Hiya, kids! Ara's back again for more fun! Yay! Oh, and guess what? I don't own the Legend of Zelda!
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Ch. 31: At Fault
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"Come at me, then!"
He leapt back coolly, his face serene, his stance composed as he brought his sword behind him and parallel to the ground.
Bearing her teeth, Airaen narrowed her eyes and took a cautious step forward, staying in a constant crouch.
"Frightened?" he challenged.
"Never!"
Gripping her sword with both hands, she ran forward, keeping her sword at her side. She yelled out a challenge as she leapt into the air, swinging the sword at an angle. He parried and retreated, then pushed forward with his toes to crash his left shoulder into her chest.
The wind knocked out of her, she flew back a few feet and hit the ground hard. Wincing, she pushed herself up, then quickly rolled to the side as he came swinging down. Jumping to her feet, she pushed off from the ground, ducked his blow, grabbed his shoulder, and flipped over him. Landing on the ground, she whirled around. Startled, he turned to her, his eyes wide.
Too slow, she thought with a grin as she sent her fist home to his gut. He opened his mouth in shock and staggered back a few steps, then swung his sword parallel to the ground only to meet air.
There was not a sound nor sight from the girl.
He grinned.
"Much better, Fidaya," he muttered. Licking his chapped lips, he looked around, searching with his eyes, ears, and nose. A bird called from above. Ahrima could hear the comings and goings of soldiers near the market. The shadow of the Castle thankfully blocked the sun for now.
"Come on out!" he called, hiding a smile. Much better, indeed.
A sound to his left caught his ear. Sidestepping, he brought his arm up and drove his elbow down hard on Airaen's back. She cried out in shock and pain as she smacked into the ground. Grinning, he squatted next to her and crossed his arms.
"You need to be less noisy," he said sternly, his grin fading.
She groaned as she pushed herself up, spitting dirt. "That actually hurt," she said, rubbing at her back.
"Faster next time, and quieter," Ahrima replied. "And don't whine. It's not becoming. Besides, you're holding back."
She sighed. "Aren't you going to help me up?"
He stood, stretching, and moved off.
"Oh, yes, thank you so much for your help, Master," she mumbled as she stood up, swaying a little. "Damn, that really hurt."
"It'll hurt more if that's a sword instead of my elbow," he retorted.
"Did you see that?"
"I couldn't see anything, they were moving so fast!"
"Are they even human?"
Airaen rolled her eyes at the guards. Idiots.
##
"M'Lord Ganon!"
Ganon refused to turn around and face the captain, instead deciding to keep his gaze towards the Castle. My Castle, he thought angrily. After a while, he turned, his cloak swirling around him with the motion. "What is it, Captain?" he bellowed, enjoying the kneeling man's flinch.
"M'Lord, the men are restless. Even the stalfos and other creatures demand a move on the Gate again," the Captain replied, keeping his eyes on the dirt ground.
"We will move. They just need to learn some patience," Ganon replied, turning back to the Castle.
"I know that, sire, but...but they're threatening to desert you," the Captain answered.
Ganon chuckled. "They are, are they? Then they're all a bunch of bloodthirsty fools." Sighing, he turned. "At nightfall, get the troops in organized lines. No torches, or any other light, understand? They have to be invisible. Fail me at this and I'll personally see to it that you die. Make ready for an attack before dawn."
"Yes, sire. Understood!"
##
"Hey."
Airaen turned from the window, torn back to reality. She quickly smiled. "Hey, yourself, Roh."
He kicked at the ground absent-mindedly and stared about the room. "I haven't seen you all day..."
"I'm sorry...I've been...practicing a bit," she replied, horribly conscious of a fierce blush. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. What the hell is wrong with me?
She observed that he, also, was in the same state.
He moved closer to the window as the light from the sunset embraced him, sparkling in his eyes and showering his hair like rain. She felt strangely enchanted by him and moved closer, placing her head on his shoulder. Roh sighed and ran his hand through her hair. Airaen closed her eyes, whispering, "Let's go somewhere..."
"Where can we go?" he answered. She smiled.
"Anywhere and everywhere."
##
Though she was comfortable and still rather warm despite the night's chill, Airaen couldn't fall asleep. Sighing, she kissed the top of Roh's sleeping head and pushed away from him. Quickly stepping around him, she reached for her clothes and slipped them on as her teeth began to chatter. Stretching, she made to go wake up Roh when she stopped.
A familiar tingling sensation was running up her spine, making her tremble.
Oh, Goddess, no...
The horns were blowing...
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"Get some light!" someone was yelling over the din of arrows that came pouring down. "I can't even see 'em!"
