Chapter Twenty-Two
Cursed Lives

The days that followed the Battle for the Gate went by quickly, and Rael was swept up in the rush. The city's morale was struck hard by the battle, despite the victory, and the mood that hung in the Palace was of gloom and uncertainty. But time seemed to flitter itself away, and Rael was pleased to find that he made a quick recovery from his battle wounds.

Most of free hours were spent in contemplation and thought about what Zelda and Link had told him. They tried to be kind to him, and made it abundantly clear that they meant to put no pressure on him. Several times he had considered running away, but thought better of the idea eventually, seeing as he was safest here when the country was at war.

Old Link had devoted all of his resources to finding the heretic that Rael had heard the rumours about the Lord of Dusk from. He was determined to get to the bottom of it all. The heretic had been released shortly after his arrest apparently, as they had no real grounds to hold him, and now he wanted him back again. It was ironic really.

Ralis kept to himself a lot, and often tried to avoid Rael. Ralis still didn't want to believe that Rael was the son Link and Zelda, and Rael could not blame him, when it meant that they were not truly brothers. Rael tried to convince him that they were brothers where it truly mattered, but Ralis was always distant now. If it was true that Rael really was their son, and that Brash or Resh had adopted him, then it meant that he too had been adopted, and after Rael, meaning he didn't have any parents at all, but Ralis did not seem bothered about trying to learn where he was from.

Daran, Tabett and Elane, who Rael had admittedly seen less of in the recent days, were overjoyed to find that Ralis had woken from his long sleep, and were very surprised to find that Rael had been in the battle, having seen it from afar. Neither of the brothers said anything about what had gone on between them and the Queen and Marshal. They had no idea what Rael and Ralis were both going through now.

Daran's hair had continued to change. It was as though the 'transformation' was now complete. His once dirty blonde hair was now pale white-yellow. Daran himself thought it looked really great, and he wasn't concerned that it was a strange thing to happen. He said maybe he was aging quickly, and laughed it away. The white-blonde did lend a certain look of presence and authority to Daran, but he was frustrated the first time a man mistook him for a woman from behind. That event cheered Rael up on a particularly drab morning.

One exciting thing did happen though, amidst the foul mood of the week. Ralis and Mara announced that Mara was pregnant with child. And she was at least a month gone, apparently. That did explain Mara's occasional bad tempers, and it seemed also to account for some of Ralis' uncertain mood. But they were both incredibly happy.

What was more, Ralis and Mara said they were leaving Hylia, and weren't planning to come back for a long time. Rael blamed himself for this, but Ralis said they had been planning to do this before everything bad happened, and it wasn't his fault. Ralis had to get away from everything, and Rael could hardly blame him, but he didn't like the idea of being left alone. He was supportive though. Ralis seemed to be overjoyed at the prospect of being a father, and Rael could not have been happier for him.

And so that is how Rael found himself walking alongside a horse drawn cart on a cool foggy morning, with Ralis and Mara ahead mounted on horses. Daran was there also, and Tabett and Elane. They had all come to see the pair off.

The fog cleared as the cart trundled on down the hill, the bright sunshine shining down from clear blue skies, lighting up the white city. The group laughed and joked like they did in old time.

"So, Daran," jested Elane, "did that man end up picking you up last night?"

The group laughed, at Daran shook his head. Tabett slapped him on the back, his too handsome face beaming. "Now, if that is how Daran chooses to live, we shouldn't judge him."

"Damnit," said Daran loudly, "just because I have long white hair doesn't make me a woman!" Daran did see the humour, but he was growing tired of jokes. No Hylian man had ever been known to have blonde hair, but many women did here in the north. He was a joke magnet now.

"Yeah," agreed Rael, "and just because he finds men attractive, doesn't mean that he's- hey!" Daran sharply jabbed Rael in the arm. "Daran, you know that bruise is still sensitive!"

"You want to see if we can make it more sensitive?" said Daran, a definite threat lingering in the joke.

"Nah," said Rael, "I don't fight women."

Rael narrowly dodged another fist.

"That's enough, boys!" called Mara, we don't want fighting today. We've had quite enough of that already.

Daran and Rael muttered a few words between themselves, and both ended up laughing.

"So Mara," said Elane brightly, "which direction are you going to be taking?"

Mara smiled back, "East I think. South is a definite no-go right now, and we don't want to end up caught in the gerudo civil war to the west. Best to head east."

