Chapter 29 - Castle Secrets
Summary: Zelda enjoys a romantic picnic lunch with her sweetheart. Some ancient Sheikah documents of uncertain importance are found beneath Hyrule Castle. Mipha's and Link's outward show of affection after their Lover's Pond holiday slightly bothers their son Tidon.
As midday neared, Hyrule Castle basked in the sun's bright glow, the calm weather the picture of a perfect day. Queen Zelda was tucked away in her office near the castle's pinnacle, finalizing various papers. As she glanced at the clock, the hands nearing twelve, anticipation bubbled within her. Soon Royce would arrive, and she could shed her mantle of rule for a time, allowing herself to be simply Zelda.
The blossoming romance between Zelda and Royce was a sweet sanctuary from the pressures of royal life. Their lives had first intersected at the local academy, where Royce taught science. Zelda had at once been struck by Royce's passion for education and scientific exploration, an enthusiasm they both shared.
Their initial encounters were marked by endearing clumsiness, a discomfort more noticeable on Royce's side. A fond smile tugged at her lips as she remembered his earnest struggles between formality and familiarity, how to address her until she gently eased his anxiety. But by now, they had gotten way, way past that.
And as she discovered more about Royce's world and perspective, her affection for him deepened, eventually blossoming into love. Royce was not just a joy to be around, but he had the ability to make her feel cherished in a way she had seldom experienced. Not to mention, his physical allure added an undeniable spark to their relationship.
And beyond the exhilarating thrill of newfound love, her relationship with Royce was a healing salve for Zelda. It quieted the ghosts of her past and steered her gaze toward the beckoning horizon of future possibilities. Link's wisdom had indeed proven true - this emotional sanctuary was precisely what she required to chart a new course for her life.
Meanwhile, Royce made his way briskly up the palace steps, his pace slackening only as he neared Queen Zelda's office. The guard on duty, a familiar face named Ryan, acknowledged his arrival with a knowing glance.
"Uncle Ryan, how do you fare?" Royce inquired, his voice light and friendly.
In truth, Ryan was not Royce's uncle. Royce had no living blood relatives to speak of. However, a deep bond existed between the two men, rooted in the legacy of Royce's late father, a fallen Royal Guard soldier. Ryan, a lifelong friend of his father, had never married and often frequented their home as a guest. From Royce's earliest memories as a young child, Ryan always made time to play with him. To some extent, Royce was the son Ryan never had.
"All's well, Royce," Ryan responded. His gaze took in Royce's appearance, and he added, "You seem to be in good health."
"I'm holding up, doing my best," Royce assured, catching his breath from the brisk ascent. "But I should go. I wouldn't want to keep Her Majesty waiting. She requested my presence at noon sharp."
"You may proceed. As usual, knock first," Ryan advised.
Upon knocking and receiving consent from within, Royce gently pushed open the door. He exchanged warm smiles with Zelda as he closed the door behind him. Then they rushed into each other's arms, their lips meeting just as the castle clock tolled the hour.
"Perfect timing," Zelda mused, laughter touching her voice as they concluded their third kiss, their hands now interlaced.
"I dared not risk incurring a royal censure," Royce joked. His eyes twinkled as he added, "Besides, I couldn't wait to see you, darling, and you are as enchanting as ever."
"So sweet," said Zelda as their shared laughter was punctuated by two more kisses.
Pulling away, Zelda announced, "Given the glorious weather, how about a picnic lunch in the castle garden? I've taken the liberty of arranging a basket. As I remember, your next class isn't until 2 o'clock."
"That's correct, and a picnic lunch sounds delightful," said Royce, his gaze landing on the prepared basket. "Shall we?"
Securing the basket with one hand and clasping Zelda's hand with his other, Royce was ready to depart. As they moved to leave the office, Zelda paused to address her dutiful guard stationed outside.
"Ryan, I will be having lunch with Royce in the castle garden, and I should return by 2," Zelda informed him. "Unless there's an emergency…"
"I understand, Your Majesty, and will relay your wish for privacy and whereabouts to the duty officer," Ryan acknowledged.
Zelda turned to Ryan as they descended the Castle's stone steps holding hands.
"Now, tell me what's the focus of your teaching these days," said Zelda.
Meanwhile, the brightness of the day was a distant memory for Pelon and Treon, two soldiers who were navigating the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Hyrule Castle. Their world was illuminated solely by the muted glow of their handheld torches. Tasked with assessing the damage in this seldom-visited corner of the castle's foundation, their reality had shrunk to fit the narrow confines of their surroundings: flickering shadows dancing on the tunnel walls, the echoes of their footfalls, and the pervasive, stone-cold scent of the underground.
