Chapter 21: Plans are Hatched
Zelda paced along her room. The sun had not yet risen and she still wore her sleeping gown. She glanced out the windows to see light creeping over the horizon. Not much longer now, with the sun, would come another day of festivities. And she had her excuse to get out of the castle and meet with that boy, Link.
She still did not know what to make of him. The Goddesses wanted them to work together, that was obvious. But why him? They clearly chose her because she was a princess of royal birth, and brilliant besides.
But him? As far as she could tell, there was little special about him. Just a boy, whose version of a good plan was charging headfirst to challenge Ganondorf to a duel. Couldn't the Goddesses provide her a more useful ally? Perhaps some great wizard who could teach her faster than Rauru? Or a mighty knight who had a chance to stand against the Gerudo king.
But no. The Goddesses chose a boy near her age, who smelled of horses and dried sweat. At least the fairy may be of some assistance. He had confidence in his abilities, but what if that was only false bravado? Words whispered by the servants hinted at trouble in Ganondorf's quarters, a fire or something. What if the Geruod captured him? What if they'd already killed him? What if he never made it, and fell from the high towers to crack open on the ground below? That seemed the most likely scenario of them all. What if she sent the poor boy to his death?
The thought twisted inside her, bringing her no peace. So instead of sleeping she continued her march back and forth across her room. At one point she tried to pick up one of the book son warfare Impa brought her, and that did no good calming her. When she reached a passage about how a commander must be willing to sacrifice their soldiers for victory, she felt sick and had to stop.
Was that what she had done to Link and his fairy? Just sent them to their deaths as if they were nothing?
For not the first time, she thought back to her first discussion with Ganondorf, and his strange sayings. There are no innocents in war. The foul secrets of war and governance. That war was what made him a monster. Would it make her the same? How many people did her father send to die? How many had her mother?
What had happened at Kakariko, why was she even there? Why had Ganondorf assaulted a village so small it appeared on none of the maps? Or was there another reason for its absence?
She put down her books and continued pacing. Waiting. Overthinking. Reanalyzing everything in the last few months which brought her to this point.
A knock came at the door, which broke Zelda out of her thoughts with a start.
"Princess?" Impa's voice sounded from outside. "Can I come in?"
"What?" Zelda said. "Oh, yes."
The door opened and Impa entered and huffed. "Still not dressed?"
"What?" she said again. Brilliant repartee there, Zelda. She looked out the window, and the sun had already risen high. When had that happened? It was well into the morning, and she had just been wasting her time worrying rather than preparing for the day. "Forgive my lateness, I've only just woken up."
"Have you?" Impa looked at her, then the opened book on her desk and gave a tut. It would not be the first time Impa discovered her reading the night away.
Instead of denying the silent accusation, Zelda entered her boudoir, and picked a stylish but muted dress for herself.
"I was thinking that perhaps we could go to the festival today," Impa said as she dressed. "Take a day's rest from your studies and just enjoy yourself. It'd be good to get some fresh air, and to let your people see you from time to time."
"Perfect," Zelda said as she smoothed the dress in front of her. "That is precisely what I wanted to do." Well, that made one part of her plan easier, no need to think of an excuse to get out of the castle.
"That's wonderful to hear," Impa said, her voice a little too happy.
Why, wonderful? She was planning something. Zelda walked out of her boudoir and saw that Impa was no longer alone in her room.
"I thought it would be nice," Impa said. "If your father joined us."
King Liotidos looked uncomfortable standing in her room, but when his eyes met Zelda's, he smiled. "Princess," he said, his voice stiff. "I- I moved aside some of my meetings and judgments to give myself a day."
No. No. He couldn't come. That would ruin everything.
"My king," she curtsied.
"I wished to tell you, it was good, what you did yesterday. I know you did not wish to apologize to King Dragmire, but you will be queen one day and you will have to keep your vassals satisfied." He shook his head. "But you clearly understand that. You were very impressive at the council."
