The Downfall Timeline
Book 1
Chapter 6: Duty, Honor, & Brotherhood
Mid-Day, July 26, 609 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 10
Lake Hylia, South Central Hyrule
Normally, a messenger from the king could travel from the Capitol City to Lake Hylia in three days – if he obtained fresh horses from the villages and the King's Road was not flooded or otherwise blocked.
Impa, however, refused to approach any of the towns - for fear of Gannondorf's influence - and brought the princess over-land, southward. At night, the sheikah would conceal Zelda and her horse under another magical illusion; while she slipped into a nearby farm to gather food.
In this manner, the royal orphan and her guardian did not reach their destination until nine days after the attack at Hyrule Castle.
At Lake Hylia, they sought the protection of the Zora, who granted them refuge within the Water Temple beneath the Lake. Once the young girl was safe, the sheikah and the Zora priests summoned the Sage of Water and frantically sought their counsel.
The wiseman brought the terrible news of Rauru's disappearance and the surge of darkness that seemed to be flooding outward from the Temple of Light. What was once the center of holy purity, now acted as the cradle for the deepest evil.
King Zora's scouts – traveling swiftly throughout Hyrule's waterways - soon reported the destruction of the Temple of Time and the assembly of the host of monsters within the capitol city.
The matron was horrified. How could the goddess have allowed this to be?! Gannondorf triumphant?! Her mind could hardly fathom it. Had the Hylians offended the gods somehow? What could they have done to warrant such a thing?
The sacred realm of the divine was now corrupted with absolute evil. The Triforce: the source of life and prosperity in Hyrule, was in the hands of a murderous thief.
How would any of them survive?
Zelda lay upon the small bed the Zora had given her, sobbing into her pillow, as the sheikah told her the news.
To the princess, the blame lay solely upon her shoulders; everything that had happened was her fault.
Her parents' deaths, the destruction of the Temple, the triumph of evil, even Link's demise – it was all because she had foolishly believed that she – a child – could meddle in the affairs of the divine and come out successful.
This last blow however (Link's death), was particularly painful. She couldn't bear the thought of sending her only friend to his end. He had been so trusting… so self-less, agreeing to help her resist Gannondorf and recover the spiritual stones without hesitation.
More than ten days had passed since the terrible vision of the sorcerer, but she could still clearly remember his hate-filled eyes and feel the awful torture that the boy had been subjected to. He was slipping away, growing colder, but had not yet become silent – when Impa broke their connection.
She prayed fervently to the Goddess for his survival.
The only piece of good news to reach the lake was that many of the Marshal's messengers had made it to their posts and were already forming companies of reserve soldiers around the kingdom.
The day after the princess' arrival, a formation of "Country Militia" marched down the lake road and set up defensive positions behind the iron gate. They were mostly farmers, armed with axes, clubs, or even pitch-forks, but a few had been veterans of the civil war – several years prior - and donned their old soldier's gear.
Their Captain was an older, rather fat farmer, who struggled to kneel (without toppling over) and present his sword when Impa and Zelda came out to meet them. His dented, somewhat rusted breastplate bore the markings of several campaigns and honors. But the princess could only recognize a few:
The Order of the Broken Sword – for participation in the Second Battle of Aryn
The Order of Greater Hyrule – for honorable service during the Hyrulean Civil War and the Restoration of the Greater Kingdom
The Crimson Collar – with four studs mounted beside it: noting that he had suffered wounds in service to the realm on not less than five separate occasions.
And finally, The Order of the White Rose – given by the hand of her majesty, for distinguished service to the royal household.
Despite the magnificence of these awards, the doughy bulges of flesh that stuck out between his steel plates and leather straps filled the princess' warden with doubt.
"Corin, Captain of His Majesty's Fourth Militia Company, at your service Your Highness, Your Ladyship." He greeted them as he held the hilt of his sword out to the royal and bowed his head.
Zelda didn't know what she was expected to do; her guardian and the captain seemed to be waiting for her to respond somehow. When Impa cleared her throat and motioned to her, she stepped forward and lifted the man's sword from his hands.
It was heavy and unwieldy to her, but the soldier kept waiting – motionless and silent - for her to do something.
