The Bonding Mark
The door shut with a clunk behind us as we stepped into the cold night. I stumbled out into the snowy pathway as the warm bite of the alcohol sloshed around inside my stomach. My cheeks flushed as the chilly air bit at my skin. I shivered and pulled the overcoat tighter to my body. The servant man scowled at me reproachfully as he watched me amble through the snow in heavy, moseyed movements.
We walked in silence through the ghostly abandoned streets of Castle Town. The incessant crunch of boots, trudging through snow, was the only noise either of us made. He made no effort to make small talk and neither did I. I felt his eyes upon me the entire time. There was a thick air of discomfort on both our ends. I felt like a disobedient child about to be scolded by his distressed mother, not like I'd know... His gaze irritated me, but the smooth buzz of the kava pushed my anger into the back of my mind, forgotten. The old man's face was twisted in its own form of discomfort. Intense lines and wrinkles shadowed his face as he blew hot breath on his crumpled hands for warmth. I caught his eye for a moment. A feeling of uneasiness brushed over us and we went back to ignoring one another.
By the time we reached the royal estate my hands and toes were numb from the freezing wind and cold. I was also a lot more fucked up that I thought I was going to be. My pupils vibrated in their sockets as I peered at the forgotten castle of Hyrule. I couldn't remember the last time I had entered. Almost a year?
The decorated servant watched me carefully as I trudged up the stairway. My steps felt hefty and loose as my brain struggled to keep up with the lumbering pace I was setting. I laughed out loud once I reached the top. Both the servant and I were relieved that I had made it to the top unscathed. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the gaze of a young Hyrulian guard. He stood erect at his post, his lips turning down as I bumbled into the doorway. The old man bowed respectively as we passed through, I saw the guard tightening his grip on his sword handle.
The doors shut with a loud bang behind us and the whistling of the wind quieted once more. Our footsteps echoed in the seemingly empty corridors. I hummed to myself happily as I walked down the barren hallway. A passing maid carrying a load of clothes stopped and curtsied as we passed. I whistled and the servant slapped the back of my head angrily. In my drunken state, I stared at him blearily. His eyes were furrowed and squinted in anger. I imagined steam pouring out of his nostrils and ears as he puffed heatedly and stormed down the remainder of the hallway.
By the time we reached the castle's tower, I was high and incompetent. The twenty minute walk allowed the full effect of the alcohol and kava to kick in and saturate. Everything was a bit hazy and I felt sluggish and sleepy. My eyelids drooped downwards and felt heavy against their sockets. The servant shot me another disgusting look and rapped loudly on the wooden door. There was a fumble from inside and then the door swung open. I saw the blurred outline of Zelda's body before being whisked inside the room. Despite the buzz, my stomach dropped when she turned to look at me. Her face was contorted in revulsion as I pushed my way through the room and plopped down on the maroon colored couch.
"I found him at that filthy play house. You ought to be sending the guards. Castle Town is no place for smut of their kind." His voice was stern and shaky. He looked at me with utter discontent as I let my shoulders sag into the couch cushions. My head was running circles around itself and I was having trouble concentrating.
"You may leave us." I heard her say curtly to the man who had escorted me here. He shot her a look of sympathy before he bowed and slinked out the doorway. His footsteps thundered quickly down the stairwell before disappearing completely. The fireplace adjacent to me cackled and burned bright orange and yellow. I spit and wiped my mouth carelessly.
"Have you seen yourself?" she hissed haughtily as my head flopped to the side. I stared at the flame and watched it lick the walls of the fire pit. "I had heard rumors but I had thought they were exaggerating. Everything I've heard has been an understatement…" her voice trailed off when she realized that I wasn't paying attention to her rambling. Instead of looking at her, my eyes followed the corners of the room. It was a plain bedroom, especially for a princess. The bed sheets were a plain white color that matched the comforter. The walls were bleak despite a few hand painted pictures and a tapestry of the kingdom's royal symbol. My eyes lingered on the bed for another moment. I hadn't slept in a bed for who knows how long. I felt clouded and hazed. I could hardly keep track of my thoughts let alone her words.
"Did you bring me here just to play mommy?" my voice was low and annoyed. She snapped her jaw tightly shut and clenched her teeth irately.
"The nerve of you!" she fumed. "You think I invite you here just to baby you? You would not be here if we did not have this in common!" With that she yanked off her glove and the triangular symbol glowed faintly in the room in sequence with my own. I rubbed the itching hand nonchalantly and stared at her with a blank face.
