The Legend of Zelda: A Hero's Blood

I do not own any rights to The Legend of Zelda

Ordon… A small southern province of Hyrule. It was largely populated by

Farmers and Artisans, and because of this it earned a reputation with the northern provinces of Lanayru and Eldin. But as one might imagine, its reputation was largely centered on sword-smithing.

One person of that trade was the cause. His name was, Link Paramina Ordonis Hylia.

He was a tall strapping young lad with bright green eyes and shoulder length light-brown hair. Most of the locals admired him for many reasons, one of which was his skill with a hammer and a bar of steel. The local girls however, admired him for his strength… much to his displeasure of course… but the other side to that reason was the fact that he was next in line to become Mayor of Ordon.

For this reason, he spent days and nights inside of his forge, relentlessly beating swords out of steel and iron; one could almost imagine that he was attempting to beat the thought out of his own head.

But on mid-summer's eve, an emissary of the King came from the north; he bore with him, a proclamation.

"On May the 23rd, Castleton will host a Swordsmanship tournament to ascertain those who will become the next members of the Royal Guard." The bald man glanced around at the villagers, "This Village of Ordon is required to send three men to participate in the tournament, you may send more if you wish."

Link had been standing at the back of the crowd, and decided to make himself known, "And if we refuse to send any?"

The Emissary scowled, "Then we will take the three most capable men with us now."

A savage smirk formed on his face. He turned and retrieved a sword from a brining rack outside of his forge, "Take em' if you can!"

Nodding to a guard, the Emissary growled, "Well, you look like the exact type of lad we need."

The guard circled the crowd and grabbed at Link's arm. Link jerked out of his grasp and spun on his left foot, his sword flashed as it sailed in a smooth arc and caught the edge of the guard's weapon, "You need more training." With a quick flick of his wrist, the weapon sailed over the crowd's head and buried itself deeply in the trunk of a tree. The guard stepped back, the edge of the young man's sword pressed to his throat, "I'll only ask this once, leave now, or the King's Army is short one man."

With a sharp tug on the reigns the Emissary growled, "Very well boy, but mark my words, we'll be back… and you will be the first to go." As his horse turned he barked at the soldier in Link's grasp, "Come on Urienze."

The soldier scrambled out of Link's grasp and climbed onto his horse and galloped after the group.

Link twirled his sword on his fingertips and smirked, "Come back when you've trained some more Urienze!"

An old woman spoke, "Link my boy, you should not have done that."

"And why not? You know as well as I that they would've taken Cleon and Bryan… we need them here."

The old woman shook her head feebly, "No… they wouldn't, and you showed them right away that you were the perfect candidate."

Scoffing, Link turned and replaced the sword on the rack, "They could not make me serve… I owe the King no allegiance, and it's my duty to protect this village."

He disappeared into his forge and slammed the door.

The Royal Castle of Hyrule

"My Lord?" A small man wearing a red sash over his black robes leaned over the throne.

The King of Hyrule, a man of middle age with salt and pepper hair stirred in his sleep, "What is it Pryce?"

"The Emissary to Ordon has just returned… he requests and audience with you my Lord."

With a lazy gesture he grunted, "Send him in…"

The twin deku-wood doors swung in letting sunlight to slash into the dim hall. The Emissary marched in wearing a half-suit of armor.

He dropped to one knee and placed his left hand on his right shoulder, "Your Majesty."

"Rise Sir Leon de Grance."

Leon stood and scowled, "We have a problem, my Lord."

Glancing around the King acknowledged, "Where are the recruits?"

Leon de Grance's scowl deepened, "A boy by the name of Link threatened the life of Urienze if we did not leave Ordon."

The King leaned forward, "And you did…?"

"Yes… Urienze is mine nephew after all…"

"And what of this boy? How did he drive the presiding captain of Lanayru Province from Ordon?"

"His skill with a blade… even I have not seen such proficiency in my lifetime."

A grin spread across the King's aged face, "Who are his parents? Know you his lineage?"

Leon shook his head, "No… but there might be a record in the Archives."

