Hey guys, sorry I've been so slow about updating, but I've been really busy. Anyway, events continue to develop in life as time goes on, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Dawn came none too soon for the defenders of Hyrule castle. For with the dawn, the defenders had figured out, came a withdrawal of a few hours of Ganondorf's army. Braden wandered the walls, calling healers to those who needed them. He was glad that his father had made the decision to send his sisters away, for they would have been out on the wall the whole time trying to get to the wounded. And they would have most likely been killed. As he looked out across the field he thought he could see a small group just beyond the mass of bulbins and stalfos of the dark horde. The sun glinted off of the white armor of a group on a hil, and a tall, dark figure stood in the middle of the group. Ganondorf, standing among his white guard, his elite. Braden frowned as he watched the dark lord glare at the castle walls, obviously furious that they hadn't fallen yet. Braden assumed that their unexpected resistance was delaying his plans more than he would like. And that simple fact made Braden just a little more hopeful. Perhaps the dark lord would begin to rush and make a fatal mistake, one that would allow many of those in the castle to survive.
/
Malon woke to the sun shining in her eyes. As she sat up, her blanket fell from her shoulders, revealing the cream white skin of her chest. She didn't notice until she spotted the tall dark figure moving around the clearing, kneeling at the various bodies. She seized her blanket and clutched it against her as last night's events came back to her. Watching the young man, she noted that he moved without a sound, as though he was used to going unseen and unheard. As he moved from body to body, she watched as he threw a small pouch off to the side. The clink it made as it hit the ground revealed its contents.
"Why are you throwing away good rupees?" she asked. He didn't bother looking at her.
"They've no use." Malon was puzzled, money had no use?
"What do you mean?" he chucked another purse into the small pile he had created.
"It's dead weight." he said. Malon stared at him even more.
"But there's so much you can buy with it." he turned to her and held up the longbow, then his sword.
"I made them." Malon gaped at him. She couldn't believe it. The knights in Hyrule never had time to make their own weapons. They were too busy training with them. Links head suddenly snapped to the side as a wild bird called out. Malon dismissed it as just another wild animal, but Link was suddenly on the alert. Lifting his hand to his mouth, he let loose the piercing cry of a hawk that had discovered its prey. He continued to watch the tree line until another tall dark figure appeared.
"Sheik, you're late." he said. Sheik looked at him.
"Dad and Ilia are worried about you. What were you doing her aside from causing trouble?" Link motioned towards the spot where Malon sat, staring at them, while Zelda still slept beside her.
"We should go." Link said as he picked up his cloak, throwing it around his shoulders and pulling up the hood. Malon slowly stood up, the blanket still clutched to her breasts.
"Go where?" she asked timidly. Sheik looked at her.
"To our camp, so you'd better get some clothes on." Malon looked at the ground.
"Our clothes were shredded last night, by those men." Sheik suddenly looked at the bodies, taking in their wounds and the state of their dress. A few had their pants around their knees, and as Sheik looked around, the whole scene became clear.
"I see. Well then wrap that blanket around yourself good and tight. And tell your companion to do the same."
"She's my sister." Sheik looked at her for a moment before his eyes widened.
"Great goddess Farore." he whispered. "The princesses of Hyrule." he turned to Link, who was standing patiently at the forests edge. When no comment came from his brother, he turned back to the girls. He watched as Malon shook her sister awake, and turned away as the girl bolted upright, causing the blanket to fall from her body. Link rubbed his brow as he leaned against a tree. As Malon explained the situation to Zelda the blonde girl attempted to wrap her blanket around her in a way that would cover as much as possible. Link watched as Malon lifted her sister to her feet, her tiny frame bearing her sisters weight with some difficulty until Zelda got the message and stood on her own legs, pulling the blanket closely around her shoulders. As the girls got up the failed to notice Sheik take their bedrolls and roll them up. As they sat against a log near the fire and ate their breakfast neither one noticed Sheik tying their supplies to their horses.
"Lets go." Link's voice made the girls jump as he approached the fire. Looking up at him, they both seemed so vulnerable. He turned away, motioning to Sheik.
