Zelink Short Stories

The Chief's Daughter Part Two

As requested an eternity ago by several of you. I've been working on it for months, I swear.

Warning: mild mentions of sex, violence/gore (worse than the first one because I'm forgetting to care while I write)

Song suggestions:

the fruits-Paris Paloma

The Fire-Bishop Briggs

Wild Horses-Bishop Briggs

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I release a slow breath, willing my arms to hold steady. The string is pulled back, my arrow ready to fire into the deer munching on grass in a clearing. I'd been hesitating again. As eager as I was to learn my husband's ways, I'm not a Barbarian like him. But that hasn't stopped me from trying to adapt.

I bite down on my lip and let my arrow fly. I'm both disappointed and relieved when it lands in a tree behind the animal, scaring it off along with any other small creatures hiding in the thick brush. I huff a sigh and emerge from my leafy hiding spot. It'd been perfect: just out of view from any prey and the wind was blowing towards me so the doe wouldn't be scared off by my scent. I understand the stealth aspect of hunting but it's my inconsistent aim keeping me from succeeding.

I cross the clearing, wrapping my fingers around the shaft of the arrow to wrench in from the bark when I hear a twig snap off to the side. My hand creeps to my knife out of fear for a monster to show itself. Instead, my eyes meet a familiar blonde making her way towards me. I wonder who sent her to track me: my husband or their mother.

"You didn't let anyone know you were leaving."

I yank the buried arrowhead from the tree and press my finger against the point. No blood. Shooting it into a tree dulled it beyond use. "I just wanted to be alone I guess."

"Are you nervous?" As much as I don't want to admit it, I nod without looking at my husband's sister. "It's okay to be. It's your first." While that's true, none of the warriors in this tribe are nervous before their first tournaments. They rile themselves up with excitement, spending the days leading up to the battles sharpening their favorite weapons and perfecting their armor. I ran to the woods to hide.

"Maybe." I tuck the dull arrow with the rest in the quiver on my back and replace the bow as well. "Are you here to drag me back home?" I say with a small smile that she returns.

"Bound if needed."

"I'll come willingly." I fall into step next to her towards the place I've called home for a little over a year. "Did he send you?"

"No, Mother did. She wants to talk to you." No doubt a word about the tournament tomorrow. I'll listen to whatever wisdom she's willing to pass on. "He went looking for you too but he went in the wrong direction and I didn't bother to correct him," she laughs. While my husband is the best warrior in our tribe, his sister takes the title of best tracker.

"Think he's realized his mistake by now?"

"I doubt it." He will eventually and if not, Aryll can go out to find him.

The walk back home is long. I must have been so lost in thought on my way out here that I didn't notice I'd ventured so deep into the woods. Not the wisest decision but I've been practicing how to fight since shortly after my marriage to my Barbarian husband and I can take care of myself. I wouldn't have entered the tournament if I didn't know how to fight though part of it was the need to prove myself. This tribe has accepted me, taken me in as their own, and yet I haven't felt like I've earned it yet.

They are fighters bound by courage and honor. I'm just a Hylian whose father wanted to strengthen ties. I suppose that could be counted as brave-me coming here to marry a Barbarian. But I had no choice in that matter. I would belong to whoever was the most brutal in the tournament.