Chapter 17: Initiative
—
Zelda didn't hesitate to make full use of the newly acquired freedom she now had outside her castle. Not only did this allow her to continue her explorations and spend time with Volga, but she was given opportunities to interact more with her kingdom. Going through reports and signing parchments at her study wasn't the same as actually being present to see the situations for herself.
For instance, recently there had been a shortage of water in one of the towns in the outskirts. She had visited the town after receiving a letter with pleas for help from the mayor. Being there allowed her to investigate the matter, and make arrangements to help them. She was able to send out a team to drill for a water source, and though they were suitable workers, there was no denial that Volga's offered assistance granted them an edge, utilizing his sharp, dragon senses to identify where to drill. Until the process was done, Zelda made sure to provide the residents with a temporary supply of water.
Royal duties like those were less oppressive, and gave her more fulfillment.
She felt so inspired, like she could accomplish anything; for her people, for the music she could now play with more confidence - privately still but it was progress! - and for him. Volga encouraged her when she wasn't certain about a particular task or decision, and made her feel capable. His mental support reached out physically too, with strength that eased off heavy exertion from laborers, for tasks such as the fortification of watch towers, when he volunteered to work alongside them. This resulted in a drastic increase in the advancement of the projects the king had set out for Hyrule's cause.
Being able to fly or having her ride him freely made traveling more time efficient, though the latter was not without contempt from most of the foreign royals. Her father would have been more reluctant about this as well, but he had known the contributions those wings had done. That, and he liked Volga. This much Zelda knew, much to the displeasure of the royals.
The Hylian citizens were becoming more grateful of the pair than they had already been since the Manhandla incident. It wasn't uncommon for crowds to cheer for them whenever they were spotted. Even the hushed talk about how coddled within the castle she was had lessened; genuine respect developed at witnessing their future queen taking initiative.
On the subject of the Manhandla, the courtyard where the oversized plant had been destroyed was starting to look more like its former self. Previously deep recesses on the ground from where the creature had imploded and where its vines had burrowed through were now covered with mortar. Zelda saw to it that the mortar was thicker than it had previously been, resulting in a sturdier base. Finally, the lawn had been restored, the trampled bushes replanted and watered.
"So kind of the foreign royals for their trouble in fixing up this place," said Eveline, as she, Zelda, Volga, and Martel walked across the pavement. "Though between us, they look like they never lifted a pebble in their lives. And wearing golden fleece for such physical work isn't the brightest idea - it's a tragedy to fashion."
The young men the tailor spoke of had been grudgingly cleaning up the dead weeds and shifting cracked stones into a wagon bin. They refused to wear the garments that the other workers and soldiers wore, though the result was still the same, for their clothes were soiled and torn. The three royals briefly turned their heads, and for some reason, anxiously began to speed up the pace of their work. Zelda wasn't sure if it was her regal presence, or Volga… being Volga.
Now fitted with the complete set of armor the couple had forged for him, he struck an even greater draconic semblance than that of his previous soldier uniform. The plates were a polished red, like glistening blood. Gold trimmed his arms and collar, underlining a royal congruity to that of his masquerade attire. Decorative chains ran along the chest and arm pieces, as if to warn others of a restrained beast. And his gauntlets could pass for claws, with the way the seemingly jagged tips would curl.
"That resizes," said Eveline to Volga, pointing at his gauntlets. "When your arm changes into a claw, it will adjust to the size accordingly. And when you turn into your full form, the armor and clothing will also expand - as well as be able to shrink to what it was when you turn back to your human form. Or it should anyway."
"She means that if the armor doesn't reappear, we'll pull out the towels," said the princess, casting him a smirk.
His lips drew into a simper, holding back whatever remark regarding nudity he might have had, given that they had company. If only she could see the look on his face, but that was obstructed by his new helmet.
Zelda inspected his helmet. Two horns had been jutted out on the sides, and a long plume of fiery tones on the top that extended down past his waist. The model of the skull and eyes were so accurate to the art works of Volvagia, that it made a convincing replica.
"What do you think?" Volga asked her curiously.
"It suits you," Zelda reached over and grabbed the horns. "But how can you see in this? I can't even see your eyes."
She tried on his helmet. Since it had been molded to suit Volga's wider jaw, it hung loosely over her smaller chin. Surprisingly, she was able to see through the dark sockets, and noticed something in them. "Is this a visor?"
"Sort of, though it's more of how the inner sockets are tilted to create shadows on the outside. I wanted to experiment with the idea of making his eyes hard to see, to strike fear in his enemies," Eveline explained.
Martel addressed Volga. "Hmm… put the helmet back on. We need to test to see if all pieces of your armor will readjust when you switch forms."
Volga watched the princess with an entertained fondness. "Lady Volvagia, may I have my helmet back?"
"Certainly," Zelda said cheekily. "Though I wonder. If Amusei and Jules see me in this, they'll be asking for you to wear my tiara next." Neither of them could refrain from their light-hearted flirting with each other. He gently placed his hands on either side of her head and lifted the helmet. Their eyes met and the somersaults in her stomach made her feel as if she had missed several steps down an imaginary staircase. Though she had been the first to subtly look away, she had an uneasy intuition that the brief moment between them had not gone unnoticed.
Act natural, she reminded herself in a firm daze. I'm sure I only imagined the secretive look Eveline exchanged with her husband.
Helmed once more, Volga transformed, waves of fire surrounding him. Where a man had been standing a moment ago was now a dragon, enlarged and suddenly making the courtyard seem like a miniature model of its former self.
Most of the castle staff and soldiers had grown used to seeing him swap forms by now, so they continued with their duties. The ones who hadn't, namely being the few foreign royals in the area, were panic-stricken, edging as far away from them as possible.
