"You ready?" Link asked me, a big smile on his face.
I looked down the slope before me and swallowed. It didn't seem to end, just winding downwards until it disappeared behind a curve. I gave Link a nervous look, "Are you sure this is safe?"
Link shrugged, "Mostly." He then turned to me and gave a wide grin, making my heart skip a bit. "Don't worry Zelda, you're ready for it." I sighed, trying to calm my shaky nerves. Up to this point none of the hills had bothered me, yet I could see the end to all of those. This one seemed to go on forever. "Just make sure to stop when you get to the bottom."
"Right. The lake." I replied, remembering what he had said yesterday about flying into Kilsie. For a moment I wished Revali was with us so he could save my hide again if need be. "How do I know when the lake is coming up?"
"When the trail drops off."
I frowned. That wasn't helpful at all.
"Ready?" Link asked again. I could tell he was eager to descend, his body loose and eyes excited.
"Alright." I muttered, knowing I couldn't back down now. Not when Link was so excited for this.
"You'll be alright." Link said, giving me a nudge with his shoulder. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
His words caused a rush of heat to my face and I looked down at the ground. "Right." I said, stepping forward so Link wouldn't see my red face. "Let's get going."
"That's the spirit!" Link replied, "Although how about you let me go first."
I nodded, "Good plan." At least this way I could follow him and watch his movements. Link stepped forward, placing his shield on the ground, one foot on it so it didn't slide away. I swiftly did the same, my stomach in knots.
Before he kicked off, Link gave me one last reassuring smile, and then he was gone, gliding smoothly down the slope. I took one deep breath and then pushed off. My shield instantly slid down the steep slope, gaining speed. I made sure to recall what Link had taught me... knees bent, legs relaxed, go with the flow...
Link rounded a curve, disappearing from view, and I quickly did the same, pressing one side of the shield into the snow more to help cut an angle. My shield was still picking up speed and there was no end to the path in sight. Ahead of me, Link seemed to be having the time of his life, swaying back and forth along the path. If there was any sort of ledge he could jump off of, he would take it, soaring through the sky and landing perfectly. I decided to keep things simple, even if I had practiced similar things beforehand. I really didn't want to fall on this hill. I'd probably roll all the way to Lake Kilsie.
As we continued down the hill, the knot in my stomach had slowly dissipated, replaced by joy and excitement. Going this fast, there was something about it that just made my heart beat with anticipation and elation. Before I knew it I was smiling as I glided down the hill, feeling almost one with the shield beneath my feet, as if nothing could stop me.
Rounding another corner, I saw Link skid to a stop, snow flying up as his shield dug into the ground. My eyes went past Link, seeing the trail suddenly end, wide open air at the end as the trail ended at a cliff. Realizing we were at the end, I stepped on the back of the shield, preparing to stop. However the sudden sight of the cliff had made me lose my concentration, and instead of a nice, gentle stop like I had practiced, my foot crashed down onto the back of the shield, and I came to a dead stop. The sudden stop cause me to fall forward, face first into the snow.
The snow was cold upon my face and I quickly propped myself up. "Zelda!" I heard Link shout and a second later, he was at my side. "Are you alright?"
In response, I sat up on my knees. I turned to Link and started laughing. Link looked at me dumbfounded for a second, but then he too started laughing. "I must have looked really silly." I said.
"Only a little." Link said and I gave him a playful swat in return. "You did really well though. I was half expecting you to wipe out going down."
I arched an eyebrow at this. "Such confidence in me."
"It's pretty normal to wipe out on your first trip down." Link explained.
"Did you?" I asked.
Link gave a nervous smile, "Nah, it came pretty natural to me."
I should have expected that. "Sounds about right." I replied with a slight laugh. I stood up and dusted the snow off me. Then I grabbed my shield and asked Link, "So how do we get to the Flight Range from here?"
"Follow me." Link said, and began to head south, walking along the ridge of Lake Kilsie. We had to climb over several rocks and eventually the ledge we were on came to a sheer drop off. When we reached this point, Link turned East and climbed up a rocky incline. I followed and once it leveled out, we were standing on the opposite side of the Flight Range.
I stared in astonishment, not expecting to be at the Flight Range this quickly. There were several Rito there training, a few of them spotting us right away. Link waved to two Rito, who I recognized as Nisi and Tath. They quickly flew over to us and landed in front of Link.
