skaltu fyrir kvikum kveða: Sólarljóð (thou shall before the living sing the Sun's Song)
- Sólarljóð, 81
Skeletal fingers gripped the coffin edge. The occupant sat up, breathing heavily, head low, hair and beard all long and dead.
Rudimentary dark armor—heavy yet fragmented—protected the shriveled wearer, the thick iron plates riveted together and adorning large, swirly engravings: Vambraces, pauldrons, greaves, and a single rerebrace, all components strapped amid torn cloth and leather. The partial breastplate hung from each pauldron by two large shanks, remnants of torn mail hanging underneath. Two long horns mounted the barbuta.
Snarling, the occupant raised his face, fleshless mouth full of clenched teeth, lifeless eyes glowing blue within their skull.
"And what's that supposed to be?" Link asked.
Kibou flew along. "A ReDead, maybe?" He followed Luna who took cover behind a dolmen, the wolves keeping their distance, sometimes growling.
Erik knelt as he bled into the snow, grimacing. "That's a draugr!"
The burly redhead huffed. "Látumat okkr liðna rekka skjótla skelfa!"
The ancient one lifted himself from the sarcophagus, sliding out with him a greatsword having small quillons but long ricasso, the blade ending as a large three-cornered tip with slight parrying lugs underneath. The weapon slowly gleamed with blue magic.
The draugr stood tall as the snowstorm intensified. He spoke with a hollow, raspy voice, "Zu'u lost daal, med Strun do uznahgaar nahkriin nol Sovngarde nimaar!" The winds howled. "Fus..." The air darkened, the storm itself seemingly holding its breath, the wolves pricking their ears. Fists balled, the draugr took a step, "...ro DAAHHHhhrrhh!"
The deathly voice reverberated amid screaming winds, unleashing a great force hurtling snow, everything blasting Erik and Link backwards into the cindered rubble.
"Link!" Luna yelled.
Hati snorted awake from the commotion, seeing Luna running to where Link landed. Exhausted from wounds, Hati bit the wolf pelt and limped away with it, Skǫll and a few other wolves guarding Luna.
"Link? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just...gimme a sec..." If only I had some Magic Power left...
Meanwhile, the redhead snorted, sitting up from underneath snow. He stood, brushing himself off then brandishing his hammer. A lightning bolt flashed across the skies, every snowflake briefly illuminated. The brute's hammer formed an electric field, sometimes flickering or zapping. He pointed his hammer at the draugr. "Ek vígi svá virða dauða..."
The ancient one grunted. "Ni faas, Vingþórr!" The draugr rushed forth, greatsword shimmering.
"HURRRRAHH!" The brute swung his mighty hammer, colliding against the draugr's greatsword, both weapons bursting electrical magic.
The brute clobbered the draugr's helm, staggering the undead, yet old armor and older bones remained intact. The redhead deflected the incoming greatsword then headbutted the draugr. A two-handed swing into the undead's midsection sent him flying back.
The brute leapt, hammer raised. "Svá at þér brotnar beina hvat!" He landed, slamming his hammer with great force upon the draugr's cuirass, denting it into his sternum. The draugr sat up, coughing bonemeal as his foe raised his hammer.
Chin up, the draugr gritted his teeth. "Fus...ro DAHHHrrhh!"
The big brute was blasted away, crashing into the flaming ruins just as Link emerged from it. A large portion of the ruined hall collapsed, the wolves panicking and fleeing.
Link gritted his teeth. He charged, his sword crackling against the draugr's enchanted blade. "HEI! HEYYA! HYAAHH!"
Sparks of red-hot metal and electricity flew heavily, yet Link fought hard, even as Shock Damage flowed around his body. The blades slid down each other; the draugr grasped Link's blade, holding it in place while leaning over the Hylian.
The ancient one snorted. "Boziik, mal fahliil, nuz mey." He pushed Link back. "Hlrrhm!" He swung sideways, Link parrying but only barely. The undead clenched his fists and inhaled...
Knees bent, Link pointed his blade back, Magic Power swirling...
"Fus—ro DAHHhh!"
BDNNH! Magic attack cancelled, Link leapt sideways, the overwhelming shout hurtling overhead. Rolling around the draugr, Link jumped. "HYAAHH!" He twirled up in the air, rotational force cutting the undead's back endlessly. Link flipped mid-air, slashing the draugr's helmet then landing.
The ancient one snarled as he knelt. "Faaz, nah!"
Link rushed, swinging his sword violently. Despite kneeling, the draugr blocked Link's attacks.
Link backflipped, sheathing his sword while getting his bow mid-air, shooting arrows at his foe.
The draugr re-angled his greatsword, disarraying a few incoming arrows but hit by others. "Vobalaan grahmindol...nivahriin!" Footing regained, the undead charged, big sword screaming through the snowy air.