"And so that's it?" Zelda said, her heart pounded. He was trying so hard. But she could not let him see that she had stolen from Ganondorf. She could not show him her magic or let him know her plans with the forest boy. "You treat me like I'm an embarrassment for months, and you think you can just walk in here and say you want to celebrate with me?"
Her father's smile withered away in an instant. "I was never embarrassed by you."
"You kept me locked in my room like a petulant child! You always ignored me."
"Perhaps," he said, "I acted rashly. I was trying to teach you that you needed to respect your subordinates. That being princess doesn't give you free reign to say or do whatever you please."
"You didn't think just telling me that would have sufficed? No, you had to threaten to cloister me and send me away."
"Of course, telling you would not suffice, you never listen to me when I am trying to teach you."
"Well perhaps I don't think you have any valuable lessons to teach!" She did not care about her father's approval. She had to remind herself, as his shoulders slumped, and she could see his heart break. She did not care about it at all.
"Both of you," Impa's voice rose high. "Enough of this."
"I am willing to admit I may have made some mistakes," her father said over her.
"Some mistakes?" Zelda forced herself to give a scornful laugh. "I can't think of anything you've done right."
The king glared down at her, and his sorrow turned to wrath. He'd been a warrior once. Zelda heard the older knights and servants discuss it from time to time. Stories of him winning her mother's love in a tourney, and riding to victory against the Gerudo in the era before Ganondorf became their king. She'd never seen that side of him, for as long as she could remember he spent more time at the dinner table than in the training yard. But as he scowled, she saw a glimpse of that old knight. A focused anger, the drive to defeat some great enemy.
It almost made her scared. But she put her hands on her hips and glared back up to him. She could not give in. For his own good and her own.
He broke first, his face twitched, and his lip wobbled and then all the fight fell out of him at once. And all that stood before was a sad, broken man. "Very well," he said in a quiet voice. "Enjoy the festival."
He left the room, walked across the hall to his own chambers, and closed himself off from her.
Impa shut the door to Zelda's rooms. "What has gotten into you?" She'd never looked so angry before. "I hope you are happy, Zelda. I was wrong, you're worse than your-"
But Zelda could not hold herself back any longer and she gave a strangled snorting gasp, and then the tears came. Her vision blurred and all she could do was cry. She had to do it. It was the only way to get away from him and go check on Link. But that was it. Her father would hate her now.
Thin but strong arms enveloped her, and Zelda pressed her face into Impa's stomach, until her tears made her guardian's frock wet.
"What is going on? This isn't like you."
"I had to do it," she said through her tears. "Please, Impa, I had to do it."
"You had to do what? Hurt your father? That doesn't make sense."
"You have to promise, you can't tell him. He mustn't know."
Impa sighed but said. "I promise, what is going on?"
With her governess' arms still wrapped tight around her, Zelda sniffed. Through tears she could not control, she told Impa everything.
"This is where you set a meet?" Impa asked, the guard towering over her as they stood beside the outer wall of the castle. A row of trees separated the royal land from the rest of Castle Town. "It's too open, any passerby could see us."
"They chose this spot," she said. Her restless night took its toll on her, she wished to lean on the wall or tree or anything to let her relax. But a princess needed to hold herself to a higher standard, even in clandestine meetings with woodfolk. "My first thought was to meet at the Temple, but Ganondorf knows the temple. This seemed safer, in case the Gerudo did something rash."
Impa nodded, folded her arms, and leaned against the wall. Well, she could do that. She wasn't a princess. "Will we have to wait for them long?"
"Not at all," a voice came from above them. "We're the ones waiting for you."
From the nearest tree, the branches shook as a small green figure dropped to the ground. He landed soft on his feet, then stood up tall, stretched, and yawned. He had twigs in his hair, and leaves stuck to his clothes. Had he slept in the tree?
"Who are you?" Link asked Impa. "Zelda didn't mention anyone else."
"Princess Zelda," Impa corrected, eliciting a shrug from Link. "I am Impa, her guardian."
"Well, hello then. I'm Link and this," he waved at the ocarina hanging from his side, "is Navi."
The Sheikah gave a confused look, until the fairy poked out of the instrument, before going back inside.
