Hi guys. Sorry about posting a short chapter but we've got a lot of things happening anyway so it should compensate. This story has hit 70 reviews which is awesome. We're nearly at the end now with three more chapters after this one (looked at the word count for them and had to merge two into one again).
Chapter 18: Court Marshalled
"This is unacceptable!" the high councilor roared. "The three of you should all be executed for this folly. You purposefully stole both the Fire Medallion and the Shadow Medallion from the vault; the two items that the enemy needed to revive Demise and bring about the end of the world, and gave them to the Demon's Flames, even after the council had explicitly forbidden it."
As soon as Link, Midna and Groose returned to Skyloft, Peacekeepers swarmed in numbers to apprehend them. Now they stood before the council with hung heads to stand trial for their treason and face whatever punishment that was to be served. The court case was extensive to say the least, they didn't leave anything out. When Jarret was brought in to testify against the youths, he stuck to his story that he never saw who attacked him and used him to bypass the vault's security measures. He gave no indication that he ever knew what was happening and failed to say of who was responsible. The council also addressed serious damages to the training center caused by fire and bombs during the heist.
"I had to blow something up," Groose whispered to the Hero and former princess, neither of whom was happy with him about it.
"The training center?" Midna hissed. "I thought you were going to target something less likely to be populated like a storehouse."
"How many people would have cared if I blow up a storehouse? I marked exactly where I was going to plant the charges," he argued.
"Where, on that cruddy sketch you called a map?" she nearly screamed.
"Look, I was careful with the spot I picked and nobody got hurt so no big deal." Midna was ready to throttle Groose but as it was neither the time or place she turned away with a brooding expression.
Once Callum's injuries had been treated, he came straight to the group's defense. His face had been cleaned of the dried blood that had caked his skin for weeks and bandages were wrapped where wounds had yet to close and heal properly. It had been suggested that he went to rest after his ordeal however Callum insisted that he felt far better than he looked.
"I won't deny that they're actions will result in dire consequences," he told the council, "but understand that Link and his friends did what they did for what they believed was right. Yes, the Flames have all six of the Sages' medallions now, but there is still a chance that we can prevent them from bringing back Demise."
An elderly Gerudo leaned forward in her seat. "What makes you say this? Is there something you would like to share with us?"
Callum nodded at her. "There is, Councilor. During my captivity I overheard my guards talking among themselves, and Brandon had let slip certain information more than once that confirmed what I heard. While the Demon's Flames possess the six medallions, they still require one more thing for them to successfully revive Demise; the spirit of Hylia herself. Has the Order dispatched any more agents within the enemy forces?"
It was Groose's grandfather who answered. "Yes, a small unit has been sent out days ago. Their infiltration has been more successful due to the recent influx of new members joining the cult. What is the significance behind this?"
"From what I have heard, the Flames have not yet located the Well of the Accursed," Callum explained. "With these new agents, we will know when they do find it as well as any other intelligence about the enemy. They will be less likely to be compromised than our previous informants since Brandon was originally the main obstacle, and the two of us were in Snowpeak since the time that they were deployed."
"Then it is fortunate for us that the traitor is now dead," said the high councilor, scratching at his chin. The council had been most pleased that Link's group had brought back Brandon's corpse as well as Callum more or less in one piece.
"Yes and I would like you to keep it in mind that it was Link who slew him. Furthermore, I strongly advise against capital punishment, not just because the agents' actions resulted in much gain for us but because we still need them for what lies ahead. Ghirahim remains in power over the cult and as you know, I have faced him in combat and failed miserably. I barely escaped with my life and the same goes for Midna and Groose. Link however was able to overwhelm the Demon Lord single-handedly. This makes him is the best chance we have at finishing this once and for all."
Silence fell before the high councilor spoke again. "You have given us much to consider. The council will adjourn for now while we deliberate the defendants' fates."
Link, Midna and Groose were escorted back to the cell they had been held in since they were arrested. There were no windows so they were unable to gauge how much time had passed. The only illumination in the barren room came from crystals embedded in the walls of the outside corridor, shining through the tiny barred hole in the solid steel cell door. Alone together, the three said not a word to each other, all worried for their near futures. Link wrapped his arms around Midna and held her tight, not just to comfort his love but also to calm his own anxiety. He trusted that Callum's support will greatly help them, yet Link could not shake the doubts from his mind. After goddesses knew how long, their guards came in to walk them back to the council chambers. Midna squeezed her Hero's hand, fearful that she may never have the opportunity to do so again.
"We have discussed the matter thoroughly," the high councilor began when everyone was in attendance. "Betraying the Order and aiding the enemy is a terrible crime, deserving the most severe of penalties. However, the results of these actions include the death of Brandon, traitor to the Order and leader of the Demon's Flames, as well as the safe return of Peacekeeper Callum.
