Chapter 12 – Fight and Flight
Despite their optimism, the still-broken bridge between Castle Town East and the Eldin province greatly delayed Isha and Link's arrival to Castle Town. They were forced to backtrack the way they'd come, albeit at a far slower pace thanks to their exhaustion. Even Epona was showing signs of slowing down after the rigorous chase the day prior, and the pair of adventurers agreed that it would be unwise to continue to push her so roughly.
Thus, their half-day journey turned into a monotonous two day ride through empty fields and sparse forests. Though Renado had ensured the pair had plenty of supplies and a new set of sleeping rolls before they'd left, they had to carefully ration their meals to make them stretch for the full journey.
Isha was not ungrateful for the peaceful travel. They passed few others on the road, and even fewer monsters. She spent most of their journey dozing off in the saddle behind Link, her arms hanging limply around his waist. At such a slow speed, it was hardly difficult for her to keep her balance in the saddle, but Isha feared slipping off while napping. It wouldn't hurt too much, but she wasn't sure she'd survive the embarrassment.
Even Link struggled to keep his eyes open, and called for an early stop that evening. They ate their small meal in silence and were both asleep before the sun finished setting.
Link awoke Isha at dawn the next morning, forcing her to get up and go running with him before they hopped back in the saddle. The day was unseasonably warm, and they spent their lunch in the shade of a large oak tree in Southern Hyrule field. That evening, he taught her a few simple exercises after dinner, and then made her run again. Though exhaustion sapped her strength to even banter with the hero, Isha forced herself to keep going and do as he instructed.
The image of a shirtless hero standing in the shadows beyond Eldin's Spring was still strong in her mind, reminding her of why such exercises were important. Isha felt she had been resting all her life. She would never have a warrior's physique without pushing her limits.
Isha fell asleep before she could even lay out her bedroll that evening.
On their second morning, the hero woke her once more at dawn for a run. After breakfast and quiet conversation, Link instructed Isha to take Epona's reins.
She gave him a strange look. "Why?"
"You've been able to sleep half this journey," he yawned for emphasis. "It's my turn."
"Are you serious?"
The Hero gestured to the saddle. "After you."
"But I don't know where to go…"
He pointed to a path that led to more rugged terrain. "Follow that road, you'll see the bridge and then you'll know. You got this," he assured her, patting her head.
Given no option, Isha hopped into the saddle, scooting forwards so that the hero could sit behind her. Once he was situated, she urged Epona on, the mare quickly breaking into a joyous run as she stretched her legs for the day.
Isha became aware of Link's dozing right around the same time that he nearly fell backwards out of the saddle. She felt his weight shift behind her, and turned instinctually just in time to reach out and grab his hand, waking the hero up with a start. She pulled Epona to a stop.
"Do we need to stop so you can get some actual sleep?" she asked.
"No, sorry," he stretched. "Guess I rested my eyes for too long."
The young woman rolled her eyes and turned ahead, urging Epona forwards once more. The spires of the Great Bridge of Hylia were just coming into view over the trees. Link steadied himself by putting an arm around her waist, something that made her tense up. Her side had been properly aching that day. She shifted the injured area away from the pressure of his arm. His chest felt unnaturally warm on her back, and Isha wondered briefly if she'd somehow managed to get a sunburn under her shirt.
"Are you excited to see the capital city?" Link asked, hoping to wake himself up with conversation.
"Hm? Oh, yeah, I am," Isha replied absently, her eyes fixated on the other side of the bridge. Epona's pace was steady, her hoofbeats on stone a comforting sound that helped ease Isha's troubled thoughts.
"It's a pretty big place, you'd better stick close so we don't get separated. I'm not the biggest fan of crowds."
Isha patted his arm in understanding. "That's the part I'm nervous about," she said softly. "On really busy days at my mom's store, I would sometimes just… start feeling ill when there were a lot of people in the store. I'm hoping that, if they're all ignoring me, it won't bother me."
"I can understand that feeling," he agreed. "I'm hoping it won't be so bad when I'm not eye-level with everyone's knees."
She giggled, her shoulders shaking against his chest. "Hopefully you still remember the way."
Silence. "...You do remember the way, right?"
Link's warmth left her, the chill autumn breeze immediately making her shiver and resent the light material of her outfit. She would need to buy more seasonal clothing, immediately. But, first…
"Link."
"I'm sure we can find it! It was at a bar," he said nervously. "In an alley."
"Every day, you tread closer and closer to 'legendary pain in my ass,'" she sighed. "Maybe we can ask around about the Zora prince. Certainly that would have caught attention."
Link scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry, Isha. The world is incredibly different when you're a different size."
"And in a different realm."
"And an unfamiliar body," he laughed. "Oh, thank the gods, there's the gate."
Down the hill before them sprawled a great concrete wall, its aging white paint grown over with flowering ivy and thick green bushes. The wall opened with a great arch, spires not unlike the ones upon the main castle marking the bridge over the town's moat. Isha's heart fluttered in her throat as they stopped at the gate and greeted the soldier standing guard.
"Stable's just to the left as you come in," he nodded. "Streets are too congested for citizen animals. We'll take good care of her for ya."
Isha looked back at Link, who shrugged. "Probably for the best."
