I'm glad to be back after a much needed break to catch up with all of my courses. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda.

Chapter 21 – No Longer Safe

I woke up to voices trying to cover up their obvious panic in a harsh whisper. I blinked hard to try to adjust my eyes to the darkness of the room. Heavy drapes covered the windows but I could tell the sun had already risen by the golden sliver of light that filtered in across the bed.

I took a deep breath and looked to my left. Zelda was sleeping soundly, her golden hair messy from sleep, yet still beautiful. Not trying to wake her, I slipped out of bed and made my way to where I knew the wardrobe was. By then my eyes had adjusted enough to let me see the clothes I was fumbling around.

"Link?" Rather startled, I turned around and almost slipped on the shirt I had apparently dropped. Zelda was up now, pulling back the drapes of the only window. The contrast from dark to light in the room nearly made my eyes bleed as I tried to squint in her direction.

"Zelda? I'm sorry, did I wake you?" She grabbed her arms as if cold, bunching her white night shift as she gazed out of the window.

"No… I just—" But she never finished the thought when a loud knock shook the inn room door, yet no one spoke.

Zelda and I looked at one another briefly before she threw on her robe. I in turn finished throwing on my regular blue tunic before running a hand through my messy hair. With a deep breath of what chaos was about to ensue, I creaked open the door.

"Regas?" I breathed, rather relieved. "What's going on? I was just coming out to see what all the commotion was about."

He stood perfectly still, eyes not daring to look at me. "Your highness," he said before finally looking me in the eyes, "I would request that you come with me."

Zelda promised to join us with one of the guards as soon as she was ready, while I followed Regas out of the inn and into Kakariko Village. He was walking quickly and hadn't wiped the stern look off of his face. I walked by his side and occasionally glanced over to him as we would turn a corner here, climb some steps there. His eyes were clouded, but I could tell they covered the remnants of fear – and anger.

By now, I knew the path well. We were headed back towards the hills behind the windmill. "Will you tell me now what's going on? You're starting to worry me, Regas." He continued to walk at his same fast pace.

"You'll see."

As soon as we entered the tent, the stench of blood and sweat hit me before my eyes could register anything. But as soon as they did, Zelda, having apparently taken a shortcut, and her soldier attendant decided to enter at the exact same time. She said nothing but I could almost feel her deny herself breath as she slowly put her hand on my forearm.

"What is this?" I asked low, my voice cracked and raw. Regas left my side then, crossing the tent swiftly to the soldier that held on to the knife currently at the throat of a bloodied and tattered Stefan.

He was tied to a chair, his greasy bangs dripping either sweat or blood, the answer to which I would rather not know. His outfit reminded me of the Gerudo's if only in fabric and color, yet most of it was stained, torn, and altogether missing. This included a sizable tear in his chest that revealed a festering open wound to his ribcage.

"Shortly after dawn, the horse handlers were ambushed near the woods. My men and I arrived to find our horses gone, this traitor wounded, and…" Regas took a deep breath before continuing, "one of our own had fallen."

Zelda's grasp left my arm at once and I knew where she was headed. I felt my gaze upon Stefan's despicable face harden as I tried my best not to run after her.

Regas drew his sword then, holding it up to Stefan's eye level. "If you will not answer to your former brothers, you may at least answer to the King of Hyrule." My blood drained a bit, but I did my best to look as kingly as I could. But a stuttered chuckle began to emanate from the dark depths of Stefan's soul. I felt my hands clench so hard I was surprised blood didn't start seeping from my palms.

"Now, Stefan," Regas said a little too calmly, "tell the King why you killed my father-in-law or I'll cut your head clean off to quiet that despicable laughter."

I approached Stefan then, trying my best to look taller than I felt. I could feel my insides shaking with anger and guilt for not having killed him so long ago.

Stefan coughed, interrupting his giggling. "What's the point… Regas? You're going to… kill me anyway." Stefan said while struggling ever so slightly to breathe, yet his eyes never left mine. "Besides, he's not… the King of… Hyrule." The soldier's knife was removed from his throat with a nod from Regas. "That's just… that whiny little Prince… Ravio." I winced at the mention of my former fake identity.

