Having defeated the curse within the Great Deku Tree, you will find yourself back in Kokiri Forest. Head to the opposite side of the forest to reach the exit leading to Hyrule Field. As you approach the exit, Saria will appear and give you the Fairy Ocarina. This magical instrument will be crucial for your journey.
Now, step out into the vast expanse of Hyrule Field. Your destination is Hyrule Castle, located to the north. As you traverse the field, be aware that the time of day matters. If night falls, Skeletons (Stalfos) will emerge from the ground and attack. You can choose to fight them for Rupees or simply avoid them until morning, when they will disappear. You’ll also notice that the drawbridge to Hyrule Castle Town is raised at night.
Continue heading north towards the castle. You’ll need to wait until morning for the drawbridge to lower, which is usually signaled by the crowing of a rooster. Once the drawbridge is down, enter Hyrule Castle Town.
Within the town, make your way towards Hyrule Castle itself, the imposing fortress area. Instead of trying to enter through the heavily guarded main gate, look for a less obvious way in. To the left of the main gate, you should spot a small hole in the wall. Push the nearby boxes strategically to create a platform that allows you to jump over the low wall and reach this hole. Crawl through the hole to gain access to the Castle Courtyard.
The Castle Courtyard is patrolled by guards with keen eyes. Your goal is to sneak past them without being detected. Observe their patrol patterns carefully and move when their backs are turned. The courtyard consists of several distinct areas with patrolling guards. In the first area, there is a single guard near a square-shaped topiary. The second area features two fountains with guards moving around them.
The third area has a single beam with Rupees scattered around it, patrolled by another guard. The final area presents the most challenge, with two guards moving in relatively close proximity to a large statue. Wait for these two guards to be on opposite sides of the statue before making your move. Once you’ve successfully navigated past all the guards, head towards the left side of the courtyard and proceed to the next area, which leads to the Castle Gardens. Continue through the gardens until you reach the end, where you will finally meet Princess Zelda.
A significant cutscene will unfold, during which Princess Zelda will reveal the troubling situation involving Ganondorf and bestow upon you Zelda’s Letter. This letter will be crucial for your next steps. During this encounter, you will also learn Zelda’s Lullaby, a melody played on your Fairy Ocarina that has special properties. It’s possible that Princess Zelda might also give you the Fairy Ocarina at this point if you haven’t already received it from Saria.
Gold Skulltulas in Hyrule Castle Town and Castle:
- Gold Skulltula #4: After crossing the drawbridge into Hyrule Castle Town, enter the Guard House, the building located at the top of the screen before you enter the Market area. At the back of this room, roll into a wooden crate to reveal the Gold Skulltula.
- Gold Skulltula #5: Exit Hyrule Castle Town in the direction of Hyrule Castle. You will find a lone tree nearby. Roll into this tree to make the Gold Skulltula appear.
- Gold Skulltula #15: In Hyrule Castle Town, enter the guardhouse located at the city gate (the entrance to the Market area). Inside, you’ll find a room full of pots. Roll into the wooden crate in this room to smash it and uncover the Gold Skulltula.