"What do you want then?" I stood up quickly, my voice rising in annoyance. I had not been back to visit the royal family in quite some time for a reason. Zelda and I had differences before. Time only magnetized the problems. She looked frightened and stepped back in defense. Her posture stiffened and she sighed heavily as she looked at me with an alarmed expression.
"W-what do I want?" she stammered, her voice softer. "This is not about me. This is about Hyrule and the Three. The good of our people Link! We can't just sit back and ignore this omen."
"Fuck the Three." I said coldly as the embers in the fireplace fizzed and burst. My mind spun once more and I found myself sitting back down.
"How can you even say things like that? Truly what has happened to you?" Total concern laced her voice as she stared at me with prodding eyes. I slunk back into the couch and spread my legs before planting them on the carpeted floor.
"What do you want?" I asked simply. She closed her eyes and shook her head in dismay. Our symbols glowed once again and I felt the strong urge to cut it off with a paring knife.
"Father is dying." She said slowly as she paced around the room in small measured steps. "I-I can't think of anyone else I trust besides you to fetch him a doctor. Hardly anybody in this city has traveled so far. Especially with the bridge being down and all." She paused awkwardly and fiddled with her fingers as she awaited my response.
"So this isn't you asking me to come and be his replacement? And let me guess, I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart once more?" I spat. Who gives a fuck if the king dies? Let him rot for all I care. "Why should I help?" I sneered as I picked dirt from underneath my fingernails.
"Link! Are you not understanding the severity of this situation?" her face sank and her eyes pleaded with me. "I'm asking you as a…as a friend." She stammered with the last words.
I opened my eyes fully to get a good look at her. She had aged considerably since the last time I had seen her. The playful teenage girl was being replaced by a brooding young woman. I felt a quick stab of remorse for the comment I had made to myself about the king. I would never understand the bond a parent and child shared. It was easy to forget that Zelda was only human. She suddenly looked different in the firelight. She didn't look like the strong leader she strived so hard to be every day. She looked frightened and little. Her face was flushed pink in worry and embarrassment as she gazed at me with a puzzled expression.
I looked at her in the eyes for the first time and found myself smiling. We hadn't necessarily left each other on bad terms. What had happened was that we had simply gone our own ways. After Midna disappeared and the kingdom went into recovery mode, we both were drowning in our own private messes. She went the debutant way, I chose the drunken route. I was wrong to think she had been prudent and stuck up before. Compared to the way she is now, she was practically a crazy carefree spirit back in the day. My smile disappeared.
"I will help find your father medical attention. But I will not help you with whatever endeavor this fucking thing takes us to." I didn't have to motion for her to understand what I was talking about. Her mouth opened but before she could speak, I interjected.
"You don't have to listen to that thing either. You can choose to ignore it. A bolt of lightning is not going to come from the sky and strike us dead if we refuse to take action. We are only people. Don't you want to live your own life?" I kicked my legs up on the couch and lay back against the arm.
"Is this how you are choosing to live your life?" she spoke softly.
"That fucking Triforce stole my life." I said dangerously feeling my head starting to grow hot.
"Link…" she said slowly and what was supposed to be comforting. "You know this isn't true. You can't blame the goddesses for the bad things that come to Hyrule." Her voice didn't sound so sure.
"I can blame them for getting me involved. Why me?" I thundered as I sat up quickly. The alcohol sloshed around in my belly and made me feel dizzy. I shook my head and kicked my feet down in an awkward shuffle. "I mean…"I continued to ramble in my drunken stupor, "I go my whole life living in a small town as a fucking rancher. A rancher…mind you. Then one day I wake up and I've got this…imp…on my back."
Zelda sat down on her bed and folded her hands on her lap, listening to me calmly. The night wind howled outside and rattled the window.
"I thought I had been blessed by the Three. At first I cursed and protested against what they had made me. I was angry and confused and I felt alone…Then I find myself being the happiest I had ever been, in this midst of all the fucked up shit that was going on here. I was so happy for everything to be said in done. I had big plans for me. I thought I was going to live out the rest of my days happily." I stopped and wished that I had another drink in my head.
"And why can't you be happy now?" Something in her voice suggested that she already knew what I was talking about. I stared at her coldly before averting my eyes to the floor.
