The rise of a Hero

Chapter 18

Knight's Code of Honour

16. He defends the knight's values on a daily basis and in every situation.

oOo

The king's reception was a real success. All the guests had had a great time, the music of Cassius had pleased a lot not to mention the dishes made available. In order not to make the bad tongues speak, Princess Zelda was forced to waltz twice with two young nobles. She hoped it would please her father... As for Link, he was able to enjoy the buffet and enjoy the orchestra nearby. The evening ended late at night, Zelda had to greet all the guests and wait until they had all left before returning to her apartments, escorted by her appointed knight. Both were very tired and just wanted to go to sleep to rest. Zelda had thanked him for everything Link had done for her that night, and then they parted ways without further ado. The Champion even had some difficulty falling asleep. The morning that followed, and for the rest of the day, he found the princess very distressed without her telling him the reasons. And yet... That same morning, before her appointed knight joined her, Zelda had gone to see her father to give him the statuette of Hylia. She was happy with her present and hoped it would make him happy. On the contrary, he dismissed his own daughter by reproaching her for wasting time with such nonsense. Zelda was deeply saddened.

A few days later, she had to spend another day praying at the cathedral of the citadel. The princess was waiting in her apartments for her friend to arrive to accompany her. But that morning, Link didn't come. Of course, this aroused the concern of the damsel who began to show apparent signs of nervousness. She went to the terrace of her room, as if she had a bad feeling. Indeed, she saw a rider galloping towards the citadel, a rider who was none other than Link. Zelda was surprised to see him leave the castle without any explanation. That's when Impa knocked on the door and allowed herself in. The young woman ran towards her.

"Today, it will be me who will escort you," she announced calmly.

"How so?" asked Zelda in a dumbfounded voice.

"Link informed me that he had an urgent matter to deal with in Hateno. I don't know any more, I'm sorry."

Zelda could easily have been disappointed by his behaviour if the situation was not urgent, as her Sheikah friend had clarified. But still... What could have happened in Hateno? The Hylian asked Impa.

"I don't know, Princess. I can only assure you that there is no question of monster attack, otherwise I would have been warned. Are you ready to leave for the cathedral?"

This sudden change of subject unsettled Zelda but she told her that they could go. But then, what had happened earlier?

This had taken place just before breakfast as Link was getting ready. In front of his little mirror and holding his elastic in his mouth, he prepared his ponytail as every morning. But suddenly, someone knocked on his door with vigour: it was a simple soldier who came to bring him a letter. Specifically, a letter from his father. It stipulated that a group of brigands had been prowling around the village of Hateno since the day before because it was soon to be the raising of taxes. For the first time, Karl feared for the safety of the villagers. Alone in front of a dozen crooks, he could not watch over taxes while protecting his own. He therefore asked for the support of his son to come and escort the due of the king. Link took this matter very seriously and understood its gravity. He had to go and lend a hand to his father in case of problems.

Link approached the Master Sword, hurried to strap it to his chest belt and then rushed down the hallway in search of the first servant to come. There was no more time to lose. Every moment he spent outside the castle, he couldn't dedicate them to protecting Zelda. He eventually met a valet at the end of a corridor and ordered him to warn Impa: he would be absent for the day, so the royal counsellor had to exceptionally stay with the princess that day.