Chapter Ten
Lana

Rael suppressed all his anxieties and assumed an air of confidence. As Link had instructed him, he cast aside his fears and worries and showed an outwardly bold demeanour. Elane followed behind him as he strode through the columns to stand before Queen Lana and the Amethyst Throne. The Queen's eyes twinkled with curiosity, and she smiled gently. If Rael had made a guess at that moment, he would have said she was considering how best to exterminate the pair of them.

"Queen Lana," said Rael. He bowed his head in respect but did not kneel – she was not his superior. He stood with his legs apart and his hands behind his back, chest forwards and chin lifted up to project his voice loudly, "I am Prince Rael Nohansen, Second Seat of the Royal House of Nohansen, Prince of Hylia, Blessed by the gods Prince of Hyrule. I am the Lord of Dawn." Queen Lana's pose did not change, though her eyes seemed to darken, if it were possible.

He continued, "I come as an ambassador on behalf of my mother Her Majesty Queen Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, High Seat of the Royal House of Nohansen, Queen of Hylia, Empress of the East, Master of the West, Blessed by the gods Queen of Hyrule." The Queen nodded slowly, and folded her hands. "Present with me is Elane el'Elaina, also an ambassador for Her Majesty Queen Zelda." Now Elane stepped forward into a deep curtsy, quietly saying, "Your Majesty," to which the Queen gave a pleased nod.

"Prince Rael?" said the Queen, speaking for the first time since summoning them. She relaxed her posture, leaning into the hard-backed throne. "When last I checked, Her Majesty Queen Zelda had no heir. When last I met with her, which if I recall was a few years ago, she was childless." She sounded amused! "Certainly no recently born babe could grow into such a fine young man in a matter of months. Tell me, if you speak the truth, how has this come to be?"

Rael rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. According to Link, touching a sheathed sword in the presence of a king of queen was not outside the laws of etiquette, yet it was an act of boldness which should only be performed by men of high station. "I was raised far from my mother's city, and knew not of my royal heritage until recently. The events of the Kairin War have brought me to her, and upon learning the truth of my birthright I have taken my place as her heir." Rael reached inside his shirt for the ring Zelda gave to him, pulling it out over his head and suspending it in front of his eyes on its hair-spun cord. "This is a sign of my authority. The bearer of this ring acts with the power of the monarch of Hyrule."

"Aah…" said the Queen with a long drawn-out breath. She stood up from her throne, smoothed out her green skirts and stepped across the dais towards him. "Now you do interest me, young master Rael." She stepped down the three shallow steps and stood in front of him. He was over a foot taller than her, but alike all nobles Rael had encountered she seemed to care little for the physical stature of others.

"It is a curious matter than you should come before me so. I have been expecting an ambassador from Hylia for some time. What is more, Zelda once told me of one who would come from her bloodline. I and Zelda used to be close friends you understand. In our youths we spent much time together, and she would say the strangest things at times. I suppose you have heard the Geurdo prophecy, young one? 'Scorpions and lizards plague the sand. There is chaos and hunger in the land. The snake is lost, yet will be seen. Glory upon the amethyst queen.'"

Rael nodded. Elane shifted uncomfortably beside him, looking uneasy. The Queen's eyes flickered to Elane for a short smile, and quickly found Rael again. "Of course," said Rael, "it is why I am here." He realised he was still holding the ring up, and hastily pocketed it.

The Queen turned from him and paced along the carpet towards the centre of the chamber. "Your mother and I were discussing this very verse many years ago when we were both young women; Zelda herself not yet even seated upon her father's throne. She could not tell me the truth of the prophecy itself, I believe even she did not know its meaning then, but she told me that she would send a messenger to me one day when the prophecy is close to being fulfilled." The Queen turned on her heel and began to walk back towards him, moving with a carefree grace. "She gave me a sign to watch for." She stopped, and gazed dreamily towards the high windows above the chamber. "'Lana', she said, speaking in riddles as she did, 'when lizards and scorpions plague the sand, I will send you aid. At dusk, look to the dawn. When death reigns, look for blood of my blood. When authority hangs by a hair, look to my heir.'"