"Excellent!" said the smith in triumph. "The scales on the armor align with that of your own dragon form. Think of it like an extra layer of protection. If any part of the armor becomes too constricting or not constricting enough between your transformations, then let us know. Now change back and let's see if the armor will piece together again to how it was."
When Volga attempted this, the armor appeared with him, like it had never left his body. Eveline clapped her hands, and Zelda looked at him in awe. "It worked! Volga, is it comfortable?"
"Try switching back and forth a couple of times," Eveline suggested. "To make sure it's consistent."
Volga did, the armor reverting to its previous state, and adapting to his dragon form each time. "I would say it's working," he said, after turning back into his human form. "And it's not uncomfortable - I don't feel the weight of it any more than a set of heavy, Hylian soldier armor, and it's not digging into my skin."
Eveline rummaged through an embroidered satchel she had brought with her. She pulled out a spray bottle, filled with water. "Let me see something."
The tailor sprayed a couple of times along the winged shoulder blades. "Try using a fire move in either form. Er, let us back away a bit though."
Zelda knew Volga could control his fire not to harm, but he did as she instructed. His gauntlets balled into a fist, and she recognized what he was trying to do because she had seen him do it before, back when they had fought the Beamos statues.
Yet where a burst of flames should have emitted from his hand was nowhere to be seen. He sucked in the air, tilted his head toward the sky, and released. Still nothing, and when he tried his dragon form, not even a puff of smoke came from his mouth.
"As I suspected," said Eveline, unsatisfied, while Volga morphed back once more. "See, enchantments this powerful on either armors or weapons can have elemental drawbacks. Furthermore, your armor is meant to store heat. Should you get water on it, then you may be deprived of using some of your fire attacks while wearing it. Fortunately, it's only temporary. Since I only sprayed a minuscule amount of water, you should be able to use your fire soon enough. But say you go have a swim in the river in your armor, it would take much longer before you could use them again."
Volga nodded. "That's not that bad. I could see it being a nuisance if it started raining or something. Still, I have plenty of things I can do without the need of fire. And the benefits of this armor far outweigh the bad. You two have done a splendid job."
Eveline pouted. "I know, I just wanted it to be perfect. If I find a way to counteract this hindrance, I will alter it again."
Her husband placed an arm around her shoulders. "We will, but give yourself some credit, love. Your enchantments have yet to be contested. You think our little one will inherit your magic prowess or my smithing? Maychance we may be surprised by something else entirely."
"Little one," Zelda gasped. "Eveline, are you with child?"
"Not yet, but we are planning to soon," she said unabashedly. "I think it's about time we started a family."
They congratulated them, then the princess pointed a finger at her. "When you become pregnant, you will go easy on yourself at work. I want you to have more time off as well, and get plenty of rest."
"Thank you, sweetheart," the tailor moved her hand daintily in the air. "Oh and would you two join us for tea and pastries? I make quite the delectable fudge tarts and lemon cakes."
Volga went quiet at this, and Zelda knew why. Herself aside, and her father to an extent - he likely did not acknowledge yet that Eveline and Martel were beyond acquaintances with him by now.
"Oh don't look so surprised at being invited," Eveline told Volga crossly. "We consider you our friend too, you know."
"I… thank you. I will look forward to attend."
He's humbled, Zelda realized, feeling happy for him. He deserves having friends.
When they finished experimenting with Volga's armor in the courtyard, the four of them took a stroll toward the workshop, chatting together along the way. Their morning had been a pleasant experience; Eveline was right about her pastries, because Volga and Zelda found themselves indulging in the additional helpings offered.
Regrettably, they couldn't stay as long as they would have liked. Volga was going to attend a meeting with Impa soon, and Zelda had to go over the plans to try and convince the Gorons and reptilians to join forces with the Hylians when the time came. She and Volga had agreed to visit Eldin this evening to speak with them on the matter. And to hopefully share some needed private time together.
"Don't worry about the dishes, Volga, you're going to be late for your meeting," said Eveline, shooing him away from the counter.
"I got it," Zelda sat up, taking their plates to the small sink area they had in the workshop. She was glad that the maids weren't here, or they would have fussed over having the princess engage in chores.
When Volga thanked them and left, Martel returned to his workbench. Eveline poked her head out the door, as if to see if anyone else was around outside, then promptly shut it. She turned to Zelda, and shot her a critical look.
"Something happened, didn't it?" she could hardly contain her excitement.
I was right in my suspicions, she must have noticed something…
The blonde feigned innocence. "Nothing in particular, other than my father allowing me outside and insisting for me to go on dates with the foreign royals."
Eveline blinked. "They're getting awfully forceful, aren't they? I hope you'll be able to handle them." She paused. "But I hadn't meant that - I meant what happened to you since your birthday?"
Zelda continued to play oblivious. "What do you mean?"
The tailor rolled her eyes. "I want to make her the happiest woman in Hyrule," she quoted. "Clearly, he must have, and routinely so. Since that day, your skin actually has color now, and I know it's not just from being outside more. There's been this… glow about you."
Zelda turned on the sink tap, her back to Eveline so that she wouldn't see any evidence on her face. "Glow? Don't be silly, Eveline. I've always enjoyed spending time with him."
"I understand if you don't want to go into details," said Eveline seriously. "Believe me, I do. But if you think we don't notice there's something there, you thought wrong. No matter how much you try to hide it. And no, it's not blatantly obvious for the casual spectator, but for someone who is looking for hints, they will find them."
Zelda squeezed the sponge hard, the foam covering the tension in her hands that she released into it. "And what makes it obvious for the nosey spectator?"
The red head considered her question, but didn't take long to answer. "First off, you had me forge a diadem for a Lizalfos. I know you're not doing that purely for the sake of trying to gain his clan's favor to help us in the war. You want to please his family." She grinned when the sponge slipped from Zelda's fingers. "Then it's like there's… static in the air between you two. The way you smile at him, and how he looks at you."
