Thank you Kylia Star and Rising Dragon for the reviews. Sadly, there wasn't room for Laruto and Fado in the story - although Ganon did take care of them, a few chapters ago. I'm glad you liked the chapter, Visitor, and I admit parts of the chapter were a bit choppy?. I do tend to gloss over some things in a few chapters - usually some of the minor details to move the story along. Zach and Vaati's Servant, welcome to Quietus! Welcome back, Chuck!
Midnight Echo, thanks for the congrats! I have to say that 100 reviews is a big milestone. When I wrote my earlier fanfics, I always wanted that many reviews (even though my stories weren't that good back then). Now, to have reached that goal... man. Thank you, everyone, for making it happen.
Forgive any formatting errors - FFN is being a nasty little moblin.
Legend of Zelda and all official characters are licensed by Nintendo. They are not mine, I take no credit for them, and I make no profit off of them. All extra characters are mine, as well as the overall plot of the story.
It takes a while to finish a chapter, so expect sporadic updates. I'll try to post every time I finish a chapter. Finally, I hope you all will enjoy the fic.
The Legend of Zelda: Quietus
XXVI
Link stood slowly and turned around. "Eriol…"
Eriol stood just twenty feet away, out of his armor, sword strapped to his back. "Really, Link. Sneaking into the middle of your enemy's camp just days after negotiations break down? And then lighting up the graveyard like the sun had just come out in the middle of the night. I have to say; even a Moblin has more sense than that."
"I've gotten what I've come for," Link said. "I'm leaving now, and I hope you'll come with me."
"Leaving? So soon?" Eriol pushed away from the gravestone he had been leaning against. "But the festival is just getting started. I've noticed the fireworks at the base of the mountain." His eyes flashed with anger. "The noble hero isn't satisfied with getting past his enemy… he has to prove just how superior he is in the process, isn't that right, Link?"
Link said nothing. He didn't trust himself to speak.
There was a metallic hiss as Eriol drew his blade. "Don't toy with me, brother." Link was struck by the vehemence in the word. "I don't know why you're here, but I won't let you leave."
"Because of your master's orders?"
Eriol gritted his teeth. Link knew he had struck a sore spot – Eriol was fiercely independent and refused to admit that anyone was above him, even if the person was the King of Darkness himself. Link didn't know why he was prodding at these feelings; why he wanted to make Eriol angry.
"Because I promised the next time we met, it would be on opposite sides of a battlefield," said Eriol. "And so, here we are. A graveyard seems like a good place to settle things, isn't it? The loser won't have to go far to be buried."
"You're the only one with a score to settle, bother, but like I told you before, if you really want to settle things between us, then fine. But leave Ganon! You might think you have a place here in his army, but he's using you. You can't trust him and why you are…" Link shook his head. "Eriol, please, come with me."
"You're as hard of hearing as you are foolish, Link. I told you once that I swore an oath to attack Hyrule. I'll fight beside Ganon so long as I have to."
"But how can you serve the man that wants to destroy your homeland? Eriol, this is ridiculous!"
"Of course, anything the great Link doesn't understand is ridiculous," Eriol sneered. "Draw your sword, brother. I'm tired of your whining and posturing. If you're a soldier of Hyrule, prove it and defeat me!"
"I don't want to fight you," Link said slowly.
"This scar on my face says otherwise." Eriol snarled as he ran towards his brother. Holding his sword low and to the left with both hands, he slashed upwards at his brother in a diagonal arc.
Link took a step backwards, his left hand drawing his sword in a smooth motion the led into a downward parry that knocked Eriol's attack to the side. Eriol stumbled backwards and spun, striking out at Link's left. Link swept his blade up and blocked the blow, grasping the hilt of his sword with both hands.
Eriol leaned towards their blocked blades, his eyes narrowed. "I see you have a new sword, Link. Hopefully this one will last longer than your last one, eh?"
"Father's blade was meant for protection," said Link through gritted teeth. "How can you justify raising it against your own people?"
"This sword will protect all the creatures who want to return to their homeland. My people are those who want to live in peace and harmony – be they Hylian, Hadar or monster. I fight for them, Link!" Eriol took a step back and pulled his blade free with one hand. The other swept around the momentary gap in his brother's guard and struck him across the cheek. Link stumbled to the side and into a gravestone, where he caught himself. Eriol looked down at him with a sneer. "So tell me, Link. Who do you fight for?"
