Zelda wrote with determination. Her hair fell in front of her and her usually striking handwriting turned unstable as she feverishly wrote on her lap in the shaking carriage. She wrote what was to become the order of the trial of challenges, held within Kokiri village.
Kokiri village, that Zelda had chosen, was an excellent selection because of its magical sphere allowing its people to live eternally. It wouldn't arouse much suspicion Zelda thought, because nobody would ever expect them to engage in anything outside the boundaries of their village. They were a friendly, harmless kind and would be almost impossible to suspect of any abnormality. There the contest could be held under the noses of all in her kingdom.
It was with great discomfort Zelda had decided to keep this knowledge unknown to her people and to Link. But Zelda knew that it was the best way of ensuring their safety, even Link's.
Because Zelda knew Link, maybe far more then he himself suspected. She knew that if he were ever to find out about her plans, he was bound to take this mission on himself. Something she did not wish. Whoever left for this mission, Zelda presumed would never return. And it troubled her greatly to send someone on such an assignment, but someone, rather than Link, needed to go. Because her kingdom still required Link's protection more now than ever.
Zelda knew Link would never betray his loyalty to this country. She also knew that Link would have the same opinions as her in the end. He would see why Zelda couldn't let him go instead of the new warriorthat was to be selected by Impa. Link didn't see the risks that would come to pass if the light dwellers didn't reign. All he wished was to save Malon and Zelda could not desire for anything more than to see her safe as well. But things had turned; Malon wasn't the only thing that stood at stake anymore.
Zelda had since before been informed of the stakes if the good did not prevail and she had been involved with the preparations and precautions taken. The sages had, like many times before, summoned Zelda. They had communicated with her through her mental abilities and decided that Malon would be in need of guidance once she had arrived to the place named realm between realms. Marin, aware of the dangers, accepted to inform Malon of this and to keep her out of harm's way.
After that, Zelda hadn't had any contact with them, until the very day when Zelda decided to meet Ganon. Marin informed her that she'd succeeded to make contact with the other realm and met Malon. Zelda had given her a tired smile. If Malon were aware of this… then maybe she could…
However… Marin had something troubling stored. She'd failed to inform Malon of what the sages refer to as the paths.
"Without the knowledge of what she is capable of, she might see the wrong path. And that could lead to severe consequences affecting the lighter side's world…" Rauru had spoken.
Upon hearing this Zelda's fear, for her country's and for the world's fate, grew.
Reality caught up with her and Zelda lifted her hand against the carriage window. She saw the green land of her kingdom rush past the window and knew she would sacrifice anything to keep it safe.
Impa and her brave new warrior could be their last hope Zelda thought as she turned to the second letter. Her eyes laid heavy on it as she thought of its content and over the life that most definitely would meet a sudden death.
XxXxXx
"Hey, frog! Frog. Wake up!"
Isaac's sleep got interrupted, there was someone by his bedroom window. He woke as he heard someone knocking.
Isaac rose from his bed. He stepped over to the window. He was yawning slightly and rubbing his eyes awake. He looked through the window. Squinting, barely enough to see through the darkness and to make out Keane's figure. Isaac opened the window.
"Hey Frog you won't believe this! Zelda might be coming! She's already sent for people! They're here!" Keane tried to catch his breath. "And…and they're putting up some sort of contest, my father is helping them…"
"But what are you doing? It'ss still dArk?" His voice broke.
"Yeah, I know," Keane said trying to imitate a dark grownups voice. "But I am, you know, allowed." He shrugged.
"Your father let you go outside while it's dark?!!" Isaac raised his sweet high pitched voice.
"Nooo!" Keane jumped up to cover Isaac's mouth with his hand. Isaac gave Keane a puzzled look.
"Okay. He didn't exactly let me go… but I had to see? This, this is my dream I've always wanted to fight for Queen Zelda." Keane started rumbling his words, "Just like my mom, ya know! Before she went crazy and all that, y-y…you get it?" He looked up slightly confused. He wondered if Isaac had followed.
"Hmhmh, nnnghuu," Isaac mumbled. Isaac mumbled smiling with his eyes and pointing up at Keane's hand still covering Isaac's mouth.
"Oh? Sorry." Keane's eyes twinkled excitingly in the dark. He removed his hand from Isaac's mouth.
"Yeah, Iii get it, but I don't think you're sstrong enough, you know, if a little 'frog' could push you over." He smiled, keeping his head tilted to the side.
"Ha ha, very funny!" Keane grinned slightly.
"But what do you have to do? To win I mean?"
