A Late Night in Castletown

"Tell me what happened."

Zelda looked vacantly up at Impa, her gaze seemed to move past her. Neri, her chamber maid, had her arms wrapped around her, desperately trying to bring some form of comfort.

Her face was wet with either tears or sweat, probably both. Still her breathing hadn't slowed and heart was still thumping in her throat, like someone was banging within to be let out.

She allowed herself to take a deep shaky breath in and out. "It was a dream. I was in my room trying to fall asleep and there was this man in the doorway, just staring at me from the darkness."

Impa passed her a cup of tea and the herbal aroma flowed up into her face, calming her a little. Impa held her own cup and glided her finger around the rim, looking into the swirling waters.

"Do you know who the figure was?" she asked.

"Yes…and no," Zelda whispered. "I could not remember his face but I got this feeling-" Zelda paused, looking from Sari to Impa with wide eyes. "-like I had known them my whole life."

"What happened next?" Impa asked, face not betraying a single thought or emotion.

"He smiled at me, this evil smile and then he clapped twice," Zelda breathed. "When he did it was like all the life, all the happiness in the world had been drained away and the room suddenly became shrouded in darkness. All I could feel was that I was alone, and it terrified me."

The room fell silent as they all shared grim looks. Impa didn't need to usher Zelda, the vision had already come forward in a terrible light.

"There was just this laughter that echoed around the castle, the same voice as my other dreams. I rushed around, trying to find another person but there was not a lifeform in sight. Only this writhing purple mess," she rubbed her thumb against the side of the cup as she held it between two hands, desperately trying to gain the warmth of the tea. "When I left the castle, there was nothing left of the town, save for a few burn marks in the ground."

Impa shifted uncomfortably.

"On the far side of the field was a boy dressed in blue, holding a gleaming blue sword. I started to run towards him, like I had to get to him," Zelda whimpered, tears were brimming her eyes. "But before I could he collapsed and began to be dragged down by these huge shadowy hands and then the dream ended in the same way they all do."

"How do they all end?" Impa asked.

"I was consumed by the calamity."

Link's sword glowed in the evening light.

The sunset was always beautiful in Hyrule field.

Sure people liked it. They would sit out and talk for hours, mentioning its beauty now and again, before resuming to their usual trivial conversation, about how the blacksmith had gotten into debt, or that the Father's Arms was closing, or how the price of rice and grain had increased.

No one in the whole town really appreciated the beauty as much as Link. Sure the colour was nice and it was picturesque in how it bathed the world around it in orange light. To Link it meant more than that.

For him it was like a good painting or a beautiful piece of music. Not just good but something you got lost in. When Link looked at the sky on fire, he didn't look at it and move on. He got completely infatuated in its beauty. In that moment he wasn't Link, he wasn't a Knight and he wasn't a chosen hero, he was a boy looking at a sunset.

And to Link, that meant the world.

His sword hit the dummy making it shatter and tumbled into the stone wall of the courtyard. If he kept this up he might bankrupt the Kingdom. It was his tenth today.

With the back of his hand he wiped the layer of sweat that had formed on his forehead. His arms ached and pleaded with him to drop the sword. He'd been at it for hours. The training ground seemed to have been a second home recently.

He walked over to the side to begin to prop up another dummy grasping it with both hands.

"Hey kid!" a voice called from the other side of the opening.

Link turned towards it almost surprised by the sound. It was as if he had almost forgotten what another Hylian sounded like, he hadn't even used his voice for the past three days. People had learned not to disturb his training.

Maude, Claude and Beckle emerged into the bourbon light of the courtyard. Each wore a stupid grin on their faces, almost comedic in value.

"Are you ready brother, we've been looking forward to this all week!" Claude said, both him and his brother circling him like he was prey.

"Ready for what?" Link asked. The knights were among the few people he had talked to over the past week. Link respected them all even the drunkard Beckle. They each showed some semblance of humanity unlike the other Knights.

