Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend fo Zelda, or any of it's characters
-Chapter 2-
-Memories of a Blacksmith-
He made his way through the gigantic fields, wind blowing through his hair as his loyal mare sped up. He could feel the smell of the trees as their branches danced with the strong breeze, their leaves dangling wildly.
He was home.
He had imagined that moment for countless times now.
He had dreamed about her every night since he had first left. And now he was returning home, to her arms.
He controlled the mare's quick gait into a slower one as he reached castle town market's gates. Patting her lightly, he quickly jumped to the floor, not wanting to miss another second without her. His heart pounded fast in his chest, his breath quickened, blood pulsed inside his head, she was surely near. He stopped just as he was about to cross the drawbridge that led to Castle Town Market, observing the path so familiar to him. He gently smiled and closed his eyes breathing deeply the grass' scent, how he missed the scent of his Kingdom.
He opened his eyes not wanting to waste another moment without seeing who he had returned to. He crossed the drawbridge not failing to notice the decorations near the first houses visible.
As he reached the insides of the market, he slowed his pace. A huge crowd was closing the way to the castle. He approached slowly, his stomach tightening. Was there some kind fo festival he was forgetting about? It was a possibility, specially with the food carts scattered around the market... He had never been the festival type, and since he had been gone and had no idea in which season they even where, though he would guess spring...
He made his way to the left side of the crowd. He had decided to try and find out what it was all about. He wasn't necessarily glad, he knew it would be more difficult to get to her with the strengthened guard presence around the Castle area, but nothing would keep him from her any longer...
"What's happening? Did something happen to the king?" the young man asked an old lady, who was standing near one of the food tents.
She didn't answer, she was too taken by the beautiful royal carriages that were moving through the market.
He had never seen Hyrule's town market like that. Thinking back, yes he had, in a time long lost, when in a future long lost he, with the help of the siz sages and the Princess of Destiny had defeated the King of Evil, he remebered there had been a celebration... but was that really a celebration? Something had happened... What if something happened to the king? What if he hadn't been there to comfort her. He should have never left in the first place. He continued making his way to the castle path.
As He had imagined, Hyrule's Royal Guard was blocking the way. He had evaded the guards a million times before, but being tired from his journey he couldn't help but cringe. His muscles were aching and he was in no mood to hide from anyone. Though if it was the last resort, he would take it... He could almost hear her calling for him... He decided to try the easy way out, if it didn't work, he would think of something...
"Excuse me.. I need to see the Princess, it's important.. I'm an old friend of hers, if you only tell her my name..." he told one of the guards, who had a large piece of parchment on his hands.
The guard looked at his figure, scanning his garment and raising an eyebrow at the young man.
"Of course you are.." the guard said, sarcastically, as his eyes stopped on his ripped green tunic.
He sighed in frustration. He shouldn't have tried talking to the guard anyway. He should just use one of the dozens of secret ways he used to get in the castle, if he had luck and his gained extra muscles wouldn't intervene, he would even try fitting through the small water supply he had used when he was younger. He could still feel the tiredness in his body though and decided it wouldn't hurt to try one more time.
"Look..If you only tell her.. tell her Link is here, she will..." he started
"Boy, I suggest you get out of here, before I have to arrest you! I am loosing my patience, I have heard all kinds of excuses of people wanting to find a way into the private royal celebrations" the guard interrupted, raising his voice.
"Private Royal Celebrations?" he asked, confused, but relieved. A party, that was all. Nothing had happened to the king...
"Don't pretend you don't know boy.. now get out of here!" ordered the guard
He was still confused. He knew there were many parties and royal balls at the castle now and then, but he had never seen so many royal people arriving in their carriages for one event.
He laughed.
He remembered how she had mention the neverending balls, and the formal way people were supposed to behave. She hated those balls. He imagined her in her royal dress, royals trying to charm her as she smiled to them, her face carefully composed, hoping no one would notice how bored she really was. He laughed again.
