Zelda led the way, Link following right behind. Maddox seemed to be slightly daunted by the queen's white stallion. The other behind him were talking quietly, but Link had his mind on the attempted assassinations against Zelda. Every time they had happened, news of the event travelled quickly, and Link knew about each one. They had started up about a year ago, on the fifth anniversary of the start of the knight guild's war against the thief guild and were all indirect. There was never any evidence, and Zelda nearly died each time. The most probable suspect could have been literally everyone, with the leads the royal guard had. The thief's guild wasn't even the largest suspect, since the scholar's guild had reacted the most violently to the attack.
Link himself had been following the case rather closely and was glad to now be set on a path to help him guard Zelda. Since Midna was riding on the same horse as Zelda, the queen already had someone presently making sure she'd be safe, considering that the mage had equipped a flamespear she had mentioned when she and Link had first met.
So far, the day had been slow. His new Zora armor was comfy and fit rather well. His new weapons didn't weigh as much as he had first thought, and the young man was grateful of that. Reaching into his pack clipped to his belt, he pulled out an endura carrot and leaned over, reaching out and feeding Maddox the carrot. His horse slowed down slightly but fell back into pace with the others.
When their journey to Zora's Domain had started, Zelda told them that they'd stop at the Wetland Stable for the night and leave their horses there before going through the Lanaryu Wetlands. They would have to keep an eye out for lizalfos and be careful on the deserted lizal camp. They'd be safe once on the first zora bridge.
Link could see the ranch in the distance. He'd only been there once and regretted not visiting again. It was run by three girls, all sisters. The older was Malon, Cremia was the middle, and they both took care of their little sister Romani. While he was there, they let Link meet some of the horses, and they let him keep Maddox after seeing that the horse seemed to like him. It had been a year, and the young knight wondered if they'd stop there.
"Sleeping with your eyes open?"
Midna's voice made him blink in surprise, and Link smiled sheepishly. The mage and glanced over her shoulder at them, and Link assumed he'd been staring into space. "We're making good time and should be at the stable in time to collect some herbs or meat to make something to eat. When we pass the stable, we'll stop for a bit and eat some food we had prepared last night."
Link watched the grass sway in the wind while they continued along the path. The sky was mostly clear, a few fluffy looking clouds drifting near the sun. Sighing, he let his mind wander once more, eventually thinking about food.
Zelda watched the new knights argue about how to split the premade fish and meat plate, trying not to laugh as everyone threw in ideas on how to split it seven ways while Midna just had her head in her hands while Damien seemed to shimmer with anger at everyone's bickering. The stable was in view for them, and she was quietly wished that they'd finish up quickly, so they could keep moving.
The thoughts and memories of the attacks had kept her on edge for weeks since it started, and she found it hard to feel safe. Midna was the only person she could presently feel safe around, but the mage often had to return to her own guild, and when her friend was absent, that was when Zelda's life was in the most danger. Nearly every time she'd been attacked by the mystery assassin, it had been when Midna was not there. Now, with the other knights, she felt a little safer. The five of them intrigued her, and she believed they all had much potential.
They eventually split the food up, and Zelda watched the clouds moving slowly across the sky as she ate. Being queen of Hyrule was fairly stressful, but with five years of experience so far, she felt that she was doing better. With the help of some of her advisors and even Midna, being queen was becoming easier. She was only twenty-six though and felt still too young to rule the kingdom.
Cleaning off her plate once done, she waited until everyone was back on their horses before continuing on. "We only have a little more to go until the stable, as you can see, we'll be spending the night there, and leaving our horses before heading through the marshes, on foot."
For the time until they reached the stable, the only noise was the hooves of their horses on the ground. The large horse head statue on top of every stable made then visible from many meters away. Dismounting and leading her horse to the woman taking care of all of the steeds, Zelda glanced around at the knights. Damien, Everen, and Jan were all watching her, and Zelda could only deduce that they had never been at a stable, while on the contrary, Rowan and Link led their horses over with Zelda, obviously familiar with how stables worked. Link's brown and black horse's wary glances at Zelda's white horse.
She walked into the stable, glancing around at each bed, and paid the stable owner for each of the seven of them without a word. No one really talked to each other while Zelda set up her own bed. Once done with flattening out the blankets, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Link, his helmet taken off. "I-I just want to talk to you really quick. At the table. Is that ok?"
"Yeah, sure, just give me a moment."
Link sat down at the table on the other side of the stable, visible waiting a little anxiously. Once finished, Zelda sauntered over and sat across from him. Link instantly launched into conversation. "Look, I'm sorry, I don t want to invade on your private life or seem sorta disrespectful or anything, but how are you doing with all of this murder attempt crap all around you? I mean I bet it's really stressful, trying to keep an eye out for traps at all times-"
"Yes, yes, don't worry. It is hard, but I've gotten used to it. Beside the point, you're the first of the knights to openly show concern for my dealing with constant attacks. Link, right? It'd be nice to talk to you about it more. I have the feeling that I can trust you."