"Traitor or not, you will show some respect to the King of Hyrule." Regas's sword was raised now.

But Stefan didn't care, I could see it in his eyes. He was laughing at me, at Regas, at the other soldiers in the room. "Like I said…" Stefan began slowly. "He's not the king. Ganondorf is."

Before I could yell for Regas to stop, he had already, in one swift motion, beheaded the traitor. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself. "Regas, was that really necessary?" Regas grabbed a nearby rag, wiped off his sword, and sheathed it against his side.

"He wasn't going to tell us anything. Therefore, he deserved a traitor's death." Regas moved towards the front of the tent then and held open the flap for me to follow. "Besides, he killed Talon. If you would like to punish me for avenging my wife's father and the countless others that man betrayed, please do so. If not," his eyes grew soft now, "then I ask you to come with me."

It had happened as the sun was about to rise. Stefan and an unknown number of Moblins, determined by their tracks and horrid stench, had attacked the makeshift horse stables on the outskirts of the encampment. Talon was the only one on duty that morning, as his stablehands were all too drunk from our wedding festivities. About twenty horses or so were taken as Talon did his best to fight them off – as shown in the horrible gash no doubt made by a pitchfork in Stefan's side. But the horses had been taken and the Moblins fled with them, leaving their leader behind as a testament to their sense of loyalty. One of them must have brought a bow and arrow, as Talon had been shot no less than three times by the foul beasts.

The ordeal had happened so quickly that by the time the soldiers heard the commotion and raced to the stables, it was already over. Talon was barely breathing and Stefan was lying on his back, laughing no doubt at the horrid irony of it all.

I held Zelda's hand tight as the night rang out with the cries of the daughter Talon had left behind. The others in our camp gathered around the pyre as Talon was sent to join the wife that had left before him. No one said a word as the flames climbed higher in the night, the embers the only warmth I could feel against my skin despite the summer heat.

We were no longer safe; there was a way into the hills behind Kakariko Village. Soon, we would be surrounded, closed in by the enemy from the river and the forest.

The mountains were our only option.

That night, the perimeter of the forest was lined with Hylian soldiers and volunteers from Kakariko. My stomach churned at the thought of trying to get all of these people into the mountains, train an army, and then somehow confront the no doubt massive assembly of the evil king Ganondorf. From the window of our room at the inn, I spent almost the entire night staring out towards the hills behind the windmill. I felt that maybe I could stop something else bad from happening by just looking at it. I was the King of Hyrule for Din's sake and I felt absolutely powerless.

No... I was King of what was left of Hyrule and its people: this small village that was overrun with people who had lost everything. But no matter what I was, I needed to get back what was rightfully theirs.

The Gorons were willing to take in as many as they could, as their kin-clans of Snowhead in Termina and Rolling Ridge in Labrynna were expected to arrive within the week from the north. The rest of the Hyrulians were set up in an abandoned cave nearby, formally known as Dodongo's Cavern from the beasts that used to inhabit its depths. But they had been killed off centuries ago, leaving us with plenty of space to work with.

The men from Labrynna had joined us about a week later as we helped to move the last of the villagers, namely the elderly and the sick. With them was Epona, safe and sound – luckily away from Kakariko when the stables were raided.

But standing in the middle of the empty Kakariko Village, running my hand through her thick mane, a chill shivered down my spine.

"What are the Zora going to do?" I asked Thomas as I stared down the once-busy main street towards the front gates. I could almost imagine Ganondorf's men bursting through, lighting the village on fire, pillaging what remained as they went.

Thomas joined me by my side. "Their brothers from Labrynna and Termina have arrived to help them defend their homeland. They're going to do the best they can. A Zora wouldn't fare well up here in the mountains, as you know." He placed a hand on my shoulder, indicating it was time to go. "And we're going to do the best we can, too."

