Chapter 40: Sentinels
The fixed sun warmed them both through a window as they continued to hold each other. They were still for a long time. She took deep breaths to calm herself whilst he sat in a daze.
It still didn't feel real. That they had both finally openly talked about the past that had hung over them for so long. She had regretted it and he had never hated her.
"I hope you feel happy about making me cry" she said quietly, resting her head on his shoulder.
Link was stumped. He didn't know what to say to her. So he just stroked her head.
She said nothing but held him a little tighter. Then took another deep breath and slowly leaned back, sitting up straight again.
She wiped her eye first, before looking back to him. Link realised that this was the first time he had ever seen her look so contented. She wore the most natural smile he had ever seen on her.
"I hope you don't expect to see that again anytime soon" she said, her voice shaking a little but managing a small laugh.
He couldn't help but smile himself. He shook his head, letting the simple action speak for him.
"Good" came the simple reply. "Now, enough about me. Are you alright? We unpacked a lot there"
He thought for a moment. It had been long overdue and not easy to bring up. But now, all he felt was calm. No jarring thought in the back of his mind or lingering doubt that made him weary.
"I think I'm fine. I'd been wanting this for a long time anyway. Now? Feels like a weight off the shoulders" he explained.
Midna looked away for a moment as she pursed her lips.
"There's something I don't really get. I was ready for you to hate me, but how is it you're alright exactly? I have to imagine if the roles were reversed, I might have hated you."
Link thought about it, narrowing his eyes as he focused on the thought. Even when it had happened, the one thing he recalled thinking was 'Why?' rather than feeling any kind of anger. Betrayal, absolutely. But hatred? In his whole life, he had only been able to hate people who were truly irredeemable.
"I think…that I just can't bring myself to hate someone very easily. If you'd invaded Hyrule or hurt people who didn't deserve it... then yeah. Maybe," he shrugged. "But no, you were hurt too."
Midna smiled warmly and her shoulders relaxed.
"I think I get it," she said gently.
Link gave a small nod. There wasn't much more to say, not without circling back. And for once, they didn't need to.
A brief silence passed, not awkward, just still.
Then Midna's eye narrowed faintly. "You think it's going to work this time?"
Link blinked. "What?"
"With Ghirahim. Killing him" she said, shifting uncomfortably. "I saw what you did to him. Twice. Crushing his arm, then almost breaking him apart. Yet he still came back, to bring an invasion force here. As if nothing had touched him."
He looked into the distance as he let his mind explore what he knew.
"Well, I know he's the spirit of Ganondorf's weapon. I don't think it was the sword he fought me with, that belonged to the Sages of Hyrule. What I'm wondering is why he didn't just use Ghirahim in the first place."
Midna focused too. She held her chin as she started to pace the room slowly.
Link took a deep breath as he tried to think too. He was so used to trying to outthink and outflank any threat that came his way. Trying to understand the nature of one felt unusual, when he wasn't vying for his own survival.
After a moment, Midna sighed. "I don't think it matters if we know why he didn't. Our survival now depends on us stopping Ghirahim, not understanding why Ganondorf didn't use him"
Silent minutes passed. She started pacing faster whilst Link was starting to give himself a headache. No ideas formed for either of them.
Eventually, Midna stopped pacing.
"This isn't working. I keep circling the same thoughts."
She moved to a nearby drawer and pulled out a small, worn deck of black cards. The edges were curled with age. Gold Twili lettering glinted faintly across the top.
Link blinked. "What are those?"
"Something my mother swore by," Midna said eagerly. "Logic disruptors. When you're stuck, you draw a card and force your brain sideways."
She gave the deck a little shuffle. "They were invented centuries ago by a philosopher named Eno. Complete nuisance of a man. Also a genius" she said as she finished shuffling the cards.
"So, our problem is that we don't know how to defeat Ghirahim. Hurting him doesn't seem to work…"
She drew one and read it aloud.
"Try subtracting something important."
Her visible eye narrowed.
"Something important?" Link said, at a loss.
"Doesn't matter what it is, it's designed to help you rethink how you see a problem. So, let's imagine you don't have the Master Sword, for example. What then?"
"I…would probably have to use another weapon? Maybe the ball and chain" he said carefully, trying to understand the cards and what Midna was doing.
"Okay. Then for me, I'd probably say that trying to hurt him won't work, so maybe hurting him isn't the point at all…" she trailed off.
