Chapter Nine:
"Don't think I don't know you," Link's eyes narrowed. "I remember you, you were with the King and the other council members when I arrived back a few days ago." The man let out a deep laughter that rumbled in his throat.
"Very good," he smiled in a mocking way. "Now can you guess why all of this has happened?" He laughed again and lowered his arm away from Link. "Stupid boy."
"She didna' do anythin', let her go," Rook almost growled out.
"Oh, I will. As soon as I get what I want."
"And what is that?" Link said firmly. The man put his sword back in its sheath, obviously not intimidated by anything he could see.
"Be quiet! The sound of your voice is irritating me, and when I get irritated…" He quickly pulled out a dagger and in one, quick movement, came toward Adel's throat. She let out a shriek of panic for the man was quick and she unprepared for such rough treatment. He spun around and held Adel against him, backing away a few steps with her, the dagger at her throat. He toyed with the blade a bit, making the princess's heart beat faster and faster. His rough hand pulled her head back, exposing the white, throbbing skin of her neck. Adel's weak arms were limp and helpless against him.
"Don't!" Link shouted, afraid that if he were to move closer Adel's neck would be sliced. "Let her go, she had nothing to do with this!" The man's eyes flashed fire for a moment and in that moment, Link could see the unstableness within him. The man jerked Adel's head a bit further back, causing her to gasp sharply and let out a weak whimper.
"You know, it's much more convenient that I kill you now, for I have business to attend to at the moment," he said, watching Princess Adel's skin quiver under the silver blade. "It will be a great honor to kill not only the Hero of Time, but a princess as well, how lucky am I hmm?" His laughter was deep and sinister. "Say goodbye Princess, it's a shame you'll never live to be a queen."
Adel shut her eyes tightly and held her breath. She waited for the dagger to come skimming across her throat, taking her life. She waited to feel her warm blood spill onto her chest, the thought making her sick and her head spin. Her pulse quickened, sweat beaded her forehead, and her voice was lost in fear.
She felt the quick press of the knife on her skin, but then, nothing. It all happened so quickly that her head was still swimming when she saw it. Rook and the man were wrestling on the ground in front of her, the dagger thrown a few feet away. Rook was able to get in a punch to the jaw, but that did not seem to effect the man as he retaliated with a blow to the side of Rook's head.
"Princess get back!" Link warned her, rushing in to help his friend.
The two men were still struggling on the ground. The man quickly flipped over and kicked Rook squarely in the ribs, sending him tumbling backwards. Rook's opponent stood up, unsheathing his sword. Link drew his short sword and prepared himself as the man drove into him in head to head battle. Their swords clashed and their eyes locked, perfectly focused on one another. The man jumped onto the end of the cart, using it to gain height over the Hero. When Link advanced, he blocked one strike before shoving Link backward with his foot. Link stumbled and then fell, losing his balance due to the blunt force of the boot.
"It's goodbye now hero!" The man said, raising his sword over his head above Link. Quickly, Link brought his leg around and cuffed it around the man's knee. With a startled yelp he tripped and shuffled back, gaining his balance within a few steps, but allowing Link enough time to stand once more.
"Cleaver," he said, "but not good enough."
He charged again, but this time he was violently shoved forward by Rook, who had tackled him from behind. Rook grabbed for the man's sword, struggling to get it away from him. Without warning, the man's arm flew out and hit Rook dead on with the elbow.
"What the bloody---!" Rook yelped, holding his nose, for it was surely broken. A trickle of blood squeezed out through his clenched fingers and onto the ground. Rook's temper flashed in his eyes. With all of his force, Rook sent his fist flying into the man's gut, making him double over from the blow. The man lurched forward from the pain and staggered for a moment, but as he was falling he grabbed Rook's worn vest and took him down with him. Rook was now flat on his back, the man straining for the dagger, strattling his waist. Before Link could do anything, Rook was fighting for his life trying to keep the blade from his throat.
"Get the Hell off me!" Rook shouted, gritting his teeth. "Link! Gimmie a hand here!" Link grabbed the man's shoulders firmly and tried to roll him off, but his knees were solidly planted on either side of Rook's waist. The dagger was inching closer and closer to Rook's neck each passing moment, he knew if he did not do something now, this would surely be the end. Rook bucked up, his entire upper body in motion, and sent the man flying over his head.
