The Mirror Tells All

And this...this is what I do when I have a rare moment of free time.

I'm only posting the first chapter of nine right now, just to see if this is a place that welcomes such fiction.

The Mirror Tells All

A Legend of Zelda fan fiction

By: Blue Taboo

Chapter - 1



As the ripples in the water began to fade out and away into the silvery surface of the forest pond, the eerie reflection came back to haunt the young man it belonged to once again. He couldn’t help but notice that he had truly grown into the image of himself he had been able to glimpse for a short, but arduous pack of days, that were a future never to be. Some things were different, yes, with this the natural passage of years, but seven years would not lie, and the last time Link had gotten water from that calm little speck of water in this slightly familiar forest, the reflection had been the one he thought he would always have. It was not to be, though. His image had changed at the hands of time and was mercy to it, as it was with most other children.



The horse upon which he rode away from that pond had changed as well, from barely more than a foal to a proud, tall, rusty-coated mare that was one of the fastest he had ever encountered in all the lands she had borne him to. It had been a long journey, but one Link had put upon himself.



That day, when she had put the Ocarina back into his once small hands, he thought that all he had gone through, the trials, the hardships, and the grief over lost friends, was a vicious cycle, doomed to repeat with only his memory of it remaining. Thankfully, that wasn’t so. She remember too, and her reason for giving him the instrument once again was that she believed he would do greater good with it, that is, until he returned it. She never said when, or how he should go about giving it back to her, only that he should take it for the time being, and help others as he had helped her, and all the people of their kingdom.



Link had obeyed with a simple passion. He bought the horse he had once, but would never steal, and rode out to stranger lands, away from Hyrule. His journey lasted for the time that he had once slept away in the Sacred Realm, but never did. He crossed plains, mountains, and even oceans, only stopping when he met that final ocean that would just take him back to Hyrule yet again. Rather than crossing it, he took the long way back, still obeying, and over the course of those seven years, he saved all manner of things from the evil he was sure that his own home was now safe from. Whether it was a god, a kingdom, a person, or even a bird, he had tried to do all that he could to help it. He had succeeded, for the most part, and one day, when he saw his reflection on a pond not unlike this forest pond, he knew, suddenly, that it was time to go home.



“It’s just through those trees,” he said quietly to Epona, out of an almost incumbent respect for the great forest that encased them. “We’ll reach Hyrule before the sun sets and then we’ll ride to the castle.”



Link, despite all the people he had befriended along the way, and all those who admired him for what he’d done, had only one companion in all his travels. Epona never talked back to him, but she did listen. She listened and carried him willingly, along with all that he had accumulated over the years. Masks, instruments, and all sorts of others eclectic items lined his saddle bags, but she didn’t mind the weight, nor the fact that her rider never seemed to stop growing. He was leveling off, though, now at the fringe of adulthood. It had been a wonder before to have clothes that actually fit, but he had several sets now that suit him well. In fact, he was wearing his newest, made especially for his homecoming.



He had showed the seamstress the tattered remains of the little green tunic and hat, then explained the rest of the outfit from forgotten future he required. All and all, in combination with the shoemaker and armorer, he looked nearly just like his memory of himself. His shield was old and worn, with a few slightly obvious repairs, and his sword was not indeed the Master Sword, but rather a gilded broadsword that came from a favor he called upon. His tunic was green as was his hat, and he planned to keep the look on her face in his mind forever when he met her again.



Throughout it all, that was his plan, to see Zelda again.



He couldn’t help but wonder, if she would do the same as he did, and grown into his vision of the dead end future that she claimed to share. She had been very beautiful, as well as a powerful sage, but she was a only princess now, or at least he hoped. No, no, it had to be so, because he would’ve known if something had gone wrong. Nonetheless, he wanted to see that all was as peaceful as he left it in Hyrule, the only change being the marring, or possibly beautifying effect of age.



And that was why he ran Epona down that last bit of trail, out into the field, towards the setting sun. The forest was aglow with orange light as he raced towards its end, no longer able to contain his want for home. It had been so long and it was time enough. He wanted to go back, and to stay there forever. He had to. That was why it was called home in the first place.



In that instant when he emerged from the trees, the ruddy light nearly blinded him, only to pass and reveal the serene hilly field that was the center of his kingdom. It was quiet, as most places are near dusk, and peaceful. Link felt a burden lifted from his shoulders. All seemed well enough, in fact, it was slightly changed, but for the better. The once fading dirt roads were now all connected and full of wagon ruts. People were moving around and trading, so there couldn’t be anything wrong. The Lon Lon ranch lay shillouetted against the nearly crimson sky, its windows already lit with a warm, welcoming glow and far to the north, the battlements of the castle town could just be seen over the rolling countryside. To the east, more trees encroached upon the land as the forest belonging to the Kokiri children staked its eternal claim.



“We’re home,” Link assured his mount as she took in the scenery. “We’re home.”



As much as he was reveling in the peace of his homeland, another urgency began to stir in Link’s mind as he realized that the drawbridge to the castle town would be closing soon, and he’d have to wait out another night before he could truly be finished with his journey and see Zelda again. As soon as the fact dawned on him, he set his heels to Epona and they dove towards the gate. He wanted to see her so badly...to tell her all that he had done in her name...and to see her smile again...or just merely to see her and prove once and for all that his troubles and toils were not all for nothing.



He was galloping his horse so fast, that they nearly ran over the three strange guards who stood watch over the drawbridge, which was still down, and as he remembered it, usually unmanned. Epona reared as he leaned back to stop her, but he was used to such sudden stopping, and took it in stride, more vexed over the guards than the idea of falling off his horse.



“Whoa there!” the left one shouted out towards him as Epona came back to steady ground, “I know you must be in a hurry, but be a little bit more careful there, lad.”



“He nearly ran us down,” another guard, who stood on the right of the three, commented as Link slowly approached.



“State your business, and it better be good,” the guard in the middle prompted, “Seeing as you almost broke all of our necks.”



Link thought it better not to ask the guards why they were there and simply used the excuse he had always used in Hyrule, “I’m a messenger of the Royal Family.”



To his surprise, and dismay, the guards started laughing, nearly falling over each other in their revelry at his statement.



“Ho,” the middle one began, “I’m afraid you’re a little late, if that’s the case, eh boys?”



They laughed again and the middle one continued, “So what’s your real business.”



“What do you mean late?” Link asked, trying to hide the desperate nature of his question. Had something happened? To the Royal Family? To Zelda?



“Hey, I think this guy’s no joker,” the left one offered to the middle guard, who seemed to be in charge of the three man operation.



“Maybe he mean’s that he’s a messenger for his Imperial Highness,” the right one added.

