Chapter Sixteen: A Plan Is Formed

When Link finally awoke, he found himself surrounded by the surviving Hylian knights. They were looking down at him with a strange mix of pity and mistrust. The captain of the men—who had barely survived Ganondorf's onslaught—finally spoke when he saw that the boy in front of him was fully coherent. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Link nodded. "Where is he? Where did Ganondorf go?"

"He is gone. He took the old man with him."

"Nobody followed him?"

"Listen kid. I'm going to be the one asking questions here. I realize that you're only a child and this has probably been a very frightening night for you but you are going to have to come with me."

"To where?"

"The castle. The King will want to know what your connection to the King of the Gerudo is."

Link looked down and realized what had been causing a noticeable feeling of loss since he had awoken. "Where is the Master Sword?" he asked.

"It was never your right to wield the blade that was made to destroy all evil. I have taken it from you. It does not belong in the hands of a child. I will bring it to the King and he will decide what is to be done with it."

"You don't understand! I need it! It's the only way to defeat him!"

"And who are you to defeat him? I don't know what your connection to that Gerudo is, but you will save your story until we're before the King. There you will tell him all you know. I'm sure you are aware of the punishment for withholding vital information from the King of Hyrule. Help him up," ordered the captain to one of his men. The knight stepped forward and picked Link up from the ground. He took his hand and gripped it tightly enough to make sure he could not break free but not so tight as to hurt him. "And somebody take the fairy. I don't know whether she is a Healer or a Guardian but she may have some valuable information."

Navi did not protest. She knew her purpose was to accompany Link; she also realized that the King of Hyrule was not a wicked man. She hoped to convince him that as the Hero of Time, Link was the only one that could defeat the King of Evil. That is why she allowed herself to be taken into the hands of another Hylian. After she was secure, the knights departed from the temple to Hyrule Castle with Link and Navi in tow.
They passed back into the market and made a right down the cobblestone road that led to Hyrule Castle. Link noticed that the bodies of the fallen knights had already been cleaned from the marketplace. With the center of Hyrule Castle Town behind them, they continued down the road until it became a dirt track. Ahead lay the gate that the Hero of Time remembered having to climb up a cliff just to get around it. It was a strange feeling having the gate open before him. After the trail wound around a small hill, it reached a drawbridge that crossed the moat that encircled the palace. Link was led across the drawbridge and into the castle.

The passageways were all dark since the only sources of light were the flickering of candles. They turned left at a wide opening and found themselves before a magnificent oak door, inlaid with beads of gold and crested with a line of brilliant rubies. Two of the guards pushed the door open and Link got his first glimpse of the King of Hyrule's throne room. Down its center ran a red carpet very similar to the one that decorated the Temple of Time. It traversed the distance between the entry of the throne room and the King's golden seat. The King was a tall and muscular man. He was clearly a very powerful individual. He was a testament to the awe-inspiring vitality of his predecessors and a sign of his hearty line to come. His lush brown hair flowed halfway down his back and shone brilliantly even in the darkness that then cloaked his chamber. Even though he was clothed in his pajamas, his appearance was nonetheless majestic. He was the King of Hyrule, the most powerful kingdom in the known world.

When he was deposited at the King's feet, Link kneeled down respectfully. "Rise. There is no time for such pleasantries. I was enjoying my pleasant and well-deserved slumber when who should come to my door but the captain of my men. Apparently, the King of the Gerudo, a man who I had thought was my ally, was attempting to seize the Triforce. Luckily my men arrived before his evil design could be complete. He has now fled. You were with him when my men arrived. I know that you must know something of his whereabouts. If you have any care for this kingdom, you will speak."

The King's face was intimidating and stern but Link could tell that he had no intention to harm him. "I think that I know where he has gone. I will tell you and I will help you in your battle against him in any way that I can. I only request one thing."

"And what is that?"

"The Master Sword."

"Not this again," interrupted the captain of the knights.

