Chapter Three: Discovery and Reunion
The sun shone brightly as Link woke to the sound of songbirds greeting the new day. He quickly got up and did what needed to be done. Before he put his hat on, he placed a sleepy Tatl on his head. He grabbed his things and headed downstairs.
Link emerged from his room and followed a mouth-watering aroma as it led him into the main room. There were already people there, with hearty plates of delicious food spread before them. He grabbed a seat and waited for the server. After he ordered his food, he sat back and thought of the day's events.
When he was done here, he would ride Epona to Rhia's house. He would stay there for a few hours then head back on his journey to Hyrule. Link was certain that his visit with Rhia would be enlightening. He would learn more about Hyrule's history and maybe about the Great War. He'd always wondered about that terrible event in Hyrule's history. It would be fun to trade stories with Rhia; he'd be able to learn more about her as well.
The young man hoped that their conversation would yield information on Navi. He was a bit nervous about seeing her again, if he did get to see her. He hoped his old friend wouldn't get angry at him for searching for her. The former Kokiri greatly valued his fairy partner's friendship.
One person Link would be happy to see was Rhia's daughter, Arya. He enjoyed her company last night. She was beautiful and good-natured.He was puzzled by the intensity of emotion that welled up within him when he was around her. It was not the same as a romantic attraction, of that he was certain, but neither could he deny that her presence struck a hidden chord within his spirit.
The server from before brought him a hot, steaming plate of pancakes, sausage, and eggs, and a tall glass of milk. After thanking the server, he ate his meal and put a tip of fifteen rupees on the table. After he finished his meal, Link grabbed his bags and went out to the stable. He saddled Epona and led her outside. He quickly mounted his steed and rode her in the direction of his destination.
Meanwhile, he paid attention to the sights, sounds, and smells of Ordon. The occasional villager took notice of the green-clad rider. Many greeted him with a smile or a wave as he passed through, gestures to which he responded in kind. Link took in the sights around him.Children played in the streets. Merchants called out their wares. People greeted and talked with one another.
Soon, Link spotted a house with a horse pen on the side. When he came closer, a beautiful sight greeted his eyes. Arya was outside grooming a grey horse. Her voice was raised in song and drifted over to the young man. The sight before him shifted slightly, as memories wafted into his mind on the wind of Arya's voice. He saw a red-haired girl with a brush in her hand and a melody on her tongue. Before her was Epona, his faithful steed. Malon was her name and she had been his first friend, his first crush, he recalled fondly, outside of the Kokiri Forest.
Link wondered how Malon was doing. He hoped she was happy and that the ranch was doing well. She would catch many a man's eye, as she did him. He was curious if one of those men happened to catch her eye as well. If they were together, he was happy for them and wished them luck.
Arya noticed Link then and waved to the young man. A smile spread across his face and he returned the warm greeting. The girl stopped what she was doing and began to head toward him. He got off Epona and led her over to the young maiden.
Arya smiled. "So, this is the Epona I heard so much about. That's a beautiful horse, Link. It's a pleasure to meet you, Epona." She curtsied to which Epona nickered in appreciation.
Link chuckled and rubbed Epona on the neck. "You like that. Don't you, girl?" In answer, Epona nuzzled his shoulder.
Arya gave Link an admiring look. "You and your horse have quite a bond. I admire that in you, Link."
"Thanks. We've had a long time to perfect it."
Arya nodded thoughtfully and said, "Come. Let's go. Just put Epona in with Aurelius and then come inside." Link went and did as she said.
They watched Aurelius trot up and curiously look at the stranger who came into his pen. He sniffed her over and neighed. Then, he trotted to a patch of grass and neighed again as if to beckon her over. Epona whinnied back and went to join him. The two horses ate the grass together. Link and Arya looked at each other, smiled, and then walked up to the house.
XxXxXx
Rhia paced the length of her living room while her husband and the household's resident fairy looked on. Navi stared with puzzlement at her nervousness. Sometimes even a fairy couldn't understand the behavior of humans. She looked at Damon and asked, "Why is Rhia so nervous?"
Damon sighed. "Someone is coming here today. She met and invited him over here. Apparently, they have much they are going to talk about."