"Then it's a good thing that his helmet will hide his eyes after all," Zelda mumbled to herself, her face reddening.
"I know it's not my business dear, but I worry for you two. And then these dates with the royals, no doubt they will make their proposals. What are you going to do?"
Zelda shut off the tap. Deep in, she didn't mind if Eveline and her husband knew about them, and she actually appreciated having another person she could talk to and ask for advice. She would have loved to confide in her father too, even Impa, but she wasn't sure how to confront either of them yet.
"I'll have to think up of an eloquent way to refuse them," said the princess, resigned. "And see if I can bargain trades with them through options other than marriage. I can't say what will happen long-term, Eveline. But short-term, I'm doing what I can. And Volga too. He… brings me so much joy."
Eveline stared at her thoughtfully, and Zelda could only imagine the countless questions surging in her head. She didn't nag her for confirmation on whether or not they established anything, or if they had future plans - though it'd likely be a matter of time before she asked. Perhaps her uncharacteristic silence was due to her grasping that the idea of the two being romantically involved was closer to reality than she may have thought.
"He's good to you," said the tailor after a moment. "Someone who cherishes you in such a way has my support," she reassured her. "But please, be careful in every way. Especially with the foreign royals. That bear slayer? He's going to be trouble, that one."
—
The interactions in the courtyard earlier this morning had been closely monitored until the princess's group had taken their leave. "Hmph," the tallest of the royal trio grumbled. "The Dragon Knight has fancy enchanted armor made for him, and what do we get? Working to reform a courtyard, like some menial laborer."
Another one huffed. "Well if you had been less noisy, we wouldn't have been caught in the first place."
A short man pointed a stubby finger at the other royal. "If you hadn't been so eager to seize my telescope, at least one of us would have been able to see her unclothed."
"My, my," a fourth voice joined them, but he had not been with the original company of the three. His copper hair was matted along the dark bear fur that covered his shoulders. "If you are all so desperate to see a naked woman, you could always try the brothel. But good luck finding one of those in Hyrule, they're too virtuous for that. If I was king here, then things would be very different."
The dread they felt when he appeared ebbed away when they realized who it was. "Oh it's you, Uncle Torkil," they gawked at him in relief. "We thought you were - never mind."
"The Dragon Knight?" the bear slayer provided. At their nod, he snorted. "Let me guess. The reason you're all slaving here happens to be relevant to him."
The brothers winced. "We ran into complications with him, yes. He… ah, didn't like us spying on the princess." None of them went into further detail.
"How quaint," Torkil furrowed his eyebrows. "If you ask me, I think this Dragon Knight is too involved into our business for my liking. But they let him, both the princess and the king. They respect him, as do so many residents - when they should be fearing him."
The short man shrugged. "True, but there was that whole matter with the Masquerade Festival. And he's been helping both the Royal Family and the Hylians with duties that none of us would want to bother with, even if we ruled here."
Torkil scoffed. "How blind these people are. It takes one heroic act and a couple of favors, and he has the kingdom bowing to him. He's a dragon. I don't care if he has a human form or not. If anything, he's more dangerous having one."
"But what does he have to gain from being around people?"
The bear slayer took a seat on the bench, pulling out an axe, dagger, and a whetstone. He then began to sharpen his weapons. "That is something we have yet to discover. If you three could contribute, we might find a solution sooner."
"Solution?" they eyed the weapons warily.
Torkil flipped the dagger with practiced execution, catching it at the grip. "To have him stop getting in our way. And no, I'm not so callous to suggest an early death sentence for my nephews. All this calls for is a bit of tact. You said you were all spying on the princess. Do so to him. Except do a better job at it, and think of a believable excuse to tell him should you get caught."
They looked uncomfortable with this. "Uncle, this isn't a good idea. And when he flies it's you know… kind of hard to keep up with him."
"Do what you can," said Torkil impatiently. "Just don't be obvious about it."
"You don't think that um -"
"What?"
The tallest of the trio leaned on a large shovel he had been using. "You told us what happened when you tried to charm the princess. Whatever the reason, he embarrassed you in front of her. Is this about getting back at him?"
Torkil's bitterness held back no bounds. "That's part of it, but it's not the only cause. You boys think you know our kingdom's history, but neither of you could fully grasp what our past generations had to endure. Dragons have terrorized our lands and our ancestors, bringing fire and ruin wherever they went. These people are ignorant to the destruction these beasts are capable of."
"I mean, our ancestors did invade their lands and slay -"
"Our ancestors did what they had to do to survive," Torkil said, with a finality that gave no inclination for argument.
"What is your plan?"
"I will think on it. I've noticed it takes an effort for him to keep his temper in check."
They gaped at Torkil as if fearing for his sanity. "I would not recommend intentionally angering a dragon! Dangerous might be an understatement."
"My intentions will be more tangible than petty rivalry," said Torkil briskly. "However I won't hesitate to challenge him at the opportune times. If it so happens to vex him, then so be it. Let people see what he is."
—
Impa made her way to the courier post near the castle's entrance, hoping to hear news from the Faron region, and specifically, from the Guardian of Time. It had been awhile since the king had sent the sorceress a letter asking for updates on the war - and whatever else he had written to her, presumably an apology and explanation for "borrowing" her painting. She had weighed the odds that the sorceress's silence could be disapproval for taking one of her belongings without her consent. But something didn't seem to match up with the urgent matters that remained for the Guardian of Time to address.
"When you hold a real sword, it won't be like holding this wooden toy," the voice came from a young man dressed in a courier's attire, his back to where Impa was headed to. He pointed at the hilt of the child's weapon. "Don't grip too tight on the hilt. Otherwise your movement will be messy, and you'll get tired fast."
The two boys who were being lectured were about to say something, but they hesitated when they noticed Impa approaching. The courier turned around, and when he did, Impa almost did a double take.
