Chapter 4: Before the Wall
The sun had not yet crossed the horizon, and fog hung in the air as Link walked silently through the soldier's camp to the small stream they were encamped next to. It had been over a week and a half since they left Moiro, they were far beyond the last town before the capital, and he had taken to scouting the road ahead each morning before they set off. Perhaps because was uncomfortable in the camp; some of the soldiers apparently had not been too thrilled that he was accompanying them, and the attention he received from Zelda. "I doubt that Lady's Kiss helped either." He did not notice that his hand lingered on his cheek, as it always did when he though of it. Still, he preferred not be among most of the soldiers unless they were on the road, where he spent the majority of the time riding and talking with the Princess. Solitude had been his life until a week ago, and he still found the adjustment difficult.
He kneeled beside the stream and splashed some water on his face to wake up. Whistling softly, he heard Epona come splashing across the water. Link never felt the need to tie her up at night with the other horses; he knew that she would not leave him. Leading her beyond the fires of the camp, he waived at Troy, who had the last night watch. At least some of the guards were friendly with him.
After he had walked her out about fifty paces, he leapt onto Epona's saddle and nudged her to a trot. They followed the North Road towards Castletown, which they should reach by mid afternoon. Slowly the grey light of dawn crept across landscape as he kicked Epona into a light canter. After about an hour he crested a hill and looked down on the great plain that stretched from here until the capital. Yellow farms dotted the green field to the horizon like a great quilt. Hyrule was quiet, as it had been every day before, but some unknown danger lingered in his mind and he trusted his instincts.
Link turned Epona around and guided her back to the camp, stopping along the way to place wooden markers on selected trees beside the road. During their trip Zelda had insisted on Link teaching her how to use the bow each night they stopped, and he had been carving these since they left Moiro. She was already a passable archer when they began, but she kept telling him how she wanted to be a great warrior Queen like the fairytales. He supposed the encounter at the forest was driving her, he knew something was on her mind. Today being their last day, he had promise to teach her how to shoot as the Gerudo do from horseback.
In return, Link had spent much of his time riding and talking with Zelda, mostly about Hyrule's history and magic. She had first broached the subject on their second day on the road, as they passed through a small wood.
"Hyrule is a land rooted in magic Link and everyone one of us are tied to it. For centuries our people roamed the world, searching for this place, for this land, it called to us, even though we had never been here. The Goddesses themselves blessed this land when they first created the world. It was through Hyrule that the gateway to their land was first fashioned, and in that land the Triforce was placed." Her voice rose excitedly, it was clearly a great passion of hers, a knowledge that she was particularly proud of.
"Each piece of the Triforce represents the will of one of the Goddesses, Din's Power, Nayru's Wisdom, and Farore's Courage. Together in the Sacred Triforce they provide the source of the world's life and magic, the last testament to the Goddesses love of our world. Through Hyrule this energy flows across the earth, which is why we and all the races of Hyrule are so blessed. This power directs the world, and all its people.
"Through study, we have learned that certain people can consciously…I suppose the best way to say it is bend…yes, you can bend this energy around the physical world, like so." Zelda closed her eyes slightly, and took in deep breathes. Link thought she was about to fall asleep when she suddenly opened her eyes and pointed her hand at a nearby tree. From the tree flew three apples, which she proceeded to dance and juggle in mid air over her outstretched hands. Finally she floated an apple to Link, one to herself, and one to a squirrel that crouched on the edge of a tree branch off the wood. To his amazement, the squirrel stretched to take it out of the air, like he knew it was coming.
"People throughout all of Hyrule, and probably the world do this, most of them subconsciously. We pray to the Goddesses for things, or we wish in a moment of intense emotion of something, and almost miraculously it happens; sick people get better, we avoid certain injury, or simply an improbable series of events happens in your benefit.
"In ancient times, even before Hyrule, the people who first discovered this magic and learned of the Triforce, they had a legend; that a person who found the Triforce and touched it, they would be granted whatever wish they desired. They did not know that the Triforce would not yield to a malicious wish, to an evil person. One day a man named Ganondorf, an outcast Hylian full of rage, attempted to do just that. The triforce was spilt, the Triforce of Power was left in Ganondorf's possession, and the Triforces of Wisdom and Courage came to Hyrule, under the Possession of Mudora of the Sheikah.
