Ganondorf slammed the door of his carriage shut, the entire vehicle shuddering with the force of his anger. Outside the carriage, the horses whinnied nervously, and even his driver seemed apprehensive.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Ganondorf snapped, looking impatiently at his driver. "Get this carriage moving!"
The driver immediately whipped the horses forward, obviously terrified of further arousing his lord's titanic fury. As the carriage started forward, wooden wheels clacking loudly on the cobblestone road, Ganondorf stared out of the window and back at the Hylia estate, its windows filled with light from the party within.
Broodingly, Ganondorf consulted the slip of parchment that Koume and Kotake had given him a day before. The names of nearly a hundred Hylian aristocrats were written on the paper in blood-red ink, each name denoting a noble that had associations or connections with the previous Royal Family.
It had taken the witches a bit of bribery and coercion, but Ganondorf appreciated their effort in procuring this list of traitors. Filth soon to be eradicated forever from his glorious new empire. Only once the legacy of the previous Royal Family had been fully erased could he rule the land without fear of rebellion.
Ganondorf smirked to himself as he read the first name on the parchment, written in damning letters. Aleron Hylia. That foppish fool had been drunk out of his mind that night when Ganondorf had visited the gala; from several of his more… loyal… supporters, Ganondorf had learned that Aleron had strayed dangerously close to uttering treasonous words.
This came as unsurprising news to the usurper king. After all, it was to be expected: Koume and Kotake's research had unmasked Aleron as a former knight under King Harkinian. Ganondorf had only wished that he had caught on sooner: the traitor Aleron had been living well for twenty years, rather than suffering as he deserved in the castle torture dungeons.
"Perhaps young Hylia will be wiser than his father," Ganondorf murmured, idly remembering his previous meeting with Aleron's son. What was his name? Link, or something like that. To be honest, Ganondorf didn't even give a damn about the little brat. But he represented the young, idealistic noble that Ganondorf sought to replace the old aristocracy with. If he could mold Link, influence the young knight to serve him loyally…
Ganondorf smiled contentedly as he imagined his new puppet, the first of only hundreds of loyal servants he would have once he had eradicated the current crop of traitorous nobles. In his monarchy, he would not tolerate dissent or treason – such actions were to be quickly addressed by his cadre of Gerudo assassins.
Smiling wickedly, lost in glorious thoughts of his blossoming new regime, Ganondorf idly marked a check next to Aleron's name. The boorish old knight hadn't struck Ganondorf as particularly cunning or skilled – using his Gerudo in apprehending the elder Hylia would certainly be a waste of their skilled talents.
No, Ganondorf mused, a small contingent of soldiers would suffice. The fool would probably be too hung-over to even articulate his words, much less put up a defense.
"Well, look who's up bright and early this morning," Impa greeted rather sarcastically, as Zelda entered the main hall, hair still tousled from sleep.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied, wincing painfully as the morning rays of sunlight streamed through the windows like a volley of arrows. "Too much noise."
"At least you got some sleep," Impa said, viciously scrubbing a portion of floor that was stained with spilled wine. "The last of those damn nobles left only a few hours ago – they were so drunk, I was surprised that they could walk to their carriages. Anyways," she said, replacing the towel for a new one, "The other servants and I have been cleaning this mess up without even an hour of rest, while the little princess slept the night away."
"I'm not a princess," Zelda said automatically, stooping down to help Impa with the cleaning. "Let me do that."
"I'm just grumpy," Impa sighed, gladly relinquishing the towel to Zelda. "It was a pain having to attend to all those snobby nobles. Thank the Goddesses that Aleron rarely holds galas like this."
"Where is Aleron, anyways?" Zelda asked, washing the wine-stained floor as Impa had done.
"Oh, he's still hung-over," Impa laughed. "Link locked him in his room after his drunken speech last night. I've never seen him like this before – normally, Aleron's a fairly moderate drinker. It wouldn't surprise me if he stayed in bed all day."
"Is Link still asleep?" Zelda asked, absentmindedly scrubbing the spot. The dark red stain still remained stubbornly washed into the plush rug, no matter how hard she washed it.