"How was your trip in the Hebra region?" Nisi asked.
"It was a lot of fun. Although we did stumble upon an Ice Talus. You may want to inform Azo of that." Link relayed, earning surprised looks from Nisi and Tath.
"You found a talus? Up in the mountains?" Tath repeated, shocked. "It's been years since there were any reports of talus. They were all hunted, some said to extinction."
"How big was it?" Nisi asked.
"It was full grown." I answered, "Likely hundreds of years old based on its body size."
Nisi gave me a deeply troubled look. "And the two of you took it down?" She asked, her eyes looking at our weapons. "But how with just a bow and a sword?"
"Zelda kind of exploded part of the mountain on it." Link answered, causing both Ritos to look at me, their eyes wide.
"I have these special arrows." I began to expound, grabbing a bomb arrow to show them. "They're bomb arrows and upon impact they cause an explosion. I used about twelve of these to take down the Talus. Three aimed at its ore and the others at a ledge above the talus, so it was smashed by rocks."
"Clever." Tath said, regarding me with interest.
"Are those the arrows that blinded the Hinox?" Nisi asked, putting two and two together. "I was part of the group that took out that Hinox. They certainly did some damage."
"They were." I replied.
"No wonder why Azo wants those arrows." Tath stated. "Remarkable. And to think a little Hylian developed them. You continue to impress us, Princess Zelda."
I smiled at his praise, "Thank you. I hope they prove useful for the Rito warriors."
"I'm sure they will." Tath smiled at me.
"Anyways, you guys want a ride back to Rito Village?" Nisi asked us.
"That would be nice." I said appreciatively. We needed to start preparing for our next part of the journey.
"Let's go then." And with that I climbed onto Nisi's back, and Link onto Tath's and they flew us back to the entrance of Rito Village. I thanked them and waved as they flew away. Then Link and I hurried back to camp.
We spent the rest of the day packing most of our supplies up as well as stocking up on provisions we had depleted. I had also depleted a lot of my elemental arrows, so I spent some time making more of the coating and applying it to fresh arrowheads. By the end of the day, we were ready to go and decided we'd say our goodbyes and head back to the Rito Stables tomorrow to collect the horses and the rest of our things.
As dusk approached, I felt a heavy wariness consume me, and I resigned myself to bed early, falling asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I awoke the next morning to Link cooking us a small meal. We ate in silence and then headed into Rito Village.
"I'm going to head up to Master Falnor's place. You can say goodbye to your friends." I told Link, expecting he'd want to say goodbye to them.
Link nodded and stopped at the scholar hut, where his one friend, Hyss, spent most of his time pouring over books and conducting educational experiments. I waved goodbye and then proceeded up the stairs until I reached my Master's hut.
He was sitting cross legged, busy at stringing a bow. As I walked in, his eyes found me. "Zelda." He greeted.
I gave a brief nod in respect, "Hello Master."
"You're leaving." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, it is time Link and I move onwards. We still have two other clans to visit."
"You will see your Sensei next." Falnor said.
I nodded, "Yes, I am looking forward to seeing him. It has been longer than I would have liked since we last saw each other."
"Indeed. That tends to happen." He gave a faint smile, "I missed you Zelda. I enjoyed this little time we had together. I hope when the war is over, we can make it a point to spend more time together."
I felt my chest expand, almost seeming to burst at Master's words. "I'd like that." I replied back, "I would like to foster clan relationships more once the war is over. I won't take the throne for awhile, so I thought I could act as a kind of emissary between clans and work on uniting Hyrule."
"That seems like something you'd be good at. You've always been very accepting of all the clans, seeing each clan for what they had to offer and their unique skill sets. And you have close ties to most of them."
"I think this journey has shown me that a united Hyrule is stronger than one divided." I explained, "And I want to make sure Hyrule remains strong. It's the least I can do in honor of my mother, the Queen." I sighed, "But I'm probably getting ahead of myself. We need to deal with Calamity Ganon first."
"Indeed." Falnor agreed. Setting the newly strung bow aside, he stood up and walked over to me. "Although it is alright to have dreams that extend beyond wartime. Sometimes they are the drive we need. Although people have always been what drives you, Zelda."
"People?" I frowned, not sure what he was saying.