"In light of current circumstances, the council will forego execution of the accused," smiles broke across the faces of the young group, "though their actions cannot go unpunished. We have decided that Peacekeepers Link, Midna and Groose shall be kept in solitary confinement for a period of three months and relieved of active duty for a further six months under heavy surveillance... once the threat of the Demon's Flames has been dealt with." The high councilor looked to Callum. "Do you accept these terms?"
The man nodded. "I do, Councilor. Thank you." Link and his companions let out a unanimous sigh of relief. He turned to receive a loving embrace from Midna. He did not care if their sentence was twice its length, so long as no harm came to her, he was happy.
Link took a few deep breaths to gather his courage and knocked on the wooden door before him. Anxious seconds passed by before the lock clicked and Callum's thick, black beard emerged from behind the door. He welcomed the Hero inside and offered him some refreshments, to which Link politely declined. Link stood nervously, unsure of what to say. "How are you feeling?" he began.
Callum set down his mug of coffee then rubbed the bandage above his right eye gently. "Pretty sure I've gotten half a dozen infections but Rovair thinks I'm in the clear. Some of my injuries itch like the devil still so he's given me some medicine for it. Now I could ask the same question to you."
There Hero ran his fingers through his matted hair and sighed wearily. "Just glad I don't have a noose around my neck right now. Midna's back home sleeping, after what we've been through it isn't a surprise she's worn out. Thanks for helping us out back there."
"Well you did save my life so it wouldn't have been fair if I didn't try to return the favor."
Link shifted his gaze down to the floor. He licked his dry lips. 'Might as well get it over and done with now,' he thought. "Callum," he was not ready to say something like 'Father' or 'Dad', not yet at least, "I'm sorry... about what I said before... I saw your archive discs and I realize now that I was wrong about you. If I had-"
"Link," his father cut him off, "forget about it. The things you said then had a lot of truth behind them and I deserved every single word. You have nothing to apologize for."
"Doesn't make it right though." An awkward silence lingered between them.
"Why don't we agree to put it all in the past and make a fresh start? How does that sound?" Callum finally said.
A small smile appeared on Link's face. "Sure. I'd like that," he answered simply. He felt more comfortable now that the troubles that had been eating away at him had been put to rest at last. It felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Callum's hand entered the pocket of his jacket then re-emerged clenched around something. He stared at his fist for a few seconds before opening his fingers. From them dangled a heart-shaped ruby on a thin golden chain, which Link recognized from a sadder point in time.
"I bought this necklace sixteen years ago for your mother. It was our anniversary the following week. Got it off of a travelling merchant in Castle Town. Of course, that was before I was dragged into that whole conspiracy mess." A sadness filled Callum's eyes. "Never got the chance to give this to her. After Amanda died, I can't remember the number of times I almost threw this thing off the edge of the base but didn't."
He then held the pendant out to Link. "Not much point of me holding on to this anymore, maybe it will look better on Midna."
All Link could do was stare stunned at the piece of jewelry. "Are you sure?"
"Take it, otherwise one of these days I'll go to toss the damn thing again and actually let go. Then that'd be a big waste of money." Link reached his hand out, palm up. Callum released his hold and the small stone fell, the chain pooling around it. Something shifted in the man's eyes, as though he too had been freed from his own suffering. Link thanked him then deposited the item into his own pocket where it would be safe, giving it a gentle pat.
"You said that Ghirahim needs the spirit of Hylia to bring back Demise right?" Link said, changing the subject.
"Yes," Callum nodded, "then it's a matter of them finding the Well to do it. Right now I don't there's much we can do to stall them. Soon we are going have to confront the Flames head on and when we do it will decide everything."
"So where is Hylia's spirit?" Link asked.
"Do you remember when I first told you about Demise and Hylia?"
The smile could not be kept from the Hero's face. "That was the day Midna and I first saw each other after she broke the Mirror. You know, I never once thanked you for that."
"You don't have to," Callum returned the smile. Then he turned serious again. "When Hylia made herself mortal, her spirit was passed down her original vessel's bloodline from mother to daughter. Even though her power is now only a sample of what it used to have been, it is possibly still enough to restore Demise."
"Who is Hylia now? Do you know?"
Callum made a face. "You're not going to like this. I did some digging while you and your team were searching for the medallions and I found something. The spirit maiden possessing Hylia's soul... is Princess Zelda of Hyrule."
Princess Zelda stared out of the window, taking in the vast landscape. It was empty of features yet it only served to make the scene all the more beautiful. She felt calm and relaxed, sensations the princess had not experienced in quite a long while. Zelda had been so been busy since she was restored as princess of Hyrule that any time for recreation had been as rare as diamonds. Many a day Zelda had worked tirelessly to repair the damages inflicted by Ganondorf and his servant, Zant, which had been extensive. As a result, she was not comfortable with staying at her family's private estate rather than Hyrule Castle where her responsibilities laid.
