Sin of Sheikari Chapter 10
10: Water Temple
Time passed. People moved. Like a river’s flow, it never ended. A childish mind would turn to noble ambition. Young love would become deep affection. The clear water’s surface reflected growth.
Perhaps, in a timeline where Hyrule hadn’t been ravaged by a mad sorcerer king, Zelda would know what it was like to grow into a truly dignified and stately young woman. This version of her might even rule alongside a husband she could call her equal in both mind and spirit.
For, though she was fond of the fanciful romance tales most young women adored, her father had made it very clear at a young age that Zelda’s first love must be her kingdom. When she came into her womanhood proper, she would be presented with suitors, sure, but any match she agreed to would prioritize strengthening the royal line and, in time, presenting the kingdom with a suitable successor. Love would certainly be welcome, but it wouldn’t be a necessity.
Love and romance had their places, and she had hers.
A green figure gracefully skated just below the surface of the water before fanning its tail upward to prepare to dive below. The splashing sound it made was faint but just loud enough to snap Zelda out of her daze. As she watched the little fish disappear into the shadowy depths, she wondered why her mind had drifted to the subject of love to begin with.
Perhaps it was yet another aspect of mourning that only someone destined to rule a kingdom could truly understand, though Zelda suspected heartbreak and longing didn’t solely belong to her. Yet, for the first time, she allowed herself to think beyond her current reality. What would she want once she achieved what she set out to do? What would her people want?
They had lost so much. Yet, they were also blessed with a different sort of luxury. In the end, they would be free to love, to live out their lives as they pleased, and Zelda was joyful at the idea of being able to provide them hope. Still, she wouldn’t deny she could already see the slow approach of weariness galloping towards her.
From where she stood, it would be a simple thing to convince someone unfamiliar with the land that Lake Hylia was a vast ocean instead of a mere lake. Its waters ran as clear as crystal, perfectly suited for the variety of creatures, animal and fiend alike, that danced just below its surface.
Of all her people, it was the Zora and their watercraft that kept this ecosystem in balance. The Zora considered this lake not just a habitat but a crucial part of Hyrule’s bloodstream. For, the water wasn’t just their source of life but all others.
Besides, now she had another reason to hesitate. Yes, she’d succeeded in forging an alliance with two of the Ancient Sages she’d awakened, but each awakening had been accompanied by something she couldn’t explain.
“You are not Sheikah.”
Its hollow voice had seeped into her, threatening to devour her very essence, leaving behind a husk that the wind could carry away as if she were nothing more than a pile of sand. She’d watched its figure walk through flames as if it were making a stately march through the Castle Town. And she knew, deep down, that it carried a sinister purpose, one that seemed to be getting stronger with each encounter.
It was clear. She was awakening more than just Sages.
The water’s surface sparkled thanks to a passing breeze, sending ripples and waves as Zelda looked on. She wanted to find it relaxing, but comfort wouldn’t be her companion. Not today.
“Declare yourself!”
Zelda looked up, just now noticing the young Zora woman who surfaced from the water. Her head was wider than the other Zoras she’d seen, yet her beauty was striking. She clearly wasn’t a guard or sentry, so why was she here?
Zelda sighed, certain she’d get her answer soon enough. As with Darunia, she’d have to convince her she wasn’t a threat.
“I do not intend any harm,” Zelda lifted up her palms. “I am Sheik, and I have come to speak with the Ancient Sage of the temple below.”
The young Zora scoffed, rolling her eyes and pointing a glistening finger at Zelda. “There’s no Sage in this temple! The Zoras use this place to honor the water spirits. We know nothing about any Sages! You will leave at once!”
Yet Zelda didn’t flinch. Instead, she stepped forward and bowed gracefully. “Princess Ruto, it is an honor.”
Ruto gasped in surprise. “How do you know who I am?”
Zelda, refusing to miss a beat, slowly lifted her head. “Your beauty is unmistakable and known throughout the land, but I also know of your station as the Zora heir.”
Ruto was quiet for a moment. A passing breeze caused Zelda’s hood to flutter, and she instinctively reached for it before snatching her hand away. She’d hoped Ruto didn’t notice, and the Zora princess thankfully didn’t comment on it. For now.
“What you say is the truth,” Ruto said at last. “I am the most beautiful woman in all the land, even more beautiful than Princess Zelda herself. I’m glad you can at least recognize that, even if you speak nonsense.”
Zelda smiled despite herself. Yes, this was indeed Princess Ruto, feisty and stubborn as ever.
“I implore you,” Zelda continued. “I must enter the Water Temple. The royal family’s safety depends on it.”
Ruto’s eyes widened. “The royal family lives?”
Zelda nodded. “Yes. I come here to seek an alliance with the Ancient Sage in the coming battle with Ganondorf.”
