Chapter 5: A Beastly Acquaintance - Part One
I was actually planning to post a new chapter on Valentines Day. Well, that was a while ago...
Originally, I finished this in March but that was before I decided to split this chapter into two parts, whcih was recentely when I decided to continue again. Hope you all enjoy!
Disclaimer: Evidently, I don't own the Legend of Zelda or any of its characters, nor the plotline of Beauty and the Beast.
Gaepora sat in his room inside the Stock Pot inn. After a week of travelling, he was finally on the last leg of his journey. Tomorrow, he would arrive at Castle Town.
A knock was heard. Gaepora answered the door, finding the innkeeper, Anju, standing outside with a tray of food for him.
"I thought you weren't coming down so I brought this up for you," she smiled sweetly.
"Ah, thank you Anju. I was just peering over the new map I got in Windfall," Gaepora gratefully took the tray, inviting Anju in. He was an old friend of her family, and stayed regularly when he used to travel the country.
"I'm sure Hyrule hasn't changed all that much," Anju smiled.
"Maybe not for you, but I haven't left Skyloft much since Zelda was born and especially after Tetra... I-" Gaepora suddenly choked up, slumping down into the nearest chair, pinching his nose.
Anju quickly grabbed the tray, placing it on a table before going to comfort him.
"Mother always said that she was a wonderful woman. So strong and..." she paused, "To think that pneumonia would – it's impossible to think of it."
"I haven't spoken her name in so long... It hurts to speak of her. Zelda... she's so like her. I don't want to lose her too."
"You won't. It was a bad winter. I doubt there will be another like it," Anju stood, placing her hands on her hips, "Now eat up your stew! Kafei said you were leaving tomorrow so you should enjoy a nice warm meal."
"I am sorry that I missed the wedding."
"It's fine," Anju turned to face him as she left, "I understood your reluctance to leave."
"There are so many people, I've met that I wish Zelda would've too. But she remains in Skyloft despite her dreams to travel. Probably because of me."
"It's not your fault. Now eat," Anju opened the door to leave.
"Wait. Here's the latest pictograph of her. I got your mother's letter; she was asking about her."
Anju took the pictograph and then took her leave, promising to deliver it to her ageing mother.
The next day, Gaepora mounted Epona and set off on the final part of his journey. A week at the festival and then a fast journey home to his daughter. Gaepora smiled; it would be nice to see Zelda he continued on the road to Castle Town, a light rain began to fall which increased into a downpour in a few minutes.
"Goddesses, who's been playing the Song of Storms?" Gaepora growled, pulling his cloak closer,"It's like they want to flood Hyrule!"
Epona whinnied as a rumble of thunder sounded. Gaepora nudged Epona into a canter, looking frantically through the barrier of water to see a building, a light, some sign of habitation. He slowed his pace, wiping his eyes and brushing back his monobrow, spying a small opening in a stone hill of sorts. It was no mountain, in fact Gaepora did not recall anything like this on his map.
Leading Epona into the small cave, he removed the saddlebags and her saddle, pulling out a blanket and draping it over her. Gaepora began to rub at her, trying to dry her fur a little. Once he had done as much as he could, he pulled out some biscuits for himself and a few carrots for Epona.
"Good girl," he smiled, patting her neck.
Munching his meagre meal, he lit up a lamp and examined the map, trying to figure out where he had gone. With the weather how it was, there was no chance of looking for any noticeable landmarks either. For now, Gaepora would have to remain in the cave until the weather calmed. He sighed,
"What have we done now, girl?"
Zelda defied tradition. She hated Skyloftian tradition. She was a woman of Hyrule, like her mother. While she couldn't adventure like her mother and father, she had small ones in her own way. At a young age, she was found climbing trees and brandishing Deku sticks, waving it like a sword. Some days, she would explore the caves hidden around the town with Karane, and in the Summer, go swimming in the lake, diving off the waterfall.
Currently, she held her mother's recurve bow, gently drawing back the string to her cheek. As long as she held a weapon in her hands, many would stay away. She'd had enough of all of the visits from the older members of the community as her father was gone. She loosened the arrow. She could take care of herself. She was no damsel. The shot was perfect, it hit her scarecrow target directly in the head, where she had drawn on eyes. She drew another arrow from her quiver, spying a few birds flying through the sky.
"One wouldn't hurt," she smiled, as she nocked the arrow. As she loosened it, Karane decided to announce herself.
"Zelda! Hello!"
Zelda flipped around suddenly,
"Karane?"
Thump. Looks like she hit her target.
"Is... that a bird?"
Zelda turned to look,
"Uh, yeah. It is."
Karane walked past, picking it up by the arrow.
