall, and her daughter stood beside her. Colin fell to one knee before them, and seconds later, Ren caught the hint and did the same.

"I will not have you doing that in my presence," she spoke directly, but neither of them moved a muscle, simply afraid of offending their queen with any form of what may be considered disrespect.

"I said rise, gentlemen. I will not ask you again," she stated more firmly, and at that, the two slowly got to their feet.

When they gazed up at their queen, she had the faintest hint of a smile on her picturesque face, and she didn't look much different than Colin remembered from when he was a boy. She wore the same style of gown, only slightly more adorned with golden trinkets and baubles that displayed her higher status. Her hair was the same dark blonde, maybe more so a creamy, light brown, similar to the strong tree trunks back home, he thought. The crown that lay atop her billowing hair was much larger and far more ornate than the one she wore as Hyrule's princess - it stood taller and wrapped all the way around her head. It sparkled brilliantly in the bright sun that filtered in through the nearby windows, the diamonds that decorated the headdress reflecting rainbows upon all nearby surfaces. The only substantial change he could pinpoint was the exhaustion on her lovely face. She seemed tired, weighed down, like years of struggling had never allowed her a decent respite, and at that Colin felt sad.

Ren, however, found himself completely drawn to the princess that stood beside the throne, blissfully unaware of his surroundings as he took in the sight of her. She appeared to be his age, and she was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid his eyes on. She was small in height and stature, but she stood with her chin held high and seemingly the confidence of the gods. She clasped her hands together in front of her pale pink dress that looked quite comparable to her mother's, only simpler and not as extravagantly decorated. Her hair was a delicate waterfall that cascaded down the majority of her back in a stunning shade of icy blonde that reminded Ren of soothing moonlight, pale and mysterious. Her eyes were the fairest shade of blue imaginable; he was almost sure he had begun gazing into a clear, cloudless sky. Her skin was perfect porcelain, and she stood so regal and elegant that Ren was almost convinced he was staring at a doll.

The tiara that rested atop her head was golden with a singular, aquamarine gem in the center, and Colin recognized that it was the one Zelda had worn when she was the princess. Ren's heart pounded hard inside his chest, and he lost all manner of time as he looked at her.

Zelda clearing her throat averted his gaze.

"Allow me to introduce you to my daughter," the queen began with a bit of a smirk.

Ren was embarrassed that his gawking had apparently been so obvious.

"This is Princess Zelda Emeline Hyrule," she announced.

The princess curtsied, "It is very nice to meet you, sirs."

Ren's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her voice. Farore, it sounded like a song. It was so light, like a singular flute playing its solo in an empty hall or a lone bird chirping its happy tune in the tallest of trees.

Ren was dumbstruck, but Colin replied with a bow, "It's nice to meet you, Princess Zelda."

The princess lowered her head in respect, "Please, call me Emeline."

Colin looked to the queen for affirmation. She simply nodded, and that was all the reply given on the matter.

She turned to Ren, "Son of the hero," she spoke low yet forceful, "What is your name?"

Ren couldn't find his voice. He looked up at the queen apprehensively with a gulp, and back at the princess with an uncontrollable flutter in his stomach.

Colin glanced over at his nephew anxiously, not wanting to upset the queen by ignoring her question.

"My name is Colin, Your Majesty, and this is Ren. He's Link's son," he stammered, nervously trying to fill in the silence, "but you already seem to know th-"

She raised a delicate hand to silence him, "Of course. I remember you well, Sir Colin, son of Rusl from Ordon. I could never forget the beloved family of the hero who cherished and nurtured him so dearly," she smiled just ever so slightly as she turned back to Ren, "It is with great surprise, however, that I should meet the hero's child."

Ren blinked hard and swallowed down his trepidation. He bowed deeply as he mustered up the minimal respects and courtesies he had learned in his short years that were necessary when in the presence of royalty.

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness…"

Zelda grinned brightly then, and it was the most emotion Colin had witnessed on her usually composed face. She stood from her seat, lifted the sides of her dress as she knelt briefly into a curtsy, her daughter following suit as she had been taught to do all her life.

Standing tall again, she said, "The pleasure is mine, young one, I assure you."

The two Ordonians, still lowered however slightly in respect, rose up as Zelda's gloved hands motioned for them to do so.

The room fell quiet momentarily again as the queen retook her seat on the throne. Colin and Ren exchanged glances, and it was the older of the two that was brave enough to take the initiative.

"Thank you for allowing us to meet with you, Your Majesty."

"There is nothing to thank me for," she replied in a soft, calming tone, "I have longed for the day that someone would muster the courage to seek out our hero."

"O-Oh, uh-um-" Colin stuttered, taken aback by the queen's foresight.

"I told you that I know why it is you have come, did I not? You have come in search of answers that may lead you to our dear Link."

"Y-Yes," Colin gulped, "Would you be able to help us? You're our last stop, so… If you don't know anything then we're out of luck."

Zelda's brow went a bit tense then, and it was clear that she was hesitant to provide an answer.

At last all she said was, "Yes."

Ren's face lit up, "R-… Really? Can you really help us? Do you know where he is? When did you last see-"

Colin shot him a look begging him to slow down, and his words stopped flat in his throat when he saw the queen looking quite pensive.

