Chapter Text
The evening held a lingering chill as they descended the mountain road, unseasonably cold for the late spring that even the lasting rays of the setting sun could not disperse. Princess Zelda gripped her trusted horse’s reins in one hand before adjusting her riding coat with the other, making sure that it was secure before urging her mount forward again at a steady pace. Impa and her guard followed her advance, the former bringing up her own horse so they were riding side by side.
Zelda smiled at her mentor, resisting the urge to take off ahead of the party, at least for the older woman’s sake. Impa seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.
“Your duties end once we safely pass the walls, Princess.” She reminded.
Zelda snorted. “That’s not nearly as comforting as you seem to think it is. We’re still hours out from the city, and I think Chickaloo could use a good sprint.” She teased, stroking said horse’s neck who flicked their ear in return.
“Patience. You’re a fine rider, but I don’t think your mother can handle any more soldiers getting hurt for trying to keep up with you.”
Zelda cast her gaze back at her guard. The few faces that she recognized were keeping their eyes fixed almost solely on her. She tried to give them a smile with the intention of providing reassurance, but the captain, an older man who regularly traveled with her, smiled back but kept his hands tight on the reins. She could only sigh outwardly while suppressing the giggles that threatened to overtake her, choosing to focus on the surrounding hills instead.
She much preferred riding fast through the open plains such as those that surrounded the capital to the slow trek that the steep hills and shadowed pines in this part of the country called for. The rough landscape allowed wind to arc up from the gorge on their right and cut through them like knives. She shivered, glad that Impa had forced her to bring thicker gloves for the trek, but wished that she had left her hair down in some attempt at protecting her ears.
The reports they’d received before setting out said that the road to the temple was relatively safe, insured by the patrols that were scheduled for the entire month leading up to her annual visit. Zelda took these in stride, putting most thoughts of the current events to the side while she prepared for one of her most public appearances as the representative of the goddess, second only to the blessing of the country in autumn.
The leaving of the procession was overseen by the king and queen, and flowers were offered as they made their way from the castle through the city streets before eventually leaving the capital. They toured small villages and farms along the road, the entire trek taking almost two weeks to reach their goal where Zelda had entered the sacred water alone, praying for the safety of her people. It was a long and exhausting process, the pouring of her powers into the water leaving her in great need of rest so that they had to stay in the temple grounds for an additional three days before she could ride again.
Impa always insisted that they stay longer, but Zelda would have none of it. The use of her inheritance was exhausting yes, but also quickly recovered, not like a true exhaustion or sickness that would leave her body unfit. She felt the same level of strength as the day they had originally set out.
And now she only yearned for home.
While much preferring riding and fencing, she would never shirk the more serious duties she had inherited from her mother upon reaching her early teenage years, thus allowing the queen to focus more attention on the governing she shared with Zelda’s father.
Zelda herself had been in lessons since she was a child, preparing her for what was to come. She was allowed to join judgments and meetings upon reaching sixteen, though was asked to only observe for the first few years. It was only more recently that she was invited to share her own opinions in front of the much older members of government. The queen gave her plenty of encouragement, but wouldn’t hesitate to point out any flawed logic in her reasonings. As she said, it was the only way Zelda would learn.
Recently the meetings had been taken up by reports of increased monster sightings in regions all across Hyrule, even those normally deemed safe. There didn’t seem to be anything that connected the recent attacks, but it was too synced up for them to be completely unrelated and she had been determined to prove it.
She’d sat in on a council meeting with her father the week before they’d left where they had discussed the recent safety issues, but other than some stronger measures for protecting the citizens, nothing had been resolved. She was itching to get back and catch up on anything she had missed since her departure as well as receive the reports she had tasked a few Sheikah with a few nights before this.
A long howl in the distance startled her from her thoughts, too garbled as it was to be that of a simple wolf. At the slight clanging of armor behind her she called back, “Stay your swords but keep alert. That did not sound near, but the canyon plays tricks.”
