The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

III The Birth of a Hero

Dark waters stirred in rippling puddles from hooves that thundered in the night after rain. The convoy of carts and wagons bore families crossing the fields of Hyrule. Escorted by the Hyrulean guard, they were led by a knight of blue steel who stood tall in the saddle and rode forefront. But then he raised his arm in halt of the train. For they were met by a company of Hylians that came across distressed, weary, and desperate.

"My lord knight!" Greeted a man who approached to speak, "Have you a moment to aid?"

"What seems to be the trouble?" The knight enquired.

And the man returned. "We were waylaid by Gerudo earlier today as we were taking down our camp. For we were making our way north to Castletown to seek haven. ... It was just a company of them of maybe twenty-five; whereby, we were able to hold ourselves well enough to repel them. But we have taken great casualties of wounded and our supplies are mostly damaged."

Then the blue knight bade word to his company and convoy under his charge. "Take them in and care for their wounded as best as you can." Then he turned back to the man. "You are welcome to come with us. ... Mr.?"

"Korovan" Said the man gratefully, "And who might you be Sir Knight?"

"Aldil" The knight answered, "Sir Aldil of Lanayru"

And Korovan nodded respectfully, "I shall remember it. And thank you for your kindess in not turning us away. And forgive us the inconvenience of causing your delay and adding weight upon you with our wounded, endangering your own."

"Indeed I must concern first for the safety of our own," Returned Aldil, "and there is great risk as you speak truly. Yet, even so, we cannot turn a blind eye to your needs. Else, we should be guilty as those who attacked you." But then his blue eyes changed demeanor from compassion to a certain anxiousness. "But the less we speak now and the sooner we move, the better." And then Aldil rushed the company to continue onward.

And they traveled eastward through night as Korovan learned that the convoy was moving from near Lake Hylia in the Lanayru province. "Sir Aldil rings a familiar name to me." He spoke in mulling thought with a Lanayruean.

"That is because Sir Aldil is the Second Knight of Lanayru," The Hylian came back with excitement, "overanked in the Hyrulean guard only by Valhes of Lanayru, the First Knight of Hyrule. And Sir Aldil is also a legend for his courage in defense of the people of Hyrule against the menace of the invading thieves. Moreover, it is also said that he is of royal blood; however, distant kin from the majesties of the crown. For his lineage goes back several generations as his ancestral father Denovir was a prince and third brother to Noshir, King and grandson as then heir of the Hero of Sky."

Upon the following day as they continued eastward, they were approaching to be in position just north of Faron. And Korovan's friend Cirza, of a grumbling countenance and known for a sour disposition of character, was displeased with the convoy's course of direction.

"Why in Hyrule would we be heading east to get to Castle Town that is north?" Cirza complained to Korovan, "Will we circle the entire perimeter of Hyrule's Fields in giving the enemy more time and opportunity to strike?"

But a soldier of the guard overheard and was quick to intercede in behalf of his lord's leadership. "Gerudo forces have often occupied the fields of late with the route to their home giving direct access in direct flank of the fields from the west. A direct route would be lengthy and highly probable for attack from exposing ourselves. ... My lord hopes to reduce the likelihood of being overwhelmed as we abide the southern marches of the fields until we reach a more preferable position to head swiftly north for the city."

Though Cirza replied angrily, "And how does he calculate which risk outweighs the other? How much does he risk? He is just a knight in leading risk of his "charge"? Does Sir Aldil risk as much as the rest of us?!?"