"I can tell by the innocence on your face that you know some of the tale of the hero, but not all," she began almost inaudibly, her eyes narrow and her features strained, "He fell off of a mental deep end upon closure of his journey to seal the darkness. It changed him exponentially, and he was determined to find a way back to a place that was unreachable."

"Shad told us he was looking to open a portal – something about a Mirror of Twilight," Ren interjected, "But I don't get why. Why was he so set on getting back to a place he'd already left? Why wasn't his family in Ordon enough?"

Zelda was silent, her face was stone. She was quite shocked that Shad had revealed so much, but there was no longer a point in masking truths – she just knew she could not be responsible for relaying any more of them.

"Those questions would be better suited for the hero."

Ren sighed, "I wish everyone would stop calling him that. I just want a dad, okay? Not a hero."

Colin cast him another look, scared that his attitude would aggravate the royalty before them.

Zelda was wordless for several moments again, but it was not because she needed to search for a reply or because she required the composure to bring herself to speak. She purposely gave Ren the time to collect himself and think of what he wanted to say next before she would utter anything more. The queen was remarkably wise in all matters of life, social aspects and human emotions being no exception.

"I apologize," she stated honestly and soothingly after the amount of heartbeats that passed seemed appropriate.

Ren said nothing, the queen's gentleness and sincerity making him feel embarrassed for his previously misplaced anger.

When she saw him preparing to speak again, she knew he intended to ask for forgiveness and she felt there was simply no need for it, so she cleared her throat and spoke up before he could so much as make a sound.

"Your father came to me in regards to a book that had several essential pages missing," she adjusted herself upon the throne, sitting up straighter and resting her forearms flat against the arms of the opulent chair as she explained, "I recognized them as ones that the king had been keeping in his bedside table for reasons still unknown to me. Link and I looked them over together, and the only piece of useful information was given in the form of a prophecy."

Ren's eyes widened as he listened as intently as he could, not noticing that he was inching ever closer.

Zelda glanced down at her gloved hand for only a second, the massive diamond on her ring finger glinting in the sunlight that poured in through the window. She recalled the memory of the prophecy well. She remembered the comfort of her hero by her side warming her heart. When she looked back at his son, she held her chin high as she recited the verse.

"'One of noble intentions shall combine light and twilight where purest waters flow like time unending into the winding river. The spirit of that which seals away darkest evil will shine upon the stone before time stagnates.'"

The cavernous throne room was noiseless. All that could be heard was the chirping of birds in the trees just outside the window. Ren glanced between the expressionless queen, the timid princess, and his perplexed uncle in turn, none taking it upon themselves to speak up, so he did.

"What does that mean?"

"I am afraid we did not know for sure ourselves, but your father and I did our best to solve it."

She stood elegantly then, her long dress flowing behind her as she began walking slowly back and forth in front of the throne, her eyes never leaving Ren's all the while.

"'One of noble intentions' would be the hero," she proclaimed confidently, as if she were conducting a lesson in a school room, "'Combine light and twilight' would be an object of great significance from both worlds, and 'where purest waters flow like time unending into the winding river,' we presumed would be the great waterfall of Zora's Domain."

Ren awaited further elaboration, but when she did not continue, he urged, "And the rest?"

She stopped still in front of the throne, clasping her hands gracefully in front of her just like her daughter had been all along, "We did not know. For the hero, the beginning was all he needed. His indomitable will was enough to get started. He simply said to me that 'we would figure out the rest later.'"

"Shad also mentioned objects of importance when we talked to him about this," Colin added, "Does that mean… is that what Link went after? Is that where he's been all this time?"

"You have grown into an intelligent man, much like your father," Zelda said with a small smile that soon faded, "Partly, yes, that is where our hero has been."

"'Partly'?" Colin parroted.

"Yes, you see… I gave to him an object of significance from this world - the last remaining light arrow from our battle with Ganondorf - and it is for an object from the twilight that he has been searching all these years."

Ren didn't look any less confused.

With a furrowed brow Colin asked, "What does that mean? Where would he even search for something like that?"

Zelda exhaled very slowly, closing her eyes for only a moment before giving her reply.

"That is what troubles me. The last thing he mentioned to me was that he planned to search the desert... and I have not seen him since."

Colin's jaw fell open, "The desert? Din, that's... that's insane! He's been there all this time? That couldn't be – how could he have possibly survived all these years?"

"Thus my concern..." Zelda murmured despondently.

Ren glimpsed around the room at those in his company just eager to find one of them with a hint of hope in their eyes. When he found none, he dashed forward almost involuntarily, closing the gap between him and the queen. The princess gasped at the sudden movement as Ren grabbed Zelda's hand and stared imploringly up into her eyes.

"Ren!" Colin screeched at his nephew's flippant actions, but he paid him no mind.

"Please tell me, Your Highness, you have to know! Is he alive? If he is I'll search for him, I don't care how far it is!"

