Notes at the end of the most recent chapter.
King Rhoam would have considered who protected his daughter more carefully if he had the time to, but with Ganon's imminent arrival he had to act quickly. The princess would have to travel far beyond the safety of the castle to harness her divine gift, so it was convenient that her counterpart, Link, would always be by her side should Ganon take the kingdom by surprise. Unfortunately, Link would have to receive a crash-course lesson on the ancient prophecy… he was always busy maintaining the training grounds, so he didn't get a chance to do research. The king entrusted Sikumar with teaching the boy such details in addition to his duties as a knight. Those chosen to protect the next ruling monarch of Hyrule had certain formalities to stand by while also safeguarding the heir.
Presently, the guard captain was leading the would-be knight to his new home for the foreseeable future.
"Link, this door leads to Princess Zelda's quarters. You will stand guard right here while she sleeps. Just beyond this last corridor is a small room—you may set your belongings in there for storage. As a knight in the castle, you won't have any dedicated sleeping area. That arrangement will be very dynamic to accommodate both you and Zelda. It is absurd to expect you to function without any sleep, but the princess's safety must be ensured. And—Oh! Do you have any questions so far?"
Link adjusted the rucksack on his shoulder, making a small grunting noise as the heavy object strained his shoulder. "Not yet."
"Alright. You should go store your belongings in the room I mentioned while I speak with the princess."
The boy nodded and trudged on as Sikumar briefly rapped Zelda's door.
"This is Captain Sikumar. May I enter?"
"Yes," a soft voice answered quietly from the other side.
Sikumar entered, observing Zelda sitting at a desk reading scholarly works.
"I've come to talk to you about Link…"
The princess's head snapped up.
"About what I said earlier?"
"Yes."
"I didn't mean what I said. Well, not entirely. It's just… I wish I was in his shoes. It looked so easy for him to claim the most powerful weapon in history without a second thought. I've tried for so many years to control this… power. I don't even understand it, Sikumar. How do I unlock it? How do I use it? I have so many questions and no way to answer any of them. I suppose I was quite hurtful to him. In any case, I was angry at my father. He has shown more compassion for that boy than his own daughter."
"I'm sure Link would like to know that. That's the only thing he's ever heard you say, and now he's bound to you forever as your protector. Plus, once he takes the oath, he'll be your puppet. Zelda, I've really come to talk to you about him specifically. I understand you have your own opinions, but… oh, how should I put this…" the captain trailed off, lost in thought.
The princess closed the book she was reading and stood up.
"I have been informed that he didn't have the easiest upbringing. I would guess you want me to go easy on him?"
Sikumar smiled knowingly.
"You were always so intelligent, Zelda. Yes, that's precisely what I was going to ask of you, I just didn't want you to take it the wrong way."
She sighed and lowered her eyes.
"I still don't like him, but I will try to make him feel welcome."
"Thank you, Zelda."
A soft knock came from the door.
Zelda's voice dropped to a whisper, "It's him, isn't it?"
Sikumar nodded and turned to open the door.
"Link! I was just finishing up. Let's discuss your duties, shall we?"
The boy refused to meet Zelda's gaze, instead nodding at the captain as he stepped out and closed the door.
Zelda sat back at her desk. She ran her fingers through her hair and took deep breaths.
'We have nothing in common. He's the mistake of two long dead guards and a dull groundskeeper and I'm the heir to Hyrule. What will we even talk about, if he even knows how to speak? I sure hope he does. This is already awkward enough…'
"Link, the reason you carry the mark of the hero and wield the Master Sword is to serve a purpose far greater than you. Sooner or later, you will fight an ancient evil called Ganon. Right now, the kingdom has invested all royal efforts to excavating and researching ancient technology created to destroy this evil. There are four Divine Beasts, each operated by a champion from one of Hyrule's species; innumerous autonomous warriors called guardians; and two warriors of the light: Zelda and you. She is a descendant of the goddess Hylia herself and bears a divine power that can rival Ganon. You possess the soul of an ancient warrior that is spiritually connected to the Master Sword. Combined, you form a very formidable force that, alongside Zelda and the Divine Beasts, can banish Ganon from this world. Please take a moment to process all of this; I know it's a lot to take in. Later today, you will meet the four champions and the princess in the first official meeting of Hyrule's heroes. That is why Rhoam chose you to be Zelda's protector. You are already connected by forces beyond this world, so it can't hurt to start your bonding early. And, as a bonus, maybe you can help Zelda harness her power!" The captain beamed.
