She couldn't do anything, not to escape her oldest knight or to help her youngest, and all she could do was watch the scene before her through her desperate struggles. Jerret had raised Link's legs as instructed, the captain's expression full of disbelief as Renado continued to perform chest compressions on an unresponsive, cold and pale Link. The knight's body only jerked limply with each push of the shaman's hands over his heart, the Master Sword slightly jumped with each compression and slowly slid off from the hero's chest, the legendary blade rendered useless. Zelda's eyes widened and she paled, unaware of the other two guards in the room stumbling to open the door, and her gaze was drawn to Link's pallid face.
"Please, open your eyes, come on Link…. Faris, please! No…"
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"
"Queen Zelda?"
"Hm?"
Zelda looked up from the paper she'd been staring for the past couple of minutes without being able to make it through the first paragraph. Blinking away the grim memory from her mind, forcing it back into the chest of other such dark scenes, the Hyrulean queen looked up to meet the questioning and curious stares of twelve pairs of eyes all upon her. The queen blinked and took a breath as she straightened her posture.
"Your Majesty, did you hear what was said?" asked one of the men once again while he slightly fidgeted once his queen's sharp eyes fell upon him.
"No, I mean yes, Lord Ully, my apologies." Zelda glanced back down at the papers before her after meeting the Patriarch of the Arker Family's concerned look and unseen to any of her advisers, she nervously tapped her desk. "Please, repeat what was said."
"Your Majesty, if you are feeling unwell the Council would completely understand if you wish to…"
"No, no, Councillor Sivl. I assure all of you that I am well and this Council meeting will take place as planned and I promise that no other mishaps will occur." Clearing her throat, Zelda interlocked her fingers and slightly raised her chin. "Now if you would please repeat what was last said. Thank you."
A couple of the Council members looked aside at each other, revealing that they weren't all that assured that their queen was as all right as she let on. However, the large council chamber filled with the shuffling of papers and the clearing of throats before Oris, Patriarch of the Arianwen Family, faced his queen and spoke.
"As I was saying, Your Majesty. As everyone's' documents show, Lonna Ranch is now under full operation and that we ought to be expecting at least a dozen new foals come the next couple of months, which is double the amount that we saw this time last year. That being said, the ranch will be needing more resources and more bodies to ensure that the foals are trained. I propose the incorporation of at least twenty new recruits to join our equestrian ranks to aid in the training of the mounts and to improve operations overall."
"Twenty men? Don't you think that such an action would be a waste of our valued manpower to deal with a few horses, Lord Oris?"
Lord Oris looked over across from him at the woman who had spoke, the Matriarch of the Triveni Family, before he replied, "I do recognize that what I am purposing is a hefty number considering our limited numbers at this time but I believe that by investing in our mounted forces, we strengthen our entire defence, Lady Teria."
"And where from do you propose that we spare twenty men to play with horses?" Patriarch Hompson, of the Amberl Family, arched a brow over at Lord Oris who was not showing any sign of being discouraged.
Instead, Lord Oris stood and looked around at his fellow council members before looking up to Zelda to say, "Well I have given a fair amount of thought of what you had suggested a couple of months ago, Your Majesty, that we are in a time of change and old traditions must be improved upon. It will take up to two decades for our numbers to be replenished to reflect their former glory or surpass it. If we are to make it through this difficult time where we find our numbers limited, I suggest that we ought to give a more thorough consideration to the idea of girls and women joining our military ranks and... Now, now, hold on! Let me, ah, finish!"
As soon as Lord Oris mentioned females, several of the lords and a couple of the elder Councillors began to voice their disapproval and objections while the remaining council members, especially the two Matriarchs and their Queen, sat in stony silence.
"Girls? You expect girls to have the strength to bare our armour and swing a sword? Din! By that logic I'll be expecting my own mother to take up arms!"
"I'm I agreement with Lord Euros, it's absurd! Do you really expect for fathers to give up their daughters to ride around on horses and stick an enemy with a spear? I think not!" Lord Hompson smacked his hand on the table and roused a cry of agreement from the majority of the men present; several of the elder Councillors remained in silent observation to the showcase of brute masculinity.
"I mean really, Lord Oris," Lord Euros continued, setting his elbow upon the table and sneered a smirk at his fellow councilman while he thumbed a large ring upon one of his fat fingers. "What could you possibly do to change the minds of the Council? Girls in the military? It's unheard of! You will not find either of my daughters upon a horse and in a helmet!"
"But you could find mine!"
The Council chamber fell silent and every pair of eyes scrutinized Lord Oris when he slammed his hand upon the table and his voice filled the room, demanding to be heard. Lords Euros and Hompson began to speak in objection when Zelda slowly lifted her hand and Councillor Yrota, the Council's Elder, knocked his gavel upon his desk and shouted, "Order! The Queen requests order!"
Zelda met the eyes of Lord Oris and inclined her head, permitting him to continue.
"Yes, well, as I was saying. I have three daughters, two of which remain unmarried, and I propose that before the Council so quickly dismisses my suggestion of the allowance of woman into our military, which I might be so bold and remind all of you that it was Queen Zelda who suggested this aforementioned. That I would personally sign up my two daughters and youngest son to join the ranks at Lonna Ranch and the cohesive defence for all of Hyrule." Pausing for a moment to allow for his words to sink in, Lord Oris fixed the front of his coat and pointedly glanced at Lord Euros before returning to face Zelda before continuing, "Our numbers have been depleted and there are just so many men that we could spare, so why not allow the women of Hyrule to stand by their men in the names of the Three Goddesses?"
"But, girls? Daughters of Hyrule? Women are delicate, fragile things meant to be protected, housework, children, and remaining within safety! Not galavanting off on a horse with a sword to cut down an enemy!" Lord Euros' words rang through the room and his expression was torn between incredulousness and slight anger for such a concept he, and some others, could not comprehend.
"So, you believe housework is only a woman's duty?"