“Imperial who?” Link asked again.



The guards then proceeded to stare at him blankly.



“Boy,” the middle one said, looking right at Link and breaking the silence, “Please tell me that you are either joking and are an actor of sorts to boot, or that you have been away from quite some time.”



“I have been on a very long journey, yes,” he answered, feeling his urgency take over his calm exterior once again. “Just what has happened here?”



“...Ho boy,” the boss sighed, “This is a story you’re not bound to like much at all, unless you get the full explanation, so you best be letting your horse rest and getting out of the saddle for a while.”



Link obeyed thoughtfully, though very slowly and asked again, “What happened? What of the princ--I mean the Royal Family.”



“Well, you see--” the left guard began, but was cut off the a simple wave of his superior’s spear.



“I’ll tell the boy,” he affirmed, then looked at Link, taking in the young swordsman with eyes that showed more compassion than they probably should have. “As I’m sure you know, even if you left here as a babe, our King was a very elderly man. Though he was in good health for his old age, time simply could not ignore him any longer. He passed away just about two years ago, leaving only his daughter, Princess Zelda, to the throne.”



Link nodded. Though he barely knew the old King, only having seen him through a window a handful of times, or hearing about him from Zelda, he had figured that the old man would have passed on soon enough. He knew that he had no Queen, but not why that was so, and that Zelda was an only child. This was something Link had expected, and therefore, he was not shocked to hear it.



“But you see,” the gruff guard continued, “Hyrule has always been a land of Kings. You know this boy, don’t you? So when little Zelda was the sole heir to the throne, and unmarried, people started getting upset. They wanted to keep Hyrule a kingdom, not a queendom, mind you. So at first, they tried to get her to marry any noble they could find, even if she was a little young for it.”



Somehow, that thought horrified Link. At that point, he knew there was something worse coming...something he did not want to hear, though he didn’t know why...



“But she refused, over and over again. She wouldn’t let herself be dumped off on any old rich man, even for the sake of her people. It ain’t my place to say this, but you know, I think it might’ve been better if she did.”



Link could hear the echo of a name that was slander in itself in his head. He did not want to think of such things, of Ganondorf even being able to take such an opportunity.



“The people just wouldn’t have it. All different factions formed together and started fighting. Some of them wanted her to be Queen, others wanted her dead, and some even wanted to simply instate a new Royal Family, while yet even more impressed the idea of changing the entire way this land is run. It was a bad time, but it didn’t last more than a few months...”



Link prayed this was the only “bad time”. The story, while ominous enough, gave him hope that Zelda was still alive.



“Then his Imperial Highness came, with his army, and put a stop to all the nonsense and fighting with his soldiers. I don’t know if your travels have ever taken you far enough from here to reach it, by his Imperial Highness is the Emperor of a the great Empire of Wrineria, which is so large, that sun supposedly never sets on it. I don’t believe that myself, but I will tell you, his troops managed to get this place back in line very quickly. That was just about a year ago, right boys?”



The other two nodded at him, seemingly just as transfixed as Link.



“By the by, he annexed Hyrule, claiming it was only temporary, and saying that he would leave as soon as we could find a solution to the problem at hand. I don’t believe that either, and neither to any of the boys here, or back in the barracks. I tell you, he’s gonna stay here until he convinces us all to just be another part of his big bad Empire and then move on to do the same to another kingdom...not that it’s my place to say...but still.”



“But what about the Princess,” Link found himself blurting out.



“Oh she’s still up in the castle. I think the Emperor himself’s got his eye on her, even if he’s twice her age. Marrying her would be the quickest way to get Hyrule anyway, and that’s what all the folk who work up in the castle say he’s trying to do.” The guard paused, thinking for a moment, then said, “You know, if you really do have a message to deliver, I guess you can deliver it to her. I can’t see the harm in that, how about you boys?”



The other two guards shook their heads, indicating that there was no harm to be done.



“I know it’s a lot to get used to, and I feel sorry for you, being gone all this time, so I’ll let you in,” the boss guard proposed, “but you’re gonna have to leave the horse out here. You need special permission to bring a horse into town, since everything’s gotta be regulated by the Empire nowadays.”



Link stood silently for a moment taking all in, then let out a “Thank you sir, I appreciate all you’ve done,” before sighing heavily.



“It’ll be all right, lad,” the right guard assured him. “After all, things do change, you know, and I’m sure everything will turn out well for you in the end, if nothing else.”



“We can watch the mare for you too, if you like,” the left guard offered.



Link ambled over to Epona, suddenly feeling weary under the weight of what had happened to Hyrule. It was no deed of evil, but a deed of another power he had never brought himself to understand. The only diplomacy Link knew was at the hands of a sword. It didn’t quite make sense to him why his people would let this happen, but it had happened, and though he had once changed time itself, Link no longer had the ability to change the past...



But as he reached into the saddlebag, fumbling for that old familiar cool oblong shape amidst the clutter, he thought, that just maybe, he hadn’t really lost it at all.



He still had the Ocarina, and that he was assured of as he pulled it out, the last of the sun’s rays offering to shine on its pale blue surface...but could he still use it like that?



He would ask Zelda. She would know. He could still see her again...so all was not lost.



Another urgency rose in his veins, this one greater than all the rest.



“She can fend for herself fine, and I can call her if I need her,” he told the guards, “But thank you once again. I will not forget your kindness, and I promise, that if I see you again, I’ll at least give you the whole story, straight from the Princess’ lips, since you were kind enough to tell it to me.”



“Then I look forward to the day we meet again,” the boss guard stated. “Now off you go, the town’s gonna be locked up for the night soon enough, and no matter how much I like you, I can’t hold down the bridge for you to cross it.”



Link gripped the Ocarina of Time firmly in his gauntleted hand and ran off on to the bridge. “Until we meet again!” he cried after the guards as he reached the stone-paved streets of the castle town.



“‘Shield-eaters and world leaders have many likes alike!’” one of the men quoted in a roar, much to the amusement of his fellow guards, just as the bridge started clanking up.



Link knew the old adage well, and couldn’t help but smile at the irony.



Blue Taboo

:::grins:::

since you joined the board, i looked you up on ffn (you mentioned it in your newbie topic), and have been reading this along with a ton of other stuff i need to catch up on...

I'm on about chapter 3 at the moment, and love it so far! ^_^

... I need to get back to reading it - i always get distracted from reading by forums and chats and stuff... it's one of my really bad habits...

Wow, the story is really well done! It'll be interesting to read what happens next, since it appears that you write sporadically. (sp?) Nothing to say in the mispellings and stuff, it's well written and a strange plot is unfolding... is it going to be epic...?

It is an epic. Currently at 40,000 words and 9 chapters...yea...I'm not even started...

