Chapter 5: It was just a dream
Zelda sat cross-legged on her bed and observed the Mask she had bought. The Mask of Truth. Outside her window darkness erased the vision of the familiar view, but the moonlight was illuminating enough for her room.
She frowned and held it up to get a better look of it when Impa walked out from a shadowed corner of her room. She walked over to Zelda, as if it was completely normal to walk out from a corner, and then sat down next to the princess on the bed.
"What do you know about this mask?" Impa asked, eyeing Zelda with her piercing red gaze.
"Only that it was passed down by your people, the Sheikah, and that it might have the power to see into people's mind", Zelda answered. "I guess you can tell me more about it, can't you?" She added and looked pleadingly at her nursemaid.
Impa seated herself more comfortably and lifted the little princess onto her lap. "Well, you have to listen to things I have told you before", she looked down at Zelda who stared back eagerly. "But I assume that won't bother you…
In our time the Sheikah are mere rumors and tales, but in the old times of Hyrule when all the races lived in harmony they were as big part of our world as the Hylians are now. The Sheikah admired the beauty of combat and formed their own kind of martial arts. They studied all kinds of weapons and ways of unarmed combat. They learnt everything to their limits.
However, not only did they have an unusual passion for ways to battle and kill. When people whispered about the Sheikah, which they often did, they described them as tools. They could do the impossible and many suspected they were using dark magic, as you know magic is quite unusual these days too, not to mention just as despised.
The rumors were true at some parts. It was in their nature to be naturally drawn to shadows and darkness. They rather avoided creations of Hyrulians and preferred nature in its purest shape. But the only magic they actually possessed was rather ability than magic. Like Zoras swim the oceans and Gorons move mountains nothing can be kept secret from a Sheikah. Many didn't think it was pleasant to have them nearby because they could feel their gaze linger on them. It was uncomfortable to have the feeling of your soul being watched. This was a main cause for most of the many rumors.
How false they were, the rumors, because having a cold heart is not the same as being a servant of darkness. Like rain can hurt and fall upon you as if to force you to your knees it can also be soothing and good. No, the Sheikah did not wield magic, except for their gift, but they could use a couple of tricks which easily could be taken for magic by an untrained eye.
"…And the mask Impa?" Zelda interrupted.
"As with most other ancient forms of magic, the Sheikah sealed the magic they had into different objects. They succeeded to seal their instinctive gift to see what was not supposed to be seen."
"Oh, I understand Impa, so this mask is magical? But what use would they have of this when they already had the gift without it?"
Impa fell silent and turned to look out the window into the blackness of the night, without a word. Zelda knew it wouldn't be of any use to guess what she thought nor to ask, Impa never revealed anything. The princess sighed and decided to change the topic.
"Impa… Why did the Sheikah disappear? Why are you the only one left?" Impa shifted her gaze to her and opened her mouth to say something but caught herself and seemed to consider another answer.
"I'll tell you soon Zelda…"
"Impa…"
"Yes?" Impa turned to her with an amused smile, or as close to a smile Impa could come.
"You don't have to guard me in here tonight!"
"Oh, I don't you say? Sorry my dear but I got my orders."
"But, it's not the same as sleeping alone! You always say I should sleep without someone in the room!"
"And you have… For a few years now" Impa rose and walked over to sit down in her armchair, not showing any sign to leave.
"Yes, but it's not the same, even though I can't see nor hear you Impa I know that you are in here and I want to try to sleep alone", Zelda complained and did her best to look really sad.
"Fine, I will stand outside and keep guard, Zelda."
As soon as Impa had left the room Zelda made herself ready for bed and more importantly, her meeting with Link which it would be time for soon. She could easily sneak out of her room with a small lie about needing something to drink.
Link had hidden the Bunny Hood and sat by the table in his green pyjamas, patterned with Keatons. His mother had given him a glass of milk before he went to bed. Link's father was meanwhile busy lifting this and looking behind that when his wife wasn't looking to see if he 'accidentally' came across the Bunny Hood.