The Patriarch of the Gefion family paled at his queen's quiet question and he swallowed loudly when he met her strong and even gaze; give credit where it was deserved, a lesser man would have looked away or feinted under the weight of such a stare.
"Well, Your Majesty, all I meant was..."
"Have you ever done housework, Lord Euros?"
"Ah, well, of course not, Your Majesty, I have maids for such-"
"So, you believe housework is a woman's duty?"
"Ah," Euros was sweating beneath his shirt now and the eyes of the Council were upon him, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"And of what gender am I, Lord Euros?"
"What... gender? Your Majesty? I-?
"Am I a woman or man, Lord Euros?"
"W-Well, my lady, you are of course a woman, but I do not under-"
"So, since I am a woman, do I or should I do housework?"
The number of eyes that widened having heard such a question spoken by their Queen made a few Councilmen squirm, silently gasp, or send a prayer to the Three Goddesses that it hadn't been directed at them. Lord Euros, as bold of a man as any and whose figure was of considerable weight in addition to his average height, looked similarly to a rabbit under a hawk's gaze or a child being scolded: cornered with no where to run.
Even still, when he answered his voice retained some of its usual strength, though his hands trembled as he adjusted his collar. "Ah, no, Your Majesty, for you are Queen."
"Yes, I am, yet even though I am and housework is not required of me as Queen, if I were to see a towel upon the floor I would not hesitate to pick it up. Why? So that things remain tidy and organized and because I, as a Hyrulean, should not be limited because of what I am, just as a daughter of Lord Oris ought not to be hindered from taking up arms if that is what this Council decides upon simply because she is a girl and if it is for the good of Hyrule."
Silence filled the chamber and a few of the Council members held expressions of suppressed bewilderment and fidgeted slightly but none spoke up. Zelda, who had been staring down at Lord Euros this entire time, took a deep breath and finally released Euros from her royal hold and gave Lord Oris a slight nod, to which he quickly returned with the bow of his head before he retook his seat. Looking aside, Zelda met the glance of Councillor Yrota with a nod and the old man stood to address the Council.
In his weathered yet strong voice, the Elder spoke, "The Queen approves of such a proposal. Now, it is up to the vote of the Council for the allowance of twenty bodies to be relocated to Lonna Ranch. All those in favour, say aye!"
Around the Council chamber, members admitted their compliance with a round of "Ayes" and the raise of their hands for a total of nine out of a possible eleven votes, with Lords Euros and Hompson stubbornly voicing their disapproval with gruff "Nays", though Lord Euros, having sunk into his seat a bit, refused to look anywhere near his queen.
"Let it be recorded that twenty souls shall be added to the main body of Lonna Ranch," Elder Yrota said, nodding to the scribe who was recording all official agreements. "Now, as for the proposal of girls joining the numbers suggested. Lord Oris. Do you remain standing by your promise to have two of your own daughters in addition to your youngest son join the Hyrulean Soldiers if in fact this Council votes to allow for women to join our military?"
Once again, all eyes fell upon Lord Oris and with a his head held high, the Patriarch of the second-wealthiest family in Hyrule nodded and stated, "I swear on my family name, in the name of Our Queen and by the names of the Three Goddesses that I will uphold my word that it will be so."
"Very well," said Yrota with a nod and the Council's scribe documented the oath accordingly. "All those in favour to begin to admission of women into our military, say aye!"
At first, there only came the voices of Lord Oris and Lady Lienne, Matriarch of the Erall Family, but shortly after, Lady Teria and Lord Kaymib of the Tellan Family raised their hands as well. One of the elders then raised their hands and voiced his support, which gave the current vote a count of five out of a needed six. The smug expressions of Lords Euros and Hompson glared at Lord Oris, who sighed in defeat when it seemed that no one else was going to raise their hand.
"Very well, all those-"
"Aye."
Euros and Hompson, along with everyone else, turned their heads to Lord Ully, whose hand slowly rose to join the others to give the vote the majority.
"Ah, well then. Let it be recorded from this day forward, that women will be allowed to join the military of Hyrule and that the two daughters of Lord Oris, Patriarch of the Arianwen Family, shall be the first to do so and will be sent to Lonna Ranch to begin training."
As the Council's scribe went to work, voices rose from the council members and from her higher seat it was clear to Zelda who in the room held resentment for the passed decree. The layout of the Council chamber was simple enough, with the current monarch of Hyrule seated at the forefront of the large circular room, elevated and behind a grand podium. To Zelda's left were the vacant seats meant for able members of the Royal Family who wished to attend the monthly Council meetings but alas, during Zelda's reign each seat remained empty and would remain so for a long while yet. To the queen's right sat the Council Elder, the oldest and therefore wisest Councillor, who could not vote but would withhold order and see that the council proceeded in a methodical fashion. The Council Elder was one of five Councillors who in the past have been former Heads of the Noble Families, esteemed members of Hyrulean society, masters of trade or distinguished citizens.
Presently, Elder Yrota was a master blacksmith and continued to take on apprentices and smith in addition to his duties as Council Elder. Councillor Oplin was the father of Lord Hompson and former Patriarch of the Amberl Family, Wharha an elderly knight, Sivl had been the Council's official scribe for decades, and Councillor Gryffyn was the youngest of the Councillors and a captain in the Castle's Guard. Each Head of the Seven Noble Families of Hyrule sat with the four Councillors at a long and arched, semi-circle table so that they all faced their monarch and the Council Elder. Once a month the Council would meet in accordance to the rise of the new moon and as tired as Zelda was, she refused to postpone the meeting. As reigning queen, it was her duty to oversee the Council and her only true power was the power of veto, so if there was a proposed decree that could be deemed as possibly having negative repercussions for Hyruleans she held the power to object to it.
Zelda reached up and rubbed the side of her head as a wave of exhaustion washed across her but before Yrota could notice, she took a sip of her water and gestured for her Elder to proceed to the next topic up for discussion.