"Pierced through the eye. How far up was it?" Karane looked into the clouds.
"Not sure exactly. But I couldn't see it's eye very well. Lucky shot."
"Bet your mum would be proud!" Karane grinned, "Mine on the other hand... If I wasn't a tomboy already, she'd say you were a bad influence."
"Probably why my mother approved of you," Zelda retrieved her other arrows and headed back to the house with her friend.
"So what are you going to do with this bird?" Karane waved it at Zelda as she opened the front door.
"Might pin it to Groose's house," Zelda chuckled, "Nah, why waste good food on him!"
Zelda set down her quiver and the bow by the door, receiving her kill from Karane.
"Remember that time when we had to drag a deer back to your house?"
"Yes. My father wasn't particularly happy," Zelda noted as she removed her leather gloves.
"It's admirable that you did everything in a skirt," Karane grinned.
"Mother said that everyone great woman needs a signature style. She had her scarf and her up-do hair."
"Everyone said she dressed like a pirate," Karane replied.
"Not all the time."
"Well, do you need any help with that?"
"It's a small thing. You just need to deal with the vegetables. Meanwhile, why don't you tell me about your marriage?"
"Hoho, wouldn't you like to know?" Karane winked as she entered the pantry.
The rain had finally stopped and as Gaepora peered out of the cave, he saw it was about mid-afternoon.
"Goodness, it will take a while for us to catch up, Epona!" He exclaimed as he lead her out of the cave and mounted her.
He peered at his surroundings and the map for a while, barely being able to piece it together.
"By the Goddesses..." He growled, "The landscape should not have changed this much!"
He huffed and shoved the map back into his satchel, nudging Epona forwards.
"Looks like we'll have to work with intuition. Mine tells me we might find someone who knows where this is."
Many hours of riding had past. Gaepora had travelled through a thorn-riddled forest and had finally found a decent stone road. It was late evening, he and Epona slowly trudged on as fatigue settled in.
Gaepora didn't know how long he had slept but when he woke, Epona was still and they were stood in front of a large gate.
"Where are we, girl?" he asked, dismounting and patting her neck.
He walked forwards and pushed at the stone gate. It didn't budge.
"Hello?" He called out, "Anyone there?"
Suddenly, the gate began to swing open. Gaepora swallowed hard, taking a deep breath before stepping over the threshold, guiding Epona inside.
"Nayru, good goddess of wisdom... This cannot be..." He gasped.
The building certainly looked similar to Hyrule Castle, albeit slightly altered. It looked darker, somber.
'That's what evil does to beautiful places,' Gaepora sighed inwardly.
What was stranger, was that it wasn't near Castle Town! Something very queer was going on here.
He turned to leave, but cried out as the gate had begun to close. He rushed forwards, dragging Epona behind him, barely reaching the gate in time. It slammed shut, barely missing his nose.
"I was so focused on leaving that I didn't even notice that I was walking into a stone wall," Gaepora chuckled, "This certainly is not my day."
"I doubt it's anyone's day, mister!" chirped a child's voice from behind.
Gaepora squealed and turned around, clutching his heart.
"Oh, little girl... You almost gave me a heart attack..."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you!" She smiled sweetly.
Gaepora smiled in return at the girl. She was about the height of an average 9 year old, with short grassy green hair and emerald eyes, that shone with an ethereal light. Her clothes were simple: a turtleneck sweater, a short tunic tied with a belt and shorts - all green. She also wore knee high boots. She was very cute.
"And what's your name, little one?" Gaepora asked courteously.
"I'm Saria!" She beamed, before giving a small bow.
"After the Sage of Forest?"
"I am the Sage of Forest, silly!" She laughed, dancing over to Epona, petting her gently.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"That is Epona and my name is Gaepora Nohansen."
"Where are you two from?"
"Ah, quite the way aways. We hail from Skyloft."
"What are you doing here?"
"I got lost on my way to Castle Town..." Gaepora sighed, "Do you know the way?"
"It's south for about two miles."
"I swear this castle was closer."
"It was. The Dark Lord moved it when Link reclaimed Castle Town. It was his last stronghold."
"Any chance of that gate opening?"
"Not until tomorrow," Saria sighed, "Follow me. You must be cold and hungry after your journey. I'm sure the others won't mind me letting you in. The Prince doesn't like having visitors..."
"Well, if you insist..." Gaepora chuckled, as Saria guided both him and Epona by the hand into the main courtyard and castle.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Yay, I finally updated! Woo! And we start to get into the actual plot. Double nice!
I would like to say hello to Batch03 who has become a follower, thank you and don't be shy, please review. I really like to hear what people think of my work and to see if I can make any improvements.