By the time Zelda returned to the Hylia estate, night had fallen. Her breath was as ragged as her torn clothing: she had run the entire away home after the incident with the guard in the back alleys. The enormity of the situation was still soaking in to her distressed mind: the guard had held complete power over her – and there was nothing she could have done to stop it. Had it not been for her unknown savior… Zelda choked back a sob of revulsion and horror at what might have happened to her.
As she stopped in front of the familiar doors of Hylia manor, she stopped to catch her breath, noting that her body was still shaking violently – and not from the evening chill. Her sobs subsided slowly as she took in deep, calming breaths of air. Her entire body ached – the skin on her cheek was bloody and raw from where she had been pressed against the wall, and her wrists were swollen from the man's forceful grip.
"Oh Goddesses…" she murmured, sinking to her knees and collapsing in front of the manor doors. "Oh Goddesses, oh Goddesses…"
I can't believe I'm here. In the dark, she envisioned the white and unseeing eyes of the now dead man that had tried to attack her. Even now, his body had probably been found, lying in a puddle of muck with an arrow embedded in his spine.
Zelda gave a brief prayer of thanks to the Goddesses for delivering her savior that night. She had not had a chance to thank him, or even ascertain his identity – but she felt certain that he had escorted her all the way home, even if she could not physically see him. The thought that an unknown shadow was patrolling the capital like a vigilante both terrified and excited her in equal measure. It meant that someone still had hope – that someone was fighting back against the atrocities committed under Ganondorf's reign.
She only hoped that her savior wouldn't become another dead martyr.
Zelda breathed deeply, getting back on her feet, her aching muscles a dull throb in the back of her mind. In the safe confines of the Hylia estate, the horror of her attack was slowly fading, although her body was still shaking uncontrollably. It suddenly occurred to her how faint and dizzy she was – after watching the public executions, the contents of her stomach had forced themselves out in disgust.
The attack had eclipsed her memories of the public execution, but now they returned in full force – the rivers of blood, the torn gibbets of flesh and rolling heads, the sweetly sickening reek of death. In her mind, the names of the condemned rang like a bell: Sir Darunia… Duke Dotour… Aleron Hylia…
Wait! Aleron's name hadn't been called, she was sure of it. For a moment, Zelda's terror was overcome by the faint ray of hope that maybe Aleron had survived Ganondorf's purging. But then, her heart sank once more – if Aleron had not been executed, then he was still suffering in torment at Ganondorf's castle.
Despair clutched at her once more, welling like acid in the depths of her soul. Was there no end to the nightmare? Was she destined to watch Hyrule crumble into degeneration, until she herself was inevitably consumed by the madness?
"Zelda?"
Her heart nearly stopped beating: she jumped in fright, fearing perhaps that some of Ganondorf's soldiers had followed her back to the manor. She replied back in a quavering voice, both ashamed and loathing of her weakness.
"Who… who is it…?"
"It's me," Link replied, stepping out from behind a bush with a concerned look on his face. Zelda nearly cried out in relief; he quickly came to her, wrapping his arms around her quivering body and hoisting her to her feet.
"Dear Goddesses…" Link murmured, looking at her from head to foot in shock. "Zelda! What happened to you?"
She opened her mouth, but no words came out: her voice died in her throat. She tried again, before numbly realizing that she had no way to voice her feelings to Link. Tears welled up in her eyes as she trembled harder.
With an understanding look, Link took her in his arms, lifting her up effortlessly and smoothing back her hair from her sweaty forehead. "Never mind that," he muttered, watching her in distress, "we need to heal you." His eyes briefly flickered over the wounds and cuts on her body, before he kicked open the manor doors and carried her inside.
"Impa!" Link called, his loud voice booming through the manor's interior like a gong. "Impa! Where are you?"
"I'm right here, Master Hylia," came the reply; after a few seconds, Impa appeared from the left, carrying a feather duster and some cloth. "There's no need to yell. I say, what's that in your arms?"