Falnor shook his head, "No, not people. But those you love in general, whether that be your family, your sensei, your friend Impa, your horse Icefire. They are what has always driven you more than your own ambitions. Although perhaps that was because you never had any ambitions you were that passionate about."
I looked down, feeling ashamed suddenly. "Master."
"To rule is a great honor... and a great responsibility. One that I myself would not want. You understand your duty and accept it, even if it is something you do not desire."
I stared at the ground, uncertain what to say. I had never complained about being the heir to the throne. Me becoming queen one day was inevitable... even if it was something I didn't really want. "Is it bad that I don't want to be Queen?" I asked.
I felt Falnor's winged hand on my arm, patting it gently. "No Zelda, it is not." Falnor stated. "Sometimes those who do not desire leadership are the best rulers. Because they understand the work and responsibilities associated with such titles. I think you will make a fine Queen one day. And it's alright to have a life separate from the throne. You can still be a great ruler and live your life... if you play it right."
I laughed at this, recalling Urbosa saying something similar. "You sound like Urbosa." I explained as Falnor gave me a questioning look.
"Then she is wise. I'm glad you have her in your corner. As well as Daruk. Perhaps a bit brutish, but his heart is in the right place." Falnor then placed his winged hand to his chest, "And of course, I will always be there to support you Zelda; as my former pupil and as the Queen."
I felt my eyes begin to tear up at his words. Perhaps being a ruler wouldn't be so bad... especially if I had people like this supporting me... Even in my darkest hours, had it not been these very people who had been there for me, to wipe the tears away and pull me from the ashes of the life I was burning up?
Opening my arms, I threw them around my Master, an overwhelming amount of emotion bursting forth in my chest: relief, fear, happiness, acceptance, and love. "Thank you." I whispered against his green feathers. Falnor's arms quickly encircled me and rubbed my back.
"Of course." We hugged for several seconds longer until I released him, although I knew he didn't mind. As I looked up at him, rubbing my eyes to rid them of tears, Falnor asked, "I believe there is someone else you wish to say goodbye to."
I nodded, "Yes. Do you know where he is?"
Falnor turned and pointed north, "Training as usual." He answered, "Although lately he has been going at it quite relentlessly. He is quite adamant on mastering this power you have given him."
"I would expect nothing less of the Rito Champion." I replied, "Do you mind taking me to him?"
In response, Falnor turned around and allowed me to climb onto his back. With one powerful jump, we were up into the air, his wings instantly catching the air currents, directing us towards the Flight Range.
It didn't take long before we reached the Flight Range, Falnor landing smoothly on the rocks in front of the giant pit. My eyes instantly spotted Revali, who was crouched low on the rocks before the cabin, looking deeply focused. I took a step in his direction, but stopped and stared as currents of wind began to swirl around Revali. Suddenly he leapt into the air, a whirlwind forming around him, looking as if he was in the center of a cyclone. He flew upwards, however I could see his flight path was shaky, the winds knocking him about. Then in the blink of an eye, his flight became unstable, the winds thrashing him about in their grasp. Revali was spit from the center of the whirlwind and came crashing down onto the ledge where he had started.
"Revali!" I shouted as he landed with a thud and ran over to him.
As I neared, Revali heaved himself up, clearly in pain as well as muttering under his breath. "Not enough." He gasped raggedly, "I must stay in the eye of the whirlwind. I must push myself harder."
My eyes softened at his words, understanding filling me. "Revali." I said as I came to a stop by his side.
Revali whipped his head in my direction, just noticing me. "Zelda." He said curtly, taken aback by my presence. "You know it's rude to sneak up on someone."
I gave a slight bow in apology, "My apologies, Revali. But I came to say goodbye. Link and I are leaving today."
Revali scoffed, "Spare me your pleasantries. I have work to get done, which you are distracting me from."
I sighed and then grabbed a small container from my pocket. I had planned on giving this to Falnor, however Revali would probably find it more useful. "Here." I said, extending my hand with the container in it to him.
Revali looked at it with scorn. "What is this supposed to be."
"It's medicine." I explained, "I developed it. It works quite well. It is made using the sap of the Dragon's Blood Trees. Apply it to your wounds and they'll be healed within a day or so."
Revali looked at the item in my hand, his expression unreadable. Finally he extended his winged hand and grabbed the medicine. "I suppose if you developed it, it must be exceptional." His eyes lifted to meet mine and he muttered, "Thanks Zelda."
