Fan Fiction Friday: The Silence Within The Stone – Chapter 21

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Chapter Twenty-One

The pair were led by the cadre of Zora soldiers along a straight path to a towering castle. The pace was brisk giving Link and Rukio little time to take in the grandeur of their environment. They were at the very least appreciative of the craftsmanship that went into this particular part of the city having recognized that it was noticeably more ornate than the city outside the gates. They pushed forward through the palace gates and were ushered up several flights of stairs until finally they arrived at a large door covered in carvings depicting what could be no doubt the history of the Zora. Link, still shivering and close to losing consciousness took several seconds to analyze the vague tale being told on its surface. Several images caught his eye, and he focused intently on what appeared to be a Hylian sporting a pointy hat not so different from his own sharing what appeared to be some manner of stone with a female Zora. Or perhaps she was sharing it with him? It was difficult to discern the context, and he was certainly in no shape or state of mind to draw his own conclusions.

Ulrira had taken notice of him and his violent shivering.

“Guards, a moment before we enter if you please,” he said, having stomped his staff downward with a loud clack to get their attention. The group stood at attention, still as stone. Ulrira gave Link a wink and took off to their left down a hallway and through a door. Several minutes passed before he emerged once again carrying a small pile of what appeared to be clothes. “Here you are boy. Call it old man’s intuition, but something tells me you were born to wear this. It’s a set of armor that our people gifted to the Hero of Time in ages past. Or was it the Hero of the Winds? …Perhaps the Hero of the Sky? Who even knows anymore? Just to be safe, let’s just call him the Hero of Legend eh? I think that covers all of our bases. Quickly now, as it doesn’t look like you have much energy left. That armor will allow you to withstand colder environments like this. We’re a cold-blooded people you see, and our bodies are able to adapt quickly to steep temperature changes not unlike what we’ve been stricken with as of late. As an added bit of magic, it’ll make you one hell of a swimmer. Not that doggy paddlin’ you Hylians favor, but real swimming. Style, grace, the whole bit…”

Ulrira continued on like that while Link, forcing his rigid limbs to extend, put the armor on over his tunic. It was a perfect fit surprisingly, and the blue scaly appearance of the breastplate, arm, and leg braces clashed wonderfully with the greens and browns of his tunic beneath. He immediately began to feel warmth return to his body and gave a few shakes to make sure that his circulation was fully flowing once more. Rukio gave him a wide smile.

“Feeling better now brother? You have color in your cheeks again. That’s a huge relief! Like I said before, I’m doin’ pretty well myself. I guess we Gorons were just made to handle extreme places like this. Although that armor does look pretty spiffy. Too bad there weren’t any Goron heroes of old and all that. I think I’d look pretty cool in somethin’ like that!” Ulrira stepped in front of Link and eyed him up and down, a look of approval covering his face.

“Just as I thought,” he began, bringing a hand up to stroke the two tentacles that hung from his face. “It would seem that we’re in our own special era. Fate has been kind, or perhaps cruel to you boy, but either way you seem to fit the bill to be our very own hero. I’ll admit I’ve wanted something like this to happen in the few hundred years I’ve walked this world. My apologies for being a bit selfish in that regard. No doubt your journey thus far hasn’t been the smoothest, and I fear that the road before you will be paved with even worse events. But I’ve got a good feeling about you and if it’s any consolation, whatever if meant to happen will happen eh? Now, I think we’ve dawdled long enough, don’t you?” He turned and walked to the large door, bringing his staff down once more with a reverberating clack. Two of the guards moved forward and pushed the large slabs inward, the sound of their grinding against the stone floor and ceiling causing the hairs on the back of Link’s neck to stand on end. Ulrira stepped forward a few steps before bellowing very loudly “May I present his royal highness King Rautu, Seventh of his name!” The guards around Link and Rukio gave them a push and ahead they walked. A long, blue and white carpet stretched ahead of them and up a small set of steps before ending before a large throne, inhabited by the largest Zora Link had ever seen. He wasn’t sleek and slender as the others had been, but rather bulbous, no doubt a form he had taken on from a lifetime of decadence and a distinct lack of exposure to physical labor. But his girth alone wasn’t the most surprising thing, but rather his height. The sheer vertical imposition he exhibited was staggering and both Link and Rukio considered him a giant in their minds.

“Vizier Ulrira,” Rautu began, his voice booming throughout the corridor in so low an octave it felt as though Link was standing next to a great horn being blown. “It seems that you’ve brought me guests. Quite odd given our current predicament no?” He looked Link and Rukio up and down. “Yes, quite odd indeed I think,” he added leaning forward a bit, an action that seemed to put considerable strain on himself.

“Your Majesty, may I introduce Link of the Hylians and Rukio of the Goron tribe. There is also a third being attended to in the medical wing. A Jenoa of the Gerudo.”