"Don't tell me you forgot brother. It's your sixteenth birthday and you know what that means…" Maude leered in his ear. Link could almost feel his grin.

"My birthday…" Link repeated. The last time he had celebrated that was a long time ago. He had almost forgotten they existed. For him age had merely become a requirement.

Beckle stumbled forwards holding a vial of some strange mixture high. "And that means it's time for the real trial to begin." He brought the vial to his lips and threw his head back drinking it all.

"We'll visit the best tavern in Hyrule, we keep drinking merrymakers by the pint until someone drops down," he slurred.

Link looked at the men hesitantly. "I don't know guys, I was going to just stay here and train for a little…I've got a little more work to do."

Maude and Claude were immediately by his side, each grabbing an arm tightly.

"There's nothing to negotiate mate, Al and Boudi are already waiting. Though the old man is busy…again," Claude garbled in his ear, his breath already stinking of booze.

Link grinned, "I guess I can take one night off."

The three Knights cheered and hoisted him up high and carried him out of the courtyard and towards the gatehouse of the castle.

It didn't take them long to find a bar. It seemed like Beckle could almost smell the alcohol. He twisted his head side to side, like a blood hound and seemed to follow his instincts to the bar. Surely enough down one side ally the sign hung for "The Champions Fall". The image of a Stalfos' head above, grinning madly as it held a pint up to its non-existent lips.

As soon as they entered Beckle headed straight to the bar, prompting a grin from the twins. They patted Link on the back and headed after him. Over in the corner sat Alfonzo and Boudi talking quietly to each other as they sat leaning back on the wall behind them.

The tavern was rather cosy. The fire place on the two sides of the wide room filled it with a wonderful warm glowing light. Other than the bar the room was made up of several benches which were crammed with tall tankards. Castletown was one of the few places in Hyrule where there were taverns. Of the other races only the Gerudo really drank alcohol and in most of the smaller Hylian villages the stuff was pretty hard to come by.

Link felt hopelessly out of his depth. He had drank alcohol before but he had a feeling the Knights had something more extreme in mind.

"You look a little lost Knight…"

He felt himself turn towards the voice, which was somehow even warmer than the tavern itself. The flames of the fire danced gently in her blue eyes as she blinked at him. Her hair was caramel brown and the girl wore simple clothes, a white shirt, with yellow neckerchief and purple dress, with a brown apron tied loosely around her waist.

A barmaid

She was beautiful in a sort of natural not trying way, the sort that made you feel comfortable. Link realised it was probably time to say something as he'd been staring for a little too long.

"You know I'm a Knight?" Link asked, hoping his lax expression didn't give away the sheer terror flowing through him.

Her eyes closed and a smile shone across to Link. "Of course I know who you are Link, the whole town was at that ceremony it was quite something." She pushed a strand of hair over her ear and looked up at him again. "I'm Malon… Not that you would know or anything, I swear it was my friends who made me give you that wreath of flowers!"

She had turned quite red and Link laughed nervously. He was quietly glad to know some people could be as awkward as him sometimes. He didn't remember her but he had talked to so many that night. So he didn't feel that bad about the lack of recollection

"Anyway, I'm sure a noble like you doesn't want to talk to some peasant girl…" she said as she began to turn away.

"Hey wait!" Link grabbed her arm before he realised what he was doing and felt a pang of panic shoot through him. "It's not like that, I'm actually kind of a commoner too, most of my family are farmers other than my Pa."

She tilted her head to the side and her shoulders slacked at the sound of the statement. Link knew that feeling talking to nobles felt like trying to walk through a Moblin camp blindfolded, with the knights he felt at ease though. Even if they weren't technically commoners anymore, all of them had only got their titles through merit alone. Such was the way of the Great Trial.

It felt good to have some friends, even if he didn't talk that much around them it was sure as hell much better than being around the squires anymore. Most of them believed Link had only made it to knighthood because of his father. For the first time it was Link who was at the centre of one of the Castle's rumours.