Thinking quickly, the princess remembered seeing one of the ladies at court with her beau; one of her father's knights. The lady had kissed the knight's broadsword before a tournament for good luck. Awkwardly, she lifted the sword's cross-guard to her lips and briefly kissed it.
The metal was cold and her nose was filled with the smell of the steel, but the man's face beamed and he bowed his head for a second time. She quickly handed the sword back to him and mumbled, "Fight well... good sir."
"By the grace of the Goddess and the strength of my fathers!" he bellowed in reply, as he whirled the sword once above his head and sheathed it.
With some effort, he returned to his feet, and bowed his head - asking for permission to set his guard about the lake. Zelda, not knowing anything of military matters, simply instructed the captain to do whatever he felt was necessary.
With boisterous energy, the aged veteran bellowed orders to his men to begin building a barricade to reinforce the iron gate and to get to work on preparing large tents near the lake's edge. His appearance was lacking, but his energy and determination impressed the young princess. Impa, however, regarded him with a powerful sneer and watched him bob and bounce around the lakeside with disapproval.
Within a few hours, a small tent-city had sprung up; bearing a basic forge, cook's tent, a seamstress' workshop, a leather worker, alchemist and nurses' facilities, and even several large tent's for the soldier's families.
A wall of muscle and iron now guarded the only road through the cliffs that ringed Lake Hylia and several sentries silently patrolled the camp within, day and night.
By the following day; the wives, mothers, and children of these men slowly streamed down the lake road on their carts & farm wagons. The militia call-up had commanded all farmers to gather as much food as they could from their fields in one week, then to bring it to the muster location for combat assignments. Each family now brought full cartloads of fruits, vegetables, and even their livestock to the lake-side camp. The Fourth Militia's orders were to hold Lake Hylia against any threat, protecting the Kingdom's water source, until further orders arrived.
Steadily, more good news came from the Zora or from Hylian riders: The Gorons - having seen the destruction of the Temple of Time and the ominous black cloud spread out over the capitol from their high mountain - gathered their warriors and joined the defense at Kakariko Village. A brief, but fierce battle was fought there, but the enemy was repelled, and Kakariko was saved.
Riders had reached the regional governors of Necluda, Akkala, and Faron; who all pledged their support and promised to send reinforcements as quickly as possible.
Through it all however, Zelda kept asking if anyone knew the fate of Link. No one from within the capitol had managed to escape after the monsters attacked and none of the princess' guardians believed that a boy could have survived the destruction of the temple.
During her second night at the lake, word finally came from the outer guard that a single rider had arrived, carrying a small boy.
Late Evening, July 28, 609 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 12
Provincial Throne Room, Lake Hylia
Within the upper levels of the Temple, a makeshift throne room was quickly prepared for the young princess. The generous Zora provided her with new clothes; made from delicate silks, a new white-gold circlet, and even brought the King's Seat from their domain in the Lanayru Mountains.
This was not the Hylian Throne to be sure, but it was an elegantly carved wooden chair with a high back, that his majesty used when visiting the aquatic kingdom.
Zelda hardly looked the image of a Queen sitting in such a strange place on such a large throne, but she held her head high and received the worn Lieutenant Alfon.
"Your Royal Highness," he greeted, as he removed his helmet and knelt before her.
Setting it upon the floor beside him, he carefully un-slung the Master Sword from his back - which was still wrapped in his torn cape – and lifted upward, offering it to his sovereign.
On their journey southward, the two survivors of the attack were stopped by several of the Eastern Garrisons, who were desperate for any news from the capitol and for instructions moving forward. The knight loathed any delay, but dared not abandon these men while so much confusion and fear ran wild through the country.
Once the garrisons were adequately prepared and organized, he would locate a fresh horse and move the boy and their gear onto it.
At their first stop, he tore the bottom half of his own cape free and carefully wrapped the Master Sword in it; fixing a leather belt to both ends, and hanging it across his back. At all times, he was careful not to touch it with his bare hands, for fear of being burned like the wizard. But the weapon remained silent and dim, allowing itself to be carried by the knight southward.