"Oh, no, Link woke up hours ago. Which reminds me, he mentioned something about an afternoon picnic."
"How pleasant."
"He wanted to know if you'd be so inclined to join him?"
Zelda tried to hide her surprise. "Really?"
"I told you he wouldn't have forgotten you," Impa said, smiling maternally. "He's grown into such a wonderful young man."
"Are you hoping to get a raise once Link inherits the manor?" Zelda asked sarcastically, still trying to remove the stubborn wine stain. If anything, the red spot was growing bigger, as if her washing was only furthering discoloring the rug into an unpleasant shade of crimson.
"Of course not," Impa said reproachfully, lightly slapping Zelda's hand. "I'm just commenting on how much our young Link has matured since we last saw him… six years ago?"
"Seven," Zelda corrected, washing the cloth with more water. "This stain just refuses to come off!"
"Oh, well," Impa sighed, taking the cloth back from Zelda, evidently giving up the red splotch as a bad job. "I'm sure Aleron won't mind too much – he's not very fussy about the condition of his manor."
Zelda stood up, stifling a tired yawn. "Is there anything else I can do, Impa?"
"Not presently," the old nursemaid replied, sweeping her iron gray hair out of her eyes. "I'm dead tired – I think I'll retire to my quarters for a few hours. I'm sure Aleron won't mind."
"Most likely, he'll still be unconscious by the time you wake up," Zelda sighed. "Which is a shame, because I need to ask him some questions."
"Oh, can't you give him a moment's peace?" Impa chuckled, already heading off to the servants' quarters. "His son just returned – forgive him for last night's excess."
"Perhaps," Zelda said aloud, to appease Impa, but privately her resolve to question Aleron only strengthened. There was a burning desire in her chest to discover more about her parents, and Aleron was the only one who could sate her curiosity.
He had never spoken much about her dead parents before, always refusing to go into depth about their lives: according to Aleron, her father was a farmer, and both of her parents had died from an illness that had plagued the country during the war. For some reason, this simple explanation had sufficed before, but now Zelda was driven by an almost unquenchable desire to learn more about her heritage. She felt convinced that her past held the key to her own identity – whatever that was.
Still lost in her thoughts, she slowly headed off to the manor kitchens, intent on foraging something to eat for breakfast. Or more accurately, lunch, as it was almost noon. Zelda felt slightly surprised that she had slept so long: normally, she was up at the crack of dawn, already managing her daily labors, but for some reason she had slept restlessly last night. Nightmares and strange visions had plagued her dreams, although she had decided not to mention this to Impa.
The dreams possessed an odd sense of déjà vu, as if she had somehow experienced them before, lived the events in her nightmares. But how? It was hard to remember her nightmares in the bright sunlight – but she could distinctly recall that Ganondorf had been present in them. Zelda shuddered. It was probably for the best that she could not remember her dreams, as the presence of the usurper king probably signified only horror, bloodshed, and tragedy.
Shaking off the haunting nightmares, Zelda entered the manor kitchen, not really hungry, but knowing that she needed some energy to sustain her throughout the day. She expected the kitchen to be empty, but she was surprised: one man was still in the room, humming contentedly to himself as he packed a small wicker basket full of food.
"Link?" she asked, wondering if she was only imagining him in her sleep-deprived state.
He jumped at the sound of her voice, looking up quickly and smiling. "Zelda!" he said, quickly closing the basket of food shut. "I take it you received Impa's message?"
She blinked. "Message?"
"About the picnic?"
"Of course," Zelda said, recovering quickly. Yes, Impa had mentioned something about a picnic – it must have skipped over her preoccupied mind.
"Great!" Link said enthusiastically, and Zelda was suddenly reminded of the laughing childhood friend she had once known. "I take it you don't have any objections to a simple meal of meat and cheese?"
"That sounds fine," Zelda said, wandering over to Link's side and taking the food basket. "What's the occasion?"
"You need a reason for everything, don't you?" Link sighed theatrically. "It's a beautiful day out, the sun is shining – which is a rarity in fall! Is a simple lunch outdoors too much to endure?"