Another moment of silence passed as the idea stalled.
"I'll keep this card out. I think there might be something to that."
She drew another card and held it up.
"This one says 'Use an old mistake.' What's that supposed to mean?"
He blinked. Changing how he thought so directly was a challenge, but he was starting to see its value.
"So we want to kill him and have to use an old mistake? Then we cause a rockslide under him"
Midna snorted.
"Hah! Just bury him deep enough that he couldn't ever get out? I would rather not risk collapsing the lands we live on"
Link smiled, the idea was stupid but he realised there was at least an option where there had been none before.
"As for me? I'd probably say that serving that damn fish was a mistake. So we…throw fish at him."
Link barely suppressed his own laugh.
"Maybe he's allergic?" he suggested.
She smiled at the idea.
"I say we try another card. But do you see how useful this is?" she asked energetically.
"I'm starting to. Never thought I'd rethink a problem like this" he admitted.
She eagerly drew a new card.
"What would you do if you were on the other side?"
"If I was Ghirahim? Or if I was behind him?" he asked.
"Both!" she replied, eager to see what he could think of.
He thought for a moment, trying to see from different perspectives.
"Well…I would try to find the piece of the Triforce of Power. If I was behind him, then I'd try to see if he had something on him I could exploit. If he's a spirit, then maybe something binds him?" he suggested.
Midna's eye went wide as she realised something. She looked to the floor as her mind began to race.
"Binds…" she muttered.
Link raised his brow, wondering what she had come up with.
"This isn't related to Ghirahim, and may be wildly wrong, but I think I realised something about that pool of memories we found…"
"Oh? What is it?"
"I know it sounds wild and I don't have anything to prove it, but it feels right." she explained.
Then, she started talking with her hands, trying to articulate the rushing thoughts.
"Those vapour things that were floating around. The things that actually showed us the memories? Link, I think they might be souls."
He blinked as his mind emptied. Souls? He wondered how she had made that connection.
"It doesn't make sense that our memories would just appear on some floating vapours for us to watch. I think they might be either souls of the dead…or maybe even brand new souls waiting to find a body to live in…"
"Wait, souls? That's… where did that even come from?" he asked, completely taken aback.
"When you said 'binds', the idea just kind of formed. Instinct is telling me that it's the only thing about that pool, and the vapours, that make any kind of sense" she explained.
She continued pacing, unable to shift the thoughts.
"Some of those vapours, possibly souls, disappeared when they went into the pool. None of them came back out. Whatever the liquid is, might have something to do with putting a soul into a body!"
Her excitement was infectious, but Link still had trouble accepting it.
"I still don't get it. I mean I get your line of thinking, but the thought that a soul is a tangible thing? I've not heard it discussed much so maybe I'm just inexperienced, but why would collections of souls be underground in a pool?"
"I have no idea" she admitted. "But let's just imagine for the time being. It may tie in to something about Ghirahim too"
Then, he took it more seriously.
"Some philosophers here have debated the nature of souls for a while. Some think that they are organic thought that occurs in you. Some think it's the beating of a heart that signifies it. There's another line of thinking though, one I agree with."
She was almost bouncing on her heels now.
"That a soul is your entire consciousness. Everything you sense, every interaction you have and every memory you make are experienced through your 'soul'" she said, half-certain.
"So, those souls, or vapours, that fall into the pool are sent somewhere. The reason I think we saw memories of ourselves when we put ourselves in the pool, is that those floating around wanted to settle in our bodies, but couldn't because we're already occupied. So they showed parts of our memories"
Link stood still. Without any proof or anything to back up her claims, it felt tangible at least. He couldn't think of any counter to her arguments beyond that she needed proof
It had taken the energy out of him, thinking about it.
"Midna…I'd love to see how your mind came up with all of that. I honestly don't know what to think. I hadn't imagined hearing about the nature of souls today" he said quietly.
The implications were staggering if there was any truth to it. Souls being tangible things, either remade at the pool under the lands or made brand new. That the pool somehow distributed them… the concept was starting to make his mind spin.
"I know, it sounds like I've gone mad maybe. It'd need looking at if I really wanted to find out, but I was thinking about Ghirahim. How he's a spirit. Or perhaps a soul given shape and form by Ganondorf's magic."
He looked to her. The mention of Ghirahim finally sharpening him.
"We, or our souls, inhabit these bodies," she said, gesturing to herself. "What does Ghirahim inhabit?"