The closer they came to the lake however, the more he began to realize that the sword was gradually becoming heavier.
Only once on their journey, during the previous night when Link dozed from exhaustion, Alfon had carefully unwrapped the sword's grip and the base of its blade, and carefully studied it with an odd mixture of awe and suspicion.
Had he truly heard it speak? Was there a great spirit – a soul – within this sword? Or was it all superstition and religious dogma from the priests? He couldn't be sure. Maybe it was just a steel blade. Maybe it was his own conscience that he had heard – in the chaos of battle, the mind can play tricks upon its master.
But when the clouds had passed, and the undisturbed silver of the moon's light fell upon the blade, that faint hum or tone of music returned, and a soft ripple of blue gathered about the sword.
Here now, before the princess, the Master Sword seemed to vibrate angrily upon his hands and rapidly increased its own weight. Holding it out to her with his head bowed, Alfon's arms began to strain and shake.
"You offer the Princess your rolled cloak?" asked Impa with a confused tone, but Zelda raised her hand to silence her. She could sense the great power before her.
The knight struggled, valiantly, to keep the sword aloft – but was slowing being crushed down to the floor. Eventually, his shaking hands caused the folded cloak to fall away from the hilt, exposing the pommel and then the grip.
Zelda was stunned. If the sword had been pulled, how and why was Gannondorf able to obtain the Triforce? Only Link had the spiritual stones and the Ocarina, he should have been the only one capable of pulling the sword from the pedestal.
Delicately, she rose and stepped toward the man. "How came you by this sword, worthy knight?" she asked cautiously.
At her approach, the weapon's will became undeniable, and the warrior's hands were swiftly pinned to the floor – beneath the blade.
With a pained growl, he answered, "The boy, Link, had the sword your highness. After the sorcerer struck him down, I wrapped it in my cloak and brought it here."
The great knight flexed his entire body, pulling with all of his might to lift the sword up to his princess, but the blade threatened to cut through his fingers – it would not move by his command.
She did not understand why, but when the young royal stood close to him – watching him struggle to free his hands – Zelda suddenly felt the urge to bend down, and lift the sword up herself.
With almost careless indifference, she bent forward and – barehanded - grasped the Master Sword by its grip and lifted it easily from Alfon's cloak-covered hands.
A hushed gasp came from the guards within the room as all now stared at Princess Zelda gently holding the Master Sword, when this hardened knight had been brought to the floor.
"H-How...?" he stammered, "Only the boy and the Princess can wield it?!"
The girl's eyes were marveling at the beautiful weapon in her hand, when she darted back to him at the mention of "the boy."
"Where is he? You did not leave him!?" she asked sternly.
Again, he bowed his head, "He is with the healers my lady, he has suffered much since I found him."
A hard lump formed in her throat. "Struck down by the wizard. He had suffered much." What in the goddess' name had happened? She and Impa had led Gannondorf away from the castle. Only Link had the keys to the sacred realm.
Her stomach threatened to turn and fear crept up to squeeze at her heart. She sent him in there. He had suffered for it. And now… Gannondorf had reached the sacred realm.
She wanted – desperately - to rush to her friend and find him unharmed. To see his unbroken smile… to hear the ring of his laughter… but she was a princess - princess of a kingdom under attack – she could not abandon her responsibilities.
"What is your name, good knight?" She asked, clearing her throat.
Still kneeling, but relieved of the sword, Alfon straightened his back and placed his right hand over the left side of his chest, "I am Alfon, son of Duron, Knight-Lieutenant of the Castle Guard and Loyal Servant of the King-" he stopped suddenly, but it was too late. When a superior demanded one's name, this is how a knight was to answer, but he did not want to bring his Princess more pain by mentioning her murdered father.
She flinched slightly but quickly forced the image out of her mind.
"Tell me, what of the Castle's Company and the Marshal? We have had no word from him since the attack." She asked.
The girl knew of a great defeat, but she still hoped that other survivors may have escaped, but the warrior's eyes turned down toward the Princess' feet. Up to this point he had been able to push the loss out of his mind by focusing on getting the boy to safety and finding Zelda and her warden, but now… he had time to think… and to feel.