They followed the guard's directions, and while Link checked Epona in at the gate stable, Isha gaped at the tall buildings that obscured everything except the street they were on. They reminded her of the canyon walls, except much brighter and closer together and far more interesting to look at than some dull rocks. A few people milled about on this street, but Castle Town did not see nearly as many travelers as it used to. Her ears twitched, searching for the sounds of the bustling city she'd only read about.
Ever so faintly, Isha could make out small snips of sound that bounced along the brick and stone labyrinth. Footsteps on cobblestone making a muffled shuffling and scraping sound, a few considerably closer than others. People laughing, their tinkling tones floating on the wind and dancing through the alleys. Vendors calling, their voices carrying over it all in short bursts of sound that carried around the city.
Even outside this stable, a few vendors peddling various meats and vegetables on sticks tried enticing passerby into paying far more than their wares were worth. The smell was incredibly enticing, but she wanted to wait until after they'd located Ilia and the Zora Prince to worry about food.
She hopped in place, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in anticipation of what awaited them further into town. Finally, Link emerged from the indoor checkin, looking pleased with himself - he'd been successful in wrangling a discount on boarding fees from the owner.
"Come on, let's go," Isha said excitedly, grabbing the hero's wrist and pulling him along.
He grinned. "Excited?"
Instantly, she snapped still, her face falling. "Sorry, I–"
"Stop that," he nudged her with his elbow, continuing forward. "It's a new experience, you're allowed to be excited. Come on, let's find Ilia and the Prince."
Isha accepted the arm that Link extended to her, giving him a guarded smile. "Do you think Ilia will remember me?"
"If you fought anything like you did a few days ago, I feel you'd be difficult to forget."
She was beaming. "Would you believe me if I told you I pulled a nearly identical stunt back then?"
"Absolutely," he rolled his eyes, leading her down a road to their left. "And it's a miracle you survived then, too."
With every turn they took through the winding city, the sounds of the crowds grew and swelled around them, and more and more people passed the pair on the streets. Isha's heart began to pound. She had dreamed of seeing such a place for so long. The tightly-packed townhomes and storehouses were fascinating in their own right, each structure having doors made of various shades and grains of wood. The road beneath their feet was laid in a chevron pattern of faded red and grimy white, something that fascinated her despite the clear waste of resources. Still, it was nothing compared to what awaited them near the center of the city.
As they walked, she caught Link glancing down at her several times. Each time their eyes met, he would smile and find something worth pointing out that she might have missed. A dressed-up storefront advertising the newest in ballroom fashion. A strangely-decorated street performer juggling knives next to a wooden bucket, with a sign that simply read "Knack's Knives." It held few rupees, but the performer did not seem to notice if anyone did stop to watch. He was intently focused on the shimmering weapons that danced in the air in front of him.
His hands and arms were covered in bandages. Isha tossed a blue rupee into the bucket before they continued on.
The further they walked, the greater the crowds grew, and the tighter her grip became on Link's arm. The sounds, smells, and sights threatened to overwhelm her senses. Link's green tunic hardly stood out among the colorful outfits of the townspeople. At one point, the hero tapped her hand, and Isha realized she'd been curling her fingernails into his skin.
"Sorry," she said above the noise.
He just smiled that same reassuring smile, and then pointed to a string of colorful flags hung between two towers that framed the main road. "The city center is just up ahead!"
She braced herself, excited and anxious all the same. Her heart pounded in her ears, a reminder that she was here, seeing sights she had only dreamed of years before. She tried to cling to the positive excitement and snuff out her fears.
Finally, they stepped out into a massive roundabout that wrapped around a pristine fountain, its waterspout reaching high into the sky above all. Small, manicured trees broke up the various pathways, creating natural lanes to split the flow of foot-traffic. Wildflowers struggled to grow between well-trod brick. At all sides, the central road was lined with vendors and street performers and spectators stopping to take it all in. Stalls selling flowers, fruits, vegetables, pelts, jewelries, fortunes, and so much more stretched as far as Isha could see. Shouts and conversations and children laughing and everything in-between flooded Isha's ears, and she pushed herself a little bit closer to Link.
"Do you think we can walk all the way around?" she asked.
"I'm not sure we have a choice," he replied. "The city wasn't this busy when I came through."
She finally released his arm and approached the nearest line of stalls, forcing herself not to flinch every time a stranger's shoulder brushed hers. They're just moving past, she coached herself. Don't ruin this for yourself.
She stopped for a long moment at a florist's stall, eying the delicate hanging baskets spilling over with vibrant flowers and taking in the various smells. Isha lingered for a moment on a particular basket made up of deep purple flowers whose petals were dotted with splotches of bright white. She touched the soft petals with reverence.
"It kinda looks like the night sky," she smiled up at Link, who had stepped up to shield her from the crowd behind them. She inhaled deeply, the sweet smells swirling about her. "I've never seen such a beautiful flower."
"You should see the gardens to the south of the city," he said, leaning in close so she could hear him. "They were beautiful even in Twilight."
Her green eyes lit up. "Do you think we can go see them?"
"After we find Ilia," Link reminded her, placing his hand at the center of her back and guiding her forward. She gave him a mildly annoyed look, but followed his direction and reluctantly left the dazzling night-sky flowers behind.
They continued on, Link stopping to ask around about a bar where a Zora may have been taken. Isha could hardly focus in such an environment, every stall a new thing that required investigation. Every interaction with a vendor ended with Link pulling her or guiding her away. His persistent questioning eventually led them to the southern side of the city, where a Hylian guard informed the hero that Telma, a local bar owner, had apparently closed down to care for an injured child she found recently.
