Chapter 18- Close Your Eyes

Malon rushed through the city streets. The town was practically bursting with people. Many had arrived from villages far away to see the champions with their own eyes. Most of the champions had already arrived earlier in the morning. The Gerudo Chief Urbosa strode in, flanked by her most elite warriors who towered over the town guards and were sheltered by lavishly decorated fabrics and wore some of the most ornately decorated weapons and armour the Hylians had ever seen.

Later the crowd marvelled at Revali, the pride of the Rito, as he flew through the air with incredible acrobatic skill. He moved through the space with such ease that it even seemed he controlled the very wind itself. His entrance was a show in itself and the proud warrior was more than happy to relish in the attention of the crowd.

Next came Daruk with his Goron entourage. They were far more casual than the past few displays and as they thundered through the street most of the Gorons moved off, getting distracted by something in the crowd. When Daruk finally made it to the bridge to the castle he was by himself. He didn't seem to mind though and proudly raised his mammoth like weapon into the air shocking the crowd with his sheer strength.

All that was left now was the Zora princess and whatever exuberant following she had travelled with. By the sound of the bell echoing through the streets and the exited buzz of the crowd they would be at the main gates in any moment.

She made her way to a flag post in the square and pulled herself up so she could see over the crowd. The guards had cleared a space in the centre and stood looking inwards, away from the crowd.

"They're coming," someone from within the masses yelled and the chatter of the crowd intensified as two horses immerged into the street.

It seemed the crowd was just as surprised as Malon, to see that the two horses were all that emerged. On one it was easy to see the elegant princess Mipha, sat straight in the saddle and smiling fondly at the people all around. The masses already loved her and cheered her name enthusiastically.

The other figure sat in the saddle of a brown horse with a black mane. He had a black hylian hood brought up loosely around his head but soon a hush descended on the crowd like no other. On the figures back laid the Master Sword. There was no mistaking it. The blade was just like the one from the drawings in the story books her father read her when she was a small girl. Underneath that hood was Link.

As they reached the bridge Link swiftly slid off his chestnut steed, as he did the hood fell back revealing his dark blonde hair and pointed ears. He perfectly encapsulated the figure of the hero and most of the crowd stared at him in sheer amazement.

He moved over to Mipha offering a hand which she accepted without hesitation. As she dismounted, Mipha waved to the crowd and the cheering returned to normal. One of the saddlebags on her horse fell to the ground and Link walked over to retrieve it. As he bent back up with the bag Malon found his eyes staring directly into hers.

Many didn't even know his name but Malon remembered. She remembered Link all too well, she had thought about that night consistently for the past month. What she was expecting, Malon wasn't sure but she hadn't seen him once since that night and in the short time since then he had already ascended into a legend.

She smiled bashfully at him as his eyes lingered on her. Malon could swear the hard eyebrows that peaked his eyes were beginning to soften. For a moment she saw a great sadness behind them, unlike any she had ever seen before, a sort of blind inescapable sorrow that latched itself to his very being, weighing him down like he was trying to hold the sky itself.

Quickly the gaze hardened to the point where he looked at her with no recognition and he returned to lead the horses across the bridge, now flanked by several of the royal guard. The sinking feeling in her heart was unmatched by a sympathy that had seemed to drown her. Something had happened to him, something had changed him.

Link looked down at the blue tunic. Yet another ceremony, it had seemed an age since the last and yet really it had only been a few months. He had been redirected to one of the honoured guest rooms. He expected the other champions were getting the same treatment. The room was far larger than the whole house at Hateno and he didn't even want to compare it to the room he used to have in the Castle.

Better get it over with

His Hylian tunic was well worn and a little dirty, probably not appropriate for a ceremony. He began to unclamp the leather clasps, took off the cloth garment and then struggled for a little to get off the chainmail. It felt a little weird to have the extra weight off, he practically slept in the thing.

Following the undershirt everything was off and he felt his bare skin against the gentle warmth from the fireplace. Looking in the mirror Link was shocked at how many scars there were. It was easy to lose track of them all, forget where they came from and the experience that lay behind each one. He placed a hand on the scar on his shoulder. It was strange, he thought some satisfaction would've been gained by killing the Lynel but Link felt nothing.

"Sir Link, the ceremony will begin in-"

Link turned to see a maid in the doorway. She was staring at his shirtless body and turning a colour of red that was a couple of shades darker than the inside of Death Mountain. He found the attention a little awkward so he put his undershirt on again.

The maid gulped thickly. "The ceremony will begin in a moment the guards outside will escort you to the inner sanctum."

Link nodded in thanks. The maid stood still nervously and began to panic as Link tilted his head to the side questioningly.

"Also Sir Link… if you would be so kind Sir Link… The King and the chancellor have asked for you to demonstrate your skills at the tourney today."

Link nodded impatiently this time, causing the maid to practically sprint out of the room.

