Fan Fiction Friday: The Era Without A Hero – Part 22

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To call the brawl that broke out a fair fight would have been an outright lie. Or at least that’s how it should have seemed. A few of the faux-soldiers immediately rushed the wizened knight, drawing their swords.

The knight barely moved, drawing his blade in a singular motion. As he swung it, the blade curved and separated into an array of tiny razors that moved like a whip. The edges of the blades tore into the chainmail on the attackers and ripped into their flesh like a butcher at the market. The cuts weren’t severe enough to kill them, but deep enough to leave a lasting impression that would alter their lives.

Osmond rolled and broke free from his captor, then recovered his sword. He managed to unsheathe it and deflect an attack aimed for his head. Before his assailant could recover enough to attack again, the sound of a heavy crunch came as Zelda’s hammer slammed into his breastplate. The enemy was lifted off his feet and came down on a nearby table with a tremendous crash.

Fado also took advantage of the outburst of chaos. He leapt onto the bar and nimbly evaded being recaptured. He whistled to the knight, who took notice and slid an empty glass quickly down the surface. Fado rolled under an attack, picked up the glass, then spun around and smashed it across the face of his opponent. The Kokiri then flexed his athletic muscles by leaping onto the back counter with a flip, before proceeding to scoop up more glasses and launch them at the oncoming villains.

When they collapsed near their leader, who at this point was fumbling with the door and trying to leave, the rest of the soldiers in the bar rushed the door. They managed to burst through it, trampling their leader under their panicked feet. The unconscious of defeated soldiers were left behind to face the consequences of their actions.

Osmond sheathed his blade and turned to look at the knight, who was kneeling before the Princess.

“Your Grace, I apologize for not arriving sooner. I raced here as soon as Lady Impa notified me there could be trouble.”

Osmond recognized the man after a moment. “You… You’re the man who came to Aldwin’s grave… Who are you? And what happened at Castletown?”

“This is Lord Liam,” Fado said, a relieved smile crossing his face, “one of the greatest Knights in all of Hyrule.”

“It’s good see you again, Lord Fado,” Liam rose to his feet and smiled at Fado, before nodding to Osmond. “And you too, Sir Osmond. I am Lord Liam of Lanayru. High Knight of Hyrule, Lord Protector of the Lanayru Province, and long-time mentor to our mutual friend, Aldwin. These days though, I prefer to just go by Liam. I’m old, tired, and just fulfilling my duties.”

Osmond staggered a little. This was the man who had taught Aldwin. The Knight that Aldwin never gave a name to, simply choosing instead to call him, The Gray Whip. Osmond had heard tales of this Knight that stood before him, but his presence was unlike anything that he’d expected.

“What’s going on my Lord?” Zelda asked.

“Right,” he sighed, “there isn’t much time, so I’ll keep it as simple as possible. Lord Kalia had a vision of some terrible disaster that he refuses to speak of at this point. He and Lord Sagesse believe it is a potential prophecy though, and have been seeking the Queen’s counsel on the matter. In the meantime, the waterflow from Zora’s River seems to have been disrupted, causing some concerns about the return of the 7-Year Winter. I was instructed to track you three down, and pass along the order to investigate.”

“I suppose this order comes from Kalia and Sagesse?” Fado asked.

Liam nodded.

“He suspects a connection then…” Fado placed his hand on his chin and shifted his expression.

“What of the other sages? Did they weigh in on this ruling?” Osmond asked, searching for signs of suspicion.

“That’s where things get complicated,” Liam sighed. “Lady Laruto supposedly took a leave of absence a few nights ago. She may have headed to Zora’s Domain herself to offer prayers, but that’s just a hunch. Similarly, Lady Rutela was forced to return to Lake Hylia on the chance there is an issue with the river and her people would need to evacuate.”

“That means there’s only two sages in Castletown,” Osmond observed.

“And my mother, though she doesn’t bear the same responsibilities.”

“This was planned,” Fado said, breaking his temporary silence. “The Royal Family is equally as split up, aren’t they?”