Chapter 2-



The town was quiet, and not even the heard of dogs dared seem to roam its streets like they once did. There were lights in all the houses and a few of the shops, but no one was outside, even though the weather was more than agreeable. Link took note of this, thinking it strange, but simply flying past it in his run towards the castle. He wondered if he could still sneak in, or if it was even more heavily guarded, since now even the drawbridge was apparently in need of soldiers. He figured that he was find out soon enough and ran onward.



When Link did come to the path outside the gate, he could only see and a hear a single guard, who stood, looking bored, directly in front of the gate. If there were anymore guards in the entire front garden, then they had to be among the most silent of all soldiers, for Link could always remember being able to hear the clanking of their chain mail against the packed earth and stone of the walkway. Before he could see if his hearing served him right, he had to get past the only guard he could really confirm. That was simple enough, for the vines he used to climb on to sneak into the castle were still there, and now stronger and thicker than ever, even bearing a few white flowers here and there.



He jumped onto them and climbed his way up to the top of the little gorge with ease, and saw that he was in fact right, however, another problem stood in his way. There was another set of three guards, this time, at the front entrance to the castle, which was aglow with warm light, despite the encroaching purple of the early evening. Link knew of many ways to get inside the high iron fence of the castle, though, and not many of them involved the front entrance anyway. He gladly remained on the high end of the winding garden, and proceeded to the point where the ground just outside of the fence was higher than the fence itself.



He could jump into the moat from here, then reach the garden from there. The guards would have to walk in order to see what made the splash, and by the time they got over to where he had dove in, he would have been long gone. It worked that way seven years ago with the one guard, and on that night, it worked the same with the three. They just assumed that a rock must’ve fallen in, or maybe something larger. Link’s splash was too big to be that of a rock’s anymore.



By way of the moat, he came to a familiar outlet into the inner gardens, which were quiet as well, and surprisingly unguarded. The great armies of this Emperor the guards spoke of must have had their duties somewhere else that night. Regardless, all Link had to do now was find Zelda. Out of habit, or maybe something greater, he headed to the spot where they had their usual audience way back when. There was no place else he could think to find her, since she had always been there before.



And when he came upon the circular courtyard, with its own little moat, and flowers galore, that was even lit by a few lingering fireflies on that night, he felt disappointed to see only a figure in a blue cloak, tending to the potted flowers on the same place where he had met the Princess when he was only a little boy. It couldn’t have been her...



Yet he took one more step, just to make sure it was some gardener or servant out for a breath of fresh air. In doing so, his boot met the gravely end of the stone path, and crunched, echoing off the stone walls and high windows of the courtyard, and ruining his former stealth. Rather than run off blindly and risk running right into a hidden guard, Link decided to take his chances with the gardener, and stood his ground as they turned to see what had made the sound.



A hood-shadowed face looked over one shoulder, probably suspecting nothing more than a squirrel, and seemed not to notice him.



Then, however, the person did a double take and Link heard a little gasp.



It was a sound he’d heard before...



The owner of the hood the threw it back and rubbed her eyes, and even in the fury of the motion, Link knew that he had been right in coming to the courtyard all along, even if the long golden hair was not enough to give it away.



Princess Zelda stood unmasked, her face just as beautiful as he remembered it being after these seven years, but marred with confusion and possibly even...terror?



“Please,” she uttered softly, “Tell me that you aren’t a ghost?”



A ghost?



“Why would I be...unless you’re not Princess Zelda,” Link replied simply.



“Is it really you? Are you Link?” she demanded, her once soft voice now full of the desire to know.



“Yes,” he assured her. “I’ve come back.”



That was all she needed to run to him, but rather than embrace him like an old friend and fellow savior of Hyrule, she stopped just short and looked at him closely, still regarding him with limited suspicion. Needless to say, it was not the welcome Link had expected.



“What am I kidding,” she said after a seemingly endless silence between them, “I knew you’d look this way, and you probably remember me like this too.”



Link then allowed himself to feel relieved. She did remember. It did happen. It wasn’t for nothing. She had to be Zelda.



“I do. I remember everything.”



Zelda herself then looked as if a burden had been take from her as well. It was a burden, being the only one around to carry the knowledge of what could have been. “And for that,” she told Link, “I am very glad...but how did you get into the castle?”



“The same way I always did, but the men outside of town let me in after they told me what had happened. Princess...you have to tell me what’s going on because--”



Link was cut off as a man’s voice echoed through the stone walls of the inner gardens. “Dear Princess! I know you’re here somewhere!”



“Oh of all the times in the world!” a sudden rage emanated from Zelda’s words as she now whispered, “Terinae is calling for me now!”



“Terinae?” Link inquired.



Zelda shushed him as quietly as she could. “Don’t let your voice echo,” she advised softly. “The men told you about the Emperor, right?”



Link nodded in response.



“Well, that’s him. Emperor Terinae, and I don’t think he’ll like the idea of strange people being able to sneak into the castle. He forgets that we aren’t technically part of his Empire...” she explained.



“I can leave, if you want me to...” Link whispered resignedly.



“No, no...there’s too much I have to tell you, and you me, I’m sure. You just need a reason to be here...” She pondered for a moment in silence. Still as quick-witted as Link remembered, Zelda then blurted out, “We’ll say you’re the son of one of my late father’s knights and that you and I played together as children. The rest we can make up from there.”



And as soon as the last word left her, she was off towards the hedge mazes that made up a majority of the rest of the gardens and following the resounding echo of the Emperor. Link found himself at a loss for words on the situation, but he simply followed, though with a great deal less haste, and much more apprehension. Somehow, it didn’t seem wise for him to be meeting this Emperor, face to face, and under such lies, but he knew that Zelda was not named a Sage for nothing, and that she did, after all, carry the Triforce of Wisdom for a reason.



“Oh there you are! Roaming around here at all hours of the night, as usual,” came the voice again, as Zelda obviously found the fabled Emperor. His voice was light and unexpectedly so. Perhaps, he was a kind man of his word, and not as deceptive as the men at the bridge had made him out to be. At least, this was what Link hoped. Through all the wrongs he had set to right, and all the foes he’d faced, Link felt a strange dread at the idea of battling this particular beast, one who may have the body of an ordinary man, but legions at his disposal enough to make a fight pointlessly unfair.



“Actually, I had a purpose in being here tonight,” Zelda echoed across the dim gardens.



“Oh, and what is that?”



“A dear old friend of mine has just come home to Hyrule after a long journey, and we were talking of old times.”



“Really now? Where is this old friend of yours?”



