Ocarina of Time Chapter 9

 

Chapter 9
Zelda's Lullaby

Oww...

A sickening pain blossomed through Link's body. Dimly, he was aware of striking a stair and tumbling down several more, before his body finally came to a halt. Not that Link noticed, for the world had become an incoherent mess of noise and pain.

At first, he couldn't comprehend anything; he felt like he was floating, a leaf tossed upon a breeze. The world seemed too bright, and he couldn't open his eyes. Then he became aware of the blood pounding in his ears and two voices coming from far away. He could hear someone else too.

Navi...

He could feel someone firmly holding his shoulders. Another pair of hands gripped his ankles, and he had a vague realisation that he was being carried. What had even happened? Where was he? The cogs and gears of his mind seemed jammed, and no amount of effort would make them turn.

"Saria?" the word was a tiny moan that went unnoticed.

No... the girl didn't sound like Saria at all. Link recognised a boy's voice too. He wanted to open his eyes, but even the briefest squint made his head blaze with pain.

Too bright, he thought. Everything's too bright.

"What were you two doing?" the girl demanded. "How did he even get on the wall?"

"He climbed up a tree," Navi replied.

"Should we be carrying him like this?" the boy asked. "What if he's broken something?"

Irritation crept into the girl's voice. "Just help me get him on the grass before somebody finds us!"

"Or hears us," Navi muttered.

"Maybe we should have gotten Impa first." That was the boy again. "He's no street urchin from the look of him."

"Oh, just be quiet and help me!" the girl snapped, sounding wearied by the incessant chatter.

"Do you want me to go and find Impa?" Navi asked.

"Ewan knows where she is."

"What do you suppose those scars are from?" the younger boy asked, clearly not listening, "and why is he wearing a skirt? Is he a girl?"

Link would have been insulted if he were not so dazed.

"Be quiet," the girl snapped.

"I was only wondering," came the innocent reply.

"Okay. Stop here and put him down gently."

THUD!

Link moaned as he was unceremoniously dropped. He caught the scent of earth and grass, and a fleeting thought of home flashed through his mind.

"I said gently!" The girl sounded really cross now. "Honestly, you could have hurt him!"

"Is he going to be okay?"  Ewan asked, sounding afraid that he'd done Link some permanent harm.

"I have some stuff in my satchel that can help him. Give me your waterskin and go find Impa."

"But-"

"Go, Ewan!"

Couldn't she speak more quietly? Link thought, groaning softly. He heard footsteps receding into the distance, then felt the cold touch of a waterskin against his chapped lips.

He pried his eyelids open a crack until he was just able to make out the girl leaning over him.

"Drink this," she said. "It will make you feel better."

Link drank obediently, gulping down the cool liquid before it was abruptly taken away.

"I can't give you too much," the girl said gently. She brushed the hair away from his eyes, frowned, and pulled his hat off. "You're bleeding."

"It's not bad," Navi said. "Just a scalp wound. They usually look worse than they really are."

Link forced his eyelids fully open. He rose a hand to shield his vision, his eyes seemingly unaccustomed to the afternoon light. He saw the girl kneeling beside him, a small vial of liquid in one hand.

"Can you sit up for me?" she asked.

Link didn't answer. He was too busy thinking about how oddly dressed she was. She wore a pink robe, an ornate silver belt, and a fine pink apron with the emblem of Hyrule's Royal Family. Around her neck, she wore a necklace with a dazzling ruby as its centrepiece. The oddest thing about her, he thought, was the elaborate headdress with a medallion at its front. It was all a bit excessive, even for winter, and way too neat. She was also far too clean; her fingernails too well trimmed, and her skin oddly pale. She looked like a porcelain doll that was all dressed up for display, like the ones in the market. Had she even been outside before?

The girl's smile faltered.

Oops. Did I say that out loud?

"Of course I have," she answered, sounding more bemused by the question than annoyed.

Link scrambled upright, his body protesting at the effort.

"Hold still," the girl scolded him. "I still need to wash that cut on your head. If only I were any good at healing magic, this would be much simpler."

She grabbed a small towel from her satchel and wiped his injury. He flinched when she applied a salve that stung fiercely and smelt terrible.

"I said, hold still!"

Link grumbled a reply. The girl sat back on her heels and looked him over, examining her handiwork.

"I take care of injured animals when I find them," she said pleasantly, "and I tend to strays now and again. Not that I think you are a stray. Here-" she handed him the waterskin, but Link just shook his head, causing spots of light to swim and dance across his vision.

"Are you alright, Link?" Navi asked, flying beside him. "You're lucky you didn't break your neck."

"I'm fine," Link said, trying to get to his feet.

"You are not fine!" the girl snapped. "For goodness sake, sit down!"

As he tried to push himself to his feet, she grabbed his shoulders and planted his backside on the ground.

"That's better," she said.

Resigning himself to obeying the girl's commands, and too woozy to argue, Link looked around. He was sitting next to a stone path with bushes on either side of it. They were blooming with bright flowers of white, blue, and red.

That's odd for the middle of winter.

Elsewhere, Link could see fruit trees and lush grass of a vibrant green. It reminded him of the forest, only it was too tidy and far too tame. The roses and bushes were neatly pruned, and not a single leaf seemed out of place.

The stone path that cut in between the garden beds split in two, meandering around a fountain before it turned a corner and was obscured by the nearby wall.

"I'm in Hyrule Castle..." Link mumbled stupidly. He'd been too dazed to realise where he was. Now he recognised the tall stone spires rising above him.

