Chapter III

“Link!” Aldorn shouted when he caught sight of the younger boy. “Link, guess what I’m hitching up the cart for?” Link cocked an eyebrow before shrugging as he leaned against the hitch that Aldorn was currently not hooking up to a horse. “I’m going to Castle Town!” Aldorn said with a grin. The older boy felt pleasure well up inside of him as Link’s eyes grew wide. “Ain’t that great?” Link nodded in awe before looking at Aldorn quizzically. “Oh, it’s because the lady we found last night needs a ride there, and she can’t do it herself.”

Link appeared to think a moment before he grinned. “Hey, Link, why don’t you ask your dad if you can come along, too? The lady doesn’t seem like much fun.” At this revelation, Link’s smile widened in ecstasy and he gave an emphatic nod before he rushed out of the barn. Not long after, Aldorn heard the sound of hooves striking the ground, and he assumed that Link had begun the five minute-or-so gallop to his house. Biting his lip in excitement - going to Castle Town with his best friend was a good reason for the emotion, he thought - Aldorn finished latching the two wooden axel poles to the two horses’ traces. This done, Aldorn decided that his own house would be a good place to wait for Link, and he took the cart there. It would take half an hour or so to get the cart packed with food and supplies for three...or maybe two and a half, whatever Link counted as, so that would give him plenty of time to wait.

When he pulled up in front of his house, his mother already had a small stack of supplies in rows and companies next to the front door, which Aldorn began to dutifully pack. Without fail, however, when Aldorn’s mother saw how the boy was going about it, she proceeded to take down it all and redo it, showing him out to put this or that here so as to take up less space, to put certain things so far from the covered wagon’s side so that it would not fall over or out, how to arrange things so that it would be the most comfortable for their guest to lie on, and so forth. It became annoying.

“Aldorn, you can’t put those pasties there,” Marya scolded. “You don’t want to dig through half of everything to get some food. You put it over here...” she said, motioning, “so you can reach it.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Aldorn replied begrudgingly.

-------

It was almost forty-five minutes later when it was finally packed, and they were ready to leave. Marya had gone inside to get their guest, whom they finally managed to pry the name out of: Ilda. However, Ilda’s unusually deep voice came booming out even through the shut door.

“Not in the day! I can’t leave in daylight.”

Although Ilda was important, Marya was losing patience over her.

It didn’t bother Aldorn, though, as it gave him some time to find Link, who for some reason hadn’t shown up. He should have been here, oh, fifteen, twenty minutes ago. Link’s dad wasn’t one for long lectures, even if he was mad, which Aldorn doubted.

The older boy mounted a horse bareback in search of his friend, first deciding to check on their favorite spot: Farmer Migil’s tree, right next to the aforementioned farmer’s corn field. It provided fun and food at once - fortunately, the two boys loved corn and any of its derivatives. Except for that one cornbread that Mrs. Cairn made - blech.

Sure enough, sitting under the tree was Link, who looked particularly dejected curled up in the tree’s one knob that was formed as if by a chair-maker. Aldorn dismounted his horse, leaving it next to the one Link had ridden, and walked over to Link, who was hidden in the tree’s shade. “He say no?”

Link made a ‘Ffffft’ sound with his lower lip against his teeth before picking up a blade of grass to chew.

“Oh,” Aldorn said. He supposed he should have known better, as it was only the night before that they had lost the horse and sneaked out of the house to get it. Though Link and his dad were close, his dad was strict about that kind of thing. “Sorry.”

Link spat the blade of grass out, attitude showing.

Aldorn’s min began to work, as he knew that Ilda would not be much to talk to, and that Link had really been wanting to go - and doggone it they had meant well when they went out to get the horse! “What if...what if you snuck on board?”

Link looked up at him, with an almost terrified look.

“Yeah... I guess...” Aldorn sighed. This on top of their losing the horse...and Aldorn knew how much pleasing his dad meant to Link. “Hm. Maybe I can talk to him.”