"Well, we're finally here. And remarkably, this underground section seems virtually unscathed," Pelon assessed, his voice echoing faintly off the ancient walls. "Would you agree?"
Treon's eyes scanned the surrounding chamber, then dipped to the timeworn blueprint cradled in his hand. "Indeed," he concurred, "although there's an unfamiliar gap to the left— a discrepancy not featured on these blueprints."
Pelon chuckled, "You know how notoriously unreliable these old castle records are. Nevertheless, we ought to investigate."
The scattering of rubble near the entrance showed that the portal was recently created. Further scrutiny revealed the breach as the gateway to a small alcove, its only contents an antique wooden chest graced by the distinct symbol of the Sheikah eye.
"Should we dare to open it?" inquired Treon, his gaze locked onto the ancient emblem.
"Why hesitate? If it's a treasure, we could earn ourselves a reward," Pelon mused.
With a shared sense of anticipation, they lifted the chest's lid, their hearts pounding in sync with the hope of revealing a glittering hoard of sparkling jewels. But their excitement faded into a shared sigh of disappointment.
"Nothing more than ancient parchments, scribed in an unreadable language," reported Pelon, thumbing through the dusty papers.
"A pity indeed," conceded Treon. "Nonetheless, we need to bring it back. It should interest Her Majesty, given her fondness for Sheikah relics. We might earn a reward or commendation yet."
Once the blueprint was securely stored, they each took hold of a side, hoisted the surprisingly light chest, and embarked on their return journey.
In due course, the chest was handed over to the Royal Guard. After a cursory examination of its contents, Captain Lee enlisted two guards to assist in transporting it to the presiding officer, Major Grant, who also scrutinized the chest.
"Your observation is spot on, Captain," acknowledged Grant. "Despite her request for solitude, Her Majesty's deep-seated fascination with ancient Sheikah lore suggests she'll want to inspect this immediately. She can be found in the castle garden."
"I shall personally deliver it, Sir," assured Lee.
As the hands of the clock neared the second hour, Lee, flanked by guards carrying the archaic chest, found their way to Zelda and Royce. The couple were settled on a picnic blanket, ensnared in peals of laughter, delighting in each other's company. To signal his impending arrival, Lee cleared his throat subtly. At this, Zelda and Royce swiftly rose to their feet.
"Please forgive the interruption, Your Majesty," Lee began, his tone apologetic, "We've just unearthed this chest filled with what appears to be ancient Sheikah documents. We thought it vital to notify you immediately."
"Ancient Sheikah documents, you say?" Zelda responded, shooting an apologetic smile at Royce. "Intriguing, Captain. May I?"
Zelda carefully inspected the chest's contents, then confirmed to Lee and the guards, "Indeed, these are old manuscripts inscribed in ancient Hylian, just as you surmised. Although my ability extends only to recognizing the language, not reading it. Please ensure this chest reaches Dr. Purah and Dr. Robbie at the Royal Ancient Tech Lab."
"At once, Your Majesty," said Captain Lee, who departed with his fellow guards.
"My apologies for the sudden disturbance, darling," Zelda said, her gaze returning to Royce, who had commenced packing up their picnic.
"I understand and we're nearing 2 pm in any case," Royce responded. "May we continue our discourse over supper, my love? I'll prepare the meal this time around. It shall be a surprise. I only hope it's a good one!"
"A supper date at 7 sounds delightful," Zelda chuckled. "But you should make haste now, lest you be late for your own lecture."
"Till tonight, my love," Royce answered, drawing Zelda into a comforting embrace, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Zelda murmured, the lingering taste of their kiss remaining as she watched Royce hastily depart.
Thus, it was mid-afternoon when the enigmatic chest sat waiting for Purah and Robbie at the Royal Ancient Tech Lab not far from the majestic silhouette of Hyrule Castle.
"This is a thrilling find!" Robbie burst out, his hands rubbing together in anticipation as he surveyed the open chest. "The secrets waiting to be unearthed are limitless. Though translation will demand a considerable time."
"I'd rather not divert my crucial research time to deciphering antiquated texts of unknown importance," Purah responded nonchalantly. "That's your area."
"As you wish," conceded Robbie, extracting a fragile document from the chest and settling into his task while Purah retreated to her corner of the lab, absorbed in her work.
Robbie delved into an intensive decoding session as the afternoon sun cast a warm, gentle light through the windows. The wrinkled lines of concentration on his forehead mirrored his struggle to translate this relic from a bygone era. He grappled with the ancient Hylian dialect, as old as the land of Hyrule itself.
"This material does indeed originate from the era around the time of the Sheikah's banishment," Robbie murmured, noting the references to that historical period and the hidden nature of these documents. But his statement was met with silence, Purah too engrossed in her own endeavor to pay him any attention.