“The King was in route to the North Castle, and the Queen remains in Castletown, acting as figurehead and leader for the people.”

“Liam,” Fado began sternly, “go back and protect the Queen. I suspect something in motion here, and it doesn’t settle well with me. Osmond, Zelda, and I will head up the river to see if we can find Lady Laruto. Once we’ve found her, we will reconvene with Huron somewhere safe in Castletown and send word for you.”

“Not the Temple of Time, I assume?” Liam asked.

“One of the Sages may not be as loyal to the Royal Family as they ought to be. We can fill you in on the details later.”

Liam gave a nod of understanding.

Fado hopped to his feet and approached the knight, “It almost goes without saying, but… be careful Liam.”

“You too. Hey kid,” Liam raised his head to Osmond, “you keep Aldwin’s lessons in your head and you keep doing your duty. Got it?”

“Yes sir.”

“And you, Princess. Don’t go making his job any harder than it needs to be.”

“Don’t let this wound your chivalrous nature but I have done a good job defending myself when I’ve needed to.”

“She did take down a magma monster just a couple days ago,” Osmond laughed.

“And I’ve always got at least one trick up my sleeve,” Zelda smiled revealing a small dagger she’d been concealing the entire time.

Liam chuckled, “Very clever. Don’t get cocky then. Just make sure that you’ve got each other’s backs.”

“Yes sir,” both Zelda and Osmond replied.

The two knights saluted each other and then joined Fado outside where he had prepared the horses. They all climbed on and rode out of Kakariko in a rush.

Osmond looked back to see Liam pull his gray hood up and vanish in a crowd.

---

Zora’s River was the primary source of freshwater for all of Central Hyrule. Flowing from the mountains on the border between the Eldin and Faron provinces, it wound down into the flatlands of Lanayru, before emptying out into Lake Hylia. The Zora had once called the place where the water began its journey home, going by the name of Zora’s Domain, though now it was home to only a few Zora and the rest migrated to Lake Hylia.

Not all Zora lived there though, as some became primarily land-dwellers and lived in Castletown, Kakariko, or Kingdom Bay. The ones who had remained, had become reclusive and silent protectors of the region.

“Why did the Zora not return here after the 7-Year Winter?” Osmond asked, taking a seat below a tree as Fado lit their campfire.

“Well, that’s a complicated and convoluted history. Tragedy seems to have a way of following some races more than others, and the Zora seem to have a knack for finding it.” His face darkened as a painful memory passed through his mind.

Osmond decided not to press the matter. He laid back and looked up to the blanket of stars that shone against the black sky. As he watched, dark clouds began to roll in from the north and conceal the shining lights. They had seen the storm clouds growing as they had ventured to the mouth of the river, but aimed to outrun them as best they could. This, coupled with the rapidly dropping temperatures, made their decision to stop for the night an easy one. They were still a few hours north of the Sleepless Waterfall, behind which held the remains of the once thriving Zora’s Domain.

The banks of Zora’s River were coated in a thick and lush green grass, with patches of small white wildflowers scattered about, before giving rise to tall gray stone. Rolling hills ascended beyond the canyon, and became the rocky region between the red stones of Eldin to the North, and green mountains of Faron to the South.

Zelda sat down on a log next to Osmond. He sat up to acknowledge her presence, though they both remained silent. The two of them stared into the flames as they danced with life.

“You two get some rest,” Fado said climbing onto a rock rising out of the water’s edge. “I’ll keep watch.”

“We should take turns,” Osmond started.

“No need. I’m well rested and the danger along this road is very slim. Besides, I can use the time to pray and meditate.” He turned his back to the fire and placed his hands on his crossed legs.

A small and cool breeze picked up, causing Zelda to shiver slightly. Osmond moved closer to the Princess, and offered her his cloak. She gratefully took it.

“I came here once, with my mother,” Zelda began to say. “We were escorting Lady Laruto as she journeyed to Zora’s Fountain to pay respect to the late water spirit. She was already recognized as the Earth Sage, but said she always felt a connection to this place.”