"So, who's coming over then?"
"A person she knew long ago before you came here." He looked intently at his wife."Rhia, please stop pacing. I know it's supposed to help, but please stop for a sec. Just calm down."
Rhia stopped. She sighed and closed her eyes. She slowly took a few deep breaths.
"Do you feel better now?" Damon asked.
"Yes, I do, but I'm still nervous. I…I don't know how he'll react. He hardly knows any of the information I'm going to tell him." Rhia looked down and shuffled her feet.
Damon moved over and put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him and put a hand around his waist. "Don't worry you'll do fine. Just don't put it all upon him at once. Start with normal conversation first then build up to the big stuff."
Navi hovered over to the couple. "I'm sure you'll do fine with whatever you're doing. You always do. Though I can't help but feel you're keeping something important from me."
Rhia looked at Navi with eyes burdened with many worries. "I assure you, Navi. We'll tell you everything once this mess is over with."
Then, three pairs of ears heard the front door open and close, and two pairs of feet come in. They next heard a single person walk their way. Arya appeared from around the corner. "He's here. I left him in the entryway."
Rhia sighed. "And so it begins. Arya, can you and Navi leave us alone for now?"
Arya looked in her mother's eyes and replied, "Of course. I understand. Come, Navi. Let's go do something." Girl and fairy hesitantly went across the room and through a close-by doorway.
XxXxXx
Link shuffled his feet and sighed. What was taking Arya so long? So what if it had only been a couple of minutes since she left, he was feeling weird being in someone else's house alone. Normally, he wasn't like this, but for some reason today was different. He could feel it in his very bones.
A soft voice intruded on his thoughts, "Calm down, Link. It's not as if something bad is going to happen."
Link exhaled. "I guess you're right. Have you sensed anything like last night?"
"I have and the trail is getting thicker the farther we go," Tatl declared.
Link smiled and asked, "Does it smell similar to the woods I first met you in?"
A couple moments later, his partner gave an answer. "It is. It's less dark and scary. More light and earthy. People smells are intermingled in it."
Link was about to answer when his ears picked up two people coming his way. He whispered, "Let me know if you pick up anything else." He heard an affirmative in reply. The young hero straightened his tunic as best he could and waited for the people who were coming.
The footsteps drew closer and closer until Rhia and Damon emerged…without Arya. Link tried to not show his disappointment at the young woman's disappearance. He had really enjoyed the time they had spent together, however brief it might have been.
The pair stopped a short distance from Link. Damon greeted, "Welcome to our home, Link. If you would follow us further inside, we can all talk."
Link nodded and while walking, asked a question he had been wondering about earlier. "Where's Arya? Why didn't she come with you?"
Rhia looked at Damon and then said, "She had things she needed to get done. She should be back later."
Link nodded silently behind them and the group continued to walk on. They soon emerged in a spacious living room that was nicely decorated. There was an empty fireplace, a couple chairs and couches, and a small bookshelf. Damon and Rhia situated themselves on a couch and Link claimed a chair across from them.
Rhia looked up at him and seemed to finally notice his sword and shield along with Damon. They both stared at him with wide eyes.
Link asked, "Are you uncomfortable with my stuff? I can take it off, if you like."
"No, you needn't do that. We'll be fine. It's just no one's been in here with a sword and shield before," Rhia replied.
Damon cleared his throat. "How long have you had those?"
Link paused and declared, "I've had this sword for seven years and the shield for ten. They both are of Hylian design."
"May I see your shield?" Rhia asked. Link complied by taking his shield from his back and handing it to her. She carefully examined it taking time to lay her hand on the Triforce mark and looking at the markings.
Rhia looked up and asked, "Link, do you know why the phoenix is emblazoned on each and every Hylian shield?"
Link frowned and thought about it for a moment. He looked at her and replied, "No, why is it?"
Rhia leaned forward after putting his shield on a table in front of her. Her eyes gleamed as if she was sharing a secret. "Hyrule used to be not as big as you know it now. It was once not together with the lands of the Gorons, Gerudo, Kokiri, and Zoras. It only included Hyrule Castle Town, Hyrule Field, and Lake Hylia.