At this news, Link called out to Isha, who was eying sweets in the window of a bakery at the corner of a busy crossroads. She was nearly drooling. "Isha, come on! It's just this way!"
With one last longing look at the sweets, she followed after the hero. They turned down an alley that led to a stone courtyard, a single wooden door at the opposite side under an alcove. Link's eyes lit up. "That's it!"
Isha noted the sign on the door that mentioned they were "temporarily closed", and reached for the doorknob. Her fingers had just brushed the knob when the door swung open, sending her stumbling back to avoid being struck.
"That is a Zora child! That is beyond my expertise! Do not call my practice again!" exclaimed a strange, hunched older man with large spectacle glasses and a white lab coat draped over his stooped form. He stopped in the doorway and looked up at the pair of travelers. Isha's look held daggers. "What are you two lookin' at? Move!"
"Doctor, wait! Please!"
As the doctor pushed his way past them, a young woman with short blonde hair came to the door after him. The doctor did not so much as look back, disappearing around the corner at speeds surprising for his apparent age. The young woman looked at the two adventurers, mumbled an apology for the scene, and then turned back to go inside. There was no recognition in her sad eyes when she glanced between the pair. Confused, Link and Isha moved to follow her.
"That… is her, right?" Isha whispered.
"It is…"
"Why do you think she's ignoring you? Is she ignoring me too?"
The hero shook his head. "I don't know."
Ilia returned to the side of a Zora child, still clinging fitfully onto life upon a cot in the middle of the room. A tall woman with crimson hair stood at Ilia's side, glaring after the man who had stormed out on them. "This isn't good," the woman grumbled, fiddling with one of her large golden hoop earrings. "We've exhausted just about every option here in town. A human doctor just won't seem to do…"
Her eyes fell on the two newcomers to her tavern, and she gave them an apologetic look. "Oh, dears, you picked the wrong time to swing through, I apologize. We're closed."
"We actually aren't here for drinks," Link informed her. "We're actually looking for…"
Isha noticed him hesitate and look at the young girl who seemed to not even recognize him. "I'm looking for the Zora child," she said quickly. "How is he? Have you spoken to him at all?" she quickly moved to Ilia's side, the girl looking shocked that someone would care after so many rejections by professionals.
"I fear that, if he doesn't receive treatment soon, we'll lose him," Ilia murmured, looking down at her hands folded in her lap. "He's been unconscious and dreaming fitfully ever since I found him. I just know that he seems to be extremely worried for his mother…"
Her words made Isha feel weak. Another child without parents. She looked down at the young boy, who seemed to have red-tinted scales, though it was hard to see for sure in the dim light of the bar. Flashy jewelry adorned his headfins and neck, the Zora tribe's crest woven between the jewels that fell over his heaving chest.
She thought about the soldiers who were searching so desperately for their prince. Oh, they would throw a fit…
"I was at Lake Hylia recently," Isha began. "I met some Zora who are looking for him. Do you know who he is?" Do you know who I am? She wanted so desperately to ask. Isha scanned Ilia's face when the young woman turned to her, looking for any sign that she was not speaking to a stranger. She found nothing except fear behind the young girl's eyes.
"Never mind," Isha said, defeated. "I know someone who can treat this boy, in my home village. I'm from Kakariko." Though she was turning to the older woman behind her, Isha stole a glance at Ilia's face again. She did not so much as flinch at the name of the village.
"Kakariko?" the older woman asked. "You mean the town that got wiped off the map?"
"Kakariko lives on," Isha snapped, a bit harsher than intended.
"You're talking about Renado, right?" Link interjected before Isha could get them both thrown out with her tone. "There are still people in Kakariko, and in fact they're currently rebuilding. The Elde Inn has rooms available."
"Hmm…" The woman that Link recognized as Telma tapped her cheek with a beautifully manicured nail. "You wouldn't happen to know if the bridge to east Hyrule has been repaired, would you?"
Link simply shook his head.
Telma whistled. "That's over a hundred miles, you know."
"Have any of you sent for the Zora?" Isha asked from her spot beside Ilia. "Certainly they have healers."
"Afraid we haven't been able to leave since he arrived," Telma replied sadly. "With the whole drought going on, I was starting to wonder if they had left."
"They probably have their hands full." Are we really about to go back again? Isha bit her lip in frustration.
"So, a hundred miles." Link removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Over," Isha corrected, her tone snappy.
"Do you have a horse and wagon?" Link looked to Telma.
The barkeep raised her eyebrows, giving Link a good once-over. "Do you have a horse that can handle that distance?"
The hero smirked. "We just came from Kakariko, and she has been resting most of the day at the stables on the west side of town. She should have no issue."
Telma turned to Ilia. "Get ready, pronto, girl," she jerked her chin to a door behind the counter. Ilia jumped to her feet and bowed quickly to both Link and Isha in thanks before disappearing into that room.
The bar owner looked at both travelers. "I take it you know the girl?"
"We've been looking for her for so long," Link's tone fell as he stared after his childhood friend.
"Bless her heart. She can't even remember her own name right now, it's a real shame. But she found that boy collapsed in the road and has been at his side ever since, doing all she can to save him. More courage in that one girl than in most of the soldiers in Hyrule."
