Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda.
Not much to say. Another Fic.
For You Summer. And to Gamesplayers. Who requested.
Dark as usual.
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The night was young and it smelled of rain.
He sniffed and wished it not. The water would surely rust his armor. And the war, well. It would be much harder to be won. His troops weren't as used to water as they were to heat and snow. Water made them clumsy and move more stiffly in battle. How he told the blacksmith countless times to make his own armor to wear. But no, it was unheard of. What soldier knew the ways of proper equipment.
He sighed and shifted his weight on the tree stump.
This was the easiest part of the night he figured. All he had to do was keep all these damn men alive. Get them back to those wives and sweethearts, those kids and lives. But they should already know, war is their life. It doesn't leave much room for anything else. But it was all he had. It was all he was ever really good at. Killing, taking, saving. He was a one man army always on the move, always serving.
He rummaged through armor. The pipe fell into his hand. The package of tobacco next.
He fixed his addiction and light it up. The flame flickered in the night. He puffed slowly, and release the sweet smoke into the air. The rings faded away and he watched with the utmost intensity.
Soon the enemy would be here. A angry brocade of a nearing kingdom. Feuding over trade and money. He scoffed. He had thought the job as a soldier was over. But returning to a childhood where you had grown up faster then everyone else was difficult. No one understood where you had come from, and what you had been through. He hated sharing war stories with other Kokiri. The Princess had promised that everyone would forget what happened. But they were there, asking what it was like in awe.
Not taking any mercy, he fed them the gruesome details and earned himself a frightening title. Getting older was even more hard, though he would never admit. He already knew what it was like to older, what it was like to have the body he once had. But he couldn't go to town and get a job. Impossible. The Hero Of Time, a blacksmith apprentice? A baker's helper? Inconceivable.
Though at the time, the idea of shuffling bread the rest of his life, seemed calming.
But no when he was back to seventeen, he was going to be a soldier. He didn't even have to work up to his rank. The Queen Zelda herself bestowed him the entire army, wishing him a good reign.
He tsked and drew in more smoke. He puffed away with ease. He needed this calming.
So at seventeen, with no money and no place to stay with his Kokiri, it was the only way. The only way he ever knew.
So more war was made. Sometimes he thought, that battles went on and on so he could get the job done and instill fear in people. As if these problems were created so he would have a use. He was seen as ruthless and merciless. The soldiers of Hyrule weren't the nicest people in the world. It was the night guards and the regular guards that laughed and talked with people, who would play chess and checkers with strangers and have a good time. Men who already served and then some, waiting on a pension, those men who guarded with skill and still as dangerous as they were when they were younger. It was those men who bought homeless people food and gave coins to younger children. It was these men who knew greeted young women and snapped on boys with curt comments. It was those men who shook their heads and tsked, saying "What a nice boy too," If that boy had mentioned for signing up for the First Infantry Unit. The army had it's way for delivering bad news.
But these soldiers, the ones He commanded, were huff and dishonorable. They were big and mean as children and now, they are bigger and meaner as soldiers. These men even following his every word, cut their eyes and challenge him. In the beginning it used to strike him deep. It would cause affliction in him, he couldn't understand how men would act like this. Men fighting for a cause. But these men fought for sport, often taking enemy prisoners and pinning then against one another, or rather letting them fight for food and water. They cheered and shouted vulgarity. They didn't held respect to their own commanding officer. They scoffed, "He's a whelp, a boy" , and disregarded him plenty. After a few broken noses and one broken collarbone, they saw to his way.
He was almost done with his pipe. The sweet smoke filled his nose and made him lightheaded. Thunder cracked.
Rain.
Commanding was the least of his problems. Here he was, a man of twenty-five, fighting this war. He was the youngest, he was the less built then the other men. He was tall, but not as nearly as tall as the other men. He was smart and he had a heart, though over the years…it hardened. The man everyone once knew was no longer a gentle spirit. He was a monster, a frightening monster who ripped through men and held a tight fist over his commanding post. His eyes were cold and blue, almost grey. Dull and glazed with thin steel. His eyes were fearful and often had men shaking. He was everything they made him to be. He was…
"Sir Link!"
He sighed at the sound of his name.
One of his many men, Duane, came running up to him.
"Sir, the enemy approaches. The night watch predicts but a few minutes before they attacked." The boy looked excited.