I smiled, happy to have been assistance. "How is your training going with the Power of Air?" I asked, curious to see what he had found out about the power.
Revali lifted his head up high, "As well as one can expect. It is the very wind I'm working with, and one does not simply control the wind. Instead you must learn to flow with it."
"I'm sure if anyone can figure it out, it's you." I stated.
"Figure it out?" Revali huffed, "Why I have figured it out. Just watch." A gust of wind suddenly blew past me, and then Revali was in the air, a cyclone around him, which propelled him higher and higher into the sky, higher than I thought it was possible to fly. Still he ascended until finally he levelled out, seeming to be suspended far above us. And then with a slight tilt of his body, he was descending towards us at incredible speeds. Nearing the earth, his wings shot out, catching him and slowing his speed. He then grabbed his bow and several arrows, firing a perfectly timed three arrow shot, each arrow landing dead center in a target. Revali then glided along the air currents in of the Flight Range, landing next to me.
"See, Princess. My skills are honed beyond comprehension. That knight of yours better keep up."
I blinked several times, impressed by what I had just seen. The Power of Air was as marvelous as the Power of Lightning. My eyes glanced at Revali. He had more confidence than anyone I had ever met and was crass... but he was honest. I never had to wonder what he was thinking. "I look forward to seeing you again, Revali. I'll send word once I'm done recruiting all the champions. Then we can all sit down and discuss our plans for defeating Calamity Ganon."
"Just don't keep me waiting too long." Revali advised.
I arched an eyebrow, "I wouldn't dream of it."
"Sarcasm... how funny, little Hylian."
"Look at you, so clever." I fired back.
Revali sighed, shaking his head. "I hope to see you soon, Zelda."
I smiled up at Revali, and then before I could stop myself, I stepped in close and wrapped my arms around the navy Rito, his plumage soft. I felt Revali's surprise in the stiffness of his muscles, but then he relaxed and wrapped one of his winged arms around me, patting my back. Releasing him, I stepped back. "Goodbye Revali."
Revali gave a nod of his head, "Until we meet again, Zelda."
With that I walked away from Revali and back to Falnor, who had been watching us. Falnor knelt down slightly so I could climb onto his back, and then we were off. "Should I take you back to your campsite?" Falnor asked as we soared over Tabantha.
"Yes, you can. Please tell Azo and the Elder that I am grateful for everything." I said.
"Of course." Falnor replied. There was a pause and then Falnor spoke again, "Seems the two of you have become good friends."
"Revali and I?" I asked.
"Yes."
I felt a smile tug at my lips, "I suppose we have."
"I'm glad."
We flew the rest of the way in silence. When we landed, Link was already there, everything packed away and ready to go. The three of us gathered around each other, ready to go our separate ways.
"It was a pleasure seeing you both again." Falnor said. "I will pray to the Goddess that you have safe travels."
"Thank you, Master."
"Link, give your father my regards." Falnor addressed Link, "And Zelda... I have the utmost faith in you."
His words hit me in the chest, having so much more meaning to them than one would think. I smiled, "Thank you."
"Well you two best be off." Falnor said, not wanting to belabor our goodbye.
I nodded. "Right. Goodbye Master."
"Goodbye you two." And with that Falnor leapt into the air, flying back to Rito Village. I watched him leave briefly, but then I slung my backpack over my shoulders and began to head back to the stables with Link. Before I knew it we were over the bridges and series of islands, the Rito Stables in front of me. I quickly talked to the stable owner, who retrieved the belongings we left behind. Pulling them aside, I found Link, who had gone to the horses, both which were excited to see him.
"Did you want to stay here for today and head out tomorrow? Or get some distance under our feet today? It's early afternoon, so we could reach the Snowfield Stables. Tabantha Village is along the way so we could also stay there."
Link thought for a moment, stroking Epona's side. "I think I'm ready to move on. And I'm sure the horses are too."
"Alright, that settles it." I said, grabbing Icefire's saddle and reigns. "Let's get ready to head out."
We made good progress and reached the Snowfield Stables just before dusk. I sat on my bed, deciding to stay inside and out of the chill of the winds coming off the snowfields. I had the Slate out and was looking at the map, going over the route we were taking. The road we were currently following would lead down to the Serenne stable and then back to Central, looping around the castle, and finally heading north to the Lost Woods. It would be much faster to cut across the Woodland territory after reaching the Stables, and the terrain wasn't too difficult to navigate via horseback. We could easily cut across the plains and then ride along the ridge between the Castle and the Lost Woods.
