Chapter Thee
"People protect what they love."
~Jacques Yves Cousteau
Eighteen years earlier
A blond haired boy sat in a brightly colored nursery room. Numerous toys and books were scattered throughout the happy room for the child, yet nothing was able to sway the little boy's focus from the object that his pudgy little fingers tightly gripped onto.
A little heart-shaped locket was white gold and had a beautiful image of the Triforce on the front with a ruby, emerald, and sapphire locked tightly in their respective triangles. The front image was not the cause of the little boy's attention. Rather the unknown symbol engraved on the back.
It was the image of a bird. Of course, the little boy knew that this image was on his families Coat-of-Arms, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what the image represented.
"Impa," the boy started, "while this locket is bery beautiful, why would it have our family crest on it when it came from a different family?"
A middle-aged woman with silvery gray hair gathered up the little boy in her arms. The boy placed the locket in her hands so that she could look at it. "It's magic." she stated.
The small boy whipped his head around to stare at the aging face he loved. "What kind?" He placed his little hands on her aging face.
Impa smiled at the inquisitive child "The most powerful kind in the world, love." She answered.
Disbelief etched itself upon the boy's face. "You mean that mushy gushy thingy that Mommy and Daddy always claim is so great?" Impa nodded. "Bleh! Link's not like that, Impa! Besides, he neber looked at my sister, he can't possibly ..." the boy made a face, "lobe her. " he took the locket away from Impa's hands to wave in her face.
"Why can't he love her?" Impa held back the smile at the child's pronunciation.
The boy was silent for a moment before responding, "He can't lobe her until I lobe her. It's only fair that way." He stared at the locket before his eyes. "But I'll still keep the locket, until I figure out the bird symbol that you keep on refusing to tell me about." Impa shrugged.
"It's not my story to tell you, yet one day you will know the tale behind the symbol. I just don't get to tell you."
"Neber eber?" the boy's eye's were wide.
"Never ever. Sheik, repeat after me v-ee."
"f-fee."
Impa smiled in humor at the boy's attempt. "Not quite, love."
Eighteen years later
Dirty faces surrounded a young woman. Their shouts for justice against the aristocracy verses the pleas for the well-loved High Priest rang throughout the depressing streets of Castle Town.
drip drip ... drop drop
Tears escaped from her azure eyes as her mind processed the capturing and death sentence of a fatherly figure. 'How could they go as low as to kill someone as beloved as Rauru?'
drip ... drop
More tears fell onto the blood-soaked streets, briefly cleansing the crimson cobblestone.
Noticing a group of seven making their way through the crowd to leave, she too began to weave through the mass of bodies to head home. However, a faint scream of pain came from the castle and the redeads began to make their way to the people still on the streets.
"Zelda!" The young woman whipped her head around to identify the voice that called her name. "Zelda, we must leave now!" a hand grasped her arm and they began to run from the crowds consternation of the scream and army of redeads.
Zelda faintly noticed the crowd parting to let them through as they ran in the direction of the Temple of Time. She was in complete vertigo and yanked her arm away from the man to vomit on the lawn of the sacred temple.
Pity entered the man's eyes as he held Zelda's hair away from her face. He began to rub small circles on her back. Sobs wracked her body. "Sheik," she gasped, "why did he have to die?"
Sheik bowed his head to fight back the tears. "You know as well as I do that Rauru would do anything to bring hope to the oppressed, even if it means his own life."
Zelda looked at the man's eyes to see the forbidden tears building against their barricade. "Are you unable to cry?" He nodded his head and Zelda placed her hands upon the side of his face. "Shall I cry for you then?" again he nodded. Zelda smiled remorsefully and wiped a abscond tear from Sheik's face, a smudge of dirt was left in her wake. Zelda then buried her face in Sheik's torso and cried for the both of them.
Seconds stretched into minutes, which in turn turned into hours. The young duo just sat at the entrance of the temple in each other's arms, content to stare at absolutely nothing for hours on end.
'You must gather my belongings before dark, my children.' Zelda bolted upright instantly when the familiar voice fell upon her pointed ears.
"Did you hear that, Sheik?" Sheik nodded.
"It almost sounded like Rauru." Zelda turned to face the entrance, at her gaze, the door slightly opened and let out a comforting warm breeze. Without thinking twice, Zelda grabbed Sheik's arm and entered the temple.
'Hurry. Hurry!' The voice said.
Sheik felt chills run up and down his arms at the urgency from the ethereal voice. Together Sheik and Zelda scavenged for the items that Rauru left behind. The footsteps of soldiers approached the alleyway of the temple's entrance.
