"They say that there is no better way to devote yourself to this country than to join the ranks of the nameless", sighed Mace, "To earn respect from the King himself by joining the regiment as another nameless unit in the lines. How could you discover yourself when those damned colonels are trying to make every recruit look and act the same?" Asked the man. Mace had a large frame, a man of strong build with dark eyes and straight blond hair. He had a wide face, a wide jaw, stood about six feet tall, and well, was the exact opposite of his wife, Hela. She was fair-faced, had darker hair, bright blue eyes and a pointed chin.
Both were sitting at the table in their small home in Kakariko. Mace was staring down at another recruitment list.
"In these times of peace, why in Din's name would they be calling up the Kakariko regiment?!" He asked in dismay.
Hela shook her head, "It is peace in Hyrule, but in other provinces..."
Mace sighed in Dismay, "Other provinces, The wilderlands of the west, and places of the sort. No, the Kakariko regiment marches for Ikana upon two morrows. I vow right this moment: Our little lad Link, shall never see the struggle of war", said the irate Hyl.
Hela nodded, looking down at the sleeping babe in her arms, "Not as long as he in our arms.
Mace smiled, "My little chap. Who knows what Hyrule will be when he comes of age. Maybe, if these conflicts will wain in Ikana, maybe he will lead a life, where our people need no recruits, no glorious players of wicked games. Perhaps he will live in peace", he said admiringly.
"Perhaps", said Hela.
"Goodbye, Dear Hela. I will fight off as many browns as come my way to see your fair face again", said Mace rising to his feet. He was clad in silver Hylian armor and had a Hylian shield and sword on his back.
Hela smiled at him, "Write me often", she said.
Mace smiled and walked over to her, looking down at the baby Link in her amrs, "Goodbye, my son. Don't grow up too fast on me", he looked up, his eyes watery, then turned and walked out the door with his pack.


"Colonel Mace! What kept you, we were supposed to have set afoot an hour ago!" Called Sir Galandrim, a young knight of the royal court. Most of the regiment was gethered and packing in the town crier of Kakariko. The dark eyes, dark haired Galandrim was among them; he would be traveling with Mace's Kakariko Batallion to Ikana.
"What hurry are you in, are you so anxious to die in some far off land?" Asked Mace digging through his pack.
Galandrim laughed, "I am anticipating the oppurtunity to fight alongside one of the finest soldiers in all Hyrule. I know of your fames heroism in the Wilderland conflict", explained the knight looking over at him.
Mace glared at the young hyl, "Oh yes, how honorable. To kill off Easterlings, for what sir knight? To fight for a rainy dull region with not but a few inquisitive scholars poking at the ground for artifacts? Why, why am I compelled to journey to some far off Province to fight of Garo because the king wishes to rule a desert?" Asked Mace sounding rather frustrated.
Galandrim shrugged, "We knights are trained to obey orders, not question them. I do not think though, that the king would put so mcu toward this conflict if he did not see a great threat in the future", explained Galandrim.
Mace laughed, "A threat? Who's army could possibly enter Hyrule? Come Galandrim, we must part now. Come soldiers! Come, let us march for nowhere as it so seems", Mace suddenly looked back at the village, "I will return"
“Yeah, we’ll return. That’s because if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be guarding the cuccus in the mess hall for the rest of this conflict. Eh, Mace?”
The blond haired Hylian looked up from his pack, “You know the general, we mustn’t be late”, he looked up at the sky and shook his head, “Two days to reach Ikana, it can’t be done”
Galandrim loaded his gear onto his horse and mounted, “Well, war is never easy, you would know”
Mace stared around at the village, his hopes of a peaceful life suddenly fading. He had come here to start a new life, a peaceful one with his family. Now, he was off to war again, fighting for a land with villages like his.
Suddenly his face hardened, “Let’s move”, he said and with that they summoned the soldiers and left the village, for war.
“Look at your brave father, Link. He’s going to save our people, for the glory of Hyrule”, said Hela standing in the threshold of her house. Her eyes were glassy, and her voice was shaky. She didn’t know how long Mace would be gone, or even if he would come back.

