A lot can change in ten years. Cities can be rebuilt, old rivalries can become bustling friendships, love can blossom and fizzle, and decorated soldiers can become babysitters.
His Majesty, wise as he is, has deemed it necessary to relocate me from my old post on the Gerudo border, where I protected Hyrule from hostile invaders from the West, and now I find myself standing diligently in front of a hedge maze. It's the Princess's play-time, and I've been tasked to make sure no one bothers her.
I can't complain. His Majesty knows best, after all. Besides, decreased border security was part of the terms of the treaty that the Gerudo King created in order to ease the tense relations our two kingdoms had experienced since the end of the war. The Gerudo King, Ganondorf, is coming today to finalise the treaty by swearing fealty to His Majesty himself. A Gerudo King pledging allegiance to a Hylian one. Never thought I'd see the day.
I hear a whistle blow and some shouting in the distance. I can't quite make out what he's saying but he's clearly upset. I try to listen harder.
"Co…ere you…tle"
No good.
I'd like to see what's going on over there, but I'd rather die than face the consequences one receives for abandoning his post.
I hear shouting again, albeit much more clearly.
"Captain! Captain!"
That's me.
I spot a rather exasperated soldier running up and over the hill, dragging what appears to be a child.
"Captain! I—and then…he…I…"
"Catch your breath, soldier," I say. Clearly the athletic requirements for enlisted men have gone way down since the war. I look at the child. "Who's this, then?"
"I caught this…forest kid trying to sneak into the garden, sir!" said the guard, after catching his breath.
I smile at the boy. "Looks like the princess's got a little admirer, eh? What's your name, boy?"
The child looks at me with an angry, determined stare. He's garbed in entirely green, from his dopey hat to his tunic. He's definitely Kokiri, from the forest in the East.
"You speak Hylian, boy? I said what is your name?"
Nothing but staring. Forest kids have always creeped me out.
It was then that I noticed he had a knife dangling from his left hand. I don't like automatically assuming the worst, but this kid's scaring me. If he assassinated the Princess, I'd lose my head. Or worse.
"Through him over the wall, Squire."
"Aye, sir."
Tossing him over the wall will hurt him, but it won't kill him. I don't want this kid coming back but I don't want him dead, either.
A moment later, I hear a satisfying thud and a yelp, and I continue guarding the hedge maze from would-be assassins.
The life of a soldier isn't glamourous, but it's all I know.
Is that a cucco I hear?
