The journey from Labrynna to Hyrule had not been a direct one.
After spending several days in Labrynna with Queen Ambi, Zelda and Ilia departed for Holodrum. Ambi provided them with a pair of horses and some supplies, including a bow for Zelda, for the journey. They reached Horon Village on horseback within a couple of days. There, they rested a week while Zelda discussed important issues with Holodrum's leadership. When her business was complete, the pair set out for Hyrule.
The air was cool and crisp as they rode along the main road. The sun guided them as they greeted fellow travelers: merchants hoping to sell their products, soldiers on patrol, and the occasional adventurous explorer. Their horses were sturdy, well-trained animals, able to ride most of the day while carrying their things. Yet, they still needed rest. The animals were allowed to graze at night while the two women ate by the fire, watched by the vigilant moon overhead. They passed the time watching the crackling fire, entertaining one another with jokes and casual conversation until one of them was too tired to speak. Monsters were seldom spotted along the main road, so they slept in peace.
As they crossed the border and approached Hyrule from the south, other travelers on the road became less frequent. Winter's hand on the landscape also became more visible. At first, it was a light frost on the side of the road, the remnants of a past snowfall. But as they rode further, gentle white flakes trickled down from the sky. The women pulled their hoods over their heads and rode on without breaking stride. The foliage-covered ground gradually became a field of white, while the newly fallen snow filled their seats amongst the various branches. The forest was deceptively peaceful and quiet as the riders and their horses passed through it, but it did little to quell the feeling of dread inside Zelda.
Her fears were confirmed as they reached Southern Hyrule Field. The plain now resembled a snowfield, with the white powder forming a thin veil over the ground. However, there was nothing peaceful about this winter-covered battlefield. Trees were split violently in half or uprooted from Kari's tornado. Clouds barreled over one another in the sky above, blocking out the sun like a thick blanket.
Zelda's horse twitched its ears from the freshly falling powder, its hooves crunching in the snow as it slowed to a canter. The gently falling flakes tickled the monarch's cheek as well. She went to wipe it away, but her eyes were drawn to a lump on the ground. A piece of cloth stuck up from the snow, and she knew instantly it belonged to the corpse of one of her soldiers. As the monarch scanned the countryside, more corpses riddled the landscape like festering boils. She was unsure if Ilia noticed them as well, but she decided not to say anything. Small fissures and crags broke up the once flat landscape. The rotting stench of decay grew stronger the further they rode.
For Zelda, it was a bitter reminder of a war her nation had not recovered from. Now, with winter's hungry jaws upon them, she was unsure if the country even had the food or resources to survive. As they rode through the narrow passageway that led to the capital, she looked up through the falling powder to the towering peaks of Hyrule Castle; its white towers blended in with the gentle snowfall, so it took her a moment to find them.
She wondered what had transpired in those halls in her absence. Geroshida's words lingered in the back of her mind. Had Hyrule truly been plunged into anarchy?
She bit her lip and hoped for the best as she and Ilia rode up the stone steps leading to Castle Town, past the fountain, and up to the gates. After dismounting and tying her horse, she stood before the entrance for the first time in several months. Taking a deep breath, she tucked the Harp of Ages beneath her arm and entered with Ilia behind her.
The market that was normally bustling with vendors and customers was completely empty. Stalls were turned over or broken apart; rotten fruit and other garbage stuck to the stone walkway. The dirty streets smudged the newly fallen snow, turning it a muddy color. Shattered glass hidden beneath the snow crunched under their feet. Shutters hung crooked and doors lay half-open. A stray cat wandered through the wreckage looking for scraps, meowing to the lonely, winter air.
The two women stopped to peek over a stall. Several rats scurried out from under it, causing Ilia to jump.
"I don't like this place," Ilia said after they had walked away, holding the Rod of Seasons close to her chest. Her heart thumped against it.
Zelda said nothing. She continued walking down the street, glancing at the ruined buildings. Ilia followed closely behind. There wasn't a soul in sight; it was as if they were walking through a graveyard. All they heard was the desolate wind whip between the buildings and the occasional cry from a stray animal.
As they approached the alleyway leading to Telma's bar, a woman crashed into them, toppling everyone to the ground.
"I am so sorry," the stranger apologized, quickly jumping to her feet.
"Don't worry about it," Ilia responded, scooping up the Rod of Seasons and hugging it back to her body.
"It happens," Zelda said, rising to her feet with the Harp of Ages in her arms.
"I feel so bad. Here, let me make it up to you." She began to sweep off the snow from their clothes. Ilia and Zelda fidgeted uncomfortably; this woman insisted on being very thorough as she swept off every flake from their cloaks.
