Fan Fiction ❯ The Mirror Tells All ❯ Seventh ( Chapter 7 )

You Wish! Productions presents...

The Mirror Tells All

A Legend of Zelda Fan Fiction

By: Blue Taboo

Proud member of Darkscribes.org

I have a feeling this could be a long one...take a seat, people, and get a snack while you're at it.

Link had never been to the Great Hall before, but, of course, he'd seen the massive doors to it many times in his purposeful wandering throughout the castle's halls. There were two doors on the lower level, a great gilded pair that marked the entrance for various visitors of state to discuss their matters with the King, or whoever it was that held claim to Hyrule at the moment. Link assumed that the smaller, but no less golden doors on the other end were for all the important people to make their way into the Hall throughout the day. The door that was on the upper level of what Link could only imagine to be a great vaulted room, whose ceiling must've competed in height with the Temple of Time, was, as he found out when walking towards it, reserved for dinner and the grand entrances that the nobility of Hyrule made each and every night that they were called up.

The two fully-armored Hylian guards that stood watch over the great upper doors immediately stopped chatting with the already present Old Knights as Link and Zelda rounded the corner. They stood at attention, their chain mail clanking and clinking as they quickly stood their straightest and most respectful.

"It seems that everyone is waiting for us, Milady," Wrasten observed to the Princess, and valiantly motioned for her and her escort to go ahead.

Zelda shot one more encouraging smile at Link, just so that he could see it out of the corner of his eye. He was still feeling confident, and was just overall thrilled to have the Princess on his arm, but the sight of the golden doors did intimidate him a bit. He could only liken it to going into battle with a brand new sword, not knowing its weight or strength like he did an older, more familiar blade.

Regardless, she gave the word. "Open the doors, soldiers," Zelda commanded brightly.

They did, with their spear arms extended out, complete with a dulled weapon, for show, Link noted again, and spread the great doors wide open, revealing the Great Hall in a flash of light and finery.

"Lords and Ladies of Hyrule," a thin man, perhaps near middle age cried from the top of a grand staircase made entirely of the purest white marble, "It is my pleasure to announce her Highness, Princess Zelda Harkinian, and tonight's most honored guest, who has finally returned to the land of his birth after many long years, the Squire Link of the House of Red Lions, son of Sir Dorian and Lady Elensa!"

Link wasn't sure that he liked so many things applied to his name. At the most, it had either been Link, Mister Link, or "Hey kid!". It unnerved him to think of just how many words were necessary to describe a person in the castle.

As his eyes adjusted to the bright light of the room, which came from what must've been more than a thousand candles, most of which were in the three great chandeliers high above, Link could see the various people who sat at four long tables stand in welcome. All in all, there had to be about a hundred of them. Three tables where arranged below the great dais at the end of the room, and one was atop it. That one, Link noted, was the only one with empty seats, and at its head was the same man he'd encountered in the garden's the night before, though it took all of Link's sharp vision to make him out across the expansive room, which seemed about as big as Hyrule Field to him at that moment.

"Even I think it's a little extravagant," Zelda joked in whisper to him as they descended the marble stairs. Above them, the man called out the names of the Old Knights, as well as their houses and the names of their parents, but Link barely even heard them. He was too busy taking it all in. It was a room of nothing but wealth and the need to show it off. Gold reflected off of nearly every surface. Great murals of the glory of Hyrule were painted on the extensive walls, portraying everything beautiful Link had ever seen in his travels about his native land. Golden candelabras adorned each table, one every yard or so down the line, as well as fine china and crystal goblets, waiting to be filled with all the royal kitchens had to offer. The people were dressed in their best, and more often than not, their gaudiest. No wonder that the Princess even thought it a bit much...

