Chapter 25: Ride Home
Link stood rooted to the spot. He knew Zelda was hurt but hearing it like this was nothing like what he had imagined.
As her muffled cries fell on his ears, he felt worse with each one. All of his determination to speak to her now crumbled away as he felt his chest tighten. All sensation in him was dulled.
As he looked on at her tent, he found the idea of walking through the flap to be the most difficult thing he could have imagined.
Williams had even told him to leave her alone until she was ready to speak to him. Perhaps the Colonel had said it as much for his own benefit, he realised. Then as thanks for his advice, he had gone and interfered with his troops, thinking everything was just going to be fine. His arrogance had crushed him.
Unable to stay, he turned and quietly left. He heard more of her soft cries even as he got further away.
He wanted to be alone now too. He weaved his way through the camp, hoping he could find a tent somewhere. All of the Zora seemed to have been revived and the Hylian soldiers were doing what they could to help.
He saw the three sentries he had lied to in order to send them away. With how he felt, he really didn't want to add any more misery to the camp.
"Hey, you guys need to head back to your posts." he said to them flatly.
The three looked to each other in confusion.
"But...I thought we would be needed here" said the same one he had spoken to no more than a few minutes ago.
"Yeah, I lied. If you head back now, nobody should notice and you won't get chewed out by Williams."
The three sentries looked shocked at his honesty. But they at least seemed like they didn't want to get on the bad side of the Colonel. They silently went back to their posts.
If there was any fallout from what he had done, he resolved to deal with it later. All he wanted now was to just lay down. As he walked between the tents, he found a crate full to the brim with simple blankets meant for the Zora. He took one for himself.
How anything was being organised in the camp was a mystery to him. People were flitting back and forth with and without Zora, carrying something or dropping something off. Link was sure it all made sense to someone.
He wandered around for a few minutes, hoping to find a quiet place. Turning a corner that lead to the shore.
Ralis was there, co-ordinating efforts with the Zora. He looked exhausted. He had been at this for hours, likely without rest. Looking over though, he saw Link and immediately looked happy and energetic again. He walked over to him.
"Link!" he began, then his face faltered. "Are you alright? I've never seen anyone look so worn out before"
Zora hospitality was among the best in the known world. Even after a day of hard labour, the first thing he asked was for his own well being. He hadn't even complained once.
"No, not really. I just want to find a quiet place to rest, but I think every tent in the world would be occupied right now." he said, looking over his shoulder again.
"Would you like to stay in mine?" Ralis offered, without missing a beat. "As prince of the Zora, I was afforded a tent with three rooms in it. I would be happy to share with the man who saved my life after all!"
Link wondered if he could kiss an aquatic being, then perished the thought.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to be a burden to anyone" he said, hope filling his voice.
"Of course not! Especially after everything you have done for my people." he continued happily. He seemed happy at being able to repay the favour, even a little.
He wanted to smile at him but couldn't summon the energy.
"Then I would love to." he replied simply.
Ralis then led him to a tent like Zelda had. His was placed on the other side of the camp too, away from all of the bustling footsteps.
As Ralis welcomed him in to his temporary home, Link breathed in relief. It was plain and simple with a few lamps too.
"You can take the anteroom here. I'm grateful for all of the help you Hylians are giving us in our most desperate hour, but by the goddesses, I miss Zora beds." he remarked.
"Me too, Ralis." he replied honestly. He recalled the night he had spent there with Zelda. It had been a world above anything he had experienced before. Then, a realisation hit him.
"Wait, among the Zora you've awoken, did you happen to see Rayla at all?" he said, remembering the exceptional work she had done as a butler when he had visited. It had been her who first showed signs of illness before all of the Zora had disappeared.
"Ah, I'm afraid not. Either she was killed when we were afflicted or she is with those who still remain in the depths of the Lakebed temple." he replied. "But, if I do happen to find her, I will let you know as soon as I am able"
Ralis' was exactly what Link needed now. Some kind words and assurances. He hoped she was alright. He wanted to experience her hospitality again some day.
Then, the thoughts of the depths crept back in to his mind. He shuddered at the thought he may have blown her up with his bombs whilst struggling in the dark depths.
He focused on the soft light of the lamps to centre himself.
"Rest for as long as you need to, Link. I think you deserve a break after all you have done."
Link nodded to him as he turned to leave. He stopped to speak once more before he did.
"I don't know what weighs on your mind Link. But whatever it is, remember that nothing is permanent"
Then he left, smiling at him. Link however could barely think. Walking in to the small room, he turned up the lamps to be as bright as possible. It helped him relax a little more.
