Zelda sat on one of the smooth stone benches in front of Hyrule castle, hard at work writing on a piece of white parchment. The sun beamed down from the heavens and onto the green grass and colorful flowers that decorated the small field just outside the majestic stone building. Small groups of vibrant butterflies fluttered about queen, almost as if they were drawn to the peaceful woman by an unknown force. On occasion one of the colorful insects would perched itself on Zelda’s shoulder, only to be shaken of by the slightest movement. Beside the woman sat a neatly assorted pile of sealed envelopes, each sealed with the crest of Hyrule.
Slowly she wrote on her final piece of pearly white paper, her slender hand guiding her writing tool to form very formal letters, each flowing into the other in the most elegant manner. The queen gazed down, focused on her work, only looking up for a moment to notice an old man in an orange robe moving up to her location on the bench. Almost instantly she could identify the old fellow, Rauru.
“There!” Zelda stated proudly to Rauru, finishing off the final letter by signing her name across the bottom.
Rauru came to a stop in front of the sitting queen. “Hmmm?”
“Finished! I’m finished with the final letter!” She said again as she folded the piece of paper into the last envelope, sealing it with a stamp.
The sage let out a slight chuckle. “Finished with what my dear queen?”
Zelda set the last letter with the others and looked up to the sage with a smile. “Well…Seeing as Terra is getting old enough I think it’s time that she begins looking into…A companion…of sorts.”
“You’re talking about suitors…Aren’t you?” Rauru murmured quietly, almost finding the actions of the queen amusing.
“If you want to put it that way yes…These letters are being sent to possible noblemen who may find an interest in my daughter, and hopefully…With luck…She may take an interest in one of them.”
“If you would…” Rauru began “…Please explain why you are doing such a thing, It seems to me that Terra is a very independent person, I’m not sure she would exactly be happy with this.”
Zelda stretched out her arms in front of her, shaking of hours of furious writing. “Rauru, Link and I won’t be here forever and I think it’s time for Terra to at least begin to look at someone who would help her rule Hyrule…And I know she wouldn’t be happy with this, but I can only hope she understands my reasoning.”
“But you must realize…You can’t force your daughter to love someone…It’s good to see that you’re looking into Hyrule’s future, but I think you should let Terra make her choice, she’ll get smitten one day.” The sage said with a grin, kneeling down to eye level with the queen.
The queen looked away for a moment, taking in the sage’s wise words into account. She couldn’t make her daughter fall for someone. “I…I know…But It can hurt for me to help her can it?”
Rauru let out a hearty laugh. “Of course not! So send these letters if you wish, it couldn’t hurt! Though, when it comes time for Terra to make her choice…Make sure she makes her own choice.”
Zelda replied with a simple nod, taking Rauru’s words to heart. “So…” she said swiftly, changing the subject off of her daughter. “…Have you found anything in the archives, anything about that tablet?”
Shifting in place, Rauru’s expression changed to a small scowl. “No…I’m afraid I haven’t. I’ve been shifting through almost every single part of the archives, but yet nothing.”
“Surely you must come across something soon, right?”
The sage chuckled in agreement. “Of course, I’ll come across something soon…I hope…There is only so much information.”
“Indeed…” Zelda cooed, tilting her head up to the bright blue sky, watching a few puffy white and grey clouds float lazily by. “…Link is getting a bit worried; he keeps staring off at the piece you’ve found for the longest time, I’m sorry for pestering you about it.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing…And don’t be sorry, we all have every right to be curious about information we don’t know…”
Replying only with a nod Zelda let Rauru continue.
“…And I bet it’s nothing to be concerned about, most likely just some information about the movements of the stars.”
“But you’ll continue search nonetheless right, Rauru? For Link’s sake…I can’t stand the man being so worried about everything all the time.”
Rauru stood up again, the grin on his face growing even wider. “Of course my queen…I will continue to search.”
Zelda continued to watch the grey clouds drift slowly by in front of the bright blue sky. “Thank you Rauru, and I’m sure you’re right…I bet it’s nothing.”
The sage quickly shifted his gaze up to the heavens, he too watching as the fluffy object floated about the sky, each traveling the same direction. Each cloud was greyish white in color, giving testament to the amount of moisture held within their bodies. Slowly he moved his eyes to the horizon. Just above the far extreme of the tree line was a dark grey mass, an oncoming storm.