Zelda returned the young man's desperate gaze with one of her own. When she stared into his eyes, she saw her hero, she saw Link. She felt his energy and his courageous spirit through his son's hands as he held tightly, pleadingly to hers. The connection she and Link shared was one the two understood simply because they each felt it so strongly, but it was something that was never quite so easily explained to others. She knew she still felt his presence, still just clinging to an arbitrary existence in a place unknown to her, but she worried about the state of said existence. Was he still whole? Was he still cognizant? Was he any semblance of the man they once knew? Was he still Link?

These questions troubled the queen far more than those debating whether or not he was alive. She knew that if he had passed on to the sacred realm that she would have felt an immeasurable pain in the void it would create in her heart, and she had yet to feel such an agony.

She thought long and hard about how she would reply, for she truly feared sending this boy on a hunt to find his father only to either turn up empty-handed, or to be disappointed by what he should discover. She worried what kind of a state he would find the hero in, and she wanted nothing more than to keep him envisioning the noble man she knew he was, but that he may have lost sight of.

"I do believe he is still alive," she said at last, gazing down into the young man's crystal blue eyes, "But it would be with great reluctance that I permit you to seek him out."

Ren lit up only the tiniest bit before questioning, "Why?"

Zelda breathed in deep, glancing then at Colin some ways behind Ren, "You were only a child... but I imagine you can recall the manner in which your brother departed all those years ago?"

Colin nodded forlornly, "Yeah, of course. I've never been able to forget it. He... He never even said goodbye to us."

"Which was so drastically uncharacteristic of him you must know, Ren," the queen promptly added, "Your father was the noblest, most selfless man to grace this world crafted by the goddesses, and if you should find him, all I ask is that you remember that."

Ren wrinkled his brow, "Yeah... Why wouldn't I?"

"All I can say is that I cannot promise you that you will find the father you have manifested in your imagination. He has been gone for so long... Nayru only knows what has kept him from returning to us, and what so many years of solitude has done for his already perturbed state... So, please, remember that he truly is all of the wonderful things you have heard in the stories told by your family and friends, you may just have to help him see himself that way again."

She released her hands from his grasp and moved them to the sides of his handsome face. She leaned in and gave him a gentle peck on the forehead before pulling back with a small smile.

"You may just be that push that Link needs to find himself again," she whispered, rubbing her thumb across his cheek, "Help him remember who he is, young one. Show him there is still good in this world – there is still light."

At that Ren gave the most genuine smile. Zelda took a step back and placed an open palm to the Ordonian's heart. He looked down in confusion for only a second, but an instant warmth swept over him that made the hesitance vanish. He closed his eyes and he felt a swirling comfort envelope him like a thick blanket on a cold day.

Colin and Emeline watched on in awe at the two standing, eyes closed with their hair ruffling wildly as if they were standing in the middle of a wind storm. A bright light surrounded them that grew and grew in intensity to the point where the bystanders could only cover their eyes and wait for it to diminish.

When they were able to look back, the two were standing tall as the imaginary gale slowly dissipated, and all was still again.

Colin approached carefully, "Are you okay?"

He placed a hand on his nephew's shoulder from his side, and that slowly brought him back to reality with a few sluggish blinks. Ren looked around groggily, seemingly unaware of his surroundings however briefly.

Zelda opened her eyes only seconds later with a frail smile. She dropped her hands to her sides and let out a deep breath.

Ren looked to her with a strangely serene expression on his face, "What was that?"

The queen seemed tired, but she still smiled.

"A gift," was all she said, and was all she would say.

The doors at the end of the hall suddenly swung open thunderously.

"My dear queen, I do believe it is time that your… 'meeting' came to an end," the arrogant voice of the king rang loud in the throne room.

He stood at the threshold, arms folded impatiently across his broad chest. Two tall guards were at either side of their king, their staves pointed high and their shields held menacingly in front of them.

Ren and Colin glanced nervously between the king and queen both, apprehensive of what would happen next. They knew Zelda could hold her own against her husband as they had seen her put him in his place just outside when he demanded that Ren be thrown in the 'gutter,' but she had a different expression now. She looked anxious, she looked uncomfortable, she almost even looked… afraid.

She stared at him for a good long minute before finally saying, "Yes, we were just adjourning our discussion, in fact."

"Ah, good!" the king exclaimed with a wide grin, "We wouldn't want to be late for our meeting with our loyal and devoted council members, now, would we?"

She forced a bogus grin of her own, "No, dear, we would not."

"Good!" he proclaimed again, turning then for the door as he clapped one of the guards on the shoulder with a despicable smirk and muttered, "Let us go then, gentlemen."

As the king was leaving, Zelda turned to her daughter and said, "Take them to the armory, and then you can show them to the guest room beside your chambers."

Emeline nodded and gave a slight bow, "Yes, mother."

"Wait, what? The armory?" Ren interjected confusedly.

"You will need something to protect yourself with if you plan to find your father in the desert," Zelda explained before turning for the exit with a serious expression, "I must go. Good luck to you, young one."

The three of them watched her depart, and as soon as the double doors shut loudly behind her, they each exchanged hesitant appearances.

"What was that about?" Ren asked, at last breaking the silence.

"Not exactly our business, Ren," Colin replied.

Ren shot him a look, but Emeline spoke before he could say anything.

"Let us go to the armory."