The question was left to the air. Link couldn't remember. When he had fought Ghirahim, he had usually snapped his fingers and disappeared in a puff of black vapour.
"I don't really know. I've not noticed him carry anything specific that looked odd or out of place. He turns to some kind of black smoke when he wants to leave an area…Maybe that's the nature of one of these souls that doesn't have a body?" he suggested, clasping at thin straws.
Midna sighed. Not disappointed, but wary.
"I know I'm suggesting something…abstract at best. But it's all I've got right now," she admitted shyly.
It struck him as odd that she acted as such. Then again, maybe she was more confident when dealing with clear information. This was anything but.
"I'm not saying you're wrong, Midna. It's just far beyond anything I've had to think about before.
They both took a moment to relax. With a break, the torrent of thoughts and implications settled down and allowed for clarity to return.
"Alright, we at least have something to work with. Possibly, anyway" she said.
"When he's here, we will have to try and see if he carries something with him. If we try destroying that, then maybe he will be… unbound" she finished with a shrug.
Link nodded.
"I'll see what I can do. But whilst he's here, I want to be the only one who fights him. He'd make short work of anyone unprepared for him. I'll have to go and get the troops ready and move them out. I can give them a few more specifics then."
Midna smiled. The experiment with lateral thinking had been interesting, but there were still things that needed doing.
"Good. I need to issue the evacuation order. If we stall for too long, it could lead to a disaster"
"Alright. Do you intend to come to the fight too?" he asked, letting himself worry about her.
She picked up on it instantly.
"Hah! You worried about me? After what I did in the courtroom?" she asked loudly.
"Well…yes" he admitted.
Midna folded her arms and pouted.
"You do know I am fully capable of looking after myself, right?" she said firmly. "Also, with the Custodians out of the way, I'm able to use magic as I please."
"That's one of the things I'm worried about," Link explained.
"Oh, stop. In that courtroom, I was under enough stress to kill a child. When the Custodian gave me this," she said, pointing to her eyepatch, "I snapped. All the stress came out at once. Now that we're facing something I can actually fight? I'll be fine."
"I trust you, Midna" he said without hesitation. "Just because I have a doubt about magic doesn't mean I'm going to stop you."
She stood still, looking surprised. Whatever power ran through her hair was immense, especially since she had used the Fused Shadow back in Hyrule. If it hadn't nearly killed him a day ago, he would have felt more optimistic. Still, she would be vital to help defend from Ghirahim's magic.
"All right" she nodded. "We've spent a lot of time here, we should get to work. The invasion will happen soon and I'd like to get preparations underway."
Link nodded back to her. It was time. As they both stood, Link adjusted his equipment. Midna would need to change so he had to leave. Before he did, he walked to her and hugged her one more time, taking her by surprise.
"Stay safe, and I'll see you at the forward camp. Same place you saw me training the Twili a few days ago."
She returned the hug, squeezing his shoulders. She smiled at him, grateful for the gesture.
"Yes, mother. Now get out, I have to change"
"There are sledgehammers out there that aren't as blunt as you," he said dryly. Then, he smiled back at her and turned to leave.
First, he needed to gather the men and women he had been training. Hopefully they were still in the dining room, he hadn't been gone for too long.
Eventually, he arrived back and found the room still bustling. The people were packing the room to its capacity and spirits were high. Dodging and weaving his way through them, he made his way back to his soldiers.
He gave them a small smile. "Hope you didn't eat too much."
Amo raised his hand. "Six pastries and no regrets."
Link smirked. "The heart attack will kill you before any enemy can."
"True, but I'll die happy."
Lethis grinned. "We saved you a plate, sir."
He glanced at it, half-eaten already, and laughed.
"Appreciated. I'm afraid I'll need all of you on your feet."
The smiles faltered. A few exchanged glances.
"Time's up," Link said gently. "Her majesty is about to issue the evacuation order. So, we have to move and prepare"
Silence.
"Come on then!"
They stood without hesitation, straightening their backs as the warmth of breakfast faded into focus. Link nodded once and turned for the door.
Midna's command went out. Criers spoke to crowds of anxious onlookers. Thankfully, it didn't devolve into panic. She had passed word around the citizens earlier in the week, so it wasn't unexpected at least. Still, with the reality settling in, it did little to soothe them.
