Chapter Text
To Zelda’s surprise, the air was more humid when compared to outside. Gigantic mushrooms grew out of the ground, bathing the surrounding area in a soft blue light. Somewhere in the building’s depths, she could hear the gentle gurgle of running water. Light scuttling and squeaks alerted her of the temple’s current denizens, so she stuck close to Hiram’s side as they continued further down the steps.
She noticed his fingers would hover over where the stain had once been, as if trying to see if it was still there or not. Once again, even if she did find his mannerisms amusing, she did feel bad for making him uncomfortable.
“I hope you know I didn’t mean to cry all over your clothing.”
“It’s fine.” Despite Hiram’s words, she still felt a pang of guilt.
“But I am sorry if I embarrassed you-”
“It’s fine.” She jumped at his sudden shift in tone, but he was quick to realise his mistake. “Apologies, Zelda.” He laughed, but this time it sounded forced. “There are more important things that should be on your mind. Not whether my cloak has been soiled beyond repair.” There was a touch of bitterness to his last comment, making Zelda try to find some other way to break the tension.
“You must take your appearance very seriously, then.”
Hiram breathed out slowly and pushed any loose hairs back into place before adjusting his collar.
“Maybe I do. Until meeting you, I didn’t exactly have any other commitments, after all.”
“Well… At least this can be just between you and me. If you don’t want to tell anyone then neither will I.”
He looked down at her with a stern expression for a long moment, then broke out into a wide smile.
“You’re too kind, dearest Zelda.”
At that she couldn’t help but return it, feeling herself blush with how he referred to her. She still wasn’t quite sure about being spoken to with such reverence; that was only something her classmates would say back home as a joke, solely because of her relation to their headmaster. She wondered how long this would go on for, being called ‘dearest Zelda’ and ‘Your Grace’. He spoke of her as if she were a divine being of unimaginable power! Not a schoolgirl who had to force her best friend to get out of bed in the morning by having her Loftwing spit letters at him.
At least his voice is pleasant to listen to. She thought as they stood before a large stone door that slid open with a flick of Hiram’s wrist, beckoning her forward with his other hand.
Upon walking through the short hallway, Zelda gasped in awe at the room the pair now stood in.
A gargantuan stone structure stood in the centre, bathed in an other-worldly, almost surreal white light shining down from the ceiling. Despite its obvious age, it was in surprisingly good condition for something that had been untouched presumably for centuries. Plants had started to grow through the cracks in the stone floor and walls, but that only helped add a unique level of mystique to it all. Absolutely enthralled, she ran a few feet ahead and slowly spun in a circle, taking in as much as she could. The architecture was some of the most gorgeous work she’d ever seen, making her think of the Goddess statue back home with how beautiful it was.
“Now now, Zelda!” she turned around and was shocked to see Hiram practically standing over her, making her jump. “I can’t have you running off like that and not telling me.”
She looked at him, puzzled.
“I didn’t go that far.”
“Yes, but what if you fell over, broke your ankle, disappeared into a hidden trap…” His expression turned smug as he spoke. “Walked right into a monster’s path without realising.”
Zelda scoffed, even if she knew he was right. He tilted his head playfully at this.
“So, are you telling me you don’t want my help? Because, if need be, I can take my business elsewhere-”
“No!!” she exclaimed. She grabbed Hiram’s wrist out of instinct, only to immediately let go and feel her cheeks burn as she stood there awkwardly. Then, he surprised her by rolling his eyes in an exaggerated manner.
“It was a joke, Zelda. As if I’d ever do something so cruel and heartless to you.”
“I- Uh… I do still appreciate the help, truly.”
“But getting used to it is another matter, correct?”
Zelda gave him a slight nod, then turned to look around the room for a distraction of any kind.
If she had been arguing with someone like Groose, this type of situation would mean nothing to her; just another day in her ordinary life. But there was something about Hiram that made her feel small and less confident. Maybe it was the way he held himself compared to her, or maybe it was because he was in his element here and she was the one who was the foreigner from another land. With that in mind, and the dangers that awaited her at every possible turn, Zelda couldn’t afford to lose him.
“…Is there any more exploring left?” She asked quietly.
“That depends on how quickly you can walk.” He pointed to the other side of the room, beyond the middle structure. “We should only have one more chamber, then you’re free to pray and we are free to leave.”
He took a step forward, indicating his desire to continue now and Zelda happily followed, moving to stay in stride with him and sticking obediently by his side.
He certainly wasn’t one for standing around aimlessly. She thought. And, as they walked, her mind began to wander once again.
“Besides Ghirahim-” she began, “Is there anyone else out there we should be worried about? Just so I know who I can trust besides you.”
“Did the old woman mention the Sheikah?”
“No. Why?”
At that Hiram stopped dead in his tracks, nearly causing Zelda to crash into him, and looked genuinely shocked; as if it should have been the first thing Zelda should have been made aware of. He put a hand over his mouth, pulling at his skin and staring off into nothingness.
“Are they bad?” Zelda asked, a wave of fear slowly taking over.
