Chapter Eighteen – War
Chaos unfolded in a short instant on Lake Hylia's shores. More Zora leapt from the frothing waters as they rapidly advanced on to the shoreline, swelling their numbers as the soldiers became overwhelmed by the sudden attack.
Link sat in horror, still unable to move or respond. His every instinct urging him to move. The best he could do was to wiggle his toes impotently. Desperate now, as his paralysis rooted him to his core.
As the sick looking Zora came ashore, Link saw Karlsman run out of the fort at full sprint. He bellowed as he ran, ordering every soldier to form a shield wall against the tridents he had seen.
As several soldiers on the beach fought back and retreated, Link saw ten men rushing towards the shore at Karlsman's orders. One soldier fighting bravely died as a Zora drove its trident through his neck, another died as he was toppled and stabbed in the head.
The sudden attack was brutal. There were still patrols out around the lake too. Link could only hope they had seen the commotion and were on their way back to reinforce.
To his slight relief, he saw some of the Gerudo women running to help with the defence with their scimitars drawn. Zelda ran towards them too.
Seeing the princess run towards the commotion elicited some fear from Link. The attack was overwhelming and they were already at a disadvantage. Looking around with his eyes frantically, he tried hard to find something he could do that would help.
As he did, he glanced to the faint outline of the Triforce on his hand.
His emotions already in turmoil, he felt this was his only hope, the power of goddesses.
As he focused his turmoil, he tried channelling it towards his hand again. To his surprise, the edges began to glow a little more.
"I need to help! Please remove my paralysis so I can defend our friends!"
The glow faded once more, but nothing changed. Looking up in frustration, he saw the progress of the battle. Karlsman had rallied his troops in to a tightly knit shield wall. Several Gerudo women stood behind them and another few at the flanks, to prevent being encircled. Zelda joined them as the Zora continued to emerge from the green lake.
The shield wall was under relentless assault, but the Hylian soldiers weathered the attacks and would not falter, especially with their princess there.
Link looked to his hand again, frustration piling on top of his hopelessness. He tried channelling his the emotions once more.
"Please! Release me from my paralysis! This attack will kill us all if we can't repel it!" he shouted aloud and mentally.
As it had started to glow again, it faded at his heartfelt please.
"Oh come on…" he bemoaned.
Looking back up, he saw the battle was turning for the worse. Two of the soldiers in the wall had fallen and been killed. One of the Gerudo had ferociously repelled the attackers through the gap, decapitating two of the Zora. The shield wall shrank as the gap was filled.
Karlsman was shouting orders that Link couldn't make out. The wall took on a bend to deal with the enemy who were now swelling at the front.
Fear took root in Link this time. The attack had barely begin and they were already five men down. He hadn't seen Sabbah anywhere either.
Looking to his hand again, he added fear to the potent mix of emotions roiling through his being.
Channelling them to his hand once more, with significant effort, he pleaded again.
"Please! Release me! We are doomed to die at this rate! I need to help them defend!" he cried aloud.
The edges of the Triforce faded, stubbornly refusing him.
"What do you want from me?!" he said in anger.
Anger manifested in to the swell. He looked up again to see how the flow of the fight was going.
More Zora were dead this time as the shield wall was holding. Zelda stayed amongst a flank that was nearly being overwhelmed. She cut through multiple Zora with practised precision. One of the Gerudo women guarded her and cut down some of the attackers too. They both avoided thrusts from tridents, knocking them aside in some cases as they moved back slightly.
At least they were holding their own. The attack remained relentless however.
Looking to his Triforce emblem again, he channelled his emotions as hard as he thought he could manage. The edges of it now glowed brighter than they had at any point in his life.
"Keeping me rooted here guarantees my own death. Maybe Zelda, the Gerudo, the Soldiers… Let me free, I can stop this!" he shouted.
The glow on the emblem faded again.
"What do you want…" he said, deflated.
The entire time he had relied on the Triforce to empower him, it had always been in a moment of desperation. He forced himself to recall what he had been told about its limits.
In his mind, he remembered that there were security measures built in to it now. So that it couldn't be misused. But how could the goddesses know every conceivable way that it could be used, he wondered. Omnipotency was beyond Link, but maybe goddesses had flaws too.