Oh no, he thought. All his hopes of stealthily making his way through the castle were gone, dashed when he'd lingered too long on the wall. How was he going to get out of this one?

"This fell out of your bag." Link caught the girl's eyes on him. She was holding his satchel in one hand and the Kokiri Emerald in the other.

"Hey, give that back!" Link demanded, snatching the stone. He saw a brief flash of surprise in the girl's eyes.

"It's alright," she said, slightly taken aback. "I wasn't going to steal it."

Link thrust the stone back in his bag. Little did he realise that the girl was staring at him intently, as if realising something for the first time.

"You're the boy from the forest. Aren't you?" she asked. "Impa told me someone was bringing you here."

For a moment, Link was stunned. He stared at her and then asked cautiously, "How do you know?"

The girl went slightly pink in the cheeks.

"It's hard to explain," she said sheepishly. "I feel like I have seen you before, in a dream..." she paused and then chuckled quietly, "You probably think that's silly, don't you?"

"Not really," Link managed. The potion she'd given him must have started to work, because his head didn't feel as sore, and it was easier to think. "I have weird dreams too. They scare me sometimes."

"Really?" the girl looked intrigued.

Something stirred in his mind, and he realised he had also seen her in a dream.

The fairy lay dead, slumped against the toe of his boot as raindrops spattered her blackened body.

No... trying to block out the memory of what had happened afterwards, Link squeezed his eyes shut.

"Do you need something more for the pain?" the girl asked, concerned. She gently grabbed his shoulder, as though afraid he was about to topple over.

Link shook his head. He regarded her for a moment, thinking as quickly as his sore head would allow. The fact that they had both glimpsed each other in a dream was too much of a coincidence to ignore. She was important. He should have guessed that the moment he saw her, judging from her attire.

"What's your name?" he asked, meeting her suddenly bewildered gaze.

"How could you not know who I am?" the girl sounded scandalised.

Scowling, Link held back a litany of impolite retorts.

"Oh..." it was the girl's turn to frown and then she looked abashed. "How silly of me. Of course, you wouldn't know. I am Princess Zelda of House Nohansen."

Link exchanged a glance with Navi, who looked as surprised as he did. At least this meant he wouldn't have to find his way around the castle now.

"Well. This is not exactly the entrance I had in mind," Navi said. At that instant, something caught her attention, and she spun around. She gasped, "Oh no. We're in trouble."

Link heard it too- heavy footsteps marching quickly upon the stone. He stuffed his hat back on and staggered upright, with Zelda's help.

Link's heart sank. A group of fifteen guardsmen marched purposefully along the path towards him. Donned in their blue and red uniforms, with the Hyrule Royal Family Crest emblazoned on their chestplates, they made a formidable sight. At another time and place, Link might have been awestruck. These men were real soldiers. Knights! Not figures from a story. There was just one problem: they were headed right for him, and they did not look happy.

"Umm... Navi?" he squeaked.

Link considered running, but dismissed the idea quickly. The guards could outrun him, and he didn't even know where to go.

"Ewan!" Zelda hissed. She didn't look remotely frightened, marginally concerned maybe... but not terrified.

"Something tells me he did not go straight to Impa," Navi whispered.

"He probably ran until one of the guards stopped to see what the matter was," Zelda said quietly. "Just stay still, keep quiet, and let me do the talking."

The guards quickly surrounded the pair. Navi squeaked as some of the guards raised their bows and took aim, ready to draw and loose at a moment's notice. The meaning was clear: one wrong move, and this will go straight through you.

One of these archers had an arrow levelled at Link's chest from less than a few feet away. Link tensed, as though convinced that alone could stop the arrow's path.

"Princess Zelda, my Lady, come away from him at once!" one man bade her urgently.

Zelda didn't obey. Instead, as the guards took aim, she quickly jumped in front of Link. She drew herself up, arms outstretched, staring at the guard's leader with a look of outrage. At another time, Link might have been impressed as the girl glared up at the fully geared swordsman who'd spoken. He was a broad-shouldered man with a golden knot across his breastplate and a red plume atop his helmet.

"Captain Dragayne," Zelda hollered bravely, her eyes bright with defiance. "What do you think you are doing? This boy is a guest of House Nohansen and therefore under my protection." She stared at the soldiers, who returned her gaze with a mixture of amazement and annoyance. "I demand you stay your weapons at once! If my father hears about this, he will have you thrown in the dungeons or mucking out the stables for a week."

Some of the archers lowered their bows and relaxed. There was even a short snort of laughter from two men, who stopped when their commander's eyes fell on them. Several other soldiers, who were standing behind Link, were neither so easily deterred nor amused. Captain Dragayne did not look remotely impressed.

"Ewan reported an intruder in the yard and said he was armed," he said gruffly.

"More likely you coaxed it out of him, sir," Zelda remarked.

"The boy will not be harmed," Dragayne said wearily. "Now, please step aside, young lady, so I can take him into custody. That sword was probably stolen, and I mean to find out if he is a thief or not."

"We are not thieves!" Navi yelled shrilly. She flew up to the guard's face, drawing murmurs of surprise from the gathered soldiers. "My friend was dared into climbing a tree over the wall, and he fell."

If Zelda noticed the lie, she gave no sign of it.

"I will find out the truth soon enough, miss," Captain Dragayne said evenly, not sounding remarkably surprised for someone who'd nearly been smacked in the face by a fairy. His attention returned to Zelda. "Now, step aside at once, and let's be done with this nonsense."