Great…dreams do come true

"I think I could kind of tell. You certainly don't move like a noble," Malon chuckled. "You know your posture is all messed up and you don't walk with any grace and your speech isn't refined at all.

Link began to smile accusingly at her, raising an eyebrow at the same time. Her eyes widened when she saw his expression.

"I mean not that you walk badly, you walk with purpose you know…and it's not like it makes you any less attractive…"

Link raised eyebrows even further.

"I mean well people would consider you attractive! Conventionally you know, not that I think you're not… I mean it all seems to going well for you in that…department."

She paused on the last word and cringed up at him. "I'm rambling aren't I?"

Link's eyebrows finally relaxed. "Don't let me stop you there…"

"Oh shut up," Malon punched him the arm. "It's not my fault I can't control my words."

She began to look past him and the smile melted off her face as she moved a little closer to Link. The proximity made him feel a little uncomfortable, as the smell of wildberry and nuts flowed over him, making his eyelids close a little.

"Don't look just yet but it looks like you have a hooded admirer," Link felt his neck tingle as an uneasy feeling gripped his insides. "We used to refuse the shady types but times have been hard. You don't have any enemies right?"

Of course not only a whole secret society of highly trained assassin's and the manifestation of evil but those are nothing right?

Before Link could answer a yell came from behind the bar: "Malon get back here your uncle has fallen asleep again."

"I've got to go," she said, lips pursed in disappointment.

"Erm…we can talk later?"

"Sure thing Link!" Malon immediately perked up as she rushed towards the bar.

Link moved to the table where Alfonzo and Boudi were looking at him with restrained knowing smirks. He sat down across from them.

"What?" Link asked.

"Nothing," they both said in perfect unison.

Link looked across the tavern to the far corner where sure enough a dark hooded figure stared at him. They seemed to fit into the bar well enough and sat back unmoving. Link was positive whoever it was knew he had already noticed them. After all they were not taking their eyes off him for a moment. None of the other knights seemed to care though.

It's not like there's anyone who can harm us, we're the finest Knights in Hyrule.

"Here we go boys!" Claude slammed down five pints of merrymaker, the foam spilling slightly over and on to the crooked wooden table. Claude glanced over to Boudi who was leaning back on the wall relaxed. "And girl…"

Boudi just laughed, "You know you don't have to remind me I'm a woman Claude, I get that enough. Have you ever actually talked to a girl before?"

The other Knights laughed as Claude's face turned sour.

Lively wasn't putting the atmosphere of the tavern to justice. It was packed, tables overflowing with locals holding their drinks high in the air and singing. Beckle was on dancing on the table at the centre dancing with someone, who by some miracle seemed even drunker than the Knight was.

The two drunks were finding it difficult to stay on the table but the crowd seemed to love the show and cheered them on. Link couldn't lie he was enjoying it too, though it could just been the drinks talking.

Claude smacked his brother on the back of the head for laughing. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm the smoothest bastard in this whole group."

He placed a hand on Link's shoulder as he sat down and sent him a quick wink. "Though I'm sure Link might overtake me in that aspect, have you seen how many girls have been giving him the eye?"

Link felt himself go a little red. "I'm a little surprised, most people seem to think I'm a girl…"

The other Knights laughed.

"I mean you are the most beautiful knight in the land Link," Maude stood up and curtsied to him, earning more laughter.

"Just because you two are too ugly for even your mother to love you," Boudi leant forwards slyly.

The two brothers scowled back at her and Link and Alfonzo shared a knowing grin. Link felt at ease for the first time in a while. This was nice.

Al slammed his fist on the table. "Instead of chatting about how attractive we all are like chamber maids, why don't we share some tales. What have you all been up to?"

"Not so fast Al…" Boudi grinned. "We've been waiting for weeks to hear a story from Link's trial."

