"Is this really necessary?" the boy asked, obviously irritated.
"Of course, as the court-appointed healer I must make sure that, as the Princess' bodyguard, you are in the best of shape." Yuga replied, looking up at the boy while he knelt next to him, the violet sheen his black hair gave off in the light being more pronounced from that angle.
"What is this supposed to accomplish?" the boy asked, obviously suspicious.
"I take a blood sample and using a simple spell, examine it to detect ailments and toxins that may affect your health." Yuga explained calmly.
"Fine, get on with it, then." the boy answered.
"Ungrateful brat." Yuga thought while keeping his outward demeanor as pleasant as he could manage. He carefully placed a glass vial against the boy's exposed upper-arm while withdrawing a blade and pressing it into his skin, the boy giving off a small wince from the pain, Yuga drawing a sliver of enjoyment from that.
"Are you done?" the boy asked.
Yuga watched as blood flowed over the lip of the vial and began to form a small layer at the bottom. "I am now." he answered while producing a small bottle from a pocket within his robes. "Drink this and it'll heal you up quickly."
"What is it?" the boy asked pointedly.
"Sir Ravio, it is merely a healing potion, I assure you." Yuga answered.
Ravio stood, making his way to the door and placing his hand on the knob before stopping. "Will the princess have to do this as well?"
"I don't see why not. Checking up on one's health is always in one's best interests." Yuga responded.
"Fine, but I must be present." Ravio said before departing.
Yuga sat down behind his desk, his fingers curling into a tight fist, the sorcerer waiting until he was sure the boy Knight was out of earshot. "Arrogant cad." he growled while pounding his fist upon the table. Ravio had been in the court since he was a child, his father was a Knight who was part of the King's personal guard as his father was before him, he saved the King's life with his own as the cost during the second Gerudo War, the war that brought Yuga to the Castle at the age of ten. After his people had been defeated, he was taken as a hostage to assure his mother, the Gerudo Chieftain would never attack again or else forfeit her son's life. He had been brought up in the Castle walls, raised as a Lorulean with Loruleans, yet that didn't stop them from treating him like he was different and openly showing their disdain for him. This remained the same until his magical talents came to be, the royal family suddenly treating him like he was worth a damn. It was too late, though, he had already grown to hate them and their people and tonight, he was going to exact his vengeance.
Yuga gave a sigh before looking down at the bottom drawer on the left side of his desk, an iron lock secured over it. The sorcerer smiled as he reached for it, grabbing hold while producing a key from his robe, unlocking it and removing it before placing a hand on the drawer, Yuga reciting a short incantation that caused the drawer to flash green for a brief moment. Yuga had deemed the contents of the drawer so important that he had placed two locks upon it, a physical one and a magical one that would only open to certain incantation. Yuga withdrew a scroll from within the drawer. it's age evident due to the moisture damage and the moth-eaten fringes, but this failed to render it illegible. Yuga had the Hero's blood, he was ready.
oOo
Night had fallen, the moon hanging in the sky and casting a dim white light over the world as Yuga made his way through the forest, stepping over tree roots and ducking under branches until he arrived in a clearing. The sorcerer surveyed his surroundings, raising his staff to cast more light over them, a small smile tugging on the corners of his lips as he realized he had found it. The ruins of an ancient temple lay strewn about, portions of the walls and columns still embedded in the ground, nature having made an effort to reclaim them.
Yuga set about his work, locating the middle of the structure and etching a circle into the ground with his staff before dividing it into six sections, placing a rune into each.
"Well, here goes it." Yuga said, producing the bottle that contained the boy's blood from his robes. Yuga removed the cork before pouring it into the middle of the circle. Yuga took a step back as the circle began to glow, raising his arms and reciting the incantation he had found on the scroll.
"Sure ex carcere! Surge et, Daemonus Imperius, da mihi fortitudinem!"
The Sorcerer watched as the dim white glow in the circle slowly built, the light shining brighter and brighter until it nearly blinded him. Yuga's eyes widened as cracks began to spread out, the same white light erupting from them, his gaze being drawn back to the circle as the ground within it cracked and crumbled, the earth falling into the blinding white nothingness below it.
"It...it's working! The gate is opening!" Yuga exclaimed.
The gate began to widen, swallowing the shrubs, trees and the debris of the temple that surrounded it until it stabilized. Yuga watched it carefully, slowly approaching the edge and staring into the abyss. He saw nothing.
"Daemonus Imperius Demise! Vocavi te!" he called, receiving no answer. "Demon King Demise! I summon thee!" he tried again, this time in the modern tongue.
Yuga took a step back as the reality struck him, Demise wasn't there, but then where was he? Could he possibly have been freed already? Could he be...dead?"
"Damn it..." Yuga hissed. "Damn you!" he shouted, striking a nearby pillar with his staff. "Where have you gone?! Show me!" he said. Yuga pointed his staff at the gate, nearly ready to close it when something happened, color began to appear in the void, swirling about until it solidified into something, Yuga quickly realizing it was a cobblestone street. "What is this?" Yuga asked himself.
