Legends Retold: Ocarina of Time

by SpartiateDienekes

A tale of legends as three people blessed and cursed by the gods struggle through the burdens of responsibility. A retelling of the Ocarina of Time, influenced by lore revealed over some other games. Ongoing.

38. Ch 37: The First Taste of War

Chapter 37: The First Taste of War

Barkan was trying very hard not to make it look like she was giggling. But Link could hear her, so it wasn't all that convincing.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Link asked, as he continued to scan around the camp, making certain that the Lizalfos were not getting close.

"He said I was a Gerudo," Barkan said, half a whisper. As if she didn't quite believe what she was saying.

Link turned from the mountain to give her a look. There was a part of him that wanted to say, 'That's not what Ganondorf said. He just said you were riding with the Gerudo.' But, this was the best mood he'd seen her in since he joined the caravan. Why ruin that?

Up ahead of the caravan the Goron's supply train came into view. The stonemen were scooping up piles of dirt to form a small dry moat and piled the rocks behind it into a small wall. It did not look like much, but if it just disrupted a Lizalfos charge then it would be worth it.

The Gerudo had their own method of setting up defenses. As the front wagons reached the Goron's position they started to pull around, creating a giant circle. Link was given the task of unlatching horses from the wagons and carts, while older Gerudo and Hylian camp followers pushed the wagons together forming their own wall.

Once his task was finished, Link climbed on one of the wagons and started to look about the area, while others set up tents or went about their usual activities to keep the war camp going. So this was the position that Ganondorf and Darunia had chosen for them to stay. Why here? The territory was mostly flat, or at least, as flat as the mountainside allowed. There was a hill nearby, but a few Goron warriors had already found it and sat on top wrestling with each other. Was that supposed to be the look out?

And they could hold onto it if a fight broke out, so the Lizalfos couldn't use the positioning to loose arrows down on the actual camp. That was smart. Other than the hill, there were some trees in a cluster of trees. He wasn't certain if he would call it a woods, exactly, it wasn't nearly as large, as thick, or as green as his home. But it looked more like the Lost Woods than anything he had seen so far on the world outside.

What animals lived in there? Were there squirrels and spiders and wolves? Do squirrels live this high up mountains? Were there fairies?

No! He needed to focus on what he was supposed to be doing. He was tasked with protecting the supplies and that's what he would do.

Thankfully, he was not the only one here tasked with protecting the caravan.

"I'm telling you, it's an insult. I'm not that badly hurt. I should be out there in the battle." Two Gerudo warrior's passed behind him. One an old wrinkled woman the other, who was loudly speaking looked rather young, but was walking with a noticeable limp.

"Quit complaining," the older one said. "You were given the easy assignment for once. Just enjoy it."

"There's no glory in an easy assignment."

"There's no death either. You're young, you'll win your glory when you heal up."

The younger of the two harumphed, noticed Link on the wagon and nodded. There were others within the campsite as well. But as far as Link could tell, none of them were the best of the Gerudo. Mostly the very old, the very young, and the wounded. But they were still soldiers, and they didn't seem as interested in the defense as they could be.

That meant it was on him. But no matter what he did, his eyes glided back to those woods. After the fourth time of forcing himself to look elsewhere, he noticed someone heading toward them from the Goron camp. It took him a bit to recognize who it was, before he started waving. "Yadunby! Yadunby! Over here!"

The Goron waved back as he walked toward him, only stopping at the foot of the wagon Link was standing on. "Hello, young hero!"

"Shush!" Link glanced around to make certain no one was close enough to hear that. Barkan was the closest to him, but she was craning her neck to try and get a glimpse of the battle and did not seem to be paying him any heed. Behind them, a few Gerudo were mulling about wasting time, and the blacksmith was off a bit pounding on steel, creating a useful cover for their conversation. "I told you, you can't call me that."

"Sorry, goro."

"Just please try and remember. Any word?"

"Chief Darunia did as you two planned. He headed out far earlier than the Gerudo expected and took their position on the battlefield. I don't know much about about war, but the way Darunia described it last night if the Gerudo were planning on betraying his army they are no longer in a good position to do it. He said they had no way to maneuver, if they try anything his new weapon would destroy them."

"Good," Link swallowed. He did not know much about Darunia's new weapon, but the chief certainly put a lot of trust in it. But what if the Gerudo betrayed them anyway? How many would die to it? Ganondorf, hopefully. But what about the others? Bethe? Nabooru? He had gotten to know them these last weeks. What happens when none of them come back? "Let's hope it all works. What about the Ruby?"

"That I do not know. Darunia sent a messenger last night to try and sneak through the lizard's lines to warn the defenders of the Crown. We do not know if he made it through or not."

"He should have sent me. I can move quieter than any Goron."

"I do not doubt you, but the Chief-"

An explosion echoed down the mountain and cut off Yadunby's words. The big Goron covered his face with his arms. Link grabbed the hilt of his sword as his eyes shot up the mountainside to see a puff of gray in the air.

"What was that?" Barkan shouted. Other Gerudo and camp followers were all muttering to themselves as well. Some even started climbing up on the wagons to get a better view.

