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"Shadow: Part III", chapter 10Shadow: Part IIIBy: OkichanThe chattering of many voices made the Hylians ears twitched, his green clad clothing was dirty and torn in some places and the mud soaked into his clean white aural, straining it an ugly brown. Link opened his eyes, they wouldn't focus, so he shut them again. A stinging pain snuck up on him, pounding in the back of his tense and sore neck and head. Link tried opening his eyes again. The voices where mixed with the sounds of various horse feet, and iron work, but Link was too disoriented to focus on them that long. His eyes came into focus and he spotted a large man who was standing in front of him. He wasn't the prettiest sight Link had ever seen, his hair was oily and unkept, his dark brown eyes seemed to leak with the aggressiveness that his rugged appearance portrayed. Link didn't dare make a move as his eyes ran the man up and down once, because in his right hand was a long and bloodstained blade. He slowly lifted it under Links chin, the Hylian tried to struggle back, but he realized he was tied to a wooden post. The ropes cut into his ankles and wrists and held his still and under control. The man grunted and lifted Links chin up with the sharp point, digging it into his neck, then he eased it to the side in the profile, all the while inspecting him. "What's your name?" he asked bluntly, Links blue eyes narrowed and he snapped his head away from the sword. Link had no right mind to answer to strangers. And this one seemed like more trouble then he was worth. "I was about to ask you the same question." Link spat. The mans faces crunched up. "Are you the leader?" He asked. Link was silent, his glare striking the man with a little surprise, but the aggressor didn't even flinch. He dropped the blade and grabbed the collar of Links dirty tunic and yanked him upwards, causing the ropes to press painfully against his chest. Link tried keeping a straight face as the man stared into his eyes coldly. "Answer the question peasant, or I'll cut open your throat." Still Link held his tongue disobediently. Link felt his vision swim as the man breathed on him, his breath was so putrid and rotten from the elements Link could barely stand it. "Burn in hell scum bag." Link managed to say through gritted teeth, then spat purposefully on his face. The mans forehead and cheeks reddened, he yanked up harder, causing Link to wince as a burning sensation cut into the flesh on his ankles and wrists and the ropes rubbed ever tighter on his skin. "What is your name!?" The man snapped. Link realized that he could barely breath, taking in a short, and stuttering breath, he began to speak, his head whirling. "My name is...." Link started to say, but then something caught both there eyes to the right. Link noticed the surrounding tents for the first time as his weak eyes recovered there sight. Out of the barrage of soldiers and flags that where being carried by, came the most peculiar looking knight in black armor. Links eyes snapped in back of him, where there was an apparent scuffle going on between a couple of men. The knights voice boomed powerfully over the crowd as he came forward. "Silence all of you, this will all be resolved soon enough." he pointed his long sword at the large man holding Link painfully against the restraining ropes. "I will settled this intrusion, go sit down!" He demanded. the burly man dropped Link again and the Hylian took in a well needed breath. Links eyes once again snapped back to the scuffle, when he saw one man fly and a few others go down on there backs Link smirked. One more was sprawled out on the ground, which was followed by the battered form of Sheik appearing at the beginning of the gathering, he struggled against the hold of the four other soldier trying to hold him steady. The knight turned and pointed his sword at Sheik. "Let the Sheikah be, he doesn't have anywhere else to go." Sheik elbowed one man in the nose with annoyance and gracefully walked into the ring, swords where drawn in many places. Most every ones eyes where on Sheik, who wiped a spot of blood off his outfit, and fiercely narrowed his eyes, folding his arms in a powerful stance. The black knight turned back to Link. Link suspected the others where nervous with Sheik standing there, and he wondered if it would work to his advantage with this slightly frightening looking warrior. Link eyes snapped back to the knight as he spoke to him. "Why are you here?" He asked. Link didn't answer. "Why?" He yelled. Link flinched and drew back on his post, the knights large weapon came inches from the middle of his forehead, Link knew this knight wasn't joking. "I'm Link...from Hyrule, perhaps you've heard of me?" He said in a low, but confident voice, the helm of the black knight seemed to cock to the side before his answered. Links studied the helm with great care, it had four slots where the man could breath and talk through, and two small and sharp and curved horns where stuck daringly on each side of the rectangular armorment. His hands came up and suddenly removed the helmet, Link eyes widened, and the words came very slowly from his stunned and shaken form. "Your Folis of Northwind." Link stated. The prince flipped his short hair and his eyes gleamed down with a anger and superiority Link had never seen, his true colors came out instantly. Slowly