Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda, if I did OoT's ending would have been better.
Authors note: I will be accepting flames just be warned that I will have Link throw angry cuckoos at your head. Please read and review.
Prologue
Link's legs were aching. He had more endurance than any other man in the
town square, but even he was tired. They had been kneeling before the Royal
Family for almost an hour, waiting to hear the names that were going to be
read off the list.
Finally, the Royal Scribe entered the square, bearing a long scroll. The
short, portly man strode to the front of the assembly, and handed the
parchment to the King. The King stood there, reading the names to himself
silently, sometimes muttering to the Captain of the Hyrulian Army, and
scratching off a name here and there. At the end of the list, he made a few
additions. Finally satisfied with the list he stepped up to the podium and
cleared his throat.
"People of Hyrule," The King boomed, "It is my sad duty as King to announce which of Hyrule's finest knights and warriors will be going to our
neighboring country of Termina." And so it began. Women began crying as
their husband's names were read out, and the King grew graver and graver.
"Richard Avery!" Link winced as his long time friend's name was called,
"Cornelius Grunda! Hercum Frindle..." And it went on and on... until...
"Link Kokiri!" Everyone in the assembly began to murmur. Everyone was
surprised that Link was chosen to go, being Princess Zelda's long-time love
interest. Link, however, was the only one that did not know of Zelda's
feelings towards him, and was expecting to be chosen.
But that didn't make it any easier. He still felt the heavy weight of almost
certain death that came to him with every battle he faced. He had heard of
the dangers that awaited him in Termina, and he winced inwardly. Outwardly, he was cold and distant. He always was, ever since his battles against Ganon, on the alternate timeline.
Link was no longer listening. He had heard what he had come for. The rest of the assembly quieted down, and the King commenced reading once again. Link looked up, and he caught sight of the Princess.
Her face was a mask of calm, though Link, ever perceptive, noticed the water in her eyes. He assumed that she did not want to send so many men into the danger. So many of them were her close friends. Link was one of the few people that she would let see her cry.
But here she was, in the town square, crying. It was as if she had let go of
her pride. Link bowed his head down again, hiding his face from everyone. He was never one to exhibit his emotions, either. He had only ever cried once in his lifetime, and that was when Zelda had sent him back in time seven years ago.
He had been cold and uncaring towards her ever since, despite her attempts
to get close to him. He could not care less about her. He had fought to
protect her simply because of his sense of duty to the Royal Family. They
had taken him in, and given him a place in the world, even if he did not
want that particular place.
After another two hours, the assembly was over. The crowds dispersed, and
the army of five hundred men, of which Link was one, marched up to the
castle for their last few hours in Hyrule before marching out.
THE NEXT DAY
Zelda stood in front of the army, waving them off as they walked under the
arch that was formed by the castle's gates. She searched through the men in
armor to find one particular man.
There he was, the only one not in armor. Link refused to wear armor,
because he said that it restricted his mobility. Zelda had pleaded with him
to wear chain mail at the very least. He gave in, and had worn the chain
mail under his normal green tunic out of the castle. Eyeing him now, Zelda
had a sneaking suspicion that he had discarded it as soon as she had left
his side.
A fresh wave of tears flooded her eyes, and she tried to blink them back. In
response, they came back with reinforcements. She was unable to stem the
flow, and stood there, silently weeping the beginning of the loss of her
friends. And her beloved...
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT
The walls of the castle were filled with a bone-chilling, evil laughter. All the lights in the castle were snuffed out, and a terrified scream rang
throughout the castle. No one, however, ever saw a thing.