Everything about his physical appearance - aside from the white shorts and top, was identical to that of the portrait of the Spirit of the Hero. Had someone slipped something into her tea this morning? She gave a hard blink, but there he still was. He let out an embarrassed laugh.
"Oh right, the mail!" he exclaimed, quickly opening the parcel strapped around his shoulder. He pulled out a stack of letters, and sifted through them to verify the address. Impa noticed this part, he had done more slowly, and though he didn't appear to be illiterate, he likely had the most basic level of education. "Here you go, commander lady."
Impa skimmed the letters, too distracted to allow his lack of courtesy irritate her. There was still no update from the Guardian of Time, or her region. Had she not received the note, or was there an explanation to the delay?
A loud sneeze suddenly cut into the air, and Impa looked up from the parchments to see a horse; a reddish-brown Clydesdale with a white pigment down its forehead, strapped to a mail post. "I know, I know, we'll leave soon, Epona," the courier loosened her reins slightly so that she would be more at ease. "Gotta return this toy sword to the kids."
"Thank you, Mister!"
When the children left, Impa turned to the pair. "That's a healthy looking horse," she commended. "Is it yours, or just for your courier duties?"
"Epona? For courier duties, yeah," he replied. "But I take care of her frequently, either at the ranch, or when I ride with her. Boss might sell her to me someday though." He patted her white mane, to which the mare gave a pleased snort in response. "Not that I think she'd like my village much. We live in a bunch of tree tops, and she likes open space."
"Sounds like she has an abundance of energy."
"Abund - er, yeah," he said, frowning. "Whenever I have to make stops to deliver the mail, she can only stay still for so long before she starts getting impatient. If it were up to her, she'd be riding along the fields most of the time. Or stomping on snakes, like she did a few days ago when they tried to sneak up on us in the forest."
Impa crossed her arms in her chest. "Many horses would be startled by the sight of a snake, or run away. Fearlessly stomping on them however… you practically have a riding weapon."
Adjusting the saddle, the courier prepared to mount with a swiftness that spoke of practiced horsemanship. "Anyway, I should get going, before my boss gets furious with me for being late."
But Impa had not been chatting idly with this commoner for no reason. In fact, she was already late herself, for the meeting with the foreign royals. If this courier really did have a chance of being the legendary hero, then it would be imprudent to pretend that their meeting was a mere coincidence. She couldn't say with certainty that he was who they were looking for, but she couldn't ignore the spitting image within the painting.
"Young man," she called out.
He looked at her.
"I have a favor to ask. Don't worry, it's quite simple. I will bring a box of clean, soldier uniforms. All you would need to do is try them on, and see which one best fits you. If we were ever to get a soldier of… smaller stature," she tried not to sound insulting. "It would give us the measurements needed to outfit more body types of individuals who may wish to join the Hylian ranks someday."
She figured that saying something like, we need to take your measurements because you look exactly like the portrait of the hero and we'll need to have the outfit ready one day, just in case - would sound absurd, furthermore, they were strangers.
"But my boss -"
Impa took out a purple rupee from her pocket, and presented it to him. "Take this. I can write a note to your boss excusing your delay. This is an errand for the Royal Family in a way, so I'm sure he would understand."
She thought he'd prod her for questions, but he took the rupee and made a fist bump in the air. "Yes!" he cheered. "Going to buy poultry pilaf and cider tonight. Fifty rupees, and all I have to do is try on uniforms? Easy!"
"Indeed," said Impa, somewhat exasperatedly. "As I said, it's a simple task. In regards to your horse, I'll instruct someone to bring her a fresh batch of hay, and water. This shouldn't take long, so it's fine for her to wait here."
The courier glanced at Epona. "Don't worry, I'll buy you something too. I'll even let you have a bite of my apple pie."
Ah, to live a simple life where a purple rupee can make your day, Impa thought absently, as the image of the purple gem turned into a magician's cloak, worn by a youth with red eyes and black hair. He held out a giant rabbit plush to her, flashing a cunning smile. Impa pushed away the memory, surmising that she only thought of it because she noticed the little bunny emblem on the courier's hat.
She had more important matters to attend to in making sure the courier was provided with uniforms, then rushing to handle the foreign royals and the announcement she would give.
—
The meeting place of choice had been the royal stables. When Volga arrived, there was a mass of Hylian soldiers gathered, and with them, many disgruntled foreign royals.
"What's taking her so long?" he heard them complain to each other. "And why would she have us come here? Do we look like milkmen?"
Volga joined with the Hylian soldiers, not wishing to be anywhere near the royals, but still hearing their whining as if they were right next to him.
Impa made her presence in haste. She gave an affirmative curtsy as she walked past them, stepped on a tall bale of hay, and cleared her throat. The chattering faded. "I apologize for the delay. There was a… divine situation I had to take care of," she said, slightly hoarse. Questioning looks were exchanged, but no one expressed anything beyond some nods.
The Sheikah took a deep breath and began. "Now. I know you have all traveled far from your kingdoms to negotiate with us. And I know the negotiations aren't going as prosperous as we'd all hoped. May I remind you that we have already taken the next step into organizing courting sessions with the princess soon. We thank you for your patience."
Volga grimaced, and the foreign royals stared at the general expectingly. She carried on. "But until that decision is resolved, we need more options for mass trading. Hyrule will need all the help it can get for any upcoming warfare. As I'm sure your kingdoms will need foreign resources from us and each other."
She glanced at a scroll, and then returned to her speech. "We've spoken in great lengths with the leaders of each kingdom, and have reached a decision. We will be hosting the Capital Tournament," she declared. "For those of you unfamiliar with this event, it takes place when there is a gathering of kingdoms, as we are now. But let us discuss our rewards."
There was an air of interest at this, the noise level becoming even more subdued so that they could take in Impa's every word.