Families packed in minutes what they'd kept for decades. Streets once placid became rivers of people. Guards lit signal torches, guiding the citizens down winding roads towards the mountains, where Midna's new path had been constructed.
Walking through the streets, to the prepared ambush outside of town, Link spoke to the ten soldiers. They would need a crash course in how to lead now.
"Listen up. You're all going to be in charge of at least ten others. Whatever you say to them, they will do. Remind them that they have the best at their sides and each will cover the other. However, I need to make one thing very clear."
They each looked at him, curious and eager.
"The enemy leader. His name is Ghirahim. He will be the only one of them that isn't bones. Under no circumstances are you to engage him. Whether with your weapon or tongue. This being is exceptionally skilled and sharp witted" he explained.
"So…if he comes for us then?" Rhyz questioned.
"Then you retreat as fast as you can. I may be the only one who can match him."
They each got the message. Nodding grimly, they looked at each other and tried to imagine what he was capable of. Link felt like he was telling them they weren't good enough. Technically true, but he knew Ghirahim was capable of. Still, he wanted them to have confidence in themselves.
"You've all done more in five days than I ever expected. You've listened, pushed yourselves and followed me when things got dark."
Their eyes were fixed on him.
"This is where we put the skills to use. Let none through, watch each other's blind spots and hold the defence. If you can manage that, then the Twilight Realm remains yours. As do your lives."
They stood straighter.
"I chose you because I have no doubts about you. Show me and her majesty what you're capable of."
They nodded as one, flashes of determination in each face.
The journey to the forward site passed in near silence.
The Twili soldiers followed Link across the plains, boots crunching over stone and packed dirt.
In the distance, the camp came into view. A funnel of blackstone walls surrounded the area, built and reinforced in haste. What once was a simple piece of Twilight countryside now bristled with preparation. The smell of torch oil and boiled water lingered in the wind.
Guards watched them from the towers. One by one, they straightened and raised their fists in silent salute as Link approached. The ten behind him did the same.
Tents had bloomed behind the structure, neat but clearly rushed. Crates were stacked high with provisions. Thread, food, bundles of arrows and unstrung bows. Teams of soldiers drilled in small groups, instructors barking commands while others mended armour over firelit anvils.
Link passed through it all without speaking as he kept his pace steady.
The fort, though only a few days old, would provide an advantage against the larger numbers of the invading Stal and provide a high ground for those who would use ranged weapons. Those with maces and armour would hold the funnel at the ground level and not let anything through.
"Bring everyone together, we need to start assigning people" he said simply.
They moved fast, shouting names, guiding squads and forming ranks. The instructors called out for their trainees. Even the logistics runners and lookouts filtered in, until the entire area was filled with every last one.
And they were waiting for him to speak.
"Everyone, in the hours ahead, we are expecting the invaders. Their exact goal is unknown but I assure you they are not coming here to shake hands and share tea."
Their eyes were focused and the only noise was the gentle breeze.
"However, we have the advantage. They will not be expecting us to be prepared. Though you've had barely a week to train, you've all adapted to it flawlessly. Now, it's time to play to our fullest strengths. There are one hundred of you. The ten stood beside me have proven their ability to lead and react under changing circumstances flawlessly."
He gestured to the ten either side of him. Each of them stood straight with their arms behind their backs.
"They will be your captains and they will answer to me during this. Are there any objections? This is the one time I will be able to hear them"
The assembled defenders looked around, wondering if anyone had thought of something they hadn't.
A lone hand raised from one side of the crowd.
"Yes, you there?"
The wiry Twili looked around nervously, but soon found his light voice.
"Why is Amo one of the captains? He's the only one of us who took this the least seriously"
There were a few nods and murmurs. Whatever Amo thought, he kept to himself as he let Link speak instead.
"During training he adapted quickly to rapid changes and organised manoeuvres that I hadn't even trained any of you on. He's a capable leader and has your best interests at heart. Amo has a problem with his mouth, not with his skills."
A few laughs bristled through the crowd.
"Any others?"
Now, several other hands shot up. Link pointed to the nearest one.
"Speak your mind"
The broad shouldered Twili found their deep voice instantly.
"What happens if one of our captains falls?"
There were no shocked inhales, rather a crowd of curious faces.
"Then you will be expected to make your own decisions. No matter what happens though, remember that a defence is only solid if all parts of it work together. If one of you retreats or moves out of step, then that's a hole the enemy can and will exploit."