Suddenly a jolt went through the ground, the cracks widening and the gate beginning to destabilize. Yuga looked back and forth, taking one last look at the gate before deciding to abandon it, forgetting what he saw on the other side. He took a step just as another tremor shot through the ground, Yuga struggling and failing to maintain his footing as he fell backward, right into the gate. "No!" he shouted as he gripped the edge, letting go of his staff as he clawed at the edges of the gate, desperately trying to pull himself out, the sorcerer gasping as his handholds crumbled, everything going white as he fell in.
Yuga awoke, finding himself on a cold, hard and uneven surface, a dim white glow greeting him. Yuga held a hand to his head as he stood, turning to find his staff behind him. The sorcerer held out his hand, his staff levitating into his grasp. He looked around, finding the familiar white light shining from cracks that spread all throughout this strange city he found himself in. Yuga started down the street when he sensed something, a great and powerful energy, the likes of which he had never before felt, it emanated from a massive Clock Tower in the center of the city. It was him, Yuga was sure of it, a grin forming on his face as he made his way to the tower.
oOo
"You said you've been looking for us for a long time." Veran said, obviously skeptical.
"I said I was looking for Ganondorf for a long time and I was, only I was still in my world." Yuga explained.
"First you lead us to believe you were from another land and now you speak of other worlds...this is madness." Bastion replied.
"You may choose not to believe my story, it matters not." Yuga replied, maintaining his ever-confident facade.
"This other world." Blackmoore spoke up, all eyes being drawn to him. "If it's parallel to ours why didn't you have your own version of Demise?"
"Excellent question." Yuga admitted, focusing his gaze on Blackmoore. "I have the same question, but as of yet, no answer."
"Great, glad we've figured that out." Blackmoore said wryly.
"To be honest." Yuga began. "I'm curious about you."
"I can say the same." Veran chimed in.
"Me? Why?" Blackmoore asked.
"All we know is that your family ruled Hyrule at one point." Bastion answered. "I've always wondered how that happened."
"Pick up a history book." Blackmoore hissed.
"The Hyrule family scrubbed all mention of your family's rule from even most obscure of texts." Veran replied.
"Then grab one of the books from the old royal library they've unearthed, wouldn't be the first time you've stolen from it." Blackmoore responded.
"I only had to do it because of your failure." Veran growled.
"Calm yourselves." Yuga said as he tapped his staff against the ground. "Please, Lord Blackmoore, tell your story and sate our curiosity."
The former Minister sighed before looking up, sweeping his eyes over the small group in front of him. "Fine." he aquiesced. "There's really not much to it...well...I suppose that's not entirely true but I'll keep it short. During the Rhysling period, My ancestor, Lord Brydon Blackmoore's sister, Cyara, was at one point betrothed to Crown Prince Alecor Rhysling Hyrule. The two had known each other since childhood due to my family's, at the time, higher status and there was a high degree of fondness between Cyara and Alecor. This fondness, however, only bloomed into love on Cyara's side while Alecor viewed her in a more...familial manner. Before they were to be wed, Alecor broke off the engagement and revealed he had come to a love a commoner named Janeth...the heartbreak and the humiliation of being rejected in favor of a lowborn was too much for Cyara and she threw herself from the tower of Blackmoore Castle, dying as soon as she touched the ground. As you can imagine, my forebearer, Brydon, did not take this well, he immediately took up arms against the royal family and set out to kill Alecor for this slight. Unfortunately for the royal family and fortunately for my ancestor, the tragedy of Cyara's death rent the heart of many noblemen and women and most rallied to him. Brydon Blackmoore was able to take the throne and the lives of Prince Alecor along with his father, King Laurent, the remaining royals fleeing to Termina. My family ruled for eighteen years until a series of events lead to the throne being retaken by, you guessed it...Princess Zelda Rhysling Hyrule, her champion at her side."
Veran, Bastion and Yuga sat quietly, Veran looking stunned, Yuga amused and Bastion slightly slack-jawed.
"Damn." Bastion said, breaking the silence. "And here I thought you wanted the throne because you were some entitled cad...but now...I find myself sympathizing with you." he laughed.
"I'm glad you find it funny." Blackmoore sneered.
"You know Lord Ganondorf has no intention of giving you the Hylian throne, do you not?" Yuga mused, a smirk on his face.
"I don't like your tone." Blackmoore began. "But I'll allow it...for now. The answer to your question is 'yes'."
"That's why we're all here." Veran replied. "Because we know he won't come through on his promises, he cares not for us, only his own ends matter to him...only Koume and Kotake are beholden to his will."
"And they will be dealt with...soon." Bastion growled.
"What about the Mercenary Captain and the Pirate Lord?" Blackmoore asked.
"They've been paid...and even if that's not enough, it won't be too hard to pit them against one another." Veran answered.
oOo
"King Gustaf Nohansen Hyrule." Gustaf muttered to himself as he paced back and forth across his chambers. As if the events surrounding his daughters disappearance were not enough now his wife refused to speak to him.
