Chapter Four: Dreams and Legends

Her blonde hair flew behind her as she rushed to catch up with her father, still several paces before her. Obviously flustered, it was clear he had no intentions of slowing or stopping for her. She huffed, picking up her pace as she spoke up again, pleading.

"Father!"

"Enough, my child! How many times must I say it?!" His voice was stern and hard, and echoed through the expansive hall.

"But Father, please! I'm begging you; please don't meet with that man!"

"By the goddesses, child, have you no honor for your father?! I said enough, now cease!"

"I cannot! That man frightens me, father, and my dream-"

"Gah, this again?! Your dream means nothing! It is just that, a dream!"

"But father, it was not just a dream! It was so real!"

The tall man sighed, slowing his pace some at last. He reached up to move aside a stand of hair, greying from black, which had stranded itself under his brow. He spoke again, this time softening his tone. "Of course it was, my child. Dreams can be like that sometimes. But, no matter how real a dream may be, I am not going to rule my people over the imaginings and night-visions of a child. Please understand, it does not hold a place in politics, and the people nor would the council stand for it."

"…Father?"

He stopped, finally, and turned to face his daughter. He knelt down onto one knee as she came before him. "Yes child?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to know after all.

"Do you…do you believe me, father?"

She stared at the floor as her answer was silence. She felt his grip tighten ever slightly. She already knew the answer.

"Of course, my child. You have never lied to me yet, so I cannot believe you would start now."

He smiled, and kissed her forehead, and rose again to his full height. "I must do this whether you wish me to or not; I am sorry. Why don't you go play in the courtyard for a while, hmm?" He patted her head, and gave a small wave as he resumed his trek through the corridors to the assembly hall.

She stood there, rooted to the spot, well after his footsteps had ceased echoing. She knew what his answer was, and his words had rung hollow in her ears. She sighed sadly, turning 'round to wander the halls.

He didn't believe her after all.

~0~

"Son of a scrub, Why are there so many guards?!" Link softly whined, leaning up against a stone wall amidst the castle courtyards. Navi had hid herself underneath his hat, so as not to draw any unwanted attention.

The two had made it to the castle relatively easily, under the cover of night. A water drain from the side of the castle, which filled up the moat, served well as an access point to the inside. He had found himself in one of the many courtyards, where now he was doing his best not to be caught by the guards that roamed them.

Risking a peak, he found no guard present in his sights, and so he bolted across, praying to the goddesses he would not be caught. Making it to the end, he dove and took residence under one of the carefully pruned bushes. No alarms were sounded, no raised voices were heard. He breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing a little.

"Hey, Navi? What do you think the princess will be like?" He asked, as he made an effort to crawl through.

"I don't know, mannerly? Why, what do you think?"

"I dunno' either. I guess I hope she isn't bossy or mean. Like how Mido was." He pushed himself up from the ground and brushed himself off, before scooting across another courtyard.

"I would hope so as well. So you hope she's nice?"

"Well yeah, but I don't want her to be too nice; that'd be kinda' weird."

"Uh huh."

He peaked around the corner, and nodded in satisfaction; no guards were around here yet. "I guess we'll find out soon enough," he said, and took off again. "Almost there…"

~0~

She continued to stare through the window that looked from the courtyard into the assembly hall, watching each processional of the races pledging fealty and respects to her father. She was waiting for one in particular; the Gerudo tribe and their leader.

She sighed in exasperation. Why wouldn't her father believe her! She knew that man was evil, she could practically see it oozing from him, could feel it gushing from him, could even smell the fetid stench of it! She found him repulsive more than the castle sewers. How could no one else realize?

Except for Impa.

She had believed her. There had been no questions asked, instead she had listened, and when she had finished her tale, Impa had nodded and said she would do what she could to try to stop it as well. She had been so happy, she had almost cried. She smiled at the memory. She always had Impa. She was always there for her and was closer to her heart than even her father.

The Gorons were parading down the hall now. They were a very proud mountain race. And funny-looking too, or at least they were to her. She liked how they would roll around to move quickly. They were the greatest allies they Hylians had, as their leader and her father were sworn brothers. Whatever that meant, she didn't know, but all the adults made it sound very important.

Growing tired of standing, she moved over to the steps descending to the grassy plot surrounded by clear water. Her thoughts returned to her dream. And to yesterday's excursion. That boy's name was Link, wasn't it? And his fairy, Navi. Yes, he fit into her dream perfectly. Thinking back, he had also carried with him the aura of a certain strength that she could feel. Not like that horrid Gerudo man. His power had carried the weight of warmth and security, and of confidence and resolve. She had felt safe with him, even when those Gerudo thieves had attacked them. It saddened her to think she would probably never see him again. And she had never even told him who she was.

