BOOYAH! New personal best update record! Just couldn't wait to start things off again so I decided to plough through it while my fingers were still itching. Screw final exams and projects! I have a fanfiction to write! Muahahahah!
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Yeah...I actually better start working on that stuff...this coming week is going to be the Week from Hell...Oh well, I'll manage somehow. I always do.
Anyway I sincerely hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I've been waiting so long to write this one that I've probably thrown away over a dozen different scenarios and ideas from brainstorming it for years. I hope it came to together as well in writing as it did in my head...But I'll let you all be the judge of that.
On another note I also noticed that I made a mistake in my chapter numberings a few chapters ago and called chapter 15 chapter 16 instead so now there's a jump between 14 and 16. For simplicity sake I'm going to go along with it and keep the numbers as is so this chapter is now Chapter 18 even though technically it's supposed to be 17. Hope nobody is bothered by that little snafu.
Anyway first things first as you all know: READER RESPONSE!
To:
Obiki Doragon: Aww yes...the manly tears of epic manliness...Don't worry as soon as I read your review I immediately pulled up a picture and reread it with the image next to it. I'm sooo glad you enjoyed it! As for your question...I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with it yet but obviously I'm not going to be like the game and just do one story line. I plan on pulling pieces from Hector's story line (if I can remember it well enough) and incorporating it into Eliwood's. I'll figure something out, don't worry!
Bloodwold432: Thanks for your opinion about OC's. I know they have a place in fanfiction and maybe I'll consider it further down the road but as of right now I have no plans for it. Who knows though, anything can happen.
WildfireDreams: Thanks! Neither could I!
Jlink: Yeah I know right? Time flies. Hopefully it won't take nearly that long to finish Eliwood's. As for monsters from Hyrule I actually have thought about that and in some ways I'm still debating. Have to see how it goes.
AzureEnding: Perhaps one sided for now. That could change though and yes I do plan on delving into the feelings of the other girls as well just not right away. Character development is important and I greatly appreciate your opinion. And yes, this chapter is the first one in Eliwood's story.
Lazruth: Bahahah! Oh wow I'm honored! Glad I made you're average day awesome! I actually thought about Nergal having a hand in the coup but I decided against it. I think at that point he'd be too concerned to get Ninian and Nils back to really care about Lundgren. I really wanted to throw in some fluff with Florina but I honestly couldn't figure out where to fit it in without seeming forced at the time. I plan on putting it in at a later time during a flash back. I do have some interaction with Link, Bartre and Marcus next chapter though. Hope you like it.
Infinite Freedom: Yeah I guess, but late isn't that great.
Jimbobob5536: Haha glad you like it and I have big plans for Link and Nergal. Big plans.
Anarion Star-Dragon: Thank you very much and I will!
Mitsuki Shigamatsu: Eliwood starts his journey to find his father and eventually takes on Nergal.
Dessel Ordo: Yeah she did get off a little easier but Link was actually trying to scare Eliwood while Lyn was trying to test herself. Also at that point Lyn had far more experience than Eliwood and would have stomped him into the ground if they fought so I'd say she would have fared better regardless. I hope this new chapter also marks the first in a period of regular updates. Hope to hear from you again!
Herr Wozzeck: I know right? Took forever but now we finally get to make our way into the real fun part of the story!
Wraith54: Thank you and I'll try to get more stuff done faster!
AreiaCanaid: Yay! Glad you're not dead! Don't worry all will be explained in time. Please try not to die before then!
Adyen: Thank you very much. You're right, Link wouldn't hesitate to help anybody who needed it and he does so wherever he can. He kinda gets a reputation that way. Haha!
Jahm: Yeah it took a long time. Hopefully I'll finish this long before 2019 (assuming the world doesn't end in a few weeks of course). I am glad you hold my fic in such high degree and thank you for gifting me with your reviews!
Linkfan680: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
21stGeneration: Yup...not a good ratio. Trying to fix it! Really glad you still like it though! Hopefully you enjoy the next arc as well!
Galdr: Hahaha not as late as I am so don't worry! I'm glad you read through my responses. I answer a lot of questions in them so I hope people get something out of them. Yes Link is going to train Rebecca but it won't be like Wil. You'll just have to wait and see! I'm not sure entirely about incorporating Twilight Princess skills but I'm definitely thinking about it and the masks will make an appearance eventually as well. I'm glad you liked the interaction with Wil though since I'm trying to turn him back into the happy guy he is. As for Link's class...I guess you could technically call him a Hero like Raven but really he can adapt to any situation since he's a skilled horseman as well as a magic user. So I think he could be a class all his own kinda like Athos, the archsage. How about we call it...the Awesome class? Yup I like that. Link the Awesome. Has a nice ring to it. Hahaha! Anyway as I said earlier I have big plans for Link and Nergal. Big plans. And finally; you wrote a story because you were inspire by me?! Wow, I don't know what to say! That's awesome! I feel so honored! Thank you for telling me, I'll have to take a look at it sometime. Good luck with it!
Swordmaster7175: Thanks glad you liked it!
Raikouga: Thank you for your praise and I am happy to hear you enjoyed it. That is a good question. Yes this story takes place chronologically after Majora's Mask but according to the official Hyrule Historia the events of Wind Waker was one of three separate timelines which branched out as a result of the events in Ocarina of Time. My story follows the path that moves towards Twilight Princess. The reason why he has the Master Sword now is because he was able to return to Hyrule sometime after the events of Majora's Mask because he once again possessed his normal body as well as the Ocarina of Time. Then after he grew old enough to wield it properly again, he took it from its resting place in order to best protect the land he cared about with the plan to return it once the time was right. Thank you for the question and I hope that explanation satisfies your curiosity. I hope to hear from you again!