Rael laughed out loud. "Yes, that sounds very much like Zelda." The Queen frowned at him, and continued.

"I know of the foretold War of Twilight, Rael. Please try not to look so surprised. Zelda told me of it all those years ago… the great war at the end of time that will engulf all the world. I have seen the signs: civil unrest, the Kairin's broken lineage, the invasion of Hyrule, and … the man of light in the stormy sky two weeks ago… from the look on your face I see you know of this event intimately. Yes I have rather been anticipating your arrival."

Queen Lana knew much more than Rael had expected. She was far more intelligent that he had initially predicted she would be, perhaps a foolish mistake. He was unsure what to say, and was relieved when she continued.

"So," said the Queen, frowning, "in this War of Twilight, we are now under the shadow of dusk, for twilight has fallen upon us. So, if I am to look to the dawn as Zelda suggested, then that must represent you, correct? Indeed, what did you call yourself before… the Lord of Dawn?" Queen Lana's raised her eyebrows suggestively, and she swept back into her graceful step, moving casually towards the steps of her throne. "I fear we will return to that topic shortly. Blood of Zelda's blood, she said. Clearly this means a relative, and since her parents are both dead and she has no siblings, and to my knowledge has no known cousins however distant, then she must have been referring to a child." The Queen sat down on the Amethyst Throne and resumed once more her queenly posture.

"Indeed," said Rael in agreement with all she had said. By now he was feeling insulted by the Queen's manner. She had resolved to solve a forty-year-old riddle presented to her by Zelda, almost completely ignoring himself and Elane in the process, without even considering how they had come to stand before her, "your Majesty, if you do not mind I-"

"Patience child," said the Queen, too condescendingly for his liking. "Now, authority hanging by a hair. This was obviously a reference to the war that she predicted would come to my lands, using the phrase 'resting on a hair length' to illustrate how difficult my position would become. Truly, my authority to govern does hang by a hair… it could come crashing down at any moment, especially now with Jaendral's army occupying the city. I fear that Zelda's own authority is equally threatened. If the swelling Gerudo and Zora populations were not enough to contend with, now the Kairin control the south of Hyrule."

The Queen laid her arms along the arms of the throne, grasping the white stone firmly. "Look to her heir, she said. Well, you stand before me now, so I suppose I am to presume that you are her heir." She sighed. "Though I do rather wish I had more evidence to support this. You come so roughly dressed, with no explanation of how you came to be here, and though you speak grandly, any fool could have had a ring such as that smelted… though I pray for the soul of the goldsmith who had such nerve to imitate the Triforce and Eagle."

"I am who I say I am," said Rael, "and I-"

The Queen gasped, "Unless!" she grinned slyly, her eyes lighting up like a mischievous child, "young Rael, show me the ring again." Reluctantly, and feeling as though he had been significantly shunned, Rael took the ring out and held it in his palm. "If that ring was given to you personally by Queen Zelda," said the Queen, "did she also tie that cord to it?"

"Yes," said Rael, flatly.

"Ah!" exclaimed the Queen, clapping her hands together, "and was there anything unusual about the cord?"

Rael nodded slowly, "She created it with her own hair," he said, "using magic."

The Queen laughed in delight, the ecstatic glee of a young girl in her post-maturing years, as though a memory had triggered long-forgotten emotions and thoughts. "Oh how wonderful that she remembered!" she exclaimed. For a moment Rael had an image of Lana and Zelda in their youth, two young women in equal company, able to shed their royal airs and relax and talk and enjoy summer days like regular common people of their age.

"Zelda and I used to make such ropes as children. I was slightly older than she, but we would have such fun playing in the gardens of Hylia palace. I remember when she showed me that incantation; she even taught me how to do it with my own limited magic. This was in the years after my uncle Ganondorf's disappearance and the birth of Jaendral and the rest of the men, and the re-establishment of the Gerudo race as a peaceful partner to the Hylian race. Those were truly golden years."

