I like being able to know what's in my characters' heads. That's one of the fun parts of being an author and making characters, yes?
3
Around Town. The Shining Sword. First Battle.
Link woke up around the crack of dawn, like he normally did. He immediately got up from the bed. Light was coming in from a window that he hadn't noticed last night when he had been shown into the room. He went to his things on the table and pulled a wooden comb from his supplies. He ran it through his golden hair, though it wasn't really unruly. Afterwards, he took off his nightgown and put on his clothes, strapping on his sword before heading to the door. He opened it and stepped into the hall, where Ashlyn was waiting.
''About time,'' she commented. He could see that she was joking, judging by the smile.
''Good morning,'' he greeted.
''You too. Let's go eat.''
They walked down the hall, coming to the cluttered main room. They bypassed the maze and entered the room they had eaten in before.
''Hey, good morning, Link!'' Risbon greeted warmly.
''Good morning,'' he replied.
He sat down next Risbon. Ashlyn sat across from him. Glurak sat next to him, Lux sitting next to Glurak. They started eating breakfast, Ashlyn wolfing hers down like she had at dinner before.
There was another young male sitting next to Ashlyn. He had tan, sandy hair and brown eyes. He was wearing brown robes that went about two inches below the knees with some armor. An axe and a sword were strapped to his back.
''Link, that's Tancred. He is both a mage and a swordsman, although he uses that axe too,'' Risbon explained.
''He uses earth magic,'' Ashlyn said, food forgotten for a moment.
''Hello,'' Tancred said.
''Nice to meet you,'' Link said politely. There was someone missing from the table. He had noticed it immediately but now he decided to point it out. ''Where's Yost?'' he asked. Ashlyn was sitting where Yost had sat last evening.
''Out about in town,'' everyone else replied.
''Oh.''
Ashlyn finished her food, followed by Tancred, Risbon, Link, Glurak and then Lux.
After they had all finished breakfast and cleaned their teeth, Lux and Glurak went into the magic room. Tancred went into another room that Link had not been in yet. Risbon, Link and Ashlyn stood in the cluttered main room.
''Ashlyn, would you take Link out around town? Consider it an assignment,'' Risbon requested.
''Sure thing,'' she replied. She gestured to Link. ''Come on. Going out in town is an adventure.''
He followed her to the door, which she pulled open. They both stepped out of the Amalgam and onto the street.
''I know Risbon will come as well. Wait for it...'' Ashlyn said.
Before the door even shut, Risbon came out.
''Hey, I'm coming too! It's more fun with more poeple!'' he said cheerfully.
Ashlyn gave a knowing smirk to Link. The three of them started walking through the streets of the area. When they came to a certain street, almost near the city gate, Risbon stopped them.
''There's a place I want to show you, Link,'' he said. He pointed to a building, clearly a tavern. The sign read ''The Shining Sword''.
''A tavern?'' Link asked incredulously. That was a place he would not likely go into.
''Not just any tavern. It's a place with Resistance sympathizers. Almost another base of ours,'' Ashlyn explained.
''Ah.''
They crossed the street and entered. The place was pretty tame, considering the stories Link had heard about barfights and other outrageous things. Some people were sitting at various tables while others were at the bar counter. A staircase in the back led up to the second floor.
As soon as they came in, the woman behind the bar counter waved at Risbon. ''Hey, Risbon! Welcome back!'' she called.
Link and Ashlyn followed Risbon to the counter. The bartender had pretty teal colored hair and dark blue eyes. She was wearing a plain tan dress with an apron tied around her waist. She was in her twenties, probably about Risbon's age.
''Link, this is Telea,'' Risbon said.
''Good to meet you. So you're a new Resistance recruit? Excellent. Hyrule needs more people willing to stand up,'' the woman said.
''Nice to meet you as well,'' Link replied. Even though he had just met Telea, he found himself liking her and trusting her instantly. She had a sort of charisma about her. And she was affliated with the Resistance.
''So, when did you meet him?'' Telea asked Risbon.
''Yesterday. I was fighting some soldiers and he was there. Just came from his village on a trip. I told him about the Princess and how corrupt she became. I asked him if he wanted to take a stand and join and here he is,'' Risbon replied.
''You're showing him around town, I see,'' she commented.
''Yeah. It should be a fun experience,'' Ashlyn said.
