Chapter 68 - A Clue From the North

Summary: In the Calamity Timeline, Astra and Fallon engage in combat training at the Sacred Grounds. Fallon considers proposing to Astra but wants to qualify for the Royal Guards first. Fallon's friend Torin is still starstruck over the Gerudo Vai he met named Farana. Something washes ashore at the North Akkala beach that may be of future importance.

In the heart of the Sacred Grounds, two figures battled as the orange hue of a sunset cast a warm golden glow over the land. The crack of wooden training swords hitting against sword or shield stood in stark contrast to the calm sounds of nature: the gentle chirping of birds as they prepared for nightfall and the soft hum of insects starting their nightly mating calls. Astra moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior as she sparred with Fallon. Despite clearly fatigued, Fallon refused to give up.

"Have you had enough, dear?" Astra asked. "I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"Try that lunge attack one more time," Fallon said between deep breaths. "I think I can improve on my defensive timing."

"Okay, are you ready?" Astra asked as she prepared to attack.

She faked left and lunged right, pleased to see Fallon successfully parrying her thrust.

"Well done!" Astra complimented him, and Fallon smiled in acknowledgment but was too winded to speak. "I think this is a good place to stop."

"I agree," gasped Fallon. "How would you rate my overall performance?"

"Well, your defensive technique isn't too bad," said Astra, her voice firm yet gentle. "Though you're not always as quick raising your shield as I would like."

She shook her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "But I'm glad we did this. I wanted to ensure you hadn't picked up any bad habits from sparring - or whatever you did - with those Gerudo Vai. And I decided to take it easy on you since your left arm is still slightly injured."

"Take it easy on me?" Fallon panted, sweat glistening on his forehead despite the cool weather as he still struggled to catch his breath. "I have never been so hard-pressed in all my life! Are you sure you aren't harboring some resentment over what happened with the Gerudo and are taking it out on me?"

Astra's bright blue eyes narrowed playfully as she chuckled. "Resentment? Oh, you mean if I thought you were unfaithful to me?"

She paused momentarily before continuing, her tone laced with a hint of humor.

"No need to worry, sweetheart. I trust you and what you told me about the Gerudo, though I don't trust them. But if it turned out you lied and did betray me…well, let's say you wouldn't be standing here in one piece right now."

"What?!" Fallon exclaimed, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Then he shook his head and smiled, realizing she was teasing him as her laughter echoed across the serene surroundings.

"You're fun to tease, and I'm only joking, dearest. But you're lucky I'm not a female Zora. They get jealous very easily. Deliberately cheat on one of them, and you could end up as fish bait."

"Really? I always thought of them as mild-mannered people. You know much about Zora's, then?" Fallon asked between deep breaths, still amazed Astra had hardly broken a sweat the whole time they sparred.

"More than you might think," laughed Astra. "Someday, perhaps I will explain."

"Anyway, trust me, sweetheart, nothing happened between me and any Gerudo Vai," Fallon reassured her earnestly as he finally recovered his composure. "I would never betray you. I love you. Very, very much. I'm touched you're jealous, but I want you to know I gave you no reason to be."

He leaned in closer, searching her eyes for any hint of doubt, hoping she truly believed him. She met his gaze with a cute smile, the same one that always made his heart skip a beat. At that moment, he knew he couldn't bear to lose her and wouldn't do anything to risk it. As Torin had teased, he truly was under her spell. Before another word could be spoken, they wrapped their arms around each other tightly as the sun dipped below the horizon. Under the twinkling stars, they shared several sweet kisses before Astra finally spoke up.

"I guess we should head back," she said reluctantly. "I know you have morning patrol duty tomorrow."

"Yes," Fallon sighed as they ended their embrace, and he took her hand, wanting to feel her presence as well as see it. "No more days off until the weekend."

They began walking back toward Hyrule Castle while two Royal Guard soldiers trailed behind them at a respectful distance.

"Are you planning to resume your Royal Guard studies?" Astra asked as she caressed the back of his hand with her thumb, sending tingles up his arm.

"Yes, um, I try to get in some studying every evening before I sleep," said Fallon as he moaned slightly. "I want to pass the exam the next time it is offered in under one month."

"That would be great," said Astra, squeezing his hand. "Don't give up!"

Her smile filled him with encouragement as she spoke. When they arrived at the castle entrance, they shared several kisses, each lasting longer than the last. Before parting ways, Fallon spoke first.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," Astra breathed, her eyes shining a bright blue.