It was then that Link found his way to the voices that spoke of him, and he found Zelda standing next to a tall man, who could have been none other than Emperor Terinae. He was just reaching middle age, his nearly black short-cropped hair showing signs of grey here and there, but he had the appearance rather of an experienced soldier than a regal monarch. His face was inquisitive and weather-worn, and he wore what seemed to be a strange uniform that included a great deal of gilded metal, with the only other distinguishing factor to it being a short blue cape that had on it strange designs embroidered in gold.



As Link sized him up, Terinae did the same to the younger swordsman. The Emperor was a soldier indeed, and no facade of armor was necessary to tell Link that as he observed how the man looked at him. It was as if a mutual understanding passed between the two, and they both knew, as all fighters do, that their match, should it ever come to pass, would be an interesting one.



“Well, young man, you must have just arrived, seeing as how you still have all of your equipment about you.”



Link had learned in his travels to accept the weight of a sword and shield, if nothing else, as part of himself, and therefore barely even noticed that he had them on. He could not respond before Zelda began to weave her tale about him.



“Your Highness,” she addressed the Emperor, “I would like you to meet my best friend from when I was little girl. This is Link, the son of one of Hyrule’s finest knights.”



“It’s a pleasure,” the Emperor said, his demeanor suddenly changing in the slightest way, taking a turn from fighter to leader.



Link nodded, allowing Zelda to continue.



“And Link, this is his Imperial Highness, Emperor Terinae.”



“Even though I’ve only been back for a short while, I have heard much about you...Your Highness.” The last bit was hard for Link to get past his lips. It came out sounding strained, but it was the best he could do. Somehow, it pained him to think that this stranger was now technically in charge of his land, and Zelda was not.



“It is unfortunate that we could’ve not met before, but I guess that I’m to assume that you have been away from your land for a great deal of time, at least for one so young as yourself, Master Link.”



Link opened his mouth to speak, if simply to affirm the Emperor’s suspicions, but Zelda beat him to it, lying even further.



“He’s been gone ever since his father passed away, which was very long ago. He was sent to live with relatives in another kingdom, and to train to be a Knight there.”



The Emperor nodded and then asked, “So you’ve returned to Hyrule to gain Knighthood, I assume.”



Link was now more confused than ever. In his limited experience with lying and deceit, he had learned that it was best to keep it simple, just so one wouldn’t have to end up tripping over one’s own lie in the end, but Zelda seemed bent on fabricating a great story to give further purpose to his being there, and one quick look at her demanding violet eyes told Link what his answer should be.



“Yes.”



“Well,” the Emperor began, “I would think that all these changes must have upset you somewhat, and that your journey has indeed been a tiring one. There are plenty of places in the castle for you to rest, and I think that you are owed at least that, in your case, until all has been set to right here in Hyrule and you can be properly knighted.”



“That’s just what we were discussing when you called,” Zelda butted in.



“Ah, that’s all very well then! I’ll head in first and call someone to prepare a room for you so that you may continue your conversation with the Princess. It is always a pleasure for me to meet any friend of hers.”



Link nodded in response, unsure of what to say and at a loss for much else, with all the whirlwind of change that was going around him.



The Emperor left with a smile, looking genuine and genial, completely unlike the man Link had first set eyes on just moments before.



Zelda waited until she heard a great oak door close not far off from the place where they stood before she dared speak again. “Good, good,” she complimented mostly herself, “He’s thoroughly convinced. Link, now I have plenty of time to tell you everything, since it appears that you’ll be staying here. I know everything must seem so strange to you, but please, just try to go along with it? I’ve found that’s the best thing to do.”



Link listened intently, although he couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you have to lie about all those things? Couldn’t you just say I was a messenger, like you did before?”



Zelda then laughed, much to his surprise. “Hearing you say that almost makes me think I should have, but no, Link, because then I couldn’t talk to you. It’s all well for a little girl to go gallivanting around with servant children and forgetting she’s a princess, but we’re too old for games like that now, and the situation at hand is too complicated. No, this is the best way. Will you trust me on that?”



She was smiling, so it couldn’t be all that bad or wrong. Link knew that he was embarking on a different kind of journey, on that would take him into unfamiliar territory, but not any kind that you could chart on a map. He was going inside the castle walls, and not just to visit the gardens. The idea was strange to him, and something deep inside him languished it, but he trusted Zelda. He never thought that anything she said would lead him astray.



“I will.”



It seemed to make her happy, which was all Link could care about. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know,” she affirmed, “Just listen to me and don’t let Terinae catch you off your guard. We’ll make a Knight out of you yet, hero.”



The last comment brought a smile to Link’s worried face. Those, he decided were times that he had nothing to do with but cherish. The Hyrule of his childhood was gone, but not forgotten.

Wow, the mystery is barely begun, even with all these character introductions. Thats cool. But I have a question about the empire... it has to be very secretive and cultish Link hasn't heard of them or their emperor all throughout his travels around the world... Why can't he remember it...? Ohh scary... very cool

Oh you'll see. Took me a long time to think up Terinae and his plotting...hmm...I should probably dive into that a little as I write chapter 10 tonight...huh?

Oh well, have some more.

Chapter 3 --



What then began was nothing like Link could ever imagine. Surely he’d wandered from place to place in the past seven years, and had traveled throughout half of the known world, journeying into the unknown as well a few times, but he had always been the helpful commoner, not a Knight or a Lord or anything like that. As soon as he entered the warm glow of the castle halls, though, he entered a new life, one that had been made up by his Princess for what she believed to be the best.



He followed her in silence, trying not to look like a fool as he took in the new scenery with great awe. Before, such glimpses were only given from the vantage point of the few tiny windows that overlooked the garden. The way he had looked inside was almost as if he was looking at a painting. The concept of a reality beyond the glass never formed in his young mind. Now here he was, seven years later, and it still amazed him that the castle existed beyond the gardens, but he didn’t know any better, and he realized, as he followed Zelda diligently, that he knew less than he ever thought he did.



“I’ll assume that by now, someone is readying a room for you,” she remarked as they walked, “So while we wait for that, I think I should introduce you to some men who may be able to help us with your new identity. They are all very kind gentlemen, Link, and I think that you will like them.”



He offered now response, but still kept his attention focused on his following and ogling.



Eventually, after winding through an incomprehensible maze of stone halls and staircases, whose walls were decorated will all sorts of paraphernalia, ranging from hand woven tapestries to shields and weapons that not even Link had a name for, they came to a set of large solid oak doors, upon which were delicate carvings. Indeed, Link thought, it must have taken a great artisan to create the beautiful images on the doors. On the top left of the four panels, A Knight on his steed sat proudly, in full armor, holding the banner of Hyrule in one hand, and a great sword in the other. The top right panel was done in the image of a Knight in combat, also in full armor, but without his horse. He was sword to sword with an evil-looking man, who was unidentifiable for the most part. The bottom left panel had the image of a Squire in formal clothes, walking amidst a rack of lances and holding a short sword in one hand. The bottom right panel was a simple Page, not more than nine or ten years old, who held in one hand, a toy horse, and in the other, a toy Knight. There was such rich detail in the carvings that one could look at them all day and not see absolutely everything portrayed in them.



