AN: I hate to repeat myself, but reviews are greatly appreciated. that's really all for now.
--- Chapter 4 - Of the Heart ----
The feeling a person experiences when they first awake is that of contentment, freedom, and peace. You have no worries, no cares, and the morning is welcoming you with its warm sunlight and relaxing atmosphere. The perfect feeling, if you will. This is the way Helen felt as she opened her eyes. Then the memory came rushing back. Lakeland had been robbed. She sighed, and wondered out loud how she would go about making any progress today. Usually a resourceful woman, Helen was surprisingly out of ideas. She decided the best thing to do as of now is to just go on living. There wasn't much else she, or anyone else, could do.
She wandered into Miriam's room to rouse her, a unjustified knot formed in her stomach. Miriam wasn't there. Helen tried to calm herself down, since Miriam often rose early, for she much enjoyed sitting by the lake watching the sun rise and reflect off the lake. It's just that Helen was so shaken up by the happenings of late, the last thing she wanted to lose was her oldest child. Helen rushed outside and looked around the town hurriedly. Miriam was sitting crosslegged on the makeshift dock, staring into the depths of the lake. She noticed her mother and waved, then got down off the dock, seeming to have something to tell Helen.
"Hey Mom, how much will you need my help today?" Miriam yelled, then put a hand over her mouth, realizing that most people were probably still asleep.
"Actually dear, I may not need you at all. Unless of course, Thomas gets fussy. Then I might need you to take Joe and 'Tor out to play. Why?"
"Oh, no reason. Just wondering." Miriam decided it was better that her mother not know about her plans to visit Annas and Saphra today, so she decided to change the subject. "Have you come to any conclusions about what might have happened to all our stuff?"
Helen sighed. "No, I haven't. That's part of the reason I don't think I'll need you much today. It's actually kind of frustrating. But I won't bother you now. Use this day to enjoy yourself. Hopefully this thing will all blow over and we'll get back to normal life eventually. That is, if we all help out"
One of the most essential things about this period when there was no food storage was that every family had to provide for themselves for a while. They had jobs like any other town or community here in Lakeland. Carpenters, fishermen, clotheirs. They all had their duties. However, now most people in the town capable of working would have to gather food, by fishing or foraging, which in past attempts had proved unfruitful, as there weren't many berry bushes along the edge of the forest. Fishing was basically the only option for these citizens at this point, and fortunately there was an abundant supply of fish in Lake Hylia.That afternoon, while Helen was at home minding her children, Miriam was making her way over to Annas' residence, wondering once again if there was more to the noises than they were telling Helen. She had never really spoken with Annas or Saphra, only the occasional polite "Hello" or "How do you do." A feeling of worry crept over her, but at the same time, her curiosity grew even stronger. Somehow she felt that the noises in the woods had something to do with the woods.
The woods. They had no other name to the Lakelanders. Simply the woods. Part of the reason that they hadn't ever ventured into the depths of this forest, and the reason that most people gave, was the fact that they didn't know if they would be able to find their way out again. The deeper reason behind the peoples fear of the woods was that a middle-aged man by the name of La'man had ventured in eight years ago, hoping to find something of signifigance, and hadn't returned yet. He was presumed dead by everyone, and only reassured their fears that the woods was a pointless and dangerous place to go. Besides, the wall extended all the way around, at least according to Ty. And for all they knew, there could be dangers besides getting lost lurking in there.
Miriam arrived at Annas' house and knocked softly. She waited for some time, and almost considered abandoning the whole thing, until another wave of curiosity took over, and she knocked again, this time knocking harder. Saphra eventually came to the door, and peered out.
"Oh hello there. Miriam, isn't it?" He seemed either extremely worried or embarrased, Miriam couldn't decide which.
"May I come in?" she asked in an innocent child-like way.
"Well, of course."
Miriam entered to see a small table in the middle of the room, four chairs surrounding it, and two doors leading to seperate rooms. Bedrooms, she supposed.
"So...what do you need?" Saphra was feeling awkward, not having the most adept social skills. It was a stroke of luck that Annas had just emerged from his room, presumably writing, studying maps and scrolls, as was his custom most afternoons and evenings.
"Ah! The little Miriam. It's so nice to see you. Won't you sit?" Miriam took a seat in the nearest wooden chair and took a deep breath.
"You know how my mother was here yesterday?" she started timidly. Annas and Saphra both acknowledged the question with a nod. "She mentioned that you guys said something about noises in the woods?"
A feeling of accomplishment rushed into Annas, and by the expression on Saphra's face, probably him too. This couldn't have worked out better for them. After all, the method of asking Miriam to venture into the woods for them was an area of undecision for the two schemers, but now it had fallen right into their lap. Annas was surprised he hadn't thought of his words having this result, and almost angry that he hadn't. However, here she was, the curious Miriam, asking about the very thing they were trying to lure her into.