Finally, he undressed. He left everything in an aimless pile on the floor and climbed in to the cot, wrapping himself tightly in the extra blanket.
As he lay there, he let his mind empty as he stared in to space. Though it took him some time, his eyes eventually grew heavy. Not fighting it even slightly, he drifted in to a deep sleep.
When he woke, his eyelids felt as if they weighed an impossible weight. Slowly, he blinked as his senses gradually came up to speed. There were murmurs of activity outside, none of which he could distinguish. He felt his entire body to be a dead weight. Summoning the energy to move was absolutely out of the question for him at that moment.
So, he let his eyes close once more, taking advantage of the sweet oblivion of sleep.
He didn't dream the first time he slept, but now a vivid tapestry of a dream unfolded in his mind.
He saw himself navigating the depths from behind himself. He kept swimming deeper in to inky blackness. He tried to grab his other self by the shoulder to stop him, but his fingers couldn't grasp on.
His other self just kept on swimming, in no light. He looked around fearfully, expecting attacks to come from all sides. Though he saw nothing, he felt as if the darkness was somehow closing in to crush him.
He closed his eyes and then saw himself on the shore of Lake Hylia, its entire waters now a dark green colour as mangled dead bodies littered the surface of the lake. They bobbed lifelessly in the currents. He looked with desperation over the grim scene, not daring to enter the water.
Then, blinking again, he now saw a forest path with burned and splintered trees marring the landscape. Zelda was there with him. They walked together towards something as a sense of unease came over him. Without warning, he drew his sword and drove it straight through Zelda's heart. She fell to the floor without so much as a word or a look of betrayal on her features.
The second her head hit the floor, a surge of adrenaline coursed through his body and jolted him awake.
Alarmed, he took a few deep and shaky breaths as he sat bolt upright. He felt annoyed with himself. He had wanted to sleep to stop thinking about everything that had happened. Now his own mind thought it was a good idea to show it him in more alarming detail than had actually happened.
At least he didn't feel exhausted any more, he thought. He got himself out of the bed and put his green tunic back on. It felt much better, the Zora armour was perfect for swimming in cold dark waters, but it was nightmarishly hot on the surface.
Link stepped out of the tent and saw it was close to noon. The camp was less chaotic now. Zora now wandered around on their own or with friends and partners. Their mood was sullen. It was likely that Ralis had explained to them what had been going on over the past week.
Though Link had been horrified by them in the depths, he still hoped that they could find a measure of peace.
Thinking of the depths, he looked over his shoulder just to be safe. As he did, he realised that he hadn't cleaned himself in what felt like a long time. There had been so much going on that the idea just didn't come up. Swimming in the depths was no substitute for a shower.
He bundled his clothes and stored them in his pouch, then set of to find a way to wash.
There were barrels of clean water and sponges used by the soldiers in special tents designed to let ten men wash themselves. It didn't take him long to find it, seeing a sign above a large one saying 'Ablutions'. He wondered why they couldn't have just called it a wash room or a bathroom.
He stepped in and took a small wash bucket and a clean sponge for himself. There were bars of soap too, to his relief. The water was cold, but he didn't mind. He recalled he liked feeling sleepy after hot washes.
As he lathered the sponge and started to wash himself, he heard other soldiers come in. There was a privacy flap for each cubicle, thankfully. He didn't feel like he wanted to be seen naked.
The soldiers were discussing something.
"Did you see poor Erik? Never thought I'd see him in a stockade" said one as he took his armour off, Link hearing the clink of metal straps being undone.
"Me either. Who else was with him though?" said another, hauling wash buckets inside.
"That was Jord and Ingo I think." said a third one, drawing a privacy flap closed as he started to wash.
Link wondered what had happened. He didn't think that the reinforcements would have brought a stockade with them if they were just meant to reinforce the original soldiers.
"Ah, poor sods. Of course we had to have Colonel Williams here. Small wonder they weren't lashed."
"There's no way that's true. Williams is as tough as boot leather, but lashes? There's limits to things like that these days, thank the goddesses."
All three men were in their own cubicles now. Link wanted to know more.
"Well whatever's happening, you'd expect something like this if you abandoned your post guarding the princess."
Link had to stop himself from swearing. The three men he had convinced to leave their posts were paying for it now.
"Why do you reckon they left? The princess is pissed off, that much is clear. But even then, that's just common sense out of the window."
"Who knows? Still, wonder what got her so riled up?" asked one of them.
"I heard from Bosmer. He was part of the squad that Sabbah took to the island to find Link and the princess. Says they had a huge argument"
Link held his head in his hands. Now the troops were talking about it too.
