Disclaimer: I owe not the Legend of Zelda in any way.

A. N. There's a new title for this fic. Also, I modified its content to make it look as a lost tale rather than an ancient scroll. I'm currently working on my Sindarin so if any of you notice slight mistakes don't send the inquisition to my house! Lasto nim beth a Sindarin?

The Immortals, the Half-elven and the Daeridhrim.

Malon sat heavily on the small bench leaning to the wall and sighed. Link was late again! She felt disappointed by her friend who had promised to be on time for this occasion: her birthday. Having no other close friend, the young woman felt especially bound with the young knight, and his absence made her feel somewhat lonely.

Trying to move her mind away from thinking of what would she say to Link when he arrived, she looked about her in the town inn. In a small wooden table a few feet away she noticed an old set of scrolls with a small ribbon binding them together. With keen curiosity, the red-haired stood up and walked to the bench near the table. After sitting down and looking about her again, she took the parchments and untied the ribbon. Within its folds there was a small card with a single phrase: Happy Birthday. Smiling, she unrolled the scrolls and read the following Tale:

'Long ago, ere the fierce wars ever wounded the realm, ere the Alliance of the people of Hyrule, ere the waning the Sheikah, ere the forging of the Master Sword, when the World was young still but already ripe the Hylia were still a numerous people and dwelled in various places of the world. Hyrule was but a small land where there lingered a few of these great people, although most of them were of high lineage.

'Young though it was, the World had already seen conflicts in distant parts. They are not wrong the words of a wise man of the Hylia "War is as old as life itself" thus, and that was soon found out even in the peaceful and powerful mark of Hyrule. Fell creatures of many kinds began to plague and infest many a fair place in the world and the first realm of the Hylia was not an exception. Wolves of great size called Wolfos by the Hylia and Wargs by other peoples appeared for the first time and ravaged the land near the Lost Woods and the entrance to Zora's River. Not even the wood could held out these evils that had suddenly appeared in the World. Along with the Wolfos, and after some years had come to pass, many plagues arose in the realm and all the races but the Hylia suffered greatly from this new evil. The plague lasted for three years and it was rumored to have come from the east, away from the Lost Woods. By this time, the Hylia had felt pity stir in their hearts and had come back to their land offering aid to the peoples of the realm. It was so that the Hylia returned timely to their own land, protected by the wood when the greatest evil the Word has ever known struck. The wolfos had been but hunted down and the plague was waning with haste when this third great evil came to pass and arrived to Hyrule. Feller creatures known as goblins in some parts but called Orcs in the rest invaded the realm in great number, thinking that the fewness of number that dwelled there would not show great an opposition against them. After being left without space in their eastern lands, an immense host of these vile creatures set forth from Middle-earth to Hyrule; victory, they deemed, would be swift and complete.

'To their dismay and wrath, the realm was the place of linger in those days of the great part of the Hylia, and the short and easy war they had planned became a long and deadly conflict that lasted many a long year therefore.

'By this time it was that the Sheikah first appeared as shadows of the Hylia. They came in the form of strange Hylians always clad in dark blue and black. Their traits were as none of the Hylia, as they were stouter, stronger, with quickness in their movement and silence. They were of strange silvery-white hair and red eyes, though it happened that sometimes a golden-haired Sheikah could be seen amidst his folk. The Shadow-folk, as they came to be known guarded the Hylia and most dearly the high lords against the Orcs in those dark years. The Sheikah were known, thus, as the Daeridhrim, for it was their custom to not appear ever in open spaces or bright. Their skill in arms was surpassed only by the ancient elven-lords of distant lands, and so it was that the Orcs came to fear the very chance of a Sheikah warrior blending in the darkness about them.

'I came to pass that for a final battle with the goblins, the Hylia summoned all of their strength, which was but waning after long years of savage fighting, and called for the Sheikah to join in battle. To their surprise, for it was not of the liking of many a Sheikah to be exposed during daylight and in open warfare, the Daeridhrim agreed and sent many warriors to the aid of the Fair Kindred. They marched out of the shadows under the lead of one of the greatest captains of the ages: Romahil Sword-arm. He was a mighty Sheikah that held a great hatred to the Orcs and sought to slay every goblin in the realm until cleansed.

'One of the greatest surprises came during the Sheikah's march to the outer fields of Hyrule. Crossing the Lost Woods were they when Romahil sent a scout ahead of the host when he deemed the forest-path to be almost over. The scout, by coincidence or by the captain's will, was none other than Romahil's own brother, whose name is not recorded hither nor elsewhere. When his kinsman had left, Romahil turned to his folk and spoke these words to them:

'"It is now come the time when we drive out any remaining rat-folk. For our brothers that have fallen before their black and stained scimitars we must now destroy this host. Whoever falls in this battle to come shall be called my brother mattering not his age or lineage. Let us hunt some Orc!''

