Authors Notes: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. We are now very close to the climax of act 1. Sorry for the late updates, work and life in general is hectic to find time to write. But, the story will be finished. Also, those who are listening to audiodrama of this story, that too will be continued. Just bear with me to get it done. Lastly, if you do enjoy the story, what really motivates me to stay up late and write, to put in the time is your comments. I'm always looking to grow. Thanks so much and see you next time.
Chapter 24
Liberations: Part 2
Sylmoor kicked their pale horse to quicken its pace, for there would be no turning back now. Zelda and her Lord were on a collision course straight for the clashing war beneath the daunting castle.
The morning was unusually chill for summer, or so it seemed to Zelda. The breeze carried a heavy dew of frost that crystalized lightly in the wind. And as they rode off racing faster and faster toward the city, she felt the brisk air slap her face. The cold air was fierce, sinking past her riding cape and deep into her bones.
She couldn't help herself but wonder if that was truly the reason why she felt so cold, or if it was the doubt and fear from before, overcoming her thoughts, and penetrating her from head to toe with an icy feeling. Perhaps something terrible might have happened up ahead of them that she had yet to find out?
Just ahead, beyond the wall, the advancing line of cavalry stormed the first set of districts of the abandoned city of kings. The area they approached had already been made safe of all enemy threats, and a surreal scene played out before them as they entered.
Sylmoor jerked back the reins of his horse for just a moment, the animal abruptly rearing up on his hind legs. The princess, jolted by the sudden rough stop, nearly found herself sliding off.
Sylmoor swiftly twisted himself to apologize, grasping for her hand before she could manage to fall.
"So sorry, my liege! It's just… I'm not used to riding for two," he said from the corner of his mouth in a short breath, turning attention to focus on where they were. His green eyes searched the entire area around them, gazing back and forth, far and wide, looking beyond the once-upon-a-time settlements that lay in ruin. "I'm afraid I don't see your knight..."
Zelda acknowledged his apology quickly as she shook herself from her fall, even as she began scanning through and beyond the crumbling buildings for a better view. The pair were just beyond the decimated city wall, where the colossal explosion erupted. Massive debris from the destroyed fortifications lay scattered in all directions. All that remained were the remnants of a dead and empty warzone. Corpses of both friend and foe littered the ground, though most were from the ranks of the foul beast that had stolen her homeland, which was some small comfort to the princess.
"I don't see him either!" she confirmed in a holler, repositioning herself on the horse, hand over her face. Shielding her eyes from the brightness of the sun, she glanced in all directions, desperately trying to scout for her hero.
"He may have ventured to the castle, where the battle is to be!" she spoke, followed by immediately shouting as politely as she could to a nearby cavalryman attempting to clear the debris and corpses from the pathway. "You there, soldier! How many have we lost so far in the battle?"
Her stomach tied into a knot, anxiously waiting for him to reply. Seconds felt like minutes.
The middle-aged man tore away his helmet from atop his head, and his long blonde hair was soaked from battle, soiled by blood and sweat. Whether it be his own or from the vicious and cruel beasts that now lay slain around them could not be discerned. Quickly, he gazed around and shouted an order to another. The other man was closer to the wall, piling the dead in the immediate vicinity alongside a few comrades. "Corporal, how many have we found so far of our own!? Her majesty would like to know the number!"
"…We found twenty-three, Sir!" the man yelled back.
The officer, who'd moved beside the princess' and Sylmoor's saddle, relayed the information to his liege. "With his twenty-three and those I found myself, that makes a total loss of twenty-seven. And around ten good lads wounded. They should make it if we get them back to the infirmary."
The commander let out a heavy sigh, in awe of the devastation of which just took place. "Given the circumstances, it was a miracle we didn't suffer more casualties, m'lady. I'd say we had a good jump on the bastards, err, excuse me, I mean-"
"It is quite alright, no need to stand on courtesy. Believe it or not, I've heard much worse within the castle walls from so-called esteemed sirs than anything your lips may have uttered today. I take no offense," she said warmly, her gaze clearly showing she forgave him speaking so crassly to a princess. "This is a battlefield after all."
With a heavy sigh, she continued. "And while it pleasing news to hear that many of ours been spared a cruel fate, what I truly must know is if you have seen a rogue Hylian warrior? Young, about your height, and he wouldn't be wearing the typical armor of those counted among the army."
The man cupped his chin, taking a step back and squinting an eye in contemplation as he recalled the siege. "No, I'm afraid I have not seen anyone that matches your description, my princess. Of that much, I can assure you. Your warrior is not among our dead, nor our wounded."
"Then there is still hope." She said faintly, heart relieved and able to breathe again freely.
"May I ask whom it is you are looking for, your grace?"
"Link, the Hylian champion from a century ago, my personal guard…Do you know of him?"
"Do I know of him?" the man's eyes lit up. "Everyone knows of him, my princess! Why, he is Link, the demon king slayer! The Ganon-crusher! The lynel-breaker!"
"All that, eh?" Sylmoor butted in with a chuckle as Zelda proudly nudged him back where he sat.
"An' much more!" The man responded, matter-of-factly.
Sylmoor playfully protested. "See, your highness? Your knight has a bit of a reputation to live up to. It appears he isn't allowed to die, even if he wanted. Already he is quite the legend among the ranks. Just think of what it might do to the morale of the men if he were to fall in battle! Certainly, the goddesses wouldn't allow that to happen?"
"Indeed," Zelda replied, humoring him, though not entirely convinced.
The soldier continued. "You can feel at ease, your grace; he is not here. Which can only mean he is still yet to be found, and likely alive."
"Thank you, Sergeant. Carry on with your duties then, and take good care of the men here. I charge you with that, my good Sir," she smiled cheerfully at him, warming the heart of the battle-rattled soldier.