Ralis nodded in agreement, "Should be safe from the war beyond the mountains. For a time anyway."

A gentle breeze blew up from the west, and gusted east, as though in approval. The grey and brown horses whinnied excitedly, as though they could feel the prospect of adventure too. "The road will be long, but we'll be together the whole way, and that is what I want; and at the end we'll have the greatest gift of all." He reached across to Mara and laid a hand over her, as though holding the child too.

They passed under the gate of the Market Circle, and adjusted to the flatter incline of the road. Daran just gazed idly at the sky now, humming lightly to himself. Mara engaged in a conversation with Elane and Tabett. This left Ralis and Rael together, Ralis high on his horse and Rael walking in step beside him.

"Rael," said Ralis solemnly, "I want you to promise me that whatever happens, you won't let those two use you for their own advantage." It was obvious which 'two' he was referring to. "You must be careful, brother. These monocratic types will use you for their own ends if you let them. Always remember that I am your brother. It doesn't matter who our mothers and fathers are, we are brothers forever, and that is that."

Rael nodded, "Of course."

"Rael I- I love you, never forget that, all right?" It was rare for Ralis to show such emotion. Maybe he had matured in some way.

"I love you too Ralis." They both smiled, and looked away at the road ahead. Saying those words seemed to free up a lot of animosity between them, and Rael's spirit lightened. It appeared that Ralis was happier too.

"Now, I guess that means that we-"

It happened so quickly, that it was only after the dust settled that Rael truly understood what had taken place. A man leaped out of the shadows of a building, like a rabid dog snarling and growling, and took a running leap up at Mara, driving her clean over the back of her horse. She screamed out loud. Elane shrieked, and Tabett, Daran and Rael shouted out in horror. Her horse reared up on its back legs in surprise, which frightened Ralis' horse into leaping back onto to legs in the same way, throwing Ralis into the air.

"Mara!" Ralis shouted as he tumbled to the ground ten feet away..

"Ralis!" screamed Mara, as she wrestled with her attacker.

"Mara!"

A blood-curdling wail went up, a sound that Rael knew he would never forget as long as he lived. The ragged fiend leaped up off Mara and jumped away, dissolving into a gathering crowd. Ralis made a grab for his heel and fell short, clattering onto the cobblestones. Tabett and Daran tried to pounce upon the tramp as well, and he slithered away from their grasp like a snake. They raced after him through the streets.

Ralis fell down beside Mara, and choked a cry of grief. "Mara…"

A long dagger was thrust firmly through her chest, blood beginning to spread across her green dress. "Ralis," she whispered. Her face was going pale, her eyes glazing over.

"Mara- you- no- I can't- Rael, help me! Do something!" he looked up at the circle of people, they were shocked and could do nothing but look on helplessly. Two men had stepped forward and were trying to ease the horses' nerves.

Rael and Elane knelt down beside Mara. Rael had recognised the fiend who had assaulted her. It was that damned heretic! Oh, Light, she was going to die! Right here! Right now! Rael picked up her hand and held it gently.

"Mara, Mara, don't die, you're going to be all right, you'll be fine Mara. Don't worry, I'm here, you'll be fine." Ralis stroked Mara's forehead, but she just smiled back at him.

"Ralis… I am sorry, my love…" she fell silent, still just breathing weakly, but not talking, "goodbye…"

"No!" snarled Ralis, and it truly was a snarl. "No! No!" He stood up, and drew his sword. "Mara my love! My light and life! I'll save you, I'll- I'll-" Mara's eyes rolled back, glazed over. The hand Rael was holding had gone limp. "No…no…"

Tears streamed down his cheeks, anger was in the harsh lines of his face. "I'll kill that dog for you Mara!"

Ralis stood up strongly, and darted away, pushing aside the crowd of people. Leaving Rael and Elane by Mara's side. Elane was sobbing, tears staining her face.

"Oh, by the gods!" whimpered Elane. "She's- she's-" Elane looked pale, "No, no…" Elane's head rocked back and she wilted to the ground wearily.