"Link!"
His second in command, Redford. He was tightening his armor and placing his battle axes on his back. The hardly used blade on his side was made from a Goron blacksmith, who had a fairy bless it. His reward for fishing a Goron relative out of a pond after he sunk straight down. Redford was the most proud and kind man he had ever met. He was big, nearly seven foot five, with short hair and a trimmed beard. His right eye had a long scar over it from an old battle. He could only see with his left, though it never showed. The man fought like he had eyes all over.
"We go into battle my boy!" He bellowed. His deep voice was rich with laughter. "If we destroy them, we can go home finally!"
"Home?" Duane was in shock. They had been away at war for five years. "Home?"
Link nodded then, tossed the remains of the pipe he smoked, and listen to Redford chatter.
"Siri doesn't have a lot of men to keep fighting. We out number them vastly. This is sure to be a quick finish to these years." Redford nodded. "Ay' good man! We will be home to our wives. I haven't warmed my bed in so long. My wife had my son about three years back. Be good to see my boy." Redford smirked.
"Three?" Duane thought hard. "When had you time to make a son?"
He laughed from his belly, hearty and mischievous.
"Picking up supplies, don't you recall lad? Stopped to see my wife." Redford laughed more. "Didn't even make it to the bed."
Link smirked as Duane blushed. He was a young boy at heart, he got into this regime at fifteen based on his archery skills. He led the other boys at holding the battle with arrows.
Lighting flashed the sky.
"Our armor." Duane remarked.
"Ah, ain't so bad. You got yaself' a sweetie to get back to?" Redford asked.
"Uh, No sir. I don't. But I'm liking to see my mother. And see how my younger siblings turned out."
"Let that be motivation then. Let's do this quickly! So that me and my wife could surely make it to the bed this time."
Redford slapped Duane's back hard, making the poor boy jumped.
Link stood then, unclasping his armor and letting it fall to the ground. He leaned to the side and picked up his resting shield and sword.
"Redford, ready the men. Duane to your post." Link walked ahead of them as Redford nodded in agreement. Duane headed in the opposite direction, stopped and ran to where Link was standing.
"Sir. I have a request." Duane said then.
"Be brief." Link said scanning the men. Everyone was scurrying. Beyond the camp, he could see hundreds of lighted torches. The opposing army was here and closing in.
"I wish to fight." He stood tall and proud.
"Then to your post."
"With the other men."
Link considered the boy's option. He was stable with a blade and had a certain quickness to him. But all his training was improving his archery skills. He hadn't witnessed the boy's sword fighting in years.
"No, to your post." Link said then.
"But sir! I can manage!" Duane exclaimed.
Link walked from him and headed to the battlefield. His men were all adjusting the last of straps and some were even taking armor off. The impending rain was not a secret.
"Sir!" Duane shouted. Link stopped in his tracks.
"And if you fall in battle? Are you such a hero to be in haste to die?"
Duane remained silent.
"Your place is with the other archers. Now stop holding my war." Link was cold then. Not in the mood for stalling.
"Sir! We are ready to attack!" A soldier cried.
"Ready the arrows!" Link cried out. A raindrop fell on the bridge of his nose.
Redford was at his side then, holding his axe in his hand.
"One more then eh boy?"
Redford was the only man who ever called him boy. He was the only man who didn't fear him. Link considered him a best friend, the countless battles where he had helped him command. He nodded.
"One more. See you at the end, old man."
"Old man? I'm thirty eight you brat!"
Duane was still standing dumbly, looking stubborn.
"Sir I wish to fight." He repeated.
Link didn't hesitate. He swiftly brought a fist up and tapped his nose. It cracked instantly. Duane fell to the ground, blood splattering. The sky lit up once again and the rain fell , drizzling. The water hung on his face and dripped the blood down to his body. Duane touched his nose and stared in complete horror to what his commander did.
"I gave you an order soldier." He said coldly.
"Sir! My nose…"
Link grabbed him, stood him up and snapped it back in place. He stared his cold blues eyes. Duane whimpered lightly and blinked hard. His breath was ragged and hard. "Now move."
Duane hurried back to his post. Redford nodded at Link.
"Now men, we win this and we go home, we lose this and we stay another five, ten years. Of course if your still alive after this." A roar of laughter erupted. Redford continued. "Granted, I want to see my wife naked again." More chuckles. "Fight hard, fight valiantly. Goddesses bless the Queen and Hyrule!"
