Disclaimer, I do not own The Legend of Zelda series.

Courage's Son

Once news of the emperor's death, and the slaughter of his family, had reached the fringes of the empire, all his generals (who had been charged with governing the provinces in his name) began to fight among themselves for control. What followed was a century of crisis as each one tried to set up their own kingdom and dynasty. Out of nearly a score of generals and their armies, only five survived. One in Ordona, one in Hytopia, one in the colonies of New Hyrule, one in Labrynna, and the last in the lands of Holodrum.

Holodrum was considered lowly and undesirable by the competing generals. It was mostly untamed woodland and mountains. Originally, it had been a colony of Labrynna in the ancient past, but after being independent for millennia it was conquered and subjugated by King Hugu (later Emperor Hugu). Back then, Holodrum was seen as a backwater land, and it was still seen as such all these years later. There had only ever been a few towns at most within the country, and the ways of the folk were viewed as backwards and rustic by high society.

So, when one young general chose to establish his realm within Holodrum, instead of competing for Hytopia or Labrynna (or the even more valuable New Hyrule), he met very little competition. Only one other tried to take Holodrum from him, but he was easily defeated after a storm destroyed most of his navy. Thus, Alljan became the first king of Holodrum.

For most of his reign, Alljan strived to rebuild a war torn land into a new land. He dedicated most of his time towards the people, helping rebuild farms and trade guilds. It wasn't till he was already old that he started the building of Holodrum's first castle. He was succeeded by his son Erkanbald.

Erkanbald continued the rebuilding projects started by his father. He focused on rebuilding the economy, and tried, but failed, to establish trade with neighbouring kingdoms. He was succeeded by his son Eburhart.

Eburhart's reign was marked by ednewal. While exploring some of the old temples, he came across texts that spoke of the goddess Hylia. Long had the worship of the golden three prevailed in Holodrum (even after the introduction of demon worship), but the name of Hylia had been long forgotten. He reintroduced the worship of Hylia to the people, and had begun the building of a temple for her. He finished building Holodrum Castle. He was succeeded by his son Kuonrat.

Kuonrat's short reign was marked by war. The Kingdom of Labrynna had launched a war on Holodrum, saying that Holodrum was rightfully Labrynna's land. He died in the initial invasion and was succeeded by his brother Gellin.

Gellin held off the Labrynnians for several long years. He single handedly defeated many mighty captains, and was greatly loved by the people. But he was felled in battle, and had died childless, having been young and unwed. He was succeeded by their sister Athelyard.

Athelyard finally ended the war, and she did so by love. She arranged a meeting with one of the kings sons and asked him to help her end the war. The young prince had been moved by her selflessness, and her courage, and so, he married her and openly sided with her in the war. The king of Labrynna had been unwilling to fight his own son, so he sued for peace. Athelyard was succeeded by her son Bernhart.

During Bernhart's reign, occult practices rose once more within Holodrum, for the evil ways were still practised in Labrynna, and many were brought over during the war and his parents' reign. He fought to purge Holodrum of such practises, and he neither rested nor took part in any pleasures until the last cult was destroyed. The Temple of Hylia was finished in his reign. He was killed in a hunting accident and succeeded by his nephew Bernger.

Bernger reestablished trade and friendly relations with Holodrum's Goron settlement. He was a patron of the arts, and issued the making of the first goddess statue to be seen in over two hundred years. No one could recall what the old goddess statues looked like, so they used the beauty standards set by Emperor Hraban II as a template of sorts. Once the statue was completed and set within the temple, he declared Holodrum "ednewed." He was succeeded by his daughter Leona.

Leona lived a long, peaceful, uneventful life, and was succeeded by her son Richard.

Richard led a crusade against Labrynna in the name of Hylia, trying to purge the evil that had thrived all this time in those lands. The war lasted decades, and he ultimately failed (for it was not yet time). He died from his injuries and was succeeded by his granddaughter Mathilda.

During her reign, there was an influx of refugees from Hyrule, fleeing the subjugation they suffered under The Regime of the Four Races. Many Shiekah arrived with them. Mathilda was succeeded by her son Theobald.

Theobald loved two things: red meat, and women. He practised polygamy, and suffered from gout. During his reign, a plague came to Holodrum, but instead of dying from the plague, he died from heart disease and was succeeded by his son Balthaz.