Leaning back on my bed, I zoomed out of the map, happy with that plan. I then flickered through the Slate, looking back at some of the notes I had written down as well some of the images saved on the Slate. I smiled as I looked back on the pictures, thinking of everything that had happened since this journey began.
"Zelda!" Link exclaimed as he walked into the stables. "Come quickly!"
I sat up in bed, alert. "What is it?" But Link was already gone, walking back out into the cold. I quickly rose and grabbed my cloak, wrapping it over my shoulders as I followed Link outside. As soon as I stepped outside, a strong gust of wind assaulted me, making me tug at my cloak tighter.
My eyes searched for Link, however something else caught my eye, making me gasp. High above us, was a giant, fiery serpent like creature, his scales golden with a fiery glow and his horns were ablaze, lighting up the sky. Patches of fire floated around him, making him appear otherworldly.
"It's Dinraal." I breathed, my eyes fixed on the dragon.
"Just as impressive as Farosh." Link said, his form appearing next to me suddenly. The winds continued to blow around us, caused by the dragon above us. Yet Link and I stood and watched the enigmatic dragon slither through the sky, to enamored by the sight to care about the cold and frosty winds.
It was then I recalled my mistake with Farosh and I quickly ran back inside to grab the Slate. Then, gleefully I captured several images of Dinraal, smiling as I did so. Once satisfied, I lowered the slate and watched as the flaming dragon dipped down into the canyon, disappearing from view.
The winds had died down with Dinraal's departure. Link and I stood rooted in place for several minutes, in awe of what we had just seen. Finally I muttered, "Two dragons. I've now seen two dragons!"
"All that's left is Naydra." Link added.
"Yes, although it is said Naydra resides on Mount Lanayru, which I won't be visiting for a while. But I hope to see that dragon as well." I voiced, yawning after.
Link arched an eyebrow. "Someone's tired."
"I suppose so." I replied, and then gave Link a stern look. "We both should be going to sleep soon. We'll have to wake up early if we want to reach the Woodland Stables by tomorrow."
"You want to go all the way there? Won't we have to go around the castle?" Link asked, looking skeptical that we'd be able to make it that far tomorrow.
I held up a finger, about to clarify. "Actually, I have a shortcut we'll be taking. We will be doing a little off-roading, so to speak."
Link shrugged, "Works for me."
"Excellent." I said, "I shall see you in the morning then." With that I went back into the stables.
Morning came faster than I hoped and I groaned as I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. Link and I packed up our things, ate a quick breakfast, and were on our way. We left behind the icy tundra of the Hebra region as the road before us curved around the canyon, heading southwards. Soon the barren landscape transitioned to green grass and deciduous trees. The temperature also improved, rising to a pleasant level where I no longer required my Rito gear. Link and I stopped briefly to change back into our normal attire. After so long in Rito wear, it was odd seeing Link in his blue tunic again. Although as I snapped my gauntlets in place, I felt much more at easy with my armor on.
By early afternoon, we reached the Serenne stables and took a brief stop there. As the horses drank from a trough, I walked over to Link and said, "Instead of following the path back into Central, we'll cut across these plains." I pointed east of the stables, the land flat.
Link nodded, "Good idea."
Within ten minutes, we were ready to commence onwards. Turning eastwards, we began to travel across the plains. We travelled past several cottages along the way, which wasn't too uncommon as there were a lot of cabins scattered across the plains. It was a serene and quiet place to live, not too far away from civilization that if they needed anything, it was easy to access, but far enough away they wouldn't be bothered. Soon Rauru Hillside appeared in the distance.
As the hillside came into view, Link and I slowed our pace as we saw a traveler running towards us, flailing his arms frantically. "Please help! Help!" He shouted, making us come to a stop.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
The man bent over, hands on his knees as he panted heavily. "My traveling companions have been attacked. One of them was injured badly. Please, will you help us?"
"Lead the way." I replied. The man let out a long exhale and then began to walk away. As he did this, Link came up next to me, his eyes sharp. "Is something wrong?" I asked.
Link shook his head. "Just be wary. Sometimes bandits will trick people by saying they need help and once their guard is down they attack them."