"Because there was no plan for me. The goddesses used me for what they wanted. I was so lonely as a ranch hand for all those years and I didn't even realize it until I found something on that quest. They ripped it away from me. Why show me eternal happiness if it is not meant to be?" I strummed my fingers apprehensively against the wood of the furniture. "Fuck them…" I growled maliciously.
"The goddesses have a plan for you. I am certain of it." Zelda didn't look as convincing as she had intended. Her face was stolid and blank, her thoughts elsewhere.
"What plan do they have for you?" I sneered. "They took your mother when you were born, and now they are taking your father. We are so fucking blessed." My voice was dripping with sarcasm.
"Link…please." She pleaded. Her face twisted when I brought up the subject of her mother. Zelda never talked about her, but I knew it was a sore topic for her. "Something tells me that the goddesses have a great plan for us. We just have to be patience and abide by their rule. They will take care of us." She stood up from her bed and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. I jerked away but she still held her cool composure as she observed me thoughtfully.
"They are using us." I said forcefully. "They are just a bunch of dead, greedy, bitches that can't handle their own problems. I'm not working for them anymore. I am not a Hero. This mark on our hands doesn't mean shit. We aren't heroes sent by the goddesses. We are their slaves. I'm not heeding their instruction any longer."
"Don't you see that we are blessed to have this bond? That you and I alone are descendants of the chosen Three? You are starting to sound like Gan-."
"Don't even fucking say it princess. I am not him, and I am not you. We may be bonded but this mark is all we have in common. I don't want this curse. I don't want all the courage of the Triforce. I want to go back to my old life and away from all of this." My tone lowered and I felt my head becoming dense and wilted as it bobbed with my words. I felt the cool touch of Zelda's hands grabbing at my fingers. She eyed me warily as she slowly glided her fingers across the golden symbol on my hand.
"You are foolish to run away from such a gift." She coyly whispered as she continued to gaze at the icon. Her touch brought along a calming demeanor and I felt some of my anger subsided as my head went numb once more. I watched her as she marveled at our markings. Her blue eyes flitted back in forth as her thoughts wandered away from conversation. She was worried, and scared. She released my hand awkwardly as she propped herself back up. She cleared her throat and smoothed out the creases in her dress. I looked at her with an empty face and slowly shook my head no. No hope.
"I will bring your father back a doctor. But after that I am leaving this province. I don't like the looks of it here anymore." I stood up and nearly stumbled when making my way out the door. Zelda didn't fuss or move when I rose, she just kept her gaze on me until I shut the door her eyes bearing into me all the while.
I barely remembered exiting the Castle. My eyes were small snakelike slits rolling around in their sockets like oily marbles as I clambered through hallways and stairwells. The brisk cold night air brought me back to my senses as the wind tussled my hair and made my hazy eyes water. A sickly sensation rose from the pit of my stomach and swelled uncomfortably in the back of my throat. It wasn't the alcohol that was making me feel this way. Zelda's cold stare had managed to burn into my thoughts. It wasn't over between us yet. I shuddered as an icy, unsettling feeling crept its way throughout the entirety of my body as I walked down the snow laden streets. Small white flakes floated down softly from the dark night sky as I trudged through the castle's gates.
The guards from earlier hadn't moved even an inch away from their posts. Without the old man to guide me, their demeanor was alert and attentive. I felt their eyes watching my every step as I quietly fumbled my way out. I scoffed irritatingly as one of the guards raised his pike and pointed it languidly at the small of my back. I resisted the urge to pull out the sword and copy his arrogant manner. Maybe some other night...
The courtyard's stable wasn't far away. It lay just around the main street of Castle Town and down the winding alleyway. The torchlights that illuminated the barren streets of Castle Town, quivered and danced in the wind as the night pressed on. I stared upwards to the sky and grimaced at the star's that shined dimly from above. A wave of indescribable sadness swept over me as I looked at the blackness above. The hollow pit behind my breastbone throbbed and scratched painfully at my thoughts as I tried to suppress my past. Old memories swam about in blurred shapes and colors as my drunken mind struggled to beat them away. A smile here, that unforgettable giggle, the dark piercing eyes that haunted my dreams, they were always there. I shook my head gravely as the ghosts of old memories attacked my consciousness to the point of utter madness.
I dug into my thoughts vigorously as I tried to wipe away my own mind. It was difficult to accept the atrocity that had happened. I couldn't wrap my mind around why it happened or how it could have been prevented. To cope, I only accepted the facts of now. She was only figments of my imagination anymore. She wasn't coming back, she didn't exist at all. She was nothing. She didn't live on inside my head. She only existed when I allowed myself to think about her. Even then she wasn't real, she was a character that I could twist and contort into anything I wanted her to be. Nothing more complex than a memory. I neared towards the stables just as snow was beginning to seep its way into my riding boots.
