The Archaeologist

Chapter 16

               "My liege," a knight spoke before bowing before a man looking out the window of the high tower he resided in. "We are being invaded by--."

"I know," the king cut the knight off. He turned around to face the knight. He narrowed his eyes at his servant. "Gather all remaining soldiers and meet me in the throne room."

"Yes, your highness." The knight quickly stood and ran off to the depths of the castle.

The king began making his way down the hall and towards the throne room. His robes, a royal blue with golden trimming, and his long locks of grey flowed behind him with each step he took. The man's golden grown reflected the flickering flames of the torches that lined the hallway. His shoulders were squared as he opened the door. Before him was a single throne. Slowly, the king made his way to the throne and sat down. He waited patiently for his knights to arrive.

--

"Create an exit," the leader of the Zoras spoke. She looked up at the grate they were opening that led to the dungeons of Hyrule Castle. Here, they would wait for the rest to make a quick getaway should things fall apart.

--

"It's quiet," Princess Zelda spoke when she started walking through the castle. Link was next to her donning his green hero's garb. Behind the two Hylians was Ganondorf and Ahura. They looked around the hallways cautiously, waiting for a trap to spring up on them at any given moment. "Where are all of the guards?" Zelda questioned. "They should be here."

"They may be protecting the king," Ganondorf supplied. "We will need to find a way to gather how many men are in there with him."

Zelda shook her head. "Father made sure that would be impossible. Our only option is to go in. It'll be dangerous, suicide maybe, but we must do it." Link nodded silently. His hand kept a tight grip on the hilt of his master sword and his other arm bore a Hylian shield. Ganondorf grunted in discontent, but continued on.

Princess Zelda paused before a door. She inhaled sharply and looked behind her. She nodded towards those following her indicating that her father and whatever guards he had would most likely be in this very room. Link fully drew his sword out, Ganondorf stepped in front of Ahura with his own blade. Ahura took her dagger and tried to take deep, steady breaths to calm her nerves. Finally, Zelda bushed the doors open with great force. The wooden gates slammed against the wall and the four ran into the room, only to stop dead in their tracks.

"I..." Ahura sputtered out. "What...Why?"

Princess Zelda fell to her knees, not caring about soiling her armor with the pool of blood that covered the room's floor. Her entire body shook as she took in the sight before her. Over a dozen bodies rested on the ground. Each body had a sword plunged through their chest. All were knights of the royal guard; the same guard Link was a part of not too long ago. However, Zelda's eyes were not on these knights. Instead, they were on the slumped body in a chair. He had no sword in his chest, but it was apparent he was dead – poison, most likely.

"The coward," Princess Zelda choked out. "He couldn't even face a trial for the countless lives he took – for the genocide he brought forth!" Link placed a single hand on her shoulder in an effort to comfort her. For a few moments, the Princess focused on her breathing before standing back up. Blood ran down her legs and she held a fierce, determined look on her face. "We must gather everyone and figure out what we will do now. There will be chaos come morning if the Hylians learn they are without a leader."

Ganondorf nodded sternly and spoke without hesitation. "Dark."

A cloud of smoke appeared in the throne room. Dark stood, his glowing red eyes widened at the sight before him. He questioned what happened, but was able to piece two and two together seeing as none of those currently alive in the room were sullied in too much blood.

"Gather the others and tell them to meet here," Ganondorf ordered Dark. "There should be little to no resistance from the Hylian army." Dark bowed before banishing.

Princess Zelda stepped over the bodies and to her father's. He was slumped near the throne. She looked down with her shoulders shaking before she kicked his body away from the throne and sat down. She looked over the throne room with a firm frown. By right, she was queen. However, she knew that her reign wouldn't last for long. If peace were to continue for the people and the land she loved, she would have to forfeit her crown.

Several minutes passes before the Zoras started to enter the throne room. They looked at the ground in disgust and avoided the blood whenever possible, but their disgust soon shifted to shock at seeing the Princess alive. The filed the side of the room and waited patiently. Soon, the Sheikah came in followed by the Gorons and Bulblins. Dark apparated next to Ganondorf and silence fell upon the low murmurs in the room as all waited for the Princess to speak.

"The king of Hyrule has killed himself, to save himself from your persecution," Princess Zelda spoke. "While I am the next to receive the crown, I do not think that would solve our problems, nor would it be appropriate. Therefore, I propose that representatives of each race govern on equal terms with one another. Of course, that is merely my suggestion. I hardly have the right to make decisions."

With that, each race began to murmur amongst themselves. Ahura turned to Ganondorf wondering what he would do as the sole survivor of his race. He looked back down at her and nodded towards her. Slowly, his hand reached out towards hers. Seeing what he was doing, Ahura grabbed his hand and moved closer to his side.

"Equal footing is a must if we're going to cooperate," Impa spoke. She folded her arms across her chest. All of the other races nodded while glaring with mistrust towards Princess Zelda.

Princess Zelda nodded her head in agreement. "Of course. The ruling of the royal family has come to an end. As such, I don't see it fit that I be the Hylian representative."

"Then who would represent the Hylians?" the Zora queen questioned.

"I would like to speak with said person about the position before I announce their name," Princess Zelda said. "Please understand, but I do not want the individual to feel pressured into taking it without thinking it through. However, for now, I feel we should all get some rest and discuss this tomorrow. The castle should be empty, feel free to stay here for tonight. By noon tomorrow, I will have discussed the position with the Hylian I have in mind. I would also appreciate if you all think of my proposal. If you do not like it, please come up with your own. Now, if you'll excuse me." Princess Zelda quickly made an exit with Link close behind.

"Do you think she's going to offer the position to Link?" Ahura looked up at Ganondorf.

"No," Ganondorf spoke with certainty. "While he did help us, he's still not trusted amongst everyone else. He also holds a piece of the Triforce, meaning the same thing could happen again."

"You have a piece of the Triforce, too," Ahura replied.

"True." Ganondorf nodded. "However, mine is not a birth right. I took it. With them, their descendants will receive the piece of the Triforce causing magnets of corruption to follow. No, I think the Princess will pick someone that the races all have some level of trust with."

"Who would that be?" Ahura questioned. Her thoughts only ran over to those at the ranch.

"Who indeed," Ganondorf replied with a sly smirk, but said nothing more.

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