Fan Fiction ❯ The Mirror Tells All ❯ Seventeenth ( Chapter 17 )

You Wish! Productions presents…

The Mirror Tells All

A Legend of Zelda fan fiction

By: Blue Taboo

Proud member of Darkscribes.org

In a place and time where things had been happening at a sickeningly slow pace, no one expected that they would ever pick up so quickly.

Princess Zelda had risen early that morning, as she usually did, just after the first sun's rays peeked into the castle. She and her lady in waiting Calandra were chatting idly and giggling like little girls as the Princess readied herself for the day, with some help from her lady of course. On this morning, they seemed like normal young ladies of the court. Zelda was telling the tale of her romantic encounter with her Squire and Calandra was collecting this information with a smile and not a heavy heart. Spy and would-be-Monarch were simply girls of near eighteen years having fun and being girls.

Link had opted to sleep a little bit longer, but he too awoke with a smile on his face. The previous afternoon had, of course, been wonderful. In the evening, the two of them had managed to steal a few minutes for themselves again, but it had been all too short. He lazily rolled out of bed and greeted little Vesta, who had already come with his breakfast. When his little maid asked him why he seemed so happy and not his usual groggy morning self, Link just ruffled her hair and widened his grin.

The world of Hyrule Castle seemed to happily await the coming of the evening as Link and Zelda did. Both would be too busy to see one another during the day, but their evening revolved around dinner, which they always made a point of exiting early. Today, they had planned to exit very early. Link was thinking about a walk through the gardens. Zelda was pondering the hike up to the tower top, provided that it wasn't too windy. She had always cared about her appearance, but not in a way that consumed her every thought. It was part of her royal life, but now that she had someone to impress, Zelda was finding herself, for the first time, concerned about how she looked in front of Link.

The Squire trained merrily on the courtyard and Sir Banon even pointed out that his student was in the best spirits that he'd seen in a long while.

The Princess talked with ambassadors and went through her paper work, but on this day she actually laughed at the ambassadors' jokes and her signature even seemed to smile.

The Emperor, however, did not smile.

On this day, he kept to himself. He did not leave his chambers. He held council with no one. And it was the ideal day. No one took notice. Calandra was not watching him, for the day had seemed too perfect.

The birds were singing that morning and the afternoon was fair for summer, with a perfect breeze…

But the clouds rolled in as the sun was setting…

The Emperor Terinae finally emerged for dinner. He watched the Princess Zelda come into the Great Hall on the arm of the Squire Link. He grinned as they laughed with one another, coming down the steps. He knew. Tonight was his.

The Squire and the Princess left early as usual. They did not know that the Emperor would be leaving just after them. Now was not the time for him to revel in drink and entertainment. He had work to do.

"Would you like to go to the gardens?" Link asked as soon as they were alone, away from the guards at the entrance to the hall.

"I was thinking we could go to the tower top tonight."

"But we just went there a few days ago!" Link protested and moved his arm from holding Zelda's arm to around her waist. He drew her closer to him and laughed.

"And we were in the gardens only yesterday…" Zelda pointed out as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"We need a new place," he commented.

"I would have to agree," Zelda said calmly, but then let out a bell-like laugh as Link tickled her side just slightly.

As they had done last night, many times, on their way to the gardens the previous night, the young couple couldn't resist a kiss. Link and Zelda were in a dim corridor anyway, one that hardly received any use. No danger in kissing there.

There had been no click of boots on stone, no breath, no sound whatsoever. Only his voice…

"I'm afraid that you will have to forgive the intrusion," the Emperor Terinae said in mocking apology. His words dripped with sick amusement. Zelda felt a chill go up her spine even before she realized that they had been caught by the worst person possible to catch them.

Link quickly turned and stared directly at the Emperor, his eyes defensive, ready to counter. Zelda too looked at the usurper with defiance, but disguised it as simple annoyance to keep up at least the smallest amount of appearances.

Terinae stood before them, garbed as usual in his gilded armor and short cape. The foreign man did not seemed at all shocked, but rather entirely smug.

"You must think me terribly rude, but I've something of great importance to tell you both. I was certainly luck to catch you…"

"What do you want?" Zelda let slip from her façade. She knew well enough to feel threatened. Swift thinking and witty words would not get her out of this one.

"I will be frank, since it is past time to be dancing this diplomatic dance. Princess, Squire, I want you out of Hyrule Castle. Not forever mind you, but for only two days. Leave tomorrow morning and return two days after."

"Or else what?" Link demanded.

"It's always implied, isn't it? Need I even say it? Well, if I must. Or else I will kill the both of you and take Hyrule for myself by force and no one will stop me. My army marches for Castle Town tonight. If they find you here tomorrow morning, then I am afraid that an army of incompetent guards and four old Knights and their Squire could not defend this kingdom. I have you, Highness, and Hyrule in the palm of my hand right now…so I would advise you and your tool to listen," Terinae said with an odd calm, but it was clear that he was working to keep it.

