Zelda and the others were transfixed as they looked up at the spirit of Calamity Ganon writhing around the castle. The anguish of all Hyrule hung stagnant in the air along with the ambient gurgling sound of malice.
"It's here…" Impa was the first one who managed to speak. "The Calamity has already begun…" She said, at a loss.
"No, No…." Zelda gasped when she noticed malice enter one of the nearby Guardians and become animate. It made a horrible mechanical sound as it turned its 'eye' towards the princess, a red laser appearing on Zelda's chest. Link immediately sprang into action, deflecting the Guardian's blast back at it in a brilliant flash of light.
"Calamity Ganon is taking control of the Guardians!" Zelda lamented. "It's going to turn them all against us!"
"It can do that?" Said Revali in surprise, realization starting to dawn on the Rito champion, as well as the three others. The Calamity was far more cunning than any of them had imagined.
"There are still more on the castle grounds. It's too dangerous. Everyone, protect the princess as we make our retreat!" Impa called.
"But…" Zelda started to protest.
With that, Link grabbed Zelda's hand, pulling her roughly behind him as he ran down the brick path away from the Castle. It didn't go unnoticed by Astor, the man experiencing an intense wave of sullenness he couldn't shake. They disappeared down the path and the Champions and Sheikah aide followed, no one paying him any mind in the frenzy the Calamity had created.
Astor remained, feeling out of sorts and alone, but determined to fully embrace his new destiny. Hyrule truly was on its knees… Especially Zelda, who was being crushed under the weight of her duty. How had he ever been so blinded by Calamity Ganon to want this? To want to harm her? He had almost killed her for the sake of Calamity Ganon… HER! He was barely aware that his fists were clenched, wanting to make her his and spare her all this pain and suffering. The back of his neck was becoming sore as he glared up at the beast he'd once dedicated his life to serving. Calamity Ganon opened its maw to a right angle, and a thunderous roar of rage issued forth as if demanding the prophet make a blood sacrifice of himself to atone for his disloyalty.
Astor smiled up at the beast spitefully.
I wasted so many years of my life on you…. But serving you led me to her… I must thank you… I'm going to live on and create a legacy for myself, and you're going to be sealed away… May every soul in Hyrule spit on your memory.
Astor's smile faded as he noticed King Rhoam emerge from the castle's Sanctum.
"You're coming with me…" Rhoam said in a stern, matter-of-fact way., The King wielded a huge claymore single-handedly, flanked by three knight attendants.
Astor scowled at the older man, raising his hand to summon his orb, but then thought better of it, giving only a huff of defiance.
"I'm glad I have your cooperation. Care to give me your name, prophet?" Rhoam maintained the same stern, condescending tone as he held the claymore over his shoulder. The sword was almost as big as he was.
"Astor..."
Confident that Astor would not run or fight back, Rhoam nodded to his attendants. "Alright men, retreat!"
"Yes, Sire!" The three knight attendants said in unison. They were looking around wildly in horror at the destruction the Guardians were bringing and a bit miffed that their king decided to take a prisoner at the worst possible time.
The five quickly, but carefully made their way down the winding path, Rhoam staggering a Guardian that blocked their path with a single swing of his claymore. Astor could almost feel the brunt of that swing.
"Astor, I'm afraid we're going to get to know each other whether you like it or not. Had the Calamity not happened when it did, you would be in lockup now. However, since my castle is currently overrun with Guardians and all manner of Ganon's monsters will be flocking to the area, I will be keeping an eye on you myself. Suffice to say, I am not in a good mood."
Astor kept his gaze forward as they proceeded. The king's tone did not bode well for him. It wasn't lost on him that he was in a precarious situation. Still, this could be amusing.
"I know I'd rather not," King Rhoam continued, "but given that I fear you are encroaching on my daughter's divine duties, I must go above and beyond to perform mine as her father and as king." Rhoam noticed Astor's attention was elsewhere. "Look at your king when he's talking to you, you piece of filth!" Rhoam raised his voice, finding the younger man infuriating, despite knowing so little about him. The prophet had already left the worst impression on him, not that he stood a chance in hell of making a good first impression all things considered. Why would Zelda consort with this man, let alone trust him? He was scrawny, deathly pale, and dressed in rags. Everything about Astor was…off-putting. How had he and Zelda even met? Was the young knight he'd appointed to Zelda slacking off?
Astor turned his attention to the older man slowly, giving him a look of intense spite. He then saw the king's eyes widen, looking at something beyond him. Astor turned to come face to face with a Guardian's laser trained on him.
Rhoam and his men stood back, obliging the Guardian to make short work of Astor.
The Guardian's laser rested on Astor for a moment, moving over the malice eye on his circlet before fading and readjusting to focus on the king.