Looking up once more, his heart sank. Several Zora had broken off from the engagement and were running madly towards him, their teeth bared and their eyes milky white as they drew closer.
The shield wall was crumbling as two Gerudo women lay dead, tridents in the chest and throat. Another soldier. The wall was fighting in retreat back to the camp. Karlsman was fighting to his limit defending a flank from multiple angles. Zelda from the other as the swarm of Zora continued relentlessly.
Letting every desperate feeling rush through his whole body, a stark realisation burst in to his mind. So, he prayed. Not to the Triforce this time, but its masters. The goddesses.
"I'm sorry. I should never have violated the measures you put in place on this Triforce, as if it was a toy. Your war against Demise is beyond what I can conceive of. I swear upon my life, I will never violate its securities again. You are goddesses, I am not. You know your reasons far better than I could, and I am a fool. Please, forgive my thoughtless insult. That I thought I was somehow beyond reproach" he uttered, believing every single word.
In an instant, the Triforce emblem glowed brightly as the missing pieces filled back in. Divine light rushed through him and restored his full being and refreshing him. He felt control return to his body as his senses sharpened once more.
"Thank you" He uttered serenely, as he saw three mottled green Zora about to leap on to the cart.
Bending his knees and pushing hard with his feet, he flung himself backwards, out of the other side of the cart. Rolling backwards neatly, he knew he could move, but the Master Sword and his favoured Hylian shield had been stowed back in his tent. To his relief, he heard the battle cries of Sabbah ring loudly on the other side of the cart as she moved to delay the three attacking Zora.
Maybe he could do without his sword for the moment. He didn't like the idea of leaving Sabbah alone.
He ran around the side of the cart and saw all three Zora thrusting their spears at Sabbah who was expertly sidestepping them and parrying the ones she could not.
Link read his opponents and got a rough measure of their strength. They were frenzied and reckless, but their raw strength seemed no different than any Zora he had seen before.
He sprinted hard in to one that was about to thrust its trident again. The shock of the impact sent it sprawling on to the floor as it dropped its weapon. He stamped the heel of his boot in to its neck, snapping it deftly.
Taking the trident for himself, he span it around and thrust in to the side of one of the attacking Zora who had turned to face him too late. It made no pained cries as life bled from it, but the face was contorted in rage even as it fell to the floor.
Sabbah took advantage of the last ones confusion and sliced its neck with her curved scimitar. Its head fell plainly on to the floor, with the same fixed expression of rage.
Sabbah took a moment to catch her breath as she saw Link standing.
"Welcome back, strong flower!" she said eagerly.
Link nodded to her briefly. There was still a battle going on.
"I need my sword and shield. Follow me and we will take the fight to them!"
He span on his heels and leapt in to a sprint back to his tent. Hearing the clash of steel spurred him on further. With his limbs finally under his control, he felt the exhilaration of freedom rush through him, pushing him along faster.
Within a minute, he retrieved the Master Sword and the Shield, slung both on his back and turned again as he pushed his legs as hard as he could. The battle was still ongoing as both sides had reached a stalemate. The shield wall was holding as the remaining soldiers traded blows, the surviving Gerudo guarded the flanks. Karlsman could be heard more as he bellowed orders, fighting side by side with Zelda.
"I'll help Zelda. You?" he asked Sabbah
"I will take other side! Fight well" she said as she broke off.
Link saw the attacking Zora were focused on the wall and edges of it. He had an opportunity. He drew the Master Sword and leapt the last step, swinging wide and hard as he did, cutting through two of the Zora. Seizing the moment, he let his momentum carry him further in to the swarm.
He swung the heavy sword in powerful arcs, spinning on the ball of his feet to carry the momentum through to the next blow
Sprays of pale blood gushed through the air as he cut through another five.
He felt lithe and confident. Knowing he had pressed in enough, he leapt back and dared himself to somersault backwards to clear some space.
The whole attack had taken him no more than a few seconds, but he had achieved his goal of drawing all of the attention to him, giving those in the shield wall critical time to reorganise and catch their breath.