Despite being the King and Queen, Zelda and I didn't ask to be treated any differently from anyone else. We were offered our own private room in Goron City but we politely declined, choosing instead to stay with everyone else. We still resided within the city walls so we could attend frequent meetings with Darunia, Darmani, and the other Goron leaders, but much of our time was spent with the people in both the city and the cavern. Under the lead of both Regas and Fenn, humans, Hylians, and Gorons alike began training within one of the spacious areas in the cavern. Zelda took over teaching the women who were not combat trained and the younger Hyrulians archery, as I wanted as many women and children to be nowhere near the front lines.

Zelda was a little frustrated with me when I asked her about the subject. I knew as well as anyone that she and the other women could fight just as well as the men. "Zelda, me and all of these men… we're dispensable. Someone needs to carry on if things turn out for the worst."

Her lips pursed slightly in defense. "Link, if all of you die, what will become of the women and children? How do we go on, then?" I tried to not linger on her emphasis of the latter statement. "They'll surely come for us next and… and then…" Her eyes grew dark, as if she was trying her best not to remember something.

"Zelda…" I said quietly as I took hold of her shoulders to comfort her, "I'm going to try my best to make sure that doesn't happen. But please… do this for me. Train the women and children. Can you imagine how hard it will be for the men to focus in battle knowing their wives and sisters and daughters could be slaughtered just as easily as themselves?" I took her hand in mine, gently. "There will be women amongst us, after all," I said, referring to the Labrynna women, "but please don't get the idea that archers aren't as important as those fighting at the front. You and I both know that's not the case."

While she thought about what I said, I took a moment to wonder why there were no women at all in the Hyrulian army… Something I could hopefully change... Someday.

She sighed deeply, breaking my thoughts. She still didn't like it, but she was always willing to compromise. "Alright, Link. But…" she began with a small smirk, "If things do go bad, I can't promise the rest of the women and I won't rush in to save your sorry asses."

Since we had been married, I saw her even less and our personal time alone was scarce if it existed at all. "Now there's the Zelda I love," I whispered to only her, and kissed her hard. At least I knew when to let my stubborn wife have her way.

Several months went by. Weapons were forged daily and soldiers trained into the night. Despite Kakariko being taken only weeks later by Ganondorf's forces, his minions never dared to venture into the treacherous paths of the mountains. But we hadn't heard a word from the Zora and my heart sunk knowing both Hyrulian, Labrynnian, and Terminian lives were virtually dangling in the unknown.

But Regas and Fenn were making good progress with the Hyrulian forces in hand to hand combat and defensive techniques. And Zelda, with the help of Mari, helped the women and tweens learn how to master basic archery skills.

As for me, I was rather useless. I walked back and forth between Goron City and Dodongo's Cavern, inspecting, evaluating, and commenting. I met with Darunia and Darmani much more often than Zelda did, as I did not have a specific group of people in my charge to train. We talked of battle plans, secret caves that could lead back to Hyrule Castle, asking for support, and the like. But I never felt as productive as I would have if I were helping Regas and Fenn train the soldiers.

"What about Biggoron and Medigoron, father?" Darmani asked unusually politely one day. "You know their presence would be more than enough to scare half of Ganondorf's forces."

Darunia massaged his temples, thinking albeit rather hesitantly. "Darmani, you know we have been on shaky terms with those brothers for years now."

"So we don't try?" Darmani was facing his father now, and he was just as tall, yet not quite as rotund. "They're part of our tribe, are they not? Would they forsake duty and honor over some silly argument that occurred before I was even born?"

Darunia sighed, giving me a quick glance before turning his back to his son. "They are stubborn, my son, and have quite the temper. I do not want to see you hurt."

Part of me wanted to excuse myself, as I felt rather uncomfortable in the middle of a father-son debate. But the other part of me wondered if we could recruit these giant Gorons I had only heard whispers of to help.

Darunia stood still, his back still to me and Darmani. Darmani himself stood ridged as a stone next to me, barely breathing, obviously waiting for an answer. But the Goron King stood silent, draining my hopes with each passing minute.