"That's enough," Zelda said, grabbing the woman's arm and pushing her away. "I appreciate the gesture, but it's really unnecessary."
"Those are some nice earrings," the woman said, attempting to touch them. Again, Zelda swiped her hand away.
"Can we help you with somethin'?" Ilia offered.
The woman looked nervously to both of them. "No, I think I'll be okay. I really need to be going."
She scurried away, her feet losing traction in the snow before turning another corner and disappearing out of sight.
"What was that all about?" Ilia asked, still looking at the woman's footprints etched in the snow. A snowflake tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze.
Zelda shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows? But now we know people still live here. Let's check out the bar."
Ilia gave a wry smirk. "You…step into a bar? Never thought I'd see the day."
The monarch began walking down the alley. "Well, I have to go to where the people are if I want to help them."
As they entered the alleyway, they saw a bearded man standing outside, guarding the doorway. A bottle was in his hand, and he seemed to be content watching the snow fall outside. Since the door was tucked into the building, he remained dry. His eyes perked up when he saw the two women approaching.
"Ya' want in to this here bar?" he asked them in a low growl. "Then it'll cost ya fifty rupees."
Ilia stamped her foot in the snow. "I've never paid before to get in. Go get Telma! She'll recognize me."
The man drew a knife, flashing it in plain sight. "Times are different now. Fifty rupees."
Zelda searched through her pockets but found nothing. "My wallet…it's gone." She looked around the ground to make sure it hadn't fallen. "That woman…she must've stolen it."
Ilia's eyes widened. "We were robbed?" Her brows furrowed. "Typical city folk."
The man's eyes hardened as he stared at Zelda. "Hey…I recognize you. You look an awful lot like the Queen."
Zelda flinched. "What if I am? Will you let us in?"
The man laughed heartily. "Why would I let a wench like you in? Where have you been all this time? I have no food to feed my family. My kids have to steal to survive."
Zelda paused. "The Queen would never abandon her people. I'm sure she's just been busy."
The man scowled. "Busy with what? Sitting warm in her castle while the rest of us starve? You make me sick."
Ilia felt her face heat up. She couldn't stand this man's insolence anymore. "That's the Queen you're talkin' about!"
The man stepped towards her, casting an eye towards the Rod of Seasons. "That's a nice little scepter you have there. I bet I could fetch a pretty penny for that. The harp too."
Zelda's Sheikah training allowed her to intercept his knife before it came too close to Ilia. She hit his arm with the base of the Harp to deflect the blow and then kicked him hard in the groin. The man keeled over, the knife dropping to the ground while his face winced in pain.
"Run!" Zelda shouted, grabbing Ilia's hand as they raced out of the alleyway.
"That's right! Run and hide!" the man called out after them, falling to his knees with a groan. "That's all you know how to do!"
His words haunted Zelda as she ran out of the gate, untied her horse, and climbed into the saddle. Ilia followed closely behind.
Zelda knew it was her fault Hyrule was in its current state. She had failed to protect it multiple times; Link was the only reason her country still existed. And when he was gone and her country needed her most, she foolishly abandoned it on a quest she had no business being a part of. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had no right to rule. She might've had the title and the Triforce in her favor, but her poor decisions spoke for themselves.
If only she could be as resilient as Link. He never gave up no matter how difficult the situation was. He never allowed his doubts to conquer him. He never allowed his shame to drown him.
But she wasn't Link. She was only a failure.
The monarch rode back to the snowy, corpse-ridden landscape. She took a deep breath, soaking in the stench of decay as if it were fresh mountain air. It tore at her senses and made her gag. But there was no better place to remind herself of the suffering of those who had died to protect her.
"Look around us, Ilia. Do you see what I see?"
The ranch girl rode up beside her, wrinkling her nose at the raunchy smell. There was no mistaking it. She had encountered it several times while helping out Dr. Borville.
"Smells like death," she said solemnly.
Zelda nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Like Castle Town, this field is only a ghost of its former glory." She shifted in the saddle to face Ilia. "Don't you see? Hyrule is dying, and there's nothing I can do to stop it."
Her horse pawed at the ground, letting out a nervous whinny. Ilia stroked her horse's mane to calm it. "I don't understand," she replied.
Zelda sighed, pulling on the reigns to calm her own horse. It tossed its head with an aggressive snort.
"Everyone expects me to snap my fingers and make everything better. But it's not that simple. I'm only human; I'm not a goddess."