An affirmation sounded from the captain and they rode on. Zelda stayed alert as well, removing her thicker gloves, and moving the reins to one hand at her side so that she could draw the sword on her hip if need be. Silence overtook the small band as the sun fully disappeared, not letting up until they reached the base of the mountain, moon not yet visible in the sky.
A forest, now the final stretch between them and the first farmlands near the capital, lay in front of them. The road was roughly paved as it cut through the trees, with only magical lanterns fixed to the occasional markers to light the way. Zelda knew the path well as did her horse, and declined the lantern that was passed up to her, allowing Impa to take it instead. The bobbing circle of light that it provided was only so useful, doing more to keep back any potential wildlife than warn them of coming dangers.
But it was quiet. The clopping of their horse’s hooves on the cobbles echoed deafeningly around them accompanied in a nerve-wracking symphony by the creaking of branches in the chill wind. Another howl sounded, much closer now. It was answered by others, all garbled and nonsensical, undoubtedly monsters.
The final call wasn’t a howl at all, but a horn sounding from their left. Zelda had just enough time to draw her sword before the darkness broke, red eyes appearing first as the strangest mix of monsters charged them. Bokoblins with wooden clubs and stalfos with their rusted swords and shields led the charge, looming moblins taking up the rear, and a few wolfos, likely the source of the garbled howls, spotted among them.
Few monsters willingly worked together, and never in such a coordinated attack, but Zelda had no time to think. The mob quickly overtook them, outnumbering their small group five to one, and in such a small space among the packed trees being mounted was a disadvantage. The knights moved up into a defensive position, forcing Zelda to the side farthest from their attackers. Impa took the attention of the two closest stalfos, throwing the lantern into one's shield and swinging her naginata in a precise arc to cut them off.
Zelda urged Chickaloo away from the swinging blade, giving them both room while she still had time. A wolfos charged around to her right, swinging its sharp claws with vicious intent. She stopped its charge with her sword but it was too far away to be an effective strike. It lunged again, ducking beneath her blade and sinking teeth into her horse's neck before either could react. The horse let out a vicious scream as the teeth sunk deep, rearing back as its blood coated the wolfos’ face, yet the monster refused to budge.
Zelda gripped with her thighs, attempting to stay mounted as Chikaloo reared, but soon saw it as a losing battle. She jumped, the only thought on her mind to keep her sword in hand, and crashed into the ground with her opposite shoulder braced for impact. She hit the cobbles in a roll, launching herself back to her feet and away from the thrashing horse before it could crush her, ignoring the way her entire arm protested and burned.
She was worried for Chickaloo, the horse had been with her for years, but a bokoblin swung its club close, almost catching her head before she could dodge. She twisted, aligning her feet and bringing her sword around to chop at its neck, happy for the advantage that its shorter arms brought. Her aim was true and it fell to the ground at her feet gurgling, before immediately being replaced by another.
Chickaloo let out another scream and she turned, running her blade through the back of the preoccupied wolfos. It seized up at her strike, clawing itself free of the horse’s flesh, but was unable to turn and meet its attacker. She twisted her blade as she pulled, effectively killing the thing, but did not hesitate to strike it again once it began to fall making sure it was truly dead.
Chickaloo was bleeding, but Zelda couldn’t take the time to check how deep the wound truly was. Her only hope was to get her out of harm's way. Another bokoblin was already advancing on her, so she simply slapped Chickaloo’s side, urging her into a run. She sent a silent prayer to the goddesses as the horse took off, bowling another bokoblin over as she disappeared.
Zelda’s breath came heavier as the battle wore on. The mob seemed endless, and she could only catch small glimpses of her comrades, half of which still seemed to be mounted. The only light was from a single lantern that by hylia’s blessing somehow had not been broken when it was dropped.
But where was Impa?
Zelda blocked the bash of a stalfos’ shield, daring a glimpse around her, desperately searching for the Sheikah among the confusing shadows. She prayed for a single glimpse of the telltale white hair, knowing that looking at faces was completely useless, cast in darkness as they were. She parried an incoming sword, striking the final blow on her newest opponent, and turned to meet the next.