Then Astra entered the castle and headed to her room while Fallon turned toward the barracks.

As he entered the barracks, his mind remained filled with thoughts of Astra and the future he hoped to share with her. The atmosphere in the barracks was lively, filled with men chatting and joking after a long day's work. Fallon couldn't help but smile at their camaraderie but couldn't shake off his restlessness. He desperately wanted to pass the Royal Guards exam and prove himself worthy both to Astra and Queen Zelda before doing what he really wanted - to ask Astra to marry him.

"Hey, are you back early from your date?" said a familiar voice, and he turned to see Torin.

"Yes. You know we have morning patrol duty. And I want to get in some studying. What about you?"

"I said goodbye to Farana after an early dinner, but we're going to meet again over the weekend at the Kara Kara Bazaar," said Torin. "And she promised to give me a bottle of that special perfume for Her Highness."

"I wish she wouldn't," said Fallon, shaking his head. "It's just going to remind her of my time with the Gerudo, which bothers her. She is still pretty jealous about it."

"Jealous? That's a good sign she cares a lot about you," said Torin, giving him a pat on the back. "I guess you won't be accompanying me to the Kara Kara Bazaar this weekend for some private hand-to-hand combat lessons from your sparring partner, Zara, then?"

"Are you crazy, Torin?"

"I'm joking," laughed Torin. "You're too easy to tease."

"It's no laughing matter. I care a lot about her, Torin," said Fallon. "I'd rather she wasn't jealous since there was nothing to be jealous about. I want her to trust my feelings for her so much she'll be willing to …. Anyway, I need to shower and then study. The Royal Guard exam is coming up soon."

Fallon headed to the showers, then returned alone by his bunk and private locker. He unlocked the locker and retrieved a small wooden box he had carried with him since he was twelve years old, just after his parents were killed in a thunderstorm. Inside rested a diamond ring that had belonged to his mother.

He remembered the day of her and his father's funeral, although not the location of their grave. In those days, Hyrule had far too many graves - some old ones from the Calamity and other newer ones from the long Age of Burning Fields that followed. Finding their grave would be nearly impossible now. But it was at the gravesite of his parents after the brief service had ended, that a Hyrule soldier pulled him aside before he was taken to the orphanage.

"Take this, lad, and keep it safe," said the soldier, quietly slipping something small into Fallon's hand. "Your parents were buried wearing wedding rings, but your mother also had this diamond engagement ring. It seemed a shame to leave it behind; someone might even try to steal it from their grave. Keep it as a memory of your parents. Perhaps someday you can give it to someone you love or have it put into a new setting. If things get tough, you can always sell it."

Fallon thanked the soldier, remembering his mother had once told him the ring was a family heirloom from his father's side. He had held onto the ring in this wooden box ever since and opened it now to examine it. It was a delicate golden ring with a modest-sized diamond, as his family was never wealthy. It was certainly not a diamond fit for a princess! But he knew Astra wouldn't expect anything extravagant from him. He dreamed of offering it to her and hoped she would accept it when he did.

He thought back to their recent conversation - how her eyes had sparkled when she said she trusted him and how her laughter had filled the air when she playfully threatened him. He could almost hear it echoing in his mind. With a heavy sigh, he closed the box and set it aside. It was time to focus on studying for the Royal Guard exam before sleep.

Meanwhile, Astra returned to her room, undressed, freshened up, and changed into her nightgown. Then she opened her bedroom window and looked out across the castle grounds. The winter air bore a slight chill, as there were still six weeks until spring. Luckily, the castle attendants had lit a fire in her room earlier to keep it cozy. As she gazed at the clear sky, she could see countless stars twinkling above, stars she used to make a wish on when she was little.

Then she remembered that today was her sister's birthday and thought about what it would be like to be with her again.

"Hope you had a happy birthday today, Zel," said Astra. "I'm pretty sure you did, surrounded by such a loving family to spend it with. I think of you often, Sis, even more now since I'm filling your role here as reigning princess. I have even thought about what present to give you, but I won't tell you because it's a secret. See? I can keep a secret when I want to, like when I saw you and Randall kissing. Remember? It was cute seeing you blush, though, so worried I would tell. Anyway, goodnight, dear sister."

As she closed the window, a voice filled her thoughts.