The two young men looked at each other before following the princess out of the throne room. The castle was even bigger on the inside than it appeared on the outside, and it looked massive enough from the outside. They followed the girl up a flight of stairs and through several winding corridors before finally coming to a singular, wooden door with large, visible nails and splinters in the cracks of the wood.

The princess stood beside the entryway with her hands clasped delicately, "This is the armory. Please help yourselves to a weapon and a guard of your choosing."

She spoke monotonously, as if it was a line she had rehearsed several times before. The two glanced at her, then at one another, and then at the shoddy door. Colin grabbed the handle and flung it open, and before them lay a room with stone walls filled to the brim with weaponry. They stepped inside and looked around in a state of awe – neither of them were swordsmen, and so neither one really knew exactly what to look for, but the sight was still one to behold nonetheless.

"Um, any recommendations here, princess? We don't really know anything about this sort of thing," Colin stated.

Emeline looked at him from her perch beside the entrance, saying with the utmost sincerity, "I would choose one that is pointy."

"Pfff!" Ren burst out laughing, immediately grasping his sides as he doubled over.

Colin gave a slight chuckle himself, "Good call, princess, will do."

When her guests turned away and were no longer looking in her direction, Emeline couldn't help but smile.

Colin gave up trying to pick out something in particular rather quickly, not knowing what one blade did well over any other. He grabbed a sword that appeared to be the standard for the Hylian soldiers, with a silver hilt and red handle, and then he picked up a round, brown shield. Ren lifted up a blade with a yellow hilt and swung it around a few times before dropping it clumsily. The metal clanked noisily on the stone floor, and his cheeks instantly blushed when he heard Emeline giggle. Colin chuckled at his side and told him to go with that one, but he barely even noticed. Ren pushed a stray lock of hair out of his face, picked the blade back up and stuck it in the basic holster he had strapped on earlier along with a somewhat oval-shaped shield that bared the Hylian crest.

As they headed back to their escort, Colin couldn't help but laugh to himself once more.

"What?" Ren blurted agitatedly, assuming he was still laughing about what had just happened, "I've never wielded a sword, okay? I'll lear-"

"No, it's not that," he shook his head before looking at his nephew fondly, "You just remind me so much of your dad… This-" he motioned to the effects he'd just acquired, "It just suits you. You look just like him."

Ren paused before mustering, "Thanks."

Emeline led them up several more flights of stairs and down even more long hallways. There was artwork adorning the walls, and as the sun was beginning to descend in the sky the candles in their sconces helped light up the otherwise dark corridor. They were in one of the higher up wings, as they recalled Zelda mentioning that the room they would have for the night would be near the princess'. It was eerily quiet up here, and there was a chill to the air that thrust a heavy uneasiness on their hearts.

The princess stopped before a set of double doors, "These will be your chambers for the night. If you require any further assistance I will be in the room at the very end of this hall," she motioned straight ahead before giving the two guests a bow.

Ren turned and watched her go while Colin opened the door beside them.

"Wow," the older Ordonian mumbled as he dropped what little he had on him on a dresser just inside, "I've never been anywhere even remotely as nice as this."

"She seems so distant and almost sad, doesn't she?" Ren asked, still standing just outside.

Colin turned to him with a sigh, "Yeah, she does. Zelda does, too. I guess being royalty isn't all it's cracked up to be. Could also have to do with who her father is."

Ren exhaled before finally entering the chamber and setting his things down just the same. The room was quite large, with a cozy, king sized bed against the far wall. A plush rug covered most of the floor, and a big sofa sat at the end of the bed.

"This is nice," Ren said.

Colin scoffed, "Yeah, you could say that. Guess I'll take the couch tonight."

Ren paid no mind to the last bit, "You think she'll talk to me?"

Colin furrowed his brow, "Who? The princess?"

Ren nodded.

His uncle was quiet momentarily, a bit confused at the question, "I mean, I guess? I don't know, really. Wouldn't it be rude to bother a princess in her room?"

Ren glanced around his surroundings a bit unsure before replying, "I don't know… I just feel like I need to talk to her."

"I don't know, Ren," Colin muttered as he plopped down on the sofa with a huff. He bent over, looking down at his feet as he began taking off his sandals, "I don't want to freak her out or anything – she seems a bit timid as it is. I don't want to overstep our bounds, you know?"

There was silence.

"Ren?"

Colin sat back up straight just to see that his nephew wasn't there.

He exhaled loudly, "That kid."

At the end of the hall stood two large doors, ornately and intricately carved. Ren stood before them nervously for what felt like eternity. He mustered up the strength to knock, and when he got no reply for quite some time, he took it upon himself to just take a tiny, little peek inside.

The room was gorgeous – and here he was thinking the room he and Colin were in was luxurious. She had an enormous, four poster bed, with a thick, purple blanket that draped heavily over the sides and brushed the floor. She had a matching canopy that hung gracefully overhead and tied up neatly to each post with an ivory tassel. He opened the door wider to see breathtaking paintings of Hyrule's many landscapes as well as its wildlife upon the walls. He dared to go a little farther in when he caught sight of a huge glass door that led out to a balcony, and it was open.

He couldn't control his overwhelming curiosity. He stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind him. He crept across the plush, red carpet, careful to ensure that each footstep was light and inaudible. As he neared the threshold, a billowing dress could just barely be seen around the corner, and a calming breeze came over him as he at last stepped out onto the balcony alongside the princess.