"GODDESSES BLESS THE QUEEN AND HYRULE!" they shouted back.
"WITH FAITH AND COURAGE!" Redford Boomed.
"WITH FAITH AND COURAGE!"
Link shouted for everyone to remain where they were and looked out to the enemy. They were only a few hundreds yards away and ready to kill. The rain was coming down hard at this point. Link's vision blurred and he blinked. His body was becoming more drenched and he was glad he had left that metal plate. Fighting in only his tunic made him think back to the old days, that other life he had led.
"Archers ready!" He shouted.
"You are the Chosen One. You will rise above and destroy evil."
He raised his hand.
Hundreds of arrows sliced through the sky and fell onto the enemy's ranks. A considerable amount of men fell under the arrows. On top a horse, The leading commander looked across the field and stared straight at Link. His armor was heavy looking and big. The man was a very large one and he cut his eyes at Link. His gaze was pure hate, and he shouted a command and his men came charging toward the Hylian army.
"FORWARD!" Link yelled.
The men charged the army. Link jumped on top of a man and severed his head. The next man he cut his arm off and stabbed him in his eye. Link paused watching as Redford swung his axe in a circle, cutting at least ten men in half.
"DIE HYLIAN SCUM!"
Link was already ahead of him, he sliced his sword through th air and the man instantly fell. The sounds of blades were clashing everywhere. He looked across the battle and watching as the man who stared at him, cut through his men like grass. He was so in ease killing his men. Link killed more and more of his men, in getting closer to him.
The commander saw this and worked his way to Link also. Redford was shouting something at Link, but he pay him no attention as his sword came down on the commander's.
"Hylian bastard!" The man cried.
"Sirian trash!" Link shot back.
The commander pushed Link back and drew his blade up, Link blocked the blow and moved the to the side, punching the man.
Redford was still shouting. The rain beat down hard on Link's back, his clothes stuck to him, the blood and rainwater mixing, running down his face. He blinked hard and breathed steadily.
His enemy, gasped and groined. Throwing a kick and jumping into a stance.
Link caught the kick and swung is sword to cut his side. The commander shouted a vulgar word that Link didn't understand. He attacked with precision for Link's throat. He stepped out the way and clashed swards again. The commander drew his blade up and cut Link's arm.
Link jumped back, and held his sword ready. They began to circle each other, the man laughing at the dripping wound. Link charged and knocked the him down.
Link drew his sword up to finish the deed, when he spotted a certain boy swinging a sword around. They locked eyes for a second. Duane in his pause shrugged and headed toward the next foe.
Insolent boy, He thought.
In his thought, the man below took his opportunity and went for Link's side.
Link staggered back. It wasn't a deep cut and it was only his side, not hitting any vital organs, but damn. It hurt fiercely.
Duane was at his side then.
"Sir, you are wounded!"
Link not caring at the moment shoved him hard into the ground and charged the commander once more. Link this time dodged a blow and leapt, his sword in hand and steadying himself for a quick moment on the man's shoulders, buried his blade into the man's neck. Link twisted the blade and they fell. Blood was everywhere. Link rose and stared at the dying commander. The rain came down harder and lighting cracked across the velvet sky.
He turned and looked at Duane, covered in blood and looking as dangerous and frightening as ever.
"You disobeyed a direct order."
"I…I…had to…"
Link didn't care.
He took a small dagger from his leggings and threw it at Duane. It hit the man behind him in the eye. He screamed and then fell to the ground. The blood seeped out and the man stopped twitching.
Duane looked as if he were about cry.
"Your still green." He said sharply.
As soon as Link shouted that, a cheer went up. Hylian soldiers were cheering, holding up helmets and bloody swords. The Sirians were retreating back, leaving their dead. Redford stood by his side then. A grim look on his face.
"So easy?" Link responded and dropped his own blade back into it's sheath. This couldn't be it.
"Clearly. I don't trust it either. But the men grow silly. They are wanting to go home." Redford stroked his beard.
"What shall we do?" Duane asked in a small voice. The boy had never been on the soil with dead bodies decorating it. He gasped and fell to his knees, vomiting on top a dead man.
"The honorable thing. We shall bury the dead. Mark the grave with the weapons left in their hands." Link looked to see Duane still gasping and vomiting.
