Ha, glad you remained interested, TalimtheWindWaker! And to answer your question, Rising Dragon, Hyrule and the Gerudo have always had trouble with each other. Any peace has been tenuous, and the arrival of Ganon just ignited the confrontation. Although... their timing is pretty convenient for Ganon, isn't it? Maybe it has something to do with the rider seen at the end of chapter 19...
Thanks for spotting out the typos, Visitor! I've made the appropriate adjustments, and as always, I appreciate your watchful eyes and your constant interest. Thanks for returning, Chuck, and for an answer to your question, look at my comment to Rising Dragon.
Welcome to Quietus, P.N. Blackford and Fallen215! P.N., I greatly appreciate your kind words. Eriol's development has always been a tricky element to work with. To answer your concerns about time, you're right, I haven't made it too obvious. A few keywords here and there, but nothing overt. So, for everyone else who has wondered, it's been about... 2 1/2 months since everything started.
And thank you for your own kind words, Fallen. I've tried to depict Link in a new way than he's previously been depicted, taking inspiration from both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess (back when it was still mostly rumors) as to how he should be portrayed.
Sorry for the late update, everyone! I was kind of stuck on the chapter I was writing. I knew what I wanted to write, but I just had a block on how to write it. But I've been able to pull through, and as a result, a new update!
This chapter is the prelude to the end. Starting in Chapter 30, the war for Hyrule's future will start, and everyone will have a front row seat.
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
XXIX
Stab.
Link's sword jabbed through the air.
Days had passed since he awoke in the hospital wing of the castle. He had spent most of the time sleeping, recovering his strength. There were no wounds on his body to heal, but he had felt horrendously weak in the days following Zelda and Marrin's visit. Medara's attacks hadn't harmed him physically, but they had sapped him of all his strength. As the days passed, he started to view his return to Hyrule Castle as a true miracle from the Goddesses.
Marrin had kept her promise. She visited no less than three times every day Link was bedridden, despite his protests. Zelda visited as well, but seldom at the same time as Marrin. Their attention was flattering, but Link couldn't help but feel guilty of distracting them from their duties. Of course, Marrin had no duties at all now that her father and their ranchhands had moved to the city, but the feelings remained.
Parry.
Link stepped to the side and pulled his blade back in time to knock away a horizontal slash.
Work on defending the capital of Hyrule were proceeding as planned but to Link it felt as though they were going at a snail's pace. The Goron workforce was split in two – groups of the great creatures were digging trenches on the far side of the river as well as beating out paths into the northern mountains for Hylians to flee if the castle was taken. The Arcadians, under the supervision of Brand and King Arkaid himself, were busy constructing great catapults in the field between the city and the castle to combat any siege engines Ganon might have constructed.
Only the Zora were not at work on the defenses. They were an aquatic people and were not familiar with the many conventions of land-bound warfare. Orca was relentless in his training of Hylian and Arcadian archers, however. Link was astonished by the skill of the Zora archers and was even more surprised by the rapid improvements among the archers of his own people.
Slash.
Link ducked and lunged to his right, sweeping his sword it at his opponent's side.
Messengers from the western outposts had arrived yesterday. The dispatches were frantic. It seemed that the Gerudo had mustered their tribes into a single war band and was setting out against Hyrule. Their sudden aggression was first met with puzzlement, as the Gerudo had been more or less peaceful for centuries. There was the occasional border raid or two, but nothing to suggest outright warfare.
There was no way for their aggression to be coincidence. Not with Ganon poised in the east, ready to sweep into the country. A message must have somehow gotten through to the desert folk. There was no reason for them to ally themselves with a creature that nearly decimated their people hundreds of years ago, but the fear of Ganon's power could be a powerful thing in its own right. Fear was a weapon the Evil King used with brutal efficiency.
Feint.
Link twisted to the left to avoid a slash that could have been fatal, had it struck true.
Fear… was that why Eriol had not abandoned Ganon? His brother's will to fight had been broken, Link knew. Their last fight had undone something in him. It was in the air; it had been there since before Link had arrived. Looking back, he realized that that was the odd feeling he had sensed. It was the waning of Eriol's vengeful spirit.
But Eriol was not free. He was still in Ganon's clutches, still beyond an entire army of monsters. The thought of Eriol gave Link renewed strength and his attacks became more aggressive. He wanted desperately to save his brother, to bring him home to Hyrule, but there was something inside him that still saw the boy as his enemy. It was that… thing… inside. It had to be. That monstrous part of him that wanted to kill and destroy. Link's knuckles were white as he clenched his fist around his blade hilt. When the time came, would he have the strength to force that beast back? It had nearly consumed him in the graveyard at Kakariko… what if he failed to quell it in the next battle?