"With you, nothing is ever simple," Zelda laughed, somehow warmed by Link's presence. Although the previous night had been rather awkward, now it felt almost as if they were still friends, as if the long years had never passed between them. "Where were you planning on having this little outing?"
"There's a small hill not far from here," Link said, taking Zelda's arm and leading her out of the kitchens. "A large oak tree is growing at the top, which I thought would be nice to eat under. You can see for miles around on top of that hill – all of Castle Town, even the Royal Castle in the distance."
Link seemed to be in oddly high spirits as he led Zelda out onto the manor grounds, still tugging at her hand like an insistent child pulls his mother toward a candy vendor. True to his word, the weather displayed not even a trace of autumn: the sun was shining brilliantly and even the wind had lost its chill bite. This, combined with Link's infectious cheerfulness, caused Zelda to be in a considerably lighter mood as they entered the manor stables.
"You've ridden a horse before, right?" Link asked, leading Epona out of the stables and effortlessly mounting his steed.
"Of course," Zelda replied, choosing her favorite horse, a chestnut stallion affectionately named Wisdom, after her patron Goddess Nayru. Not to be outdone by Link's horsemanship, Zelda too skillfully mounted Wisdom, sitting side-saddle on top of the sweet-tempered horse.
"Have you taken lessons?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow, evidently impressed.
"Yes; I love horseback riding," she replied, as Wisdom carried her alongside Epona and Link.
"Well, then, I suppose you wouldn't mind…"
"A race?" Zelda's eyes lit up with amusement.
"You read my mind," Link grinned, his steel-blue eyes aflame with his competitive spirit. As if sharing her master's impetuosity, Epona snorted loudly, pawing the ground in anticipation of the competition.
"On three?" Zelda asked, grasping Wisdom's reigns tightly.
Link nodded. "One…"
"Two…"
Before "three" had left her mouth, Link had already kicked Epona into a charge, and was racing down the manor's cobblestone path. Distantly, she could hear his laughter over the sound of Epona's galloping hooves.
Aghast, Zelda urged Wisdom forward in a desperate bid to catch up with Link. The stallion darted forward obediently, straining to catch up with the swift Epona. Zelda gripped the reigns even tighter as her horse picked up speed, the wind rushing in her hair.
"Good day, Dampe!" she called, as she rushed by the elderly groundskeeper. He looked up, only for his hat to be blown away as Wisdom charged past. Zelda giggled, the rush of speed giving her a feeling of exhilarating freedom.
Out of the manor gates, out onto the country rode – Link and Epona were visible in the distance, kicking up a cloud of dust and pebbles. Feeling competitive, Zelda bent low, beseeching Wisdom to catch up. The horse nickered, its powerful legs taking long strides in its eagerness to win the race.
She was now probably twenty feet from Link, who turned around in his saddle to taunt her. "Too slow!" he laughed, his blond hair whipping wildly in the wind.
"I'd keep your eyes on the road," Zelda called back, and Link turned around just in time to see a looming fence. With a yelp, Link was nearly thrown off his horse as Epona sailed over the obstacle: the young man was able to barely hold on, looking disoriented as he landed safely on Epona's back.
Zelda giggled and steered Wisdom clear of the fence – attempting to jump it while riding side-saddle would not end well – and settled for going around the obstacle, despite sacrificing seconds of precious time. In the distance, she could see that Link and Epona were already charging up a large hill, atop of which grew a large oak tree – their objective.
"A good race," Link boasted youthfully, as Zelda and Wisdom came up the sloped hill several seconds too late.
"You cheated," Zelda said, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "Besides, you took a shortcut."
Link only laughed, his chest heaving as he took in a deep lungful of the crisp fall air. "All's fair in love and war," he chuckled, before adding, "and horse races."
"You'd make a good philosopher," she replied sarcastically, dismounting from her horse and checking that the basket of food was in proper condition. "A regular sage, you are."
"Ah, Zelda, why do you always act so cold to me?"
"I'm not acting cold," she defended, stung by his accusation.
"Only jesting, milady…"
"You don't have to call me a lady," she said, taking out a small package of cheese and spreading it on the grass. "I'm just a commoner."