'Find my letter.'
"Zelda, we must leave now!" Sheik hissed. Grabbing Zelda's arm and dragging her towards the back entrance, the voice failed to pierce the wall of adrenaline that shrouded Sheik's hearing, but not Zelda's.
Zelda yanked her arm from Sheik's grasp and ran to the temple's alter. The soldiers were at the base of the stairs. Sheik frantically call for Zelda and ran to her side, trying to pry her away from the alter.
'Look behind the alter, child.' The voice instructed.
Zelda yanked herself away from Sheik and bolted around the opposite side of the sacred alter. "It has to be here somewhere."
"Zelda!"
The soldiers were only a few steps away from the door.
Growing more frantic, Zelda caught sight of a little piece of paper tucked under historical image of the tapestry that draped decoratively over the alter when not in use. Grabbing the lonely parchment, she allowed Sheik to grab her arm once again and bolt towards the hidden exit. Running down the hallway, they heard the soldiers burst in the temple. The orders were too muffled for the escapees to hear. With hesitancy: tables, chairs, rugs, and tapestries were tossed away. Zelda was sure that the orders were to destroy the temple. She prayed for the soldiers' souls, for they had to follow orders or be accused of treason and killed.
Sheik and Zelda raced down the empty hallway; praying to escape before they alerted the searching militia of their presence.
Sheik's blood seemed to be made of pure adrenaline as he ran faster. He felt tugging at his hand, "Hang in there Zelda, you're so close." The tugging increased as Zelda stumbled and caught herself essentially making the duo lose momentum: and time.
"Look over here! There's a hidden passage."
Sheik's heart leapt into his throat "Goddesses above please let Zelda safety escape. It matters not what happens to me as long as she is safe from harm's way!"
The sound of additional footsteps entering the hallway was all Sheik needed to gather the strength he needed to scoop Zelda in his arms and warped them a quarter mile away from their home.
Sheik felt a tremendous strain with the additional weight. The familiar blur of the warping motion seemed to tremble as Sheik mind rapidly fell into a catatonic state. In the blink of an eye, the familiar field near the entrance to Castle Town flooded his vision. Exhausted and stumbling from the damage caused by warping with an extra person, Sheik all but dropped Zelda onto a nearby rock.
Zelda sat on the rock's surface in a stupor. Quickly regaining her senses, she leapt to her feet to help Sheik down to the ground. As she grasped his arms, Zelda could see the random dilation of Sheik's pupils. "Sheik, can you hear me?" No response. Zelda began lightly slapping his face. "Sheik, look at me. Can you hear me?"
'Zelda?' Sheik thought, "Zeeell-" Sheik tried to reassure the concerned tone of the young woman in front of him, but in his attempts, Sheik's world went dark and the frantic cries that came from the younger woman that he cherished vanished into oblivion
"There is no one here, sir." a soldier reported to his captain.
The captain rubbed his weary eyes. He secretly prayed to the goddesses for their forgiveness for his men. "Very well: lads, move out!"
The young recruits left in a hasty reverent fashion, for all feared the wrath of the goddesses. The last to leave was dismayed captain. "This revolution is like a never-ending disease." He looked down at the overturned alter. The depictive cloth that was once unsoiled now lay in a tattered, muddy heap. With great reverence, the captain placed the alter back in its original upright position. He then grabbed the soiled embroidered cloth and brushed his fingers over the dirt that covered the image of the Hero from the legends he heard as a child. With the utmost care, he draped it over the alter before falling to his knees.
"O, Sacred Deities of Hyrule," he began, "I pray thee; let thy servant's death not be in vain. Send in your champions."
"If thou must punish the actions of my men, then let it fall upon me. They were only following orders. Amen." The captain arose from the ground and rejoined his men to report to General Vaati of the nonexistent findings.
Zelda had calmed tremendously when she realized that Sheik was still alive after his daring stunt. She cradled his head in her lap softly humming and petting his pale locks. "Oh Sheik," Her fingers massaged the creases on his forehead until they went away. "Thank the goddesses you're still alive. Poor Auru will be heartbroken with the fact that his older brother is now dead. We wouldn't be able to handle your death too." Her heart ached at the thought of beloved caregivers and the sacrifices they made just to keep her alive.
'If it wasn't for Rauru and Auru, then Sheik and I would be dead. I owe my life to them, so why did I just stand there gawking like a buffoon as Rauru was taken away. I wish I did something to prevent him from giving his life away.'