Link cast a very quick glance at the place he had hid it. Unfortunately, it didn't go his father by and both threw themselves towards the hiding place. Link, who won by a half second, quickly ran to his room and locked the door.
He took a breath of relief and decided to go to bed. All noise his father made wouldn't bother him. Just as his father Link was able to sleep during any circumstances, even though it took time for him to actually fall asleep.
He yawned and went over to his bed when he spotted the book he got from Zelda and next to it the flute Sharp had thrown at him.
At the sight of her present he let out a shocked cry. He had totally forgotten that he was going to meet Zelda. His scream was interrupted by a large bang. With wide eyes he looked turned to look at his door which now lay on the floor and then he looked up to see his father stand in the now doorless doorway.
"What's the matter son?"
Once Link's father noticed that his son wasn't screaming because of any grave danger his worry quickly changed back to anger.
Link swiftly grabbed the book and jumped out of the window. As fast as he could he made his way to the training grounds of the castle.
Zelda was already there waiting for him when he arrived. Bonooru the scarecrow stood alone as a dark silhouette behind her.
"So, what did you want Zelda?" He curiously asked her as soon as he came close enough.
"Well, it is your birthday…"
"Yes?"
She began to fiddle with her fingers before she shyly answered. "A few days ago I heard some girls in the stable talk about sleepover."
"What's a sleepover Zelda?"
"Guess", she said and smiled at him.
"Sleep… over…maybe?" He hesitated and her smile widened. He answered her smile with a frown. He was usually the one explaining things to her and no matter how fun guessing games were he wouldn't be bested by her. "Go on", he said.
"Of what I heard from the girls it seemed like one of them would visit the other and spend the night there, and they would stay up and talk all night."
"Woah! That'll be like training to stay up all night", Link exclaimed.
"Do you never think about anything else? Anyway, what do you say?"
"Mum says I can't go to the castle if it's not with her or dad", Link answered doubtfully. He knew he shouldn't but it sounded like so much fun and he would finally get to see Zelda's room. "How will I get in?"
"Trust me on that one", she said and winked at him.
"But, I can't go without telling my parents…"
Zelda frowned. "I guess I could send someone with a letter…"
After agreeing, they sneaked as far into the castle as was possible without being discovered. Link was very impatient and when they reached a dead end he was just about to complain when Zelda put a hand over his mouth and whispered: "Any second now."
Right after she said it Flat came walking around the corner humming a joyful melody as he flung his baton from side to side. Link tried to back a little closer to the wall knowing what that baton could do in the hands of the careless Flat. It would be the ultimate weapon to take over the world.
"Right on time", Zelda whispered and tried to catch Flat's attention. Once he noticed the two children he eagerly hurried over to them. Link ducked to avoid Flat's baton when it accidentally flung his way in one of Flat's wide movements.
"Oh, if it isn't the lovely princess, are you playing one of your silly games again?"
The princess gave him one of her most charming smiles. "Yes, actually I am. You can help me, can't you?"
"Of course!" Flat replied merrily while Link avoided his baton once again.
"The point of this game Flat is that Link here mustn't be found by anyone in the castle. The goal is my room." Zelda explained.
"That sounds like fun", Flat said excitedly and enthusiastically clapped his hands while the two kids hushed at him to make him keep quiet.
Link eyed him. He didn't understand how the clumsy and loud Flat could help them reach Zelda's bedroom undiscovered.
Flat's clothing was, as anyone's with any authority in the castle, expensive. Along with his purple getup he wore a long robe covering most of it and a high hat.
"So, how can I help?" Flat whispered.
"You can let Link hide under your robe and we'll pretend you're escorting me to my room, when there you let Link out and go back."