"I will not," Zelda replied, her face red with fury. "As princess of Hyrule, I order you to withdraw. I will see that my guest does not cause any trouble."

"Princess, he could be an assassin, for all we know," Dragayne reasoned. "Children don't normally carry Goron-forged-"

"An assassin?" Zelda spat. "He is only a boy!"

"Now, young lady," Dragayne said briskly, the patience draining rapidly from his voice. "We can always drag you, and the boy, to your father. I doubt he will find this-"

"What's this?"

A slow, cold voice drifted across the yard. A man dressed in black armour, a cloak rippling behind him, strode toward the circle of archers. Link's insides turned to ice as he beheld the man who had haunted his dreams. The Desert Man.

It's him, Link thought, fighting against every instinct that told him to run. Oh no. It's actually him.

Captain Dragayne swore under his breath and turned to face the newcomer.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, forgetting his earlier attempt to remain calm in front of Zelda.

The Gerudo's cold eyes looked as though they could have frozen the officer to the spot, but they didn't remain on him for long.

As Ganondorf's gaze fell on her, Zelda shifted uncomfortably, and her furious gaze seemed to melt. Then the man's eyes met Link's with such an intensity that Link could neither blink nor breathe. The man smirked and then turned away, disregarding him. Dizzied, Link let out a tense breath, his head swimming. He almost swayed, but then Zelda quietly stepped beside him, grabbing his wrist. The small comfort was enough to stop him from toppling over.

"Tell me, Lord Dragayne, are you and your men so incompetent that it takes fifteen royal guardsmen to deal with a child?" Ganondorf all but guffawed."How utterly tragic. I'd hate to see how well you'd cope with something a little more... dangerous."

That almost sounded like a threat, Link thought. If the guards noticed, they gave no sign of it.

"Either state your business or be off, Lord Dragmire," Dragayne growled. "This is not your concern."

"On the contrary, Captain Dragayne, anything that threatens the security of this castle is my concern." Ganondorf's voice had grown dangerous. "The young Prince Ewan came by looking for Impa. He told me an armed child had appeared on the wall. Perhaps you will allow me to take care of the boy. Surely this is not a task befitting a man of your station?"

"What did you do to Ewan?" Zelda demanded.

Link wondered just how many people in the castle Ewan had told on his way to find Impa, whoever she was.

"Your accusation disappoints me; I did nothing to the prince," Ganondorf replied in mock horror, one hand going to his chest in feigned sincerity. The gesture made Link flinch. "Now, Captain Dragayne, allow me to relieve you of this trivial concern."

Link's stomach twisted itself into knots. He was going to be sick. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and try as he might, he couldn't get enough air into his lungs.

This can't be happening, Link thought. Zelda's grip on his arm was now so tight, it was starting to hurt.

"I decide what to do with intruders, Dragmire," Dragayne's voice was dangerously quiet. Link got the impression this was not the first time the two had come to a disagreement, "and last time I checked, you have no authority here."

Ganondorf's cool composure turned to icy fury at that, and the two stared at each other. The tension was palpable, like standing on cracks upon a frozen lake. To Link, it seemed like an eternity before anything happened. The guards shifted uneasily. Some of them glanced at each other, no doubt wondering if they should intervene. One guard bravely stepped forward to do just that, clearing his throat. Then-

"What in the name of the Goddesses is going on here?"

A new voice rang out across the courtyard.

"Finally," Zelda breathed in relief. She relaxed her grip on Link's now numb arm. "That's Impa," she whispered. "Don't worry. She'll sort this out."

Impa stood a head taller than either the captain of the guard or Ganondorf. If Dragayne looked furious, it was nothing compared to the fire burning in the woman's crimson eyes.

She's the other woman from my dream, Link thought, trying to swallow and finding he couldn't; his mouth was too dry.

A boy in a red coat and black breeches was trailing behind the tall Sheikah. Zelda fixed him with an icy stare, making Link quite certain this was her brother. Ewan smiled sheepishly in return and mouthed, "I'm sorry!"

When the boy spotted Ganondorf, he made a terrified squeak and hid behind Impa.

Impa scowled at Ganondorf. Then she froze on the spot, her eyes moving from Link to Zelda, back again, and then finally to the guards. "Are you men dogs or cowards that you would draw your weapons upon two children, including the king's daughter!"

None of the guards looked very comfortable with that particular accusation.

"Forgive me, Lady Impa. This boy carries a Goron forged blade," Captain Dragayne explained, almost stammering under her glare. "We thought he might be an assassin. I intended to have him searched and arrested. We intended no harm."

"Truly?" she asked, cocking one eyebrow as she took in the sight of their weapons. "I'm glad." She turned to stare at Ganondorf, seeming almost surprised to see him. "Your presence is not required here, Lord Dragmire."

It was a clear dismissal.  Ganondorf sneered and turned with a swish of his cloak. As he did, the very air seemed to sigh with relief.

"I am sorry Ewan disturbed you, captain," Impa said calmly to Dragayne. "You may go. Take your men with you. I will escort the boy out the gate once I have finished with him."

Finished with me? What does she mean by that? The icy chill of fear Link had felt did not subside completely. Is she going to punish me?

"As you wish, My Lady." Dragayne signalled to his men. They turned wordlessly and followed him up the path and out of sight.

Navi let out a sigh of relief. So did Zelda.

"That was close," Navi said, echoing Link's thoughts.