"Moving along to the final item up for discussion that this Council will discuss," Yrota called over the subtle conversations between the Council members, to which they all quieted while their Elder flipped to his last paper and read it. The quiet continued to the point that Zelda looked over at her Elder and saw him staring at the paper with an expression of surprise from what she could see.
"Councillor Yrota?" She inquired and the man cleared his throat and glanced up at her.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. Ah, yes, well the item that is to be discussed concerns yourself, my lady, and I am unsure that now is the most appropriate time to discuss it…"
"Me? Appropriate? Please, speak your mind, Councillor."
"Yes, Your Majesty, if I might continue on behalf of Elder Yrota with the utmost respect," Matriarch Teria stood as she spoke, bowing her head to her queen before she continued. "In accordance to the incident that occurred outside of the West Gate that jeopardized your safety, several of the Council members have come together in the past couple days since the event to discuss the future of Hyrule, Your Highness."
"In what manner?" Zelda replied, eyebrow rose in questioning and her hands behind her podium tightened with the mentioning of the West Gate.
"Your Majesty, please understand that we only wish what is best for all of Hyrule but with the threat of your life that occurred…"
"My life was never in danger, I assure you."
"Well yes, Your Majesty, but that was only because of the protection of the Personal Guard to the Queen, to whom we all are grateful, but the incident still has reminded the Council members the importance that the matter of the succession of the throne and that your marriage must be discussed."
Silence, an uncomfortable silence, filled the chamber and Zelda sat unmoving. Her throat tightened and in her mind anguished screams of pain and agony filled her ears and she had to fight hard not to flinch from the memory. A sickening chill crept into her stomach and Zelda's hands shook slightly but thankfully, no one was able to see. If it were not for her uncanny ability to uphold a composure of regal calm and poise, Zelda would have shouted rather than stiffly speak her next words, "My marriage?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Lord Ully spoke up, standing to join Lady Teria, "For five years now you have ruled over Hyrule and your people had prospered under you with your defensive projects and determination to see that all of Hyrule flourish. During that time, a marriage would have been too much for the people to adjust to but you have proven yourself to be a more than capable leading our country. Now we must consider seriously the establishment of an heir to carry on the name of the Royal Family."
"Obviously this has been discussed far longer than the three days since what occurred outside the West Gate, Lord Ully." Zelda's words held a crispness that made several of the Council members shift uncomfortably or look away entirely.
However, Lord Ully was quick to bow his head and to add, "Please, Your Majesty, we meant no disrespect and the prospect of your marriage has been discussed before but never truly brought to attention. It's only the recent events of the last few days that has given more reason to why it must be discussed seriously."
"But of course, Your Highness, we understand why you may not wish to speak of things now taken into consideration how you must be feeling and what you are going through."
"Lady Lienne, I am well, as I've stated already." Zelda replied, tapping her finger in the slightest show of her annoyance of her wellbeing and state of mind being questioned once again. "If my marriage is wished to be discussed now then so be it."
"Your Majesty. At your coronation you swore an oath to the people of Hyrule to provide and protect them and marrying to produce an heir goes in part with your oath-"
"Lord Euros. I need not your word to remind me of my oath, for I am Queen, and that has not slipped my mind, I assure you." There was no need for Zelda to raise her voice for her tone was enough that even the wealthiest Patriarch bowed his head with submissiveness, his earlier scolding having taught him nothing of humbleness apparently.
"My apologies, Your Majesty, I meant no disrespect."
"What I believe Lord Euros meant, my lady," Lady Lienne spoke up again, ignoring the glare that was shot a her by Euros. "Is that your marriage is the next step in your commitment to the people of Hyrule. It is true that all to your defensive and building projects have been completed so is it not understandable that the logical next step for the people to look forward to in the growth of Hyrule is the union of their beloved Queen and the promise of a royal heir?"
"My Queen. What happened at the West Gate has frightened the people of Hyrule. Your marriage would comfort them I'm sure."
Zelda glanced at Lord Oris and sighed. What her Council said was true, that she had been queen now for five years and during that time she has been able to quell any talk of marriage because she insisted that their focus should remain on building up Hyrule defences and military presence. Now however, she had lost that excuse for indeed all of her projects had been completed aside from final touches in Hyrule Castle and such. While she had never actually said it aloud, Zelda was relieved to having been able to avoid marriage as long as she has because, unlike her parents who had married from love, Zelda accepted long ago that her marriage would be because of her position as monarch. Love had always been a distant feeling for her, with the main recipient of her love having died six years ago now and she still missed her father everyday. Looking over at the faces of her Council members, Zelda knew that she would not be able to avoid the issue of marriage for much longer because as much as she disliked thinking it, Euros was right. As queen, it was her duty to ensure the safety of her people and producing an heir was one of her responsibilities to oversee.
"Yes, I understand," Zelda finally said and she tried not to frown when she watched a few of the councilmen sigh in relief.
"But Your Majesty, I hope that you understand that we are not pressuring you to choose or decide anything as of now or even remotely soon. As expressed at the beginning of the council, I speak for all of us when I say that we understand what you must be going through seeing as how Sir Link…"
"And as I have said already, while I appreciate your concern, what has happened to Sir Link will not intervene to what happens in this chamber, for what we discuss here concerns all of Hyrule and that is our top concern." Having heard enough of Link and not wanting to be reminded of his name, Zelda looked from Lord Ully back to Lady Teria. "I can only assume that the Council already has a list of possible suitors eligible to become my Prince Consort."
"Yes, my lady, you assume correctly," Lady Teria admitted, the Matriarch glancing aside at her fellow council members so that Lords Euros, Oris and Kaymib along with Lady Lienne all stood. "As it stands, there are four eligible suitors from the Seven Noble Families of Hyrule who are of marrying age and are unmarried," Lady Teria then began to read from her paper, "Bohdan, of the Gefion Family, Arvid, of the Arianwen Family, Everard II, of the Erall Family, and Jarah, of the Tellan Family."
