Noble by Nature

Chapter 49

It had grown steadily darker, so that Zelda now relied on her own light to see her surroundings.
Some monsters here and there cast a glow too, illuminating the creatures in their vicinity.
Ganondorf himself seemed more like a massive black hole, sucking in all the light around him and oozing darkness.
When she had first thrown her power at him he had dropped Link, which had briefly filled her with hope. Especially once she saw a group of Rito fly over and drop to the ground where he had to be.
Everything inside her had screamed for her to go to him, but the Demon King had other plans.
Outraged that she had made him drop the pole, he had left Link for dead between his monsters and charged right at her.
She'd only had a moment to feel relief that Link was no longer in his hands, before she realized she was now the one in danger.
It took all her concentration to keep him at a distance, forcing her to use her power far more and far longer than she wanted to.
When she saw the group of Rito fly back from the corner of her eye, a spark of hope had returned to her.
Link was safe. He would take the potion and he would be alright.
All she had to do was hold out until he returned.

But Ganondorf was powerful.
He commanded his monsters to get in her way as much as possible, allowing him to come up to her unhindered.
She was tired from swinging her sword, from looking left and right for the next threat, from trying to steer her horse towards the area with the most room.
If it wasn't for her friends around her, she would have long fallen to his attacks.
But Riju was there, with a group of her strongest warriors. Bazz and Rivan fought at her side, shouting defiantly and cheering on their fellow Zora. Yunobo was there too, battering through enemies like they were nothing more than plumes of grass. Nell moved in and out of view, a group of Hylians at his back as he shouted his commands. Tulin flew above her, ceaselessly shooting arrows at the Demon King, despite her telling him to return to the castle. Eventually Teba joined him. He shouted at his son for disobeying his orders, but in the end they flew side by side, having her back.
Although Zelda turned this way and that, trying to lure Ganondorf into making a mistake, there was always someone at her side.
Part of her knew that he was still holding back, playing with her before he trampled all over her.
But he didn't know she was just biding her time.
Link would come.

When eventually he did arrive, Zelda didn't have to look to know.
     She was out on Hyrule Field, the castle at her back, together with most of their army.
     Now they erupted in cheers, shouting and chanting his name.
     Zelda slashed down a Gibdo, dug out a Fire Fruit from the pouch at her waist and threw it on the body.
     She didn't look, instead turning in her saddle as soon as the creature started screeching.
     There she saw him.
     Link had come out of the gate, sitting high on his horse in his new clothes, Master Sword up in the air.
     Reeza and Laine marched on either side of him, recognizable by their golden armour glinting in the faint light.
     They easily made their way between their ranks, before coming up to the first of the monsters.
     Zelda glanced over her shoulder, noticing Ganondorf some distance ahead. She turned her horse and started hacking her way back to her knight.
     'Tulin!' She shouted up, keeping her eyes on Link. 'Let me know if Ganondorf attacks!'
     'Aye!' The young Rito shouted back, offering her a salute in mid air. He came to circle over her, low enough to be heard.
     As she got closer and closer, she could see the glint of Link's eyes.
     He was fighting again, but in his usual effortless way. He swung his blade, hardly even looking down, instead keeping his eyes trained on her.
     Electricity seemed to spark through her at the look he gave her. Despite the situation her body started tingling, craving his touch.
That was when the warning came.
'Incoming!' Tulin shouted, immediately followed by a quick succession of his bow thrumming.
Zelda turned Thunder with a touch of her knee, sword already raised.
Ganondorf was charging right at her, trampling monsters in his path and throwing aside two Zora that couldn't get out of the way fast enough.
She thought about throwing her power at him, but so far it did little more than make him sway and slow him down. He would be expecting it.
So instead she waited for him to come closer, while Tulin littered him with arrows.
They were little more than a nuisance, though, which he hardly even seemed to notice.
Zelda knew she could never take him in a fair fight. He would overpower her in sheer strength and force in no time.
She tried to think of something to do, some way to knock him down, but she drew a blank.
     Ganondorf was nearly upon her now, so she did the only thing that sprang to mind. She nudged her horse aside and lashed out her arm, only just managing to deflect his massive blade with her own.
     The steel of their weapons made a horrendous screeching sound that erected the hairs on her arms, but the blade changed course just enough to come down behind her.
     Her whole arm started tingling from the impact, but she quickly turned back around and resumed her way through the crowds.
     She didn't want to give Ganondorf another shot at it, because she knew for a fact that she would be unable to do this again.
     From the corner of her eye she saw him coming to a halt, glaring at her full of hatred.
     Next thing she knew, something exploded against his chest with such force that he was flung backwards, falling from the saddle and smacking to the ground.
     She looked around, noticing Link a little up ahead, Teba now flying over him. Both of them were still holding up their bows while exchanging a grim smile.
     Before he would have a chance to mount, Zelda spurred on Thunder. With every step Link came closer, his smile growing wider.
     If they hadn't been sitting their horses, Zelda would've tackled him to the ground in her relief to see him.
     Instead she smiled shyly. She didn't even know what to say.
     'It's so good to see you,' he whispered. 'Dear Hylia, you look amazing.'
'I can't believe you're really here,' she answered hoarsely. Her voice constricted painfully as she tried to hide the emotions welling up inside. 'You're alive.'
Link reached out and squeezed her hand, although she still noticed the shadow flashing over his face.
She could tell there would be a lot to catch up on. Even more horrors to try and pick their way through. But they would do it. Together.
'I'm glad you're alive, too,' Link said with an attempt at a smirk. He leaned in, making sure Teba wouldn't hear his next words. 'You won't believe the things I'd want to do with you right now.'
     Zelda chuckled, waving it away. 'You can tell me all about that later. We have to take him down first.' She nodded towards the dark shape that had mounted his horse again.
'Let's do it like the first time.' Link sent her a crooked grin, making butterflies erupt in her stomach.
She tried her best to push those away, instead focusing on the more pressing things.
'I'll take him on, you hit him with your power.' He brandished his sword. 'That should work. This time with the Master Sword.'
Zelda nodded.
Ganondorf was quickly approaching.
'Make sure it's a killing blow,' she said darkly, her eyes on the enemy.
Link gently stroked her hand as he released it, causing sparks to rise there. 'We can do this.'
Without waiting for her reaction he spurred on Epona, jumping through a gap in the ranks and barrelling through some Bokoblins.
Zelda watched him go, admiring the way his muscles flexed in the dim glow. Then she shook her head, snapping back to the present.
She sat still, protected by her friends, as she watched the knight approach the Demon King.
Her mind flashed back to the last time they had faced each other. It had looked so similar, the two of them racing at each other at full speed.
That time they were both flung from their saddles.
She wondered who had learned most from that encounter. Who would be the one to do it differently, hoping for a different outcome.
The whole world seemed to hold its breath as the two forces collided in a deafening crash.