Chapter 4 – Of Slander and Fortune
Link looked on with a mixture of pity and disbelief as Zelda stared at her feet in shame. Link tried to comfort her, but he really had no idea what to do, what to say. Not even two hours ago, he had come to the castle with the intention of reconciling with Zelda, but now it was she who was reconciling with him. Not only that, but here stood Zelda, beloved Princess of Hyrule, carrying an unwed baby.
How did this happen? Who was the father? Did Hyrule know? All these questions, and many more, popped into his head all at once.
But it did make a bit more sense. Hyrule was none too forgiving when it came to childbearing before marriage. They viewed Matrimony as a holy celebration, one of love and trust between two people. And the ultimate gift of any marriage is the child. More than just a new life in the world, the child symbolized that love two people had in each other.
There was no other way, in the eye of public opinion, to have a child. All other mothers of unwed babies would most likely be driven from town and ostracized. Worse still would the punishment for the innocent child. If a child grows up in a nice, wholesome environment, then it will grow up to be a good person who contributes to society with a respect and passion. But if an unfortunate child is raised up in the wilderness with only one parent, if it even survives, it will know of nothing but hate and spite.
Imagine if something like that were to happen to a Princess! Imagine the hell that would be let loose if something like this were to get out! Naturally, Zelda would want to avoid that.
And yet, the deed had been done. There was no way to take it back. What's done is done, and the consequences would come into fruition sooner or later. Knowledge could do wonders if Link was to cheer her up at all. As hard as this must be for her, he had to know. And as he had found out not to long ago, talking about it can be the best cure.
And as she stood there in her broken state, he regretted having to do this. Right to the point, Link asked. "Who is the father, Zelda?"
Zelda's eyes met his own, and never before did Link see such regret, such remorse swimming around in her eyes so freely. With her eyelids drooping slightly, her face showed just what was going through her mind at this second. Never breaking the eye contact, Zelda replied quietly, "He seemed to be a good enough man, at first…"
Her voice was quiet and broken, as defeated as she was. She began searching around the room for anything to look at, anything other than his eyes.
"Who are you talking about?"
Zelda sighed heavily, as if to make this guilty burden called truth lighter and more bearable. "About two months ago, father called in foreign dignitaries to discuss what we should do, moving forward and past this time of war and desolation. He met with them, trying to establish peace with the nations on the other side of the Gerudo Desert and past the Faron Woods. With quite a bit of persuasion on his part, he was able to make shaky treaties with all the nations that the dignitaries represented. All is looking good for Hyrule, in that respect."
"And you got together with one of them? And he left you?" Link surmised, a touch of anger his voice as he tried to respond unemotionally. He suddenly got an image of an old, fat man dressed in brightly colored robes with a head that engulfed his neck.
"Not exactly…" She replied, turning her attention to her feet.
"No? Who, then?"
"To prepare for the upcoming important political gathering," Zelda replied. "Father hired many new servants. He paid them good money to come in and make the castle spotless in order to make good impressions."
"Ah, so it was one of these servants?"
"Yes." Zelda replied shakily. "He was a very handsome man, Aaron was." She said his name almost dreamily. "I never knew his full name, but he was charming and funny, hardworking and sensitive. We had met when he was cleaning my room, and I gave him a chance. We began to see each other more and more often as time went on. Father's dignitaries had left long ago and the servants were relieved of their duties and yet, Aaron stayed behind, even without pay or a job to complete. There was a time not too long ago when I thought that I loved him…" Her eyes began to gloss over, but still she continued. "But I know now that that was truly naïve of me to think. He left after he had heard that I was pregnant, leaving no trace behind."
It truly was a lot of information to take in. "Zelda, no matter what happens, I will stand behind you."
There was the smile he was looking for. "I know, Link, I know."
"Does anybody else know yet?"
"J-just a few maids and butlers."
"So you were just going to run away? Desert your kingdom?" Link asked, trying to sound as unbiased as he could.
She didn't reply, instead she stared at her feet.
"The Zelda I know wouldn't leave her people." Link said proudly. "The Zelda I know gives her life to her kingdom. Zelda, as I already said, you can't leave them. They need you. Now more than ever."
