The Downfall Timeline
Book 1
Chapter 7: Hard Choices

Mid-Day, August 2, 609 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 17

Lake Hylia, South Central Hyrule

Many who managed to flee the capitol and the surrounding landscape ahead of Ganon's forces now wandered southward to the Lake and began to swell the small camps around its northern edge. The wounded and seriously ill were cared for in a small infirmary within the upper levels of Temple of Water.

A week after his arrival at the lake, Link sat at the foot of his bed in the infirmary, downcast and silent. All around him lay the wounded and the sick from Ganon's war.

Many of the nurses' patients had been brought in seriously ill, but the healers and alchemists struggled to determine the cause. It was either by some poison or a new plague introduced by Agahnim.

So, all around him, the boy was forced to listen to the coughing, moans, and painful outcries of the victims of… his failure. Zelda had asked him – charged him – with reaching the Triforce first. And now… now hundreds (maybe thousands) of innocent strangers were suffering for it.

The Temple of Water was an ancient structure. Built hundreds, if not thousands of years before, it served as both the home of the Sage of Water and as the sacred place for Hyrule's denizens to give thanks to the Goddess for the life-giving water they needed.

Much of the temple lay submerged – beneath a small island at the lake's center. But a narrow wing extended along the lakebed to the northwestern shore and a small stone tower gave access to those that dwelt upon the land.

The Zora were gracious enough to grant Princess Zelda and her officers the use of this tower and its lower levels. Her throne room, the infirmary, and a small number of storerooms and guest quarters were quickly prepared and occupied by the displaced Hylian leadership. The long passage to the central temple, however, was blocked by several Zoran soldiers. Admittance would only be permitted upon request, and then only granted by the Sage of Water, they explained.

Zelda and Impa both were troubled by this. In the past, Hylians were allowed to make a pilgrimage to the temple to pray and give thanks. But these changes were quickly overshadowed and forgotten due to the demands of war.

The soldiers who guarded the princess' tower, often traded rumors and gossip about what was happening in the outside world. Stories quickly spread that those who died under the shadow-cloud at the capitol city would rise again as monsters in Ganon's army.

As fear and shock took hold at the lake, Link overheard two guards near the infirmary door whispering about the Gerudo invading from the west and swearing allegiance to their new god - Ganon.

All around him, hopelessness and despair seemed to spread out of control. But his mind was far away from this place. He was wandering beautiful green forests under a bright sun, with his best friend.

The painful ache in his chest had remained since that night. He just could not shake the guilt that somehow, he had killed her. He must have failed to see or do something to prevent what had happened.

The nurses urged him to tell them what had happened, but he wouldn't relent. Even as they plead, their voices would fade away, and the memory would return. He would feel it: the warm glow of her light on his chest. How it seemed to seep in through his skin and drive away all pain. How her sweet voice had reached him, even unconscious, and asked him to remember her and how much she loved him.

Then, he would drop his face into his hands and mournfully weep. She was gone and she wasn't coming back, and it was all his fault. He had opened the great door and pulled the sacred sword, but he must have missed something. Now, so many innocents had died. Many more were suffering. That monster was loose in Hyrule and... Navi was gone.

As the boy despaired, additional companies of soldiers began to march in from Hyrule's different provinces. Some were organized regiments of professional soldiers in the King's Army. But most were militia: common farmers and shop workers -given a basic sword and wooden shield, but lacking organization and proper supplies.

Sir Alfon did what he could to order the army and organize a front line against their enemy, while keeping a sizeable guard at the lake; but the original food-stores that had been brought in were hard-pressed to feed the growing mass of Hylian refugees and space was very limited around the lake.

To make matters worse, the Zora resented the sudden explosion of activity on their shore. In the beginning, they were willing to tolerate the princess, her entourage, and maybe a few soldiers in tents as a matter of charity; but when the Hylians began to build permanent structures, they started to demand that the refugees find another source of water to bathe in and to relieve themselves, lest the lake and the Water Temple be desecrated.

The Princess and her ministers did their best to maintain friendly relations with the Zora; assuring them that the lake would be respected and that all of their charity would be remembered for generations to come.

