Chapter 15: Three Years Left…

We waited… It felt like hours. Zelda sat on the step of the Great Fairy's Fountain, while Ganondorf leaned against the wall. I paced back and forth, knowing full well that it never takes a Great Fairy this long to cure someone, and that meant it had to be bad.

Upon my hundredth lap in my frantic pacing, we all heard a vary familiar laugh, as the Great Fairy of Magic sprang up from the Fountain. The King of Hyrule stood under her, like nothing had ever happened.

I looked over at Zelda, to see her eyes soaked with tears. "DADDY!" she screamed. The Princess ran over to the large man in red and wrapped her arms around him in a huge hug. "Are you all right?"

The Great Fairy looked down at the Royals. "I have done all I can… His physical wounds are cured…"

I looked at the Great Fairy, confused. "What do you mean by 'his physical wounds'?" The Great Fairy looked at me and sighed.

"There was more to that cut than a mere breaking of flesh…" she started. "Whoever hit him knew that I was here, and placed a strange curse in him, as well…" She turned her head to face King Daphnes. "I'm sorry, my leige, but your time in this world has been cut short."

The King looked at Zelda, then directed his gaze at the Great Fairy, Ganondorf, and finally myself, before glancing upwards once more. "How much time do I have left?" He asked.

"Three years… I tried my best, but all I could give you was three years…" The Great fairy said, bowing her head. With that, she dissapeared once again into her Fountain. Zelda looked at me with a shocked look on her face.

"Very well, then…" The King stated. "Three years it is… Link…"

"Yes, m'lord?" I replied.

"I have made a change in plans… You are to be knighted tomorrow morning. In honor of what you have done for me, and for my daughter." The King said this, and began walking towards the exit, making his way towards the castle.

I looked upon the father of my beloved, thinking to myself. I didn't do this to be knighted… I only did it because you are important to all of us, sir. I took Zelda by the hand, and we walked back to Hyrule Castle in silence…

…

The sun was rising, and I was tired… Immediately, a bright light shined in my slowly opening eyes. It was morning… The morning after the rather devistating news. I eventually sat up, and got out of bed.

"Link!" Ganondorf called, meeting me on my way to breakfast. "I must remind you, that we have an appointment in the throne room after breakfast." I looked at the Gerudo questioningly. Everything that had happened that previous night had occurred extremely quickly, and I barely had time to register it all in the time given, so I was a little shaky when remembering everything.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Ganondorf simply looked me in the eyes.

"You're being KNIGHTED, Sir Link." He stated, quite bluntly.

I remembered what King Daphnes had said, and it finally clicked. Zantauri had shown up… He was insane, and tried to kill the king of Hyrule… He nearly succeeded, but the Great Fairy was able to save him… somewhat. We proceeded to eat our breakfast in relative peace.

Ganondorf looked up at me from his place at the table. "Two years…" He started. "It's been two years since I became your mentor… To believe that we will be equals in mere moments…"

I smiled. "Yes… Thank you for training me as well as you did." I said. I had grown to respect Ganondorf as someone I could trust. He was, after all, not the same man that I had once defeated in a time that only I could remember.

"You know… Gauron would be proud to see you on this day…" Ganondorf implied. "I had great respect for that man, and I believe he loved you like a son."

I looked at Ganondorf… He was right… And I sincerely wished Gauron had been with us. "I… He was like a father to me…" I explained. "I never really had a real father… All I had before him was the Great Deku Tree, but he was more of a guardian… Gauron…" I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. Gauron was truly a great man, and I didn't deserve him.

We approached the throne room a few minutes later. Soon after the large doors opened, a large cheer sounded. I looked around to find a great many of the inhabitants of Hyrule filling up the large room. The Hylians were standing in the front row, on either side of the path I was walking on, while the Gorons sat behind them, jumping around and causing the ground to shake with their landing. I looked at the Gorons and noticed that Darunia was significantly absent… This sent a sharp pain into my heart. Darunia, the Sage of Fire, was still frozen with the Death Mountain Crater. Across from the Gorons, sat the Zoras, all clapping fiercely. Queen Ruto stood near the edge of the area, standing the large tub of water set aside for the Zora audience, smiling. As I passed her, she reached forward and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. I turned to look back at her and smiled, as she waved playfully at me. In front of me stood the King and Princess of Hyrule. Ganondorf had taken a seat among the Hylian crowd.

"Link." The King said. As he spoke, the audience fell silent. "It is great joy that I bring you before me on this day." I looked at the King to see that he had replaced his red tunic with an elegant blue one, with extravagant gold trimming lining the sleeves and bottom. His robe was gone, as it was a hot day, and he wore a beautiful jewel-encrested sword at his side. "Please, kneel."

I complied silently, falling to one knee and placing my right hand over my heart. The King continued, drawing his blade. "Do you solemnly swear to uphold the laws of our beautiful land of Hyrule?"

"I do."

"And do swear to protect its citezenry as if they were your own offspring?"

"I do."

The King placed the flat of his sword upon the top of my head, "Then for the Goddesses Din," then placing the blade upon my right shoulder, "Nayru," once again, placing the blade on my left shoulder, "and Farore, I give you the right to bear arms in the name of all that is good and just in Hyrule. Rise, Sir Link, Knight, and friend to all."

I rose slowly, with the crowd cheering madly. Zelda, in her traditional pink dress, ran up to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Congradulations, Hero, you did it!"

I looked over to King Daphnes, and saw him nod. He knew. I then proceeded to take Zelda and bring her down as low to the ground as I could. She turned bright red as I placed my lips upon hers… It was a good day for all, but the hard times were just beginning…