"He's never seen a dead men like this. Five years and we kept him from it Link." Redford said. "He's still just a lad."
"I am but five years his senior." Link responded.
"Tis' true. But war has seen more lifetimes then you boy." Redford turned then and shouted to the excited soldiers.
"Keep your guard! Don't be foolish!"
"But, they had ran away!" It was from Thomas. "Any man with eyes in his head can see it is over."
The cheer went up around them.
"You dare question an order?" Redford stood tall.
Thomas grumbled his respect and backed down. The men began picking up dead bodies, and making them into a pile.
The rain was still coming down as strong and hard as ever, Link's golden hair was slicked back on his face. As soon as he got back, he thought, he would cut his hair shorter. It had grown much over the years and being at war, there wasn't much for grooming. His short beard was product of him not caring any longer. It was difficult to shave with only a jagged dagger at hand.
Duane staggered to his feet. "My apologizes for disobeying you sir."
Link scoffed. "No importance. It's over."
"When do we move out sir?"
"As soon as the dead are buried and the rain stops. We should be on the move back to Hyrule in two days time. And you all need some rest."
Duane nodded and smiled a toothy grin. He was a lanky boy, these five years hadn't changed that fact. His curly black hair was matted and wet, hanging in his eyes. His face was still innocent. He could have never cut it as a soldier. That sort of job was for someone who could cut his emotions down to a single notion. Kill or be killed.
Still, it gnawed him in the back of his mind. The Sirians were a crafty people. They lack in strength but made up in strategy. He just didn't trust it to be that simple.
Not at all.
"LINK!"
He felt it before he saw it. The pain started in his arm and spread to his entire body. He clenched his teeth and looked at the arrow in his left arm. Better the left then the right, his good arm. Link shut his eyes for a brief second and took hold of the arrow. He counted to three, took a deep breath and pulled it out clean. It didn't rip anymore skin then usual, due to much practice. Jumping up and taking his sword from it's sheath, he looked up to an array of arrows coming down.
"TAKE COVER!" He yelled to the running soldiers.
Link ran, arrows falling all around him. He took cover behind a tree. Ripping the bottom of his black tunic, he tied the strip tightly around his arm. The pain didn't even bother him anymore.
The sound of countless arrows hitting the ground made him jump. He cursed himself for such a weakness and wiped his wet brow. Looking out into he distance he saw a massive line of troops, swords ready, rain bouncing off their armor. All of which were singing the hymn of the Siri. He cursed loudly and looked around. All of the Hylians were reverting into a strategy well known to then. He named it after a childhood game he had played. Hide and seek.
It was all about hiding, waiting, and striking at the perfect moment. Link looked up and saw blue arrows flashing into the sky. The archers were retaliating. Link breathed in deep and ran from behind his cover.
"READY YOURSELF!" He bellowed and charged forward.
Redford's command echoed throughout the entire valley.
Link charged once again and jumped on top a nearing soldier. Decapitating him quickly and going for the next.
He spotted Redford throwing his battle axes in a boomerang style, killing a group of surrounding men.
Link clashed swords with a Sirian, kicked him back, and dug his sword into his neck. He was merciless, his style quick, and he was once again covered in blood.
The thunder and lighting cracked and the rain came down in waterfalls.
But the battle wasn't quite over.
Just then a loud screeching noise was heard. Link stopped in his tracks and looked up to many Sirians with ropes in hand. The ropes led to a huge creature with red eyes and a snout. The creature had long tusks and big sharp teeth. His body clad in a cloth around his waist and huge red spinning eyes. His skin was black and slick with rain. The creature growled and snarled.
"A MONSTER!" Someone shouted.
"FREE THE WEAPON!"
At that point the Sirians let go of the ropes and the monster went free. He ran and took many soldiers, both Hylian and Sirian under his feet. His banged his huge fists and screamed from the bowels of his body. Link stared at him with cold hard eyes. He heard someone step up to him.
"That's a nasty!"
It was Redford, the rain washing most of the blood away.
Link nodded and shouted for everyone to stay away from it.
Link drew his gleaming sword and squinted his eyes as the creature grabbed one of his men, open his mouth, and crushed his body in between his ready teeth.
"Ready?" Link said.
