The Legend of Zelda: The Regal Flame

Chapter 20: Kokiri Feast

     When Link and the children approached the village, Holly was sitting anxiously below the stairs to the Temple entrance. As they drew closer, she spotted them, and jumped to her feet in excitement, and ran to Birch, who broke into a run as he saw her as well.

     "You made it!" Holly cried happily. She turned her head back to the stairs. "Mother!  Come look! Link rescued the others, like he said he would!"

     As the children and fairies all ran and flew eagerly to the village, and reunited with their friends, Lillian came down the steps of the shrine, and greeted her returned children with a warm smile.

     When Link approached her, she gave him the same smile. "Thank you for returning my children safely to their home."

     Link smiled back, and bowed his head to her. "Happy to help."

     "Come, we will treat you to a banquet in your honor!" she said, beaming.

     Link was about to politely refuse, since he had already spent so much time in the forest, but then he realized it had been almost an entire day since he had eaten. His stomach encouraged him with a growl. "Hmm, I think I'll accept your offer!"

     She pressed her hands together happily. "Wonderful! You may even stay the night to replenish your energy, if you'd like."

     Link raised his hand, and chuckled. "Sorry, I shouldn't stay too long. A good meal should be enough."

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     Serprice pushed open the doors to Regis' study, only to find the prince hunched over his desk, the drapes pulled over the windows.

     "Sire, did you even sleep last night? Or eat?" she sighed disapprovingly.

     "I need to know where the flame is," he muttered without looking up, "I don't have time for trivial matters."

     "Now, now," she teased lightly, "If you starve to death, you won't be able to become king either way!"

     "Progress report?" he asked dully, ignoring her teasing.

     She let out a dissatisfied huff. "Impa's treatment is going as planned, but she is not yet ready to reveal any information to us. And regarding the boy Vire encountered in Faron, we've arranged an announcement to proclaim him wanted, that way we may keep an indirect eye on him. Furthermore, we've lost contact with our base in Faron, so we can assume he's taken them down as well. That is all."

     Regis thought this over for a moment. Then his eyes returned to his work, slamming one book shut, while opening another. "Keep Impa under close surveillance."

     "Yes sir," she answered, bowing to him. "And the boy? Would you like to do anything about him?"

     "No," he answered bluntly, "Just let me know when he's met the next verse keeper."

     Again, she bowed. "As you wish." Without another word, Serprice turned, and left the room.

     Once he was left alone, Regis looked up from his texts, and began tapping on the mahogany surface of his desk, lost in thought. Suddenly, he stood, and walked to the window, drew the drapes, and threw the shudders open.

     "Vire!" he called, with a clap of his hands.

     Not a minute later, the little ache man came flying, landing on the ledge by the window. "Yes, My Liege?"

     "Tell me, where exactly was it you came across that boy?"

     "Why, it was at the spring at the end of the Riverroot Tunnels, My Prince."

     Regis nodded, and began mentally calculating something. "Let's see, if that was.. I can't be sure of his next destination, but it's most likely..."

     "Sire?" Vire asked cautiously, after the prince had been thinking for a while.

     Regis looked back up at his servant. "Vire, I need you to go to the towns of Archerd and Estpal. Tell the people that Impa has been arrested."

     Vire looked confused. "What will that do? Er, not that I'm doubting His Majesty..."

     "The people of those towns know Impa well," he explained slowly, "This knews will effect them. Definitely the mere word of this will be useful in many ways... Can you do it?"

     Vire jumped at Regis' not-so-dull tone, but nodded. "I will, Your Highness!"

     "That's a good bat," The prince said, encouragingly waving him off.

    

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     Cheer had quickly spread around the village in a short time. The children of the forest laughed, and sang, and ate. Music played, fairies danced, even the fairy balls in the air seemed happier than usual.

     Link sat at a table on a raised platform built into a large tree, with Lillian and Mari. "Thank you for all this," Link told her gratefully, "Everything is delicious!"

     "You're very welcome, Hero Link," she smiled, "It is our pleasure to thank you for all that you've done."

     "I could get used to this!" Mari giggled, digging into a fruit pie.

     Link laughed. "Mari, mind your manners!"

     Lillian chuckled. "It's fine. She actually... reminds me of someone I once knew." She seemed to become lost in thought, as she watched Mari, who became a bit uncomfortable.

     The little red fairy cleared her throat, and Lillian snapped out of it. "Oh! I'm sorry. Uh, anyway, where will you be heading next?" she asked.

     "Hmm..." Link paused, unsure himself. "Huh, I don't know. The Princess didn't tell us that much..."

     "Oh!" Mari cried, getting an idea, "Maybe Lillian can help us!"

     "Great idea, Mari!" Link praised. Then he turned to Lillian. "We're searching for all three verses of the song. So far we have Eldin's and Faron's. Do you think you can help us find Lanayru's?"

     "I've never met any of the other two verse keepers," she began, "I don't know who they are, but the spirits have told me what people were given them. If I remember correctly, Lanayru's verse was given to the Zora people. But since much time has past, it may have been up to them to whom they may have passed it down to, or where they keep it now."

     "So we have a lead at least," Link said with a shrug.

     "Wait, the Zora's?" Mari asked, "But Zora's Domain is north of here, closer to Death Mountain then the forest is. Why didn't Zelda just send us there first?"

     Lillian gave her head a slight shake. "Perhaps there was some circumstance that didn't allow you to go there immediately."

     "Planning ahead like that does sound like something she'd do," Link agreed.

     "Well, they're both in the same direction. We'll try Zora's Domain, and if we hit a dead end, we'll just go back to Kenton, and ask the princess," Mari suggested.

     Link nodded. "That's a good idea."

     "Ah, but before you leave," Lillian said, standing up, "I have a gift I'd like to give you. Please come with me."

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     Cool, so, I've been working really hard on this story, polishing up the details of each quest, which is why these two latest chapters were published so close together xD And sorry for the lame ending, but the next chapter will be out soon~ >vo Thank you again for reading!