Today really was just an illusion put up by the king, a show for the masses to keep their minds off the incoming threat of the calamity. From the look of the crowd in the streets it was already working. Now he'd have to perform like a good guard dog and show they were safe under his watchful eye. Though they had no idea of the danger they really faced.

The tourney would take place after the ceremony in the Coliseum. His father had said the stones of the building were almost as old as the Temple of Time itself. It was a landmark from a more savage time, when slaves would risk their lives and battle for their very freedom. What would Link be fighting for?

He felt the tunic, its material was soft to the touch but yielded no ground when he pulled at it.

"The fabric is imbued with the magic of the goddess," Mipha stood by the doorway. "It is light and yet just as tough as the strongest plate armour."

She was wearing the champion's garment they had unwrapped in the domain. Unlike Link though, hers was not a tunic but a kind of toga. It suited her well.

Link grabbed the tunic and pulled it over his head. It slid easily over his undershirt and buckled the leather straps and gauntlet on. A round of his shoulders confirmed everything. It fit perfectly. Link was a little confused as to how Zelda had managed to get all his measurements so perfectly. As he turned to the mirror Mipha appeared in the reflection behind him.

"You look good…" she said. "Like the very image of the hero."

Link's face remained neutral as he stared into his own resolute glare.

"You know you should take a little more care, that maid looked like she was about to faint. You should realise you're… well you have a strong effect on…"

She realised Link was looking at her with a confused raised eyebrow. Now it was Mipha's turn to gulp thickly.

"Shall we be off?" she asked hurriedly.

With a nod Link grabbed his sword and followed Mipha out of the room. The ceremony was just about to begin.

The Coliseum rose high into the air and the roar of the crowd echoed around the ancient stones. If she could, Zelda would knock the place to the ground. It was like she could feel the history of savagery it contained. It was as though she could smell the blood from the past.

"I for one think very little of this 'Knight', it doesn't take much skill to just take a sword from a stone and yet we bow down to him like he's the damned King" Revali walked down the steps and took a seat next to Urbosa.

Urbosa turned to the side and rolled her eyes to the Zelda making her smile quietly.

"It must be difficult for you… being around people equal in skill," Urbosa said dryly. "Just watch maybe you'll learn something from this 'hero'."

"I'm yet to find someone who can match my skills in the sky," Revali preened. "This Knight will be no different."

Daruk cut through with his unreflecting gruff voice: "I respected the little guy even before he had the sword. You'll see, he's quite something."

The ceremony had gone as expected, at least mostly. Daruk was confused by all the pomp and grandeur and Revali complained about the futility of the whole thing. Urbosa and Mipha kept her spirits up with encouraging words and Link… well Link didn't say a word.

Still despite all that as her father's words washed over her, the full weight of their task crushed down in a torrent. "Defeat Calamity Ganon." The statement made her realise just how far they were from being prepared in any form. They had the divine beasts, their pilots and all the guardians. They even had the hero with the sword. It was her powers that were missing. In that moment when she stood in front of the kneeling champions she felt complete and unflinching dread.

"We'll see," Revali scoffed.

The crowd fell silent as her father in the stand to her right stood up and raised his hands in the air.

"You have all been waiting patiently for this day, but now it is finally time to see what Ganon has to fear!" Rhoam bellowed earning a quiet murmur from the crowd. "I present the Hero who holds the Sword that Seals the Darkness."

Link stepped out from the darkness of the arch and onto the stone and sand of the coliseum floor. Despite the roars of encouragement from the crowd, Link showed no interest in the audience. The look on his face was the same as it always was, since taking the sword.

As he stepped into the centre of the arena he bowed before the king and as he looked up Zelda felt herself staring into Link's eyes. She looked away quickly under the intense glare and Urbosa squeezed her shoulder sympathetically.

From the pillars of arena stepped out around twenty armed knights. They weren't using sparring swords and Link withdrew the Master Sword from his back. The Knights surrounded him all taking up ready stances. Link on the other hand stood quite casually looking at each one the Knights individually.

"I name this tourney now open, each Knight is eliminated at first blood. Whoever defeats the hero will earn his or hers weight in gold." Rhoam announced.

The Knights moved forwards a little more eagerly. As one edged a little too close to the Hero he suddenly erupted into a ready stance making the Knights take a step back in shock.

They're afraid of him.

"In the name of the three do something. Someone hit him!" Revali screamed out.

The knights swarmed in all at once and Link began to move. He was fast, faster than anything Zelda had ever seen. Sure Mipha could swim at a breakneck speed and Revali could break through the sky like he was shot from a rogue canon but Link was faster where it counted.

Five Knights managed to surround him and the Master Sword flew around Link glancing off each thrust and each swipe. It was like the blade was an extension of Link's own body. One slash managed to get through Link's guard but he ducked under the blade and kicked hard into the attacking Knights stomach.