Yadunby peaked out through his fingers. "He's using it, his new weapon. The bomb."

Another explosion rang out with another puff of smoke. Now everyone was looking up the mountainside toward the fight, some even jumped on the wagon that Link was on, rocking it as they moved. He glowered at them, one a Gerudo warrior that he had never talked to, but the two others were just camp followers a grown Hylian man and a serving girl that pitched tents.

But with them so close, he couldn't talk to Yadunby any more about anything important.

"What did you say that was?" the man asked Yadunby.

"They call it a bomb, goro. An iron shell filled with black powder. You set it to flame, and when that happens-"

As if to emphasize what he was saying, another black cloud burst through the air, followed by a loud boom.

"It explodes. It is very dangerous. I do not like it."

"I do!" Barkan called, having climbed over a wagon to get closer to Yadunby during his explanation. "That's so cool!"

"Disgusting," said the wounded Gerudo soldier. "Where is the skill? You don't prove yourself a better warrior by having some exploding powder stealing your glory."

Others piped up with their own opinions, ranging from fear to confusion to anger about it. Link remained quiet, who were the bombs being used on? Lizards or Gerudo? After a few moments he turned his eyes away from them and went back to looking out over the mountainside, someone had to be looking out for the enemy. Though his stomach felt queasy at the thought of Bethe standing beside one of those bombs. As harsh as she was, he didn't want to see her- No. I need to focus, there might be enemies out there.

But after a few moments his sight wandered back to those woods. What would the Great Deku Tree have said of all this? He would have been horrified. 'One life lost in conflict is tragedy, my son. How many more dost these bombs create?' Or something like that. But what if it is needed to save the world? Surely that makes it worth while?

The branches of the trees rippled, as if the great tree himself was showing his displeasure at that reasoning. At first Link thought it was simply the wind, or perhaps the force of the explosion. But they weren't moving the right way, the wind was coming down from the mountain where the battle and explosions were happening. But the branches were moving as if something was heading toward the camps.

"Yadunby."

"Yes, young he- young Link?"

"What animals live up here?"

"Not many, I'm sorry to say. There are some foxes and rabbits, but few live so near the Crown."

"Oh," the branches were still shaking. "I think you need to get in here."

"What?"

"Something over there. Hey! Hey! Look, there's something over there!" Link waved toward some of the few warriors that were nearby.

"What are you yelling about?" Barkan said. "There's nothing over there."

"Look!" the trees moved again. And this time something big and green stepped out of the treeline. The Lizalfos roared and a dozen more of the lizards formed beside him. Most had snow and mud on their shoulders and snout. Had they lay hidden all this time?

"Weapons!" Link called as loud as he could. "There coming! Weapons!"

"Good!" shouted one of the warriors as she pulled out her swords. "I will win my glory today!" Up on the hill the Gorons pounded a drum of warning.

Yadunby stood with his mouth open. "I- I need-"

"Get inside!" Link said. "Come on, climb up!"

"Oh," Yadunby turned back toward Link mouth agape. His eyes completely filled with fear. "I don't-"

"Climb up!" Link held out his hand. Yadunby took it, and immediately Link realized the mistake as when the Goron tried to lift himself onto the wagon, Link was pulled to the ground. "Let go! Let go!"

Yadunby let him go and tried to get a grasp on the wagon, but he was far too heavy. The wood cracked under the weight of just his arm.

"Back away," one of the Gerudo said to him. "Ya big dumb brute, get away. You're breaking our wagon-wall." She knocked at Yadunby's hand with the butt of her spear.

"But, but-" he glanced over his shoulder at the horde of lizards charging toward him.

"We can't leave him out there!"

"Watch us, voe." the limping Gerudo snarled.

"Maespa," the other hissed. "I'm sorry, but the lizards are too close. Hide, Goron. Flee, your life depends on it."

"I can't- I can't."

He was panicking, exactly as he did when the lizards first attacked him. More poured out of the trees, so many that Link couldn't count them all. Hundreds of them.

"Get off the wagon!" Link shouted. "Come on, off the wagon."

"Shut up, voe," the warrior pushed Link aside. "Come on Lizards! My blade is ready!"

"Get off!" Link rushed toward the warrior and pushed her as hard as he could. She stepped back on her wounded foot, her leg crumbled up and she tumbled backward and fell off the wagon.

"You little-" she shouted as she got back to her feet. "I'm going to kill you, runt!"

"Get off! Barkan get them off the wagon!" He tried to push another, but that one saw him coming and did not budge. Not seeing what else could do he jumped from the wagon and landed out of the safety of the wagons, before the charging lizards. "Yadunby!"

"What? Huh?" he barely glanced toward Link. "We're going to die."

"No we are not. You're a Goron. Push the wagon!"

Yadunby looked to Link as if he was crazy. "Link? Why are you- Link you doomed yourself too! Quick, come to my hand, let me throw you over."

"No. Listen to me. You're a Goron. You're strong. Push the wagon!"

"Oh," the Goron seemed to finally understand what Link was saying. "I think I can do that." He put his hands on the wagon and shoved. It wobbled more than moved.

