As always, thank you to everyone who continues reading; you guys are awesome! By the way, if anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me or send me a review with those questions, and I'll do my best to answer them. Enjoy Chapter 5!
The birds bounced playfully from limb to limb as the morning sun peeked over the pine-covered hills overlooking the ranch. The sky was ablaze in a collage of warm oranges and yellows of various shades, lighting up the fluffy clouds above and damp ground below. The warm morning rays scattered the night chill like a dog playfully chasing a flock of birds. The morning dew still clung to the moist grass. In the distance, Ordon goats grazed contently in the fields, a signal of the start of the day.
Zephyr let out a soft whinny as Ilia approached her. She laid a soothing hand on the horse's muscular side, rubbing her gently. Zephyr's lush black mane swayed side to side as the horse shook her head in contentment.
Ilia's attention was drawn to the wooden cart Zephyr was to pull for the journey to Castle Town. She frowned in discontentment at the chipped wood and shaky boards that made up the shoddy cart. Would it even hold? Still, as long as it brought them and their belongings safely to Castle Town, she couldn't really complain. Her gaze meandered over to the gate that led outside the village. A collection of wooden boards from Faron Woods tied together with rope marked the village entrance. It was through this gate that their journey would begin.
"That a' girl," Ilia whispered softly, turning her attention back to the horse. "I know you don't like bein' tied up, but it's only for a lil' while. I'll be with you the entire time."
Ilia twisted around as she heard the voices of Rusl and Colin approaching the cart; In their hands was the last of everyone's belongings. She sighed as her eyes focused on their sheathed sword. She hoped the journey wouldn't necessitate their use.
"I believe that should be everything, Colin." Rusl grinned triumphantly, placing the last of the belongings inside the cart with a thud He rubbed his hands together and looked at his son, motioning to the village with a nod of his head "Go tell Uli and the rest of the villagers we're leaving soon." Colin nodded, turned on his heel, and took a few steps down the path before Rusl called after him. "Oh, and be sure to tell Beth and Talo to hurry over here. I want to leave before it gets too hot." Colin waved his hand in acknowledgement and continued down the path.
Rusl turned back and walked towards Ilia, placing a strong hand on the young woman's shoulder. His normally fiery eyes were filled with compassion. "Will you be alright?" he asked sympathetically. Ilia stopped petting Zephyr and looked at him. "I know you haven't left the village for quite a while," Rusl continued. There was a slight pause as the swordsman searched for the right words. "I thought you might like an opportunity to see the world a bit more."
Ilia looked down at the ground, unable to meet Rusl's gaze momentarily. She kicked lazily at a blade of grass with her sandal. "I know. It'll be nice to have a change of scenery," she said quietly.
Rusl nodded empathetically and folded his arms. "Very well. I just want to be sure you're alright. I've already told you of the potential dangers."
"I know," Ilia said, looking back up at Rusl. "If anything happens, it'll be up to me to keep Zephyr calm."
"Right," Rusl replied. "Leave any fighting to Colin and me." Ilia nodded, running her hand through the horse's silky mane as she listened.. They stood in silence for a few minutes, reflecting on the journey that lay ahead of them. There was still unrest from the sudden monster attack; there was no telling what lay beyond the village's borders. They had to be ready for whatever awaited them on the path to Castle Town.
Their thoughts were broken by the shouts of approaching villagers coming up the path with Colin.
"Papa!" Zen called out, breaking through the small crowd and clinging tightly to his father's legs. "Where are you and Colin going?" The boy began to sniffle, looking up at his father with tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "Can I come too?"
Rusl smiled and laid a calm hand on his younger son's head, ruffling his blond hair playfully. "No, you can't, Zen." Before the child could respond, Rusl placed a finger over his mouth, instructing him not to say a word. "Mama needs you to protect her while we're gone. You have a very important job; one only you can do."
"Really?" Zen asked hopefully, attempting in vain to wipe the tears before they fell from his eyes.
"Really," Rusl said. "And we won't be gone long. I promise to be back soon."
"Promise?" Zen asked, his hands now on his hips. His mouth was curled into a frown.
"Promise." He gave Zen a hug and walked him back to where Colin and Uli stood. Zen ran over to Colin and looked him straight in the eye.
"You hafta promise too," he said, his face curled into a stubborn pout. "I don't want to be kept waiting for long." Colin tried to hold a straight face, but he couldn't help butgrin.