Before he even knew it, Link had gone from one set of steps to another, and ascended the dais, made of the same white marble as the stairs. The Emperor pushed his chair aside and stood before them, at which point Link took the cue to part from the Princess, and bowed with her to the man that had taken over their land, not rising until she did. As soon as they were up, the Emperor himself bowed to the finest Hyrule had to offer him, but only bowing his head and the slightest bit of his shoulders, just to put the Hylians in their place. Link locked eyes with him as he too rose. Terinae looked quite intrigued at what had become of the common swordsman he'd seen the previous evening, but then the Emperor's eyes, which Link could now see were light golden brown, focused on the Princess.

"You look simply stunning, Highness," he told her. "And your long lost Squire has done very well for himself indeed to escort you tonight."

The Emperor, however, had gone through no extra finery for dinner. His own gilded armor and cape seemed to be a permanent fixture of his appearance.

"Thank you, Lord Emperor," she responded, no genuine emotion in her voice, "And I am glad that I can formally introduce you to one of my oldest friends."

Terinae nodded at Link, his golden eyes aglow with concentration, as if looking for something in Link's own cerulean eyes. "Then I shall be very glad to share my table with you, Master Squire."

"And I you, Lord Emperor." Link had been very careful when choosing his words. He was under the impression that many things were best left to be communicated without words to the Emperor. He was thinking of something whenever his eyes were on the young hero, and Link wished for nothing more than to find out what it was.

Then, after all the propriety of that part of dinner was through, they sat while the Old Knights followed in similar fashion, greeting the Emperor. Once all had been seated again, the crier on the staircase called out, "Then I bid you good evening, Lords and Ladies of Hyrule, and a good feast!" With that, he disappeared into the closing doors with their guards. A tense moment of silence pervaded the gigantic room, then the kitchen staff began to rush in, bearing everything from roast boar to red wine in hand, and laying it out before their supposed betters with both care and efficiency.

From his seat at what must've been the high table, Link tried to see if he could spot Vesta among their number, but it was impossible to tell in the multitude of people and speed.

Instead of prolonging the fruitless search, he focused himself on the task at hand. Right now, a creamy soup was being placed before all at the high table, and Link kept his eyes on the Emperor, while still trying not to gain the man's attention, simply because the look he tended to give Link irked the hero with its mystery. All eyes, in fact, were on the Emperor, and when he began his meal, so did all of Hyrule Castle.

The soup, pretty tasteless and bland by Link's standards, was made quick work of, and while the servants scrambled to clear away the bowls and set out the next course, Emperor Terinae took the opportunity to chat with his guest of honor.

"So, Master Squire, how are you enjoying life at Hyrule Castle so far? I understand that you haven't been here since you were but a little boy, right?" the armored man asked, leaning back in his plush chair a little.

"That is so, your Highness, and so far I have enjoyed what I have experienced here. It's good to be in the company of the Old Knights again, but they have made me realize that I still have a lot to learn," Link responded, just barely making eye contact and trying to mimic the cool, collected way that Zelda spoke in when she was dealing with the Emperor.

"Well, them I am sure it is an agreeable kind of learning that you are doing. The Knights are good men, and I can sense that Hyrule will be pleased to add another to their elite number," Terinae responded, waving off a man that offered to top off his goblet.

"It would be my honor to do so, Lord Emperor," Link still couldn't manage to speak Terinae's titles with any amount of affection or reverence, "And it is my hope that I can learn enough to be qualified for it."

"You seem like a good lad, Master Squire, so it is my hope that you do as well. Tell me, Sir Knights, what exactly is required for the boy to become a Knight? In Wrineria, we do not abide by the ways of chivalry, and we have only learned of through our foreign relations." Some how, that seemed odd to Link. As long as he wasn't out at sea, among the isolated islands, he had always encountered kingdoms that were a great deal like Hyrule. If that wasn't the case, then he was in a wild land, ruled by no man, or he was in a commonwealth, like Termina.

"Well, Your Highness," Wrasten answered two seats down from Link, sounding genial, "First, a boy must be born into a red house, and then he is trained as a Page. Then, he is dubbed a Squire once he is old enough, and taught the horse and the sword. From then on, he is merely to acquire all the skills of a Knight and master them. Once he has proven that he has mastery over each and every skill set down by our law, then he may be Knighted if the King sees fit that he should. In the end, it is all the King's decision, otherwise, we would have many good fighters becoming Knights, but few good men, if you get my meaning, Highness."