From up here, all of Castle Town – and even beyond – could be seen. The lights in the city seemed so far away, the people were only ants, and the clouds were barely an arm's length away. There was a bitter cold to the air, but the young girl's presence beside him made him forget about it entirely.

"Sure is a nice vi-"

"AH!" the princess screamed in horror, whirling around and clutching a hand over her heart in a flash.

Ren held his hands out in an attempt to calm her, "Woah, I'm sorry, Your Highness... I-I didn't mean to scare you."

Her eyes were wide as saucers and her breathing was rapid. They did nothing but stare in silence for several heartbeats as the princess regained her composure and once again stood tall and elegant in the presence of her guest.

"I apologize, sir," she bowed her head, "It was unladylike of me to behave in such a manner and undignified of me to do so before an honored guest."

Ren narrowed his eyes. She instantly blamed herself when she really did nothing wrong. This behavior was clearly ingrained in her, and it broke his heart.

"There's no need for that... I'm sorry I scared you, I just wanted to talk to you."

Emeline looked back at him with bewilderment in her eyes, "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Is that okay?"

She nodded once very slowly, still unsure and quite shocked, "Yes..."

"Okay... well..." he started with a bit of a chuckle at the awkwardness, thinking of something simple to ask her to help break the ice, "Can I ask you why you don't go by your first name?"

She still faced him straight on, her hands clasped in front of her respectfully as if she was in the presence of royalty as opposed to being royalty herself.

"It is customary for all princesses of Hyrule to be given the name Zelda, and as such, confusion tends to happen when multiple generations are in power concurrently. My grandmother passed into the realm of the goddesses when my mother was very young, so being referred to as 'Zelda' was something of a privilege for her. Since my mother is this generation's 'Zelda,' I find it simpler to go by my middle name, Emeline."

Her every word seemed so rehearsed, each nuance was so meticulous and each movement all the way down to a twitch in her pinky finger was calculated. It was obvious that she was groomed to be a princess first and foremost since birth, and Ren couldn't help but outwardly frown as he thought of how little freedom she must have. She had no confidence in herself, not even a thought that being true to herself was a possibility. All she knew all her life was that she had to be her title, and that she had to uphold the image of a princess regardless of how she felt doing so.

"I see..." he said, turning towards the balcony railing and looking over the edge at the green royal gardens far below.

She turned outward just the same, but said nothing.

He looked over at her, and she still stood with the most perfect posture, as if she constantly had a book rested atop her head.

"I hope it's not out of line for me to say to a princess, but you can be yourself around me," he dared a bit nervously.

She stared back at him, "I am... myself," she stammered, "But I must always be the princess first."

He nodded, and felt that he should prod no further – at least not yet, not until she felt more comfortable around him.

Changing the subject was the better idea.

"So... why are you standing out here in the cold?"

She made no gesture of interest nor even the slightest twinge of attention, her response was entirely flat, "I enjoy looking out over the land."

Ren tapped his foot anxiously, the evident discomfort thick in the air as he thought of a pointless way to keep talking, "Um… Anything in particular you like to look at?"

She furrowed her brow, perhaps a bit stunned that he would pry further after her short answer, "I enjoy watching the animals far below."

"Oh," Ren perked up, "I had a ton of animals I loved watching back home. The tadpoles in the river and the squirrels in the forest especially."

She cast a sneaky, sideways glance at him, trying to conceal her growing interest, "Squirrels, you say?"

"Yeah," Ren smiled, privy to the fact that he was slowly pulling her out of her shell, "There were two. One was pretty small and the other was a bit bigger. The bigger one always sort of... seemed to protect and watch over the little one. The big one always gathered extra nuts and fruits for his friend and they ate together. I just always found it really endearing and interesting to watch."

Emeline showed the faintest hint of a smile then, and had Ren not been looking for it he was sure he would have missed it.

"That is endearing…" she turned to face him only a bit, "There is a family of rabbits I love to watch scurry in and out of their homes just outside the town walls. It is a bit hard to spot them from up here, but there are quite a few of them. The babies were only born this past spring, so it has been adorable to watch them grow up and play and learn."

Ren chuckled, "That sounds great. I'd love to see them, and maybe I can even show you the squirrels one day."

Her face went sullen then, and she turned slowly outward yet again. Every muscle that had just barely begun to relax suddenly and all at once went rigid again.

"I cannot leave Hyrule Castle."

Ren frowned, "Sure, maybe not right now, but-"

"Ever," she interjected, a bit of power to her voice that the boy hadn't been expecting, "I am not permitted to leave the castle under any circumstances."

Ren gave a bit of a nervous chuckle that he would have refrained from had he taken a moment to think, "That's insane. There's no way you could never ever leave the castle, right? I mean, my mom was really protective, and she didn't want me leaving the forest I grew up in, but I don't think she would've tried to keep me there forever."

There was simply nothing. The tiniest hint of personality she had started to show was once again gone. She was a puppet of a monarchy that controlled her – a pawn in a greater game who had no purpose other than fulfilling her own role.

A certain hero could perhaps relate.

