Chapter Five
The Rise Of The Order Of Sages
Zelda sat still beside her mother in the throne room with a blank expression, as the final arrangements were being made for her marriage. A year from today she would be married to the Gerudo man.
She had decided to do what she was told for now, to avoid drawing attention. Zelda glancd at the desert man who gave her an evil grin and immediately looked away. She couldn't believe her parents were giving her away to such a man. Zelda knew it in her heart that this man did not want a wife, but simply wanted a way into the royal family in order to get to the Triforce. When this ordeal was over with she would immediately start her search for the Ocarina Of Time.
Zelda looked to Impa, who stood near the door. The Sheikah gave her a sympathetic smile and mouthed that the meeting would be over shortly. Zelda sighed and scanned the room hoping to find the Gerudo woman from last night among the crowd of Lords, Dukes, and Counts. She had wanted to thank her for the warning but she hadn't seen the woman since the banquet. Her gaze then fell on Lord Ganondorf's elderly aunts.
Something about those two twins sent chills down her spine. They reminded her of wicked witches from fairytales Impa used to tell her. They wore similar clothing but both seemed to favor a particle color, perhaps that was how people could tell them apart. One seemed to favor blue while the other favored red.Through questioning her mother she had discovered they were the only living relatives of Ganondorf. The blue one must have felt her gaze and turned her head in her direction. The cold look brought Zelda to look down. It would take a lot of courage to become part of that family.
The meeting finally came to an end and Zelda happily got up to leave but Ganondorf grabbed her arm as she passed him.
"I am not too familiar with Hylian customs," the desert Lord announced, "But isn't it custom for the man to kiss his future bride on the cheek after the engagement?" he asked.
The king eyed his daughter. "And I am sure my daughter has not forgotten that, for it must be why she so rudely got up in a hurry."
Zelda froze, obviously she had forgotten all about that. She took a deep breath and tried not to back away as the desrt man kneeled in front of her.
"Do something like you did last night and you'll regret it. Do not defy me ever again or I can have arrangements made to have you killed after the nuptual night," he whispered into her ear as he pretended to kiss her on the cheek.
He got up and Zelda suddenly felt small and vulnerable as the man towered over her. She barely came up to his abdomen. Fighting the urge to run away Zelda managed to walk to the other end of the room and left with Impa.
"Impa! We have to find that Ocarina as soon as possible! If we don't, not only will Ganondorf be able to get the Triforce but he could become King through this arranged marriage if something happens to my parents," said the girl.
"I am aware of that, Zelda. Right now I am more worried about you."
"Me?" asked Zelda surprised as she stopped in front of her chamber. "What about all of Hyrule's population. What's one life compared to a thousand?"
Impa opened the door and they went in. Once Impa closed the door she kneeled in front of the girl to be at eye level.
"Ganondorf will not find the ocarina even if he asked your father where it is."
A smile suddenly spread across the child's face. "Impa do you know where the Ocarina of Time is?"
"As a matter of fact I do," answered Impa.
The Sheikah woman got up and walked to the window, seeing it was shut she turned to face the princess. "You see the Ocarina Of Time isn't really a heirloom of your family. That is just a rumor that my people started alongside with the third generation of your family to throw off anyone who would seek to gain access to the Sacred Realm. The royal family of that time gave the ocarina to my people so they can guard and protect it. However with time and many generations, people really came to believe that the royal family has the ocarina and that it lies guarded along with the royal treasures. Even your parents have come to believe that too, and since Hyrule is one of the wealthiest and powerful kingdom of our time the royal treasures are very numerous and no one has ever bothered cataloging them..."
"...So no one really knows if the Ocarina Of Time is really there," Zelda said finishing the sentence. "They are just assuming."
"That is correct."
"Then that would mean that the Sheikahs have it...But you're the only one left!" said Zelda. "Then that would mean that you have..."
"Not quite exactly," interupted Impa. "You are the one who has it."
"Me!" exclaimed Zelda in surprise. "I don't understand."
Impa walked to the painting that hung near Zelda's bed and spoke a word that Zelda did not understand. Impa then stretched out her arm and reached out behind the painting. A moment later Impa took her arm out and with a smile, revealed what she was holding in her hand.
Zelda sat on a bench in the courtyard as she watched Impa practice her sword movements. She still couldn't believe that Impa had been hiding the Ocarina Of Time in her room for all these years without her even knowing it. At least now she knew it was in a safe place that Ganondorf would never think of looking. Lost in her thoughts she suddenly looked up to find a Gerudo woman standing in front of her. Recognizing the woman from last night, she smiled.
"Hello Nabooru."
"Hello little one, do you mind if I sit down?" the middle aged woman asked.
"No not at all."
Nabooru sat down beside the girl. "Have you found it?" she asked.
"Yes. It is safe."
Nabooru sighed. "Thank goodness...I'll be leaving late this afternoon. I came to say good bye."
"You are leaving? But why?" asked the girl suddenly getting up. "All the other Gerudos aren't leaving until next week..."
"...All but me,"Nabooru interupted. "Because Ganondorf suspects me of raising a rebellion he has ordered me to return to Gerudo Valley or else..." said Nabooru letting the threat hang in the air.