"I see, and thus, our Squire's dilemma," the Emperor responded with a curt nod, then went onto the next course, bringing the entire hall with him, and dismissing the issue entirely.

This one was a small plate of fresh vegetables, sweet fruit, and sharp, but strangely white cheese. It only served to make Link hungrier. He began to think that he would have to make a stop at the kitchens before he went to bed, just to fill up.

As they waited on the servants to slice the large roasted boar they had set upon the table for the highest ranking guests, Terinae made another attempt at conversation. It seemed that the Emperor favored food over talk, unlike most of the nobles that chattered away their dinners.

"So, Princess," he addressed Zelda, leaning forward after someone took his plate, "You and Master Squire here were childhood friends, if I'm not mistaken?"

"Yes. We didn't see each other very often, but my late father had always favored Master Link's late father as a Knight, and made a point of allowing us all the time we wanted to play when Master Link could come to the castle. It was long ago, though, and I'm afraid that is has really been too long."

"How long is long ago for you, Princess? One so young as you has a different concept than most of this table."

"Oh," Zelda caught Link's wandering gaze as he tried to pay attention and smiled, just barely, "I'd say the last time your aunt brought you to Hyrule was just over seven years ago. Does that seem right to you?"

Link suppressed an all-out grin. He knew what she was getting at. "That seems pretty, accurate, Milady."

"So why haven't you visited since then, Master Squire?" the Emperor inquired, commanding Link's eyes away from Zelda.

"My aunt, may Nayru watch over her, never had great health in her old age. I'm afraid she passed away just two years ago. My cousins and I, when we weren't tending to our duties about the manor, had to keep constant care of her in those last few years, Lord Emperor, so I'm afraid that made visits to Hyrule rather impossible." Link had to admit, lying got easier and easier each time he did it.

"Ah, I see. So why did you choose now to come back to Hyrule for good, then, if I may ask?"

Link, however, just realized that he must've reached his lying quota for the day when he was suddenly at a loss for words.

"If I may, Highness," Damen's deep, soothing voice interjected, saving Link the effort of lying again, "I will tell you that Master Link here is just about the right age to be seeking his Knighthood, and I'm sure that, even after his aunt was released into the merciful arms of the Golden Goddesses, he had many obligations in Hassentern that served to make this time best for him."

Link nodded, for effect, but trying not to look too eager about it. "That's the shorter version of it, yes," he added after another thought.

"Ah, that makes sense enough," the Emperor then paused momentarily, looking into his goblet. "Well, I believe a toast is in order, then, Lords and Ladies." He rose his voice at the last part, alerting all that were near as to what was about to happen. The high table went silent, and the entire hall followed thereafter.

The Emperor stood, then the rest. He raised his glass, then the rest. It was all like some form of puppetry, Link thought, except for instead of strings, the Emperor held the people of Hyrule by invisible threads more complex than any ever seen by the naked eye.

"To the Knights of Hyrule," the Emperor proclaimed, sounding more like a general than a disenchanted host, "May their order grow and prosper with all the honor it deserves."

"To the Knights!" the room echoed and drank.

As Link took a sip of the dry red wine, he saw Banon beaming across the table out of the corner of his eye. Somehow, that redeemed all the pageantry and propriety of the night. It was good to see that he had helped make someone happy. It was always the best part...

The main course was served up differently, allowing the nobles of Hyrule to take on the task of making up their own plates. The boar, as well as a few pheasants were offered up as the meat, while great gleaming silver dishes were lined with all manner of vegetables, and every way one could think possible to serve a potato. Brown rolls and thick gravy were among a few other occupants, all of which Link was grateful for. He would actually have a filling meal that night.