As he moved backwards, the swarm directed its attention to Link. He kept back stepping, drawing them away from the shield wall, parrying thrusts and counterattacking where he could.
A trail of bodies were drawn further along the shoreline as the forces were divided.
Link's strength was fading, each swing of the Master Sword becoming heavier than the last. His sword arm burned with exhaustion, the once-fluid movements now sluggish and laboured. But his gambit had paid off. The brief respite had allowed the soldiers, Gerudo, Karlsman, Zelda, and Sabbah to catch their breath. With renewed determination, they rallied together, the shield wall pressing forward as they met the relentless onslaught of the Zora head-on.
The clash of steel on steel reverberated through the air, mingling with the wet slaps of Zora feet against the damp earth and the guttural cries of the wounded. The battlefield was a cacophony that pounded in Link's ears, drowning out all thought but the need to survive.
A trident whistled past his ear, missing by inches as he twisted away, but before he could regain his footing, two more Zora were on him. He raised his shield just in time, but the impact sent a shockwave through his arm, nearly knocking him off balance. Surrounded now, his lungs burned with every ragged breath, his muscles screamed for respite, but he knew he couldn't stop. Not while the lives of his friends were still at stake.
The stench of blood and sweat hung thick in the air, mingling with the pungent, briny scent of the Zora. Every breath Link took was laced with the sharp tang of battle, fuelling his drive to push forward despite the odds.
The number of Zora in front of him was staggering. Their relentless assault did not abate. He took a sharp breath as another trident drove in to the shield. The force of it finally upset his balance.
Falling to a knee, dread flooded his mind. It was short lived as the tip of one of the many tridents finally pierced through his thigh, straight through to the other side. He screamed as white hot agony seared through his entire body.
Sensing the advantage, Zora surrounded him and moved in for the killing blow.
As his leg remained rooted to the spot, he swung with burning anger at the ankles he could within range. Several of them fell to the floor as their feet were cleaved from their bodies.
He felt as if he had delayed the inevitable, but he would not go quietly.
Then, above the din of battle, he heard it—a fierce, primal war cry that split the air like thunder. From the east side of the lake, two Gerudo women emerged, their scimitars gleaming with the reflected light of the setting sun. They moved with lethal grace, slicing through the Zora with terrifying speed.
Link's vision blurred with pain, but he could make out their forms, charging towards him with a fury that sent the Zora reeling. The sound of their battle cries echoed across the battlefield, a rallying call that seemed to breathe new life into the beleaguered defenders.
The first Gerudo warrior, Amina, reached Link in a blur of motion, her scimitar flashing as it cut through the neck of the nearest Zora, sending its head spinning to the ground. The second Gerudo, Fatimah, followed close behind as her blade carved a bloody path through the remaining enemies. Their movements were a deadly dance, each strike precise and powerful, driving the Zora back in disarray.
Link felt a surge of hope as the tide of battle shifted. The arrival of the Gerudo had turned the tables, their fierce determination and skill cutting through the enemy ranks like a scythe through wheat. With the Zora's focus now divided again, the shield wall advanced with renewed vigour, pushing the attackers back towards the water's edge.
Despite the searing pain in his leg, Link gritted his teeth and forced himself to rise, using the Master Sword as a crutch. He would not let his allies fight alone. Not now.
The battle was far from over, but with the Gerudo at their side, he felt had a fighting chance.
Leaning on the sword, Link barely managed to hobble as each slight vibration stung hard. He needed help. But Zelda was on the other side of the swarm of Zora and rallying the troops in both Hylian and Gerudo. Whatever words she shouted, he couldn't hear but her saw each soldier and warrior with grim determination, renewed.
As the two Gerudo returning from patrol fought in front of him, he had a moment to organise his thoughts. Standing and fighting would likely be fatal, now his leg couldn't be used. Some of the items he had could help, but that still meant staying to fight. But there was one that could let him move and fight at the same time.
Reaching in to his storage belt, he withdrew the spinner device he had recovered in the Arbiters grounds so long ago.
Though he had barely just been forgiven by the goddesses for his arrogance, he knew he would need to ask for their help again. Empowering the device with the Triforce was certainly an act of bravery at least.