Impa's eyesight was poor, and she squinted in the semi-darkness at the vague outline of Zelda's body. Carefully, Link walked forward, nursing Zelda gently in his arms. As soon as they passed by a torch bracket hanging from the wall, Impa gasped as the flickering light illuminated Zelda more clearly.
"By the Goddesses!" Impa yelped, dropping her supplies and rushing to Zelda's side. "What… what happened to her?"
Zelda tried to answer but once more found it difficult to speak, as if her mind had retreated into a shell to shield her from the unpleasant memories. Impa loomed over Zelda, examining her injuries with a worried eye.
"She was attacked, that much is obvious," Link said in a worried tone. "Do we have any red potions available?"
"Not presently; but I can wake the apothecary and ask for an emergency bottle," Impa said, stroking Zelda's hair sadly. "Were you there when this happened, Master Hylia?"
"No; I was wandering the manor grounds when I found her like this in front of the doors," Link replied, gazing down at Zelda anxiously. "She'll be alright, won't she Impa? Until we get her a red potion?"
"As far as I can tell, the wounds aren't too serious," the old nursemaid said, feeling Zelda's forehead and cold arms. "But she looks terrified, as if she's encountered an awful shock of some sort."
"I'll take her up to her room," Link said decisively, holding Zelda tighter to his warm chest. "Impa, can you bring up some hot water and medicinal herbs to clean her wounds?"
"Of course," Impa said, hastening at once to complete the order. "And maybe some food as well. The poor girl looks starved." She departed at once to the kitchens to gather the requisite items.
"It'll be alright, Zelda," Link whispered quietly, turning to the spiral staircase that led to the second floor. "You're home now. Nothing can hurt you here."
Zelda tried to speak, but a wave of dizziness overcame her, and she only managed a brief nod. Everything seemed so surreal – the executions, the attack, her mysterious savior, and her flight back to the manor…
Everything's alright, she tried to console herself, as Link carried her up the flight of stairs. It suddenly occurred to her that she was no longer shaking uncontrollably, as if the presence of Link's comforting arms wrapped around her had driven away the terror that had previously overcome her. Now, more than anything, she felt extremely tired, and her eyelids began to droop…
"Stay with me," Link murmured, reaching the second floor and heading to her quarters.
"I'll try," she whispered back, voice barely audible. Her tongue felt like rubber, but at least she had gotten some words out, which was a sign that she was getting over her shock. She wasn't sure if Link had heard her, but he smiled nonetheless.
Link's touch was so gentle that she was barely aware of being transferred from his arms and onto her bed. She closed her eyes, and when she next opened them, a heavy quilt had been draped over her body and Link was lighting a candle on her bedside table.
"Liink…" she mumbled, her tongue still feeling numb and useless. He sat down at the edge of her bed and rested a firm hand on her arm.
"Shush," he said, forcing a small smile over the concern etched on his face. "Just be quiet. Impa will be up soon, I promise."
They waited like that for several minutes, sitting like statues in the darkened room. Link's presence felt reassuring to Zelda, like a watchdog or a bodyguard. In the dim candle light, his features were thrown into sharp focus by the dancing flames: his blue eyes glinted like sword steel and his young face seemed hardened by the responsibilities thrust upon his shoulders after Aleron's arrest.
"There was an execution today," Zelda whispered, forcing the words out while trying to keep the terrible images from her mind. "Thirty nobles…"
"Ganondorf has been purging the aristocracy for alleged traitors," Link said, calmly, keeping any emotion out of his eyes. He paused, before inquiring, the barest hint of hesitation in his voice: "Was… was my father there?"
She shook her head. Link's hand, which had suddenly been gripping her tightly, relaxed somewhat, although his face remained emotionless.
Impa burst into the room, carrying a small tray loaded with dried herbs, some bread and cheese, and a steaming bowl of hot water. She barely cast Link a second glance as she sat down next to Zelda and dipped a piece of cloth in the bowl.
