Okay, chapter three is up and I am starting to figure out just where I am going with this. Believe it or not, I don't generally write with a specific plot in mind. I just write what comes to me. So if anything seems strange, let me know and I will either correct it, or explain why it's there.
Nabooru had woken up with a bad feeling about the day, but nothing could have prepared her for the news she was now receiving. News that her homeland had been overrun in a matter of days. She staggered as she tried to take it in, and placed her hand on the armrest of a nearby chair. The king of Hyrule looked at her with mild concern.
"Milady, we must prepare our armies for war, but I fear that we stand little chance against a foe who conquered your lands so swiftly." Impa stood next to her lord, watching everyone's reactions carefully. The king continued. "We do not know what manner of army marches toward us, so I will send out scouts to determine their composition and numbers. Once we know the make-up of this army, we will be able to form a more effective strategy." Impa stepped forward.
"I shall send out my best scouts at once sire." the king nodded at her, then turned to his captain.
"Captain Ingo, what course of action would you take against such unknown forces?" Ingo stroked his moustache for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought.
"The same course of action you have already taken your majesty. All that we can do right now is wait for the scouts to return and see what manner of enemy we face." Midigoro, the diplomatic representative to the Gorons, stepped forward.
"I have already sent word to Darunia of this danger. He will either fortify death mountain, or come here to fortify Hyrule castle." Elto, representative of the Zora then stepped up.
"Word will reach the Zora soon as well. Our armies will march even as our people make for the hidden lakes." Nabooru glanced up from the chair she now sat in.
"The Gerudo will have fled, many will aim for here, so as to make their stand. This fortress of Hyrule castle provides the best chance of victory that we have available. We would be fools not to prepare this place for a siege." Eveyone in the room nodded in agreement. The king of Hyrule glanced at the huge stained glass window of the Cathedral where they were holding this meeting.
"And may the goddesses be with us. Captain, prepare the city for a siege, spare no expense. Those walls must hold the enemy at all costs. Impa, send out your scouts, and have any other available men evacuate the civilians to the caves behind the city, they should be safe there. Now go!" the Ingo and Impa raced out of the cathedral and out into the city. The king looked at the rest of the people in the room. "May the sages look after us."
/
Link knelt next to a small grave under an old dying pine. The words that had been carved into the small wooden cross had long since been worn away by times passing.
"Mother, war comes." he said, tears starting to form in his eyes. "I can finally avenge you. Ganon will pay for tearing our family apart." he ran his hand across his eyes to wipe away the moisture caused by the tears. Standing, he pulled at the fingerless glove on his left hand. As it came off, it revealed a small, barely noticeable scar across the palm. "I sometimes wonder if I should have made that blood oath mother, was a life of vengeance really what you would have wanted for me? Still, it's one of my best kept secrets, not even Sheik knows about it." he pulled the glove back on and turned to walk back toward the village where the people were preparing to ride. As he strode through the village on his way to his tent, he saw both warriors and shield maidens gathering their weapons. War called all able bodied riders, and none could be spared. The old and young, as well as the weak and wounded, would come after, and much more slowly. As he reached his tent he set to work pulling it down and wrapping it up. He threw the bundle into a nearby wagon and set back to gather up his weapons. Picking them up one by one, he ran through a mental checklist that had become ingrained into his memory.
"Sword, daggers, axe, bow, chain-scythe, long knives, pair sword, and lance. That's it." he stood, placing his weapons in various places about his person. Some he placed on parts of his saddle. He stabbed his lance into the ground before swinging up onto Epona, then swung the horse around and reached out to grab the nine foot spear. As he swung his mount around he spotted his father, the village chief, moving to the head of the column.
"We ride for the kokiri forest. Follow me!" a shout went up from all one hundred and sixty throats as they wheeled and rode out of the remains of the village. By dawn, no trace would be left to indicate that there had ever been a village here except a few tracks, and the riders would be nearing the forest.
/
Impa nodded as she listened to her scout, Ingo standing next to her, brushing his warhorse. The stable echoed slightly as the mans voice revealed his fear.
"This is bad. Our men aren't trained for the kind of warfare this bastard will carry out." Ingo said, an occasional wheeze accompanying his voice. "He won't lay siege to Hyrule castle. He'll raid the local villages and farms, trying to draw us out onto Hyrule field where he and his army will crush us before we can get into a defensive formation." Impa nodded in agreement.
"Yes, only the Gerudo riders could challenge him, and not enough are here for such an endeavor. Our only real chance is stealth, and the Sheikah are too few for a significant assault." Nabooru looked over from the horse she had been grooming.
"So our only real chance is to pray for a miracle? I don't like that." Impa looked over her shoulder at the Gerudo queen.
"The fates seem to have conspired against us, so we have little choice in the course of action we must take." she said, her voice cold and hopeless. Nabooru winced as she heard the tone, understanding that they would probably all fall in battle unless a miracle occurred. One that was not likely. Unfortunately for them, two heads poked around the corner.
"Impa? Are we really going to die?" Malon asked as she and Zelda edged around the corner. The two teenagers looked frightened as could be, and Impa couldn't bring herself to blame them.
"No, we're not going to die. We'll live, and we'll win." Malon looked doubtful, but Zelda burst out.
"Don't lie to us! There's no hope is there? I've heard the servants whispering, saying how sad it is that we all have to die! Now tell us the truth!" Impa watched the girls as Zelda finished yelling.
"There is very little chance that we'll survive." the voice came from the door. Turning everyone saw the king. "That's why I'm sending you two away. Nabooru, I must ask for two of your finest horses for the princesses to ride. They must get as far from Hyrule as they can." Nabooru nodded and motioned to one of the other Gerudo in the room.
"Eyloo, fetch our two best horses." The girl nodded and walked out of the room. Malon looked concerned.
"But daddy, aren't you coming with us?' the king didn't look at his daughters.
"No. I am not. I must stay and coordinate the defenses here. You two must live and carry on the line. If you perish, so does Hyrule." the girls looked at each other for a moment, a silent conversation passing between them.
"We understand Father." Zelda said, confidence ringing in her voice. The king breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the two teenagers.
"I'm glad that you do. I wouldn't be able to fight if I knew you two were in danger." he looked over his shoulder as Eyloo brought the two horses in.
"They're both ready for a long journey, and you will find all the provisions you need in the saddlebags." the king nodded.
"Make sure they each have a bow and a quiver full of arrows." turning back to his daughters he pulled them into a strong embrace. "Take care of each other. Ride west, and if you lose your way, look to the setting sun. remember all I've taught you, and live." he stood up and stepped back, letting the girls take the horses reins. "Go and collect what we've prepared, along with anything that you can carry in your saddle bags, you have a long ride ahead of you." Both girls nodded.
"Get another horse ready Nabooru, they won't be going alone. My things are ready." The king looked up at the young man who had just come in.
"No Brandon, you must stay here and help me. The men respect you and will fight harder for you than they will for me. You cannot go." Brandon looked at him.
"Then send master Talon, or one of the Sheikah, but do not send them alone." the old man nodded at him.
"I will, arrangements have already been made for them to meet one of the Sheikah outside of the castle. She will take them west, away from the shadow." Brandon looked at the girls.
"You two take care, get your things." he turned to face the king. "Where shall I position my men Father?" the king smiled gently.
"Come, and I will show you."
War on the horizon, little chance of standing against the coming enemy, and no known help coming. Is this the end for Hyrule? Or will Ordon's riders arrive in time to save the day? And what kind of grudge does Link hold against Ganon on account of his mother? What did Ganon do? All these questions will be answered, so have patience. Review, Please, thanks.