Alright well that's all of them! Once again I'd like to thank everyone that reviews and gives me their input. You're words are the driving force behind my will to write and I greatly appreciate all who have supported me! Now without further ado, I present:
Whom She Found
Chapter 18:
A New Journey
Once, dragon fought man in a war called the Scouring… Mankind vanquished the dragons thanks to the efforts of eight heroes. These eight mighty generals brought peace to Elibe. The continent was divided into nations, and the people enjoyed an easy prosperity.
The hero Hartmut settled in the east and founded Bern, famed for its military might.
St. Elimine moved west, and her sacred name flourished among the artisans of Etruria.
The horseman Hanon's legacy lived on with the nomads of his beloved plains of Sacae.
The birthplace of the knight Barigan is now home to the renowned Knights of Ilia.
The berserker Durban's final glory was to create a warrior's clan in the Western Isles.
The archsage Athos is said to have retired to the barren wasteland of Nabata.
The mysterious Bramimond vanished from the eyes of the world with only a few knowing his location.
The heirs of the champion Roland themselves became the lords of the Lycian League.
Elibe has enjoyed a peace that spans 980 years… How much longer can this peace stand before its foundations begin to crumble? Deep within the Lycian League lies Pherae, a land that has known no conflict for many generations, but which now finds itself touched by a shadow of unease. Its beloved and benevolent ruler, Lord Elbert, has mysteriously vanished…as have a number of his sworn men, loyal knights who serve at his side. A month has passed without word from the marquess. Rumors of his death abound. However, the marquess's son believes his father lives, and he has vowed to find him. Marquess Pherae's son, Eliwood: A red-haired youth who will one day become the finest knight in all of Lycia. His long journey begins here; a quest that he will be unable to face alone, but perhaps there will be those who will aid him along the way...
xxx
It had been a month since he had seen his father depart from the castle. With no word of his whereabouts and the pain of seeing his mother's grief, Eliwood had grown determined to find his father. This decision saw him by the castle gates one morning preparing to depart along with a few loyal men.
"Lord Eliwood," Marcus, a veteran knight and mentor to Eliwood, announced to the young lord. "We leave on your word."
The fiery red haired young man turned to the older knight and smiled. "I see. Thank you, Marcus." He then turned to the two beautiful women standing next to him and focused on one in particular. "Mother, it's time for us to go."
"Eliwood…" his mother, Lady Eleanora, looked at him sadly. "Promise that you will return to me safely. I'm worried about your father, but… If anything were to happen to you… My heart could not bear that sorrow."
"I know, Mother." Eliwood embraced her lovingly. "Please do not worry. Father is alive, I know it. I vow that I will find him and return him to your side."
His mother smiled and returned the embrace. "I have your word then."
"Yes, of course." Eliwood nodded and turned to the woman at his mother's side. "Isadora, I entrust my mother to you in my absence."
"Yes, milord." The female knight nodded. "I will guard over her well."
"Thank you." Eliwood smiled to her and then mounted his horse. "Mother, I will return. Rest easy."
Eleanora and Isadora waved farewell and watched Eliwood and Marcus depart.
"Well, Marcus," Eliwood chuckled lightly. "It looks like it's just the two of us."
"Not so, milord." Marcus shook his head. "My man Lowen will be traveling with us."
"Lowen?" Eliwood tilted his head to the side as he remembered the knight born from a poor village whom Marcus had taken an interest in. He chuckled again. "That's reassuring."
"I've sent him ahead to the nearby village." Marcus explained as they rode. "He hopes to seek out a few able men who are skilled at arms. Normally, I wouldn't venture forth without a larger company, but… I bow to your will on this matter, Lord Eliwood."
Eliwood nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry, Marcus, but I would rather not deprive my mother of even a single guard. The best knights in the realm disappeared with my father. If anything were to happen to my mother while I am gone, I…"
"I understand, milord." Marcus replied as Eliwood trailed off. After a short time the village came into sight and they had yet to see the man that had been sent ahead. "Hmph!" Marcus growled. "What's keeping Lowen!?"
xxx
One year…
It had been one year since he had left Caelin and gone in search of answers.
One year since he had said good bye to his friends.
He had traveled far during that time, roaming the land of Elibe chasing after any lead he could find. Yet for all his travels and research Link was no closer to finding out how to return to his world or even how he got here in the first place.
He had first traveled to Etruria, the magical capital of Elibe, as per Lyn's suggestion but he was unable to obtain the answers he sought. The Church of Elimine, while sympathetic to his plight, had no knowledge of any spell that could transcend the boundaries between worlds. The Grand Library of Aquleia did not house such information either; at least not in any of the parts he was able to gain access too. The time spent was not a complete waste however; he learned much about Elibe and its history as well as greatly expanding his knowledge of magic. While he would never be the scholar and magician that Zelda was it was fascinating for him to learn about the differences between Hyrule's magic and Elibe's. He had even been able to successfully combine the two in some aspects to create new spells all his own. Granted they still weren't as powerful as pure Hylian magic but they were less draining and packed more of a punch than a standard Elibian spell.
Outside of magic the closest he had come to learning about traveling to different worlds was the existence of something called the Dragon's Gate, a portal the ancient dragons used to leave Elibe. However the location of the Gate had been lost and he was unable to discern its whereabouts with public resources. A secret like that was sure to be closely guarded by only a select few. Of course there were a number of rumors and speculations but nothing concrete enough to narrow the search down. But even if he was to find it, the precious little information he was able to find about it said that the Gate was created by dragons for dragons. He doubted he'd be able to use it even if it still existed and it was also highly likely that it only went to one place.