Link pulled himself to his feet and wiped a thin stream of blood from corner of his mouths. "Have you become so deluded that you can't see what you're doing?" he asked softly. Reaching onto his back, he pulled the Mirror Shield free and set it down near the gravestone. If Eriol would fight without armor, he would fight without shield. "Has your mind been so poisoned by the lies of Ganon and Medara that you can't see what you're doing?" Link looked at his brother. "Hyrule has known hundreds of years of peace without the monsters living within its boundaries. Villages have emerged and the people have spread. We have prospered, when once we lived in constant fear of attack. We have known peace, and have made peace with all other races in our realm – except for the monsters, who will fight until we are no more. So tell me, Eriol. Are these the people you fight for?"
Eriol growled and pointed his sword at Link. "My people were exiled!"
"No. Your people are the ones being trampled under the feet of this army. Your people are the ones who will be enslaved when Ganon becomes king. Your people will be torn apart by the ravenous hordes of monsters you are bringing back to Hyrule. You are not moblin, or darknut, or Hadar. You are Hylian, Eriol. And you have betrayed your people."
An inarticulate growl escaped Eriol's throat as he ran at his brother. Link stepped forward and swung his sword up as Eriol swung his down. Steel sparked as it met steel. Eriol pulled back, dropped the sword low and struck upwards. Link twisted his blade downward and again blocked the blow. Leaping backwards, Eriol stabbed his sword forward. Link spun to the side and brought the Master Sword down atop Eriol's blade, throwing his brother off-balance and sending him sprawling forward.
Instead of pressing his advantage, Link moved backwards. "King Hyrule vowed to welcome the Hadar if they swore fealty to him. He is willing to forgive them for what their ancestors did. Yet they refused to be welcomed to Hyrule and insist on following the same course that first led them to exile. Do you still claim they desire harmony?"
Eriol cursed and then turned to face his brother. "Why should they swear themselves to a ruthless tyrant?"
"King Hyrule has done nothing but what was best for our country." Link struggled to keep his voice level. "He and his daughter have pursued the welfare of farmers like our parents. Like Uncle Darius. Our family would have prospered under him, our parents would have watched over us, if those 'exiled' monsters of yours hadn't killed them!" This time he couldn't keep the anger out of his voice.
Eriol trembled, his face pale in the moonlight. "Liar! Our parents were killed by an illness!"
"If you honestly think so, then strike me down! Use our father's sword to defend those beasts and kill me!"
Again Eriol ran forward. This time he sprang to the side before lashing out at Link with his sword. Link took a step back and spun, holding his sword in both hands, and blocked Eriol's strike. With a growl of frustration, Eriol pulled back and struck at his brother, again and again. Again and again, Link deflected the attacks. The still night air rang with the sounds of their weapons crashing against each other. The darkness was lit with showers of sparks, resembling faeries in the pale moonlight. Eriol pressed as hard as he could, but Link would always block, parry, evade. Never did Link press for an advantage, but as they fought, Link's defensive moves seem to become more aggressive, more powerful. More than once Eriol thought his sword might jump from his hands with the strength of impact, or might shatter under the force of the odd, glowing blade Link wielded.
"Come on, Eriol!" Link shouted as he pushed his brother back. "Kill me, so I don't have to endure this battle any more!"
Eriol roared with frustration. The air crackled around his left hand and the mark of the Triforce blazed. Raising his hand, he slammed a fist directly into the ground in front of him.
The earth cracked and buckled beneath Link's feet. He stumbled, trying to regain his balance, but he was nearly thrown to the side as a surge of rock and dirt forced its way up through the air. To avoid being knocked to the side, Link grabbed the rising pile and was pulled upwards.
"I've learned a few more tricks since we last fought," Eriol growled. "This is just a taste of my power!"
A dark form threw itself from the top of the fifteen-foot mountain Eriol had forced into being. Eriol barely had time to raise his sword as Link's blade flashed downward. Eriol buckled under the force of the blow, fearing his sword might break, and rolled away to the side. Rather than allowing time for his brother to regain his footing, Link followed, and as Eriol climbed to his feet, Link planted his foot in his brother's side. Eriol Gasped and rolled to the side before he scrambled to his feet.
