Chapter V: A Moment of Peace

Chapter V: A Moment of Peace

Link took in a mouthful of sunlight. He thought he had only been in the palace for a couple of hours, but now, he emerged in the bright high noon radiance. The sun seemed to be shining for him alone. It was a welcome sight from the dreary old castle. He noticed a fierce growling from deep within his bowells. It had to be well over a day since he last took in a meal. He also felt a very eminent stiffness from just about everywhere in his body. He found it diificult to raise his arms. His sides also ached, as though there was a cord of thorns cicrling his chest. His walk was slowed by a cramp in both legs. No matter.
He came over to Sahasrahla's refuge. He sat just as Link had left him. He sat still and silent in an old sackcloth robe. He was bald and had a thick crop of ivory facial hair. His eyes were weary but shone with the wisdom of the ages.
'I did it. I passed your test.' Link Held out the pendant. The elder took into his hands like it was an infant. His eyes were wide with hope.
'I knew you would. However lad, the test is not complete. There still remain two other pendants for you to obtain.'
'Oh right, "Three pendants of" something.'
'Virtue lad. Anyways, have you a map?' Link pulled it out of his knap sack. 'The other two are here and here.' He marked two locations. 'The second one is here in the desert southwest. The final one is atop Death Mountain it the Tower of Hera, the northernmost section of Hyrule.'
'And the sword?'
'Here.' He marked a spot in the upper northwest corner. 'In the Lost Woods.'
'Alright What else do I need?'
'The Book of Mudora. It contains many legends and is also the key to the ancient Hylian script. You will find it in the village. Tell the book keeper I sent you.'
'Is that all?'
'For now. I do suggest that you first return home and rest.'
'I'll do that. I suppose I'll show this to Zelda and Tellah.' Link was refferring to the pendant. 'Tellah was saying something about the wizard not being able to enter into the Sanctuary.
'Yes that is a sacred room. But Tellah cannot fight there. The best that he can do his stalemate the wizard'
'Why would he need to fight?'
'Tellah may not look it now days, but untill Agahnim came, he was Hyrule's foremost magic weilder. You are the land's sole hope.' Link said nothing. 'GO from here Link, Hyrule is yours to save. The Legend is yours to write.'