Though hardly a positive sentiment, it was the truth. Some of the faces in the crowd nodded at the grim reality.
Several hands went up again.
"You there?" Link said.
"Did you say we can expect reinforcements for this?" asked a nervous sounding one, doing their best to mask it.
"Yes. The other side of this portal the enemy intends to come through? There are soldiers of my own world who know this enemy and have already fought them before. They will likely appear from the rear of the attack. A lot of them will look like me, some others will have darker skin, be all women and carry curved swords."
Link took a breath as he recalled the lineup from the initial attack, from when he first came to the Twilight Realm. He hoped they would be alright. They were almost entirely surrounded on the approach to the portal. When they arrived, it would be as if nothing had happened. An entire week had passed since he had been here.
"There was a force of some three hundred, plus another twenty of these warrior women we call Gerudo. Each one of them are experienced and capable, they will also know you are not the enemy."
This brought a much bigger sense of optimism to the group. After, no more hands shot up. Knowing they weren't truly alone was a huge relief to most of them there.
Link looked to the ten he had chosen behind him.
"Anything from you?"
"No, sir" came ten replies all at once.
Of course they would be dependable, he thought. Then, he turned back to the crowd. They still needed organising.
"Everyone, there's ninety of you and ten captains" he said as he gestured over his shoulder.
"They are going to handpick you to work with them. If you have concerns, then hold them until after we've held a successful defence. You all stand as the best hope the Twilight Realm has. Trust in your training. Trust in those who pick you. And if none of those work, then have trust in yourself, because who else would know you best?"
There was no applause. There was no need for there to be. Instead, each face in the crowd looked proud, steeled and now ready.
"When your name is called, head to your captain. Then, we can go into further detail about what you'll be doing" Link said.
The crowd bustled with activity as names were called and people went to the captain that had called them out. Organising them took less time than Link had thought, but he saw the captains eagerly talking with those they had picked. He decided to let them have a few minutes to get them familiar with each other at least.
Maybe because they were all Twili, they found it easier to speak. The tension from the crowd seemed to have settled too. Feeling more confident in them, he called the attention of the captains and had them line up in front of him. He needed to detail what each section was doing.
He took a deep breath. Leading other soldiers was taxing, especially when he was so used to working by himself. A lot of lives depended on this though, so he wouldn't let himself do a bad job of it.
With the captains and their chosen few lined up neatly, he started detailing what each section would be responsible for. He was pleased that one of his captains had been in charge of operating the mechanical hands that acted as security in the town. They weren't particularly deadly, or reliable. But having the floating hands and their beams would at least help to take some pressure off of the defenders.
As he reached Reylan, he began to explain that he would be leading the central defence.
"Seems simple enough. I just can't help but think we haven't prepared enough" he said, seeming guilty somehow.
"Reylan, you've had five days of training. Normal soldiers would go through two months of training. So of course you're overthinking" Link replied as kindly as he could.
"I didn't pick you to be a captain because I owe someone a favour. You and the others adapted to the training the best. Have a little faith in yourself, would you?"
He gave a weak smile. Of course he wouldn't be totally convinced by a few pretty words. It was far better than nothing though. Link slapped his shoulder and leaned closer to give something more tangible.
"Want some good advice? Don't think. Just react."
"Hah… you tell me, the overthinker, not to think?" he said, giving a wry smile.
"Queen Midna told me to lead the defence and I've never done that before" he replied with a shrug, leaving Reylan speechless.
"What he means, Reylan…"
Midna came around a corner with flawless timing, nearly giving the poor captain a heart attack as he bowed sharply.
Link couldn't help but smile as he bowed too.
"...is that I thought his considerable experience and skill made him the natural choice to lead the defence. Thus, giving us a far better chance of defending ourselves. And you, Link? Do you mean to imply that you were unsuitable? That I made a poor decision?"
"Not at all, your majesty. Just stating the honest truth" he replied, coming up from the bow.
"Of course you were. Now, I brought you all a present" she remarked casually.
"Oh?" Link and Reylan said together as they shared a quizzical look.
"Earlier in the week, I sent word to the other towns and asked for them to send their best volunteers to help with the defence."
"Wait, really?" Link blurted. This could provide a boost to everyone as well as help with the defence itself.
"No. I suddenly felt like telling lies…" she said, shooting him a disappointed look. She couldn't hide the small smile though.
"You two, follow me" she commanded, turning without waiting for them.