"That is why the Book you have brought us is so important. It tells of the power of the Triforce, the Prophesy of Ganondorf's return…"
"Of how a Princess marked by the Nayru would lay claim to the Triforce of Wisdom, defeat Ganondorf, and lead her people into an age of untold prosperity and peace."
Zelda smiled at Link's interruption. "Yes, that too is piece of prophesy, and is why I and every Princess of Hyrule before me have been schooled in magic. Your study of the Book of Mudora must have been deep to learn that, few know of that piece of the Prophesy."
Link put the last marker on the tree before turning back up the road into camp. The soldiers had struck down all the tents and most of the horses were saddled when he arrived. Zelda sat astride the grey stallion, Mou Roua, Moiro in Ancient Hylian; the town had given it to her, their prize stallion. Zelda had had taken to calling him Roua. She already had her bow and arm-guard out, and an eager look on her face. They had stopped in a small town along the way, where she had bought herself the small carved bow, the guard's and Link's had been a bit too big for her, and a white leather bound quiver, embroidered in silver, which hung off her small waist. Much like Zelda herself, they appeared to be simply delicate decorative pieces, but held surprising power.
Link rode up next to Zelda, "Well Highness, I am sorry to say this will be our last lesson, it has been my pleasure to teach you."
A mysterious smile creased her face, "Oh I don't know Link, we still have the sword and shield, and knives…why, I imagine we shall spend a great deal of time together at the castle."
A warm breeze lifted Zelda's long blonde in the air behind her as the company climbed the last hill beyond Castletown Field. Excitement coursed through her veins, she had not been home in months. She missed her father most of all, but she also missed the activity of the castle. It had been her request that she be the one to go on this trip. The idea had been to raise the morale of the outlying villages; strange things had been happening in Hyrule, fierce storms, strange sicknesses affecting crops and animals, and as Zelda had witnessed first hand, monsters once again roamed Hyrule Plain. A dark mood hung over all of Hyrule, she could feel the difference in the air; it was unnatural.
Taking into consideration the horror of the gohma, the trip was still a success to her. More tradesmen and merchants we on the road again, behind her company rode a great caravan that had followed her like a traveling market since leaving Castletown. Because of her trip, merchants that had been afraid to travel were back on the road. In each city, town and village she had visited, more and more people had promised to come to the festival at the end of the month. "Yes, we did succeed…even if people are afraid of beasts like the gohma; they have seen that Hyrule's military can handle them. It will give them hope. And we found Link…." She felt her cheeks flush, as they always did when she though of Link these days.
Zelda had tried not to become too enamored with him, she really did, telling herself that she could not afford to be distracted these days, that they came from different worlds, had difference responsibilities, but none of it had worked. In less than a week she was certain that he was the love of her life, though admittedly she had ever been in love. "But wouldn't I know it when I found it?" She was certain that she would. Link drew her gaze as he road beside Corporal Troy on the North Road. He appeared to be showing him the technique that he had illustrated to Zelda on horseback archery. "I actually think I did quite well – "
Silent screams of pain and cries of terror tore into her mind, blinding her thoughts, as unwitting intruders danced in her heart. They were trapped inside a stone barn, fire raged across the roof, the horses and cows screamed and collided in terror. Zelda swayed in her saddle, grasping the reigns tight to keep on her horse. Breathe came ragged, and she began coughing uncontrollably, as though she herself was caught in the fire. Sweat beading on her head and under her dress, the heat of the distant flames burned her skin without a mark. The soldiers slowed around her, attempting to puzzle out her strange behavior. Attempting to gain control, Zelda shifted her minds attention to outside the barn, and truly screamed herself. As terrible as the gohma had been, this was worse, unbelievably worse. An evil so dark it threatened to consume her, but unlike the gohma it was ordered, calculating.
"LINK! Impa! Quickly, over the hill, at the ranch, a Dragon! We have to help them; they're trapped in the fire!" The entire company halted as she screamed. Link wasted no time; he didn't even turn to look at her. He kicked Epona into a sprint up the hill. Impa followed suit, catching up with him as he crested the hill.
