Seven Years
Chapter One
Year One
Apprehensive State
Hyrule was in an apprehensive state. Tensions between the Gerudos and the Hylians had recently heightened. Ganondorf, leader of the Gerudos, was at the King of Hyrule's side night and day. The public questioned whether this was an attempt to smooth these tensions, or if they were simply keeping a close eye on each other. Some even speculated that the King was simply ensnared by Ganondorf's powers. Treachery! They'd boast. Ganondorf is nothing but a trickster! Stresses ran high especially in the Castle town, where the Temple of Time had closed not a week ago. Devout citizens were in a state of panic. Rumors spread that the Door of Time had opened. In the days since the Temple's closure, it grew dark, and the rain wouldn't cease. The worst news of it all, the King's daughter, Princess Zelda, had gone missing.
Leikette Emeraldo found herself at yet another random inn. She grew so tired of the frenzied citizens that she couldn't stand being among them for too long. Greyling followed her loyally. He jingled and sang as he floated after her. His tiny white light had a glowing yellow aura.
"I don't see what was so bad about that last place," he chimed.
"It was that girl." Lei responded. She stood beside him momentarily, justifying herself to him; "She made me so jumpy."
Leikette was a stunning beauty masked by a stern visage and a standoffish milieu. Her light brown hair was tied back loosely by a green ribbon, and hung just below her shoulder blades. Her green chiffon garb clung closely to her ample curves. She looked far too delicate to possess any sort of muscle. Good. In her field of work, it was best not to look so obvious.
"Please, can we at least stay here for longer than a day?" Greyling's tiny wings drooped as he settled in her hair.
She raised an eyebrow. Her eyes were dark emeralds resting on pinkish cheek-pillows. They had a sharp-piercing quality. "You don't have legs, Grey," she stated, caustic. Matching emerald jewels hung from her ears. She never took these off.
"That was uncalled for." Greyling reappeared.
The door was crooked and ajar. Inscribed in the crummy oak were the words: Red Deku Inn. She walked in and found herself in a very empty wooden shack. A dusty red sofa lined the right wall. To the left sat dingy wooden tables. Directly in front of her was a long bar. Behind it grew a tree bud with a single leaf.
Squeak!
Her stomach jolted when she saw the bud move. It hopped up, climbing stairs behind the bar, revealing that it was actually a red Deku scrub. Lei drew her signature weapon, a fan with inch-long curved spikes at each spoke. The scrub shook vigorously, leaves shaking and nozzle squeaking. His red wood body sported large yellow-green leaves and ivy vines, serving as a sort of clothing. His glowing yellow eyes rounded and glossed over in fear.
"Don't, Lei!" Greyling jingled.
"What?" Lei demanded.
"He owns this place." Greyling reported.
The scrub shook and squeaked. Suddenly, thin, screechy words escaped his nozzle.
"Mee neem ees Beel." Lei had never known a Deku scrub to speak her language. As far as she knew, they didn't have tongues.
"You don't have to speak my language, I can understand you," having grown up in the forest, she understood the scrubs as well as they understood her, "I'm sorry for, um, frightening you—Bill—is it?" He nodded cautiously. "Well, Bill, I'd like a room for the night—"
"Possibly more!" Greyling interrupted.
Lei hesitated in saying, "Possibly more," and sighed.
"Are you here for the King?"
"I'm here on my own account." She responded, counting the rupees in her satchel and setting them in front of him.
"Too bad. You look like a great fighter." He set the key on the bar. Attached to it was a plastic sunflower.
"For what?"
"They're organizing some kind of small militia, very small. Teams of elite fighters to make sure their objectives are in order and being carried out."
"Does it pay?"Bill shrugged, "What King do you serve?"
"I serve no man."
"Good girl. I, too, have refused to choose sides. In fact, because this is such a little known establishment, both parties have contacted me in hopes that they can use this as a sort of refuge for their respective troupes."
"Wait… who, exactly, is going to be here?"
"That's just it. I can't say no to one side and yes to another. By the time I received the second's letter, I had already said yes to the first."
"Are you telling me that Ganondorf's elite as well as Hyrule's are going to both be here? For an undesignated amount of time!"
Bill nodded.
"You've got to be kidding."
Bill shook his head.
"Do you serve ale at this establishment?"
Bill nodded.
"Mind pouring me a pint?"
Bill shook his head and promptly set a glass in front of her and filled it with a cold, brown substance. It fizzed and settled into foam at the top. She took it up and took a quick swig. She glared up at Greyling. Possibly more, he said. Possibly more. Greyling jingled and wandered off, escaping her scathing glance.
"When?" she asked Bill.
"Soon, I imagine."
"Great."