Link studied his face, it was very sharp and angular, resembling Links, through he had a much more muscular build and a strong chin, his blue eyes, the color of the sea, but lighter then Links stared down at him with a cold fire. "Link? Of Hyrule?" He said very slowly, a hint of amusement in his deep voice. He took the blade away from Links neck and stalked around the back of the post, Link felt his cold eyes piercing through to his soul. "You lie!" He laughed, Link felt the tip of the sword nudge the back of his tied right hand. "Link of Hyrule is a great warrior, seven feet tall and as powerful as a god, he also has the mark of the gods on his right hand, which you have none of! Your nothing but a lying peasant." Laughter filtered throughout the crowd, Link glared the prince down, who snickered. "I speak the truth Folis, you don't understand, if you would just untie me I can explain." Link said, his voice sounding somewhat relieved. The prince shouted starkly as he circled around the other side of Link, his eyes scanning over his battered form, he wrinkled his nose in disgust as he spoke. "You underclassmen disgust me, playing in the dirt all day...tell me, do you have anything to do with a dangerous creature by the name of Bloodtooth or have you come into our land on a trade route? Why did you intrude on our land?!" Link started to talk, but Folis snarled and Link found himself crunched over the ropes in pain, Folis drew his foot away from Links stomach, snickering. Links cold stare turned at him again as the prince idly flipped his longer and slender blade around in his right hand. "I know you do actually, the only reason I'm questioning you is because I want that monster to suffer, after what he did to my father." Folis took a deep breath to steady himself. "Thousands of my people are dead now, Bloodtooths army has returned and you, you deny your claims, I know who you are. And it's your fault there all dead, your fault!" He yelled. "What?!" Link shouted, Sheik withdrew his arms from there fold and spoke. "You found the medallions! but I tell you that we are the prevention, we're trying to reach the tower of night before they do, you must believe us Folis. We hate him as well." Folis ground his sword into the mud, splattering the fowl stuff onto Links face. "That's prince Folis, and your lying trespassers, we've caught you at the pass and now your in our hands, I would know that Moblins tricks anywhere, getting mercenaries to do his dirty work, I should just kill all five of you now!" He raised his sword high, his eyes directed on Link. Links chest heaved with a sharp pain of panic, he ripped his hands away from the post and the ropes cracked loudly as they tore apart from there bite on him. The large weapon came down in a dangerous and swift arch, splitting the post down the middle, Link jumped up and as Folis brought the sword up to try at him again Link stood still, Folis brought his sword up over his head. His eyes flickered with a wild madness Link had once recognized in himself, the rage of anger. Links chest puffed with a breath of air, then he shouted very loudly. "Your a terrible knight." Link could see the sudden stop in his motions from shock, the corner of the mans mouth twitched, Link continued, his eyes where cold with his knowledge of the situation. "Your unjust and corrupted...do you remember the oath? I will stand by my people as a protector of justice, of my beliefs, I vow in solemn oath to keep order. I vow in my righteous heart I will destroy all chaos and bring order and virtue to my purpose." Link said in a calm voice, Folis's sword clanged to the ground, his face became pale and his chest rocked with shallow breaths of air. "Who are you?" he asked seriously, weakly. "I am Link." Link replied soundly. "No, you lie!" Folis protested, his eyes showing that coldness and disbelief again. "I can prove it." Link said back, his blank face darkened. Folis's drained voice growled. "How?" He asked. Link smirked and pointed at Folis. "Under my oath of knighthood, I challenge you to a duel...If you win, you can do whatever you want with me, but let my companions leave...If I win, you will hear us out...do you accept?" Folis grunted and spat out of the side of his mouth. "I accept." He snickered, his icy eye dwelt on Link for a second, who held his gaze with the same coldness and disgust. Link turned to Sheik for a second, the Sheikahs hand pulled out a slender dagger, he walked over to Link and with ease sawed the remains of the ropes off of Links wrists. Folis fowled his expression with annoyance. Links face suddenly brightened. "We duel tonight, after the sun has set over the peaks of the mountains over there." Link proposed, Folis ran his fingers through his longer black locks of hair, his elfish ears perked with excitement, he turned away without saying a word, Link turned to see his companions being brought back to him, all where well and not hurt in any physical way. Sheiks eyes watched Folis leave into the racket of the departing crowd and sighed. "Why did you do that?" He asked simply. "You could have easily disoriented him, and we could have escaped, and gone through the pass." "I can see the good in him, that's why..." Link answered. "He needs
direction." Link said again, he looked over the perplexed faces of his friends
once again. "And besides, we need his help, which means we need his trust."
