"You'll be coming tonight, then?" Link ran his hand through his hair and leaned against the cold fence.
"I wouldn't miss it for the Triforce, old friend. I should probably get back to Termina and put Eden in charge. Draton will be wanting to come, of course." Kafei smiled and looked over at Link. "You're turning into a boring old couple, Link."
Link smirked. "Say that again." He unsheathed the Master Sword, and Kafei drew his saber.
Link lunged. Kafei knocked his blade away and shoved the hilt of the sword at Link. Link swiftly twisted to one side and ducked under Kafei's next swing. Kafei desperately thrust the blade at his Hylian opponent, but Link proved too quick. He parried the blow and sent the blade flying from Kafei's hand.
In an instant, Kafei lay sprawled on the ground with Link's sword hovering an inch above his throat.
"No one's as boring is you, old one," laughed Link.
His eyes widened. A blade was pressed up against his own throat.
"Rain would like to know why you are fighting Uncle Kafei," grinned Lankin. Link's little daughter stood smiling a little ways away.
Lankin was forty-two years of age, tall with thin black hair, graying on the edges. He had golden brown eyes that sparkled with an unexpected hint of humor and was clad in a simple brown cloak. He had no right arm, for it was sliced clean off at the elbow in a vicious battle with the evil corsair Dortheye. Replacing the arm was a sinister scimitar, attached tightly with coils of rope, which he wielded with amazing skill.
Kafei, though nearly fifty, looked much younger than he was. He was fit and stood straight and tall, shoulder length dark blue hair drifting past his friendly brown eyes. He wore a long sleeved tunic that hung loosely down to his knees, below which leather boots reached their height on his powerful legs. His empty scabbard hung at his side. He had a wife named Anju, and two strong sons who served as captains in Termina's military.
Link chuckled, helped Kafei to his feet, and hugged his daughter. "I should have known you would be down here with this rogue, honey."
"Rogue yourself," snorted Lankin. "Your fifth anniversary celebration is in a few hours and here you are fooling around."
"Don't worry, it'll be ready. I never have been one for fancy decorations, you know."
"Perhaps you ought to change that." Kafei slipped his saber back into its scabbard. "From what I hear, nearly all of Hyrule will be there, and some from my realm as well." He winked. "Redaya could be making an appearance."
"Redaya, you're kidding! Fado too?"
"And Quill and Sira and the rest," nodded the mayor.
"Perhaps I should help Zelda with the hall then?" Link swung onto Epona who was pawing patiently a few feet away. Kafei gently picked up Rain and handed her up to Link. "See you tonight!"
"Damn right he should help Zelda," muttered Lankin, as Link and Rain rode off. "It seems as though she's always stuck with the work. He still has the heart of a boy, for all his experience."
"For all his years, too," commented Kafei. "I'm afraid he's been getting older behind our backs." He snatched up his cloak from the swaying grass and swung it about his shoulders. "I must be off. Draton will be wondering where in hell I've been."
"I'll see you at the party, then."
"Of course." Kafei leapt upon the back of his own white stallion. With one last wave to Lankin, he dug his boots into the horse's side and galloped off.
Lankin breathed in the crisp spring air and gazed out over the shimmering surface of Lake Hylia. "No pirates," he said softly. "May the goddesses bless Hyrule." Then, with a whirl of his cloak, he turned and strode off towards his village.
……………………………..
"It was just one little pie," Link muttered to himself later that night as he casually leaned against the side of the huge doors connecting the Main Hall to the castle courtyard. Zelda and Corill had kicked him out of the kitchens, so he decided to greet his guests as they came in through the door. It was more fun than cooking, anyway.
The first visitor to arrive was the Goron Lord Dayon with about ten other Gorons whom Link had personally invited.
"Rock serloin, I hope?" asked the gigantic king.
"There might be some coming," winked Link. "I wouldn't know, I was thrown out of the kitchens."
