Chapter 9: A Good Squire Needs a Good Knight

A week after I had returned from the Forest Temple, I had been called into the throne room. The King, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, had requested audience with me. I walked the now familiar path to the throne room, eyeing the awkward paintings of a strange turtle-like creature with spikes on its back, as well as a strange looking man, girl, and a dinosaur with an egg in its hand. I hoped to Din that the King wasn't going to talk about how close I was to Zelda…

The regal doors of the throne room opened wide to let me in. I made my way down the blue and gold carpet, looking at the two large, intimidating chairs, as well as the smaller chair which now sat between them. The middle chair was obviously for Zelda's use, as she was Crowned Princess of all Hyrule, and the only heir to the throne.

Zelda waved at me as I walked up to the altar upon which sat the King. I smiled weakly at Zelda and bent down on one knee, as I was in the presence of His Royal Highness.

"M'lord, you summoned me?" I asked.

"Yes, child." King Hyrule stated. "I have noticed that the knight to which your services were entrusted, Sir Gauron, has passed away."

"Yes, indeed, m'lord." I replied. "I regret to admit that Sir Gauron has died."

"As I thought…" the royal continued. "So, I have arranged for a new knight to teach you. I believe that he will be a great asset to your ascension into knighthood, as he bacame my newest knight and most trusted advisor in as short a time as two years."

I nodded in agreement. "I will agree with whatever you decree, m'lord. I am here to serve."

"Very well…" the King of Hyrule motioned for a man to come forward. "This man will be your new supervising knight. You may now step forward, Sir Ganondorf."

I froze. As he said the name that made me tremble in sheer terror, a man stepped forward. His dark skin showed that he was obviously of the Gerudo people, of which there were few males. He donned pure black armor, with gold trimmings, and had a short grey cape hanging from his back. On his left leg, he bore a single dagger, which would obviously be all that the giant of a man would need in a fight. As I looked higher, I saw he had hair as red as the fire he would have left in his wake, had he been wearing his jewel, which would have given him devistating power. He had a rather large nose, and a smile that looked utterly wicked. I knew this man well, better than one would think, and I sorely detested the idea of him becoming my mentor. But, alas, I had already agreed with it before seeing him.

"Hello, Link, I am Ganondorf, Knight of Hyrule and advisor to King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule." the man said. I looked up at him in utter fear. Although I was the bearer of the Triforce of Courage, the man was still a giant compared to my small, twelve year-old frame. He reached out his hand, ready to take mine. "I may not be as talented as Sir Gauron, but I will try to be the best mentor I can to you…"

"I look forward to it." I replied, lying through my teeth. Sometimes fate can be as cruel as this very man! How could anyone possibly think Ganondorf, the very man who killed Gauron, could ever be a good mentor!

I looked at the face of my beloved Princess, Zelda, and saw the shock in her eyes. She, too, knew the name Ganon well. She looked at me with concern, and I was sure she would be with me tonight, speaking of what had transpired on this day.

And, as fate would have it, I was right. I heard a loud banging at my door a mere two hours after the announcement, and opened the door to find Zelda gasping for breath.

"Are you all right?" I asked, not sure if she was aware that she had obviously ran from wherever she was to my room. I offered a chair. "Here, sit down."

"I'm sorry, Link…" Zelda started. "I didn't know Ganondorf had become a full-fledged knight… In fact… When you suddenly showed up before your trip to Termina, he had suddenly dissapeared, and the evil that I felt around all who were near him beforehand was gone…"

"It's okay… It's not your fault." I replied. "Did he feel evil today?"

Zelda sighed. "No, he didn't. He was either hiding it, or not the same man."

"Well…" I started. "I doubt that there is any other man who looks quite like Ganondorf."

I sat on my bed with a sigh, thinking. What could Ganondorf possibly want now? The Door of Time is closed forever! What more does that man have to gain here? Zelda seemed to notice my sighs, as she had taken my hand. This was going to be a long experience.

"Well," I began. "I know this is going to be a very trying experience…"

"Yes," Zelda replied. "It is…"

"But I can deal with it…" I stated.

"How?" the Princess asked.

"Because you're with me…" With that, Zelda sat on the bed next to me, and placed her head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for a few hours…