"Silence Corgenth," replied the King, gesturing at his captain. "You may leave now. And take your men. Wait outside the door. I may need you once more tonight. And leave the fairy too." Navi was released and the knights quickly left the chamber. The King turned back to Link. "And who are you to wield the Master Sword?"
Link paused for a moment. He was not one to crave the attention that this could bring, but he knew there was no hope of regaining the powerful blade unless he was entirely honest. "I am the Hero of Time."

"The Hero of Time! That is preposterous. I know all of our ancient lore. I know the Hero of Time's purpose. He is the savior of Hyrule during its greatest tribulation. Nowhere does it say that he is a child. Such an important fact would not be left unstated. It is untrue."

"If you do not believe me, if you do not return the Master Sword to me, then Ganondorf will return and conquer Hyrule."

"That is a lie."

"But it's true!" squeaked Navi, speaking for the first time.

"So you plan on continuing your lies?" asked the king, ignoring Navi. "I do not have the time for this. If you will not willingly tell me Ganondorf's whereabouts then maybe a night in our dungeon will change your mind. Corgenth!" The captain of the knights returned from outside of the entry to the throne room.

"Yes your majesty."

"Take the boy and the fairy to the dungeon." Corgenth snapped his fingers and his men followed him into the room. They grabbed Link and Navi and were preparing to carry them into the dungeon when a young girl poked her head into the chamber.

"Father. What's all this commotion?" asked the girl softly.

Link immediately recognized the voice and turned to see the girl that was producing it. When he saw her face, he identified her at once. It was Princess Zelda. Their eyes locked for a moment and a look of utter astonishment came over the Princess's face.

"Link. What are they doing to you?"

"You know this child?" asked the King.

"Yes father. You must unhand him immediately. You have no idea what great things he has done."

"What are these great things?"

"When we met, eight months ago, I told him about my distrust of Ganondorf and how you would not listen to me because he was your ally. I convinced him that the only way to stop Ganondorf from gaining the Triforce would be to get the Spiritual Stones before he could and open the door to the Sacred Realm ourselves. He was successful, and without any assistance. That night when I disappeared from the castle and you did not know where I was, I threw the Ocarina of Time to him so he could open the Door of Time. You wondered where I had gone Father. I'm telling you now that Impa took me with her because we knew Ganondorf was planning to attack the castle. We had to get away with the Ocarina of Time in hand. With the Ocarina of Time and the three Spiritual Stones, Link opened the door of time and pulled the Master Sword."

"He pulled the Master Sword. It has been said by our ancestors that the first person to remove the Master Sword from its pedestal was destined to be the Hero of Time. Then it is true. You are the Hero of Time." Link and Zelda nodded. "Then remove him men. And give him back his blade. It is his now, not ours." When the Master Sword was returned to its rightful wielder, the King spoke again. "I apologize for doubting you Link. I never could have imagined that the Hero of Time would be so young. It is your destiny to defeat Ganondorf. You said that you know where he is?"

"I think I do."

"Then I will send all of my knights with you. You will find Ganondorf and put an end to his treachery."

"No your majesty. With all due respect, I don't believe that that is what we should do. I will find Ganondorf myself; your men should stay here and prepare themselves for whatever Ganondorf might be planning."

"Yes Link. That does sound like a good idea. That way if you are unable to find Ganondorf, my men will still be here to defend my kingdom. Will you leave immediately?"

"Yes. I'll need to hurry if I want to catch him in time to make a difference. If that is all your majesty…"

"Yes. It is. You may go Link. And good luck on your quest. May you be successful in putting an end to the Gerudo's fiendish designs." Link turned around with Navi fluttering after him. He passed Zelda on the way out and they exchanged a smile. It looked as if she wanted to say something but her father called her to his side before she had the chance. Link looked over his shoulder as she hurried to her father's side and then left the throne room, ready to find Ganondorf and stop him once and for all.