Actually, he knew very well. All the past week, teams of Hylian excavators clad in heat resistant Red Tunics had been crawling over Goron Mountain, searching for the hardest, freshest rocks they could find.
The Gorons took their seats.
Next through the door were the Gerudo King Raven, the Desert Sage Nabooru, and about twenty other Gerudo.
Raven was thirty-one years old. He had uncombed light brown hair that fell unevenly down to his shoulders, covering much of his sharp blue eyes. His face was dark and thin, and he had on a maroon scarf, a plain sandy-colored cloak, and baggy gray pants that tucked into tough, iron-toed boots at his shins.
Nabooru was tall and slim. Her brilliant orange hair was pulled back into a ponytail that hung down to her waist, and she had long, black eyelashes. Her eyes themselves sparkled with an mysterious mix of orange and gold, and her mouth was usually curled up into a friendly smile. She wore a gray sleeveless top which exposed her lean belly, and faded pants that reached a little past her knees. She was three years older than Link.
Although they were not married, Raven and Nabooru had a sixteen-year-old son named Damon, and they both cared for him deeply. He was fun-loving and friendly, expect when he was threatened, then turning into a skilled and ferocious warrior.
Link greeted the Gerudos. "Sit anywhere you'd like," he said, gesturing to the many long tables that lined the hall. "I'd advise somewhere near the privies. If I know Raven, he'll have himself a few too many glasses of wine."
"I can handle my liquor, don't you doubt it," laughed Raven. "It's you I'm worried about."
"I'll stick to cider, thank you," the Hylian smiled. "Shut your trap and sit down already, you old dog."
Kafei came in next, accompanied by his head captain and longtime friend Draton. Link laughed merrily as he shook the hand of the Terminian soldier. "It's been a while, old friend. Welcome!"
"Too long, Link. You see, my snobbish boss never gives me a moment of leave."
Link laughed and Kafei grinned. The Hylian king knew very well that Kafei wasn't behind the infrequency of Draton's visits, for a captain's services were hardly needed during these times of peace. The simple truth was that Draton loved Termina more than any other, and had a hard time ever leaving it for more than a day at a time.
He stood tall at about six feet and a quarter. He had short black hair and warm green eyes that always seemed to be smiling. His spear hung from his back, never out of reach. The guard was muscular and had a close-shaven black beard, and chose a plain gray tunic and white leggings for his attire.
Draton and the mayor claimed two chairs near Link's, and began a conversation with the Goron Lord seated across the table.
Over the next half hour guests flowed through the door. Link had his hands full greeting them all. They had expected around one hundred attendees, but nearly double that had already arrived and it still wasn't time to start the feast. There were Zoras, Gorons, Hylians, and Gerudo from both Hyrule and Termina, and, finally, elves from Syfort.
Link ran forward and embraced the elves the moment they stepped through the stone archway.
The first to enter was the elven Queen Redaya. She had shimmering gold hair and misty blue eyes. She stood tall and elegant, smiling about the room in such a way that everyone present felt suddenly that they shood fall to their knees and worship her, for she radiated with an aura of great calm and terrible power.
The next elf to cross the threshold in looked shabby next to Redaya, yet everyone gave him the same look of respect and admiration that they had the queen. This was the famous bowman and writer Quill, and without him Link would never have been able to prevail over the Black Sorcerer. From the way he conducted himself with calm and friendliness, no one would ever know that he had experienced more pain and suffering than anyone else in the room. His entire tribe and family had been murdered at the hand's of Vlorack's army before his eyes when he was still very young. He had blonde hair and seemingly out of place emerald eyes. He had fathered a healthy boy named Halo with Redaya herself, whom he now held in his arms.
Hand in hand walked Fado and Sira, happy young parents of a tiny girl called Lavin. Fado was relatively short, even for an elf, but he made up for his size with his energy and heart. He loved food and celebrations and, though he definitely did not look the part, was the best marksman in the Hyrule area. Better even than Link himself, Fado had such skill with his bow that he had been known to fire an arrow into the sky and put another one through it before it touched the ground.
