A/N Yup. I managed to complete two chapters in one day. I've really been enjoying writing this, so I have a hard time pacing myself and just end up pounding out several chapters in practically one sitting. It's probably not very healthy for my mentality. I hope you enjoy, and as usual be sure to leave a comment and if you catch any errors be sure and let me know.
Chapter Two
Leda's amethyst eyes were distracted, gazing at the gold light that resonated on the back of her hand each time she touched it. The light reflected in her eyes, making the violet-blue and gold colors twinkle as if locked in a shining dance. This was how she seemed to spend most of her time the past few days: staring into the unknown—or rather, her hand. She glanced up from her spot on an old wooden pew and looked at Ampi, who had a book in each hand, and she was glancing furiously between the two. That was how she had been spending the past few days. Anytime Leda would ask to help study or read one of the books, the lady would quickly tell her "no". She wasn't even allowed to read her own favorite book about the hero and Goddess anymore.
The Goddess. Ampi had said that she, Leda, was the Goddess reborn. But how? Did that mean she was an incarnation of the same soul that she read about in that old book? She had thought of it to be more of a legend that factual history, but the triangle on the back of her hand— "Triforce" is what Ampi had called it—proved otherwise. The young lady wanted desperately to hear or read some answers, but her "aunt" was sealed shut as tight as a coffin.
"Ampi," she began to try again. She waited for the woman to tell her to silence, but surprisingly no words were said. So, she continued. "Please. You clearly know something. I feel like it is my right to know at least a little bit." She was flustered, her hand clenched and unclenched as she spoke and glared at the book Ampi had grasped in her left hand.
She ignored Leda for a moment, then sighed. "Leda...I know you're probably beyond confused right now."
She scoffed. "Just a little," she remarked sarcastically. She wasn't normally so impolite, but between the confusion and fear her patience was wearing thin. A disapproving look from Ampi told her that her harshness was not appreciate.
"Well, dear," she started. "I feel that I will not give a great enough explanation. I can tell you only the basics, but there is probably someone you must visit for further information." She hesitated again, trying to gather her thoughts. "As I told you before, that—" she pointed at Leda's hand—"is the Triforce. A symbol of the Divine Three: Nayru, Din, and Farore. You have Nayru's portion, who is the Goddess of Wisdom." She stopped again, having a difficult time explaining.
"Throughout history," she continued with a soft voice, "she who possess the Triforce of Wisdom is Hylia herself, born in the flesh." Leda's heart quickened, and though this was the second time she had heard such a statement, she still could not believe her ears. How did she possess Hylia's soul? She was a simple girl who lived in the slums of Hyrule. Surely the Goddess would have hosted a much more influential being like—
"There is danger to that symbol," Ampi interrupted her thoughts with a solemn face. She removed her eyes from Leda's and stared down at her hand. "Also recorded in history, the Triforce only appears on its mortals when danger is nigh." She met the young lady's wide eyes once again. "Zelda, this means you have an important destiny. One that you must fulfill. I cannot tell you for sure what may have caused the Triforce to appear nor what your destiny is," she paused, pondering, "But I can tell you that your destiny will be great, my dear."
"Your selfless actions and kind heart have created who you are. You are a woman of wisdom, with or without that symbol. Your intelligence will allow your journeys to be at much more ease."
Ampi stood and approached Leda, then placed a hand on her shoulder and pierced her with her eyes that seemed to glow red. "The Goddesses have made no mistake in choosing you to bear that mark."
Leda's eyes began to water, and her lip trembled. For so long she had lived a simple life on the streets, and even though it was hard and there were nights where she shivered in her bed at night or had to skip a few meals, it was all she had known. This news was almost too much; her heart was slamming against her ribs and the shine in her eyes threatened to spill over her pale cheeks. Ampi pulled her forward and embraced her in a tight hug that took Leda aback.
"I am petrified…" Leda's voice was barely audible, but the woman heard her nonetheless and stroked her golden hair.
"If there's anyone that can handle the pressure, I know it is you," she assured. She let the young lady go, but still held her by the shoulders. "Now. I have been studying, trying to find more answers. But, I believe there is someone that may make things more clear." She turned back, and walked to the wall and pulled a stone back out of the wall and revealed a secret stash of papers and stationary. She then grabbed a scroll of paper from it along with a charcoal stick. She scribbled furiously on the paper, then folded it up and wound a string around it and handed it to Leda. Quickly, she dug through the hidden spot in the wall and dug out a scroll of high-quality paper and hand that too to Leda.