She spoke to sylmoor out of earshot of the soldier as they trotted away on the path forward deeper into the city. "Then it's as I suspected, he most certainly is up ahead. I just know it! He has to be! Look, there up above the cityscape. It's the tail end of the army, and it is pressing higher up! They're almost to the wall of the castle!" she called out to Sylmoor, who sat in front of her.
They couldn't force the horse to gallop fast because the way was treacherously full of rubble and all manner of obstructions. They had to get to an open city street first. As they trotted, she pointed past his shoulder to the bulk of the main force that was still raging in war. The echoes of battle screamed even to where they were. They had to speak louder to each other to be heard.
"What makes you so sure he is there? I know he wasn't found here, but the city is a rather large place, princess. And the explosion, forgive me, but what if on the off chance he may have-"
"I told you already, Link is alive! I just know it. No more doubts, please…He is a legend, remember? You said it yourself."
"Well, sometimes I say things to inspire the men, doesn't mean I actually-"
"Sylmoor! Link is alive, and he needs our help now more than ever. He needs a proper weapon to fight. I tell you that if that is where the others are heading, that is where he will be. Trust me. Link would never finish his task and leave the army to fend for themselves. Even now, those fighting are advancing slowly, going through each residence, clearing out every district until they retake the entire city. He would never let others do the fighting for him. If I know Link, he would be heading straight for the belly of the beast himself!"
"Oh…great! Well, that's cheerful news," Sylmoor gulped, getting more frightened as they tip-toed closer to the edge of battle. "And without a proper weapon to defend himself to boot, how splendid," he said sarcastically.
Zelda leaned forward to where Sylmoor sat. "Have I not mentioned he was brave before?" she said with a soft and warm smile of encouragement.
"Yes, how can I forget? You and everybody else certainly made that clear. Abundantly. Forgive me for saying so, but I'd prefer to call it foolishness, my princess," he said, following with a sharp murmur under his breath. "Or suicidal tendencies."
"What was that?" Zelda replied. She couldn't quite grasp what he said, only catching a single word amongst the ruckus that lay ahead of them.
"I said ay; he is brave! You're right!"
"Well, yes, he does have a tendency to slightly overdo things from time to time. I'd guess you can say he bites off a bit more than he can chew."
"A bit!?" Sylmoor's eyes bulged with friendly sarcasm as she chuckled back softly at his wide-eyed response.
"Now enough time wasting just trotting along. Let us be off with all due haste; we must continue! We have to hurry to the castle if we are to get to him in time," she replied with a confident huff. "He needs a proper sword! That much is certain. And—"
"And?"
"And…I need to see if he is alright…" she tucked her head into her shoulder.
"But, you just said you felt he was-"
"I know, I know. It's just…seeing is still better than just feeling, wouldn't you say? And besides, I'd go mad if I had to stay at the tent and wait for the news of his victory or defeat. The suspense of that alone would be all more than I can bear."
"Well, then what are we waiting for!? Let's get a move on and find our man! The sooner, the better!" Sylmoor decried, slapping the reigns galloping them forward on the main road toward the castle.
Sneaking their way behind the numerous dead hedges that made up the outer castle courtyards of the nobility quarter, Link and Sidon had finally arrived at the water's edge to the main moat that guarded the nearest keep. Draping waterfalls of canal poured out from the top of each tower filling the encircling trenches below that guarded the outer defenses to the main castle. The castle grounds were segregated into three distinct levels and were masterfully designed to repel any foreign invasion.
Each ascending level was barriered by their moat, making any ground assault upon its walls perilous. And like a step ladder going down, each moat flowed in a clockwise circle that would drain over to the next level via their keep. All of which were fed upstream by the main river that flowed out from the mouth of the Domain to the inners of Hyrule Kingdom. Some would say that it was the best-defended castle in all the land, and for a good reason, it was to protect the royal family.
Never throughout all the millennia did it ever cross the imaginations of Hylians that they would have to siege their own castle to reclaim back what was rightfully theirs.
The two infiltrators huddled together and spoke in hushed whispers to one another. Link sized up the first tower that lay just ahead of them, scanning the area for any nearby enemies. The coast was clear.
"Alright, I don't see anything we can't handle on our own. Looks to be a lot less of them from before. They must all be heading to the front of battle, past the main wall. Not so much even as a watcher on the ramparts. In any case, the army will be here soon. Now would be our best chance to get the pearl back safely in our hands while their main force is away," Link said, glancing as far as he could without peering his head out too far out over the hedges.
"But you can bet each tower probably has some surprises waiting for us on the inside. And it looks like they closed the smaller gates to each tower." He said, followed by a quick chuckle of sarcasm. " I don't think they wanted to make things easy for us."
Sidon concurred. "Well, at least both the main gates have fallen. Or this battle would have been over before it even began."
"Yeah, the army should have no problem getting into the nobility district and beyond the main castle wall if they press hard. With the few siege weapons and ladders that do remain, they should be able to get them over each inner wall quite easily. But as for us, we can't wait for that to happen. We need to stop Malroc and get the pearl before they decide to try and use it."
"What does the pearl actually do?"
"I don't know to tell you the truth, but whatever it can do can't be good. Zelda mentioned that, according to Muzu, it has the power to unleash an unstoppable dark force upon the land."
"You think that can mean Ganon?"
"I don't know, but I'm not about to find out. I'm not just gonna' sit here on my laurels and wait for him to come say 'hello' to me a second time."
"Then what are we waiting for! Let's get back our prize!"
"Right! But wait…" and as fast as Sidon bolted away, Link reached for Sidon's shoulder and made him take a step back.
The knight spoke. "Who's going to climb the first tower and get the secret door open? There's a hidden sentry door that can only be open from the inside. If we can find that and get that open, we should be in business. The walls themselves are near impossible to climb without siege weapons. It will take some time, but it can be done with the peeking ledges that overlook the towers themselves. You see them? There, each window has a guard lean. Enough for us to climb if we lasso each sconce that hangs beside em'. You still have that rope from before right, the one we used to tie some of the charges together?"
