Chapter 2 Days of adventure begin…

A Chapter by Dreamer

Chapter 2

Days of adventure begin…

Inside the branches of the pine tree in the training court a huge crow with red eyes and a silver collar around its neck watched the group. The crow cawed and flew off without anyone even glancing at it.

“Wow an entire day, so what should we do?” Selene asked the group.

“We could go for that ride that Meria wanted.” Sheik suggested smiling at Meria.

“That is a possibility since we have more time now.” Gerad nodded in agreement.

With all in agreement the group headed for the stables. As they passed by the adults on the way Link asked what they were up to now.

“We’re going riding we won’t take too long.” Gerad replied.

“Even so, I’d like you to take a soldier with you for escort.” Zelda said.

As she finished Calhan came around the corner, “I would be honored to ride escort for them.”

Gerad shivered in revulsion to the way he had volunteered with his handsomest smile and deepest bow.

“Oh, thank you, captain.” Zelda smiled softly.

Looking around Gerad searched for a different escort, but since there was no other soldiers around they had to take him. Sighing softly in aggravation Selene pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Alright, head to the stables with the children and ride with them as escort.” Link ordered as the adults left leaving the children standing there in awkward silence.

Waving goodbye to the adults Gerad rolled his eyes then turned on his heel and continued on toward the stables. The rest of the group followed after him no longer laughing and joking excitedly like before. Calhan trailed after them at a respectful distance and seemed oblivious to the change in atmosphere at his arrival.

Lost in his aggravation Gerad jumped when Selene tugged on his arm, “Hey, we should get our gear.”

“Why?” Gerad asked puzzled, “It’s just a short ride.”

Selene shrugged, “Even so, you know good and well if we didn’t mom would have our ears.”

“True,” Gerad grimaced at the thought of an angry Zelda, “alright.”

On the way to the stables they made a detour to the armory so Gerad and Selene could get their weapons. Calhan waited outside with the rest of the group. The two of them reemerged Selene with a morning star mace and shield and Gerad with a long sword and shield. Selene tied her hair up into a ponytail as the group continued its journey to the stables.

Once the group reached the stables each person got their mounts prepared for riding. Selene retrieved her mare Starfire, a white horse with a silver mane and tail. Smiling softly at the horse Selene pet her neck as the horse nibbled on her elbow.

Gerad retrieved his stallion Artimus who was a blue-ish gray from the stall next to Starfire’s. Artimus neighed softly as he realized they were going for a ride. Gerad chuckled as he strapped the saddle onto his back. Artimus danced sideways in excitement and Gerad had to dodge hooves.

Dahrin led his stallion Desertstorm, a yellow cream colored horse with a black mane and tail, out of the stables into the courtyard to wait for the others along with Aerica, Meria, and G-Link.

Outside in the courtyard Aerica waited sitting on her mare Orchid, a brown horse. Meko slept catatonic on her shoulder his tiny belly swollen from eating himself silly with bread. Meria waited patiently next to her on her horse Eyona, the daughter of Epeona, a red mare with a black mane and tail and white hooves.

Sheik walked out of the stables with his horse Spider, a huge black horse. Lucius saddled up a “horse” from Zora’s Domain, it was indigo blue and had long pointed ears, and gills behind its ears, its hooves had fins around them, its name was Fish.

G-Link’s “horse” was a giant lizard from Death Mountain its name was Bob. The other horses were somewhat leery of Bob, but the giant lizard just ignored them as it tasted the air with its tongue. As Gerad and Selene came out of the stable Calhan was saddling Slaughter, another soldier also was saddling up.

The group waited patiently for Calhan and the other soldier, Mathius, to finish and join them. Once everyone was ready the group headed out of the courtyard. Guards saluted them as they passed them on their way to the town. Gerad and Selene waved politely to them while Calhan and Mathius saluted back.