Link was about to spit back an impulsive reply at him, or shove one gauntleted fist right into the usurper's face…

But Zelda, ever the voice of rationality, spoke up first. "You are right. I admire the might of your army as much as I loathe it. So long as none of my people are harmed, we will do as you wish."

"Worry not, Princess, I will harm not a hair on a Hylian head. You have my word and you know that I keep that."

Zelda then squeezed Link's hand, which she had been digging her fingernails into the entire time and afterwards loosened her grip. The hero was still hot with anger, but he knew to trust her and did not make any motion to speak or act against Terinae. However, the great snarl on his face did not change.

"Then we will be gone by dawn and return again in two days. I should hope that I find this castle and its town almost entirely unchanged," Zelda added.

"That, Milady, I can't guarantee, but I wouldn't worry about it if I were you…"

Then the usurper turned around, pivoting on his surprisingly silent feet and walked briskly away from them.

Terinae almost laughed.

Link almost screamed.

"Don't say anything," Zelda whispered harshly. She could see he was seething. "This is bad, I know. Terinae now has the upper hand and we've got to do what he says. It's true, he could crush us and Hyrule right now. Your sword and my magic combined couldn't hold off all of his soldiers for long. It's simply impossible. I was in this position before, and that's why Terinae is even here. We have no choice."

"But why?" Link asked through clenched teeth.

"I don't truly know, but I think that Terinae has found what both sides of this fight have been looking for. We've got no choice, Link." When the Zelda uttered those last words, the strength in her voice faltered. It reminded her of time, not too long ago, when Hyrule was in disarray after her father's death and she had no other choice but to hand her kingdom over into the hands of stranger, one that she knew had no urge to restore her to the throne.

Link's muscles immediately loosened, their former angry tension forgotten in an instant. He held Zelda tighter to him, sensing her fear. She too latched on tighter. "You're right," he reassured her. "We have no other choice. If we die, if you die, then Hyrule is his. Even he has the upper hand, so long as we are alive, we can fight him."

Link pretended not to notice the tear that soaked into the front of his tunic. Zelda released her death grip on him after a few moments, trying to gather her strength. "Yes. There's always hope," she said mostly to herself.

Link nodded slowly and seemed to become lost in his own thoughts.

Then Zelda's voice slowly came to him, "I suppose we should get ready to leave. Should we meet at the stables?"

"No," was Link's immediate answer. "Something's up, and until we know what Terinae wants exactly, I'm not letting you out of my sight. I'm going with you."

"All right."

The pair sounded utterly defeated. The hope they had had, the fire of their insurgence against this unlawful usurper had died. The tide had turned just when they thought that they were about to win. When all seemed good and right, evil had stepped in.

Silent as ghosts, the two Hylians wound their way up to Zelda's chambers through the abandoned corridors of the castle. Everyone was still at dinner, laughing and drinking the night away. Their allies knew nothing of this. The Knights would retire to their Den and Link would not be missed by them. More often than not, when he went off with Zelda, they had learned not to expect him back. Banon and Damen would joke about it. Cortain would smile, remembering his youth. Wrasten would scowl and say something about how it wasn't right, since the boy was just a commoner. No one listened to that kind of talk anymore, though.

Calandra wasn't even there to greet them when they reached Zelda's door. She had her nightly rounds to worry about.

However, as they stepped in, someone stepped out of the shadows…

"What's the matter?" Impa asked, sensing their apprehension and defeat without delay.

"Terinae made a move," Zelda began simply, drifting over to the door of her study. "He wants Link and I out, but only for two days. His army is marching for Castle Town tonight, as you well know, and they will be officially stationed here this morning. He says that if Link or myself are found within the walls of castle or even the town, we will be killed and Hyrule will be subjugated under him by force."

"That's certainly a mysterious threat. You're doing as he says, of course?" Impa seemed entirely not phased by the incident that had shaken Zelda and angered Link so much. Perhaps, in all of her uncounted years, she had played this game many times.

"We've no other choice," Zelda repeated for her former nursemaid. However, her eyes looked to the scrolls still laid out on her desk. She went in and quickly snatched them up to keep whatever secrets they might hold to herself.

"That's the point, I'm afraid," the Sheikah stated, then finally seemed to soften up. She went to Zelda and laid a comforting hand on the girl's arm. "Just see that you comply with his demands and keep yourself safe. I will keep the castle for you."

"It's good to know I have someone to watch over this place while I'm gone, but Terinae told me that none would be harmed while I was gone," the Princess told her.

"And hopefully none shall be harmed when you come back. You'd best be getting your things together. I'll go find someone to send up some provisions for the two of you as well." Then she looked at Link. "That means you too, young man."

"I'm staying right here, if you don't mind," he told her.

