Just After Midnight, July 12, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 361
Lakeside Garrison, South-Central Hyrule
Princess Zelda and her guardian, Impa, quickly raced through the Temple of Water -searching for Lord Alfon. Behind them, echoed the Lake Gate's warning bell and the sounds of the terrified soldiers and townspeople, rapidly gathering weapons and armor to meet the approaching enemy. The young sovereign could feel the dark power bearing down upon the lakeside refuge – it felt as though all of the world to the North, East, and West had become blanketed in Ganon's power. Like a great tide, it rose and swelled against them, threatening to crush the small defenders guarding the road.
But the army would protect her – at least buy her time. For now, all of her focus lay upon the woman that Ganon had used to deliver his message. Before she fainted, Zelda had sensed a desperate, pitiful cry for help coming from her – but whatever remained of her spirit had been crushed by the dark lord. Still, she had to hope that this woman could be saved; That some small part of who she was still existed and could be nursed back to health. If it were possible, then the Hylians might have their first chance at learning what was happening within the capitol city and just maybe, learn how to fight Agahnim and his horde.
Nearing the infirmary, the princess stumbled – still very drained and weak from her battle with Ganondorf's phantom. "Your Grace! Please! You must rest!" urged Impa, who quickly came to her side and wrapped an arm around her. "I… I can't… leave her now, Impa." The girl muttered, shaking her head, "She's so close to the edge now… I have to try." As she finished, Lord Alfon emerged from the infirmary door and rushed to the princess' other side, helping her into the room.
All through the night, Zelda and her attendant worked feverishly to try and save Aveil's life. As the demon's great shadow drew over southern Hyrule and forced her army to retreat, the goddess reborn managed to preserve the Gerudo's life – though only time would tell if her mind and spirit could be saved.
Evening, July 17th, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 366
Provisional Throne Room, Lake Hylia
"Your Royal Highness," Alfon began slowly, "I regret to inform you that our latest sortie ended in failure. The enemy has closed a nearly impenetrable line around us just outside of the gates. Our men are exhausted and we have very few horses remaining. I don't see how we could manage a breakout within the next week." The assembled council leaned precariously over the map spread across the Princess' table with a shared mixture of horror and panic. The once long-stretching red and blue lines of flags across Hyrule – noting the positions of friendly and hostile forces – had been replaced by a thick red half-circle around the lake's entrance and a few pitiful blue circles, trapped within the garrisons and villages to the North.
"What then are you doing about it?!" barked Impa, turning her fierce red eyes over to him. The Lord was exhausted, his own eyes were bloodshot and sunken, his shoulders drooped, and he panted slightly – as if he could not get enough air into his lungs. For five days he had fought, charged, been repelled, fell back, and charged again – all without success. Scores of the enemy had fallen to his sword, but their numbers seemed to be limitless and their movements were swift and frighteningly cunning. Where ever the Hylians prepared to attack, the enemy seemed to read their minds and was able to ambush them each time.
"The men will not be able to continue this pace for much longer, my lady. We are digging defensive positions now. With them, our limited numbers will count for much more and we can take a small time to regroup." He answered, leaning upon the table and closing his eyes very tightly – in an effort to force the blood to flow. "You mean giving up?!" she snapped, "Just allowing them to pin us down and trap us against the lake?! Damned coward!" The Regent's lips were curled back and her left eye twitched. Everything was his fault: the failure of the outer commands to spot the enemy in time, the destruction of Central Hyrule, and the siege that they all found themselves under – the very siege that trapped her grace here and threatened to snuff out the last light in the world.
The weight upon the Lord's shoulders had grown considerably. He knew how dangerous the situation was and how desperately everyone was depending upon him. Mighty as Alfon was though, he was still only a mortal man. "My lady, I assure you-" he tried, but the minister lost her control and slammed her hands down upon the table, screaming at him, "DAMN YOUR ASSURANCES! MOVE THEM ALFON! OR I WILL FIND A MARSHAL WHO CAN!"