“The Ice Temple is here now. Strange she’d feel a connection, isn’t it?”

“Somewhat. She doesn’t remember spending any time here growing up, she was raised in Kakariko.”

“What about Rutela?” Osmond asked.

“What about her?”

“Well she’s the Sage of Ice, did she ever come here to pay respects or something similar?”

“I’m sure she did, but her responsibilities to the Zora people pretty much keep her away from here. I’m sure she’d like to visit though, her aunt was Queen Ruto after all and according to stories, it was here that she perished.”

“Right. I remember Aldwin teaching me about some sort of monster that broke free and Lady Ruto fighting to seal it away. Shortly after that is when Rutela awoke as the Sage of Ice and was crowned Queen.”

“I guess that’s what Fado meant by tragedy following the Zora…” Zelda trailed off and gave a small shiver.

Osmond gave an understanding grunt. He hadn’t noticed at first, but Zelda was leaned up against him.

“Still cold?”

“A little.”

Mustering all the courage he had, he raised his arm up and put it around her shoulders. Somewhat to his surprise, she rested her head on his shoulder, and relaxed against him.

As the flames danced before them, Osmond could feel Zelda’s breathing slow and her body relax more and more. Before long, she’d fallen asleep. His eyes began to grow heavy and he too soon felt the weight of them ease him into a deep and restful slumber.

---

Osmond awoke suddenly to a gray sky. Thunder cracked loudly and shadows raced past him. As he got it his feet, it was like standing in a stream that raged against him. The shadows, they were Zora. He wasn’t sure how he knew, but it was as if they had actual faces, not just shadowy blurs.

“Zelda?” He called out, but it was drowned out by another crash of thunder.

He raised his eyes towards the sky and saw red bolts of lightning snake through the clouds and up the river. Where they came down, stood a single Zora atop the Sleepless Waterfall. She held a staff that bore the Zora Crest on its top.

His eyes were then drawn back to the current of Zora spirits. Among the smoky beings, was one that carried with it a bright and shining being. An infant. The infant’s cries could be heard above the torrent of rain, chanting, and thunder.

“The child!” A voice whispered in his ear.

The Zora atop the falls, turned and reached out to where the child was. Then a black cloud, shaped like a Zora, appeared behind her.

A flash of lightning.

A singular point erupted from the Zora’s chest.

As the Zora fell over the waterfall and disappeared, the assailing cloud-being lifted the staff above its head. When the fallen body struck the water’s surface below, a shock wave rushed out, bringing an icy wind that froze everything in place.

The infant’s cry though, rang out, as it writhed in pain.

Osmond moved for the child. When his hand touched it, the baby ceased crying and began to sing. A voice from the land of the Goddesses. As she sang and began to float into the air, life fought its way back against the frozen riverbanks. When the child drew level with the Zora atop the fall, it raised its hand and the staff was ripped away from the specter.

The ghostly murderer fell to its knees and cried out a bone-chilling wail of despair. But it was blown into dust with a wave of the staff, now in the hands of the child fully grown. The child, a woman Zora, floated down before Osmond. She raised her hand and placed it on his shoulder then spoke.

“Wake!”

On the command of the word, Osmond’s eyes ripped open in the dead of the night. The campfire was burning down, Zelda was still asleep against him, and Fado slowly turned around at the sound of the gasp.

“You okay, mate?”

 

David Wayne Nystrom is a Staff Writer for Zelda Dungeon. This story is an imagining of the final days in Hyrule prior to the Great Flood talked about in the opening cinematic of The Wind Waker. The first six chapters are available in audio podcast form and there’s a complete soundtrack for the first volume here. Head over to erawithoutahero.wordpress.com or follow the story account on twitter @ZeldaTEWAH where you can keep up on information regarding the future of the podcast, soundtrack, and other TEWAH news that will be coming soon! David’s top three Zelda games are Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Link’s Awakening. He’s also an avid Smash Bros. fan. Every Era Has Heroes…