During this time, Link discovered that he was a very good listener. He let every word Sikumar spoke be ingrained in his mind so he would not forget.
"I think I understand. Ganon is the enemy and he will be coming back to Hyrule soon. So, Zelda, the Beasts, and me have to banish him. Simple enough!" Link joked.
"I'm glad you understand, Link, but it really is no joke. Ganon has surfaced when people are unprepared, which is why the Sheikah built this technology ten thousand years ago. They did not want to risk the lives of countless innocent people. Unfortunately, the original builders aren't around anymore, so we can't ask them any questions. We're still struggling to control the guardians and understand what role the Divine Beasts play. But we do know that you must be the one to kill Ganon alongside Zelda, which is why Rhoam pushes his daughter so hard. He fears that she won't be able to use power in time," Sikumar explained.
Link nodded. "Okay. You also mentioned specific duties that a knight has?"
"OH! Yes, thank you for reminding me. Much of it is self-explanatory, such as giving privacy while remaining vigilant and that sort of thing, but when you agree to be a knight, so must take a sacred, ancient oath. It ensures that the relationship between the protector and the protected is exclusively professional. It is permanent until death. The only way to be freed of it is for the royal counsel to unanimously agree to it, but that is extremely rare. In fact, it's unheard of for anyone to be released from the Oath. I can give you a basic outline of what it entails, if you like."
The boy nodded eagerly. "Please do!"
The captain smiled, but his eyes suggested a more solemn feeling.
"Link, an appointed knight of the royal family firstly swears off marriage and love in general. Any evidence of breaking this first pillar results in public execution. Second, you relinquish your right to speak. Unless you are commanded to speak or are spoken to directly in private, you cannot offer your words. Zelda will talk to you, it's just what she does, but you cannot reply. Finally, perhaps the most important part of the Oath, you swear to put the princess's life before your own—always. It sounds intimidating, but it will be easy for you to do. You have an innate strong will, Link, and your courage will never falter. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner…" Sikumar patted the boy's shoulder.
"I don't talk much anyway. I guess it won't be too bad."
"I sure hope so, Link. Remember what I've been telling you since you came to the castle: your emotions can put you at war with rational decisions and duty. People are going to look up to you. Don't let them see what's truly on the inside. It's not relevant to your duty. Confidence and courage will light your path. I wish you the best of luck, Link. This will probably be our last meeting. I'm sorry it came to this." Captain Sikumar pulled Link into a fatherly hug and patted his back. The boy awkwardly returned the hug.
"Thank you."
Donning his helmet, Sikumar left Link's small room. While its main purpose was storage, it did have a small bed. Link was currently settled on the bed, studying the old stone ceiling and thinking.
He decided to change into his new attire: a simple, long-sleeve white undershirt; a bright blue tunic with white crests embroidered on its edges created specially for Hyrule's champions; simple tan pants; and thick brown riding boots. He also equipped a new leather harness, crafted to hold his weapons, as well as the Master Sword in its scabbard—which he received from Sikumar after he proved he was indeed the one who wields it.
Link was to report to the royal courtyard to meet the champions and Zelda herself in a few minutes. He knew exactly where it was but he didn't want to be late, so he finally left his small room.