It was warmer on this side of Castle Town. The large stone walls protected against the rippling gusts of wind and the massive snow drifts. I heard the faint snorts and clops of horses as I approached the stable entries. The wooden gate swung open with ease and the strong smell of horse manure and damp straw wafted towards my noses. The alcohol in my stomach lurched as the strong musky scent penetrated my nostrils. My senses were instantly cleared as I swallowed the lump in my throat dryly.
Epona was exactly where I had left her, her neck craned downwards as she slurped and drank from her trough. Her ears twitched as she heard my footsteps and she whinnied 'hello'. From inside my coat I pulled out the riding gloves and slipped them over my frozen fingers. Epona stomped her front hooves playfully, eager for another romp through Hyrule field.
The ride to Kakariko was as uneventful as planned. I was hoping to get this over as quickly as possible. Epona and I raced through the empty, silent fields in a brown and grey blur. The horizon glistened and sparkled as the light from the moon bounced off the pillowed snow banks. The dark black of the night and the white shine of the ground met at the edge of the earth and contrasted each other spectacularly. The yin and yang of all beings. Mortal life on earth and the unprecedented mystery of the heavens. Two sides of a very different coin. Stupid bullshit if you ask me…
It didn't occur to me until I reached Kakariko that maybe now was an inappropriate time to be calling on the shaman. The moon was leaning to the east skies and glowed brilliant amber yellow. It was nearing the middle night. I shook my head at my own stupidity as Epona's hooves clipped and clopped on the hard ground. In Kakariko, there wasn't nearly as much snow. Most of it had melted and turned to brown sludge that littered shadowed corners. The fresh crisp scent of Eldin's water and the earthy smell of the mountains cleared my senses as I breathed in the clean air with ease. The buzz from the alcohol had past about halfway through the journey. I wished I would have grabbed more before leaving, I felt queasy and heavy as my empty stomach gurgled in displeasure. I needed to start taking better care of myself.
I hopped off Epona and grabbed her by the reins as we neared the entrance of the gorge. The change of scenery brought an unmatched smile to my lips as distant geysers hissed in the distance. The town was quiet, except for the babble of the spring and the faint whistle of the wind that blew through the canyons. I released the mare and allowed her to free roam as I eyed the small hut that was Renado's.
I approached the door tentatively before rapping on the wood with bare knuckles. The sound resounded throughout the gorge and back to my ears in a ghostly whisper. No noise was heard from beyond the door. I rapped again with a harder force and the door jiggled from impact. Still nothing… I sighed heavily and wrapped my fingers around the doorknob before shoving my weight into the door, throwing it open.
The circular room was dark aside from a few melting candles. They burned dimly and cast an ominous yellow glow around the vicinity of the room. They were about a half inch tall, they had been burning for quite some time. The smell of burning sage and a strong tobacco clouded the room in a thick smoke. I coughed as I crossed through the curling wisps of smoke. The smoke dissipated and burrowed itself into my clothing. It rose up in puffs escaping into the cold night through a hole in the middle of the ceiling.
"Renado?" I whispered in a husky groveling tone. "Renado?" I pressed further into the house and strained my ears for any inkling of a sound. "Rena-" I nearly jumped a foot backwards when I felt a tiny tap on my left shoulder.
I spun around quickly to see a stern little girl. She pursed her lips and murmured "Sssshhhh…." Obviously annoyed by my sudden intrusion. I gave her my best apologetic look, it came out as more of a sneer but she didn't seem to be paying me much attention. She grabbed my wrist firmly and with her free hand she pointed at an intricately designed Owl Statue in the west end of the house.
Underneath the Owl Statue sat none other than Renado. His head hung low and his long black hair lay loosely against the small of his back. He sat cross-legged with his palms up to the heavens. His eyes were closed and relaxed in their sockets as he hummed monotonously to himself. His breathing came in steady, even tones that seemed to move the house. He was unfazed by my appearance as he kept his composure still and tranquil. His chest heaved in synchronization with his whispered hums.
"What is he doing?" I spoke softly to Luda. She had released her tiny grip from my wrists and stood beside me with eyes closed and palms up like her father. Her eye crept open slowly in irritation as she shot me a look of disapproval.