The Emperor seemed to lose interest in his guest of honor and the Princess as the night lingered on. He spent more of his few words on his generals, who sat just next to the Knights. They talked of their legions and of Wrineria, and Link found himself losing interest very quickly. It seemed that within the expanses of the Empire, all was strictly business. Nothing else reserved much importance. In fact, the young swordsman had only seen the Emperor lighten his grim visage around one person, and that person was sitting in front of him, trying to look engaged in the conversation between the Emperor and his men. He supposed that Zelda had to do that sort of thing, that is, entertain the man that had taken away her crown, even though it was really her people that had done so.

As Link pushed his empty plate aside, waiting to do so only as the Emperor himself did, he wondered why it was that the people of Hyrule had to rise up against Zelda. Even if he had never known her from before, Link, as a citizen of Hyrule himself, would have had no qualms with her ascending to the throne. True enough, he was ignorant of a great deal of the goings on in Hyrule, but he trusted her to be a wise and competent ruler. After all, she didn't carry the Triforce of Wisdom for nothing. Then again, had he not known her from that day she told him about her dream in the gardens seven years ago and what resulted thereafter, he wouldn't have known her to be so wise. It really was probably only himself, Ganondorf, and the Sages who knew of Zelda's true wisdom. All that was too much to put on one's mind with a full stomach, though, Link told himself, and he shook it from his thoughts, saving that sort of pondering for another day.

The food was cleared and the people lingered on, only leaving a few at a time, and only after dismissing themselves before the Emperor. Most lingered heavily over their goblets, and saw that they were never kept empty for long. Link, however, was never one to drink a great deal, and he didn't really like the wine to begin with. He mostly kept silent, saying a few words here and there to the Old Knights, or to Zelda. The Emperor asked him a few more questions about himself, but never anything too in-depth so that Link couldn't come up with an answer. It was keeping all that he said straight that worried the hero the most.

"Shall we bring in tonight's entertainers then?" Emperor Terinae asked the nearly full high table after a while, sensing a general dullness about the evening.

The table and then the hall murmured a general consensus, but then the Princess rose from her seat and commanded their attention.

"I'm afraid that I shall have to retire before they arrive, Lord Emperor," she addressed him, her face stiff and her voice stern. Zelda shot a quick look at Link, and he knew immediately that he was to follow her. "The night grows on, and I have to wake early tomorrow morning to bid farewell to Ambassador Theseus, and he has already departed for his chambers."

"Then it is with much grief that I bid you goodnight, for your presence will be missed tonight, dear Princess," the Emperor told her, also rising to send her off.

Link decided that he wouldn't have another opportunity to follow her and chose that moment to rise himself and interject, "Allow me to escort you, Milady. I'm afraid that I too must retire early tonight."

The Emperor then looked back at Link with that same questing look that unnerved the younger man, but Link tried his best to ignore it, and Zelda jumped on his offer before Terinae could even say a word.

"Why thank you, Master Link," she responded jovially, the playful hint of deception in her eyes still. Link knew that she wasn't planning on going to bed, but rather, that she had something to tell him. "I'd be delighted."

"Go on, lad," Banon said with approval from his cozy position, leaned back in his great chair, "You have obligations to deal with early in the morning and you'll need that youthful strength of yours."

Terinae didn't let it show in great amounts, but Link could detect some subtle hints of the Emperor's displeasure at the situation. "Very well then, young Master Squire," the armored man said, "I bid you goodnight as well, and I have been honored to enjoy your company on this night."

"And I yours, Lord Emperor," Link said, adding a little bow to show his respect.

With that, Link strode over to where Zelda stood, feeling mildly victorious and somehow more comfortable in his strange clothes. He offered the Princess his arm once again, and they exited from whence they came, with a great deal less flare, since the crowd had gone back to their conversations as they walked off.

As soon as the Hylian guards closed the doors, Zelda smiled at him. "You did very well," she praised, still keeping up appearances for the guards and servants that stood or ran about, but unable to contain herself outright.

"Thank you," Link responded, "But I couldn't have done it without a good teacher."