"Oh yes. The evening before the robbery we were taking a stroll, when we heard some significant rustling and clattering type noises. There's really not much more than that to the story than that. They could have been caused by a small animal or something, but we heard something for certain, didn't we Saphra?" He nodded enthusiastically. "We think it just might have something to do with the robberies that took place that night, but we're not sure how."
Miriam was eager to prove her reasoning ability, and started rambling. "Could it have been the creeps that trapped us in here waiting to make their move? Or one of us, as my mom suspects? Of course, it could have nothing to do with the murder at all. Who knows? I don't!" Miriam found herself getting too wound up, and took a deep breath. Lowering her voice for caution's sake, she asked, "Have you guys ever explored in the woods?" Annas suppressed the smile that was forming on his lips, and replied
"No actually, we haven't, and had almost dismissed it, as we aren't brave folk. We're only scholars, we prefer to stay inside and learn about such matters instead of experiencing them." Annas tapped into his acting skills, and pretended that an idea had just popped into his head. "Of course, to learn, scholars must have people to report. Messengers, if you will." He said this in a wise, and almost obvious tone.
Miriam caught on right away, and before the voice of reason in her head could speak, she heartily spoke, "Of course I'll go in for you!" She realized right after this that it might have been unwise to take this assingnment on, but she figured, "Hey, maybe I should be more spontaneous sometimes. After all, I do think too much."
The three spent the next few minutes discussing plans, means of directing this search without the rest of the town finding out, and debating whether the night or the day would be better. They finally decided that it would be carried out tomorrow afternoon, when nobody would miss them. Miriam's second thoughts had completely vanished at this point, and she was heartily ready to begin to search the woods. Curiousness was her strongest aspect, and mixed with reason she was a girl with strength of mind and heart. However, the voice of reason had been subdued over the last couple hours, and because of that, she was taking on a potentially dangerous mission with these two scholars whom she had never spoken to until today. Curiousity had won. She had to figure all these mysteries out. After all, her mother would be happy if she discovered an answer to the missing goods. "In a sense, I'm helping mother." she lied to herself.
Miriam realized that she better get home to avoid her mother's suspicious questioning, so she said goodbye and headed back to her house.
XXXXX
Glaibert sat alone in his house, writing. He loved writing, as it took his mind off his usual problems. He would formulate and sketch imaginary fantasy kingdoms of his, and immerse himself in these fabricated worlds.
Today, writing wasn't working for him. Too many things were running through his head. Glaibert had a terrible habit of overanalyzing most every situation he found himself a part of. He couldn't help feeling that some of this was his fault, because he was a member of the Lakeland guard, and they had decided that they were going to stop guarding in the evening, simply for the reason that there wasn't any real threat to attack, spy, or...steal. Plus, most of the men who lived here had one thing in common. Laziness.
Glaibert had actually been one of the few who had voted against terminating the night patrol, for he always felt safer with a guard, even if they were just sitting outside, awake. Glaibert's mind started going in a completely different direction than it had yet tonight. After all, he was one for the guard. If he had had his way, there would have been a guard outside that night. It wasn't his fault. It was that lazy Ty's fault. He was the one who had pushed hard for the shutting down of the guard, and being the "mayor" he had extreme leverage in these issues. Yes. It wasn't his fault, it was all Ty's. It was Ty's fault we're in this mess. It felt good to lay the blame on someone else for a change. Glaibert felt an empty satisfaction, and tried to convince himself that he should be satisfied with this conclusion, and for now, he was.
XXXXX
Ka'monotan!
The king awoke from his nightmare, that word echoing in his head. He didn't know it meant, or why he kept hearing it, but the last couple nights that word had been whispered frequently in his dreams. Mortimas had anticipated and dreaded waking up today. Today, he would find out what he was really made of. He was going to end his despairs over this looming threat in the Kakariko valley, if that meant defeating the Dark Army, or being slain, he had a feeling that his troubles would end today.
Mortimas was in for a surprise when he entered the barracks, as he found it in a state of confusion. The hundreds of soldiers residing there had expected the fractional amount of missing soldiers that had left yesterday afternoon to have returned by now. No such luck. The king was shocked, and appalled when he learned that Juran Goldhelm was the one who had led them. Rage almost instantly filled the king's chest, as he remembered distincly giving orders for Juran, the eager captain of his Royal Army, not to attack Gargantuan. That was the only place that he could have taken fifty men. At least one problem was solved. Mortimas now knew where all his men had gone. There wasn't a doubt in his mind. Even with such a small host, Juran's intentions were clear to the king. His loyal captain had gone against his orders. Goldhelm was going to engage the Dark Army.
And He, Mortimas, King of Hyrule, was going to follow in his footsteps.