The room fell silent with shock. Impa had been angry before, but this was anger – completely out of control. Everyone knew the size of the enemy force – Alfon could not be blamed, and who would she replace him with? Few of the captains trapped at the lake qualified for such a responsibility and none would take it easily. The wounded Lord turned his bloody eyes to Impa in a hate-filled glare, before softening his expression and looking at Zelda. Slowly, reverently, he fell to one knee and drew his sword – offering it to her.
"If I have failed you, your royal highness… then I beg you to disarm me and send me away in shame." He asked. It was a bold move – choosing to offer his resignation to the princess and not the regent. True, Zelda represented her father: The Master of the Hylian Knights, but by choosing her over Impa, Alfon was stating that he did not recognize her authority in all things.
Much to the knight's shock, the princess did take the sword from his hands. "We are all strained. The war has taken an unexpected turn." She said softly, "But we must not turn upon one another, Impa. We are all friends in war here. His Lordship is doing everything he can – more than most men would be capable of – I am certain." He smiled up at her as she finished. Delicately, Zelda touched her lips to the sword's cross guard, and handed it back to him. "Fight hard and well sir, for we have need of you."
Afternoon, July 20th, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 447
The Front Line, Just North of Lake Hylia
After a week of furious fighting, the enemy seemed to pull back and settle into their siege positions. The Hylians – though fearful of the prospect of being besieged – took pride in the fact that they had driven back such an overwhelming force. But in truth, it was the recovery of Princess Zelda after her struggle to heal the Gerudo, Aveil, that turned the tide. Reaching out within her graceful state, the young daughter of the Goddess pressed outward with all of her strength and forced the claws of the shadow to recede. The effort was immense, and she very nearly failed, but the image of a scarred and battle-torn Link on the front line, urged her onward.
Lord Alfon, after taking a much-needed rest, returned to the line two days later and looked for his squire. He found the boy staged in the archers' trench on the Northwest flank of the Hylian line. Seeing him alive and safe, brought such a rush of relief and joy that the Lord nearly embraced his ward – but discipline and the eyes of a hundred other soldiers stopped him short. Instead, he rested a hand on the lad's shoulder and smiled. "I'm glad to see you well, son. How has it been here?" he asked. The young soldier quickly reported the order of attacks and counter-attacks that the Hylians had made since the night Gannondorf appeared – but he was much more eager to speak with his master about another pressing item.
The squire informed him that the Temple of Fire within Death Mountain had also been corrupted – its Sage had turned to the darkness and served Ganon. Urgently, Link pressed his master to remove the princess from the Temple of Water and to confront the Zora that guarded it. "Why haven't you spoken of this before?!" the knight angrily asked. "T-there was no time, my lord! With the attack and…" the boy stammered, until his master shouted over him, "You mean there was no time after you attacked Seb?! FOOLISH BOY! That should have been the first thing you told me at the entrance!" the man shouted, before dashing away.
Afternoon, July 20th, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 447
The Temple of Water, Lake Hylia
Marshal Alfon urged Impa to take the princess away from her provincial throne room and to guard her within Lake Town itself. "And where would you suggest I take her hm?" snapped the minister, "What half-rotted cabin would suit the sovereign of this kingdom? What family could we turn out and make homeless for her?" But the warrior's anxiety was too great – these small details did not matter! The girl had to be removed from danger! "I don't care where you take her! Take her to Telma's for all I-" but he was interrupted by the roaring laughter the sheikah let out. "TAKE HER TO YOUR WHORE'S TAVERN?! Have you lost your mind Alfon?! No, I think not. The temple is not the perfect solution, but it is the best that we have to hand. Besides, she is in no danger as long as I am close to her." She said, turning away from him and muttering under her breath, "Just rumors and bad dreams from that brat anyway."
"You may be charged with the Princess' protection, Impa…" Alfon called after her, "But I am charged with the preservation of the Sovereign's Realm – and that includes the Sovereign herself!" "Tell yourself that if you wish, Lord Marshal." She answered with a sly smile before closing the door.