I am back with another chapter, and we are leaving Hyrule behind us! Yay! Now sit back and watch Zelda's journey to a new land with new people, and how she handles things. And if you want to critic me on anything, feel free to. I welcome your input.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda; Nintendo does.
The Mariner
As the sun raises her head on a new day, Zelda finds herself stumbling into the small village of Lurelin. Perhaps travelling all night had not been the best idea, for now that the adrenaline has worn off she felt exhausted and in need of a nap. She couldn't rest now. She still had to find someone willing to take her to Holodrum. When she was on the open waters, with Hyrule behind her; only then would she allow herself rest.
However, her stomach had other ideas. It rumbled and growled the whole time, making noise and drawing the attention of a few eyes onto herself. Zelda had never felt so hungry. Even though her daily meals were small with many hours between each, she never before felt this feeling of emptiness, or this pain. It would seem doing some actual physical activity made one more hungry.
Figuring she could afford to have a short break, she searches for somewhere to eat and comes across a homely looking inn. Entering inside she is received by a warm atmosphere and jolly music and singing. People were laughing, and overall enjoying themselves. However, she received a few unfavourable and inquisition looks from some of the patrons. Was it really so strange to see a young woman travelling by her lonesome? Deciding it was best to just ignore them she makes her way over to the counter where a man she assumed to be the innkeeper was passing out drinks and taking orders. When he finally notices her he walks as fast as his rotund bod could allow him to, offering her a friendly smile, and Zelda was confident that it was genuinely friendly.
"Good eve young miss. If you are looking for bed and board we have some cozy, affordable single-bed rooms available, and I guarantee you the lock works, miss...?"
Though he spoke fast, Zelda was still able to follow along well enough to know he was waiting for her to give a name. Clearly she couldn't give her real name; but maybe she could. Most people would only know her as Princess Griselda. No one would know her as just plain Zelda. Add a common enough last name and she should be able to make this work.
"Funk. My name is Zelda Funk."
"Ha! Another Funk. Why am I not surprised. There's always one of you everywhere." Zelda couldn't help but admire how his round face lit up when he laughed, and even though his laugh was loud it was charming. If all or most common people where like him, then she wouldn't mind living the simple life.
"Anyways," he says once he calmed down. "What can I do for you miss Funk?"
"I merely want some breakfast please."
The innkeeper nods his bald head, that smile never leaving his face. "In that case wait here. I'll have my boys prepare that breakfast of yours soon." He then waddles off to his next costumer, leaving Zelda to wait patiently for her meal.
After some time it finally arrives and Zelda is greeted with the delightful sight of a plate of bacon and eggs, with a slice of buttered toast. Smelling the delicious food was enough to get her mouth watering. Throwing all acts of court and mannerism out the window she wolfs down her food and consumes it all in less than five minutes. When done she notices that nearly everyone was staring at her with wide eyes. It is then that she realizes how big of a mess she made, as well as how sloppy of an eater she had been. If she was back at the castle all the ladies would have fainted, and all the men would have been disgusted. The idea makes her smile.
When it became clear no one had stopped staring at her she starts to become embarrassed, but then someone in the back begins to chuckle and soon the whole room was roaring with laughter. Zelda felt even more embarrassed, but she was smiling for some reason. The laughing she realizes isn't a mocking laugh. Rather it is fruity and humorous. Then the inn's doors open with a bang. The room grows silent as a grave as all laughter and mirth stops dead.
In strides a man unlike any Zelda had seen before. Unlike the men of Hyrule who were stout and pale, or the men of Lurelin village who were swarthy and mainly broad, this man was tall; the tallest hylian man Zelda had seen. His skin was tanned from the sun, his head was crowned with bleached platinum hair; a long flowing moustache adorned his face, and he glared down the whole room with two flame blue eyes. Opening his mouth in a grunting snarl his long strides carry him across the room, the only sound being the heavy thuds of his black boots. He takes a seat in the farthest corner and waves the innkeeper over.
Though the appearance of this man had shaken her, Zelda was happy to no longer be the centre of attention. Now that she had some sustenance in her, she needed to find a way to get to Holodrum. Since Lurelin was known to be a fishing village, she figured one of the inhabitants would know how to get to Holodrum. Perhaps the Bartender knows someone who can help, she thinks. I'll have to ask him when I pay him.