Most of the negotiations had been handled by the sheikah as the princess found herself quickly overwhelmed with the sudden responsibilities of being the only living member of the royal family and head of state. Desperate for relief, she named Impa "Minister-Regent of Hyrule" and granted her authority to rule in her stead until she came of age. The warden had been reluctant to take on such responsibility (and power) but with the arrival of Alfon she could now share the duties of guarding the princess as well as trust him to lead the Army.

One of her first acts was to reform the "King's Council" now renamed "The Princess' Council." Impa and Alfon were both included as "Chief Advisors" in addition to several of the original council members who had been away from the capitol during the attack.

These were prominent merchants, politicians, and large-community leaders who had grown tired of Gannondorf and his Gerudo's presence and begged the King for leave to return to their homes. Now, huddled in the spare room provided by the Zora, they felt ashamed for not being beside their monarch when the monster attacked.

"No one could have known for certain what he was planning." Impa assured them, "And all of you would certainly have been killed or captured in the attack. So, it is well that you had left."

The councilors appreciated her kind words and eagerly searched for ways to be helpful to their princess.

For more than a week at the lakeside, the council urged the sovereign and her minister to send what forces they had north, to make an attempt at retaking the capitol. Sir Alfon, the kingdom's sole remaining knight, argued against it; reasoning that the soldiers were far too inexperienced and poorly equipped to fight. But when he was accused of cowardice by the council, he fell silent and would only tell the princess that he would carry out her command, "whatever it may be."

Zelda and Impa too were eager to push back against Ganon and attempt to retake the castle. So, the knight was commanded to lead all but the feeblest men on an expedition northward.

The great warrior mounted his horse and led what remained of the King's Army out from the lake; joining several more garrisons along their journey northward.

Dawn, August 11, 609 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 26

The Capitol City, North-Central Hyrule

The capitol now lay shrouded beneath a lightless, black fog. Only the outermost edges of the city wall could be seen as the churning storm within concealed everything from view.

Three times the Hylian infantry tried to push past the city's gates and three times they were repelled. Arrows, poisoned darts, and even the sorcerer's fearsome lightning shot out from the darkness into their ranks, killing scores in just a few moments.

The storm itself seemed to swell and growl at each attempt, filling the men with fear and weakening their resolve. Finally, after the third charge was repulsed, the enemy's forces poured outward and attacked the Hylians upon the open ground.

Here, the professional soldiers had a chance to fight and to prove themselves; but the militiamen were terrified of Ganon's monsters and quickly broke their positions and ran.

Without their support, the King's Army wavered, splintered, and swiftly collapsed under the attack. Hundreds of the kingdom's best men were cornered and cut down as the farmers and shopkeepers fled into the hills.

Alfon, having lost his horse to a poisoned arrow, waded into the enemy; swinging his longsword with broad, sweeping strokes in an effort to reach the trapped men before it was too late. He managed to rescue a small few, but many more would be lost as the enemy began to press down upon the knight and his survivors.

Unable to save the situation, he ordered a long, fighting retreat southward until they were out of arrow shot from the enemy walls. The beasts, strangely, did not pursue the Hylians farther and instead, dragged the bodies of the dead under Ganon's cloud.

From Lon Lon Ranch, stretching eastward to edge of the Lanayru Foothills and westward to the old city at Carok, a front line was formed and a siege laid over the capitol city. No enemy force from within the castle would be allowed to leave unchallenged and no aid from without would be allowed to enter unmolested.

The exhausted commander swiftly retrieved a new horse from the ranch, and returned southward to report the disaster to Princess Zelda.

At every town and village he passed, Sir Alfon commanded that the citizens withdraw and evacuate themselves to Lake Hylia, Kakariko Village, or to even go as far as the outlands; for fear of the Hylian army being completely overrun in the north. Only those craftsmen who were absolutely essential to supporting the army, were permitted to stay.

And so, Kakariko doubled overnight, and a new town was quickly being built around Lake Hylia to accommodate the dislocated civilians. "Lake-Town" would be a muddy, crowded new capital for Hyrule.