Isha looked down at the collapsed prince once more. "Do you know of any good places to find a bow?" she asked suddenly. "It's my weapon of choice, but I've been without one for a while now. If we're going back out into Hyrule Field, I would feel better armed."
"There's a hunter's shop just a few streets over. I'll grab one of the guards and have them escort you - most of them owe me money," Telma added with a wink. "An escort through town is the least they could do."
"Thank you," Isha said, trying to smile despite the sinking feeling in her stomach. Prince Ralis' scales did not shimmer or shine with his miniscule movements. In fact, the color in his scales was hardly visible. He looked nothing like what she had expected, and it worried her greatly. She cursed the broken bridge and the horrible road layouts throughout Hyrule and the awful back-and-forth journey they had been roped into. Even at full speed, they would spend two more nights on the road, sleeping on the cold ground. Isha's side burned at the thought.
She thought of her Zora friends, who were still searching for their dear prince. She would send word as soon as she knew more of the Prince's condition. If he were to pull through, he would certainly appreciate an escort back home…
Despite the grim situation, the idea of seeing the Zora from the lake again made her feel light.
Lanayru's task given to her was also still front of her mind. Isha wondered if it were more than mere coincidence that Ralis wound up in the care of Ilia, of all people. Almost as though it were planned.
Pawns in a game.
"Ready to run in circles once more?" Link's voice was close behind Isha, pulling her from her thoughts.
"I'm telling you, that village is a prison," she responded. "Why do you think it took me twenty years and a series of traumatic events to leave?"
Link snorted, patting her shoulder. "Eldin must miss you."
"Certainly he hasn't forgotten our last conversation already," Isha replied, looking up at him a sparkle in her eye. "Besides, he didn't seem eager to show himself the other night."
"Perhaps he realized you didn't want to be bothered."
"Hmm. Perhaps a certain swordsman should take notes."
"I recall you being the one to tell me to stay–" Link cut his retort short when the sound of Ilia's approaching footsteps reached his ears. Isha turned her red-tinged face to the younger girl and rose from her seat beside the fading Prince.
"Um, have you two eaten anything yet?" came Ilia's sweet voice.
The young Ordonian woman was met with wild-eyed stares from the two travelers, and she wondered for just a moment if she'd stepped into a lion's den. She looked down at the two lunch boxes in her hands and held them out to Isha and Link. "If you two promise not to bite my hands, this was left over from today's brunch, and you are welcome to it."
Ilia would later swear that the two ate the entire contents of the boxes without even removing them from her hands.
Within the hour, their party gathered outside the western gate of Castle Town. Link and Isha rode upon Epona, whose cargo had been put into the wagon pulled by Telma's black mare. Telma sat at the front, Ilia with the Zora prince in the covered space behind her.
Isha weighed her new bow in her hands once more, eying the beautiful dark wood that made up the body, sliced by a silver ribbon etching that ran the entire length of the bow's spine. She pulled at the bowstring a bit, satisfied with its weight. A new quiver was clipped onto her back, the first truly full quiver she'd ever had. She found its weight unexpected, and was thankful to be riding a horse instead of walking this great distance.
"Thank you for doing this," Ilia called to the pair from Telma's wagon, peering out from the window. "Um… I'm sorry, I don't think I got your names."
Link backed Epona towards her, his face steady. "I'm Link, and this is Isha," he gestured to his passenger.
"Link and Isha," she repeated, smiling. "I will never in my life forget your kindness."
The two adventurers exchanged a glance, and Telma called back to them. "Might wanna save that thanks until we make it to Kakariko, little lady," she smiled. "You both ready to roll? It's nonstop from here to Kakariko."
In response, Link snapped the reins and yelled at Epona, urging her forwards. They moved quickly towards the Great Bridge of Hylia, the wagon holding surprisingly stable for the pace they traveled. Isha kept her eyes and ears focused around them, looking for anything that may threaten them.
They were blessed with clear skies that evening, making for great visibility even in the fading light of day. The cold night air nipped at her exposed arms, and Isha again lamented her lack of clothing options. She thought of the dozens of outfits that once overflowed from her closet and sighed. They're better off going to those in need, she reminded herself.
A shadow moved within a thin group of trees just a few feet from the road ahead of them. Isha wasted no time in raising her bow, eyes searching for the source.
A massive shape burst from the treeline, heading away from the party. Another set of monster riders atop another enormous boar, just as they'd continuously encountered before. These things are everywhere… Isha released her arrow, finding its mark in the back of one of the riders. It slumped to the ground and did not move.
For the love of god, please be a different band of monsters…
Link directed Epona off the road a few feet, keeping an eye on the boar that quickly retreated out of sight. They stopped for a moment, listening for the approach of any more hostile creatures. Telma did not slow her pace and passed them quickly.
"What do you suppose that was about?" the hero asked after a few moments. "Just one?"
Isha lowered her bow. "Maybe they realized it wasn't worth the effort."
Epona returned to the road, now behind Telma's wagon. Isha looked through the back curtains at the young Ordon woman. "So, what do you suppose we do once we're back?"
Link gave her a confused look over his shoulder. "What do you mean?"
"Do you think it's a good idea to try to force her home? As far as she knows, we're complete strangers to her. Everyone else will be, too. That might be…difficult for her."
Link was silent for a moment. "I don't think she'll willingly leave that Zora's side any time soon," he finally responded. "And the kids wouldn't want to leave her behind, either."
"I think Luda's warmed up to them quite nicely," Isha said with a smile.