Sidon cracked his knuckles. "Stand back, my small Hylian friend and leave it to me."
"Small?"
"Well, you are, aren't you? At least by Zora standards!"
"Wait just a minute, who says you get the glory of taking down the first tower?"
"Because I'm a prince and I'm taller than you, that's why…and it will save time. I can get it done in less than half the time it would take you to climb."
"No way, you're under my command and are my squire. I say I go. And besides, I don't want you to get hurt."
"Me? Get hurt? Need I remind you that it was I who saved you the other day and last night?…That's twice! Not to mention, the princess charged me with making sure you get back to her in one piece. "
Link scoffed. "It was once! The other time I was just testing you. Ya' know, it is my job to train you in the lost arts of Hylian swordcraft," he said, with a cool lean. But just as he stood up straight, he was torn away by a spasm of sharp pain to his ribs, wincing again from the wounds from earlier.
"No offense, my friend, but you look like you can use a breather."
"What? I'm just getting warmed up! You haven't seen nothing yet!" he said, shaking off the pain.
"Alright then, if you say so. But how about we arm for it at least!? A gentlemen's game, Fair n square? Winner gets the glory."
Link paused a moment to think over his proposal, cupping his chin. "Okay, you got it…Deal. So, best two out of three?"
"Sure, if you think that will make a difference. You can make it a million rounds if you want for all I care. I always win at this game, Haha!"
"Yeah? We'll see! Enough talk, show me what you got."
Link poked a look over both shoulders to eye their surroundings to see if they were hidden out of view from prowling eyes. Sidon grinned as Link met his with a smirk of his own. A flurry of hand lunging movements begun, and it was a storm of shenanigans. Both Link and Sidon flashed each other simultaneously, a series of hand gestures. Over and over again until one bested the other for a grand tally of three rounds. At the count of three, they would present themselves with either a fist, an open-faced palm, or chop.
"What? No fair…Everybody knows Goron beats Hylian!" Link protested, Sidon beating him on the final round.
"You sure? I thought that Zora beats them all?" The prince proudly snickered.
"You wish…Goron smashes Hylian, Hylian slashes Zora and Zora washes away Goron. Everyone knows this. The match was mine!"
"I'm pretty sure Zora beats them all."
"What!? How so?"
"Like this," and without hesitation or warning, the massive Sidon, elbowed Link in the sternum, adequately knocking him several steps back to fall on one knee, robbing him of breath.
Sorry, Link, but this just gave me an idea, and it's something only I can do! Sidon noted, darting away toward the moat.
"Dammit, You…Never trust a Zora to play fair! Royalty or not, they're all the same!" Link choked, heaving himself up to stand yet again, one eye open and the other winced shut as he watched his friend bolt away.
Sidon graced the water's edge and flung himself high into the air forming a magnificent spiral dive as he splashed into the black water moat.
Link lifted his head from where he rested, catching his breath. "Of course, why didn't I think of that!? You could have just told me that was your plan all along, ya' know. Could have saved me the gut punch." Link mumbled in a whisper, looking onward in anticipation. "I'll remember this treachery." He smiled.
The proud Zora effortlessly shot up the pouring waterfall, surfing his way up to the top of the tower in just seconds. With a climatic splash and flip out of the water, Sidon landed his grip perfectly on the peeking ledge where sentries would watch over from opening.
Careful to not to be seen by lurking enemies, Sidon made a few whistles, mimicking that of an owl. For some reason, that was the only creature that came to mind for him to use to mask his ruckus from the splash. He regretted it the moment he did it, but it was too late. Now he just had to keep the charade.
As he was crafting his lips to pitch sounds of night birds, Sidon realized he wasn't even sure if he was even making the proper sound of an owl. But now someone or some thing had already heard his false chirps. An elongated black Moblin with a bent neck wandered up to the peek window to investigate. Unable to see the Zora's red hands safely hidden out of view from the rampart where the stone bends for the archerman's slat, the monster sniffed about.
The nervous drooling monster lifted its trunk and glanced a suspicious eye in all directions, clenching its fist tight, anger swelling.
This was probably the first time such a creature has ever heard the hoot of an owl for that matter, for wholesome things didn't wander too close to where evil reigned in the land. So, this was most peculiar that of all days, today would be the day a song of a bird would be heard from that window. And in the off chance the beast did know the sound of owls, it was broad daylight. Why on earth would an owl be hooting anyways?
The beast lunged its head over the ledge to a mysterious voice.
"Hey there, would you mind lending me a hand?"
The moblin's eyes bulged at the frightening sight, and before it could rile in a rage, Sidon's massive red arms yanked him over the ledge pulling himself over in its place. "Careful now, you could fall!"
The monster screamed in terror as it was catapulted off.
The prince gave a shark tooth grin at his sly self. "Oops, too late. Sorry about that! I sure hope you can swim!" he hollered down below to the falling beast.
Plunging several stories, he watched as the monster flailed about in a panic, splashing frantically to stay afloat before it tired and sunk to the depths of the moat to a watery grave.
"Oh, I guess not. Oh well, good riddance." He commented.
Monsters such as Moblins and Bokoblins feared water. The only time they would ever dare to venture into water would only be over it on a boat. Even then, that would take some strong convincing for them. Now, Lizalfos, on the other hand, were well suited for water combat.
Sidon shrugged off the monster's misfortune and whispered. "Now, Gotta' find the trap door to the side of the tower."
Wasting no time, Sidon bolted down the spiral staircase. The way was open and not a beast in sight. So far, so good. He thought. And in no time, he caught up to an old trap door where watchmen from a long time ago would use to trade shifts. A small hidden door that could only be opened from the inside. For in order to enter from outside, one would need to know the precise location of the secret entrance. And even in that instance, one would have to have the means to undo stone. For it was masked in clever masonry to camouflage itself from any malicious eyes that may have ever had ill intent for those dwelling at the castle.
