Written in Blood

XVIII . The antithesis of camaraderie

The celebration is already in full swing when Impa and I arrive, Epona with us. She's a strong horse, I knew she'd make it through.

The sunset is fading, submitting to the darkening navy sky. Stars are pricking into existence above, and the night is as pretty as today had begun, not a cloud in the sky, with the moon bright against the dark backdrop.

There's a large bonfire in the center of the field, and I can see the silhouettes of others, joining in the camaraderie. I don't know why that hurts, we did win, it seems, something we all hadn't expected. I just can't get the bodies out of my head, sure... we won, but we lost a lot of our fighting force. And it was only one battle... I doubt we've made a dent in his forces. Cause he plays dirty like the cheating man he is. We may have one the battle, but we still have the war. Things will definitely turn sour again, and we might not be so lucky then. But I leave my cynicism to myself. I'll let everyone else enjoy the festival mood in the sweet night air.

As Impa and I walk towards the field, one of the last people I want to see today comes over to me.

Great... I can already sense what's coming. Dohean looks all the more displeased than usual, and even amongst the festivities his solemn mask of an expression doesn't look the least bit relieved, or even satisfied with the actions of the soldiers.

"There you are." He says impatiently, as if I was trying to be late. I didn't know I had anything to be "late" for. Why he's wasting time with me is unknown. Dohean seems to hate me- well it's more than seems, I know he does- and since I'm just that snarky, nobody soldier, he could just completely ignore me.

I see his attention flick over to Impa, and I start getting a bad vibe when just his expression sends her away. Dohean doesn't even have to say anything.

Impa shoots me a look as she walks away, taking Epona's reins from me. I can almost hear her saying "good luck". Yeah... I'm gonna need it. He's fuming with annoyance and anger. Geez... I don't even know what I did.

"What's wrong now?" I ask, tired and not in the mood to be the object of the general's anger.

"Don't speak out of line. What you did earlier... that was unacceptable."

What in Hylia's name is he talking about? What did I do? It's hard to single one out, since I've had at least two infractions against Dohean today. Was it the sneaking out? It may seem like desertion, but keeping me cooped up in here like a cuccoo does anything but make me want to stay and be easy to control. I never asked to be drafted, I want to be alone. I wouldn't even waste my time trying to betray the Hylians. It wouldn't really benefit me, Ganondorf hates me too.

I raise my eyebrows in a silent question, not wanting to ask him in case he snaps at me again, which only makes him angrier.

"You snuck out. Again. But it was when you rushed into battle on that horse." He snarls, "This is war. Orders can't be taken lightly."

I silently prod him to continue, nodding slowly with widened eyes. He's prolonging this already painful process too much... why can't he just cut to the chase?

"You're the princess' problem now. I can't have you as one of my soldiers." Dohean's words are so sudden I almost laugh. Is he kidding?

Dohean walks away as I stay near the front of the ranch, dumbfounded.

I almost let myself be relieved for a second, but leaving me in the princess' hands isn't the leave-taking I wanted. She doesn't want me to leave, and with me as "her problem" I'll never get a chance to escape. It wouldn't even count as AWOL now.

"You're okay," I see Malon coming over to me, happiness plain on her face. Relief too.

"Oh. Yeah," I spare a small smile, and I feel her wrap her arms around me. I don't know why I'd jerk away from the sudden touch... she's supposed to be my girlfriend, and yet after what I'd experienced in Kakariko, I'm still jumpy I guess.