“Zelda?” Rauru whispered curiously, but yet with lightheartedness.
“Hmmm…Yes Rauru?” the queen replied, entranced by the passing clouds.
“Where is your daughter exactly?”
Zelda let out a soft laugh and then replied. “Oh…I overheard one of the new castle guards talking about it…Sennett was it? She took one of the Knights as an escort out to Lake Hylia…Something about getting out of the castle for the day…The guard actually seemed kind of distressed about it…”
A smirk ran across Rauru’s wrinkled face. “Well…Let’s hope they come home before the storm hits…Seems like there is one heading this way.”
——————————————————————————–
“Alec, Hurry up!” Terra called out behind her as she walked toward a small hill near the shores and the clear blue water of Lake Hylia, removing her dress slippers in the process.
“Yeah…I’m coming, I’m coming!” The young knight replied with a laugh as he finished tying his horse to a small fence in the middle of a small open field next to the body of water.
Princess Terra reached the edge of the small hill and sat down, placing her shoes just to her side, letting her feet nestle into the grass, feeling each green blade as they pressed against her soft toes. She could feel her dress move about her ankles as the soft cool breeze brushed over the lake. Each little burst of wind would send small ripples about the water, creating the smallest yet calmest waves in the large mass of freshwater. Terra could almost touch the water from where she sat on the hill. Shifting her head over her shoulder she saw Alec moving toward the place where she sat, the knight finally finished with the horse.
“Took you long enough!” Terra teased, sticking her tongue out at Alec.
Throwing his hands up in defeat Alec attempted to explain himself. “Not my fault! These castle horses don’t like to be tied up apparently!” He spoke with a comic tone, not too worried about Terra’s attempt to tease him.
“Come, Sit down Alec! Stay awhile!” The princess chirped with glee, patting the lush green grass beside her.
“Oh…” Alec swift responded, changing his tone to something statelier “…As you wish your highness!”
Alec sat down next to Terra, plopping himself onto the soft surface of green field grass. The metal parts of his knight armor clinked against each other as the ranch boy impacted the ground. He could feel his body slowly growing accustom to the extra weight and bulkiness of his uniform. Even though he was wearing a more ceremonial version of Hylian Knight Armor, it was still suitable for any sort of battle. And according to Capitan Ordon, he had to wear it everywhere, just in case.
“Stop that Alec…” Terra grumbled, referring to his previous comment.
“Ha-Ha…Stop what?”
“You know what I’m talking about…That ‘your highness’ stuff…Stop it…”
Chuckling, the young knight unbuckled his two-handed sword from his back and set it down in the grass beside him. “Heh…I’m sorry Terra.” Alec replied, shooting Terra a joking glance.
Terra turned her gaze toward the lake once again. “It’s such a beautiful day isn’t it Alec?”
In the distance they both could hear a harmonious pair of song birds chirping to each other. Their tune carried across the vast open water and seemed to wash up on the young Hylian pair, much like waves on the shore of Lake Hylia.
“Yes…Yes it is…” Alec mumbled, for lack of any better words to say. His mind began to flash back to a few nights before…Back at the Gerudo Fortress…
“Have you ever been here before?” Terra chirped happily, looking back to Alec with a beaming face.
Alec shook his head. “Nah, I can’t say I have…I really didn’t have much time recreation back at the ranch…And if I did have time to myself I usually just sat around the house and relaxed…Pitiful right?”
“Well you must’ve had your reasons right?”
Letting out a chuckle the Ranch boy swiftly responded. “Ha! Working? I guess that’s a reason right?”
Terra glared at Alec playfully. “I meant that you were helping your mom out, you know, to keep the ranch running. That’s a reason.”
The young knight shrugged. “Sure, you’re probably right.” Alec spoke with a monotone; seeming almost uninterested in remembering the many years of work he had back at the ranch.
Sighing, the princess looked back over the lake. She was unsatisfied at her attempts to spark a conversation with the ranch boy about his mother or the ranch.