Rhoam wasted no time in raising his claymore and bringing it down on the Guardian, giving a grunt of effort. Bolts and gears flew out of the busted automaton, littering the brick pathway.
"Why did the Guardian disregard you?" Rhoam mused aloud. "How disappointing..."
"Thank you for looking out for me, Rhoam. Such a caring king and father, too… You're going to make a fine grandfather someday..." Astor said darkly, facetiously.
"How dare you!" Rhoam bellowed, giving the young man a ruthless slap across the face, causing Astor to stagger and fall.
Astor simply returned a perverse smile despite the stinging sensation on his cheek. Astor began to laugh, chuckling at first and then breaking into an intense round of laughter, his yellow eyes going wide in a way that unsettled the old king—as if overtaken by a vision. "Yes, my children. Go harass King Rhoam and do not disappoint me!"
Rhoam was fuming. Astor was either very insane or intentionally provoking him, perhaps both. Either that or he had injured the prophet's mind when he struck him. Astor's antics were making it very difficult for the king to maintain his composure.
"You're very fortunate I am not a crass man, or I'd tell you what I think you deserve… Now tell me, how well do you know my daughter?"
"Well enough to know she is terribly lonely," Astor replied. "She despises you."
"What nonsense… Everything I've done has been for her! She was supposed to be Hyrule's pride, but it seems that the gossip mongers' words are coming true... Look around you. Hyrule is on fire. What sort of future does she have? 'Heir to a throne of nothing' if she does not awaken that power very soon. I can tell you're a lousy prophet by that alone."
"Bold words from a king who does not carry the blood of the Goddess."
"I may not carry the blood of the Goddess Hylia, but I am still the rightful king of Hyrule in my late queen's stead. I was born into a noble family and my union with her was arranged by the late king and queen. The only thing I'm going to be arranging for you is an execution. Know your place, prophet."
"An execution?" Astor almost laughed, trying to imagine what Rhoam's reaction would be when he learned he had up until very recently been a devoted disciple of Calamity Ganon. "On what grounds?"
"Interfering with my daughter's role to seal Calamity Ganon away for one. Also because it would bring me personal satisfaction. Now, get up, before I change my mind and grind my boot into your head. You're slowing down our escape."
Slowly Astor got up, dusting himself off, raising his chin to the older man in a testing manner.
"Wipe that smirk off your face. Move!" Rhoam said, giving Astor a shove with the side of his claymore.
oOo
Zelda looked back over her shoulder, her hair whipping in the wind as she ran. "Wait… Where are Astor and my father? We can't leave them behind!"
Nobody seemed to acknowledge her question or nobody heard.
They ran through the chaotic town streets, witnessing horrifying scenes as the Guardians wrought havoc upon Hyrule's capital. Guardians were climbing the walls of houses and shops alike, some not being able to bear the weight of the mechanical wonders and the rooftops beginning to crumble.
They finally reached the main gate, crossing the threshold into Hyrule Field, as the Guardians had completely overtaken the castle and even the surrounding town. They stopped to look back, now a safe distance away. Zelda's eyes widened in horror when she realized more Guardians were appearing, being methodically ejected from the five columns that had suddenly risen out of the ground to surround Hyrule Castle. The same columns she had tried so hard to locate just days ago.
"Where did he go?" Zelda said out of breath and sick at heart, but trying not to break down again. Hadn't she already cried all the tears she thought she had at the realization of her failure? She knew the Calamity was eventual, but experiencing it was beyond her worst imaginings.
"Little bird… How can you be certain he didn't do something to summon the Calamity just by being present?" asked Urbosa, trying to reason with Zelda's concern for the man.
"T-that can't be… " Zelda said, exasperated, not even willing to entertain the idea.
"Our concern should be for His Majesty.… Did he remain behind on purpose?" Impa mused.
"The two are probably still bickering for all we know…" Revali quipped. "Hylian males…"
It would have been a humorous mental image in any other circumstances: Astor and her father too entrenched in their argument to notice as Guardians flooded into the Sanctum, but Zelda was vaguely aware that Astor had at least left the Sanctum when the Calamity appeared.
Zelda turned her gaze elsewhere. Watching Castle Town burn was too much to bear. She happened to catch Link's eye, the silent knight wearing a severe expression.
You're fated to unlock your power because of him.
Zelda looked away from Link and then at the back of her hand, giving an inaudible sigh, doubts about so many things clouding her mind.
This didn't go unnoticed by Urbosa, who came to stand behind Zelda, placing her hands on the princess's shoulders. "We're in this together. We're not going to give up."
"She's right, Princess. We can still do something," said Impa.
"I know… We can't let the Calamity win. No matter what…" Zelda said, sounding downtrodden, but resolute.