"The brothers have no regard for loyalty or respect," he finally spoke, his voice filled with contempt of some unknown bias. "They would not come. Do not waste what little time we have."

I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath, something I found often calmed me as of late. But Darmani would have none of it.

"Do you really think so ill of our kin, father?" Darmani's fists were clenched, his frame illuminated by the fire that continuously burned in Darunia's throne room. "I can see now how badly your prejudice clouds your judgment." I winced not only at his words, but of the bitter tone Darmani's last words to his father were before he excused himself.

Trying not to take sides, and also reminding the King of my presence, I spoke up. "Where do you think he will go, King Darunia?" I had no idea where these giant Gorons lived. Most likely in the mountains, but where? My hands were clasped behind my back, trying to hide the unease I felt in asking a question I clearly knew the response to.

"He's going to make a fool of himself."

With Darmani gone, Darunia cancelled all meetings, whether they were with me, Zelda, or both of us. Instead, he locked himself in the Goron Libraries, pouring over ancient scripts written on parchment and stone alike. I had no idea what he was looking for and he shared nothing with me.

However, I felt rather relieved to allow myself to observe the troops more closely.

Regas routinely invited me and Zelda to dinner after inspections, offering us what little was left of the rations brought from Kakariko. We always gratefully accepted, with always a trace of guilt. Jessa was now drinking from a bottle, but it was obvious she wasn't getting enough nutrition. Growing up in a cave without sunlight was bound to have its adverse effects sooner or later.

"Can I see her, Malon?" I asked rather unexpectedly one night. Jessa's dark red hair was growing in rather quickly for such a young one. Her mother passed her to me as if handling a ticking time bomb. But I took her gently a cradled her in my arms, admiring her soft pink cheeks and green eyes, even if she did look unusually thin.

"You look just like your mother," I whispered quietly as I rocked her back and forth. I looked over to Zelda then, who had been talking to Mari. When her eyes caught mine, she blushed furiously for some reason, to which I couldn't help but feel myself blush as well. I quickly turned back to the young Hylian in my arms instead. "I hope you know how hard your Godparents are trying to making your future a better one."

Fenn and I talked into the night as we hadn't done in almost a year. We talked about everything, nothing, and all sorts of things in between: Mari's unexpected pregnancy, the progress of the soldiers, the shortening of the food supply.

But I couldn't tell him why I felt the need to talk to him about so many things. For some reason, the fact that he was my best friend didn't seem to be enough. The Triforce on the back of my hand had been burning for the past several days, and so had Zelda's. Ganondorf was inching ever closer and this brief feeling of safety was soon coming to an end, we were sure of it.

I looked to Zelda again, who was now feeling Mari's growing belly. Her smile turned from one of excitement to almost… emptiness as I watched her own hand rest on her stomach.

That night, as we lay in our own cot, I felt Zelda's gaze turn towards the ceiling.

"Zelda… you don't want a child now, do you?" I was afraid of asking her the question, as we had rarely talked about it before. She and I both knew that this was hardly the time to try to raise a family, being on the brink of war and everything.

"I know," she said softly, "but sometimes I wonder if it will ever happen." I turned to her then, not quite expecting that response. "Sometimes I feel like I was never meant to have children. What if the goddesses have not blessed me in such a way?" She continued to stare into the ceiling, never once glancing my way.

I said nothing, but hugged her close, knowing that anything I did say wouldn't matter. I just prayed for a swift arrival of peace, for a time Zelda and I could raise our own family without the worry and fear of war and the costs that came with it.

When the Keese came, the first winds of autumn began to blow. Being high up in the mountains, the air always seemed colder and harsher than down on the lands below. But the frigidness of the autumn wasn't the only thing that froze the hearts of nearly every Hyrulian, Terminian, and Labrynnan in the mountains.

