The King of Hyrule entered nervously through the massive doors of the Temple of Time. The Wind Mage Vaati had sent summons the previous morning to meet at midnight in the temple to discuss matters concerning the kingdom. The mysterious mage had been plaguing the land of Hyrule with wind monsters , terrible hurricanes, and storms for the past two months without cease. After all those months the mage must have finally decided to negotiate. The kingdom was saved!
"Good evening your highness. A wise choice to accept my summons." the mage smiled with a viscous grin. Without his long hood covering his face Vaati was quite handsome, stunning in fact. His long hair fell like a silky veil below his shoulders and his red eyes glistened as the moonlight struck them. "I'm afraid your kingdom isn't proving to be much sport anymore." he sighed kicking off the statue he was leaning on.
"Does this mean you are leaving the land?" the king asked hopefully, his smile fading when the young mage threw back his head and exploded into laughter.
"Do you really think that you can get something for nothing? Just because I'm growing bored doesn't mean I'm going to stop anytime soon." he smiled taking in the king's face which had lost all color.
"If it's money you want then take it. Money is no object." the king said anxiously. "Treasure? Is it treasure you want?"
"Money? Ha! I am wealthy beyond your wildest dreams, my palace has all the wealth in Hyrule. Treasure.. On the other hand is what I seek." his smile stretched and pulled apart showing his shining teeth.
"If not money…" the king paused not sure what sort of treasure the mage wanted if it was not wealth. "Then what do you want?"
"I have wealth, power, a glorious kingdom, minions, soldiers, all the food and wine I can stomach." Vaati said walking in a slow circle around the king like a vulture to the kill. "I have many things…I am only lacking one prize though…a gem..something that would sate me far more than any money you could hope to ever pocket in your entire reign. "
"What sort of gem? I have many." the king fidgeted nervously with the strings of his cloak.
"A bride." the mage answered his eyes flashing dangerously grinning with a smile far colder than any bitter wind ever conjured.
"What?" the king gasped in horror.
"The hand of your daughter. She shall be my queen. Your lands shall be left alone and I shall never return."
"Are you mad? You can't!" the king cried.
Vaati made a disappointed clicking sound with his tongue. "You disappoint me your majesty." he sighed walking towards the doors. "You haven't even stopped to think about it. Do you care so little for your people that you would turn down my one desire for selfish reasons?" he paused and upon getting no reply from the king he turned his back and pushed open the doors letting the pouring rain blow into the temple. "Very well. You take all the time in the world. Let's see how long your kingdom will last." and with that the mage vanished leaving the king speechless.
Zelda made her way down the long halls of the castle towards her father's study, her heels clicking softly on the marble floors as she passed guards and servants without a second glance. Another storm was coming. Dark clouds of which she had yet to see despite all the past storms loomed ominously over the castle and the town threatening to tear open and unleash the wrath of the heavens. Zelda felt a lurch in her stomach, a nervous pull which made her quicken her pace. The castle was the only structure in the area that had a chance of holding back the storms and she needed to warn her father so he could order the people to seek refuge in its sturdy walls. The horrified voice of the king rang out behind his closed door making Zelda stop in her tracks and pull back. She slowly leaned forward nervously to listen in.
"Are you serious?" Impa's voice cried out in horror.
"The wind mage who has been summoning these storms…he said he would stop and leave…but…I couldn't. His price was too great!" the king moaned.
"I don't blame you. How dare he demand Zelda's hand! We could never let her marry such a monster."
"The storms…my kingdom… all the people…" the king's voice broke. "What do I do? He won't stop until he has her, and I'll be damned if he thinks he can attack the land then demand me to give up my daughter!"
Zelda's heart stopped as she listened to her father's voice. She swallowed her fear. She still had to warn them about the storm. She let out a deep breath and made her face blank as she knocked and entered. "Father, another storm is on the way. We must get the people to safety." she said urgently.
"Of course." the king said softly walking towards her wrapping her in a caring but worried hug. Zelda returned the hug until he stepped back and smile down at her. "Impa." he said turning to the woman. "You heard her. Spread the word."
