| Arn ran to
join the ranks of men, who were assembling in Rauru
Square. He remembered the hurt of Medilia, how she had
begged him to stay the night before. He remembered how
his son, Link, only half a moon old gurgled, oblivious to
everything outside the comforts of his home. Arn
hesitated, almost turning back, but then he remembered
what the royal messenger had said several days ago...
"All civilians that fall under the capture of a
Gerudo tribe will be killed...." This made him move
onward. He ran toward his brother Reuben,
"Arn! You're coming along? I thought Medilia needed
you to help out with the baby!"
"Reuben, you know that if we don't get as many men
as possible in this war, all the Hylians are gonna be
killed! I can't bear the thought of that happening to
Medilia or Link!" Arn replied, a catch in his
throat. "Foooorrrrrrwwwwaaarrrddd
march!" General Arto called to the men. Arn tramped
out the gates with the others. He knew Medilia was
waiting for him to turn around and gaze back, but he
looked straight forward. He didn't want her to see the
tears streaming down his ruddy face. ***
The sun shone hot, and the sweat ran down into Arn's
eyes. He raised his handkercheif up to wipe it from his
brow, then looked around to survey where they were, for
he was to greived to pay attention before. They were in a
wide field, devoid of trees, the town far from sight. Men
were draped across the war horses, obviously having
passed out from the heat. Arn was on the verge of
collapse himself, when he heard General Arto bellow;
"Alllrrriiiggghhhttt men! There's a stream just
yonder. We'll meet the troops from Saria there, then make
camp. We're gonna make Gerudo warriors outta you
quivering like-like's!" Arn heard the whole regiment
sigh with releif. He mustered up the strength to go on a
bit further, and he just fell to the ground when they
stopped, and he just rested in the tall grass for several
minutes until Gereral Arto screamed;
"Get up, guay!!!!! Don't wanna get lazy on me don't
you boy?" Arn was a tad offended at this,
concidering he was a ripe 21 summers, but he got up
anyway. He pulled out an old quilt, pegs and a long
stick, and began to make a sorry attempt at making a
tent. The first few times, it fell, but he finally made
it, even though it was quite sloppy. Then he heard voices
from far off. Thinking it was a Gerudo swarm, he dashed
out of his tent, sword in hand, ready to battle. But it
turned out to be the troops from Saria. The men stopped
and rested a bit, pitching their tents, and drinking from
the stream, for they had come even farther than the Rauru
regiment. After 16:00, General Gordon of the Saria
regiment called; " Time for
a mile run. Evvveeerrrrryyyybbbooooddddyyyy up! Hut two
three four, hut two three four! Move it, you slimy
tektites." One man refused to budge, but
Genera Arto beat him with a tent pole until the blood
flowed from his back, and Arn knew they meant buisness.
He was in the army now.
*** "Harkinian dear, what's happened now?" Alina asked the king as he sat down to a cold cup of tea. "The Gerudo are advancing towards Rauru Village. I said to send out new men, but now I'm not so sure. Sending all of them out when you know they'll be slaughtered is like personally pulling the chain on the guillotine for every one of them. Now I just feel so rotten, and I don't know what to do!" The king sighed heavily. Alina put her hand on his shoulder, and murmured; "You did what you thought was right, and that's all you need to do. I think we'll beat this war yet, just as long as we don't surrender. Oooohhh!" She gasped in pain. "Alina! Are you OK?" Harkinian was frightened for his frail wife. "I'm OK. Just the baby kicked is all." The grimace faded, and an expression of tenderness washed over it. "Impa says it will probably be a boy. I've thought of a name." "What?" " Trevor." She patted her stomach affectionately. King Harkinian chucked, forgetting the war completely. |
 |