"Do you have it?" Zelda asked, hoping to cut off any of the pointless introductions and idle chatter. "Did everything work out?"
"Of course," Link said, he twisted his torso, and swung the bag over his shoulder to his front. He untied and opened the sack, revealing several scrolls. Zelda took the largest of them and held it out in the light.
There, written at the top The Prophecies and Songs of Nayru in a neat and clear hand. It looked almost plain, many of the older books and scrolls in the library had fanciful calligraphy or ornaments drawn in the margins. But she found none within this text. Every letter was clear and precise with no frills or distractions.
Herein lies the sayings of Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom may my words guide thee children of the Three through thy struggles.
She found it. The words of one of the Golden Three. Written before she departed the world with her sisters. Zelda's hands trembled as she read further.
"You took these from the tower," Impa said.
"That was the plan."
"And you climbed up the tower?"
Link nodded, before giving a confused look to Zelda.
"That's impossible," the Sheikah said. "I could maybe make that climb with hooks and the appropriate gear. But even then, it would be a risk."
"Then you must not be very good at climbing," the boy patted Impa on the elbow. "I could show you how to get better sometime."
Impa let loose a loud burst of air through her nose, then forced herself to smile. "That… would be… nice."
"I'm still not certain how this scroll is going to help us defeat Ganondorf," Link peered over Zelda's shoulder. "I tried reading some of it, but it didn't make a lick of sense."
"It's written in Old Hylian," Zelda muttered as she continued onward. She unrolled the scroll and scanned the beginning of each of the segments, hoping to quickly pick up something relevant. It took a few lengths of the scroll until she found something that sounded a little relevant.
Our last great gift, when gone my sisters are
This must be about the Triforce!
"I know," Link said. "The Great Deku Tree taught us Old Hylian, but even then it doesn't make much sense. It's like they're talking in riddles."
"Well next time I see a Goddess, I'll tell her you're not happy with her work," Zelda snapped. No one said anything for several seconds, Zelda looked up from the scroll to see the boy frowning at her and Impa had that disappointed look she was never any good at hiding.
"Sorry," Zelda said, "It's been a rough morning."
"Hmm," Link nodded, then he smiled and held out his hand. "Happens to the best of us."
His hand hung between them. Clearly, he meant for her to take hold of it. Like the servants and lower knights sometimes did with each other. But royalty does not shake hands with a commoner. They must be greater than them, magnanimous, reward them, grace them with the royal presence, but never lower themselves.
He gave her another confused look and then wiggled his hand a little.
But this wasn't just some random peasant. He was a Chosen of the Goddesses. Tentatively, Zelda reached out. The boy's hand enveloped hers. It was warm and calloused and a little sweaty. But his smile went even wider as he gave her a firm shake and let her hand go. It was not entirely unpleasant, which surprised Zelda more than a little.
"So, Princess," he emphasized the title with a glancing to Impa, "Zelda, what's next in your plan?"
"Here, listen to this.
Our last great gift within a Sacred Realm
By Time and Stones with count of three held shut
An Em'rald granted to the brave Old Root
Who taught the worthy warriors ne'er to run
A Sapphire gifted silent wisdom held
By he who guides his people through the tides
The last a Ruby clenched in power high
He hatched to rule o'er all beneath his perch
Pull forth the Sword of Evil's Bane
And set the world aright."
When she finished Link was frowning and shaking his head. "See that's the nonsense part. They could have just come and told us what to do. Though the sword sounds interesting."
"I think the sword is metaphorical," Zelda said. "The Triforce can clear away any evil there is, so there should be no reason to have an actual sword."
"Right. Metaphorical," Link muttered. "Obviously." Did he not know what metaphorical meant? Oh Goddesses give me strength.
"Break down what it's saying. Three stones to open the Door of Time, but I knew that already."
"What's a Door of Time?"
Zelda waved him away. "Questions after I finish working this out." The boy made a huff but spoke no further. "An Emerald, a Sapphire, and a Ruby. Silent wisdom and the tides. So that one is obvious, Lord Jabu-Jabu guides the Zora, and he is renowned for his wisdom."