Alfonzo turned to Link with a raised eyebrow. "You mind Link?"

"Go ahead," he shrugged. Link had already repeated the tales enough times to feel like the words were becoming a simple legend in his own head. It was hard to remember they really happened, especially when people treated the actions like they were done by some God. It would be better to hear the words from another this time.

"We were tracking a Molduga, biggest one they'd ever seen in Gerudo…" Alfonzo said, as he leaned in so did the other Knights.

"I heard about that when I last visited Gerudotown. Sounded like it was bad news," Boudi agreed. "How did you do it? Shield surfing? Bomb arrows?"

Alfonzo shook his head. "Well that's what me and Bryne had planned, bought the shields and everything. But the kid had other ideas…"

"Go on…" Maude urged.

"Link had gathered up a load of screws and cogs from a nearby shrine and put them in this barrel. With it he put the heads of around 5 bomb arrows and carried it out into the desert."

To be fair Link had gotten a little help from this old guy in Kara Kara Bazaar, who told him the beast was sensitive to tremors on the surface. It didn't take long for the idea to come to him. It was hard to come by bombs in Hyrule. They were far too heavy and dangerous for transport, bomb arrows on the other hand… Still Alfonzo was on a roll and Link didn't want to interrupt.

"Me and Bryne thought he'd gone mad from the heat carrying a huge barrel out into the desert and got ready to step in with the sandseals but we didn't need them."

The table was silent all the knights had leant further forwards from their bench towards the Knight.

"The kid just rolls the barrel down into its territory and then…" he gestured with his hands. "Boom…the thing swallowed it and got shredded."

"Amazing…" Boudi whispered and then glared at the brothers. "Those two numbskulls would never think of something so smart."

Claude and Maude looked to each other with a grin.

"We've been in Faron, there were reports from Lurelin that there was a Hinox who had set up shop near a trading road," Claude declared. "Nasty thing, big and fat, really packed a punch. He killed a whole squad of guards just for some fish. It was also harassing a nearby ranch in Fural plain, they were the ones who discovered the bodies"

Link agreed Hinox's were pretty nasty creatures but they were pretty slow and heavily telegraphed their attacks. Also the large eye made them vulnerable. Still it was an impressive feat, one Link wasn't going to diminish.

Al leaned in from across the table with a grin. "Easy to track down I'm guessing, you can usually see their fat arses from miles away."

"That's thing-" Maude began before his brother hit him.

"Don't interrupt," Claude snapped before resuming his smug grin. "That's the thing, the monster was a slippery bugger. He was using some weird cave system to escape. We tried blowing up a few entrances but he kept coming back and causing havoc."

"Enough of the exposition, I'll turn grey before you finish, get on with it," Boudi rolled her eyes necking her drink in one swift motion.

Claude smirked even further. "We got the nearest drunk at the closest tavern and got him beyond smashed and used him as bait to lure the beast out. From there it was just a matter of…utilising our skills."

Link shifted uncomfortably at the tale and Boudi looked beyond outraged.

"I don't bloody believe it, you can't be serious." She spat at the two.

"What?" Claude said defensively. "He was fine, spare from the killer hangover."

Boudi stood as she slammed her hands onto the table, making the two brothers jump slightly. "We're meant to protect the people of this kingdom, not offer them up as bait! Are you hearing this Al?"

Alfonzo shrugged and took a fat gulp from his pint. "As knights we have to make tough decisions sometimes we have to risk one life to save hundreds."

"I don't believe it…" Boudi muttered.

Link didn't either and he'd been all too silent for this whole thing. "You're acting like there's no other way, but there always is you just have to find it…right?"

Boudi nodded respectfully and gave Link one of those rare genuine smiles. The other Knights frowned though, remaining to be convinced.

"It not that easy sometimes Link…" Claude said. The atmosphere had staled hideously and did little to show the exuberance that was taking place around them. "…and sometimes there's not another way."