Mid-Day, August 15, 609 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 30

Lake Hylia, South Central Hyrule

Though he was constantly on her mind, Zelda had not been able to go and see Link. The war demanded her constant attention and, when her mind began to wander, Impa was sure to prod her back to more serious matters at hand.

The Gerudo had invaded Hyrule from the west and were attempting to join up with Ganon's force at the castle. The Gorons however, quickly joined the war – honoring their alliance with the Hylians. The Zora too had pledged their support and guarded Hyrule's precious waterways.

For the present, the combined Hyrulian, Zoran, and Goron armies held a shaking defense of Kakariko Village, Zora's Domain, and Lake Hylia. But the front line outside of the capitol held their greatest risk: if the Gerudo were able to break through, the enemy's position would be strengthened and Kakariko could be the next to fall.

As the days crept by, word came that the black fog over the city had begun to grow. The menacing cloud now stretched upward into the sky, and spread outward over the land. Within a few days, the entire central kingdom was blanketed under a shadow. Even at the height of the day, very little of the sun's warmth was able to penetrate down to the fields below.

Hyrule's fertile-green landscape yellowed and began to wither. Food became difficult to find as the old farms were abandoned and new crops struggled to take root near the lake. Caravans, arriving from Necluda, kept the people alive, but these were easy targets for Ganon's raiders at night.

Agahnim, frustrated by the Hylian siege, sent vicious night raids to remind his opponents of the horrors that awaited just outside their lines. His favorite were the giant bats: massive beasts of darkness which would glide silently through the night air and dive shrieking down upon some unsuspecting victim. Many poor souls would be found discarded later, with their blood drained and their flesh partially eaten.

Unknown to the Hylians, the sorcerer had begged his master to send additional forces to the world of light and allow the wizard to finish off Zelda's crumbling army. Ganon, unwilling to admit to any limitations of his power, instead commanded his servant to bring the Gerudo to him.

"With their lives, I will grant you the greatest army Hyrule has ever seen!" he declared.

So, the wizard kept what forces he had close to the capitol city; to protect the portal and his castle. His bats were focused against the Hylian supplies, in an effort to weaken their front. Once the Hylian line was forced back, he could bring the entire Gerudo tribe into the city unopposed and present them to his master.

After two weeks at the lake, a day came when one of the nurses approached Impa to give the infirmary's report. After the status of the wounded and the stock of supplies was given, the sheikah quietly asked about Link. Zelda's ears twitched, and she discreetly turned her head to listen.

"The boy still will not speak to us, my lady." The nurse replied sadly.

Impa shook her head and furrowed her brow, "If only he knew how important he was. He would stop being foolish and help us."

The princess couldn't bear it any longer. She turned away from the casualty reports, the maps, the bickering captains, and rushed to the infirmary. Impa called after her, but did not try to stop her. Running through the temple hallways, the girl's depressed mood began to turn as a rush of exhilaration came over her; she was finally going to see her friend!

She imagined that he would smile when he saw her. They might even embrace with the joy of seeing one another alive and well! Two friends, lost and alone in this war, but they would have each other.

When she reached the infirmary doorway, she saw the boy sitting on his bed, staring down at his lap. "Link!" she gasped, smiling broadly and relieved to see him at last.

Link's ears twitched at the sound of her voice and he slowly turned his head to glare at her. Zelda's smile quickly faded. There was something… dark about the boy's eyes.

"I am glad to see that you are safe..." she explained carefully, stepping toward him.

The young hero continued to glare silently at her, his hands clenching into fists on his lap. He had been stuck inside this infirmary for weeks and she had never come to see him. The fear and guilt over everything that happened had twisted together and become a bitter hatred toward the princess. She had sent him to find the spiritual stones. She had thrown the Ocarina to him. She had commanded him to open the Sacred Realm.

"It's your fault!" He bitterly thought as she walked toward him, "You killed them!"

But his own conscience pushed back against his anger. "No, you agreed to go on this journey! The princess was trying to warn her father about Gannondorf! You failed her! You let that monster reach the Triforce!" he scolded himself in silence.

