He hadn't been sure if it was going to work or not. For the duration of his long journey across all of Hyrule, he had carried the two Triforces he had won in his labors as a boy. Now a man, he had finally earned the Triforce of Courage after crossing mountains, seas, and fire. By all rights, he had the might of the gods at his disposal. He recalled on his voyage back to the mainland that nagging urge that he might use the power for himself. The temptation that he might well turn his sword upon the enemies of Hyrule and ensure that the ancient demon could never rise again. Why not? Why not?
But now he was in the North Palace again, deep in a forgotten chamber known only by those few who had been entrusted with the kingdom's secrets. Before him was the ethereal beauty of the slumbering princess, a being who was as old as the stones of the castle itself. It did not seem like a waste to spend the power of the gods on her. In a fashion, it almost seemed as though she might belong among their number. It wasn't infatuation, but just a strong sense of curiosity and the knowledge that this would fulfill some unknowable purpose. It was destiny. Impa had made that clear to him.
The young man who had crossed through hell and back spoke the wish. It was only when she began to stir that it occurred to him that his journey was not for her sake. It was all for him. Not once had it ever crossed his mind that with the power of the gods at his fingertips, this might not be the world she would want to wake to.
For uncounted lives of men she had lain there, Hyrule's sleeping princess, fair and still and unknowing of the history which still unfolded beyond the reach of her bier. Tragic, indeed, but unaware of it- no more lost to her people and her loved ones than if she had indeed died young.
Then, not for the first time, three golden triangles and a youth in green wandered in and rearranged her life entirely. Later, perhaps, Zelda would find a bit of grim humor in that resonance between her past and her present.
For now, though, she was more concerned with the stiffness of her limbs and with her aching head. Even sitting up felt difficult now, and the lights in the room made her eyes water.
"Impa?" she murmured, reaching up to cover her eyes with a gloved hand. Surely, if she was in such a state, her attendant would be nearby and ready to give her most disapproving glare. "What’s going on? I can’t remember....”
Seeing her awake was unsettling. After nearly a year of travel, he had come to see her as this timeless artifact. She was more statue than person. Even in her deep slumber, her breaths seemed almost nonexistent. With her smaller movements, he could have convinced himself he was only imagining it. But when she began to rise, she was becoming a real person. He wasn't sure what that would mean. Despite all he'd gone through, he wasn't truly prepared for this. He'd met a princess already, but this... this was so much different.
But he found himself surprised that she would immediately ask for Impa. The old woman was the one who showed him the sleeping princess, but he had never guessed that the two would know each other. She was old, but certainly she wasn't... that old.
"She's not here," Link explained. He was keeping his distance from her bed, torn between knowing just where his place was. Things were so much more complicated with woman than it was out in the wilderness. "You've been asleep, your highness. For um, a long time."
"I have?" she echoed faintly. "But why didn't... I never oversleep...."
It was strange- bewildering, even- to wake in a strange situation and not find Impa nearby. The Sheikah warrior was the only mother Zelda had ever known, and the piercing red eyes and contralto voice which had terrified so many of her father's retainers over the years were reassuring as nothing else in the world had ever been. If something had happened- and something had happened, she sensed, could feel it in the pit of her stomach- then there was no place Impa would be rather than at her charge's side.
Not unless there was another both women trusted nearby, at least. And while Hyrule had many skilled knights, there was only one who fit that description.
"All right," she nodded, more to herself than the youth who addressed her, and let the hand that had convered her eyes fall into her lap. "If you would, send for Sir L-"
Then the figure before her sharpened into focus and she fell silent, eyes widening.
After a moment's blank staring, Zelda found her voice again. "Is this some kind of trick?" she asked, voice cool and -she hoped- composed.
She knew that garb, or something all too like it. But not the man who wore it, and the contrast was sharp and jarring.
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But now he was in the North Palace again, deep in a forgotten chamber known only by those few who had been entrusted with the kingdom's secrets. Before him was the ethereal beauty of the slumbering princess, a being who was as old as the stones of the castle itself. It did not seem like a waste to spend the power of the gods on her. In a fashion, it almost seemed as though she might belong among their number. It wasn't infatuation, but just a strong sense of curiosity and the knowledge that this would fulfill some unknowable purpose. It was destiny. Impa had made that clear to him.
The young man who had crossed through hell and back spoke the wish. It was only when she began to stir that it occurred to him that his journey was not for her sake. It was all for him. Not once had it ever crossed his mind that with the power of the gods at his fingertips, this might not be the world she would want to wake to.
no subject
Then, not for the first time, three golden triangles and a youth in green wandered in and rearranged her life entirely. Later, perhaps, Zelda would find a bit of grim humor in that resonance between her past and her present.
For now, though, she was more concerned with the stiffness of her limbs and with her aching head. Even sitting up felt difficult now, and the lights in the room made her eyes water.
"Impa?" she murmured, reaching up to cover her eyes with a gloved hand. Surely, if she was in such a state, her attendant would be nearby and ready to give her most disapproving glare. "What’s going on? I can’t remember....”
no subject
But he found himself surprised that she would immediately ask for Impa. The old woman was the one who showed him the sleeping princess, but he had never guessed that the two would know each other. She was old, but certainly she wasn't... that old.
"She's not here," Link explained. He was keeping his distance from her bed, torn between knowing just where his place was. Things were so much more complicated with woman than it was out in the wilderness. "You've been asleep, your highness. For um, a long time."
no subject
It was strange- bewildering, even- to wake in a strange situation and not find Impa nearby. The Sheikah warrior was the only mother Zelda had ever known, and the piercing red eyes and contralto voice which had terrified so many of her father's retainers over the years were reassuring as nothing else in the world had ever been. If something had happened- and something had happened, she sensed, could feel it in the pit of her stomach- then there was no place Impa would be rather than at her charge's side.
Not unless there was another both women trusted nearby, at least. And while Hyrule had many skilled knights, there was only one who fit that description.
"All right," she nodded, more to herself than the youth who addressed her, and let the hand that had convered her eyes fall into her lap. "If you would, send for Sir L-"
Then the figure before her sharpened into focus and she fell silent, eyes widening.
After a moment's blank staring, Zelda found her voice again. "Is this some kind of trick?" she asked, voice cool and -she hoped- composed.
She knew that garb, or something all too like it. But not the man who wore it, and the contrast was sharp and jarring.