"Oh." I said aghast, "You think they could be tricking us?"
Link shrugged, "I don't know. But it's best to remain alert."
I nodded firmly, "Understood." Tugging on Icefire's reins, I followed the man, scanning my surroundings as I did so.
The man led us around a big hill, where I saw several other people sitting. My eyes analyzed the group quickly. There were five of them in total, and one of them was lying on the ground, clutching his leg. They all appeared to be travelers, wearing loose clothing that was worn and had a few tears in it. Yet there was no sign of blood on their clothing or anywhere around them. In fact it did not look like there had been any fighting in this area; no dead monsters, no tousled earth...
I stopped a few paces away from the travelers, "Who attacked you?"
A woman amongst the travelers replied, "Bokoblins. Came out of nowhere."
"What happened to them?" I probed further.
"They ran off." Another traveler answered. "Took some of our weapons and supplies after beating us up, and then ran off."
I arched an eyebrow. None of them looked injured besides the man holding his leg, but even his leg appeared fine. There was no blood, unless he had broken it. "You don't look as if you've just been in a fight."
There was a pause, and the man who was clutching his leg looked up at me, his eyes sharp. "Clever girl." His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, and then, "I recognize you." He said, his voice dark. "You're the girl from the Bazaar. The one who looks like Princess Zelda."
It was then my mind flashed back to the Kara Kara Bazaar and running into a suspicious man clad in a dark cloak. He had inquired if I was the Princess, and after returning to the Palace, we had contemplated if he was a Yiga member...
I grabbed my bow and an arrow. Behind me I heard Link unsheathe his sword. Then there was a plume of smoke, which was swept away quickly by the wind, revealing five yiga members, all dressed in their maroon and black uniforms with white masks adorned on their faces. Four of the Yiga looked like those that had attacked me in the desert, however the one in the center was different. He was much more formidable. He was stronger than the others and possessed a windcleaver sword, which was deadly sharp.
He stepped forward, his sword pointed at us. "I am a Sooga, a Yiga Blademaster. I did not anticipate finding the Princess, but Master Kogha will be delighted when I return with news of your death. Prepare to die, Princess!"
The yiga darted at us, each drawing their weapons and swarming to us like bugs to a light. I spurred Icefire into motion, gaining distance between my attackers, drawing my bow back as I did so. While I did this, Link jumped of his horse, his sword much more effective on the ground than on horseback. One Yiga holding a curved sickle met Link head on, the clank of metal upon metal sounding.
Finding my target, I took aim, the arrow piercing the leg of one of the yiga with a bow. The yiga fell to the ground, his arms going to his leg. I took another arrow and fired it at the yiga's shoulder, easily hitting him. With one archer taken out, I turned my sights to the other archer, who was trying to get a clear shot at Link. Link was locked in battle with two Yiga, the Blademaster standing close by, ready to intervene at any opening he saw.
I quickly turned my sights back to the archer, needing to take him out so I could assist Link. Pulling at Icefire's reigns, I redirected him so I was moving in the direction of the archer. I grabbed another arrow and took aim, the arrow sinking deep into the Yiga's abdomen. The Yiga dropped his bow, falling to the ground as he clutched at the wound.
Quickly I whipped my head back to Link, who had dealt with one Yiga, who was slinking back, pressing his hand to his bloodied shoulder. The other was locked deep in battle with Link, but I could see Link had the advantage. My eyes shifted back to where the Blademaster was, only to find the spot empty. My eyes widened and I frantically scanned my surroundings for the enigmatic figure.
Before I could spot him, Icefire leapt into motion, giving a panicked neigh. I clutched at his reins, turning to look behind me as I did so. My eyes widened in shock as I saw the Yiga Blademaster, his masked face pointed in my direction.
Biting my lip, I pulled on Icefire's reins, knowing I needed to get control over my stead. If I could maintain distance between the Blademaster and myself, I would have the advantage with my long range attacks.
Circling around, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and took aim at the Blademaster. Releasing the arrow, it spiraled towards the Blademaster. Just as it was about to hit him, the Blademaster swiped across with his sword, slicing my arrow in half and deflecting it so it fell limply to the ground. I stared in shock for several seconds. To stop an arrow at that speed, his reflexes had to be amazing.