"Yes your majesty." she bowed and vanished.
Zelda returned to her rooms and shut the door quickly. She couldn't let the people suffer! She had to meet this man and make this madness stop. Impa had taught her how to scry for people using her magic, now it was time to put it to good use. She had no idea what this man looked like or where he was, only that he was a wind mage. She set the bowl of magic water on the table and began to chant softly. She knew that all magic had a residue and she had a feeling that wind magic was like a storm. She focused all her power on the growing scent of the tempest that loomed over the castle and added her powers to the water. This should summon the wind mage nearest to the castle. Her eyes opened to see the mist in the water waver revealing a woman with a bitter grimace and a piercing glare.
"Speak wench!" she snarled. "Who are you? How dare you summon the mighty Hecate!" the woman stretched forth her hand towards Zelda releasing a magic burst that pulled Zelda forward with such force she was almost pulled face first into the bowl of water.
"Please, I meant no disrespect! I was searching for the wind mage Vaati." Zelda cried the magic force crushing he neck and shoulders.
"What do you seek of the King of Winds?" the middle aged woman sneered, her magical grip tightening on the young princess until she cried out again.
"He…he was..to make a bargain with my father the king…I came to summon him…I wanted to.." she clenched her teeth unable to stand the pain. "Please let me go!"
"Not until I get an answer!" Hecate's red eyes flashing dangerously as she regarded the princess. Her long light blue hair hung down her face which was a blue color lighter yet than her hair.
"He seeks…a bargain and my father has denied it…I wish to speak to him….to…to.." she shut her eyes tight holding back tears of both pain and fear. "..To..agree to his terms.." she slumped barely catching herself when the magical grip was suddenly released.
"You seek to trap the Wind King don't you, you little harlot?" the older woman accused coldly.
"No! I'd never!"
"It doesn't matter, the King is too powerful to ever be defeated. I shall speak with him. You will leave and go to the castle town gates tonight. He shall be there." and with that the image vanished from the water.
Zelda fastened the strings to her cloak and pulled her hood over her head. Beneath which she wore her best dress, a beautiful gown of red which was decorated with rubies which were sown into the bodice forming a beautiful and intricate design. She glanced one last time at the note she had written her father which sat on her sitting table on top of a stack of books. "I love you father. I shall save the kingdom for you." and with that she left the castle and made her way to the town gates.
Rain poured down from the skies drenching her through her cloak and dress as she stood by the gates shivering and waiting for the mage. She could do this..she had to do this..for the sake of her people..everyone she loved..her father… her thoughts were stopped suddenly when she realized the rain had completely stopped falling. She looked up to see that the rain was still indeed pouring down but now she was protected by a clear barrier. Her heart threatened to leap out of her throat when she saw a man emerge from the shadows…Vaati.
"I received word from Hecate that the King had changed his mind. A wise choice." the man stepped forward taking in her form without hiding his casual malice, the glowing desire in his eyes.
"My..my father has not…"she said nervously finding herself unable to speak or keep her legs from shaking. "I…I have come on…on my..own behalf." she blinked her heart stopped as he vanished and appeared behind her, one hand wrapping around her waist and pulling her back until she was pressed against his body.
"Is that so?" he whispered, his lips brushing her ear which made her body writhe in dread. "You know my terms?"
The trembling princess nodded unable to open her mouth for fear that she might scream.
"Very well. I shall leave…and you shall be mine…and all the people will carry on with their useless lives." his hands tightened around her taking pleasure in her fear. "Will you be mine?"
"Y…yes." she whispered in fear closing her eyes tight as she felt the world vanish beneath her feet. She only had an instant to see that they were no longer anywhere near the surface but high in the air flying into the clouds in a whirlwind before she felt her feet touch solid ground. She looked up to find herself on the steps of a massive palace the size of which she had never seen.
"Welcome to the Palace of Winds... my queen." Vaati grinned and led her inside.