The Legend of Zelda: Prince of the Sea

Chapter Twenty-Five: Gate

"Oh, Goddess! This water is rather, ah... cold!"

Faris shivered and puffed out his cheeks as the ocean lapped up to his chest. Balin, who also had jumped into the shallow waters, only glanced up at the tall Hyrulean knight as he took hold of the pinnace (one of the Windfall's small row boats). The Noruidian tracker showed no emotion or reaction to the chill of the water.

"I'm sorry about that, my friend! Mind you, even with the heat of the height of summer, which is not that hot, the sea never really gets warm, even in the shallows," Vahlymor chimed in as he grinned down at the knight from his seat in the boat with a sympathetic expression. "All the same, Noruidians brave the shallows for a swim here and there. I can be quite invigorating, if I do say so myself!"

"I find that! Hard to believe!" Faris muttered through chattering teeth.

Zelda also smiled as Faris and Balin walked the pinnace up the shallows towards the black sands of the island. Her smile was false, however. Her ability to mask her emotions was hiding the cold that she felt: except that this feeling had nothing to do with the chill of the day. Her eyes were glued to the expanse of the dark island before her. Wolf Link was seated beside her on her left, while Arvid sat on her right. Both knights, physical and spiritual, were doing their duties to protect their queen from possibly coming in contact with the ocean's touch. Behind them was the other pinnace. Aboard the small boat was Ashei and the Sheikah, who had been ordered to protect the wooden box that held such precious contents. The Sheikah siblings and their magic had successfully stalled the storm to allow for the Windfall to sail safely through the relatively calmed waters. As a consequence of this safe passage, their collective energies had been depleted sufficiently. Regardless of this, the siblings adamantly argued that they were fit and alert enough to continue to the island in order to protect Zelda.

Vahlymor had shared his worries with Zelda about how the sudden pause in the perpetual storm could rouse the Tulul's attention to their location. They proceeded with caution, but also speed, for Noruidian ships were designed to be both rowed and sailed. Luckily, they had been able to reach the island without incident. The twins, Todd and Crevan, had the pleasure of remaining upon the Windfall, to which they had thoroughly pouted their prince's decision. Someone had to stay behind to be able signal the others if there were any signs of the enemy's approach. The brothers knew this. Their grievances were more due to the fact that they were being forced to miss a lot of the action.

The bottom of Zelda's craft scraped the bottom sand and Vahlymor jumped out to help pull the boat more out of the water. Arvid set a hand on Zelda's shoulder to help stabilize her as the vessel was rocked forward. She had confessed to them all of the importance that she should not come into contact with the ocean. While this was an odd request, no one questioned it further, especially once Zelda revealed that it was Faro who instructed her of this. Again, no one questioned a how a spiritual wolf had informed the Queen of Hyrulean of this. They all accepted and trusted her word.

Now more than ever Zelda wished that she could openedly speak with Link. She desperately wanted to tell him that this island, this... Isle of Blights... was identical to the land she had seen so many times in her repetitive nightmare. reality now reflected her dark premonition. The black sand, the dark waters, and the constant, swirling clouds up above, which efficiently fended off any hint of the morning sun's light. Shadow and twilight eternally covered this island and the only colour to be seen to contrast the black and grey landscape was the dark blue of the surrounding waters. Zelda could see no sign of anything green or alive anywhere she looked. There were no seabird calls or any other signs of life, only the low roar of the wind and the tide breaking against the shore's rocks. The landscape of the island was barren volcanic rock that had been eroded by the ocean's salt, wrath, and wind for untold years to amass a gothic and sharp environmental architecture.