Flat chuckled. "What a great idea princess." He lift his robe so Link could crawl in under it, however, Link didn't seem very keen on doing that. Zelda sighed as Flat chased Link around the small space where they wouldn't be revealed.
When they finally were on their way it wasn't a very pleasant walk for Link who had to crawl all the way up the stairs and follow Flat's weird walking pattern.
Zelda worriedly cast a glance at Flat who kept humming and walking from side to side in the corridor, combining his walk with small dancing steps and jumps every now and then.
After what felt like an eternity they reached the room. Zelda had a feeling this simple trick wouldn't fool Impa who lurked somewhere in the shadows but she guessed she probably wouldn't take much notice of it.
Once inside she fanned herself with her hand and Link shakily crawled out from his hideout, white as a ghost in the face.
"Can't we play this game again sometime?" Flat asked.
"Yeah, some other time, thank you for joining us", Zelda said and curtsied.
"Don't forget your homework Link, it'll be fun to hear what progress you've made", Flat said to Link and waved goodbye as he left.
"Oh, Link you haven't told me you are taking lessons from Sharp and Flat", Zelda cried and made small jumps on the spot.
The princess didn't get any answer, which could possibly have to do with that Link lay unconscious behind her after the refreshing walk.
She gently shook him until he finally stirred. "Are you okay?" she asked but he didn't answer. She leant closer and watched him carefully to see if it was more serious than she had first suspected.
At first Link lay completely still to hear if there was any sign of Flat nearby, when there wasn't he slowly opened his eyes, only to stare deep into the different shades of blue of Zelda's.
They sat silent for several minutes, hardly daring to breathe, taken aback by the moment.
"Are you okay, Link?" she dared to say softly. He rose and brushed off his tunic.
"I-I'm okay."
There was an uncomfortable silence. Link watched Zelda as she stubbornly looked down on at the floor. She knew she shouldn't have stared like that. Not only because it was rude but because of how it affected people. She shyly looked up to meet his eyes, ready to ask the terrible question if he hated her, and was surprised when he smiled a sunny smile at her.
"Hey, how do you do that Zelda?"
"What?"
"That funny thing with your eyes, is it some kind of trick?"
She giggled and jumped up on her bed and pointed at the other side that he should sit down there.
"I just remember a voice, I don't know from where, telling me that the eyes are the mirror of the soul."
"What's that got to do with it?" Link asked and scratched his head.
"Whenever I wonder what people want, what they mean, what they think I try to look as deep as I can into their eyes to see the truth there. I want to understand people so I try to look into that mirror."
"Does it work?" Link asked wide-eyed. She smiled.
"I don't know. I don't ask people if I'm right but it feels like…"
She was cut off by Link who stared as deep as he could into her eyes, so close their noses almost brushed against each other. He moved back.
"No, it doesn't work Zelda!" he stated and crossed his arms, that familiar knowing look on his face.
They stayed up for several hours. They had never had so much time to spend together and they had all time they could ever need to tell what they were up to when the other wasn't around.
The room was only lit up by a few candles and the moonlight when they realized how late it actually was. Zelda went behind her draper to change while Link moved some of the many pillows to the other side of the bed where he was to sleep. He already had his green pyjamas on since that are what he had been wearing when escaping his father's wrath.
The book he had brought lay on top of the covers.
Zelda walked out from behind the draper. Her nightgown, pearly white, was a little too long and it had small patterns of ancient Hylian which seemed to fade the higher they were located on the nightgown.
She lay down on her side. The bed was so big that their feet had no chance of making contact.
"Link, I'm glad you're here, it'll be a long time before we will be able to have a day like this again."
"Yeah, but you just wait till it's your birthday Zelda!"
They took the time to smile at each other before something came to Zelda's mind.
"Oh, I forgot to put out the lights", she said and jumped out of bed to walk over to the three small candles. Link watched her in silence. The nightgown flowed behind her as she walked and the candles spread their small amount of golden light over her. She blew them out and everything turned to shades of blue.