"Does speaking to someone who cannot hear you serve some purpose, Mistress?"

"I like to imagine my sister can hear me in a way, Fi, that she knows I think of her," said Astra. "But perhaps the purpose is to keep her alive in my heart. I miss her and all the rest of my family. I wish I could see them again someday."

"According to my data, you speak much more often than my past masters."

Astra chuckled as she made her way to bed.

"Ah, well, are not the old legends true that the hero of Hyrule always tended to be the strong, silent type, especially after being chosen to wield you? And were not all the past heroes male? I'm neither of those things, Fi. So, be glad you can fill your data now with more of a female perspective. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mistress. May your thoughts be … I mean sweet dreams."

"See? There is hope for you yet. You're learning our idioms," chuckled Astra as she lay down, pulled the blanket over her, and was soon asleep.

Meanwhile, things far to the northeast were far from calm. The horizon was dark and ominous, a powerful storm brewing over the Akkala Sea, ready to make its landfall tonight. At the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, Jerrin and her son Granté worked diligently after dinner, preparing for the approaching tempest.

"Is the door and all the windows secure, Granté? And did you lock the windmill?" asked Jerrin, her voice rising above the growing winds that began to howl around them. Aside from the wind, they could also hear the periodic crashing of huge waves against the shore below.

"Yes, Mother. I double-checked them all," replied Granté confidently.

"That's good. You can never be too careful," said Jerrin, her thoughts drifting to a memory of her late husband Robbie. "Did I ever tell you about when your father forgot to close a window during a terrible storm? It took us a week to assemble and put all his research papers in order. You were off traveling at that time."

"Yes, Mother. You've mentioned it every time we have a bad storm," chuckled Granté as he poured hot water into two teacups. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Yes, thank you. A steaming cup of tea would be wonderful," said Jerrin gratefully.

As Granté prepared the tea, the sound of gale-force winds shook the walls of the old lighthouse, adding to the sense of impending chaos outside. Neither slept well until the storm abated sometime after midnight.

It was just after lunch the following day at the nearby East Akkala Stable that twelve-year-old Hanlon hurried to finish feeding the horses and tidy up after the previous night's storm. His parents owned East Akkala Stable, and he often helped out in his free time. Today, his mother was managing the stable desk while his father embarked on a trip to Tarrey Town to retrieve a horse that a customer couldn't return last night due to the storm.

"I'm done with chores, Mom," said Hanlon. "Mind if I go check the beach?"

Hanlon liked beach combing, especially after a storm when many items were washed ashore. He collected shells and was always looking for new ones.

"Alright, dear, but don't go swimming. The current can be strong and unpredictable after a heavy storm. And take a basket to collect some crabs for dinner. Your father will appreciate that."

"Sure thing, Mom," said Hanlon as he took one of the covered wicker baskets, gave his mother a goodbye kiss, then headed east and carefully made his way down the cliffside to North Akkala Beach.

In contrast to the large waves during the storm's violence, the sea's surface was calm and reflective now, the water a beautiful, clear turquoise color that transitioned to a deeper blue further out. Dark grey rock formations extended into the shallow water in places along the beach, their smooth surfaces worn down over time from the relentless motion of the waves. In the distance, the horizon was visible where the water met the sky, and several landforms and islands could be seen far out to sea.

As expected, the beach was awash with debris, including branches that had broken off trees and blown down from the cliffs above. Ironclaw Crabs were scouring the shore for food while trying to avoid becoming food themselves as Blue Winged Herons strutted along the beach on their long, spindly legs. Hanlon quickly gathered a dozen crabs as he wandered northward, carefully grabbing them so they didn't pinch his fingers and storing them in the basket. There were also some shells strewn along the shore and in the shallows, but so far, there were none he didn't already have in his collection.

He continued walking north along the shore, his eyes glued to the ground and the shallow water, stopping now and then to examine an object. Then, something white caught his eye, bobbing up and down in the water between three large rocks. He excitedly waded into the water to retrieve it, but it turned out to be nothing exciting after all. It was a single piece of paper that must be the top part of a page torn from a book and had washed up here from who knows where.

But as he held the page in his hand, he noticed something strange about the paper: it seemed to repel water and felt dry to the touch even right after picking it up. Moreover, the ink hadn't smeared a bit despite exposure to seawater. He stopped to read it.

