Chapter 16
Zelda
Link collapsed in front of her.
She tried to hold him up so he wouldn't fall, but his blood soaked clothes made it difficult. Luckily Sir Alistair appeared by her side to catch him. He helped her to drag Link's limp body away from the carnage. He laid him on his side, tore the ripped cloth over his shoulder away and inspected his wound.
Zelda was spattered with blood, the hem of her dress was drenched with it and she had just mortally wounded a man. She cared little. But the sight of the deep gash on his body made her stomach roil and her head spin.
She drew the useless knife she had hidden below her skirt, cut away the frills of her dress, folded them and handed them to the knight. He looked at her for a moment, first surprised, then mild. He took the impromptu bandage and pressed it against Link's wound.
"He'll live. Blade scraped along his shoulder blade so it didn't do any severe damage. Two centimetres to the left though…" he left the sentence unfinished.
The cut on her neck stung all of a sudden. With a shocked glance she looked at Link's fingers. All of his fingertips had a deep cut where he drove them between the blade and her throat. If she had been slashed like this…
"You seem to be alright." He rasped.
She just nodded. Thanks to him, she thought.
Zelda lightly touched his forehead and stroked over his head. His hair was matted with sweat and gore.
She did not care one bit who watched.
"You are safe." Still rang in her ears.
She could still feel his fingers caressing her cheek.
The medics had come after a few minutes, along with a whole battalion of soldiers. They had scoured the entire arena complex for any more of the masked attackers but nothing was found.
One of her royal guards had survived. One out of nine! And Link had killed the one's responsible single-handedly!
They took the many injured to hospitals and clinics all across the city. Since Link was officially asked to become a knight (and probably because of his heroism that day) he was brought to the military hospital of the royal guard. Zelda wanted nothing more than to accompany his sleeping body, but she couldn't. Someone had to organize the triage of the wounded, make sure that they were distributed evenly among hospitals, oversee the crowd and help scattered families find back together, collect the dead and try to identify them and and and… the list seemed endless. A part of her wondered why she wasn't a nervous wreck right about now. This had been an attack, the second attack on her life! Countless people had perished, she had been held hostage and had nearly been killed too! The careless violence, the utter disregard for people's lives fuelled her anger and that kept her going. Her head was abuzz with hundreds of conflicting thoughts and emotions until it was all one numbing blur.
Right now, she had to function.
The knights, in particular Sir Alistair and Sir Craster oversaw the attempt to bring order back. She offered them to go to the people, attempt to bring families back together and console them. They were hesitant. Sending her into a milling, frightened crowd when the attackers could strike again was a security nightmare. But when she agreed to take an escort of ten knights and 50 soldiers they relented. She would need the men and women anyway if she was to bring any semblance of order to a mob.
The people were too preoccupied to even notice her at first. But slowly her calming words, her strong presence and her deliberated planning brought a little peace to the terrified people of Hyrule.
Zelda's heart broke every time a family could not be reunited, a parent still missed her child or a husband still searched for his loved one.
So many dead… so much sorrow.
At the end of this dreadfully long day she had the tearful thanks of hundreds of relieved couples and families, but also so many people left in agonizing uncertainty. The system of subdividing and searching was kept up late into the night. The king himself had joined the attempt to restore order. He had briefly visited her while she worked, had hugged her in his awkwardly distanced way. She could feel his relief that she was unscathed, but she was still cross with him. He had brought her a fresh, practical dress, for which she was immensely thankful. Even her father could have a decent thought once in a while, she admitted begrudgingly.
Currently she was in his carriage on the way back to the castle. She was deathly tired but the thought of sleeping after all this kept her fearfully awake.
In the end her father had wrenched her away from her sombre work. He had assured her that she had done enough for today and that it would be silly to have survived an assassination attempt only to kill oneself from overexertion.
Right now they were sitting opposite from each other, silence between them. Multiple times she had felt him wanting to say something, but so far he had always stopped himself.