"I promise too," Colin said. He grabbed his younger brother under the armpits and spun him in the air, twirling the boy in circles as if he was flying. Zen giggled in delight as he always did, unable to resist the enjoyment of his favorite game. Before long, Colin placed his younger brother back on the ground.
Content, Zen trotted back to Uli. "Remember, you promised," he turned to remind them. Colin and Rusl both smiled.
"And please come back safely," Uli added, unable to mask the worry glistening in her eyes. She was careful to avoid staring at the swords they both carried.
"Don't worry, dear," Rusl spoke softly, his words soothing the tension in her heart. He walked up to her and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Nothing is going to happen. I promise to come back safely." He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then walked over to Zephyr. He looked around at Talo, Ilia, and Beth, all of whom were saying their farewells. "It's time to go," he called out. "The sun's already over the hills."
Ilia looked at her father one last time. Despite the knowledge that the journey wouldn't be long, she couldn't help the anxiety stirring butterflies in her stomach. After all, the last time she had left the village had been over three years ago. While Colin and Rusl said goodbye to their family, she spent her final moment with her father.
"Have fun out there," Bo spoke at last. He looked at his daughter with melancholy, like a mother bird watching her offspring leave the nest. "Just don't do anything reckless. I don't know what I'd-" he stopped, unable to finish his thought.
"You don't have to say it, Papa," Ilia interrupted quickly. She looked down at her feet, a sad smile forming on her lips. "I know."
"I suppose you're right,' Bo conceded. He approached her and enveloped her in a bear hug, expressing emotions that he couldn't articulate. "Be safe, my dear."
"I will Papa," she said. "I'll make sure Talo and Beth get home safely too." She smiled. "And keep Rusl in line. Then, I'll come back as soon as I can." They released each other from the embrace.
"Make sure to write. Your old pa loves getting letters so he knows you haven't forgotten about him." Ilia nodded, straightening her father's mustache before she left. She opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted before the words came out.
"Come on, Ilia. We're getting ready to leave." Rusl beckoned, motioning for her to hurry. Ilia looked at her father once more before finally walking over. She placed her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself onto Zephyr's back while Talo and Beth adjusted their seats in the cart amongst their things. Colin and Rusl stood on either side of Zephyr, taking one last glance at the villagers before departing.
The faces of everyone in the communal farming village looked on the small band ready for departure. Some uttered silent prayers of safe passage, while others waved vigorously with limitless energy. They all inhaled deeply for one final hoorah.
"Goodbye!"
Ilia signaled the start of their departure with a kick on the spurs. With a soft creek, the wooden cart came to life and followed the horse's powerful strides. Colin, Rusl, Ilia, Beth, and Talo all waved goodbye one last time as they drew away. The crowd disappeared behind the dense foliage of Faron Woods as they advanced further into the forest. The start of their adventure was upon them.
Several hours had passed since the procession had left the village. They were now well within the green borders of Faron Woods. All around them stood graceful conifers, maples, oaks, and spruce trees. Beneath the blanket of leaves stood a covering of shrubs and bushes; some yielding blue and red berries. The numerous fingers of the branchesoverhead cast many shadows down below, leaving occasional holes for sunlight to peek through. A hidden brook bubbled from somewhere in the forest, tempting the travelers with its refreshing liquid. Birds filled the atmosphere with their pleasant chirping, and squirrels rushed to and fro amongst the tree branches.
The group stuck to the main road through the forest; a dirt path that wound its way amongst the many trees. In truth, the road only grazed along the outskirts of the forest. Much of the woods still lay vastly unexplored. In the few hours they had been traveling, they had passed the Spirit's Spring and Coro's ruined hut. The remains of the hippie's former home served as a solemn reminder of the danger that loomed ahead.
"Hey Rusl," Talo called back, turning around in the cart to look at the man. Rusl walked calmly beside the cart, slowing down his step so he could face Talo. "How much further until we reach the edge of the woods?"
"Well, you can always get out and push if we're not traveling fast enough," Rusl joked, his mouth formed into a sly grin. Talo frowned, but waved the comment off. Rusl continued: "We should be there any minute now."
"That's good," Talo sighed in relief. He leaned against the wooden railing, his head bouncing up and down in rhythm to Zephyr's steps. He paused for a moment, inhaling the crisp forest air. "I'm glad you're with us, Rusl. I'd get lost here by myself."
