Zelda's heart was still pounding as she sank to the floor next to Ravio and the Prince. She'd been dead asleep when a dissonant jumble of notes pierced through her dreams, and she had an unexplainable feeling that Link was in trouble. She'd stumbled out of bed, but as soon as her feet hit the ground, she'd felt a thrum of dread run through her-something dark, empty, and threatening. It was a feeling she recognized, and she didn't like it. Quickly, trying to quell her fear, she'd raced down to the basement, only to find a newly bandaged Link and a very concerned Ravio.
"All right," Ravio said, lacing his fingers in front of him and leaning forward. "So we've established that the Sword was possessed by malice when you were both in the castle, right?"
Link's hands were shaking as he collapsed to his knees, but he quickly fisted them and set his jaw. Zelda shot him a hesitant look before replying. "Yes, that's what we believe."
"Can you tell me exactly what happened, Zelda?"
Zelda ran her fingers across her thumbs nervously. "Well, I was walking to my room when I saw a shadow on the ground. I tried to stop it with Summoned light, but it kept going toward Link's room. Then it got inside and moved over next to Link's bed where the Sword was, and I tried to pick it up with Kinetic magic, but it still escaped. Then it went into the Sword." She shivered.
"What else? What happened to the Sword?"
"It-it turned black," Zelda admitted, "But it was only for a moment."
Ravio inhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "That sounds like it's in there now. Which means..." He looked apologetically over at Link. "It's also in you."
"In-in me?" Link croaked, scuttling back a pace. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Ravio shrugged helplessly. "That dark feeling? That was malice."
Link swallowed, his eyes wide with fear.
Zelda frowned, realizing she was missing something. "What dark feeling? Is this about what just happened with the Sword and all?'
Ravio nodded. "We decided it would be best if Link could connect to the Master Sword, now that he's been fighting with it. But, when he tried to connect to it spiritually, he also connected with malice."
"Connected with malice?" Zelda glanced over at Link, who was still staring down at his hands with an expression akin to panic. He caught her eye and tucked his hands into his lap, his face going carefully blank. "But...what does that mean? He was already possessed in the castle."
"I'm not sure," Ravio admitted. "But whatever effects the malice was having on the Prince will be stronger now than it was before. It's like the door is now unlocked and open rather than just unlocked." He met their eyes evenly, and the three of them stared at each other in silence for a moment. Zelda ran her fingers through her hair, still trying to dispel the lingering sense of exhaustion she felt, but her heart was still racing. The exhaustion mixed with the stress of the situation was making it difficult to think straight.
"Ravio," Link finally said, "What even is malice? How would I know...if..." Link trailed off, but Zelda knew what he was thinking. How much of him right now was currently being affected? How would he know?
Has Link been acting under the influence of malice all this time? The panicked thought struck Zelda, but she shushed it and tried to listen to Ravio's answer.
"Well, malice is essentially all the evilness and badness in the world that just solidifies, in a sense. It grows overtime, but it doesn't actually have any physical essence. It's more like a spirit in that case-without something tethering it to the physical realm, it has no substance. It's just a shadow." He lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers in front of a lamp, his own shadow doing the same. "So...any evil inclinations, negative thoughts, that sort of thing...probably don't listen to it?" He shrugged. "Evil's not really an exact science."
Link nodded slowly, his hands in his lap clenching into fists. "Did anyone at the castle know any of this? No one told me..." He straightened, his fists bouncing and accentuating his words angrily. "No one told me that the malice was inside me. In my head. Or-or that I could even make any spiritual connections with it or my Sword." He took a shaky breath, his face darkening. "Were they not telling me this on purpose?"
"I'm sure they just didn't want to worry you," Zelda said placatingly, putting a hand on Link's arm. He quickly jerked his way out of her reach.
"My father did nothing but worry me growing up," Link countered, but Ravio was slowly shaking his head.
"As good as the Sheikah are, they still have to operate under the jurisdiction of the King, and any research or history about swordsmanship and the Master Sword was kept under lock and key under his rules. I borrowed a lot of that literature when I left the castle so I could perfect my swordsmanship myself, so I'd suspect that no one really knew all the details about how the Master Sword connects to the heroes." Ravio tilted his head significantly. "Hence why no one in the castle could connect the dots between the malice in the Sword and what to tell you about it. But Zelda may be right, I'm sure Master Mahko had your best interests at heart."
Link looked sick; the anger and worry on his face turned his face a pale white, and Zelda felt a twinge of sympathy for her Prince.