The hero did not respond, eyes fixed straight ahead. He had once more slipped into that fighting mode, his eyes cold and fierce while his demeanor remained unnervingly calm. She could feel the tension rolling off him in waves. Again, Isha looked around, scanning for danger. They'd just reached one of the biggest plains of Hyrule field, and she could easily see for miles out here. The night remained still, the only sounds were of frogs, crickets, and their horses' hooves upon the cobblestone road. Despite her partner's tense state, Isha relaxed.
The first few hours of the night passed with surprising calm. Isha found herself beginning to lose focus the longer they rode, her mind drifting to far-off places. Her damaged side had become incredibly sore from the ride, but she dared not complain. It was a small inconvenience in the face of traveling as quickly as possible across the kingdom.
In the wee hours of the morning, the party finally stopped, agreeing to rest for a few hours and give the horses a break. Isha volunteered to keep watch, but Link refused, promising that he had it covered.
Isha eyed him warily. "If anything, I'd say you need the sleep."
The young man merely shrugged. "I'm far more used to it than you are. Rest." He pointed to the wagon where Telma and Ilia slept.
Isha gave him an irritated look and pushed his hand down. "I get that you've had… what, a few days of adventuring more than me? But don't boss me around or assume what I do and don't need."
Link blinked, taken aback by her response. For just a moment, the harsh look in his eyes melted away, and his features softened. "You're right, sorry. But I don't need sleep right now, either. You were the one falling out of the saddle every few minutes."
The young archer scoffed and sat down with her back against his, borrowing as much of his warmth as she could. "Only because it was boring. Not that I'm complaining, though," she added quickly. "I'd rather have boring than dangerous."
The hero nodded in agreement, looking up at the star-studded sky. "So, about the situation with Ilia…"
He felt her sigh against him. "If it wasn't clear already, I think it may be best to leave them Kakariko." Isha picked at her nails. "With rebuilding efforts going on, there will be more soldiers and people at least fit to defend themselves than that town has probably ever seen."
"We've also wasted a lot of time trying to get them home…" Link said. "You wouldn't have been attacked if we hadn't gone to Ordon that day."
Isha pushed back against him. "Don't start that," she replied softly. "If we hadn't been there, what would have happened to the villagers?"
He shrugged. "Maybe they would have all still been inside."
"Missing their kids, assuming them and you dead…"
Link gave a dry laugh. "Alright, you're right. This won't be an entirely pointless return. I was going to try to visit with the Goron tribe on behalf of Renado, anyways."
"Oh? Since when were you so friendly with them?"
"Turns out the mayor is, actually. I talked to him about how he handled himself with the Gorons, and with that knowledge I'm hoping to be able to figure out why they've cut ties with the outside world."
"Gods, that would be amazing…" Isha breathed, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "Their strength was what allowed Kakarikan villagers to hold on to their desperate pacifism for so long. Their absence in town was… certainly noticed."
"I don't know how well they would have fared against the shadow beasts," he told her. "I don't think it would have made enough of a difference."
"If they had saved even one additional life, then it would have been all the difference in the world to that person."
They stayed silent for a long while, still watching for any sign of danger in the empty field. Over the horizon, the first lighter hues of the early morning sky began to show themselves above the distant mountains. At this late hour, even most of the nocturnal creatures had quieted, preparing to sleep away the coming day. The air was still, quiet, and somewhat haunting.
"Not that you asked, but I have plans of my own," Isha broke their hours-long silence. "Lanayru is sending me to the Temple at Lake Hylia on an errand apparently for you. I need to start looking into a way to get there safely. If that Fyer guy was speaking the truth, that temple is far below the surface now."
"Right…" Link had not forgotten, though he wished he could. "So what are your plans?"
"I figure the Zora will be the ones to ask about Hylian access, if there is any." Isha looked over to the wagon where the rest of their party held desperately on to a few hours of rest. "Though I would have helped regardless, I can't deny that I'm hoping this will be considered enough of a favor to the Domain that they allow me through without explanation. I just… don't think the Zora would take too kindly to their Spirit seeking a Hylian for the task instead of one of their own."
"Do you know what Lanayru is sending you to retrieve?"
"A dark power that I must deliver to the hero," she recited with a mocking tone. "It sounds like a test of strength or maybe she just wants to see if I can be trusted. Some pure of heart nonsense. If that's the case, I think we may all be in deep trouble," she laughed..
Her jokes did not put Link at ease. "You know, you could always wait–"
"No," Isha stopped him. "Though an adventure to the bottom of a lake is not exactly what I had in mind, I have always begged the heavens and any deity who would listen to one day find adventure and experience legends for myself. I admit I didn't really think it would be like this, but… I won't turn tail and run from what I spent so many years wanting." Her eyes looked up to the sky, taking in the beautiful night. "And when I am done with these silly errands, I'm going to go find my own adventure, one far away from Light Spirits and Goddesses who have incredibly strange tastes in chosen ones."
"Maybe we can–"
"Shhhhh," Isha was on her feet immediately, her bowstring drawn, an arrow ready to fly as she searched for the source of the sound that had spooked her.
Both Hylians strained their ears, listening for any unusual sounds.
Hoofbeats. The slow, uneven, heavy gait was becoming painfully familiar. Isha nodded to Link, who was already up and heading to get the horses ready to go. The boar-riding gang of monsters was once again flying across Hyrule, though they could not yet see where the creatures were coming from.
