Chapter 6: Power Imbalance

Ganon immediately wiped the tears from his face.

"How'd you get in here?"

Zelda grinned.

"I'm a smart girl."

Ganon sucked the snot back into his nose. He put on a smile.

"A lot of people are smart. Fine, I'll teach you how to fight."

Zelda did not know what to say after that. She stared at Ganon, waiting for him to say or do anything. He stared back at her. Silence overcame the room.

"Tomorrow," said Ganon. I'll teach you tomorrow. I'm tired, and this still hurts."

Red seeped though the off-white bandages that covered Ganon's right shoulder. Ganon didn't mention the several gashes that lined his arms and chest.

The Next Day

Grey skies covered the entirety of Hyrule. Zelda and Ganon stood facing each other in the courtyard. Kaepora, and two other helmetless knights stood off by the side. Both the other knights wore huge smiles. Kaepora's face expressed no emotional features. Zelda wore a white tunic with pink stockings, that weavers wove for her from last night until now. Ganon stood shirtless. He wore puffy red pants. His shoulder was still bandaged.

"I won't use this arm. I wont need to."

Ganon held a wooden sword in his left hand. Zelda held her's with both hands. At Ganon's remark, Zelda spit on the ground. She had planned out an attack since the night before. Ganon smiled.

"Try to hit me, little girl."

Zelda ran at him. When she got close, Ganon swung down as she had planned. Zelda ran toward the left. She pivoted off of her foot and thrust her sword at Ganon's side. One second he stood in front of her, the other he wasn't. A shadow flew above her. A boot kicked her from behind. Zelda fell face first into the grass.

"Ouch!"

"You move too slow, baby."

"Shut up, idiot!"

She jumped up, swinging her sword behind her as hard as she could. Her blade met Ganon's. Her wooden sword spun out of her hand. It landed on the grass.

Ganon smirked.

"Don't laugh at me."

Zelda moved to where the sword had fallen and picked it up.

"My turn," said Ganon.

Ganon ran at Zelda. She closed her eyes and held up her blade. Ganon's sword hit her's. It hurt, but Zelda was surprised that she managed to hold onto it. Zelda opened her eyes. A recoiling Ganon swung again. Zelda aimed her sword diagonally and blocked. He threw three more slashes. Each blow hurt, but Zelda managed to hold them off. Ganon raised his sword arm far to the right and swung. The blade flew sideways in a devastating arch. Zelda easily ducked it. My chance! Zelda thrust at Ganon. Ganon bent his pelvis to right. The tip of the blade zipped past him. Before Zelda could swing sideways, Ganon gracefully put foot in front of the other, spinning out of the way. He tapped her on the butt with the flat side of his blade.

"Again," he said.

Zelda swung at Ganon. He blocked. He swung at her; she blocked, but barely. The couple went back and forth for nearly an hour. Zelda couldn't land a clean blow. Though every time that she got hit, she felt she could do better. Zelda bent over, and started breathing heavily.

"I need a break, I need some water."

"Not good, but not bad either," said Ganon.

He walked over to the other side of the courtyard, where their water skins lay.

"Those kids can really go at it," said one of the knights.

"It is more surprising that they can have fun while their friend is dying," said Kaepora.

"Sir," said the third knight in agreement."

"Idiots," Zelda whispered to herself.

Ganon got within a few feet of Zelda and tossed her the water skin. She was so tired and slow that the skin slipped between her fingers. She slowly picked it up and drank.

Ganon drank also. They both threw their skins in the same general direction. The two continued to fight for several more hours, taking breaks only to drink water. Zelda saw that Ganon could no longer hold in his smile. He seemed to get more excited the more he fought.

The king came outside and sat on the grass. The knights all joined him. Kaepora stood with a hand rested on his hilt.

"My arms hurt," said Zelda.

"So," replied Ganon.

"No more today."

"Fine," tomorrow then.

Ganon threw his blade far into the sky. The wooden sword spun several times, and then fell like a dagger, piercing the ground. The two went over to the king.

"Daddy, did you see that. I can fight."

"Good job Zelda. You were quite skilled with the sword."

The king turned to Ganon. Zelda spread herself on the grass and closed her eyes.

"And you young man. Thanks again, for saving my daughter. You will become a fine knight."

"Please king," Kaepora cut in. "Don't reward him for acting on his own."

Ganon bowed.

"Thank you my king, and I am sorry for my disobedience, Sir Kaepora."

Ganon walked back into the field to pick up his water skin. He then disappeared. A soldier came running into courtyard. She held a parchment, and an arrow.

"King!" wheezed out the knight, before she bent over to take a few long breaths. "This message is of grave importance. Please come to the council room."

"Say your words, Hena. All here are of loyalty."

The woman opened the parchment.

"I, The Helmaroc King will destroy all of Hyrule's outer crops in two days. I have a twenty league army camped out on the land. Do not even dare to fight. The only alternative to Hyrule loosing it's food for the winter is if your king will pierce himself with this silver arrow. After this is done, deliver his petrified remains to us. If this is done without variation and within one day and a half, we will spare your crops."

Zelda's eyes shot wide open.