"But can't you pretend to leave?" asked Zelda. She didn't want this mysterious and wise woman to leave. Besides Impa she was the only one to believe that Ganondorf was a threat to Hyrule.
Nabooru sighed. "I don't want to leave my child, but I must. Ganondorf is sending one of his aunts to make sure I go back. I have no choice. I cannot stand up against them, I'm afraid that if I don't leave they'll come after you. The last thing to stand up to Ganondorf was the spirit of the Kokiri Forest and it paid with it's life."
Zelda gasped in horror as her hands went to her face. "Dead? Then that would mean that Ganondorf must have the Kokiri Emerald... anf if he does then that would mean...if they truly existed...that the legendary Kokiri children must all be dead." Zelda became silent and slowly sat back down as realization struck her. "He's dead...he must be while trying to save them...The last person who stood a chance in defeating Ganondorf must be dead," Zelda said in almost a whisper.
"What do you mean?" Nabooru asked puzzled.
"I kept having this dream," explained the princess. "...A terrible thing happens to Hyrule, and the land becomes dark. But then someone who will save us will come out of the Kokiri Forest."
"Then I shall stop Ganondorf myself," said Nabooru with determination gleaming in her golden eyes.
"I know that defying Ganondorf last night was foolish, and now I am in danger because of it. But I rather die trying to stop him than to let him get the Triforce and ruin Hyrule. Even if it means having to search his room to take back the Spiritual Stone of the Kokiri!" exclaimed Zelda.
"But you are just a child," Nabooru pointed out. "Think of what he could do to you if you were to be caught..."
"She won't, because I'll be the one that will do the searching."
Both Nabooru and the princess turned to face Impa that now stood before them. Neither child or Gerudo had even heard her coming. A grin crept up on Nabooru's face.
"Leave it up to a Sheikah to go by unnoticed..."
"...And leave it up to a theif to go up against her own leader," replied Impa.
The two women looked at each other and then down to Zelda.
"And who would suspect an innocent child," Zelda said beginning to smile as well.
"We might be just three but we will find a way to expose the true nature of Ganondorf...After all who could have thought that only three beings created Hyrule," said Nabooru tossing her red hair out of her face.
"So then by the forces of the Three let us attempt to change Zelda's prophecy of destruction," Impa said.
"Good luck to the both of you," Nabooru said as she turned around and returned to the castle to pack her belongings.
Impa put a hand on Zelda's shoulder and together they watched Nabooru go back inside. A feeling of hope now filled their hearts.
The Rise Of The Order Of Sages
Zelda sat still beside her mother in the throne room with a blank expression, as the final arrangements were being made for her marriage. A year from today she would be married to the Gerudo man.
She had decided to do what she was told for now, to avoid drawing attention. Zelda glancd at the desert man who gave her an evil grin and immediately looked away. She couldn't believe her parents were giving her away to such a man. Zelda knew it in her heart that this man did not want a wife, but simply wanted a way into the royal family in order to get to the Triforce. When this ordeal was over with she would immediately start her search for the Ocarina Of Time.
Zelda looked to Impa, who stood near the door. The Sheikah gave her a sympathetic smile and mouthed that the meeting would be over shortly. Zelda sighed and scanned the room hoping to find the Gerudo woman from last night among the crowd of Lords, Dukes, and Counts. She had wanted to thank her for the warning but she hadn't seen the woman since the banquet. Her gaze then fell on Lord Ganondorf's elderly aunts.
Something about those two twins sent chills down her spine. They reminded her of wicked witches from fairytales Impa used to tell her. They wore similar clothing but both seemed to favor a particle color, perhaps that was how people could tell them apart. One seemed to favor blue while the other favored red.Through questioning her mother she had discovered they were the only living relatives of Ganondorf. The blue one must have felt her gaze and turned her head in her direction. The cold look brought Zelda to look down. It would take a lot of courage to become part of that family.
The meeting finally came to an end and Zelda happily got up to leave but Ganondorf grabbed her arm as she passed him.
"I am not too familiar with Hylian customs," the desert Lord announced, "But isn't it custom for the man to kiss his future bride on the cheek after the engagement?" he asked.
The king eyed his daughter. "And I am sure my daughter has not forgotten that, for it must be why she so rudely got up in a hurry."
Zelda froze, obviously she had forgotten all about that. She took a deep breath and tried not to back away as the desrt man kneeled in front of her.
"Do something like you did last night and you'll regret it. Do not defy me ever again or I can have arrangements made to have you killed after the nuptual night," he whispered into her ear as he pretended to kiss her on the cheek.
He got up and Zelda suddenly felt small and vulnerable as the man towered over her. She barely came up to his abdomen. Fighting the urge to run away Zelda managed to walk to the other end of the room and left with Impa.
"Impa! We have to find that Ocarina as soon as possible! If we don't, not only will Ganondorf be able to get the Triforce but he could become King through this arranged marriage if something happens to my parents," said the girl.
"I am aware of that, Zelda. Right now I am more worried about you."