Zelda, however, was not as dumbstruck as her companion at the familiar sight of the doors. She didn’t even notice the awe on his face as she quoted, still facing away from him, “There’s an old saying that goes, ‘If you give a man a place just for himself and no other, then it becomes his kingdom.’ I never understood it, until I found out where the old men went at night.” With that, she opened one of the doors, allowing more of the soft yellow light of candles to fill the slightly dimmer hall.



Four aging soldiers sat on various couches and chairs around a great stone hearth, roaring with laughter. Their gathering made the vast room with all its high ceilings and unused space, seem empty. Two long tables were on either side of the hearth, accompanied only by books taken from the massive shelves on the wall opposite the hearth, which lay opened and forgotten about on the dusty surfaces of the tables. However, when the door was fully opened, the small center of life in the great room stopped its laughter and turned to meet its visitors.



“Ah! Milady, what brings you to our part of the castle?” a broad man, the youngest of the group, appearing to be only in his fifties, asked of the Princess.



“I’m actually here on an important matter, as is an old friend,” Zelda explained.



Link stepped forward slightly, still hanging in the door way, to make himself known.



“Well then,” another old man asked, this one completely bald and slightly older than the first, “What business is it that brings her Highness into the Knight’s Den without even taking off her cloak.”



Only then did Zelda realize she was still wearing the cloak that had at first concealed her from Link’s vision, though the hood had remained unused since she first drew it back. She then casually undid the fastenings of the heavy garment, and draped it over a well used wooden chair that happened to reside near the door. What she wore underneath was not the kind of dress Link was accustomed to seeing her in. In fact, it had not even a tint of pink on it. The light, silky fabric was indeed a dark forest green, one that was almost more black than green itself, and embroidered in gold. Link decided that he liked it, a lot. It flattered her already beautiful features very well, but it took all his effort to pull his gaze away and back to where it belonged, which was anyway where else.



“You gentlemen and I have spoken at length on the condition of this kingdom,” Zelda began, addressing the old men, “And if memory serves me correctly, you are supportive of my right to the throne, correct?”



The men nodded uniformly, adding a few affirming grunts.



“Well then, I also remember the lot of you saying something about getting that ‘Bloody Emperor’ out of this kingdom as soon as possible, right?”



Instead of simple grunts, the men answered with cheers and calls to battle.



Zelda laughed ruefully. “Well, my dear old friend Link has helped me many times in the past. So many, that I don’t think you’d believe me if I recounted all of them to you. He is a skilled warrior, as well as a skilled thinker, however, he is not the type of person that can simply wander this castle or hold counsel with me without reason, if you know what I mean. I know this may seem strange to you, but I have a feeling that Link could be essential to ridding our kingdom of its most recent problems.”



“So how does this involve us?” the most elderly of the bunch called out from a slit in his long white beard.



“Patience, sir,” Zelda commanded, “I am coming to a point here. You see, Link had just found me in the gardens, and he has just arrived back in Hyrule from a journey of many years. Terinae interrupted his homecoming and I had to tell him something, so I said that Link was the son of one of my late father’s late Knights, and an aspiring Squire himself.”



“Hold up, hold up!” the youngest one demanded. “You mean to say that you just made this peasant ‘friend’ of yours into a Squire with a simple word and, no less, the son of one of our departed finest? You do know, Milady, that there are reasons that we Knights are a dying breed in Hyrule. We are all old men, most of us widowers, who have had no sons to carry on our traditions. Not only is it illogical to give us one, but very complicated. For the Goddesses’ sake, it doesn’t even seem that the boy can even speak!”



Link, even in his state of shock had to prove the raging old Knight wrong. “I can speak, as well as learn.”



“Then learn this, boy!” the vehement Knight shouted, “If you are to be any Squire in this castle, you will address me as ‘Milord’ every time you so much as open your mouth in my direction.”



Link did not recoil, yet he made a note to watch out for the Knight’s sour tongue.



“Wrasten,” Zelda admonished, “I pray you, go easy on him. He has only just learned of Hyrule’s fate, but he is willing to help us, and I am willing to do everything in my power to let him help, but I can’t do that if you scream at him as if he were a servant.”



“‘Tis what he is, isn’t it?”



It still baffled the young swordsman how people cared so much for what place they were in society, but he felt the sting of that comment as if it demeaned him to some animalistic level of life.



“Not anymore. I wish that you would willingly accept him and teach him as I will, but I can still expect your work without your will. However, it is not my wish to place any order upon the Old Knights of Hyrule. At least the rest of you are kind and gentle souls, as I’ve grown to know you. What do you have to say on this matter?” the Princess inquired.



“You know, Highness,” the bald one spoke, “That I am for anything that is helpful to this, the greatest of Kingdoms.”



“I have no objections,” stated the bearded man, “And, in fact, I rather like the idea. It’s about time we had a new Knight in Hyrule, even if he’s only part of a plot to restore our royalty to its rightful place on the throne.”



The youngest grunted a less enchanting go ahead, offering no words towards the matter.



The lone Knight who had kept silent for the whole encounter was then the focus of all eyes in the room. His salt and pepper hair and short beard were neatly trimmed, and one could see that he was older than he looked, and even wiser beyond those years. He deliberated silently, the glow of the hearth bouncing off his aging, but still striking face and green eyes. His eventual answer, however, only served to confuse Link even further. “Didn’t Dorian’s wife have a babe, not more than twenty years ago, that died of a fever just before the war took his parents that fall? The boy could be passed as Dorian’s son...for he has the look of him, at least enough to fool that foreign thief.”



A mutual nod of recognition as well as few stronger stares in Link’s direction were what followed.



“Are you all in agreement then?” Zelda asked again, “Do I have the pledge of the Old Knights of Hyrule?”



“I believe I speak for the lot of us in saying that you do, Princess,” the once silent one spoke again in affirmative.



Then Zelda grabbed her cloak, after shooting a quick smile in the direction of an overwhelmed Link. “On that note, gentlemen, I’ll leave you to get better acquainted. I’ll be back in due time.”



She stepped back towards the door, whispering at Link as she left, “Don’t worry. It may not seem like it, but they are all good men and they will do anything to get the Emperor out of Hyrule. I’ll thank you in advance for your help...”



And then he was alone, well, with the Old Knights.



