Chapter 9: Infiltrating the Castle
Running down the road towards Hyrule castle the rows of houses came to an end and steep cliffs on either side of the road took their place. Soon, the towers of the castle came into view and Link dashed faster down the road until he saw a large stone wall that connected both cliffs together and had an arched metal gate to allow passage, though it was currently closed. In front of the gate stood a soldier and conversing with him was Malon.
"Please," she begged. "I just want to go see my father. He came in yesterday to deliver milk."
"I apologize," he replied. "But I cannot simply allow anyone to go through this gate. I have already sent word to the castle in regard to you entering, but as I've said before it will take some time before we get a response."
"But it has already been over an hour," she complained. "Shouldn't we have heard back by now?"
"It all depends on the current state of things in the castle," he explained. "If there is a meeting going on, for instance, it could take several hours before you could be allowed inside. In all honesty, it might be better for you to wait for your father back in town. This is no place for children to be wandering around in the first place."
"Hey! Malon!" called Link as he approached her.
"Oh, hi Link," she sighed. She did her best to draw a smile on her face. "Glad to see you up and about. Did you have any trouble finding your way here?"
"Uh, just a little," he answered trying his best not to recall it all. "Couldn't you get through the gate to see your father?"
"I tried," she explained. "But without a scheduled appointment one of the guards at the gate has to go to the castle just to request permission for me to come in. I did that over an hour ago and it looks like I won't be able to go in any time soon. At this rate, I might as well just wait in town like that soldier suggested." Turning back towards the town, Malon began to walk back there. Link turned to follow her.
"Well, we have to get in there too," said Navi. "We need to see the princess."
"That is going to be a lot more problematic then," Malon told them. "Me coming to see my father is one thing, but you coming to see the princess is another."
"Why is that?" asked Link. "Hyrule is in danger if we don't see her. If we tell them that, they will understand, won't they?"
"It won't be that simple," she continued. "I believe you and I've seen what you can do, but to adults they would probably only see you as a strange kid playing a game just like Mr. Ingo. There is no way they would even humor your request."
"Then we've got to find another way in," said Link as he spotted some thick vines clinging against one of the cliff walls from the ground all the way to the top. "How about those vines?" Walking over he tugged at them with all his might, but they clung tight to cliff. "I think we can climb these vines and make it to top of the cliff."
"Yeah," agreed Malon. "The vines wouldn't be able to support an adult, but it should be easy for a kid to climb them."
"Then let's go," said Link as he started climbing. When he was halfway up he looked down at Malon who hadn't even started yet. "Aren't you coming?"
"I want to," she admitted. "But it would be bad to get caught. It could cause problems for the ranch if I was caught."
"It's ok," said Navi. "We understand. If we see your father, we'll tell him that you are waiting for him."
"Thanks," she told them. Her voice then lowered and her words had a chill to them "And if he's asleep when you find him... wake him up and tell him I need to have a word with him."
"I will, I will," replied Link nervously as he climbed to the top of the cliff and walked towards the gate. There he spotted a ladder on the inside of the gate and he climbed down it as quietly as possible. The soldier guarding the gate continued to look forward, unaware that Link had snuck in.
"You have to be as careful as possible from here on," instructed Navi. "This is far more serious than trampling some flowers." As Navi said this, they could hear the clanking of metal suit of armor quickly approaching. Flying high, Navi spotted the soldier approaching the gate then flew down to Link. "Hurry, follow me this way." Navi lead Link away from the gate and slipped away before the soldier came into view. He approached the soldier at the gate.
"I have word on the young girl's request," he said.
"Oh, she just left to wait in town," the soldier at the gate said.
"That's fine," he explained. "The king is about to start a meeting with some of his nobles and Ganondorf. She wouldn't be able to enter until they would finish."
"That was close," panted Link. "That was quick thinking Navi." Navi didn't answer. She was busy staring at a large stone pressed against the side of the cliff they had hidden at. "Navi? What's the matter?"
"Oh," she replied turning to Link. "I can sense something coming from inside the cliff over here, though I can't quite figure out what it is."
"If there is," commented Link. "I don't have any way to find out. Besides, we have to focus on seeing the princess. Do you think you can find a safe way to get around the guards?"
"No problem," Navi said. "Just wait around here and I'll find a way for you to sneak around them." Navi took off to do just that.
In her room, the princess was sitting in front of her vanity mirror as her caretaker, Impa combed her hair with the utmost care and diligence. "You seem very quiet today," Impa said breaking the silence.
"I've just been thinking," she replied focusing her gaze on the myriad of items on the counter in front of her from her many necklaces, earrings, broaches, and rings to her collection of perfumes of countless different fragrances. Reaching out, she picked up a small, green perfume bottle and stared at it.