Link panted and followed his brother with his eyes. His fist gripped his sword tightly, fighting against the wave of adrenaline that flooded his system. I can't let myself get lost in this battle! "Power isn't everything, Eriol."
"It's enough," Eriol hissed. He lowered into a crouch and began to carefully circle his brother. "I'm surprised, Link. I almost thought you would have tried to finish me right there."
"I don't want to fight you, Eriol!"
"Then give up and die already!" Again Eriol ran forward, this time stepping to the left before attacking. He swung his sword in towards Link's undefended right, but Link twisted and blocked the blow, taking a step to his left. He blocked Eriol's next strike but as he parried the third swing, Eriol's fist landed a strong blow to his stomach. The air was violently forced from his lungs and Link was thrown back several steps. He kept underestimating the Triforce of Power, and the mistake was one that might kill him. Worse than that, the longer the fight went on, the more Link struggled to restrain the bloodlust that was tearing away at his concentration.
Eriol pressed forward, attacking viciously to take advantage of Link's disorientation. "Tired already Link? I'm barely winded! Where's the great soldier of Hyrule now?"
Link gritted his teeth and retreated backwards, past the tower of dirt and rock Eriol had forced up from the ground. He struggled to gain his breath and keep up with Eriol's blows. With every step he felt his hold on himself slipping. "Stop this, Eriol! Please!"
"What makes you think you have a right to tell me what to do?" Eriol knocked Link's sword away and knocked his brother to the ground with a kick. He stood over Link, a grim smile on his face. "What happened to all that training, Link? I thought you were supposed to be better than this." He laughed as his brother got to his feet." Come on, show me what you –"
Link interrupted Eriol with a sudden charge. Eriol knocked away the sword, but was struck on the side of his face with Link's gloved hand. As he reeled backwards, Link followed, knocking away Eriol's blade when he tried to defend himself. Link ducked under another blow and rammed his shoulder into his brother's chest, knocking Eriol to the ground.
Eriol barely had time to block the downward swing of Link's following attack. He managed to deflect the attack and get to his feet, only to be struck once more on the side of the head by Link's fist. This time Eriol thought he saw stars, and when he turned back to his brother, Link was already swinging his blade around. He scarcely avoided a fatal blow and, for a moment, caught Link's gaze. What he saw sent a chill down his spine.
"I'll show you what I can do," Link murmured, his voice frighteningly cold.
Eriol planted his feet as Link's next attack came – an overhead strike. Eriol knocked it away with his sword and then sidestepped the kick that followed. He swung his blade around, but Link doubled-over and ducked beneath the blow. The Master Sword tore through the air as he twisted back up to face Eriol, and Eriol leaned backwards to avoid the blow. The punch that followed in the sword's wake, he could not avoid, and he saw stars as it crashed against the side of his head. He stumbled backwards, around the side of his mountain. Seeing Link's vague shape following him, Eriol swung his sword around. Link ducked, and then the fight was over.
Eriol dared not move. The point of the Master Sword rested at his throat. Link crouched, his sword angled up beneath Eriol's guard. Just a bit more pressure and he could press his sword through his brother's throat.
The image ran through Link's mind – the gush of blood, Eriol's choked cries, the look in his brother's eyes as he died at the hands of the one he hated so. It would put an end to this feud. It was what Eriol wanted. He was afraid of Link's power, afraid of his strength. Now was the chance to teach him a lesson in knowing his place.
Link shivered, but the blade remained in place. "I should kill you," he said quietly. "You are an enemy of Hyrule, and I am a Hylian Knight. You are trying to destroy our kingdom. You have sided yourself with Ganon, the Evil King. I am a soldier, trained to destroy evil and defend our kingdom at any cost. You have done everything in your power to put me into a position where I had to raise my sword against you just to save my life. I should kill you, and be done with it all."
Link slowly got to his feet. "I tried to teach you everything I knew. I wanted to help you realize your potential. I wanted to be there to watch you grow into a man, Eriol, to watch you lead a life different than mine. I was the killer in the family. I was the one who had to shed blood to keep you and Uncle Darius safe. I went out and killed the monsters. I killed them because I wanted revenge for what they did to our parents."