"Stay close boy." Redford jogged and then started running towards the beast. He jumped then and sent an axe into the monster's shin. The monster in turn tried to slap him away. Redford dodged and buried another axe into his knee. The monster let out a shriek to freeze blood and slammed a huge fist down taking out the surrounding soldiers.
"LINK!"
He ran forward gaining speed and jumped right on top of the monster. He wobbled but gain a steady ground. The monster shook and screamed with anger, clawing at his back and head to get Link off. Link jumped and dodged from side to side and cut the monster's ear off. The monster growled in pain and began to run wilding around, trying t shake Link off.
Link slipped from his back and held onto a tusk. His sword fell on the ground. Link clenched his teeth hanging on tightly to the tusk. His jumped and wrapped around. The Monster, grabbed Link from behind.
"LINK!"
It was Redford shouting. The monster growled in Link's face, blowing his hot breath into his cheeks. Link struggling as the monster tightened his hold around him. He let out an angry cry.
"LINK"
Duane jumped on the monster's back and stabbed him in the eye. The monster reeled back in pain and let Link go. He landed on his feet and without hesitation grabbed the blade resting on Redford's side.
"GO BOY GO!" Redford yelled.
The monster with his bleeding eye shook Duane off of his back. In one swift motion he picked Duane up and him against a near tree.
"DUANE!" The soldiers cried.
Link ran up to the monster stabbed his foot repeatedly. The monster growled and looked at his feet only to be stabbed in his eye. As his huge body was hunched over, Link jumped on top and sent the final blow in his neck. Twisting the blade.
The monster fell down dead. Blood pouring from it. The other Sirians seeing that the "weapon" destroyed, truly edged away and retreated from the valley. The battle was done and won.
Link breathing hard dropped his sword down. He wiped his wet hair back and ran to where all the soldiers had gathered. They were all standing in a circle under and giant willow tree. The branches were dipped low and covering them from the hard rain.
"Make way!" He shouted.
The men parted a way and Link rushed forward.
To his sight, he saw Redford holding Duane, a tree branch lodged in his stomach. Duane was coughing up blood everywhere.
"Link, he won't…" Redford said taking notice of Link.
"Go get him some herbs and fresh bandages!" He shouted. "Make sure no enemy enters here!"
Duane coughed up more blood. "I'm gonna…die…"
Redford shook his head. "Your doing just fine. Don't talk."
"Link…don't lie…" He sputtered more blood. "Tell my mama… I love her…"
"Do not talk. Help is coming." Link leaned more into him.
"I'm cold… so cold…"
"Redford…leave us." Link said. He nodded and placed Duane into Link's arms.
"You fought well. Your mother and all of Hyrule would be proud."
Tears leaked from his eyes and he nodded slowly. With a final gasp he held tightly on to Link's arm.
"I'm afraid." He spoke.
Link said nothing but held on.
And he died. The boy who lacked muscle and skill passed beyond a world Link could not understand. His face was wet and silent with tears, his body limp and cold. His hands had relaxed and let go of Link. The earth was soft and moist, Link sent him let him down and blinked hard. He felt something. His mind was bothering him. This boy dying was bothering him.
"He's passed?"
Redford loomed above him, with bandages and glass bottles.
Link nodded.
The battle had been won, but inside him he felt a looming feeling.
As if, A new battle had just started.
"Redford, we will bring him back to Hyrule and bury him, with the rest of our dead. We leave for Hyrule tonight."
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Malon shot up from her resting state in panic.
Her heart was racing and sweat poured down her face in little rivers. She was breathing hard and grasped her blankets tightly.
"A dream," She whispered to herself. "Just another dream."
She tried to control her breathing and listening to the rain outside. It was still a long way from morning, she hardly woke in this time of night. She brought her knees up to her chest, her red hair spilling. The white nightgown she wore was damp from her sweat and she shivered.
Malon couldn't recall the latest events in her dream. It was something always different, something always terrifying to her. But one thing was certain her dreams as of late were concerning one person. A man whom she hadn't laid eye on in six years.
"Link," She whispered against the whiteness of her nightgown. "Where are you now?"
She closed her eyes and hoped for a prayer.
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YAY!
ANOTHER FIC FOR MEEEEEEEE!
Thank you for reading! Im trying this out as a request, please read and review!
Purplelizard.
Ugly will be up shortly and so will another chap of Moonlight in His Hair!