After his time in Etruria Link had wandered the country helping people who needed it along the way; searching for any clue that could lead him to his answers. He never stayed long in one place but tales of his deeds soon traveled across the land. He chuckled to himself whenever he heard some of the titles that people had given him and the rumors surrounding them. The Demon of Caelin, The Green Slayer, Wraith of the Forest, the list went on. But out of all the titles he had heard his favourite so far was "The Green Wanderer." He thought it suited him nicely and it seemed to be the one most recognized.
Sometimes he took escort jobs when he found a caravan or such that was traveling towards his next destination. He did so more for the company and opportunity to gather information than the money. He really had no need for payment since he found out early on what his rupees were worth here. Rupees were gemstones created by the crystallized concentration of magic energy. It was why they could be found in random places throughout Hyrule and why monsters, upon their defeat and subsequent release of magic energy, sometimes left rupees behind. The magic stored within them could even be harnessed in some ways and used as an energy source. The purity and concentration of the magic energy which created the rupee affects its size and color making some more valuable than others.
In this world however even a single green rupee, the most common type, was akin to a rare and valuable jewel. Link remembered trying to pay for a single meal with one at a tavern in Etruria and ended being housed quite luxuriously for over a week. He felt a little guilty about such a result until he asked a local jeweler to examine a couple of rupees to make sure that he wasn't cheating anyone. The jeweler was stunned to see the gemstones and after intense scrutiny proclaimed them to indeed be very valuable, even asking Link if he would sell a few of them right on the spot. Needless to say Link was never hurting for money after that. However; such wealth never meant much to him since he was by no means considered poor back in Hyrule and he was quite happy living a frugal life. Here in Elibe, even though he was considered vastly more wealthy, he had yet to use a rupee since he had discovered there value and easily made due with the gold he earned on the occasional escort job. A job such as the one he had just finished with a merchant caravan en route from Bern to Pherae.
Now that his job had finished he was free once again to return to his wanderings. He had hoped to find a few answers while in Bern but once again he found nothing to help. He idly wondered where he should travel next. Now that he was back in Lycia he thought about returning to Caelin to check up on Lyn and the others. He smiled as the memories of his time with the Legion played through his head. It was then that he remembered the help given to them by the young Pheraen lord, Eliwood. Link still owed him for aiding them during the inheritance dispute with Lundgren. Since he was in Pherae now, Link wondered if he could meet with Eliwood and thank him properly. He was also curious to see how much he had grown since Link had opened his eyes during their little spar. With this in mind Link turned Epona towards Pherae's capitol.
xxx
Crouched in a tree a young girl stared silently at the ground below, fingers twitching in anticipation. Her slow steady breathing silent to the world around her. She waited with a hunter's patience until at last her target came into view. Slowly she raised her bow and drew back the string taking careful aim before letting the bolt fly. The arrow sung through the air and her shot was rewarded by the high pitched squeal of a hare. Grinning to herself in triumph, Rebecca, dropped out of the trees and happily skipped towards her prize.
"Heh heh, well you're a big fella aren't cha?" She giggled as she knelt down to retrieve the arrow. The hare was nice and plump and would certainly make a good meal, her father would be very pleased to see it.
Being the daughter of a village chief Rebecca had lived a happy and content life with her father and the villagers. Her bright, cheerful attitude and tomboyish nature made her quite dear to the villagers and she was rarely seen without a smile on her face. Ever since she was a young girl she had loved exploring the world around her. There had been many times where her father had lost track of her and been thrown in a panic only to find her hidden away in someone's loft or up in a tree somewhere. It didn't take her father long to decide to teach her how to hunt and ever since she had first held one in her hands, Rebecca had loved the bow. She loved searching the woods and plains around her village for game and seeing her head out early in the morning was a common occurrence. Today she had managed to track her latest prize to a nice grassy clearing in the woods full of flowers and clover; a perfect place for rabbits, deer, and other woodland creatures. It was a nice place and one she had been to a number of times in the past.
She stuffed the dead hare into a satchel which she slung over her shoulder and turned to head back towards the village. It was a nice sunny afternoon so she took her time strolling through the trees while making her way back to the main trail through the woods. The birds chirping over head brought a smile to her face and she began to whistle along with them. She idly wondered how she was going to cook the hare she had just killed and what food would go along best with it. Another one of her passions in life was in the kitchen. She had spent many a happy hour laughing while her mother taught her the delicate art of preparing all kinds of meals and desserts. As much as she enjoyed hunting Rebecca took an equal amount of joy in cooking what she brought home.
Her boots eventually hit the dirt of the well worn trail and she casually continued on her way not knowing of the danger she was walking towards. Thanks to the Marquess of Pherae, Lord Elbert, and his dutiful knights the local villages rarely feared the attacks of bandits. Any reported attack was swiftly dealt with and Rebecca's village was no exception given it's close proximity to Pherae's capitol. Unfortunately with the disappearance of Lord Elbert about a month ago along with many of his best knights the bandits in the area began getting braver.
A sudden quiet in the air caused the hair on Rebecca's neck to raise and she paused in her steps a moment to look around. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong even though she had walked this path alone many times. She stretched out her senses trying to discover any reason for her sudden nervousness but it was quiet, and that was the problem. It was too quiet. The birds had stopped singing whereas only moments before she was whistling along with them.
A sudden crack of a twig shattered the air and she whirled around to see scruffy and sinister looking man with an axe step out of the bushes with a sneer. Another man of similar stature also appeared from behind a tree opposite him.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here," The first man smirked. "Do I see lone wildflower walking these dangerous woods all by herself?"