The Queen sighed, and drew in a deep breath to swell her chest, assuming her calm sensible manner once more. If she was embarrassed at her outburst of childhood nostalgia, she did not show it. "I digress, young Rael." The Queen peered at the ring. "When authority hangs by a hair, look to the heir. Yes, now I understand. That ring is indeed from Queen Zelda, for only she could have been so cryptic as and had such foresight as to plan this meeting all those years ago, and then have you here hanging the symbol of her authority on her own hair. That woman truly is a marvel." The Queen smiled. "I suppose then if all this is true, then your errand and titles are true, and therefore…" the Queen let her sentence hang.

She rose once more from her throne and came down the steps of the dais. Standing before Rael, she bowed her head and dipped into a curtsy. "Your Royal Highness, I recognise you to be Rael, Prince of Hylia and all Hyrule, bearer of Her Majesty Queen Zelda's authority. I am yours to command."

At last, Rael had the chance he had been hoping for to assert his own authority. He had always known that it would be difficult to get her to Shaylin and convince Queen Lana of his identity – he was still to explain how he came to be there – but the task was done. He tore the ring from its cord and placed it upon his right hand middle finger. "Rise Lana," he said, "and fear not to resume your seat upon the Amethyst Throne. Yet do not allow yourself to become comfortable. Despite your treaty with Jaendral and the war against Ramades, it shall be I alone who decides who will take the throne when this war is done.

"I intend to do everything in my power to end this war and see peace in the Gerudo lands. The Kairin are coming, they will not be content to sit in the south. They suffered a defeat in Hylia yes, but their eyes are now set upon the desert. I will not allow them to take this city, and I need to must every soldier in this land to defend it, and then every soldier Hylia can send to us too."

"Yes my lord," said Lana, standing up tall. Her posture was as straight and dignified as ever, but her dark eyes were slightly softer, her expression fractionally more obedient rather than dominant. "Shall I have Jaendral summoned back to this place so that he may present himself before you also?"

Rael considered the question for a second then shook his head, "No, we have much to talk of yet Lana." Rael stood back and frowned at her. "Firstly I have some orders to make. I should first condemn you for poor hospitality, for upon arriving in sight of your city were arrested and thrown in prison, despite my repeated efforts to request an audience with yourself. I do not know the name of the senior soldier who gave the order for us to be put into chains, but she will be on the books for the capture and claim of a reward for the capture of 'Hylian strays'. She is to be brought before a military court for trial by a magistrate for improper treatment of prisoners, under the Law of Her Majesty Queen Zelda."

"Yes, my lord, of course," said Lana nodding.

"Secondly, the head officer of the second-tier prison block is also to be arrested and brought before a military court, also for improper treatment of prisoners, under the Law of Her Majesty Queen Zelda."

"Yes, my lord," said Lana.

"Third, the aforementioned reward for the capture of Hylians is to be immediately withdrawn; and fourth, any officer seeking to claim said reward shall not receive it, and shall be brought before the courts on suspicion of improper treatment of prisoners, though they shall of course be given the balance of doubt in their favour. Fifth, any Hylians brought to Shaylin, and indeed any Hylians currently being held here, will be brought before me, and any accusations of maltreatment shall be translated to charges against relevant senior officers. Any such Hylians will then be granted a fair trial for any crimes they are alleged to have committed. The guilty shall be re-imprisoned until such time as they can be taken to Hylia, all innocent Hylians will then be given suitable lodging until the surrounding area is once again safe for travel."

Lana bowed her head deeply. "It shall be done my Lord, but I assure you there are no such prisoners here-"

"Did you know that I and Elane have been held as prisoners halfway down this mountain for the best part of three days?" demanded Rael, roughly.

"No my lord I did not," Lana admitted.