''And of course we just had to come in here.'' Risbon gestured around the room, indicating the entire building.
Telea smiled. She turned to Link. ''I support the Resistance in secret. My tavern can be a safe house. If you're ever in a pinch or being chased by soldiers, you can come here. Remember that.''
''Sure,'' said Link.
''Come on, let's go to the main square,'' Risbon said.
They went to the door, waving to Telea in farewell. ''Be careful!'' she called to them before they left.
Outside on the street, Risbon grinned. ''See, Link? We have support even from those who are not actually in the Resistance itself. And we have many safe houses. If we pass any, I'll point them out.''
They came to the main street of the city and went up it until they came to a large center square. To the north were the grand houses of upperclass people and further north was the large form of Hyrule Castle itself.
''This is the central square, also called the city square. It is, of course, the exact center of Castle Town.'' Risbon then lowered his voice and said quietly, ''It's also where the soldiers execute those of us taking up arms against the Princess...'' He pointed to a gallows scaffold in the center of the square.
''They call us traitors. But they carry out the Princess's cruelty. We believe in serving the Royal Family, but not when things like this happen,'' Ashlyn said, a bit of anger tinging her voice.
''...My family has served the Royal Family since the kingdom started, centuries ago... I feel strange going against it. But I can not allow this to go on, either,'' Link admitted.
''What, are they soldiers?'' Ashlyn asked. She didn't seem angry, only curious and perhaps a bit sad.
''You could say that,'' Link said, not wanting to go into detail about his family. He didn't want to think about his supposed destiny, either. Or for anyone to know about it and treat him any differently.
''...It's not the soldiers we hate. Most of them are just doing what they're ordered. It's injustice, cruelty and tyranny we hate,'' Ashlyn said.
''Most of us don't really hate the Princess, either,'' Risbon stated.
''We may say we hate her in the heat of anger, but... I still hope that one day, the Princess will wake up one morning and go back to being the way she used to be... People still have that hope,'' Ashlyn said.
''No one really knows what happened. The Princess just changed overnight. There are rumors and theories, of course, but you can't believe everything you hear. Most of it is rather far-fetched,'' Risbon added.
The three of them left the square and headed down the eastern street. As they were walking, Risbon and Ashlyn tensed.
''There's trouble,'' Risbon said, pointing.
A soldier was speaking to a clearly terrified young lady. Two other soldiers were standing by. Risbon moved forward a bit, followed by Ashlyn and Link. They could hear the conversation.
''I-I can't. If you return later, I'll have the money...'' the terrified young woman stammered out.
''Come now, you know that it's time for taxes. Do you really want to cross the Princess?''
''N-no, but... I can't really afford her taxes anymore. She raised them... And why should I pay the tyrant?'' the woman said, a bit bolder, though her voice still shook.
The soldier frowned. ''Oh, dissent? Then you can tell that to the Princess herself.'' He turned to the other two. ''Arrest her.''
The two soldiers grabbed the woman and she screamed.
Risbon drew his sword, along with Ashlyn. Link hesitated briefly and then unsheathed his own sword. They ran forward.
''Rebels. They have someone new with them. A boy,'' the first soldier said to the others.
''Let her go,'' Risbon said to the soldiers.
''I don't think so. She'll be coming with us to the castle. But first we'll deal with you.'' The soldiers released the woman, shoving her away before drawing their swords. One soldier engaged Risbon, one engaged Ashlyn and the third went for Link. He swung his sword at Link, aiming to disarm him, not kill.
Link parried the soldier's swing. He swung his own sword, which the soldier blocked. They exchanged blows for a few minutes, their swords clanging.
After several minutes of fighting, Risbon disarmed his opponent, who cursed. ''Damn!''
Link swung hard, knocking the sword out of the soldier's hand and sending it clattering to the street. He chanced a glance in Ashlyn's direction. She was doing fine, moving agilely. A few moments later, she disarmed her opponent and kicked his sword away from him.
''You traitors will fall eventually,'' the first soldier said. He looked regretfully at Link. ''You've sided with the wrong people, boy.''
The soldiers left. Risbon retrieved their swords from the ground. Ashlyn and Link went up to the woman, who was at the wall.
''Are you all right?'' Link asked.
''Yes.''