He took a deep breath as the carnage played in front of him, the air thick with the smell of blood and brine. He thought of Midna once more, her affection, her kiss and her leaving Hyrule severed from her own world. He thought of Zelda looking horrified at him and her forgiveness of him. He reminded himself of Ilia, screaming at him that she never wanted to see him again.
The raw emotions swelled in him once more as he channelled them to the holy symbol on his hand.
"Please, make this spinner able to move without rest, so I can fight against this horde!" he said aloud.
His plea worked. The symbol glowed bright gold once more as radiant light burst from it and suffused his spinner device. The bright light drew the attention of many Zora, some of which were cut down by the Gerudo for shifting their attention.
Trusting in the goddesses power, he gritted his teeth as he leapt on to the device, grunting in pain as his wound flared from the impact.
But it had worked. The spinner leant forwards as momentum propelled Link forwards. Steering it with slight leans, he began to circle around the rush of affected Zora. The swell of Zora didn't stop. There must have been over a hundred out of the lake by now.
Steering sharply and crouching low, he turned in to an exposed side of the horde and swung as he steered hard the other way. The swing was powerful, sending a ripple of sharp pain up his leg, but it sliced a Zora's throat as they fell to the floor.
Leaning back, he gained distance. The spinners momentum did not slow as it usually did, instead it carried on.
He kept up his attacks and backing off for a while as more and more Zora started to fall. Looking across, he saw every person struggling. Their reserves of stamina near depleted as the sun reached noon. Sweat and blood coated them all as both sides refused to back down, determined to fight to their last breath.
Then, something unusual happened. Without a single noise or change in atmosphere, all of the attacking Zora suddenly stood still. There was no response from them, nor had there been any exchange since the battle started. Even when some were cut down they remained still, staring vacantly in to the distance. Their faces contorted with rage still.
Link kept his distance on his spinner but manoeuvred around the blood stained shoreline. Every Zora was covered in their strange growths and their eyes milky white. His mind raced as the adrenaline started wearing off in the extended lull. He wondered what had happened to them. They had changed somehow, their entire race had but with absolutely no clue or explanation.
Suddenly, in perfect synchronisation, every single remaining Zora turned on their heels and moved back in to the algae infested lake. They waded through the water until they could dive under the water again, out of sight.
Bewildered, everyone left looked on as they left their fallen behind without so much as a noise from them.
As the last of the Zora disappeared beneath the sickly green waters, Link looked around the battlefield. Bodies lay strewn everywhere. A lot of them Zora. But amongst the piles of dead, there was the glint of Hylian splint mail. Further along near where the shield wall had been, the colourful flared trousers belonging to Gerudo women lay in the dirt, soaked in blood.
As the heat of the battle finally settled, the survivors could take respite and process. Both Amina and Fatimah were covered in cuts and nasty looking bruises, but they were thankfully still alive.
He rode his spinner towards them, hoping they had no dangerous wounds. As they saw him approach they didn't raise their swords but they did look as if they were staring aimlessly as they breathed raggedly.
He slowed to a stop and balanced in place on the spinner. Not knowing their language, he did his best to gesture to them.
Pointing to the two of them and giving a thumbs up, they seemed to recognise this and nodded. Link exhaled in relief. But there was still more to do.
He gestured again, pointing to the two of them and then to the survivors by the shield wall.
Nodding again, they got to their feet and started walking back to the main group.
His mind finally settling after the rush of combat, he could think more clearly. He knew several patrols had been sent around the edge of the lake before the attack. Though he didn't expect survivors, he felt he needed to be sure.
His leg flaring in pain again, he saw he had lost some blood. Thankfully, it didn't appear that an artery had been cut. Taking his hat off, he wrapped it tightly around the wound and tied it off. The thick leather applying pressure evenly around his leg. It hurt even more as he tied the knot, but it would have to be enough for now.
Leaning forward hard and trusting in the self balancing mechanisms of the spinner, he set off around the edge of the lake, spanning a mile. It didn't take long before he found something he hoped he wouldn't.
The bodies of two Hylian soldiers lay together with gaping holes punctured all over their bodies, puddles of blood pooling around them.
Link's stomach sank. The gore didn't seem to phase him as much, but there were another two families who would be mourning after today.