“Nice of her to introduce us all, don’t you think?” the young, aggressive Knight added sarcastically.



“Certainly, but she seemed to have a busy air about her. I’m sure it just slipped her Highness’ mind,” the elderly one reassured him.



“Well, it might as well be me who does the introductions then. Boy, for starters, you can call me Sir Wrasten, that is, when you don’t address me as Milord. They tell me I’m the mother hen around here, even though I have expressed one too many times how little I like the term. The old man of old men here to my right is Sir Cortain. We know him as the wise old coot, even if he is generally a little senile. The bald man you see reflecting the fire light is Sir Banon. Don’t let the lack of hair fool you, because now that he doesn’t have to deal with it in his face anymore, he had become an even greater swordsman. And last but not least the quiet, pretty boy of the group we call Sir Damen. Don’t let his ample talk fool you, because he’s actually Hyrule’s greatest strategist. He probably saves his breath for the next set of logic he plans to throw at us. What about yourself, lad?”



“My name is Link,” the more than slightly stunned young man began.



“Oh come now!” Wrasten scolded, but this time there was a more gentle and laughable edge to his sharp tongue. “We know that much already. What do you do when the Princess isn’t making up a life for you?”



“I’m an adventurer of sorts. Ever since I was ten years old I’ve wandered from Hyrule, looking to help out wherever help was needed. Through that, I’ve come to know all sorts of places, people, and weapons, though I am fond of the sword. The whole story is too long to be an introduction,” Link told them.



“Then we shall have to hear it over the course of many evenings later to come,” Banon announced, sounding genuinely interested.



“Come closer, boy,” Wrasten invited, now seeming to have warmed up considerably since Zelda had gone, “We aren’t here to rob you or whatnot.”



Link obeyed, and was thankful for the instinct he had to do so. He liked this version of the youngest “Old Knight” better than the snapping turtle of a man he’d first encountered, and he didn’t want to set him off again.



“You and the Princess must’ve both been in a hurry,” Banon remarked, upon seeing Link still in all his gear, “Since you couldn’t even leave your sword and shield at the door.”



“Usually, they never leave me until I sleep,” Link commented. “I am so used to the weight now that I barely even notice them.”



“Well let’s have a look see here,” the bald swordsman prompted eagerly. Link could already tell where his interests were.



It felt strange to take off the sword’s sheath and its shoulder strap, as well as the shield that was hooked onto it, but Link knew enough to know better than to simply draw his sword when showing it off. Feeling naked, he approached a small table that was among the random pieces of lesser furniture scattered about the large room, and laid the equipment down. Banon followed him eagerly for those few steps, while the others looked on from where they were.



Link gladly withdrew his fine broadsword and placed its hilt towards Banon, wondering what the expert would have to say about it. Banon took it up, and seemed almost thrown off by the lightness of it, not that it was light, but rather, it did look much heavier than it was. He did several things in examining the blade, many that Link thought had no real purpose, while grunting all the while.



“‘Tis a grand sword for a young common man such as yourself,” he finally remarked, still admiring the inlaid gold in the clean, sharp steel.



“Thank you, Sir,” Link replied. “I was owed a favor by one of the finest weapon’s crafters I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and this was what came of it.”



Damen then approached, making almost no noise as he did. He was not interested in the sword and its details that Banon was now blabbering on about. Link watched the clean-cut Knight out of the corner of his eye as he placed his hand on the well-worn Hylian shield that Link had continually kept and repaired throughout his travels. He looked at Link, while the younger man looked right back at him, and for an instant, smiled, then pretended to be interested in Banon’s rantings on the good craftsmanship of the blade, and how Link should go about mending the nicks he had in the left side of it so as to make it look even more like new.



Link wasn’t really paying attention, though. Something about Damen caught his thoughts. It seemed that the Old Knight knew far more than he cared to say, at least for the moment. His whole stature and appearance exuded knowing, and it reminded Link of the Sages he’d awakened, back in the days of forgotten time. There was a comfort in his knowing, Link could see that, and it exuded from him also. The hero knew that Damen would not lead him astray. It was an odd form of instant trust, but Link had learned long ago that certain feelings he had were meant to be listened to.



Eventually, the sword made it back to its sheath and the excitement Banon had shown over it died down, making the bald Knight seem like he’d been let down, simply because he knew better than to talk on and on about weapons all evening and bore his companions to death with it. They asked Link a few more generic questions, many of which he couldn’t answer. High born types, Link found out, had an affinity towards family ties, even if it was in a common man such as himself. When he told them of his good fortune at being raised by the Kokiri, the men seemed more shocked to learn that Link didn’t know who his parents were, rather than the fact that he’d been raised by the “Savage Fairy Children” as his old friends were seldom referred to.



As that conversation died down, not unlike the embers of the dying fire in the Knight’s great hearth, Damen spoke again, commanding all to listen with his very lack of silence. “Lords,” he addressed the whole of them, “I believe that we should get down to more serious matters, even if a little storytelling and conversation is all well and good. We have to invent a history for this boy, and one that will give him enough standing to work with us and give us counsel in this, our time of greatest need.”



The Old Knights agreed with grunts and nods, as that was what seemed customary.



“Then we are to say that he is the son of our lost Knight Sir Dorian, and was sent as a young child to live with his mother’s family off in another kingdom...”



“Hassentern!” Cortain, the oldest and supposedly wisest suggested.



“That will do. It is believable enough. So young Link here was sent to live with family in Hassentern and train as a Knight there, in a quiet, isolated country manor.”



Wrasten chuckled. “It would give excuse for his poor manners.”



“Exactly my point,” Damen stated. “By that, he learned the blade and the horse, as from what I can tell of him already, he already knows well, but little else. Though he wishes to achieve Knighthood and follow in the steps of his long dead father, he is greatly unprepared for life in Hyrule Castle. Therefore, the Princess and the Old Knights must step in, in order to put the young man on the correct path towards his eventual Knighthood, which he is promised once this ‘little political issue’ has been solved. It gives us the perfect excuse to have him in tow whenever we wish, and to teach him what he needs to know in order to fit the part of his altered birth. An uncultured, wild young noble out to avenge his parents...there is no better way!”



Damen seemed pleased with himself, and sported a grin not unlike that of a child who knows he’s gotten away with something.



“But Damen,” Banon butted in, looking perplexed. “The only thing is, if you make the boy out to be Dorian’s son...then he’s your--”



“Squire!” Damen cut him off, “As he will be to all of us.” He then turned to Link and said, “It may seem like a strange and even loathsome idea to you, my young friend, but I will tell you this: From now on, your days are going to be very full and very planned. Cherish and free time you find for yourself, because incidences of such will be few and far between. Are you sure you agree with all this?”