His focus renewed, Robbie returned to immersing himself in the task. But it wasn't long before a no longer silent Purah's incessant muttering and flustered movements began to fray at his concentration. She kept moving things about and making noise while continuing to talk to herself.
"I can't imagine where it's gone to," Purah moaned, her voice echoing her dismay. "This is terrible! How could this happen?"
While Robbie endeavored to maintain focus amidst the chaos, he abruptly leaped from his chair, a cry of surprise ricocheting off the ancient stone walls.
"What the…!"
A tiny, crimson caterpillar had embarked on a journey up his arm, inching towards his elbow. Before he could muster a response and flick it away, Purah interceded, her voice alight with relief.
"Robbie, you've saved my day!"
Gingerly, with gloved hands, Purah picked up the caterpillar from his arm, carefully nestling it into a terrarium. "This little adventurer was sporting a pair of Summerwing Butterfly wings just moments ago. I need to gauge its newfound age."
Robbie could only gape at his arm in disbelief, his gaze shifting towards Purah, flickering with irritation. "Purah, for Hylia's sake! Can't you keep a tighter rein on your experiments? What if that creature induces a rash or other reaction?"
Dismissing his concerns with a casual wave, Purah replied, "Oh, lighten up, Robbie! It's not venomous." She paused, a contemplative look crossing her face, "Or, at least, I'm fairly sure it isn't. But do keep me posted, Robbie, won't you?"
"What!?"
"Take it easy. I did say 'fairly sure.' Not all my work ends in an explosion, you know. I've been particularly meticulous with this sequence of experiments, keeping track of every minor detail."
Robbie found himself frantically checking his arm for any signs of inflammation. Not finding any, he returned his focus to Purah.
"Speaking of minute observations, we can expect Her Majesty's regular visit in a few days. Aside from her evident fascination with the secrets these ancient texts might harbor, do you have any innovative discoveries to reveal from your solitary research? You've remained unusually tight-lipped about it."
Purah sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly. "Vocalizing my findings to you only hampers my progress. Nonetheless, I concede that reversing the aging process is a more complex dilemma than I anticipated. The exposure time the rune needs to reverse an organism's age exhibits a baffling, nonlinear correlation with the subject's size and natural growth rate. I've been tirelessly accumulating data to devise an appropriate model."
"Thank Hylia, no signs of rash or itching yet," Robbie noted, inspecting his arm. "And I'll grant your approach does deserve some credit. It's generally more… impulsive."
Purah shot back, her voice saturated with stubbornness, "I prefer to call it 'daringly venturing into the unknown.' And you, Robbie, are veering too close to my excessively cautious sister Impa's viewpoint. Anyway, enough of this. I have crucial observations to record before too much time passes."
"Hopefully, that will keep you sufficiently engaged for me to have a semblance of peace and quiet," Robbie retorted, his attention reverting to the time-worn manuscript. "My proficiency in ancient Hylian is far from perfect, and this text is particularly complex."
But his words fell on inattentive ears as Purah had already plunged herself into her examination of the caterpillar.
Meanwhile, earlier that day in Zora's Domain, Raypha and Tidon were awake in the kitchen while their parents, Mipha and Link, continued their slumber undisturbed in their room.
"Today's my turn to catch breakfast," said Raypha as she prepared to leave. "Any preference?"
"Ray, mind if I join you to help out?" Tidon inquired, his eyes meeting his sister's. "I could lend a fin catching the fish."
"Alright, but remember it's still your turn tomorrow, just as you conveniently forgot last time," Ray teased him with a smile.
"I promise not to forget," Tidon chuckled, the sibling pair stepping outside and making the brief trek to Mikau Lake nearby.
A light rain had fallen overnight, and the air and ground felt moist.
"I prefer to fish one waterfall up," said Ray, to which Tidon nodded in understanding.
"Your preference is fine," he replied.
"What sparks this sudden surge of familial affection?" Ray prodded, their feet wading into the cool water as they readied to swim up the falls side by side.
"Huh?"
"Why this unexpected kindness in helping me fish?"
"Oh, well, I genuinely love you, Sis," Tidon confessed. "But let's carry on our conversation when we reach the upper lake," he suggested, looking back at their silent home.
They swam up the falls together, and when they reached the top, Tidon spoke up.
"It's about Mom and Dad," Tidon confessed. "Being alone with them at home makes me feel uneasy, and I was scared they would wake up while you were away."
"Whatever do you mean?" Raypha queried, her features knit in confusion.
"Ever since they returned from their trip, they seem unusually affectionate towards each other, always hugging, holding hands, and kissing."