Dear King of Hyrule,

My how the tables have turned. Not so long ago you were a weak soldier, then a helpless prince, then a more helpless soldier yet again. Now I hear you are the new King to the land that is so rightfully mine? I had to be assured that it was no joke. Our last meeting in what used to be Hyrule Castle reminded me of just how weak you had become since Labrynna, Triforce or not. A woman had to save you then, so who do you expect to save you now?

I know you caught my foolish lieutenant Stefan. But don't worry, the same fate will befall your people before long.

It wasn't signed, but it didn't need to be. Ganondorf's snickering played in the back of my mind as my brain tried to wrap itself around the letter it had just digested.

"And this came to Goron City, attached to one of… those?" I almost didn't want to speak it, but my heart and my mind were in agreement for once in my life. The Keese, almost as large as a dog, was pinned to a nearby post, an arrow in its chest being the only thing keeping it there.

Regas nodded in the early light of dawn. Zelda and I stood with Regas, Fenn, and Darunia on the path between the City and the Cavern, trying our best to delay the inevitable. But food was growing scarce and the skies were growing darker. Months living in caves, even with Zelda's constant suggestions that everyone go outside at least once a day, began to take its toll. The elderly grew sicker, so much so that we had already lost five to escalating illness. Their bodies were too frail to fight off any form of the mountain sickness and, thus, they eventually succumbed to it.

The young bounced back quickly, if they caught it at all. Only a handful of adults got severe cases, but nothing life-threatening. But autumn had arrived – and, with it, the cold and scarcity of food we could not afford.

"Darunia, how far are the Gorons in digging through the tunnels?" He had spent countless wordless nights in the library going over which tunnels would be our best bet in reaching Ganondorf and we began work clearing them as fast as we could.

His face was dark, as he was obviously thinking about the tunnels, too. "Two weeks at best and we'll reach the castle." He sighed a bit then, shaking his head. "I just don't have the numbers nor the strength to get it done any quicker."

"And you are sure none of my men could assist?" I had asked a dozen times, all with the same response.

"Link, you know as well as I do it's too dangerous. We Gorons live, breathe, and eat rocks. The tunnels are crowded as it is, and I can't risk a collapse. My men and our kin are much more likely to survive a disaster like that, not yours."

I squeezed the bridge of my nose with my fingers, a habit that started recently whenever I thought too hard and somehow managed to induce my own headaches.

Where is Darmani? I found myself asking that too many times lately.

Later that evening, I sat with Fenn as we ate our bland meal of rice and beans. Zelda was occupied with Jessa as Malon, Mari, and several other women continued their meticulous work of stitching together sword sheaths, arrow quivers, and the like. Regas was out talking numbers with the blacksmiths who worked around the clock on swords, arrows, and shields.

"How much longer do you think we have?" Fenn asked quietly, looking for a truthful answer.

I sighed and took a gulp of the sour Goron ale that the villagers learned to concoct up in the mountains. "A few days at the most."

Fenn whistled and shook his head in dismay. Regas was usually the only one I talked to about specifics, as he was the Captain of the Guard. I didn't want too many people to know just how dire our straits were for fear of inducing panic. But Fenn deserved to know.

But, for once, our luck was about to change.

Just as Fenn was getting ready to respond to the news, Darmani himself burst through the cavern entrance. Not only was it rare for him or his father to be in the caverns, but I honestly began to believe he might never return.

"They're here!" he cried, too excited to conceal what youthfulness still existed in him.

With Biggoron and Medigoron, progress on the tunnels increased exponentially.

"How did you convince them?" I asked Darmani later the next day as we stood outside the entrance to one of the tunnels.

At this, he looked away from me for a few moments, hiding something. "They just needed some convincing, that's all." He was a terrible liar.

"And?" I prodded, motioning for him to continue.

"And…" Darmani began hesitantly, "I made them both the official blacksmiths of Goron City."

Not being a Goron, I wasn't entirely sure of the significance of such an honor, which was clearly present on my face.

"We Gorons love working with our hands, the fire, the rocks," Darmani continued, "Many covet the title of the wealth and prestige that goes along with being the source of weaponry for our soldiers. They apparently left in the first place after being denied the title by my grandfather. My father will not be happy I just gave it back to them."