Link shrugged, sitting down beside her and taking a small sliver of cheese. "Regardless of your birth, you are still a fellow Hylian – are simple manners now only reserved for the nobility?"
"With Ganondorf as our king, I wouldn't be surprised," Zelda muttered, instinctively lowering her voice. Link raised his eyes.
"Such a man does not deserve to be king, if he rules through fear. A true sovereign should command both the respect and love of his people."
"I'm sure Ganondorf would love to hear you talk," she replied dryly, uncorking a flask of water and drinking the fresh water. "Most of the aristocracy wouldn't think too highly of your ideals, either."
"The king and nobility make up about three percent of Hyrule's citizens, at most," Link said, shrewdly. "I'm sure most of the population would agree with my sentiments."
"But they wouldn't dare voice them, which is what separates you from us," Zelda sighed, staring out from the hilltop and down onto the hovel that was Castle Town. "You've just returned from Termina, Link – you haven't yet felt the despair that has overwhelmed our land."
He was silent for a moment, as if contemplating her words. She took a bite of an apple, the tart sweetness biting into her tongue. For some reason, the apple's rosy red exterior reminded her of the crimson splotch of wine she had failed to clean earlier that morning.
"You said, last night, that the people need an example," Link said slowly. "Someone to follow."
"They need a leader, not a martyr," Zelda sighed. "Which is what all 'leaders' become once the Gerudo catch any hint of rebellion."
"These Gerudo," Link asked, evidently interested. "Tell me more about them."
"They're an all-female sect of elite warriors, born and bred to serve only Ganondorf," Zelda replied, remembering what she had gleaned through various rumors and hushed tales. "It is said that no one in Hyrule can match one in combat, such is their skill at arms."
"And is that true?"
"Were you listening to what I said earlier about martyrs?"
He paused. "Not even a knight would stand a chance against a Gerudo?"
"The Hylian knights were disbanded about a year after you left for Termina," Zelda shrugged. "Ganondorf conscripted them all into his military." She smiled, attempting to switch the talk to a lighter subject. "I suppose you're the last of the Hylian knights."
"According to the code of chivalry, a knight needs a lady to protect," Link replied, looking at her with inquisitive eyes. She flushed faintly scarlet.
"And I told you before, I am not a lady…"
"But you are my friend," he interrupted softly, "and I would protect you regardless."
She smiled, touching Link's hand gently in a show of appreciation. He wasn't the childhood boy she had known; no, it was obvious now that he had matured into something else.
But what?
"You know," Zelda said, casually, as Link helped himself to another hunk of cheese. "I'm glad you're back. I've only really had Impa to talk to for the past seven years."
"I'm glad I'm back too," Link said, smiling lightly. "I've only really had an old, stoic knight to talk to for the past seven years."
She laughed. "How was your apprenticeship in Termina?"
"Wonderful," Link replied, his eyes alight with the shine of adventure. "My mentor, Sir Shiro, was a Terminian knight, old friend of my father's. Shiro was very strict, and very demanding, but by the Goddesses, he was a master with the sword and bow!"
For a few seconds, Link's eyes glazed over as if he was reliving past victories and triumphs. His voice had a reminiscent, nostalgic quality to it, as he recounted the various adventures that he and experienced in Termina. Zelda found herself drawn in by his tales of exotic locales and dangerous dungeons, listening as he recounted those seven long years he had spent in Termina.
"… and the Great Bay, Zelda, you should have seen it! It was beautiful: long, sandy beaches, gentle ocean waves…" Link's voice trailed off, leaving a dreamy image of a secluded beach painted seductively in her head. "Someday, I'll have to take you there."
"Really?" Zelda asked, excited: she had never before left Hyrule, indeed, Kakariko Village was the furthest away from home she had ever travelled.
"Of course," Link nodded, smiling. "I know you'd love it. Although perhaps we should skip Ikana Canyon – the locals whisper that the abandoned castle is haunted, and at night, spirits dance in the graveyard. Whenever we would travel there, Shiro was always careful to ensure we returned before dark."