She looked up at the others to see if they were adequately impressed with her for figuring out the prophecy so quick. No one moved or made any sign of congratulating her. I am wasted here. "So that leaves, the Old Root and Hatched to Rule. One's brave, the other's powerful. What's the most powerful thing in the realm?"
Link shrugged, "Ganondorf if what you said about him is true."
"Ganondorf wasn't hatched."
"Maybe he was, I wasn't there."
Zelda blinked at him. "Are you serious?"
He sighed. "Malon would have laughed at that."
"Who?"
"Never mind," Link looked disappointed. "It was just a joke. Maybe the most powerful thing is a Moblin? They're pretty big."
"No, but I think that's the right track. Something not human, something that won't live just one lifetime and can be trusted to guard something this important."
"Maybe some kind of magic bird?"
"A dragon," Impa said. "In ages past, the most dangerous creatures were dragons that flew along the mountains. So, both hatched and they would be perched high."
"I've heard of them," Link said. "Knights would fight them, right?"
Impa shrugged.
"Some tried," Zelda said. "But more often than not the dragons would devour any who challenged them."
Link's eyes went wide. At first Zelda thought it was out of fear. But the fearful do not grin. "So, where are there dragons?"
"There have not been dragons in Hyrule for hundreds of years," Zelda said.
"Well, then where were they?"
"The mountains to the north," Impa said. "Many collected rare ores and fought with the Gorons over territory."
"Then I guess we go there?" Link said. "And see if we can scrounge up where the Ruby was last seen."
"That just leaves the last one then," Zelda said. "The Emerald, given to the brave who taught other warriors to never run away. Then a bit about roots."
"Link?" the fairy called from within the ocarina.
"I know, I know." He stepped closer to Zelda before he crouched down toward Zelda's feet.
"What are you doing?"
"Excuse me, Princess. You're going to have to move."
She stepped back, and the boy scratched at the ground, pulling up great handfuls of dirt. It did not take long until he pulled something out of the ground with a wet pop, as the rest of the dirt tumbled into the new hole. He held up a filthy bag and overturned it into his hand.
Out rolled an Emerald larger than any she had seen before, with a vine of gold along the side, just as it appeared in the drawing.
"I think this is it," Link said. "But it doesn't really fit the prophecy that well. The Great Deku Tree never taught brave warriors." He held it out to Zelda but paused. "Though, he did have roots."
"You have the Emerald," she handed the scroll to Impa and took the stone. Magic radiated out from it and caused her fingers to tingle with the sense of it. Though less than she thought it would have, being a gift from the Golden Three. So slight, she had not even noticed it beneath the ground.
"That's why we came here," the fairy, Navi, she believed they said her name was. "We need to find someplace to keep it safe, somewhere the man in black armor cannot find."
There was something more with the stone. Two different magics seemed to be placed on it, perhaps even more? If she brought this to Rauru, into the Temple they could study it, analyze the nature of the divine. Figure out how the magic on it works.
"Do you know of such a place?" the fairy continued.
"What? Oh," Zelda looked away from the stone to the light gleaming within the ocarina. "Unfortunately, no. I would say it could be placed under protection in the palace, but Ganondorf has his run of the castle. There is also a Temple to the Three Goddesses near the market, but I would not risk putting this there, either."
"Why not?" Link asked.
"Because that is where the Door of Time the prophecy spoke of resides, and because Ganondorf knows of it too. It would be like bringing the Emerald right to him."
"And he knows where the other two are, right?" the boy said.
"Well, I figured this out in only a few moments, and Ganondorf is clever. Yes, I think it's safe to say that he knows where they are as well. He's been spending his time running around the kingdom, and if I had to guess the current war is his doing."
"Another war?" Link frowned. "I thought this was a time of peace."
"It is," Zelda said. How could she explain to him? "The Hylians and Gerudo are at peace, technically. But the monsters have spread on the outskirts of the kingdom."
"The Moblins," Link nodded, "I heard of them."