"Zelda… are you sure you're not magical?"
"You mean that I'm trying to see into people's mind?"
He evaded her gaze.
"Link?"
"Yeah, that's what I mean…"
Zelda always fell asleep quickly. Tonight she would rather have stayed up to talk to Link but sleep demanded its right. She managed to whisper a small goodnight before her eyes closed.
It was pitch-dark around her, an empty darkness. For how long had she been there? Far away in the distance a small light began to shine. What was it that had reached this soothing place? She didn't know if it was she who moved towards the light or the other way around, but it became bigger. She could see that it was moving. It spun slowly, like a wheel of fire. She almost felt hypnotized. It was so quiet around her. Only she and the flames, which slowly spun around in front of her. Suddenly everything exploded. An invisible wave rushed past her. Voices and screams pierced the darkness all at once and the wheel began to spin faster and faster. She tried to cover her ears and stumbled away in panic.
"Make it stop!"
She grabbed her head in agony and moaned. She forced herself to look up and saw the wheel high above her. The fire rushed down against her… almost as if…it fell…She gasped and…
…Woke up.
Link sat up in bed, woken in an instant. He was only half asleep but hearing Zelda's scream he was quickly fully awake, threw the covers off and hurriedly crawled over to her. She had hidden her face in her hands and shook her head slowly from side to side. Her whole body was trembling.
"Zelda what's wrong, you're not crying are you?" He asked worriedly.
"No, I'm not crying, I just had a nightmare… don't worry."
Her voice was so faint. He sat silent beside her. He didn't know what to do. Hesitantly he wrapped his arms around her the way his mother used to when she comforted him. Her head was buried against his chest but he didn't feel any tears which made him relax.
"It's okay Zelda, it was just a dream", he mumbled soothingly and gently stroked her hair. "It was just a dream…" He let his head lean on her. It felt oddly comfortable.
Suddenly the door flung open, Link made a startled jump and quickly turned his head towards the doorway. He only caught a glimpse of something moving at an amazing speed towards them. It was more of a reflex rather than skill that made him pull out the knife he got for his birthday. Without any time to think he quickly swung his knife against the dark creature but only got through half the swing before he was thrown off of Zelda and could feel cold steel pressed against his throat.
Trembling out to the tips of his fingers he found that he did not dare to move. Was this what his father had trained him to be able to protect himself and others from? He had never experienced a fear like this in his entire life, never felt so powerless. Eyes red as glowing fire glared down at him. He didn't dare to look anymore and closed his eyes hard, he felt like crying. Everything had happened too quickly.
"S-stop it Impa!" Zelda ordered. The young princess sat with her hands locked as if in prayer and stared down, her hair falling in front of her face and hiding her expression. "He is the one I have told you about."
Link could feel the knife being removed from his throat. Whoever this was must really trust Zelda, he thought and let his hand touch where the blade of this Impa had been mere seconds ago.
Impa went over to Zelda without bothering about him in the least. She gently grabbed the small girl's shoulders and forced her to look up at her. Link wasn't sure if Impa was silent a little too long when she met Zelda's eyes. He had Zelda's back against him and couldn't see if anything was wrong, but Impa didn't show any shocked expression so he assumed it couldn't be that bad.
"Zelda, I want you to close your eyes, relax and count to ten", Impa said.
"You can count to ten Zelda? Wow!"
Impa snapped her head in Link's direction like a bloodthirsty beast and he quickly shut his mouth and backed away.
He examined Impa from what he considered a safe distance. In the darkness the only thing he could make out was a muscular built person with piercing red eyes. Impa was probably done with Zelda and turned towards him in the same shockingly fast manner she had proven herself capable of earlier. Impa was even faster than his father. He raised his hands in defence as the red eyes glowered at him. Link decided that this person was scary, probably a monster!
"Boy, what were you doing with the princess?"
