Hey guys, sorry about the long wait. I've been kind of distracted and not really motivated lately. I guess it's part of not having a job and having too many distractions. Anyway, I didn't get a whole lot of reviews for chapter seven, which almost makes me wonder just how popular this story is. But it is what it is I suppose. Enjoy the chapter.

Dawn. The light of a new day always brought a new promise. And today was no different. As the light struck the rocks that gave the Red Gates their name, the stirring of men could be seen in the narrow pass. Nearest to the mouth of the pass, Braden adjusted his breastplate as he sat on a small boulder, the light making the steel glow silver. Standing he walked over to where a single Sheikah stood guard overlooking the plains below. As he approached the man let a sigh escape.

"How fares our enemy?" the scout looked out over the plain and pointed to a dark mass that was moving slowly towards them.

"They fare well. We shall have a glorious fight." Braden chuckled, his eyes glinting.

"Good, perhaps with all of Ganondorf's warriors gathered here there will be one capable of providing a beautiful death."

/

Brandon stood up in his saddle as the valley of Arn came into view. Looking back he glanced over the heads of his brothers and father, past the people that followed them, to the still visible gap of the Red Gates. As he stared back, he recalled his brothers words to him the night they had parted.

"Protect the family. Your brothers will be loyal to you and you alone. And when our sisters return, they will be too. Protect them." Brandon's eyes were hard as he looked back over the valley. It would take them three days to reach the fortress, and he wanted to cut that time as much as possible.

"Let's keep moving! I want to there as soon as possible!" he called out. One of the riders galloped up to him.

"My lord, the people are tired, and in need of a rest. We must stop." Brandon glared at the man before turning to the column. Spurring his horse he rode towards the center of the massive line.

"Column halt! Wheel to the right!" as the column drew to a halt Brandon drew up on a small hill. He watched as his father and brothers rode up to him.

"What is the meaning of this Brandon?" the old king asked. Brandon looked at his brothers for a moment, gaging them.

"Let me speak and you will hear father." He turned to the column of troops and peasants. Standing in his stirrups, he looked back again to the Red Gates. As he stared at them, an official of the court rode up.

"What is the meaning of this? We should continue to a good place to camp! We shouldn't be..." Brandon gave him no chance to continue.

"People of Hyrule! Look back the way we have come! Behind us stands the Red Gates, where my brother stands with three hundred Sheikah to guard the road! None may survive that fight! They die to buy us time! Let us make use of it! We can have no rest until we reach the safety of Arn's Deep! Once there we will have the time to rest and prepare! But only if the Sheikah line holds! By noon today Ganondorf and his hordes will have reached the Red Gates and begun their assault on the battle line! We are three days from the Deep yet, and we do not know how long my brother can hold! Let us not waste their sacrifice! We cannot rest, and I least of all! Let us make Arn's Deep, then rest and prepare! We will be ready for them, and the names of the three hundred Sheikah who fall at the pass of the Red Gates shall be remembered for all time!" a mighty shout filled the air as the people, realizing the sacrifice made for them, shout their support. Brandon looked at the nobleman. His eyes cold.

"Are you so afraid of discomfort that you would bring death upon us all? I will decide what to do with you and the other 'nobles' when we reach the Deep." he said as he turned his horse, leading his people towards safety. His brothers fell in directly behind and to either side. Aaron looked at his little brother, pride swelling in his chest for the man that he had become.

"We'll support you brother, to the end." James voice was calm and cool, as it always was. Brandon looked at him, gratitude evident in his eyes as he nodded.

"Let's not waste the chance Braden's giving us." he said as he kicked his horse into motion.

/

Link stared off across the plains as he sat atop Epona's back. He had not spoken to Malon since the day she had walked in on his privacy, and now she seemed to be avoiding him. Normally this would not have caused him any kind of thought whatsoever. But this time he felt strangely disappointed. He could think of any number of reasons for it, but only one made any sense. He hadn't missed any meals lately, Epona was in good condition, as were all his weapons, and there weren't any wargs coming to hunt his family and clan. The only logical reason he could think of didn't make sense to him because he didn't know her that well. Sighing, he turned Epona towards the rapidly disappearing camp.