"Now, this is the map of Hyrule. You will need it on your journey." She walked around to gather things around the building, pulling back many stones to reveal more hidden spots that Leda had never known of.
"Ampi, what do you mean 'journey'?" The young woman questioned.
The stern lady didn't reply, and simply continued bustling about and gathering all sort of objects.
"Ampi."
She skimmed through a few more scrolls and set them down.
"Ampi."
She grabbed a leather travel satchel and began piling things into it.
"Ampi!"
She handed the satchel to Leda. "I have packed everything you will need. Don't lose this bag, no matter what."
Leda stared expectantly at her. The woman only sighed. "You will need to travel to find this person. He will explain things to you. I have packed you clothing, food, water, important books, a compass—everything you need is here. You may put the map and letter into it as well."
She did as Ampi told while continuing to stare at her with unmasked confusion and fear. "Won't you be coming with me, Ampi?"
She sighed once again. "No. I will not. You will need to go without me. And remember to keep your cloak on in public places. Zelda, be careful." She turned one last time to a spot in the wall she uncovered, and Leda wondered how many other secret things she had hidden here and where she had gotten them. She began to feel that there was very much she didn't know about Ampi.
The woman pulled out a neatly-folded outfit of clothing. "Your clothes won't do," she gestured to Leda's worn trousers and tunic. "Wear this. It will be most comfortable and protective while traveling."
The young lady unfolded the garments and gasped in surprise. A well-made and faintly purple tunic laid in front of her, embroidered with fine details and long sleeves. The hem looked like It would reach to her waist and fit perfectly, unlike all her other clothing. It was matched with leather trousers and new sturdy boots to go with them. A long, black cloak laid atop them all, and looked long enough to reach to her knees. She simply gaped at the precious and expensive clothing in her hands.
"I packed a few other changes of clothing in your pack as well. Now go change," Ampi ushered her upstairs.
Leda was still gaping as she came downstairs. The garments fit perfectly and were surprisingly comfortable, and Ampi nodded approvingly as she spotted her. "You may need these as well," she said as she handed her several waist and leg packs and a pair of leather fingerless gloves. "I must insist you wear those gloves as much as possible. You mustn't show anyone you don't know that symbol on the back of your hand," she said in a stern voice as Leda buckled the packs around her hips and one around her thigh, then slipped the small gloves over her slender hands.
Ampi stopped and looked at Leda with an unreadable expression. "You look like a warrior," she stated. She grabbed the cloak from Leda's hand and swooped it around her shoulders and tied it in a solid knot. With a thoughtful expression, she began to braid Leda's gold locks tightly, then turned her around to look at her.
"Zelda, no matter what, stay strong. Do what you know is right."
Leda nodded, tear threatening to spill over again. The fact that Ampi was calling her by her true name was proof alone that the predicament she was in was a serious and important one, and frankly, Leda felt completely overwhelmed. She jumped forward and embraced Ampi again and tried her very hardest not to cry.
"I will miss you until I arrive home," Leda whispered.
"And I you," she responded. "Now go. The day is early, but you still must make haste. You should reach the nearest village on your map by sundown. I have marked where you must go with a red circle. When you arrive in the village where the circle is, ask for the Great Deku and show him the note I wrote. Good luck, Zelda."
And with that, she pushed Leda out the door and she was left on her own.
Leda's heart was a swarming mess of emotions, from fear to confusion to excitement. She knew not what to expect, and the unknown was both exhilarating and debilitating. It took all her will power to make her feet take the steps toward the outer wall of town and toward Hyrule Field.
The entire town was just barely awakening from its sleepy state; today was the day everyone had off from their jobs so it was already becoming very crowded even outside of the central square. People were setting up their market, bakers opening their doors to allow the intoxicating fragrance of freshly-baked bread to fill the space between people. Everyone was at ease even as they were wandering about, shopping here and there. But Leda felt like a hurricane internally, and hoped her scattered state wasn't too obvious from outer eyes. She flicked her cloak up and covered her face, and was sure to not make eye contact with anyone lest she experience another moment like she had with the old man several days prior. The fear of the Triforce upon the back of her hand showing nagged at her, though she knew that her gloves covered it well. She didn't know how people would react if they saw the symbol, but she preferred to keep it hidden like Ampi said either way.
