Chapter 19: The Meeting of the Chosen
Zelda closed her eyes, more out of habit than any benefit. In the darkness of the tunnels she couldn't see anything anyway. Breathe in. Breathe out. Rauru's instructions sounded in her mind. Feel the energy within yourself, call it forth, and shape it.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, and her heartbeat sounded in her ears. She focused on that heartbeat, making it louder, stronger. The heart brought life, and from life came magic. When her heartbeat was pulsing thunder, she moved her hand and let her power release.
Light touched her face, and even with her eyes shut she knew that her spell had worked. She peaked out, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the small ball of light hovering in front of her. It was neither the biggest, nor the brightest light spell she had ever cast. But it was hers, entirely from her own power. Not light warped from a candle or lamp, nor energy taken from the items of power locked within the Temple.
It was all her own.
A smile tugged at her mouth as she made the light move around her hands. Rauru would be so impressed at their next lesson. But for now, she had other things to focus on.
Zelda sent her light hurtling through the dark corridor. It had taken weeks of prodding around every corner, analyzing every room, and hours searching through the library for old maps, but in the end she found another entrance to the hidden passageways around the castle. As far as she could tell, there were three. The first, Impa had used to save everyone from the Moblin attack. The second, she had uncovered herself in the garden and she did not know where it led. The third could be found in the back of the kitchen cellar.
However, she had not been able to figure out where that second passage ended, nor did she ever hear that music again as she wandered around the castle. Thankfully, the passage from the garden had not been closed up completely. Though the guards had been instructed to keep a watchful eye over it.
But Impa's lessons on stealth and misdirection had been going almost as well as Rauru's instruction on magic. Better in some ways. With a bit of planning, and some of that patience Impa and Rauru kept harping about, she found she could enter the courtyard passage most days she wanted to.
That was where she stood now. The top of the passage secured shut behind her so no nosy guards would come upon her by accident. And all she had for companionship was the light of her magic to guide her.
She made her way through the dirt tunnel, and in some ways, she could not help but think that the light made things a bit worse. The first time she had been down the tunnel the had not noticed the cobwebs filled with mummified insects, or the glistening of wiggling worms in the dirt floor. She scrunched her face in distaste, this really was not a place for a princess to be. Still she had been down the path before, surely none of these critters would carry her off this time.
Just as long as they don't touch me, either.
She reached the ladder heading up the castle and sent her light high. It was painfully obvious why she hadn't been able to climb higher now. About two-thirds of the way up the ladder two rungs were broken. The lower one completely gone, the one above it still had half a rung sticking out of it. She took hold of the ladder and began the climb.
When she reached the missing rungs she stretched and took hold of the half-broken one. Testing her weight against it, it seemed sturdy enough. She put a bit more weight on it, and it felt solid enough to her. She pulled herself up, and from there it was an easy climb to the top.
The ladder ended at a cramped walkway. She could walk through it without scraping her head on the ceiling, but any adult would have to move stooped or on their hands and knees. The walkway traveled near the entire length of the castle and at different times broke off into different branches.
As far as she could tell there was no clear distinction which path went where. For most people they would be hopelessly lost, but Zelda prided herself that she was not most people. Most people didn't use their heads.
"I came from the courtyard," she said to the ball of light. "The ladder up is on the east wall of the court round. That'd mean," she looked back where she came from and tried to calculate how many steps it took. "I should be about a third of the way to the servant's quarters. So, that path leads-"
A sound echoed from one of the corridors, a single strum of a lute. Then a few more, as if the player was getting a feel for the finger positions. All thoughts of direction and paths left her head, she needed to find who was playing that music.
She followed the sound down a path that led to another ladder. She climbed high, maybe two or three more levels before she reached the last segment of the passage. A dead end.
The lute was loud, filling the room with simple chords and melodies. Where was it coming from? First she tapped at the wall, and found nothing, before she looked to her feet. There was a small hole in the ground, slim, less than a finger's width but long. She tried to peak into the room below, but could not get a clear view of anything but the brown carpeting.
She brought her light around the hole. It was a wooden latched door. Now that she looked at it, easy enough to distinguish from the stones of the rest of the tunnel. There were markings around one edge of the door indicating there should have been a handle there. But what happened to it, Zelda could not tell. Perhaps, it was removed? A secret passage to help a king and queen leave the castle in a hurry was a useful pracaution. A passage that can bring assassins and spies into your chambers from outside did not seem as useful.
