Chapter 3: Landon Age 10
I began slipping out of unconsciousness, slowly bringing myself back into reality. I could suddenly feel the sheets as they wrapped around my body and I was also aware that another body was in my arms. Zelda smelled like the roses I had picked for her yesterday. Her hair smelled wonderful even though small strands of it were working their way up my nose as I breathed in her sweet scent. I tried to force my mind into shutting down for a little while longer but that proved to be difficult once a third body began jumping up and down on my sleeping place.
"Daddy, Mommy! Wake up! Today is the day!" Landon shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Landon, it's still early. Go back to bed son." I said.
"Come on come on! Wake up! Today is the day!" He repeated.
"Landon." Now Zelda was awake. "I've told you before about waking us up in such a manner."
"Don't be too hard on him dear." I yawned. "He is still a kid."
"Daddy please wake up! You said today is the day!" Landon stopped jumping and shook my shoulders impatiently. "Please Daddy please!"
"Alright alright!" I said. "I'm getting up." I pushed the covers aside and sat up after Landon finally jumped down from our bed. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and stretched out my back. A knock on the door made me jump.
"Good morning your Majesties. We have prepared breakfast for you and the young prince. We hope you'll find it to your liking." Cyrus said.
"Very good Cyrus. You may take leave for the morning." I said. Zelda finally decided she was awake enough to get out of bed for the day. She groaned as she rose out of bed and stretched her shoulders. She looked so beautiful, even in the morning. She went over to the vanity and immediately began brushing through her hair and re-braiding it. Landon had disappeared from the room with Cyrus; he probably started pigging out on his breakfast. It at least gave us time to wake up completely and get dressed.
"So, what exactly did you promise our son would happen today?" Zelda asked me, removing her night clothes and exchanging them for her favorite dress.
"I promised him that I would teach him how to use his new…tools that I made him for his birthday last week."
"Link, I do wish you wouldn't craft him such dangerous presents. A prince has no need of such things."
"Zelda, we've been through this. I'm teaching him basic defense skills. I don't predict that more monsters will appear in the kingdom anytime soon but I want him to able perform basic abilities against foes. Besides, I don't plan to teach him swordsmanship until he's at least a teenager."
Zelda nearly dropped her crown in shock. "You're planning to teach him what?"
"If you can learn swordsmanship so can he." I reasoned, placing my own crown on my head. I straightened my royal tunic and pants until my outfit was perfect and unwrinkled. Zelda still seemed very angry with me so I walked over to her and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Are you angry my love?"
She sighed heavily. "I just don't understand why you feel this is more important to teach him rather than how to rule Hyrule."
I turned her around to face me before answering her question. "There is plenty of time for him to learn how rule. You never know when someone new is going to come along and attempt to take over our kingdom. If he knows how, he can defend the kingdom alongside the people."
"How do you know someone will try to take over the kingdom?"
"How do you know they won't?" I retorted. "Honey, after I defeated Zant and Ganondorf I thought Hyrule was safe again. And then look what happened; Zant's brother came after us and the kingdom again. It's always something."
Zelda grabbed my hand. "Link, honey. Are you really that worried about being attacked again?"
"I'm more worried about it happening when I'm not here. What if something happens to us and THEN someone decides to attack. What if he can't fight them off? What if he can't save the kingdom, what if he loses it, what will….?" My worried rambling was suddenly disrupted by my wife's lips. Her kiss slowly eased the tension out of my shoulders and I could almost feel my brain shutting off for a moment. She eventually broke the kiss and gently grasped my face in her hands.
"I can see that this worries you so. My point is that you and I don't know when we'll be leaving this world and I just want to make sure Landon will rule the right way. Instead of concentrating and worrying about "what ifs" why don't we go to breakfast, spend the day with our son, and live today."
I smiled. She was right; life was about living in the now, living it day by day instead of worrying about tomorrow. I nodded my agreement, leading her to the bedroom door. We found Landon in the dining hall, stuffing his face with eggs, toast, and apples. I smiled at Zelda, trying to teach him the proper way to sit at the "royal table" and eat a "royal meal". And not two minutes ago she was telling me to not worry about how he will be in the future; you got to love her I guess.
I joined my wife and son at the breakfast table and the minute I sat down, Landon's chat mode turned completely on. "So Daddy, what will you teach me today?"