"The winner of the tournament will choose the reward of their liking from any kingdom they desire. As long as," Impa held up a finger in the air. "As long as the rewards have been agreed upon by the ruler of the chosen kingdom beforehand. This means that yes, there are still limits to what you request depending on the laws of each kingdom. In Hyrule, such limits include claiming ownership of another individual, marriage without consent, and writs of murder or related crimes. For further details, refer to me, the princess, or the king."
"General Impa," one of the Hylian soldiers raised a hand. "What is the event for the castle?"
Impa responded. "I was about to get to that. Most of you are aware of the art of jousting. The competitors duel with lances on horseback, where the aim is to dismount each other off their horses. There is a point system depending on whether you can break their lance and shield as well. The rules may vary over generations and from kingdom to kingdom, but we will follow our guide lines to ensure the safety of the competitors whilst providing a challenge."
She gestured her hand at the horses in the stables. "This is why we're here right now, to choose your horse for the tournament, so be sure to sign this parchment if you wish to participate. I know some of you have already travelled here by horse, so you can use your own mounts. Whoever hasn't, feel free to browse around."
The Sheikah folded up the parchment. "Jousting can still be dangerous if one's not careful, therefore, in addition to the rules which I'll go over shortly, only qualified individuals may join. Those of you who have trained with me on the field know who you are, but if you're in doubt, come see me for testing. If you have any other questions, seek me in a few minutes."
When Impa organized a line for sign up, everyone began to eagerly discuss among themselves about the rewards they wanted, and Volga stood there for awhile, evaluating all of this information.
He remembered the tournament Zelda's father had told him about, and how he and the other royals were trying to impress the queen. Was this what it was? Or was it only about the prizes? Regardless, what if he could help Zelda and her father with his reward of choice? There were so many possibilities, all of which served to fuel his ambition. That and he wasn't about to let some pompous royal gloat to his princess.
"Yes, Volga?" Impa inquired. He had headed to where she had been answering questions the humans had for her, further away from the crowd so that she could speak to each individually.
"I would like to compete in the jousting event."
Impa hardly looked surprised. "Well you already know you're more than qualified. There is one problem, however," she drummed the quill against her chin. "And this also happens to be related to what remains for you to complete your path to knighthood. Very crucial for knights, as a matter of fact. As I've stated, jousting is to be done on horse-back."
Volga inwardly groaned. Right. He had known that horsemanship was a traditional skill knights had to acquire, but he had hoped to bypass the necessity since he had his own means of traveling.
A familiar and unwelcome face sneered at him. "You're actually signing up for this?" the bear slayer drawled. "You'll sooner terrify the horses before even be able to mount one."
As much as Volga hated to admit it, the human had been right. The Dragon Knight couldn't close any reasonable distance without the animals galloping away. They likely sensed his dragon aspect, and felt threatened at being preyed upon.
Meanwhile, most of the Hylian soldiers and foreign royals seemed to have no trouble finding and mounting the horses. The bear slayer had taken a dark gray stallion, and trotted over to his direction.
"What a predicament," he spoke again, undoubtedly to flaunt off having acquired a horse. "You can't find a mount, yet the princess rides you with ease. Ever considered getting a saddle? You know, being that you're the Royal Family's transportation pet now."
"I transport willingly," Volga gritted his teeth. "And I thought the princess told you to pack your bags."
The grizzled human gave a bark of laughter. "Do you really think I came all this way to have a spat with the princess and leave empty-handed? I apologized to her father about our little… misunderstanding. Even if he did insist for me to leave, that would mean leaving with the possibility of valuable resources my kingdom has to offer Hyrule. He's not a fool in that regard."
He dismounted, a confrontational demeanor about him as he stood before him. "Tell me, Dragon Knight, do you know who I am?"
A ruddy prick, Volga thought savagely. "Heir to the northwest kingdom."
"You'll address me as Lord Torkil," he emphasized. "And soon king, once I'm wed. I'm also one of the members of the Occult Council, so it would be in your best interest to show me respect. I have power in the council that can influence decisions such as having you stripped of your rank, knight or not."
Volga wasn't phased. "You can try. But I don't think the actual king here would approve, nor his daughter, or most of the residents. I don't need a title or your permission to help Hyrule."
Torkil took a step forth, but Volga remained resilient. The two were very much like wild animals right now, trying to establish dominance.
"You ruined my chance with the princess," Torkil accused under his breath. "But you wait, I'll be putting much thought into the reward I want for winning this tournament."
"You ruined that yourself," Volga shot back. "We shall see about that. You say that as if you've already won."
"Oh, I will win."
"Is there a problem?" Impa interrupted. "Surely, the levels of testosterone here haven't clouded your ears to completely miss what I said just now regarding the rules of the jousting."
Torkil replied with an almost exaggerated civilness. "Not at all, Milady. I merely think horses might be too much for the dragon. It would be a terrible shame to have him not be able to participate, or complete his knighthood, when he cannot even approach one."
Volga fumed, and Impa regarded him.
"Still no luck?" she frowned. "Volga, you will only be given a few weeks until the tournament. We'll be cutting some of our combat training for horseback riding lessons. If you can't find a horse for you today, we may have to bring out Byrne here."
"Who?"
"One of my horses," she clarified. "A palomino gelding. He's very old, so perhaps his diminishing senses won't react as frightful to you." She then called out to the stable boy. "Go fetch Byrne, would you?"
The teenager nodded, and disappeared into the pens. Torkil was sniggering, but Volga ignored him and looked around. The other horses were far away from him, or being ridden. One of them, curiously enough, had not gone anywhere, drinking water from the trough. The white fur had been well groomed and the flaxen mane brushed. The saddle on its back was more extravagant compared to the others he had seen, with glittering amethysts, the Royal Family emblem on there in purple and gold.
