Silent Hero: a tribute to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda
Page 18
Chapter 14
Sisterhood
To the Zorita it was, and then, the dwelling of their ancestors, the Zora.
Midna and Link spoke little during that trek, though their silence was peaceful and pensive, not laced with fear. Pami had said they might find rest with the Zorita as before, which lightened Link’s heart and returned to him many of his best memories with Midna. The thought of seeing the Zorita again only made him feel that much closer to her.
Perhaps Midna felt it too, for she would cast him soft smiles or casually take his hand from time to time, more often as forest thinned and finally morphed into a wide expanse of sandy beach, cliffs rising to their left.
As night drew close, moonlight shimmered majestically upon the waves breaking against the shore. The shallows kissed their feet, warming their toes. But there was no time to stop and play or admire such beauty. Holding each other’s hands, they marched on towards the cliffs.
Between the cliffs, a series of land-bridges twisted in a confusing sort of knot over a lake. From high above, a waterfall thundered, pooling into the lake. Link and Midna helped each other along the steep inclines of the bridges, climbing and winding their way up until, at the last, they stood face to face with the roaring fall.
Link looked at his feet. Beneath them, a square stone tile, old, weathered, its sheen long ago faded. Still, the Triforce crest faintly lingered. He knew this place. One of his favorite places from the ancient legends, one he visited often inside his mind as he retold the tales. Taking out his ocarina, he knew exactly what to do.
His fingers flowed across the ocarina which sang out the notes of Midna’s Requiem with the same ease and grace as did those of the Hero when he played Zelda’s Lullaby to visit this secret place.
The Song flowed naturally from Link’s fingertips. As Midna’s Requiem echoed from the ocarina, the falls calmed and parted like a curtain, revealing the cave’s opening which loomed dark and beckoning.
Link lowered the ocarina, hiding it away in his satchel once more. Then, taking a small, head-start run, Link leapt over the short gap onto the ledge beyond. The waterfall’s thin spray doused him like a light shower, refreshing against his weary, dirt-stained skin. Turning, he held out his hand, granting Midna an encouraging grin.
Returning the smile, she too took a flying leap, gliding through the air like a butterfly queen. The waters closed in again, forming a solid barrier between them and the outside world.
Loosely holding Midna’s hand, he led the way down the dark corridor which soon wound down and brightened; blue-white lights played across the walls. Emerging from the cave’s wide mouth, they paused to stare in wonder at the original Zora’s Domain.
They stood at the bank of a huge lake, and across the lake, a gigantous waterfall tumbled into its depths. Stone paths wound up and around and out of sight into various rooms niched high above. Somewhere, music like steel drums and an angelic choir echoed soothing, tropical melodies, making Link think of the Kokiri’s own choir. Torches lined the towering walls in elegant arcs, bouncing off the water and showering the cave with prismatic lights. What amazed Link most of all though was the presence of so many Zorita—not Zora, as expected, but the Zorita themselves—flying, diving, swimming, laughing, playing, no evils existed outside their realm.
Link nodded towards a path spiraling steadily up to a ledge above. He gently drew Midna along, and she smiled as she gazed all about, Sarita’s child-like wonderment glistening fervently in round, wide eyes.
The Zorita cast smiles or nods of greeting in passing. Many stared with the same curiosity as Link and Midna stared at them with. A peace glittered calmly in the Zorita’s eyes, illuminating Link’s heart with a new sort of hope.
As their path stretched high above the lake, it twisted towards a stair rising steadily between two walls. Link’s heart pounded; again, he knew exactly where they were, what goal they pressed towards.
At the summit, they stepped into the room which felt like stepping into a dream or ancient memory. A shallow pool refreshed their feet. On a raised dais before them, a stone throne. To their left, a cavernous mouth leading to some other passage in the cave. On the walls, torchlight glistened with the same gentility found in the Zoritas’ eyes....
“The most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen, isn’t it?”
Link and Midna looked up as the Zorita graced the ledge above, stepping from the corridor behind the throne. Her soft aqua skin, long curving fins, elegantly flexing wings, ocean eyes—she was the exact replica of Ava, save perhaps being a little taller and thinner, her voice a little deeper and lined with an aged wisdom.
Her smile was just as soft and sweet though as she hopped down from the ledge to stand in the shallows before them. “I am Miya, sister of Ava of Termina, and also the Sage of Water—though you could have probably guessed that first bit already.”