"Once a disaster shook the small kingdom and left them devastated. Eventually, it ended, but not without help from all the races who helped Hyrule out of the kindness of their hearts. After this, they added their lands to Hyrule's so all may benefit, the land became, as you know it now. With the other races help, Hyrule rose from its ashes like the phoenix of legend and became a great kingdom."
Link nodded thoughtfully over what he heard. So this was how Hyrule became how it was. He noticed Damon had left and pushed that thought from his mind. Then, another question came to mind. "How was the Great War started? I've always wondered about it since I was born near the end of that time."
Rhia's face became more solemn and she bowed her had as though it was weighed down by something great. "I will tell you, but for the second half of my tale you will have to wait, because I don't want to tell it all in one sitting. So we will have a short break in between it and you can tell me about what Hyrule is like since you last saw it."
She spun a tale of the Great War's beginning. She told how the Sheikah fought the Gerudos because of some great conflict between them. Eventually, the Gorons and Zoras joined separate sides and fought one another. Link was informed how the Hylians were stuck in the middle and that some joined one side and some another.
After two hours time, Rhia ended the first part of her tale and went out to get some refreshments. Link got up and stretched. He walked to the bookshelf and examined its contents.
The titles included The History of Hyrule, The Myths and Legends of Hyrule, and many others. Most had something to do with Hyrule in some form or another.
Link picked up the book, The Myths and Legends of Hyrule. He flipped through the pages and randomly stopped at one. The chapter was titled "The Hero of Time."
The young hero's eyes widened and he double-checked the title. His eyes didn't deceive him. He turned to the next page and what he saw shocked him. It showed a stained-glass picture of the hero of legend. On the left side of the picture, a man stood in armor, a forest surrounding him in a small half-circle. A beautiful woman stood opposite him, a castle to the right of her. In the middle, the Master Sword stood with its blade in a stone. The Triforce glowed over them while darkness covered the land. Amidst the darkness, the figures glowed in radiant light.
Link stared in wonder at the picture. Suddenly, he felt as if his left hand burned. The book fell with a clunk. He backed away and removed his glove. The Hero of Time looked with awe as his Triforce symbol glowed. This hadn't happened in a long time. Before when it did that, something bad or important was going to occur. He didn't think anything important was likely to happen and Rhia's family seemed nice to him.
Then, Link heard Rhia on her way back. He hurriedly put his glove on and placed the book back where it belonged.
Link spun around to find Rhia carrying a tray of food. She smiled as she spotted him by the bookshelf. "So you were looking at my books. Did you find any you like?" She walked to the table between where they sat earlier and placed the tray by his shield.
He moved to sit in his chair and replied, "Hyrulean myths and legends fascinate me and they always will." "Especially since, I'm involved in one," he thought.
Rhia sat down as well. "Is there one that fascinates you the most?" she asked.
"The legend of the Hero of Time. How it says a hero will save Hyrule from a great evil."
"You know there are those who believe the legend is true." Rhia looked intently at him as if awaiting his answer.
Link popped a grape in his mouth, chewed and swallowed. "And I'm one of those believers."
"Why is that?" Rhia propped her head on the palm of her hand as her elbow rested on her knee.
Link looked at her. "How should I put this? I don't want to give anything away," he thought. Then, he replied, "Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo, came to talk to King Daphnes ten years ago. After Princess Zelda intruded their conversation, he vanished without a trace never to be seen again. I saw him once and felt as if that man was evil to the very core of him. After he disappeared, I came to wonder if the Hero of Time intervened that day."
"For some reason, I think you have more reason to believe in the Hero of Time than most people," Rhia replied.
Link shrugged. "So what? There are others who believe as I do."
Rhia nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I agree with you that the Hero of Time legend is true." Before Link asked why, she continued by saying that she wanted to finish her tale of the Great War. While she talked, they had their snack of fruit, bread, and juice.
When she mentioned how Ganondorf orchestrated the whole thing, Link felt sick to his stomach. He still had nightmares of that man, and to think he had started the Great War. It was all part of his plan to take over Hyrule. Link guessed he didn't figure into the evil king's plot at first.
During the fourth year of the war, Ganondorf led Gerudos and a small force of loyal Hylians to take Hyrule. He sent Gerudo assassins to kill the Royal Family. They would've been successful if the Sages and the King's Guard hadn't interfered.