Hela stared at a list of instructions left by Mace as she sat at the table. It was around noon and Link was napping in his crib.
“Let’s see: 1. Tomorrow, there is a meeting of the Hylian Parliament. In my absence, I would like you to represent me in my stead. The meeting is in...”, Hela thought about sitting among the powerful of Hyrule. Indeed, for many years Mace had been a member there representing Kakariko village.
She continued to read the note, “What in Nayru’s name? The meeting is in Castle Town? That’s a full afternoon’s ride on horseback, even if I hurry!” She exclaimed to no one in particular.
She stepped outside with Link in her arms and walked over to the small pasture in the back of the house. There was her beige horse, grazing in the small yard. She saddled up the horse and took a few provisions for the ride.
She turned around suddenly to see a strange figure standing in the doorway. He had blond hair and cyan eyes and wore strange dark blue leather armor. On the lamed chest plate was a strange red painted eye. Hela immediately recognized him as a Sheikah. They were seen commonly throughout Northern Hyrule, but little was known of them. They were a class of Hylian warriors that supposedly possessed magical powers.
“May I help you?” asked Hela. She tried to act calm, but it seemed some eerie atmosphere surrounded Sheikah.
The Sheikah spoke now, quietly and calmly, “I am Shah. Is Mace at hand, I need a word with him”
Hela shook her head, “He left with the division not two hours ago, sorry”, she said looking back toward the saddle.
Shah frowned looking at the horse, “Where are you headed, Hela?” He asked.
“Into Castle Town for Parliament”
Shah shook his head, “You should not enter the plains this late on your own. I too, am journeying to parliament, I will accompany you”, he said.

The two of them set off onto the plains of Hyrule that afternoon, making for Hyrule Castle Town, which was more of a city than a town in truth.
“Shah, what do you know of this war in Ikana?” Asked Hela as they rode over a bridge crossing a river.
“We have always had problems with the Garo. They are an ancient class of warriors, much like my kin. This is, though, the first time we have dealt with them in such large numbers. Troops are being summoned out of Hyrule because, well, Ikana is being overrun”, he explained
Hela frowned, “What do you think will become of this was?”
The sheikah looked Hela in the eye, “Personally, I think this will be one of the bloodiest wars in Hylian history. We need allies, we need the Zoras and Gorons and Gerudos to help us. That is the subject of tomorrow’s meeting”, he said. His sudden opinion surprised Hela, usually Sheikah didn’t make opinionated comments.
The two were quiet then for the rest of the ride. When they reached Castle Town they parted ways; Hela headed for a local inn and Shah went towards the castle for some business. Settling into her room, Hela tended to baby Link then collapsed into her bed.
“How does Mace do this every week?” She asked herself in exhaustion as she fell asleep.