The nightly streets of Hyrule city were empty. Nobody was on the streets; everyone was hiding at home, either hugging their loved ones or mourning their loss. A veil of fear had descended upon the city, Zelda thought. She looked at the dark streets and felt profound uneasiness, as if the darkness was looking back.
The scene flashed before her eyes again, almost as real as when it had actually happened. She felt the panic of her attacker. She saw Link falling on his knee, gasping and bleeding, she felt the nasty bite of the knife at her throat. Involuntarily she touched her neck with a trembling hand. The terror welled up once more at the flashback. She felt her breath stagnate as it had done back there, in fear that the tiniest motion would spell her doom. She thought back at the cut up fingertips of his and felt a jolt of shame. So close… so unbelievably close… So many dead, even more hurt and she was unscathed. And he had sacrificed his hand, protected her with his own flesh when he was already injured…
I feel so… dirty… so useless.
"Don't, Zelda." Her father said.
It took a moment to wrench herself out of her spiralling thoughts and even realize he had spoken. She looked at him, surprised.
"I know the thoughts that are plaguing you. I know them all too well. You cannot let them throw you into despair. You surviving while others lie dead… that is not your fault. Your fault it would be if you disregard their sacrifice by wallowing in self-pity. Honour them by continuing to live. That is why they gave their lives, after all."
She looked at him, wide eyed. Her father's words were harsh, but that's what she had come to expect. She knew they were meant as words of compassion and advice and that they were true. But what could she do? What could she possibly accomplish that would make good this mark, this debt that she carried?
"Then let me help you investigate this. Don't exclude me from finding the origin of these attacks. This is the second time I was targeted. And this time my death was prevented only due to L… the winner of the tourney. We must prevent a third attempt or more people will die!" she nearly shouted the last sentence. Her ire at being treated like a feckless child was rekindled.
Her father nodded. "Link Andrésson. Sir Alistair informed me. Apparently the lad showed exceptional skill and bravery. You offered him a place among the aspirants of knighthood?" he asked, his eyebrow slightly raised.
Zelda set her jaw. "I did. I trust you have no objections?" she asked, unable to keep a warning tone out of her voice.
"None. If you hadn't, after today, I would have done so myself." He looked at her, questioningly. Her sudden challenge hadn't gone unnoticed.
Zelda chided herself for not keeping her emotions better in check, but currently she was doing her utmost not to either scream hateful accusations at him or break down crying. "Since you seem to think that your daughter is unable to assist with anything that goes beyond frolicking, I thought you might want to invalidate my childish decision." she said cynically.
He met her with his usual blank stare. "Was it a childish decision?" he asked simply.
But before Zelda could employ her glare of death at him he sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Listen. I think very highly of your abilities. You have proven your intelligence and diligence before you were the age of ten. But there are some things that you should not have to carry yet. Some knowledge that would still be too much."
For a moment, Zelda could see cracks in his façade of calm. Something scared him! She had never known her father to be scared of anything! Before her mind's eye she suddenly saw shadow, swirling darkness and a flaming presence within it. Flashing images of a domed stone hall, a pedestal, a…
The vision ended abruptly and her father straightened back up.
She swallowed. What she had seen terrified her. Still, she wanted, she needed to know. How much was he keeping from her?
"But this is about me, father. Both attacks were meant for me. Whatever it is you are trying to protect me from, it is breaking through!"
He seemed to think.
She could have told him about what she knew from the Shiekah's visit but it was doubtful whether that would accomplish anything. Most likely he would just up her nightly security. Nevertheless, she now knew that her father knew something about the darkness that Impa had mentioned. It had to be the same threat they were both fearing.
"Unfortunately, you are right. I will think on it. I cannot promise you that I will tell you everything I know, preciously little as it is. But I promise you will no longer be excluded from our deliberations completely."
Zelda nodded, slightly surprised. She had been certain that this attempt at reasoning would go just as well as the first.
"Thank you. That is all I ask for." She said, slightly peeved.
"I fear that it will be more than you asked for, my daughter. I will send for you when you've had time to recuperate. I do not wish to thrust this upon you now." He answered calmly.
