Chapter two.
AN
Well ok, here's chapter two guys. And thanks to all those who are keeping up with this story, and well hello to all the new people. And one thing I want to touch on is that I don't bite guys, reviews are welcome and I would love to know what you guys are thinking about this story. I need feedback to know how I'm doing and what I'm doing wrong. Thanks for reading this babble, and well have fun with reading this one.
Walking through the woods to the one place I ever feel free. A small clearing with rocks and a hill and a pond, all perfect. The only place I can ever find peace from the daily chaos that is life in the village. Everyone always trying to do something, always running around and ignoring nature's beauty all around them. Even I sometimes forget to admire nature. But at the end of a long tiring day of cutting down trees and hauling the lumber to the mill in town, I always go to my peaceful place. Which had always been only for me, and untouched by the outside.
Until today, I walk along, moving fairly quietly, moving with the forest, never against it. And unlike some, I try to leave it as untouched as it was before I passed. Reaching my clearing, I notice something wrong. Bird call is absent, the trees make almost no noise, and even the wind is silent. And a smell, a metallic smell almost like the smell of the slaughterhouse when the doors and windows are left open to air it out. Blood. And lots of it.
Stopping and looking about I see two things. One is a smear of blood leading to a small little hollow in a bush that always was my place to lay. And second was a man, hiding his face, with his back to me. A man who I know, whose name was Adam, a man who hides in the forest with others and harasses merchants and steals their goods. Almost impossible to find, yet I know him.
Making a snap decision I run to the hollow dropping my staff as I go. Dropping to my knees I see a small girl, long blonde hair and pale white skin. And a massive slash in her side, bleeding slowly as if she is nearly dead already. My mind empty except for horror I grab her and pick up the girl, light as a feather. Turning back to where I had come, I run back to the village, moving faster than I ever had before.
Running back the village I clear low obstacles instead of going around them and crash through anything in my path. My concern for this woman overruling my normal concern for nature.
Running to the healer's hut and crashing into the door opening it, I lay her on the healer's workstation and open the inner door to his quarters.
The healer sits up and stares at me questioningly. "What is it my boy?"
"Sir sorry for this but you need to get in there. Some girl is hurt bad and needs a healer."
"Why didn't you say that first. My boy go and get the herb woman. And the blacksmith and the midwife."
Running and getting them I then settle down on the bench outside his building and nearly pass out from exhaustion.
The blacksmith comes by and tells me that I should go home and change and sleep, because I can't do anything and I look like I need sleep. And I smell like blood and fear.
Walking home and changing, I set my mind in what must be done. Changing into dark clothes that I wear when I go out hunting at night. Grabbing my hunting bow, my ax, and my knife. I head out into the dark, avoiding my cousin and his father.
My path is dark. I don't know the girl, other than the fact that she doesn't live around here and she is most definitely hurt. And there is only one person I know who was responsible. Adam. A problem with the town for as long as anyone has remembered.
I know not why he had done it. But it is a crime that must be paid for. My mind is empty; reason has left my mind. I never have harmed another man, other than in brawls where nothing worse than a bloody nose and a blackened eye was left.
But right now, I feel like death is the only outcome of this. And it won't be my death.
Moving silently through the forest, taking care to not leave a single trace of my passing. Even an expert tracker would have trouble finding my path. I know exactly where Adam hides. A lot of people do. And most would tell if they were asked. But when soldiers come here they don't ask. All they do is search. And leave when they find nothing.
Nearly to the cave I hear sounds. Almost as if Adam is throwing a party. Only I know this isn't a party that normal people would like. The screams and shouts prove that this is a bad party. This doesn't scare me away like it would many, instead it fills me with rage and fire. I have a quiver of arrows, 24 razor sharp arrows ready to seek blood. And my ax ready to end those that live through my first attack.
Reaching the edge of the clearing where Adam hides I take moment to look and think before I act. Looking I see five or so men, with swords and axes and all sorts of death around them. Many girls and women are chained in small pens. Obviously terrified. And a few others are with the men. Doing unspeakable things. As I draw an arrow something hits me on the head and I pass out.
When I come to there are men everywhere. Hylian soldiers. Not guards like normal. These are soldiers. And then a man turns and walks towards me. Wearing dark colors and leather armor, with a bow and blades. He kneels next to me and hands me a skin of water. Feeling parched I drain nearly the whole thing before I give it back. He then tells me that I did good, but had I attacked I would have died. I had never taken another man's life, and that always stops people. He stopped me and then attacked them himself, and killed them all.
He then told me to go home and practice my skills, and keep working. And one day join the Rangers. And do good. Then he left.
Present Day
"So who was that man Jack? You know the Ranger." Asked Link.