"Aye," The second man grinned. "Tis such a shame. Why you never know what could be lurking in the shadows."
"Tis true, tis true," The first nodded. "And we can't just let her go off unescorted now can we?"
Rebecca's eyes widened in fear as the two men approached. She took a few tentative steps back before turning into a full blown run. But in her haste she did not notice the man standing behind her until she crashed into his chest. Her escape suddenly halted Rebecca stumbled back dropping her both her satchel and her bow. The poor girl looked up to find another pair of men blocking her path and fear quickly gripped her chest. She tried to make another mad dash to the bushes but one of the men was faster, seizing her arm and preventing her from running.
"Where are you going in such a rush girly?" the man holding her admonished as he twisted both her arms behind her back and held her tight. "Me and the boys ain't gonna hurt ya."
"Let go of me!" Rebecca shouted angrily and tried to thrash from his grasp but to no avail. The bandit merely laughed.
"Oh ho! She's got some fight to her!" His fellow bandits joined in the laughter as the closed in around her forming a tight circle around her. Even if she was somehow able to break free she wouldn't be able to get past the others; nevertheless she continued to struggle and squirm. She cried for help but had little hope that anyone would hear her, she was still a good distance away from the village and few people traveled this way regularly. One of the bandits reached up to grip her chin but she pulled away and attempted to bite his hand.
"Whoa!" The man jerked his hand away. "Oi! Rotten wench just tried to bite me!"
"Bwahaha! Good thing she didn't," one of the others guffawed. "The taste might'o killed her!"
The rest of the bandits laughed at his expense which only increased the man's ire.
"C'mere!" He roughly seized one of her arms and yanked her away from the man holding her. "I'll teach you some respect!"
The man raised his free hand to strike her and the young girl cringed away from the impending blow. Just as he was about to swing the bandit suddenly jerked forward and his grip loosened. Rebecca gasped in surprise as the man slowly tilted forward before crashing into the ground, an arrow protruding from his back.
"What the-?" The remaining bandits all looked to the direction the arrow had come and saw a lone figure barreling towards them on a horse. Rebecca's eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and awe. Relief at the prospect of being rescued and awe from the distance from which the arrow had been shot.
"Son of a- " one of the remaining bandits cursed and reached to grab Rebecca again only for an arrow to pierce his hand. He cried out in pain for a moment but was immediately silenced by a second arrow to his heart. Again Rebecca marveled at the accuracy of her rescuers shots and the speed at which they were made especially from horseback.
One of the last two remaining bandits attempted to meet the charge but he too was quickly felled by the rider's bow. The last bandit turned to flee from the warrior in terror and dove for the sanctuary of the bushes and trees. The horse came to a skidding halt in front of Rebecca as the rider watched him flee into the woods with cold eyes.
Rebecca stared at her rescuer in silence and thanked the grace of St. Elimine that her cries had been answered. She couldn't believe that his man had shown up during her greatest hour of need and had saved her with skills far greater than anything she had seen before. To her it was almost as if an angel had come to her rescue and she couldn't find the strength of voice to thank him. She just continued to stare.
Meanwhile her savior kept his eyes firmly glued onto the fleeing bandit's figure and his other senses tuned for any more dangers. He stayed that way until he was sure there was no other danger present before he swiftly dismounted and turned to the girl he had saved.
"Are you alright, miss?" He asked gently as he studied her features. The girl was young, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, with vibrant green eyes and matching hair that was tied in a pair of pigtails. She wore a simple leather half shirt with a black undershirt and a matching leather short skirt. A blue sash hung from her waist and a light green bandana adorned her head. On her left hand she wore a long black fingerless glove that matched her undershirt while a light leather full glove covered her right. Overall she was a very attractive young woman.
"I...uh..yes, I'm alright." Rebecca replied although still shaken from the experience. She gazed at her savior with something akin to wonder. He was a strikingly handsome young man with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Under his well worn cloak he wore a forest green tunic, a white undershirt and leggings. A long green floppy hat sat comfortably on his hand and her eyes suddenly widened when she glanced at his ears; they were long and pointy. She blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't seeing things.
"That's good," the man nodded in relief. "It's a good thing I was passing through."
"Yes, it was," Rebecca smiled, shaking her head from her stupor, and bowed to him. "Thank you very much."
"It's nothing," He casually waved her off. "I'm just glad I could help. Do you live near here?"
Rebecca nodded. "My village is just beyond these woods. I was heading back from my hunt when those men attacked me."
"Then I shall accompany you back there," the warrior grinned cheerfully and bent down to retrieve her bag.
"Oh no!" Rebecca shook her head hastily. "You don't need to do that, I'll be alright."
"Nonsense," He shook his head and handed her the satchel before he mounted his horse. "I could never just leave after something like that. Besides," He grinned and offered her his hand. "Where there's a village there's a tavern and I could use a hot meal and a nice drink."
Rebecca giggled lightly and took his hand. "Very well then. Allow me to treat you to dinner then as thanks. I'm Rebecca by the way," She smiled at him and then had to stifle a gasp as he swiftly and effortlessly pulled her up behind him.
"Nice to meet you, Rebecca. I'm Link."
xxx
The bandit that survived ran back to the main group and hurried to find their leader and tell him what had happened.
"What?!" the leader roared. "You mean you lost to one man on a horse?!"
"It's not our fault boss!" the bandit explained frantically. "He was an amazing shot with a bow! He killed two of us before we could even think about fighting back!"