Ilia nodded. "But you give people hope."
"Not if people don't trust me. You saw what just happened. I'd be lucky if they don't kill me."
The ranch girl centered herself in the saddle. "You never know until you try."
Both horses suddenly burst into a trot towards Faron Woods.
"Whoa!" Ilia shouted, pulling on the reigns to bring her horse to a stop. Zelda did the same. Even so, the animals whinnied nervously, tossing their heads and tugging against the reigns. "What's got them spooked all of a sudden?"
Zelda looked at the crest of a hill and pointed. "Look over there."
Ilia followed her gaze and shivered. "Bulbins? Now of all times?"
The monsters were still a ways off, patrolling the field atop their mounts. There were only two of them.
Zelda notched an arrow and pulled back the string. "I'll make sure they don't see us."
She fired the arrow and hit the hog head on, sending it into a panicked frenzy. The riders were thrown from the saddle. Two more arrows quickly dispatched the dazed monsters.
"Let's go!" Zelda said. They sent the horses galloping towards Faron Woods with a kick of the spurs. The snow-covered branches welcomed them with open arms, providing a hiding place for the two women before more could come.
"I risk sounding like Talo, but that was so cool!" Ilia said when she was sure they were not being pursued. She pulled her horse beside Zelda. "Where'd you learn to do that?"
"Princesses learn all sorts of things," she said casually. "I could teach you a thing or two if you'd like."
The ranch girl shook her head. "I have no intention of fightin'. I just want to get back to Ordon and live life in peace again."
A lump formed in the monarch's throat. Ilia still didn't know about Scorpio's attack. And Zelda didn't have the heart to tell her.
"You don't even want to learn magic? You are a sage now."
Ilia looked as if she had swallowed a lemon. "Kari tried to teach me once. It didn't work out so well."
Zelda chuckled, the first time since returning to Hyrule. "He couldn't teach a dog to bark. I think I could find a simpler way to explain it."
The ranch girl shrugged her shoulders. "You probably could." She glanced at the Rod of Seasons in her hand. "It doesn't matter. I don't want to be a sage. Let someone else do it."
"I don't think you have a choice in the matter."
"There's always a choice. You chose to come back here, didn't you?" She looked down the path that led back to Ordon. "So I'm choosin' to return to Ordon."
They let the subject drop as they began to ride towards Ordon. Ilia stole a glance at Coro's ruined hut, shuddering at the memory of the monster attack that had started it all. They trotted by it without a word and through the wooded area that led to the bridge that separated Faron Province from Ordona.
Except there was no bridge.
The horses stopped short, rearing on their hind legs before backing away from the ravine's edge. Ilia couldn't stop looking at the deep chasm where the bridge should have been. Now, there was nothing but a wind-swept channel and the distant rushing water below.
"Where do we go from here?" Zelda asked softly.
Ilia looked from one side of the ravine to the other. "I…I don't know. This bridge…it's always been here. I don't think there's another way over this."
Zelda bit her tongue. She could guess why the bridge was out. She also figured there wasn't going to be a village on the other side. But how could she break that to Ilia?
"Perhaps we should head for Kakariko?" the monarch suggested.
Ilia dismounted and leaned over the edge. She kicked the snow and watched some of the powder fall into the river. "But we're so close. What about Pa? And everyone else?"
Zelda stayed on her horse. "Just hold on a moment. I know you want to see them, but we can't get there right now. We should go somewhere and think of a plan."
Ilia took a deep breath and walked away from the precipice. She knew Zelda was right, but that didn't make her idea any easier to accept. She wrapped herself with her arms and looked up at the barren trees before getting back on her horse.
"Come on, Ilia. Let's head for Kakariko."
The ranch girl didn't resist as her horse followed Zelda's. Nothing made sense. She had come so far. Was this some sort of divine prank?
"Do you think Colin is doin' alright?" she asked.
Zelda shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sure he's fine. He's with Link, after all." She looked over her shoulder at Ilia. "What made you think of him all of a sudden?"
Ilia's ears turned red. "Well, things don't look too good right now. But that wouldn't bother him. I guess I sorta miss that."
Zelda smiled as she thought of Link. "I wonder where he got that from."
Ilia nodded solemnly. "That's not hard to figure out." She paused, focusing on her horse's mane. "Do you think he's still mad at us?"
The question caused Zelda to flinch as her last conversation with the hero played through her mind. Although his words had been harsh, she refused to let that one instance tarnish her opinion of him. She wasn't perfect, so why should she expect him to be?
