Written in Blood

XXI . To the end of the world

There isn't time to feel the true pain of the Gorons' betrayal. There's not time to do anything.

I've already rushed head on into the ranch, seeing the attackers coming closer, towards the princess. I dart over to my sword and shield I'd been using earlier, still discarded and forgotten on the ground.

How are we supposed to fight them and still stand a chance? It seems impossible. We've gotten lucky with our victory at Kakariko, but then everyone was largely uninsured. And now, most of our remaining soldiers are at Kakariko, fighting off another attack. I know without a doubt the Gorons must be helping, so it's another threat. How are any of us getting out this alive? A majority of the soldiers here are in no condition to fight. This won't be pretty, even more of a massacre this time.

I survey the terrain, trying to think of some half-baked plan of anything. It's utter desperation at this point, that's what fuels me now.

Injured by healing soldiers are emerging from the infirmary, ready to face another wave of enemies. They're really in no shape to fight, at least if they really want to wreak some havoc. But this is all we've got. For Farore's sake... we're screwed.

The knight left to play general for this camp of injured soldiers is already shouting orders. His voice is loud, but I can hear the nervousness. No one would have expected this. Well, except for Zelda. I hate to admit it, but I should've heeded her warning more and trusted my suspicions. But it's too late to change that.

In the clamor and noise, I see some stalfos getting too close for comfort.

I get ready to fight, even though my wound protested. I can barely feel the pain though, hyper-focused on the situation.

One of them jumps at me with its jagged sword, but I block with my shield. These hulking skeletons may look intimidating, but they're just pushovers. The only time I remember getting dealt a fierce blow from them was that pair on the way out of Ganon's Tower with Zelda. That was in the stress of the moment, I didn't have time to guard well, I just had to get right up in their skeletal faces.

That feels uncannily familiar to now, with the same energy, fast and anxious, there's no time to waste. The princess is here too, although she's ready to help me this time. No longer stuck in a ring of fire, waiting for me to save her. I now know from personal experience that she's competent, my stab stands as a testament to that. ... I need to wrap that up later.

I counterattack, slashing at his exposed and hollow rob cage. The bone marrow cracks and snaps from my contact, hairline fractures splintering across a few of the ribs.

The pile of bones, as you might expect, is as stupid as a like-like. Wait. No. Stupider than a like-like. He decides to attack again at me, but I perform the same block and counterattack scheme. Shame. He's the one who's practically walking into my sword.

After a few more hits of the same procedure, the skeleton crumples to then ground in a large pile of bones.

I see Zelda's almost done with the other stalfos too. Okay, now what? The two we fought are only a fraction of the monsters still pouring into the place, clogging the exit as they look for something to kill. We were already overwhelmed and outnumbered from the beginning, but this force is enormous.

They'll trap us in here and kill us all.

"Link!" The substitute general yells at me. I nod my head to show I'm listening, but keep my eyes on the horde of enemies.

"I want you to take the princess and get the heck out of here!"

"What?!"

"NOW!"