"Really Lady Lienne, do you expect your son to the chosen? He's a mere boy!"
"And of marrying age, Lord Euros! The same as your son whom, might I add, all of Hyrule knows you have been holding off from marriage in the hopes of him becoming Prince."
"You hold your tongue, woman! How dare you disrespect my son!"
"The same could be said to you!"
"Would the both of you stay your tongues!" Lord Oris interjected, "The circumstances of why possible suitors are eligible is not under contention!"
"Easy for all of you to say for I can assure you that it was not my son's decision to be eligible!"
"Yes, Lord Kaymib, we know of the loss of your daughter-in-law and you have all of our sympathies I'm sure but, it is as it stands," Lady Teria replied, ignoring the feud brewing between Lord Euros and Lady Lienne, "there are four suitors at this time."
Zelda, having remained quiet up until this point, suddenly stood and immediately silence filled the room and sharply quelled the growing roar of arguing voices. The queen had heard enough, she had the names of four men imprinted in her mind and she felt like she could vomit four-times over. Rather, the Hyrulean Queen held a perfect posture, her expression flawless and indifferent, and when she spoke her voice was strong and confident.
"I accept the eligibility of these suitors and I promise that my marriage will take place. I propose to allow myself until a certain time to decide, as well as to give each suitor have opportunity to properly court me, before I am to announce my engagement."
"What about Sir-"
"No, Lord Kaymib, not now…"
Zelda looked over to catch Lady Teria hastily silence the Patriarch of the Tellan Family and the Queen frowned ever so slightly. "What was that? What was said?"
Zelda watched as Teria, as well as several other council members, glance at Lord Kaymib in what looked to be annoyance as the lord stood uneasily. Glancing around, the man cleared his throat to say, "I was only saying, my lady, was in the past when council members had gotten together to discuss who might be suitors, Sir Link's name was brought up, several times in fact."
"But we realize that a knight to be a suitor is not within tradition nor is proper!"
"Though the close friendship between Her Majesty and Sir Link is evident…"
"No knight has ever been a Prince Consort!"
"My son Arvid is a knight!"
"Yes, though he is also of noble blood!"
"Enough!" Zelda spoke over the rising argument of Lord Oris, Ully, and Euros, who all looked up at the queen in shock and instant guilt. "There will be no more talk of Sir Link during this meeting and while we're on the subject, I can assure each and every one of you that the relationship I have with my knight is one of strongest loyalty and friendship. Any other assumptions are ones of devious gossip and to be believed ought to give rise to shame. Sir Link put his life on the line for my sake and in the name of Hyrule and his sacrifice will not be slandered. Am I clear?"
In turn each of Zelda's Councillors apologized for their words did not help to smother the burn of irritation and sorrow ignited in the queen's bosom.
"Very well, Your Majesty," Elder Yrota spoke up to return to the task at hand, "As for these suitors and your engagement. When do you suggest such a time will be?"
Zelda froze, caught in thought and not ready to reply, though before she could Lord Euros raised his hand and said, "If I might suggest, how about the night of the Midsummer Solstice? That way, your engagement will be announced before your twenty-fourth birthday, my Queen."
"The Midsummer Solstice? That's… that's just barely four months away! Are you sure that that is enough time for Her Majesty to decide?" Lord Ully's question and expression clearly reflected that he was one of the council members also nodding their heads in agreement that such a period wasn't long enough.
"That depends upon Her Royal Highness," Euros replied, shrugging his shoulders as innocent as could be. "I just thought that it would be nice for such a grandiose announcement to come during the Midsummer Solstice Night's Ball. All of Hyrule would already be in such a festive atmosphere so… why not give the people an even greater reason to celebrate?"
No one jumped to answer immediately, though there were many council members who seemed either deep in thought or contemplating whether or not throwing their chair at Lord Euros would get them arrested. Queen Zelda sat as composed as ever but even she could not help but a glance at the Patriarch of the Gefion Family and against her will, the image of Link popped into her mind.
"That's Euros Gefion? Wow… what a puffy-looking, arrogant bastard…"
The tiniest of smiles crept into Zelda's lips before a knife punctured her heart and sadness crept into her eyes as Link's voice faded from her memory. The woman reached up a hand and idly fingered the Triforce pendant she wore abound her neck to cover up the fact that she felt the sting of tears behind her already sleepless eyes.
But now was certainly not the time or the place to be thinking of her knight.
"Your Majesty? I believe the decision for this belongs to you or would refer that we put this to a vote for a change of date?"
Zelda turned to look over at Yrota and slowly she shook her head. Their queen stood again and together her council members joined her, all eyes upon her to await her decision. Zelda's delicate lips remained in an even line and her eyes never wavered from the space before her while beneath her practiced calm appearance, fatigue, anxiety, grief, concern, sadness, and nerves shook her core but remained hidden to all but her, the hands of the Hyrulean queen shook badly. There was a part of Zelda that felt like she had been blindsided by this investment into her marriage, but at the same time she did realize that this was an unavoidable concern that was the Council's responsibility to bring forward to ensure that the Throne of Hyrule remained filled and unchallenged. Still, why now? Why had they decided to bring this up now? Just… why, for everything?
'Nayru… help me'.
"Let it be recorded that on the matter of my engagement, that…" Zelda paused, her lower lip hanging open, and for a moment her eyes fell but the moment ended quickly. "My engagement… will begin during the celebration of the Midsummer Solstice Night's Ball, at which time I will name the man whom will become my Prince Consort. On that note, Elder Yrota, please call this meeting adjourned."
/ / / / /
"My lady? You do not look well, would you like some water?"
"No, no thank you. I'm fine."