She was at the very edge of town, nearly walking under the iron gate that separated Castletown from Hyrule Field. Her foot barely stepped on the grass when— "Hey!" She heard a young voice yell from behind her, but assumed it was directed to someone else.
"Hey! You with the cloak!" Her heart stopped cold, as did her steps. She turned warily to the voice, and spotted a girl no older than twelve running at her while dodging the other people in the way. The girl finally reached her, and stared up. Leda recognized her as one of the girls that lived in the poorer areas of Castletown, though not quite the slums like herself.
"Leda, is that you?" The little girl reached up to tug the cloak from her face, but Leda backed away quickly before she could do so.
"Iza, I'm busy-"
"Can you help me find Hena? We're playing a game but she's a really good hider. I think she might have even hidden on the castle grounds!" She jumped excitedly.
"I sure hope not, she might get in huge trouble-"
"Please? I've been looking for her all day!"
Leda let a whoosh of air rush out of her lungs. "I will keep an eye out for her, Iza. But I really am busy right now, and don't have time to chat, okay?" She crouched down to the same level as Iza. "Now why don't you keep looking for her? Have you check the goat stables?"
The little girl's eyes lit up. "Oh, I haven't! I'll go check right now. Bye Leda!" With that she rushed off toward the stables to the west.
Leda shook her head with a smile, and stood to her full height and turned on her heels when she suddenly smacked into a person upon turning and fell back onto her backside. "Ow!" She grumbled. With a quick realization, she looked for her satchel that had fallen off in the collision, panicked.
"I am so sorry, ma'am, I should have looked where I was going," a voice in front of her apologized. She looked up and spotted who she ran into, a young man that looked to be her age. A glimmer of laughter was hidden beneath his genuinely concerned face as he reached a hand out to her. She grabbed it hesitantly, still looking for her pack, but saw it was in his hands. After he hoisted her up, he handed the pack over and apologized once again.
She grumbled again as she brushed the dust off her trousers and adjusted the cloak securely over her face to make sure he couldn't see it. With a quick check, she ensured everything was in her bag. Now that her bag was in check and was dusted off, she gave the man a closer look.
He had the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen, set in a strong and handsome face that was crowned with a mess of blond hair that complimented his bright eyes nicely. Standing at a few inches taller than she, he was built with strong muscles that proved he was an active man. A blush creeped onto her pointed ears. She shyly noted that she had never seen a man quite so charmingly handsome as he.
"I-It really is fine," she stammered. "I was distracted and didn't see you coming."
He offered a small grin that crinkled his stunningly blue eyes. "Well, I guess we both better be more aware in the future."
She gave a nervous laugh. "Yes, we must." Leda knew she probably should continue heading to the village before it was too late in the day, but she felt an odd pull toward the man and couldn't seem to make her legs move from their spot cemented to the ground.
His eyes wandered to her satchel and grazed over clothing. "You look like you are off on a traveling mission," he noted aloud.
Leda nodded and looked at her satchel as well. "Yes, though I must admit this is my first time on my own. And…" she paused shyly. "…my first time traveling at all."
The concerned look appeared again. "Alone? For the first time? That is quite the adventure, it sounds. No one is accompanying you?"
She shook her head and shrugged. "No. But it is quite all right."
"It's very dangerous," he explained. "And it seems you don't even have a horse."
A shrugged pulled on her shoulders once again.
"I know the owners of the horse stables east," he began. "I am sure the owners would happily let you borrow one if I asked."
"Really?" She had never ridden a horse, but knew that if she could get a hold of one her journey would be much quicker than on foot. "That would be absolutely lovely."
A grin spread across his handsome features. "Well, come along, I will have him lend you a horse." The two walked away from the gate and to the horse stables in the distance.
The man was correct: the owner happily allowed her to use a horse for her travels. She offered to pay, yet he refused her rupees and insisted that since it was her first time traveling that he would lend a horse for free. She now stood with the horse petting its brown nose affectionately as the blue-eyed man tightened the saddle onto its back.
"Have you ever ridden a horse?" He inquired.