Balthaz and all his children died from the plague. He was succeeded by his sister Valeriya. Valeriya, too, died from the plague along with all her children. She was succeeded by their sister Ellen. The plague ended in Ellen's time, but she was unable to have children. Their cousin Amalie succeeded her.

Amalie funded archaeological excavations throughout her kingdom. Many magical artefacts were found. She funded the Shiekah to try and recreate these ancient wonders. She also loved fashion and followed all the trends from Hytopia and Labrynna. Amalie was succeeded by her son Lindo.

Lindo loved horses, and married a ranchers daughter. During his reign, something wondrous happened. All over the world, people started to be born with magic! Before, only those descended from sages had any inherent magic, but now Hylians had magic at such a degree as has not been seen since the forgotten times before Hylia's war with Demise. Lindo was succeeded by his son Scevola.

Scevola was a left handed duelist. He was murdered in a duel, and succeeded by his niece Ellen II.

Ellen II was known for throwing elaborate parties that were open to all, even the peasantry. She also opened the first magic school in Holodrum. She was succeeded by her son Gellin II.

Gellin II had two sons and a daughter; their names were Lindo, Zephyr, and Aryll. Lindo was known as Link because he was left handed. Gellin's children would come to do and say things that would make them the heroes of legends.

The hunters raced through the forest, trying to keep up with their prey. Ahead of them, the wild boar charged through the brush in an attempt to lose his pursuers. Two arrows stuck out from his hide, but the boar cared not. The hunters pursued, their bows and spears trained on it.

A shadow leaps through the treetops.

The hunters loose their arrows. They miss. Another throws his spear. He overshot, and hits a tree. The boar goes around the tree.

The shadow leaps out of the tree, and the glint of steel is caught in the filtered sunlight. The mysterious shadow drops on top of the boar. The boar squealed in pain and stumbled, falling onto its side. It was dead.

The shadowy being stood up. It was a man wearing a long, dark cloak with a deep hood. He pulled his spear out of the boar and proceeded to clean it. The spear was held in his left hand. He then turned to face the hunters and laughed jollily.

'Nice one, lads! Nice one! You're getting better. Maybe one of these days some one among you will beat me to the kill.'

At this the others joined him in laughter. 'As if anyone can ever dream of beating you, Link,' one said.

The man named Link laughed heartily. 'You give me too much credit, Pipit. Too much. Now come! Let us get this fine catch to the castle. He'll be supper tonight.'

Upon returning to the palace, Link had the boar taken to the kitchen and ordered the cooks to have it prepared for supper. He then bid farewell to his men before leaving to find his brother Zephyr.

Holodrum Castle was fairly young by castle standards. It's construction was started during the reign of King Alljan, but wasn't completed until the reign of King Eburhart. The walls were made of granite carved from the countries own mountains. Inside, the floors were overladen with polished cedar wood, wallpaper lined the halls. Sunlight was filtered through stained glass windows, brightening the interior with a rainbow of colours. It wasn't as imposing as the castles of Hyrule and Labrynna were in days of yore, nor was it as flamboyant and grandiose as the castle of Hytopia. It was a fortress, but also home.

Link found Zephyr sleeping in the garden, a book lying open by his side. A crooked grin crossed his face. He crept towards his brother and crouched down beside him. He leaned forward and hollered into his brother's ear. Zephyr woke up with a yell, and instinctively punched the air directly above him. Link had been off on his brother's side, so the punch connected with open air. Link rolled on the grass laughing. Zephyr blinked as he slowly understood what had just happened. Once he had, he glared at his brother. But Link's jolly mood was infectious. It was not long before Zephyr had joined him in laughing.

The two brothers looked very much alike. If not for the difference in age, one may almost mistake them for twins. Both had the same golden hair and bright blue eyes, but there were differences; Link's hair was long and straight, and the features of his face were sharper, whereas Zephyr's hair had a slight wave to it, and ended at the nape of his neck. He also still had a softer, more boyish countenance.

When their mirth had subsided, Link stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes before offering his hand to Zephyr. Zephyr takes his hand, and pulls him to his feet.

'Come now, Brother. We must go now, lest you want to be late for supper.'

So, they left the garden for the castle halls. As they made their way to the dining hall, Link noticed that his brother was unusually quiet today. Usually Zephyr would be telling Link all that he had done that day, from the book he was reading to his sword training, but today he was silent, and it bothered Link.

'Hwat has you down, Brother?'

Zephyr stops walking. His hands are clasped in front of him, and his gaze is fixed on the floor. He says nothing for several minutes. When he finally spoke his voice was soft and wearisome.

