Dark's POV

Three days have passed since the night after the tavern, and the tension between myself and Ralph lingers like a festering wound. I don't know why, but he never gave up my name as the one that hurt him, not even when Ganondorf asked him personally. The only one of them who bothered to question my bruises was Amara, but I don't blame them. Compared to Ralph, I look practically unscathed.

In contrast, the atmosphere in Hyrule Castle is thick with excitement. Today, Queen Rutela of the Zoras would arrive to swear her fealty to Ganondorf—a momentous occasion that promised to solidify his grip on the kingdom.

I stand in the throne room, my posture rigid, eyes scanning every corner. Ralph is beside me, his usual smirk replaced by a mask of professional detachment. His right hand is still in a cast, the facial swelling and bruises from our recent fight still visible. Both are a physical reminder of the animosity that now defined our relationship.

We are on high alert, tasked with guarding Ganondorf as he receives the queen. Gormac is positioned to handle security outside the throne room, ensuring that no one enters unpermitted, and Amara is in the dungeons ready to escort Prince Ralis.

The large double doors at the throne room entrance creak open, and all eyes turn to see Queen Rutela, flanked by her guards, entering the room. The beautiful queen of the Zoras glided in with an ethereal grace. Her shimmering, translucent fins caught the light, and cast a dazzling array of colors across the walls. Her teal dress, designed to mimic the natural movement of the water, flowed around her.

My gaze is fixed on the queen, searching for any hint of trouble, as she approaches Ganondorf's throne.

"Welcome, Queen Rutela," Ganondorf says, his voice echoing through the hall. "I trust your journey was uneventful."

Queen Rutela inclines her head, her voice steady. "It was, Lord Ganondorf. I am here to fulfill my promise and swear fealty to you, but I would like to see that my son is unharmed before I do so. "

Ganondorf's smile was predatory. "Excellent. I am pleased to hear it. Amara! Bring the boy in."

At Ganondorf's command, Amara enters the throne room from a side door, Prince Ralis in tow. The young prince's hands are bound, and his eyes flood with relief at the sight of the queen. Amara's expression is one of cold professionalism, as you brought the Prince to stand to the right of his mother.

Queen Rutela's gaze softens as she looks at her son, and she steps forward "As agreed, I will swear my loyalty in exchange for my son's freedom."

Ganondorf's eyes glint with triumph. "Proceed."

Queen Rutela knelt before the throne, her head bowed. "I, Queen Rutela of the Zoras, hereby swear fealty to Lord Ganondorf, ruler of Hyrule. I pledge my loyalty and the loyalty of my people to you, and I vow to serve you faithfully."

Ganondorf rose from his throne, stepping down to stand before the queen. He places a hand on her shoulder, a gesture that was as much a claim of dominance as it was an acceptance of her oath. "Rise, Queen Rutela. Your loyalty is acknowledged."

Queen Rutela stood, her eyes meeting Ganondorf's. "May I take my son home now?"

Ganondorf nods to Amara, who unties Prince Ralis and gently pushes him towards his mother. The queen embraces her son tightly, a look of profound relief on her face.

As Queen Rutela and Prince Ralis turn to leave, a sudden commotion erupts outside the throne room. The heavy doors burst open, and one of Gormac's guards stumbles in, bleeding and out of breath.

"Intruders!" the guard gasps. "They're attacking the castle!"

Ganondorf's eyes narrow, and he begins barking orders "Amara, secure the queen and her son. Do not let them leave this room. Ralph, Dark, with me!"

The throne room descends into chaos. Ralph and I draw our weapons, moving to flank Ganondorf as he strides towards the doors. We follow him out into the corridor, where Gormac is already in the thick of the fight, his roars of fury echoing through the halls.

As we join the fray, the clashing of swords and the cries of combat become deafening. Ganondorf unleashes blasts of dark magic, the energy crackling and tearing through the ranks of the intruders. His massive sword cleaves through opponents with terrifying ease. Ralph wields his staff with precision, despite using his non-dominant hand, occasionally sending powerful gusts of wind to knock enemies off their feet and into walls.

I move through the shadows, my magic allowing me to blend seamlessly with the darkness. I kill efficiently, appearing behind an unsuspecting foe, striking them before slipping back into the shadows.

As we push the intruders back and the fight carries out onto the castle grounds, I catch sight of their leader. It's Rusl, the old knight from Link's village, directing the fighters with the confidence of a seasoned warrior. He must be one of the leaders of the Hyrulean resistance group, making this is no random raid, but a coordinated attack, meant to disrupt Ganondorf's balance of power.

I swear his eyes lock onto mine for a brief moment before he signals his men to retreat. They began to fall back, fighting to cover their escape. I move to pursue him, but the press of enemies slows me down and by the time I break free, Rusl is gone.

Ganondorf's roars in frustration, "Do not let them escape!"

Despite our best efforts, Rusl and several of his fighters manage to slip away. The remaining intruders are quickly subdued, their capture bringing a grim end to the chaos. Ganondorf gives them the option to swear fealty to him and be sent to the dungeons, or die. The several that refuse to kneel are lined up, and Ralph and I make quick work of killing them.

"We must find out who sent them," Ganondorf growls, his eyes sweeping over the captured intruders as they are escorted to the dungeon. "This attack will not go unanswered."

—

The next morning, my breakfast is interrupted by a messenger informing me that Ganondorf has summoned me. Begrudgingly, I set aside my meal and make my way towards the throne room not wanting to keep him waiting.

As usual, Ganondorf is seated on his throne, when I arrive.

"Dark," he says. "The resistance in Hyrule is growing more troublesome. I need you to go to Ordon Village; Rusl, the one who led the attack yesterday, lives there. I want you to kill him and his family." His eyes darken. "And do it with some flair please, I want to send a message. "

My heart sinks with the weight of the task, but I am also relieved to be assigned somewhere else as my deadline for destroying the Temple of Time is quickly approaching.

"Yes, my lord," I reply, my head bowed.

"Failure will not be tolerated."

I nod and leave the throne room, the weight of his words pressing down on me. As I prepare my pack for the journey, I recall what Link had told me of Ordon Village. He described it as a place of serenity with kind people and a rich culture. I wince. Won't be that way when I'm done with it.