"You are fortunate I came when I did, Link of the Kokiri," said Impa, sounding far calmer than she had a moment ago.

Link was still too stunned at the near miss to speak, and his heart felt like it was beating faster than a honeyeater's wings. Impa regarded his flushed face for a moment before turning around to Ewan. With a quick word, she shooed the boy off.

"Should we find somewhere private?" Zelda asked, glancing worriedly at their surroundings.

"This will do for now," Impa told her. "I will know if anyone disturbs us, and I will find a way to explain why you are late for your lessons yet again... Are you alright, boy?"

Still dazed, Link almost jumped when she addressed him by name. "I... I'm fine." Then he added in an equally bewildered voice, "How do you know my name?"

"A woman by the name of Ciara told me. I was to accompany her to meet you, but it would seem events did not go as planned," Impa said, tilting her head solemnly.

"We heard," Navi said, her voice sympathetic. "I take it you knew her well?"

"I did," Impa replied.

"I'm sorry."

"As am I, but now is not the time to grieve," Impa turned her gaze to Link. "I trust you still have the Kokiri Emerald on you?"

Nodding, Link removed the emerald from his bag and gazed at it, holding it tightly in his hand, feeling reluctant to part with its comforting warmth.

"Don't worry, you can trust Impa," Zelda said.

Reluctantly, Link nodded and then gave the woman the stone.

"The Kokiri Emerald," Impa whispered, taking the stone from Link and glancing from the gem to him with a pitying look. "Can you tell me what happened to the Great Deku Tree? Or would you rather Navi explain?"

Link told her what happened, with Navi's help, of how they'd discovered the infestation beneath the ancient guardian, and the fight with the gohma.

Navi concluded with, "My going theory is Ganondorf created a small rift beneath the Great Deku Tree, allowing the gohma to invade. The queen, I think, was controlling the vines and using them to capture prey. I'm not sure if the Gohma queen was keeping the portal open, but the portal collapsed when the Gohma died. One thing I am certain of though- Ganondorf meant to release the Gohma on Hyrule once they decimated the forest."

Impa pondered this, her expression thoughtful. "That is troubling," she mused. "Gohma do not normally grow to a size such as you describe. My people have encountered them, far from here, and they were nothing more than a pest. This behaviour is not typical of them, unless the gohma queen was indeed possessed or corrupted by malevolent powers." She paused for an instant, still considering something, and then her eyes met Link's.

"That was my guess," Link said solemnly, "But we stopped them."

"You did well," Impa said appraisingly, "and I wish the outcome had been different. Fate is a cruel mistress to bring such misfortune on a child. I had hoped it would be some time before we met, but already from what you say, and from what has so far transpired, the threads of time weave around you."

Impa's words were confusing and far from comforting.

"W-what do you mean?" Link asked, frowning at her.

For a fleeting moment, Link thought Impa looked troubled. "This will take time to explain, and I fear your education has been cut rather short."

"My... what?" Link asked blankly.

"When the guardian to whom the Kokiri Emerald was entrusted died, a series of events was set in motion," Impa explained patiently. "Six weeks ago, I learned that you carried the emerald, for Ciara sensed its power. Recognising it, she immediately came to inform me."

"You have known about us that long?" Navi asked, sounding angry. "Why didn't you seek us out then?"

"It was my wish to keep both of you out of danger and protect the stone for a little longer." Impa's calm answer betrayed no reaction to Navi's outcry. "The Lon's agreed to keep you safe and asked for my people's protection, but after the raid, I knew we were out of time. Ciara moved you to an inn, where we could keep a closer eye on you. The owner of the Silver Mare is a friend of the Sheikah and so are his staff."

Link was utterly lost. What did she mean by 'out of time?'

Zelda seemed to realise he was having trouble digesting all of this. "Do you remember how I said I'd seen you in a dream?"

"Yeah," Link said slowly.

"For the last few months, I have had the same dream every night. In the dream, Hyrule is blanketed with thick storm clouds that cast the land into darkness. I am standing in a forest when a black mist starts seeping through the trees like smoke and smothers everything. Then a bright green light pierces the night sky, and the dark mist disappears. When I look to see what caused the great plume of light, I see you and your fairy."

"Me?" Link asked, totally perplexed. "How'd you know it was me?"

"When these dreams began, Zelda was able to sketch some of what she saw. She did so quite well, I might add," Impa said when Zelda concluded her tale. There was a hint of pride in her voice, and Zelda's ears went a slight shade of pink. "The boy in that dream was indeed you."

"What's so special about this dream?" Link asked. "Everyone has bad dreams-" he faltered, not believing his own words.

"The dream is a premonition," Impa explained.

"What?" Link was really baffled now. "What's a premaniton?"

"Premonition," Navi corrected, before quickly explaining what the word meant.

"Thank you, Navi," Impa nodded gratefully before asking, "Tell me, Link. Do you know about the Sacred Realm?"

Finally, this was something he understood. "The Great Deku Tree taught me. He said it's a realm guarded by three stones and-"

"That will do." Impa tried to cut him off, but failed.

"There's a fourth object, a..." Link racked his brains, trying to remember what it was. He came up empty.

Impa looked impressed regardless, and Link felt a rush of satisfaction.

"I didn't think you'd know," she murmured. "You are correct. There is a fourth object, one kept by the Royal Family... though few remember its true purpose."

As Impa spoke, Zelda reached into her pocket and withdrew a polished deep blue ocarina. A gold ring encircled its mouthpiece and there, etched into the small ring, was the Triforce emblem.