"Get off it!" Link yelled up at those still on the wagon.

"Link stop being stupid!" Barkan shouted down at him. She dropped down to her knees and reached toward him. "Take my hand. They're almost here!"

"Get off the wagon!" Link shouted again, he lowered his shoulder and charged at it. Smashing against the wood. It stung up his side, but he pushed at it again and again. Grunting and growling with hand and shoulder and elbow. He dug his feet into the snow covered earth. "Move! Move!"

The wagon rocked, then it shifted. The wheel lifted from the ground and moved a whole pace away.

Link looked up to see Yadunby pushing at the war-wagon with all his might. The Goron opened his mouth, and Link half expected a roar of exertion to come from his throat, but instead there was a long whine. "Eeehhhhhhhhhh." And the wagon shifted again, this time far easier than the first. Someone was shouting on the other end of the wagon. But Link could not make out what they were saying over the sounds coming from behind him. Hissing and spitting and cackles all punctuated by the growing sound of a hundred feet charging at them.

"That's it Yadunby!" Link said as the wagon lurched that last foot to make a hole wide enough for even a Goron. "Go, go!" he slapped the back of his friend's leg.

"Oh!" Yadunby said, as he turned to look over his shoulder.

"Don't look behind us! Just run!" Link shoved at his back. That got the Goron moving, Link a step behind him as they burst through the hole in the wooden wall.

"They're in! Shut it! Shut it!" Barkan shouted.

"Yadunby! Help them!" Link said as he continued forward well into the safety of the caravan.

"Oh!" the Goron swung about on his feet and shoved the wagon along with several of those who were standing on it just a few moments before.

A lizard ran into the hole, screaming and waving it's claws. Link pulled out his sword and stepped toward the creature, but before he could get to him one of the Gerudo thrust at it with her spear, forcing the beast back. Then with a loud thump the wagon went back into place.

"Back to positions!" an old Gerudo shouted as she grabbed onto the wagon and hoisted herself back up top. But already, several Lizalfos were climbing from onto it from the other side. She hacked at them with her blade.

Barkan and a few other Gerudo and camp followers followed her with spears and swords and tent nails, whatever they could find to fight with.

The woman with the spear and the wounded foot turned and noticed Link. She frowned as she walked toward him.

"Thank you," Link said. "I don't think-"

The side of the spear hit Link in his chin and he fell to the ground. Then the point of the blade prodded at his neck. "I should kill you for pushing me off the wagon." She said. "You make a fool of me? I don't think so, voe."

Link glared at her. "I needed to save Yadunby."

She pressed the spear toward him, he could feel it poke into his skin and a thin line of liquid trickle down his neck. Link let his head get forced back, but did his best not to break eye contact. He still had his sword in hand, could he swing at the spear and knock it away without it killing him first? "You think I care about that Goron?"

"No, but…" what was there to say? He glanced to his side to find Yadunby, but the Goron was slumped over his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking. The man was not built for this excitement. No help there. "But if you hurt me, you will have to deal with my master."

"Ahh, so you're a slave? All the better."

"No! I'm Bethmasse's squire. You know Commander Bethe don't you? How could you not? One of King Dragmire's chosen guard, now leading part of his army out there. She can have quite a temper."

The spear pulled back, the woman frowned. "You're that voe? The one who fought Ganondorf?"

"Yes," Link pushed himself back to his feet. He rubbed under his chin with the back of his hand, it came back with a streak of red. "Now, if you're done, you're missing out on your chance for glory." Link gestured behind her to the wagons.

The woman let out a pained rumble from her throat. "Stay out of my way, voe. Next time you touch me even our king can't save you." Then she limped back toward the wagon and pulled herself onto it.

I did it Great Deku, did you see me? I was able to talk her down. I didn't even have to lie or anything. He patted the shield over his shoulder. He would be proud, Link knew it. But there was still more to do.

He moved to his friend's side. He was shaking, sobbing into his hands. "Yadunby, Yadunby!"

"Huh?" the Goron looked up from his massive fingers. "Link?"

"You need to get out of here. It's dangerous."

"I was so scared, goro. They were going to kill me."

"I know," Link patted him on his shoulder. "But you have to get up. Head toward the middle of the camp. It'll be safer there."

"I messed up again, didn't I?"

"Don't worry about that, just get to safety."

"You saved me, again."

"Go!"

Yadunby gave him a look, like he wanted to say something, or do something to help. But Link shook his head to stop him, they both knew that he'd be useless here. Some people just don't belong on a battlefield, and hopefully, after today Yadunby never would have to be on one again. The Goron sighed, gave Link a respectful nod. "Be safe, young hero." Then he dived away, rolled up into a ball and fled to safer ground.

Link turned back to the wagons. The warriors had successfully gained control of the top of it. But they were still fighting. The lizards swarmed around them or jumped high into the air to land atop the Gerudo clawing at their armor.

That was where Link needed to be. He shrugged his shield so it swung around to his arm, grabbed it and ran to the wagon. Climbing up the little ladder a dead Lizalfos fell down behind him, its gut cut open from a sword. Link grit his teeth and pulled himself to the top.

