"The night is darkening round me,
The wild winds coldly blow;
But a tyrant spell has bound me
And I cannot, cannot go.

[…]

Clouds beyond clouds above me,
Wastes beyond wastes below;
But nothing drear can move me;
I will not, cannot go."

-Spellbound, Emily Brontë-

Shards Of Time

An Ocarina of Time FanFiction

Chapter 10: Princess

"Ciren... are you sure that this is a good idea?" Link asks hesitantly from behind me. I grab onto the set of vines against the tall wall before me, giving a grunt in response as I begin clambering up the vines. "What if we get caught? We could get in loads of trouble and I won't even be able to give the Kokiri Emerald to the Princess of—"

"Link, for the sake of Din will you be quiet for two minutes. We really are going to get caught if you keep talking." I hiss back, keeping my tone soft so he knows that I don't meant to be properly angry with him. I push myself up to the very top of the wall and pull him up the rest of the way, getting a great view of the Palace from here. The sun is setting now, and I decided that we should get this Stone to the Princess before the sun went down now that I felt better.

Even if me telling Link I was okay was a complete and utter lie...

Why would I be all right, exactly, if I had just seen my best friend underneath the leader that I once looked up to who is now is now a very questionable man? It's not like I can change at the drop of the hat, and not Link's either. I think Link had (and still does, I suppose) the joy of having a childhood that most would think is normal, which is far from how I was bought up. He believes that even with our different races I am the same as he, when it is far from the truth.

Nonetheless, the less he knows is the better. I take a seat on the grass and gesture from him to do so as well. "Look, the girls from my home who come back have normally gone to the Court here – the place where all of the Nobles and what not go to find their "soul mate". Anyway, I've heard that the Palace isn't open to civilians – obviously – and closes at sundown." I gesture to the sun and then at us. "Saying that we want to see the Princess will only put us back at square one, and I don't want to go there."

He watches me for a while, trying to get his head around the idea of "Courtly love", only to shake his head soon after beginning the thought and getting onto his feet. "Come on..." He sighs. "I think I'm going to be the one to stop you from doing all of this stuff on a regular basis, but this time only is the time where we actually need to get into the Palace."

I smirk wolfishly at him as I get to my feet, despite him holding a hand out to me, dusting myself off as I eye the guards ahead. I can't play the "I got lost in Castletown and need to find my King" card, as just about every Gerudo in existence who has come into Castletown has played that card – and they'll know that I am lying.

We creep down the cliff-like wall and down a set of other vines back onto the ground behind the gate that once blocked us. I resist the urge to pull a face at the guard with their back to me. I guess not all of the "normal" childhood traits are gone from my system... "Come on." I whisper to him, dragging him behind a nearby tree as a guard moves past us.

All of the sneaking around Nisah and I used to do is all worth it now.

The guards are mainly dotted are the pathway leading up the gates and drawbridge of the Castle, so the grassy part in between is relatively empty. Still, I make sure that we keep away from the intended pathway as while Link blends in a little, I stick out like a sore thumb. We creep across as slowly as possible, leaping behind the trees when a guard hears a twig snapping.

Obviously it's Link who steps in all of the wrong places. Not Gerudo trained whatsoever...

By the time that we reach the gates before the entrance to the Castle, I huff quietly when I see no way onward except into the eyes of the guards. "Goddesses, why have you chosen now to screw this up for us?" I question the air frantically, resting my back up against a nearby wall. Link ignores me.

"Ciren, there's something over here."

I don't bother looking. "Navi, this place is gonna be guarded like Hell. There's not going to be any chinks in this armour."

"Ciren..." Link joins in, moving away from me and off in Navi's direction. "Navi's right. There's something over there." You too? I sigh and place my foot against the wall, pushing myself away from it and re-joining them. I open my mouth to comment on how they are merely staring at a wall... but I soon realise that there is a thick set of overgrowing vines crossing over the wall.

My eyes watch the path that is created by these. They lead up onto the top of the wall and-over that blasted gate and those irritating guards.

Well, it seems that there is a chink in this armour...

Hylians... ugh.

I smile and clamber up the vines, helping Link up after Navi hides back in his hat. We leap over the edge of the wall and land harshly against the ground (well I land perfectly fine, it's just Link who has the problem with jumping from high-ish ledges), sneaking around the back of the guards before they can spot us. I breathe a sigh of relief when we pass them, moving around the edge of the Palace now that the drawbridge is shut.

As soon as we get out of the view of the guards, I follow the moat until it goes into a black grate; noticing that there is a door ahead of us. Holding a finger up to Link, I hold my ear against the door. There aren't any footsteps coming from inside, or any other sounds to be quite honest. Nodding to myself, I slowly push open the door and head inside.

A small corridor, lined with grey stones and large windows, leads straight into a large open area filled with hedges and greenery that I don't see often in the Valley – the only greenery I ever saw was Leevers... and they weren't all that nice. I drag my hand along the growing plants, taking in each of their scents and filling my nostrils with life.