His wife Sira had large blue eyes and long yellow hair. She was one of the quickest and cleverest fighters in the realm, and made a formidable opponent in battle. She was the responsible one of the couple, but, though she would never admit it, hated having to scold Fado for his childish behavior, and in fact loved his antics.
"It's good to see you again, you little rascal!" laughed Quill when Link finally let him go. "My, you've grown."
"Ha, and you're exactly how I remember you. Three, fours years has it been? Halo sure looks different. Where's that little baby boy I remember?" Link ruffled the child's hair and turned to Fado and Sira. "This must be little Lavin," he smiled at the girl in Sira's arms.
"I'm sure you've heard enough about her," grinned Sira. "Our last dozen letters have been about her alone."
"And I wouldn't mind twelve more. Why don't you all have a seat, and we'll talk more over dinner."
"Hyrulean dinner," Fado drooled. "That ancient Corill still working her magic?"
Link's eyes fell to the ground and he stared down quietly. "I'm afraid…" he started, and sorrow overtook the faces of the elves.
"I'm sorry," said Fado softly.
"Let me finish," choked the Hylian, but he was choking back laughter. "I'm afraid we'll have to get the Gorons to carry Fado to his room tonight, he'll be so fat of Corill's meal!"
"You little—" Fado leapt toward his friend, but in an instant Link twisted around and pinned the elf to the ground. He let go with a huge grin on his face.
With everybody chuckling merrily, with the exception of the grumbling elf, the Syfortians found seats at tables around the hall.
By the time all the guests had arrived, nearly three hundred Hyruleans, Terminians, and Syfortians were seated in the Main Hall, all chatting and laughing as they awaited the food.
Link smiled to himself. It would be a most enjoyable night.
……………………………..
Hyrule Castletown slept, silent and deserted, as the spirit traveled. Across the rustling meadow lights leapt and danced inside the stone walls of the castle. It had to struggle to keep itself under control. So many souls, so much horrible white magic, there would be no way for it to accomplish its task in there.
No, it would have to wait.
Silently it moved across the great field of Hyrule. Mortals had to beware of the monsters that crawled the field at night, but that which traveled now was no mortal. None of the skeletons stirred within their underground beds as it passed overhead. The demonic, horrifying creatures whose bony claws and fangs were forever stained with the countless innocent Hylians' dried blood were afraid. They were terrified of what it was that passed over their trembling skulls.
It took most of the night for it to reach the cold desert. And there it waited.
……………………………..
Link grinned, gave an elegant bow, and offered a hand. "May I have this dance, my queen?"
Minstrels and bards gathered together began to strum beautiful melodies on their harps and lyres. The guests had circled around the cobblestone floor, waiting for their king and queen to begin the dance.
"You certainly may, Sire." Zelda took Link's proffered hand and put her arms around his shoulders.
They stepped into the rhythm and slid across the dance floor. Three hundred pairs of eyes were fixed on the couple, but they had eyes only for each other. Not for the first time, Link realized how blessed he was. As guests began to move onto the dance floor and young men began to look around nerviously and work up their courage, he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I love you, Zelda."
Sapphire eyes sparkling, the queen rested her head upon Link's shoulders, sleek golden hair spilling down about his chest. "And I you, my king." She closed her eyes and laughed softly. "Even when you steal my pies from the kitchen."
The king smiled sheepishly.
Mayor Kafei and his wife Anju had worked their way over to the two. They laughed and talked and looked around the room. Across the hall couples swayed and moved back and forth. Quill danced with Redaya, Fado moved with his wife Sira, the Zora queen Ruto had her arms around a legendary Terminian guitarist Mikaku, and Damon, the sixteen-year-old Gerudo prince, had landed himself a dancing partner with the youngest of Draton's daughters.