"How did it come to this?" Gustaf asked himself quietly, closing his eyes as he recalled trying to strike his own daughter with lightning, his fingers digging into the armrests of the chair he lowered himself into. The image of his daughter manifesting a power, the likes of which he never knew she had, as she turned his own attack back upon him flashing through his head. The King was not too injured by the attack, though, as he only meant to stun Zelda, not hurt her...Gustaf wincing as the weight of his actions began to fall unto him. "Why did you do this to me?" he whispered, glancing up at a portrait that hung on the wall above his hearth, a strong and severe looking man wearing long silver hair and a matching beard with a crown set upon his head gazing out from within it, Gustaf not even able to make eye contact with the painting.
The King closed his eyes and bowed his head, his memories taking him back to his younger years, during his days as the crown prince of Hyrule, the only child of King Travin and Queen Naara.
"For your crimes against the Kingdom of Hyrule, I, King Travin Nohansen Hyrule, sentence you to die."
Gustaf closed his eyes and braced himself, his long golden hair falling over his face. The sound of the sword strike and thud of the severed head never sounded, though, the prince looking up to find his father staring at him, a look of simultaneous shame and anger on his face. The Prince's gaze flicked towards the man kneeling before his father and the other men next to him, their army defeated and the few survivors captured behind them. They were the men of House Dastin, a noble house that had been rising through the societal ranks as of late, and after accruing an amount of influence and wealth, decided to risk a play for power, a play that did not work in their favor.
The eldest of the brothers, Morrick, had a look of anger taking hold of his features as he knelt before Gustaf's father. His brothers, Grivvik and Emrik did not have their brother's bravery, Grivvik closing his eyes tightly and gritting his teeth while Torok breathed rapidly, a look of terror affixed on his face.
"Look up! Look at me!" King Travin shouted. "You need to see this...and don't you dare look away!"
Gustaf stood rooted to the spot, looking at his father, unable to find his words.
"Do you understand me, boy?!" the King roared.
"Y...yes, father." Gustaf stammered.
Travin gave his son a disapproving look before turning back to Morrick Dastin, the man not acknowledging him.
"Morrick Dastin, for your acts of treason against the crown, I sentence you to die." the King stated.
Gustaf forced himself to watch, taking notice of his father's eyes flicking towards him for a moment before focusing back on the man kneeling before him. In one fluid motion, the King raised his sword and brought it down on the neck of Morrick Dastin, the man's eyes widened as the blade struck his neck and stayed that way as his head fell to the ground. It was at this moment Emrik Dastin couldn't hold back and collapsed in sobs upon the ground.
"Pull yourself together!" Grivvik yelled, his own voice shaking. "Our family won't be remembered this way." he said, turning to face, the King. "We-"
"Shut your damned mouth!" Travin called out before turning to Gustaf. "It's time I make a man out of you..."
Gustaf stayed quiet as his father strode over and stood before him.
"Take it." Travin said, turning the handle of his blade towards his son. "I saw you during the battle, standing back, trying to stay out of the fray...this will make up for that...show me you at least have the courage to do this."
Gustaf slowly turned and looked over at the two remaining men of House Dastin, Grivvik attempted to put on a brave face while two soldiers pulled Emrik up off the ground.
"Unless you want to be disinherited and disowned...I suggest you do what I say." Travin hissed.
Without saying a word, Gustaf took his father's sword, a smirk forming on the King's face. The Prince could feel everyone's eyes on him as he approached Grivvik Dastin, the man looking up at him as he positioned himself, gripping the sword as tight as he could manage, his heart thundering in his chest.
"Get on with it, Gustaf!" Travin shouted.
"For the crimes you'e committed against the Kingdom of Hyrule and the royal family, I Prince Gustaf Nohansen Hyrule, s...sentence you to die." the Prince said, his voice shaking. Gustaf slowly raised his sword above his head, trying hard not show his hesitation.
"Get on with it, then!" Grivvik yelled, suddenly.
Gustaf nearly dropped the sword, but feeling his father's gaze upon him, recovered his grip and brought the sword down with all the force he could muster, Grivvik Dastin crying out as Gustaf missed, striking him in the back of the head. The Prince watched as the man collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from the gash in the back of his head as he began to convulse.
"For the Goddesses sake." the King growled as he began to make his way over.
Gustaf's heart slowed as something began to take hold...anger beginning to burn inside of him, his features contorting as his hands began to shake. With an enraged cry he brought his sword down several more times, finally relieving Grivvik's head from his shoulders.
Travin stopped, watching with an amused expression as his son made his way to Emrik.
"Wait! Mercy! Please!" Emrik shouted. "They dragged me into this! I didn't want to do this! I swear!" he groveled. "Plea-!" he shouted, his voice cutting off as Gustaf brought his sword down onto Emrik's head, striking him over and over until little remained above his eyes.