"An argument? What about?"
"You'd be better off asking him. Think she was close to snapping under pressure or something. He said that Link went to try and help and got the verbal lashing of a lifetime"
"He did?!"
"Yeah. But here's the meat of it all. He snapped right back and told her to go fuck herself"
A long moment of silence followed.
"Are you drunk, Max?"
"Not yet. Just telling you what I heard."
Another long moment of silence. Link held his breath, not daring to make a sound.
"Link...of all people...said that to her?"
"That's what I said"
"Link. Guy who killed Ganondorf, saved Hyrule. That Link?
"Clean the crap out of your ears, would you? Yes, that Link"
He stared at the floor, not daring to make a sound. Of course something like this would have spread around. Any amount of gossip was gold amongst soldiers.
"Reckon we'll see him in the stockade next?" asked one of them
"Nah, no way. There'll probably be some backroom deal for the elites of this world."
"I'm not sure if I should congratulate him on his bravery or chase him with a pitchfork"
"Hah! If you chased him, he'd either run circles around you or cut you in to paste."
The soldiers laughed as they finished washing. Link sat there motionless as they finished and left. It was strange, hearing people talk about him so openly. If only they knew the full story, he lamented.
He refocused. The three sentries were in the stockades because of him. He had to speak to Williams next.
He finished washing, dried himself faster than he ever had before and got dressed back in to his green tunic. He almost ran up the hill to Williams tent. As he rounded the corner, he saw the three men bound in stockades as the soldiers had said. They looked miserable. Link moved faster, straight to the Colonels tent.
"Colonel Williams?" he said, almost shouting. He drew curious looks from guards and soldiers around the command area.
Williams didn't say 'Enter' this time, but opened the tent flap himself. His presence was intimidating. He looked down his nose at Link with his shoulders squared.
"Colonel, put me in that stockade and let those men go" Link said, determined.
"Be silent. They are the ones who abandoned their post, despite explicit orders not to."
Every syllable he spoke dripped with venom. Link felt immense pressure, but he would not let the sentries suffer because of him.
"They did that because of me. Put me in their place and release them" he countered, looking Williams straight in the eyes.
"I told you to be silent. No matter their reasons, they still saw fit to abandon their posts. Guarding the princess is not a duty you abandon."
"I don't answer to you. So no, I won't be silent. Put me in their place and release them."
"If you don't answer to me, why would I listen to anything you have to say?" Williams said as he glared at Link, lowering his head. "Leave, and let these men pay their dues."
"No. They are not at fault. Most people would listen to anything I asked of them considering all I have done. They are not to blame for that"
"They absolutely are. They undergo training to follow instruction. If they can not do that, then they are punished for it."
There was a crowd now, though they kept their distance. Even Dr Villesna and Wenbream were in the people watching the confrontation unfold.
"They were misled by someone in authority. Me. Again, put me in the damn stockade and let them go"
"Guards, remove Link from my sight." he barked to the crowd.
Link's stubborn nature overtook him. He hated the idea of people suffering because of his arrogance. So he was not ready to back down. Instead, he threw caution to the wind.
He leaned back, twisted forward and slammed his fist in to the Colonels chin. The crack of the impact sounded across the command area. Williams head was knocked aside. He looked back to Link, with bloodlust. Gasps escaped the watching crowd.
He held both hands in front of himself.
"Now, you have a reason. Put me in the stockade, let them go."
In an instant, Williams swung an uppercut towards him. But Link was expecting this much. He leaned back as the Colonels iron gauntlet brushed past his nose. Link kept both of his arms out in front of him.
Williams was infuriated. Despite his commanding presence, his larger frame made it far easier to predict his movements. Link slipped his head to the side as he avoided a jab, leaned back to dodge another uppercut and rolled under a cross.
He still kept his arms out in front, offering himself to shackles. Williams didn't care. Link saw him telegraph his next movement, but was distracted by someone in the crowd.
"Enough! What is the meaning of this?"
Link turned to see who spoke. Before he could, Williams landed a blow. Link felt his jaw crack as Williams landed a heavy blow with his iron gauntlet. A burning blast of pain shot through his whole skull. The sheer force of it knocked him sideways and the world shook for him, but he managed to stay on his feet.
"Williams! Stop immediately!"
It was Zelda. She didn't look stoic any more, but furious as she strode through the crowd to the two of them. They parted for her without hesitation.
"Guards, arrest them both." she commanded.