Impa was about to reply in a less than understanding tone, but Zelda cut her off, "Yes he is. The Goddesses only know what Terinae wants right now. I know you can protect me Impa and I can take care of myself as well, but I feel better having Link with me, and we probably shouldn't be separated tonight."

"Well that's logical," the older woman deduced, then went to fetch a stray servant.

Zelda packed surprisingly light for a Princess. No flashy gowns or glittering jewelry graced her saddlebags. Link was surprised to see that she owned such simple clothes, but he supposed that they were merely a sort of precaution for events such as this. Even with simple clothes, however, Zelda was certainly recognizable. She threw on her spring cloak as well, not for any sort of chill, but because its great hood could hide her face well enough. Impa's servant came in with a bit of cold provisions for them, just enough for two days on the road. Lastly came the scrolls of Sheikah wisdom. Terinae was to have no chance of getting his hands on them.

The halls were already silent and the castle asleep by the time they came to Link's room, though they did so through the secret passage under the floor and between the walls. Link did not travel so light. His main concerns, though, were not in the nature of clothing. He could be a Knight or he could be a beggar. There was a certain wavering quality to his looks that allowed him to be whatever he wanted to. He donned some practice clothes, just a simple tunic and trousers, and left his fine jackets and embroidered shirts behind. His bags soon became filled with other things, however. Two bows, one for himself and another for Zelda, just in case. She had insisted. His gilded broadsword and the Mirror Shield were already slung over his back. Link threw in other items as well; various potions, the hookshot that he never went anywhere without, and a few other deadly things. He was not to be taken by surprise.

"All right," he said, finally satisfied but still wishing he had time to organize and bring his entire arsenal, "Let's go."

Link turned to lead the way out of his door and into the night, but something stood in his way.

"Don't worry," Damen assured them. "Lady Impa told me everything. I had wanted to speak with her Highness, but when you were not there, Lady Impa felt it wise to impart to me what was going on."

"What is it that you wanted to tell me, Damen?" Zelda asked nervously, fearing more bad news that she didn't need.

"Nothing now, besides to wish you luck and to tell you that those loyal to you will monitor the Emperor's actions in your absence, as well as make your being gone seem normal and routine," the Old Knight reassured her.

"Thank you, Damen. I appreciate it greatly."

"Anything for you, Highness," he said with a small bow and stepped out of the doorway to let them through.

Zelda slipped past, but Damen held Link's shoulder. "If you are a true Knight of Hyrule, then you will see that the Princess comes to no harm whatsoever."

"It is both my duty and my will, Damen," he told his mentor. "Besides," Link whispered, "I love her."

Damen grinned and squeezed the shoulder of his "nephew". "I know you do. Good luck."

The Old Knight then released the young hero and turned back for his chambers.

Link and Zelda then headed down the corridor for the back stair that would take them to the stables with the least amount of possible questions from the few people that might still be up and about in Hyrule castle. Link let one long glance slide down the royal corridor to the very end where the Emperor probably lie asleep.

However, his door was open and candlelight shone softly from within. Just as Link was about to look away and hurry on, Terinae himself stepped out into the hall, completely unaware that his enemy was watching him. The Emperor seemed overly pleased with himself, grinning and looking as if he was about to break into a bit of victorious laughter. Link snarled again and then realized he was alone. Zelda had run off to the stairs and was beckoning for him to follow, but something caught his eye before he could…

The Mirror Shield shifted on his back, ever so slightly. A light flashed on its smooth surface, one that resembled nothing of candlelight and the silhouette of the Emperor. Link quietly shifted the shield just a little more so that he could see what it was. Against the light of the doorway, in the mirror's reflection, was not a man, but some great creature for which Link had no name. It was horned and heavily muscled. Its head nearly hit the ceiling.

The hero would have examined this anomaly that made so much sense longer, but Terinae's, or rather, this monster's head suddenly picked up and sensed that it was not alone. Link ran silently to the stairs and he and Zelda made a run to the stables, neither saying anything or even breathing too loud. Zelda feared a man, but Link now knew to fear something much greater.

He would not speak. He merely tacked up Epona and Zelda's horse as fast as he could, since the stable boys were all long abed, and loaded them up at a record pace.  

It was not until they spirited out of the castle through the delivery entrance and out of the town through its many winding back alleys did Link finally say.

"I saw him for what he was, in the mirror. Terinae is not a man. He is some sort of demon…"

"What?" Zelda demanded, not believing her ears.

"In my shield…when I saw him in the hall. My eyes told me he was a man, same as I've always seen him, but the reflection was one of a demon, something I've never seen the likes of before. He's not a man…"

"And my castle is his tomorrow…"

"This has to end. It must end now." The hero rode out into the field with righteous determination shining in his eyes. He had saved Hyrule from a man who was a demon before and he could certainly do it again. The battle was now on Link's field.

- Blue Taboo -

Pardon the months of delay again, but you know me. I'm slow. The goal is to get TMTA finished by the end of this year, but I'm not sure if that's gonna happen, but I can always try.