Noticing a little dandelion, she plucked it and twirled the stem between her fingers. 'I'm useless: a damsel who will always be in need of saving. I'm not useful even to Renaldo! All I can do is watch over the little children of weary parents. There is nothing valuable about my life.' Zelda looked at her right hand where the image of the Triforce of Wisdom sat before grabbing her locket. "You have the wrong girl; I will never be able to live up to whatever it is you want me to do. I am just an empty shell of a girl who used to find joy in the simplest of things. I am no longer..."
A warm breeze glided across Zelda's skin in an embrace. "You sell yourself short, my daughter. You cannot see what I see."
The gentle words settled in Zelda's heart in a warm, peaceful manner. Feeling the comfort, Zelda shook off the depressing thoughts that desperately tried to enter her heart. She began to focus her attention on the man who's slumbering face erased the pain from the foolishly brave stunt that was performed an hour ago.
She brushed off the little smudges of dirt that accumulated on Sheik's face. "I fear for you, brother. You do not take care of yourself unless I am around to force you so." She gazed at the sight of the humble cabin. A sigh escaped her lips, "What am I to do with you?"
Sheik's consciousness returned in time to hear her question. "Never stop being who you are." He laughed at Zelda's startled jump.
"You're awake!" Sheik sat up. "Can you stand?" She offered her hand to help him.
Sheik smiled at her eagerness to help. He took her hand and rose. "Zel, you're an angel." and kissed her cheek before escorting her—more like leaning on her—to their little home.
The quarter mile walk was silent. Zelda could hear the comforting beat of Sheik's heart. The familiar pounding slowly gave her courage to voice her question. "How are we going to tell Auru, Sheik?"
Sheik closed his eyes and gently squeezed her shoulders. "We'll tell it like it was and pray that he doesn't go storming off to the castle challenging The Republic. You are the only one who can calm him down enough to see how dangerous those expected actions are to countless of lives." He paused before the door spoke so softly that Zelda thought she misheard him. "I can't understand how you are able to calm him so effectively. Maybe he just needs a woman at all times."
The duo entered and called out to greet Auru who was poring over several scrolls and a map of Hyrule. He looked up and stood to greet them. "My boy, what happened to you? And my dear Zelda," he held Zelda at arm's length looking up and down her frazzled state "you look shook to the bone. Where is Rauru, did something happen at the market place?"
A shadow fell over Sheik's eyes and Zelda began to shake with held back sobs. She temporarily pushed her concern for her brother aside as Auru led his charges to the drawing room and gently forced them to sit down on their worn sofa. Pulling the coffee table closer, Auru held Zelda's petite hands in one of his large hands and gently patted them in comfort with the other. "Now, the only way I can help you is by knowing what is wrong. Who wants to tell me?" His tone was firm, but not harsh.
Sheik looked Auru straight in the eye. "Rauru was executed this afternoon because of his prophesy that the leader of The Republic would-no is going to be brought down. In other words he brought the people..." Sheik looked away afraid of Auru's reaction.
"Hope." Zelda whispered.
Rage and grief coursed through Auru as he heard the fate of his beloved older brother. He let go of Zelda's hands and went to grab his battle gear. Sheik and Zelda pursued him. "Do not try to stop me from avenging my brother, children. I will be back before the sun rises."
Zelda would not have that and ran in front of him to block his way, he turned to leave the back way, but Sheik prevented him from doing so. "Auru," Zelda began, "I know you know why that is impossible. If you die now Rauru's sacrifice will have been in vain! If you love your brother, then do not do this! He trusts that you will continue to watch over Sheik and I. If you do this countless of people's lives will be in greater danger. We need you." Auru gently moved Zelda to the side and opened the door. "I need you." She whispered the last part softly, but loud enough that only Auru could hear her.
Auru stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Zelda's last plea. He slowly closed the door and returned to her side. "I will stay. Forgive me for letting my emotions get the best of me." He glanced at Sheik, "I'm sure you understand my actions." Sheik nodded his head.
Together the three returned to the drawing room. Zelda left to make them all hot cider. "I need you to take Zelda to Kakariko Village."
Sheik nodded, but doubt was in his eyes. "You will not act rashly while we're away?"
"I gave you my word, did I not?" Auru stated. "When you get there, tell Renaldo that The Peacekeepers will be meeting the next evening at Telma's. We are expecting you to be there. Not stay the first few days like what you're both accustomed to."
"Why am I needed?" Sheik pondered aloud. He rarely went to these meetings unless it had something to do with Zelda.
Auru shook his head. "I can't say for sure. Something is telling me that it be best if you were there."
"Very well, I'll be there."
At that very moment, Zelda entered with a tray of three steaming mugs. "Where are you going?" She placed the tray on the coffee table and sat in between the two men. Giving them each a mug before reaching for the mug she prepared for herself.