"That's what being in love looks like, scale brain," retorted Raypha. "Why does it unsettle you?"
"I'm not sure. It just… does," Tidon admitted.
"Well, you'll just have to learn to accept it," responded Raypha. "I find it rather sweet. Now, how about a wager? I bet I can catch two fish before you. And the loser has to catch breakfast two days in a row."
"You're on, Sis!" exclaimed Tidon, and with a competitive glint in their eyes, both siblings dove into the crystalline water.
As Raypha and Tidon engaged in their fishing competition, Mipha stirred from her slumber to find Link still fast asleep, nestled securely against her in their slumber pool, his head resting against her chest. Although not strictly necessary, she had, out of habit, curled an arm around him all night, ensuring his head was comfortably above water. Link's breathing was slow and rhythmic, a tranquil pattern she had long since learned to associate with Hylian slumber.
The angle of the morning sunlight pouring through one of their bedroom windows, however, told her it was likely mid-morning and time to rouse soon. She had a council meeting to attend, but there was still some time. Looking at her beloved husband's handsome features, she let her mind wander to their time together, how their love for each other had grown below the surface until Link finally dared to express it - with a bit of prodding from her first, of course. That and their first kiss had been such a sweet moment. Then the sound of a bird near the window broke her daydream, and it was finally time to get up.
She tenderly kissed Link's forehead, then watched as he shifted slightly, let out a soft sigh, and finally fluttered open his eyes. He then graced her with his cute boyish smile and sparkling blue eyes.
"Waking up to your beauty is such a thrill," Link murmured, his words punctuated by a shared kiss. "I love you, sweetheart!"
"I love you, too. And I hate to disrupt your rest, darling, but it appears to be late morning, and I have a council meeting," Mipha informed him gently. "But last night was wonderful. You've become such a romantic!"
"You bring out the best in me," Link replied with a chuckle, and then they kissed again. "I feel so in love with you!"
"Maybe you're catching up to my feelings for you then," Mipha teased, and they playfully kissed once more.
At length, they both emerged from the pool. Link dried himself and donned his clothing before they strolled hand-in-hand toward the kitchen. Only a moment later, the door swung open, with Raypha and Tidon entering, each bearing a pair of fish.
"Oh, you're both finally awake. Good morning," Raypha greeted them, Tidon echoing the sentiment. "We've caught breakfast."
"Both of you voluntarily? That's a nice change. And thanks," Mipha responded. "I'm astounded that you two haven't already eaten."
"We stayed up late with Uncle Sidon and friends last night," Tidon admitted, glancing at his parents' interlaced hands.
"Yes, we noticed," said Link. "Your mother and I had the quiet solitude of the house for a while. Allow me to prepare my fish while you all sit for breakfast."
Link sparked a flame under the pot in their kitchen, filling the air with the irresistible scent of fresh-cooked fish. Once ready, Link joined them at their communal dining table.
"As I told your father, I have a council meeting soon," said Mipha. "But Dad can review your Gerudo trip essays while I'm gone, and I'll read them when I return. I trust they are both ready by now."
"Yes," said Tidon. "And I think you will find them even better than the Rito Village essays."
"They should be better as you're more experienced," said Mipha after swallowing a bite of fish.
"You know, maybe it would be better for us to take Dad swimming so he gets some exercise," said Raypha. "The essays can wait until you return, Mom."
"I got quite a bit of exercise last night," said Link, then blushed as Mipha giggled. "But of course, more exercise is always a good idea to keep in shape."
"Agreed," Mipha responded, her voice laced with laughter. "I'll catch up with you all later," she said, finishing her meal and standing up from the table.
Once the family meal was complete, Raypha rose to her feet.
"Time for that workout, Dad," she initiated. "Ten laps up and down the falls should suffice. You aim to maintain your youthfulness for Mom, don't you?"
"Yes," Link responded softly. "Yes, I certainly do. And for all of you as well."
Raypha took Link's hand, and Tidon trailed behind as they ventured outdoors.
"Alright, let's do this," said Link, adjusting his Zora armor before wading into the water. "Ten laps are manageable. I may need occasional breathers, though."
"Breathers? Oh, you mean a break to restore your breath, another Hylian expression," Raypha laughed.
Anyway, Link thought this exercise was good for him, definitely better than sitting around reading. He'd do anything to stay fit for Mipha and his family. Did Raypha have that in mind too? She was pretty clever. And it showed how much his whole family cared for his well-being.
A splash of water brought him back to the moment.
"Let's go, Dad," Raypha called out.
"Yes, Dad, this isn't the time for daydreaming," added Tidon.
Link laughed, dove into the water, and started his ascent up the falls.