Looking afar across the rushing current of the moat, Link waited for any sign of Sidon to show himself. And just as he was about to worry and formulate another plan, curiously catching his eye, he saw the slow crack of the stone wall at the base of the tower begin to shift and break away. Tucked away in the shadows and out of the main view of the front tower entrance just above the moat, a door opened. It was Sidon.
Relieved, Link sighed.
"Good, you're alive! I'll swim across," Link said, darting to the water.
"Careful Link, the moat carries itself a mighty under toe that you wouldn't realize just from gazing upon the surface. But it's there just the same. A neat and clever neat trick too, seeing is how old the castle is. I think your forebearers didn't want randoms going for pleasure swims in their moats. My guess, is that they used that as a way to keep out threats that may have tried their luck at ending the line of Hylia!"
Link skid on his heels, almost falling in the water.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, best not chance it. How about I cast out a line, and you grab ahold? I'll pull you in?"
"Sounds good, hurry!"
Grabbing the rope tied to his waist, Sidon fixed a quick lasso and tossed it into the water were Link faced. The proud Hylian nodded and did a front flip into the water, swimming past the resident colorful fishes that made their home of the old moat. Wasting no time, he quickly snatched and tugged on the line. But, just as he did, a sudden rush of current flowed over him mightier than a whirlpool, threatening to carry him away into the abyss. Luckily, Sidon felt the pull and reeled him hands over fist on the rope.
It didn't take long, but Link made it across, albeit soaked from the swim and slightly fatigued from gripping so hard.
Link shook off what water he could and spoke. "Okay, now that we are in, I know an easier way to the Grand Sanctum. That's where he'll be."
Sidon nodded in approval and followed after Link rushed into the tower.
Charging full speed on the main road, Zelda and Sylmoor were almost at the tail end of the army, which had already advanced through almost the entire city and were about to make their final assault on the castle.
She saw the cavalry up ahead, slaying whatever beast remained in their wake. Those at the front led by Simon were reforming into another line to charge through the bottleneck of the main gate to the castle. The way was open, and she could also see even further ahead of them where monsters were forming their lines too and some even firing arrows from the ramparts of the great outer castle wall.
"There! Link will be there, hurry!" she commanded.
Sylmoor gulped but obeyed, kicking his horse, even more, to hurry to them. But, in that instant, just in between them and the great Hylian force that lie ahead, what seemed like an explosion rumbled beneath their feet just in front of them. Sylmoor jerked the reins as fast as he could and nearly lost control of the animal. The poor creature squealed in terror and slid rough to a terrible stop on its silver hooves.
Astonished at what they were witnessing, a giant stone door opened level with the ground, in the middle of the road, somewhat still covered by dirt and cobblestone. And out from what could have only been hell's pit came a scourge of villains. First, a massive brown Lynel followed by a group of moblins and bokoblins, bloodthirsty, and ready to kill anyone in their path.
"But how!? Oh no, it can't be, it's a trap! The army…they will be recaptured if more get through! We have to help them somehow?!"
"We need to turn around right now if we want to live long enough to warn them!" Sylmoor shouted, spinning the horse into a retreat.
"We can't abandon them!" she pleaded.
"We're not; we'll just have to find another way. Your safety is our top priority!"
She paused for just a moment to think. "Okay! I think I know another way," She said, pointing in the direction of another road, one that was smaller and tied around in a loop up ahead to where the army was.
"Yeah, alright, also…is there anything else you might want to mention about this wonderful city of yours? Ya, know, like special trap doors that the castle guards use to use? Now would be a great time to mention such important details!"
"I had no idea those even existed," she replied wearing a worried frown. "I wasn't privy to all the dealings of the castle and its fortifications while growing up, you know."
"Yeah, well, that makes two of us…" And just as he was about to charge the stallion to run, he and Zelda heard a growl. The massive brown lynel wasn't facing the back end of the army at all but was glaring right at them. Its evil eyes were aglow with a fire while it devilishly licked its lips in a crazed hunger, leering at Zelda.
"Oh, don't tell me…" Sylmoor's face went blue as the sea. The lynel lifted its mighty finger and pointed right at them. Growling to his subordinates in a blackened speech, the monster let out an ominous decree. "Kill the man. But, the Dark Lord demands that her majesty be brought back to us alive and unspoiled. Now go! All of you!"
The pair were frozen with fear by the taunt of his pointed finger right at them. And like a pack of dogs on the hunt, a horde of moblins and bokoblins raced after to attack them.
In a panic, Sylmoor kicked the horse to bolt away, following down the path Zelda marked earlier.
"Hold on!" Sylmoor commanded as they rode off into the wind, down the alley.
But their escape was short-lived. Only steps away down another road did they encounter another small horde which had snuck in somehow behind the line—followed by another and another. Almost all the side alleys in the nobility quarter were now crawling with monsters, and no matter which route Sylmoor took, he had to jerk the horse in another direction to avoid capture. Until at last, they dead-ended at a courtyard wall which belonged to a nobleman who had an adjacent yard to the main castle gardens themselves.
They were now trapped with hardly a way out for their steed.
Mumbling in fear under his breath, Sylmoor faced the stallion toward the slowly approaching cackling bunch of monsters. Taking one step back for every two, they made forward to them.
He whispered. "You just had to come along on this adventure, didn't you Sylmoor? You could have just stayed home, enjoyed the theater and father's honey-wine. But nooo!... You just couldn't have left well off alone, could ya? You let boredom and rupees get the best of ya, as always!" he gulped.
Unable to hear exactly what he was saying, the princess spoke leaning toward him on the horse. "Sorry to interrupt whatever this is, but what are we going to do?"