The voice made him doubt this was a man but he still wasn't sure whether to judge Impa as a man or woman yet.
"M-me... I… I…" He didn't get further because Impa grabbed his throat and violently tried to strangle him. "In her room! Hugging her! A scandal! Unforgivable!"
"Impa!" Zelda cried and the terrifying monster oddly enough let go of him. Impa tapped the blade of her knife against her palm as she seemed to consider something, then she glared at Link again.
"What you have done is unforgivable…"
Link gulped. There was no doubt, this awful, awful Impa would kill him.
"You don't deserve a quick death for laying your dirty hands on the princess", Impa hissed. But that suits me fine, I prefer the hunting actually."
Even in the darkness he could make out the evil smirk. With a scream he threw himself down on the floor and ran as fast as he could. But just as he was about to reach the door he remembered Zelda. It didn't matter that she seemed to know this monster! He would never leave her in such danger.
As he whirled around, trying to look brave, he found himself staring into those horrifying red eyes, and before he knew it he was running around the room in panic with Impa one step behind.
"Zelda! Make it stop! Tell the freaky thing to stop!"
Impa pushed him up against a corner and smirked. "Nowhere to run now…" She pulled out three long needles and chuckled evilly. Link froze and tried to look at Zelda but his head was grabbed by Impa. "Trying to look at her in her nightgown you little…"
"But Zelda, aren't you going to help me?" Link asked, a little more than panicked now.
"Oh, don't worry Link, I think she likes you. If she didn't you would be dead by now", Zelda answered, without any visible worry at all.
Link swallowed and looked up at Impa who towered over him with crossed arms and, he could swear on it, glowing red eyes.
"…Hi, I'm Link" he said weakly and tried a smile. She bent down and pushed him harder against the wall.
"If you get closer to the princess than I consider appropriate I'll take care of you personally. I'm always watching you, I can hide in every shadow, remember that boy", Impa threatened and raised a hand. Link flinched, convinced she would hit him, but was blinded by a flash and when he opened his eyes Impa was nowhere to be seen.
"I think Impa is really fond of you Link, she warned you about herself always being around, I'm so glad you two met!" Zelda said and smiled warmly at Link's astonished face. "I'm so glad that you made a good impression, it means a lot to me that the two of you get along."
Link gulped, still unable to move. That must have been the most awful creature the goddesses have ever created! He would never be able to sleep now!
The rest of the night he made sure to have at least ten steps distance between himself and Zelda.
"What are you doing Link, you don't have to push yourself as far back in the bed as possible!" Zelda said slightly annoyed when they had decided to go back to sleep.
"I am? Oh, no, Zelda, you've got it all wrong! I- I'm just… exercising… yeah! You know, pushing your back against something really strengthens it!"
Link shuddered, that awful Impa could be anywhere, making sure he stayed away from Zelda. It took quite some time but not even the scary Impa-creature could stop Link from falling asleep.
Impa sat unnoticed in the armchair in the corner, her usual place, and watched the two sleeping children. That boy really amused her and for his age he had been able to fight well enough with his knife, for a Hylian of course. But it would probably still be good to keep an eye on him. However, right now she had other things to bother about. Since Zelda's birth she had noticed small signs but never had it confirmed. Now there was no doubt. She was sure. Even through the darkness there was no way she could have been mistaken that the little girl's frightened eyes had been piercing red when they met hers. That was the proof.
Puh! This really took quite some time. Has been a little more than usual to handle lately but I'm still having plenty of free time so I don't have any good excuse for you. This was supposed to be done in February actually! Well, I'm doing this for fun so I don't really regret the delay.
The worst thing about writing this is that I don't have any time for reading (I like reading much more than writing) so I should take my time to read some stories too!
I've been waiting to write this chapter, it was one of the few scenes I had in mind before I decided to write this. If I'm going to name Link's parents they'll probably be named something like Chiharu and Lumina (stolen names) but for now I'll keep them unnamed!