Or perhaps, it had just been broken apart and scattered by the animals that infested the corridor? There really was no way of knowing.
But regardless of the reason, Zelda could not get inside. So all she could do was clear a spot of dust with her shoe, and then she sat down and listened to the lute.
She really should be doing something more important with her time. But, she desperately wanted to hear the song from earlier. The slight chance that it would be played at all was enough for her to want to stay. She opted to practice her spells while she listened. Dispelling her light, then calling it back up again. Focusing on her heart and breath. Each attempt seemed easier than the one before.
Take your time and practice. Make certain you actually have it mastered. That was the lesson Rauru and Impa had tried to get her to learn. And she had learned it… technically. Well at least she was willing to keep practicing. But she did still wish to push forward, to work on something new and powerful. Something to destroy Ganondorf and right the wrongs of her kingdom all at once. Her mind went back to the magic of time, that Rauru had so insisted that she abandon.
The lute player stopped for a moment, gave a mumble that Zelda could not make out and then started to play. From the very first note she knew what it was. The song. Her song.
A few rapid knocks sounded below her and the music stopped just as quick as it started.
No.
But it was too late. A familiar deep voice called, "Come in."
"Father?" Zelda whispered. She didn't remember him ever playing an instrument. Or doing anything interesting at all for that matter. Was he the one who was playing her song? He must be.
For the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of comfort with the man. Not complete forgiveness or understanding even. But, there must be some small part of him that remembered her, at least as a baby with some affection.
The squeak of a door, and then another voice Zelda knew well said "Sire."
"Lady Impa, oh stand up. We're alone, no need to bow and scrape."
"Little reason to call me lady as well, then. But you still do, we all follow the custom of manners, my king."
"Have it your way. Any news then?"
"About the task you gave me? No, nothing. No one saw how they entered the city. Every guard at every gate claims they saw nothing that night. And my own investigation has been limited."
"Not one of them?" her father said. Zelda could hear the scratching as he rubbed at his beard, as he so often did when he wished to be seen musing about something. "You don't suppose that someone bought their loyalty out from under me?"
"Of one guard, or maybe two? I could see it. But there is always some loose ends to pull on. Someone who saw something they shouldn't, some evidence of the Moblins climbing up any of the walls, or townsfolk hearing a gate open and close after dark. And I have found nothing."
"So what options does that leave us?"
"Not many, I'm sorry to say."
"Magic then," the king muttered. "I've always hated dealing with that sort of business."
Zelda set her jaw. She did not care about her father's approval. Not at all. She told herself that she didn't care about it a hundred times. Then why did it still sting to hear him insult something she loved? She was never going to be the princess he wanted. She knew that, what was one more thing about her that her father must hate?
And yet still it hurt.
"Perhaps," Impa said. "But I will admit, my investigations have been hindered by my other duties. There are still many avenues I have not quite gone through. Did you think about my suggestion?"
"No," the king's voice was sharp and hard. Heavy footsteps paced along the room below. "I don't care how much it delays you. The safety and education of my daughter will remain your first priority. Understand?"
"Of course, sire. I only meant the suggestion as a temporary-"
Another knock. This one loud and hard against the door. "Your Majesty," came a muffled voice. "A message."
Her father sighed, "Enter."
Another squeak and then the heavy footsteps of a man in armor and the scratching and clinking as the man knelt.
"You may rise, Sir. What news?"
"The Gerudo King has arrived, your majesty. You asked to be informed of his arrival."
"Very well, bring him to council room and tell him that I will be with him presently. And send for Duke Arlan, and the ambassadors. Tell them there is to be a council of war, and don't let any of them try to justify not showing up with the festival. War does not take holidays."
"Of course, your majesty." More clanking as the knight must have bowed and shut the door with a resonant thud.
There was a silence in the room then, finally broken when the king said "What, Impa?"
"I didn't say anything."
"But you're not saying anything awfully loud. Tell me, that's an order."
"If magic was involved with the assault of the Moblins. If they were summoned into the city, it would take a person of great magical abilities to do so."
"And you suspect Ganondorf?"
"He has shown a proclivity with magic before. And your daughter certainly does think he was involved."