"The Ocarina of Time," Zelda said, holding the instrument out in her hand. "It contains fragments of artifacts known as time stones. They were used by the oldest Sheikah clans, before their empire was stricken by a disaster of their own making. Together with the three stones, the ocarina opens the door to the Sacred Realm- the resting place of the Triforce."

Link could just make out his reflection upon the ocarina's smooth surface, and then Zelda placed it back in her pocket.

Impa cleared her throat. "In the last few days, Ganondorf has visited both the tribes who keep the other two Spiritual Stones, demanding they hand over the gems. They refused him, but that will not stop him. We know Ganondorf is trying to get into the Sacred Realm, but given what happened to you on the ranch, it would appear he is growing impatient."

"What happens if he gets into the Sacred Realm?" Link asked.

"He will find the Triforce," Impa answered. "Do you know what happens when one touches it?"

"They can wish for anything they want."

Impa chuckled. "More or less. Ganondorf somehow happened upon a dark spirit in the form of a mask. It was sealed away by one of the Sheikah clans. If this demon enters the Sacred Realm, it will use Ganondorf to gain the power of the Triforce and decimate both our realms. I take it you are not familiar with the legends of Demise or the Interlopers?"

Link shook his head. He didn't have the faintest idea what those names meant. Impa explained it to him patiently. "Those legends speak of a demon that tried to destroy Hyrule, extending its powers far beyond our borders. That will happen again unless we prevent Ganondorf from reaching the Sacred Realm."

"So, this demon you mentioned?" Navi chimed in. "You are saying it wants to finish what it started?"

"Exactly," Impa replied. "The Triforce is the only thing that can stop it. Permanently."

"How was it stopped last time?" Navi asked.

"As I said, it was sealed in a mask and entombed."

"The Skull Mask?" Navi whispered.

"You know of it?" The sudden sharpness in the Sheikah's tone took Link by surprise.

"It... I saw him curse the Great Deku Tree," Navi stammered, likewise uncomfortable with the scrutiny. "He had a mask that made him invisible, and it looked like a skull."

Impa's face grew dark. "I suspected as much. Though I was not able to confirm it until one of the Gerudo told me. If Ganondorf has that mask, and is already after the other two stones, we must move quickly, before he takes them by force."

"We have to tell the king," Navi exclaimed. "If Ganondorf is planning to-"

She stopped watching as Zelda lowered her eyes sadly and mumbled, "I already tried. Impa too."

"I have already told you why he cannot," Impa said reproachfully, though her tone was gentle. "I cannot allow anyone to know of your dreams. Almost everyone believes that only Sheikah possess your gift. If people thought  you were part Sheikah, it would cause much harm to your family."

"I still don't understand why." Zelda sounded glum.

"Have you tried to stop Ganondorf?" Navi interrupted, apparently lost in her own thoughts, having taken no notice of the brief exchange.

Impa grimaced, and a shadow passed fleetingly over her face. "It is not that simple. Not without enraging Ganondorf's people and I doubt the demon will allow us to harm his host so easily."

"How do we stop him, then?" Link asked.

"There is one other object that protects the gateway to the Sacred Realm. A sword seated in a pedestal within the Temple of Time. It's called the Master Sword or the Blade of Evil's Bane. You can only gain access to it by placing all three spiritual stones on the altar in front of the Door of Time. The stones contain a fragment of the souls of the First Sages..."

Spiritual Stones, Ocarina of Time, Master Sword, Door of Time, First Sages.

Link wished Impa would slow down; his head was beginning to hurt and not just because of his fall. He hoped Navi was making more sense of this than he was.

"Are you listening?" Impa's voice was brisk. "This is important."

"Yes," Link said quickly. Impa didn't look entirely convinced.

Navi came to his rescue. "I'll fill him in if need be."

"Thank you, Navi," Impa said. Her eyes were almost boring holes in Link's tunic. "As I was saying, the door will open when you play the Song of Time on the ocarina Zelda showed you, but..." here Impa paused, as if considering her next words. Just briefly, she seemed to hesitate before adding, "There is only one person who can wield the Master Sword."

"Who?" Link asked. Everybody looked at him with a measure of remorse.

Oh.

Link knew there had to be a reason Ganondorf wanted the Kokiri Emerald so badly. He had hoped to see the end of it when he gave Zelda the stone. Even though the Goddess Farore had called him the Hero Reborn, he hadn't believed her. Not really. He still didn't want to believe it.

He shook his head, and a faint sliver of panic went through him.

"Me?"

"Yes, Link. You are the Hero Reborn." Impa sounded remorseful.

"But... I..." Link stammered, feeling an urge to yell at Impa and Zelda. He wanted them to be wrong. He wasn't a hero. He was just a Kokiri, and all he wanted was for things to go back to the way they had been. To sit beneath the leafy bowers of the forest, blissfully unaware of the woes of the world beyond the woods. "I'm not a hero... I'm just a Kokiri."

A fleeting look of pain passed across Impa's face.

"I am sorry, Link," Impa said soothingly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "If Ganondorf even suspects who you are, you will be putting your home in grave danger. My people cannot enter the forest for long before they succumb to its magic, and there are not enough of us to protect an area as large as the Lost Woods."

Link fought back the lump rising in his throat, "You... you mean, I can't go home? I can't see Saria... or the others?"

Impa shook her head. "No, Link. You cannot."

Link fell silent, preferring to stare at his boots rather than at Zelda or Impa.

