Legal disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda, or any of its characters, nor do I have any intention of publishing this story for profit.

Chapter 4

King Johan, satisfied with Impa's assessment of his daughter's company, coupled with his own observations, quietly left the window he had been spying through. He remained confident in the knowledge that if Impa's impressions proved to be wrong (and a Shiekah's judge of character was rarely ever wrong), then she would deal with the situation quickly and quietly. It was the way of the Shiekah, after all.

Johanssen Thelonus Hyrule, the great king who orchestrated the campaigns that unified the great races of Hyrule after years of war threatened to ultimately destroy them all, continued his musings. Most other kings, in all the kingdoms he ever visited, would frown upon letting their children cavort around the castle grounds with a commoner, preferring to shield them from outside influences with stone walls to ensure that their attitude of "royal superiority" was not tainted. But Johan was most certainly not other kings. Sure, he wanted Zelda to be safe... but he did not want Zelda to be just another spoiled, arrogant, selfish, and shallow princess. He wanted her to see more of Hyrule... make friends... become closer to the people that she would one day watch over and rule... preferably with an even hand. Before Johan became King of Hyrule, he learned that there was more to a kingdom that just one man sitting on a throne, making the people bow to his whim.

No... without the people, a king couldn't even have a kingdom.

It never failed to amaze Johan that so many kings that he had met in the process of establishing diplomatic ties had failed to realize this one simple truth. How could they not look down and see that it was the people, by their hard work and loyalty that was the very core of a kingdom's prosperity? And in return, all the people would ask for was a ruler who guided them with wisdom, justice, and vigilance. As the king depended on the people's crops, supplies, and services; the people depended on the king to be fair and just, as well as protect them from those who would seek to take and destroy everything they had built. It was a symbiotic relationship that worked best when it remained so. Unfortunately, too many kings turned the relationship into a parasitic one... their false belief in their own superiority being their justification. It had proved to be the downfall of too many kingdoms. Too many times, the people would revolt when they had had enough of being under the heel of a tyrant. And as a result, the king who so believed he was so superior, found out just how small and helpless he really was.

These were lessons that Johan learned all too well...

... and it was Arn that taught them to him.

Johan smiled to himself as he crept through the back alleys of Castle Town. He had done it again. While Makar and his parents assumed that he was still in his room, pursuing his royal studies, he had sneaked out of the castle yet again.

It had been a whole two months since he met Arn, and they had been the best days of his life. After their meeting in Kakariko, the two became fast friends. And every chance he got, Johan would sneak out of the castle to visit his friend's home. There they would play, listen to stories told by Arn's father, and even practice sword fighting with Deku sticks. It was, by far, their favorite thing to do, sparring with one another.

This time, just like many times before, Arn got the upper hand in today's sparring match. Minutes after they started, Arn once again had the tip of his stick pointed at Johan's chest. Johan simply laughed in amazement. "I can't believe it. No matter how much I practice, I can't seem to beat you."

"You're doing better, though," Arn assured. "This time you lasted a full five minutes against me. You've obviously been practicing."

"Yeah," Johan acknowledged. "My father has a soldier friend who teaches me swordplay in case I am forced to defend myself." This was yet another half-truth Johan told Arn... the "soldier friend" was actually the Captain of the Royal Guard... yet the burden of hiding the rest of the truth was starting to wear on him. I'm going to have to tell him the truth someday, he had thought while planning his escape earlier. But for now, he just didn't want to spoil it all. "But who teaches you so well?"

"My father," Arn answered. "And as to who taught him... he himself. My father was once a nomad who lived in the forests outside Calatia before settling down in Hyrule. He said to me, 'When you're constantly dealing with Wolfoses and Lizalfoses hunting you down day after day, you learn how to fight quickly.'" Arn's expression then turned somber, and he looked down at his sparring weapon. "And it looks like I may need to learn quickly."

"What do you mean?"Johan asked, concerned.

"Haven't you heard the rumors?" Arn asked. "There's talk all over town about an uprising by the Zoras. So far, there have been only a few isolated reports of Zoras attacking Hylians, but there's talk of an escalation... talk of war."

"War?!" Johan was incredulous... but had to admit to himself that he did hear the rumors. He had overheard conversations between his father and advisors, talking about attacks by Zoras. King Haakon merely dismissed it as isolated incidents, stating that the Zoras had not the numbers or the resources to conduct war against the Hylians. But after hearing Arn's confirmations, it got Johan to thinking... if that was true, then why was he working so hard to forge an alliance with the Gorons?

Johan's musings were suddenly interrupted... by the last voice he hoped to hear. "So there you are!"