"So she's indicated with every breath she takes. But neither of you provide proof."
"What if it's true?" Impa said.
"Need I remind you, when the Moblin's attacked that man saved my life and the lives of many of my knights? People sing about his bravery that night. You think that is all an act?"
"Think of me as taking up the mantle of your daughter's argument more than what I think myself. Say it was the Gerudo, what then?"
"Then, I would send the greatest Shiekah Needle in the kingdom to discover what happened, so if I must move on him I have proof."
"And we return to where we started. I cannot conduct a thorough investigation and look after the princess at the same time."
Send her! Zelda silently screamed. I can take care of myself. If needs be she would force Rauru to teach her spells of a more offensive nature. Or she could get a detail of knights to always clod along at her back. They'd annoy her to no end, but it would be worth it knowing Impa was uncovering Ganondorf's plans.
The king remained silent for a long time, except for a couple "hmms." More scratching at his beard. "Very well, Impa. If you are stretched too thin, I would like a list of recommendations among the remaining Needles that you think can take up the investigation by tomorrow morning."
"If that is your majesties wish."
"It is," her father said. "I don't care if it's Moblins, the Gerudo, or Old Demise returned. You will not let anything harm a single hair on her head."
"Understood, sire."
"Good, now, I have a war meeting with our most loyal allies." The sound of feet scuffling against the carpet. "And if you please, Impa. It's the Sky Festival, would you be so kind as to make certain the princess enjoys herself."
Impa sighed, "I will, but perhaps she would enjoy it more if a parent was with her."
"You can make me feel guilty, later, Impa. Good day."
"Good day, your majesty."
Then a door open and closed and the light of the room went dark. Zelda made her own light disperse so no one below would notice. She sat in silence until she was certain that her father and Impa were gone. Then she called her light for herself again and headed back down the passageway. If her father needed proof that Ganondorf was a villain, then she would bring it to him.
For her part, Navi remained silent as she promised. Link crept through the bushes around the castle grounds. As far as Link could figure it was designed to do two things. The first was to look pretty, and as far as bushes went, Link thought these did the job admirably. Not quite as intricate as Saria's when she set her mind to making plants grow. But certainly it looked better than the rest of the city, which for the most part had all the plants growing haphazard in the few crevices they could find.
The second was to get in people's way if they were trying to move quickly through the grounds.
And if Link was a grown man trying to wade his way through the gardens to get to the castle, he would be in a fair bit of trouble. Guards roamed around peaking about each of the bushes and trees. All the places a grown man could fit in and try to hide behind.
But Link was not a grown man, not yet. He ducked down and crawled beneath the gaps between bushes, or hid up trees letting the leaves cover his body more completely than any grown up would be able to.
Navi sat on his shoulder, always looking behind him. The few times a guard got close to him, she would whisper into this ear, "Behind you." Which sent Link scurrying into some dark corner and Navi would rush under his cap until the guard had passed and he was free to move again.
Slow, steady, and careful he made his way closer and closer to castle he had marveled at not long before. But now the beauty was marred. Just like the Great Deku Tree and the other fairies would tell them. The outsiders may occasionally look friendly, and they made great works, but they were corrupted by the brutality of war and the life outside the Woods.
The swordlike towers that jutted into the sky no longer looked noble and powerful, they were vile. The excess of a culture just trying to make themselves look as dangerous as they possible.
He peaked around a bush, and saw several of the women who rode with the man in black standing around the front of the keep. The land to get directly too them was far too open, he'd never make it without being seen. But the pattern of bushes continued down the left side of the courtyard, arranged together or around statues.
Following the path of the shrubbery, he reached its end still a bit far from the walls for his taste. Still, it was much closer than they had been at the front. A guard wandered past, his head turning every direction. This one seemed a bit more alert than some of his fellows, so Link decided not to risk dashing along the open ground until the guard's back was turned and he was well away.
He bolted across the courtyard, the guard was too far away to hear him so he didn't even try to move stealthily. As fast as he could, until he needed to stop himself from running into the walls of the castle with his hands. There was no real cover, his only option was to make for an arched opening within the wall or just try to climb up.
Link looked up the wall, the stones were much the same as they were in the outer wall, and he climbed that easy enough. But climbing was slower than running, and there's even less cover climbing a wall in the sunlight. That would be the second choice, only if that opening led nowhere.