Link looked up at Aldorn, unsure. “Hey, it won’t hurt to try,” Aldorn said. Link bit his lip, eyes darting about as he thought it over before nodding. “Okay, now let’s try,” Aldorn said, reaching out a hand to help Link get up.

-------

“Link,” Link’s father said, “Link, you know you don’t want me to treat you any different than I would treat someone who could speak. I don’t want you to be limited when you grow up, you know that. So whatever Aldorn has to say, you make sure that it echoes what you want said - don’t let him put words in your mouth, because people will try to. A spokesperson should not be used regularly, son. You’re going to have to learn to communicate on your own most of the time.”

Link nodded. “All right, Link. Now, Aldorn, what is it you want to say for him?”

“Well, sir, um, you see, this is probably going to be his only chance or his only chance in a long time to go to Castle Town, and I might need the help with the lady.” Aldorn said, quickly. Strange, when he rehearsed it to himself it seemed a lot longer. Maybe he’d left something out.

Link’s father cocked an eyebrow, showing Link’s resemblance to him. “Do you now? And what do you expect me to do about last night? I can’t reward him wandering off like that in the middle of the night. It might have been him or you instead of the woman you found who was hurt. I can’t condone that,” he said, looking down at his son.

“Sir, it was my fault.”

“I know it was, but I can’t let Link be so easily pulled astray - he needs to learn to think and act for himself. I don’t want you to grow up as his crutch.”

“No, sir,” Aldorn said, kicking the dirt on the floor of Link’s house.

Link’s father sighed before the man knelt down so he was closer to Link’s height. He wasn’t a burly man, one didn’t need to be too much if one raised horses, but he wasn’t a reed either. He had hair the color of dirty blond, of medium length, and parted in the same place as Link: above the right eye. A short beard adorned his rough, tanned face. “Link, here,” he said, embracing his son, then pulling back a bit. “Now look at me. You’re your own man, you are not someone else’s copy, or someone else’s shadow. I know it’s hard for you because you can’t speak, but I know you can do it. I wouldn’t let you grow up normally if I didn’t think you were tough enough to handle it. You’re strong, Link. Someday you’ll see that,” he said, embracing him again. “You have so much of your brother in you,” he whispered. “Now, Link,” he said, getting up, “You may go with Aldorn, but there will be some punishment when you get home. Okay?”

Link smiled widely and hugged his dad before running out the door, Aldorn leaving close behind. His father’s gently smiling eyes followed his boy out into the world.

“Be safe.”

-------

The sun had set, and a cool late-summer breeze was gently brushing the grass and stalks of corn or grain. The plain, bordered on one side by Ordon Woods and on the east by medium-sized mountains, was unbroken except for a small wagon near the forest’s edge.

Aldorn sat perched on the wagon’s seat, Link next to them, both eager to get moving as Ilda was placed behind them - much to her consternation. It seemed she wanted to drive despite the fact that she could barely sit up. Fortunately they managed to keep her down there - Link would have had to move if she came up here. At last, however, Aldorn’s mom was finished with her fussing and the boys were motioned to leave. Or, more accurately, Aldorn’s father found a precious moment in which Marya was silent in which to shoo the boys off.

“Really, Marya, you worry too much,” Ardas said, shaking his head at his wife.

“Bye, son!” Link’s father said, waving to Link, who turned to wave back. Aldorn, however, was so intent that he just kept his eyes on the path between the silhouettes of the horses.

They were off!

-------

Aldorn sat, eyes focused lazily on the wad of grass in his hands as he made some effort to pull out one blade at a time and toss onto the wet ground out to his right. He and Link were sharing the same animal skin to keep warm beneath, as neither of them felt cold enough to share in Ilda’s warmer blanket. The rain pelted the canvas of the cart with ferocity; this fact mingled with the night made it ice cold. They couldn’t start a fire, they’d drench themselves making one outside and they couldn’t make one inside unless they felt like being the kindling, so they were stuck nestled up against each other under an animal skin.