"Elane!" cried Rael, staring at the second woman now fallen on the ground. She had just fainted, that was all. An elderly woman darted forward from the crowd to help her. "Thank you," breathed Rael to the old woman. He scooped up Mara's dead body in his arms, and held her tight to his chest. "Oh, Mara… Mara… Oh, Ralis…I'm so sorry…"

……

Ralis screamed out with blind rage. "Burn your eyes, you demon!" Up ahead of him, Tabett and Daran closed in on Mara's attacker, that filthy street tramp dressed in nothing but a sack. Daran was first there, throwing himself against the man, and knocking him off his feet into a hard brick wall. He lost his footing, and they both fell to the ground. The vile fiend tried to run, but Tabett floored him again with a sharp kick in the back, and a strong blow to the back of his head.

Ralis sprinted up the slope after them, and as soon as he was close enough he clamped a foot down upon the assailant's back. The old, hideous, tramp screamed, and Ralis relished his pain. He dropped to his knees and turned the man over so he could see his face. Beady black eyes stared back at him from a gaunt, haggard face. He spat in Ralis' face.

Ralis paused for just a second, then raised a fist high into the air. "Burn you!" he yelled. His fist came powering down into that twisted face. "Curse you! In the name of the light, you shall suffer for your evil!" He pounded on him again, hitting him again and again. "Why!" Ralis wailed.

Words could not describe how he felt now. In a few seconds his entire world had come crumbling down around him. Mara, dead! Dead! How could this be happening? His child dead along with her! "Oh, why, why did you do it?" he demanded of the bloody faced man.

The murdered just smiled, and said, "To awaken you."

"What! What does that mean! Wake me? Curse it, I'm going to kill you!" He leapt to his feet and slammed his foot down on the fiend's neck. He heard the crack, and the cry of pain, but it was so satisfying! "Die!" He drew out his sword and watched the light play upon the blade for just a second.

"No!" yelled Daran, leaping at Ralis. Ralis extended his left hand in a flash, without looking. Daran's face collided with it, and sent him back to the floor.

"Don't stop me doing justice," snarled Ralis.

"No…" whispered Daran, too quietly for anyone to hear, "not again…"

The blade descended upon the heretic's face, and blood erupted everywhere. Again the blade sliced downwards, slicing open his neck. "Bleed my sorrows, bleed my sorrows away!" Ralis grabbed the blooded corpse of the dead man and blood oozed out down his hands and over his arms. "You killed the love of my life! You killed my child!" he roared tears, "This is her fault!" he screamed, "that maiden of shadow!"

He threw down the body, snatched up his sword and growled loudly. "You shadow witch! I am coming!"

……

When Rael arrived on the scene of the butchering it did not take him long to determine what had happened. He was panting for breath; it had been a steep run, with crowds to push through. A fair gathering now surrounded Daran, Tabett and the heretic's body. The crowd were muttering amongst themselves whether or not the two had taken a hand in the deed, but the tone was that a third man had committed the killing, and they had tried to stop him.

"Where is he?" demanded Rael.

"He ran off to of the Palace," said Tabett, vaguely, his eyes hollow and empty.

"Zelda!" gasped Rael, and began making his way through the crowd towards the north of the city.

"Rael, is Mara-?" asked Daran, standing so weakly in sadness.

Rael just looked back and shook his head. They understood. "Tabett, Elane fainted, you need to back to her. Oh, this is madness! Daran, come with me, I need you!"

Daran nodded and limped after him, and Tabett darted away back down the road.

……

"I am coming, I am coming, I am coming for you!" screamed Ralis. Palace guards were little opposition, falling back as soon as standing against him. Not dead, but out cold. "You will pay for destroying my life!"

……

Rael raced up the wide paved road, feeling a stab of horror at every bloodied unconscious face he saw. A trail of destruction lay in Ralis' wake. "Come on Daran, keep up!" he threw his legs as fast as they could move as he swerved up the curved road to the Inner Gate.

This was all happening too fast for him! It just kept hitting him over and over again. Mara was dead, and he would never hear he voice again… What was Ralis going to do? If he hurt Zelda… if he laid but a finger on her… "Ralis!" cried Rael at the empty road ahead.

He reached the courtyard that spread out before the Hylian Palace in no time, and he ran across the elaborate gardens to the wide open doors at the front of the gleaming grey walled Palace. A hundred banners flew on silver poles atop spires and towers, blowing in the wind furiously. "Ralis!"

Through the palace doors he ran, almost tripping over the palace guards that lay asleep, strewn everywhere in sight, along with a good many servants too. How had Ralis done this? He knew he was a good fighter, but this seemed to surpass what any man could do.

