Chapter Eight:

First Attack

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58

"Colin!"

The young man turned his blue eyes to where his mother stood on the steps of their front door. He pushed himself to his feet, the sweet songs of the birds forgotten, and turned to approach her.

"Lilla says one of the goats has its head stuck in the fence again. I don't suppose you could go free it, could you?"

Stupid goats. No matter how many times their horns got them stuck in the fence, they always wanted to stick their heads back through again – usually in the same spot, too. Was it just the temptation of the thicker grass on the other side, or were they just too curious for their own good?

"Of course I can, Mum." He offered her a smile, which she returned before disappearing into the house again.

Ah, off on another fun-filled adventure. This hadn't happened in, what, a whole day? He'd begun to get bored. Besides the occasional loose chicken, or persnickety horse, nothing seemed to happen around Ordon Village. Not since the fire, anyway, and that hadn't even been within the city limits.

Colin shook his head. Not that danger was good in any way, but… There were times he felt antsy, anxious, eager to get out and do something. The whole lot of them used to romp and play all the time; there were so many sweet memories. There was also a lot of bad, but he preferred to remember the good. He could recall water fights, and days spent hiking, games of hide and seek, or tag, in which the person who was 'it' would pretend to be one of the monsters roaming about, just prowling for tasty little children to snack on.

But of course… They weren't children any more. Colin himself had turned twenty and six the month before last. Beth was turning the same age next week, and Talo's birthday came later in the year – all adults. Malo managed a string of shops, now, and he was only twenty-two.

It never ceased to amaze him how quickly time seemed to fly. Malo was quickly becoming a tycoon, Beth worked for Telma and also assisted at the infirmary, and Talo was a part of the Ordon Guard. Colin was a minuteman himself, though he'd declined promotion to full-time officer many times. Ilia had long since moved to Satama, a port a day's travel south from Ordon village, had married a Terminian merchant, and according to her letters, was expecting her second child.

And Link… My, Link was king of Hyrule! How things had changed since all of them were young, and carefree… But of course, that was to be expected. Not only did age change a person dramatically, but after the Twilight war, it was impossible to be the same.

The incessant bleating of a goat jolted him from his reverie and he suddenly remembered why he'd been en route to the paddock in the first place. Said goat sat contentedly with its head through the fence posts, horns caught on the wooden plank above it.

"Stupid animal," he muttered, folding his arms over his chest. "This is the same spot I found you in yesterday!"

It simply stared at him blankly and 'baa'ed.

"Don't use that tone with me; you know you did too!" Colin knew that anyone who saw or heard him talking to the animals would think him mad. But it was a pastime, something to do, and he really didn't have many people to talk to besides his little sister. Except…

"Talking to goats now, are we? My, how the people will talk."

Colin craned his head around and felt color rise to his cheeks; it just had to be her, now didn't it? Of all people… "Hullo, Beth…"

"Hullo, Colin. Did you get sunburn from all that herding yesterday?"

He grimaced as the blush deepened; blunt as a spoon, and worse, that was Beth, all right. "Um… No."

"That sounded more like a question than an answer."

"Sorry…"

"For what?"

Glancing at her, he wondered why on earth things had to change. He used to be able to talk to her without getting tongue tied. He felt like slamming his forehead into the fencing a few times; perhaps it would knock the words loose. "I… I-I don't know; look, do you enjoy getting me riled, is that it?"

She giggled, and his heart skipped. He loved that sound… "No, I just think you're cute when you're flustered."

Yep. Blunt Beth. Ugh, how was it possible that he craved her company so, yet couldn't stand it…

"Was there something you wanted?" Immediately, Colin regretted the sarcastic tone in his voice, but Beth didn't seem to notice, or mind.

"Can't I take the time out of the day to spend time with my favorite person?"

Ah, here comes that cursed blush again… Why was it so easy for her to do this to him? He wanted to crawl under a bush and pretend he was invisible.

"Um…"

"Don't say anything; you'll ruin the moment."

He snapped his mouth shut, and a cock-eyed grin tugged at the corner. To distract himself, he stooped down to the goat and got a firm grip on its horns, twisted its head to the side – much to the protests of the thing – and shoved it backward, away from the fence. It came loose with a jolt, and the sudden move came before Colin had the time to let go. His knuckles scraped the fence post, caught between it and the goat's departing horns. He sucked in a breath, and recoiled. "Gah!"