Grimly, he adjusted himself as he leaned forward once more, committing the location to memory.
Racing around the perimeter of the lake, he saw the shore from the other side, where the battle had taken place. It looked surreal, a mess of green bodies in the distance blended together in to an amorphous mass that made the land itself look sick.
He pressed forward, hoping to return as soon as he could. Perhaps he should have gone to meet Zelda and the others before he set off around the lake he thought, but if could find any surviving patrols or at least confirm where their bodies lay then it would save anyone else the effort.
Though he would never tell anyone, he felt a notion of satisfaction that the spinner could continue to work without the aid of guide rails, as it normally would have needed.
Working his way around the lake, he came across another patrol.
"Oh no…" he uttered to the air, as he came across a gruesome scene.
Zara, the Gerudo who had sweetly enthused in her language when Link had thanked her was pinned to the cliff wall by four tridents. They had pierced through her leg, her waist, chest and head. An expressionless eye looked to the floor, her blood staining her cold skin and vibrant clothes. Next to her lay the pieces of a Hylian soldier who looked like he had tried to defend her against an overwhelming attack. His shield was splintered from repeated attacks.
Link remained in place for a moment as the battle's grim reality set on him. Zara's bright smile and enthusiasm played in his memory as he saw her lifeless corpse. The soldier had taken it on himself to try and save her, not fleeing despite the reputation the Gerudo had amongst the armed forces. Perhaps they could have been great friends, maybe even lovers Link lamented internally.
As misery wound its way around him, he leaned forwards again, pressing on.
Wordlessly, he wound his way around the lake atop the spinner but found no more patrols. The other side of the shore came in to sight eventually. His trip around the lake had taken a short while thanks to the spinner. To Link, he felt as if he had aged.
Riding the spinner back up the shore, he saw track marks, and a some thin blood trails leading back to the camp. The air smelled far worse than it had before. As he neared the camp, the grunts and cries of pain grew louder. Link steeled himself. He was no stranger to injuries, but when they were on people he liked, that was enough to turn his stomach.
Walking through with a limp, he saw survivors running back and forth with bandages and alcohol. Good, this would be enough to clean most wounds and keep them safe. He recalled what he had read about injuries from his time with Renado in Kakariko Village. As long as the bandages were properly wrapped then he could breathe a little easier.
Right now, he had to find Zelda, see if she was alright.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her rushing about, dripping with sweat.
"Zelda, what do you need help with?" he asked, walking over to her.
"Link! Where did you go? We needed help bringing the wounded back here!" she snapped.
He had been ready for this.
"I went around the edge of the lake. I was trying to find any remaining patrols. I found two and they were both overwhelmed and killed. The Gerudo Zara was among them" he explained.
Exhaling and wiping her brow, she looked ready to sleep for a week. The battle had taken its toll on everyone.
"Alright. Thank you for checking. How many dead?"
"Three Hylian soldiers and Zara" he replied flatly, trying to get it over with.
"Can you tend wounds?" she asked, not missing a beat.
"Yes. Point me somewhere"
"Biggest tent, just there" she pointed behind him. "Meet me when everyone is taken care of. We need to debrief"
Then, she wheeled around and rushed off to some other task. Link turned and focused his memory on treatment.
Stepping in to the tent gingerly, he saw people clutching wounds, trying to lift armour over broken bones and those who weren't wounded rushing around to try and help. Sabbah was one of them and the look on her face was furious. She cut the straps of armour over a soldiers chest, freeing him from it and then throwing it aside. One Hylian soldier was bandaging a Gerudo woman who had been cut across her abdomen. Several Gerudo women were working between various people with similar wounds.
Link spent his time assisting where he could. He cleaned wounds as directed by Sabbah. Karlsman came in to check on the survivors and assessed all of the injuries before bringing in fresh bandages and some medicines for pain. Time flew by as everyone bumped in to one another as they rushed to clean and bandage wounds, set dislocated joints back in to place. Of the twenty Hylian soldiers who had been here originally, eight had died. Of the twelve Gerudo, three had died in the battle. One succumbed to her deep wounds as the survivors had tried their best to help.