"Ehh?!"

Startled, she flinched and felt her heart jump as she turned to see who it was. That voice though, she knew who it belonged to; she had only heard it yesterday. But, was it really him? How?

"Link?!"

"You're…the princess?!" He replied, amazed, moving into the courtyard. Navi trailed behind, also showing signs of being pleasantly surprised.

"Link…but…you…how did you get past the guards?!" She asked, mind reeling as she stood up and rushed to him.

"Very carefully, I'm good at hiding. But, uhh, if you're the princess, then…" He cocked his head slightly in though, before suddenly dropping in a bow. "Your highness."

She stared at him, eyes wide. Shaking her head, she took a breath to compose herself. "Link, stand up, you don't need to do that for me, you're my friend. And don't call me that; call me Zelda."

"Zelda huh? So that's your name?" he asked, returning to full height. He smiled. "I like it." She smiled, nodding her head.

"Link," Navi prodded.

"Oh, right," Link said, digging into his pouch. Curious, Zelda leaned over to look. She gasped when she saw what he drew forth.

"The Spiritual Stone of the Forest, Link, how did you get this?!"

"Oh, this? The Great Deku Tree entrusted this to me…as his last act." He muttered, also pulling out the blue instrument. "This is yours, you dropped it yesterday." He handed the ocarina to her, and she took it and put it away.

"The Great Deku Tree, you mean the Keeper of the Forest?"

"Not anymore. He…he's…"

"He was cursed." Navi said then. "The curse brought about his end."

"Oh…I see…Link, sit with me; I want to tell you some things, some of which I think he wanted you to know."

She took him by the wrist and directed him over to the steps once again, and the two sat down.

"This news only strengthens my belief that there is evil at work. I've been having this dream for quite some time now, and it was this that first troubled me."

"You've been having dreams too?" Link asked. She nodded.

"Just the one though. You've had some yourself?"

"A few. They started, well, months ago, actually. The first one was before I met with the Great Deku Tree. After that, the past few nights have been another one."

The princess nodded. "Then you and I are the same."

"Both of you are gifted with heightened awareness to changes in the balance, much like we fairies," Navi spoke up, floating to rest against the stone between the two. Zelda nodded again. Link looked confused.

"Heightened awareness to change? Like a sixth sense or something?"

"More or less, yes," Navi answered. "That's why you two are having dreams; they are your responses to the change. Everyone reacts differently, and other than faerie creatures, those sensitive are few and far between. Both of you in this case are having dreams. Fairies tend to be affected physically; grow sick, attitude changes, and such."

"Have you been affected?" Link asked, a little worried. Navi shook her head.

"Not that I am aware of, no. Sometimes it takes time, especially with fairies that are more resilient. I guess this means I am one of those."

Link nodded, more at ease now with her answer. Zelda shifted so she could face the two more directly. "Link, Navi, let me tell you my dream. I think you will see why it is important, as it involves you."

"It does?" Link asked, surprised. She nodded.

"The dream is always the same. Dark storm clouds from the west enshroud the skies of Hyrule. There is no light, and all green life is fading, and the birds and beasts are no longer seen nor heard. All the while I feel a deep sense of dread and fear." She shivered, recalling the feeling unbidden. "Like a disease, it plagues my very heart and mind."

Link watched her carefully, observing her, recognizing what he himself had once held. It had been the same with the dream with the Great Deku Tree. The Forest Spirit had been grey and cold, leaves were falling, brown and half-eaten away by death. The sky was cold and grey, and at its great wide base was a shadow, unnaturally large and dark. From that shadow came the same fear and dread. There was evil in that shadow. That shadow that suddenly sprouted a singular unblinking eye, staring at him, burning into him…

He had had that dream for weeks, even months, before finally seeing the thing that eye had belonged to: Gohma, the cursed parasite. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder, seeking to be some source of comfort to her.

She felt his hand touch her. It was warm, and she realized that the dreading feeling made her cold. Suddenly the warmth of his hand rushed forth and engulfed her, and for only a moment, she felt as if the warm sun was upon her. The cold was gone, stricken from her body, purged from her thoughts. But as quickly as it had come, it had gone. She opened her eyes, and looked at him. What had he just done? He gave no indication of knowing he had done anything. Then she saw it. For only a moment, she saw a green aura surrounding him, flowing through him. She understood then. For only a moment, somehow, the aura about him had connected with hers, through his touch.

