The prospect of sitting for an hour made Link rather uncomfortable, so he was grateful when a few more people made their way in. They were all hylian, no one of the three newcomers were any of the other species. Two were female, both talking to each other while glancing around the room. As time went on, Damien walked over to the other male and started a conversation about, from Link heard, battle skills. As ten minutes passed, Midna walked back down and smiled at him. "Zelda said that she's hopeful for all of you, and that she's proud to have more people eager to join the knights guild."
Looking up at the ledge where Zelda was, Link noted that she was now at the railing, watching the people waiting. Her royal guard's uniform with the circlet gave her the look of someone who was tactical and skilled in battle. He'd heard stories that she had learned to fight with sword, shield, and bow, and joined the royal guard even as the princess that they were trained to protect.
Fifty minutes left. Great. Glancing back at Midna, he could see that she still was looking at Zelda. Sighing, he looked around at the other to-be knights and considered talking to some of them. The two girls had ended their conversation, and he considered talking to one of them, but considered waiting a bit longer. Damien was deep in conversation with the other guy, so they were out of the question. Might as well let ten more minutes pass.
He let the hour pass, instead.
Queen Zelda cleared her throat, getting everyone's attention, and smiled down at all of them, waiting as they all stopped what they were doing to line up and look up at her. "Welcome, my friends. I really am glad to see that more people are willing to join the knight's guild. All five of you will train together, after proving that you can get through the training. Before I go over what that is, I'd like to mention that there is, in fact, a chance that you will die during your training. I'm sure you all know that I am Queen Zelda, and this time, I will accompany all of you during your training.
"Right now, though, I wish to test your fighting prowess."
The two members of the royal guard at her side both walked down the stairs and stopped in front of the now official trainees. "Please, follow us."
Walking away after the royal guards with the future knights following, Link managed to see more of the castle as he followed the others. The architecture amazed him, and he imagined what it would've been like to help build such a place. It must've been an honor to help in the castle's construction. Everything, from the bricks to the intricate carvings must have taken ages to put together to create this. He almost ran into the trainee in front of him who had stopped.
One of the royal guard members had turned around, and Link focused on what he was saying. "I know that you are aware that there are three types of fighting styles for knights, all classified by what kind of weapon they use. The both of us are going to test what kind of weapon you can use, and your ability with that weapon. We're heading to the guard's chamber so that you may choose the weapon you've chosen."
He turned back around and walked off again with the other royal guard. Link followed with the others, making sure to pay more attention to where they were going. Walking down the road closer to the entrance, they suddenly took a left turn and walked down stairs into the castle and entered the guard's chamber. The upper portion and the bit connected with stairs were filled with weapons and targets of all sorts. The lower was beds and tables.
Link was lined up with the others, and the female royal guard pointed to the one on the far left, one of the women. "What is your name? You may tell me as you choose your weapon."
The girl, raven-haired with blue eyes nodded and looked around the room, walking over and picking out a soldier's sword. "Right. I'm Rowan... where are the sheilds? I'm only seeing the claymores and swords."
"Then head up the stairs. Spears and shields are up there. Take one of the soldier's sheilds, those are mostly used for training rather than actual fighting in the field."
Rowan nodded, and swiftly made the way up the stairs, picking one of the sheilds, testing its weight and adjusting to it during the few minutes she had before the royal guards called her back down. Gripping the spear in both hands, she sauntered calmly down and stood in front of the two royal guards. The male guard nodded, and walked over, gripping a sword, but not picked up a shield. "Whenever a new knight is tested, we test their skills by using the same weapon. It helps us see how you can do when faced with someone of similar skill. The two of us are naturally talented at all weapons, with the addition of the bow, so we're good sparring partners."
Hefting up the spear, the royal guard paused for a moment. "I forgot. I'm Mark, and this is Sara. I'll begin when you do."
Rowan took a deep breath and lunged at Mark, the spear straight out in front of her, aimed at the guard's chest. Mark jumped to the side and swung the spear horizontally at Rowan, slowing a few inches before it hit her, but she ducked under it. As she regained her footing, she thrusted the spear at the guard, who jumped out of the way.
The fighting went on for only a little while longer, Mark eventually tapping Rowan on the shoulder, announcing himself as the winner and commending her skills. Sara patted her on the back and told her to wait in the other portion of the room and watched her head down the stairs. Link shifted his feet. Those two were not to be underestimated while he fought one. They called up the other male hylian, next to Damien, whose name was Everen. He picked up a spear, and Sara sparred with him. Their fight was shorter than Rowan's, Everen's movements were noticeably out of impulse, and Sara poked him in the side, winning.
"Not bad, but your impulse is taking over your movements. We'll have to smooth that out, but it can be used as an advantage if you know what you're doing. You next!"
Damien walked up, saying his name, and pulled over a soldier's claymore while Mark got his ready, and they began sparring. It lasted the longest so far, and Damien wasn't kidding about his skills. He lost in the long run but was congratulated by both the guards and the trainees.
"You next, what's your name?"
"Oh- I'm Link." He glanced around and picked up a sword, and found a good sword, and stood in front of Sara when done, ready to practice. He jumped into action, swinging at her side, but she moved the shield to stop it. He blocked her attack and strafed to the side, looking for a better angle. Lunging at her, his sword banged against her shield, and he managed to fend her off. Sparks flew as they fought, and Link found that he was a match for the royal guard.