"I wouldn't bother with Hylia," Impa said, shaking her head. "She's a war horse and cares little for casual rides or jousts. In times of war, she will aid someone who is in desperate need of help, and such times would be the few where she would allow anyone other than the princess ride her."
Somehow, the idea of a horse named Hylia being reluctant to allow anyone other than the princess to ride her didn't seem entirely farfetched. "I see."
The stable boy had returned with a cream colored horse with a white mane, the one Impa had requested. There was a slight limp from one of its hind legs as it moved. "He is stronger than he looks," Impa told him. "Even though he's aged now, he's always been my favorite ride. You better treat him well," she warned.
Volga reached out and placed a hand on the horse's forehead. Thankfully, the gelding did not jump in alarm or storm away. Surely, this was a start, right? He tried to mount - only to have it rear back, causing him to quite ungracefully fall on his rear.
When Impa returned to answering questions the humans had for her, Torkil's voice carried on again. "I'm definitely winning this joust. I'm not going to lose to some crippled horse, and a dragon who will fall to the ground all throughout training."
"Oh and Lord Torkil," said Impa with a similar, exaggerated politeness that he had done to her earlier. 'The king may have let your misunderstanding with the princess slide, but he has prohibited on allowing you to partake in the upcoming dates with her. Unless she says otherwise."
The bear slayer's lips twitched, and Volga smiled wryly.
—
By the afternoon, the princess and the dragon arrived in Eldin, and sought the Gorons. The rock-tribe had accepted Zelda's offer of valuable minerals, spices, and medicine as gratitude for their upcoming alliance. If the reptilians would be as easy to convince, she'd have this region at their side in no time.
For now she was quite content cuddling with Volga in his home, catching up on her studies and going over the list of tasks for the week. More often than not, they would get distracted by each other, but quite frankly, Zelda couldn't think of a better way to study.
She found it admirable too, that no matter how much the two looked forward to their precious free time, Volga valued her royal duties and education. He gave her space if she needed to focus, though it was not without difficulty for him. Not that she wanted space, but he never made her feel like he demanded her time. What they had, was given freely to one another.
They had done so much today, that the combination of fatigue and the tranquility of laying against his side, sent her mind adrift. His wings folded around her like a warm blanket as she read, and it was too sleep-inducing for her eyelids to not cave in. Her conscious roused only when he stirred. Zelda vaguely remembered that she was going to speak to the reptilians soon, but her mind could not seem to focus.
"Lizal… fos," she slurred, unable to open her eyes. "Speech."
His low voice heightened with sympathy. "Would you like to get some more rest, Princess? I can take care of the speech."
If she hadn't felt so lacking in energy, she would have refused, not only about him doing the speech alone, but of the absence of his proximity. Still, he stayed with her awhile longer, and she was lulled into an easy slumber in his wings.
She wasn't sure how long she had napped, but when she woke, she wondered if she had been dreaming of the reptilians, because she could still hear the cackling and hissing sounds they made when they communicated.
Reluctantly sitting up, she noticed she had been laying on his cozy couch. He must have morphed at some point, and set her down so she would be more restful than on the cushion on the ground. Her study books and notes were piled on the table next to her, with her writing utensils on top, sparing her the trouble of misplacing or rummaging around for her belongings. Impa would have given her an earful if she had lost her alliance pacts and history essays.
Zelda hugged the pillow he had placed for the comfort of her head, before he had left. He's quite caring to me, she thought appreciatively.
Why could she still hear the reptilians? She followed the source to find out where the chatter was coming from, which led her to the entryway. They were right outside his home. She sleepily grabbed the handle to creak open the door.
"Why should we help your princess?" she recognized the distinct voice of the male Dinolfos chieftain. Zelda's hand froze on the door handle, unwilling to move forward. "And the humansss. What have they ever done for us?"
"She's willing to provide the clans with whatever we need, Drem-Se," said Volga in earnest. "All we need to do is assist the Hylians in war. It would be beneficial to us to have their allegiance because we'd have a better chance together. No other race wants to ally with us, with the Gorons being neutral at best. Otherwise we fight alone."
"We've alwaysss fought alone," one of the Lizalfos retorted.
"But what about that plant creature that attacked the cassstle?" Amusei pointed out.
"That's their business, not oursss," Drem-Se hissed. "Now if that thing had attacked here, it might have been different. But we would fight for ourselves, not them."
Volga made a growl of frustration. "Who isn't to say it still couldn't, or something else? We shouldn't just sit back and ignorantly watch everything happen. If invaders wanted to besiege the castle, they could try to take over the mountains as well."
Drem-Se narrowed reptilian eyes at him. "Volga, don't kid yourself. Nothing would dare invade our territory. Thisss isn't about the offers, is it? It'sss about your princess. And along with her, your humans that you're needlessly trying to protect."
"Princess Zelda isss very good to us," Jules protested. "I'm with Master Volga on thisss. We should help."
"Julesss, shut it," Drem-Se snapped at the crowned Lizalfos. "You think that because she's given you that head piece, that we should just do what she wantsss? Paargh!"
"I was the one who offered to help the humans," Volga interjected. "She didn't ask for anything from us. So if you're trying to find someone to blame, then blame me."
"It disgustsss me how close you have become to these humans," Drem-Se spat. "It's like you've forgotten about how they treated you when you were little. And even if they had treated you well, you still disrespect usss by associating yourself with them. You are a disappointment."
Volga's anger was more evident now. "I didn't do anything wrong!" he said indignantly. "Neither did these humans to you, nor Zelda!"
Drem-Se gave a cynical laugh. "She's what, your mate right now? I can't imagine even the humansss supporting you on this."
Mai-Sa interrupted. "Drem-Se, you should know that Master Volga is one of our leadersss. Should he mate, she would be considered a female chieftain. And I will treat her with ressspect, whether she is or isn't, because she is important to our son."
