“Yes, yes…you stated this yesterday when you accepted to die.” Athrin said as he stood to his full height of 6”2’. The young king narrowed his sky blue orbs at the cocky tone in his opponent’s voice. “No…I didn’t agree to die.” He corrected, “I agreed to fight you.” Athrin laughed softly before stepping forward and kneeling on one knee. “Yes…my liege.” He said in a most sincere voice. “Don’t mess with me!” Growled Link as he rushed forward, bringing the master sword down where it’s target would have been. “There there, no need to get a temper.” Athrin grinned as he drew his own blade. “Shut up and fight me!” Hissed the king as he again twisted his hand to make the sharp silver ribbon fly to his opponent’s shoulder blade and sink into the warm flesh. Athrin only stood, and expression of great bewilderment plastered on his face. “You seemed to boat about your skill just the other day….and willingly mocked me now. What’s the matter? Not so confident?” Muttered the king as he slowly deepened the wound before removing the newly tainted blade. “No…just waiting for this!” Was his reply as he swung his own blade to graze the side of the Link’s and slide a moment before being counteracted by the Master Sword. “Cheap.” Link muttered as the two set themselves a comfortable distance away from one another. Link never took his eyes off Athrin, even as blood began to ooze from the small incision on his face. Without another word, the two began to dance a dance both contestants knew all too well. Hyrule’s full moon had risen now to cast it’s silvery beams onto the bloody scene below it. The blades glistening their reddened silver as their shadows bent to the will of the celestial being and danced along the rocks, mimicking the moves of the two men.
The two men retreated from the caresses of the other’s blade. Each breathing heavily. Blood smeared almost every inch of the handsome king who now stood with his sword lowered ever so slightly as he caught his breath. His opponent he still studied intently, though he seemed to be in the same state. “I will….give you credit Link….” Stated Athrin between breaths, “I’ve not had this much fun in years…” Both were weak. The battle could draw only a few more hours from the crying moon’s time before one of them feel from exhaustion or death. “Just…tell me…where he is…” Demanded Link, though his physical condition prevented the forcefulness in his voice from being entirely heard, “that’s all you’ve ever had to do.” Slowly the other shook his head, “let me finish you.” And with this, each man seemed to push himself at the other as their blades, again, met with a sharp shrill echoed off the mountain’s peak and into the ebony sky above. And as the moon had prophesized, the battled drew on another three hours. “Give up! You won’t last much longer!” Athrin growled from his throat as a new gash appeared on the lower section of his ribs. “I can outlast you.” Came his answer. “…not now…” Athrin ducked from the Master blade, and with a quick thrust, sent his own through the stomach of the noble king. The air fell silent around them as the blood slipped down the blade and onto it’s master’s hand. Link spoke not a word, made not a sound, only hung on the blade like a leaf would a tree. At first, his breathing came irregularly and rapid, as if he had not expected the attack. Athrin stayed in this position. Allowing the “hero”’s blood to soil his hand and mingle with his own. And all the while he couldn’t help but smile as he gazed upon the expression of Link’s face as the color slowly drained from it…as if it were his life itself. “You aren’t so noble now…are you…?” Questioned the victor as he stood to his feet, casting the younger form to the rocky earth as if he were shaking a bug from his hand. “Oh look…he still clings to his sword even after the battle has decided it’s victor.” He commented with a smile as a booted foot connected hard with the wrist of the king, causing his grip to falter and loosen on the handle. “What did I tell you “Great King.”? Now…you must find him yourself.” Before taking his leave, a great gash on his left shoulder he left as a reminder of the lose.
“How….how could I…” Thought Link as he lay motionless as the coming death. “Everything depended on this…and I…I was foolish…” He closed his eyes in attempt to ease the pain that flooded his body. “…now…what do I do from here?” It was in this moment he understood what it was like to feel weak. To feel helpless, powerless, and utterly defeated. Until now…he had never known true failure or this extent of utterly unbearable pain…both in his head and his heart…
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