Risbon walked over and gave the woman money. ''Here. If they come back demanding money, you'll be prepared.''
''And there's no need to thank us. It's what we do,'' Ashlyn said.
The woman nodded. ''I'm glad there are people who fight against oppression.''
''We'll keep at it,'' Ashlyn stated.
The three of them left after wishing the woman well.
As they walked down a street, Risbon fiddled with the swords they had taken from the soldiers. ''Well, you'll have to be cautious now, Link. The soldiers will know about you.''
''Right...'' Link said, a bit out of it; the adrenaline that had appeared during the fight was fading. He had been in a fight. His first fight. He was glad he hadn't hurt the soldier.
Ashlyn smirked. ''Congratulations, you will probably be on the wanted list.''
Link grimaced. The wanted list. Well, there was no turning back now. And he would never turn back anyway. Not when people were oppressed.
''I should go check on the others back at the Amalgam. Sorry I'm cutting the tour of Castle Town short,'' Risbon said.
''Sure, boss. I'll take it from here,'' Ashlyn replied.
Risbon walked down the street until they could no longer see him. Ashlyn seemed to be thinking of where to go next.
''Hey, do you want to eat? We can go back to the tavern. What do you say?'' Ashlyn asked.
''All right,'' Link replied. It was around the afternoon now and he was getting hungry.
He followed Ashlyn throught the city until they came to the street where Telea's place was. Ashlyn opened the door and they stepped inside. She led him to a table in the back, somewhat hidden from the entrance.
Telea herself came out from behind the counter and walked up to them. ''Having lunch?''
''Yes, and dinner too,'' Ashlyn replied eagerly.
A few minutes later, Ashlyn starting wolfing down a pile of mashed potatoes and a rather large steak. Link himself was eating mashed potatoes and cucco, with manners, instead of wolfing it down.
After they finished eating, Link pulled out his wallet.
''I'll pay,'' Ashlyn said. She took out her money.
''It wouldn't be polite for me to-''
She cut him off. ''Your parents raised you right. But really, I'm no delicate lady. You see me using a sword. What kind of girly girl does that?''
Link shrugged. He had never met a girl who was a warrior until he had met her. Of course, he thought that was fine. There was nothing wrong with a girl who wanted to fight.
''How about we split it?'' Ashlyn suggested.
''All right.''
''Really, since you're Resistance, you don't have to pay,'' Telea said.
''No. It wouldn't be right,'' Ashlyn said. She pulled out two blue rupees. Link did the same. ''And here's extra,'' she added, adding in a red rupee.
''Forty? You don't need to...'' Telea protested, but took it, probably not wanting to argue with Ashlyn.
Ashlyn stood up from her chair, followed by Link. Both of them said goodbye to Telea and went outside to resume their walk around the city.
When they returned to the Amalgam, it around six o'clock. Link opened the door, holding it for Ashlyn. They both stepped into the main room, letting the door shut behind them.
''Welcome back. Did you two eat already?'' Risbon said.
''Uh huh. We went to Telea's place,'' Ashlyn replied.
''Should I be doing something?'' Link asked.
''No. Tomorrow, you can go out on an assignment. But for now, just relax,'' Risbon responded.
''All right.''
Ashlyn started heading towards another door that Link had never entered, near the bedchambers.
''Where are you going?'' Link asked.
''To bathe. Do you want to take a bath?''
Yes, he did. He hadn't had a bath yesterday. ''Sure...''
She opened the door. The large room had a stone floor, where small pools were dug out. Each one was surrounded by mismatched walls like the rest of the building.
''How do you pump the water in here? And heat it?'' Link asked.
''Magic. One of the mages from another safe house did it.'' She went into one of the sections.
Well, magic certainly was useful. He walked into another section and closed the door.
About half an hour later, after they had exited the bathing chamber, they both retired to their rooms. Some of the others had also retired.
''Get some good rest. We're doing something tomorrow, you know,'' Ashlyn said.
''Right. Good night.''
They both went into their rooms. After changing, Link lay down in bed.
Ashlyn had said to sleep well. Will do, he thought before he fell asleep.
I am hoping to make this somewhat realistic. In video games, people rarely have to eat, sleep, change clothes, bathe etc. Not here. This is fantasy, but it needs to be semi realistic. So yes, the characters do eat, sleep, take baths etc.