His deeds spoke for themselves. But what really impressed her was the willingness with which he'd done them. No one had forced him. And yet, despite how much he accomplished, he was so easy to get along with. Everyone in Ordon loved him. His skills had the younger ones mesmerized. His dependability had won the trust of the adults. His courage had inspired Colin. His kindness had forged a lifelong friendship with Ilia.
And somehow, despite her best efforts, all these traits and more had won her affection as well. She knew it would never be returned. Even if the feelings were mutual, there were too many complications with her position for things to work out. But that didn't stop her from dreaming. What if they had met under different circumstances? Would things be different?
"He doesn't seem like the type of person to hold a grudge," she said.
The ranch girl looked away, but seemed to accept her justification. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."
They rode the rest of the way to Hyrule Field in silence. The snow gradually came to a stop, leaving behind a forest of sparkling white wherever they looked. It was fitting, for the serene setting gave each woman a chance to be alone with their thoughts.
Little did they know they were heading straight for an ambush.
As they stepped out onto the scarred landscape, bulbins snuck out from behind the trees and surrounded him. They hissed through broken teeth, swatting at the air with their clubs. The horses reared on their hind legs, tossing the two women from their saddles. The spooked animals burst through the bulbin perimeter and galloped away, leaving Zelda and Ilia to fend for themselves against the mob of monsters surrounding them.
"What do we do?" Ilia asked, her eyes darted around like a frightened animal. The monsters pushed her forward as they were corralled into the open field where their leader awaited.
Zelda reached for the tanto sheathed on her waist. She gripped it tightly in her hand and pressed shoulders with Ilia. "Do you have a weapon?" she whispered.
The ranch girl grimaced. "Why would I? I'm not a fighter."
The monarch saw the large monster on the horizon, riding another boar-like beast. There was only one being it could be. "Well, use the Rod of Seasons as a club then," she said urgently.
Ilia laughed nervously. "I guess I can do that."
However, her smile quickly disappeared as large hooves clomped against the ground near them. A loud snort from Lord Bullbo caught her attention, and her face drained of all color as she looked King Bulbin square in the face. Her hands trembled as his beady yellow eyes sized up her petite frame.
This was Zelda's first encounter with the beast. Two long horns protruded from his head while a decorative red cloth hung around his neck. His slimy, green skin sagged at the stomach. A large, stone axe hung over his shoulder while the other hand grasped Lord Bullbo's reigns. Link had warned he was actually quite intelligent and even capable of speech.
The monster maneuvered his steed in front of Zelda. The other bulbins parted reverently for him. Zelda stepped forward, her hand holding tightly to her weapon.
A sinister smile revealed disgusting, perforated teeth. "I have come to play!"
Ilia's breath escaped her. Did that monster just speak?
Zelda's face locked into a scowl that showed no surprise. "Do you know who I am?" When the monster only stared blankly at her, she continued. "I am Zelda, Queen of Hyrule and friend to Link."
The monster nodded and his smile disappeared. "I remember Link." He briefly touched his horn, where a difference in coloration indicated a healed wound. "He is strong."
The monarch straightened her back and tilted her chin, her confidence causing some of the bulbins to back away. "Then you'll remember your promise to him. That you wouldn't attack Hyrule anymore because he beat you so thoroughly."
King Bulbin nodded slowly. "Yes. I follow only the strongest."
Zelda felt Ilia press harder against her side. She knew what was going through her mind. She was wondering the same thing. "So why did you attack Ordon? And why do you still plunder my lands?"
This question amused the monster. His deep laugh shook his stomach. "To test your strength. Without Link, Hyrule is weak."
The meaning of his words was impossible to miss. Zelda recoiled and let her eyes drop. She quickly brought her gaze back up to meet King Bulbin. But she caught her mistake too late. She had shown weakness.
That disgusting smile appeared once again. "A country is only as strong as its king."
Zelda clenched her other fist while her blood boiled beneath her skin. While his words stung, it was the truth behind them that infuriated her. Hyrule was falling apart at the seams because of her own inadequacy as a queen. For all the wisdom the Triforce had given her, how could she be so foolish? She had sent Link, her country's greatest warrior, away for seven years on the whim of a vague dream, and then compounded her mistake by leaving her lands unprotected after battling a madman. It was no wonder King Bulbin had no respect for her or her land. She didn't deserve it.
"I…" she paused, lowering her weapon to her side. She tore her gaze away and looked down at the ground. She could hear King Bulbin's bellowing laughter in the background. The other bulbins joined in with their squeals.
What could she say? Words were useless at this point. Nothing she said could take back the suffering her people had endured.
