NOTE: I liked this note so much i decided to post it twice. This is a short chapter for a reason. that reason is guarded so well only jack bauer could pry it from me, and you are not jack bauer...or are you? post the longer (and better?) chapter 4 later this week, then i will be MIA for awhile as my life interrupts for a while. thanks for those who read, those who reviewed, those who read but did not review, and those who have yet to review, but already read, oh now this is just silly.
Chapter 3: The Invitation
Zelda's mouth still hung open while Impa sputtered a response. "Ei…Eight years ago? You were only a boy? How is that possible? How did you know what had happened? How did you even know of the book's existence?"
Link considered her questions for a minute. "Well, I am an orphan and about nine years ago I began wandering Hyrule. I was in the plain near the Lost Woods when I encountered a dying Sheikah warrior, his comrades all dead of the illness which you speak. He told me of the city in the mountain and the need to retrieve the book before he died. I assume he knew what the sickness must have meant. I buried him with his companions in the woods, and set off. Not knowing what else to do with the book, but feeling protecting it to be of utmost importance, I returned to the forest, and hid it deep within the Lost Woods, as I knew that people feared to enter. I spent the rest of my life wandering across Hyrule, attempting to learn as much as possible about the Book, Mudora, the Sheikah, and all of Hyrule by consulting academies, scholars and libraries. I eventually came to realize that the Princess was the only person who truly needed and could be trusted with the book; therefore I was determined to find a way to give it to her Highness. Given the security around and scarcity of your Highness' public appearances, this has been my first opportunity." Link bowed his head to Zelda as he finished, and waited in silence. That was all I could reveal for now, the Great Deku Tree was adamant that he remain a secret until after Zelda obtains the Triforce.
"I see, yes, there were a few Sheikah who died trying to get word of the sickness out, they showed up suddenly in remote towns and farms, passing on only a few words before dying. You see Link, the Sheikah were blessed by the Goddesses; immunity to sickness and disease and unnaturally long life were our reward for protecting and serving Irule's heirs. After the Arrival, we spread out across Hyrule, some destroying the monsters who hunted the Hylians; some continued the life of the Builders, constructing temples throughout Hyrule as testament to the Goddesses. We spent the last fifteen hundred years in this way, until the Shepard's betrayal. I had assumed that I was the last of the Sheikah until now, that Seana had perished due to the wasting disease, I hope your attack has ended her life, she deserves no less." Impa's violet eyes flashed again as she spoke of the traitor.
Links eyes followed Zelda as she stood from behind the table and walked round, gently placing a hand on Impa's shoulder in support. "We thank you for your service Link, Impa is correct, you have performed great and heroic deeds, and I believe that my father shall wish to thank you himself. Will you join us as we travel to Castletown? I suspect that you have more to tell, and I would feel safer if you would escort me personally."
Stunned momentarily, Link was at a loss for words. He thought this might be their request, but he was not prepared for Zelda's flattery. He rose from his chair, and bent to his knees. "It would truly be my honor to ride with you Highness. My life is at your service always."
Zelda smiled and the room seemed to brighten as though ten candles had been lit, "I certainly hope that it does not come to that Master Link. Let us join the townsfolk and the soldiers in the common room; I would like to thank them for their service and bravery. I am sure they wish to toast there fallen comrades, as would I."
As Zelda followed Link and Impa, flanked by the two guardsmen down the hall, the sounds of laughter and conversation from the common room drifted to her. The Hawk's Wing was doing booming business tonight, no doubt due to the unusually eventful day. Her mind was occupied with everything that Link had said. "It is almost too impossible, too incredible to believe. Possibly a thousand of soldiers died trying to get into the mountain and retrieve the book. For one man, no a boy to have accomplished that alone, it is like a fairy tale. I must write to my father tonight, he would want to know." Zelda's eyes lingered on Link as he walked calmly down the hall; he seemed oblivious to outlandish nature of his story. Impossibly, there was no doubt in her mind that he was telling the truth. It was a gift; Zelda almost always knew when she was being lied to.
Attempting to put her mind at ease, after everything she had seen and now heard she wanted to simply relax; Zelda informed the guards that she did not wish to be announced, as she didn't wish to interrupt the jovial mood. There was little she could do however to stop the people from noticing their arrival. Most of the conversation ended, although a few people could still be heard talking loudly, as Link entered in the lead. Silence hung over the room, and Link stopped suddenly and tensely, hiding Impa and Zelda from view. A great cheer and round of clapping erupted from the townsfolk, many of whom stood to applaud, a few were brave enough to come and clap Link on the shoulder offering to buy him a drink.