Rusl stroked his chin thoughtfully as he stepped over a small rock in front of him. The cart bounced a little as it hit a pothole from the rarely traveled road. "How could you get lost? This road runs clear from Hyrule Field to Ordon Village."
A hint of red painted Talo's cheeks as he placed a bashful hand on the back of his neck. "Well, it's not really important."
"He thought he knew a shortcut on our way to Ordon," Beth said, looking at Talo with a mischievous grin. "We got lost. After a few hours, we ended up somewhere near the Forest Temple. It wasn't long before we found the road again." Talo glared at Beth, yet her innocent smile quickly broke his resolve. He gave her an affectionate peck on the cheek.
"The Forest Temple?" Ilia interrupted, unable to resist entering the conversation. She kept the reigns steady in her hand as she directed some of her focus to the conversation. "That's a good hour's hike into the woods. You must've used the old road to get to Ordon. It hasn't been used in years."
"It's not like it was my first time there," Talo replied defensively. "Remember when I caught those monkeys in the woods a while ago?"
"Caught them?" Another voice joined in the conversation. This time it was Colin. The youth had slowed his pace to facilitate the discussion. "That's not how I remember it." He paused for a moment. "If I recall correctly, you were trapped and Link had to save you."
Talo's face flushed as everyone laughed. When the hilarity died down, everyone became silent and continued walking along the main road. The soft patter of their footfalls only enhanced the tense atmosphere. Whenever Link's name was mentioned, an awkward silence always followed.
"I think I see the end of the forest." Colin said. "We're that much closer to Castle Town." The tension broke immediately as everyone turned their attention ahead. The trees were beginning to thin and a beacon of light shone at the end of the road. Ilia kicked Zephyr's spurs a little to ease the horse into a canter. Colin and Rusl jogged to keep pace with the steed.
Before long, they emerged into a clearing that could be none other than Hyrule Field. As they looked around them, they observed a sea of grass growing all around. Clusters of trees dotted the landscape, waving in the breeze and beckoning for travelers to recline in their cool shade. The sun was higher in the sky now, casting its light on the grass below. A gentle breeze danced across the field, inviting the plants of the field to move along to its hypnotic rhythm.
"I never get tired of seeing this," Rusl said. He turned around, inhaling deeply and stretching his arms to bask in the refreshing summer wind.
"This is only a small part of Hyrule Field," Talo said, eager to display the knowledge he had acquired in Castle Town. "It actually surrounds the entire town. To the east is the bridge of Eldin! It's quite a sight!"
Colin and Ilia nodded respectfully, ignoring most of Talo's words. Instead, they occupied themselves with appreciating the beauty of Hyrule field much like Rusl. Only Beth listened attentively to her boyfriend's words.
Suddenly, Rusl's countenance changed completely. He turned to everyone, his brows furrowed in a somber expression. He looked at his son with hard set eyes. "Colin, draw your sword and shield. We've got some unwanted company," he said sternly. He turned to the rest of the young adults. "Talo, Beth, get in the cart. Ilia, you know what to do."
Everyone could feel their heart palpitate against their chests. They anxiously looked to the eastern horizon; to their horror they could see figures off in the distance. Everyone brought themselves into their coordinated positions and prepared for the oncoming battle. As the figures drew closer, the silhouette of two bulbin riders and their repulsive boars became visible. Not far behind were a troop of a dozen bokoblins on foot. The menace on their sordid purple faces only heightened the powder keg of intensity in the air.
They heard cries amongst the monsters. They had been spotted! Within minutes, the group's adversaries were only a stone's throw away.
"Let's go, Colin!" Rusl shouted above the banging of boors' hooves, drawing his own sword and stepping towards the monsters. Colin took a deep breath and followed his father. The bulbin riders looked at them with their menacing yellow eyes and steered their boars to run them down. Rusl rolled out of the way without much trouble, but Colin was nearly trampled to death. Breathing heavily, it was all the young man could do to recover and muster the courage to attack the bokoblins now standing in front of him.
"Come on, Colin," he muttered to himself. "Would Link have this much trouble?" At the thought, Colin felt himself slightly strengthened. He couldn't let his friends down.
The lead bokoblin charged towards him with a rain of its club. Colin felt the heavy weapon clatter against his shield, sending several splinters flying. Yet, the ranch hand remained unharmed. Seizing on the bokoblin's exposed body, he brought his sword clean through the monster's torso. It stopped moving and dropped to the ground, disappearing in a cloud of dark smoke. Colin had no more time to celebrate his victory when he saw one of the mounted bulbins draw back its bow and take aim.