She felt a strong grip on her shoulder. It was Ilia. The ranch girl's face was pale and her hand trembled even as she spoke. But her eyes voice was stern. "You can't just let him get away! If you don't stop him, who will?"
"I…" she stuttered, but Ilia cut her off.
"That beast ransacked Ordon. He plundered Kakariko. Things will never get better if he continues to roam free."
The monarch looked at Ilia. She was right. Now was no time to feel sorry. She needed to act as Hyrule's monarch, whether she felt worthy of the title or not. Her doubts still plagued her, but she would deal with them later.
She handed the Harp of Ages to Ilia and turned to challenge the monster. "You're right, Ilia. Justice must be served. Thanks for helping me see that."
King Bulbin's eyes narrowed. He saw the fire in her eyes and smirked. He dropped his axe onto the ground with a large thud and jumped off Lord Bullbo. The large pig snorted loudly as his master dragged the large weapon towards the monarch.
"Time to have some fun," he grunted, lifting the heavy weapons into his hands and leaning it into his large frame.
The other bulbins encircled Zelda and their king, creating a crude arena for their duel. They beat their clubs against the ground and squealed as if participating in some sort of tribal chant. Ilia watched from the outside, wanting to help, but too paralyzed by fear to know what to do.
Zelda placed the tanto back in its sheath and reached for her bow. She pulled an arrow out of her quiver and notched the string. She closed one eye and took aim at the monster as he stomped in her direction.
FWIP!
The arrow sailed through the air right for King Bulbin. He easily blocked it with the head of his axe and continued his approach. Unmoved, the monarch launched another arrow straight at the monster. He blocked that one too.
Zelda backed up several steps until she found herself unexpectedly pushed back into the arena. Several bulbins behind her squealed angrily, threatening her with their clubs. So much for fighting from a distance.
Her heart beat like a drum as the monster now came within striking distance. Her eyes widened as he raised the weapon above his head. She rolled to the side as the weapon struck the ground like thunder. Quickly jumping to her feet, she notched another arrow and let it fly.
King Bulbin grunted in pain as the arrow stuck in the thick skin of his back shoulder. He gave it a momentary glance and pulled it out. Green slime began to emerge from the small wound, but he paid no attention to it.
Zelda launched another arrow, but it too met with the same result. The projectile stuck in his other shoulder, only irritating the brute further. He yanked it out with a grunt and marched towards her at a slightly quicker pace.
He's resilient, Zelda thought to herself. No wonder Link had such trouble getting rid of him. She was going to have to try something different.
Zelda closed her eyes and began mumbling softly. Behind her, bulbins cheered with incoherent squeals as their king approached ever closer. Step by step, inch by inch, he closed the gap between them, but the monarch didn't move.
Ilia watched outside the combat circle, her hands pinching her cloak nervously. Why wasn't Zelda reacting? Couldn't she see him approaching?
Zelda opened her eyes only to find the beast standing right in front of her. She dove for the ground as King Bulbin swung his hammer around him in a large circle, blowing wind past her face as the massive weapon grazed just above her scalp. She rolled out of his range and waited for him to stop spinning.
The hammer rested momentarily on the ground as King Bulbin paused to reorient himself, dizzy from that last attack. Zelda seized on the opportunity and jumped on his back, pulling the bowstring tight against his neck like a noose. The monster instantly dropped the hammer as he began to gag, clawing at his back to rip the woman off. Zelda fought for her life, legs swinging through the air as she clung to her bow. She grabbed the tanto at her hip and dug it into the monster's collar bone, using the hilt as an anchor point to steady herself
King Bulbin screamed and clawed frantically for the monarch, finally managing to grab hold of Zelda's arm. He ripped her off his back and slammed her against the ground. The force of the impact was disorienting. Zelda slowly rose to her feet, her head spinning. King Bulbin grabbed his hammer and cocked it back for another massive swing. As Zelda started to reorient herself, she saw his hammer coming towards her. There was no time to react.
CRACK!
The cold metal struck her ribs with terrible force. A sickening pop echoed through the field, and Zelda was sent sprawling across the ground.
"ZELDA!" Ilia shrieked, but her voice was drowned out by the gargles and squeals from the cheering bulbins. The ranch girl tried to push through the cheering mob to aid her friend, but she was shoved back. She looked on helplessly as Zelda's body lay motionless like the other corpses scattered across the field.