Gustaf breathed heavily, tensing as he felt a hand grip his shoulder. "Maybe you do have what it takes to be King after all." Travin said while patting his son on the shoulder before striding over to the remains of the Dastin's army.
"Kneel and swear your fealty to me and you will be spared, fail to do so and you'll meet the same fate as your lords!" King Travin shouted. To Gustaf, his father's voice was distant and cold, this is what it had taken to make him proud. Gustaf began to tremble as he walked back towards the wagons, bowing his head as he heard the men dragging away the bodies of Morrick, Grivvik and Emrik behind him. "I will not cry for them." he breathed.
In the present, King Gustaf found himself shaking all over again as a single tear streaked down his cheek. "This is what you wanted..." he said, staring into the eyes of his father's portrait.
oOo
Link pounded both fists against the wall as he gritted his teeth, the Queen jumping due to the sudden, violent motion.
"He attacked her? His own daughter?" Link asked.
"Y...yes." Queen Lysandra stammered. "I didn't know about it until the day after when I was able to pry it out of one of the guards present that night. If I had known-"
"Where is she?" Link asked.
"Zelda?"
"Yes, where is she?" Link asked again, a desperate tone to his voice.
"I don't know." the Queen admitted. "From what I know, she just...disappeared."
"A trans-location spell." Link breathed. "She could be anywhere." he added as he bowed his head. Even though she had yet to remember, he had looked forward to returning in the Castle, returning to her, even if Jakob tried to stand in his way.
"That's why I've come to you, actually." the Queen answered.
"Hm?" Link hummed as he turned to face her.
The Queen reached into one of her coat pockets and produced a rolled up sheet of parchment, extending her arm towards the Hero. "Take it."
"What is this?" Link asked.
"A royal decree excusing you from going to war." Lysandra responded.
Link's gaze snapped up from the piece of parchment to the Queen's eyes then back again as he hastily unrolled it. Sure enough it was as she said,
"By Royal Decree of Queen Lysandra Nohansen Hyrule
Sir Link the Unnamed has been recused from service until further notice"
At the bottom of the page was the Queen's signature placed next to the royal family's seal. "I can't accept this." Link replied.
"I've made this decree so that you can search for Zelda, unimpeded." Lysandra explained. "I will admit it, I did not act well towards my daughter and I believe everything that Gustaf arranged for her was for the better and I...well, I supported him...but she still saved me. I want to do the same for her, I want to bring her home and tell her that I'm sorry...I-"
"I'll do it." Link answered.
"You will?" the Queen asked.
"I have one condition, though." Link replied.
Lysandra sighed, looking away before returning her gaze to him. "What do you want?"
"Stall the marching of your armies for as long as you can...they don't know what they're walking into." Link replied.
"I'll do my best, but I don't know how long I'll be able to delay them...or if I can." the Queen answered.
"I have faith in you." Link said as he made his way towards the door.
"Wait." the Queen called out.
Link turned to look at her, staying silent.
"Tell me, now that it's just the two of us here...are you truly him? The Champion of the Goddesses?" Lysandra asked.
"Would you believe me if I told you that I am?" Link replied.
"I already believe it...I just...I just need to ask." the Queen said.
"Then you have your answer." Link said as he placed his hand on the door handle. "Next time you see me, Zelda will be by my side."
The Queen's eyes began to glisten as she nodded a silent 'thank you' towards Link before he departed his chambers. The hero slowly shut the door behind him.
As Link made his way through the halls he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes, hastening his movement towards the next corridor and turning quickly to find a soldier of House Lirien swiftly walking in the opposite direction. Jakob knew he was here, but he'd have to be dealt with later.
As he made his way down the stairs, he quickly found himself standing among the Lords and Ladies of many noble houses, large and small. He felt as if he stood out, as he was the only one not wearing a set of armor. Link made sure to draw as little attention as possible while making his way through the crowds, the high lords in their ornate armors giving him a sideways glare every now and again when he came too close. The Hero had almost made it to the door when he received a light tap on the shoulder, turning swiftly to find a familiar face.
"Lady Lywater." Link said.
"Good to see you, Hero." the noblewoman responded with slightly concerned look adorning her features.
"It's good to see you, my Lady, but I must be on my wa-" Link began.
"Before you go..." Lady Lywater said. "My House's sigil is an falcon holding a sword in it's talons...avoid my banners."
"Why?" Link asked, though he felt he already may know the answer.
"Arndt was quite the cad and...well...a murderer, but most of his men overlooked the former and knew not about the latter and they probably wouldn't believe it even if they did. Word has spread through the ranks that it was not the monster that killed Arndt but you."
Link felt a frustration rise inside of him. "I saved them all and this is what I get." he hissed.
"I tried to tell them all that Arndt was killed by the creature..." Lady Lywater said.
"But they doubted that because of my age and my stature." Link responded.
The noblewoman formed her lips into a tight line while looking away and nodding in the affirmative. "I also told them Enna was the creature's last victim and not...well...the creature itself, at least they believed that."
"How is Enna fairing?" Link asked.
