Chapter 3: Fall from Grace
Hey guys, it's Boltstriker. Sorry I haven't been writing for this story in a while, and I've decided to come back to it. Darius is back and ready to roll! Also, no M-rated scene, so I'll find a way to keep my original idea clean at the same time.
It had been five days since the Instigation Ceremony, and Darius was sleeping in the Patriarch Quarters. All night he had been thinking about Zelda, and how much he wished to visit Hyrule Castle once more. However, his slumber was shattered by an unwelcome disturbance that entered the room.
"Enjoy your sleep, Darius, for it will be your last."
Darbus was standing over Darius's crumpled figure with a silver knife, ready to take the life of his Patriarch. Darius was quick on the uptake, though, and shot out of bed faster than anyone could see. He snatched up his spear from the weapons rack and eyed his attacker, or rather, attackers. Darbus had brought five cronies with him on this assassination attempt.
"Ahh, Darius, I see you're awake," Darbus snarled.
"This is a monstrous betrayal. The other Gorons would never want to see your face in this city again if they knew of this," Darius said darkly.
"But you see, my dear Patriarch, the other Gorons don't like you. They think it's time for, shall we say, a change in leadership."
Darbus lunged, but Darius was faster than him. He dodged quickly and thrust his spear at one of his attacker's henchmen, stabbing him in the chest. Darbus, greatly angered, retaliated with a jab that pierced Darius's arm. The Goron Patriarch was barely fazed by this and continued fighting, alternating his style every once in a while. When Darbus was overwhelming him, he took the defensive and rolled out to the main atrium of Goron City, Darbus and his partners following close behind.
In one fell swoop, Darius leapt out of his crouch and took out the remaining four of Darbus's henchmen, and the bypassing Gorons on the higher levels were appalled by this.
"This is the end, Darius. The others know of your betrayal," Darbus said evilly.
"I'll be back one day, and I'll set things right," Darius panted.
"I don't think so," Darbus smiled.
Darbus lifted his spear and plunged it deep into Darius's chest. His heart was burning, and he was getting severely light-headed. All he remembered was the other Gorons lifting him up and throwing him over the cliff into the canyon below.
"Darius."
Darius felt groggy, but he no longer felt a hole where his lungs were. His vision was hazy, but it was at least existent.
"Darius, wake up."
He willed himself to sit up, and he saw a wonderful marble infirmary, complete with a ceiling mural of the Golden Goddesses. In front of him sat the only person he wanted to see; Zelda.
"Your Highness . . . thank you so very much," Darius said wheezily.
"Darius, you scared me to death," Zelda sighed, "What even happened to you?"
"Darbus . . . threw me off cliff . . . something – something about betrayal," Darius said weakly.
"The good thing is you're here now. We'll get you a bedroom in the castle and you can stay here for a while. It would be best that you don't go out in public when an entire tribe hates you," said Zelda formally.
"Thanks, Your Highness," Darius wheezed.
"Just call me Zelda."
She leaned in close and kissed him on the cheek. Darius's stomach did a flip, and, very unromantically, he threw up on the floor. Zelda just giggled and left the sickbay. Darius fell back on the bed and blacked out.