Falling in to step, Reylan asked him something quietly.
"Link, how is it you can speak to her so easily? Most of us are just plain scared we'll say the wrong thing"
"Hah! She just sounds cold. But she's as much a person as you or me. She likes to be challenged."
She came to a dead stop and slowly turned around. Then folded her arms. And narrowed her open eye.
"Did you say something?" she said, without an ounce of warmth.
"Me? No, nothing. Just telling Reylan I like his form" he replied casually.
Midna stepped towards him slowly. There was barely an inch between them. Link nearly tensed, but he knew what she was doing.
"Hm. You're saying you're warm…for his form?" she said calmly, arching a brow.
Link had to practice the highest level of self control he ever had in his life.
"Yes."
"Thoughts of him…excite you?" she said, more slowly.
"Yes."
"That's good. I approve of your budding relationship and wish you both eternal happiness. Now, stop talking and follow me."
Her voice was laced with just a hint of coldness. Every syllable dripped with danger. He had no idea how she was so capable of this, but he admired her even more for her skill.
Turning, Link shot a quick look to Reylan who looked mortified. It was as if he expected her to decapitate him right there.
He couldn't help but smile, nodding towards Midna.
They caught up again, much more quiet this time.
"As I was saying, the towns I asked to send volunteers? They responded generously."
They rounded a corner. Ahead of them were some two hundred Twili. Some carried heavy packs comfortably, others hefted a variety of blunt weapons, some had bags of medicine and a whole variety of others in between.
Reylan looked elated as he slowly gazed over the fresh crowd of eager volunteers.
Link however felt a gnawing sense of dread. Whilst the new arrivals would be eager to help, none of them had been trained over the past week. None of them had a rapport with his captains. Then, he realised he wouldn't even be able to assess all of their varied skills in enough time.
He didn't want to waste any time now.
"Your majesty, do you know what skill sets they have or what they want to do?"
Midna seemed to read his concerns.
"You'll find seventy volunteers who have served guard duty and know at least how to handle a weapon. Twenty practice medicine to a competent enough degree that they could provide aid. A handful of them have some experience with ranged weapons, coming from a village that subsists on hunting" she explained.
"The rest are just eager to help. I didn't think it prudent to refuse willing help"
"No, but it will be difficult to integrate them," he replied quietly.
"Make it work, Link" she replied sharply, as she narrowed her eye.
Link shook his head and took a breath. Looking over the bright and eager young faces now needing a sense of direction, he quickly mapped out what he needed to do.
"Can I speak to them or do you need to address them first?" he asked.
"Let's do both," she said as she pointed to a stack of crates nearby. She already moved to climb them.
"Reylan, you too. We're going to have to do some emergency work to get these volunteers integrated" he said, halfway through climbing up the crates himself.
He followed without question.
With the three of them standing above the rest, all of their eyes fell to them and their faces were eager.
"To the brave volunteers that answered the call to defend our lands, we welcome you gratefully" Midna began.
"I introduce you to Link. He is responsible for leading our defence and if he gives you an instruction, I expect you to follow it. He has faced dangers beyond our reckoning and lived to tell the tale each time. That's why he leads"
She let the crowd absorb her words for a moment. Link saw whispered conversations going between a few of them. They would need to absorb a lot, very quickly.
"Next to him, I introduce Captain Reylan. One of the ten leaders answering to Link. If Link can't answer you, he and the other nine captains will be able to."
Nods went through the crowd.
"Link will now address you himself. For your own benefit, pay close attention," she finished as she stepped back from the improvised stage.
Stepping forward, he already had a clear idea of what to say.
"All of you who have volunteered today are to be commended for your bravery. But first, we have to succeed in our defence. You have not had time to be trained, so I need to give you an idea of what you're facing."
He described the Stal army, their unrelenting nature, but also their weakness as Sabbah had told him. He didn't want to over describe as details would easily be forgotten that way. So he gave just enough.
Some of the attitudes changed in the crowd, a mix now of apprehension and shock. As he described the method to defeat them, some of it melted away.
"Those of you carrying blunt weapons will join the shield wall. You will either hold a shield and stop the enemy from overwhelming us or shatter spines with a solid thrust. Bones are strong, but bare bone against the thrust of a mace, hammer or even a brick? Easily cracked and broken."
