I'm back from the dead! That might be a little extreme considering I posted the last chapter two days ago, but I wanted to use that phrase, so screw it. Anyway, I'm sorry to keep anyone waiting. I hope this chapter makes up for any impatience you beautiful readers might have had.

Sadly, college has started up again, so instead of posting semi-daily, I will only be uploading a chapter once a week. Sorry, but that's the way it goes. English 1600 is probably going to kick my ass, and if it doesn't then Chemistry sure as hell will…

A fan of zelda: Glad to see you're still enjoying the story! Hope this next chapter continues to keep your interest ;)

Here we gooooo

– Vengeful Cam

Chapter VI

They set out for Zora's Domain at the crack of dawn – or "at the ass crack of dawn" as Gydon had stated with a foolish chuckle. Link felt very official in his Royal Guard get up. With a crimson-dyed, woolen shirt and blue vest, he looked the very image of ceremonial. A gold-plated scabbard given to him by Impa was strapped to his back, holding in place the weighty Master Sword. He hoped he'd be able to loose the blade from its sheath easily enough if it came down to it.

Princess Zelda was there too, giving each of the knights a formal good morning. Link thought she must be rather good at diplomacy if she could make a simple greeting seem so elegant. Perhaps, that was why she had been sent with the guard to deliver her father's words to the Zora.

"Good morning, Sir Link," the princess had approached him as his thoughts were wandering. She took his hand in her gloved ones and shook it ceremoniously with a strained smile. Link wondered if all the other knights noticed the facade the princess wore as she greeted and thanked her Royal Guard. He could see it in her gaze– there was no warmth there, and in her smile – it never reached her emerald eyes. And her stance was so very stiff – no, not stiff – but practiced. It was rehearsed elegance that she carried herself with.

Link realized he still had not responded to the princess. Hylia, he got carried away so very easily. He made a small bow, "Good morning, princess."

And with that Princess Zelda moved on. Link nearly groaned aloud; he could not stand this sham. He would have complained to the nearby captain, Calvin, but he found his eyes wandering the princess's backside again. Those pants were far too tight, he mused.

He quickly averted his gaze but caught the eye of Calvin. The captain raised an eyebrow skeptically, then shook his head ever-so-slightly, as if warning the young knight.

"A word, captain," called a clear voice. Link glanced up to see Impa standing a few yards away from the procession, beckoning for Calvin. Link frowned disapprovingly as the captain trudged over to her. He watched them closely as they spoke, what did she want?

They spoke casually at first, it seemed. Calvin was leaning on his sword in a bored manner. But then something changed. Link noticed that Impa had grown stiff and suddenly stopped talking. Calvin seemed taken aback. He stepped back, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. Link's breathing grew quicker. What had Impa told Calvin? He seemed so very frightened.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Gydon muttered from just behind Link.

Link nearly sprung back.

Caught off guard again…I really need to focus on my surroundings.

"I don't know," he grunted, irritated with the guard.

By the time Gydon had decided to leave Link be, Calvin was already returning to the company, and Impa was on her way back through Castle Town – to the castle. Link studied his face carefully. Beneath the unshaved beard and thick, dark eyebrows, he could see that Calvin had gone pale. His cheeks seemed sunken in, too, and for the first time since he'd met him, Link thought the captain looked old. His green eyes, which had seemed like jade before, now appeared shattered with fear.

Link wanted to reach out, to embrace the old knight, or comfort him some other way. He couldn't stand the broken manner with which the captain stood. But, he did nothing. It would not be knightly to do anything. So he merely watched Calvin meander through the company with concerned eyes.

"Are we ready to set off, captain?" the princess asked as Calvin had reached her.

He forced a smile and nodded affirmatively, readjusting his cap.

The company mounted their horses. There were twenty beasts in all – brown, black, grey, spotted – most for the knights, but some, for provisions. Princess Zelda had her own horse, a white gelding that shimmered in the morning light as it tossed its head with a nicker.

"Then let's be off," she commanded, her head raised high.

Link rode alongside Calvin, just in front of the princess, as they urged their horses down the cobblestone street at a slow trot. The young knight wanted to say something – anything – if only to confirm that Calvin's voice – stern and gruff – was still there. Yet as his mind raced with potential conversation starters, he could not bring himself to part his lips. So, they rode on in silence.

They passed through Castle Town without much hindrance – past the small houses, stone buildings, and armed garrisons. Link found the whole of Castle Town very gloomy. It was all grey and cold, and the people seemed dull and unfriendly. It was so unlike his Mabe Village where greetings and friendly words were shared frequently. The young knight caught the eye of one woman who wore a maiden's dress and seemed to be glaring directly at him for reasons unknown. Link couldn't help but wonder if the people here knew that he had pulled The Master Sword, or if they even knew what The Master Sword was. He didn't care. So he huffed, and turned his head up in a proud manner, hoping that woman would see how much he didn't care.