With a clap of his hands, the King shouted, "PRYCE!"

The small Vizier raced into the room and bowed, "What is it you require my Lord?"

"Look in the Archives for bloodlines of Ordon… we have a boy with no name… I wish to see if his family has any service records to the Kingdom."

Pryce bowed again and bolted from the room shouting, "ARCHIVE MASTER THRUSTAN!"

Faron Woods

The light of the afternoon sun filtered through the trees and a light wind stirred the leaves.

Link scowled down at the corpse of a Bulbin as it burst into a cloud of black smoke. These creatures caused more trouble than they were worth.

Spinning it once by the hilt, Link sheathed his sword, "What to do today?" He sighed to the deku forest.

He turned towards the sound of leaves crunching underfoot. Link's best friend Cielia trotted toward him waiving, "Link!"

Link grinned and walked toward her, "Hello Cielia, what are you doing out here?"

"Looking for you!" She huffed, "Mayor Kayrin asked me to find you."

"What for?"

"He says that more of the King's messengers have been spotted coming up the Greenway…"

Gritting his teeth Link drew his sword, "Let's go."

Back in the Village, most of its residents were gathered in the square as before. The Mayor stepped toward him smirking, "Looks like you've got your wish Link… The King's Emissary has returned."

A large chestnut horse with a black mane stopped just beyond the Village gate.

"Who among you bears the name, Link Paramina Ordinis Hylia?" Shouted a large wide-shouldered man with long black hair and beard.

Link stepped forward and growled, "Who wants to know?"

The messenger's black eyes fixed on the youth, "I am Rusl Bergon, Captain of the Guard of Hyrule… and you are coming with me."

Link folded his arms, "Is that so?"

"Aye."

"I suppose you have come to take me to the tournament training grounds?"

Rusl smirked, "Nay… The King wishes to speak to you personally."

Link kept his gaze locked with the Captain's, "I owe no allegiance to the King… and I will not leave this Village unguarded to go gallivanting across Hyrule Field to meet with someone I do not respect."

Rusl reached into the front of his tunic and withdrew a parchment scroll, "You owe him more than you know boy… Here take a look." He tossed the parchment to Link.

It was bound with a blood-red ribbon and closed with the King's Seal.

Link unrolled it and examined its contents.

The scroll contained the Bloodline of the Royal Family of Hyrule, from Pharos Reagan Hylia the First King, to the 35th and current King Largos Harkinian.

Half-way down the scroll, Link spotted his own name circled with red ink.

Glancing between the scroll and the Captain, Link stuttered, "But..h-how… t-this is… THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS TRUE!"

Link tossed the scroll aside, "Who wrote this lie?"

Rusl smirked, "You would deny your own blood?"

"I DENY THIS RUBBISH!" His roars echoed in the forests surrounding the village.

Rusl's smile widened, "You are an amusing creature… The King requests you to come with us to the Castle for one week… just to formalize your ties to the Royal Family you know…"

"The only reason the King wants me there is because of this lie! I will not go there to subjugate myself! The King is an old fool with nothing but his immense wealth on his mind! And Princess Zelda… No… I won't say anything about her… she hasn't got anything to do with this."

Rusl urged his horse closer to the boy, "What's the matter? Like the Princess do you?"

Link's visage hardened, "N-no I… Every boy in the Kingdom likes her… Just look at her!"

"Ah… so it is that you like her? Fancy that, and she is your eleventh cousin to boot."

Link's fists tightened, "What of it?"

Rusl drew another piece of parchment, "This is a letter written by the King himself, read it if you please."

Link snatched it and ripped it open.

Link-

I know that our relation, no matter how distant, may come as a shock to you… I ask only that you return with these guards to the Castle. As you are also a direct descendant of the First King, you are also a legitimate heir to the throne. I would also like to apologize for Captain Leon de Grance's behavior upon his first visit to Ordon, his nephew Urienze now holds his uncle's place as Captain of Lanayru Province's Calvary… I beg you to return with these guards, your cousin Zelda also wishes you to come… She wishes to meet you, I daresay she will be pleased to know that there is someone else her own age I will allow her to speak to. Your accommodations will be arranged upon your arrival.