The days where lengthening no less, alas Link felt the bind of time fleet away as quickly as if it where a day in the dead cold of winter. The evening came quickly, and Link had been confined to a small courters of himself and all of his friends. The tent retained him, and he often felt like a rat in a cage, onlooking guards that would pace by and eye him with a bitter regard. But at Sheik, they would look with fear and curiosity. The Sheikah's nose wrinkled under his guise with disgust as another guard paced by the entrance and glared him down. Link probed the blob of mush on the plate in his lap, then pushed it away onto the matted rug he was sitting next to. Dalton sniffed his own food and grumbled. "I've eaten sheeps gruel that was better tasting then this slop." He whined. "You have to give them credit for feeding us at least, we haven't had anything to eat for at least a day, maybe two." Sheik commented, Dalton stared at him as he gently slipped off the bottom part of his mask, slipping a bit of food into his mouth. Dalton folded his plump arms and stuck up his button nose. Sheiks angular eyes looked blankly at him, and his plain and tanned face cracked a slight smile. "I won't eat it." Dalton protested. Shigrel snatched the food in front of him like a cobra would lash out at it's prey, the hungry Lionan laughed in his seat, licking his black lips, his smiling eyes looked down at Dalton, who suddenly seemed to be second guessing his opinion by his blank expression. "If the wee one doesn't want it, I'll be glade to take it from him." Daltons eyes widened as he tried to reach the bowl, and pull from Shigrels greedy paws, and cat just laughed and began to guzzle the food down with hunger. Link sat quietly, his eyes looked on into nothing, Mayoree stared at him with curiosity, then she gently put her hand on his tense shoulder, Link flinched under her touch and his frenzied eyes looked into her calm ones. She said her opinion very quietly and very softly. "He won't kill us Link, even if you win, I can see the good in him too when he looked at me." She said. Links wild eyes narrowed, and anger was sunken into his words. "Did he touch you?" Link asked. Mayoree shook her head, her eyes smiled, though Link couldn't figure out what was so amusing about the situation. "He talked with me very calmly, and asked me questions, he did the same with Sheik, he showed respect, but as he moved along to you, the anger had built up and..." Mayoree was cut off as Link grabbed her hand on his shoulder firmly and turned to her. "He is very frustrated, I could see the rage in him May, he has the urge to kill." Links voice was so sure and dark that Mayoree moved back slightly. "He needs direction, guidance, he's the kind of man you have to scare, or beat to gain respect, and for me he has no respect...and none for you as well because of his treatment of us." Mayoree's face relaxed from her worried frown, she nodded and was about to talk again when a large man quickly moved back the skin covering the exit and his stern eyes locked onto Link, he spoke very formally to him. "Hyrulian, you are requested to see the prince now." Links chest rose nervously with a deep breath, Mayoree could feel his hand trembling slightly as she let his hand go, Link fingers hooked his sword and sheath and he followed the man into the exit, and tent flap closed behind him. Link wanted to have everyone there, he almost feared for his confidence in this fight. Link looked over his shoulder as the small tent slipped away behind him as he walked forward, and guard probed him forward painfully with his rounded spear. Links stomach tingled with the lightness of nervousness and excitement, Link was both fearful of the prince, for the only time he had seen him fight an opponent, he had taken him down with barely any effort. And yet he was excited, the thrill of battle rushed through his arms and leaked like flowing waves into his sword as he gripped the cold hilt tightly in his hand. Links handsome blue eyes and ears perched with alert as he came closer to the ruckus of voices in front of him, and shouting of excited soldiers gathered round a brawling ring. The air became electric with noise as Link strode forward, the eyes and voices of the men followed