Ilda sat up against the other side of the cart, facing them with piercing eyes. For this reason it was little wonder both boys were staring downwards, at times lifting their gaze to the fascinating ball of grass in Aldorn’s hand.

Though this was incredibly fun, Aldorn felt the need to break the tense silence. “How long till we get there?” he asked, not looking up at the one questioned.

The two boys could feel Ilda glare at them even harder - she obviously wasn’t that fond of being around children, especially if she felt as if she was practically babysitting them. Aldorn squirmed a bit. “Few more days,” she answered cryptically.

Lot that meant, though Aldorn allowed himself to believe that she meant three-ish. He had been taught that a couple was two, and a few was three-ish, so it would be three-ish more days. They had been on the road for three days, so they were halfway there - and already tired of it. Aldorn had exhausted all subjects with Link, and he wasn’t about to try to pick up a conversation with Ilda, so he was stuck staring out at the north ranges ahead of him.

Good thing they were making good time, or Aldorn was sure he would die of boredom. Or weariness; for some reason he found difficulty sleeping at night and difficulty staying awake during the day. Link didn’t, though, but tonight, in the cold, he was up fidgeting next to him.

“Mom says you’re important,” Aldorn said in an effort to keep warm air flowing, “because of the mark you have. What does it mean?”

“Hmph,” Ilda replied. However, she, too, must have been eager for some conversation, as, after a pause, she said, “It’s a mark of my race, Sheikah. We protect the Royal Family.”

“Really? I thought the Sheikah were dead.”

“They are not,” Ilda replied.

A moment of awkward silence followed, as, though Aldorn would have quipped something back as to the obviousness of the statement, Ilda’s red gaze choked to death any thought of it. “Ah, I-”

“Silence.”

“But-”

“Uncouth child,” Ilda muttered before she lay down, facing away from the boys as she made it obvious that she was, one, going to sleep, and, two, going to ignore them.

Aldorn lay down as well, as did Link, but not before Aldorn stuck his tongue out at Ilda and crossed his eyes.

-------

It was a boring wait at the gates to Castle Town, that much was certain. Ilda had to prove to the stubborn gatekeeper that Aldorn and Link were not trying to kill her or the Royal Family. Personally, Aldorn thought it amusing that a guard would be afraid of little Link, who was, at the moment, playing his little ocarina. Maybe the guard thought that was disturbing. Whatever.

At any rate, once inside, things really began to liven up. The walls of Castle Town revealed themselves as they passed it to be thick enough to have houses inside it and a road on its top. Ramps came winding down the walls at a gradual angle so carts could descend to the city beneath - and what a city! The streets were paved with huge stones and were wide enough to be ridden on by four carts the size of the one he was riding if they didn’t mind getting a little close. Despite this size, however, the streets were packed with people as they when about their business in various shops or outside vendors, only scattering when a vehicle came through. There was great noise and bustle of the shopkeepers crying from their kiosks to the passersby, and the people trying to avoid the beggars and eager sellers from latching onto them. As Aldorn looked around, he began to see all the wares he could through the crowd, and the selection was incredible. The scents of all the food, flowers, and tightly packed people penetrated the air, though, as Aldorn was used to being around stables, such odors didn’t bother him. Aldorn continued around to catch more glimpses of the city as the guard walked in front of them, shouting “Way! Way for the Princess’s Royal Guard!” to persuade the crowd to disperse quicker.

At first, Aldorn wondered why Ilda didn’t just leave them at the gate to go back, as he was sure that was what she would do after having to burn under her gaze for the entire trip. Fortunately she did not, though, and they got their view of Castle Town - and now maybe Hyrule Castle itself! Aldorn supposed the reason was that Aldorn’s mother had told Ilda that she had only packed trip for the way there, and that Ilda would supply them with the goods needed to return, and implying for some compensation for their cooperation, as well.

Though Aldorn wasn’t sure of the last, he was definitely enjoying the ride, and, apparently so was Link, as his eyes seemed to get wider by the moment.

