A Cause worth killing for

A/N: I've decided to try and upload about once a week in order to try and get some structure up. This is probably the first time I write a story with the entire plot made up in my head beforehand. Feel's good, man. Also, for everyone's information, even though this takes place in the Twilight Princess universe the plot of the game is very much unrelated to this fanfics.

Disclaimer: I do not own LoZ, nor do I own its characters. Those are property of Nintendo.

Chapter 1: Welcome to the Jungle

Nothing Link had previously seen or heard had prepared him for what faced him within the walls of Castle Town. The journey to the Town had been pleasant. He had taken his time, since the weather was warm. Leading Epona along the main road across Hyrule Field in a slow trot, Link was amazed by the size of the field. The journey took a few days, but Link decided not to rush. Not putting stress on Epona felt like a sensible idea. However when Link arrived at the southern gate, in the late morning, feeling the energy from all the people that flooded in and out of the city, sensing the steady heartbeat of a massive town, people milling around on their daily business felt almost overwhelming. And yet, as Link pushed through the crowd into the city streets he felt strangely alive. Alive, like he had never been before.

"Almost like coming home", he murmured to himself, "to a place where I've never been."

Walking up to a guard, patrolling the street, his armor and chain mail giving him some trouble bearing the early summer heat.

"Excuse me, sir", Link tried catching the guard's attention. The guard turned his head towards Link, sweat dripping slowly down his face.

"How may I be of service to you?" The guard asked in a troubled voice.

"Do you know if there is any inn in this part of town?" Link inquired.

"Yes, there is the 'Twilight Tavern' further down this street." The guard pointed towards the left street. He gained a bit of curiosity in his eyes as he took a closer look on Link. "What is your name, young man?"

"My name is Link, messenger from the Ordon province. I come bearing a gift to the royal family." The guard raised his eyebrows.

"Oh. My name is Bren, Captain of the southern Castle Town Guard." He had a slightly puzzled look on his face. "Link, I have a strange sensation about you. I have a feeling that you will be… very important somehow. More important than anyone realizes."

Now it was Link's turn to raise his eyebrows. "Thanks… I guess. Well then, farewell Mr. Bren. I hope we meet again."

"As do I, messenger of the Ordon province. I hope you will enjoy your stay in Castle Town."

Link could feel the guard's eyes lingering on him as he walked into the crowd.

"I wonder what he meant by that… Whatever, let's get a room and a meal." Link thought as he handed Epona's reins to a stable boy and entered the inn.

The inn was brightly lit on the inside. It was warm, not hot, and the smell of oak-wood lingered in the house. While the houses closer to the center of town were built out of white stone, the houses in the rural areas had to resort to wooden houses. Link felt more at home in wooden houses and the Twilight Tavern was no exception. Link walked up to the young woman standing behind the counter. She had dark hair, hanging over her left shoulder and her eyes were a dark shade of green. She wore a thin, dress.

"Welcome to the Twilight Tavern, swordsman, ooh aren't we a handsome one?" Link quickly realized her attempt to seduce him. He let out a big sigh; he was not in the mood today.

"Can I please just have a room for tonight?" He asked, slightly irritated.

"You could stay in mine for free." Her eyes turned hungry and her hand tried to grab his. Link could almost feel his face turning into stone.

"No… I want… a… room." He was surprised at how cold his voice had turned. The girl looked severely disappointed.

"Can I at least know your name?" She turned on the puppy eyes and her mouth started developing scaring similarities to that of a duck.

"My name is Link. Are you happy now?" She shot him a sly smile.

"Yes, Link. Now which room do you want?"

-TWANSITION-

After getting a room and a decent meal Link changed into the green garments given to him by Bo and decided that it was time to head to the castle and get his errand sorted out. Finding the route to the castle was not difficult, as it was in the middle of the city. Link was rather depressed to see how everything about the city became so much cleaner for every step he took towards the center. He hadn't seen much yet, but he could almost feel the atrocities that were committed in the darker alleys. Seeing the glamour and wealth that resided behind the shining, stone buildings around the central square felt like being laughed in the face.

"Hmm", Link mused, "It's ironic that I become so depressed from being in the capital. Strangely it still feels like home, somehow."

As Link approached the gates to Hyrule Castle a guard gestured with his hand for him to halt.

"Who are you, who seeks to venture through the halls of Hyrule Castle? And for what reason do you wish to do so?" The guard's voice bellowed and Link was a little bit annoyed by the guard's overdone manner of speaking.

"My name is Link, messenger of the Ordon province, and I come bearing a great gift to the Royal Family!" Link bellowed back to the guard.

"Step up to the gate and show us this gift!" The guard replied. Link stepped up to the gate and he was met by another guard. After a brief inspection of the sword Link carried on his back the guard gave up a nod of approval.