Goddesses be damned, they're really upset with us now. Isha kept her bow at the ready, but could not see the stampeding monsters yet.
Telma was already half-awake when Isha pulled aside the curtain on the back of the wagon. The woman was a naturally light sleeper and had heard Isha approaching. It took the older woman no time at all to join them outside and hitch her old black horse up to the carriage. Isha hopped up onto Epona's back, still watching the horizon. In the faint morning light, she was able to make out dark shapes headed to them from the north.
Telma took off as soon as Link finished hooking up her horse. As she sped ahead, he swung himself up into the saddle in front of Isha and followed.
"To your left," Isha called up to him. The boars were fast approaching, their hoofbeats already echoing clear as day over the empty fields. There were far more than they'd previously encountered - a veritable army of murderous beasts.
Small pricks of flame flitted and sputtered behind the riders, and as they neared Isha realized that these were arrows, lit ablaze and aiming for the tent.
"Why the hell are they after us so fiercely?" she cried, releasing a test shot to gauge their distance. It landed harmlessly several feet in front of the approaching line. Still too far off… She pulled three more arrows from her quiver.
"Between you and me, they've failed two separate kidnappings, have lost several monster and boar lives, and you stole one of their pigs." Link gave her a pointed look over his shoulder. "I wonder why they would be interested in killing us."
"Point made," she replied without looking, her eyes dead set against that growing mass. Where in the hell are they coming from?
She released her arrows, this time aiming far higher in the sky. Isha held her breath for a few seconds, waiting. Finally, the line broke - a few boars in the front, freaking out either from losing their riders or because the mounts next to them were raging. The clean front line quickly devolved into a writhing mass as monsters trampled one another, their small minds only able to process one complete thought: chase and kill. At least they were easily distracted.
Epona easily caught up to Telma's wagon, and Link positioned them between her and the approaching army. Isha removed his shield and laid it across her lap, keeping it at-the-ready.
"When we get back to Kakariko, you're getting a proper metal shield," she spat, firing another series of arrows. She no longer needed to rely on a high arc to get the arrows to reach the monsters. They were gaining fast.
"You're welcome to buy me one when that one burns."
Isha stole a glance at the Hero just as he snapped his fingers to get Midna's attention. From her perspective, he merely whispered "boomerang," and the weapon appeared in his hand, ready to go.
"Excuse me?" she exclaimed, but Link did not react. The monsters were now firing upon them, all arrows aimed at the wagon carrying the Zora prince.
The monsters were close enough to count, if Isha had cared enough to do so at the time. Clubs began swinging at Epona while arrows were fired at point-blank range. Link used his boomerang of winds to shift between putting out fires on the covered wagon and putting out fires on the shield. Epona, the skittish creature she was, immediately began to thrash as monsters tried to surround them on the left, kicking and bucking like a wild mare.
While Link was occupied with getting her under control, Isha leaned forward and grabbed his sword from his hand. "Give me," she commanded when he tried to pull it out of her reach.
With a close-range weapon at hand, she passed the shield back to Link and began slicing wildly at the monsters trying to come astride them. Her arm ached from the constant movement and improper form, but still she swung. A few particularly unlucky monsters found the sword buried halfway through their necks before she pulled back and struck again, stabbing and slicing at anything in her short range.
Finally, Epona resumed a steady gallop, and the pair of riders took a moment to breathe. The monsters fell back, regrouping and still firing their horribly-aimed arrows.
"Take it back before I hurt us both," Isha breathed, passing back the goat-horn sword and taking back the shield. "When we get out of here, I want to know how you did that," she continued, pointing to the boomerang.
"Stay focused," he responded, eying the damage done to the wagon. Ilia, though she'd suffered a very rude awakening, seemed entirely calm despite the danger they were now in. They had not wasted time with securing the curtains at the back of the wagon, and these now fluttered open, leaving the passengers entirely exposed. Ilia held Ralis' head steady in her lap, keeping them both from being tossed around in the back of the carriage. The canvas covering had some minor burns and cuts, but overall it was still holding strong.
Ilia's eyes met Link's through the opening, and she smiled nervously. He nodded, the only bit of reassurance he could offer her.
He vaguely registered a stinging pain in his arm, and looked down to see that an arrow had grazed his arm just above his gauntlets, somehow not hitting him or Epona anywhere else. He said a silent prayer of thanks to the goddesses for the monsters' inability to hit anything of value.
Behind the hero, Isha sat backwards now, shaking in the saddle as she watched the monsters reform their line and charge after them once more. Though Epona alone could easily outrun the monsters, they were greatly hindered by the pace at which Telma had to travel to keep the wagon upright on the rugged terrain. Isha took deep breaths, trying to steady her arms as she took aim once more. Flaming arrows were still raining down, falling harmlessly on the stone behind them as the party remained out of reach of the advancing army.
Her next shot missed, the anxiety of failure seizing her muscles and making her arms feel heavy. Shit. Not now. She tried to count the number of boars behind them. Tried to count the monsters, count the hoofbeats, count, count, count…
And then, the horrible beat of leathery wings reached her ears.
"Link," she gasped, her chest constricting a little more with every flap. She pushed herself back, back against the hero who remained an immovable force, a wall behind her preventing her retreat.
"You're fine," he growled. "Keep firing and trust me."