"Your Highness," he started, with his voice growing dark, "I regret to inform you that the entire garrison, including his Lordship, fought to the very last and fell at the gates to the Temple of Time."
A cruel guilt began to squeeze at Alfon's chest and his eyes began to water, "only by the blood and honor of my brothers was I able to escape with the boy..."
The pain now made it difficult to breathe. The echoes of the battle rang in his ears. The image of his Marshall falling, broken in front of the sorcerer flashed before his mind.
He now cursed himself within his heart: "You fled while your brothers fought on... while they died... YOU COWARD!"
"...and my dishonorable shame." he hoarsely finished to the princess.
Tears began streaming down his face and landed upon the floor at her feet.
"Forgive me Your Highness." he choked out as he reached up and unclasped the royal family's seal from his spaulder.
He was a coward and unworthy of his majesty's sigil. He felt that he deserved to die for abandoning his brothers on the field.
All who were gathered - Impa included - were numb with shock. The entire garrison had been lost.
All now frantically wondered at what could be done to protect what remained of the Kingdom, without its greatest warriors. But Zelda's mind was focused on the ruined man before her. Her heart was breaking for the poor soldier; her own eyes watering at his words. She could feel the terrible ache in his heart and the sickening shame he felt now in her presence.
Growing up in the castle, she had always been surrounded by the King's soldiers. Their ways were sometimes odd to her, but she knew of their code of honor and the bond of brotherhood between them.
For a moment, she rested the point of the Master Sword upon the floor, closed her eyes, and drew a deep breath.
In a vision of her own will, she beheld the terrible battle. The heroic charge and the clash of steel.
She could hear the distant screams of the wounded, and the gallant cry onward of the Marshal. How he fell, but his sons and brothers fought on.
How the demon from the shadow came… and consumed them all. All, but for Link, and Alfon – who carried him to safety.
Zelda opened her eyes again, and looked down at the wretched soldier. He gasped for breath against his pain and sobbed with his teeth clenched - still holding the King's mark out to her.
She reached down, placing her hand on his cheek, and turned his face upward to her. His eyes were bloodshot and racked with pain.
She leaned down, kissed his forehead, and looked directly into him: "You took action in a hopeless battle, to save a life... there is no dishonor or shame in that. You may have saved us all."
As she said this, she took the sigil from his hand and clipped it back onto his shoulder.
Alfon was speechless. Such generosity and grace, he did not deserve it. All he could do was croak "My Princess" as he again, bowed his head low.
"Go now and rest," commanded Zelda, "you have carried the greatest burdens for all of us." she finished as she turned her eyes back to the sword.
The knight rose, briefly bowed his head to Impa, and left. The girl returned to her throne and lay the master sword across her lap.
The sheikah moved to stand beside her, but her ears caught the sound of a light sob, as the girl raised one hand to cover her own mouth. Quickly turning back to the room, Impa snapped, "Give us the chamber." And the assembled officers and guards quickly departed.
"Are you alright Your Grace?" she asked, once they'd gone.
"No Impa..." she muttered in a whisper, as she started down at the sword.
"But the boy is alive! I thought you would be pleased." Her matron continued, trying to cheer her up. But Zelda's heart had been crushed by Alfon's words.
The entire company of Knights, Hyrule's finest warriors, were all slaughtered because of her. Link had been tortured and 'struck down' by some wicked sorcerer, because of her. The Triforce was now the ultimate power of evil, because of her. The guilt had now grown ten-fold and she began to cry again; tears falling on the magnificent blade.
Impa swiftly moved to wrap her arms around her shoulders, to comfort the poor child.
"Oh Impa..." she whimpered, "... I want to die."
Far away, sprawled upon the floor of the ruined Temple of Time, Agahnim was being punished.
He writhed and screamed as his master tortured him.
"You fool! You allowed them to escape!" boomed Ganon's voice.
"Please, my lord, forgive your pitiful servant!" Cried the wizard, but the pain only increased; Ganon hated pleading. "I will find them! I will kill them I swear!"
"No," replied the master, as he released his minion, "Let my servants kill them. You must find a way to return me to Hyrule!"