I probably should have done this in the first chapter:
Disclaimer: I don't own The Legend of Zelda, Hyrule, or Link. That's all Nintendo's.
... I think that's it. Thanks to those who read, favorited, and reviewed!
But we're just getting started...
"Now, watch this!" Etana said with a smirk as she snatched the smooth wooden bow from Ivan's hand. "This is where I shine."
"Try not to get too full of yourself," he replied, scoffing. He wasn't going to give her breaks anymore. Per her request, he was going to make her work for her place among the other warriors.
"I'm an assassin, remember?" Etana locked on the cloth target ten yards in front of her, which was shaped like a human. She drew one of the arrows from the quiver on her back by its feather and slid it against the bow, making that smooth, satisfying sound of wood on wood that sang like a melody in her ears. The autumn breeze blew through her short ponytail and burned her countenance with a freezing chill. Steadying her breath, she lifted the bow up and pulled the arrow against the string all the way back to her reddening ear. In a split second, the girl released her grip on the arrow and let it fly straight through the dummy's heart.
Wasting no time, she looked up and spotted the other targets on the higher floors that surrounded the courtyard. Etana repeated the process, quicker this time, and sent an arrow through the heart of a dozen enemies. Ivan stood watching, amazed at her ability, but didn't show it. His facial expression was contemplative.
"They trained you well in Ilom," he said as he observed where her arrows hit every time: straight through the heart.
The girl lowered her bow slowly and looked back at her trainer. "They didn't train me." Ivan raised his eyebrows. "I trained myself."
"You've got archery down, fine, I'll give you that," he confessed. "But you still need training in-" he stopped abruptly and threw a punch at Etana, who, with widened eyes, dropped to the ground in a dodge. She swung her legs into the back of his knees, causing Ivan to fall to the ground, too. Getting up, the girl was preparing to give him a swift kick to the head when he rolled away from her and stood back up.
"Ha, she may lack brute strength," began Drury, who was amusedly watching, "but you have to admit, she's pretty agile."
"You almost hit me in the face!" Etana scolded at her assailant as she was catching her breath. Both of them had their fists balled up in front of their faces, protecting themselves in case of another unexpected attack.
"I'm sorry," Ivan said, dropping his guard. "I-" He was cut off again, but this time by a punch from the girl, square in the jaw. His head jerked to the side in recoil, and slowly turned back to look her in the eye. Widening hers, Etana bolted for the nearest pillar on the side of the courtyard and hid behind it. When she heard him approaching, she removed her belt from her waist and held it firmly in both hands. As he flew past the pillar behind which she was hiding, the girl swung the belt over his head and wrapped it around his neck.
"Dead," she whispered in his ear, squeezing it tighter, but not tight enough to actually kill him. Taking advantage of this, Ivan turned and swept his leg into Etana's causing her to fall and hit her head, first against the column, then the solid ground. As the grip on his neck loosened immediately, the force threw the boy back as well, causing him to stumble back and fall on his head, too.
"Well done, guys," Drury congratulated after they both fell. "That was pretty intense." Ivan slowly sat up and rubbed his head painfully, groaning.
"Yeah, it was," he admitted, finally standing. "Good fight, Etana." He walked over to her and gave her his hand to use to stand up. She didn't respond. "Etana?" Her eyes remained shut and her body still. "Etana!" he called, kneeling down and grabbing her wrist to check for a pulse. "She's alive."
"Should I go get the medics?" asked his friend with a look of concern on his face. Ivan was about to answer "yes," when he felt a slight stir from her. Placing his hand under her head to cushion it, he whispered her name again.
"Etana." Slowly, the girl squinted, then opened her eyes. She let out a groan identical to Ivan's as she blinked a few times, trying to remember what had happened. "Thank the goddesses!" he exclaimed, giving her a big hug. Drury gave him a suspicious look. "I…I would have gotten in so much trouble!"
Etana groaned again as he let go of her. "What happened?" she asked and propped herself up, rubbing the back of her head.
"You hit your head," Drury answered. He then held up his index and middle finger in front of her. "How many fingers?"
"Two," she responded quickly.
"Who am I?" he asked, pointing to himself.
"Drury."
"Who's that?" he quizzed her again, pointing to Ivan.
Etana turned her head to look at him. "Ivan."
"Good, now who are you?"
"I am Etana," she answered confidently.
"I think she's alright," Ivan said, relieved. He extended a hand out toward the girl to help her up, which she gladly took. They rose to their feet together, but as soon as they let go of each others' hand, she stumbled sideways and almost fell. "Whoa!" he cried as he caught her mid-fall.
"We should take her to the medical ward," suggested Drury as he, too, reflexively stepped forward to catch her.
"No, no. I'm fine," she protested, stumbling to stand back on her feet. However, standing erect, she still clung to Ivan's arm for support. Etana hoped that by convincing herself that she was stable, the men would also be convinced. She didn't want to appear feeble in their eyes, like she couldn't take it hit. Her confidence in her stability gradually faded as the courtyard began to spin around her.
"I really don't think so…" Drury began, concerned at the dilation of her pupils.
"Of course you're fine," Ivan said as he glared at his friend. "We're just going to go inside for some hot cocoa. That was a good fight and you deserve cocoa." As the world continued to spin around the girl, she allowed the one supporting her to walk her backward… or forward… sideways? She couldn't tell.
"I like cocoa…" she replied, her eyes beginning to glaze over. "But," she added with a sense of urgency, "I forgot how to swim!" Drury, giving Etana a half confused, half concerned look, went to her other side to help support her.
"It's ok. We'll take the boat," Ivan assured her. She nodded, and unknowingly continued walking with them inside to the medical ward, Ivan praying to the goddesses that she would forgive him when she regained her sanity.