"Our son," he said sarcastically. "He's no son of mine… he'sss not Lizalfos, nor Dinolfos. And I don't care what the princess becomesss to us. I will never acknowledge her as a reptilian chieftain."
His biting words hung in the air for a moment, and he spoke again. "Have you forgotten? We have the Clan Hunt coming up in a few daysss. Food will become scarce with the coming of the cold season, and who will be the onesss hunting? Our kind will. She can't even hunt, cook, and fight -"
"I can bring us food just fine, and she can fight," said Volga, the tension clear in his voice. "And even if she couldn't, my… devotion to her isn't based off whether or not she can do any of those things."
"Perhapsss you should reconsider your devotion to our clan, then."
Zelda slunk away from the door, and headed back to the loft. Whatever speech she wanted to deliver to the reptilians wouldn't happen at this time.
—
When Volga returned inside, Zelda had been sitting there in the couch, scribbling notes on her study books with a frown on her face. She must have woken from her nap, and heard his clan's loud bickering with him.
"I… don't know how much you heard, but I'm sorry you had to witness that," he said, disappointed and unwilling to accept that he had convinced so few of them. "I suppose you could say my clan's proving to be more difficult than anyone in the castle right now."
"Are you alright? He was no shortage of harsh to you."
Volga made a grunting sigh. "Drem-Se's never hesitated to let me know how much I let him down over the years, so I'm used to it. But the way he went off, he might as well have said he wanted to banish me from the clan."
The constant build up of stress throughout the day couldn't have been more apparent. He wanted nothing more than to spend the remaining evening devoid of foreign royals and reptilians. Zelda pushed the books and notes to the side.
"Come," she said invitingly, patting the empty spot next to her on the couch. Volga obliged, already feeling a sense of peace merely by being near her. He felt her guide him to lay in front of her, if he wished, and recline in her arms.
He laid on his back, adjusting himself carefully against her. Slender legs rested on either side of him, and her hands nudged him upwards, until the back of his head rested on the softness of her chest. The sensation was more marvelous than any pillow, and though he felt utterly relaxed, a rush surged through him, very familiar by now, something he only ever associated with this woman.
Zelda leaned forth from where she sat behind him and cradled his head, her hair flowing around like a golden waterfall. Her fingers ran through his hair for a bit, then moved down to his shoulders. There, she squeezed firmly, kneading the tension he had endured today. Volga made a rumbling, blissful sound at the wondrous sensation her hands were capable of.
"You can tell me what's on your mind, if you'd like, or we can enjoy some quiet too. Does that feel nice?" her soothing voice asked.
"Yes," he said, feeling increasingly at ease. She had a way of getting him to talk to her about anything, even when he dismissed it from his thoughts. "Regarding the reptilians… I suppose it's a little discouraging. I've done so much for the clan and admittedly, I thought I was like a family to them. But he does make a fair point. Though I have marked my presence here as the dragon of the caves, I'm not of the clan's species. In that regard, I… don't know what I am. Or where I come from, or what my parents were like. If they're even still alive."
"Not all of them are like that," Zelda reminded him. "Mai-Sa, Amusei, Jules, and many others seem to see you like family."
This was true, and he felt better at that.
Zelda continued massaging him, as the two shared a thoughtful silence for awhile. It was rare for him speak of his parents; he had only ever mentioned them once, when he shared with her the story Mai-Sa told him, which the chieftain had simplified to an abandoned bundle found by the clan, but with very vague recollection of what happened after, and of the two beings that could have potentially been his parents.
"Have you considered trying to uncover more of your lineage?" Zelda asked. "I know finding out where to begin is difficult, but would this be something you really want?"
"What I really want? Aside from wanting to smoke those foreign royals away from my princess?" he muttered, and Zelda knew he wasn't entirely joking.
Volga looked up at her, reaching a hand to smooth her hair to one side. "I want to become an official knight, and win this joust. I want to take care of you and our families, regardless of how unclear the future may be. As for my past, you ask?"
"You already do," he felt her gratitude through her squeeze, and in her voice.
"Discovering my background has been something I've always wondered about," he admitted. "Yet it's strange. A part of me wants to know, but a part of me is detached, and wants nothing to do with it. As if I'm prepared to accept I won't like what I'll find out. More specifically, the explanation of why things turned out the way they did. I've envisioned so many scenarios, but most of them fail to convince me that they ever cared."
"You won't know until you try, when the time is right to you. Let me help you… we can find out together," she leaned down and kissed him. Goddesses, how did she do this? With her, it felt as if anything was possible, as if everything could just be by simply willing it to. Was this what he made her feel like too? It was empowering, his vigor anew and refreshed.
By the time it was getting late enough for him to take heed to return her to the castle, the two stood at the doorway, neither finding the will to leave yet. "When can I see you again?" he whispered, surprised by his own boldness. "At your convenience of course." He didn't want to impose on her with neediness.
As her bodyguard, he had the privilege of being in her company, so seeing her at all was more than he could hope for. But seeing her like this, in the private walls of his home, was freedom. They would not have to hide their affections under public scrutiny. While there was still a temporary boundary that he chose to respect when their curiosities longed to get carried away, being with her was more liberating than anything he had experienced.
"Hopefully soon, at our balcony tree!" she said with giddiness, like a secret code they shared between them. "When we can slip a kiss in the dark and converse for hours. Though I must say, I'm developing quite a fondness for your home."
Volga beamed, sharing her giddy sentiments wholeheartedly, indulging in these rare moments of dreamy delight that neither could contain. "My home has never been more alive! And I want you to know -" he took a spare key from his pocket, and handed it to her. "You're always welcome here. This may not be a castle, or some grand manor -" he trailed off. "Though I could make it if you so wished," he said confidently.
"Why I wouldn't put it past the mighty Volga," she teased.