"Link!"
His mind snapped back to the present. He recoiled from the series of heavy blows he had been delivering to Caleb and realized how fast his heart was pounding. His tunic was drenched with sweat and his hair was matted against his forehead. Link drew back, lowering his blade. It felt heavy in his iron-knuckled grasp.
"Are you alright?" Caleb sheathed his sword and walked over to him. "You were going pretty hard there."
"I'm fine," Link said as he steadied his breathing.
"You don't look it. I think we should call it a day, friend."
"No, I'm alright. We can keep going."
Caleb frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "No, I think you need a break. You look like you have a lot of things on your mind, and sparring practice is the last place you want to be preoccupied in. By the Goddesses, Link, you almost took my arms off with those attacks!"
Link carefully pried his sword free from his gauntleted hand and sheathed it. His left hand was a stiff claw, aching to wrap itself around a hilt once more. "You're right… I'm sorry, Caleb. I wasn't focusing."
"It's this bloody war. Everyone's on edge, from the soldiers to the townsfolk. For all our sakes, I hope it comes to an end soon."
"So do I," Link agreed. But will it end with our destruction, or with his?
"Sir Caleb! Sir Link!" Brand called as he approached the two Knights from the castle.
Link squatted on the ground and wiped a hand across his brow while Caleb went to great the Arcadian. The two conversed for a short time, and then they joined him. "The scouts have brought word," Caleb said.
"Ganon's army is preparing to leave the mountains," Brand agreed.
Link made a few swift calculations. "If they start their march tomorrow morning, then they should arrive sometime tomorrow night. The Gerudo marauders are making their way inland as well… Our last reports put them not far west of Lon Lon Ranch, right? That means that if they push on towards the castle, then they'd join up with Ganon at about the same time he arrives at our gates." He closed his eyes and muttered a curse. "We have five thousand troops stationed here, don't we? Hylian, Arcadian, Zoran, and Goron. The Gerudo war band numbers close to three thousand… and with Ganon's horde?"
Brand nodded grimly. "We're outnumbered by at least two to one."
"And we'd be facing their siege with no reinforcements."
"It's a bad situation," Caleb agreed. "But Hyrule Castle has stood for hundreds of years. It'll stand for hundreds more – I'll pledge my life on it."
Link nodded. All our lives will be pledged on it, he thought. No matter what, we cannot let the castle fall into Ganon's hands. He lowered his eyes to his left hand, the image of the Triforce mark beneath his gauntlet rising to his mind. I don't know if we can win… but I'm willing to risk my life to keep Hyrule safe. As the Goddesses are my witnesses, Hyrule will not be Ganon's.
--
Zelda knelt before the Alter of the Three Jewels in the Temple of Time. She had spent the entire day there in silent prayer, hoping that the Goddesses would save her kingdom. Hyrule stood on the brink, she knew, and time was running out.
My faith is with my people, but there is only so much we can do. Help us, please! We cannot stand against Ganon's hordes for much longer. I and all my kingdom are on our knees, dear Goddesses. Please send us help!
There was no answer. The chants of the temple monks reverberated through the temple from their prayer rooms. Zelda sighed and bowed her head once in thanks to the Goddesses for hearing her prayers. She stood slowly, muffling a grown at the stiffness in her legs. She smoothed the front of her skirt and turned to leave.
A monk stood near the entrance to the chamber, head bowed in silent respect. Zelda recognized the Abbot of the temple's order by the Triforce pendant hanging from his neck and his modest grey robes. She wondered how long he had stood there.
"Forgive me, Father Abbot. I did not mean to take away from your prayers."
The elder man raised his head and smiled. "Do not apologize, my princess. In such dark times, we all require the solace offered to us by the Goddesses."
"Indeed," Zelda sighed. "I sometimes find it hard to comprehend the danger we are in. It feels as though we are caught in some sort of… nightmare."
The Abbot nodded sadly. "The Evil King is a blight upon our land, it is true. We must keep faith, however. The Goddesses will lead us through the darkness and we will find ourselves bathed in life once more."
"And do you believe the Hero of Time will bring forth their salvation?"
"Many people have chosen to believe so," the Abbot said carefully, "but I do not think they realize how crushing their faith is to the one who must bear it. The title 'Hero of Time' is a quite heavy to whoever is identified as such."
Zelda was somewhat surprised. "You do not think Link is the Hero of Time?"
"I believe that the Hero's last words were meant to be taken figuratively, not literally. Just as he was chosen by the Goddesses to save his countrymen, so too is sir Link chosen to save his. I do not mean to dissuade any from what they believe, but I think my wayward brother Caius is putting too many responsibilities on the shoulders of a Hylian who wants only to serve."
