The Legend of Zelda: The Magnum Opus
By LinndogMore Info / Reviews
Chapter 1: Prologue
He took a deep breath while glancing out his window towards the oncoming rider. The approaching storm laid shade across the evening plains as the stallion raced beyond its wet reach. Just as the black beast sped through the closing city gates, the thunderous clouds covered the streets. White streaks cracked the sky and shook the city walls with angry claps. Closing his window, he turned from the sight and impatiently awaited the horseman’s arrival. He grabbed the long blade leaning against the cold, stone wall and rubbed its icy surface with a white rag. The knocking on his door didn’t cause a moment’s notice as he gazed upon his shearing edge.
“Yes, Halon, bring me your news,” his booming voice rang out as if projecting to a crowded auditorium. The large, oak panel slowly creaked open just enough for a young man’s head to slip inside. After spotting his host, the young man stepped through the doorway and stood.
“I have traveled far and wide m’lord. I have done all that you asked. May I now see my family?” the young man piped through a cracked voice. The nobleman chuckled under his breath before responding. “Do you bring news?” the older man’s voice rasped across the room. The young man’s shaky voice barely squeaked an answer that greatly enraged the older man.
With astonishing speed, the older man spun to face the younger, extending his blade so that the tip came to rest under his guest’s scruffy chin. The younger man could now see the eyes of his lord, beaming down at him with their white irises. The flames in the fireplace reflected off the armor on his lord’s chest, making it seem as though the thick carapace were painted with blood. The younger man quivered at the thought of further angering his lord and began stuttering through his sentences, pleading for forgiveness as the sharp blade slowly neared his neck. Much to his misfortune, his negotiating technique was unable to impede the inevitable. The reflective metal of the sword became stained with his blood as easily as a hot knife is stained with butter. His pleas turned to near silence. The only audible sound was that of his lord’s heavy breathing.
“My patience has been exhausted,” the nobleman stated, now speaking with a softer voice. “Peasant!” he shouted to his side just before a fortkeeper opened the door. “Remove the carcass, clean the floor and ready my steed…”
Just then, another body entered the room, speaking with a soft and playful voice, “Would you be reporting your departure or simply giving us the hope that you’ll not return?” The nobleman looked to the door to see a smiling, beautiful young maiden present herself with a curtsy. Hastily, the man moved to the door, stopping her entrance. Placing the brute of his frame between she and the body, the nobleman addressed the young woman, “Lady Krysta, your presence brightens every room in Hyrule. I regret my overbearance, but I insist that we speak while we walk. I must leave soon and I fear that I’ll not make the next town before sunset.”
“You must take your horse into the storm?” she asked naively.
“I fear more for myself than I do my mount,” he replied with a gentle smile.
“You usually do,” she barked back with a sarcastic undertone and a wry grin. He slowed his previously brisk pace to adhere to the comment before resuming his posed enjoyment of the lady’s company. “M’lady, your ribs are becoming as legendary as your great city.”
“It is thanks to you, Lord Jaxon, that I have a city to boast. Come now, to where do you ride?”
The noble Lord Jaxon came to a halt at those words, appearing offended. “Lady Krysta, my watch over this Hold has been steadfast and unchallenged. I have created the greatest stronghold in all of Hyrule and trained-well your Knights of Fortune. Fear not my absence, for my apprentice will guard you and this city from all who might invade. I assure you, the hours I spend from these walls will be as few as possible. Trust in my judgement, m’lady.” With a reassuring smile, Jaxon bowed his head to the maiden and stepped away, turning his back as he traveled toward the stables.
The young woman looked at Jaxon’s fortkeeper and spoke with a soft, smiling voice, “Does that man ever have an uncalculated action?”
“Yes, Halon, bring me your news,” his booming voice rang out as if projecting to a crowded auditorium. The large, oak panel slowly creaked open just enough for a young man’s head to slip inside. After spotting his host, the young man stepped through the doorway and stood.
“I have traveled far and wide m’lord. I have done all that you asked. May I now see my family?” the young man piped through a cracked voice. The nobleman chuckled under his breath before responding. “Do you bring news?” the older man’s voice rasped across the room. The young man’s shaky voice barely squeaked an answer that greatly enraged the older man.
With astonishing speed, the older man spun to face the younger, extending his blade so that the tip came to rest under his guest’s scruffy chin. The younger man could now see the eyes of his lord, beaming down at him with their white irises. The flames in the fireplace reflected off the armor on his lord’s chest, making it seem as though the thick carapace were painted with blood. The younger man quivered at the thought of further angering his lord and began stuttering through his sentences, pleading for forgiveness as the sharp blade slowly neared his neck. Much to his misfortune, his negotiating technique was unable to impede the inevitable. The reflective metal of the sword became stained with his blood as easily as a hot knife is stained with butter. His pleas turned to near silence. The only audible sound was that of his lord’s heavy breathing.
“My patience has been exhausted,” the nobleman stated, now speaking with a softer voice. “Peasant!” he shouted to his side just before a fortkeeper opened the door. “Remove the carcass, clean the floor and ready my steed…”
Just then, another body entered the room, speaking with a soft and playful voice, “Would you be reporting your departure or simply giving us the hope that you’ll not return?” The nobleman looked to the door to see a smiling, beautiful young maiden present herself with a curtsy. Hastily, the man moved to the door, stopping her entrance. Placing the brute of his frame between she and the body, the nobleman addressed the young woman, “Lady Krysta, your presence brightens every room in Hyrule. I regret my overbearance, but I insist that we speak while we walk. I must leave soon and I fear that I’ll not make the next town before sunset.”
“You must take your horse into the storm?” she asked naively.
“I fear more for myself than I do my mount,” he replied with a gentle smile.
“You usually do,” she barked back with a sarcastic undertone and a wry grin. He slowed his previously brisk pace to adhere to the comment before resuming his posed enjoyment of the lady’s company. “M’lady, your ribs are becoming as legendary as your great city.”
“It is thanks to you, Lord Jaxon, that I have a city to boast. Come now, to where do you ride?”
The noble Lord Jaxon came to a halt at those words, appearing offended. “Lady Krysta, my watch over this Hold has been steadfast and unchallenged. I have created the greatest stronghold in all of Hyrule and trained-well your Knights of Fortune. Fear not my absence, for my apprentice will guard you and this city from all who might invade. I assure you, the hours I spend from these walls will be as few as possible. Trust in my judgement, m’lady.” With a reassuring smile, Jaxon bowed his head to the maiden and stepped away, turning his back as he traveled toward the stables.
The young woman looked at Jaxon’s fortkeeper and spoke with a soft, smiling voice, “Does that man ever have an uncalculated action?”
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
- Chapter 1: Prologue
- Chapter 2: The Hunter
- Chapter 3: Rendez-vous
- Chapter 4: The Masterharper
- Chapter 5: The Gift
- Chapter 6: Revelations
- Chapter 7: The Journey
- Chapter 8: The Banquet
- Chapter 9: Hyrule under Fire
- Chapter 10: The Puzzle Unfolds
- Chapter 11: The Rematch
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Comments on this chapter
Kavi_Darkwolf says:
Kavi_Darkwolf says:
Linndog says:
Koroks Rock says:
The dialogue is a bit stilted to me, but that's the kind o thing that's next to impossible to help with. So far as technique goes, you have excellent grasp of the English language, but you need to focus on tense (as do I).
Turless says:
Just try not to make it too confusing, and you're good.
Linndog says: