Fan Fiction ❯ Warrior of the Sheikah ❯ The Letter ( Chapter 1 )

The Letter

-1-

Impa was sat at her window as she looked upon the pink and orange sunrise. She would have to wake Princess Zelda in a couple of hours, as she was awake each morning at sunrise or just before. Impa had silvery hair and exotic red eyes; she also wore armory clothing as a Sheikah woman and swore her life to protect the royal family. Impa looked at her door and the King stood there watching silently.

"How come you are up this early?" she asked him.

"I couldn't sleep last night," replied the King. Harkinian had an elaborate ruby red robe on with gold at the bottom as a trail; he also had his lamp in one hand and a small envelope in the other. "I think this is for you," he smiled handing the letter to her.

"What is it?" Impa asked a bit confused. The King only shrugged his shoulders. Impa picked up a dagger and slowly and carefully opened it.

"`Dear sister, Impa, *blah blah blah* Faith will be soon visiting your Castle in Hyrule'?" she read aloud.

"I never knew you had a sister," said the King.

"Two actually, Kari and Melody," retorted Impa, "this is form Melody and her daughter Faith will be visiting, if that is ok that she can stay."

"Of course Impa," he smiled, "you are like a member of this family and have served us many years."

"Thank you, Harkinian," smiled Impa, "I am sure Faith will be so delighted to stay inside a beautiful castle."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," laughed the King.

"Now who said it was flattery," Impa opposed. All of a sudden, there was a loud thump coming from down the hall and from Zelda's room. Impa looked shaken and ran hasty down to Zelda's room. Impa didn't even knock to enter the room and just barged into her room.

"Zelda?!" she shouted sounding concerned.

"What?" she replied sheepishly. Zelda had long, golden blonde hair and beautiful violet-blue eyes that shone brightly.

"What in the name of the goddesses happened in here?" Impa countered sternly.

"I was, um, practicing," said Zelda.

"Practicing what?" she screeched.

"If you must know, I was practicing the Wiccan Ritual," said Zelda matter-of-factly.

"Well why didn't you say that in the first place," laughed Impa picking up one of Zelda's books. She flicked through it and looked at the front. "Zelda, don't you think this is a bit to advance for you, no offence."

"No, and none taken," she smiled, "believe it or not I have been doing this for five years."

"What," said Impa surprised, "since you were ten, and you never said anything? Well, you certainly kept that quiet from everyone."

"Not everyone," whispered Zelda, "Link and Saria are the only ones who do know. Impa I want you to promise me that you won't tell Daddy…I'll tell him when I'm ready."

Impa nodded and led Zelda out of her room and just smiled at Harkinian. Impa and Zelda walked down the stairs and into the Banquet hall.

"I have some news," smiled Impa.

"Ooh, is it juicy?" asked Zelda with a twinkle in her violet eyes.

"Zelda!" giggled Impa, "That's all it is, is that my niece Faith is coming to visit and she's your age, too. Be careful though, she does tend to be obnoxious." Zelda giggled and smiled at Impa. "And yes, even more that you." Zelda's smile started to gain a scowl and then back to the laughter fit.

"Are you serious?" asked Zelda, still laughing maniacally. Impa nodded a yes while she and Zelda slowly walked into the castle's library. In one corner of the room, nearest the window, was a suit of armor that Zelda's father had wore in the war against the Gerudos fifteen years ago, just before Zelda was born. On the wall next to it were shelves upon shelves of Hyrule's History books, including the never ending Book of Mudora and The Goddesses' Creation Story. On all of the other walls were thick novels that Zelda would spend most of her time reading, few of Wiccan books were here but Zelda had her ways by which of getting them. She would sneak down into the Market place and go to the potion shop to the far West and purchase a colossal amount of crystals and bric-a-brac which were needed for her rituals and spells. Impa searched through a pile of books that were on the strong, wooden table.

"What are you looking for?" asked Zelda looking at her in confusion.

"My note book," she said pulling a blue-pink book out from the pile, "I've found it now though."

"Obviously," smirked Zelda as she followed Impa down the long and dark corridor to the entrance hall. Zelda's eyes lit up when she saw a beautiful white cat sitting on the wooden bench that lived in the entrance hall. The cat opened its eyes and looked at Zelda.

"Aw, Impa she's so cute," whispered Zelda in an adoring voice.

"Her name is Neko," said Impa approaching the beautiful snow cat. She bent down close to it and picked it up gently, Neko started to purr.

"She is so gorgeous," gasped Zelda.

"I know," spoke Harkinian walking down the stairs.

"Daddy!" screeched Zelda running up to her father and hugging him. Zelda slowly let go and approached Neko. Neko nudged Zelda playfully and gracefully climbed into her arms.

"Wow," said Impa, "she must really like you; she never takes to anyone that quick." Zelda only smiled at the remark.

"When is your niece coming?" asked Harkinian.

"Well actually she's coming tomorrow," replied Impa. She looked at Zelda who still held Neko and smiling gleefully to herself.

"I'm going over to the Kokiri Forest to see Link and Saria," said Zelda placing Neko carefully back onto the bench.

Zelda benevolently skipped out of the main doors and into the stables. She then looked over at Pirate, her stallion.

"Who's been a good boy," said Zelda in a baby voice as she gave him a sugar cube. Pirate neighed as a thanks and playfully nudged Zelda for another.

"Not until you take me to see Link and Saria," giggled Zelda mounting him. Pirate swiftly galloped towards the Kokiri Forest and Zelda's golden hair caught the sunlight and flailed with the speed of the wind. It didn't take Pirate long to transport Zelda to the forest.

"Thank you Pie," she whispered as she gave him two sugar cubes and then ran off into the lost woods bridge. She walked across it carefully trying not to fall off like last time, she managed it. Zelda strolled through the opposite hole and was now in the Kokiri Forest.

"Zelda?!" shouted Saria, running over to her. Saria had shoulder length hair that was a darkish green and eyes to match.

"Saria!" she shouted back.

"It's great to see you again," replied Saria smiling, "Link is still in bed, lazy boy." Zelda laughed as she saw Link coming out from his tree house.

"You were saying?" giggled Zelda as she walked slowly towards Link. He gave her a friendly hug and then looked at her confused.

"How or even why are you here this early?" asked Link. He had unruly dark, scruffy blonde hair and handsome cerulean eyes that glistened in the sunlight.

"Nice to see you, too," she replied sarcastically, "I was up really early practicing Wicca and Impa found out. Anyway, I finally saw Neko, Impa's cat, and then I needed something to do."

"Impa has a cat?" said Link confused. Zelda nodded and Link blinked blankly at her. "Well, there's a first time for everything, eh?" Zelda just smirked at Link and took no notice of him; she turned back around and walked over to Saria.

"Sorry I was so rude just then," Zelda explained to her, "it's just a surprise to see Link up this early in the morning."

"I know," giggled Saria, "it's a shock for me too, you know."

Both girls stood there giggling and laughing at Link who was turning a rather deep shade of red.

"What is this," he moaned, "make-fun-of-Link day? Well I don't think it's highly amusing."

"Well we did," Zelda smirked looking to Saria who suddenly went into a laughing fit again.

"Whatever, Zel," said Link with a scowl across his face, "but I'm willing to let it drop if you two would just let it drop."

Zelda laughed even harder at Link, not meaning to though.

"One word," warned Link, "does the word `Orb' come to mind?"

"You wouldn't dare," said Zelda in a serious tone.

"Oh wouldn't I now," said Link with a huge smile across his face getting ready to spill the gossip.

A couple of years ago when Zelda had first started Wicca, she accidentally trapped herself inside an orb that was meant to be used on a protections spell, it certainly protected her form the outside world, and she would never live it down.

"Okay, I'll stop, just don't say anything about that, please," replied Zelda giving Link a lovable smile. Link huffed at her and left it at that, Saria looked at the both of them.

"What about this `Orb'?" she asked, her arms folded across her chest, her green eyes gleaming.

"Nothing, Sar, just a little thing," said Zelda.

"Yeah just forget I even said that word," laughed Link looking into Zelda's angry eyes, "I am not saying a word."

Zelda huffed and was satisfied that Link would not tell, but then maybe he would. Saria glared at Link but he only smiled back at her. Saria slowly walked over to Link and Zelda and all three of them walked to Link's house which was a few meters away.

Once inside Saria insisted on everyone having a cup of her herbal tea, not to annoy her, Link and Zelda just agreed. Saria tipped the hot water into the cup of leaves and left it for a few minutes stirring it. Now that she was content with the tea, she handed out three cups, one for herself, one for Link, and the other for Zelda. Each one of them took a sip from their cups.

"Actually, this is nicer than before," complimented Link.

"Yeah," agreed Zelda.

Saria looked at them both and gladly smiled at the two of them for their compliments.

"Thank you, guys," said Saria, again smiling happily. The gang got back to slurping from their cups and having small conversations in between.

Faith's name popped into Zelda's mind and she nearly chocked on some of Saria's herbal tea.

"Oh goddesses," said Zelda smacking herself on the head lightly.

"What is it?" asked Saria and Link in unison.

"Impa's niece Faith is coming to Hyrule tomorrow and I so can't wait to meet her," said Zelda in one big breath.