He jogged along the wall, silently praying to the Goddesses that no one took notice of him. He was so close!
He reached the arch, grabbed hold of the stones and used his grip to spin himself around so he ran inside, then jumped down behind a conveniently placed row of flowers. The arches brought him to a clearing, a few guards were stationed by a door a fair walk away. They didn't seem to have noticed him, but he remained still until he was certain no one was coming for him. The courtyard curved away from the guards. He crept along the flowers in the garden until the guards no longer had a clear view of him. He took one last look around to make certain no one could see him and walked out of the flowers.
There was a window in the wall across from him. He was not certain what he would find when he went inside. But he would be closer to the man in black armor than if he stayed out in the flowers waiting for him to appear. What could he do? Just wait and hope he decided to stop and smell the flowers. Then jump out and stab him?
No way that would work. An evil villain won't stop and enjoy something good and beautiful like a flower. They plot and betray and surround themselves with equally ugly and evil things. And they'd spend their time doing evil things like hitting horses or burning trees.
He'd make a break for the windows. Whatever happened next was in the hands of the Goddesses.
"Am I clear, Navi?" he whispered.
"I don't see anyone," she said back. "But- wait- what's that?"
He didn't need her to elaborate as he saw it just as quick. There was a bench in the middle of the courtyard, raised on a large block of stone. One of the stones shifted, then another, and another revealing a dark space. From the space a hand shot out, and Navi gasped. Then another. Then out came a head. But it wasn't some monstrous head. It was a little girl, in a white and purple cloth headdress, with a few strands of golden hair spilling out of it.
The little girl pulled herself from the dark, staying so low to the ground that anyone watching from the other side of the bench would never see her. Once she was completely out, she peaked around the stone block at the direction the guards stood. Then turned back and shifted the stones she had just crawled out of until there was no hint that the bench was anything more than a bench.
Then she darted, low but quick to an outcropping of the wall and pressed her back to it. Now it was certain that no one could see her but Link and Navi.
The girl's mouth moved and her hand twitched. She wore a fine dress that matched the cloth on her head, though it was dirtied from scraping along the ground, covered in mud, dirt, and even a cobweb clung to her. But after her hand finished it's movement all of the muck rolled off her, splattering like rain to the ground. She examined her dress, clearly impressed with herself as she spun around. Then she stepped out of the circle of mud, tucked that loose strand of hair under her headdress and walked forward as if nothing had happened at all.
"She's magic," Navi whispered.
"Yeah," skilled at it too. Link wandered if one would ever need to take a bath or clean clothes again with such a spell.
"Where'd she go?" Link blinked. She had just been there a moment before. But she walked away, by a bush and now she wasn't there at all. Was that more magic, or was she just that good at moving around? The guards certainly never saw her.
Was she also an enemy of the crown? She had to be, why else would she be sneaking around the courtyard like that? He tried to search to see where she possibly could have gone. But the crack of a leaf sent him ducking back down, just as a group of people wearing the fanciest clothes Link had ever seen.
The men wore bright vests and elaborate hats that looked like they'd get in the way more than anything. While the ladies of the group wore layered dresses that looked uncomfortably hot. They lingered by the gardens, smelling some of the flowers. Link lowered himself, and waited for them to leave.
Malon would have liked those weird dresses. The thought came unwanted into his head. He frowned at the air. He shouldn't be thinking about her now, he wasn't even certain if he could trust her. But he hoped he could. Perhaps it had just been a coincidence that Talon brought him straight to Ganondorf, perhaps they were both just kind people.
But he couldn't take that risk. He promised the evil man would not get his hands on the Emerald and he wouldn't no matter what.
But still, Malon would have liked those dresses.
The group headed further along the courtyard following the circular path of the gardens, Link decided it was time to rush for the window. No more preparing, no more waiting. He needed to get this done. He shuffled out from behind the flowers. Wait. Wait...
The last of the wealthy people disappeared around the corner. Link ran. Straight toward the open window.
He just about reached it, when a bush beside the window shifted, and the girl in white and purple stepped out to get a better view. Her back was toward him, and she stared intently at what was within the window.
"Hey!" Link said without intending it, as he flailed about, circling his arms to stop himself before he crashed into the girl.