Her eyes widened as she saw the encroaching enemy. They were done for, but she wasn't about to lose hope yet.
Sylmoor blurted. "Okay! So that's the way of it, eh! So be it!"
Zelda scrunched up her face, confused and unsure what he meant by that declaration.
He shot a glance over his shoulder with a holler of direction. "Hurry, you have to flee. Right now! There, behind us, there is a small staircase leading to the top of that roof of that manor. You see it?"
She nodded."Yes, I've been here before. A long time ago. I remember this place. It was my cousin's estate, Lady Mildred's. There's a small entrance to the castle here."
"Well, I say it's now time for an overdue family reunion, wouldn't you say!? It's too narrow to ride. You have to go alone and get to safety, now hop off!"
"What!? What about you?" she said, worried for him.
"I'll be alright! There's no time to debate! Here, take the sword of the KNIGHTs! Quickly now! Before I come to my senses and change my mind!"
She obeyed and slid off the steed as Sylmoor loosened the pristine belt to his scabbard, handing her the ancient enchanted blade from his waist.
"You won't last alone! I can't!"
"Yes, you can, and you will! Now go! I'll manage somehow," he ordered her, letting out a deep sigh.
He continued his farewell. "Well, it's not quite what I have imagined for myself when I decided to come along, but I guess I'm going to find out sooner rather than later if the legends are true or not! Let's see if this armor is really worth its myth! I should be enough to hold them off for you to make your escape into the castle grounds! At least to buy you some time before they rush over me. It doesn't look to be that many of them over there. They seem to be all coming here on this side of the wall now! Try to get yourself away and lay low unless you see your man! Now go!"
Sylmoor gripped the lance that was pitched to the side of the stallion on a brace and readied himself, facing all the foes. Determined, he pointed it toward them in a jousting position as one last stand between them and their prize.
The princess scurried off behind him, taking the sheathed sword under her cloak, bolting to the stone staircase that wrapped around the old manor. Running as fast as her legs could carry her, she narrowly dodged whizzing arrows that flew past her golden hair. Bolts were fired from bokoblins that saw her from ahead of where Sylmoor stood. Some tore through her cloak, whereas others shot around as they missed, the loud clanks and ricocheting pings of them on the steps sent her a fright. As the last of the arrows flew by her face, she screamed but managed to carry on and get lost within the grounds of the manor on the other side and out of view. She was well on her way to the castle now, alone.
The chief moblin that had led the assault on the orders of the Lynel, raged at his underlings, who were firing arrows. "What are you doing maggots!? The master wants her unharmed and untouched!" In pure red aggression, the moblin grabbed the face of one of the bokoblins that shot toward her majesty and ripped his head from his shoulders. "Orders were to kill the man, but secure the girl! She is to be unspoiled!" The other cretins beside him switched to their clubs and their attention to the daring Sylmoor instead.
And just as Sylmoor braced to meet his heroic end and as the shivers of cold fear rattled through his body, a miracle happened. Lunging out from the side of the alley adjacent to him and the pack of enemies Sylmoor faced, rushed Seabass, his Zora warriors, and a few Starsguard infantrymen. They ran over the crowd of cretins, laying waste to them all. Sylmoor was saved by sheer luck and fortunate timing. The poor man nearly fainted from the suspense.
Seabass called out to him, turning to see the pale-faced lord. "You alright, m' lord? Where is her highness, the princess? Wasn't she with you?"
Sylmoor had to take an assortment of heavy breaths to regain his composure."She…She was. But now she isn't. We have to go to her! She fled ahead. We were surrounded, and I had to let her go to find safety elsewhere. I thought we were done for. And then you…Never-mind, quickly, we must require her at once before she is found by our enemies."
Sylmoor gazed back around to the direction where she departed. She was nowhere to be seen nor any evidence of her existing at all. The scene was strangely quiet towards the castle. "Dear Goddesses. I do hope she is alright," He muttered under his breath.
"M'lord?"
"Eh, nothing. Let's go…Though, I do admit I don't see her anywhere." He said with a frown.
"We'll find her. Best to leave your horse here. We'll escort you to the castle, that way my lord."
"Right."
The small band of warriors firmly nodded and followed after his lead.
With unexpected ease, Link and Sidon managed to get through all three sections of the castle grounds. Both now were inching close to the grand sanctum, and to the best of Link's knowledge, the castle seemed abandoned for the most part.
Link commented in a hush voiced as he and Sidon both wandered the halls of the great castle, careful to sneak by. "I don't get it. Surely, we would have seen more guards. Only three of them we had to deal with this entire breach?"
"Yeah, it does seem strange. Maybe all of them were needed to hold off against the army at the front?"
"I don't know…but I have a bad feeling about this. It doesn't make sense. We saw way more of them last night, where did they all go?"
"Well, honestly, right now, I don't miss them. It means we probably can get the jump on ol' Malroc. And with any luck, he will be alone? Right?"
"Yeah, let's hope so."
The pair crept through the dark castle's many chambers, watching each other's back as they did so. Until finally, the moment they have been waiting for had arrived.
"Okay, this is it. Beyond this door lies the great sanctum of the King. The pearl has to be here. It's the heart of the castle."
"After you." Sidon smiled.
Link nodded, held up his small ax with one hand while holding his knife in the other as he gently shoved the massive door open. It echoed deep into the hallowed chamber. And with nothing but a small flickering light of a burnt-out torch held above on a far off sconce in the room, that was all that lit their path. There was no way to sneak in, so they braced for whatever lurked in the shadows, heart racing.
And then came an ominous voice that rumbled the entire castle.
"Enter Hylian. The way is clear for you."
Link lifted his head, unsure of the voice. Eyes were scanning the darkened room as best he could. The voice came from the far off end of the magnificent chamber, near the ruined throne where the King would sit.
The voice quaked again. "Why, you look as if you're surprised to hear me? Don't be."