They had reached the castle courtyard and the door was opened for them. Once outside he looked at her once more. "Go to sleep, Zelda. Rest your mind as best you can."
"I will. But first I will visit the knight's hospital." She divulged before she could stop herself. She bit her lip. She was so tired and her mouth spoke before her brain could stop it.
"Do you not think the boy needs rest, too? Sir Alistair told me he was injured?" He asked.
Damn him for knowing so much!
She blushed vividly.
And damn my stupid face too! At least it was dark…
"I couldn't even thank him…" she whispered.
Her father looked at her gently and, for Zelda's taste, a little too knowingly.
"He will still be here tomorrow, you know…"
Tomorrow everything could be different. Tomorrow she could be dead, if they attacked again!
The king made a slightly sceptical face when he saw her expression.
"Go then, child. But don't wake him if he is still asleep."
Zelda couldn't quite hide her relieved smile. She nodded and walked off immediately, as if worrying that he might change his mind.
Zelda timidly entered the hospital. It usually was little more than a first-aid station tasked with patching up guards injured during training. Today though there was animated business. While most soldiers and knights seemed to have been treated already, the doctors still had their hands full with civilians that had been redistributed from the public clinics.
She felt like a bashful child when she asked the concierge where the young winner of the tourney had been placed. She was referred to the nurse in charge who seemed most reluctant to admit her.
"The young man's wound has been stitched and he has drunk poppy milk for the pain. He needs his rest, your highness!" she spoke haughtily, barring the way like a troll on a bridge.
"I promise I will not disturb him. I simply want to make sure that he is well." She answered firmly. It was a weak, hardly sensible reason, she knew. The nurse subjected her to a strict, questioning stare.
In the end she convinced the old bat to let her through, even without resorting to royal privileges. She entered his room, a two bed sickroom, and was relieved to see that he was currently the only patient in it. Her heart pounded. This was almost more nerve-wracking than being attacked!
It was dark apart from a night light on his bedside table, illuminating him only dimly. To her immense gladness she saw that he was peacefully asleep. There was no sign of pain on his handsome face. Zelda released the breath she had been holding for some time. Nayru's love, she was trembling like a leaf in the wind.
She stepped closer, careful not to make a sound. When she was right at his side he stirred a bit but his face remained tranquil.
A wave of powerful gratitude washed over her. She couldn't deny that he had caught her eye very early. She even wanted to give him the chance to become a knight so he could stay. And now he had nearly sacrificed everything to save her!
She looked once again at his right hand. His fingers were bandaged and his hand was bound into a fist to apply pressure. So terribly close…
Who was he? Why would he risk so much for her? Not to mention that he had single-handedly dispatched the six assassins that had killed nine royal guards within seconds!
Who was this boy with the dark blond hair and cute face?
She wanted to brush a few strands of his hair away from his eyes. She had already raised her hand before she thought better of it. She might wake him.
He sighed softly and mumbled something in his sleep.
She felt herself grinning. Hopefully he was dreaming something pleasant and not reliving the horrors the day had brought.
Lying there in front of her, asleep, she wanted, she yearned to talk to him. She didn't quite know what about… anything, really! It didn't matter. But she wanted to hear him say why he had been so willing to help her.
And she hoped very much that he would say what she wanted to hear, even if she wouldn't quite admit it to herself yet.
Zelda vowed that she would return, no matter how nervous it made her. She had so much to thank him for…
"Thank you, Link." She said softly and she didn't care that she felt like an idiot, talking to a sleeping person.
Link sighed again and little smile crept on his lips. "You're safe." he mumbled.
Zelda felt as if her heart would melt right then and there. She had to fight her tears and the urge to laugh at the same time. Well, at least she now knew what he was dreaming about… or who…
She had to go or she couldn't resist waking him. And she had already disturbed him enough… She redoubled her promise to return tomorrow when he was awake. She poured him a cup of water from the jug by his bed, in case he woke up thirsty.
Then she, reluctantly, left.