No words were spoken amongst the company as they traveled on past the town by way of a paved road; however, Link suspected that as the day wore on, Gydon would find himself overcome with the desire to sing. That happened occasionally. The procession found themselves outside of the town now, past its walls and in the open air. Grassy flatlands gave way to the eastbound road the guard followed. To the south, rolling green hills rose and fell with the valleys, and on the horizon, mountains and peaks like jagged blue teeth seemed to fence them in, with Death Mountain towering above it all. Link took it all in, marveling at the world around him. It was all so very beautiful, and it almost seemed to glow with the waning sun. The lands even felt somehow alive with the soft wind that rustled the leaves of nearby trees and tickled the long grasses about the company.

They passed over Orsedd Bridge, through the rocky lands that followed it, and over the Crenel Hills until they came to Thims Bridge where Calvin called their march to a halt. The sun was low on the horizon, and the painted sky was turning dark.

"We will stop here for the night," the captain commanded. "Set up camp. Gydon, Trevvyr, water the horses. Amity, ensure that the princess is taken care of."

The Royal Guard set to work, putting up tents, starting fires, preparing rations, and Hylia knew what else. Link watched them all work when Calvin came up behind him, setting a gloved hand on his shoulder.

"How're ya feeling kid?"

Link shivered as the last remnants of winter bit at him with a chill breeze, "I'm well."

"Good. We've got a long journey ahead of us. Zora's Domain is no easy trek away."

The young knight nodded in understanding when suddenly his ears perked up with sudden acuteness. Behind him. He'd heard something. A rattling of stones. Maybe a grunt, as well?

Apparently, Calvin had heard it too, because both knights turned suddenly, glancing up at the stony hill behind them, searching the darkness for the culprit.

There! Link saw it for half a second. A shadow, bent low to the ground, had moved from behind a rock.

"Arms!" Calvin roared. He'd seen the movement too. The company of the guard dropped their tasks in a sudden frenzy, clambering over the mess of a camp to retrieve swords and spears and shields. In the chaos of it all, Link heard a shrill whistle and then, thunk! He stared in horror as Calvin stumbled back, an arrow lodged in his breast. He cried out as he fell to the ground. The guard surrounded him, throwing up their large shields in a half circle around their fallen captain.

"They have the high ground, dammit!" Calvin roared as he struggled to stand. "Charge them! Charge them now!"

"Charge who?" Link heard one knight ask.

"The Bokoblins!" the captain bellowed as he unsheathed his sword, using it to support his stance. Link attempted to help him rise, but Calvin grunted him off and stood on his own accord.

As if to confirm Calvin's statement, twenty or so Bokoblins, black and red with shimmering eyes came running down the hill face, crying out in their strange tongue. Shields were set forth, and spears pointed outward, creating an unstable wall of weaponry. Link noticed two Bokoblins remained behind, upon the mountainside. They both had bows.

"Calvin!" he roared over the sounds of battle as Man and Bokoblin clashed afore him.

"Yeah?"

Link pointed to the two archers. Calvin's eyes burst with an angry flame.

"Go around these bastards and kill the archer on the left," he motioned with his sword at the onslaught in front. "I've got the fucker on the right."

Link nodded, wide-eyed, as he slung The Master Sword off his back, taking comfort in its blueish light. He ran left, as commanded, around the shielding knights and past the savage Bokoblins that beat against shields and stabbed at the occasional hole in the wall of weapons. The Knights fought back, shoving with their shields and prodding with their spears. A black Bokoblin had noticed Calvin making his way around the barrier and it rushed into him. The captain went down with the beast, and after that Link couldn't tell the living from the shadows. So he kept running. The archers had to be taken care of.

The young knight sheathed his sword again – so much for that – and began to climb up the hillside when an arrow struck near his head. He let out a cry and tried to clamber up faster, grabbing there, planting a foot here. He heard the tell-tell whistle again and yanked his head aside in hopes that the fired shaft would miss its mark. It did if its mark was his head; however, it struck him still. Link screamed in horror and pain as his hand pulled back from the rock face on instinct, his finger, torn from his palm. Link felt his stomach churning as he glanced at the appendage that was nailed to the rock with a black, feathered shaft. It looked so strange, separated from his hand as it were.

Link felt himself retching as he tried to climb. Tears clouded his vision, and his hand was bleeding so very profusely; his grip kept slipping. Another arrow lodged itself in his the stone nearby, and with a cry, Link leapt for the nearby ridge. He caught onto the edge, shoving his hand into a cleft for support, and, with as much strength as he could muster, pulled himself up. Without even giving him a chance to breathe a sigh of relief, the Bokoblin that had been mounted there rushed at him with a scream, dagger in hand. Link's eyes went wide and he leapt aside. The Bokoblin went past as Link pulled the Master Sword loose and thrust it down at his now-turned enemy. It went completely through the poor beast, splitting its ribs on the way down with a loud cracking sound.

Link pulled the blade free with much effort, and he fell to the floor, exhausted. He cried he retched, and he vomited. He could not bring himself to rise. He could not look at the Bokoblin he had slaughtered. He could not look at his bleeding hand where a finger was now missing. He just lay on the rocky cliff, fingering his mother's sapphire necklace and sobbing.