Chapter 13

Rebellion

Zefa sat in the corner of her mother's bedroom watching the doctor closely as he looked at her mother. Ever since the first night Zelda was in the arena her mother caught something and was only getting worse as the days wore on. When the doctor was finished he packed up his things and left the room, the king following him asking questions only with the respond of: "She'll need a miracle to get better." Zefa was hugging Puff closely as she listened to her mother cough and the rain tapping the window. Her sister was long gone and living with Alfonso in Hyrule where their wedding plans were being made, while most of the kids in the kingdom were busy with work and never had the time to play. Everyone would bring in food, clothes and candles to both Zefa's family and Rusl's family while many laid flowers on Rusl's grave after his body arrived yesterday. Zefa witnessed his death from the floating disks above the arena. She watched her own sister kill a few people to save herself, knowing that it was against the Hyrule code and that it would forever scar her sister. After she sent Leech she quickly returned back to Ordon where no word was sent to them about Zelda's fate. People were praying for days and many stood in the main square holding candles and singing waiting for good news to reach them.

"Your highness!" A suitor walked in waving a parchment. Zefa stood up as her mother raised her head from the pillow. The king took the scroll and unrolled it, reading very quickly before shouting with glee.

"Zelda made it out alive! They killed the final tribute last night! As soon as they are well enough they'll leave the arena and start looking for the triforce! Isn't that wonderful?" The king shouted happily.

"It is very much so, darling. Our daughter has proven the goddesses are indeed protecting her." Zefa's mother said softly.

"But sir… I have been told that rebellion has started in a few of our ally kingdoms. The Gerudo Queen has taken over Hyrule last night and ordered every kingdom that has signed the treaty with Hyrule must join the Gerudo Kingdom's treaty. In other words…"

"We're part of the Gerudo empire. Dammit I knew that dreadful spider women would do this! We need to call for war!"

"But sir… Minish Village and Aboda Village have been… destroyed by Gerudo military. The first village when the five tributes leave the arena is Minish village."

"That's right and the Vaati kid is from there… We need to send troops to where rebels are taking place. I want troops to ally themselves with the rebels. What has happened to Cole?"

"Cole has manage to escape and plans on staying hidden in one of the kingdoms. No word has come across to me yet where he is."

"What about Alfonso and our daughter? Where are they?" The Queen asked.

"Minish Village looking for any survivors. Should I ring the emergency bells?"

"Immediately. Tell all guards to prepare for battle and lockdown of the castle. I need women and children to stay here and gather a few of their belongings and meet in the main square. I have a feeling the Queen would attack here any day now because of Zelda."

It wasn't long before the bells chimed and guards were running up and down the castle with parchment and weapons in tow. The King stood in the throne room discussing battle front plans as they waited for the military trains to arrive. Zefa's mother slowly got out of bed and even went outside after a week in bed and helped women into the castle where they would stay until the rebellions were over. Zefa watched as her friends happily walked inside and assigned a room to stay with their mothers while their fathers or older brothers were given a weapon and uniform to wear. Few older girls even signed up to join the army after Zelda's daring move at the drawing brought them courage. Ilia walked inside by herself since both her father and uncle signed up to fight.

"You can stay with me." Zefa said. Ilia smiled and Zefa showed her to her room.

"Is it true the Queen took over Hyrule in one night?" Ilia asked her.

"Yes… but Zelda and the others I told you about survived the games. Now she needs to find two more medallions and the triforce and this rebellion will be over. Hyrule will be pieced together and formed into one kingdom once again."

"But Lilith will become Queen of Hyrule then won't she?"

"No Zelda and Bryce or Link will! Remember… the one who finds the triforce wins the games and the crown. Zelda, Bryce and Link have the triforce on their hands so Midna and Vaati should know that those three are already chosen."

"I think Lilith will send her troops to kill everyone except her son in order to get what she wants."

"Maybe… Or maybe she wants her own son killed too. If he gets married to Zelda, which he probably will, then Lilith has to step down."

"SIR, COLE HAS ARRIVED!" A suitor from the floor below shouted. The two girls quickly looked out the window and saw a small little man wearing a top green hat and matching suit, his face pale and scared as his bodyguards stood guard over him.

"Is he on her side?" Ilia asked.

"No he's on our side. He was a fan of these games until Lilith turned them around and made it fight to the death. He knows just as well as us that it's against Hyrule's code to kill someone without a purpose."

"Why would he come here when he knows Lilith most likely wants this place destroyed first?"

"Because he trusts my dad more than anything right now. He always knew Zelda would make it out of their alive and now he's sticking to his gut feeling I guess by staying with her family." Zefa said. The two of them joined Zefa's father an hour later as he was drinking tea with Cole. The troops were already sent out and gone as they entered the throne room.

"Why didn't you go with them, daddy?" Zefa asked.

"Pumkin your mother is too sick to watch over the kingdom and your sisters aren't here to take her spot if I leave. I'll leave if it's an emergency. You remember Cole right?" Cole nodded at Zefa and then Ilia before taking a sip of tea.

"I thought it would be best if I hid here since Lilith won't touch this place until it's for sure Zelda is clearly the winner of the games. Right now she's splitting the triforce with Vaati and Bryce after the deal they made the day they found Vaati. I also come here with grave news…" Cole set his teacup on the table and wiped his face.

"Zelda is alright isn't she?" The King asked.

"Oh she's great it's just that because the rebels have been using the last five tributes along with the girl from Ruto Kingdom, Rusl and Fatino as leaders of the rebels the Queen has been destroying their villages. So far Minish village or Vaati's home kingdom has been destroyed. The king and queen never made it out alive. Aboda was fighting for freedom against the Gerudo Queen so she destroyed them just after the games started. I fear war will soon approach us and the task I gave your daughter won't be complete."

"Zelda is very strong and a brave leader. She'll kill the Queen if she has too."

"That's what I fear the most… The Queen is planning on not only killing Zelda but also the other three tributes to weaken her son and lead him to suicide. She sent her henchmen to deliver poison to give to Bryce and lie to him that it's a special potion that will help them get stronger… only it will kill them in the end."