Dinner had been delicious. Steamed reek fish, steamed watercress, buttered rice... Link had never tasted anything like it. Not even Malony's cooking had been that good. And thankfully, he hadn't made a fool of himself. He now lay on one of the five beds in the guest room; so warm and comfortable. Zelda lay on another bed, but she was sleeping. He could hear her steady breathing. He felt bad for her. He had been so consumed with his own misfortune that he had made no effort to understand that she too had lost everything. Her parents, her kingdom... everything she knew. They were the same now. Two orphans on the run from monsters who wanted to kill them. Why though? For what purpose? Too many questions he had no answers to… and he was so tired. He closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.
Three days later, Zelda and Link sat at the edge of the throne room's pond. Princess Zylia was swimming around in the pond, occasionally splashing the two children. It had been nice to be worry-free for a couple of days. The Zora's were the kindest beings Link had ever met, treating Zelda and him like family. He envied Princess Zylia for having such a kind, beautiful, and wise mother. He wondered if his mother had been the same. He didn't remember much about her, except the song she used to sing to him. Sometimes, the Zora guards would spar with Link, and he had begun trying to teach Zelda too. She's actually pretty good, he mused. It was a peaceful day. The skies were clear, the air crisp. Link yawned and stretched his arms.
Suddenly, there were running footsteps, and Link instinctively knew to get up and grab Zelda. She looked at him with her wide blue eyes and he knew she felt the same alarm he felt.
"Your Grace! They're here! They're riding on kargaroks! You must hide!" a guard shouted to the Queen as he ran past them. The Queen jumped to her webbed feet and called for Princess Zylia. The zora Princess jumped out of the pond and ran to her mother's side, looking frightened. In an instant, the guards immediately took their places in front of the throne, tridents and spears at the ready. Rutil, the female Zora that had first helped them, took hold of Princess Zylia's hand and pulled her along with her into the pond once again.
"Children... hide with Zylia in our palace, now!" the Queen shouted, as the sound of giant, flapping wings reached their ears. Zelda shook her head.
"Link, we have to go. If they find out we are here, they will hurt the Zoras!" she said. Link knew she was right. He carried only his sword, shield, bow and quiver with him now; the rest of their belongings were in the guest chamber. They would have to leave it all behind. The high-pitched calls of the bulblins could be heard now, along with the flapping of wings and shrieks of the kargaroks.
"Children, now!" the Queen said urgently, but Link pulled Zelda along with him, heading for the exit.
"Your Majesty, we must go!" he called out, and they jumped into the flowing stream, the water dragging them away. There was no time to say goodbye now. They let the powerful current take them, and screamed as they plummeted down the waterfall. They were pushed under by the force of the cataract, making it near impossible to swim. For a split second, Link panicked, thinking they would run out of air before they reached the surface. He tried swimming upwards but the force of the falling water was too much and he was running out of air. When all seemed lost, he opened his mouth for air, knowing he was going to drown, but somehow he was able to breath under water; he noticed too that his clothes remained dry. The Zora clothes! That had to be the reason why he could breathe underwater! He searched for Zelda who had let go of his hand during the fall. She swam up beside him and grabbed his hand. He knew she too could breathe underwater thanks to their Zora clothing. Pushing their legs furiously to get up to the surface, they swam to the water's edge. They could hear the bulblins and the zoras battling.
"I feel bad... maybe we should go back and help" Zelda said. Link shook his head, running to the horses that were neighing nervously, pawing the ground anxiously.
"Nay, the Queen knows you are the target. It is as you say, if they find you here... they can be harmed for harboring you… it is best that we leave" he said, helping Zelda onto Fury. He jumped on behind her and prepared to set off at a run but then they were noticed.
"Look! Two brats right there! Trying to escape!" a bulblin said, turning his kargarok around. He flew atop the giant, bird-like creature overhead, keeping his eyes on Link and Zelda.
"Oh no! Link! What do we do?!" Zelda cried.
"Take the reins and go! I'll take care of it!" Link said, pulling out his bow. He aimed at the bulblin as Fury began to gallop at full speed, Epona trying hard to keep up. It was a lot harder than he imagined. He couldn't aim correctly when he and his target were on the move. He shot two arrows which missed. He cursed silently and took aim again. This time, he hit the kargarok through the head, making the foul beast shriek in pain and spiral downwards. The bulblin shrieked, terror on his ugly face. Aiming once more, Link shot the bulblin through the chest. Zelda led them through a narrow, rocky path and slowed Fury down to a trot.
