Oh my goodness... I am going to say this right now: I hate filler chapters. And what's worse, I can't even remember which people I am supposed to review-reply to... so, if I miss you, my deepest apologies!
Gabbiez: ...I didn't know our writing styles could be picked apart! Yeah, -Kat- helped me with that one bit, because I was having trouble getting it started. Writer's block, you know?
Zinachu: I appreciate your fangirl-isms! It's ok... I'm guilty of fangirl-screaming, too.
Anna-person: What were you doing staying up that late!? Seriously, I am in awe of your ability to stay focused on my writing for that long...
And now, without further adiu...
--
Chapter 7
Zelda exhaled, and opened her eyes slowly. She felt the council's anxious gazes on her, awaiting her reaction to the news. It was ridiculous... it was almost unreal and unbelievable. An army of monsters had been reported early this morning... tearing over the back country-side, burning everything in their path... it was heart-wrenching, knowing that she couldn't do anything to stop them now. She glanced over at Link, who was standing dutifully against a wall on her right side. If anything, he was her most trusted advisor, when it came to these kinds of matters. The council only knew economics, and court politics. Link knew strategy, and she could easily discuss what was going on the heavens with him, as well as many other things.
"Your Highness?" An elderly woman leaned forward, "A word?"
"Monsters like that normally don't thrive in huge numbers like that..." Zelda mumbled, as if not hearing the councilwoman.
Link nodded, "The beasts that were reported are normally solitary creatures, hunting and attacking on their own."
"But what would cause these monsters to unite?" A man said forcefully, "Ever since Ganondorf disappeared, we've been plagued with the Exelians. Now do we have to worry about a new force that is driving these beasts to attack us?"
Zelda sighed, and rubbed her temples, "Yes. Yes, we do."
She felt the stress in the room thicken as she was immediately assaulted by the council screaming at her-
"We need to set up our defenses!" "There's no time for that. Evacuate the civilians to Kakariko immediately!" "That would take too long as well. I agree with Barnes: we need to set up a barrier against the castle town!"
The room exploded into argument as Zelda continued rubbing her forehead, casting a weary smile towards Link, who had straightened up and moved to the table. He proceeded to slam his fist down on the table.
"This is ridiculous!" He bellowed, catching the attention of the council, "Instead of arguing about what we could do, why aren't we putting both ideas into use? The sooner we strengthen ourselves, the better of a chance we'll stand."
Barnes stood up to challenge Link, "But half of our military is out patrolling the border."
"Call them back." Link simply stated. "We can leave a few runners and scouts to give us news every day. We need to be training our entire militia with the techniques to take care of these monsters."
"And who would? Who has the experience with these beasts?" Another councilman asked.
"Me." Link's eyes bore into the asker.
The room was filled with an empty silence as they all challenged Link's patronizing glare. Zelda felt the air thicken with tension, the council not wanting to put their trust in this lone warrior, their country in the hands of a rogue, but Link had never lost a battle with his eyes.
A chorus of sighs echoed finally. "As of today, I elect Trace to take control of the Hylian Army. Any opposed speak now." Zelda said boldly.
There was silence.
Link stood up and crossed his arms smugly. Zelda had to keep from laughing. "So this meeting is adjourned." She stood and walked out of the room, Link following her.
"I'm impressed." Zelda commented as she walked beside him. "I don't think the council has ever been beat that easily."
Link looked very smug. "I have my uses, yes?"
Looking around, Zelda swiftly pulled him into an empty corridor. "That you do. But I have to tell you something that I didn't tell the council."
"What?" Link's eyebrows furrowed. "What is it? Is it something about Shea? Rhairu?"
The princess shook her head. "Derrick. He's formed an alliance with Lavinar. Turned them against us... I got the Decree of War two days ago." She looked down.
"What! Why? How could he turn them against us? Isn't Lavinar our largest ally?" Link looked panicked. "Why didn't you tell me when you got the decree?"
"They think we've been invading in on their borders. Little by little, we've been taking their land." Zelda shook her head, "I didn't tell you because I wanted to make sure that they were positive. That they were willing to carry it out. I don't remember giving orders to invade! And I've gone through all the battle plans with the general many times. There were no entries in his log of invasion."
"How? How then? They have no proof!" Link had to lower his voice to a harsh whisper.
"Actually, Link, they do." Zelda said sadly. "Our standard was found at the scene of one of the raids, along with Hylian armor. Derrick's done something. I know he has."
"Necromancy." Link said without any thought.
"The purest evil under the Hylian skies." Zelda finished. "My theory is that he called up the fallen soldiers from the past, and used them to attack. But the king of Lavinar wouldn't believe me, and the council definitely wouldn't. They're anti-superstitious..." Zelda broke off into an exasperated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "This is turning out to be more-"
She was cut off by Link kissing her gently. She sank into it gratefully, putting her hands on Link's chest. They pulled away, and he tousled her hair. "Feel better, now?"