"I see..." the leader growled. "Hmmm...well then we'll just have to pay that village a visit and with the knights of Pherae gone there won't be anyone to get in our way. We'll get our revenge and plenty of gold to boot!"
xxx
It did not take long for Rebecca and Link to reach the village whereupon the pair were surrounded by people when they saw the chief's daughter with an unfamiliar man. It didn't take long for the story to go around and Link soon found himself sitting in the tavern as an honored guest while all the villagers crowded around laughing and thanking him for saving their precious wildflower. Rebecca for her part had decided to make him a nice stew out of the hare she had killed as thanks and was currently in the kitchen although she could still hear what was going on outside.
"So what can we get for our hero of the day?" The tavern owner laughed from behind the bar counter. "On the house!"
"Ah, thought you'd never ask!" Link grinned. "I'd like a nice big mug of milk, please."
The bar keep looked at him in surprise for a moment before roaring with laughter along with the other villagers.
"Milk? I offer any drink you want and you ask for milk?" The man guffawed and slapped the counter top. "You sir, are an interesting fellow!"
Link kept his grin ad shrugged. "What can I say? It's my thing." And indeed it was true. Ever since he had first tasted the sweet heaven sent nectar that was Lon Lon milk he had become addicted to the stuff. It was easily his favourite drink in the entire world and even though normal milk couldn't match the taste or the nutritional healing properties of Lon Lon Ranch's prized export he still loved it. It had been almost two weeks since he had last had his fix and his face lit up with pure joy when a pint of nice cold milk was placed in front of him.
"Ah well to each his own, I say," The tavern owner chuckled cheerfully as he set the mug in front of the ecstatic Hylian. "Enjoy!"
With a delicate reverence that brought a chuckle from everyone one around him, Link carefully raised the mug to his lips and took a long slow swig.
"AH!" He sighed heavily in relief as he slammed the mug back to the counter. "THAT hit the spot...Delicious..."
His declaration brought another round of laugher from the villagers while a giggling Rebecca came out with a bowl of stew and some fresh bread.
"Hard to believe my hero has such a unique taste in drinks," She smiled as she put the tray in front of him.
"Mmmm," Link inhaled the wonderful scent deeply. "Smells great!" He dug in with gusto and his eyes lit up from the rich heavenly flavor. "Tastes even better! Remind me to save you more often!"
Again the villagers laughed at him knowing full well how good of a cook the young girl was while Rebecca smiled and blushed at the praise. Unfortunately their laughter was cut short when the doors to the tavern suddenly burst open. Everyone, with one notable exception, turned to see a large gruff looking man with dark green hair and a scruffy beard walk through followed by several others.
"Well, well, well," the man looked around the room. "Nice place you got here."
The village chief, Rebecca's father, took a step forward. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"Heard some of my boys had a run in with some punk on a horse," the bandit leader sneered. "So we thought we'd come pay a visit. We've all heard that the knights of Pherae have vanished, right? Well, your misfortune is my good luck! I have an announcement to make! As of now, this village is mine! Groznyi is your new liege! Now bring out the sorry sack of flesh that attacked my men and every last piece of gold, down to the smallest fleck!"
The villagers all backed away in fear from the bandits as they brandished their weapons. Groznyi smirked at their expressions thinking that he finally hit the jackpot with this village. However he frowned when he noticed someone sitting at the bar counter, eating away without a care in the world. One of the bandits next to him, the same one that fled from Link earlier, recognized him.
"That's the guy, boss," He said, pointing to the Hylian. "That's the guy that attacked us."
Groznyi growled at this and stomped towards him.
"So you're the one who attacked my men?" He slammed a fist onto the counter next to Link. "Don't think I'll let you get away with that!"
Link however continued to ignore him as he continued eating the wonderful stew. This only added fuel to the bandit's rage.
"Oi! Lookit me when I'm talking to ya!" he roared.
The Hero of Time merely sighed as he put his spoon down. "Can't you see I'm eating here? This is much too good to spoil over a pointless fight. Go away and let me enjoy my meal. Shoo." He made dismissive waving motion with his hand and reached for his mug of milk only for it to be snatched away.
"What the hell is this?" Groznyi looked into the mug. "Is this milk? GeHAHAHA! Hey boys! Mr. Tough Guy here is drinking a mug of milk! What kind of a sissy boy are you?"
The bandits all roared with laughter at the weak livered choice of beverage but Link paid them no mind.
"Yeah fine," Link sighed and reached out for his mug. "Go on and laugh but can I have that back now? You obviously don't want it and I'm still thirsty."
Groznyi looked at the mug, then looked at Link and smirked. With a purposely exaggerated motion he slowly extended it towards the Hylian but just before Link could take it, Groznyi turned it over and dumped its contents onto the floor.
Link watched in stunned silence as the milk seemed to fall in slow motion before splattering on the cold hard wood. His mind didn't register the howling laughter of Groznyi or his men as it was entirely focused on the precious liquid pooling on the tavern floor. The passing seconds felt like minutes to the Hero of Time while the bandits around him continued to laugh at his expense
"So what do ya gotta to say about THAT, Mr. Tough Guy?" Groznyi sneared.
In response Link slowly mechanically lifted his head up to stare at the man.
His eyes darkened.
xxx
The bandits had moved in swiftly, taking most of the village completely by surprise especially since a large portion of the villagers were at the tavern. No one fought back and it wasn't long before the intruders were in control.
"Where is your chief?" the bandit leader demanded of a random young man.
"H-he's at the tavern with the other villagers," the lad responded. "He's thanking a traveler for saving his daughter."
"Hmmph, fine then," he turned to a few of his men. "You lot come with me, we're going to the tavern! The rest of you make sure everyone stays quiet around here til we get back!"