Suddenly, he was knocked to the ground as the flaming arrow came screeching by his head, nearly missing his cheek. Colin looked up and saw Talo hovering over him. He had knocked him to the ground in time to avoid it. The two young men got up without a word and prepared themselves as two more bokoblins approached.
Rusl rushed in front of the the pair and parried the attack with his sword. He yelled over his shoulder as the attackers pressed against him. "Din's fire, Talo! Get back to the cart! It's too dangerous for you here!"
"I can't!" Talo hollered in reply, stepping back ever so slightly. "The monsters! They're chasing Ilia and Beth!" He pointed slightly to the north.
Colin looked in horror as one of the riders was indeed chasing after the cart a short distance away. The wagon rolled unsteadily along as Ilia fought to control the spooked Zephyr. More than once, the cart leaned on only two wheels as the ranch girl struggled to avoid the barrage of flaming arrows. Beth clung desperately to the railings as the cart thrashed around about like a minecart without a track.
"We've got to take down those riders," Colin muttered.
"I'll take care of the bokoblins. You help Ilia and Beth," Rusl said as he blocked a bokoblin's club with his sword.
Colin nodded and sprinted after them. To his dismay, another bokoblin jumped in his path. It hit the unsuspecting youth hard on his sword arm before he could react. Pain throbbed up his entire arm, and the sword fell to the ground with a thud. Thinking fast, Colin thrust his shield at the surprised monster, temporary stunning it. The swordsman threw down the shield in favor of picking up his sword. He attempted a stab, but the now recovered monster jumped out of the way. The swordsman sighed in exasperation. He looked over the monster's shoulder and groaned.
As if in slow motion, a fire arrow sailed through the air and struck the shoddy cart, causing small flames to ignite the wood. Beth closed her eyes tightly and clung to the railing in unadulterated fear. Flames began to grow and spread along the cart. The cart soon fell off its hinge, crashing loudly to the ground. Ilia quickly turned Zephyr around and brought the horse to a halt a few feet from the flames.
"Beth!" she called desperately. "Get out of there!"
Beth shook her head and snapped to her senses. Fueled by sheer adrenaline, she jumped out of the inferno as fast as she could. A few good coughs forced the smoke from her lungs, but suffocation was the least of her worries. A shadow loomed over the young women as the bore rider drew ever closer.
The monster screeched in its incoherent language and looked at them malevolently. The archer readied its weapon and notched an arrow.
No sooner had it drawn the string back then the disgusting pig reared on its hind legs. Both rider and archer were thrown off by the wild boar. The cause for such an action lay in the animal's bloody side, where a steel sword pierced the monster's flesh. The boar ran for a few seconds, thrashing violently and grunting in pain. In its rampage, it crushed the two bulblins that rode it to their death. Before long, the disgusting animal collapsed to the ground as well, knocked unconscious from the overwhelming pain.
Ilia helped Beth onto Zephyr's back and prepared to kick the horse into a gallop. She paused, however, when Colin ran up to them. He had a small triumphant smile on his face, easily overshadowed by the massive sweat enveloping his skin and clothes. His breathing came to him in spurts. His dominant arm hung limply, colored with a deep blue where the club had connected. He had thrown his sword in a last attempt to save the young women. It was a risky gambit, but a successful one nonetheless. The bokoblin that had hampered his path lay defeated on the ground, disappearing in a cloud of smoke before it vanished from view.
"Are you two alright?" he asked quickly, glancing nervously at the second boar rider heading their way.
"We are now," Ilia responded. She looked in the direction of Colin's gaze to also see their encroaching foe. Her eyes burnt with a resolute determination. "We'll lure him away. You focus on the others," she said, clenching her fingers into a small fist. Without a moment's hesitation, she kicked Zephyr into a full gallop and traveled towards the mounted monster.
The boar rider saw the horse and her riders zip by him and turned his boar around in hot pursuit. As the monsters raced after the young women, the archer behind the rider readied his bow and notched a flaming arrow. He brought it to his beady yellow eye and took aim. With a release of his fingers, the arrow sailed through the air and flew inches from Beth's face.