"You don't know what it's like do you? To have so many plants in one place?" I shake my head at Link's comment, not looking away as I take a flower into my hand. It's to delicate for the Gerudo... "I'm used to it, what with being in a Forest for my entire life and all." I smile as I get back onto my and notice something ahead of us.

Walking through what seems to be the Palace Gardens is a young girl, her hair covered completely by white and pink coloured cloth; a few spots of bright blonde hair showing where the cloth cannot hide. He dress is of the same to colours, a dark blue under-shirt underneath the dress to cover her arms as well. Her white dress flows elegantly to the grass below her feet, her light pink shoes sticking out as she walks with a tight posture.

I bet you that she doesn't know how to slouch...

She takes a bright blue flower into her hand and looks up at the statue ahead of her, most of it covered by a wall to me. When her eyes move this way, they see Link and then lock onto me. She probably has had very little contact with the Gerudo race, no doubt, and has grown up with the stereotypes about our race in—

"Halt! You are trespassing on the Palace grounds!" I snap my head away from her as Link grabs my arm, my eyes noting a group of three guards rushing towards us. I roll my eyes a little as I stare them down. "You must leave immediately, otherwise you will sleep in the dungeons for—why is a Gerudo scum-bag like you here? And with a sliver of grass as well, no doubt!"

The other guards laugh at the first guard's comment, and I open my mouth to comment when I hear a rather feminine voice shout from behind: "How dare you treat these two with such disrespect?!" The guards all turn with a gasp as the girl from earlier walks quickly over to us, her hands still clasped in front of her body. "The Gerudo are honoured guests, and any partners that they wish to bring with them into the Palace. Silence your tongues!"

"W-We apologise, Your Grace." The guards whisper in unison, their tongues giving off their guilt as they speak and avoid "Her Grace's" eyes. Of course these guards are so easily manipulated. Like puppets, I suppose. They move away from us both without so much as a glance towards Link or myself, and I am glad of it honestly.

The setting sun reflects of her eyes as she extends a hand towards me, very against what she must have been taught – from the glint of rebellion in her eyes – which I shake as delicately as I can. "I must apologise for their foul behaviour, dear Red." Clearly educated as well, I guess. "And to you, young man. Before we properly introduce ourselves, however, let us speak in a much more quiet place where none shall disturb us."

She turns away from us, her dress spinning around much slower behind her and adding to her elegance. She begins walking forwards, but Link and I cannot help but fall behind her; as the power she gives off is something that I cannot stand up to in Hylian territory. "Who is this girl?" I whisper, hoping that he would know, feeling rather dumb when I realise. "She's the Princess of Hyrule..."

I may not have been into Hyrule properly before, but I certainly know who the King's daughter – King Daphnes III – is. She soon leads us into a quiet Courtyard at the end of the Palace Gardens, a place filled with flowers bursting from the walls and grass in the centre of the Courtyard, a small body of water sitting contently around the grass part of the Courtyard.

She walks very elegantly towards the small set of steps ahead, where she sits down on them in front of a window. "Please, sit." Link and I do so on the grass. "I know that it must seem strange that I did not let you go straight away, but I must inquire about a particular subject."

"Anything, Your Grace." I say quietly, following the etiquette even if it does not fully apply to myself.

"I am Zelda, Princess of Hyrule." She introduces. "But it seems that you all ready knew that, am I not correct?" I nod, but Link is silent. "Much like my Mother, I have been having dreams in dire times – much like the ones she had before the tragic Civil War had broken out. My dreams have been telling me that a boy from the Forest would appear in my time of need, followed by a Guardian Fairy, holding a green and shining Stone. My dreams have also said that danger would arise from the Valley west, but a saviour would also appear from there as well."

I look over to Link, who does not know how to act in this situation. I think that he kind of understands that the Princess is much higher up in society, but not what etiquette comes along with it. Nonetheless, he pulls off his hat to reveal a sleeping Navi (of all times that she could have slept...) and the Kokiri Emerald from his bag; passing it to the Princess.

"So the legends are about to come true..." She muses quietly, though I do manage to hear it. "May I ask of your names, please?" However, before I can ask more about what on earth she is talking about, a voice suddenly cuts into the Courtyard; startling us all.

"Princess Zelda..." A deep, very familiar voice, says loudly; his booming voice going against the etiquette, as one should never address royalty with their name in Hylian etiquette. We all turn and my blood goes cold as my eyes lock onto Ganondorf himself, who hasn't noticed me yet. "I have just met with your Father and decided to meet with yourself."

The Princess rushes onto her feet, her face stern once more as she goes against the etiquette just like he had done. "Ganondorf, entering my Courtyard without permission is an insult. You are here as our honoured guest, but you are not allowed to go into areas forbidden to yourself." For a Hylian Princess, she sure has a lot of irritation towards the King...

He bows his head, placing his fist over his heart. "My apologies... may I—" His golden eyes lock onto myself, much like the Princess had done in the Palace Gardens. "Is there a chance that I may be able to take my follower out of this conversation for just a minute?" Both the Princess and Link pass me a concerned look, but I shake my head and get onto my feet; finding myself startled when he grabs my arm and pulls me out of the Courtyard and against the nearest wall out of their sights.