It's not fair! he thought.

"Link?" Navi asked, sounding just as unhappy as he felt.

"It's not fair," Link repeated aloud.

"I know," Impa said kindly. "It is even crueller that such a destiny should be placed on one so young. I had hoped to delay this until you were ready or find another way to stop Ganondorf."

Feeling Impa's eyes on him, Link looked up. There was sympathy in the Sheikah's eyes, and in Zelda's too. It made him uncomfortable.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked quietly, with as much determination as he could muster.

"You must get the other two stones," Zelda answered. "Bring them to Impa and then we can use the Triforce before anything terrible can happen."

"Can you help me do it?" Link asked Impa.

"I cannot come with you. Ganondorf has spread a web of lies in the Royal Court, enough to make them distrustful of me. Such a position is... precarious to say the least, and his spies are watching me outside these walls. If Ganondorf suspected I was up to something, he would have me arrested."

Link didn't grasp the gravity of this. He wasn't even sure what the Royal Court was.

"But..." Link almost stammered. "I don't even know where the other stones are." His head was really swimming now. He must have hit his head on the stairs harder than he'd thought.

"One of the stones is being kept by the Goron tribe led by Darunia, the other by the river folk, the Zora," Impa explained. "If you go in my stead, they will accept you. I will make sure you are well provisioned for the journey."

The Zora? Link remembered the Zora he'd snagged while fishing the other day. So lost by what Zelda and Impa were saying, he didn't find the memory so amusing now.

"Darunia's clan is closest, so you should start there. He lives on Death Mountain." Impa continued. "The quickest way there is through my old hometown- Kakariko."

"I know where that is," Link brightened a little at the familiar name. That wasn't to last when he realised where they were sending him.

Death Mountain? The volcano by Kakariko? He'd thought Malon was joking when she called it that; it didn't sound friendly. Nor did it sound like the kind of place he'd find brooks bubbling beneath a canopy of trees with birds chirping among the branches.

"Before we leave, I will teach you a song that will identify you as my messenger. Do you have an instrument to play on or can you whistle?"

"I have an ocarina," Link began, before mumbling, "but I'm not that good at it yet."

At Navi's encouragement, he took out his ocarina, and Impa whistled a short and solemn tune. It didn't have the same energetic vibe as Saria's music. It sounded more like a song of longing, a melody that farewelled the bygone day. The first time Link tried repeating the song, it sounded more like the screech of an angry cat rather than the soothing melody of a lullaby. He blushed, feeling flustered, butterflies doing laps in his stomach. Some of the Kokiri used to make fun of him for such things whenever Saria wasn't looking, and an irrational part of him expected this torment.

"It may take a few goes," Impa said patiently. "I would have been surprised if you could play it straight away. Neither I nor the princess will think less of you if you make a mistake... here-"

Impa adjusted his hold on the ocarina and showed him where to place his fingers. Then she played the tune again.

Link followed her lead, feeling a rush of heat as he tried and missed a note. He breathed out, shook off a concerned comment from Navi, and tried again. This time, playing slowly, he got it.

"What's it called?" he asked, lowering the ocarina.

"Zelda's Lullaby," said Impa. Impa paused, frowning.

"What is it?" Link asked, feeling a small spark of alarm.

"A moment," Impa said calmly. She stared towards the corner of a nearby wall, a flicker of amusement crossed her face.

"Prince Ewan," she called. "What have I told you about snooping?"

A small face peered around the nearest wall. Ewan. He looked utterly astonished that he'd been caught. Zelda looked furious.

"Off with you now," Impa told him. "Don't let me catch you doing that again or I will find something to keep you occupied, and rest assured, you won't like it."

The boy scampered off, vanishing faster than he'd appeared.

"How much did he hear?" Zelda asked, sounding worried.

Impa shook her head. "Aside from someone learning to play the ocarina, he didn't hear anything."

Link blushed, but then as he stared after the prince, he thought of something. "Ewan's your brother, isn't he? You never mentioned whether your mother could help us."

Link knew he'd said something wrong as Zelda looked away, her eyes downcast.

"What is it?" he asked, sensing he'd broached a subject she didn't want to talk about.

"My mother died a long time ago," Zelda said softly.

Link's mouth fell open in dismay. "Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't know."

Zelda shook her head and smiled sadly. "It was a long time ago. I was very young, so I don't remember her all that well. Ewan is my half brother-" Link had no idea what this meant and just nodded- "His mother is Queen Lilias Aitken. Even if she would help us, she is in no condition to do so now."

"Why?"

"She has taken ill," Impa explained. "I fear that should the worst come to pass, the king will be too distracted by grief to do anything."

"Except drink," Zelda said bitterly. "He always drinks now."

"This is no time for wallowing in such worries, princess," Impa replied sternly. Zelda wilted with embarrassment.

"Of course. I am sorry, Link, I forget myself." Zelda brushed her dress and looked up at him. "Go find the stones. Hurry, before Ganondorf has a chance to realise you've taken them. Once you retrieve them, I don't think he'll be pleased."

"I'll get them," Link promised.

"That will mean not ogling at every sweet stall we pass," Navi said with a half-hearted smile. Zelda actually laughed.

"That would be wise," Impa said without inflection. "Now. I shall escort you back to your inn. This time, I suggest you stay there, and I will collect you in the morning," Impa's voice was firm, her eyes stern and piercing. Link swallowed, trying to look innocent.

How's that possible? he wondered. It hadn't been that long since his escape had it?

