Kazeri – I'm glad you like the story, and thanks for the actual spelling of the goddess of courage's name, I'll fix that up once I start to edit all chapters a bit for a clearer understanding.

Please leave a review, thanks


Chapter Eight

Zelda's two-week deadline has come, and as she slips back into her dress that she wore to the village, she wonders how her home is holding out. Once downstairs, she throws on her cape and follows a foot shuffled tired Link out to the Blacksmith. Least he's waking up early. Zelda thought as she followed him to the smith. He was dressed in his green tunic and had his shield with him, Zelda wondered if he was going to tag along.

Once inside, she saw that the smith didn't have much sleep on him and he pounded away on what looked like her sword. Taking a breather, he glanced back and saw Zelda standing there, eyeing him. He offered a weak smile before going back to his work. Link was coming back around with a large blade in his hands.

"Thing looks powerful." Zelda noted as he sheathed it.

"It better be, it's a two hander made the way the Gorons on Death Mountain make." Link said, to which Zelda raised an eyebrow. The comment was one she had heard about often, yet never heard of a Hylian, even if Toaru was outside, make one.

"I've heard that the Hero of Time used one of those blades in the battle with Ganon when he lost his other blade, and he also used it against his darker form and won quickly." The smith said, walking over. He handed Zelda her sword. "Had to work for three days without sleep to get this done on your deadline, Link's Two-handed sword took longer then expected."

"If it breaks, you owe me 800 rubees." Zelda warned before leaving, "now I have to hightail it out of here, got to get home."

"Better not leave me in the dust." Link said, as he mounted his horse. Zelda mounted Sandstorm and both of them raced off in the early morning.

As Zelda galloped on her way, she couldn't help but try to rid the uneasiness of what the war might look like outside the castle gates… or even in the market. Her two week absence would make things either more challenging for the bad—because she wasn't there to help guide them—or more challenging for the good—they knights wanted her to have a home to come to. For all she knew, the war could be over, but her gut told her it was far from over.

She could feel the hard second strap that held her arrows at her left, her bow on her right shoulder. She mind knew that the drawbridge would most likely be up and the only way for it to come down—besides waiting for it to lower—was to shoot as the ropes that held up the metal chains that worked the bridge. The bridge would fall heavily, but it was a risk that had to be taken.

The sun was about two hours over the morning horizon as the castle came into view. Smoke and war cries could be heard as Zelda made her charge. She had forgotten that Link was following her, her mind was to busy on the task at hand and if her father was all right. Pulling her bow off of her shoulder, she grabs an arrow and prepares to fire it, seeing the bridge was up. In one swift move from her distance, she fires accurately and nails the rope holding the bridge up. The Hyrule Knights saw this, and went to protect the bridge. Zelda slipped by them on her horse, none of them wanted to distract her as she gallops along. Sandstorm falls to a slower pace as the stable came into view. Jumping off the horse, Zelda began to sprint forward to the castle. Again she fired at the drawbridge's rope that held the chain in place, let it fall, then walked inside. Moving through the halls with Sheikah silence and pace, she headed for the throne room. The large oak doors were parted slightly, which was just enough for Zelda to slip in unnoticed.

In the side of the room by the door, Zelda slipped off her cloak, quiver, and bow and placed them behind the plant. She could feel the air difference, the air was colder, and not what she normally felt when her father was in here. Cautiously, she walks forward, her right hand resting on the hilt of her repaired sword. Her instincts were running high as she glanced around. When her eyes finally rested upon the throne chair, she saw Ezye sitting there. Zelda only looks at him.

"There you are, Princess." He said calmly, standing up. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"Where's my father?" she demanded.

"Oh, somewhere, I don't remember were I left him for the dead." He stated, but it didn't faze Zelda like he had hoped.

"Let me guess, I have to marry your son for this war to end, right?" Zelda asked coldly.

"Your guess would be correct." He said.

"Forget it." She spat.

"Then Hyrule shall fall because of this." He roared, then charged at her. She measly sidestepped him.