I bit my lip, contemplating what to do. I would need to distract him somehow if I was going to get a clear shot. At least on horseback I was able to maintain distance as no matter how fast he was, he couldn't rival the speed of a horse. However, just as I thought that, the Blademaster was swallowed in a cloud of smoke, disappearing spontaneously. My body went on edge, eyes fixed on the wiffs of smoke as they were blown away. Yet as they cleared, anxiety spiked in me for the Blademaster was gone.
From my peripheral, movement flashed and I whirled my head frantically, my eyes falling on the Blademaster who was standing only a few paces away from me. I stared in stunned disbelief. How had he gotten there so quickly; it was as if he had magically teleported from one place to another. But that was improbable. The Yiga were trained ninja, perhaps it was some technique they used, a technique the rest of the Sheikah were unaware of.
As the Blademaster took a step towards me, I snapped out of my contemplation. Before I could react, the Yiga swung his sword and then crashed it into the ground, making bits of earth and pebbles fling from it. The motion startled my horse, causing Icefire to rear up on two legs. Unprepared for this, I slipped from the saddle, colliding with the ground hard. Icefire then galloped away, oblivious that he was leaving his rider behind.
I groaned as I rolled to my side and propped myself up, my bow still clutched in my hand. Several arrows lay scattered around me, having fallen from my quiver when I fell off Icefire. A foot stepped into my line of sight and I lifted my head up to find the Blademaster standing only two paces away from me, his long sword at the ready.
I shuffled backwards, trying to get away from him. He laughed at me, a dark, gritty laugh. I dropped my bow, knowing it wouldn't be much use at this range. Instead I slid my hands into my brass knuckles, knowing with how long his sword was it would be difficult for me to get in close, but I could at least use them defensively. They were made by Goron hands, forged from the rocks and heat of Death Mountain, which made them hard and unbreakable; or at least it would take more than one blow to cut through them.
The Blademaster took a step towards me, lifting his sword high, ready to descend. I quickly got my feet underneath me, kneeling on one, while the other was propped up. And then the Blademaster swung his sword, the sharp blade shimmering with a deadly aura. All I could do was watch the blade, waiting for the right position to block. As the blade fell towards me, closer and closer, I brought my hands up, forming a defensive block by crossing them in front of my face, positioning it so my fists were pointed outwards and up. The Blade descended, colliding with my brass knuckles, the sheer force causing the brass knuckles to push uncomfortably into my flesh. I gritted my teeth in pain, my arms shaking as I withstood the power of the blow. There was enough power behind this blow that it would have surely cut right through me if I hadn't blocked it.
The Blademaster pressed down on his sword, hoping his deadly sharp blade would cut through my brass knuckles, but he did not realize they were Goron made. I held my position, bracing against the force applied to the sword. Giving in a little to the force of the sword, my arms lowered slightly, but only so I could generate more momentum. Then I thrust my arms up, throwing the Blademaster's sword upwards. As his sword lifted, I saw my chance and dove in, throwing a hook to the Blademaster's side, right where his liver was. I put all the force I could muster behind it, my brass knuckles digging into the Blademaster's torso.
In response, he groaned in pain. Before he could react though, I rolled backwards, out of range and then hopped to my feet. The Blademaster had collapsed onto one knee, his hand that wasn't holding his sword was holding his adbomen.
"Such insolence." He spit out, his voice filled with fury and loathing.
"Zelda!" I heard Link's voice shout behind me. In a moment he was at my side, sword ready, his eyes fixed on the Blademaster. The Blademaster took the two of us in for a moment and then, groaning, pulled himself to his feat.
"This isn't over. Watch your back, Princess." And then he disappeared behind a smokescreen, which slowly dissipated. Other patches of smoke appeared, signaling the other Yiga members had retreated as well.
I let out a long exhale, and then looked down at my hands, which were still shaking and throbbing with pain. The blow I had stopped was strong and powerful, and all that momentum hadn't just disappeared when it collided with my brass knuckles. Carefully I pulled the brass knuckles off my fingers, hissing in anguish as I did so.
"What's wrong?" Link asked, his eyes falling on my bare hands, gasping as he saw them. "What happened?" He said concernedly.
I looked down at my fingers, which were already bruising from absorbing the brunt of the attack. One hand was clearly worse than the other, but at the base of each finger there was a ring of bruises as well as some swelling.