Right… she desperately grasped for her common sense, for her self-control. Behind the wall of bulblin riders, massive black shapes sliced through the deep indigo sky, blotting out the fading stars above. Her side ached and the sound of a heavy body striking the hard ground echoed about her head, roaring in her ears until the sounds of battle faded.
Her chest heaved with the effort to keep breathing, keep pushing through this panic and this fear. The wind roared around them, Link holding his boomerang high as it charged up its power. He turned around in the saddle and put one arm around Isha, pulling her to his side and throwing the boomerang up into the sky, directly for the approaching Kargaroks. The beasts were tossed about by the gale-force winds that the boomerang kicked up, greatly slowing their advance.
Isha, now clinging to the arm wrapped around her, took another deep breath, and finally felt her lungs open and take it in. Her brow was laced with cold sweat, her ears aching from the freezing air rushing past them.
"Better?"
She took a moment to realize Link was asking her a question. "...Yes, thank you," she finally released him as the boomerang returned to his hands.
"We're going to be fine. You're doing great."
As if. Still, the hero's encouragement did make Isha feel slightly better. She once again withdrew three arrows and aligned them on her bow, wondering briefly just how difficult it would be to light them aflame as the monsters did.
Her arms still shook, Epona's movements beneath her notwithstanding, but she willed herself to hold still enough to aim. Even if she only hit the boars, it would be something.
The arrows flew, and she dared a glance ahead to Telma and her passengers. The wagon was holding strong, the Ilia and Prince Ralis still looking more or less alive. Deep breath. Yes, they would survive.
A kargarok swooped down over the advancing line of enemies, something clutched in its talons as it flew back up and turned to chase them. Something sparkled on the object in its talons.
Shit. "It has a bomb!" Isha warned Link, her panic immediately rushing back. Before she had a chance to dwell on such feelings, the young woman set another arrow loose towards the kargarok, the string slicing skin from her arm. Her poor form had cost her.
She cried out in pain and clutched her arm. Still, her arrow found its mark in the bomb, and it exploded upon impact. It was not a massive nor well-made explosive, but at close range it was more than enough. What remained of the bird fell to the ground with muffled thumps.
Another two beasts swooped down over the monsters, again rising with bombs clutched in their talons. Gritting her teeth, Isha prepped another arrow and fired.
This one, unfortunately missed.
The kargaroks were approaching with alarming speed. Isha looked ahead to see that they had slowed down their pace - one of the wheels on the wagon looked to be damaged and causing the entire thing to shake with every rotation. Shit, shit, shit.
By the time her next arrow was prepared, the first kargarok dropped its bomb just above their heads.
Riding backwards, Isha had little to hold on to for proper balance. Though Link was quick in pulling Epona to the side, out of impact range, the force and scattered debris from the bomb struck them. Epona was startled once more and bucked violently, sending Isha flying from the saddle. Link lunged for her outstretched arm, but his fingers barely brushed hers before she fell out of reach and onto the cold ground.
Her right shoulder - the same one that was still sore from her time at Lake Hylia - bore the brunt of the fall. Isha managed to keep her bow above her, keeping damage to the weapon at a minimum. Somewhere behind her, the second bomb went off, though it did not shake the earth as the previous one did. She hoped that meant Link was able to do something about it.
Her arms and legs stung from the hot shrapnel that had struck her, and Isha struggled to get her feet back underneath her. That line of marching boars moved ever forwards, getting closer and closer.
Isha finally staggered to her feet. Just standing took great effort, and she felt a cold calm wash over her. She turned and faced the bulblin riders. No spears this time, she thought with a sick grin.
She could hear Epona's approaching hoofbeats, but she did not turn around. Staring down those menacing red-eyed beasts, she withdrew a single arrow from her quiver and pulled the string back, aiming directly ahead of her. I'll do what I can.
"I wish you'd stop trying to die on me!" Link's desperate call came from just beside her. Epona was mere centimeters from her body, but Isha did not flinch, did not move even as the horse seemed to turn on a pen point and moved to block her from the approaching army of monsters.
The marching line washed over them like a tidal wave.
Isha, pulling herself from her acceptance of death, terrified and inexperienced but not a fool, laid her shaking arms across Epona's saddle. She let her ready arrow fly, skewering not only the monster ahead of her, but the passenger behind it, too. Another boar set into a rampage over the loss of its riders and the loss of direction. This chaos rippled across the line, and the monsters began to struggle with their mounts.
Link had thrown himself from the saddle upon arrival, immediately swinging his sword in a wide arc in front of him and driving the stampede away from Isha and Epona. He sliced through the monsters as though they were made of thin paper, arms and legs and heads and bloody bodies falling to the ground at incredible rates. Isha continued her covering fire, remaining pressed against the nervous mare who she relied on for a steady aim. Epona stamped her hooves, but remained in place.
"Easy girl," Isha kept repeating. "We're in this together, I need you." Whether the animal understood her or not, she didn't particularly care. This mantra kept her nerves at bay, as well.
She had no time to stop and gawk at the fluidity of Link's movements, though she certainly wanted to. He jumped from the back of one boar to another, throwing monsters to the ground or pinning them to the saddle before piercing their hearts with his blade. His actions drew the attention of the entire group, leaving her open to take proper aim. The hero's frenzied attacks left little room for return blows, and the monsters turned on one another as they clambered for a chance to do any damage at all. Even his shield became a weapon of its own, dislodging clubs from mangled hands and knocking their wielders unconscious, if he could get the right angle on a blow to the head.