Beth knelt beside him. Without a word, she took his hand and dug into her pocket to pull out a kerchief. She dabbed at the bleeding scrapes quietly, and then wrapped the soft cloth around his hand. When she had secured it, she lifted her blue – sapphire blue – eyes to his face.

"There. Better?"

He nodded slightly, lifting the bandaged hand and tightening it into a fist, using the palm of the other to put pressure on the stinging wound beneath the cloth. The gentle touch of her fingers on his calloused hand lingered. "…Thank you."

"Don't mention it; it's what I do." She put a hand on his broad shoulder and smiled; Colin wasn't sure if the lack of playfulness in the gesture was all in his head or not.

Beth looked out into the paddock once more. "Which one was that, now?"

"Tyhmä. Roughly translated... Stupid one."

She laughed. Did he ever mention he loved her laugh?

"Well, it's certainly befitting of her." She sat back against the prickly grass, resting her elbows on her knees as she watched the goats graze on the dry, brittle weeds. Colin would have been watching as well, or even commenting no how much he missed the lush green grass, or the fresh wind in the trees, but he was rather occupied in studying the woman beside him at the moment.

After a moment, she laid back, folding her arms behind her head as she stared up at the clouds. He followed suit, gazing at the endless blue, and the white cotton balls that floated lazily along amidst it.

"I wish one of those clouds would just grow to be a thundercloud," said Beth with a sigh. She closed her eyes, basking in the sunlight. "I miss the rain."

Colin had to agree; he remembered vividly the relief that had washed over him like the raindrops from heaven the day of the fire earlier that year. He'd never felt so refreshed, so unbound as in that moment. "Amen to that."

For the umpth time in the past month, a single question welled in his throat, and nagged at his mind. A question he'd been wanting to ask her since then, one of utmost importance and priority. A questioned that longed for release – the release that he could not bring himself to give it. No matter how brave he was as a soldier, as a horseman or herder, or even as an average person. He couldn't seem to dredge up enough courage to force his tongue to form the words.

"Beth…" Oh, why did he just do that? Now he had her attention; he'd have to continue, or she'd nag him to no end until he did.

"Yes, Colin?"

What to say, what to say… "Um… I was… wondering…"

A shadow blocked the sun's warm rays. Colin blinked, wondering if he'd just imagined it.

"Did… What was that?" Beth sat up, studying the skies above them. So he hadn't imagined it.

"I don't know…" He saw a flash of color disappear around a corner down the street to their right. Something else darted behind a rooftop. "What in the world…"

A goat wailed and the little herd moved as one to cower in their little lean-to. A frown drew Colin's brow, and he rocked to his feet, eyes trained on the frightened animals. Beth stood beside him, and together, they listened. The birds had suddenly gone quite silent; even the horses could be heard blowing and stomping anxiously in the stables down the path.

Then a scream echoed over the city, causing both of the young people to jump. Colin took off at a run in an instant, and he rounded the corner of his house just as a great blast of fire barreled down the main street. His feet slid on the loose dirt, and he overcorrected his balance as he kept from running straight into the flames. He skidded to a stop on his behind.

"Colin!"

He looked back to find Beth, but a great green mass blocked his view. He followed the height until he was staring straight into piercing yellow eyes.

"Dragons!" Beth's scream was enough to sound the alarm, if the flame hadn't done it already. The marketplace, the corner of which Colin could see out of the corner of his eye, quickly emptied as the women and children scrambled for cover. Dragons emerged from rooftops and trees and even from behind crates, or wagons. They had somehow infiltrated the village without being seen by anyone. And as civilians disappeared, soldiers of the Ordon Guard quickly took their place. Colin caught sight of Talo as the other young man was among the first to swipe his gleaming blade at a dragon's head.

Colin felt the hot breath on his face and, without much thought, dove between the legs of the dragon that stood over him. It snarled and attempted to follow him with its head, jaws open and ready for a nice bite of Colin-flesh, and ended up in a crumpled pile of scales and limbs. Writhing like a fish out of water, it soon righted itself only to duck down again. Colin smirked as he brought his sword back near him, keeping his arm ready and steady – like Link had taught him over the years.

The dragon struck at him like a snake, its gleaming teeth clicked against thin air. Colin swung his blade at its face, and he was satisfied with a hollow click as the blade connected with the scales of its cheek. But of course, it would take more than a simple swipe to get through the vile creature's scales.

When it struck again, he tucked himself in and rolled under it, lifting his sword and plunging it under the scales of the dragon's underbelly. It shrieked in pain, and Colin barely had the time to roll out from under it before it collapsed onto the ground. He jerked the blade from its hide and glanced over at where he'd last seen Beth. She was nowhere in sight.