"Yaaaagh!" Barkan screamed as she hacked at a lizard's claw with a tentspike. She fought wild with little skill, putting her whole weight behind every blow even when it was unnecessary. He'd have to tell her how to fight once this was over. She was going to exhaust herself like that.

One of the lizards came up behind her. Link ran to her side and smashed his shield into the creature's face, sending it toppling back over the side of the wagon. But more crawled over their fallen companion, it was still alive, and they trampled it. It screamed and slashed, but they didn't stop. It was if they did not care about their own companion, it was just another thing in the way until it stopped moving completely.

If they did that to their ally, what would they do to those they fought?

Link hacked and thrust his sword at the monsters with renewed vigor. They could not get inside. He would not let them.

Beside him the man screamed. He had been fighting the monsters with a butcher's knife but now the knife was gone along with the fingers that held it. One of the Lizalfos jumped on him, tearing at his face and throat. The old Gerudo warrior, stabbed the creature in the back and kicked the lizard off the man.

But even Link could see it was too late. The man's throat was slashed and red was running out of it. The Gerudo that tried to save him, simply shook her head and pressed her sword into his chest to end his misery. Then she returned to fighting as if it was nothing.

As Link stabbed one of the monsters in the eye, he could not help but think of Nabooru's warning about the horror of the battlefield. The creature clawed at him, leaving big gashes on his shield before it died.

Link looked about for the next enemy only to see another crawling up onto the wagon, but it wasn't trying to fight any of the defenders. Instead the monster lifted a great axe and smashed it down onto the wagon itself. The timbers split and part of the top of the wagon caved in. The old Gerudo that had been standing near the crack's foot caught in the hole and she couldn't move.

She still tried to swing her blade at anything that came close to her. Barkan tried to grab her by the waist and pull her free. As she did another of the lizards threw a shield made of a turtle shell at the old warrior, catching her in the arm and sending her to the side.

Link screamed as he tried to jump over the hole to save her, but something hit him in the back and instead he fell to his knees, and nearly got his arm caught in the hole along with the Gerudo. Shouting he spun around and swung his sword, more by luck than anything he managed to strike the creature that hit him, and the lizard fell back clutching at its wounded leg. Link scrambled to his feet. A shriek pierced the sound of battle, Link looked to see Barkan clutching the old warrior, a massive gash down her chest where a Lizalfos must have gotten her when Link fell.

A big claw grabbed the side of the wagon and pulled. Wood popped free from its nails and the wagon shook. It was unstable, anyone could feel it.

"We need to get off!" Link shouted. "It's about to fall."

A Gerudo gave a high pitched warcry and ran toward the big Lizalfos tearing apart the wagon, stabbing at it with a broken spear in one hand and a sword in the other. The monster roared as it continued to destroy the wagon. Even as it bled the lizard broke the side of the wagon completely off. The roof of the wagon slumped to the side. Link waved his arms to balance himself out.

"Get off the wagon!" Link shouted to everyone still alive and fighting. "We got to leave! Go!"

The warrior screamed as she thrust her sword into the lizard's skull. "Die!" she shouted. "Die! Die!"

She had gone mad. Link turned around and ran. Barkan was still screaming, clutching the dead old warrior. "Come on!" Link grabbed her around the waist and jumped from the roof. He landed hard on his feet and Barkan gave a yelp as she fell on her rear.

A loud creak sounded behind him and Link turned to look just in time to see the roof collapse, sending what few people that remained on it down into the Lizalfos horde.

"Die!" he could still hear the one called Maespa screaming as she tumbled into the enemy. "Die! Die! Die! Die!" And then Link could not hear her any more.

"They're dead." Barkan whispered. "They're all dead."

Link stood up and pulled Barkan to her feet. "But we're not. Can you still fight?"

Barkan held up the tent spike in a shaky hand, it was caked in blood. "I- I can." But her voice and her words did not match. She sounded more like Yadunby than Nabooru.

Link glanced around them, the wagon was shaking as the lizards tore at it from the inside, they would get out soon. And that was not the only wagon in the chain that had lost. He could already see Lizalfos rushing over and under other wagons. Already pouring into the tents. "Come on."

He took the older girl's hand and pulled her away, trying to run along the back of the wagons. "They've broken through! Fall back! Fall back!" After she realized what he was doing, Barkan lent her voice to his. "Fall back! Fall back!"

Some few listened, others ignored them and fought on.

Couldn't they tell that that the Lizalfos would surround them if they stayed on the wagons? He wanted to shout for them to pay attention, to drag them back into safety. But the Lizalfos were drawing close, he could see their breath steam the air around them, and see the wild rage in their eyes.

"Come on, Link," Barkan said and tugged him away from the wagons and those doomed warriors who stayed there.

There was no second line of defense. The wall was breached and there was nothing for Link to fall back to. All that they had were the tents set up for the night. And tents did not seem the best means of protecting oneself, but it was better than nothing.

"Come on," Link grabbed Barkan's hand and pulled her toward the center of the camp.

"Where are we going?" She said, but she did not pull away.

"I have an idea."

