Chapter 18

Escape From Ordon

The shouts of the rebels were heard over the clash of swords and a cannon booming as the Queen's army was closing in on Ordon kingdom. Ilia and Zefa sat quietly underground with Ilia's family and the rest of the women in the village who didn't sign up to fight. Only whispers from the older women could be heard. Zefa could pick up some of their conversations where Zelda or Zaira was mentioned.

"I heard Zelda died in the arena and a girl from Zora's Domain transformed into her and is using her identity."

"I heard Zelda is still alive but won't search for the triforce. She's fighting for the rebels."

"I heard Zelda fell in love with that witch's son."

Zefa raised her head and looked over at the women sitting in a small group who whispered about her sister.

"Where did you hear that?" Zefa asked. The oldest one looked over at her, her face cold, glaring at the small girl. "Where did you hear that?" She said louder this time so the others would look up and stare at the group of women.

"My brother saw that boy kissing your sister and sent me a letter about it. Why would you care?" The woman snarled at her.

"Because as of right now since my father could be dead and both of my sisters are gone I'm in charge of Ordon until they kill me, I have a right to know what you gossip about with your friends especially if it's about the royal family. Now, let me see that letter." Zefa said looking at her. She felt a sudden zap of pain in her heart; she was slowly taking after her mother even though she was so small. The woman handed her the letter and turned around to continue gossiping about Zelda.

"What does the letter say, Ilia." Zefa said letting Ilia read it over.

"My dearest sister, I have seen only the darkest of things possible. The son of the dreadful witch is still alive and traveling with the rebels to retrieve two objects that could bring Hyrule together again. He is also by the looks of it, is Zelda's lover for I have seen them kissing on the porch of the inn before they went to bed. My sister, the rebels here have taken out forces in Minish Village and now are heading towards Ordon to protect the Princess's castle but I fear that it may be no use. If she is in love with that boy then she could be working for the witch and is a spy for her! I fear the rebels are heading towards a trap and for now I must run and hide until I hear more from others. Until I write again dear sister, farewell and do not write to me again."

"Bryce isn't working with his mother anymore! Zaira wrote me a letter saying he was on our side now." Zefa said angrily as she threw the letter back at the rude woman.

"Well it looks like your sister is lying."

"Your brother could be lying and is only try to break up the rebels because he's a traitor! Bryce is only helping the rebel, that's it."

"Have you ever consider maybe those five tributes are really all traitors?"

"Hey! Link and Zelda are not traitors! They are fighting with the rebels and you know it. You can't accept the fact that your bloody brother left the rebels for Lilith because he's a coward and doesn't like the fact that a Gerudo tribute made it out alive. He may be her son but from what Zaira said he has the triforce on his hand and everyone knows Zelda and Link have that too so he must be good." Ilia shouted at her. There was a loud tapping on the door and the room grew silent.

"Zefa! Zefa it's Zaira! Open the door where here to evocate all of you." Zefa quickly ran to the door and opened it as the people behind her got up praying to the Goddesses. Zaira picked up Zefa and hugged her tightly. "It's okay, Zefa. Everything will be okay, Zelda only has one more coin to find and it'll all be over."

"Mama died. Mama got sick and died just after you left. Zaira… Daddy think Lilith poisoned her with the gifts she brought with her. All the crop seeds from Gerudo killed the crops we had and poisoned the water we were supposed to drink. We have nothing left."

"Yes, yes I know baby that's why I'm getting all of you out and into the Rebel village. All families keep together you understand? This is the only train leaving before rebels starting taking out the traitors and burn everything. I don't want anyone left behind or killed during this so you have to do everything I said got it?" Zaira announced. "There is a secret station inside the castle but we have to avoid the main areas of the palace. It'll be tricky since it'll be dark but stay together and help each other out." Zaira grabbed a torch and led the group out as they took secret passages up to the first floor where the sounds of fighting and the smell of death reeked the air.

"Is Daddy still alive?" Zefa asked as she held her sister and Ilia's hand.

"Yes he's still fighting but he's in perfect conditions. The rebels set up archers to keep an eye on him in case a surprise attack was set on him. He'll meet up with us in a few days." Zaira said as she shut the curtains to a room where wounded rebel warriors sat on tables and the floor crying in pain.

"In Minish Village…"

"No survivors, not even Vaati's family made it out alive. The Twili tribe too was also attacked and Zora's Domain was slaughter. I'll tell you everything on the train." She pushed open a door to a dark cold room before searching the walls and pushed a brick in, the wall before her lowering down and two rebel guards stood before her holding torches.

"The station is cleared but we can only hold them off for a few minutes."

"Alright everyone hurry and get on the train!" Zaira shouted as she pulled out her sword and headed straight for one of the train cars helping the refugees in the train. "Keep together; yes everyone can fit please hurry." She lifted Zefa into the car and then Ilia where they walked into what was the dining room of the train. Other children sat in the car huddle in a corner.

"They're not from Ordon." Ilia noticed as her mother and younger brother walked into the car.