In a moment, guards swarmed over the two of them, twisting their bodies around, face first in to the wooden fence surrounding the command area. Against the wall, Link and Williams looked at each other, staring daggers in to each others eyes.
"You should have just put me in the stockade."
"I want to put you in a grave." Williams replied simply
"Silence! Both of you!" shouted Zelda furiously.
Iron shackles were clamped shut over his hands and Williams' too. They both were led away by a swarm of guards who looked like they'd rather be in a volcano than here.
There were no holding cells or prison blocks in the camp. There hadn't been a need to restrain anybody until now. So the guards led both of them to the stockades.
"Your majesty, what shall we do with these men? We only have three stockades" one of the guards said nervously. Link imagined he would never have seen himself arresting his own Colonel.
"I will deal with them later. Release them and put these two fools in" came the sharp reply.
"At once, your majesty"
The guards quickly released the three sentries who quickly left the scene. Both Link and Williams were made to lay their heads and arms in the stockade as the heavy top half was lowered and locked, holding them in place. The posture put pressure on the back of Links neck and back. He was going to be sore later, he realised. Still, he managed to smile through the wave of searing pain in his cheek. The sentries had at least been released, just not how he had hoped.
Williams looked furious, but he would behave in front of Zelda at least.
Standing in front of the two of them, she folded her arms and looked between them as she did her best to simmer herself down.
"There is no excuse either of you could give to justify this. Still, explain yourselves." she said, her tone colder than ice.
Link managed to turn his head just enough to look at Williams, as he was looking to Link. He knew neither would betray the other now. This would only be settled between the two of them later. They both looked back to Zelda.
"It was a gentleman's disagreement, your majesty." Williams replied.
"Gentlemen are not savage apes, Colonel."
"No, your majesty" he replied simply.
Her lips were pursed to an impossibly small degree. She looked as if she had eaten a whole lemon.
"And your excuse?" she said to Link, equally as cold as she had to Williams.
"We merely had a misunderstanding" he replied.
"Oh, for the love of the goddesses…" Zelda said as she rubbed her temples. She looked to Link and unleashed her anger.
"How stupid could you both be? Two men who are supposed to hold respected positions and be models for our soldiers end up acting like two brats fighting over crumbs. There are no words to adequately describe my supreme disappointment in the two of you."
She started pacing on the spot as the vitriol came forth like a torrent.
"If I can't trust either of you to behave yourselves, perhaps neither of you should be here. I would be better served by a dead cat or a bird with no wings. In my entire life, I have never borne witness to stupidity of such a calibre" she spat.
Link was almost impressed with her.
"Criminals in the castle dungeons behave better than this! A surgeon could remove both of your brains and you would both end up more intelligent. I am also certain there is a species of mushroom that can articulate itself better."
She was unhinged now and also unstoppable. Link saw that some of the guards were smiling at her verbal lashings.
"What would your mothers think if they saw how you behaved today? I would wager they would have prayed for menopause instead of you two."
Link was struggling not to smile now. Zelda noticed.
"You think this is amusing?! Two grown men of Hyrule fighting when we have a fragile situation with the Zora? Get that rock out of your inch thick skull and put a piece of paper in there that advertises space for something better, maybe a bucket of sewage."
Williams let a rasp out. Link managed to see him desperately suppressing the urge to laugh. He actually looked like he was sweating under the strain.
"And you too!? Colonel of the Hylian army and you somehow find gross insubordination funny? What is wrong with you? Did you get struck by lightning and have your pea sized brain melt out of your ears? I swear that I have had bowel movements that were sharper than you."
Link, Williams and every single guard in the vicinity broke as the burst in to roaring laughter. Link's jaw stung with pain, but he didn't care as he howled laughing. Williams deep voice boomed as tears streamed from his eyes. Some of the guards were doubled over on the ground and clutching their sides.
Zelda meanwhile had realised what she had just said and blushed a shade of red that Link didn't think was possible. She left quickly, unable to believe herself.
Every single person couldn't stop laughing. Link couldn't wipe away any tears, but he didn't care. He hadn't felt so entertained in years.
Eventually, calm started to settle over everyone. Onlookers had come to see what was happening, thoroughly confused.
Link managed to settle himself down with a lot of deep breaths. Somehow, in this moment, all of his concerns felt an entire world away. He looked over to the Colonel.
"Hey Williams?" he asked.
He looked over to him, curious and no longer full of rage.
"I'm sorry I punched you. As the princess rightly said in great detail, it was pretty stupid." he admitted
Williams snorted slightly.
