Chapter 9, Attack
The high court of Hyrule, solemn and lifeless, awaited the return of the princes and the devils from the west. Ladies dressed in their best chatted in hushed tones with their own kind, while the men stood stone faced towards the entrance. The King sat on his throne, nervously fidgeting and breathing heavily. His thick, soft fingers fumbled clumsily with his flowing beard. He cleared his throat and looked over to his snake-like advisor, a skinny man with a face that was less than pleasant. The advisors eyes narrowed into slits as he nodded to the king. He gestured up to the rafters and scattered among the crowds; disguised but heavily armed, assassins that were ready to put a notch on their blade that symbolized the desert ruler.
"They are all in place, your majesty."
"I want my daughter back, have you made that clear to those mercenaries?"
"Yes, of course sir. They will not strike until your daughter is out of the way of every assassin's blade."
The King only nodded as he stared at the open door.
Ganondorf and his cohorts made a grand entrance through the main door. Their swords and weapons glittered in the dreary sunlight of the hall.
The crowd visibly flinched when they entered, knowing that a dangerous game was starting.
Ganondorf felt the tension immediately, he signaled for them to stop, and he grabbed Zelda's hand gently to keep her from running. Zelda obeyed without question, seeing the sympathy and horror on the faces of the onlookers. She stood, slightly covered by the edge of his cape, almost loyally to the man who had given her an opportunity at the life she so longed for.
Link stepped forward bowing mockingly to the King and knowingly looking the armed men in the eye. "Why the hostility, good sirs? We have not harmed the princess in any way, and we have brought her safely back to your loving arms."
Zelda winced at his obvious sarcasm. The tension made her shift uncomfortably from foot to foot.
"Release my daughter, Ganondorf."
Zelda started to walk forward, thinking that Ganondorf would release her hand, but his hand tightened around her.
"Your manner makes me… hesitant, my liege." he replied, his resonate, powerful voice filling the large stone hall.
"Once I have her in my arms I will finally enact our agreement."
Ganondorf leaned down to her, "If you wish to return to your father without any injuries, you will not fight anything that happens. If you fight even the slightest tug than it will be devastating."
Zelda nodded slightly and pulled her hand free of his. She walked forward slowly and elegantly, giving her father a glare that was full of distaste for the life that she was forced into.
When she reached the halfway point, she felt a slight tug in her gut; she whipped around immediately to see an eager assassin throw a knife directly at Ganondorf. She let out a gasp of disbelief that was quickly muffled by hands dragging her towards her father. She struggled with them slightly, keeping her eyes fixed on the glittering blade as its sharp tip sailed towards Ganondorf's muscular body.
Ganondorf lazily put up a palm towards the knife. It stopped in midair and clattered to the ground. He smiled and laughed loudly. "Did you actually think that would kill me?" he asked in disbelief.
Suddenly, the strum of many bows filled the room as a rain of arrows shot down from the roof, directly towards the group.
Vaati angrily cursed and held up a palm to the arrows, deflecting a few, but failing to stop most of them.
Link stood at the ready, two throwing blades resting lightly in his hands. He eyed the crowd menacingly, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, ready for a fight.
The rain of arrows clattered harmlessly to the ground as Ganondorf deflected the rest that his apprentice missed. He used a single finger and beckoned for Zelda.
The pull from her stomach was so strong that she was lifted up and out of her "rescuers" hands and practically flung into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she squinted her eyes shut against the awestruck glare of the crowd and the gasps and outcries from the hordes of court dwellers.
The King stood up angrily and walked down the few steps to the ground. He commanded that Ganondorf release her instantly.
"Why should I? Your manner clearly shows me that you will not honor our agreement of peace. How can I return your daughter if you do not give my people what is rightfully theirs?"
The King screamed Zelda's name in a fury of anger. She looked up and rotated as much as she could while still hugging Ganondorf. Their eyes met from across the stone room.
"How could you order the death of a man that clearly has good intentions, father?" she asked accusingly. "I have and will always love you, but my respect and pride of being a member of the royal family has been utterly shattered." she spit out in utter disgust.
The King took a few steps back. "What have you done to her?" he asked unbelievingly, of Ganondorf.
"Nothing, I merely wanted to bring her back to you safe and sound."
The crowd screamed and accused Ganondorf as a liar and a thief; what all his people were. People started to edge forward angrily, demanding that he back down.
Ganondorf looked directly into Zelda's beautiful, scared eyes. "Princess, I want you to think about what you truly desire, and what you truly want your life to be. When you have made your decision, the door will be open to you."
With those words, he dropped her lightly onto the ground, backed up a few steps, and disappeared in a cloud of purple matter, along with his two henchmen.
Zelda sat down on the hard, cold floor and put a hooked finger to her mouth. Trying to keep it closed, she looked at the floor and tried to hide a sob. What did she want? Where did her loyalty really lie?
Note:
Well, things are finally picking up slightly. The next chapter will be the turning point, and it's already almost done!
Also, as a side note, if anyone wants to know what songs I use to inspire myself and what songs I have as "themesongs" for certain people and events, I'd be happy to tell you at the end of each chapter. Leave a review and tell me!