The Legend of Zelda: Deluge October 0

    The vivid lights from the bonfires and the sounds of the dancing and partying still swimming in her mind, Zelda entered her dark bedroom. Setting down her gently burning oil lamp on her desk, she closed the door behind her. With a sigh, she leaned back against it wearily. Turning away towards her open window on the other side of the room, she walked over to shut it. She reached out to do so, but paused, gazing out below. Beneath her were the castle grounds, a vast span of gardens and man-made hills. Seven of the largest hills was a bonfire; seven being the traditional number for All Soul’s Night. Around the flames were the dark figures of partygoers, flitting about like ghosts, casting long shadows as they danced, drank and chatted around the flames. For a moment she longed to join them, but then remembered her duties the next morning. Looking out one last time at the fires and then at the brilliantly shining Castle City beyond the grounds, she shut her window firmly.

    There was nothing left for her to do but try to get to sleep as quickly as possible. She closed the shades over the window, leaving just the light from the oil lamp to illuminate her room. Sitting down, she listened to the silence enforced by the thick glass of the window and the stone engulfed the room. Longing for some companionship, yet at the same time glad for a moment of solitude to reflect, she turned her gaze upon the largest tapestry on the bedroom walls. Upon it was stitched an intricate image of herself as a child with her red-haired mother beside her, who had been dead for ten years now. Having already offered sacrifices and prayers for her mother for Spirit Night to ease her spirit, Zelda wondered what else there could be to say. Her mind ran through many different discussions she had longed to have with her mother, but reluctantly shook them away. Wiping her eyes, she forced herself to look back at the tapestry, smiling.

    Her voice only quavered slightly as she whispered, “Happy new year.” She gulped. “Please, watch over me, Mother.”

    She stood up to get ready for bed, this time ignoring the stinging in her eyes. All Hylians, young and old, knew the sorrow of remembrance that All Soul’s Night brought would always be washed away by the sleep that night. The legends said it was blessed by the goddesses to ease the sorrows of all who had lost loved ones. Zelda supposed it just felt refreshing because everyone was so exhausted from partying, but she was also certain there was something special about this night.

     Mumbling a quick prayer to Farore to watch over her dreams, she settled down to sleep.

     A dark cloud on the distant horizon threatened to block out the sun. As she watched, it grew, shrouding the vast sky. The dark, sodden ground rose up past the horizon, followed by the sound of a stormy sea. Water began to envelop everything, and she feared she would be swept away from where she stood. But she could not move. The sun did not die, even as the rains began to fall, but there was never a rainbow.

    Nothing touched her; not the wind or rain. Calming herself by rubbing her arms and breathing in the faint mist shrouding her, she realized with absolute certainty that she was safe. Zelda smiled for a moment, but she felt a terrible wrenching in her chest. Her heart was being twisted inside of her, as if some cruel hand was wrenching it. Crying out, she collapsed, the darkness engulfing her.

* * *

     Only one bonfire was lit in the celebration of the villages that dotted the banks of the mighty Zora’s River. All of the villages gathered together for three days at the largest river settlement, the only one that was big enough to be called a town rather than a hamlet. Oerbel was its name, and this night was the last evening of the celebrations it hosted. All Soul’s Night was the climax of everything under the sky, the beginning of the New Year.

    Even before the moon had risen to the position that told midnight, some of the revelers had already gone to bed. While the rest crowded around the bonfire in Oerbel’s plaza, dancing and telling stories, some hunkered away into their homes or wherever they had managed to acquire lodging for the three days of celebration.

     Up in the loft of an old, yet stable barn that smelled like salt and fish bones was sleeping a young Hylian, Link. He was the only one sleeping in the barn, as it had been offered to him free of charge, allowing him to direct his severely limited funds towards getting his younger sister more hospitable lodgings. 

    Link rolled over uneasily, murmuring in his sleep. Underneath his lids his eyes had begun to dart around rapidly. He clenched his fists and went rigid as he began to dream.

     Link leaned back in his small fishing boat. He was floating idly down the river, moving both quickly and smoothly. The smoothness struck him as just slightly unnatural, but he decided to accept it. It was so terribly nice and warm. The sun shone down on him, and its light encompassed all around him, so all he could see was the boat and the shining river around it.

    The sunlight began to fade, and mists rolled in. They felt like warm summer showers, so Link did not move, and let them slowly soak him. The light faded even more, and the mists grew steadier. He jerked his head up as the boat slowly rolled to a slow stop.

    Link sat up straight, rubbing his eyes and looking around. The mists had changed into a soft rainfall, and the sunlight that shone off the droplets dazed him. He shut his eyes and rubbed them again briskly, as if to motivate them to work as he wished.

     Softly out of the haze came the sound of chiming bells. Link looked up and around carefully, shielding his eyes from the glare of the light on the river. The sound came again and he looked behind him, frowning. The sound was undoubtedly a bell, but it also reminded him of the sing-song voices of the little girls who had told riddles after the All Soul’s Night prayers.

    Desperate to find a source, Link rose up, keeping the boat steady with practiced ease. He looked down at the water carefully to find that the reflection of the light had vanished. The deep river was entirely black except for a faint light emanating from far below. The chiming sound came again, calling out to him softly.

    Link’s eyes only flew open for a second before he shut them again. He rolled over in the blankets, letting his mind and body fall back into the sweet weightlessness of unconsciousness. As it enveloped him, he was vaguely aware that the ruckus of the revelers had vanished. All Soul’s Night had come to an end.

The Legend of Zelda and characters copyright Nintendo

 "The Legend of Zelda: Deluge" writing and original concepts and characters copyright Mahira / Mahira-chan