"Your last idea was jumping in front of an oncoming army!" But she followed. They ran past the few defenders that remained. Some old women who could hardly stand. Others serving girls and young Hylian men who looked terrified.

He did not stop until he reached Ganondorf's tent. The largest structure in the camp, double the size of any of the other tents. The wooden beams that held it up were thicker than the others, and it was covered in hides. Link grabbed the leather and skins of the tent and rubbed it. It was thick, not exactly thick enough to stop a sword cut. But it would slow the enemy down, more than anywhere else. And that's what he needed, if he could slow them down enough then… then…

There was nothing else was there? Nowhere to run. If he tried to flee down the mountain alone then he and Barkan would die. All he could do was just try to hold up in this tent and fight as long as he could.

"What are you doing?" Barkan pulled her hand away from Link's.

"Come on, we go in here." Link said as he found the tentflap and opened it for her.

"We can't. That's the king's tent."

"So? Come on it's the safest place we have."

Barkan looked around them. Someone screamed a distance away, a loud shrieking of a dying woman. Her body went rigid and her eyes went wide. She let out a pained groan, and followed Link into the tent. Link sealed the tent behind them, doing his best to tie it down.

"Here," Barkan said. She opened a pouch at her hip and pulled out a needle and thread. She worked quick, working the needle through the hide far faster than Link had ever seen anyone sew. "There," she said as she finished. "It's not my best work, but it will keep it closed better than whatever you were trying to do."

Outside the tent, lizards hissed and cackled, a warrior was trying to give the Gerudo war scream, but no one was matching her. Yadunby was out there still. What was going to happen to him? He must be so afraid.

He couldn't worry about him now. There had to be something useful in here. He searched around the room, it was remarkable how sparse it was. He thought that Ganondorf would be living luxuriously, like that room he broke into back in Hyrule Castle. There had been paintings and coins and comfortable furniture with cushions. But this place was as stark as any of the other tents. Just a bed roll like everyone else slept on, just much larger, a single blanket, a lantern placed on a writing desk, a few scrolls, and a box. The box that Ganondorf had brought into his tent when he made the whole caravan stop to set it up.

There had to be something in that box.

"What are you doing?" Barkan snapped as he reached for it. "That's the king's."

"What does that matter? He's not here."

"No! I can't believe I let you talk me into hiding in here. We're not supposed to touch this stuff."

"Then why did you sew us in? The whole point was to use what we have here to defend ourselves."

"Oh," she said and looked back over her work. "We can't get out can we? We're stuck in here."

A crack of sword on armor came from outside. From far closer than Link would have liked. They were coming.

"Let's get ready. Barkan. Barkan?"

The girl wasn't answering, she had her back to Link, but he could tell that her hands were wiping at her eyes. The spike in her hand wobbling far closer to her face than Link liked.

"Barkan are you ok?" Link went to her side and reached up to her arm.

"No," she sobbed. "My name's not Barkan. I just told them it was because I thought it sounded more Gerudo."

"Oh," Link said more than a little puzzled why she would be telling him that now. "Well, what do you want me to call you?"

"My name is Rosa."

"Well, Rosa, we're still here."

She pulled her hands away from her face and looked down on the bloodied spike she still clutched. "My mom was a seamstress. I was going to grow up to be a seamstress in a little village that nothing happened in. I was always tougher than all the boys, and smarter. And I was going to spend the rest of my life as a stupid seamstress? It wasn't fair. I wanted to go out, I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to be like them."

A lizard roared and a man screamed and screamed and screamed, it sounded as if he was being dragged around by his ankle. Like they were playing with him before they killed him.

"Link."

"Yes?"

"I want to go home."

"Me too, Rosa."

There were still sounds of violence outside, battle cries called and weapons rattled, but they seemed so very far away. Far closer was the clicking steps of lizard claws tapping against the frozen ground. The hissing of their flicking tongues as they tasted the air.

Barkan- No- Rosa, took Link's hand in her own. Both of them held their breath and watched as shadows from outside played against the tent. Rosa squeezed her fingers around his own almost tight enough to hurt as one of the lizard shapes pressed a claw into the tent.

"I smell you," it hissed as the one of the talons punctured into the tent. "I smell…"

Link let go of Rosa's hand, unsheathed his sword and plunged it into the creature's claw. The monster hissed, as Link pulled his weapon back out of the tent as the monster thrashed it's punctured limb, getting it stuck in the torn tent.

The creature screamed and spat, as it pulled at it's now wounded claw. It's maw pressed into the hide trying to bite around it's tangled claw.

"Now!" Link shouted to Rosa, the two of them rushed at the creature and stabbed it through the tent. Even without getting a clear look at the creature, it was obvious where it stood. In moments their blades, stabbed it several times. It collapsed, it's head landing on one of the holes they made in the tent, and slumped over. The weight of the body ripping the hole open further.

There were more behind it.

Rosa made a screech or a shout or something and rushed at the next one that started tearing at the tent. She thrust the spike forward, but this time the Lizalfos was ready. It caught Rosa's hand and snarled. She tried to pull her arm away, but it wouldn't budge out of the bigger creatures grip.

