Caedes
Slaughter
The lightning flashed outside of the window that was room-height. Thunder rumbled soon afterwards. The weather outside was no rival to the mood and intentions of the dark man with the floor-length cape. His fiery red hair was the only dead give-away. Otherwise, the rest of his muscular, broad features were obscured in the ever-present darkness of the chamber.
Another man stood but 15 feet away, in a defensive stance although he held no weapon. The blood of his wife dripped from his hands; the only proof of the agony he had gone through to staunch the outflow of blood from the slice in her throat and abdomen. As he pressed his hands to the wounds he knew it was too late. She was gone.
Daphnes Harkinian's darkened glare rose to meet that of the piercing blood-red of his adversary. He could see his wife's blood, Zeruda's blood, dripping from the infamous sword, Ghirahim, the chosen weapon of the House Dragmire to combat Fi, the blade of the House of Harkinian… or what was left of the House. His wife was dead. His daughter probably was as well, being only two-years old, just out of infancy.
"This is not what the goddesses intend, Ganondorf." Daphnes growled.
"You and I know little of what the goddesses truly intend, but let me assure you, the one with power is the one they will inevitably support."
Ganondorf held up his hand and proceeded to clench it into a fist. Daphnes gasped in horror as the golden shape of the Triforce glowed, temporarily blinding him.
"Impossible. You've usurped that blessing as you are usurping the throne of the Harkinians, you tyrant!"
"Impossible you say in the light of proof. You are a fool, Daphnes. A fool to think such power could fall to you. The ones that hold the Triforce hold the throne."
With that, Ganondorf snapped his fingers. The soldiers behind him ran to the front to seize Daphnes. Being a man of honor, and previously a soldier, Daphnes fought back, but to no avail. He was quickly subdued and brought before Ganondorf. He was forced to his knees, the humiliation of kneeling before the usurper flooding his eyes with hatred. Ganondorf smiled.
"Such weakness. And to think you and Rinku were the heroes of the War. Pity."
Daphnes refused to look Ganondorf in the eye, instead, choosing to focus his attention on the attire of the soldiers committed to Dragmire's cause: a wild, tusked boar with a fiery mane, the likeness of Dragmire. The blood red of the background was that of the color of his hands. He looked behind him once again, at the slain figure of his wife, Zeruda, sprawled on the floor, blood staining her porcelain neck.
He was not aware as the sword pierced through his heart.
A scream emanated from down the hall. Dragmire looked up from cleaning his sword towards the source. Just behind the corner, he saw her: the Princess Zelda.
A white-haired, red eyed young lady stood behind her, and quickly clasped her hand to her mouth. The both disappeared behind the corner and Dragmire could hear them running.
There will be no survivors of the House of Harkinian.
"AFTER THEM! KILL THEM!" he bellowed to his men, motioning forward with his arm. His soldiers dutifully obeyed and charged after the children.
Dragmire made his way over to the window where lightning continued to flash.
No heirs of Harkinian.
Dragmire had no heirs of his own.
At least he didn't before this night.
He had taken care of that shortly before the demise of Harkinian.
"Okarina! Run! Take Link and run!"
Rinku was Speaker of the Court under Harkinian. He, along with his wife, Okarina, and his son, Link were of the House of Midori, a very wealthy and well-known and respected family. Possibly the only uncorrupt family at court. Midori and Harkinian had fought together in the Great War, ultimately winning peace for the nation of Hyrule. There had been no qualms as to which House would assume the throne: Midori whole-heartedly supported his friend. Midori had chosen Harkinian and Zeruda as godparents to his son, Link, and a year later, Harkinian had given Midori and Okarina the same honor in regards to Zelda.
"Rinku! No!"
"Take Link and go! Dragmire will show no mercy!"
Midori's murder had been quick and simple. As he cornered Midori's wife and son, cowering in the cellar, it occurred to him that such a young boy could be easily brainwashed and manipulated to suit his, Dragmire's, purposes.
Thus, Link was taken, and Okarina's throat cut.
Impa and Zelda ran through the torch-lit halls of the palace. Zelda was young, but she had understood what she had seen: Momma and Poppa were not coming back.
"We have to keep running, Zelda! Come! Run!" Impa's voice was frantic and teary.
Tears poured out of young Zelda's violet eyes, inherited from her mother. Her dirty blonde hair had been from her father, as her mother's hair was a honey blonde.
Zelda could not keep up with Impa. Impa was no less than dragging Zelda behind her. It felt like Zelda's arm was tearing from the socket.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
Soldiers had come out of the perpendicular hallway, as well as ganging up from behind. Many had swords drawn, but the majority had spears pointed at the little girls. Zelda gazed in fear at the wild boar insignia on the soldier's attire. The red background brought to the forefront of her mind the blood that she had witnessed pouring from her mother and father both. She buried her face into Impa's dress.
"Please!" Impa pleaded, ruby eyes glazing over in tears, white hair obscuring part of her face. "Please… she's only a child… have mercy…"
A commotion disrupted the soldiers as they stood surrounding the young girls. Yelps of pain, screams of death accompanied this unknown source.
A man with graying hair stabbed and slashed his way to the girls.
"Come! With me! NOW!" He lifted both girls with each of his arms and ran down the hallway. It didn't take long for the remaining soldiers to pursue.
The man brought Zelda and Impa through a series of dark and dank passageways previously unbeknownst to both of the girls. He was in soldier getup that held the insignia of Harkinian: a white wolf howling in the midst of a navy blue background. Seeing this, Zelda was reminded of her father, and felt safe in this man's arms.
The passageways lead to an underground sewage system.
"Talon! Where are you?" the man holding the girls shouted.
"Rauru! Over here! Come quickly, you are pursued!"
The man, Rauru, handed the girls over to Talon in preparation to fight off the pursuing soldiers.
"Go! Take them and get to the safehouse! I will meet you there!"
Talon turned swiftly, running up a series of stairs in the sewer until he reached the roof of the castle. From there, he slid partway down the roof into a small courtyard.
He moved a large stone brick from the foundation of the castle and sent Impa and Zelda crawling through before him. Looking behind him, he saw that he was not pursued.
"Keep going, girls! The tunnel is straight!"
Talon crawled in after them, backwards, in order to bring the brick back into place.
Rauru continued to fight.
Cursed day, the fall of Harkinian. But the House will rise again. They are the rightful House.
The soldiers lying dead before him, Rauru gazed up at the now usurped palace.
Dragmire gazed down at the soldier that had taken out a quarter of his men.
Fool. You cannot hide Zelda from me. I'll find her. Having the name 'Harkinian' is a death sentence. Let it not be written nor spoken. Let it be scratched from their very graves.
"General Zant."
"My Lord Dragmire."
"Bring my son to me."
"Right away."
AN
So starts my Legend of Zelda fan fiction. The story line is based on the Romeo and Juliet anime which I fell in love with after watching. This is the first fan fiction I've written with Legend of Zelda (I'm a major Harry Potter and Percy Jackson writer…), and is my summer project. It will contain characters from many of the Zelda games, but the atmosphere is that of Twilight Princess. I wrote the prologue to gauge reaction and interest. Let me know what you think!
Happy Reading!
Lily SC