The princess smiled and then, in an act of sudden appreciation, hugged the old man. "Thank you, Father. Simply hearing someone else speak what I feel in my heart is a great relief. Link is a brave soldier and good Hylian, but I fear what may happen to my people if he fails. Their faith in him as their savior is so strong that their hopes may be crushed."
The Abbot chuckled and gingerly hugged the princess. "You underestimate your people, my princess. They may have forgotten that he is a Hylian soldier, but their faith in him is faith in the Triforce, and in the Goddesses themselves. If he falters, Goddesses forbid, then the people may be hurt, yes, but that is when they will turn to the Goddesses. And should mortal means fail to turn back the tide of darkness, than Divine Will shall."
Zelda pulled away from the old man and smiled fondly at him. "Thank you, Father Abbot. I appreciate your kind words."
The Abbot bowed deeply. "I am ever your willing servant, my princess. If ever you have need of me, simply call and I will answer."
Zelda lowered her gaze and turned her eyes towards the hand that bore the Triforce mark, obscured beneath a white glove. I may take advantage of your offer in the coming days, Father Abbot…
--
Eriol sat astride his horse and stared at the vast horde of monsters behind him. The entire mass of Ganon's army had gathered at the base of Death Mountain, on Hyrule Field. It seethed and writhed like a living thing, and Eriol could imagine the dark mass devouring Hyrule wherever it traveled. He shuddered. Such destruction was not a promised thing, but he felt it would come regardless – and despite his feelings towards his brother and his supposed betrayal of Hyrule, he realized he didn't want to see his homeland destroyed.
It's too late to feel remorse, he thought bitterly. I've gone this far… I can't turn back.
Medara rode up beside him, looking smug. "Whatever is the matter, Eriol? You look positively sick."
He scowled and nudged his warhorse away from her.
"Surely you're not having second thoughts about the invasion? This is your chance to prove just how loyal you are to Lord Ganondorf." The scorn that dripped from her voice tore at Eriol's heart. Medara had been aggressive towards him for the past two weeks, ever since Link had escaped. Aggressive? No, she had been downright hostile.
"My loyalty is without question," Eriol muttered. He longed to be close with Medara again. Goddesses know he had tried to make amends… but the witch was unforgiving, and his stubborn streak had kept him from making more than a cursory gesture towards reconciliation.
"Yes, quite. Your loyalty has spoken volumes."
Eriol trembled. He clutched a fist and tried to reign in his anger.
"Now now, Medara," Ganon's voice rumbled. "Leave the boy alone. We have more important matters to concern ourselves with."
"Of course, master."
Eriol looked over his shoulder at the Evil King. He rode upon an armored charger that looked impossibly massive. It snorted and tossed its head impatiently, its red eyes glaring balefully down at the gathered troops. Ganon himself was clad in robes or ornate designs, most of which were Gerudo – Eriol had remembered seeing a carpet with similar inscriptions long ago at a market.
The time has come, Eriol thought. Now we'll sweep into Hyrule and overthrow the king. Slaughter countless Hylians. Reclaim the freedom so long denied to the monsters and the Hadar. It felt as though he had adopted the cause so long ago that he had forgotten what it was. When he reminded himself of why they were marching to war, the words seemed hollow, empty. Once, when he had first joined Ganon, he had envisioned a Hyrule where all creatures were free to do as they please. Now all he saw was death, destruction and decay.
When did things change? When did I lose faith in what I was fighting for? Did I ever believe in that cause to begin with? After all his posturing before Link, all his claims to believe in what he was fighting for… Eriol felt embarrassed. Like he had made some terrible mistake that he still could not admit to.
It'll all be over soon. We'll march to Hyrule Castle and bring the Royal Family to their knees. I'll fight Link for the last time. And then what? Would he kill his brother? Would Ganon take the throne and through Hyrule into a new dark age?
Eriol watched the army assemble. The Hadar gathered themselves into the front lines. The Moblins in the center, surrounding a solid core of Darknuts. Lizalfos, Stalfos, and Wolfos forming the flanks and countless other monsters filling the gaps. A sea of all the creatures Eriol had been taught to hate growing up. And now he fought alongside them, wearing their armor, wielding the sword his father had used to fight against them. And of course, beyond the vast horde of beasts, carts and wagons carrying materials taken from what had once been Kakariko village to be used for siege engines.
He suddenly felt sick inside.
Turning away from the army, his eyes settled on the back of a mailed fist curled tightly around the reigns of his horse. Beneath that armor laid the mark of the Triforce emblazoned upon the back of his hand. The Triforce of Power. The power to start wars or end them.
Which path have I chosen?