"Well, no," she admitted sheepishly. "I think I would be able to pick it up quickly, however."
"I can teach you," he offered. "It is quite simple."
He showed her how to mount and guide the horse, and true to her word, she learned very quickly and was trotting with it around the bales of hay. She grinned triumphantly as she steered it around, petting it every so often and offering it quiet praises.
"You were right," the man said. "You certainly pick that up quickly."
She smiled back at him as she coaxed the horse to a stop and swung herself off its back. "I truly cannot thank you enough, sir," she explained. "You have been very kind to me. My travels will be at much more ease now."
He shrugged humbly and smiled softly back at her. "Of course. Anything to help out."
Leda offered a smile back. "I must get going now. I hope to reach the closest village by sundown."
The man gave a nod, but his eyebrows furrowed in distraction. She began to lead the horse away, but he halted her. "Ma'am, may I accompany you on your travels?" Her eyes widened in shock, and she knew the tips of her ears were reddening again and she was grateful for the cloak that hid it. "If you don't mind, of course," he added quickly and stared away from her face.
"I'd love to have you along, sir," she smiled. Though logic may say that it is a bad idea to allow a complete stranger to join on a long journey, something in her gut made her trust the man and she felt inexplicably drawn to him. A smile adorned his face again, and he gave a quick "thank you" and "wait one moment" as he ran to gather his things. He arrived again with a chestnut horse of his own in tow, the saddle already packed and ready.
"Well, shall we go?" Leda asked. The man nodded, and the two set off out to Hyrule Field.
"I never got your name." He turned his blue gaze from the distant mountains to her cloaked face.
She turned to him. "Uh, it's Leda." He nodded thinking the name over in his head.
"Leda…" He tested the name out and furrowed his eyebrows. "What does that stand for?"
Shock caused her body to go rigid. "…How do you know it stands for something?" She tested.
He looked away, eyebrows still furrowed in thought. "I don't for sure, of course. It just seems like it would stand for something. Or perhaps the name doesn't seem to…match you."
Her suspicion caused her to tighten her hands on the reigns of her horse. "It's just Leda," she muttered.
"Of course," he said quickly, looking at her again. "I didn't mean any offense, Miss Leda."
"Don't fret, sir," she felt herself soften. Silently, she told herself to not be so jumpy. "What is your name?"
He smiled at her. "Link."
Something in her heart jumped at his name, and the back of her right hand almost seem to resonate at the sound of it. It seemed so familiar, like she had known it once before. But from where?
"Link," she said. "Lovely to meet you." She felt warm after saying his name upon her own lips.
"And you, Miss Leda," he replied.
"Just Leda is fine," she snickered. "If we are to travel together, I'd rather be casual."
"Sure thing, Leda."
They remained in a comfortable silence as Leda stared at the stunning sights around her. The mountains loomed over the rolling green hills, and trees speckled the entire expanse. She peered to see the glimmer of what looked like a lake in the distance, and sandy landscape so far away she almost couldn't see it. She wondered if it was where the Gerudo lived, and had the interest to visit it one day.
"I have never even left Castletown," she said more to herself than anything. "I never realized there was so much world out here."
She could see Link smile out of the corner of her eye. "You truly have been missing out. Hyrule is a land of beauty, simply put."
She nodded in agreement as she continued to stare out into the land. The warm evening sun cast a soft orange hue to the entire land, and the breeze carried the scent of grass and wildflowers to her nose. It was simply stunning.
"So, where are we traveling?"
A chuckle flowed from her lips. "Oh, right. That is important to figure out, and I'm sure you would be comforted to know where you are going with a strange girl you've only met moments ago."
The sound of her laugh was clear and sweet, and Link noted to be sure to make her laugh as much as possible on their trip.
With a lean, she reached into the satchel strapped to her horse's saddle and pulled out the map Ampi had given to her. The thought of her dear friend made her heart throb for a moment, and she felt an odd sense of loss without her nearby. But she would have to make this journey, if not for herself but for Ampi. She needed to know what was going on. The back of her hand seemed to throb in response to her thoughts.
"Let's see," her eyes skimmed over the paper. "Do you know where this is?" She handed the map to Link and pointed to the small town on the map, where she planned they would stay for the night.
