Chapter Text
Authors Notes: Hello my friends, a short intermediate chapter this go around. The climax of this arc is almost at its conclusion. I will publish the final juicy bit on the next posting, so stay tuned for that in a few weeks. But, that being said, this is a multi-arc story, so plenty to come that I have written down! Just need to compile and finalize. Also, if you are a fan of the story, let me know in a comment or take the survey. Lastly, I hope you enjoy. : )
Chapter 25
The Eye of the Storm
Glancing over her shoulder for a final embrace of the morning light as the sun eclipsed the door behind her, Zelda realized that the tomb must have been powered by an assortment of ancient cogs and gears. She watched in curious amazement as they moved autonomously every which way along the wall that slid the thick and heavy door.
And as the gravestone rumbled overhead, slamming closed, a gust of chill wind brushed past her hair, blowing out the dim flicker to the torch she was carrying. The great gale also caused her to twist and stumble forward, almost tripping over herself into the long dark of the unknown. Verily nearly falling, she caught herself before she could.
Now engulfed by absolute darkness, her hair stood on the back of her neck as fear slowly crept into the back of her mind. There would be no turning back for the way behind was shut. All that was left to do now was venture deep into the lone abyss below Hyrule castle.
She sure could have used Link's bravery right about now, she thought silently.
Being of no use to her now, she tossed the dead torch aside as tip-toed warily down the old stone steps. Reaching outwards, she could only use her hands as a guide along the musty and damp wall; unsure exactly what she was even feeling for. The air in the chamber was old, very old. Untouched by the grace outside sun for thousands of years.
She couldn't see a thing, and the deafening silence of it all was unnerving. All that could be heard was the sound of her own breathing and heart beating as it echoed throughout the entire chamber. The noise of which sounded like it was calling out to her from the depths below the castle, leaving her with an uneasy feeling.
For in her mind she knew that whatever lie ahead, would surely hear her approach, and the thought of that happening in the black nothingness caused her to pace trepidatiously.
"Eghyaaa!" She screamed.
The step in front of her was nothing but empty space, and she fell into what she could have only imagined was an eternal pit of oblivion that spanned forever downward.
Clawing out in a panic in all directions but grabbing nothing but unending air in the void, she thought her doomed was all but certain until the sudden sensation of firm ground was felt beneath her feet once again.
Lifted up, she gasped in relief, heart racing. Pausing only for a moment to digest what had just occurred. But, Still, unable to see past her nose she believed herself to be on a path of some kind. She couldn't be certain.
But before she could step lightly away, the tile she stood upon sunk low and the room around her shook violently. The cavern roared louder and louder, bringing itself to what could only be her impending doom. When will this madness end!?
And just as she cried out in her thoughts, sconces all along the wall revealed a path in front of her and the entire surrounding chamber lit up brilliantly, with bright blue flames. The same blue torches which the sheikah of old and her people would use to light the furnaces of Din, from ages told from myth and legend.
She knew not where the power came to set them a fire, nor did she ponder on it further. For she was glad that her vision returned, and that she could breathe freely once again from the frightful thrill moments earlier.
Immediately, her attention turned to the fine craftwork along the walls. Murals and ancient runework fashioned by her kin centuries, if not millennia ago. She could not be certain the era for they were pristine and unchanged by the decay of time. All except for one specific engraving that caught her eye.
And there she saw it at the tail end of the passageway. The symbol of the Black Sparrow.
Zelda nodded quizzically at the old sigil. Its faded and scarred remains along the wall mesmerized her. She couldn't shake the feeling.
The old bird lay flat, emblazoned in black, clasped in its beak a sleek golden rod. The illustration was marred and scratched away, almost beyond recognition, save it be her knowing of the tale of its existence from legend. It almost appeared as if someone tried to erase it from the histories of her people, long ago.
"The false one they called him…The false prince," she whispered to herself, continuing her recollection of the stories passed down to her from the scholars she learned from when she was just a girl. She recalled very little of the tale. For even in her day the story was loosely remembered by even the most wise and learned in the land.
"This hidden chamber was once his tomb," she said softly, walking closer to it.