"I am not permitted to leave the castle under any circumstances," she repeated.

The blond young man turned back to the railing just the same, looking out over the twinkling lights of the city far below, his mind on several things all at once. He felt bad for the princess, but he couldn't help but contemplate on what he himself had said. Would his mother really have let him leave had she not passed away? All Ren grew up knowing was trees surrounding him, the sound of farm animals and dirt and grass between his toes. All he knew was a protective mother that wouldn't so much as let him prick a finger or catch a cold. Would his mother really have let him leave had she not passed away?

"Maybe I would still be stuck in the forest if my mom was still around..."

Emeline cast him a sideways glance, and when she noticed him looking a bit perplexed and much more troubled, she turned to him just ever so slightly, "What happened to her?"

He sighed more loudly than he intended, "She died in a fire that I started."

It just came out. He was embarrassed and ashamed, but it just... fell out of his mouth so easily. It was like removing a heavy weight from his shoulders that he had been carrying uphill for far too long. Sure, he felt stupid and like the worst person in the entire world for saying it, but somehow putting it out there to be judged felt better than keeping it bottled inside.

The princess looked down at her clasped hands, and Ren could feel her uneasiness.

"It was a complete accident and I was a complete idiot. I think about her every day and I hate myself for how careless I was every minute."

She looked back at him then with sadness in her youthful eyes, the most emotion and investment in their conversation he had yet to see, "Don't hate yourself. If your mother was anything like mine... I know she would understand."

"It's hard to convince myself of that," he stated.

"Mothers and fathers only do what they think is best for their children," she began, taking Ren by surprise when she grabbed his hands in her own, "Even if it ever seems irrational or unprecedented, they are trying to give you all the best that they can."

Ren studied her expression then, noticing that that, too, seemed recited, or at least heard over and over... and over again.

"Is that what he tells you?"

She dropped her hands from his in an instant, an astounded look on her pretty face, "W-What?"

"The king – your dad. Does he tell you that when he does things like forbid you to leave the castle?"

The princess spun away from him, facing the stars once again. She was silent, and Ren quickly felt regret.

"I'm sorry," he sighed, "I didn't mean to sound so... harsh."

She blinked a few times slowly, but she still said nothing for what felt like forever.

Ren pursed his lips and gazed down at his sandals with his arms rested on the balcony railing. He glanced over at her periodically, but her face was stone. The wind rustled her beautiful blonde hair, and her dress swayed just the same, but she remained as still as a graveyard.

He felt terrible. They had just met, and he knew he'd come across much too strong. He'd scared her by barging into her private chambers, he'd questioned her upbringing and he'd accused her parents. He didn't know why he had such strong emotions about it all, but he just couldn't help it when he saw the suffering behind her arctic blue eyes.

He turned to leave then, realizing that he had made an atrocious first impression for himself and wanting nothing more than to lie down in that big, comfortable bed after humiliating himself and go to sleep.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you," he said as he started to make his way back inside, "I'll go."

A cold hand quickly grabbed his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.

"Don't go," a tiny voice called out, "Please..."

He looked over his shoulder at her, "I made a fool of myself to the princess of Hyrule," he chuckled embarrassingly, "I should just go to bed."

"You most certainly did not make a fool of yourself, sir..." she tried, eyes pleading.

"You shouldn't be calling me sir, you know. I'm pretty sure I'm your age, and I don't have any status or anything."

"You're the son of the hero," she smiled brightly, "We have long awaited such a guest after the hero himself disappeared."

He sighed, "Is that the only reason you want me to stay?"

She tensed her brow, "No, si-… No, of course not. I was... enjoying your company..."

She dropped her hand then, slightly flustered by what she had just announced.

He turned to face her fully again, "And I was enjoying yours... I just felt like I said too much."

She shook her head, "No... It is nice to have someone to talk to that isn't my mother or father or a handmaiden."

Ren gave a crooked smile, "Well, in that case..." he began, making his way back to the banister and gesturing for the princess to follow, "Tell me how you know about the 'hero.' You talk about waiting for someone like me as if you knew him."

"Oh, no, no, no," she shook her head as she joined him, standing at his side, "The hero vanished before I was born, but my mother speaks of him frequently. She was genuinely taken by surprise to see you, however."

"They were close?" Ren guessed.

"Yes, they were indeed very close," Emeline explained, "My mother told me about the triforce, and how because of it, she and the hero are connected."

"Connected?" he questioned, "I don't understand."

"I am afraid I do not quite understand it myself, but there are many things I still have yet to understand."

Ren nodded once slowly, not really grasping what she was saying but taking it in and listening intently nonetheless.

Emeline studied him closely, gazing over his young, handsome face and wondering if this was what the hero might have looked like. She glanced down at his clothes that were simply otherworldly to her – they were so minimalistic, light, and breathable. Everything she had to wear was heavy, hot, and dramatic. She looked back up into his deep sapphire eyes and couldn't help but ask what had been on her mind this whole time.

"What is it like... to be the son of the hero?"

He looked over at her, responding to her acutely inquisitive stare with one mostly blank. When he witnessed the genuine curiosity in her pretty eyes, he pursed his lips as he thought of what to say.

