The Tavern

The breeze was brisk that night, the tall grass so heavy with dew it soaked through my leather boots. It was the night I learned why Ganondorf kept armor over his boots. The air was filled with dozens of footsteps marching out of unison, the crackling of fire from torches carried by the team that followed me. You see, one of Ganondorf's infamous keese infiltrated a tavern, to confirm the suspicion a moblin shared with us about a crowd that gathered weekly to bring support for a hero who had yet to emerge.

I could not wait to break up this party. It was horrendous that they thought they could get away with such treason. I was excited to bring an end to their treachery, maybe some of their lives, and prove that Ganondorf was not to be messed with.

The tavern was set deep in a forest within the kingdom of Hyrule, before the boundaries of the Kokiri. The only trail to it was the worn grass and dirt from the dozens of Hylians that convened at the tavern. I carried this wicked grin as we strolled toward the building. We weren't being secretive, we weren't trying to hide what was about to happen, I wanted everyone to know that they would have to answer for betraying the great Ganondorf.

I motioned to the left and right with my main hand. The moblins with me spread out, standing at windows, at the back door, ready for my signal to enter. The voices inside were rowdy, which shifted from a jumble of talking, to singing. At first only one or two sang, one playing a fiddle, and then eventually it sounded as if everyone joined in. While the music was loudest, I opened the door and walked in.

I wasn't even noticed, which was so disrespectful. My grin was replaced with a sour frown. Noble, lord, or royalty, it didn't matter, you acknowledged their presence when they entered, especially when it was a lady. My eyes scanned the chaos. There was a makeshift bar to my right lined with goblets, barrels of ale behind it, and one woman filling empty glasses. There were a dozen tables, cluttered with three or four people each, all of them singing like fools, and all with their backs to me.

I can't deny the song was pretty catchy. The melody was upbeat, easily made you want to stand up and dance. They sang about a hero of time, about slaying a demon, fighting a man with evil eyes, and the reign of an evil king. It was pretty obvious this song was in favor of some unknown hero.

The song was short, but I was glad when it came to an end, and I clapped. I applauded loudly, as loud as my partially gloved hands would allow. Heads, one by one, like a well oiled machine, began to twist and snap in my direction. My smile returned as I took in the horror on their faces. Well, they weren't all afraid, unfortunately. Some were bravely foolish enough to think they could kill me to lower Ganondorf's morale.

Let me tell you, my death either wouldn't have fazed him, or he'd have been driven mad by it.

"That's better," I mocked. "You could show your queen some respect when she enters a room. But more than that, I'm really disappointed I wasn't invited to the party." I stepped forward, and slid my sword slowly from its sheath. "Now, would someone be so kind to explain to me what you're doing here? Oh, and please don't lie. I hate liars."

There was always that one, the one that couldn't help but protest and be loud. "We won't be frightened. You rule through fear, and tyranny, and we do not bow to you. You are not the queen, and that monster is no king. We only bow to the rightful leader, Princess Zelda."

He had to remind me that it was my fault Zelda escaped. "You know, it's good to see you're so confident about your cause. I'm sure it's a cause you'd be willing to fight for, and suffer for. But, what about die for?"

At those words, the man closest to me jumped from his chair, obviously drunk, and tried to fight me. I sliced his chest open, and he collapsed to the floor to die. "Arrest them!" I commanded, and the moblins flooded into the tavern.

The room was pure, exciting chaos. Around half the men jumped from their chairs to fight, the other half rushed around to try and escape, but not a single entrance or exit remained unguarded. I had used caution in choosing the amount of moblins to take with me, and I was glad I did. Some of them fell in battle, but so did some of the blasphemers.

We walked away from there with a generous bounty of prisoners to add to the dungeon. Not everyone was willing to be arrested so easily, and so some of their lives were lost. They were only civilians, so mostly they could be subdued in one way or another. I hung back at the tavern's door to ensure no traitors were left behind, or had escaped, while the Gerudo and moblins went ahead with their prizes. The next thing I knew was a 'thonk' on the back of my head and the world went black.