Finally, Link saw the source of the wicked voice. It was the King of Lynel's himself, Malroc. The great titan sat on his hind legs. He was waiting patiently as if he had expected a timed delivery that was most precious to him. And with that same breath where he sat calmly, he spun like a top a massive lynel ax. The most fearsome ax anyone in this lifetime has ever witnessed. Gently, the monster was caressing its deadly sharp edges as if they were nothing to fear at all.
"Don't act so surprised. For I have been taught in your ways and of the language from which you speak of. Yes, it is true. The witch has granted me vast knowledge to a great many things of your kind."
"So, what, you can speak a few words. You're going to need to know better tricks than that if you think you're going to beat me."
"You dare enter my chamber and mock me with a smirk?"
"Mock you? No, I'm here to do you a favor."
"And what is that? You bring gifts?" The monster huffed.
"Yeah, I'm going to send you back to the master that you love so much. Because wherever he is right now, that's where you're going to be in about five minutes."
Letting out a sadistic laugh, the behemoth scoffed at the insinuation of his small challenging rival. Stomping several steps away from where he stood, he made his war ax disappear with what appeared to be some twisted magic. And with a bloody demonic glow of pure hatred in his eyes, he spoke again to Link.
"So, you are him. You're the hero champion that was promised, eh?"
"That'd be me." Link smiled, unafraid.
"Kind of puny for a 'legendary hero' wouldn't you agree? I thought you'd be a little taller."
"Well, I thought you would be a little scarier. So, I guess that leaves the two of us a bit disappointed."
"Hmph! What did you say to me, you miserable runt!?" Malroc raged, rising up on his hind legs into another war stomp. The stone beneath their feet quaked, and the whole sanctum shook from end to end.
Paying no mind at all, Link turned away, ignoring Malroc's taunts. "Hey, Sidon, best two out of three, wasn't it?"
"Yeah." The prince smirked, walking in from the hallway across the archway where Link stood.
"What!? What is this? Who is he?" Malroc glared, growling toward the two heroes who stood before him, daringly.
"Oh, him? He is just here to observe and learn, unless," Link said with another smile, cupping his chin.
Sidon chimed. "Unless I win the match, of course! Then it will be just you and me big guy!" he said, flexing his red arm proudly.
Link nodded and glanced at his fellow warrior. "Alright then, what do you say we put an end to this and shut up old jabber mouth over there? But, this time, we play it fair. Winner takes all the glory."
Sidon grinned with a single thumbs up from one of his arms that were crossed.
"Go!" Link declared, and they were off once again, having a sport again with a game of Goron, Hylian, and Zora.
Things reached a fever pitch, and Malroc's gold mane turned violently red with pure anger as his patience evaporated instantly. "What is this!? Am I some sort of joke to you!? I am MALROC! The great Harbinger of the Dark Lord and the destroyer of worlds and of all people!"
Not skipping a beat, the cool Hylian retorted mid matchup, hand-stretched toward his friend. "Yeah, well, I'm Link. Just Link."
"Enough of your childish insolence! You will both fight me now! Die in agony, Goddess filth!" In a lightning fury, Malroc hurled toward the heroes a sharpened flying end of a whip out of nowhere. Its tail was crowned with a blade that was a pointed star-shape and looked to be of a fine demonic craftmanship, appearing from another realm. It was as if it materialized out of a black fog of energy made up from Malroc. The whip was held together by chains of negative electric current. And it buzzed like a swarm of deadly hornets past both their ears, crackling and popping with black sparks.
Whoa! He's fast! Guess it's going to have to be a draw then! The knight noted, narrowly leaping out from the line of attack. Sidon, too missed the shot, barely jumping out the other way.
Link shouted, "Looks like we are going to have to call it even, Sidon!"
"Hey, Link... I think he wants to hurt us?! " Sidon said with a slight laugh as he sprung back.
"Yeah, no kidding!" Link shouted, swiftly dodging the strike by the sweat of his sideburns next to his pointy ear. "Let's show him together? Yeah?"
"Right!"
In stunning speed for a Lynel, Malroc pounced the great gap between the two warriors, splintering the floor beneath them in a blink of an eye. "Die both of you!" And with that same breath swung his Malice enchanted whip in a whirling cyclone right toward both Link and Sidon's head.
Once again, the heroes barely jumped out of the way from the tail end, which held the sharpened star-shaped blade. And in that strike, it cleanly decimated and sliced through two pillars supporting the roof above them. And what seemed like the Lynels intention was just a distraction, because before either Link or Sidon could react, the monster summoned back his whip to disappear, spinning himself to face the red prince. Sidon was large, but next to the Lynel, he was an ant. And in a fluid motion with the backhand of his fist smacked him with the force of a tidal wave, flinging him high through the air like a rag doll until he crashed into the far end ceiling of the sanctum.
The fight was now evenly matched and back to one on one. And with his sights dead set on Link, he made his attack lunging for him, claws outward.
Link was wounded from earlier, and even he felt that he wasn't as quick, but even still with that, he managed to dodge yet again the Lynel's lunge. The beast smashed the ground missing the Hylian.
And in a quick ballet of aerial flips, Link backed away. But with a short glance over the shoulder, he saw that the massive King of beast was already making his next move.
In mind blurring speed, the Lynel was now again just in front of him, several feet away. And in slow motion, the monster heaved his chest proud and out came from his mouth spat a flaming ball of sun right toward Link.
In a quick reflex action, Link did a side flip behind a tall stone pillar which held a bit of the roof. But like a volcanic eruption, the Lyne chased him with his flame. Behind the stone, Link felt the incinerating heat billow around the column. And just as he thought he was safe, the stone began to bubble and melt. Link had to escape or face being torched. So, in another daring move, he did another grand leap over the line of fire in another direction.