"Renaldo asked me to send you to Kakariko Village to help with the Zora children whose parents were in the crossfire from the massacre at Zora's Domain." Auru spoke before drinking in the steaming cider.
"I'll be accompanying you there tonight. However, I need to leave immediately once I am certain that you are safe and secure." Zelda looked distraught at the news of Sheik was leaving so early. Sensing her saddened mood, Sheik quickly added, "Someone has to make sure Auru's not going to go off his rocker while he's alone."
"I suppose you're right." Zelda stated with a sad smile. Finishing her cider, Zelda kissed both men's cheeks and announced that she will begin to pack immediately. Her thoughts turned in the directed to the situation in Kakariko and forgot all about Rauru's final note deep within her pocket, not knowing the comfort that was weighing heavily on their minds.
The thunderous footsteps of soldiers echoed throughout the palace courtyard. Numerous carriages traveled in and out through the gate carrying elevated citizens of The Republic to return or come from their respected province.
A captain and his troops marched through the gates of the palace and entered the barracks. "Men, you are dismissed. Fall out." Many of the young lads were eager to return to their homes to be away from the eerie atmosphere that surrounded the headquarters of The Republic. Others journeyed deeper within the barracks to enter their chambers. These men had no other home to return to.
"Captain," one of the soldiers remained to speak to his captain. "permission to speak with you?"
"Granted. What is it you need?"
The lad hesitated; as though he was debating on weather his thoughts were impotent enough to interrupt his captain's busy schedule. "Well, out with it."
"Forgive me if my words seem traitorous, but I wish to know, are we doing the right thing? I can't help but feel that the days of the King and Queen were more prosperous than that of our Republic. The execution of High Priest Rauru and the vandalism of The Temple of Time should have never happened." The young man shivered, "I fear we may have evoked the wrath of the gods."
Icy fear washed over the captain as he heard his underling express his fears. "You should not speak such things here. It could cost you your life as well as the lives of your family and friends. If you continue to have such doubts then pray to the gods for mercy." The captain's tone was harsh and the soldier slightly winced in fear that the captain would turn him in. The captain noticed this; in a softer tone, he spoke again. "I will overlook this just once. I can understand your fears, but you took this job to help support your family. You are still new and adjusting to the life of a soldier. If you are wise, then you will use extreme caution. Now go home, Shiro."
The soldier scampered away from his captain apprehensive of the events that occurred earlier that day. The captain appeared to be stoic, but the mental war raged on and on within as he watched Shiro return to his family and friends. 'How long,' he wondered 'will it take for the Goddesses' Chosen One's to purge these lands of the terror and hatred?' He looked away as if pained, 'Why do I encourage it though I loathe it? Goddesses have mercy on my weak soul.'
"Captain Vincent, what have you to report about the traitor's location in the Temple of Time!"
The captain came to attention at the voice of the general.
"General Vaati, sir. There were no findings of any possessions, sir. It is common for most Priest's to have the robes that they currently wear as their only possession. It appears to be the same for the traitor, sir."
A cold sweat ran down Vincent's spine as his General eyed him suspiciously.
"... Did someone collect his belongings before you and your troops could get there?"
The image of a beautiful young woman fleeing from his sight flashed through his mind. 'Farore, grant me your courage!'
"No, sir."
The general eyed Vincent closely. "You're a good soldier, I'd hate to find out if you're lying to me." Vincent's heart nearly stopped. With a wave of Vaati's hand he dismissed the captain and left to return to the throne room where the tyrant of the land brainwashed the unsuspecting citizens that they were happy under his leadership.
Once Vaati disappeared behind the great stone doors, Vincent felt his heart beat return to normal. "Thank you." He whispered, "Thank you!"
Zelda had been silent ever sense she kissed Auru on the cheek in farewell. She knew that Sheik and Auru were planning to do something dangerous again. They always did when they sent her to Kakariko Village. She knew they were a part of a group that resisted the tyrant that perched himself within the castle.
'Why won't they trust me enough to tell me who they really are? What exactly are they hiding? I refuse to be left in the dark for much longer.'
The soft baritone voice of her brother pierced the silent barrier that formed between the two. "Zelda, we're here."
Zelda blinked in confusion as to why the trip seemed so short. She looked up from the dirt road they had traveled on to confirm Sheik's statement with weatherworn gates that blocked the entrance. She felt her brother's eyes upon her and did not meet his gaze. Instead, she silently continued forward without him.
Baffled by Zelda's refusal to look at or speak to him, Sheik ran to his sister's petite form just before she entered the gates.