When the bartender was done with that stranger she waves him over to pay her tab. "Ten rupees," he tells her, and she pays the full amount with a tip of three.
"Thank you for the meal Mister...?"
"Moor. Mr. Moor at your service." And he gives a little bow.
Zelda can't help but laugh at his jest for it was the opposite of what she was used to. In court the men bowed with the stiffness of an elder, but Mr. Moor -who had to be twice the age of most men she knew- bowed with such flamboyance and exaggerated body language that it looked comical. "Thank you Mr. Moor. However I must ask of your service once again."
Mister Moor quirks an eyebrow. "Oh, and how so lassy?"
"Well, you see, I am planning on moving to Holodrum to start a new life, and I was wondering if perhaps you know someone who can help me get there."
Moor looks perplexed by this request. He spends the next moments standing there, opening and closing his mouth, shaking his head every now and then. Once he regains his voice he puts his thoughts into words.
"Why the bloody hell do you want to go all the way to Holodrum?" Zelda - dumbfounded by the crassness of his response - prepares an answer but Moor cuts her off before she could give it. "No. Don't tell me. It is better if I don't know. That way there's no risk of me betraying your confidence. I have a very loose tongue, or so I've been told.
"Now, as of actually getting to Holodrum, you need a mariner. Unfortunately no one in Lurelin is a mariner. We're all a bunch of fishmongers."
"Oh..." zelda murmurs dejectedly as her hopes fall. It would appear she won't be leaving Hyrule today.
Moor's eyes soften upon seeing the girls saddening face. While he may not know her reasons, he could tell it meant a lot to her to get to Holodrum. While there was no one from the village who could help her, there was someone from outside who could. But Moor was reluctant to request Him out of fear. But if he could help this girl in anyway, then so be it.
"However, there is a man who might be able to help you."
Zelda's spirits are lifted with this news. "Really!? Who?"
Moor's face pales and becomes expressionless. "The man you saw walk in hear minutes ago."
Zelda looks behind her at the man in question, a chill goes down her spin upon seeing him. "How do you know he can help me?" she asks.
"Because he is a mariner from Holodrum," Moor tells her.
Zelda feels her eyes widen and her breath shortens for a bit. So this is what the men of Holodrum looked liked. Were they all this tall, or was this man the exception? The man must have felt her eyes on him because he looks in her direction and holds her gaze with his own. The intensity of his gaze unnerves the princess and she quickly looks away.
Zelda wasn't frilled with the idea of travelling with this man, but if he could help her escape Hyrule, than she will suffer him.
Thanking Mister Moor for his service she gathers her little courage and advances towards the mariner from Holodrum. She keeps his eyes on him the whole time, and he returns the favour. When she reaches his table she realizes she has no idea how to go about this. She's never negotiated before, or had any need to ask someone of a favour. But she has engaged conversation with many politicians, so maybe she could use that to her advantage.
"You can sit down you know."
Zelda is startled out of her revelry. She was not expecting the man to say anything to her. "Pardon me?"
"I said you can sit down." His face remains neutral while gesturing to a seat across from him.
Zelda hesitantly slides into the seat, every nerve in her body on alert for the slightest hint of danger.
"So what do you want?" he asks. His voice is rough, and there is a hard edge to it. His language and actions are stoic and Zelda felt like he was sizing her up the way a predator would its prey. Yet, underneath this intimidating demeanour Zelda could sense something else... Something fair. It is this hidden fairness that gives Zelda the strength to dare voice her request. At the end of it, the man looks at her long and hard, and while it makes Zelda squirm she refuses to run. Eventually the man relaxes his posture and gaze, and surprises Zelda by smiling. It wasn't a creepy smile, but a sincere smile full of warmth and understanding.
"Very well child. I will take you to Holodrum, and you need not pay a rupee." He then stands up from his chair and Zelda notices his smile is gone now. "Come, we leave now."
Zelda gladly follows him and together they leave the inn for the docks.
A sail boat is what awaits them at the docks. It is not too large, but also not too small. It seemed big enough to carry no more than three or four people while also having room for some cargo in the stern and bow.
Zelda finds the vessel cute - in a way - and smiles at it. She then smiles at the vessels owner to show her thanks for his generosity. He gives a gruff hrumpf but the corners of his mouth twitch up ever so slightly.