"That sounds fascinating," Zelda said, paying rapt attention- she had never quite heard of the stories that Link had brought back from Termina. Just like when she would read books as a child, Link had so easily managed to capture her imagination and interest, sweeping her into a fantasy world of monsters and heroes where she could escape into…
"I'll tell you more later," Link promised, standing up and stretching. "But it's getting a bit late, don't you think?"
Zelda was surprised to see that the afternoon sunlight was fading, with the onset of dusk. She and Link must have spent three or four hours up on the hilltop, although it hardly seemed like twenty minutes to her!
Link smiled, chivalrously helping her up. "I'll fetch the horses, shall I?" he said, pointing to where Epona and Wisdom were resting at the bottom of the hill.
Zelda watched him go, feeling an odd lightness in her heart as she observed the confidence and strength in his hands, the calm aura that seemed to radiate out from Link. As children, they had been best friends, but now he was something more to her, she was sure.
She recalled his earlier promise to take her to Great Bay, and she blushed in the semi-darkness, glad that Link was too busy coaxing the horses to notice.
As Zelda returned to the Hylia estate in the dwindling sunlight, a faint sense of unease settled inside her soul. She couldn't identify the source of her unrest, but a faint chill ran up her spine nonetheless, replacing the earlier warmth she had shared with Link.
"Something wrong?" Link asked, looking over at her and reading her expression with concern.
She shook her head, fighting off the deepening feeling of apprehension. "No. I should probably return to the manor quickly: they'll need my help in preparing the evening meal."
Link nodded, as they entered through the gates of the estate. "We'll leave the horses in the stables, and then I'll come with you."
"Alright," she murmured, looking through the darkened grounds for a sign of Dampe. Odd. Usually, the groundskeeper would still be at work. The absence of his presence seemed slightly unsettling to Zelda.
"You look spooked," Link said in concern, still watching her. "Are you cold? Maybe we should have brought a blanket to the picnic."
"No, I… I'm fine, Link," she replied, shakily, although he raised his eyes, obviously not believing her.
They continued through the empty grounds in silence, heading off to the stables where they deposited Epona and Wisdom. The other horses in the stable were whinnying and pacing in their stalls, as if sensing something unsettling in their midst. Even Link seemed a bit put off by their odd behavior.
"I wonder what could have spooked those horses so easily," Link asked quizzically, as he and Zelda followed the cobblestone path from the stables back to the manor.
She didn't reply. Zelda honestly had no idea why she was so disturbed at the moment, but the odd behavior of the horses only solidified her sentiment that something strange was going on. She held onto Link's hand tighter, and he squeezed her hand in reassurance.
As they walked up towards the manor front doors, Zelda saw the first sign of something amiss: the doors were busted wide open, their magnificent wooden frames hanging shattered on the hinges. She let out a soft gasp: she and Link both paused, and in the silence, they became aware of a commotion of voices going on inside the manor.
Link cast her a worried look, relinquishing her hand and rushing inside the manor. Zelda quickly followed, a feeling of mounting dread building up inside her chest.
Inside, three armored soldiers were wrestling Aleron Hylia to the ground, while the horrified maids and servants looked on helplessly. Aleron's face was bloodied and his eyes were rolling wildly, like a mad cat spitting for freedom. Despite the fact that he had three men attempting to subdue him, he was putting up a surprising amount of resistance.
"Get your hands off me!"
"He's not going down!"
"Club the bastard!"
"How dare you break into my home! Do you know who I am?" Aleron howled, struggling furiously as the three men held him in place. A fourth man came forward with a steel rod, blunt and heavy.
"What is the meaning of this?" Link growled, his voice cutting through the thick atmosphere. Immediately, both Aleron and the soldiers ceased their struggles, looking up at Link in amazement.
"Release my father at once," Link continued coldly, stepping forward. The guards hesitated, as if unsure of whether to obey him or not. One of them spoke up, timidly:
"Sir, we have orders to take Aleron Hylia into custody…"
"Orders from who?" Link exploded angrily, his steel blue eyes flashing menacingly.
"That would be me," a sinister voice came from behind. Both Link and Zelda whirled around, surprised: somehow, another man had snuck up behind them unnoticed. Unlike the steel-clad soldiers, the man was dressed in fine silk robes and held himself with an stately bearing: obviously a noble of some kind.