Zelda forced control over her mind, pushing away her fear and reaching out to find the minds of the trapped ranchers. Two older men…one passed out…. a young girl, maybe a year older than her. "Don't worry, we are coming, help is coming." Zelda hoped that her message got through, she had had poor results with this type of magic, and there was no one alive who could really teach her this. It was beyond Impa's ability, all she knew was that it was easier to do with someone she knew personally, someone she was close with, like Impa or her father, and then only at close distance for some reason. Risking a little, she again stretched out her mind to attempt to find the dragon. She could not make contact again, and it did not surprise her. From everything she had read dragons were power magical creatures, with advanced minds and defenses against magic. "A dragon, there hasn't been a dragon in Hyrule in over a thousand years. What is behind this?"
Link stopped when he reached the top of Talamora Hill, the Queen's View as it was called. From here all of Castletown Field was visible and the spires of Hyrule Castle were first seen from the south. He could see the shining white walls of the city miles into the distance, and the many farms and houses that dotted the landscape around the city. A great column of soldiers suddenly burst from the city gates, cavalry first, followed by foot soldiers and archers. He followed their path south to a great ranch, enclosed by stone walls. Its many barns and buildings were ablaze, and there was the dragon, perched on the walls, its talons crushing the rocks as it moved.
It was a massive creature, half again the size of the barn from nose to tail. Horns protruded harshly from its crown, and its tail whipped violently around. Great black wings beat against the air, lifting the dragon up, and its thick red and black scales undulated as the creature sucked in air before violently spewing a great jet of fire. Flames engulfed the walls and buildings, blackening the stone and lighting the thatch ablaze. The trees and crops were already burnt to the roots, and ash lay scattered across the ground. A tower of smoke was caught in an east wind, blowing into the dragons face. It dropped to the ground inside the walls, its body wrapping around the barn, which it beat with its tail. The roof was ablaze and crumbling, the people inside had little time.
Link judged the distance between himself and the farm perhaps a mile. He turned in his saddle to face Impa, "Do not let the Princess pass this hill. If we cannot defeat it, you might be able to escape to the south. I will draw its attention and lead it away from the ranch; the soldiers must get them out of that building, it will not hold on much longer." It did not occur to him that he was in no position to give orders, and if Impa found it odd she did not say so. She simply nodded at Link, who took off down the hill without a word.
Lon Lon Ranch was the most prosperous farm surrounding Castletown, famed for the quality of its milk and horses. Link's own horse had come from the ranch some seven years ago, and he was familiar with the friendly owners. He cut west off the road, Epona was at a blazing speed, leaping bushes and stone without hesitation, Link did not doubt she knew that her home was in trouble. Epona was an amazingly intelligent animal, perhaps more thoughtful that her owner. Half way to the gates he drew his bow and prepped an arrow. I'll have to be perfect, it'll tear me apart if I give it a chance.
Link approached the ranch, and guided Epona up to the southern wall and followed it around slowly. To the north the sound of the soldiers advance was clearly heard, "I need to get the dragon out before they get here." The dragon's body encircled the barn that lay to the right of the path, its yellow eye darting left and right, trying to divine the location of its prey, its wing fanning the flames upon the roof. A sulfuric stink hung in the air around the ranch, and black smoke drifted from the dragon's nostrils. Link slowly drew his bow, careful not to make sudden movements. Measuring the distance, he took aim at the dragon's eye, the twang of his bow string hung in the air for only a moment, before the dragon's painful screech filling the air. He had struck directly in the beast's eye, blood flowed endlessly as the dragon thrashed about, involuntarily exhaling fire into the air and across the grass.
Link walked Epona into the center of the path, backing away from the gates and fired another arrow, which glanced off the dragon's scales. The beast turned his head around, and found Link with his good eye. It let out a roar of anger and surged forward blindly, its large horns striking the top of the gates. Stuck, it could not open its jaw wide enough to spew fire, but Link could feel the heat of its breath stream from its black nostrils, and see the man sized fangs under his curled lips. He quickly let loose another arrow into the good eye, blinding the dragon, and wheeled away. Even without vision, it would be able to smell and hear him.