The two brothers stared at each other from across the length of the Master Sword. "And then you left our uncle to die in a fire. You took our father's sword and ran, because you thought I overshadowed you. Because you thought everyone loved me, because everyone looked up to me. But you were right, Eriol. I'm not a hero. I'm not brave. Everyone thinks things of me without caring who I am, but you're my brother, and you know. I have a monster inside me, a monster fueled by a desire fight, to kill. I've fought to save the people I love, but who are we kidding? I couldn't save our uncle, and I couldn't save you."
Eriol swallowed. The tip of the sword did not move from his throat. He didn't know what Link would do, but the only time he had been this afraid was when Ganon had strode from the fire just days ago. It was the fear that came with knowing that his fate was not his own – that it lay completely in the hands of his brother.
"How could you join him, Eriol?" Link's voice quivered with anger. "How could you join these beasts and turn your back on your homeland? You were supposed to keep yourself free from the battles, the killings. You were supposed to grow up strong, and kind, and pure. I was supposed to be the monster so you could be the one to help our family! How could you join with Hyrule's enemies and lead them to war against us?"
The sword point pressed against Eriol's throat. A small stream of blood began where the tip had pierced Eriol's skin. "And now you're my enemy… and now I'm supposed to destroy you… to save Hyrule. You're just a pawn in Ganon's plan to take over Hyrule, and I'm supposed to destroy you. You've been lied to, you've been manipulated, you've been corrupted, and I'm supposed to destroy you. For the good of Hyrule."
Link took a breath, but his eyes blazed with rage. "Zelda said that to save you, I had to destroy Ganon, but so long as you live, I can't get to him. You'll always fight me. You'll always try to prove yourself against a monster, when you're the one who has the chance to change. You could have left this army and started fresh. I could have taken you to Hyrule and died in battle knowing my brother was safe. But I can't. You have to make that decision for yourself, but so long as you're on Ganon's side, you'll never be free to do that. The only way to save you is to free you from Ganon's control, and if I can't get to Ganon and destroy him… then I'll have to kill you to set you free…"
Eriol didn't want to believe Link was capable of killing him, but twice now he had goaded his brother into battle. Link was supposed to be at the end of a sword, not him! Eriol was supposed to be the one standing victorious, his brother defeated. But Link… Eriol saw, beyond the terrifying expression in Link's eyes, a grim resignation. He didn't want to fight anymore, but he hadn't submitted. Even after all this, Link was giving the victory to Eriol, but he was not surrendering. Eriol realized that he could never break his brother's spirit. He could beat him down, force him to give up, but Link's will could not be conquered. With revulsion, Eriol realized that what his brother refused to have broken, he had given up willingly, to the vilest of creatures, for the chance to prove himself.
Link shivered and pulled his sword from Eriol's throat, slowly, as if having to fight for every movement. He returned the Master Sword to its sheath.
"…I won't destroy my brother," Link murmured. "You might be my enemy, but I can't kill you. You're only family I have, now." Link sank to his knees. "I've scarred you… I've forced you to run away, to seek guidance from the darkness, and I've marred your face and soul. I'm sorry, Eriol. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you. I wish I could take it all back, but I can't. If you want revenge, then take it. I won't stop you."
Link stared up at his brother. "If there's nothing left of the brother I used to spend my days with climbing trees in the forest near our home, swimming in the stream near our fields… if all that is left of him is vengeance and darkness, then I have no reason to fight. Then my family is truly gone, and I have nothing left to protect. If all you have left is jealousy and fury, then strike me down, Eriol. It's what you've wanted."
Eriol clenched his fist. He stared at his brother, kneeling before him. This was what he wanted. He had won. Link couldn't kill him – wouldn't. All he had to do was strike in the name of Ganondorf and victory was his. He would finally surpass Link. He would no longer be 'Link's little brother'. He would be the man who killed Link, the Hylian hero.
The boy who killed his own brother.
Eriol would strike in the name of the monsters he sought to return to Hyrule. He would strike in the name of his noble cause.
It's not about being noble, it's about doing what's right.