At the end of the long wide entrance hall, where the wide marble staircase inclined upwards to a higher level, there were two great doors. A small door in the base of the right one was open.

He leaped over bodies, and nearly slipped as he landed on the marble, and he jogged up the steps and burst through the small lower door into the throne room.

The room was beautiful beyond words, awe-inspiring and overpowering. High walls on every side arched overhead, laced in ivory and pearls that bordered hundreds of beautifully painted images of kings and queens of ages gone by. Tall windows of crystal clear glass lined the walls, bathing the room in the pale light of early morning. At the far end of he room stained glass windows depicted various images, most strongly those of six glass portraits of peoples of the different races of Hyrule. A rich red carpet ran from the door to the throne, which was raised up on a stepped dais.

The throne was solid gold, inlaid with silver, and contained long slender streaks of colour from emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and many other precious gemstones. The intense beauty of the throne only served to magnify the beauty of the woman seated upon it, clothed in silver-white falls of silk, with a golden circlet upon her head.

There was no time to appreciate it. The bodies of scores of soldiers were thrown against the walls, being joined by more as Ralis smashed his way through their ranks like he was tearing through parchment.

"Ralis, stop it!" Shouted Rael, his voice resonating in the hall as he ran. Daran was close on his heels. Ralis dispatched the last of the soldiers and began advancing on the Queen. Zelda herself did not seem at all concerned about her safety, and just remained sitting casually on her throne like it was any other day. "Leave her alone!"

Ralis spun on his heel, and faced Rael. His face was bleak and dreary, tears streaming from his face. He cried as he spoke, "Brother, help me end this now. She is the cause of all our pain and suffering! She is a witch and demon worshiper!"

Rael took steps closer towards Ralis, bending his knees and gesturing his arms open widely, and he cried as he spoke too. "Ralis I am so sorry, brother. I can't begin to say how much I am sorry for you, but you cannot do this!"

"I will do what I want, Rael!" bellowed the older brother, drawing his sword out in bloodstained hands and raising it into the air. "I will do justice upon those who have sinned! There will be harmony and peace here from now on!" He pointed his sword blade at Rael, "If you truly are her son, then you will take her place, and together we will lead Hyrule against the Kairin! We will avenge our lost father, and avenge Mara and my child!"

"Oh Ralis," sobbed the younger brother, "why do you say these things?"

Ralis wiped the tears from his face and stood resolutely and proudly. Standing there in the light, in his green silk shirt and long black breeches, he held the image of a lord in splendour. But dripping with another man's blood and his own, he looked like a travesty of a lord. "Don't dare to defy me, brother! If you love me, you will stand by my side as I do justice upon her!" he thrust a finger behind himself at the Queen. She still sat placidly, as though she had no fear at all.

"Ralis, no, stop this…"

"Rael, are you with me, or are you against me?" he descended form the steps and began coming closer.

Rael stepped backwards steadily, trying not to look at Ralis' sword. For his own protection he drew his own weapon, the one-edged narrow blade of the Father Sword glittered in the sunlight. "Don't fight me, Ralis!"

During this heated exchange, Daran had been looking on helplessly, but now threw himself between the brothers. In the mystical glow of the throne room, his white hair seemed almost radiant. "Stop, now! You cannot do this! Not again! I have seen this too many times before! You cannot destroy each other again!"

Both brothers frowned at Daran, confused, but not concerned about his ramblings. "Get back, Daran," warned Ralis, "unless you want to die as well."

"You will not harm each other!" yelled Daran, so powerfully that it seemed to resonate in Rael's very heart.

Ralis paused a moment in contemplation, then shook his head angrily, turned his blade to the flat and swatted Daran aside. Then, advancing on Rael, engaged in a quick clattering of steel, before knocking him down to the ground in the same fashion. He looked down on them both and muttered, "You are weak."

He began to walk back to the Queen's throne once more.

Rael felt like his bones had been smashed to dust, he was helpless and immobile on the floor.

For the first time, Zelda spoke, with such icy cold that it made their previous encounter seem warm. "You cannot hurt me, Ralis," she said, "I warn you do not try."

"Evil beast," he muttered, drawing up his sword.

"Ralis, no…" whispered Rael.