Then Link began to strike back. Each strike from a Knight earned them a tiny cut on their left cheek, each slice in the exact place as the earlier one.

It took Link but five minutes of deadly elegance to send all the Knights walking defeated towards the exits of the arena. The crowd roared in ultimate approval. It had all gone perfectly for Rhoam who sat back in his chair with a relaxed smile on his face

"How completely… boring." Revali muttered.

"For once I agree with the bird," Urbosa stood and stepped on the barrier in their stand and looked back at the other shocked champions.

"Time we spice things up," With that Urbosa stepped off the balcony and slammed into the sand below sending out a shockwave of particles. Link stared at her curiously as Urbosa grabbed a longsword from a shocked Knight and swung it around hard in the air. The blade squealed through the air as if it were announcing the incoming fight.

Urbosa wasted no time and slammed her new blade into Link's

Link grit his teeth as he pushed back against Urbosa's sword with his own. She was strong, too strong for him. There was no way he could win here. As he looked back into her face she smiled at him and then with a short laugh pushed him back. As Link stumbled she swung her sword around in a wide arch. He ducked backwards under the blade, seeing it flash over his face and dodged to the side of the other upwards stroke.

Link attempted a high strike but Urbosa intercepted and a sharp kick that sent Link backwards. He recovered with a backwards roll.

The warrior chief advanced towards him again and Link focused his breath. As she attempted another swing Link parried the sword to the side, throwing her off guard and thrust his blade in a cut towards her cheek. She shrugged her head to the side just in time and then cut the Master Sword away from her face.

With another laugh Urbosa came forwards with another swipe and Link dropped to his knees sliding underneath it. He had her now. Bringing his blade around, he brought it up to her throat. They stared at each other panting gently as the crowd around them erupted into applause. Link heard the singing off the metal of Urbosa's blade beneath his throat and she glanced down at the sword at hers.

It was a draw.

With a bow she led Link into the champion's tunnel and paused. The excitement of the crowd continued to follow them into the darkness of the tunnel.

"I'll be honest I had my doubts but you're far better than your father," she said with her back to Link.

Link narrowed his eyes and called out: "My father managed to beat you when you fought in Kara Kara."

She turned with a grin. "Ah… but he didn't hold back."

Link grimaced, "How did you know?"

Urbosa through her head back and let loose a hearty laugh. "I've been on this world for far too long to be fooled by that hero." She turned fully towards him and her face suddenly turned more serious in tone. "You're the finest Knight I've ever seen and I can respect this front you put on for yourself. We've already got our fill of loud mouthed champions."

Link could only agree all too well. One conversation with Revali felt like he had heard enough boasting for a couple of lifetimes, though 'conversation' was a big word for Revali talking at Link about all his accomplishments. They had spoken for around two minutes and already Link felt the champions hate of him and it didn't go one way.

"But I see past that, this persona you have is all an illusion, no more real than this whole ceremony," Urbosa's voice was turning oddly soft and Link thought it strange that for the first time since meeting her, the champion was already showing her vulnerable side. "I need you to understand she doesn't need a protector, what she needs right now is someone to support her, someone to be her friend."

It was all too obvious who she was talking about. "She doesn't want to be friends with me, to be honest she's better off without me. This whole appointed Knight thing was a mistake."

Urbosa half grinned but there was no amusement in her voice. "It's funny you say that, ten years ago she barely smiled. Every year I came to visit my heart yearned more and more for the little bird, right up until a certain mischievous boy fell into her room one afternoon. Then suddenly for the first time in what felt like forever I felt the brilliant light of her smile once more."

Link's wall of composure broke.

"That's right I know."

She pushed the sword into the sand of the tunnel and looked towards Link once more. "I know you have not had a good life. No one can understand what it is like to fear your own past and the mistakes and regrets you have there. It would be all too easy for people like us to hide it away but that would be a mistake... There is so much evil in this world often I feel myself drowning in it, despairing in the fact I have the ability to do something but I am powerless to its sheer magnitude."

Urbosa closed her eyes and began to smile, like she was feeling the first breeze of spring on her face. "Then all I do is close my eyes and relive all the beauty I have seen, all the good things I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Try it sometime; you might be surprised by what you might see."

As Link took a moment to respond the princess entered the tunnel.

"Urbosa! That was-" Zelda paused when she saw Link.

Link thought about Urbosa's words and closed his eyes for a minute. He thought about the green trees and fields outside Hateno, his mother's singing, the smell of his father's pipe, Grandpa's stories, climbing and sneaking around the castle… her smile.

As Link opened his eyes he felt his stare go cold again as the screams and shouts filled his ears again. The hopeful look on Urbosa's face left away into the darkness of the tunnel.

"The others wanted to see the Shieka Slate," Zelda said with more caution than before. "If you would both like you can both meet us in the private gardens?"

"No…" Urbosa said as she glared across at Link. He made a mental note to not piss her off again.

"We're with you little bird."