The walls crumbled as the dragon beat its wings in anger, lifting it off the ground through the gate. It launched a stream of fire after Link, but missed wide to the left by twenty paces. Link guided Epona left and right in the open field, as the dragon glided above him, straining to hear. Link took aim at its underbelly, hoping that it might be soft enough to pierce, but the shaft broke harmlessly on the skin. Dropping his bow and quiver, Link continued to ride away from the ranch, back and forth across the field as the dragon spewed fire behind him. After they had gone a few miles from the ranch, he threw off his shield and drew two long curved Gerudo knives from his belt. Spinning in his saddle to face the dragon, he kicked for Epona to speed up. She did not let him down, tearing straight across the field.
Link yelled incoherently, trying to gain the monsters attention. It worked all too well, as the dragon changed course in the air, wrapping its great wings around and dived at him. Steadying himself with one hand, Link crouched in his saddle, his foot against his saddle pommel. He waited as the dragon flew closer; at twenty paces behind them it opens its wings and beat the air driving forward, at ten it opened its mouth, ready to burn them to ash. Link pushed off the saddle, leaping into the air, hanging for a moment, before colliding violently with the snout of the dragon. His cap flew away in the wind as he rolled along the snout trying desperately to dig his daggers into the scales. Pain exploded in his right thigh as his leg was skewered on one of the dragon's horns adorning its brow.
The dragon roared, and thrashed his head about, attempting to dislodge Link, which only served to deepen his injury and pain. Link drove his dagger into the brow to steady himself, and began pounding on the horn protruding through him with his free hand. It was incredibly hot atop the dragon; he imagined that his clothes and skin were burning. He could feel his body weakening as his vision darkened and grayed. Sweat and blood flowed equally, he muscles tired beyond his expectations. The horn finally cracked, succumbing to his blows, and he pulled himself on top of the beasts head slowly, pushing off his still protruding arrows, carefully to avoid the horns. Struggling and wriggling, he withdrew his broad sword and steadied himself as blood gushed from his wound, adding to his difficultly to stay atop of the dragon. It was almost a blessing that he couldn't see as the dragon began twisting and twirling in the sky.
Almost magically he felt a surge of energy, and he risked taking his hand off his dagger to drive his sword into the skull of the dragon as powerfully as he could. The silence of flight was pierced by a sharp roar of agony, ending in a spurt of flame. Placing all his weight behind it he drove the hilt of his sword to the scales as he felt himself drop high from the sky, wind billowing up his tunic. Minutes, perhaps hours passed in his mind, agony his only companion, before they collided with the ground, the horn passing through completely as his body tumbled off the dead beast, and his bones broke across the plain. Strangely he though he saw an enormous forest fairy fly across the plain towards him, her ethereal light was like second sun in the afternoon sky. He smiled dimly as she approached, and lost consciousness before he could ask her name.
Horror filled Zelda as she watched Link tear across the plain, away from the ranch. Her heart would have exploded out of her chest if not for being lodged in her throat. The blinded dragon flew erratically behind him, jets of fire streaming from his mouth. She wanted to scream for Link to run away, to save himself, but somehow she was captivated by his insane action. As he had before at the Moiro forest, he appeared to be in complete control of the situation. His attack was fluid, both aggressive and reactive with equal comfort. He wasted no motion; fear never caused him a moment's pause.
A force of ten guardsmen, led by Captain Morann, had taken off for the burning ranch, and a feeling of relief had swept across the connection between Zelda and the trapped farm hands when they were saved. The large force that poured out of Castletown split up, a quarter of them had set up a water line and was attempting to douse the flames. The remaining force was following Link and the dragon, though they appeared to have a hard time keeping up. Her remaining guards had formed up around her, their attention held rapt by Link's heroism.