"Much." Zelda nodded, before continuing, "But we still need to figure out what to do with Derrick. No doubt he's brainwashing the Lavinar king, and gaining control over the very country."
"Zelda, love, the only reason Lavinar allied with us is because our army is stronger than theirs. Do you remember the day when the king came here, asking for the alliance? Syrea was attacking them, and they needed extra backup." Link reminded the princess.
"Yes, but that was years ago. Who knows how strong they could have gotten in that amount of time?"
"Do I need to kiss you again?" Link said sternly before giving Zelda a gentle hug, "Everything's going to be fine. Shea, Claire, and Emri are going to find the Triforce before Derrick, and we'll take care of Lavinar."
"Link... you're forgetting one detail. The Exelians."
Link stared at her with a frown.
"They will attack again. They will come after Shea again. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want. So, we're dealing with Lavinar, an army of monsters and possibly the undead, and the Exelians."
Link's frown deepened. "I'm starting to think Shea got the easy end of everything."
And then Zelda got a sly smile on her lips. "But, I do think I am a bit overstressed..." she hinted by tapping her lips. Link rolled his eyes and swept her up in another kiss.
"Careful, or my lips'll get swollen again."
"Goddesses forbid that your lips become swollen."
--
"Three... two... one... NOW."
And then he was all wet. Really, really, wet. Shea wiped the liquid away from his eyes and he glared up at the two girls that were holding a bucket over him... that had been filled with water. "I want to know two things. Where'd you get the bucket, and why'd you dump water all over me?" He snapped.
"Simple." Emri cocked her hip, "Revenge for waking me up so rudely yesterday."
"Hardy-har-har." Shea drawled, sitting up. "Congratulations."
Emri smiled as he shook his head ferociously in an attempt to get the loose droplets out of his hair. "Well, hurry up and get dry so we can spar. You need the practice, and I feel like kicking your butt."
"Who says you'll kick my butt?" He snapped again, frowning up at Emri.
"Says me." Emri said haughtily, extending her bo-staff as she walked out of the door. "Five minutes, Shea."
Shea grumbled as he stood up, meeting Claire straight in the eyes. The girl waved, still holding the bucket. Shea grunted in response. Claire frowned, but passed off his grumpiness as lack of sleep.
Shea milled about in the tent for his sword, grumbling incoherent phrases. He began to throw random object over his shoulder, clearing areas for where his sword should be.
When he found it, he looked at his reflection in the blade. Shea saw bruise-like shadows under his eyes; and the eyes themselves looked exhausted, but strangely awake... fierce, and angry. He paid no heed to it as he walked out of the tent.
Claire was outside, blowing on a freshly started fire. There was a sharp pang in his head when he saw someone else sitting next to a pile of wood, snapping his fingers and a roaring fire appeared.
Shea blinked and saw only Claire again. He pushed the thought from his mind as he went to meet Emri. He swung his sword around loosely, circling the girl who had taken a defensive pose. "I'll have you know that it'll be you looking up at me from the flat of your back." Shea stated.
Emri snorted, "Please." And then she leapt at him.
Shea raised his sword and pushed her away, swinging it down as she jabbed for his shins, hoping to unsettle his footing. Parry up, left, right, center, down, right, right, left...
Emri's face twisted into a confused expression as Shea seemed to be one step ahead of her each time. She didn't notice that he was steadily pushing her backwards, and she had moved into defense while he stepped into offense. And all the while, his face was stoic as ever.
She let out an 'oof' when she backed into a tree, and the cold tip of the sword rested on her collar bone. She breathed hard, looking into Shea's glazed over ones, and laughed weakly. "Well, it's not from my back."
Shea removed his sword and sighed as he walked away. "I'm done," he merely stated, throwing his sword down near the tent and disappearing inside of it.
Claire looked worriedly at Emri, who sat down next to her. "Has Shea ever beaten you?"
Emri shook her head, "But what was strange, is that he seemed to have made no effort at all. It was like... child's play." She stared at the tent flap. "I couldn't feel his emotions, either."
Claire traced patterns in the dirt with a stick. "Maybe, it was wrong for us to wake him up so suddenly."
"Maybe." Emri agreed, "I mean, I understand if he's tired... it was a long day yesterday." She felt guilty. But she couldn't help but feel like this wasn't going to end soon.
--
His headache hurt. Shea had curled up on his mat cradling his head. It hadn't been long since he had sparred with Emri... ten minutes, maybe.
He drew in a hissing breath when his head throbbed again. His head felt heavy, like it was full of gravel.
Shea tried to open his eyes, but white dots flashed in his vision, hurting his head even more at the strain his eyes took to focus. He closed them again.
He laid there for what seemed like a thousand years, shivering. Maybe he was getting a fever. That would explain the headache. The thought of asking Emri for help often crossed his mind, but it always made him clench his teeth and push it away. He didn't need help. He was perfectly fine.