She let out a little laugh and led them away from the hall. Link began to recognize the views he got of the moonlit gardens from the small windows they passed, and soon realized that they were going to that one particular spot again. That part of the castle was virtually deserted, seeing as everyone was either enjoying themselves in the hall or getting ready for bed at that hour. Only when they came upon the doors to the garden, though, did Zelda break away from him and let her excitement really show.

"You really did wonderful, Link!" she exclaimed. "Did you see the way that Terinae was looking at you at dinner? He believes it! Every single word! No wonder though, since now you can look and act the part..."

Link was glad to see the he had pleased the Princess as well with his actions at dinner. "I don't think he really likes me, though, but I'm pretty sure he's buying it. Like I said, though, I couldn't have done it without your help, and the Knights, and, well, pretty much everyone else I've met so far."

"For such a feat as that," Zelda told him, "You had barely enough help to even say that you had help in the first place. You've convinced one of the most powerful men in the world that you're someone who's never existed!"

Link then took a cue from himself to open the door for them, letting the pale blue moonlight mix with the rough orange light from torches on the wall. "Deceit's never really been my weapon of choice," he reminded her, "But I guess it's an accomplishment."

She laughed, this time a full hearty, but still Princess-like laugh. "I guess you're right, but well done all the same. It won't be long before you can help us get Hyrule back."

They walked along the moonlit paths for a moment, the hero loyally following his Princess as she led them to the spot they both knew they'd end up at. After a few moments of silence, Link asked, "So, how exactly are we going to do that?"

Zelda stopped, and he could see her playful, happy demeanor fly off into the night sky. "Of that, I'm still not completely sure. There are many things that we can do, but there still remains the question of what we should do, and I'd prefer not to give you an answer until I have reached that answer."

"I see."

They were silent until they reached the little courtyard where they'd first met, having lost the proud, triumphant mood they had once had.

Link noticed that the moonlight made the Princess look quite pale. Her fair skin and hair had a silvered quality to them in the eyes of the moon. The very brightness of the full moon that night reminded Link of his travels in Termina and the bright nights he had spent there, however, this moon over Hyrule, and that which stood under it, was a vast improvement over that adventure. He could see the Zelda in her that he had watched the collapse of Ganon's tower with in that light, and somehow, it comforted him.

"Link," she began, ascending the stone steps as he watched her from the grass below. "Do you remember the first time you came here?"

"How could I forget?" he retorted, a sense of reverence for her hidden in his voice.

She brightened up a little, her eyes on the stones at her feet, rather than on him. "We were so foolish then, to think that we could save Hyrule all by ourselves, just two little children who knew nothing of the world."

This Zelda reminded him of one in a brighter light, and with the memory of her, came the memory of regret and a mixture of emotions Link didn't quite understand as he watched her growing ever more distant, as he was set back to what was right for him.

"I should hope now, that things are different. That is, that we won't run into unexpected troubles along the way again."

This time, the image of Sheik against the darkened crystal walls of the icy room where Link had just finished off a White Wolfos came to mind. A similar light from the ice and snow that surrounded them played off of his features, though Link wasn't sure if it was more appropriate to say that it played off of her features instead.

"But, whatever the case," she started to conclude, now looking at him, as various images of her danced before Link's eyes, "I'm sure the Goddesses will be on our side. After all, we still have proof of that, don't we?"

Link look mystified. Perhaps it was all that he had on his mind, or perhaps he really didn't understand what she was saying. Regardless, Zelda stepped down slowly, approaching him with a sad smile on her face. She took his left hand in her right, only adding to his confusion at first, but he soon realized why.

The faint mark on his hand started to glow, and from beneath her white gloves, so did Zelda's. Courage and Wisdom were resonating, recognizing one another. The foundations of the Triforce, the two bottom triangles that held up Power were always a team, and that never changed, despite anything their carriers ever thought.

Link could hear a faint ringing, not unlike the sound he heard when he took a blow to the head, only this was soft and welcoming, rather than painful.