"Your things are already on your horses, once you're on, we can go." the older brother said. Malon nodded and helped Zelda to her horse, before helping her onto the Gerudo mount. As she moved to her horse, she found herself suddenly lifted into the air and set in the saddle, the soft leather smooth and cool against her bare skin. Looking down she saw Link walking away from her in the direction of the trees, his head tilted forward slightly. As he disappeared into the trees, Sheik led Zelda's horse up next to Malons, and took the reins of both.
"Let's get going. He's not waiting any longer. Something's got him tense, and he obviously doesn't want to stay here any longer than necessary." Malon looked around worriedly.
"What do you think it could be?" Sheik glanced at her.
"I'm not sure, but it could be wolves, could be a bear, though their not bad enough to make him this jumpy." both girls looked at the passing trees nervously.
"Then what could make him this jumpy?" Sheik hid a smirk beneath his mask.
"I'm not certain, but it could have something to do with the fact that he got a full glimpse of a lady in her birthday suit!" both girls looked at him, horrified, as he fell to the ground laughing. But just as he rolled in one direction, a heavy black shafted arrow planted itself next to his nose.
"You coming?" Link asked from where he stood next to a large tree. Sheik stood and picked up the arrow.
"Yeah, sorry." Link shrugged and walked off. Sheik picked up the reins of the two horses and followed him into the forest.
/
Ganondorf glared at the huge stone walls that stood before his army. His white guard stood around him, the bulls they rode tied to a few of the trees that stood nearby. Ganondorfs own bull was tied to a stake next to his tent. As he stared at the walls, willing them to come down, he began planning a way to get around them. His guards moved out of his way as he strode back to his tent, and encircled the shelter once he was inside. Ganondorf sat down on the small cot he slept on as he thought about all his army had been through so far. The constant barrage of heavy shafted Hylian arrows, mixed with the lighter Gerudo arrows, had taken its toll on his forces from the start. Those lost to the arrows did not make up a large percentage of his forces, but they were losses none the less. Then the occasional raid made by the foolish Sheikah. Those strikes always hurt, because they were aimed to strike at moral. They struck at food stores, set fire to tents and bedrolls, set mounts free, and occasionally poisoned a water supply. As he thought about all that was happening something occurred to him. These were not the tactics of men who truly held out hope that they could survive. These were tactics to delay him, and buy time for others to either escape, or arrive with reinforcements! Cursing himself for not thinking of it sooner he stood and strode out of the tent.
"Send for Agunim!" he bellowed at one of his guards. The man raced off as Ganondorf turned back into his tent.
"I'll teach them to make a fool out of me." he thought. "All units will pull out to chase any escapees, and when they think that I'm gone and let their guard down, I'll be back, with their friends."
/
"They're pulling out!" the cry rang across the city as the dark horde marched away towards the south. As he watched the king realized why Ganondorf had pulled out.
"Everyone, prepare to move, we make for the Fortress at Arn's Deep." Braden looked at him.
"Are you sure, the path is narrow, and the footing is often treacherous." the king looked at his son.
"Yes. It is our only hope now. As long as Ganondorf thinks that our people fled to the south our families are safe. When he discovers the trick that we have played, he will be furious. We will have a volunteer force stand at the Red Gates to delay him, while all others make for the fortress. I do not think that any in the volunteer force will survive, but we have no choice." Braden nodded.
"Then I will take charge of the volunteer force." The king turned to him.
"So you would sacrifice our family to preserve Hyrule?" Braden shook his head.
"Father, you have Malon and Zelda, as well as Aaron, James and Brandon. I may be no small loss, but I will not be turned from my decision." the king looked closely at his eldest.
"Is this your way of telling me you want nothing to do with the throne?" Braden looked out over the field.
"No father, it's my way of protecting that throne, and the people it serves. I'm not cut out to be a king, I'm too much of a warlord. Brandon is best suited out of all of us in spite of his youth. Aaron and James swear by him. They will follow him and him only when you are gone. Do not think that I have not thought this through." the king looked at him, tears slowly forming in his eyes.
"Very well. We will speak again, before the Red Gates."
Whew! Long one. but we now see some of the character of the prince of Hyrule, and soon we will meet his brothers. If you have enjoyed the story so far, then I'm happy with what I've been doing up to now, And I hope that you will continue to read as I continue to write. Please Review.