Only to stare straight up into the long foul and dripping snout of a moblin, twice her height with a mangled spiked club already raised and about to be brought down upon her head. She threw herself to the side, rolling into the dirt by the side of the road as the land trembled from being struck by such a heavy weight. It moved, rearing to the side this time and Zelda got a glimpse through his legs at the forgotten lantern from where she still lay on the ground.
The moment seemed to extend out before her, her breath stopping in her lungs.
It lay, glass partially broken but magical flame still shining from its nest of glass and twisted metal, highlighting the face of the man that lay next to it. Within its small pool of light, eyes dark as the night, lay the guard captain. His beard was twisted and red, a rusted sword broken off in his side, blood pool already soaking between the cracked cobbles.
There was still no sign of her mentor and she was given no time to mourn. The club came in fast and all she could do was move to avoid it. She climbed to her feet, skidding on her toes as she leapt forward and swiped for its distended stomach. She barely managed to make a mark, having to leap back once again as it kicked, clipping her side and causing her to fall back heavily, fighting for balance as her sword flew from her hand.
The hit had barely grazed her but every breath was now a stab to the side. Her ribs might have been bruised if not outright broken. Warmth seeped from her torn coat, and now disarmed, she clutched at her side. A second moblin stepped forward. This was not a fight she could win.
Mind made up she raised her hand, calling forth her goddess powers in an instant to blind and hopefully burn her foe. She turned, dashing for the darkness of the trees. She knew Impa would be fine. The Sheikah warrior had been through worse. What she needed to do was keep herself alive. Moblins were overwhelmingly strong but slow and lumbering. The dagger kept on her thigh was fresh in her mind , but she dared not fumble for its sheath. She sprinted, dodging the protruding roots in her path as she heard the monsters begin to follow. A howl at her back nearly made her stumble, but she knew better than to look, praying to the golden goddesses that no others would follow. Hylia knew a wolfos could overtake her in seconds.
One of the clubs hit a nearby tree, tearing down a heavy branch and raining splinters down on her head, but the spikes lodged into the bark causing the moblin to stumble, pulling at the stuck weapon in irritation. She kept on, boots hitting heavily on the loose dirt as air tore from her already exhausted lungs.
The second moblin seemed simply to fall behind, his movements too slow to keep up with her and her twisted trail through the trees even as exhausted as she was. The sounds of the fight had only somewhat faded when she finally stopped and allowed herself to look. The light from the lantern barely a dot through the trees, only visible because she knew where to look for it.
The sounds of monsters were now louder than the sounds of her men in the distance, and Chickaloo was nowhere in sight. She clutched at her side, focusing on slowing her breathing as she assessed the damage in the dark. There wasn’t much to be done, but thankfully the bleeding was light and the bruises easily ignored.
Based on the distance they had gone earlier, she’d be lucky to be even halfway through the forest. Which meant injured and near weaponless, there were still miles to go. She gritted her teeth, suddenly hyper-aware of the still lingering chill. Her fingers cramped from the cold, damp as they were, and she dearly missed her gloves.
Another cursed howl split the night, this one longer and more drawn out. As it faded, so too did the other sounds surrounding it, the road quieting so that she could hear nothing from where she stood. Her heart hurt for the men she had left behind, the captain’s face flashing once more through her mind. Her hand itched for the heavy steel of a sword.
But she needed to move. There was no telling if any would give chase, and it was better to be safe than sorry.
The moon had risen by this point, but the gentle light it provided barely pierced the thick trees around her leaving the forest floor in an almost total darkness. She navigated as best she could, keeping her free hand outstretched to keep from running face first into a tree. A sharp thorn tore through her palm and she winced but held back a cry, forcing herself to keep moving.
Such a large group of monsters would not have gone unnoticed by the patrol which means they couldn’t have been here long. Maybe they had only been unlucky enough to meet them on their way through, but that first howl they’d heard while they were still on the mountain seemed to have come from around the same area as where they were attacked. But the thought that such a varied group would have stayed together in what would have immediately been deemed a planned attack had it been done by any of the other races was absurd.
