Ch. 19
"Ganon must have put a spell over that hand cuff! He's controlling Midaylia!" Zelda screamed.
"Ruto, get away from her!" Haeda shouted urgently. He needed to get him out of danger. The boy was about to run when Zelda grabbed his arm.
"No," she said gravely, "You shouldn't put yourself in danger, either. The less injuries the better." Haeda was about to protest sharply, but he saw the look in Zelda's eyes. She was deeply concerned for the safety of all of her new friends. She wouldn't bear it if both Haeda and Ruto got hurt. And Midaylia, she was too vulnerable despite how dangerous she could be. Now was not the right time to be stupid.
Ruto was holding Midaylia's wrist fast with both hands; keeping the dagger away from him. She pressed forward, pushing harder against his force, until both of their arms were trembling with effort. Seeing that this tactic wasn't working well at all; Ruto spun around so that he ended up behind Midaylia. Their contact broke; and the possessed girl had to turn around to face him again. She turned to find that Ruto had already drawn his own dagger. "Midaylia, stop what you're doing. Do you realize that—"
She didn't let him finish. She rushed forward; aiming to bring her dagger up and into her own friend's chest. Ruto sidestepped only in time enough to keep his skin. He ended up with a tear through both his vest and shirt. With regret reflecting in his also grim expression; the boy grabbed Midaylia's braid as she passed him. She was jerked backward painfully, and a scream escaped her throat. Ruto wrapped his arm around her neck and hit her hard on the head with the pommel of his dagger. She was instantly knocked out. Ruto stood still for a moment, and then relaxed his tense muscles. He eased the unconscious Midaylia to the ground with him and rested her head on his leg. The storm was still relentlessly throwing rain and wind to the earth; making it clammy and slippery.
As soon as the struggle stopped, Haeda dashed over to Ruto's side. "Do you think she'll be okay?" He asked anxiously.
Ruto looked up to him solemnly. "We have to get this cuff off of her wrist. It's how Ganon's channeling his power into her, right?"
Zelda nodded slowly as she led Etota and Pellopa over to the boys. "Yeah, that's why it couldn't be cut. He wanted to make sure that thing stayed where it needed to be."
They were all quiet for a moment.
"…Where are we going?" Haeda asked awkwardly.
There was another brief pause. The only sound was the persistent rain and the howling wind.
"Hyrule Castle."
"What?"
Ruto looked up to Haeda. "Hyrule Castle."
"Why?"
"The rest of the village is in it's dungeons. That's why."
Zelda was puzzled. "Why were you and Midaylia kept in the Floating Castle, then?"
The boy shrugged. "…I guess he thinks there's something different about us. Something he wanted to keep away from them."
The princess's face creased in deep thought. "…Something different…hm…"
Haeda had crossed his arms. "No point in staying out in the open. Why don't we take cover under those trees? We could at least dry a little." As if to emphasize his point, a bolt of lightning illuminated everything for a split second before it's thundering counterpart boomed in their ears. The horses shifted on their hooves nervously and shook the rain from their manes.
"…Yeah. Some cover would be nice."