Chapter Thirteen

Under Siege

   Zelda turned restlessly in her sleep, haunted by the dreams.

   They came one after another, merging together.  Trees burning, children screaming.  A black tide sweeping across the plains of Hyrule.  The Temple of Time lying in ruins.  Mass graves, a giant swinging a huge sword, an unfamiliar tower being struck by lightning.  And finally, the face she feared more than anything else in the world smiling at her, laughing.

   "Zelda…"

   She awoke with a start, her sheets once again soaked in her own sweat.  She could remember her dreams this time.  They were becoming more potent, more powerful.  The events they foretold would be happening soon, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.

   "Link, where are you?"

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   "Sanna, you must flee.  They will be coming soon, and I don't know how long I can keep them back."

   "I will not leave you, my love."

   "Please, Sanna.  For the sake of our unborn child, you must leave."

   "Children."

   "What?"

   "There is more than one child in my belly.  I can feel them."

   "In any case, you must leave.  I could not live with myself if anything were to happen to you and to them.  Go to Kakariko; Impa is holding the enemy at bay there, and she will protect you.  Please Sanna…"

   "Very well Jax.  For your sake and that of our children, I'll leave."

   "Thank-you.  Safe journey, my love."

   "I'll be awaiting your return to me, dearest Jax."

   "Link…Link!  Wake up, we're here."

   Link awoke to Malon's voice.  He wiped the tears from his eyes, quickly so Malon wouldn't see.  He looked around.  They were indeed at the gates to Kakariko Village, landed on the northeastern coast of the Zora River.  It was early morning, and the air was still misty.  "Have you seen Epona?" he asked.

   Malon shook her head.  "No.  She's probably in the stables.  Anne will recognize her and make sure she's alright."

   "Alright.  Let's go find her then.  We need to get our cloaks before we freeze."

   They walked up the steps leading into the valley that housed Kakariko.  They entered the gates to find the village—which was actually the size of a large town—surprisingly quiet.  "That's odd," Link observed.

   "Yeah," Malon agreed.  "There should be people up and at work by now."

   Link didn't say anything.  He continued walking, a little more cautiously and alert.  Malon looked around her, trying to find any sign of life.  Eventually, she saw a figure making their way through the mist on their right.  As the fog cleared, she saw an auburn haired woman in her late twenties.  It was Anne, the local stable master and cuccoo keeper, a good friend of Malon's.  Malon was about to yell a greeting, when out of the mist came three large, unscrupulous looking men.  They followed Anne around a corner and disappeared from view.

   "Link…"

   "I saw them.  Let's go."

   They followed in the direction Anne and her followers had gone.  When the rounded the corner, they saw Anne on the ground, her back against the wall of the house.  One of the men had his grubby hand cupped around her mouth, the other making its way down the side of her leg.  His friends looked on with wide, cracked grins across their faces.

   "Pretty little thing," he rasped.  "It's been awhile since me and me mates had us such a pretty young lass for company.  You'll keep us company, right?"  He was answered by a muffle sob.

   "That's enough," Link said, his voice strict and foreboding.  "Leave her alone."

   The three turned, the leader's hand relaxing its grip on Anne's mouth long enough for her to say, "Link, Malon, please help…"

   "Quiet, bitch," he said, tightening his grip.  He snarled at Link.  "Walk away, mate.  This don't concern you.  Turn around now, and me and me boys won't have to harm you or your pretty lady-friend."

   Link was unmoved.  "This is your last warning.  Leave her alone."

   The brute spat out a curse and stood up to join his equally large friends.  Anne scampered behind Link and Malon.  Malon stooped down to comfort her as Link stepped forward to meet the attackers.  The first one came at him swinging.  Link blocked it easily, grabbing the wrist in his hand and driving his other up into the man's elbow.  The man's arm broke with a sickening snap and a yelp of pain.  He fell to the ground, cradling his arm.  The other was smarter, and circled Link with the ease of a seasoned brawler.  He stood in a martial arts stance, and obviously knew what he was doing.  He snapped a quick kick at Link's head, and then spun his other leg around in a roundhouse.  Link ducked the first and blocked the second with his forearm.  He swung a fist at the man's head, who blocked the attack.  Link kicked low at his opponent's knee, which was blocked as well.  Suddenly he leapt into the air and spun, driving his heel into the man's jaw.  The second attacker collapsed.