"Hell, I apologise too. You were right. Punishing those idiots wasn't the right call. Hey, at least you got your wish in having them released." he remarked
"Hah! Lucky me" he replied happily. He tried to look to where Zelda had left. "I never imagined getting scolded like that would make me laugh so hard though."
"Me either. She's probably never going to live that down. I think she accidentally made herself a legend there" Williams remarked.
"I kind of want to see her go off like that again" Link said honestly.
"She could probably charge for it and then fund a whole new country!"
Link laughed again. It wasn't just Zelda's tirade that had lightened his mood. Apologising to Williams, and having him return his own apology, had lifted a weight from his shoulders that he hadn't realised he was carrying.
"I didn't break anything when I hit you, did I?" Link asked, eager to make amends.
"No, I'm fine. Besides, you punch like a baby"
"Says the guy who had to punch with an iron gauntlet on? Bet you can't even write with hands that weak. All those books of yours are just a child's scribbles" Link bit back
"I'm amazed you even know what a book is, farm boy."
Link and Williams ribbed each other for a while longer, enjoying every minute. The guards left to watch over them were enjoying it too. They brought bread and water for them both and cleaned the evidence up.
Some hours passed as they both continued to talk, now able to enjoy each others company.
"She's probably cooking up something unpleasant for us. You're a Colonel, what do you think she'll have us do?" Link asked, wondering what awaited them both.
Williams was quiet for a moment as he thought. "I don't really know. Normally, insubordination doesn't happen at higher ranks. I would give soldiers extra demanding duties and make them exhausted. Simple and effective."
"You shall not have to wonder for much longer" said Zelda, walking back to them, surrounded by guards. Moved briskly, determined. Link imagined she had rehearsed this time.
She stood in front of them both, guards moving to either side of her.
"Colonel Williams. For insubordination, assault and conduct unbecoming of an officer, I hereby demote you. You now hold the rank of Captain and will report directly to me."
"Yes, your majesty" Williams said. He seemed to be taking it well.
"Link, for assault of a Hylian officer, I sentence you to hard labour. We are packing up our camp and heading back to castle town. You are to dismantle all tents of the Hylian soldiers, pack them and stow them on our carriages. You will then walk the distance back to Castle Town and carry a heavy load. These men will ensure your cooperation."
Link had had enough time to reflect. His actions had disrupted to discipline required in an army and made things difficult for multiple people. He knew he would have to pay his dues. Still, he felt relieved there was a clear path for him to follow.
"Yes, your majesty" he replied. As he looked to her, he thought he saw a flicker of relief. Zelda needed to maintain control as a ruler after all. He hoped this would help her somehow.
"Guards, release them. Captain Williams, you are to assist with coordinating troops and the Zora as we dismantle our camp."
"Are the Zora to return with us, your majesty?" Williams asked.
"No. They are going to leave for the Zora's Domain and travel up the river to get home. Easier than walking, according to Prince Ralis" she explained.
"Yes, your majesty"
A guard each came to the stockade and unlocked them. As the restraints were removed, Link stood slowly and rolled his shoulders. Though it had only been a few hours, his back and neck were aching badly. Williams rolled his head to ease his own aches.
Zelda had already left. Williams followed after her after waving to Link. He somehow didn't feel any urge to chase after her this time. Hearing her cry over how he had treated her had sobered him like nothing else could. As Williams had said, all she needed was time. Still, he hoped he could speak with her normally again soon.
To Link's surprise, he recognised Karlsman approach him from the group of guards.
"Hey stupid!" he said cheerfully.
Link smiled. Of course Karlsman would speak his mind. "Hello Sergeant" he replied.
"Master Sergeant now. Turns out I did well on the shore during the first attack" he said proudly. "Now then, shall we sweat you?"
"I would love nothing more"
Link was lead with the men to the lower end of the camp and set to work taking tents down. The other troops paired up and started to dismantle tents as well. Zelda must have known it would have taken far longer with Link doing it all by himself.
The work was simple enough, the tents were not complicated things. The most difficult part was rolling the tent fabric. They were made from a heavy oiled cloth to help repel the elements.
By the time Link started rolling up the sixth tent, his muscles were starting to tense up from the strain. Still, he knew he had to pay for what he had so thoughtlessly done. He wondered if Zelda knew he had snuck to her tent, she had spoken to the sentries about why they left their posts after all.
He tried to put it out of his mind as he started to take apart the next tent.
Hours passed as he worked, packing away multiple tents. The camp didn't look like a large one, but there were nearly a hundred men here. The last of the soldiers tents had finally been taken down and packed. Karlsman came to Link, bringing something.
"So, hate Hyrule yet?" he asked casually.