One middle aged man spied Zelda in the background while congratulating Link, and jumped a little, spilling his beer on his friends. With a fight about to break out, Zelda swept around Impa and Link into plain view, silencing the men and bringing them to their knees. Soon everyone in the common room was kneeling, and a thick silence clouding the room. Zelda scanned the crowd, grabbing Link by his arm to stop him from kneeling as well.
"My fellow citizens, please stand, you honor me too greatly. I do not wish to stop you from celebrating the heroism our friend and my guard. Their actions today have done me, Moiro, and all of Hyrule a great service. They are our heroes tonight, let us honor them." Zelda brought her finger tips to her lips and placed them on Link's cheek, an old tradition in Hylian fairy tales, a sign of gratitude and favor. To Zelda's enjoyment, Link blushed abundantly. "So he does have some emotion." The townspeople laughed and clapped, a few boys in the back were even brave enough to whistle playfully, before being hit by the serving girls and older men. Zelda laughed nervously, blushing slightly with embarrassment, and missed the sour looks on some of the guards. "Perhaps I was too forward."
Master Rourke came round from the bar and led Zelda to a table near the entrance, in the front of the common room. Link and Impa joined her, and the active guards took up their places at the entrance. There was a crowd of off duty soldiers in the corner, playing cards and dice over drinks, talking with the young women of the town. They appeared hesitant to continue with Zelda in the room, but Impa simply waived for them to continue as they were.
"Mr. Rourke, I would like a round for everyone here in the inn please, and place the cost for all of the soldier's drinks tonight with my room as well." The inn keeper nodded, a gracious smile and bow later he was taking orders. Though Zelda was not particularly fond of drinking and particularly her soldiers drinking excessively, she thought it was the least she could do to ease their pain and reward them. "I wonder if Link is a heavy drinker. He doesn't seem it. Why isn't he looking at me?"
Zelda was frustrated at Link's apparent reverence of her nobility. She was quite certain that he was attracted to her, but he barely had looked at her all evening. That look he gave when he first saw her this evening; that was all she wanted. Determined to draw his attention, he was simply gazing about the room; she decided to strike up conversation, but found she couldn't think of anything to say. Goddesses, why am I so nervous? "So…Link, what will you do after we return to Castletown?" There, that was simple, not too forward, and nothing personal. Nice and simple, I can do this.
Link brought his eyes to rest on her and smiled, "Those mysterious eyes, oh no, breathe Zelda, there you go, relax, you're a Princess of Hyrule, you could have him killed if you wanted, just relax, and be yourself, or maybe someone more interesting. What would Impa do?" Zelda got no help there; her guardian wasn't paying attention, lost in her own thoughts, no doubt thinking about what they had said at dinner. Turning back to Link, she realized that he was speaking.
"I am not really sure Highness. I hadn't thought about it. Since I retrieved the Book those eight years ago, researching it, finding it a home and returning it has been my life's purpose. I suppose I shall resume wandering Hyrule, it is a great country, and there is much I still have to see."
"I envy your freedom Link, each day I think that I should like to lead such a life, to avoid the attention and the commotion of the castle. But, I do not think I could bear to be so alone, perhaps I am simply afraid." It was true; at times she found her royal life burdensome, though she knew in her heart that she was blessed. Money, food, shelter, these were not things she had to worry about, as many of her people did. She looked at Link, who was considering her silently. His blue eyes appeared to search within her, it was slightly unnerving, but at the same time somehow comforting. Why have I never met anyone like this before?
"No Princess, I do not think you are afraid, you are in love." Zelda's breath caught in her throat, but Link pressed on without noticing. "You love your people too much to abandon the great duty you know you must fulfill. Destined to become a Queen, to rule all of Hyrule, it is a burden I could not possibly imagine. That is what ties you to the castle. As for me, I have no great fate, and therefore I am free to roam." She let out a sigh, he smiled again, it was kind smile, but also knowing, as if he had seen and heard everything there was to know about Zelda. It made her heart race, and she could feel her face flush.
"Thank you Link…that was most kind….perhaps you are right, but I doubt very much that I have your courage, Farore herself must have blessed you. So are you sure that is what you want, to journey from place to place, with no home of your own? You are great swordsman; perhaps you could join the army? As we have seen today, darkness is spreading across Hyrule, and more people than me will be in danger."
"Highness, it would be an honor to serve Hyrule and you always, however.. "
Zelda interrupted Link suddenly, though he didn't seem to mind. That's it! Me…of course, I can't believe I didn't think of this. "Link, do you know of the festival celebrating the summer solstice?"