Sabbah became explosively angry at this. Screaming at the everyone that they hadn't done enough to help. Even the Gerudo women looked scared of her. She had thrown spent medicine bottles with enough force to break some, continued to shout even if she was asking for a new bandage and moved with speed and strength around the room. A lot of people jumped out of her way. When she got no response from the worn out faces in the room, she left without another word.
Link, feeling the fatigue set in, sat in a corner as the flurry of activity had finally ceased. Despite a score of nasty looking wounds, nobody else had died. That they had survived the attack at all was a miracle. Feeling somewhat safer, he replayed all of the events in his mind. The attack had come from nowhere and without warning. He realized Karlsman's quick thinking was likely the reason anyone had survived. The shield wall was perfectly suited to defend against long thrusting weapons. The shield wall was the perfect defence against long thrusting weapons. He recalled how he had guarded the flanks of the wall whilst responding to changing threats and directing his men. He was a natural at leading and strong in his convictions.
Sabbah and the Gerudo had been an enormous help. Without them filling in the gaps or guarding the flanks, they likely would all have been overrun.
Thinking of the Gerudo, Sabbah's anger had surprised him. She always appeared to be in control. He wanted to go and thank her for her work and the Gerudo stepping in to help.
Before he left, he addressed everyone in the room.
"All of you, thank you for your help here. You've made things a lot better."
Then, he bowed to the room. Standing back up, he saw looks of shock and surprise on all faces around him. Weak smiles too as none knew how to respond to him. Taking advantage of the silence, he stepped out of the tent finally, breathing cool but stagnant air.
The day was not done yet. Sighing, he made his way through the tents and found himself in front of Zelda's. He heard conversation coming from behind the closed flap.
He let himself in, she had asked for him to join her as soon as he could after all.
She was sat behind a folding table as she looked up at him. Karlsman was on the side nearest him as well as two of the people who wore plain clothes. They had been inspecting the heavy box of equipment the soldiers had carried to the shoreline for them.
"Sorry, if now is a bad time, I can come later?" he asked, wondering what they were discussing.
"No, you are welcome here Link. We are debriefing after that mess." she explained. Noticing him look to the two new people, she filled him in.
"These two are associates of the royal library. They are researchers and Karlsman saw fit to send for them to learn about that algae bloom on the lake. For which, I commend you" she nodded to Karlsman.
"Think nothing of it your majesty. We could really do with learning what happened here" he responded.
The researchers nodded.
"Master Link...it is an honour to meet you. We thank you for your efforts today. Without your help, we fear we may not have been able to sit here like this." said a slender man with a dark goatee. "I am Doctor Villesna and this is my associate Doctor Wenbream" as he pointed to another man with thick glasses and a ginger tonsure.
"Well met. Though I would like to remind you that I am not the only one who fought today. A great many did with just as much fervour and skill as I" he remarked, already uncomfortable with the praise.
"Ah! My apologies, Master Link, I meant no disrespect!" he said, embarrassed.
"No, don't worry. No apologies needed. But let's refocus. Princess Zelda, you said you were debriefing. May I ask what you've covered already?"
Zelda smiled at him again, through her own exhaustion. She wanted this to be over just as much as he did.
She told him they had counted nearly ninety Zora killed during the attack and analysed their tactics. Standard things. What Link was interested in was why this had happened at all.
"Do we know anything? I'd like to know what could turn an entire race as hostile as that" he asked.
"We have a few theories. Before we could try and look in to it, the attack happened. If touching the water was enough to trigger this attack...well I'm reluctant to get samples from there. Your majesty, with your permission, may we collect samples from the dead Zora?" Dr Villesna was quick to answer.
"Before you do, what were your theories exactly?" Link asked, eager to find answers.
The two doctors looked to each other. Dr Wenbream was the first to speak this time.
"Well, seeing as the Zora are an aquatic species, our first guess would be a water borne parasite. One that can change behaviours. Though the ones we currently know of make fish more likely to get caught by birds in order to spread themselves. Those ones wouldn't be able to control an entire species simultaneously" he said and he leaned on his cheek with his hand. "The other would be a disease that might coincide with their mating cycles. Though we know little about that so it's only a possibility."
