Chapter Twenty Nine
The Prince's Decision
"Your Majesty," declared a tall Shaylin announcer, in crisp sharp tones, "my lords and ladies. Presenting 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. And, His Royal Highness Prince Rael Nohansen, Second Seat of the Royal House of Nohansen, Prince of Hylia, Blessed by the gods First Prince of Hyrule."
Rael followed Zelda's lead through the ornate hall doors into the throne room of Shaylin. Rael walked on Zelda's right hand side, matching her steps footfall for footfall with his chest out and his head held high. An occasion such as this required some grandeur, though he feared all parties involved would soon lose their grand airs when they heard that which he had to say.
Zelda was wearing a beautiful dress and a silk cloak, each as black as night, with not a trace of embroidery. Her golden hair was tied back with a black headscarf, though she kept a long fringe that concealed her left eye. Around her was an aura of quiet sadness that permeated everyone around her, and spread a feel of haunting regret. As a widow grieved for the death of her husband, she was a queen in mourning for the death of her people.
Rael too was wearing only his darkest clothing; a long sleeved black shirt, and a black tunic, with black breeches and black shoes. He had also taken the time to find a black scabbard in which to carry his sword, which now hung at his waist.
As they entered into the throne room, Rael observed that everyone inside was dressed in deep black. For Link, standing solitary, in the traditional black robes of the Marshal of Hyrule, this meant no change to his usual formal attire. He lived in constant mourning for the death of fighting soldiers. Elane was standing next to Link, watching the scene unfolding before her eyes with nervous interest.
Jaendral, standing close to the Amethyst Throne, looked no different than usual in his ceremonial black plate-mail. Ramades, dressed similarly to Rael, stood two sword-lengths away from Jaendral, at the other side of the throne. The two were giving each other uneasy glances, their hands never straying far from their sword hilts. They were both in contention for the rule of the Gerudos, and as such were watching each other like two hawks ready to catch the same creature.
Between them, seated upon the throne as though no force upon the earth could remove her, was Queen Lana. Far from wearing simple mourning clothes, it seemed her seamstress had taken the all-black theme as a challenge, for her black dress was the most elaborate clothing Rael has every seen her wear. Her black dress flowed over the white stone of the throne and down the steps, and accented her cleavage beyond all modesty. Her dark hair was fashioned up into an intricate patterns and curls.
When Zelda and Rael came near, Lana descended the throne and kneeled. Jaendral, Ramades, Link and Elane followed suit, kneeling down and bowing their heads low.
"You may rise," said Zelda clearly, in her most formal voice. One by one, rising in order of precedence, the nobility of Zelda's court here rose to their feet. Zelda was a queen in mourning, but she would not restrain herself from exercising her full authority today. When everyone was standing, Zelda began speaking again. "Some weeks ago I sent my son the Prince Rael and Elane el'Elaina as ambassadors to Shaylin from Hylia. I have learned that upon his arrival they were arrested and imprisoned for three days, and was not released until they themselves escaped their jail. For this crime against my House, and a citizen of my country, I lay full responsibility upon Queen Lana Dragmire.
"As the Prince Rael has already dealt with this matter, I will impose no sanctions against the guilty party. However it should be made clear that had I been the one to impose sanctions, then I would not have been quite so forgiving as Prince Rael." Lana said nothing, and bowed her head, unable to look up at the superior queen.
Zelda continued, "The Prince Rael was sent to Shaylin with the instruction to unite the three rival Gerudo factions, and appoint one ruler over them all. I should first condemn Jaendral Rashan, Ramades Madeena and Queen Lana Dragmire for not resolving this war many years ago. Your feud has cost this province many lives, and has brought it into conflict with Hylian lands on numerous occasions. Now I commend Prince Rael for bringing the people of the desert back together, even though their leaders still remain divided.
"I gave instructions that if no single ruler was seated upon the Amethyst Throne, uncontested, when I arrived here, then I would myself sit upon the Amethyst Throne and rule as its queen. I should now then assume the Amethyst Throne myself."
There was silence as all Jaendral, Ramades and Lana all listened intently, clearly greatly troubled at what was being said. "However," she went on, "there is no need. The Prince Rael has decided whom to appoint as the Gerudo monarch, and I invite him now to speak."
The silence was like a graveyard at night. No-one moved as Rael stepped forward to speak. Jaendral, Ramades and Lana all stared at him with faces conveying a myriad of emotions and thoughts. Desperation, pleading, warning, hope…
"I have made a decision," said Rael. "Lana Dragmire is to abdicate the Amethyst Throne forthwith. I rule that Elane el'Elaina is to be the new Queen of the Gerudos."
"What!?" exclaimed Lana, stepping forward and thrusting a finger at Elane. "Her!?" she shouted, as though disbelieving her own words. Elane had gasped audibly at Rael's announcement, and now stood wide eyed in a state of shock. "Is this a twisted joke?" she demanded of Rael. Rael returned her stare with a stony expression that conveyed that he was entirely serious. Lana looked to Zelda, "Your Majesty! This is madness!" Zelda showed no emotion, and said nothing.
Jaendral, who was as angered as Lana spoke up, "I agree," he said, "Your Highness is clearly deeply concerned with the capability of the Gerudo lords to rule their own people. Yet I urge him to reconsider. This defies all reason."