The champions resemble the character of their respective Divine Beast:
Mipha of the Zora, an anthropomorphic, amphibious species, can heal the wounds of others simply by touching her hand to their skin. Vah Ruta, the beast she pilots, harnesses the power of water and assumes the form of a protective elephant;
Daruk of the Gorons, a hearty, heat-loving species, can create an impenetrable barrier around himself and still pack a huge punch. Vah Rudania, the beast he pilots, dwells on Hyrule's only active volcano: Death Mountain. It assumes the form of a lizard: tough-skinned, yet agile and deadly;
Revali of the Rito, an anthropomorphic, avian species, has the ability to soar high into the skies by creating an updraft and spreading his wings. Vah Medoh, the beast he pilots, spends its time flying above the avian people's village and dominating the skies in a form resembling the Rito;
and Urbosa of the Gerudo, a tribe consisting of almost entirely women, possesses an ancient heirloom that protects her from intense lightning, which allows her to control her beast. Vah Naboris, the beast she pilots, patrols the vast, rolling sands of the Gerudo Desert and is the largest of all the beasts, assuming the form of a towering camel.
Combined, the four champions are destined to support Link and Zelda while they fight Ganon head-on. Unfortunately, how that is done is still unclear. The champions are barely beginning to understand how to move their beasts—much less weaponize them.
Regardless, Link would need to meet them as well as Zelda to prepare for the fight against Ganon.
"…and we've been asked to merely assist this boy in his fight against Ganon—OH! Is that him?!" A bird-man whirled around and the sound of footsteps to see Link approaching the group quietly. "I must say, he is indeed quite petite in stature. It's a wonder that the sword has truly chosen him."
"Revali, that's no way to speak to the hero. Especially since he's going to be a knight!" A new voice, deep and scratchy, replied. Link turned toward the direction the voice came from and saw a huge man with a long, white goatee looking brightly at him. "In fact, we should have Link's knighting ceremony outside on the stage in Castle Town!"
"Daruk, do you think it's a good idea to have his duty touted in public? It's one thing for the counsel to be present, but we're talking about something entirely different for this to be a public affair. We'd be announcing to all Hyrulians that the end is near…" Urbosa warned.
"Actually, I was thinking it would have the opposite effect! Everyone knows that Ganon's return is imminent, so I think they need something—someone to hold on to. A real person to pour their hope into."
Revali sighed. "Fine. Tomorrow. Noon."
The champions dispersed, but Mipha, who hadn't spoken, approached him.
"Hi, Link. I'm Lady Mipha of the Zora. I'm sorry if Revali was a little… cold. He resents you because the sword chose you instead of him. He's analytical and unemotional, so don't mind him. He means well. Anyway, I'm responsible for making sure everyone's health is optimal. If you ever get wounded, I can heal you. Don't be afraid to ask me, okay?"
Link nodded sheepishly.
"Good. See you… around, then?" Mipha offered. Link nodded again. The Zora walked away, but her presence was soon replaced by none other than Princess Zelda herself.
Link was unsure of how to behave around her, so he dropped to a knee in respect. She took a step back, slightly stunned by his formality.
"L-Link, there's no need for that. Please."
He steadily rose to his feet and met her gaze.
"I know that you're not supposed to speak, but I just want to ask you one thing, if that's alright…" Zelda trailed off.
The boy nodded.
"Is there anything that you don't want me to talk about? I tend to think aloud quite often, and I wouldn't want to offend or hurt you."
Link looked at the floor for a moment before meeting Zelda's eyes again. "Uh… I don't like thinking about how my parents…" he paused, swallowing palpable vulnerability, "how they died… because of me."
Zelda's eyes lit with excitement for a moment—she was surprised by how silky-smooth his voice was—but quickly faded to a pang of regret. "Oh, Link! I'd never—that… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Oh, and about earlier… my intention was not to be hurtful. I was simply spited by my father's actions. You see, I feel lost. I witnessed you claim the master sword so easily and I was overwhelmed by jealousy. I have tried for many years to harness my divine power but with no success. Father pushes me every day to devote more of my time to unlocking it, but I'm already doing everything I can. Anyway, I wanted to ask: has Sikumar explained the details of knighthood to you yet?"
He nodded silently.
Zelda smiled gloomily. "As you heard, the ceremony is arranged for tomorrow at noon on the stage in Castle City. It's just south of here, beyond the main gate. You can't miss it. I'll see you then!"
Link grinned slightly as she twisted around and walked away. Maybe Zelda wasn't so bad after all…