When they finally pulled up at the Castle Gates, Ilda was escorted off the cart and into the Castle without so much as a “thanks.” She had, however, mumbled for them to wait there, so that sounded promising. However, they had been waiting now for half an hour, and the surroundings - a drawbridge over a lazy moat blocked from the front and sides by a tunnel-like entryway - were not that much to gaze upon. In front of them, the only visible thing was the big, ominous door and a motionless guard. By now the boys had memorized the path of each vine crawling up the wall, and Link had begun to ply his instrument again. Over the tune Link was making up at the moment, Aldorn could hear sound of an argument through the dark door before it slid open, revealing first a slit of light, then a beautiful courtyard lined with flowers and bushes, and Ilda standing in the midst, trying not to be supported by another guard.

“The Princess requests your presence,” Ilda muttered, obviously irked about the whole thing.

Aldorn’s jaw dropped. “Princess? Princess Zelda? Really?” Wait until he told some of his friends at home! It wasn’t as great as seeing the Princess’s brother, Prince Daphnes, though, but it would do.

Ilda gave them a condescending glare. “Zelda is the only Princess.”

“Wahoo!” Aldorn turned to Link. “You hear that? We’re going to see the Princess of Hyrule!”

-------

“Chosen? You have got to be kidding,” Aldorn said, unbelieving. When they had gotten out of their carts and followed Ilda to the young brunette Princess, Zelda had begun to tell them a tale about how the world began, rambling on about something called a “Triforce” and how it held a lot of power. She continued to drown the boys in her tale, not allowing them a word in edgewise, as she recounted to them the tale of the Hero of Time, which was all well and good, but they had heard the tale before, and by better storytellers.

Aldorn began to wonder if something was wrong with the Princess when she gave them an exposé of a dream she’d been having. The result was that the two boys were beginning to feel uncomfortable. In it she said that she’d seen a blond-haired boy with blue eyes coming out of a forest and something like ‘saving the world.’

It was a pity, really, to come so far to find out that the future ruler was nutty.

“We can’t be the boy from your dream!”

“Only one of you,” she said, quietly, “I have foreseen it. I knew he would come this day.”

“That is very nice Princess-”

“Silence!” Ilda shouted, “You will not continue to speak to the Princess in such a way!”

“Peace, Ilda. They do not understand,” Zelda, who seemed to be only a little older than the boys themselves, said. “Go on,” she bid Aldorn.

“Um,” Aldorn said, taking a step toward the side furthest Ilda. “Why would we be heroes? There isn’t any evil anywhere. Everything’s just fine.”

“This is where you are wrong,” Zelda said, gesturing with her finger. “You recall that the Hero of Time sealed away a great evil, a Gerudo named Ganondorf?” When the boys nodded, she continued. “Somehow, it seems he has returned. We do not know how, and we do not know why, but we only know that the Hero of Time’s reincarnate-”

“Reincarnate?” Aldorn asked, confused by such a large word.

“Heir,” Zelda explained, “successor.”

“I see.”

“Well, only the Hero of Time’s successor has the power to kill him, and I know it is one of you two boys - must you look so alike?”

“Lots of boys are blond with blue eyes where we come from.”

“And where is that?” Zelda asked.

“Ordon Village.”

“Oh,” Zelda said. Aldorn figured that her response was brought on by the fact that Ordona wasn’t really part of Hyrule proper, but south of it, in the Outer Lands, sometimes called sub-Hyrule. It was so sanctioned off when South Hyrule betrayed Hyrule proper in a war, so the Ordona province wasn’t all that popular.

Zelda appeared to be slightly perplexed by this development, but soon composed herself once more. “Tell me,” Zelda asked, “what are your names?”

“I’m Aldorn, and this is Link.”

“Why don’t you let the boy speak for himself?” the Princess asked.

“He can’t speak. He’s mute.” Aldorn said, ignoring the annoyed and slightly hurt glare from Link.