“But…” Alec spoke up again, grabbing Terra’s attention almost immediately. “…Now that I look back on it, it wasn’t such a bad life…Simple, but not bad…Don’t get me wrong, I love my mom, but I kind of felt all these years that she was holding back on me…Keeping stuff from me, keeping me from moving on…You know what I mean? I guess that’s why I was at the ranch for so long.”
“Oh yeah…I know the feeling…” Terra murmured.
“Really?” Alec spoke up with a bit of surprise.
The princess nodded, and scooted a little closer to the knight, adjusting her sitting position so she sat almost touching her escort. “Sometimes I feel like my parents don’t think I’m ready to have any responsibility. They think I’m still a child, and treat me like one too! And I know for a fact that they are keeping things from me!”
“What…Kind of things?”
Terra couldn’t help but shrug, even she truly didn’t know. “I don’t know…Just…Things…Things I should know if one day I’m actually going to rule this kingdom.”
Alec moved his hand and placed it on Terra’s back, rubbing it slightly. “Maybe parents do the things they do for a reason…Because they love us. Sometimes I think they always want us as their children, maybe they don’t want us to grow up…Or maybe they keep secrets from us…because they want to protect us.”
Nodding, Terra knew where Alec was coming from, even though she didn’t like it. “I-I guess…”
“They will tell you everything sometime; I bet they just don’t think you are ready yet…”
“Like I haven’t heard that before…” The princess grumbled, folding her arms across her chest in frustration.
The wind began to pick up slightly, sending larger ripples of waved across the vast lake. Leaves on the trees began to rustle.
Alec looked up at the sound of the leaves and looked across the lake toward the small island in the middle with the large tree, a set of wooden bridges stretched across the water toward the land mass. He could see the leaves on the great branches move back and forth as the wind picked up. The sun began to fade behind the coming grey clouds, almost seeming to suck the warmth right out of the air.
Nudging Terra slightly he got her attention once again. “That island…What is it?”
Lighting up with glee Terra was more than happy to share. “Oh…That’s my favorite place on the lake!”
“Heh…Why?”
“It’s so nice out there! My dad and I used to swim out to the island on hot summer days years ago…My dad said that great tree used to be dead long ago, or something like that, but now it’s alive for some reason…And in the middle of the night it’s the perfect place to watch the stars…We should go out there! ”
The wind picked up some more as Alec began to speak. “I’d love to but…” He turned his head toward the sky, causing the beautiful princess to do the same. “…I think our like adventure is going to be cut short, looks like it’s going to storm pretty soon…By the looks of it, it’s going to be a big one.”
Pointing toward the tree line they both could see a rapidly approaching wave of dark grey clouds. And moment by moment the wind continued to pick up. With each gust the air grew colder and colder, the sun now completely covered by grey clouds.
Terra’s face turned into a scowl, not particularly enjoying her plans for the day ruined by a storm. “Great…We just got here…”
Picking himself off the ground, the young armored knight offered a hand to Princess Terra. “Come on…” Alec said his palm outstretched for the princess to grab onto. “…We best get back before it gets too bad; I don’t want to be caught out in Hyrule Field at night in the middle of the storm.”
With a soft and smitten smile the princess took the young knights hand…
——————————————————————————–
Malon could hear the strong patter of rain on the roof of her lonely empty ranch house. She kneeled down next to the fire, a pot of strew cooking away. Once again she had made the mistake of cooking extra, not remembering that Alec no longer lived at the ranch. The thought about Alec being at home almost brought a tear to Malon’s eye, even though slowly she was getting used to her son being away.
Lifting herself off her knees she walked toward the cupboard, and reached toward a set of white ceramic bowels. Out the window she could see the lightning streak across the sky; the black clouds seemed to bring the blackness of nightfall faster than normal. The roll of thunder seemed to shake her small three room ranch house. Just as she picked up the bowl there was a sound…A rapid knocking at her door…
“W-W-Who could that be at this hour?” the woman muttered, obviously surprised that someone was knocking at her door during the night, especially during a storm as strong as this one.
Placing the bowl back on the shelf, Malon turned toward the door. An almost afraid look took over her faces as she began to pace closer and closer to the wooden entrance to her dwelling. Once more there was the same knocking, barely being audible over the sound of the pouring rain on her wooden roof.
“Hello?” Malon murmured as she drew closer to the door. “Hello?”