A collective gasp from the company rose in the air as Link leapt from his saddle onto the dragon. Zelda could see the blood erupt into the air as he collided with the sharp horns of the dragon's brow. Unconsciously she reached out with her mind, dropping herself from her senses. Using only her mind she could feel the state of a person through their emotions. As he had done before Link projected himself as a great light, blinding in purity and strength. She wrapped her spirit around the light as though she was air itself, felt its warmth and comfort fade quickly, she knew Link was losing strength. He was gravely injured; black smoke began to obscure the light of his spirit. Panicking, Zelda summoned all her strength and poured her energy into Link, willing his light to shine even brighter. She was rewarded as her spirit was overcome by a flare of impossible radiance shining in her mind. Love, courage, strength, happiness, laughter, a thousand emotions and feelings flooded her mind.
Abrupt cheering awakening her senses, she opened her eyes, breaking her connection and focusing to see Link drive his sword into the creature's brain, causing the beast to drop from the sky. The dragon reared back in agony and suspended in the air for but a moment, before tumbling out of the sky, and crashing into the earth, sending dirt and soil high into the air. Instinctively she spurred her horse down the hill, through the guard and across the field towards Link. Franticly she reached out for his spirit again as she watched his body roll and bounce limp across the field, but she couldn't find it. Impa and the guards screamed for her to stop, to slow down, but her mind barely registered their existence. "Dear Goddess, I think he might be dead. Faster." If she had been interested, she might have noticed that her skin was taking on an unusual golden tinge, she was drawing in incredible amounts of magic, calling forth power from the depths of the earth itself. Like a fallen star in the summer sky she streaked across the field on her horse, a trail of dust the only evidence they tread on the land.
They easily overtook the galloping Epona, who had felt the call of her master as keenly as Zelda. Leaping from the saddled she appeared to glide through the air as she dropped next to Link. As he lay on his back, his body bruised and bloodied a great number of his bones clearly broken. She kneeled beside his chest, cutting off his tunic and undershirt with her belt knife. Purple bruises crept across his chest and stomach; burn marks turned his pale skin to glossy red blotches. A gaping hole was punctured through his thigh; the blood flowing from it discolored the grass and turned the dirt to mud. Sweat beaded across his forehead and fell to the ground in quiet droplets.
Zelda placed her hands over his heart, extending her spirit through her fingertips like a web into his body, delving deep until she had found every broken bone, every torn sinew and ruptured muscle. His organs were a mess, dislodged and torn. Where before his spirit had been the rising sun now he was like a wick of an extinguished candle. He was going to die unless she did something, if she even could. There may not have been a single healer in all of Hyrule that could save him, and if there was, they certainly weren't there at the time.
She began by drawing forth energy from the land, pouring the life of the earth into Link, willing his body to heal unnaturally fast. As she drew from the earth, the grass turned brown, flower petals fell to the ground, and the stems withered and turn to ash. Link's bones began mending, unsettling popping noise coming from his joints and chest as they were rebuilt. Next she poured the energy into his muscles, repairing and restoring the torn strands, rebuilding from bone to the skin. The earth cracked as though parched from a ten year drought, there was no grass, weed or tree left I within a hundred paces of them, dust rose in the air like a desert wind. His breathing returned to normal, bruises still adorned his body, but his fever was broken. The wound in his leg has sealed up though blood still flowed. His heart was the last concern; it beat weakly beneath his chest. She had reached the limit of her ability to draw directly from the earth, but there was still more to be healed.
Looking at her hands on his chest, Zelda noticed the golden hue of her skin. The air around her shimmered as in the noon day summer heat, and understanding dawned in her mind. She poured out herself, and all the energy she had drawn in. Into his veins, against the flow of blood to the heart, she poured her strength like drum beats. Links heart became strong, and her spirit flowed in faster pulses. Drawing herself out, she suddenly felt a pull from Link's spirit. She attempted to draw herself out again, but she was pulled in deeper. Link's body was pulling all of her energy, all the magic and life within her into him, and she could no longer distinguish between herself and him. The incredible light that she had seen within her mind before was growing stronger, overcoming her and consuming her…
Zelda was wandering through a forest alone, but that was nothing new, she was always alone. She reflected on the day's events to the sounds of streams bubbling in the dark forest, birds sang and the trees rustled in the wind. The entire forest had gathered to celebrate her arrival six years ago. She supposed that she should be happy, but her heart was melancholy, something was missing. Without warning two wolves burst from the brush cutting across her path, they didn't stop, or give any sign they even saw her. Looking into the wood, a skeleton hand emerged from the darkness, attempting to grab her. Leaping back deftly, she picked up a broken branch, and faced her enemy. It was the size of a small child, an eerie skeleton figure held together by some unseen force, which held a roughly carved spear and wooden shield. It wore ragged green tunic and a poorly carved wooden helmet.