Zelda retaliated hotly. "There is nothing I can do! What do you plan I do? Even if I don't tell them, what are they going to think when they see my baby a few months from now? That's not exactly something I can hide. And if I do tell them, they will hate me and I will lose all the respect that I have now. There's no way out of this…"
Link had to think about that one. She was caught in a very awkward position indeed, with no exit or easy way out. Boy, this was quite a pickle Zelda found herself in. What can you do? Unless…
"Zelda, this is going to sound very cruel, but please think about it." Link paused for a moment before saying, "Tell them that it was my fault. Tell them that I am the father."
"Link, no…" she replied quietly.
"Zelda, listen to me." Link responded with an air of confidence and resolve about him. "Right now, I cannot fall any farther. I'm the lowest of the low in this kingdom, and that's the truth. You know it as well as I. There is nothing more that can happen to worsen my life. I can handle this. I've been able to handle things much worse than this before."
"But you, Zelda," Link continued. "You are the center of this kingdom. Your actions will be traced, and if you make one bad decision, the entire kingdom will be all over it. You have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Yet, you have stuck it out through thick and thin. Please, Zelda, you mean too much to this kingdom. Let me take the fall."
"Link, do you know what you're asking for?" Zelda asked, stunned and angry. "If you aren't locked in the cells for life, you will be living away from society for the rest of your life! I can't let you do that to yourself!"
"I've been living away from society for a while now. I've learned how to get accustomed to it. There is no reason for you to get shunned as well. The higher you are, the harder you fall, Zelda. You would be stripped of your ranks and thrown out on the streets. The entire kingdom will turn against you. But if you reveal the father, make it seem as if it is the father's fault, you will be spared. I know these people well enough to know that they do not want to blame people they like, they like to blame those they hate. What are they going to do to me? Hate me more? I think I can handle that."
"Never, Link." Zelda said firmly. "I won't let you suffer for my mistakes. I am to blame and I will accept my punishment. You've done so much for Hyrule already; you do not deserve to suffer so greatly."
"I am already suffering." Link responded heatedly. "Even if you don't tell them that I did it, it's not like everything would be just fine for me. Whether you make the decision or not, I will still be an outcast. There won't be any change there. The only difference would be that you wouldn't be an outcast too."
"Link..." she sighed. Everything he said made perfect sense but doing something like that to a friend was never easy.
"I would die for Hyrule, Zelda. It is my home. It is my everything. I want to do this because you are what's best for Hyrule. If I do this, you will continue to lead on. If you ever left, Zelda, Hyrule will fall into chaos. I will take the fall in your place. Please, tell them that I am the father."
Zelda looked back at him pityingly, biting her top lip in apprehension of making the decision that would save her title. Curse him! Why must he be so caring and generous? She knew that he would never leave until he got it his way, so…
"Alright, Link…" She sighed in resignation. "I'll tell the people tomorrow. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
With an ever so slight grin on his face, Link said, "Never been so sure about something in my entire life."
In a mixed act of gratitude and passion, Zelda threw her arms around him and nested her head into his shoulder. Finally, she was able to release the emotions that had been pent up inside of her for a while. Sobbing into his shoulder, she mumbled, "I'm going to miss you."
Link did his best to comfort her by wrapping his arms around her waist, though he couldn't really tell if it was working. "You talk as if we are never going to see each other again." Link said wearily.
"Are you kidding? They will never let you anywhere near the castle again!" Zelda said, managing to convey her thoughts with a strong passion, though never raising her voice above a whisper.
"Did they ever?" Link asked coyly.
"I suppose not." She said with a slight smile.
"We'll see each other again, don't worry about that." Then he added, with a grin, "I have my sources."
Outside, it was pitch black. Link couldn't see a thing out the windows. And still, they stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace. He couldn't even remember how long they had been standing there, but he'd estimate it at half an hour.
Slowly, Zelda began to perk her teary-eyed head up once more and back out of his comforting embrace. Link looked right into her eyes, just as she stared deep into his. He saw pity in her eyes, because of what she was about to do to him, but she also held a look of pride.