“Oh. So he cannot sing?”

“Um, no Ma’am.”

“Oh! Then the Hero is you, Aldorn. There was a tune in my dream, and Link here can’t possible sing it.”

“Me?!”

“Yes! You are our Chosen One, our Hero.”

Aldorn stared at her blankly for a minute.

“I see you are not convinced,” Zelda said, somewhat disheartened. “Come, I will show you,” she said, motioning for them to follow her. Aldorn shrugged and complied, though he kept his distance from her. His mother had told him to be careful around those that were a bit touched in the head. Link followed behind, a bit overwhelmed by everything.

They followed her through the courtyard quite a ways before she led them to a cathedral-like building, with stained glass mosaics of figures. “Look, Link. It’s the Sages,” Aldorn said, pointing to the different ones as they walked, getting slower to continue to gaze and the beautiful building. “See, look, there’s Ruto, and Nabooru...and what looks like the king of that time. I don’t remember his name.”

“Daphnes, same as my brother,” Zelda said from in front of them. She was waiting at the entrance to the cathedral, a huge archway with an ornately carved door. “Come,” she beckoned. “Here, this is the Temple of Time, where the Hero of Time began his journey. It houses the Master Sword. Only the pure of heart may pull the Master Sword, no evil thing may wield it and live. Aldorn, you must go within, and take the sword from its pedestal. It will take you ahead seven years, there you will see what has happened to the land already, and will be of age to stop Ganondorf. Enter,”

Aldorn never took his eyes off of her as he began to walk through the door. He had to, he couldn’t disobey an order from the Princess.

“Link may not enter,” Zelda said.

“What? No,” Aldorn said, turning to face her. “We do everything together. Either he goes or I won’t go.”

“You must!”

“I won’t!”

“Uncouth child!” Ilda screeched, grasping the boy’s shoulder. “How dare you defy an order from the Princess!”

“Ilda, leave him be. What harm can it do for the Hero to have help?”

“Hmph. You are entirely too lenient.”

“I know. You often tell me,” Zelda said before turning to the boys once more. “You may both go in.”

“Thank you, Princess,” Aldorn said. He didn’t want to leave Link out here alone with Ilda the witch and Zelda the looney, and he didn’t want to go into that cathedral alone, so it was paramount that Link go with him.

The two boys walked quickly through the door to get away from the duo as quickly as possible. Before the Princess shut the door behind them, she said, “Find me when you arrive.”

When the door shut, Aldorn retorted, “Not likely. I want to keep on the opposite side of the country, Princess. Gosh, Link, if you hadn’t of come along I don’t know what I’d do. Maybe laugh for an hour, but then I’d be alone here,” he said, looking at the solemn hallway around them. “It smells old in here. You know what, Link? I bet she’s looney and that this is all baloney. But I guess we gotta go pull the sword out then get out of here. Maybe then she’ll call off this game.”

The boys didn’t have to walk far, fortunately, before they came across a grand pedestal in which was a sword with a blue hilt.

“Well, it sure looks like the Master Sword the storytellers tell us about...” Aldorn observed, beginning to be awed by the place. “Do you think it really is?”

Link, of course, didn’t reply. “It must be!” Aldorn shouted excitedly. “Wait,” Aldorn gingerly walked up to the blade. “She said only the Hero could hold it, right?”

Link shrugged. “Hm. Well...that means if I’m not the Hero I’m sunk.”

Link punched Aldorn in the shoulder before looking at him supportively.

“Well, then, here goes nothing...” He said, reaching out for the blade and slowly sliding it out. It was a bit heavy, but he could handle it. Once the sword’s tip made a ching sound as it was pulled from the pedestal, all went blindingly white...

Then there was nothing.






((Yes, as a matter of fact, this story is inspired by OoT. Read 'inspired' not 'based on.' From here on out, nothing is going to be as it seems, even the stuff you assume. You have entered the Twilight Zone))

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~Proudly exploding combustible coconuts since 1993