“Oh, absolutely. I’m utterly disgusted that she forgot to tell you about people so vile.” His dark eyes glinted as he faced her fully. “They once obeyed the Goddess as her ever-loyal servants, but soon their ranks became rife with treachery and deceit, with many choosing to defect to the very being who had started the war: The Demon King Demise. Some were even dastardly enough to attempt to kill her in the name of their king, but thankfully any attempts were thwarted before any harm could befall her.”
Zelda’s eyes grew wider and wider as she took in Hiram’s every word.
“So, they can’t be trusted?”
“Absolutely not. They will gladly lie to get what they want and find any excuse to gain your trust. If you are ever unfortunate enough to cross a Sheikah’s path, do not believe a single word they say.”
Zelda vigorously nodded.
“Of course! Of course. Thank you for telling me.”
She was delighted to see his smile and soft expression return.
“Any time, Zelda. You just need to ask. I do apologise for frightening you over such a serious matter. But! If I’ve learned anything in my time, sometimes fear can be as helpful as it can be damning.”
“Then, let’s talk about something else.”
“Like what?”
“Like…” her eyes darted all over, trying to find anything that could be twisted into a lighthearted conversation; only to feel her eyes drift once more to Hiram himself. She studied the red of his cloak, its golden trim and dark maroon underside, the large belt around his waist, and the black underclothes & gloves he wore. She hadn’t wanted to question him on such prominent attire, but she couldn’t deny her curiosity.
“Hiram?”
“Yes?”
“What is with the cloak?”
He straightened his posture, confused.
“What makes you say something like that?”
“Well, where I’m from, people don’t really dress…” she indicated to his clothing. “Like that.”
Hiram stiffened, clearly offended by her words.
“Perhaps your people just have no idea how to dress.”
The return of his serious tone that he had just used to warn her of murderous assassins made Zelda laugh. It was if she’d just spat in his face.
“No, I mean, you look interesting! It’s genuinely refreshing honestly, when compared to home. It suits you.”
He breathed in deeply, seemingly still trying to maintain his annoyed air but she could see it in his eyes he appreciated the praise. Then, he turned and began to walk off, with Zelda chasing after him.
“Does anyone else on the Surface dress like you?”
“No, I’m one of a kind.” He paused, then looked down at her properly and tapped the side of his nose, grinning slyly. “In more ways than one.”
“So, you’re special, like me!”
“You could see it like that, yes.”
“Then I guess that means we at least have something in common!” Zelda beamed at him, clearly very proud at her statement. Hiram laughed and crossed his arms.
“If you say so, dearest Zelda.”
The duo had stopped at the edge of a wide chasm that had long since split the temple in two. A set of large, beautifully detailed doors could be seen on the other side, tempting them to make the jump. Zelda looked around, but there was no visible or even safe route across. She looked to Hiram, wondering if he had a plan of any kind.
“What do we do now?” She asked.
“We could waste our time constructing a bridge by ourselves. Or we can do things my way.”
“Which is…”
He extended an arm and put it around her waist, but stopped himself short from actively touching her.
“May I?”
She stepped forward, pressing herself against him and allowing Hiram to hold her properly. Once satisfied, she watched as he raised his free hand and, with a precise and swift motion, snapped his fingers.
For a few long seconds, Zelda felt as if she was floating. It wasn’t the same comforting sensation of floating on the water, but as if she were gliding in freefall through the air. She couldn’t describe what she was looking at with her own two eyes in that moment, only that the world around her went so quiet, it was almost deafening.
No sooner had she become aware of what was happening, the ground was beneath her feet once more, Hiram was standing beside her, and the doors were now just an arm’s length away from them both.
“W-wh-” She could barely form a sentence, looking around in dazed wonderment and a nagging sense of discomfort.
“Just a small trick I know. It takes some getting used to.”
“How-“ Zelda went to move away from him, but her legs quickly buckled beneath her. She yelped, only for Hiram to quickly readjust his grip and catch her before she collapsed. With her free hand she clenched a fistful of fabric from his cloak, head still spinning.
“See what I mean?” He said softly, carefully helping her to her feet.
“Is… Is that why you only used it just now?”
He nodded.
“You’re not the worst I’ve seen, I’ll admit. Some either faint or throw up immediately upon being subject to such a spell for the first time.”
Zelda winced.
“How… Lovely…”
Still rattled from the spell Hiram had used, Zelda slowly walked up to the statue of the Goddess before her. There was a gentle warm breeze that ruffled her dress and hair, and she allowed the tweets of the nearby birds and sounds of the forest to soothe her. As politely as she could, she bowed to the statue and knelt down on the cool stone. She placed the harp in front of her, then lowered her head into prayer. Softly, she repeated the phrase the old woman had taught her, her voice wavering but confident in her words.
Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the air grow close, as though enveloping her in a comforting embrace. She could hear the soft murmur of voices, as she were listening to these people speak from underwater. No matter how hard she tried to focus on what was being said, she couldn’t make out their words.