"Yes," he replied and handed the map back. "That is Mabe Village. It's a small little community not too far south from us. We will arrive there in an hour or so."
The two continued their ride toward the south, chattering lightly and enjoying the views. Leda had to admit to herself that she had never had much of a social life, only speaking to other people when helping the community or playing with the children so that their parents could do their jobs to try and make some money. That was how she got her few rupees: when people needed their children to be watched over or house repairs. It wasn't the most rewarding job when it came to rupees, but it was rewarding to see the grateful people who thanked her incessantly afterwards and to see their happiness. Outside of those interactions, however, she never developed any close friendships since most people her age living in the slums were more of criminals that liked to take revenge on the wealthy. Being a kind-hearted person, Leda had little interest in doing such useless offenses. The most she would do it steal small and unnoticeable amounts of food only for survival's sake or tease people like the guard she bumped into the moat. Nothing truly violent.
Due to her lack of interaction with those of her own age, she often had issues speaking to them and relating with them. But Link was different; she felt like she could speak freely with little trouble except for the occasional blush. It was a nice change: speaking to someone new that wasn't Ampi, even if she did enjoy speaking to her.
Soon enough, the tops of homes peaked through the trees as the worn path led up to the entrance of the village. Link was correct, for there were few houses and it seemed the houses were unprofessionally built. It was a homey sight, and Leda felt instantly welcomed. The faces of the residents turned curiously toward the newcomers as they rode their steeds into the village, and a squat middle-aged man approached then with a welcoming face.
"Welcome to Mabe," he greeted. "I assume you're just passing through?"
Leda nodded. "Thank you for the welcome. May I ask where the inn is?"
"Of course; just follow the main path and it will be the third building to your right."
With another "thank you", the two continued off to the stone inn that the man had directed them to. They tied their horses to the small shelter near the entrance and unloaded their belongings, and soon they were ordering a room of two beds. Link insisted on paying, despite Leda's protests. She had seen a bag of rupees in her satchel from Ampi, and knew she would have just enough, but alas he still insisted.
The room was small and cozy, with a narrow bed on each side and a hard-carved nightstand placed between the two. At the sight of the bed, Leda became elated and nearly leapt with excitement. She had a sleeping mat back home, but had never actually slept in a bed. They were luxuries that she could never afford and had been saving up for, but had never gotten around to it. She sat down gently on the mattress, grinning as she sunk down slightly in its soft padding. Her fingered skimmed the stitch-work of the quilt, and she knew she would sleep very well tonight between her exhaustion from the journey and the comfort of a real bed.
"You must be very tired if you're looking at that bed so fondly," Link teased.
She simply nodded, deciding to not let Link know of her poor state back in Castletown. Leda had witnessed how much people changed in their treatment to her when she told them she lived in Ragtown, and her newfound friendship meant too much to her to ruin it with their surely different classes. Perhaps she would tell him eventually, but for now they were simply two Hylian people traveling together, no class to divide them.
A yawn escaped her throat, and she set her satchel down on the bed next between her and the wall. Sure, her gut trusted Link, but she knew she ought to be cautious and guard her belongings no matter who she was around. Already half-asleep, she slipped off her boots and adjusted herself into the comfortable bed. She turned to face away from Link as he mimicked her, and took her cloak off. Eventually he would have to see her face, but for now, she would allow it to remain a mystery.
"Thankfully the travel has gone smoothly thus far," she heard Link say softly from his bed.
"Yes, I am very grateful for how much luck we have had," she responded, her eyes already closed.
"How are you liking Hyrule?"
Even in her sleepy state, she grinned. "It's absolutely gorgeous. I can't believe I've spent my entire life confined in the grayness of Castletown when I could have been seeing all of the land."
He was silent for a moment. "It really is very beautiful. I'm glad to be able to accompany you as you see it for the first time."
"I must admit," she pondered. "Traveling would be half as exciting without someone along with me."
He simply grunted happily in response.
"Say, Link?" She was curious to know more about this stranger she had allowed to come with her on her travels. "Do you live in Castletown? Or were you only passing through?"
"Well, yes, I live in Castletown." She was happy to hear so; perhaps they would become good friends after the trip and spend time together in Castletown. "But I travelled a lot. It was part of my job. So, I almost feel like I live everywhere, like my home isn't just Castletown," he explained. "Hyrule is my home. I love every area just as much as the last."
