Given the state of the vote, I think we can go ahead.
CALLED
You're pretty sure the cure to excessive brooding in a damp, comfortless chamber overnight is fairies. Not their shrill, squeaky voices that strain the ears after a while, nor the kaleidoscope of colors they cast whenever more than a few gathered together. You think you understand a few of the more creative glass panels in the lower temples now.
No, it's feeding them honey and then letting them loose on the nobles in attendance. None of them are willing to say anything as hair is pulled, their hats borrowed, sweets stolen straight out of their hands, and their poor jokes booed. Even your miserly Treasurer, Ishith, is forcing out a brittle smile as they nest in her black locks begging for the name of this and that.
For all the misery that she put you through for pushing a special tax out, you smile just a little wider.
"If you smile just a little more broadly, they might catch on that you're enjoying their suffering."
And that would be your Sheikah shadow and handler, destined to betray Hyrule by
frightening the life out of you. You'd punch him, but there's little chance you'd hit him.
"We agreed that you wouldn't do that today! No sleep! Much stress!"
You might not be able to see the smile behind the bone white mask, but the crinkle around Cilph's eyes gives it away, "Yes, but someone has to remind you that you have to do more then smile at the suffering of your nobles today." He clears his throat and starts ticking off fingers, "More seriously, Saria and her Great Fairy friend will be arriving tonight most likely."
That'd be about how things are proceeding in the Great Forest.
"Mayor Kamoh, from the Ordona Province."
The
wayward Ordona Province…
A
look from Cliph quells that thought a little, "He comes with a bit of a baggage train. I doubt the extra horses and tightly locked chests were his wife's."
You refuse to throw your hands up in defeat. Ordona was pretty much cut off from Hyrule involuntary after the near collapse of your forces from the aftermath of Ganondorf's sealing. Unlike Kakariko.
He rolls his eyes this time, know what you're going to ask, "No, nothing from Kakariko. Didn't even answer when called on at the Edin Bridge."
Best not to dwell on that in polite company.
"Last, a Zora delegation arrived late last night. You might not have noticed, trapped in that room, with your early turn i-, " you give and do try to hit him at barb. It misses, "but they'll be here shortly for the ceremony I'm sure."
You bite your lip at that. Aside from some letters exchanged with the Sage Mamoto about magic, contact with the Zoras has been limited since their retreat behind Goron lines to their Domain six years ago. You'd wanted to do more, but your regency council was right: You could barely protect your own people then, much less all of Hyrule.
Cliph could read your face pretty well, "A little fish told me they have some plans regarding the Canal. Hard to deny the usefulness of that."
The Canal of course was the
Grand Canal, the Zora's greatest work: from Lake Hylia to the Zora Domain and from Kakariko to the old outpost on the southern coast, they were all connected by an underground canal with the central hub right under Hyrule Castle here. All the gates are closed now, minions controlling the Lake Hylia access gate and swarming in through other entrances besides.
You think on that, smoothing out your purple dress as Lord Hayden approaches, "It'd be invaluable to be able to travel without hitting a monster every ten meters. But I think I'm needed elsewhere. Good work as always, my walking day planner."
You pat him on the back and smile at his
look again as you move to greet Hayden.
"Princess Zelda."
"Lord Hayden."
Hayden is of course, your Regent. Which is, or was after today, a good thing. One of the few competent nobles you have left, his first reaction to the death of your father wasn't to run to the mountains and hide or
give up. More than a few people lost their lands for utter cowardice and that the Gorons shelter them, and their gold, still galls you.
He takes your hand though and smiles. It's more wrinkled than you remember, his flamboyant red hair a bit greyer, and his large build looks to be a little more padding then the muscle from six years ago. He's in his late fifties now and you're glad to be taking some weight off his shoulders.
There's also a book in your hands now. You pop the clasp, which glows a faint blue, to an early page and are greeted by old,
old Hylian. It makes you squint a tad and rue him if he expects you to translate
that.
Hayden laughs at that, "Yes, it's a bit old. But the Priest has become involved in a heated discussion on the fine points of theology with a Fairy older than this castle and was unable to deliver it."
You can't make much of it at a glance, but you know
The Antiquarian when you see it, that word having dropped out of fashion probably a thousand years ago. "Is this… a history then?"
"Close. You're not the first Zelda as you know. The early ones left their accounts separately, but one compiled the prior's and theirs into that book. It's enchanted, likely only openable by you now."
Not just a security charm either, as you turn the pages but the book fails to thin or thicken on each side.
He clears his throat to gather your attention again, "Traditionally, you receive that after the ceremony. I doubted the Priest would remember in his enthusiasm to reengage that fairy."
It feels odd to thank him for what's likely going to be hours of translating, but you have no doubt of the importance of what you'll find in time. Speaking of
importance, you should be preparing for said ceremony soon.
"I doubt I'll be able to thank you quite enough for this, but the hours under a light crystal at my desk might temper it," you smile as you say it though. "To start, you may wish to skip the entertainment. I believe the fairies are going to bring out their 'trained' ChuChu again. It should go wonderfully, just like last time." Last time it ate part of your dress and left you green for a week.
Hayden blanches and hurries off. He
was in charge of this party. Any complains about a overly affectionate ball of acid will be on his plate. You go to transform and look 'Stately' instead of being entertain by Norbert again.
We might get to the part where you all argue whether you're a ninja, knight, mage, archer, or dainty waif soon.