He didn't know whether that should worry him, or relieve him. It was possible she had gotten somewhere safe, but it was also very possible that she'd been carried off by one of the winged predators… He preferred the former.

"Colin!" It was a masculine voice that called him this time, and a heavy hand grabbed his shoulder and whirled him around. Talo's hard expression greeted him, and Colin raised his brows.

"You must light the beacon! There are too many for the Guard to handle on our own." Talo glanced nervously at the ensuing battle on the market street.

"But it could take half a day for anyone from Keskus to arrive."

"Any time is better than not at all."

"But by that time-"

"I know; please, Colin. If help from Keskus doesn't arrive, then surely the Kokiri will see the flare and send help. Go, please!" Without another word, Talo whirled and disappeared into the fray once more, leaving Colin alone and with orders to practically leave the battle to them.

But orders were orders. And to go against them would mean treachery. Which Colin was not willing to do.

He darted through the streets to the outpost at the north border. There loomed the rectangular stack of branches specially set for emergencies; most larger cities had such towers, and a system was set that when one was lit, more would light in a chain to the capitol city to alert the monarch that a certain city was in trouble.

Clambering up the ladder, he snatched up the pale of oil and dumped it over the top. Then he took the flint and, giving the two stones a sharp 'clack' together, sent sparks showering over the oil-drenched wood. It ignited easily, and quickly began to grow, feeding fast on the dry branches. As Colin climbed back down, the flame reached full strength, blazing out and sending smoke billowing into the sky.

~-LoZ-~

Abyll rode round and round the circular pen, the horse's black mane waving in his smiling face as the wind whipped at the new-bound pair. Link leaned on the roundpen post, watching contentedly as his young son and Epona's best foal, Koda, cantered about.

"So how do you like him?" asked Zelda loud enough for the boy to hear. Though, she really didn't need to ask. The beaming grin on Abyll's face was answer enough.

"I love him! He's so smooth." Indeed, the colt was. He had long, steady strides, and wide hooves for stability. His black feathers* puffed elegantly with each high step, and the horse moved with stamina and grace.

"He certainly is." While Abyll's back was to them as he and Koda made another round about the pen, Zelda turned Link's face to her and kissed him eagerly. He was initially caught off guard, but quickly responded, chuckling against her lips.

She pulled away before Abyll made the turn, a lovely smile gracing her expression. Her eyes danced. "You've made him so happy. And that makes me happy."

"It was your idea," he retorted, though it was really for the need to say something rather than the statement being true, as it was. She simply laughed and hugged his side. He laid an arm over her slender shoulders.

"I think it's about time to head in for lunch, wouldn't you say?" said Link, glancing at Zelda before turning to check Abyll's reaction.

The boy groaned. "Aw, please, Dat, five more minutes?"

"You haven't been on a horse for a while; too long, and you'll get saddle sore," Zelda pointed out. She was right, as usual.

Abyll puckered his lower lip and turned big, sad eyes on his mother. Koda had slowed to a trot, and the boy's blond hair bounced with the movements of the horse.

Link laughed. "All right, all right. Five more minutes."

Abyll perked up instantly, grinning. "Yes!"

The king and queen laughed all the more as he made a show of exaggerating his riding, bouncing high in the saddle, being such a small boy on such a large horse.

Five minutes later, Abyll begged for more time to no avail. It was time to eat; a stable boy took Koda away to the stables, and the royal threesome headed toward the palace.

As they passed through one of the main halls in the direction of the dining room, a young soldier came barreling up to them, looking quite winded.

"Sire! Sire…" The young man gasped for breath. "The beacon of Ordon has been lit."

Link felt his stomach sink instantly. Again? He cast a worried glance at Zelda, and gestured for her to continue on with Abyll. As soon as they were out of earshot, Link turned back to the messenger.

"How long ago?"

"But a few minutes. I came straightaway from the Keskus Beacon tower itself."

He nodded. "Right. Go sound the alarm; tell the minutemen to assemble in the courtyard, and we'll depart for Ordon post haste."

The young soldier nodded and hurried out of the hall, in the direction of the barracks to the north of the castle. Link went straight to the stables, having begun to keep his chainmail and other such equipment nearby Epona's stable, so frequent were the dragon attacks. But this was the first time a beacon had been lit; Ordon must truly be in peril.

The draft horse nickered anxiously as he approached, and he absently stroked her velvety muzzle.