Malon reached toward the knob on the door, just barely grazing it before it burst open…
“Mom, Hello!” Alec shouted happily as he burst into the house, gently pushing a smaller hooded, yet still soaking wet figure into the room before him.
Alec shook out his hair, sending droplets of water through the air. He motioned for the hooded figure to take a few steps forward before shutting the door behind him. Drops of rain water slid off his polished armor and dripped onto the wooden floor of his mother’s house.
Malon watched in surprise as her son attempted to shake off as much water as possible. “W-W-What are you d-d-doing here?” she stuttered, still in shock of seeing Alec not only at such a late hour, but also covered in Hylian Knight Armor.
“It’s nice to see you too mother…” Alec whispered, rubbing his arms a bit to warm himself up from the cold rain.
“Alec!” The knight’s mother replied, coming back to reality rather quickly. “…What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the castle with your…And who is this?” She pointed at the soaking wet, and slightly shivering, cloaked figure standing in her front room.
Glancing at the figure and then back to his mother, Alec began to explain. “Well…To put it simply…My friend and I were at Lake Hylia when it began to storm, and we couldn’t make it back to the Castle, so now we are here…I hope you don’t mind.”
Malon ran a frustrated hand down her face and whispered to herself. “Oh…If your father were here he could kill you for doing this…What a strange boy we have…”
“Are you mad?” Alec muttered somewhat shamefully.
“No-No-No…Just…Never mind…Who is your friend?” She replied, calming down just a bit.
Alec cracked sly and embarrassed grin nodding to the hooded figure standing next to him.
A pair of small slender hands emerged forth from the cloak reaching up toward the hood, and in a swift motion pulled it back. What stood before Malon was a stunning young Hylian girl, well dressed in some silver jewelry. Her sandy blonde hair was matted and wet, heavy with rain water that seeped through the cloak she once wore. And two bright blue eyes looked straight at the ranch owner with a delighted happiness.
“Uh…Hi Malon…I’m…Terra…Alec’s friend…” Terra said shyly, smiling, raising her hand and wiggling her fingers in a polite wave.
Immediately Malon turned to her son. She lowered her eyebrows in anger and sent Alec a glare that could kill. “Alec…Why is the princess of Hyrule standing in my living room…”
“Listen…Mom…I can explain…”
“You better start…” Malon growled, taking a step toward her son.
“Well…Terra is my friend….She wanted me to escort her to the Lake for today…And…”
Terra stepping in, interrupting her knight escort. “I-It’s my fault Malon…I shouldn’t have dragged Alec all the way out to the lake, I really hope it’s not going to cause trouble.”
Alec simply just shrugged a bit, agreeing with Terra, the words being taken from his mouth.
The words from the Hylian princess seemed to instantly calm Malon, her look softening on her son almost immediately.
“I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean for us to be causing trouble…” She whispered silently, almost as if she were taking on her own parents.
Malon looked toward Terra. “It’s fine…I’m just surprised is all…I’m not used to visitors at this late of an hour…” She sighed, letting out her frustration with a large huff of air. It was then she noticed the princess shivering. “…Oh…My dear…Are you cold?”
Terra’s teeth chattered as she spoke. “J-J-Just a bit…But it’s no big deal. I can manage.” The princess rubbed her arms a bit to keep warm, attempting to play it off as much as possible in front of Alec’s parent.
The ranch owner came and took Terra by the shoulder, and began to lead her toward the stairs. “This won’t do, Here…Come with me…Let’s get you out of those wet clothes, I think I may have some old dresses that may fit you perfectly…Your parents would have my head if you got sick under my watch.”
Terra smiled and let Malon led her up the stairs. “Thank you, that sounds wonderful.”
Pivoting her head as she ascended the steps Malon spoke to Alec. “Alec, I still have some of your clothes in your room. Change into those and keep watch over dinner…Terra and I will be back in a second.”
Before he could open his mouth to speak the upstairs door closed shut. Alec was now left alone in the large living room of his old house, with only the sound of the rain to keep him company.
——————————————————————————–
“So…” Malon spoke up as she was cleaning off the table…Terra I heard from your parents that you’re quite the singer?”
Terra looked up to the ranch owner and smiled politely. “Well…I think they over exaggerate just bit…I’m not that good…” She turned back to the mirror, looking herself over, never before had she worn such ‘cheap’ garments, not that she minded of course.