Link turned in fury on the newcomer. "Who in the name of the Goddesses are you?"
The other man seemed unperturbed by Link's temper. "I am Vaati, and you need not know anything else about me except that I am a noble high in our king's esteem."
"My father," Link said, breathing heavily, "is also a noble, and also in our king's graces…"
"But there, you are wrong," Vaati said, looking mildly surprised. "Especially as your… father… has been arrested for treason, I fail to see how he has the king's support."
"Treason?" Link uttered, hiding his surprise with a look of incredulity. Zelda couldn't help but let out a soft gasp, feeling as if she had been punched: somehow, Ganondorf knew of Aleron's rebellious behavior.
"That's right," Vaati replied coolly. "So, if I was a bright young man like you, I would be smart enough to keep my mouth shut and practice… proper veneration of our Lord Ganondorf. Unless you wish to turn out like your wretch of a father?"
With a deft hand motion, Vaati gestured to the soldiers. Immediately, the one with the steel rod clubbed Aleron in the head, leaving the elderly Hylia dazed and bloodied. Link let out a roar of anger and took a step forward, but Vaati held him back.
"Remember, you are always being watched," Vaati taunted, as the soldiers bound Aleron and lifted the fallen man off the ground. "So, I'd learn to curb that rash behavior you seem prone to. Our king wouldn't like it."
With a smirk, Vaati released Link, beckoning to the soldiers as they carried Aleron past like a spitted pig. None of the soldiers dared to look Link in the eye as they passed: Aleron, however, fixed his son with a last, pleading look.
"Link… don't…" his voice was hoarse, faint, and he blinked in pain and confusion as he was carried out the front doors. "Don't… come after me."
Immediately, Link rushed forward, trying to reach his father, but Zelda stepped in his way, doing her best to keep the raging young knight from bowling her over and killing the soldiers with his bare hands.
"Link… stop…!"
"Get out of my way!" he snarled, attempting to get past her without seriously harming her in the process.
"No!" Zelda cried, tears threatening to blind her vision. "There's nothing you can do, Link! You'll only get yourself killed!"
Link growled, and for a second he almost looked like a feral wolf, his eyes blazing with raw fire. Zelda wasn't sure if she'd be able to hold him back another second, but then the manor servants came to her aid, pulling Link back and restraining the young man as best they could.
"Get your hands off of me!" Link commanded, flailing just as Aleron had done in the soldiers' grip.
"Get a hold of yourself, Link!" Impa replied, her voice nonetheless shaky and frightened, obviously disturbed by Aleron's ordeal. "There's nothing you can do for your father, unless you want to end up in a dungeon next to him!"
Zelda turned to watch as Vaati and his soldiers left the estate, bearing the limp body of Aleron Hylia into a waiting carriage. Link struggled even more viciously as Aleron was forcefully deposited into the carriage, but the servants would not release him. With a last, taunting look, Vaati saluted Link with the tips of his fingers before stepping inside the carriage himself.
"They're gone," Zelda murmured, emptily, watching as the carriage set off at a brisk pace. Link, as if sensing that he had lost the fight, went slack in the grip of the manor servants, the anger and fury in him replaced by hopeless desperation.
"Those bastards," Link was weeping under his breath, his entire body shaking violently. "I'll kill them all, I swear to the Goddesses I'll do it…"
"Take him to his quarters, give him some sleeping herbs," Impa said urgently, trying to take command of the situation as best she could. As the servants led Link away like a prisoner to the gallows, Impa privately added to Zelda:
"Stay with him tonight, keep watch. Please, for the love of the Goddesses, don't let him do anything rash."
Nodding mutely, Zelda bowed her head, trying to hide the tears brimming in her eyes. Impa rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"There's nothing we can do for poor Aleron," Impa sighed, tiredly. "Let's just hope the Goddesses take him under their wing soon."
Stifling a sob, Zelda hurried past Impa to find Link. Blood, she thought, glancing down on the floor where Aleron had been beaten and tied up like a wild animal. It's everywhere.