him with cold stares and words as he entered the ring, Link clenched his chin, his knuckles turned white with his grip. his boots slushed into the mud, the air was cold and the sky was fading from a pink blanket to a gray muteness, the rings eerie center glowed with torch light from the surrounding posts. Link was ready for battle, the adrenaline began to run through him openly like a poisonous venom, Links dangerous glare locked with that of the prince. Links eyes inspected him with the utmost care, the Hylian shifted his weight and loosened his sword arm, letting out a deep breath. Folis was dressed quite plainly, he had on a richly colored shirt, it's color was a dark and sea-like greenish blue. His longer hair was tied back into a small pony tail, while the shorter and scruffier locks hung down behind and over his long and radiant ears. Links spine shivered as he looked back to his eyes, the color of the sea, and yet so angry, so unfocused and wild. Link almost recognized something in him, but he didn't know what. Folis stepped forward and swung his long one edged weapon loosely, he spook very loudly to everyone, but his eyes never faltered from Links gaze. "I'm glade your here, I thought you wouldn't come stranger." "Why wouldn't I come. I was the one who decided we would fight." Folis burst with laughter, throwing his head back, his blue eyes scanned Link with a frenzied and anxious gleam in them, Link didn't like it one bit. "Of course, but do you really think you could have a chance, I've been trained since I was the right age to stand on two feet. And you..." Folis's eyes flicked up and down, and he smiled smugly. "You look like you where taught in the back of a horse barn!" He proposed viscously, snickers and whispers spread throughout the crowd. Links fingers clenched his hilt was a flaming rage as it build inside of him like a rising din of anger, Link mind stirred with horrible thoughts as Folis, still not satisfied with gloating, continued to speak. "You even threatened me...I am a noble, a prince!" Links voice came out calm and unshaken, not showing his inward emotions. "I did not threaten, I only told the truth." Links cold eyes searched Folis's face. "Your untrusting and cruel, unfocused, inpatient...you can't even trust the common man. Who are you to name me someone who I am not? Your opinion doesn't differ from that of a man at the same level of wit as you...you only!" Folis's red face crunched up and he barked out, ordering him to stop. "Your not Link, Link is a legend, a myth! You can't claim to be him unless your a fool." Links eyes narrowed. "Then I am a fool in your eyes Folis of Northwind." Link soon found himself with a horrid surprise as Folis's long one-edged weapon hurled down in a vicious and brutal parry as he cried with his anger at Links stubborn and righteous attitude. The blades clashed together and the ringing of the wobbling steel was like sharp cries of a predatory bird shrieking for food. the blades squealed as Folis's dancing sword flowed like water, and Link smiled, unafraid as his own blade nimbly blocked his thrusts and downward parries. Link looked back into his eyes, they where still confident, his teeth where gritted as he tried, putting massive amounts of effort into each swing. Link soon found an opening on his left defense and Links foot came up in a powerful kick in the side, sending the younger man staggering back with surprise and weak knees. "You can't even focus on defense." Link commented, Folis's chest heaved a little, he was already wearing himself out. "You rely to much on strength." Link commented again. Folis's mouth twitched, and again he managed a battle cry and came forward with a streaming combo of hits, again the swords panged together, squealing and bouncing off like dancing silver fire, Link soon found he was losing ground though, as Folis's mouth went into a smirk again and he spoke, the real anger in Link was released. "I can do whatever I want, I'm a knight!" Link yelled and the Biggorons sword came down on him like wrath as Link parried with both hands on the hilt. the steel quivered as sparks ignited and Links face contorted into a wild and predatory glare. He snarled and pressed down on Folis's blade hard, the two weapons tremored