He turned around at the sound of that voice, and there stood Makar.

"I suspected that your eagerness to engage in your studies was merely a pretense for wanting to steal away from the castle," Makar said evenly.

Arn dropped his stick in utter shock at the sight of the imposing man before them. It took a moment to find his voice. "A... a... a Shiekah?!" Once that realization was made, he looked from Makar to Johan and back again.

And it didn't take him long to put two and two together.

His eyes fell back on Johan. "Then you are...?" He let the question hang there.

Johan was about to answer, but Makar butted in. "Yes. You stand before Johanssen Thelonus Hyrule."

Johan was about to offer an explanation, when he suddenly realized that he was no longer looking Arn in the eye, because Arn had suddenly dropped to a kneeling position with his head bowed...

... in homage ...

... which was the last thing Johan wanted right now.

Johan dropped to his own knee and gripped Arn's arms. "No, don't! Don't, Arn!"

Makar seemed to take no notice of the situation. "Your Majesty, your father wishes to speak with you. You must come with me to the castle."

Johan was too busy trying to get the cowed Arn back to his feet to care about that. While not taking his eyes off of his friend, he muttered to Makar, "You will wait."

"Your Majesty, I must insist..."

This was just what Johan needed to spark the royal fire in his blood.

So, for the first time in his life, Johan exercised his authority.

"You... will... WAIT!!!" he shouted at Makar.

At that, Makar fell silent.

Johan turned back to Arn. "Arn, please get up."

Arn looked up at Johan, who was near tears. Slowly, he stood back up. After a moment, he asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because of what you just did," Johan replied. "I didn't want another servant bowing to me. I wanted a friend. A true friend."

Arn still needed assurance. "Am I your friend?"

Johan nodded. "You are my friend. And I realize that such a friendship must be earned. You earned mine, but now, I'm not so sure I earned yours. I wasn't completely honest with you. I was too afraid that the truth would hurt our friendship." He glanced at Makar. "I hope that it hasn't."

Arn bowed his head slightly in contemplation. After a moment, he looked back up into Johan's eyes. "It has not," he said. "I realize that only a true friend would not let his position place himself above another."

Johan smiled at that. "If only I can be as wise as you someday," he said, then turned to Makar. "Let me take my leave, then we shall go."

Makar seem to be satisfied with that and promptly left the boys alone to say good-bye, but still stayed close in true Shiekah fashion.

Johan turned back to Arn. "My father will most likely be angry with me. But at this point, I don't care. I will see you again."

Arn smiled. "I know." Then he raised his hand up to eye level. "Friends forever?"

Johan clasped Arn's raised hand. "Friends forever," he agreed. Then he released Arn's hand and left.

For the next hour, Arn just sat there in his room, contemplating what had just transpired.

It had been a week since Arn had last seen Johan before it happened.

His father had come up to his room and handed him the letter with a wistful look on his face. After all, it wasn't everyday that a letter was hand delivered to their house by the Royal Courier.

Arn looked at the letter that was just handed to him, then turned it over, noting the wax seal stamped with the mark of the Royal Family of Hyrule. Then he opened it...

My friend Arn,

I'm sorry that I have not come in person, but my father has seen fit to punish me for sneaking away. When I had returned to the castle, he immediately started chastising me for "cavorting with a commoner." Such nonsense. I argued with him, begged, pleaded, and even threatened to give up the throne if he didn't allow me to visit you, but he wouldn't hear of it. In fact, he has made me a virtual prisoner in this castle. He's ordered Makar to keep watch over me at all times, doubled the guard to cover every exit, and even placed locks on my door. I was barely able to convince Makar to even allow me to send this letter!

But I will never give up.

I will never forget the things you have taught me or the friendship we have forged. One day, we will meet again.

This, I promise.

Your friend, always,

Johanssen Thelonus Hyrule

Arn shook his head at the sad news that read before him. He quietly folded the letter, then placed it at the bottom of a drawer in his dresser.

The Royal Coach passed through the gates of Castle Town without incident. Still, despite the apparent calm that surrounded them, the coach was still surrounded by four armed horsemen upon their steeds, determined to guard with their lives the occupants of the coach...

King Haakon, Prince Johanssen, and their attendant, Makar.

The purpose of the trip was just as tense as the guards' resolve. Since the last time Johan met with Arn four years ago, it seems that Arn's warnings of potential war had come true. Lately, reports of attacks by Zoras on Hylians had increased exponentially, and word was spreading throughout Hyrule that the Zoras were preparing to officially declare all out war on the Hylians. So, in response, King Haakon and the Boss of the Gorons had officially declared their alliance; and now, the King was preparing to meet with the Boss to prepare battle strategies.