"It was dug up ages ago, exhumed and made anew to serve a whole other purpose. This hall here is all the remains of his memory. Once his own, now left forgotten…never to be spoken on the tongues of the people ever again…But why? What did he do that was so unspeakable? So unforgivable to be blotted out of our minds and memory forever?" She questioned in a breathless whisper, cuffing her chin.
Her eyes wandered a moment longer on the old inscriptions that were carved into the old stone of the walls. They were filled in with luminescent flickering and colorful writing in a lost speech she didn't recognize as her own.
"I feel…so much memory in this place…and yet…it makes me...sad… so much sorrow…
"But why? Why would I feel sad? After all, It's not like I even know the Black Sparrow?" she spoke soft yet again, rubbing her arms in curiosity and melancholy. Her thoughts trailed further as she slowly stepped away, she couldn't help it but keep looking onwards to the old passages carved on the wall.
"But this…entire chamber, this passageway…This was later made to be the lover's secret moonlit road…or so I was told…I don't understand…Why would they use his ancient tomb?"
Remembering the task at hand, she quickly shook her head away of any further curiosity. There was no time for riddles in the dark.
Determined, she spoke stern under her breath. "If the stories are true, then this path should lead to the heart of the castle. The maiden's hidden doorway. The one she used to sneak her lover through ages ago," she breathed, looking on to the path before her feet. "Whatever that means…" she scoffed…"Ugh, I have to hurry, Link needs me! C'mon Zelda! Snap out of it and get a move on!" She said, chastising herself.
Putting walking behind her, she ran down the lit pathway as fast as she could and as far it would take her.
Link needs a real sword and a worthy weapon if he is to be victorious this day, she thought.
And, if he was wounded, he needed her attention and tender care now more than ever. And if need be, a way out to safety, away from the warring battle. Even, if she had to risk her own life to do so. She would do so without question or a second thought. She would do so for him.
"Master, they have taken down the great titan of Baer-arr-ador, and are breaching through the gates!" Slithered a gangly lizalfos before the hooves of his commander, tucked away high up into the highest keep of the castle, onlooking below.
Malroc's red glowing eyes opened and he answered back. "It is of no cause for concern…Let them come…" the monster smiled devilishly.
"You want them to enter the gates?" Questioned the fiendish reptile, scratching its head. He leaned closer to his liege as he was perched looking over the open castle window down to the unfolding war below.
The lizalfos continued. "But, what of the hylian warrior? The one who fell the blackened eye of Dee Ess!? What of him? They say he can't be beat; they say he is-"
"Enough!" Growled malroc. "I told you all before, He is nothing but chaff in the wind!" The sound of his voice rattled the entire hall of the castle where his host stood by. Those others standing in attendance buckled at their knees in fear of his wrath. "I will break this puny hylian champion myself, once and for all! "
"But, master?" gulped the cretin.
"Are you doubting my power? I have been given power near to the gods…The last time someone questioned my abilities and failed to carry out my wishes didn't fair so well. " His demonic eyes turned to face the smaller fiend.
"No, master…I only seek to server thee." The Lizalfos begged, humbly falling to its feet.
Malroc then turned to silver skinned bokoblin while still having words with the stumbling Lizard behind him.
"Today is your lucky day worm…If I wasn't in such need of each and every single one of you useless scum, I would have torn your forked-tongued from your head and made you watch while I fed it to my pets."
Malroc then spoke to the bokoblin commander who was now beside him. "So, are the eight ready?"
"Yes, your malignance…" The little creature cackled in delight. "The eight are aligned and ready…your orders?" it asked, with a wave of its hand in a bow. "This should certainly make things interesting my liege! The fools have no idea!"
"Good, the time of our lord has come at last. Ready the pearl! Our noble guest of honor is almost here. I can feel it. I can sense her…I'm sure she is just…dying to meet him." Malroc gleamed at the thought. And with a thundering laugh he spoke a final word on the matter. "Release the eight! It is time for his wrath, ruin, and the world's end!"
The army charged through the downed opening to castle outer wall. Those remaining enemies that were on the walltops either fled or were shot by the onslaught of arrows from Taleran's rangers.