He quickened his pace with each step as he drew nearer to his destination. Oh to lie in his own bed. To get some meat and bread inside his stomache. The very thoughts spurred him on. When his house came into view, he was not greeted by the welcome sight of an comfortable and familiar cabin, but a mound of ashes.
'No no!' his lungs deflated and his shoulders slumped and his heart dropped. He walked around in the cinders seeing if he could salvage anything. He saw the remains of a small wooden horse; one of his childhood toys. A scrap of cloth, which was once a cape that his uncle wore, lay beneath some black embers. With every breath he took, he inhaled a bit of the ashes which circled the air about him. After a few moments, Link realized there was nothing for him there. He set out for the only place he knew he could find refuge.
Link had just yielded a touchdown, after scoring one of his own. He kicked a few embers in anger.
It was just a little bit before dusk when Link arrived at the sanctuary. He felt like he'd been running a marathon all day. All Link wanted to do was sit down to some food. As the sanctuary came into view he heard Zelda calling out to him.
'Link! Link!' her voice held an energetic perk to it. He found it to be a bit annoying, nonethless, Link smiled as he heard her.
'Shouldn't you be inside? If the--'
'Don't start that with me.'
She sat atop the roof wrapped in a thick cloak. 'How'd you get up there?'
There's some ivy you can climb. Come up here and join me.'
'Who am I to refuse the wishes of the Princess?' She smiled at his statement.
He ascended the vines onto the roof and walked over to where she was. 'Sit down.' which he did. They overlooked the towers of the castle.
'Zelda--'
'Quiet just watch.' The sun began to duck behind the ramparts of Hyrule castle. The grey's and blacks of the castle were highlighted by a field of gold surrounded by a wide arcing band of sapphire. Slowly the gold faded into red. The sapphire into purple. Purple into balck. Eventually the sun withdrew. They sat and watched it , as though they were on a ship leaving their home. The sun gave one last flicker, almost as a farewell, as it was tucked away into the night's pocket. They watched as one by one, the stars poked their heads out of the night's blanket.
'wow', was all that Link could manage to say.
She reached out to touch him. 'Oh Link aren't you cold?'
'No not entirely.'
She extended her cloak to cover him as well. He felt her warmth as she stirred next to him. It brought a smile to his weary form. She wrapped him in her arms.
'I'm glad I could share that with you.' said Zelda. She looked as though there was more she wished to say to him.
'So am I' He reached into his pocket. 'Look at this' he produced the pendant he's won earlier that day. Her eyes lit up like a child seeing the tree on a Christmas morning
'Oh LInk! You are wonderful! I knew you could!'
'Well the Elder says I have two more.'
'So you met Sahasrahla?'
Link nodded. and told her all of the days events.
'Well it now seems that the both of us have lost our homes to that monster.'
Link shrugged. 'Guess so.'
'Well I suppose that we do have each other.'
Link chuckled at that statement.
'What!?'
'Never really saw things like that before. You're right.'
She returned his smile. Her hand found his. She gave it a squeeze. It took Link's weary heart to its limits.
'If someone had told me, just a few days ago, that I am supposed to save Hyrule, I'd've laughed them up and down the sea and back again.' He was taken off gaurd with her responce.
'Link, I'm sorry.' she her eyes were cast down for she could not look at him.
He looked at her bewildered. 'For what?'
'I'm sorry I came in and shook up your life like this.' Her tone was full of remorse.
'What do you mean?'
'Well for starters, If it wasn't for me draging you into this, you're uncle would still be alive, And you've still have a house.' She couldn't bear it if he thought ill of her. Zelda owed Link everything. She gripped his hand even tighter.
'Oh that. I guess that in a way it kind of is your fault.' She sat there not responding. 'I don't blame you, you did what you had to.'
'Thank you. That's something that had been plauging me all this time.' She expelled a sigh.
'Well let it plague you no more.' They both laughed. 'So how are you handling this? Your life has been shaken up just as much as mine, probally more.'
'Oh, I miss my father.'
'He was a good king.'
'I love him.' she paused. 'I, he...' she could not continue. Link said nothing for what could be said.
'I am sorry I didn't mean to bring this up.'
'That's alright.' she pulled her self closer to him like a tulip incling towards the warmth of the sun. It brought a pleasureable pain to his sore form.
'I envy you Zelda. I never knew my father.'
'Raelly LInk.'
My uncle told me he died while I was still young.'
'What about your mother?'
'Never knew her either. My uncle told me she died shortly after I was born.'
Zelda said nothing, for what could she say. 'My mother died too when I was young.' she said
'Everything's happened so fast, I haven't had any time to grieve for my uncle.' Link expelled a weary sigh. 'If getting these pendants, and the sword are what I must do to avenge him, I'll do what it takes.'
Zelda rested her head on Link's shoulder. 'I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful night.' She remarked.
'Yeah it is nice.'
'I spent most of my day worrying about you Link.'
'Oh really.'
'If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do.'
'I didn't know you felt that way.'
'Well not just for my sake, but for all of Hyrule.' clairified Zelda.
'Still, though this whole Hero thing has not sank in yet. I mean I know that my lineage has had the Hero in it, and my father and uncle were both knights but I never thought that I'd be a hero. I know I still have yet to 'prove myself', but I don't know If I'm up to it.'