Needless to say, Johan was irate about all of this. Questions keep popping up in his mind that seemed to have no answers. Why are the Zoras attacking in the first place? Why is father so set on fighting rather than finding the source of their anger and resolving it?

The coach steered to cross the bridge over the river between Castle Town and Kakariko Village. The first two horsemen crossed first, followed by the coach.

As the coach reached the center of the bridge, that's when it happened.

A team of six Zoras that had been hiding under the bridge leaped out of the water. With speed and skill that belied creatures of the water on land, four of them quickly dispatched the four mounted guards before they could even draw their swords, while the remaining two quickly decoupled the horses pulling the coach. As the horses ran free, the Zoras surrounded the now immobilized coach.

Needless to say, King Haakon was quite angry...

... and, unfortunately, anger has a tendency to lead to irrationality.

So, King Haakon, despite Makar's protests, exited the coach, his sword drawn.

It would be the last thing he would ever do.

Johan was forced to watch helplessly as Makar ordered him to remain in the coach for his own safety as he exited the coach with his own weapon drawn. As soon as Makar joined the fight, Haakon had managed to seriously wound one of the Zoras and was busy fighting another. The Zoras, having no need for swords, fought using the natural sharpness of the fins attached to their arms; and judging from the way these Zoras fought, it was apparent to even a novice that these Zoras were trained to use them with deadly efficiency. Makar leaped to assist his king, but was immediately blocked by the remaining four Zoras. Haakon, having been trained in the art of swordplay since childhood, seemed to be holding his own.

But unfortunately, it would not last.

Age and lack of practice over the years had dulled Haakon's edge, while the Zora was obviously young and had a rather impressive muscular physique that came from years of training. In the end, youth and strength won out. As Haakon parried one of the deadly fins, the other came around and impaled the king through the chest.

And so... Haakon Daphnaes Hyrule, King of the Hylians, fell.

The rest was a blur to Prince Johanssen.

He would barely recall that he ignored Makar's warning and left the coach in a rage of his own...

He would barely recall picking up his father's sword and trying to fight the Zoras himself...

He would barely remember Makar, screaming for him to run as he engaged his opponents as only a Shiekah could manage...

But what he would remember clearly...

... is the fact that the Zora skillfully disarmed him, unceremoniously knocked him to the ground, then lying there with the Zora standing over him with the point of his fin at his throat.

The Zora spat at him, then growled, "I would have settled for your father's death for the suffering he's caused us, but if you wish to join him... I can oblige you."

"That won't be necessary!"

It took a brief moment for Johan to turn his attention from the death he was staring up at to the source of the voice he just heard. In the heat of the battle, no one had noticed the group of half a dozen Hylians who had rode up on horseback.

And the leader of the group...

... he was taller than Johan remembered, his hair had darkened slightly, but the intensity of the eyes and the shape of the face were obvious.

"Arn!"

At that cry, the Zoras quickly disengaged from whatever they were doing to face these new interlopers.

As soon as the deadly fin was away from his throat, Johan rolled away and retrieved the sword he had been holding.

Without any preliminaries, Arn's group dove into the fray. Using unbelievable skill that Johan could compare to Makar's, Arn quickly killed the Zora who threatened him, and was working on another. And now that Johan had time to cool off and focus himself, he found that he had an easier time handling the Zora he was facing. Even Makar was visibly relieved that his burden had been significantly lifted.

Now outnumbered and being outfought, the remaining Zoras dove back into the water. After they swam a safe distance down the river, the leader's head broke water, then shouted, "This isn't over! Your father wanted war? War is what you will get!!" Then he dived again.

As Johan watched the retreating Zoras, more questions filled his head. Father wanted war...? He caused them suffering...?

"Johan!"

Johan turned back to Arn, who had called him. Both he and Makar were now kneeling over the body of their fallen king. As the weight of what had just transpired finally fell upon him, Johan dropped to his own knees and cried.

Sure, his father had been a selfish, arrogant, shallow man... but as much as Johan hated the way his father treated him... he had no desire to wish him, or see him, dead.

Arn got up and tried to comfort his friend. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty," he simply said.

"Don't call me that," Johan said through choked sobs. Even in the process of mourning his father, Johan refused to make his friend address him with formal titles.

Johan stood back up, then greeted his friend with a fierce hug. When he released Arn, he said, "Thanks to you, I got to keep my promise."

Unfortunately, catching up on lost time was the furthest thing from the two friends' minds, as two things were paramount at the moment. First, bringing the body of the slain king back to the castle...

... and second, realization of the horrific truth that now lay before them.

The war had officially begun.