Zelda waved off one of her ladies-in-waiting, a girl named Annalei of the Triveni Family, before the queen settled against one of the pillars in the corridor. Behind her stood her private set of doors that lead into the Council Chamber and having been freed from the room had allowed for the Hylian to breathe a bit better. A wave of exhaustion washed over Zelda and she sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose while her two ladies-in-waiting looked on in silent concern. At that moment, there was nothing more that Zelda wanted was to step into a hot bath and sink into the water, but she would do no such thing. True Zelda was tired, having not being able to get more than a couple of hours of rest in the past couple of nights. Hence the reason why she was so tired, yet even so she could not sleep. With the Council over, she had another meeting with Councillor Gryffyn, an appointment with Captain Jerret, about a dozen of documents she's been avoiding stacked upon her desk, and there was something else she had to do but in the moment Zelda could not recall. Finally settling upon a stone bench, Zelda dared to tilt her head back and rest it against the cool stone.
Three days ago now was when Zelda had to be dragged away from within the infirmary while inside her knight and closest friend Link lay not-breathing upon a bed. The queen had been so upset that she needed to be carried to her own bed only having to endure a night of terrible nightmares before emerging the next morning washed, properly dressed, and seemingly fine only to request to have her schedule filled. Sleep had since eluded Zelda in fear of the nightmares that plagued her mind and keeping busy helped keep the guilt and sorrow from blinding her. Her ladies-in-waiting, Sir Faris, and apparently the entire Council were all worried about her but Zelda had endured the death of her father and Zant's Invasion, so she felt confident in being able to deal with what was happening now.
"Your Highness?"
Zelda jumped and her eyes fluttered open and in a fluster she realized that she had against her will begun to drift off and now standing there before her was a concerned-looking gentleman staring down at her. Blinking, Zelda moved to stand when the man waved her off from doing so.
"Oh no, my apologies Your Majesty, I didn't mean to startle you."
"No it's fine," Zelda replied and took in the man's appearance. He looked about her age, slightly older though, with a head full of rich chestnut and wavy hair with a trimmed goatee adorning his strong chin. At such a close distance it was plain to see that the man was strikingly handsome, with him wearing the armour and regalia of a Hyrulean knight, and the longer Zelda looked up at him the wider the man's smile began before he chuckled slightly.
"I take it that you don't remember me, Your Majesty," the man said while he glanced down at his gloves. "Mind if I join you?"
"No, I'm afraid that your name escapes me at the moment, but yes, please do."
The knight nodded his thanks and took his seat, glancing up at the two ladies-in-waiting who patiently and silently waited for their lady.
"Annalei, Audrea. Please, would the both of you go and tell my appointments for the remainder of the day that I unfortunately will have to postpone. I'm afraid that today has taken quite the hold of me." After a second of thought, Zelda turned to the daughter of the Erall Family and said, "Oh, and Audrea, would you bring to me cloak, please? Thank you, ladies."
The girls bowed their heads and obediently walked off, leaving the Queen of Hyrule with the nameless knight.
Once gone, Zelda turned towards the man and said, "Arvid, you sure have changed since last I saw you."
Arvid, blinking in surprise, opened his mouth while a shocked expression took hold of his features, but before he could speak Zelda waved him off. "Yes, I recognized you as soon as I saw you but with recent turn of events, I did not need my ladies-in-waiting eavesdropping at this time."
"So you knew me?" Arvid asked, his surprise turning into a smile and reached up to scratch his beard, "But has it not been almost ten years?"
"Eleven if I am correct. You were in the midst of your squire training and left to go train in the mountains with Sir Edbon as I recall the last time we spoke properly."
"Right! When I came back to be knighted, Zant had invaded and Sir Edbon and I did my best to help Castle Town, but it was… " Arvid paused and a sweep of sadness seeped into his expression, but it disappeared quickly with the return of his smile, "We did what we could do at the time."
"And since then? You have been knighted a few years now… where have you been?"
"I've been mainly in Kakariko Village, helping out with the restoration and whatnot there. It's nice, I guess, but ah…" the chuckled slightly, "I guess more so I stay there to avoid being here in Castle Town and all, too much drama and… family for my liking."
Zelda looked over at the heir to the Arianwen Family with a slight look of surprise, for it wasn't everyday that a Hyrulean noble admitted to not loving being a noble. Arvid looked up to catch his queen's expression and he let out a slight chuckle and shrugged.
"I know what you must be thinking and I can admit, that when I was younger I was as haughty and arrogant as the best of them."
"The best memory that I have of you as a child was when you pulled my hair and then ran off with Hyrulean Soldiers chasing after you…"
"Oh, you remember that?" Arvid bit his lower lip as his grin turned to a smirk. "I apologize, Your Majesty, again, I suppose… But! It wasn't long after that happened that I became a page and really became focused on becoming a knight."
"Yes… but didn't you become a page because you pulled my hair and your father thought that it was an appropriate punishment?"
Arvid hesitated, an amused expression filling his expression, before he looked at his queen and smiled. "I see that you are right, so I believe that you have my gratitude for having tempting braids to pull, for then I might not have become a knight otherwise."
At that, a smile finally breached Zelda's lips in the time of her life when she thought that she'd never truly smile again. Arvid grinned with triumph and he interlocked his hands, looking ahead. "I'm glad that I was able to coax a smile from you, Your Majesty. I understand that you are going through a rough time at the moment." When Zelda's face immediately fell, Arvid's expression became serious as well. "You have my sympathies and support, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Sir Arvid, I appreciate your words." Straightening her posture, Zelda took a breath and reached up to slide a hair back behind her ear, "Did you seek me out simply to see how I was fairing? Or…" Zelda turned to meet his brown eyes with her own piecing blues, "did you come because of certain other recent events?"
Arvid shifted uncomfortably under his queen's keen stare and he looked away, reaching up to run his fingers through his thick hair. "I can only assume that you are referring to your proposed engagement?"
"It would seem that I was the last in all of Hyrule to be informed that it was being discussed," Zelda said with a chill in her voice.