Behind them came the sound of another tear, Link could see another Lizalfos poking its head inside, it was massive. But it was not yet inside. If he rushed it, he might be able to kill the monster as he had the first one. But that would be leaving Rosa to whatever the creature did to her.

Link raised his sword and ran toward the pair. "Hyuuuuuh!" he released his breath and swung, sinking all his will and weight behind the blow.

The lizard snarled and threw Rosa back, pulling its arm out of the way just in time to avoid Link's sword. Then it swung at him. Link batted the blow aside with his shield. The Lizalfos stepped inside the tent, and another started to enter behind it.

"Rosa, I have these two! Get the one behind me!"

"Ok, ok!" He could not see her, but he heard her scrambling and shouting.

The two of them were now completely in the tent, one with blue scales around its eyes and snout, the other wore a feathered frill around its neck. Two on one, he'd faced these odds before. And I nearly died. He raised his shield high and held his sword back. "Well?" he asked the lizards. "Come on!"

Blue face rushed at him. And for a moment he was not facing down the Lizalfos, but Bethe. The lizard's spear was her spear. When it raised it high and slammed it down, it was as she had done to him a dozen times over the last few weeks.

He stepped to the side, and angled his shield to protect him from the return blow. His footing was perfect. He knew that without having to look. And just as she taught him, he swung his sword down on the shaft to get it to the ground then stomped on it with all his strength.

The Lizalfos screamed as the pole shattered and it raised the broken wood back and tried to stab him with it. But it was too small. The creature lunged at him, unbalancing itself completely. It was nothing to just let the creature pass and focus on the next one.

This one held two swords. It snapped at him with sharp teeth, making the feathers ruffle together and shake about his head. It swung with both swords coming from the same side, easy enough to block. The shield caught the first with a thunk, and then the second a moment later. The force of the double blow knocked him back a little bit but Bethe had swung harder.

He slashed at the creature, it was fast, lifting it's blade to parry, but Nabooru had been faster. Link shifted his weight and turned the cut into a feint and the blade plunged into the creature's hip knocking into bone. The monster lifted its head high and screeched in pain.

Link pulled his sword free and spun around. Just in time to see the Lizalfos with the broken spear drop its weapon and and slash at him with its claws. He met the talons with his shield and shoved the creature back a step.

They were both at a disadvantage, but they had him surrounded. Well, can't let that happen. Link lifted his shield and stepped away from them. Taking his brief moment of respite as the two collected themselves to put his back to one of the great wooden beams holding up the tent.

"Well? You just going to stand there?"

Feathers lurched forward scurrying on the ground like a snake. But when it stepped on its wounded leg it gave out. Sending it sliding on the floor. Perfect.

One swing was all it took to dispatch the beast. Blue-face did not move toward him at all. It simply watched as its friend died.

"Well? What about you then? Coward!"

The lizard hissed then lowered its shoulders and spun around. Its tail whipped about and smashed into Link. He hadn't been ready for that, his shield out of position. The blow took him in the shoulder and sent him bouncing into the skins of the tent.

He managed to keep himself on his feet, and quickly found his battle stance to prepare for the creature's next attack. But the Lizalfos didn't try to attack him. It ran away, but not out of the tent.

"Rosa! Look out!"

The older girl had been fighting her opponent to a standstill. The creature had been smart enough not to get itself caught in the tent, and was simply swiping at Rosa with an axe while she tried to keep her distance and prod at any opening she had.

She turned to see the lizard, lifted her spike to defend herself from its claws.

And the axe took her in the back.

Rosa's eyes met Link's, her mouth hung open a moment, then she crumpled to the ground.

Blue face ran past the fallen girl and tore open the tent wide enough for his partner with the axe to enter, as it snarled and licked the air around Rosa. Enjoying the scent of her blood.

Link ground his teeth together, he wanted to rush forward and kill them both. He wanted to tear them apart and he didn't even particularly like Rosa. She had been nothing but mean to him since he joined the caravan. But she did not deserve this. She just wanted to go home.

But if he ran in like a fool then he'd likely be as next. No his first strategy was still the best. Don't let them surround him, and pick them off. He looked at the Lizalfos with the axe and smashed his sword onto his shield letting the challenge ring out between them.

The lizard took the bait, but not as foolhardy as the one Link already killed. He stepped forward at a reasonable pace, but kept his axe up the entire time, ready to swing should Link make a wrong move. While that happened, Blue-Face walked around them, staying out of Link's reach, waiting for its time to strike.

Link took a step back and nearly tripped, he glanced down. He had walked on top of Ganondorf's bed roll and blanket. He took another step so the blanket was all in front of him and waited. When the big one took another step and saw that Link wasn't moving he swung down in a mighty blow.

Too mighty and too obvious. The lizard would have broken through Link's shield with half that much strength, everything else was wasted effort. Link stepped aside, letting the axe cut into the blanket. Then Link kicked, the half torn cloth flew high toward the big one's eyes. The creature tried to bat it aside with the axe, but was too slow.

Link ran forward and hacked at its leg. The monster fell to its knees and swung it tail and axe about wildly all around him. The blade smashed into the desk and chair sending chunks of wood flying. Link backed away, making certain that now the two were on the same side of him.