Link and Saria looked in disbelief at Zelda.

"Are you serious or just pulling our legs?" asked Saria.

"No I am so serious," replied Zelda, "she had a letter today saying about her."

"Well, there's another friend for us," said Link with a smile across his face.

"I know what you're thinking mister, and I seriously doubt she would anyway," said Saria sticking out her tongue at Link. Link folded his arms across his chest and huffed. "Oh give up, Link."

"It's worth a try," said Link making Zelda extremely jealous. Her face went bright red and she tried laughing it off.

"In your dreams maybe," she said laughing. Saria joined into the laughter and Link just looked at the bullying girls. Link smiled and slyly sidled up in between Saria and Zelda, he slowly lifted his arms up and placed them on their heads and then rubbed his hands in their hair making it messed up.

"Hey!" shouted Saria and Zelda in annoyance.

"What?" asked Link innocently, knowing fully what he had just done.

"I am so going to kill you one day," Saria joked.

"Is that a threat?" Link laughed.

"I don't make threats," said Saria, "but only promises."

All three laughed and knew that Saria was only joking when she went into a laughing fit and fell onto the floor. Link and Zelda laughed even harder when she did. Saria slowly got up and brushed herself off from the dust that lay on the floor. Link exhaled deeply and looked at them both.

"Can we go to the old temple?" he asked.

"Why?" asked Saria.

"Because it's very nice now," replied Link.

"I suppose you have a point," she agreed.

So, with that the threesome walked out of Link's house, down the ladder, and climbed up the vines at the back of Saria's house and into the Lost Woods. Saria navigated the way to the Sacred Forest Meadow; it seemed so peaceful now than in that alternate timeline when there were horrid Moblins and other nasty things that roamed around. They walked around the naturally tall walls and up the stone steps into the abandoned Forest Temple. It was such a beautiful day today and great for a swim or a picnic. All three of them sat down by Saria's tree stump and gazed at the beautiful sky. Link suddenly looked back down at the girls.

"Why don't we make shapes from the clouds," he suggested lying down on the floor and looking at the sky. Zelda and Saria followed him and looked peacefully at the clouds in order to identify shapes.

"Look!" said Link, "there's a cat."

"So cute, I see it," replied Saria.

"Where?" asked Zelda looking, "I see it now."

They spent a couple of jovial hours just staring at the clouds, laughing and joking at their findings.

It was getting late now, ten minutes to eight to be precise, Zelda got up and looked at Link and Saria.

"I have to go now," she announced.

"Okay," countered Link, "Saria and I will walk to the exit of the Kokiri Forest."

Link got up and helped Saria up too. The group walked back through the Sacred Forest Meadow and the Lost Woods until they were finally back into the Kokiri Forest. Zelda and Link went ahead without Saria as she went back into her house.

"Please be careful Zelda," said Link as he held her in a tight embrace.

"Don't worry," Zelda reassured him, returning the tight squeeze. She turned to the exit and went through it, across the bridge and saw Pirate laid down.

"Pirate," said Zelda soothingly.

Pirate jumped to his feet to look at his master, Zelda. He was black in colour and his eyes were a dark brown that almost looked like black. Zelda handed him a sugar cube and he gobbled it up in one.

"You are so greedy," she giggled mounting Pirate.

Pirate made a gallop to the Castle but the drawbridge had already closed. She looked a hole in the doorway of the lookout post and she saw one of the knights.

"Sir Knight?" asked Zelda as she could not see who the knight was, "Could you please let me inside?"

"Who might you be?" asked the knight.

"I am Princess Zelda of Hyrule and I demand you to open this drawbridge for me at this instant!" she demanded, even though she really hated giving out orders, sometimes she had to.

"How can I be really sure?" he asked again.

"My father's name is Harkinian and my nurse maid's name is Impa," she said in a dull monotone, "Are you happy now?"

"Yes, I am terribly sorry ma'am but I have to take precautionary measures," explained the knight lowering the drawbridge. Zelda understood the measures as her father had already consulted her with them to see if it was alright. Pirate led her through the castle town centre and Zelda looked back at the guard.

"Thank you, Pierre," said Zelda smiling at him.

"Tis my duty Ma'am," Pierre smiled at her as he lowered the drawbridge after her entering.

Zelda rode fast up to the castle entrance and slowed when she came to see Impa smiling as she approached the gates to the stables.

"I'm sorry Impa," explained Zelda brushing her fingers though her golden hair, "I didn't realize the time and I was with Link and Saria."

"I know," said Impa smiling at her again.

"Why on earth are you smiling at me?" Zelda said, very confused, "I am late home; you're normally so angry with me and then make me go to my room."

"Faith!" shouted Impa. A figure came from behind her.