"Dear Goddesses protect," the nursemaid murmured, shaking her head sadly as she carefully swabbed the patch of raw skin on Zelda's cheek. Zelda winced involuntarily as Impa gently cleaned the wound.
"I don't suppose she's told you what happened yet?" Impa asked. Link shook his head mutely. The nursemaid sighed and dipped the cloth into the steaming bowl once more, eying the cuts and abrasions on her arms with a dark look. "Whoever did this… well, by the Goddesses… did they do anything else to you, Zelda?"
Zelda shook her head numbly, still unable to articulate any words to Impa. Link had a pensive look on his face, as if he suspected the truth behind Zelda's wounds: the guard's brutal assault on her. Still, Link said nothing, and Impa continued to clean Zelda's wounds carefully without further questions.
"Will she be alright?" Link asked quietly, as Impa finished cleaning the wounds and squeezed the wet cloth over the pail of boiled water.
"Yes, thank the Goddesses for that," Impa sighed, taking Zelda's hand gently and smiling. "The wounds are fairly minor – but she's still recovering from her trauma. Best to let her get plenty of rest."
Impa stood up from the bed, leaving the plate of bread and cheese on the bedside table. "Are you feeling a little better, Zelda?"
She nodded, cracking a small smile. "Thank you, Impa," she croaked, finding her voice. The nursemaid smiled warmly, smoothing back Zelda's golden hair and planting a motherly kiss on her forehead.
"You had me worried. When you didn't show up for dinner… and now this…" Impa sighed, her eyebrows knitting together in a frown. "I was so scared that you might have been arrested for being so close to Aleron. Ganondorf's paranoia has been increasing as of late. Best not to go out alone."
Impa shook her head sadly, her eyes possessing a far-off look as if she was reminiscing about better times. Sighing, the old nursemaid swept her steel-grey hair behind her ears and picked up the tray of supplies. "I'll pick up your food plate later, Zelda. We should leave her alone now, Master Hylia."
"In a second," Link responded, still holding onto Zelda's arm gently. Impa hesitated, but apparently decided against arguing with him. The nursemaid left the room, closing the door gently behind her.
"Are you hungry?" Link asked, taking the small plate of vittles Impa had left and holding it for Zelda.
"Famished," she replied, finally realizing that her stomach was completely devoid of food or substance – she had lost it all during the grisly executions. She lifted a trembling arm up to grab a small slice of cheese form the plate. The simple food tasted wonderful in her mouth, as she chewed it with slow and deliberate satisfaction. She gulped it down and grabbed another one, her energy slowly returning.
"I can have Impa send some more up," Link laughed, as she downed the second piece and was already reaching for the slice of bread. "You're practically shaking from hunger."
"I'm fine," she mumbled, smiling genuinely at him. "Thank you."
"Are you sure?" he asked, looking her over in a concerned air.
"Quite," Zelda said, devouring the last morsel of bread, the meager meal still oddly satisfying. Now a wave of sleepiness tugged at her, which was only aided by the odd warmth that seemed to radiate from Link's hand on her arm.
Link nodded, his lips forming into a half-smile. "I should let you get some rest, then. Hopefully, it'll be a quick recovery."
Zelda nodded and fell back against her pillow as Link gathered up the empty food plate and stood up from her bed. He released her hand, the warmth from his touch suddenly replaced by the cold of the night.
"Thank you, Link," she whispered, watching him in the semi-darkness as he headed for the door. He turned around, and although she couldn't see his face, she knew he was smiling softly.
"If there's anything you want to talk about," he said carefully, "whenever you feel ready to…"
"… I'll tell you," Zelda finished for him. Perhaps it was because they had been best friends as children, or perhaps it was some deeper bond, but Link felt like the only person she could truly confide in. She wasn't yet ready to tell him everything that had happened – a wave of guilt, shame, and humiliation still swept over her when she recalled the soldier's attack, and her complete helplessness. But she knew that Link was the one person she would confide in, when the time was right.