Link led at the front of the line alongside Simon and his marshals. But, to all their astonishment they were met with little resistance upon entering through the fallen gate.
The tired hero spoke to army gathered around him. "Hold the charge! Dismount with swords and shields at the ready. Stand fast!"
The men heard his command and began to saddle off their horses now that they were in close quarters among the castle grounds. The place was unfit for riding, as many chambers needed close quarters clearing and the only way to do so was man to man combat.
Simon lambasted Link over the commotion of the others that were still piling into the main castle grounds. "What do you mean halt!? We could have this whole ordeal finished!? We have them on the run!" He scorned, raising a fist. "Let's move and end this!"
"No, wait… Something isn't right," Link said, eyes scanning all around and to the ramparts of each tower and defensive hold around.
But, still unable to see what was amiss, he obliged the lord of horses and motioned others around him to follow them both as they began to creep cautiously through the seemingly abandoned grounds.
Both his dagger and ax were firmly held up as he kept his eyes peeled. But nothing was out of the ordinary, except the non-existent enemy.
Wary of the eerie silence, Link still relinquished his weapons slowly to his side but was apprehensive to dare further into the main heart of the castle. Lord Simon on the other-hand was having none of it. He wanted to press on.
"Perhaps they fled?" Simon removed his helmet. "And after what you did to the giant, even I must say it was quite the spectacle." The Lord smirked. " I must give you credit, you are a true warrior. But don't let that be going to your head now, Bokoblins and the like are all cowards regardless. At the slightest sign of any real resistance they flee like the miserable rats they are…" he said as he spat on the courtyard grounds, proud of the work they've done thus far. Acting as if the war was already won.
"No…I don't think so m'lord." Link replied hesitantly, eyes still wandering, looking for any sign of enemy life. The knight was sore and tired.
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet quaked abruptly and shook everyone by surprise. In unison the army raised their weapons high, readying themselves for whatever was next, but they couldn't see a thing. Not yet.
Back at the nobility graveyard, Sylmoor and his group finally caught up to where he last saw Zelda. She was nowhere to be found. Nothing except the sound of whistling wind breezing past silent tombstones.
Sylmoor remarked as he trailed in through the old entranceway and cobblestone path. "Blasted, where could she be?" He scoured the surroundings good and well but saw nothing but emptiness. Not so much of an enemy nearby as well.
He huffed in annoyance at himself. "Ugh, I had one small task to do and I couldn't even see it through to its end. Agh! I'm not cut out for this," he said as he stomped on the ground hanging his head low in defeat. "What was I even thinking of daring to go on this foolish crusade? I lost her."
"Perhaps, she went this way! Look, m'lord!" Another voice called out, grabbing his attention.
Sylmoor's eyes widened and he turned expediently and ran up beside the voice of the massive Seabass, pushing over his squire into the dirt who was hunched over nearby. "What is it? What did you find?"
Eyes wide he searched where the proud Zora stood. It was along the line of royal headstones. Still unsure what Seabass was on about, he questioned him further. "Well? What is it?"
"The grass there…It has been disturbed, next to these head-rest."
"So? These tracks can be made by anyone. It proves nothing."
"Unlikely m'lord…I don't know how things are like up in your pretty city, but where I'm from and what I seen in the field of war, that these prints are too short for any bokoblin marauder I've ever encountered." Seabass smiled, pointing to the distressed leaves and grass. "I'd say they match perfect the foot size of a pretty, little noble lady. Just the one we're searching for! Wouldn't you say?" Seabass grinned, getting up from taking a knee to evaluate the tracks in the overgrown, unkempt forage.
"So, what does this mean?"
"It means she was here…but…now she is gone."
Sylmoor face palmed. "Well of course she is gone! I can see that! You think I'm blind? Look, I may have taken just a few swigs of bravery juice this morning, but I assure you, the effects of which have sadly dispensed too soon! Trust me. I unfortunately have my wits about me! Enough so to know this!"
The giant Zora smirked, coughed and continued. "Well, it's like she…just…vanished," he stood, scratching his lunky head.