"What the Hell have you done to my Sisters?!" I hiss. "The only reason that I have left is because of whatever you did to them!" I shouldn't make accusations so quickly, honestly, but after what we saw in the Spirit Temple...

He snarls at me and pushes me further against the wall, his fingers locked around my throat – but not so much that I lose oxygen. "A Gerudo who isn't loyal to her King is nothing but a traitor, Ciren, and should be executed on sight." He looks away for a moment, scowling. "But being in such a public place... we are going to have to settle this when we are out of Castle Town."

"But you—"

His grip around my throat tightens dramatically. "Be aware of your surroundings when outside of the Hylian territory, Ciren, as keeping an eye open when you sleep may just save your life right now. Maybe I'll kill that boy first, though. It might just put things into perspective for—" A guard is coming our way, and he unlocks his iron grip automatically. "So stay out of places where you must not enter, am I understood?"

Forced to play along, I nod and the guard carries on with his business. Ganondorf walks the other way, and I rush back into the Courtyard – where Link and the Princess are conversing in low tones, their eyes snapping up when they see me. "Ciren!" Link calls. "Are you all right?"

I smirk. "Nope, I'm half left as well." He smiles back at me and I dump myself onto the grass, ignoring the concerned looks towards my neck. "So what were you talking about while I was gone?" The Princess gives we a soft smile as she gestures back towards the entrance to the Courtyard.

"That was Ganondorf, the King of the Gerudo, as you know already."Although he swears his alligence to my Father, I know that he is not sincere. I know that he is the danger that lurks from the Desert, and we must stop him before he gets what he desires." I raise my eyebrow at her, not fully understanding.

"The Triforce was left at the point where the Goddesses left this land, which we call the Sacred Realm currently. There is a physical way to get into the Sacred Realm to get the Triforce, and is the main reason why most Wars have raged across our land. By gathering the three Spiritual Stones, this Stone being one of them—" She holds up the Kokiri Emerald. "—you may enter the Sacred Realm from the Temple of Time in Castle Town."

I raise my eyebrow again. "There has to be another thing, otherwise it would be open to everyone."

The Princess pulls out an ocarina with a spark of golden magic. The ocarina is dark blue, and has a Triforce emblem near the top of the instrument. "This is the Ocarina of Time, a magical instrument passed down through the Royal Family. One who holds the three Spiritual Stones and plays a specific song in front of the alter in the Temple of Time will gain access to the Sacred Realm, but no one knows of the Ocarina outside of my family."

"So we need to stop Ganondorf from getting the Stones and the Ocarina?" Link asks finally, making the Princess nod. "Where are the other two Stones?"

"They belong to two other races in Hyrule: the Gorons and the Zoras." She pauses. "I have heard of disturbances in both of these places, and other evidence seems to point to Ganondorf being the cause of the outset of the chaos." She hugs the Ocarina close to her body. "But I do not know of how to stop Ganondorf from getting the Stones, as I can protect the Ocarina of Time."

My eyes widen when I hear Link's voice say something absolutely insane. "Then why don't we get the other two Stones?"

"Link, I'm the one to have crazy ideas, not you!" I exclaim, even though I do admire his courage.

He shakes his head. "No. I do have logic in this." He pauses. "If we get the other two Stones, then Ganondorf cannot get them from the other races - and therefore can't get the Ocarina or entrance to the Sacred Realm." I look down at the grass before me, resisting the urge to pluck it from the ground. "See, I do have some method to my plans..."

"That's incredible!" The Princess cries out, making us both look at her. "I shall protect the Ocarina of Time with all of my power. He shall not have it! And then we can get the Triforce before Ganondorf does and defeat him!"

My eyes widen even me. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. If we keep the keys to the Sacred Realm away from him, then why do we need to use the Triforce?"

"To protect the land of the Goddesses!" She retorts, then pulls back. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to burst out like that. We can figure out what to do when we get all of the keys to the Triforce together, all right?" I sigh and nod, not quite sure about what all of this quest will entail. I look over at Link, who looks like he believes her. "You may stay here tonight if you would like, or I could get an escort to Kakariko Village if you are more comfortable?"

I hold my hands up. "It's fine. I heard things from my Sisters about Kakariko Village and where it is. And I don't think that staying here or having an escort will help our cases of being trespassers..." She nods and clasps our hands tightly, giving us one last look of encouragement as we leave - holding the Kokiri Emerald and Ocarina of Time close to her chest.

On the way out, I can't help but ask Link: "Why do you believe her so easily?"

"I-I don't know... something is telling me that she speaks the truth, and I wouldn't go against the Great Deku Tree's words." I shut up as soon as he mentions the Great Deku Tree, knowing that it must still be difficult for him. "But I guess being outside of the Forest for so long proves Mido right: I was never a real Kokiri."

I stop him with a hand on his shoulder, making him turn and avoid my eyes. "Who cares about what that kid says? You're alive, so it doesn't matter who or what you are: as long as you have the will to carry on." I pause and drop my tone. "The will I'm losing after seeing what the King did to my Sisters..."

Link has no response, and I am glad that he keeps quiet for once.