"Me?" asked Zelda surprised as she stopped in front of her chamber. "What about all of Hyrule's population. What's one life compared to a thousand?"
Impa opened the door and they went in. Once Impa closed the door she kneeled in front of the girl to be at eye level.
"Ganondorf will not find the ocarina even if he asked your father where it is."
A smile suddenly spread across the child's face. "Impa do you know where the Ocarina of Time is?"
"As a matter of fact I do," answered Impa.
The Sheikah woman got up and walked to the window, seeing it was shut she turned to face the princess. "You see the Ocarina Of Time isn't really a heirloom of your family. That is just a rumor that my people started alongside with the third generation of your family to throw off anyone who would seek to gain access to the Sacred Realm. The royal family of that time gave the ocarina to my people so they can guard and protect it. However with time and many generations, people really came to believe that the royal family has the ocarina and that it lies guarded along with the royal treasures. Even your parents have come to believe that too, and since Hyrule is one of the wealthiest and powerful kingdom of our time the royal treasures are very numerous and no one has ever bothered cataloging them..."
"...So no one really knows if the Ocarina Of Time is really there," Zelda said finishing the sentence. "They are just assuming."
"That is correct."
"Then that would mean that the Sheikahs have it...But you're the only one left!" said Zelda. "Then that would mean that you have..."
"Not quite exactly," interupted Impa. "You are the one who has it."
"Me!" exclaimed Zelda in surprise. "I don't understand."
Impa walked to the painting that hung near Zelda's bed and spoke a word that Zelda did not understand. Impa then stretched out her arm and reached out behind the painting. A moment later Impa took her arm out and with a smile, revealed what she was holding in her hand.
Zelda sat on a bench in the courtyard as she watched Impa practice her sword movements. She still couldn't believe that Impa had been hiding the Ocarina Of Time in her room for all these years without her even knowing it. At least now she knew it was in a safe place that Ganondorf would never think of looking. Lost in her thoughts she suddenly looked up to find a Gerudo woman standing in front of her. Recognizing the woman from last night, she smiled.
"Hello Nabooru."
"Hello little one, do you mind if I sit down?" the middle aged woman asked.
"No not at all."
Nabooru sat down beside the girl. "Have you found it?" she asked.
"Yes. It is safe."
Nabooru sighed. "Thank goodness...I'll be leaving late this afternoon. I came to say good bye."
"You are leaving? But why?" asked the girl suddenly getting up. "All the other Gerudos aren't leaving until next week..."
"...All but me,"Nabooru interupted. "Because Ganondorf suspects me of raising a rebellion he has ordered me to return to Gerudo Valley or else..." said Nabooru letting the threat hang in the air.
"But can't you pretend to leave?" asked Zelda. She didn't want this mysterious and wise woman to leave. Besides Impa she was the only one to believe that Ganondorf was a threat to Hyrule.
Nabooru sighed. "I don't want to leave my child, but I must. Ganondorf is sending one of his aunts to make sure I go back. I have no choice. I cannot stand up against them, I'm afraid that if I don't leave they'll come after you. The last thing to stand up to Ganondorf was the spirit of the Kokiri Forest and it paid with it's life."
Zelda gasped in horror as her hands went to her face. "Dead? Then that would mean that Ganondorf must have the Kokiri Emerald... anf if he does then that would mean...if they truly existed...that the legendary Kokiri children must all be dead." Zelda became silent and slowly sat back down as realization struck her. "He's dead...he must be while trying to save them...The last person who stood a chance in defeating Ganondorf must be dead," Zelda said in almost a whisper.
"What do you mean?" Nabooru asked puzzled.
"I kept having this dream," explained the princess. "...A terrible thing happens to Hyrule, and the land becomes dark. But then someone who will save us will come out of the Kokiri Forest."
"Then I shall stop Ganondorf myself," said Nabooru with determination gleaming in her golden eyes.
"I know that defying Ganondorf last night was foolish, and now I am in danger because of it. But I rather die trying to stop him than to let him get the Triforce and ruin Hyrule. Even if it means having to search his room to take back the Spiritual Stone of the Kokiri!" exclaimed Zelda.
"But you are just a child," Nabooru pointed out. "Think of what he could do to you if you were to be caught..."
"She won't, because I'll be the one that will do the searching."
Both Nabooru and the princess turned to face Impa that now stood before them. Neither child or Gerudo had even heard her coming. A grin crept up on Nabooru's face.
"Leave it up to a Sheikah to go by unnoticed..."
"...And leave it up to a theif to go up against her own leader," replied Impa.
The two women looked at each other and then down to Zelda.
"And who would suspect an innocent child," Zelda said beginning to smile as well.
"We might be just three but we will find a way to expose the true nature of Ganondorf...After all who could have thought that only three beings created Hyrule," said Nabooru tossing her red hair out of her face.
"So then by the forces of the Three let us attempt to change Zelda's prophecy of destruction," Impa said.
"Good luck to the both of you," Nabooru said as she turned around and returned to the castle to pack her belongings.
Impa put a hand on Zelda's shoulder and together they watched Nabooru go back inside. A feeling of hope now filled their hearts.