Bow put away, Link unsheathed his sword and Jump Attacked, his sword intercepting the greatsword then chopping into the horned helm. Link landed with bent knees, the draugr's greatsword hitting the snow behind him. Link straightened his legs, thrusting his blade upwards through the bottom of the draugr's jaw. The undead staggered, falling to a knee.
Link pulled his sword out and violently hacked again and again, getting flashbacks of chopping away at Ganon's face when incapacitated by Zelda's power so long ago... Yet, the undead remained unyielding, holding his greatsword by blade and handle and bashing the center flat into Link, pushing him back. Link thrust repeatedly, the draugr blocking his attacks.
Link raised his sword—sharp pain erupted from his back, electricity surging throughout his skeleton as he fell. "AAAHHHAAAHHHahh!"
The Hero of Time regained his senses. He saw the big hammer whirl through the air, returning to the brute's hand, whose hair and beard sizzled. Link flipped to his feet, draugr at one side, lumbering giant on the other. Link skipped sideways, dodging the greatsword then slashing upwards below the brute's weapon-arm.
The brute grunted as his forearm bled. He slapped aside Link's incoming sword with his free hand, then slammed his hammer upon the draugr's head, electricity bursting. The draugr fell to his knees, swinging low but Link backflipped away while slashing the brute's arm mid-air, the draugr's greatsword finishing its arc and cutting the brute's shins.
"Arrr!" The brute fumbled while driving his hammer upon the draugr, Link Jump Attacking the brute's head, the draugr swinging his greatsword into Link's back and sending him flying back.
The brute took the advantage and thrust his free hand, gripping the draugr's cold, dry neck. The draugr hissed, aligning his head so his helmet horn stuck underneath the brute's forearm as he swung his hammer down.
"Ow!"
The draugr rolled his shoulders, freeing himself as his foe pulled his pierced arm back and swung again. The ancient one arced his greatsword, knocking aside the brute's impending hammer, the remaining length hitting the big man's head and dashing out blood.
The draugr aimed his greatsword at his foe's throat. "Sovngarde saraan, daanik Kendov!"
"HAAAAAAH!" A sword slashed into the the draugr's sword-arm, his greatsword missing the burly brute's neck. Link's quick Spin Attack hacked away at the undead's legs, the draugr falling to his knees.
The brute lumbered over, raising his hammer and bellowing, his weapon shaking as it emanated lightning. Link jumped from the draugr's shoulders as the hammer slammed down, lightning erupting upon impact, blasting the undead away.
Link landed like a cat, raising his head as the brute threw his lightning-imbued hammer. Electricity surged from the hammer with every airborne rotation, Link jumping away but nevertheless hit by the lightning.
"AAAHHHAAAAHHHH!"
The hammer returned to its owner, lumbering towards the stunned hero. Link's eyes widened as the brute lifted his hammer. "Hrrrr—"
A vibrating shout sounded, a Dane ax driven into the brute's big belly. The giant fumbled, axehead embedded in his gut. Link recovered from the electric surge, shaking his head to regain himself.
Panting heavily, hands still holding the shaft, was Bruce. The frosted Zora looked back at Link and weakly nodded.
Link gasped. "BRRUUUCE!"
The giant hammer crashed upon the Zora's skull, an eruption of lightning blasting out. As the snow and electricity settled, sparks zapped from the Zora's limp body.
Link Jump Attacked but was swatted mid-air by the giant's hammer. The brute gargled, pulling the ax out his bleeding belly. He turned just as the draugr's greatsword slashed, cutting his chest open while coating him with Shock Damage. The two warriors exchanged wild blows, the electric fields of both hefty weapons grinding against each other, the combatants locked in a struggle of magic and strength.
The draugr steadily lost ground. "Krif voth ahkrin."
The brute kneed his foe's sternum, impact thrusting the draugr up, then hammered mid-air down.
CHK-THRTHRTHRTHR!
A tip spiked the redhead's chest, retracting chain pulling Link over the air. "Heiahh!" He drop-kicked the brute, evading the big man's thick fingers awaiting his throat. Link's kick made him bounce back and, mid-air, he slashed heavily. The brute staggered, blood spraying out his face with every slash. Link landed and, putting one hand over the other to wield his sword two-handed, did a quick Spin Attack, blue magic shredding the beastly man's knees.
The brute fell to a knee, Link attacking him like crazy. "HEI! HYAHH! HEIIAAA! HAAAAA!" Slash after slash after slash, cut after cut after cut...
Link's arms shook with pain and strain. He panted heavily, lungs heaving ice-cold air in and out, every breath seemingly pulling freezing needles into his throat and chest.
The brute chuckled, blood leaking out his mouth and his many injuries. He made a bloody grin, punching himself in his bloody chest. "Téa buðlungi blæða undir!"