"Today my son, you will be shown how to use a bow and arrow."
"What about my slingshot?"
"That is child's play." I said taking a bite of my breakfast. "It comes in handy to stun something or it can kill smaller things." Zelda cleared her throat in disapproval. "Which you must never do and why I told you to only aim it at the crafted targets." I looked back at Zelda; she continued to look at her plate and slowly eat her breakfast. Assuming I was in the clear, I proceeded to tell Landon what I expected of him when using his new bow and arrow.
"Okay Daddy. I won't aim my new bow and arrow at anything living."
"Good boy." We finished breakfast together and not long after that, Landon darted through the castle doors, heading for Castle Town. Zelda halted his hastened resolve and told him, "When the royal family leaves the confines of the castle, we walk with grace and dignity through Castle Town. And we wave and acknowledge the people who greet us with kindness and concern. Then we make our way to the gate where we will practice your bow and arrow. Do you understand?"
"Yes Mother." Landon said. He waited patiently for Zelda and me to arrive at the gates before he walked with us, directly beside Zelda. The two gates opened and we took in the townspeople going about their business and the glory of the fountain in the town square. The day was beautiful, the perfect day to get out of the castle and mingle amongst our loyal subjects. We told the guards not to announce we were coming through; I just wanted to walk amongst them and get to the South Gate.
As we passed, those who noticed us bowed their respect and went about their merry way. Telma, however, was a different story. "Link…I mean King Link…I mean Your Majesty. May I treat you a drink at my bar?"
"Not today Telma." I said. "Thank you for the offer but today I'm teaching the young prince a very important skill."
Telma looked down as if she finally noticed my son at Zelda's side. "Why hello little prince. It is so nice to see how big you have gotten since the last time I saw you."
"Hello. My name is Prince Landon and it is nice to see you today." Landon repeated the words that Zelda forced into his head a million times. He sounded a little rehearsed.
Telma laughed. "It's certainly nice to see you. And hello Your Majesty," she said finally acknowledging my wife. "You're looking lovely as ever."
"Why thank you Telma. Perhaps someday soon, King Link and I shall attend your bar and drink with you."
"That would make my night Your Majesties. I shall excuse myself and allow their majesties to go about their way. Have a pleasant day King Link and Queen Zelda."
We bowed our heads in goodbye. The Southern Gates drew nearer and the guards allowed us safe passage. We heard the grand gates slam closed; I told Landon it was okay if he wanted to run down the giant staircases. In fact, he got no farther than a few steps before I picked him up and put him on my back. Together, we soared down the stairs and hit the field. The Goron standing guard at the southern path had set up targets along the field.
Zelda meandered on the steps as she watched the two of us. I stood behind Landon and held the bow in front of him as he should hold it. I stopped him from firing the first arrow, insisting that he observe me fire one from my own Hero's bow.
"Observe how I hold the bow and how I let go of my arrow. Soon, with enough practice you should be able to do this while hanging upside down." I teased.
"What?"
"Just concentrate on my technique." I pulled back my arrow and aimed for the target next the Goron. My elbow came all the way back, charging the force of the arrow. I aimed for dead center of the target and I let go of the arrow. It shot into the target, hitting the center ring. "Now you try." Landon took his position in front of me and I helped him pull back on the bow string, pulling the arrow back with it. "Now son, it is key not to let go of the bow. Hold onto that bow with your dominant hand. Pull back with your opposite hand and let go when you have the target dead center." I instructed.
I slowly let go of my grasp on Landon's hands and backed up to give him plenty of room to fire. He finally let go of the arrow and it landed just at the foot of the target. His shoulders slumped in discouragement. I placed my reassuring hand on his slumped shoulder and said, "Don't worry son. No one gets it the first time. With practice, you'll be as good as I am."
"You really think so Daddy?" He asked me.
"Of course son." He picked his bow back up and drew another arrow. He tried and tried until after his tenth arrow, he finally hit the target. He didn't hit the center but he at least hit the target. He jumped up and down with excitement. "Good job son. What did I tell you? Just keep practicing and you will eventually hit the target dead center."
Metal against stone echoed throughout the field and I found Cyrus clomping down the stairs towards Zelda with what looked like a serious expression. "What is it Cyrus?" I asked.