Their two days were up, and the Ordonians were riding. Falling into place next to his brother as the column of riders moved out, he glanced around. On the other side of Sheik, Ilia noticed the movement, and a knowing smirk crossed her face. It seemed to her that even with everything her little brother knew, he remained clueless as to the working of his own heart.

Sheik shifted in his saddle as the column moved up to a canter, trying to make the best time possible. He knew that it would take four days just to reach the borders of Hyrule, but he also knew that terrain better than the other riders. He and Link would end up as the ones to take the lead when going through the forest that made up Hyrule's western border.

/

Braden looked out at the horde of Bulbins, Stalfos and Moblins that were coming up the ravine towards the Red Gates. The three hundred men behind him were getting into their typical battle formation with vicious grins adorning their faces. Their helmets glinted in the sunlight of the new dawn, painted as red as the cliffs that gave the pass its name. Their blue cloaks were turned a brilliant shade of rich purple, and the armor they wore appeared to be painted in blood. A gruesome, yet beautiful scene as these men settled into formation.

They stood there, relaxed and at ease, as the horde thundered towards them. Their ease was not broken when the array of creatures stopped just within range of their javelins, but they did murmur among themselves as to whether Ganondorf's army would actually fight or not. A man on a huge bull rode through the line, obviously someone of high rank. For a moment Braden almost thought that Ganondorf himself had come forward, but that would have been far too easy, and very out of character for the king from the east. The man stood in his stirrups as he shouted out to the men blocking their way.

"Hylians! Lay down your weapons!" Braden rolled his eyes. Did they really think that they would? A quick nod towards the back and a javelin was flung skyward.

"Invaders!" Braden shouted out as the heavy spear planted itself in the mans chest, knocking him off of the bull. "Come and taste the fury of the Sheikah Stikers! You want our weapons? Come and take them!" he roared as the heavy shields came up and long spears came down to form the phalanx that served as the Strikers main battle line. A literal forest of sharp points that would be thrust through their enemies. Braden wet his lips with his tongue, savoring the clear air of the pass, as yet untainted with smell of blood. He watched as the horde shifted about restlessly.

"Strikers, this is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Earn your shields! Give them nothing! And take from them, everything!"

"HOOUU!" the cry, sent up from three hundred throats, caused Ganondorf's army to take a step back before the whips began to drive them forward. With a loud shout, the dark horde surged forward towards the waiting spears of the Strikers.

/

Ganondorf grinned maliciously as his horde surged forward. He knew that many of his warriors would die here, but there would be more than enough left over to crush the rest of the Hylians when he caught up to them. He had heard the response to his officers demand for surrender, and he wholeheartedly approved. The Strikers were the pride of the Sheikah, and there were at least a few hundred here. Had they surrendered, not only would they have been disgraced, but they would have been immediately executed as well. As he turned from the field he looked over to one of his finest generals.

"Agunim! Have the horde ready to march in two days time. These Sheikah fools will be dead long before then and we will have a clear shot at the remaining Hylians." Agunim snapped off a crisp salute and raced off to carry out his masters bidding. Only painful execution awaited those who kept there lord waiting or failed in their tasks. And as Ganondorf took one last look towards the battlefield before ducking into the tent he had set up, he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

"Breathe your last free air, Sheikah. Because hell is waiting to receive you with open arms and the fires stoked hot for defying me."

O

Ath maron se in ten lith cern.

A nut in the hand is no use till cracked.

A little Ordonian proverb to wet your appetites and provide a taste of what I've been cooking up. I hope you've enjoyed the chapter, and I will try to get another chapter up as soon as possible. Please review, it's the only real way that I have of communicating with you guys.