His thoughts on the young Gerudo, Link realized that Raven was not on the dance floor. Nabooru sipped wine at a table alone.
Link apologized to Zelda and went looking for the Gerudo King. Usually Raven would either be shyly shuffling his feet along with Nabooru or another Gerudo female, or sulking near the dancers, a victim to Link's jovial insults.
Raven was nowhere inside, that was sure. Link took one last look around the hall and headed towards the main doors. As he stepped through the archway, he felt a strong hand clasp his shoulder. Without even glancing back, Link spoke. "That's twice you've caught me by surprise in one day. I'm slipping."
"Or perhaps your mind is elsewhere." Lankin didn't ask how the king knew it was him. Link had a sense for that kind of thing. "I was merely wondering why you're walking out of your own celebration."
Link didn't answer. Instead, he slipped out the door and stepped across the courtyard and drawbridge, nodding to the guards as he passed. Lankin followed him curiously, but he stayed silent. "There he is," Link pointed. He casually strode over to where Raven sat upon a small ledge near the castle gates.
The king took a seat near the Desert General, but Lanking stayed standing, listening to the crows give their cries into the night and nocturnal critters scurry through the tall grass. The Pakomi veteran wished he would have grabbed his cloak; the air itself was not cold, for it was quite pleasant as usually was Hyrule's springtime. But a cold northern wind had blown down from Corland, and Lankin shivered in the cool night.
Link spoke quietly without even looking at Raven. "What is it?"
At first it did not seem as though Raven had heard him. Without a word, Raven took his feet and gazed out over Hyrule Field. Lankin realized with a start that the Gerudo had drawn his blade. It glinted in the moonlight.
"On the wind of Farore," Raven breathed, "something is not right."
Link stood as well and began to question the Desert General further, but Raven quickly sheathed his saber and strode back into the fortress.
Lankin looked questionly at his king, but Link was just as puzzled as him. "Let us return to the castle, friend, we still have a party to enjoy."
"Shouldn't we—"
"I will discuss it with him later."
"And I will drop the matter."
Link smiled, and suddenly he looked haggard and worn. "You've known me too long, Lankin."
"A million years would not be too long, Sire. Come, your wife will be waiting. Impatiently."
The two men turned and walked together back up to the castle.
……………………………..
To say that Zelda was waiting impatiently was an understatement. "Where have you been?" she demanded. "You nearly missed the entire—" Link leaned over and kissed the surprised queen on her ruby lips. She stopped talking and watched him suspiciously.
"Pray, my love, forgive me. Raven has sensed something wrong in the night. As of yet I do not know the source of this feeling, but it worries me. The Gerudo King is not one to jest about such things." Link collapsed on a wooden bench and sighed. Mostly to himself he muttered, "Goddesses help us if evil again walks the land."
A concerned Zelda motioned for Fado, standing nearby, to pour the king a glass of wine. She knelt down next to Link. "Don't worry, love. There is nothing that can bring us down from within Hyrule. And if it is some foreign threat, we will deal with it side by side."
She nodded in thanks to Fado, who helped Link gulp down the wine. "You are not alone, Link," said the young Syfortian Ranger. "All of my realm will rally to you the moment you call. Of this I am sure, for no one knows who her friends are as well as Queen Redaya."
"And you know that Kafei will stand with you until the day he dies," said Zelda, relieved at Fado's support.
Link smiled tiredly. "I thank you for your words. Are all the cohorts ready to escort our guests home?"
"Yes, love. I detailed them myself."
"What would I do without you, Zelda?" said Link softly, taking his feet. "And all the rooms are ready for our Syfortian friends?"
"Yes, love."
"Then I shall retire. Tomorrow morning I ride for the wastelands to discuss this with the Desert General in more detail." Zelda opened her mouth to speak, but Link cut her off. "Alone."
With a jerky bow to his lady, the Hero of Time turned and headed to the master bedchamber.
