A Soldier's Love: Tale of a Hylian Guard

8

"Come, Zelda!" The guardsman turned and kneeled. "They have just gained entrance to the castle Climb on my back and hold tight!"

She glanced towards Impa, eyes overflowing with sorrow and loss. 

"Hurry, Zelda! We must take you far from this place!"

"Do it!" screamed Impa. "Princess or not, you must obey the guardsman!"

Zelda jumped onto his back, arms wrapped tightly around his neck and holding some blue ceramic in one hand. 

"I've sent all the soldiers to the front to allow us some time to escape. We must run to the stables and leave Hyrule Castle."

He nodded. 

"I hope for your sake you follow close behind, guardsman. If you lose her..."

"I won't." He looked her square in the eye. "I give you my word, she's in firm hands."

She sighed. "Follow me, then. And stay close."

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The hallways and stairs of the castle resonated with the ring of steel against steel and the dying cries of Hylians and Gerudos alike. Everywhere they looked, there were slaughtered men and women of combat; some who were alive accepted their fate and looked on as they ran, silently praying that they leave safe. Others, however, reached out to them, screaming and begging to be released from their pain to no avail. At one moment, a Gerudo stepped in front of them, scimitars drawn and bloody from a previous fight. Unfortunately for her, Impa ran her through with the dagger she carried with blazing speed, barging her down and continuing on. 

They ran as quickly as possible through the hallways, sending silent prayers for the dead and dying in their wake. Zelda burrowed her face in the nape of his neck, wailing in abject grief at the loss of her father. The guardsman could feel her tears running down his armor, but it didn't matter; his only objective was to follow Impa and bring Zelda to safety. 

"How far are these stables?!" shouted the guardsman wearily. "And why do the hallways seem to go on forever?!"

"They don't!" Without losing speed, Impa broke through a door, the guardsman nearly tripping over the shattered pieces of wood lying over the floor. 

The guardsman couldn't believe it; they were right in the stables! He was so concerned with following Impa that he didn't notice their path crossed the Hall of Rooms, the barracks, and the luncheon area. And miraculously, there was a pure white horse already saddled and eager to ride. 

The guardsman gently set Zelda down, then began saddling a nearby russet brown steed. It seemed the horse could sense his urgency, for it stood perfectly still as he prepared it for travel. 

"Impa!" Zelda suddenly cried. "We must wait for Link! I told him to come back to me as soon as-"

"There's no time, Zelda! We must leave now or you'll be captured by Ganondorf!"

"But he's the Hero!! I need to give him the treasure!! The Temple of Time-"

"I have already taught him the song, child." Impa lifted her onto the horse. "He'll have to find another way through."

The guardsman trotted next to them, glancing up and down the white steed. "Is he fast?"

"She is the fastest in all of Hyrule," snapped Impa. "Cover our flank, guardsman. And don't lag behind!"

The guardsman bowed mockingly. "As you wish, Lady Impa."

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Both of them rode at breakneck speed, maneuvering through crowds of soldiers and Gerudos. Impa cleared a bpath up front, somehow managing to miss any Hyrulean soldiers in her way. 

"Guardsman!!" shrieked Zelda. "Behind you!!"

All the blood left his face. He knew who it was before he even looked.

Ganondorf, his dark mount's eyes glowing red with foam oozing out its snout, charged behind them. He grinned evilly, knowing that their doom was at hand. He knew their demise was imminent, that he would enjoy torturing Zelda for whatever he wished to obtain. 

At that moment, the guardsman decided he really hated that smile.