"To win?" Keane frowned. "It's not a game you know. You don't 'win'." He rolled his eyes, Isaac was so naive. "You get picked. And so you need to prove that you're brave enough, that you have the guts. And I do, I know I do." Keane bowed his head. "It's always been my dream… to see what's out there… ever since my mom…"
Isaac had no problem reading Keane. This really was his dream. He put his hand on Keane's head and patted it softly. "I'll help you."
Keane looked up. He had tears in his eyes, he smiled.
XxXxXx
Impa stood on a mountain nearby Kokiri forest. She was accompanied by her closest guards, her friends. They were all looking over the village, seeing how the contestants began arriving. They had all come here, to show themselves worthy. Worthy to die.
Impa faced her next in command. "We're returning back to the village," she said with a calm and gentle voice. He nodded and they quickly traveled back down on horseback. Impa knew that now there was no time to lose.
xxxxxxxxxx
In town there was full commotion. Impa saw the Kokiri villages, all working to the max of their abilities, excited to be of help to Queen Zelda. Tents were put up for the contestants to rest in and obstacle courses and tracks were created for the many challenges the able had to compete in.
In all, there would be around thirty different challenges. Each challenge testing a certain skill, difficult enough to reassure no one could win by accident.
The rest was up to the constants. The better they handled each of the challenges the more each person had to prove, in order to beat all the others.
Over at the village entrance experienced and inexperienced warriors proudly signed their names on a parchment scroll as a mark to attend the challenges.
Around the rising tents, children could be heard playing. Impa looked at them, thinking that all that stood between the unspoken and a horrid atmosphere of battle was the innocent presence of those laughing children. Without them, the heavy worry that hinted lightly above would come piercing down like spears of rain.
There was moist in the air and the clouds began moving in fast. She lifted one of the ropes attached to her tent and drew it back, pulling the up the tent with the help of other efforts. Some nails spiked the tent to the ground, right before silent raindrops began falling but that was of no worry. Her tent was ready.
Impa looked out over the tents and crowds that had formed. In the corner of her eye she saw the many trees that gave the Kokiri their protection, the many brave signing up. It had begun.
Behind her some kind Kokiri called out for her: "Miss Impa," she said. "You're tent is ready!"
"I know," Impa replied underneath her breath. "I know it's ready…" She looked out over the open forest and all surrounding people. "…I just hope they are."
XxXxXx
The competition had been going on all day. The sun stood high on the second day, the preparations had been finished and the challenges had since sunrise begun. It was to no surprise everyone wanted to prove themselves the best and strongest and Keane was no exception. In the midst of the timing terrain area two boys passed through.
"The funniest is when the Gorons jumps. Don't you think?" Isaac asked, trying to lighten up the mood but Keane didn't reply. He was in no such mood. He'd been trying to join in the challenges all day but without much luck.
Most Kokiri that wasn't participating in the challenges had been assigned with other task. And to Keane's annoyance one of them was making sure no child tried to join.
Keane was only thirteen. He had easily tricked the outsiders into believing he was older. But it was a whole other thing trying to convince his own kind that he was an adult. One would say it wasn't easy.
Most of the morning, the boys had spent tryingto sign in over at the parchment scroll. They had been the first two in the line that morning since Keane'd known the big news before any other Kokiri thanks to his Dad.
The both of them had smiled brightly towards the Kokiri who stood bent over the scroll on a high stool. He was the one that gave the permission to sign. Isaac had noticed that the scroll lied on a high but very thin wooden desk and that the parchment reached all the way down to the grass.
The boys waited suitably for their permission to get the pen and sign.
But the boys' smiles were not returned as they were directed to leave. And ever since then, Keane and Isaac had joined the massive line numerous of times trying to get the Kokiri's permission to sign in all ways they could think off but all their efforts turned out to be most unfortunate.
When Keane's patience had reached its limit, he even tried to sneak through to the challenges. That too ended up pretty bad.
But even though all his and Isaac's ideas had met their quick ends, Keane had no intention of giving up. As dawn turned to noon and noon turned to late afternoon they had struggled ever once thinking of resting. But pretty soon there was one grave situation Keane could not ignore: his belly. They hadn't eaten since the day before.
All excitement must have made him forget.
But they had no rupees and there was no way Keane would ever leave. Not even to go home for just a second. Instead he decided that they'd go find his father, who was there among the crowds somewhere.
They asked around until they found a tent. They had been told that his father was inside discussing some urgent matters.