The next morning Hela awoke to the sound of minstrels in the square outside her window. She got up and looked out her window to see people eating and dancing in the marketplace. Everywhere there was food and décor and a LOT of ale. She went into the other room and dressed, and after waking and tending to Link she went downstairs into the tavern.
It was bright in there and the large room was filled with tables and chairs, most of them occupied. Hela noticed Shah standing at a nearby table. She walked over and sat down at the table and began slicing up a fruit to feed Link.
“What’s all the excitement for?” She asked the Sheikah.
Shah looked down at her, “It is a market festival honoring the birth of the new princess, Zelda”, he said.
Hela smiled, “Oh isn’t that nice, the long awaited princess is born”, she finished feeding Link and they stood up.
Walking out into the marketplace, Shah led Hela through the town a bit until they were standing right before the castle of Hyrule. They entered via the drawbridge and walked through a large hallway until they came out into a large open patio in the gardens. There, in a small stadium-like meeting area where the nobles and representatives were gathering for the meeting.
Hela and Shah took their seats and looked around. Creatures of all races were gathered there. Most were Hylian, some Goron. There were Zoras, Gerudos and a few strange child-like people.
Hela frowned, “Shah, are those forest faeries?” She asked pointing to one.
Shah nodded, “Yes, they are Kokiri, but ones you know. Those few you see there are leaders of a near extinct empire. They are disciplined warriors, like my kin. They also are immortal, like any other elf. And see over there? That is my own leader, Impa. She is a caretaker here at the castle. She founded your home village of Kakariko”, explained Shah.
When everyone had sat down, the king entered and stood before them, “Good morning races of Hyrule. We are gathered here to discuss the recent conflicts in Ikana”, he began. He was tall man, rather burly with a wide stature. He had thick graying beard and dark, deep-set eyes.
“As you may well know, last night at the battle of Darkwater Canyon, the third and eight Ikanan regiments were driven back to the western borders of Termina”, there were many gasps and whispers in the audience.
“Ikana has fallen, but with hope the Garo will be driven back by fresh divisions dispatched just yesterday. And that invasion will hopefully be retained. And yet in the meantime, we have yet another threat”, said the King, “Lord Dragmire”, said the king stepping aside. A Gerudo with red hair and black armor stepped forward.
“Many of you may know me as Chief Ganondorf. I have come with unsettling news from the west. In the last council of the chiefs, I overheard talk of an uprising against Hylia. While I am still investigating the source of the extreme new notions, I know one thing: I am the youngest chief in the council, and am most influenced by Hylian culture. I have not got the prestige to petition against revolution” Explained the Gerudo.
Shah sighed, “Gerudo, they care about two things: wealth and power”, he said quietly to Hela.
“If there is an uprising, I will rally as many tribes as possible to repel them. But… if they were to revolt, that would mean that Hyrule would be surrounded by war-fronts”, explained Ganondorf.
“Hyrule would be under siege!” Declared a Goron chieftain standing up.
The king stepped forward, “Ganondorf has long been our loyal ally, despite differences between the Hylians and Gerudo. All of our races need to unite to survive this siege of Hyrule! If we stay at our backs, we will prevail through this bloody conflict!”
Hela blinked, “This is frightening news, and my husband is out there. What is to become of him?” She asked worriedly.
Shah sighed, “It seems then that we will fight. The Sheikah will go to war”
Shah looked over at Hela, “You should go enjoy the festival, I have business to attend to”, he said approaching the Gerudo chief.
“Lord Ganondorf”, he called, gaining his attention.
“Good morrow to you, noble Sheikah”, he said.
“And to you. I respect what you said today, this parliament needed someone of your likes to bring forth such news”, replied Shah.
Ganondorf sighed, “The western peoples of this country are on the brink of revolution, and not just Gerudo. I fear that if war strikes Hyrule, the races of this country will be unable to unite and defeat it”, he explained.
Shah nodded, “There are too many different groups of people squabbling amongst themselves, this country is in more danger of collapsing itself than by the sword of our enemies. Well Dragmire, do we have your support in this conflict?”
He nodded, “Yes, I will try to snuff out this rebellion. I’ll try to focus on the western Hylian towns”, began Ganondorf.
“Ah yes, the western conflict”, began the king approaching now. Both Ganondorf and Shah bowed lightly.
“I am sending a division of the Hylian Cavalry, led by Colonel Paetad to deal with some of the rowdier Hylian towns in the west”, explained the king with a hint of pride in his voice.
“That really won’t be necessary my lord, I can watch over those lands just as easily”, insisted the Gerudo.
The king shook his head, “No Dragmire, that’s done. The towns are under my rule, and I will deal with them accordingly”, said the king, then turned and walked away.
Ganondorf shook his head in dismay, shah tried to comfort him, “He means only well for his people. He is a ruler under stress right now”, insisted the Sheikah.
“He is as ignorant and prejudice as all Hylians are toward my people”, said Ganondorf before storming back into the castle.

The lines of Hylian soldiers were forming in front the onslaught of Garo on the western fields of Termina. It was early in the day and the sudden appearance of the enemies has caught the Hylians by surprise. Among the ranks was Kakariko regiment, led by Colonel Mace and Sir Galandrim.
Mace now rode up the line, calling out orders to his men, “Form ranks hyls, and we have the advantage of tactics on our side! Hold your positions, we mustn’t lose ground!”
Galandrim rode over to him, “Mace, we mustn’t let this horde reach farther inland, our division is the only one between here and Clocktown, and we can’t let the hordes sack the city”, he explained.
Mace nodded, “If Clocktown falls, so will Hylian presence in Termina, we can’t let that happen”
They took their positions on either side of the lines and waited for the Garo to reach them. The brown cloaked creatures were in full charge as the front line of Hylian soldiers lowered their spears.
“Thirty yards!” Called Galandrim, estimating the collision time. Mace drew his sword, and got ready to dismount.
“Twenty Yards!” Every second felt like an eternity; the rumbling of feet was deafening.
“Ten yards! Charge!” Yelled Mace leaping off his horse and charging forward. Galandrim and the other soldiers followed his lead and the two lines collided with devastating force.
Mace slashed through his enemies chopping and hacking at every moving brown object he saw. Every time he struck down one of the strange creatures, the body would disappear leaving only the brown cloak left on the ground.
Suddenly there came a yell from behind him, “Mace! The line is breaking!” Declared Galandrim. He was still on his horse, pointing to the disorganized mass of Hylian soldiers. Many were running about frantically, chopping anything that came near them.
“Don’t let them falter!” Responded Mace. Piles of brown robes were building up around them, and it seemed that despite their disoriented state, the soldiers were cutting as well into the enemy lines.
Just when it seemed like the masses of Garo were thinning, there was a second charge. Galandrim’s lines were overrun completely, and Mace’s were falling quickly. The entire division now fought frantically for their lives and casualties were mounting quickly. Retreat seemed impossible on these open plains, and they couldn’t possibly simply let their enemies into Clocktown. They had no other choice, Mace and his hyls would have to fight.

