Chapter 7: The Words of Kaepora Gaebora
The firelight danced softly through the windows, barely illuminating the library where Zelda hid. There was no sound save for the muffled noises of war beyond.
The library itself was a tall, immense hall with many, smaller floors coiling upward. It was situated in the tallest tower, and was the most secluded place in the entire castle. Zelda had found herself there often as a child, reading over books and old manuscripts to help pass the time.
She hadn’t moved since she had found her place behind a bookshelf on the fourth floor. The floors above the library hall curled upward in a cylindrical fashion through the tower. At the very top was the princess, hiding now in peasant garb behind the books she once read years before.
When she finally stirred it was at the faintly familiar sound of heavy fluttering that came from the grand hall below. She had heard a sound similar once, when a dove had been trapped in her room. She recalled that the bird flew and beat its wings with all its might but could find no way out. When Zelda awoke to the noise and saw the bird, she quickly unlatched a window and helped to guide the bird outside. Out there it knew freedom once more.
The fluttering came again, but harder and stronger than before. This sound, unlike the one made by the dove, beat with a ferocious intensity that made Zelda shake to hear it. She nervously wondered if the Gerudo had reached the tower and were destroying books and cases below in the desperate hunt to find her. Calming herself she rationalized that it was unlikely the enemy had even gained access to the castle yet, much less reach its tallest tower.
Her thoughts were broken and interrupted when again the fluttering came from below, as though it were calling her to answer.
Curiosity seized her, and it wasn’t long before she emerged from the bookshelf and made her way down the spiraling steps toward the library hall below. She grabbed the golden handrails with her small, delicate hands, and kept her eyes below as best she could. She was cautious as she stepped softly on the rich, purple carpet that was laid over the stone steps.
When she entered the library hall she found no sign of Gerudo or of any other person for that matter. She turned her head to either side as she stepped toward the center of the room, trying to see if she could discover the source of the fluttering. There was nothing.
“I am here,” said an old, gravelly voice that was as deep and heavy as thunder.
Zelda turned at the sound and saw, within the darkness of one corner of the room, two immense, shining eyes looking back. She jumped when she saw them, instinctively rushing behind a stand that housed a very old tome.
“There is nothing to fear from Kaepora Gaebora,” the darkness said.
A shape stepped out of the darkness, and Zelda saw that the eyes belonged to an immense and massive owl. He stood at least 6 feet tall, like no owl she had ever seen before, with great wings the color of rich oak. He had upon his head two thin eyebrows that shot out like quills at either side, arching and giving him an intense, wise appearance. He looked old, from what she could see, but not decaying or forgotten. There was an impressive quality to his appearance.
“What is Kaepora Gaebora?” Zelda asked, still finding safety behind the stand.
“What is Zelda?” the owl asked quickly in return, his head spinning slightly to the left as he looked at her curiously.
“I am Zelda,” the princess responded slowly, confused.
“Good, for I am Kaepora Gaebora,” he replied.