'A great clamour answered his words and the Shadow-host carried on with their road. As for the scout sent by the Shadow-leader, he had rode far ahead into the woods and was about to turn back when a voice, he thought, sang deep within the southern wood. As he approached he heard more than one in a clearing not far away. With all the stealth he could muster, he hid behind an oak-tree and gazed in wonder at the beings who sang so fairly.

A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!

Silívren penna míriel

O mennel aglar elanath

Gilthoniel! A Elbereth!

'For out of despair and into hope's renewing he saw a great host of none other than the Fair Folk, the Elves. But he was unsure, and his heart was in great doubt. The Sheikah are so sleek and silent that not even the Elves can perceive them when they blend with the shadows. Thus, he crept into the lord's pavilion and there saw him writing down in the fair tongue of the Sindar. After revealing himself to the lord, the scout learned that the Elves were here to aid the folk that was called the Hylia in repayment of many favors in the lands away from Hyrule. With joy now in his heart, the Sheikah scout returned to his kindred to inform about this.

'When Romahil learned this he was full of joy also and ordered his host to hasten to the Hylia, then not very far away. When they finally arrived to the other side of the wood and joined the Hylia, Romahil informed the Lord of Hyrule of these events. Hope was kindled anew in every Hylian's heart and song filled the air about them.

When spring is come and gone is moon

And shades have passed away

When tidings glad are come ere noon

That Elves shall join the day

When Shadow-folk have crossed the wood

And hope is thus anew

We shall go forth

And for our lands

The claim we shall renew.

'It was not long ere the Hylia had learned about them when the Elves appeared out of the wood. Thus it was that the Elven-lord met with the Lord of the Hylia and were glad. But one of the Elven-minstrels that accompanied the lord looked at one of the Hylia's figure and was confused. For he seemed Elvish to him and yet he was mortal, just like the Edain from their own lands. But he suddenly thought of a possibility.

'"Could it be," he said to the Lord of the Hylia, "that the Hylia are an unknown form of Peredhil?"

'"Peredhil?" asked the Hylian Lord. "What might a Half-elven be in your fair tongue? For amongst us there is no word that might carry a alike meaning.

'"The Half-elven are the children of Lúthien that dwell alike in mortal lands as in the Undying lands. You kindle in my mind the memory of these fair beings for you are Elven-wise and fair, and yet you are mortal."

'The Lord had no answer to that, knowing that his creation legend stated that the Golden Goddesses had created them and all life forms. The Elf sensed his waver and did not inquired anymore, and soon was forgotten the matter.

'The next day was the day of the battle. The Orcs had gathered all of their remaining folk in a last attempt to overtake Hyrule and destroy the Hylia. So it was that their numbers had swollen and their host filled the fields outside the Lost Woods. The Sheikah were the first to charge, with many Elven-bowmen shooting at the bewildered Orcs, for it seem to them great wizardry that their enemies had grown in number suddenly and within a few weeks. But the presence of Elves, whom they hate above all, made them fierce and wild. The first charge was overthrown with loss by the Sheikah, and Romahil retired to a groove dragging with him many goblins. The Elves gathered about the standard of the Lord of the Hylia and let fly a great number of fletched arrows against their enemies, slaying many an Orc even before the fell race had the chance to strike the Hylia. When the arrows were but spent the Hylia launched an assault to the front-lines of the goblins with many spear-soldiers leading. They pierced their ranks and scattered the frontlines, but they could not reach their leader.

'Fortune was turning ill for the Hylia and the Elves now; many a fair elf and Hylian lay on the field now. The Orcs jeered and shouted in fervor seeing victory at hand, when coming from the groove, furious but strong, the Daeridhrim charged again at them. There was a great din of arms in clash and a long and dreadful battle until Romahil himself slew the last of the Orcs chieftains with his steelring-covered hands, having lost his rapier to a foe in battle.

'Afterwards, the Orcs were piled in a great pit and set on fire to relieve the land of such a fell flesh to be rotten. But victory was the only comfort the Hylia could get, for many of the ancient race of Hyrule had fallen in the field, along with many fair Elves that would have lived many ages merrily in their homelands. The Sheikah, being skilled in weapons above the others, had not taken so much losses. But being fewer in number also, they were reduced very much. Romahil had lost his sister back in Hyrule during an invasion of wolfos to his village and now his brother had been slain during the first retreat and his father was not among the living when the battle was over. He was in great grief and was sorely hurt, if only in his heart.

'After the Elven-host had bidden friendship and farewell to the Hylia, the Lord proclaimed the isolation of the small realm forever. He appointed a great choice to the remaining Hylia of returning to their homeland or to remain in other parts in the word forever. To his misfortune, many chose to dwell outside of the realm and to return in exile elsewhere. The few that remained with the Lord were not of high lineage and so it is that the Royal family of Hyrule is the only remaining Hylia in the world able to claim heritage from the Lord of the Hylia. The Host of Hyrule returned, along with the Sheikah, to their homeland.