Part Two- A Letter to Hela

It was a sunny, warm day in Kakariko and Hela was tending to some hens in front of her house. It was one of those lazy days, no one was obligated to work and no one really was. Around midday most of the inhabitants were either standing around or napping under some oak or chestnut tree. All together it was a normal day in the village, a day where nobody thought about anything outside the close-knit community that they lived in.
Hela’s mind, though, was uneasy. It had been nearly a year now since Mace had left for war. He wrote back here and there, but never talked about the events in Ikana, nor how the war was progressing. She was becoming worried now about how great a conflict her husband was involved in. With all this in mind she set down Link in his cradle for his afternoon nap and stepped outside to take a walk.
She descended the stairs into the town crier, where there were some hens and a dog or two. There was a local carpenter and two other hyls standing under a tree in the center of the crier, talking about plans to put a new building on an abandoned foundation in town. She walked at a leisurely pace toward the windmill; she looked up at it for a moment, then walked ahead toward the graveyard.
It was always cloudy here at the graveyard, and it rained frequently. But it was nice and peaceful here, and often damp and cool on hot summer days. It was also commonly where Sheikah were found. It is said that they live nearby, and that sometimes come here to pay respects to the dead.
She looked at the lines of tombstones and plaques, all representing someone that had died. Only honored soldiers or members of the royal or noble families were buried here. It fascinated Hela to think that Heroes whom she had heard in legends were buried within walking distance of her home. She wondered too, if her husband would one day be laid to rest here; hopefully at a very old age.
Hela re-entered the village and returned to her home to check on Link to find Shah waiting there for her.
“Hello Shah”, she said smiling.
“Good day. I have returned from Termina with a letter from your husband, Mace”, he said holding out a parchment.
Hela nodded and took parchment, unrolling it. Within a minute there was a small crowd of inquisitive villagers hovering around. This was no new ritual, for Mace frequently sent letters to her and while he rarely spoke of the conflict, it was the most news that anyone would receive from Ikana.
Hela read aloud to everyone:

“To my dear wife Hela,
My heart aches and I long to see you; I wish to see my son, Link; and to see how he has grown. But this conflict, it seems, was underestimated. If you have not heard already, then I will tell you now. Ikana has fallen and Termina has nearly been overrun. There seems to be no end to the Garo hordes, and their numbers seem countless. We struggled on the west plains to hold them back, but we failed. If it were not for the Sheikah, who bought us an opportunity to flee, I would probably be dead.
At the battle of Snowstone, the Gorons were driven out of the mountains and forced onto the Terminian Plain. The Gerudo at the great bay broke our backs. The Zoras were badly outnumbered at the Gerudo landing on the Sand Banks and were forced to retreat. It is almost certain now that the Gerudo are working in alliance with the Garo, which could mount a terrible force to send against the resistance in Clocktown.
All of the Terminian resistance is now gathered here in the capitol. It is a brilliantly designed place. Built in a series of wall grids, each part of the city can be sealed off in the event of it being taken. The saying is that Clocktown will be taken ten times before it is captured. With all my heart I hope that the forces of Termina, now concentrated together, will not let any such foe enter the city whatsoever.
Soon this invasion will be driven out of our neighboring country, and I shall return home to see you. My hopes are that this land shall be cleansed of death and suffering and that future generations to come will live free and happy because of the deeds of this war.
Yours truly, Mace”
There was not a word in that village then; for no one knew that the war had already been so costly. Never before had Mace mentioned that Termina had been so close to its downfall. Hela did not know what to think. She was pale and startled.
Shah was standing behind her, “This war has been prophesized once”, he said bluntly.
The postman looked at him, “What was it they prophesized about this war?” he asked coldly.
Shah looked down, “I shall quote and ancient prophet: ‘They shall smite the land with their anger and tarnish the golden divine. They will not stop until the world is black and burnt’” Shah looked around, “Courage, people of Hyrule; and faith in the brave hyls who fight for all that is golden”, he finished and turned around to finish his rounds around the village. One by one, the villagers departed, leaving a shocked Hela standing alone.
And so the days passed, and soon to weeks, and weeks to months. No word had come from Mace, nor from anyone at all. The conflict in Termina was spoken of very little among the townspeople; it remained a looming threat on the horizon for them. Summer came slowly that year, calmly, and elusively. But in time, it was in full swing, the days were warm and lazy, and in the evening there would be merry-making and drinking and eating.
This was the simple life that every hyl dreamt of. In the days, the children would play in the crier and the townsfolk would nap under the fruit trees. In the evenings the fold would gather in the crier and there would be food, drink, music and dancing. After, many would retire, the young lovers would gaze at the stars and all would repeat the next day. That was the ideal lifestyle, those wonderful summer days, and fine summer evenings. That is what Mace and all soldiers fought for, a life to love, a life to worship.