Alec spoke from where he lay, a pile of straw in the far corner of the room. “She’s lying mom…She is good, if not the best!” The young knight didn’t even look up. He was too busy playing with a family of cats that he had missed since he left for the castle. Although he couldn’t help but have his eyes wandered over to the blonde princess, even in rancher clothing she looked amazing.
“Alec…” Terra grunted between her teeth, not wanting to boast about her own singing ability…Even though she knew she was good, if not great…
Malon couldn’t help but smile as she listened. “What’s wrong Terra? Don’t you like to sing?”
The princess turned away from the mirror with an almost ashamed look on her face. “It’s not that I don’t like to…It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“My parents…They are just difficult sometimes…About my singing at least…”
Walking over to the table Malon took a seat, relaxing her tired legs. “What do you mean Terra?” She asked, motioning the princess to come and sit with her.
“Mom I don’t think Terra wants to…” Alec began, but was ignored when the princess moved over and sat next to his mother. “Whatever…” He whispered to himself.
Terra adjusted herself in the clothes Malon lent her, getting comfortable before she opened up to the ranch owner. “Sometimes I think that they assume all I can do is sing…I feel like that they don’t actually see anything else besides that…Don’t get me wrong I love to sing, it’s my favorite thing in all of Hyrule…But…I just feel like that’s all my parents know of me.”
A slight grin overtook Malon’s face. “I’m sure your parents know more than that about you Terra.”
“I-I-I know…But I feel like they don’t think I’m ready for anything, to them all they see is just ‘Their little girl’ not someone who is ready for more…”
Alec perked up from where he lay, getting drawn into the conversation by pure interest.
“…I’m ready for more you know…” The princess continued. “…I’m ready to actually become someone, not just a daughter, a singer, or a pretty face…But someone who is actually ready to make a difference in Hyrule.” Terra threw her hands out in front of her and slumped onto the table, placing her head against the smooth wood, letting her blonde hair fall about her head.
Malon leaned in towards Terra and placed a comforting hand on the princess back. “You know…You’re a very courageous and wise girl Terra…I see it in you…”
Terra looked up from the table, a questioning look over her face. “You do?”
Nodding the rancher continued. “Yes…I can see your mother and father in you, I really do…” Malon’s words seemed to comfort the young frustrated princess. “…I think your parents do what they do because they love you, they want you to have a childhood…And even though you’re almost an adult, I think that you should realize that…”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say that a childhood was something your mother and father, even myself, was a luxury we couldn’t afford…Don’t try and grow up too fast Terra, you’re only young like this once, and we can’t go back in time…”
Lifting herself off the table, Terra couldn’t help but nod. “I-I guess.”
“…And your parents see more in you than just a singer. They will see that you’re ready for more soon enough…But you’ll always be their little girl…” Malon turned head to look toward Alec, who had already lost concentration and was back playing with the small troop of felines around his legs. “…Just like how Alec will always be my little boy.”
Terra let a soft smile go over her face; finally she saw what Malon meant. It was almost if a great weight had been lifted off the young girl’s shoulders, and she could see the pure emotion and truth in Malon’s face. “Yes…Yes, I see now…”
Turning back to the princess Malon changed the subject; she could almost feel herself beginning to tear up. “But I must say Terra you are the prettiest girl I have ever seen…I mean it…You must have troops of boys following you around.”
Blushing, Terra lifted herself off the table and placed her hands in her lap. “Heh…You might say that…”
Almost as if her own youth days were brought back to her, Malon scooted over a bit closer to the princess. “So…Do you have your eyes set on a particular nobleman? Forgive me if I’m prying but I simply must ask…”
Terra couldn’t help but have her eyes wander over to Alec, who was still rolling around in the straw with the kittens. “I…I have my eyes set on a boy…Although I’m not sure he is someone anybody will expect.” The princess said slyly, taking her eyes off the ranch boy before Malon caught sight of who she was looking at.
“Oh please…You can tell me…” Malon pleaded humorously. “…I won’t tell your parents!”