"We need Your Majesties back at the castle. It would appear that there are some nomads passing through that have committed some awful crimes and we need Your Majesties to decide their fate." Zelda looked at me with the saddest of expressions.
"But Cyrus, I promised Landon that today would be a family day."
"I am so sorry Your Majesty. It can't be helped." Cyrus said sympathetically. I looked at Landon, disappointment threatening to overcome his happy face. When I looked back to Zelda, understanding filled her expression. I was confused.
"Cyrus, King Link and Prince Landon will spend the rest of the day training. I, on the other hand, will take the liberty of seeing to the prisoner's punishment." I walked up to Zelda and lovingly grabbed her shoulders.
"Are you sure my darling? If they require both of us then perhaps I should go." I asked.
"It is alright my dear. My father had done so on his own before me and I am more than capable of doing so. You said so yourself, this is Landon's day. Go have a father and son day." She smiled lovingly, not one look of regret or anger tainting it. I kissed her passionately and whispered, "Thank you sweetheart, I love you" against her lips before breaking the kiss completely. "Landon," she called, "You do as your father says and I will see both of you at dusk for dinner."
"Understood Mother." Landon said, smiling from ear to ear.
"Cyrus, one more thing before you depart with the Queen." I said.
"Yes Your Majesty?"
"Please have the next available guards escort Epona and Rain to the Southern Gate."
"I'll see to it personally Your Majesty." He placed his fist over his heart and bowed obediently. Zelda followed behind him and together they disappeared back into Castle Town. I instructed Landon to keep practicing with the bow until the horses arrived. Cyrus eventually came back, Epona on one side and Rain on the other. Landon and I put away our bows and took the reins from Cyrus.
Mounting Rain proved to be very easy for Landon so I paid no attention to him as I mounted Epona. "Now Landon, there are only a few things you need to know about riding a horse. Wrap the reins around your hands like this," I showed him and then continued. "Now, this is very simple; if you want to turn right, take the rein in your right hand and pull it to the right and the horse will follow. The same thing goes for going to the left. Don't hold the rings too tight otherwise Rain will want to stop when you don't want her to. Pull back on the reins to bring her to a stop. Now, to get her going, kick your heels into her side, not too hard, but hard enough that she knows what you want her to do. You don't even have to say anything, but I like to do it for formality sake." I said smiling.
He looked ready to go; we kicked our girls into a trot and we made our way to Hyrule Field. Now that Landon knew how to ride a horse, we needed to do something to bond as men. There was only one activity I could think of that would do well to bring a father and son together. "Landon," I called bringing Epona to a gentle walk. Landon followed my example and I caught up with him. "Whaddya say you and I go to Ordon?"
"Where's that Daddy?"
"It's my home village. You haven't been there since you were five so I'm not sure how much you remember about it. But I know everyone would love to see you."
"Okay Daddy."
"I'll show ya one of my favorite things to do while we're there." I said. We headed down through the field and onto the trail that would lead us to Ordon. The familiar chirping of birds and the sweet smell of the Ordon trees greeted us next to Coro's house. He still sat next to that same fireplace with lantern oil as if he hadn't moved in years.
"Oh goodness. Greetings Your Majesty. Can I interest you in some oil or a lantern perhaps?" Coro asked.
"That won't be necessary today Coro. We're just on our way to Ordon."
"Are you by any chance the Ordonian that I met? That horse you are riding seems very familiar."
"Why yes. I'm the Ordonian you sold oil to. Now if you'll excuse me, there are people in Ordon waiting for us." I said. We pressed the horses on and turned the little corners through the tunnel-like passage into Faron Woods. I could walk this trail blindfolded; I love coming back to this village. We passed Bromley's house and I made Landon stop our horses again. "You see that house right there Landon?"
He looked in the direction I pointed and looked back at me. "Yes?"
"That is where I used to live."
"Really?"
"Yes son. That's where I came from, I've lived there for as long as I can remember until Twilight started to take over Hyrule but I'll tell you that story another day." I kicked Epona forward and I lead Landon down through the village. Everyone in the village was out enjoying the beautiful day. Normally the kids would be playing but the years finally caught up with me. Malo and Avery were the only kids left in the village. As I watched the two of them play, another little girl came out from Mayor Bo's house and joined them. I didn't recognize her; but I had to assume she was related to Mayor Bo somehow.