"Oh dear… Children it's alright you're safe now." Ilia's mother said. She slowly walked towards them, the group shaking. She held out a hand to the littlest one. "Trust me."

"It was horrible."

"They took our parents and cut off their heads in front of us."

"They took their bodies and threw them into a fire."

"So much blood…" The littlest one finally whispered and hugged Ilia's mother.

"Where are all of you from?" Zefa asked.

"Hyrule." They all replied. Zefa looked at Ilia's mother before the doors behind them burst open and the group of rude woman walked in shouting about the rebels killing someone in front of their eyes.

"Ladies please!" Ilia's mother said and pointed over towards the children. "These children just witness enough as it is, it's better to not speak about death in this car. If you wish to gossip and bicker about what you saw please move into another car."

"Or leave the train all together; I'm sure no one will miss you if you die." Ilia muttered.

"Ilia!"

"You keep that girl's mouth under control or we'll have her hang for saying such nonsense!"

"How can you? You hate the royal family so who are you going to ask to have her hang?" Zefa hissed.

"Well the ruler of Hyrule after that witch is killed of course."

"Yeah and that'll be Zelda!" Zefa spat.

"She'll be dead before the rebels take over Hyrule castle. That witch will want her dead as soon as they step into Hyrule Village. You know the truth just as much as I do."

"Zelda won't die. She'll kill Lilith and set Hyrule free."

"You keep thinking that, little one. That witch will kill all of us and take over Hyrule, she's too strong."

"Alright I think that's everyone." Zaira said walking into the car and knocked on the wall. "Let's go, Alfonso!" The train sputtered and slowly moved from the hidden station, Zaira quickly closed the curtain, the car becoming dark. "Alright we all need to keep quiet until I say so. The Gerudo army will try jumping onto the train so I need one person to hold this and stab them so they don't jump in." She held out a trident. Ilia's mother took it and sat by a window that was slightly open. Zefa pulled back the curtains of one window near Ilia's mother just a little and saw the horror the Gerudo and Rebels were facing. Fires were surrounding the train and palace of Ordon as town square was completely destroyed. Bodies from both sides covered the ground, the grass spattered in crimson.

"Oh Goddesses…" Ilia's mother muttered. Houses were burnt to the ground and the fires roared as the train entered the main battlefield.

"Zaira why are going through the fighting?" Zefa asked.

"It's the only way out; the rebels will distract the Gerudo army." Her sister replied. Rebels baring the colors of red and gold charged and clash with the Gerudoians, the arrow above them raining down like hail. Zaira pulled Zefa back as one arrow drew a large crack in the window nearest her. It was so quick, one Gerudo warrior then another jumped on their car, their swords trying to break the glass. Zaira pulled out her sword and stabbed the one closest to her in the gut, his bloody body falling and toppling onto the train tracks below him. Ilia's mom followed Zaira's motion and stabbed the warrior in the thigh; he too fell to the ground in pain, screaming at the train as it passed him. Ilia's mother lowered her weapon, her breathing increased.

"I…-"

"No he was only wounded. Mine was a kill attack." Zaira assured her. Just then, an arrow shot through and stabbed Ilia's mother in the left shoulder. She bounced back whimpering in pain.

"MOM!" Ilia shouted. Zaira dropped her sword and grabbed cloth from her pocket, her hands shaking as they tried keeping pressure on the wound.

"You have to pull it out!"

"I can't! I don't know what will happen if I do and we can't take any chances."

"Either you pull it out and close the wound or you keep that stupid thing in and I'll bleed to death!" Ilia's mom gasped in pain as she held onto Zaira's arm. The windows behind Zefa smashed and two Gerudo warriors hopped inside the train pointing their swords at Zaira.

"You! Get up right now or we'll kill everyone!" One of them shouted. Zaira looked over at her sword that was near Zefa, her small hands hardly centimeters away from it. Ilia noticed the guards were paying no attention to her or Zefa, their eyes only on the eldest princess.

"I said rise damn you!" He shouted again. Zaira rose slowly, her hands in the air. "The Queen has ordered for your immediate execution for creating this civil war and murdering countless people under the law of Queen Lilith!"

"The only crime I committed is letting Zelda join your Queen's bullshit games and kill your Queen's dreams of a horrid dark kingdom. The rebels won't stop fighting because my blood was spelt. You can take away a person's freedom but if there is only a tiny speck of hope the rebels will take it and we'll kill you with it." Zaira replied. Ilia grabbed the trident and charged towards the surprise fighters, the weapon cutting into the loudmouth soldier's chest and exiting the back. He knelt on the ground, blood spewing from his chest and back.

"She'll defeat you all, you're all dead. Long live Queen Lilith." He spoke before he crumbled to the ground dead. The other soldier drew his sword over his head, his eyes glaring at Ilia.

"You'll pay for this evil little shrew!"

"ILIA!" Zefa screamed and grabbed Zaira's sword stepped in front of Ilia, the sword raised in front of her. The soldier's eyes glittered in revenge as he charged forward unaware of the little princess in front of his target before it was too late. He stopped suddenly, his sword crashing to the ground before them. He looked down and saw Zaira's sword stabbing him in the stomach. Zefa let go as the lifeless soldier landed in a heap in front of the two girls.