Beady red eyes moved restlessly in empty sockets, illuminating the dark recesses of its skull. "You don't belong here Hylian; I'll send what's left of your body to the Plain, after I've had my fill." A hollow laugh ended the creature's threat, but Zelda didn't wait for it finish. She dashed forward, swiping at its head with her broken branch. A loud crack testified to her true aim, and the skull flew from spine. The creature continued to laugh, its skull buried in the dirt, while its body continued to swipe and poke at her with its spear. Diving at the ground, she rolled under its attacks, and took out its legs with a backward swipe. Pushing off the ground, she ran at the skull, driving her boot into its skull. Fragments and broken teeth flew into the air, and the skeleton body crumbled apart behind her.
Looking around, she turned down the forest path, breaking into a run. The rhythmic thump of her boot was the only sound in the forest now, and she ran without stopping until she reached a great clearing. There was massive tree, bathing in the rainbow light of thousands upon thousands of fairies a flight in its branches. A number of children about her size or shorter ran about beneath the branches, hiding in the roots, and climbing up the knots trying to reach its branches. She skidded to a stop in front of the trees, the shadows of the forest painting a face on the great bark.
A great voice reverberating across the clearing, "What troubles you Link?"
A voice came from her throat, but it was not here own. There was something wrong, but Zelda couldn't quite figure it out. "I was attacked by another monster Great Forest Spirit. I defeated it, but it said something I didn't understand, it called me a 'Hylian'. I was hoping you could tell me what that means." A voice called out behind her, it was her friend Saria who was entering the clearing, she waived excitedly as she ran to Zelda's side.
"Yes, I can see that…Link, I am afraid that I must tell you something very disturbing, something I wished I would never have to tell you…"
Hard rain drenched the forest in a sudden downpour, she turned to grab Saria and head for the forest village, but she wasn't there. Looking around, Zelda realized she wasn't in the forest at all, she stood atop a roof top in Castletown, and despite the downpour a great crowd lined the street below her. She held a long dagger in her strong hands, and her eyes searched endlessly across the crowd. A trumpet sounded in the distance, and a roar erupted from the crowd. A parade of soldiers in blue cloaks and burnished steel armor marched in front of a young girl, perhaps fourteen years old, who rode atop a white horse. She wore a dark red dress, and a silver crown adorned her head. A great caravan of servants and soldiers followed her. The crowds threw flower petals before her, singing and dancing. The Princess waived cordially at her subjects, gracing them all with a smile.
As the caravan reached the building Zelda perched on, two wiry men leapt from the crowd at the Princess, one waiving a crossbow, the other a mace. They screamed something unintelligible and ran at the Princess. A cry of panic erupted from the crowd, obscuring the flash of metal that soared from the rooftops into the neck of the crossbowmen. Collapsing in death he fell to the ground, his bow firing into his partner, the bolt lodged in his forehead. They both fell dead at the feet of the Princess' horse. The soldiers in the streets hurried to her side, locking their shields together, encircling the now dismounted Princess, and hurrying her up the streets under their protection. With the threat of being searched by the remaining soldiers the crowds disbursed in a cacophony of cries and hysterical tears. Her task complete, Zelda leapt from the roof onto her horse in an alleyway and sped away.
The clop of the hoofs on the cobbled streets transformed to the thud of packed dirt, Zelda raced across the field, hugging the wooden railing beside her horse, chasing a red haired girl on a dapple stallion. They leapt a barrier together, and with a final surge off the turn Zelda swept past the red haired girl, through the white chalk drawn hastily on the earth. The mid day sun shone down above them on a perfect Hylian spring day. Heeling her mare, Zelda turned to face her defeated opponent.
"I think that's enough free milk to last me a live time Malon! Pretty soon you'll owe me the entire ranch!" Again words left Zelda's mouth but not her own voice, it troubled her for only a moment before she was distracted by her friend.