When she crossed the training square and breathed in the night air she knew everything would get even more complicated the way she was going. This whole thing was nerve-wracking, scary, intriguing… she had never felt this before.
Yes, it would be complicated. Did she care? Not really. Certainly not after today!
Zelda shook her head, feeling almost tipsy. Pondering about what might happen or not was pointless here. As her father had said, she would live and deal with problems as they came.
She once again touched her cheek where his fingers had caressed her. She felt infinitely tired… but also more alive than she ever had.
. . . . . . .
King Tiberian of Hyrule
The king was poring over his maps of the land, trying in vain to distract himself. After what had happened to Zelda he had remained sleepless for hours, pondering what to do. In the end he had given up, ordered a glass of brandy, something he hadn't done in years and had locked himself in his study, alone.
How could it have come to this? Why now? Why his precious daughter? And while she's still a child?
Pointless questions, he knew.
How long now until the calamity? A year? A month? This night? So little was known. The only knowledge that had survived was that the princess would have to fight it and that it was a never ending cycle of hate, cruelty and death.
The thought of his little girl, this beautiful angel facing this unknown, unspeakable evil… filled him with impotent rage and despair.
He felt like an old man, powerless to help his only child.
The king rested his face in his palms. Weeping overcame him and he gritted his teeth. What should he do? What could he do?
He was just a father, trying to protect his daughter… and for all his royal power, he couldn't even do that. Like he couldn't protect her mother…
"Do not despair, king. It is not yet the time for it."
He jolted upright and looked around, tears blurring his eyes. But he already knew who it was.
"Impa! You dare show your face to me? I should have you in chains and let you rot in the dungeons for all eternity!" he growled.
"No doubt you should. But it is not the time for that either. I come with counsel." She uttered calmly.
"Counsel. You always presume to come with counsel. Where were you today, wretch? Where were you when my daughter nearly lost her life?" he yelled, as he could no longer control his voice. He walked up to her so his rage-filled face was only centimetres apart from hers.
"I was… away. I returned as soon as I heard. I still need to collect information." She answered.
"Information!" he roared. "What good is your information? We know nothing. You allude and hint to some greater knowledge you possess, but it is all smoke and shadow like your whole existence!"
"True, our knowledge is limited. But not so much that we can not make our own designs. I have found the way to the sword!"
The king looked at the intruder as if she had lost her mind.
"We know where the sword is. What are you…"
"I mean…" she interrupted, "…I believe I know how it may be used, how it may be drawn."
He glared at her, trying his utmost to control his rage. Finally he sat back down heavily.
"Tell me!"
"It is not only the princess against the Threat. She is not alone! There is a third part to the equation: a warrior, a protector wielding the sacred blade. A man to shield the princess from harm. Only he can draw the sword."
"Where is this man then? Where can he be found?" the king asked impatiently.
"After today, I believe he has already been found." Impa said cryptically.
He frowned. Then he opened his eyes wide. "The boy?! The lad who saved Zelda? But he is also just a child?"
"Indeed. Same age I believe." she agreed.
'And it had been her who found him, it would seem', the king mused. And he had been told that without that boy, she would have been lost. Coincidence?
"So this is it, yes? You believe the wielder of the sword has been found. And now? We send two children to their demise instead of one?" he growled.
"The sword must also be… sanctified by the princess. According to the ancient texts I have collected over decades, she needs the blessing of each goddess to do this." the Shiekah explained.
"How can she not have such a blessing? Is this Threat not the enemy of all the life on the world? How can she not have the divines' aid?" he asked loudly.
"I must admit I do not know. I was unsuccessful in obtaining this information." she had the decency to look ashamed.
"Marvellous!" the king said sarcastically. "Once again you fail to provide anything useful, assassin! That whole tribe of yours, sworn to keep the ancient knowledge, according to you, has failed! We fumble around in the dark and walk into our doom blindly!"
"What else do we have, king? Your daughter and her protector will need to find the answers. We help them as best we can but, ultimately, they are alone."