Guards were now flooding out of the pantry door, surrounding the man in red as he struggled with this cape to stand up. Princess Adel followed close behind them, looking very smart with herself indeed. In all the commotion she had enough sense to slip away unnoticed. The man rose, glaring around the circle of men that enclosed him. He exhaled and surprisingly, a smile played on his lips.
"Well done lads," he grinned. "I wouldn't have guessed."
"That's enough out of you!" A guard yelled. "Now move it out! You're under arrest by order of the King."
The man surrendered his sword and went quietly, which to Link, was a bit eerie. Perhaps his suspicions of insanity weren't so out of place…Kink Harkinian came out of the door just as the guards passed, Queen Adeilia following behind. The Queen ran to embrace her daughter, sobbing in her overdone mother fashion. The King smiled at both Link and Rook.
"You've done well boys," he said. "I never had any doubts." Link lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry King Harkinian, it never should have gotten as far as it did. I---," he fumbled.
"I'm alright aren't I?" Harkinian asked, looking directly at Link.
"Yes, but---."
"There is no 'but', you've done your duty and helped capture the conspirators. It is a job well done." He said in his official manner, making it so.
"Conspirators?" They both spoke in unison, first glancing at each other, and then back to the king. King Harkinian chuckled and watched the guards take away the man in red.
"His name was Mailius," he sighed, "he was one of my council, for many years now. I had no idea that he could ever do such a thing." His expression was serious, but his tone of voice light. "When Michael retired, I chose Michael's brother to take his place, but apparently Mailius did not agree with my decision."
"Aye, the man seemed a bit off in the head yer majesty," Rook stepped forward, still slightly nervous in the presence of the king. He suddenly remembered about his nose and quickly brought his sleeve up to cover it. Rook's face flushed a faint pink, embarrassed over the blood that had dried on the lower half of his face. He wiped what he could get off, and hoped he appeared more presentable to the king.
"He was, I imagine," Harkinian replied. "He was always a bit odd, but nothing that ever caused me to worry."
"What happened to you King Harkinian?" Link asked curiously. "They said that you had disappeared." Harkinian looked around for a moment before speaking.
"I will tell you inside my boy, but for now, let's get back inside and join the celebration. I don't want this to spoil Michael's affair."
***
It was a brilliant morning in Hyrule the next day. The clouds had cleared in the sky, the sun had come out, and especially the trouble over Hyrule Castle had ceased. Outside of the castle things were in being brought back and forth for the departure of the Adrean visiting royalty, who were to leave within the hour. Queen Adeilia thanked King Harkinian for his hospitality, and not once did she bring up the affairs of last night. With a gracious curtsy, Queen Adeilia entered her carriage and waited for her daughter to arrive.
"You are possibly the most foul boy I have ever met," Princess Adel snapped at Rook, whom for reasons unknown to him, had offered to carry the last of her bags for her. "Did you call last night a rescue? I could have gotten out of that myself!"
"I'm sure you could have lass," Rook humored her, not wishing to argue with her at the moment. He threw her bags on top of the coach and looked at her. "Ya know a 'thank you' wouldn't kill you your majesty."
Adel gaped at him for a moment before speaking. Rook could see the sourness in her eyes slowly dim down and her tense little body relax a bit.
"Thank you," she said quietly. Rook couldn't help but smile at this, seeing the princess cave in like that.
"Yer welcome," he said. "Now how 'bout a kiss for getting me nose broken for ye?" At this Rook laughed and secured the trunks to the carriages with a piece of rope. Adel snorted in anger at him and stormed up the line of coaches. Link came out of the castle doors and went over to Rook. As he came, Princess Adel huffed by in a foul temper.
"Now what did you do Rook?" Link laughed, slapping him on the back.
"Nuthin' more than usual," Rook grinned and gave the rope a firm tug. "There, snug as a bug."
The lead coachman called out for the departure and the line slowly started to move. Queen Adeilia waved out of the carriage window as it was waiting for Adel to get it. Rook flashed a bright grin at Link right before he took off running down the line of coaches, catching up to Adel before she stepped up to her carriage. Quickly, he spun her around and kissed her squarely on the lips, holding for a moment before letting go. Princess Adel stared at him dumbfoundedly and found for one of the first times in her life, she was unable to think of something to say. Still staring at the grinning Rook, unable to make out what had jut happened, climbed up into her carriage and the coachman shut the door behind her. The train of carriages left and slowly crawled out of site behind the castle gate. Link quietly stood behind Rook and gave him the oddest look.
"And what was that all about?" He laughed. Rook just beamed a big smile and turned back to the stables.