Ruto’s shimmering violet eyes fell to the water’s surface as she pondered Zelda’s plea, and Zelda could imagine how she must appear to her at the moment. To her, a strange, masked man had materialized at the lake’s edge requesting to be allowed passage into her people’s temple. She had every right to be leery of this “Sheik” person who stood before her, and Zelda could only hope her explanation would suffice.
Ruto folded her arms and began rubbing her chin. “Ganondorf has threatened to poison Zora’s Fountain if we don’t swear allegiance to him. The Zoras and the Gorons temporarily seceded to become our own kingdoms when the royal family vanished. Ganondorf didn’t oppose it at first, but now that has changed.”
Zelda’s body grew rigid. It must have been because she’d faced his phantom at Hyrule Field. After all, so long as she was alive, everyone would unite behind her the moment she made herself known.
“Hyrule Field is covered in darkness and a never-ending storm now,” Ruto finally lifted her head and gazed toward the horizon behind her, the storm clouds less bulging but still festering above where Zelda had faced Phantom Ganon. “Soon, it won’t just be us. It’ll be everyone, won’t it?”
Zelda nodded. “He doesn’t intend to rule Hyrule for long. His ultimate goal is the land’s destruction.”
Ruto turned to meet Zelda’s gaze, sparkling violet eyes now dimmed with uncertainty. “How can I trust you?”
And there it was. Zelda knew this was the last opportunity to truly convince her she wasn’t an agent of the Evil King. She wouldn’t dare produce proof of her royal claim to the throne. It was still far too risky. Yet, luckily, there was another heirloom that carried far more meaning to Ruto than a crown.
Zelda held out her hand as she used her magic to reach out far beyond herself, to grasp what she needed and pull it towards her. A small globe of water materialized and hovered just above her outstretched palm.
“This is the scale you gave Princess Zelda long ago,” Zelda explained. “She entrusted it to me so that I may seek out the Zoras’ aid. I have already journeyed far and yet still have many more Sages to find. Please.”
Ruto studied her for a moment, then finally nodded. “Fine, but I’m coming with you.”
Ruto vanished below the water’s surface like a ghost, giving Zelda a moment to let out a quiet sigh of relief. She took a deep breath before diving into the lake, closing her eyes as cold water crashed into her face.
The world turned black for a moment until her magic settled within her, and she could see as clearly as if she’d inhabited the water’s depths since birth. She took in the murky surroundings of the lakebed, thankful the sun was bright enough to further prevent her from getting lost.
The Water Temple was carved into the bottom of the island she’d leaped down from, its entrance sealed shut by a large gate. Ruto waited at the entrance of the temple, floating serenely as she watched Zelda. The Zora’s body swayed to the rhythm of the currents effortlessly, as if she was perfectly in sync with them.
Thankfully, the scale Zelda possessed would allow her to breathe for short bursts of time. She, awkwardly at first, grasped before her before settling into a practiced swimmer’s rhythm as she coasted along the currents to meet Ruto.
It wasn’t long before her feet landed on the stone tile at the lake’s bottom, and Zelda took a moment to glance up, watching as the beams of sunlight dipped and bowed along the water’s surface, before returning her attention to the temple’s entrance.
Though the gate barred them from entering, she noted a massive blue jeweled nestled just above it. She instantly wondered if it was a switch of some sort. Thankfully, she wouldn’t need to figure out a way to activate it as Ruto stretched out her hand, the act dislodging the jewel, which began to float to the surface.
Zelda nodded at Ruto, but the Zora princess shook her head as she began to approach the temple’s threshold.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Ruto’s words were as clear underwater as they were on the surface. “Getting in is the easy part.”
Zelda quickly followed behind her, and the world once again darkened as they entered the temple proper. They drifted through a long, murky tunnel before surfacing in what looked like the main chamber.
Black, iridescent rock covered the walls of the massive room, likely carved smooth by the water’s flow over countless ages. It was a cavernous place, deliberate in its design, as if every rock, stone, and water droplet served a specific purpose.
A large stone tower rose from the chamber’s center, and Zelda could make out that it was multi-storied. She wondered if the structure was meant to be fully submerged or if someone could access the other floors and doors depending on how much water filled the chamber.
The pair climbed out of the pool they’d surfaced in, taking a moment to further survey their surroundings. Zelda continued to contemplate how she would reach the Ancient Sage in this flooded room, hoping that, unlike Grig and Nove, he would be much more receptive to her call.
“Hmm, that’s funny,” Ruto’s voice broke her daze.
“What is it?” Zelda asked, not turning to face her.
“If someone other than a Zora or the royal family enters this place, the traps activate instantly. In fact, I was certain you’d be locked out of every room once you followed me inside.”
Zelda’s skin prickled as she registered the suspicion in Ruto’s voice. No! She’d been certain she’d managed to convince her with the scale, and she was so close!
Without warning, Zelda felt a wave of water crash into her, sending her flying towards the tower. Her body slammed against its wall, pain radiating from her back through her chest as she gasped for breath. She reached for her kodachi, her adversary readying the spell that would finish her.