Link didn't press the topic further, turning to leave the room silently. As he gripped the brass door knob, he paused briefly.
"I want you to know something, Zelda," he stated, voice low and reassuring. "I'll always be there for you. No matter what."
"I know, Link," she whispered, watching as he opened the door and left her room. As soon as he had closed the door and the darkness of her room engulfed her, she murmured into the empty silence: "Thank you."
Castle Town had changed a lot since Link had last set foot in it, seven years ago.
What had once been a bustling, thriving city had now been reduced to a poverty-stricken slum. The smell of filth and waste assaulted his nose, and disease was clearly rife in the unsanitary conditions. The houses – if they could be called as such – were little more than boards of wood cobbled together to provide a makeshift roof in the event of rain. A far cry from the luxurious mansions owned by the nobles, who lived in sumptuous comfort.
And I am one of those nobles, Link thought guiltily, self consciously picking at his clothing. Although he wore a simple tunic and cloak, even the plain garment stood out amongst the rags worn by the majority of Castle Town's citizens. Eyes, hardened by suffering and hard living, followed him everywhere he went, as if they could tell that he didn't belong, that he was an outsider.
One of the oppressors. An aristocrat who holed up in his large estate while the peasantry starved.
Link wrapped his travelling cloak tighter around himself, as much an effort to ward away the peoples' silent accusations as the chill autumn wind. He bowed his head and headed into the town square, intent on making his excursion into Castle Town a quick one.
Zelda was still recovering from her attack, and Link had been concerned about sending one of his servants to the town alone. However, he had confidence in his ability to defend himself, and thus, he had offered to fetch the supplies needed by Impa and the other servants to maintain the estate. A part of him also was curious to explore the capital city of Hyrule, but now that he was actually here, his curiosity was turning increasingly into anger, a fury that had been boiling in his blood ever since his father had been arrested.
The town square wasn't much different from the rest of Castle Town, except that twice the amount of people was crammed into a much smaller area. Bodies were everywhere – Link couldn't tell if they were simply sleeping, or if they were corpses that had yet to be buried. He shuddered as he beheld the giant wooden platform used by Ganondorf for executions – the floorboards were permanently encrusted with the dried blood of thousands of the king's victims, and the bodies of the nobles that had been executed only the day before were now rotting in the sun, their carcasses a feast for rats and flies alike. The peasants only seemed to stare blankly at the horrible edifice and the corpses, as if they were only too used to such grisly sights.
Link tore his eyes away from the sight, steeling his heart against the atrocities committed by Ganondorf. Such was the fate awaiting him if Ganondorf ever discovered the burning desire of vengeance planted in Link's heart, a seed that had burst into full bloom after his father had been taken to the king's dungeons. Link would rather be damned by the Goddesses than serve as one of those fawning, docile nobles that had given their lives completely over to Ganondorf. The young knight knew the tenets of the chivalric code, and he would not suffer such a depraved king to rule over the once great land of Hyrule.
As he looked over the faces of the people in Castle Town, saw the lines of dirt caked beneath their eyes, the hardiness weathered in their faces by years of oppression, he could see that beneath the blood and grime, a small flame still flickered feebly. It was as Zelda had said – the spark was there, but someone needed to ignite it.
And they may have found that someone, Link thought privately to himself, smiling as he saw a small group of peasants huddled around a poster that had been tacked onto the wall of a dilapidated hut. They were whispering quietly but excitedly, reading the piece of parchment with a gleam in their eyes. Link moved closer, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Excuse me, but what is this?"
Immediately, the people ceased their talking, throwing furtive and suspicious glances at him. Their wary eyes took in his clothing, his demeanor, the way he walked – obviously a noble of some sort. For a moment, no one spoke. Then –
"It's a wanted poster, sir," a young boy spoke up excitedly. "There's a hero that Ganondorf's guards can't catch – they want him real badly…"
The boy's mother shushed him hurriedly, obviously afraid that Link would report the young lad for sedition against the king. Link only raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Why do the guards want to catch the… hero?"