"Yeah, I'm about to declare war and everything" Link replied, rubbing his aching arms.
"Good! That means the punishment is working. Here, got some food and drink" he said as he passed Link a baked potato on a simple wooden plate, with a canteen of water.
Link ate and drank so quickly, he surprised himself. He sat for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to loosen some of the tension.
"Don't get too comfortable! We've still got to load all of these tents on to the wagons" Karlsman reminded him, helpfully.
"You arse" Link pouted. Karlsman merely smiled happily.
Still, the tents wouldn't stow themselves. Link, Karlsman and the other guards stood and started hauling the packed tents to the wagons.
It wasn't as gruelling as rolling up the tent fabrics, but it wasn't light work either. Link managed to find a way to carry two over his shoulders that eased the burden somewhat.
An hour passed as the last of the tents was neatly packed in to a rack on the wagon that had brought them.
As the group closed the wagon door, Karlsman dusted off his gauntlets. Every single one of them was dripping with sweat. Link felt as if his entire body was burning from all of the aches.
Now at least, they could relax until it was time to leave the camp.
Other soldiers had been dismantling things or loading goods in to other wagons too. All that was left of the camp now were a few piles of crates and the wooden fortifications that had been built at speed in the first few days of the Zora crisis.
"This is a pretty decent spot for a camp. Reckon the Princess will do anything with this site?" Link asked. It did seem a waste to abandon such a viable spot. Plus, soldiers had died here. At least a monument would have been a good idea.
"Probably, but who knows for sure right now?" Karlsman replied. "It's not connected by any roads, plus its only real benefit is a position to defend from".
"Fair enough. Might be nice to have a monument to the dead, if nothing else" Link suggested.
Karlsman looked to him with a raised eyebrow. Some of the other soldiers did too.
"What?" he asked, suddenly feeling like he should have kept his thoughts to himself.
"You're absolutely right Link! It would be a nice gesture for those who fell. In fact, we're lucky enough to be able to oblige you with any work we deem necessary." Karlsman said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.
"Oh come on…" Link moaned, holding his head in his hands.
Karlsman and the other soldiers burst in to laughter.
"Relax, would you? It would take about two days for a team of carpenters to build something like that. We're leaving soon, so inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale. Then repeat"
Link smiled. Karlsman knew how to play people. Leaders like this always got better results. He recalled Rusl, his adoptive father, and how his soft nature had endeared him to nearly anyone he met. People were always willing to help him even if he didn't ask. Karlsman's nature would likely have a similar effect on his men.
He sat with them all for a while as they refreshed themselves and the rest of the camp was packed away. Zora were all starting to head down the slope to the shore. As the afternoon wore on.
Link got to his feet, eager to see what was going on.
"Make sure you're right back here when you're done?" Karlsman was quick to say.
"Yes, mum" Link replied, getting a laugh out of the soldiers.
He followed the Zora, a lot of them were gathering now. Eventually he managed to make his way on to the shore.
Prince Ralis was standing on a box to speak to the assembled Zora. Link realised he hadn't even asked him if they had retrieved the Zora from the Lakebed Temple's depths. He tensed at the thought again and looked over his shoulder, just to make sure.
Ralis looked to the floor as he mentally rehearsed his notes. Then he began, speaking clearly over the crowd.
"My people, we have been through a nightmare none of us could have imagined. We lost control of ourselves, turned against our friends, and many of us were taken from our homes and families. It's been a dark time for us, one that we will not forget."
He paused, letting the words settle, as the Zora exchanged solemn glances.
"We will mourn our dead, those who were taken by the Deep One—the thing that corrupted our minds and hearts. It is not the Hylians who did this to us. They fought so that we could be free and without them? None of us would be standing here today."
Ralis gestured toward Link, his voice lifting with emotion.
"Especially Link, who risked his life to free us from that curse. Without him, the Deep One would still hold us in its grip. We owe him our lives. I know the pain of what we've lost is great, but we must not let it blind us to the truth. We survived because of their help."
The Zora shifted, some nodding, others still processing the words.
"Let us not carry anger in our hearts toward our allies. Let us instead honour the lives of those we've lost by carrying on. We will go back to our home, to Zora's Domain, and begin again. We will remember the fallen, but we will not let this tragedy define us."
Ralis straightened, his voice growing firmer.
"We are alive. We are free. And together, we will make sure that no darkness, no corruption, can ever take that from us again. So let us be grateful for each other, for our lives, and for the bonds we've made. Let's go home, mourn our dead, and start anew."
He looked out at the gathered Zora, his eyes softening.
"It's time to go home."
