The Trials Of Zelda

Chapter 1

Zelda ignored the blood that trickled from the long jagged cut that ran from her forehead down past her mouth. She thanked the goddesses that it had just missed her eye. Her two large captors dragged her through the corridors of Hyrule Castle. The signs of the battle that had raged for hours were everywhere she looked. Bodies of slain Hyrulians lay in the hall along with the bodies of the soldiers of Kamau the warlord. Furniture had been smashed and in some cases burned while there were clear signs of looting.

The hordes had come upon them by surprise at dawn and she and Impa had rallied what fighters they could inside the castle. A heaviness descended upon her and caused her heart to sink at the thought of Impa. Her guardian since she was a child had died while they had attempted to escape and Zelda had received her wound when she killed the culprit who had slain Impa.

Her now bloodstained hands were bound behind her back with a rope that bit cruelly into her smooth skin. They had been waiting for her when she had left the bolt hole and even though she had fought them with the borrowed sword, they had captured her with relative ease.

She hung her head as the heaviness of her heart grew worse, only to be shoved forward by the rough hands of her captors, 'I've failed Hyrule,' She blinked back unwanted tears, 'I've failed Link.'

Her champion had helped her to reach the bolt hole after he found her standing in shock over the man she'd slain and had remained behind to foil any pursuit. She had argued with him until he'd told her she'd be of more use to Hyrule than he and she still regretted leaving his side. As her captors had brought her into the castle, Her violet eyes had scanned the faces of the dead to see if he lay among them, but she had not found him.

The foul stench of rotten food and strong herbs was blasted into her face by one of the rough soldiers who held her arm, "Enjoying the scenery, wench?"

She drew herself up straighter and glared at him with cold eyes, but did not deign to give him a response. He just chuckled as him and the other man hauled her forward with hands that were made of pure muscle. They at last brought her to the red door that had once led to her throne room and one of the men jerked it open. She found herself propelled inside and if she could have, she would have halted at the sight that greeted her eyes.

Five soldiers held Link on the ground at the foot of the steps that led up to the throne as the hulking figure of Kamau sneered down at his vain struggles. The gold and silver that had adorned the room were gone and many of the fine tapestries had been ripped down. As she was dragged forward, Her eyes locked on Kamau and felt the heat of her anger begin to well up inside of her. His large rotund body was clothed in a blood-red robe that billowed about his body. His fat neck and arms were adorned with golden bracelets while worn at his side was a large war axe. His black eyes locked on her as she was dragged to within a few feet of him and an ugly sneer spread across his face. He tossed one of his oily braids back over his shoulder as he looked her up and down, "A bit on the skinny side for my taste."

She clenched her teeth together as she glared at him.

He laughed at her, "No great words of wisdom, Princess? The reports about your quick wits must have been an . . . exaggeration." He leaned forward, "But then I like dumb ones."

She drew herself up and gathered all the dignity that she could about her like a cloak, "What a pity then for you. The swine who are below your intelligence must make for disgusting company after awhile."

He chuckled and he glanced down at Link, "Consider whom I've captured before you unleash your tongue, wench."

Link surged against the men who held him, but they kept him on the ground, "Ignore him, Zelda! Do what's best for Hyrule!"

Kamau glanced at Link, "Kick that dog to shut it up."

As one of the men raced to obey, Zelda fought against her captors, "Leave him be! He's done nothing!"

The warlord looked at her with expressionless eyes, "Nothing? This man killed six of my men and wounded three more before we could subdue him. Do you consider that offense nothing?"

"This man has more courage than your cowardly spirit ever will!"

He wagged a finger at her, "There you go again with your tongue," His gaze drifted away from her off to one side of the throne he sat on, "Now how can I get you to hold it still . . . ?"

She followed his gaze and felt a chill run down her spine that froze her muscles. A large man bearing an enormous axe stepped forward and stood over Link as he lay on the ground. Kamau glanced at her with an evil grin, "Princess, meet my right-hand man."

She recoiled from the sight as the man hefted the gleaming axe.

"Perhaps the Lady would care for a demonstration on how sharp you keep your axe, My friend?" Kamau's gaze drifted down to Link.

Zelda looked back at Link and felt the blood drain from her face at the sight of two of his captors stretching his left arm out, "NO . . . !"

The warlord examined one of the jewels on one of his many rings, "My spies reported that your champion happened to be left-handed." His eyes flickered over to her, "I wonder if that is true . . . "

She fought against the men who held her with all of her strength, "Leave him out of this! He's only one of my servants!"

Kamau raised an eyebrow at her, "Only?" He shook his head at her and made a tsking noise, "No . . . I believe he's a bit more than that to you."

Zelda froze as she felt her heart begin to pound inside her chest like a mallet.

"Come, Princess . . . If anything, my spies are thorough," He looked her in the eyes, "If you'll give into my demands, perhaps I'll spare his meager life."

She let her gaze fall on Link and saw a defiant look in his eyes. He surged once more against his captors, "Hyrule needs You! Not me!"

"I grow impatient, princess . . . "

She stared at Link as the sound of her thudding heart filled her ears and felt herself tremble at the thought of allowing Link to die.

Kamau's voice jerked her away from her thoughts, "Cut off his arm!"

"WHAT! NO . . . !"

The axe was a blur as it descended down toward Link's outstretched arm and Zelda surged against her guards hands. The sickening crunch and the screams from Link and Zelda filled the air along with the smell of fresh blood. She stared at the axe that had cut off Link's arm just above the elbow and felt salty tears sting as they trickled down her wounded cheek, "LINK . . . !"

Her champion had not screamed, but his face was twisted up in pain as tears streamed down his cheeks. She glared up at Kamau and shrank back at the calculating look upon his face, "Stretch him out so that my friend has a clear path to his neck."

"NO! What are your demands!"

His eyes met hers, "Give up your right to rule Hyrule and kneel before me."

She stared at him with wide eyes and heard Link's pain fill whisper, "Don't do it!"

She glanced at Link and then back at Kamau as her mind raced, "One favor! It's all I ask if I do this!"

"Let me hear it and I'll consider it . . . perhaps."

She bit her lip and glanced again at Link, then back at the Warlord, "Allow Link and me to be taken to the border of Hyrule!"

Kamau leaned back in the throne and gazed up at the ceiling with a distant gaze, "The border of Hyrule . . . ?" He stroked his chin a moment as if considering it before his gaze drifted back to her anxious face, "Which one?"

"Any!"

Something about his grin caused her to shudder as though some slimy creature had crawled down her back, "Very well, Princess," His gaze traveled to Link, "Though I would be quick to kneel as my friend's axe sometimes slips . . . "

She felt her lower lip tremble as she sank to her knees and allowed her head to slump to her chest, "As a Princess of Hyrule,"

She paused and swallowed hard as she tried to force the words from her throat.

"Cut off his– "

Her head jerked up and she spoke quickly, "I, Zelda, Give up my right to rule to Kamau the warlord of Daivat." She felt tears begin to trickle down her cheeks, 'Forgive me, Goddesses . . . '

Silence lingered in the air for a moment just before coarse laughter exploded from Kamau. The nasty grin that adorned his fleshy face made her heart sink in her chest like a heavy weight in water. His eyes never left her face as he spoke as if he wanted to enjoy every minute of what he said to her, "Give this fool some potion and then take them to the border where the haunted wasteland borders Hyrule!"

Zelda's eyes widened as she lunged forward only to be hauled back by her captors, "NO! We'll perish out there!"

His cold eyes met hers, "Exactly."