On another note, eight of the guards are to be stationed in Ordon to protect it in your absence. I hope you will consider this request, I bear you no ill will as to your earlier behavior nor will I if you refuse…

Yours in Blood,

King Largos Harkinian

Link looked up from the letter with a resentful look, "Alright… I'll go to the Castle… How in the name of Din do I get myself into these messes?"

He held a worn leathern satchel in his left hand as he placed a few of his belongings inside.

Great… the Princess has invited me to the Castle… I don't want to go, but if I refuse, the villagers won't let me live it down.

As he stepped out into the village square, he lifted a small blue flute to his lips and blew a few haunting notes.

One of the guards stared for a moment then asked, "What are you doing?"

Link smirked, "Calling my horse."

When the knight gave a questioning glance Link explained, "When I was ten I met a young pony in the forest, I tried and tried to get the beast to come near, but nothing worked… at least until I sat down to play a song on my ocarina, and ever since Epona will come running whenever I play that tune."

As he finished, a large chestnut-brown mare galloped out of the forest to the north.

Link turned and smiled broadly at the beast as it drew near.

"Epona! Where in blue blazes have you been?" His left hand curled around a few of the hairs in Epona's mane, "Ah… in the Goran Forest again I see… you know you're not supposed to be there!"

Epona tossed her head as if she were saying, "Whatever two-legs, at least I'm not a reckless oaf."

Link slung his pack onto Epona's saddle and hauled himself up after it.

"Let's be off… I want to get this over with as quickly as possible."

Hyrule Castle Gardens

Her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed the light scent of the violet rose. This was her favorite place to think, nothing could bother her here. At least that's what she thought… only three hours ago, her father had informed her of a boy named Link in the Ordon Province.

"Zelda my dear… I have some wonderful news." The King sat in his golden throne with a large smile on his face.

"What is it Father?"

The King's fingers gripped the arms of the throne, "I have just learned that our family reaches farther across this kingdom than I could have possible imagined."

At her questioning glance the King stood and placed his hands on her shoulders, "The Village of Ordon… you remember it from your studies?"

She nodded.

"There is a young man named Link living there… he… is far more important than any of us could have thought."

"What's wrong? Has he done something wrong?"

Largos waived his hand, "Nay my dear… I have just learned that he is a descendant of the First King… he is your eleventh cousin."

That came as quite a shock. A boy living in the southern forests… shares Royal Blood.

Questions ran through her head like a river.

How old is he?

Who were his parents?

Did he know of his ties to the Royal Family?

Her fingers curled around the stem of another rose and drew it closer to her face.

If and when he came to the Castle, she would be sure to get to know this mysterious cousin of hers.

Faron Woods – 35 Miles south of Castleton

Rusl reigned his horse to match stride with Link's.

"Boy…"

Link turned his gaze from the deku trees along the path, "Yes?"

"There are rumors…" He nodded at the sword strapped to Link's back, "…That you are quite the swordsman."

His eyes narrowed at the Captain of the Guard, "Yeah… what of it?"

Rusl grinned, "How about a sparring match?"

Thoroughly taken aback, Link glanced at the sky, "But… we'll be at the castle soon…"

"No need to worry, we aren't going to continue travelling after nightfall, it's far too dangerous what with the Stalfos and Phantoms that roam the field."

"But where are we going to make camp?"

Rusl drew his sword and pointed at a group of Linden trees ahead of them, "There, it's fairly well protected from most creatures, Linden trees collect forest energy and produce a powerful protective field."

Link frowned, "So… you believe in magic?"

"Of course… you've had to have seen some form of it before."

Rolling his eyes and glancing at the trees, Link snapped the reigns, "HYAH!"

Epona quickened her pace in the direction of the trees. This is going to be a long Journey.

There we go! I don't even know why I posted another story... I'm working on two others right now. But I had to write this down before it faded from my memory.

Read Well!

Soulless1 a.k.a Stephen.