   The leader, seeing his friends so cleanly beaten, hesitated before facing Link, and drew a wicked looking dagger.  He switched it from hand to hand.  Link calmly drew his sword and spun it almost lazily in an intricate pattern.  The man stood there a moment longer, then he dropped his knife and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction.

   Link turned his attention to Malon and Anne.  "Are you alright?"

   Anne nodded.  "Yes, thanks to you two."

   "Can you walk?" Malon asked.  "We should get you home."

   "Yes.  Let's go."

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   "They came a few days ago," Anne explained, pouring tea into her guests' cups.  "About thirty of them.  They started ransacking our homes and taking our food, and they even killed the deputy mayor for no reason at all.  Their leader, a giant named Skorn, told us that if we valued our lives then we would act as if all was normal and provide his men with whatever they've wanted.  Several of them went up the mountain yesterday and haven't come back.  We've all taken to staying in our homes as much as possible, which is why you didn't see anyone as you came in."

   Link took a drink from his cup.  "Is Skorn still in town?"

   Anne shook her head and took a seat.  "No, he left yesterday.  But more men came after he left to replace those that went up the mountain."

   "What are they here for?" Malon asked.

   "No one knows," Anne replied with a sad shrug.

   "Anne," Link said, setting his cup on the table.  "Have you seen Epona?"

   Anne shifted uncomfortably in her seat.  "Yes, she's in the stables.  It's just…well, when she was found last night, she was unconscious, and there were three dead men around her, some of the thugs."

   Malon gasped.  "Is she all right?"

   "She's fine.  We found a dart in her flank.  That must have been what knocked her out."

   Link rose out of his seat.  "Can I see her?"

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   They found Epona in the stables like Anne had said, and she greeted them with a loving whinny.  Link and Malon stepped up to her and patted her nose and neck.  "Ooh, did they hurt you Epona?" Malon cooed.  "Why would they do that?"

   Link began searching through the pack still tied to the saddle.  "It doesn't look like they took anything…" he paused, then started sifting through their gear again.  "No, no, no, no…"

   Confused, Malon asked, "What is it?  What did they take?"

   "My Golden Gauntlets.  The silver ones are still here, along with everything else, but the Golden Gauntlets are gone.  Damn it!"

   "What's so important about them?" Anne asked.

   "The multiply the wearer's strength threefold.  If one of those thugs got a hold of them…" Link stopped, suddenly realizing something.  "Skorn!  Whoever took them must be giving them to Skorn!"

   Malon remembered Skorn's already incredible strength.  If he got these magic gauntlets…

   "Damn it!" Link cursed again, banging his fist on the floor.  "How do they know what I'm doing?  How are they tracking me?"

   Anne had no idea what he was talking about, and Malon, who did, had no answer for him.  Regaining his composure, Link looked up at Anne.  "Where are these thugs hiding?"

                                    *                                  *                                  *

   "What exactly do you think you're going to do Link?  Fight all thirty of them?"

   "Yes," Link answered.  "That's exactly what I'm going to do."

   They were in the stables again, where Link was preparing to lay siege to the merc camp by the graveyard.  Link secured his sword across his back along with his bow and quiver.  He hooked his longshot to his belt and slipped on fingerless leather gauntlets.  Malon had never seen him like this, all decked out for war.  She was intimidated, and she didn't want to think about how his enemies would feel when they saw him.

   "Well, you're not leaving me out of this," she stated defiantly.

   "No, I'm not.  I need your help."

   "I said you're not…what?"  She was caught completely unawares by his approval.  "What do you want me to do?"

   "You're going to be the distraction," he said, and quickly explained his plan.  Malon was starting to regret being so eager to join in.

   "You really want me to do that?"
   "Yes."  He saw her uncertainty and smiled at her.  "Sorry, but it's the only sure way for you to distract them.  Besides, it'll only be for a minute.  As long as you have your sword ready, you'll be okay.  And I want you to wear these."  He handed her his remaining gauntlets, these ones plated with silver, a large ruby shimmering on the back.  "They'll double your strength, protect you."

   Malon took the gloves from him.  "But they're too big."

   "Put them on."

   She did, and was amazed to see that they shrunk to fit her small hands.  Already she could feel added strength pulsing through her body.  "Am I as strong as you now?"

   "Yes," he confirmed.  "Probably a little stronger, even."  He patted her on the shoulders and headed for the door.  "Come on.  Let's show these goons what happens when you mess with our horse."