"We should have never sold you that horse Link! It's not fair! I'll never be able to beat you!" Malon dismounted in a huff, storming off to the barn. With a chuckle, Zelda followed her, knowing her friend's fiery temperament came with her hair. She wandered through the barn into the stables, searching the stalls for her. In the last stable, where the name "EPONA" was carved in a child's hand, sat Malon, her face smothered in her palms, silent tears streamed down her face.
"Hey, what's the matter red? Why so gloomy, it's just a race? I know you'd beat me if I wasn't riding your horse." Zelda kneeled beside the hay stack Malon sat on, and gently took her hands away from her face. Puffy red eyes and blotched freckled skin looked back at her.
"I…I don't care about the race. I just…I just don't want you to…to…to leave. Now that you have Epona, I know you'll be setting off again, off to save your perfect Princess! Off to risk your life for her. She doesn't even know you exist! Why can't you just stay here with me and dad! You…you can keep working on the ranch, or…or I'll do your chores for you, please just stay. Stay with me!" Fiercely, Malon griped the back of her hair, and kissed her.
Pulling away from the kiss Zelda looked into the eyes of the Gerudo girl who was five years her senior without a word. Deeply drawn breaths and the desert winds were the only sounds between them all night. The rising sun exposed the red hair that fell across her face and down her bare back. Dark tan lines marked the wear of her forgotten blouse and billowing pants, exposing the pale skin hidden from the desert suns effect. Unclasping a talisman necklace from around Zelda's neck, the Gerudo girl rolled off Zelda and the bed, wrapping herself in airy blue robe.
"Your debt to us is now repaid in full Link of the Lost Woods. From this day forth you may come and go as you please, forever welcome in the lands of the Gerudo. Shall I inform Nabooru that you will be leaving us tonight? She tells me that you are eager to return to Hyrule and your quest. I should tell you that there would be…advantages to sticking around. Every girl of age entered to fight for this right, and I shall take pleasure of informing them of their unfortunate loss. I doubt, however, that my being first would stop their…desire. The only man to defeat Nabooru in single combat…you are quite the catch. I am sure that your Princess could survive another year without your secret protection." She turned and smiled deviously at Zelda. "And I can only imagine if you had another year's…growth in you…well, I guess that we shall never know."
The girl walked across the room, toward the balcony, stopping at a great wooden chest that was gilded in gold and silver, at the top of the chest, carved into the wood and inlaid in jewels lay the crest of the Royal Family. "We have had this chest in my family for hundreds of years. My mother always treasured in. I, however, was always much more fascinated by this." Opening the top, she removed an old leather bound book. It had no markings on it at all, but Zelda could tell from where she lay it was ancient. "I could never read it, but the pictures were fascinating. Perhaps it shall help you on your quest."
She handed it to Zelda, who opened the book to the middle, on the right page a drawing of two women holding two golden triangles in the air, on the left page an ancient illuminated script. Closing the book Zelda looked up at the elderly man across the table from her. He peered through a thick looking glass, his shallow skin and wispy white hair making him look rather like an ancient book with bad bindings. She was in a vast library; books towered above her on all sides. Ladders on wheels were perched against the shelves, and tables weighed down with piles and piles of scrolls and books dotted the floor.
"Well my Lord, I just don't know. It appears obvious to me that her Highness Princess Zelda is the Princess of the prophecy. Her mother's unfortunate demise, her birth on the summer solstice, the increase in the demons and monsters that roam Hyrule, they were all foretold, recorded countless times throughout history. I cannot tell you however when Power will return to this world, there is no time reference here. I am sorry; I wish that I had a better answer for you."
"That is quite alright Master Rauru, I didn't have much hope anyway. Across all of Hyrule have I searched, apparently in vain…" Zelda had hoped the Royal Archives would have shed light where all the scholars and collections in Hyrule had not. She had spent months bribing and conning officials and nobles, costing her over a thousand rupees. There was nothing else to do now but take the Book to the Princess. She had done all she could.
"Perhaps if we had the original source, the Book of Mudora, we would know more. But as my Lord knows, there is no hope of ever retrieving it."
"No…no I suppose there isn't…"