Chancing a glance over his shoulder, he saw the smoldering pillar succumb to the onslaught of raging heat, melting under its weight. More of the roof collapsed, and before Link knew it, Malroc was nowhere to be seen. The monster fled.
What? Where did he go? Why start a fight just to flee? The knight wondered, kneeling on one knee, looking all around for his foe.
The dark voice vibrated once again in the large room but wasn't seen.
"You see!? Fool! I have been blood blessed by the King of Darkness himself. The witch has sanctified me in his power. His very essence flows through every fiber of my being. And, with every breath I draw from his Malice, every muscle and tendon tightens further, invigorating me with his wonderful energy. And so, with this newfound strength coursing through my veins, I shall annihilate you all!"
"If you're so powerful, why run away? Face me now!" Link challenged.
"So eager to die, are we? Far be it from me to let you down…" the voice rumbled, and what seemed like an eternal pause, it resumed suddenly. "Patience and in time, you will meet your demise, hero. But for now, I have my eyes set on another more…satisfying prey…" The voice echoed a final time and trailed off into silence.
Splintering noises of the crumbling sanctum rang out violently as the ceiling began to fall. The ground beneath their feet shook to the very foundation of the entire castle.
"Link! Are you okay?" Sidon ran up to him from the side, cautiously looking about for a way out of their predicament.
"Sidon, you're alright?" Link replied, jumping up to his feet, glad to see his friend in one piece.
"Of course, just a couple of scratches. Sorry I wasn't much help back there."
"Nah, you did alright, you take a good punch nicely."
"Hah! Sure do. But hey, I saw something when I fell. There is something you should see this way."
"What about Malroc? He's escaping!"
"I think he can wait. It's about the army. Come look and see. I think this was a trap. Everything. It was too easy. You were right; something was up."
"What!? What do you mean?"
"Hurry and come look. I saw it over by the window when that jerk sucker punched me. This way!"
Both darted to where Sidon pointed. It was just outside on the bridge to the sanctum that connected to another more stable part of the main castle. Sidon waved his hand upwards for Link to stop as he leaned over the ascending bridge that had a full view of the entire front of the castle grounds. There he cautiously pointed beyond the main wall where the war was happening.
"You see? Look, it's the army! They are bottlenecked and been halted on the main road. And look, they are being obstructed by something! Do you see it?"
"But how? The way was clear? The main gate bridge has fallen? What is stopping them?"
"There! I see it!" Sidon shouted, his eyes bulging as a worry shot up his spine.
Link jerked his attention to where Sidon was pointing now, just before the wall on the castle side where the enemy had amassed most its forces. And there they saw it come into view.
Sidon gasped. "Goddesses, it can't be?"
"It is. Change of plans." Link boldly declared.
"What are you doing?"
"I have to go to them. It's an uphill charge through the main wall through that small opening. And they won't be able to take that thing down without my help!"
"Link that's madness. Even for you? I'll go with you!"
"No, stay here and wait for my return. I'll be back as soon as I can!"
"But Link, what am I to do?"
"Hide," he said before pausing. Thinking better of it Link decided to leave instructions as he glanced around in full panorama at their situation and what needed to be done. "Or better yet. Can you get the rest of the smaller towers open? If you do that, the army won't have to conquer each one with a breach. It will make climbing to the next level much easier."
"That I can do." Sidon smiled from ear to ear, eager to help.
"Still have some powder left in that pouch of yours?" Link pointed.
"Yes, a bit. Enough to break the chains and hinges to each of the smaller gates."
"Then get going, I'm heading to the battle. I'm not about to let this become a massacre today."
"Stay alive, alright! I need to keep my promise, ya know."
"You do the same! And get out at any sign of trouble!"
They both nodded to each other with a farewell smirk and went their separate ways. Link realized he needed a speedy way to get to the army. Eyeing a thick hanging chain tightly connected from one rook to the main tower, he decided that would be his best opportunity to get them in a hasteful fashion. To his eyes, it was a glistening metallic rope of hope.
Wasting no time, he reached for the chain with one hand while simultaneously swinging out his hatchet to split it from the wall of the bridge connecting to the other tower. Sparks flew in doing so, and with a leap of faith, he used the chain to swing from high up in the air at the level of the castle down to the descending level quickly, landing on a lower tower's roof.
Being much closer to the army now, he alerted the attention of those enemies dwelling on the roof where he landed. Easily, he dispensed three would be guards who tried to assault him. Flinging one instantly over the rooftop in a surprise air attack from behind while slaying one other with its comrade's own wooden spear as it charged at him. Using a flash of decisive moves with the ax and knife, he grabbed and pulled enemies that lunged at him, jerking the spear to impale the other as he axed the one who came first. Link fought with an elegance not seen for a century.
Just one more level to go, he thought. He had to hurry; with a better view, he saw the army was taking heavy losses. Volleys from monsters were being hurled from the top of the large outer wall of the castle down below into the nobility district where the army gathered.
He knew that their charge had been slowed, and the final obstacle was now before them.
Link had no choice but to come to their aid and confront the colossal looming threat that awaited the army at the fallen bridge's entrance.
Like a sentinel of death, it obstructed all that dared opposed it. Everything that Link has fought so hard to achieve was now hanging from a thread. All was at risk of being lost forever should the army fail. The final liberation of the kingdom was either at hand or doomed. It was up to him. He once again had to be the hero that Hyrule desperately needed and rise up to the occasion.
His many wounds rocked his body, but he grinned, shirking them away. Somehow he found the courage and what little strength he had left to persevere and carry on. The time was now for liberation. All was riding on him now.
Simon shouted, hunkering down behind some rubble as arrows fell overhead. "Fallback here. I want shields and spears to the front!" He dismounted, pulling his stallion back behind some cover of destroyed buildings.
"My liege, the losses at the front have been grievous. The gate may have been fallen, but we can't get through! It is too tight, and they are pillaging us with their arrows every time we approach!"