"Great! Fantastic!" Sylmoor scoffed at himself. "Well, in that case, that puts us back on the same horse we were on earlier, now does it?" Sylmoor sighed as he turned away, gazing up to the clouds above in self reflection. "I sure do hope she is alright…Wherever she is. And may she forgive me for my weakness. I'm sorry princess…"
Taking a moment to accept their situation and his defeat, Sylmoor turned back to face the others. "Well, there ain't much for it except to get back to the army. We lost her trail. Perhaps, they are fairing better than we are, and maybe we can still find her that way? We have to try!"
Seabass nodded in approval and motioned the lord to lead the way back to the main bulk of the army.
Running for what seemed like miles through long corridors and tunnels, Zelda finally found herself at a dead end pathway. "Ugh…what?" She huffed, out of breath, annoyed at her circumstance.
"What!? NO!… Where!? Where is the door? It's just a blank stone wall…No instructions, no writing, nothing…Damn it! Why couldn't they have just made an ordinary door like normal folk!?" She groaned, slapping at the barrier that now stood in front of her. Annoyed, she spun around, kicked the ground and slammed the back of her head against the cold stone that was obstructing her way.
But determined not to turn away so quickly and solve the mystery at hand, she paused for a moment, took a breath and re-evaluated her predicament.
But she couldn't think. Her mind was racing in distress and worry. Time was slipping by fast.
All she could think about was him. Link. She had to get to him. The one she felt bound to. The young man she have grown so fond of and even so far as to…
fall in love with.
And just as those very thoughts of him crossed her mind, thoughts of his smile, his charm, his confident and comforting presence, and the way he makes her feel, her right hand lit up like a glowing candle right beside her. The stone behind her also rumbled and she spun back around with curious eyes ashine by the light.
"The sealing power?" She questioned under breath, as three golden triangles illuminated and pulsed on the back of her palm matching an other identical crest radiating upon the wall.
"No…it can't be. The power was lost? This is…must be different?" She gasped, covering her mouth in awe of the scene unfolding before her.
And before she could utter another breath, the stonework vanished into the wind as if it were never there at all.
All that was facing her now was a swirling apparition of the purest, blinding pale light that she has ever seen, leading up into a sea of empty space. It was the likes of which she has never encountered before.
Only once has something ever occurred that was remotely similar and that was when she spent her time holding back the calamity for a century. The sealing realm.
But, before her now was like an entrance into a void that swirled the path ahead of her into a milky twilight road.
Zelda cautioned but swallowed what ever fear she may have had pitted in her stomach and leapt forward into the wall encompassing light.
And it was at that exact instant she appeared out through a wall and before she could realize what had happened she found herself miraculously in her old room high up in her tower.
"This…This is my keep!?" She said, stunned by the revelation. "The maiden's hidden door…leads...to my room?" She whispered, hands stretched out in evaluation, making sure what just happened was real at all. Her eyes wandered about the room.
Bewildered by the mystery, another curious thing caught her eye as she now stood in her old quarters.
It was left exactly they way it was a century ago, save it be by pile high dust and other things that go along with age. But, everything was in its perfect place, except a few of the furniture that have been distressed by no doubt the foul beasts which have roamed freely about there.
And, for the first time in a great long time, she felt at home again. A feeling she almost forgot.
A wave of nostalgia hit her. And after taking in the spectacle before her was when she saw it. Her desk.
A heavenly beam of sunlight shot down from above upon it from a missing piece of the ceiling. There lay an old and worn book that still sat upon it as if it were yesterday. She could never forget the look of it. It was her diary.
The pages were tattered and moth eaten. There were even some strewn about scribblings of notes left to the side of it.
She couldn't help herself but stumble closely upon it. Her emerald eyes wandered over the ancient writings that remained intact. They were a collection of thoughts she had from a time when the world still made sense. When the kingdom still stood in all its glory. Back, when there was still a kingdom at all to remember.
Her memory raced as she glanced at the passages before her, written by her own hand. And in that instant she was taken aback to another time entirely in her mind. She had not forgotten a thing.