A few days ago Zelda had only just concluded a council meeting to discuss reopening the route to the Gerudo Desert, which would resume trading with the neighboring countries to the west. As soon as she had walked out the door, her personal guard had swept her away. They told her that her life was in danger, yet they refused to explain any further than that, despite the princess giving them direct orders to do so. Something was amiss, she knew, but she trusted each and every one of the men sworn to protect her, most of whom she knew since she was a child. Because of that trust, Zelda grudgingly complied when they asked her to step into a carriage bound towards the isolated manor in Hyrule Field.
Her current state of idleness made Zelda frown slightly. The reconstruction of Hyrule Castle had been proceeding smoothly and the fourth floor was now one-hundred per cent complete, yet there was still much left to do. On top of rebuilding the castle, Zelda had to perform her daily duties as ruler of her kingdom, most of which from within a cramped, musty guardsman's office. The enormity of the workload each day was almost enough to have driven her mad. For months she had had half a mind to just throw her crown into the moat and live the rest of her life as a peasant. Things would have been so much simpler that way. On second thoughts, perhaps this little vacation was not as unwelcome as she had originally thought.
Healing her country's wounds would have been easier had she has the full support of the royal council behind her. Of course, she knew that she could never expect help from those old codgers. Some were more agreeable and sympathetic to the princess but others were eager to dig their heels and resist whenever possible, purely for the sake of it. Zelda sighed, that was the story of her life. Ever since she was a little girl, she had had some trouble regarding self-seeking nobles.
Managing the difficult councilors would be easier had the Chosen Hero been around to back her. Zelda's thoughts drifted to the said Hero. She only met the young warrior on brief occasions and most of the time he had been in the form of a sacred beast, unable to properly converse with her. Despite their strange and short meetings, the princess felt close enough to the Hero to call him a friend.
And then there was also the Hero's companion, Princess Midna of the Twilight Realm. There had been a deeper connection between the Twili and Zelda, thanks to that period of time where the light princess had temporarily given her life in order to save Midna's. It was that and a level of empathy as they were both princesses to whom the burdens of leadership were forced upon. It saddened Zelda when the Twilight Princess left the world for her own and destroyed the Mirror of Twilight. Without the relic there was no means of travelling between the polar dimensions, so it was the last time they would ever meet.
Link had been devastated when the Mirror shattered. By the look he had on his face you would have thought that something else broke inside him at the same time. It was so tragic. Afterwards he was no longer his former self, whoever that was. He refused all offers for celebrations to be held in his honor as well as any other attempt to reward his efforts. The first few days his face was an empty mask and Link was completely unresponsive to the world around him. When he finally snapped out of it, he left Castle Town without telling anyone. He rode off in the middle of the night while everyone was asleep and never returned.
Zelda had sent countless letters to the Hero of Light aimed to check how he was, none of which received a reply. After a few months, the Postman returned to her to say that the Hero was no longer in Hyrule. Letters to the people of Ordon Village confirmed this, which disheartened the princess. For Link to have left Hyrule entirely, he must have been truly in pain. Zelda only wished that she had been able to help him somehow, perhaps find some other way into the Twilight Realm. However, it seemed that it was too late now to see if it was even possible.
A pained shout from outside of the room brought her back to the present. Zelda hurried away from the window and opened the door to meet a chilling sight. Her guards were in the middle of a battle against orange-robed men wearing demon masks and were being slaughtered. Several of her men lay dead on the floor, blood oozing out of fatal wounds. The two remaining soldiers closest to Zelda positioned themselves between her and the aggressors, swords and shields raised.
"Princess, stay back," one called out. A second later someone appeared in a cloud of orange diamonds and cut down both knights in what Zelda swore was only a single attack. As the guards fell to the ground, the princess saw their assailant. He was tall, slender, shaped like a human though clearly anything but. His skin was dark brown, almost black, with glowing white cracks along his torso and a lustrous, orange diamond embedded in his chest. The being looked at her with terrifying, pure-white eyes and gave her an evil grin.
"Your Grace," the demon man addressed her. "Forgive me for the intrusion, but you are to come with us. Regardless of what you wish, you do not have a choice in the matter."
To all those people who were wondering how I was bringing back Demise, now you know.
I'd like to inform you that I am now offering my services as a beta-reader. Feel free to ask me to review your work but please read my story specifications carefully in the betas page of this site before you send.
In other news, progress on my second story is coming along smoothly with six chapters already prepared. Depending on how efficiently I work on the rest, I may begin posting soon. I also intend to write a one-shot before Christmas so look out for it.