“Quite the varied party of adventurers,” Rautu said. “And what brings your party before me in such troubling times might I ask…Link was it?” He began to eye Link with great interest, his tone taking on a more serious cadence as he addressed him.

“We’re on a quest, Your Majesty,” Link began, unsure of how to address royalty. He had of course been subject to conversations with the King of Hyrule, but given their long familiarity and friendship with one another, all pretenses of a commoner addressing one of a higher station had been non-existent for quite some time. “We’ve been tasked with seeking the aid of the Great Fairies throughout Hyrule. We were told that they would help me draw the Master Sword and bring about an end to the evil that’s been taking over. I’m not sure if you’ve heard sir, but Hyrule Castle and the town around it were cursed and everyone inside was turned to stone. The King, he…”

“I have indeed been informed my boy,” Rautu interrupted, giving Link a bit of a reprieve from having to relive the memories that had brought him to this point. “The waters have told us much these last few weeks. They have told us much indeed. We are very much aware of the fiend Ganon’s conquest against the land. Seeing you now, clothed in the garb of green from the legends there can be no doubt that you are indeed the one to rise up against his tyranny. I do not envy you boy, but rest assured, we will do what we can to aid you in your quest.” He motioned to the guards surrounding them that they may lower their weapons and stand at ease. “Though I’m afraid that said aid won’t come without a bit of quid pro quo. As you have no doubt witnessed, the dragon Silindrath has assaulted Zora’s Domain for several days now. We had thought the beast nothing but a myth–a tale told to tadpoles before bedtime. But he is quite real and the threat he poses even more so. My scouts have followed the beast back to where he dwells and unfortunately, he has taken up residence within the cave that houses the Great Fairy of Zora’s Domain.”

“So what you’re sayin’ is we’ll need to go in there and give him a wallop before we can get the last Great Fairy to help us right?” Rukio said, clearly wanting to be a part of the conversation.

“Indeed,” Rautu said with a chuckle. It was doubtful that the giant Zora had ever experienced talking to someone like Rukio. “You will need to journey to the cave and bring about an end to the dragon’s wrath. We have reason to believe that once the beast is slain, all of the magic that he has inflicted upon us will be lifted. Or, rather, we’re hopeful that it will. Ice like this will take years to thaw if that isn’t indeed the case. I would recommend that you stay here for the night and recover your strength in full before setting out. No doubt the two of you are quite exhausted, and it sounds like the third member of your party needs this time to recover as well. You will set out in the morning accompanied by my son Tauru. He knows the way to the cave and has studied the dragon’s attacks. He will no doubt be an asset in your quest.” As though on cue, a much smaller, slender Zora carrying a dazzling, crystalline polearm stepped forward from behind the group. He knelt before the King before rising to his feet and looking at Link and Rukio. He didn’t say a word, but almost sneered before leaving the room. “You’ll need to forgive Tauru,” Rautu said. “He’s not exactly the most trusting of outsiders but I assure you that he’ll see his end of things through.”

Link bowed and thanked Rautu before they were led out of the chamber.

“That went much better than I expected,” Ulrira said, leaning on his staff with a smile. “An interesting thing that his majesty too believes you to be the stuff of legends my boy. But, that’s neither here nor there. I’m going to have the cooks whip you three up something tasty to help you get back on your feet in full. I’ll walk you to the guest chambers in the meantime.” He leaned in to one of the guards standing at attention, muttered something in audible, and the guard took off down the hall. Link assumed he was alerting the ones responsible for their upcoming meal. They traveled around the castle and received a proper education on the history of its construction and the part it played throughout the centuries as a bastion for the Zora people. When at last they arrived at the guest chambers, Link and Rukio were overjoyed to see Jenoa in the hallway adorned in a fur-lined jacket. She gave them a smile and the three of them took several minutes to recount the events of the day to one another before being shown their rooms. Link was astonished at the opulence within, feeling that it was a bit much for a simple guest room, but then he remembered that these were no doubt built with the intent to house dignitaries and the like, not one such as him that resided on a lower rung of the social ladder. He laid on the bed in the room and sunk deep into the mattress. Almost immediately, his eyes grew heavy and he almost fell into a deep sleep. Never had he laid in a bed like this. He broke through the lull in his senses though and knew he couldn’t succumb to sleep just yet.

A great meal had indeed been prepared for them, and that evening the three feasted like never before, taking in multiple helpings until it felt as though they would burst. Tauru sat among them quietly and did nothing to respond to Rukio’s inquiries or participate in their banter. When he had his fill he simply stood, looked at all three of them, and informed the group that they had best get sleep, as they would need every ounce of their strength to do what must be done when the sun rose tomorrow.

Fortunately, Link’s weary body found very little trouble falling asleep that night.