"It seems reasonable then to say that there is much you do not know about, in this city of yours." Rael's loathing for the way both he and Elane had been treated in the last few days was pouring out of him, and he risked becoming too angry. He ran his hands back through his hair. It was messy, dirty and full of sand, the product of weeks sweating in the desert and the prisons without wash water. The thick stubble around his jaw had grown considerably in the last few days. He longed for a hot bath and a sharp razor.

Lana noticed his discomfort and seized upon it. "My lord, if I may speak freely?" Lana said politely.

"Permission granted," muttered Rael.

"Perhaps my lord is hot and tired," said Lana, "and understandably. For even such a fine strong man as you, days in the cells must have taken their toll. And Lady Elane, for a young woman to suffer such indignity, please accept my personal apologies."

"You are kind, Your Majesty," said Elane.

"Quite," agreed Rael.

Lana beamed at him, "Allow me to summon my best servant girls for you Your Highness," she said, "and you also Lady Elane. I will have them take you down to the hot springs deep in the mountain in my own private resting quarters. There you will be able to rest and ease your sore bodies. Meanwhile I will meet with Lord Jaendral and let him know of your arrival. Believe me when I say he will be more than pleased to meet with you." Rael was naturally suspicious of her kindness, but he expected nothing less, given his title and the power he wore on his finger. "I would very much like to offer you Queen Zelda's own private quarters here," Lana said "they have been unused for many years but they are kept in excellent condition-"

"That won't be necessary," said Rael interrupting, deciding to put a stopper in her generosity. He did not want her to feel as though she owned him after all. "My mother's rooms are for a woman, and so they shall remain undisturbed and unruined by a man."

"Certainly, certainly," said Lana, pacing away from him momentarily, her head bowed in thought. "Then perhaps another room would suit you. It is admittedly rather plain, but judging by your attire and manner, meaning no offence my lord, I suspect that would not bother you. When he is with us the usual occupant is another man of high station: His Divine Highness the Marshal of Hyrule, who I suspect you are familiar with?"

"You might say that," said Rael, wondering if she could know that the Marshal was his father. Or indeed if she knew that the man was Link the Hero of Time. He thought better of asking though. "Yes, I will use his room, but we will need two rooms of course."

Lana turned quickly, taking in Rael and Elane with a single glance. "You mean you are not... Ah, forgive me my lord, my lady, I had assumed that…" Elane shifted nervously beside him. Rael gave Lana a hard condemning stare. "My apologies of course you will need two rooms," said Lana, acting as though there had been no mistake, "I am rather overcome by the heat and am not thinking clearly. In that case would my lady like to use Queen Zelda's rooms for her stay here?"

Elane looked to Rael uncertainly, but he just nodded and thanked Lana. "Yes that would be very suitable, thank you."

"Wonderful," said Lana calmly, "we will come to matters of state soon enough. There is far too much to do as so little time in which to do it. Come, I will fetch my servants for you." Lana turned to the doors at the far end of the throne room and began making a quick pace towards them.

Rael laughed quietly, pleased at the dramatic turnaround in their fortunes. He began to follow on, but Elane called after them both. This surprised Rael as Elane had been remarkably quiet up to this point, only speaking when spoken to. "Your Majesty," she said, at which Lana turned to look at her, "if I might have a moment of your time first?"

Lana nodded, "But of course, Lady Elane."

Elane closed the gap between herself and the Queen, and reached behind her neck for the string of her necklace. She closed her hand around the snake pendant before Lana could see it, waiting until she stood before her to display it. Lana looked at Elane's closed hand puzzled, wondering what she could be holding. "You have something to show me?" she asked.

"Yes," said Elane slowly. She turned her hand up and uncurled her fingers. The glittering amethyst jewel and its emerald eyes sparkling in the light as it revealed itself. Lana looked at it for a few seconds, trying to work out what she was looking at then suddenly went pale, clasping a hand to her mouth and jerking her eyes from the snake jewel to the Amethyst Throne and back.

"Blood and storms!" she exclaimed, "Is that… is that truly the Amethyst Snake!? How did you get- where did you find- how have you-" she looked ready faint, or scream, or both. "How under the light are you come by this!?"