Chapter Five
"What!" Melody exclaimed.
"The sword is a fake. The Master Sword may have been in your family at one point, but it's not anymore." He sheathed the sword and handed it back to her. "Whoever made the replica did a decent job. They even managed to get the weight spell right. And this sword looks exactly the same as the original."
"Then how can you tell?"
"This complicates everything," he muttered. "Melody, there's no time to answer questions now. I have things I need to do." He walked over to the dresser and pulled out a small, but fat, book. Its cover was a faded blue. He handed it to her. "I want you to read this. I will talk to you and your family tonight. Go."
"But- "
"GO!"
She bolted out the door, clutching the book to her chest.
Zale sighed as he sank into a chair. He slowly shook his head. 'I don't think that girl knows exactly what is expected of her. Especially with the Master Sword missing. Last time I checked up on that family they had the real one. I know the sword is not in evil hands, or evil would of struck by now.' He looked up, realizing he was not alone.
"She's the one," the sage, Saria, said. She was clad in her green Kokiri outfit. Her short green hair was combed behind her pointed ears.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Zale replied. "Can you tell me something I don't know? Like where the Master Sword is?"
"Saria laughed. "You never did like to figure things out."
"There's a reason for that. Now, what is the point of your visit?"
"Train the girl, but do not interfere when destiny calls her. If you do, all is lost."
"I have a bad feeling about this," Zale said as he gave a nonchalant shrug, "but I guessed I don't really have a choice."
She smiled. "I knew you would understand. But," She held up a finger in warning. "Training her is not your only task. You have another, but I am not permitted to say anymore at this time."
"It figures," he muttered.
"Dark and treacherous times lay ahead. Be careful."
"I'm always careful."
She threw back her head and laughed. "I've watched over you most of your life. I know how careful you are. Though, I must admit, you have been a little more careful the older you've gotten. I must go now. My time is up."
He nodded. "I hope to see you again, sometime soon."
"I leave you with one more warning. Do not tell Melody about her destiny." Saria waved in farewell as she slowly faded from view. He sighed as he slumped back in the chair.
Link knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"
"Go ahead."
He opened the door to see Melody lying on the bed, reading a book. "Where's your sisters?"
"Shopping."
He sat down on the edge of the bed. "What are you reading?"
"The History of Hyrule."
"Where did you get that?"
"I think I found me a teacher. This morning he gave me this book to read." She glanced at the page number before closing the book and setting it on the ground.
"When do I get to meet this teacher?"
"He said he would come and talk to us tonight."
Link sighed as he looked at her. "My baby girl is no more. I see a young woman in her place."
She sat up and hugged him. "I'll always be your baby girl."
A soft smile touched his lips. He mussed her hair before lying her down on the bed. He kissed her gently on the forehead. "You remind me so much of Sofia."
Her eyes shone with admiration. "Really?"
"Yes." He moved a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "So, Miss Hero, do you think you can defeat any monster you face?"
"Of course!"
He raised an eyebrow. "Even the tickle monster?" Before she could answer he began to tickle her.
"Stop!" She shouted in-between her laughter. "Stop!" She rolled off of the bed and onto the floor. Before he could start tickling her again they heard somebody clear his throat. They both looked up.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Zale said, standing in the doorway. "You left the door wide open."
Melody sat up. "Come on in."
He entered the room as Link stood. "And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?" her father asked.
"Dad, this is Zale, my teacher. Zale, this is my father, Link."
They shook hands.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Same to you. Where are your other girls?"
"Zelda and Annie are shopping."
Melody noticed a flicker of sadness in his eyes as her father said Zelda's name.
Zale closed the door. He held his pinkie up and blew on it. A light blue powder hit the door, which seemed to absorb it. "I have some very important things we need to discuss. I don't want to be interrupted and I don't want anyone to hear us." He turned to face them. "Have you told your father anything?"
"No," Melody answered.
"The Master Sword is a fake," Zale said, addressing her father.
Link's eyes widened. "When…?"
"I'm not quite sure when. I think it was traded out less than six years ago, but I'm not positive. I don't have a clue where it is at right now, but I am working on locating it. Evil does not have it, but I have a feeling that evil was the cause of its disappearance."
"I will help you in anyway I can," Link said. "With the Master Sword missing no one is safe. It needs to be found as soon as possible."
He glanced at Melody before turning his gaze back to Link. "Az melik giz, thab melik. Fluzal jabe tac naum slavoc malk plamer uv qim. Az roople malk ganeril ag plamer ous. Saria esoon lume igamo. Baame u baamiltis karsh geerm. Taqir shasha venant aller Hara. Ith naum sla jabe malk Swarde. Montle dextary tionak ith lemai yaar aom ith." (the translation is at the bottom)
Link nodded. "Az naum." (same with this one)
She glared at them. "Could you please speak in a language that I know better?" I know less than fifty words of the Old Language."
"That's why I was talking in it," Zale replied. "It was a grown-up matter."
She rolled her eyes and was rewarded with a smack on the head from Zale. "Ow! What's that for?" she asked as she rubbed her head.
"Manners," he said.
"I'm sorry for being rude."
"That's better. Now, let's discuss your training."
"She needs somewhere to stay while she is training under you. We planned on staying here until we could find her a teacher, and now we've found one," Link said.
"Let me handle that. I'll tell you my decision before you leave."
He nodded.
"I want no visits from you or her sisters for the next several months."
She looked up, startled. "What!"
"You heard me. It's absolutely necessary if you want to become a hero."
Her father nodded. "He's right."
She climbed to her feet and stomped her foot. "That's not fair! You can't keep me away from my family that long!"
Zale stared at her with disapproval. "I can and I will. It's for your own good."
"No!"
"You're acting like a spoiled brat."
She bowed her head at his comment.
"After your training, what were you planning on doing?"
"Helping people," she whispered.
"How are you going to help people if you stay at home the entire time? You've got to breakaway from your family. Several months isn't that long. Many people go longer without seeing or even hearing from their family. You will still be allowed to send letters back and forth, I'm not going to totally cut you off from your family. In order to become a hero you must become independent. Do you understand?"
She nodded. "Yes, Master Zale."
He allowed a small smile to touch his lips. "Acro," he corrected her.
She looked up at him. "Acro Zale. Isn't that from the Old Language? What does acro mean?"
"It is the respectful way to say teacher." He raised his eyebrows. "And there is more than one way to be respectful."
It took her a few seconds to get where he was going. "Oh! I'm sorry for the fit."
"Apology accepted."
Link shook his head in amazement. "By the time you're through with her she should be acting very civil and proper."
"That's one of my goals. Now, when are you leaving?"
"Probably tomorrow or the next day."
Zale nodded. "Good. I will send regular messages to you about her progress. That should be just about it for now."
Link held out his hand and they shook. "It's been a pleasure to chat with you."
"Same to you." His gaze turned to Melody as she held out her hand. She could detect a hint of sadness in his eyes. He took her hand and gently kissed it. In silence he walked out of the room, seeming to age ten years with each step.
Melody turned to face her father. "Is it just me, or is there something bothering him?"
He sighed as he looked down at her. "You're not ready to know yet. Be patient, for all things will reveal themselves in due time."
I thank you for your offer, but no thanks. Neither one of us will be able to find its exact location. I just need to find the general area it is in. Saria visited me earlier today. Dark and dangerous time lay ahead. Your daughter has been chosen as the next Hero. She will be the one to find the Sword. When destiny calls her you must be ready to let her go. I will.
A lot of dialogue, I know. But I promise you that the next chapter will have a little less talk, and a lot more action (that's a country song, in case you didn't know).
Please R&R!