I tucked away my brass knuckles and looked around for Icefire, hoping he hadn't run far off. Relief filled me as I saw his white pelt not far away, although he was shuffling his feet as if he was still spooked. I turned my attention back to Link. "It's alright. I'll need to bandage these quickly to help the swelling. I have some compression tape in my bag."
"I'll get Icefire. You wait here." Link said and began to head towards Icefire, leaving no room for argument.
"He's still a little spooked, so approach him slowly." I called, and then sat down, cradling my bruised hands.
Link quickly returned, leading Icefire, who looked much calmer now. Link certainly had a way with horses. Swiftly I rose and began to rummage around in one of my saddle bags, eventually pulling out the bandages I was searching for.
Once again I sat down and then began to unroll the bandage. It was then I noticed Link kneel next to me, his eyes fixed on my hands. "Let me." He said and grabbed the bandages from my hand. I didn't argue. It would be easier for him to do it anyways rather than me struggling to wrap each hand by myself.
He gingerly lifted up my right hand and began to weave the bandages around my palm and fingers. "Make sure it's tight." I said, knowing the pressure would help with the swelling. He nodded and continued his task. I grimaced in pain as he did so, the pressure painful at first. However Link did not stop, knowing this was what needed to be done.
Once completed, I let out a sigh, my hands both wrapped in beige bandages. They hurt, but also felt stabilized with the bandages on them.
"Thanks, Link." I said and stood to my feet. He nodded, clearly upset. I furrowed my brows, wondering what was wrong. "Are you alright, Link?"
Link's eyes met mine, and I was surprised by the intensity in them. He ran a hand through his hair, and said, "I'm sorry Zelda."
I creased my eyebrows, "For what?"
Link looked down at the ground, almost as if he was ashamed. "It's my duty to protect you. You shouldn't have had to face off against that Yiga."
I frowned, "This isn't your fault, Link. You were busy with those two other Yiga, who were trying to keep you from helping me. The Blademaster clearly was after me and wanted me dead."
"I should have been able to finish off those Yiga quicker. So I could get to you faster. If I can't do that, then-"
"Link." I cut him off and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You were able to come to my aid at the end. And I'm not completely defenseless, ya know. I was able to keep him at bay for a while and came out mostly unscathed."
Link's eyes looked down at my bandaged palms. "Your hands..."
"Will heal." I finished. "They hurt, but the injuries aren't too bad." I dropped my hand from his shoulder and stepped in front of Link so he would look me squarely in the eyes. "Listen, Link. I knew the dangers of this journey before I even brought it up with my father. Even so, I knew it was something I had to do, despite the risks. And although you are my knight, you can't protect me from everything. Especially when it seems I have a knack for finding danger."
Link grabbed one of my hands, gently clasping it in his hands. "I know you can take care of yourself Zelda, but I still don't want anything to happen to you. I worry about you and when you're injured I feel as if I haven't done my job properly."
"I worry about you too." I replied, "And you've saved me more times than I care to admit. So I'd say you're doing a splendid job. You definitely keep track of me better than most guards I've had."
Link arched an eyebrow, the seriousness in his eyes lessening. "So all those times you were intentionally trying to slip away."
I bit my lip, realizing he had caught me. "Does it make you feel any better if I said I've slipped away from all my guards?"
Link frowned at me. "Not really." He shook his head, "Honestly, it's a wonder you're still alive."
I huffed and folding my arms across my chest, retracting my hand from his grasp as I did so. "Normally nothing bad happens. Besides, it wasn't until recently that everything started to actively try and kill me."
Link exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to do with you."
"And what exactly does that mean?" I questioned.
Link smirked, "Come on, let's get going. We need to reach the Woodland Stables before night."
Although a part of me was annoyed at his changing the subject, I was also relieved to see his normal upbeat demeanor return. So I decided I'd let it slide.
I don't know if you can tell, but I really enjoy writing battle scenes. They are some of my favorite things to write. Also, just to give a little context because before I started training MMA I didn't really think you could drop a person with one punch, especially if they were bigger than you. But when you hit someone in the liver it's like their body temporarily shuts down. It's a weird feeling (speaking as someone who got knee-ed in the liver). Point is you can definitely drop an opponent with a well placed liver shot. So Zelda dropping the blademaster isn't too outlandish in my opinion, especially since she has her trusty brass knuckles.
Anyways I hope you are enjoying the story so far and thanks for sticking with it! Your support is much appreciated :)