Reaching out to open the heavy door, Zelda slapped his hand away and proceeded to open it herself.
Sheik ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He grabbed Zelda's forearms and yanked her to face him. "Zelda, why are you scorning me? What offence have I done?"
"..."
"Look at me." Zelda stubbornly kept her eyes firmly planted on the ground. Sheik's frustration rose quickly with every passing moment. "WHY ARE YOU BEING A BRAT?"
No movement or sound came from Zelda.
In his anger, Sheik opened his mouth to vocalize his frustration with his sister, "You don't have any reason to treat me like this! What is wrong with you? You have never behaved this way before. I didn't have to accompany you here. If you're not going to give me a proper farewell then don't ..." His words died immediately as he felt two droplets of water fall on his skin. Sheik gently placed his hand under Zelda's chin and looked at the tears that trailed down her face.
Guilt punched Sheik in the stomach. "Oh Zel, forgive me. I didn't even think about how you're handling all this. Especially after everything that has happened today, I can't even imagine how you're feeling." He took Zelda into his arms and allowed her to mourn over the loss of Rauru.
"You've been so strong for Auru and me, I didn't even think of your feelings. Forgive your senseless brother." Zelda clutched Sheik's tunic as it became damp with her tears.
Eventually, Zelda was able to squeeze the last few tears from her eyes and regain control of her voice. "Why are you sending me away again? I haven't even been home for a month! If I get in the way all the time, then why not leave me here?"
Sheik placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her at arm's length. Zelda looked up at him and read the immense horror mixed with guilt in his eyes.
"You are not a burden. You have helped, and still do, Auru and me—even Rauru—beyond the point of repayment. I will do anything to keep you safe." Zelda drew in the comfort of her brother's arms and gratitude for having Sheik as a brother.
The siblings stood at the gates embracing until the moon began to rise bringing light to the twilight-covered land. "We should get going. Renaldo is expecting me and you have to make sure that Auru isn't causing then next revolution." Zelda's voice came out as a muffle from being pressing in Sheik's tunic; causing a small smile to etch itself on Sheik's face.
"You're right." Sheik replied. "I trust you can get there safely on your own?" Zelda nodded. "Very well," Sheik bent down and placed a kiss upon Zelda's brow, "take care of yourself; I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you very much"
"I love you too." Zelda stood on her tiptoes to place a kiss on her brother's cheek. "Take care of Auru for me, please. I couldn't bear it if he let his emotions get the best of him. You know as well as I do that he has a tendency to do just that."
With one last embrace, the siblings separated. Zelda entered the gates of Kakariko Village and turned to watch her brother return to their home. A moment later the massive deku door blocked her vision of Sheik and Zelda stood staring at the gentle strength of the gate's door. Letting out a sigh, Zelda bent down to grab her belongings and began to walk down the well-worn path to the humble village. All the while, a premonition that things will never be the same gnawed inside her. A crinkle etched her nearly smooth brow.
'Now, now Zelda,' she mused, 'you don't need to let your thoughts show on your face.' Zelda gave a wry smile at the thought and began to erase the lines that seemed carved on her forehead. As she did her fingers glided past a scar that otherwise marred her perfect brow. 'It's time to become unreadable to those around me. No matter who they are.'
Zelda took a deep breath and slipped a mask of pure serenity on her face and over her aura. 'I must fend for myself, for if I don't: I will be destroyed.'
Well boogers everyone. I have to admit that this is a little disappointing for me. I mean it feels too ... wordy? Does that make any sense? Meh. I'll fix it later. Also, I'm really, really sorry about being so late! Bleh! I blame my frustrations in how this chapter was written. I mean after I started to proof-read it all I read was i.e. and this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened. ... -_- BORING! EL LAMEO BRAINO!
Because this is one of my weaknesses, advice on how to make it so the words help readers see the story play through their heads like a movie (like all the amazing stories out there) would make me VERY grateful. I really like where this story's going. I mean, for this story I bought Hyrule Historia and research the timeline with every new chapter that I start. Heavens forbid I even bought all the Zelda manga! ... Granted they don't exactly follow the games story line word for word, but hey I love them all the same.
Speaking of Zelda games: has anyone seen the short sneak-peek of the new Zelda game for WiiU? I bawled. I don't have a WiiU, so I wont be able to play it. WAAAAAA! It looks fantastic! ... That is, if you liked the graphics on Skyward Sword.
Thank you to those who've reviewed/followed/favorite! I squealed like a child when they see presents under a Christmas tree. :)
Until the next chapter!
Spaz-attack101
Word count: 4,544