...I haven't paid too much mind to what I should lately...
...The bone dogs, the water dragon...
...Does tonight have something to do with this?...

I couldn't rule out the possibility.. That would be irresponsible. I saw the gate.. But no guards at all.. Quite odd. I took a few steps back, before the vines where I had met Malon.. This time I lifted my arm from protecting my chest to grapple the greenery and climb my way up.. As best I could without damaging my attire.. It took me a while, but I had made it, and ran across the top of the gate to the grass of the other side.. The cold of the air whipping about me.. The fresh smell of newly cut grass.. All seemed to tingle my senses.. And it was all here.. So close to the castle.. Not in the field..I forgot about protecting my ribs.. I was so close..

I always had everything I wanted.. I just never realized it.. The blades of grass as I ran, the cool moist air of the night.. However, I had paid for my selfish escape.. The grass of the fields.. The scent of the greenery.. The misty air were all here.. However, the soothing heat of Death Mountain I so fondly remember was now replaced by a burning pain in my ribs.. And although at that moment my mind dwelled on those facts, I didn't pay attention to my thoughts.. It was as if my body and mind acted seperately.. And while my thoughts were a mess of emotions and memories; I only ran towards the gate of the castle.

...Hm..Even to this day...
...I haven't become comfortable with the castle doors...

I was panting by now.. The chilled air caused my breath to take form; puffs of steam as I breathed. I was almost there.. The door into the castle, near where I had once seen Talon as a child. I prefered to enter into the royal castle in my discreet and hidden manner.. Just before I had slipped past the deku derived door, I caught a glimpse of the moon, and it's companion for tonight.. The foreign sun.. I had a matter of hours, maybe four or so, before they crossed paths.

I entered into the kitchen, pitch black.. And although I was completely blind in the atramentous abyss of shadows, it was the silence that bothered me. On such an important occassion for the royal family, this special night.. I would imagine busy and bustling preparations.. However.. Nothing. Not even faint voices.. I cautiously stretched my hands out before myself, feeling about. I didn't want to cut myself on kitchen utensils, hence my caution. My current state of temporary blindness, a result due to lack of lighting, almost got me to stumble on a number of occassions..

...Where are they..?...

"Anybo--" I stopped before I called out.. Something inside of me wanted somebody, anybody to show up.. But.. Another feeling, call it intuition, told me not to blow my cover in the darkness. I finally made it into one of the hallways.. These places made the castle so much like a dungeon.. Empty, cavernous hallways.. They always managed to wrack my nerves. Especially since Ganondorf had taken control here once before in the past.. I would never admit it, but I feared nothing more than him.

"...Zelda.." I whispered.. I decided not to yell.. I had to squint to see in the dim lit hallways.. The flickering torches played awful games with shadows, making them appear as if they were sinister creatures.. I could only hear my footsteps, and the faint crackling of the hallway's torches.. That was, when the sounds weren't drowned out by my quickened heart beat....I was being stupid.. Or was I? I had no reason to suspect the castle of harboring any monstrous creatures. I guess the appearance of other monsters about Hyrule had been working my nerves too.. That's when my steps got heavier, and louder.. I decided that I should stop for a bit, or else my steps might cause a disturbance.

...I stopped walking..
..The steps didn't.

I bent my knees, keeping myself in a half crouched position.. Glancing towards each end of the hallway.. My vision was slightly blurred, and causing me a slight headache, since my eyes had narrowed so much, for such a period of time.. However, if I stopped, I couldn't see past the abyss of shadows which enveloped either end of the hall...

..The steps kept coming..
..Louder.

...Where's it coming from..?...

...I heard a rattle.

I sharply snapped to the right, where the sound was.. Nothing.. That's when I felt it, from behind.. A blow which knocked me off of my feet for a brief moment, before I slammed into the tapestry on the floor of the hallways. I winced.. "Ugh.." My ribs were throbbing in pain.. I pushed myself up with my palms, and stumbled forward as I got to my feet.. Turning around in shock..