as they still pressed against each other, link spoke very loudly, his anger showing with the heightened rage in his words. "You don't know what a knight is!" Link shouted. Folis's pupils shrunk, and his face drained of color, his wild hair, which was now streaked in front of his eyes hung with the cold sweat that was developed on Folis's brow, he was weakening with Links words. Folis bounded away from the parry, his muscles stung with the numbness of the impact terms with the two blades. His fingers where tingling with the absence of feeling. Link came after him with an unnatural power. Link parried like lightning, thrusts, all the while stepping the prince back while easily gaining ground. The Hylians blade hacked down with a terrifying blow, sending Folis's blade against his chest, and the prince stumbling back. Mud splashing onto his no longer clean boots as he knelled down on his sword, trying to regain his lost footing. "Never abuse your code!" Link shouted. The hero of time stood still, Links corded arm muscles tensed as he drew his face to a calm order. Link wasn't even breathing hard. Folis's mouth hung open with so much surprise and fear. He shrunk away from Link, realizing the mistakes he had made. "Do you see now noble?" Link asked, the fire in Links eyes disappeared, and he slowing slide his blade back into the sheath. Folis said nothing, he only looked upon him with an alienated look, and then slowly rose back to his feet clutching his chest which stung with a painful sore. He winced and Link folded his arms again, drawing a breath to calm himself. "I didn't even draw any blood, I could have killed you very easily with that last blow." Link glared into Folis's searching eyes as he said this, and the princes expressionless face showed that he knew Link was telling the truth. Again Folis said nothing as Link waited, his tiny and emotionless lips pursed. Folis stood up straight and tall, trying to ignore the searing pain in his chest. Link bowed with the ending of the fight and said very plainly. "You have been defeated Folis, I hope you know who I am now, and have learned a lesson in the process." Link said. Folis was still and quiet, finally the corners of his mouth turned up into a slight smile, Link turned around and folded his arms. Then spoke very loudly. "You have to do what I say now, that was the rule of my winning the fight. I order you to let the others go free, and let me talk with you now..." Links heart slowed when still the prince said nothing, Link could feel his eyes on the back of his neck, the burning of hate in the air. He could only hear his foot steps at first, the ring was silent, every ones eyes rested on Link, the audience of soldiers showed blatant fear and respect to him. Link stopped though as he heard the distinctive slosh of mud, the foot steps came rapidly behind him, the one edged blade gleamed with the torch light. "No, I won't!" The frantic prince shouted. Link gasped, and his blade came out just in time to block Folis's deadly blow. The Hylian held the parry as his strong arms almost buckled. Link looked into Folis's maddened eyes, hit teeth showing and snarling like an enraged animal. Link knee came up sharply into the princes groin to stop him. Folis quelled over in pain, bending down to subdue the searing discomfort between his legs, he screamed. Link then dug his free elbow into Folis's exposed back, and the prince fell limply to the mud, Link blade quietly touched the back of his head, and Link leaned down to Folis's ear. The mans exposed face was crunched, and his eyes where shimmering with held back tears, Link said his last statement very slowly. "I am Link, the free knight from Hyrule. And now you have been defeated." Folis grunted as Link very quickly put him out of consciousness by grinding the palm of his hand squarely into the back of the princes neck. Link again put away his sword and looked down at the prince as men from all sides came up in a mess of hands, all trying to help there captain to his feet. Link watched calmly and satisfied as they dragged the unconscious man away to his tent. Link drove himself to follow the crowd, and said very quietly under his
stinging breath. "What a waist."
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