The Hero of Time gritted his numbed teeth. "You're a lot tougher than I—"
The brute uppercutted his hammer into Link's chin, unleashing the force of a lightning bolt into him, blasting Link away. "Hví getr þú slíks?" Panting and bleeding, the brutish man turned around...
The draugr lied over yonder, coughing out bonemeal. He sat up, the brute towering over him, hammer held high. "Fus, ro DAHHH!"
"Grrrrrr!" The huge man braced himself, the unrelenting force pushing him. Yet he remained standing despite wounded knees buckling. He slid backwards, beard and hair waving, yet unyielding. He grunted. "Flá er þér tunga... Mjöllnir mál fyrnema!" He threw his hammer, which spun right into the draugr's face, impact cascading sparks and electrical bolts, sending his helmet flying off while hurling him back.
The ancient one crashed into the snow, zaps dancing around him. He sat up, groaning. He punched the ground then steadily picked himself up, crossing his greatsword across his chest. "Aav dilon, zok morokei Kendov!" Blade up, he charged, heavy swings parried by his foe's mighty hammer, both weapons colliding with magical fury.
They exchanged hefty blows, sometimes staggering one another. The draugr's armor sparked and deformed, whereas the big redhead was covered with deeper cuts and Shock Damage.
The big man's bleeding and crackling knees steadily drained his movement. Unable to match the speed of undeath, the draugr gradually slid his greatsword here and there, slowly spilling the panting man's life out.
Huffing and puffing, the redhead blocked a swing then punched the undead's skull, staggering him. He lifted his hammer two-handed, weapon leaking with electricity...
Chin raised, the draugr swung his blade upwards, cutting into the arms as the hammer crashed down. Skull cracked open, the draugr fell, yet the brute's gashed forearms prevented him from gripping his hammer.
"Sárir..." Exhausted from bloodloss and exertion, the brute dropped his hammer, falling to his knees.
Tendons popping, the draugr raised his hefty blade. He cheered, "Hun! Kaal! Zoor! Shor saraan hin sil ko Sovngarde!" He swung—an ax collided with his greatsword, blades bouncing off each other, deep nicks formed.
Mouth swollen and dripping blood, Link wielded the Dane ax.
The draugr snarled. "Bolog aaz, graag fahliil!" He swung repeatedly, Link rolling his shoulders and skipping to and fro, evading every attack...
"HYAA! HEII! HEYAA! AAHHAAHH!" Blood spurted out his mouth with every shout, yet relentless fury surged throughout the Hero of Time.
The draugr blocked the relentless attacks, Link's top-heavy weapon steadily disarraying the undead's guards. The ancient one inhaled. "Fus—ro DAAHHHHHH!"
Link rolled sideways, dodging the force which crashed into the brute, hurling him back. Link spat a mouthful of blood onto the snow, facing his undead adversary.
The draugr brandished his greatsword. "Qiilaan us Hungunthar Tiid-Naak, mal fahliil!" He charged.
Link swung high, bashing aside the incoming blade then thrusting his ax into the draugr's throat, windpipe cracking aloud. Coughing, the draugr swung heavily, Link dodging while cutting here and there, though his foe blocked his attacks. The Hero of Time raised his ax, the draugr formed a high guard...
Link let his axehead hit the ground, then hooked the blade around the draugr's greave while leaning in to avoid the incoming greatsword overhead. Link pulled his ax back, and so also pulled the draugr's leg up, and tackled into the imbalanced undead. The draugr fell, Link on top, gripping his ax by its head and sawing the blade against the undead's throat.
Throat cut open, the draugr headbutted Link's face and grabbed the hero's throat, pulling him so they were face-to-face. "Hin laas los dii!"
Link dropped his ax, grabbing the skeletal arm clutching his throat and going onto his back, still holding onto the draugr's arm while extending his legs across his foe's chest. Link had placed the draugr into an armbar. He pulled the arm back while lifting his hips, breaking the elbow.
The draugr snarled. "Kren sosaal, lir!" He stood, Link briefly hanging before letting go, rolling backwards while taking his ax, avoiding the draugr's one-handed swings. The draugr flexed his broken arm, cracking it back into place, then charging Link with double-handed swings.
Panting, Link grimaced as he parried and dodged, bleeding and exhaustion taking their toll...
Kibou flew by, whizzing in the draugr's face, distracting him before getting smacked away.
Link's heart skipped a beat. He ducked—a big hammer whirled overhead, smashing into the draugr like a lightning bolt then boomeranging back towards Link! The Hero of Time rolled, evading the flying hammer returning to its charging owner.
Kibou flew up and down to get Link's attention, Link noticing Bruce over yonder with his knees bent, the Zora's head pouring blood as he awaited something.
