Disclaimer: As per usual. I don't own TES or LoZ.
Author's Note: This is what happens the morning after Link's little speech. It's mostly a "If you couldn't relate to the characters before now you can" type of thing. Thanks to Vincent214 and Tristan Lavantyr for some useful advice and appreciated support. please continue to reveiw. Also, Vincent214 reviewed once, but he had it on my name by accident, as I left it on without telling him. Just to explain. This was made because of a few absentminded mistakes.
The Legend of Zelda: Akavir War
Chapter 8
Link awoke the day after his speech. He quivered with anticipation at what he would soon do. He had the soul of an adventurer, and he was off in six more days to go to exotic lands his people had never heard of! He rose and left the commander's tent. Unlike the Imperials, the Hylian leader's tent was almost the same as his men. This gave rise to a kinship between an officer and his men, this sharing of hardship. Another difference, the Imperial's ears were rounded, unlike the crops of Elves that were with them. But, even the Elves had ears that seemed unnaturally round.
Link went over to the training grounds. There were seperate sections for each type of training, and an arena. Link shot off his bow, scoring perfect bull's-eyes with his Elven skill. The combat and magic training were similarly uneventful. Grabbing a wooden sword and shield, he stepped into the arena.
The greatest of the Empire stood before him. He requested that several powerful archers, warriors, mages, and mixes of the groups would all combat him at once. All agreed, looking at him like he was mad. The archers readied thier arrows, the mages and battlemages, thier spells, and the warriors and battlemages, thier various weapons. All of witch, like his, had paralysis enchantments.
All ranged attacks were seen by Link in slow-motion. He sidestepped one false arrow, knocked another out of it's course, deflected two parylo-balls, and blocked the other arrows with his shield. Another volley was on it's way by the time the warriors had taken two steps. These he cast a massive Parylo-ball at, and they halted in the air before him. He let them fall, and returned to normal time flow. He blocked arrows, countered spells, and leapt forward at the ranged attackers. He quickly weaved in and out, stopping all the archers and mages. Charging forward, he ducked under a parylo-hammer, and stabbed with his parylo-sword. He stopped an axe with his shield, and slashed. He contrinued simillarly until the arena was littered with the Empire's best.
Link cast a spread cure paralysis spell, and the others got up. At that time, Link barely heard the slight plop of bare reptillian feet on sand over the cheers and congradulations.
Eats-His-Book, the ever-mysterious, walked into the arena with a wooden parylo-greatsword.
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The Nerevarine walked around Tear, lost in deep thought. His obligations as the Hortator of Great Houses Redoran, Telvanni, and Hlaalu took up too much of his time for him to travel off the island of Vvardenfell often. Tear was a beautiful city, and he was glad for this week of peace before the great war overseas. He knew that, despite Links powers that grew exponentially by the day and the confidence of the army he was sent to Hyrule to gather, the war in Akavir would be hard, and many good men would die. His aide, Ammas, was off doing what he always did in his hometown, visiting his aged parents.
The Nerevarine turned his thoughts to the Argonian Merc, Eats. He grew more mysterious by the day, and the Nerevarine's acute magical awareness told him that not only was he disguised somehow, but he also had power on par with Link's in magic. This worried him, as it was difficult, maybe impossible, to read Eats' thoughts. His motives were highly suspect. He would need to watch him.
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Ammas knelt at the shrine of his ancestors, praying for stength. He had fought before, but he was a mere boy of thirty, seventeen in human years, and not ready for a war like this! He hoped that his ancestors would show him mercy, and grant him strength in the coming battles.
"Ammas, come and eat," His aged father called.
"Yes, You can't go to war without having some good food first!" His mother called.
As Ammas rose and looked at his parents, he felt new strength. He would fight for them.
"Thank you," He thought to his ancestors as he sat with his family.
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Link grunted and struggled to keep his balance. Blow after blow was barely blocked by his shield as Eats slashed faster than Link thought possible. He was being beaten back. They both slashed at once, and thier swords locked.
"Why didn't you go this all-out the first time?" Link panted.
"You weren't ready." Eats panted back.
Link jumped back, and then forward with a slash. Eats ducked it, and strafed around. Link stabbed forward, barely missing Eats' head. Eats moved back and stabbed, which Link barely evaded. Link jumped as high as he could without levitating, and rained parylo-balls one after the other. Eats magicaly stopped them all, and jumped himself. Link kicked out, and Eats sprawled on the ground. Link attempted to stab down, but Eats rolled out of the way, and flung off with his tail. They both rushed forward, and Link blocked an uppercut slash, but took a nasty punch in the jaw.
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By now, the Nerevarine heard about the duel, and was running as fast as his Ebony Armor would permit. He reached the arena just as Link took the punch. He was eager to see the outcome, and to see who was better.
Out of nowhere, the Idea came to him that if Eats was distracted, he could try to mind-probe. He tried, and was forcibly blown back, with the message engraned in his mind: "Try that again and you'll die, whether you're an ally or not Nerevarine."
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Ammas stood in his father's trophy room. In it were the skins and heads of horrible monsters, relics from ancient history, and last legacies of villians from around Morrowind. His father said, having snuck up on him, "I wish you the best of blessings in Akavir. I have a gift for you." The old adventurer held in his hands a long box. Ammas opened it and removed a three foot long sword. He drew it from the sheath, and saw the enchantment of fire.
"The sword I used when I was your age. It is of ancient make, crafted by my great-grandfather in the second era. It is called Drakeslayer, and if you meet Tosh Raka, it may do just that."
"Thank you, father," Ammas said, choking back tears of gratitude, as he embraced him.
"Come back to us, my son."
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Link spat blood. None of his teeth were loose, but his gums were ragged and bleeding on the left side. He and Eats were at opposite sides of the arena. They both let loose parylize beams, which met with shockwaves that blew them back. They charged for a moment, and set loose massive beams. The shockwaves sent them both slamming into the walls. Link was up first, and he jumped. The entire present company watched as, seeming in slow motion, Link began a horizontal slash, Eats tried to get his guard up, and failed. He had been too slow, and Link slammed Eats in the snout, parylizing him and removing rather painfully two teeth.
Link almost collapsed from exaustion after. He stood still a moment and, unable to do it himself, requested that someone unparylize Eats. After rising, Eats gathered his teeth, washed them, and stuck them back in with a resin he pulled out of his pocket. Link spat blood onto the ground and used some of his remaining Mana, or "Magicka" as the Imperials called it, to heal his gums. That last beam took a lot of Mana. He still had much to learn, he thought as he got some water.
The Nerevarine jumped down from the uncomfortable wooden bleachers and congradulated Link, noting that Eats stared daggers at him with the same message written on it than the telepathic one earlier.
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Link realised why the ships werent' leaving to come to Tear for them until two days after, and why they subsequently would take six more days to arrive. The next day was the 28th of Rains Hand by the Imperial calendar, called Jester's Day. They were waiting for the Holiday. He figured if he was there he would make the best of it, and would stay with his friends.
Okay. Next chapter might be Jester's day, for a little humor if I can. If I can't wright humor according to my semi-proffesional editor Vincent214 then I'll just skip that and head strait for the one that would be after, The voyage with some Naval Battles.