"You shall not harm my Queen!" came a sudden booming voice from the other end of the hall. The voice reverberated in the heights and in the depths of the Palace, as the massive doors to the throne room were flung wide open, and the thunderous boom shook the hall to its foundations. All heads turned to face the man who now stood there, robed in the black of night, with long grey and red locks descending in waves around his face. He pulled a long silver sword from his belt and ran with full force towards Ralis.

"You!" yelled Ralis, drawing his own weapon up to his side in a double-handed grip, blade upright. "You are he who took my brother from me!" Ralis stepped forward, readying himself as Link closed the gap between them. "I will kill you before I kill her!"

Link raised his sword as he reached Ralis, and the older brother threw himself off the dais, locking blades with the Hero of Time. "Do not fight me, Ralis!" Link shouted, "you cannot hope to win."

"We'll see, old man," snarled Ralis.

They exchanged blows, each combater shrugging off strikes with ease, and moving with graceful step. Then, after a few moments, Link ran Ralis' blade around in a circle in a singular motion, and kicked him in the chest, forcing him backwards. By his movement, Link appeared to be stiff in his bones, long out of practice with a blade, but that did not affect his ability to best Ralis apparently.

Rael watched helplessly as Ralis regained his standing, and strode forwards again. A frenzy of quick blade movements began again, steel scraping and sliding too fast for Rel to follow. They moved in striding leaps around the throne room, spinning and ducking, whirling blades in rhythmic sword patters and moving between forms in such a way that Rael could hardly believe possible.

"I have to stop this," muttered Rael, summoning all the strength in his body.

"Don't do it Rael," whimpered Daran, who lay clutching a broken arm.

Pushing himself up, using his sword as a support to climb to his feet, Rael began to edge his way across the marble inlaid floor.

"Ralis, I do not want to kill you, but I will," Link's voice echoed in the hall, "if you force me to I will have no choice but to destroy you even in the presence of your brother."

"You lie old man," hissed Ralis, "no-one can kill me. No-one!"

They duelled in leaps and bounds, blades clanging and ringing. They moved as master swordsmen, spinning and turning and moving their arms left and right and up and down in perfect harmony. Light from the tall windows shone on steel, casting swirling patterns across the hall. Link's black cloak danced majestically, and he moved like he was the wind.

Rael edged closer.

Swords locked, and with all their strength Link and Ralis pushed against each other, straining intensely. "You will never win," said Link, such that it sounded like an oath.

"I will kill you, I will kill you!" Ralis screeched, gaining the upper hand, and knocking Link back defenceless. He raised his blade above his head and prepared to strike

"No!" Rael gathered every last bit of his energy, and bore himself down upon his brother. Ralis was swept off his feet, soaring through the air helplessly and dropping his sword, and crashing to the ground.

Link breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed with exhaustion. "Thank you," he breathed as Rael passed him. Ralis was defenceless, and cowered as Rael advanced on him, black-and-gold sword hilt and silver blade shining.

Rael kicked Ralis' blade away contemptuously, shaking his head in gross disappointment at his brother. "Ralis, this has to end now." He held out his hands, "Let me help you, now."

Ralis looked like a figure of madness, clothes torn and stained crimson, his hair dripping with sweat and blood. "Get away!"

Rael stopped by Ralis head, and his brother spat on his shoes, "Betrayer, you are with them!"

"Ralis! I will not let you be the one! I will not let darkness take you, my brother! End this madness, now!" Rael was red and flaming with anger, Ralis just looked on with hate etched into his face. "Oh, gods, no! It is you! No, No, No! Please, anyone but you!" Rael fell to his knees beside his brother and wept for his soul.

"I see it now," whispered Zelda, rising from her throne. The radiance of the gods was around her, and a wind gusted about her figure blowing her silks in a harsh breeze. Her tone was harsh, high and dry. Her eyes had turned to a foggy grey-white.

"I see it now," she said again, loudly, "The Lord of Dusk walks the earth once more! His mighty image shall be burned into the fabric of time, and the world will break beneath his feet. In Dusk he rises; light un-maker, chain breaker! The Lord of Dusk walks the earth… All shall fear his name. Weep for your souls and pray for salvation for the Lord of Dusk has come! Here gathered are the five chosen of cursed lives, and The Lord of Dusk is risen!"

…………

The chosen beget a father of light
The sea rages and lightning breaks the waves
The father blade heralds twilight's fall

A dark road diverges to the ocean
A river of blood marks the father's path
A guide awakens and the horn rings true

…………

The End of Book One of The War of Twilight