Link gritted his teeth as the brute lumbered, sparks pouring down the hammer. "Wait..."
The giant man raised his hammer. "Hrrmmmmff!"
Link gripped something in his pocket, throwing it just as the giant hurled his hammer. Link's little thing struck the brute's forehead, exploding in a bright flash.
"AAARRRRRR!" The redhead covered his face, Link jumping away from the flying hammer, which boomeranged back and smashed into the blinded giant!
The brute staggered, bloodied body surging with lightning—Bruce tackled into the brute's midsection. Although some electricity flowed through Bruce, the Zora seemed resistant, lifting the brute over his shoulder then running with him like that. A vibrating bellow blasted out Bruce's throat as he charged through scaffolding, shattering wood in his way, then threw the brute off the ledge.
"AAAAAAAAAA
aaaaaa..."
Bruce fell to his hands and knees, panting heavily as his busted scalp bled.
Link blinked once, twice. "Whoa, Bruce is really, really strong..." He caught his breath.
Over yonder, the draugr regained himself, body sometimes flashing with electricity. He approached the Zora.
Bruce snarled.
"Here!" Luna voice cried.
Bruce saw Luna trying to pick up the brute's hammer he had dropped. Grabbing the fallen hammer, Bruce charged the draugr.
"Hlrmm!"
Greatsword and hammer clashed, though the draugr's much longer weapon allowed him to keep Bruce back.
"I'm coming, Bruce!" Link charged, ax raised and ready to cleave. "Heeeyaahh!"
The draugr spun around. "Fus—ro DAHHHH!"
Link was hurled away, bouncing off the burning hall, falling with bits of flaming wood. Groaning, he grasped his ax and got up, Bruce struggling against the draugr.
"Zu'u hin daan, Siigonis!" The ancient one kicked Bruce back then swung.
Bruce thrust his hammer, striking the incoming blade, but the draugr smashed the flat of his sword into Bruce's face, knocking him down. He turned just as Link arrived, heavy weapons clashing.
Unaffected by suffering, the draugr steadily overwhelmed Link. "Fent ni filok, mal fahliil!"
Link weakly dodged. His helve crossed against the draugr's greatsword, Link smelling the breath of death as the undead leaned in growling.
Link pushed the butt of his ax, shaft going around the greatsword and thudding against the draugr's jaw. The ancient one pushed Link over then swung his sword sideways low. Link rolled backwards over his shoulders, escaping being cut asunder, but lacked the energy to spring back afoot.
Panting heavily, Link lied on his back, wiping his bleeding mouth. I can't take much more of this... He made a snowball and threw it into the draugr's face, plugging undead eyes.
"Nivahriin! Tahrodiis!"
Groaning, Link rolled sideways as the blinded draugr swung at the ground. "I...gotta t-try s-something...different, anything..." He rummaged his pockets, soon pulling out...the Lens of Truth.
The draugr wiped snow out his eyes, then noticed Link's purple lens. "Miin do Vahzen...miiraad wah hahvulon ahrk miiraak do hahnu." At that, he hesitated.
Unsure if anything happened, Link put away the Lens of Truth then wobbled backwards as the greatsword nearly crashed upon him. Link hopped atop the angled blade and, breathing like a broken furnace, axed the draugr's head repeatedly. "HEI—HYAHH—HAAAAA!"
The ancient one pulled his sword out the ground, movement throwing Link over. He landed on his knees behind the draugr, hooking his ax around the undead's throat. Link yanked the draugr down, jumping while kneeing the back of the undead's neck. The ancient one flumped to the snow.
Link swung his ax down—the draugr raised his arm, catching the incoming shaft then throwing it out Link's weakened grip. The hero's eyes widened.
The draugr stabbed the ground, using his sword as a crutch to get up.
Link was weaponless. Exhausted. Freezing. Injured, bleeding...
The ancient one raised his greatsword. "Maar saraan ko Sovngarde!"
Kibou's voice echoed inside Link's mind. Something the fairy had said...
While the draugr approached with mighty blade, Link closed his eyes, gently swaying. He swallowed blood then put the ocarina to his lips, playing a simple flourish...
The undead raised his greatsword at such easy prey, but... "Faal Krein?"
Whiteness covered the draugr as his greatsword descended, slowing down as he was seemingly frozen in place.
Link opened his eyes, the greatsword just touching his hat.
The sky brightened. The sun arose.
Link exhaled, falling to his knee. Grasping the big hammer lying in the snow, Link jumped, "HYYAAAHHH!" and slammed it into the draugr's motionless head.
Lightning and bonemeal burst.
The draugr flew backwards, armor falling apart. He crashed into the snow, blue eyes flickering.
"Sahrot thur qahnaraan...praan nu od Hyrule..."
His glowing eyes faded.