The Legend of Zelda: The Silent Princess

Spring of Wisdom

I waited in my room for Link to return. My journal sat in front of me. I would be leaving it there as I went to the spring. To be honest, it was always a struggle to remember to write in it anyway with all time I had spent traveling.

Link came in, giving a nod to tell me that the Champions were there. I stood from my seat and walked with him out the door. We came outside to find everyone waiting. Everyone besides Revali that is.

I thanked them for coming and then we all got on our means of transportation. We ventured to the path that led to the mountain. Link and I left the others at the last archway. I didn't know whether they were going to wait there all day, but they promised they'd be there when we returned by sunset. It was Urbosa's way of making sure I didn't stay up there too long.

The trip from there would have been perilous if it wasn't for the potions Link had made. Having to wear the ceremonial white dress, it would have been my funeral without the potions. I was grateful to see the encouragement from the other Champions before we left. The only other person I wish was there aside from Revali was Father. I wondered if he experienced sleepless nights as I did. I could only imagine he felt the same kind of dread. Mount Lanayru was my last hope.

Reaching the spring, I left the warmth of the blanket Link had wrapped around the two of us. We had gone on foot since we left the Champions near the base of the mountain. It was far too cold and slick for a horse. There was a reason only at a certain age could one go up this mountain. The danger was great as it was cold.

Link watched as I stepped into the water of the spring. I bared my teeth, trying not to chatter. No amount of potion or fabric could quite diminish the frozen bite of the cold. I pushed my bitter thoughts away as I made my last attempt to gain the sacred power. Deep down, I knew that if I didn't, it would be too late to try again the next day.

"Mother," I said, bringing my hands in front of me, "I know that you are listening. I have prayed to Hylia over and over and nothing has come of any importance. This . . . this will be my last chance, won't it? Please, help me see what I must do. I will no longer beg or tell Hylia anything. I will simply listen. I will do as I have always done. Stay silent, until my mind is cleared. Maybe then, you or Hylia will be able to speak with me."

I did as I said I would. I stopped to listen, clearing away all the worry I felt. I focused only on what I could hear.

The movement of the water around me, the blowing wind, and the breaths of Link behind me. My own breathing became easy and calm as I waited in the water. The sound of him there, waiting to protect me if needed, was the one sound I trained my thoughts on. Besides that, my mind was empty of any thoughts and concerns.

By noon, I lifted my head up from the silent wait to stare at the statue. I bit my lip, then bowed my head in reverence once again. As a princess, patience was something I had to learn along with other noble qualities such as compassion. I'll admit, sometimes I forget about what I was taught.

Not completely breaking my promise of waiting to listen, I began to sing one of the many songs Mother had taught me before her death. It wasn't the lullaby Mother played for me when I went to sleep, but a ballad made in honor of Hylia. The lyrics were in the ancient Hylian tongue. Besides the ballad, the language was lost to us.

"En dashe bu node shundu. Tie shutwu kewenu swa lei," I sang, repeating the words since it was all we had left of it. We didn't even know what it translated to anymore. Mother once showed me though that the song was the lullaby played backward.

When I grew tired of singing the lines over and over again, I switched to humming the lullaby instead. I felt at peace as I did, continuing to sing the ballad's lyrics again. In the end, however, nothing came of it. I was left in the quiet of the evening.