"She spends her days inside her home and rarely, if ever, leaves. Some in the village have attempted to show her kindness by bringing her food, water and sometimes even wine, but for the most part she won't even crack the door to speak with them." Lady Lywater answered.
Link sighed. "It's likely she remembers what she had done in that state, I wish I could have spared her from remembering all of that as I fear saving her...didn't actually save her."
Lady Lywater looked away for a moment, regret and sadness in her eyes. "You said an imbalance in Hyrule's magic did this to her."
"I've never before heard of anyone becoming a Redead of any kind after a non-fatal wound." Link answered.
"Defeating this Sorcerer...will that stop what happened to Enna from happening to anyone else?" Lady Lywater asked.
"Yes." Link answered.
"Then I can be satisfied that I'm doing my part." Lady Lywater answered. "I must be on my way, I hope to see you again soon, best of luck, Hero."
"Same to you." Link said with a nod, the noblewoman departing as he started towards the courtyard. Outside Castle Town lay the combined armies of every noble family in the land and yet Ganondorf's army of beasts and mercenaries outnumbered them three to one at least. Link knew the King wouldn't listen, it was up to him to make sure things didn't progress to the point of war but at the same time stopping it didn't seem possible.
From the balcony above the Great Hall Jakob watched, Lord Dearing at his side.
"So that's him? The one that stole Zelda away?" Dearing asked.
"Something must be done about him...and it looks like it's up to me." Jakob growled.
oOo
"Careful, try not to overexert yourself." Seres warned as Zelda hovered her hands over the man's chest and stomach. He had been suffering from the new plague and had recently reached it's end stages, Seres finding that even she couldn't do much.
"I found it...I can see it...in his blood." Zelda said.
"What do you mean?" Seres asked, taking a step back as Zelda's hands began to glow a bright gold, almost looking as if they were aflame.
Zelda took a deep breath as the energy from her hands jumped to the man before her, spreading over his entire body and passing through him like water through a net. The man gasped his back arching for a moment before he fell back onto his bed. Zelda opened her eyes and stumbled back, Seres moving to catch her.
"Goddesses...are you alright, Sarina?" Seres asked.
"I'm fine...how is he?" the Princess said.
Seres moved in closer, listening to the man's breathing. "He sounds much better...but to be honest only time will tell if he's been cured."
"I did my best." Zelda said.
"And that's all we can ask of you." Seres replied.
"Seres...may I ask you something?" Zelda said.
"Of course." the novitiate replied.
"The pale man with the black hair and the Gerudo woman...what do you know about them?" Zelda said.
"I've heard they were traveling performers, she was apparently poisoned by something in the woods. The man is friendly enough and the woman is doing well, they should be on their way soon enough. Why do you ask?" Seres replied.
"I just...I spoke to the man the other day, he told me his name is Levesque, I thought I sensed something, well, off-putting about him but I may have been wrong." Zelda responded.
"Hm, you can always stop by and speak with him again. Their lodgings are in the next hall on the left." Seres suggested.
Zelda thought back to her short conversation with the man and the feeling she had while he spoke to her. The Princess tended to trust her feelings as they had not led her astray as of late but when she thought back to their exchange there was nothing said that she would consider threatening. "Sure, I'll check in on them."
"Alright then, I'll finish up here and then I'll come find you." Seres said with a small smile.
"See you soon, then." Zelda answered as she started off down the corridor. The temple was not a large one by any means, paling in comparison to the ones in Castle Town. The temple only had three hallways, one that led from the entrance to another that housed most of the bed chambers, this corridor connecting to another that ran parallel to the first, leading to the temple's largest chamber, the infirmary which had once been the chapel. The Princess turned down the middle hall, looking for the room Levesque occupied when a commotion from the entryway sounded. Her curiosity piqued, Zelda continued past the room and peered around the corner, her heart beginning to pound as her body froze.
A group of soldiers from Castle Town's city watch stood in the doorway, leading them was a Knight Zelda recognized, her own cousin, Sir Toron Stern. "No, he shouldn't be here." she thought. She hadn't seen him in years, as he had been granted land in the Ordona Province by her father years ago...if he was here that meant he was summoned by her father, for what purpose, she didn't know.
"May I, High Priestess?" Toron asked with a wide smile while gesturing past her.
The High Priestess shifted uncomfortably, glancing in Zelda's direction, causing the Princess to quickly duck around the corner.
"I'm afraid if you and your men wish to pray to Goddesses you may have to visit another temple, our chapel is being used to treat victims of the pla-" the High Priestess answered, going quiet as Toron planted his hand firmly against the door frame.
"The plague, that's why we're here actually." he responded.
"My Lord, I..." the High Priestess said, trailing off as Toron's face went from inviting to hostile in the blink of an eye.
"Find them and burn them!" he commanded, the men pushing past the High Priestess and storming in.
"Stop! This is a house of the Godesses!" the High Priestess shouted.