"I also took the journals of previous Links and Zeldas, which has been one of the greatest investments I ever made. They're still up in my library somewhere. "Ravio went on, watching Link carefully. He shot Zelda a glance. "If you're important, always keep a journal. Posterity will sing your praises forever."
Link jumped to his feet, carefully not meeting either Zelda's or Ravios' eyes .He backed away from the little circle, and Zelda noticed that his hands were still shaking. "I should go, I haven't eaten yet."
"Link, wait-" Zelda tried, but Link had already bolted from the room, slamming the basement door behind him.
Ravio pursed his lips, leaning back on his hands. "Poor kid. He's got so much riding on him, and now he thinks he's gone and messed it all up."
Zelda sat up straighter, trying not to succumb to the panic she felt at Ravio's words. "You said he successfully connected with the Sword today too."
Ravio's eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that part of the operation was still successful. We're one step closer to banishing malice." He hesitated. "Even if we took two steps back to accomplish it."
"What does that look like?" Zelda pressed. "How can he know when the Sword is trying to help?"
"Well, it'll help him fight, which he's familiar with now. The Master Sword also reputedly speaks in images rather than words." Ravio tapped his finger on his cheek thoughtfully. "I wonder if it thinks our language is too primitive. The last Link made it sound like he would have the strangest conversations with his weapon." He shook his head. "Anyway, it'll be the good and wisdom to conflict with the evil and stupidity."
Zelda nodded, filing that away to recount it to Link. They had a lot to discuss now, it seemed. Once she could help him calm down.
"Oh! One more thing." Ravio leapt to his feet and rifled through his bookshelf, pulling out a small wooden flute. "The Master Sword likes to sing a lot. The last Zelda even wrote down the motif, so now we know what it is." He raised the flute to his lips and played a familiar jumble of notes. It was the same pattern that Zelda had first heard in the forest when she first met Sheik, and it matched the notes that had pierced through her dreams to warn her of the malice.
Zelda felt a thrill of excitement as Ravio finished the short song. "I know that song! I've heard it before!"
Ravio grinned. "Then you, Mage Zelda, are on the right track to becoming one of the heroes of Hyrule." He set the flute back on the bookshelf and turned to Zelda, his face suddenly serious. "And don't you forget your part in all this. You have a role to play just as Link does. Don't just protect the Prince-develop your magic too. Strengthen that bond with the Master Sword. Link and Zelda always fight together, equally banishing malice with their respective talents."
Zelda nodded, her heart lifting. "Yes, sir. I will."
Ravio winked in return. "Then you should probably locate your charge and keep him from doing anything stupid. I'll make breakfast in the meantime."
Zelda smiled briefly and left the basement, heading for the library. As she opened the door, she spotted Link leaning up against the back of the couch, sitting on the floor. The bandage she'd seen on his hand was lying on the floor, and she could see the thin gash in his palm. He had unsheathed the Master Sword and was resting it in his open palms, his eyes shut firmly. When the door creaked open, his eyes snapped open and he jumped to his feet, shifting his grip so he was now gripping the hilt with both hands. He relaxed when he saw Zelda.
"Link, are-are you okay?" Zelda asked hesitantly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. "You seem tense."
"I'm fine," he said shortly, sheathing the sword on his shoulder and reaching for his bandage. He started to rebind his hand, wincing.
"Do you want help with that?" Zelda asked, moving closer. She caught a glimpse of the whole gash before Link covered it with the bandage. "Link, that looks deep! You probably want stitches!"
"It's fine," Link snapped, pulling his hand back away from her outstretched fingers. "I'll be fine, don't worry about it."
Zelda frowned. "You're not fine, you're still bleeding! Let me help, I can stitch it up and-"
"I don't want your help! I'll just go to the healer!" Link shoved past her and reached for the door.
"Link, wait! Ravio said-" But Link had already slammed the door and could be heard stomping back down the stairs before Zelda had even finished her sentence. She sighed in frustration, her gaze falling to the floor. What now? Were they doomed to fail? Had Link just sealed their ticket to certain demise?
"One thing at a time," Zelda muttered, picking up her books again and settling herself on the couch.
After spending a couple hours in the Healing Hut, Link returned with a heavily bandaged palm and a sour disposition. Zelda peppered him with questions about their plans until he yelled at her to leave him alone, slamming the door to the library again. Zelda resignedly took her pile of books and settled on the porch while Ravio patiently coaxed Link into practicing with his Sword for several hours.
Eventually, the training period ended, and the Prince stomped out of the house, saw Zelda sitting on the floorboards with her a scroll and a sheet of notes, and turned to go back inside.