"Rooftops aren't doing much for us!"
"They're attacking the Gate! They're out of range!"
How could I have been so blind?
It was probably the thousandth time Airaen had thought of that as she notched another arrow. I was so stupid! So...arrogant!
"They're gonna breach the Gate!"
Swearing profusely, she jumped from the rooftop to the ground and sprinted off to the Gate again. If he gets inside, we're all dead. I can't stop them all.
"Fuck!" she swore.
##
"Ah, here she be comin'," Ith smiled, turning to Airaen. "Arrows ain't bad, but I be tradin' in all of 'em for a good fight with m'sword."
The Gate shook again from another violent blow from outside. Dust and bits of wood rained down on the fighters there in mockery of rain.
"You might get your chance," Airaen replied grimly. "If they breach the Gate, we're dead."
"That's no way to be talking in front of everyone," Ahrima replied, crossing his arms. "Positive mind leads to positive outcome, Fidaya."
Airaen sighed as another violent blow shook the Gate. "They're coming...and it's my fault."
"Can't they just come sooner?" Fash said, gripping the hilt of his sword, a dangerous grin on his face. "I've been itching for another fight."
Roh shook his head. Who are these people? They speak of fighting like it's a way of life.
"As long as the civilians don't get killed, I'm fine," Roh said with a shrug.
There was another violent blow, and then a loud, trembling crack.
"They've breached the Gate," Ahrima said calmly, drawing his sword and twirling his staff in his hand.
"Yes, I know," Airaen replied.
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"The Gate's breached!" Link yelled to those around him on the rooftop. He dropped his bow. "Get to the Gate! Keep them from getting to the Market!"
"Hurry up!" someone called in a familiar voice. Link turned to see who it was, but then decided to leave it alone as he sprinted to the edge of the rooftop.
##
Airaen swung her sword to the side, hacking a man's head off, then tore forward further into the melee. She was nearly out the Gate and looked up quickly to gather her bearings.
Hundreds of foes were fighting to get into the Gate, hundreds more behind them.
Is this really the end?
"Positive mind leaves to positive outcome."
Airaen turned and grinned. "I guess so, huh?"
Ahrima nodded and pressed forward, a blur of flesh, steel, and wood. Her grin widening, she took off after him, the smile never leaving her face as she swung.
##
With all the dust swirling around him, it was hard for Link to see a few feet in front of him. Crouching low, he drove his sword up through an enemy's neck, then tore his sword through and out to the side. Ignoring the now dead body, he sprinted forward, his face grim.
We have to push them back. I don't know how, but we've got to...
A stalfos was coming towards him, its sword raised high. Narrowing his eyes, Link rolled forward and to the side, slashing it across the middle with his sword. Grinning, Link stood and drove his sword down through the stalfos' scull. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he pulled it upwards.
A shadow loomed behind him, making him turn as he saw a man, his axe raised, ready to strike him down for good. Link had nowhere to turn.
"I get the Hero of Time!" the man yelled.
But before he could swing the axe downwards, an arrow sank into his throat. Gurgling, he sank to the ground, the axe falling with a loud thump.
"I can't believe you let him come up behind you like that!" a voice yelled. Link started; it was the same voice from the rooftop.
Turning, he yelled, "Zelda, what the hell are you doing here?!"
Zelda frowned as she lowered her bow. "I save your life for once and that's all you have to say?"
"But...but..." Link stuttered, wide-eyed. "Since...since when can you fire a bow? And...how did you...."
"Impa taught me, of course, silly, when I was little" she replied, wiping a bit of dirt and blood from her cheek. "I told you, I can't just sit back and not help at all. I'm sick of doing that."
Link was still stuttering even as she planted a quick kiss on his lips.
##
"They're endless!" Roh yelled as he swung his sword, claiming another foe. "We can't stop them all!"
"A positive mind leads to a positive outcome," Airaen thought. She leapt to the side and drove her sword through a man's belly. There is no hope...but at least we'll go down fighting.
She looked back towards the Gate, then stopped. "What the hell is she doing out here?!" she yelled, seeing her mother firing another arrow.
"Hey, isn't that 'un bein' your mother?" Ith said to her, leaning on his sword for a minute. "And that'n there's your ol' man, right? That Link character."
"Yeah..." Airaen murmured, her eyes wide.
"Fidaya, don't get distracted!" Ahrima yelled as he swung at another lizalfos. "How many times do I have to tell you?!"
"Oops...sorry," she answered, turning immediately. Parrying with another man's sword, she ducked and sliced him across the abdomen, then kicked him squarely in the gut.