Zelda couldn't help but watch as Toron turned to the High Priestess while she laid on the ground, her eyes going wide as he drew his sword stabbed her through the throat. The Princess was filled with a renewed sense of urgency as the soldiers had kicked open half and searched half the rooms in the first hallway and were quickly getting closer to her. She turned to run, making it halfway down the wall when a voice rang out.
"Stop right there!" one of the Soldier's called, his sword drawn as he stalked towards her, more soldiers coming around the corner after him.
Zelda turned and looked the man in the eyes, clenching her teeth and backing away slowly, debating whether or not to call forth her magic as she didn't know if she had enough left to stop all of them.
"Aren't you a pretty little thing." one of the soldiers behind the the first hissed, eliciting nods of agreement and laughs from the other soldiers.
"Careful, she might have the plague." another soldiers laughed.
"Looks healthy to me." another soldier said as he started forward.
Tears filled Zelda's eyes as rage began to burn deep inside of her, even if she wasn't sure she could take them all, she'd sure as hell try.
The soldiers began stride closer to her as she called upon her magic, the energy filling her veins and flowing through her muscles.
"What's going on here?!" Toron bellowed as he made his way towards the soldiers. "We have a job to do and the King will have my head if we don't get this-" he began, going silent as he laid eyes on Zelda. The two made eye contact, standing opposite of each other for a moment before Torn broke the silence. "Zelda...is that you?"
The men shot each other terrified glances as they began to step back. "Zelda? You mean the Princess?" the more aggressive soldier asked.
Toron ignored the man, approaching his cousin. "Did they threaten you? If so, you're safe now." he said before turning to his men. "And they'll be dealt with later." he growled, causing the soldiers to cower under his gaze.
"You killed the High Priestess..." Zelda said.
"Oh...you saw that." Toron replied. "It had to be done, just, come with me and I'll explain on the way back to Castle Town. You're father and mother have missed your dearly and I'm sure they'll forgive you for running off."
"Running off..?" Zelda repeated. Something didn't feel right about those words. "I didn't..." she began, going silent as a stabbing pain began to build in her forehead. The Princess groaned and placed a hand on her forehead, dropping to one knee as Toron looked on.
"Zelda? What's wrong? What's happening to you?" Toron asked as he took a step forward.
Zelda cried out as pain intensified, the memories of that night coming back to her. "You are no daughter of mine!" she remembered her father shouting, she recalled him trying to strike her with lightning, she recalled turning it back on him, she recalled teleporting away and she recalled...Impa being captured.
"Go! Get her, quickly!" Toron called.
Two men moved towards her, halting as Zelda stood, her eyes shooting open, both glowing a brilliant gold. "No!" she shouted as she extended a hand, sending the men before her flying onto their backs. The power that she found vanished as quickly as it came, though, her eyes fading back to blue as her cousin made eye contact with her.
"Get up! After her!" he yelled.
The other soldiers, in addition to the two she had thrown, charged her, Zelda trying in vain to call forth her power again when the door nearest her burst open, the soldiers slowing as they turned to look, a flurry of small projectiles flying out from within and striking the men in their necks, the soldiers crying out and falling to their knees.
"What in the Hylia's name?" Toron said as he craned his neck to see into the room.
"It would seem we've missed something." Levesque said as he stepped out into the hallway, looking down upon the men at his feet. "I couldn't help but hear the commotion." he continued as he turned to face Toron.
"Who the hell are you and what did you do to my men?!" Toron roared, his remaining soldiers standing between them.
"I think it's time we take our leave, don't you agree, Zara?" he asked.
Zelda stumbled back as Zara darted from the room, moving her arm in a sweeping motion across the hallway, setting fire the floor, walls and ceiling. "These Hylians giving you trouble?" Zara asked.
"Zelda!" Toron called as he walked towards the flames, switching his attention to the gerudo woman. "Stay away from her!"
"She seems to trust us more than you." Levesque observed.
"My father said it best, I'm no daughter of his." Zelda snapped as she began to walk away.
Toron made to follow, Zara glaring at him and waving her hand, the fire before him intensifying.
Zelda, Levesque and Zara rounded the corner to find Seres standing outside of the makeshift infirmary, a fearful look on her face.
"Zelda...what's going on?" she asked.
"Soldiers are here and the place is on fire, time to go." Zara said.
"Wait...what do you mean?!" Seres asked, her voice heavy with concern.
"Seres, she's right, we must be going...now." Zelda answered.
"They're trying to contain the plague by killing and burning all of those that have it and if you don't leave now, you'll get the same treatment." Levesque explained.
"No, I...I can't leave...they must be stopped! I can't leave these people." Seres argued.
"They're as good as dead anyway." Zara shouted. "You can come with us or you can stay and die! Either way, I'm leaving now."
"Seres...I don't want to leave them either...but she's right." Zelda said.
"ZELDA!" Toron's voice sounded from down the hall.
"Looks like they've put out my fire." Zara said.
"That means time's up." Levesque added.
"If we leave now, that means we'll be here to hold them responsible for this...I'm sorry Seres." Zelda said.