Leda admired his love for Hyrule, and was became even more excited to see the rest of the land. If he loved it so dearly, then it surely must be quite the kingdom.
"And what was your job?" Sleepiness was threatening to pull her under, yet she still was curious.
"I was a low-rank guard. One that traveled with rulers and monarchs from around the land visiting the castle."
"You were a guard?" She gasped. "Wow, that is quite the honor!"
He chuckled. "Yes, and actually I still am."
She nearly sat up to look at him, fully awake now, but remembered she wanted to keep her face hidden. "Really? Shouldn't you be guarding the castle right now or something?"
"Well," he began. "I've managed to rise up the ranks rather quickly for someone my age. I've been appointed as a royal knight to Hyrule's royal family."
She tossed over in bed at that, despite her cautions. To her relief, Link had blown out the lantern and she could only make out the faint silhouette of his face facing toward the ceiling with his arms crossed underneath his head.
"Link, what in Hylia's name are you doing off duty, then? Shouldn't you be guarding the King?"
He chuckled softly. "It's fine, Leda. I've been given a month-long break for the first time in a year. Apparently, the King has left on classified royal business that I cannot share. As for the rest of the royal family…" He stopped. "Well, he's the last one."
Leda had lived her whole life only a few blocks away from the castle, and yet she had no clue that the King's entire family had died. Though it wasn't her fault, she felt an odd guilt for knowing so little about the sincere king that ruled over her.
"That is so terrible," she said softly. "What happened to them all? If you're allowed to tell, of course."
He turned to look at her faint shape, and saw that she had taken her cloak off. But the darkness of night replaced it, and he could only make out her slender ears that labeled her as a Hylian. "You don't know?"
Leda shook her head. "No, I have never heard."
"Odd. The entire kingdom knows," he mused. "Well, the king and queen had one child nearly two decades ago. The queen died giving birth to the child, though the baby survived. No-one even knows whether it was a prince or princess, since the King was so devastated with the death of his wife that he hid the child in hope to protect it at all costs. Very few even ever saw the it. But despite the King's efforts, his child disappeared from the castle and hasn't been seen since."
"That's terribly tragic," Leda whispered. "The poor King. And somehow even through all of that he has managed to be such a wonderful King."
"Yes, he is quite the strong and faithful man. It is an honor to serve him."
"Indeed, you are a very lucky man." She took a moment to think. "Why did you want to spend your month off with some peasant girl you don't even know?"
It was Link's turn to be quiet. He took so long to answer that she almost thought he had fallen asleep. "Why not?" He finally responded. "I love Hyrule and have yearned to travel it again after all these years, and you seemed like a kind woman that needed some company. It was the perfect opportunity. I haven't regretted it in the slightest so far."
Leda smiled and blushed at his warm words. "Well, Link, I have loved your company. I am very glad that fate found us together today."
"Yes, as am I," he smiled too and stared back at the wooden ceiling. "What about you, Leda? Tell me about your life."
Her smile faded, and she turned back toward the wall. "I have quite the bland life. I wouldn't want to bore you."
"You seem like a very interesting soul, surely there has been something noteworthy in your lifetime," he prodded.
"Well today has been probably the most eventful day of my life, which proves of its boredom," she deflected his prodding. "And I am now very tired. So be a dear and stop talking so I may sleep," she teased.
Link chuckled. "Are you ordering me around?"
She smiled, sleep was closing its warm fingers around her and she struggled to stay conscious enough to respond. "Yes."
Sleep finally engulfed her, and she embraced it happily. So much had happened in only a week. One moment she was living as a plain girl in the slums of Castletown, and before she knew it a divine symbol found its spot on her hand, a random homeless girl. Now she was travelling for the first time in her life without the closest person she had to a mother with a stranger she knew very little about. She had no idea what to expect in the days to come, but she hoped that all would result well. The past week was truly the most eventful one she had ever had.
That night, she slept better than she ever had in her life.
A/N: Well, there's chapter two! And lucky Linky boy got to be in the story already. Then again, it would hardly be a Zelda story without our good old hero of legend. Anyways, I hoped you have liked the story so far! Be sure to give a review and a suggestion. I'm looking to refine my writing, so I don't mind comments. Thanks for reading!
-Ximnah