Watching the princess's actions, Impa continued, "About that dream you had the other day?" She answered with a sigh and a nod. "I know it's only been a day since we talked about it, but I cannot help but feel anxious. Ganondorf has gone to see the Zoras yesterday with no good intentions. Tell me, has he returned yet?"
"Yes he has," Impa answered. "I didn't wish to concern you with that fact, but since you have asked, he returned just this morning meaning he braved the dangers of Hyrule Field on his own."
"Then he has visited all the locations with the Spiritual Stones," concluded Zelda. "Time is running out. If nothing is done then we won't be able to stop him from obtaining the Sacred Power. The boy from my dream, he has to arrive soon. He just has too."
"I'm sure he will," encouraged Impa as she began to braid Zelda's hair. "And no matter what should happen it is my sworn duty to protect you."
"I know it is," replied Zelda. "But it is not just my life that is in danger."
"Keep low to the ground and cut across the field over here," instructed Navi as Link made his way towards the castle. Looking into the distance he could see guards patrolling the area. "The guards will be coming over here soon, so you'll have to be quick. Just keep going till you make it to that well over there."
"I'm trying," grunted Link crawling on the ground as fast as he dared to go. The metal suits of the soldiers clanked as they continued on their routes. His heart races as he heard them drawing closer and attempted to hasten his pace scraping his knees and elbows against the ground and getting his front covered in dirt and grass stains. Temporary relief only arrived as he succeeded reaching the wall and finding some cover to catch his breath. Peering back, he saw a soldier walk by where he had just been moments before. He looked around the area, scratching his chin before turning to continue on his patrol route. "Ok, where do I go from here, Navi?"
"The steps up to the entrance of the castle have guards stationed there," explained Navi. "But you should be able to climb this wall and jump into the moat. There is a back entrance there that isn't guarded."
Link answered with a nod as he searched the wall for spots on the wall he could get a grip on and began to climb the wall one step at a time. Reaching the top, Link slowly poked his head over the top and scanned around for any more soldiers. The area was safe and he climbed up and quietly approached the castle. It was surrounded by a moat of crystal clear water. The castle was tall, reacher far above the walls surrounding Hyrule Castle Town. It was made of the same gray stone, the larger windows on the first floor were designed with vibrant colors of glass, while the upper levels were made with clear glass, and the roof on the castle and its four towers were made with emerald green tiles. There were aqueducts along the walls of the castle, pouring water out of the castle and into the moat below. Nearby was a bridge that connected to a large set of double doors leading into the castle. Four guards stood on the bridge, a bored, but alert look in their eyes. Looking back down into the water, he carefully climbed down till he was hanging on the ledge, his feet inches above the water. Releasing his grip, Link hit the water with a mild splash. Swimming forward with the flow of the water, Link hurried under the bridge just as the soldiers looked into the water.
"Was I the only one who heard that?" asked one of the soldiers.
"I heard it too," replied another. "Something made a splash."
"But there isn't anything in the water," said a third as he searched the water on one side of the bridge. "Nothing here."
"Nothing over here either. Maybe we just imagined it."
"Maybe," one of them pondered then called to one of the soldiers patrolling the grounds ahead of them. "Hey! Did you see anything suspicious at all today?"
"I thought I saw a strange floating light," he replied. "But it was just a butterfly. I think the heat's getting to me."
"Heh, probably us too," chuckled the soldier. "That and the boredom. I don't think we've had one attack since I've been stationed here. Who would even be crazy enough to try and attack us? They'd have to get through the front gate in the first place."
Waiting a bit longer under the bridge, Link waited till he felt certain the soldiers were no longer searching the moat before he swam with the current again. He continued with it till a gat in the water blocked him and then he climbed out and began to wring the water out of his tunic.
"I was a bit worried when I hit the water," Link admitted as he squeezed the water out of his cap. "I thought they were going to catch me for a moment."
"We are far from safe," Navi told Link. "We have to still find the princess and we don't know where she could be. Just looking at the castle, she could be anywhere in there and then there is the matter of making our way out afterwards."
"We have been fortunate so far," said Link placing his still damp cap back on his head and walking to the back door of the castle, his boots making a wet squishing sound with each step he took. "Let's hope our luck will hold out a while longer." Reaching the door, Link tried turning the knob, but it wouldn't budge. "The door... it's locked."
"I was afraid that might be the case," admitted Navi sadly. "But I hoped it wouldn't. The only other way I saw we could get in was through the front entrance and there is no way you could manage that with the guards there."
"Then there's nothing we can do," said Link sadly, taking a seat on a nearby crate.