"You all have diverse skills and roles. Whilst you are here, I want you all to listen to the people you get assigned to. They know what needs doing and have had the training to deal with it. Trust in them, do as they ask and everything will work smoothly."
Then, he brought Reylan forward and explained his role. As the most natural leader of all of the Twili he had trained, he would be overseeing the captains. His ability to organise quickly would be put to the test now.
With his introductions finished, he spoke with Reylan on the platform.
"There are useful skill sets here, but you can organise them better than I can. WIll you speak to them and let them know where they're going to go?"
Reylan lost his nervous disposition instantly. With something to focus on, he showed his strengths.
Turning to the crowd, he immediately began to split people into groups in the area they had arrived. Combatants on one side, archers on another, medical on another and all left over stood in the middle.
Then, without missing a beat, directed them on where to go.
"May I be excused?" he asked Midna. She nodded wordlessly, but gave him a smile too.
It was almost unreal, seeing how quickly he got to work organising things. How it made such easy sense to him, Link had no idea. He was glad to have him on his side though.
The sun remained stubbornly in place as the Twilight Realm's defenders surged into motion.
Volunteers moved with nervous energy, bumping shoulders and spinning on uncertain heels as they were funnelled toward their roles. Link's captains barked instructions with precise confidence. No hesitation or confusion. What could have unravelled into chaos instead became method.
Combatants were the first to be sorted. Those who'd brought their own weapons were examined. Chipped blades and bars of metal were replaced with heavier maces or clubs more suited to crushing bone. Shields were swapped out for reinforced ones scavenged from old stores or newly built by the camp's smiths. Reylan oversaw the integration into the existing shield wall, calling out pairings and formations with clarity.
Amo, ever the wildcard, stood on a crate and shouted, "If you've got strong arms and a stubborn streak, congratulations! You're a wall now! Let's see if you can hold it without crying!"
There were laughs, but they stepped where he pointed.
The archers gathered off to the side. Link stood in front of them with a small satchel of bombs. He moved quickly, giving a live demonstration of how to lash the explosives to arrow shafts and how to angle their shots to avoid arcing too low or overshooting.
"This is not for fun," he told them. "Use these on groups only. Never near the front lines. Never near the medics. Think first, shoot second."
To punctuate the point, he loosed a test shot—an arrow trailing smoke and light before it erupted against a distant hill. The sound cracked like thunder. Eyes widened. Heads nodded.
The medics were brought toward a shaded area further back. Two of the camp's captains had already erected a makeshift triage zone. When the twenty medical volunteers arrived, they were greeted not with tests but with trust. Packs of herbs, clean water, sutures, splints and whatever the defenders had gathered was laid out in neat bundles.
A tall Twili woman with weathered hands took command, giving a nod to Link as he passed.
"We'll keep them on their feet," she said, and he believed her.
The rest, those who had arrived with nothing but willpower, were split among the captains. They were sent running messages, carrying crates, laying down extra boards for movement in the mud. Some gathered arrows whilst others readied meals. A few helped test the strange floating hands brought from the town, learning to trigger their limited bursts of energy.
Everyone, it seemed, had a role.
From the wall, Link watched it all unfold. No one stood still. No one bickered. No one had time to panic. The quiet dread of waiting had been replaced by the loud, focused energy of purpose.
Finally, with the last volunteer placed, he stepped back down into the heart of the camp. He caught Midna watching from the edge of a shadowy overhang, arms crossed.
He moved to her, boots coated in dust and his shoulders feeling heavy.
Without a word, she shifted, letting him sit beside her on the edge of the makeshift platform. He took a slow, deep breath. So did she.
"They're rough, but I think you've managed to throw together quite a competent defence."
"Thanks. But we'd be worse off if they weren't already competent before I got to them."
"Just take the compliment," she remarked.
He looked over the preparations again, keen to make sure nothing was missed. A few of the new volunteers bumped into others and some dropped what they had been holding, but there was nothing major to worry about. Leaning back, he rolled his shoulders.
"I still wonder what to do about Ghirahim. If we hurt him, he'll eventually reform."
Midna's eye perked a little.
"I actually had an idea about that," she said eagerly. "Link, I think that the-"
The alarm bell began to ring. Snapping both of their heads to the clearing behind the wall, crackles of red energy were spewing from a point in the air as a small hole formed in the middle of it and began to expand outwards.
Link and Midna leapt to their feet.
"Attackers incoming! Prepare yourselves!" Link bellowed.