Seres bowed her head, a resigned look in her eyes. "In the chapel, there's an exit in the back." she said quietly.
"Good, let's get out of here!" Zara called as she, Levesque, Zelda and Seres ran through the chapel and past the occupied cots.
Zara reached the door first, kicking it open and exiting into the forest beyond.
Zelda and Levesque followed her but Seres remained inside.
"Seres, please." Zelda begged.
"Whoever that voice belonged to...he called you Zelda." Seres said. "Is it true, are you Princess Zelda?"
"We don't have time for this." Zara growled.
Zelda hesitated a moment before answering. "Yes...I didn't tell you at first because I didn't know if it was safe...but now I wish I had."
"I haven't seen any of my sisters since the soldiers got here...I know what that means." Seres said. "Maybe one day...when you become Queen, you can make sure this never happens again." Seres said as she reached towards the door.
"Seres, no!" Zelda shouted.
The novitiate gave the Princess one last look and a sad smile before closing the door.
"Come, we must be going!" Levesque said as he beckoned Zelda into the forest.
After a moment of hesitation the Princess followed the two. "I may not have been able to help Seres, but I will save Impa." Zelda thought as she heard the shouts of soldiers in the background, the smell of smoke filling the air.
oOo
Osfala tried to relax but all he felt was a soreness from within his veins as Minister Svelheim's practices had grown more and more strenuous, they were meant to bring out their maximum potential, he said. Nevertheless, Osfala found the energy to do one more thing, one thing that didn't require magic. He carefully traced his quill across the parchment set on his desk, slowly tracing an image only he could see.
"I didn't know you could draw." an exhausted Rutelis said.
"I've had a lot of practice, sigils have to be exact for a spell to work and my former master made sure I drew them exactly how they were supposed look." Osfala said.
"Is that what you're doing, drawing sigils?" Rutelis asked.
"No." Osfala answered. "I'm sketching my old Master."
Rutelis rose from the floor and walked over to Osfala, peering over his shoulder. "It may not be finished, but I can tell he was wise, he has that look about him."
"Wise is an understatement, he may not have been powerful but he was the most knowledgeable sorcerer in the land." Osfala explained.
"What happened to him...if I may ask." Rutelis responded.
"Someone wanted something he had and unfortunately, this someone was a more than a match for the both of us." Osfala said, Bastion's visage entering his mind.
"Has this person been arrested?" Rutelis asked.
"No, but I know who he is and he will be dealt with...one way or another." Osfala said as he finished the sketch. "I want to ensure I'll never forget his face. He was the closest thing to a parent I've ever had."
"I'm sorry...he sounds like a great man." Rutelis remarked.
"He was." Osfala said, a sorrowful tone to his voice.
"Better than Svelheim?" Rutelis asked.
"Most Definitely." Osfala said, cracking a smile.
Suddenly a knock came at the door, giving both of them a jolt. Osfala rose and opened the door, finding a guard outside.
"Is Prince Rutelis there?" the guard asked.
"Yes, why?" Osfala replied.
"His father has sent for him." the guard answered.
"I'm not meant to return until tomorrow." Rutelis said, overhearing the discussion.
"Well, a carriage is here for you now, I can tell them you're not coming but they are quite insistent." the guard answered.
"I better be going." Rutelis sighed. "I'll be back soon, thanks for allowing me the use of your chambers."
"Anytime, see you tomorrow." Osfala said as Rutelis nodded to him before exiting.
Osfala stood for a moment, staring at the door, with what had happened with Rutelis' sister recently something about this left him with a bad feeling he couldn't shake.
oOo
Rutelis climbed into the carriage, the Zora guards that stood next to it's open door staring down the Hylian guards, the Hylian guards narrowing their eyes as the two Zora guards joined him inside. As Rutelis got settled, he looked up to find none other than his father, Oranis, sitting opposite him.
"F-father, what are you doing here?" Rutelis asked.
"Collecting you from the Hylians." Oranis answered.
"Why? I usually depart for Zora's Domain tomorrow...and you've never been here before." Rutelis said, a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Rutelis." Oranis said. "The Hylians are no longer friends to our people."
oOo
"How long is it before we reach this contact of yours?" Eldrin asked as he and Impa stayed crouched in the forest outside of Kakariko.
"Patience. We've come too far to be captured now." Impa replied.
"I agree, but we've also come too far to rest all of our hopes on this one person...we were probably supposed to be dead by now." Eldrin said.
"Then your situation is worse than I thought." a male voice answered.
Eldrin jumped in shock, flipping onto his back and drawing his sword, a man with dark skin, black hair and blood red eyes looking back at him.
"You keep strange company." the man said to Impa.
"It's good to see you, Therian." Impa said.
"When they told me you'd sent word you were on your way and you didn't come...we feared the worst." Therian answered.
"I'm guessing you two know each other." Eldrin commented.