"My lord, if I may suggest." Another officer's voice chimed. "If I may suggest, perhaps, we should retreat and regroup and plan another attack." He said with a short bow.
"Retreat? On the eve of our victory!? Have you gone mad, or have you been filled with cowardice?"
"Neither, my lord…I'm just."
"Dammit you, I'm ordering you to command! How and what you do with your men is your problem! I want that wall taken!"
"But, my lord, my company has been torn to pieces! I have hardly any fighting men left? Who can I send?"
Angered, Simon jerked the man close by his breastplate and raged in his face. "Send yourself!"
The man gulped in fright. "Y…Yes, Sir," the man swallowed.
Spinning back around to face the other commanders by his side and the main force, which was now behind him awaiting their next plan of attack. For the most part, they were all out of range of most of the enemy archers atop the wall.
Simon proclaimed, facing the bulk of the army. "Not a brave man among you willing to do his lord's bidding? Then fine! I'll do it myself! I'll lead first! Follow me! The main cavalry charge will follow me up the middle, you others try to break through this wall and take some of that load off our shoulders."
Another soldier hollered, hunkering down beside him. "But m' lord, the siege ladders, the rungs won't reach the ramparts. They are too short!"
"Damnit then, tie them together. I want those archers dealt with," Simon huffed, pointing a stiff finger to the north of them.
Another man called out from the rear with news from the tail end. "My Lord, enemies have resurfaced from the city! Many of them!"
"What!? What do you mean, we already cleared the city!? How is that possible?"
"I have no idea, but they are advancing from behind, a small but sizable force of them."
"Dammit all…how is this possible? Moblins and the like don't scheme or develop grand plans. They are mindless beasts that must be put to the sword and slaughtered like the devil filth they are!"
"It appears m'lord they indeed have formulated a stratagem."
"I can see that, Villamor! You think I'm blind?!"
"No, my lord…forgive me."
"Then what are you standing here for!? Have spears at the rear turn. I don't want any of them to get through. My brother's reinforcements will encircle them. We just need to hold them off and continue our momentum into the castle."
"M' lord, it will be done." The man turned the head of his horse and kicked away back into the city to fulfill the order.
"Alright, brave men of Bountiful and of Hyrule, follow me! To victory!" Simon rallied, holding his mighty spear up high in the bright of the noonday sun. "Charge!"
The eager and brash lord made his assault leading the rushing cavalry behind him, right for the middle opening of the fallen bridge to the main wall to the castle. But just as he did, something he had not intended revealed itself to him and his men.
First, the horses slid on their hooves, and one by one, each of the men were filled with a soul sinking terror at the menacing sight. A behemoth the likes any of them have ever seen.
"Goddesses, it can't be." Simon's eyes bulged, and he waved frantically for the army to halt as fast as they could. But it was too late. Several of his men had already rushed past him to their immediate and sudden deaths. Hope vanished from each and every one of them as they saw their doom lay before them, provoking them to proceed if they dared.
Far off to the eastern horizon upon a high pavilion overlooking the castle and valley below, peering through tall blades of noon lit prairie grass came the clip-clop of horse steps trotting by. Until finally settling into view on a coal colored stallion where a hooded man sat atop, cloaked in a white robe. The very same type of robe you'd see beholden of a priest. The unknown man joined his steed in letting out a long overdue sigh of relief as the animal shook itself from the long journey. He had finally arrived.
Not long after he made the top of the hill came riding in from behind were his cohorts. A group of at least ten cavaliers, five of which on each side, were encompassing him in a stunning vee formation. All of whom could now see the ensuing war happening below at the gates of the castle. The day was far from won.
The cloaked man proclaimed loudly to others who were now at his side in a strong, wise, yet stone-cold manner. The kind of voice you would hear that vibrated within your bones and shook every fiber of your being. "Ah…it appears that my talents are still needed on the battlefield."
"But, my Lord Kelcifer, what of the princess and her dying friend? She should be at the rear end of camp with the others who cannot fight. Shouldn't we be going to her first?" the Starlight escort mentioned with a worry, hand pointing in the direction of the camp, which was opposite of where they were facing.
"Her friend will be quite alright that I can assure you. There will be plenty of time later enough for that. But first, there is a great war to be won still. She will understand my decision. "
The elite soldier coughed into his fist, approaching closer on his horse alongside the wizard. And as respectful as he could to change the lord's mind, he spoke again. "But, my lord, you're not even armed for battle?"
"Am I now?" the cloaked and youthful man questioned back, half-smirk peeking from the shadow of his hood. His horse also snorted at the cavalryman's insinuation, stomping a few clops forward.
The man just froze atop his saddle intimidated by the powerful beast, letting out only a grunt of nervousness.
"Do not fret for me," Kelcifer chuckled softly. "Now, what do you say we all hurry and get this war over with once and for all, hmm? Our princess is waiting and needs us to finish the task laid before us now," he said, again letting out a laugh. Albeit this time slightly more jovial.
He continued with yet another grin. "The great day of reckoning has finally come at last…so is the end of Ganon's one-hundred-year reign," he declared, a single hand raised and stretched outward over the field, slowly clenching into a fist for all to see. The men were rallied, and with no delay, the wizard glanced over both shoulders, kicked his stallion to lead, and the men followed.
Author's Notes: A poll has been created and embedded in my profile for those who don't wish to leave a comment, but still want their opinions heard. I care about all your thoughts and any feedback I can get from the audience that I can use to learn and grow from will help me craft a story much better going forward. So, please if you can take a moment to vote it will help me considerably. Thanks
UPDATE: 8/8/2020- Currently writing and revising the next two chapters. The climax of act one is here and it is taking some time for me to divide it correctly where it makes the most sense. With my current irl job workload it has been tough to get the time in. Please be patient during this time and I should have the story updated in several weeks. I do apologize for such the long wait. Thanks everyone. Love ya!