He let himself smile at the two. He could take them, he was better.

The big one did not like that at all. It roared and slammed it's tail against the ground. Then it lifted its axe high and crashed it into the ground. But as it did, it pulled itself forward lifted the axe again and slammed it down. With every lurching movement it smashed at whatever was in front it, screaming the entire time as lunged at Link.

The sight of it almost made Link drop his sword. As the axe came closer he jumped aside and ran. The beast followed slamming the weapon down again and again. Link led it around the tent, trying to put whatever he could in front of it. Pieces of the broken furniture, its own dead allies. But the Lizalfos only screamed and cut whatever was in front of it to pieces as it dragged itself along the ground.

Blue-face ran in front of Link to cut him off. It swiped with its claws across Link's face. But Link could not back away or the axe would take him. He ducked, rolled between the monster's legs and jumped back to his feet.

A lizard screeched behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see the axe protruding from blue-face's side. It seemed it did not get out of the way fast enough. The big one did not seem bothered and simply lifted the axe up, its companion still dangling from it, and slammed it back to the ground.

Link turned his eyes away as blue-face shattered from the force of it. Now there was only one, and it was breathing heavy. The furious advance looked fearsome, but all it had accomplished was killing its only ally and wearying itself out. Don't get overconfident. This one still needed to pay for what it did to Rosa.

Link edged closer, trying to stay out of its reach at it's side. The creature's eyes were wide and wild, it thrashed with claw and tail and axe. And whenever it did, Link simply backed off. Then when the creature stopped he moved back in to provoke another flurry of action. But each time Link did it the shouting and hissing grew lower, and the wild limbs moved slower.

When the monster tried to lift the axe only for it to slip from its grip, Link ran forward and thrust his blade. It slipped through scales and bone, and when Link pulled his sword away the lizard was dead.

"Rosa." He ran to the girl, kneeling beside her. The cut along her back was deep enough for him to see bone. Some of her ribs were cleaved clean through. "I'm sorry," he said as he rolled the girl over to see her face. "I should have warned you quicker. I should have been able to stop it. If I hadn't been hit with the tail. If I-"

Rosa shifted, her mouth twitching and her eyes clearly moving beneath her eyelids.

"Rosa?"

She was breathing. By the goddesses she was still breathing! He rolled her back to he stomach so that her blood wouldn't spill out any more than it was. "What do you need?" he asked. But of course Rosa didn't say anything. Why did he even say that?

"Ahhh," he looked around the tent. Four dead Lizalfos, none of them looked to have anything like bandages. A dirty tentroll and… the box! Ganondorf had something important in the box! Link ran to it. "Please." He whispered as he fiddled with the lid. The wood on the box felt warm to the touch and so familiar.

He expected the box to be locked, that he would have to cut it open with his sword. But instead it lifted easy, and revealed a skull staring back at him.

"Please, release me."

"Ahh!" Link almost fell back as the voice came from the box. The skull was talking!

A light glowed from within, first faint, and then a radiant pink. "Please, I've told you everything." It wasn't the mask at all, but a fairy stuck in a bottle.

"Who are you?"

The fairy flew around the inside of the small bottle. "You?" Her voice strained. "How is it you? I don't believe this."

"What?" Link picked up the bottle. "Do you know me?" It wasn't anyone from Kokiri.

"Oh! You don't- never mind. Release me, please. Before he returns."

"Ganondorf captured you?"

"How do you think I got here?"

"Hmmm," of course that vile man would capture a fairy. What kind of monster does something like that? He took hold of the cap and pulled. "If I release you," he said as he strained with the bottle, "will you help my friend?"

"I don't have time for this. Just open the bottle!"

"I'm trying." With a loud pop the cork came loose.

"Yes!" The pink fairy flew out of the bottle and zipped around the entire tent. "I'm free! Haha!"

"Please!" Link waved at the fairy. "Please, my friend needs your help!"

"Haha!" The fairy flapped her wings as fast as they could go, and spiraled around Link's head. "Sorry, kid. You never said I'd do anything, I can do whatever I want! You should have got my agreement before you freed me. Moron."

Link frowned. "I'm not a moron."

The fairy just laughed.

Link felt his face start to go red. "Fine! Then go away. I would have freed you no matter what. You were in trouble. You're the one who's just mean." He stomped toward Rosa, trying to think what little he could do. Maybe the blanket could be used to stop the bleeding?

The fairy did one final spin before it stopped and lowered itself to get in Link's way, her pink light nearly blinding him. "You actually would, wouldn't you? Even knowing I would leave, you would still free me?"

"Stop taunting me!" Link waved at the fairy to get her away from his face, though me made certain he would not actually hit her. "Rosa needs help, and if you aren't going to do it, I guess I have to try."

"Huh," the fairy sighed. "I can't believe I'm doing this." She flew to Rosa and landed on her back. "A nasty cut. It hit bone, but it looks like it missed her spine. That's good."

"You're going to help her?"

