Part II: "The Comings of the Past"

Duke Arthur Blavidus had timed his departure from the Artronnen camp perfectly. Timed it so that he would arrive at the castle drawbridge just as the sun grasped above the horizon. As he marched alone up to the raised bridge, a guard spied him from the tower above.

"Stop!" the guard bellowed. "Who goes there?" The Duke smiled. All was going to plan.

"It is I," Blavidus yelled back, "Duke Arthur Blavidus of Artronnis! I request council with your monarch!"

The Duke could see a bustle of commotion among the guards. "The Queen is busy!" one of the guards finally called back. "She will have to entertain you at a later date!"

Arthur smiled.

"Tell her the other exiles will not be happy when they hear this news!" Again, the guards discussed the matter. Suddenly, the great drawbridge began to lower. As it neared ground level, a figure could be seen on the other side. When the drawbridge landed with a thump, the man walked forward to meet the Duke.

"I bid you welcome, your excellence Duke Arthur Blavidus of Artronnis. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Vladamir Dukov, head of the Queen's Royal Guard. You shall be under my escort and care during your stay."

"Very well, my good man," the Duke replied, "show me where I need to go."

Vladamir nodded.

"Follow me"

The Queen was standing in the courtyard, admiring the guardens, when Vladamir Dukov interrupted.

"My Queen," he said, "you have a visitor of the utmost importance."

"Can it not wait?" Zelda asked curtly.

"I am afraid it cannot, your majesty. He insists that he see you now."

Zelda frowned.

"Who is this man who dares to ask such a favor of the Queen of Hyrule?"

Blavidus walked into the courtyard.

"I am Duke Arthur Blavidus, of the Artronnens," he said. "You probably refer to us as "The Exiles" or the people of the Castanerean Deserts.

Although quite surprised, Zelda managed to hold in her shock. She wasn't good enough, however, to hide it from the Duke.

"Don't act so surprised, your majesty. Your guards spied our camp last night, did they not?"

"Why, yes but...," Zelda stammered.

Blavidus interrupted, "But you didn't think we were spying on YOU, did you? It's been five hundred years, my good Queen, we're not as primitive as when we left."

Zelda felt herself getting worried. The Duke just grinned.

"Worried, your majesty?"

Zelda narrowed her eyes.

"Oh yes, I am empathic. As is the rest of my race. Maybe it's the air? We don't really know. According to the records, the trait developed after just a few years in the Deserts. Quite an odd twist of fate, is it not?"

The Queen was at a loss for words.

"But why come back now?" she finally asked.

Blavidus laughed.

"Oh, it's not what you think," he said. "We don't hold any grudges. We just want to settle this enitire matter of exilation, once and for all. I just hope it isn't very painful for us both."

With an almost wicked smile, Duke Arthur Blavidus walked out of the Hyrule Castle Courtyard leaving a very perplexed Queen Zelda behind him...