Fan Fiction Friday: The Era Without A Hero – Part 11

The Temple of Time was a short walk from the Castle. Still in the central part of the city, but situated just southeast, it was one of the few buildings that still stood from the Era of the Hero of Time. The area around it had been turned into a natural garden filled with tall trees and reflecting pools. A short stone wall had been built around the area to cut down on outside noise and benches were scattered about as well. The only other thing that had slightly been altered about the grounds was the expansion wings of the Temple.

On both the north and south walls, small alcoves were added. One was for the current sages to hold meetings and discussions in private, along with a home for the Sage of Light, Kalia. The other wing was built as a library, filled with every book imaginable. The ground floor was filled with books for public use, while higher levels were filled with more scholarly texts.

Aldwin had heard rumors of a secret library in a basement level, but never found solid evidence.

“You’ve been here before, yes?” Impa asked him.

“A few times. Aldwin and I would go the library. He taught me about how the architectural design of the expansions were meant to reflect the Triforce. Power was represented by the Master Sword, Courage by the library, and Wisdom by the-“

“We’re going to see the Sages,” Impa interjected, seemingly not interested in the history. “The Queen will ask you a series of questions, as will the other Sages on the Council. You are to answer as truthfully as you can. Though His Majesty gave you the crest, they can revoke it from you.”

Osmond nodded in nervous understanding.

They pushed through the monolithic wooden doors and entered the hallowed hall. Brightly polished white stone pillars reached high into the ceiling, disappearing in darkness at the very apex of the hall. The floor was checked in black and white, save for a perimeter at the exterior walls. A plush red carpet, similar to the one in the throne room at Hyrule Castle, ran along the center of the temple up to a pedestal. Three shining gemstones rested on it, an emerald, a ruby, and a sapphire. Beyond that, a short hallway reached into a massive chamber where a single column of light could be seen shining off a legendary blade.

“This way,” Impa said, turning to the left and towards a small hall that ended at a pair of ornately decorated doors.

Osmond felt his feet stop moving for a moment when they passed into the north chamber, the Chamber of Sages.

Vibrant pools of blue water sat a few steps down on either side of the main path. Ahead, there was a raised platform with an arched table with seven seats. A Triforce marked the ground below the curved table and stood directly in the path of light that was streaming in from the extremely detailed stained-glass windows above.

“Wait here.”

Impa walked around behind the table and vanished into a stair well that wound its way above the chamber.

As her footsteps faded from the room, Osmond looked up to admire the stained-glass window. It had six small circles, each a different color, surrounding a Triforce and a single sword that drove through the middle. Above the circular portion in the window, was another larger Triforce, with each piece containing the crest of the Goddess it represented. Near the bottom of the window, a single maiden stood with her arms to the heavens, and all the races of Hyrule surrounding her.

On either side of the large window, were long tapestries. Both had a Triforce near the top, and three circles containing symbols of different colors near the bottom. A pair of torches sat above everything, each one between the window and a tapestry. Osmond’s gaze and wonder were snapped back towards the table and stairwell when the sound of footsteps echoed in the great hall.

Impa emerged first and motioned for Osmond to step up to the center of the Triforce on the ground with a firm hand. He obeyed quickly.

“Stand at attention,” Impa stood beside him with her hands straight down at her side and chest stuck forward. He took notice of her thumbs extending straight down to the ground at the center of her thighs. “When the Queen enters, drop to a knee and do not rise until you see me do so.”

No sooner had Impa finished that, then the sages began filing in. Osmond recognized them from the evening of the tournament. Lord Fado was first, followed by Lord Huron, and Lady Rutela. Lord Kalia, the Sage of Light entered next and was closely followed by the hooded Sage of Shadow, Sagesse. Lastly came Lady Laruto.

They each stepped up behind a seat from left to right in the same order that they had entered, then waited patiently as a pair of soldiers emerged and flanked the end of the stairs.

Impa dropped quickly to her knee, and Osmond did the same.

Soft footsteps clicked into the hall.

“Thank you, you’re dismissed,” the kind and warm voice of Queen Zelda said to the soldiers. “Lady Impa, Sir Osmond, please rise.”

Osmond began to get up, but Impa grabbed his wrist and remained knelt.

“Your Grace, you have not been seated yet. As a knight, it would be improper form to do so.” Impa’s voice was cold.

The Queen let out a small sigh and quickly made her way to the central seat at the table. The other sages took their seats, and Impa loosed her grip on Osmond’s hand allowing him to stand.

“Today is the 18^th day of the fourth month in one hundredth year following the Era of the Hero of Time. I, Sagesse, Sage of Shadow, do hereby announce that all sages are present and that this meeting is formally in session.” Sagesse looked up from the paper on the table and peered down over his glasses, “how are you feeling Sir Osmond?”

“A bit overwhelmed, sir.”

The mild sound of laughter went up from the council.

“As I imagine. Don’t worry, we won’t be too prying with our questions. All we ask, is that you speak truth to the words from your heart. Alright?”

Osmond nodded.

“What experience do you have with a blade?”

“My mentor trained me. He would have me practice with a wooden dummy we built in the alley behind his home, occasionally he and I would spar as well. Then of course the Swordsman Tournament…”

Sagesse scribbled something on the paper.

“What about hammers?” Huron bellowed.

The question warranted a sideways glance from Kalia and Sagesse, but the Sage of Shadow continued anyways.

“Are you comfortable with leaving home for extended periods of time?”

“Yes.” Osmond was unsure of his answer though, as an image of his Uncle popped into his mind. His hesitation seemed to go unnoticed though.