"Let the Messenger of the Ordon Province through the gate!" As the gates opened Link instantly felt relieved that this shouting-ordeal was over.

Beyond the gates there was a large courtyard, with the large complex that was the actual castle only about 20 yards away. The entrance to the castle was guarded by two soldiers in plate mail.

"Greetings, Messenger of the Ordon province." The guard to the left stated, thankfully there was no shouting this time.

"I'll never get used to these rituals." Link thought. He gave the guards a slight bow and proceeded past them, into the castle.

The first room Link walked into was apparently the Royal greeting room, a place for them to receive guests of any kind. The King of Hyrule sat upon something in between a comfortable chair and a throne. There was a desk with a mass of papers in front of him. King Harkanian was in every bit royal. His graying hair and beard indicated his age and wisdom, the scars visible in his face, mute evidence of combat experience. But first and foremost he had an incredibly commanding presence. This was a man that knew all about how to rule a kingdom. Almost by instinct, Link dropped to his knee.

"The messenger of the Ordon province…" Harkanian said slowly as his brown eyes pierced Link's entire being, analyzing every thought, every intention. After what seemed like an eternity the King spoke again.

"You are unfortunately rather early", His voice was calm, almost kind, "We didn't anticipate your arrival until tomorrow. You will unfortunately have to wait until tomorrow. We could arrange quarters for you in the castle".

"A generous offer, my King, but I have a room on the Twilight Tavern. I will be back tomorrow morning with the gift." Harkanian considered this for a moment.

"Very well, I shall expect your return. You may now leave." Link bowed once again and was about to turn around when a side door was opened and a young woman walked into the room.

"Ah, my dear daughter, Zelda!" The king exclaimed. I don't believe you two have met before. Zelda turned to face Link and their eyes met. Link felt like someone had twisted a knife into his stomach. She was so breathtaking. Her hair was only slightly darker than his own. Her skin was pale, and Link thought he had never seen anything look so soft before. He mentally bashed himself for letting his eyes linger at places where they shouldn't have been and struggled to regain his composure. It felt like they had been looking at each other forever, when it really had just been a few moments.

"No, my liege, I do not believe we've met before." Link's voice had gotten very thick and he had to clear his throat. "My name is Link." The recently mentioned Link then felt his face slowly turning red.

"My name is Zelda", Said the princess with a gracious bow of her head.

"Hi". Just as the word went out of Link's mouth he, once again, proceeded to commit mental suicide.

"Really? The most intellectual thing you could ever think of saying is 'Hi'?"

"So I should really be going back to the tavern now." And with that Link turned around, almost inappropriately quick and headed back through the castle garden back into town.

"Never, EVER, have I felt so damn stupid!"

- ANOTHER TWANSITION –

Link was sitting at a table in the bar section of Twilight Tavern. Strangely, his awkward encounter with the princess had dispelled all traces of the gloom he had felt earlier that day. Link was lost in thoughts when a company of four men sat down at his table.

"Do you mind if we sit here, it's kind of full everywhere", Asked one of them.

"No, I don't mind at all." Link answered, although he was a bit annoyed that he had lost his train of thought.

"So, boys", said the same man, "Any news of Soltun's whereabouts?"

"He was seen in the shadier blocks yesterday, selling a poor woman to the Shinzu-mob", said another man.

"That scum will never learn. Dealing with the Shinzu is dealing with your own safety", said a third man.

"Word says that Soltun killed the woman's husband, and threatened to sell her daughter in her place. He never was a kind man", said the second man as they were all served a pint of ale. They started drinking.

"I wish we could've ended him before he got this far", said the first man, "being a Shinzu-dog is no way to lead a life."

Link had listened to their words and the words felt like clubs whacking at his ribs.

"Why? Why must the weak suffer so?" Link thought. He felt more and more saddened by the second. He called a waitress.

"I'll have some pints as well". The first man turned to him.

"It's a good thing we have good ale, 'because it's mostly downhill in these parts of the city. Drinking is something to numb the pain."

"Why?" Link asked, not aiming his question to anyone in particular, "Why is it like this?"

"To put it plain and simple", the second man said as he took a large swag of his ale, "It's because the guards can't be everywhere. There's no one protecting the weak in the less fortunate parts of the city. Sad, but not a lot anyone can do about it." Link's ale came in and he started drinking. He poured it down his throat, hoping it would quench the fire that had been ignited. To help him forget that out there in the dark night, there were plenty of people suffering.

A/N: So there you all go. Even though the whole sad night at the tavern may seem just tragic and pointless, trust me, it will be relevant later on. I realize now that this story might be a slow burner so bear with me, people.