"Oh that was me. And I heard his story, at that point he had forgotten my name. He was applying to become a Ranger. I accepted him on the spot. He was a good man. Somewhat slow, but he worked on that. He's a scout for the army now. And he hunts criminals now." Smiling a little I take pride in that.
"Who was the girl? I mean if she was important to have the army come to find her, she had to have been important." Link asked with some confusion.
"Well, she was a maid. A maid of some important noble, I can't remember who now, but she was not from Hyrule. And the army normally wouldn't get involved, but I got then involved. It doesn't matter that it was one girl, it was still a person. And any life matters."
"Wow. You know I understand you. And you are right. Any life mattes. And that makes our job harder than most. We have to determine when it is reasonable to kill and when you shouldn't kill."
"Uh Yea I guess. Most times I just let the gods judge and I just help them reach the gods."
"I guess your also right. Well I'm tired. So I guess we should sleep. We won't reach the top of Snowpeake if we stay up all night." Says Link. Maybe there is hope for the hero, maybe he can see the path we have to take of ultimate sacrifice, or maybe he is an idealist, and won't see It till too late.
We both role up in our warm bed roles and go to sleep.
The next morning
"Hey Jack, get up. I made food, since you told me a story about yourself I cooked… That sounds vaguely suggestive, but uh, food. Good. Eat." Good old Link, resorts to jokes if something goes wrong, or as close to a joke as I can go.
Grabbing the plate of food, he left me and digging in I am surprised to find some really good food, I thought Link was many things, but never a cook.
"Surprised? Many are, I guess master cook never comes up in any of the stories, but I mean, if you have to eat the food you make, why not make it good?"
"Good point. Something I totally follow. Too many cooks in the army who won't eat their own food because it's that bad. So I pulled upon my old cooking skills then to keep myself fed, and honestly I was planning on doing so today. Guess I will cook next. And looks like we both just learned something new. Good to know I'm not the only soldier who could push for actually food to be served to the army. With you I'm not alone." At Links horrified face I can't help but laugh. A man with so much, afraid that if people find out he can cook then he would somehow become less. Women might love him more for that. "Fine, your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks Jack…. Uh we should eat fast then get on the road."
"Good point master chef. Hurry up man your slowing down."
Hiking up the mountain we eat as we go. The weather was not as bad as I thought it would be, mainly because I am constantly using magic to keep myself warm, probably breaking some manly rule about just dealing with weather and not cheating with magic. But honestly I could give two shits about that, I hate the cold and I want to not deal with it. Link on the other hand seems immune to any kind of weather. But sadly I'm a human and not a Hylian, lucky son of a bitch.
Though, now as I say that, the weather starts to turn cold, and the wind starts to blow. Of course, nothing can ever go easily for me, or Link.
"Link, how much further? A storm is coming and I want to be in cover when it hits."
"Don't worry, I know a shortcut."
Oh shit the grin on his face is starting to scare me… And I think I was right to be scared.
"Ok grab one of those ice leaf things and follow me, it's time to slide."
Oh bloody hell, I knew he was kind of crazy, but I didn't know he was that crazy. Oh shit, well, what else could I do. Running and jumping onto the piece of ice, I silently send up a prayer to whatever Gods or Goddesses are listening and asks for protection.
Though I normally would be terrified with something like this, the speed keeps my mind from dwelling on things and instead always thinking ahead. Before long we both arrive in the courtyard of the manor house. Thankfully we got there just in time. The storm hits and visibility drops to near zero.
Running inside and pushing the doors shut behind me and Link, we take a moment to catch our breath. Looking around I see all of the former glory of this now decayed entry hall into the manor.
"Hey Jack. Why don't you stay here while I go talk to the Yeti's, they tend to not be very good with new people."
"Sure sure, leave me here to freeze. Have fun with that. I'm going to go see if I can break apart any of this old furniture and start a fire in some of these fireplaces." Bloody Link, leaving me in the entry room and going off to have fun. Shit, guess it's time to start on that fire and get warmed up. At least its near night, I don't want to have to spend a whole day gathering wood from this bloody ice frozen hell hole.
Night falls and still no Link… looks like he is having fun with the Yeti. Damn, looks like it's a long night for me. Just as I'm about to fall asleep I hear Link come in behind me and slide into the sleeping bag that I left out for him. Feeling too tired to even bother with talking I just roll over and go to sleep.
AN
Well, I think I touched in on most of what I wanted to say in my earlier AN.
Still, Ok guys Like and follow if you do like this, and please review, I want to know what you guys are thinking about this story. And if you see anything wrong that I didn't see, grammar errors or spelling mistakes, please tell me so I may fix it.
Cheers guys
Wolf