"As my associate said, these are mere theories but those two are the most likely explanation we can think of. There are others but they shouldn't be possible. With research though, we may find more conclusive answers." Dr Villesna added.
Parasites or disease. Link mulled over the thought but realised he knew nothing about either of these, beyond both being bad options.
"If you'll excuse us, we'll begin work right away. I feel rather impotent having done nothing during the attack." he said sheepishly
"No. First we need to move this camp" Zelda said, matter of factly. "If we are attacked like that again, then I do no rate our chances as very high. We will set up camp on top a cliff and build fences as a funnel. Should make defending it easier"
"As you wish. We will assist around the camp as we can"
Bowing first, the doctors excused themselves. Karlsman slumped in his seat as he rubbed his eyes.
"I was not ready for today..."
"Same here." Link said as he occupied the now free seat, grateful to take the pressure of his wounded leg.
"Link? What happened to you…?" Zelda said as worry showed on her face as she looked over her table.
"Minor wound. Took a trident to it" he said as he tested his leg by raising it slightly. Regretting doing so as he winced from a flash of pain.
"That is not a minor wound!" she said angrily as she got up and moved around.
Closing her eyes, she put her hands together and softly chanted under her breath. Golden light shone from her hands as it landed over his wound. As it did, Link felt an intense itch coming from it as the flesh knitted back together. It lasted for less than a minute but as the itch faded, so did the pain.
He untied the hat and put it aside so he could inspect it. Aside from dried blood, his leg looked as good as new.
"Thank you, Princess. We're a lot better off with you around" he said, bursting with gratitude. It was nice to not have to go back to Kakariko Village again for treatment.
"Link, hold your thanks for now. You, of all people, should be taking things like this far more seriously. Do you have any notion how fast infection can set in to open wounds like that?"
"Ah…" he said helplessly. He had read about it during his last visit to Renado. He cursed himself silently under Zelda's admonishment. Being so careless about things like this had cost him dearly in the past.
"My apologies. You are right. I felt compelled to check for the patrols, but I should have seen someone about it first" he said as he awkwardly slumped his shoulders
Karlsman broke the awkward atmosphere with an amused laugh. Link and Zelda looked to him, wondering what had entertained him.
"You two are perfect for each other, you know?"
Link hadn't expected that, but he suddenly felt very vulnerable as he blushed bright red, making Karlsman laugh again. Even Zelda blushed too, but she recovered first.
"Sergeant Karlsman, I will remind you to not be so casual in how you speak to me"
"Oh, lighten up would you? Even the blind could see how much you like each other."
Zelda's eyes went wide as she blushed harder this time, losing her words.
"I do love our chats Karlsman. What type of rat should I put in your bed?" Link retorted
"The one operating your brain" he said, winking at him.
The three of them sat there silently for a moment. As the seconds passed, they all laughed earnestly. The ridiculous exchange had given a welcome relief to the day. Zelda was enjoying it the most as she smiled without reservation.
"Sergeant, seeing as we have debriefed, make yourself useful again. Help with the wounded. We are going to have to move this camp too" she said as she penned a letter. When she sealed it, she handed it to Karlsman. "Send a runner to Castle Town. We're going to need reinforcements as soon as possible."
"Yes mum" Karlsman said as he saluted her perfectly. Taking the letter, he left the room before Zelda could respond.
She sat back in her chair, not sure whether to punish him for insubordination or be proud of his cheek.
"I like him." Link said, hoping to help avoid the former.
"I suppose I do too. We need more men capable of thinking outside the box. Even if it vexes me" she admitted. "He had best not speak like that to me when we are around the castle though."
Zelda stretched her arms out as she yawned, letting the days fatigue wash over her.
"Would you indulge me once more Link? I feel as if I could really do with some comfort now" she asked softly as her eyes seemed to grow heavier.
He stood from his seat, grateful his leg didn't hurt any more. Walking over to her seat, he leaned down and embraced her, resting his head on her shoulder. He was growing to like doing this whenever they had time to themselves.
As did she. Leaning in to him, she wrapped her arms over his shoulders as she took every ounce of comfort from it as she could. She slowed her breathing as she held him, enjoying the reprieve.