That was it? Phew, I thought he promised them my head on a stake or something.

However, I could tell this was bothering him and it had to be a much bigger deal than I believed it to be. "Well, I'm sure your father will understand," was all I could really say.

I turned back to the tunnels where the sounds of the constant hammering and hauling of rocks carried into the Goron City halls. By dawn the next morning, the Goron brothers had broken through to the small rocky hillside that sat to the east of Hyrule Castle.

Well, what was left of it.

Regas and I inched slowly out of the tunnel's opening, making sure none of Ganondorf's minions could see us, despite us being over a thousand meters away and significantly high off the ground. Pieces of the castle lay strewn about the barren landscape. The grassy hills in front of the castle that I grew up slaying imaginary dragons and sparring Fenn in were nothing but dirt underneath the feet of the enemies camped there.

"The path from here hasn't been used in a hundred years," Regas said, nodding to the overgrown trail to our right, "but it's out of sight and by far the best way for our troops to get down from here." The 'best way' he spoke of was in the eye of the beholder, apparently. Chunks of the rocks the path was on were either crumbling or simply missing. I tried hard to imagine two thousand or so men trying their best to sneak down here without any of them falling and alerting the enemy of our presence.

Come to think of it, I was relieved they were far enough away not to hear the Goron brothers finally breaking through the rocks onto this outcrop. Maybe this was the Goddesses' way of showing me that we had at least some luck on our side.

I looked back to where the Castle once stood. In pure Ganondorf fashion, a black tower had been constructed. The moat was still there, although the water seemed to run a dark indeterminable color, no longer the crystal blue it had been not too long ago. I cringed at what the color might mean.

Despite Ganondorf's army being filled with creatures that loved the night, we still found it in our best interest to send the troops down under cover of nightfall. Regas and Darunia took charge of moving the majority of the foot-soldiers into their positions, making sure to carefully guide the troops out of the tunnel and onto the land below.

Meanwhile, Zelda and the archers lined themselves as far as the outcrop allowed them along the edge. I made sure everyone was in position, while keeping an eye on the fires that slowly burned in the distance, making sure they hadn't detected our arrival.

"Where are you going?" Zelda questioned quietly, almost a hint of frustration in her voice. Fenn and I had tried our best to avoid her as we made our way back into the caves. I knew she was going to ask too many questions.

"We're checking in on Malon, Mari, and the others left in the City. We need to make sure they're safe before this all begins." I was flushing hard but I doubted she could see it in the dark of the night before dawn. "We'll be right back, Zelda," I said grabbing her hands in mine, hoping I wasn't giving too much away by my seemingly unnecessary affection. But I couldn't help it. "I love you," I then quickly added, giving her a quick kiss before turning to walk away.

I knew she now knew something was up, but she didn't follow after me. I simply gave Regas, who was positioned near the entrance of the tunnel to look out, a nod, to which he responded with his own.

I didn't lie about going to Goron City. Fenn and I made sure the ones who stayed behind, which included Goron women, children, and elders, were comfortable and safe. What I didn't tell her is that we made sure the only way in and out of the City was through the tunnel to the castle – and we were on the outside of it.

"Mari is going to kill me if this doesn't," Fenn sighed, shaking his head. Among us were the surviving Hylian soldiers from before all of this mess started as well as new recruits, including Darmani. We totaled near one hundred in all, yet no one seemed to notice us missing out of the two thousand or so already in their positions.

"Don't worry, Zelda will probably murder both of us before that happens," I replied, trying to lighten the mood. We began the long trek down the mountains, Epona and I leading the way. The rest of the men rode horses from Kakariko that had been nowhere near the raided stable, allowing for us to make good time.

The deep blue of night was beginning to fade. We needed to get to whatever remained of Castle Town by the time the battle began at first light.

Thanks for reading! Please review and don't forget to follow - this story is coming to an end sooner or later!

- KnT (brigette)