Quickly, Arvid turned and fell to his knee before his queen, hands up in defence, "Please, Your Majesty, I only found out myself last night when I arrived back in town that my father and the Council were planning on bringing it to your attention today. I can assure you that I was as shocked as I'm sure that you are feeling now."
"Yet I see you upon your knee before me."
Arvid looked down and his face went immediately red and in a flash, he stood on his feet and he turned on his heel, his Hyrulean blue cape wavering with his flustered movements. Clearing his throat, Arvid looked over his shoulder and his bemused queen. "From what I can see, you and I share similar feelings on the matter. To be honest, if I wasn't a knight I would probably be married already but…" The knight sighed and turned to look upon his queen, expression confused and troubled. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I can only assume what you must be feeling, concerning Sir Link, and now having to deal with this. I came here today to let you to know that… I hope you understand that as your knight, you have my full loyalty and I will try to help you in any way I can, even if it means avoiding you since now I'm in a position that… well, you know, being a suitor I guess."
Zelda watched one of her knight stumble over his words, his appearance uncomfortable, but his words she could tell held truth. Taking to her feet, Zelda came to the man's side and gently set her hand on his shoulder and met his eyes. "Thank you, Sir Arvid," she said softly, nodding to him to which he turned and bowed low in reply. "Have a good evening, sir knight. I'm sure that I will be seeing you soon…"
"My lady."
Turning her back on the man, Zelda took her leave and strode down the corridor. Near the end of the hall, her ladies-in-waiting appeared and wordlessly she allowed them to help her into her cloak before she gave them her leave. This day had been enough for the Hylian woman, these past three days even more so. Her footfalls echoed down corridors and halls as the Queen of Hyrule made her way through her castle into the northern wing, down a path that was ingrained into her memory. With how she was feeling, even as exhausted and emotionally rattled as she was, Zelda could only think of one place where she might find some solace.
Rounding yet another corner, Zelda came to a set of grand doors with a pair of guardsmen standing at attention. Upon seeing their cloaked queen the men bowed and opened the doors on her approach and once she was completely inside the room, the heavy doors were closed behind her. The room was dark save for the light that filtered in through stained-glass windows to cast an array of colours down upon the tiled floor. Zelda slowed her steps to a slow walk as she past the busts of the noble heads of past kings of Hyrule, her ancestors. Adorning the walls were murals and portraits of kings and queens all captured in their royal garb and grandeur, yet Zelda paid them no mind either, for her focus rested on the statue of the Royal Family Crest that stood at the end of the corridor of royal remembrance.
Stopping before the statue, Zelda looked up at the fine craftsmanship and reached out to touch her left hand upon the stone Triforce. Almost immediately, the stature began to move aside and after a few moments a doorway hidden behind the statue became exposed and the woman continued on through it. The corridor was dark and small and the further she walked the colder the air became until Zelda came upon a dead-end. Undaunted, once again the Hylian woman reached out to touch her hand upon the stone and the wall slid away having responded to her royal blood as the Hylian Crest had before.
Stepping out into the late winter's air, Zelda gathered her cloak abound her shoulders as she entered a somber and white sanctuary. The sky above was a stunning blue with white clouds peeking out from behind the high walls that encircled the secret grotto yet the sunny day did little to lift the woman's spirits. Walking forward, each step Zelda took snow scrunched beneath her shoes, having become deep in places from being undisturbed and the winds having whipping up drifts in places due to the surrounding walls. Ignoring the growing cold in her feet, Zelda followed the buried path and walked onward slowly; on either side of her stood the snow covered tombstones of her ancestors. The first of the rows of headstones were withered, old, and eroded from the wind and rain, but the deeper Zelda walked into the secret graveyard the more recent and newer the headstones became.
Finally Zelda came before a grand headstone bearing two names and attached to the top was the Triforce made up of stone. Snow was smeared across the front of the grave and Zelda gently stepped closer to clear away the snow and revealed the names of whom was buried beneath the snow and ground.
Forever Here Lies
Queen Adelheide Lunalillith & King Arawn Emmett Kobayne III of the House of Othorwen
"Father, Mother. Forgive me for having not visited recently. It has been… Busy as of late and I have not been able to find the time."
Zelda knelt before the grave of her parents and bowed her head for a few minutes as she said a silent prayer of remembrance up to the Three Goddesses and to call upon her parents to hear her words.
Lifting her head, Zelda remained silent and her eyes grew sad and for the first time that day, how tired Zelda felt reflected in her features with the slump of her shoulders and the tremble in her lips. Looking upon her father's name, Zelda took in a shaky breath and as tears prickled her eyes, she whispered, "Father, I have always tried to do what was best and to make you proud. But now... I find myself feeling lost and in need of your guidance. You always said that I would not need to worry about my future, that you wanted me to be happy, but…" Closing her eyes and stumbling with her words, Zelda's arms shook and the snow she was kneeling in was not the cause. Taking a deep breath and blinking frantically to fight away the threat of tears, the woman continued to speak.
"I do not understand, Father. Did you mean by wanting for me to be happy to find my own way when it came to love and marriage or when I was ready? Now I am faced with the undertaking with only a few months to decide though it feels like my heart cannot bear to consider the handling of marriage when it is being crushed by the weight of the sadness that fills me."
Gripping some snow in her bare hand, Zelda bowed her hand and stared into the whiteness and to watch the first of her tears fall into the snow to bore holes into the white blanket. "I am not ready, Father, but I know that I have no choice, that even if I tried that I would only be able to hold off a union for so long. The people of Hyrule deserve and await the growth of their Royal Family and I do not want to fail them or you but…" Lifting her tearful eyes back to her father's name, Zelda swallowed and tears fell down her cheeks before she said, "You had said that you would always be there for me, that I would not need to worry about my betrothal, yet you have left me with nothing and now… I do not even have my closest friend to turn to and ask for his advice."