Now there's the legendary hero. Isha continued to rain down a barrage of arrows, alternating between one, two, and three firing at once to keep the monsters scattered and guessing. Their once-solid line was now a writhing mass of screeching monsters and pig alike. One by one, their screams died in their throats.
With most of the monsters dispatched or otherwise occupied with the horde of rampaging boar that now turned on their own, Link returned to Epona, where Isha was already awaiting him, covered in blood but still alive. He managed to give her a smile, though it did not bring her much comfort. She looked in those cold, battle-ready eyes. They seemed unfamiliar, though she could not place what was so different. His face was more or less the same, but the look of bloodlust in his eyes was unnerving.
Isha stared intently at the hero. "...Who are you?"
He gave her a strange look before swinging up into the saddle. "Did you hit your head?"
"I– never mind, get us out of here. It's not important."
Whatever he thought of her question, Link said nothing more and spurred Epona back towards the trail. Against the gray sky, Isha could make out the shape of Telma's carriage, which still plodded forwards despite its damaged wheel. It had escaped monster notice after all, it seemed.
So we are the targets. Chills washed down her spine. The massive leader had been nowhere in sight during the entire battle, and his war horn had not been heard. Was he lying in wait for them down the road? How many more times would they be lucky enough to escape?
Far ahead, Death Mountain stood out against the dark sky, ringed in smoke and glowing a fiery red. It was still painfully far away, and Isha recalled that they still likely had another full day of travel ahead of them. An entire day for their pursuers to regroup and catch back up. An entire day for that massive brute to show itself.
Epona galloped away from the bloody battlefield, and no monsters rose to follow. When it was obvious that they had escaped attack for the time being, Isha released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She took a moment to take mental note of her injuries.
The inner part of her arm would be sore for several days after the bowstring's contact, she knew from experience. It would hurt like hell, and it had been a long time since she'd caused herself such an injury, but it would heal in time. Her shoulder ached with every movement, and most of her right side was sore from everythingl. Certainly, she would be bruised for a while.
Aside from many, many welts and scrapes from the earlier bomb blast, none of her bleeding appeared to be serious. The spring waters would heal most of the shallow damage.
Isha sighed and laid her head against Link's back, still listening for any sounds of pursuit. Only the sounds of their horses and Link's deep, steady breathing met her ears.
Despite their insistence that they were fine, Link and Isha were forced to stop and rest once they'd caught back up to Telma.
"You both stayed up all night and kept watch. You should at least get a few hours of sleep," the barkeep insisted, standing aside her horse while the two fighters approached. "It looks like we're out of the woods here. Monster activity always dies down at daybreak."
Isha glanced over at the horizon, just barely beginning to shine pink with the promise of another sunrise. "I worry that if we do not get the prince to Kakariko quickly–"
"He'll be fine," Telma interrupted her. "Yes, the Zora child is in dire straits. But he is not dying on us now. This young lady here has been doing a mighty fine job of caring for him," she gestured to Ilia, who was sitting on the step out the back of the carriage. "You two are no good to us dead, you know."
Isha shot Link a pointed look. "I think fighting armies by oneself is more deadly than a missed night of sleep."
The hero glared back at her. "Less deadly than standing before a stampede with nothing but a bow and arrow." Turning back to Telma, he continued. "We'll stop until the sun has risen completely."
Left as the minority vote, Isha agreed to roll out her bedroll under a sole tree that stood not too far off the main road. Link's bedroll was placed opposite of hers, their heads only a few inches apart. Easy for one to wake the other in case of danger.
While they prepared to rest, Telma and Ilia set about replacing the damaged carriage wheel with one of the spares.
"How many do you think they'll send after us now?" Isha asked Link after they'd both gotten comfortable, thinking of the monsters they'd just faced.
"I'm hoping there's not many left," he admitted, stretching his arms above his head.
Isha looked at the outstretched hand beside her, and gently laid her own hand on his. "Thank you for saving my life once more," she mumbled.
He tapped his fingers against her hand. "You didn't look like you wanted any saving."
Isha was silent for so long, Link thought she'd fallen asleep. Finally, she released a deep sigh.
"I fear death, I really do. I don't want to die with an unfulfilled life. But…" she pulled her hand away and snuggled further under her light blanket. "Sometimes it just seems inevitable. I don't see a point in fighting certain death."
"You can't do that when you're fighting whatever lurks in that temple," he told her. "You'll be on your own–"
"I know, I don't need coaching," she snapped. "I'll be fine. Leave it alone, you're not changing my mind. I'm going to the temple."
Again with reading my mind. Link sighed and crossed his hands behind his head. "Forgive me, I thought we were close enough to care about each other's well being."
Isha could not think of a response, and Link's soft snores soon filled the silence. She remained awake, turned to the incoming sunrise, replaying the scene of Link tearing through monsters as though they were nothing before him. The sword he carried wasn't anything special or impressive, yet in the few times she'd witnessed him use it, nothing could stand against him. He was just…that good.
It gave her a strange mixture of feelings. Fear of his divine abilities was certainly somewhere in there, but it wasn't the most prominent. It wasn't what made her heart race and her mind go blank. It was not fear that gave her chills when she looked into those intense, battle-hardened eyes that did not seem to belong to the ranch hand she knew.
Who does he become when he steps into battle?
Thanks for reading/reviewing! It means the world to me!