The Goddesses are surely at work here, she thought to herself. She took a breath, relieved from the dark thoughts from before. She would not let it happen again.

"But when all seemed lost, a beam of light shoots out from the heavens, Piercing through the clouds and shedding its radiance upon the earth. The light descends upon the forest, and from it emerges a figure holding the stone you now carry, followed by a fairy. I now know for sure that this dream points to you, Link, and you too Navi."

"Well…wow," Link said, looking down at the stone in his hand. Did the Great Deku Tree know about this? Had he seen the same thing, to have given the stone to him?

"Link, Navi, I believe that this vision shows us you are a light for this world. How, I do not know, but I know the dark clouds in my dream signify another man."

"Who?"

"His name is Ganondorf. He is of the Gerudo tribe to the west, in the desert country. He is the leader of their tribe, their King. He has come here to swear allegiance to my father, but I do not believe he means it. I only glimpsed him once before, and that was all I needed to know he is evil. You met three Gerudo yesterday; those assassins that attacked us were of their tribe."

"Those were Gerudo?" thinking back, he brought up their image in his mind. "They look strange."

"They are a strange people," Zelda replied, nodded in agreement. "Little is known about them; they are very secretive. But I think it is clear that Ganondorf is an evil man, and he is after this ocarina. Otherwise, his assassins wouldn't have asked for it."

"Why does he want that?" Link asked. "I don't think he sounds much like a musical enthusiast."

"No, he isn't," the princess chuckled before garnering a more serious look. "This ocarina is a treasure of the royal family Link. It has been passed down for many generations. It also has a name. It is called the Ocarina of Time. Many legends encircle this instrument. The chief one is that this instrument is a key into the Sacred Realm.

"The Sacred Realm…where the Triforce is?"

"In the land of the goddesses, yes." You know of the Triforce?" Link nodded.

"Only that it was made when they left Hyrule."

"Nothing else? She asked. He thought for a moment, recalling the Great Deku Tree's words.

"He said something about it being the basis of this world's providence." Navi nodded her head, confirming his words.

"He was right in saying so," the princess noted, leaning back a little. "Let me tell you a legend of the Triforce that ties to those words. It is a legend that the royal family holds closely. Tell no one of this, ok?"

"Alright," he nodded, turning to Navi, who also agreed. "So, what is this legend?"

"The legend is this: that the Triforce holds the power to grant the wish of the holder, whatever it may be. A person with a righteous and good heart will not only have their wish granted, but will also give the land of Hyrule prosperity and peace. Conversely, if a man with a malicious and wicked heart has their desire granted, they will bring Hyrule to its knees and shroud it in darkness. That is why it is the basis of Hyrule's providence. Because of its immense power, the ancient individuals known as the sages built the Temple of Time, to keep out those who were evil."

"So wait," Link blurted, realizing something. "That temple back in town, in that town square… that's holding the Triforce?"

She shook her head. "Close, but not quite. The temple serves as a door into the Sacred Realm, and also a barrier. There is a door that is sealed within by powerful magic, coined the Door of Time. The only way to open it," She continued, pointing at the emerald still in his hand, "is to collect the three Spiritual Stones, and lay them before the altar, and to play the song passed down by the royal family, with this, the Ocarina of Time," She finished, holding it momentarily before him. Putting it away, she spoke again.

"I believe that Ganondorf is after the Triforce, which is why he tried to take the ocarina from me. Seeing as the Great Deku Tree was cursed, and passed the stone to you, I cannot but help think that he was responsible for that as well. He must know the legend somehow. He may even know where the other stones are."

Link looked down and gazed upon the stone in his hand, one of three, he now knew. The Great Deku Tree…had he died protecting this stone, preventing it from landing in evil hands? And then he had given it to him. What did that mean? Was he meant to gather the stones to him? The Gerudo man, Ganondorf, was trying to enter the Sacred Realm. Would he allow it?

"Then…then we just have to beat him to it." Link said, standing up. Zelda looked up at him, surprised.

"What?"

"Princess, you hold on to that ocarina. I'll go and find the other two stones. If he's after the Triforce, we won't let him have it!"

"You…you would do that?" she said, standing up with him.

"Of course. How could I not?" he asked, and smiled. She smiled back, happy; he believed her too. She was not so alone as she thought.