Yeah yeah I know that I said awhile back that I was cancelling the Knil stories. But then I thought what the hell. So after a much needed hiatus, I present to you the next chapter of "Rangers of the Great Sea." Read and Review! I don't own Nintendo or Zelda, otherwise this would have been a videogame already!
Chapter 4: A Grim Situation
Link stood stock still. He didn't have a chance to count all the bows, but he was sure they totaled over 20. If Link made a move to his bow, or even his sword, he'd be dead before it was halfway out of the sheath.
Then one of the cloaked men stepped forward, "What brings you to this place?"
"I am seeking refuge. I am in a situ…."
'We know of why, Hero of Winds. The question is, what are you doing HERE?"
Link cast his eyes down, "I don't know. I can't say much, but if I may, I would like to speak to your leader."
Two of them turned away to talk quickly, before coming to an agreement.
"Blindfold him!"
The men grabbed Link and did just that. He was then led off to wherever they were taking him. Link calculated they walked about 4 miles before they reached there destination. He heard a few words spoken and the sound of a door opening. He stumbled inside, and his blindfold was ripped off. He looked up and saw several dozen pairs of eyes staring right at him.
'Not good.'
Link was immediately brought to the Council of the Rangers, where he was constantly being questioned about his past and most recent events regarding his exile. Link relayed the story as much as possible, but it was starting to seem like most of the Council was ready to make a final decision. He remained mute, as was due to his special talent, and listened to the Council debate. Most believed that he should be executed, because of the order of exile that was placed upon him. Others thought about giving Link a choice of whether to face his judgment now, or release him back to his exile. Most of the Council was warming up to the idea, now Link was turning over in his mind how to respond the inevitable choice he was about to be given. Before long, Link was forced to report to the main floor.
One ranger stood up and Link guessed he must have been a headmaster of some sort. "Link, former Hero of Winds, the Council of Rangers has debated much on your dilemma. You have two choices that stand before you, to either resume your exile and never return here, or to face the royal judgment that was rightfully placed upon you. I, Joseph, Headmaster of the Ranger Corps of the Royal Family, have spoken. Choose."
'So I was right about the whole headmaster thing,' Link thought.
Link thought back to one night that he was on Windfall. How he wanted to continue his duty of protecting the Great Sea, but to do it incognito. With the constant threat of his impending doom hanging over his head, Link decided it was worth a try.
'Besides, not like there will be a difference in between my other two options.'
Link raised his head to the Council Headmaster and said, "I propose a third option, I wish to join your ranks." The council was in a bloody uproar. Link wasn't sure if he heard this much yelling before, even at the market on Windfall. Joseph just pinched the bridge of his nose and waved Link away. Two guards grabbed Link and led him away to a dungeon like room while the Council once again deliberated on this new turn of events.
In the dungeon room…
Link just sat on the cot in deep thought. The simple fact that the Council did not force him to choose from the original two options led Link to a small glimmer of hope that his idea might just be accepted. Of course the chance that they deny it was equally as high. Sometime later, his cell door opened to reveal Joseph. He walked in and the door shut behind him, he then took a seat across from Link.
"What has made you want to consider joining the Rangers Link?"
"(Sigh.) Even though my title of hero has been stripped from me, I still feel duty bound to watch over and protect the Great Sea. One night I looked in the library on Windfall and found an article on the Ranger Corps of the Royal Family. I read how you guys were like the 'silent guardians.' Of course, I assumed the Corps didn't survive the great flood. When I accidentally stumbled upon you guys, I thought I had found my answer."
"An answer to what exactly?" Joseph asked.
Link replied, "To protect and watch over everyone and not be exposed as a murderer."
Joseph remained silent for a moment to contemplate what to do next. He could let this young man with good intentions join the Corps, or have him executed per what his duty called for. Then and idea struck him.
"I might be able to do this."
Link looked up confused. "What do you mean?"
Joseph answered, "I can let you join the Corps as someone under a different name, while officially, you left the island to continue wandering the seas, hiding from justice."
Link immediately agreed, and the two shook hands.
"Welcome the Ranger Corps of the Royal Family, Knil."
And that's the end of it. Not the literal story but this chapter. All I can say is it's good to be back. I needed that nice long break. And since summer is almost out most of you won't be on for awhile. So peace out and have a good school year! I'll make sure to update soon!