Giggling the princess began to turn red again. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Ha-ha! Of course Terra, I’m sure…”
Leaning in so only the two could hear Terra began to speak, her eyes drifting toward Alec once again. “Well…”
“It stopped raining!” Alec cheered happily, interrupting the two’s private conversation. Almost instantly Alec pushed himself off the ground and walked over to the door, opening it. “It must have stopped raining a while ago, the stars are out!”
Terra turned toward Alec losing her train of thought. “The stars? I bet they look lovely from out here!”
Stretching, Alec stepped one foot out the door. “How about we go take a look? Come on Terra it’d be nice to show you where I grew up.”
Looking back toward Malon Terra got to “Go ahead” look from Malon, even though Terra was about to share her secret with the ranch owner. Smiling the young princess lifted herself off the chair and followed Alec out the door.
——————————————————————————–
Alec and Terra stood side by side in the middle of the ranch, both staring up into the sky at the twinkling stars above them. Looks of awe and wonder took over their faces as they both looked up into the heavens, almost as if they had never seen the sky before.
“It’s absolutely wonderful out here Alec…Simply beautiful” Terra murmured softly, her eyes twinkling in the starlight.
“It is isn’t it…?” The young knight replied. “…In nineteen years I have never looked at the sky this way before.”
“Your mother…She is really nice…” The princess turned, looking up at Alec’s face.
“Heh…Thank you Terra.” He responded nervously, taken off-guard by the statement.
“She really loves you…I can see the connection between you two.”
“Y-you can?”
“Yes…I wish I had a connection like that with my parents…”
Alec swiftly turned his head toward the beautiful girl looking up at him. “Terra…You may not know this, but everything your parents do they do because they love you, and you may not see it, but I can see the love in your family…You, Your mother, Your father…You have a beautiful family Terra…And even though you may not notice it now, your family will always support you, they will always be there for you, even at the end…You lucky to have them Terra…You’ll make a brave and wise queen someday.”
Terra stood silently for a few moments, staring up at the knight who she had dragged out into Hyrule as her escort, as a friend…As maybe…Something more…
Looking back, Alec smiled down onto the princess. Seemingly entranced by the way she looked up at him.
“T-Thank you Alec…” She mumbled nervously. “…I can tell you’ll be a powerful knight, I’m lucky to have you as a friend…Thank you…For today…” And with those words she slowly moved her slender hand toward Alec’s, letting her fingers graze his. She moved her hand around his, letting her palm rest against his palm and slowly she intertwined her fingers between his. Finally, to her surprise, she could feel Alec own hand tighten around hers, gripping it ever so gently.
The two couldn’t help but smile at each other, both at a loss for words. And for moments they stood silently in the starlight, their eyes locking on the others.
Terra was the first to move, she side stepped in, bringing herself side by side with her knight. And slowly she rested her head against Alec’s shoulder, letting her silky blonde hair act as a warm pillow on the knight’s muscular arm. She closed her eyes and spoke soft words. “Alec…I want you to know that I’ve…”
“Alec! Terra!” A voice called from the ranch house, it was Malon. She was calling from one of the windows, Alec’s mother unable to see the two out in the middle of her ranch.
The shout caused Terra’s eyes to snap open and her head to lift off Alec’s shoulder. She turned her head to look back, her hand still interlocked with Alec’s.
“It’s getting late, you two should head back to the castle before too long! Your parents will worry!”
Sighing, Alec spoke up. “I think she is right…I don’t want your parents to worry…and I’d rather not have to do extra work for Ordon tomorrow.”
Blushing, Terra nodded and an even wider smile crossed her face as Alec began to lead her, by the hand, to their horse…
——————————————————————————–
In the distance the Phantom watched as two teenagers galloped out of Lon Lon Ranch and headed back toward the castle. Even though it was pitch black in the middle of the field he could sense their presence and, more importantly, who they were.
In the blackness behind the Phantom stood a large group of bandits, led by one who had failed in the last attempt in kidnapping Princess Terra. They fidgeted eagerly, awaiting orders from the tall cloaked figure. They seemed like hunting dogs being held back before a great hunt.
“We could slaughter both now…They are easy prey…” The lead bandit spoke up, almost snarling.
“No…” Growled the Phantom “…Not yet…I have a greater plan in mind…” And with one outstretched finger, pointed toward the ranch… “…We make them suffer first….”