For uncountable eons the cycle had repeated itself. Darkness would engulf the land as the King of Evil's ambitions grew, hope would seem to be lost, and then the Hero would emerge. Called upon by destiny, the Hero of Time would rise to the challenge and vanquish the darkness. The Evil would be defeated, and peace and balance would return to the world. That was the cycle. The endless loop. One of the only constants in the universe. The clash between the King of Evil, and his nemesis, the Hero of Time, all centered around the Triforce.
iSo why?/i Thought the man, sitting deep in thought upon his throne, iWhy has my enemy not appeared?/i His brow furrowed, turning to look out the massive arched window as he considered the thought.
The clatter of armor announced the arival of one of his guards. "I thought I said that I did not wish to be disturbed." He said, not bothering to look at the man now kneeling before him.
"My apologies, my king." The soldier said, his gaze cast downward, "However, a group of troops just returned from patrol. They claim to have prisoners who may have knowledge of Her whereabouts."
The man on the throne was up and moving towards the door before anyone in the large room could blink. "Show me." He ordered, making his way past the soldier.
The other man nodded, rising smoothly and walking just behind his lord, relaying the details of the prisoners as they moved through the palace. The king mostly tuned him out, paying only enough attention to know that the prisoners were all peasants who had tried to flee from his lands and failed. His teeth ground together at the thought, those who disagreed with his rule to such an extent disgusted him. He had sacrificed so much for them. Given the entirety of his adult life, almost twenty years now since he first took up his sword, all for them. And they had repayed him with contempt, with fear and hatred for all that he had done.
As the two men reached the courtyard, his thoughts turned to the people huddled together on the dirt below him. They were a pathetic lot, weak, malnourished, afraid. Taking a moment to consider them, he finally spoke at length, his powerful voice echoing through the courtyard. "I have been informed that you all are runaways, I don't think I need to tell anyone what that means. However, I have also been informed that some among you may have information. Information that I have been searching for for a great deal of time." He paused, gazing down at them, "So, allow me to make this simple. Tell me the location of the woman I have been seeking, and I shall see to it that you are all released back onto the Kingsroad. If not, then the full force of the law shall be brought down upon you all."
There was silence for what seemed like an eternity. Then finally a man rose from the huddled mass of peasants. From the way that the others looked at him, it was instantly clear that he was their leader, he stood as tall and straight as he could given the heavy chains secured to his arms and feet. The king watched him intently, awaiting the group's answer. Then the prisoner spat.
The glob didn't reach it's intended target, but it's meaning was clear enough. "There's your answer oh mighty i'King'/i." He said, the contempt dripping from his words like venom. "If you think that we'd give up anyone to you, for any reason, then you are even stupider than your reputation suggested."
There was a stunned silence for several moments, then the King simply sighed. Turning to make his way back inside, he paused next to the guard, "Captain, save that one for last. And make sure that he watches every. Single. One."
The captain saluted, then stepped forward, "By order of the great King, you all are found guilty of treason, harboring known fugitives, attacking duly appointed agents of the King, and attempting to contact enemies of the King with malicious intent." Several shouts of protest rose from the group of peasants, all except the leader, who continued to stare after the King. "As such, your guilt, and your lack of respect for his majesty, leaves us with no choice but to levy against you all the full force of the law. You are all hereby sentenced to execution."
At the captain's gesture, several soldiers made their way forward, forcing the prisoners up and out of the courtyard. As they moved, he called out, "Separate that one from the rest." The leader of the prisoners was grabbed roughly by both arms and pulled to the side, more shouts of protest echoed through the courtyard as the group was lead away. The captain approached the final prisoner. "His majesty offered you a most generous chance to live. I am curious why you did not seize it?"
The prisoner fixed him with a murderous glare. "If that is what you consider generous, then this nation is truly lost. That was a mockery. Yes, he would have released us, but then he would have released his hounds and more of his lap-dog soldiers to hunt us down for sport."
The guard sighed, before reaching up and bashing the man's face with the back of his gauntlet. "Well, due to your rather... brazen disrespect of his Majesty, I have been ordered to ensure that you witness the deaths of your companions. All of them." The prisoner's eyes widened, "Perhaps by the end of it, you will wish that you had just taken the King's offer. After all, at least then your people could have died on their feet." The captain leaned in, until he was only inches from the prisoner's face. "And as you watch, I want you to know at the core of your being, that their deaths are your fault."
The prisoner's eyes flared in rage as he was dragged away, "I swear, one day someone will rise. Someone will come and kill your fucking King! And on that day, I will drag my soul back from the depths of whatever hell you have sent me too, and I will laugh! You hear me?!" His fury echoed across the castle, even reaching the ears of the King once more on his throne. A shiver of anticipation crawled down the King's spine, "MY SOUL WILL LAUGH THE DAY THAT KING LINK DIES!"