"Rael…" said Elane nervously. Lana was staring at her venomously.
Rael spoke up over the commotion. "The three of you have done your utmost to keep this land divided for nearly twenty years! You have split this nation apart as though they were three entirely different peoples. None of you are capable of maintaining unity in the days to come. We are at war with a terrible and ferocious enemy, and I need someone in whom I can place my trust here when I leave. I entrust this duty only to Elane, for she has shown loyalty beyond any you."
Rael reached into his pocket and curled his fingers around a cold object. "What's more, Elane has returned this to the desert." Now he pulled out of his pocket Elane's amethyst snake, hanging upon a golden chain. Its emerald green eyes glittered in the sunlight. Lana bowed her head like some fate had been sealed. "I found this outside in the streets of the city. I don't wish to know how it got there."
"My lord," said Lana.
"Silence!" shouted Rael, interrupting, "You knew, Lana. You knew. All this time, you knew what this meant, yet you tried to twist it to your own advantage."
"Knew what?" asked Jaendral.
Rael thrust the snake forwards. It spun on its chain, and purple light spilled through it to create spiralling patterns on the marble masonry. "It is prophesied that the bearer of the amethyst snake is the one who will reclaim the throne of their ancestors. They will reclaim the kingdom that was stolen from their forefathers by the Dragmire line."
The quiet in the room was unbearable. Lana was shaking visibly. Rael wished he knew what she was thinking, for he feared she would do something drastic in her desperation.
"My lord," said Ramades boldly, speaking for the first time, "you showed me mercy when I deserved death. Now I owe you my life. I will bow to your commands." He crossed the room towards Elane, and kneeled down before her. Elane was still speechless, unable to comprehend what was happening. "My Lady," said Ramades, "you have my allegiance."
He remained kneeling, waiting for something to be said. Elane was too nervous to speak so Rael thanked him. Ramades stood up and remained close to Elane.
Lana breathed deeply and assumed her full height. She was shorter than both Zelda and Rael, but one would not have thought so from her arrogant posture. "You traitor," she said to Ramades. She spat on the floor and stamped her foot. "You would betray your own blood? She is no Gerudo!"
"I obey the Queen of Hyrule," said Ramades flatly.
"Your Majesty," pleaded Lana to Zelda, "I pray that you do not agree with this?"
Zelda's stone was as cold as ice, as she said, "My son's word is the law."
Lana shook her head. "No! That isn't right. Look! He has lost his ring! He has no power here any more!"
Rael looked at his right hand, and suddenly realised that she was correct. The golden Eagle-and-Triforce ring that Zelda had given to him, the ring that gave him the authority of the monarch of Hyrule, was gone. Had he lost it in the desert? For a moment he feared all which he had said would be undone, and was relieved when Zelda spoke again.
"Whatever my son says today shall be law," she said, "ring or no ring."
"No!" exclaimed Lana, "I am the Amethyst Queen!" she walked towards Elane with fury. "If I cannot have the throne, then neither shall she!" A flash of silver alerted Rael to a dagger in Lana's hand, concealed between the folds of her skirts.
"Link!" he shouted to his father, who was standing nearby. Link moved upon instinct, but it was too late for either of them to react, for Lana was already bearing down upon the younger woman, her dagger keen upon her chest.
"Lana stop!" shouted Ramades, suddenly throwing himself between Lana and Elane. Elane fell backwards and hit the tiled floor hard. Lana clashed with Ramades, forcing herself into him with all her might. Link quickly grabbed hold of Lana and wrestled her away from the golden-haired Gerudo lord.
It was too late. Ramades fell to his knees, looking down at his chest with a pained expression. A bright silver hilt was protruding from the centre of his chest. Lana was laughing hysterically. Link let go of her and she stumbled back towards the doors. Ramades remained still for a moment, then collapsed onto the floor, lifeless.
"Ha!" shrieked Lana in manic delight, clapping her hands together. "One down, one remaining!"
Rael felt the steady pulse of his heart, beating like a deep bass drum, ringing loudly in his ears. His body seethed with anger. "No," he said to Lana, "it's over." Still holding the snake in his right hand he reached out towards Lana with his left hand, diverting magic through his fingers. Lana jerked, as though suddenly caught by invisible ropes. She gasped as Rael crushed her chest and bound her arms.
Lana tried in vain to break free of her invisible binds. Then she looked at everyone in the room, as her eyes became wide and bright. "Can you see him?" she said, breathily, "The man made of fire? His heart burns with passion." She laughed, and breathed her last breath. "The world is but glass beneath his feet."
There was a series of cracking sounds as Lana's chest bones snapped, and her ribcage collapsed into her heart and lungs. Rael released her, and she hit the floor hard, already dead. A shower of blood spewed out from her mouth across the carpets.
"Rael…" said Zelda, for the first time in her life looking at him fearfully.
Rael looked down at her with fierce eyes. "We are at war," he said. "Times change. People die."
Still overcome by intense anger he stormed out of the room, slamming the great wooden doors of the throne room behind him. He was going to save this world from destruction, whatever the cost to himself or any one person. No-one would stand between him and victory. No-one.