Link back up, and grabbing the doorknob out, said, "Best of luck, Princess Zelda. I will see you soon."
He began to open the door, but Zelda's voice urged otherwise. "What are you doing? Link, you can't leave now! You won't be able to see a thing. Why don't you stay here tonight?"
"I can't Zelda." Link said sympathetically. "I need to be long gone by the time you reveal anything. It would not be very smart of me to be roaming the streets of Castle Town while you tell everyone that I am to blame."
"Oh goddesses," She sighed. "Link, I still feel horrible about doing this to you."
"Don't" Link grinned. "You aren't doing anything to me, really. But you are doing wonders for Hyrule."
"No." Zelda frowned. "I am doing wonders for myself. Why do I get off completely for something that I did while you must suffer for it?"
"Please, Zelda." Link said quietly. "If not for Hyrule, do this for me. I want you to do this. I don't want to see you end up like me, you deserve so much more than this."
Zelda looked him in the eyes and saw that he was going to argue no more.
"Well, I guess this is it…" She sniffled slightly and paused. "But before you go, just promise me one last thing. Promise me that you won't do anything stupid. I want to see you again, but I don't want you to see you through cell bars. If my guards catch you trying to sneak in, you'll see nothing but cold stone for the rest of your days, and there is nothing even I can do about that."
Link grinned slightly. "When have I ever done anything stupid?" He asked innocently.
"On occasions too numerous to count." She replied lightly.
Finally taking his first step out the door leading into the hallway, Link looked back at Zelda with regret and waved, before shutting the door. It would be hard, but it had to be done. To preserve a Princess and to preserve a kingdom.
Getting out of the castle was no simple task as it had been when Midna was with him. Normally this would be the part where Midna would warp him away. But this was not the case anymore. It took him a few minutes to scale the wall back up to the window leading to the roof outside. From the roof, he navigated down the wall outside the castle in pitch black. Taking each step with extreme care and constantly making sure he wasn't near a window, it took Link almost half an hour to get down.
Soon though, Link found himself on solid ground once again. From the base of the castle, Link found the drawbridge, which was thankfully unguarded, and exited back into the streets of Hyrule.
After a quick hour-long nap back in his room, Link began to pack up his things. It was time to leave the sanctuary of this city and once more be thrown into the wild. After putting his few, various possessions into his knapsack, Link walked downstairs, where the people were beginning to show up in the dawn's early light. Link handed the keys, as well as a hearty tip, back to the man who owned the place. The man grunted sleepily in reply and stashed the keys and the orange rupee somewhere under the counter.
Back in the streets, Link slung his knapsack over his back and began to walk through the town for what could be the last time he set foot in this place for a while. The sun was just beginning to peek over the walls of the city, and many people were already out and about.
Link made his way through the relatively quiet streets of Castle Town. In South Castle Town, he took a good, long look down the small alleyway to Telma's bar.
Boy, she will be in for a surprise tomorrow, Link thought with a grin.
He passed many men and women in the streets and he silently wondered when the next time he would see another person again, after he left this place. Because after today, he would need to find sanctuary away from people for a while.
Once he crossed the drawbridge out of Castle Town, he found that Epona was still tied right where he had left her. He felt bad for her. She had been standing here, motionless, for about a day in a half. Of course, horses can stand much more than that, but all the same, Link didn't feel any better.
Epona jumped up at his arrival, even though it was well before the time that she normally woke up at. She sprang up and walked back in forth with joy and longing.
He latched the small knapsack he had onto her back, as he usually did, making sure the knots were nice and tight. He untied Epona's reigns from the stable and she was finally able to walk an extended distance again. Wild and free was Epona. Never wanting to stay still, Epona loved run around in the opens fields, with or without a rider.
Much of the day after that went in a blur for Link. He left right then, ready and prepared for whatever may happen in the time to come. No regrets, no looking back.
He let Epona do the steering again. She led him away from walls of Hyrule without hesitation and galloped with resolve. He was nearing the Kakariko Gorge around noon that day, and unbeknownst to him, that was around the time that his act was being revealed. By now, the most urban city in Hyrule was learning of the hero's supposed "sin". This information was being received by the public with anger and forgiveness.