"Oh no... Link... there are more of them up ahead... I'm so sorry!" she hissed, bringing Fury to a full stop. Their path was blocked by even more bulblins, some armed with spiked clubs others with bows. They all snickered.
"Looks like we caught two fancy little brats" one of them sniffed, wiping his nasty nose on his arm.
"They will fetch a good price... bring them here" another said.
"Follow me" Link whispered to Zelda. He slid off of Fury and Zelda followed. "Take my sword and shield..." he said to the Princess. She did as she was told. The bulblins laughed mockingly.
"You little shits don't really mean to fight us... do ya? There's ten of us and two of you... and more of our friends are on their way" the bulblin said.
"NOW!" Link bellowed, giving Fury a hard smack on his flank. The large beast reared up and took off running followed by Epona, startling the dim-witted bulblins as the horses bowled them over. Link took aim and shot down two bulblins instantly, as more scrambled back to their feet and rushed towards them. Zelda, he was pleased to see, was using the sword to cut down those close to her. Together, they battled the enemies, but then, their luck ran out. A rather large bulblin used his club to strike Zelda who blocked the blow with the wooden shield, but the shield shattered upon impact. She cried out in pain, holding her arm. The Princess was overpowered. Link, distracted by Zelda's plight, was forced to the ground by another creature he had never seen, somewhat resembling the bulblins, but purplish in color and slightly bigger.
"The bokoblins are here... told ya our friends would be here soon" a bulblin snarled, kicking Link across the face as he walked by. Link felt a warm, sticky liquid run down his nose and onto his mouth and chin. Blood. He looked up and saw Zelda struggling against her captors as he was harshly pulled up to his feet.
"Take the brats to King Bulblin. He'll know what to do" a bulblin said.
"Wait a second... this girl... she looks like the Princess of Hyrule" a bokoblin rasped, peering into Zelda's face, sniffing her. She shook her head, frightened.
"Leave her alone!" Link spluttered.
"Shut your mouth!" his captor said, shaking him brusquely.
"Take her to Lord Zanthos, immediately. If it is the Princess, he will know" the bokoblin said. The bulblin threw Zelda over his shoulder as she kicked and screamed.
No, Link thought, we didn't go through all that for nothing! He elbowed his captor's ribs with all his might, knocking the wind out of him. He ran to Zelda.
"Link! Don't let them take me! LINK!" Zelda cried desperately, reaching her small hand towards him. Link reached for her but was caught around the waist by a bokoblin.
"You little shit" he breathed in Link's ear, "I'm gonna kill you now!"
Link struggled to break free, but it was impossible.
"Stop struggling or the girl gets it" another bokoblin said, pointing his dirty knife to Zelda's face. Link froze in place. "Your weapons, now" the ugly creature said. Making the hardest decision of his young life, Link threw his bow to the ground. Immediately a bulblin snatched it up. Now completely defenseless, Link and Zelda were immediately bound tightly with rope and thrown over a bullbo. With a bokoblin riding with them, they were taken back to Hyrule Castle.
Link was furious. Zelda looked sick with fear. At least Fury and Epona got away, Link thought grimly. The journey was uncomfortable, but it didn't take as long as he'd hoped. They made their way into Castle Town. Twisting his head to take a look around, Link felt a mixture of anger and sadness. The town was empty of civilians. The streets were guarded by even more bulblins and bokoblins. The center plaza was patrolled by four tall, armored, lizard-like monsters: Dynalfos. He knew them. He had read about them in one of his father's books. They were vicious creatures... Link heard Zelda whimper as she caught sight of them.
"Alright... you there... take these brats to Lord Zanthos" the bokoblin keeping them captive said to a bulblin. The children were yanked off the bullbo harshly and then were pushed and shoved into the castle.
The first thing Link noticed was that the castle was dark; too dark. Even though the sun shone brightly outside, the castle was so dark some torches were lit. The bulblin pulled them along and occasionally Link saw other bokoblins and dynalfos pass them by. They made their way to the throne room. It was almost pitch black, but a curious, shimmery orb was at the center, casting a soft, blue light. Link noticed it had strange patterns on it, but he found the light soothing, almost relaxing. What could it be?
The bulblin pushed the captives forward, making them fall flat on their face. He knelt on one knee and bowed his head before speaking.
"Lord Zanthos," he breathed, "we think we captured the Princess"
There was silence, causing the bulblin to look up.
"Bring her to me" a soft, sinister voice said from within the darkness. The bulblin didn't look pleased as he came forward to grab Zelda. He pushed her towards the voice. A pale, thin hand reached out of the darkness towards her, cupping her chin, turning her face to both sides. "Very good. Very, very good. Foolish girl. Did you think you could hide from me forever?"