The sun was reaching its highest point as the group made it to the edge of town. Unfortunately this meant that the streets were at their busiest time. Their pace was slowed to a crawl as the horses patiently waded through the throngs of people about their daily lives. Gerad chuckled softly at the little children, and some adults, who gawked at Lucius’s and G-Link’s mounts. Finally the group made it to the drawbridge gate that led out into Hyrule Fields.

“So where are we going to ride to?” Sheik asked as they crossed the drawbridge.

Selene shrugged, “It doesn’t matter to me.”

“How about we head northwest then circle back this way.” Dahrin suggested.

Calhan and Mathius held their horses a few feet away from the group and gave no input. After a few minutes everyone was agreed and the group took off over the fields. The wind streamed past them as they flew over Hyrule Field. Meria in the lead with the others scattered behind her. Sheik pulled Spider up beside her and she shot him a smile. Both of them were passed up by Dahrin as he kicked Desertstorm to a higher speed.

Gerad glanced over his shoulder to see Calhan and Mathius keeping pace with them. Turning his attention back to where he was going he barely had time to grip tight with his knees as Artimus jumped a stone wall. Selene laughed at him almost falling out the saddle. Orchid made the jump after Artimus. Aerica was much more graceful than Gerad had been. Meko was holding onto her shoulder for dear life though.

The group rode for hours weaving across each other’s paths and ranging all over Hyrule Field. It wasn’t long before Gerad noticed the faded light of the sun. Gerad reigned in Artimus who snorted out a puff of vapor. The others stopped scattered around him. Calhan was looking around scanning for any sign of threat. A crow cawed and flew in a circle above their heads.

“That was invigorating.” Sheik said, rubbing Spider’s neck.

Calhan was still staring off into the distance, seemingly ignoring their presence. The others smiled and patted their own mounts. They dismounted to let the horses rest and eat, except for G-Link. Bob plopped himself down onto the ground and went to sleep soaking up the last rays of sun.

Sheik snorted, “Just like his master, catches sleep wherever.”

The others grinned as they heard G-Link snore, except for Calhan who continued to scan for danger.

Shading her eyes against the sun Selene sighed, “Well its getting too dark to head back now, we’ll have to camp here for the night.”

“What do you mean camp here?” Lucius asked.

“She means that it would be dark when we got back so the gates would be closed. Besides we can go a little further to the river’s edge so you can sleep in the water.” Gerad said pulling himself back onto Artimus.

The others remounted and Dahrin tapped G-Link and they continued on to the river.

“We need to get a message to mother to let her know where we are.” Selene yawned as the river came into view.

“Yes, Mathius, ride back to the castle and inform their highnesses where we are and that we shall be camping out tonight, and tell them also that I will stand guard and protect them.” Calhan said over his shoulder.

Mathius saluted, turned his horse around and raced off in the direction of the palace. He was a small man and he had a huge horse, they flew off and in seconds were gone.

The group settled down at the river’s edge and made a fire. Luckily they had packed blankets and rations so they wouldn’t starve or freeze. As the night grew the group sat around the camp fire warming themselves and laughing and telling jokes, except for Lucius and Calhan. Lucius was in the water asleep and Calhan was at the firelight’s edge keeping a lookout.

G-Link was asleep in a ball next to Bob who was curled around him. As the night went on they all dozed off one by one; Selene leaned on Gerad who sat still so he wouldn’t disturb her. He jiggled his shoulder to wake her up when Meria and Aerica turned in. Selene yawned and got up to go lay beside them. The boys continued talking into the night. Meko sat on Gerad’s shoulder and joined in the conversation.

It grew to midnight and everything was peaceful, when a deep rumbling started. The boys jumped up and looked around confused. The girls sat up startled by the noise. G-Link slept on as did Lucius. Calhan backed up to stand next to the boys. The rumbling stopped a few minutes after it had started. Everyone was tense expecting something to happen but hoping nothing would. Their hopes were answered.