'Lindo,' he began, and Link knew something serious was troubling Zephyr, for Zephyr rarely ever called him by his real name. 'You remember, Lindo, that I am fifteen now, right?'

Link nodded his head slowly. His eyes were narrowed slightly. 'Yes, it was only a month ago. Hwy?'

Zephyr swallowed hard. 'Father talked to me this morning. He said now that I am fifteen I should start looking for a... a wife.'

Link's features softened, and he put his hand on his brother's shoulder sympathetically. 'Is that all you're worried about? 'Zephyr, you're still young, a mere boy by our country's reckoning. You still have many years to find a wife. Father gave me the same talk when I was your age, and he made it clear that I can choose my own wife, my own way, at my own time. So, don't worry.'

'That's just it, though, Link!' Zephyr turned to face him directly. His brows were creased together, and his hands were now clenched into fists at his side. 'I'm not worried for myself, I worry for you!'

Link blinked. 'Me?'

'Yea! Don't you remember hwat you promised father last year, on your birthday?'

Try as Link could, he could not remember hwat had happened on his nineteenth birthday. Hwat he did remember was the migraine he had woken up with the morning after.'

His prolonged silence was enough of an answer for Zephyr, whose eyes widened, and his face paled. 'By Hylia's wings! Link, you mean to tell me you remembered nothing all this time?'

Link felt a weight on his shoulders, and the taste of bile entered his mouth. 'Hwat have I forgotten, Zephyr.' There was a slight tremor in his voice.

'You said to father, publicly, for all the nobles to hear, that you will have chosen a wife by your twentieth birthday. Link, that is only two months away.'

Link visibly paled. There was a window nearby. He moved towards it and leaned on the windowsill, taking long deep breaths. 'Anything else? he asked weakly.

'You also swore an oath by Hylia that you would do so. And that...' Zephyr was now shaking from dread. He looked a little green in the face. 'That if you haven't found a wife by then, that you would forfeit your birthright, and that I'll be officially named heir apparent once I've found my own wife.'

Link sank to his feet. His jaw clenched as he held back profanities. How could he have done something so stupid! But in hindsight, this explained the way people have been behaving towards him. The disappointed looks from his father, the forlorn looks from the servants, why so many of his peers kept asking him whether or not he had found a wife, or if he still planned on getting married.

Link ran a hand down his face. If he was being honest with himself, he had taken too long. Most of his closest friends were already married or betrothed. Link should have been at least betrothed years ago. And now he had sworn an oath to the goddess that he would be married by his next birthday, which was now dangerously close. He had given himself a time limit. Worst of all, he had unwittingly pulled his brother into all this. He knew his brother had no intentions of becoming king. Zephyr's dream was to join the navy, and it was a dream Link supported. But now his brother's dream was under threat because of Link's own foolishness.

It's not that Link didn't want to get married, he did want to, it was just that he has high standards, and so far he has met no woman who has met his standards. Link had decided years ago that he wanted a wife who was like his mother had been: beautiful, kindhearted, gave hugs that were warm like summer, and had a smile like the sun.

Link clenched a fist and pulled himself up to his feet. Zephyr regarded his brother and noticed the spark in his brother's eye. Link's strong arm then wrapped over his brother's shoulders. Zephyr yelped as he was pulled in, and Link ruffled up his hair.

'Come! Come, Zephyr! Today, we eat and drink. Tomorrow, I go to the market, and you shall come with me.' He pauses for a second. 'Let's invite Aryll too.'

Zephyr blinked. 'Hwatever for?'

'Is it not obvious?' and Link smirked gleefully. 'I need to find myself a wife.'

To explain some things:

First, there were some real history Easter eggs in the... history part of the chapter. Were you able to find them? Nothing big, just some slight inspiration for the line of succession.

Second, Zephyr is supposed to be another Link. There's technically two Links in this story, but both can't be named Link. So, I named the younger one Zephyr (West wind). Can you guess which Link he's supposed to be ;)

I wanted to give each region distinct accents. Hyruleans will have a standard accent, for Holodrum I desided that they'll be emphasising their Hs (which is why you're seeing what and why spelt as Hwat and Hwy). Labrynna will have the opposite of Holodrum. Is this over the top madness? Maybe.

Lastly, I hope I'm not boring you to death with the little history parts. Don't worry, this should be the last of them. It will be a slow build up, so stay patient.