"Yes Highness, I believe that it is also to commemorate your birthday as well. You will be seventeen I believe?"
"Yes, yes, thank you. Link, each year during the festival there is a great tournament, where soldiers and swordsmen from across all of Hyrule come to test themselves. In older days, the winner of the competition would be granted the right to petition to join the Knights of Hyrule, an ancient and proud order dedicated to protecting the Royal Family and the Triforce. To be a Knight, you had to be of the bloodline, or you had to win the tournament, there was no other way. Unfortunately, as you may or may not know, the line of Knights ended over fifteen years ago when the Knights were massacred at the coast by an unknown force. Without the Knights, my father was forced to create the Royal Guard, a force of the finest soldiers of Hyrule who have been tested in battles across the land. We hold the tournament still, to honor the Knights, and the winner now joins the Royal Guard. I believe that you should enter the tournament Link, I am certain that you would win." Zelda finished speaking, a little out of breath. She noticed a few of the townsfolk looking around at her sudden excitement, but they quickly turned away as they met her gaze. It is perfect.
"Thank you Highness, you honor me too greatly. However, I believe that entrance in the tournament needs to be sponsored by a Lord or Lady of Hyrule; I do not know any of these people." Zelda could not tell if he was relieved or saddened by this, his face was indecipherable, she was rapidly suspecting that was intentional. She laughed joyfully, and placed her hand on his. They were strong hands, but surprisingly soft.
"You know me Link."
Zelda walked aimlessly along the streets of Castletown, smiling at the citizens who were busy preparing for the festival. Everywhere they went people were hustling through the streets, carrying baskets of food and casks of drink. City workers with straw brooms were clearing the previous night's debris, tens of thousands of happy Hylians left behind quiet the mess, but the festival had barely begun. The King had ordered the streets had been cleared throughout the night in preparation for the sudden and unexpected wedding of his beloved daughter.
The sun was hidden by morning haze, but she was not cold. She wore airy blue robes that trailed long behind her on the flagstone streets. Around her neck the triforce necklace that Impa had given her. Link walked hand and hand with her, dressed in his customary green tunic, his handsome face fixed with a joyous expression. After her return to Castletown, he was an instant hero, the people of Hyrule loved him, and so had the King. He had proved himself by easily winning the Knights tournament, and as a reward for his service, he was to be Knighted, the first Knight in almost ten years, and they to be married that very afternoon. Zelda could not contain her joy, she was euphoric beyond her wildest dreams.
Stopping to help an elderly lady load her pack mule, a crowd began to form around Link, congratulating him on his achievements and good fortune. Abruptly, a man in blood stained brown robes appeared in the square in front of them, a great sword in his hands. He was larger than any man she had ever seen, he had dark skin that he been too long exposed to the sun, and hair red like the evening sun. At his feet lay dead bodies of blonde haired women and children, contorted in horror and pain. Rats and vultures swarmed to feed on them mercilessly, and their blood ran through the cracks of the streets to her uncovered feet. She felt the warmth of it against her feet, as though it was staining her soul.
Link sprang into action without faltering, plunging his sword deep into the man's stomach before he could be stopped. The dark man bellowed a great laugh, deep and awful, pulling the sword from his torso, and crushed it in his hand. With a great sweep of his own sword he cast Link aside like a child's doll, sending him toppling into a merchant's cart. Zelda screamed in horror, and rushed to Link, but the dark man blocked her path.
With his left hand he tore her robes from her, and pushed her to the ground. Zelda struggled feebly to cover her naked bodies, tears of shame flowing from her. The dark man laughed hoarsely, "Finally, I have you, daughter of Alish, blight of my existence, and now it shall be mine, as is my right!" He grabbed her neck, ignoring her weak attempts to fight him off, and lifted her high off the ground. Dropping his sword, he plunged his hand at her necklace, and through her breast. She screamed…
"NO! GET AWAY! PLEASE GODDESSES NO!" Zelda bolted up suddenly, her silk shift stuck to her body in sweat. Heavy breaths forced themselves through her lungs, and the salt of her tears burned into her mouth. She gripped at her breasts, searching for the wound the man created.
"Princess! Zelda, calm down, its ok, it was just a dream, just a dream, your ok." Zelda was dimly aware that Impa was already in her room, and had enveloped her in a great embrace to stop her shaking. Light from the hallway spilled in through the open door; wiping away tears, Zelda could see the guards rushing to form a ring outside. Impa lit an oil lamp and shut the door. Sitting on the bed again, she wrapped Zelda up in a hug, stroking her wet hair and humming softly. Timed passed slowly as Zelda continued to cry deep into the night.