Zelda pulled away in disgust. The voice chuckled. "You need not fear me, dear child. I do not intend to kill you. I... am in need of your assistance… that is all." And then he stepped into the light. He was an exceptionally tall and thin being. His eyes were red, his skin pale, almost gray, but curiously he was also black. His face was pale, but his neck, left shoulder, left pectoral and arm were black. Also, the right half of his stomach was black, and it could be assumed that so was his left leg down to his foot. He wore no shirt, only loose, black pants embroidered with gold, and the same strange marking that were etched on the glowing orb adorned his clothes too. His shoes were made of some type of metallic material so that they clanked when he walked. He wore the King's crown.
"My help?" Zelda asked. He nodded once.
"You see... I was cast away from my tribe. I am stuck in this world. I simply need you to open the way for me" he explained, slowly circling Zelda, hands held behind his back.
"What way?" she asked, keeping her eyes on him.
"Why... the way back to my home, child. You have something I need" he answered.
"What can I possibly have that you need?" Zelda asked, glaring at him.
"The arrows, child! The arrows!" he snapped, his cool demeanor slowly changing.
"I have no arrows" Zelda said coldly.
"You lie! Give me the arrows and walk free" he hissed, towering in front of her.
"I don't have them" she said, looking up at him. "And I refuse to believe that you are an innocent, exiled person in distress. Why then, did you kill my people? Why did you kill my parents if all you wanted were these so-called arrows? Tell me... Zanthos," she sneered as she said his name, "what did you do to get cast out of your tribe?" She raised her chin in defiance. Link had never seen her that way. He flinched as Zanthos struck her across the cheek.
"You dare question me, child? I am done being kind to you" he said, grabbing Zelda's arm.
"Lord Zanthos... your grace..." the bulblin said, frightened half to death, "what should I do with the boy?"
"Throw him in the dungeons" Zanthos said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Uh... Lord Zanthos..." the bulblin said again.
"WHAT?!" Zanthos screeched, clearly annoyed by the beast. The bulblin recoiled in fear, but stuck out his arm, showing Link's bow to him.
"This brat had it with him, Your Grace. It is a bow... I thought it might be the bow you were looking for..."
"Yes! The heavens shine down upon me on this day! Give me the bow, you ugly brute" Zanthos demanded, and with a wave of his long, pale hand, he made the bulblin slide forward across the floor and to him. But as soon as Zanthos wrapped his long fingers around the bow, he let out a yelp. The bow had burned him. The engravings on the bow had shone for a few seconds before fading away again. "What is this? Why can I not hold it? You! Pick it up!" he snapped at the bulblin. The terrified creature did as told and he was able to hold the bow with no problem. "Shoot the boy" Zanthos commanded.
"No!" Zelda cried, but Zanthos ignored her. The bulblin took out one of his own arrows and aimed at Link, but he was unable to pull the string.
"I... I can't" he said, turning to Zanthos.
"Give it here!" Zanthos snarled, and made to grab the bow for the second time. Again, the strange markings on the bow began to shine, and again, Zanthos seemed to be repelled. "What are these markings?!" he shrieked. He waved his hand once more and Link felt himself zoom across the floor. Zanthos caught him by the neck. "Tell me what they say!" Zanthos ordered angrily. Link couldn't breathe.
"I... don't... know" he gasped. Being tied up with rope made it impossible for him to try and break free.
"Tell me or I will break your neck!"
"I... don't know..." Link gasped again.
"Very well... you give me no choice" Zanthos said, squeezing Link's neck tighter.
"It's Old Hylian" Zelda said. Zanthos turned to her, releasing Link who fell hard to the floor and began to cough violently.
"Old Hylian? Do you speak it?" he asked.
"Certainly I speak it. I am the Princess of Hyrule" Zelda snapped haughtily.
"Come child, tell me what this wretched bow says" Zanthos said, immediately reverting to his kind demeanor.
"It says: only the Hero of Destiny can wield the power of light and justice" Zelda said with a triumphant smile. "Looks like you're done. You can't use it" she said.
"Hero of Destiny... but this boy can use it. He can shoot it. Ha! The heavens smile at me still. I don't need to use it... not when I have you both to do it for me" he said softly, a maniacal smile upon his pale lips baring his pointed teeth. With a snap of his fingers, a portal opened above them, glowing with the same blue light as the orb. Link felt himself rising through the air and then was sucked into the portal, along with Zelda and Zanthos.
A:N: We finally meet our main villain! Leave me your thoughts and comments in a review! See you soon! xoxo