"Archers! Straight ahead!"
It took a while for Airaen to realize that the voice belonged to her father. She turned to glance at him, and their eyes met. He mouthed something to her, but she couldn't hear what he was saying. Zelda was yelling something at her. The tingling sensation was running up her spine again.
He's here...
She knew without having to turn around that Ganon was firing arrows alongside his men. The energy signal around him was enormous, making her falter suddenly.
"Airaen!" Link yelled. "They're firing!"
Time seemed to slow down as she turned, barely seeing the large clump of arrows flying directly at her.
There was nowhere to run or hide.
Her breath caught in her throat as she froze. She was going to die! I...didn't foresee this...
"Fidaya!"
Ahrima leaped in front of her, his arms held wide as he took the arrows head on. His sword fell from his hand as he cried out, blood spitting from his mouth as he fell back, three arrows in his chest, two more in his leg.
The world around her seemed to stop in its place. All that existed was her Master falling to the ground beside her as she stared helplessly. She sank to her knees and crawled over to him, her eyes wide and staring in disbelief.
"Goddess, no...please...please, no," she whispered. "Master!"
Cradling his head in her arms, she tried in vain to fight against the tears that coursed down her face. He gazed up at her, a grin on his face.
"Ha...don't...cry..." he whispered, coughing blood. He reached for his sword.
"What're you...don't move! I've got to get you...I've got to get help!" she cried, her body trembling. "You...you can't...!"
"To die on the battlefield...Fidaya...is...is the...greatest honor," he coughed. She nodded dumbly, remembering what he had always said to her before. "You...have to let me...go...let me have my honor..."
"I don't want to...I can't!" she whispered, holding him. "You can't die...I won't let you!"
He held on to her shirt, pulling her close. "Fi...Fidaya...I know....you're still...a child...but you....you can't...." he coughed, wincing. "You...can't hold back anymore...promise that...you won't....hold back....any of that....power you...showed me.....promise it...swear it...!"
Sniffling, tears pouring down her face, she nodded. "I swear it," she whispered. "I swear it on my name."
"Words..." he answered, smiling. "Show...me...I'll be watching you. Help...me up..."
Nodding, she pushed him up. Leaning against her, he grabbed his sword and held it tightly as fresh blood trickled down from his mouth and wounds. He glanced at the line of archers in front of him as they notched more arrows. "When...I've done...it....you....have to charge him...understand? End it..."
She nodded. "I swear it, Ahrima."
He patted her shoulder and grinned one last time. "Farewell...my Fidaya...my Airaen...I'm proud...of you..."
Airaen stood with him. She stood tall. "Are you ready, Master?"
He grinned again, showing bloodied teeth. "I will miss...our time together...Fidaya..."
He gripped his sword with both hands. "Serekto!" he roared, running forward, his sword held close at his side.
Airaen could hear Ganon yelling, "Fire! Kill him, you fools! It's just one man!"
She could hear the whir of the arrows as they hit him. He staggered, but still ran forward as he leapt into them, crying, "Airaen! Airaen!"
She fell to her knees, driving her sword to the ground as she watched him die, eight arrows in his chest before he finally fell to the ground as Ganon fired the last, fatal shot. The hilt of her sword seemed to gleam in the sun's light, then faded as a cloud moved, blocking the sun. She gazed at nothing, tears still falling down her face.
"You have to move faster, Fidaya! How do you expect to beat him if you don't put your heart and soul into it?"
Airaen closed her eyes against her tears.
"You...can't hold back anymore..."She gripped the ground. I've always held back...
Roh watched her as she stood, then shrank back from calling her name when he caught a glimpse of her eyes. "Airaen..." he whispered.
She gripped her sword and pulled it out of the ground, holding it to her side. Looking up, she saw Ganon, his face smug, as he tossed his bow to the ground and was pointing and laughing at her Master's body.
A rage as she had never felt in her life gripped her. Baring her teeth, she crouched low, muscles poised to spring. I won't hold back, Master...I swear it.
"Ahrima!" she screamed and took off, her feet pounding against the ground. Farewell, Ahrima...
$%$%$
Okay, that made me cry...wow...hang on while I wipe the tears from my face. Yeesh, I'm emotional...kind of embarrassing. I'm sorry for all you Ahrima fans out there. This was hard for me to write. Damn, I feel like I've lost my best friend! Okay, I'm gonna have to go write the last chapters, now. Yes, my friends, we are near the end! I don't know how many chapters are left (I'm lazy, I know), but be ready for some really depressing stuff...please review! Okay, I seriously need a tissue here...