"All is not lost. As long as I live I will fight. Just as you must." Impa said emphatically.
All the champions agreed one by one.
The group lifted their heads when they sensed others making their escape into Hyrule Field and out of Castle Town. Zelda's breath caught in her throat when she saw Astor standing in the shadow of her father's claymore. He was unbound, yet it was clear from their expressions that he wasn't standing there of his own volition. Astor held her briefly in his gaze and then looked away, in shame. His face was more bruised than before.
"Champions, go to your Divine Beasts!" King Rhoam called in an official tone. "Astor will be coming with me, lest he become a further nuisance. Link… You are the knight to Princess Zelda. I trust you understand your duty." Rhoam said, shooting a disapproving look at Zelda.
There was a flicker in Zelda's eyes as they began to sting. "Where are you taking him?!"
Suddenly their hands held her back before she could rush forward. Zelda cried out for Astor as Rhoam and his attendants turned to leave, giving Astor another shove in the direction they were going.
A million horrible possibilities rushed through her mind. She was under no delusion that her father would deal with Astor kindly, especially if he were to ascertain Astor's former ties to the Calamity.
"What are they going to do to him?! Please, someone, do something... Don't let them take him away!" Zelda implored pitifully, despairing because she knew none of them were going to defy her father. Zelda dropped her head. "He's all… He's all I have…"
It was very soft, but everyone heard. Her pleas sounded all too familiar to Rhoam, who stopped to look back in irritation instead of pity as he had when she was young.
"Dammit, Zelda, show some self-control!" Rhoam said, angrily. "Your whining didn't work back then; what makes you think it will work now?"
Zelda looked stunned and ashamed by his response, her shoulders shaking. Rhoam wondered if she remembered when he had confiscated the little Guardian in a bid to get her to focus on her training all those years ago. A decision that regrettably hadn't borne any fruit. Rhoam had almost cursed the late queen. Damn her for instilling such a love for Sheikah technology and relics in her daughter, which only proved to be a distraction for Zelda in awakening her divine power. That had been the most grievous flaw Rhoam saw in his wife.
Astor knew this was his moment to act. While the king was distracted, Astor fazed past Rhoam like a restless spirit, knocking the king off balance for a moment.
Zelda looked up and exhaled in surprise.
Astor came to a stop in front of Zelda, making a show of pulling her close. She clutched tightly to his robes, and for a moment everything else ceased. She was his and he was hers. She would have given much to live in that moment forever, relieved tears cascading down her cheeks.
"Her Highness is mine now. Have fun fighting the Calamity, Rhoam. You don't deserve her."
"Hylia on her throne! Stop him!" Rhoam ordered his knight attendants.
The men hesitated, fearful of the prophet's magical abilities. And in the blink of an eye, Astor raised his orb high, vanishing with Zelda in tow. Those that remained looked on in silent disbelief.
A short distance away, the scene was reflected in the 'eye' of Harbinger Ganon. Ganon knew it was winning, though that did not satisfy the being's intense all-encompassing rage. Its plans had still been disrupted. The weak-minded, disaffected Hylian man it had chosen to do its bidding in this age had somehow seen beyond the illusion of importance and power it had engineered for him. High above, the spirit of Calamity Ganon gave a shattering roar of detest for the Goddess it knew was at work. And because of that vile goddess, the foolish bag of flesh was stepping out on him, even after all the power it had bestowed upon him. Ganon would simply take the man's ability to wield malice away. It would make sure the seer suffered tenfold for betraying him and choosing the princess who bore the blood of the Goddess. That pathetic mortal was supposed to remain loyal until his dying breath at its hand, for Ganon hated all life and showed no partiality even towards those who swore allegiance to it. It had been over ten millennia since Ganon had been mortal, and any memory of its past humanity or semblance of understanding human emotions had long perished. Calamity Ganon's inhuman hatred burned against the Hylian seer, rivaling its hatred for the hero and the princess of destiny. And so, the corrupted Guardian began to plot.
Faylian: When writing this chapter, I thought a lot about what it would be like to have playable Zelda in Breath of the Wild 2. That means she'll probably be slaying bokoblins and drinking potions created from monster parts as nasty and unappealing as that sounds.
…. And Astor and Zelda really did run off together, or rather Astor ran off with her.
prometheus17: Glad you enjoyed the chapter. It was really fun to write. Just as this one was. Yes, definitely seeing Rhoam at his worst here. When I first began brainstorming the fanfic I knew I wanted a scene where Astor would be the one to say something to Rhoam about his treatment of Zelda, but I had no idea how I was going to use the idea at the time. But slowly, but surely things just kind of worked out that way where he could. Thank you for your support!