"Don't think I don't know you," Link's eyes narrowed. "I remember you, you were with the King and the other council members when I arrived back a few days ago." The man let out a deep laughter that rumbled in his throat.
"Very good," he smiled in a mocking way. "Now can you guess why all of this has happened?" He laughed again and lowered his arm away from Link. "Stupid boy."
"She didna' do anythin', let her go," Rook almost growled out.
"Oh, I will. As soon as I get what I want."
"And what is that?" Link said firmly. The man put his sword back in its sheath, obviously not intimidated by anything he could see.
"Be quiet! The sound of your voice is irritating me, and when I get irritated…" He quickly pulled out a dagger and in one, quick movement, came toward Adel's throat. She let out a shriek of panic for the man was quick and she unprepared for such rough treatment. He spun around and held Adel against him, backing away a few steps with her, the dagger at her throat. He toyed with the blade a bit, making the princess's heart beat faster and faster. His rough hand pulled her head back, exposing the white, throbbing skin of her neck. Adel's weak arms were limp and helpless against him.
"Don't!" Link shouted, afraid that if he were to move closer Adel's neck would be sliced. "Let her go, she had nothing to do with this!" The man's eyes flashed fire for a moment and in that moment, Link could see the unstableness within him. The man jerked Adel's head a bit further back, causing her to gasp sharply and let out a weak whimper.
"You know, it's much more convenient that I kill you now, for I have business to attend to at the moment," he said, watching Princess Adel's skin quiver under the silver blade. "It will be a great honor to kill not only the Hero of Time, but a princess as well, how lucky am I hmm?" His laughter was deep and sinister. "Say goodbye Princess, it's a shame you'll never live to be a queen."
Adel shut her eyes tightly and held her breath. She waited for the dagger to come skimming across her throat, taking her life. She waited to feel her warm blood spill onto her chest, the thought making her sick and her head spin. Her pulse quickened, sweat beaded her forehead, and her voice was lost in fear.
She felt the quick press of the knife on her skin, but then, nothing. It all happened so quickly that her head was still swimming when she saw it. Rook and the man were wrestling on the ground in front of her, the dagger thrown a few feet away. Rook was able to get in a punch to the jaw, but that did not seem to effect the man as he retaliated with a blow to the side of Rook's head.
"Princess get back!" Link warned her, rushing in to help his friend.
The two men were still struggling on the ground. The man quickly flipped over and kicked Rook squarely in the ribs, sending him tumbling backwards. Rook's opponent stood up, unsheathing his sword. Link drew his short sword and prepared himself as the man drove into him in head to head battle. Their swords clashed and their eyes locked, perfectly focused on one another. The man jumped onto the end of the cart, using it to gain height over the Hero. When Link advanced, he blocked one strike before shoving Link backward with his foot. Link stumbled and then fell, losing his balance due to the blunt force of the boot.
"It's goodbye now hero!" The man said, raising his sword over his head above Link. Quickly, Link brought his leg around and cuffed it around the man's knee. With a startled yelp he tripped and shuffled back, gaining his balance within a few steps, but allowing Link enough time to stand once more.
"Cleaver," he said, "but not good enough."
He charged again, but this time he was violently shoved forward by Rook, who had tackled him from behind. Rook grabbed for the man's sword, struggling to get it away from him. Without warning, the man's arm flew out and hit Rook dead on with the elbow.
"What the bloody---!" Rook yelped, holding his nose, for it was surely broken. A trickle of blood squeezed out through his clenched fingers and onto the ground. Rook's temper flashed in his eyes. With all of his force, Rook sent his fist flying into the man's gut, making him double over from the blow. The man lurched forward from the pain and staggered for a moment, but as he was falling he grabbed Rook's worn vest and took him down with him. Rook was now flat on his back, the man straining for the dagger, strattling his waist. Before Link could do anything, Rook was fighting for his life trying to keep the blade from his throat.
"Get the Hell off me!" Rook shouted, gritting his teeth. "Link! Gimmie a hand here!" Link grabbed the man's shoulders firmly and tried to roll him off, but his knees were solidly planted on either side of Rook's waist. The dagger was inching closer and closer to Rook's neck each passing moment, he knew if he did not do something now, this would surely be the end. Rook bucked up, his entire upper body in motion, and sent the man flying over his head.
