Before the Wild

Silent Princess

Part 3: The Great Calamity

Five months later, Hyrule Castle, King Rhoam, Day 1

"Zelda's seventeenth birthday is in two weeks, Rhoam."

King Rhoam stood out outside the sanctum of the castle, looking down at the rest of his home and the city and country that surrounded it. A year it has been. Almost year since he had appointed the Hero of Hyrule, five months since he had ceremoniously knighted the Champions of Hyrule, and now another was about to pass. Another year has gone, another year without Calamity Ganon.

He was worried the threat might not appear in his lifetime, contrary to the evidence presented to him. Monsters were more common and increasing in strength. It was nothing his soldiers were unable to handle, but the threat was so taxing Rhoam had to pick his battles. He could only protect the Hylian people at this point. The other races were on their own. It had gotten so bad he had armed the Sheikah and fast-tracked their weapon developments. The weapons using the ancient technology was powerful in their ancient state, but fragile when used with modern weaponry.

Modern... More like medieval weaponry. Rhoam didn't understand how his ancestor 10,000 years ago didn't keep the Sheikah tech for military use. It was his people who used ancient tech, while the Guardians and weapons that came with them were modern. What possible threat could have made his ancestor act so hasty?

"I know it approaches." Turning his attention to Impa's statement, it was true that Zelda's birthday was in a month. Seventeen she will be, and seventeen his quest to defend Hyrule will have aged too. Seventeen years... Something told Rhoam that time was running out. He was tired and wanted it all to end, but he couldn't sit easy. The Champions were well-adjusted to their Divine Beast, Link was improving his abilities with the Master Sword, but Zelda...still hadn't awakened her power.

It had been weeks since they last saw each other, and by that, he meant as father and daughter. He would pass by many a day at the shrine located at the castle docks as she prayed, heard reports from either Link or Impa as she ventured to the fountain outside Castle Town, and they all said the same as it had for the past ten years. He was hoping, but every day that hope dwindled.

He had already failed her as a father, but soon, he might fail all his subjects as their king.

"It is time for her to seek the springs. Remember the instruction of the Great Deku."

"Even he was uncertain, Impa. I don't recall Tetra having to go the springs. Then again...maybe we have been doing this wrong all this time. We've treated this sealing power like regular magic when it is indeed the opposite. Zelda had her magical abilities. I know you've honed them to her protection."

Impa uncharacteristically bore a huge smirk. "She's an excellent mage and archer. True to her bloodline. If the royal life doesn't work, she'll make a great Sheikah."

"You didn't give her an attire, did you?"

"I didn't. Sheik did. Standard Sheikah fighting attire."

"Hmph." Rhoam folded his arms, gazing to the western side of the country. "You say she's on her way to the research lab."

"Yes, but she did do some prayer this morning. Blame Purah, not Zelda. She found a new function of the Sheikah Slate, and I heard something big with the Guardians is going down soon."

"Yes. Robbie believes that he has found a way to manually control the Guardians. The test is being conducted here, because why not?" Rhoam suppressed much of his laugh but couldn't hide his smile. "I hope it is enough, Impa."