There was silence. Silver, Link and Epona lay in a heap. The movement of their breathing barely even visible. A thick layer of dust lay on their bodies. The world itself seemed to have fallen in a deep slumber. Entire herds of horses and flocks of birds lay in the middle of a Hyrule field, coated in dust. Even the grass was dormant, turned grey by the ravages of time. The recapturing of Hyrule Castle was paused, the final push by the Resistance put on hold. Soldiers slumped, sleeping against the walls and the air itself was still, as if slumbering.

A lone figure moved through this sleeping world. Her eyes were bloodshot, and dark half-moons hung beneath her eyes. Her skin was pallid, as if it had not seen the sun for many a year. Her ink-stained fingers were rickety and cracked, severely overused, still gripped an empty pen as if unable to let go. Bits of paper stuck out from her hair and a battered flashcard drooped out of her pocket. There was a deep tiredness in the figure's eyes, as if she desired nothing more in this universe but to join the kingdom in deep slumber. Yet she did not break step, heading straight towards the intrepid trio around which the story had unfolded.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." The figure said, her cracked lips almost audible through the still and silent realm.

With a crack the empty pen dropped from her hand, and pulling out a beaten old pocket watch, she began to wind it up. With every turn, the world stirred. With each click of cogs, something stirred. The watch wound, there was nothing more to do but wait. With a tired smile, the figure placed the pocket watch into the dusty hands of Link, before disintegrating and becoming the first gust of wind. Now the wind swept of over the realm, and where its wings touched, life began to awaken. The fast paced chirrup as it rattled the twigs on the trees the first noise to break the eternal silence. Time was beginning to move again, slow at first but growing stronger and faster like a young bird as it begins to fly.

Link's eyes slowly opened. His lashes were thick with dust, making his eyes water. Stiffly, he sat up, sending a shower of dust onto the grass. Lifting his arms up, he yawned, stretching his muscles for the first time since the world had ceased to move. There was something unfamiliar in his hands. Looking down, he saw the battered old silver pocket watch, the window to see the hands dusty and faded. Turning it over, he smiled, for on the back was engraved a single robin.

It had begun.

Chapter 18

Serenade of the Soul

Epona stood on one of the small islands dotting Lake Hylia. Zelda had taken her tack off, it needed a good cleaning. It was a warm day so preferring to feel the wind on her coat, she had opted against having a blanket over her back. The grass was lush here, fed by the rich waters of the lake.

The day was calm. Warm sunlight fell upon the valley, gilding everything gold. A cooling breeze drifted from Snow Peak, rustling the grass. Kelpies, white as snow grazed on the islands, their coat's as pure as clear ice. They grazed in small herds. Young foals wobbled around on spindly legs, nosing their mother's flanks insistently.

Ducks sat on the surface of the lake, diving down to the shallower parts to eat the weed and algae that grew at the bottom of the lake. Golden dragonflies darted across the surface of the lake, avoiding the talons of the hawks that swooped down to brush the water with their feathers.

The lilies were blooming, their white and yellow blossoms filling the air with the delicate scent of summer. It was one of those deceiving warm days of late winter, when spring was beginning to creep back from the beneath the blanket of frost. There had been no snow that winter, the storms to the west holding back the blizzards that should've come. As such, many of the birds had stayed to weather the winter. Many already were beginning to make their nests for the spring.

Epona's ears flicked back and forth, listening to the soft lapping of the water and the chirping of the water birds as they sung for spring's return.

In the distance, a cry began to build. Epona lifted her head, head tilted up to look at the sky. A tiny speck in a cloudless sky could just be seen in the glare of the sun. The cry became louder, capturing the attention of the other animals around the lake.

The voice built to a crescendo before ending abruptly with a splash. A fountain of water shot into the sky like a hand grasping for the sun.

"Looks like Link and Silver are back."

Zelda said, walking over to join the mare. She held a thin blue book in one hand. Rather than wearing her royal white and purple gown she instead wore a simple pale blue dress with white sleeves and ribbon. Her auburm hair hung loosely around her shoulders.

"How do you think it went?" Epona asked.

"They're alive…which is a start." Zelda said.

"Set your expectations low and you'll never be disappointed." Epona said an ear angled towards the princess.

In the middle of the lake, a head bobbed up, then another. The green one began to front crawl across the lake towards them. Behind him, the white one began to doggy paddle after him.

The two waited for the Link and Silver to swim over, for of course it was they who had splashed into the lake.

"How'd it go?" Zelda asked as Link hauled himself out of the water.

"Not half bad actually." Silver replied, jumping up on the bank.

"And Fi?"

The master sword flashed blue and Fi appeared in front of Zelda.

"I am here Mistress Zelda."

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I am functioning correctly."

Epona eyed Silver. She looked a little shaken. When she had spoken, her voice had a slightly wooden quality. The mare made a mental note to question the wolfos.

"We know who the sage is!" Silver said, before shaking herself, sending droplets of water in all directions.