Guards were now flooding out of the pantry door, surrounding the man in red as he struggled with this cape to stand up. Princess Adel followed close behind them, looking very smart with herself indeed. In all the commotion she had enough sense to slip away unnoticed. The man rose, glaring around the circle of men that enclosed him. He exhaled and surprisingly, a smile played on his lips.
"Well done lads," he grinned. "I wouldn't have guessed."
"That's enough out of you!" A guard yelled. "Now move it out! You're under arrest by order of the King."
The man surrendered his sword and went quietly, which to Link, was a bit eerie. Perhaps his suspicions of insanity weren't so out of place…Kink Harkinian came out of the door just as the guards passed, Queen Adeilia following behind. The Queen ran to embrace her daughter, sobbing in her overdone mother fashion. The King smiled at both Link and Rook.
"You've done well boys," he said. "I never had any doubts." Link lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry King Harkinian, it never should have gotten as far as it did. I---," he fumbled.
"I'm alright aren't I?" Harkinian asked, looking directly at Link.
"Yes, but---."
"There is no 'but', you've done your duty and helped capture the conspirators. It is a job well done." He said in his official manner, making it so.
"Conspirators?" They both spoke in unison, first glancing at each other, and then back to the king. King Harkinian chuckled and watched the guards take away the man in red.
"His name was Mailius," he sighed, "he was one of my council, for many years now. I had no idea that he could ever do such a thing." His expression was serious, but his tone of voice light. "When Michael retired, I chose Michael's brother to take his place, but apparently Mailius did not agree with my decision."
"Aye, the man seemed a bit off in the head yer majesty," Rook stepped forward, still slightly nervous in the presence of the king. He suddenly remembered about his nose and quickly brought his sleeve up to cover it. Rook's face flushed a faint pink, embarrassed over the blood that had dried on the lower half of his face. He wiped what he could get off, and hoped he appeared more presentable to the king.
"He was, I imagine," Harkinian replied. "He was always a bit odd, but nothing that ever caused me to worry."
"What happened to you King Harkinian?" Link asked curiously. "They said that you had disappeared." Harkinian looked around for a moment before speaking.
"I will tell you inside my boy, but for now, let's get back inside and join the celebration. I don't want this to spoil Michael's affair."
***
It was a brilliant morning in Hyrule the next day. The clouds had cleared in the sky, the sun had come out, and especially the trouble over Hyrule Castle had ceased. Outside of the castle things were in being brought back and forth for the departure of the Adrean visiting royalty, who were to leave within the hour. Queen Adeilia thanked King Harkinian for his hospitality, and not once did she bring up the affairs of last night. With a gracious curtsy, Queen Adeilia entered her carriage and waited for her daughter to arrive.
"You are possibly the most foul boy I have ever met," Princess Adel snapped at Rook, whom for reasons unknown to him, had offered to carry the last of her bags for her. "Did you call last night a rescue? I could have gotten out of that myself!"
"I'm sure you could have lass," Rook humored her, not wishing to argue with her at the moment. He threw her bags on top of the coach and looked at her. "Ya know a 'thank you' wouldn't kill you your majesty."
Adel gaped at him for a moment before speaking. Rook could see the sourness in her eyes slowly dim down and her tense little body relax a bit.
"Thank you," she said quietly. Rook couldn't help but smile at this, seeing the princess cave in like that.
"Yer welcome," he said. "Now how 'bout a kiss for getting me nose broken for ye?" At this Rook laughed and secured the trunks to the carriages with a piece of rope. Adel snorted in anger at him and stormed up the line of coaches. Link came out of the castle doors and went over to Rook. As he came, Princess Adel huffed by in a foul temper.
"Now what did you do Rook?" Link laughed, slapping him on the back.
"Nuthin' more than usual," Rook grinned and gave the rope a firm tug. "There, snug as a bug."
The lead coachman called out for the departure and the line slowly started to move. Queen Adeilia waved out of the carriage window as it was waiting for Adel to get it. Rook flashed a bright grin at Link right before he took off running down the line of coaches, catching up to Adel before she stepped up to her carriage. Quickly, he spun her around and kissed her squarely on the lips, holding for a moment before letting go. Princess Adel stared at him dumbfoundedly and found for one of the first times in her life, she was unable to think of something to say. Still staring at the grinning Rook, unable to make out what had jut happened, climbed up into her carriage and the coachman shut the door behind her. The train of carriages left and slowly crawled out of site behind the castle gate. Link quietly stood behind Rook and gave him the oddest look.
"And what was that all about?" He laughed. Rook just beamed a big smile and turned back to the stables.