The peasants exchanged glances amongst each other, apparently confused that a member of the aristocracy was taking such an avid interest in the common affairs of the city. But, they seemed to come to a silent consensus that Link meant them no harm, for an old man spoke up next:
"Because he killed one of the guard captains," the elder spoke, and Link could see that he was missing his front teeth, as if they had been bashed in by a club. "That pig of a man, Ingo."
Murmurs broke out amongst the group, before the old man spoke again. "They found his body lying in the back alleys, an arrow sticking in his back."
There was a brief pause, before someone added viciously, "Good riddance."
"Ingo was a brute – drunk, vicious, and he had no qualms about beating women or children. Small wonder that Ganondorf chose him as the captain of the town guard," the elder explained dispassionately, a look of disgust on his face. "I suppose someone had enough and shot the bastard when he wasn't looking."
"Will they find him?" Link asked. The man let out a short, harsh bark of laughter.
"The man who killed Ingo? Not likely, since no one else was there. As long as he keeps his mouth shut and head down, there's no way the Gerudo will find him."
"But he won't do that, will he?" the boy said eagerly, breaking free from his mother's grip. "The hero won't back down that easily, will he?"
The elder shrugged, the tired wrinkles around his eyes seeming even deeper. "Hard to say, boy. We've already got enough dead heroes. You can't ask him to give up his life for a lost cause."
"What's going on here?" A new voice cut in, sharp and crisp. Link turned around, only to find a trio of guards watching suspiciously. Two of the guards had little more than a simple breastplate for armor: however, the leader wore a fairly elaborate set of armor with purple trimmings, obviously of high rank.
"We're reading," the old man shot back, not intimidated. "Are we not allowed even that simple luxury now?"
"Watch your tone with me, Rauru," the guard leader rebuked. He turned to Link, eyeing him with slightly less suspicion. "Who are you?"
"Sir Link Hylia," he replied.
"Captain Zant of the Castle Town guard," the man said pompously, removing his helmet and revealing a slim, pale face. His features were haughty and arrogant: he waved at the peasants in an aloof manner. "Were these peasants bothering you… Sir Hylia?"
"No," Link said honestly, briefly glancing at the man whom Zant had addressed as Rauru. The elderly man seemed to regard Zant with a mixture of mockery and disgust.
"So you're Ingo's successor?" Rauru spat. "You'll fit his boots well, I think."
"Do not compare me to that man, Rauru," Zant said loftily. "Always drunk, a heavy smoker, vulgar… Ingo was a disgrace to his rank."
"And you consider yourself better?" Rauru said mockingly. Zant's slender frame seemed to quiver with rage.
"Watch your tongue, cur," he said, his voice shaking. "I come from a long line of full-blooded Hylian nobles… that's more than you can say about your common lineage."
Nodding to the wanted poster, Zant sneered at the assembled peasants. "We'll catch that fool soon enough, guard patrols have doubled. No one kills a captain and lives to boast of it."
Zant gave Link one final nod before donning his helmet and gesturing at the soldiers behind him, who immediately snapped to attention. With one last disdainful look at the peasants, the new guard captain turned curtly on his heel to continue his patrol.
"Zant thinks he's something special," Rauru murmured, his face almost as white as his beard. "The sorry fool must have a miserable existence – always trying to pretend that he has noble blood, always aspiring to gain the favor of the aristocracy." The elderly man cast one last look at Link, before shaking his head and trudging off into the gloom of the market. The rest of the peasants followed suit, dispersing with quiet murmurs and hurried whispers.
Link turned back once more to the wanted poster, reading the bold printed letters typed on the document. A reward of one thousand rupees was being offered for the 'vigilante' – dead or alive. Link smiled to himself.
Maybe this man was the person Hyrule needed to ignite the spark.