He didn't get a chance to find an answer. At that moment, Impa stepped behind him and cleared her throat. "Forgive me, Link, but If I do not make it look like you are in serious trouble, the guards will get suspicious."

'What... Wait!" Link panicked, wondering just what she had in mind.

With no further warning, Impa grabbed him hard by the arm. It wasn't enough to injure him, not like when the Gerudo had seized him, but it still hurt.

"Miss Impa," he exclaimed, feeling a stab of fear. "What are you doing?"

"Just play along," she answered, her voice hushed, "keep quiet, unless I speak to you, and do exactly as I say."

Impa dragged him so that he stumbled over his feet. Link looked up, noticing her furious expression. He guessed it was feigned, since Zelda was chuckling quietly, but even then, it still unsettled him. He shot a burning glare back at her, but the princess just waved.

"To your lessons, Zelda!" Impa called loudly, earning a sulky look from the princess. "Tell Mistress Elara you were with me and don't give me that look!"

She nudged Link forward, taking more care now to make sure he didn't trip over.

"You there, Navi," Impa said as they approached the main thoroughfare between the castle entrance and the gate, "Try to make yourself scarce."

Navi muttered something and flew into Link's pocket before the guards could spot her. They came to the edge of the gardens and strode out onto the broad avenue that formed the castle's forecourt. Impa stopped only for a moment. Link was glad because his hand was going numb. Instead of letting him go, and before he could admire this part of the grounds, Impa pinned his arms behind his back and put his head down.

"Oww."

"Quiet," Impa whispered sharply.

She frog-marched him toward the gate.

"Ouch..." Link protested again. "Oww... oww..."

Link's arm burned with pain as Impa twisted it. He hoped it was by accident.

This is so humiliating.

Then, Impa paused, and Link dared a look up. Impa was staring at one of the closest guards, his armour similar to Dragayne's, except that he had a blue sash instead of red. "Lieutenant Mills?"

"Yes?"

"Do you recognise this boy?" she asked, a hint of anger in her voice.

The man frowned, staring at Link. "No, my lady."

"Would you care to tell me, how is it that a child managed to sneak into the castle grounds unnoticed on your watch?"

The man blushed, and under different circumstances, Link might have felt sorry for him.

"I... uhh... how did he even manage to get in?" the guard asked, stumbling over the words.

"He climbed onto a section of the wall that had been left unguarded." Impa definitely sounded angry. "It now appears that I have been delegated to round up children!"

Several other guards crowded around, some looking embarrassed, others fixing their eyes on Link, clearly annoyed.

"We're sorry, milady," Mills said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "We'll make sure it doesn't happen again."

"You should be glad that it was just a child playing a game. The Gerudo may not look so kindly upon such a lapse in your duty, Mills, and nor will Captain Dragayne or the king."

Mills looked suddenly sick, the colour draining from his face. "Does his lordship know about this?"

"He does not. Dragayne does, but I have told him I will deal with this matter personally. Should it happen again, I may not be able to spare you from his wrath or King Nohansen's."

"Thank you," Mills said, relief flooding his eyes. "We won't let this happen again. To be honest, I wasn't expecting anyone to climb up."

"For the record, it's not what you expect that should concern you."

Impa gave Link a gentle push to steer him on. Then they were moving down the hill towards the town, the guards staring after them.

"Were you really mad at them?" Link dared to ask once they were away from the gates.

"Quiet," Impa ordered him, making Link look up at her.

A small, satisfied smile touched the Sheikah's lips. Then, without another word, she steered him back towards the Silver Mare.