As the bandit leader left with his group they didn't notice a young man wearing the armor of Pherae's cavalry swiftly ride away. Lowen had witnessed the bandits raid the town but knew he could do nothing about it on his own so he waited for the opportunity to get away and find Lord Eliwood. His messy aquamarine hair flopped in the wind as he rode towards Pherae's capitol. Along the way he noticed two large men with axes walking casually down the road. One of them noticed his haste and called out to him.
"What's your hurry, knight?"
Lowen reigned his steed in to address them in a rush.
"The village up ahead has been taken over by bandits! I must find Lord Eliwood so we can drive them out!"
With that he continued on his rush leaving the two axe men behind. One of them a dirty blonde haired man wearing a tight blue shirt and a metal head band turned to the other.
"Bandits, eh?" He grinned. "Sounds like fun doesn't it, Dorcas?"
"Indeed," Dorcas nodded. "Let's check it out."
xxx
Lowen rode in a panic until at last he came upon his Lord and mentor.
"Lord Eliwood! Co-Commander Marcus!" He gasped out as he pulled his horse into a skidding halt "I…"
"Lowen! Calm yourself!" Marcus demanded. "A knight must be in control at all times."
"Yes sir, I'm sorry," Lowen took a deep breath to steady himself. "The village is under attack! It's bandits!"
The news startled the two men greatly. Bandits had not been a problem in Pherae for a long time, especially this close to the capitol.
"What?" Marcus growled. "Bandits? Here!?"
"Are you sure, Lowen?" Eliwood asked
Lowen nodded. "They moved in quickly, taking it over by surprise. Apparently a large number of the villagers were gathered at the tavern for something at the time."
"I see." Eliwood nodded and made his decision. "Marcus! Lowen! We must aid the village!"
"Yes, milord!" Both knights agreed at once and they immediately rode off. It didn't take long for the village to come within sight and for them to see the bandits mulling around. Eliwood and his knights quickly dismounted and readied themselves to attack. But before they could charge they were approached by the same two men that Lowen had passed earlier.
"Well look at this, Dorcas!" one of them spoke. "The knight was right! It's Lord Eliwood!"
"So it would seem," Dorcas agreed.
"So here to protect the innocents are you, milord?" Dorcas's companion laughed. "That's a right lordly thing to do!"
"You talk too much," Dorcas sighed and bowed lightly to Eliwood. "Allow us to help you."
"Hmmm," Eliwood looked at him for a moment. "You...you were one of Lady Lyndis's companions were you not?"
"Indeed I was, milord." Dorcas nodded.
"Ah," Eliwood smiled. "Then I would greatly appreciate your assistance."
"Right!" the other man laughed and hefted his axe. "Leave these mountain weaklings to me! I'm Barte the Brave!"
The group quickly advanced on the village and attacked the bandits within who were surprised to see Pheraen Knights suddenly appear. Eliwood struck first, attacking a man wielding an axe. Ever since his fight with Link, Eliwood had pushed himself much harder in his training. The experience had revealed his shortcomings to him and the error in his mindset. Since then he had requested that his spars be done with a real weapon against him and not a blunted training one. He had even asked to have the blunted tip of the training rapiers removed so that in every spar he had a large chance of injury. He wouldn't say what had caused this sudden change in attitude even to his father or Marcus but nobody could deny the results. He had even managed to pull ahead of his friend Hector during their bi monthly spars, winning the last several in a row much to Hector's ire. Eliwood still had much to learn but he had made good progress towards realizing his full potential earlier than he would have otherwise.
Now this bandit would be his first real fight with someone he could match and defeat. It wasn't really that much of a contest either. The bandit barely had time to raise his weapon when the young Lord darted forward and thrust his rapier through his chest. The bandit coughed in surprise as Eliwood withdrew the blade before he fell to the ground, dead. Eliwood blinked and took a deep breath in order to process what he had just done. His first kill. He didn't like it. It was not a pleasant feeling knowing he had just taken another's life even though he knew it was necessary. He prayed that way of thinking wouldn't change.
Shaking his head free from the thoughts he turned to see Marcus fall upon a pair of bandits and route them easily; the veteran knight's skills were far beyond that of a few paltry mountain thieves. Lowen had also challenged a bandit and won without major difficulty. The two axe men they had picked up, Dorcas and Bartre, on the other hand were an interesting sight to watch. Both men swung their axes with gusto showcasing their great physical strength showed with each swipe. Bartre was laughing loudly as he attacked, enjoying himself immensely, while Dorcas maintained his quiet and reserved demeanor. His experience fighting with the Legion shone through in comparison to his companion however and Eliwood could tell he was more skilled. After a moments pause Eliwood steeled himself and rejoined the fray. It did not take long for the five of the them to plough through the majority of the bandits outside.
"Quickly!" Eliwood called out. "We must reach the tavern and save the villagers inside!"
They continued to fight and managed to drive the few remaining bandits to the front of the tavern. As Eliwood's group closed in around them one of the bandits hastily turned and ran for the entrance so he could find his boss. Just as he reached the door a heavy body crashed through the wooden obstacle and knocked him off his feet. Both men cleared the porch and the steps to land heavily on the hard ground.
The sudden action surprised everyone around and they blinked as the man who flew through the door groaned and rolled over slowly. His face was bloody and his shirt was torn, one of his eyes was black and swollen shut. He looked up with his one good eye and took in the sight of royal Pheraen armor. He sat up immediately and grasped the hem of Eliwoods cape.
"M-milord! Please!" The bandit begged. "Send me to the dungeons! I beg of you! H-he's a monster! A demon! Save me please!"
"What in blazes?! Release Lord Eliwood!" Marcus demanded and kicked the bandit away. "What is going on?"