"Give me a moment." Pink light flowed from the fairy into Rosa. Bone shards shifted and fused, sinews formed between muscle and skin and everything pulled itself together. A great purple scar formed around the edge of the cut at her shoulder all the way down to her hip. The two sides then crawled toward each other meeting in the middle.

"Whooo," the fairy said. "That's about as good as I can get it."

"Link?" came a weak voice.

"Rosa!" Link helped the girl roll to her back. "You're alive!" He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop!"

"Yeah," said the fairy as Link let her go. "She's going to be sore."

"What is that!" Rosa pointed toward the fairy.

"Well, that's my sign to go. Thanks for the help Hylian. We're even now." She flew toward one of the tattered holes in the tent.

"Wait!" Link stood up after her. "You know me, right? You recognized me. So, you're one of the fairies from that fountain."

"A fairy," Rosa whispered. "I was saved by a fairy. I don't believe it."

The pink fairy turned back to Link, and stopped in front of him. "Let's say I am. So what?"

"Just, please warn everyone what Ganondorf's doing."

"I will."

"And… Navi. Umm, please. Could you tell her… tell her I miss… No. Tell her." Why was this so hard? He had wanted to speak with Navi every day since he left, and he wanted to yell at her, and he needed her advice, and he wanted to say how sorry he was. There was so much he wanted to say. "Just tell her I hope she's happy."

"Fine." Then the fairy flew out of the tent out into the battlefield without another word.

"Come on," Link turned back to Rosa, found her spike on the floor and handed it back to her. "The battle's not over. I can still hear them out there."

"We need to leave," Rosa said, staring at the now open wooden box.

"What? Didn't you hear me. There's still a battle out there."

"Then we need to find another tent. What happens when Ganondorf returns and finds out we stole from him?"

"To save your life."

"I know, and… and thank you. But we need to leave."

Link looked around the tent. The ground was covered in shattered chunks of wood from the desk and chair along with the dead Lizalfos. It would be all the harder to keep his footing if more got in, and more would get in, the holes in the hides were now wide enough for just about anyone to do it without struggling. "Alright, stick close to me."

He took a deep breath, glanced back to Rosa who gave him a reassuring nod. Or at least, as reassuring a nod as one could give when they were pale from bloodloss, tired, and terrified. Shield raised Link walked through one of the tattered holes and out into the camp.

The regret came to him almost immediately. The sounds of the fighting were no longer muffled, and the stench of blood, and sweat, and Lizalfos made the air heavy around him. After Ganondorf the next most defensive tent would probably be Commander Nabooru's, but that was a distance away.

Perhaps if he found some other one that looked good? But, most of them were already torn or completely knocked over.

Someone was screaming, but all Link could see was the shadows of a Lizalfos tearing into someone on the ground. He could not save everyone, and those strangled screams cut off far before he reached them. But he could save one. He could try.

"Stay low. We're going to make it."

Rosa didn't say anything, probably because she didn't believe him. He wasn't certain if he believed himself.

They crouched and moved through the camp, passing over dead and dying, Gerudo and Lizalfos mostly. But still a few Hylians and Gorons mixed around. None of them were Yadunby at least. When they heard Lizalfos approaching they found spaces to duck down and hide until the danger had passed. Thankfully the creatures seemed more like a roaming mob than anything. They didn't look too hard, more celebrating in the destruction they were causing. Only one got close to Link, because he was hacking apart barrels. But thankfully he grew bored with them after realizing most were empty and ran off to find its sick pleasure elsewhere.

Once that threat had passed and the two started again on their escape another shriek rang out. This one close, this one punctuated with the cries of a child and the stomp of someone running. Link's stomach turned to knots as he tried to get away from the screams, but he couldn't. He hated it. He couldn't get away.

"Stay here," he said to Rosa, gesturing back towards the barrels.

"What? Where are you going?"

"Just stay here!" He ran towards the noise, passing through the torn tents, broken wagons, and upended carts. He didn't even try to quiet himself as he ran. He could help one or two more, certainly?

He rounded a corner and found the source of the screams. A young Gerudo mother with a child maybe half Link's age, their backs to a tent. Before them seven Lizalfos. No, nine as two more slithered close. All of them laughing and prodding at them with spear and sword. Playing with their food.

Nine. He couldn't take all of them.

Link gulped, and started to smack his sword against his shield. "Get away from them! Cowards! Bullies! Get away!"

Some of them turned. Most just glanced over their shoulder, saw him as little threat and returned to tormenting the captured women.

"I said get away!" Link raised his sword high. This needed to be fast, something big was coming behind him. But Link felt too scared to look.

One lizard stopped, its eyes went wide. Others looked at Link as well now. Turning away from their prey. One screeched and tried to flee, clawing at tents to escape. All while the mother and daughter lay forgotten.

Were they that afraid him? Why?

A horse grunted behind him. Link turned, to see a great black horse with a great black rider. Both of them covered in dirt and blood. Beside them, more Gerudo all on horseback with weapons drawn.

"You are brave, squire." Ganondorf said as he lifted that sword bigger than Link was tall as easy as if it were a feather and pointed it at the Lizalfos. "But now it is time for you to step aside, so a king can deal his justice."