Next Chapter

Reviews

ZadArchie chapter 10 . Nov 28, 2016 Chapter 6 General: I think what I like best, and envy, about this story is your ability to really set a tone with each chapter. Even better, while the change in tone from chapter to chapter may be vastly different (like here going from sentimental and tearful goodbyes to this chapter’s chilling and foreboding feel), they still feel just right to the story. Line Notes: She longed to outside… (Missing a verb, and I’m guessing it is “be.”) Is “shadow magic” capitalized or not? I’ve seen you use it both ways within the same paragraph. You kind of have to earn them- (I get that you’re doing a novelization of a game, but so far, you’ve done a fantastic job of making me see this world not as a game, and I’m just fine with that. This phrase though, it makes me feel as though I’m being pulled back into a game, as her reasoning is really only “these are the game’s rules.” Can you give her a more plausible reason to talk Link out of begging? Same thing with her descriptions of where to find money. Why are people just leaving money up in trees or in pottery? I mean, I understand how that works in a game, but if you’re going to go with a more realistic world, perhaps offer a reason tied to their culture or something to that effect.) How does Navi know so much about the outside world? From the first few chapters, I got the impression that she, like Link’s people did not venture out of the forest. “Kaepora,” Navi said, not sounding very happy to see the animal. “Nice to see you.” (Here, I would have a comma and not a period after “animal” and make “nice” lowercase. “Kaepora” is not a sentence by itself.) Chapter 7 General: I’m intrigued by these three goddesses in this world. Technically, we’ve only met one so far, but this still is of interest. “Mother” goddesses have a fascinating imagery and power associated with them. While it may or may not help this particular story, you may still be interested in learning more about them. Look into figures such as Demeter/Ceres, Hathor, Cybele, Durga, just to name a few. The writings of Marija Gimbutas and Christine Downing might also be of help. A healthy reading of alchemical texts and scholarship might also be of use, but can sometimes get confusing. As to the triple goddess idea itself (and bear in mind I haven’t read about the others yet), you might want to look into figures such as Hecate, who was a goddess of the triroads, but was also known as a tri-faced goddess. Typically, the triple goddess idea revolves around the three supposed roles women fill in their lifetime; that is maiden, mother, matron (or Aphrodite, Demeter, and Hera as we refer to in my field of study). Back to the story. Again, you do well with giving our heroes some real challenges and limitations. This makes them incredibly believable, even in such a fantastic setting such as this. Line Notes: “Not now!” the wagon driver’s voice was stern… (This one’s tricky, but I think because it’s not a direct dialogue tag, these should be treated as separate sentences. Where the new sentence begins with “The wagon driver’s…” Check me on this though.) She had not with her last Kokiri when he died. (Had not what? This doesn’t seem clear. Did she not stay or did she not leave?) They were enormous Link’s treehouse wasn’t as tall as they were. (I think you meant these as two sentences, otherwise, I don’t understand what you mean.) “Of course not,” the said… (Typo: she said) It was as sweet and gentle as a flute on a Spring night. (Unless this is a fandom thing, seasons are not capitalized.) “Navi,” he replied raspily. “I’m sorry.” (Comma, not a period after “raspily.” He’s addressing her in the first part, which makes it still part of the same sentence.) Chapter 8 General: Wasn’t expecting a villain perspective so soon, but glad to have read it. Or rather, it was a glimpse into the antagonist’s life via a third party, but still, good work. Lots of action in this chapter as well, and it was handled nicely. Really keeps a reader’s attention. Line Notes: her brow creased in concern as she added. “He’s in… (Because you have a new dialogue tag at the end of the sentence, it should be a comma after “added” not a period.) Blin raids, she is another matter. (I think you need to add a “but” after the comma to make this sentence flow better.) say, “got any food?” (Even if this is an unspoken situation because you do have the dialogue tag “say,” I think you need to capitalize “got.” Again, check me on some of this grammar stuff, as I don’t have all the right answers. I just have the answers I learned in my English classes years ago.) in a near panic. “They are coming.” (Here, because you are continuing the sentence, you need a comma after “panic” and to make “they” lowercase. This is because the sentence reads “Link, they are coming” if you don’t include the dialogue tag.) Tou have to come with me… (Typo: You) Tou can’t go into the village… (Typo again: You) “Their inside,” Link whispered. (It should be “they’re,” not “their.”) Link. For Din’s sake… (Should read “Link, for Din’s sake…” When she’s using his name like that, she is addressing him, not making it a separate sentence.) Chapter 9 General: A lot to take in this chapter, but then, I think you accomplished the goal of this chapter; to show the overwhelming sensory experience of the city. Way to go in that regards. Line Notes: “How’s that sound?” he grinned… (“Grinned” really isn’t a speaking verb. So, either change the dialogue tag, or capitalize “he” and treat it like a new sentence.) “Dad said to wait (I think you got ahead of yourself and forgot the punctuation at the end of this one.) just like the dear whose bloodied… (Typo: deer) “What’s a tavern?” “Somewhere you’re not allowed.” (I really did laugh out loud when I read this one.) “Talon,” he called cheerily. “Was about sure… (Again, the sentence without the tag reads: “Talon, was about sure…” So, you don’t need to capitalize “was” and you need a comma, not a period.) Malon and I should be back by Spring. (Again, seasons are not capitalized.) Opps… (I think you mean “oops.”) “You think it made the desert man invisible?” (The one mask to rule them all… In all seriousness though, I’ve wondered what it is with the power of invisibility being considered the greatest power of all. We see this in books like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, but I don’t recall any mythological significance. This would be interesting to research.) “Invisible?” all traces of… (No dialogue tag, so it’s a separate sentence. Capitalize “all.”) Chapter 10 General: I think the only thing that confuses me about this chapter is why is Ganondorf at the castle and no one is trying to stop him? If they already know he’s after the stones, why are they not more concerned? Also, is he part of the royal guard or a guest in the palace? A lot of this part has not made sense to me, but that may be me being fandom-blind. Line Notes: “Just a scalp wound.” (Whether you were going for a Monty Python reference or not, this made me laugh. Though, isn’t it a little out of character for Navi? Maybe, maybe not. She’s the only character I’m still having trouble getting a read on.) In a dream…” she paused… (Here, I would treat these as separate sentences. Capitalize “she.”) It guarded by three stones… (I think you mean “it’s” not just “it.”) Impa shook her head, “Aside from… (No speaking verb, so treat them as separate sentences. Period instead of a comma.)

Barbacar chapter 10 . Nov 10, 2016 An interesting and intriguing chapter

SunPraiser31 chapter 10 . Nov 8, 2016 Ahhh, yes! They finally meet! This I think was my favorite chapter so far. We finally get to see Zelda and Link meet each other, got some tension when Ganondorf showed up, and Link's now received his quest for the other gems! And perhaps now he won't suck at playing the ocarina lol. I did notice a couple of words at the start of sentences that had two first letters, like "Tthe" and "Iin". Just a minor SpaG thing, but I thought I'd point it out. Other than that, good job!

Lord Darth Yoda chapter 10 . Aug 9, 2014 Impa is awesome. She doesn't get nearly enough fanfiction love. This Ewan intrigues me, I don't think I've seen many stories that expand Zeldas immediate family like that for OoT. I just hope you have more for him other than a possible red herring for Sheik. Because that's the first thing I thought of when Zelda said he was her stepbrother.