"Let's find out." Eliwood narrowed his eyes and moved towards the door, the few remaining bandits too stunned by their comrades actions to fight them.
They all peered through the now much wider entrance of the tavern and gasped in shock. If a heard of bulls had charged through the interior they doubted they could have done more damage. Broken tables and chairs littered the area, shelves had been smashed and ornaments shattered. There were holes in walls and in the roof and the stairway was almost destroyed. Even the thick bar counter had been smashed. It was a disaster. But what really caught everyone's attention were the bodies of bandits strewn everywhere. Some hung from holes in the walls, a few laid in the wreckage of a busted table, a pair of legs stuck out a hole in the stairs, there was even a bandit hanging from the candelabrum. Not a single one was conscious. The villagers were cowering in corners throughout the tavern their attention entirely focused towards the broken bar counter where a cloaked man in green was crouched down gripping the hair of another and pushing his face into the floor.
"Drink it!" the man in green roared. "Every last drop!"
The bandit he was holding whimpered and Eliwood's eyes widened at the sight of his face. It was a broken bloody disfigured mass of flesh. Both eyes were swollen shut, his face was heavily bruised and bleeding, his lips were cut and his nose was completely crushed. Eliwood doubted he had any teeth left in his mouth either.
"What?! Still not good enough for ya!" the man in green shouted and smashed his head into the floor again. "I said drink it! Suck it up now before I decide to replace this part of the floor with your face!"
The bandit whimpered again and tried to drink the blood mixed liquid but with little success. His face was just too beat up to even make an attempt. That wasn't about to stop his oppressor though, at least until Eliwood decided to intervene.
"What's going on here?" He demanded causing everyone in the room to snap their attention to him, with the exception of the green clothed man who still had his focus on Groznyi.
"Just teaching this man a lesson." He growled in response.
"I think he's had enough," Eiwood declared. "Stand down."
The man in green growled again but didn't move.
"Did you hear me?" the young lord narrowed his eyes and raised his rapier. "Stand down or we will make you."
A moment of tense silence passed before the cloaked man chuckled lightly. "Looks like today is your lucky day, Groznyi. You better thank the light of Elimine they came." He released his grip on the man and stood up. "Been a long time, Eliwood." He turned to the lord with a grin. "How have you been?"
Eliwood gasped and dropped his sword in surprise. "Link? Is that you?"
"One and only," Link nodded.
"Milord," Marcus turned to Eliwood. "Do you know this man?"
"Yes," Eliwood nodded. "I met Link last year during the trouble in Caelin last year. He's an incredible warrior. If not for him the marquess of Caelin and his granddaughter, Lyn, would not have survived Lundgren's uprising."
"Him?" Marcus narrowed his eyes at Link. "You're the Behemoth of Caelin?"
"Well now," Link laughed. "That's one I haven't heard yet."
"What happened here? And what are you doing in Pherae?" Eliwood asked.
"Still trying to find my way home," Link shrugged. "I was just passing through when these idiots decided to interrupt the best meal I've had in over a month. Then they went and spilled my drink."
"All this?" Eliwood looked gestured to the carnage around him. "For that?"
Link shrugged. "To be fair I haven't had my fix in over two weeks and I did warn them." He looked around and sighed. "Although I might have gone a little overboard...this place is a mess."
He reached into a bag on his belt and pulled out a few rupees. He then turned and tossed them to the tavern owner cowering behind the till.
"Sorry about the damage." Link scratched his head sheepishly. "Hope that covers the cost of repairs."
The man's eyes bulged as he picked up the precious gems. "Aye...I th-think this should be good." He stood up nervously, looking at the Hylian in a new light. "Don't suppose I could offer you a refill?"
Link laughed and casually kicked the stool he had been sitting on before, one of the few unbroken ones, back into a standing position and at back down. "Yes, please!"
And with that the tension was broken and the villagers cheered for their hero again. Meanwhile Eliwood eyed his drink curiously and raised an eyebrow at the mugs contents.
"Milk?"
xxx
"So you're on your way to find your father, then?" Link asked Eliwood after the bandits had been dealt with and cleared out. Eliwood had explained to him the situation in Pherae and how he had just left on his journey.
"Yes," Eliwood nodded. "I must find him, whatever the cost."
"I see." Link mused to himself. "Well would you mind if I tagged along?"
Eliwood blinked in surprise. "You want to travel with us?"
"I still owe you for helping Lyn last year and I have no solid destination at the moment. Perhaps I can help you this time."
Eliwood stared at the Hylian for a moment before he smiled graciously. Truth be told they still needed a few more men to accompany them. Dorcas and Bartre had already agreed to travel with them earlier, one a little more enthusiastic than the other, but even so a few more people would be much welcome. If Link were to join them Eliwood knew they would be getting the best possible reinforcement he could imagine. "We are a small group with no clue as to where our path will lead but we would be much stronger with your company. I thank you, Link, and pray that we give you no cause to regret your decision."
Link merely chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. It was then that the village chief approached them.
"Thank you, Lord Eliwood, for coming to the aid of out village." He bowed to him.
"Think nothing of it," Eliwood shook his head. "It is a lord's duty to protect the citizenry."
The chief sighed. "Would that were true milord but I fear the people of Laus know no such protection. Their marquess, Lord Darin, is too busy preparing for war. He ignores all complaints of bandits and thieves."
Eliwood was startled by the news. "Preparing for war? Are you sure?"
"I would not lie, milord." The chief nodded. "My brother lived in Laus until a few days ago. His home was torched, and he had no choice but to flee here. According to him, Laus could go to war any day now. It's all the people of Laus are talking about."