The fifth year it ended. That year Link was born and Rhia fled to Ordon. Hyrule slowly went back to normal and it became peaceful.
"That is how the Great War ended. A war of loss, betrayal, and strife. My tale is done and over," Rhia solemnly said.
Link mused the story over. He felt that there was more that happened during those last two years than she told him. He wouldn't pester her about it. It was best that she tell him in her own time.
Then, the person he was thinking of sighed. She looked up at Link and slowly smiled. "Would you like to know the reason why I believe in the legend of the Hero of Time?"
"Ah…sure. Why not? Why do you believe in the legend?" At that last sentence, his voice took on an intrigued tone.
Rhia took a deep breath and prayed a short prayer to the goddesses. She looked deep in Link's eyes. "This is my story. My name is Rhiannon Galen. I am the daughter of Mari and Kiel Galen. My family is a family of healers dedicated to help those who need it. We never refuse to help a person even if they have a bad reputation or they are of a different race. My part of the family was fortunate to serve the nobility and military.
"One day I happened to meet a young soldier whose life we saved. His name was Peter and he was helping his family by joining the military. Eventually, we fell in love and married.
"The war started when we were newlyweds. Peter had to serve in the armed forces and I had to help my family as a healer. Thankfully, the Hylian Army had little involvement in the conflicts between the other races. The healers didn't have many to help, though they gave aid at times to those who were affected.
"The third year I became pregnant and though it was a joyous moment for us, we were frightened. We were uncertain if the world would be a good place for our child to grow up in.
"Then, one day I had a vision. The forest goddess, Faore, visited me. Her eyes shone with the love of a mother for a child. They also contained a courage I've never seen a person before. She stood in front of me and spoke to me. She told me I shouldn't worry. My child would grow up in a safe environment until it was time for him to fulfill his destiny. When the time would come for him to fulfill his destiny, his left hand would glow with the mark of the goddesses. Faore said that she herself would be with him during the trials of that time. She told me I should be proud of him for he would save many and bring peace to Hyrule. His life would be full of hardships and trials, and also happiness and joy.
"When our child was born, it seemed as if he was made of light. He glowed with warm light and it seemed as if he was an angel sent from above. It gradually subsided until his beautiful blue eyes shone with the light's radiance. I knew my child was special from that day on."
At those words, something began to click inside Link. It was as if his heart's puzzle had gained another piece and added it to the bigger picture. For the life of him, he couldn't figure it out just yet.
And then it hit him. The feeling sent his mind reeling, as if he had been on the receiving end of one of Ganondorf's attacks. The words 'destiny, left hand, mark of the goddesses, and Faore' rang, all of them sang out to his heart.He looked down at his left hand where the Triforce had made its mark on him. The young hero slowly looked up at Rhia and her eyes shone with the truth.
"It can't be," Link murmured.
Rhia's eyes teared up. "It is, my son. It is."
Link exclaimed, "But I thought you were dead! How can you be alive?"
Rhia looked down and hesitantly replied, "After the accident that left me with a near fatal wound, I fled to Kokiri Forest. I left you there with the Kokiri and the Great Deku Tree knowing that you would be safe there. Then, I left by using what small magic I had. I was found by Damon and the rest you should know by now. Now, I'm here to be in your life, if you'll let me."
Link sat back in shock. Here was this Hylian woman, who knew so many pieces to his life, and now said that she was… Was it a lie? No, of course she was telling the truth. Who else could have known that story about the Deku Tree, and how he was raised? How could she have known about the Triforce? This was his mother! His mother. The young man's mind was spinning faster than a tornado and threatened to cause just as much devastation.
But then he looked into her glistening eyes and the howling winds within his heart calmed. The storm was soothed. His mother… Hadn't he just been thinking on the road that he wanted a true family, craved it? And this meant that Arya…He had a sister! A sister!
There was only one possible reaction to this knowledge, at least for this hero, and Link acted on it immediately. With tears tumbling from his eyes, the man rose from his place and crossed over to Rhia. She fell into his embrace and began to cry as well. As she sobbed against his chest, he realized something.
I have a family.