"Not just the Moblins," Impa said. "Lizalfos and Dodongo are attacking Death Mountain and Octorok raid the Zora Domain. Exactly where the Ruby and Sapphire are being held. Assuming the princess is correct."
"I am," Zelda said.
The boy thought for a moment then shrugged. "So, we go to try and get the last two stones? If Ganondorf knows where they are, then we have to go and move them."
"No," the fairy flew out of the instrument. "The whole point of coming here was to give them the Emerald and be done with it. Link, we're not going to some place called Death Mountain! Especially not when there's an army there."
"I don't have any place to store it," Zelda said. "There's nowhere we have that's safe. Not yet anyway, if we want to defeat him, we're going to have to use the stones for ourselves."
Link nodded, "Agreed. We can use them to open that door you were talking about. Get that sword, and then we end him."
That sealed it, he clearly didn't know what metaphorically meant.
"Let them do it," the fairy begged. "Link, this isn't about us anymore. Give them the stone and let's go. We've done everything that could be expected of us."
The boy frowned. Could they do this without him? It would just be herself and Impa, perhaps she could get Rauru to aid them now that she had the scroll. It did not really make sense that they'd need the boy much further. A skilled climber he may be, but that hardly seemed like it'd be such a useful trait to have when planning the safety of the realm.
But still, something about just taking the stones and sending Impa didn't feel right. She could not go herself, obviously, and if Impa disappeared her father would notice. That would leave Rauru and perhaps some of his students, but there were few of them and the thought of the old portly priests traveling roughly over the land did not seem plausible.
Of course, neither did resting all her hopes on this one boy and a fairy. Even if he looked like he was used to living out in the wild. The best choice would be to send a company of loyal knights, but that required her father's permission. For not the first time, Zelda thought on the benefits of when she came of age and ruled the realm without the need to explain things to her father. When she could just order people about and they have to obey her.
Which only made her think about her father again, and the way he looked at her before he left that morning.
"Unfortunately, Navi, was that your name?"
"Yes," snapped the fairy.
"Unfortunately, we do not have many options available. And of the ones I can think of, Link is the best course of action. If he travels fast he should be able to make it to the mountains before Ganondorf and his Gerudo."
"No," the fairy said again. "We are not going to a place called Death Mountain."
"It is not called that for the reasons you think," Impa said. "Centuries ago it was an active volcano. But it has not erupted in hundreds of years. My understanding is the Gorons have turned the mountain into a welcoming place, if not necessarily a comfortable one."
"See," Link said. "It'll be completely safe."
The fairy groaned. "Why do I even bother, it's not like you listen to me."
"That's not true," the boy protested. "I do listen, but some things need to be done. We're doing this for the Great Deku Tree."
"No," the fairy said. "You're doing this for the Great Deku Tree. I'm trying to keep you safe."
"The roads are safe," Zelda said. "I was at the war council, the Lizalfos have reached the high places in the mountain. You will never have to see them. I will write you a letter of introduction which should take you directly to Chief Darunia, and he will help you from there." She smiled to the fairy, trying to make her feel comfortable. "He is a great man, and a friend. When I was a child, he would dance with me while my father played…" She shook her head, now was not the time to think about that. "Show him my letter and he will give you the stone."
"Then it's decided," Link said. "I'm head to the mountain in the morning, and you figure out what else that prophecy thing says."
Zelda opened her mouth to rebuke the boy. There was exactly one person in the realm who could order her around. But she stopped, there was no malice in Link. No understanding of his lack of social graces and etiquette. It was hard to know what to make of him. "That is… a good plan, Link."
"Glad we're in agreement." The boy held out his hand again. She gave a quick look to Impa before she took it. Still warm and sweaty. But she found she did not want to let it go. Even as odd as the boy was, he was someone new. Someone she could trust who wasn't Impa. And she was just going to send him on his way.
"This will work," he said with a smile. "We'll get the stones, and then we'll get that sword, metaphorical or not."
Oh Hylia and the Three, I do not understand why you have chosen this boy. Please guide him.