"It might be best to retreat back to the town and figure something out there," suggested Navi. "It would be dangerous to linger around here too long."
"Let me just rest for a bit," Link told Navi. "It's been quite a tiring day."
"Okay," agreed Navi. "But just for a bit. Once we get back into town you can rest more there." Looking around, Link noticed a few crates nearby and climbed up one to take a seat on it and laid back pushing his hat over his eyes. "Hey now! You can rest, not take a nap!" Navi was answered with a deep snore and a lengthy yawn. "Link!"
"That wasn't me," replied Link sitting up and pulling his hat up. "I was just resting my eyes." Another loud snore erupted from behind the crates and drew Link and Navi's attention towards it. "What in the world is that?"
"No idea," admitted Navi nervously. "Perhaps it's some fierce beast they use to guard the backdoor."
Link got off the crate he was sitting on and started to back away till he looked at the side of the crate and noticed the a picture of a cow head burnt onto the side of it. Looking at all the other crates he saw they all as the same cow head on them as well. "Could it be?" Link waited for another snore and one soon came, the loudest and most monstrous one yet. "It is!"
"It is?" asked Navi confused as Link proceeded to the source of the noise. "Link! Don't get too close. The beast could wake up and attack you!"
"Don't worry," assured Link. "It isn't a beast and I don't think I have to worry about it waking up and attacking me."
"How do you know?" questioned Navi.
"Don't you recognize these crates?" Link pointed out.
"The crates?" repeated Navi taking a look. "They are all marked with the Lon Lon Ranch Logo. Then the one doing that dreadful snoring..."
"Yeah, continued Link looking down at the balding man snoozing against one of the crates. "It's Malon's father, Talon."
"Looks like he made his delivery," commented Navi. "And judging by the foul odor on his breath, he drank himself silly right after. Meaning, that while we were running for our lives last night this guy was probably out cold here the entire time! I ought to give him a piece of my mind, but I have a feeling that nothing I do will compare to what Malon will do to him. But him being here might prove to be a good thing. Maybe he can help us get into the castle."
"Yeah, he might," agreed Link. "Let's wake him."
Grabbing at his shoulder, Link nudged and spoke to Talon, attempted to gently wake him. It proved ineffective as he continued to snore. Link tried shoving him more forceful, but he was countered with a burp of noxious gas that nearly made Link wretch. Navi flew over to assist him, ramming into him and shouting "Hey! Look! Listen!" over and over again right into Talon's ear. He continued to sleep. "He's out but good," grumbled Navi. "Looks like we are going to be more forceful."
The two of them tried everything they could to awaken Talon, from pounding on the crates to scraping his sword against the ground and clanging it against the nearby metal railing. They had completely abandoned being quiet to avoid drawing attention to their location in favor of getting Talon to wake up, but each effort proved just as useless as the last. Even when Link shot Deku Seeds at his chest he, at most, unconsciously scratched at spot, mumbled, and then returned to snoring loudly.
"This is the toughest challenge we've ever faced," sighed Link at a loss for what else they could try. I wish has something that cool make a very big boom. The would definitely wake him up."
"I'd suggest rolling him into the moat, but with how heavy a sleeper he is it probably wouldn't work," stated Navi just as stumped as Link. "There has to be something that can get through to him."
"I used everything I have," said Link looking through his pack once more. As he did he paused for a moment and pulled something out, the Cuckcoo egg that he had picked up from the ranch. "Uh, remember the Cuckoo egg I picked up earlier?"
"What about it?" asked Navi as she flew over to Link. "You still have that think with you?"
"I must have put it in here during that mess back at Lon Lon Ranch," he explained. "But now something is going on with it. It's moving."
"That means it's hatching," explained Navi.
"Hatching?" cried Link recalling the terror of the previous day, the one before the sun had set. "You mean another one of those demon birds is going to come out of here?"
"Technically," Navi began to say scaring Link into fumbling with the egg. "Careful! Don't drop it!"
"I'm trying!" cried Link unable to get a grip on it as it slipped through him fingers, but miraculously found a soft landing on Talon's gut. The egg had cracks all over it and after a bit more wobbling, the shell shattered into fragments and a tiny yellow chick emerged out of it. Hopping out of the bottom half of its shell it hopped atop Talon's gut making little peeping noises.
"That was close," Navi sighed relieved. "Looks like it's okay."
"It doesn't look like a demon," commented Link moving to get a closer look.
"It's just a baby," said Navi. "It isn't some scary monster."
"I guess I was overreacting," Link admitted with a small chuckle. "As he reached over to pick it up, it suddenly opened its beak and let out a might crow that was surprisingly mighty for it's diminutive size.