The throbbing in his head was so loud... it grew in volume until it drowned on all of his thoughts. He violently rolled over to the other side, beads of sweat sliding across and down his face and onto the mat. His nails dug into his scalp, trying to cause more pain than this headache.
This was no fever.
"Shea?"
Shea winced when Claire's voice echoed loudly inside his head.
"Shea! Shea, what's wrong?" Claire knelt down beside him, putting a hand on his forehead. It felt cold... it felt good.
"Nothing is wrong!" He snapped, nonetheless. "I'm fine."
Claire frowned, "But you're burning up!"
"I said I'm fine!" He yelled fiercely, sitting up. But he immediately regretted both actions for two reasons. One, it made his head spin. And two, Claire looked hurt. But she didn't say anything as she stood and said quietly-
"If you need anything, we're outside." And exited the tent.
Shea groaned and laid back down, cradling his head once more.
--
"Did you hear that?" Claire said incredulously as she promptly sat down next to Emri.
Emri was staring at the tent flap, and nodded, "Yeah..."
"Seriously! I don't understand it." Claire scoffed, picking up a stick and throwing it into the fire. "He's burning up and nearly tearing his hair out, and he says he's fine? Fine, my ass!" She sniffed, and crossed her arms indignantly.
"Well," Emri cracked her knuckles absentmindedly, "when Shea doesn't want help, he doesn't want it. So, we'll just let him be."
--
Shea bit his thumbnail angrily as he stared into the fire. He wasn't angry for any particular reason. He just felt angry.
He ignored Claire's constant glare, and Emri's worried stare. He really didn't understand why Claire was glaring at him, first of all. But he wished she would stop.
He curtly stood up, and grunted, "I'm going to find some more firewood."
"Alright." Emri said. "Be careful."
Shea walked off as if he didn't hear her. Claire's glare followed him even until after he disappeared into the trees.
"Claire, why are you still glaring?"
"I want to make sure my dislike follows him."
"...you do that." Emri drawled, leaning back on her hands and staring up at the smoke column to where it blended with the sky... it looked like it was going to rain soon.
Claire huffed. "So, what are your theories?"
"About what?"
"Species: Incarnateus Blondus Idiotus. Also known as Shea."
Emri snorted at the name before looking to where the afore mentioned boy had disappeared. "That's what worries me. I don't know."
Claire threw a twig into the fire. "Well, this sucks."
--
The ground he walked on rumbled with each step; lightning was cast from his eyes as he looked down at his Hyrule. Yes. His Hyrule. The very one he had created, and blessed.
And how did the people thank him?
By doing everything they weren't supposed to.
Rhairu roared, and threw a lightning sphere across the celestial room before slamming his hands down on the giant mirror that allowed him to view the entire world. He moved his hand across it, dragging the image to a new area, and leered down with his angry, golden eyes.
It was Shea, walking alone in the forest. Rhairu's lip curled up, and he let out a hiss that leaned more on the growling edge. That boy needed to learn. He was defeating the who purpose of this quest.
He changed the scene to a desert. The Exelian fortress. Rhairu could remember when it had been inhabited by an honorable group of female thieves. The Gerudos, he remembered them being called. But then they started to breed with those exiled Hylians, and look at them now... the Exelians had spread like rabbits.
He scoffed. Breed... that's exactly what they did. And they tainted his once pure land.
Then, he saw the rogue Exelian. Rhairu's lips curled up in a snarl. How dare he? How dare he try to claim the powers of the gods for himself? Hadn't he learned from history that they were simply too much for the human capacity? But no. And he had to go for the one thing that Rhairu cherished most high above all of Hyrule-
His beautiful daughters.
The Great Fairies of Hyrule. Another one was being held victim to the horrible torture of having her power and wisdom sucked from her. Rhairu watched as she struggled, watched as her power was taken as the rogue stood their, chanting. And Rhairu could do nothing to save her.
With an angry growl, Rhairu waved his hand across the pool again, blowing. The water rippled, changing. He saw the Hylian army, and the Hero of Time, training. Rhairu looked curiously down... at least the previous owner of the triforce of courage was actually worth reconsidering... But that was Farore's choice. Rhairu could only voice his opinion.
And then there was the fair Princess Zelda of Hyrule. Yes... Another one that Rhairu wouldn't mind giving the triforce back to. The current one -Emri, was it?- was very stubborn. And hot-headed. That simply would not do. Not with his triforce.
But again, that was his sister's choice.
"Bah," Rhairu spat as he turned away from the pool. He often wondered if worrying about the fate of Hyrule was even worth it anymore. It seemed as if the people didn't care about what happened to their beautiful country. For all they cared, the Exelians could overtake them.
But Rhairu wouldn't. He knew that Hyrule had been his creation, had been his pride and joy. He had given his sisters instruction on exactly where he wanted things, how he wanted things to look. He had had a vision of a perfect world.
What a lie that turned out to be.