“What was that?” Meria asked edging closer to Sheik.

Dahrin shook his head, “I don’t know.”

They closed into a circle their backs to each other. Calhan had drawn his sword and was standing next to Selene and Gerad. Aerica had her bow cocked and Meko hovered next to her right shoulder. Minutes passed and still nothing happened. They relaxed, a little, but still stayed on guard. An hour passed and still nothing happened. They lay back down around the fire closer together and sleep came later.

A few hours later the group was dead asleep. The ground burst open near their campsite and ten stalfos crawled out each wielding a sword or club. The group awoke in time to scramble to their weapons to defend themselves. Annoying as he was Calhan was still the best soldier, he jumped in front of Selene and Gerad as two stalfos came for them.

Gerad put himself in front of Selene as another came from the side. Sheik guarded Meria as two came for them. Dahrin, Aerica, and Meko handled two more but there were still three left. Calhan beat back the two in front of him while defending himself from another. Gerad battled with one and Selene another. Sheik managed to kill one and shouted in triumph only to have it get caught in his throat as the stalfos came back together and attacked him again.

The remaining three went to their horses with the intention of slaughtering the tied up beast. But the horses were war trained and defended themselves from the skeletons.

The group was spread out each fighting to survive, as more stalfos clawed their way out of the ground around them. Selene whacked one with her Morningstar and it fell apart and disintegrated. Another one came at her from behind, she turned with a swing and knocked it’s head clear off. Aerica stood near Dahrin shooting out knee caps of stalfos as they came their way, Meko acted as target for Aerica hovering near the stalfos she aimed at to give her a better target, Dahrin hacked at them with his duel sabers.

Lucius and G-Link were still asleep. Gerad sliced and hacked with his sword while Sheik ducked and weaved while slicing with his daggers. Meria whacked and beat with her quarter staff knocking off bones as she hit them. Their horses undid the ropes that held them and fought their way to their masters to help them fight. Selene was backed against a wall being hounded by four stalfos, she and Starfire held them at bay. A bony hand shot out of the ground and grabbed her ankle. Selene screamed and whacked at the hand.

Gerad heard Selene scream and looked to where it came from, he saw Selene whack the hand but another grabbed her other leg and a third reached out from the wall and grabbed her arm. A fourth hand grabbed her other arm and two more grabbed her around the throat. Gerad killed the stalfos he was fighting and tried to get to his sister but there were too many in between him and Selene. Calhan was trying to get to her as well but he fared no better. Dahrin was pinned down with Aerica and Sheik and Meria were having a hard time with the stalfos also.

A huge stalfos stepped into the circle surrounding Selene, he stood a head taller than the rest of the stalfos; he wore a robe and carried a twisted evil looking staff. Selene shivered as he drew near. He stared into her eyes, his hideous face inches from hers, he lifted a hand and touched her cheek, caressing it. She shivered and tried to pull away but the hands holding her wouldn’t budge.

Gerad fought harder than he thought he ever could to reach his sister but to no use. The boss stalfos stepped back from Selene and placed a bony hand on her shoulder. He handed his staff to a subordinate then drew a long twisted dagger as he hissed something to Selene. Her eyes widened and he plunged the knife into her stomach. “Selene!” Gerad screamed as the hands let her go and she fell to her knees. The boss stalfos laughed as Selene stared at her hand as she pulled it away from her stomach; her hand was covered in bright red blood. Gerad slashed and hacked through stalfos making his way to his sister. Calhan fought harder but got nowhere.

The boss stalfos grabbed a sword from a smaller stalfos with a grunt of disgust as Selene pulled the dagger out and tried to stand up. He leveled the sword with her neck and pulled it back to take a swing but Dahrin slammed into him. The boss stalfos howled in rage and turned to face Dahrin who had already gotten up and aimed a swing at his chest. He blocked the swing with his sword but Dahrin recovered and swung again. They traded blows and cuts with Selene on the ground watching through a grey haze.