Eriol lifted his sword above his head. He grasped it with both hands. So simple. It would be so simple to kill Link. This was his chance. Everything he had done up until now had led up to this moment. His blade was poised. He would live in Link's shadow no longer.
Eriol's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
He breathed deeply.
He hesitated.
Link watched his brother. He could see how desperately Eriol wanted to deliver that blow, to end the rivalry he believed existed between them. But Link could feel no threat from his brother. Instead, he felt that odd sensation that he had felt upon entering the graveyard. In giving Eriol the victory he longed for, he had given Eriol a chance to break free from Ganon's control. Link could reach him now. "Eriol…"
The night was lit with violet energy that seemed to erupt from the shadows and consume Link's body. Link arched his back and screamed in agony, falling to the ground and twisting violently to escape the tendrils that seemed to ensnare him. Eriol stumbled backwards and lowered his sword, staring dumbfounded as his brother writhed in pain. The air crackled with intensity, and Eriol turned to see where the attack was coming from.
Medara emerged from the deep shadows of the graveyard, the violent energy twisting from her outstretched hands. A grin of dark satisfaction was spread across her face, and her eyes were lit with twisted amusement. "Who would have thought that your brother would be stupid enough to come here, where we our strongest! Now we can destroy him, in the name of Lord Ganondorf!"
Eriol looked from the witch to his brother, still twisting and crying out in wordless screams of torment. Indecision clawed at him. What… what do I do?
"Kill him, Eriol!" Medara crowed. "Strike him down and put an end to your suffering! So long as he lives, you will never claim what is rightfully yours! Kill him now, destroy him, for your greater glory! For the glory of all Lord Ganondorf's followers!"
Her words rang hollowly in Eriol's ears. He looked once more at his brother, and in a single swift motion, swept his hand across Medara's cheek. The Hadar witch fell to the ground with a shriek, the coruscating energies at her command abruptly vanishing into the still night air.
Link gasped and, led more by instinct than rationale thought, began to pull himself towards the Mirror Shield.
"Traitor!" Medara shrieked, and raised her hands towards Eriol, unleashing another wave of the twisting dark energies.
Eriol cringed and raised a hand in front of his face. The mark on the back of his hand flared to life and blew out the energy that threatened to engulf him. Trembling, he tried to muster what confidence he had. "How dare you attack me!" he cried.
Link grabbed the shield with one hand and forced his mind to focus. I… I pray to thee, Goddesses… Goddesses three…
"Ungrateful wretch!" Medara hissed, climbing to her feet. "Lord Ganondorf with destroy you for this betrayal!"
Lend… lend thy trifold aid to me…
"Link will fall by my hand and my hand alone!" Eriol countered, his indignation rising at being challenged.
My passage here… I do rescind…
"Then prove yourself and strike him down!"
Carry me away on swift Farore's Wind!
The graveyard was lit this time by a light of a different color. Eriol was nearly swept off his feet as a whirlwind surged into being around his brother. Flickering green light seemed to converge on Link, and for a moment, the two brothers stared at one another. And then in a flash that nearly blinded Eriol, Link was gone, and with him, the shield.
Eriol staggered backwards into a gravestone and blinked rapidly to try and clear his vision. Medara did likewise, and as soon as she could see, she snarled at Eriol. "Treacherous Hylian! You let him get away! You let that murderous scoundrel escape!"
"If you hadn't interfered, I would have destroyed him!" Eriol shouted back
"Would you have?" Medara asked.
Eriol opened his mouth to answer, but no answer came. He turned away from her in frustration and began to walk back to the village. He had just left the graveyard when he realized he was shaking, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
--
Epona reared in alarm as a sudden wind swept through the small copse of trees she had been grazing in and dropped Link to the ground before her. Traces of green light seemed to lift from his body and vanish into the air. Epona pranced backwards until she was sure there was no threat following the sudden fright, and then carefully approached her master.
Link pulled himself to his knees and managed to sling the Mirror Shield onto his back. Using Epona's saddle for support, he spent the last of his strength climbing atop her back. He nearly toppled back to the ground, but he held onto Epona's mane as tightly as his trembling fingers could.
"Home, girl," he whispered as the world swam and twisted around him. "Home… quickly…"