They fought fiercely, the blows becoming rougher as time went on. Link faltered after a bit, and Sara managed to get him on the leg, her strike too rough and drawing blood. "Sorry, sorry! That was amazing, though! Just put the weapons away and sit with the others."
Placing the weapons away, Link watched the last fight, a tall woman named Jan using a spear. She was skilled as well, but she could use some work. Once finished putting away the weapons, Mark and Sara gathered up the trainees. "We're going to be the two keeping tabs on your training, and tomorrow we'll talk to you about how the training will go. You can all sleep here."
The two of them left, leaving the five trainees to look around the room. Most of them gravitated towards a bed and set down in silence. Link glanced at each of the beds and took one near a corner. Silence reigned uncomfortably for until Rowan spoke. "So, you think Zelda's gonna come with us on our training?"
Damien shrugged. "She said she would. Why do you think she will? That's rare. It's an honor, really."
"Do you think it's about the murder attempts?" Link looked around at everyone. "I mean, they've been following her around. I guess she'd be safer traveling around with us."
Everen shifted in a way that could be considered nervous. "D'you think the traps are set by the same person that killed her parents? A thief?"
"How do we know it's a thief? Anyone could have taken a part of their cloaks and planted it after killing them and the guards," Jan muttered, barely audible.
Link visibly flinched at the mention for the two guards, his parents. Everyone saw the pain in his eyes but made no comment. Five years since they died. Those five years helped fix the mess between the thieves and knights, and settled the kingdom, but some people were still broken. Many, and not just the thief's, still harbored a hate against the young queen, even after she voiced her stinging regret for her brash actions.
He himself had gone through those five years learning how to cope without his parents. In his little village, another young man lost his parents, a pair of thieves, and coped with it rather well, focusing even more on his studies to become a merchant. Link recalled that his name was Ravio. Perhaps he'd see him when they take a visit to the merchant's guild during their training. Damien's voice broke into his thoughts. "Well, it's kinda late, and I don't care if we eat anytime soon, because I'm going to sleep. Don t wake me until tomorrow."
With that, he curled up on his bed, and the rest of the trainees all glanced at each other. They decided to resign to silence and ultimately leave each other alone. Link hadn't eaten since that bread he had eaten about two hours later than his normal lunch hour, but he deducted that they'd eat before leaving, and soon fell asleep.
Woken up by being shaken, Link grunted and pushed away the hands of the person that was shaking him. "Yeah, yeah, I'm up, quit it." Rolling over and openign his eyes, he saw Midna smirking down at him, her orange hair tied back in a ponytail. "Hey, sleepyhead. We're going to get going in an hour, and Zelda wishes that I come with you guys instead of those two royal guards. I told you we're friends."
Link smiled drowsily and climbed out of the bed, noticing that everyone else had already left. "Yeah, I figured that when you just walked right up to her. Did I miss breakfast?"
"Yeah. I stole a boiled egg for you, though. Just, eat it in here while you get ready. The chest at the foot of your bed should have the Zora armor she wants you to wear. It's green for you, I hope that's ok, the Queen chose colors she believed would fit you all. What do you think of learning to use a spear? Once we get to Zora's Domain, you'll be allowed to decide who gets the night and day shift, and you'll also get a few spear-using lessons from Mipha herself. She's nice. Anyways, I'll meet you at the gate!" With that, the mage turned and left the room.
Link stumbled over to the chest and pulled the leaf-colored armor out, running a finger against the smooth, waterproof looking fabric. Putting the armor on and feeling the silver parts protecting his shoulders, Link returned his casual clothing to his bag and left the room quickly, eating the egg on the way down the path. The trees lining the stone path provided some shade against the sun. Just as Midna had said, everyone else was waiting in their own colored Zora armor, and the Queen in her usual royal guard's uniform, the royal set of weapons strapped to her back. "Nice of you to join us, Link," Zelda said, amusement twinkling in her eyes. "You should all get your steeds, and we shall provide horses if you came by foot. Meet me by the town entrance by noon."
They all nodded, and Link rushed through the town to find Maddox. The man taking care of him nodded and asked whether the young man was nervous to become a knight, to which Link nodded, joking that he was worried that he'd be the worst. They both laughed, and he settled into Maddox's saddle, nudging the horse over to the town's entrance. Damien was gently petting the snout of his new bluish-gray horse, murmuring quietly. Zelda was waiting on a majestic white stallion and smiled when he came over.
The others returned soon after, Damien apparently being the only one who needed a new horse. "So, we'll be heading to Zora's Domain, so we'll have to leave our horses at a stable before heading down the main pathway to the domain. Before that, we'll be going through the marshes, so be careful of any lizalfos, though you'll be given your weapons in just a bit, once Midna comes back."
A few minutes passed, and Midna ran over, a bunch of knight's weapons in her arms and on her back, panting. "Y-you could've help! These are heavy! Whatever, just take these."
Link reached down and pulled a shield and sword away from her, the woman looking up and smiling gratefully at him. The shield was heavier than it looked, and he just hooked it onto his back, and studied the sword. It was longer than the soldier's ones and would work better in a fight. Hooking it between his shield and back he watched everyone else looking over and placing their weapons on their backs.
Midna nodded to Zelda once everyone had finished. "I'll just walk, unless I could ride with someone. Zelda?"
The queen laughed quietly and made space so that the mage could be settled on the horse with her. "We'll get going, now, then. Just, follow the path, and we might as well leave our horses before the marsh to keep them safe from lizalfos. There's a stable near the marsh, so you can just leave them there."
With that, she started off, the other future knights following after her, eager to properly begin their training.