……………………………..
Raven had refused an escort of Hylian soldiers. He and the half score Gerudo that traveled with him could more than take care of themselves. For a while they traveled with Lord Dayon and some of his Hyrulean Gorons. When they reached the foot of Goron Mountain they said their goodbyes to the friendly rock-eaters and continued on alone.
Now perhaps it was the whistling wind, the howling of the distant desert coyotes, or even the occasional hoot of a nearby owl, but something made Raven uneasy that night. He checked back over his shoulder nearly every minute and his hand was covered in sweat where it clutched the hilt of his blade so tightly his knuckles had turned white. His heart skipped a beat when Nabooru spoke to him, for he had not heard his lover come up beside him.
"We must turn and travel northwest now, my Lord. If we took the path on which you are leading us we would end up in the depths of Lake Hylia."
Absentmindedly the Gerudo King turned slightly and continued walking. "Of course, of course," he muttered.
Nabooru returned to the rear of the group, bewildered by Raven's behavior. The Desert General had been known to get lost in his thoughts sometimes, but he had never led them a step astray. All would be fine once he had a good night's sleep, she decided.
When they returned to the desert fortress, Raven went straight to his room and shut the door, leaving Nabooru to complete the nightly tasks. She worked without complaint, moving about the stronghold detailing guards to sentry duty and making sure everyone was inside. Even in these times of peace, dark spirits roamed the wasteland, though they hardly ever attempted to claim the life of one of the desert bandits. By the time Nabooru had returned to her chamber, she was ready to talk to Raven. Perhaps it would have been better for his health to fall right to sleep, but Nabooru feared he would be enduring a sleepless night of tossing and turning anyway. She decided to try and take his mind off whatever was bothering him.
She slipped a thin cloak over her bare skin and quietly opened the door. She crept down the deserted halls of the fortress until she reached Raven's bedchamber. His personal guard merely nodded at her. She had come to be used to the sight of her clever captain Nabooru clad in nothing but a nightgown at the Desert General's door in the dead of the night. Nabooru smiled at her and entered, shutting the door behind her.
……………………………..
"I cannot watch this any longer!" said the bearded man, not hiding his frustration. "He will be claimed and Hyrule will fall to ruin!" He buried his face in his hands and cried out in despair. "Brother…"
"Do not worry, my love," cooed the dark-haired woman beside him. "Give him some credit; he will not fall so easily."
At this the bearded man lost his temper. He jumped to his feet, his frustration turning to misdirected anger. "You know damn well he will fall! You have hinted at something like this since the day I arrived, all of you!" He lowered his voice, but it still contained the same about of menace. "Do not try and pretend everything will be fine. In saving me you launched this war, I am not as blind as you believe."
The woman sighed. He was right: she knew this day would come. "And what are you going to do about it?" she asked quietly, dreading his reply.
He wasted no time in confirming her fears. "I will go back."
She sighed again, absolutely no surprise on her pretty face. "This is not a descision to be taken lightly," she choked, tears threatening her sparkling dark eyes. "Pray, give it some thought."
"I have given it enough!" he said angrily. His tone became more understanding, even sympathetic. He continued in a whisper. "I love you more than life itself. But it tortures me, standing here and watching my realm fall when I know I can do something about it."
"Surely you realize…?"
"You have told me yourself, many times. If I leave, then I can never come back."
"You would be giving up a chance that no one has ever before received," the woman said, almost pleading now. "And what of our daughter?"
The bearded man did not reply right away. He turned and stared at the intricate designs on a nearby tapestry. "Perhaps," he said finally, "when I die…?" he trailed off.
"No," sobbed the woman, no longer fighting the tears the freely poured down her face, "we would never see each other again."
The bearded man blinked. Was he ready to make this descision? A million arguments went on inside his head. He loved her, there was no denying that, and she could provide him with everything he had ever wanted. But he was mortal, and he did not belong here with her.
"I have decided."