Link nodded while Midna returned the gentle grin.
“This,” Miya spread her hands wide, indicating the throne room, “is truly that room where the first Zora kings and queens ruled....
“Zora’s Domain is one of the few parts of ancient Hyrule not assailed by Ganondorf’s forces. Even he could not get inside without breaking through the powerful magic guarding our domain—or else without being a closest ally to the Royal Family. Which you and Midna clearly are, while Ganondorf remains entirely the traitor. Thank the goddesses he never knew the requiem in his short time serving the king of Hyrule....
“We Zorita have dwelled here some time, protecting this place and preserving its ancient beauty. Sometimes, we dwell in our time as well. Sometimes, we dwell in both, though we’ve put an end to travel between the two until all evil is safely brought to an end....”
“Yes,” said Midna slowly, “your sister, Ava—she promised we would meet you here. Although I didn’t know she quite meant here, in the ancient domain....”
Miya nodded. “Ah, indeed. Ava. Your connection to her is yet another, unneeded sign of proof. Here—you pass all tests....”
She pulled from her cloak the shimmering sapphire, the Stone of Water. Midna gingerly took it into her hands, staring with the same bafflement coating her face as Link thoroughly felt.
“But...how?” Midna frowned. “How have we so easily obtained the Stone?”
“You already played the Song to gain entrance here,” Miya smiled softly. “In doing so, you prove the test as our Hero. Besides, I think Ruto would have wanted to make the way easy for you—even if she did once hold that seven year engagement over your head....”
“Engagement?” Midna tilted her head, eyes playfully demanding answers of Link. He smirked but blushed terribly, knowing the exact tale Miya alluded to.
Miya laughed a high, lilting laugh which sparkled with the same kindness in her eyes. “It is an ancient but very true tale much cherished by our people.
“The first Link, the original Hero, met Ruto—one of our great princesses of old who would later become the Sage of Water—when both were children, about ten years old. She was a headstrong thing, proud, even obnoxious, one could say. In a series of misadventures inside the belly of a fish, Link kindly helped her regain her lost treasure—the spiritual Stone of Water. Not only was this Stone vital to his quest and to him gaining access to the Master Sword, but it was also a sacred item of tradition, an engagement Stone of sorts. Ruto’s mother told her only to give it to the one who would be her husband someday....
“Seven years later, when it was Ruto’s turn to aid Link, she reminded him how terrible he was to keep her waiting ‘these seven, long years.’ Whether joking or not, it is said Ruto never forgot her love for Link, even after becoming a guardian sage. Near the end of her life, she entrusted the Stone to the Zora, commanding them to guard it well and allow no hands to touch it save the Hero’s when he returned—as he surely would, she promised. Then, once in his possession, she would return to sweep him off his feet—or else haunt him, if that was the best she could do.
“I highly doubt Ruto will really tr
ouble you, especially in such troubling times. But,” she added with a playful smile and a twinkle in her eyes, “you never know. Even in the midst of peril, Ruto was no stranger to taking a moment to scold Link for unrequited love....
“Go now though, my children. To the desert, to the last Stone. I would bid you rest, but since time is of the essence, use this short refreshment to journey forth and make all haste to the final chapter in your venture.”
“We will.” Midna gave a firm nod. “And we thank you, my lady, for making our test so easy as to be called ‘refreshment.’”
“You are indeed most welcome, my children. Now go, and serve Hyrule well—past, present, and future....”
She swept a long arm in a graceful arc to their left where the gaping mouth of a corridor loomed. They started curiously towards it through the shallows, and Miya followed behind.
Their path stopped short as the shallows turned into a waterfall rushing gently over the edge of the cliff and down into the lake below where many Zorita swam, talked, and laughed without a care in the world. Right below Link and Midna, at the foot of the waterfall, the sapphire rays of a warp crystal gleamed up between frothing white foam.
Link took Midna’s hand and cast a solemn, thankful nod back at Miya; she granted a gentle nod and smile.
Then, he looked at Midna, whose eyes remained steadfast upon the crystal.
He squeezed her hand, and the two leapt off the edge, soaring towards water and light in an amazing moment of excitement, joy, and a glimpse of the freedom to be theirs at their quest’s end.
Crashing into the warm depths of the lake, water and light enclosed them in brilliant blue waves; they swirled downward, waltzing beneath the waves for a glorious moment—
Then they sat, completely dry and still holding hands, on the floor of the Kokiri Forest once more.