"Um, well..." he glanced away, piecing the words together in his mind one by one, "Back home, my dad wasn't the hero above all else, he was just... Link, the brother, son, uncle, whatever else, that everyone loved to death. I mean, sure, I heard all the stories about what he did, and when I was little I loved hearing about them – I asked my mom to tell them to me over and over and over – but more than anything all I want now is just a dad."

Sadness took over the princess' azure eyes, but Ren went on before the silence could take over the moment.

"I used to be so hung up on having this heroic father, and wanting to go on adventures with him and watch him slay monsters and all that... but I think my mom dying made me realize how much I need just a dad, whether a hero or not."

There was a bitter quiet again that Emeline could not pierce, but it only made Ren's mind wander further down the dark thoughts it had started along.

"I miss my mom," he muttered, "I just want to tell her one more time that I love her. I want to know what she thinks about me finding my dad... Would she be excited I was going to find him? Would she be proud? Or would she be mad at me for leaving home?"

Ren's eyes never strayed from the horizon straight ahead, and he spoke so quietly and monotone that Emeline was almost unsure if he meant to be saying it aloud to her.

Regardless, she decided to speak up.

"I did not know your mother... But I would imagine that any mother would be proud of their child leaving home and taking on such a courageous venture," she smiled as she turned to him, just begging him to reciprocate, "I know you will find the hero, and I am sure your mother will be smiling down upon you from her perch in the heavens beside the goddesses. I cannot wait to see you and Sir Colin ride in alongside Hyrule's hero at long last."

The young man looked at her, an excitement on her silken face that made him smile without even realizing. There was something about this girl... He couldn't put his finger on it, but he just... wanted to keep talking to her for as long as time allowed.

He gave a meager chuckle, "Thanks, Emeline. Honestly, I came here hoping to lift your spirits, but you lifted mine instead."

She grinned brightly, "I assure you, Sir Ren, you have lifted mine as well," and she gave a courteous bow.

A loud knock on her bedroom door forced both of their hearts out of their chests at once.

"Emeline, dear! Do you have... company?"

It was the voice of the king. He had this way of sounding like he meant well and was calm and loving, while at the same time he could rip out your throat if you so much as insinuated something he found displeasing.

The princess whirled around to her guest in a flurry, "You must hide out here while I speak to my father," she whispered forcefully.

Ren simply nodded worriedly, pushing himself up against the exterior wall of the castle, far around the corner where he could not be seen through the window from the inside.

Emeline ran to the door and opened it with haste, but she acted perfectly cool and composed.

"Good evening, father," she curtsied.

"Good evening," he replied tersely, glaring around the room rather than at his daughter, "I seem to have heard voices coming from your chamber. Would you happen to have had company this evening?"

"No, sir," she answered with a grin, "I was simply reading aloud to myself. I have been trying to improve my public speaking skills, as you instructed me to do, father."

"Hm," he mumbled, stepping past his daughter and into her room, his hands clasped behind his back as he walked with his head held high but still looking at every possible nook and cranny.

"And what tome were we indulging in this evening, my beautiful daughter?" he asked, hoping to catch her in a lie.

"Why, my favorite, of course. The tale of the hero."

He glanced over his shoulder at her with a sneer as clear as day across his chiseled face, "The tale of the hero, you say?" he snickered, "And what, pray tell, was happening to our beloved hero in today's story?"

"Well," she smiled, patting down her dress in excitement, "I was reading about a hero that came from the skies. It is told that this hero was the first to wield the blade of evil's bane. Some speculate that he was even the one to forge it! And that it even housed a mystical spirit that helped the hero on his quest! And-"

"EMELINE!" the king suddenly roared, his commanding voice rattling the glass window beside Ren and sending a chill down his spine.

The princess instantly stopped short, hanging her head before her father.

"What did I tell you about rambling! A princess is polite, ladylike, and speaks with eloquence and grace! She does not..." he paused as he searched for the word, throwing his arms about in a rage all the while, "…prattle on about nonsense!"

She hung her head lower in shame, but she didn't tremble at his terrifying behavior like Ren was just outside; even though it wasn't directed at him, he found it downright bone-chilling. He was sad to notice that she acted as if this was the norm, and he imagined that it probably was.

"And what have I told you about reading those fairytale stories?" he calmed down a bit, adjusting his waistcoat as he collected himself.

She barely peeked up at him through her long hair dangling in front of her eyes, "But... they are not fairytale stories, fa-"

"Yes they are!" he bellowed, "The idea of heroes is rubbish. It is all a lie – a story made up by bards and preachers. There is no boy in green that whisks in at the perfect moment and saves people. No," he stood up tall and straightened the collar of his robes, "The royal family are the heroes. We keep our people safe, we ensure that they are fed and clothed, and it is because of us that our kingdom remains the land's beacon of hope."

"Those 'fairytale heroes' are the reason we have a kingdom to keep," a voice just as dominant suddenly stated from the doorway.

The princess and the king turned to see Zelda standing in the threshold.

"They are the reason we have those people that we feed and clothe. Link is the reason we are all standing here now," she declared strongly, her face tense with indignation as she stared down her husband.