As she took her last few steps toward him, Link broke his glare and lowered his face into his hands. He was thinking of everything he had lost: The Great Deku Tree, the Temple of Time, the capitol city, and Navi.

His tears had dried up long ago, but the guilt and the pain still squeezed at his heart.

Zelda carefully started again, "Link, I know a lot has happened, but we need to stay strong if we're going to-" but her voice was drowned out by a piercing ringing as a sudden and violent rage welled up inside of him.

His mind flashed: "What?! We're going to WHAT?! More plans, more tricks? How many more monsters have to be unleashed before she stops?!"

He clenched his hands into fists and pressed his knuckles against his own forehead. "Please...princess... just go." he growled.

The girl froze. This is not how she imagined it would be. She had believed her friend would be happy to see her; that hope would return and they would find the way to defeat Gannondorf could see that he was in pain and wanted to comfort him.

Zelda moved to sit beside him on the bed; even reaching to set a hand on his shoulder, but was interrupted by the sudden arrival of a messenger.

"Your Highness," he said as he bowed, "our scouts report an enemy force has broken through our lines! They are moving toward the forbidden forest."

Immediately Link leaped to his feet. His anger vanished as terror for his home tore through him. As they caught each other's eyes, the princess knew what she had to do.

"Prepare a relief-" she began, but was cut short by the arrival of Impa.

"Your Grace, the Zora have reported that a large Gerudo force is moving on Kakariko Village, they cannot hold without immediate reinforcement!"

Zelda looked from Impa to the messenger, and back again.

She opened her mouth several times to answer, but could not bring herself to a decision. Desperate, she looked back at Link. His anger had disappeared and the sorrowful pain in his heart was uncovered. He stared into her eyes, silently pleading for his home.

"Your Grace, Kakariko cannot last without outside provisions. We have two battalions gathered there to protect the mountain, if we allow ourselves to be cut off, then we will lose the war!" Urged Impa.

Then young sovereign closed her eyes and silently begged the Goddess to guide her. She could not sacrifice Hyrule for Link, but what had he already sacrificed for Hyrule?

It was too much to bear. Unable to meet his gaze again, she said, "The Great Deku Tree is dead. We cannot spare our soldiers to save an empty forest. Send all but our reserves to Kakariko at once."

Impa and the messenger quickly bowed, and turned to leave.

Her words struck him like a hard blow to the chest. His heart pounded furiously, but his throat seemed to close up and he could not breathe. His most dreaded horror had now come true. Link's home, his friends, Saria, they would all be tortured and murdered by Gannondorf's minions! His mouth hung open in complete shock.

"Link I'm sorry" Zelda murmured, turning her eyes down and darting glances at his feet, "I have to think of my kingdom."

Everything the lad ever knew, everything he had ever loved was now laid bare for destruction.

The boy's mind was filled with images of the forest set ablaze and of the Kokiri cowering in terror of the monsters Ganon had sent. But Zelda's apology snapped him back into focus. His eyes quickly burned with rage as all of the shock and pain of the past weeks finally exploded.

Seizing an earthen pitcher of water near his bed, Link threw it as hard as he could at Zelda. The princess ducked, shrieking, and begged her furious companion to stop.

The nurses rushed forward and held him back from her as Impa - charging back into the room - quickly ushered the princess out of the infirmary.

"You're sorry?!" Link screamed after her, "You're killing them! Do you hear me?! You're killing them princess! I hate you!"

His shouts echoed after her and slowly died away as she fled outside.

Finally stopping under the shade of a willow at the water's edge, Zelda's throat became tight and hoarse as she began to sob onto Impa's arm.

"He hates me now...he will always hate me..." she whimpered as her adopted mother gently held her.

She tried to downplay the boy's anger, "He's just a foolish boy princess, maybe he is not what we thought he was... maybe we were wrong to trust him. To think, that a boy could use the Master Sword against a powerful warrior like Gannondorf..."

Zelda angrily tore herself back from her attendant and struck her fist against the woman's armor, "No Impa! He was wrong to trust us! We failed him!"