He was laughing. "Are you mocking me, Princess?" he nuzzled her neck with playful noms.
She went into a burst of giggles, arching against him, her fingers tangling in his hair. "I do believe I am," she said, her warm cheeks evoking his own heat. He could feel their quickened breaths, and the pulses coursing between them. What had been ticklish a moment ago was now titillating, as he felt her body nestle against his. It was a wonder he could find the strength to pause, despite her encouragement and his body's natural magnetism to her. He glanced at her, hoping to not disappoint, but she looked far from it.
"You are amazing, Volga," she said admiringly. "There is nothing you cannot do, or to at least give everything you have if it's out of your capabilities. Whether your home is in a cave, manor, or castle - I'm quite honored to have access, and make these memories with you."
And I hope to make many more memories with you, he thought, light-headed. Maybe finding out about his background with her wouldn't be so bad after all.
—
Zelda had not expected him to accept her offer so readily, but she sensed he was considering the notion with a developing openness. There was much going on, so it wasn't unreasonable to assume he might dismiss the idea for awhile, but at least the thought was there. She was very much interested on what they could find about his heritage, when they were ready to.
But right now, she had a different family quandary to face.
She had told Volga she needed a moment with his clan before departing back to Hyrule. Neither of them had reason to believe there would be anything more they could say to convince the reptilian tribe for today, beyond those who were more agreeable. But this wasn't the reason Zelda wanted to speak to them.
"Thank you so much for the tee-era, Princesss!" Jules exclaimed, doing a little tribal dance in front of a campfire, the peridot jewels gleaming as she moved.
"I'm glad you like the tiara," said Zelda praisingly. "You wear it well, Jules."
The female chieftain who had been watching them gave Zelda a nod of approval. "Yess, thank you Princess. My egg-daughter is already looking forward to becoming a chieftain with that crown. But ssshe still has much to learn."
"As do I," said Zelda, observing the clan members; some were communicating with another in their hisses and drawn out words, which, if one didn't pay attention to what they were saying, it would all sound like angry noises. She noticed a group of them creep into the crags, wielding spears with red-scaled fish pierced through. Sizzlefin trout, she recognized, for Volga had cooked her one before with his fire. These were exclusive to the volcanic climate of Eldin, and the catch of the day.
One of the reptilian fishers went inside a dome-shaped hut, likely to present it to the male chieftain. Zelda exchanged a look with Mai-Sa and Jules, signaling that she would go inside. They seemed not to mind, however they stayed near, keeping watch. This was fine. Volga wasn't far either.
Zelda pushed aside the curtain strips that hung from the chief's entryway. Except they were not made of cloth, but bones - animal bones and fangs that were woven into multiple, sturdy strings. They made distinct rattling sounds as she stepped inside.
"This is acceptable, but you can find bigger fishhh than that," she heard Drem-Se say, motioning for the reptilian fisher to leave. The green creature brushed past her and left, cackling something about nothing ever being good enough for their leader.
The princess eyed the Dinolfos's back. It was now or never, before she would lose her nerve.
"Chief Drem-Se."
The Dinolfos hesitated, and tilted only a part of his head, in disinterest. "What do you want, Princesss?"he asked, tying up yellow feathers into arrows, and laying them on a flat, rocky surface.
She dropped a satchel next to him. He still didn't turn his head all the way, but his eyes swiveled at it briefly, and suspiciously. Zelda spoke. "In it, you will find food from the castle that has been cooked and packaged in a cold enchantment to not spoil. I've sent food to Volga and the clan from time to time, without requesting an alliance. I would still send food, even if the clan did not wish to participate in the war. You could all live comfortably fed, but somehow, I think your pride wouldn't allow it."
"Ah, so you're not ssso ignorant as to what we're like."
"I'm not responsible for any animosity my ancestors had with the reptilian clans over the ages. I am only a single person in the world of many, doing what I can and what I think is best for our kingdom."
Zelda could hear Amusei's babbling from behind her, accompanied by Mai-Sa and Jules, but he fell silent when he saw the chief and the princess.
Drem-Se snarled. "If thisss is about you asking us to join again -"
"No," said Zelda fervently. "This is about me joining you. I want to partake in this Clan Hunt. I want to be able to cook and hunt like a chieftain."
Amusei and Jules cheered, and Mai-Sa turned to the blank expression of disbelief on Drem-Se's face. "You should teach her," the female chieftain suggested. "After all, you're the one with the high standardsss for what makes a good hunter. This way she knowsss what to expect."
"Of course I - what?" Drem-Se spluttered.
"The princess wants to learn to hunt!" said Amusei in excitement. "Mom, since we don't know how long Master Volga will take with hisss jousting event at the castle, we could assign Dad to be her hunting partner for this. He'll be able to give her the bessst training!"
The older Dinolfos looked too appalled by his son volunteering him to be able to form a response.
"Then it's settled," said Mai-Sai agreeably. "Next time the princess visits us, you will begin her training. I know you'll make her into a fine huntress."
"I could help teach her how to cook!"
"I can teach her how to skin her huntsss to make materials and hunt clothing for her!"
Volga does so much for me and my father already, Zelda thought adamantly. And I want to do something for him too. I may not be be able to haul massive stones into forts, or sprout wings and breathe fire - but I can do this. I will do this, and make the time for it. Just you watch chief Drem-Se, I will hunt you an Ely Gedda so grand, that you won't know what to do for the whole season.
—
Author's Notes: It's been an awfully long time, and I wanted you all to know that I haven't forgotten about this story. I'm still very much committed and excited to continue it until the end.
I've had a lot going on and would prefer not to go into details, but something I'm worried about is that my writing has gotten incredibly rusty, and my memory worse, so I tend to repeat things more. Please bear with me and be considerate with your feedback, as I try to adjust to my writing again.
I know this chapter was long and there's much happening, but I hope it was enjoyable for you.