"Link, wait." Zelda scrambled to her feet, tucking her quill behind her ear. "Don't leave again, I want to talk to you."
"Well, I don't want to talk to you," Link snapped, glaring at Zelda. His face was glistening with sweat, and his hair was loose around his shoulders. "So I'll be leaving."
"Don't be like that," Zelda said sharply, grabbing his arm and spinning him around to face her. "You've been avoiding me all day, can we please talk about this?"
"About what?"
"About the prophecy. About the Sword. What we're going to do next."
Link snorted. "There's no we here, Forager. I don't see the Sword on your shoulder. This is my duty and mine alone."
Zelda frowned. "Link, this is our problem. I have a duty to the Sword and to the kingdom just as much as you do. Can't we just sit down and plan our next move?"
"No. I'm busy." Link shot her one more glare before shaking off her grip and going back inside.
"Oh, Hylia above..." Zelda muttered, running a hand over her eyes. Sighing, she looked back down at her notes. She was beginning to study previous Link's journals as well as Zeldas, and she was surprised at how humble and confident the legendary sword masters were. Regretfully, she found herself wishing for their companionship and support instead of the petulant prince she was stuck with.
Ravio poked his head out the front door, his expression quizzical. "Did the Prince come and go? I just heard the library door slam shut again."
Zelda nodded wearily. "He's still upset. Doesn't want to talk to me."
Ravio pursed his lips and nodded. "He didn't fight very well either. It's hard to focus when you're angry and afraid." He glanced inside once more before coming out to stand next to her on the porch. "You know, you could go out into the city if you want. Do some shopping or whatever. Get some air and all that."
"Into Thieves' Town? By myself?" Zelda peered up at him nervously. "That sounds like a bad idea."
Ravio shrugged. "You're a mage, you can take care of yourself. Once you establish that you can't be robbed or intimidated, people will just leave you alone and you can go about your business."
Zelda glanced back out at the rest of the town. People were still bustling around in the streets, but the sun was out, and the air smelled exotic, with spices and herbs that were foreign to her. But she didn't want to just leave because Link was being testy. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."
"Come on, Zelda." Ravio stepped closer, a gleam entering his eye. "You're here with some of the best merchants and merchandise in the country. Don't you want to go check it out?" He leaned closer. "I can assure you the prince is not going to leave that room until I tell him it's time for dinner."
Zelda hesitated. She did need to get some new clothes after her run-in with Blind. "I suppose you have a point. And you're sure you can protect Link in case anything happens?"
Ravio saluted, running his forefinger down his forehead to the tip of his long nose. "You can count on me, Zelda."
Zelda smiled and bobbed her head awkwardly. Even after all that happened at the castle, she still felt uncomfortable with all the deference and respect Ravio was giving her. "Great. I'll, uh, be back later then."
"I'll take your notes back inside. Good luck!" Ravio held out a hand for Zelda's stack of notes, which she handed over quickly. Ravio grinned before going back inside, shutting the door closed gently behind him. Zelda took a deep breath, pushed her shoulders down, and headed back into the streets of Thieves' Town. It was early afternoon by now, and the streets were still bursting with vendors and pickpockets. The crowd was just as tight as it was before, and that exotic smell grew stronger as she re-entered the throng. Zelda took Ravio's advice, Gathering some cold from an ice vender, summoning a quick ice dagger and assuming a neutral expression as she pushed through the crowds. Surprisingly, people steered clear of her, and Zelda even caught a few incredulous looks at her ice dagger from the passersby. The response made her spirits lift; if she could frighten off a town full of thieves, maybe she was strong enough to protect Link. She could return to Ravio's shop and settle outside Link's door, watching vigilantly in case...in case...
Zelda stopped, her heart pounding. In case what? Malice came in again and attacked her? Link turned into some malice monster? She'd read about some of the other malice encounters Link and Zelda experienced, one of which being a giant monster entirely made of a liquidized malice that grew to have arms, legs, and wings over time. The Link of the past made it sound like a giant goop monster that oozed its way up a hill to the Temple of Time, but he did successfully kill it using the Master Sword.
Which meant that if that kind of malice monster attacked Link or Zelda right now, they may be powerless against it if the Master Sword was also filled with malice. Zelda's heart clenched inside her, and she felt her ice dagger shatter in her hand.
Zelda felt another clench of fear. No, not again! Desperately, she tried to resummon her dagger, but nothing happened.