There's always another way, no matter what, you just need to find it

Link was just opening his mouth when Beckle slammed a drink down onto the table and leant on it heavily.

"Next drinks on meeeesh, you all luke tarrible…" he said to a chorus of cheers from the twins. Boudi also raised her tankard, her lips tugging slightly upwards. Link himself tilted his head to the side and shrugged. It was impossible to refuse the Knight, he really was the heart of the party.

"You'll have to leave me out of this one. I'm getting old I just can't drink as much…" Alfonzo leant back and took a sip of a vial he was carrying before shoving it back into his coat. "In fact it's best I go, I was supposed to see Bryne about something."

To a choir of groans the Knight got up and walked out the tavern looking around before he left.

Link didn't think he was turning out to be such a great drinker. He was feeling a strange tingling sensation in his fingers.

It didn't get long before they were all getting back on track. Boudi telling the tale of how she had found the twins passed out wearing a countess' dresses.

"To be fair they were rather lovely dresses."

Or the time Beckle nearly set the whole of the west district on fire by drinking a fire breathing elixir instead of a bottle of Rye.

"Neasy mishtake to mlake…" Beckle stammered, trying not to sway off the table."

With Beckle around it had taken but an hour to down five drinks, probably enough alcohol to put a sand seal to sleep. Tomorrows training session was not going to be fun.

"The world…" Link slurred. "Why is it all swirly?"

Claude clapped Link on the back. "Yoush a man nows Lank. Thish is the bast bit of bein' an adult."

Maude got up one the table and held his drink up high. "I'm bored ast a rock, letsh do somtin' crazey."

"Like what?" Link asked.

"Yous have to gets sometin' to show you're a Knight noow." Maude pointed a dagger at him.

Claude moved over to him. "C'mons we can'ts do tat again. The last knight got trauma."

Beckle looked up from beneath his collapsed black hair. "I've a plan!"

"Sit still Link" Beckle moaned. "I've got it. I think I'm fine now."

He collapsed to the ground and picked himself up. "Ignore that."

Link grit his teeth. As far as he thought his night was going getting a back ally piercing from a drunken Knight was not on the top of his list, a back ally piercing with nothing to help with the pain and using a thin nail instead of a needle.

Maude and Claude were laughing hard in the corner as Beckle struggled to even get to Link's side. Each step he made seemed to make him go tumbling backwards.

"Just give it here," Boudi snapped talking the nail from the Knight as Link braced himself, holding the sides of the bench with an iron grip.

As Link closed his eyes pain suddenly exploded from his ear. Based on how drunk he was it had to be bad.

"Perfect," Boudi murmured. "Now for the other one."

Another one? Again another pang of pain.

"All done," Boudi grinned. "And quite well done I might say."

"Thanks?" Link squinted up at her.

"Here these were from a friend of mine who died in a Lizalfos attack," Boudi passed two blue ringed earings. "Where I'm from they are the symbol of a warrior and show both power and honour. It would be a shame to let them go to waste."

They fit on Link's ears perfectly and the gentle throbbing in his earlobes seemed to reduce slightly.

"Wow…" Maude murmered. "I'm sure those will help with the whole people thinking he's a girl thing.

Boudi rolled her eyes. "Lets get out of here, I'm sure it's past your bedtime."

Link felt his senses immidately awaken when he immerged into the fresh night air. It was a nice break from the constant sun of the past few days. With any luck the clouds overhead meant rain was on its way.

The brothers and Beckle had gone over to some friends and began to smoke with them, chatting outside the now closing tavern.

"Shame Anjeen couldn't keep it open for a little longer," Boudi said looking out into the night sky with Link. "Don't think badly of the brothers and Beckle, all the Knights have difficult pasts, it binds us together stronger than any oath can."

Link looked across at her, the knights face was completely at ease. Her eyes were gently closed and she was feeling the breeze on her face.

"You mind me asking what yours is?" Link asked.