King Bulbin grinned victoriously, sliding the bow off his neck and chucking it at her limp body. He hobbled towards her, the heavy weapon beginning to take its toll on his tired arms. The hammer dug a trench through the snow as it dragged behind him, ready to finish the job. The cheers of delight from his followers spurred the monstrous king on as he set out to prove his dominance over Hyrule. He stood over the monarch's still body, reveling in his victory over her puny frame.
Except that puny frame suddenly jumped to her feet as if nothing had happened. She quickly grabbed the handle of his hammer, her delicate face a few inches from his putrid smelling skin. Before he knew it, a ball of flame engulfed the two of them, melting the snow around them and causing his underlings to retreat. He looked into her eyes; she seemed unaffected by it. He, on the other hand, felt his skin being seared and his wounds burning like lava.
He roared in pain, pushing her away while he dropped his weapon and rolled around to douse the flames in the cool powder. Zelda grabbed her bow off the ground and drew it again, this time focusing her magical energy.
A brilliant burst of incandescent light covered her bow and quickly disappeared. The arrows that now armed her weapon looked to have been forged from the sun. Their long, sleek design fit into the golden bow that now rested in her hands. Their holy power was hers to command.
As she armed the weapon, the light arrow began to glow and a heavenly chime echoed in her ear. King Bulbin had found some relief to the burning by now, but his normally slimy skin was hard and covered with ash. Zelda raised the bow and let the arrow sail by the monster's face. The sacred projectile scorched past his nose, leaving a trail of light in its wake. He stared in astonishment, managing only a weak grunt as he turned to face Hyrule's monarch.
"I assure you these arrows are much more potent than the other ones," she challenged with an icy tone, another glowing arrow aimed right at his chest. "That was a warning shot. The next one won't miss."
King Bulbin grinned barbarically as he grabbed his weapon. "You think I fear those…"
Zelda gave him no time to finish his sentence. The sacred arrow hit its target, enveloping him in pure light. Small sparks shot from his body as it became enveloped in an incandescent glow. His hammer clanged to the ground. His minions watched helplessly as their leader squirmed at the mercy of this outsider.
Zelda watched in silence as the effects from her arrow wore off. She marveled at King Bulbin's resilience; a lesser monster would've been vanquished with one shot. He hardly seemed a threat as he lay flat on his stomach, his face resting against the ground. Still, she readied another arrow in case her previous message hadn't gotten through.
"Enough!" the monster shouted, slowly rising to one knee. He held his shoulder and grimaced. "You are stronger." he admitted, looking away in shame.
"Then you will respect Hyrule and leave its citizens alone," Zelda said loudly, tilting her chin upward as a sign of her strength. "You will return to the desert and never plunder our lands again. Is that understood?"
King Bulbin reluctantly agreed to her terms. In a tragic display of defeat, he limped over to Lord Bullbo and climbed atop him with the help of the other bulbins. With a blow of his horn, they rallied around him and rode off in the direction of Gerudo Desert. Zelda watched them, careful not to look away until they rode out of sight.
Finally, she allowed herself to relax and lowered the weapon to her side. "Well, shall we head to Kakariko?"
Ilia looked at her dumbfounded. "But how…that hammer should've broken your ribs? How are you still standing? And your bow?"
Zelda winked at her. "Told you magic could be useful. It's a simple spell called Nayru's Love. As for the rest, I'll explain it on the way."
Kakariko village was full of refugees who had fled from Castle Town in the anarchy following Zelda's absence. The chaos of the past few months had attacked everyone with equal brutality. Nobles that once sat at the top of the Hylian class system now mourned the loss of all their treasured possessions. Peasants that had barely been able to afford bread for the week despaired over the loss of food. The hunger and cold were everyone's worst enemy. Here, they hoped to at least have a fighting chance.
Yet, instead of forming rifts and producing chaos as it had in Castle Town, the struggles produced bonds of friendship between the people there. The noble who had lost everything worked beside the man who had nothing to begin with, both rebuilding the same houses in hopes of surviving the winter. Even the Gorons and Zora worked with them to slowly transform the ruined village into a habitable place once again. It wasn't easy with the bitter cold stinging their faces and the snow obstructing their movements, but they banded together and continued working because they knew it was the only way they'd survive.
The progress they made was significant. It was difficult to believe only that summer a terrible battle had taken place in that village. Most of the monsters around it had been killed in the war, and the few stragglers were warded off by what remained of the Hylian Knights. Most of the structural integrity of the buildings had been reestablished. Windows were being sealed up to keep out winter's frigid breath. By far, the most difficult part had been dealing with the deceased. The graveyard was already filled to capacity, so many had to be burned or buried in Hyrule Field.