Keane who was not in a very good mood tried getting passed the guard that secured the tent's only way in but things didn't go exactly as planned, history repeated itself…
Keane sat on the ground. He was rubbing his butt as he'd fallen over trying to push back the persistent guard. His eyes met the guard's who looked back at him with an expressionless face.
He sighed, lifting his head. He looked over at the tent and swiftly came up with an idea.
The tent Keane thought. I can crawl under it! He rose to his feet, whistling innocently as he walked up to Isaac's side. Keane laid his arm around Isaac's neck where they stood feet away from the guard. "I think I know how to get in!" He whispered proudly.
"How?" Isaac's eyes contained huge curiosity.
"The tent, we can get in underneath it." Isaac nodded. They then split to fool the guard and met up behind the tent's rear-side. Keane was about to speak when Isaac hushed him by placing a hand on his mouth.
"Did you hear that?" Isaac asked, nodding toward the tent. Keane strived to answer, but Isaac hushed him again.
"This is the letter," a woman's voice spoke from inside the tent.
Isaac bent down about to crawl in when Keane suddenly grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, wait. Let's find out what they're saying," he whispered. "Help me lift this." He placed a hand on the edge of the tent.
Together they lifted the edge and peered inside. All they saw was four feet. But both could hear perfectly what was being said.
"…I'm not aware of what it contains…" Isaac recognized the woman's voice to be lady Impa's voice. He wondered what she could have to inform Keane's father of, but hesitated to ask. "…that is why I can't ensure you the safe return of the person that will be selected." There was a brief pause in which neither Keane nor Isaac dared to breath.
"All I know, is that her majesty whishes only for the best of them to proceed and for oneto be chosen." They moved towards the opening of the tent. "His …or her orders will be directly given to them in this letter." That was the last thing the boys could hear before Lady Impa and Keane's father were exiting the tent.
"Did you see that? I mean do you get it? I don't need to win! I-I just need to get a hold of the letter! Frog I could kiss you!" Keane laughed as he gave Isaac a big and tight embrace.
"But, Keane s..sshe said maybe you wouldn't be coming back…"
"Frog." Keane temporarily thought of Isaac's naïve personality. "Don't worry okay? I know what I'm doing. Besides who says I want to come back? Maybe I'll love it!" Keane was beside himself of joy.
Without waiting for Isaac's protests, he amplified the tents edge and crawled under. He quickly looked around but there was no one else inside. He saw some clothes laying and hanging a little all over the place. And a table was placed in front of a chair alongside a messy bed.
Keane sneaked over to the table where he'd seen his father and the woman talk. There were a lot of papers on the table. He got a hold of a couple but none of them fitted into the image of a letter.
At least not from a Queen, he thought and tried to think of how it should look. Probably royal like, Keane settled with that. He scratched his head while putting one of his hands into his pant pocket which was a habit of his.
If I were a letter where would I be? Keane leaned on the chair while mulling everything over. His eyes glanced at the clothes lying on the chair.
Hmm… wait a minute… that's right! The letter had to be in one of her pockets! It would be the perfect place!
He lifted the clothes on the chair. Out of the fabrics lying on the chair only one had a pocket: her jacket.
"Yes," Keane whispered. He reached down carefully, afraid he would end up empty handed. His hand slipped down easily and nudged on something papery.
It's it!He lifted it up. He'd found it. It was a beige letter, sealed with Her majesty's sigil. He held the letter as if it was the most divine thing in the world.
Outside Isaac nervously awaited his friends return. He was keeping a lookout for Lady Impa, ready to scream if he were to see her.
"I got it!" Keane's head poked out of the opening. Isaac heaved a sigh as he saw Keane's head and quickly helped him lift up the edge and watched as Keane crawled out.
Keane grabbed Isaac's sweater before he'd gotten a look at this foreign letter and hauled behind him as Keane ran off to the hidden shadows beneath the trees and opened it. Keane whispered to Isaac what stood in the letter:
//
Dear courageous kind:
If you're reading this then you are in fact the worthiest of all champions to have competed in the 'trial of challenges' and have been given this letter by my trusted Impa. Your bravery shows your many skills and by being elected winner you have proven that you are capable of handling what most are not.
Alias you have proven worthy to bear the heavy burden I must now bestow upon you. And I warn you: it is not a mission to be taken lightly, although I hardly think you will. But you must know that the dangers which you are about to face might very well deprive you of your life. I not only entrust you with the life of this kingdom but with the existence of the good that defines this world.
In this letter contains the key to the realm that you must now enter. It will protect you through your passage but as you have reached your destination I am afraid its powers will no longer be of any use to you.