The crowd of Zora applauded him. Link felt a swell of pride for Ralis. His words seemed to have resonated with the Zora. He heard approving murmurs from nearby as discussion bloomed between them.
Looking over to Ralis again, Link saw him trying to wave him over. He was eager to see him before he left, so he started making his way through the crowd.
He had made his way through half of the crowd. As he moved further, his mind started working against him again. He saw the faces of the relieved Zora, many of them were thanking him for saving them. He returned with a quick 'Thank you' or 'Not a problem'. But the claustrophobia was setting on him again. Their faces were no longer contorted in rage, their eyes no longer milky white. Still, he could only recall the swarm of them in the depths. He needed to get out.
He started moving more quickly through them all, bumping in to a few.
Eventually he reached the stage Ralis had made for himself and was short of breath.
"Link? Are you alright?" Ralis asked, looking concerned.
He took a moment to slow his breathing and tried to calm himself.
"Yeah...I'm alright" he said, purely for Ralis.
Ralis nodded, but didn't lose his look of concern.
"Alright. Well, I thought you might like to know something. Before we leave I mean."
"Oh? Is everything alright?" Link asked, wondering what he could mean.
"Mostly yes. But we went down to the depths Link. I personally saw the Deep One that you killed. How you managed to face it alone, I have no idea. Our old stories say it took around twelve Zora warriors to even wound one." he explained.
Link didn't want to think about the creature any more. It's unblinking yellow eyes in the dark still pervaded his mind from time to time. Still, Ralis was being kind and he did feel a little bashful.
"Thank you, Prince Ralis. You're very kind. Though if this is something the Zora have to contest with, then I'd much rather you than me"
He smiled to him warmly. "There is something else too. We were able to recover all of the Zora who had survived…"
"I'm sorry Ralis. I really wish it hadn't come to death" Link said quickly. No matter what had happened to Zora, there were now fewer of them going home. Ralis however, held up his webbed hand.
"I forgive you Link. I saw how dark it was down there. Zora can see in low light levels, but you Hylians? I dread to think of what you must have experienced." he responded.
"But amongst those we recovered and healed?" he said as he turned behind him and gestured for someone to come forth.
"We found her!" Ralis said happily.
Rayla, the Zora butler who had served Link and Zelda back in Zoras domain stood before him once again. She looked very pale and tired, but she was alive.
"Well met, once again, Master Link. I would bow, but am afraid I would vomit if I did" she said weakly and with a small smile. She was wrapped in a blanket.
Link felt a surge of relief, forgetting his fears for a moment. Few people had made such a good first impression on him. To know that he hadn't harmed her brought him a sense of peace. Surprised at himself, he wanted to hug her. But he composed himself quickly.
"Rayla...it's damn good to see you again. Don't worry, I wouldn't ask you to bow again." he said. "I would like for you to take some rest, along with any other Zora who need it."
Rayla smiled back to him. "Of course. Should you and Princess Zelda ever need hospitality again, I would be delighted to oblige"
Link nodded in thanks. He would absolutely take her up on that.
"Will you be alright swimming home? A Hylian couldn't swim up that river but…" Link started to ask.
Ralis interjected. "A sick Zora still can with ease. Honestly, she's ill because she hasn't been in the water. None of us want to with the algae being cleared from the lake by the Lakebed Temple."
Link looked to the Lake and saw the burned remains of the algae were congregating near the temple structure as it drew the waters of the lake in to purify. He also recalled Ralis perking up a lot after having fresh water.
"Our bodies absorb the oxygen from the water far more quickly, so it rejuvenates us faster when we are in water" Rayla explained quietly as Ralis nodded to confirm.
"Ah ok. It looks like the river inlet is clear too. Is that why you've picked now to head back upstream?" Link asked.
"Yes. Honestly, we all just want to go home at this point" Ralis said wearily.
"Well, don't let me keep you. Prince Ralis and Rayla? I'm relieved we got to speak again and I hope to see you both again soon."
They both managed stronger smiles this time.
"Likewise, Master Link. I'm pleased that I got to speak to you again. I hope you fare well" Rayla said, inclining her head slightly before leaving for the shoreline.
"As she said Link. But before you go…"
He looked to Ralis."I can tell that something weighs heavily on you. I also get the impression that you are quite a private person. You owe me nothing Link, but I would hear anything you have to say, that you may be burdening yourself with."
Link almost did a double take. Was he that easy to read? Ralis was a good person but if it was obvious to him, then it would only be a matter of time before someone else offered their help.
"You are right. There are things bothering me. But they are self inflicted and I feel uncomfortable sharing private things about myself at the best of times..." he explained sheepishly.