Zelda climbs into the boat as quick and smoothly as she could. Any onlooker could tell she was no seafarer by how clumsily she got in, nearly tripping over her own feet and landing almost on her face.
She hers a chuckle behind her and is surprised to see it is the mariner who is laughing. Her face heats from embarrassment and she looks away.
"Don't worry miss," he reassures her. "You will gain your sea legs soon enough." He then unties the boat and climbs in across from her. He grabs the oars that were lying under the benches and rows them out of the dock.
As Zelda breathes in the salty air she gives a sigh of relief. She was able to leave Hyrule without trouble and was on her way to Holodrum and her new free life as a commoner. Yet, she never would have made it this far without the help of others.
First Impa, who helped Zelda sneak out while giving her a new wardrobe to blend in and a small sum of money that most likely came from her own savings. Zelda knows she will have to repay her old nurse someday, if they ever see each other again.
Then there was mister Moor who had helped her by simply showing his kind hospitality and giving his honest advice without asking any questions. She will have to return his kindness someday.
Finally, there was this mariner who was willing to give her a ride in his boat to Holodrum free of charge. Even though he had a gruff exterior, Zelda could tell from what time she had spent with him that he must have a kind heart.
Zelda then realizes something terrible. She has neglected to ask the mariner for his name. "Excuse me sir."
The mariner looks up questioningly from where he was placing the oars away, for a heavy wind was beginning to blow.
"I am sorry for not asking earlier, but what is your name?"
The mariner gives a small smile before returning back to his work. "Lysander," he says. "My name is Lysander the mariner son of Hob the smith." He then extends his hand and Zelda realizes he was asking for a proper greeting of acquaintances.
She takes his hand and shakes it. "Pleased to meet you Mr. Lysander. My name is Zelda Funk."
Lysander raises a brow before shaking his head side to side and letting out a small laugh. "I will never get used to you Hylians and your last names. It will always be strange to me."
Zelda tilts her head to the side. "I suppose Holodrum has a different naming system."
Lysander scoffs. "Obviously. Take me for example. We take up the names of our occupations and our parents. In Hyrule, you may be known as Zelda Funk, but in Holodrum you will be known by your occupation and whoever your mother was."
Zelda lets out a groan and- Hold on! Where had that groan come from? she thinks. Reflecting back Zelda had never groaned once in her life. She would always get into trouble. She would get scolded if she so much as sighed! Yet here she had openly groaned, and earlier today she had eaten with the mannerisms of an animal! She didn't know what to think. Only a day out and she was forgetting years of manners nailed into her head. Was it because she was so forgetful, or something else?
Oh well. I have other things to think about, like how this new naming system is going to take some getting used to. A low chuckle snaps Zelda back to the present and she realizes she had said that last part out loud. Despite her embarrassment she finds herself soon laughing along with Lysander for some reason.
"That's the spirit!" he says after calming down a bit, but a wide grin was still shining on his face. "Holodrum will be very different. You will feel like you stepped into a different world, but as long as you keep that carefree attitude of yours you will do alright."
Carefree attitude? Zelda's never had a carefree attitude. All her years she has always worried about something. In one day though she had discarded her table manners, groaned, and laughed when she was embarrassed; three things she would never have done yesterday she did today. How?
Looking at Lysander and his humoured smile Zelda thinks she found her answer. From the good natured kindness of Mr. Moor, to the environment of his inn, and even Lysander, who despite his initial roughness was now showing her a gentler side. She wasn't forgetful or a terrible student, she was simple surrounded by laid back, normal people instead of the stuffed up nobility, and their attitude was rubbing off on her.
Zelda rarely smiled in life, but now she allows herself to do so freely, and her smile grows larger as she looks towards the horizon in the east, away from the setting sun. Hyrule, her "home" was behind her. Holodrum - her new home - was before her.
Done another chapter! Zelda has finally left Hyrule, YAAAAAY! the story is going somewhere!
Review Reply:
Lightblade1121: Your welcome for the shout out. I am glad you are looking forward to seeing more of this story.
Another shout out to Lightblade 1121 for leaving the first review, and shout outs to bdj610. Thank you all for your support and have a nice day.
P.S. I made some minor changes to the previous chapters so make sure you go check them out. Au revoir.