"Come on, not now," she muttered, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes for a moment. Her magic wouldn't work if she was overcome with fear, right? So she just had to-
"Zelda? Zelda, is that you?"
Zelda turned and saw a man in a bright blue robe pushing his way through the crowd toward her. He had dark brown hair that just barely hung down into his brown eyes, and his lips stretched into a crooked smile as he watched Zelda. As he drew closer, Zelda recognized him as someone from her childhood home. Merric's father had run a general store with food and other necessities in Mabe Village, and her parents had been good friends with Merric's parents before they'd died. She and Merric grew closer after her parents died, at least until she went to work for Pipit's little farm.
"Merric! It's good to see you!" She stretched up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, and he squeezed her tightly in return.
"You too, Zel!" He pulled back and grinned again. "What are you doing in Thieves' Town? I thought you went to the castle for-"
"Shh!" Zelda rushed forward and slapped a hand over his mouth. "Not here! Just announce to everyone who I am, why don't you?"
Merric looked contrite and nodded as Zelda withdrew her hand. "Right, right. Sorry. I just..I couldn't believe it was you! Little Zelda from Mabe Village, out to save the world."
Zelda blushed as Merric's expression grew fond, and she giggled. "Believe me, no one was as surprised as I was."
"Is that why you're in Thieves' Town?" Merric gestured to the streets around here. "Are you here on business?"
Zelda shrugged. "More or less. It's complicated, but yes."
Merric beamed and held out a hand, wiggling his fingers. "Well, let me show you around! Are you looking for anything to buy?"
Zelda took his hand, her cheeks still feeling warm. "Just some clothes. I need to replenish some stuff from an...incident."
"An incident, huh?" Merric leaned closer. "Do tell."
"It's-it's a long story." Zelda ducked her head, not wanting to get into the details of her torture in Blind's prison. "But what are you doing in Thieves' Town? I thought your father wanted you to avoid it?"
Merric grunted. "He finally decided I was old enough to move out and have my own shop. Which, I understand," he added, "because my inventory is quite different from my father's. But still."
"What do you sell then? You're not doing a general store?"
Merric shook his head. "I do artifacts and curios! It's a big hit here in Lurelin. We can stop by after we finish in the Clothing Quarter if you want!"
Zelda smiled and nodded. "I'd like that." Again, she felt her cheeks getting hot, especially when Merric squeezed her hand, but she brushed it off, reminding herself she hadn't seen Merric since she went to work for Pipit, and it was only natural to feel excited to see an old friend. "Okay, lead the way!"
Merric led them over to the clothing district, where about five stalls were set up displaying pants, dresses, tunics and the like on tall wooden wracks. Zelda swarmed forward, running her hands up and down the clothes as she moved past them. Each seller made pitches to her in turn, but Merric stepped in and talked the prices down before Zelda could commit to anything. Once Zelda had purchased another two dresses, a gray tunic and hose, and a fresh pair of boots, Merric grabbed her hand again and pulled her back down Free Avenue toward a stall in the back corner of the town. She noticed that people hardly seemed to pay her any mind now, being dragged along by someone else dressed in the bright, garish colors of Thieves' Town.
"There. Welcome to the Gilded Artifact!" Merric announced, pointing at a stall situated in the center of a large semicircle of stalls. It was a simple stall, matching the others Zelda had seen around Thieves' Town, but the shelves and tables were adorned with ancient looking weapons, statues, and tools. Zelda noticed a long, thin-bladed sword that had a Shiekahn emblem stamped on sheath that was displayed on the front table, along with several other curved knives and blades.
"It feels like I only just started," Merric said, pushing aside one of the curtains and stepping on the other side of the main table. He grinned at Zelda, his brown eyes twinkling. "But I guarantee you can find any sort of curio this side of the castle here in my wares."
Zelda frowned, pointing at the Sheikah sword. "What kind of sword is that?"
"It's the holy Naginata." Merric reached out and clasped the hilt. "Legends say that they're filled with fire, but only the best of the Sheikah could summon it."
Zelda looked up into Merric's eager face, suddenly feeling wary of her old friend. "And how did you come across it?"
Merric's grin only grew larger, and he winked. "Well, there's a reason I'm selling it in Thieves' Town, Zel."
Zelda felt nauseated; she remembered Merric as an earnest, excitable child, and they would paw through each of his father's rare antiques and come up with stories about the people who had used them. She'd never imagined that he would be stealing things to sell on the black market. She clutched her sack of clothes a little tighter.