'Thus it was, that on the very noon of a fair day of spring the last host of the Hylia crossed the threshold of the Lost Woods to the east and emerged to the rule of the realm. The other races rejoiced and celebrated their coming with great clamour and joy. But to the surprise of the very Hylia, the Sheikah disappeared from the land and showed not to any of the celebration. The now appointed King of Hyrule called the Sheikah guardians of the realm and declared perpetual alliance between them and the Hylia; and the Sheikah learned of this and accepted the honour, though they never again showed themselves among the realm like they used to do ere the great evils.

'After the Host of the East had come out of the wood, Romahil led his people to unknown lands within Hyrule and made their dwellings there, although they claimed a small land at the skirts of Death Mountain as their own, thus founding Kakariko. When the Sheikah had grown in peace and numbers again, Romahil laid down his charge and left the realm for many years. How he crossed the barriers that separated Hyrule from the rest of the world, none can tell. But it was clear afterwards, when he returned, that he had been in foreign lands and had beheld the Great Sea. But the loss of his family grieved him and he could find no comfort in any part of the world. The Sword-arm became a legend of might among the Sheikah, and he was honoured even if he was not there to receive the honour. His close friends, the few he called so, could only guess that he would return soon. And though he returned as foreseen, it was not soon at all. For many years had passed since the Hylia had returned to Hyrule, and the King of Hyrule had died some time ago. When Romahil appeared one day in the middle of a Sheikah encampment away from Kakariko the moon was full, and the Sheikah were commemorating precisely the departure of the Sword-arm. Whether he returned on purpose that day or it was by mere chance none can tell; many mysteries surround the life of Romahil.

'It came to pass six years after Romahil's return to Hyrule that the fingers of death began outstretching for him. It was his custom to remain hidden within his Sheikah clan for many days until the moon was full each month. He then would come out and sit on the top of a hill he had named Amon Ithil, the Hill of the Moon and teach the young of the Sheikah in wisdom and lore. But a skilled warrior though he had been, he never taught any of the children in the arts of war. This made the elders think of the illness that had been haunting Romahil ever since his departure. But none in the realm, not even the waning Hylia, knew the remedy for grief-memoirs. Thus it was that the great Sword-arm diminished in health and pride until he summoned his folk to a last council atop Amon Ithil. And thus he spoke:

'"Some of you beheld me many years ago as the Orc-slayer of our kindred and saviour of Hyrule. Some beheld as a fierce warrior that left no goblin alive about me and hated them above all. Very few of you beheld me as a loyal son, a loyal brother and a loyal friend. All of you had beheld me in many ways, but one; and that one is the one in which many of you do now: as a teacher and lover of peace and quietness. It is thus how you behold me. And you shook your head and say 'This was once a great leader and warrior'. Well I say to all of you: do not be so quick to judge a Sheikah! For I have been through many things that you cannot know. I have visited many places in the world and have crossed forests darker than the Lost Woods, climbed mountains higher than Death Mountain, swam through lakes deeper that Lake Hylia and dwelled in palaces greater than Hyrule Castle. But I have also seen things feller than Orcs, darker than the Shadow, feller than living death and more terrible than anything one could possibly imagine in the fair realm of Hyrule. So I am changed. Yes, changed in my way of seeing things. When I see a chance of battle I no longer draw my long knife with my clutching hand. I search desperately for a way of avoiding conflict and if nothing is found, only then I draw my rapier and fight to death. But death breeds death, and I have had too much death in my life.

'"So I speak to all ye Sheikah: do not look for occasions of war and rejoice at it. Do not look at me as a example of warlord. For my life has been near of being ever-lasting torment and dread. Should you look at me for example, search for peace and wisdom… and lover of quietness. War only ends when the desire of vanquishing your foe is quenched in your heart Remember this and keep these words in your heart: life may yet ail and hope may not hail. But memoirs do not quail and love shall not fail!"

'So spoke Romahil, Sword-arm to his folk on a clear night of summer when the moon was full. The next night he did not show to the young Sheikah atop Amon Ithil. And as the moon waned slowly in the sky so did his health. And the night when the moon disappeared from the sky and the stars shone brightly at last Romahil gave up his life. And when the moon is not waning like the Gerudo but full like the Sheikah, the Daeridhrim remember him and his deeds with the Host of the East that set Hyrule to the Hylians as we know it in these days of late.'

Malon smiled again and closed the parchments. "Did you like it?" asked a voice behind her. Turning quickly, she gazed at his friend's eyes that shone with a special light; Link had been standing behind her, waiting for her to had finished the story, for quite a while now. The young woman smiled yet again and dropped timidly her gaze. "Well, did you like it or not?" the knight asked again. "I spent a whole day in the library looking for you present".

Looking at the old rolls and at the ribbon, she took her pouch and carefully laid them in it. "I loved it," she said. "But you were late again!"

Laughing, he took her by the hand and after exchanging glances they left the inn.

A. N. Whoa! This one needed a helluva a lot of corrections! But I have finished it now. Please, tell me whether the effort was worth it or not in a review. Bai!