The Legend of Zelda: Prince of the Sea

Chapter Twenty-Three: Legend

"So, are we really going to reach Noruidia tomorrow?"

"If everything goes well, then yes! I hope so."

Zelda stared at the flames and considered Vahlymor's words. Next to her sat Ashei, who was busying herself with sharpening her weapons with a whetstone, while Todd and Crevan were playing a game of dice with Simin and Faris. Balin looked to be meditating. Arvid was already asleep within his tent, as he volunteered to be the late night watch, even though there wasn't much need for him to do so anymore. Link was seemingly asleep by Zelda's side, the great wolf resting his head, eyes closed, upon his crossed paws. He wasn't asleep, of course, but listening to every word that was being spoken and hearing every sound the others made. He heard it all: their echoes across the rocks and mountains, the wind, and anything else that stirred in the night. The three people that he couldn't hear, but they were very much there, were the three Sheikah warriors who were strategically stationed around the perimeter; hidden in the shadows outside of the fire's light. They were the reasons why Arvid's insistence to be a night watch was not as pertinent from now on.

If Zelda had allowed it, Chief Impa would have sent at least ten warriors to accompany the queen and her entourage on their journey into Noruidia, but Zelda had declined. The tribe needed their numbers to be able to relocate to Hyrule. Upon the elder's insistence, the three Sheikah who now accompanied ensured that none could tread near to the group without their knowledge. After spending a couple days within the Sheikah Village to rest and replenish their provisions, the group travelled for another three days before making camp where they were now. With the guidance of their Sheikah guardians, who knew the mountains surprisingly well, the group's pace towards Noruidia had increased greatly. Of course, they no longer had to seek out Sheikah markers. All they had to worry about was to make sure they were still travelling west.

As it so happened, all of the Sheikah now accompanying them were Impa's grandchildren. The children of Preyma, to be exact. They were the great-grandchildren of the legendary Lady Impa herself and like their ancestor, they were now acting as the personal bodyguards to the Queen of Hyrule.

There was Adla, the eldest of the three Sheikah, and her two younger siblings: Malia and her twin brother Falk. Adla looked to be about late-twenties or early thirties, while her siblings looked to be around Zelda's own age, or even in their late teens. It was difficult to tell given the fact that the trio kept their Sheikah cloth masks drawn up to obscure their faces, only having their red eyes show. The three Sheikah kept to themselves, only talking in their Sheilah language with one another. They remained vigilant during the night and took turns sleeping in the wagon during the day to ensure that at least two of them were always protecting Zelda. They did, however, seem curious of the outsiders, that is until Todd and Crevan tried to innocently flirt with the two sisters, which prompted a threatening glare from their brother, Falk.

"Could you tell me about the sea, Vahl?" Zelda inquired after her silent moment of contemplation.

The prince's face lit up and he sat a little straighter.

"How could I forget that you Hyruleans have lived your entire lives without setting eyes upon the glory that is the sea?" the man posed, arching a brow to her.

Zelda only smiled. Wolf Link slightly flattened his ears in irritation.

"Well... it truly is hard to describe, I think. The sea, or ocean, whichever you'd like to call it, is never ending. An eternity of blue... like the sky. It can be as clear and blue as the purest sapphire, or as dark and angry as the meanest of men. The waters of the sea can be as still as glass in the morning and towering waves that can swallow a ship by evening. It is cruel, yet it is life giving: a body of both creation and destruction. There's nothing quite like sailing the rolling waves with nothing but blue around you: within the waters below and the sky above, with no speck of land in sight."