Zelda... he couldn't wait to see her anymore.
He was too curious though, and decided it would be better to ask one of the citizens who were trying to catch a glimpse of one of the many important people who were arriving, they would surely tell him the meaning of the whole thing. He made his way to a large stage that had been built in a secured area next to the entrance to the path where the carriages where making there way to their final destination. He assumed there would be some kind of show for the people later on... whatever they were celebrating, it was obviously something big.
"Excuse me sir, what is this all about? Why are so many people heading to Hyrule castle?" he asked a middle aged man, who was next to the guard barrier, watching the people inside the carriages as they continued to go through the main gate.
The man looked at him and blinked before answering, but he hardly knew he would soon do anything not to hear that answer.
"Haven't you heard, boy ? Hyrule was blessed! A baby prince was born!" the man said, a huge smile spreading through his face
Wow. Had he really been out that long?
"The king got married again?" he asked, a smirk in his face. Harkinian had had a son.. maybe he would find a was to run away with Princess now, the king probably wouldn't mind, having a son heir to the throne.
"Heaven's NO! The Princess got married! Where have you been, boy?" the man asked, staring at young man in desbelief.
He had heard it wrong. What the man had just told him sounded like a long lost alien form of speaking. She couldn't be married.. She wouldn't... He hadn't even been gone for a year... or would she?
"I'm sorry?" he said, trying to control his breathing. He was having a hard time concentrating on the man's face now, his vision was becoming clouded. It was as if someone at punched him in the stomach and he was about to throw up. But he was sure he had just heard it wrong...
"The Princess. Got. Married." the man said slowly, as if speaking with a two-year old child, a raised eyebrow.
"Princess Zelda... is married?" he asked again, pain rushing through his veins.
"Any other Princesses around Hyrule? And I say it's about time too... I always thought I would wake to see the day the Princess would've ran away..." the man said, staring at the fancy carriages again.
Link inhaled and exhaled, trying to fight the moisture now forming in his eyes. She said she would wait for him. How could she do that? How could she get married, when he was only seven months away. The Zelda he knew would never have done this to him, or had he been completely wrong about her all along? Had his mind played tricks with him all this time? Had he imagined all the times when he was sure he could feel her whispering his name? And now this man said she was married, married to other man, and had had a son...
He shook his head. There was only one way he could be sure of everything, sure that everything that he believed he meant to her was all a lie. He would find a way around the castle and find her. He would put her against the wall and ask her straight away if she had deceived him all the time they spent together, if he had just been a useful distraction for her times of trouble, and most importantly, he would ask her if she had already been engaged when they... no !
He shook his head again. It was Zelda... it was his Zelda... there was nothing to be asked, he was sure it would all be a misunderstanding.
Then it happened.
The guards played the royal trumpets.
He recognized the King of Hyrule in his Royal garment as soon as he walked up the stage. A few more guards secured the area around the Kingdom's ruler, pushing Link and the man whom he had talked to earlier back. The people cheered welcoming their king. Link couldn't fail to notice that Harkinian had aged considerably since the last time he had seen him in one of his visits to the castle, not that the king had ever seen him inside the castle though, he would have kept him away from Zelda.
Although he looked older, he also looked very happy. He raised his arms so the cheering would stop, and it wasn't long before all eyes and ears were waiting fot the ruler's words.
"Welcome my friends! Hyrule's new prince was born this morning. He is a very healthy baby, and I am very pleased that you are all here to share this great happiness with my family!" the King told the citizens of Hyrule, and the many rulers that were present, who had joined Hyrule's king in the far corner of the stage when only now Link noticed, there were comfortable chairs set for them.
"Let me introduce you my grandson, future king of Hyrule, Zion!" the King said, a huge smile spreading through his face. He pointed to two figures who were making their way to the place were Harkinian was.
It was then he saw her again. She hadn't changed a bit in all those months...