“What do you consider the defining trait among Knights of Hyrule?”

“Courage, I suppose.”

Sagesse gave an approving nod, then looked over to the Sage of Light. The owl was stoic and narrowed his gaze on Osmond. He leaned forward and drew a pipe from under one wing and lit it. With a plume of smoke billowing upward around his beak, he leaned forward.

“Why courage?”

Osmond felt his face flinch at the question. He began to think on Aldwin’s teachings, but suddenly the entire concept of being a Knight faded away.

“Because without courage, we have no understanding of how to seek wisdom. Without wisdom, we have no temperance to our power. Courage is more than one fragment of philosophy, it’s the very building block of what it means to defend those who need it.”

There was a moment of silence as Osmond’s words settled on their ears.

“Right, the boy gets my approval!” Fado shouted out and hopped onto the table. As he began to strut around on top of the table, he drew a disgusted look from the Sage of Ice, Rutela. “What is it that I’ve done to offend you now, your frostiness?”

“Your very presence offends me, Lord Fado. But in this moment, your distinct lack of decorum and respect for our duty as Sages is explicitly heinous,” Lady Rutela snarled.

“Let him be Rutela,” Huron’s voice grumbled as he extended a hand to prevent Fado from going further. “Fado is a sage same as you and I.”

“He is not the same. He is juvenile and arrogant. I demanded a presence with the Great Deku Tree when Lord Fado awoke, and I still disagree with his assessment.”

“But his assessment was final,” Kalia cut in, silencing the bickering. “Lady Rutela, that is enough. Lord Fado, please return to your seat.”

Fado puffed his nose at Rutela, then spun about and sprang over to his chair. Rutela stuck her face up in disgust but said nothing more. Huron and Kalia exchanged a nod of appreciation to one another.

“Sir Osmond,” Kalia shifted his attention back to Osmond, “as out of turn as Lord Fado’s approval was, his is the only approval we need to move forward with your initiation, barring an overrule by Her Grace, the Queen.”

“I have none.”

Osmond glanced around with a slight bit of confusion.

“All Knights upon initiation are given an assignment along side a Sage,” Kalia began explaining. “Had you awoken sooner, you would have headed out with Lord Huron to Death Mountain. However, that issue seems to have taken a bit of a personal turn and as such the task has been passed onto Lord Fado.”

“There have been reports of disturbances near the Lost Woods,” Sagesse took over, reading from a page in front of him. “Several soldiers that were posted there have gone missing recently. Talks of phantoms and Skull Kids have both the local garrison and the Kokiri worrying. Your duty as a new Knight, is to investigate the matter alongside Lord Fado and report back. Lord Fado will determine if the situation requires Hylian military intervention or not. If he believes it something you and the local guard can handle you will. Is that understood?”

“Yes, My Lord,” Osmond nodded firmly.

“Do you have any questions?”

“When do I leave? And what about supplies?”

“Weapons, armor, and supplies are being arranged as we speak. As for leaving, as soon as we’re adjourned, you may set off.”

Osmond was about to ask about leaving in the morning, when the Queen spoke up.

“No, he shall be leaving in the morning.”

“Your Grace?” Sagesse turned in bewilderment.

“There is one last piece to the assignment that I am adding on. The King and I have been discussing how to better educate our daughter in the ways of this world. When we heard about this assignment, it was one we decided would fit our desires for our daughter. The Princess is going to accompany you to visit the Great Deku Tree.”

Every face in the room was painted with the same look of shock and surprise. Osmond felt his heart stop and his legs turn to stone.

“Your Grace, you cannot be serious?!” Impa barked.

“A journey to the Great Forest of Hyrule has been a tradition in the Royal Family since the Era of the Hero of Time. Zelda herself has not made the pilgrimage, and I fear with the recent attack she may not get the opportunity to do so. Sir Osmond here has already proven worthy of defending her, and in the company of a Sage I have the utmost confidence in her safety. Furthermore, if another attack were to fall on Castletown, keeping her out of harms way would be ideal.”

“Your Grace, I must raise objection to this as well,” Sagesse folded his hands with a concerned look on his elderly face.

“As do I,” Rutela said.

“I trust Fado and the boy, you have my support Your Grace,” Huron nodded.

“The more the merrier!” Fado smiled, giving the Queen a thumbs-up.

Laruto quietly shook her head in disapproval.

“I suppose it falls to me then,” Kalia took a long drag from his pipe. Smoke pushed out his nostrils and floated upward around his feathery face as he stared down at Osmond. His eyes narrowed.

Osmond felt as if everything in the room had suddenly faded away and it was only he and the Sage of Light. His eyes boring deep into Osmond’s soul. Seeing everything, feeling everything, somehow experiencing every moment of Osmond’s life.

“Who am I to deny the Queen’s wishes?” Kalia finally said.

The room felt normal again, and Osmond let out a held breath.

“Very well,” Sagesse sighed, scribbling on the page with a quill. “The Princess Zelda, at the behest of her mother and father, will accompany you. You depart at dawn. If there is nothing further, this meeting is dismissed.”

 

David Wayne Nystrom is a Staff Writer for Zelda Dungeon. This story is an imagining of the final days in Hyrule prior to the Great Flood talked about in the opening cinematic of The Wind Waker. His top three Zelda games are Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Link’s Awakening. The first six chapters of the full story are available in podcast form, with future chapters in the works. To find it and learn more about the project, head to erawithoutahero.wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter. Every Era Has Heroes…