No, not forgiveness for their savior, but forgiveness for the Princess, who was no longer held in any kind of contempt after the fiasco she had caused recently.
All was going according to plan.
So why was he so miserable then? This act had effectively destroyed any chance of him redeeming himself in the eyes of the public. There was almost no chance of him seeing any of his friends again. All he ever knew and loved, if they had not already despised him, now hated him beyond belief. Why? Why must all that happen?
It is what's best for the kingdom. There is no room for the individual in a kingdom. Everything was done for the benefit of mankind, not man. If one must suffer for the good of mankind, let it be done.
Link reared Epona to a halt right in front of the bridge. She had not ridden in a few days, and though she seemed ready to continue riding, he decided to give her a break, for the goddesses knew that he needed one.
When he had gotten off, Epona began grazing around lazily, seemingly bored. Link had always thought that horses were very stoic creatures that never let their emotions show. If that was true, than Epona was just an odd ball in the bunch. She was very good at proclaiming her emotions; particularly anger, hunger, and jealousy. It was funny because Link never thought that any animals even experienced jealousy. Obviously, he was wrong because Epona would neigh loudly and try to nudge him away if he even tried to just pet another horse on the back.
Link picked up a few small rocks and walked over to the flimsy wooden railing that prevented anyone from falling into the gorge. Sighing, he started to throw them, one by one, into the gorge. A barely audible clunk could be heard a few seconds after each rock was sent spiraling down into the abyss.
"Having a bad day, eh?"
Link dropped what remained of his small rock collection down into the gorge due to the surprise of hearing another voice. Indeed, he himself almost fell in as well. After regaining his balance, he whirled around to meet the source of the voice, his right hand on the hilt of the Master sword, still in its scabbard the whole while. He soon realized, though, that he had nothing to fear in this voice.
The man who had talked to him raised both of his hands up to show that he meant no harm. "Whoa, easy there, buddy." The man said, something of smirk on his face.
Link took his hand off the hilt of his blade steadily and the man eased up a bit.
The man seemed to be not that much older than Link. He looked to be late teens to early twenties. The man wore his shoulder-length dull red hair in a hasty ponytail and his clothes looked to be the clothes of a wanderer. His beige long-sleeved shirt and navy blue pants were wrinkled and tattered, and showed much wear and tear.
"The name's Nathaniel. Nate for short." The man stated, offering a handshake.
Link took it and shook the hand firmly. "Link." He replied simply.
"Link?" The man looked a little stunned. "You mean, like, the name of the hero? His name was Link, wasn't it?" Nate paused for an answer, but Link just shrugged, not really knowing how else to answer in this type of situation. Link could only assume that his man had no idea who he was talking to.
Nate continued. "Well, it was something like that. But let me tell you, our kingdom is doing him grave disservice."
Link looked on, a little confused, but not in the way Nate thought he would be. Does that mean that he, dare I say, cares for me? There was only one way to figure out.
Pretending to be oblivious, Link asked, "Why?"
"Are you kidding?" Nate said, grinning. "Last I heard, this hero was pushed away by his own Princess. That was a few months ago, but all the same. He deserves to be brought in, not pushed away."
Though he fought hard to keep a straight face, Link started to well up inside. Finally… Someone who actually cared for him.
"Oh." Link replied. "I'm more of an explorer myself, I don't catch news that often."
"Yeah, I feel you. I am kind of the same way." He paused. "Is that your horse?" Nate asked after a while. He watched the smart beast graze in the field with interest.
Link thought that much was pretty obvious. Who else's horse could it be? "Yep. That's Epona." He replied shortly.
"So, you're traveling somewhere?" Nate asked, though he already knew the answer. When Link nodded, he continued. "Where are you off to?"
As if the goddesses gave him inspiration on the conundrum, Link said, "Zora's Domain." without even thinking about it.
"Cool!" Nate exclaimed happily. "That's where I'm going too! Care if I come along?"
Finally. A friend.