She was beautiful. More beautiful than he'd remebered. And there was a special glow playing on her face as she smiled to the crowd. Her pearl colored dress dancing in the air, her golden-blond hair tied up in an elegant bun, she made her way to stand next to her father, handing him the baby.
The King continued his speech as the Hylians roared with pride.
But he didn't hear it. He was completely hypnotized by her. And what he didn't fail to notice was that she was very happy, the same way she had been when they were together. He would even say she seemed happier. Maternity had served her well.
He then noticed the person who was next to her.
The man who was holding her hand, her husband undoubtedly, was a large-structured man. He had jet-black hair and hazel colored eyes. He had an important aura around him. Link knew he was the exact kind of husband Harkinian would have wanted Zelda to marry, and he knew he was the exact kind of husband she would never want for herself... or would she ?
He felt his chest tightening. He couldn't dare to look away from Zelda. Her dark eyes shinning like the most precious saphirres. The sun playing on her pale forehead, her cheeks flustered and pink. Had he been wrong ? How could he be so wrong ?
It was then, that something he wished he had never seen happened.
Zelda slowly looked at her husband, who gazed back. Both of them smiled, and gently kissed each other, as King Harkinian said the baby's name again.
Link could stand there no longer. Thoughts of Zelda came rushing to his head, his heart was almost bursting out of his chest. He rushed out of the market, fighting back tears of misery.
He would never return to Hyrule...
That was a promise.
...
Thunder echoed outside the small caban. The storm would continue for sometime, he could tell. He just hoped the rain wouldn't drown the crops that had just started to bloom, he couldn't afford the loss.
He sighed, closing his eyes slightly.
He had been living in the farm in the borders of Outset for sometime now. It wasn't much, but he had never had much on the first place, and he enjoyed the farm life. He would sometimes work as a blacksmith, to help maintain the livestock when the weather didn't help.
There was a knock on the door. It would certainly be someone who got lost on the storm. He quickly made got up from his comfortable position on the bed and headed downstairs. He wasn't the kind to deny shelter for people who needed it, particularly in the middle of a storm like that.
As he opened the door, and ajusted his eyes to the darkness, he was surprised to see a familiar face. The girl's eyes were puffy and she was shaking. He could tell she had been crying for quite sometime. He let her in his humble home before saying anything, closing the door behind her.
Malon looked up at him, her red hair as wet as her clothes.
Malon was one of the few people in Hyrule who he had trusted with his wherabouts. She had been a great friend ever since they were kids. She was also the one who had given him his loyal mare, Epona, and she had helped him find the farm in the outskirts of Outset when he'd needed.
"Malon ? Come on.. you can't stay like this, you will catch a cold.. quickly, next to the fire!" Link told her, as he led the shivering girl next to the small fireplace.
Link had been living in Outset ever since that horrible day.. The day he had thought, would be the best of his life.
A year had passed since that day. He had been okay in his new home, trying hard to ignore everything in Hyrule. As long as he stayed away from Hyrule, it would be easier not to think of her.
As soon as Malon showed up though, thoughts of Hyrule came rushing in him...
"I'll get you something to wear, Malon. Wait here.." Link said, running to the stairs and disappearing upstairs.
It was a relatively large room that was made of dark brick, like the rest of the house. It was a modest house, but it was well suited for Link, who was living alone.
There was a small fireplace, next to the couch that Malon was sitting on. There was also a small table with two chairs, where dinner leftovers still rested.
He only wished Malon didn't think she had interrupted his dinner, as he thanked his messy nature, though he would generally clean up after dinner. It was as if he was guessing he'd have visit. He grabbed the first clothes he found, a silk tunic, and ran back downstairs.
"Dress this, or you might be sick.. the rest room is over there, if you need it.." Link told her, as he pointed to a door next to the entrance. "And don't argue with me, you look like you need some food... I'll grab you a plate.."