"Praying to the goddesses." Her tone was very matter-o-factly. "We are needing them at this time. NOW HUSH!" she put a finger to her lips and then continued to mirror her father's humble stance. Her breathing slowed and became one with her father's as I watched her face and jaw muscles relax. I rolled my eyes as I watched the two of them. I'm not a religious person, but this was their house. I closed my eyes in respect to Renado and felt my breathing becoming one with theirs. Without meaning to, I found myself becoming relaxed.
The breathing of the three of us buzzed and hummed throughout the small circular house as a serene sense of calm swept over. The beauty of meditation.
Just as I was beginning to feel a weight being lifted from my chest, Renado cleared his throat and broke the trance. I reopened my eyes to see him standing up from his kneeling position. He lifted his head towards the skies and muttered a silent prayer from underneath his breath. He drew an unknown symbol in the air with his index finger and thumb as he bowed his head respectfully. Luda snapped out of it herself and looked at me with a wary eye.
"Link…" Renado's voice rolled out strongly and broke the mystical silence like a hard ax. "I have been expecting your company. I dreamed that you would be coming soon." He smiled at me welcomingly as he picked up a tattered looking tea kettle.
"Luda, why don't you run to your room?" his question was more of a demand than a suggestion. Luda grimaced and her dark brown eyes glowered as she begrudgingly left the room. Her footsteps lingered as they trudged down the narrow hallway and then faded completely.
"You've been…expecting me?" I stammered as Renado poured two cups of steaming hot tea. He nodded grimly and handed me the piping hot glass. I took it gratefully and sipped the strong herbal concoction. The liquid warmed the back of my throat and heated my bones. The cold from the outside was slowly dulled out until it disappeared completely.
"Yes I had a dream." Renado's voice was almost playful as he ushered me to take a seat. I obliged happily, letting my weary muscles sink into the weight of the chair as I kicked my feet out and stretched my limbs.
"Were you praying for me to come?" I jested and an uncomfortable silence filled the room. Renado acted like he didn't hear my smartass remark and ignored me tastefully. I sipped at my tea uncomfortably as I waited for him to speak.
"I pray for the lives of the Gorons young Link." Renado retorted calmly as he took a seat next to mine. I placed my tea on the small oak table and looked at him with utmost confusion.
"The Gorons? Why?"
"I sense an evil coming from the Mountains. They are feeling it too. They will no longer make human contact." Renado paused and seemed to muse over his statement. I could see the cogs in his mind turning as he struggled with something to say. He shook his head at an internal thought before turning his attention back on to me.
"That is for another time to discuss, friend." He chuffed as if making a joke and his brow furrowed. "I assume you have a reason for visiting so late in night?" he queried as he stood and walked over towards the open window. A wind blew in from outside and ruffled his long black hair giving him an ominous appearance.
"Aye." I said softly as I watched him move about with an undiluted grace. I was somewhat envious of his calm and collect composure. "The princess is asking for your assistance."
Renado stood frozen upon hearing 'princess'. He spun about slowly and looked at me quizzically. "Zelda is calling for me?" he said skipping the royal formalities. I nodded and gulped down the last few drops of tea before letting it clunk on the table.
"W-when are we expected to leave?" he asked hesitatingly as leaned against the adobe colored walls.
"Tonight if you see fit. It involves the King." I used the last part as bait. I knew Renado had never even come close to meeting a man of the King's stature. He scratched his head and turned to the direction of his daughter's bedroom.
"Will they have room for a child?" Renado asked cautiously.
"She can come. The castle has many rooms. She will be welcomed without question." I assured him."
Renado's face brightened quickly. "Good, then I will fetch my things. I have been meaning to have a word with the princess anyway. Something about the Gorons is attracting my attention. I'm sure it is something to not be ignored. Link. Why don't you try talking with them? They seem to have taken a liking to you. Perhaps you will try and speak with them after the business at the Castle is settled."
"You know I'm always willing to help a friend." I said confidently. It was true I wouldn't mind helping the old shaman, but the sound of an adventure was what was really enticing me. Luda came running out of her bedroom with a bag already packed full of clothing and trinkets to bring to the castle.
"And what is this for?" Renado scolded his daughter. She looked ashamed and lowered her head.
"I was eavesdropping again…"
"Well I'll forgive it this time. I have no time to scold you. Go load up our horse and I'll meet you and Link outside." Renado instructed as he blew out the remaining candles on the window pane.