The resulting scare caused Beth to jump and grip tightly to Ilia's sides. Ilia locked her face into a grimace as she dodged the flaming arrows. Yet, her heart sunk when she saw the ground below them passing slower and slower. Zephyr was fast, but pulling the cart had weakened her. The horse's pace slowed steadily, allowing the boar rider to gain precious ground. Zephyr continued to canter, approaching the crest of a medium sized hill. When they finally reached the top, Ilia and Beth were nearly thrown off as Zephyr came to a screeching halt. They had encountered some unexpected company.
The monsters continued riding up the hill, unaware to what awaited them over the crest. Half a minute after Zephyr disappeared over the crest, they too reached the same point. No sooner had they reached the top when they were shot down by a volley of arrows. As the deadly projectiles found their targets, the monsters collapsed to the ground like pincushions and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The bloody boar crashed dead to the ground; its eyes clouded as the spirit of life left it.
In front of Ilia and Beth stood a company of Hylian cavalry, all wielding bows in their hands and quivers hoisted on their backs. They were arranged in a straight line. A particularly strong-looking individual shouted orders from the middle. The soldiers' brown steeds had hard set eyes and muscular outlines. They were calm as hawks on the hunt, evidently having seen battle many times before.
"Thank you," Ilia said, addressing the soldier she believed to be in charge. Her eyes did not leave his confident figure.
"We can talk later when all the monsters are eliminated," the man replied calmly from beneath his armor. He shouted more orders, and the entire line broke into a gallop, still keeping formation. They traveled down the hill, heading for the column of smoke arising from the burning cart. Ilia and Beth rode a close distance behind and watched in amazement as the trained soldiers killed the other boar rider with ease. She imagined the relief on Colin and Rusl's dirty faces as the mounted archers dispatched the remaining bokoblins in front of her. The battle was finally over.
"Is anyone injured?" the leader of the squad spoke through his helmet once the chaos had died down and everyone gathered together again. The soldier's voice was professional but also masked a hint of concern. He looked at the group standing in front of him: a few swordsman, a wrangler with a horse, and a teenager. He couldn't help but feel impressed with them for having survived a monster attack of that caliber.
"I don't believe so," Rusl replied calmly, stepping forward to address the soldier. He looked at Colin. "My son sustained a blow to the arm, but it should heal in time. Most of our belongings were scourged in the blaze, so we have little left."
"And for what reason were you traveling through Hyrule Field?" the soldier asked, the suspicion permeating his tone.
Colin went to say something, but a look from his father quickly quieted him. Rusl continued: "We are on our way to Castle Town. We were escorting a few friends of ours back from Ordon Village when we were attacked. We heard the roads were dangerous, and we wanted our friends to arrive back safely." The swordsman wiped a spot of sweat from his forehead.
"And you heard correctly," the soldier said. He thought for a few moments, staring into Rusl's intense blue eyes. Satisfied, he turned to the other soldiers. "Be at ease, men. Their story sounds truthful."
"May I ask what is going on?" Rusl inquired, a curious expression on his face.
The soldier looked back at Rusl, evidently surprised at having been addressed so directly. His mouth curled into an amused smirk. He took off his helmet and laid it between his torso and arm. With his other hand, he rubbed his straight auburn hair quickly, as if to make it presentable. "We patrol Hyrule Field in search of monsters by order of Her Majesty, Queen Zelda. I am Lieutenant Geoffrey, leader of the 5th Cavalry Company." He paused for a moment, allowing his brown eyes to observe the individuals standing before him. "It is our duty to make sure the roadways of Hyrule are safe for travelers such as you."
"And we thank you," Ilia chimed in, her tone as polite as possible. "Lieutenant," she added. The ranch girl wrapped her arms around Zephyr gently to calm the shaken horse.
Geoffrey was about to respond when Beth suddenly broke down crying. Taken off guard, the lieutenant was stricken speechless. Ilia and Colin immediately ran to her, placing comforting hands on her back. Rusl turned and observed, not wanting to intrude on the situation.
"What's wrong, Beth?" Colin asked sympathetically. He bent down on his knees so that he could see her face.
"I thought if I waited for him, he would come," she mumbled, tears streaming down her cheeks. She sniffled and tried to regain her composure. Her words were shaky as she spoke. "I don't see him anywhere."
"Who?" Ilia coaxed. She knelt down and wiped away one of the tears falling down Beth's cheek.
There was a tense silence as everyone waited for her to continue. At last, she spoke.
"Talo's missing!"