Bear this Blue candle close to your heart and travel to Hyrule forest, where black bushes will cover your path. Let this Blue candle reveal the entrance, the portal to the realm between realms. Hurry through as the light will soon fade.
As you enter the other realm seek up a woman and call her by the name Malon. You will know it is her if you find you are still alive to call her name. If you are not sure it is her whom you seek, do not encounter, it will do it's best to take your life if you do.
Let the strength you bear inside guide you and may hope be with you always.
//
Minutes of silence washed between the two boys as Keane finished the letter. They looked up at each other. The letter was in the middle of them
Isaac shook his head. "I got to go." Keane interrupted Isaac. "Would you follow? Come with me to Hyrule forest?"
"Keane …I'm sscared."
"It's okay, you know." Keane placed a comforting hand on Isaac's cold shoulder. "I know I have to do this alone, I just. I just wanted you to…" He shook his head unable to finish. "…listen, I know you're brave," Isaac meet Keane's tear stained eyes with his own. "You're not a frog Isaac. I guess… I just wanted you to see that too." He attempted a smile. "Just promise me you won't forget that you're brave."
Isaac stood still, unable to say anything as Keane took off. He watched Keane as he ran, not blinking or taking is eyes of off him until darkness had swallowed his figure.
As Keane disappeared, Isaac felt the tears that he tried to restrain tickle down his cheeks. He couldn't help but feel as helpless as he'd felt when he found out his father died. Am I gonna let this happen again?
Isaac shook his head out of frustration. He picked up a branch and threw it to the ground and stomped on it. He knew he had to do something, but what…?
Suddenly a horse and its rider approached him.
"Is it too late to join the fight?" The man asked. His face was concealed by a cloak.
Isaac had made his choice. He was not going to let his friend go out there all by himself. He didn't care if he was scared. He knew he had to help because that was the right thing to do, damn it!
"No sir," Isaac looked up at him, determination burning like an arising flame in his eyes. "But you better hurry, there are only the better ones left."
The man nodded. "Then that's where I belong." He got off his horse, and grabbed its reins. He began walking away, but stopped suddenly. He turned his head to look at Isaac and for a second or two no one said anything.
"Hey," The man broke the silence. "You wouldn't mind helping me with the horse?" For a moment Isaac though he saw a smile on the man's hidden face, but shook it off as mere imagination. He felt an impulsive stream of hot blood pump through his body. "No I don't mind, not at all."
Isaac had gotten the horse now. He watched the man walk silently down the hill, his cloak lingered behind him, but he did not look back once.
As he was gone Isaac looked at the huge thing by his side. Okay…? He thought. How do you get up on a horse?
XxXxXx
Isaac was riding through the forest like a rushing arrow. The hooves of the horse thumped on the ground in a mixing rhythm with his heart. But he didn't need to duck form all the dry branches that hung in his path toward Keane, which, probably, was a good thing since he doubtingly could hold onto the horse and duck at the same time.
Please don't tell me I'm too late… Isaac wished upon the same thing the whole way through. If Keane had already left the village there was no way for Isaac to follow.
Isaac rode as fast as he could. He figured Keane would be easy to miss in the dark that now covered the forest and from the back of a horse. He saw him! He'd not yet gotten out. Isaac could barely contain his feelings and almost fell out of the big saddle, but managed to find his foothold in time to slow down the horse's quick pace.
Keane was standing by the wooden tunnel, the way out, scratching his head. A smile formed on Isaac's lips. "Hey, Keane? wouldn't you rather ride there? It could be far."
"You came!" Keane ran toward him. His eyes widened as he got up to Isaac. "I see you got a horse, I would ask you how you got it but I'm more interested in how you got up!" He laughed.
"I climed!" Isaac smiled proudly. "You sssee when the horse bends its head down to eat the grass, you climb onto its neck and all the way up!"
"Are you crazy?!"
Isaac smiled. "No, that's okay, I can help you." He reached down a hand.
With both now on the horseback, they marched up to the Kokiri guard who couldn't see very well over the high horse. Even though he squinted, Isaac and his friend were only vague impressions.
"Who's there?" He asked and Keane used his grownup voice to get past.
XxXxXx
They rode for what felt like hours, until, finally, the forest opened up in front of them. The forest was bigger than they'd ever imagined but also rather… empty. Nothing could be heard or seen as they traveled blind into the woods.
They were tired and afraid but were too close to give in. Besides they knew that by now all back home must have found out what they'd done. There was no way back.
Suddenly something in between the trees broke the silence. It screamed painfully and its yell echoed around them.
