Chapter 7
Parade
"Alright Zelda dear, you're all set!" The seamstress said and Zelda looked in the mirror. Her gown was pure white with a blue strip on the bottom of the gown. Her top contained a small mini part of the dress that was pink and embedded with gold armor and a gold necklace. The pink fabric traveled down the front of her dress until it reached her knees. The bottom contained the triforce and a gold line around the outer part which the seamstress said would match the dress beautifully. Finally Impa gave her gold armor cuffs that had the triforce crescent on it.
"Zelda!" Someone shouted as Zelda and Rusl were getting on the gold carriage they were going to stand in as thousands of people cheered for them. Zelda turned and saw Zefa running at her. "Take this, sister!" Zefa handed her the tiara her mother used to wear when Zelda was a little girl. It was gold with a single blue stone in the middle and wrapped around her head like vines shooting designs that made Zelda think was the most beautiful tiara in the world.
"I can't Zefa…"
"No you have to!" Zefa said and crossed her arms. Zelda laughed and took the tiara from her sister.
"Princess you forgot your cloak!" Impa said and put on the white matching cloak on Zelda. The horses neighed as the Hyrule anthem played and the carriages in front of them started moving slowly out of the castle into the roaring crowds of people. When Zelda's carriage moved out the crowds went insane as they waved Ordon flags and cheered on their names.
"What's going on?" Zelda whispered to Rusl.
"Turn around and see for yourself." Rusl laughed back. Zelda turned and saw that behind her the carriage sparkled and gleamed the triforce symbol with the six symbols of the medallions around it. Her dress was lighting up gold from the triforce and made her look like a pure goddess.
"Zelda! Zelda! Zelda!" The crowd chanted.
"That damn Impa did this." Zelda laughed and raised her hands, waving at the people. The carriages turned through the city as almost millions of people were trampling each other to see the Ordon tributes look like beauties of nature as the triforce shined down on them. Once they reached the edge of the forest where the games were taking place they stopped in front of a smaller castle than Hyrule where Cole was standing on the balcony above.
"Welcome to the games, tributes and my look at all the outfits you all are wearing!" Cole said happily as the crowds behind them cheered. "Now before we allow you to enter there are rules you must listen to carefully. Each tribute is allowed to bring in one weapon to carry into the arena. Other weapons will be provided by the river front. Magicians… you cannot bring in extra boasts to help you gain power in your spells. Also, you may create truces with anyone but remember only five can survive so choose wisely."
"If you are not a sorcerer you cannot bring in magical objects. Objects will be checked before entering the arena. Once you enter the arena it's fair game but if we see any cannibalism you will be killed immediately." Lilith added to Cole's rules. Cole looked at her like she was crazy. "I'm pretty sure we all won't eat each other."
"It's precaution. They do it at the Gerudo Games all the time. Food is scarce here unless if your trainers bought food with the money sponsors gave you." Lilith replied before looking out at the crowds that were standing there listening. The gates to the castle opened and tributes walked in by kingdoms to separate rooms. Zelda walked into a small room with one single window and sitting in a chair was tiny Zefa wearing a dress matching Zelda's and Impa standing next to her holding a pile of clothes.
"Alright here are your clothes that Ralph picked out. He said both tributes have to match so we decided gold and black since those are your colors." Impa said handing the clothes to Zelda. Zelda looked at them before putting them on. Her shirt had gold sleeves and the lower half was gold as well while the rest was black. Her pants were black and her boots too were black as well with gold lacings. Zelda sat in the chair while Impa braided her hair and she looked out the window seeing the crowds cheer as the families of the tributes were gathering in line to get seats to watch their own sons and daughters die within minutes. Many were crying while others were waving flags or holding looks of anger as Lilith was explaining the process of how this was going to work. From what Cole said, the three Gerudo witches Lilith brought with, created a special spell that would allow small stages where families could sit or stand on that would float over the arena so they could have the best view possible. To the families it was the best to see they're kids fight to the death but to others… it was pure torture. Zelda knew about thirty tributes judging by the scores they received and how they trained in the arena that they wouldn't last an hour in the blood bath.