The girl jumped in shock, spun around, and gasped. Her hand went to her mouth as if covering it would protect her, and her eyes went wide. "Who?" she squeaked.
"Ahhhhh," Link said, as he stopped himself. No one was supposed to see him! Link's eyes darted around the courtyard. Was there any way to escape? Maybe the girl opposed the crown, maybe the girl could have been an ally. But if he wasn't going to trust Malon, then he certainly wouldn't trust some magic girl that crawled up from underground.
"How did you get past the guards?" the girl snapped. Her hand lowered and the shock and fear disappeared from her eyes. "Who are you? How did you get in here?
Behind her, in the window, the man in black armor walked past. Right in front of him, and yet Link couldn't do anything to stop him. But for some reason he didn't feel angry. In fact, he heard something.
"How did you get past the guards?" This was ridiculous. She had been practicing with one of the greatest spies in the history of Hyrule to learn how to move stealthily and be aware of her surroundings. And this boy, this green nothing just appeared behind her. Wearing a blade, which means he got around the guards of the palace. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
And why was he wearing all green? He looked ridiculous, he clearly wasn't a knight. Nor was he s squire. Someone had cast a light spell and placed it glowing above his shoulder. It glowed blue for some reason. Who could do that? The boy didn't appear to be concentrating on it at all, so he didn't cast it. Unless this random kid was better at magic than her, and that was of course ridiculous.
Behind her she heard the heavy footsteps of Ganondorf passing by the window. As he drew close, she felt a chill fall down her spine. The presence, that dark energy was stronger now than it had ever been. An unstoppable anger that surrounded the man's every step, pouring out in every direction. A wrath that wished to see the entire world burn.
The boy seemed to notice Ganondorf as well. His eyes went wide and he stepped closer to her. A new energy overwhelmed her senses. She shut her eyes to try to blot everything else out and focused on it. It was magic, certainly, but it wasn't the normal sense of magic she had felt when practicing with Rauru. That was there too, blots of magic the boy had at his hip and shoulder, but something more, something deeper came from the boy himself.
She opened her eyes to see the boy's eyes flickering between her and the window. She tried to draw the magic from him, but nothing happened. It did not move the way she wished it, it just stayed with the boy. Like it was some mark placed there by the Goddesses themselves.
She pulled at the magic at his hip and that came to her easy enough. But when she tried again with the boy, still, nothing.
"What are you doing?" the boy asked. "I need to-" he glanced back toward the entrance of the courtyard, worried someone would appear. "I need to get through there." His hand drifted by the blade at his side.
"Link," came a voice. It took Zelda a moment to realize that it was coming from the ball of light above his shoulder. It wasn't a light spell at all. It had wings. "We need to get out of here."
"Is that a fairy?" It had to be, it fit the descriptions. What was going on with this boy?
"What of it?" the boy said as the fairy moved back around his shoulder and started tugging at him.
"I've read about your kind," she tried to address the glowing blue light. "Are you from the Lost Woods? Or from one of the offshoot Great Fairies?"
"Uhh," the fairy said. "Ignore me, please."
"Look," the boy said. "I don't want to hurt you, but I got to get through there." He clenched the grip of his blade, ready to pull it loose a clear threat to her. Her! How dare he? He stepped toward her again and then stopped. "Do you hear singing?"
The voices came from around them, just as they had at the Temple. Three female voices pure and strong, coming together and breaking apart. Spiraling around each other in a perfect harmony.
The boy closed his eye.
"Link," the fairy said. "Link. Link! What's going on?"
Zelda let herself get moved by the voices. The song was different, no more about the endless march of time, the eons arranged before her. Instead, she saw three lights. One blue, one green, and one red. The three lights moved along with the three voices. The red light set the pace with the deepest voice, directing the flow of their song and keeping their tempo steady. The blue tried to pull ahead making the song soar ever higher, creating the melody that was so beautiful to hear. And the green bound them together, pushing the red forward when the pace went too laborious, or sweeping along with the blue when it tried too hard to break from the pace.
And from their song the world around them changed. But Zelda could not see if it changed for the better or the worse.
Then the song ended. And she was just left staring at the boy and he at her.
"What was that?" he whispered.
"Link," the fairy said and flew in front of the boy's eyes. "What's going on? You started talking about singing and then you shut your eyes, and you were just standing there."