Courage was blind; Link knew this. He charged head long into battles when the odds were nothing but against him, and only by Courage had he come out alive and victorious. He couldn't always do that until the end of his days, though. He needed a purpose, a goal, and guidance. Wisdom, and, in turn, Zelda, was just that.

Wisdom was faint of heart; Zelda knew this. She had always known what was right, but when she or others were wronged, she had also known that it was unwise for her to fight it. That very carefulness, though, would cost the Princess of Destiny her life, if it went on for too long. She needed a sword, a champion, and a hero. Courage, and, in turn, Link, was just that.

Power was alone...and they both knew this. It was because of the fact that Power didn't depend on anything else that it was inherently weak. In the end, with nothing to fall back on, with no hero, no guide, Power would die alone. It was fate.

"Forgive me," Zelda said, pulling away from him and from the enlightening meeting of Triforces. "I...I just wanted to be sure. You do know, Link, that you and I are destined for great things, and as much as we did do before, those things are nowhere near their end."

"I had never thought differently, Princess." It was the truth. Link had indeed hoped that one day he could hang up his sword and live a normal life, but he had always known that that could never really be the case.

"Please Link," she appealed, her eyes once again on the ground, "Call me Zelda. I'd prefer that you do, when no one is around to hear you. I like to think that I can have a name as well."

"If that's what you wish then, Zelda."

She lifted her head and looked at him. Once again, the moonlight betraying her sad smile. He looked strange to her, but somehow right in his fancy clothes and missing his trademark hat. He looked very handsome in them, she admitted to herself, and was a far cry from all the other men in Hyrule that pledged their loyalty to her. She had always had his, even before that different time, but in that same place, seven years ago...

"I think we should sleep now, Link," she told him, her voice now softer and less grave. "I want to see you after I see off the Ambassador. Tomorrow, Sir Cortain and I are to assess your knowledge of history."

Link nodded. She could see that he was too disposed in his thoughts to form much more of a response.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning, then, Hero of Time," she stated, grinning at the use of Link's grandest title and walking past him, back towards the door.

Something within the young swordsman was awakened at that moment, and he felt the weight of a very familiar object in one his coat pockets. He didn't remember putting it there, but then again, it wasn't the first time such a thing had happened. Perhaps, that's why she'd given it to him so long ago...also in that very same place...since it seemed to stay with him despite his knowledge.

"Wait," he demanded nervously, an idea forming in his mind.

Zelda stopped and turned to face him, still smiling.

He smiled back weakly, wondering what how she would react to what he was about to do.

Link pulled the Ocarina of Time out of the pocket it had claimed, and quickly set it to his lips, beginning the very first song he ever learned to play on an ocarina, and a song that both of them knew very well. The simple melody of Zelda's Lullaby echoed off the walls as it did when he first played it. True enough, the whistling tones of the Ocarina of Time were a great deal more pure than those of the Fairy Ocarina, but Link couldn't help but let himself be wrapped in the nostalgia.

Zelda, however, hadn't heard those notes in a very, very long time. They called to her from the past, from the happier, ideal Hyrule that she had known in her childhood. She knew the magic of the song, of its power and use, but to her, it would always be a lullaby.

As he finished and opened his eyes once again to look at her, she said, her voice soft and a little choked up, "Now I remember why it made sense to give the Ocarina of Time to the Hero of Time..."

Link could sense her own joyful nostalgia and it made him happy to know that he had brought a little bit of her childhood back to her again. "Why's that, Zelda?"

"Because you always know, when, where, and how to use it to help people." She was really genuinely touched by his gesture.

"Then you're saying I should keep it?" he inquired, realizing that he could kill two birds with one stone, and get the answer to a question he'd wondered about for a while.

"It's always been yours. The Royal Family was just keeping if for you," she started to turn to leave again, but then said simply, "Thank you, Link, thank you, as always."

/_\ /_\

/_\ /_\ Blue Taboo /_\ /_\