The king decided to leave as soon as possible, for even though he was felt great anger towards his captain, he realized that with that small of a host, Juran wouldn't be able to accomplish much. He gathered seven hundred men, leaving a hundred behind for safety's sake, because the last thign he wanted was to be attacked while attacking.
It wasn't a glorious exit, it wasn't celebrated, or praised. Mortimas led his great army out the gate of Hyrule Castle, and once they were all outside in Hyrule field, turned to face his host.
"My efforts to lead this Hylian people have failed many times before. I have made countless mistakes, but I hope today I will be able to put all my doubts to an end. Men, we are going to attack Gargantuan fortress today. It will be a long march, probably followed by an intesnse and lengthy fight. I wish you all didn't have to be a part of this, but it has to be done. Gather your courage, and try to trust me."
Feeling dejected and feeling that his command of these men could slip away at any time, simply for the fact that he hadn't done anything worthy of respect. He only hoped the men would be loyal to their king.
XXXXX
It was noon at the Hylian encampment near the Zora's river. Juran Goldhelm stood at the front of a small host, helmet under his arm. The moment he had been anticipating had come. he turned in the direction of Gargantuan, barely visible as a dark blur, and lifted his arm. All the soldiers stood at attention, waiting for the signal to march. Juran lifted his head and proclaimed in a strong, loud voice, "Soldiers of Hyrule! You have come here today with me, disobeying the king's wishes, thinking of the greater good. If you are willing to follow my lead and risk the consequenses of disobedience of a direct order from the king, then I thank you. If not, I understand completely, and give you your leave to go."
Juran heard rustling behind him, and turned, expecting to see soldiers packing their things and starting to head back to the castle. What he saw surprised the captain. Every soldier had his hand on his chest in the Hylian salute, standing at the ready. A smile crept across Juran's stern features, and he turned and started marching towards the Dark Army's fortress. Towards what he knew could be their doom.
After a long march, the fortress had become fairly visible, and Juran, even though he had viewed Gargantuan before, marveled once again at the immense structure that was created with barely any detection. A thought crept into his mind. A thought that this fortress should have been destroyed long ago, if it wasn't for the inaction of Mortimas, his king. His king. Those words echoed in his mind, reminding him of his allegiance. No, he wouldn't place blame now. He was still loyal. This disobedience was necessary, for the good of the kingdom, and for all Hyrule.
The soldiers made camp about a half mile away from the fortress, from what Juran could tell, and took a rest. It was getting later in the afternoon, and Juran was worried that if they slept here tonight they would be detected, by a patrol, or simply by their fires being viewed from atop the structure. The last thing he wanted was for his army to be caught off guard and unprepared. After the soldiers had rested and refreshed themselves, he made the announcement that they would approach the fortress with a group of ten soldiers (including himself) and try to engage the enemy in neutral talks. He knew nothing of his enemy, or how many strange creatures they had harbored inside Gargantuan. He didn't even know what they called themselves, what they called their stronghold, or if they even spoke in the common tounge. That's what he planned to find out in about an hour when he took his small troupe up to the walls.
The ten men approached the gate, stopped, and was just about to speak when a burning arrow struck the ground directly in front of him. All the men, out of instinct, drew their weapons (or bows, as it was a diverse group), immediately followed by Goldhelm's commanding voice yelling to his soldiers, but inadvertantly to the enemy as well, "Put down your weapons! We didn't come to fight!"
The archer who loosed the arrow had not been spotted by the men yet, but it wasn't surprising, as dusk was beginning to set in. It would have been more ideal in broad daylight, but Juran felt it wasn't safe to camp so close to the Dark Army. A shadowy shape was emerging from behind a stony ledge, above them, and a sinister voice eminated from it. "Allay, tan leck fin ti sontanar!"
Juran didn't recognize this tounge, and decided to speak in common speech and see if the creature, or whatever it was, would respond. "We do not come to fight, but to talk."
"Ah, your speech is common of this kingdom. Seek what do you?"
Juran was pleased that he would be able to communicate with at least some of the enemy, and answered, "We seek to speak with the head of this fortress, regarding the thoughtless destruction that we have heard reports of."
Suddenly, other shadowy figures seemingly started to appear around them, there seemed to be scores of them, but it could have been the men's imagination, and the evening mist messing with their minds. The creature that had been speaking jumped down from the ledge and began walking towards them. As it approached, it's figures became more distinct, and it started resembling a humanoid in a dark cloak, somewhat hunched, or deformed, it was hard to tell. The being's face wasn't visible as of yet, and it stopped about twenty feet away from the group.
"I am the one you shall follow." It turned and started towards Gargantuan, and as Juran thought about the name that the Hylianshad given the fortress, he asked a simple question.
"What do you call this fortress?" Not sure what to expect, Juran waited in silence. After a while, the being. without turning it's head, spoke.
"Ka'monotan."