"What in tarnation?" cried Talon flailing wildly as he awoke abruptly.
"He woke up, thanks to that little chick," stated Navi. "Looks like it was a good thing you had it with you."
"Yeah," agreed Link watching as Talon got to his feet still in a bit of a daze. The little chick perched itself on his shoulder unnoticed.
"Can't a person get a little shuteye around here?" yawned Talon as he stretched his arms out and let out a long yawn. Looking at Link he rubbed his eyes. "Well if it isn't the fella that stopped by the ranch just the other day. Glad to see you've made it over here, but what are you doing over here anyhow? No way the guards would simply let you wander around the castle grounds on your own."
"They don't know that I'm here," explained Link. "There is no way they would let me see the princess so I had to sneak in despite the risk, but now I'm stuck. I tried the door over there, but it's locked and I don't know if there is any other way inside."
"That is a problem," agreed Talon. "I already delivered the milk order yesterday and I probably should stick around here much longer myself. I just wanted to rest my eyes for a moment and it looks like I was out all night."
"About that," said Link. "Malon came here looking for you too. She's waiting in the town for you right now and wants to have a word with you."
"What?!" he cried breaking into a cold sweat. "Malon was looking for me? I'm gonna catch it from her now! I messed up bad, letting Malon wait for me! She's really going to let me have it!" Frantically dusting off the dirt from his clothes, Talon began running off.
"Wait!" Link called to Talon. "I still need a way into the castle!"
"A way in?" replied Talon scratching the bald spot on his head. "No way you can get through the front door and that one is locked. Oh, what about the aqueducts?"
"You mean those things?" asked Link pointed at the nearest one spilling water out the side of the castle into the moat.
"They are used to drain water from the castle into the moat," explained Talon. "I recall there was a fountain directly connected to one of them over there. If you crawled through you could make your way into the castle's garden."
"You really think it could work?" asked Link staring up at it.
"If it doesn't," replied Talon. "Then I don't have any other ideas. That's the only way in for you."
"But how am I going to reach it?" questioned Link. "It's too high."
"Yeah it is," agreed Talon scratching his chin and thinking. "Oh, we could stack these milk crates over here to help you get up there." Grabbing the first one, he hefted it over his head and placed across from the aqueduct right at the edge of the moat. Link helped out pushing one of the milk crates over while Talon went to pick up another. One after another they worked and created a staircase as close as they could to the aqueduct.
"I should be able to reach it from there," said Link as he began to climb up the milk crates.
"Glad I could be of help," stated Talon watching Link make his way to the top.
"Thanks for the help," replied Link. "I'm sure Malon will be a lot more understanding since you helped me out here."
"You reckon?" he asked before remembering about his daughter. "Malon! Daddy's coming to see you! Please don't be mad!" He ran off once more, making his way back to the castle town.
"You think he's going to be okay?" asked Link.
"A bit," figured Navi. "It was irresponsible of him to just fall asleep here and make her worry, but if it wasn't for him we'd never have found a way into the castle."
"I just hope he was right about this leading into the castle," said Link readying to jump. He took a step forward, but stopped as soon as he heard the familiar clanking of armor approaching.
"Can you believe that rancher guy?" one soldier asked another. "He was running off like a monster was chasing after him."
"I doubt that," snickered the other soldier. "There's no way anything could have gotten over here without our notice."
"Still, we best make sure," the first soldier pointed out. "I don't know about you, but I like my job. Easy hours, good pay, three square meals a day and hardly any real incidents, none that were very serious anyway."
"Hurry," Navi told Link.
Taking a deep breath, Link took a long step across to the other side of the crate and leapt with all his might to the aqueduct clinging to the edge. The water washed over him and threatened to knock him into the moat. Resisting the current, Link pulled his body his body up and little by little he managed to do so. Once he was all the way up, he crawled into the tunnel the water was pouring out from taking a deep breath beforehand. The water level continually changed from beneath his chin to the bridge of his nose. Navi fluttered a few feet in front of him, her light illuminating the pathway for him as he continued to crawl forward.
"What in the world?" asked one of the soldiers seeing the milk crates stacked like a staircase. "Did that rancher do this?"
"Not sure why he would," commented the soldier. "You think he did? Think he was on the bottle?"
"I wouldn't doubt it, but if he wasn't, what would be the point?" he asked.
"Someone could reach the ledge where the aqueducts are," he pointed out. "They could try to sneak in from there."
"They could, if they weren't so small," he pointed out.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Nobody could squeeze their body all the way there there."
"Still, we should get rid of those crates. It wouldn't do to just leave them stacked like that."