Zelda wanted to say more, to empty out her sorrow and heartache, but a sob closed her throat and the Queen of Hyrule quietly wept in the growing shadow of the high castle walls over the remains of her parents. She knew that her questions and pleas would not be answered and the silence that surrounded her pressed heavily upon her feelings of loneliness, yet tears continued to fall down her fair cheeks. Zelda wanted so badly just as much to sleep, but she feared the nightmares that came when she closed her eyes. She wanted to hold the hand of Link and wish for him to wake, but the cold touch of his skin terrified her and she could not bare to look upon his pale, unresponsive face without completely losing her sangfroid again.
When all of her tears had fallen, Zelda gently wiped her eyes and took a few calming breaths to regain herself but she did not stand from the spot. Even though her legs had grown cold and wet from the snow, Zelda diligently bowed her head once again to send another prayer to her parents and only then did she stand and without another word, turned her back on her parents' tombstone. The chill in her legs failed to phase the woman at all for her mind was adrift on a dozen other thoughts and crying had left a numbness in her emotions. Walking back towards the hidden wall and exit, Zelda passed a barren tree and her attention was caught by a large tombstone nearby.
"Father, come here! Look at this!"
"What is it, my child?"
A richly dressed man looked up from his wife's grave back over to where his young daughter could be seen kneeling before one of the many tombstones standing in the hidden graveyard of the Royal Family of Hyrule. The day was bright, the grass was a rich green and the trees were in full bloom in the spring air. Amused, the man stood and came to join his daughter who was obviously trying very hard to read the stone's inscription.
"The cu-cursed swords men… Father, help me read this, please!"
Kneeling next to his young child, the man read the inscription and chuckled deeply. Looking aside to meet his daughter's eyes, the man said, "Its says, 'The cursed swordsman… sleeps before… the sacred tree'. I find it amusing that you are interested by this grave, my daughter."
"Why, Father? Who is this? What does 'cursed' mean?"
"Well… I happened to ask my grandfather the same question when I just a bit older than you are now, won't you know. And he told me of the legend that is attached to this gravestone." The man then took up his daughter into his lap to retell the tale.
The memory faded from Zelda's memory but her father's voice and his story filled her mind as she came before the lonely tombstone just as she had twenty or so years before. Reaching out, Zelda traced with her finger the inscription and the words 'swordsman' when yet another memory appeared in her mind. This one was of Link from only a few days before as they rode along and he spoke of the Hero of Time and wishing that he could know more about his predecessor.
"Father said that according to legend, the cursed swordsman was a famed knight who protected the Royal Family in a great crisis but when he met his demise, it was said that he was cursed by the Goddesses for his past transgressions…" Furrowing her brow in thought, Zelda stared up at the swordsman's legacy and recalled what Link had told her of what the Hero's Shade had told him. "A cursed knight…" she whispered before a slight breeze swept down from the castle's walls and swirled around the kneeling queen, brushing across her face and shifting her cloak. Going on pure intuition and her trust in the Goddesses, Zelda bowed her head and muttered out a small prayer.
"I pray to the one known as the Hero of Time, the Hero's Shade, and the Golden Wolf, to watch over and protect Link, Hero Chosen by the Gods, and to bring him to the Light. I beg of thee and honour thee, hear my prayer and answer swiftly."
With the prayer spoken, Zelda stood and exited the graveyard without looking back.
/ / / / /
A fire was burning in her room by the time Zelda returned and her ladies-in-waiting had been thoughtful enough to draw her a bath in anticipation. Dismissing the girls, Zelda was left alone and quickly disrobed from her damp and cold cloak and dress and stepped into the hot water that was coloured a light green from soothing salts and oils having been added to the water. Tingles washed over her nude body the deeper the woman submerged until the water was up to her collarbone and her brunette hair flowed out around her. Removing her jewelry and setting it on a side table, Zelda therapeutically undid her hair to free it and allow it to spill into the water unhindered. Sinking into the water up to her chin, the woman slipped into her thoughts and considered the sense that what she had done before the swordsman's gravestone had felt right, though whether she was correct or not she did not know.
The hot water helped to relax the Hyrulean Queen and the chill of the winter's snow was quickly forgotten in her legs. Sighing in slight relief, Zelda felt better in the sense that she had regained her calm composure and had her emotions under control, at least for the moment. Resting her head back against the rim of the tub, Zelda looked up at the mosaic-tiled ceiling that depicted female Zora dancing and playing harps in a watery scene. Lifting her fingertips to idly caress the top of her right breast, Zelda sighed and closed her eyes to try and relax. Her fingers drifted south and into the water, sliding across her navel before eventually her fingers felt the fine hair of her pelvis. It had been some time since the queen had indulged pleasurably and being a virgin there were few options for her.
Being a woman and the sole ruler of Hyrule meant that there were... physical expectations of Zelda, meaning that it was expected of her to remain chaste until she was married. This was to ensure that any heir she bore would be her husband's without a doubt. If Zelda truly had wished it, she could indulge in womanly tools to aid in her self-pleasure, or even have a bed-maiden attend to her nether region to induce an entirely new level of ecstasy. However, Zelda had not taken part in any of that. In truth, Zelda only knew of this because when she was crowned as Hyrule's monarch she had become privy to the sexual do's and don'ts of a queen and those instructions had roused quite the blush from the young queen. Basically, she shouldn't have sex, but sexual toys or girls meant to pleasure her were fine. Touching herself was also acceptable, hence why the queen was indulging now.
However, with her eyes closed slowly her defences fell and her mind began to breach into the darkness that Zelda had been trying not to think of. Against her wishes, Zelda's felt her mind beginning to become foggy. She had the notion to leave the bath and see to the papers upon her desk, that she had to write a letter to King Ralis, and that she needed to…
"Please, open your eyes, come on Link…. Faris, please! No…"
Jumping awake and splashing water onto the floor, Zelda hastily sat up and wiped her face, looking around frantically as her heart pounded. Thankfully she saw that she was still in her bathroom. Holding her forehead in her hand, the woman took a few deep breaths to settle down her beating heart. Just when she was sure that she had gathered herself together, Zelda flinched when a knocking came through the door and it opened slowly.