"Lana right?" Zelda said, wiping droplets of water off the book she held.

"How did you know?" Silver asked.

"I did my homework, what about the two of you?" She replied, indicating the book she held.

"Link worked it out on our way back."

"Nice to see you using your noodle instead of your fist for once." Epona said.

Link narrowed his eyes at her.

"Shall we deliver the good news?" Zelda said.

"What? Oh you're highness, you brought…friends…" Lana growled when they entered the throne room. She eyed Link and Silver disdainfully. Link poked his tongue out back.

"Behave!" Epona scolded, nipping him on the arm.

"We have good news and bad news." Silver said cheerfully.

"Spit it out, I have places to be." Lana snapped at her.

"You're still as touchy as ever." Silver remarked.

"Just say what you have to say."

"The good news is we found the water sage." Zelda explained.

"At long last."

"The bad news is it's you." Silver said.

"There were subtler ways of saying that…" Zelda muttered.

Lana herself looked like someone had pressed the mute button. Her mouth was moving but nothing was coming out.

"I think she's going to faint." Epona said.

Lana's breathing became rapid and her eyes rolled up in her head.

"Link." The mare snapped.

He ran forward as the zora crumpled. He managed to grab her before her head hit the ground, and she slumped over him like a dead weight. The strong smell of fish swamped his nostrils and the boy wrinkled his nose, holding her away from him.

"Reckon we should help him?" Silver asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Nah." Epona replied, flicking her mane as she chuckled.

Link's knees shook as she struggled to support Lana. A few zora guards jogged over and lifted her off him, laying her gently on the ground.

"Oh, you're back." Ruto said, appearing beside Link. "I take it you told her."

"You knew?" Zelda asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Well…I had my suspicions…" the ghost replied, sapphire eyes glittering impishly.

"But you thought it better not to enlighten us."

"I take it that it won't help my defence if I said I found it amusing." Ruto's gaze flickered across the group's faces. "Apparently so."

Link growled to himself, as he rummaged in his belt pouch, withdrawing a single leaf. Slitting the middle with his nail, so that a clear sap welled up, he held it under her nose. Behind him, Silver let out a small cough as the smell hit her. Lana groaned and pushed the leaf away, her eyes blinking in the relatively bright light of the throne room. She scowled when she saw Link.

"What are you looking at?" she growled, shoving him aside as she sat up.

Link sat back on his haunches as Lana sat up. With one hand, she proper herself up, with the other she rubbed her temples.

"I'm the sage aren't I?" She said, looking at Link.

He nodded somewhat grimly.

"You know don't you? About my mother?"

Link looked up at Zelda.

"We know the fundamentals, but we'd like to hear the whole story from you."

Lana nodded.

"Where's Ralis? He should hear this too, it concerns him."

"I'll fetch him." Silver said, turning on her heel and padding out of the throne room.

"We should go somewhere quieter." Epona told them, gesturing with her head to the surrounding soldiers.

"I know of a place." Lana got unsteadily to her feet, as Link moved to help her she snapped at him. "I don't need your help."

The zora led them to one of the adjourning chambers. They walked along the circular corridors that was set into the walls of the lake. They walked in silence, giving Link the opportunity to admire the scenery. The fence to his right that overlooked the lake below was made of the same strange shimmering marine blue stone he'd seen in the temple. The ceiling masked his view of the sky above, but he could see the sunlight pouring in onto the lake below. He could see the lilies carpeting the lake surface like the last patches of snow in the beginning of spring. The islands were dotted with snowdrops and crocuses. The surface of the lake glittered as if it were made of solid diamond. The shapes of kelpies and zoras could be seen moving beneath the surface of the lake.

Turning his gaze on the walls, he saw that instead of them being made of a single shade of rock, they were made of swirling layers of different colours. The dark black tones stood out starkly against the backdrop of white rock. The sunlight set the minerals in the rock aglow, giving the walls the appearance of a glittering mosaic. The different layers seemed to shift and dance before his eyes, merging into the forms of the twisting shapes of monsters and fantastic creatures who belonged only in a book of fairytales. The red loams of iron ore seemed to shift into the forms of great burning phoenixes, the black rock twisting into the shape of a huge scorpion, the grey-green rock curling into the serpentine structure of a three headed snake-like creature. Link shook his head to dispel the gruesome images and quickened his pace to catch up with the others.

Lana eventually stopped outside a door similar to those in the lakebed temple.

"No-one will disturb us here." She said, pushing open the door.

The room was lit by the same algae as in the living quarters, bathing the room in a shimmering green glow. The room was unfurnished, save for a small shrine on the back wall. The statue of a family stood, resplendent in royal gowns amidst a sea of little algae lanterns. Shells of every hue decorated the statue, giving it colour and sense of life. It depicted a couple, one a lithe zora with a seaweed laurel had his arm around a another more slender zora with long coral-like fins on her head. In her arms lay a zora child, and another child stood between the couple, smiling happily. It was a happy scene, yet it still carried a feeling of sadness.