"This is Therian, the son of the Sheikah tribe's current chieftain." Impa explained. "Therian, this is Eldrin, a former Provincial Watch Captain who ran afoul of the wrong people, he's a friend."
"I'll take your word for it." Therian said as he gestured towards house just beyond the edge of the woods. "That's our safe house, but be careful, they've increased patrols in this area with special attention being paid to our people.
"We'll keep a low profile and we won't stay long." Impa said.
"In any case, my father will want to speak with you." Therian said before turning to Eldrin. "Both of you."
oOo
Jakob looked upon the card Lord Stern had given him, it was nothing but the sigil of House Stern, a black field with an orange phoenix emblazoned upon it. The young Knight shrugging before heading towards the door, the two armored Stern House guards turning to face him.
"I was given this." Jakob said, lifting the card to their eye level.
"Lord Stern's been expecting you." the nearest guard said.
"Thought as much." Jakob remarked as the two thrust the doors open, Jakob cautiously walking into the chamber, tensing slightly as the doors closed behind him.
Lord Stern sat in a chair facing the fireplace, a glass of red wine on the table next to him.
"I don't recall asking you to come late." Lord Stern said.
"I don't recall you setting a time at all." Jakob retorted.
"Feisty as ever." Lord Stern answered. "Hang on to that attitude."
"Why did you call me here?" Jakob asked.
"To discuss doing away with Gustaf, of course." Lord Stern answered.
Jakob looked around cautiously before turning back to Lord Stern. "I swear to the Goddesses, if this is some kind of trap..."
"Calm yourself, no one's listening, not even my guards...and if they can hear than so what? They're loyal to me, you know." Stern answered. "I'll cut to the chase. Gustaf apprised me of the situation and seeing the way my sister's been acting, avoiding him and staying quiet all but confirmed the man's lost his mind."
"He tried to strike his own daughter with lightning." Jakob said. But he's not the only problem, have you been informed about Sir Link the Unnamed?"
"I've been told about him, but I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him." Stern said. "We'll deal with Gustaf first, then the boy."
"What are you planning?" Jakob asked.
"My forces are ready and I know yours are too, I see you have House Dearing and handful of minor houses under your banners...together we could easily take the capital." Lord Stern replied.
"And then what? You become King and make Toron the Crown Prince?" Jakob asked derisively.
Lord Stern laughed before locking eyes with Jakob, his expression turning severe. "I've held contempt for Gustaf since we were young. He grew up spoiled and when his father noticed this he turned him cruel. This anger and aversion to showing any compassion has alienated his people and has left my sister feeling alone and unwanted. In addition to all of this, the way he has treated my House over the past decade, raising taxes on those who live on my lands and placing higher port fees on my docks just because I lost favor with him...I refuse to stand for it."
"I see." Jakob answered. "You have this all very well thought out but you've missed one massive detail...the goddesses-damn sorcerer who's rallied an army in Termina and has his sights set on us!"
"You think I've disregarded that?" Lord Stern asked. "If we take power now we can rally all of Hyrule and raise more support from the Houses that have grown wary of Gustaf's rule! Don't you get it? After this I will have Hyrule and Termina will be my gift to you, you can mold it into your very own Kingdom!"
"You're joking." Jakob responded.
"Think about it, if Gustaf hadn't driven Zelda away she would still be here, you could talk to her and make her understand, she could be in your arms right now asking for forgiveness but no! Gustaf just had to lose his temper and ruin everything!" Stern argued.
Jakob closed his eyes, trying not to let his anger get the best of him. He knew Stern was wrong but perhaps...perhaps he had a point. "Your plan is dangerous and reckless...but with me it could work...you have my support."
oOo
Hi everyone, it's been a while, I know, but I hope this makes up for it! Life has been busy as of late so I make time when I can, I'm trying become more regular with getting time to sit down and write!
LoruleanHeart: A Link and Zelda reunion is on the way! Maybe sooner than you think! I wanted to write Gustaf as an unsympathetic character and I think I may have done that too effectively, he sure gets on peoples nerves. This chapter kind of explores where his temperament comes from. I hope you liked the small backstory I supplied for Yuga, I know for a fact he needed more exploring! And thank you! I can safely say I draw inspiration from your stories too! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for the review!
Ultimate blazer: The cards are on the table and even more players have bought in, as secretive as the game is, they will all know soon enough. Lorule will get a little more fleshed out in the future!
Generala: Aahhhhhfalskjfdasdfljkasdñhlkghwioefjelpñ?! Now that's a compliment! Yes, the Queen helped Link! She believes the old legends and she's had enough of Gustaf's shenanigans! Gustaf is trying to take everything for himself out of greed and spite and it's put him in the precarious position he's in! I'm trying to update as fast as I can so I hope you haven't gone too hard on your nails! Thanks for reading and reviewing, I hope you liked the chapter!
Thank you to all of those who hit follow and favorite on my story and my profile, you all are amazing!
I've found more time to write lately so I may make a prequel to this story exploring the Blackmoore's rule of Hyrule, how they rose and fell and such!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
-Prometheus17