"Lady Zelda? Did you hear me calling? Oh, my lady! Are you still in the tub? The water must be cold by now."
Zelda blinked at the charming and plump looking woman in her doorway and looked down at the water and realized that it was true, that no longer steam rose from the water and the water was barely lukewarm now. Had she slept that long?
"Imala, forgive me, I must have fallen asleep."
"Well then it is a good thing I came when I did, lest you might have fallen under the water or caught a cold. Now, come here, my girl, and let me wrap up with this fresh towel."
Obediently, Zelda stood and allowed the woman to wrap the soft and warm towel abound her body before Imala helped her from the tub. Imala was a middle-aged woman, in her mid-fifties, and had been Zelda's nurse even before her mother had died. The woman had been the Queen Adelheide's lady-in-waiting and when Zelda was born, she became her nurse. In a sense, Imala was the main mother figure Zelda has had throughout out her life since she had only fragmented memories of her true mother. Making sure Zelda was properly wrapped, Imala lead her queen back into the main room where after Zelda had dried, Imala helped her into a thick and soft robe and had her sit next to the fire.
Retrieving a silver tray, Imala got to work pouring Zelda some tea while she spoke. "Really, Lady Zelda, you must really get your rest. Have you even eaten today? I believe not for I found your breakfast untouched and you have been in Council all day plus out visiting your parents. Yes, I know where you were, it wasn't that hard to figure out." Handing Zelda her cup and sitting down herself, Imala looked over at Zelda with her round cheeks and motherly eyes.
"I'm fine, Imala, it's just… hard." Zelda's admission came out quietly and she stared sadly into her tea cup, her eyes tired and defeated.
Imala's features softened and she sighed. "Your Highness, I understand some of which you are going through and feeling. When I lost my son Riker, Goddesses bless him, when that damned Zant attacked, I felt so hollow and sad that I thought that I would drown in my tears and I didn't want to eat or nothing. Plus on top of it all, I had lost you as well with you being captured and no one knew if you dead or alive." Reaching over, Imala took hold of Zelda's hand and the woman's smiled brightened her face and was enough to coax a small smile from Zelda also, "But I learned to cope and be strong for I was proud of my son and I want you to know that you always have me to talk to about Sir Link, that poor boy…"
"Thanks Imala," Zelda said sincerely, "and I will be okay, it's just only been a couple days is all and I've been trying to keep busy to keep my mind off things."
"I know, dear, but you shouldn't run yourself down, you're exhausted for Farore's sake! I don't believe Sir Link would want that just because what happened to him. How about I get you some soup and perhaps a tonic to help you sleep, hm? You need to eat something, dear."
Nodding, Zelda gave in and said, "Fine, Imala, soup sounds great. Thank you."
Zelda watched her nurse leave her room and after sipping down her tea, the woman got up and went over to her large wardrobe to retrieve a long-sleeved nightdress. Letting her thick robe fall to the ground, Zelda changed quickly, put the robe back on, and went over to her desk. Drearily she regarded the stacks of papers, documents, forms and blank letter paper and sighed before she turned her back on her work. Tomorrow, they could wait until tomorrow because Imala was right. She shouldn't run herself as she was and if Link was there, he would have said basically the same as Imala.
Thinking of Link made Zelda's heart ache but she was aware that she wasn't the only one. Word had spread quickly across Hyrule of what happened at the West Gate and to Link, even details concerning what had occurred in the infirmary much to Zelda's irritation. What also was known was how Zelda had broken down in the hall outside of the infirmary and had to be carried away because she had been so distraught. Now Zelda had to add the pressure of marriage and suitors to her plate and on that particular subject, she was at a complete loss. Her father had died of a heart attack about six years ago now and his will held no enlightenment on the subject aside from the adamant assertion that Zelda receive sealed letters written by her mother that were to be opened after Zelda's coronation.
Remembering the letters, Zelda looked over to a small locked chest on her bureau where the letters were stored. Her fingers twitched and on a whim, Zelda went over and retrieved the key to open the chest. Hearing the click of the lock, Zelda swung open the lid and stared down at the collection of letters from her late mother, all unopened. Zelda barely remembered her mother, let alone knew her, and her father did not like talking about his wife so the only true information Zelda had about the Queen Adelheide was from her reputation, what Imala had told of her, and the queen's portraits. In a sense, her own mother was a complete stranger to her. To this day, Zelda did not fully understand why she held such hesitation in regards to her mother and why she had disobeyed her late mother's wishes to have her letters opened when Zelda herself became queen. Reaching into the chest, Zelda picked up a particularly thick envelope and gazed evenly at the delicate cursive of her name, written by her own mother's hand.
Turning the envelope over, Zelda regarded the unbroken seal of the Royal Family's Crest and slowly her fingers crept towards the golden wax when a frantic knock came upon the door. Posthaste, Zelda put away the letters and set the chest back in its place on the bureau before she went over to the door, assuming that it was Imala returning with the soup. As she approached the door, she heard the voices of men and Zelda slowed in her footing.
With another knock, Zelda called out, "Yes, the door is open," as she gathered closed her robe.
When the door opened, there stood a pair of her guardsmen along with another soldier bearing the regalia of a Fenceman, as the Hyrulean Soldiers stationed at the walls have become to be named. Upon seeing their queen, all three men bowed in respect and addressed her properly.
"Rise. What has happened?" Zelda asked as the men straightened and only then did the queen noticed that the Fenceman held a strange satchel in his hand.
"Nothing, Your Majesty," replied one of the guardsmen, "All is well but a message has come from the Gerudo."
"The Gerudo?" Zelda repeated in surprise and met the eyes of the Fenceman.
"Yes, Your Majesty, and I was instructed to give this package to no one but you."
"Me? Well, what does it concern?"
"Forgive me but it concerns Sir Link, Your Majesty."