Dahrin was tiring quickly but the boss stalfos showed no signs of fatigue. Dahrin swung one last time and missed; “I am not going to kill you, little master.” the boss stalfos came in and hit him on the back of the head with the hilt of his sword. Dahrin went down unconscious. He turned back to Selene and raised his sword to strike again. He tried to kill her again but this time Sheik hit him from the back and bounced off onto the ground.

The boss stalfos turned and hit Sheik with a back knuckle and Sheik went flying and landed sprawled out on the ground unconscious. Calhan attacked from the other side and managed to hold his own for a while till two stalfos jumped him from behind and knocked him out also. The boss stalfos turned his attention back to Selene only to end up with an arrow through his chest and knee. He screamed noticing Meko hovering near him, he grabbed him out of the air squishing his wings and threw him into the wall of stone; Meko fell to the ground his light going dim.

Aerica screamed his name, the boss stalfos turned back to the direction of Aerica and pointed at her, she fired again the arrow landing through the stalfos’s outstretched hand. Three stalfos attacked her and knocked her out too. Meria jumped in front of Selene and blocked the swing of the boss stalfos’s sword with her staff.

He screamed again and tried to hit her again but she blocked. He swung a few more times then back handed her across the face; the force of the hit threw her against the wall. She hit her head and went down. He turned back to see Gerad standing over his sister.

The boss stalfos screamed with rage at all the interventions in this assassination of one little girl. Gerad held his ground as the boss stalfos came at him with his sword raised high. Gerad blocked the swing and shoved him back away from his sister. The boss stalfos stumbled back and defended himself from Gerad’s furious blows. Gerad kept coming at the him no matter how hard the stalfos tried to defend and counter. Finally the stalfos saw signs of fatigue on Gerad’s face and he pressed the advantage. Gerad was on a backpedaling defense now as the boss stalfos came at him.

Selene saw Gerad miss the swing and it go across his stomach, it was a shallow wound but the boss stalfos hit Gerad on the back of the head and he went down. He turned his attention back to Selene who lay on the ground staring at her fallen friends.

“You just made a big mistake.” Selene said as the boss stalfos stood over her again.

Selene stuck out her hand fingers spread wide and a blinding white light shot out of her hand and struck the boss stalfos full in the face. The boss stalfos screamed in pain as he disintegrated. Selene stood up and a bright light shone from her wound and engulfed the battlefield with pure white light. The other stalfos screamed as the light burned them.

After the light vanished there wasn’t a single stalfos left and everyone was healed. Gerad shot up and ran over to Selene to find her sleeping and unharmed. He breathed a sigh of relief and went to check on the others.

Meko rose from where he had fallen and flew to Aerica. Sheik was already up and at Meria’s side. Dahrin was sitting on his knees rubbing the back of his head. Gerad went to Aerica and found her rubbing her arm just above the elbow and staring bewildered at it.

“What’s wrong?” Gerad asked her.

She stared up into his eyes hers full of fear and astonishment, “They cut it off Gerad. They had cut it off.”

Tears fell down her cheeks and Gerad held her close hushing her sobs and stroking her head.

“Hey love it’ll be ok.” Meko said landing on her shoulder and hugging her cheek.

Aerica smiled and rubbed him with her finger. Orchid and Artimus stood over their masters and neighed softly comforting them.

Starfire stood over Selene and nuzzled her cheek till her eyes flickered open. Dahrin was kneeling beside her and smiled when her eyes opened.

“Hey, how you doing?” He asked as he helped her sit up.

“Headache.” She groaned rubbing her forehead.

Selene petted Starfire on her nose and stood up with Dahrin’s help.

Selene surveyed the battlefield counting her friends, “Is everyone alright?”

“It would seem so.” Sheik said walking over with Meria by his side.

“Where’s Calhan?” Gerad asked looking around.