A weak smile formed on her face, an easy sadness painted across her lips. "I like you Link, you're a good kid and you'll make a great knight but, no… It's been almost ten years now and our group has never shared our pasts, there's a reason for that."

She opened her eyes and looked past Link. "Besides you have better things to do then hear my life's regrets."

Link turned to see Malon standing in front of the tavern door fumbling for the keys. Boudi had already turned and left walking down the road towards her home.

"Survived the night?" she asked. Malon had come up and was standing a little closer than she had been before.

Link looked himself over. "Yeah it looks that way, just barely."

Malon laughed and reached up to touch his new earrings, Link hesitantly gripped her arm before she could. He quickly gave in though and she studied the blue ring in her fingers.

"They suit you well, it's almost like you always had them," she withdrew and their eyes met again before Malon looked away with a half-grin.

The world was still spinning around despite the fact Link seemed to be sobering up quickly. But all those things that list of problems and worries, they were buried away for once. For now Link was just a boy stood outside in the night air talking to someone he just met. It was almost like he was getting lost in the light of a sunset.

Link looked up at the gleaming moon and smiled with ease. "Mind if I walk you home?"

"My own personal escort?" she pushed the strand of hair that had moved over her face behind her ear and edged a little closer to Link. "How could I refuse?"

There was a quiet murmur in the night of Castletown. Far in the distance the rushing tide of the river and the croaking of frogs could be heard. The reduced chatter of the townsfolk returning home also reverberated into the night along with the far off clatter of a quartet playing their last song of the night.

The relative peace of the night was carried with Link as he walked, revelling in the ordinary stories of Malon's life, ordinary in the most truly extraordinary way.

"…after that my Pa got scared of the constant Yiga attacks and sent me here to work with my Aunt Anjeen," she said quietly.

"Do you miss him? Your Pa?" Link asked, hoping he wasn't overstepping any boundaries.

"Not really I get to see him every week when it's market and I just love the liveliness of the town," Malon chirped. "It's enough to keep me busy. I've met more people in the last three years than my whole life on that ranch."

Sure Link understood what she meant, the town was truly wonderful. Though for him, home would always be in Hateno, he had just realised it too late.

"So what about you? Where did you grow-"

Link pushed her to the side as all the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Malon was visibly terrified.

"Get home as fast as possible but don't draw too much attention," Link's hand was moving instinctively to his broadsword as he withdrew.

"Link what's-"

"Now," Link ordered.

Malon rushed off as Link prepared himself. Damn the drinking it had dulled his senses, it had taken himself thirty whole minutes to realise he had been followed from the tavern.

He placed his back against the corner of the alleyway and prepared himself. The sound of muffled footsteps could be heard moving cautiously closer. Link had unclipped the scabbard of his sword and was now holding it by his side.

The footsteps were almost here. Link's legs tensed. The stalker stopped on the other side of the corner and Link was ready.

In a swift motion Link took the broadsword into his two hands and swivelled round the corner. He slammed the figure with a grunt into the wall.

As he withdrew a section of the sword and placed it to the figures throat he was surprised to hear a squeal erupt from them.

What the?

He pulled the sword down a little and ripped back the hood.

"Zelda…?"

She looked up at him with those familiar eyes in defiance. Her hair had been pulled back and tied neatly into a bun. Quickly Link realised it probably wasn't a good idea to have the heir to the throne pinned up against a wall in a dark alleyway.

He withdrew drawing his sword and placing it on his back again.

Link stared across at her in wonder. "What in the twilight are you doing following me?"

She looked down sheepishly. "I'm sorry Link but I couldn't wait I needed the first chance to get a message to you. I'm sorry I ruined your night, she really was lovely"

Link sighed. Her face was twisted in pain, it would be impossible to be mad about it.

"Why didn't you just come up to me in the Tavern, or just send someone else," Link folded his arms and leant back on the wall opposite the princess.