Link pondered on it for a moment, still awestruck by the fast pace at which his world was tumbling and altering around him. “It is for Hyrule, so yes, I agree,” he finally blurted out, knowing that was indeed his answer, only cut down a little. “Besides, it’s too late now for me to back out, isn’t it?”



“I have great faith in you, Link, excuse me, Master Link. It is what most will call you now, either that or Your Honor. Get used to it, because your first lesson is to only call someone you really know and trust by their name alone.”



It was then that the doors bust open again, revealing Zelda along with a slightly younger girl, who Link could only guess was some kind of servant.



“I hope you gentlemen have had a nice chat,” Zelda began, “But I’m afraid that its time for me and Calandra to show Master Link to his room in the north wing. So say your good-byes for the night, the hour is drawing late as is.”



And with that the Old Knights did whether by wave, grunt, or even a few words, they bid him off, and Link grabbed his equipment, and found that he saw a good side to his confusing dilemma in the castle in the old men. They were all, in their own way, truly friendly and good people and they meant well for him. As much as he trusted Zelda, Link found himself longing for the glow of the great hearth as soon as he’d left it, even though it was a relatively pleasant spring night.



As soon as he was clear of her way, the servant girl shut the door, closing him off from his new friends and teachers.



“Terinae has retired for the night,” Zelda reported, “But he made a point of making sure that I told you he looked forward to speaking with you at dinner tomorrow. For that reason alone, you must meet with me in the morning tomorrow, as early as possible. I have a meeting with a few financial advisors just before noon, but until then, you have much to learn, and I have much to teach you.”



Link nodded and followed along as they started on another winding course through the maze of stone the Hylians called a castle.



“So how did everything go over with the Old Knights?” she inquired over her shoulder.



“Good, I guess,” he told her. “They decided to tell people I was the son of some Knight named Dorian that was killed a long time ago in some war and that I had been raised in some wild country...uh...the name started with an H or something...”



“Hassentern?”



“Yes, that’s the one,” Link affirmed as they hit a narrow flight of stairs.



“Ah, so they plan to pass you off as some beast boy raised far away from the comforts of Hyrule,” she giggled. “That, I guess, will do well enough. It works out reasonably for us then, so all in all, it is a good idea.”



After a few more staircases, they then reached an intersection of four long, door-lined corridors.



“This is where most of the noble blood of the castle sleeps,” Zelda indicated. “To the south, the direction that points to the heart of Hyrule, is where the royal family is intended to stay. Right now, it’s just myself and the Emperor, who demands only the finest we have to offer here. To the west, facing towards a great deal of the rest of the known world, is the ambassador’s wing. That is where we board our foreign guests. To the east, at the right hand of the royal family, are the highest born nobles. And lastly, to the north, guarding the royal family from the hostile northern lands, are the high ranking generals and Knights of Hyrule. Everyone is separated like that, which is almost silly if you ask me.”



Link could not believe how much information and tradition he’d already encountered in the few hours he’d spent inside the castle. Silly it was, but astonishing as well.



“They gave you a nice room in the north wing,” Zelda told him. “After all, it’s nearly as empty as my wing these days. Calandra will show you which one it is and bring you anything that you require. I knew I could count on you, Link.” With that she smiled. “I was hoping you’d come back. I knew that you would. You’ve helped me and this kingdom before, and I know you can do it again. Thank you, for everything...again.”



She didn’t even leave a chance for him to respond, and began to walk briskly away to other important matters. “Remember!” Zelda shouted. “First thing in the morning! I will send someone for you!”



Link simply nodded and waved in goodbye. Words, it seemed, would now be forever beyond him.



“This way,” the younger girl beckoned, leading him down the cool, dim north wing. “Yours is the third door on the left, they said.” When they reached it, she opened the door for him, which was a practice that Link was severely unaccustomed to, and lit the wall scones with the tiny candle she’d been carrying.



The room was made of stone, same as the rest of the castle, and the largest that Link had ever called home. Two slits of windows offered a view of the western gardens, as well as the clear night sky. Between them, on the wall opposite the door, a rather perplexing tapestry was hung. It was done in such a strange style, that Link couldn’t tell what it was supposed to be depicting. He’d seen such things in the nice inns and houses he’d crept into, and usually, they told a story, but this one was fashioned strangely. The south wall was home to a large four post bed, covered in a deep red quilt and newly washed sheets. Two wall scones on either side of it had little matching tables underneath them, one of which held a basin and a pitcher. There was a large cedar chest at the foot of the bed as well. On the south wall, there was a wooden wardrobe and bookcase, both of which were small and empty. A barely sizable table and two chairs, both made of a strangely dark wood, were off in the corner near the door. All and all, very basic for a castle room, but more than Link had ever known in his short lifetime.



“Your Honor?” the girl asked, knocking Link out of his grateful daze, “Do you need anything else?”



“I-I think I’m good for the night. Thanks,” he replied, now only wanting to get away from the constant change.



“Good night then, Master Link.” With that, the girl disappeared quickly, even before Link could turn around watch her leave.



A bed had never looked so inviting to him as it did now. He had not fought hard on that day, or even ridden very hard or long, but he was exhausted. Link began to take off all of his various belts and straps, unloading pound after pound of various weapons and items he always carried with him. He knew the rest of his treasures were safe with Epona, who had probably bedded down in the tall grass of Hyrule field by now. It was then that he noticed that the Ocarina was still in its pouch, and that he had put it away and hadn’t given it to Zelda. There was no need for that now. It appeared that Hyrule still needed his help, and to Link, this meant that the Ocarina was still in his charge. He would ask the Princess if this was what he should think and do when she had less troubling her, when she had time to at least talk to him, that was.



Link was once again startled out of his thoughts when a knock came upon the wood of his open door. He turned around to find Damen standing in the doorway, his black cloak almost completely covering the dull grey clothing he wore.



“I couldn’t help but see that your light was still on,” the Old Knight began, the grin Link had seen before once again on his face.



“I was just about to go to sleep,” Link reported.



“Well, can I ask you to wait a little while longer? I still have some matters to discuss with you, those as such that they can’t be spoken in front of my fellow Knights,” he stated, leaning on the doorway.



Link nodded.



Damen straightened himself up, looking indeed like a much younger man. “The Knight I mentioned, that you are now the ‘son’ of...I knew him quite well, you could say. You see, Dorian was my youngest brother, and he and I were close, even though nearly twenty-two years separated us in age. My parents had many sons, of which I was the eldest, and he the youngest, and we were all Knights, and it is strange that I am the last remaining. Most of my brothers died along with Dorian in the war against the invading Gerudos that thought they could take over Hyrule many years ago. Though we did win that battle, it cost us a great deal of casualties, and among them was Dorian.”