"Lord Eliwood, if this is true, the situation is a grave one." Marcus announced. "If Marquess Laus is readying for war… His target is most likely another Lycian territory. Perhaps this is connected to Lord Elbert's disappearance."
"My father and Marquess Laus?" Eliwood questioned uncertainly. "It seems a tenuous connection, but it's as good a start as any. Let us travel to Laus. We must learn more. Come let us ride to Laus."
"By your word milord." Marcus nodded.
But before they could leave several of the other villagers approached them. A woman among them stepped forward and addressed Link.
"We can't thank you enough!" She bowed to him. "You not only save Rebecca but you also defended our town from those bandits."
"It was nothing," Link smiled sheepishly. "Just glad I could help."
"Even so we want to thank you," The woman gestured to a young man who presented Link with an ornate shield. "This is our villages treasure, a dragon shield. It's a magic imbued object said to have been used during the Scouring. We want you to have it."
"I can't take that." Link shook his head. I already have a shield and I certainly couldn't take your villages treasure."
The woman merely laughed. "It's been gathering dust in this place for years. I'm certain you can find a use for it somewhere. Please take it with our blessing."
Link sighed and reluctantly accepted the shield. "Thank you. I will put it to good use."
With that out of the way and their destination in mind, the group prepared to leave. As the chief walked towards his home he noticed his daughter geared up and preparing to leave.
"Rebecca!" He called to her. "Where do you think you're going, young lady?"
"Father, I…" Rebecca turned to him in surprise. "I intend to accompany Lord Eliwood and Link."
"Don't be ridiculous, girl!" The magistrate shook his head. "They are not going on a picnic. They're riding into danger."
"I know that, Father. That's why I want to go." Rebecca nodded determinately. "We owe them our lives. I owe HIM my life and I want to repay him. My bow may not be all that much, but I know I can be of service! Maybe I can even get Link to teach me. You weren't there father, his skill with a bow is incredible! I could learn much from him."
"But…" her father hesitated reluctantly.
"And, Father…" Rebecca continued softly. "I may meet up with my brother somewhere. You're the magistrate-you have responsibilities. I… This is all I can offer. I need to do this! Please, Father! Let me go!"
The chief stared at his daughter in silence for a moment before slumping his shoulders in defeat. "Dear me… You're just as stubborn as your mother was."
"I'm sorry, Father…" Rebecca lowered her head.
"You must bow to Lord Eliwood's wishes on this matter." The chief sighed heavily. "If he consents, you may go."
"Thank you, Father!" Rebecca cried and threw her arms around him.
The chief smiled and embraced his daughter. "Lord Elbert has always been kind to us. Follow his son with a true heart, Rebecca. Serve Lord Eliwood well, as I have served his father."
"I will, Father!" She replied and hurried to catch up with the Eliwood's company. She met them just as they were about to leave.
"Please wait!" She called to them.
"Hmm?" Eliwood turned his horse to her. "What is it?"
"If it please you milord," Rebecca bowed once she caught her breath. "Allow me to accompany you! I want to thank you both for what you've done today. Please allow me to fight with you. I hunt almost every day and I have some skill with a bow."
"Is that so," Eliwood tilted his head in thought. "You realize this could be dangerous."
"I know milord," Rebecca nodded. "That's why I want to come with you! You may need all the help you can get." She turned to Link and bowed her head nervously. "And I'm sure...if you would teach me...I could be of some use."
At this Link laughed and urged Epona a few steps forward. "You have a strong heart girl, you remind me of some of my friends in Caelin. I like you!" He craned his head to the red headed youth behind him. "Don't worry Eliwood, I'll look out for her." He grinned then offered his hand to Rebecca in much the same way as he did in the forest earlier. "Tell you what; you cook a meal like that for me again and I'll turn you into an archer you never dreamed you could be!"
"Deal!" Rebecca happily grasped his hand and was once again lifted effortlessly behind him.
"Alright then," Link turned back to the others. "Shall we be off?"
"Yes," Eliwood agreed. "To Laus!"
xxx
A/N: Well how about that?! Talk about record breaking update time! (For me at least) Hahaha! I was just way to excited over finally finishing Lyn's story that I just had to dive into Eliwood's. I've been itching to write his part for sooo long now! Feels good to finally get it outta my head and onto paper or screen or whatever you wanna call it. Anyway what do you guys think? Did the set up work as well on paper as it did in my head? Honestly I had about 5 different ways of bringing everyone together in tthis but I think this way worked out the best. We finally get to see Rebecca, one of my favourite characters in the game, and I can't wait to develop her a bit more and to start her training with Link. It's going to be a bit different than Wil's. Also I don't know about you guys but after playing Skyrim and constantly hearing the term "milk drinker" as an insult I couldn't help but think "You know, I dare you to say that to Link" since I've always believed him to be as addicted to Lon Lon milk as Naruto is to ramen or Sokka is to meat and that's how this scene was born. Betcha that scared Eliwood a bit, unknowingly pointing his sword at the guy who beat the ever loving tar outta him a year ago. HAHAHA! Oh I can't wait to introduce him to Hector! Anyway on another note how do you guys like my description of rupees? I incorporated the idea from the same concept I used with monsters burning up from the dark energy that powered them along with my reasoning as to why the Golden Armor in Twilight Princess was powered by them. Since Hyrule is a land so rich in magic it's no wonder that you can find them in random places or why people use them for many things besides money. It makes sense to me at least. So now we have Link starting his quest with Eliwood despite being no closer to finding his way home even after a year. Don't worry though, all that will be revealed in time! For now I hope you enjoyed this chapter! See you next time!