Ilia soon came out after her, "You be careful now Cora, you come back to the house before dark do you understand?"
"Yes Mommy." She called back.
"Well whaddya know." I called to Ilia. "Look who we have here." I teased.
"Link? Is that you? I'm sorry I can't see you behind the King." She teased back. I dismounted Epona and walked to greet Ilia with a friendly hug. "It is so good to see you."
"When did you have a baby?" I couldn't help but blurt out. "I mean, it's good to see you too." I laughed embarrassed.
Ilia laughed too. "Well, the truth is that when I told you Bromley and I was engaged, I was pregnant."
"Oh."
"We had Cora not long after the ceremony. She turned five not too long ago."
"I see. Well congratulations." I said.
"Who's your friend Mommy?" Cora asked, coming up to us.
"Cora, this is my friend Link. But he's also the King."
"You're the king?" She asked astonished. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"It's a pleasure to meet you little lady. Behind me is my son, Prince Landon. But while we're here, he's just Landon." I turned to my son. "Come on down from Rain now son and say hello." He did as I instructed and he stood next to me.
"Hello. My name is Prince Landon and it is nice to see you today." He said in that same rehearsed tone.
I whispered to Landon. "You don't have to be so formal here. These people are old friends."
He cleared his throat. "Hi. I'm Landon." He said with a smile. For whatever reason, Landon took a "formal greeting" meaning that he wasn't supposed to smile or be genuine. I would have to talk to Zelda about that.
"We came to get some fishing done." I informed Ilia. "If anyone wants to join us, we'll be fishing behind Jaggle and Pergie's house." I placed my hand on Landon's shoulders and lead him over to the dock behind Jaggle and Pergie's house. I pulled out the fishing rod that Colin made me years ago and I also pulled out the fishing rod I had made for Landon.
Together, we sat on that dock and fished until dusk was drawing near. I looked behind us after Landon caught one of the biggest Greengill and I saw the orange aura of the setting sun. I put his Greengill with my Ordon Catfish and I said to him, "We should go buddy. Mom is going to be expecting us soon." I put away our fishing rods, picked up our fish, and walked my son over to our waiting horses.
When we finally made it back to Hyrule Castle, there were two guards at the Southern Gate. "What's the meaning of this, soldiers?"
"Just a precaution Your Majesty."
"At ease boys." I teased. Landon giggled, which meant that someone appreciated my joke. We walked through Castle Town, waving to everyone who came across our path. All of a sudden, I heard a crashing sound. I looked for Landon and I found him lying on the ground next to a little girl that I have never seen before.
"I'm…I'm really sorry." Landon struggled to get out.
"Oh no. It was my fault." The girl tried to apologize. Then she looked up at my son. "Oh…oh my gosh. You're the prince…I'm…I'm so sorry."
"Please, it's okay. Out here, I am a friend." I tried to hide my smile. I was so proud of my boy. It turns out I was a positive role model already. "What's your name?"
"Relena. My name is Relena."
Landon offered his hand. "I'm Landon. It's nice to meet you."
She took his hand. "It's nice to meet you too."
I thought to myself that I should help my son out. "Hello Relena. Would you like to join us for dinner tonight along with your parents?"
"Um…I don't have a mommy or a daddy."
"Come and join us for dinner and then we shall see about getting you better accommodations." I offered. "Come along children." They took either of my hands and I lead them up to the castle. We found my wife in the dining hall, in her usual spot at the head of the table. She got up as she saw me coming in with our son and a guest.
"Boys, you're home. Who is our young guest?" She asked, smiling a little.
"This is Relena. Landon's new little friend." I said. Dinner was served and afterwards we excused the children to run off and play for a while. "So, Zelda there is something that I need to discuss about Relena."
"Where are her parents?" Zelda asked.
"She said she doesn't have any parents. From the looks of her, I'd say someone in the village has been taking care of her but we need to find out who. But what do you say we let her stay here?"
"Stay here in the palace?" She asked.
"We have plenty of room. I think we should help this little girl out. And this is the first friend Landon has ever made."
She just smiled and thought about it to herself. I just sat there, anxiously awaiting what she was going to say. "Alright. If we talk to her and she says yes, then she can stay."
I smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "You're such a reasonable Queen." She laughed hysterically.