"Ten minutes everyone!" Someone shouted from down the hallway.
"Ready?" Impa asked. Zelda nodded as she quickly tucked the medallions into her pocket.
"Zelda wait!" Zefa said and took out a silver chain and grabbed the light medallion from Zelda's pocket. She slipped the chain through a small hole at the top of the medallion and handed it back to her.
"Wear it around your neck for good luck." Zefa whispered. Zelda smiled meekly and put it on before throwing on the gold armor cuffs and her tiara. I'm either dying with this on or becoming a hero and make this a valuable symbol of myself.
"They say you were Zelda the Princess of Hope. Mama said she was really proud of you to do so well during training and that you were the most beautiful tribute in the parade." Zefa said grabbing Zelda's hand as they walked down the hallway to a silver stoned room with nothing on the walls or floors but ahead was a golden door.
"Zelda from Ordon." Impa said to the guard.
"Your room is straight back. No one else besides tributes and trainers are allowed from this point on."
"No please let her stay. She's her little sister." Impa said as the guard looked down and stared at Zefa. A small smile crept up on his face as he opened the door and let her in. They opened the door all the way in the back and saw Rusl and Ralph standing there before two wooden podiums with green tree branches attached to them as they moved up into two separate holes in the ceiling.
"We're right underneath the arena where you're going to fight." Ralph said handing Rusl a sword.
"I'll protect you." Zelda promised Rusl.
"No Princess… I'll protect you. Cole gave you a job and we need you to live." Rusl said quickly.
"Two minutes!" The same voice said in the hall. Rusl stood on the podium and it burst into life as it started moving him up.
"Good luck!" Ralph said waving at him. Someone knocked on the door and Russell walked in carrying something wrapped in paper.
"Aren't you supposed to be with Bryce?" Ralph asked before leaving them and walking out of the room.
"He already left. I'm glad you didn't leave yet. This is for you." Russell said handing Zelda what was in his hands.
"What?! You can't just give her a weapon!" Impa said.
"Impa! You don't understand! This is something my own tribute turned down because he knows this is for Zelda."
"Alright Link you got this right?" Ralph asked him as Link threw on a black cloak over his face. Ralph handed him his own sword. "I've been using that sword for years… bring it back okay?"
"I promise." Link said stepping on the platform.
"Wait!" Ralph said taking something out of his pocket. He tossed it to Link and grinned.
"Sixty seconds!"
"I love you sister." Zefa said hugging Zelda. Zelda let her go and unwrapped the package. She pulled out a sword with a purple handle with the triforce crest on it.
"The master sword?" Zelda asked.
"Only the greatest of heroes can use it. Bryce said you have a better chance of using it." Russell said.
"Twenty seconds!"
Zelda stepped on the platform and it slowly raised up.
"ZELDA!" Zefa screamed.
"Do not die you hear?!" Impa shouted over Zefa's screams.
10…
Zelda was blinded by light as the platform took her up to the forest. Around her other tributes were standing on the platforms searching for their first kill victims. Zelda saw Rusl standing next to her his hood over his face.
9…
Zelda looked over and saw Bryce. He looked over at her and pointed towards the forest and nodded.
8…
Next to Bryce was the boy with the red symbols under his eyes. He was looking forward his head bent.
7…
6…
Thump th thump th thump
5…
"Link… Zefa… Mom… Dad… Ilia… Impa… Ralph… Cole… Be brave."
4…
"Be brave… Be brave…" The medallion on her neck felt like a brush, a hand touching her heart… comfort… a Goddess touch
3…
She pulled up her hood and drew out her sword clutching it in her left hand.
2…
Be brave…
1…
Thump th th th thump th th th thump thump thump thump thump