Link smiled sheepishly. "Should one of us stay up all night to keep watch? Or do you feel safe enough? Anything you need, your Highness?"
Sighing, Zelda blinked slowly and smiled gently. "It' not necessary. I'm assuming you've never stayed up real late at a stable, because one of them always stays up a whole night. I'll be fine, thanks."
Not waiting too long for a response, she stood up and walked over to her bed. Might as well take off some of the outer layers of her outfit, everyone else seemed to just take off the more uncomfortable parts. She settled under the blanket, but didn t relax instantly, she kept her eyes on the entrances to the stable. The dark sky was visible above the green hills, the stars twinkling ever so slightly. The cold pit of fear in her stomach eventually, as time wore on, warmed up and turned to a feeling of secureness, and with the feeling, came sleep.
She never noticed the dark shape on the distance, watching.
The morning came, and Zelda found herself waking up first. Slipping out of bed, she pulled on the rest of her uniform, and drowsily glanced around. Talking with the stable owner, the queen learned that it was currently six in the morning. They can sleep in for thirty minutes, Zelda thought to herself while checking around the stable for food. Finding a free stash of apples, Midna had woken up by the time she had set up breakfast. The mage sat next to her and was the first to try the buttered apples and approved of the way Zelda made them.
The other knights woke up before six-thirty, although it took a fair bit of shaking to wake Link up. The young trainee yawned and stumbled over to the others, and they all had a silent breakfast. The morning was quiet, and Maddox eyed the buttered apples, and neighed at Link. "No, no, you wouldn't like it, Maddox." He let out a low chuckled when the horse whinnied again, quieter.
Collecting their weapons and gear, everyone got set to continue to Zora's Domain on foot. Link had only met one Zora before, and he didn't even talk to them. He'd seen the blue-scaled fish person traveling with a Rito one day, and they both stopped in his town's inn for a night. Link had head that they were seeing the world together, just two friends deciding to spend time together. He wondered if he'd ever get to travel Hyrule with his own friends. Not that he currently had too many of those, Zelda and Midna seemed to enjoy him, and Damien would be considered his friend.
Zelda took the lead of the group, while Midna took the back, and Link fell into line next to Damien, he and the black-clad knight trainee behind the queen. He and Damien quietly conversed as they walked. "You ever been to the wetlands, Damien? I mean, you've come from Lurelin, but I'm not sure if you've really been here."
"Yeah, I've never been here, hell, I've been advised to never come here, providing that a bunch of lizalfos and even a hinox make their homes here. I've even heard rumors of a wizzrobe prancing around some of the ruins. Do you think we'll have to fight off some of those buggers?"
Link shrugged. "I mean, I'm pretty sure that Midna and Zelda can hold their own, but I'd definitely want to help. There really haven't been too many monsters around, though..."
He let his gaze drift off, lingering around Zelda's feet. When was the last attack against her? There could be another one soon. He turned back to Damien. "I'll keep an eye out for any traps intended for Zelda, you could help, too." His dark-haired friend nodded and glanced around. Link felt a bit tense as he watched Zelda step onto the log bridges between islands. Her step caused the logs to shake, and he watched multiple pebbles fall easily into the shallow water.
His sapphire colored eyes trailed further up the logs, where they shook less- wait. He squinted, and instantly recognized the yellow-green arrow. What was a shock arrow doing so close to the water? If it were to fall in, the dome of electricity reached to at least two meters, shocking and efficiently frying anything in its area of effect. The log it was on, if it shook, the arrow would fall in, thus killing-
Link whispered his findings in Damien's ear, and his heart seemed to skip a beat when Zelda reached that part of the bridge.
"M-My queen! Look out!"
Link lunged forward, catching her by surprise and tackling her to the far island, the shock arrow falling into the water and shocking the bottom of his left foot. The group shouted in surprise and Link awkwardly got off of Zelda, who swiftly got to her feet, staring at the arrow that nearly caused her death. Midna pushed a few of the trainees aside, running to the shocked queen's side. "Zelda! Are you ok? I- Link! I must thank you for saving her..."
Zelda turned to face him, nodding. "Y-yes, thank you, Link. It's a good thing you spotted that, or else..." She trailed off, hugging herself for a moment before regaining her composure. "And I thought I'd be safe. At least Zora's Domain should be safer, whoever is doing this rarely attacks in a way that hurts others."
Link nodded stiffly and glanced further down the path. "Should we keep going?" Everyone nodded soberly, and they continued on their way, Midna remaining at Zelda's side even though the queen insisted that she was fine. The marshes were tame, not lizalfos seemed to notice, and if they had, perhaps the number of people with weaponry may have had intimidated them not to go near. They crossed the deserted lizal camp carefully and stopped at the first Zora bridge. The beautiful blue crossing point captivated Link, and they all stood in front of it for a while.
Maybe Zora's Domain would be safer, with more guards and people. His training would be interesting, considering that Zelda seemed to take an interest in him.