Two days, and two nights. Three grids taken, two pillaged. Three hundred were dead, and some two hundred more wounded. Such were the losses sustained by dawn of the third day. The mayor of the city had ordered every living soul evacuated, instead of five-thousand strong, there were less than four hundred left, Mace’s lads from east Hyrule. It could be that these brave farmers would change the fate of this Hylian country, and claim the first milestone of this war. But any who asked the man after would be told simply, “Twas a good start”.
We had been pushed back nearly to the Clock Tower in the center of the city. We had started strong, for they had no way to mount the walls. For ten hours we rained arrows on their masses, but were forced to seek alternatives when we ran short on things to throw down at them. It seemed we dropped the fists of Din down upon these sinful barbarians, but they kept on charging, as if driven by some inexplicable motivation. Greed and prejudice, fuel that must never be underestimated in Gerudo. One gate after another came crashing in, and as we retreated off one wall, I caught a brief glimpse of the empty streets in the grid below. Covered in debris, carcasses and molten tar, I wondered how we could ever save the city, when there was already such carnage as that lying about.
The fighting seemed to last forever, I believed at times that it was torment from the goddesses, that we were being punished. My theory finally escaped me on the dawn of the third day. Despite our odds, our numbers, our condition, I could sense a new flame of spirit kindling in our hyls. Looking around at the boys, sitting beneath the tower, I’d say half of them looked like they were already dead. When we marched into the city, our armor gleamed and we looked like a regiment of proud soldiers. What was left of us now was a ragtag group of exhausted farmers, mentally defeated with no faith left in their country. And I did not blame them then, these boys came from their farms and villages to ensure the vistory, not single-handedly struggle for it. Why fight for a city when its own people had turned their heels and fled before the fighting even began?
All such thoughts, every doubt in those boys’ eyes vanished when Mace approached them. His confidence and his courage never in his life would falter. He addressed his hyls, his voice steady, and full of life.
“Good morning lads”, he began. Everyone looked at him and he could see the defeat and sorrow in their eyes.
“Do any of you know what today is?” He began, walking among them, they were all collapsed and sitting about the tower square.
“Today, is the dawn of the third day of the Carnival of Time”, he looked up at the tower, “Every year the people of Termina celebrate the summer harvest at this time. This is the only place in the Hylian empire that bears any crops that ripen this early”, he looked around and everyone just stared glumly at him, “I know I’ve asked a lot of you, and I know none of you want to defend this city, but it is not only Termina that depends on you to do it. You stand in the last free city in this country. And to hold this city is to protect everything that you cherish. You dream to return home, to your families, and farms and villages. But the peaceful way of life is under attack, if this city falls, than our homes in Hyrule will be the next target”, looking around I could see his words had sunk deep into the hearts of his troops. They knew no other life than that of theirs’ as farmers.
“Soldiers of Hyrule, you defend your country, and your family and your way of life! We need this victory, to protect everything that we have ever known. Even in a distant country, we still fight for as worthy a cause as we would at the threshold of our homes!”
I, Galandrim, a knight of the Hylian court, had never such spirit and such emotion than what I saw in those hyls. Fearlessly they marched for the grid gate, and pulled open the veil that concealed their waiting enemy. Most gallantry in an emotional fighter would fade to despair about now. Looking upon such a daunting force. But I was shocked when the whole lot charged straight at masses of Gerudo and Garo. They fought with more brutality then I had ever seen in my life, and apparently the same applied for the evil army. Perhaps it was ferocity and rage kindled within the souls of these brave boys, or maybe just the aggression they showed on that morning, but before long the enemy host was in full retreat from the city.
I admire Mace, his leadership is like no other hyl I know. His bravery in the face of despair, and his ferocity in battle will be remembered for all time. Perhaps it will be needed soon, for even as we march southwest for home, I cannot set aside the uneasy thought that the war is not over, and that it is just beginning.