"Your family?" Zelda asked.

Lana nodded.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Lana called.

Silver poked her head around the door.

"Found him."

Slipping in, she padded over and sat down at Link's heels. Ralis followed her into the room.

"What's going on?"

"I think you ought to take a seat." Zelda said, gesturing to the stones that were placed around the room.

Ralis took a seat, as did the other humans present. Silver jumped up onto the rock beside Link, and laid her head on her paws. With one hand, Link stroked her head.

"Queen Rutela and King Zoreel van Agua had two children, not one."

Ralis made to protest but Zelda held a hand up to silence him.

"It is not in the records. Something happened did it not?"

Lana nodded.

"The zora officials happened. They had had their eye on Zoreel's elder brother Zoral to be king. But there was an accident when they were children. Zoral was young; he didn't understand that kelpies were viciously protective of their young. He only wanted to play. But the kelpie freaked and attacked him. When he died, Zoreel was named the crown prince. But the officials didn't like it. When he chose Rutela as a mate, it angered them even more, because she had been the fiancée of the late Zoral. Zoreel was quiet and strong and he was a good leader. He inherited his ancestors' ability to create garments to allow other humans to breathe underwater. He began making alliances, and that's when the officials decided it was time to act. They assassinated him, passed it off as a freak accident; the same accident that took the life of his elder brother. But the king, he had suspected them for some time. The officials knew he had a son and daughter, one just born. But they didn't know which was which. I think he knew I was a sage, and that the time was coming for me to awaken, so he asked Renado to find me a home. He and Telma found a zora family who had lost their own daughter to yellow fever and convinced them to adopt me. He pretended he had found me wondering in Hyrule field and deduced that my parents may have been attacked by bandits. So I was named Lana and grew up in their family. Zoreel, told the officals that their daughter had died shortly after she was born, after contracting yellow fever. He explained that the shock of losing her daughter had made the queen more protective of her remaining child and thus will not present him to the zoras until he is of age. A few months later, Zoreel was found dead, mauled by a kelpie. The kelpie was put down and that was that."

Zelda nodded her head, remembering the events surrounding the king's death herself.

"I remember my parents talking about it." Epona said. "The alphas smelt a rat but there was nothing they could do without solid evidence. They believed the kelpie was innocent but it was put down without a trial so it was never questioned. The case went cold."

"I don't understand." Ralis said quietly.

"I was the daughter who 'died'."

A silence fell over the room. The algae lanterns threw elongated dancing shadows onto the walls. All was still.

"How…?" Ralis whispered his voice no more than a rasp.

"The zora officials would've killed us and married one of their own to the Queen. By pretending that I had died, it gave Rutela an excuse to not reveal the identity of her remaining son and thus protect him from the zora struggle for power. It wasn't until Zant appeared was she forced to present you to the zoras before sending you out of harm's way."

Ralis was quiet.

"All this time?"

"There was nothing more I could do. I was supposed to be dead."

There was a long tense silence.

"Sorry to interrupt the sob story but…" Ruto appeared out of the air; she stifled a yawn and leaned back as if she were in a chair. "But I need to pass on sage-ship at some point in time."

"Ruto, give them a moment." Zelda told the ghost.

"But I want to sleep."

"I'm sure you'll survive for a few more minutes." The princess replied tartly.

"Rude."

"We can talk later." Ralis said. "Ruto's waited long enough."

"See somebody cares." She poked her tongue out at the princess.

"You are extraordinarily hypocritical."

Lana stepped forward.

"My brother is right." She drew herself up to her full height. "I am ready."

The ghost smiled. She stretched out on long ethereal finger and touched Lana's heart. Blue light, like reflected water pulsed from Ruto's own heart and down her fingers into Lana. Ripples of light spread from the point of contact, causing Lana to shimmer and flicker like a reflection in a pond. A stepwise melody swirled up through the air, flowing like water through eddies that floated on the air.

"Ah, it's good to be at peace." Ruto whispered. "I've waited so long…so…long…"

Slowly, like a broken reflection, the ghost disintegrated into little blue lights that dispersed on the wind.

Lana opened her eyes, which now seemed even more iridescent than before.

"I may hate your guts, but when you need it, I'll lend you my strength."

Link nodded and Epona got to her feet.

"If you've any trouble from the officials, remind them who it was that thawed their domain. Tell them he'll continue to uphold Rutela's last wish…by any means."

Link winked at Ralis as he fingered the dagger on his belt. The little zora's mouth twitched into a smile.

Zelda stood and dipped her head to the sage.

"When we need you, we'll call. Until then…" she glanced at Ralis behind her. "I believe you and your brother have a lot of catching up to do."

I'm back, from outer space. With my insanity somewhat intact. That's a lie, I've utterly lost it, but hopefully I'll get over it. Until then, enjoy the long-awaited return of Heartless. Farore I've missed this.

p.s. I loved all your reviews, I can't thank you guys enough, they really helped me through these din-damned exams. So as a present, two chapters in a row.