...That was a foolish mistake...

..It was a bone warrior.. That made those skeleton canines in the fields look like take home pets.. I only faintly recall the name which Navi had branded these beasts with.. S.. Stalfos.. I think.. Though I wasn't sure, it was the last thing on my mind.. I hadn't brought my weapons.. They were still harnessed upon Epona.. I was too fancily garbed, too careless about my duty.. I was drugged with romance.

Then it charged at me.. Quickly I ducked to the side, rolling about.. I smirked lightly.. It was too slow.. Before it could turn about I had charged it from behind.. Jumping up, I landed upon it.. Each foot juxtaposed upon either one of it's shoulders.. The immediate force brought the creature down.. Dropping it's sheild and the sword it weilded. The weapons were so large, I could only weild one at a time.. So I chose to grab that gargantuan sword.. Quickly, thrusting it into the warrior's skull.. Which dissapated into a puff of ceruse hued smoke..

I was triumphant only briefly.. That's when I saw more approach.. My best option was to flee.. Dropping the sword, I quickly turned to rush down the opposite end of the hallway.. I heard their calls.. Louder.. Painfully louder.. The metallic swish of swords and arrowheads cutting through the air.. My right shoulder thrust forward.. An arrow had been marked for my delta.. Shattering the bone, it felt like it.. More arrows whipped past me.. Landing before, behind, all around as I fled..

..I took a moment to glance back..

I saw them, swelling the hallway's capacity.. As far back as I could see through the abyss of shadows.. Creatures, big and small.. Clamoring, pushing their way through each other in their pursuit.. An arrow zipped past my eyes.. I could notice, in that split second, the arrow cut two wisps of gold from my hair.. I quickly turned to face forward.. I wasn't about to take the risk of running as I watched them approach..

I could only think of the pain I felt.. Throbbing in my right shoulder, out weighing that of my abdomen.. It was then I felt it press from behind me.. It felt as if a robe was pushing me forward from behind.. Lifting me off my feet.. That's when I saw it.. On either side of me, two large spears with either end of the rope fastened to them..

..Damnit...

Only shortly afterwards I had been slammed against the granite wall at the end of the hallway.. The rope constricting me ag ainst the cold stone, and the spears; driven into the granite pinning me.. Sealing me in place.. I was almost knocked out by the power which forced me against the wall.. My vision was a blurr, and I couldn't bring myself to resist.. I felt the cold and sticky trickle of blood stain my back where the arrow had hit..

My world was spinning.. That of confusion and pain.. I felt cold.. Numb.. My pain felt as if it were fleeting.. The hallway echoed with maliciously macabre grunts, sinister shrieks and howls.. Cackles and laughter.. All closing in.. All around me..

...Is this it...?...
...My job.. My duty is over..?...

That's when I felt the caress of darkness sweep about me.. Ebony and shades of desert sand hues, maroons, and cyans mingled together on a satin fabric.. It swept about me.. Cooled me..

..At that moment.. I hoped for death...

Oh goddesses..Let it come quickly..

..If it weren't divine darkness.. I knew what it was...
...And I prayed to the Triforce that it wasn't...

Metal encased digits slipped about my mouth, it was off no use to bite.. For I would break my jaw in the process.. The arrow, savagely ripped from the flesh it had burrowed so deeply into.. I felt the rope go limp.. Slip away.. As I was lifted up.. My mind drifting from me.. Whatever it was.. It was keeping the creatures at bay.. He was keeping the creatures at bay..

Then I was dropped.. And he who had lifted me grunted.. So familiar.. So familiar... I fell limply upon the ground.. I just wished I had shattered at that moment.. But a softer caress slinked about me, underneath my arms.. Strong despite it's delicate feel.. I felt myself swept away..

It was at that moment I wanted to live again..

I could hear his angered growl.. The furious clamoring of his minions.. And subtle Sheikah chants.. And then.. A soft pop, as it all went up in smoke.

- - -

Next chapter is the last one.. Probably.