"Zefa." Zaira choked as she grabbed her sister and held her. Ilia stared at Zefa silently her fear bubbling inside her. Zefa… the youngest member in the royal family had blood on her hands to save her. She was the second person to save her life in just a few weeks' time, why was she so special to them? Zaira cleaned up both girls before demanding one of the older women to grab supplies from the bedroom car.

"It's a day trip to the Rebel village but we'll take the chance and pull this thing out. I'll grab Alfonso, he's a better doctor then I am." Zaira said before she left the car. Ilia's mother looked over at Zefa and gave her a small smile.

"You did a good thing, Zefa. You saved my daughter."

"I killed someone." Zefa replied, her arms holding her legs as she leaned against the wall. Alfonso walked in looking tired; stitches outlined the right side of his face near his check. He checked her shoulder and scratched his head.

"Last time I did this Link fell on an arrow and stabbed himself in the arm like the idiot he is, I think if cut the arrow off from the back of your shoulder I can easily pull it out but it'll be tough."

"I went through two births and I'm about to go through another one soon, bring it, Alfonso." Ilia's mother said. Alfonso only shrugged his shoulders took out a pocket knife and slowly cut the arrow off the stick. Zaira entered carrying a bowl of hot water and cloth with a needle and string.

"I'm sorry Elina but the rebels only left thread." Zaira told her as she sat down next to her.

"It's alright sweetie, It's better than nothing." She looked over at Alfonso and nodded as he grabbed the arrow from the front and slowly pulled. Ilia hugged Zefa as her mother screamed in pain, her blood dripping down her arm like a waterfall.

"I almost got it." Alfonso said before he pulled out the entire arrow and threw it out the broken window. Zaira quickly applied pressure as she pulled out splinters of wood that stuck out of the back of her shoulder. Alfonso then grabbed the thread and needle and started closing the wound behind Elina's shoulder. She winced in pain and cried, Zaira holding onto her hand. Alfonso closed the wound and tied the string before cutting it and moving forward to start closing up the front one.

"Until we get to the village you'll have to cover your arm and wear a cast. This thread isn't strong and will break if you move your arm too much. I'll check on them in the morning but for now let's get you guys something to eat and then off to bed." Alfonso said before he finished closing up the front wound.

"Thank you." Elina said holding Zaira's face. Zaira tied the cloth together to make a cast for Elina and helped her into it.

Zefa sat near an open window in her bed as she looked up at the moon. Ilia and her brother slept quietly in the bed across from her. Zefa missed Zelda deeply when she remembered the night they went hunting for night lilies near the pond at midnight on a full moon night. Zelda was out there somewhere trying to save them and help fight for the rebels to take down Lilith. She felt no pity towards killing that one soldier; he was going to kill Ilia. Then again she was only six and six year olds are supposed to be innocent and pure. She sighed and whistled her lullaby, her song traveling through the fields of Hyrule and night air. It seemed like hours before something flew into her face, the wings making a buzzing sound in her ears.

"Leech?" Zefa asked as she held the tiny fairy. He nodded and sang Zelda's lullaby. "Leech! I missed you dearly!" She hugged him and sat him down on the bed. He smiled, his spikey teeth showing. He sang Zelda's lullaby again and gave Zefa a small piece of paper. "What's this?" She unfolded it and saw it was a letter from Cole to her.

"Dear Zefa, I was informed to stay back in Ordon because Gerudo troops would fall back and target the train if I was on there. I don't have long to write before they move me once again but this little fairy you kept was left behind and missed you dearly so I thought sending him to you would cheer you up. If you happen to see your sister before they face Lilith please tell her that Lilith is trying to poison all of the surviving tributes and crush the rebels. Bryce has no idea of what his mother is trying to do but killing Zelda and her son is her top goal and the only way to stop her is to find the six medallions and bring them to the temple of time where the triforce is held. There they must fit the medallions on the door to unlock the triforce. Please Zefa, you must warn her that the temple is heavily guarded by the spirits of the guardians and any dark soul creature will be killed. Only three people will be allowed to touch the triforce but they must be the ones who were gifted by the Goddesses or the ones who weren't will change the fate of Hyrule. The ties of Hyrule must be repaired and those five must redeem Hyrule. I have much faith in you. Until we meet, Princess.

Cole"

Zefa reread the letter again and again before she could almost memorize every world he wrote. Temple of time? Only three can touch the triforce? Spirits of the past guardians guard the temple? The clock in struck midnight and chimed as Zefa stared at Leech. He sang Zelda's lullaby softly and Zefa put the letter on the floor. "You had a rough night let's wait until tomorrow to send you out." She tucked herself in and looked out the window once again. "You know what Leech?" He sighed. "Today's my birthday… I'm finally seven years old. I killed someone and I'll most likely be trained to kill more but… that's okay. I want to help save Hyrule. I want to be a part of the rebel army and pull everyone out of the dark and into the light where we belong."