"Hullo, girl. Off on another adventure so soon, I know. But Ordon's in trouble again."

She snorted at the mention of Ordon, and her ears perked up. Link pulled his chainmail and green tunic over his head, fastened his belt about his waist, and situated his cap on his head. While most wondered why he wore such light protection in battle, he could never stand to wear the heavy metal of battle mail and armor, and he found that helmets were a hindrance more than a help. He preferred the lighter way of movement. Without all the extra weight, he was able to move with much more agility, which was a great advantage.

He situated the saddle on his horse's back and tightened the cinch about her girth. Once she was all tacked up, he opened the stall door, and turned back to swing up onto her back.

"To the courtyard, Epona. Hup-hup!" The pair barreled out of the stables at a lope, maneuvering their way toward the castle courtyard.

Upon arriving, he found four score of soldiers, armed in light mail and armor, and swords and bucklers. These were the minutemen of Keskus. It wasn't much, but numbers did not determine the outcome of a battle.

Though, they sure do help… Link shook the thought away, and addressed his soldiers. "We ride for the south, men. As fast as our steeds can carry us. To Ordon!" Without another word, he reined Epona around and the party charged out of the western gates, straight into Hyrule Field, and toward Ordon.

~-LoZ-~

Colin drove his sword into the belly of another dragon. His arm was beginning to tire. The creature fell from the air, bouncing against the corner of the guard tower and crashing to a halt at the bottom.

It was about supper time, now. The first wave of dragons had receded long ago, to regroup just outside the village. Every hour, on the dot, a new, rejuvenated force would attack while the previous would retreat, the new reptiles bearing down on the Ordon Guard and slowly weeding them out. Talo had been critically wounded in the third wave. The remaining soldiers were few and tiring quickly. A few that now lay in the infirmary somewhere below had succumbed to exhaustion. They had gotten no rest in their fighting, and the dragon army was outlasting them. They had replenishable forces; Ordon did not.

Colin sank against the floor, limbs heavy, as a fellow minuteman took his place, shooting at nearby dragons and swiping down those that flew close enough. Prying the blade from his stiffened fingers, Colin let it clatter onto the wood floor.

He was so tired; he could barely keep his eyes open. All he wanted was to slip into the comforts of the waiting unconsciousness. Sweat streaked down the side of his face, and he didn't waste the strength to wipe it away.

Suddenly a bell rang. Loud, and persistent. Colin let his head lull to the side, toward the sound, but did not move to stand.

"It's the king! The king rides for Ordon!"

That woke him up. He jolted upright, and clambered to his feet, leaning out the window to look into the distance. Though they were further into the city limits than the watchtower, he could see the telltale dust trailing up near the horizon.

"The king rides for Ordon!" he called, repeating the message, both for necessity and out of pure relief. "Stand firm, men! Help comes from the north!"

The soldier that fought ducked back into the tower house, winded as he leaned on the wall and wiped his brow. Colin took his place once more, and was immediately greeted by a dragon with an arrow embedded in its neck. He only threw a few sword strokes at it before its wound caused it to plummet to the ground.

A horn blew in the distance. Colin's heart leapt in his chest at the sound, and he aimed and pulled back the bow with renewed vigor. As a dragon flew past, he let loose the arrow and it plunged into its ribcage, just under its arm. It faltered with a garbled cry of pain, and fluttered to the ground and lay still.

The horn sounded again, closer this time. Colin glanced to the horizon; he could see a single dot nearing the city. That had to be Link and Epona! Epona was the fastest horse in Hyrule, and only Link would keep his horse at such a pace to reach Ordon in time to help them.

A clawed hand grabbed a fistful of Colin's tunic, and pulled him from his perch on the tower wall. His legs dangled over open air. He clung fiercely to the wrist that held him, looking up into the scaly face of his captor. Its wings beating at the air, making his hair blow in all directions, the dragon sneered at him, and snorted smoke into his face. He gagged. His hand twitched for his sword hilt.

"Right, maggot!" he spat into the creature's face. "Let's finish it, then."

It snarled, and inhaled a deep breath. Colin could see the gases gathering in the back of its throat. With a quick thrust, he stabbed his blade into its chest, and its eyes bulged. Then his heart rose to his throat as they began to fall.

The air roared about them, and Colin closed his eyes as the ground drew closer. He felt the impact of the ground jar his spine and pain exploded into his head… And then he knew nothing more.

~A/N: *For those who don't know horses, feathers is what the heavy fur around draft horses' hooves is called.