The girl timidly made her way to the restroom. He couldn't but feel worried for his friend. It was unlike Malon to cry, almost as much as it was for her to be quiet. The girl had been cheerful her whole llife, always singing, he remembered.
It took a while for Malon to dry herself, and finally get out of the restroom. Link had already placed another plate on the table, so they could both have a decent dinner, he should join her or he was sure she wouldn't want to eat. The young man was a great cook, he had to learn very quickly not to starve.
"So.. you haven't said a word since you got here, Malon... what's wrong?" he asked her, concerned.
Malon, who wasn't touching her food, looked deeply into Link's eyes. He could see that there were tears forming in her eyes, and decided to hug her. He could tell Malon really needed that hug. She cried loudly, her head resting on his shoulder, and both of her hands holding her stomach. She cried for what could have been hours, but he just caressed her long-red hair. She had helped him when he had needed her, he would do the same.
When Malon finally calmed down, He led her to his guest room, and decided not to question her any longer. He leaned the girl on the bed, and walked to the door. He thought it would probably be better for her, if she slept for the time being.
"Link..." Malon called him, he voice weak, as he was just about to reach the door.
Link turned to face his friend, and he noticed she had stopped crying but still had a dreadful look.
"Look, Malon.. you don't have to tell me anything, it's none of my business.." he started, but was cut off by the redhead
"I'm pregnant.." she said, looking at the floor, ashamed
"I don't know what to say.." Link said, relieved. So it wasn't something dreadful, thank Godesses "This is great news.. I don't understand, why are you crying?"
"He left me... I couldn't dare to face my father, Link... He would be so disappointed, what would I say?" she said, starting to cry again
Link sat on the bed, next to her, and wiped the tears off her face. He couldn'tt possibly believe it. She had thought her father, Talon, the most understanding father in the world, would not understand? He shook his head, thinking hard. He couldn't judge her. He would try talking her out of it, but would accept her decision.
"So you ran away.. here.." he concluded, alone
"I'm so sorry, Link.. I didn't know what to do.." the girl continued, sobbing harder.
"It's okay, Malon.." Link told her smiling.
He wouldn't let one of his best friends raise her child on her own...
This was going to be his child...
...
"Don't start this again..." Link told the teenager.
When that boy got something in his head, he just wouldn't let it go. Link had lost count of how many times he had asked him the same thing, again and again.
"Why not, dad? I mean.. why didn't you get married again after mother died? You know, have your own kids" the boy insisted
"You are my kid, Jivam.." he said, avoiding the subject
"I mean.. your kids, not a kid you raised as yours.." he continued
Link was starting to think he only asked him that to annoy him. It would be so like him.
"You are as good as a real son.." He told him "Now stop asking me why this, and why that..."
"Ahh dad.. you are too old..." the boy said, with a mocking tone
"And you better go to sleep.. we both have to work tomorrow.." Link told Jivam
"Yeah, alright... goodnight, dad.." he said, before he disappeared through the door.
He was now alone.
Alone with his memories.
Everytime Jivam would question him, he would remember her. The colour of her eyes, the softness of her skin. If he thought about her hard enough, he could almost feel her touch, hear her voice.
He looked at the old cabinet where he kept old things, and decided to go over his old stuff, in search for one of the only things he had saved from Hyrule.
He found broken shields, ripped tunics, all sorts of things. But on the very bottom of that cabinet, Link found something that brought back all his memories of twenty years passed. He grabbed the small, blue instrument, and placed it his mouth.
"Link, please.. have this Ocarina.." the young, blond girl said, as she handed him the small instrument.
Link closed his eyes, while silent tears ran down his face.
"... Zelda..." Link whispered, before he started playing the familiar song.
The song that was passed down by the Royal Family...
...
Soo, this is the new, improved second chapter of A Lost Future. Hope you guys liked it
And hope previous readers aren't still mad at me.
Please review and let me know what you think =)
thanks for reading ;) Zelda F