Only then did Link comprehend the fact that this made Damen his “uncle”.



“My little brother’s wife and sickly infant son were supposedly killed in a raid on the town they were staying in shortly after. I know no other details of it, simply because those who were left alive in that part of the war were the ones who fled early, and also because my brothers and I had a great falling out only months before that, and we still weren’t speaking to one another. That argument is one of the few I regret making in my life, but that is a story for another day.”



Damen paused, perhaps out of reverence, or only to catch his breath, but Link didn’t dare to make a sound, for fear of ruining the story.



“When I saw you walk into the Den, I thought I’d seen a ghost. Believe it or not, boy, you are the very image of Dorian at your age, only dressed in strange clothes and in need of a haircut. There are a few other things that are different about you, but overall, you look astoundingly like my brother. I don’t know where you came from, or who it was that bore you to this land, but it makes me wonder. Never mind that, though, I have said too much. If people talk of your uncle, know that they are speaking of me. I will tell you all you need to know about the family I’ve put you in, so it is my wish that after you see the Princess tomorrow morning, that you see me in my chambers. I am the second door from the end, on the right. Can you remember that?”



Link nodded again, now fearing that every moment would have him at a loss for words.



“Then I shall see you tomorrow. Good night, Master Link.”



“Uh...same to you, Sir Damen.”



Damen laughed and turned his shoulder to the stunned young man. “Remember, Link, you can call me uncle if you wish.” Then he left, the light of his own candle receding away down the darker hallway.



It was all Link could do to fall asleep that night, what with the new, and strangely uncomfortable for all its softness bed, and the thoughts that raged on in his mind, trying to ponder what exactly had happened that evening, and what would happen the sun rose again.

That's interesting, Damen is his uncle... the plot shaping up reminds me of c.s. lewis... which is good! A couple lines of dialoge vexed me, but not enough to actually mention. Thats cool... man do you know if there is a place here where groups of writers discuss their work? Or is this place it...? Oh well, thought you might know since you said you like that stuff... Anyway... awaiting the next chapter!

For today's chapter...we have #4...



Link, in all his life abroad, had been used to some rude awakenings, but those usually came from various monsters that shoved him out of the mud he slept in while attempting to kill him, or at least take his leg off for a bite to eat, however, the thought of a little girl being able to get into his room and not alert him until she shook the living daylights out of him, was indeed disturbing.



“Time to get up, Master Link!” the little thing shouted as she shook.



Link bolted upright in bed, and she managed to withdraw quickly enough not to be thrown by the force of the startled young man. He then shook his head, clearing it, and rubbed his eyes, which were confronted with a room that was all too bright.



“Princess Zelda said there was a change of plans and that I should give you this note,” the girl announced, pulling a small envelope out of her pocket.



Still sandy-eyed with sleep, Link took the note and thanked the girl. He opened the envelope and read it silently, suddenly questioning why Zelda even had to write a note. She could’ve just told the girl that had shaken him awake.



Dear Link,



I’m truly sorry, but I have to attend to a few other things early this morning and we can only meet for a little more than an hour today, but it will have to suffice. In the meantime, I’ve arranged for some things that will make you look more presentable, shall we say. I really do regret having to do this, but as you can obviously see, I never have little to do around here, and there are matters of importance that I have to see to, even if I’m not technically ruling the country. I’ll have someone fetch you around mid-morning.



Sincerely,

Princess Zelda



“I suppose you’re still here to tell me what I’m supposed to be doing?” Link asked of the girl as he saw her still standing as she was when he had taken the letter from her.



“Yup. You can call me Vesta, Your Honor,” said the girl, who couldn’t have been much older than twelve. “And my boss said I was to bring you a change of clothes from the tailor and have a bath ready for you to use. Once you’re done, I have to take you to the tailor’s quarters to be measured for some new good clothes.”



Link suddenly felt ashamed of his own appearance, seeing as he had never thought to own more than a few changes of clothes, and he had never been terribly worried about bathing regularly before. It just wasn’t necessary. Oh well, it was just another change. He had to learn to accept all of them, somehow. Only then did he notice the steam rising from the great copper tub filled with water and the folded pieces of cloth that were arranged neatly next to it. How could that little thing drag that big tub up and fill it without waking him. It simply astounded Link, and he almost wanted to ask the little girl to teach him how to sneak around so well.



“Thank you,” he replied simply.



“You’re welcome, Master Link. I’ll leave you to your privacy...but hey! I’m going to go get breakfast while I wait, you want me to bring you something?” she inquired after a thought.



Only then did it occur to Link that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast of the previous day. “Yes, I’d like that.” It was a strange idea, though, people bringing him food. His meals usually consisted of whatever game he could trap along with some hard travel biscuits and water from the nearest place it was deemed to be drinkable. Good food was the kind he bought at inns, or was given to him by his many friends along the way.



“Okay, got any requests?”



Link wasn’t exactly sure what she meant for a moment, but the he realized that in a place like the castle, one could have pretty much anything one wanted for breakfast. Again, this was strange to him and made him uneasy. He could only think to respond with, “Whatever you’re having is fine with me.” He wasn’t too picky in the first place.



“If you say so, Master Link.” With that, she took off into the maze of stone walls and staircases, shutting the plank door behind her.



“I suppose I could use a bath...” Link thought out loud, still eyeing the tub suspiciously.



Once he had washed the dirt of travel and battle off of himself, Link dried off and changed into the clothes Vesta had brought for him, consisting of a black tunic, which was made of a fine, light material, and white trousers. His boots, he decided, must’ve been acceptable enough. He was reluctant to change, having gotten used to his usual garb, and especially his hat. He just looked...strange...without it, at least he thought. He left it reluctantly sitting on the now occupied shelves, with the rest of his old green outfit.



A knock came at the door then.



“Uh...come in.”



Vesta entered, carrying a simple tray with an assortment of food on it. She put it down on the little table in the corner and then scurried over to the shelves where Link still stood.



“The boss said I’m supposed to take your old clothes to the laundry and to tell you not to worry about it because you’ll get them back,” she told him and began to fold the green cloth.



“Who is this boss of yours anyway?” Link asked, watching her out of the corner of his eye as he eagerly approached the food that was laid out for him.



“The head maid. She’s really old, and she can be nasty sometimes, but she really is nice.”



Link just hummed a reply as he pulled out a chair and sat down, observing the contents of the simple meal. The tray was occupied by a small bowl of hot oatmeal, a plate with two fried eggs and four thick pieces of bacon, and another plate that held two slices of bread, as well as a small pot of honey. Link couldn’t ask for more, especially since he wasn’t paying for it, and he dug in immediate