"Isaac, do you hear that?" Keane's voice came out as a whisper.
"Hmhm." Isaac nodded.
"Maybe it needs help?"
Isaac took a hold of himself, he had to be brave. "Let'ss find it."
As the noise became louder, it became harder to see through the close trees. The darkness turned heavier the closer they walked and soon the horse became reluctant to move forward. They decided walk the rest, leading the horse behind them.
They walked slowly with cautious steps only hearing the horse's hooves.
The boys' neared a thin patch of trees and saw some sort of dark figure crunched down by one of them. Clear yellow-white eyes pierced through the night. It was observing their every move.
Isaac could barely control his breath and also felt Keane breathing alongside his neck.
"Isaac," Keane murmured. "Stay here okay? I'm gonna go and look."
"Why should I sstay? I'll come too."
"No Isaac… it's…" He stopped himself. He knew he couldn't get Isaac to stay by telling him of the dangers that lurked behind the trees. He started over. "No you've gotta' stay cause I need you to hold this for me." He reached down his pocket and picked up the candle. "It's the key remember? We have to keep it safe."
Isaac looked at the blue candle in Keane's hand.
"Think you're brave enough?" Keane smiled blinking his eye.
"I promisssse."
Keane handed Isaac the candle. He held his hand around it as Keane lit it with a match. Hastily he turned, tearing as he stated walking, almost as if he knew what would happen. He bent over to pick up a thick branch from the ground and carefully continued walking toward the dark figure.
As Keane came closer he saw it size. It wore a cloak but its eyes hadn't changed they looked starving, craving more of Keane. The intensiveness of its stare frightened him watching him and just as he was backing off it rose to its feet sledging him over his face making him fly to the ground. He dropped the branch.
"Keaaane!" Isaac screamed but he was too frightened to move. His heart banged hard in his chest. He wanted nothing else but to help Keane but somehow his body wouldn't move. Tears ran down Isaac's cheek as the monster went after his friend. The creature's roar pierced through air and startled Isaac. He dropped what was in his hands and covered his ears as he felt a warm stream running down his leg, it made its way through his leggings.
Her horse raced through the night, it jumped over a dead log whilst the moon highlighted sweat -pearls on the mares white neck…
"Isaac!" Keane had lifted his head, still lying on his stomach. "The candle! Pick up the candle!"
Her cloak billowed behind her as she leaned down to add more speed to her mare...
Isaac looked down, the candle was laying on the ground still burning making the leaves fire up as flames started spreading, the heat blurred into the cold night air. In one rash movement, he stiffly bent down, quickly getting hold of the dark blue candle…
The horse's heavy breath turned into crystal white air in the bitter night...
…it felt cold against his hand. "Keane! Watch out! It almost got you!" Isaac's tears ran and just as his last word was spoken the great shade lifted his club above Keane's head…
The horse's hoof-beats pounded in unison with her heavy heart as they dashed through the silent forest. Her hood flew off and her short hair soared in the wind…
…in a flash it had hit Keane's back. The blood came searing down as the beast lifted his club.
Isaac's whole body just became empty as he saw the blood forced onto the wooden weapon…
Impa spurred her mare to go faster…
…it wasn't about courage any more, it wasn't about fear. It wasn't about anything, not anymore!
"Nooo! Leave him alone!" Isaac screamed with all his heart. He ran through the flames, toward the beast that'd now gotten sight of him. Isaac ran faster.
He wanted to kill it.
In his speed he picked up the branch thrown out of Keane's hands while holding the candle tightly in his other hand. The creature had charged his arm aiming to knock Isaac over but just as its claws met Isaac's cheek he drew the branch up its chest.
Impa heard a heart piercing cry…
The force that hit Isaac's cheek made him twist above the ground. The blood from his face oozed like a spray through the air. He held hard onto the candle, protecting it with his life as he knew Keane would have and as Keane had protected him.
Isaac's hand began to burn and the fire spread in around him as if it had a mind of its own, knowing exactly where to go. Isaac realized that the fire of the candle now protected him. Isaac had held the candle and as Keane lighted it, it began protecting Isaac.
Impa saw with horror as blue light flickered in the darkness seeing how it spread around a vague figure. She steered the horse on toward the light…
Weakened and lost in the force of the blow he saw as Zelda's magic blue flames made its way up to him as he span in the air. It felt as if timed had slowed in around him, a thumping noise bashed inside his head.
Impa watched as Isaac disappeared into the other realm through the flames, her eyes reflected the blue flames. Her hand had meet against the black bushes… she was too late.