'I know exactly how you feel. I have to manage this country whether I'm ready to or not. So many times I've justed wanted to live like a normal girl, you know. All I ever wanted was just to have a family. But what I want cannot take presidence over what I must do. We all have to make sacrifices for what we love. My father and your uncle both made the ultimate ones. We're in the same boat. And besides, I was always told, that "with great power comes great responsibility." But just so you know, you'll always be a hero to me.'
'I've never wished to be anything extradordinary. All I've wanted is to serve Hyrule for a while, and settle down on a patch of land to farm, and have a family to take care of. Sure, I wouldn't mind going off on some grand adventure, but, I never really put much into that.'
'So you were going to enlist as a soldier?'
'Well for a little bit. I was always told that it was an honor. And It's been in the family. I've never wanted anything more than what I could do my self.'
'Link, we have our whole lives ahead of us. After Hyrule is freed we can do everything we've always wanted. But as long as it is not, our personal dreams will have to wait.'
'I realize that'
'It seems that greatness has found us. It's odd because neither of us have wanted it. My father always told me that, "Greatness is never achieved by those who seek it." It's wierd how that works.'
For a while niether said a word. They listened to the nightingale give her song. She was joined by the owl and the wolf. Their arias floated to the stars.
'You know LInk, I wish I could join you out there.'
'Why's that?'
'Yesterday when you left, you were going in my place. I should be the one going out there and risking my life for Hyrule. I can't even fight for my own kingdom. I had no right to pull you into this, even if I am a Princess.'
'You're right, you don't. But I consider it an honor to be chosen by the Princess to fight for her.'
'I've asked you to sacrifice everything for me, and I owe you more than you know. Some day I'll repay you.'
Link saw the sincerity reflected in her blue eyes. 'I don't know what to say.'
'And I realized that the safest place in Hyrule is right next to you.'
'Yeah where I'm always on the run from soldiers, and always getting attacked by monsters.'
They laughed.
He noticed the way her eyes seemed to shine in the moonlight. Something about them he found exciting. They sat still and silent, and simply soaked in the moonlight and the stars and enjoyed each other's presence.
When it became late, they went inside. Tellah sat at the organ, simply passing the time, playing what ever came to mind. Link got an idea. He had no idea from where it came, but he figured, hey, why not.
He took Zelda's hand and gave an exagerated bow. She wondered, what he was doing. 'Fair Princess, may I have this dance?'
She chuckled and a scarlet tint coloured her cheeks. 'Yes Brave Hero, I'd love to.' She gave an equaly exaggerated curtsey.
Link, of course, had no clue as to what he was doing. She wrapped her arms about his neck, and he circled her waist with his. He swayed back and forth, remaining in the same spot, timidly and slowly at first. He could not quite bring himself look into her eyes. It took him a few meaures to mount up the courage to move. He kept his steps small. The palms of his hands became wet with perspiration. He feared he'd do something foolish. He tried to let the music take him away. She felt so warm in his arms. He felt so natural in hers, as though that was where they belonged. before he knew it, they were all over the sanctuary floor, seemingly weightless.
Link couldn't believe what he was doing. Here was the princess of Hyrule, fair and beautiful as the dawn, locked in his arms, with her head resting serenly upon his shoulder. The fragrance of her hair, tickled his nostrils.
Zelda rested within his arms. They were cut, bruised, and weary, but as secure as the lock on a vault. She looked upon a cut. It was crimson and fresh, and it stood on his flesh like a ridge. She realized the wounds Link bore were for her. They were wounds inflicted because he was defending her. She closed her eyes, and pulled herself closer still.
She could feel the wild rythym emotion of his pulse. It pounded strong and clear, like a drum. Zelda swore it sang for her alone. She counted her own beats, and noticed how her heart beat in the same time as his own.
She looked up and they found each other's gaze. 'Can I tell you something Link?'
'Yeah go ahead.'
'Don't take this the wrong way Link, but I hate dancing.'
He thought She was going to tell him something grave. Nonetheless, he felt embarassed.
'I'm sorry Zelda, would you like to stop.'
'That's alright, I'm actually enjoying this.' They shared a laugh. 'My Father was always taking me to these elegant whatevers, affairs of state, he called them; and I always hated them'
'Well this is the first time I've ever danced.'
'Really?'
He nodded.
'I guess that explains why you keep stepping on my feet.'
He just knew he was going to do something like that. His heart sank. 'I'm so sorry'
'Don't worry about it.' she smiled 'You're doing fine, just relax. Listen to the music'
'I am enjoying this as well.'
'I'm glad.'
They said nothing as they danced across the sanctuary floor. Link and Zelda simply enjoied each other presence. It was a rare minuite when nothing happened. There was no one to fight. No rescues to make. Even revenge left his mind. Nothing. For one minuite Link and Zelda simply forgot about the desperate war they were waging. They cherished it realizing it may be a while before they would get the chance to have this moment again.
Link came to a realization. 'As I was walking into the Eastern Palace I asked myself why was I doing this.' She looked at him. 'For this.'
'Thank you.'

End Chapter

Picture courtesy of Louisa Roy from Independent Zelda