"Hey, I have something that you might be able to use." Merric ducked underneath the counter and returned holding a drawstring bag. He pulled it open and held it out to her. "I don't know what mages use these days, but some guy sold these to me for cheap." He laughed regretfully. "And since I don't know what they're worth, I haven't been able to sell it. So it's yours if you want it!"
Zelda looked inside and saw several translucent crystals, clay balls, and a small mortar and pestle. "What is it?"
"A basic Summoner's kit, I think." Merric shrugged. "Aren't you a summoner? Or are you a Forager?"
"I'm...a Summoner." Zelda said carefully, taking the bag and pulling it shut. "Are you sure you're getting rid of this?"
Merric nodded. "Like I said, I have no use for it. Plus I want to give you something. For old time's sake." He smiled again, but Zelda found that his crooked smile wasn't nearly as appealing as it used to be.
Zelda smiled in return, tucking the small bag into one of her larger sacks. "Thanks, Merric. I appreciate it."
"Of course, of course." He waved it off. "Anything for an old friend. Do you need anything else? I'm assuming you've met up with Zaden already?"
Zelda froze in the act of heaving her sack up onto one shoulder. "Zaden?"
Merric nodded, looking excited. "Yeah, he's here too! He's been doing some mercenary work with his magi-" He broke off, frowning. "Oh wait, he just left yesterday for a job, I think. He'll be back in a few weeks, though!"
Zelda felt light-headed. Her younger brother had been in Thieves' Town all this time? Doing mercenary work? "Did you say magic? He's a mage?"
Merric nodded again, his excitement fading. "He's always been a mage, Zelda. A Kinetic Mage, remember?"
Zelda shook her head, her mind swirling. She started Foraging when she was 8, but Zelda knew nothing about how or when the other magics manifested. Zaden had run away at 12, after all. "I-I didn't know."
Merric eyed her nervously, his hands drumming on the table in front of him. "Are you staying long? Maybe you could catch him when he comes back?"
"I'm not sure what our plans are. Maybe." Zelda reached for her bag only to realize her hands were shaking. "I-I should go. Thanks, Merric."
"Of course. Do you need me to walk you back to the inn or something?"
"No, I can find my way." Zelda hoisted her bag over her shoulder and glanced up at Merric. His brown eyes were wide and worried.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure. Thanks again, Merric. It was good to see you." Zelda smiled weakly and headed back into Free Avenue. She heard Merric call a farewell, but she couldn't bring herself to reply or even wave as she rushed back into the crowd.
The walk back home was difficult, mostly because Zelda kept getting bumped into and someone would try to steal her sack out from under her every time she stumbled. After throwing a flame dagger at the last one, people left her alone, which gave her time to process what Merric had mentioned. Her little brother Zaden had made his way to Thieves' Town and was now fighting for a profit? As a Kinetic Mage? Zaden had been fascinated with Zelda's magic when he was younger, but when he turned eight and nothing of import happened, a rift began to grow between him and his sister until he ran away when their mother died. The last thing Zelda remembered of her brother was his furious expression the night after their mother died, following an argument between him and Zelda about what they were going to do. After Zaden ran away, Zelda found work among their friends and neighbors, but she hoped Zaden would someday come home. He never did.
"Zelda?" Zelda glanced up to see Ravio standing in the doorway, his cheery yellow apron tied around his waist. "Good, dinner's ready. I see you found some new things." Zelda unslung her sack from around her shoulder and dropped it wearily on the porch.
"Ravio, do you know of a Zaden Greensage? A mercenary?"
Ravio blinked. "Yes, actually. He's one of the few mages in the Mercenary Guild, I hear."
Zelda grunted and brushed past him into the house. As she reentered, she heard creaking above her, and Link appeared on the stairs. The bandage on his hand was disheveled and falling apart, and he'd jammed a long stocking cap on his head that made his hair stick out over his face. She glowered at him as he thundered down the stairs, but he refused to meet her gaze. She scoffed and turned her back on him, heading for the kitchen.
Ravio whistled slowly, moving past both of them into the kitchen, sticking Zelda's sack of clothes in one corner. "Guess the shopping trip didn't help. Let's eat, shall we?"
I'm realizing that some of my chapters are strangely structured. So this might be extra long? Idk.
Also Merric is such a standard fantasy name. That may change in revisions lol.
Anyway. :) Tryna post more regularly, thanks for your patience.
Also I've been getting a lot of requests to commission some fanart-I unfortunately do not have the budget for anything relating to my fanfics, but I'm flattered and all. :) #gradschool
Thanks for the love. 3 writing the climax rn and it's harrrd.
Lmk what you think if you want :)