"Only me Impa and your father know," she walked over to him urgently. "Impa said it was crucial you find out."

Link raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"One of the Knights can't be trusted."

Link's heart dropped like a stone to water.

"They have betrayed us to the Yiga and now your father is in grave danger. Impa's sources say that he is their next target."

Links fists clenched. "Who is the traitor?" he said firmly.

"Impa was hoping you would have some knowledge on the matter," Zelda whispered. "I just can't believe-"

"Can't believe what?" Link snapped and Zelda locked into his gaze with a ferocity like no other.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" her fists had also clenched now as they stood a foot apart. "You didn't think it important to tell me Impa thinks you are the one chosen by the sword."

"Isn't it enough that I have to deal with that myself?" Link retorted. "Now I have to go around announcing it to the world?"

Zelda took a step back and gripped her left elbow with her other hand. The night air was silent now. The quiet murmur of distant voices had gone along with the music and all the remained was the chirping of crickets.

"I don't know…" She took a deep breath. "You didn't have to announce it to the world Link but, you could've confided in me."

Link felt a pang of guilt in his chest.

"I just thought maybe…after all this time and all we've done together, you would've trusted me enough to tell." She turned back to him. "But all that doesn't matter now, we need to figure out when the attack is coming and who the perpetrator is."

Link closed his eyes and still felt the gentle rocking of the alcohol. "Goddesses I wish I didn't drink so much."

Zelda fumbled in her bags. "Here this should help."

Link took the vial and instantly felt dread flow through him, the opaque white mixture glaring at him. He gripped Zelda by the shoulders making her gasp.

"This vial what does it do!"

"Link what do you mean?" She asked but soon saw the urgency in his eyes. "It's just a simple potion, it reverses the effects of alcohol."

Link withdrew in horror. "The attack isn't coming soon, it's happening now. I need to go…now!"

He sprinted towards the castle as he downed the vial and threw it to the side with a smash. Instantly he left his gaze solidify. The calls from Zelda rushed past him as the looming shadow of the Castle flowed over his head.

Link rushed down the hall on the way to his father's quarters. Blood pounded through his ears in a sheer panicked rush. The cobbles shrieked up to him as he hammered down legs carrying him at a terrifying speed.

"Father!" he burst into the courtyard calling up to the windows. As he moved towards the arched doorway someone grabbed him and slammed him into the pillar.

Bryne stared back into Link's eyes and held a finger up to his lips. He strained his neck to the side listening out into the night air. Now not even the crickets could be heard there was just…silence.

His father grimaced "It's too late they know we're here."

Grabbing Link by the arm he dragged him down the hallway surrounding the grassy courtyard. From the pillars emerged two Yiga assassins their sickles withdrawn viciously, edging their way towards the Knights.

Bryne turned back but sure enough there were another two Yiga slithering down the corridor behind them.

"Get behind me!" Bryne yelled. Both the knights withdrew their swords as they walked slowly into the courtyard, back to back.

Yiga were all over the rooftops, dropping down like spiders and circling the two of them. Link and Bryne measured their weapons carefully. Link adopted a high stance as back to back they circled clockwise in the centre of the grass, staring at the Yiga, daring them to come closer.

"Damn the Twilight, how did they get so many in so quickly?" Bryne muttered.

Link gripped his sword tighter, the blade felt clumsy in his hands. The Yiga continued to circle, keeping their distance from the pair. Beneath the gleaming eye of their mask Link knew they were smiling. The clan finally had the upper hand.

"Father! I know who the traitor is," Link shouted to his father. "It's-

"So glad you could join us Link…" a hooded man called out from the roof to the side as they both turned their heads in horror.

Link knew that voice from anywhere, his suspicions had been correct.

"No…" Bryne breathed.

The man slammed to the ground in front of them. A claymore fixed to his back and when he withdrew his hood there was a hideous triumphant smile beneath it.

"Alfonzo…"