Link let her, she had fought hard and was now having to organise a response. His own fatigue settled over him, making his mind numb as he was unable to summon any thought as he stared in to space. He heard gentle snoring coming from his shoulder. Zelda had fallen asleep on him.
Link spent a minute in wonder as he tried to think of what to do.
"Zelda?" he whispered
She rolled her head a little and murmured. He repeated himself, just a little more firmly.
"Mhm...sleepy…" she said, barely above a whisper.
"I know. I'd be fine letting you sleep like this but I've still got things to do" he replied regretfully.
Zelda yawned gently and straightened herself in her chair. Rubbing her eyes, she filled a cup with water from a decanter and refreshed herself.
"Thank you once more, Link. Though I feel like I could sleep for a century, I feel better considering everything that happened." she said with a smile.
"It's a pleasure. But if we're going to move camp then we should try to do that soon. Would rather we didn't get overwhelmed if the Zora attack again. I'll go and get started."
Zelda nodded as she exhaled, preparing herself for more work. Then Link left her tent. He wanted to find Sabbah. She and her Gerudo had probably been the main reason the attack failed at all. He owed her, he felt.
Walking through the camp, he looked everywhere he could but there was no sign of her. He asked around the Gerudo women he found but they shook their heads. The Hylian soldiers didn't know either.
Eventually, he walked out of the main camp. Maybe she'd gone to unwind. Or chop the dead Zora in anger.
He found footprints leading away from the camp to a small plateau nestled in the cliffs. Following he trodden path, he climbed up the rock face and vaulted himself up the edge.
Ahead, he saw Sabbah sat on a fallen log. She had her head on her knees as she cried, shaking with each sob.
Link felt his heart crack. Sabbah had been indomitable from the first moment he had met her to the point where he thought nothing could get to her. Yet here she was, raw and honest. Of course she would be upset, he admonished himself. Some of her sisters had died today. Some that she may have known for her entire life.
She heard his footsteps and looked up at him, her eyes swollen as tears streamed.
"I wish you were not here right now" she said weakly.
"I'm sorry Sabbah. I was wondering where you went. We need to move the camp soon."
She nodded to him and took a shaky breath, steadying herself. She wiped her eyes and looked over the green lake as the sun started to cast a golden light over it.
Standing and dusting herself down, she steeled herself as she walked towards him, intending to head back down to them camp.
Link wanted to say something, anything. She was broken by the events of the battle. He knew trying to deal with it alone would be a nightmare. She was a few feet from him now.
"If it wasn't for you and your sisters, we all would have died down there. I've never met such wonderful warriors in my life. You are all a credit to the Gerudo people." he said honestly.
Sabbah stopped in her tracks as tears began streaming again. She remained rooted to the spot.
"I'm sorry Sabbah. I wish things had gone differently. I would like to have been able to speak to them all in your language."
Link got on one knee and bowed his head with his fist over his heart.
"I swear that I will not let them be forgotten. And I swear to guard your back as you have guarded mine. For as long as I draw breath."
Sabbah's tears streamed even more as her cries became more earnest.
Link stood back up, wishing he had more to offer than nice words. Sabbah turned and showed her back, unable to face him.
He didn't know what else he could do. He wished he knew what could help or if he could something more proactive. But no ideas formed in his mind. So, he sat on the ground as he watched over the lake. If Sabbah was able to get her grief out, it would hopefully help clear her mind.
He sat for a while, Sabbah calming down shortly after. She came and sat next to him.
"Your words mean a lot Link. I had known my sisters ever since I was child. That you think so much of them? That you will not forget? That make me feel better. A little" she said quietly.
They both sat in silence as they looked over the golden glow as it lit the entire canyon. A beam of shadow creeping along the lake. It was oddly serene.
"I'll leave you to mourn them. But when you get back to camp, you'll find friends and allies" he said as he turned to head back.
"Thank you Link. I return soon" she said as he stood.
Deep underground, swarms of Zora swam in to a pitch black abyss. They had broken through a portion of rock in Lake Hylia and were compelled to swim to the depths, towards a glowing set of tentacles and a large translucent head, illuminated with two large yellow eyes.