Zelda and Ilia were surprised to find this ray of hope as they set foot in the village. Shouts from those working and the banging of hammers filled the air. Everyone was wrapped in several layers to combat the cold, yet they all persisted in working nonetheless.
Zelda marveled at the people around her. She stepped to the side as several women and an elderly man walked past her with a large piece of lumber. A child carrying a pale full of nails nearly bumped into her. Neither gave her more than a passing glance.
"It's as if they don't recognize me," Zelda whispered in Ilia's ear as they stood outside the door to Renado's house.
"I'm sure it's only a matter of time," the ranch girl replied, her eyes sweeping the village for any sign of the Ordonians. She began heading for the shaman's house. "Let's try in here. Maybe Renado knows if Bo and the others are anywhere nearby."
To their surprise, they found many of the Ordonians huddled in the spacious house. Sheets and makeshift pillows were scattered all over the floor. Torches placed around the room provided the only light and warmth. The large statue in the middle had been moved back to its original position to prevent any monsters from launching a sneak attack through the underground tunnel.
Beth was the first one to notice Ilia and Zelda standing in the doorway. She pulled Talo over.
"Ilia! You're back!" Beth shouted, enveloping the ranch girl with a hug.
"Good to see you back," Talo said, standing awkwardly nearby. He saw Zelda and gave her an affirmative nod. "You too, Zelda."
Beth stepped back. "So where's Link? And Colin? Are they here too?"
Ilia shook her head. "They'll be back later. They still have some things to take care of."
By now, their conversation had caught the attention of everyone else in the room, and soon a crowd gathered around the two women. Ilia was overwhelmed by the friends that flocked around to hug and greet her. Zelda stepped to the side, not wanting her presence to intrude on the celebration.
Suddenly, the crowd began to shift and part as a large man pushed his way to the front. Bo looked at his daughter with tears in his eyes and ran towards her, his large arms wrapping around her like a blanket.
"Pa! I'm so glad to see you!" she exclaimed, tears welling up in her own eyes.
He grabbed her tightly and lifted her feet off the ground. His sobbing robbed him of words, but the relief on his face expressed it plainly. He gently placed her on the ground and wiped away a tear forming on his eye.
"I was afraid you'd never come back," he managed at last. He brushed her bangs up with his hand and took a good look at her face. "What happened to you out there? You're all scratched up and bruised."
Ilia interlaced her fingers. "Nothing I couldn't handle. I'm just glad to find you guys. I was afraid I'd never see you again. Zelda and I saw the bridge was out."
Zelda felt a lump form in her throat as the smile quickly disappeared off the Mayor's face.
"A lot's happened since you've been gone. But here…let's get out of this drafty doorway and sit a spell." He wrapped his arm around his daughter and led her further into the house. Zelda joined them as they sat by one of the torches, the rest of the villagers respecting their privacy by occupying themselves with mundane tasks.
"Do either of you want some hot spring water?" Bo asked, sipping from a small mug. "I know it's not much, but it really warms the soul after working out in that cold all day."
"We'll be fine," Ilia said, quickly glancing at Zelda for confirmation. "We wanted to know how everyone's been holding up. And why everyone's here instead of the village."
Bo gently put down his mug and scratched his head. "Well, how do I break this easily?" He looked around the room, causing Ilia to lean forward in anticipation. "I suppose there is no easy way," he sighed. "We were attacked in the middle of the night by bandits. Those here managed to escape…" he glanced to the side at Pergie folding some sheets. "But not everyone made it. The village is a pile of ashes now, so we took refuge here."
Ilia felt like someone had punched her in the gut. Her mouth hung open as the words rung in her mind.
"You mean…the village…is gone?"
Bo nodded. "Everything. Our house. The ranch. All we have now is each other."
Zelda placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. The woman flinched. "Will you be okay, Ilia?" the monarch asked.
Ilia stared at her shoes. There was no response.
"Your Majesty? Is that really you?"
Zelda looked up and saw a soldier standing beside her. She hadn't even heard him approach.
"Viscen? What are you doing here?"
The soldier came closer and bowed. "Your Majesty, I can't tell you how glad I am to see you. The country is in a state of disaster without you. Geoffrey informed me you had important business, but he never said…"
Zelda cut him off. "Where's Geoffrey? Is he here?"
Viscen bit his tongue and looked away. His hands began to fidget nervously.
The monarch could see the pain in his eyes. "Viscen…tell me."
He took a large breath and tried to force the words out. "He's…he's no longer with us, Your Majesty. He gave his life protecting the villagers."