Monsters had intelligence, yes, but it was limited. Everything they did was for survival, deeming not only Hylians as their enemies, but monsters outside of their own kind as well. There were cases that might have said otherwise but in Zelda’s reading they were incredibly rare. Perhaps this was a key to the increased attacks as well. The thought excited her, brain casting about for anything else she could remember from the already blurred encounter. Maybe she could—
Her thoughts were cut off by a faint sound ahead of her. She could barely make out torchlight through the brambles, muffled voices and the sound of horses becoming clearer as she approached. The voices were rough and low, hard to make out. Once they came into view, she was relieved to see that it was a small group of Hylians with a large covered wagon just off of another cobbled path, though no markers were in sight here.
“Hello?” She called out, voice coming out rough and scratching her throat. “Please, I need help.”
“Who’s there?” A Hylian, broad as he was tall, called back, passing his horse’s reins to another close by and gripping his sword.
She finally made it to the edge of the clearing, and held her free hand up as she stumbled out. “Please, we were attacked farther down the road. I’m unarmed, and I think most of my men are dead.”
The man hesitated before his eyes caught on the insignia sewn onto her coat. “Princess Zelda?” His hand left his sword and he gestured her forward while the Hylians around them gasped and stumbled into crude bows, those that had been sitting, leaping to their feet. “What happened? Here, come forward, we have medical supplies.”
She stumbled, nearly falling before he caught her as she released a sharp hiss in pain. “Thank you.” She strained out, clutching at his arm. He guided her to sit on the end of the wagon and called for another to bring him a potion quickly as she recounted the evening's events.
A much shorter Hylain with facial hair that looked as if it had only just begun to grow, soon handed over a potion before scurrying back once more to dig through his bag, procuring cloth made bandages and scissors before looking at her expectantly.
Zelda took a breath and threw back the potion without looking. The taste was bitter, more so than what she was used to, but then these Hylians didn’t look as if they were swimming in rupees. She managed to prevent herself from gagging and was relieved as she began to feel her flesh stitching itself back together with the magical aid. “I must return to the castle quickly. Is there any way I may borrow one of your horses Mr….?” She finally asked, meeting the eyes of the leader.
“Piro, Your Highness. And I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you don’t look fit to ride even after a potion.”
“I’ll be fine. I need to alert the nearest soldiers.” She insisted.
“At least let us give you a ride in the wagon.”
“That won’t be quick enough. Some of my guards might still be alive. And Impa, I need to find her.” Zelda pushed herself to her feet. “If you are unable to lend me a horse, then I will simply have to walk. Thank you for the potion.”
“You don’t look in any condition for that either.”
“I’ve made it this far.” She argued, but her head was swimming, legs practically jelly beneath her as she fought to remain standing.
“I don’t think you understand, Your Highness. We’re only trying to help.”
The tone was odd and it was difficult to meet his eyes, nothing would stay in focus. His face was calm, staring down at her as if she were simply a child that wouldn’t listen. She noticed that while her wound had closed, the bleeding now stopped, it was getting harder to breathe. The group of Hylians around them hadn’t moved, but neither were they bowing anymore, instead eyes on her as if expectant. All except for the boy who had handed her the potion. He was clutching at the bandages, eyes on the ground as she stumbled.
“What did you-?” Her words trailed off as she backed away, fumbling at her hip for her dagger.
“Don’t worry, it's only a bit of sleeping draught.” Piro said. He hadn’t moved after her at all. “We were lucky. Those monsters did most of our work for us. Now all we have to do is get you packed up all cozy and back to our boss. No harm will come to you princess.”
He seemed sincere.
“Why?”
No answer.
Her eyelids were beginning to droop and she felt herself fall, dagger lost in the grass, the world blurring around her. The last thing she saw was a flash of light so brilliant and white that it overtook everything and almost seemed to cushion her body when it hit the ground, erasing all feeling.