Chapter 5
Clash at the Gates
Link and Dirige crested a hill as Castle Hyrule rose from the horizon. Link broke into a run, summoning the last of his energy to reach the drawbridge. When they drew near, two guards halted them.
"What is your business here?" one spoke quickly.
"We must see the Princess!" Dirige demanded. The two guards exchanged glances with each other.
"I'm sorry," Link said with a laugh, "My friend here thinks he is funny. We are just here to buy some supplies for the farm." They looked Link over and begrudgingly stepped to the side. "Very well, just don't cause any trouble!" the guard said as Link hurried through.
The town was silent. Not a soul moved through the streets as Link made his way down the path. Doors had been left open and clothes were left on the line.
"We're not too late, are we?" Link curiously asked. Then a man turned the corner, and began walking towards them. "Um, sir? Could you tell us where everyone is at?" Link asked.
"Oh, everyone is gathered in Town Square. The Princess is addressing the whole town," the man said pointing toward where he had just come from, "Just head down that street, you can't miss it." Link thanked him and ran past the corner.
Hundreds of people were gathered in the Square. A fountain stood in the middle of the area serving as the only break in the mass. Further behind stood Castle Hyrule, where a woman in an elegant dress spoke.
"I ask you to place your trust in me as your Princess! I shall not allow this menace to harm the land of Hyrule!" the woman projected. Link began pushing through the crowed towards the castle.
"What about Kakariko Village?" one man bellowed, "I heard they have already been attacked!"
"I heard that the Gorons have already fallen to the beasts!" another cried. The Square erupted into a frenzy of hushed whispers and accusations as the Princess tried to calm them down. Link kept pushing through the crowd when a man pulled him back and tossed him to the ground.
"Hey, shrimpy, who do you think you are?" he growled. The crowd around them backed away as Link picked himself up. The man unsteadily held a knife as Link pulled out his shield. No reason to hurt this guy if I don't have to, he thought. The man lunged but was blocked by guards standing between Link and himself. They shackled the man and Link, dragging them off towards the castle.
"Unconventional, but effective I suppose," Dirige chuckled as Link followed the guards past the crowd.
Massive archways lined the corridor with a red carpet leading through each. At the end of the corridor there was a large steel door with stairs leading down into a depressing darkness. Before they were shuffled down into the abyss, a silver-haired woman stopped the guards and whispered something into one of their ears. The man scoffed and shook his head but reluctantly released Link of his chains.
"Follow me!" The silver-haired woman ordered Link. He stepped quickly behind her.
"L-look that guy started the fight, I just need to find the Princess!" Link pleaded.
"Quiet!" the woman snapped. She stopped outside two massive wooden doors. She pushed them open to reveal another massive room with a throne where the Princess was sitting conversing with a massive armored figure. The armored man nodded and walked out the doorway as the Princess turned to Link with a warm smile.
"Hello, Hero!" She said with a sweet voice, "I am Princess Zelda, as you no doubt have guessed." Standing bewildered, Link quickly took a knee and bowed. Zelda laughed and pulled him to his feet. "What is your name?" she asked.
"L-Link," he said with a stammer, "And this is Dirige." Dirige emerged from Link's hat and crossed to Zelda's shoulder.
"My, my, a servant of the goddesses! This is an honor!" Zelda said with a little amazement
"Your Highness, we have some terrible news!" Dirige said. They explained everything that had happened to them up to that point.
"Then, it is as I feared. In a dream, saw black shadows reaching out from the Blade of Evil's Bane, which began to rust and rot away. I fear the seal is weakening!" Zelda said with a worried expression.
"But is there a way to save Kael?" Link asked desperately. The Princess shook her head.
"Not of my knowledge, I am afraid," she said with sorrow in her voice, "Although, if you were to obtain the three Goddess's Seals you may be able to save her. The Seals are ancient writs that only the Hero of Destiny can retrieve!"
"I don't understand! How will these Seals help?" Link asked.
"I think I can better explain this," Dirige said, "The Goddess Seals are what was used to seal Ganon, King of Evil, in the Sacred Realm. Long ago, a man by the name of Ganondorf overthrew the king, but a boy wielding the Blade of Evil's Bane defeated Ganondorf. Filled with hatred for the boy, Ganondorf lost control of the Triforce of Power and became Ganon. Having no other choice, the boy, aided by the seven sages, sealed him inside the Sacred Realm. The Master Sword was the key which held his powers in check, but for some reason that seal is weakening. We must obtain these Seals to keep Ganon from regaining his full power!"
"So you want me to find these Seals and renew the seal on the Master Sword?" Link asked, "And this should save Kael?"
"Yes," Zelda said calmly, "But there is something I should tell you. Each of these Seals will have a Trial for you to overcome. Each one will test your abilities."
"I don't have much of a choice though, do I?" Link said as a guard burst through the doors.
"Your majesty! Monsters! At the gates! There's a whole army of them!" the man said gasping for air.
"Gather the men! Get them to the front gates!" Zelda ordered urgently.
"I'll fight as well!" Link said as Zelda nodded.
A wall of demons lined the horizon, all making an assortment of noise. Link stood on the front lines awaiting the signal for attack from Zelda, who was standing atop the wall with her bow ready.
"Find the General and dispatch him! These monsters are cowards! If we get rid their leader they should retreat!" Zelda yelled, "Now! Archers fire!" Link watched as a rain of arrows fell upon the enemy. Many of them fell but many more kept charging. "Charge!" Zelda screamed and Link ran into the fray.
The battle lasted for what seemed like hours and Link was blood-soaked. With every swing another enemy fell, until he was face to face with a giant pig like creature.
"Dirige! What is that thing?" Link asked while dodging the creature's spear.
"That's a moblin! It has to be the general! He's the biggest thing here!" Dirige yelled. The creature swung in a massive arc, which cut deep into Link's thigh. Link moved closer in and sunk his blade deep into the moblin's calf, which let out a loud squeal. It reached a massive hand back and grabbed at Link. Link jumped up onto the arm of the beast and made his way to its shoulder. Responding quickly, the moblin grabbed Link, threw him back to the ground and stabbed at him with his spear. Link rolled to the left and swung his blade through the spear, snapping it in two. The moblin tossed the remains aside and began swinging at Link with its massive fists. Link feinted inside the creature's strike and ran his sword through its gut. The moblin grabbed Link once again and tossed him to the ground once again, this time noticeably slower. Link stood and readied himself for the final blow. The moblin swung, Link moved inside and shoved his blade through the bottom of the moblin's jaw. The moblin fell with a ground shaking thud and the battle around them seemed to stop.
"The General has fallen! Retreat!" one of the demons yelled. The monsters began to fall back and the soldiers began cheering.
The next morning, Link gathered his things when Impa appeared at his door. "The first place you will want to go is Zora's Domain. It is the place where Ganon's influence is thinnest. You will need this to show to the priests there." She handed him a letter and walked out.
"Zora's Domain, huh?" Link said as he slid a bag up onto his shoulder and walked out down the corridor.