Zelda didn't say anything as she drew her sword out. Ezye looked at her, but drew his own sword, agreeing to the silent challenge offered. Zelda only watch him, seeing if he would make the first move. She didn't have to wait long before her opponent raced forward, sword held as if he was going to stab her. Zelda again sidestepped her foe, but this time swung her sword upward, to try and slash him, but the call on her side was to late, he was already out of reach. Quickly, Ezye turned on his heel and again charged. Slashing downward, he tried again to kill her, but just as smoothly Zelda blocked the blow. Ezye was getting more frustrated, and they continued to fight. Zelda attempted to get some attacks in as well, but they were blocked.

Ezye suddenly broke off and stood still, catching his breath. Zelda also gather her oxygen as she eyed her opponent. He was a strong foe, stronger then Rick when she faced him. She hated Rick more and more, he never told her that there was people stronger then her when it came to the sword, but then she had always known the stronger the foe, the better chance of learning something else.

Ezye sudden ran forward at Zelda, catching her off guard. It was Zelda's instincts that helped her block the next attack with her sword. Zelda made note that it took Ezye about 2 minutes to gather his breath, and she was still panting. Pushing away from the King of Ricaka, Zelda watched him with an eagle's eye. He charged forward with a thrust, which Zelda batted away with her sword, and came back up to slice his chest. He managed to dance away before contact, which Zelda hissed at herself inwardly. She decided that the only way to finish him was to catch him off balance. They locked swords and stared at each other's eyes. Ezye's eyes were filled with anger and rage. Zelda's eyes were as expressionless as her face. Pushing back with all her might, Zelda tried to catch her breath. Ezye had the same idea, and neither moved.

Zelda knew that this was her only chance. He was off guard here, trying to calm himself and catch air for his lungs. Zelda closed her eyes for 30 seconds, to think of where she might want to go after the war subsided. The only picture was the island on Lake Hyila, where the water temple was during the time of the Hero of Time. The bridge had long since been removed, but one could swim over there. Opening her eyes, Zelda estimated she had only one minute left before they resume battle. Knowing she wouldn't last until the next breather that Ezye seemed to have formatted in his mind, she raced forward, she sword out in a thrust. Ezye had no time to react, as the blade cut into his heart. With the last of his power, he slammed some sort of magic into Zelda's abdomen, and she was sent to the floor as he fell.

Zelda's mind seemed to cloud up as her only clear thought was to breathe. Inhale, exhale. It kept repeating itself in her mind. She no longer felt the pain, no longer heard anything, she couldn't feel the air on her skin or face, nor could she smell the rain outside, in the courtyard not far from the throne room. She only breathes, knowing full well it would keep her alive.


Link managed to come across where the King of Hyrule lay. He raced over to help the kind king and see what was wrong. Jeramy looked up, and saw the boy coming over.

"Been stabbed, think you can help me out?" he asked.

"Sure, got something I can bandaged you up with?" Link asked.

"If it will help, tear a curtain, it's about time we changed them to a new fabric."

Link smiled as he patched up the king. Again the king was grateful, but Link could feel something out of place. He had followed Zelda into the castle, but her movement through the shadows caused him to lose sight of her. Leaving the King to rest, Link headed back into the long, high hallways in search of the Throne Room, knowing full well that's most likely where she went. After a few minutes of walking, he came across the familiar oak doors. Peeking inside, his knees nearly failed him.

Inside was the other king Link had heard Zelda talk about during her stay in Toaru, her sword stabbed through him. Not far away was Zelda herself, unmoving on the floor. He could tell she was still alive, he could see her chest rise and fall. Walking inside, he hurries to her side. Gently he picked her up and moved some of her hair behind her ears. Her eyes opened and stared into his own, but only for a few seconds, before darkness took her into a dreamless sleep.

"Father?" a new voice echoes through the hall. Link looked up to see a lad staring the dead king.

"If I were you, I suggest you get your army out of Hyrule, and never come back." Came Jeramy's voice, the lad looked back at the Hylian king, then at his father, then bolted. Jeramy walked in and looked at Link, who held Zelda in his arms. Motioning Link to follow, they headed to a different part of the castle. After a short walk, the Hylian king opened a door and let Link inside. "This is her room, just lay her on her bed."

Nodding, Link did place her on her bed, and removed her sheath. He walked back to the throne room to pull her sword out of the Ricaka king, and put it away. Once back in the princess room, he looked at the king.

"I don't want to leave until she wakes up." He said.

"Alright, I'll have Rita, her nursemaid, bring you up some food at the meals, so you don't stave up here." Jeramy said, and Link nodded.