Then, it felt as if an image of some kind were forming within her mind, one of the very forest itself. She could see people before her but just like their voices, their faces were foggy and indistinguishable. Their clothes consisted of dark colours, making them fade in and out of the shadows all around them. One of these figures extended an object towards her and Zelda felt her entire body go numb.
It was the harp. The exact same as the one she held.
Before she could move and take it from them, however, another hand with long, slender fingers extended to greet the stranger.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see large wings and a white veil that hid a masked face, enveloped by long strands of loose hair and braids, with some being decorated with flowers, sea shells and precious stones. Even without having to turn her head, Zelda could tell this person was tall; a powerful being who towered above all who were present.
Still the words were jumbled, still Zelda struggled to make any sense of what was being presented before her. Until, just for a single brief instant, she felt as if she could understand one of the words that had been repeated throughout the faraway conversation.
Hylia.
The sounds of the real world returned and her eyes snapped open, looking up to the statue before her.
Was it just her, or had the eyes shifted to return her gaze?
She swallowed nervously, her mind now as turbulent as the winds, only to be distracted by the rustling of Hiram’s clothes as he moved. Without having to look, she knew he was watching her intently, wondering what she’d do next.
Ghirahim waited patiently at the bottom of the steps, silently watching Zelda through the barrier that prevented him from stepping forward. It flickered in and out of view, as though daring him to attempt to cross, but he knew better than to try his luck or see what would happen if he did.
He was still absolutely amazed at how lucky he’d been for finding the Spirit Maiden before she could slip from his grasp. To even get her to believe his words with enough convincing! And what luck to have the upper hand in describing the Sheikah to her! Had the old woman forgotten? Had she just expected Zelda to trust the actual servant wholeheartedly when the two first met, no questions asked? He’d fought valiantly to hide his leering smirk and uncontrollable excitement. Thank goodness she hadn’t noticed, it felt almost too good to be true! All that intense planning seemed useless now, but he still could never be too sure. The Goddess was a tricky one. Who knows what other nefarious plans she had up her sleeve if this were indeed something she had anticipated. He readjusted his collar and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
Out there, beyond the walls of the temple and trees of the forest, he could feel a faint yet… unique aura that set him on edge. Perhaps it was that Link boy Zelda had mentioned, or the actual servant on their way to rip Her Grace away from him. Of course, he was perfectly capable of winning in a duel if it called for it. But even then, he didn’t want to risk their sudden appearance causing Zelda to see through his disguise and uncovering the cruel and spiteful lord underneath.
He began to tap his foot in an annoyed manner, hoping Zelda wouldn’t be much longer. Patience had ironically never been one of his strong points. After a few more agonising moments, she finally stood up. He snapped to attention, returning to his friendlier alter ego.
“Well?” He asked as politely as he could, giving her a comforting smile as she turned to him with a look of confusion, perhaps even fear, at what she’d just witnessed. Zelda’s prayer had certainly worked, as already that ancient aura of the Goddess began to radiate off of her. Ghirahim tried his best to hold in the devilish grin that threatened to ruin this most wonderful moment.
Shaking slightly, Zelda picked up the harp and walked back towards him, stopping just shy of the barrier separating the two.
“…There’s more places like this, right?”
“Indeed.”
“Are… Are they all like this? With what they have to tell me?”
Ghirahim nodded.
“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?”
“Y-yes.” She looked down at the harp as though she were only now seeing it for the first time. “Was… this hers?”
He nodded again.
“Other than the fact it was made smaller to accommodate your size, yes.”
Zelda paused again, still struggling to take everything in.
“Are you implying that… I have some kind of. Connection to Hylia?”
“Indeed.”
She turned to look back at the statue, her eyes wide and staring as her shaking became more obvious. Ghirahim half-expected her to die of fright right there and then.
“My dearest Zelda.” Ghirahim said softly, drawing her attention back to him. “As confusing and strange as this all is,” He took a step back then held out his hand for her to take, “I can assure you that with my guidance, all will become clear in time.”
Still, she hesitated, one hand raised oh so slightly as though she wished to reach for him but couldn’t find the nerve to do so; as if something else were holding her back.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course! If I’ve learnt anything about you from our time together, you’re very brave for someone of your age and incredibly strong to have made it this far. That is truly remarkable.”
His eyes met Zelda’s and he knew that right here, would be the moment of truth. It was time to reveal the golden question.
“Do you trust me, Zelda?” He asked.
He could practically see that feeling of doubt lift itself from Zelda’s shoulders as her eyes lit up upon hearing those words.
“Y-yes. I do.”
She stepped over the spring’s threshold and down the steps, taking his hand in hers. For a moment she was content, then blushed and averted her gaze.
“You said this journey will be a long one, so… you’ll stay with me?”
Ghirahim smiled sweetly, but on the inside, he was absolutely ecstatic at the complete faith Zelda had in him as her new friend.
Zelda, The Spirit Maiden, The Goddess Reincarnated, trusted him!
It would be a long while until he could strike properly but he knew that this time, he was the one in control. He was the one who was winning.
“If it’s for you, then I’ll be there until the bitter end.”