A tiny, mischievous grin crept into the corner of Viscen's mouth before he bowed briefly and said, "Whatever you say, my darling. It is lucky that in this fair land of Hyrule we are each entitled to our opinions, isn't that right?"

The queen perched a single, annoyed eyebrow, but it was important that she always kept her composure, "Why, yes, dear, luckily that is so," she replied with a curtsy.

The king smiled to his family, "Ah, yes, well, I suppose we should all be off to bed now, shouldn't we? We all have a big day ahead of us."

"Yes," Zelda said, "We should."

Viscen took one last glimpse across the room, and Ren's heart skipped a beat when he thought the king might have caught him peeking, but all seemed fine as he proceeded to leave the princess' chambers in a blur.

Zelda sighed as soon as she was alone with her daughter.

She knelt down and took her in for a hug, "I apologize for your father's behavior."

Emeline simply nodded, "I understand, mother."

They separated, the queen staring at her daughter's strong face, seemingly unfazed by the whole thing – after all, how could she be? It's not like things had ever been really any different.

"Your father is... very passionate," she tried, "It is just of the utmost importance that we each play our part, you understand?"

"Yes," she replied monotonously.

"Good... We must both be strong, and we shall overcome this one day, Emeline. But, until then, if he ever lays a hand on you-"

"I know, mother, I know. I will seek out you or anyone else that we can trust immediately," the princess rehashed, "May I go to sleep now? I'm very tired."

Zelda gave a sad smile, "Yes... I'm sorry," she gave her a peck on the cheek as she stood up and headed for the hallway, "Sweet dreams, dear."

And with that Emeline shut the door behind her mother. She pressed her back against the wooden entry and let out the longest breath she felt as if she'd been holding in during the entire confrontation.

Ren nervously and quietly came in from the balcony, "That-"

"My father just wants me to be the best I can be at my role in this kingdom," she interrupted defensively.

She stared at him from across the room, a strong will in her eyes that told Ren he could not argue or disagree, so he simply mumbled, "Alright... Well-"

"His only intention is that I be the best princess I can be, so that I may one day become a queen that deserves her kingdom," she continued protectively, knowing all the things he wanted to say that she simply could not allow him to say, "He is not a bad man, he just wants the best for Hyrule. You have no place in criticizing the royal family. My father knows his role, do you know yours?"

Ren just stared. The way she spoke down to him reminded him that she was the princess and loyal to her father, and that he was simply a guest in a kingdom that did not want him. He was shocked at how strongly she verbally confronted him, but he knew deep down that it was only because she was conditioned to be this way. Knowing that, however, didn't make it hurt any less.

"I know my role, Your Highness," he said solemnly, "I'm just a farm boy from a place far away that you will never see. Don't worry, I plan to go back there as soon as I find my dad."

He made his way across the room and to the exit, but as he approached, Emeline made no motion to move or open the door she stood in front of. He tried to reach for the handle, but she spoke up in a defeated voice.

"I'm sorry."

He turned to look at her, fiddling with the shards in his pocket to help ease his discomfort.

"I…" she hesitated, clearly struggling within herself, "My defense mechanism is shutting people out... Being protective of my loved ones, even if they are not deserving..." she looked down in embarrassment, "I apologize."

Ren shook his head, dismissing it, "We all have something. It's fine."

He gave a forced smile, and it was clear to the princess that the air around them was still a bit uncomfortable and that he wanted to leave. She opened the door for him, but before stepping aside and letting him through, she had one more thing to ask him.

"So, um... What was that that happened in the throne room earlier with my mother? What did she... do... to you?"

She had genuine curiosity in her eyes, but Ren could only shrug.

"I have no idea. I had actually planned on asking you."

Emeline's brow tightened, "I have never seen her do something like that..." she glanced down at his chest where the queen had pressed her hand during the mysterious encounter, "Did it hurt?"

Ren gave a small smile, "No, it actually felt wonderful. For that moment all my worries were completely gone. It felt like a... mini blanket of heaven," he chuckled.

"Hm," she murmured, "Interesting."

The boy nodded, but was still eager to make a speedy exit as he felt extremely out of place after what he'd just witnessed, "Well, hopefully I'll see you tomorrow, Your Highness," and with that he took off down the hall.

The princess watched him go with a forlorn smile, "Good luck finding your father..." she whispered to herself.

When she closed the door behind her and she was once again alone in her chambers, the darkness of the room, the frigidness of the air, and the emptiness of the walls closing in on her from all sides made her mind reel over the unexpected visit from the hero's son.

He'd singlehandedly opened her eyes to so many things in that short hour he was in her presence – or was it longer than that?

His words had made her really contemplate the state of things for the first time in her life. The absurdity in her father's behavior, in her isolation, in the current monarchy as a whole. Things she'd rarely ever questioned before, if at all, were now at the forefront of her mind.

His company had shown her just how lonely she really was. Her solitude had blinded and brainwashed her, and now all she could wonder was if she would be ready should a different role than the one she had been groomed for all her life be thrust upon her.


Everyone has a part to play. Bring the audience to their feet with yours.


A big thank you to the following for helping me get this chapter out there!

SonadowKokoro100, Debora, Lotus Eater, Gabby-J, Chloe Rose, Ivalee, Lee Glerum

You guys are amazing!