Zelda took a sharp breath. She placed a hand on her forehead and tried to steady herself. Now she knew what Ilia was going through.
"Your Majesty?"
"Excuse me, Viscen. I need some time to myself," she said briskly, rising to her feet.
"Of course, Your Majesty," the soldier stepped to the side to let her pass.
As Zelda left out the back entrance, she overheard some of the conversations behind her.
"Your Majesty? You mean that woman is…."
"Yeah. I think that's her. That's the Queen."
"But where has she been all this time?"
"Who knows? Lot of good she's done though. Just look at…"
The door closed with a squeal behind her as she headed for the graveyard, the one place she felt she would be undisturbed. The cold indifference of the outside air took her by surprise compared to the warmth of Renado's house. Nonetheless, she pulled her cloak tighter and braved the frigid air.
A lonely wind swept through the graveyard, gently pulling on her cloak indecisively as she arrived. As she walked among the lonely gravestones, her eyes scanned the names written upon them. Cracks and chips in the headstones made them impossible to read. It was clear from the undisturbed snow on the ground no one had come to pay their respects in the past few days.
Zelda wondered how long they had been there. What kind of lives had they lived? Had they been valiant knights? Ordinary citizens? In the end, it didn't really matter. The cruel waves of time had not been kind to their graves and cared little for honoring them. Would it be the same for her grave?
The monarch rested her hand on one of the stone structures and wiped the snow on top to the ground. The stone's coarse texture chilled her fingers, but she didn't retract her hand. She wanted to grieve for Geoffrey's death, to shed a tear to show how much his loss affected her. Yet, as severe as the pain in her heart was, none came. She had bottled her emotions so long that she wasn't sure if she was capable of such tears anymore. She wanted to build a memorial to honor him, but even that wasn't possible. There simply wasn't enough time or resources.
What could she do? Her country was in ruins. She had lost the trust of her people. She had isolated Link. And now one of her trusted friends was gone. Even her victory against King Bulbin felt hollow now.
She heard footsteps shuffling in the snow behind her. Zelda looked over her shoulder to see Ilia.
"Sorry. Hope I'm not disturbin' ya," the ranch girl said softly.
Zelda shook her head and looked up at the sky. "You have a right to this place as much as I do. We've both lost something dear to us."
Ilia walked beside her and folded her hands behind her back. "It puts things in perspective, don't it? Makes you appreciate the important things in life."
Zelda nodded solemnly. "Yes, it does."
Ilia rocked back and forth on her heels. "Pa told me about Geoffrey. I'm sorry for your loss."
The monarch walked to another grave and slid the snow off the top. She let out a heavy sigh. "He wouldn't have had it any other way. He was stubborn like that."
The ranch girl nodded sympathetically. "Sounds like a few others we know." She paused, looking down at the ground.
Zelda nodded. "Yes, they're still out there fighting somewhere. And here I am…looking at a couple of decrepit gravestones, feeling sorry for myself."
Ilia looked at her with surprise. "I'm sorry?"
The monarch leaned off the gravestone and looked Ilia in the eyes. "We both have good reason to grieve. But sadly, time won't allow it. There are a lot of people depending on us."
The ranch girl paused, looking around at the graveyard as if it held her answer. "I've kind of been forced to that conclusion too. I still don't like the idea of being a sage." She looked up, curling her fist loosely. "But the village is gone now. People have died. If I continue to run from it, more people could get hurt. Like Pa. Or Link."
Zelda nodded.
Ilia's eyes looked off in the distance. "Or Colin."
The monarch smiled softly. "I'm glad we feel the same. I may not be a good ruler. I might even be a bad ruler. But I'll marry a moblin before I abandon my country or my throne. It's time I take Hyrule back."
"How?"
"The hardest part will be taking care of my people and regaining their trust. However, I think the Gorons and Zora will be willing to assist us. And I've enlisted the help of a few powerful friends to lend us resources."
"Really? Who?"
"Labrynna and Holodrum. That's why we made all those stops before returning here."
Ilia shivered. "But what about Mudora and Zant?"
Zelda nodded. "Stopping Mudora and rebuilding Hyrule are intertwined. I held a meeting with each country back before Zant attacked Castle Town. They promised to support me in the effort to stop him. As far as I know, he hasn't been completely defeated, so they'll help us with that too."
Ilia placed a hand on her shoulder. "You'll have my help too. Well, on one condition."
Zelda raised a brow. "And what's that?"
Ilia smirked. "You'll need to teach me magic. I won't be much of a sage without it."
Zelda nodded. "I think we can pull that off."