"Didn't you hear it?"
"No one was singing."
"There was singing, how couldn't you hear it, it was beautiful."
"Lets just go," the fairy said. Clearly relieved that whatever had happened to the boy had ended. "We missed our chance. We'll get another."
"We just had a revelation," Zelda cleared her throat and the boy looked around the fairy toward her. "Who are you?"
"What does that even mean?" the boy said, his eyes narrowed. "I'm Link. Who are you?"
"You don't know?" Zelda gave a small burst of a laugh. At first she thought he was just trying to rile her up. But she see from her eyes he truly did not know who she was. For perhaps the first time she could remember. "I am Princess Zelda, daughter of King Liotidos Beramus of Hyrule. I am one of the most important people in the kingdom. So, again I'll ask, who are you? You can't just be some boy named Link." The Goddesses sent them a sign. But why?
The boy shrugged. "But I am just Link, I'm from the Lost Woods."
She'd figure out what the Goddesses wanted later, after she had time to figure out what that vision meant. "So, you're one of the Kokiri?" She raised her chin, to give herself an aura of authority. "I have message for the Great Deku Tree. It is said he closed off his lands from all others at the start of the Great Gerudo War. If he is planning to open his lands again because he heard of the peace, tell him not to. The peace is a lie. Do not let him lower the veil of mists. Whatever he does, he should not let the Gerudo King enter his lands."
"I'm not a Kokiri," the boy said. "And I can't tell the Great Deku Tree anything. He's dead. That Gerudo King killed him, and now I'm going to go deal with him for good."
The boy tried to move past Zelda toward the window. Was he planning on just walking up to Ganondorf, and stabbing him? There were guards, and Gerudo all along the hall. And, Ganondorf would be in her father's war council. There's no way he'd ever reach him. "That's insane." She said. "You'll die."
"Hmmph," the boy muttered. "If you're not going to tell me what that singing was about, then get out of my way."
"Link, listen to her. Ganondorf is too strong."
"I'll be able to beat him, I beat the giant spider."
"Barely!" the fairy said. "And this man sent the spider. He may be far stronger."
"He is," Zelda said, though she did not know what spider they were talking about. She had never heard of the Gerudo using spiders in the war. But she needed this boy to understand how dangerous his target was. "Ganondorf is considered the greatest warrior of this age."
"Then I'll have to find another way," Link walked to the wall and dug his fingers between the stones. "Where does he sleep? Maybe I can get him then."
"That's even worse. He and his guard sleep in that tower," she pointed to it. "You can't climb up to him."
The boy scoffed. "Yes, I can."
The fairy sighed. "He probably could."
Zelda looked at the two of them. No one could climb that tower. But then, the Goddesses indicated he was important. Could he? "Regardless, he will have his guards with him. That is just as certain to get you killed."
The boy shook his head. "It doesn't matter, not how many guards he has or how strong he is. He needs to be beaten, for the Great Deku Tree. And every other evil thing he's done."
"Agreed!" Zelda said. "But we have to do this the right way. If you just charge in there waving your weapon around you won't actually accomplish anything."
"Please listen to her, she's speaking sense."
The boy whirled to the fairy. "I thought you said you'd help me?"
"I'm trying."
"Listen, Link," Zelda planned her words carefully. The boy was obviously angry, hurting, and in need of direction. It seemed so strange that the Goddesses wished that he of all people should be important to her. He was so bloody minded, and just a child from the woods? Not a grand noble or anything? "I agree with you. Ganondorf needs to be stopped. But if you go about it your way, then you won't accomplish anything. What good is the right thing if it doesn't work?"
"That sounds like an excuse to not do the right thing," Link muttered.
"No, it just means we have to do it in the smart way."
"Well, do you have any better ideas?"
"Yes! Hundreds! I am full of brilliant ideas. But I need you to listen to me."
The boy looked her in the eyes and folded his arms. "Alright," he said. "I'm listening."
Author's Note: Fourth attempt to write the meeting of Link and Zelda, still not quite happy with it. Going on for now, but may come back later.
I'd also like to thank YLFanatic94, while I'm writing this primarily for my own pleasure, it's nice knowing some people are enjoying it. And her reviews are keeping me motivated. Thank you for your time and I hope to continue to entertain.