I dedicate this book with love and gratitude to my dear family. My mother Mipha and father Link have showered me with love and encouragement from the earliest I can remember. I have never met two people more in love, and they are an inspiration to my siblings and me. My brother Midon helps me keep things in perspective with his teasing, and I love him dearly. My sister Lapha has been a sisterly companion and someone I could share my feelings in moments of need. And my Hylian brother Link has helped all of us learn to respect and enjoy our differences growing up, and is another example of how love between a Hylian and a Zora is not only possible but beautiful when it happens. I can never thank my dear family enough for the home they gave me and the happy memories I have growing up there. I love all of you so much!

The only name he recognized was Link, the legendary hero he had learned about in school and who had vanished from Hyrule more than ten years before he was born. But this must be a different Link, as two of them were mentioned.

Anyway, his parents might know more about it and find it interesting. They were both curious people and interested in learning about the world. He remembered his father telling him how much you can learn from people who visit the inn if you're friendly and take the time to speak with them. He folded the paper before stuffing it into his pocket and resumed hunting for shells.

It was late afternoon before Hanlon decided to call it a day and return home to the stable. He had traveled all the way to the northern tip of the shore just below the lab and back and had one new shell to show for his efforts: a colorful red and blue striped snail shell he had never seen before. By the time he returned to the stable, it was dinner time, and his father was back.

"I caught a good number of crabs," said Hanlon proudly.

"Great, and just in time, son!" said his father, giving him a hug. "Let me start getting a pot ready. I picked up some fresh vegetables from a Hateno Village merchant visiting Tarry Town so we can add them to the meal."

During dinner, Hanlon proudly showed his parents the new shell, which they both admired.

"I've never seen one like this," said his father as he turned it over in his hands. "Perhaps the species lives in deeper water, and the storm washed the empty shell ashore."

"Oh, and I also found this," Hanlon remembered, pulling out the paper and passing it to his father.

He and his mother both looked at it, and his mother spoke up first.

"This is clearly a dedication at the beginning of a book. The name of Link stands out, and, of course, everyone knows who the hero Link was. But it seems this must be a different person. I know some parents enjoy naming their children after famous people. And here it seems one Link even named his son after himself."

"Yes, and if I remember my history lessons, Mipha was the name of the Zora Champion who died in the Calamity about 128 years ago," said Hanlon's father. "I can remember I memorized the Calamity happened in the year 17 because I was seventeen when I started working."

"That's an interesting way to remember it," laughed Hanlon's mother. "I should ask if you remember our wedding date."

"Of course I do, sweetheart: it was the fifth day of the sixth month of the year 131," chuckled Hanlon's father. "But back to this page. The dedication seems to have been written by a Zora since the writer refers to their Hylian brother."

"It might be a work of fiction, part of a story," suggested Hanlon.

"That's very possible," Hanlon's father nodded in agreement.

"Maybe, dear, but there is something strange about it," said his mother, shaking her head. "You know I enjoy reading fiction during idle moments here at the stable, and I don't recall any author dedicating their book to fictitious characters from their story. They generally dedicate it to someone in their family or a good friend. This reads like it came from a textbook or history book."

"But if it's not fiction, sweetheart," said Hanlon's father, "Then we are supposed to believe a Hylian family named their child after Link, and a Zora family named their daughter after Mipha, and these two people met each other and married? That would be pretty amazing."

"Yes, I agree," nodded his mother. "It doesn't make sense either way. Did you notice the paper also feels strange? It's like it's made from a different material than what we're used to."

"Well, it's a curious find, and I have a feeling it came from the lab, blown down to the sea by the recent storm," suggested Hanlon's father. "We can return it to Granté when he stops by for supplies from the Hateno Village merchant who visits. Let's hang it on the bulletin board so we don't forget."

Meanwhile, at breakfast in the Hyrule Castle family dining room that morning, Astra's mother came straight to the point.

"Is Fallon doing well, recovering from his injury, dear?" asked Zelda as she poured a cup of tea for Astra.

"Thank you. Injury? Oh, yes, it's just a minor wound," said Astra, shaking her head. "I sparred with him last night, and he's fine. He's just a tad slow raising his shield sometimes. Oh, and thank you for the royal seal. It makes signing approvals on documents much easier."

"You're very welcome, dear, and I'm glad to hear Fallon is doing well," said Zelda with a gentle smile. She noticed how her daughter blushed slightly when talking about Fallon and was quick to change the subject. It looked like she was very much in love.