Ralis looked a little saddened. Perhaps he was just hoping to get to know him a little better, or just be someone to try and help. Feeling guilt, he opted to share a little.
"Well actually...suppose you told someone you were very fond of, something horrible. Like, really horrible. The kind of thing you couldn't forget after hearing it. After you calm down, you start to regret it and wish you could go back in time to never say it." he explained quietly, leaning to Ralis' ear. "What advice could you offer? How would you try and make amends for that?"
Ralis got his enthusiasm back.
"Hm. Well I suppose I would try to speak to this person in a private setting. Somewhere they could be themselves. Then, I would do my best to apologise as earnestly as I could as well as tell them how much I regret what I said to them, that I feel foolish for ever having done so."
It had practically mirrored what Williams had said and it had taken him less than a second to realise it. Somehow, the Zora were the most emotionally intelligent people he had ever met. Now, he had a much better plan of what to do with Zelda.
"Heh! You're a sharp one Ralis. Thank you, I think that actually helped." he admitted.
They both said their goodbyes to each other and Link left to go and rejoin Karlsman. He stood over the shoreline for a minute, watching the Zora enter the water. Zelda herself came to see the Prince off as the head of state. She glanced at Link once as she walked, then focused on where shewas going again in a moment.
Link headed back to Karlsman, he had been gone for long enough. The sun was beginning to set but the camp had been packed away. It looked like it was time for a night march.
"There he is. All sorted?" Karlsman asked.
"Yeah, I wanted to see Prince Ralis before the Zora left. All good on that front now."
"Well, good to hear. Because as soon as Princess Zelda gets back, we're leaving. Time to get your pack"
Link inhaled deeply. He had forgotten about that part of his punishment. Karlsman and the soldiers did a grand job of displaying the pack to him. It had all of the camps cooking utensils. Every single one of them. Pots, pans, plates and cutlery. Link tested the pack and didn't feel optimistic.
He crouched low to help himself get the pack on, the soldiers assisted with strapping it over his shoulders and around his waist.
He stood up carefully and teetered from side to side as he got his balance back. With the pack securely fastened around him, Link was surprised to find that it was now lighter than it seemed.
"Packing order." Karlsman said, seeing his curious look. "Heavy items go near your back, medium ones above and below that. Helps distribute the weight better."
"Aren't you nice." Link replied.
"They call me Saint Karlsman in some places"
"Like dive bars?"
"There too" he smiled back.
With his pack set, the columns of soldiers formed up outside the camp. Captain Williams was leading the organisation. The men in the rear ranks were discussing his demotion almost fervently. The news about his fight with Link was now the topic everyone wanted to know about.
"Link, walk aside my horse back to Castle town" came a voice from behind him.
It was Zelda. Link couldn't quite believe it. He was getting used to Zelda giving him minimal responses since the day before.
"Yes, your majesty" he replied, barely managing a shrug to Karlsman.
"You've got your orders Link. Want some good advice?" he asked.
Link looked to him, eyebrow raised.
"Don't be stupid" Karlsman gloated.
"Thank you, wise sage. You are a credit to us all"
"I know. Go on, get to it!" he said, urging him on.
No matter Karlsman's disposition, Link was grateful for his straightforward approach. He nodded to him and walked up the side of the column to join Zelda. Each of his footsteps felt twice as heavy to him, weighed down by the pack.
Properly packed, the weight was manageable now, but he knew walking it back to castle town would be a significant amount of effort. Still, it was one way to make his amends.
"Link, you are carrying a significant load. If you are unable to continue, you may rest. But the column moves without rest until we need to camp." Zelda said to him plainly.
"So, 'keep up' basically?"
She nodded wordlessly to him and rode to Captain Williams at the head of the column to begin the march. Link managed to see Epona again, at the head of a wagon by herself not too far from him.
Though awkward, he waved to her from where he stood, trying to conserve whatever energy he could
She whinnied gently at the gesture.
Smiling, Link turned back and saw Zelda rejoin the column with her own horse. She rode next to him, still stoic.
At the head of the column, Captain Williams sounded a horn that blared clearly for all to hear. Creaks, clanks and footsteps all sounded as everyone began the walk home.
Link moved with his feet hitting the ground harder than he was used to, but he still managed to keep pace. Zelda rode beside him at a steady pace too. After this, he vowed to make things right with her.
The column slowly left the camp and made their way across Hyrule Field, the vast plain would at least be easy to walk on, Link told himself.
Meanwhile, in Kakariko Village, the dead had left their graves.